My Banana Bread Recipe

Hey all! Tonight I decided to NOT let my TEN very ripe bananas go to waste and I actually made 4 batches of banana bread. Now, I don't ever want to brag, but I really don't know of anyone who doesn't like my banana bread. ;) I am always getting compliments on it.

The recipe is really simple and so, so good! :)

The Ingredients:


1 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of margarine/butter; softened
2 eggs
1&1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3-4 medium)
1/3 cup of water
1&2/3 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
****Now as a special note I also add vanilla and cinnamon, but I don't measure them.****
Instructions:
- heat oven to 350*
- grease bottom of loaf pan(s)
- mix sugar and margarine/butter in a 2&1/2 quart bowl
- stir in eggs until blended
- add bananas and water
- stir in remaining ingredients
- pour into pan
- bake for 60-75 minutes (cooking times may vary depending what kind of loaf pan you use. a good rule of thumb is to bake until a toothpick that is inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out clean.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! :)

Trying to Figure It Out...........VLOGGING

Hey All..Long time - No blog! LOL! There have been a couple of reasons for that though. I have been busy with just life! I have been working at The Pita Pit, here in Great Falls now since last August. I still really love it there...my body is just not liking it as much.

I turned 35 in April and man, do I feel every year of it. I do attribute that a lot to my weight and the fact that I have not taken care of myself in years! I am thinking a vegetarian or vegan diet may be in the near future for me. The more I look at the positives and negatives, the more I am impressed with BOTH diets AND ways of life. I have been reading A LOT about organic and non-organic and I have to say non-organic is beginning to frighten me a lot. Not only am I worried about the effects some of this non-organic food will have on my children, but sometimes I feel my body is fighting me back for the years of abuse I have put it through.

I also have been enjoying my family. The four of us and of course, our pets.  Also, our extended family! It's sometimes just fun to sit back and watch the whole dynamic of how everyone interacts. I have had issues in the past with piddly things here and there and swore I wouldn't let certain things go, but in the end, it feels better to just enjoy everything and everyone. I am constantly reminded of how short life is. It is sad really. The people we stop talking to, the people we don't want to forgive, the things we waste energy on. Energy that can be spent on better things.

I am also reminded by some of my closest friends that sometimes it's a good idea to try to reach out and help others. I am hoping to do this soon.

My first priority though, is family. My family. Garth, Jon, Sasha, and out pets. I feel that if everyone within my four walls is taken care of then if I have the time and energy to spend on other things and other people then I should and will be able to start helping others.

Now, how to do that? Well, I am not sure. I am wanting to do so much. I am wanting to actually vlog..for many reasons actually. I would love to have something to document our daily lives and the fun and funny things that happen.

I actually started it today but I am not sure it's the vlog I want for our maiden voyage into VLOG WORLD. It's kinda scary to put yourself out there. I am a very out going girl, but I am always uncomfortable with worrying what other's might think. I do have my husband and kids on board for the VLOG. They said it might be fun.

With the vlog, I know it will be all over the place at first. I am thinking of just vlogging my expectations and what I want to share with everyone and what I will keep OUT OF VIEW. I know I want our dinners and bedtimes/rooms to be ours without people seeing those.

Another reason I would like to vlog is if something were to happen to myself or any of us..we will always have the vlog to look at and watch. Our voices, smiles, faces will be preserved for eternity on-line.

Now, online, does scare me. But I am going to try to take safe guards to make sure everything is as safe as if can be for all of us. :)

I have no pics to share at this time, but I have a lot to go through. I have NO LAYOUTS to share either. I haven't scrap booked for so long. :(  Hopefully that will all change. :)

Thanks for reading!

Follow Your Heart (originally journaled on January 17-2012)

Hey all! :) I know it has unbelievably long since I blogged. Believe it or not..it has been unbelievably long since I have created too. It was the last part of August when I last created something and to tell you the truth. I can't even remember what that was though.

