Dani's Daily Drop

Valentine's Continued...Gift and Cake

2012-02-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

Sweetness of gifts for Valentines day! My hubby brought home this cute stuff dog partnership along with a candy making kit, which was very fun, a sweet card, and fresh tulips.

I made this chocolate heart cake for him. I'm not a big frosting fan so this worked out great. I just added the peanut butter to a bit of cream cheese frosting we'd had left over from something and then used chocolate pudding for the majority, swirling in drops of the peanut butter mixture. It turned out pretty cool...although I wouldn't imagine this cake being put on any store shelves for it's decorative expertise. :) It tastes good, anyhow.

Valentine's Day Dinner

2012-02-14T19:44:00.002-07:00

Every year we try our best to make Valentine's Day a fun and memorable one. Every year something goes wrong. :) But that's ok, it's life. This year, the boys and I visited my hubby at work during lunch time and surprised him with a Valentine's gift including Mountain Dew (his guilty pleasure) and Breaking Dawn on dvd (yes, my husband is a Twilight fan). It was a good day there.

Then we planned this fun idea for dinner: Heart pizzas! My plan was to use a tube of biscuit dough and form each one into a heart and flatten it for the dough but we found this package of Pizza dough mix in our pantry so we used it. Then we put on pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, sliced up Canadian bacon, and pineapple chunks.

The process was a family activity that was pretty fun! We all had a good time together making the dough into hearts and putting the toppings on it....

...and in our mouths...

Then after it was all baked, we sat down to enjoy!

It looked so good I took a nice close up of my pizza before I took my first bite. Then I realized it had an odd flavor to it. It was narrowed down that the dough was what tasted bad and it reminded me of the time I made cookies with our old shortening which had expired. I dug the package for the dough mix up out of the garbage and guess what the date on the package said?

Holy cow that's old! We thought about it, and we think we got the package of pizza dough mix from my husband's sister (now married with two children) when she lived with us for a summer while single in college...the year my oldest son was born.... in 2007. Hmmm....

So, if you make pizza like this, make sure your dough is not expired. :) Haha! It was a great thought and a fun family activity, anyway. I'm sure it would have been yummy otherwise. (Should have used the tube of biscuits that are still in my fridge.)

I ended up breaking out peanut butter and jelly. :)

Happy Valentine's Day! And happy cooking!

Octopus and Rainbow Food

2012-02-12T12:58:00.001-07:00

I served an octopus and a rainbow at my superbowl party! They are good for any occasion! :) (Especially the octopus for a sea creature themed party).

The octopus is just a sweet pepper with the top chopped, upside down and olive slices for eyes. Another pepper gets sliced for the legs, and then the broccoli is just a little steamed.

Hummus:
Drain a can garbonzo beans/chick peas and keep the liquid in a bowl. Grind it up and mix with 2 tsp cumin, a crushed garlic clove, 1 Tbl olive oil, and 1/2 tsp salt in a food processor. Then slowly add the reserved liquid to the mixture while mixing until desired consistency and discard the rest. Some people add lemon juice, and some people add tahini but I didn't. It was yummy without. You can dip fresh veggies and crackers in it. Delicious!

Then the next one is easy! Just cut up whatever fruit and veggies you have and place them in order of the colors of the rainbow. I missed the blue but it was ok. Remember to drizzle your cut fruit with a little lemon juice to make sure they don't turn brown and stay fresh! :) I used apples, carrots, bananas, green beans, and grapes. But the options are endless!

It's so easy to have healthy food served at your parties! Stay healthy, everyone! :)

Emergency Beef Bulk Cooking

2012-02-03T20:23:00.001-07:00

Hey! Lately things have been insane but I'm hoping I can get back to posting regular posts. For now, let me tell you a little story.

Anyone have a deep freezer? Those of you who do, how many of you also have kids?

Well, if you said yes to both of these, something tells me you have experience with having a deep freezer magically turn off without our knowledge and the full contents within thaw completely leaving you with a big mess to clean up.

No?

Well if it hasn't happened yet, it will. So be prepared.

That being said, can you guess what happened to me this week?

That's right! Well, luckily we caught it before it went bad. Nothing stunk, but everything was completely thawed, like they had been sitting in a refrigerator for a day and night. So nothing went bad...Hallelujah, right?

Well, because nothing had gone bad YET, doesn't mean it never will. So what do I have to do? Cook up something like 30 pounds of ground beef and also add to that roasts and steaks and well...I also have to have it all cooked within the week. If I don't, these meats are bound to go bad. So that became the plan: to cook up all the meat and freeze them again. (Since of course you can't refreeze raw meat once it's thawed completely).

So I've been cooking up a pound to two pounds of ground beef at a time with onion and salt and pepper, sometimes garlic. I did a few with taco seasoning included. It has been taking FOREVER! I have cooked about ten pounds so far, and I still have an entire drawer full of ground beef in my refrigerator. Not to mention the OTHER drawer full of steaks and roasts. Well, my husband is marinating the steaks and so we'll most likely be able to use them soon and not worry about freezing them.

I am officially sick of cooking ground beef, people. I just keep looking forward to the future day when my fridge is free of raw beef and I won't ever have to cook up beef again. All I will have to do is grab my frozen cooked meat from the fridge and have it made! ....Oh, that day feels so far away....

Then today I thought to myself, enough ground up beef in my frying pan! What else can I do with this stuff and freeze it for later?

Meatballs.

And I plan to do meat loafs next.

I found this recipe online for meatballs and followed it up until the part where I was supposed to make the sauce and put it in the oven. So I pretty much just made the balls with the bread crumbs, seasoning, and milk. It was odd that this recipe didn't call for eggs. I had never made meatballs without eggs before - but it worked since I was using a non-stick pan to fry them up.

Then I divided this up into thirds, putting them into three separate bags because I think that would feed my family. I put the directions for the sauce and remaining cooking time on the bags.

Anyone have any more ideas of what to do with a whole LOT of beef right away?

So far I'm planning to slow cook some roasts to make into pull-apart beef for sandwiches and I'll freeze a whole lot of that.

And of course I'll make some meatloaf too.

I need more suggestions if you have any. Happy cooking!

A Picnic in January

2012-01-03T15:17:00.002-07:00

Today I went to the library with the kids and we picked out a Bernstein Bear's book where the family goes on a picnic. It's been so warm today, after we read the book it was lunch time so I said, "Let's go find a perfect spot and have a picnic too!" So I got some Salmon out, mixed it with Mayo, got out the left-over crackers from the holidays, buttered bread, and apple slices. Then the kids said they also wanted "Green eggs and ham" so I poached some eggs with green food coloring and fried up the left over ham slices from the holidays and we had a picnic outside with the stuff.

Something about this warm weather makes me a little creeped out, actually. It's like the world is going to end. It needs to snow already!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-20T13:20:00.001-07:00

Green food!

2011-12-05T12:57:00.001-07:00

It's a day for green! Apples, celery with peanut butter and green sprinkles, broccoli, yogurt (key lime), and a pb& j with added green sprinkles in the apple jelly. Only thing not green? Zachy's yogurt- he wanted orange. Shrugs. You get the drift. :) Happy green day!

C is for lunch

2011-11-23T12:07:00.001-07:00

Today we are the letter c for lunch. Cherry tomatoes, carrots, chicken nuggets, and cranberry juice!
Make food fun for your kids and eat a letter a day!

Sweet potato stew

2011-10-31T19:13:00.001-06:00

I made this one up and was so proud of myself!
I fried up copied onion with a little garlic and green peppers in butter, added more onion...then added vegetable broth. I added some chicken bouillon and water as well, canned chicken, canned pinto brand, cubed sweet potato and then some frozen cauliflower and broccoli. I seasoned it with salt and pepper, and onion power. Turned out yummy after I brought it to boil then summer til the potatoes were tender.

Jicama

2011-10-31T10:41:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone! Sorry it's taken so long for me to post something. School is killing me this semester! I'll be posting more after the semester is over. I've decided not to go full time next semester so I should have more time to upload on here for you.

This is a pic of the Jicama salad I made the other day. Jicama is something I hadn't actually used before so I bought it as an experiment. It's got a potato-like texture, but then it's also sorta like an apple because it's sweet. I cut it into spears and served it with oranges and strawberries and apples. It was actually an attempt to fool my kids so they couldn't tell the difference between apples or jicama. It didn't really work. They just ate the strawberries and oranges and left the rest. But it was a good attempt. I also have mint in there and I used lemon juice for dressing.

Anyway, look up jicama. Use it for something. Then return and report! :) I want to know what you do with this interesting ingredient.

How do you get it all?

2011-08-24T10:42:00.004-06:00

They've adjusted the food pyramid again. Now they are saying that fruit and veggies are actually on the very bottom of the food pyramid! Actually now it's a plate. But that's beside the point- we're supposed to be eating a lot more fruits and veggies and less meat. I got so tired to basing my diet entirely on...ok what meat should I do today, chicken or beef - and then basing the other food around that meat. Why not use the veggie as the base? This is what Bountiful Baskets has done for me. It's made me look up my recipes based on fresh produce and what a change! But how do you get all the helping of veggies in? Well, a quick and easy way to begin the day is with green smoothies.

They may be green and look kinda odd, but they are delicious. You put whatever you want to put in it and you've got a whole lot of much-needed servings already! The base is Spinach usually - but you can use lettuce sometimes. I ran out of spinach today so I used lettuce. Then you add whatever else to make it taste good. I've used grapes, plums, celery, cherries, strawberries, carrots, rhubarb...and I plan to use citrus fruits in it or whatever other vegetables come my way.

You just stick it in a blender or food processor and drink up! I like to also add yogurt to mine to give it a bit more liquid texture without adding water. Google more ideas for your green smoothies! They're fantastic!

Tricolor Pepper Pasta

2011-08-22T09:33:00.004-06:00

This dish has actually been a favorite of mine to make for a few years. I made it a long time ago and my hubby liked it enough I made it all the time. Little did I know, it was because I liked to make things without so much meat in them and didn't know what else to make but that. :) Silly me. So happy that now I can make more good recipes then I used to do.

Tricolor Pepper Pasta

8 oz uncooked penne or medium tube pasta
1 each large sweet red, yellow, and green peppers, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 large onion, cute into 1/2 inch strips (I just chop them up so my family doesn't realize they're there)
3 Tbl olive oil
3 Tbl red wine vinegar
1 Tbl sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, saute the peppers, onion and mushrooms in oil until tender. Stir in the vinegar, sugar, salt, basil, and pepper. Drain pasta; add to vegetables and toss to coat. Yields about 6 servings.

I like to also fry up some cubed chicken to toss in with the pasta. Sometimes I fry the chicken up first and then remove it from the skillet to fry up the vegetables in the same spices/oil. Sometimes I don't have all three colors of peppers, but it's still good - just not quite as pretty. Enjoy!

Cabbage-Tomato Pasta Toss

2011-08-22T09:23:00.003-06:00

2 medium tomatoes, peeled and diced (I used 3)
2 Tbl red wine vinegar
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 c minced fresh parsley (or about 1/4 c dry)
8 oz uncooked bow tie pasta
2 c shredded cabbage
1 1/2 c soft bread crumbs
1/2 c slivered almonds
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 c olive oil
1/4 c butter

In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, vinegar, basil and parsley; set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding the cabbage during the last couple minutes. Meanwhile, saute bread crumbs, almonds, and garlic in oil and butter for 6 minutes until golden brown. Drain pasta and cabbage, place in a large bowl, add tomato and crumb mixtures, toss and serve immediately. Yields about 6 servings.

Easy as that!

Two-fur Recipe Post - Meatless!

2011-08-11T13:16:00.007-06:00

Today's recipes I got out of a Food & Wine magazine!

I loved the flavor in this salad. Not many people love blue cheese dressing, but I developed a taste for the stuff when I worked at a restaurant that served beer-batter fries that were to die for when dipped in blue cheese! I'd never liked the stuff before that. It does remind me of buttermilk. But what makes this salad a sensation is the combination of pears with pecans. SO yummy!

Pear & Pecan Salad w/ Bleu Cheese

1/2 c pecan halves, toasted or broiled
3 pears, cut into even slices w/core removed (best if pears are still quite hard)
Baby spinach
Lettuce (style of your choice)
Radicchio or Red cabbage-like stuff (this I accidentally left out - I was going to use some white cabbage but forgot)
Blue cheese dressing
Salt and black pepper

Suggestion: Serve with crusty bread!

For this next recipe, I halved it because it's supposed to serve 8 and STILL ended up with SO MUCH! Just to warn you! So a load of this got frozen for another occasion.

Buckwheat Pasta w/Summer Squash, Tomatoes, and Ricotta

1/4 c + 2 Tbl olive oil
1 lb mixed yellow summer squash & zucchini, sliced 1/4" thick
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
Pinch of crushed red pepper
Sea salt
1/4 c dry white wine
1 1/2 lb dried buckwheat pasta (pizzoccheri) PSST! I just used whatever pasta I wanted.
4 c baby spinach
1 c fresh ricotta

MEANWHILE cook the pasta in salted water, drain reserving 3/4 c of water! NOTE: I didn't see this part until I was done cooking up the other steps and had to wait for the pasta to be done before going on so cook this pasta first!

In a large deep skillet, heat 1/4 c oil until nearly smoking. Add squash mix & onion - cook over high, stirring until lightly charred in spots and crisp-tender, (about 8 minutes). Add tomatoes, crushing them lightly with fingertips. Add crushed red pepper, season with salt and cook over high until softened (about 5 minutes). Add wine and cook until nearly evaporated.

Add pasta now to skillet w/spinach, ricotta, and reserved water. Toss over high heat until the spinach wilts and the sauce thickens and clings to pasta. Transfer to platter and drizzle w/remaining olive oil.

Dingy me forgot the ricotta until last and tried mixing it in after the water was evaporated. SO hopefully you do better with these recipes then I did. I'm a dork.

Sigh.

Enjoy!

Chicken and Artichokes!

2011-08-11T13:15:00.001-06:00

Sadly no pictures for this one. I also think I messed it up a bit by skipping the feta cheese. I meant to sub in parmesan or something but forgot. It was still pretty good, but I bet the cheese would make it better. (Cause cheese makes everything better!) So here you are!

Chicken Breast w/ Artichoke-Olive Sauce

1/4 c + 1 Tbl olive oil
3 Tbl fresh lemon juice
2 tsp finely grated lemon zest
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbl chopped oregano
One 10-oz box frozen artichoke hearts, thawed & patted dry
8 pitted kalamata olives, halved
1/2 c coarsely crumbled feta cheese
Salt and Black Pepper
4 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 Tbl chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a bowl, whisk 1/4 c oil, lemon juice, zest, garlic & oregano. Fold in artichokes, olives, feta, and season with salt and pepper. Season chicken w/salt and pepper. In ovenproof skillet, heat remaining tablespoon of oil. Add chicken skinned side down, cook over medium high heat until browned (approx. 3 minutes), turn, and transfer skillet to oven. Roast for 10 minutes til white throughout. Transfer to plates and spoon sauce over top. Garnish with parsley.

Prep time: about 20 minutes
Makes 4 servings

Hey Look at That!

2011-08-03T11:29:00.002-06:00

Aren't we the proud papa to this lovely thing. :) Click the photo to enlarge.

Plum Kuchen

2011-08-03T09:54:00.003-06:00

I love this recipe! It comes from my handy-dandy Best of Country Cooking 2004 recipe book, and I've made it more than once. :) In the past, I've used a 9x9 square pan and somehow it didn't turn out as scrumptious as this last time I made it using my 9-inch round. This round pan is 1 qt while my square pan is 2 qt so maybe that's the deal. So if it is, I'd recommend following the recommendation in the recipe to use a 9-inch round baking dish.

This recipe is sweet, cinnamon-y, tart. My hubby doesn't like the sour zip the plums give it but I love it! It gives it just the right balance - and my kids ate it up!

Plum Kuchen

2 eggs
1/3 c milk
3 Tbl butter, melted
1 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c plus 2 Tbl sugar, divided
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
6 medium plums, pitted and halved
Whipped cream and additional ground nutmeg, optional

Mix the eggs, milk, and melted butter together. Combine the flour, 1/2 sugar, baking powder, 3/4 tsp cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg, and add that to the egg mixture, beating until just combined. (I always use extra cinnamon). Pour this into a greased 9-inch round baking pan. Place plums cut side up over the batter. (I used 5 instead of 6). Combine the remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle this over the top.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. (Mine was probably in the oven for more like 30 minutes or so because it was NOT done at all at 23 minutes.) Cool for about 10 minutes. (I skip this part. The plums are really hot, though, so it would do good to let them cool a bit.) Serve with whipped cream and sprinkle with nutmeg if desired. (I don't. Ha.)

I have no idea why mine wasn't done as quick as it says so in the recipe, but it seemed to take quite a bit longer. I didn't melt the butter before mixing it in...does that make things cook slower? :) I don't know. That's the only thing I did differently. In any case, this ended up scrumptious! I served it with ice cream instead of whipped topping. I had cake batter ice cream. It was yummy.

Enjoy!

Whatdoyado with Leftovers?

2011-08-03T09:51:00.003-06:00

I have a horrible time getting my family to eat all the food I cook. Somehow I always make too much. Then it sits in the fridge because I keep making something new, and when we try to eat leftovers it never gets used up fast enough.

Frankly, I'm tired of throwing out good food that's gone bad.

So now I've taken to freezing. I bought some good-sized freezer bags and now when I have leftovers I'm pretty sure will not be eaten within a week, I put them in the freezer for a rainy day. I know I'll have them. Next time I'm pregos I won't be cooking like this as much again. I somehow lose all the gusto for cooking. Or when I simply have a busy day and didn't take the time to plan. Out will come a nice bag of food I made previously. Enough time will pass between the last time I made it that it will seem brand new again. :)

Pasta with Caraway Cabbage

2011-08-03T09:32:00.006-06:00

I do apologize to those Vegetarians out there who I may offend by my meat-eating adjustments to this recipe. But the meal does taste good and can be made to fit any kind of eater's meal plan. Vegetarians simply go back to the original recipe. Gluten-free eaters and Celiacs can sub in rice instead of pasta, or simply omit it altogether or serve it over rice instead of mixed together. Whatever you like!

Original recipe:
6 Tbl olive oil or sunflower oil
3 onions, roughly chopped
12-oz round white cabbage, roughly chopped
12-oz of Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 tsp caraway seeds
1 Tbl fresh dill, chopped
1 2/3 c vegetable stock
7 oz fresh or dried whole wheat pasta spirals
salt & freshly ground black pepper
fresh dill sprigs, to garnish

This is what I did:
Heating the oil (not as much...probably 2 or 3 Tbl) in a large pot, I sauted one chopped up onion over low heat to soften it for about 10 minutes. Three onions would be too much for my family. I chopped up my head of cabbage and reserved about half of it in my fridge for another use. I trimmed and halved about half my 16-oz package of Brussels sprouts. You add the cabbage and Brussels sprouts to the onions and cook it for about 2-3 minutes. Then stir in the caraway seeds and dill. I used dry dill weed, about 1 tsp. It made it flavorful. :) Pour the vegetable stock over this as well (I used a single cup). Then you cover that and simmer it for about 5-10 minutes while you cook your pasta in salted boiling water. I did about half of my 16-oz bag of pasta. Drain the pasta and pour it into a bowl, adding the cabbage mixture to that.

I fried up cashews in butter and dill weed and then set them aside. Then fried up some cubed chicken in the same pan, using salt and pepper and dill weed for seasoning. I mixed those into the recipe to finish.

It turned out pretty yummy! My hubby actually liked it even though he doesn't like Brussels sprouts. Honestly, I'd never tasted them until a few months ago when my sister-in-law made this delicious Brussels sprouts salad with bacon crumbles and whatnot. It was so good I've loved them ever since!

The kids didn't eat it as well. They mainly ate the chicken pieces out of it (air-go I added chicken to this recipe). Maybe someday soon my cooking and determination will pay off in some changed habits. But they ate the dessert (of course) which didn't actually bother me too much because it's a healthy recipe. Stay tuned for my next post!

Radishes in Pasta? De-Lish!

2011-07-28T18:27:00.004-06:00

Yeah! Sorry guys, I forgot to take a pic this time and it's gone...:) Oops.

So, you get about 3/4 lb of linguine or spaghetti noodles and prepare them in salted water. Reserve about a cup of the water when you drain the pasta for later. Drain the pasta and then put it back in the pot with 2 Tbl butter and mix it up until the butter melts. Keep that warm.

Meanwhile you take a bunch of radishes and slice them nicely. Chop up the green parts too. Then slice up some garlic cloves (I used three). Put the garlic slices and radish slices in about 1 Tbl butter and fry them up until their crisp and tender. Toss in the green parts and cook until they wilt a bit. Season with coarse salt and black pepper flakes. Then add that to the buttered pasta you have set aside. Stir it in.

Add more butter to your frying pan and fry up some chicken or shrimp. I used chicken but the shrimp the recipe calls for sounds delicious. Cook that up until it's ready and add it to the pasta. I kept them as full big breast pieces which I tenderized before cooking (by pounding on it with that hammer thing -don't you love my technical terms!) but you can also use cubed chicken and it would go well in the pasta. I also seasoned my chicken with salt and pepper and garlic powder.

Turned out to be a nice dinner! Enjoy!

Rhubard Strawberry Crunch

2011-07-26T12:53:00.002-06:00

Rhubarb Strawberry Crunch

1 c all-purpose flour
1 c packed brown sugar
3/4 c quick-cooking oats
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 c butter
4 c sliced fresh or frozen rhubarb
1 pint (about 2 cups) fresh strawberries, halved (I sliced)
1 c sugar
2 Tbl cornstarch
1 c water
1 tsp vanilla extract
Vanilla ice cream, optional

In a bowl, combine the first four ingredients, cut in the butter until crumbly. Press half into an ungreased 9-inch baking pan. Combine rhubarb and strawberries and spoon over the crust.

In a saucepan, combine the sugar and cornstarch. Stir in the water and vanilla, bring to boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Pour over fruit. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Serve with ice cream if desired. Yields about 9 servings.

:)

Pasta with Chicken and Squash

2011-07-26T11:55:00.004-06:00

Pasta with Chicken and Squash

1 16-oz package spiral pasta (I used the multicolored kind)
2 c heavy whipping cream (I used milk w/added butter and it was little runny)
1 Tbl butter
2 c shredded Mexican cheese blend (I used shredded cheddar + shredded mozzarella)
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clover, minced
5 Tbl olive oil, divided (I didn't use this much, but I eyed it instead of measuring)
2 medium zucchini, julienned
2 medium yellow summer squash, julienned
1-1/4 tsp salt, divided
1/8 tsp pepper
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, julienned
1/4 tsp each dried basil, marjoram, & savory
1/4 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
1/8 tsp rubbed sage

Cook pasta in water and salt. Meanwhile, heat cream and butter in saucepan until butter melts and add cheese, cooking and stirring until melted. Stir it smooth. When the pasta is al dente, drain, rinse, and add to the cheese mixture. Cover and keep warm.

In a skillet over medium heat, saute the onion and garlic in about 3 Tbl oil until onion is tender. Add the squash, cook until tender, and add 1 tsp salt and the pepper. Remove from heat and keep warm. Add remaining oil to skillet and stir-fry the chicken with the herbs and salt until juices run clear.

Place the cheesy pasta in a serving platter and top with the chicken and the squash. Yields about 8 servings. :) Enjoy!

Grapefruit Salmon Salad

2011-07-26T11:50:00.003-06:00

So I made this one up. I think *mandarine oranges might do just as well or better then grapefruit in this one. But it was what I was craving so there ya go. :)

Grapefruit Salmon Salad

1 can grapefruit pieces, drained from light syrup
1 can chick peas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
1 5-oz can pink salmon, drained and flaked with a fork
Fresh spinach leaves, rinsed and torn to pieces

Combine in a bowl and mix together well. Drizzle lemon juice over top and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Weird Garden Squash

2011-07-24T12:03:00.002-06:00

Anyone know why my squash is not completely covering up its innards?

Pasta Chard and Chicken & Nectarie Blueberry Tart

2011-07-09T18:03:00.004-06:00

Today I made a couple more things with the ingredient from last week's baskets. But I got a lot more today! Look forward to recipes with broccoli and pineapple, plums, and apricots over the next week. We'll see what I can come up with!

For now, here's one more recipe for chard!

Farfalle w/ Red Chard and Chicken

4 oz farfalle pasta (bowtie)
6 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2-3 oz Cremini mushrooms
1 cup chard
1/2 shallot
1 clove garlic
3/4 Tbs rosemary (fresh) -I used 3/4 tsp dried
1/4 cup white cooking wine
2 Tbl butter
2 Tbl olive oil
2 Tbl Parmesan
Salt and Pepper

Bring 2 qts salted water to boil. Mince garlic and shallot, chop chard and rinse (stems included) and finely chop fresh rosemary. Add pasta to boiling water and preheat a large skillet with the olive oil. While skillet heats, dice up chicken. Add it to the skillet, season with salt and pepper (and whatever else you want). While chicken cooks, slice up mushrooms and add them to the chicken when the chicken is about 3/4 the way done. Saute until mushrooms wilt and then add the garlic and shallots. Saute 4 minutes and add chard. Toss a couple times. Add wine and rosemary. When pasta is done, drain and reserve a couple Tbl of the water. Add pasta to the skillet with butter and Parmesan. Remove from heat and toss until creamy sauce develops. Add reserved water if it's dry. I added more Parmesan to mine and also had it on the table to serve my family.

It took more time to make the tart so start it earlier in the day then the supper dish. It needs time to chill.

Nectarine Blueberry Tart

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar -I used brown sugar, which was delicious but I probably should have adjusted the baking time down because it made the crust crisper.
1 cup all-purpose flour

Pastry Cream:
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbl plus 2 tsp cornstarch
Pinch salt
1-1/2 cups milk
2 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups sliced fresh nectarines
1/2 cup fresh blueberries

In a small mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour and salt; mix until a ball forms. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Press pastry onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. tart pan with removable bottom. (I used a regular pie plate). Place pan on a baking sheet (which I didn't do with the regular pie plate) and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

For the pastry cream, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan and stir in the milk until smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat, cook and stir minutes longer. Remove from heat. Beat a small amount of hot filling into egg yolks and then return it to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring this to a gentle boil and cook and stir it another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and gently stir in the vanilla. Pour into a small bowl, cover, and refrigerate without stirring until chilled.

Just before serving, pour the pastry cream and spread into the tart shell. Arrange nectarines and blueberries on top and refrigerate leftovers.

Nectarine Chicken Salad and Butternut Apple Crisp

2011-07-06T19:02:00.005-06:00

We have been sort of overrun by lettuce lately because of getting some with Bountiful Baskets as well as growing some in our garden. Then I had a whole bunch of scrumptious nectarines in our basket on Saturday as well as a couple butternut squashes. So, tonight for dinner this is what I made!

Nectarine Chicken Salad

1/4 cup lime juice
1 Tbl sugar
1 Tbl minced fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
1 Tbl olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced

Combine all these ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake it well.

Then arrange
6 cups torn mixed salad greens
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked and sliced (I cubed mine)
5 medium ripe nectarines, thinly sliced
on a serving platter and drizzle with the dressing to serve. (I saved the dressing for the plates because my kids don't appreciate it.)

My photos also look completely covered in nectarines because I didn't use as much chicken.

Then I made this for dessert! I wondered how the squash in it would taste, but it ended up SO good.

Butternut Apple Crisp

3/4 cup packed brown sugar, divided
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 lbs butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
1 can (21 oz) apple pie filling
2 Tbl lemon juice
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
6 Tbl cold butter

In a bowl, combine 1/2 c brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add squash, pie filling, and lemon juice. Pour into greased 9-in square baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. In a bowl, combine the flour, oats, and remaining brown sugar. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over squash mixture and bake another 45-50 minutes until golden brown and squash is tender. Yields about 9 servings.

***This recipe can be altered for gluten free by using a whole cup of oats instead of half flour.

Enjoy!

Changing Direction to GOOD FOOD

2011-07-06T13:32:00.007-06:00

Ever since I started me other blog, I haven't been using this one so much. So I decided recently I was going to convert this blog to a new use that actually still fits pretty well.

FOOD and BOOKS

Lately I've started receiving Bountiful Baskets and it's gotten me looking into more recipes and actually more happy in the kitchen! Woopee! Who am I? Actually, I haven't had my husband cook for us for quite some time now! (Hmm...maybe the hatred against cooking is a pregnancy thing...who knew.) So lately not only do I like good food, but I've actually enjoyed making it!

The latest?
We got a whole lot of chard in the last basket and I have never had the stuff before. But this recipe was fantastic and it makes me love chard. For those of you gluten-free friends, you'd have to sub in gluten-free pasta or use rice, but it would still be yummy anyway. And for those of you vegetarians out there, it's perfect because there is no meat and it's still filled me up and worked as a main dish. Usually in my family, we have to add chicken or something because we're meat lovers. But the chard gave it the beef. :)

Here's the recipe!

Creamy Red Chard Linguine

8 oz linguine
1/2 cup cashews (soaked in water for about one hour)
1 1/4 cup vegetable broth
1/4 c - 1/2 c pinenuts
olive oil (1-2 Tbl)
1 red onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
4 more cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (I used less)
black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c dry red wine (I used cooking sherry, a little less)
another 1/2 c vegetable broth (I used more to make up for the wine)
1 lb red chard (tear leaves into bite-size pieces and chop stem thinly)
2 Tb fresh lemon juice

Boil water and cook the pasta. Drain soaked cashews and puree them with 1 1/4 c vegetable broth until smooth (might take about 5 minutes). Preheat pan over medium heat and toast pine nuts until browned (about 3 minutes). Remove into a bowl and set aside. Saute onions in pan with oil and pinch of salt for about 5 minutes and add sliced garlic. Saute for another couple minutes and add minced garlic, thyme, red and black pepper, and salt. Saute for another minute and add chopped chard stems. Saute 2 minutes. Pour in wine and vegetable broth. Turn up heat and boil. Reduce heat for 5 minutes, add chard leaves and mix until a little wilted. Add cashew cream and lemon juice and stir. Salt and pepper. Add pasta and toss to coat. Serve topped with toasted pine nuts.

Enjoy!

Look forward to some book reviews in the future too! :)

New Blog

2011-06-22T16:31:00.001-06:00

I'm starting up a new blog that's better than this one! Head over there to check it out!

Detour

2011-05-31T12:41:00.002-06:00

Lately I've been realizing I post more on my other blog now. I also realized I just paste a post once in a while that I make over there into this blog so you guys can see it too. I'm keeping this one in case I really start up on it again, but just so you know, you can find more Dani over there. :)

Our Dr. Suess Party!

2011-05-22T19:27:00.000-06:00

We celebrated my son's fourth birthday on Saturday at the park. We were lucky the weather cooperated with us - it was raining all week and then the clouds parted for a day of celebration. The wind picked up once in a while and blew things around a little, but other than that, things held down pretty well. :) In all , it was a fantastic success.

I themed the party around Dr. Suess because they're our favorite books and lately The Cat in the Hat show on PBS has been another favorite in the mornings. I was going to theme it around just the Cat, but I decided there were too many fun characters and so I just went with them all...well, as many as I could include.

So here are the plans I had that worked out. I held it at the park near my house. I used the color scheme of blue and yellow and red and white and put streamers up as well as taped little quotes from the best Dr. Suess books all around the gazebo thing we had the party in. I ordered Cat-in-the-Hat hat stickers online to put on each quote. I also got two balloons of each color for the tables: blue, red, gold, and white. Those are the things I didn't get pictures of, sadly.

I have had a sneetch ever since I was little that I have loved all my life and used it for the table decorations for where the presents go as well as a little stuffed elephant for "Horton". My sister gave us a new sneetch for my son a while back and I used that for another decoration near the party favor bags, as well as another little stuffed elephant. I printed off a bunch of Dr. Suess color pages and activities and put them in the favor bags with a bag of Pop Rocks and a little box of crayons. There was a little certificate page as well I printed off for the names on the front of each bag. These printouts, I found at Suessville.com. I also displayed a few of my own Dr. Suess books around as well.

For the food table, I got a bunch of different ideas to add to the theme. I got a 2-gallon container of pink lemonade through Oriental Trading and made my own (using my lovely drawing and tracing skills) Yink's Pink Ink label for it so we were drinking Pink Ink. I labeled the bag of popcorn (dollar store item, as well as the cute popcorn containers I got) to be Pop's "Do Not Hop on Pop" Popcorn and I had a big container of cheese pops that I labeled to be Horton's clovers. :) I also labeled the playdough ice cream carton to be Schlopp. (It ended up pretty schloppy too after sitting out and getting all melty during the party. My attempts to keep it on ice packets wasn't so successful, but the kids liked them anyway.)

The cake, I made myself. I had lots of different ideas for how to make it. I thought about making a cake shaped like the Cat's hat, but that was going to be more work and since I just had a baby I knew I wouldn't want to do that. So I was going to make a cake that looked like the two-layer cake that cat eats in the tub in The Cat in the Hat Comes Back - or the cake he balances when he's up on the ball in the first book. Then when I started frosting the cake, it just sorta turned into this 1-Fish 2-Fish cake.

I also laid out a long sheet of paper from this roll I have for all the kids to color and sign when they got there as a giant birthday card for my son.

And I found this awesome hat at Oriental Trading as well - it's not actually a Dr. Suess version, which would have straight stripes - but a candy cane type hat, but it worked well enough for me and my son loved wearing it with his adored 42 shirt which he's actually been in love with for over a year. I finally got an audible answer that morning for why he likes that shirt so much. He told me he likes it because he looks like a basketball player in it. :) Go figure.

Another Oriental Trading order were these personalized lollipops that I stuck in a wad of playdough at the bottom of these dollar-store plastic glasses. I had them print 'Jameson is a Who who's 4!" on them. They were a big hit! I had like 25 so I thought I'd be stuck with a bunch left. There were only 2 left (and I actually stashed them so I could have a taste when I heard they were blueberry flavored! Haha!)

Activities: I had the kids make little Horton the elephants out of egg cartons. The craft I found here. It's the third one down that's little mini elephants from egg cartons. It was pretty fun. I was worried the glue wouldn't stick well enough to put the heads on the bodies, but it worked out. If I had had more scissors for the kids, it would have been better. Cutting them all out myself wasn't so fun and I didn't end up cutting out enough for everyone to do it, but it didn't matter.

I read them Cat in the Hat and then we played a Cat-in-the-Hat version of Simon Says with silly tricks and then I had them do more tricks of whatever they could think of to be silly like the Cat. I thought about doing another game where we'd do this animal guessing game - but it ended up being thrown out because the kids were having fun playing more and the game would have been hard for the age level.

In all, the party was a blast and I'm grateful to everyone who came! We got to have a little pizza party at my house afterward for the stragglers, my sisters and their kids, and it was great to have a nice visit with them. :)

Life with a New Baby

2011-05-17T11:33:00.004-06:00

"Look Mom! I look like The Incredibles!"

Things have been good. I had the baby on the 4th and have been enjoying him. He's a little treasure! The boys adjusted pretty well and have been loving "da baby!"

