How I Spent My Friday Evening......

I just wanted to make dinner and watch Plane Crazy on ABC's show 20/20. That's it. Since flying makes me crazy it's probably not something I should even watch. Nothing else was planned for my Friday the 13th evening. 

I decided to slice my potatoes using this bad boy. I've only done this a million times and LOVE it for slicing everything. Something went awry and I knew right away that the cut was deeper than others I've had working in the kitchen. My hand was bleeding more than usual. I ran my hand under water and yelled for my husband to get a towel. I told him we needed to go to the emergency room.

I did remember to run upstairs while applying pressure to my hand and change out of my purple plaid pajama pants. That's probably more than the emergency room can handle! Changing one handed was quite the trick.

Well, thank goodness for cell phones that take decent photos! I had my husband take pictures and the Doctor was just hilarious about it. She kept saying, "let's make this look really good"! I'm so glad she had a sense of humor. My husband and kids give me a hard time about my need to photograph everything. I just ignore them. 

When the nurse looked at the wound she thought I'd need at least 4 to 5 stitches. I wasn't happy about that at all. The Doctor was trying to get the bleeding to stop and wanted to know what medications I was on. Some make you bleed more. I'm on quite a few, so I'm sure that was part of the issue. When she told me she'd like to try glue I was pretty happy. She then ended up having to put in two stitches in the deepest part of the cut. She didn't think the glue would hold if it continued to bleed. The part of the wound that wasn't that deep can heal on its own. Needless to say, I was lucky. I'm just relieved that my husband wasn't using the mandolin. He's inept in the kitchen and he's scares me just walking through it. He can't even put a pizza in the oven without something happening. The last time he did he made quite the mess in my oven. Come to think of it, he should have to clean the oven because of that. Wait, I'm sure he'd screw that up too. 

All my pan were still on the stove this morning. They've all been coated with non-stick spray, ready and waiting. Now I'll have to clean them up tomorrow since I can't get my hand wet today. I don't even want my husband touching my pans. 

I don't believe in superstitions, so I know that while it was Friday the 13th, this could have happened on any day. One of my daughters was born on Friday the 13th so good things happen too!

I've been working on my craft room. I'll be doing a before and after blog about that in the near future. This will slow me down a bit. Not only was this my right hand (I'm right handed) but I had to get a tetanus shot in my left arm, so that's sore too. 

I will survive, just happy it wasn't as bad as it could have been!

Thanks for stopping by!

Interesting Finds On Pinterest

I love scrolling through Pinterest. Here's some interesting finds I made this morning:

Key Lime Pie Fudge

Source: realmomkitchen.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Snowman Cupcakes

Source: confessionsofacookbookqueen.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Beautiful Holiday Tag By Kimber McGray

Source: scrapbookandcards.com via Scrapbook & Cards Today on Pinterest

Good Advice

Source: paloma81.blogspot.com via Terry @ on Pinterest

Cool Ideas - DIY Window Frame

Source: coffeewiththemrs.com via Sandie on Pinterest

Gorgeous Card Ideas - Christmas Card By Libby O'Regan

Source: psastampcamp.blogspot.com via Libby on Pinterest

Hope you're having a great start to your week! I feel like I'm coming down with a cold or something, so I'm taking it easy today.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fun Giveaway!

These notecards and and fabric flower hairclip are so cute! Check out City Girl, Country Heart here to see how you can have a chance to win them!

My Recipe Was Featured!

How cool is that! My Enchilada Casserole was one of the featured recipes over at Tuesday Confessionals! The blog is called Confessions of a Stay At Home Mommy. Check it out. There are alot of fantastic recipes and crafts on her blog.

My Newest Addiction!

Have you discovered Pinterest yet? I have and I absolutely LOVE it! There's something new everyday. Inspiration. Food. Humor. New blogs to explore. Too many things to list. Some may say it's a time waster, but I don't care. It's one of those things I check everyday. Sometime even multiple times per day.

Here's how it works: you get an invitation from someone to join or you request an invite. You set up whatever kind of boards you like, the sky's the limit. You pin items to your boards from anywhere on the web. If you see something that someone else has pinned and you like it, you repin it to one of your boards. You can follow the boards of others and vise versa. Check it out here.

This is something that I posted to my 'Quotes' board. It says exactly how I feel.

I repinned this from here.

If you happen to make your way over there, have fun! Check out my boards and if you like them, follow one or all of them. You might even discover a new addiction! Have you discovered StumbleUpon........

Really Reasonable Ribbon Giveaway!!

If you love ribbon like I love ribbon, then this giveaway is for you! I just found out about this company called Really Reasonable Ribbon  from another blog called Scrapcat Cards by Linda. Linda creates fantastic cards, so be sure to check them out.

Wow, was I was blown away by the selection they carry! Of course, I couldn't resist and I had to place an order. They have a selection like no other and the prices can't be beat!

