simpler and more confused

just have to say...

2012-01-24T22:32:00.000-08:00

This school year is kicking my ass.
This is the first year with both kids in school, and I am still trying to get into the swing of things.
It is now January, and I do not feel like I have a good weekly flow down.
I really cannot wait for summer vacation today.

Happy kids!

2012-01-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

The kids had a great holiday.
I should have taken more pictures, but I wanted to experience the day not behind a camera.
Good times.

This is just a small fraction of the kind of baking that went on here in the last month.
Again, if I had been on top of things, more pictures and recipes would be here.
I will do better in 2012, especially if this is the last year we get.

I Swear.....

2012-01-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

I swear I will post more in 2012.
That is one resolution I plan to keep.
I have been such a slacker with this and many other things.
What is up with that?
Okay....
Happy New Year!!
I am happy the holidays are many months away, and I am ready for the many adventures this year will bring.
I will post more....the more I mention it, the more likely I will do it.
Now, back to my tasty mudslide.

Xmas in liquid form

2011-12-05T22:37:00.001-08:00

I just love a tasty cocktail!
There is nothing better than sipping on a beverage that holds all what is holiday over some ice.
I found this the other day, and I almost burst with excitement that I had all the ingredients right now!!
And yes, I am on cocktail #2 this evening.
I deserve it!
I have made 3 batches of snickerdoodles and a batch of brownies for Daria's birthday tomorrow.
Let the holiday baking begin!!!

okay...checking out Blogger's new look

2011-11-29T22:32:00.001-08:00

I just clicked to check out the new Blogger look.
It is different.
Let's see if I can show you these awesome cookies I made weeks ago....

Okay, here is (or was) peanut butter chip cookies filled with mini Snickers!
Huge hit at the Tuesday play date.
And yes, they were very tasty!

cutest and very resourceful book EVER

2011-11-08T22:48:00.000-08:00

I just bought this book last week.
It was on sale on Amazon in their under $5 book section.
I love this book.
There is a picture of every shot and shooter!
What is better than that??

not starting

2011-10-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

My car stopped working today.
I was at the library, and it would not start when I wanted to leave and go home.
I loathe car problems.
Husband arrived with the boy and tried to jump it.
That did not work.
The battery is fine.
He thinks it is the starter, so he bought one.
I sure hope that is it.
I really do not like the anxiety that overcomes my mind when the cars are acting up.
At least, it was not raining and husband's work is understanding why he was late today.
Please send happy car thoughts our direction (or funds for a new-100% reliable automobile :)

HIGHLY recommend

2011-09-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

I bou I bought this mat a few months back, and I have to say, it is the best thing EVER.
I lay on it every night before bed, and it helps me get a better night sleep.
It feels so good.
I cannot tell you how much I love this!
If you love a deep, intense, and relaxing experience, this is the mat for you.
Again, BEST purchase EVER for me!!!!

I survived

2011-09-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

I worked in Bauer's preschool class this afternoon, and I survived.
It was interesting and busy.
I could NEVER be a preschool teacher, but I am glad there are some people out there that enjoy doing that.
Next week, I get to bring snack.
I am thinking some sort of mini-muffins.

you are looking at the laundry commitee

2011-09-15T22:33:00.000-07:00

Bauer begins preschool next week.
I cannot believe it.
What is the next 8 months going to bring?
His preschool is a co-op, so I get to do a lot of "fun" stuff.
We HAVE to go to the school auction AND sell 2 more tickets (total of 4=$100) AND come up with a $150 donation too.
What is our monthly tuition paying for?
I know this will be a great experience for Bauer (I hope).
I just hope I can find some enjoyment because I really do not like doing this sort of activities.
Oh yeah, I am the laundry committee - I HAVE to join a committee or the board.
Lovin' it!

TIGERS!!!!

2011-08-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

We went to the zoo the other night for a special reception.
And we were able to watch the tigers, mom and her son, be fed.
They were so freakin' cute!
I took like 40 pictures of just tigers.
They are just too adorable.

Here is mama.

Her sweet son.

difficult

2011-07-26T22:42:00.000-07:00

My biggest challenge is letting things just happen and letting go of controlling the issue.
I am struggling with it right now.
I have let someone else take care of something for me, and it is not getting done as quickly as I would like.
The waiting is driving me insane!
But I am trying with all my might not to freak out.
I know things will work out, but I wish they were done NOW.
Thank you for the time to vent.

new favorite

2011-07-26T22:05:00.000-07:00

Caramel Vodka + Kahlua + Coconut Creamer = The Best Beverage EVER!!!!

Mix yourself up one.
You will not be disappointed.

posting pictures again!!!

2011-07-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

I think I figured out how to post photos again.
Sometimes I need a little more time to figure things out.
Check out this handsome 4 year old that lives here:

Cutie!

