Musings of a Jersey Girl in the Windy City

Monday Morning Coffee...

2009-01-19T09:28:00.000-06:00

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
~Albert Einstein

Frugal Friday...

2009-01-16T11:02:00.002-06:00

I have always tried to be frugal where I can... clip coupons, turn lights off when I'm not in a room, keep the heat low... little things like that. In these economic times, every little bit helps and I thought it would be good idea to share a frugal tip every Friday.

One of the most important tips (or advice) I can offer is to plan your meals and do your grocery shopping with a list... The later being the most important! There was a time when I used to go grocery shopping without a list and I would just "wing it". I would purchase duplicates of things I already had at home... sometimes not buying what I may have needed to make a specific meal or recipe. It was a disaster!

But then, I started making a list of what I needed... and then, I started paying more attention to the grocery store sales circulars... and then, I would try to match up coupons I had with items that were on sale (for even more savings).

And, now, I plan the dinner menu for the entire week, by going through the circulars (and coupons). So, I not only shop with a shopping list, but I actually have a plan! LOL I try to make at least one or two new recipes each week (because eating the same things all the time is boring!).

Here's what I do... First, I try to get an idea of what we'd like to have for dinner the coming week. I check what I have on hand (from my small stockpile that I've managed to build) as far as meats, dry goods, etc. Then, I check the sales circulars to see what is on sale, go through my coupons, plan the menu and then I start my shopping list (combining ingredients I may need for new recipes, together with staples or necessary items I need)

I also shop at 3 different grocery stores to try to get the best deal. (They are all local so there is no money wasted in gas).

This was my dinner menu for this week... In addition to what I needed to make each meal (what I didn't already have at home), I also purchased some staples/necessary items and few extras...

Total spent: $56.00 (that was with a few coupons totaling $1.10):

Sunday
Salisbury steak, noodles, peas

Monday
Chicken stir fry over rice

Tuesday
Chicken Francaise over linguini (*new recipe)

Wednesday
Leftovers

Thursday
Steak, twice baked potatoes, carrots (We didn't have this on Thursday night because it was too cold outside to grill... Instead, I had a smoked sausage in the freezer and made a meal from that. I will move this meal to next week or the week after)

Friday
Breakfast - Pancakes & sausage
Dessert: Apple Crisp (*new recipe )

Saturday
Chicken croquettes, mashed potatoes, corn (*new recipe)

By making a shopping list (and sticking to it), planning the weekly menu, comparing grocery stores sales circulars, I've been able to save money each week... like I said before, every little bit helps!

Tasty Tuesday - Recipe time!!

2009-01-13T17:09:00.010-06:00

This is a recipe from Pampered Chef

Taco Ring:

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 small onion (diced)
1 package taco seasoning mix
2 (8 oz.) packages of Crescent rolls
1 cup shredded cheddar

Toppings
1/4 cup of chopped black olives
2 tomatoes (chopped)
Bag of shredded lettuce
1 large green or red pepper (optional)
Salsa and/or sour cream

Brown the ground beef, drain excess fat. Mix in the package of taco seasoning and onion. Set aside.

On a large pizza stone or baking pan, separate the crescent roll triangles and assemble them in a circular pattern with the small edge of the triangle inward towards the center. (You want to create a donut shape with a small hole in the middle)

Place meat on the crescent roll towards the "hole" to form a ring. Sprinkle shredded cheese over top of meat.

Then take the outer corners of the crescent rolls, lift them up over the meat, press and seal on the inside edge of the crescent roll (when finished this will look like a big donut or ring)

Bake at 350* for 15-20 minutes. Carefully slide onto large plate.

Then fill the "center" of ring (on the serving plate) with your "toppings: shredded lettuce, tomatoes, olives, peppers. You could put small dollops of sour cream "dotting" the ring... or just throw the toppings into individuals serving bowls and everyone fixes their own taco ring...

Simple... Delicious... Enjoy!

Landscaping 101...

2009-01-13T15:22:00.004-06:00

Over Memorial Day weekend of last year, we finally decided to spruce up our front yard. I will tell you that I am not the kind of girl who likes to become one with the dirt and grass and bugs and all that. (And, now you know why I don't have a garden LOL)

Anyway... something needed to be done with the eyesore in my front yard. My husband did most of the work and I mainly supervised, planned the area in question and shopped for the items! (those are very important jobs)

This is what the area we landscaped looked like when we first purchased our home a few years ago:

(Click on picture for full size image)

And THIS is what it looked like after we finished:

(Click on picture for full size image)

Nice improvement, huh?

We did add some landscaping lights along the backside of the pavers, as well as another Hosta plant in the front (left).

I couldn't be more thrilled with the results!

A brand new year...

2009-01-13T15:18:00.002-06:00

Boy does time fly! I knew I hadn't blogged in quite some time, but didn't realize it was so long ago... Needless to say, this past summer kept me busy and before I knew it, the holidays were upon us.

I have many new things to share as I hope to become a more faithful blogger in this new year.

Garage Sale Finds...

2008-05-03T14:29:00.004-05:00

'Tis the season for Garage Sales... This morning my husband and I headed out early to find our treasurers:

Spent just over $20... Some shelves (we'll paint those), two purses,(one is a Prada, could be a fake, I don't know... but I feel so snobby LOL) a few books, computer games, and two plaques in the Cafe theme style that match my kitchen!! I was so excited to find those!!

You know what they say... One man's junk is another man's treasure.

I'm exhausted and I'm going to play with my new purses...

Fun survey... 41 things you didn't know about me!

2008-05-02T21:12:00.002-05:00

I "borrowed" this from Deep Fried Apple Pie's blog and thought this would be fun:

1. What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Dial liquid soap by the sink… Softsoap’s Pure Cashmere (for me) in the shower.

2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No…and I would love some!

3. What would you change about your living room? Carpet and window treatments (soon!!)

4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? Dishwasher is empty

5. What is in your fridge? The usual… milk, butter, some leftovers, condiments, etc., etc.

6. White or wheat bread? White

7. What is on top of your refrigerator? A tray that holds some potatoes and onions, my husband’s cooler.

8. What color or design is on your shower curtain? The hall bathroom is a square pattern in blues, light blues with a touch of purple. The master bathroom is a crème colored curtain with bamboo (Asian décor)

9. How many plants are in your home? 5

10. Is your bed made right now? Yes and no… It’s made, but my dog likes to fluff the comforter, so part of the bed is a little messed up.

11. Comet or Soft Scrub? Soft scrub

12. Is your closet organized? Pretty much

13. Can you describe your flashlight? Big, black, heavy.

14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic more at home? Combination of both

15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? No

16. If you have garage, is it cluttered? Nope… just cleaned and organized it a few weeks ago.

17. Curtains or blinds? Blinds

18. How many pillows do you sleep with? One

19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night? Sometimes the light from the tv

20. How often do you vacuum? At least once a week

21. Standard toothbrush or electric? Both

22. What color is your toothbrush? Standard toothbrush is white and purple… electric one is white.

23. Do you have welcome mat on your front porch? Yes, but it’s plain (no words). I have an outdoor frog figurine by the front door that has a small “Welcome” sign in the frog’s hand.

