What I've been up to lately...

Hello,

Just chick'n    in to see if anybody's out there.... hello hello hello hello.  (think echo-sound).  My little blog is woefully neglected but every now and then I like to pop-in with some blews (blews=blog news, I just made that up).  LOL, still crackin myself up.  What I've been up to lately?  That is the question.  Awhile ago, I took a class at my mostest favorite stamp store ever!!! ---> Papertales (hi Michelle) with my mostest favorite teacher/designer ever, ---> Debby Schuh.  I'm taking this ---> class in July!!  Can't wait.  Anyway, the journal was called 'Recipe of Me' and could be used to hold stories of people, places and events that made up 'me'.   However, I decided to modify and use it for a recipe holder all of my favorite, well-worn, family heirloom recipes.  I think its perfect for it!  

I've been meaning to transfer all of the recipes I love to recipe cards (either 4 x 6 or 5 x 8, whichever fits better) and include in my journal.  Some I will print out and some I am going to handwrite.  My personal recipes and family heirloom recipes will be handwritten.  I've assembled a stack of all of my favorite recipes.  Some are my favorites, some have been printed off the internet, some from family/friends.  

Front cover.  Tablescape w/candles, hen, handwriting samples

Dessert Section

Breakfast Section

This is kind of a four part entry.  A tag card slides into this page for the Soup & Stew Section:

1.

Pull the card out from the page.  See my section tag?

2.

I will keep all of my Soup & Stew recipes here.  I made a flap on the bottom inch of the tag card by folding it up approx an inch.  That way when I pull the tag out of the envelope the recipes come up with it.   I wanted to store several recipes in this envelope so the flap contains them easier.

3.

I made blank recipe card templates (of course I did) digitally (in MSWord) using (download font here --->) 'Old Typewriter' font style.  It's one of my favorite fonts to use for papercrafting and adds to the vintage feel I'm going for.  What I love about my recipe card templates is I made them in several sizes, 3x5, 4x6 and 5x8.  I can use whichever size works best for the page I'm using in my journal.  They are fully editable and can be modified as needed.  I also made them double-wide (or long ,,)) with a dotted line for the fold.  So would that make them 6x5, 8x6 and 10x8??? OMG nevermind.  I can either type in the recipe and printout or print blank recipe cards and handwrite.  I can also add clipart or borders if I like.  So far, I've kept mine plain with just the classic blue lines and red borderline.  I plan on customizing sometime.  Aren't they cute?  I printed them out on cardstock to make them sturdier.

 4.

I think this journal lends itself very well for 'favorite recipes'.  I made category tabs as needed.  I printed them out using the first couple of rows from my recipe card template.  I added clipart to the category headings as you can see.

 I hope you enjoyed your visit!!  Leave a comment (with email address) and I will email a digital copy of my recipe card templates for you.

~M!ssPr!ssy

Happy Earth Day! ReUSE, Reduce, Recycle! My DH is a Genius- Yay Yay Yay, the Futon Revisited

Originally Posted December 2007 but in honor of Earth Day I thought I would bump this up.  Try using new eyes to see things differently before you throw things away and fill up the landfills even more.  This was a simple wood futon destined for the trash heap.  As we were getting ready to load it up for the dumpster, I stopped my dh and look what we have instead?  An awesome shelf system just the perfect size for my favorite hobby stamping and paper crafts.  Thanks everyone and please enjoy this repost...

I am soooo excited I don't know what to do. This has been the bestest Christmas EVER that I have had in a long long time. I know I am a total dork because I am happy happy (did I say happy) over shelves. First I got my library shelves for the living room for Christmas, so unexpected and wonderful. Then, as if that weren't enough I got 4 count them 4 new CUSTOM made shelving units for (you'll never guess) STAMPERS. Remember the "guess what this is going to be" post? Well they are finished and attached to my wall!! Here are the before and after pictures:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

We recycled an old futon that we were going to just ship off to either goodwill or the trash. We have been cleaning the garage and I got to looking at the futon with my stampers eye. You know if it can be used for stamping or embellished or glittered we always have to keep our eye out for these things. So my genius DH figured out what to do to and did it for me right away. All we did was get some 1x2's, cut the 2 long pieces of the futon (the seat and the back) in half, added ends, nailed the 1x2 shelves to the existing slats of the futon (the stamps are sitting on the added new 1x2 pieces), cleaned them up and walla WE'VE GOT THE CUSTOM SHELVES OF THE CENTURY and we did it by re-purposing a found object. Which to me makes them even more special because they didn't cost me anything and we saved a tree or two. I wanted to take a picture with them empty so you can see the shelves better. I will take more pics when I have them all filled up (that shouldn't take me too long hahaha). Aren't they great? Now off to do more organizing...I get that way this time of year....I told ya'. skipping off whistling happy tunes..no whining even...

and some more after pix click here <----

~best,
misspriss

CUTE ALERT!!

