My Good Life

Always Remember...

2012-07-29T19:04:00.002-04:00

Just completed this mini-album kit "Always Remember" about my 4 year old cocker spaniel, Liberty who passed away 6 years ago. It's taken me quite awhile to bring myself to make an album of her but I have so many great photos and it needed to be done. I'm so happy with how it turned out and I know that scrapbooking her life will only get easier now that I've started. I purchased this kit from The Scrappy Gourmet and added some personal touches of my own. Thanks for checking it out!

To see all the pages go to my gallery.

Cutest Candy Jar Ever

2012-01-28T18:52:00.001-05:00

It's been awhile since I've posted. Sorry about that, the holidays caught up with me and then I just haven't had time...excuses, excuses, i know! But I do have some things coming up I've been wanting to share. One of them was a great idea I saw a few weeks ago at my sister-in-law's house. She had received the cutest handmade gift from her friend, Mary. A gumball machine candy jar! Not only is it adorable, but cheap to make too!

All you would need is a few items from the dollar store: a flower pot with detached base, a glass bowl (small like for a beta fish or candle), a wooden ball, ribbon and candy of your choice. You will also need red paint, which I'm not sure they have at the dollar store but you could probably get all these items and the paint at Wal-mart ;)

All you have to do is paint the flower pot, base and wooden ball. Using a glue gun or other strong adhesive, adhere the glass bowl to bottom of flower pot. Adhere the wooden ball to bottom of flower pot base to make jar lid. Tie ribbon around the bottom bowl. Add candy of your choice and enjoy!

How easy is that? My ladies at work might like this, since I always have candy for them on my desk. I will have to take a trip Wal-mart this week.

Tis better to give than 'register'???

2011-12-16T22:16:00.000-05:00

I was watching Good Morning America this morning and apparently a new popular trend this Christmas is people creating gift registries for their Christmas lists. Is this convenient or just more proof that people have become more spoiled and self serving? I don't know. Part of me thinks it's kind of convenient to use services like Amazon's Wish List where people can access and get ideas for stuff you like. It's harder and harder to buy the perfect gift and personally I want to buy things I KNOW they like. But on the other hand do these lists or registries take away from the spirit of the holiday? Are we as a society really so self-centered that we have to ensure we get good gifts for Christmas? Or is just a simple way for your loved ones to give you something you will enjoy?

I think mostly I just get thinking, "what happened to it's better to give than receive"? Nothing makes me happier than watching my family open their gifts and seeing how happy they are to receive something I got for them, whether it was on their list or not. Don't get me wrong, I have a wish list of things I'd like to get, most of us do. But if I don't get any of those things will my Christmas be ruined? No. Because ultimately the things I want for Christmas you can't find on any gift registry, anywhere...remembering the birth of Jesus, spending time with family, good food, laughter, the lights, the trees, the traditions, the love.

So I don't have an answer about whether these registries are right or wrong? I think it just depends on the motivation behind it, helpfulness...or selfishness. What do you think?

Book Review: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

2011-12-08T20:57:00.002-05:00

There’s always that one kid…the ‘weird’ one, the odd one, the one you can’t really put your finger on why they are different, they just…are. A lot of times we call them ‘loners’, but are they really loners or did we as a society make them…alone? Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is about this type of boy (Larry) and how his brief, friendship with a poor black boy (Silas) during the 1970’s when race was still very much an issue begins a chain of events that ends with Larry being accused of a teenage girl’s disappearance and possible murder. Twenty years later, with no body or evidence ever found, Larry is the town “monster”, the one who ‘got away’ with it. The strange boy who has become the strange man that no one should go near. In the meantime Larry lives a solitary, quiet, harmless existence seemingly stuck in his backwoods past, visiting his ailing mother, maintaining the ghost town of a mechanic shop that was his father’s and caring for his mother’s chickens (all named after First Ladies). And Silas is now the town Constable, sworn to uphold the law, while carrying around secrets of his own.

