March 1st, 2010 . 1 Comment »
I hate laundry. It’s never-ending. I have not seen the bottom of my hamper since the day we brought Muffin home. In fact, I’m not convinced it has a bottom. For all I know, under it, there could be a huge tunnel going all the way to the center of the earth, full of dirty socks and chocolate stained shorts. At least, I hope that’s chocolate.
Anyways, it’s pretty apparent that I am now the Laundry Fairy even though I didn’t get any pretty fairy wings, or useful magic wand that removes even the toughest stain. I don’t even get to wear a tiara. What a crock.
Well, at least I’m not the Toilet Bowl Fairy.
Posted in Fun Stuff, Mommy Moments, Stories, Uncategorized
February 28th, 2010 . No Comments »
Sleepless nights with my son Muffin had me looking like I could join the local zoo’s raccoon exhibit. Those pesky dark circles are sure hard to cover! Although now that I’ve found make-up guru, Kandee Johnson’s Erase Dark Circles video tutorial, I may be able to fake my way to looking like a Supermom (because if a mom doesn’t look tired she must be a Supermom, right?!).
Kandee Johnson has some other really great video tutorials. A few of my favorites are: Katy Perry/Megan Fox Eyeliner and Megan Fox Flawless Skin.
Kandee Johnson is a professional make-up artist and has worked with hollywood elite and on tv and movie sets. She’s also a single mom, so support her and subscribe to her facebook profile and website.
Check out her blog here.
Posted in Beauty, Fashion, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Mommy Moments, Stories, Uncategorized
February 28th, 2010 . No Comments »
My preschooler son can skip Persuasive Arguments 101 and go straight to teaching the course. He’s not even 3 years old yet but he’s already developed the ability to read people and situations and use that information to his advantage. Divine or diabolical? As yet undecided.
Grandpa B is currently visiting and when he visits he always bring donuts every morning. Curses! I do so love the buttermilk ones and I can’t seem to decline (but I only eat 1/2). So, yesterday morning, as we were finishing up our breakfast in preparation for Donut Time with Grandpa, I’m trying to negotiate with Muffin to eat the rest of his Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal so he can then have part of a donut. The negotiation is not going well because, of course, Grandpa and Daddy are not being very stealth with the donuts and Muffin has spotted them. So, I tell Muffin that he must eat 3 more bites of his Kashi before he can have a donut and as I am saying this I scoop up a spoonful of cereal to hand to him. Muffin looks at the cereal and then back at me and with all the seriousness he can muster, says to me, “Oh, no Mommy. That’s a choking hazard”.
Grandpa thought this was quite delightful and I have to admit it was a really good attempt to recognize Mommy’s fear and exploit it. Mommy still won the round though.
Posted in Fun Stuff, Mommy Moments, Stories, Uncategorized
February 28th, 2010 . No Comments »
Here’s one of those wacky news stories (although I find it more disturbing than funny).
Some couple in New Jersey named their son Adolf Hitler Campbell. He is joined by his sisters Arian Nation Campbell and, little Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell. Last year this family got national attention when they attempted to get little Adolf Hitler a birthday cake. Their local bakery refused to print “Happy Birthday Adolf Hitler” on the cake (they ended up taking their business to Walmart). Apparently, they originally had asked for the cake to also be adorned with a swastika. It was reported that the family’s house is decorated throughout with Nazi Germany memorabilia and swastikas. This in combination with the names of the children is fairly disturbing. I don’t necessarily know where I stand on whether the name itself is child abuse but I would say that there is a fairly good chance that someone who would name their children this has white supremacist tendencies (to put it lightly) and that sadly translates into teaching your children intolerance. However, the poor kid deserves a birthday cake with his name on it. Think about it. The kid doesn’t know the history of his name…yet. He just wants a birthday cake! It’s just so sad that his parents named him after a much hated genocidal dictator.
The parents claim they named their children these names because they liked the names and “because no one else in the world would have that name.” Ummmmm, yeeeahhhh there’s good reason for this! I also find it hard to believe that is the reason. You could always name your kid Nhoj Mahsirg and I’d be willing to bet no one else in the world would have that name either. I feel this was more of a social statement, or at the very least a situation of naming your child after someone you idol (there are actually babies named Britney Spears out there). I find this disturbing. I’m all for free speech but I don’t think it’s fair to your child to name them after a genocidal dictator, just because you want to be different. If Adolf Hitler is such a great name, go down to City Hall and change your own damn name to Adolf Hitler, but leave your kid out of it.
A few weeks after the story broke, the children were taken away from their parents by the state and put into child protective custody. An interesting part of this news story was the comments, where a wild debate about free speech raged. Many people seem to believe that the children were removed from their parents because of their names. Now, the state doesn’t have the right to remove children because of their names. Buuuuuut, I’m willing to bet that if you’re naming your kids Adolf Hitler and Aryan Nation, the state might have their eye on you for other reasons. Just a guess.There is obviously more to this story, but I can’t seem to find out what has happened to these children since the original story broke a year ago. Are they back with their parents? Why were they taken away in the first place? Well, wherever they are, I hope they are safe and happy and well-cared for.
Update: I wonder what the German Standesamt would think of this since they have to approve all baby names in Germany. Also…why the hell did the parents want the name “Adolf Hitler” on the cake? Why not just “Adolf”? Further proof they were using their son to get a reaction and make a statement perhaps? I hope not.
Posted in Fun Stuff, Stories, Uncategorized
February 26th, 2010 . No Comments »
I started doing this a little over a year ago. I got the idea after staying at a vacation rental in Lake Arrowhead where the owners had done this. Very smart because the sponge is being changed every time the rental cottage changes over. I really liked the idea because I’m germ-phobic, so I like to throw away my sponges very often. Yes, I know you can microwave them but that still grosses me out. By cutting them in half, I can change my sponges often and do not have to increase my sponge budget (no I don’t have a dedicated sponge budget). Your dishes and your wallet will thank you. Your sponge, however, will want you dead.
