Friday, January 20, 2012

{BAKING} can get you out of that funk right?

...this morning did NOT get off to a good start...so I decided by mid-morning that I needed to {BAKE} something to help me out of that terrible, no good...MOOD!!!

I've had this recipe for quite sometime...I do not even remember where I picked it up but {TODAY} was the day that I was going to try it out! Snow Day #2...the kids really can't even go out side because we have at least an inch of ice on top of all our snow...I think we will still have to try sledding regardless...because we are starting to go stir-crazy!

...over on FACEBOOK...I'm getting a lot of requests for the recipe so here it is...

Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins

What you will Need:

• Non-Stick cooking spray
• 2 cups All Purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter

• 1/3 cup Pure vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup seedless strawberry jam OR strawberry preserves
• 1/4 cup sugar

How to make it:

• HEAT oven to 375ºF. Spray muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Stir together flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. Add milk, eggs, 2/3 cup sugar, peanut butter and oil to bowl. Combine ingredients on low speed of electric mixer, just until moistened. Do not over beat.

• FILL prepared muffin cups evenly with half of the batter. Place 2 level teaspoons jam or preserves in the center of each muffin. Evenly divide remaining batter between muffin cups. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar. Bake 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool in pan 5 minutes.



{ my review: I think they need to be sweeter...and I would add MORE peanut butter than what the recipe calls for...and more jelly :)}

...just thought I should share...

I have never shared these...looks like I meant to back in the summer months and I never got around to it for some reason...hummm...well here you go :)


..this first one is of my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary in July...they renewed their wedding vows. Many of you know that my dad lost his battle with Brain Cancer in December...we all prayed that he would see this day...he did...and it was such a {HAPPY} day...



...the second LO...shares the lyrics {while I'm waiting} ...these photos where taken this summer also...all on the same day I believe...of Stuart's sweet Grandma's funeral...I went on an early morning run...I had stopped to take a picture of the sunrise...and a quick snapshot as I started off...



...this last year had been such a sad year for our family...I am hoping that 2012 will be different...but...grieving is making that hard...I am reading many different books trying to help me cope...I am not sure that it is actually helping...but we are going on with our everyday lives...we are doing the best we can...trying to find our new {normal}.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

We got out 1st BIG SNOW today...

...and I wanted to make the kids something before they got back home from school...I grabbed a MINI TUBE from SRM and filled it full of the NEW KRAFT Jet-Puffed Mallow Bits...they are YUMMY! ...Then I went over to JessicaSprague.com and printed out this really cute card from EchoPark...and added my jeweled brad! ...That's it!!! I was all done in less than 10 minutes!




...by putting the Mallow Bits in the Mini Tube I am able to limit the kids to just this amount...instead of using the entire container! :)

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

I'm beginning to wonder...

...if I will EVER get this room back in order...back in August after Tom passed away...I just started tossing stuff in here and I kept the door shut...I kept telling myself I would get back in there and get all of this {STUFF} put away...then my dad kept getting sicker...you know what...this is how someone ends up on HOARDERS...yes...thank heavens it has only been contained to this one room...but this is just bad!!!

I have been telling Stuart and myself for months now I would get back in this room and get it taken care of...but it's been hard to get motivated enough to do it...let alone to even open the door! last night I managed to clean off my table a little bit...tonight I managed to work on the entry way...well at least I can see the carpet! I've still got a TON to do...but I managed to do a little tonight and that's PROGRESS :) Progress is good...even if it's just baby steps...

...I am always making sketches for upcoming projects/assignments...I found a TON of those tonight...I also found a bunch of quotes...this one I wrote down a LONG time ago...it was very fitting then...someone may find it also useful in their life now...so I thought I would share...



...well I guess I should probably either get back to cleaning or try and finish up this birthday present :) Which one do you think I will pick...

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

{Be Mine}

...how can it be that we are getting ready for Valentine's Day? I can finally share a couple SRM Projects that I made back in December...I used the following SRM Stickers: You can find a link to these stickers here ----> Quick Cards {Be Mine} #52027

You can find a link to these stickers here ----> Sticker Sentiments {Love} #51004


...this was such a fun little project...a couple fun little touches I added...machine stitching...to stitch the little banner down at the top and I even pulled out some stamps which I haven't had out in quite some time. I used { Bevy of Butterflies by UNITY Stamp Co.} on this one.

...and a {special THANK YOU} to my 12 year old son Ben for taking these photos of Stuart and I...we wouldn't have ANY photos together if it weren't for him! Thanks buddy! He has been taking photos of us for the last 4 years or so :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Monday, January 9, 2012

My photo of the the day {1.9.2012}

...who is attempting to do {A PHOTO A DAY } for the entire year or Project 365 this year? I have started...we are at day 9 and so far so good! :) ...I have no goals with this except that I will tell my story...at the end of the year I will have a ton of photos which I usually do anyway...I am sure I will know my camera better but no real goals...