24. What is in your oven right now? Just the oven racks

25. Is there anything under your bed? Nope

26. Chore you hate the most? Folding laundry

27. What retro items are in your home? Hmmm… I don’t know if I would call some items retro… I have a side table/lamp table in the living room that belonged to my grandmother… It’s over 50 years old.

28. Do you have separate room you use an an office? Yes… my home office

29. How many mirrors are in your home? 3 (one in each bathroom, one in the stairwell)

30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? You always need to have a stash!

31. What color are your walls? Which room! Office is a greenish color, guest room is beige/brown, living room is a dark sand color, master bedroom is red, master bathroom is yellow/goldish, kitchen and family room are still white

32. What does your home smell like right now? Dinner (we had chicken)

33. Favorite candle scent? Strawberry and I love Sand & Sun by Yankee Candle

34. What kind of pickles are in your refrigerator right now? None.

35. Ever been on your roof? I haven’t, but my husband has.

36. Do you own a stereo? No

37. How many TV’s do you have? 4

38. How many phones? 3 in house, 2 cell phones

39. Do you have a housekeeper? I wish!!

40. What style do you decorate in? Different styles. My living room is a Southwestern style… my guest room is done up in an Old World Map style, master bedroom and master bathroom are an Asian décor.

41. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? A little of both… depends on the piece of furniture and room it’s going to be in.

Who's next!? :)

Spring has finally sprung... I think!

2008-04-27T17:32:00.007-05:00

Look... Flowers blooming... In my front yard!!!

This is my favorite flower bed filled with tulips, a few hosta and who knows what else. Seriously, I do not know what other flowers/plants are in there as they were planted by the previous owner...

But, I don't really even need to know what they are... I know that they are very pretty and every spring they make me smile. The small tree in the middle will have pretty white flowers on it soon and the whole area just looks so colorful and alive. After the winter we have had, this is such a welcome sight to see.

Last weekend, we relocated rock that was in the front of the house to the backyard "island", creating a rock garden of sorts... Nothing grows there except weeds and hopefully the rock will prevent them...

(See that bench... I got that on Freecycle last year. It was in pretty good shape... good bones so to speak! We gave it new life by painting the wrought iron black and the bench red. I have a birdhouse in the "rock island" and a few bird feeders next to it on the grass... I really should take a picture of that, huh?)

And, in honor of Spring... and eventually summer... I purchased some new plates and serving pieces to use and enjoy while eating outside on the deck...

They definitely say Summer and have that outdoor look and feel I wanted....

"Summertime and the living is easy"

The Big 4-0

2008-04-12T09:44:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was my birthday. I hit another milestone in my life... the Big 40!! *yikes* I can't believe that I can even type those two numbers together, let alone say that number out loud!!

I had a hard time when I reached my 30th birthday... (Wow, I was just a baby back then! LOL) and I can't believe I'm actually as old as my mother was at one time... that just blows my mind. (would I be considered an "elder" in social settings now? You know, as I child how you were told to "respect your elders"... I think I may be that elder now!)

I saw a commercial yesterday for a life insurance company for people aged 50-75 and I thought to myself: "Wow, in 10 years, I'll be eligible"... how sad is that! LOL

Anyway, I did have a nice birthday. My husband decorated the kitchen cabinets with balloons, so that was the first thing I saw when I came into the kitchen yesterday morning... It was a very nice surprise!!

We had cake after dinner last night

I think I'll go look for wrinkles on my face again... LOL

Bigger is better...

2008-03-30T09:45:00.005-05:00

My husband's belated birthday gift arrived last week... a new lens for his camera.

He loves astronomy and photography, so this gift will help him combine his love of both and I hope to show some great pictures that he will take of the night sky!

His camera has an adapter that will fit onto his telescope...

And this new lens will be able to give a nice close up of features in the night sky.

So, it goes without saying that he was VERY HAPPY with his birthday gift!! (Now what am I going to do next year to top this? *scratching my head* LOL)

Hippity Hoppity...

2008-03-23T12:06:00.002-05:00

The Easter Bunny was here and left us some goodies!!

Happy Easter!!

They shouldn't let me out in public...

2008-03-21T20:35:00.002-05:00

My husband says that going out with me is an adventure... and today's "outing" was no different.

Just another day in the life of me.. and all my "isms."

First, we met with our new insurance agent and as we're sitting in his office, HIS phone rings. Well, he just happens to have the same ringer/ring tone (whatever they are called) as my business line... so, what does yours truly do... I get up out of the chair I'm sitting in, because I want to answer the phone. It took me a moment or two to "get my bearings" and realize that it was not MY phone ringing. I am sure our new agent thinks I am a total nutcase!!

Next, we went to Red Lobster for a late lunch/early dinner. I love Red Lobster! We're eating our salads when the waitress comes over with our meal, so I went to move my salad bowl... Somehow my fork jumped out of my hand, hit the knife that was on the edge of the bowl and they both tumble to the table... To cover up my embarrassment of apparently not being able to hold a fork, I laugh and said "See, I was just so excited that my shrimp was here!"

At least I could laugh and the waitress laughed as well (although she was probably laughing at me... not with me!)

After that (like those two aren't enough for one day), we go to Target. I'm trying to find a DVD and I'm looking all over the DVD section and can't find it (I'm thinking they have sold out).

I see a young guy who worked there and told him that I can't find this DVD and asked for his help. Without saying a word, he takes 2 steps backwards into the main aisle, and moves his arm up and away from his body (just like "Barker's Beauties" on the Price is Right... err, I guess they are called "Drew's Beauties" now?) and points to the end cap. The ENTIRE end cap is filled with the DVD I'm looking for.

Then, we head to the supermarket and we're looking at all of the different brands/flavors of ice cream, as we're trying to decide which one to get. Nothing was catching my eye, so I say to my hsuband, who is several feet away from me...

"How about Burt & Ernies?"

My husband starts cracking up...

Another shopper is chuckling and I'm clueless...

My husband, through laughter, says, it's "Ben & Jerry's"...

Oh... (hanging head in shame)

And the cherry on top of that ice cream sundae happened when we were walking back to the car, from the supermarket, and I comment to my husband to "be careful" (because of the slushy snowy mess Mother Nature dumped on us earlier in the day) and what happens next (you know where this is going)...

I start slipping and sliding and almost bring the both of us down. Thank goodness, I caught my balance and neither one of us fell...

What an afternoon... I blame it on the snow!!

Happy Spring... I think??

2008-03-20T18:43:00.006-05:00

Today is the first day of Spring and with the warmer temperatures and melting snow, I thought for sure we would be heading for this

Or this

But, it seems that Old Man Winter will just not loosen his grip because this is what I have to look forward to... tomorrow

More snow. 6-9 inches of the white stuff. Like I haven't shoveled enough this winter season!

Can you believe it??

My (frugal) Crafty Creation...

