Betcha didn't know...This stuff about our Design Team...

..once dated the keyboardist from Nine Inch Nails.



...just ran a half marathon this past weekend (not bad for someone who quit smoking 7 years ago--way to go, Tina!!)

...lived in Bolivia three times for a total of two and a half years when she was a kid. She lived in a haunted house in a small village and didn't have hot water in their house, nor did they have a shower or bathtub. They had to take sponge baths in a giant sink outside that was designed for washing clothes. Every few weeks, they would walk a couple of miles of dirt road to a public shower where they would pay for the luxury of taking a shower. Then they'd walk back home on the dirt roads, covered in dirt!

...is due with a baby boy in a little less than three months, and is in the middle of an awesome vacation with her family in the Grand Canyon.

Pretty cool, eh??

Have a wonderful weekend, friend. :)

Betcha didn't know...Photography Tips

*Rhee Drummond is not only the most awesome cook, but she is also quite a photographer. Known as the Pioneer Woman, she offers many of her gorgeous shots for free here on her website for your own personal use. How cool would one be on a 20x20 canvas?

This article on composition is awesome, and this follow up article also proved to be informative and fascinating. Love that site.

*Sometimes I point my camera in a direction and just take pictures and don't even look through the viewfinder--and end up with awesome, unusual shots. Kind of fun to just play.

*To prevent camera shake, breathe out as you snap the release button--don't hold your breath.

Enjoy your day!!

Betcha didn't know...Gardening Tips

*If you stick a dryer sheet in your pocket before you garden, the mosquitoes are likely to leave you alone.

*Milorganite fertilizer is my secret to everything. It doesn't burn and it will give anything you want to grow a boost. I can't say enough about it!

*Squirrels hate cayenne pepper and won't come near it.

*For ant problems, create small mountains of cornmeal. The ants will eat it and not be able to digest it, and die. It may take a little while (especially if it rains) but it is a safe alternative with pets and small children.

Enjoy your Wednesday!!

Betcha didn't know...Food Storage Tips

*Store your newly opened blocks of cheese in aluminum foil--it will stay fresh much longer and not mold.

*Peppers with three bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating raw. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

*Add a small amount (1 Tbsp.) of water when cooking ground beef. The water will help rinse away the greasy fat and is equivalent to buying lean meat, but with the flavor.

*When using canned store bought frosting, be sure to whip it with your mixer a few minutes before putting it on the cake. It will nearly double in size--giving you loftier frosting and fewer calories per slice!!

*For a really rich scrambled egg, add a couple of spoonfuls of heavy cream, cream cheese or sour cream to the eggs before beating, then whip them for an extra minute--delish!

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Betcha didn't know...Cleaning Tips

Going to start off a whole week of "Betcha didn't know" tips that will hopefully teach you a thing or two!! Today: Cleaning tips!!
*You should scrub your lint catcher from your dryer every six months. Even if you're meticulous about removing the lint, the build up from dryer sheets over time creates the motor to burn out quicker than normal. When I tried this tip, water just gathered in a pool and didn't seep through the screen until I scrubbed the residue. Cool tip!

*If you own a whirlpool tub, fill it with the hottest water you can, and add a cup of bleach and a Cascade Dishwater Packet, and turn on the jets for a solid 20 minutes for a good cleaning. When the time is up, drain the tub water and refill it with clean water and run it for another 10 minutes with the jets on as a rinse. No need to purchase those expensive Jacuzzi tablets to maintain your spa tub experience!!

*Clean dryer sheets used as a cleaning cloth cleans vinyl slat blinds AND makes your place smell fresh and clean.

*To clean your garbage disposal, pour a cup of baking soda and half a cup of white vinegar down the drain (watch it bubble--the kids love this!) and rinse with cold water. Fresh and clean!!

Enjoy your Monday!!

Playing with the June WIP Kits...

I gotta say...this one has been fun to play with...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend...

June WIP Kits...

The June WIP Kits are available for viewing on the "Monthly Kits" page of the blog!! The Main Kit sold out to subscribers and there are less than 4 of the Project kit and 2 of the Add-ons available. If you are interested in ordering, please email Trish at Turay413@gmail.com with your paypal invoice address. Thanks so much!!

ETA: The ADD-ON kits are now also SOLD OUT, and there is only ONE Father's Day Project Kit left. I'll keep you posted!!

Introducing TWO new WIP Designers...

So happy to make this announcement!! You will recognize these two wildly talented ladies as past guest designers...Please welcome...

Jing-Jing Nickel and Debbi Tehrani!!

You will begin seeing Jing-Jing's creations with the June kit (up for sale tomorrow!) and Debbi's creations beginning with the July kit!!

Be sure to click on their names above and visit their blogs. You'll be seeing a lot more of these talented ladies in the near future!!

Welcome!! SO happy you're on our team...

I {heart} Kristina Proffitt

I can't tell you how wonderful it was working with Kristina these past two weeks. She is the one responsible for this beautiful new blog, and I can't recommend her highly enough. I knew what I wanted and had worked with others before in trying to convey my vision, but never has it worked out like this. The clouds parted, angels sang...you get the idea. I had a favorite quote--she created custom artwork to include it. I wanted a blinkie--she jumped on it. I wanted to create a blog with several pages--take a gander at the options above!! Kristina, you are my earthly blog angel.

I'm over-the-moon happy with it, and I hope you enjoy checking out the different pages. I'll be updating them periodically, as the creativity flows. Gotta love a spot for favorite new recipes and photos (and those two are newly updated!!)

I want to thank all of you for your wonderful comments and emails and inquiries. I love hearing your feedback!!

Oh, be sure to stop by Kristina's blog for a chance to win a free blog makeover yourself!! The creativity over there is contageous...be warned!

Crabby.

You knew it was coming...
Oh, Martha. I love you so...

And the best part? These pinchers will be included in the June WIP Kit as a little bonus...along with the eyeballs to boot!! I got the shadow box at Michael's--it's a 5x7. All you'll need is a handful of pop dots and cardstock for mounting, and you'll have a cute little summery decoration to adorn your home...

Enjoy your Wednesday!!