Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday: CLICK HERE!

Menu Planning Monday - June 25th

Part of getting back into the blogging saddle is posting in weekly menu.

Having just gotten back from Girl Scout camp yesterday, I really need a menu this week to get my family back on track and into the swing of finding a routine for summer.

Monday - Pasta night
Tuesday - Fajitas
Wednesday - Grilling, with salad and salt potatoes
Thursday - Chicken and rice, with broccoli
Friday - Chef salad
Saturday -  Pizza night
Sunday - Fend-for-Yourself night

Make sure to head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links!

Surviving June...

I have been absent form this space for quiet awhile now, and not without some good reasoning.
June is an incredible month. Incredibly busy month at that. I feel it's actually worse then the holiday season in the winter, to be honest.

With that said, I'm "back" in the saddle again with blogging. I'll be making my regular updates here again now that school, girl scouts, band and jazz band, lacrosse and more have either ended or at least greatly slowed down for the summer.

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
 

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Writer's Workshop: Fourth Grade

This weeks writing prompts from Mama Kat includes:

• Share a story from fourth grade.
• Describe where you were when you met a boy.
• Write about a time you saw someone doing something kind for someone else
• Name something you swore you'd never do when you had kids, but now find yourself doing.
• List the songs that tell your life story (so far).

While making a list of songs that tell my life story would be awesome, I considered how long the list would be and decided instead to tell a story from fourth grade.

The summer before I started fourth grade was the year my brothers and I moved in with my father in the quaint town of Seneca Falls, New York. My father had grown up there with his 3 older brothers and parents, all of which still lived there. It was on a six month trial that we moved in with him,  granted by the judge presiding over the custody case. (I'll spoil that ending, the move became permanent after the six month trail ended)

Moving had been both an easy, and uneasy thing for me. It was great that basically all my family lived in one town. My mother, who had been adopted, had no siblings, no other local family, save her (adoptive) parents; the very cool grandparents I wrote about previously. On the other hand, I knew no one else at all, and especially no one my age.

But that isn't really isn't part of the story I am going to tell you. I am going to tell you about the teacher of my 4th grade class, Mrs Basley. Mrs Basley had a fondness for the Peanuts gang, in particularly Snoopy. I remember she was very kind to me, at a time where, even though I loved being in Seneca Falls more then Geneva, was rough.

Now, I have been called a decent student in my youth. Math and science were subjects I easily picked up and did well on. But one thing no one has ever said I've done well is spell.

I carried a low D grade for spelling in fourth grade (which brought down those A's and B's considerably). And it was with great shock to me that 1 day during a typical spelling test that my teacher bent down and told me to consider re-looking over a couple of my words. I think she may have even said the line numbers to reconsider.

I couldn't believe it! I thought she was helping me to cheat by telling me what words I had gotten wrong, before handing in my test. Looking back now, I know the difference between looking back over my work and actual cheating, but to my little 10 year old self, it blew my mind.

This post will be linked to Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop. Click here to check it out!

Menu Planning Monday - May 14th

Another one of those busy weeks!   I suspect it will never end as long as I have children (which I don't plan on getting rid of anytime soon, no matter how many times I threaten to sell them to gypsies!).


Monday - Crockpot Chicken Divan
Tuesday - Tacos (made in the oven)
Wednesday - Pasta with meatballs, salad
Thursday - Chicken and rice, with broccoli
Friday - "Happy Hour" dinner menu: nachos, finger foods, veggies and dip
Saturday - Pizza (deep dish style - we didn't make them last week)
Sunday - Turkey and quiona meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans

Make sure to head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links!

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
 

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Writer's Workshop: Top Ten Summer

Summer.

How doesn't love summer? At least here in the Northeast part of the United States, summer is generally a lovely time of year. The weather is warm (though sometimes hot and humid, but nothing like the south regions deal with). The sun is bright and the days are long compared to are cold, short days of winter.

So, Today I am going to share my top ten things about summer when I was growing up. 

10: No school.

