No time for a real post, but here's what's going on with me...

Softball has started up again, and my legs and elbows look like crap…I attempted diving after a ground ball, would be a better story if I had caught the damn ball, but alas I am old and I instead of sliding gracefully, and catching the thing, I was reacted to slow and then sorta collapsed and skidded, and the ball went on by. Not a pretty sight, and my knee has a huge scab and my elbow are also tore up. Also it’s been three days since the game and all of my muscles ache. I remember the bruises, scrapes, from when I was younger playing, but I don’t recall ever feeling sore. Getting older sucks a fat toe.

My neighbor across the street casually asked me if I had heard about a certain child rearing method. She then gave me a book that she had called Your Three Year Old: Friend or Enemy? She’s really sweet, but I am unsure if she was being nice and just getting rid of an old book of hers, or has just seen Dave and I outside screaming at the kids. The cover has a picture of a boy from the 70’s with a shaggy haircut looking like a super goofball. For the record I am going to read it, but Dave and I couldn’t help but giggle thinking about what she had witnessed that inspired her to give us the book.

Land's End Canvas...

For years I have sworn by Land's End for their tote bags... They make the best bags especially to take to the beach. I was excited to learn about their Land's End Canvas line, which is geared towards the younger crowd. They have simple basics that are alot like how Jcrew used to be. JCrew used to be the junk... seriously once upon a time in a thinner and younger life, I only got my clothes from their outlet up in Williamsburg. Over the years even the prices at the outlets have gotten out of hand, and don't even think about the real deal or you will pay $40 for a T-shirt these days (on sale).

I have placed two orders with Lands End Canvas now, and I have loved everything! If you get on their email list, you will soon find out that they have sales ALL the time... each time I have made my orders I have gotten 25% off and free shipping. Also, after I placed my first order they sent me a handwritten note of thanks. Hard to beat that kind of customer appreciation...


So what am I loving? Well my latest purchase included this shirt in the pictured color, and after the sale it was only $10. I honestly wish I had ordered more in every color... perfect fit, and awesome quality.



I also got this top in my 1st order in the green color


My favorite item so far is this cardigan... I got it in the grey, and I really want more in other colors but I figure I will hold out until fall.


If you have little one's you also need to check out their kid clothing (not under Lands End Canvas, under the normal LE). Their items hold up really well with washing, and I can always count on being able to get lots of use out them.

I got two of this style shirt:


I am using big restraint not to order these cute bathing suits... the girls already have a ton of bathing suits for this summer, but I might just cave eventually...




And speaking of beach and pool weather, I freaking love this beach bag on Lands End Canvas...and then I remember, oh wait, I have three kids and that is not going to hold all of our junk... I better stick with their big tote bags instead...

The Barbie Years..

I grew up a 80's baby. I was born specifically in 1980, yes that does mean I am turning 30 this year. One of my favorite toys I had in those years before I got into sports and then later boys, was Barbie... I had everything Barbie. No seriously, name something that biatch had in the 80's and I had it. Let's take a trip down memory lane...

This was Prima Ballet Barbie I think. She had a small stand and you could turn something on her head that was sticking out of her crown and she would do some sweet ballet moves...I remember back in the day my parents had a maid name "Fanny" ( I kid you not), I got so ticked off because she would clean my room and she would always put the wrong Barbie in the ballet stand. Yes, Fanny should have known better. (j/k sorta)


This barbie's dress glowed in the dark... she also had this umbrella thing that glowed in the dark too


This barbie was a top favorite of mine, but I am pretty sure mine had really blonde hair, she also came with a stamp pad and a heart stamp.


See this barbie? Inside the box there is a pink thingy in there... It was for you to twirl her hair with... I could never get that damn thing to work, but I think you could also use it to braid hair with because my sisters could work that joker.


This one was called Crystal Barbie or somthing... Honestly, I remember praying that one day my prom dress would be just as awesome. The material was like thick saran wrap.


This Barbie, is in fact my all time favorite barbie... Behold, peaches and cream barbie... I got her for my 5th birthday, and boy was I excited... Actually, Target has brought this barbie back in their vintage line. I have seriously come close to buying it three different times, but I am afraid my kids would get their paws on it.



Let's also take a moment and remember Barbie and the Rockers...How cool did I think I was when for my 7th or 8th birthday I got the Barbie and the Rocker stage... Yepp, I think there is a picture somewhere in my parents house of me looking like I won the lottery after I opened up that present...


