Friday Fonts - IIiiiI

Hi! I really need to think better about spelling the fonts before I name them.

You can get it here, at 2tff.

Babysitter Tales - Long weekends

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, all three of the kids are home all day. Which means nothing but madness. Like, Lovecraftian sorts of madness. I swear they all have three mouths and too many arms, judging by how often I'm telling them stop throwing things and to tone the volume down. 

The baby (who is now almost three, but is still the youngest kid in the family and so is still the baby), has decided that every time I go to the bathroom, I must need help. In this case, 'help' usually means holding the door open and rearranging the toilet paper and getting soap all over the place. But he's so cute about it. He busts in the door and goes "ya nee help?" and looks like he really thinks that he's doing something helpful. I want to encourage this impulse; one of the kids has to be the sort who helps out, right?

We were watching one of those Disney Channel shows the kids like--the one about all those kids who were adopted from all over the world. It was the one little girl's Gotcha Day, the celebration of the day she was adopted, and it was very sweet. I think if I ever adopt kids, I'll do something like that for them. I've already decided to celebrate half-birthdays, too; mostly because I always wanted to celebrate mine and no one ever would play along, and partly because a year is a really long time for a kid to wait. Especially if, like the baby, you're birthday is way at the end of the year. He's had to go to everyone else's birthday all year, and it's only just now getting to his.

Also, you never can have too many things to celebrate, just in general.

Big Sister just had her birthday this past weekend, and her mom got her a keyboard. She seems to be doing alright teaching herself how to play. It was so much harder for me to learn; I was about the same age when I learned piano, but I didn't have nearly her crazy-confidence, and I was so shy that the performance part of the class I took was like torture. And I have so little natural coordination! It took forever to learn each song. But I loved it, and I practiced after school almost every day. I hope she loves it as much. Every kid should have things they love to do.

Wednesday Weigh In - Right before Thanksgiving!

I'm down another pound! Rice-and-veg-based, wheat-free diet for the win!

If I survive Thanksgiving without getting all of it back I think I'll be okay until Christmas, and then after New Years I have some plans for tightening up again and getting back on track.

How're you guys?

Memery - What is Your True Color Aura? Quiz

My results on the  What is Your True Color Aura? Quiz:

Green
 
Your Aura is Green!
Personality: Most people associate green with money, which green is one of the least materialistic auras around. Comfort is most important to them and they like to feel as relaxed as possible in any situation. Greens also like to try to make others feel at ease. Greens tend to shy away from aggression and anger, and are usually the peacemaker. The one thing that ticks greens off is when people can’t get along; they wish everyone was kinder to one another. They always have a fresh perspective on things and are very innovative and smart. Greens tend to embrace change and growth, and are always excited about what’s on the horizon. They are very driven, competitive, and even a bit jealous. However, they seek out balance in their lives and usually achieve it. Greens are a natural healer and persuader. They always find it easy to get what they want in life, whether it is material success or just making a difference in other people’s lives. A strong Green individual lives in a world of intangibles where hopes, dreams and emotions are most important. You look at the big picture, are not detail oriented, and like to explore possibilities and alternative ways of doing things. You march to your own drummer and frequently find it difficult to get on the same wavelength as others. This often puts pressure on your relationships. You have a rich vivid imagination and thrive in an atmosphere that encourages the use of your creative abilities and talent. Your intuition is highly developed and you seem to be able to sense what others are feeling. You are practical, down-to-earth person. You are stable and well balanced You are kind, generous and compassionate. You have a great need to love and to be loved and you tend to wear your heart on your sleeve- you are an open book. You have a need to belong. You are at home in any social situation. You have high moral standards and doing the right thing is important to you. You like to be accepted,appreciated and admired for the good you do in the community as well as in your family life. You are a loyal friend and a faithful partner, gentle but not passionate. You are strong-willed and do not like to be told what to do by others. You do like to win arguments and do not concede defeat easily. You are not a risk-taker and not action orientated, rather more of an observer. Detail bores you. You process information quickly and prefer to develop an idea, organize a plan and then delegate the rest to someone else. The ability to put yourself in the shoes of others is one of your true talents.
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Love Life: Picky with high standards, it's hard to find your match. You need someone as driven as you are!
Yellow: Greens may be attracted to yellows but KEEP MOVING ON!!
Red: To cruel to even consider greens needs
Pink: Very Quirky but not something greens take an interest into
Orange: You had a crush on an orange for the longest time now its time to move out of the “Friend Zone”
Blue: The perfect mate for a green aura they are very loyal and meet your standards to their highest.
Purple: Purples never even seen of a green aura before they are way to high maintenance for a green
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Perfect Color Love Match: White: Your long lost soul mate is definitely a white!
Friendship Color: Orange,  no matter what they will always stick by your side
Color Opposite: Your color wheel opposite is Red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

Words that Describe Green: Balanced, Relaxed, Flexible, Compassionate, Philosophical, Humble, Loyal, Inventive and Unique

Purpose of Life: Inspiring Others to Be Great

What'd you get?

Dear My Future Husband - #1

I just watched the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special, and if you were here you would have seen me kicking my legs, flapping my arms, screeching like some trapped banshee, gasping and squeaking and watching most of the second half with my hands alternately clapping in inarticulate glee and clapped over my mouth so hard I think I left marks on my own face.

You'll have to be able to cope with reactions like this.

You see, when I'm a fan of something, I'm a fan all the way, and I fall right into that cliche of active emotional involvement. Hopefully, you'll be the sort who will sit next to me and scream and kick and cheer and cry with me; this means we're on the same wavelength with the shared things we love. I try not to get so involved, because caring that much means there's a lot of disappointment, but it also means there's days like this--days when everything goes right and the Story makes sense and surprises me and I could just kiss the world.

Wednesday Weigh In - 164.9

I broke the 165 barrier! Just a little, but enough that it counts!

I think it's the wheat thing. When I stick to the diet, the scale ticks down, slowly but surely. I mean, Halloween was full of candy and I've been living off of chocolate-covered potato chips the last two days, but I've been better about checking for wheat and it's going down. I don't know if that'll work forever, but it's working now!

Font Friday - Extras

Another one of my own! Free for you, my lovelies!

You can get it here, at 2tff.

Monday Mani - Tealery

Two cheapie brands and my own blue duochrome that is half of both Horsehead Nebula and Eagle Nebula. And can I just say? I love love LOVE this Fresh Paint flaky topcoat. I've been using it over every color I have and it looks fab on all of them.

Top Ten Tuesday - Ideas that would make the world better if we implemented them

1. Teachers are super-important to the future not only of our children, but to the world the children will build
2. We aren't the bosses of everything; it's our responsibility to make sure we don't use everything up now, and that we make it easier to live lightly on the world in the future
3. Communities support communities, and it's up to the community to build the community it wants to be
4. Kids really can do stuff for themselves sometimes
5. We aren't the police of the entire world just because we have more guns; that's not really all that great a way to judge actual progress and usefulness
6. Smart is better than conformist or strong in this modern world; focus on making people smarter
7. Public transportation. Across the board.
8. Urban gardening can feed almost everyone it's needed to feed in a city
9. Buying local and supporting local business could totally change the economy and make the collapses we're weathering much less likely to happen again
10. Everyone in the world needs to travel to see how other people live at least once in their lives

What ideas do you think could change the world?

Tuesday Tea - Pumpkin Spice Brûlée

http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/oolong-teas/p/pumpkin-spice-brulee-oolong-tea

I usually don't buy Teavana tea just because it's so very, very expensive, but we stopped by to look at the pretty tea tins and they had it brewed and waiting for me. It smells buttery and tastes like a mildly sweet and mellow pumpkin spice--not all cloves and cinnamon, thank god! It's also made with oolong tea, which is my fav of the teas!

And it's perfect for fall.

Gardenation - November Planting Reminders!

This month, according to various emails and websites (linked below), we can plant:

• Angelica 
• Asparagus 
• Beans - broad beans, fava beans 
• Beet
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cardoon 
• Carrot
• Celery
• Corn Salad (also Lamb's lettuce or Mache) 
• Cauliflower
• Collard
• Endive
• Garlic
• Jerusalem Artichokes (also Sunchoke)
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Lettuce
• Mustard
• Onion 
• Pak Choy 
• Peas
• Potato starts
• Radicchio
• Radish
• Rhubarb
• Salsify (also Vegetable oyster)
• Shallots (also Eschalots)
• Spinach
• Spring onions (also Scallions, Bunching onions, Welsh onion) 
• Swedes (also Rutabagas) 
• Swiss Chard
• Turnip

All of them outside, since I guess they're the sturdy things that can overwinter without dying or get better with a little cold. 

Inside plantings:

• Papaya seeds, for new plants; older plants in for the winter
• New herbs

Harvest:

• Sweet potatoes and remaining regular potatoes
• Citrus
• Remaining tropical fruit that wasn't harvested before
• Camelia flowers will be opening up this month and into next; get some for vases and displays inside

Garden Tasks:

• Prune berries if they've finished fruitingm and roses
• Start early varieties of spring veggies if you have a greenhouse
• Rake up leaves and dispose or compost (do this a lot)
• Dig up non-wintering bulbs; plant out spring-flowering bulbs
• Cut back and clean out the dead summer plants
• Remulch trees and beds
• Switch birdfeeders to the fattier winter blends
• Preserve / Dry remaining herbs for the winter, or bring the potted plants of the tenderer ones indoors
• Plant out any trees and shrubs you're putting in
• Plant out most herbs that are grown and sturdy, or put up new ones inside to wait for spring
• Water regularly, but not too much; plants are going into hybernation and don't need as much water
• Prepare for freeze protection
• Put away the tomato cages and summer trellises
• Fertilize once
• Take cuttings of plants and trees you want to root for the spring
• Check acid-balance of garden soil and adjust as needed
• Sow cover crops if you have big fields to do so
• Make sure potted plants have space underneath so they don't get waterlogged
• Divide perennials, houseplants and hanging bakets
• Check that houseplants get enough light and moisture during the winter

DISCLAIMER

Not all plants will work in all areas; this is a guide.

Sources:

• GardenGate.com email
• http://www.the-gardeners-calendar.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=3636
• http://www.walterreeves.com/seasonal-gardening-calendar/november/
• http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-10-27/features/os-tom-maccubbin-gardening-chores-1026-20131027_1_vegetable-fruit-gardening-older-herb-plantings-vegetable-and-fruit-plantings
• http://easttexasgardening.tamu.edu/homegardens/monthly/nov.html
• http://gardening.about.com/od/fallinthegarden/a/NovGarden.htm
• http://www.farmersalmanac.com/calendar/gardening/

Font Friday - Hey

Like the previous Hey2, but with more brush-stroke-like lines. I think it's very pretty.

You can get it here, at 2tff.