JUST SIMPLE SOMETHINGS

A Good Reason to Smile...

Here's where I'll be sharing:

Weekend Snapshots * Wordless Wednesday * Image-in-ing *

" Human Polar Bear "

With the frigid temperatures that we've been having across the country the last week, I can even imagine why someone would want to attempt this. It amazes me that a human heart can take the shock.

On January 23, 1963, the "Human Polar Bear", Gustave Brickner from Charleroi, Pennsylvania, broke the World's Record for time & low-temperature submersion in icy waters: 6 minutes and 22 seconds at a recorded temperature of -18 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ice water submersion record was officially pulled from the Guinness World Records & attempts are no longer allowed, as multiple people have died while attempting to beat his record.

Before retiring, Brickner's official logged swimming distance was 38,500 miles total (noting that the circumference of the entire Earth at the equator is 24,901.55 miles). This record has yet to be beaten.

Check out this facebook page:

The Odd, Mysterious, and Fascinating History of Pittsburgh

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade * Sundays at Home * Sunday's Best * Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner * Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party * Busy Creative You *
Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share * Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell * Warm Heart * Totally Terrific Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the Town * Waste Not Wednesday * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *What's Cookin' Wednesday *Share Your Style * Create it Thursday * Creatively crafty * Full plate Thursday * * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday * Foodie Friday and everything Else * Friday Features * Best Friday Features * What To Do Weekends * Home Matters * Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks * Best of the Weekend *

Stars and Snowflakes

I needed to whip up a quick card design for some gift cards and cash that I'll be giving this year.

I love the soft look of the pale color and white against the kraft paper.

I used A2 size cards. The stars are from the Spellbinders Stars Five Die. I used a Darice embossing folder (swirl pattern) to emboss the white stars.

The large snowflake is from the Darice Snowflake Die. The small snowflakes were stamped in metallic gold ink using a 99 cent stamp set I picked up years ago.

Some metallic gold paper punches were added to the centers of the snowflakes to make them pop!

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade * Sundays at Home * Sunday's Best * Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner * Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party * Busy Creative You *
Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share * Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell * Warm Heart * Totally Terrific Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the Town * Waste Not Wednesday * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *What's Cookin' Wednesday *Share Your Style * Create it Thursday * Creatively crafty * Full plate Thursday * * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday * Foodie Friday and everything Else * Friday Features * Best Friday Features * What To Do Weekends * Home Matters * Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks * Best of the Weekend *

Homemade Vegetable soup

There's nothing better than a piping hot bowl of homemade vegetable soup when it's snowing outside!
This recipe is one that I make often in the winter and I use just about every vegetable under the sun...the more the better, right? I don't even measure most of the ingredients...just add as much as you like.
Here's the recipe:

2-pound ground beef, browned and drained
1/2 head cabbage, chopped
onion, chopped
diced potatoes

Add canned or frozen of the following ingredients:
carrots
green beans
corn
chopped broccoli
chopped cauliflower

add:
2-14.5oz. cans of stewed tomatoes, chopped
2 - 8oz. cans tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
parsley
celery seed
salt
pepper
and my favorite ingredient for flavor...1/2 envelope of beef stew seasoning.
Serve with some crusty bread and butter, Yummy!!
Give it a try, your taste buds will thank you.

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade * Sundays at Home * Sunday's Best * Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner * Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party * Busy Creative You *
Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share * Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell * Warm Heart * Totally Terrific Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the Town * Waste Not Wednesday * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *What's Cookin' Wednesday *Share Your Style * Create it Thursday * Creatively crafty * Full plate Thursday * * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday * Foodie Friday and everything Else * Friday Features * Best Friday Features * What To Do Weekends * Home Matters * Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks * Best of the Weekend *

Early Transportation

Transportation Museum on Mackinac Island, Michigan

Where I'll be sharing:
Weekend Snapshots * Wordless Wednesday * Image-in-ing *

"Give Thanks" Card

I love the Fall colors against the rich blue shade of this card. I painted several sheets of watercolor paper and cut out the leaves, using leaf dies and my Big shot machine.