justem: little bits of this and that

Five for Friday

The last time I did a "Five for Friday" post was in January of 2015. Think of how many fun Fridays I missed sharing with you all (and by "all" I mean "all three of you who still follow this blog!")  Five for Friday was always one of my favorite ways to share a bunch of fun, things quickly and rather easily, so maybe it will be one that I can commit to trying this year? I'm a bit out of practice...here goes nothing:

1. I know Christmas is over, but I just had to share my new holiday jam - Sharon Jones was one of the many amazing entertainers who passed away during 2016. This song has been on replay at my house for the past couple of weeks...it's pretty much perfect. :)

2. My husband and I had a little holiday party for some of our local couple friends last week. I love entertaining, but I never do it! On a whim, we decided to have an adults-only gathering, and it was a huge success. We were lucky enough to have a wine distributor as a guest, and he brought a bunch of really amazing bottles of wine...or so my wine-drinking friends tell me. I am more of an egg nog + extras girl, myself! I made a bunch of food to serve, including this Crostini with Thyme-Roasted Tomatoes (decent) and this Walnut-Pepper Spread (kinda weird), but my favorite was the charcuterie board I made including lots of Wisconsin cheeses, some meat, fruit, and nuts. It was so pretty and delicious that I made another one for Christmas Eve with my family. I know I'm late to the party when it comes to food trends, but this might just be my new go-to thing make when I have to bring an appetizer someplace.

3. Did you make it to any great after-Christmas sales? I just may have gone to Target...twice. ;) 70% off?! Can't beat that! The first trip I saved $134 and the second time I saved over $30. I stocked up on tissue paper, wrapping, labels, teacher gifts for next year, and of course, a few things I didn't really need but couldn't resist. My favorite finds were a pair of green tree lanterns and a cute Christmas Tree throw that ended up costing me about 7 dollars (in-store deals appear to be much better than online deals!). Next year when I want to buy everything at Target for full price before the holidays, remind me of this post!

4. Do you have a New Year's Eve tradition?  For as long as I can remember, my husband and I have stayed up late and cooked for each other. I don't eat meat, and he doesn't eat dairy, which means many of our favorite meals cannot be shared between us. I love this tradition, though I still haven't decided what he is going to make for me yet!  It's probably between my old favorite standby (leek and lemon risotto) and homemade vegetable potpie. I'm clearly a comfort foods kind of girl! We also usually have a special desert with the kids and do something fun like play games and put on funny mustaches. It's not very exciting, but it's something I look forward to every year! I'd love to hear about your traditions! 

5. Are you in need of something to do on New Year's Day?  Never fear PBS (maybe just in WI?) is running an Anne of Green Gables Marathon! It's settled...I will be in front of the television all day watching Anne with an E. (Okay, in reality, I will tape it all and hopefully watch it at some point in the next couple of months...but oh, how lovely it would be to have an entire day to watch a childhood favorite!) I wonder if Gilbert Blythe will be a dreamy to me as he was when I was 12. ;)

 

Five for Friday

1. Monday evening, my friend Barb and I went out to dinner for Madison Restaurant Week. We ate The Wise. My three courses included a roasted carrot salad, beet and goat cheese ravioli, and a lemon tart.  My favorite part was the salad, which is very unlike me. I am not a salad lover but it was so pretty and tasted just as good!

2. I finished three books already this month!  That's like half of what I read all last year!!  Two were for my book club, and one was just for me. Promise Not to Tell was a murder/ghost story mystery type book. It was scary. I was not a fan. The Midwife is written by an author who lives in Wisconsin and was raised in the Mennonite community. I wasn't expecting to love it, but it was very, very good. The author is a great storyteller, the characters were compelling, and there were some nice unexpected twists at the end!  Finally, Looking for Alaska is a book that pretty much everyone I know has read.  I read it in a few days, and it kept my attention. I thought there were some pretty predictable parts, but it was still very enjoyable.  The characters were interesting and I love reading young adult books as a grown-up...it really makes me think a lot more about my kids when they grow up. ;)

3. My mom is coming to visit this weekend and into next week! I am very excited! I am going to take her to my favorite bakery and try to convince her to help me with some sewing projects. ;)

4. Um...only ONE more episode of Parenthood left!! Who watches?  This is really the only show that I watch on a regular basis.  I love it so much, and I'm prepared to cry for 60 solid minutes next week!!!

