Maple Memories

Easter Craft Weekend, $75

2012-02-20T22:21:00.000-06:00

Since Easter falls on a Sunday, that weekend is open EVERY year. So, we did some brainstorming and came up with a plan. INSTEAD of staying through Sunday, how about coming EARLIER and leaving on Saturday...at a discounted price!! Longer time + Less money = HAPPY EASTER! We would like to invite you to arrive on Wed (Apr 4) and stay through Sat (Apr 7) for the price of $900!!! Don't let this pass you by, call your friends, then email us at shannon@maplememories.com!! ;) Craft your heart out, doing whatever you want for 4 days and 3 nights for only $75 a person (with a group of 12)!!

Sonic GC - GIVEAWAY!!

2012-02-17T09:06:00.000-06:00

Source: Sweet Blessings

We are sharing the LOVE in February!! We want to let you know how much we ADORE the LOVELY ladies that walk through our door. Without you, we wouldn't be able to pursue something we are so PASSIONATE about...giving you a place to make time for yourself doing something you LOVE.

Sooooo...we are giving away Sonic Gift Cards!! ;)

There are three ways to get your hands on one.

1) Call us, email us, or FB us during the month of FEB to make a reservation for any open date in 2012. We'll have a $50 Sonic GC waiting for your group when you arrive for your stay! YEAH for Happy Hour Runs!! We know you LOVE them...we see your cups! ;) Think how much your friends will LOVE you when you say, "Drinks are on me!"

2) Share this post (leave us a comment letting us know that you did) and your name will be entered for a chance to win a $25 Sonic GC!!! No reservation necessary. Help us spread some LOVE today!!!

3) Simply tell us your favorite Sonic drink for another chance at the $25 GC. Easy.

Winner of the $25 Sonic GC will be announced on March 1, 2012. It will be mailed to you shortly after.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T16:33:00.000-06:00

Breakfast at our house this morning! The kids said, "It's like we're at Perkins!" HA!

Sports Medal Holders

2012-02-01T20:39:00.000-06:00

I found these beauties at a garage sale...

I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do with them when I bought them. The man collecting the money turned to my kids and said, "Do one of you like teddy bears!?" I held my breath (not having the heart to tell him that I was going to paint right over those little bears), when my 10-year old daughter politely said, "I do." I love her.

After a coat of paint, I realized it might have been best to prime first (I did with the second one). Thank goodness chalkboard paint is black...it covered those teddy bears right up. Tada!

My son now has a place to display his sports medals AND a chalkboard for important messages. I love the quote that's on it now, but I also like that we can change it to fit the latest stage in his life (or simply say GOOD LUCK on game day!).

I made the other one for my daughter's room. It is still in need of a good quote. Any suggestions?

Heartwarmers

2012-01-31T08:54:00.000-06:00

I was looking for a Valentine's Craft for the kids when I came across some "heart-warmers". If you head on over to "lovesome", she has a great tutorial and a free download of the cute little card to go with it! All you need is felt, rice, and a sewing machine (or you could handstitch).

My 10 year old daughter has recently learned to embroidery, so she handstitched this...

She has a special friend from church that she wants to give it to tomorrow, which means I need to get off the computer and start sewing! Keep warm and have a blessed day!

What Valentine's Crafts will YOU be working on?

I've got to get better about blogging!

2012-01-30T09:13:00.000-06:00

Hello, my loyal followers. I have been horrible about keeping up with this blog, but things are going to change. I am going to find time to get "crafty" again...or at least point you in the direction of others that are! ;) Here's your chance to tell me what YOU want to see on this blog. More recipes, scrapbooking layouts, product information, special deals!!?? YOU tell me and I'll see what I can do for 2012!!!

Now, I also have a favor to ask YOU! I am looking for companies or individuals that have products that they would like to get noticed or samples they are willing to share. If this is YOU or someone you know, have them contact me at shannon@maplememories.com. I have something up my sleeve for the guests that stay at Maple Memories this year (and of course, those of you that read our blog). So, be sure to email me AND send your friends on over!!

Oh, and here's a special deal for you today...

Pick Your Plum has these adorable paper straws available TODAY ONLY at 61% off!!! If you're not familiar with Pick Your Plum, you should check them out. Each day they have an awesome deal on the latest and greatest of crafty items. I want one of everything! :)

Thanks a latte!

2011-12-20T08:28:00.000-06:00

Looking for a super cute and easy gift to say "thank you" this Christmas season!? I found this on eighteen25 and couldn't resist making it for my kids' teachers. All I had to do was print it off, add a "java jacket" (I made mine out of brown cardstock), tie some jute around it, and add a GC to a local coffee shop. We also gave each teacher a coffee mug to go with it.

What do you give your teacher for Christmas?

2011-11-28T09:02:00.000-06:00

Like many of you, I've become slightly addicted to Pinterest! It has so many GREAT ideas...ALL IN ONE PLACE! Need turkey treats for school. Check. Christmas ornaments for kids to make at church. Check. Inspirational Words. Check. A new dinner recipe. Check. It's heavenly.

Found on pinterest. Original source: http://www.thehighheeledhostess.com/2011/11/turkey-treats.html. I used store bought "cookie icing" to serve as the "glue" to hold everything together. Worked really well and dried fast. Even the kids helped. The above picture is our final product...pretty cute!

Found on pinterest. Original source: http://craftysisters-nc.blogspot.com/2010/12/baby-jesus-ornament.html. We made these for Sunday School, so in order to keep the cost down decided not to add the wooden star.

Great question, isn't it!? LOTS of wonderful, insightful quotes floating around on people's boards.

Found picture on pinterest. Googled Pineapple Barbecue Bacon Burgers and found the recipe here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pineapple-bacon-burgers/.

Happy Pinning!

Sock Curls

2011-10-20T09:19:00.000-05:00

My girls have stick straight hair. They're not fond of sleeping in curlers and when they do it always seems like one or two fall out during the night, which leaves straight patches amongst a full head of curls. Ugh. So, when I found this video on using socks to curl your hair, I thought I would give it a try. It's AMAZING!

I just used 3 trouser socks for our first try at it. One on the top and 2 on the sides. She went to bed, giggling because she had socks in her head! :)

In the morning, I untied the socks and this is what it looked like...

Pretty cool, huh!!?? A couple nights later, we had my nieces over and decided to try our hand at it again. This time using a little thicker socks, which made for a little bigger curl.

So fun!!!

Note: Please ignore my streaky mirror. Little hands were hard at work "helping" me clean! :)

Faux Tile

2011-10-15T09:13:00.000-05:00

The Transformation - Part 3. (Feel free to take a look back to Part 1 and Part 2 if you would like.) This post is going to focus on one room...the basement bathroom. This stonework in this bathroom is amazing...the concrete floor, not so much!

The thought of getting flooring to lay nicely on concrete that wasn't level and then cutting in to match the unevenness of the stone seemed like a nightmare. SO, we decided to grab some paint instead!

We used Latex Garage Floor Paint and turned the concrete floor into this...

Now, keep in mind that we did this project 5 years ago before we had entered the blogging world. Do you know what that means!?? We didn't take ANY pictures of the process. Not one.

HOWEVER, after 5 years of use, we began to notice it looking a little worn. This might be fine in some areas, but in the bathroom it just appeared "dirty"...NOT the look we were going for. I was actually really excited that we needed to repaint because it meant I could share the process with all of you!!! ;)

STEP 1: Figure out your pattern. We wanted the 12 x 12 tile look. Tape off anywhere that you DO NOT want to paint. It's amazing how much the bare concrete below looks like grout when it's all done. We used painters tape, which we cut with an exacto knife to make it thinner. Someone later recommended using mechanical or electrical tape, as it comes in thinner widths. Wondering how it would pull up though?

STEP 2: Begin painting with a roller...EASY. When we originally painted the floor, we used a roller with a long handle for the main part of the floor and the shorter handle one to trim. This time we didn't have the long handle...much harder on your back. If you have a large space, we HIGHLY recommend the long handle!!

STEP 3: Let dry and pull up the tape. This is my favorite part!

There you have it! Plain, gray concreted turned into tile with nothing but a little paint!

BARN SALE!

2011-09-03T08:51:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about the Hesston Barn Sale this year!! I didn't make it last year, but heard it was tons of fun and there were some great finds! Mark your calendar and head on out!

Please print the flyer, pass it out to friends and strangers, blog about it, tell your facebook friends, invite your neighbors and help spread the word about the Fall 2011 Barn Sale. Help to make this the biggest and best Barn Sale yet!

Cupcakes

2011-08-22T22:14:00.001-05:00

I have a daughter that doesn't like cake, which means she doesn't like cupcakes either. My friend, Summer, made some super adorable cupcake toppers to match the "WIPEOUT" Theme my little7 year old wanted for her party. Do you see my dilemma!?

Enter blogland. I love this place. I found this cake and decided if they could make a cake (which is SUPER cute) out of rice krispies, I could make cupcakes!!

Source: eighteen25

Pretty cute, huh!!??

Cupcake Toppers made by Sugar Britches Designs.

Scrapbook Garage Sale

2011-07-28T09:57:00.000-05:00

I was asked to pass this along...

ANNUAL SCRAPBOOK GARAGE SALE

September 10^th

9-1

Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church

3700 E. Mt. Vernon

Wichita, KS

It’s that time of year once again. Come and sell your new/used supplies. Come and shop ‘til you drop! Email me at Jhuelsman@keymgmt.com or call me at 619-6226 after 5:00pm for information on the sale. C’mon girls make some extra spending money and sell your unwanted or leftover supplies. Tell everyone you know that is a scrapbooker or cardmaker that this is the sale you can’t miss.

Table rental is $10 (same as last year). Invite everyone you know to come shop or get a table with someone if you don’t have enough. One table is included in the price of $10, and it is either a Round or Long table. Get your reservations in early as they will sell out once again.

Homemade Dog Biscuits

2011-07-14T08:37:00.000-05:00

The kids and I have been enjoying our Summer Fun List again this year. (You can see our 2009 list here.) Recently, we crossed off "make a gift" by making Homemade Dog Biscuits and delivering them to the neighborhood dogs. Rumor has it they were a hit!

