Happy Halloween!

I thought I would reprint this post for those of you that need an easy last minute Halloween costume! They are pretty easy to toss together.   If you don't have a shirt to wear, you can always pick one up at the thrift store.


Blow a Kiss Emoji

Yellow t-shirt
black and red felt
paper
pencil
scissors
fabric glue

This first costume was for work.  We were having a Halloween party at work and we all had to dress as an emoji.  I chose the Blow a Kiss emoji.  I drew out the emoji on paper first (you know me and my templates!).

Pumpkin Pie

orange t-shirt
black felt
paper
pencil
scissors
fabric glue
head band
plastic pumpkin

The second costume is to wear to work on Halloween.  Yea, I have to work Halloween (only during the day).  I thought this would be a fun and easy costume to make and wear.  Trace the Greek letter Pi onto black felt.  (That's the Pie)  Once the Pi is on your shirt, you can attach the pumpkin to your headband.  Get it?  Pumpkin Pie.  Great costume for math lovers.

My Weird Dog

I know I haven't blogged about him lately.  I think Pippen just gets weirder and weirder as time goes on.  Even RT said he should have mellowed by now.

Pippen can be quite vocal.  I mentioned his growls or barks when the boys come home.  Sometimes, when he's laying on the floor sleeping (because that's ALL HE DOES), he will make a low growl sound.  He still cries if someone doesn't take him with for a walk or jog.  It's pretty annoying.  If he sees that you are getting ready for a walk/jog, he will follow you and cry.

One night he came into our room in the middle of the night.  I removed the rugs on the side of the bed so he would get out of his bad habit of sleeping in our room (he can be quite loud).  I do have a couple of his blankets under my side of the bed for those stormy nights.  Well, he got those blankets out (with his paws) and slept on them.  RT was not too happy.  Pippen made quite a bit of noise trying to get those blankets out.  I thought he would give up, but, he was determined to sleep in our room.

Last night, Pippen was barking when Nick came home (it was about 11pm).  Nick went up to bed and all we could hear was Pippen crying.  This went on for about 10-15 minutes.  I finally caved and opened our door and called him up to our room.  I pulled out the blankets for him and he was quite happy.

RT said that Pippen needs to grow out of this stage.  Honestly, I don't think that will ever happen.  His clinginess seems to be getting worse as he gets older.  The scary part is that he clings to me.  Nothing like having a large dog follow you around all day.  Crying.

Vintage

Lately we have been throwing the word, "vintage" around.  I mentioned several posts ago that RT was selling Pokemon cards (vintage Pokemon cards, to be exact).  <  He's sold most of them, by the way.  He has since moved on to vintage sports memorabilia.  In fact, anything we find that is "old" we have started to call "vintage."

I think vintage sounds a lot better than old.  Maybe I'll start calling myself vintage?  Or refer to RT as being my vintage husband?

I had to move Nick's car yesterday and when I went in to the house to return the key, I told him that he had some old, used Kleenex in the car that he might want to dispose of.  He then replied, "Those are vintage Kleenex."

Vegan Diaries - Tasty Lentil Tacos

I found this recipe years ago.  I made it every so often and it was always a hit.  I like that they taste like tacos and, of course, are healthy.  I don't make it that often so whenever I make these tacos, my family always thinks it's a new recipe.  It's fun to watch their faces as they look at it and wonder what it is.....and if it will taste good.  (They are pleasantly surprised when they find out these tacos do taste good)

I recently made these tacos and my brother, Steve, just happened to stop by for a visit.  I made him try some (he seemed a little worried).   I have to say that he was pleasantly surprised at how good they were and has asked when I'm making them again.  (Hey, here's the recipe.  Now you can make them for me.  Hint, hint)

If you are a meat eater and want to make a vegetarian option once a week, give this recipe a try.   These lentil tacos will definitely change up your Taco Tuesday!

