Happy New Year!

well that ends the year on a high note... ha

Today we went and did a little shopping, but I wanted to surprise the guys with a swim at the pool.  And so we pull in there and they are all - why are we here - I tell them there is a pool here... blank looks - I can see them processing it - 'we know there is a pool here' ... sooooooo - we get to go swimming - hooray.

So we go in and play in the big pool and the little pool and have lots of fun... and it is time to go - I'm giving the 10 minute warning (again) but we are leaving and then Kyle kicks off the foam thing in the pool and trashes my nose... I didn't even see it coming - all I know is that it happened and my brain told me to get out of the pool 'cause you are bleeding.  I get over to the edge and I'm bleeding all over the place - I pull myself out of the pool and the guys get out and we wander into the first aid room.  The first aid girl is a bit surprised by all the blood and says - more than once - you're really bleeding - I take it in stride because I'm a bleeder and this is life - but holy crap - it hurts - I've never been kicked right in the nose/teeth before and now my nose feels like it is broken - I don't want to move it much because any movement is painful and my teeth still feel jiggly... if that makes any sense.

Anyhow there you go - now we are at home - Kyle and I are going to play and Michael wants to watch a movie.  Good times - good times.

break photos

This is my new laptop bag.  Hooray - I love ESPE!

Plus it came with a great shopping bag.

This is tonight's mess - Max found 2 toilet paper rolls

and promptly destroyed them - this is part way through clean up

Sushi making on Boxing Day - Kyle totally got into it 

He picked the filling for all of the rolls - and then ate lots :)

Two cute boys

This is the reason why Max destroyed the toilet paper rolls

The boys both got spy gear - the sunglasses let you see behind you

Hello - I've had too many cookies - but hey... what's one more cupcake

Mmmmmm.... cupcakes - direct from the Quesnel Bakery to our bellies

A pretty spice picture - the beginning of yummy chocolate ginger cookies

They were delicious!  Ok - I didn't really eat them but they smelled awesome

just testing something

Hi - I just needed a place to test this out...

loved it then, love it now

well i see by the clock on the wall that it's time to wish you one and all - good bye (stay well) bye bye (keep warm) relax (at ease) take care (stay loose) adieu mon vieux , a la prochaine, goodbye until we meet again

no title

ROAR

That is all.  Just needed to get it off my chest.

day maker

Save.ca has some great coupons right now - if you are down with coupon cutting... this also made my day - I'd forgotten that I'm registered as Ms. Queen of the Universe - excellent.... excellent...

Alright - and now to figure out what else to do today.... maybe the library... the boys are playing with their GIANT "AT-AT" toys they got from their aunty...

Oh and I also got the best gift of all today - a birthday cake with hair in it - AWESOME! Thanks, Mom.  (seriously)

sitting there

So you have a few minutes this morning to watch something... this is it - this is the clip to spend two and half minutes on...  this is pretty amazing

this day keeps getting better

So most of the afternoon and tonight I've been feeling terrible - I've blown (literally) through two boxes of tissue and I just opened the third - I can't sleep because my eyes are burning and to blink actually stings... blah - stupid damned colds... and so what do I do... watch hoarders... it is always motivation to chuck crap out and with any luck I'll fall asleep...

Oh and our christmas tree is falling down - so it is going tomorrow - it has begun to lean so the ornaments are coming off just in case it decides to tumble in the night... awesome - super honkin' awesome!

pretty standard

Most of my Christmas cards this year got something like... Season's Greetings and best wishes for 2011... I sent very few cards this year compared to other years... sad, really - but I want to send more cards/notes all year round as it doesn't need to be focused around a holiday.  There are a lot of things I did want to communicate this year and there were many other notes that I'd wished I sent - I've also been asking other people about the cards they would have sent or would have liked to have sent ... so I've compiled a few to share with you (I know.. you are sitting there right now thinking - I am so freakin' lucky - it is my freakin' lucky day - this is better than winning 6'49)

stupid weather

So it has been super warm here (super warm = plus nine) and sadly, I started adjusting to the new temps and tonight we are sliding back the other way.  It is only at zero but they (the weather guru's) are forecasting down to minus 18 in the next three days.. brrrrrrrrr - that said they were also calling for snow from Wednesday through the weekend and now the snow is gone - it may show up on New Year's day...

There is green grass here - green grass... tomorrow it will be frozen green grass and then it will be really frozen green grass... where did winter go - or rather, the snow... it is going to be a sad spring if we don't get some more.

blah

Ok - so I have a small cold and then today it appears that Andy and I both ate something that has given us some kind of food poisoning - amen to two bathrooms - I know - TMI - but seriously - I don't care - wait I do - I love you and thank you for reading my rants and raves...

We made sushi for dinner - photos later - Kyle ate a bunch of it and pretty much picked what went in each one - it was fun... and I think it would have been better last night rather than turkey... I'm feeling like it was the leftover turkey that has betrayed us - damned turkey - damn you!