I decided to subscribe to Unity Stamps, Stamp of the Week. I am NOT the type of girl to subscribe to ANYTHING!!! Seriously! :) But I have always loved Unity's style and their stamps, so I decided what the heck!! :) I have been a part of it for 3 weeks and I have not been disappointed yet. Week One was the set that captured me:

It's no secret that I had a fallout with a good friend last year in August and I had been attacked for something I had no control over. I have been able to move on and can't remember the fight or the hurt, but am starting to remember the goofiness and laughter we had sometimes in our relationship. It brings a smile instead of bitterness. But because she had been such a big part of my life and had a lot to do with the scrapbooking/paper crafting industry, I think I lost my desire to create.

Here is my 1-17-12 journal entry:
You know- I never realized how hard it would be to get back into my creative self. 
I have all the tools (almost) that a girl would need to satisfy the hunger of creating.
Where do I begin? I have so much going on in my head. Things I want to do. Things I need to do.
The stamp of the week for Unity Stamp Company spoke to me.  With some of the things I had to deal with the past year. I questioned myself......a lot.  I questioned my peace, my truth. You see, I got so used to pleasing everyone else and keeping my mouth shut with certain people until I just couldn't take it anymore. There was no peace  for me. I lost who I was by conforming to a lifestyle that seemed fitting at the time.
But it was a lifestyle that wasn't fitting for me.  I'm not a drinker-at all! I do like the occasional drink, but I don't like getting beyond messed up.  That was what I had become in a few short months.
I got to where I didn't love life like I did before certain friendships occurred. I resembled someone sad and lonely....someone not me!
But now, what do I do? Now that I got rid of the toxicity that seemingly stayed in my life a few months too long?
I don't want to craft.....I lost my love for it. But as I look at these 2 stamps that came in the mail.  They are calling me.
They want to be used and I want to use them.
I'm a bit rusty I feel...lol.
I guess now's as good a time as any to start my journey back to my creative spirit. :)

This is what I created:

It was what felt right at that moment and now I am trying to find a place to put it where I can constantly see it. :) Just in case I lose "ME" again. :)
Thanks Unity and thanks for reading! :)

Summertime...and the living is easy! (Colorful Creations Blog Challenge)

Hey all! :) I am so excited because I finally sat down and did a digi layout for the first time in a long time. :) I was kind of at a loss for a paper and a glue layout, so I opened up my PSE and sat down and really had a BLAST! :)

Colorful Creations, one of my design teams I am on, is an online group for scrapbookers and paper crafters. We are all pretty tight knit. We share our lives and our happiness and downfalls too with life. :) I like keeping in touch with the members and love all of my "sisters" on the DT. :)

We have a TON of challenges throughout the month and one of those challenges is a Blog Challenge. :) For our blog click: HERE!

For our group site click: HERE!

The blog challenge for this month is HERE and it was the reason why I did this layout. I have been wanting to scrap this picture and still may do a couple of other projects with it. :)

And being that the prompt for this month was "Summertime and the living is easy (we needed to use this on our layout)..I felt that this was the best picture for it. We also had to use flowers and stripes. :) So, this is what I came up with. :)

What I used: Rachel Dickson (Sassy Elements (4 petal flowers, brads, joy, brads), Paper Pack one and two, and Alpha), Kitschy Digitals (Fresh Blooms Kit-Fabric flowers (fuchsia and blue with pearl), and Mom 2 Moo ("lovely" and pink shiny flower.) Done in Photoshop Elements 7.

Thanks for looking! :)

My Lime Light Sister has some BLOG CANDY and a favor!

Hey all! :) As many of you know, I am on The Lime Light Design Team. This DT is one of the special ones to me because it allows me to make things from my heart and give them to people who need them for whatever reason. Lime Light is a charitable design team and every other month we have a "task" or project that we work on.

The "task" we have right now is to make cards (Birthday, Thinking of You, Miss You, etc) for our soldiers in Afghanistan so they can send them home to their families and loved ones.

Right now, my Lime Light Sister, Joanne is having a BLOG CANDY giveaway on her blog.

Click: HERE for her blog.

Here are the deets from her BLOG:

We are making cards of all kinds for soldiers in Afghanistan that they can send home to their families and friends; miss you, birthday, thinking of you, etc. Here is what to do if you would like to participate:


1. Become a follower of my blog if you aren't already (thanx!)
2. Follow this link to The Lime Light and become a follower there (thanx! again!)
3. Post the picture of my candy on your page along with the following link to my blog to spread the word! (http://bigislandlady.blogspot.com/2011/07/joannes-blog-candy.html)
4. Make a card (or as many as you would like!) for a soldier and please leave it BLANK inside

USE NO GLITTER ON YOUR CARD, Stickles may be used.

