6 things about me

I've been tagged by Robocop to do the following meme...
(1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules on your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their site.

1. I bite my fingernails down to the quick.
2. I really enjoy reading 3 magazines, Real Simple, Better Homes and Gardens, and Kansas!.
3. I put a lil smiley face on my calender when I get some.
4. I have the best intentions but horrible follow through.
5. I currently have 6 books that I started reading and never finished. I still plan on finishing them some day.
6. I can not draw, even my stick people suck!
   

I will not be tagging anyone to do this, if you feel like doing this let me know so I can come read it!

Happy Kansas Day!

"Wandering children of Kansas away,
By mountain, by desert, or sea,
Feasting or fasting, at prayer or at play,
Whatever your fortunes may be,
Open the doors of your hearts to the breeze,
Prairie winds never are still,
Hark to the surf in the cottonwood trees,
The breakers that boom on the hill.
Open your soul's windows–let in the sun–
The prairie sun gay with delight.
Where'er your wandering pathways have run,
Come home tonight."

--From: "A Song for Kansas Day" by William Allen White

It's no secret I was born and raised in the great state of Kansas. I have fond childhood memories of Kansas Day, we always did fun activities to celebrate, which were also ways to teach us our states history. I wanted to add images from the internet on here but in looking for images I found this great site called State Symbols USA. That link will take you to the state symbols of Kansas. There are great photos and brief descriptions of the states symbols.

I love the state song, it's no surprise the state flower is my favorite flower, the state tree is my favorite tree(well I think it is tied with the Willow tree) it has a smell that calms me, the stars in the Ks sky are the clearest, brightest, and there seems to be more of them than anywhere else I have been! There are many, many things I love about my home state. I hope you can take a moment to check out the link.

** "Grandmas Treasures" is in the making. I have been unhappy with my photos, so I am trying something else.**

Fun Monday Bedside Table

Today's Fun Monday is being hosted by The Lurchers, who asked to see what our bedside table looked like. I thought it was a great topic as it would give me the nudge I need to tidy it up. Life takes over as we are all accustomed to and I did not get a chance to tidy up like I had wanted to.
You are blessed with seeing my messy, chaotic bedside table or in my case bedside dresser. There are LOADS of treasures here, not that anyone but me can pick them out. The cardboard behind by dresser is the mirror that attaches to the back of it and I have not been able to find the old antique replacement mirror holder thingys. I'm always on the lookout. There is also my Grandmothers jewelery box on my dresser/bedside table. It is rather large and has tiny drawers. It still holds her jewelry, nothing I will wear,nothing worth any $$, yet it is still priceless to me. I have books,journals,toys, and some of my jewelery scattered all about...just to name a few. No getting to see in my dresser drawers, those hold my unmentionables.

So have fun, play I spy and see what you can find. Just click it to big it, if you dare!
Go back to The Lurchers to see everyone else's bedside tables.

Snackalicious Recipes

Nothing like waiting til the last minute! Today is the day for Robin's Snackalicious Super Dishes. If you click that link you will be taken to the post where all the other Snackalicious recipe links are. If you want to join in there is still time! Head over to Robin's and sign up.

Now onto what I have to offer. A few years ago one of my friends made these ham rollups for a gathering. When I asked her how to make them all she said was "It is so EASY. Chopped green onion in cream cheese, spread on smoked ham." She forgets that I like exact measurements to my recipes. So I just bought a block of cream cheese, let it sit out to get soft. I chopped up about 4 to 6 green onions, only the green part. I stirred those together and spread it on a slice of ham. I rolled it up and you can either leave them finger length or cut it into lil bite size pieces. If you do that then you will need toothpicks to keep it together, but they sure look pretty! My advice is to make sure you get the square smoked ham. I like Oscar Meyer the best, but I know there are other brands. You just do not want to get the thin deli sliced ham.

Ham Roll-ups
~ 1 8oz block of cream cheese
~ a bunch of green onions
~ a package or 2 of sliced smoked ham

Now I feel like that was not much of a recipe so I will share one more. This is a FAVORITE in our house. My oldest son was in a cooking club when he was in 3rd grade. He brought all of the recipes home. The teacher got it from Allrecipes.com.

