Busy Weekend

 We had a busy weekend and the weather was beautiful!  I worked at the shop where I sell items which is part of the agreement, that you volunteer to work once a month for 8 hours.  I had a fun day visiting with customers.

Also there was one of the vendors moving out and she had a screaming deal on her items and I bought several Halloween decor items!

 Saturday and Sunday we were out and about so I didn't make soup on Sunday but later in the day I did make something from Pinterest, a recipe called American Goulash, it was pretty good.

I had to show you a purchase I made Saturday at the Hochston Fall Festival.  I am slowly collecting Fiesta ware dishes and I needed some orange bowls for my Halloween set and black plates but she didn't have black with her that day.  So we bought cream, cream will go with all of my other Fiesta as well.

Here is my Halloween plates, see I need more black plates.  I do have a couple black bowls.  It's fun to do it slowly and watch a collection grow.

It was a beautiful weekend like I said then it warmed up on Sunday...the air is on again.

I hope you are taking advantage of going to the fall festivals and purchasing items from local peeps.

Hugs,
Tania

Appliances In Place!

 We now have both new appliances in place and working!  I have used the stove top a few times already but not the oven.  I have to read more about it since it has a probe in it I just haven't taken the time.

Today our new refrigerator came I immediately cleaned it and once it reached a good temp I moved the food from the old to the new what a chore that was!  I am an organized person who has a spot for everything and it needs to go back into that spot so now this is a whole different style refrigerator I didn't know what should go where!  It's good for now I may change it up after time but it's a work in progress.

See what I mean about needing new cupboards now?!  On the check list!

Hugs,
Tania

p.s. maybe a new microwave and dishwasher too!

Sunday Soup?

So....
My Sunday soup story begins on Friday evening.  

I was baking a sweet potato in the oven at 425 degrees while Mr. Man grilled pork chops.  After dinner we watched a movie and I kept saying to Mr. Man it's so hot in the house you'd think with the sun down and windows open it would start too cool off since the temps are cooler now.  I also have a personal fan I use for my own summer moments and that was on high on me through the entire move.  It wasn't just me though Mr. Man was hot as well.

After our movie I walked into the kitchen and the floor was hot!  The entire kitchen was extremely hot.  I know I turned off the oven.  

Yup dial was off but the oven was on.  I quickly opened up the rest of the windows on our main floor while Mr. Man was checking the oven out.

He had to disconnect the main gas to the house so the oven would shut off and cool down.

The range isn't worth fixing to us, it's probably the original to this house which was built in 1994, the glass on the clock has been broke since we bought the house in 2006.

Time for a new range!  So Saturday I skipped my Sassy Stitcher group and Mr Man was home from work by 9:30 a.m. so we went range shopping.

I haven't had to look for a new range since we had our house built in 1993 when we  lived in Minnesota.  I was shocked on how ugly the gas ranges are today.  Sorry if I offended anyone by that comment it's just my opinion.  I was pleasantly surprised on how some of the ranges had a vintage look to them.

We found one!  It was a process of elimination and what we really wanted in these new fancy ranges.  My new range has a fifth burner for warming, a quick boil option and it has a convection oven with temp probe which I have not had any of these options and I will need to learn how to use these fancy features.  Also we got electric instead of gas, which means I will have to learn how to cook on electric again which has been a while.  

While Mr. Man was setting up delivery and paying I walked around to look at fridges.  These are so different as well.  The last time we bought a new one was 2004.  I found one I kept going back to and loved it!  When Mr. Man was finished up I said come look at this fridge I found.  he looked it over good and then looked at the price, since he had glanced quickly at a few while standing at check out and couldn't believe how expensive they have gotten.  But this one was on clearance at a wonderful can't pass by price as well as with a one day only an extra 10% off!  We bought that as well since our fridge has been having issue with the ice in the freezer and temps in the fridge.  It's pretty!  

It's one that has the freezer as a drawer at the bottom and the fridge is a double door on top and of course and ice and water maker I couldn't live without that now.

Any way about soup Sunday, needless to say I didn't have a stove to cook on and I was going to do a crock pot soup but didn't.

It's can soup Sunday, Progresso soup, that's my favorite can soup and it's on sale at our grocers for 99 cents a can, a screaming deal!

I had vegetable and Mr. Man had steak burger with vegetables in our Halloween bowls that we bought in Salem, MA.

