It's OK (by me)

  I'm going to play along with airingmylaundry today as I tell you what items/events/activities I missed but didn't lose sleep over.



  It's OK that sometimes I accept that the weekend went by too fast then two days into the new week I want to fast forward back to it.



  It's ok that Starbucks has another new drink called Maple Pecan.  I haven't tried it but, whether I do or don't I'm still good with pumpkin.

  It's OK fall is here. We need a buffer between extreme heat and extreme cold.  I do like the warmer clothes and love to see the new leave colors.

  It's OK that Cadillac unveiled a hands free car because once my teen starts driving I will be hands free too and it didn't cost me even half as much.

It's OK that I woke up on a Saturday for a (new to me) 8 am class at my gym pool! Partly because I like the teacher and the other half because I thought someone I knew would be there. She wasn't but I still liked it. So it's OK to workout alone! The moral of this is try it you might like it!

  It's OK that the lawn was mowed and the grass clippings went all over my truck.  It will rain soon and wash it all away.  My son insists on spending money to take it to a car wash because it's filthy!

  It's OK to try new food you may like it.  I always get chicken and rice at the Chinese restaurant.  Maybe shrimp fried rice but usually a chicken rice combo.  I tried shrimp pancit and really liked it!

  Now it's your turn.  Tell me what your OK with?  Are you OK with the weather and temperature?

Autumn Lights (DIY)

  Let's bring some autumn hue inside.  It's easier than you think with a few items from your local dollar store you can whip these up and place several throughout the house by the end of the week.

  For this project you need:

   - a glass jar I picked one with a hinge
   - a bottle of Modge Podge
   - a package of leaves
   - a package of battery powered lights.

  For about $4 you get all this but, actually 2 lights and that whole package of leaves is a bonus to complete other projects or use as scatter decorations!

    Take your jar and paint the Modge Podge glue onto the leaves in whatever pattern you desire.  All for a day or two to dry and add another layer of glue and/or leaves.

  I used the variety of colors in my leaf bag to include red, orange and green.

Place your light inside.  Turn it on!

  I like these types of lights as they are best for small children and there will not be any fires.  An easy little switch on the bottom to shut it on and off.

I present you an autumn hue!  I glued a few leaves on the lid too but, you could skip that part if you like.

Go ahead and grab a couple bucks and make yourself a light.  

#Nablopomo

 

Weekly Recap 10/23

  Last week I stayed busy and on task between crafts, school with my son, and dinner!  What was really exciting was starting our week off catching a rocket in the sky!  I missed the shot in the sky but it is forever in our memories!

                     (Photo credit to NASA)

I am still reading The Husband's Secret but hope to be done soon.

On deck is The Silent Wife.

  Do you see a theme here?  I had seen a post for it somewhere and selected this as my next read.

Dinner for the week did include a meal out on Tuesday as it was Pink Receipt Day at Chick Fil A.  I moved one recipe to the next day and one recipe got rolled over to next week.

Salmon Alfredo

Cobb salad (Chick Fil A)

Zucchini burgers

Meatloaf

Crafts were in an abundance to include items I made outside my house.

We made mummies, a pumpkin and ghost!

I had fun at my first ladies night out at Home Depot making this Snowman and  decorated a mason jar at my MOPS meetup

   

School with little man was letter E this week.

I look forward to fine tuning this crafting thing and seeing if I can pull off some crafty gifts for the holidays.  I have read a lot lately and plan on keeping this hobby up.  I would like to change somethings up with little man's schooling so we will see how that goes.  Dinner for next week is already to go and I'm excited to go grocery shopping soon!

I hope you had a good week and good luck to both of us for next week.

Fall Bucketlist

I don't need to make a bucketlist I have children.  The children are always submitting their requests to me.  Each season and even regardless of the season.  Sometimes they try to use the season as an excuse to request something or go somewhere.  

I like to take it easy when the season changes.  I don't need to run out the gate to a pool on the first day of summer.  Nor do I need to build a snowman when winter hits.  There will be plenty of time to do it so there's no point of stressing with a list.

