Before you know it fall will be here, which means lots of us are pulling the produce we grew from our gardens. Hopefully everyone had a bumper crop this year; to the point where you are running out of ideas for what to do with it all. I’m here to help… if you have a plethora of green beans and want something more exciting than pan frying them with a bit a of butter —check out these crowd pleasing recipes…
Author: Lila
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September Journal #3
Do you think table manners are important? why?
Manners are important, however, sadly in this impersonal digital world people struggle with the basics. Manners are what endear you to others at first impression. A polite “Hello, how are you?,” “Have a nice day!,” “Please and thank you!;” they go a long way. If you don’t use your manners you are seen as rude and that first impression really can be the deciding factor of whether people like you or not. We are so conditioned for instantaneous gratification and so willing to “scroll” past someone both online and in person it’s crucial to use your manners. Social skills are so important and not many people have them.
Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts
What about you? Comment below!
I was super impressed by this item when I saw it on the shelf at Babies R Us because I could get two things for the price of one… and for a relatively cheap price. I am pretty sure I paid around $65 for it. I also like the idea that it would cut down clutter on my counter top; I wouldn’t need to find space for a sterilizer AND a bottle warmer.
However, the charm wore off… pretty fast!
Although it is fast and easy to use I found a few issues with it….
- We use room temp ready to use formula or we give our little guy slightly chilled formula. He doesn’t mind and it makes being on the go easy since we don’t have the ability to warm formula while traveling. Plus even the “lowest temperature” is SCALDING!
- It’s really small; you can only use it for the small bottles. You can fit one small bottle and it’s pieces in at a time and let’s face it babies keep us busy enough it’s easy to get behind on bottle duty and then you are scrambling to do multiple loads.
- The allegedly “large reservoir” is only good for almost 3 cycles and it reservoir is a total and utter pain to take on and off
- It leaks; or the condensation is not accounted for and they need a collection tray or something because I am constantly wiping my counter and the floor when it drips down.
- The bottles are ALWAYS dripping wet; it’s almost like you need to buy a separate dryer. I have the bottle rack but in humid conditions airy drying takes forever.
I do not recommend this product!
I wish I would have bought the larger sterilizer instead.
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September Journal #2
Have you ever had something stolen from you?
Yes, many things!
-a boyfriend when I was 14
-my party shoes at Chuck E. Cheese while I was in the ball pit at age 4; my mother had to carry me the car; it was so upsetting!
-my sense of security when my car was broken into at age 25
-my childlike, carefree attitude when my grandmother had a stroke when I was in the fourth grade, AND then again when my dad was diagnosed with cancer three years later AND then again three years after that when he died
-money; here and there
-time; constantly
We sure do lose a lot of things in this life!
Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts
What about you? Comment below!
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Back to School OOTD
I am on maternity leave this year, so I didn’t get a chance to go back to school shopping and I have been living in pajamas or my “comfy clothes,” because let’s face it: my son doesn’t care if I’m wearing Lululemon studio pants and a yellow shirt with a cactus on it.
If I was heading back into the classroom this year; this would have been my “back to school outfit”
Top: Ruffle Placket Long Sleeve Blouse (Ricki’s)
Skirt: Midi Pencil Skirt in luxe (Ricki’s)
Shoes: Kelly & Katie Copale Mule Loafer (The Shoe Company)
Earrings: Gold Sculpted Huggie Hoop (Ricki’s)
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September Journal # 1
What is one phrase you would really like to hear right now?
“You have won the lottery!”
OR…
I would love to hear my dad’s voice again. The phrase could be anything, even the most ridiculous or mundane thing. We never were that family who took many good family photos or made videos so I really have no decent photos of my dad and I have no recording of his voice. After 20+ years I can’t even remember what he sounds like and the 16 years worth of memories I have seem to be fading. There are definitely specific clear moments but the everyday stuff is hazy. Even his sent memory is disappearing. When my brother-in-law died his wife made Build-A-Bears for the kids and had a recording of his voice put inside and I just think that’s so precious and such a great idea for the kids.
What about you? Comment below!
Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts
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Grandparents’ Day Gift Guide
There is a day for everything; your dog, cat, pineapples, parfaits, etc! In addition to Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day it makes sense to have a Grandparents’ Day! It first began in Poland back in 1965 and is celebrated around the world; in Canada it came to fruition in 1995. If you are choosing to celebrate it this year; on September 8th I have some gift suggestions for you.
- A plate with the names of all the grandkids and their birth flowers; there are many options you can choose from on Etsy
- Gift certificate for a round of golf at the local course
- A necklace with the initials or birthstones of the grandkids; there are many options you can choose from various vendors online and in store
- Matching pickleball paddles
- A digital frame pre-loaded with photos of the family
- A gift certificate to their favorite restaurant
- A night at a hotel
- Tickets to a show (movie or theatrical production or concert)
- SMEG appliance (kettle or toaster)
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August Journal #5
Why are families important? What do families provide that we cannot find on our own?
To be completely honest; I want to say that families are important because they give you unconditional love and they give you the kind of “good start” in life that’s so crucial in your later years. However, I’ve seen some incredibly remarkable kids despite; to be completely honest the worst families ever! I think that families whether birth/blood or created through adoption can be incredibly important if they are healthy, and are able to provide you with the types of supports that you can’t get anywhere else. What is very special in life is that families come in all shapes and sizes and that is very much celebrated and something else that is very special is that that we are able to CHOOSE our family. Those “chosen families” can fill the gaps to heal the pain that our real families have left or caused in our lives.
What about you? Comment below!
Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts
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August Book Club
My spare time this month was dedicated to preparing for baby, recovering from surgery and then caring for baby. I read one baby related book and three mystery books for pleasure.
- The Montessori Baby by Junnifa Uzodike and Simone Davies
This book focuses on how to incorporate the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori PRACTICALLY into your life and environment for your baby for the first year. There is a follow up book called The Montessori Toddler.
2. A Clock Stopped Dead by J.M. Hall (Book 3)
When a friend of the trio, Marguerite has a “freaky” experience; the ladies investigate and uncover a sinister prank all while confronting issues in their own lives with their husbands and children as well as their beliefs in the supernatural.
3. Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (Book 1)
Before she was a world renowned chef, Julia Child lived in France; in this fictional account, a murder is committed in her building with her knife. Her friend Tabitha seeks to track down the killer to clear Julia’s name only to untangled a web of Cold War secrets and shady dealings.
4. A Murder Most Royal by SJ Bennett (Book 3)
Queen Elizabeth II feels compelled to do a little sleuthing when a severed hand with a familiar signet ring washes up on a beach not too far from Sandringham. Aided by her APS Rozie and a collection of locals she uncovers the sad truth of the mystery.
*I really like the fact that these books don’t have to be read in order –mainly because I didn’t realize it was part of a series. Oops!
What did you read?
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August Journal #4
What is standing in your way right now?
I think the greatest obstacle in my way is me.
Why?
Because…
-I can be overly cautious
-I am very afraid of change and rocking the boat
-I should have been more financially responsible
-I tend to procrastinate
-I can be lazy
-I get bored too easily
-I don’t like doing things or rather I don’t like doing certain things on my own and sometimes finding a partner in crime is tough
-I get defeated easily
-I don’t like being in charge of something or standing out; it gives me anxiety.
What about you? Comment below!
Prompt from: Piccadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts