Real Housewives of Oklahoma

How To Sharpen Knives

2012-05-31T07:30:00.000-05:00

Since this is a housewife blog, it is time to offer you some practical housewife-y advice.
I'm not sure about your house, but over here there is only one way to sharpen a knife.It's a little unconventional, but I find that it works perfectly. Every time.
Step one: Purchase a watermelon.

Step two: Leave it on the counter.

Step three: Eventually your husband will quit waiting for you to cut open the watermelon and he will do it himself.

Step four: Now that your husband is using the knives, he will hate how dull they are... and he will sharpen them.

Knives sharpened with very little effort.It's a gift from me to you.
All the single ladies will have to find their own knife sharpening method.Good luck!

Mrs. Priss

Sharpening knives like...

Happy Memorial Day

2012-05-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

All of us at the RHOK wish you a happy Memorial Day.During your family cook outs, boat rides or just laying around todaytake a moment to remember.Remember not only the men & women who have served or areserving our great country, but also their family members.Remember those who are no longer with us & their family members who are mourning.Remember today & always.

We hope you enjoy your day!The RHOKRemembering Our Heroes Like...

Death Threats - at Universal

2012-05-24T07:30:00.000-05:00

With our kids out of school so early this year, we decided to take our summer vacation before the crowds. Why not?

Our big plan was to take our boys here:

Then on the last day, we would head to Universal in Orlando.

The Doc was just sure that our youngest was ready to ride roller coasters and visit Harry Potter's castle this year.

Welcome to Hogwarts!

Jacob did not agree on this matter.

Not at all.
We had to skip this ride last year and we didn't want to miss it again. So, we forced him to go on it anyway. I know this is how good parenting works.
I was so sure Jacob would love this ride that I told the Doc to take a "before" picture. In between cry sessions, this child that clinged to me would remind me he didn't want to go. This went on for the whole entire 45 minute wait.

That's not a smile on his face.

I know.You're feeling bad for Jacob, aren't you?
He survived it.He screamed the whole time about how scary it was and how much he was hating it.
When the ride was over, this sweet boy looked at me with venom in his eyes and yelled, "You are dead to me! DEAD to me!"
Then he posed for his after picture.

Harry Potter ride gets a thumbs down.

I'm still trying to figure out why this kid is scared of Harry Potter but enjoys talking to a fountain that makes fun of everyone who passes by.

The Lost Continent - Talking Fountain

The Doc handles these disappointments really well.

Just read the caption...

And that was our big summer trip.Well, some of it anyway.
Where will you go this summer?

Mrs. Priss

Torturing kids like...

Points of Life

2012-05-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

No, I'm not talking about anything philosophical. I'm talking about Weight Watchers and their Points Plus Program that my life seems to be revolving around. I'm obsessed with points. Here a point, there a point, everywhere a point, point. I'm counting points in my head.

Weight Watchers and those who are faithful to the program keep telling me I'll get the hang of it and it won't be that hard to stick to the points system without feeling like you're missing out on the tasty food. I'd really like to call B.S. It's not easy and I keep thinking there's no way I can do this the rest of my life. Does that mean I've failed already? Lord, I hope not. I've still got 20 more pounds to lose.
Before it sounds like I'm totally dissing the program, I have to tell you, I've already lost 10 pounds in less than three weeks. The program works. What makes it really work for me is having to weigh in each week at the meetings. With great certainty, I can tell you that I wouldn't be doing this well if I were just using the Weight Watchers e-Tools/app and not weighing in. I need that accountability. Plus, I'm pretty competitive, so it's important to me that the numbers on that scale go down each week instead of staying the same or heaven, help me, go up!
As I told you last week, I'm also doing an Ease into 5K program. I'm on my fourth week with it and so far I haven't given up, hurt myself or died. I have noticed the past few days my knees feeling stiff if I go to kneel on them or sit on the floor. I wonder what's up with that?!

This summer I'm going to be cooking a lot of Weight Watchers recipes or recipes that are healthy. I'm planning on sharing those recipes and their points values with you.
This week I'm sharing what I've made for breakfast a couple of times. It's an omelet made with Egg Beaters Egg Whites. I used three servings of the egg whites and then added fresh spinach, green onions, fat-free mozzarella cheese, and halved grape tomatoes. I seasoned with a little salt and pepper. It's quite tasty. Would really be good with a few slices of bacon. Oops! See! I just know I won't be able to give up bacon forever. Yes, yes, I know, I can eat it and count the points. But, I'm stingy with my points. What if I use them all by noon and then have to starve the rest of the day?!

I have started a board on Pinterest called, wait for it..... Weight Watchers! (Original, huh?!) I'll be pinning recipes I try and/or want to try to my board. Feel free to follow it, if you're on Pinterest. I love Pinterest for recipes of all kinds.

If for some reason you can't afford Weight Watchers or don't care to attend meetings, I've found another app that does everything the Weight Watchers app and Weight Watchers food scanner does. It's called Ultimate Value Diary. I believe it's $1.99. Even if you are on Weight Watchers, it's a great app because it combines the diary along with the scanner. It's an all-in-one!

So, what happens if you go over your daily points? Well, with the Points Plus system, you also get 49 weekly points that you can use throughout the week. What about if you go over your daily points and you run out of your weekly points? Well, if you exercise through the week you earn activity points. Those can be used for food as well. But, you see, I am on a mission to lose 20 pounds by July 4 so I don't want to touch my weekly points. And, if you don't use your activity points those will just help burn more calories - there's no way I'm going to use my activity points! May I borrow some of yours?! ;)

Have you tried Weight Watchers? Have any good, healthy recipes that you've figured the point values for? I've learned this is much easier to do with friends and accountability.

~Mrs. AlbrightCrunching the numbers, like....

For the Graduates of 1992, 2012, 2019, 2025...

2012-05-21T08:15:00.000-05:00

The class of 1992. Ah yes, we were so cool and ruled that hall of Wilson High School like no other before or after. Yes, it is only one straight hall and I had only 35 in my graduating class. Believe me, even now 20 years later as I see children of those I went to school with graduate from Wilson- they believe the same thing. Same hall, same school, just 20 years difference.

It was fun to pull out the Senior Portfolio, do they even have those anymore?
What about feathers, oh yes I have a portrait in feathers!

