Halloween Costumes

Ella as Madeline. (store bought)
The dog is Genevieve



Evangeline as a Woodland Sprite. (Homemade)




Heading off on a Halloween adventure together.

10

HALLOWEEN Magic!

Last night we carved pumpkins. This is my favorite Halloween activity. And I was totally excited to get this pumpkin, which was actually white. Kind of a weirdy albino pumpkin that made me giddy. Tonight we are going to a friends house for dinner and then heading out to trick-or-treat in their fancy-shmancy neighborhood (that would be a neighborhood other than ours).

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I am the November Guest Artist for the most fabulous cardstock manufacturer evah!
You must check out the WorldWin blog this month for tons of inspiration from their in house team and 4 projects throughout the month by me.
And, breaking tradition, my first project for my November gig is hitting today...October 31st.
And it's pretty darn cute.
I created this gift tag with a recipe for Halloween night.



To get a full supply list and step by step instructions (including my recipe for Dinner In A Pumpkin) visit the WorldWin blog by clicking here.

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And a very SPOOKY BIRTHDAY to Heidi Sonboul! My good friend, scrapping genius and incredible shrinking woman...we had a weight-loss competition and she kicked my butt.

Girl! You are amazing. Strong. Fearless. Gorgeous. Fierce and every other good adjective in the world. Your personalized and ultra softy scarf is being knit at this very moment.

HAPPY HAPPY B-DAY!

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Recipes that Rock: Dinner in a Pumpkin

DINNER IN A PUMPKIN

A perfect recipe to make on Halloween night to send your kids out

to trick or treat with a full tummy of warm and filling soup.

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 pound ground turkey sausage (sweet or spicy)

1 c. diced onion

8 oz. chopped mushrooms

1 large green pepper, minced

salt and pepper to taste

2 cloves minced garlic

1 can cream of celery soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can chicken stock

1 1/2 cups long grain wild rice mix (par cooked)

1 med - large pumpkin

Cook rice per package direction except only cook for half the time suggested. Set aside.

In a large skillet over medium heat, mix ground beef and turkey sausage. Add garlic, green pepper, onion and mushrooms. Cook and stir until evenly browned. Add salt & pepper.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove and reserve top of pumpkin. Scoop out seeds and stringy pulp. Lightly oil inside of pumpkin with olive oil.

Mix soups and chicken stock into the beef and sausage mixture. Spoon mixture into the pumpkin, and cover top with foil.

Place pumpkin on a large baking sheet, lined with foil, and bake 1.5-2 hours or until pumpkin is tender. Scoop out portions of filling and parts of the cooked pulp to serve.

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Crafts like this make me realize...

....I'm kind of a butt-dog.

Someone you know is going to be a Guest Artist over at the The Paper Mill blog in November.
And by "someone you know" I mean me.

So I went to the blog and went back in time for a few months to refresh my mind on all of their great project tutorials and I saw this...



Seriously. Can you believe the genius of this?

This project is by Robin Willis and step by step instructions can be found on the Paper Mill blog here as well as how to make adorable matching napkin holders. And yes, she hand cut, folded and inked those leaves one by one.

And that's when I realized...I may think I am a crafty-vixen, I never would have been this creative. But having given that amazing plug for myself, stay tuned later today for the link to my first project as Guest Artist. LOL!
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1

You Better...or ELSE!

People, people, people.
Why aren't you watching 30 Rock?
It's hilarious!
And I mean gut busting hilariosity!
Check this out....



Tonight's premier is gunna be a doozy.
So turn it on...or ELSE!

P. to the S.
Did you notice the complete blog facelift?
Still trying to come up with something that doesn't annoy me after 3 weeks.
Thinking this cute little header will make me smile for more than a month.

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Paper Crafts Gourmet

Sniff. Sniff.
Can you smell that?
Something pretty darn cool is cooking up.
It's the new Paper Crafts GOURMET Special issue.

If you love food and paper crafting (yes....and YES!), this is the recipe book for you! It includes over 50 original recipes and over 110 projects to complement those recipes.

Projects include:
• Clever containers
• Gorgeous tags and wraps
• Fun food markers
• And much more!