2008-03-18T17:26:00.003-05:00

So, I've been looking for something with 'height' to put on my bathroom shelf... The other day, I rescued this bottle before it made it into our recycling bin... (This bottle used to contain a gourmet blend of peppercorns for our pepper mill - *mental note: remember to add this to shopping list*)

I cleaned out the bottle, removed the label and added in some of my bath salts and beads that seem to have accumulated under my bathroom sink.

And, here is my frugal, yet crafty creation:

It didn't cost me anything extra to make since I had everything on hand already, the color scheme blends in with the bathroom, it adds some height to that side of the shelf, which is what I was looking for, and I was able to free up some room under the sink... (which really means, now that there's more room under there, I need to go buy more stuff! LOL)

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

2008-03-17T14:54:00.004-05:00

The O'Musings of a Jersey Girl in the Windy City wanted to wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day because on this day... everyone is Irish! (Now, just read this post using an Irish brogue and I've done my part! LOL)

Me luck was just startin' yesterday as the hubby and I enjoyed a delicious dinner of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots. (are you using an Irish Brogue... it sounds even more delicious when you do!)

And, I found me pot-o-gold at the end of that rainbow in the form of dessert... Brownies and cupcakes... Ain't that lucky!?

Plenty of cupcakes left (I had to hide them from the Leprechauns), so grab a cup of coffee and help yerself, lads and lassies...

WWW...Weekend, Weather and Water towers!

2008-03-08T09:19:00.006-06:00

The weekend is here!! *doing the happy dance*

This is a water tower from the south 'burbs of Chicago (area I used to live in)... isn't that cute!

I had never seen a water tower like this before until I moved out here...

Notice the bow tie (around the 'neck' area)... this water tower is looking/smiling at a 'female' water tower across town... how funny is that! (I don't have a picture of the 'female' tower, but the 'female' water tower has a bow on her 'head')

The first time I saw these towers, I knew I had to snap a picture of them... too funny!!

Where I live now, I can see my town's water tower from my backyard... although it's not as fun as the one in this picture, as far as water towers go, I guess it's pretty nice! LOL

So we are expecting about an inch of snow tomorrow night and still have cold temperatures (it was 8* degrees about an hour ago).... then, we're in for a warm-up... temps into the 40's and I saw a 56* in the forecast for later this week!!! (I can't even remember what temperatures in the 50's feel like... hopefully, I'll thaw out by then!) Just hang on... spring is right around the corner!!

This weekend is more or less doing the usual stuff... some shopping, some cleaning, some things around the house and most importantly... some relaxing!! (and staying warm LOL)

Have a great weekend!

Mirror, Mirror on the wall...

2008-03-06T14:50:00.003-06:00

We've lived in this house for almost 2 years and I'm so happy that little by little everything is finally coming together.

This is the new mirror we purchased and next to it is one of my most favorite pictures... it's a signed, limited print by a local artist and was a Christmas 2006 gift from my husband. The picture was just hung up a few weeks ago (prior to the mirror) because I finally found a frame for it... not the frame I really want, but a frame nonetheless.

When I find "the frame" for that picture, I'll re-frame it, but for now I'm just so thrilled that's it up on the wall!!

I can't remember if I mentioned it or not, but my living room is decorated in a southwest theme and when you first walk into my house from the door, you enter into the living room. The wall in this picture would be the first wall that you would see when you entered my home and the stairs to the basement are right below that (you can just make out some wood railing in the bottom left of the picture).

I have to say... the mirror and picture really brighten up that area and pull the living room together... (Please ignore THAT light fixture!! *gasp* We haven't found one that we liked yet to replace it with)

Now, if you entered my home from the garage entrance you would be in the family room and if you turned to your left, you would see the stairs leading to the basement and yourself in that mirror...

So, see... the little things in life like buying a mirror or hanging a picture excite me... Maybe over the weekend, I'll take some pics around the house and give you the grand tour!

Flashback: My first Chicago winter

2008-03-02T09:55:00.002-06:00

Living in NJ, I experienced cold winters, snow, a few blizzards, a few Nor'Easters, frigid temperatures... the whole nine yards. But, it wasn't a constant... some winters were much better than others and for some reason, -10* in NJ feels so much warmer than -10* out here!!

Out there, as an adult, I rarely wore a coat in the winter and didn't even own a hat! My usual routine was from my house... to my car... to where ever I was going that was in an enclosed type of building and then from there.... to my car... to my house. Wind chills meant very little to me....

Now, let's flashback to when I first moved out here, shall we: I arrived the day after a blizzard dumped 14" of snow on my newly adopted city... The people out here just referred to those 14" as "a lot of snow".... this Jersey girl calls it a blizzard!

Anyway, I spent the next month or so freezing my you know what off...but I'm from Jersey... I'm tough... I've seen my share of winter weather and I could handle this... no problem!

Then one winter morning, I found myself at the train station waiting for the train to go downtown... I noticed everyone standing outside all bundled up wearing hats, scarfs, gloves, ear muffs... and I thought to myself, as I sat in the warm comfort of the car (my husband was waiting there with me) how uncomfortable these people looked all bundled up, standing just a few feet away from my car... But me, being a tough Jersey Girl and all, didn't need to be all bundled up like that... it wasn't "that" cold out.

I heard the train whistle and with that, I kissed my husband good-bye and hopped out of the car, wearing my winter coat, which was open (not zipped up/buttoned up)... no hat, no scarf, no gloves... no need... the train was coming and, just as I did in NJ, I went from my vehicle, to another form of "shelter"... I never really had to endure the elements.

I walked the few feet to stand with the rest of the people waiting for that train... I turned around and waved to my husband as he pulled out of the parking lot and watched him drive off and turned back to face the train tracks.

That's when it happened....

The wind kicked up and sent a bone chilling cold throughout my entire body... it was so cold that it hurt my face and literally knocked the wind out of me. There I stood, open coat, no gloves, no hat, no scarf and no earmuffs, wearing pumps... shivering! The train was in view, and under normal circumstances, would have been there already, but for some reason it stopped... within view, but out of reach.

As I stood shivering, I noticed the other people around me dressed much more appropriately for this weather than I was, as I started to do the shiver-dance... you know the movement that you do when you're cold to keep warm.

One person even had the audacity to say... "Boy, it's cold out this morning!" and I wanted to knock his hat off.

Finally, after only about 7 minutes... which seemed like 3 hours... the train pulled into the station... We all piled in and I think I spent the entire trip into the city shivering in my seat.

But, wait... there's more!

After we get downtown... I now have to walk several blocks from the train station to my job... with my closed coat (at least, by this point, I was smart and zipped it up!), no gloves, hat or scarf as the wind continues to rip through me.

I realized that day why they call Chicago the "Windy City"... even though that's not the real reason behind Chicago's nickname... but, on that day, I think it was Mother Nature's way of putting this Jersey Girl in her place....

That night, I went to the store and bought a hat, scarf and earmuffs! (I already had several pairs of gloves at home... in a drawer)

The next morning, I stood waiting for the train at the train station with all of the other people, bundled up, looking as if we were all going to a ski convention. My coat was zipped up... I had on my hat, gloves, scarf, earmuffs and socks and sneakers on my feet (instead of the pumps from the day before).