Basic Dog Biscuit Recipe

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups unbleached flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup skim milk powder

1 Tablespoon (or 1 pkg) dry yeast

3 1/2 cups lukewarm chicken or meat broth

Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm chicken or meat broth. The richer this broth is, the better your dog will like the biscuits. Let yeast broth mixture set 10 minutes. Then stir in flour mixture (which is everything else). Roll resulting dough out 1/4" thick. Cut dog biscuit shapes from dough. Brush biscuits with egg wash. Bake on greased cookie sheets at 300 degrees for 45 minutes. Then turn off oven and leave in overnight to finish hardening (we made our in the morning and then let them set all day). Makes 60 medium-sized biscuits.

Baby Shower/Adoption Celebration

2011-07-11T09:44:00.000-05:00

Back in March, I shared this story with you...one about a baby discovered on Facebook that instantly filled the hearts of so many. Adoption is beautiful and we finally got to celebrate as it became "official"!!! We threw a Baby Shower/Adoption Celebration for my friend and I wanted to share some of the decorations with you.

We held it at a church, so we knew we had a lot of browns to work with. We went with a blue/brown/red/white color scheme (which was pretty easy to find around the 4th of July!).

I made onsies with his name spelled out (the fabric used for the letters became the common thread that pulled the color scheme all together). We used twine as the "clothesline" and added baby socks for extra cuteness!

Made much lovelier by the generosity of friends and family!

We used more twine and decorated clothespins to hang pictures all over the room. Again, with a few socks stuck in here and there.

The decorative clothespins are SUPER easy and just adds that "little extra" punch. You can find the tutorial here. I didn't make mine magnets like she did, but that's a cute idea too!

On the tables we used a white round tablecloth and then cut a large square of fabric (the same as the letters on the onsies) to place on top. A white vase filled with 3 pinwheels and tied with a ribbon made for fun centerpieces. I found the pinwheels here.

We had a "Blessings" station set up for each of the couples 3 kids. Guests were to write a special note for their upcoming birthdays and adoption days (they were all adopted). There was an envelope for 1st bday, 1st adoption day, 2nd birthday, 2nd adoption day, etc.

We put a note next to the blue bins that said, "Please choose a blank envelope and a blank card and share a special memory, a piece of advice, or simple well wishes to provide a blessing in the future." One bin had the envelopes that we had already labeled, the next blank cards, and the third was for the completed cards in envelopes. The parents will then be given all of these cards to give each of their kids on the corresponding bday/adoption day in the future.

Food, lots and lots of food...

The beautiful momma and of course the guest of honor! Every time I turned around, he was in the arms of someone else...just as it should be!

I finally got my hands on him!!! A beautiful day. God is good.

Kid-Friendly Snack

2011-06-30T08:13:00.000-05:00

Apples with peanut butter and sprinkles. This is a quick, fun snack! You could use red, white, and blue sprinkles and it would be a fun treat for the 4th of July!

Rolled Meatloaf

2011-06-29T11:24:00.000-05:00

I wasn't a big meatloaf fan, until I tried this recipe. It's delicious! Five out of five people devoured it at my house. That's a keeper, folks!

Ingredients:
2 lbs. lean ground beef
2 eggs
3/4 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. tomato juice
2 Tbsp. parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
8 thin slices ham
6 oz. grated mozzarella cheese
1 c. spaghetti sauce

Beat eggs, add tomato juice, oatmeal, and spices. Stir.

Mix well into meat.

Pat mixture into 10x12" rectangle on waxed paper.

Arrange ham on top, then sprinkle cheese over.

Roll at short end, lifting paper.

Pinch seam together (the original recipe doesn't say to do this, but it just seems like you should).

Place roll, seam side down in pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Drain off liquids. Pour spaghetti sauce over meat. Bake 10-15 minutes more. Slice and serve.

It was gone before I could get an "after" picture! Let me know if you try it!

Nesting

2011-06-08T13:35:00.001-05:00

My kids and I were doing some yard work at Maple Memories when they discovered a nest. Of course, they could only see the bottom of the nest while looking up and they HAD to know if it had something inside. So we got out the ladder to take a peek...

How exciting!!! We'll keep you posted on how our 4 latest additions are doing in the upcoming days and weeks (as Momma bird allows!).

Supporting Joplin

2011-05-23T20:36:00.000-05:00

3 women...1 mission. Supporting Joplin. I am blessed with some very caring friends. Ones that don't just say that they wish they could help, but ones that do. Today, we made a trip to the store and put together toiletry packs (male and female) to take to Joplin. We are planning on making a trip soon (after the initial search and rescue is over) to help with the clean up. Today we filled 40 bags with shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, chapstick, toothbrush, toothpaste, tampons, ponytail holders, lotion, Q-tips, Cotton balls, hand wipes, and soap. Our goal is to fill at least 80 more (but we'd love to provide more).

All the contact lens solution and cases seen on the left...donated by the lovely man working in the eyeglasses place at Wal-Mart. There was a sign next to the samples that said take one and one for a friend. We told him we were taking things to Joplin...he said take them all!! AND then he went into the back and got us several more big boxes full! People are good and I believe he will be blessed for his actions.

Female Kits

Male Kits

If you'd like to help, we'd gladly accept any of the items above. We would also like to take larger (non-travel size) bottles of Bug Spray, Hand Sanitizer, and Sunscreen for the people working and doing clean up. A few other items that would be useful: blankets, individual bottles or gallons of water and/or gatorade, baby formula, diapers, wipes, and any first aid kit items. If you want to donate, contact me at shannon@maplememories.com.

More Mother's Day Gift Ideas...

2011-04-25T13:33:00.000-05:00

Here are some more handmade ideas...

A Customized Family Name Tile by Summer at SugarBritches Designs.

These camera straps from Cotton Candy by Natalie are fun and fashionable. She has tons of patterns to choose from!

I know I already posted gift ideas from The Rusted Chain, but Beki just released a new Sports Mom design that is too perfect for Mother's Day!! Soccer, Baseball, Football, Volleyball...whatever sports mom you are with your child's number! I love it!

This is so simple and cute. What Mom wouldn't love to hear that!?

Mother's Day Gift Ideas - Made by other Mommas!

2011-04-21T09:36:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day is just around the corner. Here are some wonderful and unique gifts made by other mommas that I thought I'd share.

Custom hand stamped jewelry from The Rusted Chain, full of meaning and inspiration! A bit rustic, a bit elegant, a lot gorgeous. Use MAMA20 for 20% off. Hurry because the offer expires 4/23/11. Click here to go directly to the shop.

Head on over to Aedriel Originals for these adorable plates. Great idea for Grandma too!

She also has this mug that would be great for the Stay-at-Home Mom. So many wonderful creations...go ahead check them out!

Le Papier Studio has a unique way for a Mom to show off her incredible family...

Ok, I'll be back tomorrow with some more great finds. Drop me a line at shannon@maplememories.com if you know of any other great shops or gift ideas made by other Moms!

Tie Dye Cupcakes

2011-04-14T21:45:00.001-05:00

I made these tie dye cupcakes for my daughter to take to school to celebrate her 10th birthday. It's times like these that I'm thankful to live in a small town that lets you take in homemade goodies. They were fun to make and she was so excited to take them to school. You can find the recipe here.

Oh, and for the frosting, I just bought the Duncan Hines Whipped Frosting. It was easy...and sometimes, like when you are making cupcakes at 10pm the night before they are needed, mom's need easy!

Giving Back

2011-04-13T10:31:00.000-05:00

We want to give money to YOUR school. Book a weekend in May 2011 and we'll donate $100 to the school of YOUR choice. Staying during the week? We'll give YOUR school $25 for each day you stay! Contact us for more details and to book your stay!! Email shannon@maplememories.com or call 620-480-1357.

Survey

2011-04-06T09:24:00.000-05:00

There are so many different ways to edit photographs. People like different "looks". Just out of curiosity, which style do you prefer? Photograph 1 or Photograph 2?

Gold at the End of the Rainbow Treats

2011-03-18T09:23:00.000-05:00

My friend, Michelle, made these "Gold at the End of the Rainbow" treats for her kiddos! Aren't they adorable!? She wanted something to surprise them after school and saw a similar idea here, but didn't have time to run to get long skinny cellophane bags and knew it might be difficult to find gold coins. So she took the idea, tweeked it, and created her own!

She started with sandwich baggies (the ones that have the fold over flap) and snipped the flap where it's connected to the bag so it looks like a bag with two slits in the top.

Then she dropped 3 Hershey's Nuggets and 4 individually wrapped Rolos into the bottom. Next, taking one of each color Twizzlers Rainbow Twists she arranged them in order (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple) and bent them into a rainbow shape.

She placed them carefully in the baggie so they didn't get too mixed up. Tied with a bit of green ribbon and voila! I love how you can even stand them up!!

FYI: Each bag of Twizzlers made exactly 5 bags of Rainbow treats. These would make really cute goodie bags at a rainbow, unicorn, or candyland/candyshop themed party too! Thanks for sharing your idea with us, Michelle!

EASTER SPECIAL

2011-03-15T09:09:00.000-05:00

We typically require a Fri-Sun booking for the weekend, but we're changing that for THIS weekend ONLY!!! Your group can arrive on THURS (April 21st) and leave on SAT (April 23rd) for the price of $949!!!! You'll be home in time to spend Easter Sunday with your family. Contact us if you're interested. 620-480-1357 or shannon@maplememories.com

Other weekend dates still available for 2011:

March 25-27, April 29 - May 1, May 6-8, May 13-15, May 27-29, June 10-12, June 17-19, June 24-26, July 1-3, July 8-10, Aug 5-7, Aug 12-14, Aug 19-21, Aug 26-28, Sept 2-4, Sept 9-11, Sept 16-18, Oct 21-23, Oct 28-30, Nov 18-20, Nov 25-27, Dec 2-4, Dec 9-11, Dec 16-18, Dec 23-25, Dec 30 - Jan 1

MIRACLES HAPPEN!

2011-03-12T11:23:00.001-06:00

I have been blessed to be part of an AMAZING adoption story this past week. My friend Jamie, in one weeks time, has found out that they are going to be adoptive parents...ANY DAY! My friend, Beki, has created a special necklace to help the family raise funds for an unexpected adoption! It's beautiful. $10 from every necklace sold in MARCH goes towards the adoption! Read the story, buy a necklace, spread the word. MIRACLES HAPPEN!

