ScrapHappy

A New Blog

More of what you love about ScrapHappy, in a brand-new format... check it out here and change your links!

Starting today, 11/1, I'll be updating my Five Things blog exclusively. This blog will still be live, but just for historical purposes. :)

Silhouette Cameo

I'm totally loving my Silhouette Cameo -- and I'm loving this site for all things related to the Cameo. Check it out:

Silhouette Cameo Guide

Do You Miss Simple? Links for you.

Yes, it's about two years since the demise of Simple Scrapbooks Magazine. But simple scrapbooking still lives on! Here are some places you can go for a good dose of that ole' classic style:

My new blog, Layoutaday.com. It includes tons of simple scrapbooking resources, design tips, fun, and more. Come visit!

Write.Click.Scrapbook. Many of the fave designers from SS have made their new home here. 

Ella Publishing. Lots of great eBooks and fun from some of SS's best-loved peeps.

Check these places out... you're never too far from some simple inspiration!

Canned Food: Friend or Foe?

I'm all about quick and easy. But I'm also interested in HEALTHY cooking. So I was very interested in hearing the story behind canned food. I watched this video:

...and learned a ton of stuff!

-Canned foods can be organic, non-GMO (genetically modified), and "clean."

-Foods are picked at their prime, so no nutrients are lost.

-Foods are cleaned before canning.

I don't know about you, but I feel better about pulling out that can opener now.

Here's one of my fave recipes using canned food:

4. Sausage Tortellini Soup.

• 1 package Aidell’s Chicken and Apple sausage, cut in rounds
• 1/2 C onion, chopped
• 1T olive oil
• 15 oz. can chicken broth
• 1 can chopped tomatoes, drained
• 2 C water
• 1 T “Better than Bouillon” if you like a stronger flavor broth
• 2 C uncooked tortellini
• 1 bay leaf (I am really not sure if the bay leaf adds anything to my recipes, but it makes me feel gourmet, so I continue to use them)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Garlic, chopped, as much as you can get away with and still have people share a house with you

Another one of my made-up favorites.Heat onion in olive oil to soften in large stock pot. Add sausage and saute until brown. Add broth, water, and bouillon and stir to mix. Add bay leaf and garlic. Let simmer for at least 30 minutes, then add tortellini 15 minutes before the kids are hangry (hungry + angry = hangry). Remove bay leaf before serving to avoid comments about “foliage in my food!” Season with salt and pepper.

Check out the contest for TwitterMoms here.

Simplify My Life

My entry in the Simplify My Life sweepstakes:

As you can see from the video above, I am in massive need of simplification! The bottom line is, with three kids, a husband, a work-from-home job, and not enough time, I'm always looking for ways to multitask, get more done, and streamline my life.

An HP Mini with Windows 7 would be a perfect addition to this crowded household! I could look up menus while the kids are doing their homework. I could correspond with friends and family we left behind in California when we moved to Massachusetts this summer. I could whip out the Christmas letter that goes with the cards that are still (!!) waiting to be mailed from last month. I could stay on top of my life, instead of letting my life get the better of me.

I like how portable the Mini is -- no excess, no bells and whistles, no unneeded extras. Just the tools I need to manage my hectic life. Because it's from HP, I know it's well made and dependable, qualities that are essential in today's budget-conscious world. And because it's preloaded with Windows 7, I can plug it in (or not!) and hit the ground running.

I would be thrilled to be one of HP's winners and offer some valuable kitchen countertop real estate to what is sure to become my new best friend - my HP Mini with Windows 7. 

  
Watch Dara tell you what she does with her HP Mini (no, it's not waterproof!)

Make sure to leave a comment! You could win one of three HP Minis given out randomly to commenters!

I'm Team Over.

What's your vote? Chime in here. You could win a month's worth of Cottonelle - as I'm trying to do! Hey - by leaving a comment on this post you will be entered to win 1 of 10 Cottonelle gift baskets randomly chosen on January 29, 2010 from all entries.

5 tricks for getting the kids in bed

For a contest, courtesy of www.DramaU.net !

Image from picture-book.com 

1. Wear 'em out. I have a friend with twins, and she used to do a "forced march" every afternoon. The boys had to walk for about 30-45 minutes (depending on the age), which guaranteed her some free time while they napped. Translate this to your kids. Take a family bike ride, play Wii, or do an exercise video as a group. They'll sleep better -- and so will you!

2. Get a routine. We're bad about this, I admit. With three kids at very different ages, it's hard to stick to a routine when one has basketball, one has homework, and one just wants to be with her big brother and sister. But as much as we can, we eat at the same time and try to get the kids in bed at the same time each night.

