HapPY NeW YEAR!!

Happy New YEAR!

TODAY #FMSPHOTOADAY - I put my flowering rock into a jar...  pour in some vinegar ...   pretty sure I put in too much...  poured some out so that the rocks is not completely covered....   we shall see  =)

OK last year sucked it - TOTALLY.  Nope I am not gonna cover it in sugar and flowery BS!    sure I got by ok ( I always do, I am a scrapper) but I pretty much spent most of the year in funk wondering what the heck is wrong with me!?...  

well now I know and I am gonna suck it up and carry-on!

so I have BIG plans  =)

1) Well,  last year we got the house cleaned up, new carpeting and fresh paint and it largely remains sparsely decorated  -  this year I am going claim a spare bedroom to make myself a sewing/craft cave -   oh perhaps I should have considered that before I decided on chocolate carpeting in all the bedrooms...       oh, well I am sure thing will work out ok  =)

2)  Learn how to knit - pretty sure I had this on last years list  =?

3)  Acquaint myself with new people, like with people whom who don't just dump on their baggage and suck the life out of everything and everyone around them...   you know, people with backbones - unafraid to stand up for themselves and others!   or perhaps a a passionate or philosophical soul of sorts.... heck ya!

4)  Travel more, nothing big, a little weekend getaway to a place I have not yet been - yes  =)

5) Keep up the gluten free - it kinda sucks...  but, I do think feel better - maybe it is just a distraction...  anyway I wish I felt good, I wish I felt like I used it feel ?  I wish I could get up and go for a run..  I  must be grateful for today as I know things could turn for the worst at anytime...  there is no way to know, we just wait and watch -  deep down inside I know I will be OK - but will I be good  =/ I know it sounds like an enigma of sorts - it kind of is...  anyway, I am just not ready to share with the world...  

6) Make a New Year’s Eve 2014 date with my sister - leave the wet blanket Husbands at home!

7) Plant 13 new evergreen shrubs =  goal to create a year round privacy hedge along the road!   

8)  Make pshaw!  my favorite word of 2013

9)  Take my littlest Niece on a road-trip with me! roadtrip!!

10)  Ask myself, do I need this? where was it made?  do I love this? do I really need this?  before making a purchase..


11)  Get life insurance...

12)  Wake up when my alarm goes off... ugh, seriously?... seriously.


13)  Never decide to make number of resolutions match the year..   pshaw.. what was I thinking!?

"I used to know a clever toast, But pshaw! I cannot think of it -- So fill your glass to anything And, bless your souls, I'll drink to it!"  ~Wallace Irwin

on the wall... and whats happened since my last post =)

During a little trip to San Diego, California in 2000 -  hopped the border to do a little shopping Tijuana  Mexico --  I got this pretty colorful pretty fish =)   

November 30 - one the wall #FMSPHOTOADAY

SO... Thanksgiving has come - it was a lovely stress free day =D  

starters

the best in a long long time!  it was just me, the HB and My little sis came out with the family. 

We had plenty of appetizers - so no one had to cry 'I'm hungry"   crackers, salami, pepperoni, 5 kinds of cheese - cheddar bacon cheeseball, swiss, mild cheddar, colby jack and brie, black & green olives, sweet pickles... oh and the  cheese & caramel popcorn -  nom nom nom!!!

The table was set with (all made in the USA) festive paper tableware and a "tablecloth" made for coloring =) having no plates and glasses to was a joy for the dishwasher (my HB) 

A certain young man came bearing a football adorned in GB Packers attire - I adore him none the less.   

The boys went out for a bit to throw and kick the football around a little, while we girls chatted, snacked, sipped a little Barefoot Red Moscoto sparkling wine & browsed the black Friday sale ads - oh and we also did a bit of cooking  =)

We had Ham, Turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, green beans, corm, cranberry sauce, crescent rolls, cornbread & peach orange jello with marshmallows - everything was SO good!!!

