SNOW WAY!!!!

What's this I hear about snow? No way. Not ready. The kids were jumping around. Me, I'm hoping for rain. And of course I have yet to get Paige snow boots. Katie probably has 3 pairs to choose from. I push it with her every year. I re-used Paige's boots from 2 years ago last year. Not gonna be able to do that again!
What angers me the most about all this? I was at Target today. Honestly, I hope other people do this too.
I knew I needed snow boots for Paige. More importantly I knew I needed a game for the raffle at school by TOMORROW. Did I get one while I was out? No-of course not! When did the reminder notice go home from school? Today, of course. I hate when I forget things like that and it makes me have to go out a whole other time!
So after picking up Katie we all went to Walmart and bought games for the raffle basket.
Did I get snow boots? No. I got a gallon of milk. I actually already had 2 gallons in the fridge. Just a reflex I guess, I'm at the store, let's get milk. Not what the kids really need! Boots.
Sometimes I wonder.
I did have a good day though. Running errands and getting some things checked off the list. I also managed to meet my husband for lunch. A small feat but worthy of mention. Quiet time together is not always highly available. Poor guy is under the weather a bit still, hope we can round out the recovery soon.
Tonight I was going to stay up very late and work in the office, but I was up til midnight last night and have done a bunch already. I still haven't finished that layout. Scrappers block.
Tonight is the only night I really watch TV. How I Met Your Mother and Heros are the 2 best shows ever invented. Even better than the A-Team, not sure about the Cosby Show, but pretty close.
Stay warm and dry tomorrow-
Kristin

Still catching up....

OK, so yesterday I caught you up on Thursday, here's a quickie for Friday-
Paige was home, we went to the grocery store, she had dance, seemed OK, stayed for movie night. We had dinner with the Bowmans. That's Friday in a nut shell.
Yesterday was the big shopping frenzy at Allegro. It was a lot of fun-some good shopping to be had! I hope the vendors enjoyed it too-some seemed to do really well, others not as good. Hey, it was our first one. I think the studio made some good money and at least I got some major shopping done! I can't tell you what I bought because some things I got may be for you! Hee hee. I can tell you what I won though...talk about irony.
The raffle items ranged from fab to so so. Just depending on your taste. So a few winners were named and Mariclare asks Paige to draw a name. She eagerly goes up to pick a name and I hear "Don't look! Just reach up and pick one!"
Then I hear "Kristin Garland! You picked your mom!"
She must have just felt my aura around that ticket and was drawn to it like I am to hot fudge sundaes on lazy afternoons. Extra allowance for that girl this week.
Here's the kicker. What did we just sell like $1100 of? Not that I got many for myself, but really? Yes, a yankee candle. Maybe that's what I'll give you for Christmas! Ha!
But it gets better. My name was called a second time. Now I am really not complaining-I love to win raffles, but hardly ever do-but my second win was from...................................................................
The photographers booth!
I won a necklace with an art print on it. It's really very pretty, but ironic I think that the 2 things I pulled in were stuff that I have just sold tons of or do as a hobby!
Life is funny. Good thing.
Oh, and even funnier-Kim's sister in law did our Mary Kay booth. Guess who won her raffle.
Yep. Kim. (BTW-thanks so much for coming and for the support-it was great to see you!)
Well I would lament now about Sunday evenings and how sad it is that the weekends go so fast. But with our change of plans I decided I still needed time so I am off this week. Hoping to get a huge list of things accomplished. I started with Paige's room today. Pulled down the old wallpaper border to prep for the Tinkerbell one I've had for a whole year and not put up yet. But of course, now that the walls are cleaned and everything in the middle of the room, why not refresh the paint?
Why do we women always make simple tasks bigger and harder as we plunge into them with 157%? I guess we love the challenge. Or are striving for perfection. Or, as I saw on Miss Jen's office wall-we are making up things to do to avoid doing the important things! Or something like that. It could be true. You know you've done it. Come on-don't deny it!
OK, this post is getting long enough. I have a scrapbook page to finish then it's off to sleepy time!
TTFN-
Kristin

Throw back to the old days.

