Happy New Year!!

I know this is a little early but the BIG MOVE is tomorrow and I won't have any internet (or TV...sniffle, sniffle) at the new house yet.  But if you want to contact me you can still send me an e-mail....I can check that on my phone!  Thank goodness for a little technology at least!  :)

Hope everyone is doing great and I'm wishing you all a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Hugs!
- Stacie

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas....and if you don't celebrate Christmas I hope you have a wonderful celebration of your choosing or even just have a marvelous day if you don't celebrate anything!  Wanted to make sure I spread some love to everyone!  :)

A few house pics

Well, I took these pictures before Thanksgiving and it only took a month to post them....not bad right?  LOL!  The main areas...kitchen, living room and bathroom.  That is all I have for now...hope everyone is doing well!  

Checking In

Hey everyone!
Just checking in and saying hi....how are you all doing?  I know I promised pictures and I apologize for not having those posted yet (I will soon though)....the weeks are just flying by and I hope you understand I have alot going on right now!  We officially closed on selling our house last week so no more paperwork.....what a relief to also have  less payments to make each month!  I have also been working practically everyday with my regular job and hubby and I are still plugging away daily on building the new house which sadly will be nowhere near finished by moving time but it will be liveable with running water, appliances, toilet, shower...the basics!  LOL!  I have also been trying really hard to get rid of several items either by donation or selling.  I had a big moving sale in October and it was a success but I still needed to get rid of some big items like a HUGE dining room set and a grandfather clock.  I am happy to say I just sold all of that today!  :)

The goal is to move between Christmas and New Year's....wish us luck with the weather!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to pop in real quick and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving for those that are celebrating!  For those that aren't I just hope you have a happy day!!  :)

I also wanted to thank those of you who have left comments or e-mailed me to make sure I was still doing okay since I haven't been on here in ages!  I truly appreciate you checking in...makes a girl feel special!  *BIG HUGS*

I FINALLY remembered to take my camera out this week and took some pics of the new house coming together.  We still have a ton of work ahead of us but we are making progress!  I hope to post a few of those pics later this week or next.

- Stacie

Tasty Tuesday and News!

I have decided to start another blog just for recipes so Tasty Tuesday is on hold until I can get that set up.  I will let you know when it is up and running so hopefully you can come follow me and enjoy some delicious recipes!  :)

I also have some news that I think we have sold our house!  WAHOO!!!  Providing everything goes through we will be moving in December!  That means some crazy work for us until then getting the new house ready...it won't be completely finished when we move in but atleast it will be liveable!  So keep your fingers crossed everything goes accordingly!  

Sadly I had to step down from the design teams I was on but you will still see me around here and there.  I will post when I can and of course I will visit you all when possible!

Hopefully I can post some house pictures in the near future so you can see where all my hard work is going! Oh and if you have any craft room ideas let me know because I will have my own room....that won't be worked on right away but it never hurts to think about it in advance!  :)

Hugs!

- Stacie

Sunshine Award!

I received this award from my fab blogging pal Becky...you can find her fantastic creations and recipes by clicking HERE! Thanks again for passing this award onto me! :)

Now the Sunshine Award details...
Thank the one who gave you the award
Answer the 10 questions below
Pass the award on to 10 blogs

 Here are the 10 questions and my answers:

1. Favorite color: Blue...any shade!
2. Favorite animal: I can't show favorites so I will have to say a dog and chinchilla since I have both!
3. Favorite number: Ummm....5?
4. Favorite Drink: Water...but that is so plain so for a treat I make hot mint tea with agave!
5. Facebook or Twitter: Neither (I'm a technology dinosaur these days!) LOL!
6. Good book or good movie: Good movie
7. My passion: Cooking/baking...I LOVE food!!
8. Giving or getting gifts: Both
9. Favorite day: Saturday
10. Favorite flower: Mimosa ... check it out! Edited to add the correct link!  http://www.directgardening.com/detail.asp?ProductID=5602
They smell good too! :)

So many people inspire me so if you would like this award please feel free to take it and post on your blog. Share the sunshine!

Steak and Blueberry Salad

This is one of my favorite ways to use up leftover grilled steak! Click HERE for the recipe! Note: This is a versatile salad because you could change up the greens, nuts and cheese...I used a baby spring mix instead of spinach, pecans instead of walnuts and blue cheese instead of feta! If your in a hurry don't worry about making the dressing just splash some balsamic vinegar on it and your good to go! Enjoy! :)

Shrimp and Kale Over Roasted Garlic Polenta

Click HERE for the recipe! Enjoy! :)

Provencal Summer Vegetable Bake

Click HERE for the recipe!

