Bread, W(h)ine & Cheez

As American As Cornbread

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:31:00 +0000

I was sitting at work Friday thinking about my future life in Australia and taking stock of all the things I have taken advantage of my whole life in America. I love this country. I really, really do. Especially when I see how other countries live and realize just how lucky we are to live here. While Australia is a wonderful country with many American things to make me feel somewhat at home, I have to remind myself that it is NOT America and never will be.

So as I was thinking about my new life, and dreaming of what I want to do there, I was thinking of a new cupcake flavor. My cupcake business dream is still alive and well. I got an idea for a new cupcake flavor that embodies some of my americanness. As a transplanted Southern California girl living in Alabama I have developed my Deep South tastebuds, and what could be more southern than cornbread? Over in Cali we eat a sweet cornbread(Marie Callendar's-holler!) as opposed to the more traditional unsweetened cornbread. I thought, why not make a cornbread cupcake and make a honey butter Italian buttercream? So I did. Cornbread with honey butter is delicious. In a cupcake it's divine! I then gilded the lily by putting a piece of candied bacon on it. Yes, you can swoon. It was a marriage of bliss in my mouth.

May I present, Cornbread cupcakes covered in Honey Butter Italian buttercream with a piece of candied bacon on top.

It is a yellow cake base mixed with cornbread mix. It makes for a lightly sweetened corn cake. The honey butter italian buttercream has just enough honey flavor to compliment the butter and corn flavors.

I might have a hard time finding cornbread mix in my local aussie grocery store so I will have to either have to come to terms with that or have it shipped in by faithful friends and family. For now I will eat my cornbread cupcakes and quietly hum the national anthem. God Bless the U.S.A.!

The comedian

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:12:00 +0000

I think I need a new blog called "Stuff My Kid Says". He's freakin hilarious. It's such a cool thing when they finally get humor and start using it. At age 11 he is understanding it very well. It's surprising and fun. Sometimes I shake my head wondering where he picked it all up, but picked it up indeed and put it all together! Here's just a few of his latest gems.

*Running late,I was drinking a slimfast shake really fast in the car before we headed into the doctor's office.*
"Geez Mom. I can practically hear a group of guys behind you going CHUG,CHUG,CHUG!"

* I had some movies out to bring over to a friend's house. He picked up Pineapple Express and looked at the cover.*
"Mom, why do you watch this stuff? I mean, it's not very ladylike. And that's a lot coming from me."

* Coming in from playing outside*
"I could use a cold one. Pass me a fruit punch Bar-mom."

* Getting ready for school he walked out of the bathroom with a faux-hawk. I looked at him and said cool.*
" Yeah, the chicks will dig it."

After saying something funny like this he always says,"I crack me up."
I love this kid!!

I ain't missin' you at all....

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:57:00 +0000

I've turned into Houdini. I can disappear. Just propose to me. Haha.
I hate that I've neglected this blog, but I needed some much needed time to just take it easy after the whirlwind of experiences I've gone through lately. It's been an absolute thrill ride; exciting,adrenaline fueled, and scary at times leaving me absolutely breathless. I've loved every minute.

Along with all of that, I said goodbye to my son for the summer and have been mourning his absence all summer. It's pathetic really. I stare at his picture, walk into his messy bedroom and sigh, sit by the phone waiting for him to call me and tell me he misses me and can't live without me and likes me better than his dad. Ok, well I know that's not realistic, but a mom can dream. Life is just not the same without that little booger. I even miss him whining.

It's funny, when he was little I loved him because he was all mine, and he needed me. We tend to become attached to whom we take care of forming an unbreakable bond. Now that he's older that love has changed a little bit. It has become based more on the person he is. He is less mine and more his own person. I love him not just because he is my child, but because he's an awesome person. He is so thoughtful and loving, compassionate and sweet. He is kind and has a wicked sense of humor. I really enjoy his company. I look forward to getting home and spending time with him at the end of the day and his absence in the house is palpable.