Look at what my bread machine can do?

2011-07-17T22:15:00.000-07:00

This is some cinnamon-raisin bread, minus the raisins.
It was the first loaf I made with the new bread machine I received a couple of weeks ago. And the good news: I found a place to store the gigantic bread baker.
Surprisingly, that was not as challenging as I thought it would be.
I ended up making French toast for dinner the next day with this loaf, and the kids loved it!

Best Lemon Bars EVER!

2011-07-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, these bars do deserve an exclamation point!
I made these summer sensations yesterday, and today, we had the privilege to introduce these morsels to our lips.
I discovered this lovely recipe at Taste of Home.
Next time someone ask for lemon bars....make these!
You will be loved forever!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

2011-07-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

First of all, I do not know what I did, but I can post some photos, finally!!!
And look who turned four last month.....
And look who had a Stormtrooper visit him on his birthday....
As you can see, Bauer had a fantastic birthday.
His day was filled with new toys, cupcakes, and Star Wars' characters knocking on the front door.
I cannot believe he is 4!!

having difficulties

2011-06-25T22:12:00.001-07:00

For some reason, I cannot post any pictures.
So sorry for the time that has past with no updates.
I really do not understand what is going on.
I am currently trying to find a solution.
I have lots to share.
Birthdays, cakes, storm troopers, kids, fun.

thrilled

2011-05-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to take Daria and her friend to the mall tomorrow afternoon.
It is a holiday, so there will be many sales.
And that will equal many people, most likely.
I just cannot wait.

adding some extra crunch

2011-05-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

When I was wandering around in cyberspace the other day, I came across this cookie recipe.
I had yogurt covered pretzels, and milk chocolate chips!
Hooray!
Sunday was delightful, despite the pouring rain outside.
We had cookies for dessert, and really, dessert is the most important part.

I like root beer, but cream soda is still my all time fave!

2011-05-15T22:24:00.000-07:00

I made a cake on Mom's day.
I know, why didn't I just buy a slice at the bakery??
Well, it never tastes as good as it looks when I buy store baked yummies.
I know, I am picky.
Root beer extract has been a fascination of mine lately.
And I just love cake!
Well, that equals a root beer chocolate cake on Mom's day for me and family!
I discovered this lovely root beer cake recipe a while back.
This was so simple to pull together, but there was no root beer extract in the cake.
This recipe called for soda, and I used Henry's.

It looks like chocolate cake, but it smelled like root beer and chocolate throughout the house.
I decided not to use the frosting recipe that was included, instead I made a basic vanilla cream cheese frosting and added root beer extract.

The frosting was the bomb!!
Happy belated Mom's Day!!

really, I do

2011-05-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

I do want to post more often, but this thing called time gets in the way.
I need more time, desperately!
Bauer is going to be 3 for only 1 more month, and Daria has only 1 month of 4th grade left. How did that happen??
By September, Daria will be in her final year of elementary school, and Bauer will begin preschool.
I do not know if I am ready for such a change.
Change and me have a challenging time getting along sometimes.

Best toy EVER!!

2011-04-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

We gave Bauer Daria's old View-Master last week.

As you can see, he loves it.

Have I told you how much I love toys that do not make noise/music?
I loved my View-Master back in the '80's!

This is it!

2011-04-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

I have finally posted 1000 times!!
It would have been a lot sooner if I was not so darn lazy.
I have been up to some fun stuff.

I made Beet Bread last week, and I really do not like beets.
I used golden beets - as you can see from the photo below.
The bread was so simple to make, and it made a huge loaf.
I thought the beets smelled very earthy, so it gave the bread an earthy hint to it's flavor.

When I make this again, I may cook the beets then puree them, and I would try it with regular beets.
The kids would love pink bread!

One words describes this decadent treat: RICH!
And DELICIOUS!
I whipped up some butterscotch cashew bars a few weeks ago.
I like the simplicity of the recipe, and it made many tasty bars.
This is one that will definitely used during the holiday season.

I just love butterscotch and salty cashews.
What a gift for my taste buds!

mmmm...butterscotch

2011-03-28T21:31:00.000-07:00

Who does not love butterscotch??
That is what I thought, no answer.
I discovered this super-amazing treat a few moons back, and I made them yesterday for one of my best pals.
I followed the recipe word for word, even the overlapping of parchment paper (something I recommend).
What I love about this tasty bar is this recipe makes a lot.
This is a great treat to make for gifts because it is rich, sweet, delicious, and there are cashews + butterscotch involved.
I cut these bad boys small and kept them in the frig until we were ready indulge, and I shared with neighbors and friends.
Check 'em out:

gettin' it done

2011-03-10T21:12:00.000-08:00

Today was surprisingly productive.
Bills paid.
Check book balanced.
Bills mailed.
Homework finished.
We attended art-night at the school, and we were home in less than an hour.
Baths and clean up accomplished without much fuss.
I think that equals a good day.

no glass needed for enjoyment

2011-02-27T21:33:00.000-08:00

Oh my, when I came across this recipe, I just had to try it.
I discovered this gem last night, and I bought root beer concentration this morning.
The cookies were done by 4 this afternoon!
I think that is my quickest turn around to date.

