I'm not sure about the change..... I think maybe it looks too harsh? I don't know. I kind of like it. I felt like maybe I should update because my first settings I did kind of quickly without too much thought.
I'm not settled on this. I think I'll be changing again soon.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
M.I.A.
We decided to go to my Mother's lake house on Thursday afternoon. Normally I have internet access down there. When we got there Thursday night I did have access for a short while. Some time late Thursday night I lost it. AND I NEVER GOT IT BACK!!!!!!!
It was so frustrating. I was forced to finish a needlepoint belt that I had started for my husband a looooooooooong time ago. Come to think of it, maybe that bastard sabotaged my internet access so I would work on his belt. He is a little tired of waiting for it.
I'm totally addicted to my laptop and the internet. So it was a little like going through detox. I considered driving into town and sitting at a Starbucks for a while to score a hit of the net. But I didn't. Because as addicted as I am to the internet, my laziness supersedes that.
On top of no internet access. We slept in on Friday and let the kids run around in their pajamas and took it easy for a while. We got in late on Thursday night so we decided to skip baths for the kids. Well, by the time we got around to showering on Friday we discovered that we had no hot water. The hot water heater needed to be serviced.
Finding a plumber in a rural area on Friday afternoon presents a challenge. This same thing happened to my BFF and I and all four of our kids a couple years ago. We trekked to the lake house and did a whole bunch of running around before we decided to take our children home late at night and bathe them. And then found out that we had no hot water.
We found a plumber that time from the phone book that looked like Crazy Joe Davola from Seinfeld. It's a little unnerving having Crazy Joe Davola come find us two women and our kids alone and stinky at the lake. But we made it. Crazy Joe never came back to eat us. Maybe we were just a little too stinky for him. Plus, my BFF is tough. She would totally kick his ass and protect us. I call her my second husband. But that is a whole other post.
Feeling that as crazy as Crazy Joe looked last time he was there, that he didn't gouge us with his price, I suggested my husband give him a call. Apparently though Crazy Joe does not like being called on Friday afternoons. So we had to find another local plumber to give our $230 check to and we won't be calling Crazy Joe anymore. The new guy was just as creepy but very willing to stay at the house and replace parts and drain the hot water heater etc. etc. for hours and hours.
I have learned over the years to pack my checkbook. Because every year there is something that goes wrong and requires a check. I can't complain because my Mom always reimburses us and she barely uses the place anymore. I'd rather this happen while we were there so it is all taken care of when she goes.
Oh, and my arm still hurts when I move it. I'm still an old lady. I really hate the whole doctor routine. So I'm hoping that if I do a little voodoo it will just go away on it's own. Whattayathink? Good plan?
School resumes tomorrow!!!!!!!!!
It was so frustrating. I was forced to finish a needlepoint belt that I had started for my husband a looooooooooong time ago. Come to think of it, maybe that bastard sabotaged my internet access so I would work on his belt. He is a little tired of waiting for it.
I'm totally addicted to my laptop and the internet. So it was a little like going through detox. I considered driving into town and sitting at a Starbucks for a while to score a hit of the net. But I didn't. Because as addicted as I am to the internet, my laziness supersedes that.
On top of no internet access. We slept in on Friday and let the kids run around in their pajamas and took it easy for a while. We got in late on Thursday night so we decided to skip baths for the kids. Well, by the time we got around to showering on Friday we discovered that we had no hot water. The hot water heater needed to be serviced.
Finding a plumber in a rural area on Friday afternoon presents a challenge. This same thing happened to my BFF and I and all four of our kids a couple years ago. We trekked to the lake house and did a whole bunch of running around before we decided to take our children home late at night and bathe them. And then found out that we had no hot water.
We found a plumber that time from the phone book that looked like Crazy Joe Davola from Seinfeld. It's a little unnerving having Crazy Joe Davola come find us two women and our kids alone and stinky at the lake. But we made it. Crazy Joe never came back to eat us. Maybe we were just a little too stinky for him. Plus, my BFF is tough. She would totally kick his ass and protect us. I call her my second husband. But that is a whole other post.
Feeling that as crazy as Crazy Joe looked last time he was there, that he didn't gouge us with his price, I suggested my husband give him a call. Apparently though Crazy Joe does not like being called on Friday afternoons. So we had to find another local plumber to give our $230 check to and we won't be calling Crazy Joe anymore. The new guy was just as creepy but very willing to stay at the house and replace parts and drain the hot water heater etc. etc. for hours and hours.
I have learned over the years to pack my checkbook. Because every year there is something that goes wrong and requires a check. I can't complain because my Mom always reimburses us and she barely uses the place anymore. I'd rather this happen while we were there so it is all taken care of when she goes.
Oh, and my arm still hurts when I move it. I'm still an old lady. I really hate the whole doctor routine. So I'm hoping that if I do a little voodoo it will just go away on it's own. Whattayathink? Good plan?
School resumes tomorrow!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Oooooooowwwwwwww!
I'm feeling like an old lady today. On Easter Sunday morning I fell in the shower. I was shaving my legs and had one leg all lathered up with shave gel and I dropped the razor. I was trying to avoid rinsing off my leg before I got to shave it. So I was contorting my body and trying to reach the razor and pick it up with my newly pedicured monkey toes and the foot I was balancing on slipped and I fell.
My loving husband came running in to tell me how loud of a noise I made. Like there was a good chance the bathroom floor just might go crashing down into the first floor. It was just that big of a boom. He is so sweet. After that any offer of "are you ok?" just makes me want to say "F$#% you!"......
I whacked my left wrist and bruised it and went down on my knee. Really nothing hurt too bad immediately. Sunday night when I was sitting at my Mother-in-law's dining room table my shoulder starting hurting. It took me a minute to realize why. Well, it has not stopped hurting since then.
I am waiting to see if maybe it will just stop hurting on it's own. I'm hoping that I just strained a muscle that I don't normally jerk into action like that. I was complaining to my BFF about it and she reminded me when she fell a while ago. She said her shoulder still hurts when she moves it a certain way. This old lady crap sucks. How and when did this happen to us?
