With checklist pads titled "Things You Do That Really Piss Me Off", "Don't Kill The Pets", and "Fashion Citation" you have to be at least a little curious.
Knock Knock Blog
I love that Knock Knock has a blog now. Given the bizarre sense of humor that must be required to come up with their products, I hope it doesn't disappoint. I love their Personal Library Kits and think they'd be great for any bookworm for Christmas.
With checklist pads titled "Things You Do That Really Piss Me Off", "Don't Kill The Pets", and "Fashion Citation" you have to be at least a little curious.
With checklist pads titled "Things You Do That Really Piss Me Off", "Don't Kill The Pets", and "Fashion Citation" you have to be at least a little curious.
Better get going if we're going to stay ahead of the weather...
Last night, hubby and I were delivering orders from a Southern Living At Home party I threw earlier this month... Of course, we choose the first real wintry day to do so. I can't complain much, we have had a very mild November. And this was our first real snowfall of the year. We've been lucky. However, a 40 degree drop in 2 days doesn't give you much of a chance to acclimate. It was 5 F when we were delivering last night, -7 F when I woke up this morning and about 2 F right now. I'm betting hubby wishes he hung the Christmas lights this weekend when it was 40F.
All day long I hear from various people I'd talk to "It's cold out there today". Which makes me want to start quoting Groundhog Day... Every time someone said it, these lines would play through my mind...
So, if I start quoting Groundhog Day, blame it on the weather...
All day long I hear from various people I'd talk to "It's cold out there today". Which makes me want to start quoting Groundhog Day... Every time someone said it, these lines would play through my mind...
DJ 1: All right, campers, rise and shine! — and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cooooooold out there today.
DJ 2: It's cold out there everyday. What is this, Miami Beach?
DJ 1: Not hardly!
So, if I start quoting Groundhog Day, blame it on the weather...
Evolution
My friends and I are particularly fond of a wine called Evolution from Sokol Blosser winery in Oregon. It's soooooo smooth and easy to drink, that you have several glasses down before you know it.
So, for the cocktail party/drink fest, I had 1 1/2 bottles, bought 2 more, 2 other people brought 3 more bottles between the 2 of them. We had 6 1/2 total for the evening, along with an assortment of other wines. After about 3 hours, approx 4 people give or take a glass or two finished off the 6 1/2 bottles and more would have gone if we had it.
Every year after the party, my hubby makes a list of what we ran out of or are almost out of. He put all the alcohol on the list, and added Evolution to the bottom with a note "(Buy by the case next year)"
So, for the cocktail party/drink fest, I had 1 1/2 bottles, bought 2 more, 2 other people brought 3 more bottles between the 2 of them. We had 6 1/2 total for the evening, along with an assortment of other wines. After about 3 hours, approx 4 people give or take a glass or two finished off the 6 1/2 bottles and more would have gone if we had it.
Every year after the party, my hubby makes a list of what we ran out of or are almost out of. He put all the alcohol on the list, and added Evolution to the bottom with a note "(Buy by the case next year)"
"Now Everyone is More Important"
Ok, I thought I was doing him a favor...
My hubby wants green bean casserole with Thanksgiving dinner, and since it always gets all gloppy, and is really high in sodium, I told him I was going to try a few substitute recipes and see if he likes any of them better as a replacement.
So then after watching too much FoodTv Thanksgiving Specials last week, I told him that Alton Brown said that the only acceptable Green Bean Casserole is the one with all the French Fried Onions and Cream of Mushroom Soup. So I thought about it and figured all the sodium on one day shouldn't kill him and I was going to make his Green Bean Casserole. I thought I was doing something nice for him... I was wrong.
Instead he says it's not enough that he wants it, I have to listen to the opinion of a chef instead... and that it's not just the whole world wide web that's more important, now everyone is.
*sigh*
Oh well, I was trying to be nice... By serving him high-sodium glop...
My hubby wants green bean casserole with Thanksgiving dinner, and since it always gets all gloppy, and is really high in sodium, I told him I was going to try a few substitute recipes and see if he likes any of them better as a replacement.
So then after watching too much FoodTv Thanksgiving Specials last week, I told him that Alton Brown said that the only acceptable Green Bean Casserole is the one with all the French Fried Onions and Cream of Mushroom Soup. So I thought about it and figured all the sodium on one day shouldn't kill him and I was going to make his Green Bean Casserole. I thought I was doing something nice for him... I was wrong.
