Sorry Mike...

So, God decided that dogging weathermen was not so Christmasy, so he sent a blizzard.  Sorry Mike Morgan, but in the future, if you could tone it down just a notch, I'd appreciate it.    

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! 

Mike Morgan is a drama queen.

I apologize for all of you "out of towners" who get to hear my rant against local weathermen.  I should preface this by saying that I, like all good Oklahoma-bred children, were taught that Gary England IS the supreme authority on all things Oklahoma weather related.  I believe this with all my heart.    I *stormcloud* Gary England. 

Have you ever noticed that Mike Morgan is just wound a little too tight when it comes to weather.   Seriously, if it's April or May, and you want to watch something on NBC,  Fughetta 'bout it.    Mike Morgan will be on there flappin his yap about dime sized rain drops in some county 80 miles away.  He preempts more tv shows than any other network weatherman around here. 

That's why when channel 9 preempts something, you know it's serious. If Gary breaks in, it's to say... Get off your hiney and get in the 'fraidy hole because your house might blow away.  

Anyway, same rule applies to winter weather.  I know we get some nasty ice storms, but I remember last year when Mike Morgan predicted 1-3" of ice and it didn't even rain...   All it did was make everyone rush to the store like it was the apocalypse and stock up on canned goods and bottled water, while it takes me 30 minutes to make it out of the store with some toilet paper.   Last night, MM said that there was a "100% possibility of a winter storm".   (Isn't there always a 100% possibility?)  Meanwhile, the weatherman in shining armor said only a 80% chance of precipitation  (not even snow for sure) and nothing about accumulation.

 Mr. Morgan came out with this prediction today....

And guess who's out of toilet paper...

Saving you the embarrassment...

It's been cold the past couple of days... I'm sure my "northern" friends are laughing at me, but the wind chill yesterday morning was -5.   I wore so many layers I could barely get my pants buttoned. (At least, I'm telling myself it's because of the layers.)  

Yesterday, I was pulling out of the parking lot to go home when husband called.  I took my glove off to answer my phone (iphone drawback) and quickly put it back on because it was sooooo cold.   We finished the conversation and rather than take my glove off again to hang up the phone, I quickly brainstormed my other options to end the call...  (Unfortunately "just wait until he hangs up and the phone disconnects" wasn't one that came to mind at the time.) 

Just so you know, you can't hang up the iphone with your nose. 

But, you're welcome, to all those people who watched my attempt to do so in 5 o'clock traffic yesterday.  I'm sure it was amusing.

A is for Apple

The other day, I was reading to Avery from a past issue of Elle Decor (ok, so we were just looking at pictures)  when we stopped on a 2-page spread of a kitchen.

Apple!  Avery exclaimed.  I looked all over the double page and didn't see any apples.  Interested to see what she thought was an Apple, I asked where were the apples.  In the bottom corner, barely visible was a tiny bowl filled with apples.  

My first reaction was, "Whew, she's not blind like her daddy."  (Ha!  Love you Husband!)  and secondly, this girl is obsessed with apples.  
Apples are the second most requested food for little A, right behind cheerios (which actually sounds more like "turtle" when she says it).  Heaven forbid if she's in the kitchen when you open the refrigerator door and she happens to see an apple in the crisper.  APPLE APPLE APPLE!!   Mommy, APPLE!  Dada, Apple!  APPLE!!!  So needless to say we are never short on apples around here. 

Since honeycrisp apples (our favorite) are in season, we've been buying the 3-lb boxes so that we always have them on hand.  And even though Avery could eat apples everyday, I get tired of them and look for ways to spruce them up. 

Here's one of my favorite apple dips... cream cheese makes almost everything better.

Carmel Apple Dip

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened (Neufchatel Cream Cheese works well too)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

BEAT cream cheese in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add brown sugar and vanilla; beat until well blended.

SPOON into serving bowl.

SERVE with apple wedges for dipping.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear...

Forget what you learned from Buddy the Elf... it's not true... Now, it may be true if the statement was "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear in the proper venue."  I could go along with that.

However, singing loud Christmas carols is NOT the best way to spread Christmas cheer when you're singing at the top of your lungs in Target while meandering down the baking aisle at a snail's pace when I'm creeping behind you just praying I can get to the unsweetened cocoa before you get to the chorus of Jingle Bells. 

*Warning: Going into a store to pick up 4 things and spending over an HOUR trying to get around people standing/singing in the middle of aisles may cause Bah Humbug-ness. 

About time...

So, I finally built a bridge and got over my anger at the internets eating my first halloween post attempt.  I won't lie, this is probably going to be the readers digest of the first version, because well... Bloggy just hasn't earned my trust yet.... "Draft saved" isn't enough for me anymore... 

