Not Your Grandma's Tablecloth

I have a confession. The only time I put a tablecloth on the table is during the holidays. Specifically Christmas. The tablecloth is this super fancy white one that looks like it should be made into a beautiful vintage dress. What it should not be is a sitting duck just waiting for me to spill spaghetti sauce or chocolate ice cream onto it.

It's not that I don't want tablecloths. I like them enough, I just haven't found one that is very... me. The ones I like cost more than $50. Why would I spend that much on something that is going to end up the inevitable victim of my klutzy nature? The alternative, of course, is a tablecloth that is either made of oilcloth { sorry, but my kitchen doesn't house a picnic table } or something that looks like it belongs in the home of an old lady with 7 cats. Sigh.

When I think about getting myself some fabric and sewing up a handy dandy table sweater, I am instantly drawn to damask fabric.

Then I go back and forth on whether that will overwhelm my kitchen. Plus, I have damask curtains in my living room { homemade from a clearance tablecloth that I had to have even though it was too small } and I don't want the place to be too matchy-matchy. Ugh, why am I a tablecloth malcontent?

In other news, I want to make these:

                                                                                      or you can buy them here

Dress For a Month

Yesterday I got Billy Balls. Whoo hoo. I can't get over how stinking great Craspedia are. They are these great vintage-esque yellow flowers. I want more & more. There just aren't enough here in the 'Shire. These ones had to be specially ordered from apotheca and I'm going tomorrow to get enough to fill my little vintage, Tiffany-blue vase.

Ooh, and maybe even some succulents or scabiosa pods will make the trek back home with me. I've become a complete nut for having flowers around the house. Especially unique ones. I'm definitely not a rose & baby's breath kind of girl.

School is almost out (June 17th is our last day) and I have NO idea what I'm going to do with myself for the majority of the summer. I'm teaching a summer class from June 11th until August 4th. The kids choose to come for it and they're second and third graders. I did it last year and I'm excited to get started again this year. We're doing the same author we learned about last year. Kevin Henkes of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse fame. Have you ever read it? It's easily my all-time favorite children's book and I love it more than Birdie's Big Girl Shoes.

The bread & butter of this post is this: I think the end of school is the perfect time to participate in a fashion challenge. My plan is to wear dresses or skirts for 30 days starting the day after my kiddos' field day. So, starting June 13th, I want to chronicle my dressy options in photograph form & post them on here. I need to get myself a new tripod, me thinks.

Don't Stop Believin'

I came up with the idea for this blog post title because it's what I listened to twelve 9-year-old girls sing on an hour long bus ride to Bear Brook State Park. My group was absolutely wonderful. But, let's rewind. Before I embarked on the bus journey, I had to go to West High School to pick up lunches for the 3 4th grade classes. This was my high school but it wasn't a blast from the past walking into the cafeteria. It looked so different! I would say I felt old walking in there, but I wasn't there for more than 5 minutes before a high school boy came to chat me up/ask me out. Yup, I've still got it. I politely declined of course.

Anyway, back to the trip. They went ponding and some of the kids found baby dragonflies, icky swimming bugs that I would never have touched, and even leeches. Blech. But the highlight of the ponding experience was the teeny tiny turtle with a bright orange belly. I think they said it was a Painter Turtle. Either way, he was so cute that my heart melted for him despite his being a pond dweller

{he lives with leeches, guys}. My student with the biggest behavior issues and zero interest in school was absolutely batty for this trip. I  overheard him telling one of his friends that today was his best day ever.

When we were on a hike through the grounds we saw so many lady slippers. I don't know if it's how pretty they are or the fact that they're protected but I couldn't get enough of them!

 I even got to taste some wintergreen berries. There were cucumber plants and the kiddos shared in the cucumber feast. I didn't partake.

The whole thing was even worth donning sneakers. Oh how I loathe sneakers.

