Takin' a Break

Hello, Bloggers! I appreciate SO MUCH those of you who stop by, enjoy my blog, and leave kind comments. THANK YOU.

I have decided to take a little break this week. My house is in dire need of one week of uninterrupted attention. I have decided that this is the week. You've heard of Spring Cleaning? Well, this is Autumn Organizing! So, I will be back next Monday, November 2.

I have determined to stay away from the computer this week while I organize, clean, throw away, donate stuff we don't need to local charities, etc. I will get so much more done that way. So please forgive me if I don't comment on your blogs this week or post on my own. It's not because I am not thinking of you. It's because I am determined to know where every little thing is in my house. When Dan the Man asks me where the bandaids are, I don't want to just say, "Somewhere in the cabinet in the bathroom." I want to be able to say, "In the bathroom cabinet on the 2nd shelf in the right hand corner." Ya know? My house used to be like that when the kids were little, but as they have grown up and life has gotten out of control busy, I kind of lost that organization. I'm trying to get it back! For me, with order comes sanity, and I fear I have lost it. I am on a quest to get it back! tee hee.

Just know that kind thoughts are coming your way as I de-junk.

Have a GREAT week! Now if I could just get my grout as white as the grout in this picture...

Good News and Bad News

The past few days I found myself smiling one second and crying the next. Why? Because one of my boys (Tannon) and his team won and the others (Dawson and Coach Dan the Man) lost. I am not a good loser. You would never guess that, right? :)

Dawson:

(LOVE this picture! Check out the sweat coming down the front of his jersey and the scab on the elbow.)

Bad news first: The Freshmen Knights played their first game in the league playoffs today and lost to Timpanogos. Dang! That's it until next year.
Good news: Dawson had an interception and SEVERAL tackles. YIPEEE!

Dan the Man:

(Dan contemplating life without coaching one of his boys)

Bad news: He has coached or helped coach each of our boys through 8th grade, and has had the opportunity to help coach Dawson through 9th. I think realizing today after the loss that this is the last time he will coach his 'little' boys was an emotional thing for him. Poor Dan the Man.

Tannon:

(Tannon directing traffic before a pass)

We played our last regular season game on Thursday night against Copper Hills High School We won 41-7. Tannon was 17-18 passing, 0 int's, and 2 passing TD's. We finish the regular season 2nd in our region and 3rd in the state (the 1st place team in our region is 2nd in the state, and the state 4th place team is in our region too. Our region is like the SEC of Utah high school football!). So we begin the state playoffs next Friday, Oct. 30 against West Jordan. Go Knights!

Spooky!

2nd post tonight...

I finally felt a bit of mojo returning tonight and I gotta tell ya, it felt good. Enjoy this spooky card. Unfortunately the pumpkin stamp set is retired. I just loved those goofy lookin' guys.

The paper packet (Enchanted Level 2 Paper Pack - X7087B) is still available until December 31 or until Close To My Heart runs out of it's supply, whichever comes first. So, if you love the papers, hop on over to my website and order a pack quickly! If you click on the link above (the name of the paper pack), you can see all the papers that come in the pack. Stinkin' cute!

In addition to the beautiful papers, here are the other Close To My Heart products used: Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Black Cardstock (1386), Watercolor Pencils (3505), Basic Brad Assortment (Z1218) October Word Puzzle Stamp Set (D1311), Designer Ribbon Rounds Black Collection (Z1034).

Non- CTMH products used: Martha Stewart Punch, Marvy Punches

Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially on a spooky night!

One Word Answers

Thanks to my sweet friend, Jennifer Bonhart for awarding me this fun prize. Jennifer, you rock!

I choose to pass this award on to six of my favorite bloggers:
1. Kori
2. Lynette
3. Nicole
4. Susann
5. Jill
6. Sue

The Rules are:
1. You can only use ONE word for each answer.
2. Pass this along to 6 of your favorite bloggers!
3. Alert them that you have given them this award!
4. HAVE FUN!!!

1. Where is your cell phone? downstairs
2. Your hair? hat
3. Your mother? Grandma's
4. Your father? game
5. Your favorite food? Mexican
6. Your dream last night? sad
7. Your favorite drink? water
8. Your dream/goal? eternitywithfamily (come on! That's only one word, right?)
9. What room are you in? office
10. Your hobby scrappin'
11. Your fear? snakes
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? game
14. Something that you aren't? anorexic
15. Muffins? poppyseed
16. Wish list item? shutters
17. Where did you grow up? South Carolina
18. Last thing you did? cards
19. What are you wearing? sweats
20. Your TV? on
21. Your Pets? Tarje'
22. Friends? yes
23. Your life? awesome!
24. Your mood? content
25. Missing Someone? Easton
26. vehicle? Civic
27. Something your not wearing? makeup
28. Your favorite store? Nordy's
29. Your favorite color? red
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? yesterday
32. Your best friend? Dan-o
33. One place that I go to over and over? church
34. One person who emails me regularly? Kori
35. Favorite place to eat? home

Creative Funk

Since I seem to have been in a huge creative funk this week, I thought I'd better find something to share, and quick...before all of you gave up on me and quit following my blog! :)

I dug up some Christmas cards I made last year and thought I'd share them today.

