Feliz Navidad... Flan recipe

Only 3 more days til Christmas... trying out some new recipes. Our family does the whole tamales, enchiladas, rice, beans, thingy for Christmas. Along with all the cookies, fudge and this year I thought I would make FLAN. Shout out to fellow scrapbooker Bonnie for this marvelous recipe, so very easy and delicious. I tried it out on my friends at work and it was hit.





Try it, you'll like it.....

3/4 cup sugar, place in pan on medium heat till sugar is melted...(do not stir). Sugar will turn a golden brown. Move the pan around to make sure all the sugar has melted, then QUICKLY pour into flan pan or 8x8 pan (which is what I used). Set aside.

1 cup whole milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 whole eggs
3 egg yokes
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond

Mix all these ingredients gently. Make sure your sugar mixture is cool, then pour your egg mixture ontop. Set the pan in another roasting pan and add hot water around the sides of your flan mixture. Bake in preheated oven 350 degrees for 1 hour or until firm.

When ready to serve, run a knife along the rim of the pan and invert the flan onto your serving dish and enjoy....
Feliz Navidad-Prospero Ano y Felicidad

Jingle all the way from our house to yours...

Mr & Mrs Claus were a bit tuckered out tonight for family photos, But they hung in there the best they could. What great sports they are. Wishing you a joyous Christmas season from our house to yours.

Have a Sweet Christmas

This weekend marks the beginning of my Christmas cookies and candy making for the holiday. I have been collecting for weeks different sprinkles and recipes. Always wanting to try something new, but usually going back to the old favorites. I did come across a new one though that I just think I'm going to have to try. I saw this on Elizabeth Hicks blog. It is white chocolate bark, with crushed peppermint sticks and oreo cookies. It looked real easy and fun to make. Here are her directions.

Peppermint Cookie Crunch Bark

1 lb. white chocolate melts
1/2 cup of peppermint crunch
1/2 cup of crushed oreos
Directions: Put white chocolate melts in a Pyrex dish and melt for 30 seconds and then mix. Continue to melt in 15 seconds increments until chocolate is smooth. Add crushed oreos and peppermint crunch and mix thoroughly. Lay out on waxed paper and spread out evenly to a 1/4 in thick layer. Let dry and harden for 45 minutes. Break up into pieces and eat till you get sick! It also tastes really yummy melted in some hot chocolate!

Thank you Liz for this really neat recipe... Gonna try it this weekend

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL... STM CHALLENGE #112

This weeks challenge at Scrapping the Music was creating a layout for the song "Something Beautiful". The first chorus really spoke to me because recently my life took a new direction. After 30 years of marriage, I am starting over again. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to have a new beginning. G45 Communique paper seemed to fit also, as it's time for something beautiful. TFL...xoxo

Abundant Blessings

Got these pumpkins at Michaels Craft Store and wanted to do something a little different with them. Very simple... so many different things you could do with these. This is going on my Thanksgiving table this year. From our house to yours... Wishing you all "Abundant Blessings"

Family, Friends, Freedom

Thankful November 13th... Bloggers... please take a moment and enjoy this short video. We truly are a blessed nation. This is a beautiful tribute to Thanksgiving, and a reminder of what we have so much to be thankful for. Family, Friends, Freedom

Sweet Gifts

Thankful November 12...Bought some fabulous jams from an old retired friend... Boy she would love it if she knew that's what I referred to her as...lol... I should say lucky, old, retired, friend. Lucky as she is at home doing what she loves. Cooking, crafts, gardening... otherwise known as "The Good Life"... Every year I try to pick up some of her wonderful jams to give as Christmas presents, wrapped together with some french bread (that I happen to make with my bread maker). This makes for a simple but heartfelt gift. Remember this Christmas to try to keep it simple. It's not the price of the gift, but the love that is put into the gift giving that counts. And by the way... the best gift ever was the fact that Jesus was born, "We love because he loved us first. " P.S. Blanca... thank you for the yummies :)

Nov 11, Thankful... Thank you to all who have served and are now serving to protect our family, friends, and country. God Bless you !

Beautifully imperfect

Thankful... Nov 9th...I received this video on an email this morning, it was precious. What a wonderful reminder of the how perfect imperfection is in our life... Please turn off my volume at the bottom of my blog to enjoy this film.

