Mindless Junque

It's official

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:15:00 +0000

Right...sooooooo, we're definitely moving back to Colorado. I fought saying that we were moving "back home" for a long time. I really wanted "back home" to be somewhere in the South.

Where Paula Dean and I could live as neighbors the way baby Jesus intended for us to.

PB reads these posts and panics just a little. He's afraid I don't really want to move. He shouldn't worry.

I'm not going to lie and tell you that I won't miss my pool. On gray, snowy Colorado days I will press a picture of it to my bossom and know that it misses me too. BUT, then I will turn to my hot tub, Alfredo, and soak happily while the snow piles up on my head.

Because it's really fun to sit in a hot tub while it snows. At night.

I'm looking forward to fall days and pumpkins that won't rot on my porch in the 90 degree heat. Christmas will be all cold and Christmassy again. I mean, I'll actually be able to drink my hot buttered rum without breaking out into a sweat. Unless I'm drinking a hot buttered rum while sitting in Alfredo, my hot tub.

There won't be any more scorpions.

No more haboobs (an unfortunate term for large sand storms).

No more second degree burns from my van's leather seats.

...I don't think you need a picture of that.

Poolside...

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 21:41:00 +0000

It's one of the only times you'll see my toes photographed.

This is me sitting by my pool with my iPad2 (Yes, you NEED one) reading Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. It's a perfect summer read.

There happens to be a frosty beverage at my side, but I couldn't get that into the shot.

My Queen Palm trees are swaying above me and music is streaming from my aforementioned Ipad while my children are happily entertained in their very own backyard.

Are we sure we want to move????

Just when you thought I couldn't get flightier

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:28:00 +0000

Oh...look...it's my adorable, forgotten little piece of the universe.

It's my splatter painted comforter in my purple, Michael J. Fox laden corner of the world where I used to sit cross legged and spill my everyday thoughts like the diary of a twelve year old adolescent.

I'm still here. NO worries. I'm not at all sure why I compared my blog to my bedroom circa 1986 because I still maintain that the 80's were the armpit of existence.

*shudder*

We're still living in Arizona, but only for now. In the fine flighty fashion that has made us famous, we're tired of this place and are going back to Colorado.

WHAT??!

Yep. It's true.

Someone misses the mountains and the clean air and the water straight from the tap.

And I might miss those things just a little bit too. Plus, I'm the freak who loves to go house shopping. Remind me to get my real estate license.

However, you won't have to remind me about how much I despise the snow.

No. It's not magical.

But a veritable wardrobe of Uggs IS and I've been plied with the promise of just that. I am easily bought. I never claimed not to be.

Please let this be known to potential advertisers, publishers, and benevolent millionaires. Because I need a really cute house to hide in when it's minus twenty outside.

Pool advice for Martha Stewart

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:46:00 +0000

So the other day, my phone rings and it's Martha. I said, "What's up, Martha Stewart?" After watching Friday Night Lights, I've taken to calling everyone I know by their first AND last names.

She starts going on about swimming pools and tiling and I'm tuning her out because I think she starts these conversations just to hear herself talk.

I mean, we all know she doesn't actually know HOW to do half of the things she claims to know because NO ONE can know all of that stuff and who would want to? But it just so happens that I built a pool this summer and documented some of it.

She was all, "I'm just not sure if I want to go French Chateau or Greco Roman Bath House for the theme of my pool. And then there's the question of grotto or no grotto."

And I was all, "Who cares, Martha Stewart? Don't you live in Massachusetts or something where it's cold most of the time and you can only use this thing for, like, eight weeks out of the year? And you can't have a grotto because Hugh Hefner has a grotto in his pool and then you'd just look like a poser."

She got all defensive and goes, "I plan to use a radiant heating system in my pool for your information and my grotto would be different than Hugh's in that I would have SCONCES in my grotto."

So, just to show her up, I'm including pictures of me tiling my pool this past spring. Here I am installing the tile. I chose a lovely blue ceramic to transition nicely into the water.