It is because I feel this that I am all the more aware of the sacrifice his dad makes in not being the custodial parent. If I feel like this for 8 weeks I can only imagine what his dad goes through for the other 44. He needs his dad and I will never get in the way of that. This time is exactly what he needs.

So now I'm counting down the days until Saturday when he flies home. Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder... until you step on the first of many legos, that he left on the floor after you told him to clean them up right before bed, right as you wake up and you're cursing under your breath and limping towards the vacuum so you can suck up every last plastic piece and muttering the whole time how he never listens and you're going to throw every last damn lego he has in the trash if he doesn't keep them picked up. Yep....missin him like crazy.

I never much cared for pork...

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:30:00 +0000

3 weeks and 2 days to go until Rick arrives here in the U.S. That is, if Australia doesn't institute their Fortress Australia pandemic countermeasures in the face of the recent outbreak of swine flu. That could mean that flights in or out of Australia are halted and things more or less shut down. Even if he does manage to make it out here, the chance is real that he might not be let back in right away if they institute those measures after he gets here. For right now though Australia hasn't had any confirmed cases of the swine flu, but they are seeking 22 Aussies who shared the same flight with the 3 New Zealanders who tested positive for it.

Australia has an amazingly thorough quarantine system because they must maintain a delicate balance in their country. Hopefully with that and their adequate vaccine supply the problem will not be bad enough to invoke such extreme measures. Here's hoping...

I'm engaged!

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:01:00 +0000

Yes! Yes! Yes!
I am so excited!.
He proposed April 4th.

After a wonderful 10 days in Australia I was awakened at the ass-crack of dawn on the last Saturday before I left. His eagerness to have me see an "Australian sunrise" got me out of bed despite heavily protesting how very tired I was. We arrived at The Shallows in Shellharbour and walked down when it got a bit light. He set out chairs in the wet sand and we wrapped up in 2 big, comfy blankets shivering under the cloudy sky. I didn't think the sun would show itself, but he was just so cute about wanting to do it. About 7AM-ish I hear a violin playing behind me and I whipped my head around and instantly knew what was about to happen. I turned to him laughing and said, " Are you serious? OMG Are you kidding?" He said, " What song is it?" I recognized our song Brighter Than Sunshine by Aqualung.He took out a ring and asked me to marry him, and I wholeheartedly without reservation said YES!. I think I was a bit stunned. I was an absolute mess and I was not exactly an enthusiastic morning person, but he takes the bad with the good and promised himself to me. He is such an amazing person and I am the happiest woman right now.

A Land Down Under

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:04:00 +0000

I am having such an amazing time in Australia. Check it out!

He Just Smiled and Gave Her a Vegemite Sandwich

I'm here!

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:01:00 +0000

I arrived! Rick is absolutely wonderful. He picked me up in a limo! Call me blown away.
It's absolutely beautiful here. So green.
I will be taking pics and posting my adventures soon. For now, I have to collapse. That plane ride took forevah!!!!

I'm in love with a wonderful guy!

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:22:00 +0000

I'm in love.

3 little words with life-changing abilities.

I haven't been really good about blogging even though I have had TONS to talk about. I started another blog specifically about all that's been happening and I will eventually morph this blog into that one in the future. For now though you can read about my love over there because I have to be at the airport in about an hour to catch a flight to Australia!

He Just Smiled and Gave Her a Vegemite Sandwich.

Crush...

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:01:00 +0000

...officially over.

Cinnabon Fakes Cupcakes

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:27:00 +0000

Here is my recipe for Cinnabon Fakes Cupcakes. Finally!

Cake
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter-room temp.
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cake flour
2 tspns baking powder
1/4 tspn. salt
3 eggs & 1 egg white
3/4 cup milk
2 tspns vanilla extract

Cinnamon Mixture: 4 tblspns sugar, 3 tspns cinnamom, 2 tblspns butter. Mix with a fork until you make a crumby, coarse mixture. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixer, beat the butter and sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy. While that's beating sift together the dry ingredients in a bowl. In another bowl combine eggs, milk, and vanilla. Mix with a fork.
Once butter/sugar mixture is light and fluffy add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter/sugar. Mix on slow speed. Add 1/2 the wet ingredient mixture. Alternate until all of the ingredients are incorporated. Do not over mix.
Line cupcake pan with liners and fill 2/3 full with batter. Sprinkle cinnamon mixture on top of the batter. It will sink in during baking. Bake for 10-12 min at 350 degrees. Let cool.

