Diet Schmiet...

Food Glorious Food

We grow it. We prepare it. We pray over it. We dream about it. We get giddy thinking about it. We celebrate with it. We send our condolences with it. We live on it. We over indulge in it. We feel guilty about eating it. We feel guilty about wasting it. We need it. We love it.

What is it about food that makes us so happy and attracted to it? Is it the vast variety? The endless ways of preparing it? The many taste sensations? The different textures? The array of colors? The unlimited aromas? Is it that feeling of fullness, when you just can’t eat one more bite, for fear you may pop the buttons on your favorite jeans? Is it the sense of security? The warm fuzzy feeling you get when you’ve just eaten that decadent piece of double chocolate cake, and you know that everything will be alright? Whatever the reason, it always keeps us coming back for more. Oh how I love my food….Dang it.

I cheated on my diet and I"m actually ok with that. We are having a big family feast tonight with Shrimp Tacos, CAfe Rio like chicken tacos, spicy avocado ranch dressing, carribbean black beans and rice, chips & salsa, corn on the cob, salad, monkey pie (courtesy of co-co) and a weight watchers cake (courtesy of De Ann) heavens knows we'll need it after this feast...but will it really help? Probably not. Moderation in all things...Moderation in all things.....
Look for recipes for this great buffett soon on, is this made with love? (the answer is yes, by the way.)

Flash back Fridays...

So a friend of mine does this on her blog and, follower that I am, thought it would be fun to hop on board and share my flashback pics with you, be kind please...or I won't do it again. Prego with Annie at the MTC....wait that doesn't sound right?
Look at all that hair?? No wonder I was called "curly fro" in Jr. High!
I just don't know what to say about this picture, except yes, that is me and Co-co.

Oh, Kodak moment. This picture bothers me because First of all, No one had informed me that it was time to invest on a good flat iron and hair product, and secondly, I look like a single mom here! Where is Bart? Oh, that's right he forgot we had pictures and he was working!!

As My World Turns........

Here's What happened last week.........

Randi and BArt had a late date night and neglected to prepare for Sunday. Morning chaos was eminant sp? In their rush to get out the door and be on time, BArt left with the kids so Randi could finish getting ready, because she's such a great mom she got everyone else ready first-just a side note. So Randi was ready 15 mins later and headed out the door but was abruptly halted when she couldn't find the keys to her sweet ride. So she looked and cleaned, putting good use to her time at home, until church was over and her husband BArt, walked in the door.....



(Read Previous Post For Full Details)



Continued....

SO I hear the roar of BArts truck pull into the drive. I go out to the garage to meet and greet him. He hops out with a smile and says "Honey.....what happened?" I put my hands on my hips and say, "I guess I could ask you the same" He looks puzzled. "DO you have my keys?" He does a quick pat down..."No...hang on" He goes to the truck and opens the door and hops in. Out comes a clanging set of keys..my keys. Do I know my husband or what?

He asks why I didn't call? On his cell phone during church? How about because the night before at during the production of "My Fair Lady" his phone goes off, and then he fumbles around to silence it and pushes the speaker phone, then all we hear is the sound of someone blowing into the phone loudly...I try to give him the evil eye but it's too dark for him to see me. But we see the people in front of us give us the evil eye.....If looks could kill. It was an accident geesh, it's not liked they missed a whole lot, Eliza Dolittle was singing "I could of danced all night" but it was more like "I could sing all night"....the song went on forever.

SO all in all, I missed church because of BART but the house was clean and lunch was ready when he got home! Sorry for all the suspense but you have to admit, it makes it more exciting that way.

Sunday Confession...

SO it's Sunday morning. Sunday's are crazy around here and I'm guessing in most of your homes as well. We stayed out too late last night (9:30- I know real party animals) and you know the song about "Saturday"? It's a special day right? The day we get ready for Sunday? Well, the meaning of that song goes in one ear and out the other in our family. We always try to do too much on Saturday. And every Sunday morning it's the same conversation, "ok, no more date nights on Sat. Night, we're always late for church!" We have early church...No really, it's early. 8am. 8AM!!!!!