My loving husband came running in to tell me how loud of a noise I made. Like there was a good chance the bathroom floor just might go crashing down into the first floor. It was just that big of a boom. He is so sweet. After that any offer of "are you ok?" just makes me want to say "F$#% you!"......
I whacked my left wrist and bruised it and went down on my knee. Really nothing hurt too bad immediately. Sunday night when I was sitting at my Mother-in-law's dining room table my shoulder starting hurting. It took me a minute to realize why. Well, it has not stopped hurting since then.
I am waiting to see if maybe it will just stop hurting on it's own. I'm hoping that I just strained a muscle that I don't normally jerk into action like that. I was complaining to my BFF about it and she reminded me when she fell a while ago. She said her shoulder still hurts when she moves it a certain way. This old lady crap sucks. How and when did this happen to us?
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Easter Bunny Brought Candy!
Notice the eggs we left out for the Easter Bunny, similar to cookies and milk left out for Santa. This is my husband's family's tradition. We left out cookies for Santa, but never eggs for the Easter Bunny.
Obviously my husband was able to find some chocolate at the last minute. Now I have to try to stay away from it!
Mission Failure
I did not succeed in my mission yesterday. I really thought I could make it. I thought the chocolate splattered clothes really just needed a cold wash. I did a quick pre-wash in cold. Then I did some stain treatment and ran a regular cycle in cold.
We had a couple hour break in between Easter stops. My kids each retreated to their rooms and were playing quietly and my husband decided to take a little snooze on the living room couch before we had to go to his Mom's. Since everyone was occupied and I was in the basement doing laundry. I decided to see what I had on Tivo. We have a play room/family room in our basement. Since that is where our largest TV is, that is where our Tivo is. I kind of regret that location because I'm not down there all of the time. Anyway, while the washer was running I caught an episode of Brothers & Sisters.
The washer stopped and unfortunately there were still chocolate stains on the clothes. I took a look at the clock and thought "Wow. I still have a whole hour before my husband wants to leave. I can do another quick wash." So I did some more stain treatments and put the clothes back in the washer.
Well I really f'd that up. You see, I neglected to ever change all the clocks in our basement after Daylight Savings Time told me to "Spring Forward." So I was an hour off. Five minutes after I started my second wash my husband yells down the basement steps that we should start getting the kids together to go. I was totally confused. I was like, "Why now? We still have an hour!"
Needless to say we had to make some wardrobe adjustments. My son went to Grandma's without his sweater vest. And my daughter wound up wearing a dress that my Mom had given her for her birthday, a pink and white seersucker with her monogram on it. I had the whole family color coordinated in green and messed it up.
I was wearing a green sweater and white pants. My husband had on light tan linen pants, a white shirt and a green sweater vest. And the kids had their matching green and white striped clothes. At least we matched for brunch. Oh well. Such is life.
You can see the chocolate on them in the shot above. And here are two before the chocolate.....
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are in between families right now. This morning we went to the country club my Mother belongs to for Easter brunch. That was fun. They have the Easter bunny there with goody bags. They also have face painters. So they both have artwork on their faces and hands.
My kids also hit the chocolate fountain rather hard and got dark chocolate all over his sweater vest and her dress and cardigan. So I have those items in the washing machine right now. I am attempting to rid them of chocolate and have them washed and dried before we go to my Mother-in-law's house for dinner. I have two hours..... We'll see what happens. If we run late I'll have to listen to my husband bitch. He gets really bitchy when we're doing that last minute scramble to get someplace and I usually take the brunt of it. He just can't stand to be late and disorganized. It's one of those compromises in a relationship that you learn to take. Because believe me I do my fair share of bitching at other times.
It's also freezing here today. I wasn't smart enough to get back up flats to go with my Easter outfit. So I am wearing gold Jack Rogers sandals. Totally inappropriate for the weather. But my ensemble looks cute! We actually had snow flurries this morning. Now that is just wrong on Easter Sunday! They canceled the Easter egg hunt at the country club because there were flurries and it was so cold. Now on Friday, it was beautiful and 70 degrees. Not so today. That is the beauty and horror of where we live. The weather can change three different ways in one week.
The fire alarm went off a couple of times while we were there too. Years ago when I was much younger, the place did have a terrible fire and they had to have a major renovation. So all the old timers had that to discuss when the fire alarm was going off today. Good thing today was a false alarm because nobody seemed to move an inch when it did go off. It totally didn't bother anyone but my son. He is a big rule follower and if an alarm is going off we are supposed to evacuate the premises. So we had to convince him that everything was going to be ok.
Well, I better go check on my laundry. Wish me luck on getting the clothes clean and dry before it's time to go! Maybe I'll post some pictures tomorrow.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Oh crap!
We were all just walking in the house and my daughter says to me "Mommy, I am so excited. The Easter bunny is coming tomorrow." And my husband and I looked at each other said "Oh crap."
We haven't bought any Easter candy yet! We really don't buy a lot of candy every year for their Easter baskets but there are some staple things a kid should get in their basket. I mean what is an Easter basket without a chocolate bunny?
So my husband just ran out to see what he can scrounge up. I already have some DVDs and a couple Leapster games for them. And my son is getting a t-shirt and baseball cap. My daughter is getting some cheesy High School Musical pajamas that she will love and some pink glittery flats from Target. So we just need a little candy.
I've learned to control myself a little over the years and instead of buying a new DVD or game that I want them to have and giving it to them immediately I save it for a holiday. Also I learned to not buy too many things for us to give them because they will get so much crap from family members every holiday too. My husband is really good too about telling his family what the kids would like to get and what we would like the kids to get. That way we don't wind up with some of those crappy types of toys that we usually try to avoid our kids seeing.
Our neighborhood surrounds a large old park that is about a mile around. The neighborhood association organizes a lot of fun activities in the park during the year. This morning was the annual Easter egg hunt. It was super cold but the kids had fun. After the hunt all the kids head over to the playground and the adults hang out and socialize. Today is was so cold we didn't stay too long.
