Does it get any better??

Ok, so after weeks of being incredibly busy and not being able to blog or even scrap a thing, I am now back on schedule! And I am going to start this post off by asking you a question: Do you like cookies? I love cookies! As long as they don't include raisins, peanuts, or anything...gross=( LOL! So, if yo do like cookies and are willing to spend at least half an hour to make 'em and bake 'em, then you have got to try this recipe!

Me and my fam of 11 just got together with some good friends of ours who are also a family of 11 (Hey Tirzah! You know who you are :)) and me and an incredibly good friend of mine (who is by the way absolutely awesome) made some pretty awesome 'white chocolate macadamian nut cookies'. So, the recipe calls for...

*1 pound (2 cups) butter, room temperature
*1 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
*1 cup granulated sugar
*3 large eggs, room temperature
*1 Tablespoon vanilla
*4 1/4 cup all purpose unbleached white flour
*2 teaspoons baking soda
*1 teaspoon salt
*2 cups (12 ounce bag) white chocolate chips or chunks (Use a high quality white chocolate like Ghirardelli, Callebaut or Godiva. It does make a difference.)
*1 1/4 cup (4 ounces) macadamia nuts, chopped
 
Directions:
*This recipe makes a large batch of 48 full size cookies. The full batch will fit in a 5 quart mixer. Divide the recipe in half if needed.
*Make sure the oven keeps the right temperature. The cookies may need a minute or two more or less than stated.
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
*Line baking sheets with parchment paper (no need to grease).
*Measure flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and blend together. Set aside.
*In a large mixing bowl, preferably a heavy-duty mixer, and using the paddle or beater attachment, beat butter until creamy.
*Add brown sugar and beat again. Scrape down the bowl and add the granualted sugar. Beat until fluffy.
*Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
*Add vanilla, beat and scrape again.
*On low speed, add flour mixture 2 cups at a time, and mix well.
*Mix in white chocolate and macadamia nuts. Mix only until blended.
*Using a cookie scoop, place dough on prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly to allow for spreading.
*Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Do NOT over bake these cookies. They continue to bake for a few minutes after they are removed from the oven.
*Transfer to cooling racks. Store in air tight container or plastic bag to stay soft and moist.
*Makes 48 warm and gooey cookies.
 
Yeah, I know. That was a pretty long recipe (thank goodness there's such a thing as copy & paste!) but it is totally well worth it! Oh, and P.S. You better have a glass of milk ready for when you start to devour these cookies!  Does it get any better??? =D
 
Ok, now onto the layouts!
I am so totally off schedule with the ' My lifetime story challenge' (guilty). I infact just finished last weeks challenge TODAY! =0 Mmm-hmm...that just shows you how busy i've been=)

So this is a lo that I actually started on a looong time ago, I just took for ever to print the picture off!

I used a sketch from 52 sketches and the sketch included hidden journaling underneath the picture, but (of course=) I had to make it "my own", so I turned the picture into a flap that you can open up. Although, this is not the journaling. I wrote the journaling on the outside of the brown, circle mat.

The journaling says:

You are always so active, so energetic. You can never stand still for more than a few seconds. But, this picture captures a moment when you are, for once,...Content.

My sis (the one who likes to act. I really need to come up with some nick names for every one in my fam! LOL!) took this picture. Awesome huh!

And now, here is my lo for last weeks 'my lifetime story challenge' challenge=D

It seriously took me forever to find good pictures of me when I was little=D

The journaling was originally written by a good friend of ours. It says, "A new day, A new year, A new life." I was born on Jan. 1st, so the morning I was born, our good friend took pictures of the sun rise and created a cool collage and included those words. =)

And yeah, I was a very fat baby. LOL! (But what baby isn't!)

I looove to rip and distress papers (now that I know exactly how to do it....thanks Rita=)

And, of course, I had to add a little brown in there=) I really do like to use and wear the color brown=D

That's it for today! Thanks so much for stoppin' by and hey! don't be shy! leave a comment! =)

Free iTunes anyone?

