Eureka!

I've done it! I've finally come up with a solution to the eliminate the house stink.

When I was growing up and we got hurt, my mom (speaking for my Grandpa as if he were present) would say, "do you want me to cut your leg off, so you'll forget about the pain in your hurting (insert ailing limb or body part)?" We'd fuss and cry, then the giggling would commence... "No, no, no! It's not the bad after all!" And we were suddenly cured.

So that leads me to the solution to the stink.

Just like my Grandpa taught my mom, and my mom taught us, I should find something stinkier. (Don't worry... I contacted Merriam-Webster this morning and they let me create that word this morning, just for this blog entry.) Something to make the stink seem not-so-bad-after-all, right?

Well, the solution is free. Because I own it already.

Find the common thread in the first entry and the second entry I wrote about Christmases past. Look hard and you'll figure out what 6 inch-tall wonder is going to save us.

And suddenly, the smell is not seeming so bad... :)

I'm a genius.

A little of this, a little of that

• Every time I buy a new blow dryer, I'm convinced that it's not as powerful as my last one...and that it takes longer to dry my hair.
• I feel similarly about mascara. I have no brand loyalty, and always want to try something new. I open a new tube, convinced that it might finally be the best kind ever, and I feel like it always fails.
• I almost always conclude something along the lines of... "well, at least the last one I had was better than this."
  
• Despite these woes, I still blow-dry my locks and keep my lashes covered in gook.
• If you have a recommendation for mascara (that's less than 10 bucks), please pass it on. Warning: I won't hold it against you if you recommend it, but please know that I can learn to hate any kind.
• Our house still has a stale, neighbors-that-smoke smell. I. HATE. IT. If the place weren't so darn cute, we didn't have so much stuff, and moving weren't so awful, I'd consider requesting a change in buildings ASAP.
  
• I found a whole bunch of fun, cutesy Thanksgiving recipes on www.familyfun.com today. I want to make all of them. This might require quitting my day job.
• I just remembered that I can't quit my day job. Even though I'd rather stay home and make cute little kiddie snacks. Dangit.
• I may still find a way to make a few of them with Brian's family during Thanksgiving.
• I bought some cinnamon pine-cones last night. So far, they just smell ok, and haven't turned our house into a cinnamon wonderland. Perhaps after a full day at home alone, they'll have worked their magic.
• We have about 65 teeny bags of Skittles and Sour Patch Kids at our house (leftovers from Halloween). I think the reason they remain untouched is that there are only about 6 pieces of loot inside each one. They're just not worth the work to open...
• I have a mysterious bruise on my left hand. It's such a mystery, in fact, that I first considered that it might be dirt (I'd only been out of the shower about 2 hrs when I found it, but still...). When I tried rubbing it off, it was made very clear that it is in fact a bruise. Ouch.
• I have been on the perpetual hunt for the right shade of gray (or is it grey?) nail polish. I saw a celebrity wearing it on TV last week and loved it. I bought a few different bottles before I found one that would work. Still not quite what I wanted, but it was close. I wore it with a new sweater I'd bought and was pleased with it.
• If you know me at all, the hunt didn't stop there. Naturally, I still can't help but look for the color I saw on TV. Even if I found the perfect color, wouldn't you think that a third bottle of gray/grey would be overdoing it?
• Brian and I both bought new casual athletic shoes last week. One trip to the mall, and two happy shoppers found just what they were looking for. I almost fell over dead. Then again, I can still return them... :)
  

Well, that does it for today. Stay tuned for more brain purging. It is what I do best, ya know...

Feels like Fall

Aside from the 75 degree weather (is that you, El Nino?), it's really starting to feel like Fall around here.

I think I may've inherited this from my mom - I adore Fall.
I have loved watching the leaves change.
I love decorating a new apartment. We have more SPACE here, and thus more room for holiday stuff.
I love desserts with pumpkin in them. (I prefer the canned kind, if you're wondering. Sorry to disappoint those of you purists out there...I just want to be able to use a can opener to get to it!)
I love getting together with family.
I love the smell of a pumpkin spice candle.
I love a season of thanks, and reflecting on how abundantly blessed we are.
I love the idea of everyone celebrating together and cooking like there's no tomorrow!
And finally....


I love coconut cream pie more than life itself.

We were glad to get rid of the Halloween stuff (Halloween equaled sickness and lameness this year, remember?) and Fall has finally nudged its way in to our house. Here are a few faves.


