Monday, May 31, 2010

New Release Monday/Creative Inspiration + Show-OffZ Challenge 5/31/10


Join me every Monday for my new releases! Also on Mondays I will be posting a Show-OffZ Call for your layouts - so please don't miss that at the bottom of this posting!


Today I am releasing 3 ClusterZ StackZ & ScatterZ!
The Terabithia one was in my NSD Grab Bag. The other 2 are packs that coordinate with SISTERS BY HEART (a collaborative kit from Georgia (Dreams Ink Designs) and myself! The first Sisters by Heart CSS was a bonus from the MY FAVORITE THINGZ Challenge and the second one will be a bonus from the upcoming Book ClubZ Chat on Wednesday! (So if you participate in those Chats/Challenges - don't pick them up! :)



Get it now:
Blog
3Scrapateers
Digitals
ScrapWow







Get it now:
Digitals - Sisters by Heart Store





Here's how it works:

Each Monday with the New Releases, I will be posting a Show-OffZ Challenge. You will have until Friday to do the challenge and if you get your layout sent in, you will receive either a coupon to my store or a specific product (each posting will tell you what you are getting)! I will share all the Show-OffZ of the Week on Saturdays!


THIS WEEK'S SHOW-OFFZ CHALLENGE:


Do you have a sister? Or maybe just a special friend that felt like a sister? Scrap a layout abour your relationship with your sister/friend! You must use MY PRODUCTS ONLY to create your layout!
(You can use ANY product by me!)

Email me (dedesmith32@gmail.com) a copy of your 600x600, 72dpi Layout(s) by 10pm EST on Friday, June 4th and your layout will be shared on June 5th on my blog! Please include the name that you want listed with your layout.

This week you will be receiving your choice of ANY of my ClusterZ StackZ & ScatterZ packs - make sure you list which one you want when you send in your layout!



Thanks and I hope you will join in the challenge and come back next Monday for new releases and a new challenge!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Recipe Thursday - World's Best 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 have a thing for breads. I love it, especially rolls. My brother-in-law's mom makes amazing rolls and I have been going to get her recipe, but I always forget to ask for it. Then I found this recipe and it tastes very very close to Elaine's and they really are amazing! I have made these several times and I can't get enough of them. They go great with soup and salads and casseroles and just about anything you want! They are even good as a sandwich! So make it - you'll love it!


World's Best Rolls
by Kate from Our Best Bites

2 c. whole milk (if you're in a pinch, you can use 2%, but whole is best. Don't use 1% or skim)
½ c. + 1 Tbsp. sugar, divided
1/3 c. (5 1/3 Tbsp.) butter
2 tsp. Kosher salt
2 pkgs. active dry yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp.), preferably bread machine yeast
2/3 c. warm (105-115-degree) water
8-9 c. all-purpose flour
3 beaten eggs


Combine milk, 1/2 c. sugar, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until butter melts.

Remove from heat. Allow to cool to lukewarm. I usually rub some ice cubes along the sides of the pan or pop the entire pan in a sink full of ice cubes to cool the mixture down because this step can take forever. This step is really important because if the mixture is too hot, it will kill the yeast.

While the milk mixture is cooling, dissolve the yeast and 1 Tbsp. sugar in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes. If the yeast hasn't bubbled, you'll need to repeat this step.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 c. flour and milk mixture. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Add yeast mixture and beat on high for 3 minutes.
Add beaten eggs.

Stir in as much remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough. This dough should be very soft--it will be coming away from the sides of the bowl, but it will still stick to your finger when you touch it. Don't worry, it will firm up during the rising process. Part of what makes these rolls so good is that they're so soft and light; if you add too much flour, they will be heavy and dense. Place the bowl in a warm place and cover with a clean towel; allow to rise 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Lightly flour your work surface and turn dough out onto surface. Divide in half.

I actually do this next part differently. I take a cookie sheet and roll the dough into 24 equal-sized pieces - roll it into a ball and put all 24 balls on the cookie sheet instead of the 2 glass pans. It works great!

Spray 2 9x13 glass pans with cooking spray. Roll first portion of dough into a rectangle and then cut it into 12 equal-sized pieces. I like to use a pizza cutter because it has a blade on each side, so it cuts right through dough without sticking to the blade. This dough should be very easy to work with, almost like playdough. Shape each piece into a ball and place in prepared pan. Repeat with remaining dough in the second pan.

