...{...Looks Yummy...}...

Sorry for the hiatus...I've been in my crafting closet (literally, my craft space is a small closet) making Christmas cards and in the kitchen cooking up holiday goodies.  I have been taking pics and will share soon.  But for today, I'll just share some links.

I'm always on the lookout for new recipes to try.  Here are a few I've come across today that look yummy and maybe one day I'll get around to making...


Homemade Caramel Sauce

Caramel Wrapped Marshmallows

Sweet Corn Pudding

Smoked Salmon Egg Casserole with Potatoes and Dill

Fleur de Sel Caramels

Holiday Chex Mix

Mini Salmon Quiches

Caprese Turnovers

Pumpkin Spiced Truffles

Mini Pommes Anna

Bacon and Egg Muffins

One Bite Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

Chicken Rice Avocado Soup

...{...Shopping Haul - BLACK FRIDAY - Silhouette...}...

Ahh...last bit of blogging about my shopping on black friday.  So first was the big haul from Two Peas and then the even bigger haul from Joann.  Now...the final box to arrive was my...SILHOUETTE SD!!!  I was sooo excited to get this.  I've been wanting it for...okay a few months really.  Evidently I've been living under a rock and hadn't heard about it until a few months ago. 

I've never been one to want a die-cut machine besides my little Cuttlebug.  Problem w/ it is that you have to buy the die's and it's only so big.  Plus storage for all the die and embossing folders.  But I knew I didn't want a Cricut 'cause you have to buy the cartridges and I'd never really come across one that I just loved.  Then...oh my...I spotted it in a YouTube video...Are you serious!...a die-cut machine that you can create your own graphics for...no cartridges required.  The graphic designer in me started singing HALLELUJAH!  So I kept my eye out for a good sale.  Unfortunately I didn't get the best deal, which was at Overstock, but I did get it on sale and am sooooo excited to start using it.  For now it's sitting in it's box, probably until the chaos of Christmas is over.

So...do you own one?
Do you have any tips for me on using it?
How about some links for tutorials/freebies/projects?

...{...Shopping Haul - BLACK FRIDAY - Joann...}...

This is part 2 of my black friday shopping...you can see part 1 here.  Turns out Joann's website was having a great sale too.  Pretty sure everything I ordered from them was on sale.  Check in tomorrow as I finish up posting about my black friday shopping...

...{...what i got...}...

• liquid pearls - white opal, silver, petal pink, baby blue

• sassafras lass - stamp - quack quack

• american crafts (do you have a thickers addiction...yeah, me too)
- thickers - subway (red),  giggles (brown, cream), lax (mulberry), lullaby (charcoal)
- stamp - spritz
- ribbon - dear lizzy lovely

• jenni bolin - pearl and rhinestone stick pins - cream white

• color box - metallic cat's eye pigment - bronze, gold, silver, copper

• kaisercraft stamps
- tea at elsie's (yes, I have a thing for a doily print)
- konstruct

• crafty secrets stamp - sew special

• dcwv - la creme matstack

• bazzill - paper pack- blackberry swirl (bought to try out the grey...looking for a great neutral grey cardstock)

• advantus  stamp - paper girl

• prima - gallery roses - quillen

• inkadinkado stamp - mini birthday turtle, chandeliers, peppermint twist

• tattered angels (yes, i have an addiction to them)
- frosted memories stencil kit
- timeless romance stencil kit
- seaside stencil kit
- winter trees stencils
- fanciful stencils

• ek success - stamp-a-ma-jig

• fiskars
- stamp press
- replacement blades (for the paper trimmer i've had for years)

• tonic - guillotine trimmer (been wanting one for a while now)

• basic grey - kioshi paper pack

• k & co
- adhesive borders - que sera sera, handmade, jubilee
- cardstock die-cuts - que sera sera
- feathers - handmade
- grand adhesions - butterflies, floral, serendipity butterfly, sweets

• creative imaginations - die-cut journaling pad - breathless

• making memories
- deco glitter brads - antique gold, antique copper, antique silver
- metal frame flower

• webster's pages (love them...yes, i'd like to have all their stuff)
- journaling cards - lullaby lane, life's portrait

• karen foster - ribbon - prom

...{...Shopping Haul - BLACK FRIDAY - TwoPeas...}...

I prefer to do ALL my black friday shopping from the comfort of my home - in my pajamas and in front of my mac...  I've braved the crowds once and I don't really think I have the patience for it.  It might be fun to just tag along w/ someone sometime...but I don't like to shop that way with all the crowds and shoving and waiting...ugh.  Anyways I did 3 BIG orders for myself for scrapbooking stuff.  So this is the first and I'll share the others over the next two days...  Oh, most of the goodies from Two Peas were on sale.  AND there was free shipping for orders over $25.  I did pick up a few goodies that were not on sale but I'd had my eye on them for a while.


ps...I was SOOOO excited when my packages arrived.  Then I got sick and haven't even felt like looking at the stuff.  BUT, I'm much better now and am once again excited about using all these goodies.

...{...what i got...}...

• tombow - mono adhesive permanent (not on sale, but i went ahead and grabbed some cause i thought i couldn't find it locally...wrong, my local m's has it...oh well...you can never have too much adhesive on hand)

• american crafts (quickly becoming one of my fave lines)
 - zing embossing powder - pewter metallic
 - stamp - wonderland phrases & accents dear lizzy christmas
 - stamp large - wishes phrases & accents dear lizzy christmas 
 - dimensional stickers - jingle phrases dear lizzy christmas 
 - paper - delicate queen die cut 12x12 enchanted dear lizzy 

• ranger industries - diamond stickles glitter glue

• k & co
- paper - homemade lofty next specialty mat
- paper - elegance silhouette paper pack

• basic grey (yes i love them, a lot)
- paper - jovial 6x6 paper pad
- paper - kraft paper pack
- paper - manilla paper pack
- paper - white paper pack
- ribbon - doilies kraft
- ribbon - doilies manilla
- ribbon - doilies white

• bo bunny
- album - licorice scallop mini edgy album
- paper - sophie die-cut frills
- paper - olivia die-cut and paper pad
- paper - olivia noteworthy journal pads

• pink paislee
- stickers - old school alphabet glitter
- ribbon - old school tinsel
- paper tape - black dot artisan
- paper tape - bayberry artisan
- paper tape - grey artisan
- paper tape - orange artisan

• uni ball - signo gel pen broad point white (this wasn't on sale either but after seeing kristina werner use them on her projects i knew i needed one too - actually i ordered two...the one i have skips all the time and just drives me crazy when i try and use it)

• cosmo cricket - chipboard - sweet sparkle alphabet

• crate paper - restoration 6x6 paper pad

• maya road - ribbon - pink small organza

• tattered angels (i'm quickly becoming an addict)
- glitter glaze - pewter
- glitter glam - golden goddess
- glitter glam - espresso bean

...{...Shopping Haul - 12.04 - Joann...}...

The closest Joann is about an hour from me.  So when I was able to swing by there a week ago Saturday I grabbed a few things.  Of course they were having a sale!  I saved about $11 and yes, everything I bought was on sale...except for the studio g stamps...

...{...what i got...}...
• studio g stamps plus gems - various holiday - 4 @ $1 each
• darico - self stick gems 78pc - earth colors
• cloud 9 - adhesive gems 10pc - orange (golden color)
• zig millennium pen 01 .25mm
• k & co. dimensional stickers - the sunshine state, thank you, paris pleasures, dream big
• fiskars stamps - cupcakes and more (cupcakes, ice cream, popcorn, flowers)

...{...Sunday Outfit...}...

So I'm wearing my new top from this post.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4 -
~ Love ya - Jessica B ~

...{...Sunday Love...}...

• Ruche
     ...just ran across this shop this week...love all their stuff and love that it's not incredibly expensive...

• Holly Farrell
     ...saw her paintings in an email this week...makes me want to paint again...

• Poison Bolero
     ...beautiful color with lovely ruffles and flowers...plus it's made of silk...

• Red Angora Beret
     ...I'm all into hats this winter...well really for a while now...the white flower just adds to it's beauty...

• Wreath
      ...I've always had a thing for wreaths...this one is so small and cute...

• Pink Holly Hobby Dress
     ...if I had a little girl, I'd be dressing her in this...too cute!...