And, although that wind continued to send shivers through my body, at least I was much warmer than the previous morning... and when the gentlemen from the previous morning said "Boy, it's cold out this morning", I nodded in agreement, sipping my hot coffee.

Shortly before the train arrived, I noticed a woman get out of a car... She waved to whoever it was that dropped her off and took her place with all the rest of us waiting for the train. She had on a long coat (open/not zipped up)... no gloves, no scarf, no hat, no earmuffs, wearing a dress/skirt and pumps.

As the wind kicked up again, I took another sip of my coffee and thought to myself... She must be from New Jersey!

An Almost Spring Day....

2008-03-02T08:31:00.002-06:00

Today's high is supposed to be 47!!! Woooooo Hoooooo... I'm doing the happy dance in my jammies! Although there are still snow piles around, today's temperatures should help to shrink them. We broke one of the records in our area for the most snow during the winter season, this season.... I think we are around 63" or 65" (I can't remember which and it really doesn't matter because it's still the same damn white stuff that continuously fell from the sky anyway!)

The sun is shining... the snow will melt and spring, hopefully, will be right around the corner and plans for today definitely include being outside... at some point.

Ever since I moved out here, I've heard people (my husband included) say: "If you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes"... meaning that the weather out here changes on a dime, so if you don't like what's going on weather-wise, hang in there because it will change very suddenly. That weather tidbit of advice has certainly held true.... Today's high: 47 -- Tomorrow's high: 33 and there's some precipitation in the form of rain and/or wet snow and temps head a little farther south into the high 20's come the end of this week...

We'll have to see what the rest of March has in store for us... it came in like a lamb, which means it will go out like a lion!

A special friend...

2008-02-16T20:33:00.003-06:00

I’ve already introduced you to my two fur-babies (the Beagle and the Shepard)… Now, I’d like to introduce you to another dog that was very special to me.

This is Buffy… or McBuff as affectionately nicknamed by my grandmother. Buffy was a collie and we got him as a puppy when I was just 5 years old… He lived his life between my house and my grandparent’s house. Buffy was such a good dog… obedient, loyal and loving. We kept him until I was probably about 8 or 9 and then he went to live with my grandparents in upstate NY where he thrived… land to run around in… grass to roll around in… he was a very happy camper! Since I spent most of my childhood between my house and my grandparent’s house, I still got to spend so much time with him.

Now, my grandmother also had a few cats during Buffy’s lifetime and say what you will about ‘cats and dogs’, I really believe that they had a friendship. For instance, the cats would go outside and roam around. If they weren’t back within a reasonable amount of “doggie” time, Buffy would whine at the door to go outside… and he would go look for the cat. I can remember one time watching both of them walking up the driveway to the door… the cat in front… Buffy behind the cat, grunting and moaning, as if he was yelling at the cat for making him go look for her! That pattern continued for years…

I also taught Buffy to “smile” (which is a snarl)… but, he did it on cue to the song “A coke and a smile” (remember that commercial?!). It was hysterical and I know that he hated doing it… which I think made it more comical!

Sadly, Buffy crossed over the Rainbow Bridge when I was 17. He hadn’t been doing too well several weeks prior to my 17th birthday. I was spending my birthday and that week at my grandparent’s. I didn’t even know he was having a tough time because you would not have thought that had you seen him that week… full of life and love! My grandparents were even shocked. But, on the day I left after I gave Buffy hugs and kiss, said good-bye, waved to my grandmother and Buffy as we drove down the driveway and turned onto that old country road, Buffy went into the bedroom, curled up on his favorite rug at the foot of my grandparent’s bed and peacefully passed away.

When I got home, my mom told me the news… I believe that he waited for me… because of our bond and 12-year friendship... he waited one last time to run through the grass with me, to get a belly rub, treats, hugs and kisses and… to smile for me.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2008-02-14T07:43:00.004-06:00

Valentine's Day... the day of love... and chocolate!!

So, give your sweetheart(s) a kiss, tell them how much you love them and share some chocolate with them... (but just one piece! LOL)

Wishing you a warm and loving day...

Sunday Shopper...

2008-02-11T12:05:00.000-06:00

Well, I didn’t let the cold temperatures yesterday keep me inside, as cabin fever is starting to set in, so we braved the cold and my husband and I went shopping (like I ever really need an excuse to go shopping??)

We bundled up to face the biting wind and headed out… First stop was Home Depot to pick up some air filters for the furnace and to “window shop”. (I love Home Depot/any home improvement store almost as much as I love office supply stores and bookstores – Whenever my husband says, “Let’s go to Home Depot”… I’m ready and waiting in the car)

Next, we stopped at the local pet store to pick up some goodies for the doggies because we can’t forget them in our shopping excursion!

Then we went to the new Michaels that opened up in a neighboring town (so now we have two in the area). Because yesterday was their “Grand Opening”, they had some drawings and give-aways in the store.

One of which was a Spin & Win Wheel.

My husband spun and… we won… a Creative Versa-Tool from Walnut Hollow – how cool is that?!!

And, I was also able to pick up a picture frame that was on sale to frame a limited print I’ve had for a year and a half and finally get that up on the wall (Look for separate entry about this picture)

Our next stop was the grocery store and we got a free Sunday paper (I love free things!!).

We stopped at a local taco place for lunch before heading to the bookstore where, of course and as usual, I couldn’t walk out of that place with no less than 3 books!!

Then back home to give the dogs their goodies, frame and hang the picture, eat dinner and crash for the rest of the day… and warm up!

And, you’ll be happy to know (at least I was) that my purse was very well-behaved… no attaching itself to store display hooks or a stranger’s shopping cart!

Way too cold outside...

2008-02-10T10:17:00.000-06:00

Right now, it's a balmy -5* (up one degree from -6* earlier), but feels like -33*!!!!! *yikes*

I can't take this cold anymore... I love winter, but these sub-zero temperatures suck... I can't even look out the window, that's how cold I feel!!

I think I'm going to hibernate in bed until spring!

The mis-adventures of my purse...

2008-02-09T18:00:00.001-06:00

My husband and I went to do a little food shopping earlier today and we stopped at two different stores…

First store: This store was PACKED today and my husband and I were standing up near the registers waiting to get in line. We’re standing in front of an end-cap of batteries. I start to move forward so we can get in line and my husband notices one of my drawstrings on my purse is caught around one of the display hooks for the batteries. He yells for me to stop, so he can unhook me and his timing was impeccable because had I moved even just a smidgen more forward, that entire display probably would have toppled down!!

Second store: The last aisle in this store is a wider aisle and the clearance items are in the middle of that aisle. So, I’m looking at some of the clearance items and my husband is on the opposite side of the clearance items facing me. A man pushing his cart starts to pass by me (my back would be to him, my purse over my right shoulder).

Somehow the draw-strings on my purse get caught on his cart (underneath the area where you push the cart). My husband is in mid-sentence, when all of a sudden, I start moving away from him. I wasn’t exactly sure what was happening, but then I noticed the draw-strings of my purse caught on this man’s grocery cart.

