Goodbye summer

This is the old, old, very old summer house our family gets to use on vacation. Don't let it's looks decieve you. The kitchen is as big as the average large area rug. Approximately 12' x 14'. No dishwasher or kitchen cabinets, and the stove...well let's just say we grill a lot!

There is also no air conditioning. But where we are, there's always a breeze to waft through the screens, and keep us cool. Yes, the house is old, buggy, and just plain dirty, but me and the family wouldn't trade it for nothin'.

So goodbye summer house...we'll be back next year to dust, sweep, vacuum and grill :)

Playing just got a whole lot greener

Ok....is this not the cutest homemade kitchen you've ever seen?! Wondering what makes it so "green". I made it out of cardboard!!! Yes, ladies and gents, cardboard. Thanks to a wonderful pattern from Laura at fortytworoads who seems to be inventing all kinds of things lately! Check out her blog to find out all her latest plans. FYI, she just got featured in Craft magazine for this. Anyway, I'm just glad I happened across her shop on etsy, while looking for a play kitchen for the Kellster.

So here's my version. The instructions were easy to follow. Getting the cardboard, not so difficult with all the big box stores around. For some reason it was scary to cut the cardboard. I had been dumpster diving for the morning, and didn't want to mess anything up. But once I got going...man was it fun!!!

I'd say overall this was a weekend project. One morning to gather supplies. One afternoon to cut and glue together the cardboard. One morning to cover it in contact paper, and put together. Then voila...

Now you're not only going green, but you've made something sturdy that will last, and is so much more attractive than those big plastic kitchens :)

xoxo ~L

Need a hip new phone

So, I have this really, really, really old cell phone. Seriously! Believe it or not, I didn't even own a cell phone until just a few years ago. This is about what my current model looks like. I'm thinking of something a little smaller?! But I want to keep the fancy features of this one. Displays the number I'm calling and...well that's about it. Now I don't even own an mp3 player either. So I've narrowed it down to these 2 phones:

The LG vu

or

The Sony Ericsson 580i

I really like the feel and look (hey it's pink!!!) of the Sony. But I know how "hot" the LG vu is right now, what with the cool touchpad screen (Think iphone). Personally, for me, if I have to hold that phone to the side of my face it's just going to be a simulation of what Tammy Faye's (May she Rest In Peace) pillow, surely looked like. My makeup will be all over that screen ;) BTW, this will have to double as an mp3 player. You didn't really think I had one of those, now did you?

Anyone? Ideas? Pros or cons? Have one of these?

xoxo ~L

Breakfast of Champions?

It's not toasted, golden, buttery or even warm. Personally, just making it gives me the heebie jeebies, but my #2 son loves them. If you can't tell it's a bagel with cream cheese. A plain bagel with cream cheese. Can you tell it's not toasted? Yes folks it never saw the light of a toaster. No, the cream cheese is not melting as you spread it, becoming nice and gooey, because it's not even warm.

With 4 kids, you gotta figure one of them is going to be a little different when it comes to eating. This is only one of the things...

xoxo ~L

Let us not forget!

I've been thinking about this day for the last few weeks. I really believe from all that I'm seeing and reading, that many Americans in our country have forgotten how they felt this day, 7 years ago.

If they would really reach back into the recesses of their minds, and recall the outrage, gall, and despair we were all feeling, no one would be complaining about our current government!

Watch, and remember!



I pray that the victims and their famalies have found some peace. I thank the soldiers fighting for our country! I am proud to be an American!

Never Forget!

xoxo ~L

Sweet, sweet baby girls

Hi folks, Kelly here. Mom seems to be up to her eyeballs with homework, cooking, cleaning and trying to keep her sanity. Somehow she seems to think we all have a hearing problem.

Well, at least the boys do...not me :) I'm an angel, sent from up above! I never get into trouble or mischief! For those of you not aquainted with the lovely sweet nature of a baby girl, let me fill you in. We only shriek when we need something. We only throw a hissy fit when we need something. We only take all our clothes and diaper off (like Houdini) and run around naked when we feel like it. And can I just tell you how much FUN it is! I mean really...the birthday suit is just so freeing! I love to run and laugh and giggle while my mom pulls out her hair. Don't worry though, those spots are starting to grow back in:)


No, if you haven't had a sweet little girl baby in your casa, I suggest you beg, borrow or steal to get one of us! Well, not the steal part.

xoxo ~Kelly

Clean slate, so to speak!

Does this look familiar? Do you have a ton of stuff on your refrigerator? Mine is like everything else in my house...over run with CLUTTER. I always start the school year with the best of intentions. I tell myself I will only put up the things that I absolutely need to see at a moments notice! This would include the school calendar, and what?...What do you really need to see right away at a moments notice? Do I need the cutie pie picture of Kelly when she was 6 mos. old, and it was her first Christmas? Do I need the chronological pictures of the "kids" for Christmas cards since 2004? Bottle opener? Toys? Multiplication table? Nope, not needed.