There is a sad side note about the Easter egg hunt this morning. An ambulance had to be called because someone had collapsed walking towards the Easter egg hunt. They were close enough for everyone to see people performing CPR before the paramedics arrived. But they were not so close that it distracted all the kids.
The firehouse is pretty close to the park. So it didn't take too long for the ambulance and a fire truck to show up. But just seeing all the action from afar, makes you think that someone is going to have a crappy Easter holiday. Later on, my husband and I were talking about how different holidays have taken on a different feeling after losing someone special at that time of the year. You think of that loss every time the holiday comes around and they are never quite the same. Some poor family is now going to have this to remember every Easter.
We haven't bought any Easter candy yet! We really don't buy a lot of candy every year for their Easter baskets but there are some staple things a kid should get in their basket. I mean what is an Easter basket without a chocolate bunny?
So my husband just ran out to see what he can scrounge up. I already have some DVDs and a couple Leapster games for them. And my son is getting a t-shirt and baseball cap. My daughter is getting some cheesy High School Musical pajamas that she will love and some pink glittery flats from Target. So we just need a little candy.
I've learned to control myself a little over the years and instead of buying a new DVD or game that I want them to have and giving it to them immediately I save it for a holiday. Also I learned to not buy too many things for us to give them because they will get so much crap from family members every holiday too. My husband is really good too about telling his family what the kids would like to get and what we would like the kids to get. That way we don't wind up with some of those crappy types of toys that we usually try to avoid our kids seeing.
Our neighborhood surrounds a large old park that is about a mile around. The neighborhood association organizes a lot of fun activities in the park during the year. This morning was the annual Easter egg hunt. It was super cold but the kids had fun. After the hunt all the kids head over to the playground and the adults hang out and socialize. Today is was so cold we didn't stay too long.
There is a sad side note about the Easter egg hunt this morning. An ambulance had to be called because someone had collapsed walking towards the Easter egg hunt. They were close enough for everyone to see people performing CPR before the paramedics arrived. But they were not so close that it distracted all the kids.
The firehouse is pretty close to the park. So it didn't take too long for the ambulance and a fire truck to show up. But just seeing all the action from afar, makes you think that someone is going to have a crappy Easter holiday. Later on, my husband and I were talking about how different holidays have taken on a different feeling after losing someone special at that time of the year. You think of that loss every time the holiday comes around and they are never quite the same. Some poor family is now going to have this to remember every Easter.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Beautiful Friday
The weather is beautiful today. I wish it would stay 70 degrees for the next two months and then get hot! But no such luck. It will be cold and maybe a little rainy just in time for Easter Sunday. And all those Spring outfits we'll be wearing for Easter will be totally inappropriate. Damn you early Easter!
Thank you to the couple of readers who commented on my post yesterday about really reading my blog and not just quickly clicking back to what they were reading. I'm ok with quality instead of quantity!
We went for our final fish fry of the season this evening. I think I had one too many canned beers. We closed the place down. I'm going to miss it. It's seriously like happy hour to me. I love it. You sit around with your friends drinking beer. The food is cheap. The kids run crazy with their friends. It's great!
Here is a video that my friend had sent me a little while ago. It cracks me up.
Thank you to the couple of readers who commented on my post yesterday about really reading my blog and not just quickly clicking back to what they were reading. I'm ok with quality instead of quantity!
We went for our final fish fry of the season this evening. I think I had one too many canned beers. We closed the place down. I'm going to miss it. It's seriously like happy hour to me. I love it. You sit around with your friends drinking beer. The food is cheap. The kids run crazy with their friends. It's great!
Here is a video that my friend had sent me a little while ago. It cracks me up.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Seriously..........
Alright, in one of my recent posts I said that I was considering taking my children to see a movie called "Mr Horton saw my Hoo Haa"....... and nothing.
Nobody said a damn thing about it. Come on people. The name of the movie is "Horton Hears a Who." Don't you think it would be inappropriate for me to take my kids to see "Mr Horton saw my Hoo Haa"?????? A movie with that title would probably be rated at least an R, right?
So I take a look at my "Google Analytics"....... and nothing. 76% of my visits have lasted 0 - 10 seconds. Well, there you go. That explains it. Nobody is actually reading my blog. They are clicking on it, probably by accident, and then quickly clicking back to a blog that they truly enjoy.
I learned how to check out Google Analytics from Caffeine Court. She had posted about the crazy "keywords" put in to Google that led to her blog. Well, my crazy keywords involved either the words "bunco recipes" or "preppy". Not so crazy, huh?
I'll keep plugging along for those 52% of my visitors that are "returning". Maybe I'll start to throw in wild inappropriate words occasionally just to drum up some traffic. It'll kind of be like have blogger Tourette's.
Here, I'll try it now........ fuck, shit, damn, hell.
I think I'm going to have to work on my blogger Tourette's. That wasn't very creative. Any idiot can cuss. No wonder nobody's reading my blog!
Nobody said a damn thing about it. Come on people. The name of the movie is "Horton Hears a Who." Don't you think it would be inappropriate for me to take my kids to see "Mr Horton saw my Hoo Haa"?????? A movie with that title would probably be rated at least an R, right?
So I take a look at my "Google Analytics"....... and nothing. 76% of my visits have lasted 0 - 10 seconds. Well, there you go. That explains it. Nobody is actually reading my blog. They are clicking on it, probably by accident, and then quickly clicking back to a blog that they truly enjoy.
I learned how to check out Google Analytics from Caffeine Court. She had posted about the crazy "keywords" put in to Google that led to her blog. Well, my crazy keywords involved either the words "bunco recipes" or "preppy". Not so crazy, huh?
I'll keep plugging along for those 52% of my visitors that are "returning". Maybe I'll start to throw in wild inappropriate words occasionally just to drum up some traffic. It'll kind of be like have blogger Tourette's.
Here, I'll try it now........ fuck, shit, damn, hell.
I think I'm going to have to work on my blogger Tourette's. That wasn't very creative. Any idiot can cuss. No wonder nobody's reading my blog!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Perplexing Questions???
A couple minutes ago my five year old daughter and I had this conversation....