Beki is also having a giveaway for a necklace, so head over and enter!!! Will you help us get the word out!?? I would love to stop by and visit your blog, so leave a comment letting me know you blogged about this story. Thank you.

Mt. Hope Sanctuary

2011-02-21T19:57:00.002-06:00

There is a place in McPherson that I have wanted to share with you for so long...I just wasn't sure that I would find the right words. It's called Mt. Hope Sanctuary. Its concept and implementation is amazing. Mt. Hope Sanctuary serves single women between the ages of 18-65 who are facing hopeless circumstances due to either generational or situational poverty as a result of many of the following reasons: Abandonment or neglect, divorce, limited education or skills, history of addictions, loss of employment, or death of a spouse. I'm no longer worried about finding the right words, because THEIR words say it all...

:

Again, amazing. If you feel called to help, please visit the donation page here. You can become a volunteer, provide specific items needed, donate online, or simply pray for this organization, its leaders and residents.

Below, you will find the list of items currently needed at Mt. Hope Sanctuary. If you're coming to Maple Memories, we would be happy to accept your generous gifts and deliver them to Mt. Hope on your behalf.

Current Household needs list:
Fire Extinguishers (2) 5 lb ABC fire extinguishers
Copy Paper
Package of ink pens (black or blue)
2 baby gates
Small-medium plastic food storage containers
Folding chairs (4-8)
Gas cards
Wal-Mart gift cards for various needs
Liquid soap refills
Dryer sheets
Paper towels

Our mission is to provide a sanctuary (our transitional home)

                        that offers HOPE: (Healing, Opportunity, Peace & Empowerment)

                                        to single women (and their children)

                                                      who are committed to achieving self-sufficiency.

Blind Quilter

2011-02-19T14:21:00.000-06:00

Super Bowl Water Bottles

2011-02-14T20:45:00.000-06:00

Another quick and easy way to add a little something extra to your party. I printed off logos from both teams and then the kids and I colored them. I cut them out and then taped them on the bottle with a little double sided tape. The I taped over the top of the logos with clear packing tape. You could get fancier and wrap a ribbon or something around the bottle, but since it was FOOTBALL, I went with simple. I think they turned out pretty "cute"!

Here is the Steeler's logo that I used. I can't seem to find the site that I got the Packer's logo from, but I will keep looking! You could decorate bottles for any theme/birthday party...the possibilities are endless!

Super Bowl Football Cake Pops

2011-02-11T11:14:00.001-06:00

We had some friends over to watch the Super Bowl. I decorated the table with Green Bay Packers on one side and Pittsburgh Steelers on the other. We found food that was "ethnic" to each area that the teams were from. The middle of the table was divided with this (the sign was painted by my 9 year old)...

I found the tutorial for the footballs here. They were a bit time consuming to make, but yummy and super cute!! My husband kept informing me that a Super Bowl party wasn't supposed to be "cute"! What does he know!? Anyway, they tasted like a Reese's Peanut Butter cup and when he tasted them, it was decided that we could do "cute"!! HA!

More Super Bowl ideas tomorrow!

More Snow

2011-02-09T20:30:00.000-06:00

When life gives you snow...

make snowcones!

Small Shop Road Trip!

2011-01-31T09:02:00.001-06:00

Take a Small Shop Road Trip this Super Bowl Weekend! The following shops are having a SALE on ALL FABRIC and a special project for you!! Make sure to visit them on MAIN STREET in their respective towns!

Stitches Quilt Shop in MCPHERSON...320 S Main St, 620-241-2986

Quilts and QuiltRacks in HILLSBORO...130 N Main St, 620-947-2222

Sew What in MARION...162 W Main St, 620-382-2020

Store hours will be:
Saturday, Feb. 5: 9am - 5pm
Sunday, Feb. 6: 1pm - 5pm

Snow Day Entertainment

2011-01-22T21:30:00.000-06:00

I LOVE SNOW DAYS...when you can go outside!!! Recently we had one that dumped ice instead of snow, so we stayed inside. The problem was that this Snow Day was unexpected, meaning this Mom didn't have anything planned to "entertain" them. So, I raided the pantry and kept them busy doing this...

Simple and Fun!!

Savory Chicken Squares

2011-01-20T12:36:00.002-06:00

Here's what you need to make 4 squares...

3 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 Tbs Butter, softened

2 cups cubed cooked chicken

1 Tbs chopped fresh chives or onion

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon chopped pimientos, if desired

1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent rolls

1 Tbs Butter, melted

3/4 cup seasoned croutons, crushed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Then, start by cooking your chicken in the skillet. Just in case you're thinking that looks like more than 2 cups of chicken, you're right. I double the recipe for my family...making 8 squares.

In medium bowl, mix cream cheese and 1 tablespoon softened butter; beat until smooth. Add chicken, chives/onions, salt, pepper, milk and pimientos; mix well. (I didn't have any pimientos.)

Separate dough into 4 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal.

Spoon 1/2 cup chicken mixture onto center of each rectangle.

Pull 4 corners of dough to center of chicken mixture; twist firmly. Pinch edges to seal.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Brush tops of squares with 1 tablespoon melted butter; sprinkle with crushed croutons (I used Italian Bread Crumbs instead of crushed croutons).

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. As you can see, some of mine didn't get pinched together well enough. No worries...they still taste fantastic!!

Wrapping Paper Storage

2011-01-19T09:46:00.000-06:00

We have limited storage in our house, so we try to utilize it the best we can. Several years ago, I stumbled across an idea for wrapping paper storage. It's inexpensive and easy. We use the storage area under our stairs.

Just slide your rolls behind the electrical wire that is already there. IF it's not already in place, rig up your own wire like this...

For the longer rolls, we used two wires to help keep them in place.

Winter Storm

2011-01-17T09:55:00.000-06:00

I was looking through old pictures and found these of an ice storm that hit McPherson in Dec 2007. We went over to Maple Memories and were a little stunned by it all. It was sad to see such big, old trees damaged in such a way, yet so incredibly beautiful at the same time.

Jute Lamp - Before and After

2011-01-10T09:30:00.013-06:00

We got this crystal lamp when we got married...13 years ago. When we registered for it, yes REGISTERED for it, I thought it would be one of those timeless pieces that you pass on from generation to generation. It's really a beautiful crystal, but it goes with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in our entire house. I couldn't just get rid of it, so I decided to help it match our decor. I know, this is where some of you are cringing. I did the same at first.

The thing is it has had a crack in it since we received it and the brass was starting to turn. PLUS at this moment, I'm not a fan of brass. Again, sorry.

The first step was to make the lamp look like Superman! Kidding. I wrapped the crystal before spray painting it with Rubbed Oil Bronze paint. I know, it seems weird to worry about getting paint on it if I'm just going to cover it anyway. BUT, I was thinking into the future a bit. It is pretty underneath and someday someone is going to think that the jute lamp is HIDEOUS. They will wonder why anyone EVER covered up a crystal lamp with brown jute and will be excited when they remove the paint to find shiny brass underneath. Times and trends change...I'm making it easier for the DIYer of the future. :)

I love the new paint job! Then I started with the jute. I just hot glued it on as I went. 2-3 inches of glue, then wrapped the jute on top, pressing down gently. Repeat this about 1000 times. Seriously, I think it took me about 2 hours to wrap the whole thing!

Tada!! I LOVE IT!!! It's now at home, next to my bed.

I have plans to redo our Master Bedroom (and yes, giving that table a little attention is on the list). I was having trouble finding my groove to begin working on it. The lamp project was just what I needed!! I'm ready for a full bedroom BEFORE and AFTER!!!

Snowman Ornaments

2011-01-03T09:29:00.004-06:00

This was such a fun craft for our family! All 5 of us made one. Yes, even my hubby sat down and created with the rest of us. Meg has a great tutorial here. She used colored balls, which turned out ADORABLE. I had these frosted ones tucked away in my craft room, so that's what we used. The are actually really pretty hanging on the tree with the light coming in from behind.

TACO SOUP

2010-12-29T12:03:00.003-06:00

TACO SOUP

2 lbs hamburger (brown in skillet, drain grease)
2 cans Fire Roasted Tomatoes
2 cans Black Beans
2 cans Mexicorn
1 taco seasoning pack
1 ranch dip pack
1 jar cheese dip (found in the chip aisle)

Throw it all together in the crockpot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve with tortilla chips.

Silhouette Giveaway!!!

2010-12-28T18:30:00.007-06:00

Go here to enter to win a Silhouette over at Brown Paper Packages! I would love to win one of these for myself...ummm...I mean for Maple Memories!! :)

I'll be back soon.

2010-12-28T12:26:00.001-06:00

I promise. With something interesting. I don't know what yet, but something. The kids are on break and I've really been trying to give them "quality" time, which means less blog time. It's been fun. So, don't leave me. I'll be back soon. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Melted Snowman Cookies

2010-12-21T15:45:00.002-06:00

I saw these Melted Snowmen Cookies here and just had to make them. So fun!! She used Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix, but I used this recipe instead. I ran out of white flour, so mine ended up being 1/2 white and 1/2 wheat. The other adaption I made was to use mini chocolate chips for the buttons. Can you tell I wasn't prepared when I started!? :)

Cleaning for a Reason

2010-12-17T09:19:00.004-06:00

If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. Also, if you own or work for a cleaning service, they are looking for more people with big hearts!

Reasons we LOVE you

2010-12-14T10:06:00.007-06:00

My husband's Grandfather just turned 88. For his birthday, the kids made him a GIANT card filled with "88 reasons we LOVE Great Grandpa!!" It was fun to make and even more special to watch his reaction as he read them all. Some were sweet enough to make your heart melt ("Because he took me out for ice cream after my softball game was canceled so that I wouldn't feel sad."), while others made us laugh so hard ("Because he is old.")

"Because he gives great hugs."
"Because he comes to our soccer games."

"Because he is proud of us."
"Because he plays basketball in our driveway with us."

"Because he is flexible."
"Because he can do a headstand on top of a horse." (see picture that follows for proof!)

"Because he serves people at Thanksgiving."
"Because he delivers meals for Meals on Wheels."
"Because he takes good care of animals."
My favorite..."Because he loves us!"

