Friends Making Monday: All About The Blog

I have today "off" and while I am not at school, I am working today. 

How was your weekend? Do you have today off?

Friday afternoon, I went to an open pole class and worked on some tricks. I really like the open atmosphere of the open pole classes. They're very laid back. 

 On Saturday, Ryan and the teenager went to his cousins' for the day so I spent some time at my parents' house before heading up to my best friend's house (an hour and a half away) to spend the night. One of my camp friends was in town and I haven't seen her in nearly three years so it was so much fun to be able to see each other. 

camp friends are best friends

Yesterday, we went out for breakfast and then the girls did a little shopping before I headed back home where Ryan and I enjoyed a night with a few beers (mmmm Smoked Porter and Mean Old Tom) and Chinese food delivery in front of the fire. 

We watched the first episode of American Horror Story (did anyone else see it? Yikes!!!!) and attempted to watch a movie called 42 about Jackie Robinson but we both fell asleep pretty quickly. It was good so I'm looking forward to watching the rest of it. Unfortunately, i ALWAYS fall asleep during movies.

I am going to get back to my work but before I do, this post is brought to you, as always, with Friends Making Monday's. 

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

All about the Blog

1.  How long have you been blogging?  About five months or so.....so not very long at all. 

2.  What is the overwhelming theme of your blog? I first started as a way to document the changes we made as we renovated and redecorated our house but it seems as if it is becoming more of a daily life/my on going to-do list sort of theme. Whatever. it works for me. 

3.  Have you connected with people in person after meeting them through blogging?  No....not yet at least.  

4.  What do you enjoy most about blogging?  I really enjoy documenting and putting my every day happenings into words and then seeing them come intro fruition.  I like that I started my ten-things-Tuesday series and my 101 in 1001 list (It once again solidifies that I thrive on lists and having set goals to accomplish). And I cannot neglect the satisfaction that comes when someone comments on the blog. It was such a highlight of my "blogging career" (ha!) when another blogger 

5.  How often do you blog? Over the summer, I had more time and was able to blog a few times per week. Lately, it feels like I can get out a post on Monday (For FMM) and Tuesday's for Ten Things Tuesday. I have a bunch of draft posts that are constantly in the works but since I am so NOT technologically savvy, it sometimes takes me a long time to deal with pictures and formatting, etc. I just bought a keyboard for the iPad so since I won't be forced to stay in the computer room to work on a computer, I will be able to sit on the couch at night and type from the iPad. 

6.  Share one thing that you don’t like about blogging. Nothing major comes to mind. I once got stressed that I wasn't able to post as frequently as some other bloggers but then I put it into perspective that those bloggers do this for a full time job, and my blogging is strictly hobby. I also don't like the spam comments!

7. Do you talk about your blog in everyday life?  Not at all. Very few people know that I do this and of those few people, not very many know the name of the blog or how to find it. I don't even really talk about it with Ryan. 

8.  What is the coolest and most unexpected thing that has happened to you as a result of blogging?  Another blogger has referenced a recipe of mine on her blog! (FYI-it was the homemade applesauce)

9.  Are there topics that are off-limits on your blog?  If so, name a few…I won't go into detail about the Teenager or anything related him. I won't talk too much about my family or the situations that happened. 

10.  If you could accomplish one thing through your blog before the end of this year, what would you want to accomplish? I just want to be able to continue having this online scrapbooking for myself. 

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions!  Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments, and say hello to someone new!  

Recap Of My Uber-Productive Day and Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

Cutest pumpkin

 What better way to start the day off than with the cutest pumpkin that I know. Isn't my nephew so handsome??

 

Yesterday, I had the entire day off and vowed to be uber-productive and I absolutely was.

 

 

I started off with some chores around the house: laundry, dishes, and quick general cleaning and picking up of the dining area, kitchen, living room and bedroom.

 

I headed out for some errands and knocked off three items on my Ten Things Tuesday list:

• Post office
• Staples to get some Velcro for my file-folder projects (more on that later)
• Bed Bath and Beyond: returned some things (they have the best return policy ever) and used the merchandise credit to buy an iron. I texted Ryan immediately to tell him that we now own an iron and I officially feel grown-up
• Ran to the consignment store to pick up a check (wahoo-$17.00 and some change-free money!) and bring a few items in
• Deposited the whopping $17.00 check at the ATM
• Used a gift card to snag an iced coffee (thanks Leah!)

• Quick/cheap trip to the grocery store. I tried to keep things to a bare minimum this week and declared the next few weeks as the "empty out the cabinets and pantry and use what we got" sort of weeks.

