Guess which flavour is my favorite? I even had it for breakfast this week. I know, I know – I’m terrible! The popcorn on the other hand is not – it’s GOOD!

So good that I asked the Popcorn Factory if you could have some too, and they’ve offered TWO of YOU each a tin of popcorn.

The tin is massive, which is good because, I definitely have piglet tendencies. Did I mention that I REALLY liked the caramel flavour?

I am going to order a couple more. I think they’ll make fabulous hostess gifts over the holidays. The tins can be personalized with a photo or message label on top. For more information, visit www.thepopcornfactory.com.

In addition to the popcorn I received a box of Fannie May Truffles. I’d love to tell you how delicious they were, however, after scarfing down the cookies and butter cream frosted brownies from www.cherylandco.com that were also in the box; I decided to save the truffles for my Grandma. I know … honestly … I don’t think I could get much sweeter! It must be all the candy I’m eating.

If you’d like to win a tin of popcorn from The Popcorn Factory leave a comment on this post. I’ll pick two random winners on Saturday, November 28th, 2009 @ 1 p.m. MT.

What do you usually take to holiday parties as a hostess / thank you gift?

MK xo
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Disclaimer: I was provided with popcorn, cookies, brownies and truffles to review free of charge. No payment was received in exchange for this post. The opinions in this post are my own.

I’ve reached the 50,000 word goal of NaNoWriMo.org. Actually, I reached it on the 17th.

I’m not done yet though. I still have to write the last few pages of my romance. You know, the part where they declare their undying devotion to each other, strip naked and live happily ever after. Bwahahaha.

Truthfully, my romance is what is considered a ‘contemporary romance’ and they’ve been getting naked for quite some time. The HUSSY!

The sex love scenes were the most difficult to write and I seriously wouldn’t have gotten past ‘throbbing erection’ without the vocabulary suggestions on this site: Sex in the Romance

I’d never heard of NaNoWriMo.org until Angella over at DutchBlitz.net mentioned that she was doing it (Thanks Angella!). I didn’t have a clue what to write about or how to do it. I’ve never considered myself a writer. A blogger, yes, but not a writer and I wasn’t sure if I would have anything to say with out photos.

Three things have surprised me most:

1. It is way easier than I thought.
2. Writing a novel is just as much fun as reading one. It just takes a lot longer!
3. I’ve been using quotation marks incorrectly, much of the time.

I love reading. I’ve often finished a book and thought I could do that. However, I’ve always been of the opinion that in order to get started I needed a plot, an outline, details. I discovered doing NaNoWriMo that this is just not the case.

It might be the case if you are writing the next best seller, but if your end goal is just ‘a novel’, not even a good novel just a novel. Then all you really need is a deadline and rudimentary spelling abilities. Lucky for me, I have both.

Other helpful knowledge: No-one ever has to read your book but you, so just keep going. Nothing is written in stone, keep going and fix it (edit it later).

I am going to write the ending soon –> like today. Then what to do?

MK xo
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Raise your hand if you’re afraid of pie crust. I’ve got both of my hands raised high above my head, and I am waving frantically. The fear stops here! There is no need with this EASY NO ROLL PIE CRUST from Joy the Baker.

I’ve long heard the ’secrets’ of good crust from both of my grandmothers. One insisted it was the ice cold water and no over mixing. The other cold lard and no over rolling. Both of these ladies could make a mean pie (one still does) and I’ve been lucky enough to spend most of my forty years, a pie crust virgin. Oh I dabbled in it in my twenties, turning out tough crusts that tasted inferior to even store bought. It didn’t seem worth the work … and I was happy to give it up. Frankly, the rolling scared me.

… read more –> @ The Reluctant Entertainer

“Love is All Around” – by Paul Williams

Every time I look at the large image of Georgia walking down the street. I start singing the Mary Tyler-Moore theme song. The image ‘IS’ Georgia.

I thought I ought to let you all know, she isn’t difficult ALL the time.

Questions for you: If your kiddo had a theme song, what would it be?

My NOVEL is coming along –> 20368 of 50000. It’s a romance and it’s complete and utter rubbish! Gotta love it! I’m pretty darn sure it’ll never be mass produced. I’m plodding along, nevertheless.

MK xo
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Last year I took the pain one step further and I did the NaBloPoMo requiring me to write a blog post each day in the month of November or admit defeat (no defeat admitting permitted here). To spice life up a little, I started my medication (eight injections a week) and decided to drive to California, take part in the Disney machine and drive home again all in 10 days.

No biggy! (Bwahahahaha). I am not doing it again though, I’ve been there and done that.

So this year I decided to step it up a notch, I am doing NaNoWriMo instead and I am writing a novel. The only rules, write a 50000+ word novel in November.

Word count so far: 10316 of 50000 –> so far, so good.

Any ideas for blog posts in November? Any questions for me?

MK xo
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This year, I decided that the kids could be whatever they wanted, only rule … we weren’t buying any costumes or expensive supplies.

You saw Lizzy’s Headless Marie Antoinette (she won first place at school … YAY!). We did have to buy some spray foam and duct tape for this one, otherwise this was totally made from stuff around the house.

**EDIT: Lizzy’s Costume has been chosen as a finalist in the ScanDigital Halloween Photo Contest — to vote you just have to click on the ‘like’ link under the photo (it’s on facebook, so if you are a member there is no sign up … just one click) or go here: www.facebook.com/scandigital - Thank you! **

Sam decided to be a hobo. He did his own make up and used old clothing etc. I sewed some patches on his shirt for him.

