My Crazy Life...

Guess What....

We have a new family member! I promise I'll tell you more about it later...

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas...

Just finished sewing these stockings the other day...and they were super fun to make because a)I didn't use a pattern (I hate patterns!) and b) each one was different so I didn't get bored. I've been wanting to make some for years now...and I finally got around to it! Are you decorating for Christmas? I love looking at everyone's decor on blogs at this time of year...I hope you all share!

Lots 2 Share...

First off, I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We went to my mom's house for a delicious dinner and lots of good conversation. Here are a couple of layouts to document our Thanksgiving...

And...I have some really exciting news! I was asked to join the creative team at DESIGNER DIGITALS!!!! I am really excited about this new adventure...not only because they have some amazing products that I will be working with, but because I have been having a lot of fun with digital scrapbooking lately! Though I still enjoy traditional scrapbooking, with digital, I can get so much more done. This is why I love it so much...

This little page only took me about 15-20 minutes to complete...

After I save the file, I simply switch out a few photos and change the journaling and VIOLA!!! I have two more layouts done for my other girls in a matter of minutes...

(and BTW...you can find this cute cupcake kit here)

And...since I still love to create with traditional supplies...here are a few little projects to share using some of adorable Melissa Frances products

   

and...I forgot that I was tagged by Cristie...

Here are seven random things about me:

1. I am a nut about taking a bath or shower every day...but it is a MUST to take a bath every night before I get in my PJs. It has been this way every since I was a little girl. I can honestly say that I could count on one hand the number of times I have gone to bed without bathing first (usually because I was camping or something). Funny thing, is that my husband is also a nut about this. He FREAKS out if I even sit on our bed in my daytime clothes. If he takes a shower at night and then takes the garbage outside, he has to shower again!

2. I drink way too much MOUNTAIN DEW...it is my drug of choice.

3. I hate discount stores! Places like DownEast Home, TJ Max, Ross' Dress for Less etc. I can't stand digging through stuff...I would just rather pay full price then waste my time digging through all of their stuff or watching and waiting for certain items to come in. I think it is all a waste of time.

4. I love shopping online. I HATE crowds, so shopping online is perfect. I can shop in my PJs and have it delivered to my door.

5. I have huge feet! I wear a women's size 10!!!

6. I really love history. I love to read history books whenever I get the chance. My favorites include Lewis and Clark History and the Civil War.

7. I don't have a lot of patience. I wish I did...but I don't. This is a trait I get from my father. 

Now...I have to tag SEVEN people...here is goes

1. Robyn

2. Shelly

3. Lori

4. Tawsha

5. Karissa

6. Holly

7. Kayla

I'm a slacker...

Okay...I'm not really a slacker in everything, only when it comes to posting on my blog! So this past week was beautiful...we had some beautiful weather (surprisingly!!!). The kids played outside, they had a couple of picnics and I got the yard in shape for the winter. I raked leaves, burned weeds, mowed the grass, put away all of the sand toys/bikes/trikes etc. and cleaned all of the windows inside and out. It felt good to work outside. Katie is just getting old enough that she enjoys being outside playing while I work.

This weekend, David and I finished most of our Christmas shopping and we went to dinner with Andrea & Casey. We hate shopping with crowds, and we hate stressing during the holidays, so we are trying to get it done early this year. We also went on a nice drive to Palisades this weekend (again with Andrea & Casey). This is one of the large resevoirs in our area that provides water to all everyone in the valley. There is a Palisades dam that was constructed on the river in the 40's (I believe) that has backed up the water and created a huge resevoir. Because of drought conditions, the water is VERY low. We actually went on the old highway which is normally under water, and after 60 years, it is still in pretty good condition. There are places where you can still see the yellow lines on the road, and there are also old home foundations exposed. It was really neat, and they kids loved running around and exploring on the lake bed. We stopped on the way home in Swan Valley for some square ice cream. Check out this photo...I was down in a lower bowl of the lake, and the kids were carrying sticks up across the edge...the sky was awesome, and I love how this photo turned out...

I have to share this photo...it makes me laugh. My lil sis, Shelby, spent the night on Friday, and Saturday morning, she and the kids were playing hide and seek. She found the perfect hiding spot in the top of Lily's closet, and when they found her, the kids all decided that they wanted to hide in the closet with her. Isn't this the cutest picture???

