Tuesday, December 28, 2010

did you survive christmas?

Wow.  Totally forgot to blog these last two weeks.  Christmas season upon us all.  Busy trying to get stuff done.  It's over now.  I cannot believe it.  Seriously, I cannot believe it will be another 364 days for it to be here again.  I promised myself I was not going to buy anything for the kids this year.  Okay, maybe one or two things.  Like literally, I told them this.  "Anything you get, will just have to come from Santa," I said on more than one occasion...80 occasions to be precise.  This was usually in a more threatening tone when I'd told them 18 times to do a certain task that went ignored.  Yes, I admit it...I am not a perfect parent.  Are you?  The hubby on the other hand, is the gift buyer.  He is really good at it.  Really good.  Too good.  I usually glare with an open mouth when I find out what he has bought for them.  Do you know how hard that is to do?!  It's not a natural expression.  I'm torn between the thought of my kids being spoiled or not appreciating what they get, and getting something that they might deserve.  They want for nothing that is for sure.  I suppose I should feel blessed instead.  Ahhhh.  Parenting.  The things we agonize over.  Maybe I should just get over it!  Maybe I'm just trying to evaluate everything too much.  What the heck...enjoy the holidays instead.  I think I need a Charlie Brown therapy session.  Anyone have 5 cents?

So, here is a small sampling of what missmuffetmama's oldest daughter received....

American Girl Felicity.  "Mom, I just have to have her.  She's retiring this year!  She'll be gone F-O-R-E-V-E-R!"  A pretty cool gimmick on the part of AG.  Retiring???  MUST have her before she's gone!!  Of course!

And American Girl Julie.  She is a groovy 70's chick.  I must confess...I loved her outfit.  Julie looks like a way cool cat in his getup.  

Dammm you American Girl.  Really.  I will use an exaggerated and incorrect spelling as not to offend any fellow readers.  But I say again...dammmm you AG.  Why must your dolls cost 100 bucks a piece?  Grrrr.  Side note:  I'm really just venting frustration at myself here.  If only I'd bought stock in this company 10 years ago.  What a fool I am!  I won't even post the 10 outfits that go along with these dolls.  Again I confess, so ridiculously cute.  Dammmmm cute.

And then add that in with the 10 jumbo sized lego sets, oodles of clothes (this only means more laundry for me), barking Fur Real pet dog (totally annoying by the way) and a mountain of other stuff and we'll call it Christmas.

My rule this year?  For every new toy/book/clothing item/doll/etc that each of my kids received, they must find some other item to be donated to charity.  So, 50 new things = 50 things donated to charity.  One in, one out.  Blessings to you this Christmas season!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

i demand my spoiled egg!

So, this is just too funny not to mention.  This morning, I made a big batch of homemade hash browns (yes, I love peeling potatoes and whirling them through the food processor into shreds...it's morning therapy) and some fried eggs and some leftover Pioneer-Woman-recipe-beef-on-toast-concoction.  After this was done, the four year old begged for the other eggs.  You know, the ones you can hold in your hand.  So, I figured it was boiled eggs.  YES!  That's it!  Boiled eggs she said.  "That's what I want!"  After about 30 seconds after dropping them in the water on the stove, she demanded her eggs.  After about 2 more minutes, she demanded them again.  I told her it would take several more minutes.  Finally after about 4 more minutes, she yelled out for all to hear...."I demand you get me my SPOILED EGGS!"  We all busted up laughing.  I'm not sure what was funnier...the fact that she said "demand" or her choice of eggs.  Four year olds...so funny.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

sugarplum fairies + 10 degree wind chills = good times!

