Things I like to do with cheddar cheese

Of course you're reading...who could resist a title like that? As much as I love to cook, I just realized I've never blogged about recipes before. Today's not the day, either. Not for full-blown recipes, anyway. I will however, share two short little snacky tips.

Numero Uno would be my homemade pimento and cheese! My husband thinks I'm a domestic goddess when I whip up stuff like this. (He's really smart, so I'm inclined to believe him.) Take about a cup or so of good mayo (we prefer Hellman's for this), some chopped jalapeno peppers, a large jar of pimentos and mix them together, pimento juice and all.

TIME OUT: Do you know what a pimento actually is? I've eaten them stuffed inside olives all my life, but never ever questioned just what it was. Such a trusting soul am I. It's a heart-shaped sweet pepper. Now you know.

AND WE'RE BACK! Now, add a few fistfulls of finely shredded cheddar cheese and mix thoroughly. Let it 'marry' overnight in your fridge, then mix again and serve with Wheat Thins (our little ones call 'em "weekends"), Fritos, celery, you name it. Serve it on a gorgeous platter during the game like it was no biggie.
Then, get ready for your own Domestic Goddess crown, sister.

My second, and old-fashioned, use for shredded cheddar it to make pear salad. You read that right. I remember years ago when our office would host any kind of potluck dinner...and someone would nearly kill themselves to be first to jot 'pear salad' next to their name. "What a cop out", I thought. I couldn't roll my eyes hard enough with disgust when I'd see the list. Besides being this side of 99-cents to make a platter-full, they looked disgusting! Well, well, how the tables have turned on the young folk because now we eat the all the time. Turns out my hubby grew up eating them and loves them. Again, score for me, right?

So, y'all get out there and buy that 5lb bag of cheese at Sam's like we do and go crazy! You're welcome...I'll be here all week.

Goodbye, faux Fall!

Oh, October, how I adore you! You made no apologies as you stepped up and delivered some for-real cold air...all the way to the Gulf Coast region! Air off, windows up, power bill down, and not a moment too soon.

I'm enjoying sitting here tonight, blogging away, with the wide windows up and feeling that cold breeze brush against my arms, legs and feet. It has a distinct smell that conjures up some wonderful memories of Falls past. I met my sweetheart-turned-husband in the fall of the year, that being my all-time favorite. ♥

I've had a busy weekend and have a busy week ahead of me, but I'm smiling.
The unfolding of my dressmaking plans has my creative juices flowing and those of you who know me best know that's what makes me tick. I'm embracing everything that's coming my way right now, and believe with a full heart that it's a plan designed just for me. I feel a bit like I've stumbled onto another of life's little secrets to being happy. Love what you are where you are.

I can't wait for the first night we build a fire and get to enjoy the smells and sounds it makes. For all the modern amenities I've gotten used to, I really think I could not only handle, but enjoy living in a simple cabin in the woods. No outside distractions, just quiet so quiet that you can hear it. But, alas, you would miss my blog. And I would miss my sewing machine. How long do they make extension cords, anyway?

A little housekeeping & a lot of sewing

It is the end of a long, productive day. I don't mind being tired like this when I've got a lot to show for it. I have been absent from my blog for several days now, but I'm back to fill you in! I have rekindled my love for sewing, and I am in heaven!

First things first: I stopped the presses to clean this (frat-after-the-party) house. It was a disaster in all areas: dishes, laundry, toys, you name it. I'd say I don't know what inspired me today, but I do know--a steroid shot to the hip.
It smarted a little bit, but looking back (literally, over my shoulder at the room)
it was worth it. Also, I had to put on my nah-this-doesn't-hurt-a-bit face because my two youngest were in the room when the nurse gave it to me. They were facinated.
Anyway, after vacuuming all the carpets I decided to go for the gold and shampoo them as well. Ugh. Only, last time I used the machine I neglected to empty the water tank. OMG. It smelled like the opening scene of Criminal Minds!! Don't worry, I bleached that sucker good before using it today. The house looks and smells soooo good.

Now, about my sewing projects! I got my first sewing machine 4 years ago--the first Mother's Day after Ava was born. I taught myself through trial and error and a few flashbacks from Home Ec classes from highschool. Before long, I was cranking out the cutest baby dresses for Ava and I would stay up late nights finishing projects.
Lately, I've been making those cute little pillow case dresses with the ribbon ties at each shoulder and they are my new obsession. My husband knows by now that when I tell him I'm running an errand, it will include a stop by the fabric store. I am certainly fulfilling my creative outlet again and it feels wonderful. I've even cut back on my Facebooking, so you know it's serious...

I think that one of life's secrets of happiness it to find something you love and pursue it. I wish I hadn't waited twenty years out of school to find out, but maybe back then it wouldn't have meant as much to me. I have three "muses" to inspire my creations these days: Olivia, Ava, & Marilyn. That's all the excuse I'll ever need.

A day in Fairhope, Alabama

Hey, everybody. Let me just go ahead and set your minds at ease: nobody threw up in the van today.

