Today

Outside my window: it’s another cold, grey morning here in Wisconsin. The weather has been fairly blah lately with some rain and some blah. We’re keeping warm indoors and enjoying the colors and lights of the Christmas tree. I know it’s not even December yet, but I’ve been in the Christmas spirit since like September this year, so I’m ready to just embrace it and enjoy!

This weekend: was a long Thanksgiving weekend! Thursday we had a Turkey dinner with some good friends. The morning was spent cooking and playing tic tac toe with the kids.

Then in the afternoon there was placemat coloring while we got dinner ready and plated.

Then of course, there was eating.

Our first Turkey – it gave us a lot of grief from thawing to brining to prepping and baking, but it came out delicious in the end! And we took lots of notes to make the process go smoother next year.

All the kids eating

The spread: turkey, homemade dinner rolls, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy and homemade cranberry sauce. Basically a ton of delicious homemade food!

We also: played with fun puzzles at Dan’s office and went to see the new Muppets movie which was soooooooooooo good. If you haven’t seen it yet, you really really should.

Right now I’m reading: Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster and actually pretty close to finishing it. I am really enjoying this book – it’s terrifically funny and it’s somewhat motivating, too, which is always nice. This morning Dan even made me log my calories again. Probably got tired of my nightly update about all the progress Jen Lancaster was making with meanwhile no progress on my end.

Plans for this week: tonight I have my first photography class. I will be taking intermediate and then advanced classes for the next three weeks. Hopefully I learn some fun stuff / but don’t get way in over my head!

I’ve also got book club this week, though I didn’t read the book. Shhh… And then this weekend I’m doing a community service project with my meetup group – we’re doing the Adopt a Family Shopping thing, should be fun.

Pins you should click:

How amazingly delicious do these Quadruple Chocolate Cherry Cookies look?

I love this idea for a family tablecloth to use at the holidays.

I might try making these cinnamon ornaments with the kids.

I’ve found a ton of great Christmas gift wrap ideas on Pinterest (see more here) but this one is my current favorite.

One last pictures to share before I go: our house decorated with lights – we kept it simple this year but I’m pretty thrilled with how it came out:

Today

Outside my window: it’s in the 30′s and 40′s today and a bit chilly but not unbearably so. I took BB to the mall today for a walk and was sweating through my light sweater after half an hour. So on the walk back to the car I didn’t even bother with a jacket, which was totally doable.

This weekend: we celebrated Dan’s birthday! His birthday is actually today (Happy birthday sweetie!) but I like to really celebrate holidays into the ground so we started celebrating on Friday night and will finish up the festivities tonight with a nice steak dinner. But yesterday was presents and store bought ice cream birthday cake and a yummy french onion soup for dinner (his favorite).

We got him: the awesome rattlesnake mug from Craig Ferguson’s late late show which I was so excited to give to him and of course he loved it. And MM made him a picture frame and we put in a fun picture of the kids from Thanksgiving in it – both will probably go to his office at work.

Right now I’m reading: Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster, even though I should be reading Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand for book club. I kind of abandoned it after three chapters. I normally would keep reading and try to give it 100 pages but ugh I just was not feeling it. It’s supposedly a humorous book, like a satire, but I just found it to be bitter and annoying and harshing my mellow basically and I didn’t feel like putting myself through all that when there were so many other awesome books vying for my attention. And poor Jen Lancaster has been sitting on my nightstand for like a year now, constantly being set aside again for other books. I decided to make it a priority finally and I’m so glad I did because I am kind of adoring it.

Plans for this week: Tomorrow night I am hosting a jewelry making party with my newcomers group which should be fun. I don’t actually make jewelry (yet) but I agreed to host since I have the space and one of the other members is going to do the teaching part. We went shopping for beads this morning which was fun, I’m looking forward to it.

And of course Thursday is Thanksgiving. We are celebrating with some friends and then we’ll maybe go see The Muppets new movie on Friday. This weekend we may put up the Christmas tree because I am already so ready for the season – I even made a Christmas mix CD already and broke down and put it in the car this morning. <3  Some new favorites on this year’s disc include Zooey Deschanel’s She & Him holiday CD, Do You Hear What I Hear from Glee’s Christmas album and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Kermit the Frog.

