Well, once I finish my second paper for the week I'm putting it away.
And I'm playing with these...
New Catslife Press...few things make me happier.
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Ten on Tuesday...
1. I have been officially reminded that staying up two hours later than usual & sleeping in until 9am on the weekends is not a good idea.
2. However when you can't fall asleep you can think of a lot of good things to include in your Ten on Tuesday post.
3. Having to wake up early and being all discombobulated means you forget all those good ideas.
4. I won't tell you that "early" means 7am, because I'm afraid you would never read my blog again. Although if you were going to swear me off it'd probably be for getting to sleep in until 9am on the weekends too.
5. The news said that yesterday was the hottest it's ever been since they started recording temperatures in 1877. It was 113 degrees. 113!
6. I got my first grade in one of my classes this weekend. I have never been so happy to see a "B"...that's a big change from my endless pursuit of everything perfect with my undergraduate work...I will be very happy to do fine.
7. Of course if I don't get the book we've been assigned to read this week finished soon (so I can write a paper about it) I will no longer be doing fine.
8. I'd rather talk about scrapbooking than reading for school. I made 5 layouts this weekend (with the September Studio Calico kit)...can you see why I still have so much reading to do?
9. Here they are...
10. Okay fine, I will go read now.
What we'll be eating this week...
Monday & Tuesday: Mrs. Benanti's Chicken (that Mac calls Ben Menanchi's chicken and recently asked if we could have it for Thanksgiving dinner) Scalloped Potatoes and green beans
Wednesday & Thursday: Spaghetti & I think I might make Garlic Cheese Bread as a little added comfort food before heading to class these nights.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: Not a clueHiding out...
Since it was over a hundred degrees here today we hid inside in the air conditioning.
Sean and I were basically in pajamas and Mac had a tie-on...typical weekend dress code, right?
We were trying to make these.
And we succeeded, but were too busy eating them to take any more photos.
Starred...
1. slowly but surely..., 2. Button Wreath *Explored*, 3. 59, 4. Seaweed Prints, 5. what is to be is up to me, 6. Untitled, 7. Handmade Leaf Garland, 8. Untitled
One page...
Luckily my weekly papers for both my classes only need to be one page.
It still takes me days to write though.
When I was done with them this afternoon I turned to a little scrapbooking...
This took me about 10 minutes. One page. Much more fun.
Ten on Tuesday...
1. Tonight is wonderfully cloudy and cool. I want to be huddled under under a blanket watching new fall television shows.
2. Instead I'm writing Sociology stuff.
3. I'm grateful for the DVR so the new shows are recorded for me to watch this weekend...not huddled under a blanket since the forecast says it'll be almost 100 degrees this weekend.
4. Got to love fall in Southern California.
5. Speaking of the change in seasons, I have a new fall themed Cartwheels article up today.
6. I also am participating in Kitschy Digital week and have a project going up on Thursday that I'll be giving away...
7. The only other thing I have made is one layout...but I managed to use my corner rounder on it several dozen of times or so...
8. I'm dying to make more stuff since I have so many great photos from the road trip, Mac's birthday and the first day of school just waiting for me.
9. I said several times this summer that I wanted to bottle up the free time so we could crack it open as needed during the school year.
10. I need it now, just a little.
What we'll be eating this week...
Since we established yesterday that I am always happy to talk about food I thought I'd try something new around here...something that I've enjoyed on other blogs I read. I've tried to meal plan before, but not very successfully. I think since the school year started some combination of the three of us having to be out the door after dinner four days a week has helped. The other aspect of my meal planning is trying to be strategic about meals with leftovers that way we're just reheating on the busiest nights.
So here are this week's meals...
Monday & Tuesday: Chicken Scallopine We had this a few weeks ago for Sean's birthday and Sean and I can't wait to have it again. Mac will probably just eat chicken and pasta without the sauce since I haven't won him over with my new love of sautéed mushrooms.
Wednesday & Thursday: Hamburger Chop Suey A family favorite that we haven't had in awhile.
Friday: Fry-day Every other Friday when we have Mac for the weekend we get out the deep fryer and have "Fry-day" usually just some burgers with frozen french fries or tater tots. This week I was thinking of trying these (but again no mushrooms for Mac) and maybe even trying to fry these ourselves.
