Have you seen this?!

This just makes me laugh.  I saw it in a magazine this weekend and tore it out to put on the fridge to make Brian laugh. 

Image credit:  Fresh Step.

It's still there and I laugh everytime I see it.  Isn't it hilarious?! ;)

That's all I have today...  Just had to share!

Amish Country

Finally getting around to finishing up these posts about my trip to Pennsylvania back in May/June!  So come join me on a quick tour around Amish Country!

Many of these pics were taken from our car as we were driving five miles an hour behind one of these:

They are everywhere!!  In fact, on the first day when we got back to my brother's house from Philadelphia, we turned onto main street in Akron (where my brother and sister-in-law were living at the time) and there was a buggy right in front of us. :)

It's so strange to see them everywhere... literally....

Alongside you....

Behind you....

And then you see these.... This one is a "tourist" attraction.  Can't blame them for wanting to make money from tourists I suppose, right?!

And my personal favorite.  The one with the car seat.  Safety first!  We even pulled over to get this picture.  Classy right?! ;)

And then, they have to park them somewhere right?

Welcome to Wal-Mart.  Yes.  Wal-Mart.   There's a barn.  For the Amish.  How does that work?  Really.... I mean don't the Amish people denounce all things modern like electricity?  But they'll go to Wal-Mart?!  Love it.

So aside from seeing Lancaster County countryside everyday... an interesting mix of Amish and modern... we went to the Amish farms.  Basically, you drive up to their house and they each sell different things.  Mostly jams, jellies, pies, whoopie pies.... some sell plants from their greenhouses.... others quilts from their basements.  I felt *slightly* guilty about taking their photos (it is against their beliefs), so I don't have many. 

Here is one of the roadside stands:

Isn't it quaint?  They had some yummy whoopie pies too!

And then there is the Amish Village...

I love this picture of my brother -- too funny!!  It's a gas powered washing machine.  No electricity, so they will use it.  The Amish also use a gas powered iron.  It just looks dangerous!

There were even buggies to climb in for pictures.  Great touristy trap!

I had a great time seeing Amish Country... it was picturesque.  All about the crafty stuff.  And the people were really nice!  I most enjoyed the quilt shop that I didn't get pictures of.  All the quilts are handmade.  Some are machine pieced now, but all are quilted by hand.  I can't wait to go back there and choose one for myself! 

In the meantime, here is one last picture of the countryside...

Hope you enjoyed this little peek at the Amish County in Lancaster County Pennsylvania!

My New Hobby...

I must admit, I'm hooked.  On making jam and canning food.  It's so much fun!!  I wanted to try using Brian's canning equipment ever since he started making jams, jellies and salsa.  Now it's my turn!!  So I started with Strawberry Jam:

Published on examiner.com on September 12, 2010.

The verdict?  Super easy!  I have made two batches so far.

Up next?  I'm not sure, but here are a few recipes on the list:

Apricot-Pineapple Preserves
Pizza Sauce
Salsa
Vanilla-Pecan Sauce
Mixed Berry Jam

And I'm searching for something apple to make... any suggestions?  Any favorite canning recipes I should add to the list?  Kim... you're the canning expert in my book... what do you think I am missing on my list?!  Well... aside from pickles.  I'm not a pickles kind of girl. ;)

And before I forget to share... two of my layouts that I did for Flamingo Scraps were featured on Ideas for Scrapbookers last Saturday... go check it out!!

I took this photo in Bennington, Vermont in October 2004 when we went to New England for a week!

I'm so happy that it is September.  My favorite season is finally here!  Beautiful leaves, halloween, the return of pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks, cooler weather... it's definitely the best time of the year in my book.  I recently discovered a new fall favorite... pumpkin spice Hershey Kisses!  Just like pumpkin pie.  Yum!

Been busy working, but I love what I'm doing so I totally welcome it!  Aside from that, I've been falling in and out of working out.... not good.  I've been averaging less than two times per week.  I'm recommitting this week.... my goal is one thing everyday.  Even if it's just a walk.   I love doing it, but I have a hard time getting up to get out there.  And I've gone back and forth over the last year with working out in the morning vs. the evening.  I like both... can't say I'd pick one over the other right now.  If you work out... what works for you?  What are you doing?  Right now, I'm just running and walking.  I think I need some motivation to try something different.... suggestions?

The story of my life...

I'm always running.  Literally and figuratively!!  It was about time I acknowledged it in the form of a scrapbook page.  Particularly given this hilarious photo captured by the photographer at my sister Katie's wedding (who was also our wedding photographer... and my brother's wedding photographer!!).

Published on examiner.com on September 5, 2010.

As my good friend Heather said to me last week... I'll soon be seeing myself coming and going!! Oh so true, but I must say I love my life, so it's totally worth it!! :)

Turning 30

So bear with me, this is going to be a little all over the place tonight!!  It's been a crazy week!! :)

So I did this layout I did for last week's Sketchy Thursday challenge:

Product info here:  Flamingo Scraps blog

And here's a close-up so you can see all the dimension:

Close to the sketch, but I ended up changing it quite a bit!  I was inspired by Jennifer's take on it -- totally wanted to something with one of our Disney trip pics from February.  Love how it turned out!

And here's the zucchini recipe I've been hinting about....

Photo Credit:  Amanda Bottoms

The day this recipe for Zucchini & Bacon Three Cheese Lasagna showed up in my Google Reader from Amanda's blog, I've been dying to make it... and I was not disappointed.   If you don't have zucchini on hand, go get some.  And some Fontina.  And some bacon.  It is DELICIOUS!!  And I have not used those little discs of mozzarella before, but I will totally use them again... yummy stuff!!

That's all for now I suppose.  Off to bed so I can get up early and run... I'm excited for the course we have mapped out and I hope I feel the same way when the alarm goes off at 5:45!! :)