I  am thankful for a lot of things -  food on the table, happiness on my heart, a comfy bed to sleep in, a good job, and not ever having to say President Romney  =D

Miss America 2012

After busting the doors <LOL> mostly we got great deals on Items we plan to donate =)  and a few little gift things - drank coffee and then tried to napped for like 3 hours <ha!>  we all went out for breakfast and then hit the Downtown for the annual lighten up festival...  we painted a ornament Christmas trees at the local "paint you own place" kinda a new tradition - this was our third year - can't wait to see how they turned out!  then we hopped from shop to shop to take part in all the festivities -   we meet Mrs. Santa Klaus and wrote letters to Santa, frosted & promptly ate cupcakes <yum> and made pine cone feeders for our birdie friends...  finally waited in like for like an hour to meet Ms. America - totally worth it, my niece was so thrilled!

Miss America 2022

Small Saturday we girls hit the local resale stores, a little holiday shop and a family run Christmas tree farm  -  among other fun things we picked up this pretty little dress - which we needed to play toddlers in tiaras!


other than that - I have been working one building a sweet Lego Police Spaceship - picked it up at Good will for only $3 ...  build most of it and found I am only missing a few pieces...  luckily the Lego website is awesome & I was able to find them all and order everything I need =)


started a diet last week - Dr's orders no wheat or refined sugar... ugh!!!  actually doing pretty good, eating more fruit...  been ok with the no wheat thing -  except what is in my beer =D   IDK, I guess I will have to try some of the gluten free beers... already lost 5lbs.

... adventure in soap "making" - happened this weekend

A few weeks ago I picked up a soap making kit at Goodwill - contained a book on actual soap making, a mold, glycerin melt soap and other soap making stuff for $2.99 and a 2 lb brick of coconut oil melt & pour soap for $1.99

The book that came with the kit is very good  thoroughly covers actual soap making - and clearly lets one know that is for the detail oriented, rule following type - which I am not but I DO like fancy soaps and getting a little crafty once in a while - so melt & pour is ideal for me - the book didn't have much on melt & pour - probably because it is so freaking easy!!!  you can read about it here ->  An introduction to Melt and Pour soapmaking.....   

I went a bit basic on my recipes & used what seemed like a good combination - here are some more involved & complex Recipes: Melt and Pour Soap to feed the creativity...  If you are wanting to make your soap therapeutic, as I did check this out  -> Medicinal Properties of Herbs   the book was helpful to - I recommend a book of you can find a good one second hand...  if you have any books on herbal remedies or natural cures - you might find ideas fro additives in there as well.  I was not able to find any particularly good & thorough websites on melt and pour - but I will be on the the lookout for a blog or 2 on the subject!

so with ideas in my mind, I gathered all the necessities  and started my makeshift double boiler.  I cut the soap into 1/2 - 1 inch chunks and melted it in my 'double boiler"  (a pot in a larger pot)   - -that's one more another thing to add to my wish list = small double boiler!

My first batch -  Soothing Lavender Oatmeal Rosemary.  I used about 4 oz of the creamy coconut oil melt & pour soap base, added about 1 teaspoon oatmeal, 1/2 teaspoon lavender flowers, a generous pinch of fresh rosemary - ground and add to melted soap - pour into mold. 

 * I do not recommend using oatmeal on you first try - maybe needs water added?   It took a bit more mix in it & it was kinda chunky..   not the prettiest soap - but i'm it smells lovely. 

**  If using your coffee grinder like I did - add about 1/4 cup instant white rice and grind it up to clean out the coffee residue  - this also allegedly sharpens the blades - IDK sure doesn't hurt)

#FMSPHOTOADAY "happened this weekend" 

Second batch - (soon to be famous) Coffee Cinnamon Clove Scrubby!! loosely based one this COFFEE SCRUBBY SOAP recipe...Nom nom nom  =)  again I used about 4 oz of creamy coconut oil melt & pour soap and took 2 tablespoons coffee beams, 7 cloves and a dash of cinnamon - grind and add to melted soap and pour into mold....    so pretty!  I can not wait to try this ...  and luckily I do not have to - another wonderful about melt & pour - no cure time needed  - that sure was $5 well spent =)

oh, my! something about cranberries just popped into my head... would it be wrong to add cranberry to soap and what about adding nuts to the cranberry sauce??? 

this happened today...

this happened today...  

