Happy Homemaker Monday

Funny badge courtesy of Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Thanks for joining me today for Happy Homemaker Monday! I always look forward to linking up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and the other brave souls who take part each week!

Breakfast time....what is on the plate this morning::::
Nothing...nada! Monday, Wednesday and Friday are my Intermittent Fast days so I have a 500 calorie meal around noonish on those days.

On today's to do list::::
Laundry - two loads
Clean up the kitchen and run the dishwasher
Clean off the dining room table--it's out of control again!
Work on projects for this week's stamping club

Currently reading::::
A Promise to Believe In by Tracie Peterson and A First-Rate Madness by Nassir Ghaemi

On the TV today::::
Just finished watching Cedar Cove--can hardly wait for the next season! Now what?!!!

The weather outside is::::
Cloudy and cooler:) I think it got up to about 80 degrees today and it took all day to work up to it! It was 62 degrees when I got up this morning! Brrr!

On the menu this week::::
No menu...flying by the seat of my pants as usual! We are eating out of the garden a lot. Today we had fresh green beans, corn on the cob, summer squash, cantaloupe and strawberries...yummm! The cantaloupe and corn came from the store but the rest was from the garden. Today was the first picking of green beans!

If I have a few minutes to myself, I will::::
Read my book!

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week::::
Haven't even thought about cooking lately because it's been so hot. If it stays cooler, I just might get the cooking bug! I did bake up two loaves of Banana Nut Bread today and am looking forward to eating it tomorrow:)In the garden::::We are eating tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, hot peppers, green beans, summer squash, beets, strawberries, raspberries and apricots.

Favorite photo from the camera::::
I don't have a new picture today...sorry!Homemaking Tip::::I hate fruit flies! The other day we had a bunch of them in the kitchen because of the compost bucket so I went onto Pinterest to see if there were any good suggestions. This is the one I used: Fill a water bottle half full of Apple Cider Vinegar; add 2 teaspoons honey and a couple drops of dish soap. Let the bottle sit on the counter near where the fruit flies are congregating. Voila! Fruit flies are greatly diminished within two days! I let mine sit there for a week then dumped it out and made another one...just in case.
Visiting with Blog friends (blog you want to share, blog post that caught your eye)::::
As an English Bulldog lover, I can look at Baggy Bulldogs for hours! Love all their great pictures and videos of bulldogs:)

Praying for::::

• I am still praying for our sweet Rocky to be returned to us. He has a chip so there is still hope.
• A storm looks like it may be coming in and the report says it could have hail with it. My prayer is that it doesn't damage our garden. 

Bible Verse, Devotional that is resonating with me at the moment::::
I am reading One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber about "Discovering the Power of Generosity". It is reminding me that you can't out give God and that I need to look for more opportunities to practice Random Acts of Kindness. Beautifully written book. 

I hope you enjoyed your visit. I hope you visit again soon!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

The last week has been full, full, full physically and emotionally! Tuesday was my 60th birthday (more on that later); I had a dentist appointment on Thursday and was super sick on Friday! 

Today hubby and I went shopping for a new mattress! I can think of more fun things to shop for but a comfortable mattress is important! After all, we spend a third of our life in bed!

Lots of raspberries for the freezer:)

I am...

• Watching...Cedar Cove on Netflix
• Reading...A Promise to Believe in by Tracie Peterson and A First-Rate Madness by Nassir Ghaemi
• Listening to...Cedar Cove on the TV
• Cooking/Baking...It's been too hot to cook or bake so we have been eating a lot of sandwiches and salads lately.
• Enjoyed over the last week...A birthday and wonderful gifts! So many well-wishes from family and friends.
• Thankful for today...It's starting to cool down a bit! It has been so hot for the last two weeks so a cool down is most welcome:)
• Happy you accomplished this week...I went to the dentist for the first time in 4 years! That's kind of embarrassing to say but true. My husband had to drag me kicking and screaming but I was glad I went...after the fact!
• Looking forward to this week...My Happy Stampers meet on Wednesday:)
• Favorite thing to eat this time of year...Fruit! It's hard to pick just one but I particularly enjoy raspberries, peaches and apricots! Our apricot tree is so full of luscious fruit this year! 

