Promise Broken

I told myself. I pinkie swore. I promised that I wouldn't do it. Here I am, completely in over my head. I took too many books out of the library again. It started out smart, I only had five books -and I actually read/listened to them (if they were audio). Then I had the bright idea that instead of just browsing the shelves, I would put a lot of books on hold - and slowly they would trickle in from other sister libraries, and be at my finger tops. In my head it would take months! There was a clear understanding I wouldn't check them all out at once.

Then miracuously, ALL the books appeared in the library! It took less than one week - and they all were ready. I had exactly 24 books on hold - and now 24 books to pick up. I am a mix between excited and nervous. It's like a first date - I don't know what to expect, and I can't imagine what the librarian will think when I stroll in with suitcase, ready to be filled with paper goodness!

hours later....

I went to the library and met the evil and curous eyes of hte librarian woan behind the counter. They couldn't imagine how ONE person will read this many and not have to pay fines. I loudly and confidently told them all that I would return their darlings back before curfew. I snickered to myself, and wobbly walked out holding my weight in novels.

What books peeked my interest? What could I possibly want that I felt the need to take out 24 different versions of?

I took out some of the following books:

Book Thief by Zusak, Markus

World War X by Max Brooks

Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen

Cooking Fun 121 Simple Recipes for Kids

The Magicians by Grossman, Lev

More from Magnolia : recipes from the world-famous bakery and Allysa Torey's home kitchen by Torey, Allysa

Bake me, I'm yours- cupcake by Belgrove, Joan

These are a few of the books that peeked my interest.....

Walk the Red Carpet

Though I should be monitoring the hallway, I am currently squinting over my laptop, ignoring all the students who walk by without passes. Let them is my attitude right now.

I have discovered, once again, what I would like to do when I move to a larger home! As I always knew, but never found the actual proof, I want to make my own movie theater! I found a woman, in Kentucky, who has done just that.

PolkaDotChair gave me an immense amount of inspirat

ion. If you have not visited this blog before, I urge you to drop everything you are doing (except if its holding a baby!), and check it out. She has the most vibrant projects!

Why I mention this site...

Mr. and I have talked for awhile about making own home theater outdoors. It just hasn't come to fruition yet. It involves a screen (which we don't have), a projector (can't check that off the list either), and chairs (got that!). However, the problem with outdoor theaters are - what happens when its cold? or rainy? I can't see myself sitting under our immense trees in the snow to watch a flick. Indoor theater is the only answer!

After searching on Polkadotchair's blog, I discovered she created her own theater in her basement! Wahoo! Yowza!! It looks JUST how I imagined ours to be! ...and I fell in love.

La-Z-Boy offers actual movie chairs! I checked out the website. I was completely speechless, as they were exactly what I would want in our home - I wish I could afford the very pricey seats of luxury! They have all different set-ups, which would work with any space. This person positioned the back row of seats on a "stage" so it was a bit higher - and all chairs could properly see the screen.

Since Mr. loves popcorn, and inhales it when we are at the movies (to a point in which I worry he will choke), getting a popcorn machine seems only the next logical step in my made-up theater. We could either buy a full size machine or table top. I figure the one that carries the most pop will be what we go with :)

Minutes later....

Could it be?! There is a website dedicated to my cause! A whole site filled with theater and concession signs, official chairs, cinema sconces, and theater rope!

http://www.cinemashop.com/index.htm

The Cinema Shop has opened my eyes to a whole new design plan!

Yes. You can actually purchase a concession stand. Though I'm not sure why you would buy this for $2,300 when you can take a trip to your local Home Depot, buy wood - and Voila! a case! (after you use nails and a hammer of course!)

Now that my decorating plans are underway....all I need is a space to put it in!

Project # 17,92832132

Read the Writing on the Wall.

Chalkboard? Not just for school anymore.

After deciding I was done teaching at 2:05 (twenty minutes before my Period 9 actually ends) - I started looking through trillions of blogs for my "next" project. It hit me like a ton of bricks. or chalkboards. Mr. and I (mostly me) are using pieces of scrap paper to write down notes in the kitchen, either about what our shopping list will consist of, or notes to each other. Why not write it in large letters on the wall?

How FUN would it be to have a blackboard in the kitchen! Because I don't see enough blackboards throughout my day - I thought I would bring the job home :)

I feel like Mr. and I bought the spray blackboard paint years ago to decorate in a five year old's room...but we never did it. I might have to steal away to my mother-in-law's house (oh my! I never said that before!) and see if the paint is hiding somewhere.

