Its Ok Thursday 3/29

I am linking up again with with Neely: A Complete Waste of Makeup and Amber: Brunch With
Amber Click the button above to visit and link up too!

"Its OK"

- That I never open my door to peddlers. When I had all of the kids living at home they would yell PEDDLERS when we saw them walking up our driveway and everyone would hide. I don't care if you have on a shirt and tie and are carrying a bible. I saw that Lifetime movie before.

-That even though I don't need to clean, I did it anyway because I had the time and energy.  Who knows when I will have the time and energy again.

 

-That I have volunteered to spread the mulch. The husband will be charged accordingly. I will charge him less than the landscapers would. I am nice like that.

-That I am more excited for the opportunity to babysit my favorite grand baby for a few days than I am for an actual vacation.

 

-That it pays to have friends in high places. Remember that $250.00 ticket? It doesn't exist anymore.

-That I am so excited that one of my favorite shows, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding is back for a second season.   Don't ask me why I am so fascinated with a culture that spends more money on their wedding dresses than they do on the trailers they live in.

-That I got to work more than one day this week.

-That when I work at night I always bring home Pizza Hut even though I say I am not going to.

-That I am going to win Mega Millions on Friday so I will see you all in 6 months or so when I am done travelling the world. (positive thinking people)

-That I am back to being a shut in because it is cold again.

-That I miss my kids.

-To go to the mall before you go grocery shopping. When you try on clothes and nothing fits, you will buy less at the grocery store.

-That i may check out Ulta before the mall.  Thank you fellow bloggers. Just what I need, another beauty supply to be addicted to.

Happy Thursday!

I was tagged

I was tagged by my daughter over at http://armywife-style.com/ and by the lovely Emily at life, etc.  http://emilymmeyers.blogspot.come  So I will answer both sets of questions and pass it on once.

I want to preface this post by saying that talking about getting "tagged" has a whole different meaning in my house.  We always see the same woman out jogging every day by our house.  We always used to say, "There is that lady out jogging again".  Her stomach started growing and we realized she was pregnant.  I don't know how it came about, but we started saying "There is the chick that got tagged".  I don't know why, but it always makes me laugh. That was probably 8 years ago.  She still jogs by my house pretty much every day.  We still call her the chick that got "tagged".  Here are the rules.

The 5 rules:
1. Post these rules
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post
4. Create 11 new questions and tag 11 bloggers to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them!

(I am not going to post 11 randoms because I am answering two sets of questions. I don't want to bore you)

11 questions from  Emily:

1. What is one food or drink that you will not eat?

Seafood. I am allergic.

2. What is your favorite thing about yourself?

My organizational skills.

3. Where is the best place you've ever traveled to?

I LOVE Montreal.  I don't even need to get on a plane to get there.

4. What is your favorite way to relax?

Happy hour out with friends

5. If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

My need to have everything perfect all of the time.

6. What is your favorite book?

Gone with the wind

7. What is your most embarrassing moment?

I have 3 kids. There is not enough space on the Internet.  Like how I skirted that one?

8. How would you best describe your personality?

Engaging (that was courtesy of my husband)

9. What is something your scared of?

Snakes

10. What is your ideal pet and why?

A mini pony. I am a neat freak so an outdoor pet is ideal for me plus they are adorable! I could be the kooky lady that takes her mini pony out for walks.

11. What do you value most in a true friend?

Understanding

11 Questions from Army Wife Style:

1. Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

It is a toss up between Tuscany and the French Riviera.

2. What is your favorite color?
Green
3. What has been your favorite vacation?

The Atlantis in the Bahamas

4. Strangest thing you ever ate?

I don't eat anything weird. I am an infant I will not try anything weird. I was fed deer meat unknowingly and to this day the thought of it makes me gag.
5. Have you ever punched someone in the face?

No but Sometimes I would like to, however I am a lady. I will say that during the birth of my daughter my mother was looking at the monitor and saying ooooh that's a big contraction how did that feel (with a look of glee on her face I might add) and I asked her "Why don't you come over here and I will punch you in the face and you can tell me how THAT would feel" I was in transition and I can joke with my mom like that. That is the closest I ever actually came to punching someone.

6. Your strangest habit?
The fact that I cant leave my house if it is out of order. Laundry must be folded, dishwasher emptied, beds made and the house cleaned up.
7. Biggest pet peeve?

People that think they are more important than others.
8. Do you judge people who wear pajamas in public?