To celebrate my friend Nichole's birthday, the girls and I picked her up and drove down to Fairhope, AL. If you enjoy the quaintness of a small town, but with plenty of unique shops and eateries, put this visit on your bucket list. It's a place that's rich with old town charm, friendly folks, aesthetic store fronts, and beautiful landscaping on every corner. Their boutiques are very up-to-the-minute, their art galleries range from foo-foo to kitchy, and their restaurants are anything but cookie-cutter.

Our first stop was Personally Yours, which carries a favorite candle of mine--buttered rum. It's one of those that wafts throughout your entire house. When I buy a candle, I want that sucker to give me my money's worth, you know?

After asking the sales girl about a great place to have lunch, we ended up walking around the corner to what's known as the French Quarter, to eat at the renouned Panini Pete's. Nikki told me she had seen Guy Fieri's show and that he's eaten there. What's good enough for Guy, right? The FQ has two alley entrances that intersect under a giant live oak, and is surrounded by cool leafy fans of banana trees and crepe myrtles. There is also a three-tiered water fountain splashing to add to the ambiance of this little 'secret retreat' from the sidewalk bustle. We drank the best sweet tea (mine with a little lemon) and devoured a couple of Panini Burgers. It was a burger on ciabatta bread, then pressed super flat and cut into triangles. The pile of super skinny shoestring fries didn't hurt either. And why does everything seem to taste so good served on wax paper in a basket? I swear I'm gonna go to World Market when I'm done typing this and get some of those.

I know we made it to several shops, including the Christmas shop, which is ALL Christmas, ALL the time. Of course, I was most drawn to any shop that had quirky little signs, purses, jewelry...you know the routine. There was one shop called Olivia's Serendipity that had the cutest little metal sign: "A.S.A.P. ...as Southern as possible." I also saw one that I may have to recreate for my Lifetime BFF, DMB, that read: "If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room."

By now, Ava & Marilyn have had it with Nikki and me and this Girls Day Shop-a-thon. I bribed them with the promise of a cool ice cream co, buying us just enough time to wrap up our trip. Once I pulled back into our sacred driveway, they were all too happy to bunker down for nap time. No arguments.

Hmmm. I may gas up the van for another trip tomorrow...

Y'all have a good day and go do something fun with someone fun!

Wait, didn't we already have Monday this week?

Good grief. Just to get it off my chest, here's a short recap of my day.
I had every intention of getting the whole house cleaned up (again) all before lunch.
Remember, I've been watching all those episodes of "Hoarders" on A&E...

Instead, I broke one of my major rules: rather than beginning with the big and obvious messes, I began with the small, very specific project of cleaning out the girls' closet. I had ulterior motive, because at the very back of that closet sat a 4-drawer file cabinet, and I needed it elsewhere. I schlepped out all the clothes, and ultimately bagged four more lawn-sized bags for donation. Then, I attempted to hang one of those white metal shelves like you see at Lowe's, only I'd lost the proper brackets. "Shoot. I'll just improvise" I smugly decided. In the end, that ba$#@rd fell right off the wall. I got out the DeWalt power drill, for round two. The cord wouldn't reach. Forget it...I had to get Liv to soccer practice on one side of town, then race to the other side to watch Ava's first soccer game. A team of 4-year-olds scrambling around, skipping, holding hands, picking up the ball...really anything other than actually playing soccer. It was painful to watch. Let's just move on.

While I was weaving the van to the back of the golf community where Liv was going to have her practice, Marilyn threw up. It almost doesn't even phase me anymore.

Finally! I made it to Ava's big game...and there were eight minutes left. If I was a cast member on The Office, it would have been in that moment that I'd leer into the camera with an "I give up" look.

That's it for today. That's enough really. Tomorrow, the van gets detailed. Don't worry...I'll tip good. ; )

Elastic Waistband

Do you ever just get on your own nerves sometimes? I do, especially when I've done something really dumb. Let me share with you just how wise I was this afternoon.

We were headed out to the park to meet some of the girls' playmates, then afterward I'd planned to swing by WalFart (not a typo) to pick up a few groceries. The girls had taken a good nap and were in great moods; they were dressed; water bottles in hand. All I needed to do was change into some shorts and a t-shirt. The shorts I picked up were that pair that you always pick up and think, "Hey...why haven't I worn these in a while?", then remember (when it's too late) WHY. So comfy! Cute little ribbon tie in front and with an elastic waistband. Only that #$%$#@ waistband was twisted so bad it made the shorts look and feel crappy. My genius idea was to cut that sucker out, and so I did. Dummy. As the playdate went on, the waist of those shorts stretched out wider than my hips, and they started sliding. I had to keep tugging them and holding them like those idiots who wear jeans around their mid-thigh. Luckily, I made it through the grocery store without incident, which almost never happens for me, even on a good day.

Tomorrow, I'll run them through a couple of times on my sewing machine to give them a more permanent fix. Aren't you glad I'm here to be the guinea pig for all your potential fashion faux pas?

