All about Paper

So I haven't been able to talk about paper for a while. It seems like I have only been talking about cooking and baking. So of course I will talk about my favorite blog about paper, "Oh so Beautiful Paper". This blog features some amazing cards, wedding invitations, calendar, business cards, etc. All kinds of paper designers send this blog their creations. There is so much to choose from it makes you amazed how much beautiful paper is out there. Here are some amazing things from this week's blog:

Can we say amazing?  I am really into the laser paper cutting.  Who would have know invitations could be this incredible.  You can check them out here.

Here are some calendars:

The 2012 calendars I must have from Rifle Paper Co.  

And a spooky wedding invitation:

Wow!  A Halloween wedding invitation.  Now that's too cool.  You can check it out here.

The past 2 months I have purchased some new stamps and made some great cards.  I have been meaning to share them with you guys but I have just been too busy.  It takes some time to photograph them and post them.  Here are a few:

Oh and I forgot to mention I made my own business cards.

I love the way they turned out.  

Before everything went crazy I went to Target to purchase some of the things from the Missoni line.  I couldn't believe everything was sold out on the first day.  So I had to go to a second store and I found what I was looking for.  I got these vases:

I so love them.  I have white hydrangeas in them right now.  

Before I go I have to mention Twig and Thistle's project today.  It's amazing.  

To think this is done out of sewing pins and thread.  Now that's creative!!!  You can find it here.

Oh and look what I found on My Modern Met.  

It's a building in Huainan City, An Hui Province, China called the Piano House.  You can check it out here.   I so want to go there.

Well, I hope I have inspired you to create something today.  Talk to you soon.

Crazy September

I have not had anytime to blog this month.  I got so busy with my two classes.  Addison is so busy with school and activities.  And JT has been working non-stop.  This month has also had its ups and downs.  We had some major drama last week but this week has been nice and normal.

I haven't been able to bake and cook as much this month because of everything on our plate.  I did bake strawberry mini cupcakes with raspberry buttercream frosting for Dave Zuhlke's Memorial.  Wally had it at his place and Wally's mother made some incredible Vietnamese food.  It was wonderful for everyone to get together and tell great stories about Dave.  Dave's mother and brother even came in town and attended.  Wally played a slideshow of pictures of Dave and Wow the slideshow brought back some great memories.  You don't realize how long you have know someone until you see pictures.  Dave had a great impact in all of our lives and he will never be forgotten.

I did cook once last week.  I made Skirt Steak with Salsa Verde and Chickpea Salad last Tuesday.  I made enough to have leftovers for Wednesday.  I got the recipe from "Cook like an Iron Chef".  It is one of my favorite cooking shows.

I am hoping to be able to cook a lot this week.  I am so excited that Fall is here.  I am already thinking about fall recipes, savory pies, pumpkin mousse,  butternut squash.  Boy, I love Fall!  The clothes, the boots, the hats, the cool weather, the changing of the leaves and the food.   I am definitely making Chicken Chili with White Beans this week.  Oh and what about homemade cornbread.  Damn,  I have to make time to cook a lot this week, my sanity needs it.  :)  Oh and getting the new Martha Stewart Living Magazine for October didn't help.  There are way too many recipes in that magazine I want to cook.

Oh last Saturday was GUNCLE Day and we went White Water Rafting.  We had a blast!!!  I was so nervous at first.  I totally thought we were all going to fall out of the raft.  I was really worried about Addison but everything turned out great.  Addison had a blast and no one fell out.  We had to most wonderful guide and the weather turned out beautiful.  We were so worried we were going to freeze our butts off.  While we were driving up to Tennessee the temperature was 55 degrees.  Luckily the sun came out by the time we were in the water.  The water was still cold but the sun really helped a lot.   This time Michael's sister went with us.  It was nice to finally meet her and have her join our crazy family.  I hope she will be attending future GUNCLE Days.  Hmmm...I'm already trying to plan next month's GUNCLE Day.  I am thinking Haunted House, Pumpkin Picking, and Corn Maze.  Here are some picture from White Water Rafting.

Well, I need to study for my Midterm.  Hopefully, I have time this week to blog.  I have also made a couple of new cards so I really need to update my Etsy site.  Talk to you soon.

A long 4 day week

For some reason this week has seemed to drag by and it's only Thursday.  I don't know if it's all the rain but I have been a little blue this week.  Yesterday, I stayed in bed and watched really bad TV and read magazines.  It was a ME day and it was an ok day except for the tree cutters outside were so loud that I really couldn't relax.  Today I have just been cleaning and organizing before I have to take Addison to Diving.  I think this week Addison and I are just getting adjusted to the new schedule.  It has been a little difficult to do homework, practice the violin, study for quizzes and test, and go to karate and diving.  Luckily, Addison doesn't have to be at school until 9 AM so going to bed at 11 PM is not so bad.  I think Addison is adjusting better than I am.  He is loving middle school, getting A's on test, and really excited about the violin.  Speaking of the violin, I really need to find him a teacher for lessons at least once a week.  See I'm not adjusting.  On top of worrying about my grades and going to the library twice a week, I still have think about all of Addison's stuff, on top of cooking and cleaning.  Oh and I have a test Wednesday, so I will spend the weekend studying.  Why do I worry so much?  I guess that just being a mom.  Ok I am done with worrying everything is going to be fine and I'm not cooking tonight, they can leftovers McDonalds.  :)

I'm so looking at the Anthropologie website while I am blogging.  I am debating on buying a dress that is finally on sale.  I noticed it about 3 months ago.  I love Maxi dresses because I can wear them around the house and just run out the door to take Addison to his activities.  I am just debating if I can wear during Fall but I do live in Georgia so it still will be a little warm for a while.  Here's a picture of it.  What do you think?