I am trying to organize myself. The anxiety and stress I feel over the amount of clutter on top of every surface in my house overwhelms me sometimes. Yes, I have issues, but at least I know it :) I am proud to say I have cleaned up the front of my refrigerator! There's a trick...

Stainless Steel!

Now, I don't want to present the illusion that I have de-cluttered, hired a "family coach" and/or have become extremely organized! I honestly did not know my things wouldn't stick to our new refrigerator. OK, stop laughing. You're hurting my feelings. I know I'm not the sharpest stick in the woods. Is that a correct euphimism? Is that how you spell euphimism?

Just to "keep it real".

Don't even talk to me about the fingerprints, ok? I didn't say it was clean.

xoxo ~L

Abracadabra

Wondering if it's worth the money? Oh yeah, baby, it's worth it! I can not stand the fact that whenever I make a cake the center rises up and I'm forced to either pretend I'm a professional cake decorator and cut the "top" off horizontally. Or decorate my cake as a dome. I'm pretty much screwed with either option.

So when I saw these in the store, and I have seen them for awhile, I figured why not! I had a couple family birthday's coming up. Besides $8 didn't seem like too much to part with for a magic trick.

Please note the overall flatness of this cake. Oh, and the creamy frosting center...mmmm! Anyway, it worked! Inside the box, are 2 strips of a padded silver fabric. Think oven mitt. You soak them in water, ring out the excess, and pin them (similar to floral pins) around your cake pan. The beauty is you can use them on a 9x13 pan also. Just pin the strips together. Then cook as normal, and watch the magic begin :)

I'm no science whiz, so I don't even pretend to know why they work, just that they do! So feel free to use them. They are not a hoax.

No, I do not moonlight as a cake decorator. This is just a new obsession for me. Need that like a hole in the head:)

xoxo ~L

There goes my baby!

I haven't been here the last couple days. I've been a quivering, watery, blubbering mess that's been hiding under the covers, now that my 3rd baby is off to kindergarten.

I have to admit, I surprised myself with these emotions. After all, I'd done the kindergarten routine twice before. Jack way back in 2001 and Finn went back in 2004. The big difference was when Jack and Finn went they were in a private school, where I drove them everyday.

We have since decided to pull our kids out of private school (way too expensive, now that we were going to be paying for 3), and go to our local schools. This was after a lot of talk with our kids, the local school staff, and other parents in our neighborhood.

But, I digress...So here I was packing Mr. Dunny off for his 1st day of kindergarten. Super hero backpack, check! New lunchbox, with favorite sandwich, check! Drilled into his head the bus he rides to and fro...even though his brother rides with him, check! Knows our home phone number, check! So we covered everything again, and walked up to the bus stop on this beautiful sunny day! Everyone was so excited. This was going to be a real treat. One no one in our family had done before. This was big, I mean huge. I think it was on par with taking a spaceship to the moon, it was going to be so fun!

We had only waited a few minutes, until the big yellow bus came around the bend. Ohhhh, the excitement was building even more. It was here. At this point I was fine. Nothing to it. I took a picture, and was all ready to wave. But as I watched him disappear into the abyss of the bus aisle, and then saw his little head in the window, just barely above the window line. He had a big smile and was waving furiously, as if I wouldn't see him! The bus doors closed, the blinking flashers stopped and the engine roared to life moving my precious cargo forward.

Oh my word, I couldn't take it. The tear ducts just opened up and started flowing! I was so surprised at myself. Oh, I'm a romantic sure. I cry at commercials, movies, tv shows all that good stuff. But I've never been emotional sending a child off to school. Usually, I'm just happy for them. The great world of learning, independence and socializing...woohoo! But not that day. That day I bawled my eyes out. So here's to you my littlest man going on the biggest journey ever. I love you, and can't wait to hear, everyday, all about it!

Don't miss out...

It's here! It's finally here! The answer to one of my biggest issues. How do I talk on the phone, cuddle a baby, read, eat, play a game, or pet my dog without getting tangled up in a cumbersome blanket?

Answer....The snuggie!!!

Yes, you're days of gettin all caught up inside a blanket are over. Now some genius has invented the snuggie. A blanket with sleeves! It's made of warm soft fleece, and comes in a few different colors.

Yes, I know I was thinking the same thing...isn't this a robe put on backwards? No, No...this is truly different. It's floor length. OK?! FLOOR LENGTH!!! I mean dragging behind you long! That way you're warm "from head to toe".

So, I really felt it my duty to let you all in on this wonderful opportunity. So don't miss out...



Your Welcome!
xoxo ~L

15 years...

