Muffin Monday......blond brownies

Muffin Monday......blond brownies, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Oh my ......these were simply delicious.

Just a little background on Muffin Monday: I am a diligent follower of Flylady. Just as Mike left in October 2006, Flylady issued a challenge to get rid of cookbook clutter. I had narrowed things down once before, but wondered if I could really get rid of anymore cookbooks. So I told myself that if didn't use a cookbook for at least three recipes I would get rid of it. I would put the recipes I used it for on cards or in my recipe notebook.....and out it goes.

There were a couple of cookbooks that were very sentimental but I only used one or two recipes in it....so I looked through the muffin recipes thinking I could make one or two and get to keep that cookbook. Kind of like bargaining with myself.

Muffins are actually pretty easy to make with the kids....who were only 2 and 3 at the time! Livi could measure the dry stuff. Will could do the wet stuff......wallahh, mix, scoop and bake. We could be done in 45 minutes from start to finish.

Also since we used mini muffins, they only take 10-13 minutes to bake. We had lots and lots of muffins.....so we started to share with out neighbors. We have tried sweet, savory, spicy, and every flavor in between.

Now we are running out of muffin recipes. This month in Better Homes and Gardens, I saw a recipe for Cranberry Blondies with Cinnamon Whipped Cream. They were awesome! It said to let them cool for an hour...well, that didn't happen. But today I tried a little piece, and it was better today. I guess we should have waited.

Happy Tuesday.....

edited to add recipe: (my notes in red)

Nonstick cooking spray

1/2 cup buttered, softened (leave it out on the counter for a few hours prior to baking...makes it really easy to mix with the sugars)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 t. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1 cup all-purpose flour (I use half wheat and half all-purpose flour.)

1/2 dried cranberries

1/2 cup coarsely chopped white chocolate (I just used white chocolate chips, since I couldn't find a bar.)

1 cup fresh cranberries

1 recipe Cinnamon Whipped Cream (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 11x7x1 1/2 inch or 9x9x2 baking pan with foil; coat foil with cooking spray and and set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl beat butter with wire whisk or electric mixer until softened. Beat in sugars. baking powder, soda, and salt. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. On low speed, beat in flour.

3. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate. Spread batter in pan. Sprinkle with fresh cranberries; press in lightly with spatula. Bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. (I didn't read the part about pressing the cranberries, so I just mixed them in the batter...which is VERY thick. They turned out fine.)

4. Cool on wire rack for one hour. Lift with foil to remove from pan. Cut into bars. Serve with Cinnamon whipped cream. (Did NOT cool for an hour....still turned out fine, though the whipped cream did melt a bit)

Makes 12 bars

cinnamon whipped cream

In a chilled mixing bowl combine 1/2 cup whipping cream and 1/4 t. cinnamon, beat with electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. (Or just use Cool whip and cinnamon)...

Manic Monday....

Manic Monday is hosted by Fleur-de-Lisa

What family traditions or customs would you most like to see preserved?

For Thanksgiving, we try to celebrate it with whatever family we are close to. Being in the military we aren't always close to relatives, so we welcome any other scragglers into our home. When Husband was a new Lieutenant(before we were married), his younger sister came out to help him do Thanksgiving. His mom wrote out from start to finish how to do a Thanksgiving dinner. We still refer to those notes, even though they are tattered and soiled. We have tweaked things a bit here and there. The kids are old enough to help now as well.

What do you feel is the least sexy part of the body?

Not a big foot person.....

What keeps you awake at night? Why? (This could be worries, recurring thoughts, pain or any other distraction. Read into this any way you wish.)

Mainly worrying about all the things I need to do the next day. Or the fact that Husband is in a combat zone! Take your pick....

Gobble gobble

Gobble gobble, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

I saw a quote in the paper this morning that summed up Veteran's Day for me: "Thank a service member for giving up the comfort of friends and family to fight for freedom. Thank those veterans who came before us." -Brigadier General Christopher Tucker.

Before Husband left thirteen months and three days ago, I never thought of all that these soldiers give up for a year to fifteen months. Even the comfort of sleeping in a bed without springs poking up in your back. As hard as this year has been, I know Husband is doing what he joined the military for...he has always wanted to be a soldier and is great at his job! So, thanks Husband....but hurry home now!!

