5.18.10

I'm here, I'm here!
I love that so many of you have checked on me to make sure things are ok. I promise I'm fine! Thank you SO much. I've just been busy with school functions, we went on vacation to Disneyworld, and now I'm trying to get caught up on life since we got back. I would think about blogging every day, but geez...just didn't know who would want to read about errands, school events, and my hurriedness. :) So we are home...things are settling down...and I'm giddy that I have lots of crafty time coming up this summer!

To start, isn't this photo pretty? I took this at Epcot Center in Disneyworld. Right now they have the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival going on and there are thousands of flowers everywhere. They had hundreds of these roses, my absolute favorite. Just look how they are bursting with layers and layers of petals. I can't tell you how much I wanted to cut a bunch and take them back to the hotel with me. :)

School is over next week and I'm so thrilled about it. Ready for our schedule to settle down a bit. Ready to have longer periods of time to craft and create. I have three events coming up this summer - yay! First - Paper Cowgirl in Waxahachie, TX in June. I'm teaching a vintage patriotic banner class and will also have a vendor night booth set up, full of fun vintage pretties. So excited about the event! Cindy is making it first class all the way! Second - I'll be attending Kaitlyn's Crop in Houston, July 16-17th. Sweet Cheri Vallery hosts this weekend event each year to raise scholarship money for a student at her daughter's high school. Her precious Kaitlyn passed away in 2006. I'll be there as a vendor and am ordering WAY too much stuff to have at my booth. Cheri has given me all the space I need and I'm taking it, ha. I'll have 3 huge tables full of goodies from Tim Holtz, October Afternoon, Smooch, Maya Road, Melissa Frances, Jenni Bowlin....as well as fun things like glass glitter tubes and chandelier crystals. Third - the Heart of TX Scrapbook Club's end of summer retreat in Temple, TX in August. I'll have a vendor table there as well, full of fun scrapbooking supplies! So three opportunities to hang out with crafty people this summer. I can't wait!

Let me share a few recipes for things I've made in the last few weeks. I haven't cooked as much as I've liked, but will get back on the wagon now that life is settling down. :)

Chocolate Lover's Favorite Cake YUM. I made this for Noah's birthday and also for my mom's birthday. So, so good. (I used vanilla extract instead of almond)

Trisha Yearwood's Hot Corn Dip I made this as an appetizer when the family got together for Noah's birthday. I had seen her on The View and they were just raving about how good this was, so I thought we'd try it. It's great! (but filling) If you like corn, green chiles, and cheese, you'll love it.

Homemade Fruit Ice Cream with Soda I make this every year using strawberries and strawberry soda. It's SO good, easy, and has a nice little fizziness to it from the soda. There are LOTS of soda/fruit ice cream recipes on this page, including one with cream soda and bananas. I think that sounds so good!

It's good to be back on the blog. :) Stay tuned for craftiness soon and let me know if you'll be at one of these summer events!

(I love this quote)
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. ~George Bernard Shaw