{ Photo-boxes into Scrap-boxes! }

Isn't it a wonderful day, today? Well it sure is for me! Day off from mind-numbing work and people, apple-mango-tango laundry is tumbling, duvets are fluffed, and peace--Meggie consumed with hiding her bones in couch cushions. I am usually too tired to blog when I come home from work, sad, but undeniably factual. Right as I pull into our garage there's a routine I follow:

• Turn off  car and radio 
• Grab lunch bag and coffee tumbler
• Set lunch bag and coffee tumbler by the garage door steps
• Walk to the mail box. *A Hike: If you're a clumsy female like myself: who wears fancy-slippery ballet flats: who has a long driveway: who lives in a neighborhood that has shitty snowplow men: who does not scrap off any damn ice or snow in the street. *So yeah, that's an adventure all its self.
• Walk back from the mail box, the adventure repeats while cussing.
• Tries gracefully while having mail in hand and attempts to snatch lunch bag and coffee tumbler all at once.
• Walks through garage door into the house
• Greeted by an excited six-month-old canine and everything in hands goes into the air.
• Let out the naughty excited six-month-old canine to "Go Be Quick," AKA: Potty.
• Put coat and shoes in closet.
• Pick up stuff that was dropped.
• Walk upstairs.
• Set down (not so gracefully) the mail, lunch bag, coffee tumbler and handbag on the island. 
• Walk down stairs.
• Let in the excited six-month-old canine.

*And, if it Thursdays, bring the garbage can back into garage.

Fortunately, today I can erase that lists of steps off of my day.

To continue on my joyous day off;

After Cal left for work, folding laundry and putting it away upstairs. I decided to take a coffee break and watch some TV. Sipping my coffee and successfully not burning my tongue, I flipped through channels of prime time morning television. Price is Right was just was not doing it for me and I flipped to the next channel. It was The Martha Stewart Show! Which I haven't seen in forever because I work in the mornings. I use to watch that show all the time and What Not to Wear on TLC when I took my beloved Oma to chemo treatments.

The Martha Stewart Show's topic today: The Family Show, dedicated to all things family. Turn life's memorable moments into charming keepsakes with scrap-boxes from Weddings editorial director Darcy Miller, and make hearty, kid-friendly ribs with chef Emeril Lagasse and his son, E.J.

Being a foodie and all, I wasn't quite impressed by the 'BAM!' phenomenon; however, his child son was a comedic cutie. What intrigued me the most was Martha's editorial director, Darcy Miller. Her creativeness, witty personality and not to mention her three adorable little girls, made me to continue to follow the program instead of flipping through channels. Her ultimate passion besides her beautiful girls is scrap-booking. I've always wanted to learn more about elegant scrap-booking and her vision was even better. She took her love of scrap-booking to scrap-boxes!

Below is a sample of her work. This weekend I'll be in search of photo boxes. My vision is to put my bridal ballet flats from Grace Footwear with a wedding photo.

Another idea that I have is to do what Darcy did, a wedding photo with the wedding invitation. I'll make sure to post my finished products as once as I am finished!

The How to Do:

With a few household and crafts materials, you can frame a collection of family mementos, creating an interesting display. Here are some of the ways Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings, puts them to use. 1/4-inch-thick foam board: Back photos, illustrations, and paper ephemera for extra depth, or add a layer or two inside baby clothes for a filled-out look.

Adhesive dots: Give a child's dress fabric folds with these reusable dots, or hold open the lid of a mounted watercolor set.

Background paper: Add a pop of color to the box wall, or choose a similar-hued one to let the objects take center stage. Mount it on foam board if you plan to secure items with straight pins or wire.


Craft glue: Stick tiny dots of confetti outside the glass for a snowdrift, or dangle a silver streamer from the frame's top. Double-sided foam tape: Adhere heavier items, such as a small dress, to paper or foam board.

Double-sided tape: Affix a photo to the inside of the frame's glass with a small sliver of tape, or attach circles of confetti to background paper.

Straight pins: Secure little ballet slippers or bikini ties to background paper mounted on foam board. For a clean look, snip the pinheads off with wire cutters after pushing them in.

Wire: Display "floating" sunglasses and swimming goggles with pieces of wire looped through holes in foam board, twisting the wire ends in the back.

Source: Tools and Techniques for Darcy's Scrapboxes

Product Greatness: I bought this today off of Amazon, I can't wait! After months and months of searching for the perfect scrap book, I finally found the one. Price of $18.71 + tax and shipping. Pretty hard to beat!

The perfect keepsake book for the special moments, celebrations and romance of  your wedding. From first-date jitters to the engagement, from the wedding day through the honeymoon and anniversaries, this scrapbook helps a bride capture the defining moments of her wedding in personalized, creative ways.

Written and illustrated by Darcy Miller, published by Harper Collins.

Darcy Miller Designs

{ Mornings with Droopy Eyes. }

Lately, my chilly - winter mornings are consisting of my (our) bed, glasses at the tip of my pale-freckled nose, hot mug of Teavana tea, Blackberry --reading updated blogaged and almost 6-month-old Amarillo friend, Droopy Eyes. Miss Droopy Eyes, aka, Meggie Mae, has progressed into a fine little lady. She no longer grunts like a little piggy, minimum accidents, and no longer sleeps in the bath tub anymore. However, she still tries to climb into the shower while it's in use. Not as obnoxious as before, but her progression is becoming much better. As of recently, Cal and I have been stepping out of our comfort zone and letting our furry little girl roam as she pleases while 'Mom and Dad' are away. It's only an hour or two, ('Mom and Dad' grocery shopping and what not) so far, Meggie has had no accidents and 'Mom's' glorified Christmas tree was still STANDING! Quite impressive for a little lab pup. It will probably be a whole another year until we will completely trust her out of her kennel alone. Nevertheless, progress is progress, right?