Frosting

8oz. package of cream cheese-room temperature
1 stick unsalted butter-room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tspns vanilla
1/2 tspn lemon juice
1 tblspn milk

Beat the cream cheese and butter together until thoroughly mixed. Add sugar one cup at a time. Mix well after each cup. Add milk and mix. Beat on high for 12 minutes.* This is very important because we want air in this to make it really fluffy. Trust me on this. After about 10 min add vanilla and lemon juice and mix for another 2 or 3 min.
Frost cooled cupcakes and sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. YUM!

A Piece of Holiday Cheer-now with more nuts!

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:52:00 +0000

She is Apathetic no more!
I managed to procure Christmas cards and put them in the mail. I got some shopping done and wrestled with myself over feelings of guilt about not being able to get everyone something. I won! No guilt. C'est la Vie. You cannot get blood from a turnip. lol
On Saturday we FINALLY got ourselves a tree and spent the next 3 hours decorating, rearranging furniture and vacuuming under said moved furniture for the first time in 2 years. Haha. Just kidding. But not. I just wish I hadn't STARTED at 9pm as I didn't get to bed until 1AM. New wrinkles have now found a home underneath my eyes and plan on staying for quite some time. Christmas brings it's own set of presents for me apparently!
On Sunday I got it into my head that the kitchen just wasn't nearly as destroyed as I thought it should be so I decided to whip up some cupcakes. White cake with an Eggnog Italian Buttercream sprinkled with freshly grated nutmeg, and a chocolate cake with Peppermint Italian buttercream sprinkled with candy cane bits. HEAVEN!
After a self-induced sugar coma I dragged myself to grandma's house to clean and ready it for our relatives. Am so tired.
I took a bunch of pics of our holiday merriment. You will become witness to the humiliation we impose on our cats for our amusement.

This one was not of our doing. This is what you walk into in our house sometimes. lol Or as I titled it. " I can drink a cat under the ru.....I Win! "

Kisses!

Mas besos!

Chaos!

yes those are totally Reeses pieces from Halloween. Haha. Use what ya have.

SOOOOOO GOOD!

I just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope Christmas finds you happy and content and in the company of those who love you the most.

* For those of you asking for my Cinnabon Fakes Cupcakes recipe, I will be posting that recipe tomorrow. I'm sorry I've dragged my feet on that. It will be here before ya know it! *

Crap-Now With More Bling!

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:37:00 +0000

With relatives from California flying in on Friday for the holidays I have been busy at my grandmother's house cleaning out the spare room so people can actually habitate. My grandmother moved here in May and threw a lot of boxes in here to make room until such time that she could go through them all. We don't really have time to go through them all right now, but we manages to open a few of them to see if there was anything pertinent we needed. I found nothing pertinent, but I DID find a lot of funny and/or cool things. Such as....

A Pet Rock circa 1975. Nuh-hice!

I never had one of these and I can only imagine people bought these as gag gifts because....a rock? Really?? The thing that cracks me up is that she KEPT it!!

I pity the fool!!!!
Seriously, how cool is this? I loved Mr. T in the 80s.

Who could forget The "Fonz"
This one has genuine thumbs up action! lol She plans on selling these and many more on Ebay. I kind of want them. Am I weird? lol

This last thing just confused me. It's hideous for one, no confusion about that, but who did she buy it for?? That better not be my christmas gift. Haha.

I had to tell my mom.

" Mom! Come here and look at this!" I say quietly

" What is it? It's awful.", she says with a look of bewilderment on her face.

" Oh you're telling me! Haha Why does she buy this crap?", I say laughing.