On a much lighter note, this little turkey came home with me yesterday. I got it from the same vender as the rooster I got a while back. There is a craft bazaar here that kind of kicks off the holiday season.

I was able to find the ornaments that we exchange with Mike's sisters as well. Whew hoo!! Another thing I can check off my list.

Happy Sunday!

crazy pj day

crazy pj day, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Yesterday the kids had "Wear your pj's to school" day. Just as I was lining them up at the door, I grabbed my camera...For some freaky reason as soon as I did, both of them started busting out the moves. Livi was dancing like a crazy chick and she says, "I've got skills!"

Okay, to be honest, even in a wine-induced state, I have NEVER said that to either child. I just cracked up laughing.

Just after this pic was taken, Will starts with the Harry Met Sally "white-man-overbite" moves.

Nice....I've got Skillz and a Goofball!

Happy Saturday!

Friday fill in

1. Plans and schedules keep me sane.

2. I'm happy when things go according to my schedule .

3. The last thing I drank was diet Dr Pepper.

4. One of the most valuable things in my life is family.

5. I like spinach, sun dried tomatoes, feta, kalamata olives on my pizza.

6. Dear November, you are whacky....what is up with the 85 degrees today?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to eating pizza with the kids and the neighbors, tomorrow my plans include craft fair and get Will a haircut, and Sunday, I want to sleep in and just veg.

Happy Birthday, Husband

Happy Birthday, Husband! Month's ago we put Mike's picture on his chair at the dining room table. Tonight, we decorated his chair, sang happy birthday, and blew out candles. I had the tall blue ones, and Livi insisted we put the chunky number one on there. Anyhow, happy birthday, Husband.....I love you!

Thank you.....

for making me laugh when no one else can.

for being confident in who I am as a wife, mother, and friend.

for knowing good manners and expecting them from the kids...even when they were just 2 and three...

for being respectful.

for standing up for what you believe in....

for being sensitive to my feelings and needs

for asking what I want and like even though you think I might return them!

for not only telling me you trust me, but believing it and putting your trust in me.

for sharing your life with me.

Hurry home husband, I can't wait to start being with you again! Hope you can have a happy birthday.....

Thursday 13...junk in my bag

Thursday 13...junk in my bag, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Just because I am really tired tonight, I am going with the easy route ....thirteen things in my bag.

1. Bobbi Brown compact

2. business cards for the lady that makes Livi's bows....I get stopped all the time and asked who makes them!

3. business card for the new hair girl I went to last time

4. Zoopals knife....not sure how this got in there!

5. light bulb that burned out over stove....I will never get the right size if I don't take this one in to match it up!

6. phone- same phone I dropped in the ocean this summer....STILL WORKS!!

7. pink bag of essentials: girl things, band aids...both Hello Kitty and Cars, Neosporin, and hand sanitizer

8. wallet

9. sugar free sucker from Livi's three year well baby check

10. Tylenol- no brainer...far be it I have to be in pain

11. envelope labeled Nov 2007 of receipts.

12. those "curiously stong mints"...

13. sock ....tossed in there from gymnastics today.

Happy Wednesday

Livi's "sewing"....I should hire her out

Livi's sewing....I should hire her out, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

It has been chilly today....in the mid-50's. Kind of wacky since yesterday it was in the 80s. Welcome to Texas!

Between the time change and the cold weather, Livi is worn out. She has a croupy cough. I put one of those Sudafed plug ins in her room along with a humidifier. First off, her room smells like a menthol factory....but she is breathing without the barking cough. Second the humidifier I bought sounded like a jet landing on an air craft carrier. It was so loud. I am really surprised she slept at all last night. Surprisingly she stayed asleep all night! I couldn't even keep the baby monitor on because it was so loud!!

So......between the cough and the chilly weather, we had to break out some indoor activities to occupy them this afternoon. Livi choose 'sewing'. I really should hire her out to Gap or who was it just accused of hiring child labor?? LOL I kid!!

I really liked the big pic of her here. She was so intense and quiet while she worked. The key word here being quiet. She has always been quite the talker. Many many times, I have to just tune her out because the child even talks in her sleep. Maybe we should sew every day!

