Is Shark Week turning into a joke?

If you have just glanced at this blog than you know I am a bit obsessed with Sharks, so when Shark Week comes around each year it is like Christmas to me. But so far this year I am just not thrilled with it.

Rocking the Shark Week shirt I made - Ready for an exciting week!

Air Jaws: Finding Colossus was good, I have loved all of the Air Jaws incarnations. I was actually scared for the guys in this one - I mean did you see that one of the guys pushed a great white way when he was in the mobile cage. Not to mention the genius who decided it was a good idea to lay on ply-wood that looked like a female shark. But it was real, the sharks were REAL, the danger was REAL, no CGI, no actors, no dramatizations.

Showing my Shark Spirit at work with last years shirt and my DIY shark buddy

After that great show we got Submarine Shark. I was cooking dinner when this started so I missed the disclaimer that it was a dramatization. I thought this was real until they actually showed the shark, I mean are you serious Discovery Channel? Could you get any faker? I let last years Megalodon slip because I do love me some Megs (even though I know they are extinct)  but are you really going to continue showing us these fake shows just to get views?

This year's Shark Week nails - while eating shark gummies 

I use to love how Shark Week was about learning of shark and conservation. In the past we had the shark attack survivors who are now shark advocates. We learned the true story that inspired Jaws and how the author regretted the effect his book and later movie had on sharks. We even got Alien Sharks that intoduced many to goblin sharks. I would be happy with a bunch of Myth Busters episodes about sharks instead of the mockumentaries we are getting recently. I would be fine with the mockumentaries if they were not put on during this week or this channel. I loved Sharknado so I can handle cheesy movies but do not try to pass it off as a real event.

My (failed) attempt at painting a Hammerhead migration *note to self work on depth and perception*

That brings me to the new fad that is happening on educational channels - reality TV. Yes, it is cheaper to make. Yes, it can be entertaining. But is it educational NO! TLC is the worst, it is called THE LEARNING CHANNEL, what does Honey Boo-boo teach me? or what about Long Island Medium? It is getting ridiculous. History Channel does it too, what does Pawn Stars have to do with history? They did have the Hatfields & McCoys and they show real documentaries too but the whole reality TV thing is getting too bad.

Sharknado nails

I am still going to watch all of Shark Week and I will most likely watch it again next year but I hope they make it educational again. We want people to stop the slaughter of shark by finning and culling, but if you keep scaring them with these mockumentaries how do you expect anyone to take you seriously? I am a fan of teaching facts, it can be interesting but don't mix in lies to make it that way.

What are your feeling on Shark Week? Do you think they are going too far with the fake documentaries?

Southern Family Tradition - Mayhaw Jelly Recipe

Living in the South, there are a few traditions that we hold sacred my favorite is making jelly. I got a call on Friday from my grandpa saying he had 2 gallons of mayhaw and needed to get rid of them. I took the fruit over to Momma Bear's house and we whipped up some delicious mayhaw jelly. (For you non-southerners this is the wiki page for mayhaw and the Louisiana Mayhaw Association page )

Preparing your Mayhaw for juice

First you need to wash and make sure you have no stick and leaves in your mayhaw, than throw them in a pot with a little bit of water so they do not stick while cooking - ( less than 1/4 c water - very little) once they are a bit tender it is time to mash.

We just used a potato masher since you just want to break the berries to get the liquid out. Once you have it looking about like the picture it is time to squeeze out the liquid. Some people use a cheese cloth and squeeze it out that way. We used a wire mesh strainer and a spoon to force as much liquid out as possible. And I liquid came out THICK! After the 2 gallons we had about 4 cups of a thick syrup, we added 4 cups of water to thin it out for our juice and were about to make 2 batches of the recipe below.

Ingredients

4 cups of mayhaw juice
1 box of pectin (I used the Yellow box Sure jell)
5 cups of sugar
7-ish pint jars with lids and rings

• Clean and sterilize lids, rings and jars
• Add the juice to a thick bottom pot 
• Stir in the pectin and continue to stir until it comes to a boil
• once at a rapid boil add in the sugar

• continue to stir until it comes to a rapid boil 
• Stir for a minute and a half than remove from heat 
• Skim foam off quickly
• Ladle mixture into hot sterilized jar leaving a 1/4th inch from the top
• Clean rim, and seal with lids
• Water bath for 10 minutes

We made 2 batches with 14 jars total and enough for tasting.

Fresh jelly on warm toast - Cannot be beat!

If you are new to canning or are wanting to learn more, there are plenty of books out there. The Ball website is a great resource, they have this helpful PDF. 

Canning and preserving is a great way to keep your harvest longer but if done incorrectly can make you really sick, so please do your research and keep yourself safe.  

Are you into canning? If so I would love to hear what you make!

One more day!

I cannot believe tomorrow is Halloween! Last night Da'Hubby and I were not home to watch a Halloween movie, instead we played in a costume bowling tournament.

We were Superman and Supergirl! We did see a few other superheroes like Robin, Power Rangers, and Wonder Woman.

My niece showing off her muscles as Snow White. 

Hippy brother-in-law

And lastly sista-in-law as a wickd witch and her little ballerina.

We had so much fun! I whooped some hiney on the first game with 3 strikes in a row (turkey time). On game 2 I sucked it up pretty bad, I lost my super powers I guess. For the costume portion we lost the individual and the group awards, but hopefully next year we will smoke them guys. 

What have you been doing for Halloween this year?

Big News!!!

Sorry about the hiatus but I am now officially MARRIED!!

