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Archives for July 2010

Thursday Ten: Only a TINY bit about puppies edition

July 15, 2010 by 5 Comments

1. It only took about 8 days but yeah, baby, that puppy of ours is house trained. This is so supremely awesome – because every knows that a puppy that doesn’t pee on the floor is much more awesome than say… one that does. Also, are all vets completely deprived of people skills or just our doggy’s doc?

2. Did you know that we’re just a few weeks away from the next season of Project Runway?  Season Eight kicks off on July 29 on Lifetime and I’m so stoked.  No, this isn’t a paid promotion – I’m just that big of a dork for all things PR. Especially Tim Gunn.

Yeah, this never gets old. I think I'll probably keep posting it over and over.

3. Target has back-to-school supplies on display already! I couldn’t believe it when I saw them the other day – of course, the girls and I have already snagged their backpacks for this coming school year. They were VERY opinionated and VERY sure of what they wanted. Made it easy to shop, and I’m glad to have it out of the way.

4. Guitar lesson went well again this week – still working on the Joshua Radin song and actually pleased with how I’m more instinctively picking things up. Turns out you CAN grow some musical instinct. After nearly two years of lessons.

5. After reading about it in Redbook magazine, this morning I downloaded the free Cause World app. It appears to be a bit like FourSquare (which I don’t use because it kind of creeps me out) – you check into certain locations – and each time you do, you earn a given number of “karmas”. You can later use those karmas for carbon offsets, fighting cancer, helping save the arts in schools or many other causes. So, I’ll try it for awhile. Without sending my check-ins to my Facebook. I kind of don’t like when people do that.

6. So, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Old Spice commercials that have been ALL OVER THE INTERNET. Seriously – fabulous campaign, just so well done. I particularly like this one for his kiddo. (And the zeppelin over the bacon factory one cracked me up also).

7. Last night, I was channel surfing looking for Top Chef. I never found it, but instead stumbled over “Toddlers & Tiaras“. Lucky me (Um, that’s sarcasm, dipped in sarcasm, covered in a sarcasm-infused sauce). This show is a train wreck full of cray-cray stage mothers (mostly mothers, most of the fathers seem kind of resigned and underwhelmed with the whole deal). Spraying your children with tans so they look like oompa loompas while curling, spraying, and teasing their hair like minature Dolly Partons just seems like a less than fabulous way of life. But what do I know?

8. I was all set to brag on how I was so inspired by Lotus to take on the 200 Situp program that I downloaded the app yesterday and how I’m on day two today. But then the app crashed on me. Three times. So, I’ll keep you posted.

9. I just finished the second book of the Millenium Trilogy* (why, YES, that’s an affiliate link, what of it?). I’m ready to read number three. I’m surprised how much I’m enjoying this series. I’m kind of bummed to think that when the next one’s done, it’s all done. So sad.

10. Where is the world’s best hamburger? I haven’t had a burger in a lot of years – and now I’m kinda sorta tempted – I feel like I should have one. I know, it’s a ridiculous thing – I never consciously decided to not have burgers – I just never crave them, so it’s just been a long time since I’ve had one. But, if I’m going to have one, it better be REALLY GOOD.

Filed Under: Books and Stuff, Do Good Feel Good, Eats, Mom Shtuff, music, Thursday Ten Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Things to be happy about this summer

July 13, 2010 by 6 Comments

Summer is not my favorite time of year and tends to be the time when I get a little whinier than average (even whinier than winter, I think – which is saying something because cold weather, icy driving conditions, and puffy coats wear on my nerves pretty quick).

Something in me has been telling me all morning to embrace what is good about the season, rather than complain willy-nilly about the stupid humidity (and OH! It’s SO humid).

Without further adieu (and griping) here are some things to be happy about this summer. Feel free to add your own in the comments.

  1. Popsicles. Lots and lots of popsicles.
  2. Being able to open the window without a foot of snow drifting in from outside
  3. Dipping my feet in a swimming pool while my kids cannonball in and splash me (and the rest of the world!)
  4. The local ice cream shops are open. And there’s a lot of them.
  5. Daylight at 8 p.m. and later.
  6. Flip flops
  7. Getting to show off a fun brightly-hued pedi in a pair of flip flops (OPI’s Ogre-the-top is what currently decorates my toesies)
  8. Tank tops
  9. Working out outside
  10. Letting the kids take a “bath” in the wading pool in the front yard – while wearing swimsuits, of course.
  11. That you can get a sugar free, non fat light frappucino for under 100 calories for the tall size
  12. Annnnnd, since I’m talking Starbucks: Viva la treat receipt!
  13. Carnivals and elephant ears
  14. Seeing the neighbors who have been in hibernation all winter
  15. The perma-ponytail I wear from June through August

Okay… what have you got?

Filed Under: Mom Shtuff, Things I Love

Weekly Winners, Traverse City Style

July 10, 2010 by 4 Comments

Gosh, y’all… I could easily go another week posting pictures of the puppy dog (No, it wasn’t totally intentional that we got such a photogenic dog, but dang, he’s supah cute), but I will refrain from overloading you with canine snapshots, and instead travel back to midweek when I ventured up north.

