Mommay's Mayhem

I Heart Cupcakes

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:07:00 +0000

I made these cupcakes for my daughters 7th birthday. They were so pretty! I got the recipe from Family Fun Magazine. There were a pain in the arse to make but worth it in the end!

Aren’t they so pretty???

Head on over to I Heart Faces for some more “I Heart Desserts” Entries!

Sunburned Bunny

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:08:00 +0000

This is what happens when a hollow chocolate bunny is out in the sun for a few minutes. hee hee

Honey Baked Ham

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:38:00 +0000

For Easter this year, I splurged and got a Honey Baked Ham. I went and preordered it and was dreading having to stand in a L O N G line to pick it up because I had heard so many stories. I went on the Thursday before Easter and there were only 4 people in front on me…and those people didn’t even pre order.

We’ve never had a Honey Baked Ham before. Heard that it was REALLY good. Well, let me tell you…it WAS really good. BUT…I don’t know if it was worth the price tag good, lol. I paid $50 for the ham and a regular store bought spiral ham is what, $12? I might pay $30 for another Honey Baked but probably wouldn’t pay $50.

The ham was nice and tender and the best part was the crunchy crust on the outside…that was awesome! So I think next year, I’ll buy a store ham and try and duplicate the crunchy outside of it. =)

Anyone with an eye for design?

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:58:00 +0000

Hubby and I are going out tomorrow night to look at some new furniture for our livingroom. The big couch up there (plus a chair at least) is going downstairs to the newly finished basement family room.

I’m lost as to what we should get for furniture up there. I don’t think we want another sectional, at least not one with a chaise on it. I’m leaning towards 2 couches, putting one with the back at the front door and a nice sofa table behind it and another one directly opposite of it. They would both be on the 2 side of the entertainment unit. But what would I put near the wall where the photos are and opposite the tv?

Hubby wants a couch and a loveseat and chair with the couch where the one is now. We definitely need to get a coffee table with some storage and some side tables.

I’m just so lost with all of this. I think I might break down and hire a designer using some of our tax return money…but even then, how do you choose one? ARGH!

Roughly, this is how it is now.

The architect had it set up more this way:

Do you think this way is better? What about all the empty space at the front door???

I really just want my livingroom to look like it came out of Country Sampler magazine because I love everything in there! I’m sure I can handle the decorating…it’s the placement I’m clueless on! Anyone want to offer some help on how you’d furnish my livingroom? What pieces? What color??

i heart faces Week 11 Challenge

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:46:00 +0000

I haven’t participated in a iheartfaces challenge is a long time. Saw that this week’s theme was “bundled up” so I dug through my winter pics and this one jumped out at me!

I really need to get back to taking pics of the kids…been so lazy lately! And I wish I could find some photography classes in my area…that would be great fun for me!

But anyways….head on over to i heart faces and see the other entries!

Itty bitty little growths

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:54:00 +0000

That is what I have on my fingernails. What the heck am I talking about? Well…I’ve been a nail biter for as long as I can remember. Always bit my nails (and my toe nails when I was younger..YUK!). They are always little teeny, tiny stumps for nails. No way I could paint them…they would look ridiculous!

But, I haven’t been biting them for a few weeks now. I keep putting clear nail polish on them and this awful tasting No Bite. It’s working for now. Every now and then I put them to my mouth but I’m trying *really hard* to fight the urge to chomp away and let them grow.

Last time I let them grow was for my wedding. They were so pretty. But back to stumps they went. It’s sorta funny because my nail is hitting the keyboard as I type and that never happens.

Wish me luck…we’ll see if I can actually grow my nails. Would love to be able to polish them and make them look beautiful!

Are you a former nail biter? Any tips (no pun intended) for me?

Cell phones for kids

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:39:00 +0000

My 9 year old keeps asking for a cell phone because “all my friends have one!” I really find it hard to believe that there are a bunch of 9 year olds running around with cell phones. Or am I wrong?

I just don’t see *why* a 9 year old would need a cell phone! Maybe if they were home alone frequently or had to walk home from school…then they might need one for safety. But just for the heck of it? No way!

I tried telling him that there are plenty of reasons why he doesn’t get things that “all his other friends have” but he doesn’t see it…he just wants what they have.

