Elvis 21 Can't wait to Check this Out!!!

The following article found on NPR  Upcoming Traveling Exhibit Starts in Jan 10 Can't Wait!!!

November 10, 2006 - Elvis Presley and America were both at a crossroads in 1956. The singer was popular, but not widely known. The nation was waking up from the doldrums of the post-war Eisenhower era, ready for something new.




In many ways, it was a year that would change the social landscape of a generation. A new collection of photos by Al Wertheimer, Elvis at 21: New York to Memphis, captures that moment in time when a young man from Tupelo, Miss., shot from being a regional heartthrob to an international sensation.



Wertheimer was working as a freelance photographer in New York when RCA Records hired him to follow the entertainer as he toured from New York City back to his home in Memphis, Tenn.



In January of 1956, Presley was still playing high school gymnasiums. But by December, he was the most famous entertainer in the world. Presley didn't just light up American culture, he put a torch to it.



Wertheimer took more than 3,000 photos that captured Presley in his most intimate moments. A show from the book debuts Friday at the Govinda Gallery in Washington, D.C., and will tour around the nation.

Happy Holidays~~

How come 13 yr old boys no longer want to help decorate the tree!!:)

Pre Decorations

Oh how I just so love this time of year. I was thinking today of how it's so true what they say, this time of year really brings out the best and worse in people...Let's face it things are busier than normal, finances can become stressed and sometimes ones own family can be the source of the madness that becomes the holidays. I see it moreso now in the voices of my customers when I have to break them the "bad news" that a vehicle repair will be expensive..and I feel it as I have been worn down lately feeling overwhelmed in many ways and a little fatigued as well, which is how I usually react when things get a little out of control. Like the laundry, the house, staying on top of things with my kids, finishing the Christmas shopping, finding time to take care of myself (pedicure manicure anyone whats that..haircut badly needed)...It can almost suck the holiday spirit right out of a person. Coupled with the fact that I have 2 birthday parties to plan and tentative houseguests right after Christmas I have found myself secretly wishing the holidays away on a few occasions for which I hold a bit of guilt for doing so..Afterall this is a magical time for the children and that magic is up to me to create and make sure the next few weeks are filled with happiness and fun stuff...I have been re-evaluting a lot in the last few days.. Old traditions namely and feel I am at a point in my life to create some of my own. Afterall I have my own family now (well sans husband). I no longer want to run here and there every Christmas Eve. I'd much rather be home cooking...opening early presents...going to midnight mass...watching funny Christmas movies...heck I even think Chinese food on X-Mas Eve leading up to the big dinner on Christmas Day may be kind of kitchy and fun..who knows? What I do know is that I will have to delicately break the news to other members of my family. How do you say " Nope not coming for Christmas anymore"..I spose in some ways you just can't without hurting someones feelings. Maybe it's selfish of me to think this way. But I am not very close with my family to begin with and at some point they probably expect this..I am giving it some thought and am really on the fence. My boyfriend and I are spending our second Christmas together and in a lot of ways his insistance for having a few family memebers-friends here on Christmas morning while the kids open presents feel like I am in a house full of strangers and completely uncomfortable in my own home. The mere mention of this puts my boyfriend on the defense. While we get along great and rarely have a disagreement he is very loyal to his family and to mention anything beyond what has already been said would border on him taking it personal. Sometimes in a relationship you have to make small sacrifices and I know everything willbe okay as it was last year. On a good note I have gotten quite a bit of Christmas shopping done. I have the boys birthdays...few more Christmas things...and my Dad to buy for but most of the presents  are wrapped under the tree which is decorated with mostly handmade ornaments from my children. Charlie did a fantastic job of hanging Christmas lights and I love that I can cuddle into my flannel snowman sheets and watch them change colors and blink and dance outside the window. It has been cold as well...yay! With the hot AZ sun blazing mostly all year I am welcoming the 35 degree lows and 56 degree highs....bring it on! Fountain Hills looks so prettly with a light dusting of snow on the mountain ranges around town...especially 4 Peaks..for which I have a fantastic almost 360 degree view from my upstairs patio. Getting all this off my chest is really good therapy for me right now, if I don't I will scream and spend too many more mornings not wanting to get out of bed and that just cant be. It is okay to be depressed sometimes, for me it's all about routine and getting into one that makes me feel better....so tomorrow I will try and wake up earlier take care of myself a little better and forge on...enough grey gloomy stuff I am actually pretty excited to go to Zoolights this weekend, make cookies and bake the rest of the weekend, go see the Nutcracker next week, have a whole almost 2 weeks off, throw the boys an awesome birthday party, have a bitchin work Christmas party, finish up the bowling league (only 3 games left, even if I am a cheerleader:) , spend New Years at The Camelback Inn with dinner at Christophers..and find church again in the coming weeks..Maybe there will be time for a manicure or a haircut in there somewhere who knows...but we will be making memories and that is what counts the most...Your children only get one childhood and in a lot of ways I feel like a kid myself this time of year..Not that anyones reading this but if you are ( Helllooooo)  how are you coping with the holidays??

