60 Best Halloween Movies

Messy Messy Fail - Besides doing dishes, wiping off surfaces is my second least favorite chore.  Maybe it's because there are constantly streaks, spills and crumbs everywhere and there is NO satisfaction in the chore because what you do is undone so dang quickly.  Do you wipe down surfaces constantly or just once at night?

Tidy Victory - I ran to my fav local shopping mall - the DG (Dollar General) - and found a box of white allysum seeds to plant in my garden for 30 cents.  That's AMAZING!  However, I generally don't have much luck with planting seeds, so I'm hoping for the best :D 

Snowflake Counting Cards

Messy Messy Fail - We moved!!!!!  But I lost the coffee in the move.  That's what happens to the last items in the house being packed - they go into the nearest box regardless of the label on it and are lost until every box is opened.

Tidy Victory - I found the coffee within three days of moving.  Don't be impressed that we went through every box in 3 days.  I'm just super stoked I found the coffee.

No-Bake Birds Nest Cookies

Messy Messy Fail - Pior to having a successful concert (see below), I was not happy that I ran out of programs to hand out!  I was quite sure one-hundred would have been enough, but apparently not.  I guess that's a good problem to have - a great turnout!  

Tidy Victory - Had a super successful side-by-side concert with some of my select string students from the district along with musicians from the Western New York Chamber Orchestra.  This orchestra is an ensemble in-residence right down the road at SUNY Fredonia.  I chair the event and am happy to report that everything went smoothly.  Phew!

100 Great Movies for Valentine's Day

Messy Messy Fail - A very large wine store in Nana Patti's hometown called Premier was having a mail in rebate sale with Relax wine (I know what my bloggy friend Rhiannon is thinking right now, but she understands my struggle is real) so I bought a bottle.  In order to get the $3 back, I had to mail in the rebate with original receipt by January 15th.  I had every intention, but of course I forgot and completely missed my deadline.

Tidy Victory - The laundry volcano that has been erupting in our house last week finally came under control - about 12 loads later.  I'm not quite sure how it builds up as much as it does, there's only four of us, but at least the multiple mountains of dirty clothes are gone.

My Word for 2016 - Ahead

Messy Messy Fail - I know that I definitely have food in the refrigerator leftover from Christmas - I spotted some sautéed green beans, mashed potatoes and the remains of a leftover roast in the back of the fridge.  Good thing garbage night is tomorrow evening.

Tidy Victory - We had some friends over to celebrate our Christmas together quite late on Friday and I made a terrific somewhat authentic Mexican dinner - hard and soft shell tacos with my own taco seasoning (I just cannot use the packets anymore, so salty!), Paula Deen's mexican rice and this delicious recipe for restraunt style refried beans.  Let me just say there were no leftovers.  

Be ahead of the game. 

Think ahead.

Be ready.

Be early.

Do you see the common theme?

Punctuality is not necessarily one of my strong suits.  I am a procrastinator tried and true.  ESPECIALLY if it is something that I don't really want to do.  

But you know what?  That's a terrible excuse - I can be very lazy and that's the truth of the matter.  

Therefore, my word for this year is AHEAD.

Anticipate what is coming and be ready.

Think about the future and plan accordingly.

Do not set it aside for later, do it now.

Some of my specific goals include:

• better meal planning - I typically plan ahead for a week in advance, trying to go to the grocery store only once a week.  However too often we resort to running our for a quick pizza or sub. 
• keep our wipe off calendar in the kitchen updated - it's pointless to have if we don't use it properly!
• try to stay tidier - I'm always in a mad rush the night before our house cleaner comes to get clutter out of the way
• finish the task at hand - I am notorious for starting something then getting distracted by something else
• try to keep a "big picture" view - what will the consequences of my choices be and how will they affect others and not just myself

How ironic that my word for the year is being posted at the end of January ;)

What is your word for year?

Did you set specific goals for yourself?  I'd love to hear about them!

Click here to see where I like to par-tay!

Printable Super Bowl Party Prop Sheet

Messy Messy Fail - All I want is one of those cute tribal/geometric print open front sweaters with the angular cut.  I see them on Instagram all the time - usually worn with leggings and riding boots.  Do you think I can find one here?  Not at Old Navy, Bon Ton, Maurices, American Eagle, JC Penney or even Sears.  TJ Maxx is my last hope tomorrow......to be continued.

