Pampered Chefs

I thought I would share photos I took of "the couple" at a recent shower for them. It was actually a Pampered Chef shower and they now have an assortment of kitchen utensils for their teeny weeny kitchen. (more like itsy bitsy)

Allison loves to cook and bake and is accumulating all the stuff her Mom has, however her kitchen (as of next week) is just a little bigger than my refrigerator. Kind of cute. 

And NO dishwasher which amuses my husband no end.

Sammy btw, did a fine job of separating the eggs! 

Today is Allison's lingerie shower and I am thankful that, as of 6 am this morning, I am feeling much better - finally!! Yesterday I was sure pneumonia was setting in - fever and all and I left work at 12 noon, came home and slept. 

I have a full day today with shower prep and making the place look nice, however my dear husband who is also just as sick as I am will help me make the place look pretty. He does bathrooms! What a guy!

Bridesmaids will also be decorating and planning the activities of the event so we have it all covered. 

I think any girl getting married needs to have the basics for a good marriage - pots 'n pans and lingerie! I mean what else do you need? 

If I survive the day I will post pictures tomorrow because I can't wait to get some macros of these two fabulous mousse cakes I will serve for the shower. Strawberry and chocolate! Normally I would have made them...but work and the flu meant I hired Costco to make them for me....but they are real purty!

Stay tuned. 

Argggggg - No time for this!!!

I am sick - lungs full of stuff and coughing like crazy - gives me a head ache. Even left work early today - I NEVER take sick time.  But not until I had done a lot of coughing and hand shaking - had a meeting. Not good!

Failing miserably at proper coughing technique - into your arm? 

Nope! As much as I have good intentions and know the proper cough etiquette, when that tickle in my chest takes over and I just got a cough, it is into my hand. it is just the automatic reaction. I am working on it though. sort of.... using LOTS of isogel at work. 

Warning: Don't shake hands with me!

Up to my eyeballs in wedding prep (10 days!!)and a shower on Saturday - AT MY HOUSE!! It will NOT be a Martha Stewart shower by any stretch....but hopefully Costco cheesecake will cover any inadequacies. There is a mini list attached to that shower. Hmmm that is two days away..and I have to work the next two days....It will likely involve a trip to Michael's, the LC (cause girls just want to have fun! plus that too will hide any inadequacies) and the Costco run - when this will all happen I am not sure, likely after work, cough, cough! or on lunch cough, cough...or Saturday morning? cough, cough.

So no scrapbooking for a while. A looong while me thinks. 

If you are so inclined, prayer for health and a peaceful mind would be appreciated. This momentary affliction shall pass and one day I will gleefully be scrapbooking shower and wedding photos. 

Allison's and Harold's Birthday 2002

I have a cold - it is the last thing I need or have time for right now so I am laying low - as low as I get.....I took two hours out from house and wedding prep on Sunday aft to scrapbook. I needed to just close my mind from the to do lists and think creatively. I also did some sleeping in on Sunday- something I only do if I am sick! Sleep helps! So does Neo Citron!

Not that putting together all this wedding decor is not creative....but with scrapbooking I only have to please ME....so I can do what I want on a page. YEAH!!

Basic Grey "Bitter Sweet" line, BG chipboard letters, K&Co pink flowers because they didn't get put away from the last page, bling, pebbles (new ones in at JSI - bigger) Creative Cafe rub-ons, white gel pen and voila!

And then Harold's Birthday in 2002 - he turned 21!! This was a fun 2 page layout to do - just pulled out a bunch of stash along with the BG marrakech line and these fabulous Theresa Collins family chip board "charms" I have to get more of those. 

I have been skipping the gym - cause my lungs say "are you kidding???!!" 

But that gives me an hour in the wee hours of the morning when I am awake to get this page done too. 

This is Harold's Birthday 2008 - I finally used that great BZoo paper along with these really fun Fancy Pants chipboard shapes. We have a whole bunch of Fancy Pants paper at the store and these chipboard shapes go with most of them...and with the Bzoo line too!

As you can see, the sparklers loose their excitement over the years, but Mom still insists on a cake and a photo!

Now back to that to do list! Oh yeah..and work!

