Food Storage.

In this economy it is good to be prepared.  Layoffs, illness, disability, pay cuts etc.
At church they have been doing this year long program to get our Food Storage in order.  Extra food, supplies etc from those times of crisis, famine, penny pinching etc.  It is broken down week by week, generally based on historic sale items,etc.
By the end of the year you will have a tidy little food storage built up. Here is the program summary:

Each week tear off the coupon and add it to your regular grocery list (no cupons here, I will just type them out).
Get a Marker for marking the date on items to aid in rotation (regularly use items from your food storage, taking care to replace them when using so they dont go bad)

Buy the largest amnount you can SENSIBLY afford. It is better to buy a little and get started with your food storage program than to go into debt or put off any progress until you can afford to buy the whole years supply at one time.

Replace these items as you raid them. Remember, these coupons(items) are for items IN ADDITION to your regular grocery list.
Watch for sales and other specials.  Grocery stores dont always have the best buys. (bulk stores dont always have the best buys either).
If you miss a week, skip to the next week. Dont get behind.
Share your hot buys and bargains with others who are saving as well.

Now I have found that when produce is on sale in the summer or there are hot deals at the farmers market, it is a good time to pull out the canner. Dont can?? Find someone who does and have them help you. Google it...there are plenty of instructions and blogs on how to do it properly. It is quite easy.
Every week I will list the Food Storage items of the week, and maybe we can build our food storage together.
No matter your faith, economic situation etc, it is a good idea to have it...JUST IN CASE.

Happy Saving!

This is Disgusting

I will admit, I love McDonalds.  I grew up with it.  My dad worked for McDonalds Corp for years. We lived in Illinois when he worked for the headquarters. McDonalds has been very good to our family.
You will NEVER hear me say anything bad against McDonalds. EVER.
Well, until today.

Last night was my Work Christmas party.  On the way home we had to stop and find a bathroom, so we pulled off the exit and into the McDonalds by the Mall.
we saw THIS:

I am appalled, disgusted and really really pissed off about this.

Really McDonalds?  24 hours? I can understand a small bit of time, but open ON CHRISTMAS 24 HOURS??

That is ridiculous. I hope none of those employees show up for their shift that day. I hope the owner who made that stupid decision is forced to work, and maybe they will change their minds about next year.

Shame on you McDonalds.  SHAME.

I am truly disappointed. I thought you were better than that.

Oh Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...how lovely are thy branches

This weekend we went to Lowes and purchased our Christmas Tree.  It is a lovely 7 footer, full and lush and green.  29.95 plus tax, baby!  It smells so good. I love it.
We put it up  in water and let it sit for a day and a half before decorating it, to let the branches drop.
I went to Target and purchased a few boxes of m ini lights, they were the red/green/white multi string. They are lovely.  I havent had new lights in 15 years. We've been using the same white strands that dont work half the time, unless you give 'em a good shake every now and again.
So it was nice to put new, WORKING, pretty lights on our wonderful tree...did I mention just how good it smells??

So we had a decorating party Monday for Family night.  We pulled out all the boxes (by we, I mean I made Charles go under the house where all the spiders are and pull out the storage bins.) and went to town.
I made my special world famous brownies, we had hot chocolate and listened to Christmas music on Sirius XM. It was a Holly Jolly time.  I put up all my nutcrackers, pulled out the stockings and hung them on the fireplace, arranged my gazillion snowmen and let the spirit and magic of Christmas fill the house.
I just cant seem to capture the Christmas Tree properly. I dont have the right camera or something. They always come out blurry. I tried slowing down the flash, I tried adjustiung the f-stop thingy, I tried no flash, I tried motion blur correction...so any helpful hints would be appreciated.

Here are some of our favorite, traditional ornaments:

 The Pickle.  It is a german tradition. On Christmas Eve, parents hide the pickle ornament. When it comes time to open presents, the child who finds the pickle ornament gets a little extra something for being observant.  Well in our house, whoever finds the pickle gets to open the first gift.  My grandparents always had a pickle on their tree. I always thought it was so funny, but now it is one of the first that gets hung up every year.

this ornament was made in 1981 by me. I remember when we made it. We had to go up to the teachers desk and dip our thumb into an ink pad and stamp out the snowman.  My mom gave me this ornament a few years back when she decided her tree was too fancy to warrant such kitschy, homemade ornaments. She is all matchy matchy now. So I inherited all the old stuff from when I was a kid. I remember all these ornaments were in an old Knitts Berry Farm jelly sampler box. It was always the first box I pulled out to hang. Those were the best ornaments.

