Sticking With Pumpkin Orange For My Fall Decor

Guest post written by Kate Eller

I've been told so many times before that my skin tone just can't pull off pumpkin orange and I know it. I don't know why I've kept trying to wear it over the years when I clearly can't. Well now I'm just going to stick with using the color to decorate my house for the fall season instead.

That way I can pull off being surrounded by this wonderful color without worrying about how it personally looks on me. I was online looking at my wireless internet service not too long ago getting ideas when I just decided to go all out and use that color as an accent during the fall season. I was able to find all types of shades of it too!

I've incorporated pumpkin orange decor in most, if not all, of the rooms of my house. I even bought some hand towels in that shade to hang up in our guest bathroom on the first floor of our house. Then of course there are some actual pumpkin accent pieces. I prefer the fake kind that doesn't rot to the real thing.

My First Fondant Cake

I successfully decorated my first fondant cake with the help of my son James. I realize fondant is not easy to do but I admit I did love the result of what we made. James helped me knead the fondant and put the decoration on top of the cake. I think he finds it fun too. I can see my future chef here. I gathered the materials and ingredients. It took a little while to do that since I did not make a list of it. I don't know why I didn't. I wanted to attend a cake decorating class this October in AC Moore but it was already full so I might as well try next time just out of curiosity's sake.
I made chocolate and yellow cake and put some icing butter in the middle. I made pastel colored flowers, leaves and stems as decor. It came out really awesome.

Japanese Food

It poured the whole day yesterday but it didn't stop us from eating out. We had dinner at the Wasabi Japanese restaurant. We don't usually go out on midweek but hubby said since my daughter is out to eat then we too can eat. I'm so happy that I get to choose where to eat. It's awesome food. I ordered the Deluxe Chef Sushi and seaweed salad. Hubby and James got hibachi rice and chicken. I love Japanese food.

Enlarge your house with glue

Roasting Veges for Dinner

Whipping up dinner in a spur of the moment always happen to me. Yesterday I made some roasted cod fish and broccoli. It turned out really good. The kids who don't love broccoli started eating some and they confirmed that yes it taste better than plain ones. Today I decided to roasted come chicken thighs that we bought at bi-lo for 69cents per pound last night. I added some peppers, carrots, cauliflower and sweet potatoes. It even turned out better today than yesterday. We are trying to stay away from fried foods. I think roasting is a healthier option.

Baked Chicken

I made some baked chicken for dinner last night. Hubby loved it so it must have been good. He brought some of it for lunch today. Here are the ingredients:
1lb chicken cut into strips
1 small onion bulb sliced
1/2 cup red pepper cut into strips
3 cloves garlic crushed
1/2 cup broccoli
1/2 cup cauliflower
1/2 cup carrots sliced
2 tbs olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup water
1 can mushroom condensed soup
1 can chicken condensed soup

Cooking Directions:
1. Boil chicken strips for 30mins or until tender and set aside.
2. Heat up pan and saute garlic, onion and red pepper.
3. Place the chicken strips and the vegetables.
4. Then place the mushroom and chicken condensed soup.
5. Mix and bring to boil.
6. Put in a pyrex bowl and bake for 300 degrees for 20-25 mins.
7. Sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar cheese on top and put back into the oven for 10 minutes more.
8. Take out and cool for 10 minutes then serve. Enjoy!

Diet and Exercise

In my twenties I weighed around 98lbs can you believe that? I was so skinny. I look like stick and bones. Then when I had kids the baby fats never dissolved from my body. Now I weigh 150. Arghh... Will I ever loose weight again? So much for this fats I have to take it off. I have kids and I want to live longer to see them.

In my journey to losing weight I decided to have vegetable salad everyday. Lately I discovered that I love romaine lettuce so I bought two bags. This will be good for the whole week since I will make the salad good for four persons. I also bought some broccoli, red pepper, cranberry raisins and carrots. I also bought some mangoes to throw in to my salad. It is such a struggle to lose weight when it is not your way of life. Everyone in the family has to be involved. Slowly but surely I am getting there. I have my diet tracker on my phone on what I eat and the amount of calories I lose every time I exercise. Diet and exercise are married together and they are a perfect complement to each other. One without the other is not a good option. They are a perfect couple. And then I realize that I should be a vegetarian but it seem like a hard option yet I do wish someday I will be a vegetarian.;-) Im so used to eating food with some meat in it. I grew up eating vegetable but usually it's being cooked and made into soup. I am glad I am slowly learning how to eat raw vegetables which contains more vitamins and minerals. I also wanted to eat as much fruits as I can since it's a healthier option so I decided to get a blender. I make shakes for everyone and the kids love it. Strawberry banana shake, peach mango shake to name a few. I exercise an hour almost everyday and I keep track of the calories I take off. Lately I started sleeping early so I can wake up earlier to be able to exercise early in the morning. I feel better when I exercise early in the morning and that is what hubby is doing too. It is when I exercise that I get conscious with what I eat because it is not easy taking the calories off. That is why morning exercise is a way to go for me. How about you what motivates you to live healthy?