And while this may seem to be a very obvious one for any school aged child, my reasons are for more then merely avoiding school work. Growing up, I was often bullied at school. I moved to the very close knit community of Seneca Falls when I was 9 years old, and entered 4th grade. By that time, many kids were already in their own little friendship groups, and I was very much an outcast until high school. The bullying through mostly steamed from my appearance, as I was overweight and in my opinion, not particularly girly looking. I was often called "Shamoo" (as in the killer whale at sea world), even after i had developed an eating disorder and lost a massive amount of weight in a very short time. Summer was very much a relief from the daily taunts i endured during those terrible middle school years.

9: No particular set schedule.

This was more so after I turned 12 and we no longer had to be carted off to a babysitters house daily in the summer. If i wanted to read, I could read without having to move to the next class, go to gym, etc... I burned through a lot of books with summer reading growing up.

8: The Sun.

While I admit that I really dislike the heat. Even here in New York it can get rather hot, and add in humidity, and it's just terrible to me. But, I love the sun. It's not for tanning or anything like that, but just the pure simple fact that a sunny day is usually a much more pleasant day then an overcast one. Spring and autumn are often overcast and damp from the rains, and winter can be overcast, and the days are very short even for days with sun. Since we don't get a whole lot of sun light the rest of the year, so I'll take it where I can get it!

7: Money making opportunities.

For me, this meant babysitting. I often babysat for kids in the neighborhood, my cousins and family at church. While now that I am older I understand how good it was for me to have something to do, some responsibility. But as a teen, what I loved most was having a reason to act like a little kid and not be seen as "immature".

Heck, that maybe half the reason I have children, too!

6: Grandma and Grandpa's house.

My brothers and I spent a lot of time at our maternal grandparent's house growing up. My grandmother was the one who taught me to crochet and cross stitch by the age of 10. She tried to teach me to knit as well, but it took another 20 years for it to finally stick. Our grandfather would take us on walks and hikes around the local area. We would spend hours fishing in nearby streams and fishing holes, travel to some pretty awesome, yet far away playgrounds. We would walk to the neighbors house to swim with their kids on particularly hot days. He taught my brother Terry how to use a pocket knife, and would do simple wood working projects with both of us. He taught me how to walk on stilts. He would read books (upon books) to any of us that would sit in his lap (my baby brother Matthew in particular loved this). Big Sunday brunches and evening cookouts... there was almost no better house to be at in the summer time.

5: Wheels, wheels, and more wheels.

Weather it was my younger beginnings on roller skates, my teen years spent on roller blades or the constant bicycle that I rode seemingly everywhere, summer riding around was a lot more fun (and a lot easier without the spring snow melting or the wet clumps of fall leaves!)

4: Fresh blackberries.

Our backyard growing up was fenced in on 3 sides. The western side of the fence was home to blackberry bushes. The first week or so of July always brought around a lovely harvest of blackberries. We would pick the berries on our side of the fence, and our neighbors got a good share of berries on their side too. The berries never last long, so they were never made into pie or jam... berries were best eating by the hand fulls (and often right off the branch!)

3: Sleep overs.

There was a time in my teens where almost every night of summer it seemed like I had friends over to spend the night, or I was off spending the nights at my friends homes. Living in a home with just my dad and brothers, I really valued the girly time I got to have with my girl friends.

2: Sleeping in!

Self explanatory, no? As a night owl, watching at the crack of dawn has never been my strong suit (which is why I've always tried to have evenings or overnight jobs). I'm just not wired that way to be up with the birds. Summer time sleeping in was also the best.

1: Time spent at Vince's Park.

Growing up my dad would often take my brothers and I to spend our late afternoon and evenings swimming at the park the company he worked for own. It had a huge pool, with lap lanes, a diving section and a kiddie area. I would live in that pool as much as I could in the summer. I'm a regular fish out of water. Maybe it's the Pisces in me. Then there was also a snack bar with all the summer favorites (hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, slushies, soda, popcorn, etc..). There was a mini golf course, and a small playground. Baseball fields and covered pavilions. The park was host to the annual company picnic (also a good day there!) and one week a summer there was swim lessons for the kids. I couldn't think of a single place I spent more time at during the summer as a kid growing up.
The company no longer owns the park, it is a town park open to all town residents now, but it's still holds a special place in my heart.

