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| "This hat is absolutely ridiculous. I'm not going to look at you!" |
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| "You think you've got it bad?! Hmph!" |
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| "Help! Somebody! Anybody?!" |
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| "Be afraid...Be very afraid!" |
Happy Hallowiener!
Monday, October 31, 2011
The Fairy Princess and the Wiener Shark
Friday, October 28, 2011
We Made Pumpkin Bread! And it's edible, if you don't mind cloves.
Today is a teacher workday so I slept until 10:30. Yes, 10:30! And still woke up feeling like a cup of death warmed over. We were awoken around 3:30 am to a loud thunk followed by pitiful cries. Dracen had fallen out of the bed and was sitting on the floor crying while sound asleep. I asked him this morning if he remembered and he looked at me like I had lost my ever loving mind because he had no recollection of it whatsoever.
Both my boys have histories of night terrors and sleep walking/ talking but thank the good Lord most of that seems to be behind us. Because there is nothing more stressful than being woken up in the dead of dark by an inconsolable child who is screaming like a banshee while sound asleep. Devin actually used to get up and walk peg-legged like a zombie with his arms stuck straight out around and around the kitchen island. Somewhere I have a video of that but he would disown me as his mother if I ever dared to post it here or anywhere else.
Dracen actually let me take his picture yesterday afternoon without cringing and hiding his face. We were making pumpkin bread from a recipe he brought home from school. It was my first attempt at pumpkin bread and aside from the cloves thing and the fact that it crumbled a bit when I took it out of the pans, I think it turned out pretty good.
It called for cloves. It just said a teaspoon of "cloves". Well, I've never cooked with cloves. Unless you count that time I stuck them in the Easter ham.
We got ready to put in the cloves, that were whole, and I said, "Dracen, I think maybe these things need to be chopped up good" and began tearing through the cabinets in search of my Pampered Chef chopper but while I was looking he informed me that his teacher had put them in like that in the video. "Are you sure?" I asked. He assured me he was sure. And though my gut was telling me not to put those whole cloves in there, I went and did it anyway which turned out to be a mistake.
Because have you ever tried to eat a whole clove? I don't recommend it. But still...the bread is delicious. You just have to watch for cloves and spit them out if you get one. Kinda like eating watermelon.
Now you are probably understanding why it is I have never, ever posted a recipe on this blog but hold onto your seats because I am about to do so. Just don't put whole cloves in it. I since found out that they actually sell crushed cloves. Who knew? Probably everyone in the world but me. And Dracen. Too bad I didn't spot those first at the grocery store. Oh well, you live and you learn.
So here it is...
Both my boys have histories of night terrors and sleep walking/ talking but thank the good Lord most of that seems to be behind us. Because there is nothing more stressful than being woken up in the dead of dark by an inconsolable child who is screaming like a banshee while sound asleep. Devin actually used to get up and walk peg-legged like a zombie with his arms stuck straight out around and around the kitchen island. Somewhere I have a video of that but he would disown me as his mother if I ever dared to post it here or anywhere else.
Dracen actually let me take his picture yesterday afternoon without cringing and hiding his face. We were making pumpkin bread from a recipe he brought home from school. It was my first attempt at pumpkin bread and aside from the cloves thing and the fact that it crumbled a bit when I took it out of the pans, I think it turned out pretty good.
It called for cloves. It just said a teaspoon of "cloves". Well, I've never cooked with cloves. Unless you count that time I stuck them in the Easter ham.
We got ready to put in the cloves, that were whole, and I said, "Dracen, I think maybe these things need to be chopped up good" and began tearing through the cabinets in search of my Pampered Chef chopper but while I was looking he informed me that his teacher had put them in like that in the video. "Are you sure?" I asked. He assured me he was sure. And though my gut was telling me not to put those whole cloves in there, I went and did it anyway which turned out to be a mistake.
Because have you ever tried to eat a whole clove? I don't recommend it. But still...the bread is delicious. You just have to watch for cloves and spit them out if you get one. Kinda like eating watermelon.
