Sponsorship Program Launch

I have gone back and forth about sponsors (in my head) and have been doing button trades for a long time. Which has been wonderful! But it feels like the right time to go to the next step since I have lots of new readers thanks to being a Blog of Note this month. I want to share my little boost with my fellow bloggers, artists and crafters. Paid sponsorship will be a great way for me to help support all these wonderful people and reward my readers too. Because when a sponsor joins with me they will have the opportunity to host a giveaway! I don’t think anyone can say no to a giveaway. I love them! So don’t worry, things will not start to get spammy around here. I am looking to work with sponsors that are relevant to me and what appeals to you guys. Each month I will do a round-up post of my current sponsors so you can get to know them too. I also plan on using my sponsorship income to sponsor other blogs and support small businesses.

Thank you for such a lovely and surprising month! I really enjoy sharing my life and artwork with you. I hope next month will have a few goodies for you so I can really show my appreciation! If you are interested in being a sponsor, go here for more information.

- Rachele

List 11: Favorite Things About This Time of Year

I don't like being redundant but I think it is too late. I have said it before, but fall is my favorite time of the year! I like chillier weather better and all the things that come with it. My birthday is two days after Halloween so it is usually a combined holiday for me. I have had lots of Halloween-themed birthday parties! Plus, the kitties become heat-seeking missiles and cuddle like crazy. 

P.S. Thanks for all the wonderful comments on my last post about my messy house struggles. It was interesting to read everyone's perspective. It is such a silly thing, but it affects us all! I am feeling much better today and did some tidying to relieve a little of my messy-house-anxiety.

List 1: Goals for the Month / List 2: I am Happiest When / List 3: People I Love / List 4: Things to Do Sunday Morning / List 5: I Need an App For /  List 6: Favorite Color Combinations / List 7: I'm Not Very Good At / List 8: Things That Remind Me of My Childhood / List 9: Weekend Plans / List 10: At This Moment

- Rachele

A Messy Home is a Happy Home?

I can't believe I am about to post photos of my messy house on the internet! Yes, that is my kitchen table cluttered with customs forms and paper bags. And below is my dusty globe with laundry to be done in the background. When you find dried up cat barf in the corner of your kitchen and you start to realize that your thrown about clothes have become cat beds, it is time to do some housework. I am not the tidiest person. Things get cluttered and piled up in my house. We have pretty much outgrown our tiny rental house, but we make it work. We generally keep up on the dishes, laundry and things like but sometimes I wish I was more attentive to other chores.

After letting it go for a while I will usually catch up and maintain it for a while but I hate being where I am right now. I hate that I let things go and am faced with a load of cleaning to do. My husband tells me that our house is fine and cleaner than most houses. I have to give the mister credit for cleaning the litter box every day and always helping. We have 3 cats and do not have an odor issue. Thank goodness for that! Our house could definitely be much worse. But right now, I wish and dream for a little helper that could come and clean for me. Like Ray, the college student, that cleans Seinfeld's apartment like a celebration or ritual. I need someone like that! I am sure that a lot of this comes from being sick and stuck in the house. I am longing for a healthy and fresh start! I wish my desk was clear and ready to use. That my bathroom and kitchen was spotless and all my clothes were put away. I have been cursed with a need for organization but lack the motivation and devotion to consistently do housework. I feel like it would be wasteful to hire a maid service. I feel ashamed and guilty about it. But the truth is, it would be a huge help and might be the answer I am looking for and to give me a jump start. I would feel less overwhelmed at least!

Are you a clean freak or struggle with housework like me?

- Rachele

Portland Retro Gaming Expo Part 2

I am back with more photos from the Portland Retro Gaming Expo!

There was also a cosplay competition this year, which explains the Jack Sparrow below.

The mister had a great time bargain hunting for the classic games that he collects. You may have noticed before that we have a Ms. Pac-Man arcade cabinet in our house.

The things that I like and his geeky hobbies make for quite a colorful and interesting home.

They also had free play areas with consoles set up, pinball and arcade machines to play.

We had the opportunity to listen to a few speakers.

Garry Kitchens had some colorful stories. He did programming for Atari 2600 games such as Donkey Kong.

David Crane co-founded Activision and designed Pitfall. The mister brought the games that they worked on and had them signed.

It was a blast! Even though I am not a huge gamer, I do enjoy a lot of it and like being supportive and taking photos. Until next year! Take a look at Part 1 and more photos are on my Flickr.

P.S. In case you are wondering, I am feeling better! Just a bad head cold but the fever is gone and I am treating myself to some frozen watermelon and recovering!

- Rachele

Portland Retro Gaming Expo Part 1

Before I got too sick to to leave the house (boo!), we went to the Portland Retro Gaming Expo on Sunday.

This was our fourth year going since they started in 2006. It has grown quite a lot! There were plenty of booths filled with classic games and consoles. There were also a bunch of geeky crafts.

8BitCraft

K8Bit's Arcade

LOL! The mister participated in a little trivia game and was asked to act out a "hadouken". I love my nerdy husband.

The Wooden Arcade

Atari Rage

I have some more photos to share so Part 2 is coming soon!

- Rachele

10 Things I Love Sunday #45

1. This owl in glasses reminds of the cozy and chilly weather in store for fall.

2. Kaylah's mushroom haul!

3. Wise words.

4. Lyndey is super talented and I love her style.

5. I am not sure if it is the cats that are the only ones that count or if they think that about me. Either way, I like it.