• Flower Headband
     ...I want one...like really, really want...and I keep thinking I'll just make me one, but haven't yet...

• Craftily Ever After
     ...ran across her site yesterday...gosh I LOVE all her creativity...

...{...Shopping Haul - 12.04 - Belk...}...

So the same day I did this shopping I also went to Belk.  Now my first impression of this store when I went to one this past summer was "old lady" stuff.  But that day I did find a really cute dress I wore A LOT this summer.  That same day my mom got quite a few jean skirts.  So this past weekend when we were shopping she had me look up the location of the nearest Belk so she could run in there.  LOL...I ended up buying as much or more than she did.  Turns out they were having a GREAT sale that day and had some really cute pieces.

And like I mentioned here I have a thing for sweaters.  And yes, gray, is my new favorite color.  If something comes in gray this year I buy it in that color.  My mother is happy as it used to be brown, which is her least favorite color :-)

...{...what i got...}...

sunny leigh lace print top
madison ruffle blouse - gray
madison sequin top - turquoise
rxb beaded cardigan - gray
joseph a. turtleneck - gray

Everything was either on sale or clearance plus there was an extra %off on a few things.  All in all here I saved $180.83, which is yes, more than I spent!  I LOVE a good deal :-)

...{...Shopping Haul - 12.04 - Hobby Lobby & LSS...}...

Last Saturday I spent the day shopping w/ my mom.  In all honesty Dad went too, but we dropped him off at his favorite book store.  There he stayed all day...and I mean ALL DAY while we were out shopping.  Anyways we went to a bunch of stores, but this post is just about what I found at Hobby Lobby and a kind of Local Scrapbook Store (it's about a 1-1/2hr drive) Signed • Sealed • Delivered.  There is only one, yes one, lss somewhat close to me.  At first I was fine w/ Michaels and Hobby Lobby, but not anymore.  I need more variety!  Anyway...

...{...what i got...}...

Anna Griffin - Calisto Christmas - 24 Designer Journal Tags - Signed • Sealed • Delivered
...I think these are gonna be great for Christmas cards...yes, I know I am WAY behind on making them...
American Crafts - Dear Lizzy - Belleflower Stamp - Signed • Sealed • Delivered
...oh how I LOVE this stamp...the one sentiment is "Birds of a Feather Sip Tea Together"...yep, LOVE it!!!
American Crafts - Zing Embossing Powder - Rose - Hobby Lobby
...when I can't find anything I really want to use my 40% coupon on, lately I just get more of this embossing powder...

...{...Dinner Tonight...}...

Dinner tonight...I'll let you know how I like the mac'n'cheese as I've not tried Annies before.

EDITED:  Okay, my review - Yummy!  Honestly.  It tastes just as good as the kind you probably grew up w/ as a child.  And I actually think it has a smokey or sharp cheese flavor that I liked a lot...Yes, I did add butter and cream (I usually use soy milk but I wanted an extra creaminess) which totally takes away from the organic goodness.  But every little bit counts right!?!  I'll for sure be buying this stuff again...






Ps...still fighting off this cold but will try and post another shopping haul tonight...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4 -
~ Love ya - Jessica B ~

...{...Shopping Haul - 12.01 - Kohls...}...

Hey.  I've had sooo much I've wanted to post this week (including several shopping hauls) but I've been fighting off a cold (no voice, super sore throat, and no, it's not strep, been to the dr.) since last Friday.  So I've been trying to get lots of rest and been staying offline.  But I thought I'd just jump on real quick tonight to get a little post up.

A week ago I had to do a press check for work (where I go to the printer and watch printed materials coming off the press and give my approval so they can print the job).  So I had a bit of extra time to waste and ran into Kohls to do some Christmas shopping.  But of course I had to do some looking for me too ;-)  I did walk out w/ a lot of my Christmas shopping done and picked up these few goodies for myself.

I have a thing for sweaters, especially cardigans...just can't seem to get enough.  Everything was on sale that day plus I had a coupon for an extra %15 off my entire purchase.  For all my shopping - my 3 sweaters plus 5 other gift items - I saved $226.73!...SWEET!!!  Wish I could show you what all I got, but since the other 5 items are gifts, I'm only showing what I got for myself...