The photo above is their Summer Blog Candy Giveaway. The giveaway ends at midnight on Friday, June 17th, with the winner being announced on Saturday, June 18th. Check out their blog here for all the details and requirements. What! You're still here? Get over there and check it out!

Morning Visitor

I looked out the window to the back yard this morning and saw this VERY large rabbit hopping around. He was enjoying breakfast. By the looks of him, he doesn't miss many! I tried to get a photo of him but he was moving way too much for that. Finally he just plopped down, I guess to rest a bit. I just thought he looked so adorable and cuddly. It almost looks like he was staring right at me!

Shopping Adventure

I drove to the Mall of America yesterday, so I could get an Archiver's fix. I just can't get enough of that store!

These are some of the papers I picked up.

Lots of fun embellishments to play with.

I did get  some other supplies, but they are just items I needed to stock up on and some tools I've been eyeing for awhile. I can't wait to get started on my next mini-book. Of course, I have quite a few other projects to finish first.

My husband says I didn't spend money like a drunken sailor. Instead, a drunken sailor spends money like a sober scrapbooker!





Blog Candy From The Baker's Wife

Everyone likes Blog Candy! All you have to do is become a follower on The Baker's Wife blog and leave a comment. That's all there is to it. A winner will be chosen on November 8th. You can also subscribe to the posts so you'll learn about the new product arrivals and future opportunities to win blog candy. 

This pad has over 500 pieces, flocking, die-cuts, tags, stickers and alphabets!

Just Passing Through....

You can't imagine how excited I was when we pulled into the driveway this afternoon and saw deer in the yard! They're here everyday practically walking up to the door, and I'm never fast enough to get my camera. If you're from the Northwoods, this isn't a big deal, but for those of us from the city it's pretty huge. When we lived in Lakeville, MN we did have an occasional deer pass through our back yard to eat the flowers in my garden, but nothing like this.

They're such beautiful and graceful animals!

Bye! See you tomorrow!

Better Views + Iced Mocha

I'm still organizing my scrapbook room. It's such a tedious task. Since I'm not anywhere near done and can't create anything or participate in any challenges, I thought I'd share the views I have from our new place. They are head and shoulders above where we previously were.

This is the view from my scrapbook room. It sure beats staring at a highway.

This is the view from the front. Much better than looking at a dumpster.

We love this three season porch and the picture below shows the peaceful view.

I took the dog on a walk this afternoon and what a nice day it was for one! The humidity isn't as high as it has been so it was so much more comfortable. I found that Tobes doesn't like golf carts going by him. Twice he growled and tried to chase them. I know he had golf carts go by him when we lived in Minnesota, but I don't remember him having this reaction.

Here's a refreshing Iced Mocha recipe I received from the Paula Deen newsletter I subscribe to. It sure hit the spot after my walk.

Bobby’s Lighter Iced Double Chocolate Iced Mocha
by Bobby Deen

1/2 cup boiling water

1 (.55-ounce) packet fat-free hot cocoa mix (Swiss Miss Fat-Free Sensible Sweets)

4 teaspoons instant coffee

1/4 cup fat-free chocolate syrup

3 tablespoons fat-free half-and-half

2 cups ice cubes

Whisk together the water, cocoa mix, and coffee in a small bowl until the cocoa and coffee are completely dissolved. Whisk in the chocolate syrup and half-and-half. Let the mocha mixture cool 5 minutes.

Place the ice cubes in a blender. Add the mocha mixture and blend until the mixture is smooth and the ice is finely crushed. Serve immediately.

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: None
Difficulty: Easy

Yield: 4 servings

Per Serving: (3/4 cup) 69 Cal (2% from Fat, 8% from Protein, 90% from Carb); 1 g Protein; 0 g Tot Fat; 0 g Sat Fat; 0 g Mono Fat; 16 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 12 g Sugar; 13 mg Calcium; 0 mg Iron; 74 mg Sodium; 1 mg Cholesterol

Getting Settled In

I'm not a fan of moving. I used to get excited at the thought, not so much anymore. I think I've done it so much, that I actually dread it. Anyway, we are completely moved in and we LOVE where we are! The new place is a hundred times better than where we were. I only wish this place would have been available when we first moved to Wisconsin.

Almost every room was completed this weekend due to my slave driver husband who keeps me focused. He's the A to Z type of person. That's not quite the case for me. I go from C to W to A, take a break, go shopping, take a nap, then back and so on. Let's just say we don't agree on how things should get done. I think I'm ecstatic that it's Monday and he had to go back to work. I'm quite sure today and maybe tomorrow might be rest days for me.

