What I Buy Wednesday

This week, I had a goal for shopping. My friend, Nancy E. invited me to a Halloween luncheon. By the time you are reading this, the party was yesterday, so I'm not giving anything away. The invitation said we were to come in costume. Well, I definitely moaned about that. I hate costumes. It's just so much pressure. More about what I decided to do later in this post. 

Also we were to bring a wrapped, $10-$15 Halloween type gift for one of those "rob your neighbor" type exchanges.

I picked these for my gift. Along with this, I included a note that I would also do the tablescape for the "winner." It can be Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. I love doing them!

 While shopping for the Halloween gift, I couldn't resist these goodies from Hobby Lobby. Plus, they always have the holiday decor half price. When I go there, I can never use my 40% off coupon because everything I buy is already on sale! I loved those glittery leaves---even though I won't be decorating for fall this year. Usually, I take away the Halloween-ish stuff and add the fall. This year, we're going to Charlotte for Thanksgiving. I don't have any reason to bother with fall when I really need to get started on Christmas!

Okay, now, notice that little witches hat at the top? Well, that's my "costume!" It's actually a little hair clip. I paired it with an orange jacket and black jeans. Plus, I have some Halloween jewelry. That's it for me.

I've done the Care One vitamins for 3 months now. Since I haven't seen a difference in anything, I'm going back to my own vitamin regimen that I've always done. I have used these before, but not this brand. They haven't worked in the past, but I'll give it one more go. I used to have such nice nails. The only thing I can figure is that my monthly treatment has had detrimental results on my nails. Still, bad nails are better than chronic hives!

Also, while at Hobby Lobby, I picked up some new and fresh papers for AYM. They didn't have much. The sales girl said that they were phasing out the single papers. That means that we will be forced to buy paper pads. I hate that because you might like half of it, but then you are stuck with the rest. Oh well. Scrapbooking is dying out. Sad but true. I've noticed it in the blogs I follow. Many have given it up---and their blogs too! Too sad.

The last thing on the list of buys this week is this cute hand towel. I love festive towels!

I also had a couple Christmas gifts come in, but can't share them quite yet! That's it for this week!

Travel Tuesday

A little more Route 66---this time the segment to Springfield, MO. We were with Walter and Chris on our way to Big Cedar Lodge. I absolutely love breaking up long car rides with little stops along the way. Butch is an expert planner for sure!!

 It's exciting to me that many of the little places along Route 66 are still in existence.

 Although this wasn't exactly on Route 66, we decided to make the detour to see this old jail.

 Many of the motels along the way are still in business---hence the large motel sign---which can be seen from the highway.

 All that's left of the cafe is the sign. Still, I'm glad they left it! This old stuff is so interesting to me.

"Get your kicks on Route 66!" This slogan has been around since I was a little girl. It's unbelievable to me that some people near my age have never heard of Route 66. I really don't know how that's possible. One is from Boston and the other is from Pittsburgh. I get that Route 66 was not near where they grew up, but it just seems to me that it was common knowledge. Apparently not.

This market is still owned by the original family that opened it in the 1940's. We stopped in and bought a couple candy bars. Butch got a Route 66 baseball cap to add to his collection---a collection that he actually wears. It's a really cool, old-fashioned store. The women manning it were cute and friendly. (women manning---seems like an oxymoron!)

 Our last stop was the local library. Inside was the Route 66 museum. It was really cool.

 There were three "rooms" set up to replicate a diner with ALL original stuff.

 A motel unit---exact size.

 And a view to the inside of the room.

After the museum, we stopped in the gift shop. I didn't buy anything, but I did get a couple Christmas ideas.

This fall quilt was hanging on the door. I love all the colors and the combination, but I have no use for it.

I've gotten to be very particular about my purchases. Chris made a comment about it as she spent close to a thousand dollars over the weekend. Basically, I keep three things in mind when it comes to shopping these days: 1. I don't---shop, that is. I'm too much of an impulse buyer. If I want it, I buy it and "I don't care what it costs!" (inside joke with my friends). 2. I don't need anything--I'm trying to get rid of stuff! Because, 3. Our kids don't want our stuff! I keep saying it, and I wholeheartedly believe it! Except, of course, my needlepoint. I'm still happy that my girls and grands DO want that!

