Not Me Monday

Head on over to the mother of Not Me Mondays to see what else has not been happening.

I was not sick three times in the last week and a half. I did not get asked if I was pregnant at least a dozen times. It did not hurt me to my core every time I answered no. It may have been the flu or it may be an old ulcer acting up. Not sure and since I believe doctors are deliverers of bad news I do not intend on going to one. No matter what you say.

I did not finish reading two books in the month of January (which was one of my 2010 things to do Yeah me!) and not love either of them. One was Alice Hoffman's The Probable Future and the other was The Testing of Luther Albright by Mackenzie Bezos. Once I start a book I must finish it. It is an annoying fault of mine and often drives me crazy. Hopefully February will bring a book I adore.

I did not find my daughter in my bathroom using a tampon as her own personal chew toy. That would be disgusting. Ok, it was a little funny. The sweet husband didn't think it was funny at all. She was not just now chewing on a dishwasher square soap. Ugh. Looks like we will be headed to Target today to get some cabinet locks. ( I swear I'm a better mother than that makes me seem)

Beauty

The family took a walk on Sunday afternoon down by the lake.

Ahhhh...53 degree weather is absolutely lovely and not at all expected in our hometown in the month of January. It was delightful. We took hot drinks and strolled the baby girl while my son rode his scooter all over the trail. We are super duper lucky to have a trail that goes for miles and miles and some of those blessed miles are next to the lake.

We are also lucky that the bicyclists were watching where they were going since my son clearly was not and almost got smashed not once, but twice. Geesh. For the record, I was watching him but I let him ride up in front of us so he could go at a lightning fast speed instead of a "mom & dad in love pushing his little sister in a stroller" speed. He tried to ride behind us, but (and please don't tell my son) I actually don't have eyes in the back of my head and the trail was busy that day and I don't trust strangers. So I let him ride ahead of us which is better so no one will steal him, but still doesn't matter if there is a bicycle coming at him also going at lightning fast speed. I did make sure to both apologize and thank said tight shorts bicycle man for not smashing that daydreaming child of mine.

Other than those two close calls it was a lovely and relaxing afternoon with the ones I love the most. I can't wait to do it again. For next time...should I make him stay next to me or just put a bubble around him?

10 Things Thursday

10 Things I'm doing to my bedroom to make it the lovely space it desires to be


1. Hang the new sheer, white french knot curtains I found at Ikkkkea

2. Dyed sheets. Found some pink Ralph Lauren sheets, still in the package, I bought when I was single and thought I would finally get to have a pink bedroom. A little Rit will do the trick.

3. Move furniture around a few times until I likey the feng shui

4. Take out at least two pieces of said furniture and find new homes for them

5. Make a big, soft, white headboard. Been reading blogs on how to do it and it looks pretty simple and the result is fabulous

6. Touch up paint

7. Paint trim white and add white chair rail and perhaps a white ceiling rail

8. Get brother in law to make granite tops for night stands

9. Hang sweet goodness all over (white frames, white mirror, white paintings)

10. Paint black large frame a lovely shade of white and turn it into a shabby chic mirror or bulletin board (yet to be decided)

Yep, February is the month that I am finally tackling my bedroom. Have the blessing from the sweet husband to make it beautiful and am going to do just that. I have plans to post on the transformation with photos. Yeah!!!

Not Me Monday

I did not have a delicious lunch at our fave place with our fave people. Well, some of our fave people. The sweet husband's brother is in town with his girlfriend that we just met today. She is lovely. Lunch was lovely. All was lovely.

We did not realize that both of us couples watch the same bad reality tv and we did not happen to have the one from last night on our dvr and we got to watch it together after lunch. We laughed and poked fun at the people. Good times.

The sweet husband is seriously too good to me. He took the morning off to hang out with me and the baby girl (and of course his brother). He did not help me clean the house and we didn't spend the morning laughing and kissing. I wish every Monday could be like this.

I did not have to sneak a moment away to do this since my house if full of family and I'm missing out so it's short and sweet today.