Mini Cheesecakes

Ingredients:

12 vanilla wafers 2 TB Lemon Juice
2 8 oz packages cream cheese,softened 2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs 1 (21 oz) can of pie filling

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
2. Line muffin tins (regular size, NOT mini) with 12 paper baking cups. Place a vanilla wafer in each one.
3. In a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add eggs, lemon juice, and sugar. Beat until smooth and thoroughly combined.
4. Fill each baking cup 2/3 full with cream cheese mixture.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes. Cool on a rack. Top with fruit pie filling. Pipe whipped cream or sweetened cream cheese into a rosette on top of each cheesecake just prior to serving, if desired.

I don't desire to do that. It does look pretty, but I'm not into my food looking fancy.
I use Strawberry pie filling. You can use whatever flavor you like. This makes more than 12. It easily makes 24. I had a friend that does not like cheesecake. When I make these you'd never know! Enjoy!

Update! I saw that Junebug has a very detailed recipe for the same ham rollups I tried to give you a recipe for. If you are like me and love a detailed recipe please go check hers out!!

Rear View

You know I am in quite a bit of shock over Heath Ledgers death. It is not like me to be all into what is going on with the stars. I feel like my Grandma. Tell me to get a life, I really don't give a fuck. I enjoyed his movies. I always used to roll my eyes at the folks on the TV bawling over some musicians/ or Hollywood stars death. I can't help how I feel now can I? I am sad and I am in shock over his tragic untimely death and my heart goes out to his family and friends.

I am starting to loose interest in my weekly bumper stickers. I don't know if I really feel like keeping up with it. Worse case, I pop in on Wednesday with a sticker or 2 whenever the mood strikes. Who am I kidding? I wanted to say "whenever I fucking feel like it." ahhh I feel slightly better now. No I don't. Fuckity, Fuck ,Fuck, Fuck!

Please, please, please, for the love of God go fucking vote! Don't forget to pay attention!

I know I am! He is mine!!! Speaking of my Weirdo...he clarified something from his Pet FM.

Woo Hoo! I am trying really fucking hard.
I hope everyone had a great Hump Day. I am going to watch Brokeback Mountain, and 10 things I hate about you, and a Knights Tale... damn it the man was so damn HOT!

Fun Monday 1st Anniversary !

Happy Anniversary Fun Monday. The woman that started it all is hosting the one year Anniversary. Vicki at Catching Light has chosen the topic that started it all, "Your View". She wants to see what I see when I look out my front door. Since I didn't start joining in on Fun Monday until June 25th, I give you "My View".

Here is my front door....



Here is my view...It is so much nicer to look at in Summer and early Fall.
Here is to another year of FUN Mondays! Make sure to check out all of the anniversary participants listed in Vicki's sidebar.

Pump (clap) You Up!

I wanted to share with all of you some of the songs that I will be listening to when I finally get busy and get up off my ass and go to the gym. Please be patient with me, I have to take baby steps here.
There were several songs I was unable to find links to.

• Hey Baby- No Doubt
• I'm your Boogieman (sex on the Rocks mix)-White Zombie from the album Supersexy Swingin' Sounds
• Symphony of Destruction- Megadeath
• Take on Me- Reel Big Fish
• Voices- Disturbed
• Jumpin' Jumpin' - Destiny's Child
• Reload- Rob Zombie from The Matrix Reloaded Soundtrack

Then there are a few new additions that I haven't added yet. Have a listen! This is what Pumps me Up!!

Have a great weekend!

A.I. Funnies

I enjoy watching American Idol. I even vote. My secrets out. My oldest son enjoys watching Idol, so we let him watch some of Tuesdays Idol. I just had to share what my son said to a couple of contestants.

There was the 16 yr old girl that was a middle linebacker of her H.S. football team. She sang "And I'm telling you I'm not going". There is a line in the song that says " No, no, no, no way... " My son said, "I agree. No, no, no, no way!" We just cracked up laughing!!

There was a guy who was overconfident. He said something like he was going to go in there and get a yellow ticket. While the guy was singing he said, "Your mind lied to you."

We still have Wednesdays episode on our DVR. If he comes up with more funny comments I'll be sure to let you know!

