2019 - A Year in Review

It's time to take a look back at everything that happened, both good and scary, during the year.

Here are some of the highlights of 2019 on Scary Journey:

We learned that I'm the snow thrower in this family.  We sold our snow blower that we inherited.  I'm hoping that there isn't a huge snow storm.  I'm not sure if I can survive shoveling tons of snow on my own.

I learned about the utensil separator in the dishwasher.  I still use it.

I made a new purse purchase this year.  Still on the look out for the next one. (it pays to start early)

Another 2 or 3 can openers died this year  We didn't name them because we didn't have time.  My kids  child killed them off before we got to know them.

We spent an entire day using the word historic.

We met the cracker snatcher that steals all of Bella's snacks at school.

We made a list of things to do on a rainy day because of all of the rain we were experiencing.

We learned about my obsession with drying unusual herbs.

We got disinvited to a party.

Bella and I are thinking of starting our own show of us driving around and drinking tea.

My daughter listens to 80's music.

We find out that Bella is a tea snob

We talked about Spilling the Tea

You learned about our secret song when out hiking..  Take me Home, Country Roads....

We bought a new popcorn machine and find out I'm addicted to popcorn.

My nail clippers had to enter the witness protection program once again.

We decluttered 25 years worth of shi  stuff

We discover my obsession addiction to corn nuts

Found out my least favorite day of the week (Thursday)

I got a new job!

We watched a little golf this year (I had to go to the car dealer a couple times this year)

My new obsession with freezing everything.  I'm taking after my Mom!

Celebrated Harvey Wallbanger Day.  And, celebrate it a lot more often now that I know how to make them.

Who can forget celebrating World Vinegar Day?  Probably the most important day EVER!

We also talked about my Dad's Compost Pile


We learned lots about RT this year. 

We learned how he gets in Vacation mode and gets up really early on trips

How he went days without coffee when coffeemaker died

We learned about his love for espresso and how he can't have just one...more like 4!

his lucky penny he found on vacation

his fight with next door's landscapers cutting our grass

Proof of his napkin hoarding tendencies when Alex worked with him this summer

Butt texting problems

His famous purchase of Dead Guy Shoes

We learn that he is a Shoe Hoarder.  Oh, and he still hasn't gotten rid of any more shoes..

And his style of wearing "Dad Jeans"


And, we can't forget My Weird Dog!  

His love/hate relationship with cold weather

His need to sleep in our room

Pippen makes an appearance at the vet and loves it there

Pippen and the vacuum cleaner.  Wants to make sure you know that he knows you are vacuuming

Houdini breaks the latch on the front gate.

Can't forget when Pippen got skunked

His fear of the nail clippers

Doesn't like music, or just doesn't like it when I play the piano

His fear of going outside at night because he might get skunked

Stayed away from our Christmas tree thanks to RT and his quick thinking of making the nail clippers into an ornament.


We cooked a little bit this year.  Here are some of the Recipes that we made:

Red Lentil Tomato Soup
Vegan Spanakopita
Quinoa Chocolate Cake
Black Bean Protein Bites
M & M Cookies
Chocolate Chip Blondies
Fettucine Alfredo
Chocolate Pudding (vegan)
Potato Soup
Hamburger Helper
Chocolate Chip Chokies
Chick Pea Tikka Masala
Garlic Naan
Mexican Quinoa Dish

And, sadly, we had a HUGE loss this year

Miss you, Marga!

Thanks for sticking around for all of the craziness.  Looking forward to lots of fun in 2020!

Happy New Year!

National Thank You Note Day

As I always say (or write), people love getting handwritten letters and notes in the mail.  It's always the first thing someone reads when they bring in the mail.  I would rather read a letter from a friend or family member before diving into the bills.

Sure, it's easy to send off an email or a quick text to thank Aunt Sally for the ugly Christmas sweater.  But, Aunt Sally would much rather receive a nice handwritten Thank You note in the mail from you.

Today is National Thank You Note Day!

I'm unable to find out how or why this day was started.  Some say it was created because of all the presents people received on Christmas Day.  I, on the other hand, believe it was started by my Mother, The Queen of Thank You Note writing.

I remember being called down to the kitchen a couple days after Christmas.  On the table there were three place settings.  At each spot there was a sheet of paper with list of names and gifts that they gave,  and a pen.  In the center of the table there was a stack of Thank You note cards, stamps and an address book.  You had to find your spot at the table.  The rules?  Write a Thank You note to everyone on the list, address and stamp the envelope.  Oh, and you can't leave the table until you are finished.

My Mom never taught us how to write a Thank You note.  My brothers would hurry, scribble some stuff and leave the table.  I would be stuck there for hours asking my relatives how their dog is doing and trying to figure out how to nicely thank someone for the gift they gave me  (money is always difficult to thank people for).

If you do participate today, and I hope you will, you can use #NationalThankYouNoteDay on social media.

If you need any tips on Thank You Note writing, I'd love to help, especially if you want to know how the family dog is getting along.

Merry Christmas

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you:  You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, Peace, goodwill toward men!"  Luke 2:8-14

Merry Christmas Eve

I always loved reading this book to the kids.  I read it so much, that I remember Nick would recite it while we were in the grocery store.

Since my kids are older and probably don't want me to read this to them, I thought I would share it here.


 "The Night Before Christmas," 
by, Clement C. Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse:
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there:

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads,
And Mama in her 'kerchief and I in my cap
had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew in a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer!  Now Prancer and Vixen,
On Comet!  On Cupid!  On Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch!  To the top of the wall!
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

As Dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house top the coursers they flew
With a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas, too.

Then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound;
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot
And his clothes were all covered with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled!  His dimples, how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of his pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
And, laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle;

But, I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.




by the way....I typed all of that from memory....

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Great Toilet Paper Debate

I thought I would give you a topic to discuss with your family and friends this holiday season.  The Great Toilet Paper Debate.  Should it be over or under?

You always hear people talk about how the toilet paper roll should be placed on toilet paper holder.  There are some people that insist that the roll be place on the holder and the paper goes over the top.  Then, there are others that insist that the paper be placed so that the paper rolls toward the back (toward the wall).

It's interesting.  People go to great lengths to prove their point on which way the toilet paper should roll.  In fact, if you search, "toilet paper debate" you get quite a few articles, along with videos and diagrams, explaining which way is the correct way the toilet paper should roll off your toilet paper holder.  The funny thing about these articles?  Each one states that they have the end all answer to this great debate that has been going on for years.

Some stats:

Over the top:
Easier to tear off number of squares
Easier to locate end
less chance of scraping the wall with knuckles
Personality trait:  Likes to take charge, over achiever, stays organized

Under:
Less chance of it unraveling
Less chance of child and pet unraveling the roll
tidier appearance
Personality trait:  Laid back, artistic, dependable

Some people bring up the original diagram that was presented for the patent.  The roll of toilet paper was drawn so that the paper goes over the top.