As I begin making preparations for my 20 year reunion, I also don my daughter into her first cap and gown. Her Pre-K graduation is tomorrow night. My baby is going off to kindergarten this August. My oldest going to middle school. Kind of bittersweet for me, as I am sure it is for all mothers this time of year.

ILCAP Pre-K Class of 2012
Future Broken Arrow High School Graduate
Class of 2025!!!

A few years before I received that much coveted high school diploma a book that is a favored graduation gift was written. The following quote is one of my favorites from that book. So, whether you are the class of 2012, 2019, 2025 or like me and 20 years out and still discovering all the places life has to take me, this quote is for you.

“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

♥Mrs. Hart♥
Keeping my brains and feet steered like

and keeping a box of tissues handy!

Ahhhh, sum sum summertime

2012-05-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

Two of the five housewives already have kiddos out of school. One of those being me.

It's bittersweet taste, really. This is early, folks. And after day one- let's just say it may be a LONG summer. Somehow my children suddenly think summer translates to "do whatever we want, when we want."

I went ahead and set them straight on that first thing this morning. Then I threatened them with boarding camp. You know, like boarding school, but maybe more fun.

So, I'm going to need some chill pills and some ideas to keep them busy. (The kids, not the pills. I've plenty of ideas for the pills! Ha!) Anyone? Perhaps this is a great time to share your favorite summer activities. So, do share, y'all. SHARE A LOT. Leave your incredible ideas that I need in the comments. Please. I'm really interested in saving my sanity.

I know y'all won't let me down!

*Mrs. Sinclair*

on the edge

(And it ain't the edge of glory, yo.)

Countdown to Summer

2012-05-15T08:11:00.002-05:00

We have summer on the brain around our house. How about you? School is out in 9 days & the countdown is on!

Vacays, weekend getaways, camps, lay around by the pool, flip flops ... a few of my favorite summer things.I can't wait for the alarm clocks to be turned off. That is my favorite thing about summer. I'm not a morning girl. What are your summer plans?
If you need me, here's where you'll find me.

xo~Mrs. MontgomeryReady for my Summer Cabana Like ...

Doing the Impossible

2012-05-14T07:21:00.000-05:00

Can you think, right off the top of you head, what seems impossible for you to do? I certainly can. Running is at the top of the list for me. I have never been a runner. Even when I played basketball in school, I hated the running part. It hurts for me to run. I also feel like I could be breathing fire as I gasp for air!

But.

(You knew there was going to be a but, didn't you?!)

Almost a month ago I decided I was going to go for a walk. I started putting on my tennis shoes and got a wild hair to search the app store for a couch to 5K app. What?! I hate running. I've always hated it. Why on earth would I download an app for it? Before I knew it, my FIVE year-old-daughter and I headed out the door.

As my phone "dinged" that it was time to run for 30 seconds, I started running. My daughter was running with me. She was keeping up with me. She was passing me. What the heck?! Each time my phone signaled for me to run she would run faster than me. At one point she hollered, "Why are you going so slow?" Honesty is the best policy, right? As I was gasping for air I replied, "Baby, it hurts when mommy's fat bounces!" Yes, we both laughed. You know what I'm talking about, don't you?

I wanted to share with you what app I'm using. It's called Ease into 5K. I used a free app for two weeks before purchasing this one. I really like this one. Here's what it looks like.

I really, really, really like week 1. Hey, I'm being honest. I finished week 1. I think I'd be okay with repeating week 1 over and over. But, my curiosity got the best of me and I went on to week 2. I'm still alive.

Can I also just say that the warm up and warm down are still my favorite?!

But, my favoritest (I know that's not a word) part is sharing my run on Facebook. No, it's not to brag. Heck, what do I have to brag about? I just admitted that my fat hurts when it bounces. I hope no one thinks I share it because I'm bragging. That's the farthest from the truth. I share it because it is making me accountable AND because I get the most sincere encouragement for my hard work from some of the best friends in the world.

I came across this while I was searching Pinterest. It made me laugh because it's those two things that make me think I can't do this. My mind STILL keeps telling me I can't do this. I'm still not certain I can ever run more than a minute and a half at a time. Time will tell. What will happen if I can't? Am I a failure? No. I already am doing more than I thought I could.

This interval training is good, no, GREAT for the heart. I have high blood pressure and high triglycerides and my doctor told me I had to restrict carbs and exercise 30 minutes a day. See? There is a reason to my madness. I want to feel good again and not be on blood pressure medication or worry about having a heart attack or stroke.

I've not only started this thing people call running, I've also started Weight Watchers. I've been at it a little over a week. I did really well my first week by losing 8 pounds. I contribute that loss to staying under my daily points AND running/walking. I feel encouraged and motivated to press on. I've set a goal of a 20 pound weight loss by July 4. I'm almost half way there already. I. CAN. DO. THIS.

I've had numerous people (and by people, I mean runners) ask me if I've signed up for a 5K yet or if I'm planning on it. YIKES! I never thought about actually running a race when I downloaded that little app. My answer to them is always, "I don't know." It scares me. Again, it's my mind telling me I won't ever be able to run more than 2 minutes at a time. I'm just not ready to sign up for a race yet. I hope I will be some day.

My husband and girls got me some pretty high dollar new running shoes and ear buds for Mother's Day. I guess I can't quit now. Eek! I'm scared. Did I already say that?

Are you a runner? If so, I'd love to hear about any hurdles you've overcome or tips you could share with a newbie. If you aren't a runner, would you want to take this journey with me? When I say, "If I can do it, ANYONE can do it," I'm not kidding. There's never been a bigger anti-runner than me. Just take a look-see at the text between my brother and I on Saturday...

~Mrs. Albright

Defying the voice in my head, like a.....

The Mom - Defined

2012-05-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day is coming up!I was going to do a cutesy post about being moms, but I started thinking about being a mom and how it has changed me. Oh boy - has it ever changed me!