5. E-mail me at cardsforourtroops1133@hotmail.com and I will send you my address of where to send your card

ALL CARDS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 1st!!!!!

I will do a random drawing for the winner and you will win the goodies! So join in and HELP SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!

Here is what she is giving away!!! WHAT A HAUL! :)

So, get over there and start!!! :) Thanks so much! :)

Summer Pics, Blessings, and a Layout! :) (sorry about the novel)

This little girl.....makes my whole family wonder: "HE made another one?"

My parents know exactly what I am talking about! The mouth (shape and what comes out of it at times!! EEK!), curly hair (although it is blond), smiley eyes.....from the bed head when she gets up in the morning to the fact she doesn't like bedtime....SHE IS ME! Sometimes I am not sure how I feel about this. I thought  Jon was like me with his personality, but hands down....Sasha is the reincarnation of me. :) AND....I love it.
I tell myself this all the time....believe me, being a mom to ME is NOT fun (sorry Mom). When we were trying potty training a few weeks ago. We had this conversation:
Sasha: "Mama? Can I ride a HOR-SEE?" 
Me: "Uh, Sash, I am sorry, but only big girls can ride a horse. And you don't use the potty yet. You don't even try."
You could tell this really burned her britches! And she was not about to let that go...NO WAY...and to be frank...at 4...I wouldn't have either. :) So....
Sasha: "Well, I AM NOT using the potty! Sorry, YOU LOSE!"
Me: *****speechless*****
In fact, I called my mom who told my dad and he started to chuckle at the WHOLE thing! Really? Does no one support me in raising this little girl who has more attitude at 4 than most teens? LOL! :)
Nope....I - AM - TRULY - ON - MY - OWN! But, it's ok.....I have a secret weapon:

That would be my best friend! :) That little girl actually listens to him. She cares what he thinks....and when I am at my wits end with both kids...although Jon (my son) will tell you he does NOTHING to upset his sister! LOL! Which is NOT true! He thinks it's funny to upset her! ANYWAYS...when I am at my wits end....he swoops in like superman and takes over. He will get home from work and actually ASK: "What can I do?"
Before you think he is perfect....he is not without some imperfections....which some of my closest friends and his mom know! ;) BUT.....I think the way he is...totally scratches away whatever may annoy me! :) Besides...Like I said: He deals with literally TWO OF ME! And can still be a dad and a role model for this young man:

Which by the way.....WON'T let me take any pics of just him! 

Now, I can't do a post without a layout or something creative. So, here you go, but I had to write the whole thing because this layout made me think of so much! :) I am truly blessed. :)

What the journaling says: Your daddy and I talk all the time about if you really realize just how funny and beautiful you are! You are so carefree and your spirit is amazing! The light you always have in your eyes makes everyday BRIGHTER!

What I used: Bo Bunny (Patterned Paper), My Mind's Eye (matting paper all chipboard stickers except for the butterfly), ribbon and lace (stash), Heidi Swapp (chipboard butterfly). Photo Editing: PSE 7

Thanks for stopping! :)

Colorful Creations has some BLOG CANDY! :)

Hey all!!! :) OMG! A month or so has gone by??? That is so unacceptable! :( I am so sorry! Summer is supposed to be S-L-O-W, right? NOT! Well, at least not for me. :) I will talk more about that in a couple days, but.........as you all know....I am on the DT for Colorful Creations! :) I love these girls....they are quickly becoming like my on-line family. :) We even have some international sisters too now! :) And I thought Canada was as "International" as I would ever meet! ;) HA! ;) Hey, being from Montana, you almost always will have a Canadian friend. I have a Canadian best friend....I will talk about her later though. :)

Onto the BLOG CANDY from Colorful Creations and their blog! :)

They are giving away this:

Awesome, right???? And all you have to do is leave a comment over on THE COLORFUL CREATIONS BLOG (NOT HERE!!!!) and become a follower over there too. :)

Thanks and I will see you here in a couple days. :)