Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Let's Play House
Let's play House. As in House, the TV show. You know, where some super smart people figure out what's wrong with some super ill person from several random symptoms. You guys get to be the super smart people, and I will play the super ill person.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Nina's Porch Sale
Instead of the busy and successful yard sale I *assumed* I would have, I was able to enjoy a lazy day on the porch, internetting and uploading to camp honeybelle. Grandma & Grandpa kept Jack busy and the whole fam came out in the afternoon to keep me company. We all headed to the local watering hole for dinner and enjoyed some cheap but good small town food. All in all it was a wonderful day!
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| All set up by 7am! All I needed was people. LOL |
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| Me and Pops |
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| Who's that creeper in the peach shirt behind Tom? Oh yah. Noelle. :) |
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| Me and my sis |
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| I owned this cool red stool for exactly 21 hours. Bought for $1 and sold for $6. Who doesn't like a fast five dollars? |
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Retro Photo: Grandma the Bathing Beauty
My grandma was HAWT! Check out that bathing suit. I would LOVE to run across something like that these days :) And isn't the third picture a hoot? Looks like they were on their way into the lake.
Hope you all are enjoying a wonderful weekend! My garage sale was pretty slow, but the day was clear, cool and relaxing. I was able to upload several new items into Camp Honeybelle and made enough money to buy a pedicure at the new place in town. (yes, Glencoe is almost a metropolis now... we have a cheap nail joint!)
Linking Up at:
The Blog Entourage's Crazed Fan Weekend Hop
Nap Time is My Time Super Stalker Sunday
Hope you all are enjoying a wonderful weekend! My garage sale was pretty slow, but the day was clear, cool and relaxing. I was able to upload several new items into Camp Honeybelle and made enough money to buy a pedicure at the new place in town. (yes, Glencoe is almost a metropolis now... we have a cheap nail joint!)
Linking Up at:
The Blog Entourage's Crazed Fan Weekend Hop
Nap Time is My Time Super Stalker Sunday
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Friday Shop Hop #4
It's Friday! Glorious Friday!
Camp Honeybelle has been bustling; the Etsy Gods must be smiling down upon me this week. I'm not sure what I've done to earn their favor, but I hope to keep it up. I have also been super busy getting ready for a yard sale this Saturday and I'm looking forward to just sitting there all morning after the set-up is done. I envision plenty of time to browse your etsy shops, work on some crafts and upload my latest batch of vintage goodies. Will that actually happen? Of course not, haha. But it's fun to dream.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Retro Photo: Grandma & Grandpa
As I was sorting books for an upcoming garage sale, I found some of Grandma's old pictures.
Hi Grandma and Grandpa. Miss and love you two dearly.
Hi Grandma and Grandpa. Miss and love you two dearly.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Writing Prompt: School Days
Dare To Share Prompt: Back to School
Yesterday the aisles at Target we full of bustling teens, harried mothers and giddy gradeschoolers. Pencils and tablets and folders were being tossed into carts, piling on top of fresh school clothes and packages of perfectly white socks. It was a sunny day yet there was a chill in the air; the new school year was about to begin.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Nina and a Shovel
Thursday's project involved Nina and the shovel. Meet my front porch and the weed showcase in front of it.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Friday Shop Hop #3
It's time for the third Friday Shop Hop! If you're new to ArtsyNina, I'd like to extend a warm welcome. Take a look around, visit some fabulous shops, and PLEASE link-up if you have a shop of your own. I'd like to make the Friday Shop Hop your favorite site to read on a Friday. Tell your boss it's OK; Nina said so!
We had such a great collection of
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Wordless Wednesday: Vintage Pyrex Love
New goal in life: Collect the Pyrex nesting bowl set. I picked up the yellow bowl yesterday. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE
PS, found another shop hop today at
http://blueeyedblessings.com
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| courtesy: |
PS, found another shop hop today at
http://blueeyedblessings.com
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Got Zucchini? Part II Battered & Fried
The zucchini hasn't stopped coming. And I haven't stopped trying new ways to eat it. Check out Got Zucchini Part I for another yummy idea...
