I'm a little scrap happy. How about you?

Did someone tell you that you HAVE TO use certain things in order to scrapbook? That the supplies you use MUST meet certain criteria? Well I guess if you are really concerned that they will be kept for a hundred years. But let's be realistic. Chances of that happening are pretty slim.

I won't be around to hear my future family members cussing me out for not doing things "properly" and know what? I'm glad about that. That means that I can scrapbook any old way I choose.

I'm careful. I promise. I don't use all acid free everything. Mainly what I use is, indeed, acid free. Most of what I use is really mean for scrapbooking or cardmaking type activities. But a lot isn't. And I'm good with that. Very good. I might use old costume jewelry that fell apart or I might use this or that doo dad that I found here or there. I might use sewing things. I might use artsy things. Shoot. You never know what Mama Sage will come up with.

This first page was done with a background paper and matting that were my granddaughter's school colors. I used embroidery floss thread in the buttons as accents. Journaling here was done on the computer. I typed my journaling for quite a while. Now I mainly write it so that a part of me is included in each page.

The circles on this page were bracelets I no longer wore that mean something to me. They make wonderful frames around my little grandgirl.

When our little girls played dress up I always tried to get some cute pictures. It dolled up the page to add the sequin ric rac trim.

I came across these little circles of cork and decided they were perfect for this page. They definitely are not acid free but I'm good with that.

My zig zag paper was supposed to represent the zip line they were on. lol

They were panning for gold and I thought the floral mesh ribbon was a perfect representation of the screen of the sifter.

I used the corsage from the wedding on this page. Love how my "just combined" kiddos rode off on the combine. And the bottom picture is the traditional brotherly kiss.

On my mom's red hat page, I used a red hat magnet and included the poem that tells what the red hats are.

The heart on this page is actually a doily with a paper heart in the center. Not traditional scrapbooking fare, but it looked good, so it's there.

I never know what will inspire the page design. I sit up in my scrapbooking room and decide one picture at a time. I love the freedom I have to create.

~~~~*****~~~~

Here's something pompous -

you take your day and artistically create it,

so every moment has an artistic flavor.

~~William Shatner

I like this better than traditional stuffed peppers

I think I like it better becasue I can chop up the green peppers pretty small. Bigger pieces of pepper aren't my favorite. And when I do traditional peppers it seems the peppers don't get cooked as completely. Raw peppers bother my tummy.

UNSTUFFED PEPPERS

3 lb. ground meat
1 large onion, chopped
2 green peppers, slice in strips or chopped
1 can mushrooms
2 cans of stewed tomatoes
2 small or 1 large can tomato paste. Salt and pepper to taste.
Brown meat with onion, pepper and mushrooms. Add remaining ingredients. Serve with rice.

Before those paper bags are gone!

This is the next best thing to oven baked caramel corn. In fact, some folks actually like it better. Quick and easy...


MICROWAVE CARAMEL CORN
Pop two batches of air popped corn. Place in empty brown paper grocery bag.
In a microwave safe container, melt 1 stick margarine
Remove from microwave and add 1/3 c. light or dark corn syrup
1 c. brown sugar
1 t. vanilla
Microwave 2 minutes, turn, microwave 2 more minutes.
Remove from microwave. Immediately stir in 1 t. baking soda. It will foam big. GOOD! Pour on popped corn in the brown paper bag. Roll bag down to close. Microwave 1 ½ min. Remove and shake bag. Careful. The syrup burns bad. Return to microwave for another 1 ½ min. Pour onto cookie sheet to cool and become crispy.
Store in airtight container.

It brings me back to my childhood...

When I was a kid, I think this was my favorite cake after chocolate. A layer of this and a layer of chocolate? THAT, my friends, would be heavenly!

PEANUT BUTTER CAKE
½ c. creamy peanut butter
¼ c. margarine, softened
¾ c. sugar
Cream these together well.
Add:
2 eggs
Mix well.
Mix the following dry ingredients in a separate bowl:
1 ½ c. flour
2 t. baking powder
¼ t. salt
Add this mixture to the first mixture alternating the milk below.
¾ c. milk
Pour into greased 9 inch square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes.
Frosting:
1/3 c. chunky peanut butter
1/3 c. margarine, softened.
Blend well.
Add:
3 c. powdered sugar
¼ c. milk
1 ½ t. vanilla
Mix well.

Sweet and sour chicken doesn't have to be fried

I know there are a lot of carbs here with the sugar, but I figure I'm saving a few with not breading the chicken. Plus I'm not frying it so it's saving on fat too. Every little bit helps.

SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

2 T. whole wheat flour
¼ c. packed brown sugar
¼ c. apple cider vinegar
2 T. light soy sauce
1 can pineapple chunks in natural juice drained
1 medium green pepper cut into thin strips
4 boneless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces

Place flour, sugar, vinegar and soy sauce in a casserole dish. Stir with fork to blend. Add pineapple and green pepper. Next add chicken. Cover pan tightly with foil or lid. Bake at 350 degrees until chicken is tender. (About 30 – 35 minutes) Serve over hot cooked brown rice.

Mom's Best Cake

I love fruity. My mom had some awesome fruity cakes that could be made healthier by ingredient choices. She was a real stickler for watching her fat intake after she found out she had chronic cholesterol problems. This is one of my favorite cake recipes.

PINEAPPLE CAKE
2 c. flour
1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple with juice
Nuts to your liking
2 t. baking soda
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
Beat well. Pour into greased 13 x 9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes.

She liked that you didn't use any crisco or oil with this. She used the "good" nuts and she would sometimes use three egg whites or use egg substiture instead of two whole eggs.

never take a wasted step

NEVER TAKE A WASTED STEP

My mom taught me that by word and by example. And she learned it from her own mother.

Every time I move from one place to another I try and keep in mind that I should look for things that are to be "going my way." I get up from my chair. There are two scarves that need to be taken down and put with my other scarves for sale. I pick them up and lay them on my left arm. There's an empty glass needing to go to the kitchen sink. Just the direction I'm headed. It's in my right hand. On the way, I see a toy on the floor that's been dropped out of the playpen. I balance the glass with my left fingertips so I can bend down, grab the toy, and put it where it belongs. The glass gets put in the sink next and I see an empty jar needing to go downstairs to the shelf. I grab it and down I go. I can hold it in my arm with the scarves so the other hand can grab the dirty towel that was tossed down the stairs. I carry it on down and after putting the scarves in their place and the jar in it's place, I drop the towel in the laundry room. I'm right beside the bathroom and mom always said never to pass up an opportunity to pee, so I handle that before heading back upstairs. On the way up, I grab some veggies from the freezer for supper. When I get up to the kitchen, I unload the dishwasher and get out the other meal preps. I'm poo'd out so I go happily on into the livingroom to sit a few before cycling down this road again. When I do, I'll be doing some cooking and cleaning. Make every step count. We are alloted just so many in a lifetime and each one should have some meaning.

~~Mama Sage