Favorite Things: Keeping up with the Calendars…

 

CM Hydroponics 6_Fotor

I am in my second week of celebrating the March National _____Days and using my March Popular Science Calendar and it is, as they say, keeping me off the streets! I have been posting on Instagram but thought it would be fun to share some behind the scenes pictures here too!

I’ll start with my attempt at Hydroponics. Let’s just say I am still purchasing basil at the grocery store.

The instructions in the Popular Mechanics magazine were very detailed and required a large (20 gallon) plastic tub with lid for the set up. I was thinking this may be pretty big for me so did a little research and found this terrific tutorial to attempt hydroponics on a smaller scale!

CM Hydroponics 2Fotor

Here are my supplies: coffee can, air pump and tubing 

CM Hydroponics 1_Fotor

I decided to make my own aerated cups (with my husband’s help and fancy dial caliper)

CM Hydroponics 3_Fotor

It is always fun to bring out the tools!

CM Hydroponics 4 Fotor

This seemed like it was going to work like a charm!

CM Hydroponics 5_Fotor

Placing the aerated container filled with rocks and basil plant 

CM Hydroponics 6_Fotor

So much hope for success!!

CM Hydroponics Final_Fotor

The markings show better days….

CM Hydroponics Wegmans Fotor

Maybe I should try container gardening?!

Favorite Things: Calendar Success

CM Calendar March_Fotor.jpg

A new month is here, like it or not. I kinda like it.

Using the Popular Mechanics February Calendar has been a lot of fun! I ended up doing more suggestions than I thought I would, and my family even got in on the action! I especially enjoyed making the projects – the snow gauge and hydroponic station.

cm-snow-guage-in-snow_fotorcm-hydroponics-basil_fotor

I was planning on trying another magazine’s calendar for March, but after looking at my March Popular Mechanics calendar, I decided I wanted to try and make my own copper jewelry so will stick with them another month!

CM Calendar Popular Mechanics March_Fotor.jpg

In addition, I am going to attempt to celebrate National_____Day every day. I decided which National ____Day I want to celebrate each day for the month of March and wrote them on a blank calendar. It looks ambitious now that I am looking at it but I am going to give it a try!

cm-calendar-national-day-march_fotor

Today is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day- that doesn’t seem too difficult to celebrate since I love peanut butter. I am going to try a recipe from Simply Recipes called African Chicken Peanut Stew.  It sounds delicious!

CM Peanut Butter Fotor.jpg

Happy Peanut Butter Lover’s Day!

To follow along with my March celebrations, you can check out my Instagram page. Here’s to a great new month!

Favorite Things: Calendar Updated and Improved to Accommodate National Margarita Day!

If you notice today’s date, February 22nd, on the Popular Mechanics calendar and compare it with the suggestion in the Parade Magazine, you might be like me and decide to make a substitution and celebrate National Margarita Day instead of changing your furnace filter. (I suppose I could do both!)

I was going to try one of the Margaritas on the Parade.com site but decided to stick with  the best Margarita recipe I have ever had.  It is from Martha Stewart’s Menus for Entertaining, and it is still delicious after all these years!

CM Margarita Fotor.jpg

Happy Margarita Day!

Favorite Things: Calendar Update

popular-mechanics-feb-2017-calendar-fotor

So far so good. I am on Day 8 of The Popular Mechanics “How to get the most out of your life” February Calendar. I am happy to report that using this calendar has been helped me accomplish February-ish things. Here is my report after one week.

  1. I watched Punxsutawney Phil and Ozzy the Bear predict the length of the winter and the winner of the Super Bowl. I don’t think I would have watched either if it hadn’t been for this calendar and I enjoyed both of them.
  2. I made the weather station on page 60 of the magazine. That is, the snow platform to be able to measure snow. It is supposed to snow tomorrow so I am excited about using it for the first time! Good thing I made it when Popular Mechanics suggested!
  3. I bought the Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman book. I haven’t bought a newly released book since Harry Potter #7 ! And it is a signed copy!

    CM Norse Mythology Landscape_Fotor.jpg

    Now I have to read it!

 

 

 

Favorite Things: Calendars

cm-feb-xoxo-theater_fotor

One of the resolutions I made this year (along with A Picture a Day) is to celebrate each month specifically. One way I have decided to do that is to follow the recommendations of a monthly publication.

This month I chose Popular Mechanics. I am making up my own rules so I am deciding I don’t have to do everything they suggest- maybe 3 or 4 things. We’ll see.

I can’t wait to get started!

popular-mechanics-feb-2017-calendar-fotor

I  am most likely to do the Feb 28th suggestion!