Moving right along *snap snap*  (Phi Theta shout out)  On to the halloween pictures! 

The weekend before Halloween, my parents came to visit.  Since we were not sure of our Halloween plans, we decided to do a costume dress rehearsal so Nana and Poppy (or Puppy) could see the cute little zebra. 

I even added a bow so everyone would know that she's a GIRL zebra.

Pretty successful costume experience... no tears or attempts at undressing.

Then came the fall carnival at Avery's daycare.  The kids were encouraged to dress in their costumes.  However, something had changed in the last 5 days and we ended up like this...

Mad/Sad Zebra

Then came the Great Pumpkin Festival.  Avery is obsessed with all things pumpkin.  Upon arrival she went charging towards a pile of pumpkins screaming "Punkin Punkin Punkin!!!!"  Ryan sang,  Avery got a tatoo, good times were had by all. 

The Pied Piper for the Children of the Corn.

The "punkin" tatoo which she LOVED.

*side note* Do you know how HARD it is to take a picture of a toddler's hand?!?  I mean, I spent a good half hour chasing her around and this was the best shot I got.

Then on Sunday, we decided to make the trek to D-town to go to  my home church's trunk-or-treat.  But when Avery heard she'd have to wear the costume again she wasn't happy.

I promised her that I wouldn't make her wear the hood, and she went along with it.... mostly.

I can't believe you're making me do this AGAIN!

Who knew colored rice was so much fun?!?

I have many more pictures, but my internet connection has to walk knee-deep in the snow both ways to get us on the world wide web, so it makes uploading pictures a royal pain.  (Now you see why the blog and I had a lover's spat?)

Dang it...

I FINALLY made my halloween post.... and then the internets ate it.

RUDE!

It's like real life Etsy!!

I reeehhheeealllly wanna go to this on Saturday, but I think my day is pretty booked...  Someone please go and tell me all of the beautiful things you found.  And, while you're there, eat an Irma's burger and a Mary Poppins cupcake from Cuppies and Joe for me... but don't tell me about those... I might punch you in a fit of jealousy.   *really missing the City right about now*

The Girlie Show

PS.  I saw that Jessica totally called me out about the lack of Halloween posting.  Pops just emailed me some pictures from the weekend, so that post is coming tonight or tomorrow.  For everyone else who really wants some fall time cuteness, check out Parker in his adorable little man sweater.  Seriously, I'm dying from cute overload!

Halloween pictures are forth coming...

While you wait, here is something delicious to eat...  !Me Gusta Comer!

Tamale Pie
1 pound ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can Rotel
1 cup chopped green bell peppers
3 cups (6oz can) French fried onions
1 package corn muffin mix (plus everything you need to make the corn muffin mix)
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Brown beef in large skillet; drain. Stir in taco seasoning, corn, rotel, bell peppers, and 1 ½ cups fried onions. Pour mixture into 2-quart oblong baking dish. (or an 8x8 pan)

Prepare corn muffin mix according to package directions. Spoon batter around edge of dish. Bake, uncovered, 20 minutes* or until corn bread is golden. Top with cheese and remaining 1 ½ cups onions.
Bake, uncovered 1 minute or until onions are golden.

*I ended up baking it for more like 25-30 min. before the cornbread was done, but I'm begining to think my oven has issues.

(a note:  if you do not like spicy food, or have small children who will be eating this, you might want to use the mild Rotel.   That said, my 19 month old ate this like there was no tomorrow.  She didn't mind the spice, I guess.)

Jealous????

You should be.

Momma, was I two when I was born??

This is what I imagine my daughter saying to me one day...  and it makes me sad. 

Little A was born into my whirlwind of a life.  She was born on the Thursday of Spring Break in my final semester of law school.  I was back in class a week later, and back at work a month after that.  After graduation, I spent the next two months studying, stressing, and crying over the bar exam.  After the bar exam, I spent the next 6 weeks stressing out over the fact that a single test (that I was sure I flunked) would determine my professional future.  When we finally thought the "hard times" were over, I found myself among the unemployed in May. 
Ya know what though?? Everyone told me that having a baby is stressful.  In most cases, that's probably true, but for me, Avery was a breath of fresh air.  She calmed my nerves and made me blissfully happy.  She is exactally what I needed and came at the perfect time. 

We would try to schedule family pictures around BarBri classes and RG's summer schedule.  We'd say, Oh, we'll go to the park and take pictures, but it was such a hectic time, that we didn't get to do many of the things we wanted, much less take pictures.  We DID manage to take some pictures though, of just everday life....  And then our computer ate them.    Crashed, hard-drive destroyed...  pictures, videos of the first few days, gone forever.

I cried.  I'd cry again right now, but I'm at work.... and, Fergie says big girls don't cry. 

