Sarah and Me

My friend reminded me that it was time to post a picture of myself again so my readers could see the change. So this is me 30 pounds lighter. Next to me is my beauty of a daughter Sarah. She is also on the WW program and doing great!

I think I forgot to tell you that I got my son John started on WW this past Saturday. He got on the scale again yesterday and has dropped 7 pounds. So way to go John and Sarah.

Happy that it's Friday! Three day weekend. I'm cleaning the house up this evening. Don't want to have to do it over the weekend as I would really like to play with all my new toys.

Till tomorrow....

Stamping Trails

Karen 243

I'm a Dork

Let me tell you how much of a dork I really am.

I was playing with my new Big Shot yesterday....and I bought the Baskets and Bloom die, and did not read that I needed the extended cutting pads to use with that die. So I remembered last week that I bought the scallop edge card die at Pat Catan, which also would need the extended pads. So......I called Pat Catan they had the extended pads for 16.00 great! I drive out Strongsville (in the rain...why is is always raining when I make these mad dash for supplies runs?)....and only plan to get the pads. However I see the all the other dies, and I'm thinking I really like that scallop circle die I think I'll get that one to......So onto why I'm a real dork.......I already bought the scallop die last week when I was at the store.

Okay now that you know I'm a dork.......On to more important things......

Weight Loss Blog Candy!!!!!

I lost .4 pounds but it was just enough to get me to a total of 30 pounds! YAY!!!!!

So you all know by now what that means...time for another round of blog candy.

And do I have some goodies for you!

You know the drill.....just leave me a comment of encouragement with my weight loss and you will have a chance to win! I'll draw the winner on Labor Day at 6:00 pm EST so make sure you check back to see if you won.

That's all for now. My daughter Sarah came home today for a short visit, so I'm going to go visit with her. We did go to Fashion Bug and 185.00 later I have some pants to wear to work along with some great tops. We shopped the clearance clothes, but I did splurge and bought some new fall shirts.

Stamping Trails

Karen 243

My Big Shot is Here!!!

I was so excited to get my Big Shot in the mail!!! Thank you UPS guy for being on schedule!!! I am having such a blast playing with this new tool. It's so easy to use. Wish I had the week off work so I can just play! I'll be making more things this week to share. Glad we have a three day weekend coming up. I'm going to lock myself in my stamp room and just enjoy making things.

This card is just a simple design but I'm very happy with it. Designer paper is Blush by Basic Grey. Stamp sets: New Heard from the Heart, Fine Lace Background. Pretties kit, and crafter's tool kit also used. Colors: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, and Blush Blossom.

I wanted to get the little bird from the paper to be in the location you see it on the card. I only had a 6x6 piece so I had to play with it a bit with the die to make it work. Didn't want

that cute little birdie to be upside down!

So the paper wasn't cut all the way. I had just enough to put it over the fold line and then just taped it to the back of the card.

I got a chance to talk to my daughter Sarah. She is planning to come home for a visit this Thursday. My little nieces asked Sarah to make them Kitty costumes for Halloween this year. So she'll be home to make those. Looking forward to seeing her. Sarah wants to come look at me to see the progress with my weight loss. I think she will be happy!

Till tomorrow

Stamping Trails

Karen 243.6

Techno Monday Challenge

Been a very long time since I took a Techno Monday Challenge

Skip went back to work second shift, and my son worked from 12 to 9 so it was a real joy for me to come home from work yesterday to a house to myself!!!

It's so nice to be able to do what I want to do and not worry about anyone else. No more getting up at 5:30 am to write up and post to my blog.

Thanks Mary Jo for this great challenge.

I used a stamp set by FireCrackerDesignsby Pamela. Isn't the cat cute! Other stamps used Web Wishes, Cheesecloth, and dot wheel.

Colors: Black, Lavender Lace, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel.

And keeping with Halloween....On Dawns Stamping Thoughts blog I made a Frankie card. He is just adorable. Colors used: Kiwi Kiss, Lavender Lace, White, and Black. Check out Dawn's blog she has a great video on how to make this cute little guy!

Stamp sets: Smarty Pants, and I used the larger photo punch to make the bolts on the side of his head

Thanks Dawn!

My Weight Watchers meeting got moved to a new day, Thursday. I will be posting Weight Loss Blog candy Thursday night. I reached another 10 pound goal. So check back for a chance to win!

Stamping Trails

Karen 243.6

Busy Sunday!

