Color Me Bad

Rhiannon and her step sister went to see Justin Bieber last night.  When I picked them up they had no voices and aching feet, which could only mean one thing, 

They had a ridiculously fantastic time.

I am so happy that they have an interest in seeing live music - even though it is not the kind of music I wish they were listening to.   

Do you remember the very first band you saw without your parents being with you?  After thinking about it, I remembered that my first parent free concert wasn't any better than the Biebs....... 

(Hey girls,  {I won't personally call you out on our poor concert going choices}  remember riding around after this show and pulling up right next to these guy's limo?  Remember when they rolled their windows down and we started screaming like banshees?  Good times, good times!)

Happy Humpday! 

Butterflies, 4th of July and Bieber Bieber FEVER!

I hope you all had a great long weekend!

After being gone for a week and the Mister being sick for another whole week, Clara and I were happy to finally spend some uninterrupted time with our #1 guy.

We spent our time:  Holding super creepy animals.....

Looking for.......

And being attacked by (killer) butterflies!

Studying the different types of (killer) butterflies....

(She seriously sat there for over 30 minutes....)

And watching fireworks on the sand with Mr. & Mrs. K.

Now on to important matters.

I do not have the Bieber Fever.

My 13 year old does, as does her step sister.

Tomorrow, I will take those two crazies to see him.

(SQUEEEEEAAAAAAALLLLLLL!)

Happy Monday!

Coffee Talk

I'm really glad I came home the other day. 

The Mister has had an awful case of the flu since Sunday. 

I don't know what you're like when you are sick, but my Mister is an angel.  He doesn't ask for anything. 

If you do anything to try and help him, such as bringing him water, he will profusely and sweetly thank you in the most adorable and pathetic way.  Like a puppy. 

I don't know how he stays so sweet. 

When I'm sick I turn into an absolute beast.

(Speaking of beasts.......)

So, I own this shirt.

It is pretty accurate of how I feel in the mornings.

One of the more important requirements of any new apartment I had has always been: 
Is it within walking distance to a coffee shop?

(On a scale of one to ten in importance, coffee ranks at 11 1/2)

Last week I had went out and had some cocktails with my friends. 

I stayed with one of them that night and awoke to the softest and cutest cuddle buddy ever. 

(Shhh.....don't tell the Mister!)

Cocktails were flowing and when we awoke, Toby and I were thinking the exact same thing......

I NEED COFFEE!

However, I soon found that coffee wasn't easy to get around those parts.

I had a lot of work to do for my cup'o joe.

First up, you gotta grind those beans.

Mortar and Pestle, of course! 

 Second, you have to find something to hold all of those freshly (course) grounds...



Cheese cloth, to the rescue!



And finally......

Just add boiling water for about 8-10 minutes!

I told her I know what she is getting for her birthday.

A conventional coffee pot.

Or, at the very least, a French press.

Or maybe a coffee grinder.

Love ya, B!

.....Birds of a feather.....
(don't have the same morning drinking habits...)

Happy Humpday!


Country Dogs

I am supposed to be down south right now, but I'm not.

I had been down visiting this past week and it was so fabulous. 

(Until it wasn't.)

While Rhiannon is trapezing around the US with her father and The Mister is working crazy hours in Chicago.....

Clara and I did some serious visiting. 

We were able to catch up with about three different people every day.  I desperately needed that.

This picture is fantastic.  

Her friend is just as sweet and angelic as this picture portrays.  

Clara's little sneer is perfectly matched to her demeanor as well.

 She was able to go to her (best friends!) house .

(Cousin visit!)  

I was able to get away for an adult only night out with my three all time favorite gals in the whole wide world.  

(How did we NOT get a picture of us together? There isn't a single one of the entire night!)

My friend's new "sexy backyard ladies".

I'm so freaking jealous.

I was able to get some family time in.  

It really was fantastic.

But then I got in a car wreck.  

And then I was almost viciously attacked by a pair of dogs. 

I want to get one thing straight, right now. 

Unprovoked attacks does not make a dog territorial.  It makes them a liability.  And when a dog attacks someone who was just trying to knock on your door, you have a serious problem on your hands.

When I was trying to warn the person about how unsafe it was to let their dogs roam free when they are so "territorial" I was told that I was:

 stupid, "soft" from living in the city, AND that it was MY FAULT THEY TRIED TO ATTACK ME.  

I was told that is just how country dogs are and that I need to get over it.  