This book was a good read that I had a hard time putting down. Tom Franklin’s characters come alive and you find yourself engrossed in their past and present lives as each chapter switches between the two times. And you are eager to find out the secrets these characters carry. My favorite character is Angie, Silas’s EMT girlfriend. She isn’t a major character of the book but her actions, thoughts and insight set a lot of things in motion toward righting wrongs and her heart is bigger than Silas deserves. A quote that supports this and stuck with me through to the end was when Larry asks, “We were friends. Weren’t we Silas?” And Silas responds, “You were, Larry. I don’t know what I was.”

Sucker Punched

2011-12-07T22:09:00.001-05:00

Sucker Punched...yep that's how I feel when I come home from a nice night out with the girls, get comfy on the couch, Christmas tree lights are on, t.v. comes on and WHAMMY...I'm sucker punched by an ASPCA commercial! You know the ones I'm talking about. They start out telling you how tens of thousands of cats and dogs are abused every year and then proceed to SHOW you these pitiful creatures in cages, hospitals, shelters...GUT WRENCHING! I can't tell you how much I hate these commercials. And they always come on when I'm least expecting it on channels I wouldn't even think they'd be on...Bravo, Food Network, etc. As soon as I see the words or hear Sara McLaughlin singing "In the Arms of an Angel" it's like my world goes suddenly in slow motion and I make a dive for the remote, as I sing "lalalalalalalala" to drown out the sounds until I can change the channel to anything, ANYTHING but that commercial. And just a warning if you haven't seen these commercials, don't flip back to your channel for a good 5 minutes...they are loooonnnggg commercials.

Please ASPCA, please, please stop putting these commercials on t.v. I'm all for awareness, trust me I'm the biggest advocate of rescuing animals that I know. 2 of my 3 pets were rescued, so I'm all for it. But these commercials are painful, they are damaging to my psyche and I can't possibly be the only one.

Ok, my venting is done...I'm gonna go hug my furbabies now.

Bizarre Bazaar

2011-12-04T15:58:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I spent the day with some of the lovely ladies in my family at the 36th Annual Christmas Bizarre Bazaar in Richmond, VA. This is a trip the 8 of us look forward to every year! It's crowded beyond belief but oh so much fun. Last year, was crazy because it got so crowded the fire department actually came out and stopped letting people in for awhile until enough people left to allow more in. Thankfully this year that didn't happen.

There are hundreds of booths in 4 connected buildings selling everything from art, jewelry, home decor, furniture, knick knacks, holiday findings and much more! I was able to pick up some Christmas gifts as well as some goodies for myself: pretty necklace, 2 scarves and a Pouchee purse.

This was something I wanted specifically because my mom & aunt got them last year and I was jealous :) You can use it as a cute, casual purse or remove the strap and slide it down in your purse as an organizer. It has tons of pockets and places for cards so it helps eliminate a seperate wallet. My purse is actually much lighter with this pouchee inside!

Of course my bud Amy was with me! It's always fun spending time...and money together :) We are way too good at that!

So many whimisical things to look at.

Spending time with my cousin's wife, Elizabeth is a nice treat too! She and Amy tried hard to talk me into this hat:

But I wasn't feeling it...personally, I thought Elizabeth should have got this:

That girl looks adorable in anything!

If you are anywhere near the Richmond area you should check out this event. There is something for everyone and even if you don't find something to buy, you are guaranteed a good, festive time with whoever you are with. Nothing gets me in the holiday spirit like the Bizarre Bazaar!

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Whipped Icing

2011-11-28T22:39:00.000-05:00

I made Red Velvet Cupcakes recently. It was my sister in law's birthday and I thought she'd enjoy that they were not only delicious BUT lower fat, too. Who doesn't love a cupcake? They are so good and so cute! I only used a box cake mix this time and instead of oil, I substituted apple sauce (the same amount as they ask for with oil). You can't taste it when baked and it helps lower the fat content.

Check out this cute cupcake liners Amy gave me for my birthday...just my style!

One of the hardest things about cupcakes for me is getting the batter poured into the liners without making a mess. I got this great little orange bowl at a yard sale for 50 cents and it turned out to be perfect for pouring the batter.

