EM+IPod=BFF

I decided that my IPod needed a little something to make it pretty, so I made a friendship bracelet around the ear buds cords.  It is all set for the winter with its earbud sweater, it looks cute, and the cords never tangle anymore.  Love it.  

Trick or Treat or Time Warp

The first of the three Halloween traditions started when I was four years old.  My mother asked me what she should cook for dinner on Halloween night and I said, "Fish!"  From that day forward we have had fish every Halloween.  The second tradition was started by my father.  Each year he leaves out a few pieces of candy on the porch for the midnight trick-or-treater.  Something like leaving cookies out for Santa.  The third tradition is a new one that I started tonight.  Watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and singing, and dancing.  So, whatever your traditions are on this all hallows eve, may it be a happy one.    

ABC (Apples, Beer, and Cookies)

It may be snowing already, however I am still determined to check things off my fall to do list.  Here are a few things that I have done so far, followed by the to do list:

Apple Picking
Apple picking, apple cider, and apple cider donuts.  I have to admit as much as I love apples and apple picking I go for the donuts...and not even really to eat them, just to be pleasantly overwhelmed by the delicious smell of the donuts. ahh...

Pumpkin Ale Tasting 
Nine different beers, blind taste test, one winner.  My favorite was the Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout from Cape Ann Brewing Company.  I kind of want to try making a chocolate stout cake with it because I think it would be amazing....maybe I will add that to my fall to do list.

Harvest Moon Cookies
Every year my mom makes delicious decorated sugar cookies to enjoy well watching the harvest moon rise. We take a walk while enjoying the moon and then grab a seat on the porch and chow down.

The Fall To Do List:
1) Make an apple pie
2) Consume at least 5 different pumpkin flavored things
3) Make pumpkin seeds
4) Collect some colorful leaves and press them
5) Make an interesting sweet potato dish
6) Make a Halloween Costume (Bugs Bunny)
7) Hand out candy on Halloween
8) Decorate the house for fall
9) Plant mums
10) Put up the bird feeder

Happy Fall!
EM

The Fair Is A Veritable Smorgasbord

This week we took a trip out to the New York State Fair in Syracuse.  Here are some highlights from the trip (mostly of the amazing food we consumed):

Started the day out with Hawaiian Shaved Ice.  When I would work at the state fair with 4-H I would live off these things.  The best on a hot day. 

Chocolate milk from the Rainbow Milk Bar.  Yum.

Welcome to the Pigeon Department.

There were over 100,000 people at the fair that day.  

Lastly we grabbed some fried dough on the way out, even if we had deep fried Oreos on the way in.   So much goodness.  

Great way to end the summer.
EM

Double Morning Glory

I was over at my parents house and I spotted this double morning glory.  Just beautiful. 

Green Magazine

I was picking up my living room the other day and I realized that we needed a magazine rack.  They were just piling up between the couch and the end table.  Not so good.  So I promptly began opening closets and cabinets to find something that would fill this void in our life.

I found this box.  It seemed like it would work.  

I used a box cutter to cut the box into a "L" shape, than covered it with newspaper.
Perfect fit for the magazines! The last thing I did was take the old stack of magazines and exchanged them for a brand new stack.  The library near me has a free magazine exchange.  Great, free, green way to get new reading material.  Two recycled projects in one!

Happy Reading,

EM

In A Pickle

This summer I have been blessed with an abundance of cucumbers.  Last year my only cucumber withered up before it was even big enough to pick.  So this year I decided to celebrate these cucumbers by canning pickles.  I had never made them prior to this, however I had purchased a crinkle cutter for my veggies at some Pampered Chef party when I was 12.  So it must have been my destiny to, 11 years later, make bread and butter pickles.  The process was simple and I used a recipe from the Ball Complete Home Preserving Book, which is an amazing resource for canning.  The only thing I think I would do differently next time is to add in pickle crisp because the pickles were a little softer than I prefer.  

Perfect Pickles

While looking through the canning book I also found a tasty looking recipe for salsa.  I had been lucky enough to be gifted a large bag of velencia tomatoes from a friend's CSA and this salsa recipe looked like the perfect fit for them.  

