Monday, May 30, 2011

Menu Plan Monday

Monday, Monday,Monday...

Happy Memorial Day! Hope everyone has enjoyed your day.

I have been just hangin out with the family so a little bit late in posting this.

Now it is time to get down to business before heading back into the work week tomorrow.

Here is what our family will be having for dinner this week:

Sun:

Papa Murphy's Family Combo Pizza (Yum!Yum!)

Mon:

Slow Cooked Pulled Pork Sandwiches*
Sweet N Tangy Cole Slaw *
BBQ Chips

Tues:

Beef & Mushroom Dijon*
Green Salad

Wed:

Vegetable Rotini
French Bread

Thu:

Creamy Chicken & Rice
Green Beans
Applesauce

Fri:

Orange Infused Pork Chops*
Rice Pilaf
Asparagus

Sat:

Chicken Fajitas
Chips N Salsa

What are you making for dinner this week?  Want some new ideas?  Then make sure to visit all the other Menu Plan Monday participants over at The Organized Junkie.  You won't be disappointed!







*I will be posting these recipes this next week with pictures.  So make sure to check back.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

What I'm Lovin

In light of my recent Cheese Grater mishap, I went on a search yesterday for a bigger and badder Cheese Grater but instead came home with this:


A corn zipper!  How cool is this?  No more slicing off my finger trying to run the knife down the corn on the cob to get the kernels off.  I found this at Marshalls yesterday for $6.99!

I bought one of these at Target a few weeks ago on clearance and it rocks!  It is on my wall right next to my desk and helps keep our family organized:


A Peel and Stick. Dry Erase Monthly Calendar by Wall Pops.  It is *awesome*.


We went *thrifting* on Sunday after church and I bought several new to me books, found a few cute outfits for Miss K (Gymboree outfits at that) and a cute little rooster "Welcome to Our Home" sign for my MIL. (She collects anything and everything with roosters).

Loving the thrift stores....




And finally, lovin me some Applebees.  We went there for dinner Saturday night.   I wasn't so sure however that I was lovin the new jello shots offered in the family section.  They actually had a menu listing all the flavors plastered on the table (no pun intended).

I think it being mentioned/advertised/pushed in the bar area is acceptable since it is the bar but  I thought Appelebees was suppose to be "No place like the neighborhood".  I don't know about your neighborhood but my neighborhood isn't serving up jello shots in the family section.  And in light of their recent publicity about a server serving alcohol to a toddler instead of apple juice I found this a bit over the top and even insensitive.






They are still offering up the 2 for $20 though so couldn't pass that up.  We didn't have our toddler there and probably won't anytime soon.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and have a wonderful Memorial Day! Remember to take some time to think about those you have loved and lost throughout the years. 


Saturday, May 28, 2011

Out of Africa Shea Butter Bar Review & Giveaway

I'm pretty low maintenance when it comes to wearing make up.  I would rather be more au natural.  Therefore I am pretty low maintenance when it comes to my facial skin care too.  I don't want anything to complicated.  More than two steps and you have lost me. 

I wash my face daily, moisturize and go.  I do however care about what I wash my face with.  I don't want any scented products, nothing that will dry my face out or leave tons of residue. Throughout the years I have *tried* many products but up until a couple months ago I had never found anything that I liked as much as I do Out of Africa Shea Butter Complexion Bar.

I stumbled upon this product (almost literally) while shopping the local Fred Meyers with my two small children a few months ago.  I was looking for a face mask to help with my dry skin, while my 3 year old had other ideas.  He wanted the loofah's and bubble baths instead.  As I was grabbing the items off the floor, to put back on the shelf it was as if these jumped out at me.  Bam, right at eye level. 

I picked up the box and read the ingredients.  Organic Shea Butter Complexion Bar.  No testing on animals.  Biodegradable. No artificial colors.  The Shea Butter is made by hand in Benin, West Africa.  AND....the company gives money back to fund education and medical care in West Africa. I thought, how could I not try this product.


Once home I used the bar immediately and saw a difference in the way my skin looked almost instantly. My skin is soft, smooth and radiant!  I no longer even have to moisturize daily because it locks the moisture in without clogging my pores.





Because I liked the product so much I had to rave about them so I sent them an email and well, here we are....I have a box of complexion bars to giveaway.

Two lucky winners will win (3) Organic Shea Butter Complexion Bars each. 

All you need to do to enter is as follows:

1.  Follow my blog via GFC (3 entries) 
2.  Follow me on twitter (1 entry)  (see the little button on the upper right corner of my page?)
3.  Retweet about the giveaway on twitter. (1 entry)
4.  Do a quick post about the giveaway linking back to my blog post (5 entries) 
5.  "Like" Out of Africa on FB (1 entry)
6. Follow Out of Africa on Twitter (see their website for link) (1 entry)

Up to 12 entries per person possible.

Do one or do them all for more chances to win! However you must leave a comment on this post for each entry method to count. 

For current followers, don't hesitate to enter, just tell me if you are following me and how (one comment per method).  Current GFC or twitter followers will not be automatically entered unless you do this.  If you want the extra entries, please by all means knock yourself out . 

This giveaway is open to 18+ in the US/Canada.  This giveaway starts today and will run through Sunday, June 12, 2011. 

Two winners will be selected at random via random.org.

Winners will be posted on an upcoming blog post and will also be notified by email (make sure you list your contact information if not already listed on your own blog).

Restaurant.com 80% off Sale--Happening NOW!

Did you hear?  Restaurant.com is having another *awesome* sale.

Time to stock up on some cheap, cheap gift certificates for date night, gifts, Girls Night Out (Guys Night Out?)...

And remember Fathers Day is coming up soon! 




Restaurants.com has tons of restaurants to choose from and NATIONWIDE.  Promo code: FLAG through May 31st!

What are you waiting for?  Go get some so you can get your dinner on! (or lunch or breakfast)

Six Word Saturday

Yah! It's Saturday....

You know what that means...

Another edition of Six Word Saturday.

If you want to partake in it, it is so easy, describe your life at the moment (or something else)  in six words and then link up over at showmyface.com





I will go first....



What happens when you are tired.....









My poor cheese grater. How I loved thee.  You will be missed.

Me and the oven didn't see eye to eye this week.  After a long tiring day, I turned the oven on to preheat (without checking for pots/pans) so I could put the Taco Bake in to cook and well.....when I put dinner in that is what I saw.  Nice.....

Not sure why it was in there, typically we only store extra pots and pans in the oven.  And I do *usually* check but like I said very *tired* that day and lucky if we even had dinner.  I knew I should have had take out.


Ok, your turn!


Have a great Saturday.


Thursday, May 26, 2011

Pasta Fagioli

I ditched the original meal I had on my Menu Plan Monday for tonight...

I just wasn't feeling Cheesy Potatoe Casserole so I made Pasta Fagioli instead!

What's that you ask?

It is so quick and easy....


Ingredients

(2) Cans of Chunky Vegetable Pasta Sauce ($2.50 on sale at Alberstons $1.25/ea)
(2) Cans of White Kidney Beans (drained)  ($1.39 x 2)
(1) Can of chopped spinach (drained) OR you can use frozen (thawed of course) OR fresh spinach  (chopped). ($1.69 for canned)
16 oz of pasta (Elbow Macaroni, Rotini, Penne, whatever you have on hand) ($1.00 on sale)

Directions

1.  Cook pasta as directed. Drain, keep 2 cups of pasta water.
2.  Combine pasta sauce, beans, spinach, pasta and pasta water. 
3. Cook on med heat for 10-15 mins.
4.  Add salt & pepper to taste

Pair with some hot buttery french bread ($1.99).  MMM, good.


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And you want to know something....This is another FRUGAL dinner. 

Total cost of ingredients:  $9.96 ($1.99 per person). 

Fed all 5 of us and we have leftovers for lunch tomorrow.


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Miss K loved it. Can you tell?

Confessions of A Non-Superwoman #5

I am feeling like these confessional posts are coming much more frequently.  Not sure if that is a good thing or not but since this is the premise of my blog I *guess* it is fine. 


Have you read my others 1, 2, 3, 4?


1.  I received a basket full of starter garden plants (tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers) for my birthday (May 12) and only on Tuesday (May 24) did they FINALLY get transplanted into our garden.  Unfortunately, the delay and lack of being watered did one of the cucumber plants in.  Nobody told me they needed to be watered!

2.  As I was going through some of Miss K's clothes this past week I noticed that there are still some 3-6 and 6-9 months sizes mixed in. A Lot. She is just over a year wearing 12-18 months so I think it is about time I purge the clothes and swap them on ThredUP.