I was careful to tile around the filter to keep the unsightly equipment camouflaged. I feel that last statement can be applied to many different things in life.

I also put some travertine tiles as a decking around my pool. I wanted something cool on the feet, but rustic looking as well. Note the herringbone pattern.

I think my pool turned out beautifully and my whole family is always going on and on about how talented of a pool builder I am and my children are very thankful every day.

And here I am enjoying a float. I decided to go blonde for the summer, but am relieved to report I didn't necessarily have more fun. So, I'm back to brunette.

Rock n Roll Fabric

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:27:00 +0000

I checked my email today and found an enthusiastic announcement from a local fabric store franchise heralding the new fabric line by Iman.

As in the wife of David Bowie.

We love us some Bowie. I mean, who else can cross dress with the best of them and then turn around to sing a tender holiday duet with Bing Crosby? I remember vividly when that aired and the collective gasp of WTH? heard 'round the country. You remember it too.

I can also remember waiting anxiously next to the VCR while MTV teased us with the Blue Jean video after every commercial break for an hour and a half.

Ah...remember the days when MTV still played videos? And remember when we waited with our fingers hovered above the "record" and "play" buttons on our VCR's for a chance to record those videos? 1984, people.

I really hate 80's music. That whole decade wasn't good for me.

I will say that his make up in that video was very cool, though.

And I fully admit that the man is a musical legend.

However, his wife's fabric line is just so-so. Kinda boring considering she's married to Ziggy Stardust.

Toxic Mold

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:30:00 +0000

So I woke up to the joyous sound of my child this morning.

As she threw up on the kitchen floor.

I'm the first to admit that I'm really flighty and kind of scared to make any sort of long term PTO/soccer snack/church choir commitment but that's mostly because I know my kids will be sick at any given point. I do see how it looks suspect after a while, though.

And I hesitate to use their lack of health as "convenient" but I admit that sometimes it does come in handy.

"I would love to teach thirteen girl scouts to weave Indian dream catchers while chaperoning the 2010 Jiggity Jamboree Campout in the remote desert but I'm pretty sure at least one of my kids will be sick." And it would be the truth, people.

Personally, I blame toxic mold for all of this. I think toxic mold can be blamed for a great many things in life. Along with Mel Gibson.

This one's for Ken from Arkansas.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:53:00 +0000

I fell into a blogging pit. Otherwise known as a blogging pitfall.

I think.

I fell into the trap of wanting my blog to make me money and, honestly, it's not as easy as all that. Do I think you can make money blogging? Yes. Yes, I do. But it's hard. And crazy competitive.

I'm just not good as schmoozing and selling myself and competing with other women who want to help support their families just as much as I do. I'd rather just go get a job at Starbucks and listen to good music and make latte's.

Of course, having four little girls isn't particularly conducive to a barista career quite yet. Or is it spelled barrista?

The point is I thought it was this great opportunity to make money doing something I love. But here's the thing...it became something I hated. I hated it because it turned my love of verbal spewage into something I had to market.

I had to pimp my blog. So unsavory. And so not my forte'.

So, now I'm back to doing what I love. Just blogging. And listening to angry music while I do it. I say we celebrate our ADHD.

I want to thank Ken from Arkansas, Carolina Girl, and my friend Amy for checking on me. You guys inspired me to get over myself.

You loved me through it.

Come back tomorrow for your million dollar idea courtesy of me. You get to pimp it out yourself and all I ask for is a free sample. And a new living room set from Pottery Barn. I don't think that's asking much considering you'll be a millionaire.

To stand where vampires stood.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:36:00 +0000

A few months ago, my dad lured me down to New Orleans under the guise of "helping them decorate". I knew this was a ruse because his wife is a fine decorator and has awesome taste. Who am I to turn down Cajun food and free latte's, though?

I got to go by myself too.

Don't hate me because I stroll the Garden District without kids.

Let's start with the important stuff. Mint Juleps.

Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking..."Heather, honey, please tell me you also visited the beauty shop while you were down there because...you're hair." Alas, I did not. I'm growing it out. Love me, please.

We visited Oak Alley (a very old plantation on the Mississippi river). It, indeed, is very grand and historic and chock full of delicious decorating ideas. We had to work the theme into the trip somehow.

Many famous movies are filmed here including Interview With A Vampire.

Here I am swooning next to the very tree where Tom Cruise, in his role as LeStat, snuck away from a swanky party and attacked a young man who thought something else was going to happen. All while Brad Pitt hid nearby and ate a Pomeranian. We certainly don't hold that against him.

No centuries old plantation is complete without a few random, creepy but strangely intriguing, windows. Look at how only one has the shutters shut. I asked our tour guide who told me that those were attic windows and no one was allowed into the attic anymore as it was used as storage.

Of course.

I stared at them for a long time figuring I'd see a ghost peeking out.

No such luck.

They wouldn't let us take pictures inside, much to my dismay. However, they did let me take a picture of my lunch.

Crawfish etouffee.

I suppose that this may look unappetizing depending on the time of day you're reading it. It's noon here, and I'm really hungry so it looks amazing. It was amazing.

We had alligator tail for our appetizer. It tastes like chicken. No. For real. It does.

And so I sound like I was paying attention to the tour guide (with her Cajun accent that was killing me softly, and I mean that in a good way) and what she was teaching me I am including a picture of the sugar bowls used to boil the sugar cane grown on the plantation. Or something like that.

Look at the pretty flowers!!

And historic golf cart!

And look at this list of slaves that worked on the plantation and how much they cost. I love their names. Hyacinthe was a cook. Of course she was. Are you getting the mental image? I love her. And Antoinette was the laundress. I can picture her too.

Lula put it perfectly when she said that the South is a place where you want to stick your nose in the dirt and inhale deeply.

It's true. It's like going home or something. I was born there, so it's my roots. Maybe that's it.

Okay, that's all for today. I'll write more about my trip another day.

It's history and you'll like it!!

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:55:00 +0000

Awesome. I haven't blogged since May 14th. I feel so good about myself right now.

The thing is...I actually have alot to blog about.

Life in Arizona is good. It's hot, but we have a pool now so that keeps us cool.

That, and my official drink of summer '10...Pina Coladas with Chambord floaters. Delightful. Thanks to Lula and Fred The Bartender at the Desert Grill in Scottsdale. Not to be confused with the Dessert Grill which doesn't exist. But maybe should.

When it's not so hot we like to hike.

Look at that sense of adventure and readiness to tackle the trail!

PB has them enraptured. "Now, girls, this trail is known as The Dutchman's Lost Mine. They say he wanders this very path late at night moaning for his gold. I think this might be one of his spectral footprints right here."

We haven't slept in a week.

Here we have a little trail guide warning of the "pokey cactus". It's very important not to trip on a rock and fall onto said "pokey cactus". Which I believe in Latin is "pokius cactius".

Our troops began losing steam and whining in earnest approximately five minutes into our trek. Granted, we WERE making them hike through the desert in June but there was shade intermittently, so we really couldn't grasp what the big deal was.

Finally! We get to the 800 year old Indian Heiroglyphs. It's very neat to be able to touch something that was carved so long ago.

Clearly, aliens do exist. Why else would Indians 800 years ago depict them in stone if they didn't?

They also used these cliffs as make-shift hairstyle magazines. Here we have two different styling options. Shave it all off, or grow it into an afro. I think either one would work well in the desert.

We saw this colorful lizard on the hike back to the minivan. Some in our party felt that it's awesomeness surpassed that of the ancient artifacts we'd seen and made it all "worth hiking through the stinkin' desert" to see.

Lizards are a cultural priority to some in our family.

Happy Meals on the way home are a priority to others as is jumping in our pool to cool off.

Why do we ever leave home?

Styleboards. Who knew?