What about you? Do your kids have a cell phone? What age did they get it? Why did they get it?

Refinancing

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:45:00 +0000

We’ve been trying to refinance our house for almost a year now. Started the process last April, locked in a rate in the low 4’s. Got the appraisal done and then the bank dropped the ball. And I guess we did too for not staying on top of them. Well, a few months ago we started it again…rate is a little higher now but still mid 4’s (we’re close to 6 right now I think).

Everything was going fine except first we needed like $5K to close…ok, we can find that somewhere since it’s going to save us money. Well now they want us to come up with $15K to close. Um….yea, if we want to wipe out our savings! Not.

So we work hard, pay our bills on time every month and are jumping through hoops to try and get a lower rate. But you have people who are handed low rates because they are behind on their bills and in danger of losing their house? Seems a little backwards to me and honestly makes me mad. I’m sure there’s all sorts of stipulations with those type of refinances (I think they call it a modification) like L O N G terms or being locked in without being able to refinance again but still…where’s our break for being good customers?

Towels

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:40:00 +0000

I most certainly can’t be the *only* one in the world that must have my towels folded the *right* way??? I like my towels to look neat in my closet and it must have a nicely rounded edge at front so it’s easy to pull a towel out.

I’m so bad that I will refold hubby’s towels and do them again the right way. (and why is it so hard for him to learn to do it the right way?)

Yea, yea…I should just be happy that they get folded at all, right? But it bugs the crap outta me if they are wrong. Sorta like the toilet paper…must go the right way! What about you? Do you care how your towels get folded?

February??

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:50:00 +0000

I can't believe it's February already. It seemed like it was Christmas last week (or maybe it's just because my Christmas lights are still up and some decorations are still in my sunroom??? hmmmm...) January flew by! And before I know it, it will be February vacation already. For vacation, I'm really hoping it's either 1. nice out...so we can do a letterbox or 2, or 2. snowy out....so I can take the kids sledding out back of the house at the bogs. But it can't be too cold...because I don't like the cold so much.

And the groundhog saw it's shadow today....6 more weeks of winter. Someone needs to tell my bulbs that since they are popping up already!

Blessings Jar...

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:14:00 +0000

We've never been the type of family to say grace before dinner. But a few months ago, I thought it would be a nice tradition to start. It's also a nice way to try and have the kids appreciate the food in front of them every night and be grateful for what they have. We're not really the "off the cuff" type so I went online and printed off a bunch of blessings that were nice and appropriate. I put all the blessings into a "Family" jar and it's in the middle of our kitchen table. Every night, one of us pulls a blessing and reads it aloud. The kids actually fight over who's turn it is! The kids had friends over for dinner a few weeks ago and they actually thought it was pretty cool too. =))

I'm very glad that the kids have taken to this idea so fondly and was thinking it's time to put some new blessings in the jar. So I'm asking you....what are some of your favorite dinner blessings?

Scrap Happy!

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:38:00 +0000

I've gotten the digi scrap bug again! I got a new computer and had Photoshop Elements 7 put on it so I could learn how to use it. Well...yesterday I bought a page template set and that "made" me learn to modify it in PSE! I can't believe how simple it really is using the templates! Here's what I've done yesterday and today:

Kit: It Boy by Traci Reed; Template: A Whole Year by Dani Alencar

Kit: A Mother's Story by Julie Bullock; Template: A Whole Year by Dani Alencar

Kit: Backyard Fun by Julie Bullock; Template: A Whole Year by Dani Alencar

Kit: Tickle Me Pink by Julie Bullock; Template Elizabeth York Designs at www.scrapsandblessings.blogspot.com

Woo hoo! I'm so excited! Now I just need to hook up my wide format printer and print them for the kids scrapbooks!

The start of something (not so) new...

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:25:00 +0000

Got my butt to the gym today! I've been only making it there once a week lately. I used to go at least 4-5 days a week but then either me or the kids were sick and I couldn't go. It's pretty fast to get out of a good habit! So today, it my new start. Why wait until January 1? Hit the treadclimber for 46 minutes....I think that's a new record for me. It really helped that my friend was there to chat with....makes the time go by so much faster! I got some weights in too and I'll do my ab work as soon as I'm done writing. AND...I'm going to yoga class tonight!