Both cards are made with the more than darling "Evergreen" stamp set (D1315). LOVE this set. Click here to see it. Both cards are also 6" x 6" in size. Enjoy!

Click here to order from my website 24/7...even when in a creative funk.

WOW!

I was checking some of my favorite sketch sites this morning and when I clicked on Card Patterns, I was thrilled and surprised to see that I made the top 6 this week with my "Joy" card. I have to admit that I wasn't so sure about this card. The color combo was a stretch for me, but I am so happy and honored that someone else liked it! lol. Plus, the other 5 cards are to die for and I am just so excited to be chosen with them.

Thank you, Card Patterns for choosing me as a top 6 again. You guys rock!

If you are interested in knowing which Close To My Heart products I used to make this card, click here.

Click here to order from my website 24/7, especially after Card Patterns picks your card!

Caramel Apple Fun and Gift Tags

Yesterday, while Dan and the boys were on the deer hunt, Kori and I decided to get together and make caramel apples for some of our friends. My friend, Susan, who is the owner of Temptationz (wonderful and delicious candy company, email her at temptationz@q.com) gave us instructions and off we went. It was a learning experience but so much fun. We were pretty proud of our finished products, even though there were several boo boo's along the way. But the laughter at our boo boo's was half the fun!

Follow this progression of photos to see how it went. If you get far enough in the progression, you will see the gift tag I made using the Color Me Monday color combo from Jeanette Lynton's blog on 10-12-09. (Orange, Sunny Yellow, Citrus Leaf and Black, see color swatch below).


1. Here are the supplies we used: Non-stick Reynolds Wrap foil (must be non-stick--this is to set the apples on after dipping. I just found it at my local grocery store), Granny Smith apples (the tarter the apple, the yummier they are with the caramel and chocolate on top), caramel apple dowels (I found these 25 for $1.00 at the Bosch store), a large box of caramel (my friend, Susan makes her own but she told me this brand was awesome. You just melt it and it tastes homemade. I got it at the Bosch store, too), white chocolate discs (also got these at the Bosch store. Be sure to get good ones. The cheapos taste terrible!), cinnamon and sugar, and orange cupcake candies.

2. Daci came to help too! Once you wash your apples and dry them, carefully take out the stems and push your dowels in them (the ones I bought have one pointed end which made them so much easier to use). Then melt your caramel. We did it in the microwave. You want it to be so hot it is boiling. Let it sit and stir for about a minute then dip your apples.

3. When dipping, be sure to go straight down and lift straight up. We did a few where we kind of twisted and twirled and this made big bubbles in the caramel. If you go straight up and down it will be smooth.
4. After dipping apples, let cool on the foil. Then melt your white chocolate discs (again, we did this in the microwave) and let it cool about a minute or so. If you dip too soon this is what happens (see photo below). Kori was sad to see all of our chocolate come off the first few apples. After an emergency phone call to Susan we learned to let the chocolate cool just a bit before dipping.
5. After dipping each apple in the white chocolate, cover with the topping of your choice. We did some apples with cinnamon and sugar (2T. cinnamon per 1 C. of sugar) and some with cute little orange cupcake candies in honor of Halloween. You could do almost anything; crushed up Oreos, crushed up Butterfingers, nuts, etc. We just held the apple by the stick over a bowl of the topping and spooned it on as we twisted the apple.


6. Let this set up and then put some of your melted chocolate in a sandwich baggie and cut off the very tip of one of the corners, like a cake decorator bag. Drizzle this on the apples. Kori was a much bettter drizzler than me! Pretty!
7. At our local deli Kori found these cute little cups (I think they are for ice cream). They were .08 cents each. Not bad! Then we put them in clear cello bags, added some orange foo foo, tied with bows and added a tag (see next photo).
8. Finished product. Pretty stinkin' cute if I do say so myself. I think our friends will like them.
Close To My Heart products used on tag: Beware Stamp Set (D1381), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Citrus Leaf Stamp Pad (Z2112), Sunny Yellow Stamp Pad (Z2152), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Orange Cardstock (1281), Sunny Yellow Cardstock (1225), Silhouette Level 2 Paper Pack (X7090B), Corner Rounder (Z578).

