Blog Lesson # 1

For those not aware - the Internet is full of free stuff these days. You can find new graphics, scrapbooking pages, digital design kits, and more everyday. It can be like shopping for free from home when ever you want. You don't scrapbook? don't shy away. The scrapbooking items that you find can be used for so much more. You can even use them to dress up your blog posts.

I have a favorite blog listed - Ikea Goddess: http://ikeagoddess.blogspot.com/. She adds free kits that she finds to her blog every day. Look for the items that say "Quick Page" (you can click on them to make them larger). These are pages that are already completely designed. You just have to drop in a photo.

Look at Monday's listings and you will find the link for this quick page:

http://misstiina.com/blog/team/ It is a ways down the page...you have to look for it. It says download here. You are going to download it and tell your computer to save it in a folder (just follow the steps) I have a special folder for all of my downloads so that they are easy to find. Most computers come with an extraction tool - you will have to extract the file because it has been compressed to take up less space on the Internet and so it will take less time to download. You can also get extractors for free off of the net.
Next, you are going to open your photo editing software. I use Creating Keepsakes scrapbook Designer (pretty cheap at Target or Walmart) Choose to design a blank page and then add this Quick Page to your blank page. Next, add the photos that you want ( you may have to crop your photo or re size it a little) and then you will click on "back one layer" that will make your photo go behind the layout and only show through the clear space that has been designed for it. Then, you chose to EXPORT your page....not Save. Your program should give you a choice to save your photo as a different kind of file and choose JPG - your program may already do this and that is great. If you get the Creating Keepsakes then you will have to do it the export way. I always export mine to a special folder called BLOG PICS.

Making any sense. It is something that you have to play around with. Be patient because once you figure it out.....you can have lots of fun with it. Here are 2 examples of the same layout.

Rockin' Fun Photo Shoot

Chesley was at a sleepover on Saturday night, so Cambry had her BFF,Morgan, over for a photo shoot. Everyone knows that I am notorious for stocking up on strange things at Target during 75 and 90 percent off sales. You can usually get tons of costumes after Halloween for dress-up etc for pennies after the holiday. I got these matching costumes for 1.99 each two years ago. The girls were cracking up when I pulled them out of the halloween container, but I think they did a great job of portraying "High Fashion"!

Soccer Pics....

The soccer season got off to a great start. Cutter's team won their game, but I don't think it really mattered. He had sooooo much fun and Chance and I got a lot of laughs out of watching those little boys -they are stinkin' hilarious. Cambry's team lost by one point, but they worked their tails off! Anyone is welcome to come watch, we didn't make too much of the first games because this is our first time playing in this league and the first games can always be a little "off", but I think this is going to be a fun season to watch and the kids love to have FANS!

Are you Ready for some SOCCER?

Come Join Our Book Club

Several of us have decided to form a Christian fiction book club blog. We have chosen our first book and it is a really good one. I have already started it and I can't put it down. So, check it out here:
http://thebookjunkiebookclub.blogspot.com/
If you join, I will add you to the list of people that can post messages so please make sure I have your blogger e-mail. Thanks!

Are Those Marshmallows?

I woke up to something lovely this morning. Milo had thrown up during the night. It was very strange looking and I thought -when did he get into a bag of Marshmallows????? - I soon discovered that it was a bar of soap that he had eaten chunk by chunk. I have no idea where he got the soap or what would possess him to eat it. Isn't that weird!

Favorite Thing Thursday: My DVR

I am embarrassed to admit that I am one of "those" people that anticipate the week of fall t.v. premiers like they anticipated Santa on Christmas morning. This pathetic addiction has only been further enabled by the invention of the Digital Video Recorder!!!! I have often said that I would give up my cell phone before my DVR. I told you I was bad and now you are all saying to yourself "eeewww - she is pathetic" LOL!

I give the DVR credit for making bedtime at our house much more peaceful. I no longer become frantic when my kids aren't in bed before my shows start. I never have to crack the whip or issue threats to make sure that no one gets up for drinks of water, bathroom breaks, or bodily injuries. I have all the time I need to take care of my children's needs because......I have a PAUSE button.