Once I came home, I immediately got to work and unloaded the groceries, emptied the dishwasher, made and cleaned up lunch, and swept the main floors.

 

Once that was all done, I broke out my pink mix-master and baked a loaf of Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips. But before I get into the recipe, I wanted to brag for a minute.

 

 The teenager has been a rock star in school/home the past week or so and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that he is FINALLY coming to his senses. Something must have clicked because he is putting in effort in his studying/homework, reading the directions and actually following them, helping out with chores with a less-sucky attitude. And it has made a world of difference around here.

 

 Ryan and I are fighting less (it's actually of the only things that cause us to fight), there is practically no yelling at all in our house....and ever since he started listening to us parents (yes, I am tooting our own damn horns here), he has NAILED all of his tests/quizzes.

 

case in point: 100% on his science quiz

 

 

 

 So, check out this recipe:

 

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

with Chocolate Chips

 

 

Here is what you need:

 

• 3 overly ripe banana's (I froze these from a while ago and took them out of the freezer about half an hour before I started baking)
• 1/3 cup melted margarine or butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• dash of salt
• cooking spray
• cinnamon/sugar mixture
• chocolate chips

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To:

• Preheat oven to 350

• Grease loaf pan

• Mix bananas, butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla

• Sprinkle baking soda and salt on top

• Gently stir in flour (don't over mix)

• Add half of batter into loaf pan

• Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar mixture followed by a handful of chocolate chip 

 

 

• Add remaining batter to cover chocolate chips

• Sprinkle more cinnamon/sugar mixture and chocolate chips on top

• Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

 

 

Enjoy!!!!

 

 

Bring on the Uber-Productivity -It's Ten Things Tuesday

 I have today off due to elections and yes, it is one of the days I have been looking forward to. It is still relatively early this morning, and instead of letting myself sleep in and be lazy, I am gearing up for an uber-productive day. I have already loaded and ran the dishwasher, folded and put away a load of laundry, cleaned the basket of crap (see below), and did some tidying up around the house.

I'm not going to allow myself to sit here at the computer for too long-strict time limits for myself, otherwise, I'd lose track of time entirely.

Looking back at my list from last week:



1. Find new shoes for upcoming wedding.

• I actually went to a few stores to look for shoes but didn't find anything I love/wanted to spend money on so I stuck with what I had. No one was looking at my shoes anyways, and I saved myself some money.

2. Post about the butternut squash soup
 

• The soup was delicious! I suggest you make it! I'm thinking of adding carrots to the soup next time. Thoughts?

3. Make my evaluation binder
 

4. Clean out basket of crap from bedroom

before



during-whole bunch of crap to go through

After-just a lot less crap in there

 

 

5. Work on post about the lake-house (bonus points for finishing and publishing it!)

• Well, I did work on it a little bit, but not much.

6. Reorganize/plan new budget

 

• I do best when I write things out in pen and paper so I wrote down my list of bills projected for the next few months, divided the amount by two (I get paid twice a month) and the amount is how much I need to put into my "bill fund" each paycheck. Not included on this list, is what I put into savings from each paycheck.

 

 

Old-school style, with pen and paper.



 

 

7. Pay that stupid library fine and get a new book

• Hopefully getting this done today during my uber-productiveness.

8. Get gift card/ birthday present for friends birthday

9. Get birthday card and wedding card for upcoming events

10. Make hair appointment

• I hadn't had my hair cut since last March (yikes, I just counted-that's over 6 months). I was able to conveniently make an appointment for last Saturday, the day that I had a wedding.

Next week:
1. Cancel gym membership
2. Post a new recipe
3. Make a trip to consignment store to bring items and pick my check
4. Post three items on to eBay
5. Start to finish, complete one new file folder game for work
6. Finish and publish post about lake-house
7. Work on (bonus points for publishing) after-post for bedroom
8. Work out/be active at least 3 times this week
9. Figure out what to do with giant bag of teenager's out-grown clothes (anybody looking for boys clothes, size 10-14)
10. Go to post office to mail eBay packages


Okay, before I get going, I have a question for someone more tech-savvy than myself.
I recently updated my iPad and since then, the battery is draining itself out because it will no longer automatically shut itself off after a period of inactivity. At night, I set Netflix or watch sometime from ITunes and fall asleep to it. Prior to the update, after the show was over and I was asleep, it would turn itself off. Now, it stays glowing for the entire night and wipes out the battery.

This can't be good for it. Any advice?