The only major project left to accomplish is my scrapbook room, which was given the lowest priority. Since I had to reuse boxes during the moving process, everything was just taken out and stacked around the perimeter of the room to make room for the movers to bring a sofa in. So this is what I'm up against and quite frankly I'm a little overwhelmed. I'm not even sure where to start! Here's a peek:

I just love that I was able to get this antique chest of my mother's out of storage. Now we just have to put the mirror on. It will be perfect for storing scrapbook items and cookbooks.

I can barely look at this table. It's making me crazy!

I'm very fortunate to have a large walk-in closet. It's almost like another room. Once it's organized I'll post more pictures. It's awesome!!

So....that's my task for the week. As I have been going through stuff and putting it away, I have a basket set aside for items I'm going to donate. It breaks my heart, but I have to say goodbye to these little fellows. I just don't have room for them anymore. The one with the treat bowl is my favorite. It's also musical.

I've even come across a few brand new items that I'm thinking of using for giveaways. I'll give you a hint: They are kitchen related. Stay tuned for further blog posts.

Thanks for stopping by!

Check It Out!

All I can say is WOW! about this Lush Collection from My Mind's Eye! This is a definite "must have" in my mind. It also comes in red, brown, pink, blue and green.

Two other collections that caught my eye are:

The Merry Days of Christmas

and Colorful Christmas.

Hopefully they will be available where I live (not always something I can count on). If not, online shopping it will be!

Found Treasure

I guess it's always best to clean out file cabinets when getting ready to move. That's exactly what my husband was doing on Saturday. I was taking a much needed break and watching him work when he came across this very cool looking book. He was going to toss it! Being the pack rat that I am, I snatched this baby right up! This book had been hidden under things for quite a few years. It wouldn't have been had I known about it.

I'm not sure what I'll use it for yet, but I sure like the look of it. I love the twig in the binding.

I'm sure it will hold pictures of some sort. It has an "out-doorsy" feel to it.

Maybe random pictures of outdoor scenes. I have an obsession about taking pictures of trees, so maybe I could use it for those.

I do know one thing, I'm going to have to keep a closer watch on what he decides to throw out in the future.

Cute Poem & Miscellaneous

Here's a poem I came across while packing this morning. When I worked in Burnsville, MN we were fortunate enough to have Weight Watchers meetings once a week during our lunch. The leader handed these out to all of us. I thought it was a very nice gesture since they were also laminated and ready to hang on the fridge as a motivator.

ONLY ONE POUND

Hello, do you know me? If you don't, you should.
I'm a pound of fat, and I'm the
HAPPIEST
Pound of fat that you would ever want to meet.
Want to know why?
It's because no one ever wants to lose me;
I'm ONLY ONE POUND
Just a pound!
Everyone wants to lose three pounds, five
pounds, or fifteen pounds, but never only one.
So I just stick around and happily keep you fat.
Then I add to myself, ever so slyly, so that you
never seem to notice it.
That is, until I've grown to ten, twenty, thirty, or
even more pounds in weight.
Yes, it's fun being ONLY ONE POUND OF FAT,
left to do as I please.
So, when you weigh in keep right on saying,
"Oh, I only lost one pound." (As if that were such a terrible thing.)
For you see, if you do this, you'll encourage others
to keep me around because they'll think I'm
not worth losing. And, I love being around you -
your arms, your legs, your chin, your hips, and every part of you.
HAPPY DAYS!!
After all, I'm
ONLY ONE POUND OF FAT!!!!

Author Unknown

Here's a couple of other interesting notes:

A friend, Karen Howard, has designed a blog specifically for challenges. It's called Feline Playful. She lists the challenges going by day. I know it's going to be very helpful for me! Check it out if you get the chance.

Another cool tool I found is Scrap by Color. This will be very handy when trying to coordinate colors for a layout. I like that you can upload a photo. Check it out!

Have a great day!

With All The Rain We've Had...

...and with more on the way, this video only seems fitting. I could watch this over and over!

“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…
it’s about learning how to dance in the rain!” –Vivian Greene

Minocqua Wisconsin

I was searching for something totally different this morning and came across this video of Minocqua, WI. What a wonderful portrayal of the area that I live in! It's hard to believe I'm only maybe 5-10 minutes away from practically everything shown. This video really shows the beauty of the area. If you get a chance, click below and watch the video.

Minocqua Wisconsin

20 Things Not to Say to a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient | Can we laugh now? | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

What a great article! You can't imagine how many of these comments I've heard from others. It's really sad to think that those of us with this disease have to endure comments like these from people who are so ill informed about Rheumatoid Arthritis.

20 Things Not to Say to a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient Can we laugh now? Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

Blog Vacation

I'm taking a "Blog Vacation".

If picture opportunities arise in the next week, I certainly will post them. Otherwise, I'm taking a much needed hiatus.

How True This Is...

Found this over at RA Warrior. If you know anything about Rheumatoid Arthritis, you'll appreciate this. I know I can identify!

You know it's a bad Rheumatoid Arthritis flare up when....