This summer salsa recipe is mild and very refreshing.

Before canning pickles I had only canned fruit jams.  Now that I am on this savory canning streak I can't wait to make more this fall.  I am thinking of making sun dried tomato jam and herb jelly.  

Till next time!

EM

Goodwill Shopping

House plants are great.   Shopping trips to Goodwill are great.  Combine a great Goodwill find with houseplants?  Yes, please.  I picked up this ceramic tea container for $1.99.  At first I thought I might actually use it for tea bags.  Realizing that there wasn't enough room on our apartment size kitchen counter for another decoration I took a look around the apartment for a good home.  Then I thought of the the succulent plant that I had on my coffee table.  They are so easy to propagate.  All you have to do is take a cutting of the plant, place in the new potting container and it will start to grow roots. 

 

Sunny new addition to the coffee table.

Happy Gardening!

EM

Matchstick Men

I love collecting vintage things.  What I really like are the everyday items from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.  I have cookbooks, dishes, needle books...
Today I stopped at Goodwill on the way home from work and picked up a great frame.  I have been meaning to find a way to display some of the vintage matchbooks that I picked up at a garage sale a few years ago.  I love all the design of each of the matchbooks and having them all pilled up in a bowl just wasn't working so...

Matchbooks on display.  Perfect for the kitchen.

Happy Decorating!

EM

I Cook My Bacon In The Oven

Last week I decided to experiment with dinner.  I tired cooking bacon in the oven.  It turned out deliciously crispy and the clean up was incredibly easy. In the past I have tried cooking it in the microwave and it never worked out well.  Here is what you do:


Oven Roasted Bacon 

1) Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
2) Line cookie sheet with tin foil.
3) Place a cooling rack on top of the cookie sheet.
4) Lay bacon on top of cooling rack/sheet combo.
5) Cook for 30 min (for regular bacon) to 45 min (for thick cut bacon) or until crispy.

Bacon, getting ready for the oven.

Enjoy!
EM

Tiny Cucumber

The first harvest from the garden!  Can't wait to enjoy it with dinner.

Garden Update!

I snapped a few pictures this morning in the garden, thought I would share them with you.  Everything is blooming, growing, and getting little veggies on it.  So exciting!

Hello, Turtle.

Beautiful Zucchini

The big picture. 

Later!

EM

So Long, Fair Well, I'll Be Back Next Week

Two days after I graduated with my master's I started working at YouthBuild Schenectady.  In just over a year I feel that I have gained 10 years of experience, stories, lessons, ideas, challenges, and successes.  I will forever be grateful for the profound effect this job has had on me.  Yesterday was the last day of programming for the students and for me as well.  Due to funding changes I will be moving to a new department in the agency.  I was so worried that it wouldn't be as wonderful/challenging/exciting as the YouthBuild program.  However, if there is any one thing that stands out in all my YouthBuild experience it is that you have to take your own advice.  There is no way I can keep telling the students that it is great to make positive changes in their lives that help them achieve their goals if I can't do it for myself.  It is so easy for me give other people advice, and so often I am totally lost when it comes to myself.  So, like this lesson in taking my own advice, I will carry so much else with me from this job to the next.  Thank you YouthBuild!!!

Flowers from everyone at YouthBuild.

On to new adventures!

EM

Super Sweet Cupcakes

Last week I made these sweet cupcakes for a friend's graduation party.  They were easy, pretty, and amazingly good.  I used a basic yellow cake recipe with vanilla frosting, then some hand dipped chocolate strawberries.  Nom. 

Getting Started.

Dipped!  Baker's Chocolate makes this microwaveable dip that is so easy and fast.  Warmed up in 1.5 min and hardened in 10 min.

Lovely.

Enjoy!

EM

Sisterhood

My sister is home for spring break.  I was over at my parents house with the intention of sewing...but then this happened...

Candid.  Love it.

Jazz Hands

Shadow Puppets

Lately I have really been trying hard to live in the moment.  I have been feeling a little adrift, so in an attempt to focus myself I just try to give my all to what is going on, who I am with, and what I am doing to ground myself.  It has really helped and given me a sense of clarity.  Plus I really love these pictures and my sister.

