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