Fun with my Camera

Yoga

I did some yoga today. I just went to a class at the Sports Mall. It is deffinetly harder than it looks! Apparently people who do it all the time have found some deeper inner level or something. I havn't gotten to that yet. For now I am just trying to hold my balance! I have to admit though, you feel pretty good afterward. Have any of you ever done yoga?

Below...just some crazy yoga poses I found online. We didn't do anything like this in my class though!

DRIVING

So, I finally got my permit! I was allowed to get it 3 months ago but we havnt got to it until now. I had to take the test twice...:) haha. The first time I got 70 percent...second time 84 percent. In my defense some of the questions are really stupid. Anyway. YAY!

Christmas

For Christmas, I got....
scarves
pants
shirts
Eat Pray Love ( already watched it twice)
Mama Mia
Toy Story 3
The Blind Side
Del Sol nail polish
LOTS of jewlrey :)
a belt
shampoo
itunes gift card
lotion
pjs
tights
and a few other things....

I gave....
Jake new headphones for his ipod
Jesse a shirt from Pac Sun
Matt Nike running ear warmers that are thermal
My mom...I am giving it to her later.

NEW

I apologize for my absence, and all my promises that weren't yet fulfilled. Twas a busy couple months for all of us I do believe. But anyhow, I wanted to change this to a personal blog. But for those of you who follow my advice, don't you fret. I will still give my recipes, suggestions, and ideas. It will just also be about random stuff I want to put on here. Some of it could bore you, but I'm just going to share stories and pictures as the time comes.
I feel as though I will write more if I have the liberty to give homemaking ideas, AND mostly, talk about my day and such.

The Happy Homemaker wants to say goodbye, and thank you for your support. Thank you for
everyone who entered the "Iron Chef Challenges", and thank you for reading. Annie told me she would let me post on her blog once in a while when I want to share something with you. THANKS.

And Annie wants to say HELLO!!!!

Hope You don't mind...

Once a week, I am going to post a video of me singing a broadway song. Just so I can get some feedback. I have a cold now so when I am better I will do a video. I just sing broadway all the time! More than half my ipod is from broadway. So that is a new feature coming. And I am all up for constructive critism. I will also take requests!

Black and White Photogrophy

DID YOU KNOW....

That if you are going to make pictures black and white, then the rules for pictures are differnt? Particularly headshots for girls. I will share with you some rules on black and white photography.

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

Foundation: more coverage; even tone

Powder: Translucent: use pleanty throughout the shoot

Blush:Small amount of light shade on cheekbone

Eye Shadow:Matte Colors only; no shimmer or brights. Contour and Highlight neutral shade

Eye liner: line for eye definition.

Eyebrows:short strokes with pencil or brush

Concealer: more than day wear under eyes

Lip Liner: Shade darker than lipstick; correct lip shape if necessary

Lipstick:no pinks; day time lipstick

Lip Gloss: highlight center bottom lip

Highlighter: Use foundation, powder, lighter to highlight

Lowlighter:recede or hide areas

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER

* Think tone and shading, not colors

This picture was taken knowing it would be black and white photography.

When I show you what the make up really looked like it looks horrible

for a color picture.

See how awful this one looks? Well that's why it is in black and white.

Wating

I have lots to post about, and lots I have said I would post about. This is a reminder we all need to remember: Don't say you will wait to do something until you have more time.

When will you have more time? If you don't set aside specific time to do something, it will never get done. So its not a good idea to put things off when you have "no time" to do it!
Thanks,
The Happy Homemaker

Pumpkin Whoopies

I happen to know that many of my readers have made homemade oreos or sometimes called "whoopies". Well this website, also a link on my blog, MY BAKING ADDICTION, has a recipe for pumpkin whoopies that I thought some of you might be interested!!


*Accesory example pictures to come.

Accesory Tip

Note* This tip is only for people who wear lots of earing, belts, necklaces, headbands, bracelets, scarvs, etc.

Keeping in mind the note above, The accesory tip for today is

always remove one accesory before you leave the house.

This will make much more sense when you have pictures to look at, so once
I get a model I will show you samples. But this tip works. Pictures to come soon.

Table Runners

Table runners are great, because you can put them on just the table, or over a table cloth if there isn't too much pattern clashing. And there are so many cute Halloween ones out there. If you are looking to buy one, some great places to look would be The Basket Loft, Pier 1 Imports, Taipan Trading, and the Quilted Bear to name a few. And for all you quilters out there you could make some really cute ones too!! Here are just a few...


Quilted table runner. It's nice to place something on it like a center piece.


Spider table runner. If it works at your home it's cute to have something like this spider hanging off.



Witch quilted table runner. Always nice to have a purple runner.



Pumpkin Table runner. This one could also be used for November as you can see.

Disney Tips For Designing Your Jack-O-Lantern

This is just a short video on some creative jack o lantern ideas from Disney. :)

Spotlight

I am spotlighting homes and outfits on my blog, but not regularly, only if I greatly admire somebody's decorations in their home or if they put together a beautiful outfit will I spotlight it.

Halloween is my favorite month for decorations next to Christmas. So I am sure I will be spotlighting some homes.