In the last month or so, Meggie has developed a new, but strange obsession of crawling and sleeping underneath beds. Maybe some of you might not think its weird, however, Cal and I have never known a dog quite like that. It's very weird; for one, Meggie is not a tiny puppy and two, she can't even crawl out afterward! Luckily for Meggie, her 'Daddy' loves her to pieces. A few days after this obsession turned into a daily habit, Cal went out to good 'ol Tar-Zhay and purchased bed risers. Awe! Just for his little girl. His facetious reason was so Meggie would be more comfortable. (At least now I know when we start having kids, Cal will be very adjusting to our kid's needs/wants.) Even though, I feel like an Olympian when I practically hurdle into our freakishly tall bed; peacefully, I will know our little girl is at least breathing and snoozing away.

Pictures before the bed risers:

Why hello, pretty lady!

Suck it in Meg.

Tuckered out.

{ Therapy much needed... }

a Vacation! What I mean is -- I seriously need 'vacation therapy'. Most of 2010 will consist of work overload for Cal and I and an abundance of wedding bliss. Two of the weddings will take place in New Jersey and Utah! Both of them, I will be counting as vacations for 2010. Cal and I never had a honeymoon, so hopefully in 2011 we can go on our very first honeymoon.

This is what I for see:

Los Cabos, Mexico

Snorkeling and deep sea fishing, and romantic dinners under the stars!

 

But for right now, some Anthroplogie therapy will just have to do.

{ Long overdue family photos. }

 

Grandma Naomi got to seek in too.

 

 

Photo Credit: G Smith Images

{ Style Resoultions, Smith Style. }

It's 2010 and it's also time to reinvent ourselves!

OK [!], time to begin with the 2010 Smith-Style New Year Resolutions...

I. Financial Style.
After a new home, wedding, Meggie and the holidays, it's time for Cal and I to take it back a notch and start mega saving. We practically have everything we need and unfortunately, even our impulsive wants. This upcoming Sunday, Cal and I will be going over our budget and expenses and hopefully addressing while eliminating our unnecessary spending. Luckily, we concur together that we rather be sittin' pretty while saving.

For the record, I am not the prominent impulsive buyer in the relationship, it's my husband. Whether that's a good thing or not. Peculiar isn't it?

II. Fitness Style.
Cal and I are both members to a fitness facility. The thing is either I'm not going enough or Cal doesn't have the time to go.We use to work out together and both would like to continue that routine. Early morning or late at night doesn't concern us, all that matter we spend time together while exercising. We just gotta do it!

III. As for just me. Well...
Live like every day was my last -adventurous out of a whim. Find inner peace with myself, loved ones and God. Find a happier and passionate career path. Laugh until I cry.

What's your 2010 Style Resolutions?

{ Housewife Confessions of the Wannabe Chef: Holiday Baking! }

Greetings again and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope everyone enjoyed the 2009 holiday season -- We definitely did!

Here are some recipes ideas to keep in mind for the 2010 holiday season. These were my top (melt-in-your-mouth) picks from my lovely consumers [our families!].

Bourbon-Pecan Pumpkin Butter Pie:

Ingredients:
4 eggs
2 cups (about 1 1/2 jars) pecan pumpkin butter
1 3/4 cups plus 1 tbs. evaporated milk
2 tbs. bourbon
1 prebaked and cooled deep dish pie crust (I made my own dough and the decorative leaves)
Whipped cream for serving

Preheat oven to 325ºF.

In a large mixing bowl, gently whisk the eggs. Add the pecan pumpkin butter, evaporated milk and bourbon and whisk until well combined. Pour the filling into the prebaked pie crust and bake until the center of the pie is set., 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Check crust after 30 minutes; if the edges begin to brown too quickly, cover them with aluminum foil. Let the pie cool at least 4 hours before serving.

Serves 8 to 10.

Recipe Source: Williams-Sonoma: The Perfect Thanksgiving; a holiday guide for the busy cooks; 2009

Fudge-Swiss Chocolate Trifle:

Ingredients:

1 box of Duncan Hines, Swiss Chocolate cake mix

1 pkg. of Jello, Chocolate Fudge pudding

1 pkg. of  Hershey's, Heath Bar; Toffee Bits (pre-chopped)

2  8 oz. Kraft, Cool Whip (original flavor)

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Prepare, bake and cool cake as directed on the Duncan Hines package.

While the cakes are baking, prepare as directed on the Jello pudding's instructions. Once the cakes are cooled, cut cakes into bite size-squared pieces.

• First Step:
  

1. Layer the bottom of the trifle bowl with the bite size cake pieces until the glass surface is completely covered.
   
2. Pour half of the pudding mixture on top of the cake, blend evenly with spoon.
3. Take the amount of Cool Whip as needed to blend evenly on top of pudding. 
4. Sprinkle lightly the amount of the Hershey's Heath topping as desired. (don't go over half of the bag)

• Second Step: Repeat the first step. 

 And...Enjoy!

 

Recipe Source: http://nowforeverandalways.blogspot.com

A cute blog that I stumbled upon! I just mixed up a few touches of my own.