April 20th has it really been that long...oh my...

I cant believe that it has been over two months since I updated my blog. I am certainly not going to win any blogging awards for that great effort am I?

What has been keeping me from updating my dear old neglected blog you ask....

all in no particular order

• First week of May had a fantastic family holiday to the great land of the mouse - we had a great time in Florida and cant wait to go back. When planning our trip I was almost laughing at the people who go back time and time again - I am now one of them and honestly cant wait. We had so much fun. Weather was great and the line ups were almost non-existent.
• Kids have started BMX racing so that is taking up a few nights a week and all day Sundays when we are in town.
• Oldest boy graduated high school - sometimes he can be so mature and responsible and sometimes I think he has morphed into an 18 year old body with the mind of a 10 year old - oh boy - boys can be trying. He is a good kid - just an 18 year old....we don't have any drug issues or booze issues so I am super thankful for that. He just thinks he knows everything...oh I remember being 18 years old and thinking I was a "woman of the world". He came home tonight from the girlfriends house and announced he wants to go to Japan to see the cars there. Ugh......
• Middle boy who will be 13 years old soon - has learned the fine art of the perfected miserable "attitude" most of the time. The only decent conversation I have with him results in him grunting back at me or shrugging his shoulders which drives me crazy....crazy I tell ya.
• Youngest boy is a handful - driving me metal not listening and pushing my buttons. But a very happy boy and always laughing and playing silly practical jokes...
• Hubby - got another promotion at work which is going to keep him more busy at work and the cell phone will be permanently attached to the side of his head. Can't complain though - with so many people out of work it is a blessing that he has a good steady job of 24 years and promoted once again.
• My work has been crazy and i am frustrated - with the warmth of summer arriving i am almost bitter than I am working....I think it is the "mood" I have been in lately....more on that later.
• My Mom - I am a bad daughter - not only have I not had time to update my blog which can be done at any time of day or night - I have not visited my mom in almost 2 weeks - head hung in shame...........My Mom has Alzheimer's - it is such a brutally nasty selfish disease. I hate it. Truly hate it. My Mom is complacent though - not a care in the world and always so happy when I visit even though she never remembers that I have been there - or even that I am there if I walk out of the room for more than five minutes.
• it normal for a 40 year old woman to feel so overwhelmed and just cant get it all done to the point that it is too much to even start? Hubby helps out all the time so don't think it is him not helping....he is a great supportive hubby.
• We built a small cabin on my in-laws property last year and now it is time to furnish it. I am playing with the furniture layout and about to embark on painting the antiques we picked up over the last year for the cabin....see item above....just can't seem to get it started....I am frustrated with the layout and getting all the furniture to fit.....
• Gardens - going great - roses are outstanding this year - i think it might be from all the rain.

Well there you go - my sad excuse for ignoring my contribution to the wonderful world of blogging. I will try to update more often and even start posting some super duper photos of our cabin progress....

I have a girl crush on Sarah Richardson

Sarah Richardson - one of my favorite designers.

Here are some of the "spaces" she and her team have created.

She has a few shows on HGTV - Sarah's house, Sarah's cottage, Design Inc.

Oh to have her "eye"

more pretty spaces

images from here

gorgeous spaces....ideas for the cabin....

All images from Simply Natural

$5 dinners...

Wow - $5.00 dinners....

Here is one.... I think I am going to try this on Tuesday....sour cream was on a super sale at my grocery store today and I bought two....

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients
1 16 oz container fat free sour cream ($.88)

1 can of green chiles ($.68)

1-2 cups homemade chicken stock (free)

about 1 1/2 cups of shredded chicken ($1.50)

1/2 tsp garlic powder ($.05)

Salt/Pepper, to taste

10 flour tortillas ($1.14)

1-2 cups shredded cheese ($.75-$1.50)

2 cups of frozen corn ($.44) On sale the other week for $.88/bag!

