tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178103442011-04-21T16:25:56.623-07:00cooking, baking, crafting, complaininga n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.comBlogger1281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-29649978897269278992008-07-09T06:07:00.000-07:002008-07-09T11:07:56.946-07:00

I have a new home: Annetisocial

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-53237722720577443342008-06-23T10:42:00.001-07:002008-06-23T10:48:18.424-07:00

If anyone was wondering why my blog is named "Butty Glirl" it's because it was a nickname for my daughter, when she was little she used to pronounce "butt" as "Butty" and girl a "glirl" and we used to tell her to shake her "butty!" Alas I am going to move this blog and name it something else, I got statcounter and it showed that a significant number of people come to this blog after doing a

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-73261964959127753072008-06-12T22:25:00.000-07:002008-06-17T09:15:00.980-07:00

Some people love Target - I love Costco! I always find things that I wouldn't find at regular supermarkets. Maybe it's the samples! They sucker me into buying stuff. We went to Costco yesterday with the intention of only buying toilet paper, eggs, milk and bread but instead came out $387 lighter. Some of the extras that caught my fancy:Sip-Ahh straws - straws that have flavor beads inside the

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-57880623820003256142008-06-12T06:43:00.000-07:002008-06-12T07:03:05.704-07:00

Charles Chocolates offers a "PMS" chocolate subscription starting out at $75 for 3 months up to $300 for the entire year. I will readily admit that once a month I tear through the cupboards, visit bakeries, order cookies online and even go on a baking rampage to satisfy whatever craving I have at the moment. The chocolate subscription works out to be $25 a month (which is what I usually spend

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-28706409081226346372008-06-09T19:03:00.000-07:002008-06-10T10:44:39.752-07:00

My weekend was full of food. On Saturday we went to Sunset Magazine's Celebration Weekend in Menlo Park (thanks for the tickets Joyce!). We met Joyce and her family there and first on the agenda was to watch Chef Alicia Jenish from Out the Door demonstrate how to make Spring Rolls. (Too bad they didn't pass out samples). It looked really easy to make and I am now inspired to make my own

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-88158547697753263462008-06-05T07:35:00.000-07:002008-06-05T12:28:22.225-07:00

I was bored and craved carrot cake after I read a Yelp! review of a farmer's market vendor that sells carrot cakes. The picture alone made me drool. (I'm going to get some this weekend!) So I made Barefoot Contessa's Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting - it was something that I had most of the ingredients on hand already. It's nice to get back into the baking swing of things. Cupcakes

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-34443502947113310822008-05-30T07:15:00.000-07:002008-05-30T07:34:32.576-07:00

I made Barefoot Contessa's Scallops Provencal from her Barefoot in Paris cookbook and it was a hit. I made it with a side of Herbed Basmati Rice and I think I'll never make plain ol' jasmine rice again! The only alteration I made was for the rice, I used flat leaf parsley instead of curly leaf - I had to get flatleaf for the scallops so I didn't want to buy both kinds. I highly recommend these

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-49699520940969234652008-05-29T08:40:00.000-07:002008-05-30T08:52:51.956-07:00

We were planning to go to Hawaii the first week of August for our family vacation but airfare for a family of 5 is on the expensive side these days, especially since the cheapest airfare I can find is around $600-800 (multiply by 5!!!) Instead of Hawaii, we 're going to blow our stimulus check on a family vacation to Disneyland. We booked our trip through Southwest Vacations and opted to stay

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-46898838874610538092008-05-22T08:17:00.000-07:002008-05-22T08:21:29.678-07:00

I'm an Auntie! Congratulations to my sister and her husband - they had a baby boy on Sunday 5/18/2008 - Brayden Edward. Brayden tipped the scales at a mere 8 lbs. 4 oz. He's adorable if I do say so myself.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-16155311009094383812008-05-07T09:04:00.000-07:002008-05-07T09:14:10.544-07:00

Wow it's been over 1 1/2 years since I posted here - I realized that reading blogs are so much more fun. No earth shaking updates, the 3 kids are bigger and badder than ever as you can see below. I'll start to post more regularly.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-90846149128324282862006-12-07T20:06:00.000-08:002006-12-06T12:08:49.603-08:00

Or is it the Last Emporer? In any case, we balded him. His hair was growing too long for my taste, it was going over his ears so I called him "Hobbit."

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-33421980499745310272006-12-06T07:37:00.000-08:002006-12-06T11:43:15.377-08:00

Beware of the phrase, "My stomach feels funny..."As it will for sure be followed by, "BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECHHHHHHHHHH.... (pause).... BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCCCCCCCCCCCCH....""My stomach doesn't feel funny anymore."

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-59008888560851999672006-12-05T18:54:00.000-08:002006-12-05T15:00:23.771-08:00

I love my TiVo - life has been so busy lately I haven't had time to sit down and watch my shows... on top of that, I have to compete with the Wiggles and Hannah Montana to watch my shows.Now I can watch most of my favorite shows online at abc.com, cbs.com, or nbc.com. Heroes, CSI, Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty (just because it's online too) all from the comfort of my office chair... ER and The

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1165344083798057182006-12-04T22:35:00.000-08:002006-12-05T10:41:23.816-08:00

My #1 nightmare is of my teeth falling out. First it starts out with just one tooth wiggly... then it gets really loose and falls out. Next thing you know, all my teeth start wiggling around and falling out. Because of this, I have a fear of cavities and have passed that on to my kids.Remember those red tablets that stain your teeth to show you where you missed brushing your teeth? I always

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1163436975129282302006-11-13T08:54:00.000-08:002006-11-13T08:56:15.150-08:00

Finally! Teeth at 14 months!

