Since my resolutions are still TBD and my one little word for this year is on hold for a moment. I feel so frazzled with my brain lately with all the planning that I want to do, planning I need to do and school about to start again in a week. I've had so little time for me to think about me... and my resolutions and plans for this year and the years to come.
Gavin and I are about to take some big steps hopefully in the right direction. We are going to put the house on the market once again. We are having another bundle of joy in early summer, and we are going to hopefully buy another preowned home once we get our house sold. These are the goals for this year. Some may or may not happen, but God does not give obstacles that we can't overcome, and he only has 3 answers... Yes, Not Yet, and I have something better in mind. I'm taking this to heart right now.
But until then... I'll share what I have started back up again, couponing... yes. It's going to happen all year long, every week, and I'm going to be a coupon machine because well friends, when I don't use coupons I spend about $575 a month on groceries. When I do use them I spend about $250 a month. My goal is to spend about $240-260 each month on groceries which includes extra items here and there.
So today I'm going to share with you two wonderful blogs that I follow. They help me to stay on track and these are the pharmacy savings for this week that they've shared!!
Please enjoy these savings from Money Saving Mom:
http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/01/cvs-deals-for-the-week-of-january-8-14-2012.html
Please enjoy these savings from Moms By Heart:
http://momsbyheart.net/walgreens-deals-18-114/
Good luck to you with your resolutions and resolve to a little thrifty this year with these tools!!
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
{back to the grind}
After some time off for winter break. I'm back in business.
Just a picture of what happened over the last week and half:
- Making dinner for Grandpa every few nights or so...
- Catching the flu and spreading it to several people
- Opening presents the Eve of Christmas Eve with my extended family
- Opening more presents on Christmas Eve with my family
- Opening even more presents on Christmas morning with my sweet daughter and husband, then exchanging gifts later that morning with Gavin's family
- Jetting off to San Antonio with full blown flu from Tuesday through Friday ( I thought I had a bad cold, sinus infection and laryngitis, little did I know...)
- Returned home late Friday evening to my sweet hubby who missed me while I was away
- Finally having a relaxing weekend with naps, ice cream and going out to eat for dinner, such a nice end to my week off from work
- Now when's my next holiday, I want to enjoy this one without being sick as a dog :)
How did you spend your winter break? What goodies did you loved ones or Santa leave for you under the tree?
This year I was spoiled with a 3lb bag of gummie bears, Uggs, movies, and other small trinkets including gift cards to buy my new double stroller for Harper and her little brother/sister. Then I was spoiled all week by my mom in San Antonio, it was so nice to travel and see family even if I was dying :)
Harper got lots of lovely gifts this Christmas. She was definitely spoiled, so we made a pile of giveaway gifts to donate. Santa brought a train table, dress up clothes and a soft Rapunzel. Mom and Dad got her some clothes, Disney Princess barbies, toddler Pocahontas, baby accessories, a role playing cleaning set, and some games. We put together several bags of gently used toys to donate including baby dolls, baby strollers, and other small things. We reorganized her room, and now we are going to go through her drawers and reorganize those and sell her gently worn stuff to Once Upon a Child to buy some Spring and Summer clothes when it comes time. Right now she is still in her 2T clothes even though she is approaching 3; she's just a petite thing.
I hope that everyone's holidays plans went well, and that you were blessed this year. Happy New Year to everyone!!!
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
Just a picture of what happened over the last week and half:
- Making dinner for Grandpa every few nights or so...
- Catching the flu and spreading it to several people
- Opening presents the Eve of Christmas Eve with my extended family
- Opening more presents on Christmas Eve with my family
- Opening even more presents on Christmas morning with my sweet daughter and husband, then exchanging gifts later that morning with Gavin's family
- Jetting off to San Antonio with full blown flu from Tuesday through Friday ( I thought I had a bad cold, sinus infection and laryngitis, little did I know...)
- Returned home late Friday evening to my sweet hubby who missed me while I was away
- Finally having a relaxing weekend with naps, ice cream and going out to eat for dinner, such a nice end to my week off from work
- Now when's my next holiday, I want to enjoy this one without being sick as a dog :)
How did you spend your winter break? What goodies did you loved ones or Santa leave for you under the tree?