Ironically, I woke up Wednesday morning feeling very not so fond of the state of Michigan – probably partly related to the stifling crazy heat we’ve had – but then? I drove a few hours, put my feet in the sand and spent hours with friends talking beneath the stars. Suddenly, Michigan looks a little better.

I have been to Traverse City many times over the years – but oddly there is so much of it I haven’t seen. I actually really enjoyed having the opportunity to wander around and see new places.

I love elephant ears. I didn’t get one. I fought the urge. But MAN. I love them.

Ferris wheels scare the bejeebers out of me. But they’re SO FREAKIN’ PRETTY.

Oh hi, Lake Michigan.

The drive home was rainy. Very very rainy. I finally pulled off at a gas station to wait out some of the rain.

For more Weekly Winners, go visit Lotus and check out her great snaps of the week as well as the other WW participants.

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: , , , , ,

Thursday Ten: Away and Back Super Speedy Edition

July 8, 2010 by 6 Comments

1. I left at noon yesterday to venture to Northern Michigan to visit Rachel who was in town for the Cherry Festival. Less than 24 hours later, I was on the road headed back home. Totally worth it. It was fun to visit with friends, be some place different, NOT COOK DINNER (festival lemonade and pretzel for dinner! Yum!), and just relax and chat. Even running on about four hours of sleep, I’m kind of recharged. This is a good thing.

2. I returned home to the land of house training a puppy. The girls – those lovely children of mine who begged for a puppy – aren’t as much help as they SWORE they would be… but I’d anticipated that when we agreed to go ahead and get the pup. I do not, under any circumstances, take part in the shoveling of doggy…stuff. That is a job that belongs to pretty much everyone but me.

3. Despicable Me comes out in theaters tomorrow. I was pretty thrilled to have received free passes to see this with my fam – and it’s a fantastic movie. The 3D effects weren’t overwhelming as they are sometimes – which is good because I’m not normally a fan of 3D.

4. Music this week? Uh, the soundtrack of “Despicable Me”. Nah, I didn’t receive this for free – I paid for it – but I really like what Pharrell did with it. It’s kind of a fun (yet KIDSAFE) soundtrack. Pretty awesome.

5. Musically, I also picked up Joshua Radin’s “I’d Rather Be With You”, as that is the song my guitar teacher picked this week. I’d never heard this song before, and I like it – I look forward to checking out more of his music.

6. Strangest addiction of the week? The Boggle app for the iPhone. For just under two bucks, I can Boggle to my heart’s content. I’m not very good at Boggle, but it’s addicting.

7. I have started reading The Girl Who Played with Fire – and I find myself moving very slowly through it – afraid I won’t love it as much as its predecessor. Does anyone else do that when reading a sequel?

8. While at the festival last night, I was craving an elephant ear and was able to resist its charms and eat a slightly less damaging meal. But I will get at least one elephant ear this summer because I LOVE THEM AND THEY BELONG IN MY BELLY. What is your favorite amusement park/carnival food?

9. Do you know how hard it is to not talk about puppies all the time when it seems like 80% of my life these days involves watching a puppy for signs he is about to pee on the living room carpet? I’m really not wanting to be a pet blogger (I don’t need no stinkin’ niche), but it’s just what life is these days. Soon, I hope to leave my house on a more frequent basis again.

10. The weather in Michigan has been insanely hot this week. Humid and hot and gross and yucky. Yes, yucky. I would take our meteorologists on the local news more seriously if they started legitimately employing “yucky” as the descriptor of our summer weather. Today, there’s a break from our 90+ degree weather. But mother nature has replaced stifling temps with… rain. Yucky.

Filed Under: Books and Stuff, Eats, Mom Shtuff, music Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Momofuku Milk Bar Compost Cookie

July 5, 2010 by 3 Comments

Last week, I talked to y’all about cookies, and my Fairy GodSista Jules sent me a message and said, “Hey Sarah – Have you ever tried these?” And I was like, “Um. No. But OH-MY-GOODNESS. I need to.” {And big ups to Jules to know that when you have a recipe like this under your hat, you SHARE it}

And so I spent days scheming the perfect combination of cookies.

And then I made them wrong.

Word to the wise, never shut down your computer thinking that the picture you took of the list of ingredients with your iPhone is enough to get you through.

BUT WAIT.

Even though I didn’t beat the cookies for the requisite TEN MINUTES (ohh yeah, you read that right), they were still delish if only just a little bitty bit flat, so… no harm no foul. AND, I have an excuse to try again. Once I go to the store and get more brown sugar because I was completely out last night and had to mooch from my neighbor – and she didn’t have enough – and yeah, then I was so distracted I didn’t blend the dough long enough, blah blah blah.

The Momofuku Milk Bar Compost Cookie is basically a chocolate chip cookie to which you add a bunch of stuff to it – not just ANY stuff. DARN NEAR ANYTHING.

