Lessons Learned On A Rainy Day

Fun Laurie showed up today and carved a pumpkin with W.

Let me clarify...W was stoked about the 'idea' of carving....but ended up driving his remote control car 'round and 'round the garage while I stuck my hands in the webby nastiness and carefully carved all the important features which Mr. Weston has so exquisitely drawn ahead of time with a Sharpie.

Anyone who has carved knows it's dern challenging to cut exactly where those lines are drawn and then sometimes you end up with a pumpkin who looks like she slept with her makeup on or was the first unfortunate one to fall asleep at a slumber party.

Enter rubbing alcohol.

Lesson #1- Rubbing alcohol takes off Sharpie marker.

Magic!

And now our pumpkin is nice and clean.



Lesson #2 learned today....if you add a smidge of lemon juice to the mashed bananas before you add them to the batter of banana bread, the finished loaf will be a beautiful golden brown.

Love me some banana bread!

Have a great week! And remember....the time change is a comin' on Sunday.

Christmas in a Cup

Do you think it's possible to learn to be a tea drinker?

What?

It's true. If you have known me for very long, you know I'm neither a coffee nor a tea drinker.

Why is this so important, you ask?

I think the root of it is lies with a desire for fellowship.

I'm a relational gal, right down to my flip-flops, and a cup of something warm means the opportunity to share in someone's life is there for the taking.

Coffee became a dealbreaker as I had to add so much sugar and cream, the coffee was no longer even warm and I'd be spinning like a top for the remainder of the day if I continued to drink it like that.

Then my FIL introduced me to Teavana's Sweet Amore tea and I realized he just might be onto something.

That man is Mr. Tea....he even drinks the hardcore Chinese green tea that truly tastes like aquarium water. Shhh..don't tell him I said that.

So, imagine my delight when there was a holiday tea sighting yesterday at Wal-mart.

Yes ladies, there are good things to be found at your neighborhood version of Stuff Mart...if you can get past all the other things that make you want to bang your head against the handle of your shopping cart. Like the time I got behind a lady that had no less than 5 grocery store ads in her cart and proceeded to pricematch her entire shopping cart.....oh, help me.

Celestial Seasonings's Holiday Tea Line has made it's debute! The choices include Candy Cane Lane, Gingerbread Spice, Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride, Nutcracker Spice and Sugar Plum Spice.

You KNOW this marketer's dream threw some of those boxes in her cart immediately! This was the same girl that decided to enjoy a delightful cup of peppermint hot chocolate a few weeks ago at the first glimpse of below 70 degree temps..and said girl ended up with a burnt tongue and feeling as if she was having a hot flash.

Good times.

BUT it was some kickin' hot chocolate. Again, I found this wonderful treasure at Wal-Mart. It is a seasonal item and has crushed peppermint pieces in the hot chocolate mix. You are missing a blessing if you pass that endcap and don't throw a few packets in your shopping cart.

I'm open to suggestions. Do you have a favorite tea? Do share, please!

Winkflash Photobook reminder

****update- they extended this offer until next Tuesday 10/27/09


Don't forget Wednesday is the last day to create a 100-page Winkflash photo book for just $19.99!

I uploaded my pics...now I just have to create the book.

How much caffeine do you think I'll need over the next 3 nights to accomplish that creative task?

I might just become a coffee drinker yet....

If Winkflash doesn't float your boat or you don't have the time to create a book in the next 3 days, Snapfish has a code for you to save 35% off cards, photobooks and calendars. The code is good through November 2nd.

Use coupon code FALL2009

She's Movin' On

I'm a Tea Room gal.

Love the food, love the iced tea, and especially love the company while I'm there.

I love them so much, I created an entire post, just about Rabbit Food and Fruity Tea awhile back.

So, I'm sitting at Flag Football practice the other night when a good friend texts me that my favorite Tea Room of all time, Idyl Hours, is vacant.

Sign down... empty....deserted.

I couldn't dial my phone fast enough. Texting wasn't going to do! I needed details. Stat!

After going through all the possible scenarios we could think of, we went to the world wide web to solve our mystery.

The answer was right there, front page, on her website.

Stella decided to write that book she's been wanting to write and focus on catering and delivery instead of running the Tea Room day in and day out.

Although my Thursdays will never be the same without her Tequila Lime Chicken Crepes, I'm so excited for her and her new season of life.

Thanks, Stella, for providing such a fun place for us gals to regain some sanity and enjoy some amazing food over the years. There is no one quite like you...and I mean that in the best way.