So, I'm not doing all that great with this blogging thing... I need to get into a routine I think... I DO think of posting things, like the other day when I was looking through Kiplinger's. I saw this article on a guy who took a vow not to buy anything. He thought it would be difficult, but it turned out to be very easy, just borrow from friends and use freecycle. I did entertain that idea for a few moments... but then I wasn't sure what would happen around birthdays... I don't think my four year old would be too happy without some presents. But then again, maybe she's too materialistic. Maybe she'd be happy with some freecycle stuff. And then again, I know it's me that spends too much on ME. And I considered only buying two things a month, but that didn't go over well. Or we could just say I haven't started that yet... whatever I say, I know I'm not very good at the cutting of my spending. I have been very good at selling some of my old things to get new things. And I have been clipping coupons like a mad woman! Actually, I love cutting coupons. I really, really do. I feel anticipation at the release of the new sales fliers, and thank goodness we can look at those online, now!! And did you know what else you can see online? I never knew! You can see a preview of the next week's coupon inserts! How wonderful is that??? I was just going along, hit or miss, swearing at the newspaper when their coupon inserts didn't match up to my expectations. I mean, who needs seventeen coupons for depends? I'm sure some people do, but I am not one of them. Gimme a coupon for yogurt for crikes sake! now THAT I need ;) course, I can print those out from online, too, so that's a little slice of coupon heaven right there. Gotta feed my children's yogurt habit. The little one's already been hooked on the stuff, too!
And while I am talking about addictions here... I also need to share with you my habit of checking the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website. It's a sickness, really. I check the site numerous times a day, making sure we don't have any toys laden with lead, or any furniture items that could pose a hazard. I get absolutely giddy when new recalls are posted. I know, it's not normal!! And I dread the weekends when the CPSC must not have anyone working since no new posts are made on Saturdays and Sundays. You're right, I still check the website anyway, just in case. I love reading new recalls!! We've been lucky that we haven't had any. Woo!! Well, now that I've gotten all that off my chest, I can't think of a nifty way to end this post. A final Goodbye just doesn't fit after I rambled on and on. But then again, I should probably do it quick, like a band-aid. BYE.

Ahhh, there is nothing like spending 2 hours at Super Walmart one day, and spending two more hours in a regular Walmart the next day because you couldn't find what you wanted! And part of that reason (why you couldn't find the products and why it took four hours total) is because I was traveling "light" with my 3 and 4 year olds. Yes, the wonderful world of shopping with my monkeys. I actually liked the newness of the Super Walmart I went to. I've never been since it is a bit further out, but we needed a particular set of curlers for a dance recital (yes, insert eye roll here). So we made the trek out and also tacked "fathers day gift" onto the shopping list. My three year old was adamant that she wanted to get Daddy a purple mermaid, but thankfully she was swayed. The four year old picked out some magazine with a fast car and scantily clad girl on it (huh??). I think I said something along the lines of, "Daddy has a van and me to look at, so I'm not sure he'd want that magazine" Er... yeah, not the best at thinking up quick responses, but I am working on it! She put the magazine away and found a really great one on gardening! Yep- Daddy'll sure like that one, lol.
So, after spending so much time at the Super WM I was trying to walk around like I actually knew where I was going. I did feel a bit smug as I saw people wandering about, looking very lost, very confused. I thought that I must look much more aware than they do, but that was probably hard considering most of the time I was just chasing down one child or another. And I promised each child they could pick out a coloring book since we had about three hours to kill between recital dances (yes, another eyeroll). So we left the store with one My Little Ponies coloring book and another one on the birth of baby Jesus in the manger. I suppose it doesn't have to be Christmas to color a Christmas coloring book. I have no idea why she picked that one, but I'm just crossing my fingers that she remembers the reason when we actually have to color in these come recital time.
So, we found almost everything we needed- except for the one thing my husband requested for fathers day; replacement blades for his electric razor. Alright. So after picking up five different packages and reading the itsy bity words on the back, searching for the magic number. Nope, nope, nope, nope and nope. None were the right ones. So I told my husband he must have given me the wrong number ;) And that, all you readers of long winded bloggers, is why I had to go to Walmart yet again. At least it wasn't a Super one! Just a regular three block one. And no- they didn't have the replacement razors.

