Pin All the Things 9/16/12 {Fall}

This week I'm blogging from Illinois.  Peter and I are celebrating our first wedding anniversary and the birth of my niece Reilly Sue.  I also had a severe craving for fall like weather.  If I wasn't so busy at work in October I probably would have timed our trip for Halloween since it's my favorite fall holiday.

The weather is a little bit gloomy and cloudy right now but the temperature is perfect!  The only thing missing is the fall foliage.  It's just too early for the pretty oak and maple leaves that can be found around my hometown.

Fall has been on my mind all week in preparation of my trip up north so I couldn't help put Pin some fall inspirations:

Pin All the Things 9/9/12 {Hedgehogs make me *Squee*}

My and the hubster have been discussing getting a pet.  I kind of want a pet but then I remember I'm never home Monday to Friday and that wouldn't be fair to a puppy dog.  A cat sounds alright until I imagine it shredding my roomie's fairly new furniture.  Our place is small too so not sure where it's litter box would go.

Peter is trying to convince me that a hedgehog would be our perfect pet.  I'm not so convinced yet but he's not buying my fishy pets idea.  I like aquariums.  They are so calming and I love the sound of the bubbling water.  I've had a lot of fish growing up.  It's pretty much the only pet my Dad let us have.  Peter has had a lot of pets growing up.  Dogs cats, hamsters, gerbils.  And now he is fixated on getting a hedgehog.

After some research and looking at oodles of hedgie porn the idea has grown on me.  I'd name her Dilemma or Dilly for short and she would curl up by my neck when I read and be very snuggly.  I have a wonderful imagination and so I realize that the above scenario is doubtful.

Check out all the reasons I should have a hedgehog for a pet:

Pin All the Things 8/19/12 {Projects}

I took a break from blogging this week to catch up with some old friends who were in town and to finish up some projects.  The beginning of the week was filled with cake poppery.  I had a co-worker order 3! dozen of them for her grandson's 1st birthday party.  I'll be sharing those latter on next month.  I'm pretty behind in posting even though I haven't been that busy cooking or baking.  My other project I'm almost done with is a baby quilt for my new niece Reilly Sue.  She was born August 1st and I can't wait to meet her when I go up to see family next month.

Now that my current sewing project is winding down I've been on the look out for some more.  I do have a painting to finish but I'll need some more paint before completing that project.  I also have a massive scrapbook I've been dying to complete involving my wedding pictures.  Alas, I keep breaking the hole punches.  Peter says I have too many hobbies.  I think he may be right but don't tell him I said so.

Here are some nifty sewing projects I have a hankering to try my hand at:

Pin All the Things 8/5/12 {Nostalgia}

Recently my sister posted to her facebook wondering what ever happened to Kool-aid points.  I haven't made a pack of Kool-Aid in so long that I don't know when they got rid of the points.  This makes me sad.  I never was able to save up for anything as a kid.  We did have a set of cups and the Kool-Aid man pitcher though.  I seem to recall that our family gave them out as Halloween treats one year because they were really cheap and came packaged with 2-3 flavor packets.

As a result of all this Kool-Aid talk I recalled that I had been unable to find my favorite flavor lately.  I bought some a couple years ago and pretty much wiped Sedano's out of the flavor as they had it on clearance.  A red flag that they would no longer be carrying it anymore.  Sure enough, no more Blue Raspberry Lemonade.  Sad face.  This explains why I haven't been making Kool-Aid.  I do like Tropical Punch and Black Cherry but have opted to drink Crystal Light Pink Lemonade.  Mostly so I don't have to measure out sugar or Splenda.  I'm lazy.  We've established this.

Pin All the Things 7/29/12

This week on Pin All the Things: things I want that would make my life easier. So I sort of created a wish list, as in, I wish my husband would buy me...

Pin All the Things 7/22/12 {The Olympics}

This week I made cake pops to celebrate the upcoming Summer Olympic Games.  While it would be difficult for most of to be able to actually go to London, it doesn't mean that we can't enjoy watching the games at home.  I think it would be a lovely idea to have a party celebrating the games and apparently I'm not the only one to think so.  Check out these awesome pins:

Pin All the Things 7/8/12

I've been checking out Pinterest more than I aught this past week instead of doing more important things (like cleaning the house or finishing a certain someone's baby quilt).  It's amazing how much this sight can suck you in!  One cannot simply pin one thing, lol!

