I'm a Mom and wife of "Corn Mazers"

To help get me out of this funk...we decided to go to the Crazy Corn Maze near our house. Colin has been in love with mazes for the last 6 months or so (he had so much fun in the one made of boxes at the MOMS Club Halloween Party yesterday) and we thought this would be the perfect time of year to let him have some fun running around a huge one. It was a fun maze....hard to see once the sun went down (the flashlight wasn't helping much) and we didn't get all of the numbers punched....but we had a ton of fun as a family. Afterwards we went to dessert and got ice cream (I wanted something warm, but majority rules). Here is a small slide show of our eventful night, with a few of our "Mr. and Mrs. Potatohead Pumpkins" too!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

PS "Corn Mazers" was Colin's term for us this evening. Cute, huh?

that wants to give up.

Are you like me and some days you just want to give up? Give up cleaning house, give up doing laundry, give up trying to be social, give up everything all together and just stay in bed all day doing nothing but surfing the Internet and watching Gilmore Girls? (and possibly reading...I still have to finish Breaking Dawn, but I'm getting there!) I haven't had days like this in a long time. Usually I just chug right on through and keep at it. Eventually things get better and my urge to give up just disappears. Not this time. I just want to fall off the face of the earth and give all my responsibilities to someone else. I'm not sure why this is harder to get through this time. It's not the weather: "The weather in Utah right now is unseasonably warm. Highs in the low 70's all week." It's not the lack of social time with friends (don't even let me get into the week we still have ahead of us!). And it's not that I need a break....I just got back from Vegas for hell's sake! I just don't know what is keeping me in this funk. Anyway...I might not post on any of my regular topics for a little bit. I might post about a great episode of Gilmore Girls in season 4 (one of my fave seasons!), or how much farther I have to go until I finish Breaking Dawn, or I might not even post at all. Don't get worried, don't get mad....just know I'll be back as soon as I don't feel like giving up anymore. (Also check the Twitter box to the right....that is something I will probably keep up with!)

I'm a Mom reminding you of a post!

Because I'm a Mom and that is what I do. And because I really DO want your opinion. Some of you may not have seen the post about me needing a change. I know when a blog I read does same day posts, I sometimes miss one. So check out my post and give me some ideas....voting begins soon! (And thanks to those that did read the post and commented!) PS Katie sent me an email with some styles she liked (thanks Katie!) Here are the links so you can check them out too! Gwyneth Marcia Maria Patricia

I'm a Mom that has been tagged again!

Katie tagged me again, this time with a Google Images Meme. Here we go!

My favorite vacation:

Kauai, Hawaii, my fave island. A little known fact about me:

I'm left handed. Some people know, but forget. My favorite color:

My favorite treat:

Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie from Chili's! My favorite fruit:

My middle name:

I don't have one. Where I live now:

Where I grew up:

Orem, UT Where I'd like to vacation:

Amsterdam! (Or all of Europe) My first name:

My pet peeve:

My favorite animal(s):

My Past Love:

My greatest wish:

I used the double happiness sign because I wish is Happiness for both my kids!

WOW! That took me three days (on and off)...so I'm gonna poop out and not tag anyone else. BUT if you want to do this meme...go ahead...let me know if you do it, and I'll check it out!

I'm a Mom that has a hard time expressing herself...so others do it for me!