Okay...got to go cook dinner...
You know when you eat something...
and you think about it for the rest of the day? The year? Or dream about it for the rest of your life?
For instance I still get starry-eyed over the goat cheese ravioli we had in Seattle. Or this garlic bread with Gorgonzola cheese spread that we used to have at favorite restaurant growing up. (oh does my family miss the Magic Pan) I could go on and on, but I'll spare you.
Today I think I got to have one of those magical food items. We went to the Taste of Newport and managed to sample a dozen things in less than an hour...we were an eating machine. Everything was really good, but the lobster bisque I tried was amazing.
Thankfully the restaurant is in Orange County so I'm not left pining over it forever and ever.
Since I could talk about food endlessly...what's one of the things you've eaten that has left you dreaming for days, weeks, or years later?
Starred...
1. food - pancake buffet, 2. paper leaves, 3. Knotty Weeds, 4. Compai Style, 5. Rudi - Boy's Writing Desk, 6. New lamp shade, 7. img_vintagepyrexlg_1, 8. slowly but surely...
What caught my eye this week...
- These super cute layouts.
- These invitation make me wish I didn't get married in 1999 when weddings didn't have such wonderful details.
- Loved this new online magazine.
- I think I could maybe actually sew this.
- When Harry Met Sally is one of my most favorite movies so this made me happy.
- This was such a cute rainbow themed party.
- Loved the decor inspiration here, here and here.
- This is another great fall project (or so many ideas for year-round).
- And I HAVE to make these.
Weekly details...
So far this year I have managed to take a photo everyday with my phone (using this).
Which means I have captured a lot of little life details. Here's some of this week's...
Mac's fashion prowess in full force as he used a tie as a scarf.
We made these spiders to have ready as part of the Halloween decorations next month.
Stamping thank you envelopes for Etsy orders.
Happy mail from The Ribbon Jar.
Sociology threw up all over my desk.
I used some new cream mist.
Mac's next fashion choice...mixed-matched socks.
Making some cards with my Summer Camp kit leftovers.
It was a good week...now we're looking forward to an even better weekend...
Ten on Tuesday...
1. Before I forget, a couple of people asked about a homemade applesauce recipe...there really isn't one, but here's what we do.
2. I had a horrid migraine on Saturday...was seriously plotting my own death. Sunday night I was crying over having no clue what to write about theoretical orientations of research methodologies. I literally said I'd rather have the migraine again, because at least I know how to do that. I should be careful what I wish for.
3. I also am slipping in that whole "I'm not going to self-doubt" goal.
4. Between the migraine and self-doubt I scrapbooked...using Studio Calico kits from the last couple of months...
5. At least I know the theory and methodology of scrapbooking well enough.
6. And speaking of scrapbooking some of the stuff I've made recently was on tv in the middle of the night.
7. It was actually on the Home Shopping Network at 1am local time and I just said that was the middle of the night. I think after that statement I can no longer call myself a "night person"
8. Which means living with a teacher (who loves to get up early) for almost 13 years has finally worked...well except I'm not a morning person either.
9. But between 9am and 9pm I'm really rather wonderful.
10. Here are the middle of the night layouts...
Applesauce
Not really a recipe...but this quick series of steps is how we make homemade applesauce often during the fall months.
Wash, core and slice apples (leaving the peel on).Place the slices in a large pot with a couple of inches of apple juice/cider and sprinkle them with some cinnamon and some hefty spoonfuls of brown sugar.
Let them simmer until they're soft, stirring occasionally.
Use a Foley Food Mill or food processor to grind them up...in the processor we will add a little of the apple juice from the bottom on the pot.
Taste to make sure you don't need any more cinnamon or brown sugar.
And don't forget to have a little bowl while it's still warm.
Or something...
The windows were open last night and the breeze was blowing in...the thermostat dropped to 73 degrees...and McIntosh had three blankets on.
It's like it fall or something.
Even though the weather won't really agree with us for a couple of months, it is fall in our seasonally sentimental hearts. There's college football on all day Saturday's, there are plans to go apple picking and throw pumpkin carving parties, and then there was the annual trip into the attic to get down the decorations (including a new blog banner...that didn't have to come out of the attic).