This post will be linked to Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop. Click here to check it out!

Wordless Wednesday

A boy in motion

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday

Keep Calm, Craft On

What started out as an innocent little knit horse for my daughter may soon turn into a stable full of horse, each looking in particularly like ones at the stables she takes riding lessons from.

Here we have Nutmeg... who will finally have a finished mane and tail tonight as I was able to wrangle this back from said daughter to work on while I'm wide awake overnight.

And this would be Buzz, in the making.

And I'm still plugging away at that first sweater of mine. Last week I had just started the placket, and now I am half way done with the hood! About 6 more inches of knitting, and all I'll need to do is seam the hood and the 2 underarm area (and a big of weaving in ends). The seaming is done with the kitchener stitch, something I haven't done yet. Maybe that is why I am dragging my feet to finish this...

Linking up for Keep Calm, Craft on with Nicole over at Frontier Dreams.

Menu Planning Monday - May 7th

Another Monday - so here we are, with another menu!

It's a crazy week with a Jazz band concert, girl scout planning meeting, handbell practice, youth group, 1 home game for lacrosse, work, T-ball, horse riding AND mother's day! I know it must be close to the end of the school year as our calendar is rapidly filling up with all the year end stuff too!

Monday - Subs/sandwiches and chips
Tuesday - Pasta night
Wednesday - "fend for yourself" night
Thursday - Homemade mac and cheese, with broccoli
Friday - Tacos
Saturday - Homemade pizza night (deep dish style)
Sunday - Mother's Day! I get to choose and at this time, I'm not sure what I want (that i don't have to cook and my husband and kids can manage)

Linking up over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.



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Keep Calm, Craft On

Progress on my first every knit sweater is coming along smoothly now. About 2 weeks ago I had just started the placket and didn't pick up my knitting for awhile (and before that, I hadn't touched it since before Christmas!). Now, we've made the split in the placket and are nearing the neck before moving onto the hood.

I have high hopes I may finish this before his birthday yet!!

I used a  keep-calm-o-matic to make the logo at the top of this post - if you are interested in doing one yourself. 

Linking up with Nicole over at Frontier Dreams.

Menu Planning Monday - April 30th

So, here we are - another busy week. last week was really kind of low key, and I liked it much better. It seems about every other week (the week with Girl Scouts) we're running ragged.

If anyone was considering trying the recipe i posted last week for the Peanut butter cup brownies - they were DELICIOUS! But if you wanted to try the slow cooker fajitas (with chicken rather then beef), I advise against it. Now, don't get me wrong, it wasn't BAD... but rather there was a lot of standing liquid and the meat itself was dry. Yea, in a slow cooker, I can't figure that one out.

So here is how our week is working itself out:

Monday - Macaroni and cheese, corn dogs, assorted veggies with dip
Tuesday - Breakfast (french toast bake, eggs, sausage, fruit)
Wednesday - Pasta night, salad
Thursday - clean out the fridge night! (left overs)
 Friday - "Happy Hour" Friday dinner: chicken fingers, homemade mozzarella sticks, veggie tray with ranch dip (we missed this last week)
Saturday - Pizza night
Sunday - Grilled chicken, corn, salad

As always, make sure to check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas!

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.




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Keep Calm, Craft On

This post has been sitting in my drafts for 3 days now, so I figured I may as well finish it up - right?

I am sorry to say that I have no photo of my project this week, as we have had rain the last 5 days straight. No complaints, we really needed it.

Anyways - I am slowly but surely working on a Wonderful Wallaby for Andrew (link is to my Ravelry project page)

I'm finally to the part where the placket is forming, but we haven't divided to create the opening yet that will lead into the neck and then hood. I've pretty much been at this point since early October (I always seem to have a post-holiday lull in crafting, I just can't do it)

At any rate, I hope that MAYBE I will have to done for his birthday... in mid-June (that's just shy of 2 months, do able - right? maybe....)

