Mome reads Mommy, My daughter's way to spell it when she was younger... It stuck. My son calls me Mome... just like it looks. I now sign all my notes to them "Love, Mome". It's our inside secret and makes them smile. I always want them to smile.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Easy Crock Pot Chicken and a Plea to Knitters

Yesterday I was in the mood for crock pot chicken.  I went to the store in search of an oven roaster but they were all out.  I didn't want to go to another store so I checked out my options.  Legs, Wings, or Thighs.  I decided to go with the Thighs.  I'm not sure I'll go back to whole chickens. The Thighs turned out PERFECT.

What You'll Need:

1 cup of peeled carrots
1 large yellow onion
6 Chicken Thighs
Salt, pepper, garlic and Poultry Seasoning (to taste)

I used pre-cut carrots and quartered the onion and put them in the Crock Pot.  We didn't eat these but they added so much flavor and made the house smell really good too.

I laid the Thighs on top.  I left the skin on to keep the pieces juicy but removed when serving.  It actually crisped up, which made me tempted to eat it but, I knew I'd regret it.

I generously sprinkled salt, pepper, garlic powder and poultry seasoning and put the lid on.  I cooked them on low for 4 1/2 hours and they were falling off the bone.  Tender, juicy and full of flavor.
Served them up with mashed potatoes, gravy and some cranberries and the kids devoured every bit on their plate and asked for more.  Those are the meals I enjoy cooking.

                          (I left the skin on for the picture but then removed it, I swear)
On to other business...

Do you knit?  My friend Sandy over at Bridge and Beyond collects hats, scarves and mittens from around the country and then, with help, delivers them to free clinics, shelters, and soup kitchens in Central Ohio.  The apparel is meant to provide warmth for the homeless living under the bridges and mothers and children in desperate circumstances.  Sandy recently asked for comments on her blog.  She is trying to get a higher profile in the search engines to make more people aware of what she is doing so she can help more people.  I've sent her hats and socks but have no clue how to make gloves.  She posts pictures of all donated items on her blog and sometimes shows the people who receive them.  If you would like to make something knitted to pass along, check out Bridge and Beyond and contact Sandy for her information.  Nothing is too little and it feels really good to help out in this simple way.  If you don't knit, just stop by and say hello and take a look at all she has done so far.  Make sure to leave a comment so she can recruit others.

Weather is finally getting warm and we had a fun-filled weekend

We finally had a weekend full of nice weather.

Puddin Pop had some friends over on Friday and it was nice enough for the girls to play outside.  I set up the bouncy for them and they spent the most part of 3 hours in it and riding bikes, scooters and plasma cars.  The only problem was the wind.  The older two girls were having more fun inflating and deflating the bouncy so they could be in it while it "blew up".  I don't get this, but it seems to be what all the older kids like best... when they are not making silly faces in the netting.

At one point PP was in it alone and a huge wind gust came by and flipped the whole thing over.  I watched, in slow motion, as the blower was launched into the air and was following behind, because it's attached.  Luckily it didn't hit her or the bouncy but that was enough for me to pack the whole thing away.

On Saturday the kids played with the neighbor girl.  At one point they decided the dog kennel would be a fun place to play.  If I was a person who plays bingo online this surely would have come in handy for a place to store them and keep them from distracting me.  As it was, they decided they were hamsters and required water and food.  I'll also add that the neighbors parents stood next to me and watched.  It's amazing what kids find fun.

You can see the water bottle on the top.  Just like hamsters, right?  They stayed in there for almost an hour.

We had a little wine (the mom's) and pizza and ended the evening with a special treat...


I had made the cookies to make soft oreos and made a couple of those before I came up with this idea.

It was a really good idea.

Sunday the kids and I played around the house most the day.  Last night I, with the help of some friends, live-blogged the Red Carpet and Oscars.  I need to get out more.  I had no idea who a lot of the actors were.  We talked trash about dresses and facial hair and I stayed up way too late.