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1161106246752013642006-10-16T10:16:00.000-07:002006-10-17T10:30:47.176-07:00

I'm back again - I spent the weekend in Virginia with my family to celebrate my little sister's 18th birthday. My husband couldn't take time off from work so I braved a cross country flight with two of my kids (the baby and my 6 year old daughter). My eldest son stayed behind to keep his father company. Flying with the two kids wasn't a big deal - they're both well traveled and they were very

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1158608203669288792006-09-17T12:30:00.000-07:002006-09-18T12:49:59.500-07:00

I have no idea where I've been. Q's face is how I've been feeling the past 2 months. Family and work have been keeping me busy as you can see...But I interrupt the lazy blogging break to announce this:Q turned 1 year old last week and he is still toothless. (And in case you were wondering, he doesn't walk yet either.)We celebrated Q's birthday at San Jose's Happy Hollow Park and Zoo - great place

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1154553238268890182006-08-02T07:06:00.000-07:002006-08-02T14:14:27.813-07:00

Last night I made Giada's Chicken Marsala with Mustard Mascarpone Sauce for dinner and it was mmm mmm good. Did I mention that the recipe can be found in my special autographed cookbook?So far I have had good results with the recipes from Giada's cookbook. She really has the "Everyday Italian" concept down pat. The recipes are simple and easy - it took me about 35-40 minutes (maybe even less) to

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1154110454586330262006-07-28T11:06:00.000-07:002006-07-28T11:14:14.620-07:00

I am on vacation this week and I ventured out to Emeryville's Bay Street to have lunch with my three kiddies at California Pizza Kitchen after I ran an errand in Berkeley. (Yes, I went out to a restaurant with three kids by myself. No spills or thrown food either.)While at Bay Street, we stopped by Teacake Bake Shop and I was overwhelmed with all the sweets they had to offer. While their

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1153837703487146252006-07-25T07:16:00.000-07:002006-07-25T07:28:23.543-07:00

It's hot. Triple degree weather. It usually doesn't get that hot in the bay area either. We tried to take the kids swimming over the weekend but the line to get into the rec center wrapped around the building because the pool was full! Then I had the bright idea of just getting a kiddie pool for the backyard so we ran over to Toys R Us and we weren't the only ones who thought of that because

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1152650686648580332006-07-10T23:13:00.000-07:002006-07-11T13:44:46.733-07:00

Back from our "mini-vacation" to Southern California. Our friends got married on Saturday then we took the kids to Disneyland / California Adventure on Sunday and Monday.The wedding was fun - one of the best weddings I've been to. They got married at Bel Air Presbyterian church which was a really nice church, and the reception was at the Skirball Cultural Center. I scarfed down the hor d'ouerves,

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1152207637219083082006-07-06T10:35:00.000-07:002006-07-06T10:40:37.233-07:00

"... hi and goodbye..." -- Sleepless in SeattleNow that I'm back, I'm going again. We're packing up the family tomorrow for our road trip to L.A. to attend a wedding. Hmmm... 5 hours in a car with 3 kids, we are planning for 2 stops, but I predict 5.We're also going to go to Disneyland, we figure we might as well knock that out while we're down there -- pacify the kids for another 2 years.Happy

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1152023253172291562006-07-04T07:24:00.000-07:002006-07-04T07:27:33.186-07:00

I have no idea where I've been... or what kept me away, but I'm back!Anyway, some good news inspired me to post. Joyce had a baby girl on Saturday 7/1/2006 - Mommy and Baby Ava are doing great. I haven't seen them yet (thought I'd wait a bit since most of us know how it's like to be barraged with visitors after you have a baby), but pop over her site and send her a note of congrats. I have a

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1148484992783952172006-05-24T07:37:00.000-07:002006-05-24T08:39:50.736-07:00

I love Milano cookies - and love them even more now that they have Amaretto Milanos and Black & White Milanos! I love the taste of almond - Amaretto Sours are my favorite drink... which by the way Joyce - we need to make these for your sugar party!

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1148442342795793762006-05-23T20:38:00.000-07:002006-05-23T20:47:04.366-07:00

Out of the mouths of babes. Make that, a spunky, impish, sassy, know-it-all 5 year old babe. The conversation on the way home from school is below, and I really wish you guys all knew her because if you did, you would know her tone and it would make this even funnier:"Oh Mommy, today I moved to the purple table so I can do my work better and won't talk to my friends.""What? Why? Who moved you?

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1148062216194545382006-05-19T07:02:00.000-07:002006-05-19T11:10:16.226-07:00

I was only trying to take a picture of him sleeping with his head on his hands!(I know that babies should sleep on their backs but now that he can roll over back and forth they say it's ok. Plus, when I flip him on his back, he'll flip back to his stomach again anyway.)