Let's Compare Notes

Do you ever wonder if the things that happen in your everyday are "normal"? I think there is a lot of pressure to do things a certain way, because we would just die if SusieQ found out we live otherwise. Am I right, or am I right?

Let's just hope that SusieQ has a keen sense of humor, and poor eyesight, if she's gonna be friends with me. Being a stay at home mom, you might assume that my house is pristine, but you would be so wrong. It's a wreck most days, but we manage.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love a tidy, neat house. It's just that once the single life blooms into love, marriage and the baby carriage(s!), it sort of turns into a free-for-all. It's more important to me now to enjoy my family time in lieu of doing the supper dishes. Now, after a couple of nights of that, the sink has fangs. Thank goodness for my sliding pocket doors into my kitchen--so I can erase the mess when SusieQ knocks.

Living in the Gault house also requires a Roll With It attitude. When crap happens, I can either go batty and use my outside voice, or I can shrug and fix it. So, this morning, when I closed the silverware drawer and got a big whiff of something stinky-pie-pony, I reeeeeally wanted to go with option no. 1. Too bad, because that smell was my fault. I totally forgot about a bag of potatoes underneath the counter and... well, you know you've done that, too. Mop up the juicy goop with the cheap paper towels and disinfect! See? I didn't waste time getting upset, which freed me up to unstick the syrupy breakfast plate from the table. :) Speaking of dishes, I still have no idea where all my forks and spoons are ending up. We had two full sets, now were down to two-meals' worth. Whatever. I just opened a pack of yellow party spoons left over from something and that's how we got through supper last night. Have you ever?

Sometimes, it's a potential suprise visit from SusieQ or the Mail Lady actually having to bring a package to the door that spurs me into a quick pick-up/spray-down of the front living room. Can you relate? You know, you clean up just what anyone can peruse from the front door in all directions. A quick shout out to my faithful helpers, Lemon Pledge and Yankee Candle: Without you, it wouldn't be nearly as impressive.

So, fire up those candles and do some cleaning, but don't kill yourself. Because I promise you, SusieQ is down the street busting her hump doing the same thing just in case YOU show up on HER doorstep. Which you totally should do, so her half A cleanup won't be in vain.

You're welcome. I'll be here all week.

Mississippi State Bulldogs football♥

This house is a MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS house! Last weekend got everybody into a great mood (um, except Ole Miss fans) with all the wins. MSU beat Memphis royally, which made my Hubby vurry happy. The HDTV in the den was on all day, but when 6:00 rolled around, it was Time. Time for the game, snacks, and cheering. I whipped up some chips and dip to start, then we had some hot buffalo wings, celery and fries.
Somehow, an entire pan of brownies disappeared that day, too. Nobody, of course, ate the last one.

If I'm gonna be honest, I don't really care much for sports in general. I think I like the "idea" of it more than the actual thing. Golf on TV? Snoozefest. Basketball? Too much shoe squeaking. Racing? I just don't even have a nice answer.
Then there is football. Not just any football: college football, more specifically SEC football. It's hard for me to pull for a team if I don't feel a connection or some sort of base rivalry. I genuinely love watching MSU football. Even better, I love watching when the weather has taken a cool snap and ideally there's a fireplace involved.

When I had my apartment, sans fireplace, I'd actually crack the sliding glass door and let that cold air stream in to complete the football experience. I love to be at a game when you have to bury under blankets, scarves, and drink hot chocolate.
Here at home, we have a den that we call the Man Room. It still has panelled walls, a rustic wood mantle over the brick fireplace, and a sliding glass door! Every other room has been updated, but not the den, and that's the way I like it. It feels sort of like a cabin--and I'm a sucker for a cabin. There is even a set of antlers on the mantle, put there by ME. Most of my friends are fainting about now.

I like spending time watching football with The Hubbz. It reminds me of all those weekends we spent together when we first met...football, cool weather, tailgating on campus. (Now, we 'tailgate' in the den with three daughters!) Every fall, I get those same old feelings again. I'm smiling right now just writing about it.

Happy Football Season, everybody.

GO, STATE!

Been away too long...

"Hello, darlin'...it's been a long time."

I have not blogged in three months! I even forgot and had to reset my password!
Let's hope I don't have this problem tomorrow. Oh, I'll write it down, but where will that piece of paper end up? Probably scribbled with crayon and slathered with Elmer's. Y'all know the drill around here.

Birthday Girl

Yesterday, May 27th, was my birthday. Since I was a kid, I have adored my special day...and the presents that it brings!