6. Overflowing with yumminess.

7. These put my animal alphabet to shame!

8. Adorbs!

9. Simply perfect artwork and fruit.

10. Whaaaaa!?!? Update: This may actually be a hoax! Info about a real upcoming Wes Anderson film here.

- Rachele

Recipe: Leek and Potato Gratin

This is the kind of recipe where I didn't bother to measure anything! So I will share with you what I did in my pinch-of-that and little-bit-of-this ways but here is the recipe I referenced if you need a more exact method. We have been getting a weekly fruit and vegetable box delivery from Organics to You and had a bunch of potatoes and leeks to use. I wasn't in the mood for a soup so I found this yummy and cheesy one pot meal. I also used what was in the fridge too, I figured any cheese would do and it came out delicious!

You will need

Russet and red potatoes

Leeks

Grated Cheddar Cheese

Goat Cheese

Milk

Cumin Powder

Fresh Garlic

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F and drizzle a little bit of olive oil into a casserole dish. Use a garlic clove cut in half to rub the olive oil around the inside of the dish. I then left the garlic clove in as an extra surprise. 

Slice the leeks up, leaving out the darker green parts. Heat a little olive oil in a pan on medium heat and add leeks. Cook for about 5 minutes or until tender. Season with salt, pepper and cumin. Slice up the potatoes 1/4" thick. Toss with salt and pepper in a large bowl. 

Add the cooked leeks and cheese and mix. Fill up your casserole dish with mixture and pour in milk until you can see it half-way up the dish or so. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes and then check dish and press down potatoes into the milk. Bake for another 15 minutes. Remove the dish and press down the potatoes again. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top and put back in the oven for another 30-45 minutes or until nicely browned and melted. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10-15 minutes.

Now you have a wonderful side or snack and your house will smell heavenly for at least a day! Impress your friends and pronounce gratin correctly. Hint: It rhymes with "rotten".

- Rachele

List 10: At This Moment

Marie is the cutest napper. She usually sleeps with her paws crossed. She also meows in her sleep and sometimes startles us! I imagine that this is what she is dreaming about.

List 1: Goals for the Month / List 2: I am Happiest When / List 3: People I Love / List 4: Things to Do Sunday Morning / List 5: I Need an App For /  List 6: Favorite Color Combinations / List 7: I'm Not Very Good At / List 8: Things That Remind Me of My Childhood / List 9: Weekend Plans

- Rachele

List 9: Weekend Plans

Weekends are for going on adventures with the mister, spending time with family and friends and not going to work. My favorite part is probably the not going to work part. I am never ready for the weekend to end!

List 1: Goals for the Month / List 2: I am Happiest When / List 3: People I Love / List 4: Things to Do Sunday Morning / List 5: I Need an App For /  List 6: Favorite Color Combinations / List 7: I'm Not Very Good At / List 8: Things That Remind Me of My Childhood

- Rachele

List 8: Things That Remind Me of My Childhood

My mother always braided my hair in piggy tails. I had thick bangs and sometimes she would turn the braids into loops and add ribbons. Before long, I started fussing over those tight braids and would let my hair down which was long enough to sit on. I loved the waves that the braids left. In middle school, I asked for a bob haircut and I haven't been back to those braids again!

List 1: Goals for the Month / List 2: I am Happiest When / List 3: People I Love / List 4: Things to Do Sunday Morning / List 5: I Need an App For /  List 6: Favorite Color Combinations / List 7: I'm Not Very Good At

- Rachele

List 7: I'm Not Very Good At

I am not completely anti-social and lazy but I can be awkward and would much rather email someone than call them. I will be the first one to tell you that I cannot tell a story well to save my life. I think the problem is that I can't recall the details when I am put on the spot. But on the other hand, I love writing and if prepared, can speak in front of people comfortably. You may have figured out from my lists that I am an introvert. A quality that allows me to focus on my creativity and spend time with my mister, but can be perceived by others as being guarded. Are you an introvert too?

List 1: Goals for the Month / List 2: I am Happiest When / List 3: People I Love / List 4: Things to Do Sunday Morning / List 5: I Need an App For /  List 6: Favorite Color Combinations

- Rachele

OOTD: We Love Colors Review & Contest

I have worn We Love Colors tights before and love their line. So, I was more than happy to talk about them and the Curvy Girl of the Month contest when they sent me a pair of tights to try out.

The pairs of solid color plus size tights I had purchased a long time ago were super cute and colorful but I was never very pleased with the fit. They were a little too thick and baggy around my ankles and didn't have that smooth look. But not the pair of plus size nylon/lycra tights they sent me!

I picked out Dusty Green in size E. I used their sizing chart, which ended up being perfectly accurate! They go on easy but are small enough in the right places.

They are strong and difficult to snag but light enough to wear on a warmer fall day. I chose to wear bright colors that compliment the blueish green tights. I was quite comfortable and never had to hoist them up.

dress : target

cardigan : torrid

vintage belt : fat fancy

shoes : payless shoes

tights : c/o we love colors

I love all their color choices - 51 to choose from! They are also a great place for fat people to buy good fitting tights at a reasonable price with a lot of choices. I can't wait to try their footless tights and leggings!

Check out these lovely ladies wearing We Love Colors too:

Not only are they a great source for plus size fashion, each month they pick a Curvy Girl of the Month and give away three pairs of their hosiery to the lucky winner!

- Rachele