Easter Eve

There is a certain sense of pride that comes with replicating something you see on Pinterest. Tonight I want to share with you one of these moments.

Nick, Jilly and I were babysitting Ian and because it is the night before Easter, we decided to decorate Easter eggs.  After carefully mixing all the dyes and doing a few solid colors I thought of something I saw on Pinterest. The instructions said to crack the shell and then dip-dye it. After the color dries you peel off the shell but leave the inner membrane and it is supposed to make a patterned egg.

I took an egg, smashed it all up, set it in our green dye for about 10 minutes to really let the color set in, and then pulled it out to dry. I waited about 10 minutes again to be sure it was really dry and then began to peel away the shell. It is one of the best eggs I have ever, in 19 years, decorated!

You can see all the little tiny pieces of shell I had to carefully remove..... !

Ahh... the pride of a job well done.

Ian was also very proud of all of his eggs and can't wait for Mommy and Daddy to come home and see them.

Now thats a happy boy if I've ever seen one... :) 

I hope everyone has a very hoppy Easter! I will be doing most of the cooking for our family brunch so look forward to another post that is food-based tomorrow! 

Goodnight

xoxo

Good deals on Good Friday.

So first of all, yesterday one of my favorite people came home for the weekend! (See photo below.)

This morning we set off on a shopping adventure, mostly because I had a site-to-store pick up at the mall and because I had a chauffeur to take join me, and also because it was a beautiful day. It is crazy how the other day I was complaining about snow and today it was 55 - which if youre from Michigan, and it is March, might as well be 75 because everyone acts like it is.

 We came across some ridiculous deals and sales that I wanted to share with you.

This photo was from when we were driving around today  - windows down, radio up. Nick thought he would look good in my sunglasses..... You can be the judge of that.

Anyways, deals. So first off we were going to pick up my pair of cool mint (seafoam green) skinny jeans I got for just 8 dollars on JCP.com with free shipping since I had it sent to the store. (I saw an opportunity to go to the mall - obviously.)  We arrived at JCP with another coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase. There were clearance racks galore.  I was able to pick up a light blue dress for Easter and a white and black striped basic shirt for just $15.

Then we went to Bath and Body Works where I had a coupon for "free travel item of your choice." Since there was no purchase necessary  that was all I got.  I also went there yesterday to redeem a coupon for "free hand sanitizer of your choice." Thanks for all the freebies Bath & Body Works!

After that we headed to Goodwill. I am a big fan of thrift shopping, especially for home products and things I can re-purpose.Today was all yellow tag items half off. I got a lovely tartan scarf for just 99 cents and the big deal of the day... a set of 4 mugs, that are a really pretty black white and red pattern, brand new, that rang up just 25 cents a piece... meaning I got the whole set for $1! I walked out of there with 5 new things for only $2.

We then headed to babysit two of the cutest little kids in the whole wide world, my cousins Charlie and Ruby.  We took them on a walk because it was so nice outside and then returned them home and went on our way.

We had to be back at my house by 4 because Comcast was coming to finally fix my broken TV and internet, which I am happy to announce was fixable. We spent two hours outside with my sister playing tennis and volleyball. Nick even taught me how to longboard - its a work in progress.

Towards the end of our outdoor fun I took a volleyball to the face and have had a pounding headache ever since. All three of us ending up falling asleep for over an hour because we were so worn out from the beautiful weather.

Then, just when I thought I wouldn't have anything else adventurous happen tonight, the best deal of all happened. We stopped at Kroger to get a movie from Redbox, which we got for free thanks to the promo code - DVDONME. (Give it a try!) We decided to go inside and get some sort of snack food to watch with our movie. We noticed near the front of the store that there was a sale on the good Pillsbury cookies, you know the ones with the holiday shapes that are ready-to-bake....

These ones!

 They were marked 10 for $10 and thankfully at Kroger, no matter how many you buy that means just $1 each. We picked up 4 boxes and noticed that each of them had a manufacturers coupon attached that read "$1 off two boxes." Meaning with this coupon, and the sale already going on, each box would be just 50 cents. We grabbed a few other things and checked out. When we got home we looked at the receipt and realized that one of the boxes of cookies rang up at full price - $2.69. Long story short, I have had it happen too many times so I took time to learn the "scanner law." When a product rings up wrong you not only receive the difference back but you also receive a "bonus bounty" of 10 times the difference up to 5 dollars. So $1.69 was the difference, plus $5 = $6.69 we got back for the one box of cookies. We essentially got all 4 boxes of cookies for free and got paid another $2.69 to take them from Kroger. What a good deal.

Now we are settling in to watch out free Redbox movie - Undercover Bridesmaid, enjoy our cookies and bask in our thriftiness. Goodnight!

Closed for Business.

Tonight as I was going through the photos on my computer, I stumbled across some photos that made me seriously miss the summer, seriously miss Traverse City and seriously miss this place...

  

I know what you're thinking... old, run down buildings? Why would I miss those? To me, these buildings are so so much more. You see, these buildings are full of rich history, stories that are unimaginable and lots of hidden treasures. These buildings are part of the Northern Michigan Asylum or Traverse City State Hospital.