Back in the day, that usually meant perfume, jewelry, shoes, clothes, you name it. As I've gotten - ahem - older, my tastes have changed a bit. Don't get me wrong: there is still a very special piece of jewelry I've got my eye on and my husband knows EXACTLY what it is and where it is. But that's gonna have to be another birthday, most likely a decade away. No, the kind of things that inspire me in recent years bring a lot of teasing from my family. For example, a few Christmases ago I asked for a crock pot. Shut up, it's what I wanted. When my hubby askes me over and over in the weeks before my birthday, it's harder to come up with something I really want. I did try finding new earrings. Nah. I really tried to convince myself I'd like a new blingy watch, but I just wasnt' feeling it. So, you can imagine the blank look he gave me when I perked up and said I'd really like a couple of new non-stick skillets. Go on and laugh, but next time you're scraping a grilled cheese out of your rickety old scratched up pan, you're gonna think of me. The rest I told him to surprise me with. He knows how much I love Ross and TJMaxx, so that was a good starting point. He did great, because last night I unwrapped a gourmet bottle of olive oil, two chic zebra print coffee mugs, and my favorite wasabi rice cracker snack mix from World Market. To be enjoyed Saturday, I've got an appointment to have my hair colored & highlighted AND I found and bought a gorgeously shabby chic white quilt and shams for our bedroom! To me, that was a lottery win!

So, as evidenced by the above, I'm most concerned with My Kitchen and my hair. I think that is PERFECTLY normal for a Southern-bred girl. Now, who wants a grilled cheese?

"What else can happen?!"

There is truth in the old adage that you should never utter the words, "What else can happen?!" Let me tell you what's been going on with The Griswolds these past two weeks.

I woke up on a Monday morning with my left eye matted shut. Gross, isn't it? Too late--you can't unread it now, so stay with me. You know when your eye doctor sells you on 'extended wear' contact lenses, he doesn't literally mean 24/7. You're welcome...I had to be reminded of that the hard way. So, I made an appointment to have my eye treated. Until then, I had to wear my Granny Clampett glasses that I thought looked so chic. And they did...about 10 years ago. Thankfully (for the community's sake) I ordered some hip new frames. Fun, but that meant an unexpected out-of-pocket expense. "What else can happen?"

Wednesday, that's what else. I was herding the two little one toward the door for preschool and noticed the baby didn't have her shoes on. Big surprise. I walked into the den, because of course that's where they're gonna be--not in a closet. I bent over to grab them, lost my balance and may have heard someone yell, "TIMMMBERRR", because baby I fell and I fell HARD. Wrything around on the floor panting and praying, I knew I was h-u-r-t. I thought I'd broken my arm, but remembered if you could wiggle your fingers, not. I could even bend my elbow. What I couldn't do was lift my arm at all. My 4 year old fetched my phone and I called my dearest friend in town to come get me. She two-wheeled me and the kids to the urgent care clinic, where Huzzband met us. After x-rays, I was sent across town to an orthopedic surgeon: I had a dislocated shoulder! Ouch! If you've never done that, don't. It freakin' hurts. I wore that ugly patient gown across town to the surgeons office and my Huzzband teased me when we walked in, "I bet you feel waaay underdressed, huh?" Lucky for him, my sense of humor is as great as my tolerance for pain. I told the medical staff that the first person to relieve my pain was going to be my new BFF AND that I'd bake them a cake. The heavens parted and in walked a guy with a needle and a bottle of novocaine! HALLELUJAH! Once that took effect, the surgeon had me relax my arm, then with a gentle tug, popped that sucker back into place! My shoulder was gnarled up in excruciating pain for three hours before it was fixed. Now, I'm in a sling (ugly medical blue) for two weeks but who cares?! "Wow...what else can happen?"

Sunday, that's what else. You didn't really think that was gonna be it? Do you read ANY of my posts?? The baby burst into tears at lunch and covered her ear. She got hauled to the urgent care clinic (since we're like family there) and was diagnosed with a major double ear infection. Long story short: antibiotics.

Moral of the story: Never, ever, ever utter the words, "What else can happen?!"
God has a sense of humor, too, you know.

The Sam's Club police

Old Mother Hubbard's cupboards were bare, so you know what that meant: the dreaded journey to SAM'S CLUB.

Before I had kids, I was one of those people who used to love to wander up and down the aisles of SC. I'd spend pretend money in my head on this and that, I almost never needed a shopping cart, but sometimes I'd get one anyway "just in case". It was leisurely and peaceful.

Fast-forward (not quite) a couple of decades and here I am, schlepping into the door with small kids in tow. And that's when my irritation starts: "Ma'am, I'll need to see your membership card." Stop, dig through my wallet, flash the stupid card for
.01 seconds, and then I'm "allowed" to come inside and spend money with them. What?! I despise this rule. It's stupid, and it's a speedbump in my already busy schedule. It's not like we're trying to get into the Pentagon--we're just trying to get 8 lbs. of butter for $3.00. Heaven help you if you happen to arrive simultaneously as a handful of other people, 'cause ain't none of y'all going ANYwhere until you show your Card. :(

So, what do I do? I call Sam's front desk when I get home to ask why? I cannot be the only one who wants to know. The Manager was "on break", an unable to take my call, so I got to talk to a very kind lady named Patricia. I told her that I had a 'friendly' complaint and she laughed. Boy, I was ready with my argument because I had an EXCELLENT point to make: you CANNOT check-out at any register or make a single purchase without first SHOWING THAT STINKING MEMBERSHIP CARD! So, I politely told Patricia that, as a mother-shopping-with-my-kids, what an annoyance it was to have to stop 2 steps into the front door and show that card, then put it away for the next few minutes, only to have to get it out again! I reminded her that I couldn't buy anything without it, so why the double-shakedown?? She laughed, and said, yes she could appreciate what I was saying, but there was actually a good reason. "You pay a membership fee in exchange for the benefit of shopping with us. By asking everyone to present their members card at the door, it keeps out loitering people who do not have any business being in the building, and crowding up the store while you are trying to shop." Well, crap. That seemed logical. Of course I had to reiterate that I still didn't like it one bit, but that now I understood.