Intermission Coffee House

A favorite stop on my way to work is at Intermission Coffee House on Central Ave in Sutherland. It is also David's and my place to relax and read the paper on Saturday mornings.

I like Tim's too but I am a great proponent of supporting the independent merchant and besides I hate waiting for 15 minutes in a lineup for my coffee - in fact I REFUSE to do that!!

Rob's coffee at Intermission house is really good. It is a great place to hang with the community or just find a comfy chair and surf the internet. And it is a place where I just open the door and Rob is getting my large vanilla bean decaf ready before I get to the till.

And it just got better!

These are coffee beans - fresh ones - never roasted. They look just like peanuts. They come in in all sorts of lovely creamy shades. I took these pics at Intermission House last week.

Then you roast them to perfection!

and they look like this. Oozing with rich flavour

.....then you brew them up and mmmmmm

And serve them with Sheri's (Rob's wife) delicious cinnamon buns

Rob now has one of only three coffee roasters to be found in Saskatoon. So if you like freshly roasted coffee beans, then get him to roast some for you to take home or to just try a mug of it.

If you are there at about 8 am on a Saturday morning then we will see you!

Have a blessed weekend everyone. David and I are cleaning out the basement tomorrow - a day long job. I will be putting up a few items on kijiji.

An upright piano (smaller size), an antiques desk from a Wpg law office - solid oak, large, five drawers, 100 yrs old, and a 5 ft metal table in excellent condition. Let me know if you are interested. Maybe a bedroom suite too if one of the kids doesn't claim it very soon.

Blessings!

Allison's Birthday 2002

I have found myself, of late, describing my scrapbooking style as clean, uncluttered, simple.....

Then I did this two page spread. Not sure what happened but the paper and embellishments got away on me and I couldn't get stopped. But then this is a birthday and birthdays are loud and crazy and fun and a party!!!

Yes this is my daughters 13th birthday celebrated with the family and a few strangers at Fuddruckers. I remember it being rather fun if not embarressing for the poor girl.

This is the girl getting married in 17 days!

I used the new Basic Grey Lime Rickey line "Fruit Fizzy", Cherry Cola" and Hobokin" 

I also used the Basic Grey birthday chipboard from the cupcake line which is a perfect match for the lime rickey match and we happen to have about four more of these packages on sale right now at the store. 

For fun I added a strip of paper from the Bo bunny line "It's my Party" how appropriate! I threw on a few flowers from K & Co Citronella.  

And this is the confusion that ensued. But it captures the moment. 

Have a blessed day everyone and remember....You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. Deut  8:17-18a (NIV)

That's My King

And He is my KING!!!
Ask me about Him sometime.... I will do my best to describe the Creator of this world.

JSI spring Fling!

Hollywood glamour.... another fun day. 

Here are the pics. 

Sorry no pics of the big prize winners because I was on opening shift today which means that when I left, the party was still in full swing and the gals were enjoying all the wonderful hor d'oerves. 

Here ya go!

Okay - we did more than just eat....

Tim Holtz stamp'n

Make and takes

Prizes

Contests and lots of fun!

...and glamour!!!

And even I was there wearing my new cool sunglasses.

 Thanks to April for this shot. 

MMMM Good

MMMMM isn't that a lovely photo? It goes with the chocolate in my last post. 

I am dumping photos off my camera card this morning and just wanted to share this lovely one with you. Since I am running out the door 5 min ago, I will post further on the new roasting machine at Intermission Coffee House on central. 

I am dumping because I need a full 2 GB for the day. yes the convention at JSI is on and and the theme is Hollywood glamour!! The bling is out and we have turned on the class. 

So stay tuned because I will be taking a ton of photos and catching the "stars" as they work. 

I will post tonight...... because posting is such a breeze with my super dooper fast MAC!! ....and I know you want in on all the Hollywood glam stuff!!

5 Min chocolate cake? For Real!!

I saw this recipe for chocolate cake cooked in a mug in the microwave on Kate's blog and thought...can this be so????! But Kate said it worked so.....I thought I will have to try it. 

And the very next day we had guests for supper. Can I call my daughtrs fiance a guest anymore? I make him set the table now!!! And our good friend Ken the bachelor who needs to be fed now and then...well okay Ken is not lacking in the food dept - just the HOMEMADE food dept. Seriously, Ken, you are just fun to have over!!