10 Things Thursday

10 reasons I love being married to the sweet husband
(other than the obvious ones like I'm madly in love and he is hot hot hot)

1. I hate to sleep alone. I love having him near to comfort me after bad dreams and I love that when one of us wakes up during the night we go for the other ones feet. We are always touching if it is even only our feet.

2. I don't have to get a chair to get things I can't reach. I just blink my long eyelashes and he gets it for me.

3. I always have a Valentines/birthday/Friday night date. Plus, he knows my favorite places to eat so there is no surprise that my picky palate won't be satisfied.

4. He takes incredible care of me. Have I told you the story how I didn't even know what side my gas tank was on for the first year I owned my new car.

5. If something is too heavy or too gross for me he steps in and saves the day.

6. It's like having my best friend as a roommate but with an extra bonus of kisses and stuff.

7. When he has the perfect bite of steak, or bread or pie he offers it to me.

8. Sometimes, still, when I look at him I wonder how I got so lucky to have him in my life.

9. He loves the little things; when I cook him dinner, when I wear his old baseball shirts to bed, when I scratch his back. All of these things make me smile when I see him smile.

10. He sings me to sleep. And that is one of the best things on God's green earth.

Get Away

Had the most fun in Portland over the weekend. Stayed with my bestie and we got to visit without distractions. By distractions I mean my sweet beautiful bebes. The one year old is in need of attention all the time (like her mama) and the six year old loves my bestie like his own. In fact, they are second best friends. She loves him (as she helped me raise him the first few years of his life) and he loves her. So without those two, one on my knee and one on hers we got to have grown up girl talk. It was amaaaaaazing. We had some cocktails (that started at 4pm, don't tell), some snacks and some giggles. We discussed some of her troubles and some of mine. We got to shop a little and eat a little delicious mexican food. It was a laid back, relaxing trip that was absolutely perfect for me. It was just what I wanted and needed.

And now on this gray Wednesday afternoon I wish I was there.

Not Me Monday

I did not develop my very first teacher crush this weekend. My girlfriend and I watched the first season of glee and I might be in love. I mean come on, he sings and dances and that is like my drug.

I did not go a little crazy while shopping in Ikea. I only get to go when we are in Portland or Seattle so I feel like I need to get all that I can while I'm there. I love it there...it is my own little heaven. I think I actually said that while walking through with a smile on my face and a shopping cart full of white.

I did not feel the least bit out of place when we went to lunch in the hippie part of Portland yesterday and I had my paid for french manicured nails, my bright pink purse and my silver hoop earrings. It didn't make it worse when the man cleaned our table and I thanked him a little too nicely. One of my girlfriends said "Don't be so nice, they aren't used to it and they don't like it." What? Where am I? If the dang flautas weren't so good I would've left immediately.

10 Things Thursday

10 Things in my immediate future


1. 60 minute airplane ride with girly magazines
2. Cherry cider wine and/or apple cider wine
3. Many, much needed, long talks with my twin to fix me and the world at large
4. Late night trip to Ikkkkea with money to burn
5. A night of precious sleep with no baby feet in my ribs
6. A hot drink and a lovely morning at Powell's book store
7. Delicious lunch (Cheesecake Factory perhaps)
8. Sweet goodness pedicure
9. $8 ballroom dancing lesson
10. Glee marathon

What are you doing with this long weekend?

Change Schmange

There's been a change of plans.

I don't do well with change. I also don't do well when I don't get my way. Blame it on my dad, he spoiled me. So when there is a change of plans and it isn't my plan its like a double whammy. I am working on it. I have acknowledged the fact and am trying to be better. I'm not doing so well so far. But isn't admitting it half the battle?


I get mad and a Flanagan temper is hard to quiet. In fact you can blame that on my dad too. It also takes me a long time to get over things. Just a few of my lovely quirks. (Makes you wicked jealous of the sweet husband, huh?) I like to think I have some charm to make up for it, but I haven't been very charming lately. What's the exact opposite of charming? That's what I've been.