Skip talked me into loading up the bikes and going to the metro park. They have a pretty nice all purpose trail that you can ride bikes on. It was fun! Thinking about doing a picnic next Saturday if the weather is nice and get John to also come along. Only problem with yesterday is it was very hot! After the ride we went to visit mom. She seemed better about the change in the room so that's a good sign.

The card was made with one of the new stamp set I purchased on Friday. By See-D's called Boutique Grunge. It has some awesome designs. Word stamp is from SU Circle of Friendship.

Colors: Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla.

I Embossed the edges of the card, butterfly, corner, and scallop punch with Vanilla embossing powder.

I have some recipes that I made over the weekend that I want to share.

Taco Soup
1 large onion chopped
1 package taco seasoning. (I got Old El Paso they had one that was 40% less sodium)
2 cups whole kernel frozen corn
1 small can chicken broth (I got reduced fat 40% less sodium)
1 can black beans un-drained
1 can white beans un-drained
1 can fat free re-fried beans
1 can stewed tomatoes (salt free)
1 can tomato pieces (salt free)

spray dutch oven with Pam brown onions, add the rest of the ingredients. Cover and simmer 1 hour. Makes 15 cups. 1 point per serving. Can be frozen. Which is what I did. It makes it quick and easy to grab a bag of soup and heat in the microwave.

Also made:

Angel Food Delights
1-Betty Crocker Angel Food Cake Mix
1-20 oz can of crushed pineapple in its own juice

Mix both of the ingredients in a batter bowl. Line muffin tin with paper liners add the mixture. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Makes 36. Each muffin 1 point each. YUMMY!!!!!! I froze these also. I can just grab and go!

Well back to work I go this morning after having a 3 day weekend...and just think...I have another three day weekend coming up after I work this week. YAY!

Have a great Monday

Stamping Trails

Karen 243.6

All Punched Out

I was truly inspired by the card Linda sent me. (see yesterday's post) The punched frog was just to cute. I wanted a fun project to do so I decided since Fall was just around the corner I'd make a scarecrow. Isn't he just darling?????

So you won't be wondering which punches I used I'll list them for you:

head: 1 3/8 circle

hat: round tab

overalls: tag (the large one), and horizontal slot punch for the straps

arms: word window

upper body: key tag

eyes: 1/4 circle

flower on hat and card: trio flower

pocket was cut out 1/2 square, nose was also cut out. Colors Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red. Stamps: Flannel background, word from Spring Solitude. Other things used, thin scraps of designer paper for the straw, linen thread, mini glue dots, pot dots, braided hemp, mini buttons, white gel pen.

It's going to be another hot day in OH again today. I'm planning to zip down and visit mom for a bit, then it's back home in the air con for the rest of the day. I'm in the mood to stamp again so I'm going to spend most of the day doing that.

Hubby goes back to work second shift on Monday. YAY looking forward to being able to get to my email when I come home from work. Also looking forward to the three day weekend coming up. I can't believe August is almost gone and Labor day is this weekend!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 243.6

Retail Therapy

Had a really bad day yesterday. Dealing with the Nursing home and the move with mom was just a bit to much. Not going to go into the whole story as I just don't want to think about it anymore. After dinner me and my son John went shopping. I needed it! Went to Hobby Lobby and bought two new See-D's stamp sets, and got a start on some family Christmas Shopping at Borders.

I received a nice encouragement card from Lisa the other day. Thanks Lisa!

And I also received a thank you card from Linda Peterson for the Weight Loss Blog Candy that I sent to her. The frog made from punches is just to dang Cut Linda!!!! Thank you!

Not much planned for the weekend. I do have to do the grocery shopping, and I want to check on mom again to make sure she is okay, and since I got most of my house work done yesterday I'm going to spend the rest of the weekend stamping.

I need it!!!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 243.6

Day Off/New Stuff

I was mad yesterday so I went shopping instead of eating. That's a good thing! The nursing home called me at work yesterday morning and told me that they were moving my mom to another wing of the building. Seems like they are taking in people who are recovering from surgeries and can go home yet. They wanted to keep them all together in one wing. Turns out it was in the wing mom is in. In her state she is not going to take the move well. I went down after work and talked to her about it. Also took her to see the new room. She'll still have the bed by the window, and she doesn't have a roommate. Hoping that won't change. The room is smaller than the one she is in now. So......I took today off. I'm going to go to the home this afternoon and help them move. I'm hoping with me being there it won't be as traumatic for her.

After I left mom last night I stopped at Pat Catan's and shopped! I had a coupon for 10% off my entire order so I spent 86.00. I got two new Sizzix dies. I don't even have my Big Shot yet from SU but here I am buying dies for it! LOL They also have Cuttlebug stuff which they didn't carry before. So I also got Holly embossing folder and some new See-D's stamps.