My mom has been staying at my house and helping me out, which has been a life saver! I don't know how I'd do it without her. So of course, it was so appropriate that the day after I got home from the hospital it was Mother's Day. My mom is like a life-float.

But the hardest thing about this time for me is when my mom goes home.

She left yesterday and of course I felt like the clouds got darker. It seems the baby blues don't hit me until after she's gone because she keeps the house so clean while she's here and helps out so much with the kids! She's a big fan of that Nanny show...I can't recall the name at the moment for some reason. It has that lady that comes to the rescue when parents are having a rough time disciplining their children. Anyway, her biggest tool is the time out and I work hard to do it but my mom stays right on top of it and my kids behave so well when she's here! My biggest downfall with it is that I give too many warnings before I give the time out. My mom, it's one warning and they're in time out. I really need to be better with that.

We discussed how respect is important in parenting and how consistency is important. It's been a bit of a kick in my rear to get back in gear with parenting the way I should be. I slacked off during my pregnancy because I just got so tired - and that made Jimmy slack off too. But, honestly, it's more exhausting and frustrating to let things go and then get angry then it is to give a time-out. It's not about me, anyway. If I'm tired, tough luck! I shouldn't have kids if I'm not going to put in the effort needed to raise them right. The only time I feel it's necessary to step away is if I feel like I'm at the end of the rope and might hurt someone. Then I would hand the job over to Jimmy. I think Jimmy took that as my attitude being, well, I'm too tired to deal with it anymore. Because he has a couple times just given up and gone downstairs when he needs to be watching the kids and that's what he tells me. He just is tired of doing it. Not a good enough excuse for me.

Anyway- my mom has been a wonderful reminder for me. But now I am here in my home by myself, Jimmy's at work, and I have three kids and I should be exalting in this wonderful blessing God has given me, a precious baby. And instead I find myself being sad. Why do hormones do these things to us, women? Why can't I just joyfully move along into this next stage - enjoy my body adjusting to normality again - enjoy my ability to stand without trying so hard - or my ability to sleep on my stomach again - why can't it be about happiness? Instead I sit and feel like crying and have no valid idea why I feel that way. I just feel sad for no good reason.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think I have depression. I don't think I'm fully blown having postpartum depression - I just am having baby blues. I'm not thinking about hurting myself or my kids. I'm just sad. And what's so silly is that I feel like sitting on my front porch and crying in that little voice I use while I read that Dr. Suess book to my kids about the little bird looking for his Mommy...

"I WANT MY MOTHER!"

...yeah...

Boohoo. Boohoo.

Poor me. I just have two fantastic little boys and a brand new perfectly healthy little bundle of joy. And I'm sad.

Let's hope this passes fast.

Tuesday Toodles: 9 Haikus of Me

2011-04-25T10:57:00.001-06:00

1.
Of those things I hate
about me, I think I like
a few of those things.

2.
I feel disconnect
from reality somehow
and I don't know why.

3.
Sometimes the mirror
reflects someone different from
who I expect seen.

4.
I'm always in a
constant renovation stage
so bear with me please.

5.
I'm a romantic
by heart, but a realist through
my experience.

6.
Pretty words make me
happy, especially when
they're a gift for me.

7.
I think we all find
through conscious contemplation
better ways to see.

8.
Faith is believing
in something true but unseen
and acting on it.

9.
I need to believe
in something bigger than me-
I can't be alone.

Tuesday Toodles: These Are My Mornings, These Are My Evenings.

2011-04-21T10:53:00.001-06:00

i awake to the sound of the shower
and usually two little early-morning bodies cuddling up to my side
watching a silly monkey on tv with low volume
then i arise with an aching protest to my motion
that feels like my bones are splitting in half
in areas where no one would want to know about
and i throw on a robe for breakfast-time
which has slowly evolved from eggs and toast
to a bowl of cereal, oatmeal is fanciest
or a big glass of milk with
chocolate morning mix stirred into it

these are my mornings.

i drive home after dark listening to dave ramsey
or some book on cd like breaking dawn
which has it's own comforts about it
-at least my baby doesn't break my bones-
and i pull into the driveway to a house that's usually quiet
but on those rare occasions there are still night-owl gremlins
rushing about to welcome me home in their several stages of undress
as their father races to catch their quick little running legs
and toss them into bed. on these more rare occasions
i get to sit on the end of a bed and read dr. suess until
these gremlins lose their magical energy and lay quietly underneath their blankets.

these are my after-school evenings.

and next monday will be my last one.
then soon there will be three gremlins to chase
and i'll be the one racing to catch them.

Providing Support to Others

2011-04-20T10:56:00.002-06:00

I'm an animal lover. Being an animal lover who's allergic to dogs is ROUGH! But, someday I hope I find a dog that I'm not allergic to so I can have a pet. I have a cat (which I am also allergic to, but not as bad) but my husband really....well, can't stand her! :) She gets all her lovin' from mwah.

Anyway, so there's a new blog that has been launched to for a good cause. Help Jackie! Check it out and help them out if you can! Please spread the story, k! Thanks!

SO COOL! I wantz it!

2011-04-16T12:03:00.002-06:00

So, I realize I've been posting nothing but videos lately but can you blame me? Pregnancy update at my other blog if you want to know. :)

Sweet Friendships!

2011-04-15T08:41:00.002-06:00

If I Could Have a Dog Like This...

2011-04-08T11:33:00.002-06:00

...life couldn't be much easier. :)

Wacky Wednesday: I Want Attention

2011-03-29T10:27:00.007-06:00

Warning: Turn down your speakers to watch.

I could not stop laughing.

Thought I'd share.

and more, since they're all so short.

Tuesdays Toodles: Meme

2011-03-28T11:06:00.003-06:00

When are you happiest?
When I feel like I've accomplished something for the day and also spent time enjoying myself.

What is your greatest fear?
Probably something I won't let myself recognize or think about because that's the way my mind copes with things. I just can't comprehend the biggest of my fears unless they were to happen in actuality. My greatest fear is probably something traumatizing.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Probably that I can't figure out what is my problem. I'm one of those people that over-self-analyze. I am constantly trying to see my faults and improve myself. But when I can't tell what's wrong with myself - if I'm met with a situation where someone's reaction to me I cannot explain, it bothers me to no end! It's the perfectionist in me, I think. I then end up over-stressing about whether I had done something wrong or come off the wrong way and have no idea what I did so I can't know how to fix it. For example, my entire high school and college experience was beyond me. I never could understand why people seemed to gravitate away from me, no matter what I did. I tried to be welcoming - I wasn't the most outgoing, but something about me intimidated people. I still haven't been able to figure it out.

What's been your most embarrassing moment?
Oh dear. Well, I have a few posts under embarrassing that could put light on the subject...but ever since I had kids my embarrassing moments are different. I mean, there's a story where a man knocked on my door while I was streaking in the house because the kids were getting into mischief just as I was about to get in the shower so I was running around naked trying to get them in order and I turn around and see this guy through the window about to knock. When he did, my three-year-old runs to the door and I run after him shouting at the top of my lungs "DON'T OPEN THE DOOR!" repeatedly. I know this guy heard me. There's no way he couldn't have. So I went back and got clothes on as fast as I could, but the wait was long enough that he was walking away by the time I opened the door. He came back saying, "I..uh...wasn't sure if anyone was home." Yeah right. Was I embarrassed by this? NOPE! :) I remember being so excruciatingly embarrassed when I slid of the back of a boyfriend in high school and found when he turned around that my shirt had slid up to my neck from doing so. I completely flashed him. Luckily my bra was still in place, but still. I was so embarrassed. But, after childbirth, I could show myself to the world of strangers and who cares. Haha! No, I do have limits. I do. :) I think my real most embarrassing moment, though, is probably the time I went to my friend's wedding and his dad talked about me because my friend was marrying a woman named Danielle. That was a bit humiliating.

What is your most treasured possession?
Well, I could go on about children or my family...but I think this is talking about material things. I am very grateful to have my house, but if I lost it...well...I guess if I think about what I would lose, the most important thing for me to save is my memories. Pictures, baby albums, that sort of thing. Those are probably my most treasured possessions. I would say my scriptures, but I could buy new ones and it wouldn't bother me. I could say a lot of other things but they're replaceable. My pictures and memory books aren't.

What is your most unappealing habit?
Confession time: I pick my nose. I think everyone does, just no one admits it and everyone tries to do it secretly or out of view. Because if I don't have a dang tissue and I have something so uncomfortable in there, I just can't stand it! I can't leave it there! It drives me nuts. I guess this is the reason people used to carry around handkerchiefs. I should have a handkerchief. (Is this now my new embarrassing moment? Hmm...maybe.)

What do you owe your parents?
Wow. I owe so much to my parents. If we're talking money, I owe them in a way and yet they gift me with so much I could never truly pay them back. If we're talking anything else - everything. My parents have truly given me all that I have, up until I got married. They've helped out with much since then, even. But I'd have to say it's not everything anymore now that I've got Jimmy. But up until that time, I owed them everything - and because I haven't been able to pay them everything back, I still owe them everything. But they wouldn't take it anyway.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Jimmy... and then my kids are a close second...then all my sisters and my parents and my brother are lumped together closely after that. But I've come to learn something important about love. Jimmy is the greatest love of my life because I want him to be that. Feeling love is only achievable through giving love. If I decided to look elsewhere, he would no longer be this to me. He is only my greatest love because I want it for myself and I want it for my family and for him. Learning to love someone is done through service. It was described to me this way: a mother loves her baby unconditionally at birth - this is because she has already sacrificed so much for that baby. The love is there because of the sacrifice. Adoption is the same way - the love comes through the giving of love. With your spouse, if you feel the love is waning, then give up your selfishness. Pour your heart into giving love to your spouse and it will become better. The only way it won't is if the relationship is beyond your ability to save. Love grows through giving. That's what I've learned over the past year.

What has been your biggest disappointment?
Oh dear...probably my biggest disappointment was in my entire mindset as a teen and early adult. I was just stupid. I hope I'm not anymore, but sometimes I still ask myself if I'm thinking clearly - constantly questioning myself.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?
Oh dear...this is another of those. Well...let's take it away from regrets here. Because everything has a purpose. Instead of going back to a regret and trying to fix it, I think I would like to travel back in time to the ancient times in the scriptures and see and listen to Jesus visiting the Americas after his resurrection.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
More money couldn't hurt, of course - but I guess with more money, it's the managing that needs to be improved. We've been striving to follow Dave Ramsey's money makeover thing lately. It's just frustrating when we do the budgets and there really isn't anything left for ANYTHING.

What keeps you awake at night?
Uncontrollable thoughts, usually. Or my kicking baby. Or my aching back, hips, legs falling asleep before I do, or some other pregnancy woe.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
I think that lesson I talked about before about love is probably the most important to me right now. Beyond that, I think it's the perspective I have about love as a whole - not just romantically. I believe love is the most important of all things. No matter what you put it up against, loving is more important.

Feeling...

2011-03-27T09:44:00.003-06:00

...squished.

I found some funny cartoons on baby-gaga about pregnancy that I thought I'd share on a light note.

So these are separated by week. I didn't put them all here, but most of them. :) I'm at about the week where the guy walking by is thinking it's awesome that "her" tummy is bigger then his. :)

Saturday Speaks: Something Yummy

2011-03-19T13:09:00.002-06:00

The treat for today:
Cupcakes - made from a regular old cake mix but adding the juice left over from a jar of maraschino cherries instead of the water called for. Add cream cheese frosting and you've got it made! Yum!

Thursday Thumps: A Nice Day

2011-03-10T17:30:00.002-07:00

Today was a really nice day, so I didn't need to get out my Bang Head Here for this post, happily! I'm sure I could come up with negative things to say and use (like writing a horrendous paper or having kids tear apart the house) but instead I'm going to be more positive because I've had some good Vitamin D today to boost my spirits.

I got to go sit on a blanket at the park, reading some material for my paper, while my kids played on the playground today for three hours! Even after that long I had to peal them away from it and back to their tricycles so we could go home and I could use the computer.

I thought I'd post about how well Zachy's riding his tricycle now! It's the first time he rode his tricycle pretty much all by himself without my help all the way to the playground and back! He's gotten so big! It was a great day! I posted the video on Facebook this time because Blogger is giving me issues with posting it here. Booger.

Hope everyone enjoyed the sun today!

Wacky Wednesday: A Peak into My Schoolbrain as Well as My Obsession for Disney

2011-03-09T10:48:00.003-07:00

enjoy.

Drop on Over!

2011-03-03T09:41:00.002-07:00

Hey, thought I'd let everyone here know that I've started up my golden tears blog again. I stopped posting there in the fall of 2009, but I decided just recently it's time to start up again, so come on over whenever you're in the mood! :)

Sweet Giveaway!

2011-02-23T09:38:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone! I thought I'd spread the news about this awesome giveaway over at kara's party ideas! If you think my giveaways are good.......PHEW! Head on over to check it out!

Thursday Thumps: Dinner Date Flub

2011-02-17T09:16:00.002-07:00

Valentine's Day was on Monday this year. What a horrible time for Valentine's Day, let me just tell you! Not only is that the least favored day of the week, it's also one of the days I spend at school. I don't get home until about 8:45 and then we spend the next half hour to hour putting the kids to bed. ("We" is really just me speaking in third person about myself there. Yes, I have multiple personalities.)

So Jimmy's idea was to celebrate more fully on Tuesday. We took the kids to his sister's house after he got off work and went out to eat before going to the temple to do sealings. Jimmy had a gift card to this grill at the mall in downtown SLC so that's where we went. I still can't recall the name. It's a Z name. Anyway, I'm not referring anyone to go there.

It's a southwestern sort of place. Sort of. There's burgers and burritos and enchiladas and all that sort of thing. I'm not a fan of this kind of food, especially when I'm pregnant. Because spicy stuff is already hard for me to tolerate. Pregnancy just makes it worse. But they had this lamb chop dish that looked pretty good. I've never tasted lamb before, though. So I thought I'd go for it.

We got our food. Jimmy had a burrito with steak in it.

I took a bit of the lamb chop. It looked so good! The meat was quite tender but there was no flavor in the actual meat. All I could taste was OREGANO! OREGANO! Really. It made me gag. I mean, nothing against oregano. I usually like it amongst other flavors in something...but this was powerful. And there was NO other flavor. I tried to eat more, but I couldn't. I simply COULD NOT! It was horribly embarrassing.

It came with mashed potatoes and carrots with spinach and that was good. The potatoes were all cheesy and yum. But when I told the waitress I didn't like it, she took the plate without a word telling me she would get me a menu. But I already had another dish in mind that I had been trying to decide between so I told her the special would be fine.

So Jimmy eats his food. He finished his food. Then the cook comes out with my plate.

It's an angel-hair pasta with crab, lobster, and shrimp. It smelled delicious and sounded lovely. It wasn't on the menu, remember, because it was the special that the waitress had just told us about.

I take a bite. At first it's really good, but eventually I'm trying my hardest to force food down bite by bite because it's SO SPICY! The water I have doesn't help much. But after three bites I'm getting heartburn already so I know I have to just stop.

Sad day.

I didn't have the heart to tell the waitress AGAIN! I mean....I should have asked if it was spicy. What can I expect from a place like this? I bet everything was spicy!

So Jimmy just told her I wasn't feeling well and we needed a box.

Good thing I had taken enough bites of those mashed potatoes and they served complimentary cornbread at the beginning. I was starving when we got there! But my appetite was gone after we left.

So romantic, huh.

But then we went and did some sealings at the temple, and it was very special. What a neat and romantic thing to do for Valentine's Day! I could just feel the love in the room - it was beautiful. So that made the night better. On top of that, the sealer ended up being related to us through his wife. Her uncle is Jimmy's great grandfather. Small world, huh?

Wacky Wednesday: First Aid Mishap

2011-02-16T09:42:00.003-07:00

I decided that this story was worth posting, although it happened a while back. Can't blame me for not posting about it then. You'll see why.

Ok, so it was a couple months ago. I can't remember but I think it was early January? Maybe? Anyway, I was doing something in the living room while Jimmy was with the boys down the hall in our room doing something or other. I heard a thump and some little crying, but it didn't sound too serious and that kind of thing is almost a constant at my house. But come to find out it was a little more serious.

Jimmy comes out telling me he'd like some help because Mr. Giggles' head is bleeding. Oh the joys. When we wash it off, I see that it's not going to just heal. The little gash is about a 1/2 long and a 1/4 wide. It gapes open a little bit so I know it probably needs a couple stitches. But he wasn't even crying at all at this point. Didn't even seem to notice that he had a cut on his head like that. OH! Yes, this was in December then. Might have been before Christmas I guess...didn't think it was but it must have been.

You see, our insurance was going to change as of January 1st and we didn't want to go to the doctor's office at all until then because we were going to have to pay lots more for a visit before the end of the year. Anyway, so I call my dad.

In case you don't remember, I think I must have mentioned sometime on this blog that my dad's a PA. Well, he's now retired, but I think he'll be going to work part time because he misses it so much. Anyway, we call him.

He gives me some options. Because the gash is located back on the left side of his head in his hair, we shave around it a little bit and then he says we can either use a butterfly band-aid to hold it together or super glue. I don't have any butterfly band-aids (Add to list of things needed in a first aid kit) so we talk about super glue. He said that it's not usually something done on head wounds because it will leave a scar- but because this is back in the hair we aren't too concerned about the scar.

The other thing to be extra careful about this is that the wound MUST be completely closed when you put the glue on or the glue will actually hold it open and prevent it from healing. Plus, I wouldn't want glue INSIDE the cut. AAACK!

So we find the super glue and Jimmy has me hold the wound closed. But I keep saying for him to stop because I'm so stinking nervous about the entire ordeal. I'm too nervous that I won't hold it completely closed right or something and I keep saying it's not worth doing it and we shouldn't and we should just do something else. Go to the doctor and just spend the money. Then I start having a nauseous gag reflex from moving the skin on this kids head to hold the wound together....yuck. I've never had a weak stomach, but you know, pregnancy sometimes does that to you.

