10/28 Week(s) in Review

It's been a minute since I did a week in review so there's a lot here. :)

Cooler weather (to me) means one thing.   SOUP!!

This week I had a massive craving for Chili and cornbread.  My chili is packed full of veggies (as you can see in the picture) and is super filling.  The cornbread needed a little dressing-up so I mixed in some rosemary and black pepper.  The Owl is dried rosemary (I used a cookie cutter for the shape) and the branch is a sprig of boxwood basil.  So good. 

Cooler Weather also means NESTING.  

My bedroom has been a work in progress all summer.  I have been trying to re-do the theme and make it more beachy.  Not beachy in the 'sea life and fish everywhere' sort of way.  I prefer more muted blues, greens, and grays with natural accents.  I have a massive barnacle and a jar full of shells sitting around.  My bed, however, has just been 'meh'.  I have been searching for a quilt that doesn't completely offend my eyes but to no avail.  I did however find that striped (and SUPER FUZZY) blanket at Home Goods for $16.   It's Cynthia Rowley and looks fantastic.  The lighter blue ruffled blanket is from Meijer (Katie Brown Workshop line) a year or two ago.  I think it came together quite nicely.  What you can't see is the other layers of blankets and my electric blanket hiding on there.  It's actually QUITE warm and snuggly now.  EXCELLENT!

I have been trying to make the most of my 'harvest' and produce.  The 'fall harvest' picture is all the goodies I snatched off my balcony before the frost got them.   We have:: green tomatoes (they were fab in my chili), mint, and boxwood basil.   The jars are my very first attempt at sauerkraut coming along nicely.  :)  I get to test that tomorrow!

I have also been crafting and trying to make bath and beauty items "on the cheap".  Here are the bath salts and lip balm I made this week.  The bath salts are eucalyptus-mint scented with dried mint and lavender buds.  It will make for a fabulous bath when my sinuses start acting up.  The punk really enjoyed her bath in them too.  She was very amused that they turn the water a light turquoise shade. :)   The lip balm doesn't smell great but HOLY COW!  It moisturizes like whoa!  It is beeswax, coconut oil and olive oil.  I added a splash of peppermint and was afraid of overdoing it -- it doesn't even smell at all.  Oops!

My sisters, nieces and I all had a fantastic time the past two weekends soaking up all the fall activities.  We went to a haunted greenhouse and also a farm that has all manner of fall activities.  I think their favorite was the massive corn box.  (like a sand box, but full of feed corn)  It was kiddie paradise. 

My Mom, Punk, Arianne and Myself all went to a Pumpkin farm and got pumpkins to carve.  I must say they look fabulous.  Punk did the top right and bottom middle.  She also decided to carve her pinkie and ring fingers as well.  (No worries -- she is healing nicely and a lesson was learned -- Don't give the Punk a real knife, give her the pumpkin saw)  My bad!

Here is my Pumpkin carved with the help of my Hello Kitty pumpkin carving kit.  I freaking love it!

He had some birthday this week:::

Punk turned 8.

Bella turned 9 (or 10)

Nygel turned 8 (or 9)

Punk with her Birthday Starbucks.

(Shaken, Sweetened Passion Tea)

We had a Ppppp-Party at my house for her.  We had Pizza, Popcorn, Pudding, Pumpkin Cheesecake and Potter (Harry Potter) -- the next morning we had Pancakes with Pecan syrup.  :)

She has been ALL ABOUT Harry Potter recently.  She is reading the books and PLOWING through them -- about one a week.  I happen to have all the movies, so the game plan is:::  she finishes the book and we watch the move that weekend.  She likes to talk through it and tell me what's different.   

Whatevs. 

We then had a SURPRISE! party for her at her Mom's.  I was 'in' on the surprise and kept her occupied until her arrival.  She had NO IDEA!  It was fantastic.   MY present to her?  That purple guitar you see above (my mom and I bought it for her).  I also got her fish and glow in the dark pebbles for her aquarium.  She also got a notebook to write her songs in, her favorite chocolate bars, and some awesome knee high socks because I'm the best freaking aunt ever.   

