FBW #245

Hi friends!  I hope you are all doing well.  We are ok.  Still having van problems but hopefully this is the last of our problems.  Please keep your fingers crossed for us!  And we are wrapping up our couple weeks of non-stop birthdays so hopefully things will slow down for us.

This week's Flutter By Wednesday Challenge is a sketch from Kathy.  All you have to do is use the sketch and have a butterfly or fairy on your card to enter.  I love this sketch and tried to go a little outside the box with it.  I took the Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper paper (which I love) and punched the holes in it then I adhered it to the card with foam squares so there are little windows.  I added some Studio Calico wood veneer butterflies and stamped a Lawn Fawn sentiment.  Clean and simple but I'm pretty happy with it.

Have a great day, friends!  And don't forget to link up your creations on the Flutter By Wednesday Blog!  

Saving Money with Apps Part 2: Shopkick

Hi friends!  I hope you are well!  Today, I'm continuing my Saving Money with Apps series (for Part 1, click HERE) by talking about Shopkick.

***NOTE: These are NOT sponsored posts.  These are tips on saving money that I have tested and work for me.  During these posts, I will use my referral links if possible.  You do not have to sign up under my link if you don't want to (but I would be really grateful if you did.)  I'm just trying to help other people save money because I enjoy saving money.***

Shopkick is a different way to "save money" because you earn "Kicks" and you can cash them in for gift cards.  I personally use Shopkick to feed my Starbucks addiction.  I've gotten a BUNCH of Starbucks gift cards from them.

HOW IT WORKS:  There are different ways to earn kicks and they are pretty easy.

1. Walk Ins.  Shopkick offers a certain about of kicks when you walk into certain stores like Target.  I'm at Target A LOT for diapers, groceries, etc... so this is SO convenient for me.  All you have to do is open the app when you walk into the store and it will give you the kicks.  The kicks are added with the phone recognizes the PA system at the store so if it doesn't work right away, find a place where you can hear the PA system really well and it should work.  There are walk in kicks for lots of stores like Old Navy, Best Buy, Macy's, etc...  They are location based, so the app will pick the stores that are close to you.

2. Scans.  There are items in stores that you can scan for kicks.  You just find the item for example Covergirl Foundation and you scan it with your phone's camera and it will give you kicks.  You do not have to buy the items.  You just can them and you get the points.

3. Purchases.  If you link up your card to Shopkick, they will give you kicks when you purchase certain from certain stores.  For example, if you spend $50 at Target with the card you linked you can earn 200 kicks and 1 kick for every dollar at Best Buy.  This is awesome if you already buy things from these stores.

4. Going through lookbooks.  The different stores will put together lookbooks of products in their store.  Look for the lookbooks with a blue star in the corner.  The blue star means that lookbook has a bonus in it.  Usually it's only 1-5 kicks but if you are just stuck somewhere doing nothing (ie waiting for your kids to get out of school) then looking through the books is a fast and easy way to earn a couple kicks.

OTHER Bonuses:

A. Coupons.  A lot of the places in my town have coupons through Shopkick.  Things like $10 off $50 at Sports Authority, 20% off at American Eagle, or $1 off Huggies diapers at Target.  You know me, I love coupons!

B. Gift Cards.  Sometimes Shopkick will offer a gift card just for walking into a location.  I've gotten SEVERAL $2 Target gift cards just for walking in.  It happens a couple times a year but $2 free is still $2 free!

C. Donations.  If you don't want to use your kicks for yourself, you can donate them to charities like Ronald Mc Donald House or Red Cross.


I hope this post helps you!  :D  If you would like me to invite you to Shopkick, either leave a comment with your email or email me.  Have a great day, friends!

Flutter By Wednesday #244

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a great day!  I have fun news to share with you today.  :)  FOUR years ago, I was on a team and left to have a baby (Parker.)  Upon leaving, I was told that if I ever wanted to come back, there would always be a place for me.  Even though four years have passed, Danni accepted me back on the team with open arms when I asked.  :)  I'm so happy to be back with my Flutter By Wednesday friends!  This is ensure that every Wednesday, I will have a new card on my blog!  :D

This week's challenge is to make a Clean and Simple card.  Wow, did I come back at the right time or what?  The only requirement to enter the challenge is to have a butterfly or fairy on your card.  Easy peasy!  I pulled out this Amy Tangerine Yes Please paper again.  It's just so summery and happy that I had to use it!  I combined the Flutter By challenge with the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge for this week which is a sketch.  I used the Paper Smooches Flap Happy set for this, some enamel dots, and a little bit of Stickles on the butterfly's body.