Happy 80th Birthday Grandpa Tuck!! Happy 53rd Mom!!

Jake dressed up like a cowboy for the party with cap guns!

Beautiful smile & sunset!

Cowboy Nick

Happy B-Day Mom!

Two weeks ago we celebrated My Grandafthers 80th Birthday with lots of family and friends at Monterra, a beautiful hall by Westworld in Scottsdale...It was a fun filled 3 days and we celebrated my Mom's B-Day as well. My Grandfather took the stage and played piano...something I will always remeber growing up he'd play music for us and I would sit up and the piano and try and belt out a few songs as he'd show me how to read the music and play songs. I remeber we'd stay up late watching the old Twilight Zone shows with a big bowl of buttered popcorn and Tab.I would help him in the garden and we'd sit on the porch and listen to the Cubbies play on the am radio. We would go to babseball games too and it was my Grandpa who would practice Softball with me and who'd get me a new glove. When my Grandmother passed away on my Grandpa's Birthday in 1997 after a long battle with cancer, he was feeling lonely and sad as we all were. Fortunately he met a great lady Janice a few years later and they got married. They live here full time now after selling the home in Omaha. Grandpa just got done with knee surgery and is feeling better I hear. It was great to celebrate this milestone and we had a great time!! Love you Grandpa & Mom:) GinaBean

Starbucks....

Okay...those who know me know that I am a sucker for a good cup of coffee. I have tried to achieve sucess in becoming my own personal barrista at home and have been through an espresso machine, various recipe books detailing the magic behind these wonderful concoctions we call lattes and machiattos and cappuccinos. I admit to making a delicious vanilla creamer at home and also to having gone through numerous coffee makers for which if anybody has a reasonably priced replacement for my last one which has since been retired please pass it along. Until then I will remain a Starbucks addict, I go there almost every morning. I have been for years, I love the drinks, the cd's, the free Wifi, the ambiance, the friendly people, the gifts...all of it!! I was in there this morning for my usual venti iced skinny carmel machiatto and an espresso brownie when I discovered all the Christmas stuff had been put out....Ohhhh goodie!!! I collect the ceramic cup ornaments and have for close to 7 yrs now and had to purchase a 2009 for the tree this yr!! Along with the drinks and goodies because I spent over $15 I got a free Christmas CD  Time for a Change to benefit RED as well...bonus...I love free things...and this one is cool!! U2...Dave Matthews band..John Legend....Thanks Starbucks!! I also saw the cute kids water bottles, teddy bears..and Christmas cups...I love everything!! I haven't tried the new Via instant coffee yet but to the lucky winner of the person that can come up with a Holiday recipe using the new Via they will not only be awarded a spot in their new cookbook coming out but will land an all expenses paid trip to New York City Details available on their website... I am telling you this kind of action cannot be achieved through coffee making at home.. So fro now I will indulge my addiction and will forgo any other sort of caffine to feed my frenzy especially Gasp! gas station cofee...Happy Holidays!

Christmas is right around the corner!!

Great Gift Idea!!

Best Version I Have Seen!!