The only changes I made to this recipe was the following:
- I only added 1/4 cup plus 1 TBS. of oil. I was a little skeptical using oil and butter in a cookie, but I feel the end result was completely worth it.
- I used 2 tsp. of cream of tartar instead of one.
- I also refrigerated the dough for about 45 minutes before I baked.
The cookies turned out better than expected.
I used my medium cookie scoop, and I made about 3+ dozen cookies.
The best part was the whole house smelled like root beer floats.
And these cookies taste JUST LIKE a root beer float!!!
That is the best thing ever, and it is in cookie form!

oh yes, I did it!

2011-02-22T22:04:00.000-08:00

I made these the other day!
Except....I used my chocolate chip cookie recipe and added cocoa powder to the dough, and I used vanilla oreos.
Oh my!
That is quite a cookie!

Saving this one for the holidays!

coconut!

2011-02-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

I love bread!
I love to make bread!
Coconut is also one of my loves too.
And when I discovered this awesome coconut bread recipe, I thought I found a little slice of heaven.
And guess what?
I think I did.
This bread is so wonderful.
It is quick and easy to make, and the recipe makes 2 loaves.
You can share, or not.
I made this Xmas Eve and gave one loaf to my parents.
This bread makes an awesome French toast, and it is a party in your mouth when you toast it and spread delicious Nutella on it.

Go Coconut!!!

fun with the new do

2011-01-20T21:41:00.000-08:00

Who knew that I would have more fun styling Bauer's hair?
He likes the spikes because he thinks he looks like a dinosaur.

Oh, he is just too cute!

in love

2011-01-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

I have a new love.
Kombucha!
It is so good!
My favorites are Gingerberry, Trilogy, and Cranberry Bliss.
Daria even likes it.
And she is the pickiest of the picky.

11th

2011-01-13T21:26:00.000-08:00

What do you get your husband for the 11th anniversary?
The traditional gift is steel, and the modern gift is fashion jewelry.
I can think of some stainless steel items that I would love for the kitchen, but I do not think Micah would be that thrilled about that.
And fashion jewelry is not really our style.
I guess, I will head back to the drawing board on this task.
I have about a month until the big day.
Any suggestions would help, thanks.

my new favorite things

2011-01-08T22:03:00.000-08:00

The folks who really know me know that I love to work-out.
If I go more than 2 days without a good sweat, I start to get a little wacky.
My super-top favorite thing is going for a run while plugged into my mp3 player, but when I cannot get out, I do one of Jillian's no-joke work-outs.
With my holiday gift cards, I just purchased these 3 work-outs.
The only work-out I have not tried is Level 2 on Shred-It.
I also ordered a kettlebell, and I cannot wait for it to arrive!
I HIGHLY recommend Jillian's videos.
They rock!
And after you master those videos, move on to the ass-kickin' ab work-out.
Amazing - that is all I can say.

first cut

2011-01-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

Bauer's long bangs were driving me insane.
On Monday night, I busted out the scissors and cut them off.
Well, that did NOT result in a cuter hair-do.
In fact, it was a hair-don't.
When Micah came home, we decided to use the 2 inch blade on the clippers and buzz.
And this is the little boy we found under that hair.....

I know he looks a little disgruntled, but he wanted to make this face.
Here is the next photo taken:

He really does like his new do.
It is simply amazing how a little trim can turn a cute boy into a cute, little man.

a rainbow of flavors

2011-01-04T21:01:00.000-08:00

I found this awesome recipe a few months back, and I had to make this for someone for Christmas.
The lucky receiver of this deliciously sweet liquor was Micah's best friend.
Actually, he is the only one we know that would truly appreciate 5 rainbow flavors of vodka.
This was so simple to do.
And it did not break the bank to get all the supplies together.
I ordered the bottles from SpecialtyBottle.com (I would place the link, but the page was not loading.).
I was so impressed on how quickly my bottles arrived.
I only had to soak the Skittles in the vodka for about 24 hours.
By then, all the candies dissolved.
The filtering process took the longest, but the end result was so worth it.
Check my rainbow of yumminess:

I only tried little sips of each flavor, and each one tastes just like a skittle.
If I made drinks with this, I would use a tonic or a club soda - nothing sweet.
I think next time I might try tropical flavored Skittles.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T19:49:00.000-08:00

I have not pin-pointed any resolutions, yet.
I want to save more money, of course.
I would like us to eat better.
I would really love to use my time more wisely.
And, I think this is the same as last year, I want to procrastinate less.
Yeah, good luck with that one.