My husband and I are calmly saying "Excuse me" "Sir" "Sir" to this older man... as he is now starting to drag me down the aisle with him! Thank goodness he heard us and stopped...and I was freed!! The man continues down the aisle and my husband and I just crack up with laughter thinking about what had just happened... in two different stores! (I think the shoppers thought we were nuts!) How embarrassing!

Oh, did I mention my mishap with the hand lotion last week at Walgreens? I was looking at one of the new Vaseline Intensive Care lotions and wanted to smell the scent. So, I flipped open the top and gave the bottle a very gentle squeeze (you know, to release the scent)… The next thing I know...lotion squirts straight up and into my hair... (My husband is pretending not to know me at this point)... Oh yes, I’m fun to shop with!!

On the bookshelf...

2008-02-09T08:57:00.001-06:00

I LOVE to read... and have always loved to read. These are just some of the books on my bookshelf... Most have been read, and others are patiently waiting to be read! While crime dramas and legal thrillers are usually in my "Top 10", I also like a wide variety of other types of books... from fiction to autobiographies to everything in between.

I could get lost for hours in a bookstore (and have)...it's one of my favorite places. And, of course, I can never leave a bookstore empty-handed. I always manage to find a book or two (or three or four) that catch my eye and just scream out: "Read me!!"

Some of my favorite authors are: John Grisham, Nancy Kopp, Steve Martini and Judy Blume... but there are so many great books out there written by great authors, I couldn't even begin to name them all!!

***********************************

My Winter reading list:

I am currently reading:

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Innocent Man and The Appeal, both by John Grisham, are next on deck...

Those three books should take me through Winter and then I'll have more added to my reading lists for Spring and Summer... (Did I mention I love bookstores!) :)

12 inches and counting....

2008-02-06T19:50:00.000-06:00

This was taken around 8:00 a.m. from my front window:

These next two were taken before we even started shoveling:

This was our 4th trip outside shoveling during the day... Doesn't even look like we shoveled the last 3 times we had been out there... that's how much snow just kept falling!!

The next three pictures are after shoveling (for the 4th time)... We did have to go out and shovel a 5th time, but that was mainly to clear some drifts and blowing snow... No heavy shoveling that time!!

Even though I'm cold, tired, achy and I don't want to see my shovel again for a very long time, my hubby and I enjoyed the snow/outside... but he doesn't want to see his shovel again for a very long time either!!

It's snowing again...

2008-02-05T18:17:00.000-06:00

Isn't it pretty?! I took this picture from my garage about an hour ago... We are expecting upwards of 12 INCHES of snow tonight, overnight and into tomorrow morning...some local reports are even predicting 16+ inches, possibly 20 INCHES of snow by the time this storm moves out of here. My husband and I just shoveled about an inch or so from the driveway and walkway/front steps... why, I don't know... There will be so much more to shovel tomorrow... Why, why why didn't we buy that snowblower!! I hope by next winter we will have a snowblower... and, of course, once we do buy it... it won't snow and we'll never use it and we'll wonder why we ever bought it in the first place!!

Oh, and this snow is basically right on the heels of our came-from-out-of-no-where-5 inches-of-snow that fell on Sunday night...

I love snow... but I'm just so tired of shoveling!!!! The local weathermen have said that so far this winter season, we have had over 42 inches of snow fall... not all at once, of course. That's 42 inches of snow, so far, that I've shoveled... (I think I'm going to stay in bed until Spring!)

I'll post some more snow pictures (and snow total updates) tomorrow...

Groundhog Day Musings...

2008-02-02T10:33:00.000-06:00

So, the Groundhog saw its shadow... that means 6 more weeks of this:

(December '07 ice storm)

And this:

(January '08 snowfalls)

And this:

(January '08 snowfalls)

Before we get to this:

(My Spring '07 garden)

Snake Plant

2008-01-31T09:11:00.000-06:00

My snake plant’s ancestry is 73 years old… 73! That’s amazing to me considering I really do not have a green thumb, but over the years my thumb has turned a very light shade of green!

The “mother plant” was purchased around 1935 by my grandmother as a Mother's Day gift for her mother. Years later, when my great-grandmother passed away, the snake plant resided with my grandmother.

As a child, I remember that snake plant at my grandmother’s house… It was a floor plant next to the old secretary type desk in one area of the living room, mingling with all the other plants my grandmother had… Now, she HAD a green thumb. She had so many plants (indoor and outdoor) that I couldn’t even begin to name (or remember) them all!

But I always remembered the snake plant…

About 6 years ago, my grandmother gave me a few small shoots from the “mother plant”… They were only a few inches high and I was sure I would kill them within a few days!

Imagine my surprise… almost 6 years later… to see this plant live, thrive and grow… in my home… with me as its caretaker!

Sadly, after my grandfather passed way, there were some changes. My grandmother was planning to move (and eventually lived with me until her death), and felt she was getting too old to care for all of her plants.... and unbeknownst to me, the “mother snake plant” was adopted by her neighbor friend who live across the street from my grandmother...

Though I would have loved the “mother snake plant”, I am thrilled that I have a piece of my family’s history (the “child snake plant”) and that it has continued to grow over the years. It’s very special to me because since my grandmother has passed away, it’s like having a piece of her still with me.

This year, it will be time to re-pot the plant into a slightly larger planter… I hope one day it will be a beautiful floor plant, like its mother, and that I will be able to give a few shoots to my future-yet-to-be-born niece(s) or nephew(s).

Like I said, my thumb has started to turn a very light shade of green... :)

Comedy of Errors... The Shower from Hell!!

2008-01-30T09:17:00.000-06:00

The other day, I took a shower. Now, I’ve taken many, many showers before, but you would have thought this was the first shower I had ever taken... in my life! A shower should be relaxing as the water washes away the day, so to speak... This shower was anything but that!

I start by pulling closed the shower curtain, as it was open, and one of the bamboo hooks I have that holds up the shower curtain somehow fell off and into the tub. A small piece of the hook broke off and my husband said he’d glue that back together (so, he went downstairs into the basement).

Okay, I turn on the water and get in. I notice the water temperature is just a little too warm for my liking, so I want to add more cold water. However, I apparently turn the knob the opposite direction, which added hot water! I notice that the water is very hot, but think to myself: “Well, maybe it just needs a minute for the cold water to mix in”… by now, the water is really hot! I can’t reach the faucet (opposite end of tub from where I’m standing) without burning myself, so I have to hop out of the shower to get to the faucet...

As I’m hopping out, I bang my leg on the tub and knock over the shampoo bottle...

I adjust the water and hop back in… (and pick up the shampoo bottle and rub my leg)

I shampoo my hair and manage to get shampoo in my eye (What am I... 3 years old? I could not tell you the last time I got shampoo in my eye!!)... So now I have to rinse out my eye, then finish shampooing and rinse out the shampoo... Then I apply the conditioner and while that’s “soaking in”, I grab my poofy thingy. (I know there's a name for it, but I call it a poofy thingy)

I reach for my body wash and the BOTTLE IS EMPTY!!!! (Yes, I’m the only one who uses it, so that’s my fault)

I yell for my husband (thinking he can grab a new bottle from underneath the cabinet), but I remember that he’s probably still downstairs fixing the shower hook... So, I hop out of the shower again to grab the new bottle of body wash...