Happy Birthday Bunnies

Main image is from Doodle Palace
Butterfly, snails and sentiment are from Lawn Fawn

Challenges:
Allsorts - Layers
Charisma Cardz - Seeing Double
Craft Your Passion - Blast From The Past (I chose challenge 98 which was red, white and blue)
Cupcake Craft - In Stitches
Delicious Doodle - Celebrations
Kaboodle Doodle - Flowers
Penny's Challenge - Sew Charming

Flat Bottom Fruit Pie

A great way to use up some fruit you might have on hand...I had peaches and blueberries so that is what I used. A few other changes I made to the recipe: I used almond milk instead of half and half (you could use whatever milk you have), I also used fat free cool whip. The texture does come out a bit different with these substitutions but it saves on calories and allows me to eat more dessert... plus it still tastes amazing so you won't hear me complaining!

Click HERE for the recipe!

Enjoy! :)

Unstampabelles Challenge #15

Time for our 15th challenge over at Unstampabelles and for this month we want to see EMBOSSING! You have until September 28th to get your entries in and the new challenge will start on October 1st!
*Just remember......NO STAMPS at all! No rubber, digi, etc.!

Please go to the Unstampabelles blog for sponsor and prize information!

Now for my DT project to get you started!


I made a tag using shadow embossing. This is where you run your die cuts through an embossing folder and then shift the paper a little and run them through again. A random pattern like dots works best. Also, I would suggest using a darker paper than I did and maybe something that you can sand like core'dinations...I think it would make the shadowing part stand out better.

Hope to see you joining in our challenge!! :)

Magical

Another pre-colored Christmas image by Nicecrane Designs which you can find in the store by clicking HERE! The sentiment is created from an alphabet stamp set by Lawn Fawn....so fun making my own words!

I just love the images from the Little Girl Magic collection! Christmas will be here before you know it so this is a good time to stock up on those holiday images and get started on those cards!

Once again the colors are a little different because of my printer but I'm pretty happy about it since I found that paper to match! :)

Challenges:

White Chocolate S'mores Gooey Cake Bars

I took these to a family reunion over the summer and they were a hit! Everyone raved about these bars and they were gobbled up so fast not everyone got to try them so next year I will be making more than one batch!

Click HERE for the recipe!

Enjoy! :)

Birthday Dinner!

I officially turned one year older yesterday but thanks to exercising and eating better (I have now lost 30 pounds) I am in better shape now than I was 10 years ago (such a good feeling)! The day went pretty good and I wanted to give a shout out and say thank you so much to those that sent me birthday wishes...means more than you will ever know!! I also had to show off what hubby made for dinner...he rarely...and I do mean RARELY cooks so I was pleasantly surprised with this gourmet meal after returning home last night from work and yoga! DELISH!!! That man sure can grill to perfection! :)

Taco Salad

I received this recipe off a co-worker 5 years ago for my bridal shower. It is so easy to throw together for a quick dinner or a party!

Ingredients:
1 bottle french dressing (I used fat free catalina)
1 can of kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
1 packet of taco seasoning (I use the cheapest brand I can find in mild)
Lettuce, onion, tomato, bell pepper, shredded cheese and fritos (or some other crunchy type tortilla chip)

Mix the beans with the dressing and taco seasoning packet and marinate overnight. Then when your ready to serve cut up the lettuce, onion, tomato and bell pepper and mix together. Add the bean mixture and toss. Then top with cheese and chips.

*I recently made this and instead of assembling it all at once I mixed smaller portions at a time so the ingredients didn't get soggy. And if your taking it for lunch all the ingredients should be okay together especially if you assemble them that morning which is what I did except the chips...put those in a separate container.

Enjoy!

Blueberry, Peach, Strawberry (Seasonal Fruit Pie)

I saw this recipe on my blogging pal Becky's blog and knew right away I had to try it! I didn't have a cast iron skillet handy so I just used my stoneware pie plate. I left out the nutmeg because that is not a spice that I particularly like. I also used frozen blueberries, peaches and strawberries because I had some to use up from last season....we froze a ton!! I shared this pie with my folks and in-laws and they loved it! I must say it is one of the best pies I have ever made! I used turbinado sugar on top for a little dazzle and crunch!

Click HERE for this fantastic recipe!

*Thanks Becky....this is now my "go-to" pie recipe! I plan on making it again this week!

Enjoy! :)

Lavender Honey Cake

Click HERE and HERE for the two recipes I combined!

I had never used lavender in baking before so it was a new taste experience for me. It was completely different than expected but good. I recommend eating it with some vanilla ice cream instead of plain!!

Notes - Changed the cupcake recipe to 1/2 cup sugar instead of a whole cup.
Icing was too lemony so mixed with more powdered sugar, a little honey and vanilla. Added lavender to the top for decoration!

Enjoy! :)

Unstampabelles Challenge #14

Time for our 14th challenge over at Unstampabelles and for this month we want to see any HANDMADE FLOWER! You have until August 31st to get your entries in and the new challenge will start on September 3rd!
*Just remember......NO STAMPS at all! No rubber, digi, sentiments, etc.!

