I don't know about you all, but I've had a funky couple of months. Typically, the kids bring home their foul germs from school, spread it to their siblings, Scott gets a touch of whatever and I'm immune. I think I've had the "too busy to get sick" inti bodies and was grateful, albeit perpetually exhausted from nursing everyone else.

Well, this year, having all my kids in school full time, I've been catching up on my sleep with a few morning naps. The problem is, it's thrown off my delicate balance and I'm now the sickliest one of all!

For a while at the beginning of the school year, I had these phantom pains in my side that sometimes reduced me to moaning and yelping when I turned a certain way. I've had colds, headaches, flu-like symptoms, then the full on stomach flu AND now my eye won't stop twitching! It's almost like I've aged 20 years in a matter of months.

Maybe all the years of birthing and nursing have finally caught up with me.

Gees Louise.

Flashback Friday

When I think of any memory, there is ALWAYS a song to accompany it. I know, how very Ali McBeal of me... but seriously, it's true. Some of blogging friends post funny or inspirational stories from their past, but I only have weird memories that no one but my sister and I would think are funny- But, hopefully someone will enjoy my walk down memory lane via music, and hopefully this will last longer than my karoake posts, where I ran out of lyrics after 3 songs.

I picked Xanadu first because, 1. I LOVE THIS SONG, and 2. Most of my early childhood memories include Olivia Newton- John in some way or another. I was/am a huge fan.

Thankful Thursday

A few weeks ago, I was downtown shopping, when I noticed tons of people in hoop skirts and Civil War uniforms. Of course I immediately thought, "Did I go back in time?", and then I thought, "Duh, it must be the ceremonial burial of the unknown soldier every one's been talking about!" How silly of me.

I love living in the south, and I'm thankful especially to be here in Tennessee. It's a beautiful state!!!

I am thankful for "Family Home Evening". It's such a great program, and while it can be extremely aggravating and trying at times, it's wonderful to see my children learning to do so many different things. Last week Grace was in charge of the lesson and put together the "Happy Box". She had various items inside that represented things we can do to be happier people, and we had to guess what was what. It was so creative! Every week, my children learn to teach, conduct, lead music, etc. through Gospel principles! It's truly a blessing, and a reminder that the Lord knows exactly what we need, even when we don't. I am thankful for sweet surprises. Our Young Women at church surprised me and a couple of other gals last Sunday with a gorgeous bouquet of roses, thanking us for our help with the Youth on Broadway program. I have to admit, I didn't do nearly as much as the other two gals, but gladly accepted the roses, and had them proudly displayed in my kitchen until they completely shrivelled up!

If Ye Are Prepared, Ye Shall Not Fear

Sign Up for 6 Weeks of Holiday Fun! Martha's team of elves has put together a six-week workshop to help you get ready for the holidays! You will find plenty of ideas to make the most of this magical and memorable season, including:

-Martha's best holiday tips.
-Handmade gifts, stockings, and ornaments.
-Expert tree-trimming and wreath-making techniques.
-Hostess how-tos and a magnificent holiday menu.
-A gingerbread-house contest.
...Plus much more!

More than 100,000 people have already joined -- don't miss out on the fun, beginning November 16!

http://www.marthastewart.com/christmas-workshop-signup?xsc=eml_cws_2009_11_04

Things That Scare Me

Everyone has their fears or phobias, or whatever you want to call it. Here are a few of my big ones:

-I'm afraid of sneezes. Not my sneezes, but everyone else's. I get extremely grossed out when someone sneezes, especially a sprayer and more often than not, will leave the room. I feel sick just talking about this.

-I'm afraid of mice and other small animals. I can deal with snakes, lizards, bugs (I actually love Praying Mantis', with their human like heads), but not mice. I'm even afraid of rabbits. Yuck!

-I'm afraid of used upholstered furniture. It's not a snobby thing, I just always imagined that someone may have peed or worse and all that stuff is still in there. I also think that any kind of fluid eventually dries into a fine powder which is released when the soft cushions are disturbed. So, unless I'm going to have the whole thing professionally reupholstered, I just can't do it.

-I'm afraid of the book or movie, "The Shining", even when it's edited for TV. Something is just not right there.

-I'm also afraid of the dentist and religiously floss my teeth to prevent having any work done... but I still go twice a year and still end up with cavities.