Good Night!
EM

Nothing Up My Sleeve (Because It's All In my Purse)

I have gained a reputation of always carrying a large purse with me, in it everything and occasionally a kitchen sink.  In theory a purse is supposed to carry in it all the things I feel that I must have with me at all times.  So tonight I decided to take every single item out of my bag and document it for you here.  I hope you find this as enjoyable as I did. 

Things I keep in my purse:

Calendar
Notebook
To Do List Notebook
Phone
IPod
Work Phone
Head Phones
Phone Headset
3 Types of PostIt Notes
Tied Pen
Tissues
2 Travel Shampoos
Travel Conditioner
Toothpaste
2 Travel Deodorants
Hand Lotion
Chapstick
Lip Gloss
Perfume
Flash Drive
Screwdriver Set
Small Swiss Army Knife
Small Scissors
Flashlight
Coupon packet w/ coupons
Nail Clippers
Mini Luffa
Travel Body Wash
Travel Face Wash
Black Socks
3 Pens
1 Pencil
1 Highlighter
1 Black Marker
Medicine (Tylenol, Benedril etc)
Tape Measure
2 Tampons
4 Band aids
Floss
Sunscreen
Gum
Mini Uno Deck
Frisbee
Eye Glass Cleaner
Hand Sanitizer
Mini Rubix Cube
Mini Barrel of Monkeys
Mini Deck of Cards
Orange Tic Tacs
Mini Match Box Car
$15 Cash
2 Credit Cards
2 Debt Cards
4 Regal Cinemas Passes
6 Spectrum Theater Passes
2 Gift Cards
1 Winning Scratch Off Ticket ($1)
MVP Heath Insurance Card
1 Postage Stamp
Membership Cards for:
CVS
Rite Aid
Fantastic Sams
The Book House
Regal Movies
Faddegon's
BJ's
Auntie Annes
T.G.I.F.
Subway
Panera
1 DC Metro Smart Trip Card
Keys to:
Office
Mail Box
Front Door
Apartment Building
Car
Gym Swipper
Office Swipe Card
License
1 Wallet
1 Coin Purse
1 Pencil Bag
1 Large Cosmetic Bag
Trail Mix Bar

105 Items, I wonder what that number and the items themselves say about me.  What I do know is that I feel prepared for almost any situation.  I have solved two car problems, countless headaches, and kept myself organized with what I carry around.  I feel that I need to carry this much with me because I have to be prepared.  Even though I am organized I am also extremely last minute.  When I inevitably leave the house without something I already have it with me. 
What do you always have with you?

Night!
EM

How I Try To Live My Life

1. Keep my home clean, organized, fun, inviting, and cozy.
2. Exercise and get outside as often as possible to do so.
3. Live in the moment, learn from the past, and plan for the future.
4. Eat well balanced/well proportioned meals.  Eat organic/local/and whole foods when possible.
5. Keep my office, closets, car, and purse organized.
6. Take every opportunity to learn something new.
7. Create and be passionate about life.
8. Keep a good perspective on all situations.
9. Put my whole heart into all the work I do, and don't procrastinate.
10. Breath Deep, Seek Peace.

I'll let you know how it goes :)

Peace,
EM

Tal Bagels

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of spending the day in The City.  For lunch my sister, her friend Jess, and my dear friend Kara stopped at Tal Bagels.  Out of the hundreds, possibly thousands of bagels I have eaten in my lifetime I truly believe that Tal Bagels has the best bagels in the whole world.  Oh, so good.

They have location at 333 E 86 St and  977 1st Ave.

They have so many delicious cream cheeses, salads, and bagels choices.  On top of that their service is great and everyone is really friendly.  

Sesame Seed Flat Bagel and Egg Salad.

Later Gators,

EM

Friday Lunch Series

Every Friday Abby, Rebecca and me take some time out of our day to enjoy lunch in downtown Schenectady.  There are so many yummy places to eat, with some really reasonable lunch specials.  Today we hit up Bombers Burrito Bar.  So, so good.  Here is what we got:

One Veggie Taco, One Veggie Chili Taco, One Pulled Pork Taco, and

Two Order of Sweet Potato Fries.