The other thing these pictures made me think about was how long her hair has gotten. When Mike left thirteen months ago, she was still wearing a bow band. For those of you NOT in the south, it is basically a headband that goes all the way around her head with a little loop on the top. A bow clips onto that loop...and wallaaa, a bow headed baby for a baby with no hair. So even at the age of two, she barely had any hair! It is still growing in along the hairline in the front, but I can gather enough in a tiny piggy to clip her bows onto now.

Happy Tuesday y'all....

Will's no bake cookies

Will's no bake cookies, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Okay, can i just say I love this little thingy on Flickr....? It came in handy again tonight when I wanted to do a sequence with Will's cookie pics.

The time change is wrecking havoc on Livi's schedule. She asked to lay down at preschool this morning. I pick them up at at 12:30....last week she was napping at this time. She literally crashed as soon as I laid her down on her bed.

So Will and I got to make his cookies. Normally I am so paranoid about letting him eat raw cookie dough. I guess somewhere along the years someone convinced me if I ever ate cookie dough with raw eggs I would die some unimaginable death. Since this is a no-egg recipe....he got to lick away.

Sad to say by dinner time they didn't harden up like they normally do. I am sure the neighbors don't want gooyey no bake cookies. Oh well, the kids still ate them!

ps, just a little note on that vanilla in the first picture. My friend Andrena got that for me years ago when she went to Mexico. That was several moves ago....since the military doesn't always move open spices and liquids like that, we have packed it up with other kitchen essentials and moved it in our personal vehicle. It's that good!

My orange month

My orange month, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

I just how to learned how to do this handy dandy little trick through Flickr so I thought I would put it to good use during this post-once-a-day thing.

Just some fun pics from October.

We didn't do the cookies today. I should have known the kids would have no clue about the time change. So needless to say Will woke up at 5:30AM...I tried to get him to lay back down at least until the sun came up. But that wasn't happening.

You would think being up before dawn he might be a bit tired by the afternoon. I was waiting for a lull....the lull never came.

Oh well, we can make them tomorrow instead of making muffins.

happy Sunday

First day for flannel sheets

I get up every day and do the same old routine:

1. Get up and weigh. Whew hoo! Not bad, despite bloating from being a woman!

2. Shower and get dressed, including hair and face.

3. While you are in the bathroom Swish and Swipe.

4. Grab a load of laundry and start the washer.

5. Check your calendar for today's activities...not much, just make no-bake cookies for Will, and mail anniversary card to Husband.

6. Empty dishwasher to start your day.

7. Eat something good for you and take allergy medicine and vitamin.

8. Drink your water BEFORE coffee.

Yes, this is straight from Flylady. I don't do shoes in the house, she is all about wearing lace up shoes. But I don't need shoes to feel done if I am just veggin' at home.

So, my big thing for the day was #4....see my bed...see that tiny bit of cream sticking out from the back? I put flannel sheets on this morning! I love flannel sheets. We got these years ago from Mike's parents the first year we were in Alaska...(so that makes them almost 9 years old....and they are so soft!!!) I have a mattress pad with a brain (it has warmer coils near the feet, a few in the middle and just a little one near the chest area). I love to turn it on while I am brusing my teeth and washing my face. When I crawl in bed it will be all nice and toasty!! But I leave Mike's side turned off...so if I get too hot, I can scooch my toes to his side and cool down.

It is all a very exact science!!

I can't wait to go to bed tonight! Happy Saturday...

Friday fill in

This is from Janet ... the Friday Fill-Ins are over here now.....



1. _______ is my favorite form of therapy.

2. If you get my voice mail you'll hear _______ .

3. My favorite product EVER is _______ .

4. I see something _______ .

5. When I'm grumpy _______ .

6. _______ is my strangest habit.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!



1. Vegging with a glass of wine is my favorite form of therapy.

2. If you get my voice mail you'll hear the one that came with the machine....On my cell phone it is me though .

3. My favorite product EVER is Bobbi Brown makeup.

4. I see something or should I say someone walking out of her room!!!

5. When I'm grumpy I feel bad for the kids....I am so not as patient as I should be.

6. Cleaning when I am stressed is my strangest habit.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the silence once the kids are in bed, tomorrow my plans include making no bake cookies with Will** and Sunday, I want to sleep in! Sunday, not Monday!!