5. I haven't gone thrifting in months.  I'm not always too keen on the idea of bringing the kiddos with me when I go searching through piles of crap hoping to find one good item. ;) ;)  I did take a little trip to Goodwill yesterday while my middlest was at pre-school. I got two picture frames to paint and a lidless blue mason jar. It gave me the itch...now I want to get back out and find MORE treasures! The best part about yesterday - when my husband send me a frantic text saying, "That flower picture is not going in our house, is it?????" Ha.  No, honey. Just the frame. ;)

 

Five for Friday {night}:

1. My new favorite shirt is this one from Target. I have purchased the foxes and the teal arrows. I wish they had more patterned options (most are solid), because I would buy every one!  They are soft and warm and comfy!

2. I have to laugh when I Shazam a song on my phone, only to realize that I had already Shazamed (yes,that is totally a verb!) it before!  This is one that I have tagged at least twice already, ha!

3. Speaking of music, I randomly stayed up and watched Jimmy Fallon last night. I can't even tell you the last time that I saw his show when it wasn't a video after the fact. Um, maybe never. ;) Anyway, I basically live under a rock, and I had never heard of Echosmith or Cool Kids (have you?  maybe nobody has heard of them...), but...man, I was blown away by the stage presence of the 17 year old lead singer.  I could barely walk down the hall without tripping at 17. Oh wait, that's still true. Anyway, check it out.  It's a catchy little tune, and how fun that they are siblings. Note to self: start rehearsing with the Super Spahns... ;)

4. I am an egg nog junkie. I LOVE it. I have been a fan since I was a little kid. I was crazy excited to see egg nog at Target this week. I picked up two of the three Watkins flavors they carried: Vanilla Almond and Pumpkin Spice. The Pumpkin Spice was good, but the Vanilla Almond was kind of life-changing.  I am considering going back and buying up every single container...which would last me like a day or two. ;)  I realize this is full of sugar and fat and all kinds of junk...but hey - it's the holidays and it only comes out one month, er, two months a year!  

5. I am constantly embarrassed by "my country."  Why, you ask?  No this has NOTHING to do with elections!!! ;)  Well, I love using the "Explore" tab on Instagram. Most of the photos that show up in my Explore tab are beautiful photographs, cute kids, fun crafts, etc. However, every once in awhile some totally inappropriate photo of a scantily clad woman or something of like. Inevitably, every time I click on one of those (and really, why do I even do it?!) they are shown to me, because they are "popular in my country." UGH. Come on country. Have a little more class! ;)

And...because I somehow messed this up (let's blame the old replacement computer...ughhhh), I ended up with one extra fact...so here's six...for almost Saturday!

6. Have you seen the #crafttherainbow posts on Instagram?  They were started by a blogger/instagrammer I follow called The House that Lars Built. If you know me, you know I love rainbows, especially *things* in rainbow order! So this entire "project" was pretty much perfect for me!!  Check out some of the favorites on her blog. 

Be sure to stop back tomorrow for the Gossamer Blue Inspiration Blog Hop! I will be freezing my heiny off at a tailgate...where the high is slated to be 34 degrees! We are hard core! ;)  Have a great weekend!

Five for Friday:

Happy almost Saturday!  :)  This has been a loooong week. I'm sitting back, watching some Parenthood, and enjoying some pizza and beer!  Here is my belated Five for Friday!

