Crochet Change Purses.

It’s crochet season! This is one of my favorite pass time activities, especially on a rainy day or while I’m settling in for the day relaxed in my recliner watching TV.

The other day as I was cleaning out my yarn basket and noticed I had a yarn stash of small pieces that were not enough to make anything bigger than my hand. Instead of throwing them away, I decided to crochet some tiny change purses. I also made use of my little purse frames I had collected for another project that never worked out. 

These are perfect to keep a little spare change in. I remember when I was teenager, it was a rule to always keep a quarter in your pocket in case you need to make an emergency call. Now days you need a cell phone a lot more than a quarter to get any help. 

I love how these little purses turned out. They can also be used as little pill boxes or even slid under a child’s pillow for the tooth fairy visit. 

If you crochet, they are easy to make. Sewing them on the frame is the hardest part. I’m not good at writing crochet patterns, but basically it’s a single stitch in the rounds. Increase your rounds until you have the circumference of the open purse frame. Then you continue in the round without increasing until you have the depth you want. Then sew it on the frame using a strong thread. 

That's it. It will take its shape once the sewing in complete.  

               

If you do not crochet and would like one of these tiny purses, they can be found in my Etsy Shop with Free shipping. 

Visit LiLiDi on Etsy

Or

Click the shop link at the top of my blog page.

Halloween at the Campground

We are spending some time at the beach. The weather has been nice. The sun has been shining bright each day with temperatures ranging from 75 to 85 degrees. I have done a lot of walking along with lots of relaxing. The crowd at the beach this time of year is at a minimum and that makes it nice when we go out.

The campground was pretty full this past weekend. People flocked in with their RVs and campers to enjoy the Halloween festivities here. On Friday night, the campground hosted a pet costume contest along with food and drinks by the new Tiki bar. We walked up to see the pet costumes and met a couple new friends. The funnel cake stand was a hit as well. 

Saturday was also a big night at the clubs around the area with costume contest and drink specials. We are not big fans of the club life so we opt to stay in the campground for the night. There was a kids costume contest, trick or treating, special music, and judging of the best decorated camp site. 

We did not decorate our campsite other than a little pumpkin on my picnic table. 

We walked around viewing all the campers decked out for Halloween and tricks for the kids. I’m gonna end the post with a few photos of some of my favorites from Halloween at the campground. Enjoy.

Hope everyone has a safe an happy Halloween!

Friday Bowl- Mandarin Orange

I have always loved Mandarin Oranges. They are a great low calorie snack full of vitamin C. 

However, I have never had any fresh. The only ones I can find here in NC are in a can. 

Tangerines come in at a close second. 

Mandarin Orange Yogurt Bowl

1/2 Cup- Fage 0% Plain Greek Yogurt

Dole Mandarin Oranges
Blueberries
 2 Tablespoons- BigBoss Blueberry Vanilla Granola

153 Calories- 13 g Protein

🍓🍌🍉🍊🍒🍏🍅🍈

I have decided to reserve each Friday to share some of my creative food bowls. I have been eating these at least 3 times a week and I feel great. They are easy, healthy and fun. This is part of my new "Clean Eating" Plan. Wish me Luck.

Pizza Pasta

This past Sunday my church celebrated Home Coming. My church has been around 70 something years. I can’t remember how many they said it was.(hey, no head shaking, I did listen to the service). I have been going to my church for 50 years. I’m one of the few that still attends after all those years. Some have left and came back.

When I was younger my parents made sure we went three times a week. Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesdays. I always liked going. Back then, we had a large youth group that would often gather outside the church and do fun group activities together. Now sadly, I only go to Sunday morning service.

Another thing us Baptist would do is eat. We always held a cover dish dinner (potluck) after church on special Sundays. Homecoming is one of those times. Though I am not a big fan of eating foods if I do not know who fixes them, I piled my plate anyway. I have never gotten sick from a church dinner. 

I needed a dish to make and share. I usually will do some kind of casserole but this time I decided on a Pizza Pasta. I guess you could call it a pizza casserole. 

This was the first time I made this dish and it was hit. It was one of the first dishes to disappear. However, I was able to snag a bite before it was gone. It was an easy dish to make. I was skeptical on how it would taste but it tasted just like, well, Pizza pasta. Kids will love it as it is not too spicy and easy eat.

I forgot to take a photo of the finished results before someone took a spoon to it. I guess the ladies in the kitchen preparing the table couldn’t wait for the service to end to do a taste test. 

The recipe can be found at Taste of Home.

First Week

Well I made it through my first week of being unemployed (post). I got up each morning as usual. My body is so used to getting up at 7am that I do not need an alarm clock. I decided not to try to sleep in. To me, sleeping is a waste of day. I like to get the day started early.