I was only trying to warn someone of what would happen to them when (because it isn't an if, it is a when) the dogs do this to a random UPS guy.  Or any other delivery person, for that matter.  Or perhaps a friend or family member they just don't know that well. 

If your dog attacks someone on YOUR property, it is your fault.  You will be responsible for that person's medical bills, you will most likely get sued, and if it is bad enough, you can even be charged with  involuntary manslaughter.  The boundaries of these laws don't stop because you live in the country.

As for the dogs, they will be put down.  Which sucks, because it's not the dogs fault they weren't properly trained. 

I don't think I deserved to be made to feel like I did for trying to explain this to someone I love and care about.  

Feelings are a funny thing, especially when they get hurt.

Sorry if we had plans this week.  

I'm a total flake and came running home as soon as the sun came up yesterday.  I did the right thing.  It feels good to be home.

Happy Monday!

Atrazine

Today is Rhiannon's last day of 7th grade.

Tomorrow I have to take her to her fathers house for the summer. 

I think that sucks on every single level. 
I want her to stay with me.

Here is her first day and last day of school picture.  She has grown so much!  I think that sucks too, but in a good way.  I can not believe She is going to be in 8th grade next year! 

Jeebus! 

Please slow down, time!

A fellow blogger in the Chicago area that I follow has had a bit of bad news lately.  She found out one of the twins she is carrying had an omphalocele, which is in the same genre as gastroschisis - which is what Clara had. 

Her case is more severe then what we had and unfortunately she has lost one of her twins.  We got to talking and I had brought to her attention the herbicide Atrazine, which is used heavily in the Midwest and is known to cause both of these terrible birth defects.  It is also banned everywhere except in the good old US of A.  I know for a fact this is what caused Clara's problems.  She is quite sure this is what caused her to lose her baby, too.

This herbicide is not safe in any amount and it NEEDS to be banned.

Please help us by signing the petition. 

Remember, this defect is not prejudice.  It can affect you, your mother, your sister, your wife and your daughters. 

Nobody should have to go through what we did.

Nobody should lose their child before they have a chance to love them like my fellow blogger did.

Sign the petition here.

Read Clara's story here.

Learn more about her story here.

Happy Monday!



Dinosaur

Lately Clara has gone into the "Not sure if I should be a baby or a big kid" phase.

It's driving me crazy.

I am so envious of all these other mothers I see who have patience made of steel.  

That is a virtue that has most definitely escaped me.

The baby talking and the whining are like nails on a chalkboard.

(Bat.)  (Shit.)  (Crazy.)

So to combat it we have been going to the YMCA more, participating in classes more and visiting with friends more.

It's not curing it, but (maybe) definitely helping.

Does your child babytalk you to death?
How about cry and whine you to death?

How do YOU deal with it?

Have you found the magic secret for nipping it in the bud?

(If you say it's patience, I will scream.)

Do you want to know a dirty little secret?

(I like Kesha.)  

She's raunchy and trashy and completely inappropriate 
and that is why I like her.

Her song Dinosaur could be my best friend and I's anthem from when we were just wee one's in our late teens and early twenty's and being pursued by nothing but dirty old men. 

So, this Wednesday, you get Kesha.

And it is totally dedicated to my friend, Julie Lyn.

Kesha - Dinosaur (New Song) by Henrietta-Aime-Fumer_Tv

Happy Humpday!

gazpacho

The internet has been out for a week AND my computer isn't holding charge for some reason.

(Uncle Chuck, HELP!)

So I have been a bit quiet over here.

Sorry.

Take this awesome recipe as an apology.

Crystal's Gazpacho

• 6 tomatoes
• 1 cucumber (peeled)
• 1 large red onion
• 2 green peppers
• 3 green onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• parsley and cilantro to taste (I use a handful each)
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil

1. You are supposed to peel the tomatoes, but I never have and I think it is delicious.  However if you don't like the tomato skin you can easily peel them by boiling a pot of water, drop the tomatoes in for about a minute, then immediately submerge them into an ice bath.  The skins should slip off very easy after that.
2. Put all of your vegetables into a food processor.  Blend to your desired consistency.  (We like to keep it a little chunky.  Also, I like to blend each item seperatly and then mix them together in a seperate bowl.  This way I can control how smooth each ingreedient is.)
3. Add your red wine vinegar and mix well.  Then add your olive oil SLOWLY and make sure you mix it in well!

Happy Monday!