LaBellaMaison

It's Kinda Like This

 I was just writing an important post........and when I tried to save it, typepad said that I had encountered an error.  Well, God works in mysterious ways because maybe he didn't want me to post this particular post?!  I thought twice about sharing in this post and typepad decided it for me......  So my thoughts will have to stay my thoughts & it's probably best that I don't share them with you here.

So anyway, Happy Belated Birthday to my sister-in-law Marilyn.  Her birthday was yesterday and I hope she had a special day.  Here is the card that I made for her:

 

You can see here that I love flowers and especially felt flowers!  I also made this Thanksgiving card this weekend:

 

Paper is from SEI , McGill flower punch, Making Memories felt flowers & buttons, flower wreath stamp-Saavy-Stamps, Thanksgiving stamp-Impress Rubber Stamps.

And this

 

another Thanksgiving Greeting using Collage Press papers, Cavallini bird stamp, and Hero Arts Thanksgiving stamp.

I also made two additional cards.....but, since typepad wants me to be brief I will show them to you tomorrow.

            Lisa

She's Coming

In 18 days........she coming!  Yup,that's right Camille is coming to Seattle to visit.  I am so excited.  I have not laid eyes on this girl since Christmas.  That sounds terrible I know; but, that's how it is with today's college students.  Especially, since we live in Seattle and she attends school in Orlando, Fl.  Spring break she went to California for a week.  And then at the end of the school year she wanted to wait until the end of her summer school classes.  Then she was suppose to come again and that didn't work out......so here we are & she's coming now. 

 I think the moral of the story is: Parents make your kids come home even if they don't want to!!!  Just because Seattle doesn't really seem like home since we recently moved here, that she wants to work to make money, and  it seems across the world......she needs to come home!!

So Camille  is coming home to Seattle with "the boyfriend" in tow.  I say "the boyfriend" because my husband gets all freaked out about it.  I think  he gets freaked out because she will always be daddy's little girl.  And, he knows how he was when he was a college student & maybe that doesn't paint a pretty picture.  When he was in college he  was the star quarterback for a major university football program......and from all accounts, I think he thought he was "all that."  Well, needless to say "I am glad that I didn't know him then" because I was the studious type not interested in athletes.  Lol.

But, long story short Camille is coming with David who asked to spend more time with her family.  He says  that she is always with his family because they live nearby in Florida, so its time he spends time with us.  (Gotta love that)!!!

 

(Camille, David, and his mom-Beatrice)

So, when Camille asked me if he could come-I gladly said yes.  So far, I am impressed with this young man and he definitely has a positive effect on Camille.  Charlie has already warned me that I better keep an eye on them when they are here in our house.  I think this is hilarious because they are off on their own while they are at school.  I think my dear husband better wake-up!

 

I Meant To

I meant to spend my day getting lots done and making fun projects............unfortunately, that just didn't happen.  I decided to return a friend's phone call first thing this morning & that alone set me back at least an hour.  I have really taken an aversion to the telephone lately,  because it rings at the most inopportune times.  Then if I talk on the phone I don't accomplish what I am suppose to---so I've developed a terrible habit.  I talk on the phone while I am in my car..........saving my time at home for other things!!!  I know that doesn't make much sense.  But, since Washington has a hands-free law  it is somewhat safe; but,  it can be a little distracting.

It was rainy and misty here today in Seattle.  At times I couldn't even see the lake for the mist and fog.  This was a perfect day to hunker down in my house and make homemade chicken noodle soup and get a lot accomplished.  Well, I did make the soup........but, the other part not so much.  I left the house to run a couple of errands and it was three hours later before I returned home.  Here is who was waiting to get outside when I arrived:

   

Zoei and her twin sister Jazzi (their really not twins but they are sisters).  I call them the twins because they are partners in crime along with Mr. Benzi.

 

Now here is the attitude of the pair........Jazzi Wazzi.  And Benzi, well he was off somewhere in the yard not caring about being photographed.  And don't laugh at Jazzi botched haircut-I tried to trim it myself to keep it out of her face.

But, I did manage to accomplish something beside making chicken noodle soup.  I made this card:

 

Sassafra Lass lollipop and sunshine papers, Making Memories ribbon, Memory Box stamp, glitter, & Marvy scallop and circle punch.

