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  • March
    8
    Posted by: jen on March 8th, 2010    Filed under: Asides, Daily Life

    I spent a little time this morning in the formal living room opening some boxes and unpacking.  It felt good to turn the the place at least a little bit into “me”.

    March
    4
    Posted by: jen on March 4th, 2010    Filed under: Project 365, digital scrapbooking

    So I was pretty terrible about taking a photo every day in February.  Blame it on being sick.  Well that’s what I’m going to do.  But I’ll just keep going.  I plugged in my papers in the some of the days.  I guess that counts.  I mean I would take photos of them…if I could. ;D

    I’ve got the March Template in the store all ready for you!  How are your 365 adventures going?

    March
    2
    Posted by: jen on March 2nd, 2010    Filed under: Asides, Ava, Daily Life

    There’s nothing like lighting a candle (for me anyway) that makes me feel like I’m at home.  Thank you Amara for the house warming gift.  I may be living in boxes, stressed out of my mind, but every day I light this…

    and it makes me smile.  And if I can smile once…then I know I can get thru this.

    Doing just a little, what I can, to make it seem like home around here.

    In doing some packing I found some artwork of Ava’s that I found amusing…

    You can find Skits these days laying with Ava just like this…

    And lastly…it must be because I read Katie’s blog that I’m inspired by taking pictures of food.  This was a salad I made for myself the other day at lunch time.  I’ve been craving and loving salads ever since I got sick.  My stomach has been so sensitive ever since being ill.  Salads seem to be one of the only things that I really love.  I guess that’s a good thing.

    I’m hungry for it all over again looking at this photo! ;D

    February
    25
    Posted by: jen on February 25th, 2010    Filed under: Ava, Corey, Laney, Scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking, everyday inspiration

    I just love watching the Olympics.  There have just been so many great competitions and stories.  I’ve loved watching the competitions with my girls.  It brings back memories of being a kid.  I love sharing memories with my girls.  I love hearing the American national anthem almost every night! ;D  Even tho it makes me tired I love staying up late watching it with Corey.  When they have stories of Olympics past we remember lots of them and we are starting to feel old! ;D

    The Olympian stories are not the only thing I find inspiring.  I absolutely love the logo for the Olympics this year!  Whoever worked on it is a visual genius in my opinion.

    I love seeing this logo in its various forms at the different competition venues.  I felt so inspired I had to do a little creating.  I couldn’t help myself!

    You can find these new paper packs in my store.

    February
    23
    Posted by: jen on February 23rd, 2010    Filed under: Asides, Daily Life, How To, everyday inspiration

    …cake!  I had forgotten that you can “bake” a cake in 10 minutes in your microwave in a Pampered Chef Rice Cooker.  I used to sell Pampered Chef and I have all the gadgets that there are.  I don’t know why I stopped making cakes in the microwave.  Anyway…last night being our anniversary…and me not planning much cause there is so much going on ’round here…I thought…I should make a cake!  But I have no energy or time for THAT!  Wait a second!  So I looked to see if I had a cake mix and I did.  The rice cooker was clean.  Check.  And away I went!

    THIS is how easy it is…take a cake mix and make it according to directions (I’ve only ever done vanilla or chocolate in the rice cooker so maker beware!).  Pour into the rice cooker (no need to grease it or ANYTHING!)  Close it up and put it in the microwave on high for 10 minutes.  Take it out.  Let it sit for a minute or two.  Open it up and invert it on to a plate.  Done!  Here’s the final product…with icing…1/2 eaten! ;D

    Oh yeah…It is YUMMY!!!!!!