Sadly, the knit horse I was working on my last KCCO post is sitting unfinished - i keep getting distracted while sewing the seams and am only about 1/4 of the way done sewing the seams so i can stuff, make ears, add the mane... Elizabeth knows what is coming and it's for her, maybe I'll have hers done for her birthday too (late-mid June)

That's it - hopefully I'll have more progress (and pictures!) next time!

Linking up with Nicole from Frontier Dreams

Menu Planning Monday - April 23rd

WOW - last week was HECTIC! To top it off we woke up to SNOW this morning!
So thankfully that this week is a bit calmer. 1 home lacrosse game and that's it for kid's  activities until the weekend.

So - without further ado, here is our plan for the week!

Monday - Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Tuesday - Slow cooker chicken fajitas
Wednesday - Pasta night - slow cooker sauce with meatballs and thin spaghetti, salad
Thursday - Chicken and rice pilaf dish, with broccoli
Friday - "Happy Hour" Friday dinner: chicken fingers, homemade mozzarella sticks, veggie tray with ranch dip
Saturday - Pizza night
Sunday - Roast chicken, herb baked potatoes (scroll down past the coca-cola chicken recipe for the potato one), and green beans

 I'm also going to be doing an assortment of baking. Some as snacks for the kids (esp with the oldest doing lacrosse and the youngest starting baseball, plus the middle child is starving after horseback riding... they have hollow legs, I tell you!). Plus, I volunteered to make snack for the kids in my middle child's class after they are finished with the standardized testing for New York state this week.

Peanut butter cup brownies - for school treat
Homemade granola bars  - after school snack?
Energy balls - sports snack

I'll be subbing in chai seeds for the flax seed, as well as cocoa for coconut in a batch of the energy balls (oldest hates flaked coconut!)


As always, make sure to check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas!

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


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Menu Planning Monday - April 16th

A lot of people I see in my day-to-day life ask me about menu planning, so today this post is for them. 

Menu planning is awesome! It has helped me to stream line my grocery shopping list and helps cut down on cost and waste. I check out the weather so I don't try panning too many heavy, hot meals if the weather is going to be nice, or vice versa. Menu planning also helps me to simplify the evening and leaves me with ideas for dinner when dinner time rolls around, rather then having everyone ask "mom, what's for supper?" when they are already starving. I order out less, and cook more. But when I first started menu planning, I completely stressed out when dinner plans didn't turn our perfectly as planned for, I was one seriously stressed out mama.

I recently posted on my personal Facebook wall that "being a mom means being flexible". I think that especially is true when it comes to meal times and coordinating everyone's schedules, with work, activities and sports. With my young, busy family, we are often on the go more then not, especially during the week.

So I'm learning to be flexible. So while I do show what days of the week I try to have specific meals panned for, more often then not things happen. The meat isn't thawed, someone finished the last of the bread (or milk, etc), or a last minute unknown activity calls us away from home. So we often have meals on different days, or something altogether entirely different (you're starving now and want cereal for dinner? sure!). This is why you may see a lot of repeated menu ideas from me from one week to the next - chances are we didn't have that meal and I still have most everything I need to prepare it!

So if are you curious about menu planning and if it will work for you, I saw give it a try! It doesn't matter if you are a family or 1 or 2, or a family of more! Even just for a week or 2 and see if it helps make meal times more pleasant for you and your family.

So - without further ado, here is our plan for the week!

Monday - BLTs
Tuesday - Big breakfast night - french toast, fruit, sausage, etc...
Wednesday - Pasta night - baked ziti with salad
Thursday - YOYO - you're on your own
Friday - Grilling - "anything we can toss on their grill to eat"
Saturday - Pizza night
Sunday - We just haven't decided yet, we may go out.

As always, make sure to check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas!

Weekending

Hoping everyone is having an excellent weekend!

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.