We are the family who's home looks like it was ransacked while they were at church but really, it was just us getting ready in a mad dash. Bart has meetings. Lots and lots of meetings on Sunday. I'm not complaining though. But, it's hard to get 3 kids ready in the morning by myself, especially when I procrastinate their showers, because I was on a date. And when I don't wash my hair the day before, it makes matters worse. Like this morning. ...... BArt was out of the house at 6:50am. I was rushing to get kids fed, bathed, blowdried, and dressed in their best. Then theres me. Last. Always last. I did get up and shower and dry my massive hair...takes awhile. then I got going on the kids. Bart calls from church at 7:50 "do you need help?".....long pause........"Well, I don't have time to chat, does that give a little hint?" ok, I didn't say that, I said " Ummm yeah I always need help" then I ran down my list of what I was doing at that very minuet, ending with "I can't talk I gotta go!!!" Well, Bart gets homw just in time to gather the children that I have prepared for him, and whisking them away to save us a seat in sacrament. At least one of us will look put together. So i hurry and put on my face....this may take awhile. I get dressed in "the same dress that you always wear mom!" (Co-co reminds me.) I run and get my primary bag and flip thru my lesson. I draw a few faces on paper as instructed by the manuel, so when you turn it one way it looks like a frown and when you flip it TADA! a happy face. I like the frown better right now. I write "Blessed are the Peacemakers" on more paper. My lesson will be great. I gather my treats for bribing my primary class into being reverent, and I'm ready to go. I head out the door. Oh, Silly me, I need keys!! Hmmm. Where are my keys? Keys where are you? This is a game Annie and I paly often when looking for her treasures. I can't find the keys. I check my purse, I double check where they should be hanging up, I check another purse, I check pant pockets. No keys. Bart is gone. I keep looking. I decide to clean while I look may as well be productive. 2 hrs. later...I'm here with a clean house typing on my blog...

Maybe I should of walked, it's not too far, but it's a little hot outside. Maybe I should of called for a ride? OH, that's right, everyone is at church! The house sure is quiet. I wonder how sacrament went with 3 kids all alone. Hee, Hee. Ok, I feel a little bad for him, but I can't help but think he has my keys!!!!! He does this a lot! I bet you anything he has my keys!!! because he talked about taking my car earlier!! He probably grabbed them then when I said no take your car, he forgot to leave them. I wonder if he even notices that I'm not there. And what about my primary class?!...Great now, I'm going to owe someone treats for sitting with my class...even though it's not my fault. I know your thinking.....what about a spare key? Yeah that would work if Bart hadn't already lost those too. If I am wrong and he doesn't have them I will gladly admit it and print a retraction. Keep watching for more details as the saga of my life continues.........



TO BE CONTINUED..........

WWMD? or What Would Martha Do?

Ok, picture overload huh? I just wanted to show you why I am a stress case. Do you see how many projects I have going on? And this isn't even all of them!! My dilemma right now, ir that I'm doing those flower balls and I run out of flowers, so I go to the store and buy all they have and still don't have enough to finish, so I wait.....And in the meantime I start another project, I have to be productive right? So I'm painting my hutch and while it's drying I'm fixing up the girls room...are we seeing a pattern here? Not sure what I want to do with this as far as paint color goes, I also am thinking about deco paging sp? the top of the vanity in some cute paper.. what do you think?
This is kinda the decorating direction I'm going in, I also have a ton of decorations in the closet. I took out the hutch, and I'm painting the walls gray, I've also toyed around with the idea of wall papering either the upper half of the wall or the lower with a cute damask print. Opinions?

I am spray painting crates the color of that flower pretty much, and they will be for toys.
Look at this mess?! De Ann are you freakin' out!!
I really want a cute white headboard for this bed I think.... And a cute chandelier to hang up.

My balls O' flowers! I want to attatch cute ribbon to these and hang them from the ceiling in the girl's room or bathroom..This is quite the project, don't start this if you are hoping to finish in one day, because you won't.
My rose lamp, it's been about 2 months since starting....it's still not done!
My great "Good Will" find. it was just brown stained and I painted it a straw color and destressed it next? cute knobs for hanging stuff...It's for the girls room too....