This leads me to Jem- who also could rock out like noone else


Santa always brought me some awesome accessories: behold the swimming pool


I also got this smaller jaccuzi pool thing, it had a pump you could press to make bubbles:


Santa also brought this but, ahem, my mom told me that Santa accidently left this with the neighbors (aka she forgot to put it out with my crap that year and told a big ole lie to me) So she found it later and explained what Santa had done



I also remember having a huge barbie dream house that took up my entire closet. Also, did you know there was a Barbie Mcdonalds play thingy too? Yepp, I had that too. I also asked for and received a black barbie, because I needed to keep things real back then.

Oh the memories.....

First Trip To Busch Gardens...

Well, honestly it was just Emily's first time at Busch. Laura went in 2007, and Rachel was an infant, so they didn't remember any of it... For the last couple of years I think about getting a pass and then just don't. I figured to just do it this year. The girls are older and they had such a blast at the circus, that it was just time. They also have a Sesame Street area there now, so there are lot's of things for them to see and do.

We headed out this morning, honestly thinking we would just buy the passes and then come home as it looked like it was going to storm bad. It ended up clearing up though, so we stayed and had some fun! Honestly, it was the perfect day, as because of the weather forecast, the park was hardly crowded at all. We didn't have any lines to wait in, and it wasn't hot. Apparently, I have thrill seekers, because they just wanted to ride the kiddie roller coaster over and over. We also rode the train, and the sky ride, and played in Land of the Dragons.

I am so glad I decided to get us passes this year, as the girls can not wait until we all go back!

The Smart Phone, does every family need it?

Let me be honest, I am usually slow when it comes to getting new electronic devices. I could have cared less about flat screen TV's, surround sound, text messaging etc. My eyes glaze over when the husband starts talking about it, and I had to pretend to be excited when we got the new TV's. I did finally get on the texting bandwagon and I do like it now. The only cool technology devices I did get excited about was the Kindle, and the Canon big momma camera that my parents got me not long after I had Emily. The kindle usually now stays in my nightstand and I mainly usually just take it if we go on vacation, as I rather get free books from the library. My camera does get a lot of use out of it, so I consider that a fantastic investment, just wish I knew how to do more with it.

But seriously, if Verizon will carry the Iphone I am going to have to consider it. Yes this is coming for someone who does not have internet on my phone now. I have the Itouch, and I am addicted and can only imagaine if I could use it everywhere and take pictures with it and make phone calls. However, the monthly internet fee for phones like that is wee bit crazy. I don't mind paying for quality in a product, but internet for a phone just doesn't seem like a necessity, even thogh I do really want it. Sigh... and of course if I get it the husband would want it, and then that doubles the price. So tell me people just how life changing is an Iphone or another smart phone in general? Do I really really need it? I can reason expensive purses, jeans, and some David Yurman bling, but those don't come with monthly fees... I have no interest in any other smart phone other then the Iphone, so I am telling myself I will only figure out what I want to do if and when it comes to Verizon.

The Circus is here in town!

I felt that this year, my older two were ready to experience the circus... Emily would probably be ok for 30 min, but after that she would have been ready to climb all over the place. Have no fear, maybe next year she will be ready, so don't feel bad for her that she missed out.... We started on Monday with going to see the Elephant Walk...We stood on the side of the road, and the girls had no clue what we were doing... However, when they saw the elephants they were amazed. They couldn't stop talking about the circus until we we finally went for opening night. They had no idea what a circus was, but boy where they excited!

I loved going to the circus as a child. I went numerous years in the 1980's.... I remember being excited about seeing a "real unicorn", and I remember my parents giving in and buying me a bunch of unicorn stuffed animals. I loved those things... I remeber seeing King Tusk (HUGE elepant with HUGE tusks), I remember seeing that Guther Williams lion tamer dude many times, and I believe we went to his farewell performance tour. It was just magical.... The last time I went before this week was when I was 17. I talked two girlfriends into going with me, and the guy I was dating was a hawker selling drinks, and popcorn in the stands. Anyways, last night we ventured out with some friens and their little girl, and the kids were just in amazement... It's still just as magical, and it was so neat to see the Circus again through my children's eyes. One thing that has changed, are the syles of the clowns now... they seem hip and they don't wear the clown costumes that I remember. And hello? Those circus people look young... guess my age is showing. Rachel has announced she is joining the circus and she's going to wear a prety outfit and ride an elephant. Laura wants to learn how to do the flips that they can do, and I can't wait to take them back next year. Meanwhile, my older two have been sleeping every night with a elephant toy we were suckered into buying.

I didn't burn the kitchen down yet...

