Is it Cancelled?

Maybe it's plans to go to a friends or family member's house for a party.

Maybe it's just a school day.

A trip downtown to a museum.

Maybe we just planned to go out to dinner.

Then, the weather hits.

Snow.

Rain.

And, then the questions.

"Are we still going?"

"Is it cancelled?"

I think it started with the school district canceling school due to the weather.  Normally, our school cancels classes due to extreme temperatures (below 0F) or a snow storm.  There was that one day they cancelled school because of an impending snow storm.  The storm didn't start until 3 or 4:00 pm (so, the kids could have gone to school and made it back home).  Then there are the times where they cancel due to extreme temperatures (below 0F) because they don't want the kids to wait outside for the bus in those temperatures.  The next day, the weather is the same, but they don't cancel school.

It can be very confusing.

The other day we had plans to visit a college.  The visit included a walking tour.  Of course, it was drizzling that morning.  The first words out of Alex's mouth when he saw me, "Is it cancelled?"

Me:  Why would it be cancelled?''

A: Well, it's raining and we are going to be walking outside.

Me:  Wear a hoodie or bring an umbrella.

I'm trying to drill it into them that life goes on, even when there's bad weather.

Hopefully it sinks in.

I think I might have agreed to having a Halloween party here at our house.  It was somehow put in a line of 6 or 10 questions that the child had to ask me and, I think I might have said, "Yes."

Now to break the news to RT.

Bella has been doing two dance classes for a month now.  I try to do all of my blog post writing during that time.  I usually have a few ideas for posts I want to write.

One day, there was dance class that evening and I was in a panic.  I didn't have any post topics.  Imagine a full, free uninterrupted hour and nothing to write about.  I knew how upset my two loyal readers would be without my fun posts to read.  Fortunately for them, my family pulled through and did something goofy gave me some topics to write about that night.

As I was heading out the door for a wedding (without kids), I decided to make a stop at the restroom. Good thing I did. The toilet paper roll needed changing. 

Vegetarian Diaries - Mexican Quinoa Bake

I found a really delicious recipe.  It's super easy to make and very filling.  Even the meat eaters in the house approved!

This recipe uses quinoa.  I always enjoy recipes that use quinoa.  It's also a fun word to say, isn't it?  Quinoa is a good source of protein (8 grams per cup) and also fiber (5 grams per cup) among other things.  If you don't have quinoa, you could always substitute faro or brown rice.

Here's the recipe:

Mexican Quinoa Bake

ingredients:
1 Tbsp Oil (olive or sunflower oil)
1 jalapeño, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15oz) diced tomatoes
1 cup corn
1 cup quinoa
1 cup vegetable broth
1 Tbsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper
2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
lime (lime juice)

directions:
Heat oil in large skillet.  Saute jalapeño and garlic.
Stir in black beans, tomatoes, corn, quinoa and vegetable broth.  Season with red pepper flakes, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and reduce heat to low and simmer until quinoa is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.  (about 20 minutes)  Stir in cilantro, avocado and lime juice until combined.


If you make the recipe, let me know what you think.

Enjoy!

Pickled Jalapeños

It's always a sad day for me to take down my vegetable garden.  I know it needs to be done.  I don't look forward to it.  It's a sign that summer is definitely over.  I pick everything and compost the rest of the plant.

This year, there was an abundance of jalapeños.  I made two batches of giardiniera and two arches of pickled jalapeños.   I seed my (take out all of the seeds) jalapeños so the giardiniera and pickled jalapeños are not as hot.  The only problem?   My hands burn for days.  Yes.  Days.  Well, when you are cleaning 40-50 jalapeños at one time...

I have to say, I'm thankful that "cleaning jalapeños" is not my full time job.  My hands would burn all of the time.My advice?

Invest in plastic gloves.

I thought I would repost those recipes in case you are looking to preserve some of your summer garden jalapeños.

Homemade Giardiniera

4 jalapeno peppers, sliced* 

1 red peppers, diced 

1 green peppers, diced 

1 large carrot, chopped 

1 medium onion, chopped 

1/2 cup cauliflower, cut into small florets 

1- 2 celery stalk, diced 

1/2 cup salt

Cold water

*you can take seeds out to make it milder

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 

2 teaspoons dried oregano 

1 teaspoon black peppers 

1 cup white vinegar 

1 cup olive oil 

In a bowl combine jalapeños, peppers, carrot, onion, cauliflower and celery.   Add Salt and enough cold water to cover mixture.  Mix well.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next day:

Rinse the vegetables thoroughly.

