Happy Birthday Ryan!


Today is one of my best friends birthday. She is a sorority sister (KAT), a wife to a cutey pie hubby, and mom to gorgeous puppy Cash. She is such a supportive and wonderful girlfriend. Here are a few things I love about her:

1. She has an infectious laugh and a killer smile.
2. She's smart as a whip, and could run any company as long as they kept her supplied with Diet Cokes.
3. She was the president of our sorority and kicked ass at it. She still loooves Theta.
4. She has the most gorgeous skin on earth.
5. She tells the truth but is also very encouraging.
6. She loves the show Cops.
7. She can fish, and be sporty but she is a girly girl.
8. She has been every size and gorgeous every time.
9. She doesn't really drink but she can hang with the best of them!
and finally,
10.She loves her girlfriends!

Happy Birthday RYNAL!

Friday Fun- Office conversation


I am loving my part time job. It seems to be the best of both worlds. I get to work and be with Landon. I feel way more balanced and the extra money is really helping!
This is my first time being in an office in YEARS. I had built up that I would no know how to do anything, but I picked it all up in no time. I was so silly to worry so much! (Hello...turn worry into wonder) I am now feeling a part of things. Here's the conversation between me and the secretary (who works harder than anybody) this week.

Me: Tracy, the paper shredder wants to see you.

Tracy: Why? What's wrong with him?

Me: He said he's sad.

Tracy: Really? Why?

Me: He said I shoved too much paper in him.

(Tracy gets up and follows me to the copy room)

Tracy: Well that's not good.


Me: I told him to take it like a man, but he wouldn't listen.

Am I living an episode of "The Office?"

In the Life of Five Year Olds

Dear In the life of five year olds...I need an invite! You always leave such nice comments and I want to be as nice back! Let me in!!!

Sanity Break- Shoot!



Look at me! Do I look HOT or what? I am tough I tell ya. I have to say that hubby is a hunter and a shooter. I don't like guns all that much but I can be sporty if I get to wear the right outfit or carry the right accessories. I loved these hunter green ear muffs. I'm sure they're called something else!
I have to tell you this was a real sanity break. Shooting the gun, stepping outside of my comfort zone and focusing on hitting the sporting clays as they whizzed through the air. Hubby brought me a lighter gun so I felt in control, but when I first shot it I was scared! Then I got the hang of it.

What's great about learning something new is it makes you feel young. I felt sassy! Can you tell?


Look at hubby:



How cute is he in his khakis? He went to bed early tonight with a horrible cold. make his day and visit his blog tomorrow! The Sporting Life Society, is very cool. Maybe your hubby would like it!

Fabulous Find- Yummy Tummy Tank Tops


I have made a great discovery! I may not have cured cancer, but gosh darn it this feels pretty great. The Yummy Tummy tank top is a down right miracle. Notice in the pictures, this really does make the pregnant tummy disappear. I got them in white and blank but they come in every color! This is way better than Spanx, it's a long tank. With Spanx going to the bathroom is annoying but these are perfect!



I found them at a boutique near me, but you can get yours at Hip Undies. I really think this is my most fabulous find yet!

Easter Review- It was the best of times


Easter was a really hectic but fun day. I woke up at 5:30am to start the coconut cake (cue applause) but it was so fabulous I am telling you it was worth it. It is made with cake flour (never heard of it but HELLO! Amazing!) Then I made the fritata and set it aside to heat up later. We headed to church and had many compliments on our color coordination (thank you very much!)
The sermon was amazing, so inspiring and tear jerking. Then we headed back home to have our brunch. I love the way the table turned out (set the night before). I have learned the hard way if I don't do the decor the night before I feel rushed and have no fun. It's my favorite part!
Before we sat however, we had fondue. My family was like a bunch of vultures!!! They love their food but that blue cheese fondue was the best thing I've ever had. I blanched the veggies (asparagus, french beans, broccoli etc) which made it way better. I also got olive bread and cut it into cubes. Dipping that in the blue cheese fondue was UNREAL. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Good! I highly recommend this. I can't wait to do it again. Make sure you get the fancy strong blue cheese. It's worth it!