Click here to order from my website 24/7...even when eating a delicious caramel apple!

Happy Caramel Apple-ing!

Monster Cookies

I saw a recipe in the newspaper last week and I just HAD to try it. Not only did it look delicious, it was GLUTEN FREE! That is major deal in our family since Kori and Easton both have Celiac Disease, as do my father-in-law and one of our nephews.

I had NO IDEA how HUGE these cookies would be. The recipe said it made 6 dozen, but that didn't freak me out until I started making the dough. The dough filled 2 of the largest tupperware bowls (you know, those huge ones with the lids) when I was all done making it. The fact that it said in the recipe that you scoop the dough with a 1/4 cup measuring cup and form it into balls, or the fact that you can only put 6 cookies on a large cookie sheet to bake ought to have been a clue. But I guess I wasn't paying close enough attention. When I put in 12 eggs and 4 C. of brown sugar and 4 C. of white sugar I began to get the picture. This recipe makes a TON of cookies. I'm thinking you could half the recipe and be fine, but I haven't tried that yet.

The cookies were delicious and I sent a huge box of them to Easton in Houston on his mission. I will add my notes in italics in the recipe. If any of you try this and half the recipe, let me know how it turns out.

Monster Cookies (recipe found in the Daily Herald last week)
Makes 6 dozen (4 1/2" - 5") cookies

12 eggs
4 C. brown sugar
4 C. white sugar
1 Tbs. vanilla
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
2 Tbs. plus 2 Tea. baking soda
5 C. peanut butter (I used smooth)
2 C. butter, softened
18-20 C. old fashioned oatmeal (I used Quaker brand. To be sure your oats are gluten free, check the label. It should say 'gluten free'. If it doesn't, check to see where they are manufactured. Oats manufactured in the U.S. should now be gluten free)
1 lb. milk chocolate chips
1 lb. M&M's chocolate candy

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix eggs, sugars, vanilla, light corn syrup, baking soda, peanut butter and butter together. (I was using the hugest tupperware bowl. At this point I split the dough into 2 huge tupperware bows. I then added half the oatmeal to each bowl). Add oatmeal. Stir until blended. Use hands if necessary (it was for me) to mix thoroughly. Add chocolate chips and M&M's. Stir in.

Form into balls using 1/4 C. of dough. Place 6 balls on each large cookie sheet and flatten with the bottom of a saucer. Bake 12-15 min. (I have a convection oven and it was almost exactly 12 minutes for me). Cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes (I found this is very important!).

Note: These cookies and/or the dough freeze very well.

No Place Like Home

Looking for a quick and easy way to put together a knock out card or scrapbook page? Well, look no further! Close To My Heart's MyStickease are the answer. Each of our exclusive scrapbook kits feature matching MyStickease! How cool is that?

For this card I chose to use the papers from the Sweet Home Level 2 Kit and accent with the matching Level 2 MyStickease. I used sketch #37 from Card Patterns as my inspiration and whipped this little puppy up in less than 10 minutes. As much as I love stamping, coloring, and being totally artistic, I also have times where speed and quickness are the key. In fact, one of Close To My Heart's taglines is "Faster, Simpler, Easier!" I love that we carry products that can be fast and easy, and also carry products that let the creative, artistic side of me take over.

Close To My Heart products used: Sweet Home Level 2 Paper Pack (X7116B), Sweet Home Level 2 MyStickease (X7116C), Garnet Stamp Pad (Z2121), Round Sponge (Z697), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151)

Non-CTMH products used: Fiskars Decorative Edge Scissors

Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially in the comfort of your own HOME.

On a Quest

So I am now on a quest. In one of the papers this morning there was a series of 4 photos. Tannon decided since he did so well hurdling an opponent last week, he'd try it again. I must say this time was even more impressive. Someone caught this craziness on film and emailed them to the paper. All I have is his name. That's all the paper would give out. They are not posted on the newspaper's website and the only way I can get copies of them is to find the guy who took them. That is my quest.

So, in the meantime, I took photos of the photos in the newspaper. My next move is to try to find this person in the phone book and ask him if I can purchase the actual photos.

While I'm doing that, I thought I'd share the photos I took of the newspaper. Grainy...but at least you can see the hurdle. Maybe Tannon should hang up football and run the 100 meter hurdles instead! lol!

I Love Rainbows

I have decided that if I didn't already love rainbows, I definitely do now! It rained most of the day yesterday, which is my most favorite weather in the whole, wide world. I would usually be thrilled with a day of rain. But, with it being Fall break this weekend and that meaning our varsity football game was on Wednesday this week instead of Friday, the rain had me a little worried.

