Big Lovable Pooch!

Meet our puppy Sinbad.
Isn't he the cutest?  We have had him for almost 1 year now and we couldn't be happier with him.
He will be 2 years old this June... but to us he will always be a big over-grown puppy.

He's fun, playful, adorable and a BIG cuddle-bug!
He would be just as happy just to sit on your lap and get belly rubs and hugs... but as you can see.. he's not exactly the size of a normal lap-dog.   A wee bit too big...

But we love him!   It was my husband's dream dog growing up, a Bull Mastiff.
Don't those eyes just melt you up??
And to see him sprawl on the grass just always makes me smile.

Happy Valentines Day!

The children were napping so peacefully this afternoon I actually got a spare moment to make some cards for Valentines Day!   Valentines Day being tomorrow I figured it might be nice to actually do something special.  My husband isn't really one for the Hallmark holiday, but I love it.  There's just something sweet about doing something special for that special person on this one particular day.  Not that we shouldn't do something special for the people we love every day, but I love it just the same.  I still remember the Valentines Day together with my husband just before we were married. I wanted it to be so special, so I wrote and cut out 100 reasons why I liked and loved him.  I made him Lasagna and blueberry pie and had heart candies scattered across the table.  Candle-lit dinner and all.  It was so romantic... Yes, I have a bit of a romantic side... Anyway, here are two special cards that I made this afternoon as I remembered those special memories from 2005...

Mmmmm... Cheesecake!

YUM!


Turtle Cheesecake



Thursday I was making special preparations for some company the next day.



Triple Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies

Yes, Friday I was having my parents and my younger brother and sister over for dinner.  So, to make our evening a yummy and memorable one I decided to make Rouladen for dinner.  A German dish.  This is something new to me.  I have only made it once before, but it was surprisingly delicious!  Thinly sliced pieces of beef, so very tender.  Wrapped up with Mustard, Onions, Paprika, Garlic, a Carrot and a Pickle!  Sounds a bit odd?  But tastes wonderful!  

For dessert I made 2 options... Triple Chocolate Chocolate Chip Marshmallow cookies and the main dessert... Turtle Cheesecake!   (the cookies were mainly so my husband would be happy as he does not like cheesecake at all.)  Yes, Cheesecake... Yum.  Caramel, Yum... Chocolate, double YUM! 

Friday finally arrived and everything tasted fabulous.  I was just so very happy that everything turned out.  And just before dessert I quickly whipped up some homemade Whipped Cream to enjoy with the cheesecake.    Everyone especially enjoyed the Cheesecake, (except my hubby).  And I have to say I don't think I'll be going back to AfterThoughts or any other dessert coffee shop for that matter!  I just don't know if there's ever going back to buying it again! 

But alas, from my busy last few days I'm exhausted... Maybe next time some relaxing card making will be in order. 

I hope my pictures don't make you drool too much! 





a slice of the yumminess

Rouladen

yes... pink, blue and white marshmallows... why not, eh?





Music can change your mood!

What's one way you release stress?

For myself..  it's scrapbooking, dancing, playing piano, and nature walks. 

It's amazing what those four things can do for me. 

For instance, the Piano. . . As I start playing music and as I listen to the flowy melody everything just starts to melt away.   All the tension in my body seems to flow right out my finger tips.  Now, I don't play professionally, so don't get thinking that I'm some amazing piano pianist.  But it just often surprises me what happens to my mood when I have a good 15 minutes un-interrupted alone time with my piano.  

Sleepy Days...

Do you ever get that feeling like you just haven't slept? 
Or maybe it's because you really didn't sleep.  I often wonder this.  Especially when I wake up without feeling rested. But that seems to be the norm for me lately as I have a 3 year old boy and a 6 month old daughter.  During the day I often look outside, hoping for some sunshine, but who am I kidding?  We live in a high-chance of rain climate.  Not saying we don't get sunshine, but today was the average winter rainy day.  My son had been sick since Friday, so all weekend.  But my first glimmer of hope was his fever was finally gone this morning! YEA.  Finally.  Sometimes it feels like the light at the end of the tunnel is just a little bit too far away, and then out of nowhere it suddenly appears!   SO, as soon as my daughter went down for her afternoon nap I thought I would spend some time organizing the stack of over 400 pictures into piles... One.. My Photo Album,  Two.. My Son's Album,  Three.. My daughters Album, Four.. Scrapbook pile, and finally Five.. Picture Frame.  Yes, this is taking a LONG time to sort through.  But the end is in near sight and I'm feeling better about my day.  I also made a card to share.  What do you think?