So that's it for Route 66 for this year. I was actually to accomplish my goal of doing part of it while I'm 66. We had two little road trips and that was perfect! Next up, the leg from St. Louis to Chicago and St. Louis, itself. We'll do that in the coming year. After that, we will have done the entire segment from Chicago to Oklahoma City. In 2020, our plan is to meet Walter and Chris in Oklahoma City, rent a van and then drive the segment to New Mexico. We'll fly home from there.

Little by little, we'll get it done! Sure it might have been more fun to do the whole thing at one time-- but since I want to stop at anything left along the way, that would take way too long. Plus, I think it would become boring. This way, it's always exciting!

Monday Mystery

Most likely, this was only a mystery to me. To tell you the truth, I never even paid attention to this. Notice the sticky uppy things on either side of the seat pocket? I had no idea that they had a use until Butch cleaned my car---which he does regularly. 

 Anyway, I had gone out to retrieve some bags from Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's.

Oh My Gosh! Talk about a lightbulb moment! What a great idea! Just one more thing I love about my Jeep! It's a year old now and I'm still discovering new things! Whoever designed this one must have finally asked a woman what sort of features were important in a car. I know that sounds sexist---but I swear, men design cars for men!! That's why when I got this new car, I was so impressed with the bag holders in the back. So nice to not have your groceries rolling around. Now my groceries won't roll around the back seat either!!

Another mystery solved!

Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith!

And for me, that leap of faith is usually food related! I do consider myself an adventuresome eater. I'm usually willing to try unusual things unless it contains A. Liver (absolutely NOT---for sure---I'll barf!) or B. Raisins (that's a "no go" for me---unless they are in bread pudding, then I'll pick them out!)

Here's the story.

Mindy took a day off on Friday. She invited me to meet her for lunch. I, in turn, invited Butch to join us. We were going to a new restaurant in Green Hills called True Food. You can check the eclectic menu here. I usually don't check menus online because I like to be surprised. Butch checked it out and made a hard pass!

The place is fresh and modern like most new restaurants in Nashville are at the moment. There was a 20 minute wait, so we opted to sit at the bar. Mindy got the spaghetti squash casserole. That sounded really good (and was), but I decided on the "seasonal ingredient salad."

The description:
Brussels sprouts, quinoa, roasted butternut squash, goat cheese, pomegranate, toasted mulberry, horseradish vinaigrette

Guess which item in the description "sealed the deal?" 

If you guessed the horseradish vinaigrette---you'd be a winner! (Sorry, not the 1.5 billion mega millions--just bragging rights that you really know me!)

Yep, horseradish vinaigrette! I really like horseradish---especially creamy with steak, prime rib or sandwich. I have never had it as a salad dressing, but pair it with vinaigrette and you had me at "hello!" I love ANY vinaigrettes---raspberry, balsamic (my favorite), lemon, blue cheese---really, ANY viniagrette! The rest of the ingredients seemed a little weird, but I decided to go for it.

Oh. My. Gosh. It was DELISH!!

This is what I brought home. I thought there were sesame seeds in it too. I have no idea how sesame seeds are grown, but if you look closely, it looks like little stalks with stems. At least that's what I thought those were. But now, after looking at the description of the salad again, they must be mulberries. I thought I knew what mulberries were--a sweet/tart berry that grow on a mulberry bush. I suppose these are dried. 

Of course, the nerd in me had to know for sure! I want to know everything---even if I only remember it for 5 minutes!

Whatever. They were good! You can see the little stems I was talking about.

The salad was so big that I decided to take half home. Since the greens are Brussels sprouts and not lettuce, I thought it might hold up just fine. We'll see as I plan to have it for lunch. And the dressing? Let's just say it was "horsera-delicious!"

You know, if I hadn't been willing to take a leap of faith, I would never have discovered this salad or the unusual ingredients for that matter. I'm glad I did!

When was the last time you took a leap of faith?

What's Happenin'!

It's been awhile since I've done a post like this.

Thinking: While in the shower. Does everyone use their shampoo as their body wash, or just me? I guess it all started years ago when I used the lather from my shampoo as my shaving cream. I don't shave much anymore since I have little hair, but I still use that lather to wash with. Is there anything wrong with that? I'd say it's the essence of re-purposing!

