Mojo Monday

Just a day late. Always a dollar short.

Here's my take on the Mojo Monday sketch. Didn't stretch it. At all.

Used scraps. Wonderful feeling. Just a little ink and ribbon. A bit of bling. Even the butterfly was a leftover scrap.

Menu Monday

Just don't have the energy to type it all up today/tonight.

Monday - Steaks, steamed green beans and salad. This was good. A nice simple dinner. Grilled.

Tuesday - Dunno - Found out. It was Kielbasa, pasta salad, corn and salad. This is what the girls wanted. I had no preferences and Danny was mowing the lawn, so I obliged my darling little sweethearts. Plus, Megan made the Pasta salad. :-D

Wednesday - Dunno - Turned into Steak Burritos (leftover steak from Monday), refried beans and salad. Well for most of us. Melissa had a salami and cheese sandwich. She doesn't like Mexican food. Whose child is she anyway????

Thursday - ??? - Tonight was baked Pork Chops, Stuffing for Danny and I, Mac & Cheese for the girls, Peas and salad. Melissa actually ate some of the stuffing. Very unusual for her to try anything new. And like it. Everything was cooked to perfection. Even if I do say so.

Friday - Pizza (This one I can handle) I picked up Toni's Pizza. An extra large special, minus the bell peppers, and an extra large pepperoni. YUMMY.

Keep checking back. I will more than likely get to this tomorrow.

G'nite.

Friday Fill-In

And...here we go!

1. "In a hole in the ground there lived my dignity."

2. "I've lost my fortune, but that ain't no matter."

3. "After dark the rain began to fall again, we didn't care, our ship had just come in."

4. "We drank all the rum from the hold of the Spanish galleon."

5. "There was a hand in the darkness, and it grabbed my butt."

6. "Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, and we are an accident waiting to happen."

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza and Survivor. It's back this week, tomorrow my plans include making some scrapbooks for Make a Wish and Sunday, I want to possibly ride bikes and play with my scrap stuff some more!

New Blog in Town

Amy from Caffinated Cropper a starting blog about reading books. Chic Book Chick
Amy is a great crafter and I follow her regularly on Caffinated Cropper. So I am excited to follow her into reading too. She opens her new blog on April 1st. No joking. That's the day.

If you have read anything on my blog, you can't have helped but notice that I LOVE to read.
This is so up my alley. Join us.

Blog Candy from Jennifer at Phoenix Crafts

Jennifer over at Phoenix Crafts has some blog candy - Give away here. And check out her site, she has some amazing creations.

Menu Monday

I usually have a pretty good idea what meals I will be preparing for the week. I have to since I need to get groceries on the weekends. Usually on Sundays, but this week it was on Today. I really didn't feel like it yesterday and since we had the ingredients on hand for a meal, I didn't go to the store. I did make the menu for the week though.

Sunday - Chili Lime Chicken, Spanish Rice and Salad. Danny grilled the chicken to perfection. The rice turned out okay. Megan even ate the teenie, tiny cut-up onions without complaint.

Monday - Hot dogs, Bush's Baked Beans, salad, mini carrots and chips. Again Danny grilled. Nothing beats a grilled hot dog after a few months without one. Had to have a quick meal because I took the girls to the grocery store after I picked them up from school. And we didn't have much time.

Tuesday - Alvondigas (Mexican meatball soup) - This was the best pot of Alvondigas I have made EVER. I used canned beef broth instead of the cubes. I think it makes a BIG difference. I used 2 pounds of ground beef. My family was really hungry. There is about the same amount left over as we usually have with 1 pound.

Wednesday - Faux Hot Wings/BBQ Wings, mashed potatoes/sweet potatoes, green beans. Weird combo, but what do you want from a 9 year old. It was her pick. This menu didn't happen. I had a headache today and we had tons of leftovers and Thursday is trash day, so we ate leftovers and cleaned out the Fridge. We did have the mashed/sweet potatoes. Gotta love Bob Evans. We had the Chili Lime Chicken, and Morgan picked creamed corn. ??? She was happy. So whatever. She also had some of the leftover Alvondigas. I love that kid. She is so weird.

