Another Calendar - can you believe it?

Last week when we thought Ashley was going to be deployed ASAP, I quickly put together a Care Package Box to mail to her.  Ever since our return from Texas, I've been putting things in the box - books, stamp items I brought back with me (by mistake), etc.  So I decided to make her a calendar real quick to take to Haiti with her.  I had this great Silver Photo Flip Album (4" x 6") that was perfect for holding the calendar and looks really pretty sitting on a desk.  So I got to work and got these calendar pages done in about 3 days!  Looks like I could have taken my time since she is still waiting to hear when they will be leaving.  But, in the meantime, she found out yesterday that she passed her medical BOARDS!!  Now she is a Board Certified Infectious Disease Pediatrician!!  There was no doubt in my mind that she would pass but she was not quite so sure.  Needless to say, I am very proud of her.

Remember - you can click on the pictures to make them bigger - you just have to click the back arrow to come back to my blog.

This is the cover of the calendar.  I used a Northwoods stamp and a lot of glitter!

This is another Northwoods stamp and Stickles!

This is the Stampin' Up set - Love Bandits from the Occasions Mini.

This is by Great Impressions (I think!)

This one is My Favorite Things and I paper-pieced the dress.

These little owls are from Stampin' Up.

This is a retired Stampin' Up set.

These stars are punched with my SU star punches.

This is another retired SU set (boo hoo - I love it) - Scene in a Garden.

This is Vintage Vogue from SU's Occasions Mini.  Isn't this paper wild?

Here's the great Sock Monkey (SU).

Another retired SU set!  It was a hostess set last year.

This is Delightful Decorations from the Christmas - sure hope it makes it into the next catalog.  I also used the raindeer from the current SU catalog - Holiday Lineup.

Chicken Chili Blanco

Yum...and good for you too!  Make some this weekend while you're waiting for it to snow!

Chicken Chili Blanco

♦ 6 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs
♦ Nonstick cooking spray
♦ 1 large onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
♦ 2 cloves garlic, minced
♦ 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
♦ 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
♦ 1 (15 1/2 ounce) can reduced-sodium kidney beans, rinsed and drained
♦ 1 (8 1/2 ounce) can cream-style corn
♦ 1/2 cup chopped red or green sweet pepper
♦ 1/2 cup dry white wine
♦ 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies, drained
♦ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
♦ 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
♦ Dash salt
♦ 1/4 cup snipped fresh parsley

Rinse the chicken; pat dry with paper towels. Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces. Spray a large saucepan with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat saucepan over medium heat. Add chicken, onion, and garlic. Cook about 2 minutes or till chicken is no longer pink. Stir in chicken broth, mushrooms, kidney beans, corn, chopped pepper, wine, chilies, cumin, oregano, and salt. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in parsley.

Makes 4 servings

Per serving: 240 Calories, 18 g Protein, 3 g Fat, 0 g Saturated Fat, 39 g Carbohydrate, 628 mg Sodium, 22 mg Cholesterol, 7 g Dietary Fiber

(from  DWLZ Recipes)

Bon Appetite!

When I'm an Old Lady ....

When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid,
And bring so much happiness...just as they did.
I want to pay back all the joy they've provided.
Returning each deed! Oh, they'll be so excited!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

I'll write on the wall with reds, whites and blues,
And I'll bounce on the furniture...wearing my shoes.
I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out.
I'll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they'll shout!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

When they're on the phone and just out of reach,
I'll get into things like sugar and bleach.
Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their head,
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

When they cook dinner and call me to eat,
I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat,
I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,
And when they get angry...I'll run...if I'm able!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

I'll sit close to the TV, through the channels I'll click,
I'll cross both eyes just to see if they stick.
I'll take off my socks and throw one away,
And play in the mud 'til the end of the day!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

And later in be d, I'll lay back and sigh,
I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.
My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping,
And say with a groan, "She's so sweet when she's sleeping!"*

God Bless All Moms and Grandmas EVERYWHERE - EVERY DAY!!!

What to do on a rainy Sunday?

Yesterday was a rainy day here in North Carolina.  Nothing to do except watch football and make a few cards, etc.  So that’s what I did!  I still had a few items from the CK Convention (last summer) that I hadn’t finished, so I pulled them out and worked on them. 

This is a “pop up” card.  The “Good friends ….” pops up from the little box but folds flat for mailing.  Here’s a side view to get the idea -

This is a box that holds an accordion type little photo album.

Here it is coming out of the box.  All it needs is a few pictures!

This is a sideways view.

This is a little photo holder made with chipboard.  I thought it turned out really cute.

I enjoyed watching the play-off games on Sunday also.  Since My Steelers weren’t in the running, I was pulling for the Jets against the Colts.  Our neighbors and good friends from Gig Harbor are die-hard Jets fans.  I know they were not happy yesterday.  In the later game, which I thought was the better of the two, I was pulling for the Saints.  I wasn’t disappointed in them although the Vikings really just gave it away.  Now, it’s time for Brett Favre to retire …. and STAY RETIRED!!  You know, last year this time, I was in Pittsburgh, elated that the Steelers were going to the Super Bowl.  Oh well, better luck next year!

Stampin' Up Specials Going On NOW

Country Living Stationery Kit (Customer Order Dates: January 5-April 30, 2010, or while supplies last)

This exclusive Stampin' Up! kit (item 119113) includes the following products:

Dinner Party stamp set (set of 3)
Ballet Blue Classic Stampin' Spot
Preprinted stationery (24 sheets: 4 each of 6 designs)

$19.95 for the complete kit

While designed as a stationery kit, there are a variety of ways the kit can be used; for example, it can be used for menu cards, greeting cards, dinner invitations, etc.

