Scrapbook Retreat Accomplishments

Now after looking at all those wonderful pictures of the retreat location it'd be nice to show you I did actually get something DONE!! So I'm going to share just a couple of the pages I completed. First of all I completed start to finish my baby girl's 1st Birthday 8x8 album. It is SO cute and was a Princess birthday. And as I started this post I asked myself: "Why don't I have a picture of the album for this post?" My answer: no clue. Sorry.

But when I was done with that project I moved on to a BIG project: my FFA album. I was in FFA throughout high school and since I love photography have WAY too many pictures for my own good! So I started in on that massive album, which will be in a Creative Memories 12 x 12 album.

Here was one of my favorite double page layouts from the FFA album thus far:

I'm also realizing these are pathetic pictures and don't show the details such as that tiny strip of black paper on the 2nd page is folded like an accordion - or that the title square on the 1st page is a shiny metallic "F". Guess I'm already owing you one with this post but at least you'll get the idea right?

This was a close second because it was fun to make these little arrows on the Cricut (which if you are a scrapbooker and have not tried one -you MUST!!!) and put #1, 2 and 3 like a kids page! Hehe it was fun!

This was our camp group photo - so I decided to whip out all my scraps to create a funky background for it.

Now these next two are from my hubby and mine's "Dating Album" but I didn't take very many of the other albums (none of the birthday one) so I picked a couple of my fave pages and randomly stuck them in here too!

This was my husband's bull riding group at a Jr. Rodeo Bible Camp of which he was the Bull riding instructor. These lil guys were adorable and since I didn't enlarge the group photo needed some pizazz to make the page special. I'm a fan of the swirly's so they won out!

Here is a good scrapbook idea - that journaling box on the previous picture - see how it's worn out looking on the edges? Take a nail file and file the edges of a paper you're using to give it the natural "worn" look. Makes GREAT pages!

And this page was especially fun because it was the first time I purposefully crumpled a scrapbook paper! See the heart? I crumpled it to pieces, then flattened it back out. Gives the page some texture and depth to it.

Happy Scrapping!!

Scrapbook Retreat Part 3: The Graveyard

Now I already know what you are thinking, or should I say asking? "Graveyard? I thought we were talking about scrapbook retreat? Well it just so happens that I have not totally lost my mind yet although that is questioned on a regular basis - but a graveyard lies just at the top of the hill next to this Round Top Inn. AND it is the best place to watch the sunset!

Isn't it beautiful?! It is a small yet OLD German graveyard.

THIS is what sits below the graveyard - a huge open plain. Gorgeous.

This is my favorite tombstone and is all I can imagine is these were wealthy loggers. I mean why else would you have a tombstone like that?! But it is COOL!

Here is the main log, I mean tombstone. Well no I mean log. It belongs to Theodor Michaelis, 1825-1889.

Here is the one that lies beside it.

Yes I put this picture in twice on accident but LEFT it purposely - just cuz I can!

And this is a glimpse of what it begins to look like at dusk.

Can you picture it in real living color?

In case you couldn't I helped you out a bit.

Scrapbook Retreat Part 2: The Lodging

Mademoiselle, Miser, may I welcome you to Round Top Inn in Round Top, Texas.

This is the grand scrapbook retreat location! They specialize in accommodating special groups such as scrapbookers and quilters. You arrive to long tables set up with individual table lamps at each "station" and all covered in butcher paper so you can doodle to your hearts content to get your creative juices going!

The property is divided as such: There is a "Main House" that accommodates 8 people. Two in the MAIN bedroom which has the oh so comfy down everything bedding and a porcelain stand-up antique tub, which yes, was heavenly! And upstairs has three more rooms of which the remaining 6 people lodge and yes they have their own bathroom upstairs! Pros of the "Main House" are that you eat, sleep, and scrap all in the same place. You even eat your meals 30 minutes before the "others" because this is where the food is prepared. It is also a smaller group so if you like a bit quieter environment this is the place for you! Cons: you have to smell the food the entire time it's being COOKED! ah the torture!

Second, there is a "Big Room" where you can fit up to 15 people I believe. It has an attached small kitchen and bathroom. If you are part of this larger group your lodgings consist of smaller houses or get-aways. There are 4 separate smaller houses which are just bedroom/bathroom combinations and downstairs to what they refer to as "The Bunkhouse" is the dining room where the big group eats. Pros of Big Group: you get to have a grand ole time chatting and singing and joking with tons of ladies, you don't smell the food or hear or see anyone else to distract you, and it has large windows in this room to enjoy the view of the Longhorns ranch across the street. Cons: you walk to where you sleep, and you walk to where you eat. Which isn't cool if it's cool. Both places are always STOCKED with snacks and treats, coffee, tea and water. They keep you spoiled in other words!

