Friday Halloweenies!!!

Great costumes for little ones!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y'ALL!!!! Boy, do I love Halloween. I love the raised hairs on the back of my neck, chill on the air, the magical time of year that it is! I love costumes and silliness and fun. I love the ancient traditions and the goofier modern traditions. Hocus Pocus, The Great Pumpkin, peeled grapes (eyeballs) and spaghetti (brains!!)! I love the music (my first vinyl record was The Monster Mash), and the suspension of disbelief that allows everyone to basically take a mental night off and just exist freely.

Well, I'm fortunate enough to have the weekend off and I hope y'all do too; and even if you don't, here are some funs, happies, pretties and maybe a few spookies to usher you into a fun-filled weekend!!

*I love that this young gal photoshopped herself into old photos of her mother's childhood and young adult years! It's so fun, and makes you think about (something I've thought about many times) what it would have been like if you could hang out with your folks when they were young. Would they have liked you? Would you have been the good influence or bad?

*OOOOwoooo! Haunted houses (for sale) tour!!!

*AHMAGAH! Madonna Chihuahua!

*Beautiful "lace" pumpkins!

*Great "before and after" wedding photos! 

*Make this cute and quirky garland for trick-or-treaters in just enough time to have it hung before the doorbell rings!

*Pups + Leaves = Total Happiness!!!!!

*I have no idea what costume I could make with this gorgeous silk skirt, but boy is it cute!!! Maybe I don't need a reason!

*Meanwhile...In Scotland.

*Yummy things to do with seasonal squash, or squarshes as has been known to be said 'round these parts.

*Awesome teachers you wish you'd had!

*I laughed so hard at this and have watched it waaaaay too many times since. However, I must share it with you. If you haven't seen Sia's Chandelier video, then here ya go. It's helpful.

*And then there's this incredible version from Dancing with the Stars with the original little gal from the Chandelier video, Maddie Ziegler. She's something else, that kid. Wow.

*On a serious note, Brittany Maynard, the young woman who had chosen to end her life (lived with inoperable brain cancer) with dignity on November 1st,  has decided life is feeling too good to end now. There is no "end date" now, and I think that is so damn cool and ballsy. Go on, girl! Enjoy every damn second!

I hope y'all have a fantastic Halloween weekend! Y'all be safe now!

Thoughts on decluttering...

Isn't that so pretty and clean?! Me wanty!

I've mentioned this several times here, but decluttering my house, wardrobe, mind (life!) has been a focus of mine for a while now. It comes in dribs and drabs, the inspiration to do it, I mean. I get super gung-ho then get totally overwhelmed. It's pretty common, but I don't really like it. I get super bummed when I keep unfortunate cycles going. I want to get to a place where it feels like I've made progress.

Then a little perfect storm hit, as it tends to do when I'm mulling grand things over. First, I got the rush of inspiration and grabbed a few empty cardboard boxes for work for donations (always the first step for me).

Second, I read this article and though some of the suggestions are a little odd (and for me that's saying something); I'd still try them all and it inspired me a bit more. I then scoured the internet for more tips and ideas and more inspiration to get the juices really flowing. Here are a few that really did it for me.

*4 Tips to have a minimalist wardrobe.
*34 Ingenious ways to declutter your entire life. 
*The 7 habits of highly organized people.
*The Only 10 pieces of clothing you need. 


Third, I decided to take a few small steps to get the ball rolling. I got a cheapo shredder for the front door for mail and paperwork. That's my biggest problem in the house. I'm also going to make some changes on the here on P&PPS. I love writing every day, but I find some days are harder to do than others, and most of those days aren't the days that there is a lot of traffic. So next week you will notice there are six posts instead of seven and some of the ideas and themes will be condensed, changed or left out completely. If there is something in particular you really enjoy (like Little Victories etc.) let me know!

So, thus it has begun. Next stop is my spare room. Do you have any surefire ways to declutter? Anything change your perspective, your own little perfect storm? I'd love to know! It's time to make some shit happen, y'all!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Just a little bit- hey baby!

Hey y'all! It's Wednesday and around here on Wednesdays I share all different kinds of organizations, people, animals and causes you can donate to. Even if its just $5! Every little bit helps. Here's the list from previous posts that I think we should check out again!

*Support the Critical Care Program Fund for animals in need!

*Donate to East Nashville Radio and keep this 24/7 online radio station playing great music!

*Let's keep up our support for Narayanan Krishnan and all the solid work he is doing for the impoverished and abandoned in his country.

*Help give clean drinking water to people all over the world. A luxury we often take for granted.

*Support the Marine Mammal Center, love 'em!

*Help heal our American Rivers!

*While we're at it, find and support your local Waterkeepers!

