Disturbing

I saw this chick on Oprah yesterday. She holds the Geniuss World Record for smallest waist. I find this so disturbing!! This woman has deformed herself! I just don't get it.

Grandma Mifflin's Hamburger Soup

My friend Meagan's Grandma Mifflin made Hamburger Soup for us almost 10 years ago. I've thought of it often over the years because it was SO GOOD!!

I had been helping Meagan move all that day so I wasn't sure if the soup was really THAT good or if I was just REALLY hungry. I had always wanted the recipe but I had assumed it was just a thrown-together-Grandma-type-of-soup. Well...what do you know...there is a recipe! You have to try this soup. It's so good!!

Trying to be all like Shining Egg with this picture but I don't think it looks the same.

UPDATE: Recipe Link isn't Working

Grandma Mifflin’s Hamburger Soup

2 tbsp. butter
1-2 medium onions, chopped
1 close garlic, minced
2-3 lbs. ground beef
3 cans beef broth
1 med. Can tomato sauce
1 large can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can French style green beans
1 tbsp parsley
½ tsp. basil
salt & pepper to taste
1 16 oz pkg frozen veggie’s
I put in a handful or 2 of frozen chopped okra

In large pot, melt butter, sauté onion and garlic. Add the beef (which I cook in the microwave to cut down on grease). Add all ingredients to beef. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cook until veggies are done. Season to taste.

"Favorite Things" post is a good idea!

A couple of weeks ago I posted about how I would like to get these cute little tea light colanders from PartyLite. Well...last night I go over to my friend Sheri's and she gave them to me! THANK YOU! They are too cute. I came home and put them in the kitchen right away.

Posting about things I would like to have seems like a pretty good idea...hmmm....what should I post about next??

Too cold to go out???

When it's too cold to go out we 'camp' in the front room. Lane thought this was really cool...but then he jumped on the tent and broke one of the poles so no more tent.

Diary of a Ticked off Snowshoveler.....

....or what my Hubby now thinks about snow. When we first moved here the snow was really pretty. I received this email a couple of time and thought it was funny. Now I know that EVERY word is true. Hubby used to smile while shoveling....now he hopes the neighbor feels sorry for the only guy in the neighborhood without a snow blower.


December 8: 6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window, watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9: We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering ever inch of landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snow plow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so i got to shovel again. What a perfect life!

December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man. I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14: Snow , lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20 . The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! the snow plow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize that I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.

December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I thought was very cruel.

December 17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20: Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Freakin' snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.

December 22: Bob was right about the white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white stuff fell today, and its so cold it probably wont melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up and go to out to shovel then I had to pee. By the time I got undressed, peed and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the jerk is lying.

December 23: Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she...... NUTS?!?! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.

December 24: 6". Snow packed so hard today by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the SOB who drives the snowplow, I'll drag him though the snow by his balls. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street. Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for the freakin' snowplow.

December 25: Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the @#$%^& slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I hate snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The Wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an idiot. If I have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" one more time. I'm going to kill her.

December 26: Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27: Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze.

December 28: Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. The Wife is driving me crazy!!!

December 29: 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am? (Our neighbor Ryan actually told us to do this and I thought he was a freak! Thank God we did it.)

December 30: Roof caved in. The snowplow driver is suing me for a million dollars for the bump on his head. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.

December 31: Set fire to what's left of the house. No more Shoveling!!

January 8: I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

Favorite Things

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these boots!! My new Minnetonka Moccasin Sheepskin Boots. Thank you Stephanie for introducing me to them and thank you mom for an early b-day present. I ordered them yesterday and they arrived TODAY!!

I slipped out of my Eddie Bauer slippers which a dearly love and can't live without (cause Hubby won't let me turn the heat past 62 degrees) and put these boots on immediately. They are like wearing my slippers ALL the time!


I have a rather large boot and they do not look or feel bulky. They are SUPER warm and I need that cause I live next to Santa Clause and we are getting 3 MORE inches of snow today.


I would highly recommend them!

