Only I...

...could turn making sugar cookies into a 3 day event!

I decided to make make sugar cookies...

...& thought butterflies and fish...complete with eyes would be fun. (I'm quirky that way)

That was 3 days ago!

I don't EVER remember making these things all in one day. Some IGer's got me!

The dough one day, baking the next... 

...& finally decorating...on day 3!

Those of you that follow Bakerella...

...I'm NOT her! (snicker)

But I DO make good sugar cookies...

...even if they are kinda creepy!

After all...these are for Austin's lunch...and he could care less. As long as they aren't "girly"!

They make pretty snowflake cookies in the winter.

I'm pretty sure this is the last sugar cookie recipe you'll ever use. I do let the dough come to room temp. before rolling out. If you try this at home...let me know! I'd love to hear from you. Send me a link to your blog or IG.

Enjoy and have fun!

Happy (sugar cookie) snapping!

xo

Kelly

*SUGAR COOKIES*

CREAM TOGETHER:

1 C Unsalted Butter

2/3 C. Sugar

BEAT IN:

1 Egg

COMBINE & ADD:

1 tsp Vanilla

2 1/2 C. Sifted Flour

Mix until ingredients are well-blended. Chill dough 3-4 hrs. before rolling. 

Pre-heat oven to 350*

Roll out on lightly floured surface & cut. Bake for about 8~10 min.

or until barely colored.

FROSTING

3/4 C Powdered Sugar

1TBSP Unsalted Butter

1 TBSP Milk, 1/2 tsp Vanilla, 1/4 tsp fresh Lemon Jce

a tad of Lemon Zest

Melt butter, stir all ingredients to combine until smooth.

(I stir ingredients in a mixing cup & place cup in a bowl of HOT water to keep frosting spreadable)

10 things...

...I'm proud of

I'm playing over at Stasha's today

1. My marriage-It will be 20 years for Frankie & I this August. I love my man so much my heart hurts.

2. Our kids-wow are we ever lucky to have 3 amazing, thriving, happy, children. *Justin in the USAF serving in Korea, Jamie getting married 4-19 & Austin passed his driving test today!

3. Me-Yup...I've had some pretty crappy things happen-but I have survived & still smiling!

4. My photography-I can finally say it out loud and not under my breath-I am a photographer!

5. My job-I LOVE what I do...helping 1st and 2nd graders understand Math and English. I wish there was a "me" around when I was in school.

6. My cooking...seriously!

7. My love of Nature & raising Monarchs

8. I don't spend money...I save and save and save...

9. I marvel at the small things

10. finishing this list...seriously!

Happy Snapping!

xo

Kelly

It's in...

...the bag

Happy Sunday friends. 

You might find this the weirdest blog entry...ever...from anyone! I wasn't even going to write about it but it kept gnawing at me- and then I realized this is a BIG deal {to me anyway!}

I went grocery shopping yesterday and among the items on my list was lunch bags-I had to choose between 100 pack or a 50 pack. That got me to thinking...Holy cow...

THIS IS THE LAST PACK OF PAPER LUNCH BAGS I WLL EVER HAVE TO BUY

Austin has barely over 50 days of school left-I got my calculator out and figured I have packed 2,160 lunches~give or take some for sick days. Austin pretty much ate PB&honey sandwiches for about 1,620 of those lunches. When he joined the swim team, he ate manly man meat and cheese sandwiches. It's strange that paper bags would lead to such a "Mom" moment for me. That's how I roll! My time for packing lunches is just about up...wow...so is driving Austin to & and from school-that's also 2,160 times...give or take sick days. 

I'm such a nerd!

I told you this was a weird entry!

Happy (lunch packing) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Hey...

...remember me?

Me oh my...

Do you know how I've missed being here? Something had to give & sadly, coming here had to be put on the back burner. I am so mentally pooped in the evenings after the nightly, ritual phone calls to my mom in one hospital, my dad in another, and then venting & catching up on the news with my brother who, between him and his wife, have been doing much of what needs to be done with my parents. It hasn't been all pleasant...but the stars seem to have aligned for me tonight for a chit chat.

Lets see...

since we last met...

I released my last butterfly.

It's a "he"

...and I actually have 2 more critters. Found an egg a few weeks ago, after it hatched, I brought it inside, as it IS winter and all. (wink) Found a caterpillar a few days ago, while killing aphids, and had to bring it in too. Frankie begs me not to look for eggs...I don't listen so well!

I'm not going to get into the whole family issue other than my dad got home Sat. & my mom came home tonight-That's all I'm going to say about that.

My daughter Jamie & her fiance, Brian, finally set a wedding date...April 19th! They are not Fancy Nancy's & they are happily tying the knot at the beautiful S.F. courthouse w/dinner at an Italian restaurant to follow. I'm flying up Mar. 23 for her bridal shower. (happy dance!)

My son, Justin, is on a plane...as we speak, to S. Korea for a one year remote tour at Kunsan AB. I miss him even more-I think it's the distance that separates us.

Austin is just a few short months away from graduating H.S. and we're still waiting on word from the Naval Academy if he has an appointment. He was granted a nomination from our Congressman, Sen. Boxer, and President Obama. That in itself is mind blowing.

(Why does this feel like a holiday letter?) (snickers)

Ahhhh,

 for the most part, life is good. Every day is a new day and I treat it as such. The saying, 

"This too shall pass" is my mantra...it helps.

Hugs all around my friends...

Happy (until next time) snapping!

xo

Kelly

An afternoon...

...of happy

I'm nursing a nasty cold & trying my best to preserve my voice so I don't completely lose it or worse-develop that nasty bronchitis I seem to get every year. 

I was nervous & excited when I got my postcard package from Moo.com today. Can I tell you I died! Holy cow when I read these cards are museum quality-they REALLY are! I can only show you a smidgen of one cause I don't want to spoil any surprises for any fellow postcard swappers! I'm tickled pink and I can't wait to share them with friends. I want to order more!

I've been doing something different & fun {at least for me it is!} over on IG~I'm doing a backyard series and sharing snippets of life because I realized I've got quite a bit going on back there-

I spend a LOT of time in my back yard. It's my oasis.

Speaking of life in my back yard...

...this is one of our regular visitors. I was super relieved that what I thought was dust in the lens from the hike we did a few weekends ago is actually a misty rain. My big girl camera certainly came through for me!

I wish I could stay longer, but I need to go put on my jammies and go park myself on the couch-I feel cruddy.

Happy (backyard) Snapping!

xo

Kelly

Just a...

...quickie

Hee hee...I know...I'm bad. I'm waiting for dinner to get done so thought I'd pop in to say hi!

HI!

Finally got my butt in gear and actually  got a work order for my big girl camera, Matilda. I downloaded the last of my pics before I send her off-they suck-my girl is sick and I really hope she can be fixed. 

Matilda

i-phone

I need a working camera...

Happy (fresh fruit) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Postcard...

...swap

I missed the boat last year on Kat Sloma's Global postcard swap. I was NOT going to miss out this year. I've spent the last 2 days obsessing creating my photos for the swap. I've just sent my first order to MOO.com and I'll get my order on Valentines Day. I'm really excited about the whole process. Last year there were 193 participants from 11 countries. Basically, you send in 5 of your photos/postcards. Mail them to Kat, she in turn "swaps" the post cards and then you get postcards from other artists. I don't know about you, but I LOVE to get snail mail so I am pumped! The photo above is a sneak peak at one of my postcards. 

Want to get involved? Go sign up at Kat Eye Studio

Have fun!!

Happy (postcard swapping) snapping!