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 Translation of kid's writing:Dear Easter Bunny, Are you brown or white? we left lettuce help you self! Sincerely, Elizabeth

Menu Planning Monday - April 9th

Menu planning will be vital this week, with the kids being home from school from spring break. As such, I've made a list of lunch ideas I am going to share below our dinner menu plan for the week. My kids love sandwiches, so most of our lunch ideas will be sandwiches.

Thankfully, my trio slept in rather then waking up me rudely on their first day of spring break. Obviously I'm already in heaven and hoping the rest of spring break runs as smoothly (though the girls arguing in the kitchen gives me serious doubts).

Also, some dinners are a carry over form last week, when various snafus turned planned dinners into simple sandwich nights, or even an evening at my in-laws for Easter dinner on Saturday. No complaints here - means less to shop for this week!

Monday: Chicken and rice, green beans
Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner (ham and cheese omelets, waffles, fruit, yogurt)
Wednesday: Pizza, salad, and cinnamon bread sticks
Thursday: Pasta night - plain pasta, marinara sauce
Friday: "Fast Food" Friday (made at home) - chicken strips, burgers, fries
Saturday: fend-for-yourself night
Sunday: Baked ziti, salad


Lunch Ideas
Sandwiches:
Ham Salad
Tuna salad
Egg salad
Peanut butter and Jelly
Homemade hot pockets
Macaroni and cheese
Leftovers
Soup
"sides": grapes, apples, orange segments, raisins, carrots, celery, yogurt

As always, make sure you check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for my menu planning ideas!

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.



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Keep Calm, Craft On

It may not look it now, but by Easter morning this bit of yarn will transform itself into a lovely horse for my sweet Lizzy.

Sadly, Andrew's wonderful wallaby hasn't seen much action since last fall (I did knit a couple of rows, a couple of weeks ago). Thinking I should get on top of that after I finish this horse.

Joining Nicole and the rest of those linking up over on the Frontier Dreams blog

Menu Planning Monday - April 2nd

It's been awhile since I've posted a menu, but here I am again! It's been a crazy whirlwind of a winter and start of spring, and it isn't slowing down at all anytime soon! So thankfully that I menu plan for times like these!

I also found a new printable for weekly dinner planning that I LOVE! you can find it free over at the blog called AE. Or follow this link directly to the post (and download) of the printable!

Here is our week at a glance

Monday: Homemade macaroni and cheese (we use shredded cheddar), with broccoli

Tuesday: Crunchy onion chicken, red potatoes in chive butter sauce

Wednesday: One dish vegetarian dinner (pasta dish)

Thursday: Chicken and rice pilaf, with veggies and dip

Friday: Fried haddock, fries, salad

Saturday: Pizza and bread sticks, with salad

Sunday: Easter dinner - Ham (slow cooker style, so good and it can start cooking while at church!), scalloped and roasted potatoes, green beans, pineapple, and no doubt some desserts will be made too!

Make sure to stop over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for my links to bloggers sharing their weekly menus!

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.




. . . . . . . .

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


. . . . . . . .

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


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Where I've been...

Allover, it feels like.

No one every said this blog would be written with consistency, right? It is, chaotic, after all.

So the update fate:

I found a job
It's the holiday season
I have three children that keep me extraordinarily busy.

Yup, that about sums it up!

So where does that leave me and this blog? I still love to write here, but I need to find a new routine for writing here, esp while i have a more chaotic work schedule until my class is done (i won't even start for another month, and the course is 6 weeks). Then i should have a bit of a normal, set schedule.

Here's to hoping, right?

I will be back this afternoon with another post or two though, so be prepared!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I was to pause, savor and remember.



Links to more moments can be found in the comments section at Souelmama.

Have a lovely weekend!

Menu Planning Monday - October 10th

Monday: Small shell pasta and cheese sauce

Tuesday: Baked chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots

Wednesday: Pasta bake

Thursday: Chicken fajitas

Friday: Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Saturday: Homemade pizza

Sunday: Who knows yet!

Make sure you head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning resources! The host blogger is Canadian, well as some of the other blogs that link up. Today is their Thanksgiving, so I know I'm picking up some ideas before Thanksgiving hits the states next month!