As all of you that read this blog know, I do am not the greatest of writers. I can write an essay for school, or a research paper, or maybe even a short, short story....but only with ample time to write, and re-write, and write yet again. In the blogging world, that kind of writing is not ideal. In the blogging world, you type up a quick post, maybe check it for spelling errors (I always try to do that.....it's the perfectionist in me) and put it on the Internet. After I publish a post, I don't usually read it on the actual blog, I don't want to see the imperfections (or the perceived imperfections) and have to make updates, or add more to the post. That is why most of the time this blog is fairly shallow, and well, FUN. I don't DO deep and meaningful very often, for the reason above (I don't want to write and re-write) and because I still have a twinge of insecurity, and I think that what might be deep and meaningful to me, might be taken the wrong way, or I might get made fun of, even if it is not to my face (or comment section). That said...in a long, round about way...I read Clever Girl Goes Blog on a daily basis, and a post in particular kinda hit home with me. When Did Everything Change? talks about Tia's life changing all at once. She is trying to get pregnant with her first kid, and she is thinking about the changes having a child will bring to her life. She wonders when she became an adult......an adult with a career, an adult that sits at the adult table at Thanksgiving, and an adult that other people actually take seriously. I also often wonder why people see me as an adult, when quite often I see myself as still a kid. I wonder how I came to be a Mom, and even though I know it is where I want to be, sometimes it takes me off guard that I am the "Mom" my kids are asking for. If you read Tia's post, and read the comments, mine is toward the end, you will understand a little more of how I related to her post. If you read it, and can relate also, let me know....I'd love to hear from you! PS...Katie...I got your tag, and I am working on it, I promise!

I'm finally continuing my mixtape of life.

So as you all know I was in Las Vegas for a great weekend of friends and fun! This week's songs are two from that weekend. I couldn't come up with a third...since there were really only two songs we heard all weekend. 7-Shake It-Metro Station: We saw these guys in concert on Saturday evening. It was kinda weird to see 12 year old girls screaming over a band, knowing that if I would have seen NKOTB when I was young, I would have been one of those girls. 8-Space Oddity- David Bowie: This is the first song on a CD that Nicole played over and over in the car. The CD is what she will walk down the catwalk to in the 2008 Hair Wars competition at the Hard Rock at the end of this month. Not only did we listen to it over and over again.....BUT we all had it in our heads the entire weekend! On more than one occasion Beth or Nicole would serenade us with the correct lyrics, or the incorrect lryics, or even the dirty ones (or was that just in my head?)

I'm a Mom, ready for a change!

I realize that title could mean many, many different things. But today I am being shallow. I have decided I need a change in my hairstyle. I love the cut I got month's ago....I just haven't kept it up. My hair dresser is 50 miles away, and it is hard to get down to her for maintenance. (I know, I know, I should find someone closer, BUT I have had bad experiences with stylists that don't know how to color red hair correctly) So I have decided that in order for me to get my hair done on a more regular basis...I am going to get it cut shorter. I just don't know what style to go with. This is where you guys come in. I need some help deciding which hair cut to get. First, I'd like you to find some pics of some medium length hairstyles you think I would look good having and send the link to me in the comments. Then I will choose my faves from there and eventually end up with a poll....we bloggers can't do anything without having a poll! There are only two rules: 1) No bangs-it is sad to say that with bangs, my psoriasis crawls down my forehead, and it gets scary from there. 2) No shorter than just above shoulder length- I am a sissy, and I am scared to go any shorter than that. I might have a great face for a certain cut that is shorter, but I just don't think I can do it. At least not this time! So submit your "entries" and soon I will have the poll up and running!

I'm a side dish whore too!

OK...so maybe not exactly a "whore" but I love, love the side dishes people bring to pot luck's. Some one always comes up with something new and interesting and most often, something delicious! This recipe was shared with a playgroup years ago, by my friend Cara (hi Cara...how's FL treatin' ya?). It is the most wonderful version of Scalloped Potatoes I have ever had! Most of the recipes I had tried, were dry and flavorless, but these are awesome! I don't make this recipe very often, it has lots of cheese, lots of cream, and the Yukon Gold potatoes are more expensive than Russets so it can be pricey to make, but it is a perfect dish for the Holidays! Take a look at the recipe below, and if you make it, let me know! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Three-Cheese-Garlic-Scalloped-Potatoes/Detail.aspx

I missed things while I was gone!

Lilly grew up while I was gone! She is now talking in more of a sentence structure. My favorite word she can say is "Awesome". She said "Wow this is so awesome" and I then asked her what is Awesome here are her answers: My hair Me My Room-(then she said "My room messy, clean it up, do my chores" ) Jannell and Javin Grandma's House Bubba Bubba Grandma and Grandpa Daddy It was so cute....it looks like she learned some things while I was gone,I totally missed it!

