And Now for Something Completely Different...

Toff Pauper

That's my new site. Additional site, I should say. This will still remain my journalling blog, but I'm launching something for my outlets of saving money & beauty.

Check it out regularly, please. Leave feedback. Let me know if you share my love of all things beautiful AND affordable. I hope to have some money saving tips, tidbits, and recommendations there. And if you know of something worth sharing, please let me know!

Worthless

I interviewed for a job yesterday.
I felt the interview went really well.
I left just knowing I would be given a job offer.
It wasn't just one opening, it was many.
I already had plans and thoughts about working there.
I had NO doubt I would have a job today.

I was wrong.
I didn't get the job.
Apparently I am unmarketable.
I have to go cry now.

Heaven & Hell Halloween

This past Saturday was my annual Halloween bash. This year's theme was "Heaven & Hell" so I had to plan & decorate accordingly. Paul & I put some of our cake decorating training to use and each took on the task of a cake each.

My Hell cake was originally intended to be a 6 tier tower alternating red velvet & dark chocolate with chocolate truffle frosting in between. And it was. I just didn't reinforce it enough and as I was adding the fondant flames, it started to lean. So I laid it down an replanned the cake, so it ended up having the skull being sucked into the flames of hell rather than atop the tower. I sort of liked it better this way!

Paul took on the Heaven cake, making a white angel cake with traditional white buttercream ribboning, lattace work, lace, flowers, with classic columns. It was classically lovely and could easily have been someone's very traditional wedding cake.

And in true fashion our friends came decked out in their usual creative selves.

As Time Goes By

This made me smile today.

Successful Recipe o' the Day

My eldest loves when I make eggplant parmesean. I always feel like it just "ok", but tonight's dinner truly hit on the definition of SUCCESS! Even the hubby commented, "Wow, this could be from a good italian restaurant!" Believe me, he usually thinks dinner is fine, so to get this sort of response, I knew I'd done well.

To start, I purchased Italian eggplant from the local farmer's market last week. It has a thinner skin & less seeds. I then sliced it, and used a tip from the farmer to sprinkle salt over the slices and let sit in a colander for about 1/2 hour. It really pulled the moisture from the eggplant. I patted them dry before dredging them in egg & breadcrumbs (to which I'd added some dried garlic). I then put the sliced on a baking sheet & baked for about 20 minutes, making them crispy (and healthier than the typical pan fry method). Then I layered them in a casserole dish, alternating the eggplant, fresh spinach, mushrooms, fresh grated mozzerella, and sauce. Then baked at 425 degrees for about `15 minutes, and Voila! Served some garlic rolls & spaghetti noodles with it, and it was fantastic!

Yeah me!

The Green Eyed Monster

I'm finding myself awash with jealousy lately.
Jealous of friends who are taking wonderful trips.
Jealous of people on television who have jobs I want.
Jealous of the sheer joy I see in my children's eyes when all I'm feeling is down.

Today has been my attempt at a bit of joy. Halloween decorating!
So far, no alot has been accomplished short of a small graveyard out front.

Tonight is a job interview I'm hoping will turn into an offer for a company I really respect.

Trying to stay positive. So far, I'm just green.

Nice! Nice? Nice.

So, lately things have just been. Nothing too thrilling. Nice. Just nice.

I feel nothing on a daily basis other than jealousy or stress. Not so nice.

I'm desperate for change. In a good way. A nice way.

I need to figure out how to appreciate little things. Nice little things.

A blogger I read addresses them as "sparklies", as it was her way of dealing with the death of a daughter who adored all things sparkly, and as young kids do, she would be awed by little things that adults forget to appreciate.

I've always hated "nice". It's what you say when you have no better word to describe things.
Life is too nice.

New Look

Yep, time for a little something new.
Whatcha think?

Friends, Fall and Fun...Part 2

Well this weekend was another lovely autumn weekend (ok, so it was cold & misty all day Saturday, but it was a good day) with friends out at the Stronghold RenFaire in Oregon, IL. We always have low-key fun performing out there, and this year was no exception.

I played my new character, Mistress Dorothy Smith, and I have to say, I like her alot! She's friendly & fiesty. I created a "gossip rag" that most people really enjoyed and got a chuckle from. I think I would have felt more comfortable in her skin if that skin (the new costume) wasn't suddenly huge on me. I don't think I've lost weight, but it was ridiculous & looked that way, sadly. Oh well, I've rethought her & the costume, so I'm looking forward to that. It was good to have a character that didn't hate my husband's character, too! HAHA!

Saturday night was some awesome ghost hunting. Experiences that I can't possibly express here, but let's just say it wasn't like anything I've ever encountered before. It was GREAT!

Sunday was sunny & fun. Two very dear friends were engaged, and I get to help them in some of the planning. I'm SO happy for them! It was definately the perfect cap on a fun weekend!