  What I would like to do this fall in no specific order.

1.  Go to ColonialWilliamsburg. I have been several times but never during Halloween time but they have some amazing wreaths to look at.

2.  A corn maze would be fun for everyone

3.  Last year I went apple picking and that was a fun experience for my little ones.  I would love to check out the trees again and of course the donuts and cider are just a bonus.

4.  Carve a pumpkin.  This year we picked up a dremel so let's see what happens with that.

5.  Visit some more state parks and check out those leaves!

There I have made a list.  One I may or may not follow but it's there for bragging rights.  Fall is all about leaves, apples and pumpkins.  I promise I will partake in viewing or consumption of all the appropriate fall season necessities.

Does drinking pumpkin lattes count?  If so strike that off a bucketlist because I have nailed it.

Wipe Your Feet Here (DIY doormat)

Today I was feeling extra motivated and completed a few crafts and this DIY mat.  I love looking at DIY projects but they are not all created equal. I promise you this one is pretty easy and cheap!

I picked up everything from dollartree. This doormat cost me $4.  I do not sew hek maybe I can't sew so this mat is glued together.  So technically if you did sew it would be even less.

Gather your supplies.

     

Choose your mat.  I picked one without ridges so the leaf would adhere to it easier.

        

  In my store there were only two patterns to choose from.  Leaf it is which is fine for the whole fall season.

                    

  Next like I said I do not sew so I needed some strong adhesive.  I already knew how I was going to use the mat so consider that when you decided what you need.  I used glue dots and a sticky all purpose sticky glue.  The glue is sold in a 3 pack along with the glue dots in the craft section.

  I applied glue dots sporadically along the perimeter of the leaf.

  I then used the glue along the whole outline of the leaf.

I thought of placement prior to the glue application.  Did in want it off center, diagonal or in the center.  Since I was not adding anything else to it including words I just placed it in the middle.

  This is a very thin door mat.  It could be used outside or inside but this is not weather resistant.  I'm not sure it would even be vacuum resistant.   It would be great in the kitchen as long as you don't need the extra support.  Place it in front of a fireplace or bookshelf. I have actually put mine in front of my child's door.

  I am very pleased with the appearance.  That I didn't have to sew it and it looks nice.  At this point I am wondering how many rugs do I need.  These will be easy to put in storage on the off seasons so why not a few more.

Date 1

  No date ever has to be the same.  We will explore the many options of dating.  To include who you can take on a date, what you can do and where you can go.  You don't always need to go to dinner and a show.  Start something more creative with your date night.  Don't restrict yourself to specific places, times or the same activities.  Explore your community, your neighborhood, your city or state.  Watch a sunrise or sunset.  Getting out of your routine of when and where dates are will help your dates become a little more fun.  No expectations!

  Who you choose to spend your time with and what you plan to do with your dates will make the event more exciting too.  Thinking outside the box is what will change this month for you.  Each week I have planned a new "date" activity for you.  You may choose whomever you want to explore the date with but have set it up with a specific person in mind for each week.

Week 1: Your choice
Week 2: Spouse or person you are dating
Week 3: Friend ( I had your friend in mind be it girl or boy)
Week 4: Your kids
Week 5: Your choice

Todays date is appreciating fall:  You may choose to go with anyone you like or by yourself.  (nothing wrong with that)

  Take a walk or a drive.  15 minutes or half an hour. Talk, silently observe or daydream!  Bring back some mementos of your date.  Leaves, pinecones, acorns and make a centerpiece for your patio table or bring them in (cook the pinecones and acorns to be rid of the bugs) and make some natural fall decorations.  Fill a vase with pinecones! A leaf garland for the entryway!  Acorns in a bowl on your side table!  Small free souvenirs of your first stress-free, money free (except for gas if you drove) date.  Take some pictures of the different leaf colors (to make a 30 day date book) and post one for me to see. Tag me on instagram (@meanroel) or post your photo below!

  Each day I will post a new activity for your date.  You have three choices try my date suggestion, skip my suggestion and wait for another suggestion, or make your own date!