Daughter: How do babies get in your tummy?
Me: Ummmmmm, God puts them in there...?...
Daughter: How? Like this? (She makes a motion with both her hands from up high, like from the sky, and moves them down together towards her tummy.)
Me: Wellllll, He just blesses you and the baby gets in there.
Daughter: When? Does it happen at night?
Me: Yeeaahh, weelll, not always.......
That's what I get for letting them stay up late on the first night of Spring Break.
Daughter: How do babies get in your tummy?
Me: Ummmmmm, God puts them in there...?...
Daughter: How? Like this? (She makes a motion with both her hands from up high, like from the sky, and moves them down together towards her tummy.)
Me: Wellllll, He just blesses you and the baby gets in there.
Daughter: When? Does it happen at night?
Me: Yeeaahh, weelll, not always.......
That's what I get for letting them stay up late on the first night of Spring Break.
Spring Break Starts Now!!!!
We have officially begun Spring Break!!!!!!!!
Like a dumbass, I always look forward to breaks from school. Like I covered in a previous post about snow days, I create a romantic idea in my head about being free of a schedule and having fun with the kids, doing whatever we want, when we want. Oh, we'll fly by the seat of our pants just doing fun stuff. No alarm clock going off or lunches to be made. No homework to do or those fun little extra projects they throw at you. Just fun, fun, fun.......
Yeah.... now I'm thinking what the hell are we going to do with ourselves that doesn't involve spending a butt load of money or any effort in craftiness on my part? I guess we could go see that Mr Horton saw my Hoo Haa movie or something like that. That will only take care of a couple hours. And my kids will expect food and drink with that. They think they get something everywhere we go. Every time we get in the car my son says "let's go to a restaurant." Now I don't know who he thinks his parents are, but we're not in the position to be dining out every day. And he means restaurant, as in with a waitress expecting a tip. This kid is too fancy for fast food.
OK, now I don't even know where I'm going with this post. I've got myself so worked up about what I'm going to do to entertain these kids for the next week. I've totally lost my focus. Boredom equals bickering around here. So I'm going to have to come up with something. I should have signed them up to do some charity work over Spring Break. Seven and five are old enough to spend a week working with Habitat for Humanity, right? I mean I would keep them in the United States. It's not like I would send them to Mexico or Honduras. But a little trip to Appalachia might be fun for them, right? Do you think their meals would be provided by Habitat for Humanity?
I wonder how fancy boy with his sweatshirt hanging over his shoulders requesting a nice restaurant meal would fare in Appalachia???
Like a dumbass, I always look forward to breaks from school. Like I covered in a previous post about snow days, I create a romantic idea in my head about being free of a schedule and having fun with the kids, doing whatever we want, when we want. Oh, we'll fly by the seat of our pants just doing fun stuff. No alarm clock going off or lunches to be made. No homework to do or those fun little extra projects they throw at you. Just fun, fun, fun.......
Yeah.... now I'm thinking what the hell are we going to do with ourselves that doesn't involve spending a butt load of money or any effort in craftiness on my part? I guess we could go see that Mr Horton saw my Hoo Haa movie or something like that. That will only take care of a couple hours. And my kids will expect food and drink with that. They think they get something everywhere we go. Every time we get in the car my son says "let's go to a restaurant." Now I don't know who he thinks his parents are, but we're not in the position to be dining out every day. And he means restaurant, as in with a waitress expecting a tip. This kid is too fancy for fast food.
OK, now I don't even know where I'm going with this post. I've got myself so worked up about what I'm going to do to entertain these kids for the next week. I've totally lost my focus. Boredom equals bickering around here. So I'm going to have to come up with something. I should have signed them up to do some charity work over Spring Break. Seven and five are old enough to spend a week working with Habitat for Humanity, right? I mean I would keep them in the United States. It's not like I would send them to Mexico or Honduras. But a little trip to Appalachia might be fun for them, right? Do you think their meals would be provided by Habitat for Humanity?
I wonder how fancy boy with his sweatshirt hanging over his shoulders requesting a nice restaurant meal would fare in Appalachia???
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Non Irish Children
Sure they look the part. But don't let them fool you. They are not Irish. They are just like their parents and enjoy any reason to celebrate.
And because one shot is not enough for the girl. She wanted to pose for this shot too. We are also not Kung Foo masters. So don't be fooled by this either.
Hope all of you truly Irish people had fun yesterday and celebrated your big day. Unfortunately our city did not have the best weather. But when did a little rain ever dampen an Irishman's good time?
Monday, March 17, 2008
Happy St. Patrick's Day
I have been thinking about my Dad today. My Dad passed away when I was eight months pregnant with my first child. So it's been a little over seven years now. I still miss him terribly and think of him every day. I have pictures of him all over my house and talk about him with my children. There are so many times when something happens and I think, what would my Dad have to say about that?
My Dad was not Irish. He was Italian. But he had some trouble with his family and in only the way an Italian can, he cut them off. When he was a young policeman he was partnered with an older Irish policeman. This man took my Dad under his wing and would include him in his big Irish family gatherings. So my Dad developed a real fondness for the Irish and all the closeness, traditions and fun that comes with a big Irish family. His favorite song was "Oh Danny Boy." We had it played at his funeral.
A couple of years before my Dad died, my parents went to Europe. They went to Britain, Italy, Germany, France.... but not Ireland. They always talked about and planned on making another trip over to see Ireland. I know my Dad would have enjoyed it so much. But they never made it. And I'll always regret that.
I talk to my Dad all of the time, out loud, still half expecting him to answer me. Sometimes he does in different ways. Today I am saying to him, "Dad I hope you enjoy all the Irish fun of St. Patrick's Day, the music, the dancers. I love you and miss you terribly. I'll have a beer or two for you. You know how I am!"
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Other Bunco recipes
I remembered that I never posted the other set of recipes from my Bunco night. They are for the Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball and the vodka pomegranate cocktail. Like I said before I never even wound up tasting the cocktail. So I can't promise that it is good. Although it sounds very good.
Now the Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball, I can personally verify, ROCKS! It was so yummy. I wish I had a big vat of it right now. I will definitely be making this again for another function.