Do you have an opinion which way the toilet paper is placed on the holder?

Do you change it if you see that it isn't "correct?"

Do you even care which way it's placed?

Let me know in the comments.

National Regifting Day

I didn't believe this one until I did a little research.  Here's what I found out.

First of all, how about a definition.  Regifting is when you get a gift from someone, you don't use it,  and then you give the gift (wrapped up) to someone else.

There is a specific day dedicated to regifting unwanted presents.  It is the Thursday before Christmas (TODAY!).  Apparently, most office parties are held on this day and 40% of gifts given at these parties are regifted.  The idea of regifting was one of the topics that was thoroughly discussed in a Seinfeld episode.  And, some people believe that regifting is becoming more popular as a way to recycle unused or unwanted gifts.

Here is some regifting etiquette, in case you want to participate today.

Regift only if you know that the recipient will enjoy the gift.  If at any time you have referred to the item as junk, a dust collector or clutter, then it isn't re-giftable.

Regift only if the item is brand new, never used and in original packaging.

Don't regift an item that is handmade or personalized.  You don't want to upset Aunt Bertha by giving away those neon yellow crocheted potholders

If you aren't sure who gave you the item, then don't regift it.  You don't want to accidentally regift the item to the person who gave you it in the first place.

Don't regift the item if the receiver knows the person that gave you the item originally.  That could be embarrassing.

When rewrapping gifts, make sure you remove all previous gift tags and wrap

Be prepared to answer, "Where did you find this gift?"  And, "What made you decide to get this gift for me?"

If you feel uneasy or nervous about all of this, then, regifting isn't for you.

You can use #NationalReGiftingDay as your hash tag when posting on Social media.  If you don't want the person to know that you are regifting, then, stay away from social media on this one.

My Weird Dog

This year we decided to go with the live tree.  Well, is it really a live tree if it's been cut down?  A once living tree?  Or is it a dead tree now?  We got a live dead tree.  Well, you know what I'm trying to say....

My biggest worry was that Pippen would think that we were installing an indoor bathroom for him.  I made sure we bought the tree early in the day so we could keep an eye on him.

Well, of course, we had to run some errands.  RT, who always has my back, sensed my nervousness about the dog and decided to take matters into his own hands.  He grabbed the dog's nail clippers and, using string, tied them from the tree.  Yes.  Like an ornament.

I've mentioned in previous posts about Pippen and his fear of the nail clippers.  How it takes the two of us (sometimes three of us) to pin him down sweet talk him and clip his nails.  You can't even go near the nail clippers with out him getting up and going down into the basement.  If we even talk about cutting his nails, he gets nervous, sometimes hiding his paws.

I, of course, thought RT's plan was brilliant and put it to the test.  I showed Pippen the clippers on the tree.  He took one look, turned and went down into the basement.  I said, "Well, I guess we won't see him until the tree is gone in January."

RT thinks we can now use the nail clippers instead of a dog gate.  Just hang the clippers in the room or area that you want to be dog-free.  Pippen will avoid that room/area until he knows the clippers are gone.

I think it's pretty safe to say that Pippen won't be going near the Christmas tree this year.

International Tea Day

I'm not sure how I missed this holiday.  It should be a HUGE holiday celebration in our house.  Tea for everyone!

International Tea Day has been celebrated on December 15 since 2005* in tea producing countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Kenya, Malaysia and India (just to name a few).  It was started so they could draw attention to global tea trade and the impact on workers and growers with the hopes for price support and fair trade.

*2005 is very fitting because Bella was born in that year.  Maybe that is why she's a tea aficionado?

How to celebrate International Tea Day

How about having a cup of tea?

Try a new brand/flavor of tea

Have a tea party

Research tea brands that support fair trade and (maybe) switch to their brand.  Or try out one of their fair trade teas.

Oh, and when posting to social media, use #InternationalTeaDay to help recognize the day and to educate others about the tea industry.

I'll make sure I mark this date on our calendar for next year.  I know I won't want to miss out!

Cheers!

New Job Update

I have been working for a couple of months at my new job and thought I would give you a little update.

I am enjoying the fact that I'm actually doing something during the time that I am at my job instead of staring off into space.  Sometimes it's a project or updating the features with new merchandise.  Maybe I'm putting new merchandise out on the floor or doing mark downs.  Or, maybe I'm a cashier.  The time goes by much faster and I get to move around the store quite a bit.

Here are some things I've experienced in the last couple of months.

1.  They play a lot of country music in our store.  They do throw in some pop (from about 5 years ago) every once in awhile.  Unfortunately (or fortunately?) they are the same songs every. single. day.  I think I know them all by heart and I know which song is going to come on next.  Yea.  Pretty scary.

2.  They haven't started playing Christmas music.   I'm not sure if they will ever play Christmas music this holiday season.  All I can say is at least they aren't playing Kidz Bop!

3.  Working with the public can be quite interesting.  I think you knew this one was coming.  I'll have to give you some examples.  This is my warning... skip to number 4 now if you have a weak stomach  don't want the details.

OK.  You were warned.

I have found that some people don't bathe.  Ever.  I have had this experience with a few customers where I have walked by them and accidentally inhaled and almost passed out.  I'm not sure if these people are oblivious to their stench  stink  odor.  Do they realize that no one wants to smell their nastiness?  I think they should warn you before you take a job like this that working with the public can kill you be hazardous to your health.

Then, there are the farters.  Those are the people that walk around (or stand in one place/area) and just fart.  A lot.  I was helping a customer and had to walk to the back to check if the item was there and passed a smelly guy and walked into the biggest fart cloud ever.  You laugh, but, I COULD HAVE DIED!  I thought there was something wrong with our bathrooms again (see #4).  Turns out, it was some guy who must have been REALLY gassy.  I know this because somehow the fart cloud moved to another area and the same guy was standing there.

4.  The bathrooms.   I'm not sure what goes on in the bathroom that the public uses.  Maybe they use too much TP or they don't go for a week and then decide to finally go when they are at our store.  The store had some issues with the sewer.  The back of our store smelled pretty bad and the bathrooms were (obviously) out of commission for the day.  We had to use the bathrooms next door.  Thank God for Whole Foods!

5.  Management is pretty lenient.  There are quite a few employees that call in a lot or don't show up for work and they still have a job!  Management also doesn't know when you come in or leave work.  They also have no idea what you are doing during your scheduled work time.

6.  As an employee, sometimes I'm a personal mannequin for customers.  I have had customers tell me that the person that they are buying for is exactly my size and I have to try clothes and coats on for them.

7.  Sometimes I'm a personal shopper.  Finding items for customer to buy.  Telling them that something doesn't look good on them (I did that for a few guys buying coats).

8.  I have realized that I always have a good story after my shift.   Oh, and they are usually pretty funny.

The Holiday season is just starting.  I'm sure I will have a few more stories as time goes on.