  Either way I would love to see a pictures if you decide to follow through or even if you do something on your own. 

Let's get out there and have some fun!

Reflections

  Fall is not over and winter is not close yet.  Hmm, is that like the glass is half full?  I want to take full advantage of the season and live everyday to the fullest.

 

 What my senses love about the fall!

Hearing:  I love to hear the crunch of leaves under my feet!  There is an odd silence in the fall maybe not so odd maybe all the bird I listen are gone!  I like the silence though!

Smell: So many smells in the fall.  I like the air in general I don't know if it's fresh air or dead leaves but there's something about it.  I also love the smell of fireplaces burning.  I don't personally have a fireplace but I enjoy the smell in the air when I'm walking around outside.

Taste:  Of course all things pumpkin and apples are not to bad either.  It's funny to say because I use canned pumpkin so what's the big deal; I could eat that anytime of year but it's not the same.

Sight:  All the leaves are a classic.  It never gets old.  I am not privileged to see the colors changing in VA (my part) as much as I have seen them in upstate NY but if I drive a few hours I catch sight of them.

Touch:  This one is a hard one.  What

touch is different than any other time of year.  I will choose cozy.  I like to be warm.  I love summer because no extra clothes are necessary.  In the fall however I have to regulate my body temperature more.  More sweaters, turtlenecks and sweatshirts.

  I do enjoy fall like any other season.  It is not my favorite but I make do and appreciate some points it brings to me and my environment.

A Bowl of Hot Pumpkin! (Day 17- done)

  This recipe is a short and sweet one.
 Another breakfast meal brought to you by pumpkin (and oatmeal) surprise!!

  I started out with a single serving bowl of oatmeal.  I also had the teens assistance in this matter.  She was also the ever so eager guinea pig.  After all this is half an experiment no sense everyone getting sick.

 The oatmeal just sat there waiting to be spiced up and appreciated more.  Oatmeal makes the best base to build on.  I wonder if I can run out of flavored oatmeals.

For this oatmeal we just used water versus milk.  We added about a tablespoon of pumpkin then honey, vanilla,pumpkin spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cloves and all spice.  Sorry no measurements.  I think this is an individual preference.  The pumpkin and the oatmeal becomes your base and you just build on it.

The end result! Pumpkin oatmeal!  The teen enjoyed it although she declared it was not her favorite she did like it nonetheless.

No recipe credit today because I made this!!

Cookie monster (Pumpkin edition)

  Ok so I need to stock up on pumpkin scented candles, potpourri or cans of pumpkin.  I am getting so used to the smell and it's not quite becoming second nature but I wish it was.  I love the way it smells and fills my house when I cook it.

  Of course making cookies always smells good but to know it has some pumpkin in them makes these extra special.  These here are my first official pumpkin cookies!

  I assigned the teen to assist and young chef assigned herself to help.

 So these cookies were essentially made by 3 people but don't worry we are all trained professionals.  Also as a side not before I scare you away; this recipe was not that hard.

 You got your dry bowl of ingredients. Funny how noone ever wants to taste the flour bowl.

 Your wet bowl filled with butter and sugar. Fingers did sneak in here.

Then behold the bowl of pumpkin goodness! Don't touch it has an egg in it and you know what they say.  (I live on the edge)

  The only bad thing about this recipe is they require some down time in the refrigerator.

So with that downtime comes a lack of trust and impatience.  The kids got their hopes up only to be put on hold.  This is a hard concept to grasp. Now you see them now you don't.  My poor plan on this step also meant the cookies were having a sleepover in the fridge as it was already 8 o'clock.  Enter worst mom of the year.  However I said I would make them for breakfast in the morning and I regained my tolerable mom title.

0700 let's get this show on the road!

Ahhh tick tick tick. Done

I present you an awesome cookie. An awesome pumpkin cookie!

  Check out the recipe, grab your ingredients and have milk on hand these should go in the books as a must have for a fall cookie.

These awesome soft pumpkin goodies come from cookingclassy.