One of the funny things is that my friend today said her step daughter saw my facebook picture and said how beautiful I was. That was nice to hear but then I sorta cringed because on a normal day, I look *nothing* like my picture. And that made me sad because I WANT to look like that picture! (you can't see my other chins, lol I know how to position the camera *just right*). So that's my little goal...to look like my picture any day of the week.

With the holidays here, it's so easy to say "I have shopping to do" and never make it to the gym or "I'll workout at home" and never do it. So I'm starting my road to a new me TODAY. How about you?

You'll shoot your eye out, kid!

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:28:00 +0000

Shopping is pretty much done for my kiddos. Luckily they didn't have very big lists...here's a few highlights:

My 9yo asked for.....a bb gun, some legos and that's about it! We were

really not going to do the bb gun route but after talking it over, we decided it would be ok and used *only* under dh's supervision and he must wear

googles at all time.

My 6yo wrote her own list so I needed to do some deciphering: Zoom Zoom pets (zhu zhu pets...and I doubt that's gonna happen! What is it with those stupid little things???), Nintdo ds (nintendo ds), Moxie grils (girls) and my darling daughter even put "a new bieck for mom" on the list! lol

My 3yo had nothing but lincoln logs and toy truck on his list. Then we went thru the Walmart toy aisle. He added Batman Bat Cave, Batman batmobile and a Batman batpod. Can you tell what he likes?

What is big on your kids lists this year???

Just the two of us....

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:25:00 +0000

The other night, Grampa was so nice to come and watch the kids for us so hubby and I could go out to dinner and do some Christmas shopping. Yes...an actual date night! We had such a nice time! We definitely don't get to spend time alone like that often...and we really need to make it a priority to do so! No kids to mind...just us! Once a week would be great...but that's a dream. I think once a month is more like it and that is most certainly do-able!

Do you do date nights with your hubby/wife/significant other? How often? What do you do? =))

Snow!

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:12:00 +0000

Today, we got our first taste of snow for the season. We've only gotten a few inches and unfortunately it's going to change to rain any time now and it will all be gone. But I love the first snowfall! Makes everything look so pretty and crisp and clean. And the kids love to play in it. I know after a few storms I won't be writing how I love the snow....but we won't think of that! =)

ps....I'm going to make a priority to keep the blog updated! =))

Fall foliage & letterboxing fun

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:41:00 +0000

We went away camping last weekend for the long weekend. While searching for things to do on our camping trip, I came across this road trip article for Mt. Chocorua in New Hampshire.

What a great trip it was! We headed out on a Friday morning, so we didn't run into much traffic. The trip is so "back woods", I don't think you'd run into much traffic anyways!We left midmorning, so we didn't stop at the first ice cream place on the trip...just headed straight for the Mt. Chocorua view. I printed some letterboxes beforehand and was excited to find a letterbox at the same place (Mt. Chocorua View). Got some great foliage pictures as well as family & kid pictures here too!After that, we went and got some pics of the mountain over the pond. So pretty!

Now it's totally back woods time....unpaved roads, barely any houses and lots of foliage! When we saw signs for Liberty Trail, I remembered another letterbox (Liberty Trail) was there so we headed off to find that.
We continued on the drive until we came to Great Hill Road and then stopped to do another letterbox (Great Hill Tower). This hike was so awesome! I'd say it's probably about a half mile into the woods. Once you reach the tower, you can climb up and look at all the mountains and foliage around you. Totally worth it!
We stopped to check out Ordinance Rock because I knew the kids would love to climb it. There's yet another letterbox (Ordinance Rock Cemetery) right across the street. The kids loved looking at all the very old gravestones in the cemetery.Hollow Hill Farm is right beside the cemetery and we did some apple picking there on another day (because it was raining on our first trip by). Got lots of apples for apple crisp...yum!
We saw the coolest rainbow on the way to the next stop...just beautiful! (We seem to find rainbows everywhere we go! lol)One of the best stops on the trip was at the Sandwich Creamery. It's way in the middle of nowhere. They sell homemade ice cream and cheese there. It's all done on the honor system by sticking your money through a little slot to pay for what you're buying. And the the ice cream is delicious! The kids liked seeing all the animals there too.After our ice cream, we just headed back to our campground although the trip continues a little longer. We highly recommend doing this road trip if you're going to be in the area....and I'd try to go during the fall to see all the amazing colors!

