Happy 2017!

I know.

It's been a while.

I kept waiting for things to settle down, but realized that may never happen, so long story short...

I turned down a permanent position at the mortgage company, and finally accepted a position managing the office of an insurance agent in a nearby town.

I say "finally" because we've been talking about this for over four years!

I really wasn't interested (Insurance?  Ugh, no.), but eventually ran out of excuses so agreed to give it a try.

One year.

The thing is, I actually like it...

The people are nice and the agents (husband and wife) I work for aren't pushy - they actually care about their clients (maybe all insurance agents do?). And I really feel like we're helping people, which I like.

It's only been two months, so we'll see.  (Although, with the last 3 jobs (!), I've known way before the two month point that it wasn't going to work.)

In other "finally" news, I finally launched my shop! (Again, that took much longer than expected!)

I created a website, and also have a Facebook page and accounts on Instagram and Pinterest. A friend suggested I call it "lili" and I couldn't think of anything better so "lili" it is!

I started in mid-September in a storefront that also includes an antique store and a bakery.  That was going well, until the people who ran the antique store didn't think we were busy enough, so started closing the shop to work another job.

I moved out of there at the beginning of November and into another shop in town. We agreed to go through the end of the year, and I recently decided I just couldn't afford to continue in that space.

Now I'm in the process of re-opening the gift shop in a historic, boutique hotel called The Decker Hotel (conveniently located in the same town as the insurance company).

The Decker is a beautiful old hotel and the restaurant and bar are more upscale.  And, a lot of the musicians who perform at Codfish Hollow (SO COOL!) stay there, so it's turning into this really hip place to be!  I'm hoping to add to that upscale, cool, hipness!

I'm also hoping that things do eventually settle down and Lord Tennyson is right!

South Dakota - July 2015

The town where I live has a huge festival every year for the 4th of July.  When I was the Director of the Chamber of Commerce, I always had to work that day (ALL day).

In my new position as General Manager of a local event centre, I intentionally did not book anything on that day (for a variety of reasons).

Long story short, I went to South Dakota last week.

Rapid City is a 12 hour drive from eastern Iowa.

You have to, right?

waiting, not very patiently

He's always had a motorcycle, but this year, he got a Harley, so...

mandatory

Sturgis was surprising.  We did NOT go during the rally, so it was just a very normal small town.

It also has places like these, which we were happy to see, without experiencing the craziness of the rally.

Buffalo Chip

Full Throttle Saloon

delicious!

Emmett

Just next to Sturgis is Deadwood.  I'm absolutely addicted to the HBO show (SO good!).

downtown Deadwood

Mt. Moriah Cemetery

I love cemeteries (I know that's weird), and Wild Bill Hickok, Seth Bullock and Calamity Jane are all buried here.

Calamity Jane fascinates me

Afterwards, we rode through the Black Hills National Forest, stopping at Cheyenne Crossing for an Indian Taco (it was just ok, but apparently is the thing to do), into Spearfish Canyon.

Roughlock Falls

Just off the Spearfish Scenic Byway is the trail to Devil's Bathtub.

The trail is challenging, and requires crossing the stream several times - by balancing across a fallen tree, leaping from rock to rock (or wading through when you just don't care anymore) and sometimes by shimmying across a rock face by your fingernails.

Honestly, I wanted to quit several times.  It was scary!  How cool could it be?

pretty cool

very cool

At the end of every day, we would ask each other what had been the best part.  For both of us (even me!), this was the best part of the whole trip.  It was challenging and humbling and ultimately so rewarding.

The next morning, we went to downtown Rapid City, had a delicious breakfast at Tally's Silver Spoon (consistently ranked as the best breakfast in town) and walked through Art Alley.

The quote reads "It is better to be high-spirited even though one makes more mistakes, than to be narrow-minded and all too prudent."  

(I love that!)

We then headed to Custer State Park...

Sylvan Lake

view from the famous Needles Highway

out to see the Crazy Horse Memorial,

they have a long way to go

then took the gorgeous Iron Mountain Road...

right after we saw this guy we saw a whole herd,
but they're mean & scary so we didn't stop

to Mount Rushmore.

Some friends of mine were talking one day about the lighting ceremony at dusk, so that's when we went and the only word I can use to describe it is "emotional".

The next day we were ready to get off the motorcycle (300 miles in 2 days was enough for both of us), so we got in the truck and drove out to Wyoming...

to see the Devil's Tower.  

(Having seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind as a child, I couldn't help but find this creepy.)

We ended the night in the small town of Lead, known for having one of the best fireworks shows in the country.

The next day was the long drive home.  