A few years back at Costco they had a pack of German Glass blown ornaments for 24.99. Ity was all the classic kids christmas movie characters.  These are just a few of them. It has rudolph and sam the snowman, the bumble, frosty, the grinch, santa clause is coming to town etc. They are awesome. My fave ornaments. The packaging is a pain in the butt, but well worth it. LOVE my TV ornaments.

 What would Christmas in the south be without a little NASCAR?  This is Peters Jeff Gordon hood ornament. Yep, we have a NASCAR hood on our Christmas Tree.

This is Peters Donate Life Heart ornament we picked up in 2009 in Louisiana when we went down for the Coroners convention and spoke to them with the Leger family about organ donation. It has a special place of honor on our tree 

 This is Charles YODA ornament. (dont judge me, I am an enabler). Got it for him a few years back for Christmas. Finn always asks to hang it up, and sometimes Charles is gracious enough to let him do it. I can almost hear Yoda saying "dork, you are"

 And last but not least, the sweetest ornament on the tree. Bought this in 1998 after the birth of our darling baby girl, Jillian. This is always a bittersweet ornament to hang up.  We unwrap it and remember the little baby that blessed our home for only a few short weeks.   But her bootie is always at the top of the tree, next to Peters donate Life heart.

I love Christmas. I am so grateful that I have a savior who loves me and who knows me. I am grateful for all my many many blessings. Health, a home, family and friends. I am grateful for all that God has chosen to give me, and I know that he blesses me with what I need and more.
May this season keep you all safe, happy and healthy. 
Merry CHRISTmas to you, and a wonderful new year.

shameless promotion. VISIT MY ETSY STORE and make your kissers happy!

Its that time of year again.  Time to break out the lip balm fixin's and get to work. So visit my store HERE for your order...or leave a comment on my blog to order.  They are 3 for 7$. 
All Natural, cosmetic grade butters and oils and flavor oils.  No preservatives, other than all natural vitamin E. No petroleum by products like regular sticks for chapped lips. 
These are made with beeswax, so they are NOT suitable for Vegans.
If you are a vegan, or know someone who is, I do make a vegan formula as well with carnauba and candelila wax as a beeswax alternative. Just leave a note, or in the Note to buyer on my etsy site let me know.

Revamped labels, a HUGE Flavor selection.  All balms are MADE TO ORDER! These arent premade and sitting around on a shelf somewhere. These are whipped up as they are ordered. fresh, decadent and total awesomeness.  These arent your moms lip balms. These are gourmet, supah dupah lip balms. They are like cashmere for your mouth. (so on a fashion metaphor: why would you wear cheap acrylic when you could wear luxurious, soft, smooth cashmere??)

So take care of those money makers ladies!

All ingredients are natural and WONDERFUL for the lips and skin.
Beeswax, jojoba, shea, cocoa butter, aloe butter, meadowfoam oil, evening primrose oil, rice bran oil.

satiny Smooth, silky and STAYS PUT ON YOUR LIPS!!! No more winter chap for you! Keep those smackers kissable and pucker-able.