I hop back in, lather up... all is going well! *big thumbs up*

Now it's time to shave... I use disposable razors and put a new one in the shower just the other day... Well, I didn’t remember to take the little plastic cap off the razor, so now I’m trying my hardest (with wet hands and a sore eye) to grip this little piece of plastic to remove it from the razor...praying that I don't slice myself and bleed to death!!

Meanwhile, I yell for my husband again, thinking he might be back upstairs... I’m still fiddling with the plastic piece and finally it comes off and hits me in the face...

That's when I burst into laughter thinking about how horrible and frightening this shower has been, all the while hoping and praying I make it out alive! (Can you imagine the headlines!)

You'll be happy to know that I survived the shower from hell... And, by miracle of all miracles, I did not cut myself shaving!!

However, I will admit, I was a very hesitant the next day when stepping into the shower again, but all went well.

I'm wondering if a bath might be safer for me... Rubber ducky, you're the one....

Nah...

My Freecycle find...

2008-01-27T10:18:00.001-06:00

Look what I found on Freecycle... A fleece throw for the doggies! It's brand new and was still in the plastic packaging.

If you read my entry titled "Under Wraps" you'll know that we have several throw blankets scattered in just about every room of the house. While the beagle loves to sleep all curled up under the blankets, my shepard likes to fluff and puff the blankets and the curls into the nicely fluffed blanket.

Many times, the beagle is sound asleep underneath the comforter on the guest bed and the shepard decides she wants to fluff and puff the comforter... for maximum comfort, of course... and she'll fluff the covers right off of the beagle! It's a funny to watch sometimes.

Anyway, we now have a new blanket to add to our ever-growing collection of doggie blankets.

And the knife ran away with the spatulas...

2008-01-26T20:35:00.000-06:00

About 6 months after moving into our new home, almost 2 years ago, I could not find my mini spatula (from Pampered Chef). I absolutely LOVED that spatula. Yeah, I know, I don’t really cook, but this spatula was a great kitchen tool.

So, we tore apart the kitchen and began the ‘great spatula search’. We looked in every drawer, in all the cabinets, in the utensil caddy, refrigerator, freezer, oven, microwave and any place else we could think of, but we never found it.

Just 6 months or so ago… We lost our large spatula! How do you lose a spatula??!! Well, apparently we did. Again, we looked in every drawer, in all the cabinets, in the utensil caddy, refrigerator, freezer, oven, microwave and any place else we could think of, but we never found it.

(I think there is a spatula conspiracy in this house!)

Now, today, we can't find one of our steak knives... Again, we looked in every drawer, in all the cabinets, in the utensil caddy, refrigerator, freezer, oven, microwave and any place else we could think of (During all of these “searches” I still have hopes of finding the mini spatula and I must admit that I forget what I’m actually supposed to be “searching” for and focus more on searching for the mini-spatula! :) )

We don't have any children and the dogs do not use utensils. (They’re smart dogs, but not that smart!)

I have no explanation for the missing kitchen items. Of course, it is always possible that the knife and spatulas simply ended up in the garbage... and that’s probably a very logical explanation... but I think one of us would notice throwing away a large spatula and a steak knife.

I’m baffled.

Maybe one day they will all come back home to the kitchen... and maybe they'll bring with them a whole new set of knives and cooking utensils!!!

Under wraps...

2008-01-26T17:58:00.001-06:00

The beagle... all wrapped up!! My two fur-babies are pretty funny... every day, they do something to make me laugh and 9 times out of 10 I don't have my camera handy...

Now, the beagle loves blankets... he sleeps under the blanket... sometimes he takes over the pillows and sometimes he takes over the entire bed!! We have throw blankets all over the furniture because... the beagle loves blankets!

Bed hog... blanket hog... I don't care... He's my beagle and I love him... and he just looks especially cute at times like this!

Let it snow... let it snow... let it snow!

2008-01-23T17:18:00.001-06:00

I should you let you know right away that I like snow... more like, I LOVE snow! Give me a blizzard any day of the week and I'm happy.

We have about 9" out there... and that was between Monday and Tuesday (official recorded snow was 8.something inches) and we picked up about 1/2" more of the fluffy white stuff today... This photo is looking onto one side of my deck in the backyard...

I think my "snow obsession" developed during the time I spent Upstate NY... I can still remember the huge amounts of snow we would get and how much fun I had outside in the snow...

My grandparents lived in NY and I spent lots of time at their house... summers, school vacations, etc. Their driveway was approximately 250 feet from the road and I can remember sledding and/or tobaggoning down that driveway or sledding in the horse coral on those round plastic thingies (I think they were flying saucers or something like that)... THAT was so much fun!! One side of the horse coral area had a slight downward incline... I would pack that area up with snow and water to get it nice and slick and fly down the small hill into the opening of the huge coral.

After being outside for hours on end,my grandmother always had a cup of hot chocolate waiting for me... with marshmallows... when I came inside. I can remember the warmth from the fireplace as I rubbed my hands together in front of the fire to warm them up.

I guess that's why I always have liked snow...it's calming, it makes me smile and it reminds me of happy times and it's really the only time I drink hot chocolate!

This is why I don't cook...

2008-01-21T14:49:00.000-06:00

You know that expression about too many cooks in the kitchen... well that happened to to us yesterday over chili dip... chili dip of all things!

So, here's a look at what it is sometimes like in our kitchen...

I’ll preface this by telling you first that years ago, my husband used to be a chef’s assistant in a hotel’s restaurant... He is a very, very good cook and I appreciate that and don’t mean to minimize or take anything away from that... but we both just "cook" differently (for instance, if I want chicken soup, I'll open a can of Campbell's or a package of Lipton.. My husband, on the other hand, will make it from scratch)

Well over 10 years ago, before I even knew my husband, I obtained a chili dip recipe from a friend... It’s not a gourmet recipe, it didn’t win awards... it’s a can of chili, cheese and a microwave and that’s it! So, for years I’ve been making that chili dip. Friends and family have loved it... my sister craves it! Again, it’s something anyone could make, no special schooling or skill required, but my sister and friends have told me it just always tastes better when I make it.

So, yesterday, I was going to make my chili dip. (I have made this several times for my husband so it's not like it was something new)

I had visions of us eating this with tostitos and other snacks while watching the big games on tv... Life is good!

I take out the can of chili and a bowl. My husband proceeds to take out a pot and place it on the stove. I ask him what he’s doing. He informs me that the pot is to cook the chili in... I look at him strangely and tell him that I’ve never "cooked" the chili on the stove... it’s all done in the microwave. Hubby says that he ‘thinks’ the chili cooks more thoroughly when it’s cooked on the stove, but… "it’s your recipe, you do what you need to do"...

