Catching up...

So I just noticed that I never posted photos from my 5k race that I did back in July! That was pretty much one of the items on my 'list' of things to do in my life. Except I never really THOUGHT I'd make the time to train for and do it.... but this summer I did!! It's the first step in my ultimate goal of completing a (mini) tri-athalon. I'm thinking of doing the All Women's Tri-athalon in Portland next summer.... but there is always the Granite Man tri-athalon that is near my parents... so we'll see. 
Anyhow, I don't have any photos of me actually doing the run. There are some out there but I haven't received them yet (a reminder to bug Matthew again). So here is what I have for now.... The tall guy in the photo to the left is my friend Matthew. He beat everyone in the race (and was less than half my time!!).







I also never posted any photos from our fun camping weekend in Haynesville, ME.Every summer Marc and Tracy, Chris and myself go up to Tracy's family camp for a relaxing camping weekend. It is so beautiful up there with all of the trees around us and no one to bother us. It's quiet and peaceful and this year we got to enjoy it with another member of the family, Lexie! She was so good up there too! I think she really enjoyed it and so did we. Other than her first night of not sleeping (and whining in the crate) we figured out that she could handle sleeping on the air mattress with us. :)  Here is a photo of the little camp that we stay in. No electricity, no running water and no cell service! Well that's all for this post.... the next topic deserves a post all its own. :)

Two cards!

So at my bi-monthly card club gathering we made the following two cards courtesy of Katee:

I didn't think I'd enjoy this card because it uses one of my least favorite techniques (coloring) however I was delightfully surprised how much I enjoyed coloring with the aqua painters! It was actually super fun, and of course I LOVE using embossing folders so that made it awesome too! 

We made this second card too - which I totally love in person and especially love the sparkles that Katee added for some POP. :)  It was pretty simple to make and not too long, but came out really well.  Thanks to Katee for demonstrating these cards and thanks to Holly for hosting the club in July! :)

That's funny....

hat's funny, you ask? When you go to your OWN blog and don't recognize it. I totally forgot I attempted a make-over a few weeks back. And now look at me.... I have a cute background and you can't even read my font on half the posts..... haha.... go me. ;-)  I haven't been creating too much so you're really not missing a lot. It's been so gorgeous here in Maine that it's been sucking out all of my creative juices.... but don't worry, they'll come back when the cooler weather returns in September/October. I can guarantee. :)

So back in July I did a photo walk with my mom and friend Katee. I was planning to submit some photos to the photo walk competition, but didn't make it in time. So here are a few of my favorite shots from walking around the Old Port. :)

ooops....I'm a slacker!

I guess I felt that having my brithday post at the top of my page was very important because I haven't posted anything else in over 2 weeks!!

I had a very nice 4th of July at my parents house on the lake. I will have some photos to share later (need to upload them) but in the mean time, I'd like to share a few creations! :)

A very cool tri-shutter card that I made for my mom's birthday. You can get the tutorial on how to make it here. It's really not as hard as it looks and I thought it was fun! :)

I made this card for my sister's birthday.... I made the flower by hand. I saw one (store bought) on a scrapbooking website and decided I should try to make one. Well... mine didn't turn out so well... it's cute, just not like the one from the store ;-)

And this one I made for a friend who is going through a rough time right now. I got the window tutorial from my friend Debbie. You can access it here.

Thats all I have to share right now. I just started on the MOST adorable mini book I think I've ever made. It's of one of my favorite subjects - LEXIE!!! I only have 3 pages done right now so I'll save the photos for the full reveal.... it's just adorable and I can't wait to show you! :) Chat soon... ~ Suzanne

Happy Birthday to me......

Yes... I'm writing my own happy birthday post. :)  Today is my 27th birthday..... and I'm not afraid to share it with you all..... and I'm going to share a few pictures from my early birthday celebration in New York City. I got to spend time with two of my really close girlfriends from college. They both live down there and I get down about once each year to visit for a few days. I love these girls.....

Don't we look super-imposed in front of that awesome Manhattan sunset?? It's totally real! We were on the roof of their apartment. And we took a 'water taxi' on our way to the Governor's Island Beer Festival. To ns of fun!!!

And this is the sweet photo I took my way home..... yes thats totally my mom sunning herself on the dock as I flew by!! Can't you see her????

Not so small anymore....

Hi there friends! :)  My most recent creation might have been one of the LONGEST ones in the making. Not because it was hard or I couldn't make up my mind, but I would just pick it up, put it down, pick up my craft room, leave it in a pile on the side. So I figured before I ruined the photo I should just finish up the layout and get it into a book. :)  So here it is...

Lexie looks so little in that photo! It was during the first two weeks that we had her home. Her ears weren't even cropped yet..... What a cutie.

That's all for now.... Chris's band is playing this afternoon at a party so thats pretty exciting! Not sure the exact date of their first bar gig, but they've got a few things in the works locally. :)

Pioneer Woman

Have you ever heard of her? If NOT well then you're really missing out. I know I was for a while. Well for those that aren't familiar, Pioneer Woman (PW) is a lady named Ree who has a fabulous blog full of thousands of her recipes and submitted recipes that are all delicous! Not that I've tried them all, but I've heard enough testimonials to feel comfortable saying it! So if you're ever looking for something new..... look her up HERE.

Tonight I made Hot & Sweet Drumsticks except I substituted the drumsticks for boneless breasts.

They are in the oven now and boy do they smell good! I hope that husband enjoys them! I even added a bit of extra hot sauce, since we both like things spicy. :)  What is your favorte Pioneer Woman recipe???