I know for me and my family, in the current economy, I am looking for a bunch of great ideas for inexpensive, but impressive neighbor gifts. And this is one place where my creativity comes to a screeching halt...seriously. The furthest I get is Maybe I could put a fun tag on this paper plate of cookies. And we all know I kinda suck at cards. This book is a must have for me this year.

Pre-order your copy of Paper Crafts Gourmet by clicking here!

I am so excited to get to share with you this exclusive sneak project from inside this amazing Idea Book.


Cheesy Garlic Drop Biscuits
By: Alisa Bangerter


This is a perfect recipe to pull out if you are short on time because there is no rolling or cutting. The cheese and garlic add extra kick to a plain biscuit, and kids love them. They are the perfect accompaniment to serve with soups or stews, and are great served with a salad.

INGREDIENTS
2 c. flour
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. butter or margarine
1 1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 1/4 c. milk
Chives (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture is fine. Add cheese and mix well. Add milk and stir until just moistened. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Sprinkle top with chopped dried or fresh chives if desired. Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 15 minutes.

COORDINATING PROJECT: Here's the super cute (and impossible for me to think of on my own) gift tag. Also by Alisa Bangerter.


SUPPLIES: Cardstock: (ivory) Dye ink: (Black) Stewart Superior Corp.; (Summer Sun) Stampin’ Up! Specialty ink: (Mango Lemonade color wash) Stewart Superior Corp. Color medium: (black chalk) Craf-T Products Accents: (black brads) Making Memories; (chipboard bat, moon) Melissa Frances Fibers: (black striped ribbon) Pebbles Inc. Font: (Black Family) www.dafont.com Adhesive: (foam tape) Finished size: 3" x 4 1/2"

1. Make tag from cardstock.
2. Crumple tag and smooth out. Spray edges with color wash; let dry. Apply chalk.
3. Ink chipboard moon; let dry. Chalk edges and adhere.
4. Ink chipboard bat; let dry. Adhere with foam tape.
5. Print sentiment on cardstock; trim and tear edges. Chalk edges and adhere with foam tape. Attach brads. Attach ribbon with brad.

And in other news....GO PHILLIES!
World Series Champs!
WOOT!
The excitement was electric last night.
People honking their horns, screaming and getting happily drunk.
A celebration style as American as...well....baseball.

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3

Recipes That Rock: Pumpkin Love

I hate Pumpkin Pie and this recipe finally made me an acceptable guest at Thanksgiving dinners. Picture hearing What?!! How can you hate Pumpkin Pie?!!! at every Thanksgiving of your life. Now people ask that I bring this instead of a Pumpkin Pie. And since I adapted the recipe...I get to create the slightly weird name. Behold....

PUMPKIN LOVE

INGREDIENTS

1 box yellow cake mix (reserve 1 cup of the dry cake mix)

1/2 cup butter - melted

1 egg - beaten

1 large can of pumpkin (29 oz.)

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1 cup evaporated milk (or 1 c. heavy cream)

1 cup brown sugar

3 eggs - beaten

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. vanilla extract

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1 cup reserved cake mix

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter - soft

DIRECTIONS

Bottom:

Take 1/2 cup of melted butter, 1 beaten egg and remainder (minus 1 c.) of the dry cake mix, combine and press into the bottom of your Pyrex 9 x 13 baking dish (3 qt. size).

Filling:

Take 3 beaten eggs, 1 cup evaporated milk, the can of pumpkin, 1 cup brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Combine and pour over the bottom.

Topping:

Crumble together the reserved 1 cup of dry cake mix, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/3 c. butter. Cut with pastry cutter until crumbly. Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts if desired. Sprinkle over the filling.

Bake: on center rack at 350F for about 50-60 min. or until top is light brown it barely jiggles when pan is slightly shaken. Let cool completely. 

Top with whipped cream. (1 pt. whipping cream + 2 Tbsp. white granulated sugar...beat until soft peaks form)

10

Halloween Hoopla

I've never been that "in to" Halloween.
Mostly because I am a total scaredy cat.
And I always have been.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the candy and stuff when I was little.
BUT it always came with a very calculated risk. The scary house in the neighborhood that my friends would drag me too. My heart would race. And inevitably someone would jump out and grab me. Funny to them...not to me.
I hate the gross out and gory foods, decorations and costumes.
And no scary movies for this girl....ever. Never. It's a rule.