This year I was spoiled with a 3lb bag of gummie bears, Uggs, movies, and other small trinkets including gift cards to buy my new double stroller for Harper and her little brother/sister. Then I was spoiled all week by my mom in San Antonio, it was so nice to travel and see family even if I was dying :)
Harper got lots of lovely gifts this Christmas. She was definitely spoiled, so we made a pile of giveaway gifts to donate. Santa brought a train table, dress up clothes and a soft Rapunzel. Mom and Dad got her some clothes, Disney Princess barbies, toddler Pocahontas, baby accessories, a role playing cleaning set, and some games. We put together several bags of gently used toys to donate including baby dolls, baby strollers, and other small things. We reorganized her room, and now we are going to go through her drawers and reorganize those and sell her gently worn stuff to Once Upon a Child to buy some Spring and Summer clothes when it comes time. Right now she is still in her 2T clothes even though she is approaching 3; she's just a petite thing.
I hope that everyone's holidays plans went well, and that you were blessed this year. Happy New Year to everyone!!!
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
{recipe share}
I have a WONDERFUL, EASY, PEASY recipe to share with all of you. This is my favorite recipe that I have collected over the years from my family members, and I love to make this when people are unwell or in need of something quick and easy to make for themselves like after bringing home a new baby or loss of a loved one, etc.
Aunt Karina's EASY PEASY Chicken Pot Pie (makes 2 pies = 1 to cook now, 1 to freeze for later)
You'll need:
1 can of Cream of Brocoli soup
1 can of Cream of Chicken soup
1 can of Cream of Potato soup
1 can of Mixed Vegetables
2 Deep Dish Pie crusts (2 comes in package)
2 Unroll Pie Crust (2 comes in package)
1 lb of Cubed Chicken Breast
1 can of Chicken Broth
3 cups of Water
This meal is very easy to put together, the prep time is very short anywhere from 10-20 minutes total. Total cooking time is 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Thaw/Defrost chicken breast and cube. Add chicken broth to 3 cups of water and boil. Add cubed chicken breast to boiling water, cook for 10-15 minutes until done. Chicken will be white, no pink.
While boiling the chicken, drain the can of mixed vegetables. Add mixed vegetables and soups to medium sized mixing bowl and stir.
Drain chicken in colander or just scoop out the chicken with a slotted spoon and add to the pot pie mixture. Stir until chicken is spread evenly among mixture.
Take out frozen deep pie crusts and scoop pot pie mixture into pans evenly.
Unroll 1 refrigerated pie crust, lay on top of pie and fold up the sides, crimping/pinching with fingers until pie is sealed. Make 2-4 cuts on the top to let out steam. Repeat for the next pie.
At this point, you can choose to make both the pies if you have a large family. Freeze both of the pies for someone special or for another day, or you could cook one pie and freeze one for later. It's really that simple!!
Cook on 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Yay, so I'm so happy to share this recipe with you, and I hope that you will love it. I'm very particular about my pot pies, and not a big fan of them overall, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this recipe!! It is the absolute best, EASY pie around to bake!!
Enjoy this recipe!!
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
Aunt Karina's EASY PEASY Chicken Pot Pie (makes 2 pies = 1 to cook now, 1 to freeze for later)
You'll need:
1 can of Cream of Brocoli soup
1 can of Cream of Chicken soup
1 can of Cream of Potato soup
1 can of Mixed Vegetables
2 Deep Dish Pie crusts (2 comes in package)
2 Unroll Pie Crust (2 comes in package)
1 lb of Cubed Chicken Breast
1 can of Chicken Broth
3 cups of Water
This meal is very easy to put together, the prep time is very short anywhere from 10-20 minutes total. Total cooking time is 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Thaw/Defrost chicken breast and cube. Add chicken broth to 3 cups of water and boil. Add cubed chicken breast to boiling water, cook for 10-15 minutes until done. Chicken will be white, no pink.
While boiling the chicken, drain the can of mixed vegetables. Add mixed vegetables and soups to medium sized mixing bowl and stir.
Drain chicken in colander or just scoop out the chicken with a slotted spoon and add to the pot pie mixture. Stir until chicken is spread evenly among mixture.
Take out frozen deep pie crusts and scoop pot pie mixture into pans evenly.