Have a great day, friends!  And don't forget to link up your creations over at the Flutter By Wednesday Blog!  

Avery's Birth Announcement

Hi friends!  I hope you're having an amazing day!  We had a bit of a hard weekend.  The van broke down right after we spent $600 to have the air conditioning fixed.  Yeesh!  Avery was teething, it was hot, and just a lot of things were going wrong.  But it all worked out in the end.  Here's to a better week!

Today, I'm posting Avery's birth announcement.  Sigh... having 3 kids has been really hard for me.  I'm not adapting that well.  I printed out these announcements MONTHS ago but still haven't mailed them out.  Yikes.  I'm just exhausted.  I keep thinking someday I will hit my stride.  Anyhow, here's the announcement.  I told Dustin what I wanted and he made it happen.

Have a great day, friends!

Kiwi Lane Designs June Blog Hop (Giveaway)

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a great day!  A while back I was asked to participate in the June Kiwi Lane Designs Blog Hop and I can't believe how fast the time has flown!  I don't think anything makes time go by fast than having a new baby!

You should be coming from Karen Weingartner's Blog.  If not, hop on back to the Kiwi Lane Designs Blog to start the hop!  Leave a comment at all the blogs on the hop for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Kiwi Lane Designs.  One random winner will be drawn from all the blogs on the list (including the Kiwi Lane Blog.)  I will also be having a giveaway at the end of this post.

This was my first time using the designer templates from Kiwi Lane and they were a lot of fun to work with.  I got to work with the Playtime set.  I do a lot of moving things around when I create so these templates are perfect for me.  I managed not to waste any paper making this layout.

Full layout.

Right side.

Left side.

Title card with dragonfly from the set.  I cut the dragonfly out of the green paper and then used the pink paper behind it.  Not sure if you can tell.

Arrow template with a glassine bag.  I didn't want to cover up too much of this paper because it's one of my favorites.

Shield/road sign template turned on it's side to create a journalling area.

Arrow template again, on the layout it points to the picture that the journalling is about.

The dragonfly I cut out of the title card.

Giveaway: In addition to a chance to win the $25 gift certificate to Kiwi Lane, leave a comment on this post if you'd like to win the templates I worked with for this post.  I will send my set to one random winner.  All you have to do is comment.

Next up on the hop is Melissa Dehne.  And here's the whole blog order, in case you need it.

Kiwi Lane http://kiwilane.com/here/blog/

Omgits Emily http://omgitsemily074.blogspot.com/

Kristy Mackeen - http://mamasanity.blogspot.com

Heidi Trejo http://www.polkadotpixies.com/

Brenda Smith -http://www.Theimperfectscrapper.blogspot.com

Leslie Prinkki - http://www.scrapsofmine.blogspot.com

Karen Weingartner www.paperheartcrafts.blogspot.com

Ashley Newell - http://hearthugsdesigns.blogspot.com

Melissa Dehne- http://www.abitofscrappygoodness.blogspot.com/

 

Recipe: Angel Hair with Chicken and Feta

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a wonderful day!  We are doing pretty well.  Avery is teething but other than that, things are good.  The air conditioner on our van broke over the weekend and it's going to cost $600 to fix it.  We need to save up the money so until then, we are going to go without.  Which is a huge feat where I live.  Summer brings 100 degree weather here.  But we are having cool weather today (when I had to get the kids out of the house so they could spray for bugs) and I'm feeling blessed.

In my continuing quest to turn my blog into a lifestyle blog, I figured that I would share more recipes with you.  Now, I'm not that great at coming up with recipes.  I'm usually pretty by the book when it comes to cooking.  Though, I have a few recipes that I have adapted so far from the original that I feel comfortable sharing them.  

