Happy Boo...zeday - The Perfect Way to Celebrate turning 21..derful

Here's an easy way to celebrate  someone turning 21 with a booze bouquet. And what a perfect time of year to add a little extra BOOs to the pot.

Here's all you need:

INGREDIENTS FOR A BOOZEDAY BOUQUET - FOR A 21...DERFUL BIRTHDAY

1 Flower Pot
Flower foam
colored paper
ribbon
10 candy sticks - or bamboo skewers
5 mini bottles of alcohol
3-4 ghostly peeps

Take your empty flower pot and fill it with floral foam and tie a ribbon around the rim:
 

Then cover the foam with tissue paper, craft paper or even shredded paper:

I used numbered craft paper - because it seemed appropriate for a birthday celebration.

Next secure the alcohol minis to the candy sticks with tape.

After all the minis are secured to the candy sticks, pre-cut the holes in the paper for the sticks to poke through and start decorating the bouquet .

I added a few ghostly peeps to the mix to make it absolutely boo...tiful ;D

But you could use cookies or marshmallows or any kind of peeps.

Then I covered the little peeps in baggies so they wouldn't get dried out.

All-in-all I thought it turned out really boo...tiful :D

So CHEERS! and Happy Boo..ze...day

Word for Wednesday

Guess what it means...

This word is the quiz of the day.

Won't you take a guess?

Come on, what will you say...

Give it a try, come on and play...

WORD FOR WEDNESDAY: skedaddle

Do you know what it means?

Can you explain?

Or do you think its crazy...

What do you think?

If you want to know the answer read down below for the answer.

Further....


FURTHER.....


The word skedaddle means "depart quickly or hurriedly; run away."

What a Weekend

We spent the weekend in beautiful San Diego. It was a weekend filled with bike riding, running and football...oh yeah,  and food, and lots of it.

We had a great time watching the SeaHawks play against the Chargers. Unfortunately the Hawks were defeated but it was great watching the skydivers land on the field and to see the celebration of the 200 anniversary of our Star Spangled Banner.

It was mighty impressive.

How 'bout you...how did you spend your weekend?

Homemade Candies

First you need candy molds

Then you melt the white chocolate and add the food coloring. Then you fill the molds with the melted chocolate. Place the molds in the fridge and let the chocolate harden. Then you unmold the chocolates and trim the excess.

It's super simple to make candy.

I put these ones on the top of cupcakes.

Next time I use different colors of chocolate but this was for a baby girl's shower.

9.1.1.

In Memoriam

The Aids Walk

There were some super cool costumes - especially on such a HOT day. I couldn't believe that people were willing to put these heavy layers on and wear them in the 90+ degree heat of the day.

There were plenty of volunteers.

And it was a fun two mile walk around the city streets.

The Color Run was Ran

What a fun way to spend a day at the Color Run with friends and helping to raise money for the Dream Factory of Oregon at the same time.

Next year we're going to know how to dress for this event. :D

OPENING NIGHT - Dr. Horrible - September 4th

My son will be performing at the Funhouse Lounge  at 2432 SE 11th in Portland, Oregon, this month, singing and acting and we'll be sitting in the audience...laughing and enjoying the show.

Performances are:

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog -  Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, Sept. 4th, 5th,   6th, 11th, 12th, 13th,  18th, 19th, 20th, 25th, 26th, and 27th  7:00pm
Late Shows Sept 20th & 27th 9pm
Funhouse Lounge, 2432 SE 11th Ave. , Portland, OR 97214

Tickets Start at only $12
VIP Tickets are available and include VIP lanyard, buttons and autographed picture of the cast

Also you have the opportunity to buy the role of "The Mayor" That's right buy your way into the cast. Only one per show.

Word for Wednesday - Curmudgeon

Do you know what it means...?

Come on, say it out loud...curmudgeon...

The sound is a hint...at least I think so.

Take a guess...

But if you don't know, scroll down to find out the answer



Further....




FURTHER.....



WORD FOR WEDNESDAY: CURMUDGEON

It is a . . . .


bad tempered or surly person...and if you want to read more, check out this link

TUESDAY TORMENTS

I can't believe it. My three-day weekend has come and gone...so quickly I don't know what happened. I had so many plans, intentions and goals. But they slipped away like sand through my hands, at the beach (which is one place I wanted to visit this weekend...but didn't make it).

We spent the evenings in the park watching performances of Shakespeare plays. These talented troupes performed As You Like It and Star Wars. Yes, you heard me right. Star Wars.

And C3P0 and R2D2 were wonderful. If you are curious about any other characters in the Star Wars episodes, you might want to check out Wookieepedia ;D

Of course this was a spoof of the iconic Sci-Fi production but when you take Star Wars and add Shakespearean Iambic pentameter, it really becomes a blast. And, these actors did a tremendous job. But what was especially wonderful is that they did it more for the love of the art of acting than for the pay, although there were little green buckets placed strategically around the perimeter of the performance, for any audience members who just so happened to want to drop a $5, $10 or $20 into the pot. And it was such a wonderful time that I'm sure more than a few did just that....at least I hope so.