Mrs. Priss' boys - 2007

Today, I'm going to tell you about the first time I really became an empowered mother.
As many of you may know, my son Michael was diagnosed with Asperger's at the age of three. I was educating myself as fast as I could but the world was taking the reins. I relied on therapists, books and teachers to guide me as I learned what Michael's needs were. I was so worried that I would miss something and it would ruin Michael's life forever. I trusted these people to lead me through it. I lacked confidence and was never one to speak up. This may shock those of you who know me.
The year that Michael was in the four-year-old preschool program at the school, things didn't go so well. I began to not trust the teacher. All she shared were negative things. She didn't appear to make much effort, either. My sweet Michael was struggling to make it through a half-day in her class and came home keyed up. I was disappointed in her but also carrying the guilt of knowing that my son was more difficult to manage than most.
The Doc and I decided maybe it was time to try private school. With high hopes, we met with the principal and explained our situation. He said they would be glad to have him. It was the middle of the school year, but we felt he could enter the class and things would be better in this private, Christian setting.
It was anything but that.
As the semester dragged on, I began to cry every time the phone rang because the school called about something bad - every single day. My child was constantly suspended for many things ranging from "refusal to color" to "biting." Yeah, biting. That biting thing was a one time deal and a turning point for us. Michael was being bullied by his classmates and over-disciplined by his teachers and no one would do a thing about it. I kept trying to figure out how my mild-mannered child had become such a mess. I trusted that the teacher had his best interests in mind and was appropriately dealing with his behavior. I was even punishing him at home for his reported behavior by taking away his favorite toys.
We got the call one day from the principal that Michael was going to be suspended for biting another child on the playground the day before. The incident took place on the playground and the child hadn't reported it to his teacher, but his mom called when she saw the bite marks that night. This boy had a bite mark on his stomach and said my son had done it. All the moms out there know that a stomach is a weird place to bite. I knew instantly there was a lot more to the story than the school was telling.
No one had even bothered to find out from Michael what happened.
When got Michael home, the Doc and I quizzed him. One of the problems was that Michael never told on the other kids when they were doing stuff to him. His communication wasn't very good then, but he looked at his dad with tears in his eyes and said, "I didn't let them tear my clothes off."
Those boys were bullying him and one had pinned him down to the ground. That bite was his attempt to get the other kid off of him. My child had to use self-defense and no one came to his aid.
When we finally got the whole story from Michael, the tides had turned. I was no longer crying out of despair, I was crying from anger.
Yes, I cry a lot.
I realized that day that if I didn't look out for my child and defend him every time, no one else would. I didn't have the luxury of trusting other experts to drive this car. It was my job (and Doc's) alone. I no longer take a teacher's assessment at face value. I question it thoroughly to make sure that everything makes sense. I question Michael thoroughly to see what was going on in his head. Then I think it through and use my mothering instinct. I trust that instinct now.
It took about three months after school was over before I got my sweet boy back. He was a mess of anxiety! And his public school Kindergarten teacher helped me know I could trust again. There are some wonderful teachers out there.
Nowadays, when something is wrong, I don't hesitate to intervene. You'd better be able to back up your case if something is going wrong in your classroom. Michael does not get away with much, but he knows his mother will defend him. The world does not understand Asperger's and I'm hear to advocate for Michael. I've done a some advocating for my little Jacob as well. Every kid needs an advocate, you know.
That's the day I had had enough.It's the day they woke the Mama Bear in me.

And I still cry a lot.But that goes with the territory, right?

Do you remember a significant moment that defines you as a parent?

Mrs. Priss

who wishes you a Happy Mother's Day --

and reminds you to be thankful for your own mothers!

It's Getting HOT. Where is your Baby?

2012-05-08T08:15:00.000-05:00

Warning: What you are about to read may cause an influx of emotions. As most of us are mothers, women or just plain human. I will try to keep my opinions to myself and remain unbiased, remember, I said try.
My MIL and I were talking last week, she ran into a store and on her way out noticed that a parked car contained several young children without adult supervision. The mother was inside the store shopping. The car appeared locked. My MIL waited and watched those children for ten minutes until the mother returned. The temperatures during that last full week of April in the Tulsa area ranged from 70-89 degrees. The windows were not cracked.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched its first ever national campaign to prevent child heatstroke deaths in cars. “Where’s Baby? Look Before You Lock,” is a communications program to educate parents and caregivers about the hazards of leaving children unattended in vehicles.
As an Infant Teacher, I am constantly looking for information to include in my monthly newsletters to parents. Usually information on teething remedies, car seat safety, recall sites, a new parenting app, etc. Not that any of my students parents need it, or our readers for that matter, but I will be telling them about the information above and also of a free app that is out called Baby Reminder.

Baby Reminder reminds you not to forget your baby in the car.

Simply set the days and time intervals in which you usually drive your children. Baby Reminder will automatically monitor and determine when you are driving and when not. An alert reminding you not to forget your baby in the car will be sent shortly after you arrive at your destination.

The app is actually rather annoying. If you did leave your baby in the car you will either go get her, or purposely turn off the nagging sound. I ignored mine so long testing it out that I halfway expected to find the police sitting in the parking lot waiting for me for child neglect arrest- that would be a nice feature wouldn't it. (oops, I told you I would try) Also, this app does not work on my eleven and five year old, I couldn't leave them in a car if I tried.
Yes, this app may sound ridiculous to some. Common sense should rule you would think, but it doesn't and hasn't. Some might even say that if you aren't smart enough to get your baby out of the car, then how can you be smart enough to set a reminder on your phone. If this app, campaign, or any other means of reminder can help decrease the number of deaths from the 33 the United States saw last year, then I say spread the word.
♥Mrs. Hart♥Trying to save lives like

Forbidden Fruit

2012-05-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

There seems to have come a time in most all of the wives' lives here that we come to a crossroads. We find ourselves in a place where we have a grand story to tell, and we just can't do it.

Ok, well we could. But seriously we're just too nice. It's one of our downfalls really. Always concerned with others feelings and mushy stuff like that.

You see there are stories SO bazaar lately, they can't even be made inconspicuous - and are so strangely and specifically detailed that it wouldn't take a genius to put 2 and 2 together. And darn the luck people! Darn the luck!

If I could tell you about Merle's other brother Merle, who left to go hunt alligators on a hog ranch I would. Jesus came to him in a vivid dream and told him to hightail it to old Mexico on a greyhound and start a tattoo parlor. After that, other brother followed him and started a roadside tomatillo stand. But that's not actually all true. The true story is WAY better. But that's the forbidden fruit.

