More sad scrapbook news

My second favorite scrapbook store has closed shop. Linnecards.com was hacked and with the down economy, it wasn't worth bringing the store back up. I'm so sad. Thanks to Sharon, I have an extensive collection of Stickles and Catseye ink pads, Jillibean Soup and Bella Blvd, and don't forget My Mind's Eye.

Where will I shop now? Honestly, without Lifetimemoments.com and Linnecards.com, I doubt I will be buying anything new for scrapbooking for a while. Those two stores are where I kept up with the trends, where I got my inspiration, where I made life-long friends. I'm so bummed.

Split Pea Soup

(I'm copying this over from LM so I'll have it available after LM shuts down.)

1 lb green split peas
1 lb yellow split peas (can use all green if you want)
8 cups of water (or more)
1 meaty ham bone
1-2 bay leaf
1 finely chopped onion (about 3/4 cup)
2-3 stalks of celery, chopped
3-4 carrots, chopped
1 potato, finely chopped
1-2 garlic cloves, finely minced
A dash of pepper

Wash, sort, and drain split peas. Combine everything in a 6 quart crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours (or more).

Notes:
This soup is very thick and will be even thicker after sitting in the fridge for a day. If you like a thinner soup, add more water when cooking. When reheating the soup, add a bit of water (or broth). I always make this in the crockpot because I've had problems with the soup sticking and burning when I cook it on the stove.

You can use chicken broth instead of water, but if there is a lot of meat on the bone, I think water is fine.

I don't add salt to this soup because of the salt in the ham and sodium in the celery. Adjust the seasonings to your taste.

More SB discounts

Save 35% on everything in the store. Use code 35-323 when checking out at lifetimemoments.com. If you see something you like, buy it now. There are a couple things I missed out on because I waited too long. Jackie charges actual shipping so if you order paper, it will be shipped in a flat rate box...that mean you can buy more to fill it!

So sad

So sad. This is most likely my last order from lifetimemoments.com: a Basic Grey Indian Summer card kit and buttons, lots of ribbon, some envelopes, newer patterned papers, CI buttons (wish I bought more).

I've got a wish list going at the store and things keeps disappearing off of it. So I'm happy for Jackie that things are selling out with only a small discount.

$2.95

Had to fill up since I hardly carpooled at all last week. Did a lot more freeway driving and got over 32 MPG. Not bad for a teenaged car.

Big scrapbook store sale

The good news is my favorite online store is having a sale. The bad news is that it is a going out of business sale.

For all crafters and scrapbookers, please check out Lifetimemoments.com, an awesome store with awesome owners and help with their BIG closing sale. Starting today, everything in the store is 25% off – you must use this promo code 25-011 at checkout to apply the discount.

Where am I going to shop now? I'm so bummed.

Photo 125/365 There's no accounting for taste

Sometimes Mr. Fix-it's food tastes astound me. There was some leftover Yu xiang eggplant (pork, eggplant, bell peppers in a brown sauce) and baked potatoes so he had that with some avocado (you can barely see the avocado in the photo). Honestly, it was so weird to me, I wouldn't even taste it.

Photo 124/365 Pumpkin bread pudding

Basically, I buttered a 10-inch square baking dish, added 5 torn slices of whole grain bread, made a custard (eggs, half and half, sugar, vanilla, salt, spices and added a cup of pumpkin puree, and poured the custard over the top. Let soak for a few minutes, then baked at 325 for about 45 minutes (I think I should have baked it a little longer).

Photos 121-123/365 Sometimes I'm in the cooking mood

Made Yu xiang eggplant, bok choy, and pork stew (a new recipe from Wendy's blog. Mr. Fix-it sure likes it when I stop by the Chinese grocery store because I'm always inspired to cook afterward.

I have 27 friends

and eight more friend requests. Yes, I joined Facebook. No, I am not as excited about it as some of you are.

I can't figure out why some people want to friend me. We've never met in real life, they don't read my blog, I've never IM'd them (yes, even I used to IM), we don't e-mail, and I'm pretty sure most of them have never commented on any of my scrapbook message board threads. The only thing we have in common is the afore mentioned SB MB. Do they really want to follow what's going on in my life? (and do I want them to?) Do I want to follow their lives? Am I offending them because I haven't accepted their friend requests (I'm pretty sure I've offended a few people because I didn't accept their LinkedIn request.) Ahhh, where's Emily Post when you need her? Or maybe I need Dr. Phil to help me figure out all of this.

Photo 120/365 Happy

I love family get-togethers!

Photo 119/365 Treating myself

I finally bought myself one of those cute AMM totes and obviously already filled it with my tools. I found it at Tuesday Morning for $9.99, originally around $29.99. I had seen them at $19.99, but resisted. And at $14.99, but resisted. But at $9.99, I couldn't resist anymore, lol. On the other hand, I feel a little bad. Maybe this is why stores are going out of business...because I refuse to pay full price unless I absolutely have to.

Photo 118/365 Sweet!

What to do with raspberries that are too tart? Make a clafouti. It was gone in a flash!

Awwwwww

I was talking to a friend yesterday and received the nicest compliment. She said that she's always hungry after reading my blog, which made me feel good since 1) I'm not a great photographer and 2) I don't post that many recipes. I think it would be great if I could get a cookbook deal ala The Pioneer Woman or Steamy Kitchen, but I'm not holding my breath. (By the way, I'd love to get either book for Christmas, hint, hint).

So today's lessons are you never know how/when/where you'll influence someone and compliments feel good. Go ahead, compliment someone today!

Photo 117/365 More water dogs

This time I added shrimp to the dumplings. Yum!

$2.95

Not sure why I had to fill up so soon. It isn't like I go anywhere.