And I have hopped on the Christmas shopping wagon already and already started the "pre-decorating" around the house..We saw Disneys "A Christmas Carol" with Jim Carrey to get  us into the holiday spirit. Attended an 80th Birthday party with friends and family along with my Moms 53rd birthday party. I have been spending my time with my boys and Charlies and enjoying just being home. Nicholas has started Taekwondo & is having a lot of fun...pictures to come!! Jake has his last Soccer Tots class on Saturday where I plan on taking lots of pics!!!  A few more gift ideas are circulating around in my head, in particular I saw this on tv yesterday and it is the coolest gift ever for my 8 yr old. I love Crayola's products, they have the neatest art supplies for my guys! Nicholas is such a great artist anyways! Here is the scoop on the "Glowdome"...He can color anything he wants on the dome, and it just wipes right off when he wants to change it...nice! Some of the things they show as examples include a flames (when camping in the livingroom:) A space scene...oh so cool and this aquarium...I love it and of course Crayola's website has lots of ideas as well as some neat printables and online Christmas activities for the young one. Love it!! I will be picking one up in the coming days!!! So for now back to home, preparations for Thanksgiving including cooking & the Parade. Can't wait to get the tree up. Have a fantastic week!! What are you doing differently this year to prepare for the upcoming holidays, I would love to hear from some of you!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Yes I turned 36 yrs. old...we had an awesome chocolate cake, Mexican food, and there was presents...The Tiffany & Co. necklace I bought myself, the digital photo frame & keychain, the cooking magazine & DVD , the Sees Candy, the pearls....and a great night spent with my boys! Instead of rambling about the whole day I decided to recollect the past 35 b-days..yes here on my blog...not that anyone is reading this anyways and my memory is getting worse in my old age, it would be a good thing to start documenting things before I forget them all together..So here it is a few sentences detailing which birthdays my old soul can still remember..
35: Spent with boys, at home, had Carvel's iced cream cake, got a video cam & ornament Nicky bought me from the Zoo, among other things.
34: Spent at Mikes house with Matt and the boys. Had Chocolate Cherry Cake, Champagne, and Salmon with Mikes wonderful peach relish. Spent $300 from Matt in a matter of a few hrs at the casino.
33: Spent with Matt & the boys. Homemade Strawberry cake, they went all out on my party and we had camping in the back yard complete with a new pink sleeping bag, ghost stories and smores. Got two goldfish, orange and black,a #1 Mom ribbon, was proposed to by Matt & recieved a bottle of champagne from Mike on what would have been our 10 yr anniversary.
32: Went to the James Hotel with Mike for the weekend sans kids. Stayed up too late, went to clubs, ate great food, felt uneasy, had princess cake with Mom Dad & Boys and got a magic bullet.
31: hmmmm..
30: I think we went to Vegas..bought myself a silver Tiffany& Co. ring I still wear to this day.
29: Sedona...stayed downtown...went and did tourist things, enjoyed family time
28: Palm Springs and Disneyland, had Cheesecake dawn left for me in my fridge when I came home, had a great time in Newport Beach.
27: hmmmmmm
26:Had a party at the Blitz Club in Scottsdale with family & friends
25: hmmmmmm
24: Sedona
23: Got Married!!
22: Pink B-day Cake with roses and a movie with Mike.
21: Hotel with Mike, Atomic Cherries, Fat Tuesdays....Passed Out!
20: Camping by the Verde River with Mike & Friends
19: Huge house party, got my first car
18: Mom & Dads house with family, I felt so old
17: Was moved out went to Mom & Dads for dinner and to Mikes
16: Family time at home, Mom took me out for Italian food and gave me $50 to buy clothes..bought a skirt and earrings.
15: prob fam stuff
14: hmmmmm
13:hmmmmm
12:hmmmmmm
11:went roller skating with friends
10: hmmmmmm
9: don't know damn!
8: prob had Mayo cake which was a tradition my Mom made for me, it actually is a great choc. cake and had it pretty much every yr growing up!
6 7 8 No Clue but one of them I had a party and noone showed up :/
5:Party with friends in back yard
1234...more than likely was with family

whew....I didn't remeber as much as I thought....

I had a great birthday however:) I am very lucky to have such great boys!!!

My guys Nicholas & Jake

Wonderful Family:)

Trying to blow out trick candles!

Yummy! The cutest plates ever too!

What a Groovy Halloween!!!

Games at Scottsdale's Fall Fest

Boo!

Me & Carried (The Future Mrs. Brady Quinn)

Theres Mr. Fantastic

Gutting Pumpkins

Festival at Night

Mikes Dogs ...yes he dresses them up

Black Spiderman & Nicky the Stormtrooper

Friday Night Frights

After the fair meant Halloween was right around the corner, and sandwiched in between was my 36th birthday..(more on than later:) This Halloween I was all about getting into the spookiness of it all ...We cooked and baked some great stuff...Halloween Cake, Cut out butter cookies which went so fast I had no time to frost them! A great homemade chicken parmisan, pear crumble, rosemary butter rolls and of course lots of chilli...as I have said before, everything I am cooking lately can be found here. There was Mikes Halloween party sans kids. We had a way fun , even though Charlie was reluctant about dressing up, he had an awesome time too and my sluty storybook character costume, found last minute  might I add, was a big hit. We danced and ate great food and it was a good time to dress up and party adult style on Halloween! We took the kids to friday Night Frights at Ft. McDowell for hotdogs and a hayride under the stars on a cool desert night and listened to some country tunes. Halloween night we went to the Fall Festival in Scottsdale and went Trick or Treating in the neighborhood by my shop. It reminded me of when I was a little girl, all the houses were open for trick or treating and there were so many kids it was awesome!! My black spiderman & stormtrooper had an awesome time and we ended the night with a pizza and some Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. And of course in my usual fashion I made tons of pumpkin seeds, which noone ate might I add;) & then I watched Psycho, by myself. Hope everyone had a fun and spooky night!!