3.  I shaved my legs last night.  I hadn't shaved them in like two weeks.  I know kinda gross but not like I have been wearing shorts or anything since it has been RAINING like every day.  Furthermore, shaving just takes too much time when showering.  I am lucky if I have 5 uninterrupted minutes in the shower so the last thing I want to do is waste it shaving!  Trees for me, thanks!

4.  I still have a small picture frame on my entertainment center that has the picture of the original baby in it. It is a frame that I received at Miss Ks baby shower over a YEAR ago.  Cute baby, but not Miss K.

5.  I finally cleaned out my coupon envelopes.  After going to the store this past week and trying to redeem some coupons from March, I thought it was probably time that this be done.  Worse thing to have happen when shopping with coupons is to get up to the check stand with product and coupon that has expired.  Ughh!

Do you have some non superwoman moments you want to share?

Don't be shy!



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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Killer Deal?

I know you have seen them...They are popping up like a bag of Orville Redenbacher's  in the microwave...

Pop, Pop, Pop...

Every time you turn around there is a new one.  Google just released its own: 

Google Offers

There is...

Facebook Deals
Groupon
Livingsocial
Moolala
Gaggle of Chicks

You get the point.  They're every where!  Trying to get *you* to buy one of the *hot* deals TODAY because of course there is a limited quantity and the deal expires soon.  Most of the sites even have have a countdown showing you how long you have to purchase.  Kinda like the QVC of the internet...But wait, theres more! 

So here is something to ponder: how do you know if you are really getting a *killer* deal?

Honestly, you don't unless you have already done the legwork pricing out that massage that you probably wouldn't have bought had it not been on the deal site. 

Or that Kayaking lesson.  Again, were you really already looking for those deals?  I would guess, often times, probably not. 

But that is the power of good marketing.  Making consumers think that they are getting a *killer* deal on something they were not originally going to buy but because it is a *killer* deal (when really it is the exact opposite), they buy it.  Following me?

Next time before purchasing from a daily deal site do your homework.  Ask yourself a few simple questions.

1) Would I have bought this item had it not been on the daily deal site?

2)  What is the price of this item without buying on the daily deal site while under pressure to purchase before time runs out and the limited quantities cease to exist? 

3) Have you checked the direct sellers website for current pricing?

4) You can also visit WayBackMachine.org, type in the company's website for a snapshot of the prices, weeks, months, even years prior to help determine if the deal really is a deal or a facade.

Don't be taken for a ride. 

You work too darn hard for your Jackson's or Grants or Benjamin's to part with them so easily. 

Be an educated consumer.

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

And After All That....

It was a HOAX.  Are you kidding me?  This is a follow up post to my Elbow.Elbow.Wrist.Wrist post where I discussed my feelings about the mother in California who injected her daughter with Botox.

And now she is saying it was a HOAX?  First off why would you inject Botox into your child in the first place but now secondly why would you lie about?  I don't know which makes me more mad at this point.  Both are ridiculous! 

From what I have read is that she was paid $200.00 to fabricate the story to The Sun.  I mean c'mon if she needed the money that bad, she could have gone and donated plasma a few times or pawned something for that matter.  Seriously? And she even got her daughter to lie about it.

True or Hoax I am still appalled on so many levels. 

Way to be a good role model, Mom.

Sherry Upton or Kerry Campbell, whatever your name is, you will not be winning the Mother of the Year award that is for certain.


Monday, May 23, 2011

**Winning**

The catch phrase of the past month or so...thought I would borrow it from Charlie Sheen before he patents it.

The winners of the SKOY Cloth giveaway as chosen by random.org are:


The first winner is  Toni at Coffee and Chocolate What More Do You Need ...I know she really wanted these and all together had 9 entries. 

Thanks Toni for your support and hope you like these!

True Random Number Generator 14 Powered by RANDOM.ORG



The second winner is Leanne.  Congratulations! 

True Random Number Generator 3


I will email you both for addresses and thanks again for all of my followers support!

I will be having another giveaway coming up real soon so check back often. 


Have a wonderful Tuesday!

My Bologna Has A First Name...

It's O-S-C-A-R.

My bologna has a second name it's M-A-Y-E-R.



For those of you who read my Six Word Saturday post you know exactly where I am going with this....


One of our local grocery stores was visited by the Weinermobile.  And we saw it! Kids even got a tour of it. 