Pins you should click:

This is the Turkey recipe we’re planning to use on Thursday for our first Thanksgiving in our new house – and the first traditional Thanksgiving meal we’ve prepared.

I’m planning to make this sweet potato casserole dish with it. We’re celebrating with some friends of ours so we’ll be making the turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and rolls – and they are bringing potatoes, stuffing and a green bean casserole. Should be delicious. We’re planning to go out for dessert afterwards (so that I am not eating pie for weeks) but if we weren’t I’d maybe make something like this:

Seriously, how amazing does that pie look?

One last pictures to share before I go: just a sweet snapshot of my little girl who is getting so much bigger every day.

Today

Outside my window: the snow has all melted and it’s been in the 40′s or so lately. Right now it’s raining – boo. We’re hiding inside today anyway though as poor MM is not feeling well and stayed home from school today for the first time. Every three minutes or so I hear “COUGH HACK COUGH” mixed with Playhouse Disney while the kids rest.

I’ve got lots of arts and crafts projects to keep him from sitting around watching tv all day though. Earlier I printed out these cute Alphabet Mazes for him and we’re planning to make Turkey Doodle placemats later.

This weekend: we watched the new Winnie the Pooh movie together and I have to say, it was sooooo good. We are planning to buy it for the kids for Christmas because it is definitely worthy of repeat watching for years to come.

We also: took down the Halloween decorations and started putting up some basic fall decor in it’s place. Soon it will be Christmas decorations, but let’s not think about that right now, okay? One holiday at a time. :O)

Right now I’m reading: The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent and I’m like literally 10 or 20 pages away from finishing it – hoping to squeeze in some reading time this afternoon. When I finish it, I’ll be reading Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand for book club.

So far I’ve written: an embarrassing 16740 words – yes I am falling behind quite a bit. I think this book is becoming too important to me for my own good! At least I am still enjoying it, but it’s been slow going. Anyone else writing a novel this month? Look for me on the NaNoWriMo site and we can be writing buddies!

Plans for this week: I’ve got Team Trivia tonight (woohoo!) and a few walking meetups scheduled this week. Wednesday afternoon I’m going shopping with a friend for jewelry making supplies for the Jewelry Making party I’m hosting next week. I’m hosting, she’s showing us all how to make pretty things – perfect deal, right? Throw in toddler story time on Tuesday, a coffee shop playdate on Thursday and a field trip for MM and it’s a pretty busy week!

Pins you should click:

A few more pictures to share before I go: BB and I had a mini photo shoot this weekend and she really could not have been more adorable. Here are three cute shots:

Today

Outside my window: it’s pretty much the same weather we’ve been having for a week or two now. Cold in the mornings with temps in the 30′s requiring a sweater and perhaps a winter jacket, but this afternoon we’re expecting temps in the 50′s and the jacket might not be necessary. The good news is there’s no rain predicted today.

Stuff I forgot to tell you about last week: one of the first restaurants we learned about after moving here was Ella’s Deli. It’s this sorta dumpy looking Jewish deli downtown that has a big carousel outside and more smaller carousels and moving decorations inside. It’s crazy and chaotic and the food is really only just okay but going there is supposedly a real experience – and kids love it there. Like they do birthday parties and stuff – there’s a working carousel outside : common now, you have to go!

And so we kept meaning to go but it’s downtown and out of the way and the menu is all “meh” and unimpressive so it took me a long time to get around to it. It was on our Summer To Do List all season and never happened. So when a lunch trip was scheduled there with my moms & tots group after story time at a nearby pet store, I decided it was time to go – if the food was only just okay, it would still be fun given the company and it would be cheaper for just me and BB to go than it would be to take the whole family. This way I could scope it out and not bug Dan about it.

So we went – we took pictures (that picture above is the carousel, I’d have taken more but I only brought my cell phone and the parking lot was kinda crowded and sketchy-tastic so I head a death grip on BB’s hand, who was kinda bored and wanted to walk into traffic while I tried to hold my cell phone steady in bad lighting to get a good picture. But you get the idea.

The food? Not the greatest, but not bad either. Their chicken noodle soup was pretty tasty, the french bread on the side downright fantastic. Their fresh pound cake topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce that is supposedly the Customer Favorite? I’d give it a “just okay, not really worth the extra money” – but the decor was just too cool and the kids really did have a blast. So I’m glad we went. And I probably aught to take the boy sometime, too.