Remember visit my etsy site

www.thebalmshoppe.etsy.com

APPLE- Sweet juicy and tart apple
APPLE PIE- Apple with cinnamon and nutmeg and a dash of vanilla
BANANA- Monkeys and kids love it...
BLACK CHERRY- sweet juicy classic cherry
**CANDY CORN- Perfect for Halloween! Definitely a treat.
CAPPUCCINO- Java with a hint of cinnamon
CARAMEL APPLE- Apple with ooey gooey caramel
CARAMEL CHEWS- Sweet creamy ooey caramel chews
CHAI TEA- Classic blend of herbs, cinnamon, cloves, cassia
CHEESECAKE- Cheesecake minus the dairy(and calories)
CHERRY ALMOND- Classic best seller
CHERRY VANILLA- Classic best seller
COCONUT- Tropical coconut
COCONUT LIME- You put the lime in the coconut and drink it on down...
COFFEE- Natural coffee syrup. This balm is tan in color.
CUCUMBER MELON- fresh melon and crisp green cucumber
DREAMSICLE- sweet orange with a splash of vanilla
GINGERBREAD- Holiday treat
GINGER PEACH- Sweet Georgia peach with a touch of spicy ginger
GRAPE- Purple grape. Kids love it.
GRAPEFRUIT- Sweet Ruby Red grapefruit
GRAPEFRUIT MINT- A really great blend. Gives the grapefruit a little extra kick
GUMMI BEAR- Like the packqage of sweets
HERBAL BLEND- Blend of mint and other herbal oils.
HERBAL TEA- Lavender, Mint and honey. Like a soothing cup of herbal tea.
HONEY- Flavor oil that smells JUST like the real thing.
HONEY ALMOND- Classic Best Seller
HONEYSUCKLE NECTARINE- . Fruity and floral at the same time. Best Seller
**HUCKLEBERRY- fruity and sweet, Huckleberry without the bears.
ISLAND DELIGHT- Tropical fruit punch with kiwi undertone
LAVENDER- Essential Oil that is soothing and floral
LAVENDER LEMON- Lavender and Lemon
LEMON DROP- Sweet and puckery lemon.
LIME- tart and sweet, grab a bottle of tequila and some salt
MANGO- Sweet juicy mango
MANGO STRAWBERRY- a great combination
MARGARITA- Lemon Lime. Like friday night for you lips. No salt!
ORANGE- Sweet navel Orange.
**PASSIONFRUIT- tropical passionfruit in a sweet fuity scent
PEACH- Sweet and ripe georgia peach.
**PEARBERRY- juicy pear with raspberry and blackberry
PEPPERMINT- essential oil. Great lip plumper too.
PINK BUBBLE GUM- Got a nickel for a Bazooka?
PLAIN JANE- No flavor added. Just balm.
PLUM APRICOT- These two fruits go together so well
PUMPKIN PIE- Great holiday flavor
RASPBERRY CREAM PIE- rasperries and vanilla
RASPBERRY LEMONADE- Bestseller
ROOT BEER- Just like the real thing minus carbonation
ROOT BEER FLOAT- Root Beer with a splash of vanilla
**ROSE- Upscale and timeless. Just like Chanel.
SKITTLES- Bestseller. Just like a bag of your fave candies!
SPEARMINT- essential oil. Great plumper, sweeter than peppermint.
STRAWBERRY- fresh strawberries
STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE- Decadent
STRAWBERRY LEMONADE- Refreshing, tart yet sweet
STRAWBERRY LIME- This is a great combination
SWEET ALMOND- Classic Almond is a bestseller
SWEET JANE- no flavor, just sugar oil added to give balm a natural sweetness.
TANGERINE- This is similar to orange, but a little less sweet and more potent. More of a Clementine and Less of a navel
TANGIE-VAN- Tangerine with a hint of Vanilla
TEA TREE- Essential oil Medicinal, healing,antiseptic
VANILLA ALMOND- Classic Bestseller
VANILLA MILKSHAKE- just like a classic shake from your blender
WATERMELON- Just like Jolly Rancher watermelon candy

isnt that sunburn AWESOME!!!

Thats Clinique blush and some bare minerals...

we got more compliments on his fake sunburn and how awesome it looked at the trunk or treat on Saturday night.

My friend Dana and her husband were there and her hubby dressed in his army gear.

Well we ran out of candy so we sent the boys to the harris teeter to pick up some more.

So in walk the army GI Joe with my hubby (who was sporting a fake sunburn, black socks and sandals, shorts and an aloha shirt. It was awesome by the way)

I am sure the people at the HT were scratching their heads at that one.

here are the boys:

Finn was Death(?), grim reaper(?), Crypt keeper(?)...anyhoo, he was something with a long black hooded costume, an axe and a ace kind of like a skeleton.

Peter was Bumblebee Transformer and he brought his friend from school who was a pirate...or a ninja pirate, not sure why she had the belt around her eyes.

They had fun though. LOTS of fun.

I won FIRST PLACE in the Spicy category for my chili.  And it was super spicy too.  I used a whole pound of chorizo, rotel with chilis, another can of green chilis, white beans, shoepeg corn and tons of garlic. It was awesome. 

