T-Shirt of the week

So what's rocking my world this week? This sweet T and the British show How To Look Good Naked. I feel a new phase for women coming on. Just remember I said it first! (Well out of everyone I know at least!)

Moonstone

This is Moonstone. It has taken me forever to remember her name. I'm always thinking 'Moon something... star?... beam?... light?... rocket?' She is a Rainbow Pony, a G1 unicorn from year two(1983-84), and her symbol is a sparkly blue and silver ringed planet surrounded by it's moons. She is one of the ponies I am keeping. I had her when I was little, and she has a very special story. She stands out from the other ponies I had because of a certain little incident. My mother was going through her 'Charismatic' phase, and any imaginary creature was evil. This, of course, included unicorns. I came home from school one day to find poor little Moonstone had been dehorned! Imagine the horror! Turned into a perfectly normal horse...with a huge hole in her forehead. I have since gotten over this, and hold no hard feelings- really, and my mother feels just terrible whenever I mention it. It was really a wonderful suprise when I found her a few weeks ago for a mere .69 cents! She is in really great shape, just a tiny bit of wear on her symbols, and on the end of her horn and hooves. I love her. She is beautiful.

Figuring it all out

I have decided to make up for my lack of friends in Sacramento. Aren't you just sitting on the edge of your chair wondering what I will do, and wondering if you can do it too? Do you find yourself wanting someone who will listen to you, who's bum you won't be wiping later in the day? Maybe a close pal who would hang around whenever you wanted her there, would always take your advice, and let you do her hair just the way you like it? I know, I know, sounds fabulous- too good to be true. But it's not. I have discovered the world of My Little Pony. Or rather rediscovered. Okay, so I'm exaggerating a bit, but I've had some fun with these girls I found in a bag at Thrift Town. They were some dirty little ponies, but after some research, I learned how to clean them- and more importantly, how not too. Now, they are looking very pretty. They are all G1 ponies, meaning they are the first style of ponies to come out. I think I'm only going to keep a couple, but they are all just dying to make an appearance on here. (I promised them- okay?) I really did think I might keep them all, as I am currently trying to figure out a new hobby, maybe one that will stick. I realized that I have a tendency to pick stuff up and put it down once I get bored with it. I'd like to find something I really love. Maybe I just really love learning to do stuff. Figuring it all out. That's it! That's my hobby! Anywho, the girls will be showing up shortly, before hitting ebay, so stay tuned.

Sick as a (Curt) dog

Eeeww. We have been very sick. All four of us. Not just 'I have a cold' sick, but 'I have something seriously wrong with my insides' sick. It started with Jed, as always, he is the first to warn us of the horrors to come, followed by Frannie, Curtis and lil' ol' me to bring it all together. It is not fun, but there was something about today that made me happy. Maybe it was that Curt had to stay home from work, so he laid around with Win and was first to grab the bucket when she started making her 'uh-oh here it comes' sounds. Maybe it's that all the puke laundry is finally done. Maybe I know we are through the thickest part of the fog. Sickness is so strange the way it just comes in and takes over, and when it is gone all you can remember is that is was miserable and smelled terrible. Well, good riddance- don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more. (Yes, that last line must be sung, so if you didn't do it, go back and do it again.)

Yummy yummy yum yum

A friend was asking for this recipe, and since it isn't the first time I've been asked, I figured I'd post it, and then just refer folks here. Super easy and yummy, sometimes I add chicken, sometimes over rice, sometimes I omit the red pepper so the kids won't freak out. It can easily be turned veggie friendly with vegetable broth and maybe some tofu for fun!

Pumpkin Coconut Soup

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 onion chopped (1 cup)
2 carrots chopped (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2-14oz cans chicken broth
2- 15oz cans pumpkin
1- 14oz can coconut milk
1/8 tsp. ground red pepper
1 1/4 tsp. salt
lime juice

Saute onion & carrot in oil for 5 min. Add garlic & cook 30 seconds more. Add 1 can of broth and simmer for 10 min. Cool 10 min. Blend in blender until smooth - return to pot. Add pumpkin, coconut milk and the rest of the broth. Bring to a simmer. Stir in salt and pepper. Serve with lime juice if desired.