This quaint sitting bench area is right outside the Big Room.

This is one of the houses - well the inviting porch anyways!

Okay I must stop here because I'm in LOVE with this big bowl!!! If you have one - I want to know where you got it! Seriously! But as you can tell they cook with a lot of fruits and veggies and am I ever so glad - did I mention they cook you ALL 3 meals plus dessert at night??!?! I know right!

Here is my beautiful mother and I enjoying the breeze on the porch outside the "Main House" which is where we stayed this time. (and yes I'm wearing a bandanna - but there is lots you don't know about me still, don't worry) Oh and yes again, my mom and I are wearing the same shoes.

This is me in my kitchen. Okay, me in my dream kitchen. I can't lie.

Mima is bout to make up some grub! Or maybe just eat it and let someone else clean it up too! Hehe so bad - but she so deserved it!

That's all folks - I know your sad but you truly must visit this place in the flesh to experience it. Cuz all the blogging in the world can't really take you there. So go!

We interrupt our regular scheduled programming...

I know I haven't even made it to part 2 yet and I've changed the subject?! But hold on let me explain before you get all huffy. I am without my hubby tonight - yesterday got a HORRID haircut of which I had to frantically call a good friend to fix today and without spilling ALL of my day to you just know I need some good humor now! My kids are in bed, the house is at last quiet, I have my hot cocoa almost finished and needed to do a fun post, let me repeat, NEEDED to do a fun post! So here we go:

10 Random Facts:

1. I love Mrs. Meyer's cleaners
2. My house desperately needs dusted
3. My son peed on my shower curtain tonight...yes on purpose. Don't ask.
4. I watched Sisterhood of the travelling pants last night. And cried. (can't believe I admitted it)
5. Best line ever on "The Marriage Ref": Well let's just think about it, and then do it my way. (hehe, quoted from a wife while speaking to her hubby)
6. There is a gemstone globe on my desk right now I got as a gift when I graduated.
7. I have left my ironing board in the middle of my living room in hopes that I will finally get annoyed of it being in my way and finish my ironing. (remember these are facts!)
8. I'm thinking about doing a workout called "Insanity". (haha think I'm "insane"?, hehe I crack myself up!)
9. I have a U.S. Census paper on my glass table.
10. My husband dislocated his wrist, get this...while preaching! Yep. He did. How you may ask? Ah now that's a story for another post my friend!

Thank you ladies and Gentlemen we will now return to your regular scheduled program.

Scrapbook Retreat Part 1: The Town

At the very end of February my mom flew over to Texas so she and I could go to Kathy Anderson's, Creative Memories Unit Leader & Consultant, scrapbook retreat in Round Top, Texas. We had an absolute blast! It was gorgeous spring weather with the nights still cool and we stayed in "the House" and were blessed to have the MAIN ROOM of the House! It was FAN-TA-BU-LUS! We are talking HUGE king size bed with the comfiest bedding, antique porcelain bathtub which allowed for some great soaking after our massages (oh yes, Kathy brings out a masseuse!), and the quaintest vanity. But to move away from talking so much about the bathroom, I'd like to take you on a journey of our weekend through 3 separate posts. And they are actually in the exact order I took the pictures! We first start with a walk my mom and I took right before lunch on Saturday. We chose to go into downtown so I could take my camera along and snap pics of the local scene. This town is so...what's a good word...unique. It has loads of character and is a photographer's dream! Although our walk was a lot of stopping instead of walking, lol. Anyways let me show you around:

This was a building right by our Bed and Breakfast and I LOVED the sign! HOW I ROLL!

Everything about this town was antique and had a lot of heritage to it.

OOH I fell in love with the wooden water fountain. If that ain't vintage I don't know what is!

Famous for their fudge. And it's good - I've had some!

Can you tell cool signs and unique things jump out at me. Or maybe I should just say weird things.

No sadly we didn't get to explore the inside of the pub - but mainly because our Bed and Breakfast serves us all 3 delicious meals plus dessert and snacks!

This was a very fun shopping square!

