Miscellaneous

Santa came to my house early!

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Today I hosted a Girl Scout Christmas Party at my house and Santa was invited as well.

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My kids simply had a wonderful time. I feel blessed to have great friends like Kate to thank for it — so Kate, thank you for co-hosting today’s Girl Scout Christmas Party at my house with me and then having a roller skating adventure at the Community Center with us and other families from the Troop!

As I tucked my children in bed, I asked them what the best part of today was and they replied….

My oldest son Aden said, “Roller Skating, Santa and Pizza (Cause Mama I really LOVE Pizza)!!!”

My youngest child Arik said, “Roller Skating and Santa.”

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And finally my oldest Alexandria said, “Roller Skating, Santa and making the Owls.”

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So I can safely say it was a really great day and evening for all of us!!

Snow!

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Well we finally got some snow that decided to stick around… <<sigh>> it has been many years that the snow has been this good here. The ski resorts opened earlier this year and the skiers are quite happy. I on the other hand just love the scenery!

I don’t think the chickens are liking the snow all that much, but they adapt quite nicely once the sun is fully out.

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And my dogs just love the snow… LOVE it! My older dog Molly — doesn’t want to come in the house even if it is 17º F outside. Silly dog!!

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Anyhow, it looks like the white stuff will be sticking around for Christmas.

Kids Halloween Party

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Having fun | Small Town Living in Nevada

Last week I hosted a kids Halloween Party at my house and have to say I was a little stressed over it even though it was Potluck. The reason is I have a small home and a large backyard. In Nevada where I live, the weather can be hit or miss… the saying is “Wait 5 minutes and the weather will change.”

Nevertheless, I wanted to host an outdoor party and was stressing on how the weather would fair that Saturday. Luckily, the weather turned out perfect. However, the next day was horrible, cold and windy. So I truly lucked out.

Since we were going to be outside, I went the minimalist route for decorating. And the dollar store AND Walmart were my main stops for decorations, my true friends for the event.

A year ago June, I made an outdoor buffet table from pallets laying around the backyard. I have to say it is one of the best things I have ever made. I can’t tell you how many times I have used it for BBQ’s, birthdays and now I can say for a Halloween Party.

I decked it out with cobweb, a festive plastic tablecloth and then waited for all the guests to start arriving with their food they were contributing.

Pallet Buffet Table | Small Town Living in Nevada

Since the weather was nice the kids enjoyed playing on the Trampoline and the swingset… as well as playing with the cornhole board that I borrowed, and a bowling sent. I even put together a craft table so the kids could make cut-outs and just have another level of fun. But they thought the tire swing was THE BEST thing since sliced bread, LOL!

Tire Swing | Small Town Living in Nevada

But it made me happy at how much fun all the kiddos had… and was thrilled with all the food the parents contributed even though I supplied the main dish of ghoulish hot dogs and condiments. AND one of my friends made Gluten Free Cake Pops cause she didn’t want the kids and I to miss out on the desserts!! Now how cool is she!?

Kids & Food | Small Town Living in Nevada

Crafts Table | Small Town Living in Nevada

Crafts made at the craft table…

Kids & Food | Small Town Living in Nevada

I placed an extension cord outside and placed all the hot dogs in the crockpot with hot water so no one had cold dogs.

All in all it was a great turn out and the kids and adults alike had fun. I call that a success!

Having fun | Small Town Living in Nevada

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Lantern Fest at the Fernley 95A Speedway

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Releasing lanterns into the night sky. Photo from http://www.thelanternfest.com

Releasing lanterns into the night sky.
Photo from http://www.thelanternfest.com

Did you know that Reno will be hosting The Lantern Fest at the Fernley 95A Speedway on Friday October 16th and Saturday October 17th?

Do you even have a clue what a Lantern Fest event even is?

Well let me tell you —- a Lantern Fest is where thousands of people come together with lanterns in hand for an extraordinary night… There is music, dancing, s’mores and then what everyone came for — to release their lanterns into the night sky!!

To learn more about the lanterns please go to: About Lantern Fest

If you want to purchase tickets for this event go to Reno Lantern Fest to get your tickets for Friday October 16th since the show on Saturday the 17th is now SOLD OUT!! Save an additional 10% off with Promo Code smtownliving2015 at http://goo.gl/SevQ6d !!

With your Lantern Pass, you will receive a wristband granting you entrance to the event, a Lantern, a marker, a lighter, and a s’mores kit (with enough supplies to make 4 s’mores). Kids 3 and under are free, ages 4 to 15 will need to register with a “$5 kids pass”, they will receive entrance to the event as well as a mini flashlight.

It should be an unforgettable night regardless if you are on a date or going with the family!

To be enter in a drawing for 2 (two) free admission tickets to the Lantern Fest in Reno click here!

Location of the Lantern Fest
Fernley 95A Speedway
1965 Highway 95A
Reno, NV

I injured my finger on Wednesday

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On Wednesday I noticed the kids had moved my husband’s weights around on the back porch where he keeps his weight bench and weights. It looked iffy like someone could possibly get hurt so I decided I was going to tidy up and move the weights where they needed to be placed. As I was moving the weight bench a dumb bell that had 20 lb weights on each side some how rolled off the porch and in the process smashing my finger and split it open. So just the one side of the 20 lb weight smashed my finger wide open! AND it took forever to stop the bleeding. For the longest time my finger just killed me and was totally throbbing.