Sometimes We Can Be Embarrassing

Bella went to hang out with some of her friends  The cool thing to do for teens in our area is to hang out "downtown."  Fun shops, including a Starbucks (a hang out the kids like), and a nice little Riverwalk.  They meet up and will hang out for several hours on the weekend.  The parents are pretty cooperative and we usually carpool, with one driving them there, the other picking up.

This particular weekend, the friends' parent drove them there.  I let Bella know to text me when they are ready to be picked up.  I already had it in my mind that RT would be on pick up duty.

The time arrived and I received a text from Bella.  She tells me the time and place to be picked up.  And then she tells me that I am not to send RT.

Bella and RT get along really well.  They goof off together.  She doesn't get embarrassed by us.  I think I've mentioned that my kids think we are fun (probably more funny than fun).  I'm sure that sometimes we can be embarrassing.  I was curious as to why he wasn't allowed to pick up.  So, of course, I had to ask.

The answer?  We were also driving a boy home.  A boy that Bella really likes.  In other words, RT will (probably) embarrass her.   I don't know....ask him too many questions?  Maybe talk about how he likes Katy Perry songs?  Play one of his dance playlists?  Once I told this to RT, he really wanted to pick them up, but, I promised Bella that I would go.  So, I had to get dressed up  get a make over  get myself together,  hop in the car and head on over to Starbucks.

I did my best and tried not to embarrass Bella during the car ride.  I almost belted out lyrics to the songs on the radio, but, I held it all back.  I'm saving that for the next time.

*I'm thinking that this should be sponsored by Starbucks since I mentioned them several times during this post.

Shoe Hoarder

I know I have mentioned in various blog posts about RT and his shoes.  I'll try to fill you in if you missed all of the shout outs  to his shoe hoarding  collection.

Over the years, I have noticed the growing number of shoes that RT has accumulated.  Yes, that includes Dead Guy Shoes.  The shoes have been gathering dust  accumulating by the front door, in the front hall closet and the basement closet.  I find that the shoe obsession  collection is a sore spot.  I ask that the shoes that haven't been worn in the last twenty years  be donated.  Seems reasonable, right?  Unfortunately, this suggestion is not happily received.

Once in a great while, RT will go through his shoes and part with one pair.  We are talking once every five or ten years.

This past summer, we were going through our house and getting rid of things.  I carefully approached RT about his shoe collection.  RT did oblige and three pairs left the house.

Last weekend, RT told me that he needed a new pair of running shoes.  Bella overheard this request for another pair of shoes and immediately said, "No!  You don't need any more shoes.  You have more shoes than Mom and I put together."

They both agreed that RT would get rid of one pair of shoes for every pair purchased.

On the way home from the store, RT was telling me how he recently got rid of a pair of shoes.  Just tossed them in the garbage.  I'm not quite sure if I believe him.  I think he's just saying this so he doesn't have to go through with the whole process of letting go a pair of shoes.

By the way, this all happened last weekend and no shoes have been tossed from our house.

Compost Pile

I briefly mentioned my Dad's compost pile on this blog post about raking leaves.  I thought I would expand a little more on my life of compost piles.

The dictionary definition of compost is:  a mixture of various decaying organic substances, such as leaves or manure, used for fertilizing soil.

When I was really little, I remember Yiayia saving food scraps in a milk container on the counter.  The milk containers back then were a waxy cardboard.  She would cut the top off and fill the container with scraps.  Once the container was full (more like over flowing), Yiayia would take it to the garden, dig a hole, empty the container and cover the scraps with dirt.  Seems simple and easy.  The only problem was the smell from the container in the kitchen.  Oh, and the little fruit flies hanging around the container.  Yiayia did have a great garden though.  I'd like to think that her composting helped out a lot.

I briefly mentioned my Dad's compost pile here.  My Dad had a HUGE compost pile in our back yard.  It was at the back of the yard behind some trees.  My Dad would put all of the grass clippings in this pile during the summer months.  He would throw in branches and sticks.  In the fall, we would put all of the leaves there.  My Dad would tell me that everything we put there would decompose and turn back into dirt.  I was impressed.

At social gatherings, my Dad got a kick out of telling people about his compost pile.  He was quite proud of it.  Then, one day, it happened.  My Dad was boasting about his compost pile and the couple he was telling asked, "What do you do with the dirt?"  That silenced my Dad for a little bit.

My Dad never did anything with the dirt.  We didn't have a garden.  He didn't use the dirt when my Mom planted flowers.  The dirt, leaves and grass clippings all remained there in the back yard in a huge pile just decomposing.

The composting "bug" has reached me.  I feel my garden has benefitted from my composting, probably because of what I've learned over the years.  I compost from April through November in my garden.  My bin that I keep in the house has a lid.  Yes, I learned from Yiayia's experience.  And, I learned from my Dad because I compost in my garden, so I know that the compost is being put to good use.

Vegan Diaries - Mexican Quinoa Dish

Time for another edition of Vegan Diaries.

I found another vegan dish to add to my list of recipes.  I've made this Mexican Quinoa a few times.  It's been a success with the family and I plan on adding it to the meal rotation.  It's pretty easy to toss together for a quick dinner.  You probably already have all of the ingredients on hand.  

Oh, and don't tell everyone that it's vegan.  Sometimes just using the word "vegan," "vegetarian" or "healthy" seems to put a bad taste in everyone's mouth.  Well, it definitely is off putting to some of the people in my house.    

Anyway.... Here's the recipe:

Mexican Quinoa Dish

ingredients:

1 TBSP olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 jalapeno, minced

1 cup quinoa

1 cup vegetable broth

1 can black beans, drained, rinsed

1 can diced tomatoes

1 cup frozen corn

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin

avocado, diced

lime, juiced

2 TBSP chopped cilantro

directions:

Heat the oil in a large skillet.  Add the garlic, jalapeno and onion*.  Cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add quinoa, broth, beans, tomatoes, corn, chili powder and cumin.  Bring to a boil.  Cover and reduce heat.  Simmer until quinoa is thoroughly cooked (about 20-25 minutes).  

Serve with chopped avocado, lime juice and cilantro.

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

* I add some chopped onion (one small onion should be just right)

**I also serve this with a little salsa. You can add to the side or put directly on top when serving.

Enjoy!

Christmas Crafts and Holiday Gifts

It's that crazy time of year again!  

Snow.  Holiday Parties.  Snow.  Crafts.  Gifts.  Gift wrapping.  Snow.  Cookie making.  Hot Chocolate.  Sledding.  And, more snow!

I thought I would make your life a little easier and put some links up from my blog to some easy Holiday Crafts and Gifts that you can make yourself, with kids or even a Girl Scout Troop.

Here we go:

Christmas
Animal Ornaments 
Brazilian Holiday Flower  (great children's craft)
Candy Cane Sleigh 
Christmas Cards and tags
Felt Heart Ornament 
Foam Gingerbread House  (children's craft)
Foam Ornament Gift Tag 
Jingle Bell Bracelet (children's craft)
Mitten Gift Tags 
Mosaic Christmas Tree (children's craft)
Picture Frame
Snowman Ornament 
Stocking (out of construction paper) (children's craft)
Winter Scene (children's craft)
Snowman Ornament
Snowman Winter Craft (children and adult craft)
Ugly Christmas Sweater Felt Banner


Gifts
Homemade Bubbles
Bath Bombs
Laundry Detergent (powder)
Homemade Hair Detangler
Homemade Liquid Hand Soap
Homemade Lip Balm
Homemade Lotion


Miscellaneous Crafts/Gifts
Bangle Bracelet (wrapped)
Blank Books 
Bubbles (homemade)
Book Mark
Bottle cap necklace
Cork Board using Old Picture Frame
Decorative Wrapping Paper 
Dryer Balls
Fun Scrapbooks
Gift Box
Paint Chip Monthly Calendar
Pumpkin Soap Recipe
Twine Napkin Holders 
Note cards  
Homemade Sidewalk Paint 
Sit upon (a cushion to sit on)
Wrapped Bangle Bracelet


Don't forget to make some cookies this season.  They go great with hot chocolate!  (They go great with everything!)  Here are some links to cookies that appear on the blog:

Cookies:
Butterscotch Chip Cookies
Avocado Chocolate Cookies
Chocolate Chip Blondies
Chocolate Chip Blondies (vegan)
Chocolate Chip Chokies (Mom's famous recipe)
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Deep Dish Cookie Pie
M & M Cookies
Nutella Cookies 1
Nutella Cookies 2
Peanut Butter Bars
Peanut Butter Raisin Bran Cookies
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Vanilla Pudding Cookies

My favorite cookies are the pumpkin cookies and the M & M cookies.  

Black Friday

It's Black Friday!  Time to exercise your credit cards -  Push them to the limit folks!  And, get in a big workout trying to snag that big screen TV before someone else grabs it.

Oh, yea, and it's also time for my famous  usual Black Friday post.

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday and it is the biggest shopping day of the year.  For retailers, it marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.

For those of us that are out there working on Black Friday, it's a crazy, long and tiring day.  Make sure you take those vitamins, drink lots of water, plaster a smile on your face and, well, just try to have some fun.

If you are out there shopping, it can get crazy, so, try to be safe.  Also, be nice to the store employees.  They don't make the rules or have any control over the amount of inventory the store has of that item you want to purchase.  So, go easy on them!

And now, what everyone has been waiting for, here is my famous Black Friday song playlist for your  listening pleasure:

Man in Black - Johnny Cash
Paint it Black - The Rolling Stones
Back in Black - AC/DC
Black Cat - Janet Jackson
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Black or White - Michael Jackson
Black Widow - Iggy Azalea
Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
Black - Pearl Jam
Blackbird - The Beatles
Black Betty - Ram Jam
Black Gold - Soul Asylum
Men in Black 3 Back in Time - Pitbull
Black Night - Deep Purple
Black Rain - Soundgarden
The Long Black Veil - Johnny Cash
Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder

I thought it was time to add a few more songs to our list.  Here are my additions to last years song list:

Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Black Velvet - Alannah Miles
Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
Men in Black - Will Smith

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the year 1621, the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast.  They invited the great Indian chief, Massasoit, who brought ninety of his brave Indians and a great abundance of food.  Governor Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests.  Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this;

"We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land.  We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice."

Linus Van Pelt
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Favorite Meal

The holidays are here and the kids (well, two of them) are making their way back home to celebrate.

Prior to Alex's return home, he called me to see how things were going.  He was finishing up a paper and was taking a break before starting the next one.  The paper was due the next day and he was coming home the following day.  He mentioned how he wasn't eating real healthy meals.  Yea, he went back to his old standby, the frozen pizza.  He was in a food rut and was looking forward to eating a good meal.

I had the bright idea of making Alex his favorite meal for dinner when he returned home, so, I asked him, "What should I make for dinner?"

Well, I have to say, I was shocked at his response.  I mean, I expected (and hoped) for (at least) one favorite meal....maybe two.  What I didn't expect was the long list of favorite meals he started rattling off.

Chicken Fried Rice
Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli
Home made Pizza

The list went on...

Pasticho
Mediterranean Stuffed Shells
Manicotti

and on and on....

I don't always get feedback from the kids about the meals that I cook.  I mean, I know they eat what I make, and know that it disappears (sometimes quickly).  I guess it made me happy that they happily remember the meals and even better, they have more than one favorite meal that I cook.

So, what did I make for dinner?

I picked the Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli.  I know it's a crowd pleaser and will disappear quickly.  Since Alex will be home for awhile, I will incorporate the favorites that he mentioned, over the course of the next several weeks.

By the way, all the recipes that I mentioned, can be found under my "Recipes" tab.

Compliments from my teenager

If you have or had a teenager, I'm sure you realize that compliments from a teenager are very rare.  They are usually telling you how you are embarrassing them.  And, that's when you aren't even doing anything.

RT and I do enjoy trying to embarrass our kids at this age.  Of course, we goof around with them so much, I think they actually enjoy it.

I had to take Bella to the orthodontist the other day.  It was an early visit and I had to get to work that morning.  I took a shower, got ready for the day, grabbed my lunch (and Bella) and I drove to her appointment.  We arrived a little early, so we sat in the waiting room.  Bella was not very talkative.  Probably half asleep.  When her name was called to go to the back, she got up, and before she walked away she said, "Your hair looks really bad."

Now, this was an early appointment so I could drop her off at school, sign her in and then try to get to work on time.  I had this all planned out.  I looked good before we left.  What happened between the time we left the house until we got to the waiting room?

Now I'm sitting in the waiting room thinking about how bad my hair looks.  Luckily I was the only one in the room.    I didn't want to look at the receptionist because she might not be able to hide her emotions when she sees my bad hair.  I sit and pray the visit is going to be quick so I have a couple of minutes to swing back home and tame the wild mess on top of my head.

Bella walks out after 15 minutes, we schedule the next appointment and head out.  In my head, I'm calculating times to get to school, a quick stop at home to perform a miracle on my hair, and then off to work.

As we are getting into the car I ask Bella about my hair.  "How bad is it?"

Bella:  Your hair?  It looks fine.  Why?

Me:  Before you walked away, you told me that my hair looked really bad.

Bella:  Oh, yea.  I was just kidding.  It looks nice.

And, there you have it.

Oh?  Did you miss it?  I'll repeat it for you.  "It looks nice."  Yea.  That was my compliment.

Since I can't get back that time, I'm hoping my worrying about it during those 15 minutes can be considered part of a work out.

National Espresso Day

Happy National Espresso Day everyone!

What's the difference between espresso and plain coffee?  According to the professionals (the baristas), it doesn't matter what kind of bean you use (or how it was roasted) it's all how the beans are brewed.   How do you make espresso?  By forcing pressurized water through these finely ground coffee beans, it produces a concentrated brew with a delicate foam or crema.

The word espresso in Italian means "quick in time."   In the late 1800's, the espresso was made to order by using freshly ground roasted coffee beans and was freshly brewed right before serving.  The first espresso machine was invented in 1901 by the Italian inventor, Luigi Bezzera.  This machine produced a smaller, more concentrated cup of espresso than the traditional coffee brewing methods.  I'm sure RT is quite thankful for this invention.

Not an espresso or coffee drinker?

How about adding some espresso powder to your next batch of cookies?  The espresso powder can give your baked goods a tasty mocha flavor twist.

How about adding a shot of hot espresso to a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream?   Sounds strange but it's an Italian dessert called affogato.

Maybe you're more into latte's?  Why don't you try adding an espresso shot (or two) to your latte today.

Why do we love National Espresso Day?  It's a great way to wake you up!  A single shot of espresso can perk up the slowest morning person.  A few shots of espresso, and imagine all of the things you can get done today!?  Just ask RT, who is celebrating today and is probably on his fourth espresso right now.

How to observe the day?  Enjoy a shot of espresso and post it on social media using #NationalEspressoDay on your posts/photos.

Or, you can be like me.

Watch RT as he shakes from all of the caffeine he's had today.

Raking Leaves

Our Girl Scout Troop is working on their Silver Award by helping Seniors.  The girls sent out flyers to some of the elderly neighbors to see if they could rake leaves for them.  They were trying to get more than an hour of service in one leaf raking session.  Luckily, Bella's Grandma came through and set us up with a couple of yards to rake.

The girls brought their rakes and we walked over to the first house.  The owner (at the first house) gave instructions on where the leaves are to be moved.  Half of the girls jumped right in and started raking leaves.

I walked the other half of the troop down to the second house.  The girls stopped and just looked around.  I told them we could rake the leaves to the curb.  I got some stares and then it hit me.  These girls don't know how to rake leaves!

I asked if they have raked leaves before today.  All three of them said no.  So, I had to give them a crash course on leaf raking.  Also known as, Leaf Raking 101.

This made me a little sad.

I thought a big (fun) part of childhood was to rake a HUGE pile of leaves and jump into it?  The not so fun part:  it was also a chore that a lot of us had to do in the fall.  Growing up, we had a HUGE backyard with lots and lots of leaves.  Because our yard was so large, my Dad bought a leaf sweeper.  It was human powered.  You push it and it sweeps the leaves into a collection bag.  To empty the bag, we had to dump it into a pile in the back yard (my Dad's compost pile).  It was difficult to empty (when I was younger), but, it was still a lot of fun to push around the yard.  Since we, and the rest of the neighborhood, thought it was so much fun to use, I'm sure my Dad thought it was the best investment ever.  We all fought over who would get to sweep the leaves.

I'm not sure that our leaf raking session brought that kind of fun.  We did play some music and the girls danced as they raked the leaves.  They were raking the leaves for someone else (can be considered a Random Act of Kindness).  Hopefully this will be a positive, happy memory for them.

Vegan Diaries: Easy Garlic Naan

The other day I posted a Chick Pea Tikka Masala recipe.  The Tikka Masala was absolutely delicious.  And, I think, it was over the top because it was served with this home made Garlic Naan.

Tikka Masala is one of my go to entrees to order at an Indian restaurant.  Being able to make it at home makes me very happy.  And, now, with this easy Naan recipe, I have an easy to make meal to add to the rotation.

By the way, my bread snobs  family approves of this Naan recipe.

I found the recipe here.  And, this will go great with my vegan  Chick Pea Tikka Masala.


Home made Naan

ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp dried yeast
1/2 tsp table salt
pinch sugar
3/4 cup hot water
3 TBSP oil

1/2 cup salted butter
2 tsp dried garlic flakes *
2 tsp cilantro

directions:
In small bowl, combine yeast and hot water and pinch of sugar and let proof.
In large bowl, combine flour and salt.
Add yeast mixture and oil and combine ingredients.  Once dough is combined, use your hands to gather dough together, making sure the sides of the bowl are clean.
Place dough on cutting board dusted with flour and knead the dough for 15 minutes.
Place in a bowl, cover and let sit for 20 minutes.

After dough has risen, punch it back down and then divide it into three equal balls.
Place one ball on floured cutting board and start rolling the dough to form the naan bread into an oval shape (make sure that it will fit in your skillet or on your griddle).

Put your skillet/griddle on high heat and let it get searingly hot.
Place dough onto skillet/griddle and cook for about 2 minutes.  It should start to puff up and char lightly.
Flip the bread and cook for another 2 minutes.

Remove to a plate and drizzle with garlic butter.
Cover with foil and keep in low oven while you prepare the other breads.

Garlic butter:
Place butter in a small microwaveable bowl and microwave until melted.
Stir in the garlic and cilantro.



*I used chopped garlic and fresh cilantro in the garlic butter.  I also used a vegan butter for this recipe.
*I added chopped fresh garlic to the dough so it tasted garlicky on the inside.

National Bundt Cake Day

Happy National Bundt Day!

Bundt cakes are any cakes that are baked in a bundt pan.  A Bundt pan is a round, ring shaped pan that became popular in the 1950's and 19960's by a company named Nordic Ware.  The mold of the bundt pan was inspired by a fruit cake known as the Gugelhupf.  The Gugelhupf was a round cake, which some referred to as a bund cakes.  They decided to call the mold a Bundt, hoping that people would gather around the cake for celebrations.  At first, the pan did not sell very well.  The company thought of discontinuing the Bundt pan.  In 1963, the "Good Housekeeping Cookbook" mentioned using a Bundt pan in some of their recipes, and, well, as they say, the rest is history.  Nordic Ware has sold over 60 million Bundt pans in North America.

Bundt cakes can be difficult to frost due to their odd shape.  Most bundt cakes are served either undecorated, glazed or dusted with powdered sugar.

How does one observe National Bundt Cake Day?

Well, get out that Bundt Cake pan, dust it off and start making yourself and your friends a Bundt cake!  Have a little party to celebrate the Bundt Cake!

Don't have a recipe or, maybe you just need some inspiration (and a recipe) for making a bundt cake?  Check out these 100 Bundt Cake Recipes on Mix and Match Mama (click HERE or their list of ideas for 100 Bundt Cakes).  You're bound to find at least one recipe to make today (and probably many to make on  another day).

Need a good laugh for the day?  How about watching the Bundt Cake scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding?   Remember?  "What is it?"  "It's a Bundt."  "A Bunk."

Don't have time to make a bundt cake yourself?   Maybe there's a Nothing Bundt Cakes (a franchise) near you?  You can always visit a local bakery and pick one up.

National Pickle Day

Happy National Pickle Day!

The first Pickle day was celebrated in 1949 and was started by the Pickle Packers Association.   The purpose of this holiday is to give the pickle a little love.  After all, it's a food that people generally don't think about but it is probably being served right at this moment at a restaurant near you on a burger, hot dog or even as a side garnish.  Today we recognize the tart, the sweet and even the spicy pickle.

The word pickle comes from the Dutch word "pekel" which means brine.  In the United States, the word pickle refers to a pickled cucumber.  However, any fruit or vegetable can be pickled.

The pickling process starts with blanching (the fruit or veggie).  It is then packed into jars with some seasonings that give it a pickle flavor.  The flavors can be spicy, tart or sweet.  The tartness and sweetness comes from the brine.  The brine includes vinegar and water and sugar is added to adjust the sweetness level.

Some interesting facts about pickles:

About 5,000,000 pickles are consumed each year in the United States.
Pickles make a great snack.
Pickles are sometimes deep fried and served at fairs.
Pickles are a good source of vitamin K.
Pickles date back to 2030 BX.  Cucumbers were imported from India.  The people preserved and ate the cucumbers as pickles.
Cleopatra said her good looks came from eating pickles.
Julius Caesar believed that pickles gave physical strength and gave them to his troops.

How to observe National Pickle Day?  Snack on a pickle.  Do you like sweet, spicy or dill pickles?  How about trying pickled carrots, beets, cauliflower, eggs or watermelon?  What about adding a little pickle or pickled relish to your sandwich or salad?  What about trying it as a pizza topping?

How will you celebrate today?

World Kindness Day

World Kindness Day is an international holiday that was started back in 1998.  It is a day dedicated to large and small acts of kindness to bring us all together.  The World Kindness Movement states that the purpose of this day is to "highlight good deeds in the community" and to focus "on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us."

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you know that I'm BIG on Kindness and  have many posts dedicated to Random Acts of Kindness.  It's great that we have a day dedicated to Kindness and being kind to one another.  I just don't understand why we can't do this everyday?  This should be a normal, daily thing for all of us.  There really is no reason not to be kind.

Okay, I"ll stop there and jump off my soap box.

Did you know that people who are constantly kind produce less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the rest of the population?  Another reason to be kind to others!

How can you celebrate World Kindness Day?

Do three Random Acts of Kindness today.  Smile at someone, give compliments, hold the door open for someone.

Hug your loved ones and friends.

Write a love poem to yourself and read it aloud.  (You should be kind to yourself today, too)

If you need some other ideas, you can find more on this post or you can search "kindness" on the blog.

Here are some Ways to make Kindness a norm in your everyday life, taken from Randomactsofkindness.org :

1.  Send an uplifting text to a friend
2.  Let that car merge in front of you with a smile and a wave.
3.  Go out of your way once a day to make someone smile
4.  Compliment a friend or coworker
5.  Reach out to a family member you haven't spoken to in awhile
6.  Treat someone to a cup of coffee or tea (friend, coworker, stranger or even yourself)
7.  Add intentional moments of kindness, laughter and delight to your everyday routine

Don't forget to post your support of kindness on social media today by using #worldkindnessday

Have fun today!

What are you wearing?

Have you ever thought about what you are wearing?

I bet both of you  all of you have stopped reading this post and are taking a good, long look at what you are wearing right now.

Hmm...Pants.  Okay.  Shirt.  Good.  Everything is covered.  Socks?  Yes.

Now, what if I said that I think you are just looking at the surface.  And, no, I"m not referring to the idea that you should mention any undergarments  unmentionables.  How about this...Why did you choose those clothes to put on today?

I'm sure some would reply,

"Well, they were clean"    or

"It's laundry day and this is all I could find to wear."     or

"They matched."

I feel some people put a little too much thought into what they are wearing.  Sure, you do have to dress for the occasion.  Certain clothes are worn to a wedding while others are best suited for a funeral.  And, of course, there are clothes that you wear in the summer that you would not put on when it's -20F.

What I mean to say is, people have different reasons on what they choose to wear.  A lot of people dress to impress others.  Some even feel that they have to be wearing the latest styles.  Some wear a color to represent their mood.

"I'm wearing blue because I'm feeling blue (sad)."

I'm wearing all black to channel my inner Johnny Cash  to express my love of Goth. "

And, of course there are those people who opt for comfort.  Either the clothing itself is comfortable (think big, baggy sweatpants or sweatshirts) or it's their favorite (shirt, pants) to wear and it makes them feel good or someone special gave me this shirt and it makes me think of them.

So, I will rephrase my question, why did you decide to put those clothes on today?

National Harvey Wallbanger Day

Happy Harvey Wallbanger Day!

A Harvey Wallbanger is a fruity cocktail made with vodka, Galliano and orange juice.    It's basically a screw driver, but, a little fruitier.  Galliano is an Italian liqueur that contains Juniper, Anise, Mint and Vanilla.  If you are unable to locate Galliano, you can always substitute Kahlua, Triple Sec or peppermint Schnapps.

I heard about Harvey Wallbangers as a kid and always wanted to give one a try.  The drinks originated in the sixties.  The story goes that a bartender named Donato Antone created the drink and served it at a party.  The one person remaining after the party, Harvey, was banging his head against the wall.  There are a couple other stories floating around, but, I like that one the best.  The drink made it's debut to the rest of the world in 1968.  Galliano used Harvey in their marketing campaign in 1969 with, "Harvey Wallbanger is the name and I can be made."  The drink's name also became a metaphor to describe someone who goofs off or makes mistakes.  Harvey Wallbanger was also a frequent write in vote during elections.

I had to do a lot of research (aka, drink lots of Harvey Wallbangers) in order to write this blog post.  And I have to say, what time is it?   I love you, man  I thoroughly enjoyed my time  drinking  doing research.

How can you observe Harvey Wallbanger Day?  Meet your friends at your local hang out and order a Harvey Wallbanger and toast good ol' Harvey (just don't be the one banging your head on the wall at the end of the night).  You can use #HarveyWallbangerDay when posting on social media.

How to make the perfect Harvey Wallbanger?
1.5 oz Vodka
4 oz Orange juice
.5oz Galliano
cherry or orange slice for garnish

Mix vodka and orange juice.  Pour Galliano on top and don't mix it in the drink (you can pour over a spoon).  Garnish with cherry or orange and serve.

Cheers!

Friends Themed Birthday Party

"So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month or even your year.."
The Rembrandts

Celebrated Bella's birthday with a Friends themed party.  I didn't have a ton of time to plan this party because Bella decided on having a party and on the theme on a Sunday, with the party happening that Saturday.

Luckily, I'm pretty good under pressure.  Especially with a good theme (and Pinterest).    These ideas were taken from various places on Pinterest.  There's so much you can do with this theme.  And, the show is pretty popular, even though it's been over for quite a few years. (Thanks to Netflix)

I started with the photo back drop, because, you always need a good background for your snap chat photos.

All you need are two black plastic table cloths (I got mine from the dollar store).
I made the Friends bunting.  Pretty simple.  White paper, scissors and black marker.  I also cut some dots from construction paper so it looks like the "Friends" logo.
To go along with this, we had a gold picture frame (similar to the one around the peep hole in Monica's apartment) to be used to frame you and your friends in your photo.

We also had the show, Friends, playing in the background.  Some of the girls never saw the show.  They did sit and watch a little of the show when they first got to the party.

"I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you,  like I've been there before
I'll be there for you, 
cause you're there for me too"

I made a few posters for the walls.   All you need are a few poster boards, some markers and, well, get coloring!

"The One Where Bella Turns 14."  If you are a Friends fan you know that is how they title their episodes.

"How you doin'?"  The line that Joey always uses.

"I'll be there for you"  Part of the "Friends" theme song.

You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight.
You've burned your breakfast so far things are going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees.

If you remember the show, Rachel worked at Central Perk Coffee House.  That's where the gang hung out (if they weren't hanging out in Monica's apartment).  I used the logo and made little decorations for cupcakes (note the colors on the cupcake are the colors in the "Friends" logo).  Just for fun, I added the logo to some "To Go" coffee cups so the girls could have hot chocolate.

"I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you,  like I've been there before
I'll be there for you, 
cause you're there for me too

No one could ever know me, no one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with, make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I'm best with you"

Made little goody bags for the girls to take home after the party.  I attached a "Friends" logo to the bag that was filled with fun goodies.  I also made Phoebe's grandmas famous cookie recipe that she got from her French friend, Nestle Toulouse (a.k.a. Nestle Tollhouse).

I think the party was a success!  Another party in the bag.

Oh, and the best part?  Bella got her very own nail clippers for her birthday.  My clippers are still in the witness protection program.  I'm hoping they can be released soon.  (If you're new here, you should probably read this post)

"I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you,  like I've been there before
I'll be there for you, 
cause you're there for me too."

Vegan Diaries: Chick Pea Tikka Masala

I think it's time for another Vegan Diaries.  It's been awhile.

I have been in a cooking rut for quite awhile.  Making some of the same, plain, boring meals.   There have been quite a few complaints here about my lack of desire to cook. I had to shake myself out of it.  I needed some inspiration.

I started perusing Pinterest and came across this recipe for vegan Tikka Masala.  You can find the recipe by clicking here.  I pinned it and last week I finally decided to give it a try.

If you enjoy Indian food and like Tikka Masala, give this recipe a try.  The aroma with all of the spices was wonderful.  This recipe does seem a little involved and detailed (can you say crazy?), but, it's well worth the effort.  

How good was this dish?

Well, there were no left overs, so, I'm thinking this dish was a success.  I will definitely be making this recipe again soon.

Here's the recipe:


Chick Pea Tikka Masala (Vegan)

Ingredients:
For the Chick pea Tikka

2 cups cooked chick peas
2-3 garlic cloves finely minced
1/2" ginger finely minced
3/4 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 TBSP lemon juice
1/2 TBSP oil
salt to taste

For Masala Sauce
1 small onion, diced
1 can whole tomatoes
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2" ginger, finely chopped
1/4 cup raw cashews
1 tsp cumin
1 1/2 tsp coriander powder
2 tsp oil, divided
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garam masala


Directions:
For chick peas:

Oven 400F.
In mixing bowl, mix all ingredients under Chick pea Tikka.
Spread evenly on non stick baking tray.
Bake chick peas for 10 minutes.  Stir them and continue baking for another 10 minutes.


For the Tikka Masala Sauce:

Heat 1 tsp oil in large skillet.  Add chopped garlic, ginger and onion.  Cook until onion is translucent (about 2-3 minutes)
Add tomatoes and raw cashews.  Cook until tomato softens (about 4-5 minutes)
Add Cumin and coriander.  Mix well, then transfer into a blender or food processor.  Add 1 cup of water and blend until smooth.
Heat remaining oil on low heat.  Add chili powder and cook until fragrant.
Add blended tomato mixture.
Add garam masala, mix well, cover and simmer on low for 5 minutes.
Add roasted chick peas, garnish with some cilantro and serve.



*I forgot to add the cashews (it wasn't missed)
*I served this over some cooked basmati rice.
*You can add more water if you like so the sauce isn't that thick.
*I used canned chick peas and it wasn't the end of the world.

I served this with some fresh home made naan.  It's really easy to make the naan.  Here is the link.

Enjoy!

World Vinegar Day

It's World Vinegar Day!  Woot, Woot!

If you know me and my addiction to love of white vinegar then you know that I can't let this day go by without recognizing it!  I use white vinegar for EVERYTHING!  RT describes my use of white vinegar similar to the father in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," who used Windex for everything.  My answer?  Hey, it works!

Vinegar is a common household product.  It can be used to zest up a salad, in a marinade, it is also used in canning (pickles or pickled jalapeños) and can also be used as a cleaning agent (add a little baking soda for some cleaning fun).

Vinegar is produced by a fermentation process.  There are many types of vinegar:  Apple Cider, Balsamic, Beer, Cane, Coconut, flavored vinegar, fruit, kombucha, malt, rice, white and wine...just to name a few.

Vinegar can be used in food preparation or salads or marinades.  It is used in condiments like ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce and even mayonnaise.   It is used as a flavoring for potato chips.  Vinegar can be a substitute for lemon juice.  It can be used in sushi rice.  Vinegar is used for medical remedies and treatments.   In fact, some forms of vinegar are believed to have health benefits.   Vinegar is used for cleaning and disinfecting.  Vinegar is also used in gardening and in pest control.

How to celebrate Vinegar Day?  How about cleaning?  Instead of Spring Cleaning, do a little Winter Cleaning.  The holidays are coming up what a great time to give your house a little once over with vinegar before all of the festivities begin.  As it gets colder outside, more time is spent indoors.  Why not start the season off with a clean house?

Don't feel like going all out and cleaning?  How about a salad with a vinaigrette dressing?

Oh, yea, you can participate on social media by using #nationalvinegarday.

World Vegan Day

Today is World Vegan Day!  Hooray!

World Vegan Day is celebrated by vegans around the world on November 1st.  World Vegan Day was established by Louise Wallis in 1944.  He chose November 1 as the date because, "I liked the idea of this date coinciding with Halloween and the Day of the Dead - traditional times for feasting and celebration, both apt and auspicious."  November is a perfect month for feasting!

World Vegan month is celebrated around the world as a time to recognize how far the vegan movement has come and how easy and beneficial it is to live a vegan lifestyle.  World Vegan Month is also to encourage the vegan curious to give veganism a try.