I swear its feast or famine with me. I either don't post at all and then there's a string of them all in one day. All or nothing. eek. Anyways, I just had to give these next pictures their own post. Every year we have a new litter/batch (what do we call a bunch a baby squirrels?) Merekat Manor (What)? of baby squirrels. Well this year I counted eight in one litter. In years past we had maybe three or four in the litter, tops. These are little tiny babies when they are newborn. So CUTE. I never got a picture of all eight together but I snapped these few snapshots. I had to do it really quickly and I took these from inside the house through a window so I hope they are clear.  EDITED TO ADD:  CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO SEE THE LITTLE GUYS CLOSE-UP  OMG

ADORABLE

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Hi

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Happy Easter the After Party

I haven't been able to blog much lately. I sure do miss it and my crafty shtuff. If I ever get this chronic insomnia figured out MAYBE I would have my energy back. Oh well... I have so many SPRING photos to share. OMG just the cutest. This Easter it was just a small gathering with hubby, my youngest daughter and pets. Oddly no pics of them or me. Just the table, the dog and Mr. Rabbit who came to visit us on Easter (Bunny) day. Too funny Easter Bunny visited us on Easter Sunday.  This year we went with non-traditional items.  Normally, I do ham, scalloped potatoes, the usual suspects...  Every year everybody says we should do lighter menus.  Well, this year I leaned towards that theme.  On the Easter brunch Menu:

Spring Greens Salad w/Shrimp Cocktail garnish 

Choice of Dressing

Steamed Fresh Asparagus Spears (Yummo)

Hard Boiled Eggs

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (I know odd paring but was yummo anyway)

Fresh Strawberry Wedges

OJ Mimosas

Hot Coffee

Easter Lily (Optional)

Easter Rabbit - Priceless

Killer Dog  =D

Happy Easter

Zoom

Shrimp Cocktail on Ice for the salad

Colored Eggs (I know shock and awe!)

Boring Strawberries but I thought they were cute

My famous homemade cinnamon rolls

Look who stopped over OMG

I'm gonna eat me some Easter Bunny face.  Look at those eyes, they're practically glazed over.  Oddly if I would let him after the bunny.  He always lets them get away.  It is so cute he goes out like a monster and then stops just short of getting them.  And off they hop free.

But I'm really just a Teddy Bear

My new Coffee Table from West Elm

Not sure if I like it? It is a stand with a tray. I needed something kind of small to fit the space and not get in the way of the recliner ends on my sectional couch. I could have gotten the hammered metal tray but thought it might be too modern for my style. Then I got this home and set it up ($90 very reasonable as coffee tables go). I thought the wood tray would go with more in my house but then I noticed the knobs on my entertainment piece were the brushed silver. I think I might want to go back and get the hammered metal tray instead.

IN A ROOM

WOOD/BASKET - ONE I GOT


METAL/I MIGHT LIKE THIS ONE BETTER

Merry Christmas Everyone!

A simple manger

I add twinkle lights and sparse branches. I put this up every year and just love the simplicity of it.

Wow another Christmas past... I think I say it every year but this was the best Christmas EVER! It seemed as though the universe aligned and everything fell into place nicely. I don't know what it is/was but everything seemed charmed this year for the most part. For one thing no signature burned dish...I didn't burn one dish, which is my signature but not one...now that's a Christmas Miracle in itself, the DH had more Christmas Spirit than any of us (another shocker). Well anyway it's hard to explained but it was magical. Here are some more pics in case anyone wanted to take a peak into my little corner of the world. These pics are from earlier in the day I am going to post more later as the day progressed.

The last ornament went onto the Advent Wreath. Here's my daughter putting up the final ornament today, the angel

I found this little Advent tree at a Fall Festival where I used to live in the Midwest. It is all wood and each ornament is hand carved. I've added a few over the years as I did lose a couple of the originals ornaments. Here it is all filled up for December 25, 2008.

More of my winter decorations, part of my snowman collection. All found at craft fairs over the years. Hand made by artists

My sister made me this snowman. I get him out every year. This is the view from my kitchen window. Look and weep my Chicago friends. Yes, that's still greenery. It's warm here. Well not exactly today but in general.

Winter garland I hung above my kitchen sink. I did blues and whites again this year.

Speaking of my kitchen sink... look what I found when I woke up this a.m. One of my presents from my daughters was fresh herbs (I asked for these I want to start an herb garden this winter. HA! bet ya can't say that if you live in CHICAGO, sorry sissy). How perfect a rosemary shaped like a tree.