Obviously. It takes 2 minutes to throw on some clothes.

9. It's 10 o'clock. Do you know where your children are?

Not always. None of them are living under my roof right now so I only know where they are if there is a problem or they need something (They don't call their dad "ATM" for nothing). 

10. Favorite alcoholic beverage?

Do I have to pick just one? I guess I will pick the easiest one to pour when I just want happy hour right away, Pinot Grigio.

11. Favorite toy in childhood?

Jody's country kitchen. It was a red headed barbie like doll with hair down to her knees. She came with a kitchen that was like a dollhouse kitchen. My friend got the same doll and I convinced her to cut her dolls hair. She did. I still feel bad about that. We have been best friends since we have been 8 years old. I need to mention this to her next time I see her. I am sure she remembers though. Wouldn't you remember if your doll had a mullet?

So I am going to tag these lovely ladies: Mrs. X @ http://weddingmadefromlove.blogspot.com/, Monica @http://monicaslifeasiknowit.blogspot.com/, Ryan @ http://mrshargrave.blogspot.com/, Shannon@http://pagetwenty-two.blogspot.com/,Monica @ http://amazingtimestocome.blogspot.com/, Brett @ http://silverpooloflightgirl.blogspot.com/, kodie @ http://kodiakbear288.blogspot.com/ , http://thespamom.blogspot.com/, Nellie @ http://nelliesrandomness.blogspot.com/, Brittany @ http://mylifeasasailorsprincess.blogspot.com/, Courtney @ http://talesoflaceandglitter.blogspot.com/
Consider this your lucky/unlucky day. Do not feel bad if you don't want to answer. If anyone else would like to answer, I would love to hear your answers. Here are your questions ladies.

1. Do you consider yourself a city or a country girl?
2. What would your dream job be?
3. If you went shopping and could only purchase one item, what would it be?
4. What is your all time favorite movie?
5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
6. What is your absolute favorite meal?
7. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would do?
8. What would make your day?
9. How many times a week do you celebrate happy hour?
10. What are your favorite boy and girl names?
11. What would your dream vacation consist of and where would it be?

Kiss and Makeup Monday 3/26

Today I am linking up with Mrs. Xenos over at http://newlyyeverythingg.blogspot.com/

This will be a new Monday link up. If you cant join today, join next week!

You can do a beauty product review or just talk about some of your favorite products! Anything goes.




My product today:

Reinvent Color Care Top Coat from the Sexy hair line. This is from the Healthy Sexy hair line.

I had originally bought this for a friend because I was giving her beauty products for her birthday. I couldnt resist and snagged it for myself. I am glad I did.

It is not a conditioner.  It is actually a glaze for your hair.  It makes it really shiny and leaves it feeling soft not sticky like some glazes can.  The only drawback to this product is that you need more shower time.  You wash, condition then glaze. It is worth the extra time.  Your hair will thank you. It will look healthier.  This was my first time buying Healthy Sexy Hair.  I love the Big Sexy hair line so I figured this would be great as well.  It is.  If you are looking for shine, you have to try this product!  Do you know what a top coat does for your nails? This does the same thing for your hair.

Sunday Social 3/25

How to participate:

1. Follow your hosts (The Kurtz Corner & The Sasse Life).
2. Follow the Featured blog. (Pamela's Heavenly Treats)

3. Link up your blog's home page -- not a specific link or you will be deleted!
4. Visit at least 2 other blogs and make some friends!
5. Let your friends know by posting this button. The more, the merrier!

<center><a href="http://www.thesasselife.com"><img border="0" src="http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l611/thesasselife/Sunday-001.jpg"></a></center>

The Nail Files

I am linking up with Tara and Vicki for the Nail Files.  I love this Friday link up.

 Strawberry Fields by China Glaze

 A nice springy color! I like it so much I put it on my toes too.  With the weather we have been having, it is an appropriate color!

Yesterday on my blog I mentioned that 28 years ago on that day,  I met my husband.  He brought these home for me.  He never forgets.  He actually mentioned it yesterday that we met on that day. How sweet is that?

I also want to mention a new link up that will be starting Monday by Mrs. Xenos over at http://newlyyeverythingg.blogspot.com/ .  You can do a beauty product review or just talk about some of your favorite products!  Anything goes. Join the fun!  Who doesn't love beauty products?

Its Ok Thursday 3/22

I am linking up again with with Neely: A Complete Waste of Makeup and Amber: Brunch With
Amber Click the button above to visit and link up too!