Bart built this for me 10 years ago!!! and I'm just now getting brave enough to paint it!! It was in the girls room, but I really want it in my kitchen to display cute dishes and random stuff.
De Ann look at this!! Did you know they made these? It makes spray painting so easy my finger doesn't hurt!! (you probably already knew about this though)
A cute color and cute knobs and we'll be good to go! I'll keep you posted on the pregress!

Just on my mind

So while I was out and about today, I stopped at our local bakery to pick up a quick sandwich, a girls' gotta eat right? So I order a turkey sandwich on whole wheat to go. I'm going to eat half and drop off the rest to Bart. So my order is up, and I get my sandwich and head outside to the tables to eat because I got a phone call and didn't want to be rude inside talking. So I'm chatting and open my box up to eat. I take a bite it's a bit dry, well there's nothing on it. I finish talking and head inside the shop to get some condiments and cool off. At the counter, they have the usual, ketch, mustard, mayo. I all of the sudden get grossed out. I'm not a big fan of Mayo, if I have to have it I want just a tad. But I'd rather not have it. It's warm inside the bakery and the packets of mayo are just sitting on the counter. I feel a hurl on deck. Warm mayo....ugh. So I eat my sandwich and on the way home I keep thinking about the mayo and then I think about processed cheese. Cheese on a shelf....Does this seem abnormal to anyone else? My kids and Bart love squeeze cheese, they would squirt it into their mouth straight from the can if I let them. Bart likes velveeta sandwiches...ewe. I don't know why I'm so bugged about this today. I'm utterly grossed out. I may never eat a lick of mayo again.
Then on my way home I see a man driving a "Mazda Miata" now, from what I'm told there are a few cars that are not meant for men, the new volkswagon bug and the mazda miata. I don't know if this is common knowledge amongst all people perhaps it will be my next poll, but becase I was told about this "vehicular faux pau" that so many men make, I can't help but get bugged when I see a man driving one of these cars. And I get even more irritated, when I have to pass them because their going so slow in their "girly car", that by the way, I would drive much faster. Forgive me if your male loved ones drive one of these cars, but it has been engrained in my head that this is just not meant to be, I will forgive them if you will forgive me. Just don't let me catch them driving these cars...I will razz them. At least do them a favor and tell them of their wrong doing, protect those you love.

Fathers Day

So Fathers Day this year was fairly quiet and relaxed. We pretty much just spent the day at home. I wanted to make it as relaxing for Bart as possible, but if you know my husband then you know, he's never relaxed unless he's asleep....

So we have 8am church right? Well The night before Bart asks if we need to set the alarm. Silly Bart, I'm a mom, I have a built in alarm. I'm going to wake up as soon as it's light out and make him a wonderful breakfast, then get the kids ready and go to church where they will sit perfectly during sacrament meeting while taking notes. Then my sharing time lesson will go exactly as planned. My class will behave and be reverent and I will receive a standing ovation for my spiritual and highly entertaining presentation. They will name me "Primary Teacher of the year". When we get home, I will gather my children around my husband while we shower him with perfectly wrapped gifts after which, I will proceed to feed him a delectable lunch on our finest china. After a quick massage, I will insist that he lay down for an hour or two, and catch up on some ZZZZ's afterall, he's such a busy guy, and today he has no meetings!!. When he wakes, surprise Dinner is ready!! It's divine, he's so full he needs a furniture dolly to move to the couch. He showers me with praise, I blush "it's nothing Dear, thanks for all you do for us." He says, "This is the best Father's Day ever!" Mission accomplished.... As if. I'm not that sweet! Apparently 3 hrs of church is a little too much for Annie!
Bartel and Co-co informed me while I was making dinner, that they were the "Food Police" who knew they reall exist?

The Happy Father in bed for lunch.
Extreme close-up of the kid's sweet wrapping skills.
" I Love being a Dad!!!"....(and my wife is hot!)...ok, I added that part.

Slacker....