Rainy Monday's, Photobooths, and Friend Making Monday

Hope you had a great weekend...

It has been raining on and off today but it's one of those times I am liking the rain. I actually have the day off tomorrow and I hope it rains the whole day so I can get some projects done around the house. 

Dinner is in the works (pecan stuffed dates, wrapped in bacon....YUM, baked potatoes, and chicken marinated in...uhh...I don't remember what I used) and then I have the whole afternoon ahead of me! 

The teenager is done with his homework and... sound the trumpets....took initiative to study and be responsible WITHOUT BEING FORCED INTO IT! YES!!! If most homework nights can go like this, it would relieve the majority of the stress and fighting in our household. 

So quick weekend recap:

Ryan took the teenager and a friend to a haunted house and I took a really fun pole class. 

Saturday morning, I got my hair cut and got ready for the wedding that night. Once we got to the hotel, Leah, Emily and I finished getting ready and had a drink in the room while the boys went off and did their own thing. 

The wedding was beautiful and my feet were killing from the dancing (and shoes) by the end of the night.

Waiting for the bride.
Look at that gorgeous scenery!!!

Ooops-phone taking weird, blurry pictures

 Highlights of the night: when the groom swept a strand of hair of the brides face-it was such a sweet and tender moment and the photo-booth. 

Fun times with the ladies

Photobombed by John

The photo booth was a lot of fun! It was a great addition to a wedding!

We all went out for breakfast on Sunday morning and then came home and napped for the rest of the day.

 Great weekend.

Moving on from the weekend, to the start of the week and there is no better way to start a week then with Friends Making Monday. 

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

First Date Questions

1.  Share the details of your dream date.  Good, steady conversation. Chemistry and attraction.

2. Do you tend to make the first move when you want to kiss someone, or do you prefer that someone else does it?  I definitely let it be known if I want a move to be made. 

3.  Sex on the first date:  Yes or no? If the date sucks, absolutely not. 

4.  Share the details of the worst date ever.  He got drunk and sloppy. I was mortified.

5.  What is your biggest turn-off on a first date?  See above. 

6.  Are you a dog person, a cat person or neither? Dog person. I wouldn't be able to seriously be with someone who didn't see dogs in their future. I’m still trying to convince Ryan that more dogs are better but he is pretty firm on only one at a time.

7.  Do you like spontaneity or routine?  Both! I do better on a daily basis with routine-I like to to know what to expect, but of course there is something that cant replace spontaneity.

8.  What matters more to you – how much money your partner makes or how much they love their job?  Love the job.

9.  Friends first?  Yes or no?   Tough one. Hopefully the friendship can withstand the relationship. 

10.  How do you know if someone is interested in you? I knew Ryan and I were interested in each other on the first date when I kept finding ourselves touching feet, and our bodies kept turning into each other’s. Awww, cue cheesy music.

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions!  Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments, and say hi to someone new!  Happy Monday, friends!

Question for you?

What was the most fun thing from the last wedding you went to?

What did you do this weekend?

YES! Friday! I have been looking forward to this weekend for a while which got me thinking, there is a lot in October that I have been looking forward to.

• October 5: Mark and Kristen wedding in Plymouth. Weddings with the group of friends are always fun, especially when we all spend the night at the hotel
• October 8th: Elections = no school! (Teachers get excited too about random days off and snow days)
• October 12th: My friend from NYC will be in town. Although we speak very regularly, I haven't seen her since my best friends wedding, nearly three years ago. And I FINALLY get to meet her finance! 
• October 14th: Columbus day = three day weekend. Yep, another day off from work
• October 19th: Housewarming party for my friend Susan and her husband
• October 31st: Dentist appointment. My teeth have been hurting and it is getting uncomfortable to chew on my right side so I am actually looking forward to getting this taken care of. I opted to pay the extra money and get sedated for the ordeal (I LOATHE being in the dentist chair-I'd rather deal with a broken bone). Being sedated for the whole thing, means I take a pill in the morning before the appointment, I am all loopy by the time I get there (don't worry, Ryan will drive me), and then I get sedated to the point where I take a nap and wake up hours later at home. As far as I'm concerned, it is the only way to get dental work done. 

I am very very excited for this weekend. I conveniently made a hair appointment for Saturday morning and once I get home, I will finish getting ready before we head down to Plymouth for the night. 

Tonight, though, I decided to go to a pole class but I am wondering if that is going to be a good idea. I was sick most of last week so I couldn't go and although I wanted to go on Tuesday, things came up and I couldn't make it. I don't want to go to the wedding this weekend covered in bruises (the pole causes lots of bruises, especially when you are learning new tricks) but I also don't want to sacrifice working out and dancing because of it.Decisions, decisions.