Today's recipe is probably the unhealthiest (thus, probably tastiest) way to eat zucchini. Battered and Fried, in a delicious buttermilk beer mixture. I even battered and fried the blossoms! If you haven't tried a blossom yet from your summer squash or zucchini, what are you waiting for?
1/3 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. cornmeal
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. flour
-Splash of Tom's currrent homebrew, usually hoppy and bitter, undrinkable to Nina but good for cooking
-oil for for frying
Mix it up, cut zucchini, dip and FRY over medium high heat in an ample frying pan. Flip when golden and drain on a paper bag when done (this is a paper towel free house, haha).
Today's recipe is probably the unhealthiest (thus, probably tastiest) way to eat zucchini. Battered and Fried, in a delicious buttermilk beer mixture. I even battered and fried the blossoms! If you haven't tried a blossom yet from your summer squash or zucchini, what are you waiting for?
1/3 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. cornmeal
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. flour
-Splash of Tom's currrent homebrew, usually hoppy and bitter, undrinkable to Nina but good for cooking
-oil for for frying
Mix it up, cut zucchini, dip and FRY over medium high heat in an ample frying pan. Flip when golden and drain on a paper bag when done (this is a paper towel free house, haha).
Monday, August 15, 2011
Craigslist Conversations
My Post:
Riedell Hockey Skates, Boys? Vintage? - $15 (Glencoe)
First Reply:
Yo why can't you call me 4x3-3x6x.
Several thoughts ran through my head. Yo? Yo? Who says YO? Do I reply and let this... weirdo have my email? What if he is a serial killer? But what if this is a legit inquiry? What if he really wants the skates?
I decide to reply.
Yo I'm sure I could call you if I had your area code. And Yo I just want to make sure that you're interested in the skates and not a spammer. Yo?
They never answered. Apparently they didn't like my tone.
Riedell Hockey Skates, Boys? Vintage? - $15 (Glencoe)
First Reply:
Yo why can't you call me 4x3-3x6x.
Several thoughts ran through my head. Yo? Yo? Who says YO? Do I reply and let this... weirdo have my email? What if he is a serial killer? But what if this is a legit inquiry? What if he really wants the skates?
I decide to reply.
Yo I'm sure I could call you if I had your area code. And Yo I just want to make sure that you're interested in the skates and not a spammer. Yo?
They never answered. Apparently they didn't like my tone.
Yo VIP let's kick it.... ICE ICE BABY... vanilla
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| source: google images |
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Saturday Night Special
Wanna quickie?
Sweet! So do I.
Tommy left early for work, Nina and Jack hung out at the neighbors garage sale and made exactly $9.50, Nina made bierocks loosely following this recipe, Jack declined his nap, and they all attended the garlic festival when Tommy got home from work.
THEN, after Jack went to bed, Tom and Nina decided to 'unplug' and play a board game or three. No TV, internet, phones or radio... just Stratego and Jenga. No pics of Stratego, just know that he saw right through my wall of bombs and found the flag in no time. And about the Jenga? Thomas won both rounds. Bastard.
Sweet! So do I.
Tommy left early for work, Nina and Jack hung out at the neighbors garage sale and made exactly $9.50, Nina made bierocks loosely following this recipe, Jack declined his nap, and they all attended the garlic festival when Tommy got home from work.
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| bierocks. german. delicious. Jack calls them meat cakes. |
THEN, after Jack went to bed, Tom and Nina decided to 'unplug' and play a board game or three. No TV, internet, phones or radio... just Stratego and Jenga. No pics of Stratego, just know that he saw right through my wall of bombs and found the flag in no time. And about the Jenga? Thomas won both rounds. Bastard.
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| First round: she toppled right after this |
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| Do you see that? Tom's first move. Bottom row. BASTARD. |
Friday, August 12, 2011
Friday Shop Hop #2
Welcome to ArtsyNina's Friday Shop Hop! Whether you are here to window shop or link-up, I am happy to see you and hope you enjoy your visit.