Thankfully, I had already printed some pictures from snapfish and we have pictures taken in the studio for Christmas and whatnot.  But I still feel awful that we lost some of those early pictures and videos. 

So, my new years resolution (2 months early) is to take pictures.  Lots and lots of pictures.  And print those bad boys off!!  A changes so much everyday that I don't want to miss a thing!

On that note, here are a few pictures of baby A for you to enjoy!

Graduation Day - 2 months old

First Rice Cereal - 4 months old

Shocking! 4 months old

First OU Game - 6 months old

8 months old

Christmas Pictures 2008 - 8 months

Dear Oklahoma Wind:

Ok, I know you've got a reputation to uphold.  What, with being included in the first line of the state song, I realize you've got some pretty big shoes to fill.   I honestly don't mind you "sweeping down the plain" (preferably on days that I am not wearing a skirt) on occasion.   Sometimes you even help relieve some of the outrageous summer heat.  But let's be honest...

You're not a tornado
You're not a hurricane

Could you please stop pretending to be something you're not?  I realize that other wind related disasters get all the press and maybe you're just starved for attention, but seriously, the gale force winds for days on end have got to stop.  Making my car door almost impossible to open and threatening to strew the contents of my file folder across the city is completely unacceptable.  Also, "rats nest" is not a hairstyle I'm particularly fond of, so if you could leave my hair alone as well, I'd be much obliged. 

Once you calm down, I'd be happy to discuss the possiblity of potraying you in a better light, as a producer of energy, rather than a wrecker of semis and high-profile vehicles.  

Thank you for your attention to this matter and I hope to hear less from you soon.

Warning: Domestic Deliriousness Ahead

I love to cook.  (Mom, you can get up off the floor now.  I know you thought I'd never say that. Also, this doesn't mean that I want you to stop bringing me those delicious peanut butter things when you visit! Just so we're clear.)

It's true...  I went from living off of a diet of sandwiches and cereal in college to becoming a full on Suzy Homemaker.  I've gotten better at it too, especially compared to a rather unfortunate Broccoli Beef incident about 4 years ago that I don't think my husband will ever let me live down. 

One thing I DON'T like about cooking, is weeknight cooking.  When I don't get home until 6ish and Avery goes to bed at 8pm, I'd rather spend every second of those two hours trying to get a slobbery kiss, not making dinner.  I try my best to have quick dinners or cook on the weekends and have leftovers M-F. 

That's why when I stumbled across this blog, I almost peed myself with excitement. 

Crock Pot Mania

This WONDERFUL woman cooked in her crockpot everyday... for A YEAR.

A. YEAR.

And then she shared all of her recipes on her blog, so that blog stalkers busy moms like me can "borrow" them.  The recipes are really diverse too!  Not just Roast and other typical crockpot meals.  The Mongolian Beef is calling my name because I haven't had the Chang since the Hatches moved back west.  I will have to make it soon.  Now, because of this fantastic blog, I will be adding much slow-cooking goodness to my arsenal.  And sneaking in a few more slobbery kisses. 

Check it! 

I'm crazy brown, furry, animal... gimme some CANDY!

Something to note about me:  I either do things incredibly early... or never.  Case in point:  I bought Avery's 1st Christmas ornament in AUGUST, but waited around so long that the only Christmas decor that made it up in the house was our tree.  I can't remember when we actually put it up, but it was late enough that I didn't bother to put up any other decorations because I didn't want to repack them in a week.  

It should come as no surprise that I'm already freakin' out about halloween costumes.  The problem is, I live in Oklahoma.  You never know whether it's going to be 40 or 80 on Halloween until October 30, and even then, it's a crapshoot.   I thought surely that when I bought My little stinker's costume last year that it would be chilly enough to wear fleece.  I was sorely mistaken.  It was 80 last year, and poor A spent a sweaty half-hour at most in that costume.  She later ended up pantless, in a church, wearing a onesie with a devil on it, but that's a different post entirely. 

Not wanting to shell out much money for a costume that may or may not be worn, I've been browsing ebay.  There were plenty of costumes, from princesses to peacocks, and some for less than $10.  I came across a posting for a rare brown, furry animal costume.  I thought, "oh, come on now.... at least make a guess as to what it is. How can you not know what kind of animal a costume is?"  Short ears = bear,  long ears = dog,  no ears = gopher.  But DangIt, if it was a marketing ploy, it worked.  Putting "RARE" in the title with no accurate description of what kind of animal it may be sucked me in.  I had to see the costume.   What if it were a sasquatch costume?  Now, THAT would be rare, for sure. 