Add the garlic, oregano and black peppers into the bowl.

Stir in vinegar and olive oil and combine for the dressing.  Mix thoroughly.

I put it in a clean glass jar (recycle a glass jar or you can go crazy and purchase a ball canning jar).  The giardiniera can be canned (did that make sense?).  Our supply didn't last very long (Hey!  We're from Chicago!).  Serve on beef sandwiches, pizza, salad or on my famous pasta salad.

Easy Homemade Pickled Jalapenos

15-20 large jalapenos, sliced

2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup distilled water

4 Tablespoons sugar

2 Tablespoons Kosher salt

In a medium sauce pan combine the garlic, water, vinegar, sugar and salt.

Heat to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Once at a boil; add the sliced jalapenos pressing them so they are submerged under the pickling liquids. Remove the pot off of the heat and let them sit for 10-15 minutes.

Use tongs to transfer the jalapenos into a clean jar. Ladle the pickling juices over top until you've reached the top of the jar. Let cool at room temperature before securing a lid and popping them into the fridge.

*Don't forget to wear protective gloves!

I'm Dying

Woke up this morning to talk to one of the kids.  As I am getting ready (in a dark room) trying not to wake RT up, I bumped my head on a door.  A good hard bump on my eyebrow/eye area.  RT said to sit down.  I said I would go get some ice first.

While I am icing my bruise, I decide to look up online results of bumping your head.   Probably wasn't a good idea.  Now I can't fall asleep because I have a concussion.  I also could develop Parkinson's or Lou Gehrig's disease (or maybe both).   So, basically, I'm going to die.

The sad part is, I don't even remember what was so important for me to wake up early.

Soap Update

Remember that crazy day I decided to finally make soap?  I was stressed because it was my first time making soap and "someone" decided she needed my full attention?

I'm happy to report that her tablet cover came out nicely.  But, I'm sure you knew that already.

I realized during my soap making process that the scale I have is not great to use when making soap.  Especially since you need accurate measurements.  I let my soap cure for 3 1/2 months (it was still soft at 2 months) to make sure it wouldn't fall apart right away.  I have been using it now for the last couple of weeks and so far so good.  I know my mistakes (bad measuring, not enough essential oils, etc.).  I have since bought a new scale and hope to try the whole process again.

Now to find some uninterrupted time.

I moved Nick's car this morning and it said "1 mile until empty."  I really think it's hereditary.  RT does the same thing.  Let's hope he makes it to the gas station.

I Quit

I was at work the other day, hanging out in the front of the store.  The owner and manager were in the back unloading a shipment off a truck.  The phone rings, I answer it and the person wants to speak to the owner.  I asked for his name.  The caller did not want to give me his name.  Instead, he starts telling me to relay this information to the owner.

"One of your employees is going to give their two week notice today.  You have to make sure she gives it.  I need her more than he needs her.  Make sure she quits today."

Me:  Hold o, let me get the owner.

Caller:  I don't need to talk to him.  Just tell him that (person's name) is quitting today and make sure that she does it.  I need her more than he does.

Me:  Are you from another company?

Caller:  I'm her husband and I need her to work at my company.

So, first of all, this employee isn't married.  It was her boyfriend calling.  Secondly, why is he calling her boss?  She's in her late 30's, by the way.  I think she's old enough to handle herself and quit her job all by herself.

Then I thought maybe I'm on "Candid Camera" or "Punk'd."  I was waiting for someone to jump out and say, "Just kidding!"

No one appeared.

On lunch, the owner was in the office.  I started out with, "I'm going to tell you something and then I want to be removed from the situation."

I think they expected that she was going to quit.  It was odd that her boyfriend called.  I thought "Maybe she doesn't know he called?  Maybe he's controlling."

I also didn't like that they involved me (an innocent bystander) to be the messenger.  The woman did come in to work that day and they confronted her and she did give her two week notice.

Yea, only me.

I'm not sure why these weird things happen to me.  It makes a good story, right?

Would you ever have your significant other call your work and tell them you are going to quit?  Would you do that to or for your significant other?

Today's Tip of the Day

If you wait too long to empty the clean dishes out of the dishwasher there will be enough dirty dishes on the counter to fill it again.

