Wednesday, June 22, 2011

No Good At All

What a terrible horrible no good very bad day.


I have nothing nice to say so I wont say anything at all.

Just consider this a warning if you come near.......


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Little Red Wagon

At my recent trip home my dad asked if I wanted to take Rhiannon's wagon back.  Apparently I asked the folks to hang on to it "for a little bit" and now 8 years later......... I'm finally taking it back.  (Sorry mom and dad!)  Although this couldn't of come at a better time since the mister and I were just talking about how nice it would be to get one to transport Clara to and from the beach.

While in storage for the past eight years it became a bit rusty.



Dad told me all I had to do was take a wire brush to it and spray it with Rustoleum hammered red paint.  Easy schmeasy!  However, without thinking I didn't buy the spray paint while down south and since you can't buy it in the city I instead got a can of Rustoleum Painter's Touch in Apple Red, a paint brush and made an afternoon of it.



  Since it was quite brighter then the existing paint I decided to paint the entire thing instead of just the inside.  I guess I did a pretty good job.  About  15 people stopped to talk to me while I was working.







It was really hot and gross out so I filled up the baby pool and let Clara splash away while I worked in the shade.  Once I was in the shade working it turned into one of those magical feeling moments life throws at us from time to time.  The baby was quiet and content throwing out a giggle every now and then, there was a soft breeze flowing and I had a paintbrush in my hand.  (Its what I love most.)  





Is there really anything more magical then a sweet baby playing in her pool on a hot summer day in front of her mamma's garden?  I think not!



Finished Product!  Now it needs to hurry up and dry so I can reattach the wheels and cart my baby around!



Happy Summer Solstice Sweet Friends!

My Dad

This post is dedicated to this man right here.....


This is my dad.  His name is Phil and he's pretty amazing.  When I was younger he used to take me on his Harley for motorcycle rides.  (This might have secretly put the seed in my head to like bad boys.)

The "engagement ring" he gave my mom was a black leather jacket.  When my parents got married, it looked like this...



Yes, they did say f*^% that to the white dress, we want Harley Davidson t-shirts, blue jeans and cowboy boots.

My parents have 9 children.  My mom stayed at home and took care of all of us.  (She's pretty amazing too, but this isn't about her.)  It feels as though my dad has worked every single day to ensure all of his children lived very comfortably.  If he wasn't at work, he was always on call.

As I get older I realize just how much I am like him.  I am a perfectionist about certain things.  For example, please don't ever help me try and do the dishes, it will only annoy me that you are not doing it correctly.  Also I have a strange love of mowing the lawn (compulsively.)  Anyone who knows Phil knows his love of a perfect looking lawn.  (Although I enjoy my dandelions, sorry dad!)

Where my dad is the most amazing, I believe, is when he is working with wood.  Anytime one of his girls comes to him with any idea he will take their idea and whip it into reality.  This is a bookshelf he made for my little sister.....



The most amazing thing he has built recently is a log cabin playhouse for his grandchildren.  He drew out the blueprint of how he wanted it to look on the back of a napkin and built it in a weekend.  I actually called him up one day, asked what he was up to and got a reply that was "Well Crystal, I'm just about to put the roof on the cabin."  Of course I had no idea what he was talking about until mom sent me this picture.



Isn't it amazing?  It is tall enough on the inside for me to stand in (I'm 5'4).   Here is how the building process went.......







If you are interested in buying one of these beautiful handmade little playhouses please let me know!  They can be custom made to your liking and are made with the utmost attention to detail.  It is a beautiful piece that will last throughout your children's younger years and could easily be converted into an outdoor garden room!

The Grandchildren definitely have given their approval!  



















Email me to find out more details on how to get one for yourself! 

Monday, June 20, 2011

Cubs vs Sox

This is a very serious event in our home.  Because of this I threw together the most delicious dinner this evening so I could be "off work" by the time the game starts at seven.  However it was so tasty I just have to share before the game starts.  I'm in love with Trader Joe's (perhaps because its within walking distance from our house) so almost all of the ingredients come from here except for the produce.



Easy and Delicious Artichoke Pasta

1 M onion chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
olive oil
1 can of diced tomatoes 
1 can artichoke hearts
white wine
basil
thyme
oregano
1 bay leaf
salt 
pepper
Pesto filled Tortellini 

  • Take about 3 tbsp of olive oil and saute the chopped onion for about 5 minutes on MH heat.  Add garlic and saute for about 3 minutes longer
  • Pour in about a fourth of a bottle of white wine, the can of tomato's with the juice and the artichoke hearts.  Add the spices to taste.  turn on med heat.
  • Bring some water to a boil and cook the tortellini.  When cooked, drain the pasta.
  • Mix the two together.
  • Voila! 


I was going to put fresh basil in this but thought it wouldn't be needed because the tortellini was pesto filled.  When I make this again I will definitely be adding it.  I served this with fresh parm and crusty bread. I threw this together because I almost ALWAYS have all these ingredients on hand.  It took about 20 minutes and clean up was even less.  Best part?  Finishing that bottle of wine  ;)

And it's Clara Approved!


!!!!!GO CUBS, GO!!!!!




***This dish is just as good cold the next day as it is hot!***


Friday, June 17, 2011

Front Page!

Clara and I made the Front Page!


(Its because we are so darn cute.)