Well, I doubt this has happened to anyone in the last half century, with the popularity of grocery stores and all.....
So I was a baking fool to get ready for the big fundraiser at Allegro today Thursday night. First I made rice krispie treats, but got lazy and did not make the fab Magnolia bakery frosting like I usually do. Then I thought, what else can I make that is easy?
How about saltine dreams? Got saltines in the cabinet-score! Easy treat!
So I start melting my butter and laying the saltines out on a baking sheet. This recipe is easy, but time dependent. Once it's going, you can't stop in the middle. You boil the butter with the sugar for precisely 3 mintues.
Butter is just about melted and I go to get the sugar out of the cabinet. Uh oh. No bag. That's OK, we keep the canister full so Mark can put it on this cereal. Uh oh. Canister is empty too.
(Insert four-letter words here)!
Kristin: Mark! Do we have any more sugar? (Tick tick tick) What happened to the sugar? (Tick tick tick-butter is melted now.....)
Mark: I don't know-want me to run to the store?
Kristin: THERE'S NO TIME! I'll run next door.
Yes, at 7:30PM Thursday night, I donned my coat, grabbed my measuring cup and knocked on our neighbors door.
Kristin: "Sorry to bother you-Um, can I borrow a cup of sugar?"
Am I for real? I felt so silly. Not really sure why. They are so nice and of course very happy to help. So he gives me a cup (the wrong kind, but hey, beggars can't be choosers) and I run back and finish my saltine dreams. They came out great, but not big sellars today.
So, in days of old, I am sure that this favor would be returned by borrowing some flour, or sugar, or using the neighbors horse for the afternoon. In modern times though-what is the proper ettiquette? I did ask to borrow it. Not to just keep it. That implies a return of some kind.
So, forget Jesus, WWYD? OK, don't really forget Jesus, the big guy is pretty important, but really, any suggestions? I got some saltine dreams back today, should I bring them a few? Should I measure out a cup and bring it over in a plastic baggie? Or just let it go? Leave me a comment with some advice. No matter what I do I will feel pretty silly. Borrow a cup of sugar-who does that these days?

Saltine Dreams

1. Check to make sure you have all the ingredients in your house.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
3. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
4. Place saltine crackers (about one sleeve) on foil
5. Melt a cup of butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
6. Add 1 cup of granulated sugar and boil for about 3 mintues. If it just starts to turn brownish it's down. Don't stir too much-let it really bubble.
7. Pour butter/sugar over saltines and put in the oven for 5 mintues.
8. Cover saltines with chocolate chips. When they melt, use a spatula to spread it evenly over the crackers.
9. Cut them immediately-if you line up all the crackers it's easy to just follow the pattern.
10. Let cool (you can refridgerate to speed this up) and remove from foil.
11. Voila. Easy treat. After spreading chocolate you can add nuts too if you want.

Watch out. They're addictive.

Kristin

Change of plans...

OK, today I am not going to talk about how I should be packing to go visit the inlaws in Pennsylvania. I am not going to say that I am sorely disappointed that we had to give up our tickets to the Penn State/Michigan State football game on Saturday. I won't say that we were going to see my sister and brother-in-law so the cousins could see each other again. And lastly, I will not complain that we can't pick up a case of Yeung Ling for the holiday season.
I will say that thank god Mark still has a job. Now we get to go to peek week at the studio. At least I can participate in the shopping frenzy fundraiser that I am on the committee for. The kids will get to go to swim lessons. Movie night Friday-dinner with the Bowmans. And Mark did pick up a 12 pack while in NY last weekend.
And 2 huge bonuses.
Our best buds from Colorado are coming to town-so we get to hang out with them! (Insert lots of Yays and yelling here!)
We haven't see our friends the Racies in over a year, and will have dinner at their house before seeing the Nutcracker down the street from them.
Take the good with the bad right? It's going to be a busy week! I am still going to take the time off though. I may need it after the stomach bug finishes going through the house. Oh, didn't I mention that yet?
Last Friday night I awoke (no husband-off on "boys weekend") to "MOMMMMM! I puked in my bed!" Well that is never a good thing. Of course, I slaved all day washing all the sheets and bedding. How inconsiderate of my 4-year old. To puke in freshly washed sheets. I'm telling santa!
Seriously, I felt so bad for her. She didn't care, happy as all get out at 2:30am, while mom is doing more laundry. Like I hadn't done enough that day?
The next 2 days were like a rear-end symphony, the girl had so much gas. Honestly, I think everyone left Grandmas birthday early because she had an "episode". Not that I blame them. She put fraternity boys one day post beans and hot dogs for dinner to shame.
Then she seemed fine. Ornery but fine.
Then Paige started with "my belly hurts". OK, I thought, you look good to me. Looking for the same attention your sister got. No fever, but she wasn't eating. She came home early from school today with a belly ache.
So I called the Doctor and the nurse called back. Sounds like she's constipated. Well, that's happened before. OK. So I load her up on grapes, apple juice, water, you name it. She loves it. Snacks before dinner? GREAT!
Well, guess that wasn't her problem. Now the poor girl is going to need IV fluids. If you saw her, she looks just fine. But now that I know the aftermath how can I send her to school tomorrow? Talk about making friends. I can not do that to her. Deadly.
The first time she heard the real term for that she was in Kindergarten. She came home giggling because someone in her class "tarted!" Ha ha! I thought it was cute, but corrected her anyway.
Good thing I'm not packing to go to Pennsylvania tomorrow. 8 hours in the car with that? No thanks.
So, moral of the story is, when stuff gets in the way of your plans, find some good long lost friends to hang with and be glad you're not locked in the car with the tarting kids.
Kristin

Happy Tuesday!