Just then my grandmother walks down the hallway and appears at the door. My mom grabs the bag and shows it to her.

"What is this Mom?" my mom says holding the bag up.

"It's a bling." my grandmother says matter-of-factly.

" A WHAT??" I say sounding surprised and amused.

" You know. What all the girls buy. A bag or a purse. A bling bling." she says exasperatedly

This is when I started laughing.
My mom then says, " Oh thank God. I thought you bought yourself a sequined halter top."

And that's when I lost it completely.

Generation gap understanding of slang= FAIL

I'm still laughing.

Note Worthy

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:05:00 +0000

Since becoming a parent I have always been searching for ways to effectively communicate with my child so that we had a solid foundation of respect and mutual understanding of each other. I have come to find out even more how important it is to be able to talk to your child especially as they get older.
Since Colin was diagnosed with ADHD last year I have become even more aware of this need to communicate in ways that would work better for him. One of these ways was in notes. I figured if I wrote it down he would have a tangible reminder of things he needed to do or know. I would write down his chores, remind him of appointments, and even tell him I love him, because who doesn't love to see it in writing? As a result of this Colin has taken this and run with it. He now writes his own notes to me. FOR ANYTHING.

This note he wrote and stuck on the bathroom door. It says, " OFF LIMITS! DO NOT GO IN! IMPORTANT BUSINESS BEING DONE. THIS MEANS YOU MOM A.K.A. MC LEESH." And he drew a little stick figure on the toilet. Nice. Classy. Effective. Hilarious.

This next one came about because I told him to find the yellow envelope for a birthday card. He starts a conversation on it and then gives me a follow up note on the progress. lol

This note was on my desk this morning. To charge his MP3 player and look at pictures of the cat he took. AT 6AM this morning.

This kid is sometimes so cute I want to eat him up and crush him with hugs and chap his skin with kisses. He makes me laugh and makes me realize that maybe I'm not doing as bad of a job raising him as I thought. lol
*Post script* He left the milk out of the fridge all night.*sigh* I'm writing him a note!

Eventually I'll Get It

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:16:00 +0000

I've been a procrastinator my whole life. I think even at a tender age I was like, "no, I will clean up those toys LATER." "I do my best work under pressure!" I'm a mess. lol Lately though I have been trying to take small steps to change that attitude. One of the big problems with me is dinner. I hardly ever plan and mostly just pick something to make 10 min. before. This inevitably means that the microwave is the main method of cooking. Ok, Ok...re-heating. I do try to make it healthy though like steaming plenty of green vegetables and stuff. That way the guilt is lessened. Oh the guilt!
Yesterday afternoon I was reading a feed on my google reader and found an easy peasy recipe for Bolognese sauce. It didn't have very many ingredients. All it needed was a lengthy time to cook. I figured I could just make it while I made dinner and then refrigerate it until tomorrow then all I would have to do is boil pasta and heat the sauce. Actual homecooking, made in ADVANCE! Wow!
So tonight....Penne Bolognese with garlic bread and a salad. I'm so excited. I planned and cooked ahead! Progress. So while that is heating I will make Albondigas soup at my leisure and just refrigerate for the next evening. I figure if I just do that more often, like maybe cook 3-4 nights a week in advance, I have dinner for the next night and then we can just eat leftovers the rest of the week. Finally! I'm getting it. Plan ahead Felicia! Life will be easier! Life will be filled with more time to read and do fun stuff like... laundry! Oh yeah...the laundry. That's next.

http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2008/12/rigatoni_bologn.html

Thanksgiving 2008

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:02:00 +0000

Turkey for me
Turkey for you
Let's eat the turkey
In my big brown shoe
Love to eat the turkey
At the table
I once saw a movie
With Betty Grable
Eat that turkey
All night long
Fifty million Elvis fans
Can't be wrong
Turkey lurkey doo and
Turkey lurkey dap
I eat that turkey
Then I take a nap
-Adam Sandler-The Thanksgiving Song

I'd like to change the last line to " Turkey lurkey doo and turkey lurley lick. I eat that turkey then I get real sick." Oh cuz I so did.