Directions
1. In large skillet, whisk sour cream, green chiles and 1 cup of chicken stock. Add more chicken stock until it comes to the consistency you want for your sauce. Add garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste.
2. Before adding the cooked and shredded chicken, save 1 cup of the sour cream sauce.
3. Stir chicken into the sauce and let simmer about 10 minutes, allow flavors time to infuse.
4. Spoon sour cream chicken sauce into tortillas. Roll and place “seam down” into a baking dish. 10 enchiladas fit comfortably in a 9×13 dish.
5. Take the sour cream sauce that you removed and spread it over the tortillas.
6. Sprinkle cheese over the top and bake about 15-20 minutes at 350.
7. Cook corn as directed on package instructions.
8. Serve Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas with Corn.
Cost $5.44 Plus enough for lunch tomorrow

Missing girl

15 Random Complaints / Observations

1. Why is it the second a floor is swept the dog shakes his fur all over the clean floor.
2. Why is it the second a floor is mopped either Hubs or one of three boys will walk on it with shoes on?
3. Why is it that I can never get the laundry finished? There is always more and more to do?
4. Why is it that I picked today to clean the house while hubs is out for a motorcycle ride and just found out that tomorrow it is supposed to rain? Should have cleaned the house tomorrow??
5. Why is it that I cant keep my room clean?
6. Why is it that I expect my kids to keep their rooms clean? See item #5???
7. Why is it that when I "go on a diet" or start watching what I eat I gain weight?
8. Why is it that I check Facebook far too often when should be doing something else?
9. Why is it that no one really updates their blogs on the weekend? Sometimes I want a diversion from doing my chores.
10. Why is it that I cant get out of Costco without spending close to $300.00?
11. Why is it that I say "I should be" too much when doing item #8 and #9.
12. Why is it that I cant keep my "flylady routines" a routine?
13. Why is it that I keep forgetting I am going on vacation in a few weeks? (I know I shouldn't complain about this one)
14. Why is it that I make the "to-do" list far too long and too much for one day and then still suffer with item #11.
15. Why is it that I am creating this list instead of cleaning my room? See item #5

I wore skinny jeans all week and have not lost a pound.....I am taking them back.

quick turtles....

Found this post over at http://www.twigandthistle.com/blog/and have to add it to my must try file.....

Homemade Turtles!

Ingredients:Mini PretzelsPecan HalfsRolosThat’s it!
1) On a cookies sheet, arrange the pretzels then place a Rolo on top of each one. Bake at 220 F. for 2 minutes.
2) Pull out the sheet out of the oven and immediately start placing the Pecans on top and pushing them down, squishing the Rolos.
3) Enjoy!

Found another one I want to try...

Did not end up having the planned Cobb salad for dinner......Child #3 had to work late which in turn made me so late that I didn't have time to make dinner before the dog trainer showed up...

Ended up spending a few dollars shy of $50.00 at McDonald's - what a friggin waste of money - that is for our family of five and g/f of oldest child - CHA CHING...and now a few short hours later I am starving again....

Note to self - use crockpot on dog training nights.

I LOVE our dog trainer - my 5 year old puppy is responding well and what an improvement in just two short lessons.......

I have just found another recipe on another blog I am going to put on my must try this week list.....

Buffalo Chicken Wraps

2 tblsp hot pepper sauce, such as Frank's RedHot

3 tblsp white vinegar, divided

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 lb chicken tenders

2 tblsp reduced-fat mayonnaise

2 tblsp nonfat plain yogurt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

4 8-inch whole-wheat tortillas

1 cup shredded romaine lettuce

1 cup sliced celery

1 cup chopped onion

1 large tomato, chopped

Whisk hot pepper sauce, 2 tblsp vinegar & cayenne pepper in a medium bowl. Spray cooking spray in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken tenders; cook until cooked through & no longer pink in the middle, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Add to the bowl with the hot sauce; toss to coat well.

Whisk mayonnaise, yogurt, pepper & the remaining 1 tblsp vinegar in a small bowl. Stir in blue cheese.

To assemble wraps: Lay a tortilla on a work surface or plate. Spread with 1 tblsp blue cheese sauce & top with one-fourth of the chicken, lettuce, celery, tomato & onion. Drizzle with some of the hot sauce remaining in the bowl & roll into a wrap sandwich. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

I think i am going to go and "borrow" some Easter chocolate from my kids....insert evil giggle....

Whats for dinner

After spending the afternoon outside in the warmth of the sun I am now in summer mode and craving salads.....

And just found the perfect BBQ Chicken Cobb salad to make for dinner tonight.....

Although I do not have left over chicken in the fridge I do have some ham left over from Easter dinner at our neighbours and will grab a chicken from the grocery store on my way home from work.....

BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad

Leftover Old-Fashioned BBQ Chicken, chopped into bite-sized pieces
World's Best Blue Cheese Dressing OR a high-quality Ranch. I suppose, if you swing that way, you could use Thousand Island or French, but I've never been a fan.
Leafy green lettuce (I like Romaine)
Hard-boiled eggs; sliced, wedged, crumbled, chopped, whatever.
Chopped green onions or sliced red onions
Chopped tomatoes
Blue cheese (if not using aforementioned dressing) or sharp cheddar cheese. Pepper jack might also be good, although I've never tried it.
Avocado cubes
Crumbled bacon

Wash and chop lettuce (if not buying pre-washed, pre-chopped lettuce). Blot with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Arrange lettuce on large dinner plates and add a handful of BBQ chicken. Arrange remaining ingredients on top--you can either keep all the toppings separate and let dinner-eaters mix it up (or not) according to their liking, or you can just go WILD and sprinkle everything on top. Serve with dressing and enjoy!

I wish i had it right now to eat ......

http://allears.net/menu/menu_fch.htm

Happy Easter.....really?

Oh what to say about Easter 2009 other than...........CRAP.

At Christmas time I went over-board with the Sears Wish Book. I had ordered two R/C Air Hog mini storm chasers.

At the time DH and I decided we would not give as Xmas gifts rather wait and give as Easter gifts.....Last night DH pulled them out and they were left with the Easter goodies.....and a real metal slinky each....I have not seen the metal ones in a long long time.....

I digress, the boys are extremely happy with the R/C planes......get the 16 double A batteries installed and proceed to play with them - within 15 minutes of installing the $20 worth of batteries DS #3 gets his propeller stuck in the fringe of the carpet and rips it off - it is now garbage - he throws himself to the ground like a three year old and proclaims to the world at the top of his banshee wailing voice "THIS IS THE WORST EASTER EVER".

DH trying to calm the ten year old just turned 3 year old down.....gets out the model glue and promises he will do his very best to fit the propeller - trying hard to not scream "I told you not to play with it around the fringe of the carpet"

DS #2 decides he will learn from his younger brothers experience and try and fly his outside - it takes less than 39 seconds for it to be stuck in a tree........he comes running into the house and instantly turns into a second wailing banshee....

DH gets the broom out and knocks it out of the tree- now it is running on full speed even when shut off....

So now I have two very unhappy boys full of a sugar rush from eating the Easter treats left for them....

What is a Mom to do.........well I proceed with making a scrumpish breakfast taken from a fellow blogger.......Baked French Toast

Baked french toast

melt 1 stick of butter then add in 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 t. cinnamon and stir together.
pour into a 9x13 pan covering the bottom.

then layer slices of bread on the sugar mixture with the crusts removed.
(it would probably just as good with the crusts on....)
i used 15 pieces of bread.
fill in the holes with smaller pieces.

in a mixing bowl whisk together 2 cups of milk and 6 eggs.
pour over the bread.
that's it.

put it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
when it looks baked and golden, pull it out and drizzle syrup over the top.
put it back in the oven under the broiler until brown and bubbly.

It is so yummy............and definitely a "maker againer" as my youngest used to say when he was little.....

BUT.........what was I thinking giving a sugar filled yummy breakfast to two boys who were already on sugar over-load - this recipe is fantastic - but definitely really high on the sugar content....

Now I have two boys bouncing off of the walls - arguing and unwilling to burn off some of the sugar overload and we are to be at our neighbours in two hours for an Easter dinner......

What was I thinking????

It also feels really weird - oldest DS #1 decided he wanted to spend the night at his buddies last night - feels weird to have Easter without him......

I remember what it was like to be 17 almost 18 and friends are so much more important than the Easter Bunny.......

Does anyone know a quick sugar detox???? CRAP.

this is so cute

Found these really adorable cupcakes here from Gourmet on the go.

Chick Chick Cupcakes

Ingredients:

Your favorite cupcakes

Chocolate icing (or you could use green)

Candy eyes (click for recipe or just use icing)Yellow and Orange Candy melts

Chick Template (download and print here)

Wax PaperQuart freezer ziploc bags

Instructions:!

Print chick template and tape to countertop. Tape wax paper over template. Put orange candy melts in a microwafe safe bowl and microwave on high for 60 seconds. Stir well and microwave at 10 second intervals until completely melted. Put in ziploc bag and snip a small corner off the end of the bag. Draw the triangles (beaks) and feet. Let dry completely.

Cookie bar info here

Missy’s Chocolate Chip Bars

¾ c. butter, melted

1 c. white and1 c. brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp. salt

2 c. flour (or 9 oz.)