We started out early in the day by laying out a blanket and bringing a little food and a few drinks to help us make it through the late night hours of watching the play.

And it was more than a little crowded by the time the play began.

So we saw two plays and another spoof on Downton Abbey at a comedy club.

So, I guess that explains how my nights were whittled away. But W.O.W. how time flies. . .

How 'bout you? Did you have a wonderful holiday weekend?

Earth-Friendly Friday

It's the beginning of a three-day weekend...and do I have plans? Well, who doesn't?

I' want to spend time out in the garden, in the sewing room, in the mountains...hiking. Yep, I have more than a few plans, plus reading, and writing...

So what does all of that have to do with Earth-friendly Friday?

Well, one of my projects is to cut up a bunch of old tee-shirts and turn them into a rug...at least that's what I'm hoping to do. I don't know if this project will turn out beautifully or be a huge craft-fail...but I guess I'll find out. And, I'll post pics on Monday, or Tuesday...

So, how 'bout you? What will you do with your extra day?

Estela Bernal - Can You See Me Now

I spent the evening at A Children's Place bookstore listening to Estela Bernal talk about Can You See Me Now, her Middle Grade novel which is out in stores now.

This is a story about a young girl who loses her father in a car accident and has to deal with adjusting to her loss when her mother is emotionally abandoning her too.

It was a fun evening, filled with tales of writing and words of wisdom and inspiration.

Word for Wednesday - a writer's game

Guess what the word means...

WORD FOR WEDNESDAY:

PRIMORDIAL


Do you know what it means?

Can you guess?

If you don't know, try a guess anyway...

And if you think you know the answer....

Scroll down to see if you were "write" or wrong.



Further....


FURTHER . . . .


PRIMORDIAL MEANS:

existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval.

"the primordial oceans"

DIY Croakie

I wear my reading glasses all the time...because I read a lot. So I can't be putting my glasses down while I'm doing something else. That's where the croakie comes in handy. But, most of the store-bought varieties are not very pretty. So, I decided to make my own.

I went to Joann Fabrics and bought some beads and went to work. First you need little fastenings, which you can get at any craft store, including Joann's.

 Now I have a green croakie, a purple one and even a black and blue one.

They are fun to make and very easy.

Homemade Peach Pie

It doesn't have to be beautiful to taste yummy and it will leave mouthwatering memories your kids and family will remember long after the pie is gone.

Here's how I made my pie:

Ingredients:

DOUGH:

2 1/4 cups flour
2 sticks of butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water

(1/4 cup extra flour for rolling out your dough).

Mix the ingredients together well and separate into two balls of dough. Then roll out two sheets on floured cutting boards (place cutting boards and dough in refrigerator to chill for 1/2 hour)

Peaches must be skinned and cut into chunks. I also rinse mine.

FILLING:

10 large ripe peaches
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons butter
1 egg

Blend everything but the peaches together and then add the peaches.

 INSTRUCTIONS:

Use one sheet of dough to layer the bottom portion of your pie pan (bake at 450 for 10 minutes) then pull out of the oven and pour filling into pan. Let cool (but do not put in refrigerator-as pan could break from sudden change in temperatures), cut strips of dough and layer one way then the other across your pie pan. Use one extra strip of dough to edge the pie and bake at 350 for approximately 35-40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. If edges get too dark, cover with tin foil.

If you're careful, you can get even strips, I just cut away and don't worry about it.

I like to add an edge of dough around the circumference to give it a more finished look.

I pinch the edges to make it look finished.
Then I pop it in the oven.

My edges tend to get overly brown, so I cover them in foil.

And when I pop it out, it's ready to eat.

Sweet!

Shakespeare in the Park

This weekend at Laurelhurst Park on Sunday afternoon at 1:00, Aug 24 - As You Like It, OPSF

The Original Practice Shakespeare Festival is a fun theater group that performs in the park during the summer. 

So bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and come see a show.

It's a wonderful way to spend a day. 

Thought for Thursday

If you have trouble with grammar or, if you don't really know when to use affect versus effect, you should definitely pop over to Grammar Girl's blogsite and check her out.

She has some great tips, hints and tricks to help you remember when to use what.

So, if you want a little extra help in the writing department, bookmark her site and maybe watch a tutorial or two.

Good luck with your writing.

Making Minions

This is such an easy food craft that kids can do it.

INGREDIENTS:

WHITE (or yellow) chocolate
marshmallows
candy eyes
 Black frosting and/or molding dough
(candy sticks/lollipop sticks)
(a big cup to hold the sticks)

Optional:

fondant (in colors you want to use to decorate)

First you need to put the marshmallows on the sticks. I put them in a broad based cup to hold them while I decorate them.

You can microwave the chocolate until it is smooth and creamy. All you need is some chocolate (white or yellow), if you use white, you will need some yellow food coloring to dye your chocolate to the proper color for minions.

Then you dip your marshmallows in the chocolate and put them in the fridge to cool. Then use the left over warm chocolate to "glue" the candy eyes in place. You are nearly done.