Monday our range was delivered and Thursday our fridge will be delivered.  After our range was in place I said to Mr. Man now our cupboards look sick, he agreed. I can dream can't I?

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,
Tania 

Mickey Time

Sunday afternoon we picked up Mickey to stay with us since she didn't have school on Monday or Tuesday.

On the way home we stopped at Stone Mountain to see the pumpkin festival

 Mr. Man was having fun!

My mini me needed to be like a mini papa.

The temps were fallish (I know fallish isn't a word) and we had a nice short time there, everything was closing...they have shops and restaurants in the park.  They must close early on Sunday, everything is either closed or close early in the south on Sundays. To side track on that I had a very hard time getting use to that but I really do like that some shops are closed on Sunday to spend time to worship and be with family.  It reminds me of when I was a kid on how things were, that Sunday's were actually meant for family and not for shopping or whatever.  It is a little disappointing when you want things to be open but only for a quick minute.

Monday Mickey and I made many Pinterest Halloween kid crafts for her to take home and decorate her bedroom.  We also made Halloween cut out sugar cookies and pumpkin bread.  She is so much fun!

Tuesday I had a Dr appt and the Dr was a little behind but Mickey was very good on waiting which was good since she has a chart for Sunday school for being patient.  She did very good for me, she usually does.

Then we headed over to Target, I think maybe I go into a Target twice a year it's kinda nice to go there since no one shops there anymore and it's like you have the entire store to yourself and no waiting in lines!  But they really don't have the inventory like Walmart which is usually where I shop since it is only one mile from home and Target is 10.  

Anyway I bought Mickey a new pair of leggings since we got paint on the pair she wore the day before, also a cardigan which she can wear at the wedding if she gets chilly, a cute little top and a Halloween t-shirt she absolutely had to have!

For lunch we went to Stevie B's they have an OK pizza and salad buffet... all those pizzas but Mickey only wants cheese her Grandma Benesh would have liked that.

It was more of a quiet day on Tuesday since it was extremely rainy out but we did make popcorn balls that had candy corn in it!

I love spending time with my girl, I don't get to do it as often as I use to since she is in school now but I do treasure each moment I do get with her.

Until next time!

Hugs,
Tania

P.S.  See correction on prior post if you'd like...

Soup Sunday-Hamburger Veg Noodle

Mr. Man's bowl of soup, I would never add salt!

Correction!  Mr. Man informed me that it wasn't salt but parm cheese I stand corrected.  Thanks Hon!

Today is soup day!  I had it all planned and I shopped for a beef bourguignon soup.  I dropped the ball!  I forgot to take the meat out of the freezer and I didn't have a bottle of red wine.  I was looking forward to it so much!

I had to think of a soup to make and I remembered a pound of hamburger in the fridge to make tater tot hotdish, instead it became hamburger veg noodle soup.  It was hardy and yummy as all soups are!

I didn't go by a Pinterest recipe I just created this one from the top of my head.

Next Sunday I will attempt to make beef bourguignon again with hopefully a rosemary bread.

Hugs,
Tania  

Dress Shopping!

I finally did the deed!  I went dress shopping for Candi's upcoming wedding, something I was not looking forward to.

I have such a hard time shopping for myself no matter what size I am, I feel nothing ever looks quite right.

I was just going to look at the department stores this week and next to the bridal and specialty shops.  Not planning on buying at all.  I have been looking on line at places like David's Bridal and I was surprised to see several of the dresses from the same designers are right in the department stores.  (see I'm not a clothing shopper)  

I started at JC Penney's, then Macy's, next was Dillard's and the last department store which is my favorite to shop at Belk's.  There it was!  I knew it when I saw it.  I tried on three dresses and kept going back to "the one".  I text a picture of it to Candi and she loved it.  

I wanted to wear a cocktail length dress and I know Sandi, Han's mom is wearing a full length but this dress, yes I did buy and it is a tea length which is perfect!  I was so excited that my search would be over.

I thought I was all done but not really, next is the shoes and the jewelry and I need a hand bag which I did kinda looked at on my way out of the mall but I may design and make my own hand bag I have some ideas in my head.

Also on my way out of the mall this window caught my eye

My phone didn't take a very good picture of the beautiful colors painted on these Mason jars.  

When I was in MN I visited my favorite store Crafts Direct and I bought paint that is made to paint in Mason jars and I just made one, purple of course!  I like mine better I will have to post a picture of it, maybe when I do more I bought four colors and yesterday on my way home from dress shopping I stopped by Hobby Lobby and bought more jars.

