Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Wordless Wednesday




Sighting of Blue Men

The Goddess and family had a fabulous outing last night at the Blue Man Group concert. I have created a brief video for you of some of the things we experienced.
(be warned if you are at work that there is sound involved, if not, turn the sound up!)




It was so much fun. The concert was very interactive and filled with modern technology. We texted specific messages to them and got messages back throughout the concert. No more "flicking your bic", you hold up your cell phone instead.

They are such a percussive band that it was an awesome feeling. With their big drums you could literally feel the beat. We were on row 1 (not the floor seats) down close to the stage. Awesome!

Great fun was had by all and we would go again in a heart beat. If you want to see more of the Blue Man Group you can go to their web site.


Saturday, October 28, 2006

Halloween meme

Thanks to Kailani, I am now going to regale you with scary tales of Halloween thingies from my life.

ooooooooohhhhhhhooooooooooo *scary sounds*

Halloween meme

1 - What was the scariest movie you have ever seen?
I remember watching Psycho, when I was about 12, with a bunch of other girls. When they turned the mom around and you saw her shriveled up scary face, talk about jumpy screaming girls.

Another scary movie is Watcher in the Woods. That is about as scary as I go for. I am with Kailani though. Poltergeist was one creepy movie.

2- What was your favorite Halloween costume as a child?
I remember having a witch costume, black hat and all. I was so excited to dress up, I put it on to play the day before. I remember some jerk driving by "It isn't Halloween yet!" What a humbug.

I have to say my absolute favorite was Little Bo Peep though. I won a costume contest in grade school.

3- Given enough money what would be your fantasy Halloween costume?
hmmmm, I would pay big bucks to get my hubby to dress up with me and we could be Raggedy Ann and Andy. I don't think there is enough money in the world though.

4- When was the last time you went trick or treating?
probably 6th grade. They did have trick or treating back them. We used pillow cases and didn't have to worry about weird things in the candy.

5- What is your favorite Halloween candy?
peanut butter m-n-m's

6- Tell us about a scary nightmare you once had.
I had a nightmare that monsters were chasing me around the yard when I was little.

I still have bad dreams that I am failing High School French class and won't graduate. I can see the graduation seating chart with my name and a big X through it. That is really frightening. Something to do with fear of failure, go figure.

7 – What is your supernatural fear?
I don't really believe in aliens but if they ever showed up with those big black glazed over eyes, I think I would throw up.

8-What is your ‘creepy-crawlie’ fear?
um, spiders.

9- Tell us a time you saw a ghost or heard something go bump in the night.
never seen a ghost and I hope I never see one.

10- Would you stay overnight in a real Haunted House?
I would have to say, NO.

11-Are you a traditionalist or a creative carver of your Jack-o-Lantern?
I don't like the goopy guts and opt for paint. Preferably my girls just make sugar cookies and decorate them like jack-o-lanterns.

12- How much do you decorate the house at Halloween?
I used to decorate a lot. Now it is pretty much up to my girls. I just don't want to bother. Would rather spend my time blogging or scrapbooking or . . . .

13- What do you want on your Tombstone?
"Curiosity killed the Goddess". I don't know. Hopefully something like "lived long enough to have fun, died soon enough to not be miserable, was caught up on her scrapbook"



I hope I didn't scare you too badly. This time I would like to tag:

I'm an Organizing Junkie

Oh, the Joys
SlackerMoms-R-Us

Friday, October 27, 2006

Food For Thought Friday

It is the end of term, no school today, so last night my daughter had a Halloween party here. We had a house full of giggly girls. Needless to say we are all draggin' our wagons today.
You are going to get the recipes from the party. We had Ghost Chili, which is really more of a chicken and bean soup, they decorated sugar cookies to look like pumpkins and played with goo. What more could you ask for. Three recipes for the price of one!

Ghost Chili
1 lb. chicken cooked and cubed - I use canned
3 cans white northern beans
1 can diced green chilies (7 oz)
1 can chicken broth
1 Tbsp. dried onions

put everything in the pot and cook. Stovetop you can heat through and boil a bit, Crockpot cook on high 1 hour or low 2-3 hours.

When ready to serve stir in 16oz sour cream.

To make it yummy, I like to crumble corn chips in it and put in shredded cheddar.


Pumpkin Cookies

I didn't have time to make cookie dough so we bought Pillsbury cookie dough in the tube. They are actually really good. The recipe I will share is my yummy Butter Frosting and how to decorate like a pumpkin.