Well, gotta go get ready for Grey's Anatomy(yeah) and have Charlie(yup, that's right Charlie) fix poor Jazzi's hair.

At It Again

I've been at it again-making more cards.  I have two birthday's coming up next week so I had to whip up a few birthday cards for some special people.  I have thrown caution to the wind and have started making a mess again in my craft room.  First I made this card for my little friend Kendra.  I think she will be ten years old next week.

 

This was a fun card to make.  I love the Owl stamp which I purchased at IMPRESS RUBBER STAMPS.   Since I am so crazy about birds I thought I'd mix it up a little & get into Owls.  I am not sure why but Owls seem to be everywhere and on everything.!!!  The paper is from My Minds Eye and the "You Rock" stamp is from See D's Rubber Stamps.  

I also discovered these great papers by Collage Press-Jackson Lodge Collage Crafting Pad.  The Jackson Lodge Collage Pad has 14 different patterned cardstock and  3 solid cardstock papers.  I also found these papers at Impress Rubber Stamps.

 

I really like these papers and they were so fun to use.  The papers are available in the 6x6 pack and 12x12 papers.  There are also journaling cards, stickers, & die cuts available.  Take a look at what I made:

 

The little girl stamp is from Tim Holtz.  This stamp is in a collection of 3 stamps and I have had it for some time; but, couldn't figure out how I wanted to use it.

 

This card is a reflection of my fall theme/mood.  The stamp was also purchased from Impress Rubber Stamps along with the brown velvet ribbon.  The green paper reminds me of fabric  recently featured at Pottery Barn on pillows, duvets, & rugs.

 

Both stamps & ribbon are also from Impress Rubber Stamps.  Brown ink is  Brilliance from Tsukineko.

How Did I End Up Here

What is your favorite thing to do when you are bored?  I was a little bored Friday night..... Charlie had been gone all day recruiting and was  going to a high school football game that night.  So, somehow I ended up downstairs thinking about creating something.......  And that something was a few cards.  Usually when I make cards,  I don't have a sketch in mind.   Whether I am scrapbooking or cardmaking,  I just pick out papers to fit my mood and let the creative process go from there. 

On Friday the weather was chilly & the sun hadn't been out all day.  With this  definite change in the  weather, I surmised that summer was over and fall was officially here.  So I found myself drawn to papers with colors of brown ,tan, gold, and orange which made me think of autumn.  I love autumn, but then I  had to imagine what kind of card could I make with a fall theme.  Well, I not  so sure how I ended up here; but, I ended up making Thanksgiving Cards.

To make the cards I used papers from  SEI and these cool Cavallini Birds and Nest Stamp Set that I have had for quite a while:

   

I like that the set has a variety of bird images.  It seems like I have been obssessed with birds since last Christmas.  My holiday card last year actually featured a bird.  So, Friday night I was once again led to birds in my fall holiday theme.

 

There are two different stamps used on this card.

   

A little topiary.  And finally this one:

 

I think this stamp is my favorite of the set.

I also made this card with this stamp from  Daisy Buckets  & new papers from My Minds Eye.  The flower embellishment is from Making Memories and the heart from Lil Davis Designs.

   

So, that is my night of cardmaking.  My little cards inperfections and all.  All made in about one hour. 

Well, that's all for now.......I have to clean up my house because my cleaning lady is coming tommorrow and I don't want to be embarassed by a messy house!  Lol!

What I Did Last Night

I know that this title sounds a little mysterious..........but what I did last night actually was not.   I am happy to report that I said "the heck with it" and decided it was time to get crafty ( and so what if I make a mess)!!!!  It's hard to have a creative mind when you are worried about gettingt your house ready to sell and you are clearing and purging.  Throwing around papers, scissors, glue , ribbon & everything else to make that special creation means a Big Mess for me.

Well, I don't know if what I created last night was all that special......but it sure felt good.  The cards I made were actually very simple because I was afraid to pull out all of my supplies!!!  Every time I used something I was sure to put in right back into its place.  Oh my, that certainly wasn't fun.  But I am trying to be diligent here about keeping everything neat.  So, this is what I was able to make in my hour of "Craft Time.":

 

A birthday card using these fun Sassafras-Sunshine & Lollipops papers, Rob & Bob birthday embellishment, Making Memories rub-ons,ribbon, and brad.  The bird is a die cut that I made at my Lasting Memories Scrapbook Store where I have a Die Cut Club Membership.  They have a great selection of die cuts and if you sign up for their newsletter that email you a 20% off coupon each week.

