Four Questions

I was tagged! Edi from Memories for Life Scrapbooks got me with 4 questions. Pop on over to her blog to see hers. These are what I get to answer:

1. What was your biggest accomplishment for the week? Or month if you prefer?

I'll go for the month since the week has only just begun. I got sewing again! While this should be an everyday occurrence, it has not been for quite some time...therefore - accomplishment!

2. If you could choose one age to be the rest of your life, what age would you choose?

I do like my age now (38 if you are reading this now, 39 if you catch it a few days later)...but I am thinking somewhere in mid-40s will be even better...so I'll go with 45!

3. What is your favorite season?

NOW!!! I love fall. Some years it passes by in a blink here in Michigan, but I love the air & the sky & the changing trees. Last week was perfect...crisp with the leaves falling but still warm enough to go out unbundled.

4. What is your favorite color and why?

Oh geez...that one is tough. My color preferences change with my mood. I tend to be quite color-centric each day. I even dress the munchkin in the same color I put on...without even realizing it. Although, if you peek in my closet or fabric shelves - green and red tend to dominate (and all tones therein). Even pink, which I despised when I was younger.

And I am going to be a party pooper & not tag on...if you want to have fun reading a bunch, just keep clicking through from Edi's blog...a bunch of us got hit :)

Monday Menu: Wild Rice and Pecan Mix

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups Wild Rice (cooked)
1 cup Brown Rice (cooked)
1 cup Onions
1/4 cup Pecans
1 tbsp Parsley
3 cups Organic Vegetable Stock

Directions:
Cook rices (preferably in vegetable stock) according to package directions
Chop onion, pecans & parsley
Saute onion (with garlic too) until translucent & tender
Add all & eat :)

Nutrition: Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories 196; Total Fat 6.12g; Saturated Fat 0.52g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 431.91mg; Total Carbohydrate 31.7g; Dietary Fiber 3.54g; Sugars 4.7g; Protein 4.84g

Pillow Palooza

I have finally finally gotten back behind the wheel...of the sewing machine that is. If you follow my Tilt's Creations blog you may have seen these already. But for those of who who have not...here is the newest direction I have been heading while behind the wheel:


This yellow one was the first. The pic here shows the front & back. I added this type of snap closure on all the pillows. While I love envelope pillow covers, I don't like how they can open in the back. This seems to solve that problem. So would a zipper...but I will be saving that for the "fancier" pillows.


I have a question for you....do you prefer to buy pillow covers with or without the form? I am waffling on which way to list them. Thanks :)

Etsyblogger Carnival: Dress Up or Scare?

Okay...this Etsyblogger Carnival was tough. The choices Mystic Wynd put forth:
1. Halloween is just around the corner. What is the best Halloween costume you've ever worn or designed for someone else to wear? What made it so special?
2. Tell us about your top 3 favorite horror movies. What is it about them that scares you?

I have shown "the costume" before. It is the one that got me sewing in the first place. So the choice was easy. Wait...I said it was a tough choice right? Well, it is. Why? Only 3!!!! No way. Horror flicks are by far my fave. Well, and sci-fi. But there is lots of crossover with those 2...even more when you add in comedy and action :) So I grouped them into categories. And yes, some ran over the limit of 3. But hey, I already broke the top 3 rule, so I just went with it. Ready? Go...


My categories: many MANY of which can fall into more than one:

Series:

Sci-fi Horror:

"New" Classic (post black & white):

Cult:

...along with a large majority of the other movies here :P

Zombie'esque/Viral:
firstly...anything Romero, still had to put "Night of" here though- see *below:
Vampire:

Classic Vampire:

Funny:

Foreign: ...okay, so I still need to see the last 2...but they were recommended by a reliable source & the trailers look great

Remakes:
Disturbing:
Books first: ...okay, we can just call that one Stephen King!

