Creative Nail Designs: Web Round-up

My web trolling has a new obsession:  nail designs.  I can never grow my nails long enough to accomodate much flashiness, but the designs that have caught my eye lately have spunk and personality.

You can have fun with holidays in simple ways that don't require much talent or control, like these awesome candy-corn halloween nails:

 

One of my favorite designs lately is this awesome breast cancer support ribbon.  Check out Cindy's site for some more fun ideas.

 

Magnetic Photo Puzzle

(Jane, John, Edna, & Rita)

My creativity lately has been focused on care packages, since my mom has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently facing radiation treatments.  Luckily she's expected to recover, but since I'm not near her, I've been trying to buoy her spirits with fun mail.  While I'm between shows, I have to be financially cautious, so I've been relying on groupon deals and other similar discount sites.  

Over the spring and summer I've sent my favorite teas, a quilt and bag in a breast cancer pattern, fun holiday stuff around July 4th, Omaha Steaks for my dad (the main caretaker), a cookie bouquet, some beading supplies (her current craft distraction) and a nice pearl necklace.

Today there's a deal for 50% off a magnetic photo puzzle.  I'm reprinting a picture of my mom with her living brothers and sisters that was taken at our family reunion this month.  It was the first reunion I was able to attend in about ten years!  I was so glad to see everyone.  Of 23 living first cousins (my generation), thirteen were in attendance. 

The KGB deal can be found here and the company, Heads Up Puzzles, has several options.  What other ideas for great care packages can you give me?

Baked Peach French Toast

I went through some cookbooks at  my Aunt Ann's, and while visiting my folks the one thing I got around to making was this Baked Peach French Toast.  The cream cheese in the recipe makes this dreamy deliciousness.  

The first few pictures are of the assembled casserole before baking.  As usual, I anticipated this so much that I forgot to take a picture before we dug in with gusto, so the only "after" photo I can offer is of the tiny corner which we couldn't touch once we had stuffed ourselves.

I made two 8x8 pans and froze one for later.  I doubled the sauce so each pan will be moist.  The recipe comes from the Carlinville Christmas Market 20th Anniversary Cookbook, 2009 in Carlinville, IL.