**********************************************************

Not in the Occasions Mini . . . NEW! Sweet Treat Heart Cups & Stamps
Just in time for Valentine's Day! Stampin' Up!'s new Heart Treat Cups coordinate perfectly with the Sweetheart stamp set (also new, below) and the Full Heart Punch (113693).

Download the flier HERE and put in your Occasions Mini Catalog!

******************************************************
NOW available! Simply Adorned Jewelry and Charms. 

Simply Adorned charms are lockets--they open up so you can insert your custom stamped image. The Charming stamp set, along with Rub-Ons, glitter, ribbons, and other embellishments, can help you create your unique charm insert. And don't forget that you can embellish the chains with ribbon, felt flowers . . . the possibilities are endless! The frame surrounds tempered beveled glass on the front and flat glass on the back. Because there's glass on both sides of the charm, you can display an image on one side or both. You can create a custom heirloom piece that you'll never want to change, or you can swap artwork in and out, depending on your mood and your wardrobe.

Check out Simply Adorned Jewelry (above), featured on page 28 of the Occasions Mini Catalog.

******************************************************
And don't forget -

Sale-A-Bration: Jan. 5 - March 31. For every $50 you spend on Stampin' Up! products, you will receive a free Sale-A-Bration stamp set (including clear mount options), the amazing new Scallop Trim Punch or darling designer series paper. Click here to view the Sale-A-Bration Catalog.

Occasions Mini Catalog: Jan. 5 - April 30. You'll discover 43 pages loaded with new stamp sets (including clear mount options), new designer paper, ribbon, epoxy brads and so much more. Click here to view the Occasions Mini Catalog.

Haiti Relief via Stampin’ Up

On January 12, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, leaving in its wake devastation so overwhelming that the Haitian people and their leaders can only look for help from the outside to cope.

From now until February 28,  $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set sold will be donated to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

The I {Heart} Hearts clear mount set sells for $18.95.  The wood-mount stamp set sells for $26.95.

This is a simple and straightforward plan; the more stamp sets sold, the greater the difference can be made. Often it is the simplest plans that work best.

Stampin’ Up is also sending hygiene kits to Haiti.  See Shelli’s pictures - http://www.soshelli.com/so-shelli-blog/2010/1/20/helping-haiti.html

Monday Mailer card

We are still in a "wait and see" mode for Ashley's deployment to Haiti.  Just wish they'd hurry up and tell her when she will be leaving!!  But I don't think the Army does anything in a hurry!!  She and I have both downloaded Skype and gotten a web-cam and microphone so that we can talk to each other .... IF she has internet connection there!!

Anyway .... I received two cards this week from my Monday Mailer partner.  Life got in the way last week and she wasn't able to get my card to me so she mailed two this week!  They are great cards. 

Final 2 Northwoods Cards

Here are the final 2 Northwoods cards that I will be doing in my class.  Would love to have you there!!

 

 

A clean desk and deployment info

I had a fairly productive day today.  While waiting to hear news from Ashley about her deployment, I cleaned my desk and some of my drawers!   You just can’t believe how many glue sticks, tape runners, etc. I had in my drawer just all jumbled up.  Now, let’s hope I can keep them somewhat organized!  Look at this desk -

I can’t remember when my desk was that clean!!  I even got all the bits and pieces of ribbon that I had laying around in their correct jars.

Of course, that’s not all the ribbon I have!

That’s still not all of it … what can I say?  I like pretty ribbon!

So all this cleaning inspired me to create a few cards!

This baby card is for Julie and Jim, friends of Ashley’s from med school.  Julie had a baby a couple of weeks ago (Charlie!).  She wasn’t due until mid February but because the baby was so large, they induced her.  I think he ended up weighing over 9 pounds!!  And he was early!!

This card is one I made and sent to my Monday Mailer partner.  Aren’t those little raccoons just darling??  They are in the new Occasions Mini Catalog.  Remember, you can order them either in the clear mount or traditional SU hard rubber.

So, it looks like Ashley will be going to Haiti and possible pretty soon – maybe even next week.  It just depends on how fast the Army can work.   Her name has been submitted to the person who is putting together the team.  She would be the MED AUG [medical augmentation] with the 86th Combat Support Hospital -- basically a tent hospital.  Hopefully, she will know more tomorrow so she can begin to get all her affairs in order.

Italian Tortelli Soup

Here is a great soup for those chilly evenings ~

♦ 1 onion, chopped
♦ 1 cup sliced mushrooms
♦ 2 cloves garlic
♦ 1/2 cup fat-free chicken broth
♦ 1 can [15 oz] low-sodium tomato sauce
♦ 1 green pepper, chopped
♦ 1 cup diced zucchini
♦ 2 tbsp dry sherry or apple juice
♦ 1 1/2 tsp dried Italian herb seasoning
♦ 9 oz reduced-fat cheese-filled tortellini
♦ 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Coat a saucepan with nonstick spray. Add the onions, mushrooms, garlic and 3 tbsp broth. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until onions soften, usually 5-6 minutes.
Stir in the tomato sauce, green peppers, zucchini, sherry, Italian seasoning, remaining broth and tortellini. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Season with pepper.

Makes 4 servings

Per serving: 278 calories, 4.8 g fat, 34 mg chol, 325 mg sodium, 5.4 g fiber *5
—Prevention's Guide to Low-Fat Living, October 1997