A New Mini (and some business news)

After all the encouraging words, I did decide to list the bags I made this week on Etsy.
Check it out here:
Everyone Needs Another Bag

I've been working on this mini album with my August Studio Calico kit for a few days. It's finally finished! All of the pictures are from our April vacation to San Diego.

Sweatshop.

Friday night I ordered this.



It came in the mail on Monday looking completely gorgeous. I was totally excited until I actually opened up the pattern and started to read. Lots of sewing words and detailed directions--two enormous sheets of detailed directions. I was scared. Very scared.

One trip to the fabric store (for lining and interfacing) and two loads of laundry later, I was doing this.


I sewed for six hours Monday night and another hour this morning. But, now I have these.


I don't think I could be more proud of myself. Honestly? I really thought this pattern and fabric would end up in the unfinished project bin. I didn't think I could do darts and lining and pockets and interfacing. But, I did! And I did it all by myself!


(And maybe, just maybe, I loved making these bags so much that I ordered fabric to make a few more!)

Hiding Out

I've been hiding out in the craft room with the July Cocoa Daisy kit for the past day (or so). I even hid some candy amongst the mess of supplies on my table to ensure my survival! Here is what I managed to create:

Created this one for a bonus challenge on the Scraplove Summer of Scrappin Love contest.

Photo credits (and cute kid and dog credits) to Aunt Amy on this one. I felt like I was channeling my inner-Em when I made this. It just turned out very Emily-esque. I hope I didn't inadvertently scrap-lift her. (I didn't, did I, Em?)


Sure wish I would have photographed this better. The scalloped edge and the stitching with the sequins are really cool (if I do say so myself).


Did some double-dipping on this one. . . also for this week's Scrapjacked challenge.


(Doesn't use the Cocoa Daisy kit.) Created this for the Scraplove Summer of Scrappin' Love contest, too. I was the guest judge, Mou Saha, pick this week.


I did come out of hiding last night long enough to have a cookout with Nicky and Chris and to play with Natalie and Katelyn. Brad sure is a good sport.

Food on Sticks

Ah, yes. I won't lie and say that I've been incredibly busy or that I've had hundreds of important things to do.

I've been lazy. Very lazy.

And I love it!

I did haul my butt out of the house on Thursday, though, to go the State Fair. The fair is an incredible place, a place where all food is fried (and usually served on a stick), a place where it's cool to be a farmer, a place where you couldn't ask for better people watching.

A big attraction of the fair--for my family, anyway--is the polka music from 11:00 - 2:30 on opening day. My grandpa will sit (with beer the whole time) listening to the music and watching the crazy, fair dancers.

I have to admit that I was completely and openly staring at a geriatric gigolo ho was jamming out at the polka tent. He was dressed entirely in white, topped off with a straw hat, and he was asking every woman over 50 who was tapping their foot or clapping along to do him the honor of a dance. This guy had the moves! It was completely one of those moments that I wished I could capture with a picture. Film couldn't do it justice.

Besides the polka music, there are some other must-dos at the fair:
giant baked potatoes (WI is the nation's third largest products of potatoes)
$0.25 glasses of milk
the dairy barn
the exhibit hall (where you can watch live info-mercials for everything from mops to lamps)
snow cones (you name the flavors)And, if you ever visit the Wisconsin State Fair you must--and I mean absolutely must--have a cream puff (or maybe two!). They are the reason I went to the fair. And, because I'm not above sharing humiliating pictures of myself, I leave you with these shots of me enjoying a cream puff. Be jealous, my friends. Be very jealous.

-Tastic.

Here are my latest projects for Scrap-Tastic.

The August kit is hand-picked by the absolutely, fantastically talented and completely funny and friendly Robyn.

Robyn's kit plus a little Tinkering Ink from my stash.


Made this with the NEW American Crafts paper that I scored at CHA and some supplies I stole from Em's stash last week. (I might have forgotten to mention that I got to scrap with Em!) The pictures are from the Scrap-In-Style reception at CHA.

Summer of Scrappin' Love

I think I forgot to mention that I'm part of a challenge at Scraplove:
Summer of Scrappin' Love Challenge.