**Tonight while I was putting him to bed, he said, "Mom, I really love no bake cookies...do you think we have the stuff to make them? If not, can we go to the no bake cookie store and get the stuff for them?" How could I resist when he asks like that?

Flowers and a Tag

I was tagged by Carrieb, so I thought this would be a good time to fill it in....



1. . My Love Language is Acts of Service. I've would love for it to be physical touch or even receiving gifts. But no, take out the trash and give the kids a bath...and I am good! So today when I got these.......

Oh wait that is the pic of the ftd.com flowers from their website.

The ones I received looked like this! Granted Mike ordered them from Iraq....maybe half fell out by the time they got here. All joking aside....I burst into tears when I opened the box. I am so NOT a flower person....but after the week I have had.......I knew my husband was showing me the only act of service he could. He can't be here physically, but he can bring a smile to my face even from the other side of the world.

PS....I was totally impressed with FTDs customer service. When i called to tell her the flowers were a poor interpretation of the picture on the website...she offered to 1. send out another bouquet or 2. refund my money ....I told her I didn't know how Husband paid for them (because you know I checked the only credit card statement that he has with him.) She said she had to email him about it....but she was really nice and didn't even want pics.

Okay, back to the tag....

2. One of the reasons my week has been horrid is Husband's granddad passed away yesterday. He has been very sick with cancer for a while. He is finally at peace.

3. Will is named after both of Mike's granddads. When we had Will, Mike got to name him and I named Livi....

4. We are at 50 days and they can't come fast enough.

5. This week I felt like I needed to just tie a knot in the rope and hang on.

6. I know I am hyper emotional because I am being a woman, but dang! This is getting old. I am way to old to be using BC pills. Any of you knocking on 40s door have any recommendations?

7....Yikes, that hurt to type 4-0....can it be that in 2008 I will really be the big 4-0....??? I certainly don't feel it.

You know how I feel about tags....steal it if you are post lacking anytime...

happy Thursday y'all

ETA: I joined the NaBloPoMo-- Short for National Blog Posting Month. .....so this totally counts as the first post for November!!!

Happy Halloween

Did you know there were dinosaurs in Texas.....well technically it is a dragon, but Will has called it a dinosaur this whole time.
Livi wasn't sure if she was a fairy or a princess. Either way she was really cute....cranky but cute. These last couple of weeks she has decided she is done with her afternoon nap....which is all fine and dandy EXCEPT by 4:30 she is falling on the floor, melting into a little puddle crying over the smallest thing.

So today after an hour, I had to give in....they had gymnastics at 3:30.....

What am is getting around to saying is.....No naps + gymnastics + sugar high from ten thousand pieces of candy + trick or treating JUST our street = one tired little fairy princess. She couldn't hardly stay awake for her bath.

Happy Halloween! As of tomorrow, we are at 50 days. I am really moping around tonight....this is the second Halloween Mike has missed. I know, I know....we are on the home stretch. I can seriously see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Talk about a Manic Monday

under the tree, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Last week I started taking a new allergy medicine. I knew it had been messing with my sleep habits most of the weekend, but I didn't really realize how much. Finally last night after getting a tad drowsy around midnight, I decided to try to go to bed and hope to sweet Jesus I would fall asleep.

I kid you not, the kids get up at the a$$ crack of dawn. I get up at 6AM so I can have myself almost ready by the time they get up around 6:30-6:45 or so. I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON....so this kills me...but sleeping later is just not an option now.

1:00 AM- I look over at the clock that I have now covered with a wash cloth because those green numbers seem to flooding the room with light.. I am thinking...."okay, if I can just go to sleep now, I will get five hours of sleep!!" I can do that. My favorite sleep music is softly playing in the background. Still tossing, turning....getting comfortable but not feeling the least bit like sleep is coming anytime soon.

2:00 AM- Dude...say it isn't so....There is really no way I can function on four hours of sleep....I will now have to skip aerobics and come home and take a nap! It is too late to take a Tylenol PM....far be it I thought of that four hours ago!! Oh....well

a little after 2AM.....I must have gone to sleep a little after this. Thank you Mr. Sandman.

