WMD Embellishment Central

OK, so today's photo isn't my desk. But I wanted everyone to see the very cool printer the Hub got me for my birthday. It is wireless so it doesn't have to live on my desk. I can even print from my phone. It also has a copier, color or b/w. I'm so excited about it I can hardly stand myself. And because it doesn't have to live on the desk, it gets to live behind the desk in embellishment central...another space in my world that needs attention. Ah well...projects for another day.

Microsoft Rant

Does Microsoft make anyone else cRaZY? Every Microsoft product since Windows had been completely not user friendly - at least not when I'm the user. Example: I needed to make labels for my OWH cards. I've tried to make labels on Word in the past and thought I'd skip that nightmare. I went into Word Perfect, spent 5 minutes creating a label and low and behold...my new printer won't talk to Word Perfect. So I grudgingly signed in to Word (grumble grumble). Then spent HOURS figuring out how to make a sheet of labels only to discover that the program doesn't save labels after you print them, or at least I couldn't figure out how to make it happen. So every new sheet of labels had to be redesigned from the ground up. It took me another evening of HOURS to print 5 sheets of labels in two different sizes, one of which Microsoft no longer recognizes, so I had to create it as a custom label. THEN it would not let me name it myself. So my "Custom Label" wears a name that belongs to a label that already exists and I don't even know how it happened.

I accept that I'm mostly computer illiterate. Fine. But I've had to use MS Word for years and I still can't get the feel for it. GAH!!!!!!

Thanks for listening. Now back to your regularly scheduled program of cardmaking.

Anniversary #29 at Silver Creek Lodge

Our last vacation with just our family was so long ago none of the kids could remember it without memory ticklers. We finally figured out it had been about 10 years ago and the previous one 4 years before that. So it was time.

The Hub searched for DAYS to find just the right spot. He finally got in on a cabin that had experienced a last minute cancellation so we got it for a reduced price. (The only price worth paying!) The cabin itself sleeps 18 and had a separate bunkhouse that we obviously didn't need. Everyone who wanted their own room had it. The beautiful lodge left no room for boredom with a pool table, air hockey, foosball, an X box and even a home theater room with a projector screen. Outside there was a hot tub, volleyball and wildlife watching. My favorite part of the weekend was having no agenda and just striking up whatever game would strike someones fancy. And of course a party ain't a party without great food. So we played and laughed and ate and enjoyed each other all weekend long.

I adore my family. Thanks everyone for a wonderful weekend!

Happy Anniversary to the Hub. Without you, nothing else matters. You truly are the center of my universe.

Oreo Truffles

For a while now, I've wanted to try my hand at cake pops. I even bought all the ingredients, right down to a cake pop stand. But I could never envision how to dip them in the chocolate coating to make them work. Then last night the girl child decided to make Oreo Truffles to share at the "last day party" for our boss. It seemed like a harmless venture to her, since she has never shown an interest in anything culinary. So off she went to buy the ingredients. She crushed the Oreos, mixed in the cream cheese, formed the little black balls and was ready to dip. I took the job of melting the chocolate. After it turned into a solid blob of yuckiness I got on the interweb and read "how to melt chocolate for dipping". I had done it too fast and too hot so I added vegetable oil to thin it down enough to smear it around on the cookie balls. I was sure they would not solidify because of the amount of oil I added. An hour later, with Oreo crumbs covering every surface of the kitchen, we stuck the ugly little goo balls in the fridge and hoped they would set up enough to handle by morning. An overnight miracle turned them into a tasty, if not beautiful, treat.

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
• 1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
• 2 (8 ounce) packages BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted

Directions

1. Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
2. Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
3. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator. 

from Allrecipes.com

WMD - A Happy Mess

One of our scrappy friends moved to Missouri several years ago. She is in town this week to deliver her 2 oldest kids to college. Last night we had a par-tay with her as the guest of honor. Today's Where's My Desk is the aftermath of a fun evening with friends I haven't seen in a while.

At the back of the desk you see my growing boxes of cards for Operation Write home. The blue shoebox contains the cards that were made and donated last night. I borrowed the CTMH Wishes book, it contains a card workshop of  A2 cards that I want to do. I think you end up with 20 cards from 6 sheets of paper. I'm looking forward to trying that out. Under the book is a bag of embellishments I got on clearance at JoAnn for 97 cents a package. The foundation of all the other stuff that needs to be put away is the stack of Christmas paper I've been using for cards and other projects. I have big plans for it all!

Mom's Favorite Holiday

Way back in 1989 I turned my beautiful first born son over to the public education system for just a few hours a day.  Fortunately I live in a state where one can send one's child to public school with reasonable confidence that they will return safe and, with plenty of support at home, educated. By the time child number 3 was toddling off to school with his brothers I came to realize this was the greatest gift society ever gave to moms. It was no secret... Mom's favorite holiday was the first day of school.

So today I'm feeling melancholy, forlorn. Since the girl child graduated from high school in May, and I'm no longer working at the school, this is the first time in 23 years I haven't participated in the ritual of the first day of school. I've not spent a dime on "back-to-school fashions" no kid would ever wear. There has been no celebratory dancing naked in the kitchen after the youngun's are out the door. No late breakfast at IHOP with the other moms. No deep sigh accompanied by the thought "I ought to clean the house while the kids are gone...NOT!" I already miss my old friend, a treasure passed to a younger generation of moms. 

CTMH 2 sheet wonder

Remember this fabulous CTMH kit from 2007? Two sheets of cardstock, a roll of ribbon and some stamped embellishments. *POOF!* 16 cards in a flash.

I switched up the paper, added embellishments I've hoarded since at least 2007. And *POOF!* There they are again. This time in a Christmas motif.