Things I Love...

I feel like I’ve been complaining about my house too much. Let’s balance it out with some things that I love!


I LOVE:
My puppies…the beach…lazy days hanging out watching movies…game night with friends…knitting nights w/Kirstren…thunderstorms…a nice glass of Riesling…cooking for friends and family…shopping…finding a new, fun yarn or pattern to play with…puzzles…reading…hunting for the perfect curtains for my living room…blogging…road trips…crossing things off my “to-do” list…candles…a good conversation to catch up with far away friends…photography…jewelry…wandering through museums…voyaging to new places…party planning…my Keurig…giving gifts “just because”…Febreeze…the first snowfall of the season…king sized pillows…being on time to meetings…gardening…camp fires/fire pits…flip flops…The West Wing…hand sanitizer…anything PINK…the other two members of my royal trifecta…USA…cows (my phone moos, y’all)…my work besties…sarcasm…hugs.

What do you love?

Money Pit, Part II

Welcome to the newest chapter of events at Ye Olde Money Pit!  (You can catch part one here.)

Since I last chatted whined about my house, there have been a few more joyous new problems.  Oddly enough, these problems pop up on weekends (which I'm grateful for!). 

Two weekends ago the pressure gauge on my hot water heater blew.  Which, in turn, made the water pressure on all my heating registers too high and literally blew off the pressure gauges on three registers.... so water started pouring out and there were puddles everywhere.  Oh, and a fabulous new "water feature" in my dining room because the register in the spare bedroom/office leaked through the ceiling.

This past weekend the ceiling fan in the dining room leapt to its death.  One second it was on the ceiling and working - the next, it was on the ground in a heap of broken glass.  Thank God my dogs were at my parents house.  That ceiling fan would have killed them if they happened to be underneath it.

So...my house will decide it likes me soon, right?  Right?!?!

Adapting To Civilian Life

Guess what?  My brother, JC, is now a civilian.  I'm so happy for him.  His exit from the Army happened a few weeks ago - so this is news that I probably should have shared already. 

After three years of service, he was ready to get out and we were ready for him to be out too.  There are a few stories surrounding his departure...but it would be boring if everything went as planned, right?  What comes next, you ask?  Great question.  JC is moving into my house with me.  I have plenty of room and it will be nice to have someone to shovel, and do minor repairs on the money pit.  :-)  He's also in process of interviewing for a few jobs and is looking into going back to school.

The best part?  For the first time in three years, he'll be around to really celebrate Christmas with family instead of just dropping in to say "hi" quickly (or not home at all)!

Tuesdays At The Table - Sugar and Spice Pumpkin Seeds

Howdy!  I hope everyone had a nice Halloween. It was my first Halloween in the new house!  Next year I'll decorate for it more; this year I just wasn't ready. Which I supposed doesn't really matter since there was a complete lack of trick-or-treaters.

Now that you've made you jack-o-lanterns, how are you using your pumpkin seeds?

Here's a yummy and easy recipe for pumpkin seeds.

Sugar and Spice Pumpkin Seeds

1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon melted butter or vegetable oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar, or more, to taste
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon allspice

Rinse seeds well and get as much of the pumpkin pulp off of them as possible. Pat dry with paper towels. Don't let them dry completely on the paper towels, or they might stick (and add a little fiber to you diet).

Toss seeds with the butter, sugar, and spices.

Heat oven to 300°. Spread coated seeds on a foil lined cookie sheet - turning from time to time, for about 45 to 60 minutes, or until nicely browned and crunchy.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Time for NaBloPoMo Already?!?!

It's that time again...  November has rolled around and I'm participating in NaBloPoMo. 



 

This is my second year participating.  NaBloPoMo started out as a challenge to write a novel in a month...but, some of us just can't take on something that big.  Sure, it's expanded to run all months of the year too - but posting every day for a month once a year is challenging enough - thank you very much.

Are any of you participating too? 

Have any topics you'd like me to cover this month?

Random ideas?

Demands for pictures of my pets and house?

Tuesdays At The Table - Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

Happy Tuesday!  A friend of mine told me that Tuesdays are statistically the worst day of the week.  I don't believe her....  Do you?!?!

This week I'm trying a new recipe.  These muffins are currently sitting on my cooling rack.  They smell delicious and I can't wait to try them!

Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

Streusel Topping
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons cold butter

Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg, beaten

To make your streusel topping, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces.  Set aside.

Combine the flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour by pushing ingredients out toward sides of bowl.

Combine the milk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg in a medium bowl. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture, and stir only until the flour is moistened (kinda lumpy). Scrape down the sides of bowl.

Divide the batter into prepared muffin cups, filling them about 2/3 full. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of streusel over each muffin.

Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of a couple of muffins comes out dry. Cool slightly, take out of the muffin tins and allow to cool on a cooling rack.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

A Love Affair...With eBay

I admit it.  I love eBay.  If you're in the right place at the right time - you can get some awesome deals.

This week I've scored:

Dachshund Salt and Pepper Shakers - so cute!

800 Threadcount Egyptian cotton sheets and king sized pillowcases. I got the black and pink (not shown).  I may be a sheet snob...but everytime you wash these sheets, they get even softer.

A variety pack of Scentsy bars.  I blame Jane for this one.  She is super awesome and sent me a Scentsy warmer for a housewarming gift (See..I told you she rocks!) and I'm now on a mission to find some awesome scents to use in the warmer.  :-)

What are you thoughts on eBay?  Are you a fan?  Absolutely hate it?