Just read this- love it

People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.
Andrew Carnegie

The Last Harvest

The Challenge

Yesterday at school we had an assembly called Rachel's Challenge. Rachel was the first girl shot in the Columbine shooting. You can read more about her life and what this assembly was all about on the website. Anyway, the speaker challenged the kids to do 5 things. One of those things was to go home and tell the most important people in your life how much you care about them. The kids were really affected by this (most jr high kids are FASCINATED with death) and so when we went back to class, I talked with them a little bit about it. I asked if they were going to go home and talk with their families or whoever they thought of. Most of them responded yes. One of my girls asked if I was going to do the same thing. I said sure...then I didn't do it last night.

Well, today, some of the kids were talking about what they did and how they said it and the crying and drama that ensued. They loved it. Then they remembered that I was supposed to do it, too. They turned to me and asked if I had done what I said I was going to do... :( I said no. They were incredibly bitter and told me I was getting an F. haha But they were right- I should have done it. So- without further adieu- (and without being impersonal on a blog)

To my parents: Love my mom and padre. Always so patient and understanding. So willing to do anything I need and usually things I don't even realize I need. Thank you.
To Meg and her family: Love you so much- wish I could take a few months off school to be there with you right now. I would bring all my best hot cocoas and my good mugs and my mismatched socks. I would make my best new chip dip and we'd lick all the lime off before trying the dip. We'd watch movies and play Wii while the kids laugh at Aunt Amy. It would be a perfect day. Then we really would visit all those places I lied to dad about seeing this summer.
To Emi and her family: Thank you for always welcoming me into your home. I always just fit right in. I have my own room- that I loan out to others on occasion. DH is always more than willing to help me out with whatever I don't have my own DH for. Your kids- they are amazing. I love you for creating such a wonderful home filled with love and the spirit.
To Bebe Brother and his family: Miss my 7 year twin and his darling girls- all three of them. Can't wait for Thanksgiving when we can watch movies and eat and repeat the process. I love that you're living and making it happen how you want. I totally admire that. You are both such great examples and I can't wait to grow up just like you. :)
To D Joseph and Alisonmo: You are my kids :) You're part of my family and who I am. I miss you when you're not here, but I know you'll always be with me. You can fight over the house when I'm dead for but now, you both have your own rooms when you need them. I love you both.

To other friends I didn't specifically mention, thank you for being part of my life. I can now clear the F with my kids tomorrow during 3rd. :)

Freezing Corn

I have a little friend at the farmer's market that I call "The Grasshopper." He comes faithfully every week for 6 dozen ears of corn. I finally asked him what he does with all of it and he simply said "I freeze it!" So in the course of our weekly interactions, I learned how to freeze fresh corn so that I can have it all winter long. :) Here we go!

First- buy yourself some amazing salt and pepper corn. I only did a dozen ears, because there's only me. And I only have so much freezer space!

Then you have to shuck it. Get as much silk and husk off as possible. (hand shucked, of course.)

Then you want to blanche it in boiling water for 2 minutes. Make sure the water is boiling. Time it for 2 minutes, remove and place in a bowl until all the corn has been blanched.

Slice down the ear of corn with a knife, as though you're cutting it up for a small child or... someone without any teeth! ( I thought of my cute niece, Molly, when I was doing this haha)

Once all your corn is cut, simply measure it into freezer safe ziplock baggies and that's all there is to it! I ended up with 8 cups from the dozen ears I started with. Corn will only be around for another week or so! I recommend getting on that fast!

A girl can always accessorize!

I have to be honest. I love a good purse. I try to keep this under control and have a few tricks for doing just that. First, never pay full price for a purse. Second, if it doesn't just "speak" to you, it wasn't meant to be used by you. And finally, if someone thinks it "looks" like you, then you should learn to love it. Don't get me wrong, most people who have given me purses speak the same language I do in purse world so this rule hasn't been a problem.

But as I was changing from one of my "summer" purses to one of my "fall" purses, it dawned on me that I have a lot of love for my accessories. Take, for example, the Kate Spade knock off from Chinatown in NYC (upper left). She's my fall purse. Adore her. Next to her is one of my utility purses- season-less, you can use the red wonder for a little pop of color and to hold lots of crap. Then there's the bag my cute sister made for me that I use for church all the time. It has my personality on it in the form of the Eiffel Tower. Next comes my Dooney...its a tiny little thing but has lots of memories with it. The black Mary Poppins bag has yet to be used but it came free with a pair of shoes. Its bottomless and is going to be perfect for winter- scarves, umbrellas, etc. Then two of my favorites that get used all the time- my old faithfuls orange and brown. Can't get enough of them. The big blue one I call my Jackie O purse. The color, the style, everything about it screams a different decade. My Nine West black practical classy but sassy birthday gift. Then my Ogio bag from Jenn. Never was a better travel purse invented! That thing has been with me through tennis tournaments, customs, road trips, flights, etc. It can hold twice its size in travel necessities. Dani is still bitter we can't find another one like it. Finally, speaking of Dani, my Herringbone seatbelt bag *sigh* I use this purse so much that I start to feel bad for the others ones because they get ignored. Then another fine Nine West soft green number from the same friends who brought me the Nine West black practical purse mentioned earlier. Next is a clutch I've never used. I want to so bad because its an amazing piece but I just don't have an occasion! Meg and I were going through some things with Grandma one day and she pulled this out of nowhere. Love it. And finally my back up purses...the green, the Celtic and the black standby- when nothing else seems to work.

Yep- there they are...my favorite accessories. And trust me, that's the skeleton, downsized version! I try not to over-do! :)

I'm a little teapot

I love my house. And I love the things IN my house. Not in a prideful sort of way- just because I happen to think my house is cute and welcoming. I used to think people were odd when they would say "Your house is so YOU!" I mean, really, what exactly does that mean? I've put paint just about everywhere one can logically do that. I have little pictures here and there. I have big oversized furniture that has been used as a nap location, a sick bed, theater seating, pampered chef bleachers and just regular old couches. I have hand me down items that match somehow. I was very fortunate to have my place come together as it has. And if I really take time to look around my house, I would have to say- Yes, it really is me. You decorate with what it most like you. I guess that's why my house is "ME."

My favorite piece in my house right now is my teapot. I love it when Andy Williams comes out because that means I get to place my orange water warmer on my stove. Isn't it cute? My sister, Meg, my grandmother and I were down south on a trip. We were shopping at the Ben Franklin (fabric- killer!) and I found this delightful teapot. I wasn't going to get it because I thought it was too expensive. But they talked me into it. It has served (literally) its purpose so well! It was worth every dime! Hot chocolate, peppermint tea, hot todies, doesn't matter what it is, they all taste better because the water started in my little teapot.
She sits there on my stove, so proud, every fall and winter. I love her bright orange color. She's such a great contrast to the black appliances and the green walls.

So back to the decorating thing... if I'm decorating with what is most like me, then I'm a little teapot, short and stout. Rings true!