Tis Been A Heartless Frozen Fall

Well ... apart from the highly panicked (planned in the middle of immense chaos) birthday bashes of the season, it has been a heartless frozen Fall. Even those pumps have seen too much. The long abandoned backyard pavers project finally took off and was completed. A contractor had tricked us in the Summer and the rains that followed caused major delays. Finally, just in time before a raving mad chill took over, the pavers were complete.

🍂 The last tier of Fall is slipping away. It’s so frozen cold it’s funny saying it’s autumn. The fallen crunchy leaves are still sitting around. But the temperatures have fallen like crazy. I am already doubling pants and PJs and layering winter wear. I'm the famous snowman of Abbiesville. And speaking of snowman ...

⛄️ Winter is knocking at the door.
I found this guy on the door of my mother’s pain management office. People aren’t being too friendly with its nose. I’m SO not ready for snow! Am I? I have a good trench coat to layer inside my north-pole-frozen-cold snow coat.

I’m getting the holiday act up ASAP.

2018 is set to drop fast! Can’t wait! It’s been a curse contractors and destructive, disrespectful tenants ...

 

The chocolate samples are everywhere!

Best time of the year to hit Costco is December’s end. 

The lady handing it out was being all Santa Claus and calling me ‘Sweety’ and ‘Honey’. Holidays do that to the biggest of devils. She was generous to hand out TWO truffles per person!

••• it shines through the blistery cold and the barren landscapes. The show goes on. And that’s how each person should be.

BABBLING ABBIE: "I'M SPITTING IN A BOTTLE, BABY"

NOW I WANT HOT BUTTERBEER

OKAY!!! Now I need HOT BUTTERBEER! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/6dW2i9yjwd

— The Abbie (@theabbies) December 11, 2018

My brother (younger, but treated like my grandfather) is getting my DNA checked. He thinks I'm part Turkish or something non-Pakistani. The Ancestry DNA kit that I spat in a while ago was rejected because they were UNABLE to extract my alien DNA from the sample. Here we go again. *spit spit* -  feeling Experimented On.

Mannee: "Bua! Where does water go from the flush line?"
Bua (super shocked but ALWAYS ready for bathroom details!): "Here Mannee, let me show you a picture! Everybody poos in the toilet and all the potty goes down there and then a sewage treatment plant removes all the potty and clean water is dumped in the sea" --- ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ANSWERED - feeling Wise.

THE VOICE OF ABBIE - DECEMBER "TIS THE SEASON TO BE CRAZY"

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Hey there December! R'ya ready to be kicked in the rear? 2018's bugged me a bit too much. Nightmare tenants destroying the house, construction companies and their work delays, mom's feuds with construction workers as they wrecked stuff, a bathroom leak in the house, sewage disasters at a rental house, medical insurance nuisance, the list could not get any crazier! I am crouched, waiting for the 31st when the Times Square Ball drops and I scream it a big goodbye! Of course, the aftershocks of the curse would be felt in 2019, but I'd switch my brain at that moment in time. 

I figured Katherine Langford from 13 Reasons Why can play The Abbie if a biopic is made on me! I did some November Journaling Month entries that always help me figure myself out. I ended up imagining a dream vacation and designing a Room of Requirements for myself. Oh, and I wrote a bold letter to my 14 year old self as well! The kitchen life was helter skelter and the Food Journals became magical due to the birthday cake season! Actually a bit TOO helter skelter. The highlight of the month was watching Crimes of Grindelwald at the theaters as it released and was fresh! Potterhead Chronicles features the story and much more.  Fall Diaries continued to record the warm colors of a very chilly autumn taking off in Maryland. 