So we switch. Jimmy holds the wound. He's very insistent that this will work just fine and we shouldn't go pay for something we can handle. The gash isn't that bad.

So finally I get enough nerve to put the glue on as Jimmy's holding it shut. But if you've ever worked with super glue you'll remember that it's really runny and extremely clear. It's like water, almost. So I couldn't tell how much I was putting on. Jimmy was telling me, "that's enough, that's enough." but I couldn't tell. Anyway, by the time I stopped Jimmy held it shut a little longer to make sure and then went to let go.

Um....you can let go now.

Nope. You guessed it. His finger was stuck to my kid's head.

Now what?

Well, we called my dad again- he said fingernail polish remover will get it off but we don't want to get it in the wound. After a few attempts, making Mr. Giggles cry (which he hadn't been doing up until that point) we gave up on that and tried searching for other options.

Later, I called my mom, who thought the entire idea of super gluing was ridiculous (don't let me even get to what my mother-in-law, who's a nurse right now, thought of what we'd done). But she talked to my sister (she was at her house at the time) and they started searching the web for ideas. Our internet was down or I would have done that myself.

We had the neighbor come over with her essential oils thinking that might help. It didn't do much different. Eventually, using q-tips, fingernail polish remover, and lots of rubbing on Jimmy's finger, we were able to get his finger off. We had to turn on a movie for Mr. Giggles to watch and hold still. The positioning was rather funny too because of the angle Jimmy's hand was at on his head.

So for a couple weeks Mr. Giggles had a little gob of glue stuck to his head. After a while we cut the glue off and the scar is nice and pink and doing fine. So no problems there.

Lessons learned?
-No more superglue as first aid
-Buy butterfly band-aids and those little white stick-on things that work the same as stitches, whatever they're called for my first-aid kit.
-Sometimes my dad isn't necessarily right (don't want to say he was necessarily wrong, because it ended up working, but still...)

So there's my wacky story for today. Any other crazy first-aid experiences?

So stay tuned tomorrow for the story about my Valentine's Day dinner date! Tragic.

Winner!!! -better late then never!

2011-02-13T19:11:00.003-07:00

ANNOUNCING THE WINNER TO MY GIVEAWAY!

Sorry I'm late. The weekend came and went before I knew it. It wasn't until just now that I realized I hadn't even drawn the winner yet! So here it is!

As soon as I pushed play, a little one tackled me. AND whoever the other little paper was had a close but no cigar moment. Sorry about that, but I don't even know who it was, so you all can think it was you or whatever if you want. :) Anyway!

SO CONGRATS! The winner will get an email with the promo code in it to use in any of CSN's online stores. Indulge! Isn't it nice? :)

Monday Madness: My Project Almost Complete!

2011-02-07T09:45:00.006-07:00

The vine goes from one tree to the other tree - just not through the window, exactly. I just had it look like it's continuing from one side to the other.

Monkey in the tree! I had fun with this.

Giraffe face
Lion face
Butterfly detail
Leaves and bananas in the tree.

So that's where I've got so far. I think I might add a little more color to the butterfly wings and maybe the the grass to give it a little more dynamics. But I think it looks pretty good! How do you like it?

OH AND DON'T FORGET MY GIVEAWAY IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP! The drawing will be Friday!!!

Saturday Speaks: Flight by Sherman Alexie

2011-02-05T07:52:00.006-07:00

Sherman Alexie's Flight is a book that was actually an assigned read for one of my classes this semester. But it is a very easy read for a novel in a college class. I and many of my classmates could read this book in less than an hour (I held myself back for the sake of our class discussions) because not only is it simply written, but it's captivating as well.

The story is about the journey of a young troubled boy with a troubled past, and not much of a future ahead of him as far as he can see, as he learns who he is, where he fits in humanity, and what he really believes in through the experiences he has flashing into different identities in time. The book takes on a historical quality at times, at other times it takes on an almost sci-fi kind of feel.

There are scenes in this book of major violence, memories of horrific events, and some strong language, so it's not for the weak stomachs of the world, but it definitely holds a pack of meaning when it discusses question and major debate of "Is murder/violence wrong in any/all situations?" among other questions about racism, diversity, identity, and these things are illustrated very strongly throughout the novel's pages.

In finishing this novel, I was led to contemplate the hope in humanity and what it means to give respect and gain respect. I was led to contemplate the power and meaning behind kindness, respect, and sharing of each others' stories in order to give and gain respect. It makes you contemplate lots of things, actually, beyond just that, and that's what makes it such a good book even though it's so simple. I actually appreciate it's simpleness, and would recommend it to any reader willing to sit a moment and plunge into its world.

Friendly Friday: Another Giveaway! Sign Up!

2011-02-04T06:22:00.002-07:00

If someone told me, hey come sign up for a gift certificate to CSN Stores, I'd say hey - sign me up! Look at the awesome possum wooden swing set they've got along with all the other swing sets. I need me some good porch furniture at some point. As of right now, I've got two camper chairs sitting on my front porch. Beautiful, huh. Maybe this year we'll get something better for our porch; but you know, next to the basement getting finished (Jimmy just hammered out the cement in the bathroom down there to install the tub, woohoo!) and the kids growing up and needing new beds, etc. etc. the porch furniture is on the back burner lately.

I mean, I've shown you some of the other stuff at CSN stores for babies like high chairs and nursery furniture and whatnot; since hey, I'm a mom. But they've got so much more than that at all their stores! SO I'm doing another drawing for you guys!

I know, don't you love me?

Yes of course you do.

Guess how much you're getting this time?

$65 promo code
for anyplace in the many online CSN stores!

That's right. You could get anything from your house to your toenails!

Here's how it's done:

~Comment on this post (single entry in drawing)
~Post about this post on your blog, twitter, etc. and comment w/link to let me know you did (second entry in drawing)
~Someone comes and comments to enter, saying they found out about the drawing from YOU (third entry in drawing)

Thursday Thumps: Visualize This

2011-02-03T13:48:00.001-07:00

Ok....let me go bang my head a moment over those people who put this man in office.

....

Ok... I'm a little better now.

Monday Madness 2: Donald Trump for President?

2011-01-31T08:38:00.005-07:00

What do you guys think of this?

I have watched Donald Trump on tv for a while now. At first he sort of bugged me, with the way his show was advertised with the "Your Fired" being his punchline. But after watching him, I really really like the way he holds himself, the way he thinks, how he spends and gives money, and what he stands for. He seems to me, a great man.

But, what I've discussed with others is this, is he ready to handle our country as president?

Donald Trump is a genius in financial things, the foreign oil issues, and whatnot - but is he militarily educated? You know, I'm looking up more info, but I think even if he doesn't have the major experience in that area that another might have, no politician is perfectly knowledgeable in all areas. I think if Donald Trump doesn't know enough about a particular area, he is smart enough to choose advisers he trusts who do.

Frankly, Mr. Trump is a talented and intelligent man who is thriving in spite of the hard position this country is in, and it's not because he's not giving. As one in high standing, people wouldn't be able to accuse him of being selfish and unloving because he isn't "spreading the wealth around" as they say - because he gives! And he knows about the wasteful horrors of the country. I think he'd actually DO SOMETHING about this stuff!

But some say he's just a celebrity that thinks he can go far because he's popular. Well, he may go far because people know his face, but I really don't think this has anything to do with his celebrity status. I think he genuinely feels like our country is in need and he knows he has some things he can bring to the table on the issues.

I'm excited to view the next part of the interview I shared here. I want to know more about what he thinks because I really think I may very well be voting for this man. Just need to know a little more first.

What do you think?

Monday Madness: A Project Continues

2011-01-30T09:46:00.003-07:00

So we've added to the scene in my boys' room this weekend. It's starting to really look cute! We'll be adding monkeys in the trees and maybe a toucan or a macaw or something. We'll be adding a bush in front of the giraffe so that's why it's sort of standing in mid air for the time being. I'm going to add more detail in the face and stuff too on the lion and giraffe. It's been fun to work on a project with my mother-in-law. I'm feeling more confident about doing things like this. :)

Monday Madness: A Project Begins

2011-01-23T16:18:00.003-07:00

This is my boy's bedroom. My mother-in-law decided she'd do a mural for them as a Christmas present and we just got started! It's been fun, actually. I'm excited because it's teaching me how easy it really is to do this - well, so far, anyway. We'll see what happens when we start adding in trees and animals. This is step one: grass and sky! Stay tuned for when we do more!

Sacred Sunday: The Will to Go On

2011-01-16T10:06:00.006-07:00

This week, I was trying my best to read the 50 or so pages of a novel as well as these other essays I was supposed to read for classes and I let myself get stressed enough about it that I got a little crazy.

I forgot I didn't have school tomorrow for Martin Luther King Day, so I was measuring my time tighter then it was, and now I'm thinking to myself - ok, now I can go use that bang head here sign again. It's usually reserved for my Thursday Thump days, but seriously, I need a little reality check right now.

Thump ...Thump ....Thump

Ok, that's better.

Moving on with my story, I never used to be the kind of person that got SO FOCUSED on a task that I had to tune other things out and if someone bothered me I snapped at them, but that's what I've been doing this week. I'm going to step back now and take a breath, apologize, and begin again. Because it's not the right way to handle things, and if I go throughout my entire semester pushing people away when I'm doing my homework and snapping at them if anyone needs anything, then my kids will be neglected and I'll be making a huge mistake!

That's not why I'm going back to school.

So, why was I going back to school? Remind me again?

Oh, yeah. That's right. It's so I can suddenly scream at the top of my lungs in the middle of reading a book, scaring the crap out of my children.

No wait, that's not it, is it.

But that did happen. *Hangs head in shame.* But it was that or something worse! I just had to let it out! I hope my hugs made up for it afterward.

You know, someone spoke in church a while back about how we "take upon the name of Christ" in my religion and what he said really struck me. He reminded us that it's not just while we partake of the sacrament that we are taking upon His name. It's not just while we attend church. It's not just when we are participating in prayer or scripture study. It's ALL THE TIME! So, when my kids aren't going to bed and I'm getting frustrated and lose my temper, I am still speaking and acting in the name of Christ! Also, when I'm getting frustrated with my time management for school and do something stupid like scream, I'm still taking upon myself Christ's name. Because it's ALL THE TIME!

I keep having to remind myself this. I think it helps me to be a better person to remember that I'm constantly trying to be a witness of Him. I'm constantly trying to show others that I am a believer. I am a follower of Christ.

I'm speaking in church today at 1:00 and it's the right time for me, I think. As much as I was thinking, "NOW?" when Jimmy informed me we were going to speak, because at the time I was trying to keep up with my studies and didn't know how I would find the time to also prepare a talk, I now can see it's the right time for me to be forced to look at the spiritual side of things.

I needed a reality check. So I got one.

The topic I'm speaking on today at church is Spiritual Preparedness.

It made my perspective shift a little bit. I realized I'm being really narrow-minded with this school stress. I can do this. I CAN. I don't need to stress so much. It's a transition, and I'll need to find a good routine to balance my family with my studies, but I can! I can do it.

But I also need to factor in the scriptures. This week I added something to the bedtime routine for my kids. Mr. Grins just started primary this year. The theme is scripture study and they gave all the kids a little book to record their scripture reading in it - personalized with their pictures and everything (very cute) - and they have the opportunity to receive a sticker for each milestone they achieve. Mr. Grins is only 3 so I know he isn't going to take care of his own scripture set yet, and I've tried reading to him before and he doesn't have much interest yet. But this booklet thing has worked! He's actually pointed out to me that he doesn't have scriptures and he needs them! :) Thank you, Primary!

So now after we read the traditional Dr. Suess and other fun books before bed, I turn the light out, tuck them in their beds, have them say their prayers, and then I sit somewhere in the room with my scriptures and a little flashlight and just read. I read for quite some time because I read until they are either asleep or one of them is and the other is at least relaxed enough to stay in bed. It DOES keep them in bed, which has been a nightmare for the last few months since Mr. Giggles started climbing out of his crib and now he's in a toddler bed. But on top of that, I am getting some reading in for me too!

Then something else happened. Mr. Grins commented to me before I began reading last night about what he remembered. Before I start reading, I've given a little review of what we read before so they can remember if they got anything from the story. (I'm reading chapters at a time, by the way, because it takes that long for them to go to sleep.) After the reading last night, I've reached the middle of Nephi's visions. But guess what part Mr. Grins remembered?

Guess. He's a boy.

He cut off Laban's head!

:) Yup. I just recently discussed with a friend of mine about how her boys always remember that part of the story in the scriptures and she actually thinks that in a way, it was part of the story to get the attention of little boys in the future. :)

So this is my new goal. Keep my head! Because my head can easily be chopped off by school if I don't keep my feet.

I have REALLY been enjoying class times. It feels SO good to get out and have educational adult conversations and learn again! After over three years of talking baby talk, it feels SO good. I really have NEVER been so talkative in class before, from what I recall of class time. It makes me feel so good to speak up and not feel like a complete idiot. At least, not all the time. :)

Thursday Thumps: A Thump Turned Positive

2011-01-06T11:04:00.004-07:00

So, Christmas went well. We had a good time with my husband's side of the family on Christmas Eve and had a pretty quiet Christmas with just us (If you can call Christmas with a 2 and 3-year-old quiet) at home. Then on Monday, I had my ultrasound appointment and we headed south my visit my parents for a few days until New Years, which was spent at my sister's house. It was lots of fun! Great celebrations and family time! I love the holidays!

Anyway, this post is mainly going to be about the baby that's now wildly active within me. During the beginning of this pregnancy and all the way up until the last week or so, I wondered why this baby seemed so still and quiet. I got it in my mind it was to be a girl and I even bought a yard of adorable pink Strawberry Shortcake fabric to make a blanket out of for her. I imagined the little girl within me being so gentle and sweet and it was just ingrained. Then I was sitting there as the doctor looked at all the baby's vital organs, waiting to hear him tell me we were having a girl. The baby's head looked good and I got to see the arm wiggle around and a bit of the upper lip and nose at one point. I wondered if there was some thumb-sucking action. Oh great, here we go again! The spine looked good, the stomach and heart, and upper leg bone, one of the kidneys was a little big but we'll just check back with that later because it's not uncommon and more common in boys. It didn't phase me. This wasn't a boy. "It's a boy." he says. I couldn't help my knee-jerk reaction of "What? It is?" and that startled the doctor. He looked at me for a moment and pointed with his little clicker to the obvious display between the two legs on the screen. "Yes. See?" I was pretty speechless for a minute and then just giggled a little, Strawberry Shortcake fabric the furthest thing from my mind.

There's a lady who lives a couple houses down from me on my street who has a houseful of boys with no girls, ages ranging from 11 down to I think something like 2? maybe and she spoke recently at church about preparing her children to be missionaries. She said something that stuck like glue to my subconscious. This was what she said, for the most part. "When I found out I was pregnant with my third boy, I realized that I was going to be the mother of boys." At that, some other women laughed those little polite appropriate laughs that go along with when someone speaks in public. Then she went on to say, "So then I realized I needed to really start investing myself in missionary preparation, scouts, and priesthood responsibilities." Somehow what she said really stuck with me...even though at the time I thought to myself that what she was saying didn't apply to me because I was having a girl.

Now I'm looking back at myself and realizing that I was just being stubborn.

I spent my first day on campus at my first day of class yesterday sitting in my desk trying to listen intently to what the professors said while a little kidder kicked away like crazy inside of me seemingly trying any venue of distraction. I think maybe he's making up for his quiet demeanor early on in this pregnancy and giving me quite the beating now that he's larger. Waiting for the best time, I guess?

I'd post the ultrasound video because I have it on a disc but it doesn't seem to be letting me, so you'll have to use your imagination.

Upsides of having a boy:
-I get to really do some digging for a name (generally considered as a downside, but hey, I can be positive about it now that I have to do it!)
-Most of the things I need, I've got already. (except now I need more crib bedding which I would have needed either way, I guess, it just doesn't seem as fun to pick out anymore... NO! IT'S GOING TO BE FUN!)
-This time when I come home with a baby and his sore little diaper area, I'll know what to do and I won't get the diaper stuck to his healing skin again and rip my heart out again or any of that. I am PREPARED! (Which was something I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal with at all...but hey, I can use another bout of experience in the department I guess.)
-I've heard girls can be evil. I've escaped from her evil grasps a while longer now, I guess.

Happy New Year Everyone!

My resolutions?
*Do my homework on time.
*Don't go into labor until after finals week.
*Pass all my classes with flying colors.
*Hold FHE on Tuesdays because I'm not home Monday nights anymore.
*Read the scriptures between the required texts I have to read for school
*Get really good at sign language
*Keep a clean house the best I can
*Read to my children every night

Doable? Let's hope so!

Friendly Friday: Hug for the Holidays!

2010-12-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hope you all have Merry Christmas!

(Or whatever other holiday you celebrate this time of year - no offense intended and none taken by my followers, I'd hope! So much for being politically correct, huh! Happy Holidays, then!)

Wacky Wednesday: Learn the Salsa for a Quick Laugh

2010-12-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

Left and then right and repeat. That's it, you've got it!

Monday Madness: Christmas Preparations...

2010-12-20T17:21:00.003-07:00

I don't know about you, but I think this year has gone by too fast! What happened?

So, are you ready? Christmas is this Saturday! Run Run Run! :) My sister went shopping on Saturday and it was utter chaos, but this is her advice - stay positive!

When she arrived in the crowded parking lot, (in which she could hardly find a spot to park in and when she did someone pulled in quickly before she could park there) she thought to herself, "If I'm going to survive this, I'm going to need to decide right now not to let anything bother me."

