Falling in to Fall

I am fiercely in love with fall. 

I love fall for the obvious reasons like cooler weather, warm sweaters, changing leaves, but also because there is something about this time of year that lights a fire in me.

This summer was really hard, with the pups (remember that, we still have 4 of 8), the never ending heat, and my general disdain for summer in general has me biting at the bit for cooler air and rustling leaves.

I like to use this new season (and in prep for the holidays) to really clean and organize the house but who wants to hear about that? No one, so I went ahead and made a fun to do list. 

In doing so it seems I have created a list that is a mile long and have filled my calendar up with appointments for craft days (yeah, I am not actually busy, just super planny and crafty) 

1.Go pumpkin picking 

2.Have/attend a bonfire

3.Go camping 

4.Complete fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving crafty things :

Source: personalpizazz.blogspot.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: naptimecrafters.blogspot.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: youcraftmeup.blogspot.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: via Mrs.G on Pinterest

5.Make this table for additional work space in the kitchen a.k.a. The I don't have enough room to make P Dubs cinnamon rolls table. 

Source: thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com via Thrifty Decor Chick on Pinterest

6. Try my hand at jewelry making 

Source: makingitlovely.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

7. Add some love to my bare bedroom walls 

Source: media-cdn.pinterest.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

8. Dust off my sewing machine, and try this skirt 

Source: simplesimonandco.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

9. Make some homemade nom noms
10. Actually participate in something Halloween

This list is long but knowing that it was made because the summer is almost over makes me absolutely giddy. 

OHP Wednesday!

It's that time again!

Here are some of the pins that I love

The Funny

Source: someecards.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: g4me-time.tumblr.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: thisboythatgirl.tumblr.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

The Crafty

Source: confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: personalpizazz.blogspot.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: naptimecrafters.blogspot.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Source: thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

The Beautiful

Source: titan-asteria.tumblr.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest




 

Link up today!

Full Southern: Breakfast for dinner

I have never been a breakfast for dinner girl, I would fight this tooth and nail when I was at home last week deflecting the request from my husband younger. I like to think my tastes have evolved and this change of heart has nothing to do with the fact that I am craving eggs like it is my job. I blame watching Julie and Julia ten times this weekend.

I decided tonight was as good as any to finally throw in the towel and submit to the breakfast for dinner idea.

For my meal I decided to fancy things up a bit and show off my culinary expertise and make eggs Benedict for myself and scrambled eggs and bacon for husband.

I like to use what I already have so this is a modified version of eggs Benedict. I had a loaf of sourdough bread that I needed to use so I went ahead and substituted that for the muffin, also I am a sucker for bacon and had a ton on hand for a recipe I will be sharing later this week (it is what my Grandmother would call an experiment in indigestion) so I subbed that for Canadian bacon.

I cook my bacon in the oven, I love the smell of bacon cooking, as long as I am not cooking it. I hate the grease splatters and how smokey my house gets. If you feel me, this is a sure fire way to cook your bacon and eat it too (you see what I did there, change cake to bacon....mmmm cake). Heat the oven to 375 and line a baking sheet with tin foil. Cook the bacon anywhere form 17-20 minutes, depending on how done you like your bacon.

Now for the scary part. 

Poaching an egg can seem pretty scary, there is a thin line between doing it the right way and FAILING miserably.

Bring water, and 1 Tablespoon of  vinegar, and salt to taste to a simmer (bubbles along the bottom, with some rising to the top), make sure it stays at this temp for a few minutes before you start, this way you know the water is hot enough to cook the egg evenly.

I learned a different way to poach eggs during my short stint in culinary school. I learned to make a vortex, take the spoon out and gently drop the egg in the center. It looks gross but I promise you it tastes amazing.

Start a stirring.

Once you have a pretty good whirlpool going, gently drop it.

See, I told you it would look bad but I assure you in 3-4 min it will be a pouch of gooey awesomeness.

wait 3-4 minutes making sure the water doesn't boil to much, this can disrupt the egg whites and cause poaching chaos.

After the 4 min are up, grab a slotted spoon and fish the sucker out of there, let it drain and rest it on a plate.

REPEAT!!!!

Whew! Eggs are done.

Bacon is almost ready, now for the hollandaise.

This sauce is by far my favorite sauce, it is creamy and rich, tart and salty. I could literally eat it by the spoonful, but I am pretty sure my arteries would give out.

This is probably the easiest way to make this sauce on the planet and it is a good excuse to use my blender for something other than margaritas.

This can get messy so be prepared.

Blend 3 egg yolks and the juice from 2 lemons for a few seconds, until blended.

Now, take the top thingy off, yes, that is the technical term for it, and pour 1 cup melted butter, slightly cooled in a small stream in to the blender and watch the wonderfullness that is this sauce come to life.

Add a dash of Paprika and salt to taste.

It is time.

Grab some toast. 

Pile on the bacon. 

Add the eggs.... gently. 

And douse the whole thing in the hollandaise sauce. I could say that the reason for so much sauce is because the bread soaked most of it up, but in reality I love like it so much I might just have to put a ring on it.

I might have to have seconds, thirds 15ths tonight.

Husband eating grits.

So will Husband...

Chop: Results

I did it!

I ended up not going too extremely short due to I was already nervous about it. After it was dry and what not, I don't think I will go any shorter.... for now.