How did you spend your weekend?

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Oscars~ Live

This should be interesting. 

I've agreed to blog the Oscars and Red Carpet LIVE.  I have no idea how this is going to work but trust my co-horts will help me out when the event begins.  It will be HERE and a couple other places around the web.  If you want to see what we're talking about check back at anytime this evening (after 6 pm EST) and join in on the fun.




Saturday, February 26, 2011

Pretty Little Liars Soundtrack


Catch Pretty Little Liars Mondays 8/7c on ABC Family, and visit iTunes to preview songs and pick up a copy of the album.

In my youth I LOVED listening to music.  Mostly sappy 80's love songs or the dance music from that genre.  I was never a fan of heavy metal or all the rock bands that were so popular in those days.  My choices in music were not that of my friends.  I enjoy music that evokes emotion and that I can actually understand and comprehend the words to.  Nothing has changed.  I recently purchases an iPod for myself and one for Handsome and we've enjoyed finding new music to download and listen to.  Whether it's music we hear on a television program or something on the radio, when Handsome hears something he likes he'll immediately ask for it.  If it's something new we'll find out the name of the song and the artist and we'll hit iTunes to see if it's available.  It's been fun to bond over this love of music and to watch his interest grow.

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote the Pretty Little Liars Soundtrack, and was recently sent a copy of the CD.  It's in the car and we have been listening to it all week on the way to and from school and while running errands.  The music is beautiful and the words thought provoking.  I have never seen an episode of the show, and for fear of adding another hour to my already booked DVR schedule, probably won't.  The CD, however is full of artists I was not familiar with and I can honestly say that there is not a single track that I do not like.  Of course there are ones that we enjoy more than others.  Puddin Pop and I love to listen to Beauty Queen by Ben's Brother.  The lyrics "We all fall down" is a reminder that even the best of us have our misgivings and it's great to teach my (almost) 5 year old this lesson through music we both enjoy. 

Genius of Fun, by Love Grenades is a more upbeat song that reminds me of all the fun I had in my youth and the "fun" I'll have to look out for as my children get older.  Right now it's just a fun song for the three of us to dance to.  Every one should car dance, right?

I love when I show I watch incorporates new music to accompany meaningful scenes and then showcases the music as well as the show.  Again, I haven't seen any of these episodes but, listening to the music I can imagine the drama that is unfolding. 

Here is a video of Chris Mollere, the Pretty Little Liars music supervisor, discussing the soundtrack CD.  I find this interesting.



If you are a fan of Indie music and/or the show Pretty Little Liars, this is a soundtrack you will surely want to add to your collection.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Puppies for Sale in London

I just received this email and had to share it.  This has to be the best email I've ever received in my junkmail folder...

Hello dear, good day”







My name is Steve Robinson I am 18years old, I am staying with my grandmother who is 75years old and we both live in Eastern London, we has numerous puppies around us, Because we are pet lovers, The purpose of writing this to you is that I will like you to adopt one or more of the puppies because I will be resuming a college in Germany next month and I would not be able to take good care of them due to my resumption, Besides my grandmothers is also old and I don't want those puppies to give her lots of stress any longer.How many puppies you are interested in and the closest Airport to your located


Address.






hereby the BRITISH AIRRWAYS to enable us successfully dispatch any kilned off puppies to your choice, Record set-up in your datas in order to be sure that we are communicating with the rightful beneficiary, before any delivery to avoid double claim or wrong individual delivery.






1, Your Full Name; ________________


2, Your Sex; ________________


3, Your Age; ________________


4, Delivery address; _________________


5, Phone number; ___________________


6, Fax; ___________________


6, Email address; ___________________






This is the list of puppies we have:






English bull dogs: Cost: 330$


Yorkie s: Cost: 210$


Puddles Cost: 245$


German Sheppard: 274$










Hope to hear from you soon so that I will provide you all the pictures and details of the






puppies






Thanks


Steve Robinson


Why get a dog here in the US when you can get one from London?