Flu Vaccines--to give or not to give?

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:46:00 +0000

That is the question! I want to hear some opinions on the Flu Vaccines. EJ has gotten the flu shot the past few years because he's got RAD (not quite asthma) with no side effects. Maddie & Lucas have never had them done. I have all three scheduled to go get them next Tuesday.

I know that I absolutely do not want them getting the flu vaccine for the H1N1 strain. Just too new and no testing, etc. But a few articles were pointed out to me today ( this one and this one) and now I'm just not sure I want any of them to get the other flu shot either.

When you see what these vaccines have, it's scary. And the mercury level is so high in them.

Have you give the shot to your kids? If not, are you?

Blackmail....

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:21:00 +0000

My daughter decided it would be fun to dress up Lucas in her dress up clothes and new wig. Here's the result.

It's crazy how much Lucas looks just like my daughter when he's "girled up". This is sure to be a blackmail picture later on.... ;)

Do you hear that?

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:17:00 +0000

No, I didn't think so........because it's nothing!

No screaming, no legos dropping, no cartoons, no questions for mommay...nothing.

All three kids are in school. Ahhhhh....

What am I doing with my quiet time, you ask?

Reading? Nah.

At the gym? Nope.

Cleaning? Hell no.

I'm catching up on my dvr'd Gossip Girl episodes. =)

One day....

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:08:00 +0000

The countdown is on...in 1 day hubby & I will be heading out on our very first cruise! We're going right out of Boston to Bermuda. Can't wait!

I was stressing for the past week getting the kids schedules all taken care of, stocking the house, cleaning and getting laundry done. It's alot of work to get everything prepped...Who's coming when...who's taking Maddie to dance & soccer....who's picking Lucas up at school....but it will be fine. They'll get to where they need to be. They will be fed. They will be just fine! A big thank you to our friends & family helping us out!

Now it's time to get our stuff packed and ready to go. Not trying to stress too much about that either...it's a freestyle cruise so we can basically just go with the flow. We. can't. wait. =))

Wordless Wednesday 9.2.09

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:54:00 +0000

First day of school...'nuff said!

Something to live by....

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:22:00 +0000

I came across this poem today and love it. It's so true. I really need to slow down and play with the kids more....they are only young once!

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
~Diane Loomans

Yea...Halloween stuff is out!

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:42:00 +0000

oh wait...that should be WTF is with the Halloween stuff out???

I want all the stores to take one season at a time. It's Back to School season right now. Let's just keep all the back to school stuff out until the kids are actually back in school. We do not need to see the Halloween candy out. Or the Halloween costumes. Let's wait until, oh I don't know...maybe mid September to put that out?

Do people really buy their Halloween candy now? I can't see that happening. Costumes maybe, but the candy & decorations? If I bought Halloween candy now...it would be gone next week. Then I'd have to buy more and more and more. Oh wait...maybe that's why it's out! But anyways...

I don't want to see Christmas stuff out before Halloween is done. Really!

When the season gets here, it's hard to find what you need because they've already moved on to the next season. So please, store merchandiser people...let's get through one season before you start forcing the next on me.

Just once...

southshorekids@comcast.net (jen aka mommay) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:59:00 +0000

Just once I'd like to go out for the night and come home and find all my "duties" have been done.
Just once I'd like to run a dishwasher and not have to empty it.
Just once I'd like to run a load of laundry and not have to fold it.
Just once I'd like to not have to be the bad guy.
Just once I'd like to not have to make dinner.
Just once I'd like to be told how nice I look (even if I look like crap).
Just once I'd like to not have to do the food shopping.
Just once I'd like to get flowers for no reason.
Just once I'd like to not have to make all the vacation plans.
Just once I'd like to be surprised with a night out.
Just once I'd like for my kids to pick up after themselves.
Just once I'd like to be able to sit and relax. In silence.

But most of these make me a mom and a wife...and I wouldn't trade it for a thing.