Month: September 2009

Ok, I’m hooked. I loved making this journal + sewing right onto the cover. LOVE.

I already put the pumpkin muffins (from THIS post) in there, and next I’ll discuss what we’re all talking about as possibilities for costumes. FABULOUS. Loving this. See the whole thing + get instructions & supplies here: http://fiskarscrafts.com/projects/t_fall09notebook.aspx

Now, I’ve got two sets of give aways today. That’s right. TWO of you who leave a comment here will walk away winners. Why, because Fiskars + I love you. Of what, you ask?

oh, ANY one of the new Border/Corner Combo punches. I’m showing the one I used, but you can pick.

prettiest scissors any paper cutting junkie needs. I love mine.

best tape runner. Oh, and a crazy cute corner punch.

That’s right friends, if you win you get all 4 fabulous Fiskars tools. I’ll draw a winner on 9/28… good luck!

Of course I do, but more specifically I need you to ask me some questions. I’m working on a presentation for my Big Picture class, and I thought it would be fun to address real questions.

So please – lay it on me!! Any questions you can think of about scrapbook kits – using them, making, ideas for specific themes of kits, favorites, what to do with ___…. anything! Leave your question(s) in comment section here please.

As you can see I’ve been busy. This picture represents only about 1/2 the layouts I made for class! Working without feedback as I do, sometimes I feel like I miss some piece that my students would want. Oh, I work hard to make sure I don’t miss anything major – but I thought a presentation with some Q & A would be a fun addition BONUS to this class.

As a thank you, if I’m able to use any of your questions I will mail you a little treat. Something special in a ‘happy mail’ envelope to say thanks. I’ll respond to each comment left – and you’ll know soon if a treat is heading your way.

Thanks for helping!!

update: Thank you to those who’ve commented so far – I now have enough for the presentation. If you have questions though, DO feel free to ask. I will continue to respond.

I was inspired by a dish I had at TGI Friday’s a while back, and know what? It’s sooo good and super quick. These days, what with me working so much fast = good in dinner department. Plus anything with super lean chicken breast (that I actually like) is always welcome here.

Here’s the deal – soak a chicken breast (or 4) in some caesar dressing. Do it in a plastic bag so you don’t have to use all that much dressing. I poke holes (w/fork) about 6-8x into each breast randomly so it’ll really soak in. After a few hours (or a day or two even) when you’re ready heat up a pan with just a little olive oil. Get it nice and HOT. When ready, take them out and shake off the excess. You don’t want them too wet. Now just brown up  until all cooked and delicious.

For the topping – toss some panko bread crumbs (I like the ‘italian seasoned panko’ for this) into a small pan and add a little butter. Stir until butter is melted and panko is getting toasty. How much you use depends on how many breasts. Just sprinkle it over the top of your chicken breast, then dust with some parmesan cheese and enjoy.

I like spinach sauted with garlic & butter as a side. I love the flavor the dressing gives and the special touch the breadcrumbs + cheese topping makes. It feels much more special than a 15 minute meal!

I got it in my head that it’d be fun to write letters (but really just blog posts) to companies & people when they do something I love. Just a little positive happy note put out there into the blogosphere. Focusing on something good… here’s the first.

Dear Making Memories,

As I sit here surrounded by your vintage findings collection, I ask myself why it is your name never comes up when I’m thinking about my favorite companies. Your customer service and product replacement when there’s a problem is awesome, and you’ve come out with some of my favorite products EVAH. So what’s my deal?

I can not explain, but I can tell you that your beautiful things don’t go unnoticed here. The tiny glitter letters, your vintage findings collection, brads, not to mention the paper collections you’ve come out with that I have enjoyed over the years. Today though, I’d like to talk about these:

I did not realize when I ordered them that I’d be getting all this:

I am filled with Christmas Joy. Truly. They make me happy, and reminded me to say thank you for making such cool stuff just for me. It is, right? Just for me? It definitely feels like it in this case.

Sincerely,

M.F.

As soon as I saw this recipe on Margie’s blogI knew it sounded like a real winner! Only thing was due to the fact that I’ll just eat all the muffins I thought a smaller recipe would be safer. So, I cut it in 1/4. Then I found I didn’t have oil and used butter instead. Results? It’s MAAAAGGGIIIIICAAAALLLL. Seriously – these things are amazing. My recipe made 24 mini muffins + 12 regular.

“Margie’s Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins”
{with May’s edits & substitutions}

1 stick barely warm, mostly melted butter
1/2c packed brown sugar
1c sugar
{mix up then add all this}
1 small can (12 -15 oz or like 1 1/2 cups) pumpkin
2 eggs already beaten
1tsp vanilla
1tsp baking soda dissolved in a tiny bit of warm water (less than 1/4 cup)
{mix dry ingredients together, then combine with wet}
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2tsp baking powder
1/2tsp salt
pinch ginger
1/2tsp cloves
1/2tsp nutmeg
1tsp cinnamon
{then mix in}
1/4 cup water
{and then stir in}
1 – 1 1/2cups chocolate chips (I just did 2 big handfuls)

bake 20minutes @ 350

 Thanks to Margie for sharing – the girls LOVE them and they are such a taste of fall – truly makes my mouth happy!