Heck, there was even homemade applesauce cooking on our stove earlier today.
It's like it's fall or something.
Starred...
1. Rainbow Pom pillow, 2. Untitled, 3. Spring = New corners!, 4. Untitled, 5. habit: july 25, 6. dream on, 7. Mimou, 8. Yellow
Here's this week's saved ideas...
Well Wishes...
Lots of wood-grain makes for a happy fall card ready to be sent as a thank you, thinking of you, and any greeting you'd like.
Ten on Tuesday...
1. Yea for three day weekends! Here's the list of what I've been up to...with some iPhone photo documentation...
2. I did my first "fieldwork" in Mr. Griffin's classroom last Friday. I have to write observational assignments to apply theory to.
2. So grad school paper #1 is almost done. 167 more to go. Hopefully that's an exaggeration, but we'll see.
3. I also have spent sometime writing up a couple of guest posts for another blog that I'll be excited to share in the next several weeks.
4. I made an antipasto tray for Saturday's dinner. Fresh mozzarella is my new favorite thing...wrapped in salami...or with prosciutto...or...
5. There was Saturday night ice cream shopping...because the antipasto tray wasn't enough fatty goodness.
6. Sunday included a basket full of fall at the craft store...and it worked it's a cool fall day today...too bad 80 degrees is just around the corner again.
7. Speaking of fall...I'll have new fall Etsy items to share tomorrow.
8. I just got an e-mail a minute ago telling me I was nominated on Just Spotted (a fantastic Orange Country resource I check often).
Okay I have to ask, do you mind voting for me please? Thank you, thank you. :)
9. My other iPhone documentation to share from last week is this...
The back to school haircut. He starts 7th grade tomorrow.
10. 7th grade?!?
Why I love Sean (and why he probably doesn't love me)...
I won't bore you with another list...I'm just going to discuss one little home improvement project.
There's a side of this house...about six feet wide...and let's just say it wasn't really pretty.
It kind of had to be attacked so eventually we would could cover and store our patio set to help protect it through the winter. Another goal was to not have "ugly" stuff visible through the dining room window.
Well, that was my goal.
So it was decided that we'd move the terracotta pot storage by the window since it was the least ugly.
Most of these were actually the former owner's. (and I'm pretty sentimental about the items they left behind) We cleaned out a lot of stuff and the elephant almost went. It actually has a good sized hole in the back that dirt wouldn't stay in.
But Sean...with his infinite wisdom and keen decoration sense...said we should keep it anyway since it might look cute through the window. We all know how important "cute" is.
So it stayed...and even if it's not actually all that adorable, it's darn cute that Sean suggested saving it.
Starred...
1. Recycling Cans, 2. it's too hot, go away.., 3. Untitled, 4. atop one of my expedit shelves.., 5. studio!, 6. VTWonen Inspired, 7. honeymoon album, 8. Goodnight owl
There was a lot of good stuff this week...
- Scrapbooking...loved this layout and these (oh the way she cut the tags...have to try that) and especially these. Oh and there was this great idea...and this cute one too...it was a good scrapbooking week.
- Two great September calendars here and here.
- Love this color combo...and this wall color.
- Great house decor stuff this week too...love the chalkboards here...and these playroom ideas (I think Auntie Nora needs one) and I loved these images.
- These are the absolute cutest digital elements.
- Mac's already looking for Halloween crafts and I know he'll love these...and how cute is this idea too...you could use it for so many different themes?
- Not a lot of recipes this week but this looked awfully good. And as a cheese lover I thought these were super cool.
HTML...
In another addition of "what I have no business doing this week" I did a little blog rearranging/updating. I made new simple designs for my sidebar links and added things like e-mail and my Tumblr account. I also updated my profile photo with a family self portrait from our trip...before that whole black eye incident.
I am always a little too proud of myself when I complete the most simplistic of HTML maneuvers...like being able to figure out "mailto" after a little Googling...such an accomplishment! :)
I also updated all of my Making Stuff categories...dozens of layouts, cards, wrapped gifts and other crafts from the last few months.
Now I just need to make new stuff...some layouts and cards are officially on the agenda today before I have to go to school for the night.Well Wishes...
It's getting to be time for fall and I couldn't resist starting to make cards that go with the season.