Tonight was historic. I made and ate my first ever Sloppy Joe. Seriously. never have had one before. My husband thought I was crazy when I told him. I mean it's not like it's a huge item when you go out to eat. I mean really, who sits down at Outback or some other place and says, man I really want to eat a Sloppy Joe. Mainly, the reason I never have had one is though my mom is an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G cook, my dad is the world's most picky eater, so when growing up our meals were always centered around his food issues. She would get creative for family events at the house, and maybe once a year she would order a pizza for her and I to share. Ever wonder if there was someone in the world who doesn't like Italian, Mexican, or heck cheese? Yepp my dad has never even tried those things, but thinks they are all gross. Feel very very sorry for me as a child.

I have been on the Pioneer Woman Cooking bandwagon... her cookbook is the bomb, and gives nervous people like myself lots of confidence with the step by step pictures. The Sloppy Joes receipe is not in the cookbook, but it is on her website and you can find it here : http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/04/sloppy-joes/

I even buttered and grilled the buns. My husband is a proud man.

Saturday Morning and the kids are still asleep!

You must must must make those potato skins that I posted below about....They took for freaking forever, but they are soooo worth it! Seriously, I wanted to grab the plate and go hide so I could have them all to myself. I am definitly going to make them for any summer get togethers we have this year...

We are down to just one more week with Laura wearing the cast! You wouldn't even know she had a broken arm the way she is acting... Laura is excited to get the cast off because gymnastics has started up, and she was kinda bumed to just watch her sister have class the other day and not be in there having fun too.

In other news I introduced the "chore chart" in our house for both Laura and Rachel. They freaking love it, and I enjoyed a refresher at making it using Excel. The list is really simple, it just has their basic tasks for the day like dressing themselves, making their bed, etc. I have toy clean up on there in the evenings, and they have other tasks like read at least one book, have art time, and play outside. Easy peasy. They get a colorful check mark when they do something, (mainly because I still need to buy some little stickers), and then if they fill up all their checks then they will get to do or get something... Don't know what it will be yet, but I will figure it out. I am actually pretty shocked that they like it, but I guess kids to aim to please. I wonder if a chore chart would work with my husband? I have a feeling if I made one, it would be a mile long...and he would take one look at it, crumble it up, and throw at me. hehe...

This and that

So, after my husband got me all excited about my craft room, nothing has been done… however, I’m cool with that as he has been busy with some other projects. He is currently in process of painting our kitchen chairs and table black. I have been wanting that done now for a very long time. He also finally made my own cornhole boards…Last year a friends sold us some, and soon after Dave was able to figure out how to make them. He was so busy making them for other people that the boards I wanted fell on the back burner…. My boards are so stinking cute! I will take a picture to post on here! To give you a hint, the bags that I made to match the board are hot pink and green.

I have been sticking with the fit train pretty good over the last week, I have had a few slip ups here and there, but I love food to much to give the good stuff up. Tonight is going to be a cheat night as well, and we have some steaks marinating to grill, and I am going to make the Pioneer Woman Cooks Potato skins! Can’t wait!

PW’s Potato Skins
Taken from The Pioneer Woman Cooks
8 slices of bacon (the soy variety works too)
8 russet potatoes, scrubbed clean
canola oil
kosher salt
1 1/2 C. grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 C. sour cream
4 green onions, sliced
Preheat the oven to 400 F (I actually increased my oven to 450 as the skins weren’t crisping up).
Rub the outside of the scrubbed potatoes with canola oil. Place on foil lined baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes to an hour or until the potatoes are fork tender. Let potatoes cool so they are easy to handle.* Slice in half lengthwise.
With a spoon or small scoop, scrape out the inner flesh of the potatoes, leaving a small margin of potato in the skins.* Brush both sides of the potato skins with canola oil and salt liberally. Place the skins cut side down on the pan and return to the oven. Bake for 7 minutes and then flip the skins over to the other side. Bake for 7 minutes more or until the skins are crispy (mine too nearly 30 minutes, thus I raised the temperature).
Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a skillet and chop into small bits. Set aside. Grate the cheese if you haven’t already.
When the skins are crisp, remove them from the oven and sprinkle each with cheese and bacon pieces. Return to the oven just until the cheese melts (2 minutes). Just before serving, spoon sour cream onto each skin and sprinkle with sliced green onion. Serve piping hot.

Random tuesday musings...