I thought this idea might come in handy for Christmas...let someone know all the ways that you love them!!!

Say It On The Wall

2010-12-06T20:53:00.007-06:00

I am so excited!! I won a $20 Gift Certificate for Say It On The Wall over at The Idea Room. As soon as I heard, I started shopping! There are so many adorable things but I finally decided on this...

and this...

I can't wait to get my glass blocks and set up the Nativity Scene in my home. There were so many great ideas for Christmas Gifts! Head on over to Say It On The Wall and see what you can find! Oh, and they have been running a "Product of the Week" Special, which gives you 40% off the featured item during that week.

A walk down Memory Lane

2010-11-30T21:01:00.008-06:00

Traditions. I love them. We started one with our kids involving Christmas ornaments. They get one each year that represents something they did during the year or a specific quality we have noticed. We make sure to write their name, the year, and what it represents on the back/bottom of each ornament.

For instance, my oldest has a LOVE of animals like I have never seen before...especially for our own yellow Lab. Both of these ornaments have been given to her to represent the pet she has grown up with and the absolute love she has for him.

This was given to my son the first year that he played soccer.

My youngest played Tball for the first time...yes, she's wearing a skirt and you have to admit she TOTALLY rocked it!! :) The back of this ornament says "Representing your first year of Tball", along with her name and year given.

My oldest daughter took a trip to Colorado for a family reunion. She got to ride in the RV with her Grandparents and Great Grandama to visit the original family homestead...back in the day when wagons ruled the road!

This just proves there is an ornament for everything. I mean REALLY...would YOU have bought this one!!!??

It was PERFECT to help us remember the year my son rode this float in the All School Days Parade.

What type of ornaments do you have on your tree? Any unique traditions revolving around them?

Hamburger Soup

2010-11-23T20:19:00.005-06:00

Since my last post had so many pictures, I'll overcompensate by having NONE in this one! :) I got this recipe from a friend and made if for the first time tonight...it was a HIT! I love having soup when the weather turns cold. What is your favorite soup? Feel free to share a link to the recipe! Hint, hint.

HAMBURGER SOUP

Ingredients:

2 cans cream of potato soup

1 pound of ground beef (I used 2 lbs on accident...it worked too)

1 pound bacon

4 cups milk

1 cup sliced/shredded carrots

1 cup sliced celery

onion (I used 1/2 and onion because I have little ones that complain if they can SEE or SMELL them in their food!!)

salt and pepper to taste

Brown hamburger meat with chopped onion...drain. Fry bacon...crumble. Mix all remaining ingredients together in crockpot. Add hamburger/onion mixture and bacon pieces. Cook on low for the day or high if you wait till the last minute like me!! Really, you're just waiting for it to heat up and the veggies to soften!

I've been busy...

2010-11-22T09:46:00.005-06:00

This seems to be my excuse for everything these days! I keep thinking that things will slow down, but the reality is I don't think they will. Luckily for me, it's been a fun kind of busy. "I've been busy" with these beautiful people...

PUMPKINS

2010-11-07T21:37:00.007-06:00

Pumpkin Carving...

Pumpkin Painting...

Pumpkin Pancakes...

Pumpkin Pizza...

Pumpkin Bracelets... I found the tutorial here.

I love FALL!!!

Senior Photos

2010-10-29T19:50:00.005-05:00

I was asked by a family member to take her senior pictures. I will admit, I was nervous about my ability to do this. As I've said before, I don't know ANY of the technical stuff about cameras and photography. I have to admit, I was THRILLED with the way they turned out...AND it helps to have a GORGEOUS subject matter!

Now for you photography junkies. What type of lens do you use for most of your photography? If you only had ONE, which one do you think is the most versitile? I have the stock lens my camera came with, but used a 55 - 200mm for some of these. I liked it. I am thinking about purchasing one myself, but not 100% sure that this is THE lens. I would like to continue doing this type of photography (maybe even "officially" after I figure out what I'm REALLY doing), but would also like something that is great for sporting events. Would love your input.

Games on a Ring

2010-10-26T20:55:00.008-05:00

I was cleaning my kids' rooms and kept finding flash cards and card games EVERYWHERE!! So, I found an empty box and just started collecting them as I went about my cleaning. When I was done, I was left with a bunch of cards from several different sets...many with no boxes or ones that were so ripped they were useless. I've rubberbanded them together before, but they NEVER end up back together when the kids are done. Over at Brown Paper Packages, I saw a cute Book on a Ring (which I LOVE) and decided to adapt it in order to find a solution to my problem.

You will need your cards, a hole punch (I recommed a Crop-a-Dile if you have one), a marker/pencil, and Album Rings (I used 1 1/2").

Mark the corner of your card so that you know where to punch. Make sure not to punch any words!

Use your hole punch to punch the first card. It then becomes your template to punch the other cards. The crop-a-dile EASILY punches 10+ cards at a time, so feel free to stack them together (making sure they are all lined up the same way).

Put your cards on the ring and you've got one set of cards, all nice at neat!! I did this with flash cards AND games. I plan on keeping the flashcards on the rings and just flipping through them. However, the games (such as matching or memory games) can be taken off and then put back on the ring when you are done playing with them. For now, I just have all the rings of cards in a plastic storage container. Eventually, I have visions of a peg board where they can be hung in reach of the kiddos!

Reminder

2010-10-20T08:37:00.004-05:00

My world, like many of those around me, has once again been rocked by cancer. I haven't felt much like blogging or crafting. My mind and heart has been filled with other things. I wish we didn't need reminders to focus on what's important, but we're human and we do. This reminder was at too high of a price. This reminder will be on my heart forever and will not be forgotten. Kristi, you were an AMAZING woman and anyone that was fortunate enough to be the recipient of your smile was blessed beyond measure. You exemplify beauty and grace.

"To spare oneself from grief at all cost can be achieved only at the price of total detachment, which excludes the ability to experience happiness."

Deep Fried

2010-09-28T19:37:00.004-05:00

I had ONE mission while at the Kansas State Fair. While my kids were on the hunt for which ride to go on next, I was looking for that ONE thing!! Food booth after food booth...sign after sign...and then there she was amongst the fried peaches, fried green beans, fried mushrooms, and fried cheese...

Do you see what I see!!!?? On the top it reads, "Deep Fried Candy Bars". On the front window, just so I wouldn't miss it, "Deep Fried SNICKERS!!" I was giddy with anticipation!!

Every bite was heavenly!! Truly.

What should I be on the lookout for next year!!? What is your favorite thing to eat at the fair?

Friday Feature - Kettle Creek

2010-09-24T21:39:00.007-05:00

McPherson is lucky to have several really great places to get coffee. One of my favorites is Kettle Creek Coffee House. The owner, Joan, is super sweet and her newest employee, Sarah, is one of my closest friends! If you stop in, make sure you tell them Maple Memories sent you!!

Kettle Creek has a great selection of coffees and other specialty drinks, as well as wonderful food items. I recently had a "Minty Mountain" which is espresso, gourmet chocolate, chocolate mint & peppermint with whipped cream on top...it was heavenly!! Oh, and the Breakfast Burritos are super yummy too! They have a Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Menu including (but not limited to) pastries, muffins, burritos, chicken/ham/tuna salad, soups, and sloppy joe's. Call in orders are welcome. I believe they have delivery available on orders over $20 from 11am-1pm.

It's a cozy atmosphere, complete with games on a shelf for you to play with friends. They even have live entertainment and open mic night for those of you that want to give it all you've got!! Relaxing and friendly, this is a MUST when you come to McPherson!

HA!! That sign just cracks me up!!!! Unless those children are going home with me...then not so funny! ;) Here's my yummy burrito...mmmmm...I'm suddenly hungry.

Kettle Creek Coffee House

1358 North Main St

McPherson, KS 67460

(620)755-1424

Business Hours:

Monday - Saturday: 7am - 7pm

Open till 9pm on Music Nights (check here for schedule)

CLOSED SUNDAY

You can check them out on Facebook as well.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!!!

2010-09-23T09:29:00.006-05:00

If you are a winner, please contact me at shannon@maplememories.com to claim your prize!!! CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU!! All winners were randomly selected by random.org.

Giveaway #1: 1/2 price weekend at Maple Memories...Rachel J. who commented, "I would hang out with amazing women - eat amazing food - and watch them be productive crafting. And I just might get a few scrapbook pages done while I'm at it."

Giveaway #2: Spooky Banner by Sugar Britches...Amy E. who commented, "I like you and always liked you on FB!"

Giveaway #3: Birthday Shirt by me...Patti V. who commented, "I'm a blog follower."

Giveaway #4: I Spy Bag from The Purse Place...Brandie L. who commented, "I LIKE you on FB and I LOVE spending the weekend there!! I look forward to spending time with my girlfriends and accomplishing so much while we're there. Can't wait to come back!!!"

Giveaway #5: $50 GC to Lori Pauls Photography...Alesia S. who commented, "I'm now a blog follower - you're my first. ;) I facebooked about your giveaway. I already "like" you! I would love to get some work done on all 3 of my kids' scrapbooks if I stayed for a weekend at Maple Memories. Hope I'm a winner - the giveaways are awesome!"

Giveaway #6: 8 x 10 frame from Stephanie...Tammy who commented, "I visited your place for the first time this year in April. We were a group of scrapbookers and quilters. Absolutely lovely place. I was able to relax, enjoy myself, and gets tons of scrapbook pages done. I can't wait to go back."

Family on Burlap

2010-09-22T20:49:00.004-05:00

***LAST CHANCE...OUR GIVEAWAY ENDS AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!***

I found this family tree wall over at For the Love of it awhile ago. I love it. I have always liked the old black and white photos of my family. Like this one of my Grandpa and Grandma taken in the 1940's.

So, when I found this frame at a local garage sale, I knew it would be perfect with burlap in it!!

I wanted to use the word "FAMILY" like Arlene did on her wall. If I find another cool frame, I will probably do "HERITAGE" also. Step 1 was to find a font and size that would fit in my frame. Step 2 was to print it out and then tape in the window. I had to print on a few sheets due to the size of my letters. I then cut them and taped them together on the window.

Step 3: Tape burlap to the window, making sure the letters shine through. I cut my burlap LARGER than my frame so I would have enough left to wrap around the back when it was time to frame it.