Thursday - Chicken with Asparagus - Jennie Low's "Chopsticks, Cleaver and Wok" cookbook. So tonight we had the Faux Chicken wings, asparagus and oven fries. One of these days we'll have the Chicken with Asparagus. Megan made dinner. Yup. The entire meal. I had another headache, so she stepped up and took over. I don't quite know who THIS kid is, but I am gonna let her stay for as long as she wants.

Friday - Pizza & Survivor. It's on again this week, so we are back on schedule for Friday nite. We actually had pizza tonight. It was really good too. I had to work late. Because it's Friday. Crappy deal, I know, but it's what I do. Anyway, I picked up Morgan from Track practice (She made the team.) and we headed over to Toni's Pizza. They make the best pizza. We got 2 extra large pizzas. A special - no peppers and a pepperoni. Good thing we got th extra large. We only have 3 pieces of pizza left. So much for leftovers for lunch Sunday.

Saturday - ??????

This is my sworn intentions. Subject to change at a moments notice. I will let you know what really happens.

Give Away from Me to You

A friend of a friend came up with this great idea and I am passing the offer along to you.
Since I love surprises I will give my friend a specially designed item and also one to the first five people to respond to this post.

This offer does have some restrictions so please read carefully:

- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
- What I create will be just for YOU & you are allowed to make requests.
- It will be done this year (2009).
- It will be something made in the real world and not something over the internet.
- It might be a drawing, painting, sculpture, book, piece of jewelry, a mix cd, an original photograph, a poem...who knows!

In return, all you need to do is post this text into a note of your own and make 5 things for 5 other people. And me.

** NOTE, I will send you my mailing address in a pvt email **

Make sure to comment here that you are interested in my little gifty and tag me in your note.

Ultimate Blog Party 2009

Who doesn't need more friends? I have room for more. And hope to find a few during the Ultimate Blog Party 2009. Hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom, this is to be one of the biggest blog parties in my history.

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So head on over and join in on the fun.

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To those of you who are visiting for the first time, my name is Jana. I am the proud mother of 3 very different little girls. Well, maybe not so little. Megan is 14, Morgan is 12 and Melissa is 9.

I am married to a great husband and father to my 3. I work for one of the best bosses I have ever had. I love my job. I get to create and blog about it. My life is pretty good. I do have ups and downs. And if you keep coming back you can share them with me. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you come again.

Shamrock 8K 2009

Morgan ran in the Shamrock 8K this morning. We all supported her. We were up and out of the house at 6:30 this morning. She is in the Running Club at school so we met them at 7am. The sponsoring teacher picked orange for the t-shirts. Great choice. We were able to spot everyone in their group very, very easily. The running started at 8. She did fabulous. (8K is 5.1 miles)

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But, shhhhh. She is now sleeping. Pooped her right out.

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Morgan, along with her Aunt, who is running the 1/2 marathon tomorrow, have talked me into training for a run in June.

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What was I thinking?!?!?!?!?!?!?

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Oh yeah, this layout was created with freebies from A Cherry on Top. Found it this morning. After we got home. How perfect is that!

Friday Fill-Ins

Here's this weeks:

1. Why do we have to work 5 days a week and only get 2 weekends days?

2. Surfing, facebook and blogging are now habits.

3. I have a wonderful life. Most days.

4. I had never heard the phrase "INCOMING" and it referred to a certain body function.(You have to KNOW Melissa to understand.)

5. I will continue to approach life the way I always do.

6. How was I to know I was getting in over my head.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to some more crafting, tomorrow my plans include leaving the house at (gasp) 6:30am so Morgan (middle daughter) can run in an 8K, get Melissa (youngest) to a b-day party at noon and work a cookie booth from 4-6pm and Sunday, I want to get my nails done, SCRAP and play with my girls!

Card Challenges

PTW ()Paper Take Weekly) Has a weekly challenge.

This week it is to include something edible on a greeting card.

AND 365 Cards daily challenge is covered by this as well.

Make a birthday card without words.

(edited: Funny how this would also fit 365Cards challenge for March 20.)

Here's what I came up with:

Cheap Trip.....

