Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Sept 24-Sept 30

Sept 24 ~ Write a review of a recently released book or movie.  I have kids.  I don't see new movies unless they are kids stuff or on HBO.  As for books, I like older stuff.  The last movie that I saw in the theater was Minions.  I wasn't impressed.  This is just me though.  Last book that I finished was The Hobbit (published in 1937).  I loved it so much I'm now reading Lord of the Rings (1954-1955). 

Sept 25 ~ Take a cue from Post Secret and share something you've been keeping quiet about.  There is nothing in my life that I've been keeping quiet about.  I get up each morning, get my kids out the door, sometimes go to work, come home, run kids places, eat supper, go to bed and do it all again the next day.

Sept 26 ~ Share a few fall date night ideas.  I haven't a clue.  Maybe walk through the leaves and kick them up?  I haven't had a real fall in a couple of years now.  I've almost forgotten about the joys of fall.  Maybe go to a local high school football game and drink hot cider. 

Sept 27 ~ Do a little online shopping and share your favorite finds.  I'm seriously not the person for this.  I like shopping at the thrift store for stuff.  I do like some new stuff too, but I'm picky.  My house is lived in.  It doesn't look like a magazine article, nor will it ever.

Sept 28 ~ Create a fall cleaning checklist (and share your best cleaning tips and tricks) ~ drain your hose, chop down plants when dead, and gather your stuff up (ie chairs, grill, ect) and put it away before it gets cold.  If you can get away with it, put your Christmas lights up early so you aren't doing it when it's really cold out.

Sept 29 ~ Share a beginner's sewing tutorial ~ so not going to happen.  I am horrible at sewing.  I tried using my sewing machine 15 years ago, and it ate the thread.  I haven't tried to use it since then.

Sept 30 ~ Share some tips for selling your handmade products at a craft fair ~ I don't sell stuff since I'm not that crafty.  My big thing is keep stuff reasonably price....or at least know your customers. 

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Sept 17- Sept 23

Just trying to get caught up more.
Sept 17th ~ What is one thing you've always wanted to learn how to do?
        I think that tatting would be fun to learn if I could sit still long enough or pillow/bobbin lace would be cool too.   Both are a dying art form that are beautiful.

Sept 18th ~ Share 3 different ways to cook squash, potatoes, or another type of fall produce.
         I've always done squash in the oven ~ wash, poke holes, place on cookie sheet and bake for an hour or until soft.  Then slice open let cool some, scrape out seeds (toss them) and scrape out the flesh, mix with brown sugar and butter and eat.  Potatoes can be baked, fried (parbake them then slice and fry in butter), mashed, ect.  We aren't big potato eaters.  Carrots can be baked/boiled.  We like them candied (melt butter in pan and add sliced carrots (already baked) and sprinkle in brown sugar.  Cook until hot).

Sept 19th ~ Show us how to transition an outfit from summer to fall.
        Add a sweater, leggings, boots, ect.  Think layers.  I'm not the fashion person here.  Layers are always good in my book though.

Sept 20th ~ This one is about running a small business which I don't do.  I seriously don't have the brain power, energy or the creativeness to do so.  I'm just happy to get through each day without forgetting a kid or activity or anything else.

Sept 21st ~ Tell us about a new blog you recently discovered
         I haven't found a new one lately.  Any that I should be looking at?  Something that would help my creative juices to come back home?

Sept 22nd ~ No words ~ Draw something and show it off.
      Sorry, this one doesn't work either.  See the above post.  My creative juices have taken off and are on vacation.  If you find them, please return them.

Sept 23rd ~ What do you use notebooks for:
        Right now they are used to take notes when I go to meetings.  They are helping to get track of our popcorn funds right now from booth sales.  I have multiply ones around the house being used for different things.  Soon I'll be using one to track what I've gotten for my kids for Christmas just so I don't over buy and so they all get equal amounts.  Plus it tracks what I've gotten for everyone else too.

Sept 11 - Sept 16

So, life has a habit of getting in the way.  I'm going to try to catch up now though.

Sept 11 ~ Capture the changing season with a photos.
               Well, I would love to do that, but that doesn't work here in Southern Arizona.  We still have at least a month before we can even think about the leaves turning.  About the only thing fall going on here is the bugs trying to get inside to stay warm for winter since the temps are starting to get cooler (low 80's during the day).

Sept 12 ~ Share a list of free activities in your area
               I would love to do this too, but again, it just doesn't work, plus I don't want to pinpoint exactly where I live.  The closest apple orchard/pick your own pumpkin/corn maze is over an hour away.  Most everything else around here cost money.

Sept 13 ~ What music have you been listening to lately
                For my birthday, DH got me a year subscription to Sirius radio.  It's wonderful to have since we have a country station, older music station or Mexican stations (yes, I'm that close to the border).  I mainly listen to the country, metal (Ozzy's Boneyard), 80's or 90's. 

Sept 14 ~ Share a DIY tutorial for a cozy fall craft
                This is not me.  Right now I'm not crafty at all.  My form of DIY is go to store and buy it and be done.

Sept 15 ~ What books do you want to read before the year is over?
               This is a hard one for me.  I'm currently reading Lord of the Rings.  I'm still on the first book of the first book (those who have read it will understand).  I'm planning on ready Magnus Chase when it comes out in a couple of weeks though so my daughter can then steal my copy of it.

Sept 16 ~ Share a recipe using lost of fresh fall produce from the farmer's market
            Ah, I'm not the greatest at this either right now.  Probably my most favorite thing is just a veggie bake in the oven.  Chop up cabbage, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, and whatever other veggies you have (I like parsnips).  Place in 9x13 cake pan (you need the sides) and sprinkle with Molly McButter and what other seasonings you like (Italian is a good one to start with if your not use to spices).  Cover with foil and bake at 350 for about an hour.  Check veggies to make sure they are soft.  If so, serve.  I like to mix leftovers with scrambled eggs for a healthy breakfast.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

September 10th

Show us how to craft something to support our favorite football team.