I really liked the mixture of old with new on this fountain. So modern yet so old-timey cowboy too.

This actually reminded me of a building that used to set behind my grandpa's house.

What I thought was just a long store name - "Crazy Emma's Cowgirl Junkies" turned out to be two stores - "Crazy Emma's" and "Cowgirl Junkies" both of which had cute stuff in it!

Now don't you just want to come visit Round Top?? If you are a traveler and don't mind crowds at the end of March and beginning of April right here in Round Top is one of the largest (maybe the largest but I don't know) Antique Shows EVER! Antique junkies from ALL over come in and set up shop for the biggest antique farmer's market type deal! I've heard it's a blast and you can find GREAT stuff - I plan on going one of these years!

Lemon Cakes

I lied. I know, it's wrong. However I would like to make this entire post and then at the end explain to you why I lied. And honestly I think you will agree. Yes I am justifying my sin. Just go with it for a second, it will make me feel better.

Okay to my post which is titled "Lemon Cakes". I have done WAY to much food blog-hopping lately which has resulted in a couple pounds added to my weight, as well as an explosion on my taste buds! We are talking GOOD STUFF here. I posted on my beef stew and Rosemary Dinner Rolls. A couple other things I have experimented with have been Orange Julius', Oreo & White Chocolate Chip Brownies, and...yes there were more but there was enough sugar in the last two to spare you the rest of my list. Ooh I did balance out with trying Steel Cut Oats! Which I highly recommend also! (They are also referred to as Irish oats which I found fitting with St. Patrick's Day next week) But one experiment was these "Lemon Cakes". They were SO yummy and delicious and you make them in a very unique way which is what caught my attention in the first place. With no further ado...

And I honestly planned on having the entire recipe right HERE for you to print out but my computer is playing ornery with me so instead I have a link to the blog Pioneer Woman that I got it from. It's actually cool because she gives a step by step with a picture per step for you! So go over there and TRY it! It's worth it! (Either link will take you straight to the cakes)

Okay now if you went to the link before reading the rest of this post you may have already figured out my lie. They are NOT called Lemon Cakes. Yet my argument is they should be. The name they have makes them sounds awful and NOT inviting and as yummy as these things are they SO DESERVE a yummy sounding name! These unique cakes are made with olive oil and so their true name is Olive Oil Cakes w/ Lemon and Thyme. Okay. Do you see my point? Nuff said.

Lion King: Is it Real????

I finally found the picture I have been meaning to post, and I'm so excited to share it with you! Mainly because Lion King was my favorite movie when I was in about 5th grade. I literally had the entire movie memorized line by line, lyric by lyric. Which yes, drove my poor brother bonkers! However without further ado...

Rosemary Dinner Rolls and Beef Stew

Unfortunately today found me at home with two sick family members - my hubby and my little 3 year old daughter. It's been a lot of laundry and crackers around this household this morning. Yet since I am at home playing nurse to both of them I thankfully had some leftovers to heat up for lunch; which then reminded me I was going to blog their recipes for you! So first let me celebrate again that I finally found my camera installation Cd's and can finally get my camera to download pics to my new computer!!!! So let me install that real quick and then we'll continue with the post...

Okay so 7 hours later (no I'm not kidding: By the time it was installed it was time to get my son from school, then I needed to take the moment to get some desperately needed groceries, then home to play nurse, cook dinner...well you get the point) I am finally ready to show you my wonderful stew and rolls I made! The stew was very easy and the most delicious I have had in a very long time! Although I must admit that favoritism is partly due to the meat alone. It was SO tender it wasn't even funny! YUMMY!

Okay, okay I will control myself. You start out by simply placing the flour, salt and pepper in a large Ziploc bag and shaking it with the meat until the meat is well coated. My kids held the bag while I dropped each item in it. Then you heat up the oil in a large pot and brown the meat

Ah now doesn't that look good already? If you answered no, just exit this web page RIGHT NOW!

Then you will add 5 cups of water and 5 beef bouillon cubes. (And I want to apologize for my pictures from here on out, they are a bit blurry because I still had my camera setting on "AV" from my photo challenge the other day and when you are cooking with one hand and taking a picture with the other you can't always MAKE SURE the photos are in focus. So my bad) After that you will add your other spices and then cover and let it simmer for an hour.

