Best-Ever Taco Salad

Need a little something to get you feeling like you are "south of the border?"  This recipe is one of my favorites and with Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, it makes me imagine walking on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  I've been missing the beach again, with gulls sailing over my head, waves lapping as the sun rises on Banderas Bay. Sigh!

It's More Than A Photo

How many times have you sat down at your work table and tried to think up something to create? Often I start an idea and then trash it, or start something else and am unable to get those ideas down just the way I imagined them. When I finally settle down and focus, I realize that I connect most of my art to what my heart and head are telling me to do. It is way easier to just begin and see what happens.

My latest collaborative project entitled "Self-Portrait involves a page of my past, the present, and my future. This page will be my second page, obviously a non-traditional photo of the Adams Family. I really had fun working with some digital art, and adding faces of my family.

"It's never too late

to become the person

you always meant

to be."

February Recipe

Honestly, I don't know whether I enjoy baking the food I create or coming up with new recipe cards! This is an old recipe I received from a friend when I worked at General Motors. It is a yummy cake, especially if you are a chocoholic.

CREDITS: "January, 2011 Calendar" by Becky Loyall, Whymsical Musings and Moonlight Journey.

It's Never Too Late

Self-Portrait, 1948

"Anybody who has survived his childhood

has enough information about life

to last him the rest of his days."

~Flannery O'Connor

CREDITS: Background images from Moonlight Journey.

I love creating these colorful recipe cards, but I especially cherish my time at our local scrapbooking store where we exchange these cards on the first Thursday of each month. Sometimes we share tea or coffee from lovely china cups, but mostly we share the food described on our recipe cards.

But more than this store setting or our delicious goodies, we chat . . . everything from the decadent dessert someone brings, to what matters most to those of us that share these recipes.

I have come to realize that the food we prepare can bring us together and the simple breaking of bread among friends is that which nourishes our souls, more than simply a late afternoon snack.

TIP: Use a pretty plate;

it makes good food taste even better.

Set a pretty table;

it makes a simple meal

an occasion to celebrate

the everyday.

Raspberry Fairy Salad

I can't believe it is almost the end of January! Here is my latest creation using the beautiful images from Moonlight Journey entitled "Fairy Folded Cards." With just a little bit of cropping I just simply added my recipe.

Merry Christmas to You

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

A holiday wouldn't be complete without creating a special Christmas card and mailing them out to family and friends. This extraordinary angel image is available through Moonlight Journey's 2010 Calendar. You can personalize, crop and edit in a snap and mail them out in just a few days. By the way, don't miss out on a cyber sale at their site!

Thank you all for your kindness and devotion in visiting my blog this year. Merry Christmas everyone!

November Recipe Card

One of the best ways to cheer up a friend is with an old-fashioned sweet treat. And this one was introduced to me at a dinner party many years ago. This brownie recipe is not only beautiful in appearance, but down right spectacular in taste.

By either placing this recipe in a Christmas baking dish, or cutting them up individually and placed on a seasonal plate, you will be hooked. You can pass out a batch of "good cheer" to those that are in need of some extra love.

CREDITS: Images from Moonlight Journey "Vintage Ladies Holiday Pennant Banner" and Creative Memories.

My Favorite Christmas Things Bracelet

Inspiration can come from almost anything. For me, it's color, vintage images, and family. I can remember when I was in third grade sitting in front of our Christmas tree with a brand new dollie. Her name was Beverly, and at the time, I thought that name was just awesome.

What I typically do with my jewelry creations is to start with a focal point, something that's special to me, and then I add some beads to complement the color of that image. What is so easy is using one of the Christmas images called "My Favorite Christmas Things" from Moonlight Journey. All of my beads are from local craft stores, except the rectangle resin bead.

Me and my sister, Peg, 1955

I hope you will try making one of your own pieces using these sweet holly jolly images!