The next card also used Sassafras Sunshine and Lollipops papers.  I love these because they are so bright, cheerful, and fun.

 

I think this little birdie paper is so cute and I couldn't figure out what to do with it besides making "A Thinking Of You"  card.   The cchipboard letters are from Prima and flowers from Making Memories (my absolute favorite).

What I also did last night was make this:

 

Fresh Blueberry and Peach Cobbler.  This is my dad's recipe( yup, I said my dad).  My cousin's wife Mary Ann borrowed this cobbler recipe las weekend and made it for my dad.  Well, if one cobbler wasn't enough, my dad was talking about wanting some last evening.  So I whipped up another cobbler last evening.  You have to make this dish while fresh peaches are still in season.  I changed the recipe a little bit and added  pure vanilla and heavy whipping cream instead of the milk.  It turned out quite yummy, and my husband was delighted to have some when he came home from work at 10:00 p.m. last night.  Ooph, sorry for failing to keep sweets out of the house.

BYE WEEK

It's bye  week around here.  Bye week means there is no game this week & that our next football game is next Saturday at home against Stanford.  We didn't receive the outcome we wanted last Saturday when we met the Oklahoma Sooners in Husky Stadium.  But, we are still optimistic.  We  have 9 additional games to play and we are determined to keep our chins up.  I found this quote and thought it was perfect for our team.

Do not fear the winds of adversity. Remember: A kite rises against the wind rather than with it.   Unknown 

Because it is bye week Charlie's schedule is a little less hectic.  Luckily, he was able to be home for dinner Sunday evening.  Usually  during the season, he has all his meals at the office at training table with the team.  So, this time of year I do not do a lot of special cooking........although I decided to try this recipe for Sunday dinner:

 

Beef Stroganoff

Crème fraîche is similar to sour cream but milder and sweeter, with a touch of nuttiness. Unlike sour cream, it can be simmered in sauces without curdling. Look for crème fraîche at well-stocked supermarkets or at gourmet food stores. To make your own, combine 1 cup of nonultrapasteurized heavy cream and 1 Tbs. buttermilk in a saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until just lukewarm. Pour into a bowl, cover loosely and let stand at room temperature until thickened, 8 to 48 hours or more. Chill before using.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbs. olive oil
• 1 1/2 lb. top sirloin, cut into thin strips about 1
    inch wide and 2 inches long
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 3 Tbs. unsalted butter
• 3 leeks, white and light green portions only,
    cleaned and finely chopped
• 1 lb. cremini mushrooms, brushed clean and
    sliced
• 1 Tbs. tomato paste
• 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 cups beef stock
• 1/3 cup crème fraîche
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• Finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley for garnish

Directions:

In a large fry pan over high heat, warm 1 Tbs. of the olive oil. Pat the beef dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Add half of the beef strips (do not overcrowd the pan) and sauté until nicely browned but still a little pinkish on both sides, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with 1 Tbs. of the oil and the remaining meat.

In the same pan over medium heat, melt the butter with the remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Add the leeks and sauté until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and sauté until nicely browned, about 5 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.

Stir in the tomato paste and cook until blended in, about 1 minute. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to incorporate. Increase the heat to high, add the stock and bring to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the pan bottom. Boil for 1 minute, then reduce the heat to medium. Add the crème fraîche, mustard and lemon juice and cook for 1 minute more to allow the flavors to blend. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Return the meat and any accumulated juices to the pan and cook just until the beef is heated through, about 2 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately. Serves 6.

Serving Tip:Stroganoff, though not technically a braise, has a similar consistency when finished. It is traditionally served over wide egg noodles.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Collection Series, Soup & Stew,by Diane Rossen Worthington (Simon & Schuster, 2004).

 

This recipe was easy to prepare.  I didn't use the Creme Fraiche and instead subsitute heavy whipping cream.  I also had my butcher cut the top sirloin into thin strips to save myself this step.  A recipe I would recommend that you try.