I decided to have a wine cooler. One of the wimpiest drinks known to humankind. But I like them and I don't mind admitting it. Well, my middle daughter doesn't have any grey areas. Things are either black or white, in her world. Doesn't matter if you have a shot or a 5th, in her eyes you are doing the WRONG thing. I am now an alcoholic in her eyes. Started my spiral when I cracked the bottlecap off that highly intoxicating beverage. Shameful mommy. First I got the evil eye from across the room. She is mastering this look for her own future children, who will be angels judging by the advanced stage of "Mom eye" she has already perfected. This was followed by the lecture. Complete with finger wagging. Prohibition may very well make a comeback. Once she is old enough to vote. I was questioned about my mental state for several minutes. I started feeling like I had to explain myself. To a 12 year old!!! Then came the clincher. She began to tell my future. I would, in all certainty, at least in her mind, TRIP OVER A PENNY AND BREAK A NAIL.
??????? Don't know where that came from.

I would love to share more, but I am late for a meeting......

My name is Jana and ..........

Opus Gluei, here we come...

We NEED another creative blog challenge. Don't we.


Rosemary and I will be challenging YOU!


Every week we will be posting a new challenge.
Oh, I am sure that the ideas have been out there,
but they will be presented to you in a new, stress free environment.


Our attitude is so not formal. You can show up in your jammies, if you like.


There are no limitations. We really hope that you have fun.


As for posting your entries, just link to your project in the comments section.


ALL entries are qualified. Even a doodle on the phone pad. So JOIN us for some crafty fun.


Starting this Saturday, March 21 on ORDER OF THE OPUS GLUEI.

Menu Monday

I usually have a pretty good idea what meals I will be preparing for the week. I have to since I need to get groceries on the weekends. Usually on Sundays, but this week it was on Saturday.

Saturday - Chili served over mini-penne noodles, salad and milk. I can't explain why, but milk and chili go together really well. At least in my world. - This was really cooked and served.

Sunday - Meatloaf, boiled mini-potatoes (red-skin, white-skin and purple), green beans and salad. The meatloaf was cooked a few minutes too long. Everything else was done perfectly.

Monday - Happy Buffet. Danny has a late meeting, which means that the girls go out for Chinese food. Yum. - edited: This was yummy. Megan even tried, and likes now, eggrolls.

Tuesday - Roasted Pork Tenderloin, rice and salad. Nothing too fancy here. I have to cook the pork. - edited: Had a headache so we went out for Italian food.

Wednesday - "Chicken with asparagus except green beans instead of asparagus" served with steamed rice. (Yes, that is the "official" name of this dish. As the name implies, I have altered the recipe to better suite our taste buds - actually, Danny won't eat asparagus.) - edited: Had the Pork Tenderloin, sopa and salad. Turned out really tasty.

Thursday - Alvondigas (Mexican meatball soup) and tortillas with butter. Family recipe. This didn't happen. I was mad at Hubby and didn't cook.

Friday - Dunno. No survivor this week. Basketball is starting up. Rats. Stopped and got a couple of Italian Stromboli's. Yummy.

This is my sworn intentions. Subject to change at a moments notice.
I will let you know what really happens.

It's time again for...

Friday Fill-Ins

1. When I look to the left, I see the big outdoors.

2. My scraproom is the room that has the best view in my home.

3. Let it work itself out.

4. Compliments done dirt cheap!

5. Compassion is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share.

6. If you have any passion feel free to share with those around you.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Survivor and Calzone from Reginella's, tomorrow my plans include weighing in at Weight Watchers, excersizing, getting my hair done in the morning and playing in the afternoon and Sunday, I want to Play some more and maybe go for another bike ride!

Happy Late Birthday Renee

This is me and my sister. She just celebrated her 40th birthday. I couldn't be there to celebrate, but I wanted to do something memorable for her. (I can post this now that she has received her package.) I got together 40 different items to give to her. And stamped the numbers 1-40 on them.

When she received the package, she wondered what the heck I had done. My nephew, Aaron, lined up the gifts from 1 to 40 and made her open them in order. I wish I had been there to see.

And here are the gifts before the wrapping.

I won't list them all, but I sent her some travel sized toiletries for her trip to Disney World next month, some stationery items, a book that we can read together (I got one for me too) and I sent her a couple of my favorite things. I love the salad tongs. We use them for serving just about everything. I also love Nivea lip balm in the tube. And I and practically welded to my Bubba Keg in the summer months. A new favorite is the Sharpie pens. They are great. Of course I sent her a bento box. Tinkerbell even.

I hope you enjoy all of these things, Renee. I love you and hope that this is the best year ever.

