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!

Carrot Banana Cake

Did I happen to tell you how simply wonderful this carrot banana cake was or how miracuously after my 3 year old ( who was helping stir in the moist ingredients) spilled half the batter how it still turned out simply fantastic and not only wowed my boyfriend who requested this strange cake for his birthday but wowed my children into eating every last slice! I did a fresh whipped cream frosting with a hint of vanilla added in before I whipped it up. It would be equally fantastic with your favorite cream cheese icing too! This is such a GREAT cake for Fall and one I plan to re-make here real soon, the texture is firm but sooo moist!I doubled the recipe but you can do a loaf cake or sheet cake with the measurements as they are. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!


Charlies Carrot Banana Cake

Ingredients:


All purpose flour  1 and 1/2 cup

Sugar 1 cup

Mashed ripe banana (about 2 bananas) 1 cup

Oil 1/2 cup

Eggs 3

Baking powder 2 tea spns

Salt 1/2 tea spn

Cinnamon 1 tea spn

Grated carrot (about 3 med. carrots) 1 cup

Chopped nuts(optional) 1/3 cup



Method:

Beat together sugar, banana and oil. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Add flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon mix well. Stir in carrots.

Pour into greased baking dish. Sprinkle nuts.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes at 350ºF (or until a knife or skewer inserted in the center comes out clean).



Makes 10 to 12 pieces

Preparation time : 1 hr

What Moves Me

I came across this blog through the Pioneer Woman, Ree's blog is fantastic and during the Blogher conference she posted a video that has moved me like few things have...it truly speaks for itself ...I am reposting the text as well. I love Grace's blog, have been reading it for a week now..it is an edited version of her post Forgiveness where it belongs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr4mqcHSCis
Link to the Video on youtube~

October

• The Weather has finally turned & there is a chill in the air!! How wonderful after our 10th hottest Summer on record!! I am enjoying it very much and how it is here to stay...something about throwing the doors and windows open in the morning and airing out a home closed up all Summer is very rejuvinating and I have to admit is leaving me restless to get out and do something..anything outside!!....On a side note I quit smoking today and made friends with Nicorette fruit chew gum.....I have also vowed to cut out a few things that aren't doing me any good either..more on that later...It is just time, I have a new life begining now and I have got to step up to the plate and take care of myself better in all ways...I have such a wonderful family I love so much and want to be around as long as possible!! Tomorrow is Monday again ...followed by a Tuesday off work.....a date day filled with special time doing whatnots...breakfast, a movie, a little shopping....a walk....fun stuff....October is my favorite month....not because I turn 36 on the 29th...or because my wedding anniversary was on my b-day....nope its the signal of a turn in the seasons and Halloween!!! The boys have there costumes ready to go...black spiderman for Jake....stormtrooper for Nick.....Army guy for Logan....as for me and Charlie...well not sure ...but I am excited for a lot of things this month...Here is what is inspiring me this month:
• candyapples....fall cakes....chillis...soups and stews....All the things I wasn't into making during the hot Summertime....Speaking of recipes The best Sesame Noodles ever & Quessadillas...Tres Leche Cake.....Blue Cheese & Onion Sauce for Steak....Ribs & Baked Beans...Literally everything I have been cooking for the last month I have found on over at The Pioneer Woman....I love Ree's blog and the food is divine!!
• Organizing and getting the house ready for the holidays....I am starting to really feel at home now...I am looking forward to settling in even more...
• Scary Movies...even though I am the only one who watches them!!
• Soccer and time spent outdoors...sweaters...blankets...and camping!

What is inspiring you?????