Had to show you how much Landon loved his chair and froggy!!!

All in all a fabulous time! Happy Easter everyone!
PS: saw Steve Perry again last night!!!! He's stalking me! HA!

Fabulous TV- Real Housewives of NYC

Good Lord. Watched it once and I was hooked. I love The Real Housewives of Orange County, so addictive and train-wreckish. Now I have a new show to talk about and have fun with. What is it about seeing the way other people live that is so intriguing? Is it their flaws? Their fantastic fantasy lives? Their dramas? Are we wishing we were them? Dreading that we are? Glad we're not?
I'm all for living your own life your own way but this is just cotton candy at the circus. I buy it, eat it and love it.

Here's the breakdown football fans:

Jill: Owns fabric company and is on hubby #2. Has a daughter struggling with weight and a relationship with her step dad. Jill will kill you on the tennis court if you don't invite you to a party.

Bethanny: Wants to be a healthy food chef martha stewart type. Abrasive and annoying. Has a bald boyfriend she is trying to rope into marrying her.

Alex: works in visual merchandising. Weird chick married and obsessed with fashion and style although she has none. Also obsessed with her hubby. Two small kids raised by a hot French nanny. Look out!


Romona
: cheesy blonde who buys clothing inventory and sells to discount stores. Marshalls? Who knows. Daughter thinks she's a slutty dresser. Guess what? She's right. Hubby tries to pick up other girls. Cute! NOT.

LuAnn: don't let the cheesy name fool you. She married a count so she's a countess! Two kids in their teens, she has some cable show...she seems funny, and a little rude!

Maybe it's the Sociology major in me but I think it is amazing to see what other people do in their daily lives. How they handle stress, work, their families...Chocked full of information. Tune in! I am!

PS Easter went off without a hitch! More on that later!

Fabulous Holiday's- Easter Menu



Here are all the recipes I am using for our Easter Brunch. I am getting the Ham from Honeybaked, ordered it Monday.

Ham

Blue Cheese Fondue with Crudite

***Be sure to use a rubber spatula when stirring in the cheese mixture. A whisk will break up the cheese, causing the fondue to turn bluish-gray.
Ingredients:

3/4 lb. Cambozola cheese, rind removed,
cheese crumbled

3/4 lb. pungent blue cheese, rind removed,
cheese crumbled

5 tsp. cornstarch

1/4 cup dry white wine

2 tsp. minced fresh thyme

3/4 cup heavy cream

Pinch of cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper

5 fresh chives, snipped

2 to 3 lb. assorted vegetables, such as blanched
green beans, broccolini and asparagus, peeled
baby carrots and radishes

1/2 loaf crusty bread, cut into cubes
Directions:

In a bowl, combine the cheeses and cornstarch. Set aside.

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine the wine and thyme and simmer for 1 minute. Whisk in the cream, cayenne and black pepper. When the cream mixture begins to bubble, reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the cheese mixture 1/3 cup at a time, stirring with a rubber spatula until the cheese is completely melted before adding more.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

Fill a fondue pot with 1 inch of simmering water and place the ceramic insert over the pot. Transfer the cheese fondue to the insert and stir in the chives. Serve warm with assorted vegetables and bread. Serves 6 to 8.

Asparagus and Potato Fritata:



Ingredients:

3/4 lb. thin asparagus

3 to 4 Tbs. olive oil

2 large green onions, chopped

6 to 8 small red potatoes, unpeeled, cut into
slices 1/8 inch thick

1 tsp. salt, plus pinch of salt

1/2 tsp. chopped fresh tarragon

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

2 Tbs. snipped fresh chives, plus chive blossoms
for garnish (optional)

3 Tbs. unsalted butter

11 eggs

1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

About 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1 bunch watercress, tough stems removed
Directions:

Cut or snap off the tough ends from the asparagus and place the spears on a steamer rack over boiling water. Cover and steam until tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from the steamer and cut into 1-inch lengths. Set aside.