I promised (a long time ago) to share some more of my Fiskars sewing projects, and of course, I forgot, but...here are the last two of my projects for National Sewing Month. These are just some simple little sewing projects that anyone can make...

And lastly, I leave you with a recipe I found somewhere online...so delicious, so fattening, and oh so tempting...

HOMEMADE KRISPY KREME DONUTS

2 Tbsp yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup shortening
5 cups flour
vegetable oil for frying

Dissolve yeast in water. Add milk, salt, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour. Beat on low, scraping the bowl, for 30 seconds. Then beat on medium for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in warm place until double (50-60 minutes. Dough is ready when indent remains). Turn onto floured surface. Roll and lightly coat with flour. Gently roll dough 1/2 inch thick with floured rolling pin. Cut with floured donut cutter and place on baking sheet leaving plenty of room for donuts to rise. Cover and let rise until doubled (30-40 minutes). DO NOT LET SIDES TOUCH!! Slide doughnuts into hot oil (350 degrees) with wide spatula. Turn as they rise to surface. Fry until just golden (1 minute each side). Carefully remove and drain. Dip in creamy glaze and cool on rack and glaze again.

Glaze: (I usually double or triple)
1/3 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
4-6 Tbsp hot water

Heat butter until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water 1 Tbsp at a time until desired consistency is reached.

For chocolate glaze, melt 4 ounces of milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips with butter and continue with glaze recipe.

(i don't own a donut cutter, so I just used a Mason jar ring and made round donuts...YUMM!!!)

   

Happy Monday!!!

I am ready to tackle all of my goals for the week (as endless as the list might seem). How was your weekend? Mine was pretty good...David and I actually got to go on a DATE! Thanks to my lil sis Shelby for babysitting! We started our Christmas shopping (YEAH!) and we went to baby Addilyn's blessing in Rexburg. FUN FUN! Heres a little peek at my weekend...

Baby Addilyn's Blessing:

Digi Layouts for Kate's baby book:

and...I Put together some recipe kits from my mom (Cheesecake Factory Pupmkin Cheesecake and Yummy Soup). If you remember, we had some awesome weekly kits at The Scrap Coop when I owned the store, and the thing I miss the most is the recipes! My mom is carrying on the weekly kit tradition, along with a few other fun kits (recipes, scrapbook layouts & mini books). If you are interested in purchasing kits or finding out more info...please email her. 

Took pictures of (insted of getting mad at) my michevious little one...LILY...

AND...I made this for dinner....YUMMMMMMM!!!

WOW...

2  posts in one day! I am on a roll! I forogt to mention that I was a guest artist for The Scrapbook Bakery this month (thanks Heather!). They have a beautiful new calendar kit filled with goodies that is available for the month of November. Hurry and grab one quick before they are gone! And don't forget to mention my name (Sherelle) in the notes of your order and you will recieve a special gift. This cute kit comes with everything to create an awesome calendar...and since a new year is coming upon us, it's the perfect time to get one going! The Heidi Swapp calendar is so fun and easy to use! I tried to keep mine really simple...especially since it will be displayed in my home. You simply create a 12x12 layout and slide in the sleeve above each month...how simple is that!?!? Don't forget to visit the Scrapbook Bakery and order yours today!

 

Halloween...

We had a wonderful (but CRAZY BUSY) Halloween. Did you have a good holiday? Grace and Russell both had a party at school. I took the two little girls to Grace's party at school. They loved watching the parade of costumed children. Then, we went to visit the grandmas and grandpas after school. After that, we ran home for dinner (Yummy Taco Soup...it's a Halloween tradition) and then we went to Trunk or Treat at our church. The kids were still home and in bed by 8:00 (which was a little late for the two babies). It was a good day...but I am always glad to have it over with! It seems like Holidays are too stressful (even though I know they shouldn't be).

Here are a few pictures to share...

And...I keep forgetting to post these, and before they are totally out of season, I had better get them up here on my blog! These are some of my projects from the October Melissa Frances Newsletter. If you don't subscribe to the newsletter, you can sign up here. They are fun and have lots of great ideas!