Angel Hair with Chicken and Feta
adapted from THIS RECIPE by Robin Miller

1 1/2 pounds chicken, diced into bite sized pieces
1 small jar sun dried tomatoes
1 small jar marinated artichokes
1 fresh vegetable of your choosing (I used zucchini, but I also like spinach or asparagus)
1 small package Feta cheese
1 pound angel hair pasta, cooked according the package directions
1/2 cup salted pasta water
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder (to taste)

1. Heat pan with some oil from the sun dried tomatoes.  Add chicken and cook until desired doneness.  I like to cook mine until it's brown for that caramelized flavor.  Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.  Remove from pan, set aside.

2.  Add some more oil from the tomatoes to the same pan.  Sauté the vegetable you picked.  Season.  Add sun dried tomatoes and artichokes and cook until heated through.

3. Reserve some of the pasta water from cooking the angel hair pasta.  (I heavily salt my water.)  Strain pasta and add back to the pot you cooked it in.

4. Add chicken and vegetables to pasta and stir.  Add desired amount of pasta water so that the pasta is coated.  Top with feta cheese.

I hope you enjoy this recipe!  Have a great day, friends!

Saving Money with Apps Part 1: Endorse

Hi friends!  I hope you are all doing well.  We are ok.  Avery is teething but other than that, things are pretty good.  Brady is out of school right now which is nice.  Perhaps, I will make one of those Summer Bucket Lists that I've seen going around.  :)

Today, I'm starting a new series on my blog called Saving Money With Apps.  I've had several friends ask my how I go about saving money.  One of the most simple ways to by using a couple apps on your smartphone.  Please note that these are NOT sponsored posts.  These are apps that I've come across in my attempts to be more thrifty that have worked for me.  However, I will be posting my referral links in the posts.  These are the same referral links that everyone is given to invite their friends.

First up is Endorse.  Endorse is the app that I have made the most money back from, hands down.  Here's how it works.  You download the app to your phone (iPhone or Android) and then each week they will send you offers.  You have 6 days to redeem these offers.  You redeem them by buying the items listed on the offers and uploading a photo of the receipt.  Kind of like a rebate but you don't have to mail your actual receipt or wait forever for a check.

There are a couple different kinds of offers.  The first type are ANY brand offers.  These are for ANY brand you buy.  Some of the ones I've gotten are 50% cash back on any brand diapers, 100% cash back on any coffee, and 10% cash back on any brand gasoline.   Then there are brand specific offers like 50% cash back on Mountain Dew or 10% cash back on Quaker oatmeal or 20% cash back on Tide.

In addition to cash back, you will earn points for uploading your receipts.  You can redeem these points for gift certificates to Donors Choose which is a great program where teachers post things they need for their classroom and you can donate to them.  I've found Brady's school on Donors Choose and have been donating my gift certificates so they can buy things for their computer lab.  It's a really nice added bonus from Endorse.

HOW DO YOU GET CASH BACK?  That's what you really want to know, right?  After you submit your receipt, Endorse will review it.  If it meets the criteria, you get the cash and points added to your account.  Then whenever you want, you can cash out via Paypal.  This method is super fast.  I usually have my money in a few minutes.  OR you can request a check and that takes a couple weeks to come in your mailbox.

PROS:
~ You can shop at ANY store.
~ There are a lot of offers where they accept ANY brand.
~ Getting money back is fast.

CONS:
~ Some weeks, you won't have offers you want/need.
~ If your receipt gets ruined (too crinkled, ink fades, etc...) they might not accept it.

Personally, I've made hundreds of dollars by using this app in the last few years.  Usually from the 50% back on diapers and 100% back on coffee (hello Starbucks.)  But even if you save $5 a month, isn't it worth downloading a free app?  If you sign up, please use MY REFERRAL LINK.  I will get one whole dollar if you do.  ;)

Let me know how you like this series.  Again, I want to turn my blog into a lifestyle blog and one of the BIG things in my lifestyle is saving money.  

Whisker Graphics Challenge 1 : Use a Tag

Hi friends!  I hope you are doing well.  We are having a bit of a struggle this weekend because everyone is a bit under the weather.  But you know what?  School is OUT so life is good, right?

