Simply Mocha

Excuse me!

2011-08-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

steps up to the mic...

adjusts it....

clears throat.

"I'm DEBT FREE!!"

That is all.

takes bow

Naked Palette Tutorial

2011-06-27T02:48:00.000-07:00

Naked Palette day time school makeup

2011-06-27T02:46:00.000-07:00

Urban Decay Naked Palette Tutorial

2011-06-27T02:38:00.000-07:00

URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE TUTORIAL SERIES-Look #1

2011-06-27T02:37:00.000-07:00

Urban Decay Naked Palette Review !!!

2011-06-27T02:34:00.000-07:00

Urban Decay Naked Palette: Smokey Eyes Tutorial

2011-06-27T02:26:00.000-07:00

Smokey Eye Makeup using the Urban Decay Naked Palette

2011-06-27T02:25:00.000-07:00

The classic Kardashian Smoky Eye Makeup (Naked Palette)

2011-06-27T02:23:00.000-07:00

Simple Glam Daytime Look (UD Naked Palette) + Review

2011-06-27T02:20:00.000-07:00

Urban Decay Naked Palette: Naked Eyes Tutorial

2011-06-27T02:14:00.000-07:00

Urban Decay Naked Tutorial (Request)

2011-06-27T02:11:00.000-07:00

so, i havent been posting much. lotta life changes, but im still hanging in there:).

for now I am going to use my blog as a compilation of favorite tutorials & links so i can find them again. That being said, I have this urban decay naked palette and have no.freaking.idea how to make it work on me.

soo... tutorials.

Italian Meatballs

2010-07-27T05:02:00.000-07:00

Se we are back on the wanting beef thing again. Generally we dont eat meat, but if we do, its chicken. Lately I have been craving meat. Sooo, what do? Get a family pack of ground beef from publix and promptly leave it in the fridge for a day and a half. It sits in there taunting me everytimee i open the door...cook me. cook me.. At the end of the 2nd day, ive gotta cook this meat before it starts turning brown or something. so i make 3 portions of it, freeze 2 and the third i made these Italian meatballs from blogchef.net.

Italian Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 ½ pounds of lean beef
¼ cup parmesan cheese
1 large slightly beaten egg
½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons of minced garlic
½ teaspoon of salt (can use less)
1 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 cup of milk
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons of dried parsley
3 teaspoons minced onion

shape into meatballs & bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Used the small cookie scoop and with Ms. K's help shaping and arranging them on a baking rack, they were mixed & in the oven in under 10 minutes.

The plan was to use half for swedish meatballs and the other half for sweet and sour meatballs. when they were done, i popped a couple on a skewer to taste. well we snacked on about half of them that night!
the BEST meatball recipe I have ever made!

Banana Bread

2010-07-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

ok, so i went shopping Friday morning, and forgot a bag of groceries in the backseat. until Saturday afternoon. I had to trash the milk, eggs, mushrooms and salad, but everything else was still edible. Eat it quick edible, but still edible. The bananas were turning brown and were perfect for banana bread! thanks to food network, this is in the oven now. Made a double recipe & added a 6 oz bag of walnuts. Totally forgot to add vanilla, but theres always next time. Meanwhile the batter is AMAZING! This is also a keeper. I like to spread cream cheese on the warm slices... :)

Banana Bread

Prep Time:: 2 hr 0 min

Cook Time:: 1 hr 10 min

Serves:: 1 loaf

Ingredients

1 cup granulated sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
3 ripe bananas
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.
Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add bananas and milk. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.

Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears. Add nuts.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan, invert onto rack and cool completely before slicing.

Now to find something to do with the strawberries.

Apple cake

2010-07-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

So, we made this apple cake from hun...whats for dinner.
We were enchanted with the caramel sauce that goes with it. however, the cake didnt last long enough to make the sauce. It was amazing fresh from the oven, just cooled a lil so that we didnt burn our tongues. After it was fully cooled, and only about 1/2 left we debated on making a lil cream cheese icing for it. But it really doesnt need it, was lightly sweetened and was the perfect treat.

we will absolutely make this again!

delish!