In a large nonstick sauté pan over medium heat, warm 3 Tbs. olive oil. Add the green onions and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the potatoes, the 1 tsp. salt, tarragon and pepper and sauté until the potatoes glisten, about 3 minutes, adding the remaining 1 Tbs. oil if needed to prevent sticking. Cover and cook until the potatoes are nearly tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat to high and cook, stirring constantly, until the potatoes are browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in the chives and asparagus and remove from the heat.

Preheat an oven to 375°F.

In a nonstick fry pan or ovenproof sauté pan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk the eggs until blended. Stir in the pinch of salt and the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and season with pepper. Pour the eggs into the hot pan. Stir gently in the center and, using a fork or spatula, carefully lift the edges and gently push the eggs to one side of the pan, tilting the pan slightly to allow the uncooked eggs to flow underneath. Cook until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Spread the vegetables evenly over the eggs. Sprinkle the Swiss cheese on top. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake until the eggs are set and the cheese melts, about 15 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the size of the pan and whether the vegetables are still hot.

Remove from the oven and let stand for a few minutes, then cut into wedges and serve, garnished with watercress sprigs and chive blossoms. Serves 8 to 10.

Fresh Bread

Coconut Cake

Frosted Easter Cookies


Sounds so good my mouth is WATERING!!!

Fabulous Holidays- Easter Outfits!

Easter is my Christmas. I love everything about it. From the spring colors and hats, to the feeling of renewed hope and optimism it brings. I usually start planning our Easter outfits a month in advance, and because the weather here is so amazing (supposed to be 88 degrees on Easter Sunday!), I am really going for it!

Hubby is wearing this:


With this:

















and these:







I'm wearing this:






and Landon's wearing this!



















I like to keep us all in the same color scheme for pictures. It looks so much better that way. So blues and greens this year! I normally wear a much more preppy Lilly-ish outfit but I'm feeling a little funky and sassy so I'm going to sass it up! May change my mind if I find the right hat! Then I might have to get a whole new outfit!!!! I'll post the Easter Brunch menu after I finalize it!

Wedding Cakes-The Tackier the better




Impoverished Preppy has assigned me the task of finding the perfect wedding cake for Clemsongirl to run off and marry her new fiance with. Have you read her post about the man who proposed to her at Wal Mart? Who cares that she's already married with kids. I think she should marry the toothless sexpot. He told her she'd never have to work again! Unless you count cleaning the trailer...So that nobody will get their mullets in a knot I have found many wedding cake options:

If the groom is into fishing, there's Sid the Salmon:












And if the bride likes Hello Kitty?



















Or if Clemsongirl is a real cat lady well then...











Or since those kids are so wacky, eloping and all how about this?








But whatever you decide...














I've got the perfect cake topper!

Kindness of Bloggers




I've said it before and I'll say it again. You guys are the best. I love being a part of the blogging community. Just Us Chickens was so sweet, she knew I was down, and that I had Landon, and sent me the most FABULOUS box of hand me downs ever. All Ralph Lauren and in mint condition. What a gift. Landon is going to look so handsome! Thank you so Much!!!!!



We had serious modem issues which is why no St. Patty's post. We went to my neighbor Sheilas last night and had a fabulous St.Pattys Pot Luck! I was in charge of salad so I felt I had it easy considering it's already green. I did fancy it up a little though. (green beans, broccoli, cilantro, cucumber etc)



Have you tried this salad dressing? I LOVE it.




Landon had a ball running around with the kids who were there. Grandmommie and Poppy are coming in this week and so is Aunt Ninky. It's going to be a wonderful Easter. We're also celebrating Poppy's 80th bday! I can hardly believe it. He looks so young and is so sharp!

Fabulous Five For Friday- My Top Work Out Songs!


One thing I love about working out is the music on my Ipod. There are times when I really want to get off the elliptical but low and behold the mother of all workout songs comes on. At that point I amp it up and as Emeril says: "Kick it up a notch!" I thought I would share my Top Five Work Out Songs. I think I may actually freak you out with a few of these!

