Yuck!

Mr and I watched a show last night that I vowed I wouldn't watch again after the last time I watched it--"Man vs. Wild". We really like to watch shows about nature, educational or otherwise, but this show is just plain gross. The premise is this "survival expert" is dropped into some remote location and he explains to us how to survive should we be in a similar situation.

Last night he was dropped at the Baja peninsula. He proceeded to catch a skunk in a makeshift trap--that was really funny because of course, the thing stunk to high heaven. He killed a rattlesnake and cooked and ate it. Then he thoughtfully kept the skin into which he later peed so he could, even later, after walking across the desert for a while, drink the heretoforementioned pee. Mr and I kept wondering why he didn't just turn around and ask the camera guy for his water jug we're sure he was carrying.

In the process of his trek, he wanted to get some honey from these honeycombs he stumbled upon and got stung around his eyes and they swelled up so much so he could hardly see out of them. Mr and I got a good laugh out of this. Seriously, he couldn't have been that hungry--he'd had the skunk to eat only hours after getting dropped off at the location. Let's not forget that he'd already eaten a beetle and some type of fat worm he'd found in a tree literally minutes after landing.

I guess this post is more of a warning than a recommendation. Don't watch this show unless you want to get severely grossed out. I told Mr last night, that is the last time I'm watching that show...I mean it this time.

Monday, Monday

You remember that song--"Monday, Monday, so good to me"? Anyway, Monday does look good to me because Sunday sucked. I was hungover so yes, I had a good time at the party Saturday night.

The surprise was a success. She definitely didn't see it coming. She was ticked initially, like everyone thought she would be, but she also got over it quickly--also like everyone thought she would. It was such a fun night. Here she is coming in. At least she's smiling!

Here they are setting off balloons that had their name, address and phone number on them stating that they were celebrating their 60th birthday and if found, give them a call or send them a card to wish them happy birthday. Now if you find one, please do it.

Here's the beautiful cake my cousins got for them. There was a bow on top, but they're getting ready to cut it. Unfortunately I didn't get any, but I heard it was super good.

Here's a picture of the Mr and Mrs.

Today's the big day!

Well, today is finally the surprise birthday party. It will be exciting to see if she is really surprised. Tonight will be a relief to all of us because having and hiding a surprise is a LOT of work. We had a surprise 50th birthday party for Mr a couple of years ago and it was then that I decided I would never do another surprise party. I lied more in the months leading up to it than I have my entire life. It was worth it, though, because we got him good. Just as good as he got me last year at the surprise party he threw for me.

We went to the Reds' game last night. They lost, of course, but we did have fun. We got to spend some time with some friends from the lake who we haven't seen in a while since they're not at the lake anymore. After the game, they had an awesome fireworks show. I bet it lasted for 20 minutes. We were sitting at an outside bar on the river and the night was cool and wonderful-feeling. It was a lot of fun.

Today I get to take care of domestic duties that I haven't done this week, namely, laundry. This afternoon party prep goes into high gear. I'll update you tomorrow (if I'm able) or Monday (if I'm not!)

Thursday

I went to the library yesterday--yes, hope springs eternal. This time I've already started reading one of the books I got and I'm halfway through it! It is a book I've wanted to read for a while. It's "Celebrity Detox" by Rosie O'Donnell. I don't know how many of you out there are fans of Rosie, (I would ask a question about that but hardly anyone responds to my questions anyway. I'm not sure anyone is even reading anymore, but no difference. I will continue to write for my own entertainment!) but I am a fan. As I've read her blog daily and gotten to "know" her better, I like her even more. She is such a kind, generous spirit who truly cares about other people. Her presentation turns a lot of people off, but that is who she is and she makes no apologies for that. Yet another thing I really admire about her. This book is really good and has said some things to me that I hadn't expected.