Minimal mess! YAY! Now, it's time to go in the oven and wait...

Kirby was no help during the making of these cupcakes. Ya know, he really needs to be a more productive part of this household...nah, being cute is enough I guess!

What's that? You smell cupcakes? Thanks for your help Kirb, I'll go check on them...

Now, here's my trick for keeping cupcakes, cakes and cookies moist. Place them in a plastic container while still warm and cover them. It works everytime. Be sure to let them cool completely before adding the icing.

The icing is a recipe from a friend of mine. I'm not a big fan of heavy, sugary icing. I love whipped icing but it takes work to make it so that it stands up, like meringue. So this recipe is kind of a cross between the two. It's not too heavy or too sweet, stays creamy, is lower in fat, AND super easy.

Whipped Cream Cheese Icing: 1 cup sugar, 1 pkg. of light cream cheese, and 1 small container of light Cool Whip. I also added 1 tsp. of vanilla extract for added flavor. Just blend it all with a mixer and enjoy!

This is my 'go to' icing now. I've used on other cupcakes and on Pumpkin Bars. It's one you could experiment with too by adding different flavors. You could probably also use powdered sugar instead of regular sugar and make it even fluffier...I will have to try that next time. Give it a try on your favorite cupcakes soon!

Crazy, Stupid Love

2011-11-25T22:04:00.000-05:00

It's rare that a movie pleasantly surprises me. But Crazy, Stupid Love did just that tonight. I was expecting a normal, silly possibly vulgar Steve Carell movie but what I got instead was a great movie about true love, the concept of soulmates, the realities of love & marriage, and the struggle to reconcile who we truly are with who we think we should be. All this with just the right amount of humor mixed in and a small plot twist I didn't see coming. It didn't hurt that it also starred some great talent like Julianne Moore, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Salad in Jar

2011-11-22T22:11:00.000-05:00

Ok, I know I blog about food a lot...but let's face it, we eat everyday. We think about what we are going to eat everyday. A lot of times when I'm with a group eating we are talking about foods we like or foods we are going to have later. I'm one of those "live to eat" people, not an "eat to live" one. And like a lot of people I've struggled with my weight most of my life. Lunch during the week can be my biggest downfall. It's so easy to just go grab fast food instead of taking the time to shop for and pack my lunch everyday for work. If you know me, you know that I am habitually late for everything. I don't have time to get ready in the morning, so I sure don't have time to pack a lunch. Over the past 9 months or so I have been making an effort to eat better, exercise and bring my lunch to work which now usually consists of salads. In an effort to make packing a salad for lunch easier I came across this ingenious idea for Salad in a Jar!

All you do is take a large mason jar and layer your salad preferences, starting with the dressing and ending with your lettuce of choice. The instructions said that the most important thing was just to keep the lettuce and dressing from touching. It's okay that the onions are in the dressing, it actually makes them taste better because they've been marinating in it by the time you eat the salad. When you are ready to eat, just shake and pour the salad onto a plate and enjoy! Here is what I put in mine:

Oil & Vinegar (with salt & pepper)
Red Onions (chopped)
Handful of mushrooms
Feta Cheese pieces
Romaine & Red Cabbage mix
*Spinach works well in the jar too

I know from experience that lettuce lasts longer when stored in a glass bowl, so using a glass jar is what will help this great idea be timesaving too. You should be able to make several ahead of time and keep for up to 4 days in the fridge. In the morning just grab a jar and go! I've got mine for tomorrow and Friday ready!