So I'm going to go and format a computer and then I think... go to sleep - or rather - try to sleep as we have the king of the stupid dogs living with us and he is on a sugar high and I'm not sure when he is going to come off it - seriously.  He ate one of those giant kinder packages this afternoon - there are at least two giant eggs inside - gone... gone in his belly and because that wasn't enough he had a chocolate letter M - nice... classic - so he kind of laid around this afternoon and then about an hour ago started getting nuts.. he is growling at himself, running around like a nut and doing stuff that he normally doesn't... he is soo stupid.  I can't believe he ate so much chocolate. Anyways... I'm going to get going on this computer thing and then post photos later - unless this food poisoning stuff gets worse... blah...

today

Well we had a busy day full of family and laughter and joy and games and some shouting... but it was all good... I need sleep - I wish all of you well - love to you!  and hugs and kisses... photos tomorrow

garbage dog

Last night Max decided to destroy the garbage - there was a variety of snack options - including some potato wedges that he packed onto the couch to enjoy - awesome!

So there are no presents under the tree as we know he will destroy them.

One more day or rather 1/2 day and then I'm off for a few... not much else to report - pretty boring today - went shopping at the zoo tonight (walmart) and was shocked at the number of people out and really really shopping... I need some stuff for dinners for the next few nights and few small things... but there were people with carts super full and just a lot of people for it being after 10pm.

And now - to bed - and tomorrow I'll be wrapping... unless I can't sleep tonight and then... it will be on :)

anti-christmas music

BC Hydro must LOVE this!  I bet they'd be happy if we all tried this out.

I'm also really happy that this isn't to Christmas music and that it is to the hump music in American Pie... :)

what are you doing

You should be getting ready to go outside for the lunar eclipse.  Paula and I did this back in 1997 at UNBC - sat in the snow and watched - we (I) may have been drinking... and so if you can get outside to enjoy it - try to - it will be worth your while... it should start up at about 10:30 (Pacific time) and be in "darkness" for midnight-ish - happy viewing :)

right...

So what did we get accomplished - not much... I made soup - that is all - sadly my sister won't be here for the holidays. She was trying to drive here tonight and they turned around in Canmore because the roads were too bad and visibility was not great... sad for sure - but safety is far more important - far, far, far more important.

And so... tomorrow we will work on all the baking and have some fun while the weather stays frightful (minus 20 or colder - blah)

and this afternoon

We went out in the madness to pick up a few things and now we are going to cook... on the menu tonight - chewy gingerbread cookies, chocolate haystacks, caramel popcorn, and ham and corn chowder...

photos to follow :)

drawings

This is a Michael drawing - I'm the big blueberry with red lights on my shoulders... then Max is in the middle and Michael ... he is practicing his letters and drawing everyday right now - it is so fun to watch him improve and add details.

Finished making rice krispy squares...  and now...  I'm looking up a quick recipe - just for kicks....

"all you need is love, all you need is love, love is all you need"

solutions

And so... I clean... and be a grown up and bake.

So I just finished making banana bread (which I actually don't enjoy) and now I'm going to make rice krispies... and then I don't know what I'll do... too early for bed, too late for some baking projects...

Ah... maybe a glass of wine... maybe.... plus singing...  just like back in university when 'binder use to find me belting out bette midler like a moron... now there is a throw back for you... do you remember that... I remember you catching me once when we lived with kelly and liz... just one of those nights...

love to you - kisses and smooches ;)

ROAR

Max destroyed my frog wallet tonight (ESPE) - not happy - not happy one little bit...

and what is wrong with the freakin' weather - plus FOUR and now it is MINUS eight - I'm getting too old for this!

And... I want a cleaning fairy - I really really want that - I want the hoarding people (not that it is even close to that bad) to come over and just purge and... and - well I'm just disliking being a grown up tonight... blah!

interesting

A facebook intern has mapped friendship connections... see the pictures and read his post here...
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=469716398919

and in the comedy corner

"Mom, want to play a game?"

Ok

"What starts with the letter 'g'?"

Got any more clues?

"nope - it starts with g"

goat, grape, glove, godzilla

"no"

sure, that there aren't any more clues

"it is blue"

it is blue and starts with the letter g

"yes"

ok... it isn't grape

"it isn't grape"

hmmmmmm

At this point he looks at me like I'm the slow kid and says,

"Mom - look...."

And so he turns over this card with the picture of the thing that starts with g that is blue and says...

"See it is a blue surf board"

AWESOME!

tea

Lucky me I got some new teas....

I got some mistletoe tea - from Steeped - the new tea shop in Downtown Quesnel and some all nut (with a little apple) tea from David's tea.

They are yummy - little bit of honey and it is all good :)

Now off to have a cup...