So today was a girls day.  The annual Nutcracker Ballet Luncheon.  Such a fun time watching all the girls dressed up in their finest fluff, the moms frantically purchasing items for sale, and of course the yummy luncheon.  I've taken my oldest daughter, now 11, to this three times now.  She had fun, although slightly disappointed that she didn't win the raffle prize of the insane American Girl setup they had on display.  She was even more irritated that the girl who did win, seemed to brush it off with a ho-hum-oh-big-deal attitude.  Not even a squeal or scream when her name was called!  That is just wrong.  The mom who won the Bose headphones yelled out like she had just seen a live mouse...crawl over her foot.  This was my middle daughter's first time.  She is four.  Miraculously, she made it through the 4 hour event.  We skipped the performance though because I wasn't quite sure she could handle another 2 hours in a theatre seat.  Good thing...she quickly fell asleep in the back seat on the way home.  I managed to eat all the food on my plate, smile a few times with a piece of lettuce stuck in the side of my tooth (which I later discovered in the bathroom mirror) and make friendly conversation with the ladies sitting around me.  But let's face it.  A four hour event is long.  After I said how we love the "Nutcrapper" (and this was purely a freudian slip on my part) I knew it was time we headed home.  But seriously, take your daughters to this, in whatever city you live.  It really does make for a memorable annual event.  Lettuce and all!

Friday, December 10, 2010

do you carry a $15,000 handbag? me either....

Some people like pediped shoes.  After learning that they have a penchant for trying to force smaller mom owned businesses out of operation using nasty "legal" maneuvers, I think otherwise.  Seems they don't like legitimate competition that might cut into their millions of dollars in profits.  Wow.  Seriously?  No room for some small start up to try and make a go at it too?  After looking into this some more, I see they've filed suit or apparently threatened dozens of others with legal action as well.  They like to send out nasty sounding letters.  



But thank you to the good honest folks at Tabberone who bring these dirty little secrets to light.  There is a laundry list of items that I vow to NEVER BUY AGAIN!!! After learning of some of the legal atrocities committed by some companies, I will spend my money elsewhere. Oh, and I don't carry a $15,000 handbag either.  But apparently someone else does...must be selling lots and lots of overpriced shoes to justify that.


LIKES TO BUY WIFE HANDBAGS....
QUOTED FROM THE WEBSITE "BAGSNOB"
"First, let me say a HUGE thank you for all you help securing this bag. You are the greatest and she LOVED this gift. The birkin is an amazing bag, the quality of the materials, the craftsmanship, the perfection of this bag make it more of a work of art than just a mere handbag. I was really impressed by it when I opened the box.
The birkin cannot even be compared to other handbags that I saw at Saks, Neiman or Chanel when I was looking for the right gift. To compare this masterpiece with those other bags is similar to saying that both Tiffany’s and Kay's sell sapphires. There is no comparison.
How does a husband justify the cost? Simple, it is worth it.
It is about the same price as:
3-4 lesser bags that she will never use,
it is less than 10 days in Manhattan for a wedding,
it is 1/3 of the cost of the 10 days we spent at Disney this year,
None of these things remain; the bag will be here forever.
Thanks again, you really made Christmas special."

WIFE LIKES TO TALK ABOUT IT....
QUOTED FROM THE WEBSITE "BAGSNOB"
"THANK YOU, THANK YOU, thank you for the wonderful gift!…because, without you, my husband would not have been able to give me this absolutely beautiful Vert Fonce Birkin bag for Christmas. I’m the lucky girl in this story! It is the most gorgeous bag I have ever laid eyes on. The green is a dark, rich color (lovely) and goes with a lot of my wardrobe. I never knew it was possible to fall in love with a purse, but I think I have…I mean I have Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chloe, Chanel bags but they don’t evoke the same emotion...! I went to bed thinking about it and the smell (it’s intoxicating). I put it to sleep in its box and pillow and lovingly covered it with the tissue paper it came in. Safe and sound. I am a really lucky woman to have this husband and to have this purse! I told him I’d be wearing it when I become an old granny and I’ll tell everyone who asks that my husband bought me my first Birkin! – my only thought was, ooh, now I need to get another one because which one of my two daughters is going to get this one? For any husbands out there reading, if you can, GET THIS BAG FOR YOUR WIFE, she will fall in love with you all over again, I promise. It is over the top, but what else are you going to spend your hard earned money on? I said it was too much, but he said it was worth it and I deserved it. He is the best. Even though it is expensive, even he was musing at how beautiful and luxurious it was, “look at the exquisite stitching”. Did I mention the smell?
Well, this explains why you, Bagsnob, called me and asked me about green purses. And, I thought the bagsnob was asking me for an opinion about a purse SHE was going to buy! Don’t think I’ll be putting any files or baby bottles in this bag. You are sneaky and clever and we love you! Thanks for lending a helping hand and for such a wonderful surprise."