I proceed to open the can of chili under the watchful eye of my husband, who again asks me if I’m going to cook the chili on the stove and he’ll help!!! (I don’t need any help… it’s chili and cheese for goodness sake, not a rack of lamb!!)

I decide that I’ll cook the $%^&* chili on the stove to warm it up, shut my husband up, who is apparently withering away from hunger right before my eyes, and then finish doing what I need to do in the microwave... no big deal... I've never prepared it that way in the past, but it will still be good!

Almost game time... chili dip coming up... Life is good!

The chili is now in the pot on the stove with a low flame… My husband gets the shredded cheese out of the fridge (I’m thinking he’s just helping me) and then he starts talking about putting the cheese right in the pot to melt it and this and that...

(He's now in full blown Iron Chef mode, ready to take on Kitchen Stadium!)

At that moment, I just lost it. We begin to argue about the $%^%&* chili dip and how I’ve been making it the same way for years and although I appreciate his help, guidance and assistance in the kitchen... I can manage this one dish just fine. My husband states that he wasn’t trying to tell me "how to make my chili dip" and "it’s my recipe" but he "just thought"…

So, with that, I immediately remove the pot from the stove and pour the chili into the bowl so it can go into the microwave (since it's my recipe) and, after 10 minutes of back and forth bickering/discussing the chili... the $%^&* chili dip will finally be done and then we can eat it...

I pour the chili into the bowl and I am just about to put it in the microwave when my husband says… "aren’t you going to cook that on the stove?" (And, although he did say that in jest with a smile on his face… I still chased him out of the kitchen)

The chili dip was perfect (as usual)! And, I didn’t hear one ‘complaint’ from my husband as he ate it like there was no tomorrow!

(And, visions of me dumping the chili dip all over his head soon replaced those wonderful 'life is good' visions I had had earlier)

The next time I want to make something in kitchen... I’m locking him out of the house!!

The little things in life...

2008-01-18T14:41:00.000-06:00

The beagle went in for grooming earlier today (the shepard goes for her "spa" day next week)

Now, that's a great looking doggie!!

And, of course, he brought home some goodies for he and the shepard... Some 'action' shots of the beagle at play:

Another great looking doggie!!

Going to find a quiet place to play...

Well, they must have worn themselves out... Now, they're both sleeping!

On the dinner table...

2008-01-17T19:32:00.001-06:00

Tonight, we had chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and Italian green beans... and, even though I am trying to be in the kitchen more in 2008, I did not cook this... hubby did *big grin*

What's on your table?

I love football...

2008-01-14T20:30:00.000-06:00

Those are three words that I never thought would ever come out of my mouth... Ever!!

A few weeks before Christmas, my sister and her boyfriend invited myself and my husband to join them for a weekend in Green Bay, WI to attend a Packers game... Before that, I had never, ever, been to a football game.

I fell in love with football right there and then...on that cold December day at Lambeau Field... with at least 72,000 people in attendance and millions more watching at home.

Years ago, I used to watch football... root for some teams, gather with friends on Sunday to watch the games, host Super Bowl parties, etc... but I never really got it. I never got the excitement or intensity other people felt.

I have become such a fan of the sport itself, in such a short amount of time, and now I GET IT!!

I now know what I've been missing all of these years. I've watched the last few games of the season and all of the Playoff games to date... I don't even care who's playing... I don't care where they are playing... as long as they are playing and it's on my tv!

Now, of course, since the Packers were my first, that's the team I have been cheering for and that's who I will continue to cheer for all the way to the Super Bowl and beyond.

Just like you never forget your first love, the Packers now have a very special place in my heart (and have gained a new fan!)

*Go Pack Go*

Mug Shot...

2008-01-13T20:29:00.001-06:00

Time to meet the doggies!!

This is our beagle mix... I fell in love with this little guy online and we adopted him from a local rescue shelter when he was about 4 months old. As soon as I met him, I knew I had to take him home... He was so small and cute and cuddly. Now, 4 1/2 years later, he is much bigger and stubborn and grumpy... but I still love him as much today as I did when I first saw him. And, trust me... he definitely has certain traits and characteristics of a pure bred beagle... When I first heard that howl, I thought the sky was falling and ran for cover! He can also be as stubborn as the day is long and many times we've had "stare downs" where I swear you could hear the theme song from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly playing in the background! But, when you get right down to it, he's just a big beagle baby that loves to be cuddled and have his tummy rubbed.

So, the Beagle ruled the roost for the first 3 months after we adopted him... then came the Shepard! (*Cue theme song from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly*)

And this is our Shepard mix... We adopted her from the same rescue shelter as her "brother" when she was just about 8 weeks old. What a sweet little puppy she was (well, she still is sweet!) When we originally saw her, we were not in the "market" for another dog... we were actually at the local pet store, where adoptions are held, to pick up a few things for the Beagle, when my husband spotted a few puppies playing in a box.

Since we knew the people from the rescue, we stopped to chat and my husband picked her up... Once he did that, it was all over... I knew she would be coming home with us. If you can imagine the look on a grown man's face, holding a small cute puppy... and the look on that small, cute puppy's face being held by this grown, caring man... *sigh* My heart just melted.

So, for the first several months the Shepard was so small that she could walk right under the Beagle. She was a feisty little puppy too... she didn't take any crap from the Beagle. A few months later, the Beagle could walk under the Shepard! She has a very cute personality... she's full of energy and I honestly think that she could play with her ball 24/7. In November, the she celebrated her 4th birthday!

Since they were both so young when we adopted them, they have really bonded and act much like siblings and they were very similar to children...We went through teething, the "terrible two's", and those horrible, rebellious doggie "teenage" years! (and survived)

Here we are, more than 4 years later, and neither one of them can figure out who the dominant one is... it's pretty funny. I think they each "share" that role because some days, it seems as though the Beagle is and other days, the Shepard.

They each have their own sweet personality and the things they do make me laugh daily! They are very much a part of our family and have filled our lives with so much fun and love. (They paid me to say that)

Just call me... Julia Child

2008-01-12T19:41:00.000-06:00

I should start out by saying that I do not cook that often... I like to cook (sometimes)... I'm not a bad cook... but I most definitely like to eat!! My husband does 99.9% of the cooking in our household... He's a MUCH better cook than I am... plus, years ago he worked as a Chef's Assistant, so he makes delicious, yummy meals!!

Anyway... part of my goals for 2008 was to be in the kitchen more... you know, roll up my sleeves and get to know my stove a little better.

Today, I decided to do just that. However, my cooking went to the dogs... literally!

I told you!

My husband kneaded and rolled the dough and then I cut (He just can't stay out of the kitchen! LOL)

Ready for the oven...

And, they're done!

So, my first official "cooking" of 2008 was for the dogs... who, by the way, loved their homemade treats!!

No parking...

2008-01-12T18:47:00.000-06:00

How funny is that sign?

Not funny, like "ha ha", but funny in the sense that it's something you just don't see everyday.