Butter Frosting
1/2 c butter, softened
dash salt
1 lb. (4cups) powdered sugar
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

you know the drill.

Add food coloring to make it orange. Give the kids chocolate chips and candy corns to make the jack-o-lantern faces.


Goo
8 oz Elmers glue
food coloring
1 cup water
combine in a bowl. In separate bowl combine
2 Tbsp borax
1/2 c hot water

Dissolve borax in hot water. Add to glue mixture while stirring. It will start forming a blob. Keep stirring until the whole thing has blobbed (very techincal term). Knead it together to get a tad of the extra water out. Store in airtight container.

this stuff stretches, blobs over your hands, kind of bounces ect. The girls liked to stick a straw in it and blow huge bubbles. Generally fun stuff to play with.

For more Friday recipies go to SlackerMoms-R-Us.


Thursday, October 26, 2006

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen reasons I get up at the ungodly hour of 6am and go to aerobics class.


1. it is offered free at my church
2. I have lost 40 lbs and don't want to gain it back
3. I want to lose more weight
4. misery loves company
5. I can actually feel my ab muschles
6. it is a social extravaganza
7. to keep my heart healthy
8. I can take on anybody!
9. I feel strong
10. I feel better after I excersize. It is just getting up that sucks.
11. my clothes are getting baggy again
12. I'm just no good on my own
13. I AM WORTH IT!

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Wordless Wednesday
















(the Goddess during one of her earlier home improvement painting projects.)

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Olly Olly Oxen Free!

An invitation to everyone visiting; lurker or regular commenter - please leave a comment. I would love to meet everyone and visit your blogs (if you have one).

And now, a little enlightenment on the term Olly Olly Oxen Free from Wikipedia.


Olly Olly Oxen Free
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Olly olly oxen free is a phrase used in children's games, which is generally used to indicate that people who are hiding (in a game of Hide and seek, for example) can safely come out into the open.
Origin
The exact origin of the phrase is unknown, but etymologists suspect it is a childish corruption of a phrase that would have made more sense in the Hide-and-seek context; such as "all ye, all ye, oxen free!", "all in free", "out’s in free", "all set free", "All ye all ye outs in free", or "All the, all the outs in free"; or possibly a corruption of the German "Alle, alle auch sind frei", (literally, "Everyone, everyone also is free").

This ends today's educational snippet.


Sunday, October 22, 2006

To whom it may concern,

I just wanted to take a minute and thank you for the dozens of daily emails that you have been sending me, letting me know about all the many wonderful products and services that have been woefully missing from my life.

As a woman I was completely unaware that Viagra was for me and that it would make such a difference in my life. The fact that I can now get it at such a fabulous price, along with Xanax and Vallium, is wonderful. Although, I think you need to use your spell checker because you have a little problem with your spelling.

I can't wait to try out the latest hot stock tip that you have pointed me toward. Especially that I will now be making $400-$500 per week with your tips on increasing sales from my home business and will have all that extra money to invest. I guess my next step is to find a good home business to apply these new marketing tips to.

I will not be using your medications to increase my size by 100-400% as I am actually trying to lose weight, thus getting smaller. I will be more interested in your new end-all-beat-all weight loss ideas and medications. I am a little confused though, as to why you want to offer me both.

I also wanted to let you know that it is such a good idea how you put "must read" or "very important message, you need to read" in the subject line. That really gets my attention and lets me know to pay said attention to your emails. Otherwise, I might miss them.

As far as finding girls, girls, girls, I already have two teenage daughters and I don't think I really need any more females in my home right now. That is so sweet of you to think about me as an adoptive parent though.

In closing, I hope this finds you well and not overworked from the vast amounts of email that you are putting out.


Friday, October 20, 2006

Better Living through Pharmaceuticals!

As a person who has dealt with, suffered through, battled, succumbed to, and been highly medicated for depression for many years, this is a tongue-in-cheek phrase that my husband and I use to describe life with said depression.

(yes, I know, you are all shocked that the Goddess, as lovely and witty as she is, has this problem. See, pharmaceuticals. I'm tellin' ya. And a bit of therapy.)

Anyway, I was listening to an audiobook today, Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart: Thirty True Things You Need to Know Now, by Gordon Livingston, and he had some very interesting thoughts on depression.

This is what he would tell his patients: "The good news is we have medications that will help with your depression. The bad news is that medication will not make you happy. Happiness isn't simply the absence of despair. It is an affirmative state in which our lives have both meaning and pleasure." People need to look at the way they are living with an eye to change.