Well, thank you for joining me tonight for the Chit-Chat! I will be back again tomorrow for Happy Homemaker Monday!

Kat

Five Things Friday

I like to do a Five Things Friday occasionally so I can catch you up on things that don't warrant a whole post! Fun for me especially since I tend to be a little ADD anyway:)

1. Our Rocky still isn't home. The ad came out in the paper yesterday. We are still hopeful but each day makes it less probable. I had no idea when my son brought him home nearly 2 1/2 years ago that I would grow so attached! I was really sad the other day and was sitting in my chair reading when I felt something patting my arm. Magee, our least affectionate cat was lying on the side tab and patting my arm. He did this for about 15 minutes! So sweet:)
2. My 60th birthday is looming on the horizon...4 more days! My daughter has some things up her sleeve but not sure what! She did promise me it wasn't a surprise party because I hate surprise parties! Maybe she got some ideas off Pinterest. 
3. I am loving my new Franklin Planner! It has already helped me to be more organized and get more done. I tend to forget less when I write it down. Organizing on paper helps my brain to organize better. I have tried several e-Planners but they didn't work for me. I really need paper and pen.
4. Eating out of the garden is so yummy! I can't believe how much better homegrown vegetables and fruit taste. We have been thinning the beets and eating the little beets with the greens...sooo good! I can make a full salad with items from the garden. The green beans will be on in about a week.
5. Hubby and I are doing a version of the Intermittent Fasting Diet for health and to try to lose a little bit of weight. We chose to do the "fasting" on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, eating 500 calories for me and 600 calories for him--one meal only, middle of the day. The other 4 days, we eat normal; no restrictions. We drink a lot of water, especially on our "fasting" days and try to exercise as well. I plan to add Oil Pulling on Monday for healthy teeth and gums.

Well, just a little bit of what's going on in my head...scary place:) Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by. I will be back on Sunday (I hope) for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat!

Kat

Happy I Do Swap

It's really heating up here! It looks like we are in for triple digit temperatures all next week. Our apricots are starting to ripen...yumm! Today I made a salad for lunch with lettuce, cucumbers, bell peppers, zucchini, onions and tomatoes from our garden! The flavor in everything was intense compared to store-bought! It is a struggle with the heat to make sure everything gets enough water. With the extra heat, the raspberries are taking a bit of a rest but they will be back in August for another run!

My card for you today (I still have a few I haven't posted yet) is one I made for Margarita's Wedding Card Swap last month. I love black and white--looks so elegant! As often happens, I totally CASEd this card from one I saw on Pinterest by Wanda at My Creative Corner. I couldn't even think of how to make this card better so remade it just as Wanda had.

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Basic Black and Whisper White cardstock
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Word Play stamp set
• Big Shot with Perfect Polka Dots and Designer Frames Embossing Folders
• Other: Extra Large Oval Punch, 1/4" Black Grosgrain Ribbon (not SU!), Basic Pearls, Basic Rhinestones and Dimensionals

Thank you for stopping by today! Have a great day and try to stay cool! I will see you tomorrow for 5 Things Friday!

Kat

Sweetie Pie Birthday

I have been trying to get some things done around the house so today decided to tackle the shower. I mixed 1 teaspoon Dawn dish soap, 1 drop Jet Dry and water in a Dishwand then cleaned the shower walls and glass doors! I also cleaned up the shower organizer (it was really bad) so the shower looks so much better. Then I cleaned out the magazine rack beside my bed--lots to throw away! I feel so much better when I am getting things cleaned and organized!

The card for today is the one I made for my granddaughter for her 9th birthday last month! I combined two of my favorite stamp sets for this card...Sweetie Pie (sold out but I put a request in for Stampin' Up! to bring it back) and Flower Shop! This card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest by Kathleen Wingerson at Kathleen Stamps. 

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies...

• Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Coastal Cabana, and Whisper White cardstock; Lullaby Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Gray and Hello Honey
• Stamps: Sweetie Pie (sold out), Flower Shop and Endless Wishes (sentiment)
• Punches: Pansy, Petite Petals and Itty Bitty Punch Pack (retired)
• Other: Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Stretch Ruffled Ribbon (retired), Basic Pearls

I hope you are having a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Kat

Happy Birthday to The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges!

