Just stopping in to say Hi and share a book related sad story

Hello all!!

Its been awhile. I have wanted to write something and just didnt know where to start. I figured the best plan was just to jump right in and just do it!!! So on to my sad story!!

So, I recently heard about the book Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch and knew I was going to love it!! I Am slightly   obsessed with books that are based in London and have some magical aspect to them . Anywho, I placed a hold on the audio version of the book using the Overdrive app several months ago, the middle of April I think it was. It took until three weeks ago for me to have my turn with the book. I was so excited. The book was so good, but I havent had a lot of free time so it was taking forever for me to get it done. Well the last night of my turn with the book, I had three chapters to listen to. Sometime during the last chapter I fell asleep. When I woke up the next day it expired!!! I am so sad. I went and placed another hold on the book again but there are three people in front if me so I sm impatiently waiting!!!

#bookishproblems

Well thats all I got for now I will be back soon with a book haul. Half Priced Books is having a huge sale locally this weekend. I got my list ready I cant wait!!!

Peace, Love and Trees 

Kelli

The Longest Week in History

Hello all!!

I am so glad this past week is over! It was a rough one for a few reasons. I think the over all issue was having a migraine that wouldn't quit. After a few days of nonstop pain, nausea and dizziness you just can't deal with anything else. Work was super busy and was filled with a non stop barrage of issues and problems that seemed to never get solved. On top of all of that I was disappointed in myself for eating terrible all week. I finally got myself to a place where I was committed to eating better and gained some will power. All that pretty much went out the window. I just couldnt bring myself to cook after having such long bad days. I am commited to doing better this week no matter how I feel. 

This past week wasn't all bad though. Sunday was a really special day. We attended the baptism of my Godson Brayden.

He was so chill through the whole service and didnt even mind getting the water sprinkled on his head. I feel so honored to be his godmother. He has the chubbiest cheeks and is so gassy. I feel like we are twinsies, lol!!!

Since I was feeling so bad this week I spent alot of timing laying in my dark bedroom. As a result I had a lot of time to listen more to Think of a Number. I am definitely hooked now. I wouldn't say its been my favorite book, but I have to know how it ends and the main chatacter is growing on me. I should be able to finish it this week. 

I also finished up the heart bunting I was making for our coffee bar. 

Overall, I am pretty satisfied with how it turned out. The only thing I wasn't super happy with was the cuts I made to thread the ribbon through. Up close they look a bit sloppy. 

Saturday, I got myself together enough to go on a date with Dante. We went to dinner at Red Lobster, walked around the mall for awhile before going to see The Hateful  Eight. Not a bad end to the week. 

Well I hope the week ahead is much better. 

Peace Love and Trees

Kelli

 

Happy new year!!!!

Hello all, 

Hope you are having a good start to the year. I am doing pretty good. I feel energized this week and I am really excited to get back to my regular routine. 

Briefly, I wanted to let you know I  going to change up my blog posts. Last year I found it really hard to come up with specific topics to write about every week. There would be times when I was in a reading slump and didnt have a book to talk about. Sometimes, I would be busy with life and wouldnt be working on a crafting project, therefore didn't have much to say. This year I wanted to kinda make my weekly post more of a journal.  I plan to just write about what is going on during the week. Most weeks that is going to include what book I am reading and any crafting I got going on. I hope this change will ease the anxiety of trying to find something to talk about and will encourage me to post more consistently. Also my weeks are going to run from Sunday to Saturday. 

Well lets get started!! So as I said earlier I am back to my normal routine. Working during the week, blah!!! On Monday I got the downstairs of my house all cleaned back up after getting all the holiday decorations put away.

 

The rest of the weekday evenings have mostly been taking care of routine things like cooking dinner and catching up on our shows. 

In my free time,  I have been listening to the audio version of Think of a Numb3r by John Verdon. TBH, I am not sure how I feel about it. I am on chapter 15 and am not being sucked in like I expected to be. I thought the book was going to be more action packed. I mean the over all mystery is pretty puzzling and do want to know how it all works out. I think at this point I dont really like the characters very much and that is a big problem for me. I still want to listen to it more so hopefully my opinion changes soon. 

So I dont know if I mentioned on here that we have recently moved. We moved from a 1 bedroom apt to a 2 bedroom town home. We have a ton more space.I couldnt be more excited about it. One of the things I really wanted to do was set up a coffee/tea bar in our new home. So far I have been able to decorate the bar it for each season or holiday. That is until I realized I have no Valentine's Day decorations. 😩 So I decided to make some decorations. This week I am making two strings of origami heart bunting.