I like to hang ornaments from the all of the mirrors in the house from suction cups. I think it's a nice touch and you get double beauty. You see the ornament itself and its reflection. I found this little vintage white wreath over at PAPERTALES (yes it's about the only store I shop at anymore). I knew when I saw it it was going to be one of my mirror ornaments. Isn't it cute?

Here's the little red cardinal... again I found this at PAPERTALES also. Bathroom mirror. He makes me happy.

Here's a few shots of my table. Nothing fancy really. My Grandmother Fanny's white table cloth. My Great Aunt Alice's silverware. My MIL Nanny Marge's dishes. Touches of tradition and memories all present at our Christmas Table. It's these finer details, the traditions that mean the most to me. More than the fancy shmancy anything.

Closeup of one place setting with my mistletoe scented candle

Zero in on the wine glass stem

See it?

My daughter wrapped red and white pipe cleaners around the stems. Isn't that so very CLEVER? Everybody loved it.

....and to all a good night

My New Boudoir

I couldn't wait to post pictures of my new bedroom furniture set. I was going to wait until I had the entire scene set, with new lamps in place, wall art etc... But I'm so excited about it so far I thought I would post what I have for now. The pictures are so bad and fuzzy and the lighting is bleh too sorry for that. IRL it's super pretty with the chocolate and white.

Full picture


The inspiration piece - woohoo - I like mine better but this was my jumping off point

Side view. The lights are not this color IRL, the picture made it much oranger. It's pretty I think. I don't know what that white thing on the floor is. Probably a sock. I forgot to tuck the side sheet in too in my haste.

Side table no. 1 w/bedside carafe. The cleaning lady (believe me its rare and random when I can have a cleaning lady, usually when I am in a panic and behind on everything I break down and get one for a day) broke the hurricane so I replaced it with the wrong size. Hence the shade not fitting correctly. (see other lamp)


Bedside table no. 2

Chotski on end table no. 2 antique box with lid (poppies) Isn't this beautiful. I have stamps and stationery in it.

The bedroom furniture is the Farmhouse Collection from Potterybarn (see this post here). I know pinch yourself now. I was totally CASing the look and feel of said "Room No. 1" at "The Spring" (remember this post). I went there with my daughters for Mother's Day this year and a couple of times since. We loved the place so much we had to go back. My daughter is a regular there. It's a little spa totally off the beaten path and little known to the world (we hope it stays that way). They have approximately a total of 10ish+ rooms they all line this courtyard of the three mineral pools on premise (those are miraculous trust me on that one). Anyway, I think I've gotten it pretty close. I went with white sheets, a chocolate colored throw and accent pillows. My walls are still bare and the lamps are going to be swapped out. But until I find just the right lamps, these will have to do for now. I am going to sell these lamps either on etsy or ebay. I bought them for $150 for the pair and I will sacrifice these for $75 for the pair (firm) buyer pays shipping. They are vintage/country style, the shades are handmade and they have blue floral embellishment ribbon that pins on (I removed it to wash the shades), they are repro's not antique at all but they look it.

Anyway, I do digress. I hope you like the side by side inspiration views of my room. Thanks for stopping in.

Happy Birthday My Favorite No. 1 Daughter

Well she is my favorite no. 1 daughter. My second daughter is my favorite no. 2 daughter. hehe. I told you February is a banner month for us. I mentioned in an earlier blog post I am a triple winner in Feb with my b'day, anniversary and valentines day. Well I stand corrected because I am in actuality a quadruple winner. My first born was born today the 17th of February 1980. She is 28 today. Whew seems like it's impossible for me to have a child that age. I can only say that she is definitely my kindred spirit. She has the best nature, is quiet and kind. Her energy is always so positive when she walks in a room it immediately becomes serene and peaceful. She just has that quiet calm about her. I don't really know how to explain it other than to say she is very much a peaceful spirit. She has always known exactly what she wanted out of life and went for it fearlessly. She has been on forward motion since birth, non-stop in a good way. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. Words cannot describe how much we love her and are proud of her. Happy Birthday honey!! p.s. in lieu of grandchildren I have a cat. ;D (temporarily I hope)

The traditional angel's food cake that is her favorite for her birthday. This year we made cupcakes. Strawberry shortcake by request..

Here's the birthday girl and with my only grandchild err I meant cat, punkin'. We call him punky

Make a wish

May all of your wishes come true.

This card is so perfect. Her sister picked this up for her birthday card and seems how the b'day girl is a Hairdresser by trade. This card sentiment was so perfect. Have a good hare day. haha

~missprissy