Priorities.

This thought gave me pause to think today.  What are my priorites-how am I accomplishing them?  Funny thing-last time I posted here I said, I'm going to do better at posting!  About a week later my daughter got engaged and life went into over drive with preparation!  I am still here, still creating, and hope to share stuff soon!  Thanks for popping in and visiting!

YouTube video using the Today I am Thankful bundle from Scrapbook Circle

I remember as a child I loved to water color-especially those books that you just painted with water-it was magical how the picture would turn into this piece of artwork right before my eyes-that's how I felt using the black and white printable from this months Kit, Today I am Thankful:

I really LOVE this month's kit-it is seriously PACKED with goodness!!

Today was Awesome-with a process video!

I haven't again fallen off the planet-I've been about 1500 miles traveling for Fall break with my kiddos having a BLAST!  Well, I am back and I have a layout and a process video to share with you today!  I used the Paradise Cove Full Bundle:

The finished product:

Thanks for tuning in today!  Have a FANTASTIC one!!

Paradise Cove-digital bundle kit!

I honestly LOVE the Paradise Cove digital bundle-versatile and fun to work with!  Did you know that Scrapbook Circle now has it's own YouTube channel?  HERE is the link.  

Thanks for visiting today-make today AMAZING!!

SO true-Friday Funny!

Love This-with Paradise Cove

I loved using the Paradise Cove digital kit by Scrapbook Circle-You can print your paper and embellishments at home!  I used the digital bundle that includes physical embellishments, digital cut, Printed papers, PDF files, and a Travel Journal.

I wanted to use the colored background to help celebrate the first day of school for my boys-loved using the little cactus and palm tree as accents (because we live in the desert).  As you can see I created an 8.5 x 11 page, LOVE scrapping that size! 

Thanks for the visit today-I'm off to organize my pantry-something I have been putting off for days!

Sumer time fun with Paradise Cove.

I have to be honest this is my very first time using a travel notebook and guess what?  I LOVE it!  Did you know that a travel notebook is included in the Paradise Cove Full Bundle? For my creation today I used the Full Bundle which includes so many wonderful little treasures!

I decided for this particular travel notebook it would be my daughter’s adventures from College her Freshman edition.  She lives away and most of these pictures come off of social media-which makes the journaling portion hers.

My favorite embellishment on this layout has to be the cactus because these photos were taken when she came to visit us here in the desert.

This traveler’s notebook I plan on giving to her for Christmas along with the start of her Sophomore year.  Thanks for popping in today-happy creating!

September is here!

And I am creating with a new Scrapbook Circle kit!!!

Thought for Thursday!

pinterest food find. Old Fashioned pancakes

Breakfast for dinner-YES please!

Recipe and photo from: Key Ingredient

Old Fashioned Pancakes:

• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

  1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

  1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
• 1 Tablespoon white sugar

  3 Tablespoons butter, melted

  1 egg

  1 1/4 cups milk
  
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk in melted butter, egg, and milk until combined. Let batter rest for 5 minutes. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with spray. Pour batter into the hot skillet, about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until bubbles appear on the sides and center of each pancake. Flip and cook until golden, about 1 to 2 minutes.

fighting the croupy crud with On Guard

So my boys came home last Friday saying they didn't feel well...they also said 2/3 of the football team has whatever it is.  We started LOTS of fluids, vitamin C and Doterra Essential oils On guard:

The boys are feeling much better and now I am now feeling like I'm coming down with it-guess what I'm doing?  YEP-vitamin C, lots of water, and On Guard!  (*I am not a consultant/distributor for Doterra-just sharing something I like to use!)

Eighteen.

I loved working with the Scrapbook Circle kit for July-such GREAT papers that worked for themselves!  Of course I had to give it some bling-I honestly LOVE this paper-isn't it FANTASTIC?!

Here are some closeups:

This beautiful girl just turned 19 this last week-she was here to visit from college-it was SO fun to go on some adventures and do her makeup!

She was such a GREAT sport-I did a live and I shared it to my business page; Gloss, Color, and Sparkle if you would like to watch it-she honestly CRACKS me up: 

Thanks for the visit today!

I am STILL here!