1. This has been the most beautiful fall I've ever experienced.  I like to think that it's because fall in Wisconsin is just a million times better than fall in Illinois, but I've been told by many people that this is the most vivid fall they can remember in years...so maybe it's not like this every year. (Or...obviously Wisconsin did this just for me...)  I admit, I have almost driven off the road numerous times staring at the trees and the colors in the bluffs that I pass every time I go anywhere. They are insanely beautiful. Many of the trees lost their leaves this week...which makes me think of my least favorite season...WINTER. ;)

2. I had my monthly book club last night. This month's book was The Boys in the Boat. Honestly, I wasn't excited to read this book, nor was I really expecting to enjoy it. However, it was probably the best book I have read this year (other than Eleanor & Park, which, as I mentioned before, is amazing but on a totally different scale). It's basically the story of the the 1936 Olympic Crew team. It's riveting...seriously.  I loved it soooo much. It's not something I would have ever chosen myself, but I'm so happy I read it.  You should, too. ;)

3. My newest favorite Instagram account is The Midwestival. They feature photos and stories from the upper Midwest...and anybody that knows me knows that I am fiercely loyal when it comes to my home state and I love that Wisconsin and Minnesota are so prominently featured!  I've been lucky to have a couple of photos featured on their Instagram account and I'm loving everything else I see!

4.  Have you listened to Serial? After I read a review of this podcast last month I knew I HAD to listen, however I don't really have place or a time to listen to podcasts.  My vehicle is old and doesn't have Bluetooth, not to mention that I usually have kids in the car, so that's out. But last weekend on my way to and from St. Louis, I had my husband's car all to myself!!  I listened to all of the episodes and I am hooked!  Today I actually was so excited to listen to the latest episode that I was outside in my yard raking with one hand and holding my phone listening with the other.  Yes, I know I could have found some headphones, but I like to live on the wild side. ;)

5. My buddy Ginny Hughes has been teasing me about my love for everything pumpkin...and she's right...I cannot get enough pumpkin. Yes, I drank the {pumpkin flavored} kool-aid.  This week alone we ate pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin strussel bread, pumpkin bread, mini pumpkin pies (again!), pumpkin noosa, pumpkin spice chai, and today my friend brought me some pumpkin beer...the one I was drinking tonight, in fact. Oh, heck yes. ;)

Have a great weekend!

Five for Friday:

1. My daughter and I have tickets to see James and the Giant Peach this weekend, put on by the Children's Theater of Madison.  We started reading the book, and it's been so fun for me to revisit it.  I'm looking forward to rereading some of my childhood favorites with my kids when they get a little older!

2. Can we talk about black pants for a minute?  I have been going to our local YMCA and have checked out some classes.  I really haven't been to a gym in like five years. And now...EVERYONE wears those damn black pants. Everyone.  Big. Small. Old. Young. Everyone. And let's be real...my body is so not black pants friendly. UGH.  To any of my more comfortable in their black pants friends - can you suggest any good ones for me to buy?? I would love ones that are like capri length...and maybe that are a tiny bit flared vs. totally suctioned to my body. And go!

3. My mom emailed me a link to this video yesterday. I LOVE it.  The music. The video. It's perfect. :)

4. Last year when I had a newborn, a good friend of mine made me some pumpkin pie cupcakes (along with like five other awesome goodies) to enjoy.  I've been wanting to make them ever since, but now that's it's finally fall, it felt appropriate! ;) We made them last weekend and they were soooo amazing.  They aren't cupcakes exactly...more like tiny little pumpkin pies.  They are also crazy easy to make. You should try them!

5. Have you seen the sneaks of the Gossamer Blue December Memories kit?  I have never done a "December Daily" but this makes me want to... ;)  Be sure to check out their Instagram account for all the goodness! Here's my favorite sneak so far:

Have a great weeeknd!!

Five for Friday:

1. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I've been sneaking a few images for Cocoa Daisy...because I'm the guest for October, hooray!  I'm sure nobody remembers but a long, long, LONG time ago. In fact, it was my first "big name" design team!  It's great to be back. Here's a sneak of one of my projects featuring the cut files and exclusive papers for October:

2. I decorated the front stoop for fall.  This is our first fall in our new house, and it's been fun decorating!  I love having a nice big front stoop - though I'd like to get new steps at some point...they look a little rough. 90 years of Wisconsin weather will do that, I suppose. 

 

3. I am loving the smells of fall. I have been diffusing clove + orange essential oil around my house, and it smells sooooo good.