And so, such is the dilemma most of us blog writers face: where to draw the line. I realize some writers leave nothing secret. Or at least they have y'all believe that.

Anyway my point is, y'all have NO idea what juicy, hilarious stories we want to tell, but can't. There would be repercussions.

Damn repercussions!

What about you guys? Have something you want to say buy just can't!?

Cinco de Mayo RHOK Style

2012-05-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

Do you know why we celebrate Cinco de Mayo? You may think it is Mexico’s Independence Day, but in the words of Mrs. Priss, "You're wrong!". Most Americans confuse this holiday with Mexico's Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the Battle of Puebla. The holiday commemorates the Mexican Army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867).

The RHOK celebrates Cinco de Mayo as it is a great excuse to enjoy yummy Mexican food & beverages. Hey, at least we try to educate you while using another country's holiday as an excuse to celebrate chips & salsa.

We didn't have our resident photog with us so we didn't capture many moments. Boo.

Please enjoy the few pics we snapped on our phones ;)

Mrs. B showing off her Chili's Swag

See what I mean about missing our photog?!

These sisters kept us laughing!

Cute Housewives

I may get in trouble for posting this one

And certain Housewives wonder why their children act "that way".

Finally, a nice pic of the RHOK.

Self-Portrait

Fun with Friends

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate Cinco de RHOK'O. Wish we had more pics to share of all the ladies. If you have event pics please email them so we can share. Special thanks to Amy & Don Livingston {GM}- Chili's Owasso for hosting a great event. Chili's provided fun giveaways which included a Kindle. They took great care of us so whenever you are in O-Town stop in & say hello.How will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo this Saturday? I will be celebrating my 12th wedding anniversary, ole'!Mucho Amor y Guacamole,Mrs. MontgomeryEnjoying an Excuse to Host a Party Like...

What Do You Want? I Don't Know...

2012-05-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

I, recently, celebrated a birthday. But, a few weeks before the day arrived, my hubby always starts asking, “What do you want for your birthday?” “Your birthday is only a few weeks away, what do you want?” Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my hubby and he always does well when the day arrives…but, it got me thinking…I get a little annoyed with this question.

I get annoyed, because my mind always draws a blank when this question is asked. I don’t care if it’s my birthday, Christmas, whatever holiday…if you put me on the spot, I can’t think of anything- but, if you ask me AFTER a holiday, I will probably think of 42 things…it never fails. Ask me what to get someone else, ideas are flowing…ask about ideas for myself…and picture “deer in the headlights”. Can’t think of anything.

Am I the only one that has this problem?

I never know what I want. Wait, I take that back….clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories…those are ALWAYS top on my list. But, a lot of times, I can think of things throughout the year UNTIL it comes time for people to start asking me and then I seem to lose every idea I had…

Again, am I the only one who has this problem?

Hang in there…I do have a point to this blog. Mother’s Day is soon approaching and, my guess is, this question will come up. So, I’m asking all the housewives and moms out there…what do YOU want for Mother’s Day? Are there any things/services/products that are on your wish list?

Please share and help me out with my own wish list!
(As well as – I may share on my Mother’s Day Gift Ideas blog on www.stylishstepmom.com too!)

Stay Stylish –

Mrs. Stylish Stepmom

RHOKo de Mayo

2012-05-01T10:43:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to join us tonight! Cinco de RHOKo on Uno de Mayo. Fun, prizes, food, drinks!

The Interview

2012-04-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things to do is to interview my children. It is unfortunate that I haven't remembered to do this annually like I intended. Bummer.

To solve this problem, I am putting this on my calendar as an annual event. This way I will never forget! I live by my calendar - don't you?When my boys grow up, I might make them a little book of memories. I'll put all of their cute little answers in it and some of their pictures, too.
Maybe they will love it, maybe they won't.But... they'd better love it.
For those of you who are still parenting, I thought I would pass the idea along. You might want to do this or some version of it with your own spawn.
If you have an idea to go with it or different questions to add, please let me know in the comments! The silly questions are my favorites. I would usually ask things like: "If you were an animal, what kind would you be?" or "When you grow up what kind of parent will you be?" Sure, they are deeper thinking questions, but for the older ones it creates another element of fun!
Here is this year's interview. I'm going to change up the questions a bit for next year. I was a tad lazy this year.

Jacob (my little interviewee)

The Interview - 2012
What is your name? JacobHow old are you? 8What is your mom’s name? JonniWhat does your mom do during the day? (long pause) Have fun by herself.What is your dad’s name? RandyWhat does your dad do during the day? WorkWhat is your favorite color? PurpleWhat is your favorite thing to eat? Chicken nuggets What don’t you like to eat? Meat (ironic isn't it?)Who are your friends? Preston, Parker, TrevorWhat is your favorite song? Gummy Bear (we even dance to it!) Can you sing it for me? Yes (and he didn't)What is your sister’s name? I don't have a sister!What is your favorite place to go? McDonald'sWhat is your favorite thing to do? Play legosWhat do you like about your Mom? She makes food for me. What do you like about your Dad? (long pause) He cooks for me too. What do you like about your brother - Uh... he's weird.What do you want to be when you grow up? An artistWhat is your favorite book? No! That's Wrong!What does (sister/brother) like to do? Play video games
And there you have it. I will file this away on my computer with the others and save it for someday when I need to remember all of the adorable things my kids said and did.
Your turn!

Mrs. Priss

Having fun by herself like...

A Photo Shoot for a RHOK Star

2012-04-26T08:15:00.000-05:00

I was asked to take part in a photo shoot a couple of weeks ago with Happy First owner Debbie Vinyard and Turn Tulsa Pink founder Judi Grove. Let me just say if you do not know these ladies, you totally need too, they RHOK! We modeled the Super Chick shirt that I named with all of your votes-thank you so much! Happy First is donating 30% of the profits of this shirt to Turn Tulsa Pink through May 31st. Turn Tulsa Pink raises awareness and honors women and children who have been affected by cancer of ANY type. The shirt is available in black and in a white burnout. Here are a few of the shots from our fun shoot.

Super Chicks in Woodward Park- note our great taste in shirts and black & white shoes- totally not planned!