(yes, this quick post means that I had a crappy day and frankly I have nothing to really say that is positive or uplifting.. oh wait - I do have one thing - heyyyyyy stupid people - a cappuccino is not a fancy italian word for regular coffee, if you ever go back to starbucks (doubt it) ask for a tall (small), grande (medium), venti (large) coffee.... kah-fee... - I watched a grown man get mad - very mad - because there was foam in his cappuccino and what the hell was it doing in there...  for five cents! mad people - go home and be mad there - leave your anger and hate for the world somewhere else - your anger does nothing for you except shorten your life expectancy - if you wore a smile you'd live longer and be a joy to be with... and hey - if you'd have smiled at the starbucks lady instead of being a total douche bag she would probably have made you another drink to make your day but instead she did nothing because you were an asshole!)

northern bc dinosaur

Tonight I headed out to Nazko to pick up the boys and came around the corner to this beauty.

If' I'd been to busy to notice this guy I would nearly have driven under him in my CRV - he was a beast!

And now off to watch some hockey.

PS - Tuesday night - another meteor shower - after 10pm until dawn - get out and enjoy it - 

what else kept us busy tonight...

Here are the guys getting ready to help out with an experiment chocolate.

I've been reading about cake pops (bakerella) online and at the library and thought

we'd give it a try tonight... so first... we made a cake... white - no yokes...

And here is the yummy cake baking in the oven

So then...  and I know how stupid this is going to sound - you bust the crap

out of your cake after it has cooled completely... then you mix the cake crumble with a 1/2 a can of frosting

Ok - so you mix that up and then you form balls - now mine were about a tablespoon each and that was wayyyyyy too much - it could be half that and be quite enjoyable at that size... but this being an experiment - I didn't know any better.... so they stay in the freeze for about 15-20 minutes to really cool off

So then I dipped each one in chocolate - I really wanted to do white chocolate but didn't have enough 

then I topped each one with a tree

And this is a half eaten one - I actually couldn't stomach much more because they are super sweet and it is midnight and that was enough... I'll definitely make them again - half the size and likely with a chocolate cake... maybe tomorrow nights adventure... 

Good night my loves! love and kisses to you!

WHAT

Who thought that adapting "Time of My Life" was a good idea - I know - by writing this I'm showing that I'm not up on my much music - but what the freakin' heck!  That just makes me mad and want to throw things at the tv.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Alright... need to find something else to do that doesn't include much music... or at least until that song ends... I mean really... really....

Ok - I'll stop complaining... for right now.

it made me laugh

today

December 8 - TODAY - is my lovely sister's birthday!
She has had an exciting year and the year ahead looks to be amazing.  Happy Birthday to you my lovely dear sister and best wishes for the most fantastic year ahead with your beautiful little baby!

LOVE YOU!

ps. I'm also so glad that the hole in my pants was able to get you laughing :)  fantastic... that must have been the reason why that whole situation happened - to ensure that I could provide you with a laugh for your birthday - since I couldn't get my shit together to get you anything else...

because I'm classy like that

Tonight I went to Safeway to grab some chow for dinner - so we toured Safeway - and I ended up running through twice because I forgot something the first time... and during my second run through I realize I'm wearing my yoga pants backwards - now it isn't that big a deal because really - they are black all the way around and there isn't a difference between the front and back.. ok - so maybe there is... but let's just play along and say that that is ok...

Alright - so I get home - we get settled and I go into the bathroom to turn my pants around and then I remember why I'd tucked these pants away - you see I dug them out tonight and just tossed them on - and forgot... forgot that there was a good size hole in the front  of them... ahhhhh but that was on the back tonight while I did grocery shopping - AWESOME!

Yes, that's right - some good old classy april ass was showcased at our local safeway tonight... woohoo!
good times... good times :)

the power of the internet

More than a year ago I listened to this... http://www.youtube.com/user/PomplamooseMusic#p/c/F125407272F3C1A4/6/oIr8-f2OWhs - it is a cover of Single Ladies (Beyonce) that Pomplamoose did - I liked it because it was something different... and then tonight as I sat watching 'You've Got Mail' a Hyundai commercial comes on and start thinking - man that is a similar style to Pomplamoose... and sure enough, it is them... great work, Pomplamoose!  You guys are awesome and I hope to hear more of your great re-mixes.

Watch the Pomplamoose Hyundai commercial here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c7YR2eJq_4

Onward and sideways - love to you!

Death cannot stop true love, it can only delay it for a while

weekend lowlights... (if that's a word)

Word to the wise... if you get ill from spiders, mold or nasty comments from me - stop reading here... please... 

Yes... this is me actually giving you a break in space to stop those with weak constitutions and opportunity to not view the items below - although if you want to see the photos of the kids being cute at the parade you are going to have scroll past these nasty photos... alright - so fine.. I'm hoping then that you simply closed the page down - rather than carried on reading... or whatever...

One of the local restaurants has started to incorporate penicillin into their orders.

Now this actually made me more antsy then the disgusting burger.. this is a box of decorations, direct from China - this is a spider - and yes - it is alive... because I totally poked it.  It didn't move far, but it made me think about our consumerism yet again and how that endless shopping can go wrong - terribly wrong... 

So, boys and girls, what did we learn this weekend...