He said that a lot of times we expect changes to occur through medications, therapy etc. but don't change the way we are living. We have the same uneventful, boring, sad existence.

We are what we do! . . . . When all is said and done, more is said than done.

He was talking about how many times we get burned or hurt by people who say they will do one thing but don't follow through, actions speak louder than words type of thing.

If we don't change our actions, we can't expect our lives to change.

He said that every person needs three things:
  • something to do
  • someone to love
  • something to look forward to
If we don't have those things in our lives, how can we expect to get better.

This list of three things reminded me of a list that Gordon B. Hinckley* gave when talking about what every new convert to the church needs.
  • A friend in the Church to whom you can constantly turn.
  • An assignment. Activity is the genius of this Church.
  • To be constantly "nourished by the good word of God"
It is really so true that in life we need to feel a purpose, have things to love and look forward to. I wonder if this is why I have so many hobbies and interests instead of just picking one and sticking with it.

There are so many great things in life to learn and do. I have so many ideas and interests that I would love to follow. My main problem now is lack of time to do them.

Anyway, this is something I have been thinking over today and I just wanted to share these thoughts.

*Gordon B. Hinckley is the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons.


Food For Thought Friday

I am joining SlackerMommy and putting up a recipe to share with you.

This is a really easy Pasta Salad recipe that was told to me by my friend Becky and I kindof tweaked. This is probably one of the only recipes you will ever get from me that doesn't have exact measurements.

Pasta Salad
1 bag pasta
1 can red kidney beans
1 can chicken ( I like the Costco cans)
frozen broccoli
Mayo
dried parsley, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper

Cook pasta. While that is cooking put frozen broccoli in colander, run hot water over it. Put beans and chicken into a large bowl. Add Mayo. (pretend you are making tuna for a tuna sandwich) Put in enough to cover and make creamy. Sprinkle in seasonings to taste.
When pasta is finished, pour over broccoli and drain. Add to the bowl. Stir. Taste to see if you need any more seasonings. EAT!

easy peasy.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen reasons to bookmark my blog and visit frequently.

1. good clean fun for the whole family.
2. frequent pug sightings
3. improved gas mileage*
4. whiter brighter teeth*
5. 4 out of 5 dentists surveyed recommended this blog to their patients who read blogs *
6. I'm just a darn nice gal
7. my pug likes it
8. depression flees, good feelings abound, it is a mental health boost*
9. it is 100% free
10. it is an F bomb free zone
11. improved job performance*
12. crafty ideas
13. how many Goddesses do you really get to hang out with!


*statements not evaluated by the ADA, FDA, CDC, FBI, NAMI, CIA, your boss, or the PUG. Your mileage may vary.


Wednesday, October 18, 2006

I'm. To Crafty for my Crown,

to crafty for my crown, I. had. to. put it down.
Oh, I am a quilter, you know what I mean, as I do a little dance with my quilt top.
My quilt top, quilt top baby, I do a little dance with my quilt top.

*stops singing*
ahem

you may remember in a previous post I mentioned I was going to start taking a quiliting class. Well, I can't believe that it has been 6 weeks already but I have finished my quilt class AND, get ready, MY QUILT TOP!!!!!

I am so impressed with myself. I didn't think it was possible to go from never quilting before to having this:
(yes, that truly is the Goddess peeking around the quilt top)


Now comes the best part. I don't have to do the actual quilting. I am taking it to someone to quilt on a big machine. Wahoo!! If I couldn't do that I don't think I would have taken the class. There is no way you would get me to wrestle that on a sewing machine or heaven forbid, hand quilt the whole beastie.

Anyway, I am so impressed with myself (I think I may have mentioned that) that I wanted to share my joy with all y'all!




Wordless Wednesday













(after having stolen a dum dum sucker from my daughter's bag)


Monday, October 16, 2006

The Great Pumpkin is 40!

Can you believe that It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is celebrating it's 40th anniversary?

I remember as a kid gathering around the tv on one specific night to watch the show. Back then we only had 6 or 7 chanels and you couldn't buy the video. What was a VCR?

Anyway, you can join in on the fun.


Friday, October 13, 2006

Say bye bye to the bling bling!