That's right! If you have itunes, and are a listener to k-love(or I guess i should say if you are a listener to "k-love type music" :)) you can download 10 amazing songs for FREE! Just stop by  http://inorecords.com/freemusicsampler/ and they'll tell you where to go from there! Oh, and BTW, just in case you're wondering...the artists include..
-Jonny Diaz
-Decyfer Down
-Disciple
-Mercy Me
-VOTA
-Phillips, Craig & Dean
-Derek Webb
-Addison Road
-Building 429
-and Todd Agnew
Awesome huh! But his offer is a limited time offer, so hurry by and check it out!


Ok, so I kind of at the last minute decided to do the "My Lifetime Story" challenge at Faithsisters.  So each Wednesday throughout the year of 2010,  they post a new challenge at faith sisters for you to do  in order for you to create your own "lifetime story" album. This is an album that you are creating about you and your family's history and heritage. You can read all about it here http://faith-sisters.blogspot.com/search/label/My%20Lifetime%20Story 
So...I wasn't sure if I was gonna do it or not. I mean, it really is a very detailed and complicated challenge, but after they posted the first challenge, I just said hey! Why not! I am only 15 (we'll see how for I go and get! LOL!) and I'm probably most definately the youngest one doing the challenge(LOL!) but I thought it would be fun to look back at my "lifetime story" album when I'm older (and have some laughs=)) Soooo....the first challenge was to create a collage LO about you from when you were a baby 'till now. This page will be the title page of your album. And this is what I came up with...

 Mmm-hmm...lots of pics=) And it didn't come out exactly how I wanted it to, but oh well=)

Of course, I had to include pics of me with members of my fam=)

Aren't those chipboard letters totally fabulous??? Luv em! One of my sisters found them on a 99-cent isle!

Thanks for comin by!

Beauty Divine

Happy Tuesday! I hope your 2nd week of 2010 is off to a great start! Me and 5 of my sibs headed back to school today and so our house is once again busy, busy, busy! But I did have time last night to put this LO together.

I traced and cut the letters out of cardstock and then I decked them out in Martha Stewert glitter. I then added little beads, flowers, or butterflys (which I stamped, cut out, and went over with acrylics) to make them look pretty! =)

I made the flowers and then went over the orange petals with a darker color of acrylic orange.

The title of this LO is from a song by Brandon Heath titled "Beauty Divine". I was listening to this song the other day and at one part Brandon sings "A little girl's smile, If it feels like a song, One that sings to you..." and I immediately thought of my little sis and her smile. When she smiles at me, it's as if she is singing to me. You can listen to 'Beauty Divine' here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWiReE8QVjE

I absolutely looove Brandon Heath and his music. When I listen to his music, I feel a connection with what he's singing. Every single one if his songs that I've listened to seems to explain how I feel and think at times. And he's so true to life...those are a few of the many reasons why Brandon Heath is one of my top fave artists! You can stop by and check him out here! http://www.brandonheath.net/  My other top fave artists include Kirk Franklin, Natalie Grant, Mandisa, & Hawk Nelson. So... now that you've had a little history on what kind of music and artists I like=) I wanna wish you a very happy 2010! And remember, KEEP WARM! =D ttyl! God bless! Heidi

Funny Face

Look at that face! It's so cute but at the same time so funny!

In these pictures, my lil bro('buster' is what we call him=) is doing something that he LOVES to do, and then something that he does NOT like doing. He absolutely loves eating donuts(who doesn't!). And then the picture of him in his carseat was taken by one of my sisters when he was in a good, funny mood(which rarely happens when he's in his carseat. I don't blame him!) lol

So.....how was your New Years Eve? And was your 1st day of 2010 an awesome one? Can you believe it's already 2010??? Time really does fly by way to quickly!!! =D   I DO hope you're starting this new year off by keeping warm! Because seriously, it's been snowing way too much here where I am! Which isn't unordinary for here. But still, the snow does get a little...tiring (i guess is the word) when it's continuous! LOL=)

Now, this is something I did using a sketch from 52 sketches.

 

Sorry, the pictures turned out bad, but at least you get to see the lo!

The journaling says:

You are just way too cute!

You are definately the princess in our

family, yet with 2 older brothers just

above you, you are definately adventurous

and know how to stick up for yourself!

Here's todays sketch. Have fun!!!

That's it for today! Have a wonderful and peace-filled new year and thanks for stoppin' by!