Promised Recipe

Salmon and Green Bean Panzanella Salad

picture courtesy of epicurious

1 pound salmon fillet, skin removed

1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided

1/2 pound green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon plus 1 teasoon red wine vinegar

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup thinly sliced red onion

8 ounce whole-wheat baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes

1/2 cup fresh basil, cut into thin strips

Heat broiler to low. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Season salmon with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Broil until cooked through, 5 minutes per side; let cool. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan; cook beans until bright green and crisp-tender, about 3 minutes; drain and set aside. Whisk oil, vinegar, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a serving bowl; add beans, tomatoes, onion, bread cubes and basil, then toss. Flake salmon and add to salad; toss gently. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

*Cooks Note - We sauteed the salmon on the stovetop and had excellent results.  We also added avocado to the salad.  YUMMO!

I must be a genius!

With time, women gain weight because we accumulate so much information & wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy ... we are enormously cultured, educated & happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "Good grief look how smart I am, I must be a genius!"

(seen as a facebook post - just had to share)

Village of Cuteness

Oh good grief! I did it again. It was NOT my intention to leave you hanging the last week or so.  However a few things got in my way.  Namely the Stampin Up convention and then trying to catch up with my sleep and everything else that got neglected during my time away. 

With that week over - I was exhausted.  I just needed sleep.  I should take notes and learn from my little bulldog.  Riley knows how to rest in style.  This is a picture we took of him after he had been playing with his buddies at the family compound. 

Ralph made me promise not to pick up another papercrafting item for a few days so that we could have some time together.  I did my best.  For some reason, life doesn't ever slow down for you to catch up. 

Ralph went to irrigate the garden on Wednesday night.  I should have been cleaning this....

instead, I opted to clear a space on the table and work on a project that I didn't get done at convention.  Wanna see?

Cute Huh?  The houses are made out of 2x4.  Painted, distressed and then decorated using Stampin UP Product.  They have found a place on my fireplace mantle.

This is the WOW card I swapped this year.  I got the idea from here. Magnetic closure card by Michelle Force

It is a cute card and I don't think I will be doing that again, at least not in the 110 quanitity that I made to swap.  Every year I think I have a simpler card and when it gets down to it...I don't. 

The images have been colored, the snowflakes cut out with a sizzix die that turned out to be much more of a project than originally planned.  The humidty from the swamp cooler kept making the paper stick to the die and the snowflakes had to be removed very carefully so as not to tear them.  The snow has been glittered, the boots and buttons have crystal effects (stuff to make them shiny) and then there is a washer and magnet for the closure.  It is a stinkin' cute card though and everyone that saw it wanted to swap with me. :)  Front:

Inside:  Left blank for a written note.  The magnet is placed just at the tip of the flap and the washer is on the inside of the card just behind the front and covered with a punched out circle to hide it. 

During the week of convention, Ralph's family had a bridal shower for my neice.  I volunteered to make the favors.  What was I thinking????  I made 30 of these little cone shaped boxes.  Ralph came to my rescue and made the little chocolate covered cake bites to go inside.  I think they were a hit.  I thought the cake bites tasted yummo! 

I didn't get a picture of the little gift I gave to my fellow demos, but I will try to recreate my awesomeness  the projects so that you can see them.

I am off to attempt cleaning my space...hopefully there won't be too many distractions.

July Stamp Club Projects

I actually feel papercrafting overload.  I long to stretch out with a good book today, but alas I am stuck at my table for the next 3 days with every spare minute I have finishing projects.  I am getting farther along with my swaps.  Every little bit of time spents helps.  I volunteered to make favors for a bridal shower - thinking I had plenty of time and then the shower got moved up a week.  So not only will I not be able to attend, I have 25+ favors to throw in the middle of the rest of the projects.  YIKES! 

I was up late last night working on the projects I was showcasing for todays club meeting.  For those that are interested...
Here are the projects we made this morning. 