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Fri, 14 May 2010 19:41:00 +0000

I love to decorate. I have entire notebooks plastered with pictures I've cut from magazines as inspiration. So, the last time my mom visited, we sat looking at some magazines and started talking about her bedroom and how she wanted a change.

I love a challenge and so I got myself onto Kaboodle and made her a styleboard for her bedroom.

Behold...

Mom's country... by heatheroo

And because that was so much fun, I made one for my dad and his wife.

Dad and Linda's... by heatheroo

Social Media goosebumps.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:23:00 +0000

A buffet of blog fodder

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:33:00 +0000

Life is screaming by at lightening speed.

Lightening, I tell ya.

And it doesn't look like it's going to slow down anytime soon.

I have some pictures to show you...but I've put my little camera download cable in my super special place with my two other mail keys and retainer from high school.

Le sigh.

So in the meantime, because this is how I roll lately and it's in keeping with my Mindless Junque theme, I have some topics to discuss.

Brett Michaels in intensive care due to a brain hemorrhage:

As COMPLETELY inappropriate as it is to make any sort of light of this situation, I'm finding it hard to hold myself back. It's not that I think it's funny at all. It's actually really, very sad. I had better move on quickly.

I finally saw Avatar:

The special effects were very cool and the colors were pretty. And I feel awesome about being a self serving consumer who, according to James Cameron, delights in annihilating indigenous flora and fauna. I could get VERY controversial here, so we'll move on from that too.

And in keeping with the science fiction/fact news, Steven Hawking says aliens are bad for us:

He says they will be yellow with horrible stingers (no lie) and will rape our planet of all it's natural resources. Who's killing indigenous species now, HUH Mr. Cameron??

And speaking of yellow aliens with stingers:

Yeah, this was on my front porch as I opened the door to a guy who just happened to be in the area spraying for scorpions. Do you think he was planted there? Perhaps.

I'm building a pool for my children.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:59:00 +0000

The weather here is already getting pretty hot. So, I'm building a pool. Well, not all by myself of course. I have some help (my crew is standing against the wall).

First, I rented me a bobcat.

Here, the girls are watching as I tear up the grass. In the desert, grass is overrated anyway and tends to be pokey on the feet. You can see my crew standing against the wall, watching my kick-booty bobcatting skills with awe and admiration.

Next, I rented me a very large back hoe. And proceeded to pronounce it with emphasis on the word "hoe" because that's just funny stuff. I don't care who you are.

Here, a hard working member of my crew is doing something important with a shovel. I took a quick sweet tea break from the "hoe", as we affectionately referred to it, and snapped this picture.

I'm also going to add here that the duct tape upholstery job on the seat was NOT my idea of a good time and I insisted that it cut the backs of my legs with it's duct tapiness.

And then I made a note to start a business making back hoe seat covers. I think it'll do really well in this industry.

The twinfants were so pleased that I had also provided them with a big pile of dirt. However, being girls, they weren't quite sure what to do with a big pile of dirt aside from kind of posing around it.

I even bought them some trucks to play with in the dirt, but the trucks got "dirty" and kept having to be washed. With lavender scented soap.

Again, my hard working helper in the background is still shoveling despite me telling him that I'd rented the back hoe for good reason.

I'll leave you with one last picture of the ADORABLE steps I carved out of the dirt using the back hoe.

It was no easy task, but I think I did a passable job. The larger step is called a "baja" step and is specifically for mothers to lounge on whilst reading their summer novels and sipping their pina coladas. I'm always thinking about my friends and their comfort that way.

I've actually completed the pool all the way to the concrete stage, and will cover that in another post. My faux finish effect was very tricky. I call it "industrial chic", but it totally works in this space.

*While we are, in fact, building a pool, I did not do any of this work myself. I was just trying to be witty.

An indulgent song choice.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:42:00 +0000

As Simon often tells the AI contestants in his British accent, "I think that was a rathah indullllgent song choice."

I am going to write a rathah indulllllgent post today.