Now you are probably understanding why it is I have never, ever posted a recipe on this blog but hold onto your seats because I am about to do so. Just don't put whole cloves in it. I since found out that they actually sell crushed cloves. Who knew? Probably everyone in the world but me. And Dracen. Too bad I didn't spot those first at the grocery store. Oh well, you live and you learn.
So here it is...
Pumpkin Bread!
2/3 cup butter
2 and 2/3 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 (1 lb) can pumpkin
2/3 cup water
3 and 1/3 cup flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 and 1/2 tsp. salt (which I am just realizing we did not put in....oops again!)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves (Ground!)
2/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
2/3 cup raisins
Grease 2 (9x5x3) inch loaf pans. (I had to improvise here since I only had one pan that size...I put half in a square casserole Pyrex dish and it worked) Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, pumpkin and water. Blend in dry ingredients except nuts and raisins. When well blended, stir in nuts and raisins. Pour into pans and bake 65-75 minutes in 350 degree oven. (I ended up taking it out three times after 60 minutes and putting it back in 5 more minutes each time because it still seemed gooey inside.)
Now I realize that you are probably highly doubting that this taste even halfway decent but I promise, it really is yummy! Even with the accidental omission of salt and the fact that you may or may not have to spit a clove when you eat a piece.
Happy Friday, Y'all!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Some Things I've Done
Last week Mama Kat asked us to make a list of 22 things we've never done. So I did. This week she asked us to make a list of 22 things we have done. So I did.
In my 40.5 years I have...
1. Set foot in Tangier, Morocco.
2. Eaten eel. By mistake. While stepping outside my comfort zone to try sushi. Eww. Never again!
3. Caught an eel. By mistake. While deep sea fishing. Sea sickness is wretched and horrid. Never again!
4. Worn big hair, big glasses and big earrings. At the same time.
5. Flown over The Grand Canyon in a helicopter.
6. Spent the night in a refrigerator box.
7. Seen Steel Magnolias and Sleepless in Seattle so many times that I can and frequently do quote all the characters word for word.
8. Been to the British Virgin Islands.
9. Flown first class. But not on my dollar.
10. Broken my right clavicle bone.
11. Been to Spain.
12. Eaten dinner outside at Times Square.
13. Swam with stingrays in Grand Cayman. Twice.
14. Fed a giraffe.
15. Worked for a large corporation.
16. Been self-employed.
17. Been a stay home mom.
18. Baited my own hook with a worm and camped out on a riverbank. I'm not a total girly girl.
19. Held a snake. Briefly. Very briefly.
20. Worn hammer pants. And not as a joke either.
21. Seen the tailless monkeys atop the Rock of Gibraltar.
22. Known much Love and Laughter.
In my 40.5 years I have...
1. Set foot in Tangier, Morocco.
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3. Caught an eel. By mistake. While deep sea fishing. Sea sickness is wretched and horrid. Never again!
4. Worn big hair, big glasses and big earrings. At the same time.
5. Flown over The Grand Canyon in a helicopter.
6. Spent the night in a refrigerator box.
7. Seen Steel Magnolias and Sleepless in Seattle so many times that I can and frequently do quote all the characters word for word.
