Saturday, March 16, 2024

Scrapbook Saturday

Our word for March was "Snow." 

1.  I had so many fun pictures that came up. I decided to focus on my grandma & grandpa Zimmermann's house in the country. I didn't ever remember that I had this picture. Lots of skiing pictures came up. 
My journaling is under grandma's house picture and also under the ski picture with our grandkids.

While we were on our ski trip, I stitched the snowflakes on red cardstock. Gave me something fun to do while watching a documentary. I also stitched the grid lines this time.

2. This is Nancy's layout.
I like the 9 square pictures she used on the right side. She also stitched her grid lines. Putting her journaling on a tag is a great addition to her layout.

3. Susan's layout focused on many ski trips. 

4. Karolyn's also used quite a few ski pictures. 

5. This is Jeanne's layout. The picture isn't all that great because she sent to me "crooked."
You might notice the picture on the far right, lower corner. That's our Grandma Zimmermann's house. It's not surprising that we both might have the same photos pop up. I do like how she did the ruffle technique with the ribbon.





Thursday, March 14, 2024

Five Things Thursday

I' obsessed with books. Alway have been, always will be!

1. This looks like a great place to curl up with your book. I would need a tea tray to make it complete.

2. Great way to think about the sacrifice of a tree.


3. Clever yet true!

4. Books always take me away!

5. No explanation needed.


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

What I Buy Wednesday

I don't usually do food posts on "What I Buy Wednesday." But this time I have info I want to share. 

I have said before that I don't really like Trader Joe's. In truth, I've only been there twice. 
After the first time, I told myself that I would never go back. The parking lot is a zoo. Once you get in the store, it's laid out on a weird angle. It's hard to navigate. I am not familiar with their products and don't know what to buy. So all of that combined is why I said I wouldn't go back.

Then, I read an article about what things to buy if you are trying to eat healthy and low calorie. So, I went back. Of course I couldn't find half of the things on the list. But I did find some things that have turned out to be winners. 

This chicken is really good. 
There was another chicken that I liked, but forgot to take a picture of the packaging. It was mandarin orange chicken. 

I also bought 3 types of frozen fruit. One was a mixed berry, another was cherry and berries and the last were peaches. I used sweetener on all of the fruits. 

I was skeptical about trying meatless sausage patties. Seems like an oxymoron to me.
As it turned out, it was delicious. 

Finally, I used these in the burrito bowls I made on Sunday night.
I used ground turkey. After browning and draining the grease, I added a package of taco seasoning and 3/4 cup water. Then you make your bowl by adding the corn, riced cauliflower (warning--it's really spicy, but as part of the bowl, it mixes in and isn't too hot), black beans, low-fat shredded Mexican cheese, fat free sour cream, avocado and crumbled tortilla chips on top for added crunch.

I had planned to add salsa, but as it turned out, what I had was mango salsa. I didn't think that would go well with it. The burrito bowls were delicious without salsa!

Now that I know exactly what to get, I'll go back. Let me know if you have an TJ favorites to add to my list.




Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Travel Tuesday

I've mentioned before that Butch and I have very opposite travel patterns. For example, I prefer to sit in the back, he prefers the front (we compromise by sitting in the middle). I like the window--he likes the aisle. That means that if it's a full flight, we have a stranger sitting in the middle. I don't want the middle and neither does he. Although, I don't mind sitting in the middle if it's family on both sides. Well, I don't like it, but I'll do it. 

Our differences actually start before we ever leave for the airport. He starts packing the day or two before the trip. Me---I might pack the night before if it's a really early flight. If not, I'll pack as I'm getting ready. I only need about 15 minutes to pack. It's pretty easy, I compile a complete outfit down to shoes, accessories and jewelry. Sometimes I'll pick one color scheme which makes it even easier. 

