Archives for August 2011

Laylee just said, “Mom, you’re amazing! You can copy any voice and sound exactly like the person you’re imitating.”

“Yes,” I said, “If that person is a member of the Lollipop Guild.” I am known for my munchkin impressions.

“Also French people,” she added.

Ah yes. French people. Ziss I cannot deny. Ahn-han-han.

I’ve been enjoying The Prudent Homemaker, a website dedicated to feeding your family well on a tight budget, among other things. Today I tried out her French bread recipe which worked beautifully the first time around. I was so proud of myself that I started speaking like the chef from The Little Mermaid… badly. Apparently, it was extremely impressive. I now have a reputation as a master of vocal disguise.

I am also a master of short cuts so if you decide to make this simple bread, I found that you can make it even simpler by kneading the dough in your Kitchen Aid rather than by hand. It still rose quite nicely after 8-10 minutes in the machine. It wasn’t as blissfully domestic, but I was able to check email while the bread was kneading so I’m totally okay with that. Maybe next time I’ll wear a frilly apron while checking email and that will even the domestical score.

It’s time to introduce a new game on the blog. I like to call it, “Guess What I Ordered – No Really – Guess.” The way it works is I order something in the mail and slowly reveal what I found inside the package and you get to guess what I ordered. You can only look at one picture at a time and no skipping to the end. If you can guess what I ordered before looking at the final picture, you win… your mind-reader’s license. This is a good one. Ready? Okay.

Picture number one:

If you guessed that I ordered something from Misikko, you’re RIGHT! But that’s not specific enough. Try again.

Picture number two:

If you guessed bubble wrap or a box full of pink and monkeys, you are incorrect.

Picture number three:

Mid-grade false flower in eggshell? Nope.

Picture number four:

Did you guess pink soap flowers in a recyclable recepticle with a pink bow? Incorrect!

Picture number five:

Gorilla with convenient velcro hands? So very wrong. Both you and the gorilla.

Picture number six:

Pink satin bag or pink satin bag full of emery boards with their own individual ball chains? Uh-uh.

Picture number seven:

Bargain brand hand sanitizer? Not a bit.

Picture number eight:

Purple satin clutch? This was a free gift.

Picture number nine:

White satin bag nesting inside the purple satin bag? We’re getting close.

Picture number ten:

TA-DA! If you guessed Hana Shine Shield Advanced Heat Styling Therapy, you’re a winner!

I’m excited to try it out. It comes as a recommendation from Abby, my hair guru, who has a blog that I lurk on and then spend hours trying to copy her hair… because I am creepy like that. If things don’t work out with me and Hana, there’s always the velcro monkey. What a haul!

We were on vacation at grandma’s house last month and the kids had been outfitted with about all the candy and treats their bodies could handle. They were enjoying life immensely.

One night, after brushing his teeth, Magoo asked if he could eat more candy, specifically Nerds.

“But Buddy,” I explained, “You already brushed your teeth.”

“I know. It’s okay because I have a plan. I don’t even need to chew or suck on them. I’ll just swallow them down. Then they won’t get on my teeth.”

“But then you wouldn’t even enjoy them.”

“That’s okay,” he said.

Dan and I laughed about this and suggested that maybe we should just inject sugar directly into his veins, bypassing his digestive system altogether.

A couple of weeks later we were back home from vacation and I was multi-tasking when Dan arrived home from work. I was cleaning the kitchen like mad with my laptop on the stove, playing So You Think You Can Dance. It’s my favorite show but I wasn’t watching it, not even really listening to the music. I was checking it off my to-do list.

“What are you doing?” Dan asked.

With a sheepish grin, I responded, “I think I’m swallowing my Nerds.”

If you’re gonna eat something yummy, eat it. If you’re gonna watch a show, watch it. If you’re gonna spend time with your kids, be present. Make sure you at least taste the candy on its way down.