So I have been MAJORLY neglecting my food blog. No, we haven't been eating out all this time, I have been just plain lazy! But as soon as I get my camera back tomorrow, I will try to up date it with a few recipes that I've been meaning to post like a yummy spicy pasta salad, spanish rice, bean and cheese sour cream enchiladas, and who knows what else! So don't give up on me yet!! I've just been in a schlump...is that a word even?

Help me find Myself.


I seem to have lost myself, can you help me find me please?
I think I’d lose my feet if they didn’t come attached to my knees.

I’ve forgotten what I like, what it is I like to do.
If you ask me how I used to be, I haven’t got a clue.

Sometimes I find a moment, when I really have time to look.
And I think I saw a glimpse today, a few moments is all it took.

So I keep a running list, of the things I want to be.
So when all my work is done, I can take a look at me.

What's in your car?

SO I was cleaning out my car the other day and I was pulling out such random things. So I wondered to myself " Self, is this normal stuff to have in a car?" Here are things I pulled out that day and in times past, do they look familiar to you?

Floss-not surprising
Toothpaste-for our scuba masks of course
Cuticle Cream- for those pesky dry Arizona cuticles
Bag of returns-that will probably never be returned
2 DVD's to return to Hollywood Video..over due by 2 months (along with a late fee big enough to feed a small 3rd world country)
3 pairs of Annie's shoes-a girl can never have to many of these
About 100 little rubberbands for Annie's Hair-Bart hates these
A roll of toilet paper...just in case
A half eaten apple-ewe
A half empty can of coke zero
A few Walmart receipts
Scuba Fins
Snorkel
Co-co's bathrobe
Crushed fishy crackers
A handful of pens
A couple "To Do" lists
Two C.D. cases
A pair of headphones
And a partridge in a pear tree...

Ok, Fess up...what's in your car right now?

What Time Is It?....Summertime!!

Oh, things are heating up here! We had a short cold spell (50 degrees and lots of rain) well, cold for us anyway, but now we're back on track with highs in the 100's!! The kids are out of school and swimming like fish, their already a nice golden brown (sounds like aomething yummy huh?) And I'm already counting down until school starts again!! We do have a few fun things planned this summer. Bart and I are getting scuba certified!! We had our first class Saturday and continue Tomorrow night! Oh how I love squeezing into a wet suit!! I have to admit I'm nervous and I'm doing this for Bart, Man does he owe me...I'm thinking Dancing lessons together? So anyhow, We just came back from youth confrence in Flagstaff this weekend, a nice escape from the heat. I guess some people were cold at night, but I was quite toasty in my trailer! I tried not to rub it in. We had a great time at the observatory in Flagstaff we saw the planet saturn and all it's rings thru a 100 yr. old telescope!! We also did a rope course suspended in the air with harnesses...Crazy huh? Bart and I balanced holding onto each other on small planks of wood, it was kinda scary, but awesome to have each other to hold onto and nothing else. (ahhhh) Then I got carsick, what trip to the mountains would be complete without me getting queasy? I seriously was laying in the dirt and ant infested pine needles on the side of the road while BArt dropped people off at the camp spot. It was kinda weird and I'm sure strange looking to see a girl laying in the dirt like she was dead. People drove by without inquiring though, so maybe it's a common thing up there.
So this weekend went well, also we went to Bartel's First Piano recital. It was all boys performing!!! Cool HUH? They all did so good, especially my son (of course). He got a cool ribbon with his name on it and lots of compliments. His timing was great and he didn't even need his book! He loves the piano, I never have to ask him to practice, if anything, I'm usually telling him "Ok, let's wrap it up" .

So lots going on, and lots more to come, the beach in July, maybe 2 times that month, Mexico, for our dives and I have to go see Grandma in St. George, lots of swimming, and popsicles, and B.B.Q's. Should be fun, hopefully we don't die of heat exhaustion! Bartel on his water skateboard
Co-co playing "Mermaid"- she plugs her nose like mommy!!
Annie...just being grouchy with a water snake
Bartel and his buddy "Zach" discussing treble Clefts?
So serious during his "Indian Song"
Ribbons from Miss Smith- good job boys!!