Judi aka Talula and the "phone booth"! What? Every Super Chick must pose by a phone booth!
Note: phone booth pictures require permission

Debbie Vinyard and Mrs. Hart- Super Chicks "dig" roses, or at least we stopped and smelled them!

Mrs. Hart and her little chick.

Debbie looks beautiful in her red cape!

Just a swingin'! Judi, flying high in her pink cape!

Special thanks to Kathleen Curran Photography for all of these amazing shots!

Stay tuned to all of our Facebook pages for upcoming events, hope to see you at Chili's in Owasso on May 1st for Cinco DE RHOKo'! Giveaways! Free Food! And as always FUN with The RHOK!!!

♥Mrs. Hart♥

A MeMe: Stolen from the Stealers

2012-04-24T07:30:00.000-05:00

Hello RHOKers. It's me, Mrs. Robinson y'all. I have been MIA for a LONG while! I won't fill you in on everything, because a lady never tells, but let's just say I've been on some "adventures". Also, I've been traveling about through South America and obviously, wifi is splotchy at best. Mrs. Sinclair has been a dear to accept and edit this post via email. She is such a sweet lady!

Well, of course I am a blogger fond of the meme. I mean ~~when I'm seriously lazy~~, in a pinch, they are a great go to and are entertaining. In my quest for new meme ideas, I have stumbled upon a blog of stolen ideas. They confess to stealing up front, and give the author credit- as far back as they can trace in fact! So, this I have stolen from the stealers at Sunday Stealing. You can go each Sunday and play and link up over there! It's fun!

For instance, the stealers stole this TV Show meme we are going to play today from Just Paisley. Finding the exact source was hard they said, but they think the original source was on Tumblr somewhere.

Are you ready to play?? I will keep the meme blank right below, so it's easier to cut & paste for you all. You can paste and then answer in the comments, OR you can make a post yourself and then paste THE LINK to the post in the comments. (Really, it's a pain to make a linky thing. Trust me. And I can't remember the log in, so entertain me.) I will then put my personal answers below the blank one.

Ready? Read the directions first, okay?

The TV Show Meme

Before reading the questions: Pick 5 TV Shows you like. They can be past or present. Hint: pick shows that you are REALLY into. Hey! no peaking at the questions! List them:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1. Who is your favorite character in 2?

2. Who is your least favorite character in 1?

3. What’s your favorite episode of 4?

4. What is your favorite season of 5?

5. What’s your favorite relationship in 3?

6. Who is your anti-relationship in 2?

7. How long have you watched 1?

8. How did you become interested in 3?

9. Who is your favorite actor in 4?

10. Which show do you prefer 1, 2, or 5?

11. Which show have you seen more episodes of 1 or 3?

12. If you could be anyone from 4, who would you be?

13. How would you kill off any character in 5?

14. Would a 3/4 crossover work?

15. Pair two characters in 1 that would make an unlikely, but strangely okay couple.

16. Overall, which show has the better cast, 3 or 5?

MRS. ROBINSON'S ANSWERS

Before reading the questions: Pick 5 TV Shows you like. They can be past or present. Hint: pick shows that you are REALLY into. Hey! no peaking at the questions! List them:

1. The Mentalist

2. Swamp People

3. GCB

4. Friends

5. Modern Family
++++++++++++

1. Who is your favorite character in 2? Troy, of course

2. Who is your least favorite character in 1? That's too hard. Of all of them, Cho I guess.

3. What’s your favorite episode of 4? The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks
4. What is your favorite season of 5? All of them? Okay, this season I guess.
5. What’s your favorite relationship in 3? Cricket & Blake

6. Who is your anti-relationship in 2? Um, that doesn't exactly apply
7. How long have you watched 1? Since it started

8. How did you become interested in 3? I love Kristen Chenoweth, duh. She's from OKLAHOMA and she's totally an honorary RHOKer. She just doesn't know it yet.

9. Who is your favorite actor in 4? Jennifer Aniston

10. Which show do you prefer 1, 2, or 5? Like if they were all on at the same time? Hmmm, 5 I suppose.
11. Which show have you seen more episodes of 1 or 3? Well, that's easy, 1. It's been on longer!

12. If you could be anyone from 4, who would you be? Jennifer Aniston- that's why she's my favorite!
13. How would you kill off any character in 5? Cam might fall victim to a horrible circus accident.

14. Would a 3/4 crossover work? I think so- and be pretty hilarious!

15. Pair two characters in 1 that would make an unlikely, but strangely okay couple. Simon & Theresa

16. Overall, which show has the better cast, 3 or 5? It's a total tie there.

Happy Meme-ing & remember: “Hell hath no fury like a bunch of women you were mean to in high school.”

Mrs. Robinson

here solely to entertain you and charm with her wily ways

Whatcha Got in the Pot?!

2012-04-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Does you life feel like it's going in fast motion these days? Boy, mine sure does. With all the activities my girls are in I'm finding it hard to find time to prepare, let alone cook, dinner.

This is where today's post comes in. I've gathered some tried and true slower cooker meals along with some meals that are on my list to try.

Source: joelens.blogspot.com via Dawn's Diversions on Pinterest

Last week I found a great new website called Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. I tried her slow cooker Sticky Chicken recipe. I made it with chicken thighs and it was a huge hit with my family. Best part? It was SO easy. Oh, how I love easy.

Source: lynnskitchenadventures.com via Sharon on Pinterest

(Click on the picture to go to the recipe.)

This next recipe is also from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. Slow Cooked Orange Pork Roast is on my list to make in the next week. It sounds just yummy to me.

Source: lynnskitchenadventures.com via Jamie on Pinterest

Here's a Pioneer Woman recipe that I've made in the slow cooker and it turned out wonderful. It's called Spicy Dr. Pepper Shredded Pork. The only changes I made were because of our taste preferences. I used half of an onion instead of a whole onion and 3/4 of a can of chipotle pepper in adobe sauce instead of the whole can. Wu-wee are those little boogers spicy!

The last one I'm sharing today is from one of my all-time favorite place to go for recipes, Deep South Dish. Mary just has the BEST recipes. I'm definitely putting this on my must-make list... Crockpot Coca-Cola Peach Barbecue Pork Chops. Mmm, mmm, mmm...