Musical:

Slasher:

Misc:

and so many, many, MANY more! And I am sure I will look at this later with a "doh!" forgot that one! And that one....

And just to add some more horror fun...some lists & rating from AMC, which is now running their Fear Fest...
Horror ratings
Sci-Fi Horror list
Zombie list
*Romero list
Zombie Movies That Aren't list
Vampire list
Killer Computer list
Horror of the 00's:

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Menu: Cucumber and Tomatoes

Serves 5..or 6 depending on the size of your bowls

Ingredients:
2 cups Cucumber...or simply 2 good sized cucumbers, English or regular
2 good sized tomatoes
1/4 cup Crumbled feta cheese
1 tbsp Red wine vinegar
1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil (or oil of your choice)
1/2 cup Scallions
1/4 tsp dried Basil (or thyme or tarragon)

Directions:
chop the veggies
add the rest and chill

Nutrition: (per serving)
Calories 70, Fat 4.5g, Saturated fat 1.2g, Cholesterol 5mg, Sodium 85g, Carbohydrates 6.4g, Fiber 1.2g, Sugars 2.8g, Protein 2.5g

Etsyblogger Carnival: Fall Fun

This week's is brought to us by Ms. Moo, formerly known as Spotted Cow Soaps. These were our choices:
1. What are some fun activities you like to do in the fall.
2. Show us some awesome photos of autumn in and around where you live.

I do not really have any cool pics from around here. And as for fun activities, they tend to be the same as most seasons, just with my favorite weather & season to do it in.

The first is good year round, but when it's chillier I get to do it all snuggly on the couch. No! Not that :P Reading. I am talking about books. I devour them even more than normal once the chill sets in. Right now I am reading a zombie book by Mira Grant called Feed. It takes place 25 years after the initial outbreak. MMMmmm... zombies...with Halloween just around the corner, fun :)

The second thing...riding my bike. It gets chilly fast here in Michigan. One day it is 75* (like today) and the next week you are wearing winter coats. I try to get in a few good rides a week once the weather falls below 80* and before it freezes your face as you ride.


There is also the Zoo Boo at the Detroit Zoo. I haven't been since my oldest was a youngster. But the little recently expressed interest in going. It starts the 15th, so expect to see a post about that trip later in the month. I hope he doesn't get too scared.

So - what is your Fall fave?

Wordless Wedneday

Monday menu: Green Beans and Tomatoes

This is another quick & easy side dish or small meal. This batch makes about 4-5 bowls.

1 large Onion
1 tsp minced Garlic
Tomato...I tend to use 6 large ones
~ #1 Green Beans
1/2 to 1 cup Vegetable Stock
a few shakes of dried or a branch of fresh Tarragon
1T Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or oil of your choice)...can skip if you have a good nonstick skillet

I find it best to use my large, tall sided skillet.

Chop onions. Halve the tomatoes horizontally & squeeze out the bulk of the seeds & juice, then chop. Trim off the ends of the green beans and cut into bite'ish sized lengths.

Heat oil in skillet & saute onions & garlic until tender. Add green beans & stir for a couple minutes. Add stock, tomatoes & tarragon. Simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes. This dish is essentially done before the tomatoes are added...cook for more or less than the 15 minutes to tastes - depending on how crispy you like your green beans :)

Nutrition:

Calories 93, Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 0.4g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 115mg, Carbohydrates 7.7g, Fiber 3g, Sugars 3g, Protein 2g

Blogfire: Candy

Today's carnival is a wonderful topic ...candy... yum!!! While I may not eat a lot of candy, it does not mean I do not appreciate it's yummy goodness. Heck, around her there is still leftover candy in January from Halloween and in June from Easter. So I popped on over to ArtFire to find some yummy candy goodness there...much of which is supposed to still be around months later :)

Candy Corn Soap by Smokey Mountain Scents




Old Fashioned Ribbon Candy Shop- Green, Pink & White Ribbon Candy by Dotted with Hearts