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1147969816436556662006-05-18T07:27:00.000-07:002006-05-18T09:31:06.850-07:00

I'm so food oriented - I love everything and anything that has to do with food. Grocery shopping, cooking, eating, dining out, cookbooks, the Wednesday food section in the newspaper... everything. I love going to the Farmer's Market every Saturday - the one they hold near us is pretty small but still a good way to get fresh and ripe fruits and vegetables.The Pacific Coast Farmer's Market

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1147969349063482632006-05-15T07:12:00.000-07:002006-05-18T09:22:29.106-07:00

For Mother's Day we all went to Roys for brunch. They always give the mothers a gift at the end of the meal, this year they gave out plantable cards: lavender, chili pepper and forget-me-nots. The paper actually has seeds in it - after soaking the paper in water and planting it, hopefully something will sprout and grow.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1147968092789658102006-05-14T08:58:00.000-07:002006-05-18T09:02:05.930-07:00

My sister sends me flowers every year for Mother's Day. It's funny that she always sends me something every year but I always forget so I never expect them and am always pleasantly surprised when they are delivered.She knows me so well. She sent me tulips because she knows I don't like the smell of most flowers (roses, tiger lilies, etc.), plus tulips are my favorite flowers.We lost our mother to

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1147276152600391202006-05-10T08:46:00.000-07:002006-05-10T08:49:37.026-07:00

If you knew my daughter, you would know which of the 3 above options was the cause. Need a hint? She doesn't need ADD medication and she can finish a week's worth of homework in one day if she wanted to... so that leaves... YES... TALKING TOO MUCH!!!This is Kindergarten we're talking about! My daughter is what most would call "feisty" or "spunky."I had to laugh at this letter (but not in front of

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1146626874053401942006-05-02T20:07:00.000-07:002006-05-03T16:09:33.993-07:00

I stood in line for 2 1/2 hours at Sur La Table in Santana Row to have THE Giada De Laurentiis sign my copy of her new cookbook Giada's Family Dinners (I even picked one up for Joyce!) and it was well worth it.There were a TON of people waiting for her. The line for the book signing wrapped all the way around the building. She started off with a short Q & A across the way in front of Left Bank

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1146179341137268282006-04-27T16:06:00.000-07:002006-04-27T16:10:14.466-07:00

After I gave my husband a quick 2 minute lecture on bringing his lunch to work to save money, he wandered to the computer and saw the screen below. Oops!"Oh, I can't buy a $2 burger but you can buy shoes?"YOU KNOW IT.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1145979021451654592006-04-25T07:30:00.000-07:002006-04-25T08:31:55.966-07:00

I was bored this weekend. I still have to tackle April's Cake which I'll try to get to this weekend.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1145646240199279532006-04-21T07:04:00.000-07:002006-04-21T12:04:44.746-07:00

Never put syrup and soy sauce next to each other when you're about to eat pancakes.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1145656425921343152006-04-20T18:53:00.000-07:002006-04-21T14:55:21.836-07:00

I love mushrooms.I sauteed mushrooms and shallots along with my handy garlic paste in some olive oil and just ate it with fettucine and parmesan cheese. Yum!

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1145481949365112302006-04-19T18:03:00.000-07:002006-04-19T14:25:49.420-07:00

The kids are on spring break this week so to amuse them we had a pizza party. I used Wolfgang Puck's pizza dough recipe because I've always wanted to try making my own pizza dough.My little sous chef helped knead the dough as you can see:Here's the dough after kneading, before rising:Here's the dough after 30 minutes of rising:Me and the kids like our pizza plain - either cheese or mushrooms, no

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1145425402753401162006-04-18T22:22:00.000-07:002006-04-18T22:43:22.773-07:00

I went grocery shopping and one of the items I wanted to get was tomato paste in a tube (like the kind Giada De Laurentiis uses). The grocery store didn't have the tomato paste but they did have garlic paste in a tube! I bought it and instantly loved it. I like the taste of garlic but I hate handling it because my fingers will smell like garlic for two days straight. With the paste, I don't have

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1144798341658050132006-04-11T19:32:00.000-07:002006-04-11T16:54:07.066-07:00

I got a gifty box from JustJenn last month for my birthday - it arrived while I was out on business travel so my trusty housemates (aka the husband and kids) opened it and described the goodies to me on the phone. Then they presumably set everything aside for my return home.When I got home from my business trip, I found a half eaten bag of pistachios (the hubby loved them, as did I) and a box of

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1144799596948386912006-04-10T20:53:00.000-07:002006-04-11T16:53:50.366-07:00

I love Costco. I love any store where you can buy electronics, office supplies, groceries, clothes, toiletries, toys, etc. all in the same store!I just about squealed when I saw this Smashbox cosmetics pack selling for $19.99 at Costco. I snatched one up. When I go back, I may snatch up more for my sisters.What does it come with?LipstickSingle Eye ShadowEye Shadow DuoBlushLip Pencil6 mini

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1144686631549226362006-04-10T09:12:00.000-07:002006-04-10T09:30:43.963-07:00

