::Day 14

A Favorite Recipe -

This is a big hit for the Pitman household. It's easy and really, you can add whatever you want (the best kind of recipe). If you try it, let me know how you liked it!

Asian Hot Pot

Serves 4 Hands-On Time: 25m Total Time: 35m
Ingredients
1 3.75-ounce package cellophane (bean thread) or thin rice noodles
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 ounces shiitake or other mushrooms, stems discarded and caps thinly sliced
6 cups vegetable or low-sodium chicken broth
2/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon chili sauce or hot pepper sauce to taste (optional)
4 scallions (green and white parts), thinly sliced
4 carrots, thinly sliced
8 ounces green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces

(I always add a head of bok choy in my soup...and I'm a little more liberal with the noodles as well)

Directions:
Prepare the noodles according to the package directions. Drain and cut into 3-inch lengths.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes.
Add the broth, soy sauce, ginger, and chili sauce (if desired) and combine. Bring to a boil.
Add the scallions, carrots, and green beans. Simmer until the vegetables are tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
Divide the noodles among individual bowls and ladle the soup over the top.

::Day 13

Your dream house-

Yes, I've decided to skip around on the last half of the blog challenge. Mostly because I've posted about some subjects before and I don't feel like boring you with a repeat. So, I'll just be picking and choosing from here on out and throwing some in there just cause ;)

Today's dream house segment is brought to you by younghouselove. They will periodically post "house crashes" and in the case of a recent one, I fell in love. Here's the dream house. The best thing about this house is that it's all very doable. Everything was thrifted/made by the owners. Everything looks crisp, tidy but cozy at the same time, which is what I try to achieve with my own home. I've posted some pictures below in case you don't feel like jumping to the link.

::your turn

I saw this picture today and was instantly curious to see what you guys thought of this space?




What's your favorite thing about the room? Least favorite?

I think my favorite is a toss up. I like how the different toned woods in the room really compliment each other. I have a hard time with this. I also like how they only used one main accent color, but the room doesn't look boring or too put together.

My least favorite is that chair in front of the beautiful buffet table! Forget function here. Move that chair over to where that globe is and showcase that piece of furniture!

::Day 12

Something you are OCD about-

I don't know that there's anything I'm truly OCD about...though Aaron might beg to differ :) I like things picked up and dishes out of the sink as much as the next person, but I sure don't kill myself to make sure it's ALWAYS done all the time. I guess the only thing I'm weird about is the bedroom door. If I'm going to sleep, it Has to be only open so much the cat can get in and out but no more. I won't be able to sleep if it's open any more than that. I wish I was kidding. The other night the door was really open and I kept waking up and immediately looking over there thinking someone had come in. It makes no sense, I know. I guess that's why it's called OCD.

What about you? Any OCD tendencies?

::Day 11

A photo taken of you recently-


Sorry, but this was the only thing on this computer that I don't think has already been posted on here. This was last Christmas with my nephew. Little cutie. :) Can you see the resemblance?

::a commercial break

I promise the madness that is the blog challenge will most likely be done this Friday. : ) I just gave up after reading what some of the topics were. Also, I've recently finished up a couple of projects (one of them slightly larger) so hopefully I'll be getting some pictures up of those soon!

::Day 10

A photo taken over 10 years ago of you-

Out of necessity (and somewhat of vanity) I won't do this. 1- We don't have a scanner and therefore cannot put any pictures that old actually on the computer. 2- If we did, I still would like to shield you from that. Instead I'll tell you what was going on 10 years ago.

I was 14/15...the year 2000...a freshmen/sophomore in high school. I didn't have my learner's permit at all this year. I waited cause I didn't care. Gosh, I can't really remember that much :) I think we had our "biggest" class that year at school. I had my favorite Sunday school teachers that year and the next. I would've gone to Gatlinburg that year and the big joke was Y2K. Lol...good times.

What were you up to 10 years ago? You could probably remember better than I could.

::Day 9

A photo you took-

Well, you asked for it.

What did I tell you? Total diva. Lol, he just looks like he's having the worst day and is about to take it out on you.

Would you like to make a caption for this? Do tell.

::Day 8

A photo that makes you angry/sad-




Interesting choice of topic...

This makes me sad in the sense that I wish I was there. Does that count? :)

::Day 7

A photo that makes you happy-




Can't you just imagine a little 7 year old winning a game of musical chairs at her birthday party? Love.

::Day 6

20 of my favorite things:

Well this should be interesting and very telling ;)

1- My husband. So far my marriage has taught me the most about myself and about Christ's love. I could write an entire dissertation on this, but I'll refrain.
2- My church. Every time I enter those doors, I am more and more impressed. Truly a loving, service oriented congregation. There's such maturity here...and diversity. The teaching is like nothing I've ever sat under before. Every little aspect is something to marvel.
3- My family. The older I get the more I appreciate this. Isn't it lovely to have people around you who want the best for you and will go out of there way to make sure that happens for you. Now, I realize this is not the case for everyone. It is for me and I am grateful every single day.
4- Mr. B. Laugh if you must, but he's seriously the funniest and best cat I have ever owned. Total diva. Awesome.
5- My home. It's like a built in hobby. I've had more fun nesting (can you use the word nesting if not in reference to babies?) than I ever thought I would. But I'm sure you couldn't tell already.
6- Ok...maybe I should have started this far more specific. Umm...my job. I LOVE my bosses and my coworkers. I totally lucked out.
7- This cooler weather. Fall is definitely my favorite time of year (along with about 90% of the population). I love wearing jackets and boots and the start of the holiday season. Just good memories all around.
8- Weekday nights. I love being able to just chill at home with the hubs watching Mythbusters or whatever. It's nice just to have a little relaxing time together.
9- My current favorite food to make is my vegetable soup in the crock pot. I hope Aaron isn't already sick of it :)
10- My favorite home decor hot spots are: West Elm, CB2, Pottery Barn, Target, Ikea, and Anthropologie

Ok...well, I think 10 should suffice. I'll just chalk up everything in the world as a favorite of mine somehow. Man, you really need to be interesting before deciding to fill these things out. I can feel all my friends slipping away as I type.

