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Monday, September 30, 2013

"Grab Bag" Box from Amy Tan(gerine)

When I was 8, I loved to go to Gift Gate (now called Sanrio) at Eastridge Mall in San Jose and get their Grab Bags...they were always awesome because you were always surprised what was in them--and you couldn't go wrong with Hellow Kitty, My Melody or the Twins!  

So when I seen Amy Tan had posted on Instagram that she was selling "grab" boxes a few weeks ago, I knew I had to get one.  Her first batch was $25, but sold out in 30 minutes and I was too late.  But then she did another batch for $40 that promised more product than the other one.  I was fast enough and bought one!

Then she had a baby (yay!), but my tracking number just sat as "mailing label printed" for a week :(  Totally understandable--BUT today my husband texted me to let me know I had a package...I finally got my Grab Bag in the mail...talk about happy mail!

I figured there would be some new stuff but lots of "used" items. Like this



  
But those were the only "scraps" in the box...

Mostly the box was full of new stuff!!

Amy Tangerine papers...from Sketchbook, her original line, and Yes, Please, along with blue corrugated paper!
12 sheets of Glitz paper


A few solid paper (I'm guessing American Crafts)...the white is maybe Bazzill Dotted Swiss Cardstock and a Hambly transparency.

All Double Sided--the paper alone at a local scrapbook store would be more than $40!

Need buttons, sequins, or ribbon?  I got some!


BUT that's not all folks...brand spanking new stickers, stamps, veneers, and a daybook

I could not believe all that was in that box...totally worth the price and the wait.  I already have the roller date stamp, but my daughter is starting to scrapbook her college years, so she will totally be able to use it!

After I took the Amy Tan class at Scrapbook Territory in April, I knew she was awesome, but now I think she is even more awesome!

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Project Life~Weeks 25-28a (February)

It's been a while since I've posted about my Project Life because I am behind.  I actually finished February in June, but hadn't posted it. :/

The first 2 days of week 24 were January, so I was still focused on my resolutions.  Since it was easier for me to take pictures of "themed" months, I used February as a month of "Things/People I Love".

Week 24


 


Wednesday - Fat Free Creamer (Health)
Thursday - Making the Varsity team (Health)
Friday - Love for Instagram
Saturday - Love for Pinterest
Sunday - Love for Friends (SuperBowl Party)
Monday - Love for my Uncle--Hate for Cancer :(
Tuesday - Love for Happy Mail :D


Week 25



(theme for the week was cameras)

Wednesday - Love for my SLR
Thursday - Love for my D50
Friday - Love for my D300
Saturday - Love for the Giants World Series wins
Sunday - Love for my iPhone camera
Monday - Love for my underwater camera
Tuesday - Love for my uncle's all manual camera


Week 26



Wednesday - Love for Traveling (and guide books)


Thursday - My Valentine (husband)
Friday - Love for Starbucks
Saturday - Love for my son 
Sunday - Love for my daughter
Monday - Love for "autobiography" books
Tuesday - Love for reading books on my phone and iPad


Week 27


Wednesday - Love for Linkin Park

Thursday - Love for Christina Aguilera


Friday - Love for my sister-like aunt
Saturday - Love for Duran Duran!!
Sunday - Love for 50 First Dates
Monday - Love for Grease
Tuesday - Love for The Notebook


Week 28a


Wednesday - Love for my Scrapbooks
Thursday - Love for yarn
Friday - (March 1)--Husband traveling

Thanks for looking.  Hopefully I will get in a groove and finish this PL before the end of the year.  I have pictures printed through June...I just have to journal.  I also have pictures for July & August, but I need to get some printer ink (or send them off to be printed).

Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe EVER!!!


Since I was sharing a recipe yesterday, I thought I would also share this one originally from Family Fun Magazine in 1999.

I really don't remember when I started making this recipe or how I even came about it--I do know I found it way before Pinterest was invented :D

I cannot wait to make some loaves this season.  

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Pumpkin French Toast Bake--Pinterest Recipe

I pin lots of recipes on Pinterest...I mean with photos like this, who wouldn't?


But it is rare that I actually make the recipes I pin--Mostly because I don't cook very well.  Baking is another thing though :)  Before I had kids, I baked all the time for my extended family and for my now husband (he still complains every once in awhile that I don't make him white chocolate chip cookies anymore).  

So I finally decided to take a stab at this recipe because I LOVE pumpkin bread and french toast, so why not combine them?  I know technically it isn't Fall yet, but close enough...Pumpkin everything is everywhere!

Sometimes when you click the pictures on Pinterest, it turns out to be just a picture, but luckily this one was linked to the actual recipe from The Minimalist Baker.  I used almond milk and I didn't have any pumpkin butter so I used pumpkin puree doubled the vanilla, pumpkin spice, and brown sugar, plus I added a few dashes of ginger and cloves.

(letting it set overnight)

I just used regular white bread.  If I like raisins in my food, I would have loved to try cinnamon raisin bread.  

The result (I didn't use any nuts because I don't care for nuts in my food either--ha ha ha):

ok...it looks wet which the recipe says to bake until no longer wet...but this picture was taken after transporting it to work under foil--so it is just the condensation--I promise you.  Why did I take it to work?  My husband doesn't like French Toast and my son doesn't like Pumpkin...I know, right?


This was at the end of the day.  It wasn't as sweet as I had hoped it would be, but everyone told me it was good (I hoped the 5-6 of 10 people in my office that tasted it really liked it and weren't just being nice :D )

Would I make it again?  Probably not, because my family wouldn't enjoy it.  But it would be cool to try with either pumpkin butter or more sugar in the bake so syrup wouldn't have to be added.

I can't wait to try out more pumpkin recipes this fall.  With my daughter off at college and my husband taking some classes twice a week (plus off watching football on Sundays), I have some extra time to be creative.