As promised, I am featuring a shop from last weeks link-up.
I want to talk about June The Shop! I've been stalking Tara's blog for months and was lucky enough to win one of her small bags from a giveaway a few weeks ago. The quality of her workmanship absolutely blew my mind. I consider myself a poor to average seamstress...aww heck, I'm a total sewing fraud. But Tara's work is fantastic, she's the real deal - check out that smocking!
As promised, I am featuring a shop from last weeks link-up.
I want to talk about June The Shop! I've been stalking Tara's blog for months and was lucky enough to win one of her small bags from a giveaway a few weeks ago. The quality of her workmanship absolutely blew my mind. I consider myself a poor to average seamstress...aww heck, I'm a total sewing fraud. But Tara's work is fantastic, she's the real deal - check out that smocking!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Busy in the shop: getting my craft on
I didn't understand the joys of mixed media art and Mod Podge till I found a lonely wooden owl at the thrift store a couple weeks ago. I bought him, fixed him up and sent him off to Katie of The Lighting and the Lightning Bug. And then I went back to the same thrift store and found a PILE of lonely wooden goods! Another owl, two cats and a simple little nativity set. Everything is still under construction, so keep your eyes peeled. Finished products coming soon!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Busy in the house: bathroom remodel progress
Best birthday present ever?! An exhaust fan in the bathroom. Since it's our ONLY bathroom, and it's pretty much in the kitchen, this is a mighty important addition.
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| Lots of drywall mudding and taping in my future |
Sunday, August 7, 2011
It's All About ME.
***disclaimer, as written The Day After the post: It's sappy. I was high on birthday presents and cake and hormones. And the times I mention crying? I'm sure it was more like weeping and less like wah wah wah. Maybe.***
My birthday is tomorrow. I'll be thirty three years old. It seems like a good evening to reflect on where I've been and where I'm going.
I cried the summer of my fifteenth birthday when Mom told me I couldn't attend summer school. You see, I had my entire life mapped out; summer school courses, post secondary classes, then the perfect college followed by a perfect ever after. But my parents had other plans that involved summer vacations and I would miss too much of the summer school session. (I know! What kind of nut complains that she CAN'T go to summer school? A nerdy nut, that's who.) But I survived.
My birthday is tomorrow. I'll be thirty three years old. It seems like a good evening to reflect on where I've been and where I'm going.
I cried the summer of my fifteenth birthday when Mom told me I couldn't attend summer school. You see, I had my entire life mapped out; summer school courses, post secondary classes, then the perfect college followed by a perfect ever after. But my parents had other plans that involved summer vacations and I would miss too much of the summer school session. (I know! What kind of nut complains that she CAN'T go to summer school? A nerdy nut, that's who.) But I survived.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Shop Talk: Etsy Shop Link Parties
As a newbie Etsy Shop owner, I have been networking my little heart out... leaving my shop link all over the internet, hoping people will follow the crumbs to Camp Honeybelle. My laptop is full of virtual sticky notes, each one with the address of a weekly shop link up. It's a great way to gain exposure; you see your shop logo or item pic along side other etsy, artfire and online shops, you find new and creative items, you make new friends.
Since I have quite a few buddies with online shops, and in order to promote my own, I am starting a weekly shop link up, AND listing who and where to visit almost every other day of the week to promote your shop. My goal is to find at least one place every day to link up. I'm not quite there yet, so if you know of any that I have missed, let me know and I will add them to the list!
Monday:
Tuesday:
Homemaker on a Dime
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: ARTSYNINA (that's me)
Saturday:
Sunday:
Semi Monthly:
Pixelberry Designs
Monthly:
Ms. Bitty Knacks
Open Forever?
http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/2011/06/have-etsy-shop.html
Let's do this! Please play along, any and all shops are welcome! Tweet it, like it, share it, blog it, google+ it... it's traffic for all of us. And I would love you forever and ever if you placed the Friday Shop Hop button in your blog sidebar. Forever and EVER.