For some reason I woke up, threw the washcloth off my clock and looked at the time....OMG, that is LIGHT coming in my room. First, I sleep in a cave practically. We have this tint on our windows to lower our AC bill....and we have wooden blinds. At 6AM NO LIGHT should be coming in my window. That clock cannot be right, there is no way it is 7:47.....The kids have not slept late in ....well ever!! Why couldn't they have done this yesterday?

I jumped out of bed, I did not take a shower! But I did brush my teeth, threw on some tinted sunscreen and lip gloss. Thankfully I have pretty good hair that doesn't need to be washed everyday. I kind of fluffed it up a bit and hoped it didn't look like day old dirty!

Will woke up in the few minutes it took me to get dressed, as did Livi. Their clothes are already laid out, so the isn't the age old drama of "I don't want to wear that." While one was getting dressed, I brushed every one's teeth...made some sippy cups of milk, and threw some Cheerios in a bowl.

Just as we were headed out the door, I realized I didn't even have their lunches. But I pack their lunches the night before....I go so far as to even stick the whole lunchbox in the fridge. I grabbed a cold pack from the freezer and we headed out.

It is only an 11 minute drive to school (you know I have timed it!) Believe it or not, we made it there with one minute to spare.

As hectic as waking up late is, the kids were awesome....we just moved like clockwork. I do have to say I was impressed.

I got home, flipped on the coffee pot and took a long, hot shower! I did try to lay down. But no napping for me. Surprisingly I wasn't that tired all day.

Now it is almost bedtime and I am scared to take my medicine. As smoothly as the morning went, I don't want to do that often.

As for the picture up there, it is from Saturday at the parade field on post. Just kids, playing with sticks...it's a wonder they didn't start hitting each other with them!

happy Tuesday

Get your tissues, I am getting super sappy here

not too long ago I wrote a post about "what not to say to a wife of a deployed soldier"....Tuesday Update....if this doesn't link it correctly, it is the July 5, 2007 post...

Tonight I got this email from my Husband's boss's wife.....I have to admit I broke down in tears. yes, I am WAY emotional this week....those of you being visited by aunt Flo know the feelings. But in total opposition to what NOT to say, this is what TO say to a wife who hasn't seen her husband in 15 months....(okay you totally cannot count the two weeks we had in March!!) I am adding my comments in crimson.....

Dear Military Wife, I am an American woman that has no idea what is going on in the military other than what I hear on the news. ***I don't watch the news, so I don't know much either, welcome to my world.***

I have never had to let go of someone so that they could go fight for people that they didn't know, people that sometimes do not appreciate or understand what they are fighting for. ***i think this is the hardest part of being me***

I have never had a sleepless night of worry because of a report that another bomb has exploded and I still haven't heard from my husband. ***again, I DO NOT read the paper, it is way to worrisome when I see Husband's division mentioned***

I have never had to wait for months on end to hold the one that I loved so. ***15 months is way too long***

I have never had to tell my children that daddy wasn't coming home tonight because he was so far away fighting for something that they aren't yet old enough to understand. ***It is hard to admit that my babies even know where Iraq is on a globe.***

I have never had to hold my head high and suppress the tears as I hear that it will be at least another six months of separation before my loved one gets to come home. ***when I got news of the extra three month extension, I had to go take a shower so the kids wouldn't see me cry***

I have never had to deal with a holiday away from the one that I thought I would share every day of my life with. ***I almost think a week long field exercise is nice every once in a while....makes you appreciate what you have***

And I have never had to feel the panic rising in my heart at the sound of a ringing phone or knock at the door for fear that it is the newsthat everyone is terrified of getting. ***Okay, I am getting way too real here,....I get dressed: makeup and shoes every single day because I am paranoid someone in dress greens will come knocking on my door, and I will be the wife standing there in her jammies at 2 in the afternoon.***

For the reasons listed above, I can not tell you that I understand how you feel.

I can not tell you that you must be strong. ***I am not, I am just doing what has to be done.***

I can not say that you shouldn't be angry, because you "knew what you were getting into when you married a military man". ***Yes, I did, but in 1997, I didn't even think about it, I just wanted to be with him.***

I can not say these things because I have never had to walk in your shoes.

What I can say for certain is that because of your unselfish acts of bravery and your husbands willingness to stand up for those who see him as "just another soldier" - -I will never have to walk in your shoes.

