Bountiful Baskets now on the North Side!

You've seen me post about Bountiful Baskets here before, and how wonderful I think it is. Well, now they have a north side location - Salk Middle School on Francis & Alberta. Now you don't have to drive all the way up to the South Hill by 7 am to get involved! Check them out - you'll be glad you did!
Bountiful Baskets

Paper Crafting Giveaway!

Please check out In My Minds Eye blog for a great giveaway! She's got some fabulous patterned papers and decorative buttons to give to her readers. Here's a sneak at what she's giving away:

So go check her out!

This makes me crazy!

It is stories like this that make me so angry! I just don't understand how some people think!

Happy Easter!

Here is a little glimpse into our Easter celebrations. Decorating eggs and Grandma & Grandpa's house, church egg hunt, and Easter at our house with the family.

Another basketful of goodies!

I participated in Bountiful Baskets again this weekend, but this time, I didn't have to get up early to go get it! My friend Alyson picked mine up for me. Another great assortment of items: 1 pineapple, 1 canteloupe, 1 honeydew, 4 oranges, 9 apples, 5 bananas, 6 large baking potatoes, 1 bunch of radishes (9), 2 lbs. + 2 ind. carrots, and 1 head of leaf lettuce. Not bad for $16.50!

Operation Write Home

I found an interesting blog recently, I'm Crafty and they are participating in a Spring Break Blog Hop hosted by Operation Write Home. OWH's blog hop has links to 94 different blogs that participate in their card project - sending blank homemade cards to overseas troops, and sending messages of encouragement to them as well. Take a hop over to see what I'm talking about!

Bountiful Baskets

I found out about Bountiful Baskets from another blogger, so I decided to try it out this week. It is fairly new to this area, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was very impressed. The produce I brought home was great, and well over the amount I paid. It was run very efficiently - I showed up a little after 7 am, and was in line, checked off their list, and loading my produce into my bag within 5 minutes. The cost as a first time attendee was $19.50 - $15.00 for the produce, $3.00 for the first time fee, and $1.50 handling. After today I'll only pay the $16.50 each time I participate. I came home with 2 bunches of asparagus, 1 bunch of celery, 1 lb. bag of mini carrots, 8 bananas, 4 honey tangerines, 6 grapefruit, 4 small oranges, 13 apples, 2 beets, 15 red potatoes, 2 cucumbers and 1 large bunch of leaf lettuce. I highly recommend this co-op - it was well worth my money and time. And if you are interested in doing this, and live on my side of town, I'd be happy to pick up for you or we can trade off and on.


At the co-op pickup location.

Today's produce

Couture Cardstock Vintage Challenge

Another challenge on Couture Cardstock - this time it is a vintage theme or element. This page is of my grandmother Mona, who passed away right after Thanksgiving 2009. She is so, so missed. She died at the age of 81, and up until her death, she was extremely active, even babysitting my three kids at least once or twice a week. Not a day, a single day, goes by that I don't miss her and wish that she was still here. But she has her wings, and she's up in Heaven with the angels and Jesus (this is how we explained it to our kids, and it's a huge comfort), and we will see her again someday. This layout was of her as a very small child, probably when she was around Gretchen's age.

Couture Cardstock Circle Challenge

OK - I'm on a roll entering these contests! Today's challenge was to use at least two circles on your project. This layout is of Gretchen when she was just 2-1/2 months old. So teeny tiny! Check out other entries at Couture Cardstock.

Couture Cardstock Aqua/Teal challenge

Here is my entry for the Aqua/Teal challenge for Couture Cardstock. This is Daniel in his first year - I can't believe he is 4 already! I am so behind on my scrapbooking!!! The colors are much brighter in person on this page, but I did use the aqua/teal combination. Check out Couture's blog for more inspiration!

Couture Cardstock button challenge

I'm entering this page in an online contest - today's challenge was to use buttons. This photo was taken when Gretchen was only 1-1/2 months old - such a little peanut!
The challenge is being hosted on Couture Cardstock blog - go check them out!

My new haircut

I decided to get a whole new haircut today, and I'm really loving it. I think it will be a lot more sassier and fun than my old limp dishrag hairstyle!