Hellllloooooo November!!

The biggest Corn Dogs ever!! Jake usually hates these but loved them at the fair!

Nicky loving every minute of it!

First ride all by himself he was so stoked!!

Wango Tango...I am feeling nautious..ugh!

Fine dining.

Nicholas had to be out of his mind!

I think the games were one big set up, I believe they had a button on the floor they pushed with their feet & chose the winners not fair:)!

ate the whole thing!!

I admit it! I have been lousy about blogging lately...why?? I have been busy!! It starts every year with the Arizona State Fair..it's almost as if after that November & December turn into a whirlwind of holidays and events and preparation. This year I so enjoyed the fair, we got there early in the day and spent no less than 8 hrs. playing games, riding all sorts of rides, going through fun houses & haunted houses, petting farm animals, eating junk food, sliding down slides, and getting completely worn out on what proved to be an unusally windy day! the highlights of the evening were Nicholas' trip on the Zipper with Charlie..his courage soon turned to fear as Charlie put it he was cussing like a sailor & I didn't blame him a bit! It was the first year Jake was able to ride rides by himself and he loved every minute of it from the bumper boats to the mini roller coaster...Logan wasn't as daring but still went on his share of rides and we actually won some pretty neat stuff playing games this year, including a huge yellow banana! What do you even do with something like that? But for me this was almost a life changing event! ( Well sort of) Charlie insisted I go on the most humungous ferris wheel even, I mean this thing was enormous. I haven't rode on one since I was a kid as in my old age I am afraid of heights...scardey cat really! I gave in as I had no choice and got in line, all the while thinking of the ferris wheels of my youth, little wooden benches with a steel bar over the front, rocking back and forth on top of the world...god how dangerous is that! This particular one was the biggest out of three there but it had a semi closed in pod which u got into..Did I tell you it was windy?? Super windy?? Well getting on this thing I saw the guy who ran it via computer from inside this little glass box in the middle and he looked pretty scary, I had my doubts but we waited forever to get on... Almost immediately I started bawling like a baby and almost hyperventilated as I clutched onto Charlie and buried my head in his lap and refused to move..only when we were taking our last to spins did I open my eyes and was wowed overlooking all the lights and the valley. It was so beautiful& I overcame my fear!! Besides Charlie rode the Tango...for those of you who are not familiar with the godawful Tango you are suspended in mid air with nothing other than a chast harness holding you in as it flings you upside down and round and round and side to side (think out of control windmill) I think the boys once had a toy like that...but thats beside the point..all the while techno music playing and sirens blaring....god I think I am dizzy need to stop typing!!!

10 Totaly Random Things Which Describe My Day

*I sure enjoy cold crisp chardonnay and good conversation
*I have been eating out way to much lately
*Life changes with the seasons and there are seasons in your life
*I am putting the Christmas tree up way early this year and I already have presents waiting to be wrapped
*Charlie is against a huge Clark Griswald type tree which I am insisting on due to our high high ceilings
*My title has changed to girlfriend/masseuse
*apparently there is a book fair tomorrow before school...
*took such a good nap today after lunch on the patio at EuroPizza..2 glasses of Houge Reisling..and lots of shopping...I could have slept all night!
*Phils Filling Station has the best iced cold coca cola!!

*Charlie is still awake when he should be sleeping I think the tickle monster is about to sneak up on him.....

This Weekend

Jake at The Horny Toad Resteraunt Cave Creek AZ Fall 09

So funny....when he split with his ex-wife she opened a resteraunt right down the street..named appropriately The Satisfied Frog...honest to god!

Golfing with Mom & Dad

Spooky ghost lights

Monsters everywhere!!

Hiding here and there...lots of homemade decorations from years past...and yes those are loose drawers to the new shelving waiting to be put together upstairs...

