Scrapbook Saturday

1. Pam picked the song "Celebration" for AYM this month.

I used our New Year's Eve trip to New York for this one.

I made a double fold out in order to get all of the pictures I wanted to use. I added a glassine envelope to hold the thank you notes from the girls.

I cut the patterned paper in to 3 inch circles. Then I cut those in half. I didn't have a lot of room to incorporate the patterned paper. At least this way, I was able to add some of it.

2. I've had this layout for years from a class I took. It was just waiting for the right pictures.

I think using the photo shoot pictures from Elizabeth and Victoria's matching cars were perfect for it. 

3.  "B&B Days" stands for Butch and Barb days. 

This represents many of the day trips we took during the lockdown.

4. "Put a Bow on It" is a layout that Karolyn did for me about the Marie Antoinette chair. 

It was for our "round robin" exchange we do every month. We trade pictures around and someone else does the layout for you. It's fun to see what people come up with.

5. "Beautiful You" is another layout I did in a class years ago. 

These random pictures of Elizabeth were the perfect ones for the page.

Since my scrapbook room is cleaned up, it's been a lot of fun putting some layouts together. 

Friday Funnies

Five Things Thursday

1. Last week, we went to "be on" The Price is Right. The girls are always looking for fun things to do. Morgan was supposed to be with us, but since she recently moved out of state, Stephanie invited her friend, Merrill. 

We had a delicious dinner (although very expensive) at the restaurant in the Hermitage Hotel. It's right across the street from the theater, so you can't beat the convenience. 

Stephanie treated me to a t-shirt--which I wouldn't have gotten had I known that it wasn't the "real" Price is Right. Some how, I got the mistaken idea that we were there for auditions to actually get on the show. It wasn't like that at all. Basically, it was a random drawing for people to play a mini version of the show. We all agreed that it was kind of "rinky dink." Still we had a good time. Mindy not so much as her tooth pain ramped up. That's the night Butch and I took her to the emergency room.

2. Last Saturday, the gang had signed up for an obstacle course type 5K. Not me. Most likely I wouldn't have been able to do many of the obstacles. 

The last obstacle was going through some sort of foam pit. 

Butch is still pretty agile and managed to keep up with the "kids." In fact, I heard that he lead the pack!

3. You know you raised 'em right when you get a delivery like this.

Garrett's popcorn is a Chicago icon. You HAVE to stand in the popcorn line when you go.

She included this sweet note. Happy to know she appreciates us!!

4. There's definitely truth to this.

5. Lastly, for my dog lovin' friends. Jack and Connie with their dog on the left and their grand dogs. 

Although I think it's a cute picture, that's a little too much dog for me. I can smell them from here!

Granted, I have a keen sense of smell. And not in a good way!!

That's it for this week!

What I Buy Wednesday

On Saturday night, Stephanie, Mindy and I went to the Garth Brooks concert. We started with dinner at Liberty Common downtown. 

The food was delicious--I had the onion soup and a grilled chicken sandwich. We shared the BEST carrot cake I've ever had. They actually make it there. I was served with creme fraiche that had a sprinkling of crushed Heath bars on top. The cream cheese frosting was so good too. Next time I go, I'm just getting the onion soup and carrot cake to have all by myself!!

On to the concert.

So here it is---what I bought this week.

Of course, I had to buy a t-shirt. And I picked up one of those clear bags that you have to have these days for any sporting events or any event at the stadium. 

It was a fun evening with the girls. Next up, Bon Jovi in about a week and a half. I'm excited because Sandy is coming in for it! A night with all my girls---doesn't happen often enough!!

Tuesday Thoughts About....

...my lunacy. Can you really be a lunatic if you think you might be? Or do real lunatics not know that they are. You be the judge. Here's the story.

So, we have a  big house. It's costs a fortune to have the windows cleaned. We haven't done it in about 5 years. I booked this April appointment all the way back in September. Yesterday was the day. In advance, I asked if the workers could wear the " booties" inside, due to my obesession with my new carpet. I'm very freaked out about it--as you know. They agreed. 

So, they arrived about 8:00 a.m. with 5 people to work. I was told that they would be here until 2 or 2:30 p.m. Woah! That's a long time. 

I left at 9:30 for a couple hours to get my 2nd booster and a stop at the grocery store. I got home around 11:30 a.m. There was no place to go in the house where there weren't people working. 