You can decorate as much or as little as you like.

I also made a minion holder.

This came pre-packaged from the local craft store. All I was supposed to have to do was put it together.

But the instructions were in Spanish...:(

Still I tried.

But I had to ask my hubby to help and he actually ended up using his drill to make the lollipop holders larger.

Of course I had to decorate it with a little ribbon.

Another Exciting Weekend in the Kasch Household

I don't know how you spend your weekends but around my house it's one exciting adventure after another...NOT!

We seem to spend a lot of time remodeling...and this is something we've been doing for about 30 years.

Well, at least this weekend we made a little headway on the chimbrary...my little library behind the chimney.

And, when I say we I mean my hubby. He of course of was sitting up in that little space installing the beautiful wainscoting I wanted.

Here's a pictorial progress report:

An Agent's In-Box

Krista Van Dolzer is hostessing a contest and for any writers out there, it might just be worth your while to check it out.

Just pop over here and see if this is for you.

But for those of you who don't want to click over without knowing if it's worth it, here are the rules as they appear on her blog:

"The Rules

1. To enter, your manuscript must meet two conditions: First, it must be COMPLETE, POLISHED, AND READY TO QUERY, and second, it must be in one of the genres The Agent represents (which are listed at the bottom of this post).

2. IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN FEBRUARY’S ROUND OF “AN AGENT’S INBOX,” please DO NOT participate in this one UNLESS YOU HAVE A NEW MANUSCRIPT that meets the criteria listed above. I have a pretty good memory, and I will disqualify previous entries. If the entry slots don’t fill up by Tuesday, August 19, I may allow previous participants to enter, but I’m not going to make that decision right now.

3. All entries must include A QUERY and THE FIRST 250 WORDS of your manuscript. You must paste these items IN THE BODY OF YOUR E-MAIL; otherwise, I'll disqualify it.

4. THE ENTRY WINDOW OPENS AT 1:00 P.M. EDT (OR 10:00 A.M. PDT). Once the entry window opens, I'll accept the first 20 entries. I won't accept any entries sent before the entry window opens or after the first 20 slots fill up.

5. If your entry makes it in, I'll send you a confirmation e-mail with a post number. If your entry doesn't make it in, I'll still send you an e-mail, but it won't have a post number.

6. If your entry makes it in, YOU MUST COMMENT ON AT LEAST 3 OTHER ENTRIES.

The Prizes The Agent will select both the winners and the prizes. The Agent might pick 20 winners, or he or she might only pick one. The Agent might offer full requests, or he or she might only ask to see another page. It all depends on how good the entries are.

Please keep in mind that THIS CONTEST ISN'T FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. I've encouraged The Agent to treat the entries exactly as he or she would a normal batch of queries. Essentially, The Agent will be answering the question, "How much of the entry did you read, and if you didn't read it all, why did you stop?" I think this process will be instructive for all of us, but if you enter, you need to be prepared to hear exactly what The Agent thinks of your query and first page.

So get those queries and first pages polished up, then meet us back here on Monday, August 18, at 1:00 p.m. EDT! At that time, you may send your entries to kvandolzer(at)gmail(dot)com. Looking forward to it!

The Genres

MG fiction (all genres)
YA fiction (all genres)
NA fiction (all genres except erotica)"

REMEMBER THIS ISN'T MY CONTEST IT'S KRISTA VAN DOLZER'S SO IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, HOP OVER TO HER BLOG BY CLICKING HERE. 

Hawthorne Street Fair - this weekend

Hawthorne Boulevard will be closed from SE 30th to SE 38th Avenues! Sunday event highlights include: live music all day, beer gardens (located outside Bazi Bierbrasserie with a live DJ and beer tastings, and at the Eagles Lodge with live bands during the course of the day: both beer gardens are family and pet friendly, and are cash only), kids events at toy store Kids at Heart including face painting, circus activities, prizes and more! PLUS our friends at Lounge Lizard have some surprises up their sleeves! Make sure you pop on over to Hawthorne Boulevard this weekend for this fantastic street fair!

AcroYoga

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Their Eyes Were Watching God is a story about new horizons and looking for the good in even the worst of situations. It's also a story about love and looking for a connection with another person and loving them.

Zora Hurston wrote this novel in 1937 in seven weeks.

It's the story of Janie Crawford, a young black woman who grows up during the course of the book and her search for love and her own identity.

Zora was a woman who wrote this story in a time when it wasn't easy to be an African American female writer.

Though the text might take a little time getting used to, it is well worth the effort. I would rate this novel a 7-8 on a scale of 1-10. It was a little slow in a couple of spots (one being the very beginning) but over all it was very entertaining and interesting.

SCBWI Oregon Retreat

If you want to get away and relax while being productive all at the same time, then you should check out the SCBWI-Oregon Retreat:

2014 Annual Fall Retreat

Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/16/2014 - 10/19/2014
3:00 pm - 12:00 pm
Location
Oregon Garden Resort
895 W Main St - Silverton, OR 97381