Scrapbook Retreat

For all his faults, my daddy was the original McGyver. Nothing he couldn't fix or attempt to. He wasn't necessarily artistic, but he was incredibly creative and innovative. Inheriting these genes almost make up for the obsessive/addictive little critters in my biological legacy.

That said, I love all things crafting. With no regard to the two afore-mentioned factors, I've jumped into many projects, spent lots of $$ and filled up our garage with my stuff. As I've aged and gotten "some" control, my passions remain the same, but I've narrowed down my hobbies to scrapbooking and sewing (with a little bit of furniture refinishing, mod podging, upholstery, flower arranging and cake decorating). Truly, it HAS gotten better!

Lovingly, I'm passing the GOOD behaviors on to my daughters. 2 out of 3 scrapbook and I'm working on Lori! Kaci started when her kids were little, so she's building some beautiful albums. Lexi has scrapped since she could cut with scissors and her pages are precious. I gifted Lori with a first year album of her daughter, so she's 2 years behind....but still ahead of me! I'm caught up to 2006.

I firmly believe taking some "MOM TIME" is critical to a mother's sanity and balance. Kaci and I left on Friday afternoon for a weekend scrapbooking retreat at Canyon Camp (Hardt Lodge). We were housed in the lodge with private bed/bath quarters and spread our tools & work out on tables in the banquet hall. 24/7, you could work, eat, sleep, visit....or meditate in the beautiful scenery. We loaded up at 3:00 on Sunday for the trip back to reality.

What a blessing this weekend was. Even though I wasn't home, I looked into the childhood faces of my kids all weekend. I was tired, but happy to be home....and ready to go back. In January we're planning another retreat, this time checking in Thursday night. (That first night is mostly getting organized and set up); 2 full days of scrapbooking; 1/2 day on Sunday. Now that I've been, I will be better prepared to make the most use of my time! There is some organizing to be done on this end - and what I take to set up on that end will make me much more productive.

Now...dentist, schoolwork, business, house cleaning, laundry, groceries....while visions of scrapbooking danced in her head. If a retreat is something you might enjoy, let me know and get signed up so you can start planning too!

Wall Candy - Giveaway Winner!!

Congratulations Reesa! Your name was entered twice in my drawing and plucked out of the trick-or-treat pumpkin yet to be put away. Pick out the letter and pattern you want and I'll get it set up for ordering as soon as (or if!!) I come home from my scrapbook retreat.

Thanks for participating - next week, I have Dr Oz's book "You, On A Diet" to give away!

Later gater, I'm off to Red Rock Canyon for marathon scrapbooking and girlfriends!

Wall Candy - Giveaway!

After 20 years of being relocated every 2 years and bounced across the U.S.A., I'm thinking it's time for a new tradition! Grandbabies! Won't that be fun? Right now I'm blessed with Kali, 8, Braden almost 5, and Kelsey almost 3. It's time, right?

To celebrate my bright idea, CSN Baby is offering a lucky MomUnscripted reader their choice of a LuvLetter from their cute Wall Candy Art collection. These would be simply adorable over a crib! I'm thinking I could add this big "N" to the front of Nicholas' scrapbook album.

These cute, 9" letters are stick & peel for easy arrangement and the assortment of colors and styles is adorable. Check here to view the variety of "CSN Baby" Luv Letters.

This give away is simple, just leave me a comment and let me know a fun way you might use one or more of these cute Luv Letters. I'll draw a random winner on Friday morning.

Link my blog post to your Facebook or Blog, let me know and I'll slip your name in the drawing twice...or three times! Easy as pie! I'm hoping my ! ! key never wears out !!

It's Mom text for!!

Once I get my big girls to buy into my great new idea, I'm going to do some more shopping at this neat site. I wish this came in king size! Check out their beautiful selection of crib bedding! CSN Baby!!

Yum, Cheeto Chocolate!

We attended a Halloween party this year with Lexi's softball team, and I think it was the first in my adult life that I didn't spend getting up and down out of my comfy chair to hand out candy. We still wanted to make a special treat for the neighbor kids and to hand out to Lexi's girlfriends, so we made a two batches of White Chocolate Popcorn.

The recipe is: 2 scoops of popcorn in my air popper. (I like air popped because it's healthier and fewer unpopped kernels, you can use 3 pkgs microwave/no butter popcorn). Melt a block of almond bark, add in 1 T (more or less) of peanut butter and then mix it all together. Spread out on wax paper to cool, then share what you haven't eaten.

Of course, I'm not one to ever leave well enough alone, so I added some Wilton orange food coloring and tossed in come candy corns and marshmallow pumpkins.

Here are some important tips: If your friend Sydney calls and you need to exit the kitchen to hear over the popcorn popper, make sure you've got bowl and popper lined up properly. This way, when you walk back in and see your dogs flipping around in mid-air to catch kernels that are flying around the kitchen, you'll instantly understand. Had I discovered 1/2 a bowl of missing popcorn....and couldn't blame Kelsey....I just don't know what I'd have thought.

2nd tip: Go easy on the orange. The surprise in scarfing down a big handful of Frightful Orange - Chocolate Popcorn is the mental image of "Cheetos" or fiesta cheese popcorn.