The first batch? Rollos, chopped almonds and broken pretzel pieces.

Om nom nom nom. I won’t tell you how much cookie dough I ate (but it was A LOT).

I split the dough in half and added some teddy grahams, marshmallows, chocolate chips for a S’mores inspired cookie. I also added chopped peanuts and rice crispies.

The end result (even though I DID NOT FOLLOW DIRECTIONS)? Supah tasty.

Plus, I get to make them again. Y’know… the right way.

Filed Under: Eats Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Weekly Winners – It’s Mostly About the Puppy

July 4, 2010 by 12 Comments

In a week where the biggest thing that happened is that we got a new puppy, I guess you can expect that yes, there’s lots of pictures of the new pup who is so freakin’ adorable (thank goodness, because… I’m pretty sure I’m allergic. Send Zyrtec. STAT).

For more awesome Weekly Winners, go visit Lotus, and the rest of the WW participants.

And be sure to have a very Happy (AND SAFE) Fourth of July!

Yep. He chose us so we choose him.

We're crate training. The first day? It was NOT fun. Little Dude likes his crate much better now.

Yep. He's kind of stolen our hearts with the cute.

He's usually this mellow. Chillaxin' in the grass.

Oh, but wait! We didn't just get a puppy. I bought myself a new lens too.

Happy Fourth of July, y'all!

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday Ten: Not So Despicable Edition

July 1, 2010 by 2 Comments

1. It’s been a week since I was able to head to a sneak peek of the movie Despicable Me and I was SWORN TO SECRECY (til now) and couldn’t tell you about it.  My family goes to see quite a few kid oriented movies and it’s been a LONG time since I’ve enjoyed one as much as I enjoyed this one. I loved the story line, the voice cast is incredible (Steve Carrell, Julie Andrews – like, whoa). And usually 3-D is hard for me to watch – it gets too overwhelming. Not this time. I really loved it, as did my kids. Bonus: The music was done by Pharrell Williams – and I’ll be picking up the soundtrack when it becomes available on the 6th. Despicable Me is in theaters JULY 9.*

2. During the summer, guitar lessons are temporarily NOT on Thursdays, a change that somewhat throws me off. My lesson this week went well though. Next week, I take a break from telling my teacher what I want to learn and letting her pick something for me. I’m kind of excited to not know what comes next.

3. Speaking of guitar lessons and my guitar teacher… when I was in class, she mentioned her sister recommended a group to her and they reminded her of the folks from Once who sing “Falling Slowly”. She’s well aware that I love that song, so I asked her for the name of the group. They are The Civil Wars, and you can download their album free from their site (it redirects to their MySpace page). Lovely acoustic-y singer/songwriterly people. Love this song, “Poison And Wine” which was played on an ep of Grey’s Anatomy.

4. Puppy comes home tonight. We purchased his crate last night, and I’m in the process of researching everything I can about crate training and house training a puppy dog. Pumpkin got quite upset with me when I said that we’d be keeping DoggyDogg (no, not his name!) in the crate quite a bit initially — but, I think we’re all on the same page now. And if not, the crate is such a pain in the heinie to open that I know she won’t be able to sneak the puppy out.

5. Eclipse -did you see it? Are you going to? It’s funny when I think of how much I was looking forward to the original Twilight movie coming out… and then I didn’t love it. I’ve been kind of “over” it all since then. I’ll be sitting this one out.

6. Fourth of July weekend is coming up and I have no plans but house training a puppy. That sounds exciting, doesn’t it? I’ve never been one to make big July 4th plans though. I don’t even remember the last time I went out for fireworks – though, I’d kind of like to try to take some pictures of the fireworks this year.

7. Yesterday the Mother’s Helper was at our house to help me out while I was doing some work (and running Stepson from A to B back to A again – this ferrying around a teenager nonsense is tiring!), and she let The Princess use the Easy Bake oven. With my love of baking, I don’t know why I hate the Easy Bake as I do, but I really really don’t like the Easy Bake. Seems an awful lot of work for little scraps of cookies. It’s not even enough to knock the edge off a cookie craving. But she made a cookie for me to eat while I was working.

8. Yep, it was the Greek yogurt somehow making me sick. The thing is? Regular yogurt seems too sweet now (and I don’t love the texture). I will just take my chances. That’s some yogurt love, there.

9. I bought myself a new lens yesterday. It was not the priciest lens on my list (by far. Unfortunately I picked a really pricey hobby), but I’m hoping that it gives me a versatility I’m not currently getting with my 50 mm. I sure do love my 50, but I needed a little more flexibility in composing shots.

10. Reality TV Nit Picking: I really don’t like the way “So You Think You Can Dance” is set up this season. I think I was sleeping when they explained WHY they were doing this all-star version this way, but I kinda preferred when it was two contestants dancing versus a contestant and an all-star. And clearly I’ve already devoted too much time to thinking about it.

*Full disclosure: My family was given complimentary passes to the movie but the opinions are my own, as always.

Filed Under: Mom Shtuff, music, Photography, Thursday Ten Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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