Anyway, that's my rant for the day. I hope I have successfully answered all your Sam's Club questions. I'll be here all week....

Our Sunday

After yesterday's fierce storms and rain, we woke up today to a near-perfect Sunday.
We got to sleep a little bit late, then got up for coffee and a simple breakfast. We decided to eat lunch "in"...doesn't that make it sound more exciting? Afterward, we did a little bit of shopping at Belk (oh, Yellow Box...I ♥ you) and then on to Marble Slab for a little ice cream therapy. That place is too expensive, but it was a treat. Onward to Lowe's we went--choosing more plants for our 3rd annual summer garden. Jason is so cute the way he gets out there and takes care of everything. Today, he bought the girls two child-sized shovels so they could help him. They were dying to get back home to use them. Five minutes in, they were over it. :(
Oh well...maybe that was better for Jason. I've wandered inside in the last little while to get supper started and it smells like I've walked into my Memaw's house. One the stove tonight is seasoned chicken breast with baby carrots, English peas, and I'm about to make some rice. I absolutely love cooking for my family. I know that probably seems old fashioned, but it makes me tick. My Memaw, Nina, would be so proud of me, I just know it. She always tried to feed you any time you walked in her door. I have lots of her kitchen utinsels and pans now, and I think of her every time I use them. (She ALWAYS had a pound cake in her cake cover!) I hope that my daughers will grow up to be good cooks, wives, mothers, and hostesses.

RIP bronze sandals

A favorite pair of sandals broke today...while I was in Target with all my daughters.
Don't you hate when you finally have to give them up for good? The part that slips between your toes just snapped and I almost tripped over my own feet. No injury, just the skanky fact that I had to then drag my left foot along the floor every other step until I checked out. I had to actually take my shoe off at the door to get to the van. "That's how we do it in 'bama." *eyeroll*

Road Trip

Today we took a road trip to Ellisville, Mississippi (I like to type out the entire word, btw)to help celebrate niece Gracie's 3rd birthday. All week, I've been planning ahead so that we could just enjoy getting there. I found two cute matching outfits for Ava & Marilyn, and Olivia got something different, but equally as summery. If you are a for-real mom, then you know the excitement of dressing your baby in ANYthing unstained. I hung those outfits on the door like a little shrine.
This morning I was dying to dress the girls, but common sense (and history) whispered, "Dooooon't dooooo iiiiiit." So, I dressed them in adorable seersucker outfits and brought the party clothes along on the hangers. The plan would be to dress them once we arrived at the party. Well, thank you, Intuition. I bet we weren't 30 minutes into the trip when Marilyn-the baby-announces, "I'm gonna throw up." And throw up she did. Jason hauled the van off the road (he's had a lot of practice at emergency throw-up detours involving the kids now) and I helped Marilyn get it all out of her system. Breathe. Pass around the hand sanitizer. Back on the road. Wise as I am, I decide to dole out some Pringles thinking the salt will help soothe her tummy. Ava takes a handful, then after eating just a few, hands them back to me and says, "I'm gonna throw up." She wasn't kidding. Back off the road we go.... I get her cleaned up, and take away their Leapster game with new instructions to WATCH THE HORIZON. Ava is very technical-minded, so she loves it when I tell her all about equilibrium and such. Finally, two hours later, we arrive at the party. And guess what? The girls finally get to wear their new, unvomitous (if that's even a word) outfits. : ) They looked adorable and clean!...until the bubbles and pizza. PS--nobody threw up on the way home.

Brand New Day!

I am feeling good this morning--physically and emotionally. Our family has been so sick, but thankfully we are ALL healthy and energized again. Right now, it's sunny, I can hear someone cutting grass, the birds are squawking, and a squirrel is raiding the pinecone bird feeders we made a few weeks back. The wild rabbit just streaked through the yard...guess the mower scared him. (memo to rabbit: there is a 100lb lab and stealthy cat on this side of the fence; might want to weigh that against the mower, bud.)

I'm feeling a bit like Super Mom again this morning, you know, where things in my mind play out like a Disney movie. I've got the notion to take the little girls to the public library. I like to imagine that it will be a precious, whispery experience. I won't be, though. I thought little girls were supposed to be quiet, clean, delicate creatures...that boys were the rougher, boisterous kind. Ava and Marilyn have always talked like they're 1,000 feet away from each other. We'll see how this goes.

Liv is getting ready for an Easter eggs hunt at a friend's house. Now there's a brave mom: Angela K. School volunteer, nerves of steel, and always with a smile.
I'd have a flask in my Coach wristlet...

