Yummy Tidbits!

Hi Everyone! My name is Jenn (jk703) and I'm bringing you a few of my favorite Tidbits for Tidbit Tuesday! Woo Hoo! I know everyone likes the meals that we showcase on Monday's Meals in Minutes... but what about the desserts, and yummies for after those meals? I thought I would share some info for some fun desserts!

First, is the fantastic and popular: Bakerella! This site is full of ideas... cakes, pops, and great ideas! Boy, I wish I had an ounce of her talent! Here are a few pics from her blog:

Her new book coming out soon (which I want to get!):

and some here are her so pretty to eat, but I would eat them! Cake Bites (her Cake Pops look just like these, but on a stick, various kinds):

YUM, right?!

A great resource for recipes and yummy desserts is Nosh With Me: Easy to follow recipes, pictures and ideas! Great Blog! Here is a pic of her S'mores recipe that looks perfect without the fire!

As the ending... my all-time favorite is : Hello, Cupcake! This is a website, as well as a blog that showcases what you can make with cupcakes, icing, and candy! Check it out! I made a few of the recipes from their first book named: Hello, Cupcake! (lol):

They have a second book that is out now, called "What's New, Cupcake?" I will have to head out and check that one out for some great new ideas!!! Check these out -- Spagetti and Meatballs!! Hello, Cupcake! Style...

Here are pics from my own creations using their book... so you know they CAN be done! Some (Fun to Make) Bugs:

One of the (Really Pretty in Person) Sunflowers:

Here is one of MY favorites... just cause I created it! lol! My very Own Cookie Monster Look A Like:

Well, I hope you've enjoyed these blogs, photos, and tidbits! I am pretty sure that I might be leaving you hungry! Would love to see your edible creations, so share any that you've made in the comments!!! Have a great day!

Jenn (jk703)

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Meal In Minutes Monday

Hello everyone! Tara here with some tips on how to plan a monthly menu. I know what you are thinking.....a whole month! Yes, it is true. You can do this. I PROMISE. I started planning my menu about 5 years ago when I became a stay at home mom. One, to save money and two, because I got tired of the arguments each night over what was for dinner! So, are you ready to learn?

Here are the steps that I do to make this happen.....

1. Purchase a calendar, print a calendar from your computer or do some fancy work on a calendar with your scrapbooking skills!

2. Go to other family members to get a list of what they would like to see on the menu. Even my 5 year old helps with this. I do this step because one person's favorite will not be another person's favorite. We all take turns eating meals that we don't "love" but it is fair because your turn is just a day or so away. Make sense? Don't forget to add your favorites to the list also!

3. Fill in squares on your calendar of the suggested meals.

4. This is the step that I LOVE. For the remaining empty squares go hunting for new recipes!!! This is a great way to add more meals to the family favorites! I dig through my recipe books or visit websites for this. Sometimes I just send out a few emails to ladies that I know have some skills in the kitchen to help with ideas! A few websites that I love to visit are All Recipes, My Recipes, Food Network and Tasty Kitchen.

5. Sit back and enjoy looking at a menu full of dinner plans! It is such a great feeling!!! Seriously....sit back and feel the sense of accomplishment! :)

6. I make a grocery list for two weeks at a time. I go through the pantry and refrigerator to see what I have on hand first. Then I start going through each recipe for the next couple of weeks to make sure that I have everything written down.

7. Go grocery shopping with your list and see how much easier it is to shop! Gone are the days of standing in front of the meat section wondering what you could make with that chicken!

I hope this helps you get back your joy of cooking without evening battles of "what's for dinner". This did take me a couple of months to get use to but I have LOVED having this part of my life organized!

Now for reading through all of that, you get a quick and easy recipe to try! (You could enter this in one of those empty squares that is on your calendar!)

Take a look at this.......

Look yummy????? Well, it is! It has quickly become a family favorite. Yep, EVERYONE loves this one and there is no arguments this night. :) We are always looking for a new way to make chicken, right? Well, here you go!