That's right, I know you are jealous.

Here are some pictures to prove it! 


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Now don't be a hater!

Is the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile coming to a town near you?  Follow this link and find out.

Do you want to be a Hotdogger?  (Yes, that is really what they call their drivers).  Maybe you will be the next driver of the World Famous Weinermobile.  How *awesome* would that be to put on your resume...lol....

Menu Plan Monday

Do you know what you are making for dinner this week?


I do because I have been inspired by Menu Plan Monday over at The Organized Junkie!




Sunday

Teriyaki BBQ Chicken (Chicken marinated in soy sauce, ketchup and brown sugar)
Corn on the Cob
Baked Potato


Monday:

Chicken Parmigiana
Green Salad
Applesauce


Tuesday: 

 Taco Bake
 Mexican Salad  (lettuce, black beans, corn, tortilla strips, salsa/sour cream dressing)

Wednesday:

Beef Stroganoff
Green Beans
Fruit Salad
         

Thursday:

Cheesy Potato Casserole (using left over potatoes from 5lb bag and left over cheese from Taco Bake)
Mixed Vegetables

Friday:

Beef N Broccoli (using left over beef from pack of beef for stroganoff)
Rice
Mandarin Oranges

Saturday:

Date Night (whereever my husband takes me)


Have a Monday!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Six Word Saturday

Want to join?  It is easy. 

Describe your life at the moment in 6 words or less then link up with showmyface.com







My bologna has a first name.....






Oscar Mayer! 

We saw the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile yesterday at one of our local grocery stores.  What a *hoot*.  Hayden thought it was the funniest thing.  I took some pictures with T's ipod but haven't figured out how to load them.  As soon as I figure it out, I will post some so check back.

Is the Weinermobile coming to a city near you?  Click on the link above and find out.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Need Some Extra Dough?

Need to make some extra $$ ? 

What about getting free product, gift cards, etc for something you are already doing.

BLOGGING!

Broadcast Bloggers is connecting businesses with bloggers.  They have *tons* of businesses already listed, waiting for you!

In order to sign up, you’ll need my referral ID: 1068219

You can sign up as a business, an affiliate, or a blogger.

If you’re just looking to write posts and get paid for writing them, sign up for the BLOGGER account.


Enter my ID (1068219) in the space at the top where it says sponsor ID so that they know I sent you for a quicker approval.




Wednesday, May 18, 2011

I *Love* Blogging

A few blog hops I have joined today...








Want some new followers?  Find some other *awesome* blogs?  Then what are you waiting for?  Link up.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Elbow.Elbow.Wrist.Wrist

You know the *wave* elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist.  The wave of Miss America, Beauty Pageant Queens, Princesses and the like.  Heaven forbid they just wave to people...lol. 

I know beauty pageants are a way of life for many.  Almost a rite of passage for little girls and often times a family affair.

Little girls parading around looking much older than their years.

Make up.Check.
Fake eyelashes. Check.
Curled hair. Extensions. Check. 
Fancy Dress. Check.
High heels. Check.
Fake tan. Check.

The list can go on and on....

Do this, don't do that.  Eat this, not that. Wear this, walk this way, stand up straight, smile...

Families drop tons of money into these things.  Mortgage their homes, max out their credit cards, travel all over the place, staying in hotels night after night and for what?  The rare chance that their child will be crowned "Little Miss Sunshine?"  Have you had a chance to watch the show toddlers & tiaras ?  My stomach churns any time I get a glimpse of it.  I feel so sorry for these little girls.  For the mothers (& fathers) that are part of this billion dollar industry.  Many times they seem to live vicariously through these little girls.  The titles the little girls win, fulfill their own (the parents) self worth.

And did you hear about the mother in California that has injected her 8 year old daughter with Botox in hopes that it will help her advance in the pageants she enters.  Was injecting your daughter with a poison, for a slim chance at winning a pageant, worth losing her to the State of California?  I mean seriously!  What the heck was she thinking?  She wasn't obviously. 

I just don't understand, I guess, why some parents would want to eagerly throw their child to the wolves.  From what I have heard/seen second hand about the pageant world is it is cutthroat.  Dog Eat Dog World. I realize an argument can be made that by entering young children in a pageant gives them experience for real life issues such as acceptance of failure, dealing with difficult people, etc. And if they win, then the recognition bolsters their self esteem and fills their college bank account.  But why would you want to so willingly subject your child to this at such a young age when they are so impressionable and ill fit to deal with all the adult things that come with the pageant world? 