... morning moon

LOVE it  =D

we finally picked out the years company holiday greeting card -  no one hated it - be a first!  It wasn't my favorite but I love the envelope (its the little things) it is really growing on me - 

it is so pretty don't you think =D 

looking back... photo a day

don't look back!!!  just run or the zombies will get you...

....don't worry zombies only eat brains.

photo a day... morning

morning #fmsphotoaday

2 eggs scrambled, a spot of milk, few dashes of parsley  a dash of ginger, a couple twists of fresh ground pepper, as dash of sea salt.. and a side of 2 thick cut strips of smoked bacon from Kenosha, WI... (...the hubby picked up some Bacon and 5 lbs of Smoked Beef Brats from The Brat Stop   on his way home from a job in Milwaukee - good stuff!!)

and a BIG cup of coffee - to which I added a generous amount  coffee vanilla liquor  (BTW, this makes a wonderful holiday gift & now is the time to make it!!)  and spot of cream - aaahhhh, a lovely way to begin the day!  =D

GOOD Morning

... made me smile today

Did my nails last night - for day 1 of Pumpkinfest - they glow in he dark   =D   SO MUCH fun!!! 
Also, made the first batch of pumpkin seeds....   garlicy...  nom nom nom  - they are going very fast!

Halloween Nails - Round 1 

...  jack-o-lantern pictures coming soon  =D

This Happened Today...

bronzed autumnal leaves fell as did the rain  =D

 

only freaking Tuesday...

It is only freaking Tuesday!?  

Only a day late…    

Where I stand…   

thanks for the reminder of how often I spill coffee and how infrequently, if ever the cleaning crew mops …ick.. I suppose that is a good thing – I’m sure that mop is about germ infested as the bottom of a dumpster…   yuck!!!                                                        but cute shoes - right?  =D

Lunchtime!   

I ate my ham & swiss on egg bread for morning bread...  

so lunchtime  I went out to take care of some errands - bank & nonperishable grocery shopping and snack drawer replenishment...   

second half of lunch - my free peanut butter cookie form Jason's Deli and a strawberry kiwi natural soda...  the a Special Dark Hershey bar...  that's for 4:00 pm  teatime  =D  

photo-a-day "UP"

UP in the vine...  hanging out (or hiding ?) 

This is Kaia one of my 7 crabbie babies.  Stevie the problem child has taken to picking on her the past few days...    yeah, she has moved into a magpie shell which seems to be their favorite, but Stevie is a bit larger and probably would not be a good fit fro him, but i think he is just a meanie...  .   he did the same thing to Kimmie and he eventually pulled her out I got her into a new shell quickly, and he went straight into solitary confinement...  he spent all of about 30 min in the shell he stole, before going back to his pink murex...  he got 30 days for that...   i think he is looking for a another 30 ...  brat.

photo a day

this just might be my happy place  =D

 

I just packed my lunch...  

...  I had a big steak for dinner last night, so I was thinking kinda light... 

homemade white bread made with garlic and love - which is kinda the same thing - right!?  some peach preserves, an apple and some pistachios.  

I AM a lucky girl - gonna be a good day  =D  

you, now (photo a day)

I built a time machine... out of a DeLorean...  this is me now, I i brought myself back here from 1980...  I don't know if I can get back... not sure I want to...  the future is COOL   =D     

Day 14: grass



Day 14: grass


… One day I hope to dedicate 10 ft of our property along the road/shrubby border to a grassy wild flower patch… just as soon as we get a few more evergreen shrubs in place and how much do you love the Fence?   Totally LOVE it!!!