This week I have been trying to find some more husband friendly healthy recipes.  I've also been on a steel cut oats kick.  Those things are awesome and unbelievably filling.

Also created a few new boards.  Healthy Recipes, If I were a Princess, Art Projects and Breakfast.

Here a few of my random favorite from my pinning escapades:

Pin All the Things 7/1/12 {4th of July}

 

I'm so excited that the 4th of July is just around the corner.  After Halloween it's one of my favorite holidays.  I love the fireworks and all the BBQ and watermelon I can eat.  Since I live near Disney Peter usually parks us in the cast member parking lot for a perfect view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.  It's a fantastic show that involves an insane amount of fireworks.  This year I convinced Peter to give the Lakefront in Kissimmee a try.  It's closer to our home and I just don't feel like being stuck in Disney traffic since I have to work the next day.

I dug up some fun projects and yummy food for the 4th of July.  Do you have any fun crafts or food that you make to celebrate the 4th?

Pin All the Things 6/24/12

Lately I have been trying to eat healthier.  It isn't easy let me tell you!  I'm really really trying to make changes that are better for me and my family.  As a result I have a crap ton of fresh fruit and veggies in my fridge.  I've re-instituted meatless Mondays and Fishy Fridays.  When I go to the grocery store I stay away from the center aisles and shop the perimeter where all the fresh stuff is: milk, produce, meats.

I haven't lost much weight but I feel better about what I am eating and I love finding new recipes to use all the veggies in my fridge.  Here are some I pinned this week:

Pin All the Things 6/16/12 {Father's Day}

 

This week I went on a hunt for DIY Father's Day gifts.  My Daddy lives all the way up in Illinois so I needed to find a gift that would travel well. I finally settled on making him some decorated sugar cookies.  Hopefully they'll survive their long journey!

Pin All the Things 6/9/12 {Getting Healthy}

So I finally got sick and tired of being sick and tired and made an appointment with the doctor.  I pretty much knew what she was going to tell me but I went ahead with the appointment anyways because we have a family history of diabetes and thyroid problems.  After ruling out those possibilities she encouraged me to lose weight and put me on some anti-depressants.  No surprise.  Not at all.

That was over a month ago.  The pills really help.  I was really reluctant to give them a try.  My mood has improved.  My weight, however, remains unchanged.  It's one of my sources of sadness.  It is very easy for me to make excuses and just sit in front of the TV and eat.  When I'm sad I eat.  When I'm happy I eat.  Ick!  Why do I write a food blog again?

Anyways, at my check up to see how I was doing and get my test results I promised the doctor I would really really try to lose weight.  I have all the tools to do so.  I even have a gym membership I never use and a Wii.  This Sunday I am recommitting myself to healthy eating and exercise.  My husband has adorably decided to help me out by promising me prizes for #age lost.  Oh, and to also nag me about it and join me in my goals.  My cooking has made him a lil chubby too, lol!  He just needs to shape up a little bit.

This week I pinned some resources that I hope will aid me in my goal:

Pin All the Things 6/2/12 {Hair-Dos}

This past week I blogged about a new shampoo and it really got me thinking that I really need to do something with my hair.  It's in that awkward growing out-I really need a hair cut phase.  I can't decide if I want to get it cut and styled the way I always do, or just let it grow out a bit so that it's long enough to put up in a bun without using a ton of bobby pins to wrangle in the shorter layers.

I really hate wearing my hair down in the summer months.  It's just so thick and makes my neck all sweaty.  I own a black car so no matter how high that a/c is cranked it's still hot as heck in that car.  Luckily I don't drive a lot ( I work like 15 minutes from home) but it's still unbearable at times.

I pinned around and found some cute (and easy!) hairstyles that would be great to wear to work and keep my hair from irritating me.  A couple of them I'll have to wait to my hair is a bit longer.  I'm incapable of using bobby pins right.  I just shake my head and they all fall out.  Annoying.

These are all Pinned under Beauty Tips:

Pin All the Things 5/20/12 {Organized}

Peter and me went grocery shopping today.  We do a major shopping trip every couple months where I stock up on meat.  Sunday is a good day to go to Target because they sometimes have some discounted meat.  This trip I went through the freezer to make room for the new stuff and discovered I had a lot more chicken than I thought we had.  We're going to be eating chicken for awhile, lol!