VOTE ON MY POLL!

Do you find Lysol or Clorox wipes more effective?

HAPPY

Part of my title is called HAPPY. Yes, I am the HAPPY homemaker. I have spent most my time emphasising the HOMEMAKER part. Today, or rather this weekend, I am going to propose something you do to make your home feel happy and peaceful. I would suggest that you turn your TV on to channel 5. Thank you!

Time to get Serious

Alright everyone. Do we have any serious party planners out there? If we do, you won't want to miss this month's Pottery Barn catalog. It is oh so serious about Haloween gatherings. Endless stuff.
Next thing to address, this blog will be starting a new thing called Requests. This is not a limited time offer, it will always be around.
How it works: You are redoing a room in your house and you just can't find a lamp. You send me what you are looking for and I will find it for you.

ANY TIME just tell me that you are looking around for some cute Valentines placemats. Talk to me.

You are looking for a sports rug. Talk to me.

You want some advice on paint color. Talk to me. Thank you so much, I hope to be getting questions.

Mrs. Fields

I recently went to Mrs. Field's cookie and had the oppurtunity to bite into the most flavorful bundle of joy that tasted like sweet happieness mixed with sensational cheerfulness. I hope you can go there soon.

So if you want to treat yourself go to Mrs. Field's right now and taste the love.

Life = Risk

What would this world be if every time somebody failed they never tried it again?

Michael Jordan got cut from his High School basketball team.

Lucille Ball was dismissed from drama class with a note that said she was too shy and wasting her time.

The Beatles were turned down by recording companies who said "we don't like their sound"

Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper because he "lacked imagination"

A teacher told Thomas Edison he was too stupid to learn anything.

Talk about motivation. If these people didn't want what they wanted badly enough they wouldn't have it. They all could have EASILY given up. It appeared as if they weren't going anywhere, didn't it? You can actually learn to do anything you want. It is never too late. You can learn to juggle, dance, sing, crochet, curl hair, cook, decorate cakes, play baseball-anything. You do not have to start when you are young.



If you've never failed. You've never lived.

How Many Passes does the team in White make?

Test Your Awareness: Do The Test

Give-aways

For some reason, Starting about now to December is my favorite time to give away treats. I love starting in the Fall and going through Christmas. I just love love love bringing treats to neighbors. I find a joy in it that I can't explain. :) Some easy things for October would be lets set up some situations.

FAMILY TREAT
family with lots of kids cup cakes with chocolate frosting
and gummy worms on top.

couple (young or old) any type of cookie is good because they
are easy to store if you give them a plate.

For anyone
---spiderweb brownies
---apple crisp
---apple, pecan, or any fall pie
---homemade caramels.


TO NAME A FEW! Don't you just like it when people when bring you treats?

"To get a letter you have to send a letter" Same concept. Have a happy day!!!!!!

Fall Fashion-Shoes

I'm back and I have some news for you if you are looking for the "in" shoes for Fall! Now let me tell you that I do not necesarily agree with these, but I feel I shouldn't say if I like or don't like these since I am putting them on my blog, in case one of my fellow readers. But I am interested in if YOU like them or not, so feel free to comment on what you like and what you don't. I have three differnt categories, and I will explain the theory on why they are "in".

"MOTERCYCLE BOOTS"

Boots like these can help make a summery dress work through the falll.

"PEEP TOE SHOES".

Wether it's high heels or flats, these seem to be selling big.




"OXFORD FLATS"

It's funny that they are called "Oxford" flats because when I visited the Berkley campus this summer, everyone was wearing these.

So tell me what you think of these!

Volunteer

What does this have to do with having a better home? Because if you go out and do something for someone else, you will feel happier and that is how you can be happier. There is SO MUCH stuff you can do. If you like, use my new gadget to the right!

On Septmber

September is differernt than October and November because...well various reasons, but in ways that October and November ARE alike. Both of those months have big holidays. September is just a month to ease you into fall!! So in spirit, I am going to invite you all to start making your home a happy Fall home.

Rosemary Roasted Almonds.

What an awesome Fall healthy snack.

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon chile powder

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

dash of ground pepper

1 bag whole almonds (10 oz)

Preheat oven o 325

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl;toss to coat. Arrange nut mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool to room temprature.

That was from Cooking Light magazine of 2009 September issue.

Enjoy!

I smell....

a jack-o-lantern contest around the corner! Next Month!

Fall, Fall, Fall! The best time of the year!

I absolutely can not contain my love for Fall! If you have been following my blog since the beginning, you will know that I love Fall. I encourage you to go to my blog archive and check out my last years ideas. Fall is the whole reason I started this blog I think! Can't even explain how much I love it! So, I might just be getting my creative ideas back so don't you drift away from checking this blog! I will continue to add homemaking tips which is what this is for.

To start off, I will tell you how to ease your home into Fall decor. Since you won't want to put up Halloween or Thanksgiving yet.

Start with your mantle and/or top of piano.

If you like, on top of your piano put a runner on top of it with a blend of soft Fall colors.

Or a plain solid colored one. This way you can add colored candles,on the other one its best to add clear candles. You know how I love candles!