So throughout her shopping, she said "excuse me" and "thank you" and "Merry Christmas!" every chance she got! The entire experience was much better because of that decision. Of course it was chaotic with all the people everywhere (the Saturday before Christmas is the busiest shopping day of the entire year) it was still a positive experience. She got as much done as she could until she was limping around on her bad knee and called it quits and wasn't even in a bad mood afterward!

So, as you finish up your Christmas shopping and try to find that last-minute gift for that person who really should have been thought of earlier, stay positive and keep that holiday spirit alive within you, and I don't mean the holiday spirit of that horrible 12-days-of-Christmas song of all the woes of this time of year. I mean that smiley, giving, cheerful spirit of Christmas - the true reason for the season - and also the reason that Christmas time has always been a favorite in my book.

Enjoy the week, and Merry Christmas!

Wacky Wednesday: Lets Go Sledding!

2010-12-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

This really gets that fun winter feeling going, doesn't it. I just wanna go out and sled on a snowy hill now and there isn't enough snow in my neighborhood at the moment. Maybe soon...

Wacky Wednesday: Pregnancy, Babies, and My Doc

2010-12-08T20:02:00.004-07:00

I thought since this is what's happening in my world I'd do an update on it for you guys. Get that last depressing tearful post down a notch because every time I glance at it I tear up again. Best not to think to hard on it.

SO! This is what's going on with me.

This pregnancy has been real different for me this time. It's strange how one body can go through the same thing multiple times and always do it in a different way! I mean, I've done this twice already, shouldn't my body have it down by habit by now? Well, apparently not. Every pregnancy is indeed different- and not just for different people, I guess!

So this time I've had headaches and the heartburn is waiting in the dark sidelines like a black omen. My last pregnancy I had heartburn so bad that even prescription strength meds didn't kick it! I'm hoping I don't get to that point this time, but I can feel the little hints of it coming on... or coming up, if you know what I mean. Fingers crossed that it won't be as bad.

My first pregnancy, I didn't know what to look for or expect with the movements from inside me so I think I noticed I could feel the baby at about the time they say you should - during the second trimester just before the big ultrasound time. My second pregnancy, I was shocked and awed that I could feel the baby and REALLY feel him during my first trimester. I remember sitting in the grass on a slope in my swimsuit during the summer - I think it was June even (I was due in December!) and I turned my body at the torso to talk to someone uphill from me and the baby did flips inside me! I gasped and wondered if anyone could actually SEE my stomach move! But of course no one had been watching that closely. But that was EARLY for that kind of action.

Well, this pregnancy I was looking for it. I started feeling the baby a bit early, but it wasn't so extreme. And it wasn't often. Then I started wondering if it was just gas or something because I didn't really feel the baby much anymore. Now that I'm at the stage where I SHOULD be feeling the baby, I do- but it's like little tiny flutteries. It's weird! My boys kicked me hard! Perhaps I'm just remembering later in the pregnancy, but seriously! THIS IS SO GENTLE and the times are so spread apart too! I feel the baby most in the early mornings and still it's like butterflies in my stomach doing gentle aerobics or something. More like yoga. :)

The more I think about the movements in the womb, the more I can understand what I've heard about how you can actually get hints about the baby's personality even at that stage! Because, when I think of my oldest son's time in the womb, I realize he was the one that interacted with me the most. He would play games. I would tap on my abdomen and he'd tap back like we were playing a game. He was fun to play with when he was in the womb. I remembered him reacting to music too.

My second son didn't play so much. If I tapped my stomach or tried to get his attention at all, he'd hold really still. It was hard for me to let anyone feel him because the more I tried to get a reaction from him, the more he'd hide from us. We had to catch him off guard. The thing is, he was even MORE active then my first son. I started to notice, though, that he moved the most if I changed my position or something. It seemed like he would get really uncomfortable and wiggle a whole lot to let me know that I shouldn't do that to him. It sorta made me laugh.

Now I think about their personalities, and that's just so! My oldest son is a big tease and a ham. He loves interacting with other people. My second son isn't as dependent on other people and can play on his own really well. He also isn't so big on being touched too much - if I hold him or cuddle him in the same way my oldest son likes, he often pushes me away. He's just not a big "squeeze me" kid and has had to warm up to loves. Now he can give big hugs and kisses, but it's after we ask for a hug or give him warning. Otherwise he just pushes us away, like, "don't bug me!" It's kind of funny.

So I think about this baby inside me and wonder. Is this what a baby girl feels like? (Wishful thinking? I'm finding out gender on the Monday after Christmas.) Is she practicing ballet on tippy-toes in my abdomen once in a while? Does she strum her fingers lightly against the womb in some artistic way or is she just more gentle by nature?

Or is his/her gentleness just a ruise because this baby is only comfortable in the womb and once let out into the world he/she is going to punch and kick and scream his/her way through life?

Because my second son was SO active in the womb I was so afraid he would be a crazy fireball when he came out. But he was SO EASY! He's the easiest baby I've ever known! He's sweet and quiet and gentle and slept through the night at 3 months and didn't complain about anything. He's had to really learn how to complain in order to stand up to his big brother! But even now he's a big push over when his brother takes his toys.

So what's this baby like? Because this baby is so calm and quiet within me now, does that mean this baby is going to be really difficult after birth?

After birth. Awe, the memories of my oldest son's scrunched up face, whimpering and complaining like he'd just gone through the worst thing EVER! He's always been dramatic about his experiences. :) Then my second with his wide eyes like he was wondering where he'd just come to and wanted to just see everything! Thinking about those moments truly make me excited for the arrival of this third child. What expression will this baby wear?

Although childbirth is disgusting and gross, it truly is a wonderfully magical thing! This living breathing being coming into the world for the first time and taking that first breath of air. It happens all the time, literally, but each moment is so special! It makes me realize the value in every moment on this earth. Every moment is someone's true beginning. Every SINGLE moment.

...
Not to abruptly change the subject - you can stay on that thought for a moment if you'd like, via the three dots - that gives permission. :)

But the biggest concern and worry of this pregnancy which is different from the last two is that I live in a new place, which means I have to deliver in a new hospital with a new doctor.

How in the heck do people choose an OB???? I've asked around- I have! But most the people I talk to go to doctors further away from where I live then I would like to travel every couple weeks or so. I read online reviews - but of course some of those can be biased or bogus, who knows! Anyone can write them! Maybe it's some angry ex-coworker that wants to get them back! Not so dependable.

So I went to a couple appointments to a doctor I found that seemed to be in a location that would work for me. The first appointment took FOR....EV....ER!!!! Seriously! AND THEIR WAITING ROOM HAD NO TOYS!!! I had no idea and had brought my kids. BIG mistake. They ran here and there and disappeared - I was THERE FOR THREE HOURS! The fifteen minutes that I talked to the doctor went ok. I didn't know what else to expect from her. She informed me that the "skin tag" I got during my first pregnancy looked more to her like a "third nipple." (TMI? I'm only telling you this because I'm going to bring it up later in this story.) I thought that was weird because my old OB who I loved said it was a skin tag. The other thing that was strange about the visit is the organization. I came in and the nurse took my weight and blood pressure as expected, then took me in the room and gave me this huge bag of "goodies" and then I waited twenty minutes for the doctor. The only other odd thing about the doctor is that she couldn't get the heartbeat on her little tool thingy. I heard a heartbeat but she told me it was mine. Which scared me a bit, but she sent me to do an ultrasound to make sure everything was good. (Which I had to make a seperate appointment for and wait in a seperate waiting room, again with no toys, until they had time to admit me only to find everything was fine.)

After the consultation and exam, the nurses said "OH WAIT! We need your urine still - and your blood!" It was like, an afterthought. So weird! So I did the urine sample, but then after I told them that I had tough veins they sent me down to the lab downstairs to do the blood draw because no one there felt comfortable enough to poke me. Oh yeah, that makes me SO confident in getting an IV when the time comes! (FYI, I think the IV is the WORST part of child birth! Seriously!)

ANYWAY! So there was an hour at the doctors office, an hour at the ultrasound office, and an hour at the lab for my blood work. By the time I went to do the blood work, my husband took the kids home. BLESS HIM!

My second appointment with this doctor was faster, but she still didn't find the heartbeat. She could hear the baby moving though so she said it was fine.

After that I thought to myself - this is STUPID! I'm driving almost an hour north to see this doctor. In January I'm starting school, where I'll be driving about an hour SOUTH to. What if I went into labor on campus or something?

So I decided to switch doctors and hospitals.

Today I went to my first appointment with the new doctor. This office had a fish tank and a Christmas tree, but no toys again. But the kids were better because it wasn't so HUGE a waiting area and the staff was so nice to them! The doctor was really nice to them too - it was very comfortable. Then GUESS WHAT! He used that little tool thingy to find the baby's heartbeat and after listening to the same thing that other doctor always did he said it sounded great. I asked him if that was the baby's heartbeat or mine. He said- "Oh, that's the baby's heart, alright! If it were yours you've either just ran a marathon or I'm scaring you to death right now." It made me laugh. Then he showed me the difference by letting me hear by own heart beat in comparison to the baby. Mine was SO SLOW in comparison and I KNOW for a fact it was the first time I'd heard it. So, you follow me on this?

The other doctor had been hearing my baby's heartbeat all along and thought it was mine?!? Made me worry that my baby's heartbeat wasn't being heard when it was there all along!

WHAT?

So, yeah, I'm more comfortable about this new doctor. I'm questioning whether that little thing is a third nipple or a skin tag now. Perhaps if this new doctor ever exams me there I'll ask and find out.

I've already done a little review about my old doctor online - but I'm starting to wonder if I should make another with this new revolution. Would that be mean?

Anyway- happy pregnancy - hope I conjured up your own fond memories or dreams of the future. :)

Monday Madness: I Loved My Dog

2010-12-06T17:58:00.001-07:00

Today has been a rocky rough day for me. Probably why I have been online so long today. I got up this morning thinking that I would get lots of cleaning done as well as keep an eye on my potty-training son. Well, he peed on the potty for the first time this morning and I was so excited, I called my mom to tell her. We talked awhile and then she informed me that my dog has died.

That phone call went from a small celebration to rock bottom pretty quick.

My dog.

Lady became my dog when I was in the eighth grade. She showed up at our house. We never figured out if she was dropped off or had gotten lost - because she looked well groomed, but was starved. She had had puppies once before but didn't look very old - 2 years at most maybe? I loved her from the very beginning. My parents tried to find a home for her at first - but I didn't want to let her go. These people came to see her and when she threw up in front of them (symptom of eating so much after being so starved) I told them she does that ALL THE TIME and made it really dramatic. They didn't want her. So we kept her. She was an indoor dog - which took some talking-into for my parents actually, too. She slept on my bed with me for all my teenage years. She followed me everywhere in the house that I went and whenever I sat down I never lifted my hand from her head or back. She was my best friend.

She had these really dark brown eyes that listened to everything. She knew me better than anyone. I loved her SO MUCH! I remember I would play hide and go seek with her. She was an eye-dog more then a nose-dog and so I'd hide behind the door and she'd walk around and around the house until she finally caught sight of my feet sticking out and found me. We'd also play fetch and tug-of-war. We'd wrestle. If I ever went anywhere I missed her. I remember talking to friends about her when I was away on a school activity for a week and I bawled my eyes out and felt like a moron. :)

Then I went to college. It was SO HARD to leave her with my parents but there was no other way. When I came home on holidays she was SO HAPPY to see me and I felt a piece of myself tear away every time I drove away. Once my mom said that when I drove away, she ran after the car and didn't stop for a long time. My mom called for her and waited out on the road until she came slowly walking back with her head down. It made me so sad to hear about it- but in a way I was glad to know she felt the same way I did. I would be in tears sometimes leaving her behind. I always swore I'd take her when I had my own place.

When I got married, we didn't ever have an apartment that would allow animals - and if we found one we couldn't afford it. Newlyweds don't have all that much money -especially when we were still going to school. So my parents kept her. By this time, Lady had formed her attachments on my mom and dad pretty well. She still loved me, but I think she'd let me grow up. My parents moved to a new house and took her wherever they went. She loved the car rides and walks they'd go on. They'd go to Zions Park a lot and she'd come along. But then she started getting old. She didn't keep up as well and would fall down a lot so they started leaving her at home.

A couple years ago she was bitten by a snake and it was a close call - we don't know how she got through it. But she did. The last few times I've seen her she's been happy and bright and comfortable, but she was definitely getting old. My sister-in-law brought her dog down with us for a visit and she would go running around in the yard, zooming here and there, and Lady would get excited and try to run with her but only get a couple yards before she'd have to rest and she got so out of breath. It was cute. :)

I knew the time was coming - I just wish I could have said goodbye.

Today when my mom told me, I held myself together long enough to get off the phone but then I fell apart and my two little boys gave me little hugs and said it was ok and kissed me on the cheek. I felt bad they saw me fall apart like they did. I was fully sobbing, to the point I couldn't stand and I got a headache. But I couldn't hold myself together. I kept imagining her resting her chin on my knee or laying next to me on the floor when I finally had to just lay down. I still am tearing up thinking about her. I'll miss her so much.

If you'd like to see a picture of my dog and read the little tribute that my nephew wrote about her, go here: http://thehoganfamilysite.blogspot.com/

She was a beautiful dog.

Want to Know about Monster Emotions?

2010-12-04T10:46:00.002-07:00

I just recently learned something about mothering my three-year-old. If you want to read more, click here, I posted about it at my other blog. Thanks!

Friendly Friday: Hope

2010-12-02T08:29:00.005-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted and I apologize - just letting life take over instead of my online obligations lately - which has actually felt really good. :) I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the holiday season.

I just came upon this song on YouTube and I had to share it!

It brought tears to my eyes. I was fully crying by the end and when I'm touched to tears, I can't help it - I have to share what has touched me. I think it just hits my heart close to home. I love the words of hope this song brings. "...Just live to see the day..." Because it's so true. Things may seem impossible sometimes, but if we choose life and move forward, things will get better eventually.

Here's a poem written by Carol Lynn Pearson:

UNFED

We feed one another in rations,
Serve affection measured to
The minimum daily requirement,
The very acceptable least--

While love bursts the walls
Of our larder,
Wondering, amazed,
Why we are afraid
To feast.

(From Beginnings and Beyond, www.clpearson.com/personal_gifts.htm

)

I also wanted to share some words from another blog.

"Love is delicious. Love is life giving. Love is not to be hoarded or stored up for some distant future. There is an endless supply with more than enough to go around. Love is everywhere -- in ridiculous amounts. Love is to be felt and bathed in and celebrated. Pour it on, soak it up, drink it down, roll in it, sing it, breathe it, dream it, live it. It will change everything. I promise." DancingWithCrazy

May we all take a little more time to say "I love you" to those around us and share a little hope with those who are struggling during this Christmas season. Sending my warmest wishes to you...

Saturday Speaks: The Sleeping Beauty Proposal

2010-11-20T06:02:00.000-07:00

THIS IS A CRACK UP!

Ok, that being summed up so well, I'll have to elaborate a little bit on it, won't I. Well, I loved reading this book. From the very beginning, I was enthralled by the style of Strohmeyer's writing. She has a wonderful sarcasm in her writing that is hilarious and easy to pick up even without "tone of voice" that many people need in order for their sarcasm to be picked up. It was so easy to tell when she was being sarcastic in her novel. I loved that about it! Also, more than once I found myself laughing out loud and not just a little bit, but a WHOLE lot while reading this book. There are just little situations that are so absurd their side-splitting, or just the little funny ironic thoughts the main character has throughout the novel just cracked me up! If you're looking for something that will make you laugh with a nice side of realistic romance and a feminist twist, I'd definitely recommend this book to you!

So to summarize what goes on in this crazy story-line, the main character, Eugenia, Genie for short, is in her thirties and still unmarried. She isn't the biggest dater and hasn't really put her life out there to find a man. Thus she has not found "Mr. Right" yet. However, she is head over heals with a man, Hugh, who she's been with for four years and she's been waiting for him to propose to her for...well, years. However, when he proposes on live television before her eyes, she finds out it is not to her, but to some other unknown goddess of a beauty she had no idea existed! Of course, this crushes her and she's heartbroken, but her best friend, a quirky and hilarious woman named Patty, is enough of an out-of-the-box thinker and unyielding support to her that she suggests Genie pretend the proposal HAD actually been meant for her. Hugh has left the country and the mess of publicity all on her dumped and heartbroken shoulders to straighten out so instead of telling everyone she's a loser that's lost her man of four years to some unknown sweetheart, she lets everyone believe she's engaged! Throughout the novel, it gets crazier and crazier as her mother plans the wedding, and Patty even gets into it and buys a ring along with her so she can throw herself an engagement party.

It's a crazy idea, but through the experience, Genie becomes a more confident woman. She gives herself more credit for what she does. She has the confidence to dress up more. She finds herself being noticed more by her boss and peers, and it's all a great learning experience as well as a roller-coaster ride of anxiety over getting caught and enthusiasm over messing with her ex's head by email. :)

The other thing I really liked about the book is that it brings to light how silly and odd our culture is in putting so much weight on marriage for women. Things are said to her like "My little girl has finally grown up." from her dad, when she's in her thirties, lives on her own, and has her own job. Suddenly because she's engaged that means she's grown up? Also, in buying her own house. She hadn't done it yet because she didn't have the money alone and her parents didn't help her because in her dad's words, what would a single woman need a house for? She just needs a place to sleep and get herself looking pretty for the guys, right? Well, what if she wants to cook in a full kitchen? What's wrong with buying a house? It all put things more into perspective. Strohmeyer does a good job letting all women know that it's ok to be a successful woman without being married! AND it's ok for a woman to look for success without worrying so much about finding her man. If he comes along and makes you happy, wonderful, but we shouldn't weigh our life purpose on whether or not we get married.