So far July has been a very busy month and it doesn't look to let up anytime soon! Yesterday I was able to get some laundry done, calls made regarding our missing Rocky and then my son came home from work saying his 5 month old iPhone had died! Last night we Googled how to fix it then let it and the computer do their thing while we slept but this morning it didn't look like it had worked:( Off to work he went leaving me to work on the phone so I did the Restore one more time and Voila! it worked!!! Whew! Now if we could just find our dog all would be right with my world anyway!

The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges celebrates it's 2nd birthday this month and I have been on the design team for about a year and a half (I think)! Being on the design team really challenges me to create new projects instead of just CASEing someone else. 

Guess who else has a birthday this month? ME!!! I will be celebrating a BIG one this year...#60!!! What can 59 year olds do that 60 year olds can't? Say they're 59--LOL! That was the only thing I could think of! I will be 59 for ONE MORE WEEK! 

Now, on with my Cupboard Trilogy Challenges project for the month...

I LOVE Triple Time Stamping and couldn't wait to use my new stamp set, Bloom with Hope, as a Triple Time Stamping card. I also used the new In Colors and they are really growing on me! My favorites are Blackberry Bliss and Mossy Meadow! I want to try this card again using Blackberry Bliss cardstock!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies...

• Paper: Whisper White and Tangelo Twist
• Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey and Mossy Meadow
• Stamps: Bloom with Hope
• Punches: Word Window and Modern Label
• Other: Ginormous Pearls (retired), 7/16" Natural Trim (retired), Dimensionals

Well, I'm off to see what I can get done today! I already cleaned my very messy kitchen and have a load of clothes in the washer. One more load of laundry to do and I will be caught up...AGAIN! It will be in the high 90s (F) today so if it's not done before noon it's not likely to get done today!

Till tomorrow...

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Woo Hoo! It's time for Happy Homemaker Monday!!! For those new to my blog, Monday is the day I link up with Sandra (and others) over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom! I really look forward to participating with these ladies on Mondays. I am waayyy past the "stay at home mom" stage and I truly admire moms like Sandra and Carla who are so creative and excel (imho) in the parenting realm. Parenting today is sooo much more difficult than it was when I did it. I watch my daughter with my granddaughter and am awed by the whole experience.

Well, I could wax eloquent on parenting for days but so as not to bore you to tears, let's get on with Happy Homemaker Monday, shall we?!!!

As I look outside my window:::
It's 85 degrees at 10:00 am so I'm thinking HOT today! Time to put the air conditioner in the window, I'm thinkin'. The sky couldn't be bluer and everything is beautiful, green and blooming outside! When I look out my livingroom window, I see Mt. Hood in the distance...beautiful!

Right now I am::: 
Drinking some water (fast day), typing this post and...

Thinking and pondering:::
Thinking about what else I can do to try to get our Rocky back. We called the Kennel (the owner is also one of our neighbors), Sheriff's office, two local veterinarians, placed an ad in the local paper, listed him as lost on the PetLink website (he's chipped). I will most likely make some posters today to put up in the surrounding towns.

On my bedside table:::
Books that need to be read; hand lotion; pens and pencils and my iPod.

On my tv this week:::
Two more episodes of Royal Pains! Then I think I need a break:) Binge watching on Netflix is really hard on me:)))

Listening to:::
The washing machine doing it's thing!
 
On the menu for this week:::
No menu. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I prepare and eat a 500 calorie meal midday. It's part of my intermittent fasting program.

On my to do list:::
Laundry
Clean off my desk

Stamping order

Tax stuff (trying to keep up)

Make and send Thank You cards to hubby's customers

Work on projects for next Stamping Club (July 16)Vacuum and mop

Dust

Happening this week:::I am hoping to have a super low-key week! We'll see how that goes! However, Hubby's birthday is on Friday and we are going to brunch on Sunday! Hubby doesn't like a big deal made out of his birthday so brunch on Sunday will likely be it!

