Friday Favorites!!!

Happy Friday!!!!!!

First I wanted to share with you a beautiful photo rag quilt made by Kevin and Amanda!!!

 

I literally gasped when I came across this!!! Click HERE for the directions!!! This would be a great gift for Mother's Day too, but I want one for myself!!!!

I seriously need to find someone to sit down and teach me how to use a sewing machine!!! 

Next are these Photo Necklaces!!!!  

(I'm starting to sound like a game show host or something)

You can go HERE 

to see the tutorial (it is actually easy too!!)

  

These were made by The Pampered Mom

I think these would look great with my photo charm bracelet, what do you guys think?

 Check out THESE sooooo yuuuummmmy brownies from

 

These bad boys are made with Snickers and Hershey's bars!!!! You won't be disappointed!!!

And to finish this off.....you should go check out 

 Cool Photo Ideas.com

They have all kinds of neat ideas for things to do with your pictures!!!

They made THESE  awesome glass jar photo frames!!

 
 

I think these would be great in my kitchen...now to just find some jars!!!

So, hope you enjoyed this weeks favorites!!!  

Have a great weekend!!!!

Lets Talk about backing up your photo's and video's!!

I thought I would do a post about backing up your files....for me mainly photo's and video's.

One of my major fears is losing all my photo's and video's in a house fire or a computer crash. No, that would not be my biggest worry in a house fire, but, I love my photo's and don't want to see anything happen to them. My Mom has no baby pictures of herself because they all burnt up in a house fire...I don't want that to happen to Luke. 

The first thing I do is that I have all my photo's and video's on an external hard drive. The one that I have is the My Book. It was a Christmas gift from Tim a couple of years ago. 

 

Not only does this keep my pictures and video's from being lost if my old computer crashes, but, it keeps them off the computer all together so they aren't hogging the memory and slowing the computer down. This stays hooked up to the computer at all times, so, I have access to my files at all times, they just aren't on the computer.

Another idea is to save your files on a flash drive. This will basically do the same thing as the hard drive, just in a smaller package. The only down side to this is that the memory on a flash drive is smaller than the external hard drive. I save my files on a flash drive, to back up the external hard drive. Here is a really nice flash drive that I bought my brother for his birthday. He's going to put music on his and listen to it in his car.

This one is really tiny, trust me. The whole reason that I put my files on a flash drive is so that I can store it in a fire safe. 

 

Basically, this thing is guaranteed to keep your things dry and safe during a 1/2 hour fire. I put my files on the flash drive and put the flash drive in the fire safe and they should be pretty safe in case of a fire. I also keep our birth certificates, social security cards, etc, etc in this also. I even have some negatives from my old film photo's in there too.

Now, if you want to burn your photo's and video's to a dvd and then put the dvd in a safe place. Then this dvd recorder will do the trick.

 

This was another Christmas gift from Tim. You don't need a computer to burn your photo's and video's onto dvd. Just put your memory card in it and go to town!!!! You can't buy this particular model anymore. If you have any questions about these, just let me know. You can find them at www.sonystyle.com under DVdirect. Another thought, is that you could burn an extra dvd and store it at a family members house.

And last but not least, you can backup your photo's and video's on an online photo sharing site. There are pleanty and I'm sure that everyone knows about them. Flickr, Photobucket, etc, etc. This is probably the cheapest (free) and easiest way to back up your files.

So, for those of you that are still hanging around...thanks. I hope this will just keep you aware of backing up your files....just in case. This may seem a little excessive, but it gives me a little piece of mind.  

Wordless Wednesday!!!

I am participating in

over at Miller Racing Family !!!!!

Go over and join in on the fun!!!!

 

My review of the Just Dance game for Wii!!

I finally bought the Wii!!! Still no luck on finding the Wii Fit Plus, but, at least now I have the system to play it whenever in the world I find it!!! (hey, Nintendo, get on the ball and produce these things before we all lose interest!!!)

Now, I did buy a game for the Wii, it is 

And I thought I would do my own little review of it!!!

This game is a blast!!! Basically, you hold the Wii Remote and Nunchuck in each hand and follow the moves that the computerized person is doing on the screen. 