Because my head will explode if I don't.

And no one wants to see that.

There is so much going on and while it's exciting, my brain starts going a mile a minute and it just. won't. stop.

It's not condusive at all to getting any laundry done. To his credit, PB hasn't said a word. So, let's start with laundry.

Then there's...

floors to mop

kids on spring break to entertain

breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to make

groceries to be bought

menus to be made

budgets to revise

walls to paint

furniture to paint

curtains to make

moms to pick up at airports

sheets to change

snuggles to give

books to write

blogs to write

blogs to read

proposals to go over

pools to build

weeds to spray

bushes to prune

wreaths to make

cut-off shorts to hem

hairs to cut

passports to apply for

closets to clean out

pictures to take

carpets to vacuum

kitchens to redecorate

scorpions to kill

weights to lift

water to drink

Bible studies to attend

doctors to visit

Easter eggs to dye

toes to pedicure

Keurig's to bring back to life

paperworks to fill out

boo boo's to kiss

not enough coffee on the planet

The thing is. I'm happy. Sometimes it makes me crazy, but right now it's all good. It's all happy and the weather here is in the 80's. The birds are chirping and things are blooming and flip flops have been purchased.

The trick is to keep it all organized and not let it get crazy.

Hence the rambling post about things I have to do.

"Better out than in, I always say." ~Shrek

Very indullllgent post, indeed.

Thank you.

A musing on dogs.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:40:00 +0000

Do you all remember Boudreaux?

Yeah, he was my crazy cute gay dog.

He earned the nickname Sir Peesalotinthehouse. This dog would go outside and bark incessantly to be let back in at which point he would promptly pee on the floor.

People had warned me that Yorkies were notoriously hard to house break and while I believed them, I figured that after a couple of weeks of hard work we'd have an adorable fluff ball that would romp playfully in the backyard where he would also do his business like a normal dog should.

Uhm....no. Not so much.

Although, he did lay under my desk with his plunder and chew peacefully on his mint green, chiffon negligee in an adorable fashion (there will be no judging here, people), it wasn't enough.

Even this delicious level of eccentricity could not save Boudreaux from living down the street with the neighborhood dog whisperer six months after we got him. She still has to crate him when he's in the house because even she can't house break him.

All this to say, I kinda miss Boudreaux today. Sometimes I still wish for a dog. Not a puppy this time, but a full grown lap dog.

I like Pugs. I grew up with Pugs. PB and I had one shortly after we got married. Her name was Maggie. She was the best dog ever and a cinch to house break.

Some days I miss having a dog. But then I look at my nice clean carpet and I'm over it.

Insert your own life analogy....

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:53:00 +0000

Several weeks ago, something strange caught my eye in one of our windows high above our foyer.

I had to look at it several times because I wasn't sure it could be what I thought it was.

After a conference with PB, we decided that yes, indeed, a bird had careened into the window and left his splat mark.

He obviously didn't die because we looked for a little dead body, but couldn't find one.

"No worries." PB told me, "The next big rain will wash it away."

That was about fifteen big rain storms ago. The bird splat won't wash away.

From my office, I can see this window and stare at that bird splat. Not because it's particularly disturbing, but because it's such great blog fodder.

I thought about all the different ways I could make a bird flying into my window interesting or funny, but ultimately I decided it was pretty deep...in a bird hitting the glass metaphor kind of way.

Which part speaks to you? The bird flying into the window? His futile attempt to get inside? His obvious blindness? His super powerful feather dust clinging to the window? The multiple rainstorms that are impervious to his obvious attempt at sanctuary? My dirty window?

You get to insert your own life analogy here because there are way too many for me to choose from.

The New York Times Article on Mommy Bloggers (and Bloggy Boot Camp)

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:34:00 +0000

I have blogged for four years.

FOUR.

I began blogging because I love to write. Just write. For two years it didn't even dawn on me to care that no one commented on my blog.

Twitter hadn't been invented yet.