Posted in Fun Stuff, Money, Uncategorized
February 25th, 2010 . No Comments »
Photo Source: TMZ
Have you seen Star Magazine’s exclusive with Nadia Suleman highlighting her body 1 year after giving birth to Octuplets? She claims that she hasn’t had any plastic surgery. Oh please! Do you hear that sound? It’s the collective LOL from all mom’s everywhere. You can see the stretch marks in the photo where she is pregnant, and then miraculously they are gone in the Star Magazine photo spread. Absolutely ridiculous and physically impossible. Stretch marks fade but they don’t fade that quickly and they never totally disappear (I have some faint ones on my hips from puberty still). Also, where is all the excess skin? At the very least we have another case of photoshopping off the baby weight but I’m thinking there is also some tummy tuck action going on here. I just don’t think it’s possible to bounce back like that after only 12 months, especially considering how large her belly was – look at that photo!
I personally have nothing against plastic surgery (in moderation) and I do think she looks really fabulous for what her body has been through, but why not just admit that the photo is doctored and/or you’ve had plastic surgery? I told my husband that I would want surgery if, when we were done having kids, my boobs were at my waist and my waist was at my hips. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case…yet. But if it was, I’d admit to it.
Posted in Celebrity Moms, Fitness, Uncategorized
February 24th, 2010 . No Comments »
The other day I was taking Muffin out of his car seat and out of nowhere he says, “I am sooooo not taking you to dinner.” What?! First of all, we’d already had dinner and second of all…WHAT?! He said it all diva-like too! He’s not even 3 yet! This comes on the heels of the previous night, when at dinner out of nowhere he blurts out, “Whatever J. Whatever.” OMG! I am pretty sure I don’t talk like this, but there’s nothing like a preschooler parrot to knock you down a few notches.
Photo of sweet Muffin cuddles to offset the story of ‘tude. Thank goodness he’s such a sweet cuddle muffin.
Posted in Fun Stuff, Mommy Moments, Stories, Uncategorized
February 24th, 2010 . No Comments »
That got your attention! Get your minds out of the gutter! I’m referring to coq au vin, of course. The literal translation is “Cock of the Wine”. This dish dates back to the early 1600’s and it’s so delicious. Nowadays it has become less traditional to use an actual cock because it’s far easier to find a chicken than a cock (insert joke here).
I like this recipe because it’s not only delicious but it’s super easy and relatively quick. It’s particularly easy if you use a slow cooker. It’s even low fat! Also, as an added bonus I can use up that last bit of wine in that bottle that is sitting on my counter and not feel bad about wasting it. Yeah, right, like wine would ever be in danger of being wasted in my house!
Ingredients:
5 slices bacon, diced*
2/3 cup green onion, sliced
6 chicken breast halves
1 onion, chopped
1/4 lb whole mushrooms
8 small new potatoes
1 clove garlic, minced*
1 tsp salt*
1/2 tsp pepper*
1/2 tsp dried thyme*
1/2 cup chicken broth*
1/2 cup burgundy wine*
A few modifications to the above ingredients: I use turkey bacon instead of the higher fat pork bacon. I use 3 cloves of garlic instead of 1 clove (you can never have too much garlic). I also double the seasonings, the chicken broth and the wine (and then add a bit more wine on top of that). I find doubling the liquid makes for some nice left over liquid, which I can then use to season rice for dinner the next night (Dr. CutiePants loves this). I use any kind of red wine I’ve got – it doesn’t have to be Burgundy. I also skip browning the chicken because I have a major thing against raw meat and the less I handle it the better and it still comes out very delicious. I’m sure this is considered blasphemy to the foodies out there.
In a large skillet, saute the diced bacon and green onions until the bacon is crisp. Remove and drain well, then add the chicken breast to the skillet and brown them well on both sides. Put the onion, mushrooms, potatoes and garlic in the slow cooker. Add the chicken pieces, bacon and green onions, salt, pepper, thyme and chicken broth. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Add the Burgundy wine during the last hour of cooking. Recommended unit size is 5-7 quarts.
Posted in Uncategorized, What's For Dinner?
February 23rd, 2010 . No Comments »
I like wine and I like chocolate. I also like to be able to fit into my clothes. What’s a girl to do?! Well, I’ve heard that keeping a food intake journal can help. If I have to admit to eating it by writing it down, I’m far less slightly less likely to put that tablespoon of nutella in my mouth. So, I recently went on a mission to find a good calorie counter website and came across MyPlate by LiveStrong. It’s awesome! The basic membership is free and includes access to their calorie counter and you can even keep an account that will track your weight loss, both in pounds and inches. It will also track your workouts and calories burned, and also provides a nifty pie chart of your daily intake of carbs, protein and fat. Now, only if it had a built in lie detector.
Posted in Beauty, Fitness, Fun Stuff, Health, Uncategorized
February 23rd, 2010 . No Comments »
Okay, so it was 20 months ago but I’m still so thrilled. The photos came out absolutely fabulous. Jaime Pustizzi, owner of Classy Kids Photography, is such a talented photographer. Our little Muffin has a lot of energy and I was shocked that she was able to get such good shots of him. I really want to do another session with her to get some updated photos now that we have added Madam Poopsalot to our family.
Here are a few of my favorites.
Wow, looking at these really makes me realize how much my little boy has grown up. He’ll be 3 years old next week! He’ll always be my sweet baby boy no matter how old he is.
Posted in Fun Stuff, Mommy Moments, Stories, Uncategorized
