Yes, I'm Alive

So hi. Yes, it probably seems like I have disappeared into the blog oblivion, but I really am still alive.

I am just working behind the scenes trying to get my new blog store/facebook store cart system working. Adding products is just taking all my time and energy. I'm really excited about the whole thing though - so go check it out. Right under my blog header you will see a link to my BLOG STORE. I am still uploading, but I do have a few products in there. I'm most excited about offering bundles! So you will be able to get all my collections as bundles for a special price - only through my blog or facebook. This same cart system is available on my Facebook page too - so it is very convenient and I hope you all came take a look around and let me know what you think.

Speaking of Facebook - I am now the host of a page instead of a group. So please come like my page. I will be discontinuing the group shortly. I did this so I could take advantage of having a store right on the page - it didn't work with groups. When I reach 100 likes - I'm going to send you all a coupon - so come like me now!

Back to the new store - I haven't got a sale yet - and I'm hoping to entice one of you readers to be my first customer! You can do it through Facebook or this blog - its the same cart. And my first customer is going to get a $10 coupon for a future order!

So lots going on - even though it seems like nothing is going on. Once I get all my products loaded, I will try and get back on the blog and doing my almost daily postings and freebies and new products! Thanks for your patience!

Recipe Thursday - 30 Minute Rolls

Each Thursday, I am going to be sharing a recipe with you!
I will pick a recipe from my collection and I will be sharing where I got the recipe and everything. But I am going to include my own photo of the finished food, the original recipe, and try and share the things I changed when I made it!

I would love your help too! If you have a great recipe, especially week-night dinner recipes (but I would love all kinds of recipes) - please share it with me, by emailing me at dedesmith32@gmail.com. I will try it out and feature it on my blog! If you have cooking tips or anything else in regards to cooking and food - please email me!


This week's Recipe:
I love my old Roll Recipe - A LOT. But I had to try these out because my old recipe takes a long time. But these are really fast and they use yeast even! They are beautiful, yummy rolls that go perfect with soup!


30 Minute Rolls
by Leigh Ann from Your Homebased Mom

1 cup plus 2 Tbsp warm water
1/3 cup oil
2 Tbsp yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
3 1/2 cup flour

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

In your mixer bowl combine the water, oil, yeast and sugar and allow it to rest for 15 minutes. Using your dough hook, mix in the salt, egg and flour. Knead with hook until will incorporated and dough is soft and smooth. (Just a few minutes)

Form dough into 12 balls and then place in a greased 9 x 13 pan and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees or until golden brown.

My Blog 2012

Hi everyone! I hope you had a fantastic holiday season. I sure did. I'm having a really hard time getting back on track and coming back to the real world! I'm in the process of deciding what I want to do in 2012 and get organized.

So I want your help!!!! I want your honest opinions. What do you like about my blog? What don't you? What would you like to see more of? I would love to have more postings and get a schedule going - so please comment and let me know!

Just so you know - I have decided to not do the Project 365 this year. I have done 3 years in a row and have gotten so behind in the layouts. I am vowing to get those 3 years done in scrapbooks this year. I still hope to share my life with you through a label of LIFE 2012 - but it won't be every week and it will probably just be major events or something. But hopefully I can get back on track and do Project 365 in 2013.

So help me out and please comment!

High/Low: December 30, 2011 + Freebie

My LOW this Week is

My HIGH for this Week is



I have a freebie for you today - a quickpage that coordinates with my WARM WISHES FOR CHRISTMAS. The Freebie was created by my TearZ Crew Member, Kay Carrothers. Make sure you let her know how much you enjoy it by commenting!


Have a great weekend!



DOWNLOAD LINK

Recipe Thursday - Baked Mac 'n Cheese

Each Thursday, I am going to be sharing a recipe with you!
I will pick a recipe from my collection and I will be sharing where I got the recipe and everything. But I am going to include my own photo of the finished food, the original recipe, and try and share the things I changed when I made it!

I would love your help too! If you have a great recipe, especially week-night dinner recipes (but I would love all kinds of recipes) - please share it with me, by emailing me at dedesmith32@gmail.com. I will try it out and feature it on my blog! If you have cooking tips or anything else in regards to cooking and food - please email me!


This week's Recipe:
This is a yummy recipe that my friend, Melissa adapted from Pioneer Woman. Try it - you'll like it!