These pictures were taken by the wonderful Melina and I loved them. This is from the bridal portraits, I have not gotten the wedding pictures yet but I cannot wait to show them to y'all. Da Hubby and I had a blast on our honeymoon and I will absolutely post pictures once I go through them all (I have TONS)

Countdown to Valentine's Day - Adult Cards (but not dirty)

When you get older you usually do not give Valentine's cards like you did in school. I did some snooping around and I found some really awesome ones!!

Star Wars has a special place in my heart and I just love this card.

Etsy seller DarkroomandDearly

I would give this to my cousin/MOH in a heartbeat

Etsy seller - sweetperversion

This one would be perfect for The Mister & I 

Etsy seller - katndrewcards

You know how I feel about Doctor Who, so here are some awesome cards...

I found both of these at this blog 

Do you still give out cards??

Merry (belated) Christmas!

I hope that y'all had a wonderful Christmas! I know that I was so happy to spend time with my family and eat great food. I had to bounce from house to house and we had horrible weather Christmas day but it was so worth it!

I had festive nails all December (I missed taking pictures of 2 different nails a snowman set and lights)
We played with the Princess' wigs. Watched her in the church performance. Made some horrible gingerbread houses. let The Mister do my make-up (horribly if I may say so my self). The Princess pretending to be Rudolph. And The Princess opening presents Christmas morning. ( Learned that our parents do not like to be woken up at 5 am to open presents, they sent us back to bed. or me back to the Princess bed and she cuddled with our snoring parents.{I was so happy to speed in my own bed at home the next night let me tell you!!})

I wish I would have taken out my camera at all of our stops but I was so tired after being woken up at 5 am. But I want to know how y'all's Christmas' were, and if you do not celebrate how did you spend your weekend?

Another one has come and gone

Well my birthday is official over! Last night I got my very last present. I feel so blessed to have the family and friends that I do who spoil me. But now that it is over I can focus on the next year of my life and to help me with that I have 25 before 26!

This list seems a little easy but it is something I am sure I can achieve. 

( I use my new toy to make this list. I love my Galaxy Note!!!)

Do y'all make a list like this? IF so I would love to see it!!!

Results of 24 before 25

I know that y'all were so curious on how well I did on my 24 before 25. Well I did okay.

I decided to omit number 1, 17, 10 and 11 so I could focus on wedding stuff.
Number 2 is partially done. I have clean and organized it but I have not yet decorated it. I am waiting on our new floors.
Number 8 we decided we might turn the laundry room (more like closet) around so it will not open in the dining room.
Number 9 fix up bedroom - I was just to darn lazy for this one.
Number 16 I am waiting for after the wedding (2 months and 19 days)
Number 21 again I just was too lazy and failed at this one.

I was able to finish up all of the others!!! We tidy up everyday before bed and on the weekends we do laundry and a deep clean. Our living room looks great (minus floors). I donated clothes to goodwill and my sister. I have used pinterest and worked on making new recipes by adding and omitting ingredients based on our tastes. I have 2 pen pals, one online one through snail mail. Had a girls night not long ago and a good friend of mine too my engagement pictures. 

I am so proud of how well I did and I hope I do as well on my next list. It should be up later this week I still need 3 more to come up with. 

Cupcake + Hot Coco = Sugar Rush

We are going to skip Style-File Friday for a quiz game! I am going to show you pictures and you get to guess what is special about to day based on them. Fun? No? ... Well play along anyways.

-Mexican Hot Chocolate - Sprinkle Cupcake - Festive nails - Lilies

Any guesses? 

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YES! It is my Birthday!!! The big 25, I am a quarter of a century old now. I will post more of my birthday celebration next week and I will have the results of my '24 before 25' and have a '25 before 26' ready to work on!

I would love to hear what y'all do for your birthday!

Getting into the Spirit of Things

I have tried and tried but I am not getting into the spirit of the season! Halloween is easy. There are movies, candies, pumpkins and so much. Christmas is just as easy! You have decorations, Christmas shopping, music, Santa, movies and the chill in the air. 

But right now I am stuck. How am I suppose to get into the Thanksgiving spirit? 

I tried with decorations - no luck

I tried with talking about what I am thankful for - no luck

I tried with pumpkin spice eggnog - no luck (but I am ready for Christmas)

I tried planning Thanksgiving Dinner - no luck

It does not help that our weather will not make up its mind. In the morning it will be in the 40s then around lunch time it is in the 70s! What kind of fall weather is that? I went shopping this weekend and people were running around in SHORTS! I do love the warm weather but not when I am trying to get into the spirit of the season.


What do you do to get you into the Holiday season?

Texas Renaissance Festival and Proposals

The Mister ans I attempt to make it out to The Texas Renaissance Festival every year and this year we had a BLAST!!! I wish my phone was not dead the majority of the time so I would have more pictures. I made sure to save some battery life for a proposal.

We met Dim n Wit The Fairy Brothers. Ya the Mister Enjoyed that.


And we were able to see this guy! He is out there every year and each time we see him we are in a trance. I am so sad he did not do better on AGT, but at least we still get to see him.

We took some pictures at the outdoor chapel to set the stage for a proposal.


They started dating at Ren. Fest 2 years ago and so he felt he needed to propose there too. I think they may even get married there next year and I cannot wait! They are the cutest couple, and are the sweetest people ever.


I tried the Jacob's Ladder, I fell twice before I was able to ring the bell. Sadly The Mister did not get a picture of me falling. Or of the delicious turkey leg that we shared. 

Do you have a Renaissance Festival near you? Do you go if you do?