This weekend: MM and Daddy did one of the free Saturday workshops at Home Depot, making a picture frame! Isn’t it cute? If you show up at Home Depot on the 1st Saturday of the month between 9am and noon they have a free workshop for kids ages 5+ to build something fun. This month was picture frames for either Veteran’s Day or Christmas or whatever your child decides is appropriate. MM made this for Dan’s birthday and I ordered a fun picture of MM and BB to put in it.

We also: took a little road trip yesterday to the Illinois LL Bean. I finally decided on what winter boots I wanted and we decided to go try them on in person. And I’m glad we did because I totally changed my mind once I got there and tried on a pair and ended up getting a pair that cost half as much that were much better!

Plus it was a fun little impromptu road trip and likely the last we’ll take this year. We also stopped at our favorite mall in that area and visited Hanna Andersson and The Disney Store, etc. Fun times!

Right now I’m reading: The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent which is the story of Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha’s courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.

I’m about halfway through the story right now, which I’ve found fascinating though a bit slow going – definitely on the prosey side of the spectrum but still pretty good. When I finish it, I’ll be reading Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand for book club.

So far I’ve written: 10045 words for NaNoWriMo which puts me pretty well on track but by no means ahead of the game. I started out strong then slowed down dramatically when dealing with my blog issues at the end of last week, which meant trying to get caught up this weekend in my little downtime.

I’m really enjoying my story still, though, so that’s probably a good thing – I’m glad I did so much outlining and thinking about the plot last month because it’s helped a lot! Anyone else writing a novel this month? Look for me on the NaNoWriMo site and we can be writing buddies!

Plans for this week: My goal is to go for a walk three times this week and workout with the Wii probably on the other two days. Since the weather is cooling, I’m planning for those walks to be at my local mall. I’m leaving in about half an hour for my first one.

Other plans for the week include a quick trip to the doctor tomorrow to figure out if it’s normal that my knee still hurts every time I stand up (I hurt it doing jumping jacks at the end of September, you may remember). I’ve also got plans to watch the movie version of Never Let Me Go with a friend tonight, I’m working a book sale tomorrow night for MM’s school, we’ve got Parent Teacher conferences on Thursday as well as our November CSA pick up and Bunco that night – and Saturday MM is going to a birthday party for one of his new little besties at school. I’m looking forward to meeting his new friend and getting to know his parents hopefully. Basically, it’s a pretty busy week for us!

Pins you should click:

Paper pilgrim hats tutorial: marthastewart.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Apple cider caramels: blondiescakes.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Clothespin advent calendar: sundayinbed.tumblr.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

One Two last pictures to share before I go: just a couple of sweet cell phone shots from tucking in BB last night after getting home late from our impromptu road trip.

Today

Outside my window: it has been a bit warmer the past couple of days with highs touching the 60′s and I have to say, I’m a big fan. I wish it would stay like this awhile longer but I hear it will be frigid again by the weekend (just in time for trick or treating). Actually we may not do trick or treating this year as it’s on Monday this year, but we are having a Halloween party with a bunch of the kids’ friends so we’ll be having a pretty fun time this coming weekend either way.

This weekend we: spent a good portion of the weekend around the house, doing chores around the home, relaxing and doing a bit of cooking, too. We Dan made The Pioneer Woman’s recipe for Indian Tacos per my request and they were amazingly delicious. Like kinda life changingly good. I actually first heard about Indian Tacos from my bloggy pal Jean @ Workingmomma247 , and have been intrigued by them ever since. So when I saw Ree’s recipe posted I knew we had to try them. So glad we did.

We also: put MM to work vacuuming the downstairs a bit with our big hand vac. He was complaining about the noise so of course daddy had a genius solution to the noise problem.

I think the apron adds a nice touch to this moment, don’t you?

I just finished reading: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I finished it two nights ago which is pretty much just in time as my book club will be meeting to discuss it on Wednesday. I’ll be writing my review soon but basically it was one of those books that I loved some things but kind loathed other things about it. A mixed bag. I’m planning to read The Heretics Daughter by Kathleen Kent next – it seems like a fitting book to be reading as Halloween approaches.