I'm a Mom back to work!

OK, so I am back from my trip! I'll have an almost full update soon, complete with some pics of the trip! Hey...what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

I'm Fighting the Frump in Vegas!

*Since I am on a weekend trip, this post was written before I left.... There is no better way to Fight The Frump than to hang with girlfriends...OUT OF TOWN! Hopefully at this moment I am sipping a glass of wine either by the pool, or looking at the awesome view...and just being me, the un-frumpy me. I haven't given you an update on the products I have tried so here we go: I am still loving the brown sugar scrub. I haven't used up the 1/2 recipe yet, but it will be gone soon. I still highly reccomend you make it, and make it with cinnamon, or cloves instead of the ginger, AND I even reccomend you even use it on your kids....my son has horrible dry skin on his knees and ankles and he loves it when I use the scrub on his legs! The Fashion Forms Breast Petals work beautifully! I just need to remember to actually use them. Try 'em out and see for yourself! No nipples! I'm still telling you the Soothing Care Chafing Relief Gel is awesome.....if you haven't bought some....DO IT NOW! John Frieda's hair glaze still makes my hair soft and shiny. I have only used it 3 or so times, so the bottle has lasted me quite a while, but it is a product I will buy time and time again! Even though the summer is over here in Utah..Certain Dri is still something I will use every night. If you aren't embarassed to tell your spouse he needs it (or even your extended stay guests, hope they are gone Cindy!) stick it in a stocking....it will fit nicely! I guess that is it for this week. Mrs. Fussypants might have a post.....check it out.

I'm struggling with my music choices!

I know I promised a new set of songs that depict my short life...but I am struggling to come up with something that A) isn't too cheesy B) My husband would be OK with me sharing* or C) a song that actually means something to me, and I didn't just throw on there to make the list complete. So here is a little confession: Last night I imported a few of the CD's Seth made for me onto iTunes so I could sync them to my iPod (do I sound like I know what I am doing or what!?). Because they are homemade, the song names don't automatically import along with the music. I had to go through about 40 songs and name them and the artist so they would be organized on my iPod. I had a hard time remembering the names of most of the artists! Like Beck, and the Thompson Twins, and even Led Zepplin! I suck! There were a few obscure artists like Elastica (I totally got that one) and Chantal Kreviazuk (didn't get that one) but these songs were one CD's I have had for years! I would have thought I could have named more of them without the help of the Internet (google and last.fm rocked for that purpose though!) So my confession is that even though music is a huge part of my life, I am horrible at remembering names of songs, and who sings them. The worst part, I am pretty good with names of people and details in everyday life....why can't that trickle on over to my music knowledge? So hopefully next week I will be able to remember the names and artists of songs that aren't cheesy and that mean something to me. Maybe this weekend full of Rocktober fun will bring some new ones to light! *To be fair, I haven't asked Seth if I can share any of the songs I want to put on here....I just haven't gotten around to it....he may or may not say it is OK..so stay tuned!

I steal great craft ideas too!

This was so hilarious! I don't know how many of you read "White Trash Moms" (link on the right) but if you don't read it....you missed out on the perfect craft for Halloween. Take a look at the cute little ghost that is waaayy easier to make than the tissue over a sucker ghost we are gonna do for the MOMS Club Halloween party. Do you think Jenni would go for it? (Please keep your comments on the clean side....we don't wanna get gross!)

I'm starting a new recipe series!