As for my kitchen conquests... let's just not talk about that. Pretty boring I must say. Since I Was at Super WM I felt compelled to buy something there since I could. But do they have lamb? Nooooo. I thought maybe cause it's a bit out of the ordinary, but then I saw a couple packages of tripe. Wha? They have tripe but no lamb?? so I did up a boring ol' sausage skillet yesterday. And today was no better with some quesadillas. I know, I know, how pitiful that I start this all up to share my (clears throat) wonderful meals preps and all, but I've come up with nothing. Nada, Zip.
Ooooh, thundering! And lightning! And bring on the rain! I have a love/hate relationship with thunderstorms... right now more on the hate side since this particular one is supposed to bring hail with the possibility of tornadoes... so I will sign off just in case I need to be clutching onto Toto through the wind gusts in a short while.

Another summer day, another burn on my shoulder. You'd think I would learn by now, but noooooo. Plus I was wearing a sleeveless dress with my bra straps showing (hey, I was just hanging around the house) and now I've got these super funky tan (er...burn) lines. I guess I won't be heading into public bearing my shoulders anytime soon.
And as for my great baking skills, ya know, the reason I started this blog... el zippo. It's to hot to cook ;) Poor planning on my part with starting this up, but I did find a really good recipe for Shrimp Scampi. My husband loves shrimp scampi, but the recipe he likes best uses way too much butter, and really, I just don't care for it. I tried a new recipe, and whooie! My DH dislikes lemon, so I saved it all for my plate and it was so good. Even he, Mr. Picky responded "it's a keeper". The recipe was from Kevin, who has the "Closet Cooking" blog.

And so it begins....

Sure, I am just a follower in this crazy blogging world, but hey, there's nothing wrong with being a follower ;) To be partially honest, though, I have this big wonderful dream that one day I will have enough time to join the "daring bakers" forum and prepare so many of the yummy concoctions they make. I don't want to sign up to the blog and just have me and my email address. I want my big ol' blog right there along side me, puffing out it's chest and huffing, "bring it on!". Yeah. So, this month they did this opera cake which looks so delish! Sure, everyone creates there own version, and that's what I am all about! (but let's not mention that slight mistake of basil ice cream, shall we?).
So, what makes me think that I could enter such a group? Well, I love to bake, really, that's about all. I have no time, and I hate to clean the kitchen, but alas, I'll try this blogging thing, and if that goes well, join the daring bakers I will!! What did I bake today? Some uber-delicious chocolate chocolate cookies! I think I ate five of them before I wrapped them up and froze them to keep my mitts off. And I sent my dear, sweetie of a husband to work with four of them. He's dear and sweet today because he planted my garden for me! Did I also mention that he bought all the veggies and herbs himself, too?? Yep, he's a keeper alright. Though, he did mention that we will have an abundance of peppers this year... No worries :D
Yes, I did mention that I have three children. Most days they are wonderful, happy and smiling children, and then there are the days where I could swear that they will start speaking in tongues and have their heads rotate around on their skinny shoulders. Thankfully today was not one of those days. I can't say the same for yesterday, but that's a whole 'nother, and long, story.
Today nothing much really happened outside the ordinary. One moment from today, though, was my oldest, who is painfully sensitive and can (and usually will) cry at the drop of a hat was wailing away upstairs while I was on the computer down here. I thought to myself that it sounded very much like a pain cry, albeit not an urgent pain cry. Weighing my options I start heading in her direction as I hear her coming down the stairs, caterwauling (ok, yeah, my new favorite word since reading "pirates don't change babies diapers") the whole way. I ask her what happened and she responds "I hit my head on the wall" (more loud wailing follows this reply). As I start to ask her if she needs a kiss for her boo-boo her face brightens,eyes open wide and turns and runs up the stairs "let's do that again!" she hollers.