I also got her book "Crafty U". The crafts are designed to do with kids, but there are some fun things in there to try even if you don't have kids. I like to think of myself as crafty even though I'm not sure I am. You have to believe it to see it, right? I really like doing crafts, but don't flex that muscle much anymore so we'll see how things go.

Tonight I guess I did get a little creative with dinner. I didn't want to have to go the store and Mr had brought home one of those rotisserie chickens from Kroger over the weekend. We needed to use it so I had some diced Italian-style tomatoes in the pantry. I cut up the chicken and put it in a skillet with the tomatoes and added a little olive oil to simmer for a while. Afterward we put the concoction over some spaghetti. I must say, it was very tasty. Definitely a keeper recipe for a quick dinner. It wasn't too unhealthy either. It would've been really healthy if I hadn't used any of the skin off the chicken, but of course I used it. That's where all the herbs are! I must say, those chickens are good. If you haven't tried one, run out to your nearest Kroger and getcha one.

Rainy Tuesday

It's raining and crappy here today. Some small storms passed through and all in all, it's just a dreary old day--the kind of day where you'd like to lay on the couch all day, burning candles and watching old movies. I don't mean OLD movies; I mean movies like "Sixteen Candles", "St. Elmo's Fire", "The Breakfast Club", "When Harry Met Sally", "The Big Chill", "Urban Cowboy", just to name a few. I guess to some, these are OLD movies, but to me, they are just old movies that transport me back a few years and I love to watch them over and over and over.

Miss Daisy doesn't like storms. Today every time I walk toward the kitchen, she heads to the basement steps because that's where we go when the storms get bad. You know, my storm routine I've told you about. She's a smart cookie, that one. Since we're not headed to the basement anytime soon, she's decided to take up residence under my desk by my feet. I guess she feels safer there since it's closed in and it's close to me. And I thought I was scared of storms!

This week is a big week in our family because my aunt is turning 60 on Thursday. In addition, my mom and my other aunt have orchestrated a surprise birthday party for her on Saturday. Don't fret, she doesn't read this blog or even know it exists so I'm safe divulging this info on here. I'm going with her daughter tomorrow to get decorations. She has said for months, that she doesn't want anything done for her birthday since this is a big one, but my mom and aunt have decided that initially she'll be pissed, but she'll get over it and enjoy the night. I hope they're right since they've put so much work into the party. I'll let you know how it goes.

Other big family news that I've neglected to tell you earlier is that boy child is coming home for a week. He'll be in Texas next week training for a new job and then he'll fly home next Saturday for a week at home. It'll be great to see him so soon since we all thought we'd have to fly to Italy to get to see him sometime in the next 3 years. It will be a fun week of visiting with him.

Baby shower wrap-up

Yes, this will be the last blog regarding the baby shower. I know I've probably bored you to tears with details about the shower, but it's finally over so this is the last entry you'll have to tolerate it.





Here are the finished cupcakes. I gotta say, these were my favorite of the DIY projects I did for the shower. I think they are absolutely adorable and turned out way better than I expected them to.

Here's the food spread, minus one dish on the left that was still in the oven. Note the china cabinet in the back that I FINALLY got loaded up with our wedding china.

Here's a picture of several generations. The baby's daddy's mom (my aunt) is on the left, her ex-mother-in-law, the baby mommy's mommy, the baby mommy (shower honoree) and her grandmother.

J opening some of her gifts with the help of her niece and her sister. She made a pretty good haul of stuff. Plus, she has 2 more showers--1 each the next 2 weekends! She should be more than ready by the time the baby gets here.

The baby's daddy trying on his diaper bag. It's this really cool backpack that looks nothing like a diaper bag. I was hoping she'd get him something with duckies or bunnies on it!

Me bringing the last dish to the table.

Well, that's it folks. The last installment of the baby shower planning process.

Aren't these the cutest things ever?!

