Aren't we a good looking bunch!

Masks courtesy of Zagone Studios.  Seen on CSI, Big Bang Theory, Saturday Night Live, and in the movie The Town

Parallels

The house we bought is an estate sale. It had a lot of "stuff" in it. ...And what I mean by stuff is over 10,000 books, tax records dating from the 40's, a grand piano, trunks, a moose, yes I said moose! You name it, it was probably in this house! My husband was curious about the previous owner so he looked up his obituary.  He did this while I was making dinner and I keep asking him what it said. My husband said that the man died in the living room and wasn't found until three weeks later... OMG our house is going to be haunted!


Other interesting facts we discovered is that the late owner grew up in chicago and went to Lane Tech-  so did my husband, the wife was an artist- I am an artist, they had one son, we have one son.Freaky or this house was meant for us.


Ohhhhh and by the way, my husband was only pulling my leg.  The man passed away in a nursing home, phew!

7 Days Closer to Home Sweet Home

There are just 7 days left before we close on the fortress.  And I can only cross off one item on my Laundry List, appliances. That's right, I picked out my appliances! We, my husband and son, headed on over to Sears today and selected our kitchen appliances. We choose a frig, stove, microwave and dishwasher from GE's cafe line. There was much for me to learn. I now own a counter depth refrigerator and a double convection oven. I question whether knowing everything about them will make me use them more? Probably not, but any who, they do look pretty fancy!

...tomorrow we are off to look cabinets!

Creepy Crawlly Things for Halloween!

On a walk with my son and Stanley, we stopped to watch the neighborhood artists work on a mural. Watching them gave me an idea. Why not put a halloween mural on my walls at home. Well that night I did just that. I decorated the house walls with Halloween cutouts!

I of course used spiders, bats, and rats! I drew my spiders and bats but I knew that if I searched the internet for more ideas, I would find something. Sure enough Martha Stewart was all over this idea too, figures.  Click on her name to go to her page of examples of rats on steps. She has a template you can use. I liked her rats and used them too!

The mural can be interactive too. Here is my son trying to torture one of the spiders by pulling off a leg. This would be a great idea for a bulletin board, teachers! It's a whole web of ideas!

A friend recommended that I enter this is the CSI project! Click the link to see hundreds of creative halloween ideas!

Move over Betty Crocker!

My love for baking comes from one single factor, the lingering smell of fresh baked bread, cookies, brownies, cakes, pastries, cinnamon rolls, pies, etc, etc.  I can not get enough of it! If I could, I think fresh baked goods is all I would ever eat. Hence my latest baking kick- Banana Bread! Hey, at least with my one unhealthy obsession I am trying to throw a fruit into the mix! (ah, Becky)

I have tried three recipes for banana bread in the last mmmmm... month? I say move over Betty Crocker because she was my least favorite of the three banana bread attempts, I tried a recipe from Better Homes and Gardens, which I do recommend and I received a recipe from my sister-in-law's sister, who is also named Karen (and spelled right too!) Her recipe wins my taste buds! Don't believe me, try it!

This is the full recipe. Today I felt like making half a loaf, so I cut the ingredients in half!

recipe

2 c. sugar
1 c. unsalted butter, room temperature
6 very ripe bananas
4 lg. eggs, well beaten
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. grated orange rind (I use dried)
2 1/2 c. cake flour, sifted (I just use regular flour & don't sift)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Cream sugar & butter until light and fluffy. Add bananas, eggs, lemon juice and orange rind; beat until well-blended.
Sift together dry ingredients and fold lightly into the banana mixture.
Can add 1/2-3/4 c. chopped walnuts.

Divide between two buttered loaf pans.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 45-55 minutes.

Have You Made Your Pumpkin into a Jack-O-Lantern Yet?

Halloween is almost here! Here are some helpful hints and tips to make sure your jack-o-lantern is the best on the block!