What are some of yours?

Thanksgiving Prep

I love Thanksgiving dinner. I look forward to it every year and am rarely disappointed, especially when it's pot luck style. It's always nice to try other people's traditional dishes and share a couple of your own. So, thinking ahead a bit, I thought I'd share two of my all time favorite sides with you. These are no fail dishes that I promise will not only go beautifully with turkey, but are always crowd pleasers!



Corn Pudding: (A southern favorite, from my all time southern favorite, Ms. Rosemary K.)

1 melted stick of butter 1 package of Jiffy Cornbread mix
3/4 large container of sour cream
1 can cream corn
1 can drained corn

-Mix well and bake at 350 in a glass casserole dish for about an hour. It should be golden on top and somewhat firm. Soooooo delicious!





Cranberry Relish: (From my old friend Cathy M., the real Martha!)

2 C chopped granny smith apples
2 C fresh cranberries
2 C raisins
1/2 C slivered almonds
1/3 C chopped walnuts
2/3 C sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon

-Mix together and bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Then cover with foil and bake for 20 more minutes. Let it cool slightly before serving.



OK, so if any of you have some "out of this world" holiday recipes, and care to share, please do! I'm looking for a good pecan pie, a stuffed mushroom appetizer, or really anything else that's delicious and comforting.

Halloween 09

Halloween was a last minute scramble here at my house, because I had the stomach flu the 3 days leading up to it. It was awesome. Fever, chills, vomiting... you name it, I had it. So, for the first time in years, we did not carve pumpkins or decorate so much, but I'm calling it a victory against all odds anyhow. The fact that the kids actually walked out of the house on time for trick-or-treating with costumes on is a miracle!

Spencer: Nerd

Grace: 50's Waitress

Sophia: Ballerina

Oliver: Frustrated Teen (just like last year)

A Tale of Four Kitchens

1. This is the kitchen from Turkey Hill, Martha's former home in Connecticut. It was an 1805 farmhouse she renovated many times over, but in the 90's, she completely remodeled her kitchen, adding cream cabinets and this enormous pot rack. I love how light and bright this kitchen is, don't you?

2. In her New York City apartment, Martha goes a bit more modern and has a nearly all stainless and glass kitchen. This is more of a galley style, which I love, and is very clean looking.

I bet Martha is a very good dish washer.

3. Out of all of her homes, Skylands in Maine is definitely the most rustic and earthy. She uses a lot of beautiful wood, stone and other natural elements, but my favorite is this open wooden shelving she calls "The Great Wall of China". It's so pretty, but is it practical? I think it would get dusty, but it's probably not a problem when you have a cleaning staff.

4. Last but not least, Martha's newest kitchen, on her farm, Cantitoe corners. I love all the different grey tones and marble, but Scott thinks it looks like a prison. Hmmm....

Which one do you like the best?

Pancakes

I love pancakes. I make them a lot, 2-3 times a week and actually have the recipe memorized, which is weird. BUT, once you make them, you'll see why.

Pancakes with Buttermilk syrup:

2 C all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
2 eggs
2 Tbsp veggie oil
2 C milk
1 Tbsp lemon juice

-Mix dry ingredients. Add the eggs, oil, milk and lemon juice. Mix well and let the batter sit for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat a skillet or non stick pan on medium heat, and then cook them. I use Pam spray and not oil when I cook them because I think the oil makes them greasy.


Buttermilk Syrup:

1 stick of butter
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 C sugar
1/2 C buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla

-Melt butter, then add the other ingredients and slowly heat to a boil in a medium saucepan. (This syrup is very rich, so you don't need a lot per pancake!)

Does Anyone Remember....

Do you guys ever have weird memories of things and no one else knows what the heck you are talking about? This happens to me a lot.

For example, does anyone remember those BYU short films from 70's? A few of them still live on (Johnny Lingo, John Baker's Last Race, Uncle Ben, The Phone Call), but a lot have simply disappeared. Like the movie about the brother and sister who kept fighting at the dinner table and then the brother got hit by a car and the sister was asked to give blood to save her brother's life. So, she did, but there's a twist... she thought that, "when you give your blood away, you die". Holy cow, she was willing to give her life for her brother?! Of course the little girl did not die, but that's not the point.