• I am wearing a new skirt today that I can’t zip all the way up, because I am too stubborn to accept I need to go up a size…
• I have eaten huge burritos from Chipotle two days in a row which may be a reason for my skirt not zipping… Totally obsessed with that place…Their food is perfection, but I can’t give up Plaza because their margaritas are the bomb, and I fully believe that margaritas= better parenting.
• Just and FYI for anyone, liposuction of your abdomen will cost $4100 from a local place in my home town… $3100 for your hips, but each additional area is just $950. (haha they try to act like that’s cheap) Total let down as I had it in my head liposuction would be about a thousand.
• Coed softball has started up again. I am on a new team as my last year team I guess didn’t get back together or something. I like this team, but lord, I feel so freaking old out there… I could hardly move this morning from all the running. I totally thought all the running would mean I would wake up with a flat stomach and skinny thighs…. No such luck, it just means I would be hobbling around all day.
• I am psyching myself up to clean my bathroom tonight…. It’s that dirty….

Name Banners...

Yesterday I decieded I wanted to make banners for my kids doors... I am really liking the one I did for the playroom door,and figured to expand it on to my kids. I am really enjoying making these because I get to play with my scrapbook stuff. I also feel all warm and fuzzy using items I have had forever! It feels almost like a free project until I have to remind myself I bought the supplies years ago... It's like shopping in my own stuff though, because I have forgotten what I actually have in my stash, so I get all excited when I find something cool. For the triangle thingys I just used pretty scrapbook paper, for the rosettes I used crepe paper that I have had for 4 years to use when we have birthday parties, and I turned them into rosettes with hot glue as my adhesive. The circles on the rosettes I gut out with my Cruicut, and the letter for their name I have just had in my stash and they are chip board letters. I also have a bunch of ribbon so I used up two stands of that, OH, I also used my Cropodile thingy for punching the small holes and setting the eyelets/grommets so I could string my banner. If you don't have one they are worth it. They are not expensive and make things easier on your hands if you need to set grommets. I have had mine for about 4 years I guess. I need to finish one for Laura for her door, and will probably finish hers today at some point.


*again I got this idea from Jamie's blog- a forest frolic- the link is on my sidebar. she sells some of hers in an etsy shop too, and her's are made with more love as she goes into more detail with hers and hand sews and crepe paper!

Kettlebell workout....

Anyone else trying out this new craze? I found a cheap one at Tjmaxx for less then $10, and I have been trying to do some reps with this thing. It's interesting...I sorta feel like I am working on a farm when I do it... I googled some videos on ideas on workouts, and it is kinda fun to do it. Allergies are whooping my butt right now, so it's been tough to find the will to work out.... However, it's been so hot these last few days it forced me to put on some summer clothes that are not fitting that well so I have been trying to get back onto the fit train.... I always hate the first month or so in summer clothes... I usually have winter weight gain to battle, and I look like pale whitey... I refuse to do the tanning bed scene anymore as the deep tanning is horrible for you, and will age the bejesus out of you (think There's Something About Mary old lady neighbor). Not that I still don't believe in laying out for a bit before covering up in sunblock... gotta get some vitamin D you know? Also, sunless tanners have come a long way, and face bronzer powder can be your best friend... unless you drop the compact and it gets all over your white pants. Guess I gotta take some time and try to get my faux tan on and drop some weight...

The accident prone one...

Easter wasn't exactly a picnic in our household... Everyone in the house was still getting over a nasty cold, having allergy problems, etc. We couldn't get ourselves together in time to go to church, but we manaaged to go to my moms for Easter, and for some unknown reason we didn't go to the inlaws. I am not really sure what the deal was, not sure if they didn't want us because we were sick, but I was annoyed. Laura was feeling better, and after we had lunch at my moms she was riding her bike with her cousin in the road. I don't know how she managed to do it, but apparently it is possible to fall while you are hardly even moving and you have training wheels, and still break your arm.... Actually, she hardly even cried, and she was able to move her arm, fingers, etc, and went on to play the rest of the day. She did arts and crafts with me, went to feed the fish at the pond, rode her boke some more etc. Then later she barely nudged her arm in the garage, and that's when we knew something was wrong. She was in pain, and was favoring her other arm after that. I still didn't think a bone was broke,but I wanted to be safe and took her to urgent care. The doctor didn't think anything was wrong either but after some xrays a broken arm was confirmed. He said it was a simple break, and was a typical break of someone putting their hand out in reaction to falling (off said bike). This afternoon we went to an orthopedic doctor for another examination and to have them look at the xrays and finally to put a cast on. She chose pink of course. Luckily she only has the wear the cast for a total of three weeks. Right now she thinks it's pretty cool.

Poor thing has been through it this week.... last Monday her sister knocked her with a toy bat and gave her a black eye (Dave was home watching them while I was at work, so I would like to go on record to say I was not in charge) then Tuesday she went to urgent care cause she was having a hard time breathing, and now this....