4. My husband and I are not big gift givers, so I was super excited and surprised when he got me this for my birthday. I am in love. I know he got a little help picking it out, but that's cool.  It's perfect. :)

5. Our school district has the day off today for a teacher institute day. It's great having my oldest home again. she and her brother have been playing nonstop this morning.  It makes me realize how much he must miss her while she's gone!!!  Not sure what our plans are for the rest of the day, but I hope YOU have a great Friday and a fun weekend!

Five for Friday:

1. I must say, this week flew by.  Wednesday was a little dicey, but other than that, it's been a fast, fun week! This weekend we are tailgating with friends, attending our first Badger home football game of the season, and having a grill-out with friends on Sunday.  Next week is also my birthday...yikes.  How did I get so old? 

2. I realize I am probably the last person on earth to read the book Eleanor & Park, but I finally read it last week...and I read it in less than 24 hours.  I loved it. LOVED it.  It was the first book I've read this year that just made me feel good. I realize it's a young adult book, but honestly, the writing was better than the Orphan Train book I talked about last week.  That book was mediocre in comparison.  The author, Rainbow Rowell, was basically spot-on in her descriptions of young love. There were so many perfect parts that I highlighted (thank you, Kindle app!) just because they made me smile or made my heart go pitter-patter nostalgically.  I seriously might buy a physical copy of the book to keep it for Mirielle when she's old enough to read it...with all the best parts highlighted in good old fashioned yellow highlighter of course. ;)

3. Do you like meatballs?  I don't.  I don't like meatballs, because I don't eat meatballs or any meat, for that matter.  However, I did make a meatball recipe at the first birthday party last weekend that was, according to those in the meatball-know, supposedly far superior to other more common meatball recipes out there.  I felt that perhaps it was my duty to share this exceptional meatball recipe with my meat-eating, meatball-making readers. ;) And honestly, wasn't it kind of fun seeing how many times I could say meatballs in a single paragraph.  Meatballs.

4. Guess what happens next week? Parenthood - Final Season.  YES. (And by yes, I really mean noooooo. I only watch two shows.  Whatever will I do without the Bravermans??)

5. I shared this photo on Instagram, but I've been doing a little bit of painting.  I bought an older "step table" a couple months ago that I intended on painting, but I never got around to it. When another similar table popped up on Craigslist, I picked it up, and I finally painted them both!  I'm not exactly the world's greatest chalk painter, and there is definitely a learning curve when it comes to the waxing process...but honestly...I LOVE how they turned out.  I also just bought a 10 dollar Craigslist coffee table that I want to paint, too! ;) Once I get it finished, I will share some updated photos of the living room, which already looks quite different from this post from earlier this year! And, as I mentioned on Instagram - someday that ugly loveseat will be replaced with a fantastic sofa. Maybe this one.  A girl can dream, right?

 

Five for Friday:

1. Next week is the last official week of summer. I'm trying to fill the week up with all sorts of fun activities.  A trip to the Circus World Museum with friends, maybe a visit to the zoo and my favorite lunch spot, the splash pad, and Badger Band practice.  I also am planning a Back to School Feast,  an idea that I blatantly stole from the internet.  Any other thoughts or ideas on how to make my daughter's first day of school ever special?

2. In all of my nearly 35 years, I have never been a nail polish girl. Ever.  But my daughter is, so I've slowly been accumulating some different nail polishes for her.  On a whim a few weeks ago I decided to pain my nails...and it was really fun.  I chose a trendy mint color, and my husband looked at me like I was nuts. ;) Since then, I've tried two or three more colors. My latest is Essie Mojito Madness. It's another green...super awesome.  I love it.  My "manicures" look like they were done by a toddler...maybe I should enlist my kids to help, it couldn't be much worse than it already is. ;) But it's fun...and something new and different for me!

3. I'm sure you've all seen this back-to-school video of the What's Up Moms at Target, but if you haven't, it's well worth the two minutes.  This is so me any time I have a free moment to myself!  And, on a side note, I read some of the comments like "this is why working moms hate stay at home moms," and can I just say - I loved back to school as a working mom because it meant my kids were in daycare. I would go shopping, get a pedicure, even meet friends for Starbucks after work while my kids were in the fine care of their child care center. Now it's all me, all the time. I'm not complaining - just saying that I think this video is funny and true for ALL moms.

