kirstencan

Fall Shoes

Thanks for the crochet comments - who knew so many of us are Yarn Challenged!  Should we form a club?  Or at least have matching t-shirts? 

I don't know what it is about Autumn's arrival, but it always makes me want new shoes...

A few weeks ago I wandered onto the Crocs website - I've never worn these before  but they were having a 2-for-1 sale, so the girl and I have matching Mary Jane crocs now.

Oh, so comfy!

(The above was taken when we were still having summer weather - before the overnight 40 degree drop last week!)

Here are my 'real' fall shoes - after much research and deliberation:

I really wanted the purple ones, but was practical and ordered* the black.  Practical in the sense that they will match my stripy knee socks.

Also, I may have done the Mary Jane thing to death - but I'm okay with that.

I think we're about ready for fall/winter now - the clothes are out, kids are wearing socks.... except Thomas needs snow boots, and so do I.  I was thinking about picking up some of those Kirkland brand Ugg-type boots at Costco.  Does anyone have those?  Love them?  Hate them?  Good in snow?

.

Question:  Why is it that when my husband orders from Zappos his shoes get here amazingly fast - like free upgraded shipping get here in 12 hours fast - while mine arrive EIGHT DAYS later?  Hmm?

Answer:  Does it matter?  Next time use his login, though!

End of Summer Random

I have a bunch of random rumblings in my head today - bear with me as I purge.

**At Old Navy recently, I spied a rack of STIRRUP PANTS.  Black ones.  Just like the ones I begged my mom (and Santa) for when I was 10.  It was the 80's and I was 10 - that is my excuse.  Anyone who buys them now has NO excuse.  Seriously??

**I found new stainless steel water bottles at Costco - loving them.  They are Contigo brand, BPA free, dishwasher safe and they were a great price.

(The ones in the back are the kids' Thermos Funtainer ones.  They've been in constant use for 2 years.  I finally called Thermos to order new straws.  I may still buy some new ones for them, too - Mom spied some kids' Contigo ones at Costco, too).

**Yard sale season is coming to a close - and I have a couple more finds to hunt for - most importantly some kind of wardrobe/armoire for the girl's room.   She could really use a place to hang up her clothes.

**I found a pretty good natural deodorant.  I've been a fan of the JASON deodorants (in the background - notice I try to pick them up at Target on clearance) but I picked up this Arm & Hammer one a few months ago at the grocery store and like it even better.  Just get the unscented.  Trust me.

I switched to natural (aluminum free) deodorant a couple of years ago - and they're pretty hard to find!  But worth it, I think.  Once when I wore regular antiperspirant for a day after switching - I broke out in hives!  That sold me.  Plus, doesn't it seem weird to stop your body from sweating?  Anyway.

**We saw Ponyo in the theater afew weeks back - fabulous.  The kids LOVED it.  It was more fun to watch the kids watching it than keep my eyes on the screen.  They are big Miyasaki fans, so seeing a Studio Ghibli film in the theater was a real treat.  And it was really good.  Very charming.  If you have a chance to catch it in the theater - go for it!  It's probably my second favorite after Totoro.

**We also saw The Fox and the Child this week (checked it out from the library) and that was very charming as well.  It's a beautiful French film that the kids really loved - and so we are studying foxes this week in biology.  I highly recommend both movies.

**I've been reading quite a bit - and while I might not make it through 'American Gods' (sorry Aaron - he's been trying to get me to read this for years) I have a few notable books that I've really loved.

Love, Aubrey was one of my daughter's library books that I just picked up - and then couldn't put down.  I really enjoyed it.  It's a juvenile fiction and so worth reading.

Also recently read The Hunger Games and its sequel Catching Fire.  Both are fantastic and so exciting - Princess thought so as well.

**I'm so sick of my kids' 'internet names'.  I don't regret using them, I just regret the ones I chose.  But it's been 3+ years, so it feels too late to change them.