Let them be little girls, play with dolls, not dress up and act like Bratz dolls.


As a mother of two daughters, who in my eyes are beautiful and yes, it makes me smile when others tell me how cute or beautiful they are but I know, at least for the oldest one at this point, there is so much more to her than beauty.  She is a beautiful person inside and out. 

She is considerate, compassionate, smart beyond her years and very loving.  I don't need to enter her in a pageant and give her botox injections to make me see this or to prove to others that she is beautiful and therefore worth something.  And for my 1 yr old, obviously she is too young to shine yet but I am certain she will be more than just a pretty face.


I do hate to judge but that mother in California should be ashamed of herself. 


(Ok, I will get off my soapbox now)


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What do you think? 

Post It Note Tuesday





Do you have a Post It Note you want to share?  Go here to create your own and then join the party over at Only Parent Chronicles.

Enjoy your day!


Only Parent Chronicles

Monday, May 16, 2011

How Cute Are These?

Here are the Mini Taco Bowls that I made for tonight's dinner.




Just adorable! 

Add a little dollop of sour cream on the top and you are good to go.

I made 12 of them and the were quickly devoured!  Kids loved them! 

Y-U-M-M-Y!

Menu Plan Monday-Under $50.00 for 5!

Well, well, well, we meet again.

Come on in, pull up a chair and have a bite.  If you don't like what I am making check out some of the other menu plans over at orgjunkie.com

But hey, my menu plans this week cost less that $50.00 total!


Sun:  BBQ Pork Chops ($7.78)
        Fresh Asparagus with Garlic sauce ($2.00/bunch at Farmers Mkt)
        Mashed Potatoes ($2.00)

Total:  $11.78

Mon:  Mini Taco Bowls ($8.46)
          SW Corn ($1.00)

Total: $9.46

Tue:  Cheese Ravioli W/Sauce ($4.39)
         Green Beans ($1.00)

Total: $5.39

Wed:  Sloppy Joes ($7.11)  **Not store bought**
          Crinkle Fries ($2.00)

Total: $9.11

Thur:  Chicken Stir Fry ($7.99)

Total:  $7.99

Fri:  Grilled Cheese Sandwich ($3.48)
       Tomato Soup ($1.58)

Total: $5.06

Sat:  Date Night

TOTAL: $48.79!


Have a great week!


Sunday, May 15, 2011

What I'm Lovin'

What I'm Lovin'.....

Fresh Asparagus that I bought at the Gresham Farmers Market yesterday.  Can't wait to make it tonight.  Ahh, the simple things.

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And the Fatdog Mustard and Pretzels bought there too.  Ohh my goodness the yummiest mustard and pretzels I think I have *ever* tasted.  And it is made right here in Portland.  A locally made product that I *love*.  Imagine that.  (BTW, if you are so inclined, you can buy the product on line).



Image Courtesy of fatdogmustard.com

For my birthday my husband bought me some new perfume.  Hypnose by Lancome.  Smells delish and the best part is it came with a whole bunch of free items in a cute little tote.  I love free things.   Now grant it, the perfume cost a pretty penny I am sure so the items aren't really free but I still like'em.


Hypnôse
Image Courtesy of lancome.com

And last but not least, we went and saw Bridesmaids last night and I am lovin' this lady, Kristen Wigg.  She is so *flippin* funny and her co horts aren't too bad either.


Kristen Wiig at the Los Angeles premiere of Columbia Pictures' Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Kristen Wigg
And just for equality sake, of course, a *fairly* new comer that steals some of her thunder...Chris O'Dowd for your viewing pleasure.


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He's a cutie, wouldn't you say?


Hope everyone has a blessed Sunday!









Saturday, May 14, 2011

Six Word Saturday

It's Saturday!  You know what that means!

Drop by ShowMyFace.com for the Six Word Saturday linky. 

Go ahead you know you want to!







Absence makes the heart grow fonder!

My husband is at his yearly Men's Retreat.  I know it is only two days and I know I (we) will survive but I (we) still miss him!



Friday, May 13, 2011

Confessions of A Non-Superwoman #4

It's that time again...a confessional post if you will....