We carved some pumpkins too:

Darth Maul was my pumpkin, The traditional pumpkin was Finns and The Autobot was Peters.  I dont have a picture of charles' pumpkin. he did Scar from The Lion King.  It looked really good.

as for my costume...well, hmmm. It was alright.  I didnt feel like paying money for anything, so I did a quickie redneck version of Wheres Waldo.  I knitted a cap, painted some quick red stripes on a White t shirt and got some plastic glasses from one of the halloween stores. I am the cheap knock off version of Waldos cousin...Wildo (pronounced will-dough...not will-dew).  Mamma didnt have $ to copyright...
It was good enough that people kept yelling "Hey, Waldo! I found you!!".  I didnt even have to wear a nametag...

fun halloween times. I always enjoy the trunk or treat.

There's no basement in the alamo!!

Today I leave for San antonio, TX for a whole work week.
I am leaving behind the comfort of my own home, hubby, my kids, cats, car, clients etc and heading over to Alamo country to work at the HCM there for a week.

This is why I LOVE my job. I am able(on occasion) to go to various centers around the country and help out when they are in need.  I am still working, still getting paid ...but it is like a mini vacation!!
I am super excited for this assignment though. I LOVE the thought of being in San Antonio for a whole week.  I am only a few miles away from the riverfront(see pic above), the Alamo(excuse me, when do we see the basement??  The basement?? There's no basement in the Alamo...tee hee hee hee)

So today I had to go to Social security office for Peters Disability payments, then I had to go to Home Economist and buy more 9 grain hot cereal grain (and maybe a few other things...like choco covered soynuts), then I had to come home to make a large lasagna.
As I was cooking the noodles, I pulled out a box of noodles, and realized they were old. When I opened them up I found that the millers and moths had been in them at one time and left lots of little silks and other presents...so the lasagna quickly turned into baked ziti.
AND I had to pack.

Busy morning.
But, I am going to San Antonio!!
(the hotel has an indoor pool...and a Free, totally awesome breakfast buffet!! (and a REALLY good one too...with waffles and everything!!) )

I am going to try and get down to the riverfront, we shall see how busy they keep me.
what I REALLY want to do is go here:

I know. Im wierd.  I had a client who told me " I can see you there. You are kind of wacky , and I can understand how you would want to do something like that".
uhhh, thanks dude.

I am sure I will get pictures(if I can get out and do anything fun) and will upload them.

an E book

SO I am thinking about writing an E-book. (come again??)
An E-book. A book I can put on the internet and people can download for a price.
I have the basic idea percolating in my head, bouncing it around, rolling it off the tongue, so to speak.
Not sure where I am going with it though. I know where I WANT to go with it. I think I could do it.

I have a series of ideas for various ebooks.  Dont know if I want to write one big one, or write a few small ones for various ideas. Or I could write a big one with a bunch of chapters, or a bunch of small ones, like Charles Dickens did with pickwick papers ... a monthly newsletter series. Or...or...or...

  ITS TOO MUCH!

 INFORMATION OVERLOAD.

 DANGER! DANGER!

This is what happens when I wake up at 4am with my mind racing.  I think its a good idea to blog.

then you get posts like " I think Crocodiles should wear pink lipstick" or some crazy %!#@ like that.
see, I even start typing in melodramatic profanities.

<<-------- Yep, thats a crocodile with pink lipstick. Ive got mad photoshop skillz. (skills with a z. stand back)

WHAT COULD I POSSIBLY WRITE ABOUT?

They say write what you know.  Write what you are passionate about.

Since I cant write an e-book on my love affair with Magnum Ice Cream Bars, I guess I could do the next best thing. (mmm, magnum bars.  I'll be back. I think I need to make an unscheduled visit to Walmart)

But in all 430am seriousness,  I am thinking about an e-book for Hair Care, Hair Loss, Hair thinning etc.  Various recipes for all natural hair care treatments, shampoos and conditioners. Maybe a section on hair thinning, baldness , FAQ's and reasons, the nuts and bolts of hair loss. And maybe various resources for those experiencing it. I had a client yesterday and we were discussing the internet etc and he kind of brought up a  Bald forum. Where men and women can go to discuss hair loss and various ideas and treatment options etc. Not have it be an obvious advertisement for a national hair loss company etc.  There isnt a whole lot out there as far as support and forums that arent part of a hair restoration company.  Just a forum that people can go and talk to each other about their hair experiences.  Dont get me wrong, I LOVE the company that I work for, but what I do isnt a realistic option for some people.

Then I had an idea for bath and body products.  Recipes, supplies, vendors, ideas etc.