What I am creating:::
Still working on the baby afghan...

I had three strips finished before leaving for my daughter's on Thursday but left those home. I made three more while riding in the car so need to join all six together today. I love the bold colors with the soft pink.

My simple pleasure:::
Sitting with an ice cold beverage in hand...just thinking.

Homemaking tips::: 
To clean Glass Shower Doors: Put a teaspoon liquid dish soap (I use Dawn) into Dishwand (the kind with the sponge and scrubby part), add one drop of Jet Dry, fill with water leaving a little space at the top. Tip wand back and forth to mix then scrub away! I also use this on the walls of the shower stall.

Looking around the house:::
I just got back last night from being gone for 4 days. Hubby is good at doing dishes but nothing else was done so need to do the floors, dust, clean off the dining room table, do laundry unpack my bags...maybe I'll just take a nap!

From the camera:::

My daughter's mother-in-law makes these super yummy tofu skin pockets filled with a slightly sweetened rice. I LOVE THESE!!! The missing ones? I probably ate them all myself! She also made Spam Sushie (pictured behind) and I was told it was delish! Being a vegetarian, I passed on those.

Praying for...
Our precious Rocky to be found...hopefully alive and well.
Bible verse, Devotional:::
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 
--I Corinthians 10:13

Well, that's it for this Monday! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! Don't you love the photo Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily has for the Chit-Chat this week?!!! Beautiful! I have so many photos I need to download to the computer but...Oh well, Carla's photos are amazing!

This has been one very busy 4th of July weekend but I am home and ready to get back to my real life:) We had a very sad thing happen on the 4th of July and I really need your prayers that a miracle will happen. Our precious Rocky (English Bulldog) was outside with our Great Dane Beau while hubby went into Portland. DS and I were at DD's for the holiday. When hubby got home, Rocky was gone and hasn't come back:( We live on 20 acres in the middle of nowhere and are 1/4 mile from the county road. We have left the dogs outside many times with no problems but...My heart is broken! 

Okay, now I will wipe my tears (literally) and get on with the Chit-Chat!

I am...

• Watching...We still have a few episodes of Royal Pains left to watch on Netflix. Last night I watched Flushed Away with my granddaughter and family:)
• Reading...Still ready Geometry of Sisters by Luanne Rice
• Listening to...Hubby has Pandora on...loud!
• Cooking/Baking...Just got home but for 4th of July I made Potato Salad, Raspberry Lemonade (from scratch) and S'more Bites. Everything was a hit, especially the S'more Bites!
• Enjoyed over the last week...A wonderful holiday weekend with my son, daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law!
• Thankful for today...Thankful to be home safe and sound!
• Happy you accomplished this week...I made it to my daughter's with everything I was supposed to bring except the potato salad I had worked so hard on (made another one at her house). And I think I made it home with everything that was supposed to come home with me as well. I almost always leave something!
• Thinking about financially...Starting to save money for my next trip to my daughter's...in September! I try to go every 3 months.

Well, that's it for me tonight! I am super tired and very, very sad! See you tomorrow for Happy Homemaker Monday!

Kat

A Little Bit of Happy for Me!

Happy Independence Day to one and all! 

I am spending the holiday weekend with my daughter and her family! 

Lots of food and fun for all:)

I enjoy new handbags almost as much as I enjoy new shoes! However, I shared with you several month's ago that I have converted to Miche Bags because I hate changing everything over from one bag to another. I end up with 10 (or 20) bags all with something left in them. Then when I try to find something I left behind, I can't remember which bag I left it in. Too much frustration! Enter...the Miche Bag! One base bag for each size and you just change the shell and go!!! I have two sizes: the Prima because I love a BIG bag and the Classic for those times when a big bag is too much!

Did I show you my new Miche Shell for Summer? Oh, my! I LOVE it! 

I waited for several months for this shell to go on Throwback Thursday and FINALLY it did. With shipping I was able to make this shell mine for under $20!!! My daughter says it is so me...and she's right!!! Picture it with the black handles of my Prima Base Bag. Look at the roomy pockets on the outside. There is a big pocket on the other side that my planner fits in perfectly!

