A Brief Interlude

I'll be taking a little break over the next week (or two or three), to try to un-focus myself a bit from so much food!

 Unless I can think of something else to blog about besides food, I'll probably be sitting on the sidelines here for a bit.  Although I'm sure I'll be checking in with all of you from time to time.  

So since this is an interlude, here's a little musical number for you to enjoy.

I sound just like her :)

Happy Weekend

Hello kiddies! It's been a while, I know.  I've been lurking and commenting around on your blogs some but haven't had much time to attend to my own.

This week has been one ball of stress and tension and I'm quite happy to put it behind me.  But, the good thing about stress....

Yeah, I had Haagen Dazs for breakfast one morning, and I'm glad I did!

But now, the feel of my little corner of the interwebs may change a bit.  I can no longer ignore the fact that I need this sign slapped on my ass.

It's pretty much the size of Houston.  

I haven't been able to muster the willpower or enthusiasm to even try to do anything about it, considering my over-40 metabolism, and my disdain for exercise.  But I've been psyching myself up (or out) and I'm going to give it a try.  

I see lots of these in my future.

Don't worry, this isn't going to become a weight loss blog.  Although I can't imagine what would be more fascinating than reading how much time I spent on the Wii Fit and how many tenths of a pound I lost in a day.  But, if I find a lighter recipe that appealed to me, I'll share it.  

And I'm sure there will still be some good stuff too.  Butter and cheese make the world go around!   And, if I fall on my face I can say I tried :)

The Great White North

As in northern Arizona. As I mentioned in a prior post we purposely drove north looking for the snow. We found it!

This is the cute little cabin we stayed in at a KOA. I always thought those places would be kinda cheesy, but it was pretty nice. And fairly deserted which was a plus.

This is the girl about three minutes after we got there. She couldn't wait to jump right into the snow.

Trudging across the frozen tundra. This was the view right out our front door. I thought it was pretty nice.

The family with their new snow friend. (Don't ask the boy about how cold his toes got during this particular excursion...he was an unhappy camper by the time we got done there!)

Me with some very aggressive friendly deer. Of course once that cup was empty they turned up their fluffy little tails and went elsewhere.

(This was at the Grand Canyon Deer Farm)

I'm not sure what's up with my hair. I'm starting to look a lot like Cousin It.

In other news...

I'm hoping to have a fun giveaway posted by this Friday, maybe Sunday at the latest. So be sure to check back! Tell your friends, tell your relatives, tell anyone that likes to win free stuff!

New Year's Resolutions

I don't know about you but I'm not much for making resolutions. I don't need to be set up to fail, I can do that just fine without any planning.

But I've got one I'm going to try to do this year. I'm going to try to drastically cut down on my intake of nutrasweet/aspartame. I know the FDA would have me believe it's as safe as..well, nevermind that thought, nothing's safe. But I really think that stuff may be trying to kill me.

It'll be kinda hard. I get most of my nutrasweet intake as caffeine free diet coke. I don't just like diet coke, I need it. I've even tried the kind sweetened with splenda, but I don't like it.

So I'll just take it in small steps, try to just have one a day (so far so good today). Then maybe I can cut down to 1 or 2 a week. I tried to convince myself today I like unsweetened tea. I think it might be possible.

Anyway, enough about me. You got any resolutions? Or resolving not to resolve?

Sporadic Randomocity

Just itchin' to post something even though I've got nothing to post about.

The only thing I've cooked lately is that sausage dip from the last post again. Just as good the second time around!

Oh well, here goes anyway...

Girl child got a face tattoo. I was a little miffed...hehe.

This was the second day (yes I let her sleep in face paint) so it was starting to fade a little, but I thought it was cute.

I went to see "A Christmas Carol" with boy child and his class today. It was a little scary (the movie, I mean).

This is him (in red) watching some of the other kids get to have ice cream. I'm awfully nice to let him do fun stuff like that.

I've learned the boy sitting right next to him is kinda protective and watchful of him (which is nice since he's such a runt). I think I love that boy. Too bad they won't be in the same class next year.

mom, can I please have some ice cream?

I saw this pic on lolcats. (Don't tell me you don't go there)

It made me smile.

Hope you're all having a stress free Christmas season.

Flight of Ideas

I tried to make a panettone today. Is it just me or does it sort of look like a mushroom cloud?

I used a small coffee can for the mold. It turned out kinda dense and tough. Maybe I over-kneaded it or something. Smelled good while it was baking though. And what the heck is citron? I bought a little container of it to put in the bread and when I sniffed it I thought for sure it had ruined.

My panettone's will be store bought from now on.

My lovely girl child is suffering from a not so lovely rash called pityriasis rosea.

Of course like most things, they don't really know what causes it, but it's most likely something that occurs after you have a virus that runs its course in 6 to 12 weeks. (I think we're on about week 4)

It starts with a "herald" patch then spreads from there, but usually not on parts of the skin that get sun exposure. Although she has one on her jaw.

If she gets any on part of her that can be seen I don't know if they'll let her go to school, (even though it's supposedly not really contagious) it really has quite an alarming appearance. I may have to dress her in a turtleneck and ski mask.

I started to put an actual picture of the rash, but decided that would disgust many of you, and the girl would probably hurt me in my sleep.

I'm feeling quite a bit more ready for Christmas now than I was this time yesterday.