You know how I was all like "Nerds! I hate my perm!" and all that silliness, well this hair cut has given it new life and I think I am in "like" with it.

Here is before:

This is me, all smiles on the outside

Dread and doubt filled on the inside.

This is the longest my hair has been since 2005, it was mid back, that is crazy long! I didn't have a chance to straighten it before I got it cut to see how long it really it was but ce la vie.

Here is the result! I was dumb and didn't get a good picture RIGHT after but it looks the same as it did on Saturday afternoon. So It is about shoulder length with lots of layers, why did I ever turn my back on layers? My hair loves them.

I am thinking about going back and getting the products she used on my hair because my hair hasn't been as soft and shiny as it was that day. I don't know if I want to shell out the kind of dough for a mini sized bottle, ya feel me?

What do you guys think? Better short or long?

Chop.

I got a perm and never really liked it.

I mean it worked some days, but most days it is a complete mess... like today. It is thrown up in a top not and that STILL can't contain the awfulness.

I prefer my hair on the long side and after my wedding I felt I desperately needed a change so I got my hair chopped about a year after and husband wasn't too fond of it, I believe his first remark was "I CAN SEE YOUR NECK?!?!?!".

Well I am back to that place, should I or shouldn't I.

I wouldn't go that short, I want, nay, NEED to be able to put my hair up in a pony tail.

Here's my train of thought.

1. My perm  growing out. I have about 4 inches of new growth of hair and I am proud to say it looks like my old hair (PRAISE!).  
2. My perm is falling out I am now faced with either having to straighten my hair, or load my hair down with product to force the remaining curl to curl. If I let it air dry or I don't put the right amount or to little product in it, it looks like half straight, half weird semi wave thing and a hole lotta friz.

So my thought is if I get it cut, and keep up with the 6 week trim, my hair will back to normal, or mostly normal in no time. Also, if it is shorter I can blow dry it and straighten it easier than it is now.

No joke if I want to straighten my hair it takes at least 2 hours.

In the back of my mind too I am thinking that maybe if I get it cut shorter the curls will bounce back a little. I know my hair is weighing my curls down.

Here are some styles I am throwing around (please don't laugh at the second one, this is legit)

I think this may be too short, so add a couple inches and we would be in business. I need layers back in my life.

I have always wanted to get this hair style and never did, still maybe to short

Happy medium?

I am not going to lie, I am a little gun shy to let anyone touch my hair. It is times like this I miss Matt and his unyielding advice about my hair.

What do you think?

The chop. Yay or Nay?

Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday!

Its my first link up!!!!

I decided to do a fairly easy recipe that has been pinned on my "Food, Glorious, Food" board for quite some time.

Mini Tacos

Source: flickr.com via Mrs.G on Pinterest

Problems I had, which there was only one. I COULDN'T FIND WONTON WRAPPERS!!!! I was so mad! I went to two different stores which is a big for me. I hate going to multiple stores...

Anyway I found an alternitive that made these normal sized tacos but still had my Hubs raving.

This is my kitchen PRIOR to cooking dinner, I have been making bread like it is my job (6 loafs total thus far), so dishes took a back seat. Priorites people! After I got this mess cleaned up I started cooking.

The cast of characters, 1 lb ground beef, taco seasoning, your tortilla like item, in this case was a soft tortilla bowls, and shredded cheddar which didn't make the picture. I don't feel too bad about that because Jeremy Irons made it so all is right with the world.

This wasn't on the recipe list but I always have to have a diet coke while I am cooking. It is kind of like when a man grills he drinks a beer only with fewer calories.

I I heated Jeremy Irons to a medium to high heat and put about a table spoon of EVOO in the skillet to brown the meat.

Add the taco seaoning. I alway use the whole packet because we don't use taco seasoning enough to just wrap it up for "next time". Because of this mentality the taco seasoning can be a bit much, after I mix it in to the meat I will add about a 1/4 cup water and stir it some more.

it was about this time that I remembered to pre heat my oven.... Happens everytime.

because I couldn't find wonton wrappers I aimlessly wondered the aisles of walmart, got mistaken for an employee and got more offended than I should have.Not that working at walmart is a bad thing it is just it happens all the time, probably once a year, does this happen to anyone else? They were looking for bar soap in the taco aisle.  In my defence I was wearing a purple top and I was holding my purse and a bag of chips, this does not a walmart employee make. Anyway, I was about to scrap the idea and grab a pizza when I stumbled upon this little gem and thought I would give it a try.

TACOS.... ASSEEEEEEMBLE!!!!! Like Avengars but edible, which some women would say is still true about the Avengers (Hello Chris Hemsworth). I didn't measure out exactly and while filling the bowls I up I realized I should have used more than 1lb.

Action shot! And yes, for all of you wondering... I do have man hands. Same with the cheese I didn't meausre because you don't measure cheese, you just keep adding it because it is that good.

In they go! for about 10 minutes (8 for the wonton wrappers)

DO YOU SEE THE GOLDEN BROWN EDGES!?!?!?! These worked really well, they came out crispy and delisious!

I put two on my circa 1984 Corelle plate and added the toppings, more cheese, corn and black bean salsa, sour cream and onion.

Over all they turned out really well, so well infact my husband asked me to find wonton wrappers and make this for his football party next weekend.