it is over

2010-12-28T20:44:00.000-08:00

It is funny how it takes weeks, even months to prepare for Christmas.
Then, it takes a matter of minutes for it all to be over.
What if I put as much time preparing for Christmas as it takes for it to be over?
I do not even think that is possible.
Everything takes SO much time, money, and preparation.
It is also funny that I do not know what to do with myself now that I do not have holiday stuff to do all day.
I guess I should get to those projects that I have put off since Halloween.
The trim needs to be painted around here, a new screen door needs to meet the backdoor, and let's not forget about the yard.
Sounds like I should have added those things to my Christmas list.
Now that is funny!

just a little more to go

2010-12-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

I am heading out tomorrow to finish up the holiday shopping.
I am so happy the rushing around is almost over.
There are just a few more things to get.
I have pictures to pick up, and I need to buy more frames.
I realized the other night that Bauer had more gifts than Daria.
It is not that we spent more on Bauer, but he has more boxes under the tree.
And to a 10 year old girl, that is a big deal, unfortunately.
Luckily, she is so easy to please, I can find fun things for her anywhere.

we are in the home stretch

2010-12-18T21:38:00.000-08:00

Less than a week left!
Next Saturday night, there will be nothing to do, and tummies will be too full.
Many treats have been made so far this season.
One of my new favorites is this recipe for Gingerbread Popcorn.
I have already made 2 batches, and I have to hide it from myself because it is so freakin' delicious!
Here are some other shots of what has been going on in my kitchen.

The first are my snickerdoodles.
I get the recipe from my Good Housekeeping Baking book, and they rock - I must say.

And this is Daria's birthday cake.
She wanted a reindeer cake, and I made one.
The cake is vanilla, and the frosting is a simple chocolate buttercream.
Actually, it is very light on the butter.
It was a hit, needless to say.

Time

2010-12-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

Time has not been on my side lately.
I am falling way behind on holiday tasks.
Where has my time gone?
I just realized today there are only 16 days left.
And there is way too much to do.
I am sure I will get it all together, but at this moment, I am not too confident.

Cute Kitten Hugs His Teddy Bear (with Music)

2010-12-04T20:16:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this 27 seconds of cuteness.
My cats would never let the blanket, pillow, or stuffed bear near them.

not sure how I feel about this

2010-12-02T22:33:00.000-08:00

I feel like I am caving in to the social pressure.
We are going to have a phony Xmas tree this year.
I feel like a holiday fraud.
My plan was to get a real tree, but my dad offered us their tree from last year.
And I could not resist free because that means more cash for the kiddos.
At least, it already has lights and is super tall.
I will take pictures when we get it up and decorated.

almost here

2010-12-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

Daria's slumber party is in 2 days.
There will be 6 extra children in my home.
They will be making gingerbread houses and trees, eating snacks, and watching movies.
Everyone will arrive after dinner, so the only meal I have to supply is breakfast.
This will be my first time hosting a slumber party.
Let's keep our fingers crossed that it goes down as a SUCCESS!

cookie crunch inside a cookie

2010-11-30T21:26:00.000-08:00

Since I had extra Twix leftover from Halloween, I decided to add chunks of Twix to my chocolate chip cookie recipe.
I would love to share the recipe, but I do not let the secrets of this delicious recipe leak out.
But, please, enjoy the picture!

close

2010-11-29T22:25:00.000-08:00

The following photos did NOT make the holiday card cut, but they sure are cute!

Priceless.

takes me back

2010-11-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

I did not remember this fantastic treat until I saw the recipe and picture.
Wonderful childhood memories came rushing back, so I had to make these for one of Daria's playdates.

There really is not an easier or more delicious treat.
I will definitely keep these in a regular rotation, so they can be engraved in my children's precious memories.

a post is a post

2010-11-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

Even if it is an amazing video clip...
This is crazy, and I could not turn away.
No matter how much I love the felines.

what is the better deal?

2010-11-26T22:07:00.001-08:00

Shopping Black Friday or waiting for Cyber Monday??
I think I am going to hold out for Monday.

so much for november

2010-11-26T21:59:00.000-08:00

My plan was to post everyday in November.
Obviously, that did not happen.
I have been busy, but not THAT busy.
I see that I have lost a follower.
Now, my heart feels a little sad.
Maybe that will motivate me to be around more.

In other news, there is less than a month til Xmas, and I am not nearly as organized as years' past.
I guess I have been really slackin' in many areas.
My goal is to end the year with a daily post, starting today.
Bring it!

mmmm...chocolate....

2010-11-15T22:32:00.000-08:00

After I saw this chocolate cake I had to try it.
I followed the recipe exactly.
The only change I made was the frosting.
I made strawberry cream cheese frosting.
Chocolate, strawberries, and cream cheese are a perfect combo.