Our sponsor for this month is Blue Edge Crafts!!

Here is the fabulous prize on offer for this month!



Now for my DT project to get you started!


To make my flower I used the Tim Holz Tattered Floral die to get my flower pieces out of white cardstock. Then I used distres inks by swiping the ink pad on a craft mat and spritzing with some water. Next I "wiped up" the ink using my flower pieces and crinkled them into a ball. Then I dried them with my heat gun. I used hot glue to put each layer together and added a pearl to the center. The background is made from scrap paper and using a scalloped border punch. The top layer is embossed with dots but being black it is hard to see. Added a white rub-on sentiment to finish things off. Hope you like my creation and I would love to see you over there on the challenge blog with your own handmade flower creation! :)

Lemony Orzo Veggie Salad With Chicken

Very refreshing to eat on a hot day!

Click HERE for the recipe!

Enjoy! :)

Happy Holidays

This is a pre-colored digi from Nicecrane Designs which you can find in the store by clicking HERE!

The colors are actually a bit different because my computer I think is running out of ink but it just so happened to match perfectly with some holiday paper I hadn't used before! Don't you just love when things like that work out? :)

Challenges:
Cardmadfairy - Christmas in July
Creatalicious - Christmas in July

Bacon, Tomato and Arugula Pizza

One of my favorite things to eat...PIZZA!! As you can tell by the picture my Pampered Chef pizza stone is well loved!

Click HERE for this recipe!

Enjoy! :)

Little Girl

Digi is from Nicecrane Designs...click HERE to find it in the store. It is also offered pre-colored!

Isn't this the cutest girl ever?!! I just love the new Little Girl Magic Collection at Nicecrane Designs! I wanted to do some really soft colors and my background paper is a technique I learned from my pal Annmaree where you swirl smooch inks in water and then dip your paper in it. Very cool marbling! I added some stickles to the dragonfly, flowers and water but it is hard to see so just use your imaginations! LOL!

Challenges:
Crafty Ribbons - Summer holidays
Crazy 4 Challenges - Stitching
Shopping Our Stash - Precious (I have had that ribbon and marbled paper that I created for a very long time just waiting for the right image!)
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Hey girl
The Pink Elephant - Summer

Spider Mouse

Digi is from Whiff of Joy

Challenges:
Allsorts - Distressing (the web)
Send A Smile 4 Kids - Animal

Happy Birthday Butterfly

I am not sure where this image is from so if anyone knows please tell me so I can give credit!

The background "paper" is actually a cardboard tissue box! You just never know where or when inspiration will strike! LOL! I also decorated the inside with the cardboard and did some white gel pen stitching. Colored the girl image with my Copics, put a little glitter on the flowers and added a rub on sentiment to finish it off.

Challenges:
Cardmadfairy - Summer
Charisma Cardz - Recycle (tissue box)
Delicious Doodles - Summer
Sir Stampalot - What is your crafty passion? (I enjoy turning trash into treasure and coloring!)
ABC Challenge - T for two (I used two sides of a tissue box)
Top Tip Tuesday - Circles

Ribs, Sweet Potato and Sauerkraut!

I can't seem to find the original recipe I used but this one is similar. The difference is I left out the nutmeg and added a can of beer for liquid in the slow cooker! Oh so tasty!!

Click HERE for the recipe!

Enjoy! :)

Father's Day Sailboat

Image is from Cowtown Stamps

I created this CAS card for my FIL. It was for Father's Day but I really think it could be given for just about any occasion! While making it I thought I used the perfect colors...blue for the sky, green for grass and brown for dirt. Then after I already gave it to him and was looking at this picture I thought to myself....DUH...you stamped a boat so there shouldn't be any grass or dirt!! LMAO!! Oh well....I'm sure nobody else thought a thing about it!

Challenges:
Crafty Creations - Free for all
Kaboodle Doodle - Outdoor, sport, hobby, adventure

Baked Green Bean Fries and Blue Cheese Dip

A healthier alternative to deep frying! Click HERE or HERE for the recipe! I also used a different sauce because I had some cottage cheese to use up. You can click HERE for that recipe!

Enjoy! :)

Special Bouquet

Image is from Nicecrane Designs and you can find it in the store by clicking HERE! I sent this card to my hubby's Aunt for her birthday along with a handwritten letter because she loves them so much! Shame it takes me so long to write one these days...the computer really has me spoiled rotten! :P

Challenges:
Creatalicious - Anything goes
Mishelflo's Monthly Challenge - Happy Bloomin' Birthday
Southern Girls - Pearls

Father's Day Cow Card

This is a card I made for my dad this year. Stamps are from Lawn Fawn and on the inside I wrote ... Wishing you an "udderly" Happy Father's Day! HEHE! I just love corny sentiments! :P

Get Well Soon Dragon!