**I am still taking photos for 365 - but have lost count and haven't uploaded for a while - I need to go sort that all out!

Okay, that's all for now - I think my head feels lighter.

What's random with you?

Preserving Peaches

Straight from our garden:  a beautiful, perfect, golden peach.

It's finally peach season.

With a wet spring and surprisingly cool summer, we were worried about our peach crop.  It's our favorite thing to grow in the garden (or eat from the garden).  Last year we got so many perfect peaches - remember the peach sock things?  We used them again.

 

 

(A couple of pears on top!)

Last year we froze a lot of our peaches - some as pie filling, some for smoothies, some whole.  This year I wanted to learn how to can them.  I was totally intimidated by that idea, actually, having never canned before.

But we had all these peaches just waiting, and my friends and neighbors were so willing to share advice and tips (and extra canning supplies!).  So Saturday was designated as Canning Day.

 

Princess was in charge of the sugar/water solution.

 

(Her name's not Sophia - that apron is a story for another day!)

The process was made easier by our peaches that peeled so easily without being blanched - thus saving us a step (and a pot!).

Aaron peeled and pitted, Princess sliced (Monkey played video games and Thomas was at Grandma's).

 

 

I peeled and then finished the filled jars. 

 

For several hours, this big pot was boiling on the stove.

 

The finished product:  28 quarts!  It truly was rewarding seeing all those golden jars lined up on the counter!

 

I kinda loved this - and I'm very surprised at that.  It was not nearly as hard or as messy as I was expecting.  I highly recommend it.

I cannot stress how much my daughter loved this.  She was a big help.  I'm pretty sure she was pretending she was in the Great Depression the whole day.  And when we were done, she counted her allowance money and paid me to order the canning kit* for her dolls.

And then she got some small jars and filled them with small pom pom 'preserves'.

*I saw this set in the catalog and thought: What girl is going to pick a canning set for their doll when they could get fancy outfits, salon chairs, etc.?  Turns out it's my girl.  That's pretty cool, actually.

13 years later...

Dear Aaron,

I'm still SO glad I married you.

And that you asked me.

I love you forever and ever,

Kirsten

Raspberries

The strawberries are done for the year - but bring on the raspberries!  Berries and peaches are our favorite things to grow, and they do well in our garden, thank goodness.

Monkey has been our garden-kiddo since he was a baby.  And he still is.  He's usually the one out picking with dad - except he just eats his berries.  He suggested to us that we use our tummies as bowls.

We had a big bowl of red and black raspberries in the fridge this weekend.  And I decided to try for turnovers.  I have fond memories of raspberry turnovers from when I was younger.

I bought the puff pastry (which I've never used before).

I made berry pie filling.

I watched Alton Brown's Good Eats episode about puff pastry.

I followed directions.

They turned out delicious.

Holy cow, just perfect!

They were good for breakfast, too.

Random for summer

**Chelle is doing another summer reading program.  I love it.

Check it out here.

**The last few days we've been listening to a lot of Raffi.  We love Raffi.  Holy cow, we listened to TONS of his music when Princess was small.  His Christmas album is one of my holiday faves.  Somehow Monkey hasn't been exposed to him as much, and it's been so fun to see him light up at 'Teddy Bear Hug', 'Aikendrum', and 'Down by the Bay'.  I need to remember that though he's such a sophisticated little dude, he's only four and we need to make sure we do all the 'four stuff' with him.

**I would sure appreciate it if all the Pokemon dvd's the kids keep checking out from the library would magically return themselves.  Like today.

**SYTYCD was bumming me out (disappointing!) - until last week rocked.  Last night's was okay. 

**I saw a Summer Bingo idea here, which apparently originates here.  I made up my own version for my 8yo - if she uses it I'll do it up a little nicer.  I would have loved this idea as a kid.

**A few weeks ago I passed not only my 600th post, but my 3 year 'blogiversary'.  An average of 200 posts a year?  Not too shabby.
Anyway, thanks for being here, and one of these days I'll host a slightly-late giveaway.