Thanksgiving 2008 will go down in my history as a bonafide suckfest. Oh we had all the trimmings and everything seemed great, but trouble was afoot.

Since this was my grandmother's first Thanksgiving in Alabama in her new home we were all excited to head over there and spend the holiday weekend reminiscing on past holidays, mourn and fondly remember our family member who died 2 weeks ago, and enjoy some good family cooking.
I was in charge of the green bean casserole,sweet potato casserole, cranberry mandarin orange sauce, and the rolls. I got ambitious too. I made the rolls from SCRATCH. With YEAST. Oh yeah...go me! I was rockin' the home cookin y'all! By 2pm we headed over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house. Ok...so there's no river, but there IS a creek and technically some woods. We arrived to a very sick grandmother who was not feeling the spirit of Thanksgiving. No, she was feeling the spirit of Nyquil. God Bless. So my mom and I prepared most of the rest of the stuff while she took a little pre-turkey nap. The turkey was already cooking and the pies were baked, meringueless lemon and pumpkin. My mouth was watering.
An hour before it was time to eat my grandmother gets up and gimps into the kitchen and proceeds to unleash a torrent of grumpiness on us. FUN! She got upset because the stuffing she made was too wet and my mom tried to help her. It became what I like to refer to as a "savory bread pudding". Um...pass, but you must not offend so you say, "Yum grandma! Looks good!"She also proceeded to get onto Colin about god knows what...maybe being a kid.
By the time we sat down I had already had a bloody mary, 2 glasses of wine and coffee with Bailey's. Escape much this holiday? haha. I ate with total abandon even though I wasn't really hungry. Big mistake. I felt like the turkey. Stuffed and cooked. I was officially done with Thanksgiving. An hour later I couldn't take anymore and said my goodbyes as the evening was only getting worse. I left with promises of returning the next evening for leftovers.

The next day I woke up not feeling well, but pushed it aside and went to work. I wasn't really hungry and didn't eat all day. By the time we got to my grandmother's house it was after 5pm. She was feeling much better. I was not. We finally ate around 7pm and ended up looking over old family photos that had been "lost" for 14 years. Around 9 I started to feel like I was breaking out in a cold sweat and things quickly went down hill. I said goodbye and practically ran out the door and raced home. I spent the next 7 hrs becoming very intimate with the porcelain god. *I love you...call me.* I didn't get to sleep until 5am. And the next 2 days were a blur.
I feel better now if somewhat weak. My grandmother called to see if I wanted to come over for leftovers again. Again...pass. I have no craving whatsoever for turkey or anything that goes with it. Although bonus...nothing like a stomach virus to kick start a diet.
One of the big plus sides was that Rick entertained me throughout and made me feel heaps better...and still managed to find me attractive despite my pale, sickly appearance. You have to love a man who can do that.

I hope you all had a wonderful and much better Thanksgiving than I did.

A to the Q

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:07:00 +0000

Ok, I'm sorry it took so long to answer this. We had a family tragedy on Tuesday. We are coping.

Ok...so for the answers.

1. Colin called me a corn chip.
True- I was putting him to bed one night and I said to him, "Goodnight my little Frito Bandito." He looked at me and said. " Goodnight my little corn chip." That kid is hilarious.

2. The Veggie Tales "Cheeseburger Song" may have changed the course of my life.
True- I've met someone and things took a different turn after I sang him this song. lol Go figure. I think it a testament to my quirky self. My course may lead me down under in the future. Things are looking good.

3. I backed into another car causing $600 worth of damage. On Halloween.
True- Fuck all. Damnit. Shit. Hell. Ok....yeah that's gonna continue to hurt for 3 years.

4. I read 5 books in 7 days.
True- I began watching True Blood on HBO and found the books. They were like CRACK! Just sayin...lol So good I whipped through 5 of them in a week. Oh hey...what's that? I have laundry? And a kid to feed? Dishes? huh?