Unroll 1 refrigerated pie crust, lay on top of pie and fold up the sides, crimping/pinching with fingers until pie is sealed. Make 2-4 cuts on the top to let out steam. Repeat for the next pie.
At this point, you can choose to make both the pies if you have a large family. Freeze both of the pies for someone special or for another day, or you could cook one pie and freeze one for later. It's really that simple!!
Cook on 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Yay, so I'm so happy to share this recipe with you, and I hope that you will love it. I'm very particular about my pot pies, and not a big fan of them overall, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this recipe!! It is the absolute best, EASY pie around to bake!!
Enjoy this recipe!!
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
{creative team call - scrapFREAK}
Hey you scrappers out there,
This just in... Scrap FREAK is hosting a creative team call. I just wanted to give all of you lovelies a heads up if you are interested in trying out. I think I might; you never know, eh, and I love the challenge of being a part of a design team. It keeps me so motivated!! Here is what they posted:
"Scrapfreak is looking for a team of enthusiastic scrappers to kick off 2012. We’re looking for approximately 6 (could be more, could be less) fun, motivational, responsible peeps to join our Creative Team and help encourage others in this incredible hobby. Scrapfreak is a scrapbooking community dedicated to motivating and inspiring you to tell your stories. Whether that be about you, your family, your history, etc., the goal is the same…document those moments. TELL YOUR STORY.
SUBMISSIONS DUE: December 26, 2011
Term: January - April 2012
Creative Team Requirements:
Please email monica@scrapfreak.com with the following information:
Good luck to all of you who try out for this fun design team. I'm not involved in this in any way shape or form, I'm just supporting this WICKED online community of scrappers, and I hope that you will join me there!!
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
This just in... Scrap FREAK is hosting a creative team call. I just wanted to give all of you lovelies a heads up if you are interested in trying out. I think I might; you never know, eh, and I love the challenge of being a part of a design team. It keeps me so motivated!! Here is what they posted:
"Scrapfreak is looking for a team of enthusiastic scrappers to kick off 2012. We’re looking for approximately 6 (could be more, could be less) fun, motivational, responsible peeps to join our Creative Team and help encourage others in this incredible hobby. Scrapfreak is a scrapbooking community dedicated to motivating and inspiring you to tell your stories. Whether that be about you, your family, your history, etc., the goal is the same…document those moments. TELL YOUR STORY.
SUBMISSIONS DUE: December 26, 2011
Term: January - April 2012
Creative Team Requirements:
- A MUST-HAVE passion for scrapbooking and the ability to inspire and motivate others
- Approximately 2 layouts per month by the set deadlines (as assigned as part of our Freaky Friday challenge rotation)
- Assistance with planning, online crops, classes, etc. as well as any additional layouts/projects as needed for said events
- Participation in forum discussions
- Promote all Scrapfreak related events on your personal blog and/or Facebook/Twitter account
- Promote and encourage scrappers of all levels to join and participate at Scrapfreak
- Comment on all projects uploaded to the Scrapfreak gallery
Please email monica@scrapfreak.com with the following information:
- Full name, city/state/country, and email address
- Small paragraph with background on yourself, how much of your time is dedicated to scrapbooking, and why you feel you would be a good fit for Scrapfreak
- 2-3 recent layouts that are most like you and your style of scrapping (links or attachments are acceptable)
- Link to your blog as well as Facebook/Twitter pages that would be used to promote Scrapfreak (not all are required but should have at least one or the other)
- List of any other online communities you’re involved in and any design team history
- Link(s) to any online galleries
- Experience – If you haven’t been on a design team before, this is an excellent opportunity to add to your scrappy resume.
- Challenge – Nothing is more motivational than participating in challenges and being on a team with a commitment.
- Community – The freaks are a great group of people that are active and supportive of each other. It is truly a very welcoming site.
- Links to Scrapfreak’s weekly Freaky Friday challenge threads (including your layouts) on our Facebook and Twitter pages
- Recognition through Scrapfreak's Facebook and Twitter pages
- You do not have to be a member of the forum to submit…although you should join anyway because the freak is the coolest place to be online!
- Both US and International submissions accepted.
- Previous design team experience not required.
- Our plans are to notify new design team members before January 6, 2012.
- Creative Team term will begin immediately following the announcement.