1. that preparing meals at home is smarter than eating out

2. that you should really wash all the stuff that comes from china (on one of my recent field trips for work I met a person who regularly ships stuff overseas - they explained that everything - EVERYTHING - that comes over to Canada from China is fumigated and if it hasnt been fumigated it won't be let into the port... fumigated... I wonder if that is on the label)

3. that having cameras on cell phones is totally valuable! 

weekend highlights

Kyle - hamming it up :)

The boys at the Santa Parade - road in style with the Mayor 

The light up for the footbridge - it is pretty amazing!

 Fireworks off the roof at Granville's in Downtown Quesnel

And then today... we found a tree at Moose Meadows Farm

And then we put some ornaments on it... here is my favorite one... 

this morning

Michael wanted to share some cookies this morning with his class... so here he is at the Quesnel bakery picking out his treats this morning.  I'm pretty sure we will make a trip there tomorrow since we couldn't get what he wanted this morning - what else but one of their yummy long johns - then the boys will be in the christmas parade - so more photos tomorrow night.

Love to you!  xxoo

coffee

Alright friends, family, hot sexy people who frequent this site... I see you... :)  I'm in search of the best coffee maker.  I have a four-potter that we used for camping and I also have my "high-tech" kitchen sieve process for making coffee... what is the best way to make coffee...

We have a Keurig at work (Ferguson) - he doesn't work very well - sometimes he likes to make three cups of coffee instead of the one we asked for - little crazy... but he fits in... plus we have the regular, unleaded 12 cupper that most offices have...

Does anyone have the Tassimo?

What about the old school pots?  I'm thinking of getting an old steep model from the antique shop (percolator).

Thoughts? Suggestions...

december

12:08 - it is officially December

I know - you are equally as excited as I am


Magic Erasers
A few years ago I spent some time assessing the Magic Erasers and couldn't find what the ingredient was that caused everything to be cleaned with such ease.  I have still not figured this out - however - the last time I used them it took the skin off my fingers.

And the answer is....
Magic Erasers have a melamine foam and no formaldehyde - I found a story about a child that had rubbed it on his arms and face and it burned him - so note to self - don't try to remove make up with Magic Erasers... was sooo going to try that tonight... so I guess that explains why my finger tips were a mess after the last use - it is probably the first time that I've used an entire eraser in one day... maybe that over use did it... so what is the good news story here - well it means that I should do less house work and relax more... ok, so maybe that isn't the moral of the story, but sit back for a moment, and let's discuss how we can make that work :)

xxoo - happy December

work

Tonight I'm working - brought home a pile of it - it is going ok.  I needed a break so I'm taking one, plus I can't sit on the floor anymore as it is killing my back.  I had this great set up on the floor, but it is no longer great and it is just causing everything to ache.

It is windy here tonight and also warming up when it was supposed to cool right off tonight - forecast said minus 10 and it is a balmy zero - bikini weather around these parts after that last few weeks of nonsense minus 20's and colder.

Alright - I guess that is a long enough break... better finish this job up.
xxoo

sunday

It is postsecret Sunday - in case you aren't part of the following - every Sunday new postcards are posted over at POST SECRET - people mail in postcards and share a secret with the viewers of the site and with the people that buy the books.

Go Riders Go

there has to be a smarter way

I regularly read American news on CNN, which I know is more propaganda than real news, but tonight I read the following:

Black Friday problems

It is a sad state that we feel we have to consume so much.  That we need to spend more than we can afford and hurt people to spend.   Oprah had a great article in her magazine this month on spending - noting that if you can't pay off what you are buying for Christmas by January you should be re-thinking what you are buying.  It also spoke to how we all want to be generous and go above and beyond for our family and friends, but at what cost to you emotionally later when the ends aren't meeting.

I think it is important to remember that we have family and friends because of our personalities - who we are - and while it is nice to give and receive gifts I think it is more important to give yourself - share a skill that you have, spend time with someone - I would gladly accept a hand cleaning the house versus a box of chocolates  or anything.  I've asked my family to stop buying gifts for us "grown ups" and if they want to buy stuff for the guys ok, but to take it easy - spending time with someone is far more valuable than any one gift - or hand me down stuff that would otherwise go unused - case in point my aunty mary would spend all kinds of time with me and share stories and gave me little knick knack things she had collected or she would do my nails... she has been gone for a number of years but I remember these fond moments over any gift exchange.  And please - when you end up shopping this year remember to stay smiling - there are stupid people everywhere and between rushing around and parking and crazy people and all the other day to day nonsense things can get out of control - sit back - take an extra sip of coffee and remember that you aren't one of the stupid people and that you have control of yourself and that smiles are free and your good behavior can be a beacon for others.  xxoo

drinks

While I totally and completely love the soy peppermint mochas at Starbucks it isn't practical to have one every day.  I was in Vancouver this weekend and had something that I knew I could make at home and be just as good and get my peppermint fill without the syrup calories (like I'm counting those lately - ha)

Step 1 - buy Candy Cane lanes tea - it is only available in the season so stock up on this to get you through the year and your favorite hot chocolate mix

Step 2 - make your favorite hot chocolate at home and once you've got it stirred up add a tea bag.  Now since it is too hot to drink anyway - let it steep for 2 minutes or longer - then you will have a yummy peppermint hot chocolate - feel free to add chocolate shavings on top or whip cream - if you are into that :)

love you - happy saturday

dr oz

He has this great show on tonight about foods to avoid, vitamins to avoid...