Wash Cloth Candies, set of 3 by Babycakes and Decor by Heather




Cotton Candy Goats Milk Cream with Shea Butter by Mea Culpa Body and Bath




Candy colored Synthetic Dreadlock Hair Falls by Blood Honey

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Menu - Olive Pesto Pasta

I found this recipe in my old pile from my early vegetarian days. I am not sure what book it came from though. I think the title had something to do with beginner vegetarians. Anyway, I never tried it before since I am not a big fan of olives. But I decided to give it a go, after all, I always tell my kids that you can't know if you like something until you try it. And guess what? I liked it :)

It does not have a strong flavor. And if you are a smoker or heavy salt user, your taste buds may find it bland. It does have a neat "arrangement" of flavors as you eat it. It's like one flavor after another show themselves instead of all at once. Anyway...it makes a great side dish or a small meal.

This recipe gave us 5 servings...our bowls are cereal bowl sized...so just over 1 cup or so per bowl.

Whole Grain Pasta (I used penne) - 4 servings worth...2 1/2 cups dry was what mine measured
1 can pitted black olives (whole is fine)...my can was 6 oz (you will be using some of the brine, so do not drain)
4 stalks Scallions (aka green onions)
1/2 cup Onion (I use sweet or yellow)
1 whole Jalapeno Pepper (2 if you like things spicy)
2 clove Garlic (I prefer organic minced in a jar...it's just easier)
2 Tbsp Italian Parsley (fresh)...or 2 tsp dried
1 tsp Thyme (dried)...or 1Tbsp fresh
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Red Wine Vinegar
3 Tbsp Lemon Peel - grated

Directions:
Boil water for pasta & cook according to package directions

Using a whizzer (aka chopper/Cuisinart) - mince garlic, onion & jalapeno
Add olives plus 3T of the brine, parsley, thyme, oil, vinegar & chop to mix
Slice scallions & zest the lemon

Drain pasta once done & add pesto from chopper
Top with the scallions & zest

Nutrition (per serving): according to my recipe program:
246 Calories, 9.7g Fat, 0.4g Saturated Fat, 0mg Cholesterol, 116mg Sodium, 36g Total Carbohydrates, 4g Fiber, 1.5g Sugar, 7.5g Protein

Zombie Penguins

How great is that?!?! I saw this artist's work a while back at a craft show I was in and had bought my oldest boy a green one. He was into penguins at the time, zombies too, never thought I'd find the two in one!

Last weekend was the Funky Ferndale Art Fest and DIY Craft Show. This time my youngest got one, in charcoal so they don't get mixed up. He is loving all things zombie right now...the cute non-scary versions of course. Doesn't this guy fit the bill.....


And then he decided to do a portrait of the yet-to-be-named penguin. I think he captured it well for a 5 year old. Not sure what is coming off the one flipper though...maybe string brains? Personally I prefer string beans, but hey, to each his own.

And hubby took off the tag before I had a chance to jot down the name of the artist...I'll get back with it once I track it down.

Etsyblogger Carnival: Weddings

This carnival post is going to be on Patch's wedding blog, so I get to show off some of my wedding pics :) I had a fun wedding. It was laid back and without any added bells and whistles. No cake (the dessert at the place was divine...and if you were to ask someone, they would not even remember...I have, so I know). No dancing...it was midday, and not missed one bit. Only two people standing up with us...plus my son of course. Having only one bridesmaid made the dress easy too...I just told her what color - she got to chose the dress she wanted. Flowers, only what I had to - bridesmaid bouquet plus boutonniere thingies for the dads.

I had this bouquet of metal, crystals & pearls instead of flowers. I love that I get to keep them fresh forever :)

And I have to show off my son, again, all cozy up on his throne during the reception.

And the "after party"....the Tiger's game. The reception was held at The Gem which is just one street behind the stadium...where an afternoon game was playing that day. And yes, I wore my dress :)