Well, there is no "head" to the costume.  I looked at the picture of the body and instinctively thought, Duh, that's a bear!  And then saw the picture of the back of the costume... A bear with a horse? tail?   What WAS that?  A horse, a bear, some mythical creature I don't even know about?     Maybe "furry, brown animal" wasn't such a bad description after all. 

What do YOU think that is?  

Under Construction...

The ole blog needs a major overhaul. But seeing as how I'm incredibly lazy no good with html, it's going to take a little more time.

Here's a brief run-down of whats new:
- my 3 month unemployment streak finally ended at the beginning of September. We will still be on a diet of ramen and crackers for the next 6 months to catch up on past due bills. We're also accepting all dinner, wedding, and other invitations at which there will be "heavy hors d'oeuvres" served. Just FYI
- I joined a firm in Husband's hometown. The inlaws live here and in some instances my name proceeds me. (which in all cases has been a good thing). I'll have to do my best to protect the family reputation and not become an In-law-out-law-at-law.
- The commute is much better. Same distance, but I shave at least 30 minutes off of the commute time. I actually have to worry about the possibility of speeding tickets.
- I do miss the city though. I miss the lunch friends and I hate being far away from A's daycare. But honestly, more than a few feet away is too far to be from this:

Serrrriously....

I know this blog needs some major updating... The headline no longer applies, the picture is almost a year and a half old, etc. etc. I have plans on doing a major blog overhaul sometime in the near future. (It should also be noted that I had plans to clean my house, top-to-bottom, while I was unemployed. I vacuumed and did some laundry. Close enough.) So, we'll see. Also, does that mean I'm no longer unemployed??? Stay tuned...

I wanted to post this link to a spectacular blog post I came across. It totally makes me want to bring my sewing skills up to par before Avery gets older.

http://pamily.blogspot.com/2009/08/fall-collection-in-progress.html

I mean, does it get anymore adorable than that?!? LOVE IT!

Chh Chhh Chhh Changes

My life is currently undergoing (or, is hoping to undergo?) some major changes. I know it's been a month+ since I have blogged, but I will return.... in time... with some blog worthy news.

Don't worry, I'm pretty good about reading your blogs... just not updating my own!

Follow me... *insert Uncle Craker song here*

So, I'm finally on twitter... Although, I'm no better at twitter than I am at blogging...

http://twitter.com/silentgharde

Tagged...

So, I was "tagged" to go to the 4th file under "my pictures" and post the 4th picture out of the 4th file...

This is a picture of my dad and I, right before he walked me down the aisle. There is just something about this picture that I love. It is one of my favorite wedding pictures.

Now, I tag everyone reading this... that's right, everyone. Lemme see your pictures, ya'll!

Don't sell your sole to the devil...

Now, I loves me some fashion, but often times it's more in theory than in practice. Heaven knows, I've ran to Wal-Mart sans makeup in sweats with hair a mess more than a few times. Heck, I even occasionally wear t-shirts to the office. Yet, I gush over the adorable dresses in fashion magazines, and watch "What-Not-To-Wear" only to turn around and commit the same sins they just scolded against. (Hey, I know that oversize hoodie is doing nothing for me.)

However, even I have boundaries... namely, my shoes.

That's right, fashion will win over function every time when it comes to my footwear. Fashion trumps comfort... In some cases fashion trumps moderate to severe discomfort.

Often times my husband watches in horror as I apply numerous band-aids to my feet to protect against the blisters that my adorable peep-toes are undoubtedly going to create. He tries to understand why I wouldn't just throw away something that causes me enough pain that I beg him not to park more than a block away from our destination. My answer is simple, These shoes are SOOO cute!

So, when I recently saw someone wearing these, I just thought... Those must be those shoes that people have to wear when one leg is longer than the other.

Then, I happened to hear the shoe wearer tell her friend, "These are my new weight-loss sneakers!"
What??? You are voluntarily wearing shoes that look like they are made for an anime cartoon character???

I don't know if it's a case of New Year's resolutions, but the influx of these shoe sightings is alarming. Today at lunch, 20% of the patrons were wearing them!! (So what if there were only 10 people in the store.) Even more alarming is that these shoes run about $250!!!!!

Ladies, $250 will buy you AT LEAST 2 nice pair of stilettos. Wear a pair of those for a day and tell me that your calves aren't killing you the next morning. Now, that's a pair of shoes that will give you a workout AND won't make you look like Herman Munster's sister.

Just forward my next 3 paychecks to Target...

I'm so excited!!! Orla Kiely is coming to Target!! She's one of my favorite designers. I had some big plans to make a bulletin board using some of her fabric and some other small projects... that was, until I found out her fabric retails for around $70.00 a YARD!!

So, imagine my delight when Target announced that her line of housewares, orginizational products, and decor will be in target stores around the first week of February. YAY!!!