Cards for Charlie

Just look at this face. This darling four-year-old boy, Charlie, is suffering from a rare skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa (EB). We all have two layers of skin, which generally are not meant to move separately. In people who suffer from EB, the layers do move separately, and the friction causes painful blistering all over the skin. It's been compared to third degree burns. Charlie is being treated by doctors at the University of Minnesota, and he'll be having a new type of procedure done that will give him new, healthy skin.

I first read about Charlie on Britta Swiderski's blog. She's taken it upon herself to organize a card drive for Charlie and his family (who are staying at the Ronald McDonald House). Please take a moment to read their story, and then I hope you will join me in sending a card to brighten this little hero's day.

Here's the card I made for him...

And here are some details on the card drive...

What to send:
Cards made by you, your friends, your loved ones, or your children. They can be as simple as a sheet of paper with “We’re thinking about you in Arizona!” on it to as elaborate as you want it to be.
How to send them:
Put your cards in an envelope inside the one you mail, but don’t seal it, just in case the parents want to look at them beforehand. Send your cards to
      Britta Swiderski
      P.O. Box 13130
      Minneapolis, MN 55414
When to send them:
Try to get them in the mail by Monday, February 21st, 2011. That gives you a full month to get your card (or cards!) ready!

For more details, please visit Britta's blog.

This story just breaks my heart, and I know that any of you with special kiddos in your life will feel the same way. Look around at all your blessings, and I hope you will be inspired. Your caring participation in this card drive will make a very sick little boy very happy!

k-i-s-s-i-n-g

:)

Here it is, folks - the first Valentine of 2011! Made using We R Memory Keepers' Be My Valentine collection. It's totes adorbs, if I may say that - LOL! I love We R Memory Keepers tiny stamp sets. They're $1.25 at my LSS and they are SO worth it. I love the color palette and the mix of patterns. There are lots of hearts, but it's definitely versatile enough to use for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, etc.

The inspiration for this card came from two awesome sources - Kristina Werner's recent Finally Friday card, and the first installment in an awesome new Two Peas video series called Products You Love Every Which Way. Can't wait to see what else Shannon Tidwell comes up with!

P.S. My photos are definitely getting better since my new camera (Oh yeah! I never told you about my new camera, did I?) but I'm still learning and my house is very dimly lit. I'll get there... I hope! :)

Did you do anything fun this weekend?

{comfort} food

Helllloooooo blog land! WOW, I've been gone for a while, huh? Not sure why, but I got really burned out after the two craft fairs I did in November and early December, and I just lost all my inspiration. I've got two cards to share soon that I made with some of the new Hero Arts goodies (love them!), but for today, a little something different.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

(adapted from Gina's Weight Watcher's Recipes)

1/4 cup flour

2 cups chicken stock

4 cups milk

a few celery stalks, chopped

1/2 medium chopped onion

garlic

1 pkg (8 oz) sliced baby portabella mushrooms

frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, green beans, corn)

2 potatoes, peeled and cubed small

2-3 chicken breast, dice

1/2 tsp poultry seasoning

salt and pepper

In a large soup pot, saute onions and celery over medium-low heat until translucent. Add 2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped or grated, and mushrooms. Saute for another 3-5 minutes. Stir in poultry seasoning. Add about 2/3 of the bag of frozen veggies (or however much you like) and the diced chicken. Add milk, and 1 1/2 cups of the chicken stock. Bring to a boil slowly over medium heat. Add potatoes and simmer until tender, 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the flour and remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock until thoroughly combined. When potatoes are tender, add flour mixture to soup and cook another 5 minutes, or until soup is thickened.

We made this soup for the first time tonight - it was so yummy! Perfect for cold winter nights - and a very healthy choice too for the post-holiday detox! :) The website I adapted the recipe from (and I didn't change much) puts it at 3 points for a 1 cup serving. That's pretty awesome in my book!