1. Mama Said Knock You Out! By LL Cool J

"Don't call it a come back! I been here for years!" Don't you love an angry work out! Arrrrr!

2. Instant Replay- By Dan Hartman

You must have a little disco in your workout!

3. Here We Go- N Sync

Gotta have a little boy band action to round out the top five.

4. I'm You're Man- By Wham!

This is so 80's it's insane but it gets me going! "Baby, I'm you're man...don't you know that!"

5. He's All Over Me- Whitney Houston from The Preachers Wife Soundtrack

Have you ever tried working out to Gospel music? It is so amazing!

and one more!

6. The Main Event- Barbra Streisand

My all time favorite!!!




I am tagging MommyVents, Magnolia Mama, Keeks and Brie, Tres Poshe Preppy and Caffeine Court to list their top five workout songs!

Hippity Hoppity--Easter Gifts For Baby!

I know that Landon doesn't care about candy and Easter eggs, so an Easter basket might not be his favorite. Instead he's getting this cute chair...






with his name embroidered on the top. This is Pottery Barns "My First Anywhere Chair" in green gingham. Isn't it the cutest!!??

I got him a huge stuffed frog and it will sit in the chair by the front door from the Easter Bunny. It's going to be adorable! My Mom and Step Dad and sister are coming for Easter and I am so excited!

We are having Easter Brunch here after church, here's the menu:

Honey Roasted Ham
Egg Strata (have to pick exact recipe)
Blue Cheese Fondue with crudite
Fresh Bread
Berry Pie
Easter Cookies


I'll post more on that later and my decorations...I'm kind of freaked out by the Easter in May deal and it being so close to St. Pattys!

Oh Stevie! Is that really you?

I had the thrill of my life yesterday. A wonderful celebrity sighting of STEVE PERRY. You know Steve Perry! He was in the band Journey! Anyhoo...I usually do NOT approach the celebs I see, but I could not help myself. I went up to him and told him I love him and his voice. I tried to walk away but he wanted to chat! So we did!
It's funny that I love him because I really like Stevie Wonder, George Benson etc. There are some songs though, that just make me bawl. That is how I feel about Steve Perry singing Foolish Heart.




I mean I love this man and he was the sweetest. Great celebrity sighting!!!
Ps my first video posting! I feel so high tech!

Dear Gap, I Love You-Fabulous Finds All Over!




I needed a new pair of jeans and although I love my Seven Jeans, I wanted to spend a little less money and maybe get a few other things. Let me just say I have not been to the Gap in a while, I've been cheating at Marshalls. Can't help it. Sometimes I get sick of digging and so last week I went to the Gap.
Just when I thought customer service was dead and that you have to be a size 4 to get any attention, the salespeople at the Gap came to my rescue. They treated me like a queen. Forget that, they treated me like a princess. No, wait they treated me like a celebrity. A celebrity who has a publicist who called ahead of time and threatened them that if they didn't kiss my ass they'd be fired and then killed. I was catered to, and spoiled and I loved it.
With all that attention, I knew I'd find a great pair of jeans, simply because they wouldn't give up on me!



I got these Double Button Curvy Boot cut jeans. They are the kind you wear with flats and are very trouserish which I LOVE.

Here is the back of them. Love these pockets!





Since I was on a roll, I got a great trench coat (every designer has this on a woman's basics fashion list), I got this one in red and it is fierce (to quote Christian from Project Runway.



I walked out of that store feeling great. I love you Gap. You sure know how to treat a girl...fabulous! PS Kikibee and Kenady work at the Gap and this makes me love them all the more!

My Hair Likes To Go Out


I looooove getting my hair done. Not the salon part, (it is nice to have some magazine reading time though), the part where I walk out of the salon like I'm in a magazine ad, hair bouncing and looking fabulous. There I am with my newly highlighted (blonded as I call it),blown dry, and styled hair, flipping it around. I just can't help myself! I always make sure I dress up a little to go to the salon, so I can look cute!

Then there would be a let down. Oh, I'm heading home with my hair. My hair would become depressed, even fall a little. "You mean we're not going out?" Nope, just going to make dinner at home...

