Lightbulb moment on lighting

KNOW YOUR LIGHT SOURCE! When you paint know your light source or type of light that you will use for the room, or if choosing exterior paints, take the sample outside and look at it. The above picture is from this months BHG mag. Love there paint sample page. This months was picked for me. Those are my kind of colors, no grays of various shades of gray, rich color is what I like. Now the two pic are obviously of the same page, however the one on the left is taken in direct sunlight and the right side is taken with fluorescent overhead lights, which is what you will find when you are in the store choosing colors, so take those chips and if they offer it usually there is a small light box that has 3 types of light colors that you can switch between. USE IT. However an even better choice, buy a sample of the color or colors you want and take them home and paint a patch. When we painted our former house prior to selling it, I would go outside Home Depot with the little swatches and see if I liked the color in sunlight, I bought about 6 different colors and the back of my house had 3x2 sections painted in the different colors. I looked at them if full sun, cloudy and dusk to see if they still worked. You would be amazed at the changes that occur. Now indoors you still want to look at it with the light source that will be used in the room but also, like a bedroom what does it look like with just a lamp on, is the color still what you want. Color creates emotion, color heightens emotions. Think of the use of the room when choosing your color and also maybe the lighting needs to be changed, change the lights first so you have your light source. Back to the two pics at the upper left hand side is color called Lion's Mane from Olympic. In natural light it is much more toffee than yellow, in fluorescent lighting it's more yellow. The Cachet Cream by Sherwin Williams, is a pale creamy caramel in natural lighting. In fluorescent, it's off white. Lighting can completely and totally change the color of the color you have fallen in love with and the mood you want. Seriously who has not fell in love with a color swatch and carried it around in your purse, just to look at it?

Kinda forgot about stuff

Okay, there are probably more days that I forget about things than I want to admit. Something comes into the brain, and I think, Oh I can do that (pick one) later, tomorrow, tonight, after this that and the other thing...blah blah blah. Instead of writing this down, yes it has come to that, if it is not written down the probability of completion drops dramatically. Or just plain drops completely off the radar. Today it beeped on the radar and I acted. Then I look at the last post and think, "crap" how could I have gone that long. Easy peasy is how. So today I got my trusty planner out and wrote down. Time for some construction on the blog. So tonight after working on the construction of the chicken coop, I will start the blog construction. I have high hopes.

Pumpkin Enchiladas

I originally found this recipe on Cacique USA's website, one of Aaron Sanchez's recipes. In his recipe he used butternut squash, so I figured I could use canned pumpkin since I was on a pumpkin the first time I made it. The enchilada sauce is now the standard sauce in our house, stopping after the salt, for the sauce.
Sauce:
2 oz butter
5 T flour
2 c beef broth
4 T chili pwdr
1 tsp cumin
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
1/2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 c Crema Mexicana

Filling;
10 oz chorizo (pork or beef) ground beef can be used
1 can pumpkin puree

doz corn tortillas
1/2 pkg (5oz) Queso Quesadilla or monterey jack shredded

To make the sauce: melt butter in saucepan and whisk in flour. Cook for 2 min. on medium heat, stirring constantly. Slowly whisk in the broth. Add remaining ingredients, except Crema Mexicana. Bring to a slight boil and remove from heat and let cool slightly and add Crema.

Cook chorizo according to pkg instructions and drain well. Add pumpkin puree to the chorizo.

Lightly coat bottom of a baking dish with the sauce, the assemble the enchiladas, spread sauce on tortilla, add filling and cheese, roll and place in dish. When all are assembled, spread remaining sauce over enchiladas, sprinkle cheese on top.
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until cheese is browned.
Enjoy

Mmm Queso.

I printed a coupon the other day for Velveeta's new Queso Blanco. Well we love queso in the Briggs house. So a white queso sounded yummy. I went against my coupon policy of using a coupon on regular price. Since it was bought at WalMart I figure I'm okay.
Started with sauteing onions and garlic in a little butter. I chose butter, because sometimes I feel like olive oil flavor comes thru to much. Anyway, can I just say that the smell of cooking onions and garlic is heavenly. Love that. Anyway wanted to cook sausage in it, however on the quick trip to the freezer I could not find sausage right off, so I went with ground pork. Added additional garlic and onion seasoning since I was using ground pork and not some mild or hot sausage. Now one of the things I use alot for seasoning for Mexican flavor is taco seasoning. It already has most of what I want. For this I did add extra cummin and chili powder. I made a roux and added some Mexican creme to it, added that to the pork mixture and added white cheddar, monterey jack, and the queso blanco. (I also added some of my bottled salsa.) I realize some people don't like fake cheese, personally I think that's hooey. Velveeta makes any cheese sauce very, very creamy.

Back to the Queso Blanco. Total success even with ground pork and not sausage. It was a meal all by its lonesome. I cannot wait to try it with sausage. MMMMMMMMMM

A MUST HAVE, Your very own Elf!

Last year I joined the wwww.100daystochristmas.com community. An amazing website that helps you plan for not just Christmas but Halloween and Thanksgiving. It is really amazing, and simple. Countdown to Christmas takes you thru the Fall Holidays and Christmas, with a daily task that prepares you and allows you to do all that you want, accomplish what you want and ENJOY! Can you imagine? Well this year it is even better, the creator of 100daystochristmas and listplanit.com (that is a whole other post, hmmm I will have to think about that) anyway, she; Jennifer Tankersley has created an ebook that is interactive with her sites. I had the wonderful opportunity to review her e-book. First let me tell you, you MUST check it out.