Then I had another idea...then another...then another.

I THINK I can do it. (Im the little engine that could, yo)

BUT I think that with the past 10 years of research and trial and error I could write an/some awesome ebook(s).

obvious schmoozing alert: Maybe get my bestie to draw some funny pictures for it... When I got married she got me a bunch of kitchen gadgets and made these HILARIOUS gift tags about various ways to use said items.  For the potato masher she said "a muzzle to shut Charles up when he talks back(or something along those lines)" and it showed a cartoon of his head with a potato masher in his mouth. I still pull that out and giggle every now and then...and I still have that potato masher. wow, sidetracked much? But seriously Lindsey, I'll be calling.

yes?? no?? good idea? Bad idea? obvious middle of the night insomniac idea?  Akin to drunken ramblings?
this is why I dont blog at what is now 5am.

I know I am going to look back at this at about 830 and go "whaaaaa????"

my new banner

So I am thinking about starting a new shop on etsy called HairySairy.
It will be all hair products.
I have the shop set up, just no products in it yet. hemming and hawing...nothing new here.

Here is the banner for it thusfar.

Not exactly sure I am loving it though. Any suggestions would be helpful.

I am thinking about various hair accessories(clips, bows, headbands, pins, extension clips etc).

Then my main product would be different intense deep conditioners, custom blended for various hair problems (coarse hair, dry hair, brittle hair, fine hair, limp hair, over-processed hair, chemically treated hair and what not)

Each conditioning treatment would come in a container and would be enough for 4 months (applications are done 3 to 4 weeks apart). It would come with an application brush and processing caps and instructions for use.

I am a huge advocate for healthy hair. Maybe move into all natural hair colors,oils and products.  I just havent quite decided yet where i want to go with all of this.

I dont even know if I will get it up and running. It is all just up in the air right now.

just dont know.  I ...just...dont...know.

I KNOW what I want to do and where I want to go with it. I just dont know HOW.

Is starting on etsy worth it?? would it get me started enough? would people even see it with the glut of other crafters on there? how can I make it stand out?

An Old Memory (Little Red Bikini...redux)

this is a repost from 3 years ago. But now it is new and improved with a photo for reference!!
Original post as follows:
(Ok not quite original, mostly original, I tweaked a few things for continuity and flow)