Tomorrow, it's back to preschool after a WEEK out due to illnesses. I am very much looking forward to seeing my babies, and my bestie, Nichole. I know it's gonna be full-throttle, but such is the life of a preschool teacher. I plan to enjoy the rest of this school year with all that I've got. I'm thinking about bringing pinecones and birdseed so my class can make feeders. They will really enjoy that.
We can hang them in the river birch tree right outside our window and watch the action.

Alright, well time to get on with my day. Toodles!

DWTS

I watched some of DWTS last night. I haven't watched this show in seasons. I'm too impatient; let them dance, then cut somebody loose already. I was happy to see they got a new co-host; didn't like that husky-voiced girl that's hung in there this long.

Really, I am amazed at how fluidly some of these people move! They make it look so easy and effortless. Much unlike my fall at WalMart...okay, so maybe falling was easy, but it was not graceful. I thought Edyta looked so beautiful last night! That girl has a body that they just didn't make when I was her age. Truthfully, if I looked like that, I'd just be scantily clad all the time. Serilously, I'd fry chicken in one of those outfits. Wait, I think I just figured out why I don't look like that. Now, who wants fried chicken?

Pamela Anderson had to be drunk last night. Even for her she acted strange. And that sweet, young Ashly--who got stuck with Buzz Aldren. She hasn't been on the show in several seasons, so her hopes had to be up. You know she walked in, saw 100-yr-old Buzz, and said, "Well, crap." I want to see them pair up Buzz with Kate Gosselin! Bless her heart, she was as stiff as her pointy boobs. (I thought pointy boobs went out in the 50s?) I don't know how many more episodes I'll watch. I'm moody that way. Maybe I'll resurface near the end. I said I was impatient, remember?

tv commercials

I really like creative commercials, especially if they make me laugh. Some just bug me. The ones that make us, the viewer, out to be bungling morons until hope arrives in the form of their product. How many times have you 'wrestled' to remove a 50" x 60" throw from your body, just to answer the phone? Stupid, I know.

There is one commercial that I've seen several times, and today's the day to finally write about it. The Hoveround. Now settle down if you or your Memaw already has one. I'm not hating on the Hoveround itsself, but the dumb ideas they plant during their commercial. "Where would YOU go?" is their slogan, then they actually show someone scooting around the lawn on Liberty Island, where you'll find the Statue of Liberty. Okay, so maybe you'd take the ferry over. I'll give you that one, because my next one is so silly. Next, they show two elderly peeps, both in Hoverounds, parked at the un-fenced, un-guarded edge of the GRAND CANYON! Seriously? I'm not getting close to the edge of anything--while I'm on wheels.

Alright, I'm tired of talking about that.

We're thinking about letting the girls get a parakeet. I don't know. I like them; had a couple as a kid. I know our dog ate one...not sure about the other's fate. Still, what if this one actually makes it 10+ years? Do I really want to commit?
11 says she'll take good care of it, but, well, she's 11. I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, have a great night and enjoy your weekend! (Every time my husband walks through the room, he quips to/about me, "I'm a blogger.")

Random thoughts for today

I cannot believe it's been a week since I've written. I guess after the family got over the bubonic plague, we were just so happy to be healthy, out and about...and I slung the blog to the back burner. Rest easy. I'm back. ; )

I'm in a good mood, and really there's no big reason; I'd say that's the best kind of happy to be, right? I've gotten a lot accomplished this week, or at least it feels like it. I bought groceries today, and seeing full shelves in the pantry & fridge makes me smile. Of course, we'll have most of it eaten by next Wednesday. Yesterday, I got the house picked up in a whirlwind! See, the bug man was coming, and I didn't want him to think "we live like this", even though we do most of the time. So, there I was, slinging stuff left and right, taking out the trash, spraying my Febreeze and all that stuff. I even had the two little ones plugging away, stuffing toys in the toy box and warning, "Y'all hurry up! The bug man's coming! He's probably turning down our street right now!" (with my girls, a little dramatic embellishment usually helps the cause). It's a wonder this didn't backfire and give them bad dreams. Anyway, I was breaking into a dainty sweat when the phone rings. It was him--cancelling. HA! Oh, well. He's coming Friday. Now if I can just keep it neat for 48 more hours. Right.

This weekend, there is an arts & crafts festival in Fairhope, AL. Fairhope is a beautiful, unique, old-fashioned-meets-modern community right on the Mobile Bay. There is always something going on there. Once parked, people walk blocks and blocks, darting in and out of bookstores, seafood/sandwich/icecream shops, boutiques; most have their pets with them. It seems to be "that place" where everyone wants to live, just so they can have "that lifestyle." Anyway, I'm hoping that my family will make it down there to enjoy all the artists and their crafts. I love, love, love looking at artists' work. There is one artist friend of mine that I admire--Lisette Normann. Can't wait to see what new things she's been producing. It sure stirs up my creative juices. Of course, so does HGTV...

