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Better to give than receive

It's Friday.

It couldn't have come any sooner. Nothing wacky happened. It just felt like it was Monday everyday. I hate Mondays. Maybe it's because it's the first day after the weekend and that's when you get all the phone calls, appointment schedules and cranky children. So, amen for Friday.

It is better to give than receive.

The first person to comment I will send you this Pampered Chef Paring Knife to you TODAY!!!

It's fab. It cuts perfect forever. I've been told by people that they use it to cut up their carpet and that it's great for grout.

I dunno.

Sick-o

Bubba and Monkey have been sick all week. Bubba isn't so sick as Monkey is. Yesterday, they were both laying on the couch next to each other, hacking and whining. There was a brief moment when they relaxed and looked so cute. I jumped up to get the camera and turned it on to snap a quick photo and the camera screen said "No memory card." I open it up and sure enough, the camera doesn't lie, empty. I forgot to put back the memory card into the camera and left it in the computer. Well, it's gone now. I've looked everywhere on the floor for it. I haven't checked any poopy diapers though, its a really small card. Luckily, I have all the pictures on the computer so the pictures aren't lost forever.

Have you seen me?

Piece a Cake

I'm not a fan of eating cake. There's something about cheesecake that is way better, right?

However, I stumbled on this cake and thought WOW!

How crazy is that? I've never seen anything like it. I'm going to try it out!

Heres the tutorial for it.

Be prepared

This week is my last week for babysitting and we're ready for some summer fun. I feel time is wasted without having a plan. If I just let each day be whatever, then nothing happens and it's a disappointment. So, if I write things we want to do down they'll actually happen. Here's our to do list:

I think my list will grow as I keep finding inexpensive things to do this summer.

Point of view

Thought about perspective today.

A little red apple

A little red apple.

Hung high on a tree.

I looked up at it,

And it looked down at me.

"Come down,please" I called.

And what do you suppose?

That little red apple.

Dropped right on my nose!

I thought that rhyme was cute. It reminded me of how this weekend my daughter is having an apple fit. She's been asking for an apple everyday, but we didn't have any. Yesterday, I did a little light shopping for fruits and veggies. While at the store she kept asking that we buy apples. The hubster and I were looking for gala apples in the bins when monkey comes up and hands us what she thinks is an apple and says "not an apple". She handed us a mango with a bite mark. We ended up buying 15 apples and a mango.

But, this is the strange part. She can't get enough of the apples. She had 5 yesterday and she's on her 3rd today. What's the deal? One apple a day keeps the doctor away. But, what does 5 do?

CAN

I still get the ugly crying face when I watch this. Pause my music before you watch. Oh, and get some tissue!

This is the best...

In college I lived in a house with 6 girls at a time living there. It was a huge house so it worked out pretty well. One semester I had a roommate named Shara. She's gorgeous and is truly a great person which made you hate her even more. I never hated her though because she was always complimenting someone or befriending them. I would look like crap coming home from work at 11pm at night and she would say, with sincerity, "I love your make-up today, I love those jeans on you." She still does that today when ever I get a chance to meet up with her. So sweet and thoughtful. One thing that sticks out in my mind about her is that she would always say "This is the best..." " This is the best mascara, this is the best conditioner, you have to get it." She was a great sales person for products she endorsed. And she was right too. I still use this mascara to this day, because she's right, it is great stuff.
She would say that everyone had to have some type of jewelry with turquoise. It was a must piece. And, I think she's right, turquoise looks great as an accessory.

The conditioner I was in love with, until I had kids ad had to put the more expensive hair products aside and buy diapers. I know, where are my priorities?

I really don't have a point to this. I just always remember my great memories with my dear Shara and how everything she owned was the bestest! (smile).

Black and White

Golf

The hubster loves to Golf. I used to. I enjoyed it so much that I remember golfing when I was 8 months pregnant with my firstborn. But now, I just see it as him being gone on a Saturday for 6 hours while I'm home with the nuggets. Maybe something like this for Father's day would keep him in on a weekend. Check-out here for a giveaway for this game.

Dancing with Mr. Robot-o

You probably can't tell, but, that's Dancing with the Stars playing. Monkey decides that the kitchen toy is now her dancing partner named "robot."

