Going Away Present for YOU!

Ok, just one last post before packing the computer tomorrow! I wanted to get this up before moving because, well, you need it before February! I make desktops for my own computer every month, so I thought, why not share one with you! The resolution of your screen should be set to 1024x768 for this to look right...if anyone out there would like to see a different popular size in the future, let me know!
I hope you like the freebie! I can't wait to see you in February and start writing about our new adventure in Pennsylvania!

Download HERE

Credits: thanks to the designers...their products make scrapping so much fun!
Corina Nielson, Amanda Bottoms, Three Paper Peonies, Lily Designs,
Misty Cato, Shabby Princess Designs, and Liv's Lovelies

Please Excuse My Dust!

It's official...this time next week, this South Carolina girl will be living in Pennsylvania! Yes, you heard that right. My husband Rob and I are headed to Pennsylvania! A lot of people have been shocked to hear it. True, I am a Southern girl, but I think I can make it up north! I am looking at it as adventure! We're moving for school, but I feel like it's much more than that. This will be the farthest I have ever lived from my family and friends. Everything will be brand new, right down to the weather, and I can't wait! I am looking forward to the experience, if for no other reason than the photography opportunities! Rob had a pretty good laugh at my expense already. A friend of his left him a message on Facebook to bring his boots and snow brush, and I had to ask what a snow brush was. He couldn't stop laughing! He may have been living here in the south for a long time, but it never occurred to him that I wouldn't know what that was. I guess there will be a lot of those moments in the near future!

Of course, all this means I'll be away from the computer while we move...no laptop unfortunately! As soon as our PC is up and running again, I can't wait to flood this blog with new pictures and stories of my new journey. I'm sure I will have a lot of things to scrap, so I hope to begin sharing my work soon too! Thank you all for reading my little corner of the web...look forward to seeing you soon!

Remembering...

I never intended this blog to be anything but happy, but today I find myself needing to share sad news. I had a dear friend pass away this week. It really made me realize how precious life is. I always stop to think about that, especially after my mom passed in 2005, but this week it was brought front and center again. Life is a fragile thing...


My friend David was a vibrant, hilarious, loving person and he will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was the life of the party...the guy you could always count on to have a big hug and a charming smile waiting for you. David was a bright and shining light that went out far too soon, and for far too painful a reason.


Without elabarating too much, just let me say that depression is a tough burden to bare and, even if you feel like you are all alone in this world, there are people that love you. I remind myself daily...nothing in life is as important and remembering that fact.


So, just remember to stop now and again and tell the people that you care about that you love and cherish them. Never let a moment pass by if there is something you need to say to someone, because you might not get the chance again. Take more notice of those around you. You never know who might need a friend to listen, or a shoulder to lean on; and if you need a shoulder, never hesitate to say so. Relish every moment you have with your family and friends because it is the memories you make now that will help you through tough times later on.

Snow!

Though the forecasters around here got everyone in a tizzy about the possibility of snow, we never even saw any rain...let alone a flake or two! I was a little disappointed...but not surprised. I mean, the last time this part of South Carolina got any accumulation of snow, I was too young to really remember it! I do have fond memories of the very few "snow days" in my life. My junior year in high school, there were enough flurries for school to be canceled, so I took my brand new film camera and drove around town taking "snow shots." It was basically normal shots...with white spots. I sure do like looking back at those from time to time though!

Last October, my husband Rob and I spent our first anniversary in Pennsylvania. Even though it was early October, there were a few days of flurries that were determined to stick, but never quite held on. The best snow pictures I shot by far were last January, in my home town of Jackson, SC. We were down visiting my grandmother, and while chatting over hot chocolate, Rob tapped me gently and just said, "Sweetie, look out the window." It was beautiful! Of course nothing was sticking, but the flakes were plentiful. They were like little dancers, gracefully spiraling through the air. It was the only time I can remember seeing South Carolina snow that I would call peaceful. Most of our snow comes with ice storms. I grabbed my camera and ran outside and spent at least two hours practicing macro shots. I love the memories of that day...the snow was steady all day, and even though it didn't stick, we enjoyed it just the same.