OK, how about this one. A little boy is on his way to school and is hit by a car (again?) and his parents are devastated. His father especially has trouble dealing with the loss and controlling his anger. He finally is able to forgive the young teenage driver when he sees a sign his son colored in his bedroom that simply says, "Love One Another". This one was based on a true story.

PLEASE tell me someone remembers.

How about "Blind Love". The story of the single gal with self esteem issues who marries a blind man. (Set in the 30's or 40's) He later has the opportunity to restore his sight through a revolutionary operation and she is super scared he won't love her when he sees her. Of course when he does see her for the first time, he loves her and thinks she is beautiful.

Help me.

Oh one last thing, does anyone remember those hair ties from the early 80's that were made out of 2 pieces of fluffy yarn, simply twisted together? I think Drew Barrymore wore them in E.T. If so, what were they called?

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for a much needed break from life. We went to stay with my mom and dad for a couple of days over fall break and I feel much better! My mom fed me til I was sick, and it was awesome!!!

I am thankful for Sophie Twinkle Toes Ballerina, who let me help her with a school project last night. She was supposed to decorate a paper Sophie, decked out in her finest Halloween wear. So, after I convinced her a ballerina would be the best/easiest to do, we set to work. This is the end result.

She did a great job!!!

I am thankful for my big win last week! I entered Suzanne's Halloween bag contest and got these beauties in the mail right before we left for our above mentioned break. She's so talented and included a sweet note, explaining a second bag was included so there was no drama in the ranks. Thank you so much Suzanne!!! The girls LOVE them!

I am thankful for fall and beautiful fall foliage. My maple tree hasn't started to color, but my mums and grasses are so pretty! I'm also thankful mowing season is almost over.

I am thankful for prayer. I know if we pray with faith, a sincere heart, and real intent, our Heavenly Father will answer. I promise.

Good Morning

Martha posted even more pictures of the fog on her property today, which inspired me to post one of my own. Here's a photo of the view from my house, waiting for the elementary bus this morning. While it's not actually my property or super foggy for that matter, I can still claim the view and you know, even a little fog is pretty, don't you think?

Obsession

Check this out-

"In recent years an ongoing debate has brewed over advertisers and fashion magazines using photographs, particularly photographs of women, that have seemingly been altered, or "retouched," by airbrushing and photo editing software such as Photo shop. The latest such image to cause an uproar is one featured in a new Ralph Lauren advertisement that shows a model, Filippa Hamilton, so emaciated that her waist actually appears to be smaller than her head." Yahoo News

When I saw this (above) horribly altered picture the other day, I laughed. How ridiculously skinny does she look? Not skinny, deformed.

After thinking about it though, it started to make me mad. Here is the same model (to the left), on the cover of Elle, in a non-digitally altered photo... well, as far as we know. Why would a major fashion house feel the need to "fix" this girl? Maybe they're out of touch, maybe it was a mistake, or maybe they needed something to take the attention away from the hideous outfit she's wearing! Those jeans are bad.

Regardless, I hope as my girls get older, they will have the self-esteem and testimony to pay no mind to the emaciated models that grace the covers of so many popular magazines. However, here I am at 30-something, still putting so much pressure on myself to stay thin... and yes, I said thin and not healthy- I wonder what impact my vanity has on my girls. Maybe the fashion houses and magazines aren't to blame completely.

I don't know, something to think about I guess.

Up Up and Away in My Beautful Balloon

I posted a story earlier about a Colorado boy who climbed into his parents helium balloon and took off. This has been national news all day, while police and military tried to figure out a way to resue him without crashing the balloon. When it finally touched down, the boy was no where to be found. This was devastating news to his parents, especially when witnesses said they saw something fall out of the balloon during the infamous flight. So, I decided to delete my post, thinking it was in bad taste at this point. Things didn't look good.

BUT, here's the breaking news:

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – A 6-year-old Colorado boy feared to have floated off in a helium balloon has been found safe at his home, hiding in a cardboard box in the garage attic. Sheriff Jim Alderman turned to reporters during a news conference and held thumbs up and said, "He's at the house." Alderden said an investigator on the scene saw the boy and he was fine.
He said the boy apparently has been in the attic the whole time.

update: The story is a hoax? What the heck?!

Flipping Out

I've had quite a few people ask me about this show, and I'm always shocked, "You haven't seen it?!" I forget, some people actually read at night or study, spend time with their husbands, etc... you know, "productive" stuff. For me, every Tuesday night is sacred quiet time and I am glued to Bravo TV (10/9C). It's my comic relief.