As you know, my son, Tannon is the quarterback for Lone Peak. We are a predominately throwing team. Rain does not usually bode well for prolific passing. The photo here (courtesy of the Daily Herald) shows a few fans arriving at the game about an hour before it started. The rain had just stopped and the rainbow had appeared. As we pulled in to the parking lot and I saw the gorgeous rainbow, I thought to myself, "Well, I hope that rainbow is a good omen for Lone Peak." And it turned out to be!

We beat the undefeated Pleasant Grove Vikings 33-3. We are now tied for the region lead. Our whole team stepped up and played a great game. I was so proud of our players! Tannon was 19-23 for 302 yards. He threw 3 touchdown passes and ran one in. He had about 100 yards rushing as well for the second week in a row. Here I go, proud mommy again. I just can't help myself.

You can read the articles in the Daily Herald. There is also a one minute highlight video on this site. To see it click here. Tannon is #10 (QB) in burgundy. There are also great articles in the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune.

Our last regular season game is next Thursday night against Copper Hills High School. The state playoffs start the following week (Oct. 30 and 31st). GO KNIGHTS!

For those of you who are wondering about what is happening with Dawson's freshman team, they also made the playoffs and will play the first round on the 24th. Woo hoo!

And The Winner Is...

We have a winner! Today I had Kori and Daci draw from the comments you all so kindly made after watching Tannon's video on my Shameless Bribery (Blog Candy) post. Here is the proof:

Kori prepares to draw one lucky comment out of the 28 that were posted
as Daci sucks on both of her lips (her newest trick)

Kori draws a lucky winner as Daci continues with her newest trick

Daci carefully reads the comment to be sure we post the right winner.
She concentrates so hard she forgets to suck on her lips.

Congrats to Amy who said,
"Seriously what a proud momma you should be, how cool is that Karen!! He's amazing by the way, what a little stud that "Tanner" hee hee! And I have to say what a creative way to get the word out huh? Sure do love your guts!"

Amy, email me at pedermom@aol.com to let me know what you'd like for your $20 worth of free Close To My Heart products. You can view the catalog by clicking on the photo of the Autumn/Winter 2009 Idea Book on the left side of my blog. FUN!

Last Call

This is the last call for my blog candy. My daughter, Kori (the cute girl in the photo) will be drawing a comment today at 1 pm MST. If you have no clue what I'm talking about, look at the post just below this one entitled "Shameless Bribery." Read it, watch the video (only 28 seconds long!) and reply. You will be put in a drawing for $20 in Close To My Heart products. Woo hoo!

Be watching later this afternoon for the announcement of the Shameless Bribery Winner! Good luck and thanks for humoring this obnoxiously proud mama!

Shameless Bribery (Blog Candy)

THIS POST WILL STAY ON TOP OF MY BLOG THROUGH TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13. BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN FOR NEWER POSTS UNDERNEATH.

So what is a proud mom to do? She finds an AMAZING video on one of the news channels of her studly son from his game on Friday night and she wants EVERYONE and their dog to see it. She thinks and thinks and then comes up with a brilliant, albeit shameless bribe of an idea.

This is it: she will BRIBE everyone who reads her blog to go and watch it! BRILLIANT!

Go to this link, click on Lone Peak 38 Jordan 27 on the right hand side of the video screen and watch a short 28 second video clip of our game from Friday night. You will see the run that Tannon (#10, QB in white) made that I referenced here. Other than the announcer calling him 'Tanner' instead of 'Tannon', the audio is fun to listen to as well.

After watching the clip, leave a comment here (it's totally OK to gush about what a cool play T-man made in the video if you want. I won't mind at all) and I will put you in a drawing for $20 in product of your choice (before shipping and tax) from Close To My Heart. The only catch is that you must live in the USA. I have been meaning to post some blog candy anyway, so this kills 2 birds with one stone...blog candy and braggin' rights. Cool! I will post here on Wednesday, October 14 who the winner is so be sure to watch for that! You can begin looking at the Catalog/Idea Book to think about what you'd like to get if you are my winner by clicking here.

Thanks for putting up with me and my proud mommying. I just can't help myself!

Joy

This is sketch #36 from Card Patterns this week. I had fun using the MyStickease from the Jingle Collection from Close To My Heart and some of the papers from the Everlasting Collection. The color combo that I ended up with after combining the two is unique and I'm still trying to decide if I love it. It's growing on me.

Close To My Heart products used: Everlasting Level 2 Paper Pack (X7085B), Jingle Level 1 Scrapbook Kit (X7115A), Jingle Level 2 MyStickease (X7115C), Cranberry Exclusive Inks Marker (Z2316), New England Ivy Exclusive Inks Marker (Z2335), Spring Blossom Brad Assortment (Z1213), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151).

Non-CTMH products used: Offray ribbon

Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially when full of JOY!