Links you should click:

• I’ve been crushing on infinity scarves lately, anyone else? DIYers will want to check out this post at Freshly Picked with links to two tutorials to make your own infinity scarf (or bribe someone else to do it for you if you’re anything like me).
• If you’ve been trying to decide whether to use the crib bumper or not, the AAP has officially said that crib bumpers are NOT safe for your little bambino.
• Getting ready to carve pumpkins? Modern Parents, Messy Kids just posted a fun carving idea: why not use cookie cutters?
• And last, a yummy looking easy peasy recipe for caramel apples at The PW Cooks.

One last picture to share before I go: this weekend MM and I went to the library to hear a “lecture” on dinosaurs! It was a pretty fun lecture, totally aimed at kids though MM was on the young age range for the other kids there, he still had a good time and even mom learned some fun new dino facts! Afterwards he couldn’t wait to go examine this replica of a t-rex’s head up close  complete with working jaw bones!

The woman said it took her a year to build this replica out of card board and Papier-mâché – the goal being that kids would be able to touch the skeleton and manhandle it a little without much concern, but I still ended up scolding him to be gentle as it did take her a year to make the thing after all!

So this was the only picture I got before I had to put my phone away and pry him away from the T-Rex – a bit blurry, but the moment was captured, the T-Rex was examined carefully by a curious 5 year old and good times were had by all, I’d say.

Today

Outside my window: the weather is very slowly starting to consider cooling down again. And by that I mean that yesterday we had a high of like 82 and today we had a high of 77. But I saw a high in the 50′s predicted in a few days. Why am I hopeful that it will get cold again? I’m not really sure, I think I just like to complain about stuff. And wear sweaters and drink hot cocoa. But I don’t actually want to be cold, okay?

This weekend: was of the super lazy persuasion, due mostly to the fact that Dan was on call helping a customer with an upgrade and per usual it consisted of a ton of shenanigans and not much sleep. But in the end, the software finally decided to work right and then I think birds start chirping and Cinderella got to wear a pretty dress – oh and there was thai food, too. I love it when that happens.

We also: bought the rest of BB’s Halloween costume – she is going to be a very pretty kitty, inspired by this gorgeously simple costume I saw online last year and cannot stop swooning over. I like to do costumes consisting mostly of regular clothing with a few accessories to bring it all together, that way I can use most of the pieces throughout the year. Her costume totally follows those rules.

MM’s costume is totally one of those one piece cheap polyester pullover deals from Menards, but he loves it so I don’t care (just this once). Wanna know what he’s gonna be? Woody from Toy Story! Truthfully I was just thankful to not have to pull a Perry the Platypus costume out of thin air ’cause most of my ideas involved either sewing or a $30 sweatshirt from the Disney Store. Which is admittedly pretty cool, but this was an easy fix and he was pretty set on it the minute he saw the Woody costume.

Although I suppose in a pinch, this might have worked:

Right now I am reading: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, our October book club pick. I just started it last night and truthfully I’ve read so little that I’m not yet prepared to say anything about it except “so far so good” but it’s pretty popular so I’m hoping it will be a great read.

Things you should click:

• Well first things first, you should seriously consider voting for my picture of MM in Katie Evan’s photoberfest photography contest – there are a lot of great pictures, all posted on pinterest – all you have to do is click “like” on a picture to vote (not a pinterest member? Just let me know and I’ll send you an invite)
• In non-self promotional news, Halloween is coming! Simple as That has 5 great tips to take better Halloween pictures.
• Here’s another adorable cat costume at Create Celebrate Explore.
• Bake at 350 has me dreaming about eating a banana split for breakfast.

One last picture to share before I go: I’ll admit it, sometimes I’m jealous of BB’s awesome wardrobes.

Those socks and that skirt? Loving it.

Accidental bokeh picture of the rain outside my window

Today

Outside my window: it is currently not raining but I’m sure if we wait five minutes it will start again. It’s been a rainy weekend with no signs of stopping for long anytime soon.

This weekend: we took down the crib in BB’s room! We’ve been talking about doing it for awhile, had a few things we needed to fix / baby proof first and also kept thinking, “Maybe we should just wait” but we both really wanted to take it down and felt she was ready so this weekend we took the plunge and did it and I have to say I’m thrilled. It hasn’t been a perfect transition but she does seem to love her big girl bed and I’m proud of how well she’s doing.