Rear View

This week I have fitness on the brain. Not that I am doing anything yet. I did find my old MP3 player and have written down the songs that were on my old workout playlist. Now I get to go to the main computer to locate all of those songs on the hard drive, put them on a stick to put them on my CPU so that I can put them on my ipod. Why all the work? Why not just use the old MP3 player? Because it is currupt,broken,needs to go to MP3 heaven. I could use it with what is on there, never to add any new songs. I really want to add a few new songs to my workout playlist.


Today, I had to add one that was not a bumper sticker, it was just too funny and appropriate.

I want to do this!

This one just made me giggle!!Happy Hump Day!!

Fun Monday Websites

Today's Fun Monday is being hosted by Ann from For the Long Run. She gave us a tall order this week. Ann said the following: "I want to hear about a web site and not just about any old web site. I want to hear about a web site that's changed your life. A web site that you can't live without. A web site whose inventor you'd like to see win a McArthur Genius Grant."

This topic gave me quite a bit of difficulty. No website has changed my life. The only ones that I would be LOST without is I'm sure on everyone's list, Google and Wikipedia. Google has been my gateway to so many,many things. It helped me do research on how to properly care for a 3 toed box turtle that we rescued from a neighbor. It helped me find all kinds of info on ADHD , which also lead me to supplements that have helped my son. The internet in general was a link to so many many things while I lived in Germany for 3 years. It was my link to family, friends and all the goodies I couldn't buy overseas.

Since I am failing miserably here, how about a few of my favorites/staples.
All recipes.com has given me loads of dinner ideas over the years. A recent find for new ideas for the dinner table is Menus 4 Moms. It is set up wonderfully with a shopping list for the coming weeks menu but I just go through and pick and choose what meals sound yummy for my family.

I lived in NYC for 3 years , after moving I found Overheard in New York . How I wish I knew of it's existence while I lived there. I enjoy nothing more than overhearing other peoples conversations. I heard and saw some funny shit while riding the subways of NYC. Overheard in N.Y. has since added Overheard at the Beach, in the Office, Everywhere, and Celebrity Wit. When I am in need of a good laugh I always go to their site.

Sites that I have come to love, go to almost daily, and would have a very hard time if I was unable to visit frequently, are all of the blogs I read...most are listed on my sidebar, included as well are those that hear from me often in their comment section. Reading blogs is better than watching reality T.V. It is interactive, can be very educational, and LMAO funny.

Now that I blew this assignment go back to Ann's and read what other's chose for their life changing/can't live without websites.

First came Fat Pants, now Fat Shirts

You have your t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, long sleeve still cotton but much nicer than a t-shirt shirts, short sleeve cotton but much nicer than a t-shirt shirts, and sweaters. I know there are many other types of tops but the aforementioned shirts are the only ones I own. Now the ones that are cotton but nicer than a t-shirt shirts are somewhat form fitting. I can no longer wear them without looking like a fat slob, or like I am 4 months pregnant. I tell you this, not to whine, but rather to out myself.

See, I figure if I tell the entire WWW that my tummy is now a blubber gut that I can no longer contain in my pants, that I can no longer fit into the pants that I wore comfortably for 2 years AFTER my 3rd son was born, that I just saw I have upper back fat that is thicker than the love handles I have...that putting all this out here will motivate me to get up off my ass and go do something about it already! Both my younger 2 are in preschool for 3 hours, 4 days a week. I have no excuse anymore. I have read a few posts from bloggers that are heading back to the gym, trying to loose some weight. I was motivated by a couple of Janet's posts and Blue Momma has written a couple on this topic as well. I totally relate to Blue Momma on not enjoying doing things alone. I have a very close friend a few streets away that goes to the gym Tuesdays and Thursdays. Again I say, I have no excuse.