Good luck to all of you who try out for this fun design team. I'm not involved in this in any way shape or form, I'm just supporting this WICKED online community of scrappers, and I hope that you will join me there!!
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
{any recommendations}
Now that I have 2 finals down, and 1 to go... I'm seriously looking into picking up a book to read in my spare time.
I want to read at least a couple books in the month between classes. I usually find time to read right before bed when I don't have piles of homework to do.
What do you recommend?
I've heard The Hunger Games are amazing, and the Game of Thrones books are good, but I'm thinking of reading a classic or a non-series type of book...
Some of the books on my list include:
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Clarissa by Samuel Richardson
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Let me know what you think and what you recommend... I desperately want to find a good book to read, at least one if not two!
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
I want to read at least a couple books in the month between classes. I usually find time to read right before bed when I don't have piles of homework to do.
What do you recommend?
I've heard The Hunger Games are amazing, and the Game of Thrones books are good, but I'm thinking of reading a classic or a non-series type of book...
Some of the books on my list include:
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Clarissa by Samuel Richardson
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Let me know what you think and what you recommend... I desperately want to find a good book to read, at least one if not two!
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
{top 5 embellishments}
Today has been a good day at work, despite my lethargy. I’m tired all the time. Tonight I have plans with my study guides, textbooks, and notes to make sure that I’m fully prepared for the two exams that I have on Monday. Following those two exams, I plan to study for my final in Psychology, fun stuff…
My sister was gracious enough to agree to watch my sweet girl tonight for GG and I, so that we can really focus on studying, and Harper can have a fun time with her sweet Aunt May-May. I'm going to pick up my sister from my parent's house, then I'm going to pick up some pizzas for easy dinner tonight, and they will have fun watching holiday movies and playing after bath time.
But who cares about finals, when you have scrapbooking on the brain, eh? I was trying to think of my favorite embellishments to work with, and I have come up with a list of my top 5 embellishment types that I work with each time I craft!!
1. Ribbon and Trim – Oh how I can’t get enough of this Dear Lizzy Rose Ribbon by American Crafts. I’m a huge fan of ribbon and trim on layouts, I’m sure you could tell from all the previous posts of scrapbook layouts with ribbon/trim.
2. Buttons – Button, button who’s got the button? Me that’s who. I have my buttons divided by color in a bead organizer for easy on the go storage. It was super cheap, and it is super easy for find what I am looking for. Some of my FAVORITE buttons include Jenni Bowlin’s Vintage Buttons and Webster’s Pages Vintage Sparklers!
3. Stickers – From cardstock to chipboard, I love sticky embellishments. My go to sticky embellishments are hands down Thickers by American Crafts and Mini Market Stickers by October Afternoon. Also, I can’t leave out my love of Crate Paper and Basic Grey chipboard.
4. Flowers and Details – This is a weird category because it includes anything that slightly resembles a flower to me or something that is stacked, layered, or felt. I really love Bloomers from Basic Grey, Flowers from Prima Marketing, and Details from American Crafts; don’t get me started on paper flowers either!
5. Other Funky Stuff – This stuff doesn’t really belong in any particular category, but I love to use these and see these in other people’s paper crafts! I love these Doilies by Maya Road, Mini-Envelopes, and trinket pins like these Cameos from Webster’s Pages.
Well that’s all she wrote for today, and I certainly hope that you enjoy this little list of fun and creative that I put together!! This is a nice way for me to be a little fun and creative today without actually making anything! Haha. I have to study tonight, so I hope that all of you get to be creative tonight and think of me while you’re doing it!
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
{this truly is}
The most wonderful time of the year! Finals are almost here, and I am so glad to be finishing out this semester with a bang. I'm completing a few extra credit articles on the side, and Gavin is working a lot of overtime to help fill up the bank since we spent a lot for Christmas all in a short amount of time. Yes, I have a wonderful husband!!
Now that this grueling time of the year (finishing up the semester) is coming to a close, I am looking forward to spending time with my friends and family. I am also looking forward to staying up a bit later at night (if PJ allows it) and getting some real scrapbooking done at home.