Caramel Apple Cake
Submitted by Jennifer (on Cooking for your Family)

4 C. apples - peeled, cored and sliced thinly
1 C. sugar
1/3 C. Canola Oil
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 C. whole wheat flour
1 C. white flour
1/2 t. salt
1 t. soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/3 C. finely chopped walnuts (almonds or pecans also work)

Sauce

5 tbsp. butter
1 c. brown sugar, packed
1/4 c. half and half (my sub evaporated milk)
Pinch salt
1/2 t. Vanilla extract

Mix together apples and sugar in a large bowl. Stir in eggs, oil and vanilla. In a separate bowl stir together flours, salt, soda and spices. Stir dry ingredients into apples until well blended. Mixture will be very thick. Mix in the nuts. Pour into a 9x13 pan that you have sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake in 350 oven for 45 min, or until cake starts to shrink away from sides of pan.While cake is cooling, make caramel sauce.

Melt butter in a saucepan and stir in brown sugar. Add half and half and salt and heat to a boil stirring frequently. Simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly until it reaches desired thickness. Stir in vanilla. Slice the cake and serve with some of the sauce spooned over the top. (Store leftover cake with a lid, or plastic wrap over the top so it doesn't dry out. Store the caramel sauce in a separate container with an air-tight lid in fridge).

Cinnamon Whipped Cream
1/2 C whipping cream
1 Tbs sugar
1 dash cinnamon

In a chilled bowl, beat whipped cream until soft peaks for. Add in sugar and cinnamon and beat until stiff peaks for. Store in the frige for up to 4 days in a covered container.

Voice to text

2010-06-18T15:32:00.001-07:00

So i'm using a new feature on my phone. I don't know how i do not know about this before. All i have to do is talk and the words i say are converted to text. How cool is that. By the way, android rocks.

Im not a manicurist,

2010-06-08T05:38:00.001-07:00

But i play one on tv. :) this is the result of 3.5 hours of playing with nail polish last night. The other attempts were...well lets just say i really like the quick removal properties of acetone.

Im getting better tho...its like anything else...gotta practice.

Zoya cyma (red), raven (black), la colors silver, seche vite topcoat.

Super Mario for wii

2010-06-05T08:56:00.001-07:00

We rescued the princess.

For the 2nd time...

And then realized theres a secret 9th world.

Happy, happy, joy,joy!!

NO EXCUSES

2010-06-04T08:04:00.001-07:00

WOW. total motivation

ms k..

2010-05-16T18:32:00.001-07:00

Is absolutely gorgeous for her prom :)

YUM! Pancakes

2010-05-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

I woke up wanting to have some pancakes this morning. We generally prefer french toast to pancakes, so as im thinking about it, i realize its been several YEARS since i made some. Of course we dont have any pancake mix. Never fear, we do have a pantry stocked with most basics. I asked my friend google about a recipe and was given Good Old Fashioned Pancakes. I made a few changes, so heres my recipe.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
4 T buttermilk powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup white sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 t vanilla
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted

K walks in and we have this convo:
me: hows pancakes sound?
k: what kind?
me: buttermilk...?
k: yeah but what kind?
me: regular pancakes with buttermilk powder.
k: so just regular? no sweet potato, flaxseed, or any of those other extras?
me: no. and btw, you loved those sweet potato pancakes.
k: no. i hated them. YOU loved them.
me: (surprised) wow! sorry, i didnt notice. i was too busy eating them. was that the last time we had pancakes?
k: yup. about 2 years ago.
me: well stand by and watch.

i promptly proceed to put the bacon in the nonstick pan and the butter in the stainless steel pan and start cooking.
#1 pancake is a flop. i say thats ok 1st one is a test to season ur pan. the dogs split this pancake.
#2 & #3 pancakes i put together and they start running together and cooking. a mess. i get one flipped over and it falls on the other one. ok fine, maybe i should stick to one at a time. k agrees and says im going to leave you alone now. the dogs get their OWN pancake.
the bacon is done so i start using the nonstick pan for the pancakes. #4 is heartshaped in the nonstick. i try #5 in the stainless again. (im thinking wtf, i *USED TO* be able to make pancakes in stainless steel). I tell k about how devastated i was when i found out the heart in my body was some gross looking thing, not the cute heart. she agrees and comes get her food. she says aww, its special... im thinking wtf special, rly? she sees my face & says aww special in a GOOD way and hugs me. meanwhile #5 burns. the dogs split this one too.

