Doesn't this...

just make you want to Celebrate the Fourth of July on every layout :) This kit was a blast to work with. I loved all the colors and how bright and fun it is! Check out the preview below.

This cute as a button kit can be found at Scrapbooks Gone Digital: http://www.scrapbooksgonedigital.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_71&products_id=910. It was created by Vivayne. I just love all the swirls and stars and stitching in this gone! 

Here are two layouts I created using this fun kit: 

Tasty Tuesday's....

Here I am just in time for my Second Tasty Tuesday post.

I found this Pasta Salad Recipe  from www.recipegirl.com. I was instantly smitten with it and am going to make it as soon as I have a celebration or party to bring a salad too. Ron and I try to eat fresh fruits and vegetable and not alot of pasta salads as we did before, but I do like to treat us on the weekend.

I love that the dressing has a little bit of Sugar in it.....I always think that adds something to a pasta salad recipe. If you have a recipe you would like to share with me just email me and I'll add it on here and give you all the credit :)

(PS...I am allergic to Mushrooms, so if you give me a recipe with Mushrooms in it, there is a highly good chance I won't make it) (hehehehe)

 print recipe

bacon & tomato macaroni salad

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 15 min

Bacon and tomato take plain old macaroni salad to a whole new level...

Ingredients:

1 cup dry elbow macaroni, cooked, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup diced celery
1/4 cup minced red onion, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes- then drained
1 Tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup diced vine-ripened tomatoes
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 Tablespoons sour cream
1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine macaroni, celery, onion, parsley, and tomato.

2. In a small bowl, prepare the dressing. Mix mayo, mustard, sugar, vinegar, sour cream and salt.

3. Add dressing to the pasta mixture and stir to combine. Season with freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Sprinkle crumbled bacon on top.

Tips:

*If you don't care for a mayo-based macaroni salad, feel free to substitute an Italian dressing for the mayo dressing.

Source: RecipeGirl.com (Loosely adapted from Food Network)

Elegance

I am just so smitten with this beautiful kit by Farynar's Wings at www.Scrappity-Doo-Dah.com. This is the preview of this gorgeous kit! It is so versatile and so much fun to work with!! Love this!

Here is the link to the kit in the store: http://www.scrappity-doo-dah.com/store/product.php?productid=7403&cat=0&page=1

Here is a layout that I completed using this awesome kit! 

Flashback Friday

Inspired by my Friend Patti.......I have decided to bring back some pictures from the past.

I always kind of liked this photo of myself, my two nieces, Alicia and Jessica and my nephew Seth. As you can tell by me...this was a long time ago. How long ago? Alicia (the one on the my lap) is married and working in Kearney. Seth lives is Houston and Teaches and Coaches and is currently spending the summer traveling to our Nations National Parks. Jessica is going to be a Senior at Morningside College and is spending her summer doing an internship at the Zoo in Des Moines.......

What amazing young people these three are!! I love them all so very very much! I am so proud of them!

Happy to announce...

that I have been ask to join a new Digital Scrapbooking Creative Team! I am now part of Farynar's Wings team and all I can say is I am so excited.

I am so happy to be part of Faye's Team. Here is a link to her beautiful store: http://www.scrappity-doo-dah.com/store/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=115

Here are JUST THREE previews of some of Faye's kit's that are available in her store and that at some point you will probably see layouts from me using these kits. 

PS....love and hugs to my friend Kimberly for EVERYTHING!!!! Your the best! 

Plans, plans everywhere there are plans.....

....and it is starting to give me a gigantic headache. We are planning on doing some remodeling to our Lake House in the Future and have had several people draw us up some plans for a storm shelter area, Master closet and kitchen redo. It seems that my head is spinning with ideas but I can't get comfortable with not being able to use our Lake House while all this is going on...and it is certainly NOT something we are going to do immediately, but it is still a challenge for me........

If I could just have these two kitchens combined with my Mission style cabinets....we'd be good to go :) 

....and a bright, open space to get creative......

and of course a nice living area where I can sit and see the lake.....I really don't watch much do I :) 

Or how about our dream home office for two :) 

I guess, as Ron always says, "It's good to have dreams, because it means your still alive".  I am now off to ponder over some more plans....and keep dreamin.....

Tasty Tuesday's....

I am really honestly trying to update this more, so I am stealing from my friends. Their ideas that is for updating their blogs. I have some super duper creative friends out there, so I am looking forward to sharing some other ideas, with you all.

With that,  I decided to start Tasty Tuesday's. Featuring a recipe I love or really want to try.  This is one that I saw on a blog on www.pinterest.com. I totally love Pinterest!! I have never seen some many creative, cute, fun and tasty things all in one spot that you can swoon over.

So today's tasty:

S'mores Cracker Candy

Printable Recipe

12 sheets of graham crackers

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

3 cups mini marshmallows

4 Hershey bars, broken into pieces

1 cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan with aluminum foil, leaving a 1-inch overhang over the ends, and spray foil with cooking spray. Line graham crackers up on the foil so that the sides are touching.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and mixture comes just to a boil (about 4-6 minutes). Remove from heat and pour evenly over crackers. Bake 5 to 6 minutes, or until bubbly.

Remove pan from oven and immediately sprinkle mini marshmallows, chocolate bar pieces, and chocolate chips over the crackers. 

Return pan to oven for another 2-3 minutes, or until marshmallows begin to soften and puff up. 

Cool completely. Lift from pan using foil edges; cut into bars and enjoy!

Borrowed from: http://buddingbaketress.blogspot.com/2011/06/smores-cracker-candy.html

I can't wait to try these.......I have another version that I may share later this week, but OMG.......this is Yumminess!!! 

PS: Watch for Flashback Friday's which is something that my dear friend Patti has been doing. Great idea PH and I am so all over it!