Thoughts on Thursday...

It's October already...can't believe how fast the time goes.

Autumn is my favorite season. Cool crisp air, apple picking, warm cider, the crunch of leaves under your feet, apple pie, pumpkins, warm fuzzy sweaters...

We have so many wonderful memories from this time of year...glad our daughters are coming home from college for the long holiday weekend.

I think we have Clyde's Cider Mill on the "to do" list. Ahhh...apple cider donuts. Nothing better. Well, "warm" apple cider donuts are way better!!

How about you? Do you have any autumn traditions in your family?

Happy Thoughts this Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

I saw this somewhere on the internet and saved it to my phone, so I'm not even sure where it's from, but it had me thinking. Yes, it's funny because, I too, love "lunchtime", but really what time period would I go back to?

I really think I would set my time machine and travel back to the 1930's. I know, depression era...but I just love the Waltons and the simplicity of that time.

Not to mention they made quilts like this!!

My second time machine trip would be the late 1800's...Little House on the Prairie.

Ok, I think I am completely swayed by television and once I arrived at my destinations, I would see how hard it was to live during those times and high tail it right back !! LOL

How about you? Where would your time machine be set to...what place, what time period etc?

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Is it just me or am I the only one who can not find the "Perfect" wallet and purse?

The wallet has to have slots for cards, pockets for coupons, pocket for receipts, spot for coins and bills, etc and easy access to it all with wide gussets on the side. It absolutely must zip or snap to close too. I thought I found the perfect one...even the compartments were labeled for coupons and receipts, but when I put everything in there it didn't snap.

This new wallet is almost perfect...it zips shuts on both sides so that's good, but I had to cut the little pen holder loop out because it got caught in the zipper every time. Who designs these things? Don't they put all the crap in there first to see if it works?

Now the purse is my biggest quest...like the Holy Grail. I won't even get into the details of what a dream purse is, because I don't think I know until I see it! LOL It does have to be short so things don't get lost in the black hole of the abyss in the bottom. It has to be sturdy and stand up on it's own, like a bucket purse...not floppy. It has to have a ton of little pockets along the inside walls for phone, keys, lipstick, iPad, medicine and oh yeah...straps for your shoulder.

Ok, I'm stopping here...I think I need to see a psychiatrist. LOL

You? (on the purse, not the psychiatrist)

Have a great Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Let's face it everyone, we live in a world of technology. What does that mean for all of us...passwords. When I saw this sign below, I laughed out loud.  How many times do I do this in a day?!? LOL

You too??

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Picture it...You are walking past a yummy cake or pie. You notice that someone before you has cut it a little crooked...at an angle, not square at all. We can't have that, now can we?

Trim, trim, trim!!!

Well, I think I have convinced myself that if I straighten the edge of the yummy dessert and eat that little sliver that I have trimmed away, there aren't any calories in that tiny piece. Back me up on this ladies! LOL

I am merely tidying up the dessert...don't you agree???

Here is Exhibit A...delicious corn bread that needs a little work!

Here's to straighter dessert every where.

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

We're taking another trip down memory lane for back to school week.

What are my thoughts this Thursday...school lunch.

You know how we tend to forget certain things from the past, but there are a few lunches that stick out in my mind. I always brown bagged it. Sometimes I would get "hot lunch" ( so funny typing that...do they even call it that any more?)

My favorite lunch was bologna on white bread with mayo and lettuce, a bag of potato chips (just a few that my mom bagged herself) and a homemade dessert (usually a cookie that I never ate.) The best part about the sandwich was when I put all the potato chips on the sandwich and crushed them in there. OMG I could eat one right now!! Lol  That is probably the most UNhealthy lunch ever, now that I think about it!!

The one thing I always longed for and never had in my lunch was a store bought treat. My mom always baked something for our lunches. Funny how we didn't know to appreciate it then. Only as we grow older do we see how much time it took for her to do that.

My most favorite treat that I would trade something for was the Hostess Ding Dong. Remember them? Little individual bundles of joy all wrapped in foil. Ahhhh, my mouth is watering.

Look at the package. You can faintly see on the right where it says "Vitamin Fortified". Yeah, right...what vitamin could survive in that sea of sugar!!

I remember spreading out the foil wrapper and rubbing it smooth with the back of my thumb nail until it shined like silver.

Why is all this coming back to me all of a sudden...so funny!!

Now it's your turn...

• What was in your lunch box? 
• Brown bag, lunch box or hot lunch? 
• Did you eat the same thing everyday?

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

School days...then end of summer is near and it's time to go back to school.

My 2 daughters are going back to college and my husband is a teacher, so it's back to school for him too.

One memory for me of going back to school is clothes shopping. It was just the best feeling. You wanted to wear those clothes as soon as your mom bought them for you.

I can clearly remember one outfit in the mid 1970's...a pair of corduroy farmer jeans or overalls. Oh my gosh, I am laughing as I am typing this. What in the name was I thinking.

I found this image on google of a vintage pair...mine were brown too!

What outfit do you remember from your "going back to school days"...

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves."

~Amelia Earhart~

As many of you already know, blogging is a connection to the world...through the sharing of thoughts, through ideas and projects. Blogging is also a connection to "friends" you will most likely never meet.

I have made countless friends through blogging and I am thankful every day. One such friend is Susan from the blog "Super Mom-No Cape!" (I love that title).  

Susan emailed me asking for my address, because she had made something for me as a thank you for the things I share on my blog!

Can you believe it...she made me something! Handmade items are truly a gift from the heart...time and talent go into handmade gifts.

Here is the package I received this week!! I was blown away.

A zippered pouch, a scissor-sewing case, pincushion and a beautiful piece of fabric ( not to mention the postage from another country!!!)

The detail in the scissor case...it has four pockets. The Cathedral Window pincushion brought tears to my eyes. My grandmother was famous for her Cathedral Window quilts and pincushions and I never had received one from her, so this will be treasured.

The pouch is so cute...I already have it filled!!

It's fully lined...

with a lined pocket. Unbelievable workmanship!!

I have zipper envy. Lol  I need a lesson from you Susan.

Thank you Susan for such a beautiful package and for your kindness and thoughtfulness...it will never be forgotten.

Go for a visit to Susan's blog...click here...she has so many great projects she shares!

Have a great Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Worst job for me in the kitchen...peeling potatoes. Dread!!

I've tried every tool and gadget too...still the endless bag of them to peel.

Most of the time I buy new red potatoes and smash them with the skin on. I keep telling my family there is more nutrients in the skin than the potato itself! Lol

What's your worst kitchen task?

Happy Thoughts on Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Vacations...always a much needed break, always so much fun and for us...always a "story"!!

No matter where we go, there is always a "vacation story"...something went wrong, a mishap or just a really funny story. We have great memories of our crazy vacations. Thankfully they are just great memories and nothing worse.

The best story was many, many years ago when the girls were little (they're both in college now, so it was a long time ago). It was during our April vacation. We just wanted to drive some place close and take them to an amusement park. At the time, Six Flags in New Jersey was about a 6 hour drive for us from Rhode Island. I called and asked the park when they opened for the year and she said April 1st. Oh great, I thought...perfect.

NOT

To make a very long story short...

• drove 6-7 hours to New Jersey on Tuesday and stay in hotel about 15 minutes from the park
• woke up Wednesday morning and drove to Six Flags.
• "Wow, amazing there isn't any traffic getting to the park!!"
• first gate...big orange construction pillars
• second gate...big orange construction pillars
• third gate with security guard. I asked..."please tell me this park is open." Security guard.."No mame, the park is closed. 
• "WHAT??? but I called and she said you opened April 1st"
• Security guard..."Oh, yes we opened April 1st, but just for Saturdays and Sundays until May, then it's opened during the week"
• Our daughters still say...remember when mommy put her head on the dashboard and cried and cried!!
• went back to the hotel and called every where. All parks on the east coast didn't open until May.

LATER THAT SAME DAY...

Make the second part of this story very short.

• called our hotel's travel agent and booked a flight to Disney
• drove 2 hours to Newark airport 
• missed our flight
• arrived in Disney at 11:00 pm Wednesday night
• stayed at the Polynesian Hotel
• spent all day Thursday in Magic Kingdom (girls had the BEST time)
• flew back to New Jersey Friday afternoon
• drove back to Rhode Island 

Money spent in New Jersey...$300.00

Two day trip to Disney...$2000.00

Memories to last a lifetime...PRICELESS

Spur of the moment things for your children, even when you really couldn't afford it. Lol !!!