I doubled the recipe because I double everything. I am a piggy by nature and don't think like a regular person. I'm always afraid there won't be enough and I'd rather have too much than not enough.
Also, I did not roll the cheese ball in pecans. I used chocolate chips. I got Chocolate and Honey flavored Honey Maid Graham Crackers to spread it on. The kind that come in one piece and can be broken into four pieces. I think it tasted better on the chocolate ones. And like I said previously, I made it the night before and it tasted better on day two than it did on day one.
Oh yeah, I doubled that too. It's a sickness. I have a little gluttony problem. It's true. They say the first step is admitting it. I'm stuck there. I've never made it to the second step. I don't even know what the second step is. Does anybody out there know? Help!
Now the Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball, I can personally verify, ROCKS! It was so yummy. I wish I had a big vat of it right now. I will definitely be making this again for another function.
CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESE BALL
INGREDIENTS
* 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
* 2 tablespoons brown sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
* 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in confectioners' sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
2. Shape chilled cream cheese mixture into a ball. Wrap with plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
3. Roll the cheese ball in finely chopped pecans before serving.
I doubled the recipe because I double everything. I am a piggy by nature and don't think like a regular person. I'm always afraid there won't be enough and I'd rather have too much than not enough.
Also, I did not roll the cheese ball in pecans. I used chocolate chips. I got Chocolate and Honey flavored Honey Maid Graham Crackers to spread it on. The kind that come in one piece and can be broken into four pieces. I think it tasted better on the chocolate ones. And like I said previously, I made it the night before and it tasted better on day two than it did on day one.
Holiday Bliss Cocktail (By the Pitcher)
Ingredients
2 cups vodka
1 cup pomegranate juice
1/4 cup thawed frozen lime juice concentrate
3 cups ginger ale
Directions
1. Mix all in a pitcher
2. Serve over ice.
Oh yeah, I doubled that too. It's a sickness. I have a little gluttony problem. It's true. They say the first step is admitting it. I'm stuck there. I've never made it to the second step. I don't even know what the second step is. Does anybody out there know? Help!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Mama Say Knock You Out............
I really got tired of taking crap from this punk. I finally had enough and knocked those two front teeth out.
Just kidding, of course. He lost one just the other day and the other one was just dangling there crooked. He was resembling Ollie from Kukla, Fran and Ollie fame. I was hoping that the second one would have fallen out yesterday. Of course he didn't lose it until tonight. Today was Spring pictures at school. So he should have a nice shot with one of his teeth dangling sideways.
Edited to Add: The tooth fairy will bring a crisp one dollar bill if we remember to put the tooth under the boy's pillow. The tooth fairy doesn't bring anything if you leave the tooth on the kitchen counter.
Fun, fun, fun morning.....
I needed my oil changed. So I dropped my daughter off at preschool this morning and headed over to the car dealership for a quick oil change. Last time I did this I was the only one waiting for my car and I was in and out of there in 30 to 40 minutes and my total was about $40.
Well, when I got there I remembered it might be time for the tires to be rotated. So I asked the guy to check their records and if I'm due, go ahead and rotate them. About an hour later the guy comes in the waiting room and calls my name and I'm thinking it's time for me to go. So I practically skip over to him. He tells me that since we are nearing 30,000 miles we should probably do a transmission flush and replace the fuel filter.
He tells me how much that will cost and how much longer it will take. My husband and I know nothing about cars so usually we just say "ok" like a couple of dumb asses. I've already invested one hour in this deal so I might as well stay, right? Yeah.
So a little over two hours and $320 later I finally got to leave. The worst part was my daughter was not very cooperative heading out the door this morning. So in my rush, I forgot to bring my own reading material. I was forced to use the waiting room magazines and tv to entertain myself.
Well, when I got there I remembered it might be time for the tires to be rotated. So I asked the guy to check their records and if I'm due, go ahead and rotate them. About an hour later the guy comes in the waiting room and calls my name and I'm thinking it's time for me to go. So I practically skip over to him. He tells me that since we are nearing 30,000 miles we should probably do a transmission flush and replace the fuel filter.
He tells me how much that will cost and how much longer it will take. My husband and I know nothing about cars so usually we just say "ok" like a couple of dumb asses. I've already invested one hour in this deal so I might as well stay, right? Yeah.
So a little over two hours and $320 later I finally got to leave. The worst part was my daughter was not very cooperative heading out the door this morning. So in my rush, I forgot to bring my own reading material. I was forced to use the waiting room magazines and tv to entertain myself.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Preppy Son
My husband met me at my son's school this afternoon to help in the library. We both love getting to see him during school. I swear we'd have a web cam on him all of the time if we could.
Anyway he goes to a catholic grade school so obviously he wears a uniform. Today he had on a red polo shirt with a navy sweatshirt on over it. Well he must have been warm after recess because he had taken his sweatshirt off by the time he got to the library.
But he didn't leave his sweatshirt at his desk like a normal boy. Nooo he comes strolling in the library with his sweatshirt draped across his shoulders. He stopped short of tying the sleeves across his chest. He left the sleeves dangling. He walked in with his hands in his pockets and the sweatshirt over his shoulders and I'm thinking... who does this kid think he is? After seeing him, my husband and I immediately shot each other a look and shook our heads.
He is something else. I wish I had my camera with me.
Anyway he goes to a catholic grade school so obviously he wears a uniform. Today he had on a red polo shirt with a navy sweatshirt on over it. Well he must have been warm after recess because he had taken his sweatshirt off by the time he got to the library.
But he didn't leave his sweatshirt at his desk like a normal boy. Nooo he comes strolling in the library with his sweatshirt draped across his shoulders. He stopped short of tying the sleeves across his chest. He left the sleeves dangling. He walked in with his hands in his pockets and the sweatshirt over his shoulders and I'm thinking... who does this kid think he is? After seeing him, my husband and I immediately shot each other a look and shook our heads.
He is something else. I wish I had my camera with me.