For being a gluten-free cake, it was very tasty.
The texture of the cake had a little tapioca feel to it, but it did not bring the flavor down.
Daria, Bauer, and a couple of friends loved it.
I have to to say it was the easiest gluten-free treat I have ever made.
All the ingredients were already in my pantry - the best recipes are that simple and quick.

The only thing that is missing is a scoop of ice cream.

Ginkies!

2010-11-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

Daria
Halloween 2010
She made such a cute Velma.

hoot hoot

2010-10-28T22:04:00.000-07:00

I made these for the Halloween party we attended last weekend.
They were not difficult to make, and they turned out so cute.

yes, this really happened today

2010-10-18T22:32:00.000-07:00

When I was sitting on my exercise ball this afternoon, it popped!
Just like a balloon, it popped, and I fell on the floor.
It felt like it happened in slow motion.
Luckily, I did not hurt myself.

gotta love free

2010-10-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

The girl that lived in the apartment out back gave me this dresser.

She did not want it for her new place, so I took it off her hands.
Then, I went to Home Depot and bought some sample paints.

The purple reminds me of Prince.
My sweaters live there now.

Consequences

2010-10-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

slackin'

2010-10-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

There are no excuses for not being around.
Life is keeping me too busy.
I would like a few more hours each day, but I would probably use them to sleep more.
We are currently looking for an awesome person to move into the one bedroom, mother-in-law apartment that is behind our house.
I feel it is time we have good, nice, non-drama neighbor.
Do they still exist?

I think I blew their minds

2010-09-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

I was walking Daria and her 3 friends home today.
They were talking about another 4th grader, who apparently has bright orange hair.
I guess she is new this year, and her hair is big and bright.
Well, the girls were discussing her hair and how bright the color is, and they were convinced that this girl has colored her hair.
What???
A parent of a 4th grader is allowing him/her to color their hair bright orange??
I am doubtful, but it probably could happen.
Well, then I told the girls that one way to tell if someone has colored hair is to look at their eyebrows and eyelashes.
That statement right there stopped them dead in their tracks, so they could look at each other and take note.
And then they asked me if I have ever colored my eyelashes, I laughed.

I want my MTV

2010-09-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

The first video I ever saw on MTV was Pretty Woman by Van Halen.
I was at my best friend's house because we did not have cable, yet, and it was after school in like 1st grade or maybe 2nd grade.
I loved MTV back in the day.
And on that note, I miss MTV.
I miss the V-Jays, REAL videos, Headbangers Ball, and even Downtown Julie Brown.
Yeah, I do know that Vh-1 has some good video channels, but it is not the same.
That is why when I was watching the MTV Video Music Awards last night, I did not have the words to express how horrible and un-entertaining it all was.
What is happening to the music industry??
Who is making that crap popular??
I truly do not get it, and it is not because I am getting old.

side tracked

2010-09-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

I have many projects I need to get to around here.
The trim needs to be done, the big wall above the stairs needs a new coat of paint, the color also needs to be decided on that one, and of course many things need to be done to the yard.
In our backyard, there is an old bench.
It was very sad looking - unfinished and neglected.
I decided it needed to be stained at the end of summer, so we can watch the rain fall on it all fall and winter.
Last night I put 2 coats of redwood stain on it, and it looks like a whole new bench.
Sweet!

Take a look:

I almost forgot to take the before shot.
And here is the end result....

I just love quick projects!

Saturday night smoothie

2010-09-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

I threw some frozen blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, bananas, vanilla yogurt, hemp seed, hemp milk, and chocolate syrup.
Cheers!

what I said

2010-09-03T21:58:00.000-07:00

My Plan:
I really did not want to volunteer that much at Daria's school this year. I mean will do stuff here and there, but her class has a great bunch of moms who REALLY enjoy helping. My thought was to volunteer on the back burner.

What happened:
I talked a bit to the teacher this morning, and she was so thrilled to have Daria in her class. She also told me that she heard that I am the mom to have in class because of the things I have done in past years. Thanks - I think. I left the school with 3 little projects to work on.
How did that happen?
I know - I cannot say no, and her teacher is really nice.

Happy 90210 Day!

2010-09-02T21:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I do not think it is a national holiday, but some of us out there appreciate it because we devoted so much time to the gang from West Beverly High.

can we say "YUM!"

2010-09-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

Here is Micah's birthday pie.
I call it a Chocolate-Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie.