Every year we went to Nags Head for our Summer Vacation. We would rent a house right on the beach with another family and spend 10 days or so in the sand and sun and glory that is The Outer Banks of NC.
The year this event takes place I was 6 or 7 years old. I had a red one piece bathing suit that had a little cluster of yellow petals near the leg, kind of like a "Speedo" mark, but it was flowers. Anyway there other little girls on the beach who had  bikinis. The green eyed monster in me took control. I wanted a two piece, and I wanted one BAD. My mother wouldn't let me get one. So I tried my dad. He said no as well.(I even tried the whole "mom said to ask you"/"dad said to ask you" trick to no avail.) I pulled out all the stops trying to get what I wanted.
 I didn't have enough in dimes, Nickles and pennies in my blue Naugahyde purse to purchase one for myself either. So I was stuck for 2 weeks, miserable without a two piece bathing suit like the other little girls on the beach
As fate would have it, a few days later, my parents left me to the charge of my older brothers(ages ages 13 to 16/17) while they went for a walk down to the pier, or go grocery shopping, or something.
 They said they would be back in a half hour or so.
 I seized my opportunity. My brothers were just outside on the beach, in eye view, and left me to my own devices and said "we're out here if you need us... you better not need us". My brothers had a system: One would keep watch while the other two flirted with Edith, the pretty girl whose family was renting the house next to ours. When the lookout would see mom and dad coming , the oldest would race back closer to the house like he had been there the entire time keeping an eye on me.. I didn't mind their absence, in fact I found the solitude perfect for my undertaking. (I guarantee had my brothers actually done their job of watching me this never would have happened) I found a pair of scissors and I CUT my red bathing suit in half. By gosh if they weren't going to buy me a bikini, I would make my own. I would sure show them. In my 6 year old brain it really was a good idea. Now looking back almost 30 years later, I see the flaws in my plan.
The deed was done, my new red bikini pretty as can be. My brother came  in and flopped on the couch, turning on the TV, as if he were engrossed in Days of our Lives. He was completely oblivious to the newly repurposed swimsuit , unaware of what had transpired only moments before.  I knew it would be only minutes before mom and dad came walking in. I started to get nervous. "what if they didnt like it?"  pah, how could they NOT, it was AWESOME!!!
They came back to find my creation lying on the kitchen table. My mother got the tight lipped "I'm trying to control my temper" look. My dad shook his head and tried not to laugh. What happened next changed my career path forever. (who knows, had they just yelled at me and grounded me I may have been a contestant on Project Runway) . Instead, they came up with a BRILLIANT plan. Instead of getting mad, my dad said "Come on, lets get your new bikini on and head out to the beach!"
 I had gotten away with it. I was giddy. I had actually vandalized my clothing and gotten away with it!!
So I put on my newly designed Red Bikini with the little yellow flowers on the thigh and grabbed the raft and walked out to the beach with my dad. I was so proud of my ingenuity and skills as a fashion designer.
I took my raft and ran out into the ocean only to be bombarded with a huge wave that knocked me to my knees...and pulled the bottoms OFF my bottom. SO I pulled them back up and they immediately fell down again. I tried rolling the waistband, which helped a little, but with every wave the bottoms would fall off. Eventually even rolling the waistband wasn't enough and my bikini bottom was sagging around my rear and I was showing all of my tush to the entire beach.
I ran back to the house and told my mom I needed to go buy a new bathing suit. She said No. That was a brand new bathing suit she had bought from JC Penny's and I ruined it on purpose. So I was stuck with it. i had to wear that homemade bikini the rest of the vacation.
Eventually I got some safety pins and was able to secure the waistband tight enough around my bottom and waist to keep it up...although I looked quite silly with a bathing suit full of rusted out metal. The salt water and sea breeze had caused the pins to corrode, leaving my little red bikini with brown stains where it was pinned.
Having a two piece wasn't as fun as I thought it would be. I learned my lesson and I learned it well.
So thank you mom and dad for making me wear my Sarah Original bikini and not buying me a new one. It was a unique punishment and I never tried to customize my clothing again after that day...I moved from clothing to hair instead.

moral of the story: don't cut your bathing suits in half, your parent will only get mad, make you wear it, and all you will end up doing is showing your butt to a bunch of strangers on a beach.

Spokane Slide Show

So back in July I went to Spokane Washington for a few days to spend time with my friend Lindsey.  I flew out for my birthday for a week of fun, sun, hiking, river rafting and whatever other trouble we could get ourselves into.  With Lindsey and I, it isnt difficult to get into trouble...we just seem to bump into it (running full force. ) It follows us.  It toys with us.  But this time, I swore it would be different.  We are grown ups now after all.  And it was mostly tame.

well here is a slideshow of  The hiking, the sightseeing, etc.  This does not include the nightclubs until 2am, the 5 star restaurant Pig Roast where every course was served with a corresponding tequila, as we watched all the tables around us descend into drunken chaos as each course progressed, the trivia contest where a group named "Turd Ferguson" won (I wont go into details, but am quite positive they were somehow cheating), karioke night (where again we watched the surrounding people get so drunk it was like watching a bad stereotype comedy sketch about drunk people). You know, despite the 3 hour time difference, this old broad still has it in her!  One night we were out until 2am...then the next morning we had to get up early and go rafting. (ok, so that wasnt fun, throbbing head, ears ringing from the loud music the night before, no voice from laughing and singing so boistrously)

We did a lot of hiking at Lake Pend Oreille and Farragut State Park, went to the riverfront with her kids and went on lots of rides that had my insides bubbling (how is it I can ride the world scariest roller coasters, yet get vomitous on something called  the Strawberry go round? Or the Octopus?), had a spa day, went floating down the Coeur D'Alene river, karioke, pig roast, amazing food (especially the breakfasts at Old European...that scandanavian cake plate was to die for).  All in all a great time.

I wish she didnt live so far away.  I am trying to get her to come out here one September so we can go white water rafting on the Gauley River up in W Va. 

I LOVED Spokane.  I loved spending time with Lindsey. We get together and laugh and .augh and laugh.

At one point we were eating dinner at Beverleys (super swanky 5 star) and a couple was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary at the table next to us.  She was telling me a funny story about a friend of hers gtting a terrible haircut, imitating his Boston accent with such accuracy, at one point we were laughing so hard we were crying. I had my napkin on my face, slobbering and mascara all over it. Plugging my nose to make a silent "ha ha" rather than my normal boisterous har de har har.