However, in the spirit of Halloween, I am going to share a few things that I love about this holiday...

My Favorite Party: Ahern Annual Pumpkin Carving Party. Carving pumpkins, eating my famous Pumpkin Love dessert and watching campy old scary movies (more on that later). The Meese family and delicious food.

My Favorite Treat: Pumpkin Love. Oh people...it is so delicious! Stay tuned for the recipe to be posted a little later today.

My Favorite Scary Movies: Invasion of the Body Snatchers. 1956 version. Hilariously campy, but still spooky enough for adult viewers. You'll notice from this poster that the lead female, Becky, spends her days running from the Body Snatchers in a strapless party dress with heels and pearls. LOVE that!



And my very favorite Hitchcock film of all time. Rope. Not only is it truly suspenseful, it is incredibly smart and it's suspense is built through words and well crafted characters. And the coolest part of all? It was shot on a single set, aside from the opening establishing shot street scene. Camera moves were planned in advance and there was almost no editing.



The walls of the set were on rollers and could silently be moved out of the way to make way for the camera, and then replaced when they were to come back into shot. Prop men also had to constantly move the furniture and other props out of the way of the large Technocolor camera, and then ensure they were replaced in the correct location. A team of soundmen and camera operators kept the camera and microphones in constant motion, as the actors kept to a carefully choreographed set of cues.

It is incredibly amazing to see. RENT this movie!!! It's wicked cool.

A Craft to Try: And I found this super cute Holiday wreath which I plan on making this year. To see the supply list and instructions click here. I am thinking I might not use the crow, and mix purple and black leaves. I may play around with this one. And that's the most exciting part!

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Fabulous Freebie

Hey Bloggies!

Want to win the Bo Bunny Craft Knife that I reviewed
on the Craft Critique website on Monday?
It is a must have for crafters of any kind.

Click here to read all about it!
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2

Nerd Confession #2...Shy Widdle Emiwee

When I was young I was shy.
Painfully shy.
One time in 7th grade a really popular girl in my grade had a crush on my older brother and realized I was his sister. In an attempt to get in good with him she said "hi" to me in the hallway at school and do you know what I did?
I started crying.
Yep.
Painfully shy.

But I seem to be making up for lost time in my adulthood and now I love nothing more than a gaggle of good girlfriends to chat with, scrap with and follow reality television with.

This part of our recent move from Utah to Delaware has been the most difficult for me.
Missing my girl friends I left behind.
So on Sunday I was so excited to be invited to an acquaintances home for dinner followed by trick-or-treat in their posh neighborhood.
I also have been chatting more and more with a fun church friend who adores Project Runway like I do and who is crazy fun and hilarious.
And today I received a lunch invitation for next week.

And I am excited.
Excited like a wall flower getting asked to slow dance for the first time.
Nerdy? Definitely.
But we all want a little belongingness in our lives right?
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11

Create A Memory Photos

Remember my Create A Memory challenge from last week?
I thought I would post a few of the photos I received.
I think this is so magical.
These Mom's stopped their busy lives and did something truly fun with their kids.
And their children might remember that day...out of all of their childhood memories that fade.

As for my day, I had a million errands to run, so I dragged my kids to the Super Wal*mart. But at the end is where it got fun. They have an automated carousel at the Wal*mart by the exit. I let the girls hop on for a ride. And you know the part where the ride ends and they say "Again!" Well, for this special day I plunked $3.00 worth of quarters (at 50 cents per ride) in continually. And let them ride their hearts out. It was very simple, yet very fun.

Here's what some of my blog readers did...

Jennifer S. let her daughter play in the autumn leaves and even played along with her (the most important part).

Emily F. took her kids to see the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua and they even snuck in food from Chick-Fil-A. That part is very fun indeed.

Kim C. and her cute son, Josh, carved three pumpkins and roasted the seeds too. Here he is by his favorite pumpkin.

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Sunday Sketch

Hello All!
Happy Sunday to you.