So the summer and lack of schedule got the best of me NOT going to lie, I am still creating and will be sharing that with ya.  I am going to be focusing on my project life for a little bit-to say I am behind is an understatement, (I got half of last year done-NO worries, the other pictures are printed I just need to assemble!) So while you wait for some creative goodness I have a motivational quote:

Friday Funny.

SO totally true!

Pinterest Food Find Sweet Potato Turkey Sausage Egg Bake

Yes, the description is a mouthful but this really was SO tasty!!  My 14 year old who does NOT like Sweet Potatoes scarfed this up QUICK!!

Photo and recipe credit: The Real Food Dietitans

SWEET POTATO TURKEY SAUSAGE EGG BAKE

 

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

16 mins

Total time

31 mins

 

This egg bake combines a blend of ingredients that creates a perfect sweet and savory dish. The sweet potatoes bring out a little sweetness while the turkey sausage creates the savory flavor. This egg bake is a satisfying breakfast option because it provides an adequate source of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.It's a delicious way to start the day and re-heats nicely so great for enjoying as leftovers.

Author: The Real Food Dietitians

Recipe type: Breakfast | Eggs | Whole30 | Paleo

Serves: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• ½ tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 medium sweet potato, cubed (~2 cups cubed)
• ½ lb. turkey sausage such; could also sub 4-6 strips of bacon or 1 cup cubed ham
• ½ small red onion, chopped or sliced (1/3 cup)
• ½ red bell pepper, chopped or sliced  (½ cup)
• 3-4 cups spinach leaves
• 7 whole eggs
• Sea salt & pepper
• Avocado, sliced (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9x9-inch round or square glass dish with coconut oil or organic cooking spray.
2. In a medium saute pan, heat coconut oil on medium-high heat. Once oil is hot, add sweet potato cubes. Dash with sea salt. Cover and let cook for about 10 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender. Stir occasionally. Add water if needed for moisture.
3. Meanwhile, in another saute pan on medium high heat, begin to brown turkey sausage.
4. Brown for 4-5 minutes and then add chopped onions and red bell pepper.
5. Continue to cook for 2-3 minute or until peppers are soft and onions are translucent. Add spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes.
6. In a bowl, crack the eggs, add a dash of sea salt and pepper and whisk.
7. In the 9x9-inch dish. Layer the cooked sweet potatoes, then the turkey sausage and vegetable mixture and then pour the eggs evenly over all.
8. Bake in the oven for 16-18 minutes or until center is firm.
9. Remove from oven, let set for 5 minutes.
10. Serve with sliced avocado if desired.

**To make turkey sausage. Brown 1 lb. of ground turkey. Add 1 tsp. garlic powder, ½ tsp. fennel, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, a pinch of cayenne, ½ tsp. sea salt and ¼ tsp. black pepper.

All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians so credit is given where credit is due. Thank you!

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Serving size: ¼ of recipe Calories: 330 Fat: 18 g Carbohydrates: 16 g Sugar: 4 g Sodium: 480 Fiber: 3 g Protein: 24 g

July Kudos!

I'm honestly SO excited about the July Kudos-it's a FANTASTIC deal of the month!

6 different shades of of Pigment Powders (28 shades to choose from)

AND 

a Liner/Shader Brush for $59!!

let me break that down normally these shadows are $12.50 a piece and the brush is $18; value is $93. With this deal each shadow is $7.94 and the brush is $11.34-CRAZY good savings!!

Come visit me at www.glosscolorsparkle.com to purchase!

Friday Funny.

I watched this at least 5 times-CRACKS me up every time!

beautiful.

I loved using the large pattern flower paper for the background of this layout.  This was from my girl's senior prom.  We took the pictures in a large beautiful park-there were TONS of kids there getting their pictures taken.  We took advantage of the opportunity and took several pictures with her friends that were in different groups.  These two have been friends for quiet a while and was such a treat for me to see all the kids dressed up and looking GORGEOUS!

I used the Sunshine Days kit to create this layout-love how the gold just fits right in!  Here are a few closeups:

hello sunshine.

What a wonderful trip this was about 5 years ago-I was so glad to FINALLY find something to scrap it with! ;) . 

I wanted to focused on the Crate Paper Oasis Ephemera included in the Scrapbook Circle Sunshine Days kit for my embellishements-here are some close ups:

 I also used the Happy Life add on- seriously LOVE the buttons!  Thanks for the visit today!!

