Happy 2019 to all of you!So many of us make goals, resolutions and life lists. One thing that seems to be on everyone's list is healthier eating. So...I started the new year with a healthy recipe. Go me.I made a simple change from regular pasta to whole wheat. I use this type of pasta the most. Why? one word: Costco. I know, not exactly something poetic and inspiring but it's the truth y'all.This recipe is so yummy! Add in olives, chicken, pasta, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil and this is ready in 30 minutes and in one pot no less! Prep time 7 min, cook time 25 minutes. Makes 8 servings.Chicken and (whole wheat) spaghetti1 lb cherry tomatoes cut in halves2 medium bell peppers chopped (you can use frozen like I do because...I'm lazy)2 tsp avocado OR coconut oil2 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breast sliced2 1/2 c. water OR chicken stock (the stock is more … [Read more...]
December Challenge Spotlight
Hello everyone and happy LAST day of 2018! It’s Polly Karen here bringing you the last Challenge Spotlight post for this year. Once a month I have the privilege of looking through the challenge galleries to find just a few of my favorite layouts and shine my spotlight on them here.If you aren’t familiar with the challenges, here’s a little information about them to get you started. We offer 8 monthly challenges in the forum each month. If you play along with these challenges you can earn yourself a coupon to use on your next Lilypad shopping spree. You will earn as follows: 2 challenges = 10% off, 4 challenges = 20% off and 6 challenges = 30% off. Also, if you finish at least 7 challenges, in addition to your coupon, you will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate! Now let’s look at some of the standout pages created for December’s … [Read more...]
Memory Pockets Monthly : Memoir
Hello Pad Scrappers!!I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and are anticipating a happy New Year with lots of memories to make and document! Today I am excited to introduce you to Memoir, the newest Memory Pockets Monthly collection that will be absolutely perfect for doing just that!Memoir is all about documenting the moments, the memories, and the happiness that you are bound to experience in the new year.The kit contains: 25 – 3 x 4 journal cards, 4 – 4 x 4 journal cards, 6 – 4 x 6 journal cards, 158 elements, 1 alpha in 3 colorways, 8 solid papers. 13 patterned papers and 1 template. The journal cards are available in both vertical and horizontal orientations, as well as additional colorways.As always, this collection is ideal for digital pocket scrapbooking and hybrid albums, as printable PDFs of all journal cards and kit pieces are provided.In addition to … [Read more...]
Preparing for the MOC! The Smart Way!
It is almost 2019, January 1st. That means in Digiland, the great MOC will start. This is the seventh year, and MOC-7 is sure to be a momentous event.I, Anne of Alamo, am here to help you; Get the most out of the MOC-7 Prepare yourself and those around you for the MOC-7Lets get into it. MOC means MONTH of CHALLENGES. This is not month of easy peasey pages, it is full of challenges. Each day, a Polly, a designer or Boss Lady of Awesomeness(everyone gets into this) will post a challenge in the forum.sidenote: I hate reading instructions, and this is tough for me! lol So, we can work together, read and reread. This will help you everyday. Your job is to READ each instruction. Mull over it. Ponder what you know you can already do, and see if this challenge will help you grow as a scrapper/artist and you need to push yourself to reach new limits! Ask … [Read more...]
Scrapping Your Goals
Greetings all my artsy friends! Believe it or not, there is less than a week left in 2018. The New Year will be upon us soon, so I wanted to drop in with a tip for scrapping all of the goals you had in 2018 - before you move on to 2019 goals, dreams and aspirations. Raise your hand if you pledged to read a certain number of books in 2018 (^^raising hand now^^). This is my fourth year of playing along with the reading challenge at Good Reads. The first year, my goal was 26 books, the second it was 50 books, and the last two years I pledged to read 52 books. Each year I was able to make my goal, including 2018 when I read 54 books. I want to keep challenging myself to read more, so maybe next year the goal will be 56 or even 60 books. I love the page that Good Reads creates for everyone who participates in their reading challenge. It shows the covers of all … [Read more...]
MOC7 Prep Tips and Challenge Tracker
Month of Challenges. Just the name brings forth joy in my heart. The first year I participated was a slightly different feeling. Let's call it terror or maybe fear. I had no idea what to expect and was a a little frightened at the idea of scrapping a page a day for an entire month. Much less a challenge every day! I made it through and now that fear is gone. It has turned into pure anticipation! 31 days of challenges to complete!One of the best tips that was shared with me early on was find a way to track which challenges you have completed and submitted your page to the thread. There are numerous ways to do this - pen and paper, excel sheets, even just looking at the board! See my face on those threads? That means I've replied inside them. My favorite is to mark that I finished the page and mark that I added it to the thread. Why the two steps? Because there are times I finish … [Read more...]
December M3 is Here!!
Greetings Pad Scrappers and Happy Solstice!Polly Liana here, thrilled to introduce you to the M3 products for December 2018. For those of you new to the concept, M3 stands for Mixed Media Monthly. Each month around this time, some of our most talented mixed media designers collaborate with a palette and three words. The words for December are FOOD/GATHER/JOYOUS. Let's have a look at the fun main kit: Adorable, right? Perfect for all the baking you might be doing right now. What's great is that after they create the main kit, each designer can create a few more add-on products that coordinate with the kit but allow the designer to follow her own style. Here are some great ones: Awesome! And the best thing is that they are on sale this weekend! All December 2018 M3 products are 20% this weekend, along with some equally great products that are newly … [Read more...]
Photograph Xmas Decor
It's December, it's almost Christmas and it's the most wonderful time of the year! This is my favorite time of the year to get my camera out and take photos around our home of all the Christmas decor.It doesn't matter which camera you have, your phone camera will do. What matters is that you take a few photos, snap some photos that will remind you of the holiday season. Decor photos can include your tree, ornaments, wreaths, Christmas cards, candles, candy dishes, food, gifts, etc. Often we take photos of our family, friends and pets, but we forget to take photos of a special gift, decorations new and old, a memorable Christmas card and decorations.I take photos of our Labradoodle, Taz, at Christmas (well, to be honest, I photograph him almost daily because he's so darned cute LOL), wearing a Xmas hat. I take a few close-ups but also like to take a few pull-back shots too, to … [Read more...]
Grinch Pancakes
Hello pad scrappers!!We are full on into enjoying all of our holiday activities right now. I don't know how, but we seemed to have scheduled everything Christmas-y in the last two weeks.Last night we finally went to see the Grinch movie. I have always loved the Grinch movies and have fond memories of watching the really old one at my grandparent's home during Christmas time. And the Jim Carey version is has been a favorite as well, so I have been really looking forward to seeing this.I was almost as excited about seeing it as my kids.In order to make our night out at the movies a little extra special, I made Grinch Pancakes for dinner before we went. I am here to happily report that they were a huge hit!!If you want to do something fun with your family, I suggest you make these Grinch inspired pancakes and pop in one of the older Grinch movies or head out to the … [Read more...]
No big deal – – – just the world’s greatest hot cocoa recipe
My kids consider themselves amateur connoisseurs of hot cocoa mixes. We try store brands and recipes. I have other recipes for cocoa mixes, but this one...this one is well - well, it's just darn right classy, that's what it is! Why you ask---because of the secret ingredient...Dutch Cocoa.Right? I KNOW!Don't freak out - it isn't hard to find and Dutch Cocoa is just code for milder cocoa with a stronger chocolaty flavor. When you combine this mix with the white chocolate, ummm hello! It's love. Love is what you have. Right there in your cup. You're welcome.What I love about this mix, is I can share with a neighbor as a gift or keep ahead of time for guests during the holidays!Cheers! … [Read more...]