Jakeys Halloween Baby Book

Was filled with Halloween Decorations....A drive out to Cave Creek for dinner...a visit from Jakes Dad Matt...A nasty head cold flu type thing that had Charlie in bed! Christmas shopping .....couple time...Nicholas' first bike ride...Bringing in some new furniture...trying out new resteraunts...naps....Is it next weekend yet??

Crayola Holiday Pages

Always on the lookout for fun and free stuff my kids can make or busy themselves with I came across the Crayola website last week while trying to find a printable Halloween calender, which I found the cutest one plus more!! I wish I had found this site sooner, not only do they have interactive coloring pages which even my three year old can do online, but they have thousands of printable pages and activites as well perfect for toddler through to older kids. Above is just a sampling of the many many pages they have available for print. Along with a huge archive of craft ideas this is definitely a page I have bookmarked and I can't wait to hang the cool prinouts once the kids color them in. Worth a look!!

Halloween Stuff

I have the most beautiful view from my observation deck at home overlooking the Four Peaks mountains and all the mountain ranges looking East surrounding our beautiful  town of Fountain Hills. Thanks to my gracious parents I now have two comfy chairs for the patio , put together with the rug I have been saving and some string lights I am imagining a magical little place can be created up there which will reflect the seasons....something like this, featured in Country Living mag. This is by far one of my favourite magazines and is always full of inspiring and creative ideas! I will let you know how the progress on my updated oasis comes and post some pics later, plan on starting it tonight!!

A Great Christmas Idea~

They Have the Cutest Bedroom Set Featuring this furry guy here!!

Eric Carle

I love that so many of my favourite illustrators are now featured on childrens toys..First it was Charlie Harper and now the beloved Eric Carle . I picked up the puzzle pack for my boys at Target a few weeks back and they are so charming, there are 4 puzzles which fit neatly in a small wooden box when put away, and the best part is the pieces are numbered which makes clean up easy!! There are so many I want to get and put away for the boys for Christmas. Target will have a few featured items on sale through the end of the month, these are a little pricy but oh so worth it as these are something to be cherished and being they are wooden toys long lasting too, or so one would hope. A great gift idea!

My Status Report October

Making : The bed over every night or so lately..ahhhh the joys of pottytraining!

Cooking :Porkchops and smashed potatoes..Quessadillas...Roast...Soup..everything I am cooking lately is from here

Drinking : Diet Iced Tea

Reading: This months issue of Vanity Fair

Wanting: breakfast in bed followed by a relaxing day at the spa

Looking: At my handsome boyfriend  sleep all cozy in his pjs

Playing: Puzzles with my boys

Wasting: time on the news...there is never any good news really....

Sewing: Nothing:( Belt is broken on my machine

Wishing: That we all stay Flu free this Fall

Enjoying: the crisp Autumn air

Waiting: For the weekend to roll around

Liking: My job

Wondering: where the maid has been ...she should be fired...hehe

Loving: my boys so very much

Hoping: Logan feels better soon

Marvelling: That in no time it will be Christmas again!

Needing: Jeans in a bad way

Smelling: Lysol I know yuck but Logan is sick in bed with a fever and I am all about the disenfecting right now

Wearing: Charlies t-shirt and my yoga pants..and halloween sock slippers lol

Following: The show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Noticing: How easy it can be to repress memories so much so that it is as if they never ever happened

Knowing: never enough, always learning

Thinking: Of what new vaccuum I am going to buy

Bookmarking: recipes what else!!

Opening: My old Sarah Ban Breathenach books I haven't picked up for a long time!

Giggling: over Something About Mary

Feeling: sleepy and lazy :)

Thank you Luvinthemommyhood This was fun!:)

Savouring Napa

One good time was had by all which included the Napa Valley on my latest Vacation. I was mesmerized by the beauty and cannot wait to go back. Have you ever visited a place for which the universe just smiled on you the whole time you were there, the energy just perfect and the stars aligned in just the right way? This was one of those trips for me.I loved no rather could spend the rest of my life enjoying wonderful breakfast being served to me in bed, lingering over a couple cups of coffee and reading USA Today before setting out and seeing places and things I never had before. Tia and Pam ..Charlie's Mother & Sister were the ultimate tour guides as we ate the most fantastic food and had such fun, the likes of which I hadn't had in some time.I loved the town of Berkely , it was just as I imagined it would be and Lafayette, Walnut Creek were equally enjoyable. Charlie doesn't know it yet but I found Napa to be such a romantic place to be I am certain we ill visit again together soon. It also rekindled my taste for Wine. I loved every minute of it!