Layouts from the birthday......

 I love the PL App. I had these completed within 2 hours after celebrating our son's birthday. Who can beat that? #projectlife #projectlifeapp

Brioche and Omelletes

Our son is in culinary school. He is wowing us with all of his recipes he is learning over the summer.

For Father's Day, Joe made omelettes and brioche for Don and I.

They were amazing!!!

Brioche

Omelletes

Breakfast is served!

Children never out grow snuggling on the couch.......

Just when I thought that our son was too old to want to snuggle up to his mother. He does this yesterday afternoon.

AND falls asleep.....

Things to be grateful for in our lives......

I got this in an email from a dear friend. There are so many things to be grateful for. I have done the 30 days of gratitude for a few years every November. We need to be grateful every day, not just for a month.

The amazing thing is that no matter how much or little I think I have, I always have more! And gratitude helps me see it.

If you’ve felt gypped by the Universe, here are 100 reasons to be grateful today.

1. The breath in your lungs

2. Your hard-working heart

3. The food that fuels your experience

4. The ever-present opportunity to make better decisions than your last

5. Your brain and memory that allow you to learn from mistakes

6. The freedom to make unlimited mistakes on your road to self-improvement

7. The endless supply of wisdom people and books provide

8. The natural talents you were born to share

9. The challenges that allow you to grow

10. The accomplishments that have improved your life

11. The mother and father who gave you life

12. The Internet

13. Humor

14. Sweet doggy friends, or cats, if you’re that kind of person

15. Warm sun on your skin

16. The beauty and life in nature

17. The senses that allow you to experience beauty

18. Clean drinking water

19. Health in any amount

20. The arms, legs, feet, and hands that give you freedom of movement

21. The favorite song that keeps you going when you feel like giving up

22. The artists who struggle to create beauty for others

23. The gift of language

24. The ability to read

25. The ability to learn from the mistakes and achievements of others

26. The help that is always there when you ask for it

27. The roof over your head

28. Piercing stars in a clear night sky

29. The inspiration that sweeps you out of your comfort zone

30. The people who’ve dedicated their lives to inspiring others

31. The kids who remind you to be playful and adventurous

32. The ability to connect with family and friends anywhere in the world (Skype)

33. Carrots (If you don’t know about carrots, click this link)

34. Family farms that are committed to providing organic and sustainable foods

35. The fresh start you’re given every day

36. Rain

37. Hope

38. The pain that reminds you of the need to change

39. Our dreams

40. The people who pray for you every day, without you realizing it

41. The hard times that made you who you are

42. Automatic rice cookers, refrigerators, air conditioning, and every little convenience that saves you time

43. Bare feet on grass

44. All the organisms in the soil that support life on earth

45. Electricity

46. All of the amazing teachers who helped you reach your potential

47. Each failure that led to your achievements, and everyone who encouraged you to keep going

48. The “haters” who helped you build resilience by saying, “No, you can’t!”

49. The fact that every bit of food you need to be happy and healthy is just a short drive away

50. The garbage men who keep streets clean

51. The random smile that got you through your last impossible day

52. That one cashier who you can always count on to brighten your day

53. Photosynthesis, and the fact that nature’s beauty works to keep you alive

54. The one friend you’ve been able to count on through every stage in your life—even if that friend is you

55. The new friends you’ve yet to meet, and the amazing times you haven’t yet experienced

56. Your favorite spot to recharge when you’re overwhelmed

57. Sunsets that make the sky explode with incandescent pinks, peaches, purples, oranges, and golds

58. Your education

59. Every single one of the trillions of cells in your body that work hard so that you can experience life

60. That one mule of a person who challenges you to be kind when it’s most difficult

61. Grandmas and Grandpas who helped make childhood so special

62. The special people who filled spots where parents or grandparents were missing

63. Bananas and peanut butter (or your favorite treat)

64. Fresh baked baguettes that are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside (and other delicious food)

65. The spiritual growth you’ve accomplished (give yourself some credit!)

66. The renewal of spring

67. The relaxing sound of trickling water