Now if I had stuck with my freezer inventory list this wouldn't have happened.  We don't have an abundance of room in our fridge, freezer and cabinets for bulk shopping.  It was a bit of a struggle to fit in the extra chicken.

I like to pretend I am organized but really I just like to make lists.  I'm weird like that.  I did straighten up the fridge and rearrange my fridge magnets to allow me to actually see my freezer inventory list.  Is it normal to have a fridge totally covered in magnets?  I really want some fruit shaped magnets.  I'd have to make some room though.  Not sure I could bring myself to toss any of the ones I have now.

This is what I pinned this week to help me obtain organizational nirvana:

Pin All the Things 5/13/12 {My Container Garden}

 

This week I pinned a lot of ideas for next year's garden.  I don't have a yard of my own because I live in an apartment which makes me sad.  I love giant gardens.  This year I planted a few veggies in pots and some herbs.  I'm always on the look out for cute ideas for doing a good job with my small space.

To give you an idea of what I'm working with I decided to share some pictures of my garden this year:

Pin All the Things 4/28/12

This week has been exhausting for me.  I have never felt so tired that I didn't feel like cooking anything at all.  Some how I made it through the week and while I still feel groggy, I definitely feel more energetic today.  As soon as I got up I headed to the library to pick up some books I had placed a hold on.  I had been wanting to look at a couple of America's Test Kitchen cookbooks. They're fun but not as fun as the fiction novels I picked up too.  I've been reading a ton lately...well, when I'm not asleep that is!

I joined a site called Goodreads. It's a site that lets you keep a virtual bookshelf of books you've read and books you would like to read.  It will also suggest books based on your likes and dislikes.  It's a good way to keep track of your reading list and find something new to check out.  You can check out my bookshelf and profile here.  

Pinned this week:

Things to Be Cooked

Source: crumblycookie.net via Heather on Pinterest

Coleslaw.  I'm embarrassed to admit that I fail at making coleslaw from scratch.  I've always been partial to the stuff from KFC.  This recipe looks relatively simple and in appearance reminds of the stuff from KFC.

Source: crumblycookie.net via Heather on Pinterest

I keep posting healthy recipes with the hope that they'll inspire me to eat better.  I have decided to swear off soda, even diet soda!  I'm waiting for the headache now.  Anyways, I tried lentils for the first time while doing Americorp and really enjoyed them and could see my self enjoying them seasoned like taco filling.

I Scream, You Scream

No It isn't a pin-board for scary movies!  It's getting hot down here in Florida and I'm craving some ice cream...

Source: chow.com via Heather on Pinterest

I really like the premise of this recipe.  I was thinking of modifying it by using cantaloupe instead.  I love me some ice cold cantaloupe at the beach.  It'd like the salty air mixes in with each bite full and intensifies the flavor.  Divine!

Source: saveur.com via Heather on Pinterest

I pinned this one for shear weirdness of it.  I'll probably try it bought I dunno.  I think the texture may end up being the deciding factor of weather or not this one is a success.

Blogs I love

Source: thecreativeplace.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

Stumbled upon this gem this week while looking for sewing tips.  Found a lot of projects I want to half way complete instead.  (I have a ton of half finished craft projects sadly).

Pin All the Things 4/22/11

Happy Earth Day everyone!  If you live near a Target stop by today for a free reusable shopping bag.  I try to get one every year and have amassed quite the collection of reusable bags.  I have never paid a dime for any of them, even my snazzy insulated ones!  All you have to do is hit up environmental and health fairs.  There is one of each every year out on Courthouse Square which is really handy since I work at the Courthouse.  I try to remember to use my bags every time I go to the store because many retailers offer a 5 cent discount for each bag you've brought with you.  I also used to shop a lot at Aldi's.  Anyone familiar with that place knows that they charge per a bag if you decide you need one or you forgot your own.  Personally, if I forgot my bags I'd just throw my groceries in the trunk sans bags.  I like to live dangerously.