Even though I am going out of town.....I still have a recipe to share with you! Thanks to everyone that voted last week, and the winner is clearly the Side Dish Series. We all get to bring some kind of a side dish to the many holiday parties that are headed our way! I will be highlighting some of my faves the next few weeks starting with this: Cheesy Veggies- From the Neighborhood Recipe Book, submitted by Greg Miles 2 pkg. California Veggies (Broccoli, Cauliflower and Carrots) 1 stick butter 8 oz. Velveeta 1 can cream of chicken soup Topping: 1 stick butter 1 tube crushed Ritz Crackers (or similar cracker) Cook Veggies. Melt Cheese and 1 stick of butter. Add cream of chicken soup. Mix with veggies. Spread in 9x13 pan. Melt second stick of butter and mix with crackers. Spread topping over mixture. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until light brown and bubbly. This is such an easy dish to make! You can use the 2% Velveeta, a light soup, and the reduced fat Ritz to make it a little less fattening. You can also make most of it ahead of time, then finish baking it when you get to your pot luck dinner. If you make it all ahead of time, I recommend sprinkling a few crushed crackers on top just before serving, to give it the crunch the topping needs. Next week: Awesome Scalloped Potatoes

I enter contests too!

I have a habit of entering some contests to win great things on mulitple blogs. I almost always enter PW's contests, I enter some on YHO, and I have more recently started looking at Prizey to see what cool prizes are being offered around the web. Today I looked at a cool talking dollhouse that I know Lilly would love.....I went to the site to enter, and low and behold...the people giving the dollhouse away are also giving one to a local Children's Hospital, Primay Children's Medical Center. I thought it was a wonderful sentiment, I thought I would share the site with you...lots of cool stuff even without the giveaway...and get me two more entries into the contest. Check 'em out! http://littlewindowshoppe.com/help-giveback-and-enter-to-win-a-mrs-goodbee-dollhouse#comment-5129

I am picking my jaw up off the floor!

I have read a few articles about Nebraska's Safe Haven law not being specific enough, and people taking advantage of it. It seems that the law doesn't say that babies are the only ones that can be taken to an area hospital and taken in with no questions asked. The law says "child" which to most people means 12 and under. To others I guess it means any aged offspring. People are dropping their teenagers off at Nebraska hospitals, abandoning them because they can't handle them anymore. Officials have said the teenagers don't seem to be in any immediate danger, so the only reason they are being abandoned is because their parents are too lazy to finish raising them. I have my rough days with my kids, and there are times I just want to leave the kids at somewhere because they are driving me nuts. And I also know I don't have teenagers yet, so I'm not sure how rough that would be, but there would be no way I would just leave my teenager in the hands of strangers just because they were a little wild. There are programs to get them help for substance abuse, or even schools that give them some tough love to put them on the straight and narrow. What I want to know is what makes those parents that abandon their teens better than the rest of us that have to deal with the crap that comes from having a teenager? If you have kids, you deal with it like the rest of us! I know there are other sides to each story, but this is the way I see the articles, and if you want to let me see it differently, let me know! Here is the most recent news article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081013/ap_on_re_us/safe_haven

I'm a "Cool Broad" too!

I stumbled upon the website that cool broad after googling "homemade fingernail polish remover", and I love it! I have only read a few posts, but will be reading more. Not only will I add the blog to my daily reading list, but I will add the "cool broad" button to my gadgets too. I took the "cool broad" quiz and challenge you all to take it too! That said, after taking the quiz(my results are below), I think all of my friends that read my blog, are considered "cool broads" too, even if the quiz tells you otherwise! Check the website out and let me know what you think!

Your Result - You're so cool.
Congratulations! You're a Cool Broad all right! You've got the empathy, grace, and sense of humor needed to sweep people off their feet. You also appreciate the best in everything (and everyone) and you're a joy to be around. I wish I could be like you:) Thanks for visiting ThatCoolBroad.com. Please come back and comment often. And make sure to snag a badge for your blog or website. xoxo tcb

Are you a Cool Broad?

Do you have what it takes to be a Cool Broad? Take this short quiz to find out! There are no right answers (though there are a few wrong ones), so just go with your gut!

1. What's your favorite magazine?

People

InStyle

Business Week

Town & Country

Parenting

2. One of your girlfriends is dating a man that you (and her other friends) don't like. At happy hour after work, she opens up and begins to share some of the misgivings she has about him. You...

say, "Honey, you're too good for him. Dump him, quick."

tell her that you don't want to discuss him because you don't like him and you're afraid that if she ends up marrying him it'll ruin your friendship.

try to relate to her feelings and say, "Honey, that's just men. Have you tried asking him to close the door when he pees?"

tell her that you don't know what she expects, he's a pig and she shouldn't be wasting her time on him.