I hope that y'all have a great evening. I'm looking forward to mine: dinner with my hubby in the den while we watch some of our favorite shows. Okay, mainly MY favorite shows. One he hates, but sometimes watches with me is the Real Housewives of (OC, NYC, NJ) and of course the Reunion Shows for each season. I know it's garbage, but I love it. My best friend and sister are RH hounds, too, so I always have someone to dish with afterwards. Well, let me get busy with my check list so I can have my yung'uns in the bed early tonight! ♥LOVE

On The Mend

Today was the first day everybody was well enough to go back to both work & school!
So thankful! After being cooped up in the house for 5 days in a row, less a trip to the doctor, I was glad to get back to my preschool class...and they were glad to see Miss Dana! :)

I actually went to Walmart to restock our bare cupboards without incident. Makes for a less intersting story, but I'm sorta over 'drama' this week, so that's a plus.

Last night, Jason and I got to indulge in one of our new favorite comedies: MODERN FAMILY. If you haven't watched yet, you gotta. Almost has "The Office" quality about it with the looks toward the camera. Knowing we should have been in bed at a decent hour, we threw caution to the wind and stayed up late to watch a few episodes of a new show on A&E called BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR. Oh, Southern people, do watch this one! You'll laugh and make fun, even though we all know there are members of our own families that are scarily similar. Well, at least you know a family a lot like this one. Two brothers, Ricky & Billy....and their meddlin' mama, whom I love!
She is so over-the-top country, lots of makeup, big ol' hair, loud...I can't help but like her. And you know right quick that Mama Is The Boss.

Well, I've got a ton of groceries to put away. Save all my Walmart bags...BTW, when do you ever have enough of those bags? Plus, my impatient 5th grader needs help with math. Hope I can wing it...

Y'all have a great night! ♥

Cabin Fever...and coughing, and runny noses, and...

Hey, everybody. It's been a few days since I've had the luxury of sitting down at this computer to blog. Our family, minus me, has been sick. For the past 7 days now, I have been the Infirmary Admin (joked my hubby). I would definitely call myself a compassionate person/wife/mother...most of the time. However, (and I know they can't help it) everybody's coughing has been driving me up the proverbial wall! I swear, if I'd started collecting a dollar for every cough, our mortgage would be paid off.

Yesterday, I drove all three girls to our family doctor, whom we adore. (Dr. Régan Andrade, Fairhope Family Medicine, and her nursing staff get my highest regards, FYI.) Turns out, two had ear infections & bronchitis; the other had pharyngitis. Next was a trip to Walgreens, where I just hand them my wallet and tell them to keep what they want...they will anyway. Today, the girls are so much better, and for that I am thankful and give all credit to God.

I just got a call from my gorgeous hubby as he was leaving the clinic (to which I finally convinced him to go, even though he thought he "would be fine in a few days"). Double ear infection & sinus infection for him. (Wait, Walgreens! Here's some more of our money...)

Alright, let's talk about something fun now, like things that have been ticking me off the past few days. As tired as I was last night when I logged off, I ALMOST signed on again just to rant about this stupid story. Did you hear that Lindsey Lohan is suing (think it's E-Trade?) for $100 million -- ONE HUNDRED MILLION! -- dollars??! She claims that the commercial where they refer to "that milk-a-holic Lindsey" was a spoof of her. PUHLEEEZE. LL, you need to get over yourself. When you wreck a car after drinking a couple gallons of Vitamin D Homogenized, then pick up your lawsuit. Until then, shut uuuup.

Next. This is a short one. This AM I was tuned into Rachel Ray's show. Every time she salts something, she does the whole "and a little over the left shoulder for luck" move. Really? Beside the obvious, is that truly necessary? Don't you just bet that the person on set that has to sweep up all that pesky salt just wants to jack her jaw once in a while? As a cook, and as the person responsible for the kitchen floor, I don't want salt or any grainy anything on my floor. I spend a lot of time barefoot in the kitchen, and I liken salt on the floor to sand on the condo floor. Not fun.

And lastly, to the singing fish on the McDonald's commercial: enough. Everybody knows fish can't call OR text. Plus, why would you want the guy to "gimme that filet-o-fish...gimme that fish"?

I'll be back later to share the randomness that is my blog. BIG LOVE!!!!!

It has been such a full day: Ava stayed home sick with cough and fever, so I made excellent use of my time. I started my day with some HGTV, so hons, I got this house whipped into shape! Now you're probably thinking that's no biggie, but here it's huge. Seriously. One night this week, I actually made my husband eat supper with chopsticks--because every fork we owned was dirty. I admit, I'd been a little Scarlett O'Hara (I'll get to it tomorrow...) for days. It caught up with me and nearly strangled me. I digress. Anyway, I am so proud of the place. I should be sound asleep right now, but I am immersed in the tacky greatness that is Real Housewives! It is my favorite guilty pleasure. I knew you would want to know about my day. Now you do. Sleep tight!

Walmart

You gotta be ready for anything when you go to Walmart with me. Every single time(okay more like 9 out of 10) I go to our local WM, something out of the ordinary happens to me. I don't mean getting stuck in the line where you're next, but then that dang light starts flashing for management. Annoying, yes; tragic, no. My friends loved this story, and I'll admit after some time had passed, I did, too.