My mom got her some nice boots from DSW.  My sisters got her some games (two of which were Harry Potter -- she may have squealed), a really pretty quilled butterfly, earbuds, press-on nails, a One Direction movie, and a Monster High Barbie.

I'd say the little Punk made out quite nicely. :)

She was convinced we weren't having a party at all... so when I was stalling before her big surprise, I asked if she had enjoyed her birthday weekend.  Her answer?  "Yes! I like my fish and my boots, but what I liked most of all was spending time with everyone"

*heart melted*

Bella's birthday was more low-key.  She got mutt meatballs, a sweater I crocheted for her, and lots of snuggles.  (I'm convinced the meatballs were a bigger hit than the snuggles)

Mean dogs. 

:)

S&S,

Shannon

October 2013 Barkbox Review

What is Barkbox?  Here is a blurb taken from their page:::

When you sign up for BarkBox, every month you will receive a box in the mail with four or more carefully selected products and presents for your dog – anything from toys, bones and all-natural treats to hygiene products and innovative new gadgets!
If your dog is begging for more or you want to gift a favorite item to a friend, we’ll give you exclusive opportunities to order more products at a great rate.
A portion of proceeds from each box will go to help doggies-in-need. To learn more about our causes, read about our giving program.
Whether you’ve known your furry friend for years or have a new special canine in your life, BarkBox is the monthly necessity for keeping your pup entertained and feeling well loved.

Mine and my dog's take?  It's a monthly box filled with doggy-loving awesome.  :)  

Bella and Nygel waiting on their Barkbox this month. :)

October Barkbox Contains::

Fruitables Share Pack
Chevron Bear Toy

Mutt Meatballs Mix (Your Dog's Diner)

Autumn Harvest Goat Liver Treats

Two Lamb Ears

October is Bella's Birthday month so she got the Chevron Bear as her Birthday gift. :) 

(She's not a 'player' but more of a 'snuggler')

Her birthday is the 25th.  Both my dogs are rescues.  The rescue lady guessed that Bella was about 6/7 months old when I got her in May of '05.  So, I went with 10/25 as her birthday.  I just realized this year that we've never celebrated Nygel's birthday.  (oops!)  so we are celebrating both in October from now on.  Nygel's adoption was November of '06 (I think... maybe '07). 

Anyway, I decided to go ahead and make the Mutt Meatballs for their birthday treat.  They were very easy to mix up and bake.  The dogs really loved them.  They had some Friday night with their dinner, and Sunday morning with a pancake to celebrate my niece's birthday -- TODAY!  Birthdays for everyone!  

I was hesitant to make these meatballs as raw meat (minus seafood) has never been in my kitchen.  I was pleasantly surprised with how easy these were to make.  

All in all -- a great box!   Thanks Barkbox!

Interested in signing up for your own Barkbox?  Use this LINK and receive $5 off your first month.
(Do it!  Your pups will thank you profusely)

S&S, 

Shannon. 

10/14 Week in Review

Good Morning!

This week has been kind of crazy.  There's been a lot going on within my family, so I've been very busy with them.  In my 'down time' at home I've been canning and cooking up a storm.  Here is a picture of just SOME of my canning efforts.  I am sure there will be more to come.  

My mother, my niece and I went apple picking last weekend and I have about 30 lbs of apples to use up. However, in my tiny little apartment space is ever at a prime.  30 lbs of apples must be stored SOMEHOW. So, I have two large bowls overflowing with apples.  One is on my counter for grabbing and snacking.  One is in my fridge for long term storage.  Also, BOTH of my crisper drawers are STUFFED with apples.  

**Hi Nygel**

I also discovered a new food that I absolutely adore.  Delicata Squash.  It's super easy to prepare and you can even eat the skin!  If you like acorn squash and other fall/winter squash varieties... give Delicata a try.  

Roasted Delicata and Potatoes

I simply roasted one delicata squash with 4 red potatoes in a baking dish.  I tossed them with coconut oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary.  I baked at 375 degrees until tender (about 30 minutes).  So good. 