Well, forget that! Now when I get my hair done, I do it on a Saturday. Then I line up a babysitter and plan a date night. My hair likes to go out after it's been done! I had everything going smoothly until I talked to hubby after leaving the salon. "Babysitter canceled." I almost couldn't hear him through all my new blonded, fluffy, and fabulous hair. My hair and I just went limp. I got off the phone and tried to make my hair and I feel better. No matter what I told us, we could not be happy. I had to take action.

I called our neighbors (who have a teenage boy and girl) and asked if Sarah (teenage girl and my some time babysitter) could do it. No dice, she had plans. When I hung up I told my hair that was it. "Stop pouting, I'll take you out to church in the morning", to which my hair said "I won't look the same in the morning! It's NOT FAIR!" And refused to talk to me the rest of the way home.

The phone rang again. I thought it was hubby consoling me. It was Sarah's teenage brother Isaac. "I'll do it!"; he said. My hair must have overheard because suddenly a curl leapt forward and brushed my cheek. "I know", I said. "I want to go out too..." I took Isaac up on his offer. He didn't have to do more then raid the fridge because we put Landon to bed before we left.

My hair and I went out to a fabulous dinner and we couldn't have been happier. Hubby was there too. Here we are (me and my hair) pictured above. As you can see we make quite a pair.

Turning Worry into WONDER BREAD!



Our preacher at church (Jimmy) has deemed this year, the year we turn worry into wonder. Instead of having fear rule your life, have faith and curiosity about your circumstances. This is hard to do, especially under very trying circumstances. Still I love the idea of it and what it represents.

We showed up to church last Sunday after hearing all the bad news mentioned in my earlier post, and were shocked at what was handed out to the church members. Wonder Bread. That's right. Well, apparently they don't make wonder bread anymore so they had a bakery make fresh bread and made their own "wonder" labels.

This was such a wacky yet magical thing they did. It just warmed our hearts, leaving with our own loaf of wonder bread! Jimmy had called one bakery in LA to do the job and said "Hi, we have this funky little church and we're thinking of making our own "Wonder Bread", I know it sounds a little crazy..." That's when they guy on the phone said: "I know that church! I was there last week! I love it!"

Well, I guess that's how things work when God's involved! Our church is pretty small...it's amazing he'd been there!

Do you have a worry into wonder story?

Lemons into Lemonade!



Can you feel it? Spring is here! It's coming! Remember my lemon tree? Look it at! It's going insane!






I am determined to make lemons into lemonade. There are so many wonderful things to celebrate in life.


One of my favorite quotes of all time is from the movie "Auntie Mame". Rosalind Russel always says "life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death." To me life is all about perspective. You can look at your life as one long To Do list where you are constantly struggling, or as one great adventure where you are experiencing all life has to offer.
Even the worst things that have happened to us have deepened our friendships and family ties. We would never take these experiences back, they have literally brought us to a new reality where we are more interested in really caring for our friends and family then going through the motions.
We are "turning worry into wonder" over here in our house. More on that tomorrow on a special Saturday Post.

Get Smart! Out-smarting a Picky Eater!

I have achieved the impossible. Somehow I can still get Landon to eat a well balanced menu of foods. Okay, I had to make some concessions...is strawberry yogurt a fruit? Here are the things that are working for me right now!

Breakfasts-
When I first put Landon in the chair he gets cranky if his food isn't ready asap, so the first thing I do is throw a handful of Cheerios on his tray and sometimes a few bite size pieces of Earths Best Organic Cereal Bars.
Then we have either
Oatmeal, with either apple sauce or
or
whole grain waffle
or we may begin regular cereal since he tries to eat mine!
He won't do eggs but who cares.. I don't like them either!

Lunch and dinner

Landon will not do a veggie. I have tried! But he'll still do baby food veggies! Doc said he was fine with it and he's eating more veggies than most kids!
I also either give him organic Black Forest Ham, or Turkey
or I cook ground chicken or turkey burgers a head of time and reheat
or
Organic Chicken hot dogs and mac and cheese
or
Aidelles sausages - Spinach and Feta, or chicken apple...he LOOOVES them and they're super easy. I even picked up a package of the meatballs they make.