Thankful: That hurricane Michael passed us by. Connie's place at Mexico Beach did not fare as well. Sorry for her. Our Panama City place is still out of commission for awhile, but thankfully there was no damage. Santa Rosa is fine with the exception of tv and internet.

Cooking: We got our first box from Hello Fresh in months. 

This was an odd sounding dish---Korean Beef Bibimbap (yes, that's how it's spelled. I can't begin to pronounce it). It was so good that I've kept the recipe. Basically, it's a rice bowl. Carrots, mushrooms, zucchini and seasoned beef served over jasmine rice.

Hoping: My finisher can get this done by Christmas. 

It's going to be a gift for a family member. I'm having it made in to a pillow. This was the project that I was determined to finish while we were at Big Cedar Lodge.

Planning: Our girls trip for 2019. We've decided on Boston in April. There will definitely be theater involved!

Reading: I've just started a new book that has captured me right off the bat---The Heart's Invisible Furies. I love books that engage you right away. This one started in 1940. I'm only at 1952---takes place in Dublin.

Loving: Surprises! I came home to these on the front porch.

Diane and Gren sent this as a thank you for using our beach condo.

And this came from Pete and Susan as their thanks for using the condo. I do love surprises!

Watching: I'd have to say my new favorite show for the season is A Million Little Things. I don't know if it's by the same people as my other favorite show This is Us, but it sure has the same feel. I'm still loving How to Get Away with Murder. Then, I saw John Stamos on GMA yesterday where he was talking about his new show You on AMC. I have watched the pilot and really like it so far. Looks a little creepy.

Creating: I've gone back to the 3D Santa that I started last year. I went to a weekend workshop about this time. But, I couldn't work on it for very long because I'm the type that will only have one project going at a time. When that's finished, I'll move on. I'm so happy to get back to this because it is so much fun! Plus it gives me an excuse to watch tv!

Bumming: That summer is finally over. It's been nice all week, but they are saying frost by Monday.

Hearing: We have a new appreciation for Kid Rock, so I had him playing at happy hour last night. 

Appreciating: Laying in bed in the morning---reading and dozing. I did that last week while we were on vacation. I love doing that, but I don't do it at home. I'm going to start doing it on Saturdays. 

Weekending: We don't really have any weekend plans. Mindy mentioned having family brunch on Sunday to watch the Titans game that is taking place in London this weekend. I'm all for it! The game starts at 8:30 a.m. so we'll see. I think they are all regretting not going to the game. It was just going to take too much time and money to go. 

Friday Funnies

Some Scrapbook Layouts

It was about a month ago that I was on my sister's crop. I did 17 layouts. That's about average for me.
Now this is what I'm looking at---from the past year.

There are about 50 layouts here---probably more. I need to get them in albums.

Here are some of the layouts I did. I'm dividing them in half.

The. most interesting thing about this layout is that I aquatinted myself with journaling in the round again! I hadn't done that in forever. I have to do it more often to remember how.

This layout is about all the things Butch does for his girls---while making us laugh at the same time! Just an example: Mindy asked him to buy her a suitcase from one of his favorite stores. When she came over to get it, he got down and showed her all the zippers and pockets. Mindy looked at me and said, "wow, I didn't know I needed suitcase lessons!"

The journaling is hidden in that pocket. Technology is here to stay!

This layout is about our cars and a little side note. That being, that when I'm at a stop light and look around, all I see are foreign cars. I wish more people would buy American Made. At lease my descendants will know that was important to me. The journaling is in the pocket.

"She could always walk all over him"---that says it all!

 I did this layout for our round robin. I'm still waiting on the journaling. That's one thing you will see on EVERY layout I do---the story. After all, I consider myself a storyteller! First and foremost.

It's not often that we are all in St. Louis at the same time. Worth noting.

I'm slowly scrapbooking layouts from trips past. This one from 1990.

Speaking of storytelling, I was all exited to be taking a writing class with Mindy. I was so disappointed that it was cancelled due to lack of interest. I guess in today's world of rapid technology, the written word is low on the totem pole. Sure, I love my technology. But this blog is probably the most satisfying thing I do. I no longer have it made into a book at the end of the year. When it was just one volume, that was fine. But now it takes at least two. That's way too many books. Just like my scrapbooks. I have way too many now. I'm definitely slowing down on those too. But as far as my blog goes, I'm pretty sure I'll keep doing it as long as I have something to say.

And I always have a lot to say!