A little Throwback Thursday:
Eight years ago, I got the chance to revisit Hawaii with my honey.
Hawaii is the place where I met this good-looking guy.
Oh how I’d love to be able to go back today.
Good Times, Good Memories.
I can’t believe how much younger and tanner I/we look. (not to mention how short my hair is)
Having a creative mind means having several project ideas swirling around your head…
being a Creative Blogger with a editorial calendar, means you times that amount times 2.
And then sometimes….(a lot of sometimes) you’ve got nothing at all.
I was brain-storming recently with a fellow Designer when I came up with this brilliant idea
of stamping on the sidewalk with homemade chalk paint.
I thought this would be a great project to do with my grandsons. (and a potential blog post)
I researched recipes and got my supplies together.
Darn you Pinterest with all your beautiful pictures and homemade recipes.
I created handmade stamps using a large Smoothfoam square and my Super Hotwire Foam Cutter.
I made a variety of shapes to use with the boys.
I made the chalk paint with a recipe I found using cornstarch, water and food coloring.
The problem was that the paint started drying right away.
And…the boys were having too much fun playing in the paint to start all over.
The chalk paint is non toxic and easily cleaned up once dried by brushing the boys off.
After a good rain, all the mess was gone.
I’m confident with a little more experimenting we could get the consistency just right.
After making a very fun mess, I decided it was just that…
and moved on to Plan B. (My post for Friday.)
Make sure to come back Friday for Block Stamping on Canvas with Smoothfoam.
There’s nothing like one of Grandma’s recipes to bring back fond childhood memories.
Large family dinners around a loud and crowded table (or two).
Crock Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans, Rolls and one of Grandma Merritt’s Deserts.
Mom would put the roast on before church and Grandma would bring the desert.
Soda Pop Cake, Cheesecake, Hobo Cake with Chocolate Fudge Icing (Yumm!) just to name a few.
With our large and ever expanding group of family and friends,
Grandma usually made a double batch of whatever desert she brought up.
And…us kids would still argue over who deserved the last piece.
Good Times, Good Times! Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
If you’re a Cheesecake Snob, you probably won’t enjoy this wonderfully, light fluffy desert.
But to us kids, it’s heavenly.
Grandma Merritt’s Cheesecake recipe has been around our family for probably 40 years.
I’m pretty sure she clipped it out of the newspaper somewhere down the line. (she was a clipper)
Since today would of been her birthday, I thought it’d be a great day to share.
Here’s her recipe, I actually have two (one just slightly different)
Grandma Merritt’s Cheesecake:
FYI: The recipe card and standing clip are both available from Canvas Corp Brands.
Disclaimer: This project was created for and sponsored by Canvas Corp Brands.
My Grandson Nicholas had his very first soccer game on Monday.
While waiting for his turn to go back in, he decided to entertain me with some faces.
This kid’s cute even when he’s making silly faces!
I finally got around to scrapping the fun sledding pictures I took of Nicholas and his Mom sledding.
What a fun time they had and I had a really great time taking pictures.
I used Authentique Paper’s Cozy Collection.
Click on picture for ordering information from Amazon* (I am a Amazon Affiliate.)
One of my husband’s favorite cookie is the Snickerdoodle.
It’s been years since I’ve made them.
Since Valentine’s Day is in a couple days I thought I’d make him some as a Valentine’s surprise.
So what makes these cookies “Valentine Snickerdoodles”?
Nothing more than they’re made with LOVE!
(Oh… and the fact that I substituted red sugar in step #5.)
Snickerdoodles
Yesterday was finally warm enough for a little sledding.
Our back yard has just the right incline, perfect run for a four year old.
After about a half hour both he and his Mom was done.
I took 100 pictures of him sledding. These are some of my favorites.
I love the new camera I got for my birthday/Christmas present.
I received the Sony SLT-A58, I’m loving the clarity a better camera provides.
We purchased the camera the week-end after Thanksgiving.
I’ve taken over 1100 pictures already. (love it)
Happy Sunday Everyone. Have a great Day!
I follow a blog called Living Well Spending Less.
You may have noticed the link on the side of this blog.
The owner of this blog, Ruth Soukup, has written a new book, available Dec. 30th, called:
Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life
Recently, I joined the launch team to help promote Ruth’s new book about the secrets of the Good Life.
In this book, Ruth mixes faith, scriptures and good practical knowledge to make you rethink your
spending habits. (Check out the video below)
In my marriage, it has always been my job to keep track of our finances and the monthly budget.
Honestly… during the first 25 years, it was more of just making sure everything got paid.
Raising a family is not for the faint of heart. Kids are expensive. Life moves fast.
A few years ago, I challenged my husband to a 30 Day Spending Budget.
I asked him to tell me how much he spent each week. We had to be completely honest.
At first his amount was real low. (I had to assure him it wasn’t a trick question.)
Because… what ever amount he said was the amount he was going to get.
We were able to save $500 that month. (that surprised us both)
It was a good exercise that made us rethink our spending habits and priorities.
While we have relaxed from the original 30 day challenge,
we now have a mutual goal of saving towards our retirement.
(Call us cheap or call us old, we love it when we have a good restaurant coupon.)
With the New Year right around the corner, it might be a good time to consider
your own 30 Day Challenge.
It’s almost Christmas.
The house is decorated, presents bought and cookies baked.
Time to relax and enjoy.
I love Christmas. It’s the most Wonderful time of the year.
Here are some houses made using Melissa Frances kits. (I’m not sure they make them anymore.)
I used paper punches and twine on this garland. (This strand has lasted three years.)
The mantel over the fireplace is quite eclectic with vintage and new items.
My home and tree is filled with memories of the 30 plus years we have spent together as a family.
Some are very old, some handmade. I remember where each ornament came from and who
gave them to me.
This year, I didn’t pull out all my ornaments. Believe or not I kept it simple.
Jasmine, Aladdin, Lion King and Star Trek didn’t make it on the tree.
But… Buzz and Woody still makes the cut.
All the unbreakable ornaments are on the bottom branches.
Following in his brother’s footsteps. Warren loves the Jingle Bells.
He pulls them off the tree, starts shaking them and looks and smiles when we all start
singing Jingle Bells.
I spent this past week-end celebrating with family during our annual
Christmas/ Gift Exchange party on Friday.
I love my Big, Crazy family.
My niece’s husband took this picture. (you’ve heard the expression like herding cats?)
Then on Sunday, celebrating my birthday with my little birthday Buddy who just turned one.
This is him after destroying his birthday cake.
Even though he offered me a bite, I declined.
It’s wonderful to be able to spend time with family over the Holidays.
I’m so excited that my kids will all be home on Christmas Day.
Sue's Creative Workshop 