Thanksgiving 2014 = Me Sad

Normally by now I'm full fledged into planning my Thanksgiving tablescape.  It's truly something I enjoy as Thanksgiving is my all time FAVORITE sit down meal holiday!  Last year I scaled it down WAY back because we were traveling with the tablescape.  Hey...I even brought the flower arrangement with me.  LOL!

This year my mommy-in-law is hosting and I'm simply providing the organic turkey.  

2009 Thanksgiving Tablescape Planning

I didn't think I'd be ready to host so soon after the move so I gladly passed on it but now I'm all feeling some kinda way because I love, love, LOVE doing it.

2010 Thanksgiving Tablescape Planning

And now I have nothing Thanksgivingish to do.  

*sigh*

Well...I know you know this already but here are a few of the tools I use:  Thanksgiving Planning Worksheet

Here is how I made the topper for last year's tablescape:  Easy and Cheap Fabric Tablecloth!

Yall know that all of the archives from years past are here:  Rantings of a Creole Princess

Just search for whatever you're looking for.

Now I'm all depressed because I started thinking about where in the hell I can put my Christmas tree this year.  *sigh*

Tell me something good.  Any Thanksgiving prep questions I can answer for you?  Want me to help you brine your turkey this year?  What's on your menu?  Need help cooking something?  Have a tablescape idea you need a little lagniappe to pull together?  Holla atcha girl.  I need to feel useful.

#MeSad

On Energy Efficient Washing Machines

One thing I was very down about was leaving my washer and dryer.  I love them.  When our old washer died, I did the research and bought the best new set that could fit in our laundry closet.  

I love my Maytag Bravos.  LOVE.THEM!!!!!

When I saw the washer and dryer that we have now I got sad.

I mean...look at these lack of options on this control panel:

I was so depressed.  I immediately threw in the duvet that Robby used as a buffer between two pieces of furniture and which had become ridiculously dirty in the process.  When I got it out...I noticed how white and gleamy it was.  Yes...I said GLEAMY.

Then I tossed in Jaru's feet cleaning towels.

Um...GLEAMY-ER!

I started tossing ish in left and right.  Towels, pillowcases, PILLOWS!  

Dudes...I MISSED A WASHING MACHINE THAT USED A FULL BASIN OF WATER!!!!!!!!!  HOT WATER!  COLD WATER!  IN-BETWEEN WATER!

Yesterday I was on the phone with an Elder and mentioned the washing machine.  That started a 20 minute rant from him about these, BULLSHIT AZZ LOW FLOW ENERGY EFFICIENT BULLSHIT AZZ NEWFANGLED SHIT THEY FORCE US TO BUY!  I SWEAR I'VE BEEN MEANING TO GO DOWN TO THE SALVATION ARMY AND BUYING AN OLD SET OR TAKING A SET OUT OF ONE OF MY RENT HOUSES ONCE SOMEONE MOVES AND PUTTING THESE BULLSHIT AZZ ONES IN THERE!  I WASH MY JEANS AND THEY LOOK THE EXACT SAME!  THEY AREN'T EVEN WET!  JUST DAMP BEFORE I PUT THEM IN THE DRYER!  I GOT SO GOTDAMN MAD ONE TIME I TOOK MY JEANS DOWN TO THE LAUNDRY HOUSE AND PAID $50 TO USE THEIR DAMN MACHINE AND THEN BROUGHT MY JEANS BACK HOME SOAKING WET AND DRIED THEM!  I HATE MY DAMN MACHINES!

Um...okay.  I wasn't quite on THAT level but yeah...totally loving this non-energy efficient set.

Do you have a non-energy efficient set?  If you have an energy efficient set...any complaints?  Have you ever used a non-energy efficient set after getting used to using energy efficient ones?  Noticed any differences?

Musings on Window Treatments

I was talking to a framily member about curtains recently.  She doesn't like curtains and doesn't have many curtains in her home because she doesn't see the need.  I told her that hanging curtains is like putting on lipstick.  You know your outfit is on point.  Your hair is on point.  Your eyes are on point and then...BAM!  Add lipstick and your look is finished!  GO YOU!

She'd never thought of it like that.  

I'm having a curtain quandary currently in the living room.  The curtains we had in the living room at 13700 are too long and too wide to use here.  The windows are MUCH smaller as is the room.  I need curtains to "finish" the room but I don't want to spend the kind of money I spent on the curtains I already have because I'm unsure as to if I'd be able to use them once we leave here.  The window placement is in the center of a wall.  I can't decide if I should use panels or...if I should just put up valances.

With panels I could give the illusion that the window is larger by positioning them on either edge of the windows and stretching them across the wall mostly.  See...covering any portion of that window is going to make the windows look smaller than they already are.  I'd have to move that piece of wall art to do that which wouldn't be a problem I suppose if I find something with enough color to make that wall pop.

If I go the valance route, I could position them so that they drop down over the top of the windows only by a few inches and well...they'd look okay I suppose...I just don't think they'd add much to the room.

And...what color do I go with?  I found these on JCPenney and I'm thinking...Hmmmmmmmm...

The first set I like because of the color but I'm wondering if the print will clash in that room because of the chairs.  The second set (NOT WITH THE VALANCE AND TIE BACKS...PANELS ONLY) will give the wall more color but I wonder if they are too "heavy" for the colors in the room?  I wanted to stick with citrus colors.