Roller Derby was interesting. I wish I had read up on the rules of scoring before I went, but it was fairly easy to figure out. It wasn't like Whip It though. Sad days. There was a stylish girl there with a Mia Farrow haircut. I admired it to the point where I felt like Tyra Banks. I like Tyra as much as I like sneakers.

HALLELUJAH

The post title all in caps is necessary because I am, in fact, yelling, "HALLELUJAH!" We finally have a reprieve from rain. Not only that, the sun is out. Holy moly!

To celebrate, I made my first green smoothie today. Kale, pineapple, pears, and vanilla yogurt with a kiwi fruit garnish.

Oh my goodness. It was so yummy. I knew my little one-man blender was going to be one of my favorite purchases. Then I went out to the deck and guzzled it down while reading. Delightful.

The other day I picked up a book on healthy cooking for kids. I might cross out the word kids and fill in my own name in pink Sharpie. There are some serious gems in this thing. Sunshine Toast, Souffled Baked Potatoes, Creamy Pasta Bake? Roast Vegetable Lasagna? I'm pretty sure that somewhere deep inside me, there is a fat 10-year-old just begging to be let out.

One thing I'll be staying away from like the plague? Tomato soup. Blech.

Maybe later I'll show you the amazing blazer I picked up for $2.50. Are you jealous? You should be. I'm wearing it today with some sweet red pants.
In the meantime, I'm going to snack on leftover Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese from Mr. Mac's

Very Pinteresting

Guess who got herself a pinterest account? No? Can't think of anyone? No one at all? Okay, okay. It's me! :D This thing is so addicting. I can't stop adding things that I like to look at. I even have a bridal inspiration board just because I want to have some variety {NOT because it's a hint I want to be married}. I also wouldn't mind a trip to Thailand, but hey, who doesn't want to travel somewhere warm?

This weekend, I will be attending my first ever roller derby. I'm hoping it's exactly like Whip It. I also hope they sell fried dough, but that's neither here nor there. Then I'm going to whip up several variations of smoothies, master some settings on my camera, put my Kitchenaid mixer to good use by baking excessively and {if the rain ever lets up} I'll go on a bike ride. It will be wonderful & relaxing. I can't wait! It sounds uneventful to some, but uneventful weekends are my favorite. No time constraints and no obligations.

Now it's way past my bedtime. Bon soir, chickadees!

Yummy Yummy in my Tummy

Rain has been pelting down on the city most of the week now. The forecast says that next week is going to be filled with scattered thunderstorms. The fact that it's also cold is just adding insult to injury. Here's what I know:
a) I need vitamin d
and
b) I picked the wrong week to order from amazon
I ordered this amazing book about cooking sugar and had it shipped amazon Prime {loves it}. Yesterday, I raced home from work to save it from the rainstorm of certain doom. The box was drenched and my heart dropped. Imagine my sweet relief when I pried it open to see plastic protecting my beloved new treasure. It wasn't. But, luck was on my side and my pretty little book is in one {dry} piece.  In fact, I've been sitting on my couch wrapped in a snuggly blanket pouring over a few cookbooks to get inspired.

In case you're wondering, yes I do eat regular food. It's not all treats, smoothies and chocolate happiness here.

Now that that's out there, let's get to looking at some things I've been meaning to make/bake/eat/devour/enjoy/share:

These 3D cupcake cookies from The Sweet Adventures of SugarBelle look too adorable not to make for my sister's baby shower {Two pregnant sisters!}

Martha Stewart's homemade graham crackers would be perfect with homemade marshmallows.

For this, I can only say 2 words. HOLY MOLY!

I don't like the store-bought kind, but I'll give these pop-tarts a chance.

Or perhaps I should make some mint jelly and use it on some homemade english muffins.

Seriously, Smitten Kitchen? I'm in love with you. DIY Goldfish. I love them... because they're so delicious.

This weekend I don my swell-looking apron and compose a culinary masterpiece. Until then sweeties...