Source: deepsouthdish.com via Erin on Pinterest

How do you juggle dinner time with busy schedules? Have any great recipes or tips you can share? If you do, you just might get it featured here on The RHOK if I try them out.

~Mrs. Albright
Throwing it all in the pot, like....

The Meeting

2012-04-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

The writers of the RHOK have started holding monthly meetings to connect and plan. I bet you didn't know that. This is what last month's meeting looked like in my super messy game room.

I know what you're thinking. You are wondering if we actually accomplish anything at these meetings.The answer is... kinda.
Our meetings are appropriately dubbed the "RHOK Talk" because we don't have a shortage of things to say.You are shocked. Right?
At our April meeting, we planned some RHOK Outs for this summer and fall. We really did.
At one point, I started taking notes when Mrs. Montgomery pointed out the absurdity of our conversations.Keep in mind as you read on - what I'm about to share is only the portion that is appropriate to share. The most hilarious snippet from Mrs. Hart was not bloggable.
There was some seriously funny stuff going down in the corner booth at Applebee's. The following are snippets from our meeting.

Mrs. Montgomery: "Are we going to have a Mom Prom?"
Mrs. Montgomery (talking GCB): "Grace. Forgiveness. Mercy. You gotta PROVE it by your actions. Thank you, Jesus."
Mrs. Albright: "Just a good bunkin' ain't gonna do it."
Mrs. Montgomery: "Are we going to have a Mom Prom?"
Mrs. Priss: "We're gonna get shirts for $5! Oh, we don't like Gildan?"
Mrs. Montgomery: "Are we going to have a Mom Prom?"
Mrs. Montgomery to Priss: "You're a good ride."
Mrs. Albright to Priss: "What was that wiener taster we saw at Gordmans?"
Mrs. Montgomery: "Are we going to have a Mom Prom?"
We all bellyached over the trauma of fat-fingering our Drawing With Friends pictures while Mrs. Sinclair passed out iPhone pens for each of the housewives. PENS!
Mrs. Albright whined about the fact that no one was commenting on her Facebook post.
Mrs. Hart showed up in a hot pink Journey 4 Jugs shirt. Discussion ensued.
Mrs. Albright began showing off screen shots of her extravagant pictures from Drawing With Friends. (Someone requires a lot of attention)
Mrs. Priss showed Mrs. Albright the bruise on her butt.
Mrs. Priss showed off a picture of Mrs. Albright in a horrid outfit with camel toe that she previously promised to delete. Priss and Albright find it hysterical that Priss - the picture taker - shows up in the picture and appears to be naked because her hair covers the strap of her shirt. I'd show you the picture, but then I'd have to kill you.
You will notice there are not a lot of quotes from Mrs. Sinclair and Mrs. Hart. It's hard to quote the silent eye rolls.
The seersucker debate conclusion - 4 out of 5 housewives agree that boys between the ages of 3 and 70 should not be wearing seersucker. Sorry, Mrs. Montgomery, you are just plain wrong. Seersucker has limitations.
And while we are discussing Mrs. Montgomery's wrong-ness, Fort Worth is so much better than Dallas. So much better.

Be looking for invitations and updates on Facebook. We want to see your face at our events this summer!

And did someone say MOM PROM?

Oh yes, she did.

It is going to be... (wait for it)... legend... ARY!

We are working on the details for this upcoming Fall.

It's gonna RHOK like no other!

Mrs. Priss

Hoping that bruise heals soon like...

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 7-11, Have You Planned Yet?

2012-04-16T08:15:00.000-05:00

I admit it...I started planning and putting together some Teacher Appreciation gifts in January. With Pinterest around these days why procrastinate. One of my favorite blogs for ideas is eighteen25- they always have links for the printables, I am NOT a graphic artist.

Teacher Appreciation week this year is May 7-11, with the BIG Teacher's Day being May 8th. Have you started planning for what you will do for those special people who help our children rise to success day in and day out. Albert Einsten said, "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." Wow, that is a good quote, I might just have to pull together some more creativity and put that on a gift at the end of the year.

Here are the items that the Hart children will be giving their teachers, the great thing about these is that they are simple, from the heart, cost efficient and I can do everything times two! (now hopefully this post WILL NOT be seen by those special teachers, fingers crossed)

Monday, May 7- Subway Art Clipboard

Tuesday, May 8- Drink Holder filled with the Teacher's favorite drink & snacks, I found the cutouts/gift tags at It's Written on the Wall-they also have some fabu ideas.

Wednesday, May 9- You Rule, Ruler! (found this idea on Pinterest, but the blog is private, so I just designed my own printable on Word)

Thursday, May 10- Ziploc's, you can find the printable for it here. Every classroom needs these!!!
It reads:
Roses are red,
Baggies are clear,
I'm so glad that you teach here!

Friday, May 11- Personalized Teacher Subway Art. Totally loving this project and cannot wait to give these to the two special people who encourage my children each day! They were so easy to personalize! Thank you Today's Fabulous Finds!

Have you started planning yet for Teachers Appreciation week? Hopefully, I have given you a few ideas and a few sites to visit for the teachers in your lives. Don't forget to include support personnel, administrators, and others that play a role in your child's education. Also don't forget the preschool teachers, did you know that many of them have degrees as well? And to all the teachers out there....
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

♥Mrs. Hart♥
Planning, Creating and "TEACHING" like

Rascal Flatts: #Changed!

2012-04-12T13:14:00.003-05:00

The RHOK and Mrs. Hart were so lucky as to be selected by One2One network to attend the one night event "Changed" with Rascal Flatts last Thursday. Mrs.Sinclair was suppose to go too, but had an impromptu knee emergency. So, Mrs. Hart is writing for both of us today about her experience! Rascal Flatts is a favorite of the RHOK gals and we are so happy to promote this for them! Mrs. Sinclair also wants you to know that @joedonrooney even follows her on the Twitter. Bonus, he tweets back!

Country music trio Rascal Flatts, with AEG Live and NCM Fathom, held a one-night only special theater event in New York City last Thursday evening, April 5 , titled "Changed." The event coincided with the release of the band's eighth studio album of the same name, which was released on the 3rd . The film was broadcast to over 600 theaters nationally. I had the opportunity through One2One Network to go to this theater review and take another fan- my husband!