When you get married, you know it's going to last forever, right?! I always thought that. I grew up with that. My husband grew up with it, also. Both our parents are still married. Well, my dad is a widower, but you get the point. They showed us how you get thru it. Stand by each other thru thick and thin. I must admit, this isn't always my strongest trait. Hubby on the other hand, has it in spades! His mantra in life is all about loyalty, and integrity. I have to put them together, as they really are one in the same for him. This is why I love him so.

Can he be a pain? Sure, you bet. Does he get on my nerves...daily? Pretty much. Do I nag him no end? Uh, Huh!!! But, we have that ability to see each other as we are. Flaws, and all. We accept them, cherish them and actually find comfort in them. Why? Because no one is perfect, and if you start thinking you are, watch out you're in trouble.

Lest you think this isn't much of an anniversary, lovey dovey post. Let me tell you all the wonderful things we (more hubby, than I) do for each other.

He does the dishes, and cleans the kitchen every night. I make dinner :)
He reads to the children and has a fun bedtime routine with them. I watch :)
On the due date of our lost pregnancy/baby this year, he wrote me a wrenching heartfelt card (nevermind, that his pain was just as great as mine).
He will give me a "day-off" every once in a while, just cause he knows I need it. I let him :)
Whenever I have a complaint, he listens, accepts, and works on whatever it is I've suggested he work on. I do this a lot :)
He cleans bathrooms, does laundry, knows how the dishwasher works, and won't ever hire a housekeeper...because he's willing to help out :)
He is my pitbull. I am the labrador :)
He is my champion. He is my love. He is my life.
He has had to jump huge hurdles in life, and yet never complains once.
He will surprise me by just offering to do something, or the way he'll respond to a certain situation.

Most important of all...he is funny. I mean really, really funny. He is a big goofball, and is never afraid to make a fool of himself in front of the kids...just to get a laugh. He walks around the house singing his own made up versions of songs, or a clip of some favorite song. The kids have taken to do this as well. It is extremely hilarious!

So honey, I thank you for some of the best and also the hardest times of my life. Fifteen years. I know sometimes I didn't think we'd be here. But you...you always knew we would!

I'll love you forever! You are my soulmate, and one hell of a guy :)

Oh, and by the way...I think this pretty much set the tone :)

xoxo ~L

Alert...Notice to song of the day listeners.

Lately, I been trying to work out, and become a little healthier. My mother died very early in life due to poor reperatory/circulation problems. Nevermind, she smoked her entire life, and her parents, brother, and sisters all had the same issues. I will actually learn from my parents mistakes. I can't believe I just said that...now I know I'm an adult.

In this quest of better health, I usually find myself very gung-ho at first. Only later to be petered out by a bunch of rationales. You know...Oh, I'll do it tomorrow. I can't overload myself, that's not good either. I've done really well, what's one more day?! Could I be any more pathetic?!

So to keep myself more motivated, I've been listening to a lot of my "old" music, whle working out. I will more than likely be posting a lot of these, as I run across them. Some of these bands you may not have heard of. But I hope you will perhaps learn a new song/band that you may like the sound of, and even look into getting a cd. I learned about these bands back in the 80's mostly, when I dated a guy who listened to "alternative" rock. I think they still use that term...but a lot of those "would be" alternative bands nowadays have made it into good old regular pop music.

Not the best video I've ever seen, but this is a rockin song.

So, let me know if you have a favorite, or if you've found something you liked here, at song of the day.
xoxo ~L

Ahhh....The Good 'Ole County Fair

Ya know, there's nothing we enjoy more, or look forward to more, than our annual county fair! So much to see and do! The sweet soft pink piglets sucking on their momma, who's completely conked out whilst they do this! (Not that I could relate to that). There are the ducklings, all yellow and fuzzy sitting under their heat lamp. Again, not that I would ever do that! Oh and yes, the baby calf who had been born just under 36 hrs. prior to our visit. His little legs were still wobbly, he looked knock knee'd. Somehow this reminded me of my painful, awkward teenage years. I have issues, alright?!

So there we are strolling along, admiring all the other exhibits. There were all the judging categories. Cakes, pies, largest tomato, best watercolor, primitive art, etc.... Then I spied a new exhibit booth. One that was colorful, eclectic, funky and kooky...


Okie dokie!! Evidently in these parts "toilet decorating" is an art form that deserves a blue ribbon at our county fair. Hmmmm...looking forward to next year with much anticipation ;)

xoxo ~L

Dear Breyers...

Dear Breyers,

I'm writing to let you know that as of tomorrow, or maybe right this minute, I will be calling my broker to buy as many shares of your stock as possible! Obviously, since you've made your packages smaller (1.75 quarts down to 1.50 quarts), your profits will be huge! I know, I know, it's really the fact of the rising cost to transport your yummy ice cream, wink, wink. Also, undoubtedly you didn't want to hit your faithful, loyal, and I suppose generally stupid customers with a price increase. Hence, the brilliant idea to just make a smaller package.