Step 4: Grab your sharpie and start tracing. Remove from the window. It should look like this... (Sorry, I can't seem to get my picture turned around today!!)

Arlene used paint to color in her letters. That was my plan too, but the Sharpie was working so well and I liked the color, so I kept coloring with the marker. It was a lot less messy!

There she is!! My glass broke when I was framing it...OOPS!! However, I kind of like that you can actually see and feel the burlap. Now, I just need to get it hung on the wall and surround it with my FAMILY!

Linking up to:

1. Look What I Made on Creations by Kara

Fruit Flies - GROSS

2010-09-21T21:54:00.004-05:00

My bananas that were waiting to be made into banana bread waited a little too long...and then there were fruit flies. Overnight. They appeared overnight and I swear those little bugs multiply as they are flying!! If you've ever had them (I really hope I'm not the only one), you know what I am talking about! Here's a great tip for getting rid of them...and quickly.

You will need DISH SOAP and APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. Not white vinegar, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. If you're wondering what else you would ever use apple cider vinegar for, I have a great recipe to share! Not in this post...something about telling you how to get rid of fruit flies and sharing a recipe in the same post just doesn't seem right.

First, throw out whatever fruit is attracting the flies and remove it from your house. YES, all the way OUTSIDE. Then, put about 3/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar into a small bowl. Add a few drops of dish soap. Now, find a spot near where the flies are swarming to set the bowl and leave overnight.

This is what you should find in the morning. All those little brown spots are fruit flies. I know, GROSS!! But, it works. Really works. All you do know is dump it and bye-bye flies!! Oh,

and I would suggest lighting a candle or something for a bit afterwards. Apple Cider Vinegar leaves a STRONG smell after being left out all night!

Are you wondering why this works? I did. Yes, I actually took the time to google it for you lovely people. Here's what I found. "Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of the vinegar and will attempt to land on its surface. However, they're in for a surprise - since the dish soap breaks the surface tension of the vinegar, the flies fall in and drown." Nice.

Front Porch Inspiration

2010-09-19T15:28:00.006-05:00

I spent part of my day looking for inspiration for our front porch. It's got so much potential, but it's plain. As plain as it was the day that we moved in...3 years ago. It's time for a more welcoming look.

Since Fall is just around the corner, I thought I would go that route. Here are a couple that I found.

I found this one by Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick. I love how it's simple, traditional, and welcoming. Mums will be on my list of things to add to my porch this Fall!

And this one by Barb at Grits and Glamour. Oh my goodness!!! Can't you just picture yourself sitting in one of those comfy chairs, chatting with your spouse, on a crisp Fall morning...apple cider in your hand!?? Ok...furniture has been added to my list as well!! I'm loving the painted doors, but I don't know if I can bring myself to do it yet. I really do love my wood doors. Alright, here it is...my PLAIN, boring porch in DESPERATE need of a makeover.

I told you it has potential. It just needs a little sprucing up. There is plenty of room on both sides for furniture. It's protected from the elements (with the exception of the Kansas wind that can find it's way ANYWHERE!!). It needs some color. I want it to be inviting. Something that brings a SMILE to your face when you drive by. Any ideas!?

So, today I began the transformation. One small word that says alot.

"WELCOME"

If you haven't already, be sure to enter our giveaway!! The deadline is Wed, Sept 22nd and the winners will be announced on Thurs, Sept 23rd. Spread the word...prizes can be shipped to those of you in far off places!!! :)

Feet Painting

2010-09-16T08:57:00.005-05:00

CARDBOARD + PAINT + HANDS + FEET = SO MUCH FUN!

And yes, it's absolutely worth the clean up!! Just look at that smile!

GIVEAWAY DAY IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-15T08:28:00.025-05:00

IT'S GIVEAWAY DAY AT MAPLE MEMORIES!!!! I can't wait to tell you all about it!!!

GIVEAWAY #1: A 1/2 price weekend at Maple Memories for you and your friends!!! The winner picks from any available weekend in 2011. This is the perfect chance to get together and scrapbook or quilt or just craft to your hearts content. We have people from all over the country fly in and stay...KANSAS is about as CENTRAL as you can get. So, think about those crafty bloggers that you've been wanting to get together with and just picture how much fun would be had by all!!!! Maple Memories has room for 12. 12 craft tables, 12 beds, 12 spots at the dining room tables...you get the picture!! Visit our website for more information about Maple Memories Craft House.

GIVEAWAY #2: This adorable "SPOOKY" Banner from Summer at Sugar Britches. This banner is approx 3 ft long and about 12" tall. The banner is made with Halloween patterned paper and backed with chipboard for extra sturdiness. Check out Sugar Britches for more banners...she even customizes!! I have both a Thanksgiving and Halloween Banner that I hang from my fireplace during the holidays!! She does amazing work, with such detail!

GIVEAWAY #3: A birthday shirt made by me!! You pick the number and shirt size, and I'll make the shirt!! My etsy shop will be stocked soon, so be sure to check it out!

GIVEAWAY #4: Stefanie at The Purse Place wants to give the boy or girl in your life one of these fun I SPY bags. This 7" bag features approx 30 items hidden in white rice for your little ones to find. Perfect for traveling or church!! The Purse Place also carries hair accessories, rings, and purses!

GIVEAWAY #5: Lori Pauls Photography is giving away a $50 Gift Certificate to one lucky winner!!! This can be used towards a session fee or any order. Lori is just starting up her photography business and is located in Hutchinson, KS.

GIVEAWAY #6: Stephanie is giving away this 8x10 frame with 2 changeable inserts...Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visit Stephanie's blog for more of her fun creations. She describes her stuff as "refurbished riff raff"!!! It's amazing what she can turn things into.

I'll give you lots of ways to enter!!! Make sure you leave a comment for each entry!!

1. Become a follower of Maple Memories blog. (1 entry...leave a comment saying "I'm a blog follower.")

2. Blog or FB about our Giveaway, making sure to link back to our blog. (1 entry...leave a comment saying "I blogged/FB'd about your giveaway.")

3. Join our FB like page. (1 entry...leave a comment saying "I like you on FB."

4. Blog about your stay at Maple Memories. (3 entries...leave a comment with the link to your post.)

5. Leave a comment telling me what YOU would do during a weekend at Maple Memories!

All entries must be in by midnight on Wed, Sept 22nd. Winners will be picked by random on Thursday, Sept 23rd (hey, that's my birthday!!).

Tomorrow's the BIG DAY!!

2010-09-14T16:37:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is the day for our GIVEAWAY!!! I can't tell you how excited I am about these prizes!!

If you want a jump start on ONE of the entries, blog about your stay at Maple Memories!! Here are a few that we've found...

1. http://crazymaizeworld.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-scrapbooking-weekend-away.html

2. http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/2009/12/craft-retreat.html

3. http://thebalzerfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/friends-and-crafts.html

Yes, there will be other ways to enter, but this will give you "BONUS" entries!! ;)

October 8-10...NOW AVAILABLE

2010-09-09T08:33:00.003-05:00

The weekend of Oct 8-10, 2010 is NOW AVAILABLE!!! It's the only "non-holiday" Fall weekend still available!! Give us a call (620-480-1357) or email us (shannon@maplememories.com) to make this weekend YOUR fall getaway!!!

On another note, we are going to be having a GIVEAWAY on our blog sometime next week!! Some wonderful ladies have donated some great prizes from their businesses and Etsy shops. I can't wait to share them with you! If you have a product that you would like to showcase, please contact me by this weekend, as we would love to include you!!!! Maple Memories will also be giving away something BIG...I can't wait!!!

Organizing with baby food jars

2010-09-07T10:41:00.005-05:00

My girls' hair stuff was driving me NUTS!!! I found ponies and headbands all over the house and had finally had ENOUGH!! So, I put out a request to friends with little ones for some baby food jars (Thanks, Michelle)!!!

I started by spray painting the lids with Chalkboard Paint. It took two coats and about 24 hours of drying time in the garage.

Then, I put my girls to work gathering every hair accessory they could find!! They sorted them by color and put them in the jars while we were waiting for the paint to dry.

Lids put on...

Used some chalk to label the tops...

Turned out pretty cute, don't you think!!!??? Quick, easy, and budget friendly. Think of all the possibilities with jars, lids, and chalkboard paint. Marbles, rock collections, crafting supplies...you name it!!!

Linking up to:

1. Look What I Made at Creations by Kara

2. Show and Share Day at Just a Girl

Short and Sweet

2010-09-02T20:24:00.004-05:00

Problem: "Picky Eater" won't eat his cooked carrots.
Solution: Squirt a little bit of syrup in and stir. Problem solved. He ate every little carrot. :)

I used the Sugar Free variety...does that count as healthy!!??

Oil Rubbed Bronze

2010-08-28T14:13:00.004-05:00

Several years ago, I had my kitchen decorated in apples. Everywhere you looked, you would find apples...the wallpaper, curtains, napkins, knick-knacks...even the soap!! Over the years, most of my apple collection has found its way into the garage sale. All except this little crock that I used to hold mixing spoons, spatulas, and whisks. It's been setting by my stove for the last 3 years, not going with one thing. It stuck out like a sore thumb.

Until now...

A little Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint and a vinyl decal and now it's right at home!!

It's the little things that make me smile!! Stay tuned for a few more Oil Rubbed Bronze projects!! I've been having fun!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

2010-08-23T22:35:00.004-05:00

5 out 5 people in my house liked dinner tonight. That's rare. ;) Now, that's a recipe worth sharing!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
2 c. cooked shredded chicken breast
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese
1 (4 oz) can diced green Chilies
2 c. shredded Mexican style cheese
1 rounded T. dried onions
8-10 medium flour tortillas
1 (10 oz) can mild green enchilada sauce

Combine chicken, cream cheese, green Chilies, and onions in skillet on med-low heat. Cook until thoroughly mixed and creamy.

Place a pinch of shredded cheese (I did more than a pinch, because we LOVE cheese) and an even amount of mixture in each tortilla and roll.

Place rolled tortillas in 9x13 baking pan.

Pour enchilada sauce evenly over tortillas. Cover with remaining shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until bubbly. ENJOY!! This would be a great meal for your group at Maple Memories!