Here's the recipe:

Tasty Lentil Tacos

ingredients:

1 cup onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp oil

1 cup dry lentils, rinsed

1 TBSP chili powder

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp oregano

chopped cilantro (optional)

2/12 cups vegetable broth

1 cup salsa

12 taco shells

Topping suggestions:

shredded lettuce, chopped tomato shredded cheese, sour cream

directions: 

In large non-stick skillet, sauce onion and garlic in oil until tender.  

Add lentils, chili powder, cumin, cilantro and oregano and cook for one minute.  Add broth.  Bring to a boil.  

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes until lentils are tender.

Uncover and cook for 6-8 minutes or until mixture is thickened.  

Gently mash some lentils (optional).

Stir in salsa.

Serve.

**I like spicy tacos so, I will add a jalapeño (diced) and maybe some diced poblano or green pepper.  Feel free to add some finely diced carrot, too.  

If you make these tacos, let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

Hey, Shorty!

Well, it's finally happened.  I am officially the shortest person in our family.

I knew this day would eventually come.  I mean, it happens to most parents, right?  And, since I'm married to a really really  a tall guy, I shouldn't be surprised.

FYI:  If the dog stands on his back legs, he's taller than me.

Funeral Sweater

Bella needed to borrow one of my black sweaters.  As I was handing it to her, I said, "Don't lose it.  I like this sweater.  It's my funeral sweater."

First of all, I said this because she can be a little carefree when she is using something that does not belong to her.  My words were chosen so she would remember that the sweater belongs to me and not to leave it anywhere.  Yes, I can totally see her forgetting the sweater somewhere and not telling me about it for days.

The addition of, "It's my funeral sweater, " was said to be funny.  But, honestly, it's a go to in my funeral wardrobe and I really can't afford to lose any funeral items.  

When Bella returned from the party, she handed me the sweater and said, "Here's your funeral sweater.  I didn't lose it."

Bella then went on to say that, while at the party, she made sure she told all of her friends that she was wearing her Mom's funeral sweater.  Apparently that got a lot of laughs from the group.

I'm so glad that my funeral wardrobe is getting used (quite frequently I might add) and is providing entertainment for the whole family.

Pawn Stars

OK, we aren't huge Pawn Stars fans, but, we do enjoy watching the show every once in awhile.  It's fun to see all of the interesting items that are brought in to be sold.  It makes you wonder how these people get this stuff and why do they keep it so long?

I guess I can find an answer to that last question.  They either purchased the item and hung onto it or it was handed down to them through family.

This episode that we were watching was about a sign from England during WWII.  The guy ended up getting $50 for the sign.  His final say was that he and his wife are trying to downsize so they are selling off some of their possessions.

Again, I found it interesting.  It seems like there are other people out there working on downsizing and trying to make a little money in the process.  Also, trying to make it less of a nightmare for their children.

The guy was happy with the $50 and said he was going out to eat with his wife.

Do you have any collections?

Have you started downsizing?

What's on Your Playlist?

Bella comes home and tells me about her day.  This is a daily occurrence.  I get details of conversations, classes, lunch discussions, etc.  And when I say details, I mean DETAILS.

One day she came home telling me about  supervised study and how she had a sub who was walking around the room.  Bella was on her computer, working on a math program.  Her computer is a touch screen and the program is interactive.  The teacher was standing behind her and then said, to the whole class, "There will be no game playing on your computers."  Bella turned and told the teacher she wasn't playing a game and showed the teacher all of her open tabs.  They guy next to her said, "it was probably the math one."

Anyway, that really isn't what my post is about today.   When Bella is in supervised study, she can listen to music.  She usually listens to Spotify.  (we have the free version of the app so we get commercials).  She has playlists on hers and sometimes she just plays other random playlists.  This day she had it on and the only song that played over and over was "Girls on Film" by Duran Duran.  She went on to tell me that the song is now permanently in her head after hearing it over and over for an hour.  Bella said that Spotify was "being a butt" and would only play this song (that's her favorite saying, by the way).

I asked her if she had other Duran Duran songs on her playlist and she said no.  Girls on Film is the only song that she knows by Duran Duran.

Of course, I told her that I would have to educate her a little and have her get to know some of the other Duran Duran songs.  I even started to play from my Duran Duran playlist.