SEO didn't exist.

"Social Media" wasn't in anyone's vocabulary.

I HATE controversy with the intensity of a thousand white hot suns, but I can't ignore this article in the New York Times. Honey, Don't Bother Mommy. I'm Too Busy Building My Brand

I found it to be a bit sarcastic, and I'm on the defensive.

Tiffany and I work sooooo hard to balance our blogging and our families.

I do resent the implication that we're putting "our brand' ahead of our families. Or that any of us is.

It's an awfully big generalization to insinuate that if you blog, you must be sacrificing time with your family to do it.

SITS is for making people happy. It always has been.

Bloggy Boot Camp is about encouraging women in their passion. Why do I have to feel like that is silly?

Mindless Junque is my hobby. My respite. Am I not entitled to that? (I ask as I write this post at 11:11 PM with my children long since fed, bathed, and tucked safely to bed after a fun day at the Ostrich Festival to celebrate the beginning of Spring Break).

And if one day I can help my family in this scary economy with money I make through social media, I won't feel guilty about it.

I don't have the TIME to feel guilty about it. I'm too busy keeping the balance...well, the balance the best I know how while drinking my POM Wonderful pomegranate juice and wearing my Sanita clogs that are so super comfy for a busy mom with foot issues.

Uhm...yeah, I just said that.

Because I'm worth a brand. And by 11:30 at night, I've earned the right to build it.

It's a Lord of The Rings Miracle

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:15:00 +0000

Several weeks ago, we woke to find that a fairy had moved into our home.

In her letter to us, she asked us to name her.

We named her an ancient, Gaelic name you'd totally think to name a fairy.

Madison.

Tolkien would be proud.

Religion in a grocery bag.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:56:00 +0000

Look at how the lady bagged my groceries today.

I felt it blog-worthy and, yet, in need of very little explanation.

It speaks for itself. No?

I was never good with numbers.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:56:00 +0000

If I look on my dashboard, I see that I "manage" twelve different blogs.

Ten of them aren't even active.

But they're there. Reminding me of my crazy, jumbled up brain.

My life feels a little like my dashboard.

I have all these things going at once and only about one sixth of them actually functioning.

And only half of that one sixth is functioning with any regularity.

A love story, the closet and advice to famous people.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:55:00 +0000

Hello there, girls! Welcome to my blog.

I could never have imagined that just a couple of short years ago, Tiffany and I would have taken SITS as far as it has come. It's been so exciting to see it grow and watch all of our hard work pay off in such a rewarding way.

So, thank you for each and every one of your comments. It's a passion for blogging and connecting that started this and what continues to make it so rewarding.

As far as my little corner of the world goes...

I'm a mom to four little girls. No one is over the age of nine.

Busy is an understatement.

Blogging is an outlet, as it is for many of you. I never really thought of it as a way to connect but that's become one of my favorite reasons for blogging.

That, and my love of writing.

I hope to write the next great love story one day soon.

I have a pretty amazing real life love story here.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Part Twelve
Part Thirteen
Part Fourteen

I often hide from my children in the closet and vlog here.

And I'm constantly being asked advice from very famous people. Here's what I tell them.

Thanks for coming over. I'll see you all in roll call!!

This is the post in which I keep it real.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:40:00 +0000

I've never had an eating disorder. However, as a woman, I can completely understand how it happens.

I work out almost every day.

I live on Greek yogurt.

And yet I still can't understand why my body won't look like this.

Photo courtesy Victoria's Secret

This isn't where I confess to anything other than wanting something that's completely unrealistic.

And airbrushed.

I do the exact same thing with my house.

I paint.

I fluff.

I stress.

Because I think it should look like this...

Photo courtesy Candice Olson via the blog Design Happens on HGTV.com

Ecclesiastes 2

²⁴ A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, ²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? ²⁶ To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

I can't pretend to not care about perfection and working towards something unattainable and wordly. I'm human.

