November's Losses

Today, I am home from work sick.  I've felt like I've been fighting off something for a week and it has finally taken me down.  The doc gave me antibiotics with strict instructions not to take them unless this hasn't cleared up in a week.  She's banking on this being a virus and running it's course,  but gave me antibiotics just in case it turns out to be bacterial. 
In August she found a mass in my left breast...which through much testing and needless worrying turned out to be fibrocystic breast disease.  less caffeine and more vitamin e and fruits and veggies and everything is good. 
I have graduated from the Weight Loss.  I haven't lost every last pound I want to lose, but I pulled myself off the "program" and am going to try to lose the last 16 on my own. But I did schedule another weigh in for Jan just to keep me accountable.  So I have two months to put a dent in that 16---and I have to get through Thanksgiving and Christmas. 
Cole lost another cell phone.  this is the second one in three months.  And Ara lost my car keys on Sunday.  We can't even unlock the Subaru without the fob or the alarm goes off. And I'm sure at 7 a.m. the neighbors are not loving the car alarm. So we ordered new Subaru keys, but the Cube key are going to cost a small fortune (because of the programming). But having one key makes me edgy so we'll probably order one for the Cube too.  Maintenance of technology sucks. 

Getting Busy

Since joining Pinterest (let me know if you want an invite) I have found all kinds of cute ideas to keep me crafty.  I haven't actually finished anything yet, but that's par for the course with me.  :) I found a simple applesauce recipe for the crock pot.  It's making the house smell all yummy and fall-like right now.  And I did make a key lime cheesecake for Andi's b-day.
Yesterdays project was making a trash bag container for the car.  But I have to use up the rest of the antibacterial wipes so I can pop the bags in and toss it in the car.


Ara is on a landscaping kick. And this is what he's done....

 He ripped out the Cottonester Bushes in front of the porch.  And transplanted all the Daffodil Bulbs to the back bed.  And then planted grass seed.  bye bye flowerbed.

And then he tore out a sorry excuse for a sidewalk and replanted the Dwarf Conifers to the back bed.  And then he planted grass seed. bye bye flowerbed.

And this is where it all ended up.  He pruned all the lower branches off the tree and transplanted all the bushes from the front and side beds. I think it looks great and I can see it all from the kitchen window.  I still have my flowerbed around the tree out front and down the side of the house so I am OK to loose two to grass.

But
I  am pretty sure this is NOT what I meant when I asked him to prune the Butterfly Bush

Warm White Bean & Tuna Quesadillas

www.realfoodmovement.ca/.../warm-white-bean-tuna-quesadillas 
I found this delicious recipes on a sticker on the tuna can.  
It's a hit with Cole---my quesadilla eater.

October Menu Plan (first half)

I just opened the dishwasher to add one of our many stainless steel water bottles to be washed and got a steam facial at the same time.  Double bonus. 
I am still trying to get on track after Hurricane Irene wiped out my freezer and meal planning motivation.  I switched to couponmom.com to get the latest coupon deals and sales list.  This week Harris Teeter (my usual top pick for sales/coupon savings) only had three items I would want/use so I checked out the Target list instead.  Spent a little more, but Ara is a sucker for the Electronics dept. so that added to the total.  The thing with Target is that they have excellent clearance and you can use a Target store coupon and a Manufacture coupon.  I scored on toilet paper this week.  My stash is now embarrASSingly huge.  So since the majority of the deals were on toiletries (tampons, lotion, toilet paper) I have to get creative with the menu.  And since we only shop every other weekend now this turns into a 2 week challenge.  And the only protein sources I have are shrimp (yuck), 1 pound of hamburger and 2 dozen eggs,1 package of deli turkey, chipped beef and tuna.  Here is the plan:
Biscuits and Chipped Beef Gravy
Omelets with Hash Browns
Chimichangas (premade frozen) with Rice
Beef and Barley Vegetable Soup with homemade Rolls
Hot Buttered Tuna Rolls
Potato Soup
Cheese Pizza (premade frozen) with added pepperoni and fresh cheese.
Chunky Soup
Turkey Sandwiches and Chicken Noodle Soup (Campbell's)
Macaroni and Cheese
Cheesy Tuna Noodle
Toads in a Hole
all with veggies on the side.  I just listed the parts I have to put some effort into.  Popping veggies in the microwave is a given.  I know that's only 12....but there is only 12 days until I can grocery shop again.  And that list is in the works...since this will wipe out the cupboards (almost)

Spray Paint Day

All my little ideas for my hobby room are coming together.  Yesterday Ara and I went to Lowe's/Home Depot for roofing supplies and I snagged the spray paint for an old school desk to transform into a spunky sewing machine table.  They only had two cans of the color I wanted.  So instead of painting the desk...I painted an ugly brown bulletin board.  Mediterranean Blue.  As soon as it dries---cork sucks up a lot of paint, even with primer---the frame is getting painted white.  Then I am tagging an old metal trashcan that came from Ara's grandma's basement and a flower pot to match two Southern Living pots I already have.  Cole has some red spray paint leftover from his project---that I may use to spray the tacks so I have some bright red tacks on my cool blue bulletin board. 
I also corralled all the craft supplies---now the sorting begins.

On another note--Ara got the roof done.  Hurricane Irena damaged parts of the ridge vent, and he finished replacing it all today.  He was puking in the backyard--not pretty--due to heat exhaustion.  I really had a hard time getting him to sit still after that.  I know he is itching to mow the yard now, but I won't let him.  Twice now he's been off the couch and I found him outside---so reminds me of Cole's toddlers years at nap time.

upcoming projects

Today I stopped in at JoAnns and used my 40% off coupon to get some cotton holiday sparkle yarn...hoping to stitch up some quick snowflake dishcloths for Christmas.

 And then I got these two swatches to maybe re-do my bench in.  I have the striped fabric below, but I'm not really feeling it...or I have some red toille in a box somewhere.  Open to suggestions, any ideas?

Some steel wool and quick coat of paint will fix this right up.

The frames from the fireplace mantle are apart and ready for a coat of black spray paint. 

Sewing Room

About month ago I asked Ara if I could set up a table in Jake's old room to do some sewing and he said NO. Well slowly I have been setting stuff up little by little and I almost have my sewing room completely ready to roll.  I am so excited. 
Still To Do:
Spray Paint an old school desk for a sewing table--still deciding on a color
Hang a bulletin board--transform it from drab to flab--any idea
Gather up the rest of my scattered craft stuff--and make it look cutesy and not cluttered.