1.  As many of you know yesterday was my birthday (although the post is MIA since blogger had issues) so I indulged and ate a piece of Carrot Cake that probably was my whole days worth of calories.  So much for fitting into my superwoman leotard...Wait, luckily I don't wear one!

2.  The other night when I was cooking Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Bake, I got distracted and well, the chicken it ended up cajun style.  Thank goodness I had some cheese leftover.  I smothered it a little bit more and nobody could tell the difference.  Shhhh, our little secret.

3.  The thing that distracted me?  I had set Hayden up at the kitchen sink to have some waterplay while I cooked.   Almost a whole bottle of dish soap later, poured into the sink with running water equals quite the bubbly mess to clean up.

4.  Remember my to do list that had "Clean the refridgerator out"  awhile back (yeah think way back) well it still hasn't been done completely and I just threw out a yogurt that had an April 12, 2011 expiration date.  Ick!

5.  I am officially driving with an expired license (expired yesterday).  Yup, you heard it here first.  Hopefully, no police officers are reading this right now otherwise my next post will be "posting" a bail bond to get out of jail.  There are just not enough hours in the day to get everything I need to get done, done NOT too mention NO way am I taking a bunch of kids with me to the DMV. 

And that's all folks (for now).....

Once again TGIF! 


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Image Courtesy of timtim.com

Fantastic Frugal Friday

I linked my Penne Pasta recipe on this weeks FFF.  Check it out for other frugal finds!




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TGIF!

Have a great weekend!



Thursday, May 12, 2011

On The Downhill

I am slowly creeping closer to 40.

My birthday is today and I am now offically closer to 40 than 30.  Do the math...

How did that happen? 

It seems like only yesterday that I was turning 21.  Ha!   I can barely remember my 21st birthday and that is not necessarily a *good* thing.  They say memory is the first thing that goes, right?  Although, I honestly think in this case it is one of those memories that you want to forget and I have worked hard to *forget*.  Young and dumb, you know how it goes. 

Anywho, leave it to my favorite magazine Real Simple to put getting older into perspective. 

I ran across an article in this months edition about the "5 Great Things About Getting Older" and it actually made me feel a *little* bit better about this aging thing. 

1.  You'll be happier. 

I am much happier, more settled over the past couple years as I have ever been.

2. Wise decisions will come more easy. 

With age, comes life experience, therefore decisions I do think are easier to make and the right decisions.  Take the road less traveled and that will make all the difference.

3. The fashion police will be off your back. 

Thank god! I am a fashion disaster most of the time (and proud of it...lol).  I tend to dance to my own music, not care much about what others think and wear black most often.  No, I am not attending funerals everyday but as you know *black* is slimming and these days I can use all the extra help I can get.

4. You'll know who you are. 

Not sure I agree with his wholeheartedly since I am still what I consider a work in progress; under construction if you will.

5. You'll have time on your hands. 

Not yet but maybe in 17 yrs!  Extra time is so overrated.


Now keep in mind this article is slanted a bit towards *senior citizen* age however it still made me feel better about getting older.  If you can't apply it today at least you have something to look forward to, right?



Happy "xx" Birthday to me.  How old am I?




Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Messy Pants


Little Miss K at her 1st birthday party this past weekend!  Messy Bessy!  She had her cake and ate it too!



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Superstar!  How cool is she?  And let's not forget her big brother.  He had to get in on the action too!



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Have Kids, Will Blog Featured Me!

Have you checked out their blog?

It is an up and coming Parenting Network blog. 

See the feature about me here!

And make sure you check out some of their other posts (and follow them too!).  I thought the recent one about the Sesame Street characters was dead on.

Now go show them some blog love.

Ohhh and you can be listed on their blog as a partner if you put their button on your blog.  It is that simple and may help you generate some more traffic to your site.  Just sayin.




Wordless Wednesday

Multnomah Falls, 14 miles up the road from where we live. The second tallest year round waterfall (620ft long).  Visited by some 2 million people a year.  And there is a hiking trail that takes you to the top!  The views are spectacular!

If you ever get a chance to visit Oregon, you must stop by here for a visit along with the rest of the falls throughout the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway.










(And as per usual my WW is not so wordless, sorry!)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Out With A Bang

Mothers Day started off serene and peaceful.  T made me breakfast which was a delightful surprise and very nice.  I got a few cards from the kiddos and of course lots of hugs & kisses from everyone.