...{...what i got...}...

chaps ruffled sweater - purple
chaps shawl collar cardigan - red
chaps striped cardigan - grey

...oh and here I am wearing the grey sweater...

...{...Sunday Outfit...}...

Wearing my new cardigan from this post.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4 -
~ Love ya - Jessica B ~

...{...my little pieces of heaven...}...

Just like to share the things that have brightened up my day!...as I often tell my friends..."it's like a little piece of Heaven!"...

.....

• drinking a warm cup of celestial seasonings lemon zinger herbal tea - two tea bags per cup w/ a spoon of lemon (soothes my sore throat...ugh winter)

• a day full of shopping w/ my mom

• discovering that in 2011 we will have a ross store w/in about an hour's drive - which i also believe it will be the first one in our razorback state - i love this store almost as much as my beloved tjmaxx...but not quite as much

• getting some cute goodies at belk today - this store continues to surprise me w/ some really cute clothes every so often...oh and the fact that i saved $180...which, yes, is more than i spent...

• browsing zappos and discovering that they not only have wide-calf boots, but just as importantly - they have free shipping both ways...i feel lots of shoe shopping coming on...

• getting home from a day full of shopping to discover my joann's package that i ordered on black friday has arrived today...lots and lots and lots of goodies...will share pics of this great haul soon...

• cute cynthia rowley gray cashmere beret i found at tjmaxx today...it jingles!

...hmmm...no, my life does not revolve around shopping...but it's my favorite hobby!

...{...Embellish Magazine Holiday Colors Challenge...}...

I always LOVE the challenges over at Embellish Magazine, but I've never participated before.

The colors to play along w/ were Red, Green, Pink and Brown.  And it needed to be Holiday themed.  Okay, so I'm pushing the bounds on the "Holiday" part, but I wanted a thank you card to use during the Holiday season.

I pulled out my copic and prismacolor markers for this card to use w/ the Fiskars Latte Love stamp.  Kinda felt like I was back in college blending the colors together.  Oh and the doily lace border at the bottom was cut from cream color cardstock but I sprayed it w/ 2 colors of Glimmer Mist - Oriental Poppy and Walnut Gold.

...{...how i made this...}...
• paper
papertrey ink - dark chocolate, vintage cream
basic grey - infuse


• stamps & ink
fiskars stamp - latte love
copic - markers - g24 willow, g21 lime green, rv11 pink, rv14 begonia pink
prismacolor - markers - crimson red, light tan, dark umber, cool grey (10%, 20% and 30%)
tattered angels - glimmer mist - oriental poppy, walnut gold
stazon - cherry pink, dove grey
zig - millenium pen 05 - black
ranger - stickles - platinum

• adhesives
paper studio - sticky dots
scotch - atg
tombo mono - aqua liquid glue

• tools
fiskars - paper trimmer
martha stewart - score board, paper punch
we r memory keepers - crop-a-dile corner chomper
ek success - cutter bee scissors 

...{...Shopping Haul - 11.30...}...

First let me start by saying, "Hello, my name is Jessica and I am a shopaholic!"  LOL!

Thought this might be a little fun and therapeutic to start blogging my shopping.  What do you think?  Would you like to see what I buy and the great deals I get on stuff?  Or do you think it feels more like bragging?  Let me know in the comments below and then I'll take it from there whether or not to continue.

So today at lunch I ran over to Michaels.  A fellow pea over at TwoPeas put on the message board that she had picked up an ATG (scotch advanced tape glider) over at Michaels this past weekend.  And after reading such raving reviews for this product I really wanted to get my hands on one...BONUS it was pink for breast cancer awareness!  I walked in w/ my 40% off coupon w/ only the intention of picking up the ATG and a couple things my mom had asked me to pick up for her while I was there.  But of course, while walking around looking for the ATG I also ran into some other great deals I just couldn't leave behind!

...{...the haul...}...
• scotch - atg - pink - 40% off w/ coupon
• stampendous - music score wood-mounted stamp - 40% off
• making memories - daisy gem shape sticker - $1.25 on clearance
• michaels and studio 18 - 3 acrylic stamps - $1 each
• dcwv - the four seasons 12x12 stack - 40% off