Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Wednesday Sayings - 6/30/10



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:

"A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.”
- Unknown

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Summer Madness Sale - EXTENDED

Hi all. I have decided to extend my SUMMER MADNESS - 10 for $10 Deal until July 10th. If you have been thinking of getting some of my products - NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT! I could really use your support so please try and take advantage of it if you can!

GO HERE to purchase!


I will be away from home and my computer from July 2-5th, so if you purchase during that time - you will have to wait for your links until I get back!


Thanks,

Family History TuesdayZ | Afraid

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.


Monday, June 28, 2010

New Release Monday + Show-OffZ Challenge 6/28/10


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 my patriotic kit - AMERICANA BEARZ
There are 4 products in this collection. These products will NOT be available in my Summer Madness - 10 for $10 Deal.

AMERICANA BEARZ 1 - In all my stores now!

AMERICANA BEARZ 2 - This will be available from July 1-31 as the 3Scrapateers Download-a-Day. Get it for FREE one-day-at-a-time in July. If you don't want to wait - you will be able to purchase it on July 1st in my 3S Store. It will also be available for purchase in my other stores after the 5th.

AMERICANA BEARZ - CLUSTERZ STACKZ & SCATTERZ - In all my stores now!

AMERICANA BEARZ QUICKPAGEZ - In all my stores now!











Get it now:
Blog
3Scrapateers
Digitals
iScrapbook - Coming soon!
ScrapWow





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 a layout about the country you live in!!! 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, July 2nd and your layout will be shared on July 3rd on my blog (it might be later, depending on my time)! Please include the name that you want listed with your layout.

This week you will be receiving the AMERICANA BEARZ: QUICKPAGEZ!




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

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Digitals Daily Download from June 27-July 4

Don't miss out on my Daily Download at Digitals HERE from June 27-July 4th! This pack is crammed full of Stacked Papers, Clustered Elements, and ScatterZ!

Friday, June 25, 2010

High/Low: June 25, 2010 + Freebie

My LOW this Week was that my family's financial situation is in a bad place right now and I'm not sure how we are going to work through it but I'm trying to have faith and just do all I can to get it back on track.

Just a reminder my 10 for $10 Sale is still going and I would really appreciate it if you could participate! :)

My HIGH for this Week is that even though our financial situation isn't good - we had planned for our Date Day with our kids and since we had purchased our tickets before and everything we are still going to be able to do it tomorrow. Princess Festival in the morning/afternoon for Beth and I - Joey and JJ are going to go do arcade games. Then we'll meet up for dinner at home - and JJ has a bday party. Then it's off to the Daddy-Daughter Ball for Joey and Beth and JJ and I are going to go see Toy Story 3. I'm so excited and I hope the day will be something that JJ and Beth will remember!


I have a freebie for you today - a paper pack that coordinates with my upcoming AMERICANA BEARZ!

Have a great weekend!


DOWNLOAD LINK

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Recipe Thursday - Beef Stroganoff



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 usually just make stroganoff with hamburger, but I had some stew meat and bacon in the freezer that I needed to use, so I decided to try to make it with stroganoff and see how it turned out! I loved it! My daughter had THIRDS and she usually barely finishes her first serving! My husband thinks it is a completely different meal than our usual "poor-man's" stroganoff - so I think it will definitely be something we make a lot at my house!


Beef Stroganoff
by DeDe Smith

1 lb Stew Meat
Flour
1/2 package Bacon
Seasonings - Salt, Pepper, Mrs. Dash, Season Salt
4 oz Heavy Cream
1 cup of Beef Broth
2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
16 oz Sour Cream
2 cups Milk
Egg Noodles


I put the stew meat in a ziploc bag of flour and covered each piece. Then I put it in a skillet with the bacon, seasoning, and a little bit of butter and slowly browned it.

Then I added the cream and beef broth and simmered it for about 25 minutes on low heat.

Then add Cream of Mushroom soup, sour cream, and milk and simmer while you boil the egg noodles. Put sauce over the egg noodles and serve!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Wednesday Sayings - 6/23/10



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:

"How will our children know who they are if they do not know where they came from?”
- Unknown

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Family History TuesdayZ | First Love

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, June 20, 2010

Life 365: Week 25

Monday, June 14, 2010


Another week of soccer camp! JJ and I took Beth to soccer this morning and then we walked around the 1 1/4 mile track they have there. It was good to get some exercise and I really need to remember to put that it in my schedule!


Tuesday, June 15, 2010


JJ's first day of summer school was today. I feel so grateful that he had the opportunity to do this. I really think it helps him and its nice to have things to do in the summer! After his school we headed to the high school for the FREE LUNCH FOR KIDS that they have going every weekday this summer! Another thing to be grateful for!


Wednesday, June 16, 2010


I am feeling so glad that this summer has had so many rainy days so far. I love the chill in the air and the beauty of overcast clouds. The kids and I spent a while on the porch today just taking it all in!