I'm not a health food nut but I don't buy a lot of junk food like chips and cookies - (my kids are probably deprived). I don't consciously tell myself, "NO CHIPS!" - it's just something I never think about. Once in awhile I'll splurge and buy a box of cookies, but usually I'll just make cookies or cupcakes. Not only that, my daughter's Kindergarten teacher doesn't allow junk food (sweets) in

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1144686647910672792006-04-10T07:12:00.000-07:002006-04-10T09:30:48.043-07:00

I'm not a health food nut but I don't buy a lot of junk food like chips and cookies - (my kids are probably deprived). I don't consciously tell myself, "NO CHIPS!" - it's just something I never think about. Once in awhile I'll splurge and buy a box of cookies, but usually I'll just make cookies or cupcakes. Not only that, my daughter's Kindergarten teacher doesn't allow junk food (sweets) in

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1144446767909403392006-04-07T02:16:00.000-07:002006-04-07T14:53:04.916-07:00

Sally tagged me for this meme. I have been too busy at work to do anything interesting in my personal life so now I have something to blog about!1. Five minutes to yourself: how would you spend them, ideally?I would take a mental break and space out (not think of anything) to clear my head.2. Five bucks to spend right now: how would you spend it?Toffee Nut Latte at Starbucks and a Madeleine.3.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1144123771637934892006-04-03T21:05:00.000-07:002006-04-03T21:13:43.986-07:00

NOT.A line has been crossed. I am officially the parent of a troublemaker.I'd like to point out that in my whole academic career my behavior has NEVER warranted a letter home to my parents. I'd also like to point out that this is KINDERGARTEN we're talking about. If she's acting up in Kindergarten, boy, am I in trouble. I'm saving this bad boy for her scrapbook.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1144015706693825172006-04-02T15:08:00.000-07:002006-04-02T15:28:48.286-07:00

I finally got around to making the March installment of Martha's Year of Cakes which was a Cardamom Streusel Coffee Cake.Compared to January's cake, this cake was super easy and quick to make although I was wondering about the streusel. The recipe has you make a TON of streusel. Some of the streusel goes in the middle of the cake, and the rest on top, but the streusel used more flour than the

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1143831643594379942006-03-31T07:18:00.000-08:002006-03-31T11:01:00.316-08:00

Here is the bridesmaid dress I had made. The one on the left is mine, the one on the right is the picture I gave to the seamstress. I'm not as skinny as the model I know.If you're my Flickr friend, you probably already saw the pics from the wedding. I didn't have a good picture of just the dress so like a loser, I put the dress on and took a picture of myself for my blog.At the wedding I wore an

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1143322305139736442006-03-25T13:31:00.000-08:002006-03-25T13:32:23.343-08:00

I love going to the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings. Today I bought a flat of ripe red strawberries so now I have to figure out what to do with all of them.One thing I did was make a strawberry and nutella sandwich. I usually like to make it with bananas, but this was even better!

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1142918359413307872006-03-20T21:14:00.000-08:002006-03-20T21:20:25.293-08:00

I'm in Houston right now on business until Wednesday then to Memphis the rest of the week. I am a mess right now because I have to spend 5 days away from baby Q (I'll miss the bigger kids and the hubby too...). I was hoping Brokeback Mountain would be on Pay Per View in my hotel room (it was in Hawaii), but alas, it appears Houston, Texas prefers to keep their cowboys straight around these parts.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1142794855159356462006-03-19T11:00:00.000-08:002006-03-19T11:08:39.256-08:00

A picture of the handsome guy who has been my dinner date for the past 11 years. We had dinner at Roys last night to celebrate my birthday and our anniversary... and I killed that chocolate souffle. Happy 10th Anniversary to my hubby (who doesn't read this blog because there is nothing sports or video game related on it)!

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1142569535172645212006-03-17T19:51:00.000-08:002006-03-16T22:32:31.636-08:00

I'm done complaining. On to the details.We stayed at the Hale Koa hotel for the first 3 nights but had to check out once my Dad checked out because he was our sponsor (military hotel). I initially booked a room at the Ohana East at $159 for the remainder of our trip but thanks to BetterBidding.com I was able to book the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa for $155 a night at Priceline! Can't

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1142492177583525322006-03-16T22:30:00.000-08:002006-03-15T23:18:38.576-08:00

**Long post**I'm SuperMom. I went to Hawaii with the whole family. That's 1 husband + 3 kids (ages 9, 5 and 6 months). We got on a plane and we rode that plane for 5 hours with nary a whimper. Felt pretty damn good about myself.Until Monday - aka "Golf Day"I thought I could handle it, after all, I did it before (albeit in the comfort of my own home.. that thought escaped me at the time). So I

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1142473014852058422006-03-15T16:40:00.000-08:002006-03-15T17:36:57.870-08:00

I'm back from my (mis)adventures in Hawaii. I say misadventures because... well... maybe I'll post across a span of a few days on my Hawaii trip, otherwise this will turn into a novel.The main thing I did in Hawaii? EAT LIKE A FREAKING PIG. I was too busy eating to take pictures of all the goodies I gorged on.Malasadas from Leonards. I got one of each flavor (filled with custard, chocolate,

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1142307666264141082006-03-13T19:35:00.000-08:002006-03-13T19:41:06.276-08:00

I'm in Hawaii right now! I'll be back tomorrow night with pictures of all the fat laden calories I have been ingesting. (Malasadas, Beard Papa's cream puffs, scampi from the shrimp truck... And that was just today!)