39 CENTS

2010-08-17T15:12:00.004-05:00

Did you know that Walgreen's has Icee's for 39 cents!!??? Now you do.
Happy Hour - Monday and Friday from 2-4...at least in McPherson. Does your Walgreen's do this?

Perfect for days when your thermometer says this...

Photo Editing

2010-07-27T19:14:00.003-05:00

I can be stubborn. Really. But, I am slowly learning to give in a little. Here's an example. I have ALWAYS loved photos. I would spend hours looking at the photo albums at my grandma's house. When I finally picked up a camera of my own, I was hooked. I don't know much about the "mechanics" of the camera or all the photography lingo...aperture, white balance, flash compensation!!??? I just like to take a good picture and consider myself to have a "good eye". I really don't know what I'm doing, but I like the majority of my pictures. I always felt like editing was "cheating". Did I mention I can be stubborn!? So, I put it off for a really long time...until I found picnik. Then I began to give into my stubbornness. I'm even thinking of taking a couple of classes to actually learn what all those words mean AND how to make the best of photo editing. What programs do you use to edit? Have you taken photography classes? Did you find them helpful?

This is where editing comes in handy. My cousin got married on Friday (and she was STUNNING!!). She was getting dressed in a room in the church basement...a Child's Nursery/Sunday School Room. I looked up to see her mother looking at her. I had to take the picture...it was just one of those moments that needed to be captured. But, a "good eye" couldn't get rid of the rainbow border and stars on the wall...

BUT PICNIK COULD!!!! :)

I told you she was stunning, didn't I!!!??

Pancake Spatula

2010-07-06T08:57:00.005-05:00

My cousin is getting married at the end of the month (Congratulations, Jenny!), so I was looking at her gift registry online. I always think this is so much fun...do you? It made me start thinking about some of my favorite wedding gifts and kitchen gadgets. This is one of my FAVORITES...

It's a PANCAKE SPATULA from Crate & Barrel, given to us by a friend that knows how much we LOVE pancakes! You can read about our favorite pancake mix in this blog post and then you should go get some (you can even have it shipped to you)!!

This spatula is the perfect size for flipping pancakes. The WHOLE pancake fits on it, so no flopping and breaking!! I LOVE IT!!!!!

Now to find a good griddle...ours broke. Pancake Deprivation is setting in.

Follow The Yellow Brick Road

2010-06-26T22:38:00.003-05:00

If you're looking for a great family friendly activity for Sunday afternoon, I know just the thing! The McPherson Community Theatre has it's FINAL performance of the Wizard of Oz at 2pm on Sunday, June 27th at the McPherson Opera House. We went last weekend and it was truly an amazing show!

The munchkins were adorable...

The sets, costumes, and effects were phenomenal...

You can even get your picture taken with the cast at the end of the show...

Super FUN!! Well worth the trip. For tickets call the Opera House at 241-1952 or order them online here. You can also purchase them at the door, but I would recommend ordering them in advance to ensure they aren't sold out!! We took our two youngest, ages 5 and 7...they were on the edge of their seats for the whole thing!

If my sweet Munchkin can be transformed from this...

to this...

you know you will be entertained!!

Blogger Award

2010-06-02T08:17:00.007-05:00

I received my first ever blogger award from Julie @ Growing Your Grass Greener. I am truly honored! Thank you, Julie.

There were certain rules regarding this award...

1) Thank the person who gave you the award.

2) Tell 7 things about yourself (in your blog)

3) Pass the award along to 15 other blogs you think are fantastic. (Even though there are way more that deserve the award.)

4) Contact the bloggers you've picked & let them know about the award.

I've thanked Julie, so here are my 7 very random things.

1. I'm afraid of heights. Gets worse as I get older. HATE, HATE, HATE overpasses...have to close my eyes...not a good thing when I'm driving!! Just kidding about the driving thing, but my hands grasp the stearing wheel and get terribly sweaty! I DO close my eyes if someone else is driving!!!

2. I'm a stuffer (NO, NOT my bra!! HA!!). If you came over to visit, I am guaranteed to have stuffed JUNK into a drawer, closet, or basket somewhere so that my house appeared clean!!

3. When I was 6, my 8 year old brother died of Reye's Syndrome.

4. I'm doing an exercise program called Crossfit right now. Some days I think it's going to kill me.

5. I've never been able to do a cartwheel. My attempts are quite a site!

6. I have a degree in Elementary Education.

7. I love black and white damask print!

AND here are 15 other bloggers that I think are fantastic!

1. Chris @ Just a Girl

2. Kara @ Creations by Kara

3. Meg @ Whatever

4. Kate @ Centsational Girl

5. Sarah @ Thrifty Decor Chick

6. Jess @ The Macs

7. For the Love of it

8. Melisa @ 320 Sycamore

9. Carrie @ Buzzings of a Queen Bee

10. Beki @ The Rusted Chain

11. Kristen @ Sweetheart Moments

12. Kimba @ A Soft Place to Land

13. Lindsay @ Living With Lindsay

14. Thy Hand Hath Provided

15. Infarrantly Creative

Last Day of School

2010-05-27T08:58:00.004-05:00

I am finding it hard to believe that another school year is coming to an end. At 11:30 today, I will pick up these 3 beautiful, sweet, perfectly mannered children for the start of Summer! This is why I prefer photographs over video...see you looked at the picture and you BELIEVED my words about how perfectly mannered they are with their hands nicely folded in their laps (BTW, I didn't tell them to do this!). If I would have had the video, you would have seen how my youngest tried to put her arm around her brother because she adores him. He wanted nothing to do with it and promptly told her so. She then began to cry. I put my camera away...thankful that the one picture I snapped was a good one!! ;) Really...it's going to be a GREAT Summer, isn't it!? No, REALLY, I am excited...I think. ;)

An update on the Monogram Crayons that I blogged about. I finally got my done! The kids helped pick out paper and color schemes based on what they thought each teacher would like. I think Michelle must have used a bigger frame for hers. I used 8 x 10's and hers may be a true 12 x 12. I also chose to hot glue my crayons for the sake of time (I couldn't find my other glue!). It worked just fine. Here's the final result...

Thank you Mrs. Pacey, Mrs. Mulch, and Mrs. Porter for being such wonderful teachers!

Lemon Berry Pie

2010-05-24T22:59:00.005-05:00

My friend had a great idea for her son's birthday party...he loves pie, so she hosted a Pie Party!! Each family made a pie to share AND she even had take home containers so we could take home some of the leftovers!! Mmmmmm!!! Here's what we (we, meaning my wonderful husband) made:

LEMON BERRY PIE

1/2 (4 oz) Cream Cheese, cubed, softened

1 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip, thawed

1 ready-to-use graham cracker crust (6 ounces or 9 inch)

1 pint strawberries

2 cups cold milk

2 pkgs (4-serving size) Vanilla or Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding and Pie Filling (we used lemon)

BEAT cream cheese, 1 Tbs milk, and sugar in medium bowl with wire whisk until smooth. Stir in lemon peel and juice. Gently stir in 1 1/2 cups of the whipped topping. Spread evenly onto bottom of crust. Reserve a few strawberries for garnish, if desired; cut remaining strawberries in half. Press strawberry halves into cream cheese layer.

POUR 2 cups milk into large bowl. Add pudding mixes. Beat with wire mix 1 minute. Gently stir in 1 cup of the whipped topping. Spoon over strawberries in crust.

REFRIGERATE 4 hours or until set. Garnish with remaining whipped topping and reserved strawberries just before serving.

What a surprise!!!

2010-05-23T22:01:00.006-05:00

We had a group leave Maple Memories today and another guest is coming tomorrow, so I headed over to clean this afternoon. What a WONDERFUL surprise to find this on the counter...

A beautiful basket full of goodies from the lovely group of ladies that had just left. Attached was a note that read, "Shannon, Thank you for such a wonderful place to spend a weekend away! We had a wonderful time and are so amazed by every detail you've cared for." How sweet is that!!????

Jenny and friends...

you absolutely made my day!!!

Monogram Crayon Teacher Gift

2010-05-22T08:45:00.004-05:00

My friend, Michelle, made this...isn't it adorable!? She made this Monogram frame for her sister to put in her classroom. I think it would make a great teacher gift as the school year comes to an end. I am planning on making them for my kids' teachers this weekend, so hopefully I will have some pictures for you later. It's just crayons...some broken to make the shape of the letter and glued to scrapbook paper with embellishments of scrapbook paper, ribbon and some stickers...perfect! She found the original idea here and then this one gave her additional ideas to help her create her own unique monogram. Thanks for sharing, Michelle!

What do you give your teachers for the end of the year?

Cubbies

2010-05-20T01:15:00.000-05:00

Getting 3 kids out of the door and to school, ON time, WITH all of their stuff, isn't an easy task! So, we developed a system using a set of "cubbies" that I bought from a daycare that was upgrading theirs. This has been a lifesaver for our family, so I thought I would share our "system" with you. Each kid has a section of their own. The oldest and youngest have the two outside spots, while my son once again finds himself smack dab in the middle of his sisters!! The other two are for "overflow" or when friends come over.

I used my handy dandy Dymo to label their "space" with their name. Eliminates all squabbles about where stuff belongs (or doesn't). The clear crates are for hats, mittens, scarves, etc. Hooks in the cubbies are for backpacks and coats. A place at the bottom for shoes if they wish. The mesh basket on top is for homework and papers that I need to read/sign. The mesh basket is also labelled with their name AND library and share day info...

I was struggling to keep track of which kid had library books due on which day, so this helps! So, here's how it works.

1. When they get home from school, they enter through the garage (where the cubby is).

2. Hang up coat and put away "stuff". Backback is TOTALLY emptied into the mesh basket. That means all homework, papers, empty lunchboxes, rocks from the playground :), etc.

3. Mom and Dad then empty the mesh baskets...cleaning out lunchboxes, reading/signing papers, and making sure kids do homework.

4. Parents and/or kids put completed homework, signed papers, library books, show and tell items (whatever needs to go to school the next day) back into the baskets. Lunchboxes are put there in the morning if they are taking one.

5. In the morning, the kids take everything that is in their basket and put it into their backpacks and off they go to school. Piece of cake! Seriously, it's made things pretty easy!