I gave her a 9.

Just for fun

It's cute. Pause my music before you play this.

Backyard Chickens

Lately, I've been wanting to get 2 chickens. My mom has several of them where I'm from. But, she lives in a small town and has space. I live in the city and have a small backyard. But, I really want to have fresh eggs and teach my kids responsibility. I wonder if having livestock is mentioned in my HOA?

Follow me Tuesday

It feels like I'm cramming for an exam in college all over again. Get it all in before it's too late!

Thanks for stopping by, I'll follow you if you follow me. This time it's alright to be a follower!

Daddy's day is coming soon

What do you get your dad for Father's day? A lobster tie, a soda cozy that says "# 1 Dad"?

One of my favorite blogs Natalie's Sentiments brought up a fun daddy's gift basket from gourmetgiftbaskets.com . I love the Golf Basket personally. It's something that I will consider since he already has one too many golf balls from past Father's Day gifts from the nuggets.

graduations

My gigantic cousin is graduating from High School Tuesday. It's fun in May, with all of the graduations and celebrations. It's hard to keep track of all the graduations that you're attending this month, right? This weekend we went to his party to celebrate along with his closest cousin that is also graduating with him.

I remember mine. My class was small, we had 27 graduates. Which was pretty big for the little town I'm from. It was so simple and our goal was to beat the last years class by 5 minutes. We didn't care about the graduation itself, we just wanted to be done with High School.

Great job Jesse! It's a huge accomplishment now a days!

(Did I just say "now a days"? It's official...I'm old)

my helper

Helper: I want to feed brother

Momma:That would be great, thank you!

Helper: Here you go brother
Helper: Momma, I done, I ate it all
Momma: Nice

springtime photos that I personally took

Click Here for photo challenge

I know that I have shown these 3 pictures before. I just love these that I took right when it was perfect weather.Springtime just gets me so excited. We were outside constantly and I would have my dinky little Elph camera with me just taking pictures of whatever. I have no idea how to use it. I just play around with the settings. That's what's so great about a digital camera. If it stinks, just delete it. We went to Italy a while ago and we took this camera and a regular camera that has film. Yes, film. And hardly any turned out because of poor lighting that I was unaware of.

And now, it's getting hot. Goodbye short lived springtime!

tortes and birthdays

I hope you weren't giddy with excitement to see pictures of the cinnamon roll ice cream cake. When I took it out of the freezer it took on a whole new appearance. It looked like the top layer of a swamp needing to be skimmed. I quickly deleted the pictures and took one for the team. You're welcome. What's worse is the instructions said to take it out of the freezer for 15 minutes then serve. Well, since today is the hubsters birthday and Tuesday was our good friend's birthday we decided to have a dinner and dessert last night. It was such a nice evening that we were all outside and forgot about the quickly thawing ice cream cake on the countertop. When I realized I ran inside and saw a something worse than an oil leak off the coast. The hubster and I tried to save it, we all ate it like we were in a pie eating contest. It really wasn't all that exciting of a cake either.

Onto cake number 2. I wanted to send in a cake with the hubster today since today IS his birthday. I got this recipe from my aunt and it tastes better than it looks and it looks amazing!

Chocolate Mousse Fantasy Torte

Happy birthday Scooby!


YUM!

Listen to that still small voice

I think about this experience all the time. I think about if it went one way what would have happened. I think about how important it is to have all of your limbs...

Travel back with me.

I was scheduled to have a play date with my friend and her little boy. This is just when I had one little nugget. I was late, so very late. I was rushing to pack a diaper bag, get my self ready and realized I had to get gas. I dislike (trying to stop using "hate" so much) being late and that's what caused the mach 10 speed. I grabbed the bag, baby and keys. Right when I was about to lock the door...Oprah talks about his all the time, but if you're Mormon and you know it clap your hands because you know what this feeling is...I got this voice that said " Cancel, call Laura and say you can't make it." That's all I heard. I told "IT," I can't just cancel at the last minute. The whole world would come to a hault because I wasn't able to go to the mall and stroll. I ignored the voice and slammed the door and squealed into the gas station.

I got out and started pumping and knew I wasn't going to be so late. I stepped over the gas hose and cleared one foot. The next one didn't. I ate that concrete so hard I was full. I made the most unattractive sound ever. The lady parked behind me asked if I was okay. I told her it was just my pride and attempted to shake it off.