3. What style jeans do you wear?

I don't wear jeans, they don't look good on me.

Whatever style is "in" at the moment. I'm very stylish.

Whatever style flatters my body shape most.

The ones with pleats in the front, a really high waist, and tapered legs.

4. You're driving through a crowded parking lot and a car starts to back out of its space a few car lengths in front of you. You...

Stop and let the car pull out (it's clear to you that the driver can't see you (otherwise, why would he/she pull out in front of you?)

Tap your horn and keep driving because you think that the car probably sees you and pulling out in front of a moving vehicle is rude.

Don't do anything...you have the right of way.

Slow down, you're not sure whether the driver can see you or not and you'd rather not get into a wreck this morning.

5. How many of the following types of groups do you belong to? (i.e., Junior League, PTA, Tennis league, Neighborhood or Community women's/mother's club, Bunco group)

None...I don't like people that much.

All of the above...I'm VERY social.

A few...only the ones I enjoy the most.

As many as I can get into...I'm trying to improve my social status and being involved is one way to do it.

6. You're walking your dog and she unexpectedly poops in a natural area between two yards. You...

go home, get a bag, come back and scoop it up.

act like you don't notice and keep walking...dragging your dog by her leash as she pinches off her BM.

knock on the door of the nearest house and ask if you can borrow a bag to scoop the poop.

look around to see if anyone is watching...if not, ignore it. It IS a natural area for pete's sake.

7. One of your friends confides that she has quit breastfeeding her newborn because she and her baby never seemed to get the hang of it, and the baby was still hungry even after nursing for a half an hour. You...

shrug and say, "That's what formula is for."

sympathize with her, even though breastfeeding came naturally to you, and tell her that she's a great mom and shouldn't beat herself up over it.

tell her that the American Academy of Pediatrics says that you should breastfeed for at least a year and that formula-fed babies have been found to get sick more often and develop more slowly that breastfed ones.

don't say anything, but later, shake your head about your friend's bad decision (and apparent inability to do something that should come naturally) to your other friend (who is still breastfeeding her child and he's 3).

8. You're at a neighborhood party and one of your neighbor's begins to rant about how the presidential candidate you support is a complete idiot and doesn't know the first thing about running a country. You...

tell your neighbor that he's the idiot and explain how typical it is that someone of his background/gender/socio-economic level would buy into the propoganda of whatever political party isn't yours.

agree with him. Your neighbor is a senior executive at a company that you'd like to get a job with.

excuse yourself to refresh your drink...no good ever comes of talking politics at a party because you won't change anyone's mind and the issue can create a divisive atmosphere.

if asked, respectfully explain that you disagree with his assessment of the candidate's qualifications but that you don't like to discuss politics when everyone is just trying to get their drink on.

9. At the same party, someone introduces you to a woman who says, "Oh, we've already met...it's nice to see you again." You don't know this woman from a hole in the ground. You...

act like you remember her but apologize that you don't remember her name and ask if she minds refreshing your memory.

act like you remember her and hope that the person introduces you (or someone else) says her name, quickly.

be honest...you can barely remember what your husband looks like, so she shouldn't really be offended.

tell her that you think she's gotten you mixed up with someone else, because you have no idea who she is.

10. One of your co-workers has been married for 5 years but hasn't started a family yet. You suspect that they don't want to have children or are having a hard time conceiving (and you're incredibly curious). You...

wait for her to bring up the subject, if she wants to discuss her childbearing plans with you, she will.

drop subtle hints in your conversation hoping she'll bite and bring the subject up.

ask her...it's not that big of deal.

ask another co-worker who may know, thus avoiding potential awkwardness.

11. Your kid just got selected to participate in an honors program at school, and your dying to know if your best friend's kid got the same recognition. You...

tell your kid to find out which classmates of his made the program.

go to the orientation for parents (even though you wouldn't have gone otherwise because your oldest kid was also in the program so you're familiar with it - you just want to see who shows up).

ask her, you're friends, after all, and she'll be excited for you even if her kid isn't brilliant like yours.

ask around behind her back to avoid potential awkwardness if her kid isn't very bright.