Stormy Sac

We made it through the thick of the storm, and are safe and dry. Friday was the crazy day. The one that took down trees, took out electricity, and stole our parking ticket. We had planned to take Jed to Walking With The Dinosaurs as and early birthday present, and woke (for those of us who could sleep through the wild wind storm) to intense weather and spotty power outages. The show was only in town for four days, so we had to go. When we got there, our parking ticket blew right out of the car as we opened our doors, never to be found again. The wind was that strong. Okay, that doesn't really sound that strong. Curtis ran back to the ticket booth in the rain and wind- being the only one with a rain coat- to see if they would give us a new ticket. On the way back a huge light pole fell over three feet from where he was running. The wind was that strong. Of course both Curtis and I have a passion for adventure, and when I told him my camera had to go back in the car because we couldn't bring it in, he practically begged to run back into the storm. We had a small boxing match to see who would get to go- he won. Unfortunately, the only prize he got was to remain soaking wet for the entire show- and of course, the love and adoration of his wife and child. When we returned home, we were lucky to find we had electricity, as the building directly across from us was out. I kept worrying about our parking lot flooding, and fretting if we should move the cars to higher ground across the street. Turns out, the lot across the street was the one that ended up flooding. Glad we didn't move the cars. There are trees down on practically every block, and flooding here and there, but the only damage that was really close to us is this:
Our poor pool! Actually the pool is fine, just the fence got hurt, and I imagine what ever that pipe goes to. Three cheers for our wonderful babysitter on Friday- Rae. Not only does she have three other munchkins of her own to chase around, but she is newly preggers, and you know what that means- siiiiiick. At least that day. And the Winners just doesn't stop. Seriously. Thanks Rae. You are one tough cookie.

Ode to my sneakers

So I got these sneakers for Christmas. (Sorry Mom, I know- atrocious grammar.) And let me tell you I love, love, love these sneakers. They are actually running sneakers. My very first pair ever. I have had the hardest time finding a pair that fit my wide feet, and were a relatively good brand, but not too $good$, if you know what I mean. I bought a pair and returned them after having my toes going numb, and then these just happened to be in the right place, when I had the right energy, and the kids had the right attitude for shopping. Truly, they are light as air- even lighter. They may be made of helium. They also made me realize my old workout sneakers were basically slabs of concrete I would lift and land on as I jumped around. They have just the right amount of squish, and I can wiggle my toes wonderfully. I am excited to put them on every morning, and the only shortcoming I can think of is that they have orange on them, but just a little, and the main color is gray- let me stress not white. I seriously want to float around in them all day, but for now, they are strictly indoor workout shoes. The thought of dirt touching their newness simply repulses me. I will probably name them soon, since more children aren't in the near future, so stay tuned.

Happy New Year

How many thousands of people out there are blogging about what is on so many minds? New Year's resolutions. The loaded promises we make ourselves to keep for the next 365 days, and are soon forgotten after only a few. I admit, I have several...yes, not just one...but for now they will remain in my heart. I get so funny about change in my life. I feel as if I say it aloud or to someone I am instantly destined for failure. Hence them staying in my heart. Superstitious? I don't know. I guess I just don't like the public humiliation if I fail. Or maybe the A word. Accountability. Is that terrible? I just tend to do better on my own, which seems to be the opposite of what we are always told when we decide to make a change. But then again, maybe I'm not on my own as much as I think. I mean, I have told one person. Yup, the big guy. If anyone is going to help me change for the better, to be more like Him, it will be Him. Probably the best accountability I could get. Someone alway cheering for me, never humiliating me, always loving me, and giving me strength when I'm at my weakest.