When my kids shop

This is what they come up with.
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My uncle gave each of the girls a Toys R Us gift card for Christmas, so last night we took them to pick out what they wanted. I wasn't at all suprised that Lauren wanted a dress up dress, but was a little surprised that it had to be this dress, as opposed to any of the other (slightly less expensive) styles. It's cute as hell, though, and she's probably going to live in it until it falls apart. Also, for $20, it's a pretty good deal. What I want to know is why they don't make these in my size?

I was a little suprised that Sarah had zero interest in the dress up clothes. Instead, she wanted this desk lamp, which is now on the headboard of her bed. She loves the lamp in Lauren's room (which used to be her room), so it makes sense that she wants a small lamp instead of the overhead light. I'll admit, it's cozy.

She was a little concerned about it matching the rest of her room, though. She has Apple Blossom Faeries Wallies on the walls, and the bed & dresser have delicate flowers painted on them, so all the pink works together. Hello Kitty isn't my favorite, but she really likes it. Jeff & I both assured her that that's all that matters and that no one would think it looked silly. Sarah is frequently concerned with what other people think of her. :/

I'm back.

I've got my mindset back, and it feels pretty good.

I'm going to eat food I like. I was thinking about what to have for lunch, and I remembered my beloved Cold Sesame Noodles. I haven't had CSN in ages, even though it's one of my favorite dishes. Why is that? Why would I eat crap that I don't even like that well?

I'm going to remember that the "I'm hungry" feeling is ok, and does NOT need to be immediately satisfied until I get to the "I'm so full I might puke" feeling.

I'm going to exercise. I remember that great feeling after getting off the treadmill, that triumphant elation. As it gets warmer, I'm going to return to my post-dinner walks that left me feeling so refreshed.

I'm going to have occasional treats (a Godiva truffle has three points), but journal them and exercise portion control.

I am taking my life back.

Now I feel kinda stupid

If I'm going to be sewing, I really should learn the difference between rib knit and interlock, lightweight t-shirt knit. I went over to Hancock's (the roads in our neighborhood were crappy, but the main ones were tolerable) and discovered that what I have is just fine. It's cut out, I have a ball point needle in the machine, and as soon as the kids are done with lunch, I'm going to get this thing finished.

Someone's Trying to Tell Me Something (a pity party)

I'm starting to think that coming up with creative, unique, home made gifts is stupid. Just go to the mall and get the same old thing.

Exhibit A: gift baskets with pottery made by my SIL. Chili & cornbread with bowls, pancake mix & syrup with small pitchers, cocoa mix with mugs. I was going to pick up the pottery Monday, but when I called to check, SIL told me that her kiln had broken, and she'd just gotten the element replaced two days earlier. Also, everything she'd stored on their porch had frozen instead of drying. "Ok, so worst comes to worst, I'll get them from you on Friday at Dad's house; I'm not giving out those gifts until Saturday." The problem is that the pitchers & mugs might not be done even then, because the handles need a long time to dry or they'll break off. So today I got a couple creamers from Target. They're cute, but not the direction I was looking for. I have the reciept (somewhere) so I can return them if she does get the pitchers done.

Exhibit B: we were going to get a fishing rod for Jeff's dad. Trying to get information from him (about what kind he would need) under the pretense of getting a fishing rod for MY dad was useless. Geez, read between the lines! Figure it out! So I went to Penny's and got him a pair of Dockers and a polo shirt.

Exhibit C: Jeff's mom wanted pajamas. Instead of buying, I decided to make some and bought some cute flannel for the pants and knit for the top. Tonight, I finished the pants and as I was getting ready to cut out the top, I realized it's not knit. It's rib knit, which I don't think I can use for this. I might be wrong. I hope I'm wrong. I don't want to have to go out tomorrow in the snow and either buy more fabric or just buy some freaking pajamas.

Exhibit D: I just got back from the grocery store. One of the things I really needed was more pecans so I could make more tarts and more of the Poor Man's Turtles for everyone's goodie bags. No pecans in the whole damn store.

Next year, I'm giving gift cards to everyone.

We Three Things

Three names you go by: Mom, Kim, Momma Bunny
Three screennames you have: Ko_Jac, Kimmer, Dory
Three things you like about yourself: sense of humor, creativity, kindness
Three things you hate/dislike about yourself: procrastination, (um, I'll come back to this one . . .)
Three parts of your heritage: German, Croatian, Irish
Three things that scare you: something happening to my kids, bees/wasps, the thought of not getting back to a healthy lifestyle
Three of your everyday essentials: the internet, hugs & cuddles, water
Three things you are wearing right now: pajama pants, t-shirt, bandana to keep my hair back (pretty much my "uniform" lately)
Three of your favorite bands/artists at the moment: Sting, Sting, Sting
Three of your favorite songs at present: Bare Naked Ladies - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Three things you want to try in the next 12 months: quilting, landscaping, staying organized
Three things you want in a relationship (love is a given): trust, fun, laughter
Two truths and a lie: I speak fluent German; I lived in Switzerland as a student; My mom is a Canadian citizen.
Three physical things about the opposite (or same) sex that appeals to you: eyes, hands, butt
Three things you just can't do: sing, paint/draw, garden (working on it this year)
Three of your favorite hobbies: digital scrapbooking, regular scrapbooking, sewing
Three things you want to do really badly right now: be finished with Christmas stuff (that's big enough to count as all three)
Three careers you're considering: teaching
Three places you want to go on vacation: western USA, Germany/Switzerland/Italy, Ireland
Three kids names: Cole, Drew, Colleen
Three things you want to do before you die: get to and stay at a healthy weight, go back to Europe, see my kids grow up
Three people who have to take this quiz now or die a slow orgasmic death: Paula, DangerMouse, Amy