Eggs in Purgatory

To go with my roasted veggies, I made Eggs in Purgatory.  Dump one bottle of tomato sauce into an oven-safe skillet.  (I used my homemade spaghetti sauce and my cast-iron skillet)  Create little wells in the sauce, crack eggs into the wells and bake along with the veggies.  Keep an eye on the eggs and cook to your desired doneness. 

Such a delicious and filling meal

Here is my finished meal.  Super easy and SO GOOD!

I have also been a Pinterest fiend lately.  I found a pin that was way too easy NOT to try.  Essentially it was a low-fuss way to make homemade caramel.  All you need is a crock pot and a can of sweetened condensed milk.  

Can in Water Bath

Here is my can of sweetened condensed milk all covered with water and ready to go.  Turn your crock pot on low, put the lid on, and leave it for 8 hours.  (I did this overnight and it was in for about 10 hours -- it still worked wonderfully) After it's been cooked -- pull it out and refrigerate for AT LEAST 2 hours. 

Caramel

Here is the end result. A dippable, creamy, Dulche de Leche that is PERFECT for dipping apples. 

This was dinner one night.  Apples, Caramel dip, and cheddar cheese.  Again, so easy but SO GOOD!

Saturday Morning I got up early to go get a haircut.  (Don't judge me, this was 7:30 on a Saturday morning -- I normally don't see anything before 9am on saturdays)  ;)  I ended up not being able to get a haircut because of a scheduling issue.  The salon's customer service was ON IT.  I drove across the street to console myself with some starbucks and retail-therapy (Target style) and before I'd even parked my car they had called offering me a free haircut for my inconvenience.  Holla!

Retail Therapy in action.  That right there is Happiness in my cart.   Starburst Candy Corn, Hello Kitty Carving Kit, and a Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte.  HEAVEN!

(PS - I'm 28 and love Hello Kitty.  You're going to have to accept that)

I also picked up this fabulous Cynthia Rowley blanket from Home Goods this weekend.  It is super soft and fuzzy.  It mixes well with the colors in my bedroom (neutrals, whites, and beachy colors -- sea glass hues, and muted blues/greys)  Bella Approves.  

S&S, 

Shannon

October 2013 PopSugar Must Have Review

The PopSugar Must Have box is a curated box of must-have items from various categories.  Home, Fashion, Food, Fitness, etc.  I have been subscribed for almost a year now.  I enjoy the surprise of receiving my box of goodies in the mail. Here is what was sent this month:::

I'm not entirely sure of the theme.  It seemed a little all over the place.  

Included are:

The Can't Cook Cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld.  ($27.99)  

Sadly, I actually CAN cook.  I flipped through the cookbook and while I do think there are some very worthwhile recipes it is just not a cookbook that speaks to me.  I will be gifting this to someone in my life.  I do like the simplicity of the recipes and I truly do think that even a "can't cook" will be able to follow along.

The Wet Brush ($28)

This is an identical shape and silhouette to my Conair Boar and Nylon Bristle Brush that was $5 at Walmart.   The bristles are different, however.  They are flexible and when I pulled it through my dry hair it actually hurt.  My standard brush doesn't hurt.  The flexible bristles seemed to get trapped in my tangles and hesitate for a second before brushing them out.   I will try it again tonight when I wash my hair.  Hopefully it's better in wet hair, otherwise this will be given to my niece.  

Jane Tran Bobby Pin Set ($12)

These bobby pins were actually kind of awkward to use at first.  I did like that they look a little dressier than your standard hairpin.  They look more like barrettes in your hair.  They are shaped to 'hug' your head and are very comfortable to wear.   I like this a lot more than I expected to.  Would I pay $12 for some bobby pins?  Probably not.  But they are a nice treat. 

Gorjana Griffin Bali Bead Bracelet ($45)

Ok, so this bracelet is actually my favorite item from this box.  It is a delicate bracelet which is right up my alley as far as style goes.  It looks nice with my hasn't-left-my-arm-in-3-years silver link bracelet.  However, it's essentially braided thread with gold seed beads.   I think I may have made something similar in Girl Scout camp.  Do I like it?  Yes.  Do I love it?  Possibly.  Would I pay $45 for it?    Hells to the no!  On the plus side, 100% of the proceeds benefit Breast Cancer Connections.  I like that.  A bracelet with a mission.  Kudos. 