  Poor anniversary couple If they had known who they were sitting next to, perhaps they would have chosen the quiet table in the corner rather than the spectacular view over the lake listening to a braying hyena with a table linen over her head.

A successful trip. A great vacation.  I needed it.

found photos from a year ago

about a year ago I went to Dallas, TX for work. I was there for two weeks and one day I had my friend Holli come and pick me up and show me around the city.  I took lots of pics, and promptly lost the SD card when I got home. Alas! Victory.  A few weeks ago I went to Spokane WA to visit Lindsey, and found the SD card. I popped it into my camera and FOUND my long lost Dallas Pics.  Here are some of the Best.
These are from the Shawnee Cattle Trail.

These are from Dealy Plaza, The Grassy Knoll, The Book Depository, and X marks the spot where JFK was shot.(is that weird?? They spray paint the two spots on the street, and people have their pic taken on it)

Glad I found these, even if they are a year old.

Retro College Years embarassment photo...

This was a Girls Choice Formal Dance.

My date was Opera Man (his real name was Josh but he sang Opera...hence Opera Man)

Zeke could do the most hilarious animal impressions.  I didnt know Alan a whole Lot and Michael  was addicted the the game Quake(??)...something like that.  So addicted in fact he likened ones personal religious beliefs and standards to the game.  It was wierd. I digress.

Krista and Elisa and I went skiing together for the first time about a week or so before this dance.  We went to Alta Ski Resort.

It was a BEAUTIFUL sunny day, clear blue skies, and absolutely excellent skiing conditions.

After 6 or so hours on the slopes we headed back to Elisas car...and discovered that our faces hurt so bad we could barely talk.

WE DIDNT PUT ON ANY SUNSCREEN!!  That sun refleced off that snow and burned us so badly we looked like Giant tomatoes and Carrots.  We had to go to the health center and get antibiotic cream, we were so burned and blistered.

I could feel the heat POUNDING in my face everytime I walked outside in the cold mountain air. My skin was so hot it could melt ice cubes. It was ridiculous.

We had to work at Vegas Night fundraiser with Lobster faces, had to go to the Dance the color of Neon Glow in an Ice Cream Shop window.

On the plus side, about 2 to 3 weeks down the road the burns peeled off into a great healthy tan...just not in time for this great picture.

First, I'd like to thank my mom and dad...and my fans...and the producers...

Yep, I got a blog award(That was my acceptance speech in the title...) uhh anyways.

Jehan over at Jehan is not supermom gave it to me. It is the Versitile Blogger Award.
The rules of this are very easy:

1. Thank the person who awarded you.


2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 15 discovered bloggers





So Thank you Jehan!!
Now onto 7 things about myself. I dont want to give away the farm, spill all my secrets. Then what would I have to write about? so without further ado:
 
1. I am secretly addicted to Murder shows. i Love Snapped, Cold Case Files and Wicked Attraction.
 
2. I love rubbing bald heads.  I work as a hair restoration technologist and I get to work with them everyday. Its probably a reason they all say I give the best shampoo.(uhh ok maybe that was a tad wierd. Perhaps I should keep this on a more normal level)
 
3. I have to have an animal or pet at all times.  If I dont I go crazy.
 
4. I have recently discovered the joy of sushi.  I used to hate it,the texture would make me gag. The seaweed was chewy and fishy tasting, I just couldnt do it.  Then I found this restaurant near my house that makes the worlds BEST SUSHI!  I would eat there every day if I had the money.  My favorites are California rolls, Spicy Tuna Rolls and Alaska Rolls.
 
5.I love the smell of a new box of crayons.  I love it when we do back to school shopping for the boys and they have to get the new supplies. I open them up and sniff them like they are going out of style.
 
6. I am a bottled water snob. I wont drink water from the tap. It either has to be from a water cooler or a bottled water. If it is bottled water it needs to be Fiji. I will drink other brands of bottled water if i have to, but I wont be happy about it. and it needs to be very cold. The colder the water the better it tastes in my opinion.
 