8. Been to the British Virgin Islands.
9. Flown first class. But not on my dollar.
10. Broken my right clavicle bone.
11. Been to Spain.
12. Eaten dinner outside at Times Square.
13. Swam with stingrays in Grand Cayman. Twice.
14. Fed a giraffe.
15. Worked for a large corporation.
16. Been self-employed.
17. Been a stay home mom.
18. Baited my own hook with a worm and camped out on a riverbank. I'm not a total girly girl.
19. Held a snake. Briefly. Very briefly.
20. Worn hammer pants. And not as a joke either.
21. Seen the tailless monkeys atop the Rock of Gibraltar.
22. Known much Love and Laughter.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Pajama Drama
pa·ja·ma dra·ma [puh-jah-muh drah-muh]Situation that develops when a strong-willed child wants to wear his pajamas to school because he's under the impression it's pajama day but his parents tell him he cannot because there is nothing in his agenda nor is there any mention on the school's website that such shenanigans will be taking place today
eat·ing
crow [ee-ting kroh]The humbling act of acknowledging that one has indeed been proven wrong
A good example would be when a mother of a strong-willed child, who is in the midst of a pajama drama induced fit, picks up the phone in order to call the school office to prove to said child that he must be confused about today being pajama day since there was no note, memo, message or otherwise anywhere to speak of about such shenanigans taking place today only to be told that yes, today is indeed pajama day and that for some odd reason unknown to any of them, nothing was placed in the teachers' mailboxes as it should have been so the teachers were told to inform the children of it yesterday at the end of the day and then having to hang up the phone and tell the strong-willed child that he was indeed correct and could proceed to wear his pajamas to school after all.
So how was your morning?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Hey, It's Okay Tuesday...
~To feel a little annoyed when you want to respond to a comment/question someone left on your blog but can't because they are a "no reply blogger". Check your blogger profile. Go to "edit profile" and check that little box that says "show my email address". Please? Pretty please? I've never gotten any spam from it. The only spam I get on blogger comes in the form of comments and goes right into the spam folder.
~To like a little coffee with your flavored creamer.
~To feel like you lost a good friend when one of your shows ends for the season. I miss Breaking Bad!
~To want to roll your eyes when you hear/see things like "Fall Festival" when it is being held on Halloween, there are costumes being worn and candy handed out. Sounds an awful lot like HALLOWEEN to me.
~To wish your neighbors wouldn't spread manure all over their yards so often. We can smell that over here.
~To miss the days of real trick or treating.... When people actually stayed home and the kids went door to door in their neighborhoods for their junk instead of having to be driven somewhere else for a "Fall Festival".
~To think Lady Gaga is a freak on a leash but to still really love her music.
~To feel like you ran a marathon after spending your entire Saturday organizing your closet. And to lie to yourself by proclaiming that you are really and truly going to keep it that way forever this time.
~To really be looking forward to "falling back" on November 6th because although it will get dark earlier in the evenings at least it won't be pitch black outside when you try to drag your groggy butt outta bed when the alarm goes off at 6:30 in the mornings and to hope that maybe, just maybe, you won't have to hit snooze three times before actually doing it.
~To have sent your eight year old to school this morning with messy, gelled and sprayed hair while sporting eye makeup and a shirt you wrote "Loded Diper" on with a Sharpie. He was supposed to dress like a favorite book character and I thought the Wimpy Kid's older brother, Rodrick, would be more obvious than the Wimpy Kid himself.
Happy Tuesday!
Monday, October 24, 2011
A Sunday Drive...
Yesterday we headed up the mountain for a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our timing was a little late again since many of the leaves have already left the trees up there but I think we still got some pretty good shots...
*Linking this post up for Anything Autumn with Jenny Matlock!
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| I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. ~George Washington Carver |
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| Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ~John Muir |
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| How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude! ~Emily Dickinson |
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| As you sit on the hillside, or lie prone under the trees of the forest, or sprawl wet-legged by a mountain stream, the great door, that does not look like a door, opens. ~Stephen Graham |
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| How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! ~John Muir |
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| If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive. ~Eleonora Duse |
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| I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. ~Henry David Thoreau |
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| Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz |
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| We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it. ~George Eliot |
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| I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner |
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| I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that. ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth |
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| My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing. ~Aldous Huxley |
*Linking this post up for Anything Autumn with Jenny Matlock!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Fancy Friday...Brr!
Last week I told y'all it was picture day at the elementary school. I managed to talk Dracen into moving one step up from a t-shirt to a polo for the big day. Something I don't think I've been able to get his brother to do since preschool.
And speaking of his brother... Since he is in middle school this year they are on completely different schedules with everything, including picture day. I interrogated him about it last week and he informed me that his was coming up and he already had the form in his locker at school. You have to pay up front. And whether they smile, frown, or stick their tongues out I am going to have me a picture to document every year of their K through 12 public school educations.
Wednesday morning I just happened to see on facebook that picture day was the next day so I went straight to the refrigerator and made a note with my big arse mom Sharpie so I would not forget. And I did not forget.
"Devin, I saw on facebook (he always cringes when he hears those words come out of my mouth) that picture day is tomorrow. Where is your form?"