It was an emotional week for me as I would go back and forth from feeling free to feeling helpless. I didn’t know what to do with myself. One thing I decided was to stay busy. I started working on some things around the house that normally I would not have time to do. 

At the beginning of each day I would make a “to do” list.

The first day, it did not work too well as I only completed 2 out of 5 things on my list. I did better as the week went on.

Here are a few things I did and learned throughout the week. 

I found the bottom of my laundry basket.

I cleaned my craft closet. ( yes, I have a craft closet, not a craft room)

I cleaned out my clothes closet and took 2 bags of clothes and shoes to the Good Will.

I tried really hard not to eat everything in the house. 

Dishes really do not do themselves. (My husband does them before I can get to it).

I was able to enjoy some girl talk with neighbors. (Do they not do Tupperware parties anymore?)

I wore yoga pants and tshirts all day.

I realized I didn’t need a bra after all.

My face detoxed by not wearing makeup all week.

Something else I did was visited the local college to check on taking some classes. WOW there is no way I can afford college. I do not qualify for any assistance because they go by your last years income. And if I could afford to go, how could I work and go to school at the same time? 

SO, I decided to register for some CNA classes that will start in January. I have always wanted to be a nurse. They are quick and affordable. I could be done with both CNA1 and CNA2 in 36 weeks. 

BUT....I changed my mind the next day. This is a low paying job for the work that it would involve. Not physically, but mentally. I heard too many stories on how CNAs are treated and the crazy hours they have to work. It did not take much for me to decide against it. However, I have thought about renewing my phlebotomy license. 

I’m back to square one but I did apply to 27 jobs online. Maybe I should take some Spanish classes because it seems like everyone hiring wants someone that is bilingual. 

This week we will head to the beach for a while so I can do some thinking. I need to sit back and relax for a week and get my thoughts together. They have just been all over the place. I have moments I feel like I’m gonna explode. 

It will be nice to actually enjoy the beach without worrying about catching up a work load when I get back. 

I’m pretty excited about that. 

Friday Bowl- Feeling Figgy

I just used up all the figs I had left over from Summer. I had them in the freezer and before they all get eaten, I wanted to use them for breakfast one more time. I had no idea they were so good straight out of the freezer as they do not freeze hard and never loose their sweet flavor. They have been such a treat. 

In a small pot on the stove, made a glaze with honey and walnuts, poured the glaze over cut figs and baked for few minutes. This was so good and added the perfect sweetness that did not overpower the flavor of the figs. 

Figgy Oatmeal Bowl

1/4 Cup Quaker Quick Oats

4 Small Figs
Honey/ Walnut

206 Calories- 4 g Protein

🍓🍌🍉🍊🍒🍏🍅🍈

I have decided to reserve each Friday to share some of my creative food bowls. I have been eating these at least 4 times a week and I feel great. They are easy, healthy and fun. This is part of my new "Clean Eating" Plan. Wish me Luck.

What Next?

Friday afternoon on my drive home from work, I was in a different world. The road felt long and I didn’t even notice others passing me by. I wonder if I even stopped at the stop lights or just drove straight through them. I’m not even sure my radio was playing.

I finally made it home and pulled into the carport. My husband was standing at the door waiting on me like he does every day. I walked in and lost it. He wrapped his arms around me and held me. He knew what had just happened. After a moment I fixed my makeup before heading out for a date night birthday dinner. 

After 26 years, my job came to an end. My boss (who is retired and I haven't seen in years) came in and told me he had to let me go because he had sold half the franchise and could not afford to pay me anymore.

I held strong as I could as he explained his reason and fed me a lot of bull snot. He said I would be getting only a couple weeks severance pay and even told me he was gonna bring in another girl to take my place for half the pay. That hit a nerve. It was an insult to me as I was a dedicated employee. I needed to work and was grateful to have a job. I could barely hold it. I have never laid out sick, I Even worked on family funeral days and logged in and worked while on my vacations. Simply because I cared about my job. I worked hard but I was also comfortable, and made a healthy paycheck.

I did all the office, personnel and administrative work. The owner knows how to do some of the work I did and I assume he will be training a new person soon. I’m sure they can do without me but he will now see just how much I really did once it’s not getting done. 

Despite the happy post I made over the weekend I have been on one big emotional roller coaster. I do not know what to do with myself as I had put everything into my job for 26 years. That’s almost half of my life. It’s scary. I feel like all my dreams in life will only be dreams. But then again, my dreams didn’t include working at that place all my life. So maybe this is the start of something good. I will just have to have faith. It feels weird not getting ready for work in the mornings. 

What Next?

Honestly, I have no idea. 

I have already put in a few applications online. I have been turned down by some and hope to hear back from the others. I also will be heading up to the community college this week to get some info on taking some classes and if I can even afford it.