Brownies - yummy & messy! And worms!

At the grocery store today, the kids saw a package of Little Debbie brownies with m-n-m's on them. Oh, they begged and begged for them. I finally told them that if they would stop asking, we would make some at home, which I am sure would be much tastier than the store-bought ones. They were so excited. True to my word, after naptime, we mixed up brownies. The kids had a ball, and I think were most excited to lick the beaters and spoon when we were all done.



It's been a bit rainy this week, which is perfect weather for worms! Before making the brownies, I sent the kids out to play, and one of the first things they did was find a worm. Daniel giggled like a school girl - "it's tickling me, mommy!" They then dug in the dirt to see how many more they could find. I love it when the little things get them giddy - and Gretchen was right alongside the boys, getting as muddy as possible! Sometimes I wonder if she knows she's a girl!

Quilts in Progress

I've been working on more quilts, and I'm really having fun with them. This monkey one is for Austin for his 5th birthday. I still need to put borders on it, but I got the main part of the top done.
Monkey Quilt - click to see larger.

This next one is for my sister, Melissa, for her birthday in March. She loves horses, so I think this will turn out nice for her.
Supplies for Horse Quilt

And then, I found out about a group called Quilts for Kids, and Downy is sponsoring some quilt kits for them. I signed up for a kit right after Valentine's Day, and it came in the mail today for me. I'm so excited to get working on it! They send you the fabric, with most if not all of the pieces pre-cut, and all I have to do is sew it together. There are even quilters out there you can send the top to, and they will quilt it for free and pass it back to Quilts for Kids, where it is given to a child in a hospital. Very cool!
Kung Fu Panda quilt kit

The Snobby Walrus

OK - so I have to admit - the name doesn't sound like anything a paper craft company would be called - but there is one! They have cute stuff, too. And they are doing a fun giveaway - with a deadline of midnight tonight! Head over to their blog and see what I'm talking about! The Snobby Walrus Giveaway

A New Look!

I decided to change up the look of my blog. Since we didn't get much snow this year, the snow background was getting old. I wanted something new and fun. What do you think? I like this layout a lot, so I think I might keep it for a while! Enjoy!

Ice Skating Lesson

Gretchen had her very first experience on the ice today, and it didnt' go too badly! We joined some other moms from MOMS Club at Eagles Ice-a-Rena for a little lesson. I was curious as to how Gretchen would do. You can see from the first photo that being in skates on the ice was not her cup of tea at all! The instructor, Coach Berkley, said to have her just get on the ice in her shoes to get used to the feel of it. After that, she was much happier! She did really well - the lesson was an hour long, and Gretchen lasted about 45 minutes of it, so that was a success. And when I asked her if she would like to try it again, she said yes. We might have to go back again next week and see what she thinks - I'd love it if she started to really like it!

Baby is here!

8 month old Baby A came to us on Tuesday afternoon, and so far it's been good. He's a very good natured baby. The kids are just enamored with him! I keep telling them we are only babysitting until Friday, but I think they want him to stay. Gretchen especially has been the little momma to him, and it's cute to watch. But they all just want to get in his face, so we've been trying to establish "personal space" boundaries. Not an easy thing to do with three small children who just want to hug and squeeze the new baby! Right now he's trying to nap, so my three are upstairs watching Dora to try and keep it a little less chaotic for the baby!

Happy Valentine's Day!

So, true to our family tradition, someone was sick with a stomach flu on Valentine's Day, and this time it was me! It wasn't super bad, but bad enough to make me spend a lot of time in bed. I had such grand plans for a really special day, but didn't feel much like doing anything. I did manage to feel better by the dinner hour, so I pulled out some of the decorations I had gotten ready and at least made our dining room festive.

The table all decorated with scrapbook paper placemats
and a little vase of flowers and a mini candle at each spot.

Very fun and festive!

The heart people that the kids made.

The heart garland hanging in our dining room.

Sitting down to a yummy dinner
of rib eye steak and french fries.

Quiet Time Baby Play

Today Gretchen decided to pull out all of her dollies and stuffed bears to create a baby sleep time in her room. It was so cute!