Tidy Victory - I have successfully cranked out nearly 4 posts in 2 days - a little delay on my image mapping led to this slight cluster, but I am publishing and rockin' the blog this week like no one's business.  Boo ya!

Non-Toy Gifts for Little Kids

Messy Messy Fail - It appeared as though the toddler decided to record some extra programing on our DirecTV DVR of his own before we went away for a weekend.  Upon returning, an episode of  American Horror Story Hotel and Fargo was missed due to a full hard drive of Good Morning America, the Rachael Ray Show and Kelly & Michael.  Delete, delete, delete.

Tidy Victory - These last few days I have been a MACHINE getting my Christmas tasks done - Santa Sprinkles for the UPKer's class, teacher gifts, peanut butter fudge for co-workers, cards mailed out, Christmas breakfast and dinner items purchased!  This may truly be the most ready I have ever been for the holidays, and it feels so good!

Santa Sprinkles + Free Printable Tag

Messy Messy Fail - As we began decorating our tree on Thursday evening, I discovered far more than usual broken ornaments.  Is it ironic that the UPKer helped us put them away last year?  I think not.  Not pictured is the glass ball the the toddler smashed on the floor in front of the tree while we were decorating.  I'm warming up my hot glue gun as I type.

Tidy Victory - I participated in my first Twitter party this week, #SnoopGames, and I won something!  I'm not sure what, just waiting patiently for it to arrive in the mail in the next few weeks.  My winning answer listed all the platforms for the new Snoopy's Grand Adventure video game. Woo hoo!

Happiness is Homemade Linky Party #97

Messy Messy Fail - Quick trip to my hometown with the boys to chaperone a music festival and I forgot to bring the second most vital item - the Thomas the Train whistle.  Every night before the UPKer goes to bed, we watch a quick 10-minute Thomas episode while he drinks his milk.  He sings along with the jingle at the end of the show and blows on a little plastic train whistle that Santa brought a few years ago.  Not having the Thomas the Train whistle rather ruins the whole bedtime process.

Tidy Victory - I finished my awesome ornament for the 2015 Ornament Exchange being hosted by Erlene at My Pinterventures.  I will be revealing the ornament I made with a tutorial on Tuesday, coming up real soon.  In the meantime, click here to see the beautiful ornament bought by my partner Rhiannon from Insolence and Wine for me along with the other bloggers who posted in her group.  Mine is the adorable snowman wineglass!

Welcome back to another great week with us ladies! We had a great turn out last week and it is so fun to watch, how our link parties go with holidays and the weather..I feel inspired and now hungry!!!

Don't forget since its a new month we have new co-host's so make sure you take the time to visit and say hello!

DIY Children's Ghost Costume

Messy Messy Fail - I hadn't tried the Keratherapy Daily Smoothing Cream that came in my June Ipsy glam bag yet.  I'm silly.  Sometimes I'm in too much of a hurry to thoroughly read things, like, oh say, directions.  So there I am trying my new daily smoothing cream for my DRY, ROUGH HANDS.  It smells REALLY nice and does seem to be moisturizing, but it's awful sticky.  Why would a daily smoothing cream for the hands be so sticky?  Hmmmm....check directions.  Ah, that would be because it's for HAIR.  Not HANDS.  Way to go, Katie.

Caramel Apple Mummies

Messy Messy Fail - I never even think to look at tags for washing directions on clothes anymore.  I figure that clothes from the stores I buy at do not require dry cleaning, unless it is a dress or dress slacks.  So imagine my surprise when I pull one of the new tops my sister purchased for my birthday out of the washer to see that it had shrunk.  100% rayon, dry-clean only.  I did iron and get it almost back to its original shape, but not quite the same.

Tidy Victory - I was able to go through all of the UPKer's and the toddler's clothing drawers and remove everything that was too small.  In one day.  I shocked myself.  