As most of you know, I designate 1 Saturday a month for cropping, and I love doing that. I pretty much have bag packed always to go, and during the school year sometimes this is the only time that I get to scrap! It's SUCH a travesty; now that I'm going to have SEVERAL weeks off, and I'm ONLY taking 2 classes next semester, I know that I will have GOBS of time to spend doing this hobby that I love so much! Now if only I could sell my house, pay off my student loans, and convince my hubby to let me stay at home then I would HAVE even more time to scrap in my OH so LOVELY scrapbook room.... my mind wanders.
Well I tried to keep this short since I'm at work, but I always get carried away. I'm such a yapper!
Right now I'd love to share with you my very favorite basic scrapbook supplies. I told a young lady who is a bit new to scrapbooking about the tools that you need to start, but I'll share with you the tools that I use each at every time I'm scrapping...
1. Paper Trimmer - Mine is by Fiskars. I like this size because it is portable, and it has a great handle that swings to help cut those 12x12 sheets of patterned paper and cardstock. The replaceable blades are VERY cheap too.
2. Adhesive - I use the Pink Advanced Tape Glider Gun because although it is a splurge at first the tape is very CHEAP (I typically spend $2 a roll), and there is much more adhesive per roll than with other adhesive guns.
3. Great Writing Tools - I adore the White Signo Uniball and the Black Ranger Ink Pen. They are both relatively inexpensive, and they each last a long time. Such great pens!
4. Scissors - I have some Fiskars that are big and some little precision point, but my favorites are the Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors. Amazing, and worth every penny with a coupon!
5. Paper - Patterned Paper and Solid Cardstock is definitely a necessity when you get into paper crafting. I have some stellar favorite brands, but I always look for a heavy pattern paper and a good textured cardstock. I prefer to keep the neutrals on hand at all times kraft, black, and white. I delve into colored cardstock from time to time. I prefer mine to be textured with a canvas feel or tiny swiss dots. I love me some embossed cardstock.
But that is my swell top 5 basics list! I hope this helps all you future scrappers to know what the must haves are when you start scrapbooking. My next list will be top 5 embellishments you can't design without :)
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson
Now that this grueling time of the year (finishing up the semester) is coming to a close, I am looking forward to spending time with my friends and family. I am also looking forward to staying up a bit later at night (if PJ allows it) and getting some real scrapbooking done at home.
As most of you know, I designate 1 Saturday a month for cropping, and I love doing that. I pretty much have bag packed always to go, and during the school year sometimes this is the only time that I get to scrap! It's SUCH a travesty; now that I'm going to have SEVERAL weeks off, and I'm ONLY taking 2 classes next semester, I know that I will have GOBS of time to spend doing this hobby that I love so much! Now if only I could sell my house, pay off my student loans, and convince my hubby to let me stay at home then I would HAVE even more time to scrap in my OH so LOVELY scrapbook room.... my mind wanders.
Well I tried to keep this short since I'm at work, but I always get carried away. I'm such a yapper!
Right now I'd love to share with you my very favorite basic scrapbook supplies. I told a young lady who is a bit new to scrapbooking about the tools that you need to start, but I'll share with you the tools that I use each at every time I'm scrapping...
1. Paper Trimmer - Mine is by Fiskars. I like this size because it is portable, and it has a great handle that swings to help cut those 12x12 sheets of patterned paper and cardstock. The replaceable blades are VERY cheap too.
2. Adhesive - I use the Pink Advanced Tape Glider Gun because although it is a splurge at first the tape is very CHEAP (I typically spend $2 a roll), and there is much more adhesive per roll than with other adhesive guns.
3. Great Writing Tools - I adore the White Signo Uniball and the Black Ranger Ink Pen. They are both relatively inexpensive, and they each last a long time. Such great pens!
4. Scissors - I have some Fiskars that are big and some little precision point, but my favorites are the Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors. Amazing, and worth every penny with a coupon!
5. Paper - Patterned Paper and Solid Cardstock is definitely a necessity when you get into paper crafting. I have some stellar favorite brands, but I always look for a heavy pattern paper and a good textured cardstock. I prefer to keep the neutrals on hand at all times kraft, black, and white. I delve into colored cardstock from time to time. I prefer mine to be textured with a canvas feel or tiny swiss dots. I love me some embossed cardstock.But that is my swell top 5 basics list! I hope this helps all you future scrappers to know what the must haves are when you start scrapbooking. My next list will be top 5 embellishments you can't design without :)
With Love,
Gabrielle Watson