This weeks sketch is a two photo sketch.
These are by far the hardest for me to make work, since design principles say that you should always use odd numbers. And somehow four photos are easier for me to use. Anyhoo...I like how this one turned out. Give it a try! I'd love to see what you create.

Here's my little Fifi at around 11 months.
Her tiny little bottom teeth had just come in and I found them delightfully cute.



This layout was made using products entirely from a new kit by Paislee Press called SOCIOLOGIE coming soon to the oscraps.com store.
I am LOVING the yellows and greys of this line.

P.S. If you want to have your Create a Memory picture on the blog you have to send it to me by tonight at midnight so I can post the adorable pictures I have received so far on tomorrow's post.

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Happy Birthday BLOG!!!

I forgot to mention that this month my blog turned 4 years old.

I'm like a proud Mama.

It seems like just yesterday I wrote my first post.

{sniff!}

Click here to read the very first post back from October 17, 2004.

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Culture Gap

How different can the East and West Coast really be?
Well, this week I have gone to 5 different stores looking for a cooling rack.
Ummm...what? People don't make cookies on the East Coast?
Still no dice.



Then last night we went to our favorite spot for ice cream.
Brusters.
I ordered a Hot Fudge Sundae.
And then this weird conversation took place...

Ice Cream Girl: Would you like vanilla ice cream with that?
Me: Yes.
Ice Cream Girl: And nuts and whipped cream?
Me: Yes.
Ice Cream Girl: Would you like your nuts wet or dry?
Me: Huh?
Ice Cream Girl: Wet or Dry?
Me: Ummmmm.......I'm sorry. I have no idea what you're talking about. What are wet nuts?

She answered my question, but I have to know...is this commen knowledge?
Do you know what wet nuts are???
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29

Recession Elephants for ALL!

So, my cutey-cute friend Emily linked these adorable blank board books from Romp on her blog last week. The cost was a mere $4.

And like an impetuous child I ran straight to the link and bought 3. I then found out that you can buy better blank books in more sizes at Barebooks.com for $1.50.

What a burn.

Oh well....I still get cute books right? Nope. Yesterday I received a package from Romp containing these...

Two small carved wooden elephants and the invoice for them to a woman in California who is undoubtedly opening her box of board books and shaking her fist at the sky.

But the best part is, I got to see how much these small (smaller than a nail polish bottle) wooden elephants put this lady back. Are you ready for it? $80.00!!!

Wowza! Someone should tell this California Mom that there's a recession going on right now to rival the Great Depression. Fill your gas tank while you still can! LOL! Although they are kind of cute. And it did go through my mind to carve my own out of soap, mail them to her and sell hers on eBay for a tidy profit.

Okay...I would never actually do it, but thinking about it is kind of funny.
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You WIN!

And the winner is.....


Chicken drew the name and then Fifi wanted in on the winning photo action.


Karidan Kaye said...

Emilie I adore you cause everything you do is adorable!! I love reading your blog!! and The bugs bunny and tweety show was my favorite I remember watching it at 7am on saturday mornings!!! I love to do cards and dont have the money right now to get any idea books so I would love this!!!

October 23, 2008

Never fear those who didn't win.

Due to popular demand I am currently compiling a Mix CD of my Blog Setlist and there will be a 5 CD give-away very soon! (wink wink Jenny Meese!)




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2

Card Creations Vol 6 Give-Away!

You know I always talk about how I am not great at making cards. However, once in a while, I get it right. Like this card, which appears (on pg. 58) in the recent edition of Paper Crafts's Card Creations 6. And do you know why this card was easy? Because I made it all using October Afternoon products. How can you go wrong with their delicious papers and alphabet stickers?

Yesterday I got a package with two copies of this wonderful idea book! So I am giving one away (Retail is $14.99 and worth every penny) to a lucky blog reader. Just leave a comment on this post telling me why you adore me...NO, just kidding. Wouldn't you die if someone really required that?!! LOL!

Okay, I actually want you to leave a comment on what your favorite cartoon was as a child. I really liked the Smurfs. Who wasn't jealous of Smurfette? With all of those male smurfs to choose from? I wish I had had those gender odds in college!

Leave your comment before noon EST on Friday (tomorrow) to be eligible.