"In my binder", he replied. "Well, where exactly is your binder?" I snapped back.
And he gives me the saucer eyes and the Ohhh crap, I'm in deep horse doo doo now! look and says, ever so sheepishly, "In my locker. At school."
I threatened to revoke his electronic privileges if he did not phone, text, or facebook a friend to find out some information about who was taking those pictures. I had to then remind him two more times to do this but what with all my other mom duties around here, I completely forgot to question him a third time until after he was in bed.
Yesterday morning I questioned him a final time and of course he had not found out anything at all about the pictures. "Nobody else is buying any!" was the answer I got. "Since when do I care what everybody else is doing?!" I shot back. "I WANT A PICTURE...AN 8 BY 10 TO GO ON THE WALL TO REPLACE THE ONE FROM LAST YEAR!"
So I did what any good mother would do. I put on my best house shoes, rolled my hair up tight in rollers, drove to the school and walked with him to his locker (talking and waving to everyone we passed along the way) to get that form filled out.
And if you believe that, then you don't know me at all.
Oh how I wish I had that kind of gumption and lack of shame in my game.
No. Instead I gave him the same amount of money I paid for Dracen's package (assuming it was most likely the same company) and told him that if he did not fill out that form, put that money in it and hand it to that photographer then he could kiss his modern day technological conveniences goodbye. So he did it. But not without informing me that he was the only one in two classes with picture money.
Their parents probably didn't get the memo. Facebook stalking does has its advantages.
And no, he did not wear anything special. I learned a long time ago that we have to choose our battles when it comes to parenting a stubborn child (26 hours of labor followed by a c-section because he just refused to come out). I noticed as I was handing him the money and laying down the law that he was wearing an almost identical American Eagle t-shirt to the one he wore in his picture last year. The biggest difference was the letters. The ones last year were flat and these were embroidered. Or something kinda like it.
Anyway, I did not mean to get off on a mom rant this morning. I really came here to talk about fashion and such. And while I would not wear a shirt with giant letters spelling AMERICAN EAGLE across the front, I would wear this cabled sweater with "American Eagle" on the label inside that is looking very cozy to me this morning since it is a chilly 37 degrees here. Brr!
So is this...
Faux shearling coat by Coldwater Creek.
Turquoise Mosaic Ring
Every once in awhile I'll stumble upon a ring that I think I could fully get on board and commit to wearing on a regular basis on my right hand. And this is one of those rings.
Cooperative Suede Cap Toe Skimmer
I really have no idea what is meant by a "cooperative" shoe but I just thought these were too cute for words. Not that I go around saying things like "too cute for words" but you know...
Asymmetrical Cashmere Sweater
I love this, especially in camel...
TOKYOBay Century Cuff Watch
Garnet Hill says this watch was made for the "urbanite at heart". Well, I can assure you I am not one of those but I still love this watch.
Tropical Sunset Earrings
I just thought these looked happy.
Winnie Satchel by Imoshion
I saw this in a magazine (can't remember which one) and think I could see myself getting really attached to it. Comes in three colors.
Journey's End Beige Purse Melie Bianco
I'm really feeling the vibe this one is throwing off too.
Falling Leaves Pendant Necklace Set
How very fallish!
Cowl Neck Top by Mystree
I love everything about this.
Talgarth Pencil Skirt
I see this with some tights and a pair of chunky heels.
And speaking of heels...
Strappy Mary Jane
There is just something about a mary jane that sucks me in every time and this pair is no exception. They also come in brown.
AEO IKAT Loop Scarf
I think this scarf is just as equally happy as those tropical sunset earrings up there.
Hope y'all have a Happy Friday! I think we're gonna head up the mountain sometime this weekend to see if there are any leaves still on the trees up there. Our big oaks in the yard are still mostly green!
And speaking of his brother... Since he is in middle school this year they are on completely different schedules with everything, including picture day. I interrogated him about it last week and he informed me that his was coming up and he already had the form in his locker at school. You have to pay up front. And whether they smile, frown, or stick their tongues out I am going to have me a picture to document every year of their K through 12 public school educations.