Hair Flairs



Have you seen these?  

I first became aware of Hair Flairs while watching Oprah (don't tell Cardiogirl).  She had a guest on that had some shimmer and sparkle in her hair.  Subtle and spectacular.  I had to have some.

Our package of Hair Flairs came on Friday and Puddin Pop and I immediately  watched the how-to video and got to work.  Pretty simple to put in, even on a wiggly 4 year old.  They tie right into your hair and can last up to six weeks.  You can wash, dry and style your hair as normal and the flair stays in tact.  Whether you want a little sparkle (5-10 strands) for accent or you want to make a bolder statement (10-15 strands), the possibilities are endless. 

Great for everyday, Special Occasions, or even a luxury holiday in the Maldives, you'll definitely get noticed with these beautiful, glittery strands in your hair.  In 20 different colors, they would be great for prom or weddings for a little extra  pizazz, coordinating with dress colors or to blend with hair color for a little less.  They also have glow-in-the-dark strands which would be great for a night at the club or for Halloween.  Everyone needs a little pick-me-up now and then.

Hair Flairs are currently being marketed to stylists as an extra service for clients.  I think they would be great for any school or work fundraiser.  They suggest a price of $2-5 per strand and with the ease of putting them in, you could maximize profits/donations in a short amount of time. 

After I finished putting them in Puddin Pop's hair I added a couple of strands to my own.  That evening I had some drinks with my neighbor and she loved them so much I added a couple strands into her hair too.  They are reasonably priced ($10 for a package of 100 strands) and lots of fun.  What are you waiting for?  Go get some.



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Friday, February 18, 2011

I'm addicted to Facebook Shopping and Need Something for My Little Boy

First of all... Is there anyone on Facebook that doesn't make bows?  Holy crap.  Every time I log on I see tons and tons of adorable bows and lots of Tutus.  I've become a bit of a Facebook shopping junkie.  With clearance sales and holiday themed bows and apparel I just can't stop myself.  I ordered a ton of stuff for Puddin Pop a couple weeks back from Christa's Tiny Tutus.  She was having a huge clearance sale and stuff went so fast.  PP has loved wearing flowers in her hair and here she is in one of her adorable new hats.


I can't imagine the amount of time it took to load the 160+ pictures with pricing.  Then invoices had to be sent and all the items had to be packaged and mailed.  The sale ended on a Sunday and we received our package on Wednesday.  Excellent customer service and I couldn't be more pleased with the pricing or the products.  Do you buy stuff on Facebook?

I swear I have purchased more stuff on Facebook in the last couple months than anywhere else online, or in actual stores for that matter.  I like the idea of helping out individuals instead of corporations.  I also like the handcrafted aspect and the uniqueness of the products.  The only problem I'm running into is that everything I see is for little girls.  Dresses, hair accessories, Tutus and jewelry seem to be the main items for sale.  Handsome is getting a little jealous that he's not getting anything.  He's not interested in clothes or hats but feels he should be getting something.  I need to know if there are crafters making products, preferably not clothes, for school aged boys.  Please leave me a comment or friend me if you have something or know someone who can help a boy out.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

2008 Brancott South Island Pinot Noir

There is nothing I enjoy more than to travel to other parts of the world and experience the local fare.  Of course, I never travel anywhere exotic, or out of the United States (although I have been to Canada.  Growing up in Michigan, it was only a little more than an hour away) for that matter.  So, I explore through food and wine.  Creating foreign cuisine and enjoying wines that represent the culture.

This wine, considered the entry point of quality New Zealand Pinot Noir, is made mainly from Marlborough fruit. Augmented with fruit from other regions across the South Island, this Pinot Noir brings together positive attributes from all the contributing regions. This wine displays true Pinot Noir typicity of character.