I just LOVE ideas like this! I only wish I'd thought of it myself. Let me know if you guys have any other timesaving ideas for lunch or any other meal. I want to know about them! :)

Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

2011-11-19T20:14:00.000-05:00

I found this recipe about a year ago and it is YUMMO and super easy. I made a few personal changes like leaving out the peppers & bleu cheese. I also took a shortcut to save time by buying a rotisserie chicken already cooked from the grocery store. If you live near a Food Lion they have them ready to go ALL the time. The breast meat of the chicken was plenty for this recipe. I also used part skim ricotta and 2% cheeses to cut some of the calories ;) Here is what you need:

uncooked traditional lasagna noodle

breast meat from cooked rotisserie chicken

1 (28 ounce) jar of prepared pasta sauce

1 cup buffalo wing sauce

1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese

2 cups shredded cheese (mozzarella and cheddar blend)

1/4 cup water

Combine chopped chicken breast with spaghetti sauce and buffalo sauce.

Then spread a layer on the bottom of your crock pot. Layer a layer of uncooked lasagna noodles over the sauce (you will have to break the noodles for them to fit - don't worry about it being pretty). Then spread a layer of ricotta over the noodles (note: in the picture I hadn't added the whole layer of ricotta yet). Sprinkle a layer of shredded cheese over the ricotta. Then repeat the layers again starting with the sauce. I made 3 full layers. Add a 1/4 cup water to your spaghetti sauce jar and pour over the top of lasagna.

Cook on high for 3 1/2 - 4 hours. Turn off the pot and let it rest for about 20 minutes so it doesn't fall apart when serving. Scoop some out and enjoy!

*Ok, I admit this is not THE actual picture of my finished lasagna but it did look like this...we were so hungry that I forgot to take a picture of it on the plate :) I'll do better next time...

Heart's Desire...

2011-11-18T22:35:00.001-05:00

Today was a momentous day...a day I've been waiting for a long time...it was a day of expectations, anticipation and even a little fear that it wouldn't be what I hoped it to be...yes, you guessed it...TODAY I went to see Breaking Dawn: Part 1!!! And it was everything I dreamed it could be...

I'm an obsessed Twilight Fan! If you aren't a fan, I could never explain to you what Twilight means to me. It's so much more than a vampire/werewolf/human love triangle. I would never be able to explain how the stories speak to a part of my soul I never even knew about until I read them. And yes, Edward Cullen is very easy on the eyes, too (TEAM EDWARD!). I won't apologize, I'm not ashamed, I'm 38 years old and I have an Edward poster on the back of my bathroom door. I have a "Got Twilight?" decal on my car. I own 2 copies of all the books (hardback and paperback) AND all of them on my NOOK as well. I own all the movies. I have a Twilight and an Eclipse blanket. I even have a Twilight watch (gift from an awesome friend)! My office...yeah it's pretty much a shrine to Twilight. I could go on and on listing the Twilight stuff I have but I don't want you to be jealous so I will stop there, lol. But seriously, I know people think it's silly, or stupid, but all I can say is if there is something that makes you happy, and it doesn't hurt anyone...then enjoy it! Enjoy it as much as your little heart desires! Because THIS Twilight fan certainly will!

A Bounty of Bulletin Boards

2011-11-14T20:55:00.000-05:00

Part of my 'job' is decorating a small information board and the huge hallway bulletin board at my school. It can be very intimidating because I'm a bit of a perfectionist...now, don't take that to mean that I think I'm perfect or do things perfectly but if it's something I have to create or make I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to make it good. And did I mention that this board is huge? I think it's like 8 feet long or close to it. So, I try to come up with a board that can last several months, because once I get something up there I'm in NO hurry to do another one, lol.

I wanted to share a few that I've done over the past year. I tend to google ideas and then combine good things I see into one idea. I didn't know at the time I'd be blogging about them or I would have listed my resources here, sorry.

Last winter, I made a snow/snowflake themed board:

This was a fun board, I used scrap felt and fabric to make the hat and scarves for the penguin and snowman. And I stuffed the snowman for dimension:

*Please note that I did deck Mr. Penguin out with his own set of Uggs!

The next one got us through the spring:

I used Adobe Photoshop to color a set of books and then printed several and layered them along bottom of board. I used yarn for the flower stems just to give it some texture.

This was just a simple board by our front door for the summer. The grass gave it dimension and then I just used a sharpie to write the list of "Things to do this summer". With the larger board I tried to replicate a kit we ordered but ended up being out of stock. Using the streamers on the tails was my favorite part of this one.

