Plannig the Day Before…St Patty’s Day Menu

Posted by Patchwork Reality

FLame me if you l ike, but this first thing that comes to mind for this holiday is beer.
Can’t help it, something about this holiday and drinking may or may not go hand in hand.
Second, like all holidays…Food, of course.
Hubby enjoys much darker beer than I do so Guinness on the menu is almost a must.
Here is what we are planning for tomorrow nights St Patrick’s Day Meal…thank you Pinterest!

Irish Stew

Irish Soda Bread

There will probably be a glass or two of red wine left over from the Stew recipe and Jon will more than likely drink a Guinness for sport.

Then for dessert I am going to make Thin Mint Milk shakes for the kids, and tint them green. I do this every year, seems like girls scout cookie sales and this holiday run into each other nicely every year….hmmmmm, works for us!

What are you all cooking for this Holiday.

Any fun traditions?

Littlest Girls Room

Posted by Patchwork Reality

At one point we had all 3 girls sharing this room, it was a fun idea, the sisterly love was there, but this room just does not provide enough space for 3.
It was a sage green color that we loved, but like all the walls in our house it needed a fresh coat over the builder flat paint that we insisted they not use…flat paint is just not a good idea.
Before:

We painted it a very light gray, I put together a duvet cover for her bed, she’s really into polka dots, and made the ladder style bedside table.

Pinterest inspired embroidery hoop fabric pieced wall decor:

We hung 3 mirrors on her wall to make the space feel, bigger, they hang on the wall across from her window which lets in fantastic day light. The pink Bilbo toy serves as a step stool for our little shorty to reach her light and fan switch.

100+ year old metal bed from our family farm, it was bronze but has been painted a number of items, we painted it white over a previous blue, so it has an amazing patina.

Antique toolbox at the end of her bed holds all the books that will not fit on the bedside table, if we have too many of anything at our house it is books, but I think that’s a great thing;)

One wall that houses her closet, we have a plan for some of the closet pace in our house, we might take 1/2 of this closet and give it to the adjoining room. Than take the closet from that room and add it into our MB closet space…stay tuned.

Whiter and Brighter

Posted by Patchwork Reality

It was time.

I did love the color, but it was dark, it’s winter, things needed to be brighter, we have 4 kids that kick off boots, throw down back packs, a dog that slobbers, hands that use the wall instead of the railing…you get the idea.

We painted the entry way.

Here is a photo I found of the before color:

Two more…not great, I took these at night when the kids were sleeping, this is the only safe time to paint at our house without *help*, but you get the idea.

Nice right??!! I do love this color, it took a few tries to get this right, it may even be a custom blend.

But here is what it looks like now:

It is so much brighter and cleaner feeling, I love the cool darker colors, but to be honest this space just needs a light bright color to make this space feel more inviting. We do not have a mudroom or separate entrance, that will be a must have in our next house, so this is where everyone enters our house, the door next to the mirror is the door to the garage, so we really use this landing space ALL. THE. TIME.

Putting Modesty Aside.

Posted by Patchwork Reality

This may not be going where you think:)
I want to take just a moment and share some parental pride in this post regarding our son, Solomon.
I know that as parents we are all ridiculously proud of all our children, and revel in their accomplishments big and small. This is not meant to be boastful, just a momma sharing her pride.
Solomon participates in the highly gifted education opportunities that are provided through our neighborhood public school, he tests into these with an aloof ease that I wish I had more of as a student. He is also extremely fortunate to have a fantastic, well articulated, very organized and enthusiastic teacher, who expects from her gifted students what they are capable of.
That being said, she encouraged her students to participate in Letters about Literature

What LAL Does:

LAL is a reading promotion program of The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, presented in cooperation with participating affiliate state centers for the book across the country. LAL invites readers in grades 4 through 10 to enter our annual writing competition.

To enter, readers write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre–fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, contemporary or classic–explaining how that author’s work changed the student’s way of thinking about the world or themselves.

There are three competition levels:

Level I for children in grades 4 through 6;
Level II for grades 7 – 8,
Level III, grades 9 – 10.

Solomon chose the book The Evolution of Calpurnia Virginia Tate, which I reviewed here, so his letter was written to Ms. Jacqueline Kelley, we edited it and he carried it off to school in his backpack. As his mom , I of course, was proud and thought he had done a great job.

Last night my husband got an email from Solomon’s teacher that his letter has been advanced to State Level for judging at Level 1, in Minnesota there were 1,265 entires, so this is quite an honor.

The state level results will be back the first week of April, so keep your fingers crossed for him, and I will update when we find out.

Du you want to join me?