#6,7,8 &9 were done in the nonstick and were perfect. There are 2 left for k's breakfast tomorrow.

things learned:
stick to the nonstick pan.
i need something bigger than 8" pan for pancakes
Tropicana apple juice tastes ~~pretty bad~~ fruity, and nothing at all like Motts. Side note, idk why i keep calling it orange juice.

best brownies ever!

2010-05-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

This is our favorite brownie recipe, thanks to Sandy Bonsib. Its nice n chocolatey and has a fudgy texture. with nuts, its heaven. They havent actually lasted long enough to cool and frost, so dont know about the frosting. Was craving cheesecake brownies and actually tried another recipe from allrecipes that we didnt like very much (its chocolate, so we still ate them...and complained that they were nothing like the OTHER kind...lol) So today im making OUR brownies with cream cheese icing. YUM :)

Fudgy Brownies

by Sandy Bonsib

Fudgy Brownies - with icing, if desired - but who wouldn't want icing, too?

BROWNIES:
1 cup margarine
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
¾ cup cocoa
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup flour
½ teaspoon salt

Cream ½ cup of margarine with sugar. Add eggs and beat until light. Add vanilla. Using a whisk, mix cocoa and oil, then, on low heat, melt remaining margarine with this mixture. Cool. Beat into first mixture. Add flour and salt. Mix well and pour into greased and floured pan (9" x 13"). Bake in 350º oven for 25 - 30 minutes (test with a toothpick). Cool. Spread with icing after brownies are cool.

ICING:
6 Tablespoons butter
½ cup cocoa
2 ^2/3 cup powdered sugar
^1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter. Add cocoa and sugar alternately with milk. Beat to spreading consistency, adding 1 Tablespoons of milk if needed. Blend in vanilla. Spread on cooled brownies.

frustration

2010-05-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

i have been looking for a job since september, had a couple interviews, but other than that nada. trying to not be stressed, but with everything else going on, its pretty hard to do.

today i decided to cut the grass. was going fine, made a couple passes round the yard and got close to the tree where we tied the dogs. i looked for the cable and didnt see it, i did see that my daughter had moved their water, so it seemed like shed moved the cable too.

yup i ran over it and it made a horrible clunking sound. whats worse is i tried to turn the blades on and the kept making that sound and it cut the grass in that one spot to bare dirt. idk about mowers much, but obviously this cant be good. :( now the dilemma, fix it, get a new one. what to do. and of course, who does house calls because i dont have a truck.

tomorrows gotta be better.

thrifting

2010-04-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

Went to a new thrift shop today. Was putting off going there but i found myself with some free time and i was soo glad i did.

got a trunk, white vase, 2 lamps, silver picture frame, and 4 chairs for $55. :) surprisingly, everything fit in the car. all four chairs were in the backseat.

and then got sushi (which i ate one b4 i took the pic...u know just checking 2c if its good and all). They also had something new to me..which means when i want sushi, thats all im looking for. Avocado salad roll. YUMALICIOUS...its similar to the veggie sushi cept it has a layer of thin sliced avocado and is wrapped in rice paper and has the most amazing sweet and spicy sauce. it's ALMOST enough for me to not miss the wasabi. yum. just like the sushi, i had to taste one half before taking the pic.

i gotta learn how to make this stuff.

SP

2010-03-09T19:00:00.001-08:00

here i am again.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Starting over in so many ways.

end of marriage
my new and wonderful job of 9 months closed unexpectedly
back at 171 lbs.

i have been doing a lot of soul searching and learning about people and the most important things ive come up with are:

1. be true to myself
2. trust my feelings
3. believe in me
4. when the chips are down, thats when u can see who really cares about you.
5. life is waaay too short to deal with drama and bs

going back to stage 1 and working it from there. baby steps, gotta learn to crawl again.

SP

2010-03-09T18:59:00.001-08:00

my old text from my main page

Monday, June 15, 2009

this was when i 1st started Spark People in 2008.