So, a few days ago when we didn't get the snow the news was calling for, I went back to my pictures to relive my 2009 snow day. I thought I'd share some of those shots here...in case some of you missed out too.

All of my images are copyrighted. Please do not use with out
my written permission. Thank you!

This story board was made with help from the
products over at one of my favorite blogs
CoffeeShop!

First Recipe...Perfect Peach Cobbler!

The excitement of starting this blog has kept me thinking about what I should share first. I love digital scrapbooking, and I love baking, so it only seemed natural to share a hybrid of the two!

Who wouldn't love a more colorful cookbook? I know I would! I saw a scrap challenge over the holidays that called for a "virtual recipe exchange." The participants made printable 4x6 recipe cards to share! I adored this idea, so I decided to alter it a bit to fit my blog. I'd like to share recipe cards with you, so from time to time, I will post a recipe with a 4x6 recipe card to download and print...FREE! I'm not promising every recipe will include a card, but I will try!

My first offering is one of my favorites...Peach Cobbler! I've had a lot of luck with this recipe. It has never failed, even though I get the ingredients a little off here and there sometimes. I also thought it was fitting as my first recipe because it has pancake mix in it! Now, because this recipe calls for fruit filling, I am including a homemade recipe for that as well. Though it calls for peaches, you could use any fresh (or canned) fruit, or even bypass the homemade recipe completely and use canned filling if you are pinched for time! It's especially good with fresh berries!

Don't forget to scroll down for your free recipe cards!!

Perfect Peach Cobbler

3 cups peach filling (homemade or canned)
1 1/4 cups Bisquick Pancake box mix
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted (butter, no substitutes!)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place fruit in a lightly greased baking dish and set aside. In a large bowl, combine Bisquick, sugar, and egg and mix until all dry ingredients are moist but lumpy. Spread this mixture evenly over your fruit. Drizzle melted butter evenly over the batter, and bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until fruit begins to bubble around the edges.

Fruit Filling

3 cups fresh fruit of choice (canned sliced peaches in their own juice work nicely too)
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 Tbsp corn starch with 1/2 cup cool water

In a large sauce pan, cook fruit and 3/4 cup water on medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix sugar, corn starch, and cool water. Spoon hot fruit mixture a little at the time into the corn starch mixture. When combined, return to the sauce pan and return to medium-high heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Cool completely.
(This is not only a filling, but can be served over ice cream or swirled into cakes!)

Now for your recipe cards! Follow the links to download, then
print them for your recipe box!

thanks to the designers whose products I used to create these cards: Katie Pertiet, Studio Mgl, Studio Tangie, Font Garden, Sweet Blossom Designs by Sara, Wimpychompers, After 5 Designs, Pineapple Planation, Shabby Princess, and Keri Scheuller!

Peach Cobbler Card
Fruit Filler Card

Welcome to Polka Dot Pancakes!

New Year, new adventure...welcome to Polka Dot Pancakes! For my official first post, I'd like to first say, thank you for stopping by! Second, I should probably explain the who, what, where, and why of it all. A lot of that is already in my profile, but to sum it up, I'm just a simple girl figuring out life. I thought a blog would be a great way to share of myself, make new friends, and put myself out there.

Food has always been a big part of my family, so I thought I'd start there. I consider myself a little quirky, so I wanted a quirky name. While brainstorming, I just wrote down words that reminded me of things I like. I had a long list, but after much thought, I settled on Polka Dot Pancakes! Why? Well, Rob made me pancakes that morning, and I love polka dots, that's why!

I want this blog to be a positive, creative, quirky place for sharing my love of scrapbooking, cooking, photography, and anything else I happen to want to share. I am so glad that you decided to join me, and I thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings!

Coming Soon!

I'm so excited about starting this journey! I'm still in the prep stages, so bare with me and I'll be up and running soon! Thank you for stopping by!