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. vanilla

1 (12 oz.) bag semi sweet chocolate chips

Mix the butter and brown sugar and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir in 2/3 of the chocolate chips. Press dough into a greased 10” square or 9x13 pan & sprinkle the rest of chocolate chips on the top. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes (until lightly golden on top).

blogger rant

I have just spent the last half hour trying to find a blog name that was not taken - taken by people who create and keep blog names and then DO NOT USE THEM.

It drives me mental

Why go through the effort of creating a blog and not using it.

The reason for the new blog.....booked a trip to Disney yesterday and for prosperity sake and to keep track of my findings and hopefully help someone else out......decided to blog the process from booking / planning / going / after thoughts.

All the good Disney blog names are taken by people who are not blogging.

Whew - feel better - will get off my soapbox.

You are now free to find another blog that actually contains some real info.

(((SMILE))

What do your colour choices say about you?

Even though I am still heart broken that Canadian home and country has stopped production I am really starting to enjoy another Canadian magazine -

Style at home. I have noticed a change in them and thinking they maybe able to fill that need of mine I got from CHC.

They have an online quiz

What do your colour choices say about you?

This was my result and bang on to boot!!!

ROMANTIC ----- You strive to make your home a quiet sanctuary for relaxation, introspection and renewal. And not only do you love romantic movies and candlelight, your decorating style is soft and inviting, too. For you, a plump oversized shabby-chic sofa is perfection. Not surprisingly, you're drawn to nurturing colours: colours that reflect femininity, not frivolity. You also love to bask in nature's beauty - whether you're sitting on a beach or watching the night sky. A sentimental collector, you treasure souvenirs from events in your life.

pet hair was driving me mental.....I have found a cure ....

Dog and cat hair driving you crazy like me - I highly highly recommend the furminator - I know it looks like nothing fantastic for the crazy price of it but I swear it works as well as the website says it does.

I am no longer swearing at the dog daily now it has improved our "relationship" because asking my dear yellow lab to stop shedding 56 lbs of dog hair a day is no different than asking the boys to stay out of the mud!!! and I can stop kicking myself for putting in dark brown flooring.....back to loving the dog and the dark floors....

Note - I have no affiliation to this company - just a happy customer!!

Book it and they will come? I NEED A HOLIDAY

I had a thought earlier today and jumping in with both feet - I am going after what I want - I am going to Disney and staying here- either alone with the kids or as a "family"

I have until tomorrow to book and put down my piddly deposit required- right now they have an offer - book four nights - get three free - so 7 days will cost what 4 nights would normally. Offer expires on Sunday and my travel agents office is not open so i have to book by tomorrow.

flight for five $ 1296 accommodations for five and park passes $ 2230.... grand total of $ 3526 the hotel / resort is on the monorail so no rental car needed....and they pick you up from the airport. Flying out of Buffalo so no passport required for the kids....

A LOT cheaper than a snowmobile trailer....


dum dum dum.....

wonder how this will go over......

Octomom

I have to admit....I am intrigued by who is now known as "octomom" Nadya Suleman

How can this woman have 14 kids and be thinner than me - after looking at photos of her pre-delivery birth - how can her stomach be flatter than mine.

Just not fair I tell you, just not fair....

I have given up on my hunt for zebra socks.....

Happy birthday to my special BFF!

This is just weird

On my hunt for Zebra socks which is turning out a lot harder than I thought.....

I found....

Napoleon's socks - no kidding! And, they haven't even been washed

Can you say gross......

If you have the need to see a dirty pair of old socks......That being said.....I was planning on dragging the noise makers there this summer - wont that be fun - making the kids and hubs go to the shoe Museum - tee hee - now I really have something to look forward to......

Toronto, Ontario - Bata, the world's largest footwear manufacturer, was established in Toronto by Thomas Bata, after he immigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1939. It's now in 68 countries. At Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum you can follow the footsteps of history, from the sandals of ancient Egyptians and incredibly tiny shoes from China, to the mukluks from today's Arctic. The museum was created by Sonja Bata, who started to collect shoes and their stories in the 1940’s, during business trips around the world. More than 10,000 pairs are now housed in four galleries and archives at 327 Bloor St. West. The design of the five-storey museum was inspired by an open shoebox. Shoes of the famous, in a continuously changing exhibit, include Marilyn Monroe’s red pumps, a purple Beatle boot worn by John Lennon, Elvis Presley’s blue and white leather shoes, zebra-striped ankle boots owned by Picasso, Elton John's platform boots, and Napoleon's socks. Where: The museum is located at 327 Bloor St. West