I've been busy this morning. I was sticking to the kitchen floor when I walked. So I swept and mopped this morning, done three loads of clothes, and cleaned the downstairs bathroom, and it's just a tad past 9:00.

Suppose to be hot today. In the 90's. I can live without that, but hey can't do anything about the weather.

Have a great Friday!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 243.6

Funny Thing Happened to me at Weigh In......

yesterday. I got on the scales at my WW meeting and lost just a little over 1 pound. Okay a pound I'm good with that....I lost something....not as much as I though I did. So I'm walking back to the chair to sit down and notice when I sit that something was stabbing me in my leg. I emptied out my pocket and what do I find? My very large key ring.

Now not only is my key ring big it's heavy!!! See the large thing that looks like a diaper pin? That has been on my ring since hubby joined the Navy back in 82. I had a problem with losing my keys so I wanted to put something large on my ring so I wouldn't lose them so much. Anyway......I had the WW leader weigh me again and my total loss for the week is 2.6 pounds. Now I'm feeling much better with that number! Total loss to date is 29.6

So we are really close to more Weight Loss Blog Candy readers!!! Should be posting that next Thursday.

I did work in some time to stamp last night .

This is a new technique that was in the TJ August newsletter. Called Bandanna. The stamp set in the background is French Quarter from See-De's. The word stamp is from Baroque Motif. Other things used: Distress ink Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Brick Red, StazOn Jet Black, white gel pen, sponges, clip, small prima flower, and pearl bead. Cardstock: Basic Black, Summer Sun, and Whisper White.

Great news.....My Big Shot shipped yesterday. I didn't get my order in till the 11th which was the first day to order from the new SU catty so it took one week to ship. They must be busy in UT.

Okay off to work.

Stamping Trails!

Karen 243.6

Am I Going Through my Second Childhood?

No I'm not.....just looking for different things to snack on. I discovered this in the baby food section at the grocery store. Now don't laugh.....they are good and 80 pieces (1/2 cup) is only 25 calories. Counts as 1 point on the flex plan, and they have many different flavors to choose from.

Weigh in day is tomorrow. I'm hoping to have lost another 3 pounds. Then we can do more Weight Loss Blog Candy! YAY I've be gathering some stuff together so I'll be able to post it tomorrow when I get home from work....and speaking of work...my hubby goes back on second shift starting Monday. I will miss him not being here when I get home from work, but hey I get computer time again and can stop getting up at 5:30 in the morning to check my email and update my blog. Maybe I'll even be able to post something everyday again.

Big hug to Kat for this wonderful encouragement card. I'm so blessed to have my friends! They have been giving me constant motivation with my Weight Watchers journey. I'll be going to visit them in TX next September...can wait to see there expressions when they see the new smaller me.

Chinese Valentine's Day? Now this really is an obscure holiday Kat! I love the embossing folders you used and all the gold. Really elegant.

And speaking of obscure holidays.....I need to get busy on my cards for August. The month is half over already. The summer just went whizzing by. Kids here are going back to school next week on the 26th.

Okay need to get dressed and get some food into me before I need to run off to work. Happy that I'm not working this Saturday so I'll have the weekend off. I need a break! Hubby and me are going to the Zoo on Saturday. I haven't been to the zoo for a long time now. The one in Cleveland has a hill that is a very long up hill climb. We normally take the trans up the hill to see the other exhibits. I'm going to walk up it this time. Go me!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 246

Friday!

Normally I'd be thrilled that it was finally Friday....however I have to work all day Saturday. On the good side.....I shouldn't have to work another Saturday again for awhile. YAY.

I received this beautiful card yesterday from Kat. If I'm not mistaken these are silver open image stickers, that are colored in after being applied to the cardstock. Kat didn't you get these on the Ohio trip at the Stamping Convention? Love the card!!!!

My son John gave me a wonderful compliment yesterday. I was shopping at the grocery store that he works at. He came up next to me with a cart full of stuff to put up and he stopped and did a double take on me. Then he goes "Mom you have really lose weight I didn't even recognize you from behind" Now that put a big smile on my face!!!!

Well I'm off to work. Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 246

Halloween Card

This was a card I made several months ago. I just got it back from the Stamping magazine I submitted it to. They rejected it. Bummer!!! I thought it was a cute card. Oval and round punches were used to make the eyes and hands of the monster. "I See You" was printed from the computer. Background SU Cheese cloth, Web Wishes stamp set, colors Black, Green Galore, Basic Gray. Technique is Magic Poof Ball. Really simple to do:

Tap a clean dry bath poof ball into white craft ink, then tap it on the cardstock. It makes cool patterns. Next add holographic highlights embossing powder, tap off excess, and heat set. Couldn't be easier!