His costume was inspired by one of my favourite bloggers –> Broke but Still Drinking. Read his blog, he is hilarious.

I was a hobo pretty much every Halloween of my childhood. Hmmm

Georgia as always was a little bit more difficult. For several weeks, she told anyone who would listen that she was going to be a ‘fashioner girl’. What exactly a ‘fashioner girl’ entails … we’ll never know. She changed her mind and decided to be a ‘witch with a dog’. Lizzy dug the witch dress and hat out of the dress up box for her on Friday for Sam’s school Halloween parade. It lasted about 3 minutes … she went ape-shit … apparently the witch dress is itchy and the hat covers her eyes. She went to the parade in an ‘I <3 NY’ tee and a ballerina tutu.

Halloween day she decided she’d be a black and white dog. That was fine, she had a clean pair of black pants and tshirt in her drawer and I planned to draw her a puppy face. Screw the ears, I was tired of her changing her mind.

Over supper, she started talking about how she was going to be a ‘girl who was scratched by a lion’. WTF!? Fine! Who am I to squash the dreams of a 4 year old diva child?

By this point, she was lucky I didn’t scratch her myself!

Her Dad took her trick or treating. I didn’t have the courage! Apparently she told the neighbours she was a ’scar victim’.

Did I mention I am happy it’s over?

MK xo
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and in this contest ScanDigital Halloween Photo Contest — to vote you just have to click on the ‘like’ link under the photo (it’s on facebook, so if you are a member there is no sign up … just one click) or go here: www.facebook.com/scandigital - Thank you! **

I sent Lizzy to school today with her head in her hands, LITERALLY!

Told yah!

We were up way too early doing hair and make up!

It’s been a week of work, that began with this duct tape body form.

I’ll post a few images of the ‘making of Marie’ on flickr for anyone who is interested. It’s amazing what you can do with two rolls of duct tape and an old dress.

Sam is going as one of my favourite bloggers. His reveal tomorrow :)

MK xo
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We covered most ALL of our kitchen jars and canned goods with these free printable labels from Love Manor.

How cool are these?

Sam and his buddies loved them. Unfortunately, all our dry goods are back on the counters with creepy labels still intact and it looks like the only thing cooking in my kitchen is witch’s broth (DON’T even go there!)

This jar of my Grandma’s spicy peppers, labelled ‘Human Flesh’ gives me the heebie-jeebies (BLeCk!)

There is a HUGE selection that can be downloaded from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovemanor/sets/72157602788222231/

Truthfully, I don’t like Halloween, so any effort made on my part is welcomed by the kids. This year, I am trying NOT to say, that I dislike Halloween out loud. No point in everyone having a horrible time. So far so good! The power of pretend goes a LONG way!

The good news is, Sam and Liz are finally past wanting to be cute Disney characters! Lizzy’s costume has been under construction for days. I have high hopes.

Halloween ideas and goodies will be showing up here all week. I’d love it if you’d come on by :)

Are you dressing up for Halloween? Are your kids? What as? I want to know.

MK xo
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Sam is home sick. He’s definitely not well, but not unwell enough to lay in bed all day. Truthfully in a non-H1N1 world he’d be at school. They sent him home yesterday, as he was pale, complaining of a sore throat and didn’t go out for recess. Apparently, if he doesn’t go out for recess … he IS sick.

I think he has a cold, nothing more. He is stuffed up and not much else.

He was definitely up to helping me make a lunchbox out of Kool-Aid Jammers drink packets.

You’ll need:

Sewing machine
Thread
15 clean, dry drink packets
Tape
Ruler (or measuring tape)
Stick on velcro fasteners

Slice open the bottom of each packet. Wash, rinse and dry each one out.

Your lunch tote will consist of 5 parts: 1 front and 1 back (each 2×2 packets each), 2 sides (2×1 packets each) and a bottom (2 overlapped packets)

If you are a competent sewer, you could just start sewing these parts. However, because I am a beginner, I decided to tape my pieces together first.

You don’t need to tape each and every seam. Just here and there, enought to keep them from slipping and sliding while you are sewing.

The front and back are made using a 2×2 pattern like the piece above. The sides are 2×1 stacked vertically.

The bottom is a little different.

You’ll need to measure and then overlap two pieces to this length.

Once you have the 5 pieces taped and ready sew up the seams.

We used a zigzap stitch with a bright coloured thread. Sam did most of the sewing. In the above photo he is sewing up a back piece.

I think the orange thread Sam picked out looks great.

Here he is sewing the overlapping pieces that make the bottom of the lunch sack.

Once you have your 5 pieces made, you can start piecing them together.

Start by sewing the sides to the bottom piece. You’ll end up with a long narrow strip.

Next sew the back and front to the bottom. You should end up with the above. Sew up the 4 side seams, I sewed from top to bottom, carefully lining up the top edges taping with a tiny piece of tape and then sewing.

If you want a ‘brown bag’ style sack, you could be finished now. Sam and I were making this sack for Lizzy and I wanted her to be able to close her lunch sack.

I cut the 15th packet in half, folded over the cut end and sewed it to the top of the sack.

Then we added adhesive velcro fasteners.

Below is the finished product:

I hope you like it! What kind of creations have you made from recycled items, or what’s on your list?

MK xo
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