Well today is Saturday and I see that there are many fall/craft festivals going on today, I think Me and Mr. Man may venture out and enjoy a fall day.

Thanks for the visit!

Hugs,
Tania

All I Want For Christmas...

Mickey lost her first tooth last night!  

Erica called me the other day to let me know her tooth is really close to come out since she is staying with us for a few days.  I said to her well maybe if she looses her tooth here she can just bring it home so the tooth fairy can visit her at home?  Erica said no she can't wait for it to come out she is kinda grossed out about it all.  (chuckles)

Our baby girls is growing up so fast!  

I am planning some fun things to do when she comes to stay!

Hugs,
Tania

Soups On!

If you know anything thing about me it should be I LOVE soup!  I loved soup as a kid!  I eat it year 'round!

I have a hard time between three which is my very very favorite.  Navy bean with ham, split pea or vegetable beef.  MMMM I'm thinking if I HAD to choose #1 it would be navy bean!  

I can eat soup breakfast, lunch and dinner but in real life it's not possible.  I have a husband.  He likes soup but doesn't love it like I do.

I had a boss at SuperValu who also loved soup.  Her usual order when we went out for "lunch meetings"  was two bowls of soup, two different kinds of bowls of soup.  

Since I have been watching what I eat I do get Sunday free day!  I look forward to Sunday free day and plan for it all week.  I can tell you today my meals for this up coming Sunday and it's Tuesday and the funny thing is I knew by Monday morning!

Let me explain Mon-Sat I am on a very strict calorie, fat, sodium type of diet with exercise which I have to keep close track on with my fitness pal app.  Sunday I don't have to keep track and I can actually eat carbs!  I can have regular stove top popcorn!  But it's funny when you watch it so closely all week when Sunday does come around I am still very conscience on how I am eating.

This past Sunday I made creamy potato clam bisque.  A recipe I have made by scratch for quite a few years.  So much I even bought the bowls for it to go in.

This past Sunday was quite chilly so it was a perfect lunch.

I decided that I am going to make a new soup each Sunday at least until the end of the year. I'm really excited about this.  I have so many soup recipes collected but I always seem to make my usual stand bys.  

I do love canned soups as well.  But there is nothing like making it by scratch.  

I am even taking to making my own broth!  I've never done that before, just easy to buy it but until I have been watching my sodium intake WoW there's a ton of sodium which I do not need in soup broth!  OMG! 

I am a freak!  I am so excited to make next Sunday's soup already.  I bought the ingredients today.  This recipe is one from Pinterest.  I thought this month I will make my soups from there.  

A little secret...I have for many years fantasized about owning a soup cafe and what soups for what day I would serve and which would be my daily soups/stews/ chili and home made breads to go with them!  I love to dream.

What's your favorite soup?  Can I have your recipe?

Thanks!
Hugs,
Tania

I'm Home!

 Made another trip up to MN for Candi's first bridal shower on Han's side.  

 I arrived Friday afternoon and I asked the kids if they wanted to open my gift that night before the shower then Han's can open a gift too or we can bring it to the shower, open and bring it back.  They opted to open it Friday night.  Me and Mr. Man gave them a set of bake ware.

 Saturday afternoon was her shower, she received many nice gifts.  After the shower we went to St. Cloud to Crafts Direct to buy more bridal items.

 I did some running around on my own Sunday as Candi had to work until 4:00 pm.  As I crossed the bridge going into Anoka which I had many many times I remembered there was a park along the Mississippi river and decided to check it out after all these years.

I enjoyed a nice walk.  I wished I had taken the time along time ago to check it out with my family, it's a really nice park.

Monday I went back to Crafts Direct to shop for myself also I went to Gruber's quilt shop, yes I did buy more fabric.

Monday evening I met up with Robyn at Grumpie's in Roseville for dinner.  She is getting married in March 2015 upstairs from Grumpie's, a very nice cozy space.  I think it will be perfect for what they need.

Tuesday I drove down to Jordan, MN to my sister's and spent the day with her and her husband.  I sure wish I lived closer to my sister.

I made my way home Wednesday morning.  I drove straight through, very excited to get home.

I do love living in Georgia but I do miss the fall colors of MN.  But not the cold temps.  The first couple days there was actually kinda warm then it got cold!  brr.  I think I brought the cold temps home as it has been quite chilly here.

There's no place like home.

Hugs,
Tania