We do one LO a week that meets the challenge requirements and can earn points. It's fun because it isn't an elimination-based content AND there are prizes at the end. :)

Week 1 challenge was to use three office supplies on a LO.


Week 2 challenge was to use one picture (5 x 7 or larger), a one-word title, and hand-written journaling. I love, love, love this LO!

HOME!

Bags = 4
Shoes = 5 pairs

(Send me your info, Rebecca!)

And, for the record, I used all four bags (including my totally fun Elisa Lou messenger bag)

I had such an absolutely fantastically fabulous time. Quick re-cap.

Friday =

• Met up with Becky from Scrap-Tastic to start walking through the show.
• Scored tons of NEW paper from handsome man (co-owner of American Crafts) while helping Becky order some fun things
• Met up with Em!
• Visited the October Afternoon booth about 30,000 times (favorite new company)
• Went to the SIStv reception for drinks, food, and prizes! (Am completely afraid that a video with me on it will end up on their website)
• Hung out with Josie and talked scrapping at Em's

Saturday =

• More CHA with Em
• Lunch with the Scrap-tastic Girlies (Becky, Robyn, and Rachel)
• More CHA
• Met Katrina and her fabulous friends Michele and Catherine
  

Sunday =

• Convinced Em to play hooky from doing her school work to scrap with me!
• Drove home just a little sad to say goodbye to scrappy friends (old and new)

Monday =

• Visits with family (including boat ride with Grandpa)
• Ate ice cream--twice!
• Watched my littlest cousin score two goals (one didn't count) in her soccer game)

Tuesday =

• Some serious shopping (scrappy and otherwise!)

I'm so grateful for the hospitality extended to me along the way (thanks Em and A. Amy!) and am eternally happy to be home. I see some serious scrapbooking in my future. I might just have a few deadlines quickly approaching!

I need to collect a few pictures from people and start ordering new goodies. . . soon!

See Ya Later Alligator

My bags are packed!
I'm getting on the road any minute now.
I'm so freakin' excited!

Can't wait to see Becky and Emily and meet Robyn and Katrina.

And. . . a RAK (when I get back) to the person who correctly guesses the number of pairs of shoes and the number of purses that are in my giant red suitcase.

And. . . I certainly hope that by the time I get home the "N" on my keyboard has stopped sticking. I think I might have splashed a little Fruity Pebbles and milk on it this morning.

After While Crocodile!

Perfection

The perfect summer weekend.
Not to brag or anything, but we just had it.

Company = Feast (at my house, anyway)
Brad's parents came for a visit, and we ate like kings and queens. Shrimp fajitas (with Brad at the grill) and an absolutely and completely devine dessert. Seriously. It was perfection in a bowl.

Banana Foster served with ice cream and a chocolate, caramel, nut brownie
Sunday we headed to a Brewer's game. Perfect weather. Great food. A victory by the Brew-crew. What more can you ask for?

In Wisconsin, we tailgate. Brats. Hotdogs. Grills. Beer. Bloody Marys. Tons of people in a parking lot. The Food Network even featured Miller Park as one of the best places to tailgate!
Here's us--right by the field. We had killer seats. Aren't we the cutest Brewer fans?

I should have had a beer. It would have made me much more of a Wisconsin girl. But, how could I resist this? It's even in a cute little cup!

And last, but not least, another WI tradition--the Sausage races. During the seventh inning stretch, people dressed as sausages (a hot dog, a bratwurst, an Italian sausage, a Polish sausage, and--most recently added--a chorizo) run across the field in a strange sort of race. It's completely hilarious. And the picture I ended up with is terrible. It doesn't do it justice.
Hope you had a great weekend, too. :)

I'm a Lovely!

How fun!

I'm the Lovely of the Month at Scraplove. I get to be Lovely until mid-August.

Here's what a created with the completely generous and fabulous box of goodies from Suzanne.

Where does it go?

How is it that every single time I go to Target I am guaranteed to spend at least $100??!!

We didn't buy any fun things--not only single fun item.

Laundry detergent.
Dish soap.
Dishwasher soap.
Hangers (I swear someone is stealing mine!).
Dog food.
Dog treats.
Magic erasers.
Tampons.
Shampoo (for Brad).
Paper towel (16 rolls).
Toilet paper.