"A Daily Dose of Inspiration & Motivation for a Meaningful Holiday Season Based on previous years here at 100 Days to Christmas,this eBook is a journey that begins on September 16,and leads you step-by-step and day-by-day toward a peaceful and meaningful holiday season."

Now, let me tell you why this is brilliant.
The ebook is like having Jennifer, aka your own ELF, with you, giving you a little nudge in the right direction. The breakdown is an assignment 6 days of the week and then my favorite part is the Weekly Workshop, which is a chance to catch up on something you want to do, or maybe one of the daily countdown tasks. That weekly workshop I love, and if you didn't get a task done, you can get back on the countdown track. Seriously, it's like having your very own Elf. She has thought of EVERYTHING, this doesn't just get you ready for Christmas, but Halloween, Thanksgiving, even a reminder for voting. All of it. It really is brilliant. Most of us love Christmas, and want it just so. We want the Holidays to have meaning, we want our children to have memories that are meaningful, or carry on Family Traditions, or create our own. However, life happens, we don't get this done, or we forget until the last minute and then its hustle rush and panic. Why do we do that to ourselves? The daily tasks are broken down to make getting things done into a step by step process that do not require the entire day to do. Even better right? Like I said, your own Elf. Who would not love to have an elf to assist you. You can and the price is one fast food lunch, and trust me on this, you will enjoy it more, not to mention 0 calories. $4.99 will put it on your Kindle, Nook or PDF for your computer. Then sit back and realize that getting ready for the Holidays can be simple and you can enjoy it also!
Finally, thank you Jennifer for the chance to review your ebook. You are amazing. Also, thank you for creating 100daystochristmas, last year was so much easier than past years. I enjoyed the Holidays more and the preparation was enjoyable. Can you imagine? Yes I can, and I am excited for this year!
www.100daystochristmas.com/100-days-to-christmas-2011-ebook/

I think I missed something.....

I believe its called Summer. What happened? I mean I know its been hot, so its been summer, but I have done NOTHING. Okay that is not right, I have not done anything I have wanted to do or get done. This is what I have been doing, building fence. Almost every weekend, and if we are not building fence, we are trying to get stuff caught up around the house. Then when we don't go build fence, the sewer line breaks. Oh that was so much fun. However, I am married to Superman and he fixed it for a less than $150 bucks! Seriously! He is amazing! Then the next weekend comes, and building fence it is. 100 acres of land to fence. UGH.

The next generation learning the ins and outs of running a post pounder on a tractor!
So forgive me and give me a little time to get caught up!

Money Money Money

Okay, I like thousands of others out there am hooked on TLC's Extreme Couponing, I mean come on, we all want to save money.
I remember years ago, reading about people that did this and thought, its not possible for me. For awhile my grocery store (WINCO) did not accept online coupons, so I never used them. A few years ago that changed, so I would sort thru the online coupons for stuff that I bought on a typical basis and printed those. Once and a while I would use a coupon from a magazine or such. I did not subscribe to the paper, still don't.
However, after watching this EC, I gotta admit looks intriguing. Now, I do not want to be an exteme couponer. I do no want 50 bottles of mustard on the shelf or 93 bags of croutons, or even 150 nighttime sleepaids. However, if I can save 30% I would be thrilled. Not that we have an outrageous grocery budget anyway, but if I can save some money, sure. Well I starting blog stalking, and then signing up on coupon websites, etc. A couple fav's; The Krazy Coupon Lady, she is the one who dumpster dived with her son and pregnant friend, while looking quite stylish!!
I also like Jessica Hacker, Fabulously Frugal, she was another TLC EC, from Idaho. We Use Coupons, Mr. Coupon has some videos on there, that are pretty informative. Finally A Thrifty Mom. Most of these sights do the legwork for you, other than the prices are not always the same, especially Target. However, they let you know what coupons from the papers and online sources are and the deals to be had. Now, this means alot of coupons, which starts to get a bit overwhelming, then while reading KCL's book, "Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey" (love the title!) she mentions, still throwing away about 50% of them or sending them in for the troops, cuz they can use expired coupons, cool. Anyway, that made me feel a bit better.
I will admit to frustration and yes this does take time, lots of it. But you will not find me at the store at midnight to get a deal. I'm just not the type, although I will get up at 4 am to go shopping on Black Friday. Priorities people!
I will also admit to having scored a few deals, bodywash for 4cents a bottle, free bodywash, and free deodorant. Very cheap razors, shaving cream and exrta blades. Again, I will also admit to frustration, anger and alot of what the $*%&(#* am I doing! However, I think with time this may abate. Although, the checkers are making comments about how the number of couponers has increased dramatically because of TLC's Extreme Couponing. Some stores are evening limiting items or rewards and the like. Walgreens seems to be the spot for alot of the frustration. Why, the really do get some amazing deals, plus the register rewards are good.
So after a month of this, my opinion? Coupons can save you money, but they also can change your eating habits, come on, how many of these people bought those oriental noodles? Have you looked at the ingredients and the nutrition facts, check those out. Really, besides Halloween how many candy bars do you need at one time? Dog treats, when you do not own a dog????
Buying diapers in advance, so someday when you have a kid, you will be prepared?
I am watching the grocery flyers more, to see who has the deals. Fred's this week has Tillamook 2lb bricks of cheese for $3.99 a pound, with a coupon for a dollar off $2.99 a pound. Even at my ever faithful cheap WINCO, they do not have that price. I have a pantry and have a decent supply of staples, there is room for improvement. So I am working on that, and boy would I love some cheap toilet paper!