Instead he says it's not enough that he wants it, I have to listen to the opinion of a chef instead... and that it's not just the whole world wide web that's more important, now everyone is.
*sigh*
Oh well, I was trying to be nice... By serving him high-sodium glop...
Christmas Shopping Already?
Ok, normally I'm fairly creative and at least have some ideas as to what to get adults for Christmas. This year, I have nothing, nada, zilch, zip, zero... Kids are easy, plop a bit of cheap plastic in wrapping paper and they writhe in delight upon opening. (Actually, no cheap plastic this year, too many toy recalls)
I don't think my hubby would be too thrilled to open a box of nothing Christmas morning... "It's um... quarks... from um... the planet um... Pluto..." And of course, I'd be caught in a lie, because well, we all know Pluto isn't a planet.
My hubby is an Electrical Engineer, so when I look at lists they tend to be the "Gifts for Geeks" type lists. Problem with this, as anyone married to a tech geek knows, is that these tech geeks do research.
They don't want just any gadget, they want this brand, this model, with this and this and this option in this color. And they know this because they did a gazillion hours of research to figure out which one they want.
And well asking for all those specs while scribbling furiously is just a little too obvious.
So unless you are super-crafty and discrete and can get him to give you all the specs above without him knowing it, you will inevitably get the look when they open the gift.
The look is really a 3 for 1 deal, you get the "This Is Awesome" look followed by the "Quizzical Analyzing Specs" look followed by the "Not Quite Right, I Wonder If I Can Exchange It Without Her Noticing" look.
This look is also commonly seen after a gift of tools...
I don't think my hubby would be too thrilled to open a box of nothing Christmas morning... "It's um... quarks... from um... the planet um... Pluto..." And of course, I'd be caught in a lie, because well, we all know Pluto isn't a planet.
My hubby is an Electrical Engineer, so when I look at lists they tend to be the "Gifts for Geeks" type lists. Problem with this, as anyone married to a tech geek knows, is that these tech geeks do research.
They don't want just any gadget, they want this brand, this model, with this and this and this option in this color. And they know this because they did a gazillion hours of research to figure out which one they want.
And well asking for all those specs while scribbling furiously is just a little too obvious.
So unless you are super-crafty and discrete and can get him to give you all the specs above without him knowing it, you will inevitably get the look when they open the gift.
The look is really a 3 for 1 deal, you get the "This Is Awesome" look followed by the "Quizzical Analyzing Specs" look followed by the "Not Quite Right, I Wonder If I Can Exchange It Without Her Noticing" look.
This look is also commonly seen after a gift of tools...
Wordless Wednesday : In The Nursery
I skipped in the nursery this week, so I'll combine Tuesday and Wednesday. This is part of the mural in the nursery.
Speaking of Heroes
My ear was ringing a bit earlier today... and my Heroes post yesterday reminded me of a dorky childhood memory... True confessions time...
When I was younger I thought I was going to grow up to be a superhero...
I had ear infections when I was a baby, and because of them occassionally I would hear a ringing in my ears when I got a bit older...
I thought it was my Spidey-Sense... and that as I grew up I would be able to swing around on a web... I was thrilled with the prospect...
We moved a lot when I was younger... When we actually moved to a city that didn't have Spiderman in the comics I begged my parents to subscribe to a "real" newspaper that actually carried Spiderman... They never relented...
I was scarred for life... can you tell?
oooops there goes my SpideySense gotta run...
For those not familiar, Heroes is a show on NBC and Spiderman is a Marvel comic written by Stan Lee.
When I was younger I thought I was going to grow up to be a superhero...
I had ear infections when I was a baby, and because of them occassionally I would hear a ringing in my ears when I got a bit older...
I thought it was my Spidey-Sense... and that as I grew up I would be able to swing around on a web... I was thrilled with the prospect...
We moved a lot when I was younger... When we actually moved to a city that didn't have Spiderman in the comics I begged my parents to subscribe to a "real" newspaper that actually carried Spiderman... They never relented...
I was scarred for life... can you tell?
oooops there goes my SpideySense gotta run...
For those not familiar, Heroes is a show on NBC and Spiderman is a Marvel comic written by Stan Lee.
I'm a geek...
If you don't watch Heroes on NBC this might not make much sense...