Change is good, right? That's what they say. I bet the "they" are people who loooooove change. Bring on the change. I hate the "they".


Silver lining:
When I'm mad I clean. My house is looking good.
I write pretty candidly when I'm mad too. You might get some good reading.
I'm sure there is more I just can't see them right now. But as soon as I do I will let you know.

Hungry?

Made stew, beer bread and fudge today. Hmmm. I wonder why I can't get this a$$ of mine any smaller. It's a mystery to me. A complete mystery.


By the way, the beer bread seriously is the best while its warm. Did you try it yet? Do it. I double love it. And my stew rocks. Every. Freaking. Time. Haven't had any fudge yet, but it's fudge. I mean come one. Fudge = yumm.


Been looking through magazines today. I have a little bit of a magazine addiction. Can't help it. I was going to give a pile to my mom but decided I better look through them one more time, one by one, to make sure there isn't anything I need out of them. Good thing I did. Phew. I found a few good recipes I need to try. Like, fruit filled coffee cake, granola french toast, clementine & vanilla bean quick bread. Did you get carb overload just reading that. I did. Where's the vegetables? Oh, right, I don't like vegetables. Oopsy.



Was looking at the photos of the birthday party, more directly the cake and dang, I want a piece of that right now. Fluffy white goodness with creamy lemon filling and pale pink vanilla frosting. Delightful. Speaking of the cake...





What is that little first layer doing down there on the counter by the cake plate?

Why are these three layers up here topless? It is not that kind of party.


Oh, clearly because the top layer slid off when no one was looking and this is how I found it after the party was over.

No cake for mama. Not because of the above mishap. There were two pieces left and they sat out all night after the party (I was sick & apparently didn't go into the kitchen to check) so I threw them away the next morning. But not after I had a bite to make sure they were inedible. Yep, I did.

Off to get the Bubba some stew and try that f to the udge (the half with nuts). Also known as MY half. Do you like nuts? I could share my half with you. Yes, you.

Not Me Monday

Birthday Party Edition

I did not invite too many people to my sweet princesses first birthday. It did not result in a very full house. I did not just for a minute wish my house was just a little bit bigger. However, the house was full of smiles and love for a little girl in a tutu and I didn't hear anyone complain about the lack of seats. Or the delicious spaghetti.



I did not have a two layer cake ready to frost when I decided that her birthday cake should be four layers. This did not require a late night trip to the store and an eleven pm cake bake. That would be silly and over the top. It would also be the prettiest, most scrumptious lemon cake ever.



I did not add pink food coloring to anything that I possibly could. I did not turn this house into blush and bashful heaven. I did not love every stinking minute of it.

Really? Really?

None of you that read this regularly have the love to tell me I am a grammatical idiot. Really?

I put a comma after every "but" in every post for the last nine months and now I find it goes before the word "but". AAAGGGGGHHHHHH.

Now I look like a fool. Geesh. I don't like looking foolish. I may have to take a sabbatical. My fight or flight is to flee so don't be surprised if the next you see of me is in March.

Maybe by then you will all have forgotten about my comma disaster. And even if you haven't maybe I will have, but let's be honest...probably not.

Radical Recipe

I love bread. I love it fresh with butter. I love it toasted with jam. I love it white, wheat and grainy. Oh and I really really love beer bread. I found a beer bread mix from Tastefully Simple that my whole family fell in love with. It is delicious but it also gets expensive. Looking for recipes for Christmas I found a recipe by accident that claimed to taste just like it. I tried it. It needed something. I changed it a little and now it tastes just as good if not better than their boxed mix.

It is super simple. Did I say super simple? I meant super duper simple. Don't take my word for it...try it for yourself.



Beer Bread

3 cups self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 bottle of beer
3 Tbsp melted butter (optional)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix sugar and flour in bowl.
Add beer and quickly mix for 20 to 30 seconds.
Pour mixture into greased pan.
Pour melted butter over top of mixture.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Bread should pull away from sides of pan when done.
Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Enjoy!!