Im trying to get back in shape after a couple years of fighting depression and poor health. I think this is a good place to start, lets see how it goes :)

38yo mom of a teenager. Currently working on a+ certification. wanting to get back in the job market. 2008 is a year of transition.

things have changed soo much that i felt like it was time to update it, but i wanted to save the old one.

this is one of my favorite posts

2010-03-09T18:58:00.001-08:00

if nothing changes,

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

nothing changes.

i have been having a very hard time accepting change lately. For too long i have tried my best to make sure everything stayed "the same", tried not to rock the boat, avoid conflict. During that time, i now see that i really have lost sight of myself as an individual and my hopes/dreams/goals.

so. everyday i remind myself that

if nothing changes, nothing changes.

my personal mantra to step outside of my comfort zone and start living the life i was meant to have.

Edit Blog Entry | Delete Blog Entry

Member Comments About This Blog Post:

GIRLG33K 12/27/2009 2:30PM

I completely know how you feel, I am too comfortable in my own comfort zone, it is time to shake things up in 2010 and start living instead of just staying stagnant. I hope you have a successful 2010 in all aspects of your life :)

Delete Comment

EMMASMART 6/10/2008 11:17PM

Very Deep. I'm reminded of the Song "The Change will do you good." I like that song it gets into your brain and makes it happy. While you are doing the butterfly thing it's pretty scarey. As you change form stuff can look pretty tragic. But then Butterfly... Make sure you spend time each day listening to the voice inside you saying Not this but that. You are out of the habit of listening to your heart. You might have some stuff to say to yourself. but you have to be quiet to hear. Shh, What was that your heart was telling you?

Lots of deep breathing and staring off at nature. Meditation would be good, to listen to yourself. Change for change's sake is no better that staying the same for comfort's sake right? So pay attention to that inner voice. She's really smart, She knows who you really are.

Emma

more SP

2010-03-09T18:56:00.005-08:00

Starting over...AGAIN... or trying to

Saturday, May 31, 2008

After such a great start, I had to have surgery on 3/4/08. After a month of bed rest, the dr cleared me to "do anything i want". uh huh... I am back at my starting weight and i have no clothes that fit me except sweatpants. It seems like i am permanently swollen in the abdominal area and i am sooo frustrated. Everyone tells me to be happy that im alive and i AM!! but realistically...i dont like the way my body looks and i have to change it.

ive been trying to use my friends as a support system, but they have their own lives and are busy with that. For so long its just been my daughter and my dad. Idk what to to but i really want to get moving in the right direction.

i need a buddy to help me get & stay on the right track. anyone? plz msg or comment.

on the bright side, Im back @ school...got my a+ certification...woohooo! i should have security+ in a cpl weeks. whats the point tho if i cant fit into my biz clothes?

sp

2010-03-09T18:55:00.001-08:00

i did it!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Today i hired a personal trainer. This is something i've been wanting to do for years...So i have 12 sessions starting next Tuesday and I cant wait.

Worked out in the womens circuit room and then did 45 min cardio. Had some bad news healthwise yeserday, but not going to let it get me down.

oh...i (sorta) broke that habit i have of weighing every morning and evening. How? well...the scale needs a new battery and since i keep forgetting to get one...there ya go. lol

sp

2010-03-09T18:54:00.001-08:00

Breaking the world's control over your emotions

Sunday, January 20, 2008

A lot in our past can be chalked up to inexperience, youth, and happenstance. But now, as an adult, you must claim your choices and their consequences as your own. Negative attitudes affect your life by creating cynicism, a pessimistic outlook, and often a lack of confidence. Take note of the ways you are escaping responsibility for your attitude. Do you continually blame situations, friends and family, or life in general for your poor mindset? The world has influence, without a doubt, but growing into a mature person means taking control of your emotions and attitude. Own them!

this came from a sp email. reposted it here, i need to comment on this later.

SP

2010-03-09T18:50:00.000-08:00

food allergies

Thursday, January 17, 2008

i am allergic to wheat, soy, corn, peanuts, tree nuts, celery, and watermelon.

I do admit that i haven't been as diligent as i should have been in recent months about monitoring my food intake. I had 5 allergic reactions last year. This year i am going to do better..this IS my life at stake!