Holiday Fun With Our Bloggy Friends Roundup + Giveaway

Messy Messy Fail - I've been watching Big Love season 2 for a few weeks now, borrowed from the library.  DVD's are only rented out one week at a time, even if it is 4 disks of 3 episodes, 1 hour each.  That's 12 hours of episodes - who can watch all that in one week?  Well, on my third week of renewing online, I was rejected.  With my tail between my legs, I returned the DVD's to the library.  Luckily, the librarian on duty was one of my former students and allowed me borrow it for another week.  I'm furiously trying to watch an episode every night so I can have it finished by Wednesday.   

Tidy Victory - I've got 1 1/2 bushels of freshly picked apples to use up so I made Ina Garten's applesauce which I posted about here last year.  This is the most delicious homemade applesauce recipe EVER!  I like to make two batches of it to store in mason jars and freeze or use throughout the winter.  Minimal sugar (1/2 cup of brown sugar) and it is SPECTACULAR!

And now for a special treat........

9 Ways to Help Your Child Be Successful On Their Instrument

Messy Messy Fail - So I now have three key chains - one for my house keys, one for my high school keys and one for my new middle school keys (yay for a new classroom room!!!!).  I used to keep all of my work keys on the same key chain but now there are so many, too many for one ring.  You can imagine how many times I've left a set of keys at another location - that would be three times.  Lots of extra traveling looking for keys this week.

12 Highly Recommended Things To Do at Niagara On the Lake

Messy Messy Fail - It's our first day of school without students (professional development) and doesn't our coffee pot poop the bed.  It's six years old so I guess I'm not too surprised.  Thanks Topic (whose mom created and shared this recipe I posted) for the wedding gift!

Oh, Hey Friday - Rodeo Time

Messy Messy Fail - I have now gone through 2 new light pendants to hang over our kitchen table - I rejected both.  I thought the first one looked rustic hanging up at Home Depot, but when installed in looked beyond industrial.  The second rejection was my fault - I didn't check the size before ordering and it turned out to be a minnie pendant.  Back to searching I go.  However ANYTHING beats the Pizza Hut looking light we had prior.

Tidy Victory - We finally flipped the baby's carseat around so he is now forward facing.  I swear I heard him singing "A Whole New World" from Aladdin in the backseat while we were driving. 

This was my last weekend home before orchestra camp so we decided to do a whole slew of fun activities.  My husband will be with the boys while I'm working, so this next coming week will be quite the role reversal.  In the mean time, here's what we/I have been up to!

<One> Every year, usually around the first weekend in August, the rodeo comes to town!  The event is a fundraiser for the local volunteer fire department, so for a small town it is a big deal.  People from all over the area come to see the cowboys and cowgirls do their thang.  Nana Patti and I took the toddler for the Saturday night show after eating their delicious bbq dinner at home.  

<Two> August Ipsy Box - So here is what came in my box (from left to right) - Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Gingsng + Biotin Volumizer, Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in Elegantly Wasted (how appropriate!  I kid....) Skone Cosmetics Luxe Doubler Eye/Lip Pencil in Wine, Juara Skincare Tumeric Antioxidant Radiance Facial Mask, and Noyah Natural Lipstick in Rose.  So far I have tried the volumizer, which I really liked and smelled FANTASTIC, and the Noyah lipstick  The color is okay, I didn't think I could wear rose, but I think if I adjust my makeup a bit I can do it.  I definitely love the cute houndstooth makeup bag and the nail polish color.  Good job this month Ipsy!

<Three> Traveling - Since both of our families live out of town, we are frequently traveling for long weekends to visit.  I used to dread packing when it was just hubby and I - now packing for us AND two young boys is a snap.  I keep at least 4 plastic grocery bags in our suitcases to separate clean and dirty clothes.  I also keep plastic resealable bags with travel supplies including toiletries, medicine and eating utensils ready to go.  That way when it's time to depart, I can just grab the prepackaged bags and start the trip!  We were able to visit my sister-in-law Sarah in her beautiful new home that she purchased a couple of years ago.  She's also really into photography, so I was able to ask her a bunch of tips.  She reminded me how much I like black and white photography.

A practice shot of the back of Sarah's garage, with her "gnomes" growing in the gutters as she calls them.

Vibernum or hydrangea?  It's growing in front of her house and we can't tell!

