Amazing Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Warning: This recipe is semi-homemade!  If you are a strictly "scratch" baker stop reading now! : )

I have a secret to share...I rarely bake from scratch!  Actually, I rarely bake at all unless it is around the holidays, but recently something has gotten into me and I want to bake.  The other day I was craving lemon, so I grabbed this in passing while I was at the market.  This recipe starts with a box of Krusteaz Lemon Bars Supreme Mix, with the variation of the recipe right on the back of the box.  Since they are getting rave reviews from my family tonight I figured I would share the recipe here with you. 

More March Family Snapshots

Love getting the chance to grab some photos of my kids.  No fancy setup, just pictures around the house of us in our daily routines.  Then just a few minutes of editing and I end up with family photos I love.

Matt took this one of Maggie and I the other afternoon.  I love how it captures her happy smile.  I can't get enough of that chubby face!  So cute, drool and all.

School Day in the Life of a 2nd Grader

I took these photos of Josiah a few months ago, highlighting a bit of our after school routine during the week.  This year his homework is pretty easy so he tends to whip right through it, but I managed to get a few shots of home practicing his writing and comprehension. 

I loved getting the chance to play with some of the goodies I ordered a while back.  Finally!  Love getting the chance to create, even if it's just here and there.

Love My Lego Guy

This weekend I was lucky enough to get the chance to spend a little time getting creative and playing with some photos that I'd had waiting for me for a while. I ordered some new goodies a while back as well and was happy I finally got the chance to play with them.

This layout highlights a little bit about Josiah's love of Lego's and Star Wars, sporting his fav shirt of the moment that features both. I love how I managed to capture his smile even though he was trying his best not too grin!

Around Here Lately

Around here lately we have been enjoying our spring break at home together.  Settling into the routine of life with a new little one in the house.  Baby toys everywhere!  Small square footage, lots of love to fill up our little home.  Love this photo above of 'Siah peeking behind Maggie while she plays. 

Baby Love

Been working on this addition to Maggie's baby album and finally finished it up.  I tried out more of the misting and really loved how it turned out!  I had fun embellishing here and there with some of Making Memories new line Je t'Adore.  I love these photos of my Maggie and really could kiss on that squishy face all day!  Here's a few close ups:

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

I made these cookies yesterday evening for dessert.  Initially I'd planned to make sugar cookies, but found myself out of eggs and in a pinch, so these came to mind.  This recipe is kind of nostalgic for me.  I can remember my mom making these growing up, and making them with my sisters as a teenager, and now I'm making them for my kids and they just love them.  So I thought I'd share the recipe with you. : )

Last Summer

Finding a little time after the babe goes to sleep to edit some photos and try to organize a few creative projects. Thought I'd share these photos I took of Josiah last summer on a Sunday evening in August.

Hello Baby



All is takes is a little creative therapy to bring some lightness to the week, and today I was lucky enough to find a little time to just that.  Lately when I've gotten the chance to scrapbook (read: not very often!) I've enjoyed playing with different scrapbook styles and trying out new techniques.

One Little Word 2011

It's hard to believe it, but 2010 is behind us and we are already stepping into a new year.  Where did that last year go??  So much happened in my life, and yet the year seemed to just slip by.  It really reminds me to make the most of each day, because they are gone so quickly.  Definitely some motivating thoughts I need to keep in mind!

December Daily 2010 | Closing The Covers

The end of December is here and I am finally putting the finishing touches on my album, and getting ready to put it away until the holidays next year.  This was my first year doing this project, so I wasn't really sure what to expect, or even if I'd be able to finish!  In the end it definitely kept me busy, but I'm really glad I was able to take the time and make this album.  I know my kids and I will enjoy pulling it out at the beginning of the next holiday season and looking back over these memories!

December Daily 2010 | Days Twenty-Four and Twenty-Five

DAY TWENTY-FOUR

Christmas eve is finally here!  For today's page I shared this photo of Matt and the kids snuggling up and reading on the couch (pictured above). 

December Daily 2010 | Days Twenty-One, Twenty-Two, and Twenty-Three

DAY TWENTY-ONE (pictured above)

I so enjoy reading the kids' letters to Santa each year.  This year before they were mailed off I scanned a copy of each and tucked them into these envelopes for Day Twenty-One.  I added the days' number using the Advent Calendar Rub Ons by Making Memories.  It's been so fun using these rub ons with this album...three sheets for something like five bucks...totally worth it.

December Daily 2010 | Days Nineteen and Twenty

DAY NINETEEN (pictured above)

Today's page was another one of the pocket pages in this album.  I added the numbers to the tag using the Making Memories Advent Calendar Rub Ons, and slipped a few things from the past week inside.  A few images from the Christmas cards the kids made for their classmates, some "good for" tickets from Katie (one is to Maggie, good for 'holding you', and the other is to me, good for a hug).  I loved those!  I also included a thumbnail print of some photos from our trip to the Festival of Lights:

December Daily 2010 | Day Eighteen

Hard to believe that Christmas is almost here and December is almost over!  It's been a very busy last week, but thankfully I've managed to find a little time to try and do some catch up on this project.  My album has grown and I am loving it!  I love that I've captured so many memories about this past month that I think otherwise I just wouldn't remember if I hadn't.