The Long Toenail

I was walking past Bella, when she accidentally kicked me in the leg.  Her talon toenail left a huge gash scratch in my leg.  I told her that she should probably trim those claws before she does some serious damage to someone (mainly me).

A couple weeks later, and she was trying to get her sock off her foot after dance class.  It was stuck on her long toenail.  She said, " I should probably cut my toenails."

Later, at home, (she still hasn't cut her nails) she asks me to do her nails.  I looked at her toes and said that they were in desperate need of a pedicure.  Well, at least a good trimming.  I looked at RT and asked him if he has that problem where his big toenail grows REALLY REALLY long.  Maybe it's hereditary?  He said, "No."   He also said he would do a little research and find out if there is a long toenail gene.

Mouse Poop

My Mom taught me a lot about cooking.  She gave me different tips.  Let me help prepare meals or desserts with her.  She eventually had me make dinner once a week when she took art class.  I think that was her goal.  To get one free day a week where she didn't have to cook dinner.  I always made the same meal.  I followed her recipe and never received any complaints when I cooked.

One of the "tips" she taught me was to always clean the tops of a can before you open it (you know, the tomato sauce or tomato paste cans?).  She said that her Mom taught her to do this when she learned how to cook.  I asked why?  She told me that there might be mouse poop on it so you have to clean it before you open it.  You don't want the mouse poop to get into your food (if the lid falls in).

Now, I don't know if this is/was true, but, to this day, whenever I open a can, I make sure to clean it before opening.

Over the years, I have taught all three of my kids how to cook.  I have always stressed the "mouse poop" rule.

One day, I was in the kitchen, cooking, and Nick grabbed a can from the pantry for me.  He said, "Don't forget to clean the top of the can so there's no mouse poop."

I said, You remember that?

He said, Of course.  It gave me such a visual that I find it necessary to clean all cans before opening them.

Do you clean the tops of your cans before you open them?

Will you clean them now, after reading this post?

DIY Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

As you know, I make a grated version for homemade laundry detergent.  I still use the grated version, but, decided that a liquid laundry detergent would be nice, especially for dark clothes.  I wash a lot of my clothes in cold water and sometimes the powder version doesn't do well with the dark clothes.

I found this recipe for liquid laundry detergent on One Good thing by Jillee and I love it!  It's simple to make and easy to use!  Check out her site for some more helpful hints.

Here's the recipe:


Liquid Laundry Detergent

1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup Dawn Dish soap
4 cups HOT water

Pour the borax and washing soda into a gallon size container.  Add the Dawn dish soap.

Slowly add the hot water.

Slowly fill the rest of the container with cold water.*

*You might have to let it sit for awhile and let it settle before completely filling the container.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Well, now that I made some, I have to go do some laundry!

If you try it, let me know how it works for you!

Today's Helpful Hint

When moving Nick's car, try not to get your hair caught on the fishing pole that is in the middle of his car.  It sets on the dashboard between the two front seats and the back shelf behind the back seat.

Oh, and that gross thing hanging from it is the lure.  Try not to scream.

There's a new kid on Pinterest

I'm sure you have heard of Pinterest.  If not, it's a place to "pin" all thinks (items, articles, sayings, recipes, crafts, etc.) that you find interesting onto a board.  You can have as many boards as you want and millions of "pins."  It's fun to go and look to get ideas.  It can also be a HUGE time suck (good bye two hours of my life that I will never get back.)

The other night, RT was on his phone.  He told me that he was downloading Pinterest.

Yea.
RT.
On Pinterest.
Strange, right?

He said that he wants to get some ideas on a desk to make for the office.  I'm sure that's what everyone says when they first sign on to Pinterest.  9,326 hours later......they have 1000 boards and 4,000,000 pins.

We shall see if this "desk" ever materializes.

It's October!

It's time for all things fall, pumpkins and Halloween!

I thought I would put some links to my past Halloween posts for you.  Take a look, make a craft and get in the fall spirit!

Halloween Crafts

Bat Pencil Cup
Extra Crafts - using construction paper, owls, witch, ghost, foam monsters
Mosaic Pumpkin - using paint chips
Mosaic Pumpkin - using construction paper
Owl - using construction paper
Pony Tail Craft - using ribbon
Pumpkin and Ghost - using Popsicle sticks
Pumpkin Magnet - using foam
Spider - using pipe cleaners
SPIDER
Spider (under $1 craft)
Witche's Hat


Recipes

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Enjoy!