joyful scribblings

4 / 22 / 14

About a year ago, I stumbled across the blog of a gal named Dawn. “Joyful Scribblings“. I like it. She made a nice comment on one of my blogposts, so I went to her blog to “check her out”. (No. I’m not a creeper. That’s what bloggers do with other bloggers!) In the process, I stumbled across a “few” similarities… Married with a son and a daughter, an SUV and a brown 2 story house “in the suburbs”. A dog person with a sweet tooth and a frequent shopper at Ann Taylor Loft, Trader Joe’s and Target. OK. Nothing earth shattering so far. But then it went a little deeper. Self described as “a dreamer, a list maker, a person who is passionate about collecting ideas. All with a touch of sarcasm…“?? Oh my. She was describing ME! She went on to list two things that are on my “bucket list” that most people don’t even know about me… I would love to play the drums (yes. really.) and I dream of publishing a book of my writings someday. OK, Dawn. Whoever and wherever you are; You had me at “Hello”.

I immediately called my mom to inquire about the day of my birth. Is it possible that I might actually have a twin sister somewhere out there that someone just forgot to mention…? I told my mom that somehow, somewhere; I would meet this ~~obviously~~ “wonderful, amazing, All-American” blogger… named Dawn.

Several weeks later, I got an email request to participate in a group blogpost “Lazy Days and BBQ’s” from another blogger that I had never met. I was invited to come in as the resident “expert” (teehee!) on entertaining/table settings. That bloggers name? Yep. It was Dawn. Don’t believe in fate? Fair enough. Read on.

In the world of blogging, one of the really fun things is getting to “meet” people online that live hundreds (or even thousands) of miles away. I was excited to know where I was headed if I wanted to meet this new friend of mine at some point. As it ends up, this get together wasn’t going to cost much in the way of travel miles. Dawn lives less than five miles from my house…!! Ha! But wait! There’s more. Our daughters share the same first name. Our sons share the same middle name. And her son’s first name is what we were going to name our daughter when we thought she was a boy! Ha! And it just continues on and on from there. Some of our extended family similarities would blow your mind…

So we eventually met at a Starbucks to discuss the details of our “group blog”. Soon after, we decided to go to a “Blogging Conference” together in Chicago. The conference took place in July, and although we had only known each other for a couple of months, everyone thought we had been friends forever. Many even thought we were related! Too funny! One year later; we are great friends! We have lunch, we go on “double dates” with the hubbies, we share stories and problems and challenges, and we talk and text more than we probably should. We both love photography, food, crafting, the beach and have wonderful hubbies. We are a lot alike, but at the same time very different. Almost like the “yin and the yang” of the same person!

So off we go... Heading to Salt Lake City this week for another blogging conference. SNAP! (Talked about this conference in a recent blog called “creative thinking“) Both Dawn and I are really looking forward to going. It looks like a GREAT group of bloggers that will be there!! Our “peeps”!! Last year we (somehow) ended up taking matching Martha Stewart turquoise leather notebooks. Not kidding. This year?? I’m thinking maybe matching “Hello Kitty” lunch boxes…

So without further adieu; my friend, Dawn… “Although I consider myself ordinary, I’ve always believed I was meant to do and experience great things. We all are because we were created. I sometimes overlook the simple abundance and possibilities which surround me because I get caught up in the treadmill of life. My intention for creating this blog is to find the joy in the everyday. Joy is something you feel from within and makes your heart smile. Outward circumstances can’t affect it unlike happiness. I hope you find joy from within and follow your passions.”

Please hop over and check her out at Joyful Scribblings…

missing Herb

9 / 7 / 13

So it’s September. Wow. I guess it’s fair to say that we will be saying goodbye to summertime before long. So what will you miss as we say farewell to this most beloved of seasons? Hmmm… One of the things that really gets to me at the close of summer is saying goodbye to my summer herb garden. Makes me sad. I just love my herbs. Yep. Love to cook with them throughout the summer. The ability to walk just outside my door to snip fresh herbs for dinner… priceless! But, quite honestly, I also enjoy just having them nearby. I know; weird. But when I’m watering, I love to just run my fingers through the leaves; the intoxicating fragrance of lavender, rosemary, basil, mint… Love . And then I have a little ~~friend~~ bee, named “Buzzy”, who likes to hang out with me early in the morning. Along with “Herb” (with an “H”). He is the little (ceramic) pig who lives in the herb garden. OK – Perhaps I sound like a bit of a crazy woman at this point. Hard to argue, really…

But I will tell you who does understand. My friend, Martha. Yep – Martha Stewart. Not only has Martha come up with a delicious way to savor my summer basil well into the winter months; she has done it dairy free! Yes maam… We’re talking pesto without cheese!! And the icing on the cake? Martha says that it actually freezes better than traditional pesto with cheese! Wow, Martha! “You had me at hello…” Thanks!!