For the fall I went against the usual season theme and decided I wanted owls..lotsa owls!

I want it to get us through the winter but with the holidays coming...I may have to add some santa hats to these little fellas. Wouldn't this guy be cute with one?

The Most Romantic Movie Ever

2011-11-11T22:06:00.000-05:00

Pride and Prejudice starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfayden is one of the most romantic movies ever! It was on t.v. tonite and once again I was sucked into watching it. Doesn't matter that it had already been on for an 45 minutes. I've seen this movie countless times and it still steals my heart.

Here are 5 *sigh-worthy scenes that always stick in my mind and when they are on I am engrossed:

The first time we get a true hint of Mr. Darcy's growing affection for Elizabeth when he unexpectedly takes her hand to help her into the carriage. She is shocked and then there is a shot of him flexing his hand at his side afterwards as if he can still feel her hand there...*sigh.

And when they dance together and in the scene everyone else disappears as the dancing continues, although they try to show such indifference for one another, the truth is that at that moment they only exist for one another...*sigh.

And then there is the scene where he reveals his love for her, although clumsily and rather rudely. She in turn tells him off:

Elizabeth Bennet: And those are the words of a gentleman. From the first moment I met you, your arrogance and conceit, your selfish disdain for the feelings of others made me realize that you were the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry. [they look at each other for a long time as though about to kiss]
Mr. Darcy: Forgive me, madam, for taking up so much of your time.

I love the way they film this scene, the camera angles are ingenius in capturing that oh so brief moment where they might kiss despite the anger they are expressing. This scene makes me hold my breath each time. I know they aren't going to kiss but everytime I watch it there is the hope or the anticipation that they might...*sigh.

And then of course when he has redeemed himself and she has come to see him in a new unprejudiced light, they meet in an open field amid a glorious sunrise and he proposes again...

Mr. Darcy: You must know... surely, you must know it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I'd scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.

nuf said...*sigh.

And the end when they are married and we finally get the briefest of innocent kisses before the shot goes abruptly black...I'm on the edge of my seat each and every time. It leaves me with such a sense of perfection and happiness and contentment. Perhaps that comes from being married to my own Mr. Darcy because I too wish never to be parted from him :) I wish everyone that kind of happiness.

Super Easy (Salsa) Chili

2011-11-09T21:26:00.000-05:00

Tonight I made chili and thought I'd share with you my quick & easy recipe. I start with a pound of lean ground beef and these other ingredients:

black beans, chili beans and a jar of salsa (mild, medium or hot based on preference)

chili powder, onion powder and red pepper flakes(optional)

Start by browning your ground beef in a pot. I recommend using a larger pot than the one I used. But it was new and cute and I wanted to use it. I managed to make the chili with minimal spillage! I like to add a little salt, pepper and onion powder to the meat. I also used 93% lean ground beef because it's better for you but also because it generates very little grease and you won't have to drain it.

Once the meat is cooked through, add your chili beans and drained black beans.

Now the part that makes this chili so easy is salsa! You don't have to add tomatoes or chop up onions that make you cry etc. It's all in the salsa! Add the bottle of salsa to the chili. Then add about 1/2 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. chili powder and red pepper flakes if desired. Be sure to taste and add more of the seasonings if needed. I always add extra pepper flakes because I want my chili to have a little kick. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

Enjoy over fritos or rice and add whatever condiments you like!

At this time, I want to give a shout out to my Rachel Ray Garbage Bowl. I love this thing! It's so convenient and handy. It helps keep all the trash in one spot, minimizes mess and drips because you don't leave empty cans or egg shells etc. on the counter. It just saves time and space when cooking. Sure you could grab any old bowl from your cabinet to use but having one designated as THE garbage bowl makes it more fun.

A Lesson...

2011-11-07T19:55:00.000-05:00

This is Rocky. This is Rocky sitting on top of my toilet next to a cute little (breakable) witch...