I ended up skipping church to hang out with Miss K who still wasn't feeling the greatest so we were able to just lounge around for a couple hours.  That was nice.  Just her and I hanging out.  She fell back to sleep in my arms while I watched Home Made Simple (love that show!) and Hungry Girl

Then upon the return of the troops I was off to have a couple hours of me time.  Yah!  I went and got a pedicure.  One of my monthly (or so) indulgences.  I bought my People Magazine (double issue thank you) and sat back relaxed while soaking my pigs in the bath.  So relaxing. 

Later in the afternoon since I hadn't gone shopping yet and it was pushing 4 or so we decided to go out to dinner.  Ha!  What the heck were we thinking.  Everyone and their *mothers* were out.  We literally made a complete circle around our city, stopped at several restaurants along the way...detoured when the line was out the door and then ended up back at Old Chicago which is about a mile away from our house!  Doh! 

It was actually pretty slow there so that was inviting.  No wait.  And they have the best and I really mean the best Artichoke Dip.  A  stromboli, a personal pizza, kids hamgabur (that's how Beanpoles says it) and a calzone later we headed back home.

This is where the fun really began.  I knew that the day was just way too quiet for our household.

As I was walking out of our bedroom I couldn't help but notice T's bedroom door slightly open and he was outside playing basketball which meant only one thing....Beanpole was in his room.  As I tip toed to the door, slowly opened it, Beanpole saw me and bailed down the hall as fast as his little feet could carry him.  He quickly made a bee line to the back door and into the back yard.

A few minutes later T came in to get his Ipod, his new Ipod that he bought himself with money he earned/saved over the past couple months.  Lo and behold it was nowhere to be found.  T was certain he had left it on the floor since he was sitting there a little while ago playing a video game and now it was gone!  Missing!

Light bulb goes off...."I bet Beanpole took it," I shout!  I should have figured that to begin with since last week he got into my wallet and my debit card is still missing.  I kinda chuckled and said, "I bet when we find the Ipod, we will find my debit card, too."


So off we went to hunt for the Ipod in the backyard, traipsing from one end of the yard to the other.  Oh and by the way, it was pouring down rain (that should be of no surprise since we live in Oregon).   We looked everywhere in our back yard.  I felt like we were in a formal search party combing every inch of the backyard in precision.  Walking the perimeter leaving no ground unturned. We even thought maybe he chucked it over the fence since I was certain he must have had it when he bailed down the hall so quickly when I caught him in the room.

But nothing.  While the boys were out still looking in the back yard, in the rain, getting darker by the minute I started tearing the house apart.  Maybe he chucked it somewhere else on his way out, I thought.  He sometimes does that when he gets caught with something.  He will just throw it off to the side and I will find things completely out of place such as my mascara in the bin of blocks or the toenail clippers in his box of cars.  (I know kinda gross but he for some reason always has the toenail clippers).

About an hour or so into it, after a few moments of complete insanity, really I was getting I-R-R-I-T-A-T-E-D to be blunt that Beanpole would have taken his Ipod, outside, in the rain and hid  it some where.  And he was not confessing to it nor helping us determine where it was.  I even started *trying* to bribe him with money, candy, ice cream, to no avail.

I really was thinking it was a lost cause and poor T his hard earned money, lost in the backyard.  Even if we find it I thought, it would be soaked from the rain so it probably wouldn't work anyways.

Then.....

I was actually getting ready to go next door to our neighbors and ask to look in their back yard when the husband hollers, "Thank you Jesus, found it!"  I was still outside so it was obviously not out there. 

I rushed in, in utter disbelief, "Where was it?"

"In my drawer," T says. 

"What?" I say as I am clinching my teeth. 

"It was in your drawer this whole time?  Are you kidding me?  So we have just spent the last hour or so looking for your Ipod that was dry, in your drawer the whole time? And we  (or I initially) thought that Beanpole took it and hid it outside. 

"Yes" he says.  The maddening part of this was that early on in the search we asked that he go in and turn his room upside down and inside out to look for it.  He said he did and it was not in there.

In the end, in all of our defence, Beanpole did get a hold of it and was the one that stashed it in the drawer because we were confident that it was originally on the floor next to where T was sitting earlier in the evening. 



Image Courtesy of Apple




I am just glad we finally found it.


New Rule Of The House:  Put Ipod up in the closet when not using so Beanpole doesn't snatch it.  And if there is a next time, I am not spending over an hour looking for it, outside!  You are on your own!