Tidbit from Sissy

Sissy: 'Where a kid can be a kid.' (said in a sing songy voice)

Me: 'Where can a kid be a kid?'

Sissy: 'Chucky Jesus.'

Of course...I should have known that.

Daddy's Little Man

Busy Busy Busy!

This child!! You have to be on him ALL the time or he will literally tear the house down around us. He can find a marker and write on the walls before I can even finish using the bathroom. And then while I was loading the washing machine today he got into the cabinet and found the bread crumbs. He can work pretty much any child proof lock. For a little boy who can't talk yet he is pretty darn (sneaky) smart!

More Snow!!

More snow yesterday and last night. We woke at 5:30AM! to all the neighborhood snow blowers working overtime. Hubby said these people have to go to work and they have to clear a path. I looked out and noticed the RETIRED gentleman next door working away on his drive...argg!!! By 7am they were all done and sitting inside drinking their morning coffee and reading the paper. I was getting juice, milk, pancakes, movies, clean diapers, blankets for the couch and a million other demands. If only there was a way I could get back at these morning people...hmmm...

We ventured outside in the balmy 17 degree weather to test out the snow. Sissy LOVED it but Bubby just didn't know what to do with it all. He kept getting it in his face. He would get it on his gloves and then try and rub his face. It was not pretty. And then I dumped him off the sled and into a drift and he was NOT happy! Poor little guy.

Cowboy and Santa

I made this cowboy card this morning. It's from the Stampin' Up! Cowboy Kid set. It's just too cute! Sissy helped with the coloring of the cowboy.

I found this Santa card I made at a SU Workshop last year. Forgot I had it. Such a cute idea to make the belt with a soda can tab.






Sorry SU Consultants...I don't remember all the techniques I used.

When Daddy's Babysit....

For the most part darling hubby watched the kids this morning while I got a lot of little things accomplished.

This is what happens when Daddy watches the kids...haha!















I on the other hand:
-wrapped 2 presents with hand made wrapping paper
-made 2 cards
-boxed up 4 Ebay items
-listed 7 items on Ebay
-made cheesy spinach manacotti for lunch

Amazing what can be accomplished when One doesn't have to change poopy diapers, give baths or feed children. Truely amazing!

Indoor sledding

"Come on...it'll be fun!" That's what Sissy kept telling Bubby to get him to go down the slide. I don't think he believed her.

Don't ya wish you were here??

Dangerous and Daring

I received these two books in the mail yesterday for Christmas (thanks Mindee). They are so great! They are full of wonderful and interesting things a boy and girl need to know about.

So many of the things I did growing up and had forgotten about all about. According to my sister 'Workout Barbie' I have NO MEMORY at all and have forgotten all the important things from my childhood. Like the time I scared her and made her cry or the time I embarrassed her and made her cry and the time I stole her so & so and made her cry....see a pattern here?? Yeah, me too...a pattern of her making up tales to STILL get me in trouble 25 years later.

Anyway...I digress....According to The Daring Book for Girls there are 14 different kinds of tag. Who knew!?

1. Blog Tag
2. Freeze Tag
3. Tornado Tag
4. TV Tag
5. Shadow Tag
6. Time Warp Tag
7. Line Tag
8. Zombie Tag
9. Electric Tag
10. Battle Tag
11. Inverted Tag
12. Infection Tag
13. Hot Lava Monster Tag
14. Hide and See Tag

And remember those hand clapping games? Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack.... Love it!!

The Dangerous Book for Boys teaches how to hunt and skin a rabbit (useful knowledge for every boy...haha!) and has advice about girls. This section is too funny! The book says 'to be careful with humor. It is very common for boys to try to impress girls with a string of jokes, each one more desperate than the last. One joke, perhaps, and then a long silence while she talks about herself....' What??

The second rule is 'When you are older, flowers really do work--women love them. When you are young, however, there is a ghastly sense of being awkward rather than romantic--and she will guess your mother bought them.' LOL!! This book is SO written by a man.