Rain Rain, Go Away

It's another rainy Sunday. I'm taking my niece to get new shoes and a clear umbrella. I'll also teach her the joys of a deliciously frothy smoothie.
I've never updated from my phone before, so let's see how this pans out.
I managed to snap a picture of the car in front of us at a red light. 
Something tells me he isn't searching for DWIs at all. Big fibber.

TGIF

What an extremely looooooong week this was. I was looking forward to a nice, relaxing weekend full of fun in the sun. Instead the forecast is screaming at me saying it's going to be cold and rainy.

New England, you're really cheesing me off. Is that a saying? Cheesing someone off? If it isn't, I'd like to motion that we add it to wherever we need to. Implement it in your daily lives, please and thank you.

I found this recipe the other day for homemade tater tots. This past week I haven't been home long enough to try it out, but I'm absolutely dying to attempt it. After that, I'm going to see if homemade poptarts are any better than the store-bought type. Tasty!

If you're going to be in the Manchester, NH area you should go to the CarrotMob event on Saturday at Jewell and the Beanstalk. They don't accept debit cards on orders under $50 {BS} but they make a tasty spinach pita & an extraordinarily yummy Strawberry Banana smoothie. Their egg salad is equally as tasty. On top of all that, the place is just cute.

The poster was designed by Daniel Brian and I may, or may not, have been the voice behind the making. "It's cute, but not too cute." I'm so helpful.

Time to Make the Donuts

When my nieces spend the night, there are usually many things that happen. These include: watching The Little Mermaid, attempting to complete our coloring books {I don't remember ever finishing one from front to back}, and eating delicious things.

Recently, I had them help me make their breakfast. They were craving donuts, so we made some using this recipe. I replaced the buttermilk with applesauce. A) I didn't have any buttermilk, and B) because applesauce gives baked donuts a fluffy dough and a really interesting taste. I also cut back the sugar. The girls decided that they simply had to have chocolate chips.

Then we all sat out on the deck and they enjoyed the fruits of their labor along with pink lemonade.

 You should get yourself a donut pan of some sort and try your own. They're a hit among young and old.

I've Got a Bike, You Can Ride It If You Like

I have to preface this post by telling you that I am going to talk about food. Almost exclusively. Okay,  that's over- you were warned.

Today I got my cupcake from Queen City Cupcake. I have to say that when I walked in and didn't see any Peppermint Pattie deliciousness in their tray, I was discouraged. Fortunately, one of the trays was just mislabeled. My goodness was it ever scrumptious. The frosting was light- just the way I like it. I even got a cupcake reward card. Huzzah! Buy 11 cupcakes, get one free. I don't think this will be a difficult feat.

I probably would have gotten more cupcakes {like my favorite, red velvet} but I had just finished an AMAZING meal from The Bridge Cafe. A strawberry banana smoothie {I heart smoothies so much}, cubed steak & cheese on a tortilla with green peppers,  scrumptious potato salad that I really want to find the recipe for {mustard?! That's what I call potato salad}. I could hardly stop myself from eating all of it before I got a picture.

I even rode my bike, Coquette down to get it & put the leftovers in my basket {cupcake goodies, too}.

Speaking of leftovers, I've been thinking recently that I'm going to start bringing my own Pyrex with me to take leftovers home. I hate using those styrofoam containers. I feel guilty whenever I see them in the fridge, and even guiltier when I get rid of them. I'm thinking I might get some divided glass ones and start taking them in a canvas bag. Or is that too weird?





Tomorrow, I head to the mall for the grand opening of Ulta. I've never been to one. I'm hoping it's a lot like Sephora & I can come home with some swag. Maybe I'll even get enough makeup to make myself look like this.

Yes?