I'm sure as it was discussed in your executive board room, you instinctively knew no one would notice a little bit smaller pakage. But, oh they would notice a price increase. So for obvious reasons, you don't even have to make a "comment" on this latest downsizing, just keeping the one that occured a year ago on your web site. Ingenious!

I will warn you though, that Edy's has caught on to this little gem of an idea as well. So truly I find myself at a quandry as to which company to invest my money in. But again, I say bravo to those of you at the top (who I'm sure are making huge salary sacrifices) just to meet your margins. By putting all these strategies together you're sure to see more and more greenbacks headed your way :)

Let's just hope that Turkey Hill doesn't find out about this! They've made a huge miscalculation on letting their packages stay the same size. So their 1.75 quart packages are going to look awfully funny next to yours. Hahahaha...the jokes on them!

So, thank you, thank you, thank you! Once again big business has come out right where they should be...on top!

xoxo ~L

Back From Vacation

Well all, I am back! And boy am I honked off!!! First of all the "new foodnetwork star" was such a disapointment! I couldn't believe it. I was explaining to hubby that they had their bases covered, and it really just depended on what kind of show they were looking for.

I thought Lisa and her Beautiful Basicshow was down to earth, and I would definately watch. She had a lot of hidden talents...the girl has got some lungs! But, I came home to catch Bobby Flays The Main Ingredient on lifetime (this show debuted in 1996). Now, I don't think Bobby is the kind of guy who feels threatened in his greatness, but maybe, just maybe, he thought Lisa was doing a take off of his show?!

Well, for whatever reason, I guess I have to say congratulations to Aaron McCargo Jr. I hope you become the star you worked so hard to become :)

xoxo ~L

On Vacation

We are off for 2 weeks, will miss you all!

An oldie, but a goodie! Family Ties

Who didn't want to jump into their TV set and live with this family? Or were you someone that decided you were more like one of the characters on the show, and just enjoyed watching? Either way, this show became an instant hit, and it's obvious to see why. Boy I miss this kind of family TV show. Now that I have children ages 2-12, these shows are sorely missed. Where, ow where are the 80's executives, that recognize the value of "family values". Uh, hello?!

Somebody, please help!

xoxo ~L

What a Hottie...Jim Rockford

Yes! Yes! Yes! I was a lovesick teen. Man, this guy had everything a rebelious girl like myself could want. Attitude, penchant for trouble, and an awesome car! Oh, and he always found a lady in there somehow. I'm sure if he'd known me, he would've really, really liked me. Maybe I could've passed his producer a note in gym class.

Hey a girl can dream, can't she :)

xoxo ~L

Continuing with TV Themes...Greatest American Hero

Man, I loved this show! It had everything going for it...goofy guy, heart throb girl, tough guy to help out the goofy guy! This song just popped into my head the other day, and I have yet to get it
out. So now I'm just singing it all day long, and my kids think I'm crazy.

I can remember buying the 45 for my record player (this was before the CD), and playing it over and over in my room. It just made an awkward pre-adolescent girl with no figure, acne, short hair and who was skinny as a rail feel a little bit better about who she was.

Sigh...ahhh, the good old days...when I was skinny as a rail. None of that other stuff:)

Then there was this to freshen up our memory...

T.V. theme week...tune in...Hahahaha.

I don't know why, but it popped into my head about all the great songs that came from television. Not that Love boat was a "hit", but we all...admit it, own it, c'mon now...loved that show! I couldn't wait to see who the crazy characters were. The couple that found each other, because of the destiny of The Love Boat. I'm a sucker for romance! How about you? What shows made you wait with baited breath to see the next episode (o.k. besides Dallas)?

Happy Anniversary to My BFF and her Hubby

Well, I really wish I had a picture of the 2 of you! Happy Anniversary...15 years. I think I speak for all of us, when I say...I know what you're doing tonight :P

xoxo ~L

Happy Birthday to my Firstborn

Wow, twelve years goes by fast. But I remember your story like it was yesterday!

We had tried for years, and years to have a baby. We'd seen a specialist...the best in the area, and had tried a very expensive medicine to help me et pregnant. We could only afford one cycle, and during that cycle, my egg just disappeared one day. The nurse said sometimes that happens, and we could try again next time. I let her know we would get back in touch when we could afford it. After a few months, hubby was going to get a big commission check, so I called the nurse to say we would be able to do a treatment the next month. Of course, I hadn't had a period since the last time I'd seen her. This wasn't unusual for me, and there is a medicine, that can induce your period. She told me, by law you must have a blood pregnancy test before the prescription can be filled. So at lunch I went in for blood work. Later as I was getting ready to leave my office for the day, the nurse called. I was expecting her call, and would let her know which pharmacy she could send the Rx to. Imagine my surprise when she says "Lisa, you're pregnant." I didn't actually believer her! I said it's me Lisa S****." She said "Lisa, I know. You really are pregnant." For those of you that have gone thru this, you know the tight bond you have with your nurse. I could hear her smile through the phone. We were both just in shock! It felt soooo good!