Volunteer Day
I'm off today to do my part at my son's school. I am doing cafeteria duty from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Then I have library duty from 1:20 p.m. to 2:05 p.m. Then back to pick him up at 3:00 p.m.
I am dreading the cafeteria part because my hands are all dry and cracked up. You see, I am super obsessive about washing my hands a million times a day. During the winter at least two finger tips are always cracked. Right now it's my index finger and my middle finger on my right hand. That's only, you know the hand I use all day.
Now cafeteria duty will be painful because after each lunch shift the Mom volunteers are responsible for wiping down each lunch table with this really hot bleach water. I'm thinking that's going to hurt like a mo fo today.
I'm going to dig out some washing/cleaning gloves from under my kitchen sink and wear those. Hopefully I won't embarrass my son!
I am dreading the cafeteria part because my hands are all dry and cracked up. You see, I am super obsessive about washing my hands a million times a day. During the winter at least two finger tips are always cracked. Right now it's my index finger and my middle finger on my right hand. That's only, you know the hand I use all day.
Now cafeteria duty will be painful because after each lunch shift the Mom volunteers are responsible for wiping down each lunch table with this really hot bleach water. I'm thinking that's going to hurt like a mo fo today.
I'm going to dig out some washing/cleaning gloves from under my kitchen sink and wear those. Hopefully I won't embarrass my son!
Monday, March 10, 2008
False Popularity
I looked at my map tracker thing that tells you how many people have checked out your blog and where they are in the world. And I thought to myself "holy crap, I'm popular."
Then I looked at Ashley's Closet for the fifteenth time today and noticed that she linked me in one of her posts because I had left her a comment inquiring about her possible drug inspired ambitious undertakings. Now I realize that really it's just all of Ashley's readers clicking on this link.
So thanks Ashley for the fleeting brief but lovely false feeling of popularity. It was great while it lasted. But maybe it's better this way. I don't know if I could take the pressure of really being popular. I'm a quitter by nature. So sooner or later I would fold under the weight of expectations.
Thanks for the memories. Maybe I'll print out today's list and show it to my kids one day so they can feel proud of me for something.
Then I looked at Ashley's Closet for the fifteenth time today and noticed that she linked me in one of her posts because I had left her a comment inquiring about her possible drug inspired ambitious undertakings. Now I realize that really it's just all of Ashley's readers clicking on this link.
So thanks Ashley for the fleeting brief but lovely false feeling of popularity. It was great while it lasted. But maybe it's better this way. I don't know if I could take the pressure of really being popular. I'm a quitter by nature. So sooner or later I would fold under the weight of expectations.
Thanks for the memories. Maybe I'll print out today's list and show it to my kids one day so they can feel proud of me for something.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Some Recipes from Bunco
Here is the Blue Cheese dip. I made it the night before and then served it on French baguette slices. I also doubled the recipe. This was pretty yummy. I got this recipe from one of my girlfriends. I also have another good cream cheesy dip that I brought to another bunco night that was very popular. I'll have to share that one with you sometime too.
Here is the Brie recipe. I loooooove Brie. So I tried to eat all of this by myself. But those bitches dug in there and got their fair share. I also used the baguette slices for this and not the fruit that the recipe suggests. I used a 20 oz. Brie that I got at Costco and then doubled the recipe using pecans. I made this recipe the night before too. This one came from my neighbor's daughter.
When you pull the Brie out of the oven, let it sit for a while and get a little more solid. If you cut into it too early the Brie just spills out everywhere. My Father-in-Law did this to me at my daughter's birthday party. I pulled it out of the oven walked it into the dining room and placed it on a trivet. I headed back into the kitchen to get a spreader for it. By the time I got back in the dining room he had taken a spreader from another dip and cut into the Brie, which of course came spilling out of the rind. Like he just couldn't wait to get in there. There were other things on the table for him to eat. But apparently this was what he was waiting for and he couldn't wait any longer. It's still good. You can still scoop it up and spread it on bread. But the display is just not the same. Believe me I shared a word or two with him about this.
I'll share the other recipes too. I just didn't want to make this one huge ass post. So maybe tomorrow I'll do the chocolate chip cheese ball and the cocktail recipes.
Warm Blue Cheese, Bacon, & Garlic Dip
7 slices bacon, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ c half and half
4 oz blue cheese, crumbled (1 cup)
2 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
3 Tbsp chopped almonds
Cook bacon in skillet until almost crisp, about 7 min, drain the fat add the garlic and cook until bacon is crisp, about 3 min.
Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the half and half and mix until combined.
Stir in bacon mixture, blue cheese and chives.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Transfer to an ovenproof dish, cover with foil and bake until thoroughly heated, about 30 min.
Sprinkle with chopped almonds and serve with pita chips, apples or French bread.
Here is the Brie recipe. I loooooove Brie. So I tried to eat all of this by myself. But those bitches dug in there and got their fair share. I also used the baguette slices for this and not the fruit that the recipe suggests. I used a 20 oz. Brie that I got at Costco and then doubled the recipe using pecans. I made this recipe the night before too. This one came from my neighbor's daughter.
SUGAR AND NUT GLAZED BRIE
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts or pecans
1 Tbsp brandy
1 (14 oz.) round Brie
Apple wedges, for serving
Pear wedges, for serving
2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Crackers, for serving
In a small bowl stir together the sugar, nuts, and brandy. Cover and chill for at least 24 hours or up to 1 week. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
Place the Brie on an ovenproof platter or pie plate. Bake for 4 or 5 minutes or until the Brie is slightly softened. Spread the sugar mixture in an even layer on top of the warm Brie and bake for 2 to 3 minutes longer, or until the sugar melts.
Brush the fruit wedges with lemon juice and arrange them around 1 side of the Brie. Place crackers around the other side.
When you pull the Brie out of the oven, let it sit for a while and get a little more solid. If you cut into it too early the Brie just spills out everywhere. My Father-in-Law did this to me at my daughter's birthday party. I pulled it out of the oven walked it into the dining room and placed it on a trivet. I headed back into the kitchen to get a spreader for it. By the time I got back in the dining room he had taken a spreader from another dip and cut into the Brie, which of course came spilling out of the rind. Like he just couldn't wait to get in there. There were other things on the table for him to eat. But apparently this was what he was waiting for and he couldn't wait any longer. It's still good. You can still scoop it up and spread it on bread. But the display is just not the same. Believe me I shared a word or two with him about this.