I had the bright idea late one weekend afternoon for us all to go to Walmart. Together. As a family. Okay, right there. That snarky reaction you just had? That was the same thing my husband did. Whatever. Okay, so we go. I've got the baby (2) in my buggy, Jason's got the 3YO in his, and the 10 year old is walking alongside. We are on the main, big, wide aisle, when 10 announces she needs highlighter markers for school. Hard right turn and we're walking that direction, then the baby does a cough/vomit, I step in it with my cute Payless sandals, and out goes my right leg--my left leg goes straight back and I am doing a full-on split in front of God and the world. I'm still gripping the buggy handlebar, so it's now ramped up into the air. The baby is so low to the ground that her feet nearly touch.
We lock eyes. Hers say, "What the @#&% are you doing?" and mine say, "What the %#$& just happened?" Thankfully, 10 yells "Mama!" and hurls all 79lbs onto the ramped up end and bring it back down to the floor. I get up, walk over to the hightlighters and start looking for the ones she wants like nothing e v e r happened. My husband, who took his time trailing over and being seen with me suddenly rememered the dog needed food, and said that's where he'd be. Right. To make a long story a little shorter, the baby threw up full blast on aisle 11. I sent 10 over and aisle to get paper towels to help me clean her up. Bless her heart! She brings back a two-pack of Great Value towels, not $15 worth of Bounty. I am raising this girl right. Next I send her to the Deli for help. They send someone over to really clean it up, and after a 3 minute apology, I head to the next aisle. Yes, I keep shopping! We didn't have squat in the pantry. I sure wasn't about to re-do all this. Now, we meet up again with Hubby and the 3YO. How convenient. He took the little ones out to the van and 10 and I finished up our shopping. When I got out to the car, I laughed my fool head off at how stupid I must have looked. Hubby even told me he'd overheard some lady saying, "Oh. Her baby th'owed up and she done slipped in it." They didn't stop to see if I was okay, but her husband was kind enough to pop up one of those orange nylon cones indicating it was slippery.

This is just one of my Walmart stories. They are all true, unfortunately. It's a wonder I ever go back. Still, if you're gonna tag along, you better have thick skin or a dang-good sense of humor.

I swear, and I forgot lightbulbs again!!! #$%*@#!!!

Why do my kids fight? Those kids on TV don't.

There's no way around it: kids fight. It's like their sport. Mine will make an argument out of just about anything. One never wants what's available (tv, Wii, the swing on the left)until the other one goes for it. So, what else is new? This even happens in the preschool class I teach. Like right now, MiddleBit and LittleBit are fighting over balloons. No, they're not blown up. Did you really think that mattered? We're not choosey over here. When LB started to tattle on MB, MB tried to talk her down...and LB told her not to interrupt, she was "talkin' to an adult." Wonder where she learned that?

Olivia, our first-born GRITS

Olivia. This child weighed 9lbs 5oz. at birth. And I thought she was tiny. Whatever. Before she got here, I imagined how precious my life was gonna be:
I was going to dress her in the cutest outfits all the time. (Did y'all know babies vomit?) We were going to spend our whole Saturdays in the mall. (Have you ever nursed your baby so much in the ladies lounge at McRae's that you were a 'regular'?)
What about that first mommy-daughter bath? (Did you know babies can poop in warm water?)

Okay, so she put me through Motherhood Boot Camp. I'm all the better for it now.
And so is she! This girl has the sweetest disposition and smile; she's a whiz at writing songs, stories, and poetry. She's creative and a great dancer. I'm serious, y'all. I mean she is Solid-Gold-dancer kind of good. And she's just 11.

Stay tuned for the stories that this one will bring forth.

Ava, the Middle GRITS

Ava is our middle daughter, and the absolute spitting image of her daddy. I don't just mean physical features, but she snagged his knack for all things technical and mathematical. She has a memory like you wouldn't believe, unless I ask her to clean her room.

This child knows what she wants and how to get it. Dont' try pulling the proverbial wool over her eyes--you're just wasting time...hers and yours. Her brain is firing in all directions, all at once, all the time.

Just now, she's asked me to smell her breath. Thankfully, she just ate one of those green-and-white peppermints. There is no rhyme or reason. Just go with it.

Marilyn, the Baby GRITS

Marilyn is the baby of the family. She was the tiniest of all my babies at a mere 6lbs and 6oz. When the nurse told me how much she weighed, I asked, "Where's the rest of her?"

Don't you worry, though. What she lacks in size, she amply makes up in mischeviousness. Seriously, she'll rack up more whippins than her other two sisters combined. Oh, and she is funny and can dance. (She gets those qualities from me. At least the funny part.)

Today, she proudly walked into preschool and announced that she had "weekends" in her lunch bag. Um, to all you lay people, she meant Wheat Thins.

Um, it's 2010...do YOU blog?

I cannot believe it! I'm a blogger now? Thanks, Joy!