I couldn't believe it. Who do I call? What do I tell my co-workers?...I know they've heard me on the phone. When did this happen? Holy Moly!

I couldn't wait...I called hubby right away! He could barely believe it either. We rejoiced, cried, laughed, and thanked God.

The very next day, I had a sonogram to "date" my pregnancy. It wasn't unusual for me to go a number of months with no "monthly visit", if you know what I mean. So imagine our surprise when my fertility Dr. starts the sonogram to see how far along I am and we see a little baby moving around. I mean full fledge head, legs, feet, hands, spine, eyes, etc... an actual little baby...Holy Moly!!! We all were in awe, and immediately started crying. I've never ever felt those tears of joy in the same way again.

Our joy was shortlived. The next day my regular OB/GYN Dr. called and told us something was wrong with the baby, and to come in right away. He did a sonogram, and showed us that there was very little amniotic fluid, and that this ALMOST ALWAYS meant that something was WRONG with the baby. What?!?! This couldn't be happening! He suggested an Amnio to find out exactly what was wrong. Being my first pregnancy, I figured we should go along with that. It made sense, didn't it?! The day came for the amnio, and I was so nervous, I was sweating in places I won't mention. I told my OB/GYN that I didn't like the odds of miscarriage after amnio, and he asked me this simple question:

Dr: What will you do with the results of the Amnio?

Me: Nothing.

Dr: Nothing?

Me: Well, I most certainly wouldn't terminate this pregnancy!

Dr: Then lets just skip the amnio, and we can keep a close watch on things, by sonogram. We'd have to do that to watch the baby grow, anyway.

Me: Really? (with great relief!!!)

Dr: Yup!

Me: OK!

Dr: OK, get dressed and I'll see you in my office.

That was that!! Anytime I would hear Natalie Merchant sing "Wonder", I felt as though she were predicting the outcome or our pregnancy. Listen to the words...my heart still fills with Joy everytime I hear it.

To make a long story short...our faith told us that God had given us this baby, and God would take care of this baby. We knew to let His will be done.

6 mos. later and a few complications along the way (bed rest, diabetes, still no improvement in fluid) our beautiful son Jack was born. He was 2 weeks early (not considered preemie) and healthy as a horse. None of the Dr.'s or specialists I saw could ever tell us why the amniotic fluid was so low. Frankly, it didn't matter! He was here, and he was in our arms safe and sound.

So here's to my first born son. All my children came to me in a special way, but I consider you our very first miracle! The one who started it all!

Dude, You the Man!

Love, Mom

Mmmmm...NC Style BBQ

Well, I haven't been able to stop thinking, drooling, salivating, figuring on a way to marry it BBQ. Not just any BBQ, no siree, an authentic vinegar based saucy style pulled pork BBQ.

Oh, come to mama! This delectable sandwich that looks so divine, is one of the most heavenly things! Trust me on this! The tangy sauce, with no overpowering vinegar. Just the right blend of seasonings, pulled pork and sauce brought together on a simple bun.

Quick to the kitchen! First you're going to need a pork shoulder. Mine weighed between 4 -5 lbs. That was plenty for my family of six with enough leftovers for a sandwich or 2 the next day.

Next you want to gather up 3 cloves garlic, 1/2 an onion, and about 1 1/2 cups rice vinegar.

Peel and finely chop the garlic. Don't be afraid of the garlic. Embrace it! It's easy, don't rely on that pre-minced refrigerated stuff. Let me show you how easy it is to make garlic your friend!

Next seperate out 3 "cloves" and remove the papery layer. So you may chop the garlic. Prepare you're senses for the warm, sinus opening smell of the garlic. Oh, I love it!

Place a large chef's knife on top of your garlic clove and press down so it gets a little smushed. Then you get to take out a little agression and smash down onto the knife, crushing the clove of garlic. Ahhh, I feel a little less stressed already.

Grab hold of the end of your garlic clove where it comes to a point.

Give it a little squeeze and push at the same time, so that the garlic starts to slide out of its skin

Ta Da...you are now an expert at peeling garlic, without using one of those silly tools you find on the kitchen gadget wall at most stores.

Then you get to finely chop the garlic and release it's heavenly aroma. I am just dying here! I would eat this garlic right now, except I'd like to remain a functioning acceptable person in society. Plus keeping my friends is always a bonus :)

Just start chopping! Chop, chop, chop!

Heat some olive oil in a pan, and throw in the onion and garlic and saute until just tender and translucent. Don't you love that word "translucent". It sounds so authoritative, and all knowing! Like you actually know what's going on in your saucepan. Me...I haven't gotta clue, but it sounds good!

Add in the vinegar. Next you will need to trim the fat off your shoulder (pork shoulder). I'd personally love to be able to trim the fat off my stomach, thighs, behind and neck, but that's a bit off track.

