and the decision is...

::::: ROSIE THE RIVETER :::::

  

I know that TECHNICALLY Patty Mayonnaise was in the lead according to the poll. However, due to cost efficiency and down right cute, bad-assness (fictionary term?), Rosie was the choice for this Halloween. Gunna show it off for the first time at Uno's Chicago Pizza tonight for Phil Poteat's concert/Halloween party on the Patio. WOO!

from jessie (We Can Do It!)... with love 

double duty::: part one

One of my favorite sections of the Real Simple Magazine is *. I love this section because I love learning new uses for old things. 

So here are some items you may have lying around your house currently that can be used in a way originally-unintended! 

• MARSHMALLOW- put one in your brown sugar bin to keep it from getting hard
• NEWSPAPER- stinky fridge? fish smell sticking around too long? forego the baking soda and fill the fridge with crumpled up newspaper. Close the door and give it about 10-15 minutes. The newspaper will neutralize the funk in the fridge
• CHEESE GRATER- even good cooks burn their biscuits sometimes. Use the "fine" side of your cheese grater to scrape off the burnt parts of the biscuits and save yourself from having to bake them again
• BROWN SUGAR AND OLIVE OIL- put a little olive oil on your lips and rub a small amount of brown sugar over to exfoliate when the cold temps get the best of your sensitive pucker... so soft 

more to come tomorrow!

from jessie (very practical)... with love 

halloween help

Every year I come up with about a MILLION ideas about what I want to dress up as for halloween. This year (after viewing Whip It) my idea was to be a roller derby chick. I'd still love to execute this idea, however the lack of roller skates and funds is seriously hindering my ability to do so!

Check out the poll to the side and help me decide on a more practical (but fun) Halloween costume!

from jessie (indecisive, as always)... with love 

resourcefulness

I feel I am a very resourceful person. In fact, I'm  planning a series of posts on items around your home (or apartment) that can serve double duty in some very useful ways. However,my resourcefulness has been put to shame (kinda) after receiving a fun e-mail from my beloved coworker Liz yesterday.

You be the judge. The wonderful creators of THERE, I FIXED IT bring you entertaining pictures of just how resourceful (or ridiculous) people really are. Here are a few examples to get your brain juices flowing...

        

Oh humanity... you always find a way. 

from jessie (duct tape is ALWAYS the answer)... with love 

Apple Pie in a Pinch

Scott has been working REALLY HARD studying for his first sememster as a full time student and I wanted to do something to brighten up his evening on Tuesday... so I made Apple Pie!

Now like most of my readers out there, I am a BUSY lady (see Monday's post), but I refuse to let that stop my from induldging my inner baking bug every once in a while. While perusing my "notebook-o-printed-out-internet-recipes", I happened upon "Busy Day Apple Pie". This recipe was originally posted by Amber of the late myaimistrue.com, so I will share it with you now....

Apple Pie in a Pinch

1 premade deep dish pie crust

3-5 apples, chopped in pieces or sliced thin

3/4 stick of butter, softened

1 cup Bisquick

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven at 350. Place chopped/sliced apples in a pie crust (feel free to leave the skin on, it's still YUMMY and the color is lovely). In a large bowl, cut together the remaing ingredients until crumbly. Place on top of apples in crust, covering it as best you can. Bake 45 min- 1 hour until top is browned. Remove, cool, eat!

    

Yeah, that simple. Scott approves and I WILL be making this again!

from jessie (as american as fast food and apple pie)... with love 

new friend...

Meet Lightning

He was a gift to me from my table-mate at the "Kraft"show at school last night. I taught her daughter last year and I couldn't STOP admiring this little guy (and the plethora of other sock animals she created)! I sold nothing (insert mini violin solo HERE)... so I think she gave it to me as a sympathy gift; that or she just really likes me and knew how much I liked him! I think he's a horse... not that it really matters, but that's the closest animal resemblance I can draw from looking at him.

Like him? Contact me and I'll put you in touch with her to get one of your own!!

from jessie (my buddy)... with love 

sore

One of the WONDERFUL opportunities I'm afforded as a volunteer at WEC (Water's Edge Church) is working on the Production Team for our kids programs. This past weekend was my second time fulfilling the roll of "Host" in Kid Kraze (our elementary age program). During my time as the host, I get to be GOOFY, LOUD, DRAMATIC, and HYPER. Not that I don't normally try to fulfill these roles in my daily life, but when living them out on stage, I seriously amp it up! Add into this the singing and dancing that comes along with the praise and worship songs AND the 4 times a day (not including run through) that I "perform" this... and I have a justifiable reason to be tired. Not only tired, but sore! My legs are NOT moving normally today and it's because I gave SO MUCH of myself to Kid Kraze yesterday.

Don't get me wrong, I have NO PROBLEM with being sore for a couple of days over the reality that I helped deliver a very important message to lots of kids on Sunday; but the fact remains that I'm sore because I danced, and jumped, and fell way more than I do on a normal basis. This got me thinking... What was the last non-gym/workout related thing you did that made you REALLY sore? Do share (miserable muscles love company)!

from jessie (leg locked)... with love 

BONUS EXTRA: Thanks to KEVIN (thanks Kevin!) we have video footage of my dramatic death scene as Dorcas on Sunday. WARNING: HIGH PITCHED VOICE and BLURRY, BLINDING FOOTAGE AHEAD! 

striking a balance...

I am currently finding this a difficult thing to do... as recently evidenced by my serious lack of blog entries. Life is simply UNPREDICTABLE, so my blog posting has taken a back seat to the recent hubbub of my world.

While finding little moments of time to sit down and visit my favorite sites, I checked in with the first blog I ever started following: my aim is true. The girl who composed it was an acquaintance of scott that I had met once or twice in person. Following her blog was so fascinating; she always had something going on, some new creation to share, or some life revelation that just had to be shared. Recently, however, she took a break from her blog. She got so busy involving herself in everything that life had to offer (and documenting it none the less) that she began to feel overwhelmed. So now, she is letting go of the blog perminatly so she can pursue life freely. 

I'm trying NOT to reach the point in my life where I feel I have to not blog, or not craft, or not involve myself in some other fun endeavor because life's just getting to crazy. But truth be told readers... striking a balance is difficult. The women who read this blog REALLY know what I'm talking about here: I'm going to attempt to be a WIFE (love you Scooter), friend, daughter, sister, family member, woman of God, teacher, crafter, small business owner, Kid Kraze Host, CG member/host, and a blogist (in no particular order). So bear with me, as striking this balance in a healthy way.......... may take awhile to perfect! 

from jessie (I'm every woman)... with love