What's your vacation "story"???

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

I love my tea, but coffee is a very close second. It's up there...even may be tied to tea!!

I thought this button would be great for those late night blogging sessions, where I hoped a cup coffee would just appear at my desk if I pushed that button.

If you could add a button (any button at all) to your computer keyboard, what would it say?

Hmmm...chocolate delivery, bowl of potato chips, back rub from hubby...

Let's hear it ladies. What are your thought on this Thursday??

Happy Thinking,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

We all have days like this, but they don't last forever...keep positive thoughts!!

Sometimes we just need someone to tell us this... 

Spread the word...you might cheer someone up today!

Happy Thoughts,

~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

I always save the best for last...

How about you? Do you eat your favorite thing on the plate first or last?

Happy Thoughts,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

I laugh every time I read this...because it's so true!

I've done this leaving for work, early in the morning walking down our front walkway with bushes on both sides. Those little buggers spread their webs across the walkway.

A few quick karate moves at 7:00 am in the morning definitely wakes you up...and then you drive to work thinking there's a spider in your hair!!

True story was yesterday driving to work and one was crawling on my neck...I was a driving ninja!! Called my husband crying. (not really crying,  just that voice of OMG there was a spider on my neck) Like he was going to drive the 30 miles to where I was and kill it!! Lol

I HATE spiders...


Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Summer officially began Wednesday night, June 20th at 7:09 in the northern hemisphere. How did we kick off summer...

My favorite Dairy Queen Blizzard...Banana Cream Pie!! I would have taken a picture of the one I had, but I ate it too fast.

Ahhh, remember when...

Not sure where this picture is, but ours looks like this one except for the cute 1950's dresses.

Do you have a Dairy Queen near you? or should I say DQ...what's your favorite treat at DQ or any summertime ice cream treat?

Happy Summer,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Don't you just love singing along with the radio all loud and proud...until someone tells you you're singing the wrong words!!

Sometimes I just can't believe those are the actual lyrics, when my words to the song sound so much better. LOL!!!

I always look up the lyrics just to make sure.

Do you sing to the wrong lyrics too???  I just think we're being creative...

I found this online somewhere...too funny!

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

This quote was in my fortune cookie...

"It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude."

                                                                           ~Zig Ziglar~

If you really think about this quote, it can apply to anyone or anything. A positive "attitude" about something is so important. Attitude is not "what" you think about something ...it's how you "feel" about something.

So "feel" good about what your doing, even in the simplest things in life. Most people reading this right now love to create... we like to craft, sew, cook, blog etc. Whatever you do, do it with attitude...a positive attitude. It doesn't have to be picture perfect in the end...just love what you do and how it turns out, because when you are positive and surround yourself with positive...the sky's the limit.

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Am I the only one who tries to pump gasoline to an exact, even dollar amount? Why do I do this? Why does it have to be $62.00 or $63.00?

Well, yesterday I revolted against myself and I pumped $62.48. Woo Hoo!!

Then the woo hoo turned to boo hoo, because I just spent $62.48 on gas.  I'm sick every time I fill my tank.

I love this picture...take a look at the price...amazing. Lol

Do you pump to an even dollar amount too? How's the price of gas in your part of the world?

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Let's take another stroll down memory lane... 

My daughter Kelsie and I were watching a repeat episode of Mad Men and someone on the show sang "Hello My Baby..." Come on, sing it out loud in that voice. Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gal...

I told Kelsie that song was on a cartoon I watched when I was little. It was about a singing and dancing frog who only sang for one person. The man attempted to make money on the talented frog, but he only sang for him.

Do you remember that cartoon? If not, Click HERE for the link to the you tube video for a blast from the past.

What was your favorite cartoon when you were little?

Happy Thoughts,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Do you say things that "DATE" you...I slip sometimes and still say cream rinse instead of conditioner.

Remember these cream rinses from the 1970's? OMG so funny the memories.

Tame...

and Breck...

I also say dittos instead of worksheets...worse than dittos was mimeographs.

Ok, I'll stop. I'm getting OLDER as I type!  Lol

How about you? What do you say to "date" yourself?

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~