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1141695118022903442006-03-06T17:31:00.000-08:002006-03-06T17:32:24.216-08:00

I ordered the above pictured cake for my son's baptism from a local bakery. It was a white cake with rum custard filling and whipped cream frosting.I asked for a plain cake because I didn't want flowers or balloons plus I wasn't too impressed with the cake decorating skills at this bakery.To make up for the lack of decor, I bought some roses and decorated the cake myself. Roses are edible so I

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1141451667326733902006-03-03T09:38:00.000-08:002006-03-03T21:54:27.343-08:00

I haven't forgotten about my pledge to take on Martha's Year of Cakes. February was a crazy month so February's cake will have to share the spotlight with March's cake. I have a good excuse for slacking... we're leaving for Hawaii next Thursday for my sister's wedding and couple that with helping with the wedding plans, busy days at work, battling the stomach flu, plus two out of three sick

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1141431402733854872006-03-02T20:16:00.000-08:002006-03-03T21:54:54.640-08:00

"Would you like to buy some delicious pizza, pie, cookie dough or cheesecake?"Fundraising has taken over our freezer and fridge. Look at all the cookie dough, eclairs, pizzas, pies and cheesecakes I have to store in my fridge until I can pass these delectable yet extremely small goodies out to all the suckers, I mean supportive and generous family and friends that bought them. I am never going to

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1140886399824237552006-02-25T08:38:00.000-08:002006-02-25T08:53:19.843-08:00

My daughter's flower girl dress is done. This is the original design I gave to the seamstress to copy: This is the dress the seamstress made for my daughter (excuse the background mess):Her dress was made from dupioni silk. My dress is not done yet, I go in for my fitting next week. I know we're kind of pushing it, but she's really fast -- she made both our dresses in two days! My dress is

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1140810341296307112006-02-24T07:45:00.000-08:002006-02-24T11:48:10.456-08:00

So I made these "Utterly Peanut Buttery Bars" from a recipe I found on the back of a box of C & H light brown sugar. They have a peanut butter shortbread type crust, gooey peanut butter middle and crumbled topping (crust). They're good, a bit too sweet for my taste, I would've preferred them saltier. My kids and husband loved them.Here is the recipe:Crust:1/2 cup soft butter (1 stick)1/2 cup

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1140500233748339052006-02-20T21:37:00.000-08:002006-02-20T21:49:56.553-08:00

I really don't use boxed cake mixes, but my sister introduced me to Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake Mix... and it's GOOD. If you look up close, you can actually see the black specks of vanilla bean. They also make a Meyer Lemon cake mix which I bought but haven't tried yet, but if you're ever feeling lazy and just want a quick cake fix, this is the perfect cake mix. I used the leftover buttercream from

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1140201831328510172006-02-17T10:42:00.000-08:002006-02-17T10:43:51.343-08:00

My desktop picture cracks me up. It's as if he is peeking from inside the monitor.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1140194773747472732006-02-17T08:33:00.000-08:002006-02-17T08:46:13.763-08:00

I got my gifty loot from Shiz a couple days ago! She sent me Toblerone (which I LOVE), chocolate covered blueberries from Trader Joes, Ferraro Rocher chocolates, Lindt Extra Creamy milk chocolate, and green chenille yarn. It's taking all the energy I can muster to not eat all of the chocolate. I ate half the Lindt bar which was extra creamy. I love milk chocolate but I don't like dark or

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139964343338924082006-02-14T16:38:00.000-08:002006-02-14T16:51:39.940-08:00

I don't celebrate "Hallmark holidays." I don't get excited about Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. I don't want to go to some overcrowded restaurant and wait 2 hours for a table. I don't want overpriced flowers that are just going to die in a few days - then I'll have to wash the vase and everything... blech. I always tell my husband, "Just treat me right the other 364 days of the year and you can

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139862038111203952006-02-13T12:20:00.000-08:002006-02-13T13:12:14.886-08:00

My husband's coworker's wife gave me her recipe for Apricot Bars and I finally got a chance to make them yesterday. It's made with a shortbread crust and a chewy dried apricot and nut filling. Here's the recipe - enjoy!Crust:1/2 cup softened butter1/4 cup sugar1 cup flourCombine and pack into a 6 x 9 pan, bake for 25 minutes at 350.Filling:2/3 cup dried apricots, chopped2 eggs1 cup brown sugar1

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139762084264860032006-02-12T08:04:00.000-08:002006-02-12T08:34:44.306-08:00

I tried on my bridesmaid dress yesterday - it was custom made by a seamstress who took my measurements 2 weeks ago. I was looking at the dress on a hanger thinking, "Damn, am I that big?" I was so relieved that when I tried it on, the dress was waaaaaay too big. I thought she made the dress big on purpose so that if I got bigger she could size it down but she took out her book where she recorded

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139638215912486062006-02-11T10:09:00.000-08:002006-02-10T22:10:15.956-08:00