Thankful on Nov 6th

I recently visited this wonderful art store in South Pasadena called Zinnia which is where these pictures came from. This quaint art store is packed full of doodads and knickknacks useful to mixed media artists and paper crafters .
When I walked in I truly got goose bumps. The colors, the textures, the oddities, all waiting to be painted, glued, made into something wonderfully creative. I am so thankful for the gift of creativity. It allows me to expand myself to places I normally might not go. It beckons the imperfection in myself. Some of my oops have become my most favorite things. A calmness takes over my spirit that I can't really explain. That creativity can be from painting, crafting, or even writing this blog. Creativity allows me to surrender myself, it's priceless. As a child, I could color for hours and it brought such joy to me. I still to this day try to keep that in mind, making sure that whatever I am doing it brings a smile to my face.... not the end product necessarily but the journey.
To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. Joseph Chilton Pearce

Thankful for my J.O.B.

Thankful on Nov 5th.....I am fortunate to not have 1 job but 2... there are soooo many people that are currently out of work. My first job I have worked at for 34 years and can't ask for a better company. Pays well, has good benefits, and not too much stress. Worked here before I was married, before I had a child, before many things in my life. Working for a large corporation, I've seen the company go through many changes. And one thing I have come to realize is that enjoy and appreciate TODAY.... In 6 months from now, I will be looking back on today and it will be considered "the good old days". My second job, if you want to call it that, is at my local scrapping store, and I am very fortunate to be able to work there. There I can be creative, there I can meet with other friends that enjoy the same hobby as I do. So today..... I am thankful for my jobs.

Sibling Rivalry????

(Thankful on Nov 4th) Sibling rivalry is something I don't ever remember having with my sister. I only ever thought of her as my baby sis. I am fortunate to call her my friend, my prayer warrior, my partner in crime (when we go shopping) and my soon to be business partner. She is the one person I can call and she will drop just about anything to come to my need. I say just about anything because she is a remarkable wife and mother also. She is creative and artistic beyond immaginable. She is humble when it comes to herself, but will start a rumble if a family member or friend are being challenged. She's loyal and trustworthy. I have always believed that it is important for people to know how you feel about them while they are still here and it's extremly important that she know's just how thankful I am for her. The uncountable times we have pee'd our pants laughing over the silliest things. We all have that someone in our life that allows us to be "ourself" whether it's good or bad, they choose to hang in there with you when the rest of the world walks away. Take the time to let them know how thankful you are for them. I love you Shawny....xoxox... for that special creative inspiration you need, check out her blog www.kissingtinyflowers-shawn.blogspot.com

Oh what a beautiful morning...

(Thankful on Nov 3) In 1621, a feast took place that was shared between Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians to celebrate the harvest and to give thanks for the bounty of their crops. This month we are to celebrate Thanksgiving and I wanted to take time everyday to reflect upon something that I am thankful for. So many times I get busy with my schedule and do not take time to give praise where praise is due. This morning I awoke to a beautiful morning... the sunrise, the coolness in the air, and something that is rare with me, "a good nights sleep". It's amazing how much energy you have when your body has been rested. I had time to make my pot of coffee and go outside and water all my rose bushes. Then sit a bit and play fetch with my puppies. What a difference a goods nights sleep does for you. Thank you Lord for resting my body and then the gift of life to awake for a new day awaiting.

It's all in the accessories...

Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo Put 'em together and what have you got Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo. Had to post this picture that I took of my little ones. They are so very patient with me. NO.... this is not their costume, it's not Halloween yet. You'll have to wait to see that. Everyone have fun looking for that special accessory for your Halloween duds....

"LOST MY HEAD OVER YOU"

This was a fun project...... I puchased a paper mache body form and wanted to do something a little different with it. With Halloween right around the corner, it inspired me to do something a little "creepy"....lol...I used G45 "Fashionista paper for the main dress, and also SEI suede paper for the bodice. Added lace and Glimmer misted it with "Sandy Beach" to change up the color, also used Ranger alcohol ink in raspberry to highlight pieces of the hair.
The head was cut off a doll and grunged up a bit, because after all this lass did loose her head over someone special in her life.Added some trinkets, of angel wings, beads, ribbon, heart made from grungeboard and embossed with glitter as well as sign made from Tim Holtz fragments. But I think the most fun I had was using an old Simplicity pattern I had from years back...Made ruffles for the back of the dress as well as the collar and puffy sleeves.
A blog that I frequent had a challenge to do something with ruffles....Moxie Fab World. I would encourage you to check this blog out to see other amazing projects to inspire your creativity. It was fun doing something different and out of the box. It's always good to extend yourself, never know what your going to learn. TFL

7 Gypsies week @ Blue Moon Scrapbooking

Everyone wishes they were a gypsy sometime in there life. Just throwing there cares to the wind and seeing where life takes you. Well Blue Moon Scrapbooking is having a 7 Gypsies week. Check out their blog for details to some great 7 Gypsy product giveaways.