Right now i am frustrated because other than fruit, I cant come up with any portable snack ideas. while i like salad and veggies, i dont want to fall back into the trap of eating CANDY like i used to.

choices & misc rambling

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

I forgot my lunch today. This is after i got up early to make it. It had the rest of my breakfast in the bag as well, a bran muffin and fruit. I carried it to the chair and went to turn on the alarm, saw the time and rushed out without it. I didnt even notice until i was at my destination.

yeah. so i was starving at lunchtime and had been thinking all morning that i wanted a Big Mac. (even tho the last 2 times i had one, it made me feel terrible, and really they dont even taste that great). Just as i was turning into the golden arches parking lot, a little voice says...ur doing sooo well, do u wanna throw it away like THIS? I wound up stopping somewhere else and got a steak salad. which turned out to be pretty good. I DID remember my water bottle, so i have been drinking my water. still not up to 8 a day but im close. i HAVE to remember my lunch tho. I really wanted MY salad with the avocados and my favorite raspberry dressing.

im glad i chose something healthier today.

i did not exercise today. excuses? it was snowing, i was cold and tired.
but tomorrow is another day and while im not 100% happy with today i am making some changes and im happy about that.

blast from the past

2010-03-09T18:40:00.000-08:00

personal best

Monday, January 14, 2008

We signed up for the "biggest loser" contest at the gym over the weekend. The contest lasts 8 weeks with weekly meetings. Points are awarded for different classes and making your assigned goal.

Today was the actual contest start so i went down for my daily exercise. It was crowded there and i have a phobia about crowds. Could barely find a parking space. I just wanted to skip going all together, but then i thought...everyone else is there for the same reason i am...to be healthier...and they are probably taking a class.

so i went on in. it was crowded...my favorite stepper was in use, and so were all the treadmills but there was one empty bike with MY name on it. well, not really my NAME on it, but you know.. lol

and after all the fear and apprehension, i wound up doing a personal best tonight... 8 miles..woohoo!

i feel great tonight.

I am leaving spark people.

2010-03-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

I just really dont have the time to dedicate to surfing that site. To me, its not really intuitive anyway, so...not that big a deal. however i do have some blog posts that I made there that i want to save so i will repost them here.

weakness

Monday, January 07, 2008

this is my WEAKNESS!! I have an insatiable sweet tooth. :(

if i could just lay off the sugar i would be a lot closer to my goal weight.

tomorrow i am going to limit myself to one piece of candy.

Sisterly Love

2010-03-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

Ok so this has GOT to be my all time favorite Awkward Family Photo.

“Red-Headed Girl: Just got kicked in the head by accident.
Father: Mad that his daughter is overreacting about getting hit in the head.
Mom: Fake smiling for the camera and trying to pretend everything is fine.
Brown Hair Girl (me) – Smiling at my sister because I know that this is going to make a great picture.”
(submitted by Kaitlin)

Salisbury Steak

2010-03-08T22:27:00.000-08:00

This is one of our all time favorite recipes. And as much as we like it, i cant seem to remember it or keep a copy readily available.

from Taste of Home

2 Servings
Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Ingredients

1 egg
3 tablespoons crushed butter-flavored crackers
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
3/4 pound ground beef
1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-3/4 cups water
2 beef bouillon cubes

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine egg, cracker crumbs, onion, salt, pepper and sage. Add beef and mix well. Shape into two patties. In a medium skillet, cook patties for 4-5 minutes per side or until browned; drain. Remove to a platter and keep warm.
In the same skillet, saute mushrooms in butter for 2 minutes. Stir in flour; blend well. Add water and bouillon; cook and stir until smooth and thickened. Stir in browning sauce if desired. Return patties to gravy and cook, uncovered, over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with mashed potatoes. Yield: 2 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 581 calories, 37 g fat (17 g saturated fat), 250 mg cholesterol, 1,960 mg sodium, 18 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 41 g protein.

Reusable swiffer pads

2010-03-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

I have a swiffer wetjet that I loved using, but did NOT love having to buy the replacement pads and throwing them away...or having to buy the refill bottles.

I had an old towel that was ready for the rag bag, a few minutes with the sewing machine and woohoo! Refilled the bottle with my own cleaning solution, and now I can swiffer to my hearts content. Now to get some fabuloso.

Whats this stuff?

2010-02-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

Its cold, and wet!

I don't think i like this very much.

Winter in Alabama. This fell in 3 hours and was gone by noon.