Not related to anything at all, but I took this picture yesterday morning. We don't allow Mulder on the new couch, but someone has been making himself quite comfortable while we are gone. I stepped out of the house and quickly turned back around because I forgot my coffee and look what I found:

tough life

 And I can't neglect this guy: I stopped by my parents' house last night and was greeted by my favorite bulldog. I knit that blanket thingy for Bauer when I first got him 8 years ago, and it usually stays in his crate. When I got to the house last night, he dragged it out for me. He's such a sweetheart! I miss seeing him every day.

Bauer is getting so old..but still a puppy to me

Questions for you:

What are you doing this weekend?

What are you looking forward to this month?

Maple Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Bisque

One of my favorite things about fall is the return of butternut squash, soup, and of course-butternut squash soup.

I combined 3-4 different recipes that I had stashed away in my recipe book and came up with this recipe last week.

It was creamy, satisfying, and tasted like Fall.

What I  used:

-1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cubed

-2 sweet potatos, peeled and cubed

-half an onion, chopped

-6 cloves of garlic, minced

-32 ounces of water

-4 chicken bouillon cubes

-3-4 drops of liquid smoke

-1-2 tsp of sage

-generous sprinkle of apple-smoked sea salt

-1/4-1/3 cup of maple syrup

-can of non-fat evaporated milk

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients into crockpot EXCEPT evaporated milk

2. Give a good mix to get everything incorporated

3. Set on high 3-4 hours or low 6-8 hours

4. Once squash and potatoes are tender, use an immersion blender to puree it all -or work in batches and send through the blender or food processor

5. Sir in can of evaporated milk and give another good mix.

This was by far one of my favorite soups I have ever made. I loved all the different flavors of the squash and potatoes as well as the maple syrup. Next time, I would add a few more drops of liquid smoke to get a really good smoky flavor.

What's your favorite kind of soup?



  

Ten Things for Tuesday

Since I was sick for so much of last week, I didn't get around to doing much but here is a recap of what I was able to get accomplished

1.   Clean out the basket of crap in our bedroom-

• Never got around to it

2.   Post five more items on eBay

• This I did do. Phew. I also re-listed everything that didn't sell from the week before. I've had a few sales and I love the extra money coming in. I won't let myself transfer it to my bank account until it reaches over $100.00 at which point, the extra money will be going towards my credit card bill. 

3.   Post about last weekend (lake-house dinner, girls day/night, wedding)

• Just plain old didn't feel like sitting in front of a computer and now that so much time has elapsed, it's just not worth it so here is the quick version of it: Two Friday nights ago, Ryan and I had dinner with two other couples and it was our "lake-house" reunion  The next day, Ryan had a bachelor party that went all Saturday day and night so a bunch of us girls were pseudo-single. That day, I went apple picking again, and then went to my friend's birthday party, followed by a sleepover where I promptly passed out from exhaustion. And a few chocolate martini's. On Sunday, Ryan and I went to his cousin's wedding. 

Bride and Groom getting married

View of Boston Harbor from reception

Ooops-I blinked!

4. Start draft post about the lake-house

• I really want to document the story of the lake-house and one day, I'll get around to it

5. Make a batch of soup

Proof I actually made it. Trust me, it was amazing. 

6. Post about soup

• Not yet, but stay tuned. 

7. Reorganize/plan a new budget

• I really should do this soon!

8. Pay my library fine (ooops) and get a new book from the library

• I returned the books and everything but still havent paid the $9.00 fine for being so late. Shiiiiit

9. Michael's or A.C. Moore, get needles and yarn

• Sick=leaving the house for as little trips as possible

10. Start knitting blanket for teenager

• See above. Although I would have had plenty of time to knit. 

'Most of this week's list will be left over from last week-no big deal

1. Find new shoes for upcoming wedding. I have a pair that I could wear but I could really stand to update them. If I can't find a good pair or a good deal, I won't be upset if this doesn't happen.
2. Post about the butternut squash soup
3. Make my evaluation binder
4. Clean out basket of crap from bedroom
5. Work on post about the lake-house (bonus points for finishing and publishing it!)
6. Reorganize/plan new budget
7. Pay that stupid library fine and get a new book
8. Get gift card/ birthday present for friends birthday
9. Get birthday card and wedding card for upcoming events
10. Make hair appointment


What's on your to-do list?