On the way, we drove through the Badlands.  This was supposed to be a 1-hour drive along the scenic byway, but we ended up getting out several times for a better look.  

this place is very interesting

Luckily, neither of us had to work on Monday, because we'd spent so much time in the Badlands we had to stop for the night at midnight with almost 4 hours to go.

But, like everything through the whole trip, it was worth it.

End of December 2014

On Friday I delivered the last of the donations for our community giving tree, and now have a lull until I either find another job or have to start preparing for next year's events (hopefully the former).

I do love this job, but I'm getting excited about the future - meeting new people and doing something different.

Over the weekend, I relaxed - finished one book (The Meadow, by James Galvin) and started another (A Visit from the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan).

Although one book takes place in the mountains along the border of Wyoming and Colorado, and the other is set in urban New York and California, the books are very similar - both move back and forth in time to tell the inter-related stories of several people.

And they're both really good!

Sometimes I feel like I can't do anything fun while the house is such a mess, but this weekend I decided that the fact that my bedroom looks like this...

so I have to sleep here...

doesn't mean I can't use the kitchen, so I made this recipe for Creamy Crockpot Potato Soup.  (I left out the bacon until the end, though, because soggy bacon is so gross.)

I also made this No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread and it really couldn't be easier!  I was shocked!  I'll try adding in some flavors next time - cheese, rosemary, jalepeno...

To get in the holiday spirit, I watched Love Actually, #2 of my holiday movie trilogy that started last week with The Holiday.  Tonight I will finish with The Family Stone, before spending Christmas Eve with family (SO thankful I don't have to fly anywhere!) and then having dinner with friends on Christmas Day.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

All You Need is Love

Happy (Belated) Valentine's Day!

Last week, about an hour before the store closed on February 13, I stopped into the Goodwill in Maquoketa, hoping to find a heart shaped cookie cutter (for an upcoming project), and found a set of Pottery Barn Kids Valentine's Day placemats (still in the package!) instead.

Now, I don't have kids (or a Valentine), so why do I need kids Valentine's Day place mats?

Because they are SO cute!!!

Source

And they were only $2!

I also found these salt & pepper shakers, also by Pottery Barn, also still in the box, for $3 (original price $24).

Source

They have nothing to do with Valentine's Day (or love) whatsoever, but they're so cute!

Also this weekend, I tried a recipe that I've been seeing on Pinterest a lot lately (with good reason - it's SO good and SO easy!)

Crockpot Italian Chicken 

4 chicken breasts

1 packet Zesty Italian dressing seasoning

1 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)

2 cans cream of chicken soup

Cook on low for 4 hours. If sauce is too thick, add a little milk. 

Serve over pasta. 

Source

"Wowzers" indeed!

I may have to send these place mats to my friend Winavie at Lemons & Chambray (who actually does have kids and a Valentine!).  In the meantime, check out what Goodwill Hunting deals she found!

Next Month - It Ain't Easy Being Green!

Keeping My New Year's Resolution

Due to my resolution to not spend ANY money this month, I obviously couldn't go Goodwill Hunting.

But for someone who wants to spend less money (me!), thrift stores are great places to shop!

Right after Christmas (pre-New Year's resolution), I was wandering through a Goodwill in Madison, Wisconsin when the cute copy boy ran over and asked if I wanted a pizza maker for $3.

YES!

He has one, and I love it, but they're regularly about $50.

It was a Presto 03430 Pizzazz Pizza Oven, and it looked like it had never been used, so we plugged it in and it worked!  (Always make sure.)

So, I brought it home and a few days later this...

became this...

in about 15 minutes.

(Luckily frozen pizza also falls into my "spend less money" resolution.)

I can't wait to see what resolutions Winavie at Lemons & Chambray made this year!

Next month - All you need is love!

Resolution Evolution

Initially I didn't make any New Year's Resolutions this year.

Then I read something somewhere about someone (specific, I know) who had made a resolution to get rid of 10 things every day for 30 days.

I love getting rid of stuff, so I decided to do that too.  

It's so easy!  

I've gotten rid of expired medicine, old phone books and catalogs, movies I've watched and books I've read (and don't intend to ever watch or read again), and I'm working my way through dozens of those little bottles of shampoo and shower gel from hotels I've stayed at over the years.  

Then I started thinking about how some say it takes 30 days to make (or break) a habit.

In addition to clearing out the clutter, I would really like to spend less money.  I don't spend A LOT, but I could (should!) cut back.  

So I decided to not spend any money for 30 days.

NONE!

I want to break the habit of spending money I don't really need to.

I already have more than enough to eat, drink, read, watch, knit and home improvement projects to do.