This was so simple to make.
I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys chocolate, peanut butter, ice cream, and pure goodness.

first one

2010-08-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Micah's birthday.
He requested a peanut butter and chocolate pie.
I found this recipe for the base of my ice cream pie.
I made the following tweaks to this one - I used shortbread and chocolate cookies with a little bit of graham crackers for the crust.
I did not add sugar to the crust.
Unfortunately, the bulk section of our grocery store did not have salted peanuts, so I used unsalted.
I do think that is a big deal.
I picked up 2 pints of Dove's "Decadent Vanilla" for the ice cream.
It has a chocolate ganache topping - this adds chocolate chunks to the peanut butter/ice cream filling.
I also added chocolate syrup to the top of the crust and on top of the filling, then I sprinkled with peanut.
I must say it looks so yummy.
I will take some photos tomorrow, and post them asap.
Happy Birthday!!!

and so it begins....

2010-08-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the PTA bbq and classroom open house at Daria's school.
She only has 2 years left of elementary school.
I want to freeze her now!
I am excited for school to begin, but I am also dreading the daily school routine.
Go, go, go, eat, clean, homework, activities, playdates, and birthdays - not to mention all the other stuff that come in between.
And from everything I hear, fourth grade is going to be super busy - LOT OF PROJECTS!
Yeah!
I am not sure how that is going to go.
I wonder how many group projects that will have to be coordinated with other parents.
These are the things I do not look forward to.
On the positive note, Daria is completely ready for school.
Supplies are stocked, and she has a good batch of new clothes to start the year.
She is looking forward to seeing all the friends we do not see over the summer, and she is excited about her teacher.
I am anxious to see where this year takes us.

learning new things

2010-08-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

Our computer died.
We had to buy a new one.
I really like our new computer, but I am so bummed that we had to spend that kind of money right after shopping for school stuff and gearing up (financially and mentally) for the holiday season.
I really want to be excited about this pretty, new machine sitting in front of me, but it is difficult.
I hate making big purchases.
It is one of the things about adulthood I loathe.

things I wished I would win

2010-08-12T21:44:00.000-07:00

a new vacuum
blinds for every window in the house
new oven, frig, washer/dryer
unlimited gift card to any store I no longer shop - like Nordstrom or the Gap
a year plus supply of my favorite household cleaner or soap
a new bed

It is not like we really need any of these things, but it sure would be nice to have new ones.

let me wipe the dust off

2010-08-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

No, I have not been on vacation.
Just neglectful of my precious space here in cyber world.
Summer vacation is almost over, and it seems that our calendar is jammed packed full of crap we have to do.
It feels like when school begins that is when the real break will start.

Daria is going camping for the weekend with my parents.
She is so excited.
They are going to be out in the woods for 4 days without electricity.
I am glad they are taking her and not me - I had my fill of those kinds of trips when I was her age.

Sugarfoot is FINALLY showing some improvement.
The vet put her on a higher and longer dose of medicine, and it has seemed to stop her from pulling out her hair.
It will be nice to see what she looks like with all her hair grown back.

That is enough for now.
I need more material for the next time I remember to log on.

any suggestions

2010-07-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

No, something or someone is not eating my cat.
She is pulling out her hair.
I believe it is a behavior issue, and I really do not want to give her any kind of daily pill.
I would love for there to be a topical solution to help her.

Any advice would be appreciated.

done

2010-07-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

The blog is updated.
I am on top of things, I think.
Potty training is still moving forward, but he will not go #2 in the potty.
Not enjoying all the laundry or the clean up.

My crazy cat, Sugarfoot, is still pulling out her hair.
I do not know what is up.
I think it is a mental issue.
I will talk to the vet next week, and I guess I will decide what to do next.
Cannot wait.

Daria begins science camp next week.
I hope she likes it, and it is fun for her.
Her 2nd grade teacher is teaching it and her friend it going too.

double butter

2010-07-26T21:07:00.000-07:00

The only change I made to these wonderful Double Butter Bars was the fact I used almonds instead of peanuts.
I never made an egg white topping on a bar before, and let me say, it was easy and so tasty!
Daria took these bars to dinner at her friend's house the other night.
The container came back empty.

coming up for air

2010-07-23T22:46:00.000-07:00

I have just been too busy.
I have been painting the hallway, working a part-time job, potty training Bauer, figuring out a new camera, yard work, and as we speak, Daria is having her first sleep over.
Get this....her friend that is staying over has NEVER had French toast!
How does that happen?
The french toast is soaking in the fridge, and I will make the yummy sauce tomorrow morning.
I sure hope her first French toast experience blows her mind!

gone painting

2010-07-08T21:56:00.000-07:00

So much for posting everyday in July.
I guess I have been busy.
Daria left today on a little trip with her friends.
This is the first non-family vacation she has ever taken, and I am sure she is having the time of her life.
While she is away, I have started painting the hallway.
We are covering the ugly dark olive green with a nice moonlight grey.
I cannot wait to see what it looks like when we are done.
I will take pictures when the new camera arrives.
That will happen on Tuesday, hopefully.

new fave

2010-07-01T21:27:00.001-07:00

Mango lemonade + vanilla vodka + a splash of amaretto = a delightful summer beverage!