We're not alone!

http://www.skinnydaily.com/ is one of the blogs I like to check out on a regular basis. I like her approach, and today reminded me why. She's also slacking (though not to the extent that I am) during the holidays, and planning on getting back on the wagon next week. It is a good plan, and I'm so glad I've got a big support group planning to do this with me!

I have a new favorite word:

Bugger.

I used it quite a bit today while I was out shopping. Happily, I only used it regarding the -8 degree wind chill factor, not my fellow shoppers. The lines all moved well (except at the dollar store, but I was so happy to find boas and tiaras that I didn't care), and I got the pleated, cuffed Dockers pants FIL wants on sale. I'm pretty much done shopping, though I still need to do a lot of sewing, some baking, and go pick up the bowls, cups & pitchers from Michela.

Mint Dipped Oreos

So easy to make, and hugely popular.

• Oreos
• Chocolate (about a pound will cover about four dozen cookies)
• Peppermint oil (I got a tiny vial at a candy making store, and it's lasted for a few years. I don't think it's the same stuff as peppermint extract.)

Melt the chocolate. You can use the microwave if you're careful, or a double boiler, but I like using my small crockpot. Add a SMALL amount of peppermint oil. You do not need very much. For the last batch I did, I used about a pound of chocolate and maybe a quarter teaspoon peppermint, and I think they were just right. Maybe a tiny bit more, but only at your own risk.

I worked with a woman who tried making these once, and didn't get the concept of "a SMALL amount." She said that they smelled so strongly of peppermint that you could have used them for air fresheners, and she had to take the garbage bag out to the garage immediately.

Put an oreo into the melted chocolate, flip it over to coat thoroughly, then fish it out with a fork or other implement. I have a two-pronged plastic utensil that works very well, also bought at the candy making store. Tap the fork against the edge of the crockpot to get the extra chocolate off the cookie, then slide the cookie onto a cookie sheet or other flat area that's been covered with plastic wrap, tin foil, wax paper, etc. This is the most time consuming and painstaking part. You want to get off as much chocolate as you can so it doesn't all drip down on to the pan and pool unattractively. But it never fails that at least once while I'm tapping off the extra, the cookie will fall back into the chocolate. Cursing ensues, and I start over.

Also, only do one cookie at a time. Don't try to get ahead of the game by putting a few in the chocolate at once, because by the time you fish them out, they'll get mushy or break or do something else equally unattractive.

Once they're done and cool, you can drizzle to top with white chocolate, but that's just for looks.

Make LOTS, because you and everyone you know won't be able to stop eating them!

snore . . .

Maybe I should start going to bed before midnight. Ya think? I am so freaking tired it's obscene.
Today I made a Spiderman cape and two dressup skirts. I would have made the taggie blankie for my nephew, but I can't find the bleepingly adorable kiddie ribbon I know I have in the basement. I also know that the minute I truly give up and make the blankie, said ribbon will appear to taunt me. I also won an Ebay auction on a book for my brother. I hope it gets here in time!

I still have lots more dressup clothes to make and lots more baking to do. It wouldn't be quite so much baking, except that I've been eating cookies at a pretty regular rate. December 28 - that's when I'm going to start back on the WW bandwagon. Isn't that sad? I have a date when I plan to start taking care of myself again, but until then I have "too much to do." My priorities are seriously screwed up.

Tonight is Sarah's story night at the library. I would have Jeff take her, but if I go, I can doze while she's in there. If I stay home, I get Lauren, who still has a runny nose. I thought she was done with it, but it's back again this morning. No other symptoms, for which I'm most greatful.

• Tomorrow: Make my mint-dipped Oreos, do some more sewing. Go to work after Jeff gets home, get my hair cut after that.
• Friday: Drive Jeff to work and go grocery shopping during the day. After we pick him up, go to my sister's house for pizza & presents with the cousins.
• Weekend: Go to my friend's house to embroider/applique a quillow for my Dad with her machine, hit the post office, and buy a gift for Jeff's dad & my sister in law.
• Monday: Drive Jeff to work, go to Lauren's story time, then out to pick up the pottery stuff I had my SIL make. After we pick Jeff up from work, we're meeting a friend for dinner at Chili's. Yay, one less meal for me to cook. I think all the money we're saving from me being so crafty and making gifts is getting spent on meals out. No, that's not true; we'd meet this friend for dinner anyway.