Last night we were watching Heroes and my hubby called me a geek in no uncertain terms... BTW, de-geekifying is definitely a word... :P
"Notice how as the season goes on they are de-geekifying Hiro. I can just imagine at the beginning of last season him not wanting to be uber-geeky for long"
"Maybe he didn't know he was uber-geeky, and they de-geekified him"
"No, don't you remember at the beginning of last season when he came back from the future to talk to Peter in the Subway, he wasn't geeky then"
"Well you can de-geekify anyone, maybe he was a geek and they changed him over time"
"That doesn't make sense"
"Take you for instance, you could change... "
At that point I stopped listening and lost it...
Last night we were watching Heroes and my hubby called me a geek in no uncertain terms... BTW, de-geekifying is definitely a word... :P
"Notice how as the season goes on they are de-geekifying Hiro. I can just imagine at the beginning of last season him not wanting to be uber-geeky for long"
"Maybe he didn't know he was uber-geeky, and they de-geekified him"
"No, don't you remember at the beginning of last season when he came back from the future to talk to Peter in the Subway, he wasn't geeky then"
"Well you can de-geekify anyone, maybe he was a geek and they changed him over time"
"That doesn't make sense"
"Take you for instance, you could change... "
At that point I stopped listening and lost it...
Finally got around to making an Apple Galette
Ok, ever since I saw this Apple Galette at Angry Chicken, I've been wanting to make one. Since I had a TON of apples, well more like 8-9 lbs, I finally threw some spiced apples together for canning and used some of them to make one. It turned out great and was pretty easy compared to a full-fledged pie. Amy also has a great recipe cheat sheet for her fridge that she shared, which has it on there as well. I just multiplied my normal pie crust recipe by 1.5 for my recipe, I left the sugar and salt alone though. You can up them a bit if you like, but I think it turned out perfect.
I figured since I mentioned the galette in the Apple Butter recipe post prior to starting Kitchen Comforts some of you might be interested in what I finally threw together.
I figured since I mentioned the galette in the Apple Butter recipe post prior to starting Kitchen Comforts some of you might be interested in what I finally threw together.
1 party down, 2 to go
For the past 2 years in the middle of December, we throw a cocktail party. This year it will be next Saturday, so I have to start planning a menu. Figuring out what mixers we need. I made nice little elegant looking PDF invites...
Cocktail party, you say?
Are you imagining wine and quiche and women in cocktail dresses?
Reality:
Yeah, there's a little of that. There is about 10-15 wine types/brands, 3-4 beer options... oh, and about 75-100 bottles of different liquor types, combined with webtender.com's In My Bar feature and the Pick A Random Drink option.
That's reality.
By the end of the night most people have sampled about 15-20 shot sized portions of who knows what...
This year I'm going to actually make an effort to keep track of what we try.
Usually by the time my 5th shot comes around I don't really care anymore anyway.
Then the annual tasting of the Brennivin, an extremely strong Icelandic Schnapps. Those new to the party that year get the honor of tasting it first. There will be a few grimaces to look forward to.
Last year they decided to scour the list and only sample the drinks with at least mildly offensive names. I have to say I kinda liked the "Duck Fart".
Cocktail party, you say?
Are you imagining wine and quiche and women in cocktail dresses?
Reality:
Yeah, there's a little of that. There is about 10-15 wine types/brands, 3-4 beer options... oh, and about 75-100 bottles of different liquor types, combined with webtender.com's In My Bar feature and the Pick A Random Drink option.
That's reality.
By the end of the night most people have sampled about 15-20 shot sized portions of who knows what...
This year I'm going to actually make an effort to keep track of what we try.
Usually by the time my 5th shot comes around I don't really care anymore anyway.
Then the annual tasting of the Brennivin, an extremely strong Icelandic Schnapps. Those new to the party that year get the honor of tasting it first. There will be a few grimaces to look forward to.
Last year they decided to scour the list and only sample the drinks with at least mildly offensive names. I have to say I kinda liked the "Duck Fart".
The whole web is more important?
I was trying to figure out ratios for my Balsamic Vinaigrette for Kitchen Comforts and asked hubby for a little taste testing assistance.
What was I thinking?
First of all, I'm a dump cook, I don't measure things out. However, for this foray into food blogging, I have to try to be better about amounts. I have to give verifiable quantities, not a pinch, dash, bit, smidgen, shake, etc. So, I had my measuring spoons out.