Supermoon Birthday!!!

it is official I am 41!?  where o where did the time go!?yesterday I ran (errr...  jogged - something like a 17-18 minute mile) 1.5 miles and light upper-body circuit ( 8 repetitions on each machine) IK IK...  but it was the first time in over a year!?!  again... where does the time go!?  anyway, pretty pleased with myself - evidently not as in bad a shape as I suspected - feeling pretty good today! -  must be all the running up and down the stairs at work.  =) 
so, ok total slacker with the photo a day - perhaps, IF I had a camera phone I'd do better but I'm old school with the phone - and I love photo editing  =)  BTW I am lovin' picmonkey!  

May 1: Peace
I made this bracelet a few years ago in San Diego on one of my trips Pacific Beach - my home away from home -  oh how I miss you Pacific Beach - I LOVE you SO much!!!   =) 

earlier in the week I made these Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes - used boxed White Cake mix made it as directed and then  added the juice of half a lime (oh, yes, I got a HUGE bag of lime for $1 and have been adding lime to everything!) then filled the muffin cups and added a few sliced fresh strawberries & baked as directed on the box (maybe a minute or 2 longer) ...  they were VERY good plain or with a bit of whipped cream  =D 

Anyway, I  had a pretty  good birthday - the HB accompanied me to the local conservation groups annual native plant sale - I was kinda bummed, I missed the presale & they sold out of the 2 things I wanted most, but got about a dozen plants 1/2 for my shade garden and  1/2 for my prairie patch  (pictures shall be forth comming)  =)  OMG and they had a great selection of rain garden plants!!!   I have got to get the HB working on that - next year for sure!    they went out for a BFB (Big Effin Breakfast) and spent the rest of the day playing in the yard... picking myself some Lilly of the Valley flowers...  
(mmmm.. smells SO sweet =))

Lily of the Valley

 pulling weeds, staking the peonies and tending the veggie garden...  and strawberry patch  =)    cooked up some Baked Ziti  which is a lot  like lasagna but  instead of all the messing with layers you used  penne pasta  mixed everything together top with more cheese and bake  =)   while I was making it I saw an new birdie  visitor at the feeder...   so I snapped a photo of him - went right to my Audubon North American Bird Field Guide - He is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and and well well, today's photo a day theme is bird!?     2 out of 5 ain't bad =) 

Day 5: Bird
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

finally enjoying a cold bottle of Barefoot Brut Cuvee eating my Ziti and watch a little UFC fighting!!!  oh and gotta go see my Birthday Supermoon!!!

.. Tangerine Tango

... It is officially almost over...  google takes over tomorrow...   planning on trying out http://www.picmonkey.com/  and taking suggestions from the peanut gallery  =)

oh yeah, STILL sick  =/   the husband suggested I may have mono... or whooping cough.
tells me I should go to the doctor why I am feeling better and since I seem to be allergic to just about every antibiotic known to man...  well maybe not every, but not willing to take another chance for soemthing like this..

so...  I think maybe, I may have to give up on catching up on photo a day...   and let me tell you today "orange"  I went out with the ladies birthday lunch group...  and how often do you see an orange purse?! IK  never right? and I get In the company bus (technically a van, but whatever) and the are 2 ladies each with a rather fabulously cute orange handbags!?   evidently pantone color of the year is Tangerine Tango...   eh?  cute, bit not for me... kinda diggin' cockatoo and starfish ...   and BTW my bag is a Moss green B Makowski =)

Day 5: tiny

so.... here's all I got...

my "tiny" girl and "tiny" alien work friends.... I will put it down for Day 18: hair as well, bc/ is that hair not AWESOME?!  

and, oh my and is that outfit  totally tangerine!  ya 

yeah, yeah, you too you little glowing macarena dancing alien... 