I told Butch that I was going to have a nervous breakdown because of the new carpet. Seriously, I can't help it. I'm freaking out about it. Prior to them coming, the company assured me that they would wear the "booties."

The workers were very nice and really had it down. Still, there didn't seem to be a room that there wasn't something happening in. When I got home, the only place I was able to find that was "finished" was the living room as there are only French doors in there--no storm windows. Still, I couldnt' relax. There was so much coming and going. It doesn't do much good to wear "booties" if you are in and out of the house. 

Seriously, I was starting to have a panic attack about all the in and out. My anxiety was through the roof. Butch kept trying to calm me down. It didn't work. 

When they left around 3 p.m., all I could see was what needed to be put back in order. Butch helped me by going room by room and "fixing" all the "things." In the living room, the window treatment was hanging askew. A little tape and zip tie took care of that. A little adjustment to the sheers in the master (or in the politically correct term: main) bedroom took care of that. A little vacuuming here and there was necessary and an "unsticking" of a window in another. There needed to be a few adjustments to the window treatments upstairs too. When we were finished, I was able to take a deep breath and relax--a little. After they left and we went through the house and fixed everything, I requested a double dirty martini. For crying out loud, just getting the windows cleaned caused me to drink on a Monday Okay, that's reallly saying something. 

Honestly, this carpet is going to drive me insane. Even Butch agreed that from now on, I just can't be at home when anything like this is happening. 

I was starting to have panic attacks about the in and out. I kept thinking, "what good does it do to be wearing "booties" if you are walking in them outside!" Butch assured me that they took them off when they went out and put them back on when they came in. I wish I'd known that as I might have been able to relax a little. Instead, I was having an internal fit!

I told him that I was going to lose my mind and have a nervous break down. I just can't help it! He said that the next time we need to have a lot of things done inside, I just NOT need to be here. I agree with that. I can't handle it. 

So, the question is: Am I a lunatic? Or just so completely obsessed that I cannot function!? 

I think it's both things. Did I mention that I hate my new carpet? I should have just left the old stuff. I was much more relaxed about it. Now, I'm a crazy woman. I can't help it. Really, I can't.  I don't know when I'll be able to calm down about it. 

Buying new carpet---big mistake. I'd give anything to go back to my crappy, cruddy carpet where I didn't care about it--even though I hated that too. New carpet is a terrible thing. It's driven me over the edge. I'm a lunatic. I know it. Maybe counseling would help. But, it seems strange to me to go in to counseling because I can't handle new carpeting. I guess if it wasn't the carpeting, it would be something else. 

Oh, don't get me started about our yard people and the weed eating. I about crawl out of my skin with that too. It's all only getting worse. I have no idea what the answer is. I'm just crazy. I guess that's it. 

As I told Butch, I would really like to have everything nice for at least 5 minutes!  I guess life just doesn't work like that. At least not for me. 

Happy Easter!

Ooops! I forgot to post this morning. Better late than never!

A Few Things and a Recipe

Love this idea. Wouldn't it be great if we were all kinder?

This is how one mom got her teens to clean up their rooms. She put black rice around and told them that she saw a mouse in their room. They were freaked out and cleaned. 

I think this is a great way to get some extra space in your cabinets.

I saw both things, but the man first---I think because that's the first one mentioned above. 

And now for the recipe. I haven't made this yet, but it sounds so good! 

Crispy Cheddar Chicken Bake

8-10 chicken tenders

2 sleeves Ritz crackers, crushed

1/4 t. salt

1/8 t. pepper

1/2 t. garlic powder

1/4 t. garlic salt

1/2 cup sour cream

1 egg

3 cups shredded cheddar

3 t. parsley, divided

Add egg to sour cream and mix well. 

Add spices to crackers.

Dip chicken in to sour cream mixture, then in cheese, pressing to adhere.

Press in to cracker crumbs.

Spray 9x13 pan with Pam. 

Line with chicken and sprinkle parsley on top.

Cover with foil and bake at 400 for 35 minutes.

Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes.*

*Side note: this seems like too long to bake for chicken tenders, so you might want to check it sooner than 35 minutes. 

Gravy

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 T. sour cream

2 T. butter

Whisk together in pan until smooth and hot. Top chicken with the gravy.

Let me know if you try it.

PS You only have until Monday to file your taxes!!