The last steps include adding the carrots, simmer a little longer, then the green beans. And don't forget to make up your dumpling mixture while the carrots are tenderizing so after your soup is complete you can add them by spoonfuls and cover it back up until they have become fluffy pieces of yummy goodness! Here is the final product:

OKAY now for the real treat of our dinner the other night: Rosemary Buttered Dinner Rolls!!! I won't go into detail on the makings of these because I will simply send you to the link where I found them so credit is where credit is due.

You can find this yummy recipe at Pioneer Woman - cooking.
OOOOHHHH my mouth is watering again! I baked 10 of these babies up and between my husband and I and my children (may I mention my YOUNG children) we devoured ALL 10 in that one sitting! Bad I know, but oh so good!

Now here is the full recipe for the Beef Stew with Cheddar Dumplings:

BEEF STEW W/ CHEDDAR DUMPLINGS

1/2 C. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes

2 TBLS. Vegetable oil

5 C. water

5 beef bouillon cubes

1/2 tsp. onion salt

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1 TBLS. browning sauce (I omitted this)

4 carrots, sliced

1 medium onion, cut into wedges (I also omitted this)

1 can green beans, drained

DUMPLINGS:

2 C. Biscuit/Baking mix

1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

2/3 C. milk

In a large resealable bag, combine flour, salt and pepper. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat. In a Dutch Oven (I used a regular large cooking pot w/ lid), heat oil over medium-high. Brown meat on all sides; drain. Add water, bouillon, onion salt, garlic salt and browning sauce if desired; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add carrots and onion. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Stir in green beans. For dumplings, combine biscuit mix and cheese. Stir in enough milk to form a soft dough. Drop by tablespoonful onto simmering stew. Cover and simmer for 12 minutes (do NOT lift cover during this to peak) or until dumplings test done. Serve immediately.

SERVES: 6

FROM: "The Complete Guide to Country Cooking" entry by Jackie Riley of Garrettsville, Ohio

Shallow Depth of Field

So I admit it! I have become a Pioneer Woman junkie! But I am not ashamed. She is a mother, lover of photography and her camera, and cooking! I mean this is calling my name!! I absolutely love her blog and have entered my first photo in her most recent Photography Challenges. I have been needing to learn more about my camera and the different functions and she does a VERY good job of explaining them so her challenges did just that for me: challenged me! I'm going to be following her blog and learning all I can about my camera and photography so that hopefully by the end of 2010 I will have improved slightly!

So of course I wanted to share my first photo entry with you:

"Worn with time"

I have a FLICKR account (that is how she does her photography groups) where you can view my description of the photo if you'd like (least I think that link will work).

We are only allowed one entry per day so the piano was my first entry. But tomorrow I will be entering another fun photo:

"Juicy"

If you'd like to read about the photography Challenge and what the goal was I encourage you to visit Pioneer Woman blog, I'm sure you will find SOMETHING there that peaks your interest!

Featured blog: Valentine's Crafts

I was trying to make myself wait one more day at least before doing another post because of course I have a ton of post ideas running through my head. But when I saw these cute craft ideas for kids I had to share it! If you have young kids and want to let them get creative and have a blast with your kids too visit Cassie & Co. blog for cute ideas like Number counting book and stained glass hearts!


And also since I'm on here I might as well share with you a dessert I also found blog hopping that as soon as my hubby walked in the door tonight I held my Droid phone up to him with a delectable picture of a Oreo Brownie with White Chocolate and declared "This is what I'm making for Valentine's Day!!" In case the name alone didn't get your taste buds salivating here is a picture of it:



It is from a new blog I just found tonight called "Two Peas and their Pod", a cooking blog. Check it out for numerous yummy recipes including this one!
Click HERE for the Oreo Cookie Brownie with White Chocolate recipe.

I met Beth Moore...

Really what else could you put for a title besides that? She has such a ministry to women that saying that alone peeks any one's interest. I mean am I right? Yesterday was her book signing in Shenandoah which just happens to be only about 20 minutes from my house. And since my friend blessed me this Tuesday by buying me her new book, "So Long Insecurity, you've been a bad friend to us" I just had to take this opportunity to go get it signed!

Knowing what it's like on bible study night I wanted to get there plenty early since she would only be there for one hour (she had another signing that same afternoon down in Houston). So I arrived about 45 minutes before the signing would begin and was actually surprised to find a small line thus far. It did grow as time went on but I have to be honest I was surprised, I was thinking like an all out mob was going to be there! But anyways, I went ahead and started reading the second chapter while standing in line. I had knocked out the intro and chapter 1 slowly through the week.