I'm off to make some pecan tarts and work on Sarah's printing with her.

It's beginning to look a lot like . . .

you know what. Here's the tree, as decorated by Sarah & Lauren. They put up all the ornaments by themselves, and I love that the top half of the tree is naked. I might put up some other, more fragile ornaments up there myself, but I doubt it. I like this look, and Lauren's already been fooling with what's on the tree, so I don't feel like tempting fate.

Apple Cake

Sarah and Lauren and I made this today, based on my Grandma's recipe. I changed a couple things (a bit less sugar, traded half the oil for applesauce, mixed wet ingredients first then added dry, instead of just throwing it all in a bowl), and I really liked it. Not too sweet, nice texture.

So here's my version of Lucille's Apple Cake.

1½ cups sugar (ohh, I just thought - I'm going to use some brown sugar next time, instead of all white)
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup applesauce, preferably unsweetened
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs
2 cups flour
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
4 or 5 large apples, sliced (I didn't bother peeling them, and cut them into big chunks)
½ cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix sugar, oil, applesauce, and vanilla. Mix in eggs (Sarah and Lauren each got to crack an egg, and did pretty well - Lauren was very enthusiastic!). Mix in flour, soda, salt, and cinnamon. Mix in apples and nuts. Spray a 9x13" pan with Pam, then pour in the batter and bake at 325 degrees for 45 - 50 minutes. Let cool, then cut into squares.

I might have to make like Nigella Lawson, and go raid the fridge for another piece!

Bitchery for Fun and Profit

Today was my big excursion to Sam's for Christmas baking supplies as well as a few other regular things that are somewhat cheaper than at the other grocery stores I frequent. I haven't been to Sam's much lately, having overcome my antipathy toward the Meijer that is closest to me, where they have pretty decent sales. Sam's is still maginally better on a lot of things, though, so it's been worth it to me to make an occasional trip.

As we were walking in, I realized that it had been quite a while since we'd been there, and I wasn't sure if my account was still current. So I stopped at the closest checker and asked her if I could still use my card. She checked it and discovered that my account expired today. "Can I still use it?" She said she thought so, but that she'd double check. When she came back, she said it would be fine. OK, thanks.

Shop, shop, shop. Pecans and almonds and juice and graham crackers and butter and cream cheese and bratwurst and sponges and quart sized zip loc bags, and and and.

When we got to the checkout (Lane 8), I gave the checker my card, and she said it expired today. "No, it's fine" I said confidently. "I asked another checker, and it's ok for today." She got the manager, who said that it was expired today and I would have to renew if I wanted to use it. "No, I already checked on this. I wouldn't go spend an hour shopping if I wasn't sure about the card. I asked another checker, who asked a manager, and it was cleared." "Which checker was it?" "I don't remember exactly - shorter girl, maybe on Lane 2?"

The manager went off, and when she came back 5 or 10 minutes later, told me that the card expired at 12:01 today. "So you're not going to honor what your employee told me earlier?" "Maybe if you could find her . . ." "Allrighty then, I'll see what I can do."

So I took the girls and my empty cart and walked down the lanes. Lo and behold, at Lane 2, is the girl I talked to. She remembered me, and when I told her the situation, she said, "Get your stuff and bring it down here; I have the authorization, so we'll do it." I wasn't too keen on moving all my crap and standing in another line, but figured this was the easiest way to go.

Which turned out to be a good thing, because as I was loading up, I noticed the package of brats had a tear in the plastic. Back to the meat department for them, and I got some new ones. As I was walking back to the checkout lanes, I saw the Lane 8 girl motion me over and say that she could check me out.

So after all that, I spent $111 (about what I'd planned on, but less than I thought it would be when I surveyed my cart). Will I spend the $35 to renew my membership? Probably not. I don't know that I go there often enough to make the membership worth it to me. If they had a $10 "twice a year" membership, I'd probably jump on that.

I have to say, Sarah and Lauren did so well for their ages, in spite of it being after noon by the time we got out of there, well past lunch. Sarah didn't complain once, and if Lauren kept grabbing at the bread, that's pretty minor for someone not yet three. Also, she desperately wanted a balloon, and nicely asked several times if she could have one. The answer was no every time (the balloons were on a display, so I couldn't have gotten her one if I'd wanted to), but she was fine with it. She's recently entered the "fake crying and screaming if I don't get my way" phase here at home, so I was really glad she didn't pull that at the store.

Anyone who read my mini-novel here gets cookies!

Whoever invented Nyquil . . .

deserves a big fat kiss. I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight as soon as I chug down a big capful of that nasty stuff.

On a positive note, I got some good shopping done, including a very cool picture frame for our Christmas pictures. I promised Jeff I'd get all the frames ready to go this weekend, no more procrastinating.

Just Christmas

I forgot that you have to sign up to see the album at Ofoto.com, which is kind of a pain. So here are the four Christmas pictures we had taken, plus the embellishments I've added. They're also rotating through my sig, so you've probably seen them before.

The only thing I don't like about these is that the dresses came out a little dark. My own fault for getting navy blue & hunter green, huh?