Aren't these pictures so much fun?!?
A couple weeks ago, while we were down in Utah to visit some of Ryan's family, I was able to snap some quick pictures of Zoe and some of her cousins.

I originally planned to do a film strip type layout with all the different photos, but it took a different direction.

Thank goodness I got some crafting in today, because I just found out my craft room needs to be disassembled for awhile, so the management can take care of the leak issues. I am pretty sure they are gonna rip out the wall. Which means it might be awhile before I can have my whole room back together.

There will be a lot of sorting and cleaning up - maybe even a stash downsize giveaway....

I got some new goodies from Paper Issues this week and my favorite thing is the Prima resist canvas.
Have you seen this? It's amazing! They are die cut made from canvas, with different patterns on them. I had so much fun testing these out. I mixed some mist colors, my favorite combo is Studio Calico Mr. Huey Cameo + Lemonade.

The new theme for Paper Issues is up, and for this theme, I got to work with this awesome kit from Cassie - Bees Love Cantaloupe - made up of My Mind's Eye papers, white and kraft cardstock, snug hug binding, twine and diecuts.

I loved this kit so much. I made 3 layouts all from this kit.

This first layout I relied heavily on my Silhouette machine. I used the dresden pattern shape found here. I cut out the pattern pieces using several different patterned papers and then mix them up and put them back together. I added some stitching around the edges with the twine to make them pop!




This layout is one of my new favorites, probably because this is one of my favorite pictures from our wedding. On this page I did some fussy cutting. I cut out the hexagons from this paper for a border. I also cut out the cluster on this paper, added some stitching and some diecuts from the the kit to recreate a 3D embellishment. I embossed some naked chipboard letters with white Zing embossing ink from American Crafts. (amazing stuff)

If you spend lots of time browsing Pinterest - raise your hand.

Pinterest is such an amazing website and I love all the inspiration and ideas found there. However, it's a time suck. A BIG one. or it can be.

I find that I'm pretty good at referring back to what I pin, especially when it comes to recipes, but I thought it would be fun to start a Pinterest in Action feature, to show all of you some of my favorite finds on Pinterest.

Today's feature is Pesto-Chicken Penne Casseroles

The original pin is from Taste of Home via tasteofhome.com Here is the link to the recipe - LINK

Source: Tasteofhome.com

The recipe states that it makes enough for 2 8x8 casserole dishes. After reading the reviews, I saw that some people said it made a lot more than 2. After I made the sauce, it seemed like a lot. I cooked up 2lbs of penne instead of the 1lb suggested by the recipe.

This post is a little like the Wizard of Oz pulling back the curtain - I just have to share my love for Adobe Lightroom. Lightroom is a photo-editing software, to use in companion with Photoshop. You can download the trial version from the Adobe website - good for 30 days.


 My favorite thing is being able to create your own presets. Basically, I edit the first photo, from the same session, then create a preset for that session and can apply it to all the other photos with one click!

My trial version expires in 5 days, and I'm really thinking I'm gonna need to bite the bullet and buy this program .

I was lucky that Zoe was smiling. These photos were actually taken at mid-day (the worst time, light wise) and thankfully with the shade of the neighboring apartment building, they turned out ok.

I didn't use to think I was a kit scrapper, but after the last year or so, of scrapping mainly with kits - making a layout without one, is increasingly more difficult.

I recently got some new non-kit goodies in the mail and having been trying to mix those up with some things that have been sitting in my stash for awhile. This layout came together fairly easily, although I originally had a few more colors in the mix, I decided to simplify it.

I still think I scrap more and more efficiently with kits, they will probably continue to be my main source for scrapping, but I like having my stash to use. I doubt I'll ever be a kit-only scrapper.

What kind of scrapper are you? Do you keep a stash around, even if you scrap almost exclusively with kits?

XOXO,
Holly &Co.

Photo taken by Aly Willis Photography

We spent the weekend in Utah, surrounded by my family. Young and old, we walked together, ate together, laughed together, it was blissful.

We spent Saturday participating in Race for the Cure in Salt Lake City, followed by a luncheon at my parent's to celebrate my Grandfather's 80th birthday.

Zoe was entertained by all my cousins, and her second cousins. Even though they go sometimes years without seeing each other, they play wonderfully together. She's been asking repeatedly to go play with them again.

I often forget how lucky and unique it is, to be so close to one's extended family. I take for granted the large extended support network I have, and have had my whole life.

Photo by Aly Willis Photography

I got to spend Mother's Day with my Mom and Grandma Morgan. Such a treat to get to spend the day with these wonderful ladies. Even more lucky, we get to see Ryan's family this coming weekend.

Today, I feel blessed. I feel surrounded by the best people. I have the best families. I am one lucky girl.

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

After my awesome burst of scrapbooking over National Scrapbook Day - I needed a change of pace. I went back to my craft closet and pulled out my *almost* finished Christmas quilt and decided to bind it up.

Isn't it wonderful?!? I adore this quilt. I've been working on it slowly since I bought the fabric, right after Christmas (I got it on major sale) This is most difficult quilts I've made - probably because I didn't use a pattern, I just made it up as I went along.

I am in the process of creating the pattern - but it's a lot of math, which isn't my favorite part about quilting. The final size is about 45" x 45", although I should probably measure it again to make sure.

Front

I had so much fun quilting this top. I knew when I added the red squares, that I wanted to quilt stars in them, but as for the rest I was kind of lost. For the borders I ended up with a loop-de-loop pattern and then did stippling (random curved lines) on the inner diamond shapes.

I wanted the center of each square to look like peppermint candies. I'm a little sad that I have to wait 7 months to pull this back out of the craft closet to actually use, but it will certainly liven up the couch during December.

XOXO,
Holly & CO.

These cookies are a spin off from my mom's classic chocolate chip cookie recipe. It is tried and true. It works in high elevation and near sea level - no need to change a thing.

1.5 sticks of butter
2/3 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. white sugar
1 large egg
2 t. vanilla extract
2 C. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 C. chocolate chips
1/2 C. butterscotch chips

Combine softened butter and sugars. Beat in egg and vanilla. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together, slowly add to the dough while mixing. Chill in the fridge for 30 -60 minutes. Roll into 1-inch balls and bake at 350 for 8-10, just until slightly golden. Enjoy!

 The saying goes, " The way to a man's heart is through his stomach," but I think it's applicable for toddlers too.

I made this yesterday along with several other pages, but I think this one is my favorite. I used some bits for Maggie's class kit HERE and new Hello Forever cut outs, which I love.

With the scrapbooking overload yesterday, I think tonight I will be switching over to quilting, so as not to burn myself out.

Come back tomorrow for a yummy cookie recipe :)

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

You might be like me and have a "Cheesy Face" kid.
Yep, that's Zoe. It's probably because I take her picture so often, but when I say smile, I get....


Now this is definitely not the worst face she could be making, but I prefer her natural smile like this one...