Julep Nail Polish in Coco-It Girl ($14) and Julep Freedom Polymer Topcoat ($18) 

The nail polish in the bottle looks to be a deep chocolate brown color.  I was a little surprised when I swiped it across my nails to find that it looks more deep red.  It reminds me of almost dried blood.  You know, that weird reddish brown color?  Anywho.... it figured it would be O.K. to rock this during October -- I can totally play up the vampire-ish nails.    The topcoat is ah-mazing.  I was skeptical when I read that it dries your polish to a smudge-proof, high gloss shine in 5 minutes.  You betta believe I timed that.  It works!  It really works!

NYX Liquid Liner from Collection Noir ($6) and NYX Smokey Shadow Palette ($7)

Initially I was a little perturbed that a 'curated box' sent out such a low-end makeup item.  Then I thought about it.  In this box I am used to receiving one makeup item that can sometimes retail for $20-$30.  Such is the case with the Buxom Sculpted Mascara ($19) I looooved from a previous box.  Seriously, it's my baby.  Will I buy a $19 mascara again.  I don't know.  (I'm cheap ya'll)  Possibly, because I love it so much...but I would have to justify it.  The NYX?  I would repurchase.  I don't think they're outrageously priced.  Also, when I swatched them on my arm,  the eyeshadows are highly pigmented.  That's awesome!  Also, the eyeliner took a decent deal of scrubbing to get off.  Hi, not gonna run on me.  This may be a win for me!

The Crispery Crispy Cake ($3.95)

Essentially, this is a fancy Rice Krispie treat.  I am a vegetarian so marshmallow is a no-go.  It contains gelatin which is made from boiling tendons, bones, and other rejects from the meat packing plant.  Mmm... jello.  The snack that smiles back.  (wait, is it smiling or grimacing, but I digress....)  I will say I looked at it with a wary eye.  It appears to be more marshmallow than crisp rice.  That's not how I liked my cereal treats, when I ate them.  I wanted it to be CRISPY!  I don't know that this would be a win for me -- if I could/would eat it.  We'll see what the niece thinks.

StitchFix $20 Gift Card ($20) 

Stitch Fix appears to be a service where a stylist will send you articles of clothing and/or accessories to try on in the comfort of your own home.  You decide what you keep (and subsequently pay for) and send the rest back.  I love the idea of this service as I seriously hyperventilate just THINKING about having to go clothes shopping.  However, at this time, Stitch Fix doesn't work with the fatties.  Ok, that's not exactly what they said.  They only work with up to a size 14.  However, I lied.  *gasp*.  So we'll see what the quality of the clothing is... soon. *cue evil laugh*

Total Value: $181.94
What I paid: $35 plus tax. 

Final thoughts:::

I have to say.  After PopSugar dealing with sizing issues from previous month's boxes and then asking all subscribers to fill out questionnaires relating to sizing and likes/dislikes, I am shocked that they would ONCE AGAIN send out an item that excludes us fat girls.   I get it... I'm fat because of my own choices.  However, I don't feel that a box I subscribe and pay for should rub that in my face.  It is very disheartening and quite honestly a bad business practice to continuously insult your consumers.  Also, we were just informed that they will be raising their prices to $40/month plus tax starting in November.  I don't know that I will continue to stay with PopSugar.  I will be doing some thinking about handing money over to a company that has no regards for their customer's wishes.  

I honestly wish this box had been more fall focused.  I am part of a message board where we speculate on items that we would like to see in the box each month.  The guesses were all pretty similar:::
A blanket
A book
A movie
A candle
something pumpkin spice flavored
warm cozy socks
mittens

I don't think this box even begins to touch on what seems to be a favorite season for so many.   I think this was a huge miss for PopSugar.  I do like some items from the box.  I will make use of everything, but I will seriously be considering in the coming days if I wish to continue as a subscriber. 

What do you think?

If you are a current subscriber, was this box a win or loss for you?

If you aren't a current subscriber, would you love or hate receiving this box?

Let me know in the comments below.

S&S, 

Shannon