I am soooo getting this.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139598555026400602006-02-10T11:09:00.000-08:002006-02-10T11:11:07.696-08:00

Here is my one handmade item for Color-iffic's February Pink/Red Swap. I tried making many things but with time constraints and my novice level, this was the best I could do. I hope my swap partner doesn't mind too much, I tried to make up for my lack of crafting skills with the rest of the goodies.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139501438151708572006-02-09T08:10:00.000-08:002006-02-09T08:10:58.956-08:00

My daughter picked the picture on the top left as the one that "looks most like her family" and as you can see, her teacher questioned her choice.Let's see... a white family, a black family, and a generic "brown" family. I'm assuming her teacher thought that my daughter should've picked the brown family but I can see my daughter's reasons for her choice.[1] No one in our household or family is in

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139416734118266362006-02-08T08:22:00.000-08:002006-02-08T08:42:10.416-08:00

Gotta buy shoes for the wedding. Since my sister is getting married outdoors in a garden setting, I have to get wedge heels (which are my favorite heels) so that I don't sink in the ground as I would with stilettos.I'm debating which of these to get... vote for your favorite. My dress is kind of a coral pink (pink with yellow and orange undertones).A. Marinelli's Rhonda Sandal. This one is my

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139329937458833002006-02-07T08:22:00.000-08:002006-02-07T09:24:47.200-08:00

Joyce tagged me for a meme. Four jobs I've had in my life:1. Cash Girl at Six Flags Marine World when I was in high school where my job was just to count the money the games department brought in2. Admin / Secretary3. Integration Consultant4. IT Project ManagerFour movies I would watch over and over:1. Notting Hill2. Chocolat3. Old School4. Under the Tuscan SunFour places I have lived:1.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139208535049556122006-02-06T06:37:00.000-08:002006-02-05T22:48:55.066-08:00

The Steelers aren't the only ones making headlines in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette! Bob Batz, a reporter for the Post Gazette left a comment on my blog asking me about the wrist reminders I blogged about. We conversed via email and voila! I'm newsworthy!

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139176041945518052006-02-05T13:47:00.000-08:002006-02-05T13:53:19.773-08:00

For some reason unbeknownst to me, my 5 year old daughter decided to cut her hair. I know almost all young girls go through this stage at least once - my version was much much worse: I took a chunk of my "bang hair" and cut right next to my scalp. So that spot where your hairline meets your forehead? I had a mini flat-top there. To this day I don't know why I did that, and when I ask my daughter

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1139120237167419772006-02-04T22:17:00.000-08:002006-02-05T08:45:20.560-08:00

I organized a Bridal Shower spa day and tea party for my sister today. We headed over to Burke Williams Spa at Santana Row in the morning and had tea at Lisa's Tea Treasures afterwards.Lisa's was good, but my favorite teahouse is still Lovejoy's in San Francisco - their tea is better.My friend brought the cake from Katrina Rozelle - it was a white cake with fresh raspberries in the filling. It

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1138991902515867872006-02-03T07:53:00.000-08:002006-02-03T10:38:41.600-08:00

My son's hair is thick around the sides and nonexistent on the top, very much like an old man's combover. I got tired of people telling me, "He looks like a little old man with his hair!" so we shaved it all off.And yes, I realize that posting the picture is in contradiction to my gross post, but the traffic on my blog doesn't compare to the traffic on Flickr so unless there is someone reading

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1138927526211387732006-02-02T16:45:00.000-08:002006-02-02T16:47:39.860-08:00

I'M BACK!Here it is... Martha Stewart's Meyer Lemon Anniversary Cake. I made it for my niece's first birthday and it took me about 5 hours not including the time I spent looking for Meyer lemons. I used almost 3 dozen eggs for this cake - mostly separated eggs. The cake itself was VERY tasty, but the lemon curd was way too eggy. The buttercream was yummy (butter + sugar = GOOD). I didn't bother

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1138297827371312102006-01-26T09:42:00.000-08:002006-01-26T09:50:27.386-08:00

We are having wood floors put in the house and everything is in disarray. The computer has been unhooked and unplugged, the couches are in the dining room, my office furniture is in the living room, the dining table is in the kitchen and there are piles and piles of books all over the place.I finally made the Martha Stewart Meyer Lemon cake this past weekend - I can't post pics yet because I

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1137645827295901842006-01-18T20:24:00.000-08:002006-01-18T20:43:47.306-08:00

I recently posted a picture of my baby's feet on Flickr and I saw that someone marked it as a "favorite." When I visited this person's Flickr site, I was DISGUSTED. This person obviously had a foot fetish because there were DISGUSTING pictures posted of people and feet. Some pics were harmless, others were not. What's even more gross is that they had a Flickr photo set of children and their

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1137546257440374812006-01-17T16:48:00.000-08:002006-01-18T08:51:18.256-08:00

Whenever I go grocery shopping I always buy buttermilk. At first I only bought it because it's an ingredient in my favorite cupcake recipe from Martha Stewart (though I think this recipe was originally made by the Barefoot Contessa herself because her coconut cupcake recipe is exactly the same minus the coconut). With all the leftover buttermilk, I started looking for and testing recipes that

