Happy Halloween Pets!

Since Halloween is tomorrow I thought I would share some of our Halloween pet and pumpkin pictures we've taken over the last few years.  My daughter, Kristen carved the pumpkins.  I hope you enjoy them and have a Happy Halloween!

Beans and Zeke posing with a kitty pumpkin design from last year.  They don't look too happy about that.

Weasley is posing with this years Pomeranian pumpkin.  

Bella was our best posing kitty.  Unfortunately she disappeared last summer.  We miss her and her great poses terribly.

Here's another picture of Bella posing a couple years ago.  This is the picture that started our pets posing with pumpkins yearly event.

Baby Daisy posing last year by our pumpkin.  This is her usual happy picture face.

Favorite Finds Part 1

I love to shop, especially when I get a good deal and find something I end up loving.  Here are a few of my favorite items that I've found and love in the past year.  I'm sure that there will be more things that I find and I'll share them in later posts.

This is the front of my Duraflame electric stove heater.  It is fantastic!  My Mom had one that I had admired, so when I saw it on sale on QVC as a TSV I had to order it!  I used it all last winter and it saved me approximately $40 a month on my electric bill, which is fantastic!  My electric furnace is not very good at all and we tend to heat with a woodstove, but my living room always seems to be cold.  This little heater was the perfect solution to that.  I turn it on high and watch the LED flames flicker and it heats my room right up.  I would and have recommend this to anyone!  I tried to get a good picture of the embers glowing and the color of the flames in the background, but the pictures just didn't show up right.

This chair massager from HoMedics is great!  As someone that tends to have a lot of backaches I find this works fantastically.  It has shiatsu and rolling massage options as well as heat.  You can choose whether you want it to stay in one position or roll up and down your whole back.  I can't really remember where I ordered this from but am pretty sure it was one of my QVC finds.  I've also seen similar models at Costco.  It is well worth the price and so far has held up really well.  I've been using it for at least a year now.

This is one of a set of 2 Berkshire soft fluffy throws I ordered from QVC.   Another great find, that I can't get enough of.  This throw is so light and fluffy and warm.  I love cuddling up in it while I watch my favorite shows.  It is so soft!  They wash up really well and stay nice and soft even after multiple washings.  This is also a great gift.  My daughter got one last year for Christmas and after I felt it I had to have one too!

I've mentioned before how one of my favorite things is an olive and feta mix that you can find at the Safeway deli.  When I saw this Greek Olive Salad at my local Costco I had to stock up!  First of all the price was considerably less than the deli mix and it not only had olives and feta it had pepperoncini and lemon slices in it!  Two other items that I really love!  Yum!  The only downfall was I didn't think it had quite enough feta in it but it's still very tasty and you can always add more feta if you want.

I have always loved chocolate covered caramels and when you add sea salt to the mix it goes over the top!  Imagine my joy when I found these little gems at Costco.  The price was very good, under $10 and there are plenty of caramels in the tub.  Enough to share, if you want.  I have one or two a day and enjoy every delicious chocolatey, caramelly salty bite!  Mmmm Mmmm

Last but definitely not least is this company.  After you eat too many salted chocolate covered caramels, you will need to wear larger clothes.  It's hard to find decent very large sized clothes in the shops near where I live.  I found this company online and started ordering clothes from them.  They fit well, wear well and look nice.  The prices aren't bad, they have a large selection and they usually have some good deals.  Now I can find jeans that are long enough and tops that cover my fat.  No, they don't hide it but they do cover it!  One day I truly hope to lose all my extra weight, but until that day comes it's nice to know I have some clothing options.

That's it for this round of my favorite finds.  I'll be scoping out some new ones to bring to you next time.

Halloween Candy

It's that time of year when everywhere you go there are piles of candy bags, just waiting to jump into your shopping cart.  I managed to ignore them until just the other day.  I thought that I'd better buy a couple bags, meaning four, just in case we get a few trick-or-treaters this year.
Now the trick for us will be trying not to eat all of that candy before Halloween.  It will be hard because I always have to buy my favorite candies.  The one year, I was actually sticking to my diet, I bought the candies that I don't really like.  Yes, there are actually some candies I don't like and can easily pass up.  One of those candies is Smarties.  When I mentioned last year to someone at work that I didn't like Smarties, they ridiculed me.  They said that is the all time favorite treat and that everyone loved them.  So I had to set out on a mission to ask everyone at work if they loved them or not.  Truthfully, most people did like them but there were a few that didn't.
Another candy that I can do without is the Three Musketeers bars.  Not sure why, but I just really don't care for them.  Candy corn is not a favorite.  Anything that is cinnamon flavored like red hots...ugh!
Now for some of my favorite Halloween candy treats!  I love those little snack sized Take Five bars.  The only problem is I can't find them in very many places and so far I haven't found them at all this year!  *sigh*
I also love Mounds, Butterfingers, Milky Ways and Peanut butter Snickers and a whole long list of other chocolaty treats.  Those were the four bags I bought the other day.  So far I've managed to only eat one Mounds bar, although just writing about them is making me think I might need another one.