Today, we are kicking off the BRAND NEW Whisker Graphics Challenge.  Each month there will be a new challenge starting on the first of the month and ending on the last day of the month.  You must use a Whisker Graphics product to enter the challenge, if you don't have one, check out the FREE printables.  This month's challenge is Use a Tag on Your Project.  You can make anything you want and link it up on the Whisker Graphics Blog.  Here's my sample for this month's challenge:

I used a Large Colored Tag in yellow and a Small Colored Tag in orange.  I also used Raspberry Divine Twine and Teal Divine Twine.  The patterned paper is Amy Tangerine Yes Please.  I used a Studio Calico Wood Veneer Butterfly.  And the stamps are from Fresh Squeezed Stamps Happy Hexagons.  I'm also entering this into the Fresh Squeezed Stamps challenge #8 - summer.

Be sure to check out THIS POST on the Whisker Graphics Blog to link up your creations and to check out what the rest of the design team did.  Have a great day, friends!

Teacher Appreciation Week Wrap-up

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a beautiful day!  We are so-so.  Avery has some sort of virus that's running its' course through her system and causing her lungs to swell so she has to be on a nebulizer for a while.  I'm hoping it clears up quickly.  Anyone who's dealt with respiratory issues knows how scary it can be.  Brady's also getting over some sort of virus but he seems to be fairing much better.

Here are a couple more projects I did for Teacher Appreciation Week.  They are super simple small things.  I just wanted to send little tokens of appreciation everyday.  I used to work in education so I really appreciate what teachers do for their students.  I had one for everyday but forgot to photograph the one I sent on Thurs.  It was M&Ms with a poem about teachers.

This first one is just a 3 pack of Extra gum in a Polka Dot Bitty Bag with a Chick Sticker to seal it.  I used a Colored Tag with a bit of Divine Twine to write the sentiment "Thanks for being EXTRA-ordinary!" then I had Brady sign it.  I wanted to use a bunch of great free printables I found on Pinterest but my printer is out of ink so I had to go with what I had.  

 Here's an idea I got off Pinterest.  I found these fun reusable jars and filled them with those little packets you put into a bottle of water to flavor it.  I added some May Arts ribbon and added a tag that says "Thanks for helping me find my creative JUICES!"  I stamped the crayon and pencil with some Paper Smooches stamps.

 On the last day, I sent these gift cards.  My friend Latisha posted a picture on her Facebook where she stamped directly on the gift card holder.  Hers is MUCH nicer but I was on a time crunch.  You can see Latisha's project HERE.  I used some Paper Smooches stamps for this and some Copics to color them.  

Have a great day, friends!  

The WRITE Teacher For Me

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a wonderful day!  I am doing pretty good.  Avery and I went to a Mother's Day tea today that was lovely.  She was the belle of the ball, as always.  She wore a little party dress as I'm always looking for reasons to put her in a party dress.  

Here's one of the gifts I made for Brady to give to his teachers for Teacher Appreciate Week.  I used some journalling cards from Becky Higgins Amber Core Kit and then stamped the corner with some Paper Smooches stamps and colored with gel pens.  We wrote a little note on there (since my printer is out of ink) and I attached it with some May Arts ribbon.  

Have a great day, friends!  

I Made a Card!

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a wonderful day!  Please do not be alarmed, I actually made a card.  Last weekend I took a little time to craft.  I made this card and worked on Project Life for a while.  It was nice.

This is a super clean and simple card I made for Dustin for our anniversary that was last month.  I know.  I'm super on top of things.  ;)  I made this CAS because I know Dustin prefers a clean look.  I'm entering this in the CAS-ual Fridays challenge 100 using the diagonal in the Tic-Tac-Toe: polka dots, bling, and black and white.  I hope the little red glitter is allowed.  I used Paper Smooches Teen Routine for this card.  The washi is from Love My Tapes.  The white cardstock is actually textured (I bought it on clearance at Target) to give more interest to the card.

Have a wonderful day, friends!  

April 2013 CARDS Publication

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a wonderful day!  I've had a rotten week.  I got foot fungus from a pedicure, my fridge broke, we had to throw out hundreds of dollars worth of food, we all got a cold, and we have tons of spiders and bugs and the pest control guy didn't show up.  Sigh... but tomorrow is a new day and we just have to make the best of it, right?  

Today, I'm sharing the last card I have published.  I hope there will be more cards in the future but this was the last one I sent off to have published.  It's a hard and sad feeling.  Of course, I'm super happy to have all these cards published and I feel so blessed but what if this is it?  Who knows if I'll get my mojo back or if I'll still be what people are looking for.  Fingers crossed.