For anyone looking for a good laugh along with a little sex appeal and feminine boost, I'd recommend this book. I'm also going to be looking into the others written by Strohmeyer: The Cinderella Pact and her Bubbles series.

Monday Madness: Christmas Is Coming!

2010-11-15T17:18:00.004-07:00

Since Christmas is coming, here is something you can do with your old Christmas cards every year so you don't just throw them out. Mine build up in a box and I have piles of them. So here's something neat you can do! Click on the picture to make it larger and read the "how-to" text. If that doesn't work, let me know and I can add more details in another post on how to do it.

It's a great gift idea that doesn't cost much to give a bunch or a single ornament to friends or family, or you can keep them for your own Christmas tree too. It doesn't have to be Christmas cards either - I've used birthday cards with cute pictures on them, or you can just use decorative paper like card-making, scrap-booking, or stationary paper. It's better if the paper is some sort of card stock or stiffer material.

Make sure to use a flexible glue at first - like Elmer's - because it needs to be able to shift while you are forming it into a ball. I only use the hot glue at the end to reinforce it and add embellishment to the ornament. If you use hot glue or a stiffer glue from the beginning, it gets much more frustrating making the pieces fit together right.

This isn't the only homemade thing I'm working on this year. It's going to be a main activity in my daily routine over the next few weeks. I am doing some sewing now, believe it or not - aren't I getting handy! I learned how to do the much-needed mending on my husbands dress pants lately and have figured out how to work my sewing machine, so I'm starting in on more projects! Today I broke my needle, though, so I'm going to have to put it on hold until I can get to the store and buy more needles for my machine. Small set-back. :)

I can honestly say, it feels really good doing more things like this now. I feel so...much... less useless! Or perhaps a more positive way to put that is that I'm feeling more useful. Yeah, that sounds better - but the first one is probably more correct in that I have been feeling a little useless lately. It's nice to add something to my skills. Then in January I'll get into the book learning again that I have felt so stagnant on over the last few years. It'll be nice to stretch my mind in classes again, even if I end up having a hassle over finals and baby by the end of the semester. I'm hoping the timing will all work out right, though, and that won't be a concern. Fingers crossed.

Has anyone else been doing any homemade things for the holidays? Let me know! I am always looking for more ideas! :)

Monday Madness: Work and Responsibilities

2010-11-08T13:42:00.003-07:00

I realized yesterday that half my problem right now is that I haven't kept myself busy enough. Of course, the pregnancy weighs me down and I don't feel like doing much - but I have started feeling better of late and sitting around in a less-than-clean house and feeling like a slob doesn't feel good.

We talked about how work can make you feel happier at church yesterday and I felt like it was exactly what I needed to hear. Work is something I think our country is starting to completely misinterpret. It's become a bad word - a four-letter-word - that everyone avoids. But, if we remember things like the lessons learned in Little Women or other wholesome stories, we find how work truly feeds the soul and makes us more accomplished and happy with our lives. The idleness is killing us as individuals and if we're not careful, our whole country could really get into trouble if everyone starts relying too much on other people, like the government, to handle everything we need so we don't need to work anymore.

Growing up, I always remember my dad being a huge worker. I truly appreciated it in him - and even now. He's constantly looking for a job to do, even when he's on vacations. When he comes for a short visit at my house, he is always looking for something to help us with - like the wiring or dry wall in our basement. He can't sit still because he wants to be busy. I also always remembered whenever my sisters or myself brought a guy home, my dad would take the him out to do some kind of work, like his favorite chore of shoveling, or building a fence. I think it was one of his ways of finding out if this guy is a hard enough worker to take care of one of his precious little girls. The value of work is a great thing.

My husband is a hard worker. It's incredible - his mind is constantly thinking of the next thing he "needs" to do and he's never sitting idly without it at least on his mind. I'm glad he knows how to take breaks and have a good time sometimes, but he doesn't have my probably of sitting around and letting the minutes trickle by without doing anything.

My problem is that I lose enthusiasm and don't feel like doing things and my attitude is horrible so I don't do it. Then I feel guilty that I didn't do it. Then I feel rotten because it's not done. Then my husband does something about it - either does it for me, or mentions it offhandedly, and I'm like a waiting volcano. The moment he does or says anything my guilt has already gotten me to the point that I will explode at him for saying anything because I already know I'm retched for not doing it.

So yet again, yesterday I recommitted myself to keeping myself busy and doing more every day because it feels better! It truly does.

Another thing that was mentioned yesterday was "rest". It was stated that one cannot truly know the meaning of the word "rest" if they have never broken a sweat. It really hit home! It's the truth! If you're constantly sitting around on your butt, never working a day in your life, you get to thinking you need to rest all the time and you don't have the energy to do anything and you feel miserable. Well, it's because you're not resting. Your just doing nothing. After a long hard day of work, sitting down feels SO GOOD and that's what "rest" means.

Today I moved the toddler bed and rearranged things in the boys room so I could put their shoe rack in there when I ended up putting it in the closet anyway but the room is so clean and vaccumed and it looks great! I also picked up the horrendous and never-ending mess of the toy room and vaccumed, I vaccumed the rest of the house too - wiped down the dinner table and chairs. I also took the kids to story time at the library and then read to them before nap time. I've also done laundry in between all of this. Now I hopped on the computer, I'll let my son play some PBS kids while I put away more laundry, and I think by the time I'm done with that I'll plan dinner and then things will really feel good.

This is a productive day.

My usual days? Crumbs all over the carpet, sticky chairs in the kitchen, toys and socks scattered everywhere, kids whining about this or that, and I'm constantly searching the kitchen for things to eat that don't take any time to prepare.
Yeah...that's my usual.

I need to fix that.

Oh - I've also been drinking more water today! Go me! I think I've finally found the remedy to my headaches!

Friendly Friday: AND THE WINNER IS...!!!

2010-11-05T10:59:00.002-06:00

Wacky Wednesday: Christmas Shopping...

2010-11-03T15:46:00.003-06:00

With the holidays approaching, I've become more and more worried this year about gift shopping and making Christmas this year a success. I've found one of the most convenient ways to shop is online, though, and through catalogs, because it gets me away from the hubbub. Of course, I like to compare prices and whatnot, so going to the store doesn't hurt either, but as I've looked around, I realized that CSN Stores online has literally anything from business and travel things like a briefcase to home improvement or building supplies like flooring, which we've been looking into as we're finishing our basement little by little. I also like that their price ranges are very wide. So, I've recently decided that as well as doing the giveaways that I often do, I'll start writing reviews on the products I receive from their websites. Then you will get an even better idea as to the quality of these products from CSN.

So, with my holiday shopping this year, I've included CSN Stores and I think it's a great stop for any of you who are looking for that perfect gift for a loved one this holiday season. Good luck with the hubbub!

And DON'T FORGET to enter my CSN giveaway - the winner will be drawn and announced on Friday, so make sure you're in the drawing!

Friendly Friday: A BIG GIVEAWAY!

2010-10-22T12:19:00.002-06:00

Want another chance for a sweet giveaway? I'm giving one!
Woot Woot!

CSN Stores is the online go-to store for ANYTHING from bar furniture, to cookware, or even shoes! Ooo-lala! :) Pretty much anything you need, you can find on one of their 200+ online stores! It's also easy to find what you want. Find something you like? Well, CSN is offering

a $65 one-time-use promo code

to any of their sites as the prize to this giveaway post! Here's how you enter!

Comment on this post and follow the blog (1st entry)
Post about this post and tell me you did so (2nd entry)
If someone comes by your post and comments saying they came because of you, you get a 3rd entry!

The winner will be announced next Friday, so you have ONE WEEK! What a fun thing to win just before Halloween! :)

Wacky Wednesday: The World of Adulthood

2010-10-20T09:26:00.004-06:00

I just looked at the semester schedule. Classes end in April and finals week is the last week of the month. My due date is scheduled for May 5th. *scratching chin*

Do you think I can do this? I was almost hoping (really, I was hoping for this) that the dates for the semester would overlap my due date and give me an excuse not to go to school. I feel like a complete wimp (and altogether rotten) admitting this, but I'm really afraid of embarking on school right now. I wanted to - and really felt that I should - when I was going through all the application processes for multiple schools until finally deciding on one. But now I don't know how to face it.

I guess the thing is, I felt comfortable with the idea of doing school from home through online classes. But driving to classes on campus is more intimidating to me somehow. Who knows why- well, I can pick a few reasons out of the air - #1 it's a commute #2 what do I do with the kids? #3 it's more time consuming.......#4.........(and this is also a shameful confession) I have to actually TALK to people. *hangs head*

I've gotten out of the habit. It's sad, really, but I don't know how to make friends anymore. It's something I inherited from my mother. We immediately head for the empty table at group gatherings. My mom would always smile at people and be content in watching them talk to each other instead of joining. I sort of do the same thing. But I think both of us suffer from the loneliness that this causes. It's ridiculous! We really want to make friends and thrive on our strong relationships - but the only time I ever get into any strong relationships is when the other person does the work initially. Plus - the whole adult social world is something I still seem to be adjusting to.

As a kid, I could talk to other kids without feeling intrusive. With adults, you never know what conversational question might offend them. With kids, I could talk about any stupid little thing and make a conversation about it. With adults, the only safe things to talk about is the weather and my health. Even THEIR health can be off limits. It's so much more complicated.

On top of this, whenever I do make a friend in this married world of adults, the offers are always made to get together "whenever" or "just come on over" invitations are thrown around... but I don't ever feel like I genuinely can do this. Married people, especially with kids, have busy schedules and their own family lives that I feel intrusive upon if I interfere. I feel like I'm the only one out there who genuinely WOULD like someone to just drop in unannounced to chat or something. Because I'm the kind of person who doesn't care if they caught me in my bathrobe (I'd just tell them to hold on a minute while I run back and get some clothes on...BUT DON'T GO AWAY!) or if they caught me with my house a mess (I'd just apologize and invite them into the cleanest room or we could sit on the porch if it's that bad, which is a rare occasion, really). I also am the kind of person who doesn't have anything else to do on my everyday. My schedules consist of getting kids dressed and fed and cleaning up messes all day while trying to fill up my spare time with anything I can think of. I think other people succeed in keeping their lives a little more full of things to do.

So, that's where my predicament is. I tell people they can come by anytime or give me a call any time...they don't usually do that. Sometimes they invite me back in the same way, but I don't usually do it either because I can SEE they are busy. Or I've even come by a couple times and always caught them at a bad time. So now I don't do it anymore.

And somewhere in the middle of all that, I forgot how to do it. When I lived up north, I would go to every relief society activity looking forward to talking to someone, whether or not they were someone I knew. I did it easily and now I don't know how it was done. Once back then when we talked about personality colors, someone actually asked me if I was YELLOW and I was SO FLATTERED! Because I have to put SO much effort into being more yellow because I'm not.

Now, there is no way anyone would suggest I was yellow. I've given no one reason to even suppose such a thing from me.

Anyway, so I could go back to school - I could, maybe. Perhaps I need the time with other people from classes like that. But it's still a big step into that unknown world. But it would be so much harder because of the kids - and I don't know how I'll feel during my last trimester...and what if I had the baby a little early? Someone mentioned a local online school that doesn't cost as much - maybe I'll look into it first. *cringe/longing*

Monday Madness: I Hate Cooking!

2010-10-18T11:24:00.002-06:00

Baking, on the other hand....

I like baking, I'll admit. :)

So want the recipe to this scrumptious delight? Here ya go!

Berry Cream Muffins
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries or raspberries (or both) (I used blueberries)
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups (16 oz) sour cream (I subbed in a little less yogurt, actually)
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and then add the berries and toss them gently. (If using frozen, do not defrost first!) In another bowl, combine all the wet ingredients and mix well. Stir the wet into the dry just until all moistened.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Monday Madness: I love dogs!

2010-10-04T15:47:00.004-06:00

I love dogs! I thought this was an awesome video to share. They say they did this all in one take (must have been the 175th or something. Heehee) It's worth a full watch!

Wacky Wednesday: Did You Know? Interesting Facts.

2010-09-29T08:00:00.001-06:00

DID YOU KNOW THAT....

NOW YOU KNOW!

(Bill Nye...whatever happened to that guy?)

Tuesday Toodles: Today's Rant

2010-09-28T10:07:00.000-06:00

So now I remember what it feels like to be pregnant, and now I'm wondering what I've gotten myself into - and now I'm thinking to myself "what have I done?" and now I'm thinking to myself "is this something I can handle?"

My days have become bathrobe days. I'm rarely getting myself really READY for the day beyond getting clothes on at some point. I have ceased to make dinner because I can't stand being in the kitchen on my feet smelling the disgusting scents of what regular people call good food. (I'm lucky to have a husband who's agreed to cook for the time being if I clean. Isn't he an angel?) I have become an addition to the couch cushions, only resurrecting from their depths in order to put clothes on my little boys, change a diaper before there's a sore bum as a consequence, or try to prevent some other kind of disaster like falling off some sort of high place they've succeeded to climb up to or take away a crayon or other such item of interest they decide to mark up my walls with. The house seems to be falling apart in the process of my hibernation, but of all things considered, I think I'm doing pretty good. No one's began bleeding yet, no one including myself has starved yet, and I actually put up our Halloween decorations yesterday. Of course, that was the ONLY thing I succeeded in doing all day, but it's been done and somehow creates a festive cheerful atmosphere in spite of my nauseated state.

I know I shouldn't complain. Isn't the miracle of life glorious? I should be shouting praises and celebrating the joys of my swelling stomach, which seems to be ballooning at a much quicker rate this third time around. I could barely fit into my blue skirt for church on Sunday, hiking it up a bit higher over the little baby bump so I could fasten the back, and in doing so I noticed I really already have started looking pregnant. In the past it's taken me to my third month before I look like this. At this rate, maybe I'll actually LOOK like I'm in my 7th month by the time that comes. But of course, although Jimmy could tell (he thought I was actually sticking my tummy out on purpose on Sunday) no one else said anything at church because it's still in that gray-scale stage when if someone were to say something they could be mistaken and seem very rude.

So no one said anything and I don't plan to tell anyone until I feel more comfortable about the whole idea myself. That is ... I won't tell anyone ELSE, but that doesn't mean the whole world doesn't already know. My whole family probably knows by now via Facebooking and other word-of-mouth venues. I don't mind that. And all of you know, although my readers on this blog are a pretty small group of people, I gather. Anyway, I just don't feel excited yet so I don't like announcing it to the world of my ward building or Facebooking the announcement myself to all my friends online yet because I think it's a little odd to hear from a woman "Hey, I'm pregnant" only to shock or surprise shortly afterward when asked if she's excited and she replies with an apathetic "I don't know." It shoots all kinds of feelings of guilt and betrayal through be to feel this way, but I haven't gotten butterflies yet...all except for the nauseating ones that are battling for that tuna fish sandwich I swallowed yesterday only to find that it made things worse.

When I was pregnant with my second, I was in denial for the first couple months or so. The baby came so close to my first I felt like I hadn't hardly recovered into being a regular woman again before I was thrown back into the pregnancy hormonal rollar-coaster once more. I mean, it takes a long time before you feel like you're back to normal - of course you're never the same afterward, but there does come a point when you feel like a regular woman again. But that's after you're finished breastfeeding and all of that. I had a few wonderful months of that myself this year, but of course it couldn't last forever. And WHY NOT? I ask myself.

Jimmy is to blame, honestly. He was the one that really pressed for another kid...but I did concede to it, so it's not all his fault - he couldn't do it all by himself, of course. That would be an interesting circumstance - yet a relief it would be if he could do it all himself. Of course I'd hate having to care for any man who had to go through the months of pregnancy. They act all macho about things, but if they had to do it, I think they would complain even more than we do.

Anyway, I really hope that at some point I will see the light and really get excited for this baby. There is a little inkling inside me that is excited, I admit - I love babies. And if it's a girl that would be a whole new world for us. Yet I really don't know if I'll be able to go back to school as planned now. I could to do one semester of it during my pregnancy but it depends on when my actual due date is. It would suck if I had my baby during the last month of school or something. So we'll have to see about all that.

Then... I'll have three kids... under the age of five. My oldest will just turn four after the baby is born. The other will be almost two and half. It seems good spacing to them...but to me, it's a bit nerve wracking. If I was more like Jimmy, it might be better. He is so task oriented - always doing something or thinking about doing something productive. I sit around and thing, "I should probably do something productive." or "what can I do today?" or there is something I know I should do and whether I actually do it or not really depends on my mood. I'm just so LAZY! Ok- so there are times when I'm more productive then others, but for now, this is just how it is. I don't feel like doing anything.

Maybe today I'll take the kids to the library. If I get dressed, that is.

Monday Madness: Persistence

2010-09-27T09:07:00.003-06:00

You know, I admire persistence in a person usually. But isn't it annoying when someone spams your blog in a comment and when you delete it, the next thing you know there's an identical comment made again for you to delete? Sorry people, I'm going to have to put up the word verification tool and whatnot again on my blog. They may be annoying but I find it more annoying when I get links to inappropriate places in comments on my blog. My site is not going to be a tool in some sort of internet trafficking.

That being said - I'd also like to apologize if I get a little slow in posting for a little while. I post when I feel like it or something comes to me - but it probably won't be much of a daily thing.

You see, I'm not feeling so good for the time being - the first stage of pregnancy is the worst. Blame my husband. See you when I can!

Sacred Sunday: Joy

2010-09-19T07:22:00.000-06:00

I read this in the Sept. Ensign recently and thought I'd share it because it rang true to me so deeply at this time in my life.