<Four> Back to School - As I wait patiently for the toddler's UPK list of supplies I need to purchase for him, I think about how SAINTLY his teacher is for committing to him and up to 17 other precious toddlers in one classroom.  I know that there are definitely some supplies that will be needed and are not provided by the school system, such as tissues, hand sanitizer, etc.,  so I'll make sure to stock up and deliver some extras to his teacher.  I also plan on emailing his teacher to see what their other needs are so we can help out.  I can go without my triple cream cheese or olive tapenade for a week if I can donate some supplies to my son's classroom.

<Five> Zoo - While traveling, we had an opportunity to take the kids to a local zoo and MAN did we have a good time.  This was actually the first zoo visit we have taken the toddler to where he was actually interested in the animals - what a concept!  I recall previous visits being dragged directly through with the toddler leading, wanting to know where the exit was.  The baby hung out in his stroller while Sarah, my husband and I pointed out all the cool animals including: a rhino, orangutans (including a baby so cute!) a snow leopard, tigers, a polar bear, penguins, elephants and the coolest - sea lions!

I forgot how much I love B&W photography!

I wish I would have gotten this shot in color, but can you see the beautiful bird and his reflection that I captured?

It has turned out to be quite the perfect weekend weather wise.  How lucky did we get?!?!  Enjoy these last few weekends of August!

Make Your Own Hummingbird Food

Messy Messy Fail - Wouldn't you believe that the toddler ripped a horrid word (I can't type it out loud it's too embarrassing!) at Sherwin Williams this morning when I was returning and picking up some new paint chips.  Mortified, I flew out of the store as quickly as possibly, but hey wait a minute...."I shouldn't be embarrassed, I didn't say the word.  You did, and now you are going to apologize to the nice lady in the store where you said that horrid word!"  And apologize he did.

Tidy Victory - My leverage?  No lollipop from the bank drive-thru.  Little boys who say rude words do not get lollipops from the bank.  I don't think he'll be saying that word again any time soon - I win (kind of).  Now I will admit I certainly am not perfect and horrid words do slip from my lips time to time, but now I (we!) REALLY need to be mindful.  We are the example and this was an excellent wake up call for that.  

One of my favorite summertime visitors to our backyard deck is the hummingbirds.  It's so exciting when I see the the small little zippy bird fly up and check out our red flowers (did you know they love red flowers?).

I once saw a hummingbird hanging around our red plastic garage door emergency pull.

They really like anything red.

I know lots of people with feeders who buy the red hummingbird food at the store.  Why do that when you can just make your own?

And even though they like the color red, the hummingbird food doesn't need to be red.  

In fact, I have read that the red-dyed food you buy may not be that good for them.

But anyways, back to the topic at hand, you should make your own hummingbird food.  

It is beyond easy and as inexpensive as it gets.  

To make your home hummingbird food, you need:

• 1/4 c. of granulated sugar
• 1 c. of water

And here is what you do:

• In a small saucepan over low heat, warm up the 1 c. of water.  The water does not need to simmer, just be heated.

• Pour the 1/4 c. sugar into the heated water and stir in the sugar.  Allow the sugar to dissolve completely, remove the pan from heat and let cool completely.

• When cooled, pour the sugar water into your hummingbird feeder and hang for your little buddies.

I have a small feeder and find that if I make a larger batch it gets wasted because the sugar water gets moldy before it is all eaten.

If you need to make a bigger batch, just change your amounts to 1/2 c. sugar and 2 c. water.  Any sugar water you don't use can just be kept in a container in the fridge until ready to use.

As you can see from my pictures, I have the cheapest feeder ever.  I really think I paid around $4.00 at Walmart for it.  I've had the best luck with it.  I had a pretty glass one - it fell off of the hook and broke.  I had other bigger, prettier ones but they were a huge pain to take apart and clean.

An avid hummingbird enthusiast once told me, 'The cheaper, the better."

This one seems to do the trick.

Check out my husband's awesome fire pit in the background, we love having campfires even though we haven't gotten to use it much this summer.

If your feeder does get moldy, just take it apart and clean it with a sponge and mild dish soap.

Amish playground (squeal!) on the right.

I'd try to get a picture of one of my little visitors, but it's near impossible.  

I'll let you know if I get one.

Try this, save money and enjoy the little zippers!

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