First wreath? 5 bucks at Target. I died a little inside when I realized someone else wasn't going to be able to buy it for such a good deal. Then I remembered they were all chumps, and I was taking it home. ha!

Ye olde pilgrims? They've been with us for a few years now. They're in my top 5 favorite decorations of all time. Paid more than I wanted to for them, but now I'm glad I did. If I'd waited one more night, Pilgrim Man wouldn't have had a Pilgrim Lady along side him (she was the last one!). Woulda been a travisty. Of epic proportions.

Front door wreath? No purple lights on it, but I love the berries. Added the little leaf center thing this year. I think I like it.

Would love to stay and chat some more, but I've gotta go find our stretch pants in preparation for Thanksgiving...

Love to all!

Survived

There was a big bowl of candy, a cute string of Halloween lights, and a really nice wreath hanging on our front door...


...but that was the only action Halloween saw around here this year.

No witty costumes, no chili cook-off at the church, and certainly no sillying around. I was really sick and knockin' on death's door instead.

But... the best part? I'm back from the dead!

And that's Halloweeny enough for this year.

Things I love today...

Here and gone...

The Minnesotan fam came this weekend for a whirlwind trip! They got here on Friday at about noon, and were gone in the blink of an eye...

Brian showed them the recital hall, and they were really impressed. Danny even played "He is Risen" on the organ. Brian made it a duet, and I was once again shown up by a 7 year old. (I have always sworn that there would be NO DUETS for me and Brian. No way, no how.)



The boys played video games, per the usual. We ate, we watched movies, we played card games, we laughed, we ate, and we slept a few hours too.


Danny even brought some crafts! When he got up this morning, it was the first thing he did. I'll be honest. That's a boy after my own heart...


Two of these things are not like the others! Two are still in pajamas with bed-head. The rest have showered and gotten ready for the day... :)



Hope they had a good time. We sure did!

Behold, the floor!

I never, I repeat never, thought I would be excited to see a patch of brown marbly carpeting!

Junk room...FINALLY organized!

Monday update

I hate to think that you're stopping here to see what's going on with us...and you're leaving empty handed (headed?!). So here are a few of the things we've been up to:

• Taking lots of pictures. Of food. But not of each other. Weird. Put that on my to-do list. Take more pictures of us. (now THERE's a first!)
  
• Working. That's right. I got a job at an office about 2 miles from our house. And I couldn't be happier. P.s. No day-after-Thanksgiving mayhem required. YESSSS!
• Sorting, sifting, and tossing old stuff. It's extremely liberating. We're throwing things away we always thought we neeeeeded (whiny voice) and it feels awesome. And also makes room for NEW stuff!
• Loving Fall. The weather (with the exception of today) has been cool, windy, and the leaves are turning the most GORGEOUS of colors. One tree in our neighborhood, in particular, is putting on a phenomenal show. I think I shall bake it some pumpkin bread as a gesture of thanks.
• Doing grown-up things like getting new checking accounts (income, remember?). Our debit cards have wheat on them. They let us pick the design from a small assortment. Seemed the most like stereotypical Kansas. Ask us. We'll show them to you. And you'll be envious. I'm sure of it.
  
• Loving the idea of 11 wonderful days with family and old friends. We booked our Christmas tickets to UT. Wahoo!
• Allowing the budget to take a quick breather. The ol' boy's been workin' overtime lately. We even went out to dinner to celebrate my new job without asking permission. It was great!
• Appreciating my mom's sweet drawing skills. I found this the other day. She painted it...and it's ME! Right down to the green polka dot hoodie, the brown and white purse, the billowing locks of perfect thick hair (maybe she exaggerated a bit), and the longest fingers in the West (manicured, even!). Love her.
  
• Just livin' the dream... One fabulous day at a time. My mom once said to me "You're lookin' good times right in the face". And, man, was she right...

As Neil (my brother) would say... that will be all. :)

Out with the old...

Two GIGANTOR boxes of clothes.
Three too-heavy-to-carry trash cans full of magazines.
Old purses. Old bags. Old wallets. Old shoes. Old boots.
White trash bags full of old papers, trinket-trash, and just junk.
And one mystery assortment of miscellaneous STUFF in an overfilled black trash bag, that someone is sure to love for the right price.

Some to Goodwill. The rest to the trash.

And it feels so good.

He's my favorite...

My husband LOVES to learn.
He loves learning a new skill and then perfecting it.
He's not afraid to dabble in something that's completely unknown.
It's one of the things I love most about him.

And this time, he learned and made something for me.


A homemade lightbox! And check out her maiden voyage...