I do understand that as a military wife you are expected to uphold a certain amount of control, but I never understood how you could do it,until now.

I have figured out that you are not like other women.

You are of a special breed. ***I do agree with this wholeheartedly!!***

You have a strength within you that holds life together in the darkest of hours, a strength of which I will never possess.

The faith you have is what makes you stand out in a crowd; it makes you glow with emotion and swell with pride at the mention of The United States of America. ***I do cry when I hear the National Anthem***

You are a special lady, a wonderful partner and a glorious American. ****thank you****

I have more respect for your husband than I could ever tell you, but until recently I never thought much about those that the soldier leaves at home during deployment. ***not many people do***

Until this moment I could never put into words exactly what America meant to me.

Until this moment, I had no real reason to.... Until I heard of you.

Your husband and his military family hold this nation close, safe from those who wish to hurt us...but you and those like you are the backbone of the American family.

You keep the wheels in motion and the hearts alive while most would just break completely down.

Military families make this nation what it is today.

You give us all hope and you emit a warming light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

Because of you and your family...I am able to be me.

I am able to have my family.

I am able to walk free in this great land.

Because of you and your family, I can look ahead to the future with the knowledge that life is going to be okay.

Because of you and your family, I can awake to a new day, everyday.

I realize that you are a stronger person than I will ever be because of these things and I just wanted to take the time today to say thank you to you and your family for allowing me that freedom.

I will never be able to repay this debt to you, as it is unmatchable.

However, I hope that you know that no matter where you are...what you are doing...what has happened today...or what will happen tomorrow...Your husband will NEVER be "just another soldier" to me....And you, dear sweet lady, will never be forgotten.

You are all in my prayer's everyday and I pray that God will bring you back together with your loved one safely.May God Bless You

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE

i think as a wife of a career soldier this is all that I could ever want to hear from someone. I know many people don't agree with all that is going on.....but I will be here supporting my Husband's choice he made long before he met me. I think as a wife I would love to be acknowledged and appreciated. This last year has been the hardest thing I have ever done!

Now, if you have read this far, send me your name and address. I will personally send you a thank you note......

happy sappy Sunday.....

VTC (video teleconference) time

We haven't done one of these in awhile, so it was good to actually see Husband rather than just talking on the phone. We actually got to visit for thirty minutes. The kids were wild and crazy, which drives me batty.....but I guess I can't sit still for 30 minutes, so how can I expect them to? See that little camera in the lower left corner....that is pointing at us so that he can see us. There are three tables shaped like a U in the room. at one point Livi was walking down one table like it was a runway.

Will was quite surprised to really see him....He just kind of acted goofy. Neither kid wanted to wear their Halloween costumes. Will wanted to wear his dinosaur shirt that he wore on his birthday though.

Livi was so excited to see him. She took her "Baa Baa Black Sheep" book and read it too him. She is such the performer, always wanting to be the center of attention.

After the VTC was over, I let the kids run around the parade field. See those bleachers? In 54 days we will be having our welcome home ceremony there. Whew hoo!!! I can't wait to be sitting here, probably freezing because it will be late December.....but it will be before Christmas. What more can one want but to be home with their family after being gone for 15 long months!

color wheel closet, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Ask and you shall receive....here is a picture of my closet....I couldn't get in there to take a picture of the entire length, but pants are off to the left. If you click on the picture, it will take you to Flickr to see the notes on it. There is also another picture there of the sweaters that are on the shelf above. They are separated by these silver dividers. It is finally starting to be in the 70's, so soon I will weed out those sleeveless tops and put more 3/4 and long sleeved shirts in the closet. Anything of the sleeveless that didn't get worn this summer will go into a Goodwill pile. I will make note of anything I need to replace. I usually stock up on summer sales of basics like white t's and stuff I know I will wear next year.

Friday fill in #10

Don't forget ... the Friday Fill-Ins are over here now!

1. The last good thing that came in the mail was _______ .

2. This week I'm grateful for _______.

3. _____ is the most delicious thing ever.

4. _____ inspires me.