Get out your largest stock pot, put it over a medium heat, and add in about 4 tablespoons olive oil. Once heated add in the shoulder and brown on all sides. You may think this step isn't necessary, but the falvor off the bottom of the pan will bubble and cook and seep into your meat. Ahhhhh!

Slide your delicious mixture of onion, garlic and vinegar over the shoulder. Cover your pot and put into a 350 oven. Now comes the hardest part. Waiting!! Oh my word, what to do whilst you wait for the glorious 3 hrs. it's going to take for this meat to be so tender, moist and delicious, that you'll just sit and pull it apart with only 2 forks?!

I did laundry. Do not try this at home. Please make my heart happy, and do something fun. Read a book you've wanted to read. Get a trashy magazine, and let me know how poor Heather Locklear is doing. Anything, but laundry!

Once the meat is falling off the bone, you may pull it out, and shred until your heart's content! The shoulder will soak up all the juices, onion and garlic from cooking. All you have to do is add in about a cup to a cup and a half of your favorite BBQ Sauce. Make it thick, thin, somewhere inbetween. Your call. Just make it. Now. Do it. Go on.

P.S. You'll need a great coleslaw to have with it. I had to buy some slaw, because I have to put just a little on my sandwich. Oh, the contrasting flavors of the sweet slaw and the tangy BBQ, it's almost too much for me to take! It's just who I am. Hopefully you'll be better than me, and actually make your own coleslaw...you gourmet!

xoxo ~L

For all the Service Men and Women...

I thank you for keeping me and this land I love free! Happy 4th of July.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Should've named her Dori

Swimming, swimming, swimming! Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!

The Kelster, myself, a 3yr. old new friend we made on the beach, her 5 yr. old brother, and my 5 yr. old (The Dunnster) did this for the better part of one entire morning on the beach. Now for those of you unfamiliar with "a morning on the beach", this consists of getting down onto the sand by 9:30 and not leaving until about 1:00.

I can't tell you when I've enjoyed myself more! I loved acting like a kid, and didn't mind the sand in the bottom of my suit, up my nose, in my hair, in ALL the cracks and crevices that were laying there in the surf....nooooo, I relished every minute of it! Get over all that sand. You'll get clean back at the house, I told myself! You get your kids clean of every particle, right?! The same will happen with you! So go on, next time you don't want to get all sandy...let yourself really relax, and act like a kid again, be at one with the sand!

Coming soon...a fantastic recipe for authentic NC style BBQ! I got the recipe from a great guy while we were there!

Now, come on you didn't really think I was going to show a picture of me in a bathing suit did you?!?! You are so whacky!

xoxo ~L

Paci Update

I knew I had tempted fate, just by proclaiming our glorious success in losing the 'ol paci! What was I thinking? I've never really been one to be cocky! Never do I pat myself on the back. I mean really, parenting is just way too complicated to think you've actually done something...dare I say...right!?! Sooooo....

Kelly told me just this morning, as I was folding the laundry I had done on vacation, not to be confused with the laundry I'll still need to do when I get home, that she needed her paci. Now this was after the traumatic event of slipping up a stair as she was following me with my laundry basket.

I did of course remind her, gently, that we didn't have the paci anymore. BUT, she came back with "there's one in my room" answer. To which I wasn't sure how to respond. Was she actually thinking about a need that couldn't be contained? I quickly gave my stock answer...remember, it's in the trash...that seemed to do the trick. At least for now.

Obviously, I won't be gettin rid of my stash anytime soon.

xoxo ~L

Bye, Bye Baby!

Let me start by saying, that I was totally prepared to send Miss Kelly off to College with her “Paci”. You know…binky, paci, lovey, num num (don’t ask, but I think a name like that has to do with you not being able to understand a word they say with that darn thing in their mouths!), whatever you happen to call it.

I have fondly known it as the item that ruins all pictures. It’s the tiny little thing that gets my heart racing, if I don’t readily see one available. I had quietly accepted, that my daughter’s dependence was way beyond the rational needs of “Honey you’re 25, don’t you think it’s time to give up the paci”? I had already started researching for 12 step programs. Talking to other mommy’s of “addicts”.

All that said…drum roll please, the dreaded “paci” is gone. Yes, gone! Kaput, nil, lost to all eternity, never to be seen again. I don’t really know how we managed to get our whiny, tempermental, big attitude little miss to give it up and not even cry one night.

What had been happening, as of late, was that she had been chewing holes in the silicone part of the pacifier. Now that she has molars, this had become the chew toy. Not the sucking, comforting aid it was originally used as. So after the need for replacements coming faster and faster, I decided I would make her start throwing them out herself after she had chewed the holes in them.

So a few weeks ago, Little Miss had to throw away the paci she had been walking around with into the kitchen trash. No fit…things looked good. That night as I was putting her in her crib with her blanky, she asked for “paci”. I calmly and oh so innocently said “Oh honey, there is no more paci, it had to go in the trash. Remember ?!?”