Handy as a pocket on a shirt

I attended a Stampin' Up! workshop last night. We got to make this cute little Valentines card and a calendar bookmark. Both projects were very easy and fun to make. Just what I needed after a day of poopy diapers and screaming fits.

I love this bookmark. I don't use a bookmark near as often as I should and I don't know why. I read everyday and have a stack of books next to the bed. I usually turn down a corner of the page (shock! horror!) or I just lay the book open. Now I will have this handy dandy bookmark...too cute!!

Brrrrr!!

It's a high of 8 today and tomorrow a high of -4. Is it possible to have a 'high' of negative?? OMG! We have GOT to get out of this place. I'm freezin!

This picture is actually from November. WAY too cold to go out now.

Disturbing

My mom just sent me this and I thought it too funny!

Keep in mind this actually really did happen!!!! This is someone who was moving from an insurance claims office.

Okay so this is how I imagine this conversation went:
Walmart Bakery Employee: "Hello 'dis Walmarts, how can I help you?"
Customer: " I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week."
Walmart Employee: "What you want on the cake?"
Customer: "Best Wishes Suzanne" and underneath that "We will miss you".

Social Highlight of the Week

Our new Walmart Supercenter opened today. I was NOT going to go cause I knew EVERYBODY in town would be there....and I was right. But I HAD to go cause we were totally out of diapers.

It was like the opening of Disney Land or something! People were rushing in and all giddy. There were groups of people just standing around talking and laughing. I think I saw about 20 people I knew. The whole store was all pretty, shiny and new. So many choices!

Some of you may dislike Walmart and I get it but you have to understand that up until yesterday we only had a tiny little dirty Walmart. Very few choices and hardly any food. If I wanted to buy diapers and say...potatoes I would have to go to two different stores and with these children in tow it's a pain. So you see...this is a huge improvement I think.

The only thing that could have made this any better is if a Target had opened up.

My Favorite Things

I'm going to start a list of my favorite things...just like Oprah but I won't be giving them away. This list will be things I think are super cute and would like someday to have or they might be things I already have and I just have to share how fabulous they are.



The first fabulous thing to make the list is this super cute little Colander Tealight Pair from Party Lite. I have a thing about colanders...don't ask me why...very weird. I just think they are too cute. You can contact my fabulous Party Light consultant, Sheri, for more info.

Waiting for the mailman

Obsessed Celeb Watch

Her bag is HUGE! I'm thinking she is carrying Tom around in that thing.

(pict from http://www.icydk.com/)

At least he smells good now

Some of you may wonder why I can't ever get anything accomplished or why I flip from one project to the next. Well....this little guy is the reason!!

I'm trying to clean today. So, while I'm in one room cleaning this is what the little stinker is doing in his bedroom. He climbed up on the toilet and got the powder off the TOP shelf of the cabinet. How in the world did he reach it!!?


We've had a lot of throwing up lately and I swear the house smells like puke no matter how much I clean. Well not anymore! Smells baby powder fresh!!


He's finally asleep....all is quiet for the next 2 hours.

Flipping from one project to the next

I have been wanting to make a duvet cover for Sissy's down comforter for some time. After 5 hours, countless diaper changes, potty breaks, lunch, supper, fights and tears (theirs and mine) I finally finished it. I see these women online making all this cool stuff and I just don't get it. I don't know how they do it. MY KIDS WILL NOT LEAVE ME ALONE!!

I made it plain white with a green and pink ribbon across the top. I know...shouldn't take that long but my sewing is not all that and I have so MANY interruptions.

Today I attended a Stampin' Up! workshop. We made this super cute little box for valentines to put candy in them. We used white paper and the jumbo wheel stamp to create the design on the paper. We then punched a hole and put plastic across the hole so you could fill it with candy or whatever. The top is pink paper and then it's all held together with a red ribbon. The little tag is tied onto the red ribbon. I thought for a millisecond about making them for Sissy's preschool class but I don't think they are box worthy.

We also made a cute card. If someone would send me something then I would HAVE to send a thank you note and you might get this card. Then you could reuse it and pretend you made it. haha! Not that I would EVER do that!