Its been more than 10 years since my family and I came across the eerie turrets. Every year we take a family vacation to Traverse City. One night, during a routine trip to Meijers, we noticed turrets above the tree-line, not too far away. We drove in that direction and found ourselves in the middle of a run-down complex of buildings. At the time, we had no idea where we were or what these building once held. The one thing we did know.... it wasn't a happy place.

When we first found it, it appeared to be completely abandoned. There were broken windows and lots of graffiti. It looked as if one day everyone just left... leaving everything right where it was. There were wheelchairs on porches, chairs outside, windows left open - it was a scene unimaginable.

Since finding "The Asylum," as we tend to refer to it as, we have done lots of research and digging about it. There are many books written about the hospital, such as Angels in the Architecture and Traverse City State Hospital. We have bought most of them and read them cover to cover, several times.

I'll give you some basic history but there is so much I can't even begin to share with you.

Northern Michigan Asylum, which opened in 1885, was known during most of its years as Traverse City State Hospital. Traverse City State Hospital served the mental health needs of a large part of Michigan for 104 years until its closure in 1989, housing a population as large as 3,000 in its many buildings. Twelve housing cottages and two infirmaries were built between 1887 and 1903 to meet the specific needs of male and female patients. All of the cottages except the northernmost are still standing.     -Wikipedia.

The first time we visited the asylum, we were cautious. We were careful and unsure and did not know the stories. The second time, the following year, we knew more and explored more. We took photos but still kept our space, taking most photos from the car or the side walks. In the years since renovation has begun to preserve some of the buildings. Others are still left untouched. We have more confidence in these beautiful buildings are have taken photos on porches, in windows, on steps and virtually all over.

     

It has been at least 10 years since we first came across one of my favorite places on earth. Now it is a very different place. One of the largest buildings, Building 50, is home to apartments and lofts, a coffee shop, a wine shop, one of my favorite stores in Northern Michigan - High Five Threads!, an Italian restaurant and an art gallery - just to mention a few!  The buildings have been restored and are absolutely beautiful.

This photo shows the contrast of new and old, as the buildings were under renovation.

I have taken hundreds and probably thousands of photos here and would love to share them all. I have attached a link to my Flickr, where these images can all be seen. I have won photography contests with some of these images and have them displayed in my bedroom. I have no problem telling everyone that those buildings were once home to all sorts of people, struggling with all sorts of conditions and diseases. I am proud to show these beautiful buildings off, and happy to say this is one of my favorite places on earth. 

       

My Flickr - More photos located here

If you're ever in the Traverse City area, try to stop by this historic place. If you're there at the right time they are even doing tours of some of the buildings and the underground tunnels! Think you can handle that? 

If April showers bring may flowers, what does snow in March bring?

Being from Michigan, I am used to all sorts of crazy weather. However, when I woke up to a fresh layer or snow this morning... just 6 days from April, I was displeased. The house was freezing and I was hungry. It was not a good mix.

Also, I was craving pancakes.

To the kitchen! I whipped up a delicious batch of pancakes which not only cured the hunger but also helped with the warmth situation because I was busy and working around heat. After that I began to plan dinner. What is perfect for a cold, gloomy day? A nice big pot of chili!

There is just something about the smell of chili cooking in the crock pot, that goes really well with a cold winters SPRING day. Our recipe really has no exact measurements and changes every time but it has the same basic framework.

You will need:

1/2 lb of ground beef/turkey mixture browned (Obviously you can use all beef, all turkey, or no meat at all.)

1/2 a can of corn.

Some pieces of celery, cut thin.

A small onion, chopped.

A large teaspoon of garlic

Chilli powder, garlic powder, any powders you like really...

2 cans of diced tomatoes

2 cans of beans. We prefer one kidney and one "chili beans" or black beans.

Some pepper or whatever seasonings you like.

And if you're my boyfriend then a big ol' bottle of hot sauce, but I prefer to leave that one out.

Saute the celery, onions and garlic to "sweat" them. (or have them run a mile, your choice.) Once they start becoming translucent, they're done.

Toss it all in to the crock pot and let it cook together for about six hours.

We will be enjoying our chili with freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, crackers and hot rolls.

What is your favorite dish on cold and gloomy days? Or a favorite crock pot recipe??  

Last set.

Today, those two words - last set - were some of the greatest words in the whole world. Lets back up about 14 hours ago.

Around 9 am we set out for London, Ontario (Canada, eh?) for a Highland Dance competition. You see, when your little sister takes up a type of dance that isn't very popular, you end up going to competitions that are hours and hours away. Apparently Canadians highland dance far more than Americans. Anyways, 9am... we make it across the border with no problem. The friendly, yes friendly, border patrol office actually asked my dad how many years he has been dancing when we told him we were going over for a dance competition! We made it onto the 401 and headed for London. We take our speed limits for granted here. The speed limit on the 401 is 100 and I dont mean MPH, I mean KPH which equivocates to 62mph. Lets just say it felt like we were crawling. Also, going over the speed limit was a minimum $100 ticket.

About an hour into the drive we found our first service plaza, where we finally got Tim Hortons (after passing   at least 15 others on the way to the 401.) After a coffee and a bagel, we were back on the road. As you can imagine, when we found the next service plaza another half hour or 45 minutes later, we were all ready to visit the wash rooms. Yes, wash rooms. I even heard an adorable child say "Im sore-y mommy, I didnt mean to run away but I really needed to get to the wash room." Yuuuuuuup.

When we finally arrived at the high school, got registered and sat down for the main event we realized it was going to be a long day. There were A LOT of girls, and several different dances, and the chairs we were seated in were pretty much the worst ever. Thanks goodness for my iPad, mom's tablet, the random outlet we found hidden in the very back of the auditorium, the floor that was more comfortable than the chairs, the "loafs" sold at the concession stands and the cute little 4-year-olds running around in kilts. Those 4-year-olds are probably my favorite part of dance competitions, with their pas de basques and hi-cuts. So cute.

We kept watching our watches and trying to find ways to pass the time. Finally around 6:45pm one of the backstage ladies came out with the glorious sign.. "Last Set." The crowd went wild, and most of them didn't have a three hour drive home, since we were one of only two US license plates in the whole lot.. (Dad used that as a half hour to occupy his time!) I was so excited for it to be ending, I could have gotten on stage and joined them in the hornpipe.

Once awards were said and done, and Jilly received two 1st place medals and the 1st overall trophy (!!!!!!!!!!!) - which ALMOST made the drive worth it - we embarked for home.

 We stopped at another service plaza, got dinner, ran into a group of boys in the Canadian Army who were impeccably friendly and polite, got more Tim Hortons (gosh, I love Canada!) and finally made it back to the border. We had another friendly BP officer, aside from the fact that he called me Carly and my name clearly has no Rs... Carlee?

AND THEN WE MADE IT HOME. and now it is 12:26pm and I feel like I have been awake for a week and I am now done brain dumping and I am going to sleep. Goodnight/Bonsoir. 

That's debatable.

So tonight I am just sitting here and I really wanted to write a blog. I could not think of a topic or an issue to write about. I considered sharing a photo, or discussing some lyrics or a nice quote. Nah. So I reached out to my Facebook friends and received a fantastic idea... Thanks, Sarah!

This truly is life's greatest battle, and it is still a battle I have with myself every time I am craving breakfast.

So pancakes vs. waffles.... I will save my choice for the end, but do know that my choice will probably change every 30 minutes.

First of all, when asking this question, it is never that simple. There are other questions that must also be asked, such as: What kind of waffles or pancakes? Is there fruit on top? Is this actually breakfast or like a breakfast-for-dinner type of deal? What are you eating WITH said pancakes or waffles? What is your beverage of choice with the meal?

That being said, I can give you some scenarios. Everything stated is purely my opinion and in no way meant to be a persuasion of you decision.

Lets say you have butter, syrup and strawberries on top... A cold glass of orange juice and a side of sausage. It is 10am on a Saturday. I say pancakes. While there is no scientific approach to coming to this answer, trust me... pancakes.

However, if it is 9pm, and you really didn't have dinner so you're looking for a quick fix that you will call your dinner... this is waffle time. Might I suggest some ice cream or at least whipped cream. Maybe Nutella or chocolate chips? A nice big cup of coffee (decaf if you're one of THOSE people, that can't handle their caffeine at night. -- not me, the later the time, the darker the roast!)

Maybe it is lunch time, you slept in late, and you've got a few minutes to whip up some breakfast. You've got bananas, and and butter but no syrup. First of all, no syrup is really sad, and you're going to need a good drink to wash them down, but I would say waffles. Waffles that are crispy are a little easier to handle with no syrup and I think bananas and waffles is a wondrous combination.

I encourage all of you to leave comments and provide me with other scenarios.. I am running out of ones I can think of. Set the scene for me and I will make the big decision.

Does that help make your decision at all? Probably not.

As for me, waffles.

And I will leave you with this...

It's the greatest time of year.

And while typing that I need to share that this will now be stuck in my head for the rest of the night.. Click!

Anyways! One thing that I have every single day, no matter what, is a cup of coffee -- All different kinds, from all different places. As much as I love my Keurig and making my own coffee, this coffee is something different. It is almost... magical! That's right, folks. It's THAT time of year!

ROLL UP THE RIM TO WIN, time! 

There is just something special about drinking a cup of coffee that could potentially win you a car, or at least a free donut. This year I've received "Win Free Coffee or Latte" and one "Free Donut." No car, no grill, no gift card, but I still continue to buy them. 

The thing I find even funnier than the craze to buy these cups (I saw a photo online of a girl who got 29 EMPTY cups for her 29th birthday.) is the unique ways people roll them -- before they drink it, midway through, after, with their fingers, with their teeth... you name it. I personally use my teeth and go all the way around until the rim is completely unrolled. How do you roll?

What makes a cup of coffee with a prize under the rim so special, when 90% of the time it is a loser? The world may never know. 

(P.s. All cups pictured above are winners. They are starting to take over my room.)