I waited. I waited for what I knew was coming…an all out fit of rage and terror, shock and awe, she was gonna blow!

But, she just said “trash? I put it in trash?” “Yes” I said, “yes you did”. “Oh, o.k.” And on we went with the rest of our “night-night” routine.

It has since been a couple of weeks since we said goodbye to the paci. She has asked a few times, almost inquisitively, about her paci…but it just takes a gentle reminder of “there are no more paci’s” and she is content.

Now here's my little secret. I am like a smoker who just quit smoking, I still haven’t quite gotten rid of “my stash”. So for the love of all that is peaceful and holy in my house...don't tell her!

xoxo ~L

Summer, Sunburn, and Sunscreen

This wonderful sunscreen that is 7.5% titanium dioxide, and 7.5% zinc oxide (both physical sunscreens) is $18 for 4 ozs. Soooo...is this too much to pay for sunscreen?

Let me clarify, that's what it costs at the local dermatologists office. Sure, I can find it cheaper on the internet, but once you factor in shipping, it's probably less to get it locally.

Here's my dilemma. I have 2 olive skinned babes, and 2 white, pasty, irish, light haired, freckly babes. Genetics, funny, huh?!

Well, after thinking for some reason that I needed to research what makes a good sunscreen good, here's what I decided.

The physical sunscreens protect the skin by deflecting the harmful rays of the sun! Hence, they protect right after they are put on, and tend to last a little longer.

The chemical sunscreens (check yours...most are all chemical) absorb the harmful rays. These sunscreens are also absorbed into the skin. Not that they aren't safe, I mean they are FDA approved, but still...there's something about the word "chemical". It's like pesticides vs. organic.

Now, I'm no tree hugger, but I figure what's wrong with zinc...we used it back in the day (that or baby oil) and I'm fine. Why did all the companies decide to stop using it as their main ingredient, and switch to the chemicals?

Oh, don't give me your whinny "it's so hard to spread...it's too thick". Buck up, put some muscle into it! Show 'em whose boss!

Seriously folks, more and more research shows these chemical sunscreens to be bad for the ocean life, our bodies, and whatever else they decide to come up with. Now I will say that right now, I'm using both types of sunscreen. The aforementioned and pictured above sunscreen is used on the "high risk areas". i.e. shoulders, neck, ears, face, butt crack, etc...

The chemical/physical combo sunscreen I use for all other areas.

Sooooo, I ask you is this too much to pay for a little non-chemical sunscreen, and my ability to sleep better at night? At least partially, since I haven't totally converted!

xoxo ~L

Summer Storms

Just when the family gets all psyched for summer and for school to be out...a whopper of a storm comes through, and the whole area loses power, shutting down school for a day.

Now my oldest who has been studying his butt off for final exams (OMG...he's only 11, what is the world coming too?). Now has had 2 exams put off until Monday. This means short term memory loss. Another cramming session on Sunday, which he already did on Wednesday. Now don't get me wrong here...he's super smart (if I do say so myself), but always wants to review the night before any test, much less a final cummulative test!

So, while we've all been getting restless for school to end and the fun of summer to begin, the strain of school, which should have ended today...will carry through our weekend. Luckily we have some really fun stuff that was already lined up for the whole family to do.

Namely, Parties!!! Graduation, moonbounces, cooking out, dripping ice cream cones, etc... And that's BEFORE the official summer kick off. Jealous yet?

xoxo ~L

I could Soooooo take him

Now don't get me wrong here. As much as I had an ache in my heart, way back in the day, for this young, hunky superman (a.k.a. Christopher Reeve). Yes, I said hunky, wanna make something of it? This is not what I'm referring to. What I am referring to is something all of us moms have felt at one time or another.

I have a toddler. This is my 4th toddler. I have changed 7,923 diapers, successfully. Meaning I get my toddler to lay down so easily it's like working with a baby...oh, it is a baby. Except that this baby is also a bucking bronco who doesn't want to have their bottom naked and laying down, unless they have done it themselves.

Do I dare tell you what that really means? Do I even have to tell you what that really means? No, I didn't think so.

Then I single handedly manage to lift their tiny little bottom up into the air ever so slightly to get just the right angle, no wait my arm is now being wrapped up by a python...no, no wait it's not a python, it's...it's...it's...my tiny little one's legs are curled around me.

She's choking the like blood out of that arm. My fingers are turning blue. My carpal tunnel is throbbing. Quick, I must be quick! What she doesn't realize (afterall she's 2) is that....ta da...I have another arm!! Ah, ha, now I've got her. So as I was saying, I carefully lift the tiny little bottom up to slide said diaper into position and whammo she lets her butt come crashing down on my hand and starts to slither backward. OK, back to my impossible task... Now, she's headed back off the diaper and the process starts all over again.