Old Spice | Questions

2010-06-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

This is the best ad campaign, EVER!

no flash

2010-06-28T21:27:00.000-07:00

Our camera died.
Well, it does still work, but the flash is not working.
Every picture turns out very dark, even with good lighting.
Now, I am on the search for a new camera.
Does anyone have any good recommendations?

shhh.....

2010-06-18T21:57:00.000-07:00

Do not tell, but I am baking up my first peach pie right now.
I am making mini peach pies.
Two are for my dad for Father's Day.
His favorite is peach pie.
I sure hope they turn out delicious.
I do a lot of baking, but pies are not one of my regular treats.
However, I really do not how I can go wrong with peaches, butter, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and a little dash of salt.
I will try and post some pics tomorrow.

just cannot pick one

2010-06-16T22:05:00.000-07:00

I have been trying for weeks to pick a color to paint the hallway.
I just cannot pick a color.
The current color is a dark, olive green.
I want something lighter, but all the swatches I have been looking at have not done it for me.
Picking paint colors has turned out to be a lot more challenging than I have ever thought it would be.
I always thought it would be fun because it was MY choice, but now, I think that is the problem.
I can see why people hire color specialist.
Not that I would ever do that.

3!!

2010-06-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

It is official.
Bauer is three today.
And despite all the protest, he had a good birthday.

Happy Birthday!!!

I am thinking it is mental

2010-06-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

I had to take Sugarfoot to the vet today.
She had a check-up, but I also took her in because she has been scratching the hair off the back of her neck.
Yeah, she is looking real good.
The vet is testing for some sort of fungus, but I believe it is all in her head.
He hopes it is something medical because mental problems with cats are difficult to treat.
I do not care what it is I just want it to stop, and I do not want to give her a pill to treat it.
I do not think that is too much to ask.
We will not know anything until next week.
Stay tuned....

just don't mention it

2010-06-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

In just a couple of days, Bauer is going to be 3.
Well, if you bring up his birthday, he gets very defensive and yells no.
He does not want presents or to be 3 for that matter.
It is quite funny.....until today.
Daria and I were talking about his birthday tonight.
And he, of course, kept saying no over and over, getting louder with each one.
Then, out of nowhere, his little anti-birthday protest turned into a major tantrum.
This lovely event started at bedtime and lasted for 30 extra minutes after going to bed.
He finally calmed down.
I wonder what he thinks is going to happen on his birthday.
I guess we will see on Tuesday.

Friday night

2010-06-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

I am having a couple friends over tomorrow night.
2 out of 3 them have not seen our new place.
I am excited because it has been a while since we have had a girl's night in or out.
Tomorrow our beverage of choice is this.
Mmmmm...pineapple goodness.

almost done

2010-06-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

Third grade is almost over for Daria.
I cannot believe it.
Tuesday is her last day, and it is Bauer's birthday.
He will be 3.
How did that happen?
There is so much to do between now and then.
It seems that after Tuesday things will slow down a bit.
At least I hope so.

Friday night

2010-06-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

I am having a couple of my lady friends over on Friday night.
There will be tasty beverages and delicious treats.
Are there any great beverage recipes anyone wants to share?

all it took was a call

2010-06-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

Today was the science fair at Daria's school.
Last night was the preview night, and the actual event was during school hours.
Daria and her friend did a great experiment about how boats float.
When I picked her up after school, she seemed bummed.
It took a while to get out what was bothering her.
She finally told me she was upset because the science fair was not that much fun.
They only had about 3 "scientist" stop by their table, and I guess, that was a big disappointment for them.
And according to Daria, there was a lot of waiting around, and both the girls did not like that.
Well, as we were eating dinner, the phone rang.
It was another one of Daria's friends, and she was calling to ask if she could come over and play and maybe even spend the night.
Daria said an instant yes - keep in mind, this was right after she had been telling me how tired she was.
Then a few moments later, she turned to me and told me that she was surprised that Friday was turning out to be such a great day.

the move did it

2010-06-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I found my first gray hairs.
No matter how I style my hair, they seem to pop up to the surface.
I wonder how much longer until more appear.

wishing for

2010-06-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

I wish for a magic pill that I can sprinkle in Bauer's applesauce, and in a matter of hours, he will be potty trained.
I am so tired of potty training, and it has only been about a week or so.
I know in a few years I will be looking back on these wonderful, easy days and wish I was still here, but right now I want to rush onto to kindergarten.

current look

2010-06-01T21:52:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Daria surprised us by giving herself a haircut.
Let me share her new look with you....

This photo will be filed under "future bribing material".

made a decision

2010-05-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

It took weeks, but I finally picked a color for Bauer's room.
It is called organic green.
I really like it.
Here are some before and after shots.