Well, all I have to say is I am never going to skip a concert again. Check out the Cheetah review on Karen's blog- http://karentasteslife.blogspot.com/
Paige seriously had the best time of her life. I love how excited she gets about everything. She is a little mini-teenager. I love watching her grow.
And then there's Katie who just wants to be naked. I asked her today what she thought she was going to wear to the recital.
Katie: Nothing. We're going to be naked.
Mom: Really? Nothing at all?
Katie: Nope. We're going to be naked. We're going to do the naked dance.
Honestly, I have no idea where this stuff comes from! She is going to be in the principals office little Miss Class Clown! Jeez!
Happy Tuesday everyone.
Kristin

Veteran's Day Parade

Well, covering all the holidays at once here!

On Veteran's Day we went to the parade with our friends the Bowmans. I really missed having my dad there, as he is a proud Army veteran. And he should be. Mom, Karen and I are all proud of him too. I think that is why this parade gets me all choked up now. I don't know why I love the Veterans day parade so much, but I feel like we really have to go every year. Less and less people seem to come to watch. I remember when I was little Main Street was 5 people deep. Now you are lucky to see 5 people total. OK, it's a bit more than that, but it's really sparse. Such an important thing too, wish more people would see that. My favorite part is the period costumed soldiers who shoot their muskets-or really old guns-whatever they are. See how cool they look?

The kids were really into it-

And Hannah Montana, I mean KT, posed for the camera!

She is so cute.

We also saw them on Football Sunday and I took a few shots. Here is one of my favorites-these girls are really close-I'd say BFFs for sure.

So great to have such great friends living so close by.

Wow, think I'm just about caught up-for now anyway!

Kristin

Halloween

OK, in the spirit of being caught up-here is the mandatory halloween post. We got lots of candy. I ate lots of candy. The girls were cute. High School Musical Cheerleaders. Auntie was Sarah Palin. I think that's the highlights.

Ok, got that one covered.

Kristin

I love comments!

Well, that last post was a success! I had to share that story. Hilarious. At least I know this blog is being read!

So two Saturdays ago was Katie's 4th birthday. She is such a doll. She ran into my room that morning because she wanted to show me that she was bigger. I told her that she was bigger, and that it made me a little sad because she was growing up so fast. Her response?

"Well, I'm going to be this way for a whole year, so you can be happy Mommy!"

Gotta love that 4 year old wisdom. So insightful for only 4 years old. I told her she is absolutely not allowed to turn 5. Ever.

You know you're getting older when....

Well, it happened. I have needed new jeans for awhile now and I just couldn't stand it (couldn't sit is more like it....) anymore so I had to go shopping. Paige was off school for election day (yea, I know it's been almost a week now, but just pretend I'm writing this today!) so we headed over to Old Navy. I was walking around the store when a young sales girl asked if I needed help.
35-year old mom: Yeah, I need a new pair of jeans.
19-year old sales girl: OK, what style do you like?
35-year old mom: Well, I like them a little higher cut.
19-year old sales girl: Oh, like you want to wear underwear?
35-year old mom: (outloud) Uh, yeah, I do want to wear underwear.
35-year old mom: (in head) WTF! Are you kidding me? Do I want to wear underwear? What do I look like? YES-I WANT TO WEAR UNDERWEAR! The thought of not wearing it never crossed my mind. When I sit down and it pops out my backside my first thought is "hmm, maybe I shouldn't wear underwear with these jeans...." WRONG! It's why the hell can't they make jeans that COVER MY A$$!" I am pretty sure that is what they were invented for in the first place! Jeezzzzzz!
So, no jeans from Old Navy.