Of late, we have been taking Ubers. I'm always a bit skeptical as to whether we'll get a ride so early in the morning. If it were up to me, I'd call for the car extra early so as not to take any chances. After Butch orders the car via the app, he starts watching it. He'll say, "He just got on I-65 and will be here in 10 minutes." He gives me a minute by minute update. I tell him to just let me know when he's pulling in to the neighborhood! He says that it bugs him that I am not fully ready. I remind him that I am NEVER late. 

On our ski trip, he took these pictures to prove his point:
It bothers him that I am using every spare second of time. it bothers him because he doesn't think I am ready. But, I am.

Here is his proof:
So, yes, I do have to pack up. But I'm telling you, it takes me about 2 minutes to do it! I have everything gathered. It's just a matter of loading my carry-ons. I do it in a very specific way. My computer goes in first--which I still happen to be using. 

Like I said, I'm never late. But if it makes. him feel better, I won't cut it down to the wire the next time. 






Monday, March 11, 2024

Me on Monday

So, my friends and I were talking the other day. Connie was saying that all of a sudden her haircut (including wash and blow dry) was $71.00 BEFORE the tip. Now this is a regular salon and stylist she's gone to for quite awhile.
As you can see, her hair is very short! She inquired as to why it was so much. They told her that the stylist she was going to now has enough experience to command more money. What??? I thought that was only for the cosmetology schools. A few of our other friends have had the same experience. I had never heard of that before, until Elizabeth!

She's finishing up at The Paul Mitchell School in Atlanta. She was telling me that she has now reached the status where she has her own station and it costs more if you want to go to her. Also, the teacher has been having her fix "mess-ups" that the other girls have made for quite a while now. 

That leads to this. She took a special course and has gotten another certification. I think she is some sort of color specialist now. All of the extra things she can do look good on a resume.  

Here are some of her first pictures. 
This is when she got her first "kit." She's gotten a couple more since this--and more mannequin heads and hands. 

She is living her best life---loving every minute of school. She was meant for this. We are so happy that she has followed the path that she always wanted to take. It won't be long before she's in one of those high-class salons commanding $71.00 for a haircut.

I don't really know how much my haircut costs because I have joined the $175.00 club! Not by choice. I have a cut, color, lowlights, wash and blow dry every time I go--usually about 6 or 7 weeks. I guess it all adds up. But, if my hair was as short as Connie's and there was no color involved, I think I might just take my chances at Great Clips or one of those chain places. Butch says his hair cuts are around 15 bucks---if you go on Wednesday when it's "senior" day. I think it would be worth a shot. Maybe Elizabeth has a different opinion. I'll have to ask her.

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Scrapbook Saturday

Our second word for AYM (February) is "HAPPY." I think everyone is getting the hang of using one word to find photos that are connected with it. 

Here is my layout--I added to the title with: "My Default Setting is...HAPPY" I wrote a little bit about being happy.

I had three pictures that I wanted to tell the story about this month. The rest just have a little strip journaling telling about the photos. On this layout, I narrowed down my choices to 22 pictures.

This is Susan's layout. I'm really enjoying seeing the different approaches to the titles. 
She used 13 pictures this month. 

Jeanne's layout.
She opted to use fewer photos. That's the thing I love about this project---you can do anything you want.

Pam's layout:
It was so funny that several of the girls had the exact same paper that has "happy" all over it. How perfect? Just goes to show that we don't need to buy anything--we already have it all. I might even have this paper too, but didn't think to look in my birthday box.

This is Janet's layout. 
I was happy to see that she added a bit of journaling in a flip-up.

Here's Nancy's layout. 
 l love the stitching she added to her title box--she used the song "if you're happy and you know it"--which was a clever idea.

Karolyn's layout.

Our word for March is "snow"--I'll share those layouts next Saturday.

On our retreat, we had a couple of "round robins." That's when we trade pictures and do a layout for someone else.
I did this one for Pam. Her aunt's 80th birthday--she loved to party.

Pam did this layout for me.

Nancy did this layout for Karolyn.