Next: Wreath or wall hanging. This is a great way to start thinking of the season.

Next on the agenda: Your kitchen! Anywhere you can, I realize not all kitchens have room for decorating-but look at your options.

---You can put some baby pumpkins and pinecones in the window seal,

---You can put out a simple pumpkin or leaf shaped bowl with some candy on top of a placemat!

---Plug in a fall scented scentsy candles

The options are really out there, just consider them all!

I challenge you all to take a good look and ease your home in to Fall!!

Transparent Tables

Our living rooms in our homes don't always come as big as we would maybe like them. So, you can't exactly fit everything in there you want without making it feel cluttered! To give a room an uncluttered fell, use transparent tables instead!!

real simple

Not too much longer AND smoothie recipe

The Iron Chef challenges for PEACHES ends at the end of August. I know there are so many creative things you can do with peaches, so be creative!! If you win, I will share your recipe on my blog, and you will get an awesome kitchen prize. You will be a local celebrity! I will post a picture of you with your dish if you win.

Smoothie Recipe that I made up. SO EASY

1 cup mixed berries
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 of bananna
1 cup orange juice.

Blend together and enjoy.

"After School Snacks"

It's getting closer to the school year (YUCK!). Star thinking about snacks you can have ready for them when they get home. For the next couple days I will post some recipes. It's really very simple but not as simple as reaching for the gold fish! Hahaha well anyway, here is the first recipe.

Also- if you have a favorite healthy snack recipe that your kids love, let me know!





Now these look GOOD! I got these off of parenting.com. A common site for the Happy Homemaker.





Tiny Tortilla Pizzas!





What you need: Small Corn tortillas, salsa, shredded cheddar cheese.





Mound a little salsa then cheese on each tortilla. Cook in foil lined tray in toaster oven until cheese has melted and is brown at the edges.


( But what if I don't have a toaster oven?!) Calm down. Turn your oven to warm, or the lowest setting, perhaps broil, and watch it closesly)





Extras: A layer of refried beans under the salsa, cliantro for garnish, a dollop of sour cream, or sprinkle finely chopped green peppetrs.





Watch for more "After School Snack" recipes!

Summer Berry Trifle

I made this summer berry trifle for the 4th of July. It turned out swell! Comment if you want the recipe, I am just posting the stepst!

Nilla wafers for the "crust" part

Vanilla Pudding

Lemon Juice


Berry Medley mixed with lemon juice and sugar (sits for 30 min to absorb juices)

Made from scratch whip cream topping

First you stack the wafers in a clear bowl.
( I didn't have a trifle bowl, but this worked great!)

I got carried away for the next steps for taking pictures.

You put the berries on top of the wafers, then the pudding on top of the berries.

Repeat with the wafer step.

2 layers of pudding

3 layers of berries.

Then top with the whip cream!

Side View

DONE!!!!!!

IF you would like a copy of the recipe, please comment!

SUMMER challenge

Because summer is busy, Peaches will be the secret ingredient for all of summer!

Laughing

The reason for this blog is to give advice on how to make your home a better home. Well this may seem obvious but it's easy to forget. Laughing! I think laughing is the best thing ever. When you are laughing hard for what ever reason, a dumb joke, a roller coaster, something funny your kid says, whatever the reason be-there's nothing like it! All is good when you are laughing. So sometimes I know you need to get stern with your kids or they won't learn anything or somebody could get hurt. I'm all for discipline! But next time, it would be good to ask yourself if it is really a neccesity to "raise your voice" at your kids! :) Because sometimes it's actually quite funny what they do, so just breathe, and if nobody is hurt or getting hurt, nothing expensive is getting permanently ruined, and so forth. Because in the end nothing besides the people in your life matter. LAUGH IT OFF! :D

June Iron Chef REMINDER

The month is almost over!! Make something delicious with PEACHES and earn a sweet kitchen prize!

Style Coming Back

I went to the mall the other day, and I was extrememly pleased with what I saw. For those of you who don't know, I am a pretty big fan of the 50s,60s,70s, and 80s 'decades'. Well I was very happy to see some of those styles coming back! I really did see a few dresses that were something Jackie Kennedy would have warn. I am so excited!!!! I will show you a few pictures of what I saw at stores, and how it is similar to a differnt decade!

This dress is from a 1960 Vintage store. This dress is from Forever 21.

See the similarities???

This is Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s. This dress is from Forever 21 alsso.

They are very similar in the sleeves. The way
they wrap around the shoulder. As well as very similar

in the tie in the middle.

This is a 1950s floral dress. This is a modern floral dress from Dillards.

The necklines are almost identical. Both of them
are tight in the mid section. The sleeves on both of
them are slightly off the shoulder, and they are both
floral.

What I was most impressed with when I went to the mall was JUMP SUITS! They are everywhere now. You wouldn't even believe it. I have never seen anybody where them now but I'm quite certain I will soon! They are in almost every Department store and other stores like Gadzooks.

To show you a few differnt styles....

Dillards

Dillards

Dillards

JC Penny

JC Penny

I think it's pretty cool that these styles are coming back!