Come back every Friday and link up. I will also feature one new shop per week from the previous weeks link up. For realz! Who knows, you could be next.
PS, I am promoting this shop hop anywhere and everywhere... including:
Got Zucchini?
It's that time of year... the time of year when everyone is pawning off zucchini. I've received a couple mammoth, baseball bat sized zuch's and some normal sized zuchs and summer squash. I've sauteed it, battered and fried it, added it to pasta... now what? I certainly wasn't interested in baking zucchini bread since I just did two loaves of rhubarb bread last week and one was still in the freezer.
Martha Stewart to the rescue! Here July magazine issue had a recipe that is just a little bit tweaked from this one: http://www.marthastewart.com/261922/zucchini-fritters
This is the Nina Edit.
1.5 cups zucchini, shred and squeezed dry
1/4 cup diced onion
2 TBSP whole wheat flour
2 TBSP fresh parsley, chopped
2 eggs
Oil for frying
Salt & Pepper to taste
Plain Yogurt
Rhubarb Jam
1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in frying pan to medium
2. Mix zucchini, onion, parsley, salt & pepper and egg
3. Drop about 2 spoonfuls at a time to form fritters, cook until golden brown and cooked through (2-3 minutes per side)
4. Serve fritters with dollops of plain yogurt and jam
DELICIOUS FOR BREAKFAST!! or lunch or dinner. :)
Martha Stewart to the rescue! Here July magazine issue had a recipe that is just a little bit tweaked from this one: http://www.marthastewart.com/261922/zucchini-fritters
This is the Nina Edit.
1.5 cups zucchini, shred and squeezed dry
1/4 cup diced onion
2 TBSP whole wheat flour
2 TBSP fresh parsley, chopped
2 eggs
Oil for frying
Salt & Pepper to taste
Plain Yogurt
Rhubarb Jam
1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in frying pan to medium
2. Mix zucchini, onion, parsley, salt & pepper and egg
3. Drop about 2 spoonfuls at a time to form fritters, cook until golden brown and cooked through (2-3 minutes per side)
4. Serve fritters with dollops of plain yogurt and jam
DELICIOUS FOR BREAKFAST!! or lunch or dinner. :)
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Potty Training: it ain't the same as training a puppy
Yes, I thought it would be that easy.
I've housetrained dogs before; you carry that little 5lb bundle of fur out the back door mid-stream and place them on the grass. It was easy. Say 'no', run them outside a few times, and they just get it. But try carrying a peeing, thirty pound, squirming and screaming toddler to the toilet. It's..... interesting.
Well, here I am at 11:26 on a Wednesday morning in a battle of wills with a two and a half year old. He has to pee. He is doing the potty dance, hopping from one foot to another and grabbing his man parts. But he won't sit on the potty, or stand at the potty, or do anything else besides yell NO and DIAPER.
He wants a diaper on. I have been taking off his diaper when he gets up and letting him run around in shorts or just naked for several days now. He has pee'd on the floor and in the potty (so glad that we don't have carpet). I've made a big deal about the successful toilet trips; dances and celebrations and high fives. But I guess that isn't enough. Today we are trying stickers. Every time I go to the potty, I give myself a sticker on my hand. You know, I am trying to lead by example and that boy wants to do EVERYTHING mommy and daddy do. He wants a sticker now too, but doesn't want to do the deed to earn it.
So... if you see me covered in tiny stickers, you know why.
***Dear Potty Training Gods, Please don't let him pee on the new couch during this training period. Thank you.***
I've housetrained dogs before; you carry that little 5lb bundle of fur out the back door mid-stream and place them on the grass. It was easy. Say 'no', run them outside a few times, and they just get it. But try carrying a peeing, thirty pound, squirming and screaming toddler to the toilet. It's..... interesting.