But I CAN strive towards the perfection that is doing all things for the glory of God. Namely, quit worrying so much about things I can't change and enjoy what I've been given.

My body will go away one day and I'll want to redecorate in a year anyway.

In the meantime, the girls just want me to play Go Fish with them.

I'm hungry.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:32:00 +0000

I'm so hungry right now.

It's 10:30, though, and I really shouldn't eat anything.

Things have been crazier than usual around here lately. Explains the muchies. I'm an emotional eater. I'll also eat when I'm bored.

I guess that means I don't really stand a chance.

All I know is that I could really stand a nice, fluffy piece of cheesecake with big, fat strawberries on top. And a cup of decaf. That last part should be no surprise. I have a problem. At least I'm honest about it.

That's all for now.

And the car goes to...

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:48:00 +0000

I've decided that if I'm ever as rich as Oprah, there are some people in my life that I'd like to buy cars for.

Emma's teacher this year would definitely get a car. She's funny and laughs with the kids ALOT and yet she strikes a great balance between fun and strict. I love a teacher that is comfortable with being tough. I have an entire post on the slipping standards we put on our kids' behavior...but I'm too chicken to hit the publish button.

That could be an entire post in and of itself. Publish Button Phobia. I do think it's warranted sometimes. We shouldn't always hit the publish button just because it's our blog and we can say what we want to.

Moving on...

I would also buy a car for the twins Sunday School teacher. She hugs them with a genuine joy at seeing them every Sunday. She sends them their lessons if they miss a week. She sends them birthday cards and books for Christmas. She had us fill out an information sheet telling her a little bit about our children. She's amazing.

I would've bought Sara's preschool teachers cars. Both of them. They were so patient and kind and organized. It's the only time Sara's really loved school. And they did crazy kid crafts like painting with dead fish. Yeah, it was as gross as it sounded but the kids thought it was cool. They had to paint the fish and then press their paper down on it. I'm sorry...but you rock as a preschool teacher if you are willing to touch a dead fish and deal with 17 screaming four year olds just to introduce them to an ancient Japanese art form. You deserve a car, man.

And although she probably wouldn't need me to buy her a car, I would've offered one to the girls' pediatrician in Colorado. When we'd come in and I'd have whatever the girls were in for, she'd prescribe me medicine too so I wouldn't have to go to the doctor myself. If any of you try to report her to any sort of medical board for doing so, I'll deny everything. You've obviously never been a sick mother with multiple sick children and I will not look at you.

The following list of people may or may not need me to buy them a car, but I would like to show them my appreciation:

Whomever invented epidurals

Keurig coffee makers

Julia

My mom

My 11th grade English teacher

The paint guys at Home Depot

Our babysitter

Myself

I'm sure I could sit here and think of people all day. So, if you get a car in your driveway with a big red bow on it...it's from me and I've won the lottery.

Paula's Taco Soup recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:00:00 +0000

This is Paula's Taco Soup recipe. It's comfort food for sure, but I cut the recipe in half. It makes ALOT!!

Taco Soup

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Prep Time:: 15 min
Inactive Prep Time:: --
Cook Time:: 6 hr 0 min

Level:: Easy

Serves:: 12 to 16 servings

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef
2 cups diced onions
2 (15 1/2-ounce) cans pinto beans
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can pink kidney beans
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can tomatoes with chiles
2 (4 1/2-ounce) cans diced green chiles
1 (4.6-ounce) can black olives, drained and sliced, optional
1/2 cup green olives, sliced, optional
1 (1 1/4-ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (1-ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix
Corn chips, for serving
Sour cream, for garnish
Grated cheese, for garnish
Chopped green onions, for garnish
Pickled jalapenos, for garnish

Directions

Brown the ground beef and onions in a large skillet; drain the excess fat, then transfer the browned beef and onions to a large slow cooker or a stockpot. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, green olives, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix, and cook in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours or simmer over low heat for about 1 hour in a pot on the stove. To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with sour cream, cheese, green onions and jalapenos.