Here's the "I'm the parent and it's my job to teach you to be responsible" part. IF we have done our part and gotten everything they need into their baskets and ALL they have to do is put it in their backpack AND they take off to school without grabbing it, then OH WELL! Meaning if we made sure on library day they had both library books in the basket and they went off without getting them and then they call me to ask me to bring them, I don't. I know that might sound mean, but I'm telling you it works. I had 2 kids in school last year, no system...lots of trips to school to deliver homework, lunches, show and tell. This year...twice...once because MOM forgot to put a lunch in the basket and the other because MOM read the note that said it was "pop day" the next day and forgot to go to the store!! ;)

I'm back!

2010-05-19T08:19:00.002-05:00

Trying to lift this...

When you should only lift this...

is not good on your back! Trust me.

Now it's time to catch up on my blogging...oh, how I've missed you! See you tomorrow!

Fingerprint Friday

2010-04-30T22:47:00.003-05:00

Was blessed to be able to spend last weekend with 8th graders from our church at Camp Horizon. One of the things that we were asked to do was leave our burdens at the cross. A friend snapped this picture of me and I edited with words from the song Lay Your Burden Down.

Linked to Fingerprint Friday @ The Rusted Chain

If I must

2010-04-21T08:45:00.007-05:00

I found this little sticky note on my washing machine.

Ok...if I must!! :) My daughter had put it there. It was a note her teacher had put in her book to let her know where she needed to stop reading for her homework. I think I like it better on my washing machine!!!

Crafty Storage

2010-04-20T09:09:00.007-05:00

Isn't that a clever idea for storing ribbon!!? I found this picture on someone's blog over a year ago. I've been searching to give them credit and can't seem to find it. Sorry. If it's yours, let me know and I will be sure to recognize you!

I was going to do this post on storage ideas for all your crafty items. Like the use of towel bars to store punches. Have you seen this? So cool. And simple. Genious.

ANYWAY, while I was searching for the latest and greatest in storage ideas to share with you. I found a blog that had already done it for us!! It's called Crafty Storage and I plan to spend hours pouring over it when I have more time!! Here's just a small sampling of what is in store for you...

Self Portrait

2010-04-17T07:03:00.004-05:00

It's what everyone seems to be doing with their camera...at parties, weddings, sporting events, the carnival, at camp, just hanging out with friends. You know you've seen it, or even done it. People holding the camera out in front of them taking pictures of themselves. Sometimes it just of them. Sometimes with a friend...or two...or maybe 3...AND they still manage to get the background they wanted! I've seen these pictures and they always look so cute (of everyone else). I've tried it. I hate them of myself. All I see is a double chin, a big nose, goofy expressions. My face is cut off in weird places. I can't seem to figure it out. I think some people have truly mastered the art of taking pictures of themselves. They know just the right angle to hold the camera at. Just the right way to tilt their head. It's amazing to me!!! How do they do it!? I've taken lots of "self portraits" trying to figure out the big secret. Ones I wouldn't even show my closest friends. ;) Then yesterday, I DID IT!! I managed to get one that I actually like. The angle was right and the lighting. You don't see my camera or my arms stretching out in front of me.

Total accident. So, I still don't know the answer to the big secret. Anyone care to fill me in?

Plan for Summer!

2010-04-05T08:44:00.005-05:00

Summer is just around the corner. Crazy, but true! My kids have already been thinking of things to put on our Summer Fun List this year. The calendar is filling up with day trips and baseball games. Is yours!? Before it gets TOO full, take a look at the dates we still have available and add a weekend (or week) with your girlfriends to your calendar!! Put Maple Memories at the top of YOUR Summer Fun List!

The following weekend dates are still available for the Summer of 2010:

June 4-6
June 11-13
July 2-4 (4th of July falls on a Sunday, so we are also offering the option of renting Thurs July 1st - Sat July 3rd at the price of $949...that's $79 per person for a group of 12. Allowing you to spend Sat night and Sunday with your families!!)
July 9-11
July 16-18
Aug 6-8

Summer is also a great time to include your tween/teenage daughters in your plans to getaway. There have been several mother/daughter groups that have come and had a wonderful time!!! With the Summer off from school, take advantage of our lower weekday rates.

Cute little bunny cupcakes.

2010-04-04T18:30:00.007-05:00

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

Here's what you need to make these adorable Bunny Cupcakes (thanks, Kari, for giving me the idea)!! Cake Mix (we used white, but pick your favorite), frosting (again...we used white, but pink would be cute too!), pretzel sticks, pink sugar crystals, BIG and SMALL marshmallows, pink M&M's, mini chocolate chips. You could also sprinkle coconut flakes on them for fur. If your kids will let you. Mine didn't! HA!

Bake cupcakes. Let them cool and then frost. While they were cooling, we made the bunny ears. Take a large marshmallow and cut it in 1/2. This leaves you with 2 sticky sides that you dip into the pink sugar crystals. The shape they make when you cut them looks JUST like the inside of a rabbits ear!

Next, you stick a pretzel into the marshmallow so that you will have something to "attach" the ears with. I forgot to take a picture of this, so had to "remove" an ear from one of our bunnies for the next shot! It looks like one of my kids sucked on the pretzel, but I promise they did not (at least not that I saw!)!!!

Once you've frosted the cupcakes and made the ears, stick the ears into the cupcake. Add mini chocolate chips for eyes, an M&M for the nose, and 2 mini marshmallows for their cute little puffy cheeks! This is where you would sprinkle on the coconut if your kids will let you!

SO CUTE!!! And completely edible!! :)

HAPPY EASTER!!!

I FINALLY found time...

2010-03-25T08:45:00.010-05:00

to scrapbook at Maple Memories!! Funny how when you own a retreat designed to help women find TIME to get away, you find yourself with less of it! HA! :) I really DO love my "job" and all the wonderful women that enter our doors. We are so blessed by each of you.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to spend a wonderful weekend at the house with some of my friends. I got more than my "normal" number of layouts completed and had lots of fun, so it was a success!! My friend, Jodi, got 66 pages done...WOW!! Here are a few of mine that I thought I would share with you.

I often receive comments about how "beautiful" my youngest daughter is, which makes me beam because I know that she is just as beautiful on the inside! This layout is my way of telling her exactly that and hopefully it will serve as a reminder as she gets older.

BEAUTY

more than just a pretty face.

Scrapbooking tip: I used letters in coordinating prints. They blended in a little to much, making it difficult to read, so I outlined each letter in a brown pen. They now stand out much more. Also, I leave journal boxes, but don't typically journal at crops or retreats. I save that for later, at home, when I don't need to get all of my stuff out...just a marker!

TORNADO SLIDE

I had fun finding paper that tied in the many colors of the tornado slide. Take a look at the picture on the far left, where my daughter is coming down the slide. The blue paint is chipped and worn. I loved how the patterned paper on the right carried that same effect on the edges.

SNOWBOARDING FUN

I'm a color matcher. I get giddy when I find paper that matches the kids clothing! Or even, like only a scrapbooking addict like me would understand, when I find CLOTHING that matches that cute paper I've had tucked away for so long! HA!!

I used a chipboard snowflake and covered it in stickles. Carried the shiny effect onto the 2nd page by adding some blingy swirls!! I LOVE THOSE SWIRLS!! So pretty.

i love you.

The lettering says, "I want to remember (on the left page) the way we felt about each other on this day (on the right)." Like most siblings, my kids fight...ALOT. I wish they didn't, but it's life. Sometimes, I even forget that there are times that they don't fight. This is why I am so grateful to have pictures...PROOF that they really DO love each other!!!

I have 3 kids. I do albums for each of them. Crazy, I know. But, I do. Every once in a while, I "copy" a layout. The picture on the right is my "girl" version and the one on the right is the "boy" layout. Hers has more texture, flowers, bling. His uses more "earthy, boy-like" colors AND it compares him to a SUPER HERO...what more could a big brother ask for!!??
HAPPY SCRAPPING!!!

Bone Marrow Donation

2010-02-17T16:51:00.002-06:00

I registered today. The online registration is pretty easy. Think about it.

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allowFullScreen="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" />

The Transformation - Part 2

2010-02-16T20:09:00.006-06:00

I hope that you enjoyed looking at the before and after pictures yesterday. Here are a few more.

BLUE ROOM BEFORE:

BLUE ROOM AFTER:

GREEN ROOM BEFORE:

GREEN ROOM AFTER:

PURPLE ROOM BEFORE:

PURPLE ROOM AFTER:

LIVING ROOM IN BASEMENT BEFORE:

LIVING ROOM IN BASEMENT AFTER:

I hope you are enjoying these! It's been fun for me to go back and see how far we have come!! My favorite transformations are coming soon...I just need to get some better "after" pictures.

The Transformation - Part 1

2010-02-15T20:51:00.007-06:00

One of the most common questions we get asked is, "How much work did you have to do to fix up the house?" So, we thought we would share some pictures of the transformation of Maple Memories. There are LOTS of pictures...more than I have time to upload tonight...so check back tomorrow for more.

UPSTAIRS RELAXATION ROOM BEFORE:

UPSTAIRS RELAXATION ROOM AFTER:

YELLOW ROOM BEFORE:

YELLOW ROOM AFTER:

There is a quote on the wall of each of the bedrooms. The yellow room says, "We do not remember the days. We remember the moments."

Friday Feature - Steph Cooks PW!

2010-02-12T16:46:00.008-06:00

My friend, Steph, has started a wonderful new blog called "Steph Cooks PW!" I have not ever picked up The Pioneer Woman cookbook (*GASP*), but those of you that share Stephs addiction (and I know there are LOTS of you out there) should check out her blog. She is inspiring me to want to try these recipes. She is the mom of 4 absolutely adorable children and she loves to cook. How do you do that!? My picky middle child has made me detest it, but Steph "critics" are making me laugh AND have me actually thinking about getting back into the kitchen!

She confesses: "I have an addiction...and it involves The Pioneer Woman! I love her and I love her recipes. I also love to hear from others who have tried them too. So feel free to check back often as I cook my way through her recipes. I cook for the 5 critics I live with, and they let me know what they think."

Steph has devised a "5 Star Rating System", each member of the family gives the recipe a frowny or a smiley face depending on what they thought about it. Here are 4 of her "critics", with her husband being the 5th.