Cover with a clean cloth and allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. When dough has about 15-20 minutes to go (depending on your oven), preheat oven to 375.

Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden-brown.

When done, remove from oven. Rub a stick of cold butter over the tops of the rolls.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Life 365: Week 21

Monday, May 17, 2010


Beth's last week of school started today. Afterwards, she played in her little "puzzle corner" for quite awhile so I could keep working on my Good EatZ Kit. She is getting so good at doing puzzles and we just have a puzzle going all the time! She loves it!


Tuesday, May 18, 2010


Another day of trying to get my kit done. It just isn't happening and I'm just not going to have it done on time - but I think its turning out pretty good. No picture today since I just worked all day on the computer, but I do have some of the kit to share. The kids have been playing pretty well together so I am getting some done - just not enough.


Wednesday, May 19, 2010


I took a break from designing today to go participate in JJ's School Spring Run-off - the only school fundraiser they have all year. We didn't go last year, but I thought we really should do it this year. Beth went to only about 1/2 of her school today and she and I went and joined JJ in the race. We ran a little and walked a little - but we made it to the finish line and we got fun shirts to show it! My Book ScrapZ Chat was tonight and of course I didn't have the kit done - but everyone is being very patient with me - so that helps!


Thursday,
May 20, 2010


Beth graduated from the Center Stage Preschool today. Joey and I were able to attend her graduation/program and it was very cute. I know Beth is going to miss her friends there and the teachers and I'm grateful she has had the opportunity to do a little Karate, a little dancing and singing, and learning.


Friday, May 21, 2010


We got to babysit Mallory for half the day today and it was so fun. JJ was so happy that she came early so he could have a little time with her before he went to school! Mal went with us to Beth's last time with her class. We went to a park and had Mommy and Muffins. We got to have some muffins and juice and the kids got to play on the playground. It was a lot of fun and Beth didn't want to leave. But she started feeling a little sick. By the time night came she was coughing up a storm and had a high fever.


Saturday, May 22, 2010


This morning, I got to pick up my first Bountiful Basket. I have found a great co-op for fruit/vegetables/bread and I'm excited to have more healthy foods come into my home. Hopefully I'll learn how to use it all! It is so fun.

Beth is our little sickie today. She does pretty good during the day, but the night is really hard on her. She coughs so much that she can hardly breathe and her temperature got up to 103 degrees today. Joey and I got free tickets to go to the I Fight Dragons concert. (It's a fairly new band that Joey has had contact with and he's even had their permission to use their music on his podcast. So its pretty cool). Anyways, but because Beth is so sick I stayed home with her while Joey went to the concert with his brother. He said it was really great - though he overdid it with his leg (blood clots) and is pretty swollen!


Sunday, May 23, 2010


With Joey not feeling well and Beth not feeling well - another very hard night - we stayed home from church. The nights are so awful. I think Beth has finally broke the fever - but the coughing at night is just awful. We are all very tired.

For Family Movie Night we watched A Little Princess and we had muffins and meat pies (chicken) - like they have in the book!

And we finished our night - with watching the finale of Lost. It's been a very interesting 6 years and I'll miss the show - I think the finale was good and I'm glad they ended it the way they did.



And here is my weekly layout:


I used my TEARZ U, GOOD EATZ & DIGITAL 365 to create this layout!

Designer Spotlight with Katey - SPECIAL TIME

Please join me for another wonderful designer spotlight! This time we have Katey Green (Handmaid Designs) with us. This is at a special time so I hope you can still join us!

Wednesday Sayings - 5/26/10



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:

"If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right."

- Mary Kay Ash

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Family History TuesdayZ | Nice and Mean

Here is this week's journal prompt :






Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. 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.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

High/Low: May 22, 2010 + Freebie

My LOW this Week was that I was supposed to go to a concert tonight with Joey, but Beth has a head cold, so I needed to stay home to be with her. We got free tickets to the I Fight Dragons concert since Joey and Pete feature the music on their podcast. I was really looking forward to going out tonight, but my little girl needs me. I feel bad that my girl is hurting and sick and I hope she gets better soon.


My HIGH for this Week was Beth's graduation/program on Thursday. I can't believe my little girl is done with preschool and she will be a kindergartener next year! She and her friends were very cute in their program that featured their singing, dancing, and karate. I also got to go participate with JJ and Beth in JJ's school's Spring Run-off Fundraiser. It was fun to walk/run with the kids!