The second one I think I am going to send to my grandmother. I have some other inexpensive ideas as well I will be sure to share as I go!!

Yay for Saturday!!  We went with Dante's Mom and BF to the National Aviary. Dante was sweet and renewed our membership again this year. I love it here,every time its different and new and exciting!!!

 

 Hope you all are having a wonderful week!!!

Peave, love and trees 

Kelli

Abrupt endings

Hello everyone, just wanted to touch base. I know we kinda dropped off at the end of the month there. Both of us got crazy busy doing the last minute things for our sister's baby shower. Which went great BTW. I hope you all enjoyed #fallfest and are having a lovely fall season.  Next week we plan to get back to our normal schedule. If all goes as planned you will get two posts a week. One from each of us. Talk to you soon!!!

Pork Roast with Apple Cider and Fresh Herbs

Hi and welcome back to fallfest! So, today I am posting a recipe that I have not tried yet, but that I will be trying because it sounds DELICIOUS! It's also a good recipe for fall, because of the flavors that have been added to the pork. This is a mixture of my own personal recipes and recipes I have seen online. I hope you try it and enjoy! I will be adding a follow-up post after I am able to attempt this delicious roast. :)

Ingredients:

1 ½ - 2 lb Pork Roast

1 cup Apple Cider

1 14 oz. can Chicken Stock (or broth)

1 medium Onion, roughly chopped

2 cups Potatoes, chopped (any type of white flesh potato)

2 tsp Olive Oil

1 tsp Fresh Rosemary, chopped fine

1 tsp Fresh Thyme, chopped fine

1 tsp Fresh Sage, chopped fine

2 tsp Salt (plus a sprinkle for the vegetables)

2 tsp Course Ground Black Pepper (plus a sprinkle for the vegetables)

1 Tbsp Garlic Powder

1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning Mix

Directions:

In a large skillet, heat olive oil. In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning mix. Spread spice mix evenly over roast. Place roast in the skillet, and sear on all sides (don’t forget the ends of the roast) to keep in juices while cooking in crock pot.

Put chopped onion and potatoes into the bottom of the crock pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place roast on top, adding the remaining oils and juices from the skillet. Pour in the apple cider and chicken stock. Sprinkle with the fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage.

Place lid on the crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours, or until roast is tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.

Serve with broth and vegetables as a stew, or shred pork and serve on a bun with your favorite fruit butter (apple butter is delicious) for a fall-style pulled pork sandwich!

Happy munching! And happy fall!

-Sarah.

Currently: Fall Addition

PLANNING the final bits of my sisters baby shower

EXCITED for bestie game night this Saturday

WANTING these boots, coat and earrings

WAITING anxiously to move into our new townhouse

READING Natalie Creates. I love seeing all the cozy fall touches she has added to her home

FOLLOWING Kooty the cat

WATCHING Nicole and the Sorry Girls for Halloween costume inspiration

FEELING rather blah, migraines have been non stop this month.

SOAKING up all the sun I can get before its gone for the winter months. 

DRINKING Hot Buttered Rum coffee, mmmm

Fall Fashion Part 2

Hi! Welcome back to Fall Fest! This is part two of our fashion posts! Kelli and I have come up with one casual look, one dressier look, and one outfit good for wearing to haunted houses to show a wide range of options. And yes, I agree with Kelli, taking these pictures and not looking like 1. a frump 2. a crazy-red eyed monster and 3. a chipmunk were insanely difficult. Thanks to our third sister for taking these photos! I hope you enjoy!

This first look is the more casual look. I wear sweaters everywhere, because I am ALWAYS cold in the fall and winter (and most of the spring, too), no matter what the actual temperature is. So, I try to incorporate sweaters into my everyday attire. Oftentimes, I look like a bum. Or an Eskimo; so, trying to be warm WHILE being fashionable is hard for me. Below is an outfit I’ve come up with that tries to incorporate layers and fashion.

This second look is a bit fancier. I have a lot of dresses, and making a dress fit into my fall wardrobe that was originally from my summer wardrobe is difficult. But with the right accessories, it can be done. This outfit is great for a night out in the rainy October weather, or even into December if a heavier jacket or coat is worn over top.

And this third look is for haunted houses. A big chunky sweater and a scarf keep you warm while you are desperately fleeing from zombies, and boots help keep your feet dry in the rainy, muddy grass as you hide from chainsaw wielding crazies!

And here is my haunted house bracelet! Skulls to scare away the creatures!

I hope these three looks have given you some ideas for fun ways to warm up your wardrobe! Leave your tips and tricks for staying warm below! I would love to have them! :)

Happy fashion! And happy fall!

-Sarah.