This is Rocky deciding to 'play' (aka 'kill') the witch while I'm taking his picture...Not sure what he had against her, maybe he didn't like sharing the spotlight with her!

This is what happens when I worry more about getting a cute pic of my cat instead of moving my fragile decor...any questions?

Egg in the Hole...aka Heaven on a Plate!

2011-11-06T13:39:00.000-05:00

If you know me, you know that I love all things the Pioneer Woman does. She is my food guru! I have loved every recipe that Amy & I have tried that she makes. Last weekend I made Egg in the Hole for the first time and my hubby & I fell in food love! This morning he requested it again...

Ingredients: bread, eggs, salt, pepper, butter/margarine

*NOTE: if you have an aversion to butter or are fearful of it's effects on your waistline then STOP READING NOW! However, if you can justify it by promising yourself that you will visit the gym later, as I often tell myself, then read on my friend..READ ON!

Using a biscuit cutter or just a small juice glass, cut out the center of your bread. Add 1 tbsp. of butter to a heated pan and let it melt. Add your bread and swirl it around to soak up that butter. Crack egg and add to hole. Sprinkle with salt & pepper. Add your little bread disc to pan and let it soak up some of the buttery deliciousness too. Cook until it's set enough to flip, but add another tbsp. of butter to pan and melt before flipping. And yes that does mean you use at least 2 tbsp. on each piece of bread. I told you to stop reading you butter haters! Now, let's continue. After you flip it, add more salt and pepper. The length of time you cook this will depend on how you like the yolk cooked in your eggs. I like them just a little runny so I cook mine about a minute and then flip again for a few seconds.

Heaven on a Plate...I'm not exaggerating! For more detailed instructions and more delicious recipes, check out my cooking hero The Pioneer Woman!

My 5 Favorite Products...right now

2011-11-03T21:00:00.000-04:00

1. The Nookcolor - I love the Barnes & Noble Nookcolor. I primarily use it at the gym while suffering, I mean working out on the elliptical. It helps pass the time quickly and I choose a good book that I only let myself read at the gym. It's great motivation!

2. Avon's Healthy Make-up Lip Cream in Merlot - I am a lip gloss junkie! I just can't resist a cute little tube of the stuff. But I'm often disappointed in the quality of once I get it. Not so with this Lip Cream. It's the perfect combo of lip gloss and lipstick. Easy to apply, goes on smooth like gloss but has the color of lip stick. Love it! and I got it cheap on ebay.

3. Everybody's Nuts Salt & Pepper Pistachios - I didn't even know I liked pistachios until earlier this year. I used to hate all nuts but over the years I've been acquiring a taste for them. But I had never tried a pistachio, now I can't get enough of them. And these salt & pepper ones are the best! Moral of the story: never be afraid to try new things...they might just be delicious! By the way, Costco and Sam's Club carries the large bags, so you get more for your money.

4. Beauticontrol Regeneration Overnight Retinol Recovery Serum - Let's face it acne is frustrating, and I try new products all the time hoping for the one that will finally work. I don't think there is any perfect product out there but this one is pretty darn close. I think it's the retinol that helps heal blemishes quickly and leaves my skin feeling smoother and softer. You can get this for a good price on ebay too!

5. E.L.F. (Eyes, Lips, Face) Studio Eye Shadow Palette - 144 colors...yes, that was 144 beautiful colors! If this palette doesn't have the color you want...well then you shouldn't wear it! haha! My husband gave this to me for my birthday. I don't know what it is about this box of colors but it makes me smile and the choices are limitless. Available at Target for only $15.

Book Review: The Fixer Upper

2011-11-02T22:03:00.000-04:00

One of the blogs I enjoy reading regularly is The Lettered Cottage, a blog primarily about diy interior design. Through this site I was pleasantly surprised to discover the author Mary Kay Andrews. So far, I find her books to be charming, fun, witty, easy reads. The latest one I finished is The Fixer Upper. The main character, Dempsey Jo Killebrew is a Washington lobbyist who suddenly finds herself jobless when her boss is involved in a scandal. Short on money and options she agrees to help 'fix up' an old Victorian mansion her father has inherited, to get it ready to sell. She finds herself in a small town where everyone not only knows your name but all your business as well. And when she arrives at 'the fixer upper' she finds it to be a rundown remnant of it's former self with a very irritable distant relative inhabiting it with no plans of leaving. Chaos ensues as Dempsey deals with this relative, the renovations, the attentions of a cute local lawyer and a charming older real estate agent all while the FBI is hot on her trail looking to blame her for the DC scandal. This book is a great, fun, fast read. It's not your typical mystery or romance novel because she also peppers it with diy renovations that make you want to go buy your own heat gun and start scraping old linoleum off the floor (just an example of one of the projects Dempsey undertakes). Even if interior design, home improvement, antiquing or the like aren't your thing, I promise that the characters and world Andrews draws us into will leave you with a smile.

Halloween Fun

2011-10-31T21:00:00.000-04:00

I love this time of year. The decorations, the weather, pumpkins, the colors and especially Halloween! I work at a child development center and I always look forward to seeing what the kids wear each year. This year we had ladybugs, princesses, a pirate, dogs, cats, vampires, a pink crayon, a dinosaur, the very hungry caterpillar and more...But even more fun is seeing what the 'grown ups' wear. We try to come up with something unique or funny but also kid friendly since we don't want to scare them or have inappropriate props. Believe me I'd love to deck myself out as a bloody, gross vampire or zombie but it would be a bit much for the kiddos, sooooo I settled on the opposite, Zombie Hunter:

You never know when a zombie might attack, so it's important to be prepared! My husband had too much fun outfitting me in this gear right down to the gas mask..because you know zombies stink and the mask would come in handy.

My boss (and good friend) Holly always comes up with the best pun costumes. This year she was "Dancing with the Stars". Isn't she lovely in her fancy dress and homemade stars?! We were both happy to have spent $0 on our costumes this year.

We also had Joy dressed as a Redneck Bride! This cracked me up. She put a lotof work into this one with her duct taped veil and antler bouquet! LOL!

And Molly was super cute as a cat with these crazy glasses!

I'm lucky to work with such a fun group of ladies.

And I'm already looking forward to what they

come up with next year!

Mini Album Preview

2011-10-29T18:44:00.002-04:00

So, Amy & I are still in the process of finishing up the new scraproom. I hope to have pictures soon of the finished 'piece of heaven'. We've been going through our stash and weeding out the things we know we'll never use. Fortunately, our local scrapbook store Picture to Page is hosting their first annual Lady's Day Out Extravaganza in a few weeks and we will have the opportunity to sell a lot of our stash. We reserved our table for the sale so if you're in the neighborhood on Nov. 19th...stop by!

In the meantime, I am anxious to get into our scraproom to finish the project I started before things got busy around here planning Amy's wedding and working on the room. Here's a little preview and I hope to share the finished product soon:

5 Quick Rituals for a Better Day

2011-10-26T15:39:00.000-04:00

Real Simple magazine had this interesting article on their site today "5 Quick Rituals for a Better Day". I found that I actually do some of these things. Let's see if you do:

1. Eat the same breakfast everyday...I am a creature of habit and will often get stuck on a food item and eat it regularly. My choice of breakfast in the morning is boiled eggs and toast. I taught my husband how to make the perfect egg and he spoils me now with boiled eggs ready for me in the morning. :) Apparently this ritual decreases stress. I thought I was just weird but it looks like being weird can be beneficial to having a better day!

2. Savor your coffee...don't just guzzle that morning brew, SAVOR it! Hold it in both hands, focus on it, relish it's essence, get zen(ee) with it, if you must. I don't drink coffee everyday but when I do I admit I savor it. It's almost an intimate moment between myself and that first sip, and if it's a Wawa Pumpkin Cappucino you may not want to be in the same room with us...TMI? I think not, not when it will help all of you have a better day!