We are huge Rascal Flatts fans. And after seeing these three men explain the change that has taken place within each of them and as a group, our fan status remains unchanged. I never imagined the level of emotion that Jay Demarcus, Gary Levox, and Oklahoma's own Joe Don Rooney would express to the theater audiences. Their love for music, each other and especially family is why "Changed" will probably be their 7th number one album.

'Changed' is the record label to Big Machine, also changed is what I describe as a invigoration of sound, more spice. These guys can sing! In the 45 minutes of music they played a mixture of classic Rascal Flatts to of course the new album. I can honestly say, we love the new album. There were times I wanted to get up and rock out like I was at their concert a few years back. The new titles, "Hot In Here","She's Leaving", "Come Wake Me Up", "Changed" and "Banjo" were played. Let me just tell you now, "Hot In Here" is SEXY and "She's Leaving" makes you totally want to ROCK OUT, while "Changed" gets you into a serious inspirational mood!

I tweeted some during the presentation, yeah- I can sing and tweet at the same time. It was fun reading other tweets about the event. I wasn't able to take many pictures.There wasn't anything to take pictures of, there was absolutely no promotional materials in the theater. So here are a few snapshots of our night that I will leave you with.

Me- All dolled up for a DATE!!!

The ONLY marketing material

Looks like I was at a concert doesn't it?

Did you know that you can win a FLY AWAY TRIP &; TICKETS to see Rascal Flatts? All you have to do is enter on that link~!

Mrs. Hart (& Mrs. Sinclair in spirit)

Mrs. Hart was provided 2 tickets at no cost, at a value of $15, to attend this event and report her opinion.

Calling all Queens of the Diamond

2012-04-11T07:30:00.001-05:00

I am a Baseball Momma. I have two boys playing competitive ball. With that comes crazy practice schedules, hectic dinner menus, mitt hunting, gatorade toting, iphone photog, blinged out t's, wild cheerleader from the bleachers & white pants washer.

Here are a few of my favorite things for Baseball Season 2012....

How many of us Oklahoma Baseball Moms deal with this after a game...

Some games I just want to cry after that first slide.

One of my baseball mom friends recommended this product for white pant stains. I'm so excited to try it!
It is only 99 cents at your local grocer.

I currently use Zout.

It works well, however there a few red dirt/grass stains that remain.
Some other baseball moms have recommended "Iron Out".

It is toxic & you have to soak pants in it with hot water overnight then wash as normal.

Last tip on white pants....

Car Wash. Yep. Pin the pants where the rubber car mats would be washed & spray away. It really works.

Every Baseball Momma knows how hot it can get out on the field & in the bleachers. To keep my boys cool I want to try ammonia water this season. Here is the 411:

Ammonia Water has been a traditional "refresher" used by softball, baseball & football coaches during hot weather games.

Ingredients for ammonia water and use:

2oz. bottle of "Spirits of Ammonia"
Actually it's Aromatic Ammonia Spirit U.S.P.
3 bottles make 4 gallons
1 gal. plastic bucket (some use a playmate type cooler).
About 4-7 washcloths.

Fill bucket 1/2 full of ice, pour 3/4 bottle of "spirits of ammonia" into bucket for each gallon, fill the rest of bucket with water and mix. Place washcloths into bucket and stir around a couple of times. When player comes off field and into dugout area, pick up washcloth, wring out excess and wipe down arms, face (DON'T suck on washcloth), neck (front and back), shoulders, chest, etc. It really is effective while held on back of neck, especially "catchers" and "pitchers". And please don't inhale to a great degree, only mildly. Do this between innings. Next day, team will be asking for it.

If players are young, coaches should help them. Please don't let them DRINK it!
This is an "instant" relief and feels similar to just getting out of a shower. Teams have been using this mixture for 20 yrs. and it has eased some very hot daytime tournaments. It is also excellent for people working outside such as yard work, etc. Be sure not to use household ammonia. A team reported it started to burn their skin. Ammonia can be poisonous if used improperly.

There are a lot of moms using those "chilly towels". Do they work? What brand do you buy?

What about your bling? What is your favorite tshirt to wear to the games?

I have a few I wear. Including a few hats, tanks, water bottles, blankies...LOL!
I believe there a few other baseball mommas out there so be sure to Holla' & share your favorite tips, ideas, t-shirts, whatever makes your season easier & fun!
xoxo~
Mrs. Montgomery
Wearing my Baseball Crown like...

Mrs. Montgomery was not paid nor given any of these products to demo in lieu of this post. If anyone would like to send Mrs. Montgomery baseball related products to review please email her as she would be happy to try a few.

You Might Be a Dr. Oz Junkie, if...

2012-04-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

So, I think I may be a bit obsessed with Dr. Oz and his "suggestions" on his television show. I'm sure half of my Facebook friends believe this is the case, while the others are just as interested or obsessed as I am. This picture is of my recent purchase.

I do DVR every episode; however, I do not watch every single one. I only watch the ones that are of interest to me. And, I not only watch them, I take notes on my phone. I want to know what to buy when I go to Akin's the next time. Here are a few of the notes I've made.

Speaking of Akin's, one of my childhood classmates is the manager there. She runs a great store where the staff are friendly and helpful. If you see LeAnne, be sure to tell her hello! They even keep the most requested items on a shelf labeled, Dr. Oz. Oh my, this is helpful because when I go into health food stores I'm like a lost puppy. It might as well all be in a foreign language. I think this is why I love Dr. Oz so much. I know if he has recommended it, it must be something he believes in. (You might call ahead to see if they have what you are looking for in stock. If they don't, they have a 3-ring-binder labeled "Dr. Oz:" they will put your name and number in and call you when it comes in.) I just so happen to have my name in that binder a few times. 7 Keto is one that I'm wanting and am having to wait on. That's okay. I need to save my money for my next trip. This stuff adds up! *laugh*

Did you know that some people are ultra-sensitive when it comes to Dr. Oz? I had a "friend" (a blogger whom I'd never met in real life) drop me because of a Dr. Oz status I made. She made some sort of snake reference to Dr. Oz and then dropped me. CRACK.ME.UP! She did me a favor. I keep threatening that I'm going to do some Facebook housecleaning. Every now and then I get lucky and people clean themselves right on out! Good riddance! And, just like some of my friends are anti-Ozzies, there are some that love him as much, or more, than I do. I want my long-time friend Traci and I to go see him together. Oh, WHAT FUN!