12. You're sitting next to a woman at the pool who you know socially and you notice that she's got quite a few spider veins on her legs. You...

get a good look at them and thank your lucky stars that legs veins don't run in your family (and wonder why on earth she's in a bathing suit, exposing them for all the world to see).

you say to her, "I noticed that you've got veins in your legs...do they run in your family?"

tell her that you have a good friend who got her veins removed with lasers and ask her if she's ever considered having them treated.

act like you don't notice them...why make her feel self-conscious?

13. A woman you don't particularly like, shows us to Bunco with a killer pair of jeans on. She has your body type and you'd love to try that brand, but you don't know what brand they are. You...

try to read the tiny label on her ass when nobody is looking.

ask her, even though you're not excited about giving her a compliment. But if your butt looks as good as her butt does in those jeans, it's worth it.

don't say anything...there's no way you're going to let this woman know she has something that you covet.

memorize the pocket stitching and hope you recognize it the next time you go shopping.

14. The same woman, is also toting an expensive designer handbag. You happen to have the same style, but notice that hers has some of the tell-tale characteristics of a knock-off. You...

chuckle to yourself and silently enjoy the fact that you have the real deal and she doesn't.

point out the obvious blunder to your best friend, so you both can laugh at the woman behind her back.

tell the woman that you looooove her handbag and have one just like it, hoping to make her uncomfortable and maybe even cop to the fact that hers is a fake.

ask the woman if her bag is real, because you have the same one but hers looks a bit different.

15. You found a terribly cool website called That Cool Broad that you enjoy visiting. You...

subscribe to the site's RSS feed.

comment on articles that you have thoughts about.

digg, kirtsy, stumble, or e-mail articles to your friends that you think others would enjoy.

All of the above!

I've been tagged!

When one of Katie's friends tagged her (I read her friends post), I knew it was only a matter of time before she tagged me too! Here it is:

This Picture Tag involves taking the 4th file of photos on your computer and posting the 4th picture from that file. Since my husband is a computer nerd (hi honey!) I have access to 2 sets of picture files, so I am going to give you two pics!

#1

This was from a photo shoot at my parents house. I was trying to get a pic of the kids for the December page of a calendar I was making for Christmas gifts.

#2 (this one is a way better one!)

This is tiny, tiny Colin when he was less than a month old, and home from the hospital for only a week. (Collective "awwww!") He wiggled his hands out of the swaddling and just looked so adorable sleeping like that.

OK.....so I now tag Allison...she's gotta have some great pictures!

I'm continuing to Fight the Frump by following my daily checklist

Last week I fell off the "Fight the Frump Wagon". It was a crappy day and it felt so good to stay at home wearing sweatpants and having my hair in a ponytail, no leaving the house for anything but to drop off and pick up my kid from the bus stop.

I then started to get back into the swing of fighting the frump by going through my own checklist in my head. So this week is kind of a Fight the Frump Review, just to keep us all in tip, top Frump Fighting shape!

Fight The Frump Checklist

1- Wear make up whenever you leave the house :OK so I have been a little slacking on this front, I'm gonna add, "or your car" to that statement, just so I can get away with having no make up on when I drop the 5 year old off at the bus stop.

2-Find clothes that fit your body type: I think I'm still doing pretty well in that category...some of you may beg to differ, but don't let me know about it here, please tell me about the ill fitting shirt I wear in private.

3-Always wear Jewelry: I have no problems there! I at least have a cute pair of earrings on all the time!

4-Wear your sunglasses as a hair accessory: Have you ever seen me without my sunglasses? Even if the time of day changes while I am out, my sunglasses are still on top of my head, holding my hair back!

5-Take care of your hair style: OK well....um....if you have seen my hair these days you know I have "No Comment". Gonna take care of that one after I get back from Vegas!

6-Wear great shoes: I still have great shoes to keep me in style, but ones that I can still chase the kids around in.

