Mega Salad Photos Then Back to Work for Me!

just a few things...

We have been preparing the home for a visit from our good photography friend Stacey Viera all the way from Washington DC. Please check out her awesome website and amazing photography. She also does a weekly food blog with one of her friends- Every Food Fits. It will be fun to share a little bit of Texas with her.So the other day I got a catalogue from The Republic of Tea and a free tea bag sample. Ok. They sent this catalogue to the right person! I was so excited to see that they offer a matcha tea bag (normally you would buy the powder). The powder tends to be some what expensive ($26 I think for 2 oz). My tea arrived today and I made it after my shower this evening. I think its my new favorite. Just the right amount of flavor, no aftertaste. It was so warm and delicious! I may see if World Market carries it. I would love to give it as a stocking stuffer!

I went to Target and Old Navy yesterday on the hunt for miscellaneous items. I held back all urges to purchase anything for Christmas. Well. Almost. I did buy this years Christmas Cards. While making my way to the check out counter I had to breeze by all of their stocking stuffers! Ohhhhhh they had some cute things. I just couldn't resist this candy cane headband!!!! I thought that it would be perfect for photos this holiday season.The countdown to the Regina concert has started! A week from tomorrow we are in the 4th row at the Nokia Theater in Grand Prarie to see Regina Spektor. I really can't wait. We are going to have so much fun.

Well now its time to do the shopping list for tomorrow. I will be making a "Lauren Mega Salad". If you haven't seen my photos of them that I upload on facebook----I take an ear or two of corn, chop up an orange or yellow bell pepper, and some pine nuts, spritz them with Josh's olive oil mixture and then roast them at 350 for about 15-20 minutes. Then I toss them in a big bowl of fresh lettuce, throw in some chicken and little tomatoes. If avocados are ripe then I get one to put in also. I am on a peppercorn ranch dressing kick, so that's probably what we will have tomorrow. I could eat giant salads every day. Second to sushi, a salad is my favorite thing to eat. I also have to get a handful of things so that I can do a little baking on Friday. Should be a great weekend!

Christmas Time!

Gosh its already that time to start thinking about gifts and shopping and wrapping and shipping. I'm very blessed in that I've got everything that I want right now! So when asked what I want for Christmas I don't have any clue what I want! If I was going to go nuts and buy gifts all for myself though---cost being no issue---these are some of the things I would like:

1. Burberry cashmere blend scarf in blue peacock
2. Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite flash (for my mp-e 65mm)
3. This pretty teapot from The Republic of Tea
4. A new pair of Uggs to replace my crusty old ones

That's it. My little list of things that interest me.

a few things

Its really scary how time goes by so quickly. While cleaning out our guest room closet today I was forced to go through some clothes that I hadn't gone through since we moved to Texas. Thinking to myself how insane it was that I had so many clothes that I didn't even look at, let alone wear, I couldn't figure out how I had accumulated so many! Then I remembered where I had worn some of the items and realized that most of the stuff I have had since 2003. If you didn't know its now 2009. Needless to say I've got 5 full bags of clothes to donate to Goodwill.

Being organized is so much better than having clutter and chaos all over the place.

I love the floor after its vacuumed. The lines the vacuum leaves are the best.

Candy and key lime pie breaks are a must while spending the day doing excessive cleaning.

I could never be a hoarder.

I haven't started out holiday shopping yet and I have absolutely no ideas for anyone.

I love the time change in the mornings.

My little pug is so much better about going outside now that the yard isn't a muddy mess.

Our Halloween decorations are still out. I need to bring them in no later than tomorrow.

Sandwiches taste so much better when someone else makes them.

I used to think that about coffee until I got my cappuccino maker. Now I prefer mine over Starbucks.

where does time go???

Fall will be fading away quickly and then it will be winter and cold and grey. Our October has been filled with more rain than sun. I think the weather man said we've almost hit 8 inches of rain this month. The trees are about 80% bare here in North Texas. Green leaves to the ground. A couple of our neighbors have a few trees that change to the beautiful yellows, oranges, and reds. I think we may look into having a few trees planted on our property. We just need to do a little research as to when is the best time to do so.We change the clocks this weekend and it couldn't come soon enough. Normally I am up at a reasonable hour to get started on the day and be productive. Lately, though, its hard enough to get up at 8:30 am. The pug got me up at 3:30 this morning and again at 4:30 to go outside. The rain screws up her little schedule! Pugs do not like getting their paws wet.

Oooooooooh Halloween. Two days. Only two days!!! I bought this odd wig at target. It was way cuter on the package...I look homeless in it...no offense to the homeless. I still think I will wear it. We will have Libby tomorrow and she will be staying through Sunday. I think Libby will wear pug pajamas and Mitzu will wear her halloween dress. Our neighborhood is so much fun. They do a small Halloween carnival kind of thing at one families home. Then they put all the kids on a few hayrides and take them around trick or treating. We get a good number of children and this year we are giving out full size candy bars! I LOVED houses that really made an effort to give something yummy. Believe it or not we've had them over a week now and...drum roll please...I haven't opened one box!

I'm hoarding my canned pumpkin. Supposedly this year there is a pumpkin shortage and when I went to the grocery store for canned pumpkin they were completely out. I immediately went to the dollar general to find they had a shelf full. I got six cans and I've been holding on to it until I decide what to make. Luckily this year I decided to make those soup jars for the neighbors instead of the pumpkin bread.

I wish the yard would dry up asap. I am so ready to get the final mow in and get the weed eater around the house and fence. I really hate when the grass is ungroomed and looks clumpy. We also need to get the front of the house cleaned up and in the Spring we will be planting LOTS of flowers out there! I also need to pick up a bird bath for the front.

One of these days I will start the holiday shopping. One thing at a time I guess...no more time for laziness though.

the holidays haven't yet started and its already busy

The busy-ness has already begun. Pugoween was on Saturday and it was so much fun! If you don't know, our little Mitzu pug is a rescue from the DFW Pug Rescue. Annually they put on Pugoween where all pugs from the area gather with their humans and show off their costumes. Mitzu was Puggy Smurf this year...but didn't win...competition was tough---including one pug dressed as Paula Deen...it was awesome. If you are in the Dallas/Ft. Worth areas and are interested in a pug that isn't a puppy, I highly recommend pug rescue. We have been so blessed. Mitzu the perfect dog and really adjusted to our family well. If you do go to the website there is one dog, Heavenly, and if I wasn't so set on having just one puglet I would have adopted her on Saturday. She was so sweet and would fit comfortably in a family looking for a puglet.

Josh surprised us with some new movies to watch. First was Observe and Report. Yes we love Seth Rogan movies...but honestly Superbad still is my favorite. Away We Go was the next and it was really funny. We liked it a lot. He also got the Wolverine one...I fell asleep...so no comment. Oh...and Snow White on blu-ray!!!!!!! They just got it out of the vault so I wanted to be sure to get it.

So much on my list for today and its already noon...I better get off the computer!

Tuesday

So its another windy Tuesday. Its so gusty out I didn't put the cobwebs up yet. After the rain comes in I will do it.My Hello Kitty band-aids arrived today! How cute are these? When I was really little, the only store at the mall I liked was the Sanrio store (but we called it the Hello Kitty store). So many cool pens and stationary. They had erasers and stickers. Little toys and treasures.Today's lunch was my moms jar of valentines soup. It was so delicious!