Sorry I'm late again. I do have a freebie for you today - a few freebies from my upcoming GOOD EATZ Kit. It's still not done and I just am having a really hard time completing it, but hopefully I'll get a lot done tonight. I really do wish I was a faster designer. Enjoy this little sneak peek into my new kit and I hope you all have a great weekend!



DOWNLOAD LINK

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Recipe Thursday - Peanut Butter Blossoms



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:
When I was in college, my friend Amber made these cookies several times for us and I've always loved them. I've actually never made peanut butter cookies and I decided it was time to change that - especially when I saw a recipe online that used chocolate chips instead of the traditional Hershey Kisses on top. I rarely have Hershey Kisses in the house - but I always have chocolate chips (and peanut butter) - so it was just an easy fix and I'm done!

Another first for me and another thing I have always said I was going to do - is that I tripled the recipe and then rolled half of the dough up in plastic wrap - placed it in a Ziploc bag and stuck it in my freezer. Now when I get a hankering for some cookies, but don't really want to spend time making them - I can just take them out of the freezer - thaw it out a little and slice it up and cook them. I don't know why I didn't do this before - I'm definitely doing it everytime I make cookies now!

**I think the only thing I will change the next time I make this recipe is add a little more moisture and not so much flour - they were just a little too dry for my tastes!


Peanut Butter Blossoms
by Shandra from Deals to Meals

1 bag milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup shortening - I used the butter flavored shortening
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt


Heat oven to 350°F.

Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Gradually add dry ingredients into peanut butter mixture. Add chocolate chips to dough.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Put cookies on a cookie sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Don't forget to smoosh the cookies down! Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack Cool completely. About 2 dozen cookies.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

No New Release Monday/Show-OffZ

I guess you probably noticed, but I just didn't get a new release or Show-offZ challenge done this week. I'm waist deep in trying to finish my Good EatZ kit - its probably not going to be finished in time for the crop - I just can't seem to stop - but it will be done before next Monday! :)

Anyways, sorry for the no new release - I'll be back next week! Thanks for your patience with me! Crazy May!

Wednesday Sayings - 5/19/10



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:

"Don't cry because its over...Smile because it happened."

- Dr. Seuss

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Family History TuesdayZ | Wedding Day

Here is this week's journal prompt :





Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. 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.


Sunday, May 16, 2010

Life 365: Week 20

Monday, May 10, 2010


I still wasn't feeling very well today, but JJ seemed just fine, so the kids went to school. I didn't accomplish very much. It ended up being a rough evening. I burned the corn chowder and the kids were fighting and having a bit of a hard time. But at least my rolls turned out good. I don't think I will be having corn chowder again anytime soon - I ended up being up all night and throwing up in the bathroom.


Tuesday, May 11, 2010


Last night was completely exhausting. I haven't been that sick in a long time. Today wasn't any better. I didn't eat a thing all day and still felt so sick. But the kids and Joey were fine. Joey got to go on a field trip with JJ and they went to Fishing Day at Salem Pond. The wonderful community puts it on every year for all the special needs kids. They get to fish and have lunch and they bring home a fish and a fun hat. This is JJ's second year and I went with him last year. I'm glad Joey got to go with him this year.


Wednesday, May 12, 2010


On the mend but still not feeling real great. After school today, Beth and I spent a long time playing with her ponies and princesses. She loves it when I take the time to play with her and I need to remember to enjoy these little moments more.


Thursday,
May 13, 2010


Beth has discovered that if she sleeps on her braids and when they are dry, she gets curly hair! So I've been practicing french braids on her and I'm getting better!


Friday, May 14, 2010


It was Beth's last Show-and-Tell at school today and she wanted to do something special. So we made some flower red velvet cookies and she gave them to her class. Everyone loved it!


Saturday, May 15, 2010


A very laid-back Saturday! The kids played all day and Joey watched them while I got to catch up on some rest. Then we played and did puzzles and watched movies and worked on computers. I finally took advantage of a gift certificate that I won at Christmastime for a photo that I took of my kids and got a Fandango gift certificate. So we used some of it tonight and we got Aaron to come over and watch the kids (they were in bed for the night anyways) and Joey and I went to a movie. We saw Letters to Juliet and I really enjoyed it! It was nice to go out with Joey - we haven't done that lately.