I laughed and laughed while I played this game....and I was playing it by myself!!!

The song selection is great too. My favorite was Pump Up the Jam!!! There are over 30 songs to dance to:

• Acceptable in the 80's – Calvin Harris
• A Little Less Conversation – Elvis Presley
• Bebe – Divine Brown
• Can't Get You Out of My Head – Kylie Minogue
• Cotton Eye Joe – Rednex
• Hot n' Cold – Katy Perry
• Dare – Gorillaz
• Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (Rocky)
• Fame – In the style of Irene Cara (cover)
• Funplex CSS – The B 52's
• Girls and Boys – Blur
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cindi Lauper
• Groove is in the Heart – Dee-Lite
• Heart of Glass – Blondie
• I Get Around – The Beach Boys
• I Like to Move it – Reel To Real
• Jerk it Out – Caesars
• Jin Go Lo Ba – Fat Boy Slim
• Kids in America – Kim Wilde
• Le Freak – Chic
• Louie Louie – Iggy Pop
• Lump – The Presidents Of The USA
• Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp
• Pump up the Jam – Technotronic
• Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
• Step by Step – New Kids On The Block
• Surfin' Bird – The Trashmen
• That's the Way (I Like it) – Kc & The Sunshine Band
• U Can't Touch This – MC Hammer
• Wannabe – The Spice Girls
• Who Let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men
• Womanizer – In the style of Britney Spears (cover)

I worked up a major sweat, even my feet were sweating!!!! This will be great to pick about 10 songs, dance, and get a great 30 minute workout. I am going to use this as my workout, and hopefully I will be able to stick to it!!! 

Cons: It didn't seem like the scoring was very accurate. I was trying with all my might to get great's on everything, but, even when I thought I had done it perfectly, it didn't register the move. My husband got good scores just sitting in his chair and moving his arms, not fair!!

Not enough songs....even though 30 songs is alot, they go by fast when your having fun. I'm afraid that I may get bored with it after awhile.

The cord going from the Remote and the Nunchuck got in the way. If the move had you putting your arms out to the side the cord seemed to not be long enough and it got in the way. And on several occasions, I smacked myself in the face with it.

Overall, I liked the game and I'm glad I bought it. I can't wait to have someone come over and play with me!!!

Mommyhood Monday's!!!

So, I came up with the idea that I would have Mommyhood Monday's

On Monday's I will post something about being a mommy, whether it is a cute story, or something that has been on my mind or whatever, it will be about being a mommy. What do you guys think?

For the first Mommyhood Monday I am going to post:

5 Things I didn't know about being a Mom before I had Luke: 

1. How strong a mother's love is. I knew that I would love him, but, I didn't realize how strong that would be. I feel a connection to him that I have never felt before. And, I don't think anyone could ever describe a mother's love. It is an amazing thing...being a mother.

2. How much I would be disappointed when I couldn't breastfeed. You see, I was one of those women that, before I got pregnant, thought breastfeeding was yucky and that I would never do that. Then I got pregnant and I thought "well, I'll just try it" then a couple months down the road I thought "I'll do it for a couple weeks" a couple more months down the road "I'll do it for two months" then " I'll breastfeed and pump when I get back to work" It was like something changed in me the further into my pregnancy I got. When Luke was born I breastfed him for the first time in the recovery room (I had a c-section) and it was the most amazing thing...I felt a happiness and a peace inside me...like that was what I was meant to do. He did great at first, then he had trouble's latching on. The nurse gave me the wretched nipple shield and it all went downhill from there. He couldn't latch on and my milk never came in. They said it would, but, it never. I cried for 2 hours in the hospital when my husband gave Luke some formula in a syringe to try to help him latch on. I was devastated. The one thing I was meant to do, my body wasn't going to let me. Why couldn't my body do what it was supposed to do? I cried alot, I fought back tears alot. I'm pretty sure alot of it was baby blues, but I know that I was devastated. But, in the long run, I don't think I could have  breastfed that boy anyway, he ate like I have never seen a baby eat...he was always hungry and went up to 8 ounce bottles in no time...so maybe it wasn't meant to be. I don't know if I would try again or not if I were to have another baby....I may not and save myself the heartache. 