Strawberries - USDA found 50 different residues on strawberries - (pesticides)
So instead - soak in 2 minutes in water before rinsing - cleans up lots of the urk

Apples - USDA found over 40 different residues on apples (pesticides) plus apples are waxed and wax doesn't come off - apples aren't supposed to be shiny
So peel apples

Spinach -USDA found more than 40 different residues
Washing isn't enough - pick organic or get frozen spinach - the wash and blanch before freezing - taking off 90% of the pesticides

Peaches - USDA found more than 60 different residues on peaches - soft skinned fruit is tougher to wash, pesticides can absorb through - organic alternatives will be enough - so how do you clean these fruit...

Dr Oz suggested the following:
Home solution to wash pesticides off

1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
1 tbsp baking soda
1/2 cup juice lemon
mix - done - then pour in spray bottle and then you can taste it... then you can spray your fruit/veggies to clean off

He has a pretty good website - learn more cool stuff at www.doctoroz.com 

ahoy

In an effort to convey information and to start a new trend....

So telephones were invited in the east coast - with lots of mariners - and they greeted each other with Ahoy - Edison turned this into hello - why is this important information...

I'm suggesting that for Thursday Nov 25 - we all answer the phone with Ahoy - if nothing else we will create smiles, which leads to happiness and joy :)

love ya!

airport

I'm at YVR - with FRRREEEE internet!  AWESOME.

I had to return my car rental at 1pm so I'm here super early and just hanging out.  I stuff everything in my carry on - so I've got my computer, and a magazine.  It is cold in the airport - but it was hot in the far end of the airport and in a classic April slowday move I lost my boarding pass as soon as I came through security. I'm not really sure what the heck I did with it - I'm actually thinking security didn't hand it back to me - but whatever... they were able to issue me a new one.

So I guess I'm going to sit here and read and just be one with all the other travellers until the flight gets here... love to you - hope your Tuesday is going fantastic!

i'm an aunti

Well my friends - it is official - I am an aunti - my sister had her baby yesterday afternoon - she is doing ok - sounds like things could have gone better and she is DEFINITELY a trooper.  Mr. Nicholas Joseph - came in at 10 lbs and 3 ounces - naturally - without drugs... MADNESS!  So send your good thoughts for a healthy recovery to my sister and a heroes medal for doing such a great job!  Congrats Mel - you are awesome!

Love you!

And what am I doing now... well I'm going to bed - after doing some reading and catching up on some filing.  xxoo

babies...

No - she has fought the battle through the night and it sounds like progress is finally being made - about 30 minutes ago they were getting ready to move her into labour and delivery... hooray!

PS - Freakin' minus 22 right now - WHAT!!!!!!!

colder... what

And now it is minus 16... and cooling quickly...

I also want to advise Shaw and the other media that I'm ok with them running commercials for the Jake Gyllenhaal movie on repeat - in fact, there are a number of shows that can be deleted from the schedule in exchange for Jake's commercials.

Merci beaucoup

No new news on Mel... two hours of nothing... hopefully I'll get a late hour update... hate to bug her because she might actually be trying to sleep

old

I'm getting to old for this crappy, cold weather... I mean really - minus 14 and it isn't even that late.
Max can't even go outside - he went out tonight and pulled one of those passing out goat moves... he put one foot up, then took a step, then lifted a different leg because he was cold and then just plotted over into the snow and didn't know what to do... it was sad and pathetic... so we took him in ... plus it is only minus 14 and we know that it is going to get a heck of a lot colder than that.

Mel was re-induced this afternoon and things are picking up tonight - she is having contractions every 15 minutes or so and more than one... but it looks to be a long night... poor Mel... everyone please send your good thoughts her way... she'll need them to stay strong through the next hours.

and...

Hey - and if you can see the sky where you are - the meteor shower is going.. so get out and enjoy it... wish we had an open sky.... freakin' winter...

What the heck is up with this negative 10-15 crap!  and inches and inches of snow - my parents got more than a foot - TODAY - in less than 24 hours.  BAHHHHHH!

no announcements

So my sister was induced this afternoon - and now she is sitting in the hospital waiting... trying to be patient.  It sounds like they will re-induce her tomorrow if things aren't moving along.  She's had a few "good" contractions, but nothing consistent.

As soon as I know though... I'll post something.  I told her to call me in on my cell for the birth - if she feels like it - then I can cheer her on from afar... be even better if she could skype me in - :)

aunti april

Hells yes!  My sister is getting induced tomorrow - HOOORAY!!!!!!!

craft

WTF

SNOW - weather change - negatives ALL WEEK!  FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Ok - my readers - I like the north - I like the range in weather because we get really nice and hot in the summer and really nice snow - but man I hate the shift.  I'm cold already and we haven't even had any really cold weather yet... upside... well it means that I should use the fire place... which can lead to s'more consuming and just nice evenings with wine and lovely-ness....