Posted by Patchwork Reality

A dear friend of mine that I really do not get to see very often, but is my tried and true running partner, just asked me last week to join her in a Dualathon. I have done this race before in a partnership, I ran and a guy rode the bike part. We took 4th, not bad!

This friend of mine is going to “du” the whole race herself, would I like to join her. Of course I would I love a challenge, mind you I am just starting week 2 of Intermediate 1/2 marathon training, however the folks at Final Stretch, who do a fantastic job on the races they put together, kindly laid out a training plan. Which actually will ~~force~~ provide me the opputunity to cross train on a two wheeler.

Here is the training plan for a dualathon that is a 2mile run, 14 mile bike, and 3 mile run. I think these are great lengths for a beginning duathaloner.

I really like to have a race planned for each month, sometimes if there are races locally that support a great cause as a family we will participate in more than one, but for now I am committed to:

April: Cannon Falls Duathalon

May: Med City 1/2 Marathon (and I will probably run the 5K the day before)

October: Mankato Full Marathon.

Looks like I need to find something for March still!

Finale to Fab Five February and a few tips to listing on Facebook for sale groups.

Posted by Patchwork Reality

All right last day and I will have you know we came in strong at the end, this is my style, mostly, even in races, I always save a little zoom for the last tenth of a mile and spring it out.
Yesterday I posted these beauties:

AND as of today we no longer own a lovely geometric print mission style futon, and I have people lined up to look at the bike. Now I know these are only 2 things, bringing the total to what 28….so Fab “five” February is more like Fab “just one a day” February, but as of right now we have sold 4 things and ~~made~~ put $154 back into our funds. If when the bike sells we will be over $600!!!!

Remember my goal was to clean out and sell 5 things per day for this month, then turn around and sell them on a local for sale by face book page.

Ok, so here are some tips I learned in this process from my 28 day experience:

1. Deciding to rid of items that have many parts, like kids toys, requires quite a bit of pre-organization (read time)

2. Make sure you have read and understand the rules of the group/board you are posting on.

3. Take a good clear picture of your item…I know this seems like a given, but some of the picture I saw were indistinguishable, people will be more interested in your item if you show some thought in presentation…right?!

4. Setting a goal is great, but be flexible, I came very short on my goal of 5 per day, our life just did not afford me enough time to get through everything.

5. List your item, and have measurements especially if it is a household item, and then be considerate, written messages can be misconstrued, add pleases and thank yous, and show general manners, these can go a long way in a transaction way before face to face interaction.

6. Set up a safe and flexible place to meet up, the mall, or a parking lot of a busy store like a Trader Joes, somewhere that you feel you could get out of easily if needed or there would be a good number of people around.

7. Clean your item up and if it needs batteries put them in, people are excited to get your item don’t disappoint them.

8. BE ON TIME for your meeting. Let the buyer look it over, if you have represented your item accurately then you should be good to go, but know that they still have a choice to take it or leave it, this can be frustrating especially when everyone’s time is valuable.

9. When buying am item, bring the proper amount of cash, do not expect the seller to make change, or to take a check.

10. Thank your buyer/seller.

What are some tips or lessons you have learned in selling via facebook?

Overall, my experience has been positive with this experiment, I think I will still list some items as they come up on the facebook page. I also bought a few items *shoes* for me! I mean heck if I keep up one a day that’s 365 for the year …..wish me luck. 🙂

Still lightening the load.

Posted by Patchwork Reality

Sunday Raiven and I tackled her room.

It took most of the day, she was more helpful than I had anticipated, and I think she now feels very proud of her room…again…until the next time 🙂

It is amazing the amount of school papers, treats, notes , gifts and other random that kids acquire from school and friends and activities. Also if it was up to Raiven, she would keep it ALL, every card that someone took the time to put her name on. I love this about her, her sweet nature, however, I think I might have hurt my ankle trying to walk around the bed to tuck her in last Friday, so I played the “we need to clean your room” mom card.

I know I still need to post photos of her room redo, but first we needed it clean.

WE unloaded a pile of clothes to her sister, one to my eBay sell pile, 3 bags of garbage (Styrofoam from product boxes, some broken toys etc. she is not a true hoarder), 2 bags to donate, and a small pile that I am adding to the Fab Five February count, I promised her to give these items a chance for sale locally, brining our total to 28…yikes, we are behind!:

1/2 Marathon Training starts….now! (sub 2:00)

Posted by Patchwork Reality

You all know I am a runner, it is like breathing for me, my system starts to shut down when I miss more than a day of running, well not entirely, but emotionally I drain without running.