Friday Fill-Ins

I was blog surfing, not an unusual sport for me, and stumbled upon Friday Fill-Ins.
I used to love these games as a kid. I can't for the life of me think of the real name, but you know the one. The one where you were promted for a noun or a verb, and at the end you read the paragraph and cracked up at the silliness of it. Well, you all know I LUV me some silliness.

I am aware that it is only Wednesday, but I am starting Friday Fill-Ins today.


1. Letting the cars cut in front of me this morning was my last random act of kindness.

2. Another place can always be set in a second for another to join our meal table.

3. I have found all I need in matters of the heart.

4. Coffee, tea or Diet Coke.

5. My hope is that my children and I will travel parallel but separate paths.

6. Our love reminds me that there is justice in the world.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Survivor, tomorrow my plans include a trip to the nail shop and Sunday, I want to take the girls on a bike ride!

I just couldn't leave it alone.

Because it was ugly. I had to do SOMETHING to the ugly blue album cover.

This just in....

....go here and check out a new challenge blog coming soon.

Rosemary and I have been working this idea for a bit now and we are almost ready to launch.

I'll remind you as we get closer to March 21.

2008 Highlights Album

I recently had a bug crawl, well, you know. Anyway, I cleaned out some "things" from the garage. How wonderful it feels to have some free space in the garage, I dunno, for my CAR maybe.

The garage became a storage space for the things that were "kicked-out" of my scraproom. (it's been over a year since this happened.) These are things that I had set aside for future craft activities with the Girl Scouts. I have since stepped back from Girl Scouts. Basically I got burned out and sick and tired of local politics within. Anyhow, I "found" somethings that I want to keep. I know that I will use them. Like the dozen 6x6 inch scrapbooks. I know that mini albums are way cool. The albums themselves are only "okay", but they are good enough to hold memories. They are paid for. That makes them great.

So, I took last Monday off. My own personal snow day. The weather got to be too cold. (STOP laughing at me. I grew up in San Diego and now live in Virginia Beach. Below freezing isn't even something that happens in my worst nightmares.) I also kept the girls home, because the roads were icy and I don't want to lose my child because of ice. So, while the girls were on a movie marathon, I was playing on my laptop. I LOVE my laptop. I got an email from Cheryl Waters, Fiskateer #002, and clicked on the link, which showed a pretty cool canvas album. Then I went looking around the Fiskars website and saw some things that look promising for the future.

AND THEN, I saw the January Layout. Nothing really mind-blowing, but it hit me in the forehead and I KNEW that this was something I had to do. So, I started going through my 2008 digital photos and picked out 2 or 3 from each month for a highlight layout. Well, I got to some months and couldn't decide on just 2 or 3, so I have 7 or 8 from some months.

THEN I remembered all those 6x6 albums and KNEW that I would be making a 2008 Mini Album. A very basic layout for each page. Not too much journalling. Very few embellishments. Those cool strips of punched papers are done using my new EKSUCCESS edge punches. Love them.

I originally thought I would make linear pages, with all of the 2x2 squared off pictures or patterned paper meeting at the corners perfectly. Well, I had a problem with the squares. And as you know, I couldn't find a 2" square punch, so I decided to slap what I had down. Crooked pictures, not-squared pictures, scraps of edge punched papers, they all went down.

Stamped the month and added a simple kraft punch appropriate for the month. And here you have it. My version of a 2008 Highlights album.

Not too fancy. But DONE. I know that I will make layouts with one or more of the pics, because you know I picked my favs for this album, I will make the layout and journal more about it then.

So far, my family has enjoyed looking through it. I rate this project a SUCCESS.

This feels good. Did I mention that I printed the pictures on Monday. Cut them Monday and Tuesday evenings and put the layouts together in about two hours. A whole year put together in about 8 hours. This feels REALLY good.

Just Punch me.

I decided that I need a 1 3/4 inch square punch. (See future post regarding 2008 Highlights Album) Anyhow, I went to Michaels on the way fome from work yesterday to find said punch. While I was there, sans kiddos, I meandered around and touched and drooled. I came upon an end cap with a different packaging design in the Scrapbook section. (Can you really start shopping in Michaels anywhere else???) I found these amazing punches.