Second of all, I'm a dump cook, I don't measure things out. This drives my hubby crazy when he's helping, as I tell him to add a pinch of this, a dash of that...
Well, I was adding more honey and since I had to keep track of how much, I added another tsp.
"You're using a measuring spoon?"
"I have to, so I can give amounts for the recipe."
"You never give me real amounts."
"It's different, I can watch what you are doing, and see whether it's right."
"So the whole web is more important than me?"
"It's a dressing, I have to give right amounts or it won't taste right"
"So the whole web is more impor..."
As I stuff a piece of bread soaked in vinaigrette in his mouth...
For the record, I still didn't get the vinaigrette quite right. It's much easier to gauge just the right squeeze of mustard, it just didn't look right sitting in the teaspoon.
What was I thinking?
First of all, I'm a dump cook, I don't measure things out. However, for this foray into food blogging, I have to try to be better about amounts. I have to give verifiable quantities, not a pinch, dash, bit, smidgen, shake, etc. So, I had my measuring spoons out.
Second of all, I'm a dump cook, I don't measure things out. This drives my hubby crazy when he's helping, as I tell him to add a pinch of this, a dash of that...
Well, I was adding more honey and since I had to keep track of how much, I added another tsp.
"You're using a measuring spoon?"
"I have to, so I can give amounts for the recipe."
"You never give me real amounts."
"It's different, I can watch what you are doing, and see whether it's right."
"So the whole web is more important than me?"
"It's a dressing, I have to give right amounts or it won't taste right"
"So the whole web is more impor..."
As I stuff a piece of bread soaked in vinaigrette in his mouth...
For the record, I still didn't get the vinaigrette quite right. It's much easier to gauge just the right squeeze of mustard, it just didn't look right sitting in the teaspoon.
Hot Mamas Know
Ok, I'm sure some of you are wondering what that last Hot Mamas Post was all about. It was getting late and with no explanation I interrupt our regular programming to jump in talking about body oil and scrubs. So, here's the scoop.
Jen over at Absolutely Bananas has come up with a way for women (real women!) to share their beauty secrets. What works, hopefully even some of what doesn't so we don't all make the same mistakes. I love this idea and will be posting my favorite beauty tips on the 1st of every month, along with lots of other women. Click on the Hot Mamas Know graphic to find all the tips and learn more. Hopefully, I'll be able to get my hands on some of the recommended items, not always easy in ND. What would a girl do without the internet?
Oh, and next month there will be an EXTRA SPECIAL Hot Mamas Know PARTY GLAMOUR edition, woohoo!
Velvety Soft Hands
I go through this routine about once a week and just love the way it makes my hands feel. A similar oil, scrub, cleanser routine was used on me during a manicure, and I just adapted it to use products I could find easily.
I douse my hands well with Neutrogena Body Oil, it's a light sesame oil.
Then I put about a dime sized about of body scrub in the palm of my hands and massage my hands thoroughly, especially my cuticles and nail beds. St. Ives Apricot Scrub is easy to find just about anywhere, I use Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator.
I rinse this combination off and lather with whatever moisturizing body wash or soap I have handy, usually Oil of Olay or Dove Body Wash.
Of course, don't forget to moisturize your hands daily as well. This is especially important in the winter months.
Tuesday in the Nursery: Janie & Jack
I love Janie and Jack's clothes for children. I've been very happy with the quality and the details. My husband likes that you can buy from the same collection and not worry about whether it matches. Purely guessing, but they seem to come out with 35-45 new collections each year rotating with the seasons. At any given time you can pick your favorite of about 7-8 collections for girls or boys and 2-3 for layette. These numbers are purely estimates based on what I've seen over the last 12-18 months. Their newest layette collections are called Little Penguins and are just adorable.
Bathroom Update
Not done yet, but at least you can tell the color. 2 more days to my first November get together...
It's Thanksgiving Over at Kitchen Comforts
I'm getting ready for the Thanksgiving kickoff for Kitchen Comforts. November is my busy entertaining month every year, so I'll have tons of recipes, tips, download samples, planners and other goodies.
Bathroom Update
I wanted to get the bathroom repaired before November, since we are having three different events at our house then. Otherwise, it would wait until Spring.