7- Wear Color: I try to make sure there is some color in my outfit. Even if it is in the necklace I am sporting, or in the shoes I slip on.

8- Keep your toes pedicured: So I have been doing my own lately, but am still keeping my toes maintained AND I am hoping to get a great one while on vacation in Vegas next week!

9-Try to keep stress free: A few times I day I try to take some deep breaths, and re-center myself.

10- Spend time with friends: At least two times a week I take the time to spend with friends and it helps keep me laughing and unfrumpy!

Keep your own checklist in your head when you go out of the house, or even when you stay in, and you will be Fighting The Frump!

I'm a Mom taking a break from her life "Mixtape"

I'm having trouble choosing the next three songs on my life's mixtape. There are so many good songs out there to choose from. So I am putting my "series" on hold for at least a week to make sure I choose the right songs to share. On to new music! Kings of Leon have been popping up everywhere (Letterman, Sirius Radio stations, SNL) and I am not quite sure what I think of them. I might just have to buy their album and see...I listened to the song Crawl on last.fm (get a snippet over on the right) and I think they are a band I could go see in person. BUT there was another one I heard on Sirius Radio (there wasn't a name) and I think I could just listen on my iPod. I guess I am just undecided.....let me know if you have heard of them, and what you think, if I break down and buy the album, I'll give more feedback later!

I'm an indecisive person too.

So I have been thinking about doing a "series" of recipes that will help get you all through the Holiday Season (or just through October...depending on how many recipes I actually have!) and I need some help. Just take a look at the poll, answer the question, let me know WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!!?? And I'll take the winner and run with it...OK so not actually run. Did you think I meant RUN!? Don't you know me better? Thanks for your help!

OK....so sometimes I am!

I have to share the cutest thing Lilly said today.....it was really sweet too and made my day! Lilly and Colin were fighting and she comes running up to me, crying. I of course pick her up to give her a hug (I don't do this all the time, just when Colin is being mean, and in this house it isn't all that often that they fight). She hugs me back and says "Much Better!" and gets down and runs off. I hope that a hug from Mom will be the one thing that makes things "Much Better" for a long, long time!

I'm bummed I didn't market these!

I am not sure how I found these....but I am wishing I would have been the one to market them first! For a long time I have wanted to have cards printed up to place on cars to let the person know they pissed me off (anonymously of course) by the way they parked, the way they drove or even the way they decided to park in the space next to me as I am loading kids and groceries when there are many other spaces available. Some people just need to be told they are assholes, since they are quite unaware that there are other people in this world. I might just order the Urban Asshole cards and keep them in my purse for any of the occasions listed on the card. Hopefully none of you will get one on your car*! ;>) *Like I would really do that to any of you....you all know how passive-aggressive I can be!

I'm also a Mom that follows current events.

I haven't blogged much about the upcoming election, mostly because I feel like a vote is a personal choice, and as long as you are making an informed vote, I don't care who you are voting for. But I came across what I think is a great post, a great letter, and it is exactly how I feel about a particular candidate's running mate and I thought I'd share it with you. http://mammaloves.blogspot.com/2008/10/gov-palin-stop-blame-game.html I have closed comments, because I don't want to get into a debate, or an ugly sparring of words. I just wanted to finally make my voice heard, even if it is in the words of someone else. I just don't think I could have stated it quite like the letter writer has, and I thank her for being bold enough to write what she thinks.

I'm a frumpy Mom today too.

No FTF post today....I'm feeling frumpy, dumpy, and blah. No way to fight it but to give in to the Frump, have an Irish Coffee (mmmmmm!) and hang at home all day! Hope I'll be back next week!

I'm thinking about my "life's Mixtape" still too.