Also, make sure to check out my review of the digital scrapbooking software, My Memories, for a chance to win the software yourself while you're visiting my blog! The giveaway ends this Friday!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I was to pause, savor and remember.




Links to more moments can be found in the comments section at Souelmama.

While you are here, make sure you check out my giveaway post from yesterday!

Have a lovely weekend!

MyMemories Suite Review, + $10 off coupon + a giveaway!

CONTEST IS DONE! WINNER IS: Comment #8:Crunchymommy said... Followed the My Memories blog via e-mail.

I was recently given the rare opportunity to review the My Memories Suite 2.0 digital scrapbook software. Given my dismal attempts at scrapbooking previously, and that the vast majority of my photos are now digital, I couldn't say no! But once I got to actually reading about the program, I found out that My Memories Suite can also make greeting cards, calendars, even slideshows. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

click to enlarge

First let me say, that this software is available for both windows, as well as mac users!
I found the software relatively easy to use. So much so, that I was able to make a simple page in less then 10 minutes! You have a wide range to zoom in and out while working on your pages that makes seeing the whole page, or working in fine details, possible. The left hand side resource gallery is like a mini preview area to look at photos, embellishments, papers, etc, that you may want to use. The right hand side control panel allows you to really tweak items on your page. You can mat photos, add shadows to just about anything, rotate, change the opacity, mirror and flip and more.


What's great is that everything is organized by theme, making it much easier to find what you are looking for, rather then long, unsorted lists. Making things even easier, all the page elements are drop and drag. You can also adjust the size of your page elements, and if you try to make an embellishment too large, it will pop up with a caution message that the embellishment pixelation will be distorted if you use it at that size. I haven’t come across any software, for photos or scrapbooking, that does that.



My Memories Suite 2.0 comes with over 20+ templates, 1,500 papers and over 1,300 embellishments. Plenty of stuff to get you started on your way to digital scrapbooking, but I really love looking at all the extra kits and templates from their only store. I have already bought the School Memories pack and Into the WoodZ extras, but there is also plenty of free kits available to download as well. I have already downloaded quiet a few, and it is just as easy to add purchased and free items as it is to use the program. I've also just discovered that if you like the MyMemories Facebook page, you will receive a promo code for $5 towards digital scrapbook kits!

So cute, and finally a way to preserve photos in more then just endless files upon files "gathering dust" on my computer hard drive!

While I haven't had a chance to try out many of the other features of this program yet, I loved this software! I imagine I am going to be using it quite a bit, especially as Birthday's and Holidays start approaching.

Want to win a copy? The lovely folks over at My Memories would like to give one lucky reader their own copy of My Memories Suite 2.0 (valued at $39.95).

How to enter:
You must go to MyMemories.com and look around their website. Come back here to this blog post and leave a comment telling me which scrapbook kit or template you would want most. Please make sure to leave your email address (you can use the word "at" for "@" and "dot" for "." to help reduce spam). If you don't leave a way for me to contact you, I will be forced to choose another winner.

Want to increase your odds of winning?
Do any of the following before, and leave a separate comment for each one you do (i'll check). Please note that if you do not do the initial entry above, additional entries will be invalid.

• Follow The Chaotic Homemaker using Google Friend Connect [1 entry]
• Like The Chaotic Homemaker on Facebook [1 entry]
• Follow the MyMemories blog and tell me how you are follow (google reader, email, etc)[1 entry]
• Like MyMemories on Facebook [1 entry]

Make sure you leave a new comment for each additional entry.

Entries will be accepted from Thursday, October 6th, until Friday, October 14th at 3pm Eastern time.

I will randomly select a winner from all of the entries received. I will then notify the winner by e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I’ll draw a new winner. After the winner replies to me, I will announces the winner here on my blog.

Don't want to wait and see if you win in order to have your own copy of My Memories Suite 2.0?
The software is normally $39.99 but if you enter the coupon code STMMMS37602 when you check out, you will save $10 off the purchase price. In addition, you will receive a code good for $10 towards digital scrapbook kits in the My Memories Suite store!
Add that to the $5 for liking their Facebook page, and you can get $15 towards digital kits to start you off!