We also: spent a lot of time indoors due to previously mentioned inclement weather. I got more of my review reading done and will be posting my review of Finding Aster very soon.

Right now I’m reading: A Little Bit Wicked by Kristin Chenoweth. I’m only about twelve pages in but I can already tell I am really going to love this one. I’ve recently discovered a love for celebrity memoirs and I knew this one would be right up my alley. I’m glad I’m finally reading it!

Things you should click:

• You know how sometimes you just cannot find the exact piece of furniture or clothing that you want and it’s so frustrating because you have this idea in your mind but cannot find it in the stores for a reasonable price? I am loving the idea to make your own dining room table – the table Stylizimo made came out just gorgeous. I sense future carpentry plans for the handy husband coming on…
• Speaking of handmade things my husband needs to make me, I am pretty sure it’s crucial that I become the proud owner of a Bender hat, don’t you?
• Tsh at Simple Mom just posted this fantastic list of everything she packs to wear when she travels. Genius.

One last picture to share before I go: have to share this little collage of cell phone snapshots I took of BB at the Little Gym today. Her friend invited us to come along for their Bring A Friend day and I am so glad we went – she had such a great time and clearly has a future in gymnastics!

Today

Outside my window: Things are starting to cool down drastically. We’ve gone from hot temps in the 90′s to barely scraping through the 60′s in a seemingly single bound. Mother nature has clearly decided that September equals fall, period – no need to wait till the end of the month. On the one hand, fall is a favorite season of mine so I don’t mind so much – but I’m hoping this doesn’t mean winter will start in October. :O)

This weekend: my husband has been trying to help me kick my diet into high gear. Mostly on account of I kept complaining that I was gaining weight and couldn’t seem to lose any. So there have been a lot of walks and he’s planning to drag me on a walk every morning after we get MM on the bus in the morning. I suppose it’s nice that he goes to school so early that Dan is still home to help out and spend time with us afterwards before leaving for work – and now we’ll all get in a bit of a work out first thing.

We also: had another big Get Stuff Done weekend. Dan replaced a light fixture on our front porch, finished framing out a big cork board in our kitchen (photos coming soon) and then made the beautiful forward facing bookshelf pictured above.

The design was based off this one that I showed him at Ohdeedoh but ours as you can see is quite different as he designed it specifically for this space, leaving room for the light switch as well as making a short shelf on the bottom for board books and then taller shelves above. I’m pretty happy with it. :O)

Oh and of course I have to show you: some cute pictures from last night when we took an impromptu trip to Dairy Queen for some ice cream to end our long Labor Day weekend.

It was almost too cold for ice cream… but not quite!

Right now I’m reading: Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese still and planning to pick up either Finding Aster or The Entitlement Trap to read during the day also. I need to review The Hour That Matters Most soon as I finished it over the weekend.

This week: is super busy! The entire month of September is actually pretty crazy, but this week little BB and I have something going on every morning! This morning we’re going apple picking with our Moms & Tots group (hopefully lots of cute pictures will be coming soon – and apple pie!) ; then tomorrow is our walking group, Thursday I’m going to try and take her to the local botanical gardens and Friday we have a play date with some friends!

A few links you should click:

• If you didn’t know that I was a big huge geek, this is going to prove it. Couldn’t help but giggle over this recent comic at XKCD. Okay, show of hands – any other fans of this comic out there? How about Sluggy Freelance? Anyone?
• Love this idea for cookie cutter organization @ Annie’s Eats. I might have to try this one. I do love me a good peg board.
• I am currently coveting these map coasters at Etsy. Anyone want to buy me some? What city would you get?
• I recently discovered the Crappy Pictures parenting blog and cannot stop giggling. Love this post about the potty dance but my hands down favorite post so far is the home decorating with kids post.
• My Classics Self Reading Challenge is kind of crashing and burning so far. Maybe I should just try the Book-A-Minute program?

One last picture to share before I go: a cute collage of MM’s schoolboy style! It’s still all about Phineas & Ferb around here and this outfit proves it! Oh and yes, there is a matching lunch box inside the backpack. :O)