I did have my weigh in yesterday. I lost .4 pounds. So although I didn't lose much I still lost and it was enough to get me to one of my goals as losing 10% of my body weight since I started in June. YAY. Must have been that ballpark food I ate on Monday! So......I'm going to buckle down this week and see if I can get some more pounds off. My goal is 3 that will bring me up to a total of 30 pounds lost.

Gotta run....need to get ready for work

Stamping Trails

Karen 246

Cookie for Breakfast?

Sure you can have a cookie for breakfast...as long as it's low points, filling, and very tasty! I made these cookies yesterday morning. They are large!!!! Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup natural applesauce

2 packages Splenda

3 oz old fashioned oats

1/4 cup wheat flour

1/4 cup raisins

1 1/3 cup dry nonfat milk

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Add everything to a bowl, and mix well-divide into 4 cookies and bake on spayed cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

One cookie=4 points

I just added a piece of fruit and a coffee to round out my breakfast and it kept me full till lunch.

The game was AWESOME! Indians beat Baltimore 13 to 8. Great game. It was beautiful weather to sit in the stands and see the game. The food was good also. I did go over a bit on my points but with the 35 extra points we are allowed each week (the ones I never use) I still did pretty good. I enjoyed the food but didn't over do it. I also came home and got on the treadmill at 11:00. I wanted to work off some of the calories I put on. Didn't do bad throughout the day. I walked over 6 miles. So hoping that will balance out everything.

On the way into the stadium they gave us a free bobble head figure. That was cool. I'm going to give one to my nephew Neil, and the other one I'm taking to work with me and putting on my desk.

Son John had yesterday off from work and is off till Thursday. He went over and picked up my nephew Corbet. He stayed the night and will also be spending tonight with us. He crashed on the living room sofa and is soundly sleeping. Good to see him again. I haven't seen him since his birthday in April.

Okay gotta run and get dressed. I only got 4 1/2 hours of sleep so I know I'm going to walking in my sleep all day at work. I'll be coming home and taking a nap!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 246

I Won........

I won two tickets to the Cleveland Indian game. Me and hubby will be going after work today. Game time starts at 7:05. I normally get off work at 5 but seeing how I need to drive downtown they are going to let me leave at 4 and pay me for it!!!! Plus these are not nose bleed seats. These are tickets to the Club House. YAY I've never been before. I hear from people at work who have gone they serve wonderful food. I told my daughter and she told me to splurge and go off my diet for Monday. Well here is my game plan.....I'm going to keep it light during the day. Mostly just fruit and veggies, maybe take some "0" foods with me for work. Then I'll have more points to play with later. I also have my 35 extra points to play with if I need them. While I'm at work I'm going to be sure to walk at my break and lunch, plus I'm going to get up an hour early tomorrow so I can hit the treadmill seeing how I won't have time to do it in the evening. So.......I think I have it all covered and worked out.

Check out the cool ribbon I found at Pat Catan's yesterday. Lots of fall colors. The ribbon at the top left of the picture is braided. Each spool is a buck. Love the purples.

Hoping that sometime this week I'll have time to stamp. I have things that need to be done but something else always gets in the way. Since I'm working, and working out after work it leave me little time. Don't work readers I'll squeeze it in there someplace! I was going to stamp some on Sunday but I decided I really needed to scrub the tub and do some house work.

Till tomorrow.....

Stamping Trails

Karen 246

Cuyahoga Fair!

We went to the fair! Had lots of fun seeing all the animals. I was so good. I made dinner before we left so I wouldn't be hungry. I also planned to have just a small bit of cotton candy. Skip ate the rest of it. So it was also three points. We saw an awesome tribute band that played Bob Seager songs. There were thunder storms last night when we were in the stands watching the band. They were troupers! Stayed and played in the rain. They had to stopped and go change clothes and have the stage mopped off from the water. Stage was covered but the rain was blowing in there direction.

Draft horse Skip is with is named Gunther. He was so sweet and just really enjoyed us talking to him

I took a pic with the sheep. They just got there wool sheared.

Well it rained pretty hard. We got stuck under the stands for about 10 minutes. Still got wet as we started walking. It did finally quit so they got to shot off the fireworks. Pretty amazing show.

I'll have more pics to share later.

Received a big package from my friend Kat. She sent tons of cards, and stamping goodies. She also completed a spread in my friend book that I started ages ago. Nice job Kat!!!! Here is a sampling of some of the cards she sent.