3. Write an "IGNORE" list...so that's what that list is called when I write down I need to vacuum, dust, and clean out the car! Who knew I was actually doing one more thing to make me have a better day. I thought I was just being lazy :) But seriously, it's important to keep yourself distraction free from things not worth doing in order to have a better day. (Don't worry, I DO vacuum...sometimes.)

4. Turn off your mind for a few minutes...ok, DONE! This is soooo easy for me to do, several times a day even. Real Simple calls it "quieting your internal thoughts". To often we get caught up and stressed out by the internal dialogue in our heads. Take time to listen to music, play solitaire, or just zone out for a few minutes and tell your thoughts to take a hike so you can have a better day.

5. Really listen to the answer when you ask, "How are you?"...ooooh I am so guilty of not doing this. We say 'how are you' as an extension of 'hello' without really wanting to know the answer or assuming that everyone is ok. But I love what this article says, asking, “How are you?” with warmth and compassion can lift your spirits. Try it! I did today, and so far it's been....a better day!

Book based series

2011-10-24T21:38:00.000-04:00

If you haven't watched Rizzoli & Isles I highly recommend you do. I was pleasantly surprised by this series. I've always been a fan of Angie Harmon since her Law & Order days and knew that her playing a Boston homocide detective would fit her easily but when I realized that the medical examiner was played by Sasha Alexander, who I loved on NCIS, I knew I had to check it out.

What I didn't know for quite a while was that the show is based on a book series by Tess Gerritsen. So of course I had to check them out. And while there are certainly similarities between the show and the books, I'm finding that the books lack the charm and chemistry Rizzoli & Isles have on the show. BUT, I do recommend the books if you are a forensic junkie like myself. If on the other hand highly descriptive autopsies aren't your thing...well then stick to the tv show, you won't be disappointed.

*If you want to check out the Tess Gerritsen series, book #1 is The Surgeon.

The piece you'll love to pieces

2011-10-23T15:14:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't love Target? Have you seen the commercial with this sweet little bench?

Amy gave me this for my birthday and I just love it. She knows me so well. I've been into burlap lately ever since I saw these adorable curtains on The Old Painted Cottage.

My decor has evolved over the years and I now lean towards the antique and rustic. I'm also a big believer that black is the perfect compliment in any decor. It draws your eye and can help make a mix of patterns pop. Decorating is always a work in progress for me. On a limited budget as many of us are I'm always on the lookout for a good deal or a DIY. After seeing those curtains I had to give them a try for my den.

I made two sets for both my windows and while not perfect I was really pleased with the result and my bench made the perfect addition in front of the window...now if I could just get my cat, Rocky to stay off it, lol! He has been on it every single day since I got it. Apparently, it's 'the piece' HE 'loves to pieces too'.

BLOG HIJACKING!!!

2011-10-22T20:49:00.000-04:00

Well guys, I'm gonna try this one more time! For several reasons Amy & I have had a hard time keeping up with this blog so I'm hijacking it and making it MINE! Don't worry, she doesn't mind and will make appearances often in my posts. I hope to keep you guys informed about all the good times, good food, good books and more going on in my life and maybe even pass along a little inspiration along the way. Whether you are an old friend or new...WELCOME!!!

2011-04-27T21:00:00.000-04:00

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was a little hesitant about reading this book because I had heard it was about animal abuse, and while that is a part of it, it's more about perseverance, second chances, and relationships we form in the midst of bias & class assumptions. The story is told through flashbacks by Jacob as a "90 or 93" year old in a nursing home remembering his days in a 1930's circus. By far, Rosie the elephant is the star of this book, her spirit and human-like manner will leave you cheering for her. What I didn't like was the lack of development or depth in the love story. It happened too fast, too easy, more like lust than love. There is a short paragraph that summarizes them basically 'swapping' their life stories and I wanted more detail, more reasons for these two people to want to be together. Also, I wasn't crazy about how some chapters had Jacob, the narrator, as an old man in a nursing home. I understand it's purpose for the story and ending but I found it disruptive and he didn't seem like the same person he was remembering himself to be. But then again maybe that was the point...Water for Elephants is worth the read but I have a feeling the movie might be better for character development alone.

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