During January 2005 I, at the tender age of almost 37, got braces. This is go round number two with braces although this time was a totally different experience (highest on the list was Dad didn't pay for this set). The first was done in Jr. High school by my dentist. I had minor work done and also didn't wear a retainer. So, you guessed it, there was some movin' goin' on.
I figured since everyone was going to know that I had braces - kinda hard to hide, that I would have fun with them and got the GOLD!
Can you say bling!! (My hubby called them my dental bling)






Well, on Wednesday, I got to spend 3 hours with my friendly Orthodontic staff and have said Bling removed!! WAHOO!!





They gave me a lovely parting gift full of all the naughty forbidden sugary treats that I was to swear off during my brace wearing stint.

So, here's to all the apples, corn on the cob, popcorn and other sticky stuff - Watch out!








Thursday, October 12, 2006

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I would rather be doing than work:
(don't get me wrong. I work part time from home and all-in-all, that is a great gig. There are just days when I wish I didn't have a job)

1. blogging
2. working in my garden
3. knitting
4. working on my quilt
5. scrapbooking
6. taking my pug for a walk
7. mowing the lawn
8. taking a nap
9. reading
10. organizing my house
11. stitcheries
12. getting together with friends
13. watching a movie


Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Friday, October 06, 2006

Nature's Helicopters

Do you remember these? We called them helicopters. The dried fallen seeds from the Maple tree. As children we would pick them up by the handful, throw them into the air and watch as they slowly sailed to the ground.

I have two maple trees in my yard, planted 10 years ago. As I have walked in the yard through the seasons doing yard work, playing with the kids, taking the dog out, I have watched the progress of these seeds. They start as tiny clusters of flowers, barely noticeable among the budding leaves, grow to the green double headed seed, then change to brown and finally drop to the ground, trying to find purchase in the dirt.

It has been many years since I have thrown these helicopters into the air, until this week. I bent down and picked up a few. Then one at a time, laughing and reliving moments from my childhood, tossed them into the air and watched them twirl to the ground.

I don't know why it has taken me so long to do this again, but since that day, every time I go out by my trees and see the seeds among the blades of grass, I pick up one or two and relive all over again.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Thursday Thirteen

This week, Kailani is celebrating her new DVR. How did we ever live without them!!
Anyway, here are 13 shows that are programmed in our DVR. (of course I will list mine first as they are most important.)

1 House
2 Bones
3 Numbers
4 Ghost Whisperer
5 Close to Home
6 Designed to Sell
7 Neat
8 Knitty Gritty
9 Eureeka
10 Smith
11 Nova
12 BBQ USA
13 Battle Star Galactica

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Amish shootings: turn them into a positive influence

I know that sounds a bit strange to turn the actions of a very sad, sick man into a positive influence, but I think that the best way to deal with the craziness in this world is to try and learn from it and make our personal lives better from it.

Case in point. When my youngest, now in 7th grade, was in kindergarten there was a news story of a Kindergartner that took his daddy's gun to school and shot and killed a class mate. That struck my heart so deeply. Not only the tragedy, but the fact that it happened to someone the same age as my own child.

It made me realize how fragile and fleeting life is. From that point onward, even if we have had a "grumpy" morning, I always tell my kids "have a good day, I love you" when they leave for school or to play with a friend etc.

I can't imagine having a grumpy day, not saying that to my kids and having a very sad, sick man come into their school.

Could I live with myself if my last words to my children weren't " I love you"!


How to make roses from maple leaves

How to make roses from maple leaves
I found this on the Craft website and was so amazed I just had to share it.


Monday, October 02, 2006

Holiday Cooking, Blogger Style

I decided to join in on the recipe swap going on over at Overwhelmed with Joy!

My favorite holiday recipe to make, Mom's Eggnog, is not only fabulous it is easy peasy!!

Every Christmas morning we would have this eggnog for breakfast with doughnuts, bear claws and other bakery delights.

Now we have it in my house and I make Pillsbury Apple and Cherry Turnovers.

Here you go. Make this in a large bowl - a lovely punch bowl makes it look fancy.

Mom's Eggnog
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream - cut up into about 8 pieces.
1/2 gallon milk
1/2 - 1 gallon egg nog

Now you just mix it together and let the icecream get soft and it will make the eggnog kind of shake like but not thick. Still drinkable.

Depending on your tastes with milk it can be skim to whole, but at this point in the recipe does one really need skim milk.


Sunday, October 01, 2006

Welcome to my new template!

After many long hours trying to figure out how to get my new template working, I finally gave up and asked my brother to do it for me. Didn't he do a great job!
Thanks Dave!!!
I found the image and design at 2 Girls Design and he made it blog compatible.
You can see more of his work at his online store.