I'll share the other recipes too. I just didn't want to make this one huge ass post. So maybe tomorrow I'll do the chocolate chip cheese ball and the cocktail recipes.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
The Day After
Bunco was a success. Some of those bitches didn't leave until 3:00 a.m. I think an eight hour bunco party must mean they had a good time. I know I did.
After about half the group left and there were about five or six die hards remaining, we sat at my dining room table and played that dice game where you roll the dice and have to pass your quarters (or whatever) to the left, right or put it in the center. I won twice and then when my husband came home about 1:00 a.m. he sat down and played with us and he won once. So that was looking kind of fixed, but completely honest!
The blue cheese dip and brie were both really good. I have had those both before and knew everybody would like those. The chocolate chip cheese ball was really good too. That was a new recipe so you never know. I made everything on Thursday night. You know how everything seems to taste better after all the ingredients gel together for a while. When I made the chocolate chip cheese ball mixture on Thursday night and tasted it I felt like it was just kind of bland and I was a little worried that it would be a dud. But then when I tasted it on Friday night it was great. It was like spreading chocolate chip cheesecake on a graham cracker. It was a hit.
This bunco group is made up of Moms from my son's school. Everybody has a son or daughter in either first or second grade. A couple also have an older child and most have younger ones too. Most of the younger kids attend the same preschool. So all of these kids know the other Moms.
When my daughter heard that I was having this little party and who was coming over she told me that she wanted to lock up her room and all of her High School Musical toys because she didn't want anyone to play with them. Nice sharing girl, huh?
At pickup at school yesterday, without even knowing what my daughter had said earlier, one of my friends told her that she was planning on playing her High School Musical "Sing It" game on the Wii. Well, now my daughter had that to worry about.
While giving the upstairs a once over before my guests arrived I noticed my daughter had stashed her Wii games so no one could play with them. When the ladies were all here I told them this story. So one of the gals decides to tease my daughter and writes her a note.
Being the loving Mother that I am, when I got up this morning I showed my daughter the note. I had to read it to her and you should have seen her face. She was not happy at all and started the cry/whine. I told her that Mrs. B*&%$#@ was just teasing her and that no one had touched any of her stuff.
There is a lot of teasing here. My husband and I tease. My family teases. My husband's family teases. Our family friends tease.... You get the picture. You have to be on your game around here. My son does very well with this. He takes teasing well and teases back. My daughter does..... not so well.
I hope she gets better with this. Because I'd really hate to have to get rid of her now. I've spent a lot of money on her clothes and hair bows and stuff. And had a lot of pictures taken over the last five years. I mean what would I do with all of that crap?
Oh, I almost forgot about the vodka cocktail. I made a big double batch of it and never even tasted it. A couple of the girls had it. But most of those broads were hitting the beer. And I mean hitting it hard. Lushes!
Maybe I'll post the recipes for all this tomorrow.... after I get over this headache.
After about half the group left and there were about five or six die hards remaining, we sat at my dining room table and played that dice game where you roll the dice and have to pass your quarters (or whatever) to the left, right or put it in the center. I won twice and then when my husband came home about 1:00 a.m. he sat down and played with us and he won once. So that was looking kind of fixed, but completely honest!
The blue cheese dip and brie were both really good. I have had those both before and knew everybody would like those. The chocolate chip cheese ball was really good too. That was a new recipe so you never know. I made everything on Thursday night. You know how everything seems to taste better after all the ingredients gel together for a while. When I made the chocolate chip cheese ball mixture on Thursday night and tasted it I felt like it was just kind of bland and I was a little worried that it would be a dud. But then when I tasted it on Friday night it was great. It was like spreading chocolate chip cheesecake on a graham cracker. It was a hit.
This bunco group is made up of Moms from my son's school. Everybody has a son or daughter in either first or second grade. A couple also have an older child and most have younger ones too. Most of the younger kids attend the same preschool. So all of these kids know the other Moms.
When my daughter heard that I was having this little party and who was coming over she told me that she wanted to lock up her room and all of her High School Musical toys because she didn't want anyone to play with them. Nice sharing girl, huh?
At pickup at school yesterday, without even knowing what my daughter had said earlier, one of my friends told her that she was planning on playing her High School Musical "Sing It" game on the Wii. Well, now my daughter had that to worry about.
While giving the upstairs a once over before my guests arrived I noticed my daughter had stashed her Wii games so no one could play with them. When the ladies were all here I told them this story. So one of the gals decides to tease my daughter and writes her a note.
Dear *&%$#@,
Thank you for letting me play your High School Musical Wii game. It was a lot of fun.
Love, Mrs. B*&%$#
Being the loving Mother that I am, when I got up this morning I showed my daughter the note. I had to read it to her and you should have seen her face. She was not happy at all and started the cry/whine. I told her that Mrs. B*&%$#@ was just teasing her and that no one had touched any of her stuff.
There is a lot of teasing here. My husband and I tease. My family teases. My husband's family teases. Our family friends tease.... You get the picture. You have to be on your game around here. My son does very well with this. He takes teasing well and teases back. My daughter does..... not so well.
I hope she gets better with this. Because I'd really hate to have to get rid of her now. I've spent a lot of money on her clothes and hair bows and stuff. And had a lot of pictures taken over the last five years. I mean what would I do with all of that crap?
Oh, I almost forgot about the vodka cocktail. I made a big double batch of it and never even tasted it. A couple of the girls had it. But most of those broads were hitting the beer. And I mean hitting it hard. Lushes!
Maybe I'll post the recipes for all this tomorrow.... after I get over this headache.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Bunco Baaabbbyyyy!
I'm having Bunco here tomorrow night. I am waiting to hear if lady #12 can make it. And I use the term "lady" very loosely.
