Happy Birthday to me!! Plus "Piece of Cake" Stamp of the Month!

How lame was my title!!!  Oh well, I've had a great day!

I so love Facebook!! Yes it was my birthday today and through FB, I received more ‘Happy Birthdays’ on one single birthday than I ever have!! It was so cool!! All day, my IPhone was beeping that I had another birthday wish and/or message on FB! These birthday wishes were from family and friends, plus several old school friends that I don’t see regularly or haven’t seen for years, Close to My Heart sister-consultants as well as customers, plus friends that I’ve worked with at some point in my life or have gone to church with!! Of course I had to work a few hours after church today and I get very little phone reception in my office but the messages came through! So I want to say thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes today!

Birthdays never bother me as far as getting older. I’m so thankful to be pretty healthy and definitely happy in my life and oh so blessed with my beautiful family, my church family, my home and my job.  For me, it’s simply a number because I really don’t FEEL older – yes my body has slowed down a bit - there’s not quite as much energy as there used to be!! I know this sounds goofy but I still feel like my parents’ little girl!! They still treat me like it too!! I love it!!

I share my birthday with an awesome Close to My Heart sister-consultant, Melissa Laverty!! I was blessed to meet her at Leadership Conference 2009 in Long Beach, California, after having followed her blog for awhile. She’s a beautiful person with a great personality and just inspires me so much with her enthusiasm and her artwork. Her blog is listed on the right under the 'Blogs that Inspire Me' and you can visit by clicking on ‘fancyMelissa’ or you can simply click on her name above.   She’s even made a cool video showcasing our awesome My Acrylix Stamps! Check it out!

I thought I would share the link to the beginning of the February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  These are sites of some very talented consultants that participated in SOTM blog hop so be ready to be inspired!  The stamp set is A Piece of Cake and you can purchase it at a great discount or receive it absolutely free with your $100 order starting tomorrow, February 1st.   Click here to place your order via my CTMH web-site!!

You’ll begin the blog hop at Jen’s blog, RoxyBonds and she’ll direct you where to hop to next!! Enjoy!

Jenn

Happy Highlights - Art & Soul webisode!

How would you like to be inspired with scrapbooking / papercrafting classes while sitting by your computer or with your laptop while relaxing in your pj's?   If so, you'll LOVE Art and Soul, brought to you from Close to My Heart! Art and Soul mini classes are taught by our amazing corporate team including Jeanette Lynton herself!

A new mini class airs the first Tuesday of each month. To see the mini classes - simply go to my website and click on "CTMH TV" or click here to take you right to the page on my website! Be sure to book mark it and mark your calendar to watch each episode. Each mini class features tips and techniques on the products and programs of Close To My Heart!  These mini classes are 10-15 minutes in length and are available 24/7 from the comfort of your home! Not to mention, if you have not seen each mini class webisode - don't worry - you can catch up and watch all the classes!

The December mini class featured several products - Top Coats, Dimensional Elements and the amazing Posterboard stamp set!  Each mini class there is a special for a limited time - the special from this class is the stamp set - regularly $34.95 - this set is on sale until January 31, 2010 for just $28.00.  If you are interested - click here then on "Buy the products needed for this workshop project" to purchase this stamp set! (To receive the discounted price - you must order the stamp set on my website!)

Jenn

A Great Quote to Share

"There is nothing, no circumstance, no trouble, no testing that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has come past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose."

Alan Redpath

I got this quote from a fellow paper-crafter whose blog I follow and it really touched my heart.  I thought I would share it here along with a prayer that it may speak to someone else.  This is an awesome way to look at trials we all go through.  Our troubles and circumstances don't catch God by surprise!  He's well aware and stands ready and waiting to bring us through them as we trust in and rely on Him.  Thanks Teresa Kline for sharing this quote on your blog! 

Jenn

Look what I'm about to create with!!

Straight from the newly released Close to My Heart Spring 2010 Idea Book - the Veranda collection!  I'm so loving this paper pack, embellishments and the Stamp set that's included in the Workshop On The Go kit.  And the Creative Basics Veranda Collection that includes a spool of Creme Brulee' ribbon extends the paper pack to create not only beautiful scrapbook layouts but several handmade cards and other paper craft projects.

I'm about to assemble a Memory Keeper box and pretty it up using the Veranda collection for my mother.  Her favorite color is any shade of yellow and the Creme Brulee' will work great.  Mama also enjoys watching birds and loves flowers so the stamp set that comes with the WOTG kit will provide the perfect stamped images on this project. 

Well, if my craft room has warmed up some, I'm heading up there to get to work!  It's the coldest room in the house right now and that would be great IF it was during the summer months, but you guessed it - at that time, it's the warmest room in the house!!  Oh well, thank goodness for box fans and electric heater fans for this ole' hormonal gal!!

Pics to follow,

Jenn

Her first taste of Deer Jerky!

