Weekend In Photos

Happy Monday!

Is it really December 2nd?  Where does time go?  This year flew by for me, no doubt about it.  With Thanksgiving gone and Christmas soon to follow, it will be a New Year before we know it!  Wow.

Today I'm re-capping my holiday and weekend in photos.  It was a good weekend, so I'm sharing.
With my green smoothie down, making pumpkin pancakes for all, I got started on the meal of the day. 
Quick yummy turkey, for the meat-eaters. I cooked up the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and great-grandmothers pumpkin pie! This meal was for the left-overs idea.  We had the official dinner at my in-laws.

Although I do not eat the turkey anymore, I can make a mean one.  I saw this on the Today Show a few years ago, and perfected it. You cut the turkey in half, butter it on all sides, throw your fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary, marjoram, etc., your personal choices), in the pan underneath the turkey and on top.  Throw a couple cloves of garlic in there also.  Cook at 375, skin side up, uncovered.  

My turkey was not quite 13-lbs and it cooked in an hour.  A heavier turkey up to 16-lbs would be approximately 1-1/2 hours cooking time. The pan should be on the lowest rack. I sautéed the giblets (that I don't eat) and rolled them around in some flower to add to the pan juices (rubbing the spices and garlic through a screen strainer) and vegetable broth. I removed the giblets in the end, only using them for flavor. Everyone makes gravy differently, so use your own version. (If you'd like a recipe, I'd be happy to share.) 

Some of us, at the in-laws.  

Three of my stepchildren, me and the hubster.

My step-beauty, with me.  Sweats and all, ha! 

I even tried to share her scarf to hide my frumpiness :) 

Didn't work. 

Sunday morning I got myself ready for the next few days, 

and also made some bags for the freezer.  Easy smoothie days. 

I'll just add my favorite frozen fruit, my flax/hemp/chia, and coconut water.

 We went to my favorite place of lights, Peddler's Village, in Lahaska PA. 

The tree above, was taken from a restaurant window, Earls.  So pretty.

If you've never been, and can get there, please do!  

There is also a house of gingerbread houses made by kids. 

AND, in my little shoppe-hopping evening, I found me a female version of…

So excited!  Now I just need to figure out who I can tease with her! 

Happy Cyber Monday!

Shop wise,

Putting the Pretty on Life Struggles

It's been a crazy past 5-days or longer. I've struggled to get anything done, so I apologize to anyone that I'm holding up. I've been late with my posts, and neglected to schedule ahead.  The next few weeks will be very busy, so I'm trying to get a lot done, too much at once.

Life struggles can take us to places we don't like to go.  I'm stuck in a confusing place in my head right now, I'll need a breather for today.  So I'm posting some lovely photos I took, during a lovely walk, in my home town of Lambertvile, NJ this past Sunday.  This is where I'll put my mind for today, as I move on and accomplish…

Enjoy!

The back roads

Lunch, one of my fave places

The Roman Catholic Church

The First Baptist Church
I hear it may end up being a restaurant now
Sad..

Side street stores

I wanted to take this sad beauty and run and hide him.
I don't like them dragging people in buggies along the streets.
So unfair to them. 

This photo I took with my iPhone.
The past post was a photo I found on line. 

The Lambertville NJ - New Hope PA Bridge 

Enjoy your hump day :)

The CRAZY Room! (and a fun weekend)

Let's just say I am not having a good week.  Many reasons why, but family issues mainly. Totally takes my focus away from the normal everyday priorities.  Hate that.

Gees. Wait, it's only Monday, right?  Oh forget it, I'm in trouble.  I've been sitting here at my desk, in my much disorganized Spa/Craft room I've put together, for much too long this evening, (procrastinating the organization of it with too much on my plate),  promising the hubster I'll be out of here at 9:00pm, rather than the 2:00am the previous.  Ugh.

I have 26 minutes left here.

This is why I am so unorganized with my posts and DIY projects!

Embarrassing, isn't it?  Which version makes this room look better?  Not one. I know, I know.  I really, really need to get my act together and organize. I truly am pitiful.  Feel for me, please! If I am brave enough to post this embarrassing photo (I promise, the rest of my house does NOT look like this), I need someone on my side!  I'm thinking this particular picture posting will get me in the groove of getting it done, this week.  Bets are on!! Then I'll add it to the 20-some drafts I have and post it some day :)
So this weekend was great weather and full of walks and outings.  Here are a couple.   The Keswick Theatre...yes, my hubster made me go to KASHMIR A Tribute to Led Zeppelin.  Yup. Ok, maybe he didn't make me go, but he'd be disappointed if I didn't accompany him.  Look, I've gone to too many tribute bands with this hubster.  They are just not my thing.  Plus, they didn't even play our wedding song, THANK YOU! Me, I've taken him to REAL concerts.  Like CHER, Prince, etc., cool concerts :)  Let me tell you, he had fun at my concerts :) True story!

The lead singer, I just couldn't get into this guy.  He is just 'ew', strange.  I shouldn't be so mean.  They were great with the music, but the singing for me, left little to be desired.  I guess because I really like Led Zeppelin, for real Led.  This was NO-Led.  Our son Christian joined us, (my step-son).  He laughed along with me, mocking the band movements and absence of lyrics, but I think he really enjoyed it.  A t-shirt later, we were headed home!  