So, what are you waiting for? You only need to enter once by telling me your favorite template or kit from the MyMemories.com store and comment below. While there will only be 1 winner, the more entries you make, the great your chances of winning! Any questions? Click on my profile link at the top of my right side bar, and there will be a link to email me.

Disclosure: I received a copy of My Memories Suite 2.0 in order to facilitate this review. I received no other compensation and the opinions stated are my own.

Menu Planning Monday - October 3rd

Running a day late, but I am planning on a few more posts this week, including a return of WIP Wednedays, and even a giveaway!
But no chatter - just straight to this weeks menu!

Monday - Kielbasas with mac and cheese

Tuesday - Pasta night

Wednesday - Take-out

Thursday - Chicken and rice with broccoli

Friday - homemade Chinese night

Saturday - Pizza, veggie tray

Sunday - Andrew's choice

Of course make sure you check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas and links!
Have a great week everyone!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama.
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I was to pause, savor and remember.

Have a lovely weekend!!

Menu Planning Monday - September 26th

Monday: Beefy Taco casserole

Tuesday: Chicken and rice

Wednesday: Ravioli and salad

Thursday: Breakfast night (apple spice waffles, omelet, toast, etc)

Friday: Asian orange chicken, over rice with broccoli

Saturday: Pizza night (homemade)

Sunday: Chicken divan

Make sure you head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama.
A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I was to pause, savor and remember.

Have a lovely weekend!!

Where I'm From

This is writing exercise that one of my friends posted on her blog. The template I used was taken from another blog here.

Where I'm From

I am from the family television, the WWF and R/C cars.

I am from the the big white house that was an apartment, the blackberry bushes and walnut trees.

I am from the gladiolas and bleeding hearts, from the backyard flower bed.

I am from big Sunday morning breakfast and Christmas cookie trays, from Barbers, and Hunters, and Millers and Pavicks.

I am from the denial and addiction.

From Do as I say, Not as I do and If they jumped off a bridge, would you too?

I am from Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Agnostic. A do as you will, but don't preach to me mixture of beliefs.

I’m from the Finger Lakes region of New York, from Ireland, Wales, France, England, Germany, Italy and the unknown , of potatoes and cheese.

From the brother fooling us all about being shut in the car truck, but really climb in through seats that fold down to the backseat, and the dad taking us to swim lessons at the company pool every summer, with the every popular min golf course.

I am from photos and items in dusty boxes, scattered among the homes of various family, including my own, of hard drives and memories, more priceless any other possession I own.

Menu Planning Monday - September 19th

I can't believe it's almost autumn! And our dinners are taking a turn for the super easy lately, as well as warming us up. This week 2 out of 3 open houses at the kids school, plus a school dance. Let the hectic school days being!

Monday: Tomato soup and grilled cheese

Tuesday: Pasta with marinara sauce

Wednesday: Subs and chips

Thursday: Picnic at one of the kids open house nights (will supplement with healthy snacks at home, too)

Friday: leftover night

Saturday: Pizza and wing night (ordering in)

Sunday: Chicken divan, noodles, salad

Make sure you head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links!

It's been a chaotic life!

The title for my blog has been really on spot as of lately, as proven with my lack of posting on here.

Here's a quick run down on the last couple of weeks events

~Started painting the girls bedroom
~8 yo old's first horseback riding lesson
~Start of school (all kids are full day now)
~Rally day (start of the Sunday school year. This year I'm "in charge" of acolytes)
~First mid-week kids church group
~Restart of handbell choir (YAY!!), and decisions about joining choir
~More horseback riding for the 8 yr old
~Oldest started Lacrosse camp
~A meeting with a 3rd grade teacher

and coming up is 3 open houses (cause none of the kids attend the same school, of course), pictures days, first school dance of the year, more lacrosse, more horseback riding, thinking I should find something for Andrew if the girls get to do a sport each, knitting and crocheting Christmas gifts, helping out at church when I can (fall rummage sale anyone?), looking for a job and trying to keep our home running smoothly with everyone's schedules being as hectic as they are

*Whew*

I promise to get back in this space posting more regularly. really... i mean it this time :)

Until then - i hope everyone is having a happy chaotic start to autumn!!