I'm in the process of making the kid's thank you notes from Christmas and a couple of diaper/wipe cases for me and for gifts. The kids have now been asleep for 2 hours so I'm not sure how much time I have left.

Disturbing

I find this site very disturbing. I saw this in a knitting magazine today. VIP Fibers will take the hair you brush from your pet and make yarn out of it.

I really just don't get it. Do you then make a sweater for you or your dog?

Cookie dough anyone?

He had a little cookie dough with his supper.

BUSTED!

Every morning (some mornings) after I take Sissy to school I take Bubby and we go and work out. This morning we came back from working out and The Great White Hunter (my DH) was loading his bow and hunting clothes in his car. He's SUPPOSED to be at work...it's 10am!!


He didn't think I was going to be home. He came home quick to load up his hunting gear and take off. He wasn't going to tell me he was going hunting. He is SO BUSTED!! I couldn't believe it.


He SO owes me a shopping day now! BTW....he didn't get anything. (This deer is from earlier this year.) All I can say is......KARMA!

Missing Boot Found

My missing boot finally arrived today. After 3 calls to 3 different women who barely spoke English they found my missing boot still on the shelf. I was told 'this happens often'.



Anyway....I now have a PAIR of boots and I love them.

So proud of myself

I had this vision of knitting everyone socks for Christmas. First I picked the Tyrolean Stockings pattern. When I went into the yarn store and told the guy I had NEVER knitted socks or knitted in the round before.....he actually laughed at me (RUDE!) It wasn't pretty.

I bought the yarn and was determined to do it anyway! (I'll show him!!) After about 5 rows I decided life was short and Christmas was only 3 months away and it wasn't going to happen. So I bought some self stripping yarn and made these lovely socks.

I didn't get everyone socks made...only my sister and mom. The first pair I made for my sister and they turned out rather large. I kept hoping they would get smaller but they didn't. I told her I hoped she had large ankles to keep them up. She was NOT amused. We thought once we washed them they might strink...they only got larger. Mom's turned out better. I used smaller needles...but they are still large I think. .

I've started on my 3rd pair but I have baby blankets to make now (for others not me) so socks will have to wait.

Soooo....maybe you'll get socks next year if you are good...heehee!

Darling Little Angels???

Sissy had a playdate this afternoon with her bestest bud in the whole world. They sat on the floor and played quietly I'm sure...haha!

Who needs a bed?

Sometimes Bubby sleeps in his bed and sometimes he doesn't. You never know where you will find him alseep in his room. This morning we found next to the bed sleeping.

Flipping Washers

Our washer has died. Instead of calling Sears to come and work on it Darling Husband (DH) thought it would be 'easier' to take it to the basement and bring the one in the basement upstairs. Up all 14 STEPS!! There was a set in the basement when we bought the house and we just left them there (just in case). DH installed the washer.

While we are doing this the kids, of course, were behaving themselves...ack!! Bubby will climb on EVERYTHING. You can see his little wheels in his head turning when he can't reach something. "What can I find to stand on so I can reach the counter where the knives are??"

And So It Begins....

I've been looking for the most perfect pair of black dressy boots. I want them to be tall with a short heel...but not too short. I want them to have a pointy heel but not too pointy and a pointy toe but not too pointy...get that?? Shouldn't be hard to find right?

So...after Christmas I'm at Macy's with my friend and I discovered these Naturalizer boots. They of course did not have my size...cause no store ever has my size. I ordered them. They came yesterday. Let me rephrase that....IT came yesterday. I received ONE boot! Who packs ONE boot in a box to ship!? I kept looking in the tissue paper thinking this huge boot is going to appear...that I've missed it or something. So after MANY phone calls with MANY different sales associates my missing boot is found and is being shipped.

Blogless Lynn No More!!

I've been told I need to create my own blog so I will stop high jacking other (Yarnover) people's blog's. I'm going to try and look all creative like some of my favorite blogs. More on them later.

Soooo....this is my first attempt at creating my own. I apologize ahead of time or misspelled words and improper word usage.