And just in case you want to read more about how to covet your handbag and treat it as if were your firstborn child....

Gag...





welcome back cuties!

There quite possibly is nothing more that my four muffets like better than a case of cuties straight from the grocery.  When it gets cold outside and the cuties start showing up again, they all go crazy for them.  So yesterday, I promptly picked up a little cute crate of them and brought them home.  By dinnertime, the box was bordering on empty.  By this morning, the box IS empty.  Time to make another run!  My youngest hoards these 2 or 3 at a time, grabbing them and taking off like a wild bandit.  I guess being the youngest, she feels the need to stake her claim.  Who could blame her?  Oh man, my mouth is watering just looking at these again.  Mmmmm.

the pioneer woman saves me yet again

Oh Pioneer Woman...I do love you so.  Another night, another recipe...another interesting and easy meal down the hatch.  Please people, if you haven't been to visit the Pioneer Woman recently or at all for that matter, please run (don't walk) to your computer and find her now.  And then perhaps friend her (or at least like her) on Facebook.  You will not be disappointed.  I've decided to crack open the cookbook again and have a marathon session of Pioneer Woman nights.  So much better than McD's mixed with guilt and desperation that is for sure.


Tonight...Drip Beef Two Ways.  But we had it one way.  The Italian version.  Incredibly Yummy.


Tomorrow night....BBQ Brisket.  It's been marinating in the fridge since yesterday.  Yeah, I know.  I am just too good. ( I won't tell you it took 5 minutes to assemble this baby so you'll keep thinking I'm talented.)

Now, go to see the Pioneer Woman.  Don't say I didn't warn you though.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

i heart you tinyprints!

Every year I get cards from my uber creative friends who can outdo me with their left pinky.  And I'm not talking about going to Hallmark and picking out a box o' cards.  My uber creative friends are actual graphic designers and world renowned champion scrapbooking queens.  So this year, I opted for tinyprints.  Seriously?  How could I choose?  I forced each of my four kids to wear a goofy hat and pose outside in the freezing cold for a mere 16 seconds each.  Walllllla!  Christmas card complete!  Well, not exactly.  But almost.  A few quick downloads, and a few clicks of a button, and my card was complete!  Woo hoo...and two days later...they are on the way to me!  Can't believe I didn't just do this before.  And by the way, tinyprints is a fun little family company started up by a few cool guys which has now grown into an awesome business.  Their customer service is AMAZING!  How do I know?  Well, changing my mind...adding to my order within hours of placing my order and after they'd gone to press....no worries!  Thanks tinyprints.com...I look forward to many more holidays to come.  Sigh....


Check out their website for some fun little holiday promotions!  I used code TPHOL50 and got $15 off my order of $75 or more.  

mystery promotion at JEMOS eco-friendly footwear!

Need some cute new shoes for your sweet pumpkin?  How about some ultra adorable, super soft leather and eco-friendly shoes to boot?  Then head over to www.jemos-footwear.com and check out these oh-my-stars cute as a button shoes for your baby!  They are having a holiday promotion...buy 2 pairs, get one FREE!  Yeppers, you heard it here first! Now run, don't walk....before this deal ends!


This little style called Blake...so stinkin' cute isn't it?  


Hello?  Seriously...can you say A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!


And okay...can these be any more perfect for the holidays?

These adorable soft-soled shoes are priced right at just $28 per pair.  WOW!  Plus with the promotion going on, you get 3 pairs for the price of 2.  And for all you math wizards out there, that's just a little over $18 a pair my friends.  Seriously, check out www.jemos-footwear.com today and you'll thank me for it later.