I just had to share these snapshots of Madalyn enjoying her first piece of Deer Jerky!!  Her Aunt Amber made some for Josh and he was sharing with Nicholas and Cooper.  I assumed Madalyn would turn her nose up at it but when the boys were munching on theirs, she started her little squealing that she does when she wants something really badly!!  I held a piece for her for a little while but that didn't last very long - she took it from me and took off in her walker across the kitchen floor!!!  Honestly, she nibbled (sucked) on it for quite a while and actually got a little attitude when she thought Cooper was about to try and get her jerky!  What a little stinker!!  Of course, she needed a real scrubbing bath once she finally decided she was through with it because she had drooled the seasoning all down the front of her clothes!

Little Madalyn will sure have to develop a taste for deer meat since her dad, Pop, Uncle Jaime and Grandpa are big hunters!!  Looks like she's starting off right!

Jenn

My goal to prepare 3 new recipes a week ~

I absolutely love to cook (and eat, too!) and I've always had a passion for cookbooks!!  I especially like the ones with delectable photos on the covers and appetizing pictures inside along with the recipes!!  So over the years, I've collected a pretty good library of cookbooks, either that I've purchased myself or received as a gift. 

This year, my goal is to prepare at least 3 new recipes each week from my various cookbooks and I want to share them with you!  I'm pretty sure most of you know of these first three and probably cook them all the time, but they were new to our family and went over very well!!

The old 'Green Bean Casserole' is a favorite of my family BUT they've grown kind of tired of it.  So I came upon a recipe for a modified version that I had tasted years ago at a family reunion and loved:

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Shoepeg & Green Bean Casserole
2 (7oz) cans shoepeg corn, drained
14 1/2 oz can green beans, drained
10 3/4 oz can cream of celery soup
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 cup crushed Ritz Crackers (about 18 crackers)
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Stir together corn, beans, soup, sour cream and cheese; spread in a greased 2-quart baking dish.  Top with cracker crumbs; drizzle with melted butter.  Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for one hour or until golden.  Serves 6 to 8.
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And I'm really sure I'm the only person who had never made a Pineapple Cheese Ball !!  I absolutely love them and could eat the whole thing myself.  One of the ladies of the church prepares one for most all meals at the church and I always head straight for it!!  Now I'll be making my own!

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Pineapple Cheese Ball
Serve with an assortment of crackers and bread sticks and watch it disappear!
2 8-oz pkgs cream cheese, softened
2 T green pepper, chopped
2 T onion, finely chopped
2 t seasoned salt
1/4 cup crushed pineapple, drained
2 T sugar
2 cups chopped pecans, divided (I substituted with chopped Walnuts and it was awesome!)

Mix first 6 ingredients with one cup pecans (walnuts!); shape into a ball.  Cover and chill one hour.  Roll in remaining one cup pecans (walnuts!); cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm.  Makes about 2 1/2 cups.  Delicious!
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And the last new recipe I prepared last week is a 'wanna-be' Whoopie Pie that my mother-in-law has been making for years!!  My husband and brother-in-law love them and put their requests into Edith anytime we'll be seeing her!  Of course, hers are delicious but I've never watched her make them.  So I came across this recipe that is very similar - not that I'm trying to take over the Whoopie Pie making - the guys will always love Mom's WPs but hey, I can come a little close!

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Devil's Food Sandwich Cookies
18 1/4 oz pkg Devil's Food Cake Mix
3/4 cup shortening
2 eggs
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 t almond extract
16 oz pkg powdered sugar

Combine cake mix, shortening and eggs.  Form into small balls and flatten slightly on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, margarine and almond extract.  Gradually blend in powdered sugar until desired consistency.  Beat with a spoon 'til smooth; refrigerate.  When cookies are cool, spread filling between 2 cookies; repeat.  Keep refrigerated.  Makes 2 dozen.
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This week, I'll take pictures to post along with the new dishes!!

Well, tomorrow's the first work day of the new year!  Thank you God for our jobs and please always bless the work of our hands!

Jenn

The Close To My Heart Spring 2010 Idea Book!!

The beautiful cover is only the beginning!!  Each page you turn offers exciting products and awesome ideas for your scrapbooking and papercrafting projects!!  And it's LIVE today!!

Simply locate the photo of the Idea Book on the right side of my blog and by clicking on that photo you can view the book page by page. It's absolutely gorgeous and packed with fun new products and amazing artwork and ideas. You can order from this Idea Book by clicking here, which will take you to my website, then click 'shop online'.

Enjoy!!

Jenn

Wow!! 2010!!

Happy New Year!!  I pray that 2010 is a year filled with happiness, love, laughter and prosperity for all!

We're so blessed with wonderful family & friends, our home, our jobs - but most importantly with a Savior who loves us and promises us and all who believe in Him, Abundant Life and Eternal Life!!  Thank you Jesus for loving me, for salvation and all the merciful grace you extend to us!

My prayer on this new day of this new year is that all will come to know Him and receive this gift of salvation that He so longs to give!  God is so good! 

Happy New Year! 
Jenn