If you don't win the drawing you can buy Card Creations Vol. 6 here.

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75

This and That

It's about time for a THIS and THAT post...

Bazzill mini albums. I am mailing out the mini albums, but here's the deal, beautiful people. Fifty of you asked for one. I have been addressing envelopes like I am getting married. So I sent out a first wave last week, then I waited to get a second package from Stacy J. I have it now and I *hope* to mail out the rest tomorrow. I am doing my best bloggies!

- - - - -

Evangeline has decided Monocles are all the rage. There is a certain necklace pendant I have and she loves to hold it up to her left eye. She has been doing this non-stop for a week and she even sleeps with this thing. Strange, but funny. I am totally not sure, but a highly suspect that this new obsession is born out of Fifi's continual viewing of Cinderella. Remember the Duke always has a Monocle in that cartoon?

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Matt has been out of town on a business trip since Sunday afternoon and will not return until Thursday night. He is in glorious San Diego, CA while I stay at home and chase children who are wearing no panties (more on that later). While away, he proved his ultimate manliness by winning us a new Garmen GPS system by having the strongest handshake of any person at the conference. Yep...the entire conference of muscle-bound Health Administrators. That's my boy!

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Does Britney Spears getting skinny mean we have to see her all naked and steamy in her new video on 20/20 ?!! If so, I prefer chubby, lost and covered Britney.

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I am getting very tired of this political race. We live in Delaware, but our television stations come from Pennsylvania, a swing state. The sheer amount of political commercials on TV is mind numbing and frustrating beyond words.

To make matters worse I recently watched Mr. Smith Goes To Washington as per my birthday goals and that has embittered me even more. Why can't it be like that? Can't good people who haven't compromised their souls ever run for president? Matt's answer: No. Because to reach a level of politics beyond the local level one must have a longing for power. I think he may be right, although the optimist in me rages against that idea. At least there's still this to make me laugh. Hold me close JibJab...you're all I have left!

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You Mommies all know it. The sudden silence of wickedness. When all of the sudden it's quiet...too quiet and you know your children are into something wicked. This was the scene that met me today during one of those moments.

Fifi laying on the floor, drawing on our linoleum with a red crayon. Chicken, with pants and panties discarded on the footstool step, leaning over the sink and making a "stew" out of mouthwash, foaming hand cleanser and Windex.

The towel, which I pulled from the fresh clean laundry just today, laying on the floor in a heap and a photo of me and my friends from Utah in a place of honor in front of the toilet.

9

Challenge: Create A Memory

When I was young we went for a visit to Spokane, WA. It was a kind of cool, but sunny day. I remember going to a small carnival where they had a Merry-Go-Round. This was a special kind of Merry-Go-Round with colored rings on the top, immovable portion of the structure and as children wound around the edge they would come to a point where they could reach up and grab a colored ring. But the important part was that amongst the rings was a hidden golden ring. If you chose happened to get that one you received a prize.

I was too little to even come close to reaching the rings...in fact, I think I remember sitting in one of those small non-moving benches that some merry-go-rounds have. I watched in giddy anticipation as my older siblings pulled those rings at each go around. And then a squeal of triumph. My sister Lorelei had pulled the golden ring. What excitement! I don't remember what she won, but I remember feeling happy that day. And that feeling of happiness amongst a childhood with it's fair share of unhappiness is an important memory to me.

As I contemplated this memory today I focused on this. As a Mommy, my job is to feed, clothe and tend to my children's physical needs. But it is so much more. You must be an emotional support, a teacher, a nurturer and also there needs to be that quality that should fill any childhood...fun! I wonder now how difficult it may or may not have been for my Mom to take us to that little carnival...but that memory of childhood happiness is a cherished one for me.

I want, this day, to stop answering emails and planning my shopping list and engage my children in something fun and whimsical and joyous!

The Challenge: If you want to join me in dropping everything and adding fun to your life today, please email me a picture or the story of your fun activity and I'll do a follow-up post here. Let's go out today and fill our lives with unaccounted for FUN! No, you don't have to have kids to play along...just do something, anything wildly joyous today!