Oh the back is even more special.

I am thinking I will be able to wear it next year too so I might as well purchase it.  I am also getting the egg crate I have wanted forever.  Anthropologie stores only have the white crate available but Anthro is offering free shipping for online orders this week so I believe it is the perfect time to get it.  

That egg crate makes me want to bake!!!  I will smile every time I open my refrigerator.  Speaking of refrigerators, last year JT got me all new stainless steel appliances (a fridge, a microwave, a stove/oven, and a dishwasher).  I love my appliances but it has been a pain to keep the stainless steel clean.  The refrigerator was starting to get rust spots which didn't make sense since it was stainless steel.  Michael told me the dirt and whatever else was rusting on top of the steel.  I read online all these things you could do to get rid of the rust but I was so scared.  I decided to let JT tackle it one day and then forgot about it.  My fridge has had rust spots for about 6 months until now.  I was at Williams-Sonoma getting cleaner to clean my All Clad cookware.  Soap and water was just not doing it.  It always seemed like there was some film on the cookware.  Well, they told me to get the Bar Keepers Friend.  While they were talking about how wonderful it cleaned All-Clad cookware she mentioned that she had a rust stain on her carpet and this cleaner got it out.  I bought it and went home to clean my All-Clad cookware.  While I was cleaning it I thought about what she said about the rust on her carpet and wondered if it would get off the rust on my refrigerator.  Well, I tired it and it did.  My fridge looks brand new!  It's beautiful and shining and NO RUST.  I have used this cleaner on all my appliances and I no longer hate keeping stainless steel clean.   This cleaner works on a lot, I have used it on my kitchen sink and  I thinking about the bathroom next.   I'm telling you this cleaner is the best!

Now lets segue into cooking since I'm being such a good housewife and talking about cleaning.  :) Even though I have had the blues this week, I have been cooking just simple meals.  Yesterday, I made dinner rolls and slow cooked a turkey breast.  It was nice comfort food.  There's something about the smell of fresh baked bread.  Tuesday I baked salmon and we had rice and beans with edaname. The beans and edaname were delicious.  It nice to find new ways to make vegetables.  I will be making this again.

Well, I am happy tomorrow is Friday even though I will spend the weekend studying.  Talk to you soon.

Keeping busy

We have been so busy that I haven't had time to blog.  But we have had a wonderful two weeks and I have so much to tell you all.  Addison is adjusting very well in middle school.  He has picked the orchestra for his 5th period and has decided to play the violin.  He told us he picked the violin because it always plays the melody.  How sweet is that?  We bought him his new violin and he is so excited about it.  We can't wait to go to his concerts.

We had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.  How was yours?  We went to the Dragon*Con parade Saturday.  It was the best one so far.  It usually is only about 20 minutes long but this year the parade went on for an hour.  The costumes were amazing!  They only bad thing is it was too hot.  It wasn't so hot last year.  We walked around the convention for about 2 hours after parade but Addison was over it quickly because of the heat.  I got some great pictures of the parade here are a couple.  You can check the rest out on my picture page.

Last last Saturday was GUNCLE day (gay uncle day) and we all went to the Mercer Orchard to pick apples.  We had a blast and brought home way to many Gala Apples.  After the Orchard, we decided to hike up to Amicola Falls.  I was tired, hot and really not having it.  Let's just say I was happy to get back to the car.  But the view was beautiful and I do need to get more exercise.

Last last Sunday was Val and Lee's birthday party and I baked them two cakes.  Val got a Strawberry Cake with Strawberry icing and Lee got a Chocolate cake with Carmel Buttercream Icing inside and Fudge Icing on the outside.  Everyone enjoy the cakes and I think they turned out good.  I did use a different Strawberry Cake recipe than the one I used for Chamel's birthday cake.  I think the other Strawberry recipe was better.  I will use that one from now on.

And yes I am still cooking.  Dinner last Monday Shrimp and Grits and last Wednesday was Braised Short Ribs on Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans.

Now, I need to go and start making Apple Pies so I can get rid of all these apples.  I have been making apple tarts for a week but haven't made an Apple Pie yet.  I'm thinking Apple Pie and Apple Cider today.

Oh before I leave, I have made some new cards that I love.  I am trying to give myself an hour at least twice a week to make cards.  It makes me happy to be creative.  I will post the new ones soon and also update them on my Etsy site.  I got some new stamps in so I'm finally able to make Baby Shower cards.  I also got the stamps in for Thanksgiving.  Yes, I already know what our Thanksgiving card will look like this year.  I really need to start working on Halloween cards before I even worry about Thanksgiving.   Here are some new Happy cards:

Well, I need to go and figure out what I am making for dinner tonight.  Today, is the first day for Addison to go back to diving so this afternoon is going to be really busy.  I also need to start making pie dough and apple cider.  I also have an online Algebra test due tonight that Addison and I need to take.  I promise it won't be 2 weeks until a blog again.  Talk to you soon.