    February
    22
    Posted by: jen on February 22nd, 2010    Filed under: Asides, Corey, digital scrapbooking

    17 years ago today I married the coolest man! ;D

    Penscrappers Feb 2010 Kit Anna Aspnes, Album Magic Kit Anna Aspnes

    February
    21
    Posted by: jen on February 21st, 2010    Filed under: Asides, Ava, Corey, Daily Life, Laney, Outdoors, everyday inspiration

    I’ve always loved those pictures, shows or websites of the “before and after”.  Biggest Loser, Oprah’s makeover shows, stuff like that.  Well I have one of my own…

    Here’s the stove in our new kitchen before…

    And after…

    I love good deals.  I always shop the clearance racks of Target.  I shopped at a different Target…one closer to the new house.  The clearance wasn’t completely picked over like the one here in Parker.  I got some great baskets for the girls’ new bathroom.  These were on clearance for $2.48 marked down from $9.99!

    There were a pair of woodpeckers in the new yard yesterday.  I love that we have wildlife in the new place.  We’ve seen squirrels there too.  The kids were pleased about that.

    Here’s another view of the backyard.  I can’t wait for the leaves to come out!

    And then one last picture.  Of Skits.  He is getting so big.  He is starting to look more like a dog and less like a puppy.

    February
    17
    Posted by: jen on February 17th, 2010    Filed under: Asides, Ava, Corey, Daily Life, Laney, everyday inspiration

    …you to notice in the photo the other day…

    …was this is not our driveway.  Well it is. It is just a NEW driveway.  We are in the process of moving to a new house.  Not too far away.  The girls are staying in the same school.  Some things will change.  Some will stay the same.

    New paint.  New plants for the girls’ rooms…oh and those lovely Dunkin’ Donuts.

    Lunch for the first time in the new house as we are cleaning and painting.  Disgusting dark cabinets that NEED painting!  And those curtains are going too…peh!!!!

    Painting Laney’s room a lovely pink…over a ghastly yellow.

    Can I just say I hate moving.  I am tired anyway.  I’m really, really tired from trying to maintain two houses.  I’ll be glad when this is OVER!

    February
    16
    Posted by: jen on February 16th, 2010    Filed under: digital scrapbooking

    I know we just got done with Valentine’s Day but I was inspired…weeks ago. ;D  I’ve been sitting on these for awhile.  I don’t feel too badly.  I went into Target today.  All the Easter stuff is out there. ;D

    You can find these items in my store here.

    February
    14
    Posted by: jen on February 14th, 2010    Filed under: Asides, Ava, Corey, Daily Life, Laney, Outdoors, Photography, everyday inspiration, extraordinary moments

    …other things…Wednesday brought the return of Corey and I having lunch together.  He has been having to go into the office and I have been sick so it was nice to return to our weekly tradition.  We decided to eat at Qdoba.  They have a new menu item called Craft 2.  It lets you mix and match some of their favorite menu items.  I chose a naked taco and a grilled quesadilla.  Best food I’ve had in awhile.  I say that because my tummy has been so upset for so long!  It is so hard for me to find things that don’t make me feel ill.  This photo was taken with my phone.

    We were at Burger King yesterday and the girls noticed they had crowns with Twilight New Moon pictures on them.  How exciting!  He he!  Even tho I would NEVER let them watch it in a million years until they are like at least 13 they still know what it is…cause their Mom is obsessed with it! ;D  So here they are in their crowns.  They said Bella was “watching” you! ;D  This photo was also taken with my phone.  Not too shabby for a camera phone. Oh.  Notice Laney has her front two teeth missing.  That is a recent event as well.

    Does anyone know what THIS means….

    That is CORRECT we found Dunkin’ Donuts in Colorado!  A little bit of a drive as they are all in Colorado Springs.  But better than none at all.  We had an errand to run in the Springs on Saturday so we made a pilgrimage to Dunkin’ Donuts as well.  Grabbed a dozen donuts and some coffee beans.  We were all happy campers.  It’s an east coast thing. ;D

    We got snow.  Again.  Not much.  Just enough to annoy me.  We didn’t get our traditional 70° weather in January.  Not even our usual one day.  It has been cold.  It feels too much like Maine for my taste.  Peh.  Here are the girls shoveling the driveway.  Can anyone tell me what is different about this photo???