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1137429601425594362006-01-16T08:28:00.000-08:002006-01-16T08:40:01.440-08:00

My son got his official greeting from the White House last week. I learned about this from Joyce, I wish, I had known about this with my other two kids! Since they also recognize weddings, I told my sister to mail an invitation to the White House too - I saw that you have to wait until "after" the event takes place - probably so they can make sure you actually get married before they send a

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1137261624888852172006-01-14T09:40:00.000-08:002006-01-14T10:00:24.943-08:00

I got around to buying the material for my bridesmaid dress and my daughter's flower girl dress. I got green and coral pink silk dupioni for our dresses, my dress will be coral with a green sash, and the top half of my daughter's dress will be green and the bottom coral. I got it from Thai Silks in Los Altos - but they also sell material on their website. The dupioni was about $13 a yard -- my

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1137209313516157322006-01-13T19:27:00.000-08:002006-01-13T19:29:53.153-08:00

Ever want to talk to a human? Here's the best cheat sheet EVER. My employer is on this list, and even I didn't know how to get to a live person on our own customer service line!

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1137101968207700792006-01-12T13:19:00.000-08:002006-01-12T13:40:06.343-08:00

We saw these wrist reminders at Office Max and my husband laughed at them because he said, "Who the hell would wear those?" Answer? OUR KIDS. My work schedule is irregular - on days I'm stuck on a call or in a meeting and I can't pick up the kids on time, they would go to afterschool daycare. Usually I tell them in the morning whether or not they are going to daycare but my daughter (5 years old

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136941404410779172006-01-11T07:49:00.000-08:002006-01-10T17:03:24.420-08:00

I'm sending thank you gifts to my coworkers who covered for me while I was out on maternity leave. One of my coworkers is a tea drinker so I ordered her this ingenuiTEA set from Adagio Teas. It's a teapot that you place on top of your cup or mug then it pours the tea into your cup while filtering the loose tea leaves. Adagio's website also has a directory of tea rooms in the US at

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136932418931149682006-01-10T14:22:00.000-08:002006-01-10T14:33:38.946-08:00

I am too lazy to get 2 cents stamps. I actually mailed a card today with 2-37 cents stamps.The USPS website the very cute "Favorite Children's Book Animals" 39 cents stamps pictured here. I bought 5 books of them. Actually I "pre-ordered" them and I don't know when they're going to ship. The website says that these stamps have an issue date of 1/10/2006 - what does that mean??? Does it mean

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136779175595603052006-01-08T19:45:00.000-08:002006-01-08T19:59:35.606-08:00

I got my eyelashes permed yesterday. You may be thinking, "Geez, how lazy do you have to be to take an eyelash curler and squeeze?" But my sister had hers done and offered to take me (and pay) to get my lashes curled so I really didn't have anything to lose. I wish I took a "before" picture but the picture above is my "after" shot. Try to ignore the errant brow hairs that I need to pluck. I had

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136617171307964272006-01-07T10:42:00.000-08:002006-01-06T23:01:10.873-08:00

I have a coworker who has a thing for cows, we even call her "Moo." I met a customer who had a thing for dragonflies - her office was filled with dragonfly paraphenila. Joyce's thing is bamboo. Giao? Gnomes. The nice thing about having a thing/theme is that when people know what your thing is they automatically think of you whenever they come across your said thing. Whenever I see a dragonfly, I

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136567521372844662006-01-06T07:06:00.000-08:002006-01-06T11:55:42.453-08:00

Though I long to be a SAHM, I'm at WAHM. I have a traditional job (not one of those "Stay at home earning $5000 a day after you pay us $10000" type jobs) - but what I do can usually be accomplished via phone or email so that's why my company allows me and others like me to work from home. Plus, they no longer have to lease office space for us so it saves them money. When I tell people that I work

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136509219118196752006-01-05T16:42:00.000-08:002006-01-05T17:00:19.136-08:00

I went to Starbucks today and instead of getting my usual tall nonfat Toffee Nut Latte with whip (YES I realize that the whipped cream defeats the purpose of getting nonfat milk but realize this, I get nonfat milk to justify the whipped cream), I tried the new Cinnamon Dolce Latte and it was good! It has a brown sugar cinnamony taste which I like... and it wasn't too sweet. The Caramel Macchiato

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136314839527794872006-01-04T10:54:00.000-08:002006-01-04T09:14:13.880-08:00

I'm looking for a nanny. Just someone to take care of my baby while I work at home - I can't work at home and take care of a baby at the same time -- trust me, I tried and it's not fair to either my baby or work because they both don't get the attention they deserve.So I started getting emails/calls in response to the Craigslist ad I posted - my first call was from a young whippersnapper of a

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136273868078556332006-01-03T07:18:00.000-08:002006-01-02T23:48:35.640-08:00

I've been super irritable lately but I couldn't quite place the reasons why. After some deep thought, I've come to the conclusion that it's because:1. I, like Leslie, go back to work today,2. I too, like Shotgun Daddy, have been dealing with three kids at home on their Christmas vacation,3. and I have IBS. Irritated B$#%@ Syndrome.So today, a certain husband set off a BF in me. Let's just say

