it's snow joke...we're trapped over here.

So, most of you know (unless you live in SoCal then you really don't care!) that the entire Midwest is enduring blizzard conditions.  And you may or may not know that during these blizzard conditions, when you are trapped...I mean...enjoying your four (loud) kids at home, that you somehow develop the urge to eat.  Like bears getting ready to go into hibernation type eating.  That's what I'm talking about.  It's kind of insane really.  So, here are some pics of what we did yesterday, during snow blizzard...day number two.

We made these chocolate buttercream iced cupcakes.  And this is my picture.  Very magazine worthy don't you say?  Yep, I'm not ashamed to say I had one for breakfast.  (We made them in the morning after all.)  And one for lunch, and one last night...

We dressed up eskimo baby and played in the snow.  Okay, that's not really an eskimo baby.  That's my youngest.  But she does really look like a cute eskimo baby here doesn't she?  I love it! 

And finally, we capped the dinner time hour off with these homemade italian meatballs with sauce.  This is not my own photo.  But I swear, they looked just like this one, perhaps even BETTER!  ;)   I'd only made homemade ones a couple times and they turned out dry and bland tasting.  Then I realized I had been making them wrong.  After watching the Cooking Network and realizing you should mix your meats (beef, pork, veal - although I took a pass on the veal), I'll be making these more often.  Great meal to eat right before hibernation for sure!

So, wherever you are today, stay warm and stay safe and...go make some cupcakes!

missmuffetmama: baby needs a new pair of....eco-friendly baby shoe...

missmuffetmama: baby needs a new pair of....eco-friendly baby shoe...: "JEMOS is a small family owned and operated company that offers the most adorable infant and toddler shoes...and they are eco-friendly to boo..."

hello...does this mustache look silly?

So, this is what my two youngest did last night.  Five minutes in the laundry room and they resort to this.  I think they were both in on it.  Amazingly, this has happened with paint before too.  I guess the good thing was...it was not from a Sharpie.  Can you imagine a permanent mustache on a 22 month old?  I shudder to think.  Ahhhh...kids.  ;)

baby needs a new pair of....eco-friendly baby shoes! *US & CND Giveaway!*

JEMOS is a small family owned and operated company that offers the most adorable infant and toddler shoes...and they are eco-friendly to boot! (no pun intended)  ;)  These adorable shoes are available in 26 styles (wow!) for boys and girls and are offered in 5 different sizes ranging from newborn through 24+ months toddler.  They feature a high quality, eco-friendly hand-stitched leather sole, totally unique designs (the JEMOS owners design every style themselves!) and feature extra thick padded footbeds as well as triple cushioned ankles on every single pair!  Some other soft soled shoes skimp out on any padding on the ankles (just check out those higher priced options), but JEMOS shoes have ankle padding on every single style!

Know of a mama in your life that needs some cute new shoes for her bebe?  Check out these!

 or these...

maybe these too...

oh come on!  are you kidding me?

yep, they are eco-friendly!

REALLY!  Can you believe it?

I know, I know...I warned you didn't I?

Okay, how do I know so much about these?  Fine, let's just say I have secret inside information!  JEMOS shoes are made from eco-friendly - and unused - hand chosen leather remnants from furniture manufacturers.  Instead of being destined for waste, the JEMOS folks source this otherwise perfectly good leather (actually, softer and more supple leather!) for their handmade shoes.  And, the company's own website is hosted by a server that uses 100% clean wind energy.  How's that for being green?

Now that I've let you in on this little secret...I'd like to give a pair away!  Yep, there are over 26 styles for boys and girls in 5 different sizes to choose from.  And here are the details...

Buy them now (no waiting):

JEMOS can be ordered through their online store for $28 and NO shipping!  Website special for a limited time...buy two or more pairs, get a third "mystery" pair FREE that is shipped with your order.  WOWZA!  That's like getting these shoes for less than $20 per pair...what a steal!!

The Giveaway details:

One lucky reader will WIN a pair of JEMOS of their choice!

How to Win:

Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit the JEMOS website and let me know which style you would choose and why it's your favorite!

Bonus Entries:

1. Follow missmuffetmama via Google Friend Connect
2. "Like" JEMOS FOOTWEAR on Facebook
3. Post a message what you like about JEMOS on their FACEBOOK WALL

That's it!  Easy to do here people.  Don't delay!  Shoes are waiting in the wings for you!

Disclosure:  This is my honest opinion above and may differ from yours.  I cannot be held liable for lost or products not received due to USPS.  This giveaway ends January 31, 2011 at 11:59 pm CST.  Random.org will select the winner.  You will have 48 hours to respond before another winner may be chosen.

happy belated blogging...

I am not very good at this.  Blogging...  I'm good at staying up late.  Doing 5 loads of laundry every day.  Making chaotic cleaning spurts daily throughout the house.  Making sure 4 kids get fed three meals a day.  Making sure the guinea pig is still alive.  Checking email.  Updating things for my business.  But blogging is another story.  How do you do it?  How can you do it?  Kudos to all of you out there who can even remember.  Wow.  I'm tired just thinking of it.  But I promise I hope to get BETTER!

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!

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.