Thursday,
June 17, 2010


I love watching my kids use their imaginations and just having fun! The kids really had a good time playing outside today.



Friday, June 18, 2010


Joey and I were able to go to our niece's wedding in the Salt Lake City temple today. It was a beautiful ceremony and we really felt the spirit there. Cody and Becki took the kids for the morning/afternoon today and they had tons of time playing at the park with Cody, Becki, and Mallory. We picked them up and went to the luncheon/reception before heading home for the night. I had chicken in the crockpot that cooked all day and I came home and made 8 chicken enchilada meals for my dinner exchange tomorrow.


Saturday, June 19, 2010


Today is Joey and I's wedding anniversary. I feel so happy to have been married to my best friend for 11 years. We didn't have any special plans today because we are a little low on funds right now. It actually turned out to be not a very good day. I slept through my alarm so JJ missed his Tball game. I spent 2 hours in horrible traffic driving to Salt Lake City for my dinner exchange and the van overheated so I barely made it there. And then Joey went to do his podcast. So I just ready for the day to end. When Joey got home from his podcast we did watch a movie and talked for awhile, so it ended up not being too bad. At least I have a week's worth of dinners in the freezer for nights that I won't have to cook! Yay!


Sunday, June 20, 2010


We didn't have family movie night because JJ had to go to bed early. We have to wake up early to get him to the church for his Scout Day Camp tomorrow. I expected him to complain a lot more than he did when he had to go to bed and the sun was still up! I walked in 1o minutes after sending him to bed and this is what I found - so hopefully he'll get lots of sleep and be happy for tomorrow!


And here is my weekly layout:


I used my SWEET SUMMER SUN, LILAC SPRING & DIGITAL 365 to create this layout!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Summer Madness Sale - 10 for $10!!!




SUMMER MADNESS SALE!!!!
In celebration of my 11th Wedding Anniversary + 31st Birthday + in need of some extra financial help!

EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 10TH!

About 1-2 times a year - I offer a special promotion on my blog! I am once again in a financial situation where I need a little extra money to help me get through the month, so I am going to offer this again. I hope it helps you receive products from me that you have been wanting for an amazing deal! I really really appreciate your support!

For $10 you receive your choice of 10 individual products.
Check out my stores (links on the sidebar), including my blogstore products (on the sidebar), and you can choose 10 of them. This is an unlimited deal - which means, you can purchase this deal as many times as you want - so purchase 2 or 3 of this deal and get 20-30 products, etc.

This is for individual items only - so you can't purchase say the whole Happily Ever AfterZ Collection as 1 product, it would be 12 products - Same goes for my Zoo TearZ and Scrapbook Essentials Collections, etc. Also NOT included is club membership kits (3Scrapateers and ScrapWOW), Sisters by Heart Kits, and any exclusive kits that I have at iScrapbook. Thanks!


Please list the names of the products you want in the paypal message/instructions box. If you forget, you can just send me an email later with your list! After I receive your list and your payment, I will send your download links to you - I will be using your paypal email to send the links unless you give me another one!

This deal will run from June 17-June 30th!

Thank you so much for your support!

Recipe Thursday - Chicken & Vegetable Pies



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:
A fun twist on regular Chicken Pot Pie! Instead of the one big pie - why not make some little pies to munch on - so fun!


Chicken & Vegetable Pies
by DeDe Smith

2 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
Cream of Chicken Soup
Pie Crust Dough or Biscuit Dough (store-bought crust or Bisquick is great)
Mixed Veggies (I used corn, peas, and carrots)
Cream of Potato Soup
Chicken Gravy Mix

Place your Chicken Breasts in a casserole dish with the Cream of Chicken Soup. Season your chicken and cook in the oven for about 45-60 minutes. (I actually only had baby carrots and so I sliced them up and cooked them in the oven with the Chicken!) After the chicken was cooked - cut it up into small chunks.

In a mixing bowl, add the chicken (with the Cream of Chicken sauce from the oven), veggies, cream of potato soup and gravy mix. Mix it all together.

Take your pie crust or biscuit dough and roll it out and then cut circles out of the dough (I used a large glass cup). I tried this a couple of ways. I used both kinds - biscuit and store-bought pie crust and they both turn out great - I think I preferred the pie crust!

Take each circle and place a small amount of the filling on each piece. You can either top it with another circle or just make mini-pies by just folding each circle in half. Seal it shut by using a fork to create the edges around the pie.

Bake until done - usually about 15-20 minutes.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Speed Crop tonight - FUN IN THE SUN!

PLEASE JOIN ME for another wonderful Over the Hump Speed Crop!

You get your choice of 2 challenges for this great bonus!

Please join me in the chatroom tonight at 9pm EST!