This tradition is a great way to de-stress after a long week, welcome the weekend, and bond with co-workers.  We also help to support all the great local eateries in the area.  Some of our other favorites include the Indian Buffet, Pizza King, and Ambition Cafe. 

Happy Firday Everyone!

EM

ROAD TRIP!!!

Last weekend Abby and I headed off to Hadley, MA.  Why?  To grocery shop.  Yup, grocery shop.  Sure, we have places to do this that are a lot closer...however we don't have a Trader Joe's.  Abby is a avid fan of Trader Joe's coffee.  As for me I was a newbie.  This trip is totally worth the hour and a half that it took to get there.

We stopped at Whole Foods on the way there (about 30 seconds up the road...I want to live here).  Yum.

Abby, trying vegan food for the first time.  This was promptly followed by her placing the food on my plate.

Behold. The Awesomeness.

More awesomeness. 

Trader Joe's makes it easy to bridge the gaps between affordable, easy, healthy, and fun.  Oh, and also delicious.  Already on the shopping list for next time are Trader Joe's: boxed mac and cheese, frozen meals of the indian variety, pizza dough, and chocolate carmels.  When I went up to the checkout I was really excited and I told the guy that it was my first time shopping there.  To top off an great trip he gave me stickers and rang a bell.  I literally skipped all the way from the door to the car.

Happy Shopping,

EM

Belated Blogging

Hello!  I have been off line for a little over a week.  Don't worry though, I have been busy collecting fun stories to share with you.  For now I leave you with this:

Missing Balls at a discount.

On to more blogging,

EM

Lights Out

Strange stuff going on in Troy tonight.  A winter thunderstorm.  The plows in my complex are fruitlessly trying to keep the precipitation from building up on the road by plowing.  I haven't ever tried to plow rain, but I imagine it would be difficult.  Props to them for their dedication.  About an hour ago the power went out for 30 seconds.  Pitch black, and even though it was over before it started I was really spooked and may have screamed a bit.  In my defense I had just finished watching a Dexter marathon.  Creepy.

To be prepared for a second possible blackout I have lit candles throughout the apartment.  I only have scented candles and I have a lot of them.  My living room smells like I have polished all the furniture with Pinesol, baked cookies, then celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas.  *sniff* ahhh....

Cozy

Peace,

EM

Give it away, give it away, give it away now.

As I bounce through the house, cleaning on my day off, I have started a "give away pile".  As I go through the house I try to thin out my stuff using three rules:

1. Have I used it in a year?
2. Have I worn it in a season (for clothes)?
3. Do I even know what it is or why I have it?

If the answer to any of these question is no then it goes in the pile.  This helps me keep the clutter at bay.  I am not willing to stop stop bringing home random fun stuff I find second hand or buy less craft supplies so this is what I must do.  I also like thinking that it helps keep this world healthier to reuse and donate.  Also that someone could enjoy something gently used that they might not have been able to buy at full price.  Another part that I like is that most of my stuff comes from thrift stores in the first place, so I am just putting it back into the cycle.   

If you are looking for places to donate, check out these:

Platos Closet
Clothes Mentor
The Salvation Army
Goodwill

Also churches and local city missions are good places to donate to. 

Peace,
EM

Beauty and Function

Last night I was looking at the blank wall in our bedroom and trying to figure out what I should put on it.  This morning I was organizing my jewelry and I could not figure out a good way to display/store my necklaces.  Then I realized I had a box of clear thumb tacks in my hand.  EUREKA!  I know what I can do. 

Simple and effective, no more tangled mess on my dresser.

It's pretty too.

On to organize the bathroom cabinet!

EM

Toothbrush Bracelet

If you enjoyed the record bowl project and looking for the next opportunity to melt a household item, you will love this next project!  Below find the simple directions on how to turn your old tooth brush into a funky piece of jewelery.