4. Has anyone read the book Wonder? It was mentioned in an article I read, and I noticed that quite a few friends on GoodReads had given it excellent reviews. I downloaded it on my Kindle and read it in less than 24 hours. Let's not talk about how much I probably neglected my kids during those 24 hours. KIDDING!!  ;)  It is a book for kids, so obviously it's a very fast and easy read, but it was excellent.  I loved hearing the story from all the different points of view, and it really made me think about how I want to raise my children to be kind, compassionate kids.

5. If you've been a reader of my blog for awhile, you know that I have a bit of a thing for cheese curds. I mean, what's not to love? Hot, melty cheese covered with crispy, deep fried goodness??  Well, this weekend (only in Wisconsin, ha!) we are going to a Cheese Curd Festival. Yes. There is such a thing. It is sure to be incredible, and I will report back with my favorite curds next week!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, even if it doesn't include man's greatest food invention. ;)

Five for Friday...er...Sunday?

Happy Sunday! I typed this up on Friday, but apparently never hit "post"! ;)  We were gone for the weekend, and I figured I'd just post it a little late! Hope everyone had a good day!!

1. A friend posted this on Facebook today: Steven Spielberg kills dinosaur?. It pretty much made my week.  I really don't mean to make fun of people, but...SERIOUSLY??!!

2. If you live in the Madison are and are near the Henry Vilas Zoo, be sure to check out the Zuzu Cafe.  I've been there twice now, and both times the food was exceptional.  i love how all of their meals are named after streets in Madison - yesterday I had "The Spooner" which had fresh pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella (aka: my three favorite ingredients) and it was soooo tasty! And here's a picture of "The Henry" that I ate the last time I was there:

3. Some of you may know that I'm a wee bit obsessed with The Land of Nod.  I loved being within driving distance of two when we lived in IL.  Their fall collection was just released, and there are so many amazing things.  Let me just put it out there - Land of Nod, if you'd like to come redo my entire house for me...I'd be okay with that. Don't say I didn't offer.  And when you come...bring this lamp, please. ;)

4. I need a new song.  Who's got a new song for me to listen to???  I don't listen to the radio, and it's been awhile since I had a new song...you know what I like, right? ;)

5. The other night, after an insanely long and crabby day, I really needed a sweet fix. We didn't have anything in the house, so I finally got around to trying "eggless cookie dough."  I used this recipe that I found on Pinterest, but I used some regular sugar and upped the salt and the chocolate chips - because, if I'm going to make it, I'm going to make it as good (aka: unhealthy) as possible. ;)  It definitely wasn't as good as the real thing, but it hit the {sweet} spot! ;)

Five for Friday:

1. Right after I posted my question about books to read, I was invited to join a book club!  The June book was Sea Creatures, which was written by local author Susanna Daniel.  I didn't love it...there were some things I liked and some that really bugged me. Have any of you read it??  I am now trucking away at The Goldfinch. Holy long book, Batman!!

 

2. I have some seriously creative friends. My friend Katie Licht is doing this amazing summer project with her kids in which each week they "visit" another country.  It's genius!  I cant wait to see all of the places they go!  Check it out!!

3. Last weekend we went to the Dane County Farmer's Market (my favorite!!!) and picked up some fresh asparagus and some really fantastic bread from Madison Sourdough. I made roasted asparagus with eggs and parmesan and paired the bread with some super tasty cream Havarti. It was really, really good.

4. After all the hype over Orange is the New Black, I started watching it last week...and I'm HOOKED.  I have lost a lot of hours the last week binge watching (14 to be exact yikes!). I just finished the first episode of Season 2 and I can't wait to watch more!!  

5. I can't believe the first week of summer is over already. I still didn't make a summer to-do list - it's been so dreary and stormy this week that we didn't do much of anything!!  Next week I vow to start the fun. ;) Have a great weekend!