Monday, June 14, 2010

Life 365: Week 24

Monday, June 7, 2010


JJ and I left at 6:30am this morning to take Lane and Lance to Ogden for Boys State. It took us about an hour and a half and after we dropped them off we headed right back home. We arrived home at about 9:30am. Joey took Beth to soccer camp this morning while we were gone and she did much better than last time. The rest of the day was kind of a blur. I tried to get a little cleaning and laundry done, but didn't accomplish a whole lot. We all took a nap in the late afternoon for awhile. And then I took the kids to the park where they played for awhile, we had a small family home evening lesson and laid on the grass and looked at the clouds. It was overcast and such a lovely day. I really enjoyed the time with the kids.


Tuesday, June 8, 2010


The kids played a lot this morning while I tried to get some housework and designing done. At about 6:30pm we decided to go to the park and the kids decided that they wanted to walk there. There are lots of parks around, but they wanted to go to the park we went to yesterday, so we could feed the ducks. I knew it would be a long way, but we all needed some exercise, so we decided to do it. We made pretty good time getting there and did it in about an hour and a half. We only spent about a 1/2 hour there feeding the ducks and playing on the playground and I realized that it was going to be really late when we got home. This was a very impromptu outing and if I would have realized how far it was and how long it took us - I wouldn't have done it so late! We started for home at 8:30 and we didn't get home until 10:30 at night. The kids were so tired and I felt so bad. But I think they had a good time. I tried to make it an adventure and we talked a lot during the walk home. I had to keep encouraging Beth - she was really having a hard time towards the end. I really wore them out. We quickly pulled something together for dinner and then they went to bed. They were asleep before their heads hit their pillows. I stayed up to get my kit in the store and finally crashed about 5:00am.


Wednesday, June 9, 2010


It was one of those days where I just couldn't do anything right. I accidentally turned the alarm off and so I missed taking Beth to Soccer Camp and JJ to scouts. We were all so exhausted from yesterday that we just didn't make it. I felt so bad all day. JJ's scout leader came to our house later and gave JJ the supplies to make his Puddle Jumpers, so JJ played with them all day and it was fun to see him so excited about it! We were lazy all day and just played.


Thursday,
June 10, 2010


This week we have gone to the park a lot and the kids have really loved it. We went to a different park today and the kids enjoyed about an hour of playtime before we headed off to the new Winco for some grocery shopping!



Friday, June 11, 2010


Joey and I got to go on a date tonight and Aaron came over to babysit the kids. We joined Curtis and Anne and we had dinner at Olive Garden and went to see the new Karate Kid movie! It was really good and I enjoyed being able to have some time away!


Saturday, June 12, 2010


I picked up another beautiful basket of fruits, vegetables, and tortillas from Bountiful Baskets this morning. It was really rainy weather, so JJ's T-ball game was canceled so we just hung out all day at home.


Sunday, June 13, 2010


Today for family movie night - we watched "The Three Amigos" and had chicken burritos for dinner.


And here is my weekly layout:


I used my SWEET SUMMER SUN & DIGITAL 365 to create this layout!

Friday, June 11, 2010

High/Low: June 11, 2010 + Freebie

My LOW this Week was that I was just completely exhausted - physically and creatively. I even slept in and missed my daughter's soccer camp and my son's scouts this week. I felt really bad about it - but hopefully that is in the past now and that next week will be better!

My HIGH for this Week is that I get to go on a date with Joey tonight. We are going to dinner and a movie with some friends. Its been awhile since we got to go out together, so I'm excited.

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 paper pack that coordinates with Digitals upcoming July 2010 Challenge Kit!

Have a great weekend!



DOWNLOAD LINK

Life 365: Week 23

Monday, May 31, 2010


Joey's mom left very early this morning and we didn't even get to say goodbye - but we were glad she made it safely to Wyoming. We spent this Memorial Day being very lazy. Joey and I played/worked on our computers and the kids played and watched movies. Joey did do some work outside and got our swamp cooler working and some pipe connections fixed.


Tuesday, June 1, 2010


We went and picked up some Soccer stuff for Beth today. We got a package deal for signing up for the Orem Soccer and got Beth some cleats, shin guards, soccer ball, and sackpack. Beth was so excited!


Wednesday, June 2, 2010


Beth's first day of Soccer Camp was today. JJ stayed home with Joey since he didn't have to go in early and Beth and I headed over to the field. Beth was so excited until we got to the field and suddenly she got so nervous and shy. Beth is normally so outgoing that I was so surprised that she had that reaction to all the kids and coaches. After some tears and sadness and hugs - I finally got her to go back on the field. She wanted to go back home - but I told her to stick it out and that it wouldn't be very long. She ended up slowly kicking the ball at the other end of the field by herself. I wasn't sure what to do - but then I saw one of the coaches go up to her and talk to her and she became the Bethie I know again and started playing and learning. It was an interesting experience for her, but hopefully now that she knows more of what to expect that next time will be better!