I went to a Packer's game a few weeks before Christmas and basically made my sister's boyfriend (who was driving) stop the car... in the middle of the road, with traffic behind us, just so I could snap that picture!

Go Pack Go!!

From trash to treasure... and in between

2008-01-10T12:39:00.000-06:00

As I've mentioned... I like to decorate. I also LOVE shopping at garage sales and participating in my local Freecyle... You know what they say about one man's trash being another man's treasure!

Here are some of the trash to treasure projects my husband and I worked on this past year:

This is a bench we found at a garage sale for around $10.00. The bench was in great condition, except for the covering...

Here is a picture of what the original covering looked like:

And here is our new trash to treasure bench:

We painted the legs black, added new padding and new fabric to the seat. This bench sits at the foot of our bed.

I found this trash to treasure for TWENTY-FIVE CENTS at a garage sale (left side of picture)... We removed the heart at the top and the pegs at the bottom, painted it black and it now hangs in my "modern" styled hallway:

This next trash to treasure was courtesy of Freecyle... (have I mentioned I LOVE Freecycle!!):

We tightened it up and gave a fresh coat of red and black paint... it sits outside in one of our garden areas.

Next would be the "in between" that the title of this entry refers to... This is a headboard my husband made for our bedroom. Wood, batting, foam and one of the sheets that came with the comforter set you see in the picture (I'm picky about my sheets... high thread count needed!!)

Here is just the headboard:

And, here it is in the master bedroom:

And those are a few of my trash to treasures... and in betweens.

Rain and Wind and Tornados... Oh my!

2008-01-08T13:42:00.000-06:00

What is up with this wild weather we are having?? Again, I had to look at the calendar to make sure I knew what month it actually was!

Yesterday, the temperature was beautiful... the high was 63*... In Illinois... In January.

Unfortunately, because of those temperatures, we had afternoon thunderstorms and a tornado touched down not too far from where I am....in January!

Tornadoes scare the crap out of me!! I'm used to some severe weather (thunderstorms, warnings, heavy rain) in the Spring... but not in January!

I watched the clouds from that storm roll in... I watched them get darker and darker as they moved closer and closer... I saw how black and green and mean looking they were... They made me shiver. And, to know that those same clouds and that same storm system was basically forming a tornado right over my head that would touchdown and cause damage/destruction just a few short miles away from me, made me shiver even more!

I will admit... I love a good thunderstorm... I love to watch the storms as they pass by... The roar of thunder, the bolt of lightening...clouds can be amazing and I can see the beauty in some of them.

There was no beauty in yesterday's clouds.

In New Jersey, we didn't have tornadoes...at least during my residency in that State... We had Nor'Easters, some hurricanes, remnants of hurricanes or tropical storms... but no tornadoes.

When I first moved out here, I was home alone on a Tuesday morning and heard the emergency sirens go off in my town. I found it odd because it was around 10:30 in the morning and the weather outside was fine...

(Okay, you have to understand that in New Jersey, in the town where I lived, the emergency sirens were used to let you know that school is canceled that day due to bad weather... mainly snow. On those days, between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. the sirens would sound 3 times... Myself and probably every other child in that town anxiously awaited the sound of the siren because that meant it was a... Snow Day!!!)

Anyway, so the sirens are sounding at 10:30 on a Tuesday morning with perfect weather... I couldn't understand it. This happened for several months before I finally asked my husband about it. Since he grew up here maybe there was a reason there was no school on Tuesdays.

Once my husband was able to compose himself after laughing so hard at my question, he informed me that the sirens I heard were the emergency sirens... you know... emergency... Tornadoes!! *Yikes*

I didn't realize they had used the sirens in this way... for quite some time, I just thought there was no school on Tuesdays!!

In addition to hearing those emergency sirens every Tuesday morning (for testing purposes), I have heard them several other times (not for testing purposes)...

Unlike years ago when I couldn't wait to hear that siren sound to let me know there was no school that day... the sounds of that siren no longer evoke the same emotion in me as they did so long ago.

Let's talk turkey... Errr... I mean... Ham!

2008-01-07T13:56:00.000-06:00

When I lived in New Jersey, prior to moving to the mid-west, it never occurred to me that the entire United States of America, or the entire world, for that matter, did not revolve around the State of New Jersey... That something so simple, so delicious and such a part of a Jersey Girl's life could not and would not be found outside the borders of that State... How could this be??

Pork Roll (a.k.a. Taylor Ham) is unheard of out here... *Gasp*

Seriously, they (grocery store workers, waitresses, etc.) look at you funny if you even utter those 2 words... either combination of them! What is a Jersey Girl to do??? How is this possible??

For the past several years, in order to satisfy my Pork Roll/Taylor Ham craving... (Oh, yes, you just don't understand... This is a New Jersey staple... found in homes, schools, restaurants, diners, and probably in every grocery store of that wonderful Garden State)... I have had to resort to having my sister smuggle packages of this coveted pork product across the border of 3 different states...just so I can my fix a few times a year!

There is nothing like a Taylor Ham sandwich... with ketchup (yup... I said ketchup) on a hamburger bun.... or... or... a Taylor Ham, Egg & Cheese sandwich on a hard roll (again, with ketchup)... To me it's like a slice of Americana, and should be right up there with baseball, Mom's apple pie and 'going down the shore'...

You good people who have never heard of or tried this stuff, just do not know what you are missing!

Oh, and don't get me started on a 'light and sweet' coffee...

Spring Cleaning... in January!!

2008-01-06T18:18:00.001-06:00

If I didn't have a calendar in front of me, I would have thought it was Spring outside today! What a wonderful January surprise... temperatures in the high 50's. Of course, by the end of the week they will back into the 20's, but it was an enjoyable day.

We took down the Christmas tree and the last of the Christmas decorations... Have you ever noticed that it only takes 5 minutes to take down the decorations, but hours to put them up?? Why is that?

So, in the process of de-Christmasing the house, we started cleaning and organizing... things were flying out of the closets, drawers, and any place in general "stuff" goes to hide in! And, we'll do this entire ritual all over again in the Spring *sigh*

I like a clean house and I also love to decorate... so today was almost like a "clean slate" (pun intended). Here's a pic of my new table setting. My kitchen is a "work in progress", and I am going for a "cafe" type of theme in there... and, for the moment, I'm happy with it - Of course, that's always subject to change. As I said, I love to decorate, so you will see many more pics as I go...

Until next time...

Blogless no more...

2008-01-05T09:09:00.000-06:00

I have finally joined the ranks of thousands of other people and started a blog... where I can share my innermost personal thoughts and feelings with all of you (yeah, right!).

I like to write and, of course, I am experiencing "bloggers block" because I now have a forum in which to speak, but have absolutely nothing to say!

Maybe I should just start with some basics... As the title of my blog shows, I am originally from New Jersey, now living in the mid-west (that alone should provide lots of fodder for this blog!). I am married... I work... and I have 2 dogs (again, more fodder for this blog - I'll introduce you to them soon!).

In this blog, I hope to share with you the daily musings of my life, as well as some of my passions (reading, animal advocacy, etc.).

Until next time...