Fast forward to Sat night-great date with my husband (despite the Penn State loss we watched at Smokey Bones!), we walk around the mall a bit. Then I said hey, I need some jeans, can we pop into the Gap? Sure.
So I tried some on, liked them, but they were ankle length and I thought maybe I needed regular length.
So, sales girl comes by. "Can I help you?"
Me: Well, I am just wondering if I need a different length-will these shrink up?
Salesgirl: Those will shrink up a quarter inch. Did you try them on? They are stretch you know.
Me: Yes, they fit fine, I was just wondering about the length.
Salesgirl: Well, just so you know, since they are stretch, you want to buy them skin tight because they will stretch when you wear them.
Me: (outloud) I think I'm good with these, thanks.
Me: (in head) SKIN TIGHT!?! That is why I am here, all my jeans currently ARE skin tight and it really is not comfortable! Why would I buy them that way? Seriously? I can only hold that tummy in for so long, you know? Hip hop once a week is just not enough to counter the Halloween candy. Winter is coming. WOW.
So I bought the ankle length Gap jeans, and no, they are not skin tight.
So when you see me walking around with my cotton granny underwear hanging out the back of my too loose jeans, please just let me know it's time for a re-adjustment of my wardrobe.
Yikes-I just can't win!
Kristin

Midnight?

OK, it's midnight and I just finished a very successful scrap with my buddy Steph. We only did 2 layouts each but it was enough to motivate me to get back into the swing of things. I know I am really behind on my blogging too, but hey, at least I've updated within the last 2 months, which is more than I can say for Live Laugh Luv Smile-another blog I follow, or would if it ever got updated.......

So big goings on in our little part of the world.

First off-Disney Recap. Hold on, this might get too long, and too fun for me. Too fun. Way too fun.

It all started Thursday afternoon, October 23, 2008. Four friends met at the airport for a much needed girls weekend away. Check out "Happy" Kim on the plane-

We spent our first night at the resort-Coronado Springs-having a nice dinner at the Maya Grill. It was fantastic. Great meal. But then us four old ladies went to bed!

We got up the next morning, had some breakfast and headed over to Epcot. We rode Soarin', almost got into a fist fight with an inconsiderate woman who insisted on taking flash pictures throughout the whole ride (no really-words were exchanged....) and then discovered the food and wine festival. We got about a quarter of the way around and figured out that there was good wine and beer at each country, AND at each kiosk! So we grabbed our first beer in England-

And the rest was history. Most fun at Epcot ever. We found a Disney photographer or two, and stalked them. OK, that was Kari, but we all enjoyed it! We did convince one guy to follow us around and got some great shots!

So after the first round, we hit Mexico for some lunch, then made another round. Got a picture with Genie, more beer, and saw Expose on the stage! Well, what a throw back. They rocked. You're takin' me.......to the point of no return! We were dancing fools.

Dinner that night at the Japanese Steak house (yum!), then Kim and I ran over to the cineplex to catch HSM3. So great. We had a bit of trouble getting home, but that is not for this recap.

OK-can't figure out how to straighten image, or delete it! Sorry!

We rallied the next morning and went to Hollywood Studios. Rode the Rockin' Rollercoaster-TWICE! I love it. Tower of Terror was next on our list. We had a good day, nothing overly exciting here so I'll skip ahead-Luau at the Polynesian. It was OK. Not as much fire as I remember from when I was there 20 years ago. Must be a safety thing.

From there it was on to Boardwalk. We hemmed and hawed a bit about paying the cover to get into Jellyrolls. What a good decision. You will see no pictures from there. I am burning them. Not onto CD either.

When you go to a dueling piano bar many things happen. Mostly all good. They got to know us, the Girls from Boston. That happens when you show up at 8 and the place isn't too full. And stay until 2. Yep. Big bar bill for 4 girls drinking nothing but beer. I'll just say this, it was less than $50 each. Not by much.

Kim and I departed for a short bit to get our hip hop groove on at Atlantic Dance Hall. We were there for about 3 or 4 songs. Just enough to hear Superman and It takes two. Love that old school. Since the bride wasn't much fun at the wedding reception we crashed we returned to Jellyrolls just in time for Copacabana-yes, it was my request!

The piano man saw me enter and yelled "Kristin from Boston-come up on stage!" Of course I was WAY too embarassed to do that! Or was I? I'll let you use your imagination....

I'll just say the night was unforgettable, but not without incident. I went to sit at one point and someone pulled my chair out from under me and I landed flat on the floor. Yep. They never figured out who it was, and more importantly they did not shut me off either. That is my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Luckily, the cruise director just planned a non-eventful day at the pool on Sunday and a nice dinner at the Irish Pub. What a great way to finish out the weekend. Check out the pool-

I am so thankful for the opportunity to get away with the girls. We all had the best of times and are hopeful we'll have the chance again. A big huge thanks to the men in our lives that didn't flinch when we told them what we were doing. Thank you!

Ok, I could write more, lots more, but now it's Saturday and I need some sleep.

Halloween and birthday updates next time I sign in-

Cheers!

Kristin