Just playing around with my Stampin' Up order that just arrived from the workshop I went to a few weeks ago.

Wooohoooo... I actually paper crafted today!

and the insides:

I got my Stampin' Up order today and love it! :) I went to a SU workshop a couple weeks ago and she made a similar masculine card. I used different papers and she didn't use ribbon, so I can't take credit for the design, but I thought they turned out cute.... (in a guy kinda way!) lol

What I know for certain

Just a digi layout about my family. This is the second to final lesson in the Type + Writer 2 class.

One of my fav photos of Ashlea and Alex

This just didn't come together like I had pictured. Not sure if it's my choice of papers or what... I will probably redo it, but I need to walk away for a bit and look at it tomorrow.. maybe I'll like it more (or less) tomorrow.

Just a funny story

I was journaling today and this memory flashed in my mind. I wanted to document it because I still get teased about it. Someday, I hope my kids will read these things and remember that I was more than just "MOM".

Type + WRiter 2, Another lesson completed

I had fun with this one. I struggled trying to think of a topic, my daily journaling didn't have anything to do with our "concert nights", but it was about Doug, so I guess it did inspire the journaling I ended up using.

Just some simple cards

Just wanted to try out the preserves cartridge. It's really got some cute images.

Ashlea and I went to a Stampin' Up Workshop last night. This is her very first card!!! Woohoo... Way to go Ashlea. The demo had us all make a version of the same card the only variation being the sentiment and the pattern paper.

Here's the one I made:

Type + Writer 2, Lesson Completed

Another Jessica Class Lesson completed.

Type + Writer 2, Lesson 1

I finished my first class in Type + Writer 2. I didn't follow exact instructions, but pretty close. I see a couple typos, but I put this together this morning before work and I had to hurry, I'll fix it and repost. What happened to "Slow down, Lorrie?"... I tell ya!

Happy Dyngus Day Everyone!

Ok... so I know that not everywhere celebrates Dyngus Day, but it's very big here. It's the Monday after Easter. It's a polish holiday (no, I'm not polish) and it's celebrated with Polish Sausage, or a Pierogi, drinks and it's generally a light-hearted holiday. Around here all the restaurants observe it. So... Happy Dyngus Day Everyone! :) Another day of eating... UGH! (Think Polish Cinco de Mayo or a Polish St Patty's Day....that type of holiday).

The nicest Email

Hi there. I wanted to share this lovely email I received from the lady that prints my 12 x 12 layouts. I always send my prints to be printed for whatever I've worked on during the week on Saturdays and pick them up on Sundays. Look at this email I got yesterday.

I picked them up on Sat since today was a holiday and I got to meet the lady that wrote this. She told me that she gets so excited to see what I'm going to send and told me how my layouts have brought her to tears (not sure that's a good thing)... but I was very, very touched by her kind words. Normally when I pick them up on Sundays she is not there, but she said she always prints them on Saturday so they will be ready for me when they open on Sunday.

Another class project

I started this Jessica class quite a while ago and just remembered that I never finished it. It's a rainy, dreary day here today, so I finished. This is using the pen tablet class... harder than it looks is all I've got to say!! LOL

Final Class Project

This is my final class project for the class. We had to write a "fairy tale" about an object that we have a personal connection with. I don't think my layout is quite what Jessica had in mind (I imagine she thought light, uplifting fairy tale), but it fit my situation. ........and yes, I saw the typo. :(

Almost done with my Jessica class

This is the second to last class in the Type + Writer series. One more to go. The journaling assignments get increasingly more challenging. I almost gave up on this class. I've got my final class journaling finished, but I've not had a chance to complete the layout.

Golden Grilled Ham Steaks

This is just the best ever recipe for ham steaks on the grill. We're doing it for Easter. Doug's sister cooked this for us a couple years ago and the kids (and I) went wild for it. It's the best ham I've ever had.. and I'm not even exaggerating! When you buy a ham, take it to the meat counter and ask the butcher to cut it into 1" steaks. Yes, I said 1". I bought a 1/2 a ham and he cut it into about 7 steaks.... it takes about 3 steaks to feed my family of 5 (if Doug and Rich are here). So I just freeze the rest and use them in the same way later.

Golden Grilled Ham Steaks:

Mix in a gallon ziplock bag:
1/2 Ham cut into 1" steaks.  (Note:  3 1" steaks feeds 4-5 people)

1 Cup Ginger Ale

1 Cup Orange Juice

1/2 C Firmly packed brown sugar.. (I use dark, but you can use either)

3 TBS Vegetable Oil

1 tsp White Wine Vinegar

2 tsp dry mustard

3/4 tsp ground ginger (I use fresh, but you can use powdered and it's just as good)

1/2 tsp ground cloves

Now add your ham steaks to the bag and marinate for up to 24 hours, but not less than 2 hours... (we usually marinate about 1/2 a day or so)

When you're ready to grill, reserve about 1 cup of the marinade and simmer on the stove until warm (we just throw it on the grill in a pan).

Grill ham steaks over slow coals about 10-15 minutes on each side just to heat the steak through.. drizzle with the warmed marinade... now eat up... it's SOOOOOOO YUMMY!!!