Eclectic Lotus

As I am getting ready to get my cooking on for next week for Thanksgiving I can not help but think about Christmas cards seeing as it is everywhere! Our first Christmas card as a married couple was this. . . Christmas 2009 Not bad for a Holiday card. I am thin, we look happy and we are on an ATV- How fun is that? The photo was taken when we were on our Honeymoon in Mexico. The years following there were either no cards or generic cards. This year I want to actually do something fun and sweet this Holiday season. I am also reflecting on the three years of our marriage and all that has happened. I want to actually go ahead and make some photo books of each year. It might be a little expensive this year since I have three I need to do but I would gradually do it throughout the next year and so when 2013 is almost complete I will have all four years to show off in case anyone stops by. *gears are turning* Check your mailbox. . .next month!

With The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 coming out very soon there is something to be said about when you have a friend that has not seen all of the prior movies. From someone who every time she turned on the TV there they were. . . either New Moon was playing on TV or Eclipse. I saw the first Breaking Dawn but on video and I am pretty sure they are now playing it on the premium cable channels but since we removed them due to our somewhat busy lifestyle it is not missed. So, this summer as we were heading to Wisconsin Dells- four girls decided to have a Twilight movie night. After two months of planning and juggling time last night was the set date for us but sadly there would only be one Twilight movie night and only enough time for two movies- Twilight and New Moon before the last movie would be out in theatres. At first, I thought it would be okay to get all the ladies together and watch the movies but then I thought- they have to have some Twilight movie night ideas somewhere....

On facebook and xanga I had many compliments on my "pumpkin carving" skills. Although, I love the compliments I am not one to accept it if I needed some assisitance. This pumpkin sat in front of our home with a leaf garland surrounding it.  I love real candlelight in the Jack O' Lantern. I get an unscented votive candle. It adds to the flair of the carvings. Now, here is my secret for this amazing carvings- it was based from a stencil  I wish I was joking. Every year since I have carved my first pumpkin I go to the store and pick up a carving kit. Every year either the day of or the day before I carve a pumpkin using the stencil and it takes about an hour or so. This is the first year I have not carved a face but a scene. When you are ready to try this feat next year here is the website for Pumpkin Masters- I get annoyed when I have to punch holes in the darn pumpkin but they come out amazing! Pumpkin Masters Next year, I am going to atte...

Happy Harvest! From Eclectic Lotus and Family! This was the pumpkin that was carved the night before Halloween for the trick-or-treaters. More pics to come!

So, one day I got bored and decided it would be a great day for some Chili. Here were my ingredients: All from Trader Joe's For the "meat" since I was in a rush and did not want to go to the store I remembered that I had some tri-color quinoa from a day ago. . . This became the "ground beef". I love using quinoa it is a wonder grain! (1 cup) I grabbed my trusty crock pot and threw all the above ingredients into it as well as a tablespoon of curry powder and a teaspoon of cumin in order to make it a little more healthy.  It cooked for 4 hours and loaded our apartment up with the enticing smell of curry, cumin and love! While those 4 hours were going on I made some cornbread similar to the cornbread from Bandera restaurant but this time I did not make it from scratch. . . I used Jiffy mix and went by the ingredients on the package. I added a dash of sugar and 1/2 a can of sweet corn. BAM! A healthy comfort meal. . . Each bite was loaded...

A post will be posted soon. . .

One of many candid pics of us at my sister-in-law's wedding. More to come on this event! Since I did a post on my friend Michele's wedding I must do one on the earlier wedding. Also, headed to a wedding this weekend and a bridal shower tomorrow. Have to get everything in gear for this event. One last wedding of this year. I usually get only gift cards because I have not seen the person in a while. Because there is a bachelorette party and a bridal party there will be two gift cards. Also, the bride and groom live in Seattle but the bride's family lives in Chicago so they are having it here. Great! I am not sure I have the finances to go to Seattle. But, I know if I were to get married away from home I would only want cash and gift cards. Why go through the trouble to send that heavy stuff on the plane? If it is that important, just mail it later and save the bride and groom $50 shipping all your gifts. Also, during the wedding, another gift card is given. So, where a...