So, after a stop at Cosco for the first time in 10 years (except to get my new glasses which is why I renewed my membership) I came home with $349 worth of stuff - BIG stuff. Dear husband reminded me of why I did not renew my membership 10 years ago. A whole other Blog item!!

I digress!

You would think I would have thought of something for dessert but the bulk buying kind of distracted me. 

Dinner was delicious.....fabulous!

After supper the guys settle in for a little hockey (the sit on the couch kind), but dear husband was craving something sweet (and not his wife at this particular moment)

 

He discovers that the chocolate covered almonds secretly stashed are gone from the bottom drawer of the dining room buffet - my fault! Dear daughter points out his upset mood at this discovery which really means "MOM where did the choc covered almonds go?" 

Some hiding place eh? The whole world now knows where they are - or were. 

So I get on the computer and download this recipe from Kates blog. 

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour 
4 tablespoons sugar 
2 tablespoons cocoa 
1 egg 
3 tablespoons milk 
3 tablespoons oil 
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) 
A small splash of vanilla extract 
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night! 

Wonderful with vanilla ice Cream! The recipe is now in the kitchen basket of fav's! 

I followed it to the "T" - okay I added a little more chocolate chips - because!

And no, I did not eat the chocolate covered almonds -  I have a dress to fit into in three weeks remember? The chocolate covered almonds are, as I type, on a greyhound bus on their way to Thompson, Manitoba because what mother sends a package to her son and doesn't include some chocolate treats!!! I mean really!

The rest of the family will just have to get over it....and the chocolate in a mug I think softened the blow!

This is a must try treat. 

And you MUST let me know if you try it!!

Blessings to y'all!

More MAC progress

There hasn't been much time for laundry let alone blogging but I thought I would check in with y'all before heading to JSI for the day. 

Speaking of JSI - the place is abuzz  these days. The spring fling is this weekend and I tell ya the store is sooo busy we are having trouble getting all our fabulous and fun make 'n takes together...but it will all happen! 

Besides being at JSI I am picking up extra shifts at SHR as well since there is

  ahem....(cough, cough)  a new Mac to pay for, not to mention a wedding coming up in less than FOUR weeks. Am I ready? NO!!

David and I visited the almost newlyweds little basement apartment this Sunday and , well it is really cute.. and very small. They are both so thrilled with the gifts that are pouring in for them and their kitchen while teeny weeny, is getting well stocked with dishes, cutlery, pots and pans and a variety of other items. 

The Mac - well I have now converted all my Outlook files, addresses, sub files and sub, sub files over to Mac Mail thanks to a nifty program called O2M

I also have converted all my Word Doc and they are nicely installed on the MAC and workable in NeoOffice. 

My photos are all on the Mac too and Photoshop and Lightroom installed and working. YEAH!!!! 

Internet  - Safari is working beautifully and I was able to figure out (thanks to a very helpful Mac site) how to transfer all my millions of saved favs from Firefox on my PC to Safari on my Mac. 

Mac also has a very nifty feature called Time Machine which continually keeps my Mac copied onto an external hard drive - and it is up and running .

All this to say that I am pretty darn impressed with myself....although it has meant spending a LOT of time in the help menus!!! And figuring out why my HP Photosmart printer files look soooo very different on my MAC - I will accept it though because the printer is working and I was able to print off pictures of the almost newlyweds last night. 

I am still having some issues with my Mac recognizing my Wacom tabet - it did beautifully.... until  I rebooted and then it went back to the Mac mouse and forgot the tablet was there. hmmmmm

All right then - that brings you up to date on this exciting life of mine!! 

Off for the wedding gown fitting (if the bride gets out of bed in the next 15 min) and then to work.  

Hope you are enjoying the beginnings of spring. Time to get those bicycles out of the garage! .....and rake the garden, wash off the deck furniture, hose the grime off the house, check those down spouts and re-shingle the house. Yup - we let that one go for the past two years and it REALLY needs doing on this 30 year old home...so when we have recovered from the wedding we will be re-shingling!!! maybe in 2015? haha.

Have a blessed day everyone. 

Blessings!

Julie

A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor. Proverbs 29:23  (NIV)