So, what's on your playlist?

I Forgot

At the elementary school, they have bins by the front office.  They are called the "I Forgot" bins.  Junior high has bins at the office.  I only used them a few times for the boys.  Apparently I'm now making up for the few uses of these bins.

In the last couple of days, Bella has forgotten something.  One day it was gym shoes.  The next, a water bottle.  Normally I let the child suffer (I'm such a mean Mom) but, Bella is on the Volleyball team and needs shoes and a water bottle.  I'm not sure why the water bottle wasn't in her backpack.  She usually brings one to school every day.

Hopefully she was just having a couple of bad days and this, "I forgot" streak will go away.

Pens

I'm not sure I have mentioned my obsession with pens.  I know I have put pens in a group of things that I am thankful for.  Without pens, I couldn't write my blog posts.  Well, I could just type them out on the computer like a normal person.  That would be very difficult for me to try to do.  I'm not sure why I feel the need to write out my posts long hand.  I guess back in the stone ages, when we wanted to write something, we used pen and paper.  I feel it's much more satisfying writing things out long hand.

If I'm out and about and I see nice pens, I drool  like to look at them and even consider buying them.  The bright colors or cool styles.  I wonder what it's like to use such pens.  Do they write nice and smooth?  What do the colors look like?  But, then reality sets in and I realize I have a lot of pens at home that I should use first before buying some nice, new ones.  Of course, the ones I have at home are the bad hotel ones that you get for free.  I don't think I have ever had a really nice hotel pen.  Thanks to my parents, they have supplied me with a million quite a few of these pens.  I am nearing the end of my supply, though (Oh, happy day!).

The pens come in along with the writing, obviously,  A good pen goes a long way.  By the way, this pen I'm using to write this post is going in the garbage when I'm finished.  It's about to run out of ink and doesn't flow nicely.

A wise person once said:  Life is too short to use a bad pen.

OK.  Maybe I just said it.  It's true, though.  Look at all of the fun color inks that are out there.  If you get a nice pen that writes easily, you are a lot happier, you will write more and you will live longer.

Alright, maybe not that last one.  How about:  you will live a much happier life with nice pens.

Vegan Diaries - Cuban Style Black Beans

To say that I am obsessed with Cuban Style Black Beans is an understatement.

I had some Cuban Style Black beans at a local restaurant about a year ago.  They were delicious!  I've been trying to figure out a recipe (that doesn't require bacon fat).  I think I've finally found something that's pretty close.

Here's the recipe:

Cuban Style Black Beans - Vegan

ingredients:

2 TBSP olive oil
1/4 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 garlic cloves, minced
1 TBSP dried oregano
dash of cumin
1 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1/2 tsp cider vinegar

directions:

Heat oil in sauce pan over medium heat.  Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and saute until soft.

Add black beans, cumin, oregano, vegetable broth and cider vinegar.  Simmer for about 10-15 minutes.

Salt and pepper if desired.  Then serve.

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

If you try making these beans, let me know what you think.

Enjoy!

Memorial Cards

You know those little cards you can grab when you are at a funeral?  They have the persons name, birth/death dates, a little prayer and maybe a picture of a saint on the back?  Well, I have quite a collection of those cards.  I don't save all of the cards I have picked up and from every funeral I've attended.  I've been to so many, especially for family,  if I did, I would be considered a hoarder!  I just save the cards from family or close friends.

I had to attend another funeral the other day for a relative and was thinking about all of the cards I have collected.  Seeing how many funerals I have been to in the last few years for family members, I was wondering how many cards I will collect before I die.  Morbid, I know.

Do you hang on to memorial cards?

Fall is Here!

Wow!  Time sure flies when you're having fun!

I thought I would put some links to some of the Fall/Halloween crafts and Costumes that I've blogged about in the past.

Time to get your craft on and get ready for the fall season!

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
Pumpkin Soap


Easy Halloween Costumes

How about some Fall food ideas:

Vegetarian Chili
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Pie (from a Pumpkin)