5. I took my cat Milo for a walk outside on a leash.
True- Some new crappy neighbors complained that my cat had been on their car. The guy made a point to tell me cats wandering around without a leash are subject to a $500 fine. I apologized and he said," no problem...hopefully it won't happen again or I'll be forced to call." Can you say asshole cat hater? The last time I tried to keep my cat in he got stressed and got a bladder infection and swelling from anxiety. The vet recommended I let him be an indoor/outdoor cat. Oh well. So I strapped a leash on my cat and took him out? Can we say FAIL. I hate my new neighbor.

Well Holly...you were the first one to guess correctly! You win a $15 gift card for Starbucks. Just email me your mailing info.
Thanks for playing along everyone!

True or False?

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:11:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone for your support. You guys are awesome. These past few months have just been overwhelming and I have no idea where to start.

I'm writing down a few things that have happened to me lately, or not. You decide if it's true or not. If you want to play along please do. I will send out a Starbucks gift card to whomever guesses the most correctly. No...FOR REALS! I so will!

1. Colin called me a corn chip.

2. The Veggie Tales "Cheeseburger Song" may have changed the course of my life.

3. I backed into another car causing $600 worth of damage. On Halloween.

4. I read 5 books in 7 days.

5. I took my cat Milo for a walk outside on a leash.

I will give it a couple of days to see if anyone wants to play and then I'll disclose the answers and any explanations should there be lingering questions. lol

Auntie Meme

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:03:00 +0000

In what has to be the slowest response time to a TAG meme...I offer this courtesy of my FABULOUS(hehe...couldn't resist) friend Rachel.

And I know...I haven't blogged in like a million years and then I crap out with a meme. That's how I roll.....
I promise to post more soon. I have lots to share.

You’re feeling: Happier if slightly headache-ish.

To your left: Work stuff and the book A Great and Terrible Beauty

On your mind: Australia

Last meal included: Split pea soup and toast.

You sometimes find it hard to: Stealing my answer from Rachel who stole it from Ally- BE PATIENT! I hate waiting!

The weather: Overcast, gray, wet, chilly

Something you have a collection of: Anne of Green Gables stuff. Cookbooks, Anthologies, doll, guidebooks. Yeah I know...major nerd.

A smell that cheers you up: Wood smoke. Makes me think of autumn. Mmm... Yep...same here...oh and clean laundry!

A smell that can ruin your mood: smelly bathroom

How long since you last shaved: This morning.

The current state of your hair: Rockin a cute ponytail

The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): My desk calendar

Your skill with chopsticks: I am pretty awesome with chopsticks. Not "Karate Kid catch a fly in chopsticks" awesome, but pretty damn good.

Which section do you head for first in a bookstore: Fiction!

Something you’re craving: Cake...really good cake.

Your general thoughts on the presidential race: None of the Above

How many times have you been hospitalized this year: None!

Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: My bed. It's like a cloud.

You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: Actress

Something that freaks you out a little: SPIDERS!

Something you’ve eaten too much of lately: English muffins

You have never: been skiing

You never want to: lose my loved ones

Road Trip!

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:39:00 +0000

Friday afternoon I will be heading Southeast to one of the best little college towns this side of the Mississippi.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY!

The place where THIS happens at Toomer's Corner.

Home of the Tigers!

Home to this little lady.

I will be visiting my enormously talented, and beautiful friend Rachel for some much needed girl time where we will eat, drink, and be merry. I am soooo excited. We always have the best time together and no one makes me laugh like she does. This will be a most decadent, relaxing weekend with one of my best friends. Could life get any better? I think not.

No More Neglect

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:17:00 +0000

I've been neglectful of many things lately.

1. This blog.
2. Reading and/or commenting on all of the fabulous blogs listed on the right. I am sorry.
3. Dishes. Hello! There's paper plates.
4. Laundry. Seriously have way too many clothes to wash. My washing machine hissed at me this morning.
5. Cooking. That's why microwaves were invented. And Domino's.
6. Me. Have been eating bad things. Evil carbs.