(*the photo in this post is one I took of Ella/Chicken last summer, throwing herself into a stream with the wild abandon that only two-year-olds posses)

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4

Make your own font & a FREEBIE!

This website has really great and easy to follow step by step instructions and I caught on quickly and created my trial font in a night. They have you print out a guide that is easy to fill out and scan and get this.....you can even add your own dingbats, which I did, adding a little heart, my signature and some other fun extras.



Now, having done this trial version I totally know ways in which I can make it better. So This was just a jumping off point. I am going to start over and tweak it a bit until I am happy. I also plan on making my cursive and swirly handwriting into seperate fonts.

Pretty darn fun...and addicting.
You've been warned!

Here's my font which I title "Emilie's Straight Jacket" since it's my most neat and prim handwriting style. It is available for free download by clicking here.

Enjoy!
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21

Sunday Sketch

Are you ready to get totally hybrid?
Hybrid scrapbooking is a mix of traditional paper products and computer elements.
This can fall anywhere between printing journaling to making a full digital page and adding some metal brads after printing.

This is a layout of me and my new found friend and partner in gregariousness, Roxann Walker. We finally got to meet for the first time at CKC-Valley Forge. This layout is truly hybrid. I scanned the Basic Grey products to make them into digital paper and embellishments. I also used my handwriting, which I recently turned into a font. All of the rest is digital including that adorable chipboard alphabet.


PRODUCTS - Cardstock: Emily Merritt, Patterned Paper: Basic Grey, Embellishments: Basic Grey, Alphabet: Laura Skathi (altered), Label: Paislee Press, Lace: Emily Merritt, Stitches: Emily Merritt

5

a glimpse inside my mind...

I am: Emilie

I think: all of the time. My mind is always racing.

I know: my religious beliefs are true.

I want: to always feel as happy as I feel now.

I have: a kooky personality.

I dislike: when people don't take responsibility for their mistakes.

I miss: Emily Foley

I fear: the current financial recession.

I feel: grateful.

I hear: Chicken turning the pages of her Frances book from the library.

I smell: fresh air. The window is open.

I crave: creme brulee.

I cry: when I feel so blessed that I cannot contain my gratitude. And when Oprah gave away all those new cars a couple of years ago. I bawled my eyes out because she made those school teachers so happy and I was so excited for them. (I was pregnant at the time)

I usually: have dirty dishes in my sink.

I search: for my car keys...constantly.

I wonder: why people like the ramblings on my blog so much. (that's you!)

I regret: not dealing with my childhood abuse years sooner.

I wish: my siblings had the courage to deal with it now.

I love: my little family.

I care: about human beings...even strangers.

I always: check my email.

I worry: that my girls will grow up and not know how beautiful and special they are.

I am not: easily offended

I remember: What makes America great, even when this political race makes me angry.

I believe: that people are capable of amazing things.

I sing: in the car with my girls. As loud as I want. I don't care who sees me.

I don't always: keep things as organized as I should.

I argue: with myself when I am trying to make a decision.

I write: to nurture my soul.

I win: Scrabble...every time. No matter who I play.

I loose: Games of chance...always.

I listen: to my blog music every day.

I don't understand: People who are cranky all of the time.

I can usually be found: at the computer.

I need: to eat more healthy again.

I forget: the last time I felt so loved.

I am happy: to be me.

13

Conversation At My House...

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Me: Can we talk about something?

Chicken: Sure!

Me: Heavenly Father gave us our bodies. They are special and they are the only bodies we are ever going to have, so we have to take extra good care of them.

Chicken: Okay.

Me: That means you have to wipe your bum every time you use the potty.

Chicken: Oh....okay Mommy.

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Who says Motherhood isn't glamorous?
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5

Holla At Your Boy!

I awoke this morning with a hangover...even though I don't drink.
Maybe fashion is my drug.
Let's talk PROJECT RUNWAY Finale!

First...I found it very odd this year that there was no "twist" like ever other season. There was also no angry and confrontational reunion show preceding the finale. Wonder what that's about? The Season 2 reunion show is one of my faves ever!

Anyway, let's take on the collections one by one.