Told you they were adorable! So, go check out Steph's blog and see what you can cook up for dinner! I've been craving PF Chang's lettuce wraps lately, and then what did I find when I pop over to visit Steph!!?? Mmmmm...and they got 5 stars!

Indoor Beach Party

2010-02-10T10:10:00.005-06:00

I was looking through old pictures on my computer last night and came across this one from several years ago. Look how little everyone looks. *Sniff, Sniff*

This was such a fun memory that I thought I'd share it with my blog friends! It was January in Minnesota. Cold, Snowy...we were getting cabin fever. So, we decided to have a "Beach Dinner". I put down beach towels on the floor and made octopus hotdogs served over mac and cheese. The kids wore goggles. Too cute!!

Sorry, this was before my blogging days, so I don't have a million pictures of the event! However, I did find this if you want VERY DETAILED instructions on how to cut a hotdog in the shape of an octupus! I would have just said, "slice it so that it has 8 arms" but I'm glad someone else has taken the time to give you the best hotdog cutting instructions I have ever seen!! ;)

*This zoomed-in cropped section of the picture above makes me so grateful for my new camera!

Hats, Mittens, and Scarves...Oh, My!

2010-02-09T09:01:00.004-06:00

Please tell me that I'm not the only one that finds hats, coats, mittens, and scarves all over the floor in the winter!! AND none of the mittens matching of course!! ;) See!!?? A basket of "lost" mittens. Really!!? Where are the others!!?? I'm sure they are hanging out with the "lost" socks having a big party somewhere!

Well, I'd finally had enough!! So, I came up with this...

and I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY like it!! An over the door mesh shoe organizer with lots of pockets to put all that stuff that never seems to find a home. No more digging. Everything is sorted. Mittens paired. Each family member has their own row. The kids on the bottom so they can get their own things AND (hopefully) put them away. Adults on the top, so the kids CAN'T reach them. I'm loving it!

How do you organize your winter gear?

Get Scrappy 2010 - YWCA Women's Crisis Center

2010-01-27T08:37:00.004-06:00

Get Scrappy is a fundraiser to benefit the YWCA Women's Crisis Center. This year they are welcoming ALL crafters to join the fun and fundraising. This event will be held at the Beech Activity Center in Wichita, KS on March 26 and 27, 2010. Please click on the logo or links provided for more information on the dates, times, and details of the event. Maple Memories is proud to support this effort by donating to the Silent Auction, so be sure to check that out while you are there!

"Get Scrappy" began in 2005 as a memorial to Crystal White, who was killed in a senseless act of domestic violence. Since it's beginning, Get Scrappy has raised over $50,000 for the YWCA Women's Crisis Center. Domestic violence is a tragedy of our times and, unfortunately, with the changes in our economic stability, the instance of violence is increasing. At “Get Scrappy 2009” they discovered that almost half of the attendees had been touched by domestic violence - either personally or through a family member or friend. The primary purpose of “Get Scrappy” is not just another crop. Born out of a personal tragedy affecting their lives, this event is, first and foremost, an event to raise funds to assist victims of domestic violence and an avenue to heighten awareness of this tragic issue in our community.

I hope some of you can make it, but regardless, I encourage you to take a look at their website. Some of the statistics will chill you...Every year 3.3 million children witness their fathers beat their mothers...Studies suggest that one-fifth to one-third of all women will be physically assaulted by a partner or ex-partner during their lifetime (American Medical Association)...63% of prisoners between the ages of 11 and 20 years doing time for homicide killed their mother's batterer. But, YOU CAN HELP! Attend events, volunteer time, donate items, or simply educate yourself AND your children.

Friday Feature - SassyBags

2010-01-22T14:46:00.000-06:00

SassyBags is one of the newest stores on Main Street and is quickly becoming a local favorite!! Both the outside and inside reflect its "sassy" name by carrying a black and hot pink theme throughout. The owner, Casey Stucky, is as friendly as can be AND is kind enough to leave 15% off coupons for the guests at Maple Memories!! So, grab your friends and head inside...

where you will find tons of fun and unique items!! She has everything a girl could want when it comes to purses, wallets, and accessories. Color, color, color!! It's such a cheerful place to shop...you really should stop on by! Oh, and did I mention that she has great prices and even better SALES!!?? Make sure to let Casey know that Maple Memories sent you!

SassyBags
302 N Main
McPherson, KS 67460
(620)755-6223
sassybags@live.com
Business Hours:
Monday 12PM - 5:30PM
Tuesday/Thursday/Friday 11:30AM - 5:30PM
Wednesday 11AM - 5PM

Saturday 10:30AM - 4PM
CLOSED SUNDAY

Message Board

2010-01-20T10:45:00.004-06:00

Just in case you don't already know this, I wanted to remind everyone that we do have a Message Board on our website to help "connect" groups. I sometimes receive calls from people stating that they would love to come to Maple Memories, but don't know anyone else that scrapbooks. I also have groups that would like to fill one or two more spots. SO, we have created a message board for you to leave a note so that others can contact you. AND you don't ALL have to be doing the same activity. It works to have quilters, scrapbookers, knitters, or someone working on ANY project at Maple Memories at the same time...mix it up...you might even learn something new!! Check it out, leave a message, and plan your next getaway!!

A DATE A MONTH

2010-01-12T11:04:00.007-06:00

This is the gift that I gave my husband for Christmas this year. I had spent time shopping in different stores and just couldn't find the right present. You know, that one thing that he REALLY wanted. On his list...a ladder (um...how am I going to hide THAT!?), hunting pants (now, THAT's exciting! HA!)...and then it hit me! He's always saying that he enjoys the time we have together...just the two of us. With 3 kids, jobs, a business, and other activities that time is sometimes hard to come by. When we DO have time alone, we often start in on some project that needs to get done because it's "so much easier and faster to get it done when the kids aren't around." Can you relate to that!?

So, I decided to give him "A Date a Month in 2010." I made the book out of chipboard and covered it with scrapbooking paper and stickers. Tied it together with jute. Keep in mind, this is for a man so I didn't need all the bling and fancy stuff. I kept it simple.

I went downtown to some of our favorite spots (the ones we never manage to get to) and a few NEW places that would be fun to try out. I bought gift cards or certificates for each place. 12 places total...one for each month. If they had one, I tried to pick up a business card from the business. It served as the "pocket" to hold the GC (see November's page above). I then attached them to each page, along with a little note.

He liked it! Really, he did! AND we are both looking forward to our "January Date"...breakfast at the the coffee shop!

In case you're interested, I did try to pick a variety of places AND times. Here are a few examples:

January - gift card to The Well. The note said, "Pick a morning. We'll drop the kids off at school and head to The Well for coffee and cinnamon rolls!"

March - 2 movie tickets. "MOVIE NIGHT (Popcorn's on me!)"

April - GC to Main Street Deli. "Block some time on your calendar and join me for lunch!"

May - GC to AutoZone. "Need some company while you're working on your car!? I'd love to join you for a good conversation and maybe to lend an extra hand." Note to readers: My husband has an old car he is working on in the garage. Your "date" doesn't have to be going out to dinner...be creative!

August - Chamber Check (these can be used at businesses that are part of the McPherson Chamber of Commerce). Used scrapbooking paper with a deck of cards as the background. "It's your lucky month. Pick a place and I'll join you...maybe over some BBQ!?

Found this...

2010-01-10T21:49:00.002-06:00

Found this and thought it was worth reading. For those of you that have teenagers, are about to have teenagers, are YEARS from having teenagers, work with teenagers or even if you just KNOW a teenager...you should read this. Really you should. It's good, very good! Enjoy!

We may not have it all together.

2009-12-23T09:43:00.004-06:00

This was our Christmas card this year. I started out searching for the "perfect" photo to send out. You know. The one where we are all together in our matching outfits, not a hair out of place, everyone smiling and looking at the camera..."perfect". Here's the truth. We are not perfect and that picture doesn't exist. My pictures of the year consisted of kids in mud, holding frogs, painting projects, ice cream all over faces, fits being thrown, tearful faces, crazy mismatched outfits, silly faces...LOTS of silly faces!!

And do you know what!?? I wouldn't trade ANY of those pictures (or memories) for that ONE "perfect" family picture. Actually, I think this one is perfect...perfect for US!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Corn Chowder

2009-12-19T08:23:00.004-06:00

There is something about this cold weather that makes me crave a warm bowl of soup. And THIS is the first soup that usually comes to mind. My mom's Corn Chowder. I hope you like it as much as we do.

Corn Chowder Recipe

1/2 lb bacon
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp dill weed
2 cans whole corn
1 cup water
1 can cream style corn
1 12 o can evaporated milk
6 oz smoked sausage links (also known as little smokies), cut
2 cups diced, peeled potatoes
minced dried onion (optional)

In a large saucepan, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove to paper towels, crumble, and set aside. Drain all but 2T of the drippings. Saute celery and onion in drippings until onion is lightly browned. Add potatoes and water. Cover and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Stir in corn, milk, sausage, dill week, and bacon. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Makes 4-6 servings.

Tradition

2009-12-13T17:32:00.003-06:00

Today begins a special countdown at our house. 12 days until Christmas. A gift a day for the next 12 days. 3 piles. 3 styles of wrapping paper. 3 happy kiddos. Courtesy of Grandma!

Thanks, Mom, for starting this wonderful tradition for our family. The kids couldn't wait to pick out the first gift to open this morning!!

My mom started this a few years ago and the kids truly love it. The presents are usually small things that she picks up throughout the year. Sandwich and soup containers for lunch boxes, small stuffed animals, toothbrushes, hot chocolate, small games. When they were preschool age, she went with an art theme providing us with paper, crayons, paints, glue, pipe cleaners, and other things for us to "entertain" them with projects throughout the year. This morning it was Farkle, hot chocolate, and a car...can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!! What are your family traditions at Christmas time?

It's beginning to look like Christmas!

2009-11-29T20:42:00.003-06:00

Christmas at Maple Memories...

The tree is up and the stockings are hung. The gold ornaments and white lights against the wood in the entryway are BEAUTIFUL at night!! The outside is fun and festive this year too!!!

One little "helper" thought she needed her picture taken when we were done decorating. I think she was right!