::Day 5

Favorite quote-

There was nothing that instantly came to mind, nor was there anything I remembered (such as "well dad always used to say"). I think the most memorable quote I've recently heard that stuck with me for a while was the quote (aka novella) I posted from Til We Have Faces. I guess a shorter quote would be what I have at the top of my blog. See. Up there on the right.

"And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story..."

This is the end of The Last Battle in the Chronicles of Narnia series. I just love C.S. Lewis so much that he can turn his entire work of fiction into something that steps into reality. At this point in the book our adventurers have finally finished their duties and have been told to go further up and further in. They finally reach "heaven". Once they enter, Mr. Lewis graces the pages with this quote. Not only is it a great ending to a wonderful series, but it's something to keep in the back of your mind always. Eventually, it will be the end of all the stories but it will truly just be the beginning.

Any favorite quotes out there?

::Day 4

Favorite Book -

Here come the subcategories ;)

Classic - The Great Gatsby or Til We Have Faces
Fiction - Harry Potter series
Classic Fiction (like my made up category) - The Space Trilogy
Chick Lit - L.A. Candy series
Nonfiction - Mere Christianity


Wow...this was really hard. Each book is good in it's own way. Each speaks to you differently. If you'd like to sit down and talk about my favorite books, lets go to Starbucks some day :)

::Day 3

Favorite TV show-

So, I'm awesome and going to give categories again. I know...sigh...

Favorite show of just all time - Arrested Development
Current favorite show - Modern Family
Most re watched favorite TV show - Friends and Gilmore Girls
Best guilty pleasure show - 90210 (don't judge)

What about you guys? Are you just addicted to reruns of the Cosby show? Maybe it's the old Nick at Nite? Full House? Come on...you know you want to...

:: Day 2

Favorite Movie-

Again, this is hard...do people really have just one? If you know me, you know I pretty much watch 5 things just over and over again. Mostly because I can't remember anything after I've watched it so it always seems new :) I guess though I'd have to say anything by Sophia Coppola would probably count as favorites for me. Everything else is just guilty pleasure (read=Charlie's Angels) and we don't really have to go there now do we? :)

What about you? Any favorites?

::Day 1

Yes, I do have little projects going on...yes, none of them are finished....yes, I will show you when I'm finished. However, too much is going on to have anything to say. Instead, I'll follow my friend Rachel and take on the 30 blog challenge. So here we go. Hopefully I'll post in between with the goings on of the Pitman household.

30-Day Blog Challenge
Day 1 – your favorite song
Day 2 – your favorite movie
Day 3 – your favorite television program
Day 4 – your favorite book
Day 5 – your favorite quote
Day 6 – 20 of my favorite things
Day 7 – a photo that makes you happy
Day 8 – a photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9 – a photo you took
Day 10 – a photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11 – a photo of you recently
Day 12 – something you are OCD about
Day 13 – a fictional book
Day 14 – a non-fictional book
Day 15 – your dream house
Day 16 – a song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 – an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)
Day 18 – my wedding/future wedding/past wedding
Day 19 – a talent of yours
Day 20 – a hobby of yours
Day 21 – a recipe
Day 22 – a website
Day 23 – a youtube video
Day 24 – where I live
Day 25 – your day, in great detail
Day 26 – your week, in great detail
Day 27 – my worst habit
Day 28 – whats in my handbag/purse
Day 29 – hopes, dreams & plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 – a dream for the future

So today I share my favorite song. Honestly, may I ask you? Do you have just one favorite? Really? I have many. Thus, I'll break this down as I choose...because what;s a challenge without a little breakage of the rules? ;)

Song to dance to - Just Dance by Lada Gaga
Song to cry to - Untitled Hymn by Chris Rice or Home by Michael Buble
Song never passed up when it comes up on shuffle - Hey Ya by Outkast and Mr. Brightside by the Killers
Song to dream about - Love Story by Taylor Swift
Song to cook to - Chinese Translation by M. Ward
Shameless song from a soundtrack - The Melody of a Fallen Tree by Windsor for the Derby
Song to sing a long - Take a Bow by Rhianna

Well there you have it...just a couple of favorites. What about you?

::two faces, two sides

With the joy that comes with the busy times of a fall schedule, there follows a few more headaches, late nights and errands missed. All this to say, pardon the lack of posting lately. Life is in full swing right now and it's hard to keep up sometimes ;) I do have to say for the record that I often feel very blessed even when it gets a little more busy. It's so great to have 4 loads of laundry to do and a lovely bathroom to clean. Have you ever just stopped and looked in your pantry to realize how much you actually do have. Very overwhelming if you let yourself think about it a moment.

So, join with me won't you? In the midst of this time...where the projects will be delayed, the errands might get run in a day or two, where the floor will stay dirty just one more day and you eat that PB & J for lunch...remind yourself of everything that's filling up your time. Outings with precious friends and family. Time spent just in awe of everything God has given you. Get refreshed. Then get those groceries :)

::fall wreath, double take

My friend (wink) sent me a picture of the wreath that she made for her mother. It turned out So cute. I now kinda wish I had used a different color yarn for the base of mine too...but sometimes you just gotta use what you got, you know? Without further ado:



She used real twigs along with a few crafty accessories. I love the little bird nest and sparkly butterflies. :D What about you guys? How have you decorated for fall?