Kenley....not so great. She had one dress that was divine (shown below), but the rest was highly over-styled. And even though this is supposed to be an assessment of her product I do find it necessary to throw in, once again, that her attitude sucked. You don't question Tim Gunn...ever!



Korto....pretty darn good. I really loved her pleating. And her colors were quite good as well...although one dress (this one) was pretty over-worked and really hurt her collection. I think she will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. My favorite look...



And finally, Leanne....the dark horse. She once referred to herself as a Silent Fashion Assassin...and she was right! LOVE that she won! Her collection was completely breathtaking! It had the best flow by far of all of the collections. It did get a bit repetitious, but each piece was delightful. And here's my favorite of hers...although it was hard to choose a fave.



And as a final solidifying of the grossly inappropriate amount of television hours I take in...did anybody notice this model in Karto's show?



It's Bianca from Cycle 9 of America's Next Top Model. Didn't she just punch out Nikki Blonsky? Yep. Oh this world of Pop Culture....it sucks me in!

Think you're a PROJECT RUNWAY expert?
Take the Quiz here.
I got 47/50.
Questions about the models really shouldn't count though!
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7

2 posts in one day?!!

What is this world coming to?!
Scrap Faith....that's what.

Here's my layout for the newest ScrapFaith challenge. And it's a good challenge which examines what your purpose is in this life and are you fulfilling it?

Interesting things to think about even if you're not a scrapper.



Almost all products are from the Kenner Road October kit.
Which was a delicious kit, I might add.
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7

Something I Love: Wondertime Magazine

So, I really hate parenting magazines. These magazines go through a horrid cyclical pattern of advice from current "experts' on a certain subject. You Mommies know what I'm talking about.

Never pick up your child after they're in bed. Children need constant nurturing in the first 6 months. Don't spoil your kids by letting them sleep in your bed. If you don't sleep your kids in the bed you'll ruin their lives. Circumcision is bad. Circumcision is good. Vaccinations are.....Blah Blah Blah.

But there is one Parenting magazine I subscribe to and love. Wondertime. Finally, a breath of fresh air and what a parenting magazine truly should be. Toy recommendations for every price point. Truly informative articles about the way children grow and develop. Great crafts and activity ideas for all ages. Helpful and carefully researched information on certain topics where all opinions are reported on and accounted for. And let me just take a moment to say that the graphic and cool feel of the design will make you forget about every other frumpy parenting magazine out there.

And get this....I found a 1 year subscription today on sale for $4.95.

SHUT THE DOH!

Seriously...subscribe.

I get tons of inspiration from this magazine.

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I am Twitter-pated!

My cute friend Kimberly introduced me to Twitter.
And it's super-cool.

It's a running online community
where you continually update with
the answer to one question:
What are you doing?

It's amazing how fun it is to see your
friends add little snippets and random
thoughts throughout their day.

If you wanna see what I am doing
click this cute little button in my side-bar.




Wanna join?
Do it and then you can update your own
life and watch what your friends are doing as well!

http://www.twitter.com/

See ya there!

6

Where's Wemilie - October 08 Edition

Here's where my work can be seen on magazine stands and online this month. I list these here on my blog so my Mom (in Sweden) can see them. Not trying to be braggy!"

"April 12" SCRAPBOOK TRENDS (Oct 08)

"Cupcakes" CREATING KEEPSAKES (Oct 08)

"Autumn" CREATING KEEPSAKES (Oct 08) - Layout and Featured Technique

"Beauty" SCRAPBOOK TRENDS (Sept 08)

"Light the Menorah" PAPER CRAFTS (Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 3) - CARD

.

(No, I'm not Jewish...but I can make one sweet Menorah card!)
.
.

5

Nainy would be proud

While growing up, my Mom (Nainy) had what one might call a butter obsession. She never bought margarine, just pure 100% butter. And she used said butter liberally. She slathered butter on all of the usual items, toast, corn on the cob, etc. But she also took it to the next level, buttering glazed doughnuts and cinnamon rolls. Seriously.

And this morning, while I was working on the computer, Chicken made her own piece of toast as a mid-morning snack. She put the bread in the toaster, toasted it, waited for it to cool, removed it and buttered it herself with a table knife. When I glanced over I saw this....