Old to new lamp

2010-02-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

Yup,

Just because I havent posted doesnt mean i havent been busy.

I picked up this lamp at the thrift store for $2 :) The shade is actually from the stand lamp that i used as the stand for my duct tape dress form. After cleaning it up, I realized that what i needed was a candlestick lamp, so, back to the thrift store, where i found one for $3. I used blue fabric from my stash and some brown from a skirt to redo the lampshade.

Then a nice coat of spray paint and some purchased trim...

Too cute :)

Before and after

2010-02-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

I purchased a closet organizer for my studio closet. It was going to organize all the fabric and stuff. I briefly looked at the instructions and decided it was too hard to hang by myself and would be easier to get someone to do it for me. Flash forward about two years. I put the cutting table in the studio closet and that freed up a lot of floor space, AND now I just need shelves, not a whole closet organizer in there.

What to do with the organizer? I cant really take it back… I mean it HAS been two YEARS(!)..

The closet in my room is the smallest one in the house and hey. Its disorganized and oh wow..*I* have a closet organizer…Got Ms. K to help with it and…

Lesson learned. It was absolutely easier to do it myself than wait for help.

Garden Plans

2010-01-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

Last year was the first year in 9 years that I didnt have a garden. I never knew how much i missed it until summer came and i wanted a nice tomato and spinach salad....but there wasnt anything growing! But apparently i didnt want it enough to go to the store right then. But even if i did, theres really NOTHING that tastes like freshly picked veggies.

Was reading an article at the dr about the nutrients in vegetables now vs 50 years ago and the gist of it is that for many reasons, produce has up to 50% less nutrients. I wish i remembered what magazine that was. but that was a fluke anyway me touching the magazines at the drs office...i mean really, with all the sick ppl in and out of there you KNOW they are just FULL of germs and other stuff. As easily as I get sick, its just not worth it.

Anyway. This year i am going to expand my gardening horizons to include growing herbs. Theres a flower bed in my side yard that will be converted to the herb garden. Ive been thinking about giving square foot gardening a try. Heres the tentative plan, which is subject to change based on whether i order seeds online or just see what the coop has. Casualties of the unseasonably cold weather this year are the blueberries, a pear and a peach tree.

~Main Garden~
tomatoes
green peppers

jalapenos
cucumbers
green beans
wax beans
peas
carrots
onions
garlic
romaine lettuce
broccoli
acorn squash
butternut squash
zucchini

crookneck squash
sunflowers
strawberries

collard greens

~Herb Garden~
rosemary
sage
parsley
oregano
thyme
basil
chives
cilantro
dill
lavender

new things:

tomatillos

zinnias

dasies

stevia

easter egg plant

spaghettios guy

2010-01-13T17:59:00.000-08:00

Apparently Donald Goerke, the Campbell's executive who created Spaghetti Os, has died.

I used to eat them all the time when i was younger. So did k, until I tasted them and then never bought them again.

so i mention this to her.
me: The guy who made spaghettios died.
k: why?
me: (blank stare)
k: i mean, how?
me: im blogging this

baby, its cold outside

2010-01-08T19:42:00.000-08:00

There's ms K...trying out her new cam.

even froze the fountains.

random conversation

2010-01-05T15:53:00.000-08:00

So, im opening a long awaited package and checking out the loot inside. I notice one of the samples I requested isn't what I received.

me: They sent me ... Beard Lube. Why did they send me Beard Lube?

k: WHAT?

me: They sent Beard Lube.

k: Are you gonna use it on your beard?

me: (still confused, silent, slowly turning my head to look at her)

k: (noticing my expression) ohhhhh yeah, i dont know WHAT i was thinking. WHY did they send YOU beard lube?

im really gonna miss our conversations when shes gone to college.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

So its 2010, and I had the best New Year celebration, with an amazing surprise! Heres wishing the best for you and yours!

Felted hat

2009-12-17T08:36:00.000-08:00

Andrae over at with the crickets has an amazing felted hat tutorial. Its made from felted wool and I cant wait to try one.

random conversation

2009-11-22T14:17:00.000-08:00

(I'd just heard an Oprah commercial in which she mentions a couple saved their marriage when the husband was addicted to chat rooms, prostitutes, and porn.)