3.That I would be a helicopter mom. I have the habit of doing things for Luke when he has trouble doing them on his own. Like eating chicken nuggets.  I was breaking them up for him when he decides that he wants to eat a whole one. I say "no you can't eat a whole one, you'll choke buddy, let mommy break it up for you" and Luke whines in protest. Finally, Tim says "Mary step out of your helicopter" I couldn't even believe he knew about helicopter moms, let alone was calling me one. But he was right, Luke ate the whole chicken nugget and we didn't have call 911 or anything. Can you believe it?

4. How proud I would be of everything that he does. Every little accomplishment makes me smile with pride. He said "poop" and I wanted to throw him a ticker tape parade!!! I am just a proud mommy and am not ashamed of it!!! 

5. How much I would hate leaving him. I didn't realize that it would hurt so much leaving him to go to work. It has gotten easier, but, at first I fought back tears the whole time I was at work. I still have hard days.....like this morning he was singing along with Elmo and dancing I almost cried thinking that I hated to leave him and go to work. It is hard. I'm just glad that Tim takes him to daycare because on the days that I have had to take him and he cried....oh that was the worst.

So, for those of you who made it through that, I hope  you enjoyed my rambling and I hope you'll enjoy Mommyhood Monday's!!!

I won an award!!!!

Tanya at Miller Racing Family 

gave me this beautiful blogger award!!! YAY!!!

I met Tanya last year and discovered that we had alot in common!!! Thanks Tanya!!! If you haven't checked out her blog, you should, she does a crock pot Tuesday where she posts a crock pot recipe, she has wordless wednesday carnivals where you can show off your pictures and come on, lets face it, who doesn't like to show off some pictures!!! She even lists a giveaway everyday and gives the link to go to so you can enter!!! Go ahead and check out her blog, it's great!!

Now, onto the rules

1.Thank the link to the person that gave you the award

            2.Pass this award on to 15 bloggers you've recently discovered

& whom you think are fantastic

3.Contact said Blogs to let them know they've won

4.State 7 Things about yourself!

So, these are just a sampling of the blogs that I follow, you can tell I love craft blogs, huh?  (be sure to check them out!!)

1. Smashed Peas and Carrots

2. Small Fry & Co.

3.Seven Thirty Three

4. Sumo's Sweet Stuff

5. Boy, Oh, Boy, Oh Boy

6. Craft Rookie

7. Fireflies and Jellybeans

8. Made By Rae

9. MaryJanes and Galoshes

10. Tatertots and Jello

11. Warpinski's

12. Trey and Lucy

13. Oops, I Craft My Pants

14. Happy Together

15. Beneath My Heart

And 7 things about me are:
1. I never intended to ever post anything on this blog. I made this blog so that I could easily follow the blogs that I liked and then I thought "what the heck" and just started posting...glad I did!!!


2. I'm sure you can tell but I love photography and anything that has to do with pictures. I don't have a high end camera, just an advanced point and shoot (Sony H50) but I do wish I had a DSLR to shoot with. But, I do o.k. with the H50 and Paint Shop Pro. I would love to make a business out of it, but, I have no idea where to start. 


3. My first car was a 1981 Ford Mustang. I loved that car, it was red, 4 cylinder and automatic...it wasn't fast but it sure did look good!!! I don't have any digital pictures of it, or I would share them. I washed and waxed that thing and scrubbed the white walls on the tires...boy was I proud. I finally sold it when it just got too old and too far gone. But, I married a guy who loves Mustangs and now my own little brother owns one too!!! 


4. I love sweets. It's soo bad, I make a daily trip to the vending machine. I keep saying that I need to start drinking coffee because at least it won't make me fat!!!


5. I am wanting to write a childrens book. I have the idea in my head, I guess I just don't know where to go from here. I have no idea how to go about getting it published. That would be great though.


6. I love to experience new things. I crave that to keep me sane. I hate being in a rut. My husband and I used to just take car rides and take roads that we had never been on just to see where they would take us. I loved that. We haven't done that since Luke was born...we need to do that again.