68. Gardens with fresh herbs, even if they’re just on your window sill

69. YouTube, for whenever you need to troubleshoot your car or computer, and especially when you need a laugh.

70. All the quotes that inspire you

71. Good cheese, and underrated philosophers

72. The doors that closed on opportunities you wanted but didn’t need

73. The windows that opened when you almost gave up hope

74. All the serendipitous occasions that remind you never to lose faith

75. Everything coconut-related: oil, water, ice cream, flour, cream pie, etc.

76. The hardships that transform us into more capable, understanding, giving, and forgiving people

77. The impossible, for inspiring us to expand our limits

78. The hot showers that completely change your perspective on life

79. Gluten-free bread that doesn’t suck

80. Hearing good news

81. Making good news for others to hear

82. The little depressions that remind you to fight hard for happiness

83. The anxiety that reminds you to feel your emotions so you can learn from them and let them go

84. The fact that you are unconditionally loved and accepted

85. A really good cry

86. Sex

87. New life

88. Beautiful men and women (look in the mirror)

89. The rituals that give security and meaning to daily life

90. Your favorite things

91. The ridiculous people you can always count on for a belly laugh

92. Little touches from people you love that make everything okay

93. Little munchkins who you can never be with quite enough

94. The good examples who’ve inspired you to be your best

95. The bad examples who illuminated the paths you shouldn’t take

96. The movies, music, art, celebrations, and people that remind you just how good it is to be human

97. The you from yesterday you get to compete with today

98. Refreshing walks that calm your mind and ease your spirit

99. The ability to change your whole life with one good decision

100. The option to be grateful no matter where you are or what you’re experiencing

Gratitude is the most important choice in your day—and you can find things to be grateful for everywhere if you look hard enough. If you liked this list, try making your own at the end of each week and put it in a gratitude journal.

Pie, Anyone?

Our son is in culinary school for baking and cooking. He made a coconut creme pie from scratch, including the pie crust. It was his gift for Father's Day for my husband/his dad.

It was soooooo good. The crust was AMAZING!!!

I am enjoying being a parent of a culinary student. It has its benefits!!!

Father's Day Cards 2016

After viewing a couple of vest card videos here and here, I decided to make a vest card for my dad and my hubby for Father's Day.

I combined the two different video ideas into my cards. I didn't like the envelope punch card look because it didn't look like a real vest. She was copying what was in the SU! catalog, but a man's suit vest does not look like that. I did give me a start.

I changed the specifications to adapt to my cards I made. I made my own bows using the envelope punch board. This video made it really easy to understand.

Below is my dad's card:

I used some buttons from my mom's old button jar. I love going the jar as a child. Even though she passed away in 2001, a little part of her gets passed on.

Groovin' Time.....

The photo I used to replicate the guitar on his card

I have the task of making everyone's birthday card ( for everyone to sign in my department ). 17 birthdays throughout the year. In March and April there are multiple birthdays.

In June there is only one. M.B. didn't want a card because he was turning the big 5-0.

He plays in a rock band on the side outside of work. I had his wife email a photo of one of his many guitars. She emailed me his favorite. How could we tell? Because it rests in glass display.

I did my best to replicate the guitar.

Since I have been out on medical leave, I had texted M.B. to say I was dropping off his card at his house. It wasn't too far out of the way since I was going to my physical therapy appointment. When I was at his house talking to his wife, he had already called her to tell her I was on the way. I think M.B. was excited that he was not going to miss out on one of my cards this year

The birthday boy was soooo surprised when he opened the card. The detail.

I think I did well.

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Apple pie, anyone?

Our chef in the house. He is going to culinary school. He is learning sooooo much AND having fun, too.

Today he made pies in Baking 101. They were suppose to make three pies, but they only got the old-fashioned apple and cherry pies completed. The coconut creme pie didn't get made. Maybe on Monday they will make that.

I brought home his apple pie. It was still warm from the oven.

He got many compliments from the staff at the college ( outside the culinary school program ).