Flipping Out is a show about Jeff Lewis (on the right), an incredibly talented and neurotic designer/house flipper and his team of crazies out in Los Angeles. Ryan (second to the right), is his on again, off again business partner, who is also an incredible interior designer. Zoila (second to the left) is Jeff's hilarious housekeeper. Jenny (on the left) is the ever dedicated assistant, who not only keeps Jeff organized, also entertains him with her dancing and rapping abilities.

Why do I like this show so much? Number one, it's funny without the trash and drama of other reality tv shows (disclaimer: There is some cussing and a little inappropriate humor), but mostly, I LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing the houses they redo. Seriously, Jeff is the best tv designer... other than the lovely Sarah Richardson from Canada and Martha Stewart of course. Although, Martha's not really an interior designer, I just love her style.

Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out how to put a video clip on this post, so if you're interested, see the clip in the post below. I'm not super good with computers.

Bravo TV Video - Entertaining Employees

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

I hope you all are having a wonderful sabbath day and feel ready to face another week! I heard this song after church today and love it so much. The Tabernacle Choir always sounds beautiful, but this is one of my personal favorites.

Thankful Thursday

Jack Handey once said, "Many people think that history is a dull subject. Dull? Is it 'dull' that Jesse James once got bitten on the forehead by an ant, and at first it didn't seem like anything, but then the bite got worse and worse, so he went to a doctor in town, and the secretary told him to wait, so he sat down and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and then finally he got to see the doctor, and the doctor put some salve on it? You call that dull?"

OK, so my husband, (who I'm thankful for), says my blog is lame. Well, he didn't exactly say "lame", maybe it was "boring", or "dull". To be fair, he didn't say it was always like this, unlike my dad who thought from the beginning it was a snorefest. "People really read this?" I think were his exact words. Anyway, Scott just pointed out that for the past couple of months it has taken a turn for the worst and I think I agree. The problem is, I've got nothing. I'll try to be more interesting, I guess, but I'm not making any promises.

I'm thankful for the one dollar loaf of fresh bread from Kroger, and their recent salami sale.

I'm thankful for this awesome centerpiece from Martha. It's perfect for a baby/ wedding shower, anniversary or birthday party, to highlight the guest of honor! I think the instructions sound pretty easy, don't you?

Photo Centerpiece How-To:

Disassemble three like-sized frames, setting aside their fronts and discarding their backings. Paint or stain wooden frames desired color; let dry. Upload or scan photograph

s into a computer. With editing software, make the images black and white, and re size them to fit your frames. Print them onto vellum paper with an ink-jet printer. Slip the images into the frames. Using cloth tape, hinge frames together to form a triangle. Stand frames around a candle in a protective glass holder

(IKEA has the cheapest real wood frames, perfect for this

project)

I'm thankful for thrift stores, tag sales, wholesale shops, etc... I know a lot of people don't get it, but I do and have a blast bargain hunting. Plus, I like decorating better with an eclectic mix, rather than buying everything from department stores and places like Hobby Lobby. Houses always end up looking like model homes, and if you're into that, great! I'm just not. Plus, I'm super cheap and when I land a deal like I did the other day, $20 dollars for an antique rocker, it makes the countless hours of sifting through junk and smelling like old people well worth it. I also found a big, beautiful, fully framed lithograph of Baltimore Orioles (the birds, not the team) from 1942 at Goodwill a few weeks ago for $19 dollars. The only problem is, you have to go 10+ times to look before finding one thing. That's why my house still looks like we just moved in. That and watching too much "Flipping Out". Man, I love that show.

Free Food

My lovely friend Miriam just sent me a link to enter to win a year's worth of free groceries from Ronzoni Pasta! It's worth $5,200 dollars (not really a year's worth, but still), so click on the link below to enter:

http://www.itpaystoeatpasta.com/ip.cfm?u=D492F624-73C4-4490-819E-1C2561B95B8B

Good luck!!!

Felt Flowers

I'm teaching a mini class at an upcoming "Super Saturday" and had a blast coming up with an easy craft. I'm all about some flower pins this season and felt is the perfect medium.

Here are some examples:

Hmmm, I love felt. Is that weird?