As you can see, the previous color was poo-color brown.

Why would someone pick that color?

I will never know.

And here is what the view looks like now....

Now, it looks like a little boy's room.

here we go

2010-05-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

Bauer peed in the toilet tonight.
It was his first time.
I was so proud.
He was happy that he finally was able to flush the toilet.
This is the beginning.
I cannot wait for the day I do not have to buy anymore diapers.
That day is officially on the horizon now.
Thanks, Bauer.

rain or shine

2010-05-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

I am going running tomorrow morning.
Our weather has been so lame lately.
It does not even seem that spring has arrived.
Yes, we did have a few nice days last week, but now....brrrrr.
I am still wearing long socks.
Usually, by late May, I am in no socks and tank tops.
And there is some sort of color to my skin.
Maybe in a couple of weeks, we will be sweating to death, but I said that a couple of weeks ago.

cannot decide

2010-05-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

I want to paint the hallway going up our stairs.
Right now, it is a very dark, olive green.
It makes the hallway too dark.
I do like dark colors, but this green is not doing it for me.
Now, I cannot decide what brighter color I would like to paint it.
The hallway is divided into sections, so it would look really cool to use 2 or 3 colors.
I do not know if there are too many colors to choose from, or there are not enough.
And of course, I cannot stop thinking about it because that is how I roll.
I am also trying to pick a good color for Bauer's room.
I think I am going to take pictures, and upload them to a paint website.
Then, we will see what happens.

wild berry

2010-05-13T20:41:00.000-07:00

My parents had an extra nightstand.
We decided to put in in Daria's room.
It was unfinished, so I told Daria we would head to the hardware store.
She picked the stain - wild berry.

It looks great in her yellow room.

how did this happen?

2010-05-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

It seems like ever since we have moved, our lives have become busier.
I just do not get it.
In the last two weeks, Daria has averaged 3 playdates, at least, per week.
And most of them have been here - among all the boxes and disorganization.
I am hoping this weekend is a little more low key.
Then I will be able to get the bathroom, our bedroom, and the kitchen better organized.
I have not found the perfect spot for the little things we have.
I am still wondering how we have accumulated so many things.
Another one of life's little mysteries.....

settling in

2010-05-03T20:44:00.000-07:00

We are completely moved.
I am so happy to be done with our old place.
Now, I have to find places for our stuff.
The kids love their rooms.
We have barely seen Bauer because he has been spending all his time in his room and his sister's room.
I finally felt like I had a "normal" day yesterday.
We were able to stay home all day and just be mellow.
It was lovely because the phone did not ring, and there were no visitors.
We unpacked more boxes, organized the kids' rooms, somewhat, and made a yummy dinner with a cake for dessert.
It is starting to feel like home.

tomorrow

2010-04-25T21:24:00.000-07:00

It is almost moving day!
I cannot believe this day is finally here.
I have all sorts of butterflies dancing in my tummy tonight.
Let's hope I get a few good hours of sleep tonight.

4 days to go

2010-04-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

Moving day is almost here.
I cannot believe it is just around the corner.
We are so tired, but it will be over soon.
I truly do not know how much I will get back here in the next week or so.
We will be without Internet and TV for a few days - I hope we survive that alone.
I guess that will help me stay focused on get the new home organized.

ready to be done

2010-04-18T22:17:00.000-07:00

I really do not know what is worse....having an entire month to pack and clean or having to get it done in a few short days.
I feel like I have been packing and cleaning FOREVER, and we do not even do the big move until next week.
I am tired of packing.
We have too much stuff.
And there are a lot of dust bunnies.
They multiply just like real rabbits.
Tomorrow I will be cleaning cupboards at the new home, taking crap to the Goodwill, packing, cleaning, searching for more newspaper and boxes, and trying my best not to freak out on the family.

I would call it anxiety

2010-04-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

I had two strange dreams last night.
In the first part of my dream, I was on the phone with my mom.
She was telling me that her and my step-dad were moving back here because we were moving.
It made no sense, but the funny thing is that it could actually happen.
The next phase of my dream-state included a scene of us going on a little family vacation
I do not know where, but it was 3 hours away.
Well, when we arrived at our destination, I realized we forgot all of Bauer's medicine.
However, in my dream, I remember telling myself not to freak out because it was just a dream, and I was going to wake up soon.
At least I am looking out for myself.

lists galore

2010-04-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

It seems I have nothing but lists all over my desk.
Right now, I am working on my weekly grocery list.
It is never ending, I tell ya.
Today was mostly a cleaning day, but I did get 2 large boxes packed.
I know I have said this repeatedly, but we have a ton of stuff.
I am trying to donate the things we have obviously not used in the last few years, but that is not making a big dent.
It is funny - I have a list of new things I need for the new home.
Tomorrow is painting day!