Make sure your self rising flour is fresh.
Any kind of beer works. Sweeter the beer the sweeter the bread. I used a winter ale this Christmas but, the Kokanee I used yesterday was the best.
It is great with soups and stews.
Oh, who am I kidding? It's just good, dang good.

10 Things Thursday

10 things DMV related
(from my trip today which was two weeks overdue and a certain must as it was a brief period where I didn't have my baby girl with me)


1. How long can the line really be? Oh, that long.



2. Tricky little sons of guns. They have a take a number thingy, you take a number and then they call you right away leaving you to believe all the other poor souls sitting around need something extra and your simple license renewal will only take a few minutes. What you find after your number is called is that they will only take your name and you will be called by name when it is actually your turn. Now, please join the other poor souls.



3. It might be a little entertaining to watch the people that come in after you that do not quite understand the process (#2). Ok, it is a lot entertaining.



4. The sixteen year olds look like twelve year olds. Can they even see over the steering wheel? Did I look this young to the real people when I was in there so many years ago? And little miss sweet sixteen, don't be mad at the dmv lady that you don't have the right birth certificate, it isn't her fault. It also isn't your mother's fault. Don't be such a brat.



5. I was proud of the man that gave up his seat for the mom that came in with two young boys one which was on her hip. I know that I shot the teenage boy a death look when an elderly couple walked in and not only did he not get up but he didn't even scoot over to make more room where he sat. Really? Do you have no manners? *



6. There were three people that opened the door, entered for enough time to see the room full of people and decide that they did not have the patience for this and then quickly exit. Good choice...good choice.



7. I'm just playing devils advocate here but, maybe people wouldn't be so grouchy and complain about you and your service if you all moved just a little bit quicker. I don't want you to break a sweat but I think maybe you all don't need to move like you have two broken legs. Just sayin'.**



8. When the lady asks you "Are your height and weight still the same?" and you (risking hell for lying) answer yes, she makes no audible or visible signs that she knows you are full of it. Thank you, ma'am.



9. The teenage girl in front of me barely passed the eye test, she apparently had one good eye. The mom couldn't believe it so she wanted to take the eye test herself. Go ahead lady, it's not like the rest of the room has been waiting forty five minutes. Please, see if your whole family needs glasses using the dmv as your own personal optometrist. Please.

10. The elderly woman after me barely passed her eye test as well. At least she admitted she had trouble with her left eye. The real kicker was when she was asked if she was a US citizen. Her rude answer "Of course, I am." I smiled and was quite impressed with the dmv lady who politely replied " Well, we have to ask. Some people aren't." But, Granny (who was hard of hearing but apparently right on with come backs) replied..."Well, you have my old drivers license in front of you so you already know that I am." Point for Granny.



* I stood the whole time I was in there or I would have given my own seat to the little white haired angel and her old, grouchy husband.

**I was uber polite and was sure to say please and thank you to every one I encountered. Maybe it will wear off.

Not Me Monday

I did not eat hot wings and popcorn for dinner last night. That would be totally lacking in nutrition. I did not also wish there were some poppers to go along with my so called meal to make it perfect.


I did not have a Wii tennis tourney with the sweet husband at eleven pm on Saturday when we should have been in bed so we could get up for church the next morning. I lost. It was totally his fault that I did even though I did catch him making some really bad swings on purpose. I do not have any plans to practice while he is at work and challenge him again.


After announcing that I was going to win the board game the fam was playing before we even began I did not proceed to do just that. I got the first five points and since I am very humble I did not smile and dance in my chair each time. Woo Hoo.


I do not have the craziest week ahead of me. I have a birthday party to get together with invitations that were supposed to be hand delivered this weekend. Oopsy. I have a list of things to do a mile long. And I have to get some parties in there as well. Wish me luck friends I'm going to need it.

2010

2010
happy
new year
a new
decade
a bright
future
super
smiles
more
giggles
less hurt
and lots
and lots
and lots
of
love
happy
new year
2010