And they are 30% off. I bought two of them. I am going back for more today. These are great. They take up about half the space of my other edge punches. And they are easy to use. I used them on the layouts for my 2008 Highlights Album. (future post - possibly Friday or Saturday - with pictures) I think I want more. I got two of the edge punches, but now want some of the regular ones too. YES, they are that cool.

The EKSUCCESS website says this:

Have you Heard the News? At the winter Craft & Hobby Show we introduced new slim profile punches powered by the Paper Shapers patented thumb punch lever. Creative engineering gives this medium punch a longer reach and makes the squeeze action of punching even easier. The Edge Punches have a template plate to line up punched images for any length edge. These new lightweight punches lock shut for stackable storage and are labled for easy identification - no more messy drawers of unorganized punches!

I never did find a 1 3/4 inch square punch. Once I got home with my new found treasures, I decided I couldn't wait and just worked with what I had. I will still look for the 1 3/4 inch square punch, it just isn't as urgent now.

Mom, I can't find my cell phone

I heard these words from my RESPONSIBLE child. Yikes. She spent the night with her girlfriend. She and Abby have been best buds since they were 3. They attend different schools. Live across town. They don't even look alike. Abby is blue eyed and blonde haired. Morgan is brown and brown. But they get together every month or so for a sleep over. Abby and Morgan. Peas in a pod. Anyway, Abby's mom had a moment of insanity and offered to take the tweeners to the mall for a shopping spree. (Not something I would just volunteer to do, but hey, to each her own, right?)

Morgan got home Sunday afternoon. We didn't think about her phone. Because, well, we didn't.
Yesterday morning was when she uttered those little words which incited panic in our home. "Mom, I can't find my cell phone." She needs her phone. Not to talk to her friends. But so that "I" can get in touch with her when "I" need/want to. So we combed the house from top to bottom. Looked in the garage. Dad's car. (he picked her up from the sleepover) She even looked IN my bed. ????? Anyway, the phone was not found. She thought she remembered texting in the car on the way home. Dad confirmed that he saw her texting in his car. So, it HAS to be somewhere. Right? Wrong. Not found.

On a fluke, because mom's can be weird this way, I had her call Abby and ask if she had by chance left the phone there. No one answered, so she left a very stressed out message. We didn't hear anything by the time we went to bed. Sigh....

I got the call at work this morning at 7:08am. Abby's mom called and confirmed that the phone was there. Whew. I am breathing easier. I can once again reach my daughter when "I" want to.

As to Dad confirming that he saw her texting, well, I just can't address that right now. Maybe when I get this BIG grin off my face....

The Creativity Project

I have had a slight bump on my creative road lately. I have had spurts of creative genius. But I have also had bursts of creative slumps. Lisa Day is putting The Creativity Project out there for all.

First of all, I love the picture of the colored pencils. Just so vibrant and fun. Second, her take on creativity fits right in with mine. Her project is to do something creative everyday. Simple. Doesn't have to be a layout. Or to make a project. Just something. It really isn't hard. You are already doing it. Go to her blog and read more about it.

I have long been a believer in creativity in ALL aspects of my life. Starting with my shower in the morning. I sing, offkey, but I sing. I draw in the steam on the walls. Sometimes it's just a doodle, sometimes I sketch layouts, sometimes I will leave a love note for my hubby. Next comes the ensemble for the day. Talk about getting creative. I have to cover all these extra pounds with the same close that were bought for a smaller me. And it just goes on and on...

Creativity is part of who I am. If I don't feel like I have expressed myself in some way during the day, I fell like I am wilting. It is tied into my spirituality. It needs to be fed everyday.

Today was a combination of creative endeavors. It started with the singing shower and progressed to breakfast. We were going to go out for breakfast, but it was raining so hard that we decided to stay home. French toast. Yummy. I started loading my music library on my computer. I helped a fellow Girl Scout adult load boxes of "stuff" into her car. I freed up a hugh amount of space in my garage. I dabbled a bit in my scrap room. Then I took leave of my senses and went to SAMS. Did I mention that it was raining. A lot. I got soaked. But we now have enough meat to last until New Years Eve. Unless the girls have another growth spurt. Then were only good until next weekend. Dinner tonight was Chicken Parmesan with whole wheat spaghetti. I made dinner without a recipe. It was good. A bit too much salt. But tasty. Everyone agreed. No pictures. Sorry.