Cinnamon Chicken Rub ~ 2 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp ground pepper and 1 tbsp ground cinnamon. Mix all the ingredients together. Rub on chicken (I do it on thighs and legs because my family likes dark meat). In skillet, coat the bottom with olive oil and heat up on a medium heat. Place chicken in skillet and brown on each side for about 5 minutes each. Lower heat and cover. Let the chicken "stew" until it is done. (depends on size of chicken but it can take 10-20 minutes) This makes for a very tender, juicy and yummy piece of chicken! Just add a couple of sides and you have a great meal!

So what are you waiting for????? Go plan your September menu now and enjoy the benefits of having a plan. You will be the envy of all your friends. :)

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Sunday Spotlight: Scraps to Go

I know you all know about the fabulous kits that you can get at Jennifer Fox Designs. But do you know she makes some rockin' templates, too? Her template series, Scraps to Go, gives you a jump start on your layouts, especially when you've lost your mojo. I know they've helped me through my "scrappers block" several times!

Check out some of the layouts I found in the gallery using Scraps to Go...


It's Perfect by yogovonne




Hawaiian Vacation by jklmscrapper




New Home by AlliJ2008




And, captured, by me.

And don't forget about the Back to School Sale at The DigiChick! Today's the last day you can save 35% on most products, including these fabulous templates!


Happy scrapping!

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Saturday School: Using Patterned Paper

Hi everyone! Kendall here to bring you this week’s edition of Saturday School. Today, we are going to talk about patterned paper. I absolutely *heart* patterned paper, so you’ll find it used in some way on most of my pages. Since I started scrapping, I have consistently heard comments from other scrappers regarding how much they struggle with using different types of patterned paper. So, today I thought I’d share some tips for selecting the right kind of paper for your layout.

First of all, (and this probably seems like a no-brainer) we need to consider color. Obviously, we don’t want to choose a bunch of clashing colors. But, at the same time, we want the scale of our colors to vary enough that the different papers stand out from one another.

Another factor to consider when selecting your papers is the size of the pattern. Here are a few examples of different sizes of patterns. I used Jen’s new collab with Michelle Batton, Endless Summer Days, for my examples.

Small pattern:

If you are a little hesitant to jump right into the world of patterned paper, start off with a small pattern like this one. It adds just enough “oomph” to your page without being too distracting or overwhelming.

Medium pattern:

Now, we’re branching out a little to add a bit more interest to our layout. If you’re a little unsure about using these kinds of patterns on your page, you could always stack it with a solid or use it on its own smaller layer as a paper block, strip, or circle. Another option might be to use this paper as matting for your photos or journaling blocks.

Large pattern:

This is an example of a “wow” paper. It’s big, bold, and demands to be noticed. Personally, these are some of my favorite kinds of background papers, but for those of you experimenting with different patterns for the first time, you may feel more comfortable using these as “accent pieces” on your page, as mentioned above.

Once you’ve gotten more comfortable with using patterned paper, you can really start having some fun by mixing different colors and patterns on your pages. I often find myself selecting papers by trial and error. And that’s what’s so great about digi! You can try 11 different papers, mix and match them, swap them out, move them around over and over until you achieve the look you’re going for.

Keep in mind colors and the sizes of your patterns when mixing different papers. Obviously you don’t want colors or patterns that compete too much with one another or clash too harshly. Remember, there is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing patterned paper or to digi-scrap in general. As long as you are scrapping for you and are happy with your pages, that is what’s important. Just have fun with it! Here’s my finished LO using Endless Summer Days and Scraps to Go Volume 7: Fun With Paper Templates:

So, now that I’ve given you some things to keep in mind when selecting different paper choices, get out there and challenge yourself to make a page using at least 2-3 different patterned papers. I think you’ll notice just how much certain papers can add to your layouts and really make them pop. Again, the goal is to try something new and HAVE FUN doing it!

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Friday Freebie!

Hi everyone. Kiki here with a little freebie to make your Friday a happy one! Here's a cluster that I made with elements from Jennifer's recent collab with Michelle Batton. Hope you enjoy it. Of course, it goes best with the kit. :)


Now, the freebie:


You can download it here. Enjoy your weekend!

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