5. I'm most happy when I _____ .

6. And all the roads we have to walk along are _____ .

7. As for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____ , tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____

1. The last good thing that came in the mail was a letter from Husband.

2. This week I'm grateful for the seven more days crossed off the calendar of a fifteen month deployment.

3. A glass of wine, a plate of cheese, crackers and olives is the most delicious thing ever.

4. As sappy as it may sound, my kids inspires me to be the best mom that I can with what I know and can be right now.

5. I'm most happy when I feel in control of my life.

6. And all the roads we have to walk along are full of adventure if we look around for it.

7. As for the weekend, tonight **(which was really last night) I'm looking forward to taking the kids to a birthday party at an indoor rock climbing place, tomorrow my plans include going to a VTC (video teleconference) with Husband and Sunday, I want to sleep in.....I swear it will happen one day....but most likely it won't until Husband is home in 56 days!!

Tag, you are it.....

Since I am clueless as to what to write about this evening, I think it will be a world record that I did this tag the same day it was issued/given/whatever you call it.

Seems like somebody out there (Cheeky) wants to know some random info....so here goes. She keeps me laughing so I will do it....the Tag is that I have to post 6 things about me and of course tag others at the end.

1. I have used an outhouse at the Arctic Circle. I had to trudge through thigh high snow just to get to it. Fun times when the in-laws come to visit us and want to drive to the Arctic Circle. I do have a picture, but I don't have a scanner, and it was before digital. I could take a picture of the picture, but I am really feeling lazy tonight.

2. I could eat frosted mini wheats for breakfast every single day of my life. Here is the part of that is probably TMI......if I eat them past nine o'clock I get the toots....and I can't like toots. My kids already like way too many body function noises.

3. I have never gone on a blind date. I really need to control my environment and that might have sent me over the edge! Good thing I met Mike when I did.

4. Speaking of Mike, I met my husband at a New Year's party when I was cleaning up empties.....I was housesitting for his Colonel at the time. They had two neurotic dogs that needed watching. They got back after Christmas and asked me to stay for a New Year's party. It was all she wrote after that. We were married 11 months and 29 days after that. That was ten years ago next month!

5. My clothes are hung in order of the color wheel, sleeve length...with white on the left and black on the right. .....Pants are short to long by degree of darkness....lightest on the left. I am a firm believer of one shirt out for every shirt in. For example I got the cutest apple green cable pullover yesterday. I have already pulled two shirts out that I didn't wear at all last fall/winter. (PS, I did two because they were right besides each other and I couldn't decide which one to pick.)

6. Keeping with the TAG theme, If I ever win the lottery, this would be on my short list of things I would blow money on first. It's pink, sparkly, and shiny....what is not to love? Husband, don't get any ideas, it is just a wish!!!

Just a brief look into my little world....or madness as I prefer to call it.....

Not a good tagger,.....do it if you haven't done it....sounds like blog pressure when I say it that way...

happy Friday

Thursday 13....number fifteen, things I have never done

Open Letter to my kids:

Kids-

I know I am all about sharing ...but Will, did you have to share your barfing-ick-thing you had last week with Sister?

So, for Part Two.....Livi's preschool teacher called about 30 minutes before I was to pick her up.....second verse same as the first BUT....she barfed in the car.....while strapped in her carseat. In all my big long four years of parenting, I have NEVER had a kid barf in the car...

so in honor of that, I have my Thursday 13 of "I Have NEVER"

I stole this from Kerri's post a while back....

1. I have never had to clean barf off of a carseat.....and can I just say it was a pain getting the cover off so I could wash it!

2. I have never changed a tire.....that is why Roadside Assistance is for!

3. I have never been arrested- I was the good child!

4. I have never been to France.

5. I have never done drugs....oh wait, is alcohol a drug....you all know how I like my wine!

6. I have never sky-dived....way too chicken.

7. I have never been fired from a job.

8. I have never driven a motorcycle.

9. I have never been to the Grand Canyon.

10. I have never see any of the Harry Potter movies or read them.

11. I have never watched a show that requires me to vote....like American Idol.

12. I have never been to Disneyland.

13. I have never worn the same underwear two days in a row....at least I don't think I have!!

ps....the last time I played this, it was a drinking game at a wives' sleepover when the guys were in the field. It was sooooo funny!! This straight-laced Mary Poppins wife of a 2LT admitted she was into porn, liked to be tied up and used handcuffs! Every time I looked at her after that I had to giggle.....who would have thought...

Happy thursday!