Tonight I am taking the Mister to his first game at the new Busch Stadium!  I can't wait to drink a $9 beer!

Happy Fathers Day to all of you wonderful men out there!  Especially to my dad and my mister!  You are amazing and we love you both!


Monday, June 13, 2011

Hard Desicions

Have you ever been in a situation where you instantly feel like you have made the absolute wrong decision?

This has happened to me today and it involves my oldest and her education.  I am physically exhausted and an emotional wreck with the worry that I completely messed up.  I have two days to deliberate over every option, pro's and cons with the Mister.  I really hope we make the right choice.  I do not want to be responsible for messing up my babies lives, especially something as important as their education.

Everyone always tells you that growing up is hard when you are younger.  For some reason I was under the impression that once I got older all of this would get easier.  WRONG.

To all my friends out there who are new parents always remember to  Enjoy all of the times like these. 


Sunday, June 12, 2011

Bedazzled

This is how about 2/3 of our meals end here in my house.  We call it sleep-eating.  




But the sleep-eating is not what is so amazing about this photo.  Look closely on her hands and you will see she has bedazzled herself.  These awesome little stickers used to be in a manicure set Rhiannon had when she was about 5.  (I promise I'm not a hoarder.)  Clara has found these and they are her new favorite thing--EVER!  


Every morning I bring her into my bedroom and she runs over to her little "stash".  She will then whimper until I take the stickers off for her so she can put them wherever her little heart desires.  This obsession has become so intense that when she woke up from her nap yesterday the first thing she did was check to make sure her little bedazzles were still on.

Cutest.  Thing.  Ever.

Today the girls and I went to the Blues Fest downtown.  It was so much fun!  Rhiannon spent most of the time chasing Clara back and forth and back again.....






Then we went to sit on the lawn to enjoy some good ol' blues music.





We finished our sunday funday with a trip to the fountain downtown.



Although we had a wonderful day it ended on quite a sad note.  Rhiannon dropped my camera while getting off the bus this afternoon and now it does not work.  The lens seems to be sticking and it wont take a picture.  I have a feeling this is going to make my blog a bit boring for a while.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Mr. Grumble-Pants

The Mister has recently told me that he is not a fan of my blog as of late because he is in it to much.  Well I'm sorry baby.  (kind of)  Maybe if you weren't around as much. 





In reality, this grumbling old man of mine has to work really early for the next two stinking weeks.  I'm going to miss you, Mister Grumble-Pants.  


I love you.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Soooo Busy!

I've been so busy lately.  Clara is not only becoming more demanding she is cutting her molars!  Poor baby!  I've actually been so busy I didn't even notice.  I can't even begin to tell you how incredibly guilty I feel about that!  What kind of mother doesn't notice something as huge as that?  Rhiannon is also wrapping up 5th grade and getting ready to start a new school.  Such huge changes are about to come into our lives and it feels like I am missing everything because it is going by so fast!  I'm going to try and pay more attention to my family and whats going on in their life instead of being so self absorbed in mine.

That being said, Aunt Codi came and visited these past couple of days and that couldn't of come at a better time.  I absolutely love my life.  I love my Mister and I love my children dearly but I desperately needed to get out and just be me for a while.  Codi coming made possible.  Now that I have that out of my system I feel as though I can focus on being a better partner and mother.

I recently found a website that I adore.  My hair is the longest its been since I was 19 and I can now do fun things with it, like braid it. I found this tutorial the other day and Codi made it happen, although we didn't take any good pictures (once again, super busy!)  However if you know how to braid or have someone who does, do it!  It will instantly make you feel glamorous!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

***!*!*!Double***Digits!*!*!***


Well it's official.  I have an eleven year old.  Rhiannon, you are officially starting to date me.  Whenever people find out I have an eleven year old the gig will be up and they will know I am not young anymore.  (sigh)



This year for her big day Rhiannon wanted to try again for a beach party.  The agenda was as follows
  • Beach fun with her friends
  • Back to the house for pizza



  • Just Dance 2
  • Presents and Ice Cream Sundae Making Time






  • Makeovers
  • Supper and Cake



  • Movies 



  • (Yes we did buy Justin Bieber Never say Never just for the occasion.)


In reality, we woke up to a monsoon (that lasted almost three whole days!)  So instead of going to the beach the seven little girls played lots and lots and lots of Just Dance.  I believe the party was a success.  We were kicked out of the basement for the whole night.  The mister didn't really care for being banished into the playroom.

So I put him to work.



But lets be honest, we really need to get to the most important part of this post.  The cake.  That chocolate cake I made might of been the most delicious thing I have ever made.



I got the bones of the recipe from this blog here, and then I made it even better.


  • 1 Chocolate cake mix, I used devils food cake
  • 1 C chocolate chips
  • 1 C sour cream
  • 1 pkg chocolate pudding (dry)
  • 1 tbsp instant coffee mixed in 3 tbsp water

Prepare cake as directed on box and add all the other ingredients.  Pour into whatever pan you chose, I used two 9" round cake pans and bake as directed on the box.  I left it in for an additional 5 minutes.  Place on a wire rack to cool.

For the icing I took 1 C of butter (at room temp) and put it in my kitchen aid.  I then added 4 oz of melted chocolate bar (80% cocao) and mixed them together.  I added 2 1/2 C of powdered sugar and a little milk till I got it to the consistency I wanted.

The result is pure deliciousness.  Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby!








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