Pretty Gift Card Holders

Packaging gifts is something I like to do. I do have some loved ones that are hard to buy for or prefer giftcards or cash. I love to give people what they really want, but I look for ways to make it special. Call me fussy, I just challenged myself for unique ways of giving giftcards and cash.

I simply cut two squares of fabric (good side outward), stitched around three sides leaving an opening, and then used pinking shears to add a pretty edge. I didn't want the giftcard to take center stage, but rather blend in nicely with the paper art. Embellishing each pocket with a scalloped 1-1/2" edge on the end of the opening, and the latest images from Moonlight Journey called "Vintage Angels" work beautiful for Christmas gifts. Just imagine the possibilities, It's a great way to use up some tiny scraps of paper too!

I'll tell you that if you are making one, it's addictive. I started out making nine, and made six more that I want to coffee stain. This is a great project to make in mass so that you have gift holders on hand when you bring that giftcard home from the grocery store.

CREDITS: Lisa Super at anartsygirl.blogspot.com. and MOONLIGHT JOURNEY "Vintage Angels"

Christmas Magic

Growing up, Christmas was a huge celebration. My mom always loved the holidays from the tree, the lights, family holiday parties, and the piles of gifts under the tree.

I have begun making a few gifts, and no detail will be unnoticed when you use these gorgeous tags from Moonlight Journey and magical beads from Fire Mountain Beads.

Diva Molasses Cookies

The most important thing to me is to make a cookie is that tastes great! My mom always seemed to make the best cookies, and this happens to be probably one of my favorites. She would always say to use the best ingredients you can find. And, whenever possible, serve your desserts while they are still very fresh.

I hope this recipe gives you as much joy as it gave me as a child. The molasses and ginger make it a wonderful change of pace and seems especially appropriate this time of year.

I created this recipe card using the latest images from Moonlight Journey entitled "Grunge Divas", plus papers and overlays from Creative Memories.

CREDITS: MOONLIGHT JOURNEY "Grunge Divas", Recipe from Mom

Frightful and Delightful Bracelets

As I write this post, it is a glorious crisp fall day in northern Michigan. Fall instinctively brings the thought of pumpkins, mums, apple cider, yummy donuts, and especially Halloween.

I always look forward to this holiday to begin creating all things Halloween. While visiting my sister, Peg, of the Crystal Pinecone, in Grand Marais, Michigan this week, we created these sweet bracelets with some of our recent shopping finds. Peg always continues to take my breath away with her so many clever ways to celebrate Halloween.

September Recipe Card

A few years ago, I was given a treasured gift by being invited to join a recipe card club. Once a month, 12 of us get together to share laughter, stories, and an empathetic ear. There is a wide range of age, style, and circumstances. Officially, we are there to exchange our recipe cards, but, in reality, for us it has meant so much more. Something magical comes together in a creative way. The best part is that we bring food! We believe it would be "just plain wrong" for there to be a lack of treats and drinks any time women get together.

I used to frequent this wonderful restaurant back in the 70's. It was called the Magic Pan. Well, over the years the restaurant closed, but I managed to conjure up the recipe by sampling this salad each visit. It may not be the "exact" taste, but it comes pretty darn close. Whenever, I bring this salad to someone's house, it is definitely a big hit.

Colorful Autumn Afghan

As the weather begins to cool, I look ahead to fall by showing you this latest afghan knitted in autumnal colors. I started this afghan about a year ago. It has taken me quite a while, but I love the results.

One of the most challenging phases of this project was sewing the panels together. For some reason, I am never quite able to get the seams as flat as I hope to.

This is a very warm afghan, and is perfect to snuggle under. As a matter of fact, lately my favorite place to start another pair of socks is in bed at night while watching TV.

This free pattern is available by creating an account through Lion Brand Yarn Co. It was the latest featured item in their last newsletter. "Amazing" yarn (one of my favorites) was used with a selected few colors of "Jiffy" yarn.

I am lovin' it!!

CREDITS: SECOND PHOTO COURTESY OF LION BRAND YARN CO.

