Riggin Family Wedding

Last weekend we made another quick trip to Tennessee to attend my niece Melanie's wedding. What a beautiful ceremony and fun reception. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family. I was missing my mom just terribly and as it turns out, I wasn't the only one, of course. I am so glad that we were able to be there for Melanie and Clayton's special day. Enjoy the photos!

Scrapbook Layouts

Yesterday I went to a 12 hour crop. It was great! I got 8 2-page layouts done My good friend, yummy treats and scrapbooking. The perfect day! Here is what I accomplished. (Just click the photo to enlarge it.)

The girls Spring photo shoot in the backyard.

Allison's trip to Binder Park Zoo with friends.


This was the mini class I signed up for. This two page layout was included in the cost of our crop. I love it! Now I just have to find the perfect photos to go here. Zoe is thanking me for putting the album on the floor so she has something to lay on!


This is my birthday. The close up is the detail that I did on the photo mats of a few pictures. Thanks to my dear friend friend Patti who posted a layout she had done with this simple idea to add a little interest to the page. That's my brother Rick and his wife Cathy. It was Rick's birthday celebration too!


This was a fun layout to complete. It was a contest, using the directions and the sketch that Amy gave us, we had to come up with a layout. Everyone then voted on the finished layouts. I didn't win the prize, but I got an awesome layout done in an hour, so I was very pleased!


Diamond Lake Vacation

Fall Decor

So, last weekend I got the last of the fall/Halloween decorations out. I love to decorate for Fall. It is truly my favorite season here in Michigan.

My newest little decor is from our summer trip to Shipshewana. Aren't these little guys cute?

I'm a silk flower junkie. This fun Halloween vase is in my kitchen with these beauties adding color to a corner.

And here is a cute pumpkin trio that lights up with batteries and my favorite Partylite tealight holders for fall. I love getting these out every year.

The main floor bathroom gets hit with fallness too! But my family knows they'd best not use the cute towel... it's just for looks (and company of course!)

And don't laugh, but even the laundry room isn't safe! Hey, I spend an awful lot of time in here - might as well enjoy the fall colors while I'm there!! I was excited to get these cool autumn picks half off at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago.

And decorating wouldn't be complete at my house without a candy dish! And this time of year would be incomplete without Brach's Autumn mix. Those pumpkin candies are to die for!!

And because I was so domestic last weekend, I also scrapped a few pages!!

Isn't this precious! It's my mom with my brother's. I just love how proper and ladylike she was. And the twins are just too darn cute in their little matching outfits! I used the new Basic Grey fall line for this page.

These two pages are for Kaitlin's 2003 book. More Basic Grey papers - I'm in love with Basic Grey! On our annual camping trip in Petoskey we took a couple of day trips. One to the Cross in the Wood, which is just an amazing site. So peaceful and comforting. It was a place my parents took me many times and I couldn't not take my kids there. And then the page below is Charlevoix. Another favorite place of my up north. Just a beautiful pier and the boats are amazing. I love up north Michigan and I love scrapping it too!

I'm getting ready for this coming weekend! I'm going to a 12 hour crop on Saturday and I cannot wait! I have all my photos organized and my papers and embelishments packed. An entire day of doing what I love - yeah!

Soup and Brownies

All I can say is Yummmm... and you really should make these soon!

Caramel Pretzel Brownie Bites

Brownie
1 German Chocolate Cake mix
1 egg
1/2 cup butter

Pretzel Crumble
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 cup crushed pretzels

Caramel Drizzle
About 15-20 caramels
2-3 Tbsp. evaporated milk

1 cup milk chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, egg and butter until smooth. Scoop batter into mini muffin tins sprayed with non stick spray. Scoop about 1 Tbsp. pretzel crumble on the top of the brownie batter. Pat down lightly.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.
Immediately after taking out of the oven, drizzle the caramel over the top of the brownie and press in a few chocolate chips.

ENJOY!!

And, ok, because we can't live on these treats alone, I made "homemade" chicken soup too!

I love this easy recipe. It takes simple ingredients that I usually have in the pantry and makes a quick easy soup that my whole family likes.

Chicken Wild Rice Soup
5 2/3 cups water
1 pkg. long grain & wild rice mix
1 envelope chicken noodle soup mix
1 celery rib, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
1/3 chopped onion
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup cubed cooked chicken

In a large saucepan, combine water, rice with contents of seasoning packet and soup mix. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the celery, carrot and onion. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in cream of chicken soup and chicken. Cook 8 minutes longer and enjoy -- approx. 5 servings.

The domestic goddess is now tired. I must put my feet up and rest for a while!!

Sick House

Yes, it's the sick house. Greg says he wants to go "home"... his mom's home where there are no germs!!! Allison has the flu and bronchitis. She is now on antibiotics and cough syrup. I haven't felt good all day. I have had this annoying cough for three weeks, since I had the flu. But, today it's has been a non-stop cough and I'm feeling very blah. I am assuming that I now have bronchitis too. Wonderful! Stay away from the Youtzy house -- far, far away!

Paper Beads

Thanks to my blogger friend Becky at http://infarrantlycreative.blogspot.com/ I tried something new and fun (a bit messy, but cool). I made paper beads. Those that know me know I spend lots money and time on beading. I choose some coordinated scrapbook paper and went to town.



I rolled my paper strips up and glued the ends with the Diamond Glaze.
Then I used a small paint brush and put two coats of the Diamond Glaze all over the beads and let them dry. Small hint here - toothpicks would be handy! I didn't realize I didn't have any until it was too late! I used the inside of an ink pen, which worked fine.


After the beads were dry and oh so pretty I strung them on some wire with silver spacers and then used the black tubing to hide the wire. Very cool necklace. I'm anxious to play around with other colors and designs of scrapbook paper. These aren't by any means perfect - what first attempt is! But I love the uniqueness of it. Thanks Becky - keep on keeping on with those cool ideas!



I'm home today with a sickie. Poor Allison has a BAD case of the flu. They don't test here, unless you go to the hosptial. Her doctor said to assume she has H1N1 and treat the symptoms. Poor thing is miserable.

Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my baby! Allison is fourteen today!

I just cannot believe it! Hard to imagine that this photo was taken 14 years ago!
(Allison took a picture of a picture instead of letting me scan it -- but you get the idea!)

Tonight we'll have her favorite dinner (Shephards Pie) and then she and friends will go to the Homecoming Football game. After the game we'll have cake and ice cream. Oh, and PRESENTS! The best part of birthdays!

Love you, Allison!!