HOW TO:

Apply two coats of paint (try Krylon Chalkboard Paint) using a small sponge applicator or roller, as the fibers in regular paintbrushes tend to leave behind streaks. Chalkboard paint comes in both liquid and spray versions. If you try the spray, be sure to cover the surrounding area carefully to prevent spatter!!

You could really coat anything - cabinets, walls, trays, dishes....its endless!

I like the idea of writing little notes on the board...but then how do you erase? How wants one of those stuffy black erasers lying around in their kitchen? Not me! Glue scraps of vintage fabric, wallpaper, and old ads to the backs of standard erasers for retro appeal. Cheerful children's blocks are reinvented as erasers simply by gluing a piece of felt to one side.

Happy writing!

These are a few of my favorite places

BANNED.

That is what I was from my favorite place -the library. Well, I wasn't technically banned, but I felt like it. I had over $20 in fines (which stands for some VERY overdue books). And I didn't have any cash to pay it down to $5, which the limit in which you can have and still take out items. After many months of longing, I finally placed my pride on the shelf, and marched into the Bernards Twp library with a baggie full of quarters, dimes, and pennies. If there was ever a way to pay my fine, twenty dollars in change would be the ticket. I was desperate, and I needed to feel the "free books" in my grasp once more. Somehow, by the grace of God, my fines diminished enough that I received permission to take books out. I did a little kick jump with excitement! It had been over three months since I entered the library, and my list of "MUST" reads ran the length of me. I quickly got lost among cookbooks, sewing guides, and travel pamphlets.

My problem wasn't I didn't read the books or lost them. The problem was I always took out too many at once. My excitement and enthusiam always outweighed the time I had to read. One time, I withdrew over 40 books. FORTY! Now, with only two weeks to read these books, unless I was retired or bedridden, there was very little potential I would actually be able to read this many.

But THIS time would be different. I told myself before I walked into the library that I wouldn't get ahead of myself. I pinkie swore with myself that I would only take out five books. Only as many books as I have fingers on my right hand would I allow myself to take out. NO MATTER WHAT I FOUND.

WEAKNESS: Cookbooks. I went to the wrong aisle if I wanted to stay true to myself. I closed my eyes and grabbed the first four books I touched on the shelf. Cupcakes! I chose the right shelf!! My final and fifth selection stood in the front of the library under new releases. I wanted a book on zombies. Specifically, how to handle myself if zombies were to attack the world. WHAT WAS I TO DO IF I DIDN'T HAVE THIS INFORMATION AT MY FINGERTIPS?!

Five books. I quickly, and without looking around (too much) checked out and ran for my car.

Success! The library and I are one again.

Flower arrangments

Flowers!! They bring the bees, and make me smile!

There are so many interesting ways to display flowers - and instead of a glass vase, these are some ways to present nature!

For our wedding, we made paper flowers - I recently stumbled upon tissue paper flowers...which I fell in love with. Simply because they will last always!

This wire teapot can easily be found at a Home Goods store or Michaels Craft store. The flowers are simple - yet it looks wild and fun. Have a spot of tea?

This is perhaps my favorite arrangement ever seen by a florist. This is perfect for ladies day or just to spice up your day!!

Lose your drink? never again.

You are at a party, and there are atleast a dozen solo cups on the tables. You had the punch....but so did everyone else! You can use a marker and write your name on the cup, OR.....

http://etch-it.com/wheretobuy.htm

Etch it on!! This brings me back to when I was 6 years old, and I would turn the white dials of my etch-a-sketch to write my name. Now, 22 years later, I can use my finger nail to write my name on my cup at parties!

The only problem I might have is I wouldn't want people to throw them away!

The company sells solo cups with the labels, or just the labels.

Neither way, I think this is a fun and retro way to mark your territory!

Summer Soup served with fun!

Make any chilled summer soup look spectacular by serving it “up” in a martini glass. Chill the glasses in the freezer until you are ready to serve the soup for a nice frosty alternative to a bowl. A summer soup recipe that would definitely be ultra tasty is the Coconut Corn Chowder.

Perfect for the summer when corn is in season. Canned corn works well when you’re longing for summer.