7. I'm a Jeff Gordon fan. I have been for about 13 years now. Not only is he a great driver, but I think he is hot and he is even hotter now that he has become a Daddy and I can see him with his little girl.....I also have a thing for a man in a fire suit. (maybe to much information...hehehe)


So, hope you enjoyed reading some random facts about me. Thanks again Tanya for this award!!!

Friday Favorites!!

It's that time again!!!!

But first I would like to take a moment to list one of my Unfavorites today....

That would be....ear infections!!!

My poor baby has an ear infection in both ears...and yesterday he wasn't feeling good....he had a fever too. I got him to the doctor and got him some medicine and he is acting normal today but BOOOO to ear infections!!!

(Also, if you remember my post about toys in the doctor's office HERE ...Just thought I would give you a little update....they have now installed bead toys right onto the walls of the exam room.....now I really think it's a conspiracy to spread germs!!!)

Now, onto the fun stuff....

First I'd like to share with you a recipe that is sooo good!!! I made this for dinner over the weekend and even my husband....who never likes it when I try new stuff liked this one. 

It is Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup from Smashed Peas and Carrots !!!

You should really try this...it is really yummy!!! Head on over there and check out this recipe!!

 

I'm not sure if the rest of you are into pictures the way I am...I just like to surround myself with the things that I love most...and pictures are one way that I do that.....just like THIS beautiful photo display from Curly Q Crafts !!

 

While your there, check out the rest of her photo frames!!! She has some great ideas!! And if you see something you like...she'll make if for you!!!

Check out THIS  cute door hanger by Made by Stephanie!!! 

 
 

This would cute in any little boys room!!!!

Well, hope you guys liked today's links!!!

Have a great weekend!!!

p.s. We finally have sunshine!!!!!! Now only if all this snow would melt!!! 

 

Giveaway at The Rusted Chain!!!

If you haven't been to 

you should really go and check out this blog!!!

Beki makes beautiful hand stamped jewelry!!! She also take beautiful pictures!! So inspirational!!!

She even gives away some of her jewelery too!!!

Right now she is giving away this necklace!!!

 

Go HERE to enter!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday.....something bright to warm you up!!!

Linking this to Miller Racing Family Wordless Wednesday!!!

Be sure to go over and participate because who doesn't love sharing pictures!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Custom Keychain....man gift!!!

I made this keychain for my brother for his birthday!!!

He was born on Valentine's Day!!!

This would be great for any man or woman...you could use a picture of your child, animal, favorite sports team...anything really!!!

 

This is a picture of his Mustang that I took and edited

This is just an image that I put together for the other side.

Supplies needed:

1 piece of wood (I bought mine from Hobby Lobby, there were 5 in a pack)

picture paper

Mod Podge

Clear spray acrylic

Ball Chain 

Sandpaper

1. Measure your piece of wood so you'll know what size to make your images

2. Resize images to fit, keeping in mind that you will drill a hole in the wood

3. Print pictures on photo paper

4. Cut out pictures slightly larger than the wood

5. Using Mod Podge adhere the pictures onto the wood

6. After it has dried, use the sandpaper to sand off the edges of the photos

7. Repeat for both sides

8. Drill hole for chain (See Tip at bottom of post)

9. Spray with Clear Acrylic

10. Attach ball chain (I bought a ball chain necklace from Hobby Lobby and just cut it down to size)

Tip: You don't want to drill clear through one side of the wood to the other with the pictures on the wood. This will tear the picture that is on the second side of the wood. There are two ways you can go about drilling your hole. First, you could drill half way through the wood and then turn the wood over and finish drilling the rest of the way through, or, you could drill the hole before you adhere your pictures and then mark the hole on the pictures and use a craft knife to cut out the hole.  

There you have it. A one-of-a-kind keychain gift!!! My brother loved his!!!

Linking to:

Keeping It Simple: Motivate me Monday
Someday Crafts: Whatever Wednesday

Friday Favorites!!!!

Today I have lots great crafty things to show you!!! So, get comfy!!!

First is this very beautiful and easy Vellum Covered Picture from craft eNVy!!