"Situation and surrounds have no lasting impact on our ability to feel joy. Instead, true joy comes from obeying and believing in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, who made life here -- and hereafter -- "that [we] might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25)."

This struck me because I have been struggling to really find true happiness lately. I have heard it said that "True happiness comes from being satisfied" but that is much easier said then done. It's hard to just be satisfied all the time. So therefore it's hard to just be happy all the time too. But lately I also read in my studies this scripture:

"Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness." 2 Nephi 9:51
(emphasis added)

Funny how when I was studying about being financially smart, I would happen upon something that struck me deeply in an unrelated way.

If being satisfied is what makes us truly happy, then be should labor towards things that satisfy and not things that won't satisfy. It reminded me of times when I have spent hours on the computer doing task after task on the internet whether it's in the blog or on deviantArt, and I never feel satisfied. I never find that fulfillment from completing something online - like a feature of art, or a blog post...come to think of it, this blog post feels more satisfying to me because it feels more valuable. Anyway, I remember times when I've spent so much effort toward it and never felt satisfied....but then of course it wouldn't. These things are wonderful hobbies to spend idle time doing if there wasn't anything better to do. But it's not going to fulfill my life to sit in front of the computer.

I feel more satisfied reading to my children, cleaning the house so it feels worthy of the spirit, studying the gospel, sharing or serving neighbors or friends, spending time out in the great outdoors....there are so many things that are better to do that make me feel more satisfied and happy with my life.

Later in the scripture it says "feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted". These are the things that will yield most satisfaction. Those things that will never perish or be corrupted...like the worth of my children and family, or the values behind having the spirit or serving others. These things will never fail. These things are more important.

I hope that my readers can see the meaning behind this, whatever religion you have. Remember that finding true happiness is in being satisfied - SO do those things in life that really make you feel satisfaction. As I invest more of my time in those things to find more satisfaction and happiness in my own life, I hope you will do the same and this world will be a happier place.

Tuesday Toodles: A Weekend Away

2010-09-07T10:11:00.002-06:00

Over the long weekend for Labor Day, I went south to my parent's house for a while and I forgot my camera. At first that was a pretty sad circumstance because recently I just love to take pictures wherever I am. But this time it was actually kind of neat. Instead of being behind the camera lens the whole time as we were sight-seeing, I just looked at everything and spent more time in conversation with my family. It was nice. Of course I still love to take pictures, but I didn't necessarily need my camera to have a good time.

It was Peach Days there and so we got to go to a parade where the kids had a great time collecting all kinds of sweets tossed to them. It was one of the best parades we've been to. Then we went up to Zions Park again and had a good time at the Weeping Wall and up at the top by the river. It was a nice day. The kids loved playing in the sand by the river. Sadly, I don't have pictures, but you can use your imagination this time. :)

The part where I really wanted my camera for proof, though, was when we saw these squirrels in the middle of the trail scavenging this pile of crushed peanut shells. They didn't move even when we were inches away from them. Finally, Jimmy tried touching one and they actually let us pet them! I was so surprised to be so close to squirrels without them being scared away. They didn't care at all when we stroked their backs. I kept waiting for them to screech at us or bite. On the bus the tourguide recording had informed us not to feed them or touch them...but we weren't feeding them... :) I was sad not to have my camera because it would have been so easy to get macro shots of them when they allowed us to get so close! It would have been fantastic! But my sister-in-law got pictures of us by the squirrels and she'll probably post them on Facebook, so I might at least get to share those sometime.

The other thing I love about my parent's house is that I get to swim in their backyard pool. Last time it was hot enough that the water was just perfect and it was so fun. This time it was a big cooler so the water was pretty cold. But it was still fun to get in. :) My parent's home is like the perfect get-away for me and this time it truly was that. I didn't have any computer time or even camera time while I was there - and although those are things I love, it's always good to take a break from the technology for a while.

Thursday Thumps: No Complaints or You Make It Yourself!

2010-09-02T11:35:00.003-06:00

Last night we had another run-in about cooking.

My husband loves to cook. It's something he really enjoys doing, but because he's at work all day I have taken on the responsibility of cook during the week. I have since decided I absolutely love weekends. I wish I could share his sentiment on the subject, but I don't. I just don't enjoy deciding on what to cook and then standing around in the kitchen preparing it, because I never get the food to taste as wonderful as I'd like it to. I LOVE GOOD FOOD! There's a difference between loving good food and feeling excited and satisfied when I make good food, and enjoying the actual process of creating it.

Honestly, I think I sort of take that typically male role here. You know the phrase, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach."? Well....that applies to me. I mean, our anniversary was good because it began with a wonderfully scrumptious, delightfully fulfilling meal at Red Lobster where I got to eat crab dipped in garlic butter to my heart's content. It was like an aphrodisiac for me! Seriously! Maybe I should inform my husband on that fact and he'll give me better food more often. :)

So last night, I was defrosting chicken in the microwave with a plan in mind for what to do with it, when my husband comes in and turns the microwave off telling me I'm going to ruin the chicken because the tiniest bit of the edges are beginning to cook. This has been a pet peeve of his (and mine, on the opposite perspective) for some time. He thinks if the chicken gets a tiny bit cooked while it's being defrosted, the whole piece of chicken doesn't taste as good anymore. I think there really is no difference, and if I can get out of putting more careful effort in the defrosting process, I'm going to take it. He never has complained before when I've done this and made the chicken without him knowing it, so I really don't think he can tell the difference.

SO I expressed to him about how I just don't like cooking in the first place and when he comes in and checks on whether I'm cooking the way he would cook or not, I would rather just stop cooking completely and let him do it. Because, frankly, I hardly want the opportunity in the first place! After I explained myself and told him to stay away from me when I'm cooking and just let me do it my way, which is going to be different from his way, he proceeded to start on the subject again... "Well, just when it comes to defrosting chicken...." I threw my hands in the air and left the chicken with a profound "YOU DO IT THEN!"

Seriously, people, I don't want to cook and if he's going to make it harder then it already is for me, I refuse to do it. Last night we had a yummy meal of Honey Rosemary Chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans. It would have been just as good if I'd made it, I think, but it was nice that I hadn't. :)

During the meal, I calmly discussed the future of cooking with Jimmy. IF he wants me to cook dinner, he has to keep his nice little how-to information to himself. I feel guilty if I don't cook because I feel it's my responsibility, but I don't want to do it with him hovering over my shoulder at everything I do. So now I've told him he is free to tell me what he thinks about the food at dinner while eating it. Because if he really thinks the chicken is worse when I defrost it that way, I'd believe him more if he said so while eating then while I'm defrosting. I need evidence.

And this will work! Really! I can taste the food too! If something isn't quite right, I'll taste it too and know - and I want the food to be good, so if there's something I need to learn or change, I'll do it- but only from eating the food am I willing to change.

I know, you're probably thinking, Dani, you're asking for it now! Because now I'm asking for him to trash my food at the dinner table. But, really, I don't think he will. I have confidence that he won't even be able to taste the difference in my little indiscretions while cooking, because frankly, I can't.

Saturday Speaks: The Abhorsen Chronicles

2010-08-29T14:53:00.003-06:00

Remember my review of the first book of The Abhorsen Chronicles, Sabriel? Well, I've been able to finish the other two books in the series, and my opinion has gone up substantially since then!

Remember how I was disappointed because I felt I never really got to know Sabriel as the main character and I knew the next book wasn't going to be following her anymore? Well, Sabriel still exists in the next book, but it's years later and she's got kids who are about Lirael's age - and it follows Lirael more. After reading the last two books of the chronicles, it became clear to me that Sabriel is really just sort of the intro to the story. It introduces you into the magical world they live in so you aren't completely lost when you begin Lirael, and that's where most of the excitement and plot begins.

To give you a basic idea, the world presented by Garth Nix in The Abhorsen Chronicles is a world where life and death are a little more blurred than in the reality we all live in. People in this world have the ability to return from the grasps of death and try to take over other bodies to stay alive. The Dead can be pretty powerful. People called necromancers use their powers to hold some dead spirits to their will and get them to do things for them. The Abhorsen is one person who has the ability (passed down by blood) to keep the Dead where they should be, in death, and wield powers against the evil necromancers. They use the good powers of what they call "The Charter" with the not necessarily evil, but less controllable and more dangerous powers of "Free Magic" to defeat other free magic. It takes a bit to wrap your head around, so that's the purpose of reading Sabriel. She doesn't really know what she's getting into either, so from her perspective it's explained very well. So, the world is a bit darker than what I usually am interested in. It has pretty scary evil things in it, but good triumphs over evil, as we'll all appreciate and hope for, and so it's a great story.

Lirael is follow the main character as she discovers what her purpose is in the world. She feels like she doesn't belong where she lives and she really sticks out. She lives in a glacier with a group of people called the Clayr, who can see pieces of the future. Growing up there, at some point each person receives "the sight" or the ability to see into the future. As Lirael grows older, she still hasn't received the sight while many younger then her have started to get it. This makes her feel even more of an outcast then before (having dark hair and light skin as opposed to the light hair and darker skin of the rest of the Clayr). She even gets depressed enough that she becomes suicidal for a while, but when she creates a magical companion for herself, the Disreputable Dog, she begins to become busy with other things to keep her from getting depressed again. This book really gets more personal and more in depth in the main character, and I like that a lot better than the first book.

Abhorsen is the last book of the series, and I was going to write a review of just Lirael before reading Abhorsen, but at that point I no longer could put the book down long enough to do it. :) At this point in the plot, Lirael has discovered her purpose and together with Prince Sameth, Sabriel's son, they are on a quest to prevent what could be the ultimate destruction of their world. This last book had me by it's grips and I finished it in only a couple days while it took me quite some time to finish the first and second. I've been reading this book since June...but most of that time was just getting through the first book. I really bash the first book more than I should - it's not that bad, really. I've heard from other readers that they felt it was exciting too. So you might like it more than I did. Anyway, Abhorsen grabbed me up and I wasn't let go until the very last page. but that was where the problem was. The ending. *GROWL*

I love a good ending. The ending can mean everything! Well...it seems, as it was in the end of Sabriel (I don't remember the end of Lirael, really, because I just continued into Abhorsen without stopping, actually.), that Garth Nix likes to end at the climax! It bugs me when there is no real resolution. He has a little tiny blip of an "Epilogue" that is less heart-pounding, but truly he leads the reader all the way up until the major event we've all been waiting for and then "The End!" AH! It kills me!

So, the ending is the only thing I feel could still use some work on Garth Nix's part. I think the story is written pretty well. It gets better as with the character development and such as the story goes on. If you're interested in fantasy or adventure stories, I'd deeply recommend this one!

Friendly Friday: AND THE WINNER IS...!!!

2010-08-28T09:36:00.002-06:00

Congratulations, SolDucky!

You won the $60 GiftCard! Let me know what email address to send it to and it will be yours straight away! :)

Thanks to everyone who entered! Enter again next time and maybe you'll win!

Thursday Thumps: No More Thumbs on This One!

2010-08-26T14:25:00.004-06:00

You know why I won't be using this little stress reduction kit today? Well... because of these little words...

"..dop...dop...dop!"

They were whispered just now by my little three-year-old as he held himself and went into the bathroom.

He is really getting the hang of it now! He's even gone in the toilet BOTH ways lately! I'm getting so happy and excited!

But then, guess what....my younger boy is interested now. I'm not about to just put him in undies yet- but he definitely wants to try the little potty sometimes... Here we go again! *rolling eyes which roll my whole body off this chair and I'm flat on the floor*

Wacky Wednesday: Newest Simon's Cat

2010-08-25T12:12:00.000-06:00

Friendly Friday: GIVEAWAY!!! WOOT WOOT!

2010-08-20T07:18:00.001-06:00

Another giveaway from CSN STORES! Remember these guys? Of course you do! They've got all kinds of stuff - get a load of these bistro sets! They also have cribs, furniture, toys, doo-dads...what have you! :)

What's this giveaway for, you ask?

A $60 GIFT CARD to spend on ANY of the CSN Store websites!

*insert cheerleaders shaking their little pom-poms and jumping up in the air here*

Want to win? Of course you do!

Here's how to enter:

(1st entry) Follow my blog and comment on this post!

(2nd entry) Blog/tweet/or share somehow about this blog and let me know in a comment!

(3rd and more entries) If someone comes from your blog/tweet/etc. and lets me know you sent them, you get another entry for each person!

The winner will be announced NEXT FRIDAY - so get crackin'!

Thursday Thumps: Let's Switch It Up!

2010-08-19T09:09:00.003-06:00

Ok, so if you're not sure what Visiting Teaching is, visit this post I did a bit over a year ago on the subject and the rest of this post will make sense.

That's right...go now... I'll wait...

Ladeedadeeda.....
Ok, you back?

Great.

Alright, so I'm just moved into this new neighborhood the beginning of this year and got two Visiting Teaching assignments. That means I have two different ladies that I go with to visit two other women each. Actually one of them I had a third woman. So I had five women I was visiting with two different partners...make sense? Ok, so how many visits do you think it takes to really get acquainted with someone? What would you say? Two? Three maybe? Well, I feel like over the last about 6 months of being here and visiting these women about once a month, I've just barely got sort of in the swing of things. Now what happens?

Well...they decide to switch it up and I'm being given one completely different partner and two completely different people to visit.

Ok, so I don't mind getting to know new people, but I feel like I'm just barely getting to a place with the people I've been visiting for the last few months were I feel like I can really know what their needs are and help them out a bit more. I feel like they're taking that away now and I'm concerned that whoever now is assigned to my women might not know what they need.

I'm sad, yet a little relieved, but sad. A couple of the women I was visiting had some serious issues that seemed a little over my head. I wanted to help them how I could but I wasn't sure what to do...maybe that's why I'm being re-assigned. Maybe someone else will be able to help them better then I have the capability to.

But I'm still a little sad over it. I could still contact them, I guess. The problem is I never see one of these people at church because she doesn't go and I already felt a little awkward visiting her in the first place - how can I bring myself to do it now? But at the same time, because it was a little awkward for me, and I have visited her a couple times, won't it be even harder for someone new to go? What is she going to think? She'll be wondering what happened to me, and who this new lady is....

I'm not sure of the purpose behind these things, but it's a little disheartening. Since I'm a bit new to this neighborhood and I'm in callings that keep me elsewhere during church, I don't have any idea who these new people I've been assigned to are, but I'm hoping that it will open a new horizon and be a positive thing for all of us.

Maybe I just have a hard time dealing with change....what do you think?

Wacky Wednesday: The Office

2010-08-18T19:22:00.001-06:00

One of the funniest things on television. Of course!

*PSST!* New giveaway coming on FRIDAY! *weee!!!*

Monday Madness: The 19th Century

2010-08-16T08:09:00.006-06:00

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live in the 19th century?

Of course there were things about back then that were extremely hard. Money was thought of in a completely different way, it seems. And on top of it, being a woman would have meant no independence.

Yet it also seems it would make things so much simpler. Courting was almost a black and white matter. It was just done.

But the reason I think I would fit well into the 19th Century is because of the fashions. Even though it might have been cumbersome to wear those big hoop-skirted dresses all the time, I think that's why gentlemen had the manners they did. Women NEEDED help in and out of buggies so they didn't trip over themselves. I mean, my goodness, I wouldn't be able to do it alone if I was wearing something like that. Yet, I'd love to wear it! *starry-eyed* Sighs!

I think I also would fit in well because of the culture. Even though I feel it's right that women have rights the way they do now (at least, in my country and some others) I think I would have personally fit in well with the women back in the times when they did not. I would have found contentment in being found "frail" or "fragile" so I didn't have to get my hands dirty. I could sit around learning to paint or learning music. Painting might not have ended up being my forte.

Yet the picture I paint in my mind is only if I had money. :) I would have to be royalty during those times. Otherwise I would have to work harder than I do now, and that wouldn't do at all! How would you like to go out and work in the barn gathering eggs or feeding the pigs wearing a dress! So absurd!

But, in any case, I love the era. But I'll just content myself with reading about it for now. Until someone invents some sort of time travel.

Sacred Sunday: Music to Uplift

2010-08-15T10:26:00.000-06:00

Friendly Friday: Cloudburst Photos

2010-08-13T08:52:00.005-06:00

So you know, the video is rather LOUD, just to warn you before you push play! It was loud hail!

I almost forgot about this little video and pictures I took of the crazy weather cloudburst we had about a week ago. It was pretty crazy.

It happened so quickly. All of a sudden it was raining cats and dogs and the water built up so fast it was running down the street. Then it began to hail too. Notice the garden in the video. Isn't it splendid? :)

Anyway, I got some pictures of the water on the street. Then it ended as quickly as it began. Within minutes after it was over, the water all dried up. Comes from living in such a dry place, I guess. I miss puddles. I'll have to wait for later in fall and maybe they'll stay.

Thursday Thumps: Out of Control

2010-08-12T07:51:00.004-06:00

The following post is a mess of venting. Read if you must.

I'm a guilt-ridden mess sometimes, you know. I think many women do the same thing. We all feel so guilty about things we don't do right or are lazy about or whatever that we don't do things right and are lazy about things and then we feel more guilty about being that way. It's a seriously depressing cycle and I plan to quit it now!

How? You might ask. Well, I don't know.

I know I have to figure out how before I can do it, but I think saying I'm going to do it is one step in the right direction, right? I think the first step in feeling less guilty is in doing things to prevent it. What do I feel guilty about? Well, right now it's my time. I haven't balanced time very well, and I've posted about this before, but I've still not fixed the problem. If I don't I'm so afraid that I'm going to mess up my entire family because I've been so unconnected.

So what am I going to do about it? Frankly, I don't know.

Ok. So, I have to figure out how before I can do it, but I think, again, saying I'm going to do it is one step in the right direction, right? Well...Ok, so the first step in fixing the problem with my time is to schedule it. I've done this before and then I don't go by the schedule, so how productive is a schedule, really? Well, maybe I need the motivation.