Things I have spent more time on lately:
1. My son- I'm a lucky woman
2. Sleeping
3. My fave TV shows
4. My friends
5. Couch potato status. Level Orange. Dangerous.
6. Baseball games.
7. Cubscout activities.

Things I will be doing more of.
1. Visiting friends
2. Reading
3. Walking
4. Picture taking
5. Sleeping
6. Eating better.
7. Spending time with my grandmother.

It's good to focus on the positive! :)

Barefoot

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:39:00 +0000

Did you ever find a really great pair of "shoes" that from the minute you saw them you wanted them? You didn't know why and had no reason to get them, but you knew you had to have them. You tried them on and walked up and down the aisles of the store and swore to yourself what a good fit they were even if they were a teensy bit tight. Of course they'll loosen up though, you thought to yourself. It just takes a while to find that comfortable point, and sometimes shoes are like that;you have to walk in them to know if they're the right shoe for you. And maybe this pair of shoes was a different color or style than you would normally get, but you were smitten with them so you decided to get them. You could tell though that this particular pair wanted you too. They screamed out for you, and they were so shiny and new and just such great shoes that you made the impulse buy. And you were so glad you did because it felt so good to be in them, and you loved how they looked when they were on.

When you wore those shoes you felt beautiful and they made you feel good inside as if nothing could get you down. You could definitely see being in those shoes for awhile and wearing them with everything, that's how cool these shoes were. People noticed you in those shoes. You were confident, happy,and positively glowing with them on.

You took care of those shoes too. Those weren't just any shoes. You were careful to mind the puddles and the mud. You put them away with care instead of just throwing them on the floor by the door because it was convenient. But then a few weeks went by and you started to notice that you didn't feel as special when you were in those shoes. They were starting to pinch when they were on, and you started getting that feeling that maybe they didn't go with everything or that you were just so taken by them and wanted them so badly at first that you didn't notice that they were trying to tell you they pinched from the beginning. You started wearing them less and less. Those shoes weren't really calling out to you to wear them as much. You felt bad because you invested some time and happy memories in them, but now they weren't working out. You stuck it out for a little bit, but eventually you realized that they were never meant to be your shoes. The shoes didn't just pinch you, they hurt you. But you didn't know that until you walked in them. Oh sure, you could have kept them around and taken them out every now and then, but would it have made you as happy? No. It was probably best to let them go. Those shoes would find a new owner and be a better fit.
You would always remember those shoes though. They were awesome shoes. Someday you knew that you would find a pair that you just knew you could wear for years and years to come. But for the time being? For the time being you would go without. And somehow you knew that you were going to be ok going barefoot.

Today

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:31:00 +0000

I am absolutely in love with this song. His name is Joshua Radin and he sang this song called TODAY at Ellen Degeneres' wedding recently. I have listened to this no less than 20 times and am falling for it more with every listen. Try to download this one. So worth it.

Weird Association

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:42:00 +0000

Everyone has those memories where in your life 2 different things are inextricably linked in your mind because of an event or a moment that happened and trying to seperate them is damn near impossible. They are unique to our life stories, experiences, etc... I will attempt to write down five sets of two things that are forever linked together for me.

1. Hall & Oates and blue braided exercise rope

2. Toffifay and Woolworth's

3. Lollipops and pigeons

4. Revlon Flex shampoo and Camp Roberts Army Base

5. Father Figure by George Michael and God.

You're probably thinking Como say huh? Yeah...lol memories are weird like that.

1. Hall & Oates and blue braided exercise rope.
Back in 1983 we lived in Palmdale, Ca. My mom and dad had just split up and my mom decided to take a jazzercise class (all the rage then)at the local rec. center to feel better. She would bring my sister and I and we would sit in the back watching her and 18 other women bounce around in their shiny lycra leotards and sweatbands. They used these blue nylon braided ropes for some of their moves and my sister and I grabbed one and proceeded to spend the remaining hour unbraiding and "brushing" it and the whole time we did that the entire album for Hall & Oates-Private Eyes was playing in the background. So whenever I hear I Can't Go For That I think of blue nylon braided rope.