7. I am notorious UFO-er.(unfinished objects-er).  I buy all these kits and supplies and yarns and fabrics. I get started or halfway through and then put it away and promptly forget about it. I have a zillion unfinished objects in my storage room.  Cross stitch, knitting, crochet, scrapbooking, etc etc etc. Its a sickness.
 
so thats about all i can think of. 
Now onto the recipients of the VBA:
 
1. Zab over at my back door
2. Devany at Devanys Designs
3.Holli at 3 wishes
4.Tricia at Library Queue
5. Denice from Until I Drop
6. Jon from Great Northern Adventures of Yukon Jon
7. The Mad Baker
8. Jen at Cheaper than therapy
9. Lego Guy at lego a day
10 Matsby at My Religious Blog, Substandard works of a Utah Mormon
11. Miss courtni at she Said
12. The Path Traveled
 
thanks to all for reading. I know I dont get to write as often as I like, but I do truly appreciate all the comments and love and visits!

For my mom! Happy Mothers Day!

In honor of Mothers Day I am posting one of my favorite pictures of me and my mom.

This was taken around 1979 or 1980. 

I really love it because I look at it and I can see my kids in my face, I can see me in my moms face and I feel the whole circle is complete.

When everyone tells me the kids look just like Charles, I can pull out these pictures and see that they are a little bit me, too. I wasnt just an oven.

Even though my mom went to college full time, she still made time for us. She still kept the house clean, the laundry done, the lunches packed, the dinners cooked and everything else on top of it.

This picture to me sums up her love for me and my brothers. She would always take the time to let us know how much she loved us and appreciated us.

After college she worked as a nurse full time. She has the best time management of anyone I know.  She always seemed to have it together.  I always feel I am floundering and wonder how on earth she was able to get everything done!  I have a new and great respect for her as a mom and working mother and wife.

fast forward 30+ years...

I love my mom, she is still a beautiful lady. (and whoever does her hair does a FANTASTIC job...)

Would you believe she is 65??

Happy Mothers Day to my mom.

a wonderful Mothers day

So today I woke up without an alarm. The birds were chirping, the sky is blue(ish) and my kids are getting along.  My cats Rusty and Skittles must know it's my special day, as they have been circling my legs, meowing and wanting attention all morning (Oh, wait they havent been fed. Thats what they want).

I have a bounteous supply of gifts from my hubby and kids to share.

Last night we went to Carrabbas Italian Grill.  One of my fave restaurants. Considering we got there at 6pm and it was Mothers Day Weekend AND Prom, we were lucky we got a seat fairly quickly. Only a 15 minute wait. Thankfully we got there when we did, as it quickly escalated to a 2 hour wait by the time we had left.

I had the Trout Nicciola.  It was a hazelnut crusted Trout, wood grilled with tomatoes, basil and lemon butter sauce.  It was delicious. We had started off with one of my favorite appetizers, Calamari.  They also bring the hot fresh italian bread and olive oil with the herbs and spices for dipping. LOVE IT.

Then my Hubba Bubba, who knows me so well, got me THE BEST GIFT EVER!!

If anyone really knows me, they know I LOVE Dr. Horribles Sing Along Blog.  I will watch it at least once or twice a month, and I LOVE the music.  In my head, I am Penny. Watch out Joss Whedon, you may have another internet sensation on your hands, starring ME!

HE GOT ME THE DR HORRIBLE SING ALONG BLOG BOOK!!!!!  It has pictures, notes, full script, commentaries, behind the scened, drafts, sketches and best of all THE MUSIC SCORE!!  The OFFICIAL music score.

I then got to open the gifts from my children.  Peters class had made all the mothers a Recipe book.  each child had to bring in a favorite recipe. They typed them up and compiled them.  It has 25 great recipes in it, which I am excited to try out!

Finn Hid his present to me in my closet, and I had to try and find it.

It is a small hand painted flower pot with chocolates and candies in it.  The thumbprint flowers, caterpillers and ladybuge.  Super cute.  Then the "coupon bouquet" card.  The coupons include Write something nice, draw something ncie, a hug, dirty clothes and wash windows.

Inside the card he had written a poem:

Mother

Loving, Kind, Helpful

WHo likes to do hair and play

Wii with the family

Who uses the computer to play Zuma

Who wants to go to Disney World

Who needs a clean house

Who gives me and my brother money

for doing our chores

who says "do your homework"

who loves Chocolate.

Mom.

Love, Finn.



Now hubba bubba is going to try and make me French Toast....but thats a completely different blog!

Happy Mothers day to all past, present and future mothers out there!