Here's the card I have in CARDS Magazine April 2013.  This is in the baby section.  For instructions and supplies, please check out the issue.  (PS Look I did shabby chic!)  

Have a great day, friends!

Losing Myself

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a wonderful day!  Today, I'm writing to share a photo of my kiddos and my random musings.  I haven't been creating much or blogging much.

Photo by Elevens Photography

This is a photo from our recent photo shoot with Stacey at Elevens Photography.  It was so nice to have professional pictures taken.  I love the way photographers can capture my kids!  They do not pose this well for me.  This is Avery's first photo pro photo shoot.  She wasn't too thrilled but I still love the pictures of her!

Now, onto my lack of creativity and blogging.  I'm not sure how many of you know, but Avery is the last baby we are planning to have.  My pregnancy was really hard.  I started contracting at 33 weeks and was told to take it easy.  Later, I found out that my pregnancy was considered high risk because I had placenta issues with both my boys.  After I had Avery, healing was really hard.  I was exhausted all the time and bled for months.  I ended up having to take a couple medications to stop the bleeding.  Overall, it was enough to make me not want to get pregnant again.

But every single struggle was worth it.  Avery is the sweetest, cutest, most darling baby girl in the world and I could not love her anymore if I tried.  However, it's been a challenge to want to do anything else when she's around.  I just want to hold her, look into her eyes, coo at her, and spend as much time with her as I can because babies grow up SO fast.  

Where does that leave my role as a cardmaker?  This is one of the words I use to identify myself.  When I go to CHA or meet new crafters, I tell them that I'm a cardmaker.  That's what I do.  And yet it's been months since I've made a card.  I miss it dearly.  I miss crafting, I miss submitting, I miss doing challenges, etc...  I love looking at other people's cards, I love looking at new product, and buying new product.  But yet, I can't manage to make anything.  I also miss doing Project Life, memory keeping for my family.  

So, how do you find balance?  I guess someday I'll figure it out.  But until then, I'll just feel like a piece of myself is on the back burner.  

31 Before 31

Hi friends!  Life has gotten so much busier with three kids in all different again groups.  I've been trying to make my 31 Before 31 list for such a long time.  It's taken me months to take the time to focus on just this one task.  I know I'll hit my stride soon though.

1. Lose 31 pounds (start somewhere, right?)

2. 30 day no buy

3. Purge, purge, purge

4. Thoroughly photograph every holiday

5. Get published 3 times

6. Make 31 layouts

7. Organize office

8. Send 31 greeting cards

9. Go wine tasting for the first time

10. Go on 10 date nights

11. Learn how to do winged eyeliner

12. Buy and wear a pair of heels (it's been years)

13. Take a good family photo

14. Enter a mail away card contest

15. Patronize 5 new (to me) local businesses

16. Try 5 new fruits/vegetables

17. Take kids on a train ride

18. Buy a nice piece of furniture

19. Save $1000 in savings account

20. Make Parker and Avery's birth/newborn books

21. Have a late 30th bday party

22. Do 10 random acts of kindness

23. Cook a fresh fish dish for the first time

24. Open bank accounts for all 3 kids

25. Take a class

26. Eat at the Bacon Mania Truck

27. Try a macaron for the first time

28. For a new good habit

29. Finish Parker's baby frame

30. Buy a mini-van

31. Start a new anti-aging skin care routine

Fingers crossed that I get it all done!  :D  

Paper Crafts Magazine May/June Published Card

Hi friends!  I hope you are all well.  We are doing ok around here.  Life with three kids is so much harder than I thought and it's just taking a lot of time to adjust.  I haven't had much time to craft.  I actually haven't had that much time to myself period.  But I'm trying to savor the moment since this baby phase goes by in the blink of an eye.

Today, I'm sharing a card I have published in the May/June 2013 issue of Paper Crafts Magazine.  Sadly, this was from the last month I submitted before I had Avery so I don't have much to share after this.  I really really love this card though.  It's inspired completely by Dustin and this is totally a card I would make and actually give to my husband.  While I usually love my published cards, I can't really say that they all have someone in my life that I actually had in mind when I made them.  For a supply list and instructions on how I made this card, please purchase the Paper Crafts May/June 2013 issue.  I've posted the cover here.  This issue is packed full of fabulous inspiration!

Have a great day, friends!