My life as I know it

My October edition of Women's Day Magazine (yes, again, the mysterious magazine that I started receiving about a year ago and have no idea from whom) had several DIY tips for decorating at Halloween. Almost every one of them involved some sort of use of Candy Corn. I loved them all and wanted to try them! What a simple idea! I've only tried two so far but if I keep working at my hot glue gun skills (i.e. not burning myself several times while using it), I do foresee a candy corn wreath in my future (most likely at next year's Halloween). This idea I thought was so cute and so easy! I had Pat cut down a branch from our tree out front and I bought a cheap vase at Pat Catan's and some styrofoam. Pat trimmed down the styrofoam to fit in the vase (isn't it funny how "my projects" always become "our projects?" Funny for me, anyway). I then stuck the branch into the styrofoam and filled the vase with candy corn. I glued some pieces of candy corn ...

I did a lot of cooking last Sunday. I woke up in the mood to cook and that's what I spent my day doing! First, I made spinach artichoke dip for the husband and brother-in-law while they watched the Brown's game (maybe my dip is what got the team the big win?). Next I made beef stew in the crock pot and made my Grandma's Italian meatballs and spaghetti sauce on the stove. The beautiful thing about beef stew (and maybe most soups and sauces) is that they are just as good, if not better, when heated up so they are great things to make on Sunday and eat all week.  Last night, I made my very first batch of homemade mashed potatoes, which were surprisingly very quick and easy! I used a very basic recipe only calling for potatoes, butter, milk and salt. I used less butter and a little more 1% milk and added some garlic powder. I don't have a masher and wasn't sure if I would need a blender or my mixer to mash the potatoes, but they were so moist after boiling that...

Listen, I understand it's a Friday morning, the weather is getting colder and getting out of bed is getting harder and harder. Believe me, we are suffering through the same thing in the Robinson household. I understand that you were running late to work today. I was too (today and most every day, I might add). But what I can't quite understand is why the fact that you were running late to work this morning became everyone else's problem. Just because you are driving the same type of car that was used in the Italian Job , does not mean that you are actually in the movie or that you should be driving like you are. You may have gotten the car to feel like a race car driver, but you aren't and I-90 is not a racetrack. Just because your car is small, does not mean that you have the right to weave in and out of traffic like we are Go Kart racing. Last time I checked, turn signals are not optional and weaving from lane to lane too fast is not a good enough excuse not to use ...

Have I mentioned lately how much I love fall? Even my 50 minute commute feels better in the fall when I can watch the orange, brown and red leaves falling from the trees while I'm sipping my warm apple cider, keeping the other hand on the wheel, of course!  One of the reasons I love fall so much is because of Halloween. It's ironic that I love Halloween as much as I do because I hate horror movies and don't like to be scared, yet I end up going to Halloweekends almost every single year and walk through the haunted houses (which are suitable for children and yet still make me feel as though I could faint). We are going tonight and I absolutely cannot wait! It's currently pouring down rain where I'm sitting and the trees look like they're about to blow over. Not ideal weather for an amusement park but I'm hoping the Cleveland weather isn't indicative of the weather in Sandusky. In addition to Halloweekends tonight, this weekend is also the 6th Annual T...

Today, 10-10-10 marks the official close of the wedding season (and is also my dear friend Aubrey's 27th birthday). Wedding season officially started for me on Saturday, March 6 with Kari's wedding shower and ended on Saturday, October 9, 2010, with Jen and Sean's wedding. We were invited to 11 weddings this year and attended 9 of those 11. I attended 5 bridal showers and 4 bachelorette parties. Pat attended 3 bachelor parties and together we attended 3 rehearsal dinners. What is even more crazy than our stats is that many of my friends can top it with even higher numbers! It was a crazy year of weddings for almost everyone I know! Weddings are fun and it's great to be there to celebrate with people on one of the happiest days of their lives! As much fun as we had attending them and being a part of them, we are very much looking forward to having some relaxing weekends at home and saving some money! It was a personal goal of mine to not repeat any dresses this weddi...