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