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136231936539258582006-01-02T11:55:00.000-08:002006-01-02T23:44:39.073-08:00

After day one, my kids made $14 in Cuss Jar Funds. That's in ONE DAY. They're on track to make $100 a week. It's eye opening when you realize that swear words are part of your everyday language. They got me for $5, and my husband $9. We're really honest about it and we even pony up the dough even when the kids don't hear us cuss.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136141492383432142006-01-02T10:40:00.000-08:002006-01-01T10:51:32.393-08:00

Make use of my cookbook collection.Inspired by Heidi at 101 cookbooks - I'm aiming to try one new recipe a week from the many cookbooks I've accumulated. I told my family about this resolution and informed them that they WILL eat what I cook or else. There will be no running to buy a Jumbo Jack after dinner... no making late night grilled cheese sandwiches... no bowls of cereal after dinner.

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136140789132332652006-01-01T10:23:00.000-08:002006-01-01T10:39:49.143-08:00

Actually BE the weight that's stated on my driver's license. It's been 10 years and 15 lbs. since I got married and had kids and was at the weight that's on my driver's license. Aah... back in my size 2 days. At one point I was actually a size 0 but I'm not naturally slim (I'm what you call "healthy") and for me to be that skinny it took a LOT of work that I just can't do today when I have

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1136059733874986102005-12-31T12:00:00.000-08:002006-01-01T09:58:43.306-08:00

I've decided that it will be one of my goals to make every single recipe in Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. So along with the "Cakes for the Year" goal - I'll be posting everytime I make something from the cookbook. Maybe I should start a bake along blog... something to think about.My first conquest was the Black and White Cookies. Today I made the French Almond Macaroons - it was actually my

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1135801540192861762005-12-28T11:59:00.000-08:002005-12-28T12:25:40.203-08:00

New Year's Resolution #1:Stop swearing. To help with this resolution, we are going to implement a swear jar. Each offense (word) will cost $1. I swear like a sailor so I'm going to pick up a 2 gallon jar at the Container Store. And because my swearing affects the kids the most, they are going to benefit from it - every month they'll get to spend the swear jar proceeds however they want (

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1135652868047836472005-12-26T19:04:00.000-08:002005-12-27T11:05:19.130-08:00

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!I have two new addictions: the Daiy Jigsaw and Sudoku puzzles at Shockwave. My day doesn't feel complete unless I do both of them. I'm afraid of when I go back to work - I won't be able to do any work until I complete the two.Speaking of addictions - my 3 month old son got a Baby Einstein DVD for Christmas. I don't know what it is about them but he was

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1135354980152892612005-12-23T08:05:00.000-08:002005-12-23T11:36:12.353-08:00

I had a little girls day out yesterday - went to Bay Street, did a little shopping, watched Memoirs of a Geisha, and had lunch at PF Changs (love the spicy eggplant and ground chicken).Memoirs was good - I think I would have enjoyed it more had I not read the book first. It's hard for me to enjoy a storyline when I already know what's going to happen, yet this happens to me a lot because I read a

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1135198366584681392005-12-21T12:30:00.000-08:002005-12-21T12:52:47.696-08:00

My kids' dentist office has the best magazines of any medical office I've ever been in... Food & Wine, Gourmet, Martha Stewart Living... not the usual 5 year old Good Housekeeping and Women's Day. I actually travel 30 miles out of my way to take my kids to this dentist, who happened to be my dentist when I was little.The dental office gave me a handout on a study about xylitol and how mothers who

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1135050814241340582005-12-19T19:02:00.000-08:002005-12-19T19:54:25.443-08:00

Normally I wouldn't be in such a rush to lose the pregnancy flab - it took 9 months to gain, so it can take 9 months to lose - but I'm in my sister's wedding in March (Hawaii!) so I have a bit of motivation. My choice of bridesmaid dress and my daughter's flower girl dress are pictured above. I'm already at my pre-pregnancy weight but definitely not at my pre-pregnancy body. Let's just say

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1134933735546343422005-12-18T11:12:00.000-08:002005-12-18T11:22:15.556-08:00

I couldn't resist buying these tee's over at Uncommonly Cute for my baby boy. I had to get him the "Player" t-shirt since he comes from a family lineage of gambling (Asian thing), the Elmo shirt and the "Swinger" shirt. So cute!

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1134856156152269782005-12-17T13:49:00.000-08:002005-12-17T14:03:36.583-08:00

I finally got around to making Martha Stewart's version of Black and White cookies. The cookies came out light and airy, a bit cake-like, and very very good with the frosting. The only complaint I have is that the recipe instructions were not specific enough when it came to shaping the cookies I'm a left brain person, everything is black and white (no pun intended) to me so I follow instructions

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17810344.post-1134749252076311752005-12-16T07:43:00.000-08:002005-12-16T08:07:32.086-08:00

The January edition of Martha Stewart Living Magazine has a feature for "A Year of Cakes" - twelve cake recipes to make for each month of the year. My New Year's Resolution? I'm going to make all twelve of them! I'm going to follow each recipe exactly as written, including the little decorations I usually skip (i.e. candied lemon slices). January's cake is Martha's Meyer Lemon Anniversary

a n n ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18114967507550465572noreply@blogger.com0