"Its ok"

- That I cried during this past weeks episode of Desperate Housewives

- That I cant wait to send my favorite grand baby her Easter package

- That I think I am on the same sleep schedule as my favorite grand baby. I took a 3 hour nap on Tuesday. I already know we pretty much have the same bedtime.

- That I had to force myself to get a haircut. I left without her blow drying it. Who wants to be stuck in a salon in 70-80 degree weather?  Yes my hair looked lovely for the rest of the day. Think of a paintbrush that you scrub on paper then let it dry like that.

- That I am making my husband take me to see The Hunger Games even if he doesn't want to. He will thank me later.

- That I just got a pedicure less than two weeks ago and I am already sick of the color. I got another pedicure yesterday.

-That I am obsessed with taking pictures of things that are popping up around my yard.

-That i convinced myself not to walk the other day because it was trash day and I didn't want to dodge trash barrels the whole way.

-That I wonder why I am already getting flooded with  emails from AARP and Senior People Meet. I am years away from 50!

-That i can never use Super Glue without getting it stuck to my thumb and index finger.

-That I just realized that 28 years ago on this day I met my husband. I consider myself lucky.

-To stop following a blog because it is fallacious. It is so over the top, it has to be. I read plenty of fiction. I want to read about real life when I am reading blogs. You can be funny without having to make things up to seem more funny.

-That I had to cheat on the nail salon I have been going to for 6 years. They couldn't take me, so I went to a place that one of my friends recommended. I liked it just as much. Now what do I do?

-That it is going to be 80 degrees today and I have the whole day free. I don't even have to cook dinner. Yeah!

-That I ate real ice cream last night and not frozen yogurt.

-To strongly dislike what your talking scale has to say.

-To wonder why my scale talks bad about me. I am looking at my grocery list and so far it contains cleaning products, paper goods, beauty products and special treats for the favorite grand baby and the only food items so far are peas, arborio rice and pepper?

-To get sick to your stomach every time they mention "pink slime" on the news and wonder how much of it you have consumed over the years. I will not even post a picture because it will probably make you vomit.

I am off to enjoy this fabulous day. It is supposed to be the last really warm day for awhile. Enjoy your Thursday!



To dip or not to dip

Today I am going to share my recipe for what I call dipping oil.
You know when you go to an Italian restaurant and they give you bread with a plate of seasoned olive oil? I make my own at home.

You need to have a glass container with a pour spout. You will need more or less of the seasoning depending on the size of your glass container.

Fill the glass container 3/4 full with olive oil. You need to leave room to add the seasoning. I usually mix my dry ingredients in a measuring cup with a spout so that I can just pour it all in together. It will be messy if you do it spice by spice.  I have learned my lesson on that one! The opening and neck of the type of glass container you want to use tend to be very small.

For the dry seasoning add:
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp of ground pepper
2 tablespoons of red pepper flakes (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)
2 tablespoons of DRIED minced garlic. Do not use wet garlic
2 tablespoons of oregano
1 tsp of garlic powder
1 tsp of garlic salt

Add this mixture to the oil. Put in more oil to fill the container. Let it stand for a few days and if you remember, shake it up a few times a day. You can tweak the spices to your liking. The longer it sits, the more flavor it has. If you find it too spicy you can pour some of it out and add more oil, or if you need more seasoning, don't be afraid to add it.

I use my seasoned oil not only to dip bread, I use it to season vegetables when I don't want to use butter. You can use it to season steak or pork chops. You can use it on salad. I am sure you could think of other uses for it.

It also makes a great hostess gift if you are going somewhere. They have beautiful glass containers everywhere. You can make it personal by finding a container that has designs on it that your hostess has interest in or that matches her decor. You could also add in some of those little dipping plates. It makes a nice gift. I find it much more personal than just bringing a bottle of wine.  Sure you can buy this type of oil already made in stores but wouldn't you rather make your own? It is so simple.

You have to know when to hold them, know when to fold them

So it was Saturday morning and I did NOT want to spend the day in the house.  My daughter went back to school Friday.  The house was quiet once again.  I cleaned like a fiend on Friday and did not have one thing to do.  I kept asking my husband what he wanted to do and he can never give me an answer it is always "I don't care" or  "We can do whatever you want, you are the fussy one".  He loves lists so I made him a list with a box to check off what he wanted to do.  I wanted him to be the decision maker. 

