So Sew Organized

Last week was pumpkin week for me! Every year (apparently...not that I've ever been here before) my Sunday School class has a pumpkin carving party. This year I got to be a part of it! And boy oh boy, was it a fun time. In order to have a pumpkin carving party, we had to have pumpkins. So Monday night some of us went to a pumpkin patch to pick 'em out. They had tons of pumpkins, of all shapes and sizes....and colors. If I had gotten this one, I would have carved The Grinch into it, because it definitely takes away from the pumpkin spirit!! And there were some white-ish ones, too. If I was getting several pumpkins for my porch or something, I think it would be neat to throw one of these in the mix. And for memories sake, the obligatory "Getty pumpkin." :D We had a lot of fun! And after, we went to Panera Bread for supper. Oh my oh my oh my. I got french onion soup and an apple walnut salad. And I may or may not have eaten the entire thing. Can I just say I LOVE Panera...

There are lots of posts floating around out there that help us make Starbucks-style drinks, for waaaaaay less, with ingredients we have in our own home. You mean Starbucks doesn't really perform miracles? Who knew? I was making this iced mocha frappuchino for a while, and it is sooo good. Then I read this technique from the Pioneer Woman, and I decided to try something similar. Emily had the same idea.... here is her technique. And here is mine! I fill my cup about 3/4 full with ice. Then I put about the same amount of coffee. I brew this coffee in my regular coffee maker, only extra strong. Like, I pretty much fill the filter with coffee grounds. Then I keep that extra strong coffee in a pitcher in the fridge. When I'm ready to use some, its already cold, so my ice doesn't melt too much and make my coffee all watered-down tasting. That's gross. Then I add milk, almost to the top... And then creamer the rest of the way. Thats the best thing about this iced coffee, I ...

Holly: Okay, book time! Nicole: Are you drinking anything warm today?? Holly: Hot apple cider has been super amazing for my sore throat today, so again, no coffee, but at least it's warm! Nicole: And season-appropriate. I have broken the chains of addiction today, and instead of my usual Seattle's Best, I have 8 O'clock Hazelnut. Holly: Oh yes, hazelnut is the best! Nicole: Love it. Holly: Let me say, I'm in love with today's topic. One of my favorite hobbies is reading. Nicole: Absolutely. I personally think that books are a very important part of life.I am pretty sure that I have enjoyed books since I first learned to read. How about you? Holly: Haha, I think I've enjoyed them since even before I could read. Some of my earliest memories involve my parents reading me books. My mom definitely passed her love of reading down to me. I loved books so much that I taught myself to read so I could read whenever I wanted! Nicole: Yes, my parents helped me learn how to...

Remember when I made that butterfly art , and bored you to death with my "gotta-have-both-lights-on-which-was-a-huge-ordeal" randomness? I mentioned wanting to work on the bookshelves that needed major help. Well, this weekend Jen at I {heart} Organizing issued a little challenge about doing some organizing without spending a dime. Since I've only put this off for 6 months, this challenge was just what I needed to get my bookshelf organizing pants on! It wasn't rocket science. I just took stuff off and put it back on. The End. But more specifically, I put some books vertical and some horizontal. I paired up a stack of white books and a stack of brightly colored ones. Then I scrounged around the house for little "things" to set on the shelves. You know, shelf-things. Here is the final result: Like I said, not rocket science. If I didn't tell you there was a difference, you probably wouldn't even notice. But it is a little more visually appealing! Her...

I have to be honest, I was a little unsure what small blessing I was going to share with you today. As the day wore on, I found myself wondering, what is there that I haven't already shared? I mean, I already posted on the rain (and my efforts to be thankful for it), and that's pretty much all that's going on around here these days. Then, just before I left work, I ran out to the mailbox one last time, and saw this: Isn't he cute? (Or I like to say, "ca-uet!" Don't ask.) He definitely made me smile, and caused me to thank the Lord that He always gives me something to be thankful for. I mean, how blessed am I to not have to carry my house on my back everywhere I go?? Pretty blessed, I'd say! What did the Lord bless you with today?

I love this headset! I can listen to (and watch) the live-stream chapel services at Ambassador Baptist College while I work. Without it, certain pitches get lost in the large room, and I feel like I miss half of what is going on. Also, when the preacher is speaking, I have to turn the volume waaaaaay up. And then someone skypes me and that loud "be-BEEP" blasts the whole office into next week. The headset controls that. The "be-BEEP" comes through more like "be-beep" . Way better. And I kinda think it makes me look more important, don't you??

I posted last week about Carrie and her big birthday! Here is a sample of the wisdom, honesty and compassion that exudes from an 8-year-old. In the words of my mother (since this is the only time she'll ever blog anything)... When we were filling out the paper work for our health insurance we had to put if the kids wanted to be organ donors.  Carrie asked what that meant and I said, "If you were to die and a little girl needed a new heart then she could have yours and live."  Carrie asked, "Since I have Jesus in my heart would she go to heaven too?" What a sweet thought! Carrie has always been known for her  "one-liners" and for bringing a smile to our faces.  It is hard to believe that she is *already* 8 years old!

Today, I choose to be thankful for the rain. Because being thankful for rain doesn't come easy for me.  But you know what? Because of the rain, I don't have to turn on the sprinklers. God waters my new grass, instead. It is nourishing our plants and keeping our wells full. Well, if I had a well. It fills this "rain barrow", so that if it ever does stop raining, I can water my plants with this. It gives these birds a place to bathe, so that I can enjoy watching them. (Well, they were bathing until I tried to get close to them...which is why you don't see any water in this picture.) The rain makes things beautiful. It makes fun puddles. And when it does stop, I'm going to have a lot of leaf-blowing to do.  And someday, I'm making windshield wipers for myself. What can you choose to be thankful for today??? Linking up with Laura at Heavenly Homemakers!

Babysitting a sweet little girl!!

Okay, so this one is a little hard to explain...these are copies, fresh out of the copier. But that is not what makes me smile...its how warm they are that makes me smile. :)

I'd like to share my favorite way to make fresh fish. Someone in Nova Scotia told us about this, and it has certainly moved to the top of my list! Well, besides sushi. :) Here is how it all goes down: I lay out a piece of aluminum foil, smear it with butter (generous amounts!) and lay my fish on top. Then I "embellish" it a bit. You can put whatever you think you will like! I roll it up and slap it on the grill: Fish doesn't take too long to cook, but I don't really time it. I just put it on there, then go inside and stir my potatoes, then fix myself a glass of water, then go out and flip it over etc. etc, and then, oh sure, I think its done! By this time, it smells so good I am ready to eat the tin foil. Yum, yum, yummy! Yes, I know, I have a lot of white going on there, but that is all I had for veggies. I had a green, leafy salad at lunch, does that make up for it? This is quick, easy, and delicious way to cook fish! Let me know if you try it!

Pumpkin Latte :) Bought with a coupon, even better! OOOOhhhh, It's sooooo good! I love seasonal flavors!! Don't know why I had to open my eyes so wide about it.