To Shower or Not To Shower

I think I mentioned a few posts back about the toilet leaking in the kids' bathroom.  This bathroom is finally being remodeled.

We had a rough start.  The contractor wouldn't start unless we had the tub.  So, off we went to order the tub.  Yes.  Order.  It happens to be a special order tub because of it's size (of course).

We got the tub over the weekend and the contractor started on Monday.  All was going well, until he noticed that the tub required a special part for the overflow (of course).  Off I went to the store only to find out that it will take them 3-5 business days to get the part to me, but!  I could order it on Amazon and get it here in two days time.  This just slows down the whole bathroom remodel process time.

In the meantime, I have three children who are bathroom wanderers.  They have to shower in our bathroom.  So far only one child has showered in our bathroom (Nick).  I think the other two are holding out until their bathroom is completed (which might not be for another week or two).

I'm hoping they decide to shower soon. Especially the one that has been playing basketball everyday this week.

Spring Break Craft: Wrapped Bangle Bracelet

We are remodeling the bathroom and decided to have a little stay-cation this year for Spring Break.  Since I will be home all week hanging out, I decided to pick up some things so Bella and I can fill up some of the time to make crafts.  We have a lot of these things on hand, so, I didn't spend much money.

Today's craft is a wrapped bangle bracelet.

Supplies needed:
Bangle bracelet(s)
embroidery thread
e6000 glue (or a good craft glue)
charms (optional)
scissors
patience

Choose your embroidery thread, grab a bangle bracelet and add a dab of glue and place the end of your thread on the glue and start wrapping.  I chose to do a tight wrap (all close together)  in a single color.  At the halfway point, I added a dab of glue to the bracelet (just incase the embroidery thread decided to unwind) and kept going.  When I got to where I started, well, I decided to go around one more  time.  If you choose to stop, just add a dab of glue so your last wraps will stick to the bracelet.  Use the scissors to cut off the excess thread.

At this point, you can add your charms to the bracelet.

Bella was getting all stressed out while we were doing this craft.  I think I wrapped half of her bracelet for her.  I was calling her the "crabby crafter" because she kept complaining while we were making these bracelets.  She promises to be in better spirits for the other crafts.  Wish me luck...I think I'm going to need it.

How you doing?

I came down with a cold a few weeks ago and can't seem to shake this cough.  I think it's on week three.  I feel fine....except for the cough, which can be quite annoying.

For the past few nights, I have been sleeping on the couch.  I don't think RT notices when I leave or return (he's usually asleep).

One night, while sleeping on the couch, I heard someone walking around upstairs.  Then footsteps on the stairs.  I realized it was Pippen.  He came over and put his nose in my face.  I decided to go upstairs to bed.  That morning, I asked RT if Pippen was sleeping in our room (our bedroom door was open when I went back upstairs to bed, and Pippen knows how to open doors).  RT didn't know the dog was in the room.  He also didn't know that I left and came back.  That's probably a good thing.  He doesn't normally sleep that well.

Last night, when I returned to bed, I just wanted to climb in and go right to sleep.  I was hoping RT wouldn't say anything.  I thought if I start talking, I would start coughing and would have to go back downstairs on the couch.  As if he is listening to what goes through my head, RT then says, "How are you doing?"  I gave a thumbs up and then realized it was dark and he couldn't see it.  He asked again.  "How are you doing?"  I finally said, "I don't want to talk or I'll start coughing."

We are definitely nailing the old fashioned pillow talks.

Knife Sharpener

It started with a set of knives we got for our wedding.  RT said we should sharpen them before/after every use to keep them nice.  The sharpener was a metal pole.  There's a special way you are supposed to position the knife when scraping the pole.  If you do it wrong, you can dull the knife.  I'm not a big fan of metal scraping metal.  It's that one sound where I cringe.

You see, I came from a family that was not educated on which knife you are to use for each task.  Apparently, there are steak knives that are used to cut steak.  We used those to cut, oh, just about everything you can imagine.  My family wrote the book, "101 Uses of the Steak Knife."  


Cutting a watermelon?   Here, use the steak knife.

Cutting a cucumber?  Use the steak knife.

How about chopping an onion?  Try the steak knife.

Trying to open a package?  Why not try the steak knife?
(excerpt from, "101 Uses of the Steak Knife)


My Dad used a pocket knife for everything.  (check out his book, "101 Uses for a Pocket Knife")  Probably because he had a pocket knife in his pocket all of the time and could easily whip it out, cut something, wipe it off, fold it up and put it back into his pocket again.