...I woke up this morning with a horrible headache not able to do some of the things that I wanted to do...and even some things that others wanted me to do...by mid morning I had decided I needed to talk to the person that would give me the best advice...I hopped in the car and went to visit my dad...but only I could do the talking...I keep hearing from people about the grieving process...I know it's different for everyone...some days are better than others...after this mornings visit...my headache went away...


...one thing my dad kept repeating to me over and over during his illness was... ...when we worry and worry about things...it just eats us up...let the little things go...my dad was a very smart man...I miss him...

{Photo taken December 2010}

{Plain Jane give-a-way}

How cute is this!!! It's made out of polymer clay {fimo} and it will be customized just for YOU if you win!!!

Jane from Jane's Doodles is giving this little guy away...you know you want it...head on over to her blog and see what you need to do to get it for yourself!


I hope I win...but if I don't...I hope you do! :)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Grey Matters!


Will you do me a favor? Please sign {THIS PETITION}

...this morning 566 out of 2012...this only takes a minute to fill out...my dad could still be with us today if research was funded for Glioblastoma Multiforme {GBM}...SO MANY people know nothing about Brain Tumors...together we can spread AWARENESS...
{...a glimpse at my dad's 1st year fighting this terrible disease...a true hero in every sense of the word...never complaining...looking to God for comfort...praying...never giving in and giving up...FIGHTING to the very end...}

...what this petition wants to do is INCREASE BRAIN TUMOR AWARENESS: the Gray Ribbon represents Brain Tumor Awareness...however many people are not familiar with this!

The goal is to make the GREY RIBBON just as important and recognizable as the pink...people of all races and all ages are dying at an alarming rate!!! It is time to make Brain Cancer Awareness a priority not an option! I've had my GREY RIBBON on my car for the last year...trying to build awareness in my community...every little bit counts...


I also would like to state that I know and have many friends and have had family members suffer from breast cancer and I am not saying it is not important and doesn't deserve the recognition it receives...it's just that Brain Cancer is one of the orphan cancers...which means it is not given a lot of recognition or awareness...it's time to change that...

Here are some facts about Brain Cancer and Brain Tumors:

• Brain tumors strike men, women, and children of any race, at any age.
•Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children under the age of twenty.
•Symptoms of a brain tumor may include: headaches, seizures, cognitive or personality changes, eye weakness, nausea, speech disturbances, or memory loss.
• An MRI is the best diagnostic tool for accurately detecting a brain tumor.
•More than 600,000 people in the United States are currently living with a primary brain tumor.
• There are more than 120 different types of brain tumors, which is one reason why treating them is so difficult.
•Both malignant and non-malignant brain tumors can have a severe and debilitating impact on quality of life.
•Only one out of three adults diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor today will be alive in five years.
•Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among males up to age 39.
•Brain tumors are the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women ages 20-39.
•A brain tumor patient’s outcome depends on several factors, including the type of tumor, location, response to treatment, age, and overall health.
•Brain tumor treatments, which can include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, may have life-altering side effects.
•Brain tumors in children are different from those in adults and are often treated differently.
•More than 72% of children with brain tumors will survive; however, they are often left with life-long physical, psychological, and/or cognitive deficits.

{Don't forget to click on the link above and sign the petition today...it only takes a minute...and it could help save the life of someone you love...}

Friday, December 23, 2011

A final honor...

...I'm finally getting some photos off of my camera...here's a picture that was featured in the Tri-City Herald of my dad's procession. I have no idea who contacted them...but I do remember seeing them standing along side the road. The procession was amazing...it had traffic stopped for miles...and there were people standing here and there outside places of business along the entire route from the Hanford Patrol Training Academy (PTA) to the Cemetery. We were told that there we at least 117 cars in the procession. Inside the van where we were, my mom, sisters and I...there were moments of laughter and moments of tears...as we recalled certain memories during our childhood...listened to my dad's favorite songs and most of all just wished we weren't doing what we were doing...the procession was truly one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed...I always knew my dad was a VERY SPECIAL person and it was evident many people also thought so...
...so many things have changed in the last few weeks...I still wake up just like I have the last 20 months wishing all of this was a dream...unfortunately it's not...I know that my dad is no longer in pain...or suffering...but the pain we are all feeling and the emptiness that is in our hearts hurts more than we want to admit...I know with time it will get better and we will all hurt less and less but right now it seems as if our world is going to stop because he is gone... :'(

Sunday, December 11, 2011

The life of one we love is never lost. It's influence goes on through all the lives it ever touched.

~ Christoper Holloway

I know my dad touched MANY...I know he is no longer suffering from such a horrible disease...right now I am at such a loss for words...but I want to post something...thank you so much for all your posts, messages, texts, PMs...my dad will be truly missed...

"I love you dad"


Father's Day 2011