Basil Pesto

yield: Makes 1 3/4 cups

1 cup walnuts or pine nuts
Coarse salt and ground pepper
8 cups (4 ounces) lightly packed fresh basil leaves
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

1. Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread nuts evenly on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until golden and fragrant, tossing once, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely.

2. Step 2

Meanwhile, bring 4 cups salted water to a boil; add basil, and submerge with a spoon. Immediately drain in a colander. Rinse with cold water until cool, then pat basil completely dry in paper towels.

3. Step 3

In a food processor, combine nuts, basil, and garlic; season generously with salt and pepper. Process until nuts are finely chopped. With machine running, pour oil in a steady stream through the feed tube; process until smooth. Use immediately, or freeze.

Herbs in olive oil

Not a PP (Pesto Person)? No problem – Here are some tips from “theKitchn” on freezing and preserving fresh herbs in olive oil.

perfectly placed pearls

1 / 22 / 13

So every day, my friend Martha (Stewart) sends me an “organizing tip of the day”. (Thanks, Martha) Let’s just say that I have been feeling pretty good about the (slow and) steady progress that I have been making in this department. Now mind you, this “organize my life” project started way before the whole “New Year’s Resolutions” thingie… As a matter of fact (confession alert!!), this “organizational mode of thinking” actually WAS a “New Year’s Resolution”. In 2012. OK. So it’s “long-term”. So what. At least I’m still plugging away; Right??? So back to the part where I am feeling pretty good about my progress. Today’s tip really threw me for a loop.

“Jewelry boxes can be handy, but they can also turn your prettiest baubles into unsightly nests of knots. Let your hodgepodge of china collect something besides dust: Orphaned teacups and saucers are perfect vessels for sorting jewelry, and, when arranged in a velvet-lined drawer, they give you an easy-to-scan bird’s-eye view of your bijoux. To set it up, measure the height of the drawer’s side (not the front), then gather dishware that’s slightly shorter. Line the drawer with velvet or felt to prevent rattling and sliding, then position the porcelain. Hook drop earrings on rims of cups, nestle necklaces within them, and stash chunkier beads and bangles on individual saucers.” (From Martha Stewart )

Upon reading today’s tip, I started to question my efforts and progress thus far. In reality, would I EVER really get to the point where everything was SO organized that I would be out shopping for vintage teacups in a specified height to delicately arrange in my (velvet lined) jewelry drawer…?? Probably not. And that’s OK.

But some of my necklaces are hanging, my rings are separated fom my pins, my pearls are all (blobbed together) in a pink cut crystal bowl, and I have a vintage mirror that I found in an antique store that I “blinged” (This last bit of trivia has absolutely no relevance. I just like the mirror.) So Martha – I’m looking for your approval, perhaps (?), that indeed I AM moving in the right direction…?

If not; I did come across some pretty “orphaned” teacups. Fine. I’ll start measuring the drawers…

fall =apples

10 / 27 / 12

Oh my goodness … over a week since you heard from me. Shame, shame. Please. Let me explain. Here are my excuses (in no particular order)…

Have a big holiday show coming up in less than two weeks (yikes!) AND my (naughty) computer has been giving me SO MUCH grief!!! Frustration at a new level. And just when I need it to be my friend. Murphy’s Law… right?? We’ve all been there. And then there’s that “P” word… If you are “in the club“, you know what I’m talking about. My mom knows. My daughter knows. They are in the club. The word, my friends, is P-R-O-C-R-A-S-T-I-N-A-T-I-O-N. Yep. See – I even procrastinated by typing it out that way; therefore taking longer. I have a (bad?) habit of getting sidetracked. Really sidetracked. I think creative people are just born that way. Yep. That’s it. Anyway – those are my excuses, and I’m stickin’ with ’em..

Anyway – it’s fall – but it has been cold the last couple days like WINTER! Ugh! Not ready for that. OK – NEVER (ever) ready for that. But it IS still fall, and I think that apples = fall. Don’t you agree? Well, our friend, Martha (Stewart) sure does. She hs over 50 recipes to share with you that all revolve around the beloved apple. OK – confession (yes… another one…!) I realize this is very un-American… but I (gulp!) don’t like apple pie….. I know, I KNOW!!! What the heck is wrong with me?? But for those of you who do, there are a ton of variations of the “all-American apple pie” in this link. Along with some super yummy treats for those of us who prefer the “other” goodies. Like BBQ Pork & Apple Kebobs, Apple Cheddar Frittata and Quinoa & Apple Salad with Curry Dressing…! Hungry now? Ya – me too! But no time for eating now, my friends. I have got a “things to do” list for my show and I need to FOCUS!! And I will. Right after I make some apple muffins…