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What's The Big Deal?

With the ever popularity of piercings, tattoos, gauges, etc these days one would think that a "colored" weave in one's hair is minor.

Apparently, not to my daughters employer (and/or a disgruntled employee that "turned" her in for breaking the dress code).  She works as a cashier at a local grocery store and actually received several compliments from customers about her new addition to her hair.

See how cute they are:



Yes, she is front line with customers and should be "conservative" however I happen to think this is silly.  I shop at the store she works at and if she is getting called in for this, they should look at some of the other employees with regard to how they present themselves in general.  I don't mean to judge but there are many of woman that have make up caked on and/or no make up on when they should.  Many of the men wear short sleeve shirts and have visible tattoos.  Many of the employees have visible piercings. 

This just seems petty that one of her managers called her in to discuss this.  I mean seriously.  She has been employed at this store for going on 3 years.  Has been a loyal and dependable employee.  Never gets into trouble, never calls in sick, always willing to pick up extra shifts when called, etc and they want to call her out for this?

Luckily she talked to another manager that essentially overruled the other one.  Thank goodness because she just had it done and it cost her a bit so it would have been a waste of time and money.

What do you think?  Do you think that this is "too much" for a front line cashier?



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Monday, May 9, 2011

Penne Pasta With Italian Sauteed Vegetables

Yummy!  A new recipe I decided try.  I had this on my Menu Plan Monday as Penne Pasta and Steamed Vegetables but decided to saute them instead.

Ingredients

1 bag of Penne Pasta (.99)
1 yellow squash (sliced in quarters) (.99)
1 zucchini (sliced in quarters) (.99)
1 onion (diced) (had this already from last weeks grocery run)
1 can of diced tomatoes with garlic and oregano seasoning ($1.49)
1/2 cup Feta Cheese ($2.99 on sale)
1/2 cup of Creamy Balsamic Salad Dressing  (already had this)





Directions

1.  Cook Penne Pasta as directed on bag and drain.

2.  Saute vegetables in pan coated with olive oil.  (10-15 mins).  You want them to be al dente not too mushy.  Make sure to continuously stir around so not to burn.

3.  Add can of tomatoes and salad dressing the last 5 or so minutes. Stir.  Make sure to drain some of the juice so not too runny.

4.  Mix vegetables and Penne pasta together.

5.  Add Feta Cheese into all of the pasta & vegetables OR you can sprinkle it on each individual dish.  (That is what I did since I wanted to make sure I got my share of the Feta.  Did I tell you how much I love Feta Cheese or cheese for that matter?  Feta cheese to me is like Parmigiana Reggiano cheese is to Rachel Ray.  Everything to me tastes better with Feta.) 



It should come out looking something like this:




Pair with some piping hot garlic bread ($1.99).

My taste buds were dancing!  Hip-Hip-Hooray!

By the way, this was also a very frugal dinner.  Total cost:  $9.44. Fed 2 adults, 2 1/2 children.  Miss K had some noodles.


Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday

Yes, it is that time again.  I know, you were getting used to having a day off for Mothers Day, getting pampered, cooked for or taken out to dinner, cleaned up after.... 

Now SNAP OUT OF IT! 

What did you think it was going to last more than a day?  Back to reality! 

Here is my menu plan for the week:

Sunday:  I was taken out to dinner for Mothers Day.  We went to Old Chicago. Not my first choice but it was still nice.  Everyone and their mother was out so we stumbled upon OC after several other stops. This is a whole other post...lol...

Monday:  Penne Pasta with Italian Steamed Vegetables (Meatless Monday)

Tuesday:  Cheesy Chicken Brocolli Bake & Applesauce

Wednesday:  Tuna Melts & Pasta Salad

Thursday:  Bean N Cheese Burritos & Southwest Corn

Friday:  English Muffin Pizzas and Salad

Saturday:  Birthday Celebration Dinner.  Not sure where we are going yet.

Need some inspiration for your own weekly menu? Visit all the other great menu plans over at I'm An Organized Junkie. 





Have a wonderful Monday!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Six Word Saturday




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1st Birthday At Our House Today!


Miss K turned 1 on May 5th! We are having Mexican food in honor of Cinco De Mayo but will be having a "Princess" theme because she is our little princess.

You will have to come back and visit later after I post some pictures!

Have a glorious Saturday and Happy Mothers Day to all the momma's out there!

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