*Stamp is by Dustin Pike from High Hope Stamps

I made this card for my blogging pal Dawn who has recently hurt her ankle and can't get around very well. I thought it might cheer her up a bit and now that I know she has received the card I can post it!

Challenges:
Crafty Calendar - Flowers in bloom
Creatalicious - Anything goes

Grilled Polenta With White Beans and Tomato

A great meatless dish and I added greens and mushrooms to up the health factor even more!
* I could not find flavored polenta in a tube so I just bought the plain stuff and sprinkled seasoning on the slices *

Click HERE for the recipe!

Enjoy! :)

Unstampabelles Challenge #13

Time for our 13th challenge over at Unstampabelles and for this month we want to see any paper creation showing a CELEBRATION! You have until August 3rd to get your entries in and the new challenge will start on August 6th!
*Just remember......NO STAMPS at all! No rubber, digi, sentiments, etc.!

Our sponsor for this month is Cairns Bookbinders!

The beautiful prize on offer for this month is an A5 journal and some ribbon!



To celebrate our first year we are also giving away some blog candy! All you have to do is leave a comment on the Unstampabelle blog (link is at the top of this post) letting us know what your favorite post was during this last year. Please be sure to also mention anything you would like to see more of in the future! The winner will recieve these lovely goodies!


3 Australiana Phone Charms, Cadbury Chocolate 5 x 15g pieces, A5 Textured Paper Pack, 30 Diecut Paper Flowers, Grand Adhesion Stickers, 40 x Rhinestone Florettes.


Now for my DT project to get you started!

Vacation 2 - Part 3 (Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania)

Figured I would try and cram the rest of the trip into one post so I can get back to showing you some crafting projects! It is sooooo hard picking out pictures to share with you guys because I have TONS of them!! Guess I get a little carried away at times with the camera! LOL!

I forgot to share with you some pictures on the last vacation post about a place called Maymont which is in Virginia. The outdoor areas including all the gardens and animals are free to visit and it is really beautiful!





We also went on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge that goes under water....pretty cool but it is so massive you can't really get a picture of it. I'm sure you could do a search online and find all kinds of pictures but they are usually only part of the bridge....as I said it is HUGE!!

Then we headed along the Eastern Shore Drive which wasn't all that interesting until you get to the very Northern part near Chincoteague. That area is super pretty (we visited the state park with beaches and nature trails) and it seems like a neat little town with shops and stuff although we didn't stop at any of them other than a few food places.

We only saw a little area in Maryland ... it was about 10 minutes away from where we were staying the night and it had a fantastic restaurant! We liked it so much we went back twice which is rare for me to do on vacation because I like to try out all new places! But the prices were reasonable and the food was amazing! The restaurant is called The Upper Deck Restaurant and Lounge located in Pocomoke, Maryland.

This is some blackened Ahi Tuna...so good and spicy (yes, I'm learning to eat spicy foods a little bit at a time!)


Literally THE BEST cornbread I have ever had in my life! It was super sweet and dense unlike the dry and crumbly cornbread we have where I am from. She said it was similar to spoonbread. The olive tapenade with the french baguette was good too and I don't usually eat olives!


Next stop is Cape Henlopen, Delaware where we stayed at a state park and spent the entire time either on the beach or visiting the WWII area.

Before checking into the park we stopped at this restaurant called Surf Bagel for lunch. The bagels are made fresh daily! I wish we had more places like that around home!

I had chicken salad with cheese and pineapple on a cinnamon, cranberry, nut bagel! Extremely tasty and filling!!



We ran into an albino looking deer while driving back to our camp site. This was my first time seeing a white deer and I thought it was so unique!


They had several guns next to the military buildings to take a peek at and you could also visit a few bunker sites.


Here is a watch tower that was used during WWII and you can still go all the way up it which was cool!


Our very last stop was Mt. Washington, Pennsylvania which is just across the river from Pittsburgh.

We rode the Duquesne incline up to the top of Mt. Washington and walked around until we got to the other inlcine (there are only two you can ride up).



This is a view of Pittsburgh at the top where the 3 different rivers come together (the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio) and it also shows the old cars we rode in which are from the 1800's!


Near the other incline we found a neat area to walk around with some restaurants. We stopped at a hotdog and beer place called Packs and Dogs.

They have a HUGE variety of cold beers and we enjoyed a few of them along with this hot dog called the Bloodhound which had bbq sauce, onions, cheese and bacon! It tasted wonderful but I only had a few bites because I have texture issues with that sort of meat so hubby was happy to finish the rest for me! :)


Okay, that pretty much wraps my vacations all up! I tried to pick the highlights of each place and give a few restaurant recommendations just in case your ever in the area. Next up will be something crafty!! :)

- Stacie