And that is all from the land of whiny-whinersons :)

what's cooking

Wednesday night - make no plans - it is Leonid night - a really good meteor shower! At least 20 an hour, but usually there is more - one year it was -20 when I watched it and there were probably 60 or more in a hour - you couldn't keep up with the number screaming across the sky.

Today we made raspberry streudel muffins, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, moo shu pork (a new recipe for me), almond jello with fruit, beef/pork and broccoli - oh and I'm going to make an overnight french toast - I'm testing this now so I'm not testing over the holidays and disappointing everyone with a failure breakfast - figured I could do something on a Monday and just be a regular failure :)  I'm not a fan of french toast so this is a big deal for me to even try something like this.

I'm busy this week - too busy - and it looks like it isn't going to let up until December... and then it should be good again..

Alright my loves - I'm going to see what kind of trouble I can get into tonight - love ya!

oh and I totally loved How to train your dragon - what a great kids movie - most will know that I'm partial to dragons (hereditary - lmao) but beyond that it had a good story and moral and I know that this puts me behind 'cause I'm only just seeing it now and it has been out for a while, but I thought I'd mention it... alright... off to find chaos :)

snow update

So it did snow in town a little last night - I mean a very very very little... but it meant that Michael got to throw a few small snowballs and Max got to see what snow is...

how about a little crafty...

I'm in the process of getting my office/craft/art space back in order and decided to print off some simple 'things to get done' list cards - I just printed them off on card stock so they are a little more hearty and picked an uplifting colour... what next... hmmmmmm

If you want a copy to print off on your printer email me at aakcheng at gmail dot com and I'll gladly send the pdf to you

il neige

Well it is trying - it is cold and it is lightly raining tonight - so the snow should be hitting the ground later tonight.  I'm kind of looking forward to it - just come and let us get us to it...

I was surprised to hear the woman that killed a four year old got 2.5 years in prison.  I recognize that she will (may) have guilt the rest of her life for the crime she committed, but that seems pretty light.  And to hear that she is going to appeal the decision - I can't say I'm surprised, but really.. really... I certainly hope that the detective work was complete and that she won't get off on this on a technicality - like the "i"s weren't dotted on this one.

Alright back to snow watch 2010...

snow

Well the sky looks like snow is coming... but no flakes yet.

Today we went to the paramedics lunch - they don't have a christmas party and instead have a big lunch on Remembrance Day. The kids ate a classic lunch of brownies, fruit, cake, crepes and more brownies - mmmmmm....  oh, and cookies :)

So I think I'm going to spend the rest of the day cleaning up and making soup or doing something in the kitchen.  I also want to do a run through of Michael's room and try to de-clutter.  We went to Wal-Mart this afternoon and it seemed like everyone in town was there - it was like Christmas shopping kicked off there today and people were really going to town.  We picked up some stuffing for our new project - which I'm trying to fix so I can take photos and share.

Alright - and there is a brief mid-lazy-day update :)
xxoo

because I know you'll care

It is freakin' MINUS FIVE here tonight - brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Yet another important announcement  :)

Thank you for reading here - xxoo - smooches

fyi

Australia is not in Asia - just thought I'd pass on that important information.

piiiisssssssssssed

And for the third time this year my debit card has been compromised and I'm put in the great position of having to leave everything at the register and call my bank and find out what the hell is going on!  FFS

I'm pissed at my bank because the previous two times should have been a big enough sign to get me a new card number but... NOOOOO - I keep all that and get stuck - some stupid business in Q-town is under investigation for keeping customer information - well I can name all the places I went to yesterday and I go to all those places - ALLLLL THE TIME - so why on earth has this happened again

Alright - I just totally needed to vent and now need to figure out what to cook for dinner since I was at the grocery store buying it when the rug got pulled out from under me on that... how I love the look from them.. um your card is rejected - says it is stolen - well why don't you f$%#ING shout it - oh wait - you did - awesome - ROAR!

destructo dog

Tonight we went out... and when we got home our dear little friend was sitting at the door... the clue with him is that he doesn't follow us upstairs... ah... so what did you do...

And there it is - the garbage can torn apart - now he knows he has been bad and guilt keeps him in the basement for an hour...  good times with pets - good times

and math prevails

Alright - people - if you want to lose weight - here is the trick - eat less calories than you are right now.... that's it - there is nothing else you need to know... a science person has put this very difficult and complex issue to the test by completing the following: he tried the twinkie diet - so he didn't just eat twinkies - although I'm sure that some people will try that - what he did is he decided to eat only 1800 calories a day and most of that caloric intake came from twinkies and twinkie related products... he lost more than 25 lbs this way... and had a positive impact on his other health scores (cholesterol, etc)

So now let's put our thinking caps on - why did he lose weight - not because he ate twinkies, it is MATH!  Math is what conquers the system... it isn't a magic pill, twinkies, more water, more milk... just math...

