lovin right now

truly I am not one who indulges in really expensive things.  i like comfort, i like cheap, i feel i am an easy to please kind of gal.  here are a few things that are rockin my world lately.  the only thing that you can't find at your local super-walmart are the american eagle jeans.  and mine are thrifted, used and extremely broke in.  i like em like that!

 

 

i'm hooked on nerds.  the funny thing is, is that they have been in a candy jar at the day care for months without me touching them and all of a sudden they are all i want!

 

i accidentally/kinda purposely bought the green apple chapstick at the dg for shaun.  he likes the original and i thought i could pass this off cause they didn't have his kind at the register.... didn't work.  lucky for me i'm now a big fan of it!

 

my men's department, 3 pack, v-neck, white tees.  softer with every wash.  made for a man but strong enough for this woman! 

 

my jeans have holes and are a tad too tight but i some how can find used american eagle jeans at the thrift store like nobody's business and take them on through the rest of their jean existence. with love.

 

i am completely digging the smell of lavender/vanilla downy infusions.  i washed an afghan that i bought at a yard sale that is so soft and it held on to this smell like a boss.  i sat in my comfy chair last night covered up in lavender vanilla heaven.  i like it on my clothes too.  i even washed our sheets, blanket and bedspread in it and when i walked in the room it smelled wonderful and clean.



Putting Up Greens

I grew turnip greens in the garden at the day care this fall.  Which is a first for me, growing greens.  The seeds came from my Grandfather, two years ago and expired in 2009.  Just goes to show you... something.  I have prepared and froze my greens two different ways so far, both of them seem to have worked pretty well. 

 

First I took my kitchen scissors to the garden and gathered my greens by trimming them semi-close to the bottom, leaving some of the younger tender leaves for the next batch.  I washed each leaf individually.  It takes a tad more time than filling, draining, filling, draining the greens in a big bowl of water but I know I got everything off of each leaf.  And I just kinda tear the bigger ones in a couple of pieces.

 

Next you need to wilt the greens.  Granny taught me one way and I have done it that way for a couple of years now.  You place some greens in between paper towels and place them in the microwave for a couple of minutes, watching closely until they are wilted.  Then pack them into freezer bags once they cool. 

 

Also this year, I filled a large stock pot about half way full of water and brought it to a boil, then placed my greens inside for about fifteen minutes.  I then let the whole pot cool to room temperature, removed the greens and packaged them in freezer bags being sure to get all the air out that I could. 

 

It also makes for easier storage of the frozen greens if you arrange them in the bag so they will lay as flat as possible.  They stack better that way.  And by the way, both of these processes is only for wilting the greens, not cooking them.  When you are ready to use a bag simply pop it out of the freezer and cook according to directions like adding onion, hog jawl or bacon, red pepper flakes... and cooking for an hour or as long as you want.  Yum.  Don't forget the white beans and cornbread!

 

 

Either way to wilt the greens works great.  I really liked boiling them, the green color is beautiful!

Oh and be sure to label your bags with the contents and date they were put up.

 

 



Literally on the Library Hold Shelf

Y'all I am all torn up about Christmas!  I have books on the way from the library on decorating and baking.  I am already thinking about how to style our fireplace.  I mentioned to Shaun this morning about getting a real Christmas tree this year... Ok that one is mainly because I store my fake Christmas tree in the shop/barn and have discovered extremely large brown recluse spiders in the shop... not just one... many... and I am deathly afraid to bring it into the house.  Ok there... I said it. 

All the same, I can't help being excited about Christmas this year which is crazy because I am usually pumped about Halloween and seemed to skip on past it this year.  Not to mention Thanksgiving, but I don't decorate for Thanksgiving. 

 

Here are a few of the books, and one dvd, that I have requested from the library already.  Most of the time I don't even read the decorating books... I just browse through the pictures for ideas.  Unless they are giving instructions.  Also I am dying for Rachel Ashwell to put out a Christmas book.  I think I will email her... and maybe donate my house to her hands and photos for the the book... if she wants to.

 

Ok.. I am inspired by the cover of this book.  I could totally do this with old bottles and old ornaments that I already have.  Journal... where are you....

This dvd is in the same collection of other Martha dvd that I adore so.

 

 

I think I've rented this one before but it's calling my name.

 

Geez I can never get enough Martha.  I love her.

 

I also have one more called A Handbook of Christmas Decoration by Dorothy Waugh from 1958. 

I am sure these will be the first on many for Christmas decor inspiration books.  It's fun anyway.

 

I haven't quite decided what to put on the tree this year.  It may just be a mish-mosh of stuff from around the house.  I will admit that I am craving on of those silver aluminum trees though I probably won't let myself give in to one.

 

Toodles!

Peppy Picks Winter Wear

 

I am digging this store that I found online.  The prices on their winter wear is really good.  I'm not one of those bloggers who wears truly expensive clothing and when I feel I find a deal that's worth sharing I am all over it.  I ordered myself a pair of the black fleece lined pants and the camo pair to hunt in.  They are actually men's but I don't care as long as they fit decently.  I didn't say I was going to wear them to the prom... I said hunting ;)  I currently do not own any lined pants of any kind.  I always have to wear leggings or long johns underneath my jeans.  So maybe these will be good for playing outside at the day care this winter and such.  I'll letcha know!  That is all I ordered as of now.  Although I really want to try the heat shirts and the upper body items above.  Toodles!

 

p.s. just click on the picture above to be directed to uniqlo.com

Their stores are apparently global.  Don't know why I've never heard of them til now.