I don't think my family used any other knives.  So, with a whole set of knives, I was a little overwhelmed.  I did know to use the bread knife (for bread).  It took me awhile, but, I've learned the uses of all of the knives.  I left knife sharpening to RT (and had to run out of the room every time he did it, which wasn't too often).

Since Nick has been cooking, he has been complaining about the knives not being sharpened.  I told him it would be great if he could do it for me (a present for my birthday, Mother's Day or Christmas).

For my birthday, he presented me with my very own knife sharpener.  I think he was tired of having to sharpen the knives every time he went to cut something.  It's a nice gadget.  The sharpening sound is actually bearable.  Nick told me that I can now sharpen my own knives.

I did tell him how I like when he sharpened them for me.

I think he really wants me to sharpen the knives on my own.

Vegetarian Diaries - Fakes (Greek Lentil Soup)

I have been craving this soup ever since I became sick a few weeks ago.  My mom used to make this soup a lot when I was younger.  And, because I'm a vinegar freak, I absolutely love adding the red wine vinegar right before eating this soup.

My mom's recipe did not have the addition of carrots, but, I like having an extra vegetable in there.  Adds a little color (along with flavor).

It's hard cooking for yourself when you're sick.  You don't have the energy, but, you have a taste for a nice hot bowl of soup.  It's also difficult being the only vegetarian.  The other chefs in the house like to add meat to their dishes.

The great thing about making your own soup, you can control what goes into your soup.  I don't like a lot of salt (too much for me in canned soups) so, I don't add it when I'm cooking.

This soup came out quite nicely.  I can't wait to make it again.

Here's the recipe:

Fakes (Greek Lentil Soup)

1 cup brown lentils
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
a pinch of oregano
a pinch of rosemary
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp tomato paste
salt/pepper to taste
1 tsp red wine vinegar, or to taste

Put lentils in saucepan with water to cover and heat to boil.  Cook until tender and drain.

Heat olive oil in saucepan.  Add garlic, onion and carrot.  Cook until onion has softened.  Pour lentils,  4 cups water, oregano, rosemary,  bay leaves and tomato paste.  Bring to boil.  Reduce heat and cook for 30-40 minutes.  Add water if soup is too thick.

Ladle into bowl and add vinegar (to taste).


If you try making the soup, let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

Elevator

Went for a quick road trip up to Milwaukee.  We stayed at this old time, elegant hotel.  RT got our room number and off we went to the elevator.  We hop on and he says we are on the second floor.  The elevator opens at the second floor and its the parking garage.  We decided to stay on the elevator because now RT thinks it might be the 10th or 12th floor.  He tries pressing those numbers and they won't light up.  Somehow we end up at the top floor (23).  So, we start to go down the elevator.  I see someone put their card in and press the floor number.  RT tries that and it still doesn't work.  A bunch of people get on and we tell them we have been riding the elevator up and down for awhile and that they might see us later on (on this same elevator with our bags).  They laughed.  Another guy got on and asked RT if he's from here.  RT said, "You mean, this elevator?"  Bella and I laughed.  The guy tried to explain himself and I said, "We have been on this elevator for a good 20 minutes now and might be making it our permanent home."  I think they thought we were crazy.

We finally got off the elevator after the second trip up and down to the top floor.  RT went to ask where our room was located and, apparently, we got on the wrong elevator.  We were a little leery about getting on another elevator, but, luckily, it was the correct elevator and correct floor and we successfully found our room.

When we finally settled in, we were trying to decide what to do the rest of the night, and, for some reason, no one liked my idea of riding the elevator up and down all night.

Daddy Daughter Dance - Under the Sea 2017

It's finally here!

The Girl Scouts Annual Daddy Daughter Dance!  And, guess what?  It was our troop's turn to host!  Yes!  It's been six years since RT and Bella went to their first Daddy Daughter Dance when she was in Kindergarten.

look how little she looks!

Our troop chose the theme, "Under the Sea."  We made all of the decorations and set everything up in the gym.  With my decorating vision, we did require RT and Alex to help out with the implementation of my grand plans.  I owe them big time.  Once they heard my idea, they were ready to quit went ahead, made a plan and got to work.

This was a huge undertaking and consumed a lot of my time (day and night).  I would wake up at 3am and start thinking about this dance.  Scary, I know!

Now I'm going to bore you with some pictures.

when you walk in...you had to go through rows of crepe paper 

you had to be careful around the jelly fish

near the door

between gym and multi purpose room

Mermaid Munchies table

some random jelly fish near a batch of seaweed

2017 picture

Putting on a huge dance is a lot of work and a lot of fun.  I'm glad it's over, but, I'm also sad that it's over.

Now what will I think about at 3am?