Pinterest food find. Banana Bread

Picture and photo credit:Mom to Mom nutrition

Banana Bread Muffins

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

Author: Katie Serbinski

Recipe type: Breakfast

Serves: 12-14 muffins

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 stick butter [1/2 cup] --*I subbed half greek yogurt
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 ripe bananas

Instructions

1. Preheat over to 350. Spray muffin tin pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl cream together the butter and sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed banana. Then add banana mixture to flour mixture and stir until combined.
3. Fill muffin tins with batter [almost to the top]. Bake for 20 minute

happy.

For this layout I wanted to use SEVERAL strips of paper on my layout-I decided to cut the papers in different widths, super happy with the results:

Here are a few closeups:

For this layout I used the Sunshine Days and Happy Life add on.  Thanks for the visit today-hope I inspired you! ;)

Friday Funny.

are you summer ready?

Are you wanting to give yourself a little color?  Who is ready for a summer glow?! 3️⃣ choices

1️⃣ tanning spray 
2️⃣ tanning lotion 
3️⃣ body bronzer (3 shades, washes off with soap & water)

Which is your favorite or would you choose?!

BRONZER pictured! ;) (and I borrowed these legs?) . This stuff is AMAZING!!

Pinterest food find. Ranch Dressing.

This was SO good!  EASY quick and ready to eat right away!
*For my dairy base I used greek yogurt and mayo.

picture and recipe from Listotic.com

when waiting.

what do you do when you are waiting to be seated at a restaurant?  Crazy selfies of course!

My challenge for this layout was to use everyday photos-well, I found these beauties in there of my kids and I "patiently" waiting for our table at our favorite restaurant.

some closeups:

 I used the June kit Sunshine days from Scrapbook Circle.

Thanks for the visit today!!

Makeup Monday

Today I kept it simple:

💜foundation in Velour
💜3d lashes
💜Proper pencil liner
💜Beachfront Bronzer on eyes and cheeks
💜Brow Palette in Brunette
💜Pressed blusher in Sweet
💜Behold setting powder
💜Lips: Prudent lip liner & Hottie lip plumper
Time to apply: 10 minutes

Pinterest Food Find-Fish & Chips AND Tartar sauce

I honesty LOVE Fish & Chips and I was really craving it the other day and I stumbled on this recipe, the only ingredient that I had to run to the store for was brown rice flour-SO yummy especially with homemade tartar sauce (not a huge fan of sweet pickles but this was DELICIOUS!)

Picture and Recipe from: Food Network

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil, for deep frying
• 4 large russet potatoes
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 (12-ounce) can soda water
• 1/2 cup rice flour, for dredging
• 2 (8-ounce) cod or haddock fillets, cut in 1/2 on an angle

Directions

Heat 3-inches of the oil in a deep fryer to 325 degrees F. Alternately, heat 3-inches of oil in a deep pot. (I fried mine on the stove top because I don't own a deep fryer)

Peel the potatoes and cut them into chips, about the size of your index finger. Put the potatoes in the oil. Fry the chips for 2 to 3 minutes; they should not be crisp or fully cooked at this point. Remove the chips with a spider strainer or slotted spoon, to a paper towel-lined platter to drain.

Crank the oil temperature up to 375 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and egg. Pour in the soda water and whisk to a smooth batter. Spread the rice flour on a plate. Dredge the fish pieces in the rice flour and then dip them into the batter, letting the excess drip off.

Put the chips in the bottom of the fryer basket and carefully submerge in the hot oil. Carefully wave the battered fish into the bubbling oil before dropping them in on top of the chips. Fry the fish and chips for 4 to 5 minutes until crispy and brown. Remove the basket and drain the fish and chips on paper towels; season lightly with salt. Serve wrapped in a newspaper cone with malt vinegar and/or tartar 

Tartar Sauce:

recipe and picture from: Natasha's kitchen

Ingredients for Tartar Sauce:

1 cup real Mayonnaise
1 cup finely chopped pickles
1 Tbsp dill (fresh or frozen), OR 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp finely chopped onion is good too, but optional

Instructions:

Combine everything and stir!