  I like to go to my Mom's on Halloween and help hand out candy.  The best part is she hands out full sized candy bars and we get to bring some home for ourselves!  That is very good incentive to go up and visit her on Halloween.

Do you have a favorite Halloween candy?  Are you able to keep enough for those little trick-or-treaters or do you need to run out and buy more before they show up at the house?  Or better yet, do you just keep your porch light out and sit inside and eat all the candy yourself?

Yummy Chex Mix!

As I've said before in a previous blog, Autumn makes me think of assorted foods.  Things like homemade soups and bread, hearty casseroles, apple crisp and Chex Mix.  This time of year just seems to scream Chex Mix.  Maybe it has something to do with all of the carefully displayed boxes of Chex at the grocery store and the big multi pack at Costco.  Whatever the reason I usually do make it several times throughout the season and into winter.

The thing I like about it is, it's quick, if you use the microwave method and you can change the recipe to suit your tastes.  Here's a copy of the recipe to get you started and a link to their site and other recipes that are just as yummy. 

3	cups Corn Chex® cereal
3	cups Rice Chex® cereal
3	cups Wheat Chex® cereal
1	cup mixed nuts
1	cup bite-size pretzels
1	cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces
6	tablespoons butter or margarine
2	tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2	teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4	teaspoon garlic powder
1/2	teaspoon onion powder

Did You Know?

The original recipe includes Corn Chex®, Rice Chex® and Wheat Chex®. You can mix and match to suit your taste—just use a total of 9 cups of cereal.

Health Focus

To reduce the fat to 2 grams and the calories to 80 per serving, use 3 tablespoons margarine instead of the 6 tablespoons butter, omit mixed nuts and use fat-free bagel chips.

Special Touch

Make enough of this favorite mix to package up as gifts for special friends—it’s so good and always a welcome surprise!

1.	In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
2.	Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.
Oven Directions Heat oven to 250°F. In large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.

1 Serving: Calories 140 (Calories from Fat 60); Total Fat 7g (Saturated Fat 2 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g);Cholesterol 10mg; Sodium 280mg; Total Carbohydrate 16g (Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 2g); Protein 3g % Daily Value*: Vitamin A 6%; Vitamin C 2%; Calcium 6%; Iron 30% Exchanges: 1 Starch; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1 MyPyramid Servings: 1 tsp Fats & Oils
*% Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

http://www.chex.com/Recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=6709

Some changes I usually make to the recipe are:  no pretzels or bagel chips.  I use dry roasted, salted peanuts instead of the mixed nuts.  I use a whole cube of butter instead of 6 tablespoons because it's easier!  I always add a little more Worcestershire sauce because I like it.  Once I have the butter melted and all of the seasonings mixed in I add the wheat Chex first because I like them to absorb lots of that buttery goodness.  They are my favorite Chex.  Next I add the other two Chex cereals and the nuts.  Mix it up and start the microwaving process.  It's fast and delicious.  Perfect for movie night or the big game, although you might need to make more than one batch, it's that good!