I really wanted to go the flower show. It was in South Boston. It was Saint Patrick's day. For those of you who know Boston, Southie is not the place to be on Saint Patrick's day.  For those of you who don't, it is known for its Irish population.  It would be wild there.  Not a good place for this geriatric pair.

It was still cloudy at noon so we couldn't really do anything outdoors. So what do old people do when they have nothing to do? That's right, they go to the casino. We ended up taking the two hour drive to Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. I want to add that I brought candy for the drive.  I really AM an old lady.

We had a nice leisurely drive with nice conversation.  The traffic was very light. My husband was driving nicely, I didn't have to make him stop so I could use the restroom from his driving. When we got to the casino, the parking lot was really full.  We knew it would be crowded.  I have been to Foxwoods many times with my mom.  My husband had never been.  He was not impressed.  I was just there in August for my daughters 21st birthday (I will post about that whole adventure soon, what a trip that was).  It didn't look as run down in August as it did yesterday. 

We didn't feel quite so old when we got there.  We were pretty young considering the crowd.  I have never seen so many people riding "larks".  I am also intrigued by all of the people with oxygen tanks in the smoking section that can hold their tank and play the slot machine one handed.  I also learned a lesson.  When I get varicose veins I will NOT be wearing crop pants with white socks.  It is not a good look.

I wish I could tell you we hit the jackpot but we didn't.  I don't even think we stayed a full three hours.  We had had enough and just wanted to go back home.  We didn't lose that much either, at least not at the casino.  My husband ran errands before we went. He got pulled over and got a $250.00 ticket for "excessive tinting" on his car. Seriously? we looked it up and that is the maximum fine. Sometimes I really hate this state. They must have had some quota to fill.  Couldn't they find a drunken Saint Patricks day bar patron to pull over?  I asked him why he didn't cry to get out of the ticket.  I would have.

The offending vehicle.

Anyway, it was a fun day all in all but it will be a long time before I go back there.  It just seemed so seedy there.   I never felt like that before when I have gone in the past. Now I really don't know what I am going to do when my hair turns white.  Can someone please teach me to knit?

Sunday consisted of yard work, 70 degree weather, barbecuing and happy hour.  Such a beautiful day.  As much as I don't want to admit it, I guess I am just a homebody.  Maybe some day I will become more adventurous. Maybe not.

The husband working hard while I am taking pictures. The queen gets more breaks than the king.  In this house, The queen trumps the king.

Sights and Sounds from a spring time Sunday in suburbia

Happy Saint Patrick"s Day

I am going to say that I will not be eating corned beef and cabbage today. My husband despises it.  I am going to find something fun to do today that is not anywhere near a bar.  I know that is unusual for me but It is like New Years Eve, too crowded.  Enjoy your Saint Patrick's Day no matter what you do!

http://youtu.be/dc3MmThj_PU

Its ok Thursday 3/15

I am linking up again with with Neely: A Complete Waste of Makeup and Amber: Brunch With
Amber Click the button above to visit and link up too!

"its ok"

-To keep talking about the fact that Jeff Probst replied and re tweeted me yesterday. I love Twitter.

-To stop and have happy hour in the middle of your shopping trip.

-To buy something your daughter loves but your not sure about for yourself. Make sure you save the receipts when you are drinking/shopping.

-To know for sure you are taking the item back when you get to the register and your daughter says "Mom those look like stripper shoes, they are so cool" and the boy at the register says "Yeah, I was just thinking that"  I want to be cool, I just don't want to be asked "How much?"

-To be done at the mall  and then not want to stay in when you get home so you go do some more shopping and of course end with a drink.

-To have the bar bill taken care of for us at both places we went leaving us with more money to shop with.

-To feel bad that my daughter regrets not doing anything for her last spring break. I am trying to make it up to her even though she spent four months studying in Greece and just left me here without feeling bad for me.

-That you know a creeper when you see one.  Always trust your intuition.

-To let your house go a little bit while you are busy having fun. The dirt will still be there tomorrow or even next week.

-To want to take up golfing only if I can find cute golfing outfits. Is that possible?

-That when I go grocery shopping with my daughter today, she will end up with more groceries than me to take back to school tomorrow :(

-That with the warmer weather we barbecued for three consecutive days and each of us probably ate a pound of steak each night. In my defense, we do not really eat red meat in the winter so we made up for it this week and then some

-That I was crabby at the beginning of the week but have since snapped out of it.

.
Enjoy your Thursday!