So instead of going out to watch the Iowa bowl game on January 1, I took my salsa to a friend's house and watched there.  (The black eyed peas did not prove to be good luck after all.  The Hawkeyes lost an exciting game 14-21.)

Ten days later, I still haven't spent any money!  

(None!)

I know at some point I'll have to start spending money again (Tuesday, in fact), but I've come up with a budget for the first time EVER.

This is going to be interesting.

For Good Luck in the New Year

Supposedly eating black eyed peas on New Year's Day will bring prosperity in the new year.

I need all the help I can get, so this year I made Black Eyed Pea Salsa using another recipe from The Pioneer Woman.

Ingredients

FOR THE DRESSING:

½ cups Olive Oil

⅓ cups White Wine (or Regular) Vinegar

2 Tablespoons (to 3 Tablespoons) Sugar

1 teaspoon Celery Seed

½ teaspoons Dry Mustard

½ teaspoons Salt

Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste

VEGGIES:

3 stalks Celery Finely Chopped

3 stalks Green Onions, Sliced

1 whole Red Bell Pepper, chopped

1 whole Cucumber, Peeled, Seeded, And Chopped

1 whole Jalapeno (optional), Seeded And Chopped

1 cup (or More If Desired) Chopped Cilantro

2 cans Black-eyed Peas, Drained

Directions

Mix together dressing ingredients. Set aside.

Combine all vegetables (except cilantro) with black eyed peas. 

our dressing over the top and gently stir together. 

Add cilantro and stir gently.

Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. 

Serve with tortilla chips. 

So good and it reminds me of the restaurant Cowgirl in New York.  It's one of my favorites!  (Good salsa & great margaritas!)

Here's to a happy (and hopefully prosperous!) New Year!

Well Said

A New Year's Resolution from 1909...

A Resolve For Every Morning of the New Year

I will this day try to live a simple, sincere, and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity and self-seeking, cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity and the habit of holy silence, exercising economy in expenditure, carefulness is conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust and a child-like trust in God.

 Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

December is the easiest "Goodwill Hunting" of the year.  Thrift stores are full of holiday decorations!

Remember Halloween?

Well, I liked those candlesticks so much, I decided to do it again.

Seven candlesticks for $1.38!  (Still in the box!)

A little red spray paint, and...

The best part is - I can use them for Valentine's Day and the 4th of July too!

I also found this nativity set for $1.50 (regularly $3, but on sale for half price!).  Someone had written Christmas 1988 on the box.  (It's officially "vintage"!)  I love the rustic wooden stable and everything is in perfect condition.

My favorite, though, was this little white Christmas tree for $3.

The hat was also from Goodwill, I had the ornaments, the scarf is just 1/4 yard of red fleece, the eyes and mouth are buttons, the nose is obviously a carrot, and I found the sticks in a park.  

And I "put a bird on it"!

Finally, I found two of my favorite holiday movies for $2 each.  I'm looking forward to relaxing with these after all the holiday fun!

Merry Christmas to all!

Hopefully Winavie at Lemons & Chambray found some great holiday deals too!

Next month - Happy New Year!

Oh Fudge

Every year, my mom made fudge for the holidays.

This year, I decided to try.

It's so easy!

And, of course, it's good (it's fudge!).

I used this recipe from Carnation...


Ingredients
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) Carnation Evaporated Milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups (9 oz.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Line 8-inch-square baking pan with foil
Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt in medium, heavy-duty saucepan
Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly
Boil, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes
Remove from heat
Stir in marshmallows, morsels, nuts and vanilla extract
Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted
Pour into prepared baking pan; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm
Lift from pan; remove foil
Cut into pieces (they say 48, I say 16)

Enjoy!

"Unwrap the Magic of Christmas"

In Bellevue, the big holiday weekend is the weekend after Thanksgiving.

On Saturday, we have a craft fair...

Fireworks...

and a Lighted Christmas Parade...

 

On Sunday, we have a Holiday Open House Tour.

It's fun, but exhausting (when you're in charge of it).

Now, though, I can relax and enjoy the holidays...

These Hershey's Candy Cane Blossoms are delicious!

KISSES CANDY CANE BLOSSOMS

Ingredients
One bag Hershey's Candy Cane Mint Candies
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons milk
Red or green sugar crystals

Directions
Heat oven to 350°F
Remove wrappers from candies
Beat butter, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until well blended
Stir together flour, baking soda and salt
Add alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended
Shape dough into 1-inch balls
Roll in sugar crystals
Place on ungreased cookie sheet
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned
Cool 2 to 3 minutes
Press a candy piece into center of each cookie
Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack
Cool COMPLETELY (Don't touch them!  If you don't the candy will melt all over, and while they still taste really good, they're not as pretty.)