3. Lights out! Little ones don't want to miss anything, so if there's lots of noise or lights, they'll be up and down like the stock market. Keep things quiet and dark. If this means you have to take your own activities elsewhere in the house, do so.

4. Bribe them. My husband told my littlest that if she went to sleep in her own bed for two weeks straight, he'd get her a puppy. It worked, but then we were stuck with the puppy -- and getting up and down to take him out as he was housetraining caused us more lost sleep than having our 4-year-old in bed with us! So maybe try bribing with smaller things, like, oh, a STUFFED puppy.

5. Get them up early. If you (and your kids) are early to rise, you'll be early to bed, too. Now that I get up at 5 AM to go to the gym, I'm ready to hit the hay by 8:30. The kids are, too, so we all turn in much earlier than we used to. The only problem? I can't stay up later than they do to enjoy the peace and quiet! ;)

Thanks, DramaU.net, for the contest!

Today's Mama Holiday Giveaway

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

Oh goodness... a Lensbaby, a Gorillapod tripod, a Kindle, a Yudu, and Botox!

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

A necklace from my kids. Each one has made me a necklace at some point, and I love them all!

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

An afghan. Maybe someday!

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

My stuffed dog, Henry. I still have him.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

A pet gecko, Wii games, and American Girl goodies

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

I think it has to be stuffing. I love potato latkes, but we don't traditionally make them. Maybe I'll start!

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

Gifts for teachers. Can't tell you more than that!

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

Jingle All the Way with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rita Wilson.

9. Favorite holiday song?

Silver Bells and Joy to the World. And Come, All Ye Faithful. :)

10. Favorite holiday pastime?

Going out at the crack of dawn on Black Friday with my daughter -- love it!

The Long-Awaited ScrapSpooky Halloween Kit!

Ask and thou shalt receive! I got several requests to produce a Halloween kit, so I delivered... let your imagination run wild with the spooktacular goodies contained within!

You'll receive:

PAPERS:

(1) 12x12 sheet black cardstock

(1) 12x12 sheet orange cardstock

(1) 12x12 sheet white cardstock

(1) 8.5x11 sheet black cardstock

(1) 12x12 double-sided Salem Briggs Street patterned paper (get it now before it goes away - forever!)

 

(1) 12x12 sheet black and white jumbo herringbone patterned paper from Kelli Crowe's "Window Shopping" collection

(1) 12x12 sheet orange and white herringbone/houndstooth patterned paper from Stephanie Wheeler

(1) 12x12 sheet Black Magic cardstock in Wizard from Core'dinations (this is black cardstock with a green reverse and green core -- you sand it down or rip/tear it for really cool effects:

 

Note: You only get the green Wizard sheet, not the whole collection!

(1) 12x12 sheet die-cut Salem Halloween shapes

EMBELLISHMENTS:

(1) pack extra-large black and white alpha stickers

(1) pack orange Quincy alphabet stickers

(1) yard mini green ric-rac

(1) yard orange and black ribbon

(1) 14-inch piece of orange frilly fuzzy ribbon

(1) large K&Co. die-cut Halloween shape (assorted -- may vary from photo above)

(1) small K&Co. die-cut Halloween shape (assorted -- may vary from photo above)

(6) assorted Making Memories Halloween brads

(10) googly eyes

(1) black and white skeleton button

(1) set acrylic start stamps

(1) mini purple coin envelope

(1) set Salem cardstock stickers

(a bunch) Martha Stewart skeleton confetti

(3) Making Memories Halloween tag stickers

Plus... a few other goodies!

Now, the details: I have only 10 of these kits and a few have been spoken for already, so if you want one, act fast! I can get it in the mail to you immediately, and it'll be there before Halloween (of course!)

$30, including priority shipping in the US.

Paypal only (lainehmann at comcast dot net)

**********THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE WHO ORDER WILL ALSO RECEIVE A SPECIAL TREAT -- A HALLOWEEN SCRATCH TICKET (see top picture above). **********

One, and only one, of these scratch tickets says WINNER (I don't even know which one). If you get the WINNER ticket, you will get an additional pack of Halloween goodies mailed separately, worth $20!!

I think that's it -- email me if you have questions!

Giveaway Day

If you didn't already know, Thursday is giveaway day at Write.Click.Scrapbook. Zip over there and see some cool digi goodness that could be yours, if you're the lucky one!

http://www.writeclickscrapbook.com

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Day 19