Day 13: something you found

SWEET! a new addition to my Jimmy Johnson collection....

  

Day 16: flower

April Photo a Day 2, 3, 4....

Day 4 - Someone who makes you happy.. that's Cecil Crabgaitor his is a bit camera shy, he used to live an a shell made to look like an alligator, but he moved into these new diggs a few months ago     =)

Day 3 - mail
yeah!  no bills!!!  been waiting for that Purex sample for a long time....

Day 2 - colour
my "lucky" bamboo in thermal heat map style...  yup, more fun with picnik

"your reflection" (my reflection)

April Photo A Day
Day 1 - your reflection

my new toy = Sauce =D

Day 30 -Toy 

This is my new toy - NorPro  Food Master Food Strainer I picked it up at savers last week for $4.99 - still in original pakaging - never used good deal!   I wasn't  planning on using it until summer but since you mentioned it...  I went out and picked up 2 lbs of tomatoes, and went to work assembling and went straight to work... It did quite a nice job of crushing the tomatoes into sauce, which I seasoned with garlic (lots of garlic), dried onion, parsley, dried mushroom, a little basil, rosemary, salt and pepper...  oh and a few big swigs or wine - I used California "Chill Out" Red Table Wine, it is rather horrible drinking wine in my opinion, but adds wonderful flavor to red sauce - YUM!

... again with the salad - I am a bit obsessed with them at the moment I do declare!

My lunchroom associates admired my lunch so much today so I though perhaps the rest of the world may be almost as interested and spring greens are in season!

When I say "everyone" mean pretty much everyone you know there is always one.. Today it was one of the dudes who chimed in "ugh! I don't eat blue cheese, it is so fattening"   I thought to myself " ugh! shut up and eat your freaking Lean Cuisine!" now don't get me wrong I totally enjoy a Lean Cuisine now and again - enought to get myself a new  free lunch each year... but, because they are tasty and like no work to prepare!   Anyway, I let it go the age snippet of old wisdom out "moderation" and I did not even say a word when he went to  the crack... err, I  mean snack machine and returned with a bag of cheezits.... I mean those things are so fattening -  right!  LOL -  anyway we are bunch of charcters and have a good time a lunch mind you 90% of the conversation is about food and it is downright wonderful  =)

Here it is the latest & greatest of my salad creations...   Spring greens, cucumber, artichoke salad (artichoke hearts, pimento and olives marinaded in oil and seasoning)  blue cheese crumbles, my new fav "frazzled ham" (I made this fotunated discovery on "home" over there in the right column under "blogs I read" - pretty sure that is the one), balsamic vinaigrette, as well as some garden fresh garlic chives and sorrel....  yes, while the ham was cooling and you were not looking I strolled out to the garden to get them - its pure joy to be enjoying these thing in March!?


.. and lest not forget photo of the day!

Day 29 - Feet

... hella wicked mad salad making skills I have

I have come to realize it takes a minimum of 6 ingredients to make a GOOD salad!

my latest creation...  

• a big hand full of mixed spring greens
• a few slices of cucumber (technically I used non pickled pickles)
• a 3 or 4 green "salad olives" that what the jar said, basically olives marinated in oil & spice  ... perhaps a few more =)
• chunks of blue cheese
• a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing  
• frazzled ham (lunch meat type ham; cut in strips "julienned"& fried in a bit of olive oil)  ... yes, you have trust me its good!  

.... served with a hunk of cheesy garlic bread - SO good! 

might be the best one yet, but I am open to suggestions...  I mean, I pretty much always have some kind olives on hand; after all is a home a home with out olives in it?  I think not!  ...yet, I never considered it till my husband suggested I put a few salad olives on a <gasp> salad!?!   who would thunk it  =p


I should have taken a photo...   below is Photo a Day -  not my salad!

Day 28 - Trash

I suspect if I type good one more time, someone may hurl a thesaurus at my head… but I’m telling you its goo…  outstanding!