Thursday,
June 3, 2010


There is just nothing like a tea party with your bears and your daddy! I love seeing Joey play with the kids!


Friday, June 4, 2010


It was so nice today. The kids played all day outside and they loved it. I love hearing them play outside my bedroom window as I do some design work. I love that they use their imaginations! At one point, Beth ran into the house and told me that I "just had to see something so beautiful." I grabbed my camera and took some pictures of the beautiful roses that have bloomed in our yard! Beth was so excited to have a picture of her with the roses!


Saturday, June 5, 2010


Joey took JJ to his Tball game today. I wasn't feeling so well, so I slept in for a little while. JJ still gets very distracted in the outfield, but hopefully we can work with him and get him to focus better. Joey said that he hit better today, so that's good. In the afternoon, I took Beth to her friend Baylee's Birthday Party at Little Gym. She had so much fun and when I came to pick her up, she cried because she didn't want to leave. It was fun to find that Jodi Price worked there now - her family was in our ward when we lived in Salt Lake City so it was a fun surprise to see her again! Then after the party, Beth and I got haircuts! I got enough hair cut off to donate to Locks of Love so it is quite a change! Beth loves her haircut and I do too - it will be great to not have to deal with so much hair - especially over the summer!


Sunday, June 6, 2010


After church, we decided to do our Family Movie Night early, since we were going to have visitors later. We watched The Wizard of Oz and it was the first time for my kids. They really enjoyed it. Later for dinner, we had Chicken Noodle Casserole for dinner - which is yellow and cheesy and it was our "yellow brick road." For dessert, we made a large rainbow cookie!

Lane and one of his friends came and stayed with us tonight. They are headed to Boys State tomorrow so it was fun to have them come for dinner and stay with us. The kids were so excited to have Lane here!


And here is my weekly layout:


I used my SWEET SUMMER SUN (DIGITALS JULY 2010 CHALLENGE KIT) & DIGITAL 365 to create this layout!

Life 365: Week 22

Monday, May 24, 2010


This is what our morning-afternoon looked like! I couldn't believe it when I looked out the door. The end of May and we are still getting snow storms. JJ went off to school - Joey went off to work - and Bethie (who is still not feeling good) and I stayed home.


Tuesday, May 25, 2010


JJ's Scout Pack Meeting was tonight. They talked about collections and they got to bring their collections with them. JJ is getting quite the collection of Cars Collectibles. His scout leader gave him a new "Doc" (it has eyes that move) and I gave him a new "Lightning McQueen" (that changes color in warm water) for tonight. He was so excited!


Wednesday, May 26, 2010


JJ's school does a Dance Festival every year and this JJ's second year to participate. This year he did a "Hat Dance" with his Life Skills class and he even go to join in the regular 2nd graders dance too! He was so excited and it was so fun to see him dance and enjoy himself!


Thursday,
May 27, 2010


Beth has an ear infection now and so she's on antibiotics and JJ's starting to get that really bad cough. My poor babies - I hate it when they are sick. JJ went to school anyways, since it was his last full day and he really didn't want to miss Field/Water day. They got to do all kinds of water activities and lots of fun. I was worried about him all day - but he came home happy and only really started coughing at night.


Friday, May 28, 2010


JJ's very last day of school was today. He only had a 1/2 day and then he came home! To celebrate, JJ and Joey went to the Utah Blaze Football game tonight. They had a good time even though JJ was really not feeling too well and the Blaze lost. Beth and I had a girls night and we watched movies and had dinner from the couch! Beth conked out early so I got some design time in before the boys came home.


Saturday, May 29, 2010


We all went to JJ's first T-ball game today. I was so excited to find an adaptive sports team that JJ could join. He did okay - when he is in the outfield he kind of just spaces out and he is a bit scared of the ball, but not too bad for his first time. I think he had fun - so that is all that matters.

Sunday, May 30, 2010


The kids are still recuperating, so we didn't make it to church again. I hope we can get rid of this darn sickness soon!

It was such a nice evening tonight. I made a nice dinner and Joey's mom came up to stay the night - she's on her way to Wyoming to take care of Grandma Smith. Aaron came over for dinner and visiting too. And I was able to get a hold of Chelsea and her husband, Will, and Alicia and her fiance, Brian and they came over to visit. Chelsea and Will left before we got a picture - but it was so nice to visit and catch up. Joey's side of the family don't get together too often, so it was just really great.

For Family Movie Night (Joey's mom joined us) - we watched The Princess Bride. That movie is always such a delight. We had meatloaf for dinner so it was our R.O.U.S's loaf.


And here is my weekly layout:


I used my SWEET SUMMER SUN (DIGITALS JULY 2010 CHALLENGE KIT) & DIGITAL 365 to create this layout!