Winter's at our doorstep! I'm looking forward to it. That's unusual because I flee at the hint of cold. But I do wish to sit outdoors in the snow this season. I don't know. I think my heart has gotten used to the harsh cold - emotional and physical. That's the Goth talking. Anyway. There are carols playing everywhere. You can't even get through groceries at Giant without hearing the Jingle Bell Rock! So December happenings are not too many. I am traveling though. Flying away for some days for some spiritual revamp this time. The usual would have been sipping Butterbeer at the Wizarding World, but we are waiting for the new ride (rumored to be fab!) to open in Summer 2019 and then we go!  

***** That's all folks! The Voice Of Abbie shall return in 2019! HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! *****

FOOD JOURNALS: November 2018 - Movie Theater Food Love, Birthday Cakes Season, & Thanksgiving Lost

November was helter skelter on the kitchen front. I was flying wild like the golden snitch! --- I was seen whooshing in and out of the kitchen between doctors' appointments, bathroom remodeling, exterior landscaping/paving work. I did not keep track of what I cooked. It was just cook, cook, cook, cook, cook! I was the acting novice chef in a world of Gordon Ramseys. Food was flying off the fridge shelves because apparently people have been eating like alligators and I was the sole person cooking. I never bulk cook because I cannot function that fast. That left me cooking on a daily basis. It was chicken, rice, vegetables, and dal every other day in the order of running out.

IN LOVE WITH THEATER FOOD: AN ODE TO POPCORN, POTATO WEDGES, & JALAPENO POPPERS

I am cray cray about movie theater food. And solely because of the awesomeness of the experience of watching the movie, the buttered popcorn, the jalapeno poppers, and potato wedges seem more amazing. It was Crimes of Grindelwald and the food shall never be forgotten. I won't forget the "Will you guys keep it down?" by an annoyed racist two seats besides us. We thought the server had messed up our order and snuck potato wedges instead of the poppers. Of course we reacted out loud! Wouldn't anybody? 

At that point, a runaway Niffler became less of a problem and the runaway jalapeno poppers became a big time dilemma until Sara shone her flashlight and found them! Under the wedges, my friends! That kind of didn't sit well with the racist who had been earlier eyeing us so bad it felt like we had the HP scar on our foreheads in place of the head scarves.

Cinemark had the Wizard's Float (wannabe Butterbeer) as the special beverage for Crimes of Grindelwald release. We don't do wannabe Butterbeers because they're just cream soda and that does not gel too well with our palettes. I mean, I have tried cream soda and it has a medicinal taste to it. I have had a troubled childhood and I feel it is one of those nasty syrup medicines they give you. 

AN EXCEPTIONALLY ORDINARY DESSERT: FIRST FONDANT COVERED CAKE GIG

October was my very first fondant covered cake gig. Black! The color I adore more than all colors in existence. I chose that to work with. And working with fondant is no easy task. I tore the thing! Despite Sara's supervision! Despite her telling me to be careful and not to use a pulling motion. I was too hard on smoothing it down the edges and well --- twas the best kept secret of the day! A fondant accent, possibly a cloud went over the rip and it concealed itself! Don't miss the full post about the Exceptionally Ordinary Luna Lovegood Cake HERE.

A GREEN, SINISTER SLICE OF THE THIRTY SECOND - DEATH EATER CAKE BY SARA'S BAKED CREATIONS

There should be an evil Count Dracula type background score playing at this point. That's a slice of the Deranged Lestrange Cake, baked and decorated by Sara, for my thirty second birthday. It's a tribute to my three decades and two years of insane existence. 

The vanilla cake was dyed green for Slytherin house, and it commemorated the great villainous, Bellatrix Lestrange - a Death Eater. Don't miss the ultimate, sinister Death Eater themed birthday party decor that went with the beautiful cake. Read and view photos/videos HERE.
Black fondant! I love the color a wee bit more than others and black fondant was my first fondant covered cake gig (Luna Lovegood Cake up there) so I love it. 