It's like my art. I'm not very good at art. I used to think I was, growing up. I loved to draw and automatically, that made me good at it, right? Well, as I got older I didn't really get better at drawing like my friends who enjoyed art. I hated my high school art class because it was so time consuming and I just didn't have the patience for it. I wanted my vision to just be on the page already but no, it took SO long. My college art class was the same, but a little different. I did get better at drawing still-life images because I forced myself to slow down and have patience enough to do it. But I still didn't improve in that class as much as my peers did. I couldn't get the shading down on my final project (a self-portrait) and my final stood out like a sore thumb in comparison to everyone elses. So I just am not an artist. I sat down yesterday and tried to draw something I wanted to create and my finished project looked like the work of a child.

My point is, I got better in my college class only because I was forced to do it for a grade. What can motivate me now to do better as a mom with my time?

Well, frankly, I don't know.

The trouble is, I can see that in the future, (what I love and value the most are my children and their futures) my inability to manage my time may very well impact my children in a negative way. But because it feels so slow-coming and far in the future, my motivation now is still lacking. I still manage to sit here and then feel guilty about it.

Ok, so I've been doing better. My house isn't as dirty anymore because I've been better about cleaning it. (But I made my husband promise to take away the computer's power cord to work if he came home and the house was a mess when I was on the computer.) I wonder what my motivation was there?

I seriously am wearing myself down with guilt. I was up for hours last night unable to sleep because of the sinking feeling in my chest that I'm not doing good enough as a wife or mother. I'm turning into someone I hate and blaming the wrong things/people for it when it's my fault. I've checked out of my own life by submerging myself too far into the cyber-world and getting too involved with the internet community. BUT I love the internet community.

How do people deal with addictions? Well, I've always been a supporter of going cold turkey. Like with smoking, I never understood taking steps down because it never seemed to work until they just decided "never again" and did that. Cold turkey. That's the only way to get over an addiction...let the withdrawals run their course. I said the same thing about my husband's addiction to Mountain Dew. It was really taking its toll on his health and so we said "cold turkey" and he got much better. He said he couldn't do it that way though. He had to take it one step at a time. BULL!

But with this? Cold turkey? Really? No internet? But internet is a good thing, right? It makes things so much more convenient. It gives me a hobby (writing/photography) which I love! But too much of a good thing...is that still a good thing? But what would I DO with my time?

Well...let's see...what would I do? I would play with my children more, I would go to the park more often, I would maybe get to know my real neighbors better, I would keep the house cleaner then I do, I would be more involved in my own life.

But do I have to go cold turkey for that to happen?

I've asked myself this question too many times and I never have told myself yes. But I've never gotten past the problem. It always seems to come sneaking back and I find myself having this same exact conversation with myself once again about how guilty I feel for being a slacker mother that doesn't pay attention when I should and gets annoyed when I shouldn't.

I am a mess.

I am out of control.

And I don't know what to do about it.

Friendly Friday: AWE!

2010-08-06T22:41:00.004-06:00

I thought I'd hurry to post this tonight so I don't have to tomorrow. :)

My anniversary was beautiful and I just had to tell you all about it. :) It was a wonderful stress-reliever, let me tell you!

We dropped the boys off at my sister-in-laws Thursday night and then went out to dinner. I was STARVING to the point that I felt sick by the time we got there because I didn't eat a good lunch. But it was SO worth going there! Jimmy took me to Red Lobster and it was SO sweet of him because he's not a fan of sea food. I had the platter with lobster tail, shrimp scampi, grilled shrimp, and snow crab legs. It was SO GOOD! I haven't honestly had fresh crab since, like, 8th grade when my mom took me to Georgia to visit my sister. I forgot how SCRUMPTIOUS it is! It was SO GOOD. I ate it all! :)

Then he took me to the Alaskan Inn. We've been there a couple times before. A favorite getaway, let me tell you! We didn't get AS fancy-themed a room this time because Jimmy cut back on it so we could go to Red Lobster. :) It was worth it. The rooms at the Alaskan Inn are all themed differently but every room has it's own big tub with jets. We've stayed in the Northern Lights room (my favorite! It has a starry sky!) and the Eagles Nest (which has the bed up way high like it's in a nest) and this time it was the Goose and Gander room. He bought me pink roses earlier and he surprised me later with more rose petals that he scattered all over with candles and everything! It was perfect! AWE! Later we watched "The Time Traveler's Wife" and Jimmy cried. (Haha! No, it's a sad show, truly.)

The next morning after having their wonderful breakfast, Jimmy took me up Cottonwood Canyon and we walked up to Donut Falls (not sure if that's spelled right...) and took pictures. We took lunch up there too. It was so fun and relaxing! I carried a pink rose with me the whole time, and I'm not going to forget that little touch. Just carrying a rose makes everything seem so much more romantic! The littlest thing, but it was huge, really. I would smell it every once in a while and it was just lovely. I was drunk on the scent of pink rose petals by the end of the hike. :) Donut Falls is STUNNING too. The water falls through a hole in the rock inside a cave-like structure that you have to duck to enter. It's a beautiful place! I have lots of pictures to add to my gallery now. We chased butterflies a lot around the wild flowers. Just a stunning, fun time.

Then after that we went back to check on the kids a moment and then we went to the temple and did sealings, which a trip to the temple has been LONG overdue for us of late. It was lovely! Our first time to the newly built temple just of Bangerter Hwy... I can't remember what it's called. We were going to go to the Draper temple but it was closed, and that's the only name I'm thinking of at the moment. Anyway, it was beautiful.

The kids had a blast playing with their cousins all day and were asleep before we got home. I'm so grateful and happy tonight. :)

Thursday Thumps: Happy Anniversary

2010-08-05T08:56:00.003-06:00

It seems whenever a good thing happens a bad thing has to weight it out.

I've been feeling more happy the last few days and then this stuff with school has to rain on my parade and I'm frustrated and upset.

I feel like going back to school is a great investment. My husband doesn't feel the same. He thinks going back to school is a good thing for me to do, yet he isn't willing to pay anything and actually wants to MAKE money from me going back to school. Well, George, that's not going to happen. I want to take online classes and because of that it's going to be different.

So go to a local school, he says. Really? With two kids, I cannot go to classes on campus and then spend the rest of my time at home doing homework instead of spending time with the kids! It's a ridiculous idea and if that's the only way I can go to school, I'm not going to do it. Online classes are the only way to go, and it looks like that isn't going to happen because there is no "investment" involved in his mind at all.

On top of all this, I was very angry last night and today is our 5th Anniversary. I know Jimmy's got something planned for tonight because he said to try to find an overnight babysitter.

All I can do is hope it's a good surprise because I really need a time out. Maybe school isn't the best idea for me right now after all.

Hope tonight takes me to my happy place.

Tuesday Toodles: Psyche!

2010-08-03T19:14:00.001-06:00

I guess not.

Well, I've looked further into how much Stephens Heneger College costs and it's INSANE! I'm getting full pell grants from the government, and I still would end up with $30,000 worth of LOANS! Um...no thanks! PLUS take a look at these reviews! The review site for this college gives them an average of a D or D+!!! Everyone's reviews say the school is all into recruiting to make money but once the student starts they don't give a crap as to whether they graduate.

I felt like the people who helped me get everything read to go were extremely nice. It went smoother then I had expected and was SO easy to sign up. They say they'll give you laptop to use during school and keep when you graduate, but I'm sure that's just another lure for their school.

After all that, I was really put out. I was so excited to be starting school again and for it to all fall apart really REALLY sucks. We're going to look into other schools, but now I feel like giving up.

Sacred Sunday: Promises I Keep

2010-08-01T07:31:00.001-06:00

Thought I'd share a little song today. Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!

Thursday Thumps: Ridiculous Anger

2010-07-29T08:13:00.004-06:00

Lately I have been letting myself be angry.

I have realized this is the source of most my problems. I've become more negative, I've become more nagging, I've become a complete tyrant! Realizing that most of my problems stemmed for the fact that I've been allowing myself to become angry and hostile made me come to a new conclusion and make a new goal for myself.

I will not allow my anger to be my catalyst anymore.

I've always remembered something my mother taught me as I grew up. Anger is a secondary emotion that is covering for a more important emotion underneath. I'm hurt so I got angry. I was frustrated, so I lashed out in anger. I was afraid so I became angry. Whenever I'm angry, I used to stop myself and think, now what is my true emotion?

When I was a kid, I was a fireball and all my friends new it. I was struggling to get control over my anger, so my friends all knew that when I was angry I needed to be left alone to cool off or they'd be sorry. I would go off on my own to cool off before I did something ridiculous that I would regret.

One time, I remember this more than most memories of my childhood, I was angry during recess and sitting on a swing to cool off. I was mad a particular friend, Sarah, who was high energy. I made up my mind that if she were to come bother me, I would tear her head off. When you're angry you can come up with all kinds of horrible things to do to people.

While I sat steaming on the swing set (this was 6th grade) my first boyfriend, (the kind where you sit by each other or even across from each other, or maybe even at tables next to each other during lunch and snicker and I would also watch him play basketball at recess and sit by him on the bus ever Wednesday when I took his bus to my piano lessons) Jeff, thought it would be funny and flirtatious to sneak up on me. As he put a finger to his lips to shush one of my best friends, Jessica, she shook her head at him. She whispered to him not to, but he didn't hear or understand what she meant. He snuck up behind me, and then Jessica cringed as his hands grasped both my sides to squeeze in a small tickle-hold.

The moment I felt the hands on my sides, I immediately thought it was Sarah and made a split second decision. I jumped up, turned around, and screamed the most guttural growl of a scream at the top of my lungs, putting both hands in fists stiffly at my sides, and running forward slightly, lunging at the culprit. Jeff took too fast unstable steps backward and toppled onto the grass on his elbows with an "Oh #@%!" look on his face. His frightened grin has never been forgotten in my mind or Jessica's for that matter. The incident was a topic of conversation for years to come.

It was in that moment that I realized how ridiculous I allowed myself to act when I got angry. How silly and stupid people act while they're angry made me take more control over my anger and I never got angry anymore. All through high school, I would laugh at anyone I saw who was acting like an angry imbicile. I went to college, still never getting angry over things. It was nice teenage years, I'd say!

Then I got married. Somehow things change when you get married. You have all kinds of expectations and false assumptions as to why or how married people should act. A husband should do this or that, and should be such-and-such. A wife should always this and that verb and be this and that way. But you realize after you're married that your spouse has their own expectations as to the way things should work. Your ideas don't line up somehow and you wonder where they get such crazy ideas about your behavior and why they don't just understand it's what they're supposed to do.

Well, anyway, I've let anger build up inside me. I've gotten frustrated that I let it out thinking it was the only way I could get the message across. I let anger take hold of me and now I feel as though negativity is all I ever think about anymore. It's really starting to yield destructive results to my relationship to my husband!

SO

I've remembered how I did it before. Being angry is ridiculous! People scream and shout and act like two-year-olds when they let anger take them. They stomp around the house like they have heavy shoes. They pull out their hair until they look like Einstein. Actually, they very well resemble clowns if you think about it. Ridiculous!

Next time I'm annoyed, or feel a prick of guilt, or get frustrated because I don't feel listened to, or feel some need unmet, I'm going to stop there. I'm going to feel the first underlying emotion and express it in a way that helps me feel better instead of embracing darker more destructive feelings that never help anything anyway!

SIGH!

Ok. There you have it! My mid-year resolution.

Tuesday Toodles: A New Beginning

2010-07-27T16:38:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I called about doing online classes for college and everything was much easier then I'd imagined it would be. I'm up to start up more college classes in the end of August to start working for my Bachelor degree in Graphic Arts! :) SAY WHAT!?! I've thought a lot about going back to school, but never really thought I would for longer then this. *Faints* We'll have to see how it goes. I haven't had a class for three years and I think I might be kinda rusty in that area of things.

So, I'm nervous but excited! It'll definitely take away more of my time, but I sorta need something else to do lately.

Maybe I'll even learn more about how to spice up my blog in the future, huh. :)

Monday Madness: Dreams

2010-07-26T11:01:00.003-06:00

I feel like, lately especially, I often dream about emotionally traumatic things. The novel I am working on right now is based on a dream where I was emotionally traumatized by a man I was in love with who just brushed me aside like I wasn't worth a thing. There's much more to the actual story I'm writing, of course- namely, a very strange machine that I had to tweak a bit to make more believeable than the way it had been in my dream and a odd culture maintained by a large population of men.

But just recently I've had many dreams about my husband nonchalantly engaging in affairs like it's no big deal with a number of beautiful women. Usually at some point in my dream, I break down completely into a rage of sobs and screams until I wake up.

Crazy, huh.

I hear that some dreams actually mean something. Like the dream I wrote about before with the weird cats everywhere and the paper doll notes while I was in jail. :) And I thought that would be a good story? Haha! I'd much prefer my fantasy dreams about Johnny Depp to anything else, but alas, I haven't had one for quite some time!

What are some crazy dreams you have had? And what do you think mine mean?

If you post about a dream, link up!

Thursday Thumps: Only One Hour???

2010-07-22T10:20:00.004-06:00

So, don't you hate it when you finally get to sleep and something wakes you up when you really felt like you were deeply sleeping and you don't want to open your eyes, but you have to because said something that woke you up is a screaming child that entered your bedroom because of leg aches and a cough and you simply have to do something to stop the screaming?

Then when you've gotten everything settled with Ibuprofen, a leg massage, and cuddles and put the sleeping something back into his bed, you check the clock to see it's only midnight. You've got a long way to go before morning. Then you spend the next forever in and out of sleep continuing this forever long dream that seems to just go on and on only to then be awoken by a yowling cat that has entered your bedroom and she won't stop meowing until you get up, grab her not as roughly as if your husband were to do it, and lock her into the laundry room with her cat food and litter box.

You come back into your bedroom and check the clock. 1 am. REALLY? It's only been ONE HOUR? Seriously? Oh, man...it's gonna be a long night! Then you proceed into the same waking process of rolling over and over because your back hurts and you just can't get comfortable. (Yes, I know...I need that sleep number mattress, right? Or maybe memory foam...) Then when you feel like you've finally gone to sleep, another crying occurs and you look over at your husband as he rolls onto his face. It's got to be around the time he gets up for work right? He can get this one. Nope. It's only 6:20 am. Awe, the poor man needs at least another half hour of sleep right? *rolls eyes* Alrighty then. You get up, retrieve said crier and proceed to break one of your ultimate rules. You put him next to you in your own bed.

So, let's just say that I usually get up around the same time my husband is getting ready for work in the morning. This morning I didn't. This morning, I slept in past his goodbye kiss and "My world would be empty without you." (1...2...3...AWE! No...really, I gave him an ultimatum to start saying nice things to me instead of just kissing me goodbye...and so he comes up with these extremely corny little things to say...ah, Jimmy.) I slept in past when the crier, now quiet, awoke and left the bed. I slept in past when the sleeping something awoke and played with the crier. I slept in until I couldn't stay in bed any longer. I guess sleeping in is the wrong word for it...Just laying there in bed is more accurately describing what I did.

Don't you hate that?

New Design and a Sabriel from the Abhorsen Chronicles

2010-07-21T10:03:00.004-06:00

What do you think?

I've really changed things up, huh. Well, my design layout was going to expire and so I had to do it... Sighs. I kinda like the feel-good atmosphere of this one. Simpler. Less busy. I thought my old design was a bit busy, right?

Anyway, how's life?

I just finished the first book of The Abhorsen Chronicles, called "Sabriel". It was given to me for my birthday and I think it's a very unique and interesting story. A very original idea for another world where the dead don't stay dead and someone (namely, the Abhorsen) must work to keep the dead...well, dead. It's a bit on the creepy gross side because the dead come back in these black rotting forms with flaming coal-like gaping mouths and whatnot... Quite the fantastical stuff.

I enjoyed the book...yet, it was also a bit on the slow side. I think the story and the world and all of that is very interesting and well thought out but I didn't really enjoy the writing as a technical whole. Probably just the fact that I am a writer that looks at everything I read from that perspective. I can't just read something anymore without noticing the technical stuff. Sad, I know.

What bothered me was that the story went a bit slow for me. I have a couple close friends that absolutely love it, so I won't dis it too much because it does have the wow-factor, as some reality tv talent show judges would say. (Oh dear, I'm a dork.) But I never felt like the imagery really caught me. There were times when I could see the pictures in my mind about what was going on...but it wasn't often. Then, when I finally was drawn into the story by the climax, it suddenly was over. It had absolutely no resolution and that DRIVES ME MAD! I'm hoping the next book, Lirael, will be better and I heard it is. Yet, sigh.

I especially enjoyed the personality of the main character, Sabriel. She didn't have the full understanding of the deep magical world she was being taken into, so we learn about it through her eyes - which is a good call on Garth Nix's part. But that's why I didn't like the ending.
(SPOILER *she almost dies and then wakes up...THE END*) I didn't like that it just stopped there. I'm hoping that "Lirael" will pick up where "Sabriel" left off so it's not really an ending - but from the description on the back of the book, it seems to me that the second book is a completely different story.

Ok- another thing I ENJOYED was the flying contraption that Sabriel takes. I thought that was so cool! LA! It was a fun thing in the book. I also like that there's a talking cat. :) Well...not really a cat, but a cat form. :) There's interesting things, of course. There's a tiny bit of romance too...but not enough, in my opinion. BUT of course that's just me. :) I'm a Twilight fan, remember? Heehee.

As a whole, I did enjoy this story and I would recommend it to fantasty/sci fi lovers out there who are looking for adventure in the pages of a book. Like I said before, it truly has the wow-factor. I will continue this book review after reading the next book "Lirael."