Ingredients

1. 8 ears of fresh corn
2. 2 stalks of celery roughly chopped
3. 1 carrot roughly chopped
4. 1 bay leaf
5. 6 cups of water
6. 1 onion chopped
7. 1 clove garlic chopped
8. 1/2 – 1 thai red chili (adjust according to taste) roughly chopped
9. 1 can coconut milk
10. 1 tbs fish sauce
11. 2 in piece of lemongrass crushed
12. 1 kaffir lime leaf
13. 1 tsp salt
14. 1/2 c finely diced red and green peppers
15. 1 Tbs lime juice
16. 1 thai red chili finely sliced (or more according to your taste)
17. 1 finely sliced green onion

Method

1. Cut corn off it’s ears and set aside
2. Make a stock by simmering corn cobs, celery, carrot, bay leaf in water for 30 minutes
3. In a separate pot sweat onion over medium heat until translucent
4. Add garlic and thai chili and sweat for 1 minute
5. Add corn, coconut milk, fish sauce, lemon grass, lime leaf and enough stock to cover
6. Simmer for 20 minutes
7. Remove lime leaf and lemon grass
8. Pour soup into blender, leaving out half of the corn kernels
9. Blend until thick and somewhat smooth
10. Pour blended soup back into the pot with whole corn kernels
11. Bring back to a simmer and adjust thickness with more stock if needed
12. Stir in chopped peppers and lime juice, adjust seasoning to taste
13. Garnish with sliced chillis and green onion

*Note: Canned stock and canned corn can be substituted for fresh.

Dress your table!

Labor day is approaching, and to totally dress up the table - you could use seersucker napkins to put out during lunch or dinner! The preppy fabric reminds me of New England summers, though I only enjoyed my summers at the Jersey shore - this is how I would imagine it!!

Adaption

I enjoy rereading past entries to see how I have changed, developed - molded into a new better (I hope!) version of myself.

Sometimes, it completely blows my mind that I ever was the person I was six years ago. In 2003, I was someone I don't even recognize - I look back at past blog entries, and I am saddened by the girl who sat in front of the computer screen. It takes me back to the heartache and loneliness. I can't believe I made it. I survived.

I never thought I was someone who was weak. I always felt I was a leader among my friends. I came up with the ideas, the plans - I carried them out. It amazes me that in relationships however, it was completely different. I was weak. I left the boy tell me who or what I was. nothing. I felt nothing. or everything. In high school, I remember the tears. Oh the buckets I could fill.

But now, I couldn't imagine being with someone who didn't support me or made me feel less than me. I couldn't imagine not being comfortable in my own skin due to someone else's insecurities.

I can't help but think back 0 and I find myself doing this more often these days. I think back to college, high school, past relationships - and the girl in those situations is unrecognizable.

I have my family and my future husband to thank. He gave me the courage to believe in myself. My true potential. He saw and continues to see the best in me, and made me believe that all I was previously criticized for - those are things that made him fall. I am emotional. I am silly. I am beautiful. I am me. and I don't need to be anyone else anymore.

Ode to the Things I love

I want to write. I have the need to put my words down on paper. However, when I try, my mind draws a blank. The words are totally forgotten.

Here I sit, in front of my computer - with a list an arm's length long of things I should be doing. However, instead I am thinking of all the projects that I simply can not wait to attend to.
This is an ode to the things I love:

Sneakers. Purses.
There are two ways to tackle this. I love buying them, and I love the idea of organizing them. In my closet, I have shelves dedicated to the seasons. I have a winter, spring, and summer shelf for my purses and shoes.

Secondly, I like the idea of MAKING my own purses. I feel like there are so many patterns, fabrics and ideas out in the world - just waiting for me to grab on and create!

Recycling bags.
Mr. calls me a bag lady. I love to put things in bags. Our bills - in a plastic bag. Our junk mail - in a plastic bag. My gym clothes, my lunch, my graded papers, the one sock missing its twin - all in plastic bags. Perhaps I should invest in fancy pants recycling bags.

Books.
What to say? I love books. I love the smell, the feel, the texture - and the shelves full. I like organizing them, rearranging them, and stacking them accordingly to date, author and genre. I toyed with the idea of getting the Kindle - but the thought of not having the pages between my fingers was enough to draw a tear to my eye - I decided against it.

Board games.
As a child I remember fondly of all the board games I would play with my family. I still have my favorites, locked tight in a box under my bed - awaiting for when future allows my children (unborn) to play.
I like finding websites pertaining to board games and dreaming of the day that I will one day have a closet, or room, big enough to hold everything. My favorite site must be Lime Green. They have the neatest toys, but I especially like the board game listed here called Quelf. We put this on our registry - I hope we get it!

My last two words -Stationery supply.