TRY THE STARBUCKS FALL FAVORITES WHILE THEY LAST. PUMPKIN SCONE TOPS THE LIST

I just made myself hungry. The Starbucks Pumpkin Scone is a "spiced pumpkin scone with sweet vanilla icing & a pumpkin spice drizzle, and you’ve got a fall favorite that’s good as pie." Mm-hmm! I enjoyed this on a routine trip to the mall followed by a Hot Topic pickup visit. Sara and I just sat there, looking at people go by and allowed time to pass. Sometimes, doing that puts chaotic nerves to rest. So we indulged in this. Period.

A NO SHOW THANKSGIVING *SAD FACE* - THROWBACK 2013

My Thanksgiving was a no show this year because of being physically and emotionally drained. Contractors were working inside and outside the house. I was in no mood to prepare a feast. It was a mix of emotions - bad ones. Let's not talk too much about it.My Thanksgiving spread from 2013 mocks at me. I rest my case. 

Goodbye November. 

Potterhead Loot Showcase: November - Pin badges, Funkos, Home Decor, Jewelry, & More

Not a sponsored post.

HP BOOK COVER PIN BADGES!!! FOUND AT FIVE BELOW SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES!

 Harry Potter Merch!!! Found these beautiful book cover pin badges at Five Below They’re the first four only though, we need the remaining three don’t we!?

BESTIE SURPRISES ME WITH AN EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT: NEWT SCAMANDER FUNKO MINI KEYCHAIN

Early Birthday Gift from Sara ••• I have wanted this for a very long time. Ever since I have gotten the Newt Scamander Funko Pop I have wanted this mini keychain version to keep with my pencil case at all times. I found one on eBay and some “usual” seller mishap caused the purchase to cancel! Heartbreak! ••• I believe Sara found my birthday to be the perfect opportunity! Thanks Sara my mischief partner!

ANOTHER EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT, LUCIUS MALFOY FUNKO POP MAGICALLY APPEARED ON MY DESK

🐍 LUCIUS MALFOY has arrived, Potterheads. I found him waiting for me in his outstanding poise and charm on my desk this morning! I’d gone in after the morning Chai to start a yet another loaded day. I adore this Funko Pop SO much! The intricate details on the robe, the serpent on this cane! WOW!

LORD VOLDEMORT WAND PEN!!! BA-BA-BOOM!!! ANOTHER EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT

💀VOLDEMORT WAND PEN!!! OMG! Another early birthday wish from my sisteroonz Sara ••• I had pulled into Target’s parking lot when she handed me this! This gorgeous gorgeous mini wand ball point is going to earn its place among my daily favorite stationery items. 

 HOGWARTS IS MY HOME PILLOWS FROM HOT TOPIC! BAGGED WITH HOT CASH!

 Bagged these beauties from Hot Topic on Hot Cash that ended yesterday! I’m crazy for pillows and cushions! They’re SUCH great displays and comfy commodities. The Hogwarts skyline won my heart and bonus points for the gold foil writing.

FANTASTIC BEASTS CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD PAJAMAS! HOT TOPIC TREAT TO MYSELF ARRIVED THE NIGHT BEFORE THE RELEASE OF THE MOVIE

 Just in time! On the night before the release of #CrimesOfGrindelwald ••• I received my Hot Topic Crimes of Grindelwald pajamas! I’m throwing a dance fit. This is the MOST perfect pajama in the Muggle and Wizard world combined! I LOVE you Hot Topic!

QUIDDITCH WATCH & DANGLE CUFF EARRINGS SET --- PERFECT POTTERIFIC JEWELRY PIECES FROM HOT TOPIC

Gorgeous burgundy gold tone Quidditch watch with a Golden Snitch on an arm. And a dangle cuff earrings set featuring silver tone Deathly Hallows symbols, rose gold lightning bolts, and golden Snitch symbols. All this from Hot Topic! Grab them while they sell quick at Hot Topic.

 

 The sinister Death Eater wall hook has arrived! Thank you Hot Topic ••• This piece is smooth, high quality heavy metal, and absolutely villainous!