**Blogging has been fun, but the past six months or so has been quite the pain.  Somehow, the last time Typepad upgraded itself left me unable to comment on any typepad blogs.  Which is seriously dumb, since I pay for this service.  I hate not being able to comment (not even on my own blog!).  I have made some good friends online and I feel like they think I'm being standoffish or that I don't like them anymore or something.  I try to comment on flickr, but it's just not the same.  I have a help ticket open with Typepad (again!!!) but they can't seem to find the problem.  Lovely.

** I was watching Gilmore Girls (again - season 5 - which is when I start losing all patience for that show - I will never watch season 6 or 7) and noticed a store window in Stars Hollow that says "Kirsten's".  Ha!

**Speaking of my name, you pronounce it 'KEER-sten', not 'Kur-sten'.  Just in case you were wondering!

**What are you guys up to this summer?

I thought this day would never come!

Today was the first day I've been able to hang my laundry outside this year.  Hooray, hoorah!

After the cottonwoods were finally done 'snowing' and after three weeks of rain, the weather went straight for temp's in the 90's.  We kind of expected that, and no complaints here - at least we're under 100!

I have three lines in my backyard, and my awesome IKEA rack which can hold a whole load by itself (and is especially great for dishcloths, kids' tshirts, cloth napkins, underpants and socks).

I love hanging my laundry outside.  I love having the excuse to take a few minutes in my backyard under the cottonwood trees and hang or fold laundry, several times a day.  I love watching the kids play behind/under the flapping sheets.

I love that it's better for the earth, too.

Now where did all my clothespins go?  I ask that every year.  I really need a clothespin bag, I guess...

p.s. Go read Molly's post about hanging laundry, too.

EDITED TO ADD:

The first load dried very quickly on the line - the second one?  I had to take it in nearly dry... because of a thunderstorm. 

Aaaannd.... we're back.

DAISO!

One of the things I was really looking forward to doing while in San Diego was stopping by the local DAISO store - it's like a Japanese dollar store - kinda.  Cuteness galore, and everything is like $1.69, $3, or $5.  There are only a few in the U.S. and I live nowhere near one.  Jen once sent me some DAISO goodies - and I was hooked.

Anyway, the shopping expedition just didn't happen.  That was only okay because I knew my mom was going to San Diego the next week and would go shopping for me - she knew how much I wanted to go and even looked at DAISO pictures on flickr to see what I wanted!

She not only shopped for me, but she called me when she got there and kept me on the line the whole time - so she could describe everything and I could make choices - how cool is that??!

So here's a little show-and-tell of Japanese cuteness: 
First up - bento boxes!

When I thought that Thomas might be in public school for first grade, I was planning on getting him a bento (or more likely a Laptop Lunchbox).  They go really well with kids with food allegies because you can pack non-sandwich lunches really easily.  Not to mention that you can make them all cute!

Since he's homeschooled now, these are for picnics - still fun!

Here's Princess' bento - in French of course!

I wonder if Japanese to French is as cool/funny as Japanese to English...

Here's mine:  I wish it is a good day today.

See why I love this stuff?

These are little cupcake wrapper type bento dividers to keep foods separate.

Don't get me started about my love for this stationary.  It's so amazing.

My faves are the DonutBear notepad, Happy Elephant (soursour), and this stroll bear: Every day is weather of the stroll.

Wise words, Stroll Bear!

Here are some really awesome coloring books/Japanese workbooks.  The kids love them.

Here's most of the loot all together.  I had the best time digging through the bag when my mom got back in town! 

I got a couple of little drawstring bags for the kids' bentos - and can't wait for some picnicking now!

Thank you, Mom!

(How awesome is she?)

It's Earth Day Again!

Happy Earth Day! (you know, assuming bloglines picks this up today, which seems unlikely)  A couple of years ago I gave a little presentation to the women at church about 'Living Green(er)'.  The PDF of that is still available, if you're interested.