I have had a bazillion clothes to fold between then and now and it has been a really slow process of getting everything folded. A challenge to say the least. Using the mouse hurts… and texting is getting better. My husband thinks I possibly needed stitches and that my finger probably had been broken as well.

Don’t get me wrong, my finger still hurts. But I am doing a lot more. I have a rubber finger protector covering my finger so I can wash my hands and basically wash dishes without feeling like the bandage will get soaked or gross from something.

12019143_10206212338761412_1019077949_oThen I went to the store and got some fancy jewelry since I kept banging my finger on stuff. Now I feel A LOT better.

2 days later and I still can’t touch my finger. It hurts even with the slightest touch. So for now I am really babying it. I still can understand how I did this with that damn 20 lb weight!!

Empty Bowls Project: Making an impact on hunger

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Carson City Empty Bowls

Making a bowl for Carson City Empty Bowls

So my daughter has been participating in the Empty Bowls project here in our town. We actually have two Empty Bowls Projects, one in the county we live in and then another in the next town over.

My daughter’s Girl Scout Troop painted bowls for one and then actually made and painted bowls for the other.

If you don’t know what the Empty Bowls Project is, well in a nut shell it is an international movement to help end hunger. Empty Bowls allows participating individuals or groups to paint and/or create bowls which are donated to later be used in serving a simple meal with in at a fundraiser dinner.

If you are interested in learning more about Empty Bowls you can check out Douglas County Empty Bowls or Empty Bowls Carson City on Facebook.

I am so proud that we have been involved in this project. My daughter will come full circle when she will be attending the 2nd annual Douglas County Empty Bowls’ event on Sunday, October 4th. This particlular event’s proceeds will benefit the Carson Valley Community Food Closet here in the town we live in.

Douglas County Empty Bowls Project

Painting pre-made bowls for the Douglas County Empty Bowls Project

Douglas County Empty Bowls 2nd Annual Dinner Fundraiser
Info: Benefits the Carson Valley Community Food Closet
Date: Sunday, October 4th
Time: 4:00-7:00 PM
Location: Carson Valley United Methodist Church in Gardnerville, Nevada
Please include the following links as our contact information:
Website: http://www.carsonvalleycommunityfoodcloset.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Douglas-County-Empty-Bowls/359499057590089
Email: admin@carsonvalleycommunityfoodcloset.org
Check out the calendar and see if there is an Empty Bowls Project in your town: http://www.emptybowls.net/calendar-2/action~posterboard/page_offset~-1/time_limit~1448224199

Our summer has come to an end…..

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Summer is officially coming to an end. While I am sad, my kids are actually glad to be back at school which gives me more time to catch up things I have neglected over the last few months.

But seriously (sniff, sniff) summer went by way too fast!!

My kids were out of school just 3 days when we headed to Seacliff Beach in Aptos, CA. I love, love, love the beach!! Living 6-hours away from the ocean we get out there maybe once or twice a year if we are lucky. And this year we were lucky and were able to actually go twice – once in June and then again in August!!

Seacliff Beach, Aptos, CA.

The second time we were at Seacliff — it was AMAZING!! My mother, kids and I had such an extraordinary time at Seacliff State Beach today thanks to my cousins and their kiddos. It was an awesome adventure that included Whales, Dolphins, Seals, and Otters galore! I felt like a kid squealing at the site of the whales. This sighting was MORE EXCITING than when we paid to whale watch in Maui back in April. Oh my gosh it was just jaw dropping and ALL A FREE NATURE SHOW for all at the beach.

Seacliff Beach, Aptos, CA. - Whale sighting

Seacliff Beach, Aptos, CA. -- Dolphins

Seacliff Beach, Aptos, CA.
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Yeah Mama rocks!

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Sometimes an afternoon snack on a 90°+ day warrants a gluten free cone stuffed with black cherry ice cream topped with mint chocolate chip and then finally topped with rocky road ice cream. Yeah mama rocks!

Ice Cream in a Gluten Free Cone

Back in the Bay Area

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The kids and I are back in the Bay Area for some fun in the sun before the kids head back to school in a few weeks. We will be in town for a couple of weeks and are going to try and have as much fun as we can.

We arrived on Monday and have been just relaxing since. My parents have a pool so the kids have been having pool days every day since we have been here and loving every minute.

I will have to squeeze in a beach day, though, cause you can’t travel to the Bay Area and not go to the Beach. That would just be sacrilege otherwise.

Tonight my mother, daughter and I are attending a bridal shower at my aunt’s home for her daughter-in-law to be. My cousin is getting married next month and we were included in on the festivities to help celebrate the union. I hadn’t been to a Bridal Shower in years and thought it was quite fun shopping yesterday for gifts. I really hope she likes what we got her.

My mom and I are taking the kids to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo tomorrow (Friday) and I am kinda excited since none of us have ever been there before. I noticed on the map they have a butterfly habitat… now that totally got my attention and I can’t wait to see that!

If you have been to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom before, what would you recommend seeing for an 8, 6 and 4 year old?

Then a week from Saturday my brother is having a 40th birthday party that I will get to see many family members and a lot of friends that I don’t normally see due to me living in Nevada. So I can’t wait to see everyone. My husband will be driving up to attend the party as well and then as a family we will be driving back home together the next day.

Nevertheless… I am gonna try to have as much fun as we can while we are here. Will post photos later!