Some pages from my Fall mini album.....

I loved taking this class and have been REALLY enjoying putting together my little album about Fall...it still isn't completed yet (still a few blank pages in there for more journaling etc), but should be done by the weekend so I can totally focus on preparing my Christmas mini album ready for December 1st.....

Thank you Kara for TWO wonderful classes :)

I have learned so much and can't wait for the next one :)

I HEART my crockpot :)

I am still soooooo in love with my free crockpot!!!  It is used several times a week - more days than not!!    It has simplified my life and taken the stress out of dinner time and I LOVE that!!

Here is a picture of dinner cooking in the crockpot.....and a picture of dinner served up ready to eat :)  YUM!!!

Cupcake in a mug - the pictures!!!

Susannah adding the sugar to the mugs:

The batter in the mug ready to go in the microwave :

The kids watching excitedly as the cupcake rises over the mug:

The cupcake is baked and ready at 3 minutes:

The cupcake comes out of the mug easily.  It is VERY hot but we added chocolate chips to ours and it was moist and yummy!!  We had a little bit each with some ice cream and it was like having a hot brownie and ice cream :)  Soooooo good and great fun to make!!!

Try it for yourselves!!  Yummy cupcakes in a mug!!!  :)

Cupcake in a mug!!!

This afternoon we had a crazy baking fest - we made 'Cupcakes in a mug'!!

Such an easy and fun recipe :)

Chocolate cupcake in a mug. (5 minutes )

4 Tablespoons cake flour 
4 Tablespoons sugar 
2 Tablespoons cocoa 
1 Egg 
3 Tablespoons milk 
3 Tablespoons oil 
1 Mug 
mix everything together well.. Put in microwave for 3 minutes on maximum power (1000watt)

Wait until it stops rising and sets in the mug 
Tip contents out of mug onto saucer and enjoy! 
Sit back and enjoy with coffee (in a different mug!)

I have pictures of all the fun - I will upload them after dinner!!

Dinner tonight is in the crockpot waiting for Lloyd to get home - Sweet and sour chicken with pineapple on a bed of noodles.....it smells GOOD!!

What are YOU having????

Gratitude journaling and Thankfulness.......

This is a great article on gratitude .


A group of researchers have found that practicing gratitude improves our emotional and physical well-being.  


This isn't something new to me - I've kept a gratitude journal for 7 years now and I really do think it can make a HUGE difference to your mood and outlook on life.  I recommend it to others often - especially during times of low mood, ill health and life challenges.


If you have never kept a gratitude journal before then I wholeheartedly recommend it.  It's so simple.  Take a pretty notebook and each evening (or at a convenient time for you) write down 3 - 5 things you are grateful for for that day.  


Try to focus on the small things.....the smiles you see, the scents, the person who let you go first....the neighbour that keeps their garden neat and tidy...the muffin at lunchtime....the ladybug you saw.....the rain on the window that made you feel cozy inside your home....your favourite armchair...finding the lost ring.....the sound of children playing....


You can keep your journal online if you prefer that....and you can even get a gratitude journal app for your iphone :)  


Give it a whirl!!!!!


Another good website is Gratefulness.org and this page in particular is about counting your blessings....

Fairies, fairies everywhere!!!

Abigail is just loving the fairy craft book we got at the library on Saturday!!  She has made a fairy house,  complete with furniture and an upstairs!!  She has made the flower fairies as seen below, and this morning she attacked a pair of tights and the plastic food wrap and created this fairy head band and belt.....she seems to have helped herself to a lot of my scrapbooking supplies...sigh.....but she is enjoying herself so much and is so inspired that I'm not going to stop her ;)

Christmas classes

I am soooooo looking forward to my Christmas classes I am taking.  On December first I start  Shimelles fabulous 'Journal Your Christmas' class.  The fun of this class has already started over on the boards at Shimelle.com wit everyone chatting and preparing for the class - come and join us!!!

I'm also going to do Ali Edwards 'December Daily'  which is a similar online class!!  I'm looking forward to seeing what that one is all about as I had not looked in to that one before - Shimelles class is one I have wanted to do for years (so so excited) but I think it will be interesting to compare both classes and maybe combine them....

Thinking about these classes, and preparing them has me in SUCH a festive mood - I think that is what has helped me get organized so early with my Christmas shopping and other preparations - I want to know that I can relax in December and enjoy the festivities rather than all the stress and rushing about of last minute shopping.  I already have a list of events I want to go to (still so very sad that Bright Nights has been cancelled), and crafts and activities I want to try....

This weekend is our towns 'Festival of Trees' and we have the 'Celebration of Lights' to look forward to!!  The Season is well under way :)

The Book Thief......an online review.

I found this great review of The Book Thief on the Book Lady's blog.  I am really enjoying this book and find that it is bringing up so many thoughts and ideas in my head.   Not thoughts only linked with the war and Remembrance Day (which was my main reason for reading this book THIS month) but thoughts on issues such as the H1N1 vaccines, propaganda, mass panic,  and the masses following whatever the government tells them no matter what - no matter whether what they are being told is actually the truth or safe for their families and communities.....