For 3 months I have told this friend I need to remake my workout play list and then I will go. Do you think I have even tried to do that? Hell no! I really do not understand my lack of motivation. I will weigh myself but I will not judge my progress by weight alone. INCHES is what matter most to me. I want to wear clothes that show that I do have a figure, curvy as it may be. I am just tired of wearing over sized shirts to hide my fat. Yes, I know fat is relative to each individual. Everyone has a different body structure and what's fat for one is not for another. I am debating on whether or not I should post my weight or just the amounts I loose or maybe just my starting inches and then how many I loose. I keep thinking of Pamela and how she clearly states "that a woman who will tell her age or her weight will tell anything. I won't tell mine, so you can trust me." Sure I will tell you anything about myself, but I want to be trusted. Now I am unsure what I will divulge. For today, I have dibulged more than enough.

It's Snackalicious!

I am always on the look out for new recipes and if they are snackalicious recipes even better!
Robin at Pensive is doing a lot lately but she is hosting the Recipe Round up and her own Snackalicious Super Dishes. Go check out her FAQ page to find out all the yummy details! I'll see ya there!

Rear View

I still have furry friends on my mind!
Happy Hump Day!

Fun Monday Furry Family Members

Today's hostess in the lovely Lisa. She has asked to see our pets.

I love animals. I have always had a pet or 2 all my life.
In 2002 one of my friends had a cat that had a litter of kittens. We took 2, a brother and sister. Their Mommas name was Moon so we named the girl Celeste and the boy Yoda.

This picture was taken when they were just 4 months old.

Here is one of Yoda I took last night.
I took this one of Celeste June '07. They will be 6 years old on April Fools this year!Next up is the geriatric of the family. He is 11 years old. He was given to me in Jan/Feb. 1997. He was born Dec. '96. His Momma was a full bred Husky but his Daddy was a chow mix. He is gorgeous but an asshole to kids. He growls when they try to pet him. He outgrew it when our oldest son was 8, I don't know if he'll be around in 3 years to see if he will do the same for our middle child.
Our family snow dog is Neko. This was taken when he was 5 years old.

We got our second dog in October of 2006. One of my friends had a neighbor across the street from her that had Lab puppies. My hubby and I both love Labs and have been wanting one for the kids due to Neko being an ass. So we went over there and they only had 2 left to choose from, a yellow and a black. My hubby had wanted a black and I wanted a chocolate. We both wanted a girl. The 2 left were both boys. The yellow one was so darn cute and he kept coming up to me and he kept making some cute noise when I petted him...the rest is history!
We named him Luke... He is GREAT with the kids. He not only lets them pet him he lets them do ANYTHING. They lay on him like a pillow. I have even seen him let one of them lay on him while he is eating. He is one lazy eater, he lays down to eat!
I took this photo last night. We call this Super Puppy. This one was taken August 29, 2007 his First Birthday. I laughed out loud when I saw this last night. He looks like he is giving me the phbbbbt! face.

That's it. Go back to Lisa's and check out everyone else's furry or not so furry friends!

Changes

I haven't felt like I have had much to talk about or even anything to share. I feel like I am lacking inspiration, or maybe just the desire. Which probably has to do with WT turning Bilbo Baggins on us all. That bummed me out more than I thought it would. Melissa at Waking up has gone AWOL. Beckie hasn't posted since Christmas Eve (I think I read in a comment somewhere that she might be lacking in inspiration too). It really just boils down to not feeling like I have anything to write about.I did not ring in the New Year with much hoorah, I drank minimally.

I read MJD's post about "New Beginnings" and her joy in putting up the new calendars in the new year. I too enjoy putting up my 2 calenders on the first of January, and turning the page each month to see the new photo. I thought I was the only one that actually enjoyed turning it each month. MJD wrote a beautiful post, please take the time to go read it, it is short but so eloquent. I am full of hope for this new year. Deep down I feel that this year will be a better year than the last, not just for me and my lil' world but for the U.S.,for all of the countries and Mother Earth too. I just feel a change a comin'.

This is the January photo of my KANSAS! calendar.

This is the January picture from my Mary Engelbreit calendar.
I am going to try and have more fun this year.
I also have ME's desk calendar. I didn't see it on her site. The front cover says "From the Bottom of my Heart." It is spiral, when it is open on the left page is one of her drawings and the rt page has 7 days and a quote. I love going through this like a book, enjoying her drawings and the quotes on each page in one sitting!

This weeks quote, "Is not a kiss the very autograph of love?" - Henry Finck