Not much going on today. I went to see mom this morning. Then stopped off at Big Lots. I needed a new shower liner and bathroom rugs. I see that they have Martha Stewart craft stuff there now. They had kits from last years Christmas line. I didn't buy any of them. I'm not a big Martha fan.

At Pat Catan's I got some cool 1.00 ribbon. I'll share a pic of that later.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Stamping Trails

Karen 246

Happy Mail Day!

I received my roomie box from Pat. We were roommates for VC this year. Awesome box Pat!!!! I'm sure most of my readers know Pat from the Technique Junkies. She puts out an awesome newsletter just full of great techniques. I was blessed to have her for my roommate! These pictures are of things Pat made and also some stamping goodies she sent me.

Thanks bunches Pat! Love the cards, and the card candy! Now that something I can use with out it going straight to my hips! LOL Along with all the goodies Pat did send me some stuff I can use on my new journey of weight loss. Popcorn, white cheddar seasoning that you can also use on pasta, eggs, and veggies already tried it and it's great! WW candy that has one point per each piece YUM, gum, crystal delights for water bottles, all wonderful!!! Thanks for thinking about me Pat! She should be receiving her box from me today. Hope you love it as much as I loved yours Pat!!!!

Me and hubby are going to the fair today. I'll be packing a cooler so I won't be tempted to eat fair food. I know that is not on my new plan!!!! Our WW leader send us a list of Fair Food and how much the point values are. Lets just say.......if I ate something there I'd blow my entire day of points I have to use. If you ate one caramel apple you would have to walk 3 miles just to burn it off.

I'll share more about this later. Right now hubby is waiting on the computer. He has to make his draft picks for his Fantasy Football league.

Chat more later

Stamping Trails

Karen 246

Weigh In Yesterday

It's been so long since I posted. Shame on me! Been pretty busy with my job, working out, and well life!

I did get weighed in yesterday. I was happy! Lost another 4.4 pounds. I am .4 away from reaching my 10% goal of 27 pounds lost. That's a great feeling after maintaining my weight and not losing anything at the weight in before this last one. So I have 98 more pounds to lose. Less than 100 to go YAY!!! I was talking to hubby yesterday and he goes do you really think you can do it with just dieting. I told him not dieting on a Journey I can. Still don't think he quite understands that this is a complete lifestyle change. He's very supportive of me now which he wasn't in the beginning. So he tells me he's looking forward to the change and being able to do more things with me. He's pretty active, and wants to have fun with me doing outdoor stuff. I for one have never liked the outdoors much, but I'm learning!!! It's a change for the better for both of us.

I have received many cards over the past week. Some are encouragement cards, others are for the obscure holiday challenges that my friends do each month. I'm so blessed to have such wonderful friends!!!!!

So my manager emails me yesterday and goes did you want to work this Saturday? You didn't sign up. Well no I don't want to work that's why I didn't sign up. LOL I like the overtime but I've worked the past two Saturdays and I just need a full weekend off. Me and hubby are going to the fair on Saturday. I'm going to have to eat before I go, then also bring some food I can eat during the day. Really got to stay away from "Fair" food! The fairgrounds is right next to my mom's nursing home. We are going to stop and visit with her in the morning then spend the day at the fair, then drop by and bring mom some dinner. Should be a fun day. Looking forward to it.

Okay I feel like I'm writing a book. I need to get ready for work. Oh........I got the new catalogs. My wish list is growing again!!! And........hubby is buying me the Big Shot from SU for my birthday. We are going to order it on Friday. YAY. I was happy about that.

Stamping Trails

Karen 246

Baby Logan

Congrats to my friend Connie who just became a grandma again! Her youngest daughter Katie just had her first baby Thursday evening. Mom and baby doing just fine. Isn't he adorable!!! Wish I was there so I could hold him too!



I have to go to work today, and on a Saturday. This overtime is killing me but does look good in my paycheck. I'm thinking about using some of the money to purchase the new Big Shot package that SU is now offering. It's either that or new clothes at the end of summer. All my clothes now are just tad bit to big. None of my dress pants that I wear for work fit. Thank goodness they are letting the ladies wear Capri's now. I did pick up two pair of those at a good price. Hoping they will get me though August. Can you believe it's August!!!! Summer is just rolling on by.

We finally got some ripe tomatoes from the garden. YAY. We also have been enjoying the romaine lettuce we planted. So glad I got Skip to plant that instead of the leaf lettuce. It's so much better!

Stamping Trails
Karen 251