*Surivial International helps tribal peoples, defend their lives, protect their land, and determine their own futures.

*Best Friends saves homeless animals. Help them out today!

Comfort Food Recipe

Another great cauliflower recipe here!

Happy Tuesday, y'all! Lately I've been craving my comfort food fave, Roasted Cauliflower & Garlic Soup. I've made it twice already. I know, I know. Cauliflower is the stepchild of vegetables. I actually disliked it immensely until I sort of stumbled upon making this recipe last year. Now I think I've mastered it.

 It's three of my favorite things: 1) Cheap: $7 to feed two for two days. 2) Easy: it's three steps: chop, roast, puree. 3) It's CRAZY delicious and creamy! Okay it's also healthy (something like 65 calories a cup).

I'm going to share it with you (you are special because I don't usually share my recipes without changing an ingredient or two so yours is never as good as mine). Ahem, this is the real recipe- I swear.

Ingredients:

1 head of cauliflower
1 onion (I prefer Vidalia)
3 cloves of garlic
S&P to taste
olive oil
1 carton of chicken broth

Directions:

Chop the cauliflower and onion. Place in casserole dish or roasting pan. Toss in peeled garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil. Salt and pepper generously. Roast at 350 for 45 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Remove from oven and let it cool. Once cool, puree it with the chicken broth. Seriously- that's it. It's superb and SO bloody easy. It's a major crowd pleaser too. It's my super-easy "last minute company" go-to!

Do you think you will give it a try? It took me 30 years before I fell in love with cauliflower and I'm so glad I did.

 If you want some different options for it, it's great with a sprinkle chili flakes. In the depths of winter I usually make it with half & half instead of stock. Crumble goat cheese (or cheddar), green onions and bacon on top. Crazy (more fattening) comfort food, big time!

I hope you love it and I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Little Victories

Beautiful Fall landscape somewhere that actually has Fall.

Hey y'all! How was your weekend? Mine was great, though spent mostly at work. Well, Mondays around here are all about celebrating the little victories that make progress possible! I share a few of mine in hopes that it will inspire you to recognize all the little victories in your own world. Here we go!

*I stayed calm. I"m on an 11 day shift, my boss is out of town and we had a full store move (a pretty big deal) this weekend. I didn't lose my shit. I am, however, fighting a cold. And yes, the store looks good. Probably not as perfect as it would if my boss had been there (but it's a bit more streamlined in my opinion), and I didn't stress- didn't freak- just did my gig and kept positive. I'm kicking the cold's ass too, while I'm at it.

*I took the time to tell someone she was doing a great job. I think about doing this all the time and then I forget; but then I remembered how awesome it felt to be told I was doing a great job at work. It totally made my day. The young lady seemed really appreciative and you know what? I think I felt better too. The good karma circle, baby!

*I bought (and have been using) the Neutrogena face scrubby thingamadoodle. It exfoliates your face and makes it look all soft and air-brushed. After losing my job in 2010, I gave up my skin care products (to save money) for cold cream, water and sunscreen. It worked sort of, but I missed the regime (and luxury, I guess) of proper skin care. I had always been a stickler since I was like- fifteen. Anyway, I gotta say for $20, it's awesome! I noticed a difference after the first use. I love it! It feels so nice to take care of myself again after all that time. And yes, I've gotten my good ole products back too (Olay says what?!). My newborn crow's feet, laugh lines and rooster neck are well cared for once again.

What little victories have you had this week? I'd love to know!!

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!

Listen Up This Sunday!

It's not exactly our typical affirmation, but it is a great quote for Autumn. As I said yesterday, this is  the Autumn weekend. Get out there an enjoy the heck out of it!!

Have a truly beautiful day!

Saturday Meditation

Well it is the Fall weekend. It's the last weekend before the crazy cluster and barrage of the "holidays" (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Chanukah). The foliage is at the perfect stage where the leaves haven't fallen off the branches but the colors are so stirring. The nights and mornings are chilly and the afternoons are lovely and mild. The breezes make a mess of your hair but that's okay, really.

Take some time today to really appreciate this particular weekend. It never feels more "Fall" than this. I have so many memories of "being young" i.e. feeling free and laughing a lot during this idyllic Autumn time.

It's a magical and simple time. Where the only purpose is the changing of the season and all the incredible alterations nature takes before Winter, nothing else. No shopping, no noise, no brutal discomfort. Just comfort, and friends and coziness and great music or great quiet. It is perfection.

Breathe in deeply a few times, let your shoulders relax. Take it in. Next weekend October will be over and it will be November.  It seems to go by so quickly. Really try to be present in this actual moment. It's a gift.

Have a truly beautiful day, y'all.