Believe....Joy....Prayer

Been down with the flu lately and haven't had a chance to do much blogging, but came upon these pictures I recently took and they so inspired me to write something down. Having something or someone to believe in is so important to me. Can't imagine my life if I didn't have the Lord Jesus in my life. So very blessed to have a heavenly Father that I can go to about everything. Which leads me to the next picture... Joy.... we all have those times when we just don't feel like pulling ourselves out of bed. Recently I've been faced with having to make alot of difficult decisions...Yes, being human, I do tend to worry and stress, but their is a sense of comfort and joy deep down inside that I know is only there because of the Lord. He never promised me that I wouldn't have trials in my life, but He has promised to never leave or forsake me. Which brings me to my last photo...Prayer
Wow, what can I say, do you know the power of prayer? How thankful I am that I have a heavenly father that I can go to anytime day or night and talk to him. Even times I don't know quite what to say... God knows. It is such a comfort inside to know that God hears all my prayers & every prayer is answered accordinging to His will.

"YOU ARE THE BEST THING"

Scrapping the Music has a challenge every week, where they provide a song to inspire a layout. Well this week the song was "You are the best thing" by Ray LaMontagne... great song. I had been working on this layout of my mother, sister and myself, and was torn on the title of the layout. Well this song couldn't be a better title. Can't imagine my life without my mother or sister. When we get together, you would think we were best friends, and that's probably because we are. The strength, determination, and independence my mom taught me, softened by the faithful, trustworthiness love of my sister, makes my life well rounded. I am a better person because of them. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't appreciate the both of them. Mom and Shawn..... "YOU ARE THE BEST THING" xoxoxox

Successful weekend

This last weekend was the Ontario Scrapbook Expo. You would think after scrapbooking now for several years, and having just about every little gadget or paper around, what more could I need or "want". Well, once again the Expo did not disappoint. So glad to see our crafty industry is brewing with wonderful new designers that provide new technique as well as products. Starting off the weekend, my sister (Shawn, check out her amazing blog) and I worked at the crop til about midnight. Crazy, fun, ladies, full of energy and loving every minute of scrapping their family and friends memories. Then onto Saturday morning, it's our day to shop and feast our eyes on all the pretties. So much fun to see how many people are just learning about scrapbooking and are so excited. My sister and I met many wonderful vendors, and saw old friends. Got to purchase some new product that we have been wanting to try out. Can't wait to play with Melissa Frances mica flakes & Smooch ink but I think our pick for the best vendor was a company from Canada "Local King Rubber Stamp" selling these unbelievable rubber stamps. Now I'm not much a stamper, but couldn't resist the detail on these great stamps. The price was also great. Check out their website . Then onto the crop for Saturday nite. Tired... are u kidding me, just getting started. The crop lasted till 11:30. Hey I got 3 pages done. Quite an accomplishment for even me. All and all, this weekend was a blast and a success .

Let's have church

We all get those crazy emails that are just a waste of our time. We just simply hit the delete button and don't bother to watch. Well this morning I received an email with this attachment and I'm so glad that I didn't hit that delete button. For all of those out there that believe in the "grace of God"... enjoy this video...be sure to turn off my player first at the bottom of my blog.

BOO-ti-ful HALLOWEEN

Halloween is not one of my most favorite holidays... but I really enjoy decorating and the weather and the candy...etc. etc. Lately I've been out and some of the local stores are really decorated quite cute. I would consider this the "Boo-ti-ful side of Halloween". Loving the colors and textures. Make no bones about it (NO PUN INTENDED) skullys come in all shapes and sizes, and even lil ol' me has one or two of these lying around my house. Hope you have a wicked time decorating your home. bwahahahaha