What shows are you looking forward to? Here is my short list of faves:

1. Greys Anatomy

2. Brothers and Sisters

3. ER

4. The Amazing Race

5. Ugly Betty

6. Lipstick Jungle

7. Desperate Housewives

8. Ghost Whisperer

9. House

10. Samantha Who?

11. Medium

12. Eli Stone

Recipe Tuesday: Pork Chop and Rice Casserole

PSA for all my new blogger friends out there - my SIL (Home On The Range) and I have been trying to post a new recipe every Tuesday since we started our blogs. There is no pressure and the "Over The Hedge" blog police will not come and hunt you down if you don't post a recipe, but everyone is welcome to play along. You can also post a recipe on any other day of the week. The fun thing about a blog is that you make the RULES! Ü

Pork Chops and Rice Casserole
1 package of pork chops (any kind)
1 package Lipton onion soup mix
1 cup of plain white rice (not instant or quick cooking)
3 cups of water
salt, pepper, seasonings - to taste

1. season pork chops with salt, pepper, garlic salt or any seasonings that you prefer.
2. brown pork chops on both sides
3. spray 9x13 baking dish with Pam
4. Pour rice, water, and soup mix into dish and mix with whisk. (make sure all of your rice is not at one end of the dish - (it doesn't have to
be perfectly even though)
5. place pork chops on top of water mixture in dish
6. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour at 350.

My Mom made this when we were growing up and it has become one of my family's favorite dishes too!

Remember also that when you try a recipe you may find that next time you want to use 1 and 1/2 packages of the soup mix or more rice and a little more water - most recipes are easy to alter and make it your "own" Ü

Lucky

I recently found the song that is playing on someone's blog. It is called Lucky by Jason Mraz - Love it -

Superchick

Thursday night Chesley and her BFF Abigail went to the Superchick concert at a church in Amarillo. She said they seriously rocked the house. She came home with a CD and a t-shirt and was pumped about the message they offer through their music. It is truly a rocking sound that probably isn't for older "chics"....but, I actually love it and we listen to it LOUD in the car. My kids don't realize how lucky they are that their Mom digs their tunes. LOL!

http://www.superchickonline.com/

Chesley and I love the Lyrics to Hey Hey here is a little snippit.

So hey hey, this song is for us / So put your hands in the air if you’re crazy like us / Hey hey / Hey hey, that’s freedom you hear / Comin’ right to your ear, that’s the sound from our bus / Hey hey Why try to be like someone else / When you can only be yourself? / No one can sing the song you do / Be true, be legendary you / So I won’t sell out, even if the whole world thinks I’m crazy Why kiss the feet of the people who kick you / When you can be anything that you want to?
The great thing about it is that you could play it for friends that don't "love" christian music and they probably couldn't tell at first.

Happy Birthday Jana!

My sis-in-law is celebrating her birthday today so I thought I would loan her my celebrity boyfriend for the day and send them away to a tropical island paradise. Man, I am such a nice person Ü. Hope you have a great day. I know your very own hunk of love will take you out to eat tonight...so have lots of fun.

P.S. for any of you who are wondering....it is ok with Chance for Mr. McC*naughey to be my pretend guy because....He's a LONGHORN Fan!5 things I love about Jana...

1. Her smile

2. she loves the things I love...grays anatomy, sugar cookies, and chance

3. she is a great mom

4. she laughs at everything I say

5. she cries when she is angry (thank goodness -I'm not the only one)

Happy Birthday J!

Favorite Thing Thursday: Blogs

I picked blogs this Thursday because my list of family bloggers has tripled over the last week and I am so HAPPY! I really like being able to keep in touch with everyone. Sending big thanks to those who have taken the time to set up a blog....it is appreciated my many!

Officially A Soccer MOM

Cutter and Cambry had their first soccer practices this week. Cambry is glad to be playing soccer again and Cutter is just glad to be playing any sport! This is his first team sport and he is so "over the top" THRILLED.

The Final Chapter: Random Reunion Pics!

Guess Who?

Yes, my loyal readers...(all three of you) I want you all to know I was pushed into this and then forced to sing Jailhouse Rock so that Cindy and Jill could wear those prison costumes!!!!! Do any of you have an idea just how fast that song is? I would have been much better suited for Love Me Tender or Suspicious Minds. Instead, I almost killed myself trying to keep up with that song and I threw something out in my hip and partially limped the next day. No wonder the Big "E" took some meds in his day! Well, I'm quite confident that Graceland won't be calling me the next time they need a look a like.

Dogs Howled for Miles Around!

A great picture of Cindy singing this song - can't you just feel the emotion!

Karaoke Chaos

You should never give a bunch of women a karaoke machine and some costumes. It is sure to equal trouble!

So Many Jerrys

yes...those are granny britches on my sister's head of rollers...

apparently it used to be a common practice!

One of the themes of this weekend's gathering was to honor my grandmother, Jerry Campbell Lambert. She was our "Mamma Mia" for the weekend. Several people wrote poems about their memories of her or acted out funny scenes from her past. They were all hilarious! Pictures do not do them justice!

Skits and more Skits

Doesn't everyone do skits (including costumes borrowed from the Community Theatre) and act out scenes from the past at their family reunions????? Seriously...doesn't everyone?

These pictures are from the opening act of the Disney film NEWSIES. The actors included Samantha, Lacey, Nancy (the nun), Katie, Jessica, and Rachel. It was a hard act to follow....but others did. More reunion posts still to come!