It clears my mind, takes me away from life, I organize my thoughts, plus get a great caloric burn at the same time.

Last year I ran a PR 1/2 marathon twice. The first in May at the Med City and the second in Duluth at Grandmas 1/2. (1:58:01) 9:01 pace.

I did not get into grandmas 1/2 marathon through the lottery this year, so I am considering running the full 26.2 to join all my girls for the weekend….but that is a bit ahead of where this post is leading.

Below is the training plan, my life, for the next 12 weeks, this puts me right to race day for the Med City Marathon weekend.

This plan will hopefully bring me a new PR, you can see the plan trains beyond the 13.1 race distance, this is the intermediate 1/2 marathon training plan from coolrunning.com.

I love having a plan set for me…..hubby will back into the training routine as well:

Hubby: how many miles do you have to run tomorrow?

Me: (the mileage for the next day)…

He is very supportive, but I am trying to convince him to run with me this year, so instead he can ask “how many miles are WE running tomorrow?” He of course would start on the beginner plan.

My schedule:

Week	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.	Sun.
1	Off	4M	6M	4M	6M	3M	8M
2	Off	Fartlek (5M)	3M	5M	6M	3M	9M
3	Off	5-6 Hills 5K-10K pace	3M	6M	6M	3M	10M
4	Off	Fartlek (5M)	3M	6M	6M	3M	8M
5	Off	4-5 Long Hills 5K-10K pace	4M	6M	6M	3M	11M
6	Off	6 x 880s 5K-10K pace	4M	7M	7M	4M	8M
7	Off	3 x Mile 5K-10K pace	4M	7M	7M	3M	12M
8	Off	6 x 880s 5K pace	5M	7M	7M	4M	9M
9	Off	4 x Mile 5K-10K pace	4M	7M	7M	4M	14M
10	Off	6 x 880s 5K pace	5M	8M	8M	5M	15M
11	Off	5M	5M	8M	7M	4M	8M
12	Off	4M	4M	6M	4M	3M	RACE DAY

Thank you!

Posted by Patchwork Reality

First of all Fab February has become not so fab, I hate to be a downer and make excuses but this house has not been feeling well, this week alone 2 kids have a combined total of 3 ear infections. Santanna missed the whole week of Kindergarten and I am just not that into organizing, while rushing to the Doctor and consoling littles.

I am sure I can make up for lsot time. I have sold 3 things….ugh I so wanted that to be a higher number, but I stilll have 6 days..right!??!

That being said, I really just want to thank all my follwers, new and not new, a few clicks back I recieved a notification of getting 100 likes…..so cool, and inspiring. I mean who does not want to be liked???

So thank you, made me feel good times 100!

Brandy Pecan Pie

Posted by Patchwork Reality

Ahh February 14th….the day of love, chocolate, roses, jewelery….is it an important holiday? One that should have men doting on women, reminding the woman in their life just how much they love them, or is it really a marketing ploy to sell those million rose buds and pounds of chocolate??

Well, regardless of your persuasion on the holiday, all of us over here are fans of sweet treats, and days that inspire small kindnesses, so we have a no expectations February 14th just cute little cards written to teachers and friends and yummy food.

This recipe is for a pecan pie that is Jon’s favorite, it is what he has for a birthday “cake” every year, it is my adaptation of a recipe I found in a cookbook and is from Bravo, Chef!

You will need:

Brandy Pecan Pie

1- 9 inch pie crust

1/2 dark corn syrup

3 eggs

1 Cup white sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 C. Brandy (you will have some left in the bottle; another reason Jon loves this pie)

1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream (more if you want to whip some up to go on top of the pie)

2 TBS melted butter

1 1/4 C chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375.

Place your pie crust in your pan (or find a willing helper):

I gave her a fork and let her make a fancy edge!

One more because I love her eyes!

Ok back to pie:

Mix eggs, sugar, melted butter, corn syrup, and heavy cream in a bowl.

Should look like this.

Stir in pecans, brandy and vanilla, then pour into your pie crust.

Bake for 40-50 minutes or until set, it should not wiggle much.

Viola!! now you can eat this all by itself, ala mode, or with some freshly whipped cream.

Happy Valentines day!!!!!

Patchwork Reality

Making it through life one piece at a time

Author: Patchwork Reality

Plannig the Day Before…St Patty’s Day Menu

Littlest Girls Room

Whiter and Brighter

Putting Modesty Aside.

Du you want to join me?

Finale to Fab Five February and a few tips to listing on Facebook for sale groups.

Still lightening the load.

1/2 Marathon Training starts….now! (sub 2:00)

Thank you!

Brandy Pecan Pie