Archive for November, 2009

Motivation Monday

So, I thought this would be a fun “mojo” day!  How about from now on {if I can remember to post it!} on Monday we all show what we’re working on!  Take a shot of your computer, your craft area, your desk… whatever – just show off what your working on today!  I’m thinking seeing everyone being busy and/or creative will be a motivational driver for the rest of us!

So here’s my Motivation Monday – 002

I’m finishing up some stuff for my “Bug”.  I can’t really go into detail about what all this stuff is, other then to say it will be 100% clear what all that is in TOMORROWs post! LOL!

So how bout you?  What are YOU working on today?  Take a pic, blog it, and come on back here and link it so we can come see!

New goods in the shop!

I totally cant believe I forgot to post these yet.  I tell you life has been crazy around here.  Thanksgiving was great, and then Bug got bit in the face.  *sigh*  but those stories are a post best left for another day.  Maybe Wednesday.  Anyway, for today, I have new goods to show you!  See, just thinking about Motivational Monday has my mojo dancing!

2-Page Template Set 112709

$2.99 $1.99
Save: 33% off
Page templates are a great way to get stunning layouts without all the preplanning of paper placement. Just follow the guides with your favorite scrapping products, and finish to a perfect page!

and then…

You know how I say most of the things I make are things I needed for myself?  Well that is true, and out of that need I made these brushes.  LOL…

I know you probably don’t realize it, but it’s nearly time for the “Christmas Nazi” to return.  Yep, that would be me.  From Dec 1st to about Dec 26th, all I can think about is Christmas.  I love it and I hate it.  I’m so conflicted!  The tree, the gifts, the food, the CARDS… omg, the cards.  Last year I got called “Hitler BoJingles”,  ha.   Hey, I never said my kids were on the NICE list.  LOL!  

Anyway, I thought this year it would be really funny to chronicle my December.  Each day, a little something on what I did that day, counting down to my relief, errrr, I mean Christmas.  So that’s what these brushes are.  26 journaling box brushes starting with 25 and counting down to THE BIG DAY.

 
25 Days…

$4.00 $2.75
Save: 31% off

Christmas Christmas time is near….. 
Use these great brushes to help you chronicle your life leading up until Christmas! Add a quick journaling block, rub on, or rubberstamped block to any layout with these quick and easy brushes!  
** These brushes were created in AND tested in CS2-CS3 ONLY! 
the PNG files are cross program compatible! 

I have included that example journaling block in the package in the store, but I thought you guys might want to use it too.  I hope you can use it, and do.  I hope you like it enough to buy the brush pack *wink wink hint hint hint* LOL!  To download the FREE EXAMPLE BLOCK just CLICK HERE.  This freebie will only be available for a limited time and then it will go back to just being included in the brush set.  Please please PUHLEEZE do NOT share my files!  If you would like your friends to have it, just send them here to get it for themselves! 

All right, I reckon that’s it.  I reckon I should save something to talk about TOMORROW.  Yes?  Well, YES.

I’m out!
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Just popping on to say Happy Thanksgiving to all my internet friends, and that includes YOU!

Warm hugs, and huge smiles from my family to yours on this beautiful day.

Please take a moment while saying your blessings today, and say an extra prayer for those who are finding themselves without homes or loved ones to spend today with.  With the war and the economy so many are going without, its so sad.  So, say a prayer for them, and selfishly let it remind YOU are blessed you actually are!

Today really seems fitting to have a THANKFUL THURSDAY doesn’t it?  Here is my list.

Thankful Thursday

• we are all healthy
• we have a home
• we have food in our bellies (extreme excess today!)
• we have income
• we have friends
• we have heat
• we have clothing
• we have family that CARE

Today, we feel so blessed, We SMILE.

With the sincerest regards,
Bunny & the rest of the Cates clan.

Today is the day!  Are you cooking?  Aren’t you getting excited?  My belly is waiting!

Not a big post today, there is much to do.  I just wanted to pop in, say happy Tg and post some pics of what we have been doing in this house since 5 yesterday.  COOKING!  Do you know how hard it is to make cookies and pies with no hot water?  I’m having to boil water just to have hot water to be able to wash the beaters and bowls so we can move on to the next thing!  Its really blowing chunks!

On the TO DO for today:
Pecan Pie
Chocolate Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Deviled eggs

*sigh*
a mommy’s work is NEVER done!

Some Pecan Shortbread Sandies to get you in the mood….
I saw this recipe in a magazine and wanted to try it.  Its different then my Pecan Sandie recipe.   I think I like mine better but what the hay.  These are pretty good.  Just mine are a little sweeter.

Pecan Shortbread Sandies

Mix 2 cups butter with 1 cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla

Sift together 3.5 cups flour and .5 cups cornstartch and a pinch of salt.

Mix it in slowly, adding a little – mix, add a little – mix.

It will get really thick.  My 14 year old mixer can barely handle it…

Clean off beaters

SPOON in 1.5 cups of chopped pecans.
 

Make sure to get them really incorporated.  Nothing blows harder then getting a cookie with only one nut in it and the next one having a quadmillion…

Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet. 

{side note:  I couldn’t find my GOOD cookie sheet, it was a HUGE “air bake” pan.  Took up the whole shelf.  Anyway, I ended up going and buying a new one.  This one is by WILSON, and its AWESOME!  The sides dip DOWN so the cookies literally just slide off!}

So you have all your balls, then you moosh them down.  They wont deflate or settle ANY in the oven.  So how they look at this stage is how they will come out.  If you are a perfectionist and want perfect cookies, smoosh with the bottom of a glass or coffee mug.  If you are like me, and don’t care how they look – then just moosh em down with your hands and move on. 

I always cover the dough that has to wait its turn.  I don’t know why.  I guess I feel like since its not time to “take the stage”  it should get to remain hidden until time for the show.  hehehe…

*DO NOT REFRIDGERATE!  It will make it too hard, and you will have to wait for it to get back to room temp to be able to ball it!

Bake in the over at 350 for 12-13 minutes.  They should come out hard firm – and toothpick clean, but not crunchy.  Crunchy means you cooked em too long!

While they are baking, get yourself out a big freezer bag and put in about 3/4 cups powdered sugar in there. (Recipe books will say put it in a bowl.  Trust me, freezer bag is easier and way less MESS!)

See, I told ya they wouldn’t deflate any. 

While the cookies are still pretty warm, dump them about 2 at a time in your freezer bag.  Gently shake them around in there and then give them just a tiny squeeze.  Not so much to crack the cookie, but enough to get some sugar to stick!

Then just set um on some wire racks to cool.

*Clean up tip – I always put a sheet of wax paper UNDER my cooling rack, right on the table.  It will catch any droppings and when you are ready to clean up there is NO SCRUBBING!  Just put your cookies in your cookie tin,  pick up the wax paper and shake loose powder sugar in there too 

and wah-lah!

Oh, just  a warning.  REALLY use BUTTER.  Don’t use butter substitute, or butter flavor crisco.  It wont work.

Ok, I’m out! 

Have a happy ThanksGiving!