Menu Planning Monday - September 12th

Still getting into the routine of being back in school. This week, all our regular activities start back up too. Welcome fall!

Monday: Chicken and Rice

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner

Wednesday: Pasta night

Thursday: Chicken Divan

Friday: Leftovers/YOYO

Saturday: Lunch: Macaroni and cheese muffins
Supper: Homemade pizza night (and Doctor Who!)

Sunday: Gonna use the grill 1 more time before it gets too cold :)

School lunches:
The kids actually wanted school lunches for most of this week (and almost not at all next week), so for the 1 day the younger 2 are bringing, it's just your typical sandwiches, but we're going to turn the traditional PB&J into a PB&J sushi rolls

Menu Planning Monday - September 5th

So here we are, September already! Where did the time go this year?? This week the kids head back to school, and for the first time they all be gone for the full day. There is obviously a mixture of elation and sadness with this, but I'm going to go with the positive, and say "yeah" for all the housework i can finally get done that has been slacking over the summer months!

So, we had an unexpected heat wave over the weekend, and dinner's meal that my husband picked was move to Monday, for the holiday here in the states. Otherwise, just working on trying to get a nice routine going again before we get busy with all the after-school activities.

Getting to this a day late (was busy with all the back-to-school stuff yesterday to post), but here is how our week is going to shape up!

Monday (Labor Day) - Chicken-fried Steak with mashed potatoes and green beans

Tuesday - Chicken and rice

Wednesday - Pasta night

Thursday - Breaded chicken (baked), baked potato, salad

Friday - Vegetarian chicken nuggets and french fries (maybe the kids will stop begging for McDs)

Saturday - Homemade pizza (daiya cheese pizza for me)

Sunday - Slow cooker ham, scolloped potatoes, green beans.

School lunches. In trying to make sure the kids have healthier lunches then the standard lunch room fare each day, I'm going to be packing the kids lunches at least 3 or 4 days out of the week. I imagine they will want to partake in the weekly pizza day, and the girls have liked breakfast for lunch, but I'll be trying to pack them that. And it seems this year that the menu for the schools is different from the elementary to middle/high school buildings. Also, they do not have access to any way of heating their meals at school, so I'm going to learn to get creative with lunches this year. Without anymore chatter from me, here is the lunches planned for their first week back to school.

Tuesday - Sandwiches, grapes, carrots, milk box and pudding cup.

Wednesday - Sandwiches (or dinner leftovers), pear cup (or whole pear), milk and brownie.

Thursday - (pizza day for the younger 2) I'm going to ask Lexi what she would like

Friday - Mac and cheese, broccoli, orange wedges and drink mix.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Have a lovely weekend!

My First Sweater

I've been wanting to post about this for awhile now, but really hadn't gotten to it.

I'm working on my first knitted sweater!!

Now, I've done plenty of crocheted sweaters. Granted, they have all been small child size and smaller (and the majority were newborn baby size). So in keeping with that, as well as that doing the smallest size i need first will result in less time/supplies lost if I end up really making a mess of the the thing. But, I'm almost nearly 1/2 way done, and it's looking great!!

sweater, before the pouch was fully attached.

sweater after attaching the pouch
(updating with a better picture this afternoon!)

This sweater is going to be for my son, the youngest. The pattern is called The Wonderful Wallaby (ravelry link). Right now I'm actually up to the arm pits and needing to cast on sleeves. I need to run and grab another needle so i can knit those this weekend. I was hoping to be done before school started, but realize for a first sweater that was an ambitious goal for myself. But, I can see myself getting it done before mid-September (when he'll really need to start wearing a sweater).

And then I'll have to cast on for one of my daughters (who are already begging for one of their own!)