Wednesday morning I just happened to see on facebook that picture day was the next day so I went straight to the refrigerator and made a note with my big arse mom Sharpie so I would not forget. And I did not forget.
"Devin, I saw on facebook (he always cringes when he hears those words come out of my mouth) that picture day is tomorrow. Where is your form?"
"In my binder", he replied. "Well, where exactly is your binder?" I snapped back.
And he gives me the saucer eyes and the Ohhh crap, I'm in deep horse doo doo now! look and says, ever so sheepishly, "In my locker. At school."
I threatened to revoke his electronic privileges if he did not phone, text, or facebook a friend to find out some information about who was taking those pictures. I had to then remind him two more times to do this but what with all my other mom duties around here, I completely forgot to question him a third time until after he was in bed.
Yesterday morning I questioned him a final time and of course he had not found out anything at all about the pictures. "Nobody else is buying any!" was the answer I got. "Since when do I care what everybody else is doing?!" I shot back. "I WANT A PICTURE...AN 8 BY 10 TO GO ON THE WALL TO REPLACE THE ONE FROM LAST YEAR!"
So I did what any good mother would do. I put on my best house shoes, rolled my hair up tight in rollers, drove to the school and walked with him to his locker (talking and waving to everyone we passed along the way) to get that form filled out.
And if you believe that, then you don't know me at all.
Oh how I wish I had that kind of gumption and lack of shame in my game.
No. Instead I gave him the same amount of money I paid for Dracen's package (assuming it was most likely the same company) and told him that if he did not fill out that form, put that money in it and hand it to that photographer then he could kiss his modern day technological conveniences goodbye. So he did it. But not without informing me that he was the only one in two classes with picture money.
Their parents probably didn't get the memo. Facebook stalking does has its advantages.
And no, he did not wear anything special. I learned a long time ago that we have to choose our battles when it comes to parenting a stubborn child (26 hours of labor followed by a c-section because he just refused to come out). I noticed as I was handing him the money and laying down the law that he was wearing an almost identical American Eagle t-shirt to the one he wore in his picture last year. The biggest difference was the letters. The ones last year were flat and these were embroidered. Or something kinda like it.
Anyway, I did not mean to get off on a mom rant this morning. I really came here to talk about fashion and such. And while I would not wear a shirt with giant letters spelling AMERICAN EAGLE across the front, I would wear this cabled sweater with "American Eagle" on the label inside that is looking very cozy to me this morning since it is a chilly 37 degrees here. Brr!
So is this...
Faux shearling coat by Coldwater Creek.
Turquoise Mosaic Ring
Every once in awhile I'll stumble upon a ring that I think I could fully get on board and commit to wearing on a regular basis on my right hand. And this is one of those rings.
Cooperative Suede Cap Toe Skimmer
I really have no idea what is meant by a "cooperative" shoe but I just thought these were too cute for words. Not that I go around saying things like "too cute for words" but you know...
Asymmetrical Cashmere Sweater
I love this, especially in camel...
TOKYOBay Century Cuff Watch
Garnet Hill says this watch was made for the "urbanite at heart". Well, I can assure you I am not one of those but I still love this watch.
Tropical Sunset Earrings
I just thought these looked happy.
Winnie Satchel by Imoshion
I saw this in a magazine (can't remember which one) and think I could see myself getting really attached to it. Comes in three colors.
Journey's End Beige Purse Melie Bianco
I'm really feeling the vibe this one is throwing off too.
Falling Leaves Pendant Necklace Set
How very fallish!
Cowl Neck Top by Mystree
I love everything about this.
Talgarth Pencil Skirt
I see this with some tights and a pair of chunky heels.
And speaking of heels...
Strappy Mary Jane
There is just something about a mary jane that sucks me in every time and this pair is no exception. They also come in brown.
AEO IKAT Loop Scarf
I think this scarf is just as equally happy as those tropical sunset earrings up there.
Hope y'all have a Happy Friday! I think we're gonna head up the mountain sometime this weekend to see if there are any leaves still on the trees up there. Our big oaks in the yard are still mostly green!
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