So I've figured out my problem with weight loss - I suck at math... note to self, must learn to add and subtract more efficiently....

Here is the full article if you care to read it...
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html?hpt=T2

dairy pushers...

Ok - so my second craft attempt is making me squirrelly so I've opted for some web surfing and then some tub time... and then maybe I'll go back to it and try and fix it... rrrrr..

I've got food network on in the background and there it is again.. the dairy people pushing cheese - all you need is cheese... ah, but in this commercial all there is cheese - there looks to be vegetables and meat in the cheese... but it isn't the focus - how terrible that we need to train our children and families to eat food by saturating it with something else - don't taste your vegetables or anything else - dip it in cheese first - that will make it better.

If you can't eat a vegetable without cheese or a sauce - maybe you shouldn't eat that vegetable and you should find some other vegetable that you love... there are lots...

what of the rest of the day?

So we picked some pictures, printed them, put them in frames and actually put them on the wall... AMAZING!

We did arts and crafts - and I'm going to work on one more before you get photos...

We made cookies - and when I say cookies - I mean we made more than 100 and it was great - we had lots of fun!

I'm in the process of finishing a stew - it was too sweet - if stew can be sweet and so I'm trying to mellow the flavour out - it tastes like stew but just a little too sweet...

We bought Max his own official bed - yes, he still lives here... and a new plant for the office

And now we are watching a movie - or the guys are and I'm inbetween projects....

Happy Sunday

i heart youtube

So Kyle has asked me to take on a project today... and I'm nearly finished it (photos later) but I needed to learn something - how to do a ladder stitch - and thanks to a whole pile of people on youtube I was able to figure it out - hooray :)  I'm so not a seamstress but maybe one day I'll be able to do more than a running stitch - I'd love to make a quilt one day, but my brain just doesn't understand instructions for sewing very well... but maybe with youtube I'll get there :)

dinner

"Mom - what are we having for dinner tonight?"

-We are making boo-ree-toes... and you get to pick what goes in it

"Oh, well I want chicken and fries"

-No - burritos - we get to put the filling in

"ok"

2 minutes later

"Mom, what is in those bum thongs"

-pardon - I'm blinking and my brain is trying to catch up with the translation
- do you mean burritos

"yes, the booreethongs"

AWESOME

mr linden

Alright - so this is the third time I've seen him this year..  today I went into our coffee shop - Granvilles and I'm standing next to this tall guy and I'm not paying attention and then I go sit down to get my drink and this guy next to me says - pretty cool to stand in line with Trevor Linden... HA...so then I run out of the shop and get to my office and get the girls and we run back out on the street so we can walk by him and say hello - man, he is good looking... so then he just walked around downtown Quesnel this morning - so one of the other girls in the office ran after him and shook his hand and welcomed him to Quesnel - fun...

I didn't get a picture of him - I remembered about 10 minutes after the fact that my cell phone takes photos.. but he was here today to present to our students at our annual event - Career Leap - so he is guest speaking right now... woohoo :)

baby names

In an effort to aid my sister (days to go on the arrival our new family member) Kyle and Michael decided they wanted to help and suggest some names...

Girls

Donna
April the 2nd (ok that was from me)
Lady J
Merle

Boys

Steve
Jet
Duke
Anakin
Rex

We all always really like Yoda - but understand the complications of naming him that... it could be a wicked middle name though :)

Love you!

And now.. I'd love to hear others suggestions... I'm sure my sister won't mind hearing a few more name suggestions...

trick or treat and a stupid dog

So we are getting ready to go trick or treat - the clones are ready to go... and Kyle is holding Max and then he isn't and Max is running away - so I drop everything and go off after him.  He eventually makes his own way back to our house - ass - we go to about 10 houses - because seriously - they don't need much and we mostly just go to visit family and not to go to strangers houses and then we get home and - where is my wallet....

Right... gone... so I walk around thinking I've left it on the truck and when we drove off it fell off - so I walked out through a few corners from the house - no luck - came back - looped around the house - searched the driveway, road - on and on and then I come in the house to help with bed time - and then go back out to look again - another lap - I'm thinking out which cards need to be replaced soonest and do one more sweep and there it is on the lawn.. nothing missing - just sitting there...

And so ends another Halloween.

because I'm sure you need a laugh...

Alittle Halloweiner Jib Jab

halloweiner

Bake sale Thursday morning - so I'm up late getting the requested 'werewolf' cupcakes complete - Kyle found them on YouTube and so we all watched the video and then I made them... they actually turned out pretty nice and apparently yummy - didn't try one...

And tonight we carved pumpkins - I was at work all day in PG and got back late - got home to the innards removed and pumpkins ready to carve - so that was a nice surprise - so we decided to take on a bit of a challenge this year... something different....