Well, here I am at 11:26 on a Wednesday morning in a battle of wills with a two and a half year old. He has to pee. He is doing the potty dance, hopping from one foot to another and grabbing his man parts. But he won't sit on the potty, or stand at the potty, or do anything else besides yell NO and DIAPER.
He wants a diaper on. I have been taking off his diaper when he gets up and letting him run around in shorts or just naked for several days now. He has pee'd on the floor and in the potty (so glad that we don't have carpet). I've made a big deal about the successful toilet trips; dances and celebrations and high fives. But I guess that isn't enough. Today we are trying stickers. Every time I go to the potty, I give myself a sticker on my hand. You know, I am trying to lead by example and that boy wants to do EVERYTHING mommy and daddy do. He wants a sticker now too, but doesn't want to do the deed to earn it.
So... if you see me covered in tiny stickers, you know why.
***Dear Potty Training Gods, Please don't let him pee on the new couch during this training period. Thank you.***
Monday, August 1, 2011
Breaking Up with Facebook- The First Three Days
It's so hard. I think about you every day. I want to scroll your newsfeed, spy on my friends, see all those baby pictures and read what restaurant people are eating at and watch everyone change their relationship status. I want to 'like' with abandon again. I want to bury my face into this glowing blue and white screen and get lost for hours.
YEAH RIGHT!!!
I am So Over You.
Do you know what I did these last three days? Do you?! I put three coats of paint on an old crib side for a Very Important Project (I will share more when that's done). I blanched and froze 4 cups of fresh green beans, I roasted homegrown beets and carrots, I tried a homemade ranch dressing recipe (which was so darn delicious that Tom ran to the store to get supplies for a second batch) and used or stored all the CSA veggies this week. I trimmed trees, I weeded the garden, I have had a shiny sink after every meal. I hung another shelf in the laundry room. I visited with a cute little beagle pup, I played for hours in the pool with Jack, I took my husband and the boy to DQ for a delicious treat. I walked all over town, the hardware store, coffee shop, and even thrifted a little. I made a special present for Katie at Chicken Noodle Gravy. I made rhubarb bread, I worked on Camp Honeybelle and I even enjoyed a cold Summer Shandy or two with one of my BFF's (who happens to pretty much own a liquor store and comes bearing gifts of alcoholic goodness whenever she visits). *whew*
See Facebook? I don't need you. Life happens without you.
(ps, as some of you may have discovered, if you tag me on FB, I'll still show up, haha)
And since I don't want to break Blogger Law, I must have at least one picture in this post.
YEAH RIGHT!!!
I am So Over You.
Do you know what I did these last three days? Do you?! I put three coats of paint on an old crib side for a Very Important Project (I will share more when that's done). I blanched and froze 4 cups of fresh green beans, I roasted homegrown beets and carrots, I tried a homemade ranch dressing recipe (which was so darn delicious that Tom ran to the store to get supplies for a second batch) and used or stored all the CSA veggies this week. I trimmed trees, I weeded the garden, I have had a shiny sink after every meal. I hung another shelf in the laundry room. I visited with a cute little beagle pup, I played for hours in the pool with Jack, I took my husband and the boy to DQ for a delicious treat. I walked all over town, the hardware store, coffee shop, and even thrifted a little. I made a special present for Katie at Chicken Noodle Gravy. I made rhubarb bread, I worked on Camp Honeybelle and I even enjoyed a cold Summer Shandy or two with one of my BFF's (who happens to pretty much own a liquor store and comes bearing gifts of alcoholic goodness whenever she visits). *whew*
See Facebook? I don't need you. Life happens without you.
(ps, as some of you may have discovered, if you tag me on FB, I'll still show up, haha)
And since I don't want to break Blogger Law, I must have at least one picture in this post.
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| Our town has a mural. |
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| Ever try to get a picture of a moving child and puppy? |
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| Nevermind the nose owey - isn't he cute? Love those eyes. |
oh! please check out she{hearts}it and enter to win some super fun-to-decorate-with vintage shoe forms from Camp Honeybelle
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