On a good note, nothing right now is holding be back from another beach trip, and when I go, I will not have to worry about catching up on my work load.

Sorry for the depressing post. I usually refrain from posting sad or bad news but it felt good to let it out here on the blog. I will be fine. And if you pray, say a prayer for me.

A Birthday and Pumpkin Painting.

This weekend we celebrated my sweet husbands birthday. His birthday was Sunday but I started it off on Friday by making reservations at a new upscale restaurant in town. The name of this restaurant is Barristers at the Esquire.

Barristers is located in the center of our little town, inside one of the oldest and tallest buildings. This was the old Lawyers building. It had been empty for years until it found a buyer who has spent a couple years making something out of it. 

This is my favorite building and I have always had this goal to get to the roof of it. There is just something about the size and architect of this building that makes me want to visit the top.

Well, so far I have made it to the first floor. That is where the new restaurant is. The rest of the floors are still under construction. It will soon me an upscale hotel called the Esquire.

Walking in, I immediately got a 1940’s vibe.  I have never been inside this building in my life but could feel the history all around me. With the smell of new paint, chandeliers and oldies music, we took our seats. It was quiet and only a few other tables were occupied. After looking at the menu, I was ready to make my tastebuds smile and my pocketbook cry.

I ordered the Ranch Steak with fingerling potatoes, mushrooms, and horseradish ham crumbs in a Demi Glaze. 

Nick ordered the Carolina Coastal white fish. Maui Maui was the fish of the day. It came on a bed of glazed sweet potatoes and Carrots. 

It was all delicious and we had a wonderful evening. 

Saturday, My Daughter came home and we all went to my moms for a big birthday dinner with Country style steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, pasta salad, biscuits and lots of desserts. Nicks request was pound cake. She never lets us down on a good meal and dessert. We left stuffed and it was a lot better and more satisfying than the fancy dinner the night before. 

Sunday after church, my daughter and I made cookies and painted pumpkins. 

She painted hers a Disney theme. I opt to paint a butternut squash instead of a pumpkin. 

Scary huh?

Friday Bowl- Black Beans and Rice

I came home from work to find my husband heating up a pot of black beans on the stove. I guess it's grocery night. He likes to add black beans to his salad with a little salsa. I opt for something different and grabbed my small Cocoboo coconut bowl from the shelf.
This delicious bowl consist of cilantro rice topped with black beans and avocado. With other added extras on top, it was the perfect appetizing meal in a jiffy.
Next time I may add some extra protein such a chicken, tofu, or seafood.

Black Bean Rice Bowl

1/2 Cup- Uncle Bens Cilantro Lime Ready Rice

1/4 Avocado
1/4 Cup- Canned Black Beans (rinsed)
1 Tablespoon- Sour Cream
Pinch of Shredded Cheese
.

332 Calories- 8 g Protein

🍚

I have decided to reserve each Friday to share some of my creative food bowls. I have been eating these at least 3 times a week and I feel great. They are easy, healthy and fun. This is part of my new "Clean Eating" Plan. Wish me Luck.

My Win Review

I am a sucker for those Instagram giveaways. If it is something I would love to try, I will enter the giveaway. I'm not just after the freebies, but I really and honestly want to try things. I enjoy writing about products I try and I also believe in supporting small businesses.

I entered a giveaway a couple weeks ago and was so excited to have been chosen as the winner of this darling gift pack sponsored by four different companies. It was like Christmas when It arrived on my doorstep.

Usually there will be one item in a giveaway that strikes my attention. This time I liked ALL of the prizes. Let me show you what I got.

1. I received this darling wide lace leather cuff from New Market Farm House. They are a family owned business located in Southern Indiana.

Their products are all delicately handmade with love and care. They specialize in Faith inspiring, engraved and hand stamped leather key chains that are uplifting and encouraging. You really should go check them out. Christmas will be here before you know it.
I think this one will be perfect for my Fall or Winter sweaters.

2. I am always looking for some good plant based health benefits. One day I might find the secret to staying young, but until then, I couldn't wait to try this BIOHM Probiotic Supplement with Super Greens.

BIOHM is formulated with fused fruits, vegetables and herbal extracts. Rich in probiotics, prebiotics and enzymes that include 31 organic plant extracts. That means a healthy balanced gut. That’s right. It has good bacteria and good fungi to break through digestive plaque. 

Just one scoop a day is all you need to feel super charged.
The direction say to add it to water but you can add it to your shakes, smoothies or any other drinks.
How does it taste? I added it to water and it tasted like a nice rich and smooth herbal tea. I think it would be perfect warmed and cuddled in a cup.

3. I can hardly wait to sit back and relax in the tub with the wonderful aroma of these baths soaks and essential oil roller ball from The Inked Bee. The owner is a mother who has a love for bees and what they can produce. She only uses natural sourced organic or non GMO ingredients.  