3rd tip: Use a lot of orange. Little kids think it's spicy and don't eat it, so there's more for you!

Sam I Am!

Touchdown or Treat! For the last month, we've been preparing for the awesome quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners to hang out at our house for Halloween. Nothing is ever as easy as it looks - and that holds true for helmets and pony tails -as "Sam Bradford" played on our home team!

Sam's helmet is custom made. Formerly WHITE, the conversion to crimson was an absolute mess. The first can of spray paint was bonafide defective. It sprayed out the bottom of the little nozzle, coating Lexi's palm before she realized - and the paint that made it to the helmet dripped all down the sides and refused to dry. Finally, we stripped it off and started over.

Of course the helmet is personalized with #14 and OU on each side! Since we were dealing with shoulder length hair, no bangs and absolutely no curl, all "Sam's" hair was pulled up into a pony tail that would fit snugly in the top of the helmet. Little sections were pulled forward, bobby pinned and curled in place for those famous Bradford locks!

Note to Sam: keep it short!

How those guys actually manage to RUN with those shoulder pads is amazing. If Sam's shoulder wasn't already injured, he would have ached (with laughter) watching the contortions of getting into uniform...and then the "jaws of life" teamwork required to get it off, unless you just decide to sleep in it.

Strawberry Shortcake stopped by to get Sam's autograph and some CANDY from Nana. Her pink hair courtesy of Kool-Aid.

Notice Sam's yellow armband in support of LiveStrong. Sam's new best friend, Lexi, misses no details. Wonder where she gets that?

"Jason White" and "Sam Bradford" made the rounds during the actual OU/KSU football game. They got extra candy from the Sooner fans - most certainly an NCAA violation of some sort I'm sure.

The evidence is quickly disappearing though.

"Sam Bradford" also known as Lexi Davis - had a great time with friends!

For real, Sam Bradford, we're glad your shoulder surgery is complete and wish you a speedy recovery. If you need advice how to wiggle back into shoulder pads without messing anything up, give Lexi a call. She's a pro - and huge fan. Anyone know Sam plays the cello? Just ask Lexi, she's got the scoop!

Dinner Party at Nana's!!

Before I got my new and wonderful Pioneer Woman cookbook, I was experimenting with twice baked potatoes. I pierced the skins and popped a couple in the microwave, cooled, sliced in half and scooped out the middles. As I was smushing up the potatoes and looking for something to make them spicy and delicious, my granddaughter Kelsey climbed up to the cabinet wanting to cook. I gave her the busy duty of opening the softened stick of butter.

It was one of those times my camera was just sitting there and I just snapped a random shot of my precious grand baby. Then as I often do, I got distracted looking for something in the refrigerator and when I returned to my potatoes, this is what I found.

The butter all neatly unwrapped and sculpted. Yes, those are tiny teeth marks and 3/4 of the stick is missing.

After looking for the cheese that I swore I had gotten out, Kelsey informed me "I eat the cheese". All 5 slices.

What do you say when her momma comes to pick her up and asks "Did she eat?"

Bad Nana!

Pioneer Woman Comes to Town!

5.5 hours - longer than my labor to deliver Lexi! But we stood in line to have our cookbook signed by Oklahoma blogger wife/mom/homeschooler Ree "Pioneer Woman". She's inspired much of my cooking with her recipes and tutorials. I got a new camera AND coffee maker because of her influence. I can use the coffee maker, my camera is quite another story.

I don't just love to read her blog.....I pretend I AM her...me and about a million of her other new "best friends". And to think, I said a little prayer that this OKC book signing was everything she might want it to be and we got there EARLY, only to find ourselves about 500th in line.

As the line snaked around and inched forward, I think her girls meandered out to find the ladies room. They were gracious and happily signed cookbooks. Such polite girls with beautiful smiles.

A little later, here came her 2 sons and hubby, a/k/a Marlboro Man. I can only imagine this little guy's thoughts at being asked to write in a book! I'm not sure who the gentleman is getting his cookbook signed, but Ree's mom, sister and nephew came out and visited with him.

There are some definite disadvantages to being the one with the camera in her hand.

Marlboro Man and Lexi

MM had PW's camera in hand and briefly set it down to sign autographs. As he wandered down the line, we were all keeping the camera in surveillance. Noticing the camera - and Marlboro Man - check out this girl who picked it up and attempted to capture one of Ree's famous Marlboro Man photos. He caught her in the act and it was a fun laugh. Try explaining to your 11 year old why a strange woman is trying to photograph Ree's hubby's backside. Funny history.

To check out the hiney history, click HERE

About 4 hours in, we had made friends up, down and sideways through the looped line.

5.5 hours of not only signing, but personalizing cookbooks....Ree's still glowing. My hands were having sympathy cramps!

The grand prize - To Lexi. ... WHAT?? ... Lexi was absolutely thrilled to not only have the cookbook signed to her, but Ree high-fived her for being a homeschooler and for our Quartz Mountain home stomping ground. Made the wait totally worthwhile!
(P.S. I requested the cookbook dedication to Lexi)

Check out her blog for ordering a cookbook or a book signing near you.