So, before Christmas last year I purchased the brown Classic Base Bag (on sale) and told my daughter I wanted this green shell for Christmas...

Green is my favorite color...can you tell?!!! I love the contrast of the green and brown. Can you believe that the shell attaches to the base bag with MAGNETS! What a clever idea! And check out my new Sweet Life Planner in the foreground:) So happy to be getting organized! 

Since I check out the Miche website almost every Thursday to see what the Throwback Thursday deal is, I found this beauty last week...

Cute! Cute! Cute! I wear a lot of fall colors so these two bags are perfect for Fall and Winter!

If you are interested in checking out Miche Bags click on the link for Gizell's website (my personal Miche Representative). And don't forget to check out Throwback Thursday--Thursdays starting at 8:00 am till gone! Click on "regular sale items" to find the Throwback Thursday deal:)

Thanks for letting me share my new obsession with you! Enjoy the holiday weekend and stay safe!

Kat

In Color Tri-fold Cards

**Opps! It seems I hit Publish instead of Schedule:( This is Thursday's post!

Again, these cards were made a month ago so I will try to remember what I used. I submitted these as part of my Design Team projects for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges last month! I LOVE the new Stampin' Up! In Colors and used Blackberry Bliss and Hello Honey for these cards.

Once I got started I couldn't stop with just one. I love the Tri-fold cards and was so enjoying the wonderful colors! 

For these cards I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey and Whisper White card stock; Moonlight Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey and Memento Tuxedo Black
• Stamps: Yippee Skippee (top sentiment), Sassy Salutations (bottom sentiment), Postage Collection (retired-hostess), A Round Array; I don't remember the name of the flower stamp 
• Punches: 7/8" Scallop Circle, 1 1/4" Circle, 1 3/8" Circle and Banner
• Other: Dimensionals

I hope you enjoyed my Tri-fold cards today! I will be on my way to my daughter's today for the 4th of July Celebration. Her neighborhood does such a nice job with lots of food and fun:)

Kat

Zoo Babies Meet Alphabet Press

The theme last month for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges was Yellow and I immediately thought about a baby card! Then my mind went to Zoo Babies...a stamp set I purchased several months ago but hadn't used yet. When I finished the card I thought it could be used for a baby or a first birthday. What do you think?

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Daffodil Delight and Whisper White card stock
• Ink: Daffodil Delight, Hello Honey, Early Espresso and Memento Tuxedo Black.
• Punches: 1 3/4" Circle and 1 3/8" Circle
• Alphabet Press Embossing Folder
• Other: Dimensionals and Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (retired) 

I hope you enjoyed the card for today. I have two more for you tomorrow. Then I should be caught up with my Design Team Projects for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges for last month. Whew! I am really behind! My husband asked me last night if I was bored with my blog or having a writer's block! Guess what I said? NO!!! I never get tired of blogging and I never, never, never have nothing to say:) 

Till tomorrow...

Kat

Secret Garden Explosion

I checked The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges website this morning but they hadn't posted the new 
challenge yet. Then I remembered that I hadn't shared the cards I used for last month's Design Team projects.

I'm sure you can see why I called this Secret Garden Explosion! I started adding flowers and I just couldn't stop! Secret Garden is a stamp set I bought at the very last minute before it retired because I had bought the matching framelits and they just didn't look right without the stamped images. Unfortunately since I made this the beginning of last month, I don't remember all the materials I used. I will give you the ones I remember...

• Paper: Hello Honey, So Saffron, Gumball Green (retired) and Whisper White card stock; Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper (retired)
• Ink: Hello Honey, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar; Daffodil Delight Blendabilities
• Stamps: Secret Garden (retired), Hardwood
• Big Shot with Hexagon Hive Thinlit and Secret Garden Framelits (retired)
• Other: Dimensionals, Glue Dots and lots of Basic Pearls

Well, I think I did pretty good! The longer I looked at the picture, the more I remembered!

Thanks for stopping in today! One of my favorite quotes is from a meteorologist  named Joe Bastardi..."Enjoy the weather, it's the only weather you've got!" It just makes me happy every time I hear him say it:)

Kat