I ask Ms K how she thought someone could save a marriage when the husband is addicted to chat rooms, prostitutes & porn.

K: huh?

Me: How can someone save a marriage when the husband is addicted to chat rooms, prostitutes & porn?

K: Corn?? Hes addicted to CORN!!?

Me: (uncontrollable laughter) um. no. PORN.

K: You need to enunciate better.

It was about time!!!

2009-11-20T16:14:00.000-08:00

So i have had this on my to do list for a while. Technically this ironing board cover works. But its been working for a loooong time and it was past time for a new cover.

Yeah. well. Its worse than i thought. But its redone now. :)

Sweater to tunic

2009-11-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

This sweater i have had quite a while, but it has shrunk a lot. It was my favorite, and i missed wearing it.

I cut off the bottom part and used some fabric from a thrifted skirt to lengthen the top to a tunic.

I wear it with a wide black belt and black leggings. Am happy with the way it turned out, but i plan to shorten the sleeves some and add a cuff of the contrast fabric.

Dear Santa

2009-11-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

I have been so amazingly wonderful this year.

PUHLEEZE bring me a superamazing wonderful digital camera thats easy to use and makes taking pictures a breeze, especially when i want to take a close up of stitching or when i have to do a self portrait. I also wanna take pics of myon the verge of adulthood Mini Me, and my furbabies, Pi & Nomi.

Also, if it isn't too much to ask, I'd love some comfy low heel black knee boots in size 8. Ones that do NOT get all baggy at the ankle or squeeze my calves. Btw i measured them, and my calves are 14" which isn't large, but why does it seem like all the cool stuff fits either my feet or my calves, but not both?

thanks much,

mocha

ps anyone have any suggestions on a camera that meets my needs? i've been researching till im dizzy and i still am stuck

I took the pledge!!

2009-11-01T17:06:00.000-08:00

I, Mocha, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that my thriftiness brings!

Signed,

Mocha

Recycling...

2009-09-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

I had a whiteboard that somehow broke and was actually saving it to fix it, but ive also been wanting one of those memoboards with the ribbons on it. The whiteboard + a sewing themed pillowcase that wasn't being used is gonna be my new memoboard.

I cut the whiteboard in half and used one half to make this board for my sewing studio.

im 40!

2009-05-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

and i dont feel any different than i did years ago..

2009-05-12T18:18:00.001-07:00

Successful hyp program :-D

2009-05-05T03:47:00.001-07:00

So its almost 2 weeks b4 my birthday and I wanna do something special for it but I don't wanna interfere with my debt free plans.

Simply Mocha

Excuse me!

Naked Palette Tutorial

Naked Palette day time school makeup

Urban Decay Naked Palette Tutorial

URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE TUTORIAL SERIES-Look #1

Urban Decay Naked Palette Review !!!

Urban Decay Naked Palette: Smokey Eyes Tutorial

Smokey Eye Makeup using the Urban Decay Naked Palette

The classic Kardashian Smoky Eye Makeup (Naked Palette)

Simple Glam Daytime Look (UD Naked Palette) + Review

Urban Decay Naked Palette: Naked Eyes Tutorial

Urban Decay Naked Tutorial (Request)

Italian Meatballs

Banana Bread

Banana Bread

Ingredients

Directions

Apple cake

Voice to text

Im not a manicurist,

Super Mario for wii

NO EXCUSES

ms k..

YUM! Pancakes

Ingredients

best brownies ever!

frustration

thrifting

SP

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

SP

Monday, June 15, 2009

this is one of my favorite posts

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Member Comments About This Blog Post:

more SP

Saturday, May 31, 2008

sp

Friday, January 25, 2008

sp

Sunday, January 20, 2008

SP

Thursday, January 17, 2008

more SP blog posts

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

blast from the past

Monday, January 14, 2008

I am leaving spark people.

Monday, January 07, 2008

Sisterly Love

Salisbury Steak

Ingredients

Directions

Reusable swiffer pads

Whats this stuff?

Old to new lamp

Before and after

Garden Plans

spaghettios guy

baby, its cold outside

random conversation

Happy New Year!

Felted hat

random conversation

It was about time!!!

Sweater to tunic

Dear Santa

I took the pledge!!

Recycling...

im 40!