 

Doesn't that look beautiful!!!

Next is THIS cool dollar store frame craft from How Does She

 Isn't that cute!!!

Look at this Heart Photo Ornament from scrappergirl!!!! 

 Not only does this look cute, but it also looks pretty easy!!!

And last but definitely not least is this Dump Truck Bank for all those little boys in our lives!!! It's from Mary Janes and Galoshes!!!

 

Isn't this just genius?? She even is kind enough to supply us with the picture that she used!!! She is also having a great giveaway for a very fun, very cute felt card table playhouse!!! You can click HERE to go and enter, it goes until February 15th!!! 

(Huffing and Puffing) Phew!!! That's alot of great ideas, huh??? Have fun and I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

I just want to say a special thanks to everyone who posts their crafts on the internet, because you all give me great inspiration!!!

 

Wordless Wednesday!!!

I am participating in Wordless Wednesday's at

Miller Racing Family 

If you haven't checked out this blog, you should!! She has great posts and giveaways!!! Go ahead and check it out!!! And you can participate in the Wordless Wednesday's too!!! She is having a great giveaway to celebrate her first Wordless Wednesday too!!!

 

This is a picture of Luke when he was 1 month old!! He is in his daddy's helmet....this is my favorite picture from when he was a newborn!!!

I Heart Faces Weekly Contest

This is "I Heart Kisses" week on I Heart Faces!!!

This week we enter a photo of kissing!!

This is my entry, if you haven't checked out I Heart Faces Yet, click on the button and check it out!!

This is Luke and I sharing a kiss. He is really loving and he loves to kiss. When he kisses you he says "Maaaaa". That is his kissing sound!!!

Ode to Snow....

Snow, Snow, go away,

Don't come back till Christmas Day,

I miss the fun,

Out in the sun,

Where the sun is out all day!!!

I'm getting very tired of this snow and cold. It is making me depressed. 

We have played in it, we have tried sledding....we're over it.

Luke saw the stroller in the closet the other day and said "Ughh, Ughh" and pointed to it. I think he is ready for spring too!!!

Sigh.....and we have at least another month of this left.

Maybe I'll try to plan a trip to COSI (science museum) sometime soon to give us something to look forward to.

Also, I have been looking at swing sets....we're going to get Luke one this spring...which makes me a little happier!!! 

I hope everyone is staying warm and safe and happy!!!

Now lets just hope that we don't lose power!!!

Pillsbury Taco Melts Recipe!!!

I have made these bad boys a couple times and let me tell ya....they are good!!!

 

They really taste as good as they look too!!

Tips: 

1. Pillsbury Grands biscuits work the best with this, yesterday I tried these with the Walmart brand biscuits and a couple fell apart..they still worked they just weren't as pretty

2. I sandwiched the biscuit in between two sheets of waxed paper and then rolled them out into a larger circle

3. If you have trouble getting the biscuit off the waxed paper after you have formed the sandwich, just turn the waxed paper over into your hand and it should come off right into your hand!!!

*This is not a diet friendly recipe but it is a taste bud friendly recipe!!*

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS

1	package (1 oz) Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix
2/3	cup water
1 1/2	cups Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa
1	lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef, cooked, drained
1	can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury® Grands!® refrigerated biscuits (any variety)
1	cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese or Mexican cheese blend (4 oz)
1	cup sour cream, if desired

DIRECTIONS

1.	Heat oven to 375°F.
2.	In medium saucepan, cook taco seasoning mix, water, 1/2 cup of the salsa and cooked ground beef until thickened.
3.	Press each biscuit into 6-inch round. Fill each with taco mixture and 1 tablespoon cheese. Fold dough over filling and press to seal. Place on greased cookie sheet.
4.	Bake 9 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with remaining salsa, cheese and sour cream.

Hope You Like The Changes

I hope you like the changes I have made. It has taken me 3 1/2 hours to do it!!! I think it looks really good and is more personal than the last template I was using!!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend!!!!

Friday Favorites!!!

I am going to start doing a Friday Favorites post on....well...fridays!!!