With hints of Rosemary, Peppermint and Eucalyptus I will be taken away. Calgon has nothing on this. The roller ball is perfect to keep with me for some easy quick aromatherapy when I need it. Be sure to visit her shop for more great natural products.

4. Last but not least, I love this adorable pumpkin patch shirt by D&G at The Memphis Market Co. I have been wanting a cute shirt to wear for Fall fun and this one is perfect..

This company is a husband and wife team in Southern Indiana. You should definitely check them out as they have the cutest t shirts, sweatshirts and digital files to make your own. I love how soft the fabric is. This is not your typical bulky t-shirt. When held up to light, you can actually see how the fabric breathes for a dry and comfortable wear any season.

Essential oil and bath soak- The Inked Bee.

Probiotic Super Greens- BIOHM with Online Health Coach Stephanie Richie

Pumpkin Patch Tshirt- The Memphis Market Co

Leather laced cuff- New Market Farm House

I am not affiliated, asked or paid by any of the companies mentioned in this post. 
These items were given to me at no charge. 
All content is written using my own honest opinion. 

Fall Maybe

It finally cooled down a little this weekend making it feel more like Fall. While temperatures tipped 100 degrees last week, we woke up Saturday morning to temperatures dipping into the 60’s. Fall maybe?

Temperatures are still too warm to bring out the sweaters but it did put me in the mood for some Autumn like recipes. 

Note: No pumpkin spice included. I am not a fan of pumpkin unless it’s in a pie hidden under a mountain of whip cream. 

I attempted to make blender Tortilla Soup. I did not read the recipe correctly and made it wrong. While the flavor was still there, the texture made it undesirable. I eat two bowls all the same. I didn't think it was all that bad, I just felt like I was eating baby food. Haha. 

Recipe Here

My husband surprised me by making some baked pear. He gets all the credit for this one. He even took a before photo. How thoughtful of him. 

These pears were easy. Just cut them in half, core out the center, stuff with cinnamon and walnuts and drizzle with honey. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the pears are soft. Drizzle more honey on top right before serving. I topped mine with a little yogurt. These were so good!

I also got in the mood for this Fall favorite of mine. I have learned to love acorn squash. When cooked it has a similar flavor to a sweet potato. 

I wanted to see if I could make them in my air fryer. The air fryer did a perfect job in half the time as the oven. These are easy to make too.

Just cut in half and clean out the seeds. Rub coconut oil or butter on the inside and add some cinnamon and brown sugar. Place in air fryer at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. 

I added a little extra sweetness by adding some walnuts and placing a divided marshmallow on top. To brown the marshmallows, I put the squash in the toaster until the marshmallows were melted and had a nice crisp topping. Delicious. 

How is the weather in your area? Are you seeing Fall yet?

Friday Bowl- Bursting Blueberry

Feeling blue? This might cheer you up. This bowl is chocked full of blueberry goodness and lots of nutrition. I took only a few blueberries and microwaved them for about 20 seconds. This made the blueberries burst into a juice. Then I added some healthy Butterfly Pea flower and wha la. Not only was this bowl healthy and filling. It was full of flavor and fun to eat. 

Bursting Blueberry Yogurt Bowl

1/2 Cup Two Good Vanilla Greek Yogurt.

Blue Berries.
1 Teaspoon Blue Butterfly Pea Flower Powder.
1 Teaspoon Unsweetened Coconut Flakes.
2 Tablespoon- Big Boss Blueberry Walnut Granola.

188 Calories- 14 g Protein

🍓🍌🍉🥣🍊🍒🍏🍅🍈🦋

I have decided to reserve each Friday to share some of my creative food bowls. I have been eating these at least 3 times a week and I feel great. They are easy, healthy and fun. This is part of my new "Clean Eating" Plan. Wish me Luck.

Where are you Fall?

Happy October!

Do any of you know what Mother Nature did with Fall? The temperatures here in North Carolina are still in the 90's! I sorta want to decorate for the season but can't get in the mood when It feels like I live in the dessert. We have not had rain in over a month, so yea, It's dry too.

I have some new Fall sweaters and booties I would love to wear before Winter arrives. However, I'm still in tank tops and flip flops.

The trees here have not put on their Autumn show. Most are still green. I even think the birds are  mating again.

I would also like to add a pumpkin or two on my porch and some Mums in the yard but most of the Mums I see at the stores and markets have already reached full bloom and are already wilted.

But hey, my Loofah plants are still thriving, Well, sorta. I will show you my results of those soon.

Meanwhile, I will continue enjoying the warm sunshine and blue skies. Honestly, It would be ok with me if it stayed Summer time forever.

What is the weather like in your neck of the woods?