He liked them but not as much as hubby did! Hard not to snack when you feed the baby!

Weight Watchers- I did it in a minute!


Remember that Hall & Oats song "You did it in a minute!?" You know..."You did it, you did it, you did it, you did it, you did it in a minute!" Enough messing around. I have no time for meetings, so I signed up for Weight Watchers on line. I had to do it after seeing Magnolia Mama's post about the woman who was on the Joy Fit Club on the Today show. She was talking about having Food AMNESIA...I was like huh?
Until they explained. She thought she hadn't eaten all day so she had a HUGE dinner. Meanwhile she had pancakes for breakfast, mac n cheese for lunch...she just FORGOT! This is me. I eat without thinking and Weight Watchers makes you accountable.
So I signed up on line. It took all of three seconds. They have something to track what you eat and it calculates the points for you! Also it sets your weight goals for you. Oh come on! This is too easy and too fabulous. You must join me if you need to lose that permanently pregnant tummy!!!
PS Check out me new addition! Fabulous Mom Tip of the Week! Email me if you have any!!!

Sulking in Samoas


I just want to say what sweet blogger friends I've made. You took to the time to leave heartfelt comments and words of encouragement...you made me feel so much better. Even tonight, as I "sulk with my Samoas" (DAMN YOU GIRL SCOUTS AND YOUR EVIL COOKIES!), and watch Justin Timberlake in concert that I Tivo'd a hundred years ago (LOVE YOU JT), I know you guys are wishing me well. My blonde dog and two cats are with me on the couch, Hubbys in the clubhouse (Garage), and Landon's fast asleep. I am trying to keep a positive outlook.
Let me take a moment to say I LOVE reading your blogs. I feel like I know you guys. I can hear your voices in your posts. I love to log on and read what's happening in your lives. It's been so fun sharing, laughing, and supporting each other. This is a whole world of it's own and I am proud and grateful to be a part of it.
If I don't know you already and you've been reading, take a moment and say HI! Tell me who you are and where you're from!? Thank you for being a part of this amazing journey!

Not so Fabulous- But Some Words of Inspiration


This past week has been not good. NOT GOOD AT ALL. It started with a business deal going bad and them trying to stick me with a $1400 bill I should NOT be paying for. It gives me a pit in my stomach every time I think about them coming after me for this money.

Then the call that Landon's grandpa has prostate cancer. It runs in the family and it finally hit him (his father died of it). So depressing. They caught it early but it's an aggressive strain. I HATE the word cancer. It just is the scariest word ever.

And last Landon has to have surgery some time this summer. Sweet Landon is no stranger to surgery, he's had five or so...but we have been able to stave it off this past year until now. This will be his future. More surgeries. It just depresses me so much sometimes. Landon was born with a blood clot in his right arm. They managed to save it after surgery and skin grafting. More on this whole deal in another post.

So I've been feeling pretty down and trying to keep a happy face for my baby boy. He's so cute it's easy to do!

I was cleaning out my desk and I found a little card I bought so many years ago I can't even recall where. I intended on sending it to someone but kept holding on to it because I loved what it said.

After all these years I finally know why I saved it. I needed it today...and you may too. So here it is:

"If you ever feel lost, here is a simple way
to find yourself on a path for hope:
Go out to a far place where the grass grows tall and wild.
Be silent...
Be patient...
Watch the way the wind combs the fields.
the way the birds and insects go where they will.
Stay until you understand that
freedom
is yours...
You were born a creature of possibilities.
And for everything that ever hurt you, dismissed your dreams,
brought you despair, or bound you to some small idea of what
or who you might be...
There are a thousand other things saying...
Welcome to the world. Belong to it, and it belongs to
YOU."

They say bad things happen in three's so I'm hoping this is it for a while. This quote above gives me hope and inspiration. Good things have been happening too...I'm going to focus in those things! I am posting this daffodil picture because they refuse to be depressed! They're just so damn cute and optimistic!