That way I can post some of the things that I see around the internet that I like and would like to try some day...that way I share it with all of you and I can keep track of them all right here on my blog. Hopefully, when I get time I can make a featured button so that if I feature you, you can put the button on your blog. 

I am also planning to do some changes to my blog. I want to make it more personal so I am going to make my own header and background. I just have to wait until I have some time to myself. So don't mind the banging noises, I am just remodeling some things around here....hopefully soon.

So, onto Friday Favorites. 

I saw this really cool light switch cover frame HERE 

at My Feathered Nest!!!

Isn't that just cool!!! I'm afraid I am going to start running out of room to put all of these cool photo crafts that I keep running into!!! I may have to start switching them out monthly!!! (Ha!!!! I totally did not notice the pun until I reread this post!! you know, switching them out and this is about light switches...ok...maybe it's just me)

If you are the mother to a boy or if you have a boy in your family....you are going to want to check this out!!!!
MADE and MADE By Rae are using the entire month of February to......Celebrate the boy!!!

You can click on the button to go and check it out!!!

They are going to have tons of boy tutorials, boy crafts, boy giveaways etc, etc!!!! 

I just think this is great....being a mommy to a boy...you don't see a whole lot of crafts or tutorials or giveaways for boys. Yes, I think the bows and ruffles are cute but I don't think Luke would appreciate those very much!!! 

 

Toys in Doctor's Offices

 What is your take on toys being in the doctor's office?

I took Luke for his shots yesterday and his doctor's office has a toy room there. 

In my opinion, I think this is just stupid.

Here I am with my perfectly well child (for a change) bringing him in for his shots. He wants to play with all the toys which he see's in this toy room, which has big windows into the waiting room so that you can't miss the toys. 

He is a toddler so I have two choices.....

1. fight him to keep him out of said toy room all the while he is crying and whining and everyone is staring at me

or

2. I can let him play with said germ infested toys and sanitize and pray that he doesn't catch whatever the last sickly child had that was playing with them

Now, this is a fight that I don't have to have every time I go to the doctor if they would just take the toys out of the waiting room.

I appreciate the gesture but come on......they don't need these toys just like they don't need the water fountain in the waiting room either!!!

I do not want my child to get sick any more than he already does from being in daycare and playing with germ infested toys in the doctor's waiting room isn't helping matters, and he is a toddler so of course he want's to play!!!

So, am I the only one who hates the doctor office toys? Is my doctor's office the only one that still keeps toys for the kids to play with??

 

Watching My Weight Wednesday!!!

I lost another 2.8 pounds!!!! Yeah!!!!

That brings the total to almost 5 pounds!!!

I haven't been exercising, unless you count shopping and getting in and out of the car a bazillion times as exercise...I suppose I could count it!! 

I really should exercise but I was busy. I did however glance at my recordings of "Inhale" from Oxygen and it looks good with some good music...just didn't get off my butt and do the workout. 

Still no Wii or Wii Fit Plus. I was at Walmart over the weekend and they had one Wii system left....I got in line to have the cashier get it out of the case for me and ......the couple in line right in front of me took it. Urrrrhhhhggghghgh!!!! And so the search goes on. 

I did make it to my BFF/SIL's house on Saturday and worked out on hers. Thanks Steph!!!!!

A File Organizer and a Photo Letter!!!!

Thought I would share these links with you guys!!!

This is a file organizer that Life in Dahlia Lane made out of cereal boxes, scrapbook paper and card stock!!! 

I could use one of these to organize pay stubs!!!! 

You can go HERE to see how she did it!!!

If you have seen my blog, you know that I love photos and anything to do with photos so when I saw this it brought a huge smile to my face!!! 

 I love it!!!! 

 

Transforming Home made this for her twins room, to hang above their beds!!!

Isn't this a really cute idea???

You can go HERE   and see how she did it!!!!

Hope you enjoyed these and have a happy day!!!

Wanted to share a great giveaway!!!!!

I just wanted to let you guys know about a great giveaway that is going on this WHOLE MONTH!!!!

Go check out Its So Very Cheri for these giveaways!!!

These are only for followers so you'll want to start following her blog....like right now so you can win this great stuff!!!!