The Twins Daisy and Monkey

My youngest daughter graduated from college in June 2012.  She wanted a kitten for a graduation gift.  Since she's living with us, that wasn't an option.  We already had two cats and two dogs.  My husband doesn't say much but one thing he says a lot is "NO more cats!".
Well those words didn't stop us from visiting the local Humane Society occasionally, like we always do.  After a couple months of talking about kittens, I think my husband had resigned himself to the fact that we were going to end up with one.  He didn't say anything either way but you know he knew it was going to happen.
One day, on a visit to the Humane Society, the office area was overflowing with kittens.  There were two that caught our eye.  They were brother and sister.    The silver tabby was the one we really wanted, the little female, but how can we leave her brother behind.  He was a darker tabby.  We couldn't possibly take one and not the other.  We had noticed the price was quite high for a kitten and I'm sure it was because of their longer fur.  There was no way I was going to pay that price two times for two kittens, so we were going to go with the silver one.   We went up to the desk to ask about them.   Guess what?  It was two for one kitten day!  We could buy them both for the one price!  So we said, okay!  We filled out the paperwork, got the talk and paid.  Then as they go to get the kittens out of their cage, I notice one of the volunteers is a little afraid to grab them out and put them in the carrier.  They call over another guy who reaches in a grabs a very disgruntled kitty out.  As this is going on we find out that they are feral kittens!!!  Uh oh...what have we gotten ourselves into???
They give us advice on how to socialize them and introduce them into our household.  We're thinking, how hard can this be?  They're just adorable little kittens that want to be held and loved right?
We get them home, after  I call my hubby and warn him of our purchase.  I want him to have time to stew over it before he gets home from work. hehe  As he later tells friends "I tell them no more cats and they bring home two!"  He's a good guy so he goes with the flow.
We take a couple days to decide what to name them.  After many suggestions I finally decide on the name Monkey for the little male, the dark tabby and my daughter names the silver female, Daisy.
We get the babies home and decide the best thing to do is put them in the bathroom for a few days.  We'll take them out a few times a day and hold them, so they get used to us.  So we set up the bathroom.  Keep in mind that we only have a one bathroom home.  So keeping kittens in there, with all of their extras, like a litter box, toys, sleeping tent, food and water, made getting ready for the day in the morning a little interesting.  Nothing like stepping on litter, that was flung all over the floor, in your bare feet!  Ouch!
After a few days, they graduated to an area in the living room that we had fenced in with a doggy fence.  Over a period of a few more days we enlarged their area more and more.  They were very playful and little Monkey was the first to really start coming out of his shell.
Monkey has grown into a real lovebug.  When I say grown I mean really grown.  At his first Vet. appt. he weighted only 5 pounds.  Now he's over 17 pounds, after just a year.  Daisy is still quite fearful.  She likes to play and get pets, but only when she decides.  If you approach her when she's not receptive she'll either run off or cringe away from you.  She does like treats and the opening of the treat drawer will definitely draw her attention.  She has not grown as large as her brother.
 Monkey absolutely loves anyone and anything.  He follows the dogs around as well as people.  He wants to be one of the gang.  He's also a bit of a bully when it comes to food.  You pour out food for another cat and he's right there pushing them out of the way to get to it. The funny thing is, if there hadn't been that 2 for one kitten sale, we were going to buy only Daisy.  We would've missed out on this wonderful, loving cat and would've only had this disgruntled female cat.  We got lucky!
Here are some pictures of our twinsies!

Here's baby Monkey in his sock Monkey bed. 

Baby Daisy, sleeping in an odd place, as usual!

Both babies in their kitty bed.

Monkey loved this monkey toy.  He would carry it all over the place and it was nearly as big as him.

A larger Monkey, eating with his brother Weasley.  He's eyeing Weasley's food cause it might be better than his.

A grumpy Daisy face.

Monkey trying out a leash.  We're keeping them indoor cats.  We do let him out on the porch now without the leash and he stays pretty close.

The babies are now full sized cats.  They still like to cuddle together.  Daisy still looks grumpy when we bug her, as you can see here. lol

Nap Time!

There is nothing so refreshing as a nap.  Whether it's short or long it feels so good.  I can come home from a crazy day at work, eat a little dinner and then lie back in my broken recliner and drift off into a much needed nap.  Sometimes I only get a few minutes in before some type of interruption like the phone or a barking dog.
Other times I can sleep for two hours solid and wake up amazed that I slept that long but greatly refreshed.

I think that everyone should be allowed a little nap, daily.  Just to calm an overloaded mind, or rest a tired body.  I've tried to incorporate nap time into work, but for some reason that hasn't gone over too well with management, although my coworkers like the idea.  If I could squeeze a short nap into my 30 minute lunchtime I think it would work, but the break room is a little too busy and the storage closets don't have enough room to lie down.

So, for now I'll just have to be happy with a nap at home, in my favorite recliner with my soft fuzzy blanket. Mmmm  Perfect!

I love the dollar aisle!

Whenever I go to my local Target I have to make sure I pass through the dollar aisle.  There's something about finding some little treasure or another for a dollar that just makes my day.  Sure, I could go to the dollar store and find a whole bunch of treasures for that price, but it just isn't the same to me.

At Target I might find some of the sticky note pads or shopping lists in my favorite Hello Kitty designs.  Or I might find the perfect little gadget to toss in someone's stocking at Christmas time.  I've found pens and calendars or assorted holiday decorations, all for just one dollar each!  One time I bought a bunch of those microfiber dust mitts.  I love those things!

The same goes for my grocery store, when it has dollar days.  They'll have a bunch of bins with kitchen and household gadgets for a dollar each, although sometimes they try to trick me and they're more like two or three dollars, so I have to be careful!  It's just not the same if it costs more than a dollar.

When I get home after making these purchases I am excited to add them to my notepad stock pile or put them in my kitchen gadget drawer.  I feel like I've gotten such a good deal!  I think that's what it's all about.  Feeling the satisfaction of getting a good deal!