Saturday morning cooking

As if I didn't have enough to do, I decided to make the "Sleepin' in Omelette" from the Pioneer Woman. In actuality, it's a casserole. I don't know why she calls it an omelette. Anyway, I put it together last night and then just popped it in the oven this morning. Here's a picture after Mr and I hit it hard.

If you try this recipe, here's Mr's and my suggestions for changes to the recipe. 1. it needs some meat. Next time I will cook sausage and put that in there. 2. less cream cheese, although, maybe if you add the sausage, it won't be so rich. The whole pack of cream cheese makes it very rich and I even used the low-fat cream cheese. I think the sausage might counteract that so next time I will just add sausage with the same amt. of cream cheese. If you make it with no meat, though, definitely cut back the cream cheese to maybe 1/2 package. It's very good, but very rich. All in all, Mr and I decided this was a keeper.

Now onto cooking stuff for the shower!

Preparing for the shower

Okay, I'm sure you all remember that the baby shower for J is this Sunday. In preparation, not only have I planned the menu and all the little DIY projects I've posted on here, now I have to clean and decorate. Our house is definitely a work in progress. I'm glad I'm having the shower, not only because I'm just glad to do it, but it also gives me a reason to clean the house (which you know I hate to do) and get some things organized that I've been putting off. The major one being hanging stuff on the walls.

When Mr bought this house, this frame was hanging in the main bathroom with pictures from Anne Geddes. They were little babies with flowers, etc. Yes, it's been hanging in the bathroom for 6+ years. I decided to re-use the frame today to put some of our wedding pictures in. This is now hanging over the toilet.

Is it weird that I have wedding pics above the john? I don't care. I think they look good and fit in with the pink that's in the bathroom.

I also bought this at Hobby Lobby, one of my favorite places in the world to shop. This week they have 1/2 off wall decor.

I also bought this from Hobby Lobby, same sale. This will be going in the LR over the steps down into the basement.

I don't know why this came out sideways, but since this is round, it doesn't really matter.

In addition, we finally got a coffee table for the living room.

That furry thing on the loveseat is the laziest dog in the world...also the cutest, but most certainly the laziest. I can't get her to help at all with the prep for the shower.

Here are the black rugs in the main bathroom. I just bought the one in the forefront. The others were already here. Note the tag still on it. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find black bathroom rugs.

An interestingly stupid question

Today I read an article that poses the question "Should you tell a friend that she is fat?" Yes, it really was an article. The advice ranged from "No way. I'd keep my mouth shut. After all, she knows if she is fat" to "Yes, I would tell her, especially if I thought her health was in danger."

Those of you who know me know I've battled weight issues all of my life. I've been fatter than now; I've been way skinnier than now and everywhere in between. Weight has always been a sensitive issue in my life. I always used to say that if a man I was dating ever made a deragatory comment about my weight, he'd be outta here. So given my history, I can't believe this question.

Truly, when you are fat, you know you are fat. You think I don't realize that I've put on 15 lbs. since last year? You think I don't notice EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE that I've developed a lovely little muffin top? (thanks 40) The most crushing thing a so-called friend could say to me is "Mrs, I notice you've gotten kinda fat lately. I'm worried about you. Is there anything I can do to help?" Yes, shut your effin' mouth would be a good start. Someone making a negative comment about my weight would only do one thing--make me want to eat more. I know it sounds weird, but that would be my response. It wouldn't motivate me to lose weight or get more fit. It would piss me off and it doesn't matter that I would hurt myself more by eating more, that would be the response.

To me the definition of a friend is someone who accepts and loves you unconditionally. Making comments about her weight to her (or behind her back. Don't even get me started on that) is not being a friend. Does that mean that I don't notice when my friends gain weight? Of course not. Because of my own weight issues, I probably notice sooner than "normal" people because I have a heightened awareness of weight, my own and others. But does that give me a right to say "Hey, fattie. I'm worried you're getting too fat. Can I help you?" under the guise of being a good friend? Get outta here. That is total b.s.

So, what are your thoughts on this interestingly, stupid question?