Baked Mac 'n Cheese
by Melissa from Gastronomy Geek

4 cups Macaroni, uncooked
6 T. butter
2 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/2 pound bacon
1/4 cups flour
2 1/2 cups milk
2 egg yokes, beaten
salt and pepper, to taste
3 cups cheddar cheese, the sharper the better

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook macaroni for half the time of the package instructions. Drain and set aside. Fry bacon until slightly, crispy. Drain on a paper towel. Reserve 1 T. of the bacon grease. In the same skillet that you fried the bacon in add the onions and cook over medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and soft. Set aside.

In a pot, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat for 1 minute. Pour in milk, cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until thick. Reduce heat to low. Add salt & pepper to taste. (Do not undersalt!)

Beat egg yolks in a seperate small bowl then drizzle 1/4 cup hot milk mixture into the yolks, stirring constantly. Pour egg mixture back into sauce and cook for another minute.

Add cheese and stir until melted. Add onions and bacon and stir. Taste for seasonings and add more salt if needed. Add cooked macaroni and stir to coat. Pour into a baking dish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until sizzling and hot.

Wednesday Sayings - 12/28/11

Each Wednesday, I am going to be sharing a quote/saying with you!
I am a collector of quotes/sayings/scrapbook titles, etc. and I love to hear new ones! So, each week, I will share a quote/saying with you that I hope will inspire you and make your day a little better! If you have any great quotes/sayings - feel free to send them in to me at dedesmith32@gmail.com - I would love to use them!


This week's quote:

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.
- Hal Borland

Family History Tuesday - 12/27/11

Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering question(s) or idea(s). If you don't write in your journal regularly - I am going to encourage you to write just ONCE A WEEK and answer the question/idea that I give on Tuesdays. These ideas hopefully will spark a memory and you will be able to capture that in what you write/record so that it can be left for your children/grandchildren/family/friends. Give as much detail as you can when answering.

Will you do this for me? Will you do this for your families? You can write it down in a journal, you can type it up on a computer or journaling software, you can take a recorder and talk, you can videotape your answers, you can even scrap a page with the journaling. It doesn't matter how you do this - it's just important that you do it. The memories, the dates, the information is the only real thing we can leave to our families when we are gone.

If I come up with other family history ideas - I will be sure to share it here too - and if you want to share with me your ideas - that would be wonderful and I'd be glad to share them here too. Just comment here or email me at dedesmith32@gmail.com.


Here is this week's journal prompt :

High/Low: December 23, 2011 + Freebie

My LOW this Week is that the kids and I have had a little bit of colds. The coughing at night has become pretty annoying for all of us - but hopefully we will be better soon.

My HIGH for this Week is that everything is ready for Christmas and I have been on vacation all week! Everything has been really great. No stress - just relaxation. Wonderful.



I have a freebie for you today - a cluster that coordinates with my CHRISTMAS WRAP. The Freebie was created by my TearZ Crew Member, Lorilee Guenter. Make sure you let her know how much you enjoy it by commenting!


Have a great weekend!



DOWNLOAD LINK

Recipe Thursday - Pretzel Turtles

Each Thursday, I am going to be sharing a recipe with you!
I will pick a recipe from my collection and I will be sharing where I got the recipe and everything. But I am going to include my own photo of the finished food, the original recipe, and try and share the things I changed when I made it!

I would love your help too! If you have a great recipe, especially week-night dinner recipes (but I would love all kinds of recipes) - please share it with me, by emailing me at dedesmith32@gmail.com. I will try it out and feature it on my blog! If you have cooking tips or anything else in regards to cooking and food - please email me!


This week's Recipe:
Ready for the perfect QUICK treat to take to neighbors/friends? This is it. Don't forget to make some for yourself. So good!


Pretzel Turtles
by DeDe Smith

Rolo chocolate candies
Mini pretzels
Nuts - cashews/ pecans/almonds/hazelnuts/walnuts
M&Ms

Upwrap your Rolos. Place pretzels on baking sheet. Top with a Rolo.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 3-5 minutes, until the chocolate just begins to melt. The Rolo should be soft but not completely melted.

Remove from oven, place on cooling rack and immediately squish the chocolate with a nut or M&M. Eat immediately while warm - yummy. Or let them cool to give to friends!

Merry Christmas 2011

I send out lots of Christmas Cards every year, but unfortunately I can't send them to everyone. So I just wanted to share with you our Christmas Card this year!

I want to thank each and every one of you for reading my blog and for being such great support to me! I love to hear when you enjoy my products and I love all of you for making designing such a joy for me!

I wish you all a VERY VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a joyful HOLIDAY SEASON! I hope each one of you feels the REASON FOR THE SEASON and the true magic and spirit of Christmas! I hope you have lots of family time and that your season is the best ever!

Love you all! Merry Christmas!