About 10 minutes till 1 they moved 30 of us inside to begin the line at the table. And shortly after we see Beth Moore walking down the aisle of Sam's Super center to come sign her little heart away. It was funny listening to the women's reactions a lot of them saying things such as "Oh my goodness there she is!!" While some remained calm I will say some were a little star struck. I have been blessed with being able to remain eye-to-eye with people no matter how big their status is. I truly see everyone as "you're just another person" granted that they may be smarter or wiser or more talented in an area than some yet they are just a person none the less.

Now don't get me wrong I get excited and even butterflies to meet certain people I esteem highly but I do not react like the poor lady in front of me that her hands were trembling out of their bones as she went up to talk to Beth. she could barely work her phone to get it to the camera setting. I had to giggle silently and thank the Lord that I had the capability to remain calm and cool around "big shots", lol. Although our pastor always says a big shot is just a little squirt under pressure!

Okay total side trail, back to the story: It was finally my turn and my friend and I who go to her Tuesday night bible study are always on the front row so we were curious if she would recognize us or not. I could tell when I went up that she did not recognize me so to give her an idea of who I was I just said my friend back there in line and I are your front row girls on Tuesday nights and I'm the one you stared at this week! Emphasis on the STARED! lol, I was slightly giggling trying to tease her but as soon as I said that her eyes got real big and she said Oh my word yes I know exactly who you are now and I MEANT to stare at you! (My mind is going what? What do you mean you MEANT to stare at me?) She said sometimes people will tell me I stared at them while speaking and I will have no earthly idea and sometimes God stirs in my heart to specifically single someone out because they really need to hear something. That's how it was Tuesday - God stirred in my heart to stare right at you during that part because you needed to hear it!

Ok wow right?! But here is the sad part my next thought in my head went exactly like this: "oh my goodness what did she say to me???? If God was trying to speak to me why can't I even remember, oh no! I've screwed up! I can't remember!!" Isn't that horrible? I can't remember. Not exactly at least I DO remember what she was talking about and the general idea of what she said but not the specifics of when she stared at me. So anyways I waited on the side until my friend made it up to the line and then we took turns getting our picture with Beth. One thing I must add in here is she is so genuine about loving women. She doesn't just do a pretty pose with her arm nicely around your back - no she wraps you up with her arms and presses her face close to yours like you are taking a picture with your BFF. It was sweet to watch. Not to mention when she first arrived you saw her talking to the Sam's workers explaining something she wanted and what does she do? After they had this adorable table with flowers, nice cushy business chairs and even a padded arm rest thing for her to sign on she had to stand beside the table and sign the books off a turned grocery cart because Beth wanted to hug everyone! LOL, isn't that great?! It was so funny and not like I know Beth or anything but isn't that just SO like her?!

It was such a sweet moment for me and a memory I will hold with me for awhile that God stirred in her heart to speak specifically to me. And dwelling on it on the way home that's when it dawned on me. If God had meant to speak a direct Word to me through her I WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED the stinkin' words! Because I am a diligent student of that I know, and I was listening intently and taking notes! I didn't miss anything so no I didn't do anything wrong. Do you know what God was wanting to speak to me? It was the simple fact that out of 2,000 women he loves me intimately and individually enough to single me out of that crowd and move Beth's heart to look at me and convey that message to me for Him. Isn't God sweet, he is the biggest romantic I know. If you're short on romance give God a shot - he is GOOD at wooing someone straight off their feet!

Princess Cupcakes

I have a super quick moment to post one of my promised posts and actually have the pictures with me too!! Yippee!! Here are my latest "Hello Cupcake" creations! (I don't have time to inclued a link, so if looking for the Hello cupcake book just see a previous cupcake post!)

Here the kids are helping eat the MANY leftover candies that come from making cupcakes like this, as I work on the prep work of the heads and gumdrop dresses.
Here is a gumdrop dress with decorating sugar galore all rolled out and ready to cut a scalloped edge on the bottom of the dress.

Here is one of the girls in our youth group, Kaitlynn (I needed help with these!!) piping chocolate frosting curly hair on her purple princess

And the reason for all this work...my daughter Gracie pointing out HER princess - the pink one of course!

and here are all of our colorful princesses!

I had planned on more pictures but since I'm on my husbands work computer I didn't have time to figure out how to flip the vertical pictures quickly without opening some program so sorry but at least you got to see them right?!