True. Love.

For the guy? Already had it.

For his dedication to learning, doing, and perfecting? Renewed.

Sah-weet pictures coming to a food blog near you...

Did someone say income?

Gainful employment, it's nice to see you again. It's been a long time.

Days of freedom left - 1.5

And the budget couldn't be happier.

Blog blackout

Once upon a time, Brian and I went on vacation to FL. When we got back, my parents had moved to town. Talk about a great surprise!

At the same time, we were gearing up to move away to KS (boo for the timing of it all!). In that craziness, blogging was neglected. So, here are some of the shots from that time.


From left to right, top to bottom...
1. The new house. Almost as nice as our place here in KS. :)
2. Celebrating Racher's b-day at Brick Oven. Mmmmm.
3. Me claiming the huge rock in front of the new house. Yes, actually, I am the Queen of the Rock.
4. Fireworks on the 4th of July.
5. Sugar cookies that will change your life shared on the 4th.
6. Brian sharing his BBQ goodness.
7. Being with my mom and sisters. Wonderful.
8. Teaching the fam to play bocce.
9. More cool fireworks.
10. Living at their house (thanks for the bed, Stace) before we left.
11. Eating their REALLY GOOD food before we left.
12. Enjoying good times with them before we left.

Best part is? Except for a few things, most all of it will be there when we go back for Christmas.

Life is good.

Like mother, like daughter...

Option 1 (most people): Find a store-bought wreath. Hang it on front door. The end.

Option 2 (like she taught me): Search for store-bought wreath. Decide that everything out there is just...ehhh. Decide that even the store-bought components just aren't that great. Come up with another idea. Gather grapevine wreath and black spray paint. Paint wreath. Try not to inhale. Dry. Hunt for cute lights. Hunt for other little trinket-trash things to put on wreath. Agonize about how a person would attach trinket-trash to wreath. Agonize about how to get power to front door, as battery-operated lights are not available in purple. Let black wreath, lights, and trinket-trash rest for a few days because the mental stewing is not yet finished. Buy an extension cord. Let it sit a few days. Assemble wreath, complete with purple lights and cute Halloween sign. Forego trinket-trash. It just looks...trashy. Hang on front door. Jimmy-rig extension cords to get power to front door. Take cute pictures for blog. The end.

See, now that wasn't that hard...

And, by the way, Mom...I still like your way better.

Please pass the panic.

Have you ever had a moment of absolute panic? I have. It was today.

It started out innocently enough. I was erasing junk from my mp3 player. I was just clearing some of the unimportant stuff off, especially the duplicated songs and pictures.

I've always been so afraid to lose my pictures, in particular, that I often put them in folders more than once.

So, when I was using the sync software this morning, and thought I saw a duplicated folder...

...I erased it.

I thought I was allowing the software to also delete my pictures from the library (for the mp3 player). Turns out...it was the picture library. ON THE HARD DRIVE.

I checked the July 2008 folder.

EMPTY.

And then, the panic hit.

What were the pictures you ask? And how could they be that big of a deal?

Well, you might remember a little trip Brian and I took.

TO SAN DIEGO.

Yes sir. Those were the ones. Gone. Every single one of them. And the pictures of a tradeshow, bocce championship, and everything else from July 2008 went with them.

Brian was at a cub scout meeting. He was supposed to be finished. I called him. He didn't answer. I freaked out some more. I almost cried. But I couldn't. I was too busy freaking out.

I checked the picture folders on our external hard drive. Nope. Not there.

Someone, please grab me a brown paper bag. I might die.

I opened my Picasa account. Yay! They're still there. And then...

...they were gone in an instant. The nice thing (!?) about Picasa is that it syncs with your hard drive every time you start it. Oh, wonderful, right? WRONG.

And then, a miracle happened. I was hurriedly scanning through old folders on Picasa.

And there they were. In a SEPARATE folder. Entitled "The Diego".

Insert inner glee for actually saving things 2 and 3 times, even if it takes up extra space...

Did a hard drive search. And the San Diego pictures were saved! At least I had those, I thought.

But as I looked further... Not only were they saved, but they were hiding in a crevice of the external hard drive in a folder called "Backup of Pictures, Aug 2009".

I nearly fell out of my chair. All of our July 2008 pictures were back.

So, a bit of friendly advice. Do yourself a favor today (don't wait until tomorrow)...and crank up the ol' external hard drive. Schedule a backup of your pictures. Or even burn some backup CDs/DVDs the old school way.


I promise. You'll thank me.