For those of you just tuning in take a look at this post here. I am continuing my "life's mixtape" series (oooh, I sound professional here) with just a few random songs that either remind me of specific times in my life, or a number of years (IE. High School). 4- The Gambler: Kenny Rogers- Well, I guess any song on his Greatest Hits (1980) album . My parents had/have the cassette tape and I grew up listening to it so much that I know every word to every song...I can sing along without breaking a sweat. So, this song (and the album) represents my childhood. 5-I think We're Alone Now: Tiffany This was the first cassette tape I owned! I think I still have it packed away somewhere. I got good grades in 6th grade or was it 7th, and my Mom bought it for me as a reward. I loved Tiffany, mostly because she has red hair....my red-headed role models were few and far between as I was growing up. 6- Everything I Do-:Bryan Adams- OK, don't laugh...the movie Robin Hood Prince of Thieves came out when I was in 9th grade. During my 9th grade year (now don't laugh at this either) I was in a group of actors that was chosen to compete in the Utah High School Shakespeare Competition. We had rehearsal for weeks on end, before school, and after school and we all became close friends (or as close as you can in the 9th grade, you remember those Jr. High insecurities....but I digress). We chose a song that was meant to represent our friendship, something that would make us think of our time spent together, and that was it. So that song represents that time in my life. (As a side note, I am not even friends with any of those people anymore, one guy even went so far as to tell my Dad some lies about me, after high school was over, I mean WTF!) I know that so far none of the songs on my "mixtape" have been life changing, or have had the utmost of meaning, but stay tuned....I have three more to share with you next week!

I support my friends homemade stuff too!

I have always been a fan of Etsy. Most of the stuff on there I can't afford, so I browse almost every day marveling at the creativeness of other people. I am amazed at the things people create with their own hands and since I am so not a knitter/crocheter (is that a word?)/painter/artist or anything along those lines, I love finding people that can do those things well. My friend Erin (Hi Erin, hope you get to read this!) mentioned she makes Super Hero Capes in her home, and delivers/sends them all over. (OK so, Heather J. actually told me about it, but in a very casual way) I was stoked! My kids both have capes they got from Grandma "Na" and they love them! I knew my Mom was planning on getting one for my niece, Morgan, and I thought it would be cool to have one that fit Morgan's personality. Erin and I talked a little about it, and I just told her I'd let her know if my Mom wanted one. Today I searched to find her website....just out of curiosities sake, just to see what she has to offer and such. WOW! Plum Pear Apple is a great site! The capes Erin makes can make your kid into the greatest superhero of all time! The fabrics are awesome & the emblem designs unique.She is one of the people that amaze me with their talent! So go check her out and if you want to order a cape for Christmas.....make sure you do it now! She is so busy, you wanna make sure you get it in time! (I'm even contemplating getting my kids a new one, so they can switch back and forth...you can't have too many superhero capes!)

I'm quick on my feet too...well, with last minute meals that is!

The other night I was planning on making my friend Vicki's delicious baked shrimp recipe for dinner. I had thawed shrimp (1/2 the Costco bag), the Olive Oil spray, the seasonings, even some rice to go on the side. As I went to find the recipe, for cooking times, temps etc. I couldn't find it....it used to be saved in the "recipe" folder I have in my email, and now it is gone. (OK, I must have deleted it by accident...and I feel so lame, because I have asked Vicki for that damn recipe too many time! Sorry V!) Anyway....I decided to use just what I had in the pantry to make dinner, since no one likes overcooked rubbery shrimp. Here is what I did: I boiled some thin spaghetti, and some angel hair pasta noodles (I used up two opened packages) I sauteed the already cooked shrimp in some butter with some lemon pepper seasoning When the shrimp was heated through, I added a jar of Alfredo sauce (Ragu-Roasted Garlic Parmesan) and heated the sauce through. I then drained the cooked pasta and tossed the shrimp and sauce and pasta together....to give it some color, I sliced some green onions and used them as garnish. I served it with crusty french bread and we had a great meal! This was soo yummy! I could have eaten the whole thing, but I refrained. Seth ate a whole bunch, and my only regret with this meal was the lack of a salad on the side. I know, Vicki, I know, it isn't as healthy as your yummy recipe, but I made do with what I had! Try it out next time you feel like having some shrimp (I know you won't try this Katie, but it is a change from the same old chicken Alfredo for those of us that will eat seafood!)