This only goes on for another 10 minutes. Really, only 10 minutes...that's not very long. Unless:

1. You need to get somone to school.

2. You need to pick someone up from school.

3. Someone, who is actually using the potty, needs help. (danger, danger, danger)

4. You just put toast in the toaster...now it's burnt.

5. The 5 year old decided to put more milk on his cereal.

6. You left the pantry door open.

7. Your other little darlings are unsupervised.

8. You realize you left your black sharpie (because I'm a labeling freak) out, unprotected.

9. Your Mother in Law is waiting downstairs, after you said you'd just be a sec.

10. The dog really, really, really needs to go out.

And the universe has decided that this will always, always, always happen when you're showing the new babysitter how easy your children are to take care of ;)

xoxo ~L

Cancer Sucks!

I bought it because I have known some women in my life that have had this horrible disease. All are survivors! Some had harder treatments than others...and I'm thrilled to say all are in remission. I wanted to support the cause, and needed a really cute way to keep my fingers from fusing to my coffee cup. So off I went to purchase this little beauty.

Fast forward to a year later and now my friend Jodi is having to deal with this herself. Jodi at HappyHouseQuilts was the wonderful creator of this beautiful coffee quilt. She made it to support a friend of hers who was doing a 3 day walk for breast cancer, and Jodi used the proceeds to sponsor her.

I'm pretty pissed that now, she has to fight this battle herself! No one has been as upbeat and happy as my pal Jodi. Ever since the day I met her (has it been a year already?) she's always been someone with suggestions and answers to my questions (of which I have many). Someone to call and just make me smile when I've been having a hard time. She's also known when I needed to be left alone...not always easy when you want to reach out and help someone :)

Jodi is a true friend, in every sense of the word. I've never even met her face to face, but I don't need to. We mix together, and understand each other. You know how when you meet someone, you just can tell that you're going to be really good friends. That's how it was with for us.

So cheers Jodi. I'm drinking my good strong coffee in the morning with you in mind! That is once my mind has woken up, thanks to my good strong cup of coffee! I know this sucks, and I really wish you weren't going thru it. If anyone can kick cancer in the butt...it's you (well, next to my husband...but that's another story).

7 Random Facts about Me, I just got Tagged!!!

My good friend Liz over at http://sugarplumcreations.blogspot.com just tagged me. So here they are:

1. I was born 3 1/2 Months premature, and only stayed in the hospital for those 3 1/2 mos. The nurses who took care of me had to dress me in doll clothes, because I was so small. Drum Roll please.....I only weighed 1 lb. 12 0zs. at birth. Can you imagine. Sorry no pics from back then.

2. I have brown eyes, my husband has blue. We have 4 children...my 3 boys got blue eyes, and my girl got brown. Maybe there is something to genetics. LOL

3. ALWAYS wanted to be a mom. I dreamed of having 6 kids. No, I'm not there...yet!?!

4. I have a major, major, did I mention major sweet tooth. Mostly chocolate, but I'll take what I can get!! Lately thought it's been all about really, really dark chocolate! Love the Hersheys 60% dark with cranberries, blueberries, and almonds. MMMMM, wipe the drool off your screen!

5. I have a best friend that I've known longer than I can actually remember. We were next door neighbors growing up, and my family moved there when I was only 2. Barb...my girlfriend!! My other best friend, Deb, was a college roommate, and we've never, ever gotten into an argument. Not about boys, friends, nothing. Think about how immature you were in college (oh, and we're women), and you'll see why this was such a great feat!!

6. I just converted (well 2 years ago) to Catholicism. I was truly inspired by my Church group, and everything I learned. All I can say is "wow".

7. Finally, 3 out of 4 of my children were born AFTER my husband had testicular cancer. He was actually diagnosed when our firstborn was only 4 mos. old. He is a survivior for 10 years now. I'm thankful everyday for him!

I'm now tagging:
Karin at http://Kbellabambino.etsy.com
Jessica at http://Pumpkinheadbabyco.blogspot.com
Becca at http://Beccasbowtique.blogspot.com
Shelly at http://mylittlecuddlebugs.blogspot.com
Rachel at http://seasidequilts.com/blog
Rebecca at http://lilyskydesigns.blogspot.com

If you don't want to do this, you don't have to. It was quite a trip down memory lane to come up with 7 random facts though...;)

It's warm, but I'm all about the cool nights

I must say, this altered sweatshirt from my pal Jodi at Happy House Quilts is the best thing since sliced bread!! I'm here in the east, and the nights are getting cool once the sun goes down, and this little beauty is saving my gal from a runny nose. Hey Jodi...all the boys are getting colds ;)

Kelly has been wearing this every night for about 2 weeks and it's so soft and comfy she doesn't give me a fight getting it on. I'll be taking it to the beach, and anywhere else this summer when it'll be cool at night. I know the warm weather just started, but I'm already looking forward to Fall.