Any guesses :)

We are taking it easy tomorrow - I'm bagged and need rest or I'm going to fall apart - the writing is on the wall for that.. so we will get some rest, some candy, and enjoy the day... maybe even take in some fireworks tomorrow night... 

love to you and hope everyone has a safe weekend :)

xxoo

jam sandwiches

Sodium benzoate
Potassium benzoate

Both of these are preservatives

Both of these are added to jam to increase shelf life


I'm up late and annoyed by a ham commercial - the little girl has a jam sandwich every day because her mom won't make her ham sandwiches because ham has preservatives... but what's that - the company has a product that doesn't have preservatives so now they can have give her ham sandwiches...

What pisses me off is that I'm going to have to pay more for healthy foods that don't have preservatives which is crap!  Don't preservatives cost money - if you give me the raw goods with out the shit in it wouldn't that be cheaper - doesn't that mean one less piece of machinery needs to add stuff and less people are involved in a simplified process and so there is savings and that means the consumer might save something - not a freakin' chance -

Why am I up so late.. well it is bake sale day tomorrow and Kyle wanted werewolf cupcakes... and they took time... and I had to work late tonight... long week here - working nights - and now with my brief vent out I guess I'll try to sleep... I guess.

just a quick...

HOORAY

I've been working for hours on something that I really wanted to get completed.
And I did it... now for some sleep... some well earned sleep...

a good product

Benylin makes a great vapour plug-in.  You (very carefully) insert a thin tab into a electrical plug-in and it scents a room with the smell of vapour rub.  It is great.  No mess on your skin or the kids - no fear of someone getting the rub somewhere it shouldn't be... it gets plugged in at night and then runs over night... great - bestest thing!  Love this product - plus it actually smells up our living room and I love that smell... so now my living room smells like vapour rub and Michael likes it in his room - as he has a mild cold right now.

I bought this at Shopper's Drug Mart.

blinded by pure awesomeness

We went to Nazko today and my dad - inspired by some tv show made a cake

Wow - right - I mean - looks pretty awesome - extra awesome...

And then.. something from the VERY unexpected file :)

That's right... the inside is green, then a orange layer of icing, then pink, then a purple layer of icing and then blue... WILD!!!!

And that's my dad - wild and crazy :)

and so... I did it!

Fried Green Tomatoes

Here are some lovely green tomatoes that my parents lovingly grew out in Nazko this summer...

Alright - so the tomatoes are cut into 1/2 inch slices - and then they sit for 15 minutes - after being sprinkled with salt and pepper... if you like that.. so they drain a bit... but these green ones didn't have much to drain... 

Once they've drained then it is time for coating them - dipped in milk (1/2 cup), then flour (1/2 cup), then eggs (2 beaten) and then 3/4 cup bread crumbs and then they get ready for cooking... 

And then into some oil for frying - I didn't use as much as the recipe said - it suggested that a 1/2 inch of oil be in the bottom of the pain - I definitely didn't need that - they cooked for 5 minutes on each side

And here they are - all ready for my tummy :)

They go ok with ranch dressing... but only ok - maybe it is that my ranch dressing sucks right now...

Looking for a better suggestion.  And yes, I'm the only weirdo in my house that likes them - Kyle tried them and choked it down in an effort to get Michael to try it... but then gagged and said he couldn't do it - Andy tried it to - he made an equally pleased face...  oh well - more for me :)

hooray

I'm making fried green tomatoes... so happy my parents were getting rid of the green ones today.... can't wait... photos to follow :)

a new fav

A new tea shop opened in Quesnel - Steeped - they are right across the street from my office - they have a cute set up and lots of great tea ... and so as a result of them - I have a new favorite tea (ok - my all time fav is never going to change - it is candy cane lane - and they only put it out at christmas... so I stock up for the year when it comes out... )


Kyoto Cherry
This wonderfully flavored organic green tea is created using a traditional Japanese Sencha green tea and flavored with Montmorency cherry and subtle rose. This tea was created to honor "the spirit of the season" in Japan, when the cherry trees are in full bloom, and delicate smells of the new season cherry blossoms float throughout the Kyoto cultural center. The cup is bright emerald green, fresh and smooth, and boasts excellent depth and body. This tea delivers a wildly exotic character!


With a tsp(ish) of honey - it pretty much makes my day :)


Alright - and speaking of tea - I think I'm going to do that and have a bath 

awesome

"hey mom"

hi

"wow - your hair looks great"

really, you think so

"yes, it looks just like willy wonka"

freakin' awesome!

alright... so much for the new hair cut :)

guess who's bored...

Alright... so please play along... this was spurred by the cup from the previous post...

Careful, the beverage you’re about to enjoy is extremely hot

Careful, the beverage you’re about to enjoy is extremely hot

Careful, the beverage you’re about to enjoy is extremely hot

Careful, the beverage you’re about to enjoy is extremely hot

Careful, the beverage you’re about to enjoy is extremely hot

Careful, the beverage you’re about to enjoy is extremely hot

Careful, the beverage you’re about to enjoy is extremely hot