2019 marks 75 years since the foundation of The Vegan Society.  The Vegan Society started as an offshoot of The Vegetarian Society until it was decided that it was important to distinguish the difference between Vegan and Vegetarianism. Vegans do not eat meat nor do they eat anything that is made from an animal (milk, cheese, eggs, etc).  The Vegan Society began celebrating World Vegan Day in 1994 and has celebrated every year since.

"World Vegan Day evolved from celebrating for one day into celebrating one week and now they celebrate the entire month!  World Vegan Month.  Where vegans and veganism is celebrated in workplaces, shops, restaurants and in homes all over the world."

How can you celebrate World Vegan Day?  You can host a vegan lunch or vegan dinner party with friends, share you favorite vegan recipes on social media, challenge your friends or family to go vegan for 30 days, plant a tree or host a potluck.

If you decide to post on social media, make sure to use the hashtags:
#worldveganmonth
#worldveganday

I know I will be part of the celebration!  How about you?

Belly Ache Day

Another Halloween has come and gone and tons and tons of candy have made their way into our house.   How much candy did you eat yesterday?

Bella went Trick-or-Treating with some friends and came home with gobs and gobs of candy.  We have so much candy that I think we might be able to start our own candy store!  Of course, we can't, because "someone" won't let us touch her candy.  Oh, and she hides her candy stash every year.  (yes, of course I know where the stash is hidden!)

Yes.  It's true.  Bella loves  likes to eat candy.  Oh, and, so does, RT!  The two of them already dove  into the huge candy stash and ate quite a bit of candy last night.  Talk about sugar highs!  I even saw RT squirrel away some candy for a rainy day (he thinks that I don't know that he does these things!)

My Dad always called the day after Halloween, "Belly Ache Day."  He said that on Halloween, you get lot of candy trick or treating and you tend to eat quite a bit that night.  You wake up the next day, and you have a belly ache from all of that candy you ate the day before!   I always thought it was funny.  I never ate too much candy on Halloween (probably because I had a fear of celebrating Belly Ache Day), so, I never suffered on Belly Ache Day.   I always relayed this to my children every year after Halloween.  The kids ate candy, but, no reported belly aches in our family on November 1.

If you are looking for some way to use up some of that Halloween candy, check out my recipe for Halloween Cupcakes.  (You can click HERE for that recipe)

Here's hoping that all of you are not suffering this Belly Ache Day!

Easy Halloween Costume

If you've been following me for awhile, you know I've got your back when it comes to making that last minute Halloween costume.   I've shared a couple of costumes that I made in the past.  Click here to view them.

This blog post is for those of you who like to procrastinate  like to live on the edge  are last minute Halloween costume seekers.  Halloween is tomorrow and this costume is so easy to throw together.  You probably have all of the items laying around your house already!  If you don't, then, a quick trip to the store and you can make this easy Halloween costume.  And, tomorrow, you will be ready to go Trick or Treating!

Okay.  Let's get started!

Supplies needed:
Black T-shirt *
Hot glue gun
Candy
Google Eyes or white and black felt**

*honestly, any color t-shirt will do.  Just make sure it's an old tee that you don't want to use again.  I thrifted mine.

**If you are using felt, instead of google eyes, you will need to cut out circles from the felt to make eyes and glue them together (so they look like an eye).

Directions:

Pretty simple stuff here.   Hot glue candy and google eyes in random spots onto the t-shirt and, you are.....EYE Candy!

Eye Candy!  

See how easy this was to make?  Now you are ready to go Trick or Treating tomorrow!


By the way, it took about ten minutes to get this shot.  Bella had to take a picture of her feet, the dog and the ceiling along with about twenty photos of the shirt.  All twenty photos are all exactly the same.  (who needs a professional photographer, right?)

Happy Halloween!

National Hermit Day

I found another "odd" holiday that we can celebrate (separately).  Today is National Hermit Day!!

I know!  Who comes up with these weird holidays?

I, personally, found this holiday intriguing and had to do a little research and figured I would share it with you so we can both celebrate today.

A hermit is a person that keeps to him/herself and doesn't leave his/her home.  Most hermits do this out of a religious practice.

It is believed that National Hermit Day was created for St. Colman who died in Ireland in 632 A.D.  He lived a seven year hermitage in a cave in the forest.  This day was created to honor the day that he died.

So, we are basically celebrating the death of some guy who lived like a hermit.

How do we celebrate National Hermit Day, you ask?

Today is a great day for introspection and reflection.  Use this day to spend some time alone.  Take a step away from all of the craziness and find a quiet place to hang out.  Maybe it's a hike in the woods, hanging at the park, the library, your couch or maybe a closet.

Don't feel like going out?  You could take a nap.  Netflix and chill.   Catch up on your reading?  Write (start a blog or a journal).  Exercise (yoga would be perfect way to meditate today).   Do a puzzle.  Start making your halloween costume or do a craft project that you have been putting off.  Turn off your phone.  Maybe you just need to get some alone time, away from social media, phones and email.  

Of course, I have to work today, but, when I get home, I'm not sure what I will do first.  Maybe I will make some tea and hide out in the closet?  

Dad Jeans

Dad jeans made a big splash in the media when President Barack Obama was photographed wearing a pair back in 2008.  He kept "Dad jeans" in the public eye for the next eight years.  He did, however, see the light (or Michelle threw out all of his Dad jeans) by the end of his presidency, and modified his wardrobe and added regular, normal jeans to his wardrobe.

Recently, at work, my coworker showed me a pair of jeans and said, "Wow!  Look at these Dad jeans!  They're almost an acid wash denim.  Something you would see back in the '90's.  I would never, ever allow my husband to wear these jeans!"

I took one look at those jeans and realized, my husband has jeans just like that pair.  In fact, he has quite a few pairs in his closet.  He  lives in "Dad jeans."  His entire wardrobe is based around his Dad jeans.  Of course, I couldn't make a comment.  What would I say?

"Oh, my husband wears Dad jeans."

"My husband only owns Dad jeans."

"My husband has a closet full of Dad jeans."

"Hi.  I'm Fontaine and my husband wears Dad jeans.  He has been wearing them ever since he became a Dad.  So, um..yea...almost 23 years now."

Yea.  It's my first week working there.  I really don't need to have RT's Dad jeans embarrass me at my new job.

"Hey!  That's the new employee whose husband wears Dad jeans."

I think I will just keep all that Dad jean stuff to myself for ever  now, thank you very much.

I thought I would ask RT about his problem  Dad jean addiction  problem  collection.    This is what he had to say for himself.

"I'm a Dad.  So, I can wear Dad jeans and get away with it."

So, there you have it.

I will be hosting a support group for families with loved ones wearing Dad jeans.  Our first meeting will be next Tuesday.  Let me know if you're interested.