I re-read that post today, and my 'green' goals then were:  use reusable shopping bags and use cloth napkins.  Hey, I did pretty good with those goals!  I had collected canvas totes to use for shopping, but I never took them.  They were bulky and odd sizes, and just weren't working for me.  I'm afraid they were awkward for the cashiers as well.

Eventually I bought some of those shopping bags from the grocery store - they are bigger than they look, they're surprisingly tough, and hold a TON.  And I love that they have a flat bottom and fold up and store neatly.  And now I try to remember to take them with me to any store I'm heading to (and I've never had a store make any comment about that, just in case you were worried!  Most of them actually give a discount per bag that I bring, actually).

And it's been a LONG time since I bought paper napkins.  Woo hoo!

This year we'll celebrate earth day by having some family garden time - hopefully planting a few things and making it nicer back there.  We really want to involve the kids more in our garden.

My goals for this year are to waste less food, learn to preserve food from our garden better and shop at the farmer's market more. 

I'm so sick of people only looking at The Environment as a crazy wacko political issue.  Bottom line for me is that I believe we have a responsibility to care for our earth, which gives us so much.  Let's all try to do a little better, and teach our children to respect the Earth and not be so wasteful. 

Okay, so what are your Green Goals for 2009?  Come on!

 

Randomness

Because none of these things deserves a whole post of its own, and yet I feel like blabbering on...

* I changed my blog banner and am not happy with it.  I have had that old one up for TWO YEARS.  Crazy, but true.  I need something new, but this is not it.  And of course there's no 'save as' feature where I was working in Typepad so my old one is toast.  I can't find the old banner graphic.  I just need a new one.

*  I made two crayon rolls this weekend, and on both of them I used a hair elastic for a tie instead of ribbons.  Mostly because I didn't have any ribbon that matched on hand but I did have new hair bands.

I made this one for the boys to keep in the church bag, and the elastic is something they can do themselves (they can't tie yet).  It's a smaller version to accommodate the small sized twistable crayons.  The fabric was sent to me by the lovely Tasha, and how cute is it?

* We let Princess stay up with us to watch Masterpiece last week (Oliver Twist) and it was pretty awesome.  I've never been a big fan of that story, but this production is just so well done and well cast.  Princess has read a shortened version of it, so she was very familiar with the storyline - much more so than I was.  We're excited to finish it tonight. *added: Holy cow, that was amazing!  Dickens sure knew how to tell a story- I already knew that, but WOW!

* Note to self:  Get to work on the Mobile Swap this week! 

* We checked out and have been enjoying all three Little Travelers DVD's this week - how great are they?  The whole family loves them.  I think the British Isles is my favorite.  I can't wait to see the next one about Iran. 

* Aaron and I have a DATE NIGHT scheduled this week!  Woo hoo!  Wish us luck on sneaking out of the house and leaving the sleeping kiddos with a babysitter.

* We've been Elizabeth Mitchell fans for a while - but Monkey just 'rediscovered' her.  Grandma has given him 'You are my little Bird' and 'You are my sunshine' for his birthday/Christmas and he LOVES them.  He'll just lay on the floor and listen.  It's great to play in the hall when the boys are falling asleep.  If you have a minute check out this other great E.M. + Lisa Loeb song.  Cute cute stuff.

* We finished reading 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory today so we watched (for the trillionth time) the movie.  Man, they love that movie (and esp. the soundtrack) but I could see they watched it with new eyes after having read the book.  Thomas said he wants to be an oompa loompa for Halloween.  Oh, how I hope this idea sticks around.  Preliminary sketches are in the works.  That could be the backup in case I can't convince the boys to be hobbits.

* Princess has started on the Star Wars soundtrack piano book.  She is trying to decide which would be best to play at the June recital.  My question is not which song, but if she should wear her costume for it.  How hilarious would that be?