2. Toffifay and Woolworth's
In our little desert town of Palmdale we didn't have a whole lot of stores there in the early 80s. We did have a Woolworth's though which if anyone had one, it was just a "five and dime" kind of store. I don't remember anything we got there except for this candy called Toffifay.
Whenever we went to that store we would get some and so if and when I ever see that candy I can't help but remember our trips to Woolworth's.

3. Lollipops and pigeons
I was almost 3 yrs old. We were in the parking lot of a restaurant and I had a lollipop in my hand. There were pigeons all around the parking lot and my uncle told me he would hold my lollipop for me so the pigeons wouldn't take it because I was little. When I asked for it back as we walked in he told me that the pigeons had stolen my lollipop.(He threw it away) I got so mad I screamed at the pigeons and tried to chase them off. I started to cry and when we went in to the restaurant the waitress asked why I was crying and I told her the "punk pigeons stole my lollipop". So yeah. I believed that for YEARS!! lol

4. Revlon Flex Shampoo and Camp Roberts Army Base
I was in high school and I was in a group called Youth in Government (*cough* geek) We would take weekend conference trips twice during the school year to Paso Robles for training. We stayed at the Camp Roberts army base. At the time I had just bought Revlon's Flex shampoo because I really liked the balsam scent and I took it up with me and liked it so much I kept bringing it with me and so now whenever I smell that I think of Camp Roberts.

5. Father Figure by George Michael and God.
This one is just a funny memory for me. It was 1988 and that song was everywhere on the radio. My very religious grandmother and I were driving in the car somehwere and that song came on. She heard George Michael sing...I will be your Father Figure, put your tiny hand in mine...and said " Ooooh a song about God!" I cringed and kept quiet because I knew what a mistake it would have been to open my mouth just then. After about 1 minute of listening to the song she said " Oh, I guess it's not!"
I had to try so hard not to smile or laugh. She told my mom later she didn't approve of me listening to that "smut" music. So yeah...Father Figure and GOD! lol

So now it's your turn. What things do you associate with each other and why?

Unspectacular quirks

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:33:00 +0000

Heather tagged me for this so I thought I would be a good sport and fill it out.
Rules:
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.

1. I have the same routine in the shower every morning as far as the order in which I do things. Shampoo and conditioner, then while conditioner is in hair, wash face and body, rinse everything. A few times I have been distracted and done them out of order and it throws me off completely.

2. If I find something I like at a restaurant, I will stick with that same thing for the longest time. Sometimes I will start to order something new and end up ordering what I always order because I don't want to be disappointed. I did this on Sunday at P.F. Chang's. I ordered something new and it was awful so I sent it back and ended up ordering my usual.

3. Even though I have my bed to myself I still just sleep on one side of it. I tried sleeping in the middle and just ended up on one side in the morning again. My multitude of pillows staged a coup against me forcing me to one side. haha

4. I twirl my hair a lot. I do it when I'm nervous or have a lot on my mind. I also do it when I'm bored. This has been going on since age 3.

5. I only seperate my laundry into 2 piles. Lights and darks. I shun laundering rules.

6. I cringe inwardly at the sound of liquid being poured into a glass. Ick.

I won't tag anyone though...You may do as you wish. :)

Carnival

spoiledrottenqueen@hotmail.com (Felicia) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:24:00 +0000

This weekend found us making a visit to the carnival that came into town this past weekend. Much fun was had by everyone and we all left a little poorer and sweatier. I hate summer in the South.
Also, when your appetite has not been good for 2 weeks? Carnival Funnel Cake? Not such a good idea. Ugh.

"Mom? Can I be a carnie?"
"NO. Wait, I'm not going to say that. You can be whatever you want to be." *cringe*
"Would I have to fry stuff?"
"Among other things, yes."
"Then I don't want to be a carnie."
"Good call."