I think I'm going to replace those icky plastic blinds with a scalloped roller shade.  I'd like the look of that much better.

The only valances I've found so far that I MIGHT like are these:

Valances only.  The room wouldn't support both valances and panels.

Well?  Whatcha think?  I need to make a decision soon so I can order something or do I need to keep looking?

What's YOUR personal take on curtains?  Do you like curtains?  Do you have them in every room?

We Finally Found the BEST Digital Antenna and Cut the Cable Cord!

“It should be noted that we would have probably never taken the leap had we not moved. Just keeping it real.”

The Robinator and I moved into our temporary digs and only set up the internet.  We decided that we'd finally, FINALLY cut the cord to cable!  I was excited because paying for a crapload of channels we don't watch really irked me greatly so I've been wanting to do this for over two years now.  Robby, on the other hand, found it difficult to let go of his total access to all sports all the time.  Because of this, I didn't think he'd ever go for it even though month-after-month paying that $250 Verizon Fios bill really annoyed him too.

But pay it we did.

We only have two televisions with us.  One in the living room and one in our bedroom.  

The one in the living room is a smart tv so it already had apps set up we could use when connected to the internet.  The bedroom tv isn't a smart tv so we use our Chromecast to watch television on it for now.  I'm going to buy an antenna for it too since I now know the best one to get.

The apps we use on our living room television are Netflix, HuluPlus, CNBC, Time, USA Today, BBC News, and Pandora.  We have more but those are the ones we use mostly.  

Now...the problem was network television and well...I need my "Scandal."  I could watch "Blackish" the next day, but I enjoy watching Olivia Pope while interacting online with our awesome group!  GO US!  So...I tried 4 different digital antennas to see which one would get ALL the DTV network channels available.  Seriously...I kept buying and returning them.  One I got 0 channels.  Seriously.  Nada.  LOL!  The next one, I got 6 channels but not ABC.  The next I got 7 channels but not CBS (I love CBS Sunday Morning.) and the next one, after scouring the internets for advice and reviews, I got 26 channels!  TWENTY SIX!  And that includes all the major networks and a whole lot of other channels I've heard of and some local ones I've never heard of.  I'm currently sitting here watching Shanti Lowry on the Bounce TV station.  GO SHANTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She's my favorite.  LOL!

Mohu Leaf 50 Amplified Indoor Antenna

The antenna is pretty cool in that it's super thin.  The cord is really long so you can play around with placing it properly to get the best reception.  Apparently you can paint over it so that it can blend in with the wall but I don't want to do that.  I hate the cord and am trying to hide it as much as possible but hey...I can only do so much now.  I'm considering moving it behind the mirror above the mantle so we can't see it but I'd still have to deal with the cord issue.  Needless to say...this battle might not be won.  I'm hoping that once I finish decorating the wall behind the television and the mantle...it will be much less obvious.

We are EXTREMELY happy with our decision to finally not be cable's witch with a b.  I was soooooooooooooo sick of cable and the stuff on cable that it annoyed me beyond reason.  With all of the streaming options we have plus the new one we pre-ordered and are waiting for:

Fire TV Stick

All total we've spent about $120 plus monthly fees for Netflix and HuluPlus which come to about $16 a month.  And honestly...we would have those even if we have cable because we enjoy bing watching shows together on the sofa.  I was going to get rid of Amazon Prime but I can't now since I'll be using Amazon Prime Pantry and Subscriptions for shopping more than ever now because of my current local limited shopping options.  So yeah...would have had that anyway too.  No matter what I'm spending however...it's less than even one month of what I was paying Verizon Fios (it should be noted that we had a bundle, internet, phone and all the premium channels except the nekkid ones).

Let me know if you try out that antennae.  It's seriously a case of I tried 4 so you don't have to.  LOL!  Hope it helps you kick the cable habit too!

Smooches!

Settling In Nicely!

This entire weekend was focused on unpacking as much as possible.  There is a lot of stuff it doesn't make any sense to unpack so sorting through everything and repacking what I won't need until we move is fun.  (Note sarcasm.)  I hung the key hook last night so yup...we've officially moved!

Jaru is used to going sit out on the deck and getting some sun whenever he wants to and has taken to standing at the backdoor staring at it until I open the door.  He seems to enjoy surveying all.  LOL!  Of course his majesty wouldn't actually lay down until I put a rug out.  *sigh*  When I put the rug down he gave me the most disgusted look as if to say..."Took you long enough."

I'm telling yall...that dog might not make it.

Of course that wasn't good enough so he's trying different spots.  I have to keep the door open so I'm sure Robby will be chasing down a fly or two once he comes home.  

I'm starting the quest today to find a hair salon.  Unfortunately, I haven't seen anyone yet whose hair made me want to ask them for a referral so I'm just going to try and find an Aveda salon somewhere and see if I can just get a blowout.  I'm currently sporting the air dried bohemian look which really doesn't do much for me.  LOL!  

I've decided I'm doing Thanksgiving this year and the thought of not cooking for my FAVORITE holiday has hurt my heart.  I simply won't be able to do it right so we'll go to family and I'll eat what I can.  I figure by the time Christmas rolls around I'll have more of the lay of the land and be able to plan appropriately.  I haven't even found a good florist yet.  *sigh*  I stopped buying flowers awhile ago at 13700 because while packing was going on it didn't make sense and now...I want flowers in my life again.  

How was your weekend?  Getting ready for Thanksgiving yet?  Are you traveling or hosting?