I went to the grocery store yesterday and purchased my supplies. I bought quite a bit of beer and at the check out the older lady checking me asked if I was having a party. I said "Yes, I am having ladies over for Bunco." She seemed a little shocked that all that beer was for a group of women. She didn't know that I already had a stash of different beer in the back of my SUV that I had purchased in bulk from Costco earlier in the morning.
I'm also making a pitcher of a mixed drink involving Vodka, pomegranate juice, lime juice and ginger ale. I am going to use Citron Vodka. Never had it before but it sounds yummy.
Another gal is going to bring a dish, not sure what. But I am making "Warm Blue Cheese, Bacon & Garlic Dip" to spread on baquettes. And a "Sugar and Nut Glazed Brie" that you can also put on baquette slices. Then a new recipe I am trying is a "Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball" with cream cheese that you spread on graham crackers. I got both honey and chocolate graham crackers.
Now I just have to get my house in order. My husband has been working on all of the miscellaneous repairs around the house and still hasn't done a final clean up of all the tools, paint and crap involved with that. I can't complain though because he will totally help me get it all together for the party. He can be nice like that sometimes.
I'm off to gymnastics now. Not for me, for the five year old. Nobody wants to see this in a leotard!
I went to the grocery store yesterday and purchased my supplies. I bought quite a bit of beer and at the check out the older lady checking me asked if I was having a party. I said "Yes, I am having ladies over for Bunco." She seemed a little shocked that all that beer was for a group of women. She didn't know that I already had a stash of different beer in the back of my SUV that I had purchased in bulk from Costco earlier in the morning.
I'm also making a pitcher of a mixed drink involving Vodka, pomegranate juice, lime juice and ginger ale. I am going to use Citron Vodka. Never had it before but it sounds yummy.
Another gal is going to bring a dish, not sure what. But I am making "Warm Blue Cheese, Bacon & Garlic Dip" to spread on baquettes. And a "Sugar and Nut Glazed Brie" that you can also put on baquette slices. Then a new recipe I am trying is a "Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball" with cream cheese that you spread on graham crackers. I got both honey and chocolate graham crackers.
Now I just have to get my house in order. My husband has been working on all of the miscellaneous repairs around the house and still hasn't done a final clean up of all the tools, paint and crap involved with that. I can't complain though because he will totally help me get it all together for the party. He can be nice like that sometimes.
I'm off to gymnastics now. Not for me, for the five year old. Nobody wants to see this in a leotard!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Snow Day
My children have a snow day today. I always look forward to snow days. I hear the forecast of the big snow we're going to get. I turn on the news and start looking for the school closings. I have a romantic fairy tale vision of relaxing all day doing whatever I want while the children play nicely and then ask if they could nap. Maybe we'll have some hot cocoa by the fire and play a game.
Well, there is a fire in the fire place and I was relaxing for a while. But I soon realized I have a ton of crap to do around here. And the children are playing, but not always so nicely. No one has requested a nap but me. And I'm too fat to be drinking cocoa. Especially on top of all of those girl scout cookies I have been sneaking.
Oh and my son has been talking in an annoying falsetto high pitched voice ALL day. Between having to listen to the high pitched voice and cleaning bathrooms I'm seriously about to lose it.
I hate cleaning. I hate dusting. The worst part is I can't even bitch about it to my husband. He has been busy overhauling our house. We live in an old house (1935) and we had a little tuckpointing problem in the front of our house which caused a little water damage in our living room. So that room needed to be repainted.
Since my husband is a little on the nutty side and can be a perfectionist he decided to repaint the living room including baseboards and crown moulding. And the dining room and the kitchen and the hallway including the wrought iron railing on the stair case. We have been wanting to hang some photos of our kids on the stairwell. So he sent me out to buy frames and we hung those last night.
Now I can't go complaining about cleaning bathrooms when he has been doing all this work after he gets off work from his real job. I hate projects like this. I mean he's all consumed with the project which means everything else is left to me. There is no way I can coerce him into cleaning the bathrooms if he is busy painting.
And the damn fire in the fireplace is just making me hot while I clean!
Well, there is a fire in the fire place and I was relaxing for a while. But I soon realized I have a ton of crap to do around here. And the children are playing, but not always so nicely. No one has requested a nap but me. And I'm too fat to be drinking cocoa. Especially on top of all of those girl scout cookies I have been sneaking.
Oh and my son has been talking in an annoying falsetto high pitched voice ALL day. Between having to listen to the high pitched voice and cleaning bathrooms I'm seriously about to lose it.
I hate cleaning. I hate dusting. The worst part is I can't even bitch about it to my husband. He has been busy overhauling our house. We live in an old house (1935) and we had a little tuckpointing problem in the front of our house which caused a little water damage in our living room. So that room needed to be repainted.
Since my husband is a little on the nutty side and can be a perfectionist he decided to repaint the living room including baseboards and crown moulding. And the dining room and the kitchen and the hallway including the wrought iron railing on the stair case. We have been wanting to hang some photos of our kids on the stairwell. So he sent me out to buy frames and we hung those last night.
Now I can't go complaining about cleaning bathrooms when he has been doing all this work after he gets off work from his real job. I hate projects like this. I mean he's all consumed with the project which means everything else is left to me. There is no way I can coerce him into cleaning the bathrooms if he is busy painting.
And the damn fire in the fireplace is just making me hot while I clean!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Not Invited
A couple of my daily read blogs have gone private for invited readers only. And I did not get an "invitation"......... Why no love?
One of them I saw commented with her email address on another site. I sent her a note asking for an invitation to read with a link to my blog. Guess she didn't like my blog because I got no response......
Must be me. I am mentally reviewing my posts. Hmmmm let's think...... eating too much, drinking too much, forgetting my friend's children, teaching my children to play bar games.....
Well, now I see her point.
One of them I saw commented with her email address on another site. I sent her a note asking for an invitation to read with a link to my blog. Guess she didn't like my blog because I got no response......
Must be me. I am mentally reviewing my posts. Hmmmm let's think...... eating too much, drinking too much, forgetting my friend's children, teaching my children to play bar games.....
Well, now I see her point.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
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