Well, this is a hard one since we don't do sports around here and I don't do crafts like that.  I don't have the energy nor the time.  Plus I don't want to have to transport it every time we move.  The closest thing I have is my soccer scarves that we bought while we lived in Germany.  I have an 1860 Munich and a Bayern Munich ones.  Both sit on my Cricut as a dust cover.  When we lived in New York I had both hanging on the wall.  I might do that if I know we will be here longer.  Otherwise, I will leave them be so they don't get damaged.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

September 9th

Share a recipe for your favorite football Saturday snack.

I really don't do snack foods around the house.  Mainly it's Goldfish, Teddy Grahams, popcorn, fruits/veggies, or leftovers.  Since we aren't a sporty family, we don't have sports themed parties. 

Do you have a good recipe that I should make?  We do make appetizers as our supper on Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve, so I can make it then.  Plus the kids like stuff like that most of the time.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

September 8th

What new hobbies have you tried recently?

I have to confess that I haven't tried anything new.  Things are crazy busy here during the school year.  I haven't touched my scrapbook area in ages, but I have been crocheting only since it's portable. 

Monday, September 7, 2015

September 7th

Sports....
We are not a sports family.  I'm the only one that even watches them.  I watch football, hockey or rugby when I get the chance.  It's rare.  There are many, many years where the only football game I get to watch is the Super Bowl, but I'm okay with that.  When my kids are grown, then I can watch sports again.

September 6th

Fall Traditions.....
  Well, we really don't have any fall traditions here.  When we lived in New York, we would always go to the cider mill for fresh cider doughnuts, apple cider slushies, and a gallon of cider.  We have gone apple picking once as a family when we lived in NY.  We haven't done it here though since we just don't have time, plus we don't want to drive that far.  Yes, we are lazy.  We will make new traditions though for the next place we live. 

September 5th

Today is a subject near and dear to my heart ~ to to keep yourself organized as things get busier and busier.   With 3 kids and multiple things plus a busy husband, we are normally going 3 different directions. 

I personally have a planner that I found on clearance at Target that I'm using in my purse this year.  It has the whole month calendar along with the weekly part in it.  I am also huge on doing a printed out calendar that is on the fridge.  I normally try to have it printed out for a year in advance (yes, we plan out that far in this house).  I keep 2 months worth though taped to my fridge.  I have to tape it (painter's tape is amazing!) since the stupid fridge is not magnetic. 

Back to the calendars though, these are the ones I use:  LINK.  I use the monthly horizontal bigger version of our red, white & blue thin line.  They work great, are free, and have plenty of space to write all the info.

September 4th

Today is show us how you decorate for fall.  Well, I really can't do that yet.  I haven't put out any of my fall stuff yet.  Temps are expected to be in the 80's yet this week so we are living in tank tops, sandals and capris.  It does feel like fall, so it's hard to decorate for it even if my body/brain is telling me it is.

September 3rd

Okay, so I'm a few days behind.  Things have been busy here and schedules for kids have kept me busy.

Today (Sept 3rd) Is what is on your fall essential shopping list?  Is it new clothes, shoes, or decor?

I really don't have a shopping list.  I have bought a new scented wax and it's running in my house and we just got a mum plant the other day.  I'm planning on having a Pumpkin Spice Latte one of these days when I get to Starbucks.  Otherwise, nothing else is really planned.

 I can't buy pumpkins yet to display outside since they will rot, plus they are like candy to the javelina that we have around here.  Not something that I really want in my front yard next to my door.  Oh well, maybe next year.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

September 2nd

2 September
   Today's writing prompt is what Fall wardrobe items are you dying to wear?

Well, we really don't get Fall down here in AZ until November if we are lucky.  When the time finally does roll around though, I can't wait to wear jeans and sweaters.  I have a bunch of sweaters from all of our years of living up north and I love to wear them.  I'm also hoping to wear leggings more this year.  Until then, I will continue to live in capris, sundresses, and sandals.

So, what are you looking forwards to wearing?

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

September 1st

1 September,
         Today's writing prompt is do your favorite coffee recipe.  Well, I'm lazy.  Normally I just make a kcup of Dulce De Leche Latte (Archer Farms ~ a Target brand) and go to work.  If I want an iced coffee, then I get a treat at Starbucks (my favorite is the Salted Caramel). 

I have tried making ice coffee at home, and it does work to some degree, but it's not the same as Starbucks.  When I did have time to do it, I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe to do so.  It takes a day to just get the cold brew, but then you have a jug to keep in your fridge.  With my luck though, my middle child finds it and uses all of it for her own iced coffee.  Proof that it's good.  Here's a link to her recipe.





Iced Coffee:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/perfect-iced-coffee/

Frappuccino:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/homemade-frappuccino/

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Not lost, just busy

So, it's been a long time since I posted.  We are still living in a high desert.  We traveled to the Grand Canyon and a few other places for spring break, and we had a quiet normal summer that included camps for my kids for the first time every. 

As for the blog, I haven't forgotten about it, but life has been busy with 3 kids.  I've decided to do something different with it.  With the help of Pinterest, I have found a bunch of different prompt ideas.  Starting Sept 1st, I'm going to start doing them.  It's mainly so I have a creative outlet since I don't have the urge to scrapbook right now, and crocheting isn't holding my interest for very long right now.  Probably since it's still hot out (91F today).  So, watch for a new posting starting Sept 1st.