And I just refuse to stress about anything that I haven't accomplished yet.

And...I think I need more shoes :D

The Shoe Fairy Loves Me

My good fortune in the area of shoes has been quite remarkable this week. I think it may be a thing of legend. I think hundreds of years from now when I'm long gone, people will still be talking about it.

I think I've had a long day.

See these blue Dansko's down here? I've been coveting these puppies several months now.

I met with a friend yesterday to go see New Moon again and she brings me these shoes!

Exactly the ones I wanted, exactly my size! (she said she didn't like them)

What luck! I'm just ecstatic! As you may be able to tell by my prolific use of exclamation marks!!!

But wait...there's more!

Bonus clogs too. I'm especially fond of the pair in front. Very comfy (and they're klogs with a "K", that's just too kute).

So what else could I possibly ask for? My shoe blessings runneth over for sure!

BUT, I get to work today and what's in my locker??

These!

Holy arch support! Leopard print Dansko's!!

Also in my size....also completely awesome. From a different friend who just didn't want them anymore.

I pretty much feel like a rock star when I wear these (minus any fame, fortune, or talent).

And, on a serious note, I wore these about 10 hours today and they don't suck. That's a major glowing report coming from my flat footed, plantar fasciitis ridden self.

What does any of this have to do with food? Nadda, zip, zilcho!

But I will be making a cheese ball tomorrow if that helps at all.

New Room

My daughter's room got a much needed face lift. Don't really have any before pictures, but the walls were off white dingy with fingerprints all over the place. A friend at work paints on the side and gave me that orangey-red color for the accent wall. I really like the way it came out.

We had been wanting to get her a loft bed for more floor space cause her room is so tiny. Finally found this one at Wal Mart of all places that was in our price range. There's a few million pieces when you open the box.

But it turns out looking like this. It took us slightly over 2 hours. And when I say us, I mostly mean my husband.

I liked the idea of having a little desk under there for her to study at...found this cheap one at Wal Mart too. It was a perfect fit. Still have to get a desk lamp and a little task chair. Then the real studying can begin!

Oh the blinds, we're such doofuses. We didn't realize in the store you'd be able to see right through them. Duh :P We'll have to fix that somehow.

I'm not sure about mixing the metal bed with bamboo shades, but I guess we're not going for any decor contests and we liked them.

It's the girly stuff corner!

Well, she likes it and is thrilled with her new bed, and I guess that's what matters!

Blackberry Cobbler

I had such big cooking plans for today. Big, enormous plans. I had 3 different Pioneer Woman recipes I was going to make. This cobbler, some pinto beans, and cornbread. But then after I made this cobbler, I was completely exhausted. Too tired to make beans, people! That's just sad.

But if I was only going to make one out of the three, I'm glad I started here. I know there's some debate whether or not this is truly cobbler. Doesn't really matter, just eat it.

With some whippy cream of course.

On a non food related note, I got a snazzy new haircut today. I'll never get it to poof up like that in the back again, which is why I plan to never wash my hair, ever again.

This Is Me...

....being sporadic.

Because this is what I've been doing...

For so many hours at a time my ass is completely numb. I wonder if my employer would let me take scheduled time off so I can play even more? I'll have to check into that.

And in other news, guess who decided to stand on my laptop.

Yeah, you better look worried...thank goodness you only weigh 42 pounds.

And this is what the underside of my laptop keys look like...

Fortunately my husband is smarter than I am and got it back on there. Fortunately for Simon he's one of my favorite 2 kids, and I don't think he'll stand on the laptop again.

Gotta get back to the Sims now. Could someone send over a casserole??

Happy Fun Times

Yesterday my lovely employer hosted a big anniversary bash and invited everyone and their families for a day of fun at a local amusement park. Above is a picture of my kids riding one of the more hair raising rides. Look out kids!

Careful Simon, I think that horse wants to bite you!

I think I see the Loch Ness Monster lurking around in there Mara.

Simon and his friend Luke don't really seem to enjoy the sonic boom emitted by the roller coaster overhead.

It really was a nice day...I'm glad the kids got to go. They've wanted to for ages. I ended up getting horribly sick after it was all over with cause I rode a couple of things people who get motion sick really shouldn't. But it was worth it.

Next post will be about food, really!

Snazzy Apron

Hi everyone....sorry I haven't posted in so long. Work has kind of been sucking, they've been making me...work.

I had been wanting an apron so I decided I'd try to make one. Now when I cook I can smear everything all over it and not me.

It's got cool divided pockets at the bottom to carry around all sorts of cooking instruments.

And who doesn't love ric rac??

Maybe I can start selling homemade aprons and quit my day job. Of course at the rate I go I can probably make 25 cents by Easter.

You may be wondering why I own this armless model thingy. I don't think I'm really at liberty to talk about that just yet.

Baby Shower Diaper Cake

Okay, I have to be honest. We didn't eat this one. But it was lots of fun to make for my coworker's baby shower, and pretty easy.

I purchased a wooden dowel (about 12 inches) and wrapped a couple of baby blankets around that securing it with rubber bands. Then I started layering diapers around the bottom (size 1's) until I got the base as wide as I wanted. I used dental floss to tie them together. After that I repeated the process with the top layer and decorated it all willy nilly.

I was hoping people would start hiring me to make diaper cakes on a regular basis so I could quit my day job, but so far no luck.