Me and the hubster enjoyed an afternoon at Peddler's Village.  Going through some shops and checking out the scare-crow competition they have each year.  The minions were very popular!  As well as Candy Crush, in a Crow Crush sort of way.  The flowers were beautiful.  The weather is unusually warm here, so it felt like a beautiful summer day.  If you ever get a chance, go here each holiday and see the great things going on here.  If you live in this PA area, of course. Christmas is especially beautiful with all it's lights and Christmas music. You will love it! 

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The October Daily

___________________________________________ Topic: Share a blogging/photography tip or tutorial
Well, this will be easy.   I have no tips.  I am definitely not the one to be asking any bogging tips.  Other than, get on top of it if you really want to be anything.  I'm still deciding if I'm happy just saying 'hi' and tweeting, and blogging when I can, everyday might be getting too much, or when I have something 'good and solid' to blog, I mean who wants silly stuff...do you? I guess I should ask, what is good and solid?  See!! You can't ask me, I'm still asking YOU!   Anyway, I have taken a couple of photography classes.  Hahahahahahahaha!  Yeah, I need to study my notes if you want me to give a tip.  Sorry blog buddies :( 
BUT, I can refer you to the ladies who know their business in photography!!  Tamara and Jenni.  LOVE their work.  Beautiful ladies, doing beautiful! Happy Tuesday peeps!   By the way, I took an additional 46 minutes to complete this, over the 26 I had to go.  

  

Weekend Wonderfuls in Pictures

I have erased what I was going to blog about today, several times. Written and rewritten. Nothing sounded right, no matter what I tried to write. I had great subject ideas, but I just couldn't put my mind to it to have it make sense. Life seems to just hand me rotten lemons lately, no matter how many bags of lemons I buy. Believe me, I'm digging deep trying find a good one, or even one I can slice to find some good pieces of.  So, there I sat at 1:00am, finally writing this paragraph. Who knows what time I'll actually get this done.  Nibbling on goldfish crackers, listening to Pandora. Ehhh, poop. Processed food, late night, not a good morning ahead when I awake. IF I get to sleep!

At least I have my little kiddies with me, no matter where I am.  Lucy is on my Spa bed in my skin/craft room, and Chewy is never too far behind.  They had a full-fun-packed weekend, and they are tired today!

So, I'm going to move right into the picture weekend I had with family, and bring something positive to this post. Forgive my ho-hum-bumming attitude.  Enjoy!  

Boardwalk fun with the cutest kiddies, B & B.  Caramel popcorn, still warm in the bucket as we walk along the boards. Chalkboard fun on our beach house walls. We even did Cape May County Zoo!  

This is mommy of the kiddies, Jackie, carrying #3, "B" :) We hit Bongo's for lunch. B & B loved the hubster. Of course he's a kid himself, so they got along great. We did Gillian's Wonderland for rides.  Another photo from the Zoo!  

I showed little Missy B, how to be Miss. Napkin Face.  That was a big hit!  Look at her attitude.  (Did you see The Holiday with Jude Law, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, and how he did Mr. Napkin face with his kids?) So fun.  Photo of my handsome son, Ryan, with little Mr. B.  Rides and more rides!! 

Portobello burger, topped with zucchini butter, asparagus, shrimp to die for, & gotta have the veggie baked beans

We ate healthy, for the most part. Minus the twizzlers, the caramel corn, Mallons Sticky Buns, Fritos, ok I can't tell you anymore on that.  I promise, I didn't eat all of that stuff, just some of it.  Ok, I fell off the wagon BIG TIME. I still had my green smoothies and lots of water and fruit. Honest :)

And, we had a sunset moment.  It was beautiful, I haven't seen a sunset in a long time.  Wow, I've really been missing the beauty of the quiet calm.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!! 

Tryin' to keep it positive, xo

Saturday for Friday, on Sunday!

With returning from my Florida trip, and having some of my favorite family visitors over the holiday, I lost track of time and filling in my Friday post. So I'm here again, doing my Saturday for Friday but, on Sunday! I am really behind here.

So this post will tell most of my story in photos. My little sister Kelly visited with her handsome 7-year old son Deegan, and beautiful little 4-month old daughter, Cordelia. What a great four days it's been. Luckily, I still have Deegan for a few days.  Enjoy the photos!  

The lemon-lime Deeg!

She is the happiest baby girl. 

The Deeg with the hubster. 

14-years between ages, she's my little girl. My sister. 

We made some red pepper hummus (I'll share recipes later) 

and yummy portobello burgers, they were awesome! 

Snacking healthy. 

The extent of our 4th fireworks. What a disappointment. 

Due to high waters, my home town couldn't celebrate. So we had sparklers!  

Deegan had fun, that's all that matters. We will see some tonight. 

I just can't get enough of this beauty.

Deegan's awesome art work!  Isn't this great?!?

Playing at the local playground. Walking in town, stopping for a cool treat.

As we closed out our visit, and momma and sissy had to go home, the Deeg stayed. He will be enjoying a few more days with us. Yay! Later today we will head to Despicable Me 2, and finally catch some fireworks, somewhere. 

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend. Share some of your fun!!

How did you celebrate your 4th of July?