I was in so much pain. I ironically called Laura and said "Laura I need to cancel I can't make it." I hobbled into the house with my baby and called the hubster. I knew I needed it to be checked out with the growing size of my ankle. I sprained it. ugh.

The next few weeks were so hard trying to get around with a baby and crutches. And so, I ask. Was it worth ignoring the voice? That voice told me clearly as if was right next to me...Don't go, cancel. I ended up cancelling and paying a huge price for not listening.

Next time, I'm all ears.

Wish lists...

I have always wanted one of these. They're so stinkin' expensive so it remains on my wish list. I've seen Ina Garten and Paula Dean with one of these one their counter tops as centerpieces. Do they know how lucky they are to have one? I know they use them religiously, but do they appreciate them the way I would? I've heard of "vision boards" and if you put something you want out into the world you will get it back. I'd get the red one. Which one would you get?

*I'm making a cinnamon roll ice cream cake today for the hubster and a friends birthday this week. Stay tuned for photos of this delight!

This makes me happy

I feel like I'm posting way too many videos. But, I feel like they're worth watching. I love to watch this video. When I had TiVo I would watch it every morning to get motivated. This motivated me for the day. I heard this song on the radio this morning and realized (since I don't have TiVo anymore) that haven't seen this in a while. I also thought about Gilmore Girls too and how much I miss watching their quick wit and charm. Thank goodness I have all the seasons! Maybe I'll have to have a summer marathon once I'm done sitting for the school year.

The Women in Our Lives...Today is not just for Moms

Removing the stains for Mother's Day

When I think of Mother's Day I think of removing stains out of clothes, carpets & couches.

Exhibit A:

In the beginning I was so careful to avoid any stains on clothes and my furniture. If there was a stain then I would immediately remove the clothing, soak, pre-treat, treat and wash. I would then examine the clothing after the wash and before it entered the dryer. If I saw a stain on the couch I would would first, freak out then break out the bucket and soap.

Those days are over.

Here are my top 3 favorite stain removers that have not let me down since I just stay and leave it for when I get to the laundry. Above has to be my absolute favorite."Soilove" Hey, don't be a hater. I know it looks like it came from 1954, but it's the greatest. It's something that you probably haven't seen either. I've only been able to find in in .99 cent stores which makes it sweeter of a deal. I stock up and buy 10 at a time. My MIL loved it when she came for a visit. She swore that it wouldn't get out the cranberry juice stain out of her church blouse. She was amazed! She couldn't find it in Boise when she went back home so she found their website and ordered a case! It's my #1

Woolite Oxy Deep is my #2. It's for carpets and upholstery, but my MIL didn't realize that and used it on the clothing by accident. It didn't do any harm, but I'll just keep it down on the rugs for now. We have this brown glider that I got when I had my first. It now serves as her thrown and (what word would describe worse than disgusting?) needs to be cleaned often. I love this stuff. I just spray it on and it already is getting rid of anything and I mean anything that gets on this chair. There's always a coupon in the Sunday paper for it so clip it and save.


So, this is my last one. My #3. Resolve. My mom swears by this so that's why I added it. I get it if I can't get the other stain removers because it does work pretty well and it is cheaper than the Woolite. I also find coupons for this one too!

I hope you have a stain-free Mother's Day!

Ciao Bella Nutella

Mmm...Nutella. We heart Nutella. All of us in this house love to have Nutella sandwiches for a treat!

In 2006, the hubster and I went to Italy for Christmas. It was an anniversary that we never had and a graduation present to me since I was an Art History major. There was just something more important to actually see the art rather than in a book.
It was so great. Every hotel we stayed at had rolls and nutella. We had nutella way before our trip, but now in our memory, nutella is linked to Italy.
We went to Milan first, then Venice. Florence was next. Pisa for a day trip and ended the trip with Rome. The hubster's favorite was Venice and mine was Rome.

It was cold, obviously since it was winter. It was never horrible. Every time we left a city it would snow. So we never were uncomfortable with the weather.

When I see this I think it's a photo that I took off the Internet, but I actually snapped it as we were headed to St. Mark's Square.