Toothbrush Bracelet

1. Boil 3 cups of water in a small saucepan
2. Drop the toothbrush that you are no longer using into the water (the clear plastic ones work the best)
3. Let boil for 10 minutes, or until the toothbrush is soft and pliable
4. Remove toothbrush from water
5. Shape toothbrush body- I used a drinking glass for a mold
6. Pull bristles out (they come out really easy after the boiling)
7. Let cool

Happy Crafting,

EM

My Two Fish Tanks

After a long day at work there is nothing I like more than watching my fish swim around in the 10 gallon tank we have have in the dining room.  There is something so relaxing and mesmerizing about watching them zip around the tank, weave in and out of plants and listen to the gentle trickle of the water filter.  Ahhh...

I think they are so relaxing to be with.  They don't need me to do anything more than sprinkle a bit of compressed food flakes into the tank once a day.  They are content to chase each other around, sleep and eat all day.  Sounds good to me. 

I highly recommend that everyone has a healthy stress release.  That is my unsolicited, professional advice. 

The one coming up to say hello is Sophia and the one in the back is Emmit.  Ernie was having a bad hair day and asked not to be photographed.

          When I am not lounging in the dining room, I also have this cute fish tank to admire...in the bathroom.  Love kischy nightlights.

Good night all,

EM

Tutti Insieme

          That is what my great grandmother Emilia would always say before dinner.  It means "All Together" in Italian.  As part of a beautiful project my mother put together a family cookbook.  This cookbook is filled with family photos, sayings, and mouth watering recipes.  I laughed, I cried, I bookmarked a million recipes that I am going to try and cook in my humble kitchen. 

         One of my favorites is my Aunt Bertha's Struffoli, deep fired honey balls covered in...well, honey...and colorful nonpareils.  Usual served in two large aluminum trays at Christmas time.  Yum.

To see the rest of the recipes, check out the online version here.

Buon Appetito my friends,

EM

Snow Day Project!

        I am already safely home after safe after a snowy day at work.  It took me 3 hours to drive my usual 40 minute comute this morning.  I was SO excited when we got an email around 1pm annoucing that the angecy would be closed tomorrow.  YAY FREE SNOW DAY!!!  When I was little my mom had the "snow day/rainy day box".  It was the best thing ever. Anytime we were off from school she would pull out this big box filled with craft supplied.  My sister and I would spend hours making homes out of old shoe boxes for our beanie babies.  Below is a quick recycled project if you are stuck at home tomorrow. 

Recycled Record Bowl

You Need:

1 Vinal  Record (that you are willing to melt and never listen to again)

1 Cookie Sheet

1 Large glass or metal mixing bowl

1 Oven pre-heated to 200 degrees

1 Set of oven mitts

You Do:

1. Pre-Heat oven to 200 degrees
2. Place mixing bowl upside down on cookie sheet
3. Place record on top of the bowl
4. Gently place cookie sheet/bowl/record combo into the oven for 8 minutes or until the the record sides start to get all floppy
5. Remove from the oven and use your hands (with oven mitts on) to form the record over the bowl
6. Hold it on the form for one minute until cool

You Get:

Stay Warm!
EM

I was told there would be cake.

          And there was.  Delicious milk chocolate cake with vanilla frosting.  Right in the middle of the scheduling meeting.  Yum, thanks Abby.

           Earlier this week YouthBuild moved into brand new offices.  I was blessed with a southern exposure to my office and plenty of sunlight bursting in, just asking for plants to be sitting on that windowsill.  I made a trip to my local Price Chopper last night and was pleasantly surprised by the selection of ferns/ivy/and small tropical plants that do so well in the office.  I bought four for the office and an extra one for my coffee table at home.    I feel that I am at least 50% more effective in my office now that it is pretty and more awesome. 

Pretty Ivy

Hello, turtle!

More plants!

Other decorations include this chalk board.  

A Candy dish- the office equivalent of walking a cute puppy...everyone wants to stop and talk to you. 

Fun stuff for the various children (and adults and me) who visit my office.

My growing Inspiration/Motivation Wall with quotes and pictures- Any good suggestions for additions to this???

When that just isn't enough a large supply of sweet smelling Bath & BodyWorks products (they have the best sales ever!).   

Hope your weekend is off to a good start!

EM