Sunday, May 16, 2010


I taught the Sunbeams class today and it was good to finally make it back to church. Since we finished The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia) last week, we decided we needed to watch the movie for Family Movie Night. Our tradition is to watch half the movie - have an intermission and do dinner and then watch the last half of the movie. The kids loved Narnia and I can't wait to read more of the books with them! Joey was great and volunteered to cook dinner and he made some lion head pancakes with scrambled eggs for the manes. He also tried his hand out at some other shapes too. He spelled out the kids names, he did an I Heart You pancake for me and a colts pancake for himself. But my favorite one that he did was a hidden Mickey pancake. So very cool!



And here is my weekly layout:


I used my (and Georgia's) SISTERS BY HEART & DIGITAL 365 to create this layout!

Show-OffZ Challenge | Week 5/10/10

Thank you to the wonderful ladies who participated in my Show-OffZ Challenge this week, your bonus will be arriving via email shortly! Thanks!

This week's challenge was:

Time for some bath or water fun! Do a layout that shows any kind of water playtime! You must use MY PRODUCTS ONLY to create your layout! (You can use ANY product by me!)



Friday, May 14, 2010

High/Low: May 14, 2010 + Freebie

My LOW this Week was that I've been sick. I am having some stomach problems and the flu and all sorts of icky stuff. Hopefully I'm getting better.

My HIGH for this Week was that I am actually designing again. I have kind of gone through a rough patch again with some creative block, but hopefully I will have the kit that I am working on done by Wednesday - just in time for the Book ScrapZ Chat! :)


REMINDER: Today is the deadline for this week's Show-OffZ Challenge! I would love for you to participate!


I have a freebie for you today - a frame from my upcoming GOOD EATZ Kit. Enjoy this little sneak peek into my new kit and I hope you all have a great weekend!



DOWNLOAD LINK

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Recipe Thursday - Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole



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:

Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
by DeDe Smith

I like to have leftovers - so I make a very large casserole - you could half this with no problem!

16 oz pasta - I like to use twisty noodles or small shells
2 tbsp butter
Seasoning: Mrs. Dash, minced onion, garlic powder
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1/2 cup milk
2 cans of tuna fish
1 can of peas
1 cup of grated cheese (I use either colby jack or the kind of shredded cheese you can find in the store that has like monterey jack and cheddar together).
4-6 slices of American cheese
Italian bread crumbs

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and place in casserole dish and add butter and mix until the butter is all melted into the pasta. Sprinkle with the seasoning and mix it in. Mix in sour cream, soups, and milk. Add tuna fish, peas, and grated cheese and mix all together. Top with American cheese and bread crumbs. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Designer Spotlight with Barb

Please join me tonight as we chat with our Digitals Featured Designer, Barbara Speck!

Wednesday Sayings - 5/12/10



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 quotes:

"I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."
- Thomas Jefferson

Monday, May 10, 2010

New Release Monday/Creative Inspiration + Show-OffZ Challenge | BubbleZ & GiggleZ

Today I am introducing you to my kit, BUBBLEZ & GIGGLEZ.
It is an older kit that I have taken and updated just a little bit and now I am re-releasing it and I have added coordinating products to go with it!



I also have a few coordinating items that go with this kit too!





Get it now:


Here is some Creative Inspiration for you from my CT - these are layouts created using my BubbleZ & GiggleZ and Renewal Kits!






Here's how it works:

Each Monday with the New Releases, I will be posting a Show-OffZ Challenge. You will have until Friday to do the challenge and if you get your layout sent in, you will receive either a coupon to my store or a specific product (each posting will tell you what you are getting)! I will share all the Show-OffZ of the Week on Saturdays!


THIS WEEK'S SHOW-OFFZ CHALLENGE:


Time for some bath or water fun! Do a layout that shows any kind of water playtime! You must use MY PRODUCTS ONLY to create your layout!
(You can use ANY product by me!)


Email me (dedesmith32@gmail.com) a copy of your 600x600, 72dpi Layout(s) by 10pm EST on Friday, May 14th and your layout will be shared on May 15th on my blog! Please include the name that you want listed with your layout.

This week you will be receiving the BUBBLEZ & GIGGLEZ: ALPHA



Thanks and I hope you will join in the challenge and come back next Monday for new releases and a new challenge!



Join me every Monday for my new releases! Also on Mondays I will be posting a Show-OffZ Call for your layouts - so please don't miss that at the bottom of this posting!