The project was supposed to be:
Remove wallpaper
Paint
The project turned into:
Remove wallpaper
Remove next layer of wallpaper
Remove drywall (It wasn't properly prepped and started falling apart in step 2)
Replace drywall
Mud and Tape
Sand
Patch walls
Sand
Patch walls (due to shrinkage)
Sand
Prime
Scrape ceiling
Patch ceiling
Patch walls (a few dings that weren't visible until primed)
Sand ceiling
Sand walls
Prime ceiling
Prime walls
Patch walls (ladder dings from priming ceiling and a few final tiny dings)
Sand walls
Prime those spots
Paint ceiling
Paint walls
So now we have two more coats to go on the wall (we're painting it a deep red), but it's almost done! A one day job is now on it's 4th week. Gotta love home improvement.
I'll show before and after pics this weekend
The project was supposed to be:
Remove wallpaper
Paint
The project turned into:
Remove wallpaper
Remove next layer of wallpaper
Remove drywall (It wasn't properly prepped and started falling apart in step 2)
Replace drywall
Mud and Tape
Sand
Patch walls
Sand
Patch walls (due to shrinkage)
Sand
Prime
Scrape ceiling
Patch ceiling
Patch walls (a few dings that weren't visible until primed)
Sand ceiling
Sand walls
Prime ceiling
Prime walls
Patch walls (ladder dings from priming ceiling and a few final tiny dings)
Sand walls
Prime those spots
Paint ceiling
Paint walls
So now we have two more coats to go on the wall (we're painting it a deep red), but it's almost done! A one day job is now on it's 4th week. Gotta love home improvement.
I'll show before and after pics this weekend
Tuesday in the Nursery: Wubbanub
I know Wubbanubs have been making the rounds on the nursery/mom/baby blogs. Otherwise, I'd have never known about them. However, being that they are basically unknown up here in North Dakota, so I figured I'd mention them.
Wubbanubs are Soothie pacifiers attached to small stuffed animals to make it easier for baby to hold on to and keep the pacifier in the mouth. And, easier to find if they happen to fall out. Everyone I've given them to so far just loves them.
I can't even remember what site I first read about them on, I'm guessing it was PoshCravings, since that was the first baby one I started following. However, when I saw them I put them on my list of "Baby Stuff I Want" right away. When Baby Dagny had their big moving sale a few months back I bought a dozen. I've hoarded a few away to keep and have been giving the rest away as baby gifts.
I love the red dog, it reminds me of Clifford the Big Red Dog. And the bright color makes it easy to find among other baby stuff. Which I'm hoping it will make it easier to see once we are trying to juggle a baby and all the paraphanelia that comes with one.
Wubbanubs are Soothie pacifiers attached to small stuffed animals to make it easier for baby to hold on to and keep the pacifier in the mouth. And, easier to find if they happen to fall out. Everyone I've given them to so far just loves them.
I can't even remember what site I first read about them on, I'm guessing it was PoshCravings, since that was the first baby one I started following. However, when I saw them I put them on my list of "Baby Stuff I Want" right away. When Baby Dagny had their big moving sale a few months back I bought a dozen. I've hoarded a few away to keep and have been giving the rest away as baby gifts.
I love the red dog, it reminds me of Clifford the Big Red Dog. And the bright color makes it easy to find among other baby stuff. Which I'm hoping it will make it easier to see once we are trying to juggle a baby and all the paraphanelia that comes with one.
No Life?
Two friends of mine and I joke occasionally that we have no life. So we thought we'd start up a monthly game night. In an effort to come up with the first weekend that we're available, we got to the first weekend in January before we found a weekend that was "possibly" available. We have more of a life than we thought we did, which is quite a relief. Do you ever feel like that?
Soundtrack to my Life
I never did finish this "project", there are so many great songs. All I could do is narrow it down to a handful of songs that would have to be included, for one reason or another. My intent was to come up with a soundtrack of 15, but depending on my mood on any given day that I thought about this I would replace half the songs. These were the constants.
Pipkins - Gimmee Dat Ding
Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
The Cure - Friday, I'm In Love
Depeche Mode - Somebody
Modern English - Melt With You
The Pixies - Gigantic
Holly Cole Trio - Onion Girl
Pipkins - Gimmee Dat Ding
Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
The Cure - Friday, I'm In Love
Depeche Mode - Somebody
Modern English - Melt With You
The Pixies - Gigantic
Holly Cole Trio - Onion Girl
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