{P.S. I really love hyphens... and ellipses... but not semicolons. So I just won't be using them. That is all.}

I Just Wanna Lay In My Bed

Have you ever heard The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars? When I first heard it, I made it a point to switch the radio station. It just seemed so silly with its ridiculous title. But, alas, I can't resist pop music. It's just so catchy!

The Lazy Song is going to be playing in my head all weekend. I just want to hang out in my pajamas, wander around aimlessly, watch Twin Peaks on Netflix Instant, and not contribute anything to society. I'm going to do it, too. It's going to be glorious. I probably won't just sit around though. I might bike ride and take a trip to the new cupcake bakery {Queen City Cupcakes} that just opened. They've sold out 2 days in a row and had to close hours before closing time. I should be excited that they're doing well, but really I'm just annoyed that I can't get a peanut butter cup or peppermint pattie cupcake.

The weather has finally started to warm up. I've heard rumors that it's going to be near seventies this weekend. We'll see though. I want to get outside and get some pictures done but I just run too cold to go out without a coat or multiple layers. Oh what I wouldn't do for a heat wave and the opportunity to wear skirts without having to wear tights to stay comfortable. Not that I mind tights. In fact, I love them and have an extensive collection. But I digress. This post is all over the place. That's how I feel right now. There's so much I want to do and so much I don't want to do.

In other news, I pre-ordered my copy of Jessica Quirk's style book, What I Wore .

I can't wait until it comes in the mail in July. I'm hoping I love it as much as What to Wear Where.

What are you reading these days? I've been contemplating picking up a copy of Android Karenina- it'll be interesting to see my favorite book reimagined with androids.

Don't Monopolize My Time

I am going to put this in writing. I have never... I WILL NEVER like Monopoly. It just isn't fun for me. I remember the moment that I first realized my hatred for the loved by everyone else classic. I was in third grade and I was having a long-awaited slumber party. The next morning, I just wanted to hang out with my friends, giggle, eat donuts, and be a little girl. It had been a rough night and my three sisters were around the whole time. Talking to my friends, invading my party, being annoying. Come on, I was ten. My little world revolved around being the alpha. Anyway, the next morning my mom decided that we had to all sit down and play Monopoly. I whined, of course. I didn't want to play a game my mother picked for me. I wanted to do what I wanted with my friends. Begrudgingly, I sat through twenty minutes of torture. I swore that I would never get roped into playing again.

My deep-seeded loathing of all board games that take longer than 60 minutes has continued to this day. If it requires more time, I'm not having it. I've tried to be more accepting of time-consuming games. I do understand that for some games, the more players- the longer they take. But when I witness a 3 hour game, I feel my inner child die. So, you might be asking yourself what games I DO enjoy.

Dixit is a game for 3-6 players. Each player gets 6 cards with random images. They look like something you'd find in a children's picture book. One player chooses a card secretly and announces an obscure & ambiguous sentence describing the picture. Then every other player chooses a card from their deck that they think represents that sentence. Everyone votes for which one they think is the correct. There are expansion packs that you can buy. It doesn't take more than 45 minutes.

Pandemic is a game where everyone collaborates to cure diseases. Every turn requires you to flip infection cards and different cities within the 7 continents are infected. This one can be a little longer if you add the expansion pack or if you have some players who are new to the game. I love that you win together or lose together.

Settlers takes a little longer. In fact, this game took over 4 hours with several expansions. This made for a very cranky Patti. Generally though, it only takes about 90 minutes. Longer than I usually endure but totally worth it. You produce resources throughout the game & use those resources to develop Catan.

Forbidden Island is another collaborative game. You & the other players have to collect 4 pieces of treasure from an island where various locations are sinking. Each player has a special ability that can get you through it.

Apples to Apples is more of a party game than Dixit, but it's very similar without the pictures. Check it out.

If you like Scrabble {even if it's just a little bit} then you'll love Bananagrams. It's your own personal little crossword puzzle that is constantly changing as you race to beat the other players.

That said, I also love love love Scrabble. It's a classic!

Other faves: