Halloween & Hodge Podge

Did you survive Halloween?  We went  trick or treating three times and I forgot the kids costumes on the last one, the big one, actual Halloween.  Epic fail.  We were 20 minutes from our house with 10 minutes before the festivities began when I realized this.  There was no going back.  I was not happy, my kids were even less  happy.
So I told everyone that my kids were dressed up as "Model Well Behaved Children" which I found quite witty and my kids just looked angry.  With this outing they received the most candy that had so far.  I was excited to see so many chocolate items in my oldest sons bag; he is allergic to milk and so I get all those.
No worries he still has enough crap left to rot his brain and teeth after I take my stash.
 I don't want to buy candy for myself for a few reasons 1) it is expensive 2) it is not good for you  and 3) I am suppose to be starting a diet this week.  I rationalize though that we are getting ready to start the Halloween to Holiday Death Spiral and all the candy will help me maintain my sanity.  Weak I know.  Enough about the pros and cons of excess Halloween Candy let's get to this week's Hodge Podge session.  Join in on the fun by going to Joyce's page here.

1. Who taught you how to cook?


Well my mom some and my Grandma slightly.  My dad reminded me recently that my mom tried to teach me more but I replied, "I don't need to learn how to cook because I will marry someone rich and have a personal chef".  Aren't 16yr olds super genius in their thinking?
I will say that my friends over the last 6 years have really influenced my cooking and pushed me to be better and I am grateful to them for all their ideas and shared recipes.  My goal is to be the one who everyone wants to go eat dinner at their house because it is always sooooo good.  I think my meals now are good but not amazing.


2. Have you been told you think too much? Are too much of a perfectionist? Are too sensitive? Were they right?

I would probably say yes to all three but that does not thrill me to admit.  I do over think things to much and I spend so much time thinking that I stress myself out and miss out.
I am too much of a perfectionist but not always... usually on projects or things I am making, or at work.  So what takes someone 10 min might take me 20 because I want it to be really great not just done and okay.
Yes I am far too sensitive at times and tend to take things to personally which is a bad combo with the whole over thinking thing.

3. As a child did you have a favorite blanket or toy? Tell about it.

I don't remember having a favorite.  I remember having Strawberry Shortcake dolls that I loved and carried with me everywhere for a summer but I don't think I had a single item that I always had to have.  Two of my sons do though.


4. What 'institution' do you have the most faith in?
 Marriage & family.  If you have a strong family you send strong people out into the world.  I truly believe what we do is soooo important and make an impact on the future.


5. Chrysanthemums-pansies-burning bush-ornamental cabbage...your favorite in an autumn garden?
I think Chrysanthemums... not sure.


6. What superpower do the kids in your neighborhood seem to posses?
Since we are new here I really don't know our neighborhood kids and I am not sure there are many at all.  I think we live in an area where there are mostly older people and if there are kid they are of the teenage variety.
 
7. Are you a fan of the cranberry?
Yes.  I like to drink CranApple drinks and I am looking forward to making a cranberry pear pie for Thanksgiving.
 
8. Insert your own random thought here:

I am prepping for my son's birthday party this weekend and I am nervous about having the combination of three girls, 11 boys, light sabers and a huge building with a concrete floor to run in.  Also I feel guilty for all the work I put into this when my other son who had a birthday at the beginning of the month only had a small family party at home.  In my defense he does not go to school and we are new here so he has no friends.  My oldest though went to two weeks of school last year here and then has gone to school this year so he has people to invite.  Guilt either way though if you do it you feel bad for the other kid, if you don't you feel bad for the kid you are doing it for.  Wish me luck because I am sure it will be chaos !
 
 

Like and Dislikes

So there are some things I am loving and not loving this week.

I love fall/winter time so I can make yummy soups but I dislike schlepping my kids about in the cold, rain and snow. It blows.

 {I fear this is what the inside of my car will look like by the time we are all loaded}



I love that I have three boys who are so fun.... until I have to clean three bathrooms used by the boys. I feel for you mammas who have all girls and having to get them ready, do their hair, etc. I don't have that to deal with but everytime I clean those bathrooms I think two things, 1) I need to hire a maid and 2) Girl mommas are lucky in the bathroom cleaning department.
On a semi related note we had to change the toilet seat again in the boys bathroom... I think that is number 4 and we have been here 6 months. In their defense the first one was broken when we moved in but the other three... just what do they do in there?

I love Pinterest and all the amazing ideas I am finding but I dislike the giant time suck it can be.

I love that I finally got my craft room done ... well 99.9% done and I love that I have lots of things I want to finish and make. I dislike that I have so many unfinished projects to hurry and get done. I really needed to be more on the ball.



I love that I have a second refrigerator so I can actually fit more than a carton of eggs, container of milk and one pack of lunchmeat in it. I dislike unpacking groceries into two and trying to remember what I put where.

I love that in my new super cold fridge that when I get a Pepsi out to drink it is actually so cold that there are bits of slushy ice in it.....cannot think of a disklike for that ...lol....



I love that I have an opportunity to get published as a writer {other than on blogger} and I dislike that I am chicken enough I might not take the opportunity.

How are things shaping up for you this week? What are some of your likes and dislikes?

Nifty 50 it is... I have no clever title of my own this week

I really enjoy reading other people's answers to these great questions each week so join in the fun by heading over to Joyce's page  here after you read mine and play along.