Fun Sparkle Scarf

I can't wait to tackle that gift-giving list again this year. I love sharing through my love of knitting and here is my very first completed project. I ended up giving this to my lovable daughter-in-law for her birthday, and started a second in black for a lucky recipient.

If you seek something extra-special for those in your life, this quick and easy scarf fits the bill. I found the pattern on the yarn label called "Dewdrops," the color is 13 DIAMOND, by Loops & Threads. It is much easier than it looks!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

I love the early morning, when the sun is just rising in the east; the sky is bright red and I can hear the birds sing. As I sit here today, I think about myself and my dreams.

There have been many days when I really haven't taken much time to sit quietly and really think about much of anything. Not the dreams, or the birds, yesterday or even tomorrow. In fact, it seems like I have been so busy working that sometimes I forget why I even had a particular dream in the first place.

Today has been one of the days I promised myself more time to sit at my kitchen counter, take a deep breath and actually realize that I am living "MY" dream.

I brought out the old stand up mixer, and made a new recipe from the recent issue of 'Where Women Cook." The results were amazing, a little messy, but it reminded me of the days when my kids were little, and we baked together.

I just may need a wee cup of cappuccino to go with that bright red cupcake with the cream cheese frosting. I know we all need to realize the "new" importance of food and health, but sometimes everyone needs a little sweetness.

CREDITS: SHEA FRAGOSO & DEBBIE MURRAY, "A GILDED LIFE" RECIPE SHOWN IN FALL 2011 ISSUE OF "WHERE WOMEN COOK," PG.29.

Fair Isle Colorwork Coasters

What is Fair Isle knitting? With other names like stranded knitting, Jacquard, intarsia, mosaic knitting, it's no wonder the question comes up all the time.

Well, it is the traditional name, named after a small island off the coast of Scotland where knitters were known for their skill with the technique. I have wanted to learn this type of knitting method for years, and this is the most common and best technique to learn when only 2 colors per row and alternates colors frequently to create small patterns of color--usually 5 stitches or less.

Lucky for me, in the latest issue of "Creative Knitting," Lisa Ellis inspired me to try out my new skills with her four coaster pattern designs, "Colorwork Coasters."

Actually, it was much easier than I imagined. The trick is to carry the main color over the contrasting color, and the contrasting color always under the main color. The reverse side of your project will have a cleaner appearance.

I think these coasters came out pretty decent for my first attempt of Fair Isle. Thank you, Lisa Ellis, for introducing me to this beautiful technique.

CREDITS: CREATIVE KNITTING, September 2011, "First Fair Isle," An Introduction to Stranded Colorwork Knitting, pg. 36. Go to CreativeKnittingMagazine.com, sign in with limited-time access code of KD8339.

Sweet Photo Panel

Gosh! You have probably been wondering where I've been. It's been shockingly weeks since I posted. For a starter I went on a three day/two night digital scrapbooking retreat with my friend Sherry. She is so talented, and lucky for me, shared this amazing technique to blend your photo with paper. I used Creative Memories Storybook Creator. I am so excited to continue my education with this user friendly software. It just seems like conventional scrapbooking takes so much more effort compared to whipping up a digital page in minutes.

These are my grandkids, Ethan and Lauren. I love this sweet image of them.

I promise to post soon.

May Recipes

~ Apricot Bread ~

This Apricot Nut Bread recipe was given to me by my Mom, and probably tops the list as "one of my favorites!" For some reason, it seems like I mostly bake it during the winter at Christmas.

Due to the fact that spring is finally just peeking around the corner, this is a great chicken salad recipe that I create on a sunny summer day. It makes me think of vacation, with a little hint of "south of border." I sometimes omit the clove ingredient.

~ Chicken Salad Riviera ~

CREDITS: MOONLIGHT JOURNEY'S "SENDING PANSY DREAMS" ENVELOPE, AND "FAIRY BOOKMARK AND BOOKMARK ENVELOPE"