I do still have a couple of nagging questions in the back of my mind.

I would like to hear from people that have been on his show that take a particular supplement for whatever it was they were needing help with. Did it work? I think he should have a show with past guests to see how they are doing.
How much is too much? I mean, there is NO way you can take or do everything he suggests. I don't want to overdo the supplements.

What are you thoughts? Are you an Dr. Oz fan? Have you purchased any of his recommendations? Come on, share your thoughts!

~Mrs. Albright
Popping pills for belly fat, premature aging, blood pressure, skin care, and weight-loss, like...

RHOK'n the Correspondence

2012-04-05T07:55:00.000-05:00

You've probably seen the someecards all over Facebook or Pinterest.
They're pretty darn funny!
See?

Peeps. Not just a breakfast treat.

There's a few...

I think that second one might have been written for me.
I got on their website today to see if they had a card for people sharing their political opinions on Facebook. If there was one, I didn't see it.
What I did see for the first time was that I could create my own card.
AHA!
I should have seen this before. Did you know? Have you been holding out on me?

I do not have the hilarious wit of the authors of the actual cards, but I did have a little fun with it.

I didn't know how much I would appreciate Doc's love of math until this year...

Sadly, this is what many families do to avoid the judgement and staring.

I'm always shocked when girls show off their tatas then pretend men will notice anything else about them.

Have you seen our RHOK'n karaoke videos?

If you can't sing, you should at least look hot.

Please stop posting about who you hate and why.
It's stupid and creates barriers between you and your "friends."
Besides, your political opinions mean nothing to me.

Ironic, eh?

Once upon a time, in a house of only us girls, I lived this fairy tale.

And since there weren't any serious ones about Easter, I wanted to be sure to tell you this.
Know what I love about this Easter? We aren't so caught up in Easter clothes and the Easter Bunny. Oh sure, the bunny is coming to our house -- but over the years these things have become less important for our family.
My boys have had a lot of questions for me about the real reason for Easter this year. I love it!

Have you made any cards?
If you do, post them on our Facebook wall so we can see them!
I would LOVE to see what you create.

~ Mrs. Priss

Addicted to ecards like...

They'll Come Back. They Always Do...

2012-04-04T08:15:00.019-05:00

After 28 years of raising three children, my husband and I are fast approaching the phase of life we never anticipated would arrive so quickly—The Empty Nest. Growing teary-eyed as I address high school graduation announcements (despite wise words from friends who have already passed into the world with no children in the house: “There’s no sense getting all worked up about it. You won’t have to miss them for long. They’ll come back. They always do.”), I remind myself that we have been through this before. Our oldest child has been gone for more than a decade, but with her younger brothers leaving home back-to-back, this time will be different.

What will I do with my time when we no longer have kids around to coddle, chauffeur, pick up after, discipline, advise and cater to? The sky’s the limit, making narrowing it down a bit difficult, but after consideration, I came up with a preliminary list.

Repair the washer—whose little mind will be blown without having 16 plus loads of clothes to wash each week.
Find storage for all the towels and dishes I didn’t know we owned because they have never been clean and put away all at the same time.
Buy new furniture after fulfilling the promise I have been taunting the kids with for years: “Go ahead, carve your name in the table. Jump up and down on the couch—wrestle with the wet dog on it. Go right ahead, because they’re yours. When you leave, they go with you. Those are yours and the set upstairs belongs to your brother.”
Get organized: self-explanatory in effort involved and reality of completion.
Move to my exterior office while my husband guts and remodels the house, an empty nest promise he made to himself. And given the speed at which he usually moves with this type endeavor, I will have more than enough time to:
Scrapbook 28 years worth of pictures, for which I have spent years hoarding paraphernalia and supplies, and
Finish writing the three novels I have been working on for years before my antsy readers threatened uprising becomes reality.
Travel: find a nice qualified sitter for our house and all the animals residing on our Island of Left-Behind Pets and hit the road/air/high seas, joining the ranks of other lightweight-luggage-toting empty nesters in sensible shoes and jersey-based, reversible mix-and-match clothing as we see the world.
Girlfriends Night/Weekends Out/Road trips: finally make good on all the adventures my friends and I have been plotting, ignoring that some are a wee bit far-fetched and initially proposed over drinks…
Stimulate my mind and/or body: finally learn how to use all the bells and whistles on my SLR camera, or take computer/fitness classes/college courses.

After getting started, I discovered that the list could go on and on. Empty Nest might be as bad as I first imagined. If my fledgling list is any indication, it certainly won’t be boring.

I begin sealing announcement envelopes, a more at-ease smile spreading over my face as I realize that we will survive without the kids. Sure, we will miss them and worry about them because we will always be parents, but we will move on, journeying down a new path, proud that our love and guidance has helped mold our children into fine individuals and led them to find paths of their own.

Besides, there’s no sense getting all worked up about it. They’ll come back. They always do…

Mrs. Vicki Allen

who will find a way to party up the empty nest like

Mother of three fabulous children, guest blogger Vicki Allen is a pharmacist, novelist, mask maker and certified Zumba Fitness instructor. Graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Allen met her husband of 22 years on a blind date and lived with him in marital bliss in his hometown of Oklahoma City until purchasing Sentry Drug and relocating to Central Louisiana in 2002. In addition to their children, the Allen's have 2 cats, a Dalmatian, a shepherd-mix, a Labrador Retriever and a chihuahua mix who adopted them. Vicki's son will be attending Oklahoma State University in August 2012.

www.magnoliapublishing.com
www.magnoliamasks.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Vicki-Allen/80388361974

(Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Hart recently reconnected through Facebook. They met while working at the same grocery store in Edmond, OK- Mrs. Allen as a pharmacist, Mrs. Hart as a very pregnant bank manager. Their friendship is one that Mrs. Hart has valued for many years. Mrs. Hart HIGHLY recommends Mrs. Allen's novels to all of her readers.)