1. What gives you goosebumps?

I am not sure what gives me goosebumps but I am very easily scared to the delight of my husband and children so now that they have the excuse of Halloween that are loving jumping out and yelling "Boo" at every opportunity to terrify me.  They are quite amused whereas I am not.

2. Halloween-are you a lover or a hater? Okay, that sounds harsh...Halloween-yay or nay?

I think I am neither.  I enjoy Halloween in that I like to decorate for different things and I like that my kids enjoy dressing up, especially when they use their imaginations to come up with costumes but it is not my favorite.  I don't hate it either so I guess I lean towards loving...lol




3. Can you respect someone you do not trust, and can you trust someone you do not respect?

Tricky question.  I am not sure.  I don't know that I could respect someone I did not trust and I really don't think I would trust someone who I have no respect for.  I know of a situation where there was a very difficult relationship between a mother and daughter and the daughter said she had to respect her mother because she had given birth to her but since that was about all she had done she did not love her.  Not sure where trust fits in there.
4. Apples or oranges? Yes, you have to choose
 
Apples all the way.  In apple pie and maybe with some vanilla ice cream on there :)
 
5. What is something you wish was in your town? (shop, restaurant, attraction, etc)
 
While I really enjoy where we are living I do long for some of the comforts of the States.  I would adore a  Baja Fresh, Target, Olive Garden, and Hobby Lobby.  Oh and Archivers.



6. What non-food item is in your refrigerator or freezer?
 
Ice packs. 


7. Are you at all superstitious?
 
Not really.  I mean why walk under a ladder if you don't have to but I have done it.  I do believe in the saying, "Don't go borrowing trouble"   though.



8. Insert your own random thought here
 
I am really struggling with accomplishing all I want to in a day.  There never seems to be enough time to get done just the daily stuff, let alone play with my kids as much as I want or get my craft projects done or work on my writing or blog. 
I would love to revamp my blog but I don't have the time or really the knowledge to do it.  So what are your best time managment tips and if you have someone who has re-done your blog for you who was it?

Volume 49 of Hodge Podge Blog Saving Questions

Thanks for stopping by to read the Hodge Podge answers... because you know that is the most I am blogging these days :) 
I am so grateful to Joyce for having this for us all to particapate in.  It is great fun!  You can go to Joyce's page here and join in the fun!




1. How do you typically react in a sudden, extreme, pressure-filled crisis? Would we want you nearby in an emergency?


I am surprisingly calm in crisis.  I jump in and do what needs to be done & am fine.  Afterwards I break down.
Example:  Once I got the call that my mom was in the hospital and not doing well and I needed to come home asap.  I drove 4 hours and when I got there I found out she had been life flighted and they didn't think she would make it.  I drove to my parents house, loaded up what I knew my dad and mom would need, drove 4 more hours to where they had flown her and handled everything that needed to be done calm as can be.  Made phone calls, took care of my Dad, etc.  The next day I was at breakfast with my cousins and I picked up the sugar box they have on the table {filled with all the packets} and I threw all the packets in the air and then layed my head down and cried.
Example 2:  Once my good friend and I stumbled onto a train cash immediately after it happened.  We jumped in and were helping people off, seperating people who needed to be seen but were not the most seriously hurt, etc.  It was fine in the moment.  Afterwards I puked.
So long story short I can be your pillar of strength in the crisis but afterwards I am going to need about 20 min. to freak out in some way then I will be fine again.
 
 
2. Caramel apple-caramel sundae-caramel corn-caramel macchiato...of the four, which caramel treat would you choose?
 
I choose caramel sundae.  Yum!
 


3. Is there such a thing as destiny? Explain.
 
I think that we all have a reason for being here, something we need to learn or maybe even accomplish but I don't think that our life is completely mapped out and set in stone for us.  I think we make our destiny.
 


4. What's your favorite piece of furniture? I'm referring to something currently in your possession as opposed to something on your wish list.
 
My current favorite is my new bedroom furniture because it makes my room more relaxing and elegant and I have been waiting a long time to get it.


 
5. Wednesday night marks the start of the 2011 Baseball World Series. Did you know? Do you care? Will you be watching? Ever been to a professional baseball game? If you're not an American do you find the title 'World Series' annoying or amusing?
 
I was not aware it was starting.  My husbands main sport is football & my boys are not really old enough for baseball yet which honestly I am pretty excited about.  I went to billions of baseball games for my nephew & when I was in high school and I don't mind it but it is not my favorite sport either and sometimes I just get sported out. 


6. One sound that takes me back to my childhood is :
 
The sound of jets flying.
 
7. On average, once you've linked your hodgepodge post to mine how many other participant blogs do you visit? Do you ever come back to the Hodgepodge later in the day or even the day after to read posts?
 
Well I always read anyone who has commented on mine and I try to read 5 to 10 more after that.  I do come back and read later on because my time in the computer is usually for only 10 - 20 min. stretches at a time.  So I come post, come back later to see who else has posted and read some of those, then I will go back after someone has commented on mine and read theirs.
 
8. Insert your own random thought here:
 
I was reminded of this by Joyce's title.  Here in England a big saying is, "Keep Calm and Carry On" which I love but I saw one the other day that cracked me up and it said, "Sod It and Get Angry"  I think I need one of each on canvas to hang in my house...maybe I will hang them according to mood and then when my husband walks in the door he will instantly know how the day went according to the sign :)