Stamps - Up Up & Away
Ink - Calypso coral, Wisteria Wonder, Baja Breeze, Pool Party, River Rock
Paper - whisper white, baja breeze
Accessories - Ruler, Copic black pen

Idea from Jill Hilliard
Stamps - Fabulous Florets, teeny tiny wishes
Ink - Staz on Black, Versamark
Paper - Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Very vanilla
Accessories - Melon Mambo and wild wasabi embossing powder, 1/4 black grosgrain, large oval punch, embossing buddy

This card called for desperate measures.  What I had originally planned was not working - so at around the hour of midnight I gave up and decided to case someones card.   I found this one by
Mercedes Weber and decided it was so cute that I was going to outrightly copy it for my group project. 

Stamps - Fabulous Phrases
Ink - chocolate chip
Paper - chocolate chip, lucky lime, calypso coral, whisper white, daffodil delight, berry blossoms DSP
Accessories - Pefect Pennants Bigz L die, perfect polka dots embossing folder, Jewelry tag punch, Itty bitty shapes punch pack, 5 petal flower punch, little leaves sizzlits die, linen thread, white gel pen, full heart punch, 1/2 inch chocolate chip scallop dots ribbon, crop a dile

Happy Stamping to you!

Happy 4th of July

I love this holiday...  Can't listen to The National Anthem without getting tears in my eyes.  I love this country and what it stands for.  I just hope that we can continue to show respect and honor to our country and to those that lost their lives to keep those values strong - always relying on God to guide our choices.  One of my dreams is to watch the Boston Pops live on the 4th and then the fireworks from the harbor.  Wouldn't that be cool?!



Aren't these gals cute - the Cactus cuties have currently have one less member and are older, but still sound amazing.

In the middle of working on convention swaps, I took a break to make a card that I saw, done by Jill Olsen - Land of the Free - Had to..just had to case it. 

Stamps - Land of the free
Paper - Real Red, Night of Navy and Whipser White
Ink - Real Red and Night of Navy Markers
Accessories - Bigz star die, star punches, texture embossing folder, star brad, red satin ribbon

I hope everyone is enjoying their 4th - Eat good food, enjoy the company of whomever you are with and watch some amazing fireworks. 

Ta Ta for now

A Boat Without a Paddle

I have to admit, I looked at the calendar early this week, completely with a focus of taking care of work issues and was shocked when I found out that I got Monday off for the 4th of July.  Really?  Already?  What happened to June?  With this weekend being a holiday - in my mind that translates into play time, picnics, fishing trips, camping, family craziness, and just a raucous good time.

So now as we head into the weekend I find myself without a plan...Yikes!  This is unchartered territory for me.  How will I manage?  One of two scenerios...
1.  I make it through the weekend with no major activites feeling like I wasted my free time because we just "hung out".
2.  I find myself back to work on Tuesday feeling completely rested because I found the perfect balance of play time, chore time and rest, ready to tackle another month of craziness.  (gotta throw in a few chores)

Time will tell, but I hope it is the second option. 

I actually hope to get some stamping time, to work on convention projects and a few birthday cards.  I also hope we get a little of recreation time in...see the fireworks, maybe see a movie or go for a drive, eat some yummy food, and enjoy the company of each other and our dog.

Ta Ta for now
 

PS  I do have a double batch of dough proofing in the fridge so that we can prepare something yummy with it.  I guess that is a good start.

10 Things

1.  Music movie montage - makes me happy do ya wanna dance?
2.  Weather is getting warm  - glad we have a swamp cooler.
3.  Gotta put cages on tomatoes and hill the potatoes.
4.  Need to buy Harry Potter Tickets - Can't wait!
5.  Fourth of July weekend... already?  Really?
6.  Got to get back to the gym.
7.  Presidency meeting tomorrow - lots to talk about.
8.  Stampin UP convention 15 days away - YIKES and YAY.
9.  Need to make a hair appointment - cut and highlights.
10.  Salmon and green bean panzanella - recipe coming

Ta Ta for now