I found a couple of sites to go to for ideas. You can create your own images or designs or borrow these examples of pumpkins. Click here for pumpkin pictures

I drew out my design for my pumpkin but there are plenty of site to go to for templates. I like these two sites! click here for pumpkin templates more templates!  Templates are the best way to ensure your design stands out and the candle illuminates from inside. 

Once you have your design...

...cut it out and taped it to the pumpkin. I punched holes in the pumpkin to create my pattern. I used my compass because it has a sharp pointed edge, any sharp pointed edge will do (nail, ball point pen, etc). Then I carved out my design using a pumpkin carving knife that I picked up from Michaels.

Don't forget to coat the cut edges with cooking oil to keep your jack-o'-lantern fresh longer.

what can you do with a CLOTHESPIN?

I went to Target the other day, and I swear I can not leave that store without buying stuff I didn't originally go there to get! This time I picked up clothespins. After I put the baby to bed it was off to my little corner with my clothespins. I made clothespin magnets for the refrigerator. After all, I needed something to click my list to (see butternut squash)!

They were very easy to make. I used a postcard/flyer I got in the mail for my design print. You can use any magazine or paper that has a pattern on it!  I prefer thicker paper because it doesn't wrinkle when you add the glue to it.

Step 1 I traced around the clothespin
        2 I cut out the paper

        3 I glued the cutout on the clothepin using a glue gun

        4 I turned over the clothespin and glued a magnet on the back also with a glue gun

 I placed them on my refrigerator so I can clip pictures and notes with them! 

...its what's 4 dinner

My comprehensive meal plan that includes Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner is here!

Butternut Squash Risotto

Last night we had butternut quash for dinner. My mouth was watering while I took this picture. I just love squash in the fall. I found the butternut squash at the farmers market and the recipe from the food network. We had this because it was on my meal plan list for the week. Every sunday I make a weekly list, Why? because I am tired of this conversation with my husband, it goes something like this "Honey what do you want for dinner," his reply "whatever you want for dinner."

To avoid this I came up with this idea. I wrote out a list of food/meals we like to eat and a list of foods and recipes we would like to try. And every saturday or sunday I make a list  from these two lists, I know, I know, alittle listy but here are 5 reasons to make a list!

5 Reasons to make a list!


1. It saves time and money-  I go to the grocery store once and get eveything I need. Before I was trying to think of something off the top of my head and then I would have to run to the store because I didn't have an ingredient. Plus you can by things on sale and stock up!

2. I eat healthier. It helps me avoid that last minute desperate poor food decision. And who doesn't want to eat better?

3. I know what meat I have to take out of the freezer the night before. I make turkey burgers to freeze this way I only prep once for two or three meals. I'll post this recipe later!

4. You remember to eat what you have bought. I felt  like we wasted food sometime but less now that I have a list!

5. I don't hear meatloaf again, whatever you want to eat, or what's for dinner, anymore!

Tulips, Tulips, Tulips

During the house inspection- dog and baby in tow, I walked over to the closest park. We had a lovely time. The baby ate dirt and the dog dug it up while I talked to another mom who had just moved into the area. Somehow we started talking about tulips.


I just love tulips in the spring time, but to be able to appreciate them in your yard in the spring, now is the best time to plant them.


You need to plant them in September and October before the ground freezes. Think color theory when choosing what color tulips to plant.  My favorite combination is purple and yellow, compliment colors, for a bold and beautiful look and analogous colors (red, red-orange, orange) for a softer look.  I planted my purple and yellow tulips. I'll post a picture of them in six months!

Sunday Ritual

Recently we have been frequenting the Logan Square Farmers Market for our fruits and veggies.  I have to tell you that it is by far one of my top picks for farmers markets, Why? Because of this stand.  La Boulangerie. The smell of fresh baked bread, chocolate croissants, and made to order crepes is just to hard to resist! I haven't had a better chocolate croissant since I ventured to France!

Does anyone have a weekly ritual like me?