Besides using reusable bags I also try to be more Earth friendly by limiting my use of Ziplock baggies.  I own many different sizes of reusable containers so try to use them when ever humanly possible.  I don't but a lot of singe serve items.  I'll buy the huge bag and divvy it up into individual portions.  Cheaper that way too!  I also reuse plastic forks and spoons.  Well, actually, I do this because my husband can't stand eating with silverware.  He says it hurts his teeth.  He's weird like that.  We also switched out our light bulbs with those energy efficient ones. They are pretty pricy but they last a long time and pay for themselves in the long run.

What do you do to be more Earth friendly?

So in honor of Earth Day I'm sharing pins that reduce, reuse or recycle:

Pin All the Things! 4/15/12

I've done a lot of cooking this week!  Easter kept me pretty busy.  We went over to my husband's sister's home to meet their new baby.  He is adorable!  We fed them ham, cheesy potatoes and homemade Lion House rolls.  For dessert I created a strawberry lemonade cupcake which I will share later this week.  Speaking of dessert, have you tried the Baked brownie?  I posted about these last week and they really are delicious.  Yesterday found as at a co-worker's (un)birthday party.  I brought homemade pizza bites.  Pizza is always welcome at a party.

This week I pinned in:

Pin All the Things! 4/1/12

Happy April everyone!  Anyone get any awesome pranks pulled on them today?  My husband has some rigged up to play on our roommate.  Hopefully I'm not in the same room when Foo Foo Cuddly-poops discovers that his bathroom faucet has been saran wrapped!

This week I was able to finally finish up some craft projects I had pinned.  Easter is right around the corner so I made a garland inspired by marshmallow peeps candy.  It was really simple:

 
I also finished up a quilt.  This project was frustrating because I couldn't find any freezer paper.  I had to use contact paper (like the stuff you would use to line a shelf).  It worked but it was a pain to remove later on.  Also, I left my pieced quilt on the table which got mistaken as the tablecloth overnight by my husband and my roommate.  It was all sorts of messed up.  I fixed it up as best as could but after everything got sewn together I found gaps.  I don't think I'll be giving this one as a gift but as a trail run it still came out pretty:

I actually didn't pin too much this week with all the crafting getting done.  I'm working on a new quilt from a book I bought some time ago.  It's a lot more complicated than the one pictured above and has a bit of embroidery too.  I found out my sis-in-law is having a baby girl so the plan is to gift the quilt to her.

Pin All the Things! 03/25/12

This week as gone by so quickly!  How many of ya wet out to the movies to see Hunger Games?  I opted out.  I'm not a fan of opening weekends and this movie is really popular so I knew it would be crowded.  I love going to the movies but lately it's become annoying.  Cell phones, light up shoes and whiny babies (and adults).  They've all conspired to make going to the movies un-enjoyable.  The last movie I saw in the theater was Puss in Boots on Thanksgiving last year.  Barely anyone in there except the family with the child with light up shoes who couldn't sit still. Whole theater to sit in and they choose to sit in the same row as us.  Those shows were very bright!  The movie was very good though and I can't wait to see Hunger Games next Friday.  I'm sure the theater will still be packed but I just can't wait for the DVD to come out, lol!

Last weekend I picked up a couple of cute items I thought I'd share with you.

My favorite place in the world in Bath & Body Works.  I really love their candles.  I keep trying other brands but theirs are just so smelly-ful!

I picked Peach Bellini.  It smells sweet and fruity.

Peter picked this one out.  It's more minty than lemony which makes me sad.  Peter absolutely loves.  I think it's a bit weird but not bad.

I randomly saw the following item at the grocery store near the cake mixes.  It's so cute!

It's a cupcake holder!  So awesome.  Now I can pack cupcakes in my lunch for work.  It will probably still be a little messy but better than simply sticking it in ziplock baggie.

Pin All the Things!

This week has been so busy!  I did a lot of cooking and photos for upcoming blog posts and cooked an awesomely huge St. Patrick's Day dinner.  You would have thought it was a major holiday or something!  I made corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots, biscuits and rice crispie treats for dessert.  It took 4 hours to make all that food and maybe 20minutes to devour it.  Amazing.

I also started (and completed!) a couple of projects I pinned last week.  My goal board is done and my baby quilt is almost done (I ran out of thread!).  The baby quilt was a challenge, I cannot find freezer paper anywhere.  I substituted contact paper instead and while it works I wouldn't recommend it.  Also I made the mistake of leaving it pieced out on the table.  My fellow housemates mistook it for a new tablecloth.  Not good!