 
I was originally given a lamb recipe to go with this, but chickened out.  I've never made lamb and didn't know if the family would even eat it.  I saved the recipe, though, and will see if anyone is interested in one of our upcoming Girls Nights In.  Those gals are troopers who share my love for good food.
 
I ended up with a sweet and tangy pork loin, roasted red potatoes, green beans and cranberries.  It was a wonderful pairing.
 
This New Zealand Pinot Noir is garnet in color and full of dark cherry and other red fruits with a nice spice balance.  It's smooth and could accompany almost any food .  It went deliciously with the pork and would go well with any red meat or pasta dishes.  It would also go well as a starter wine served with a variety of cheeses, or to finish the evening alongside a couple games of poker, or Euchre for my Northern friends, and some dark chocolate covered cherries.

A little more about the fruit...

Clonal/Rootstock Selection


The fruit for this wine came from three of our key South Island
regions – Marlborough, Waipara and further south from vineyards
in Central Otago. The alluvial soils of Marlborough produce fine
aromatic wines with balanced, natural acidity. Waipara has soils
based on a mixture of clay and limestone that contribute structural
tannins to the blend and this is complemented by the black, dark
berry fruit characters derived from Central Otago-grown fruit.


Thanks to Anna @ The Thomas Collective for sharing this wine with me on behalf of the winery.  The opinions are 100% mine.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Moving On

I just had the worst possible conversation that any parent wants to have with their children,

  "Your Dad is moving out.".

 It came as a surprise to all three of them (two kids and the hubster).  I say that because I have been asking him (the hubster) nicely to leave since before Christmas and he.just.won't.  He's begged and pleaded and has given every reason why he should stay, but I just can't do it anymore. 

There was a time when I loved this man unconditionally and wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with him.

I was a child of Divorce and PROMISED Myself that I would never put any children I had through that. I also promised myself that I would never give up so easily on a commitment I had made.

I FAILED

I am not the mother I want to be.
I am not the mother my children deserve.

I am so wrapped up in negativity that I can't be who I am or want to be.
I am NOT a negative person but feel like my surroundings ARE negative.
I want fun!
I want Honesty!
I want Love!
.
I want to show my children what a healthy relationship looks like... or show them none at all.

My 7 year old son is ANGRY.  ALL.  THE.  TIME.

He gets it from me.

I want to show him something different.

I am moving on to a new chapter.

I will succeed.

I will be happy.

My kids will THRIVE!

WE ALL WILL!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Hot Sauce Mom~ You Piss Me Off



OMG! 

I actually know people who have put hot sauce in their children's mouth for lying.  I don't agree with it but every parent struggles with how best to get their children to behave.  This woman was trying to get her point across.  I get that.  Will the child do the right thing because he's been taught to do right or because he fears punishment?  You may think it's the same but what about when he no longer lives at home and that fear of his mother is gone?

I don't have it all figured out.  Not by a long shot.  I do know that I want no harm to come to either of my children and inflicting it myself so it isn't inflicted by others does not seem like a reasonable solution.  I am the minority amongst my friends when it comes to discipline.  Most believe in spanking and other forms of physical punishment.  I.  Just.  Can't.  Do.  It.  Hearing that little boy crying in the cold shower (What the hell is that?) broke my heart.  I want to be the one to comfort my children and let them know it will all be okay, no the one to cause their pain.

I know there will be times when they will be saddened by decisions I make and restrictions put on them, and they may cry, throw a fit, slam doors (that was my favorite as a kid) and yell how much they hate me, but they will never be heard crying from physical pain that I have caused.  No. Matter. What.

I want to know the rest of the story on this.  Who's idea was it to record and post online?  If the person did it to show how bad things were maybe they (her daughter) should have stepped in.  We haven't heard the last of this story.  I hope the woman gets help and the children can grow up with loving, caring parents that find alternatives to physical abuse.