How do these things cost $100?

And. . . I had to stop for gas on the way home.

Urgh.

Wednesday. . .

Just a bunch of random thoughts for today. . .

Watched an E! True Hollywood Story about New Kids on the Block yesterday. Seriously. I loved these guys; Jordan was my favorite. I had all things NKOTB--trading cards, t-shirts, books, jewelry. My favorite item? A video of one of their concerts. My friends and I could imitate all the dance movies including the part where they flipped.

Haven't scrapped since the mini on Saturday. Took everything out of me.

We're going to see Harry Potter tonight at 10pm. Not quite sure what we're thinking--we're usually sound asleep by 10pm. I think it will be worth it, though.

Went to Wisconsin Dells on Sunday to see my brother. We rode these and had a great dinner. I'm continually amazed by the fact that my baby brother has grown up. In my mind he's still the thirteen year old kid with bad hair, braces, and the smelliest feet in the universe. It was the first time my whole family (Mom, Dad, sister, brother, and I) have been together for a long time (almost three years!).

Joined this site today. Seriously. Very cool. Let me know if you join--I'll add you to my friends.

Am getting a little nervous about going to CHA next week. I'm not quite sure what to wear and am kind of afraid I'll see someone I know and say something incredibly stupid!

I have a new-found addiction to Fudge-sicles. I've eaten two today. Okay. I'm lying. I ate three today. It's out of control and may be time for an intervention.

And last, but certainly not least, I served Brad a bug for dinner on Monday. That's right. Right in the middle of his broccoli was a big ol' bug. I freaked out! He just threw away the broccoli and kept right on eating the rest of his food. Personally, I think the bug crawled off of him and into his food!

Happiness is __________

The Priority Mail box with my Kristina Contes mini album kit was waiting on my doorstep on Tuesday (I think). I cranked it out today.





Did one other LO today, too. This one is for the first All About Eve challenge.

Yuck.

I can't think of a worse time to be sick than summer.

I felt crummy on Monday.
I felt worse on Tuesday.
I slept all day on Wednesday.

You get the picture.

I couldn't take it anymore today and went to the doctor.

I have. . . drumroll, please. . . a cold.

A nothing-I-can-do-for-you-just-go-home-and-rest cold.

YUCK!

Coke-a-licious

I've heard and heard and heard about these little treats on Colleen's blog. Unfortunately, there is no where in Wisconsin that actually cooks up Coke cupcakes.

With the assistance of Angie, I cooked up some of my very own.


Thought it would be nice to share the recipe.

Coke Cupcakes

2 C self-rising flour
2 C granulated sugar
3 Tbsp. cocoa
1 C Coca-Cola
1 C (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 1/2 C mini marshmallows
2 eggs
1/2 C buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour and sugar; set aside.
   
3. In a saucepan, combine the cocoa, Coca-Cola, butter, and marshmallows. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
4. Pour the boiled mixture over the flour mixture and stir to combine.
5. In a small bowl, beat the eggs, then stir in the buttermilk and vanilla.
   
6. Stir into the flour mixture; stir well to combine.
7. Pour the batter into cupcake pans linied with paper cups, filling each 2/3 full.
8. Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

1 C heavy cream
6 Tbsp light corn syrup
1/4 C Coca-Cola
1 C milk chocolate chips
2/3 C semiweet chocolate chips
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 C coarsely chopped peanuts

1. In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, combine the cream, corn syrup, and Coca-Cola and bring to a boil.
2. Turn off the heat and add the chocolate chips and butter, stirring until melted and smooth.
3. Pour the mixture into a mixing bowl and chill for 1 hour.
4. Using an electric beater, preferably with a whisk attachment, beat the mixture until light and fluffy but still spreadable. Do not over beat.
5. Immediately frost the cooled cupcakes.
6. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.

I know what you're thinking. 2+ sticks of butter. Almost 2 cups of chocolate chips. Heavy cream. You're about to run away from this recipe because it's not healthy for you. But, seriously. Make some of your very own. Right now. Completely yum.

(To give credit where credit is due. . . I found this recipe on the web. I guess it was originally published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The recipe came from a general store in the Atlanta area called Belly General Store. I just can't seem to track down the link that I took the recipe from.)