 

I found these great papers and embellishments at my local scrapbook store.  They are from My Minds Eye-Laundry Line and Dreaming2 Collections:

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot wait to makes some cards and scrapbook pages out of these.  I also picked up these Inkadinkado clear stamps by Brenda Walton at Michaels.  They have a great price of $9.99 and I was able to purchase them with their coupon this week for 50% off.

 

 

 

I purchased these stamps to make "Welcome Baby cards" to go with these baby gifts.  These are handmade night lights that I bought at the Bellevue Arts Festival this summer.

 

 

 

They are really cute when they are lit up.

 

 

 

I am really trying to buy handmade items and these were perfect for the two little boys that the night lights are going to.  So, I encourage you to consider taking the Handmade Pledge.  You can learn more about it by going here BUY HANDMADE.

Those Boys Are Much Too Much

 

Fall weekends in our house mean football, football, football.  This afternoon at Husky stadium we will be facing off with the No #3 ranked team in the country the Oklahoma Sooners.  This will be by four toughest challenge so far on the road to completing a football schedule deemed "most difficult" in the nation.  But have no fear, Husky fans we eagerly await this challenge with enthusiasm in our eyes.  I did find out some facts about this Oklahoma team we will meet on the gridiron.

Coach-Bob Stoops

 

Conference-Big 12

 

Team Nickname-Sooners

 

School Colors-Crimson & Cream

 

School Location-Norman, OK

 

Student Body-29,721

 

 Until this week, I knew nothing about the University of Oklahoma and had no idea where it was located.  I had previously visited Oklahoma City when my sister-in-law and her family lived there.  But other than that, I only knew that native americans were the indigenous people of the state and that there was a significant african-american population.  I discovered  this article on the History of Oklahoma and discovered that Oklahoma has the largest native-american population in the United State and their descendants are from 67 original tribes.  If you would like to read more about Oklahoma's History you can click on this site here. 

 

Our game will be televised on ESPN at 7:45 p.m. EST.  With a later kick-off time it is the perfect opportunity to tailgate before the game.  In anticipation of this event I would like to share one of my favorite tailgate recipes:

 

NIEMAN-MARCUS DIP

Ingredients : 8 oz. Cheddar cheese, shredded 12 slices bacon (fried crisp & crumbled) 6 green onions (sliced tops, too) 3/4 c. slivered almonds 1 c. mayonnaise Preparation : Mix all of the ingredients  and refrigerate overnight. Use real mayonaise and not Miracle Whip. Serve with  plain Triscuit Crackers Note: Use Real Mayonnaise not Miracle Whip This is always a popular appretizer and goes over well with any crowd.  It is also great to serve if you will be watching the game at home.

GO DAWGS!!!!

 

 

A True Love Story

Women Against Sarah Palin

Women Against Sarah Palin, originally uploaded by debbie millman.

Why has America allowed Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin  to campaign without answering any questions or giving interviews? This is unheard of for a Vice Presidential nominee.  Is it because she is only knowledgable about  what she has done in the State of Alaska?

The American public deserves answers to important questions that concern us regarding the economy, foreign policy, women's right to choose, health care, & the energy crisis. And these answers shouldn't be provided in a controlled interview such as tomorrow evening with Charles Gibson.

Remember when America was attacked on  9/11--President George Bush was flying around our nation on Air force One trying to determine where to go into hiding . During this crucial and scary time, Dick Cheney was in charge of making decisions for our country.   If our nation was attaacked again, I have to honestly ask myself....... if I can see Sarah Palin in that role?!  Personally,thinking about her in this role scares me to death.

The 2008 Presidential Election  is about issues & a nation in crisis.  It is  not  about what happened in Alaska, being a hockey mom, or  a pitbull with lipstick. It's about stepping up and answering  questions................So the American public  can make informed decisions based on what really is good for our nation. right now, the times in our nation is  too critical to vote for a candidate based on who we can identify with or their star appeal.

I am personally  looking for a candidate who is going to move this country forward. Some one who will help the people in this country who cannot help themselves.  And believe it or not......not everyone can just pull themselves up by their boot straps and live the American dream.  Those days are long gone!!!  So when I vote on November 2nd, I will vote for all the Americans who feel they have lost their voice, hope, & their future. 

 And just remember Sarah, when you are using sarcasm about Barack Obama's only leadership experience being a community organizer--remember  that Jesus was a notable community organizer.

 

For more information, check out  Women Against Sarah Palin.