Alphabet Book

For Brogans birthday coming up in a month (eeek!), I decided to make him an Alphabet Book. I wanted to use pictures from our life and house so that the objects would be more familiar to him.

Here are few that I have done........

I am printing them 4 x 6 size, then I will put them in a photo book for him.

I LOVE picnik.com, that is where I have been doing the editing.

...love this....

I am addicted!!!

Here are a bunch of before and afters, well actually afters and befores of pictures that I have edited on that photoshop site picnik.cim. I think that I have a new addiction, and I have a great idea for decor in my bedroom!!!!!

1960's Mama

I think I could have been a mama in the 1960's.....


Here is the original photo.....

Photo editing

I was playing around more, and changed

this.......


into this.......

I did ALOT of changes to this picture before I did the pencil effect-- but I think that I want to find some cute pictures of my kids, change them into this and hang them in my home.

Anyone else like the look?

Again, I did this on picnik.com

Playing on a random photshop site....

I was playing with a random free photoshop site at work--piknik.com-- because I never have time to work with mine at home.

Anyway, here is the picture after I played with it.....


Here is the original.....

Did I change too much?

Bath Toys

Here is a cute, affordable way to make fun bath toys for your kiddos. I found this at http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/. She has tons of cute ideas!!

I bought some craft foam from Walmart-- a whole big package for $5. I found some free printable stencils online and also used some that I had in my scrapbooking stuff. Trace 'em, cut 'em, and viola so easy!!

When the foam gets wet it sticks to the side of the tub or the tile. But not too sticky that little fingers can't get them off. Both my kids love them. I usually leave them on the sides when they get out of the tub, when you go in later--they are dry, but still stuck.

I still have tons of foam left to make more-- for other kiddos in my life (Emmitt's birthday)!

More peppers-with a little sweetness

Raspberry Jalepeno Jam

This is by far, one of my most favorite treats! This jam is excellent on crackers with cream cheese. I could sit and eat a whole jar, if I don't watch myself.

Anyway, here is the recipe:

5 cups of fresh raspberries, washed

1/2 green bell pepper, washed, seeded, and chopped

3 jalapeno peppers, washed, seeded, and chopped

5 cups sugar

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1 box pectin

yields: 7 half pints

If you want more spice, then don't seed one or all of the jalapenos.

Measure out raspberries in a bowl. Mush them so they get quite juicy but there are still chunks of raspberries remaining. Use your hands.

We used gloves so the berries didn't stain our hands. I did not buy fresh raspberries. You can find frozen raspberries in the freezer section of the store. Make sure they do not have syrup in them though. Walmart has a great value brand that has 2.5 cups in each one, so it worked perfect to buy 2 bags per batch. We also put the peppers in the blender with the cider vinegar to chop them up.

Add the chopped bell pepper, jalapenos, and vinegar to the berries and mix.


I know this looks disgusting, that why I took the picture.....

In a separate bowl, mix 1 box of pectin with 1/4 cup of the sugar. Measure out remaining sugar into another bowl.

Place berry-pepper mixture in a pot and bring to a full boil over high heat, stirring so the mixture does not burn. Once at a boil, stir in the pectin-sugar mixture and bring back to a boil. Add the remaining sugar to the pot and stir. Bring to a vigorous boil again, while stirring continuously. Boil hard, continuing to stir for 1 minute (1 minute only).


Remove from heat, skim off the scum, stir and ladle hot jam into sterilized jars, securing lids tightly. Process in water bath canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude (I have to do 20) Once done, remove jars and allow to cool.


Here is Jared, enjoying some raspberry-jalapeno scum.


Look how pretty!! I just LOVE putting things into jars!!!