The most liberal buttering of toast of all time.
I'm pretty sure I can say that without contest.

I asked her if I could take some of the butter off to which she weakly replied, "But I already buttered it...all by myself." So considering that her weight is in about the 3rd percentile...being almost 4 years old and weighing in at around 26 pounds, I let her eat it. I cringed the entire time and maybe dry heaved once or twice, but I still let her eat it.

Nainy would be proud.
.
.
P.S. And just in case you noticed....Chicken is wearing a ballerina's tutu this morning...just like every other morning...and afternoon....and evening......always.
.
.

5

So FREE

I have recently discovered a fun little singer.

And get this, her name is Emilie Mover.

Another "IE" Emilie....we're a dying breed.

And by dying breed I mean we're a French Canadian breed.

And, as I listened to a sample or two her her music, I stumbled upon a ringtone freebie. Yep, I downloaded it to my phone and it's truly free.

Upbeat, fun, lyrical...a great ringtone.

Click here to listen to the song.

Want it?

Text the word SCENT to 62407. It will reply with a text. Choose options and click "save sound".

You'll want to let it go to voicemail, just so you can hear the song.

Promise.

3

the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry

Yesterday we were invited to go to an Orchard with a pumpkin patch, petting zoo and tons of playground equipment and corn mazes for kids. Can't you just see me? I dressed the girls in highly saturated autumn colors, matching pants and shoes and did their hair meticulously. I then packed my bag with healthy snacks, a water bottle, hand sanitizer, my camera and an extra camera battery. I popped in my newish digital card so I could potentially take hundreds of photos. You know the photos I speak of....picking the perfect pumpkin, daughter grinning in delight whilst feeding baby goats and my girls with sun shining on their ginger hair, tousled with straw. (sigh.) Can't you just see it?

"But Emilie, where are the pictures?" You ask.

There are none.
None of those magical things happened.
The day was crap-central.

We arrived just at the usual time when Evangeline would take her nap. I unloaded the girls and we headed into the gorgeous orchard. It was not too warm, but the sun was out...an absolutely perfect day. We met up with my friend Loni and headed first to the petting zoo.

I bought a handful of feed, demonstrated the flattened hand technique, gave Ella a handful of feed and turned on the camera. Ella took one looks at those goats and freaked,screaming "I'm Scary!" and fast-pitched her handful of feed at the goat's head. I then, with my most gentle and nurturing mother skills, dragged her towards the baby goats while she kicked and screamed. Evangeline was no better. We then rounded out or petting zoo excursion with screaming and running from pigs, baby chicks (how ferocious) and a calf.

So I decided to ditch the group and took my kids to a playground. They had a big fancy one with tube slides and climbing walls, but it was crawling with kids, so we opted for a smaller, more manageable wooden train with a small slide coming from the side. Sounds harmless right? Nope. As I was trying my best to pull Evangeline's upper body from the octagonal window in which she was stuck, Ella began to shriek and do the jumping dance of a child who is truly hurt. I could not figure out what had happened until she began to hyperventilate and then realized she had a large splinter from the wooden train stuck in her finger. And that was the beginning of the end.

She wailed, non-stop, for the next 2 hours. And when I say non-stop, I mean she barely took breaks to breath. I was able to remove the splinter by laying her on the playground grass, pinning her down and pulling it out with tweezers from my purse as she thrashed and screamed "Stop hurting me! Don't you kiss my finger!" at full volume.

Other parents steered away from us as we stood in line to get their PB&J sandwiches since Evangeline had started screaming and biting my arm...meaning that she was beyond starving. I got them their sandwiches, apples slices and fresh peas followed by fresh churned ice cream and still Ella sobbed. She sobbed as I braved the Farmer's store to pick up some fresh Apple Cider donuts and sobbed as I realized my debit card was missing and had to drag my children back to the food stand to get it and return to the store to pay. She then sobbed all the way home from Elkton, MD to New Castle, DE. She then took a nap in which she periodically awoke so she could sob some more.

Scrapbook that one!

It's kind of funny how these days spring out of nowhere, but we all have them.
As I wrote this and as I told Matt we had a good laugh.
And yes, I keep tweezers in my purse for emergency eyebrow plucking.

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