Gobble gobble fat turkey fat turkey

The title? The song that K taught B who is 2 and now sings fat turkey fat turkey all day long. I think he is trying to tell me something but I'll save that for a skinny jeans post. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We are getting ready to head out of town and I was just wondering how odd I really am. According to the hubby I am very odd.

Do you clean the house before you travel?

I always clean up before we head anywhere. I can't stand coming home to a mess. I won't leave a dirty dish in the dish washer. Hubby thinks it's weird. He says wait until we get home. I want to come home and relax and not lift a finger. Am I the only one? Is it really that odd that I have spent the morning scrubbing the floor and doing laundry while watching the Thanksgiving Day parade?

I'll be back on Monday. Don't get trampled shopping on Black Friday! I can't wait to hear about all the deals you all find while I am sleeping in. Please kiddos just this once let Mommy sleep in. Pretty please.

More of my blogroll

More of the blogs that I read everyday. Yes every single day.

• Rocks in my Dryer - also know as the home of "Works for Me Wednesday" (WFMW) and "What I'd like you to know". Today is a great day to check out this site. WFMW is up and as of this posting there are links to 178 WFMW posts.
• Perez Hilton - Now you know who to come to if you want to know all the details of Heidi and Spencer's wedding. I know. Don't judge. It's my guilty pleasure.
• I Need a Martini Mom - I love the stories this Kindergarten teacher has to share. And her insight to raising teenage girls, I'm taking notes.
• Big Mama - I am in awe of the way this woman writes. She has a gift for telling a story and often has one to tell that I can relate to.

My last link for today is very important this time of year. Not only is it the holiday season; a chance to spend quality time with your family. It's also the holiday movie season! One of my favorite tradition is checking out ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas and setting the DVR. Nothing better then curling up on a cold raining day watching Christmas movies.

Random Acts of Kindness ROCK!

I had a post in my head for today about the Alaskan Ulu but that's going to have to wait. Something happened this morning that I just have to tell everyone about.

A couple of weeks ago one of my friends wrote a post about World Kindness Day. It really made me think. I am the type of person who tries really hard to do nice things for people but sometimes life gets in the way. I made a mental note that I really needed to make more of an effort to do something just because it would make someone else smile. Then I got the call about Mom and rushed to be with her and lived in my own little world for the past week. I am spent both emotionally and physically. I didn't realize Thanksgiving was this week until K reminded me that she didn't have school on Monday. Ooops Mom of the year.

So this morning when K asked if she could please go to Starbucks I checked my wallet for cash and said sure. Anyone else feel guilty going to Starbucks when they have to put it on their debit card?

We ordered and got up to the window and the barista said it's your lucky day, the car in front of you paid for your drinks she said to tell you to have a nice day. I started crying. The lady in front of me was a complete stranger. I remember the car and I know I have never seen it before, I know I have never seen the women. I can't believe that someone said I'll pay for that person's drinks and drove away.

I felt so guilty. I tried to pay for the car behind me but would you believe there were NO cars behind me. At Starbucks at 8:00am not one car. Why is it that you feel guilty when someone does something nice for you. Like you don't deserve it.

So today I drank my coffee and it tasted better then ever and I am smiling. I don't know who you are but you made my day. You made me smile and that's been hard to come by these days. You taught my daughter a lesson in being kind and seeing what it's like to have someone do something for you just because. THANK YOU!

Yes - I cook

I told you I would be back. You can't get rid of me that easily. WOW What a week. I am so happy to be back home and in the middle of Thanksgiving break, working, doing laundry, cleaning house, cooking dinner and tonight heading out to a Pampered Chef party. Any excuse to get out of the house right?

Like every other Mom out there I get invited to home parties ALL the time. I finally had to put my foot down and not feel like I had to go but rather go to the ones that sell stuff that I will actually use. I have enough Party Lite candles to light up the block, I am real picky about my jewelry, and don't get me started on purses... but Pampered Chef (PC) that's another story. I love PC parties! Someone cooks me dinner, I get to hang out with my friends and buy stuff I actually use. Well that I use now.

Cooking is not my thing. I laughed the first time I went to a PC party. I think I bought a vegetable peeler and some towels and offered to host a party. That was back in the day when I went to every party and felt guilty for not having any of my own. I had my party and ended up with $300 in credit and 2 half priced items. I went crazy. Then the boxes came and I had to figure out what to do with everything. So I started cooking... and now I love it!

You know what I like best about PC. The quality. Everything works really well. I had an egg slicer break and they sent me a new one no questions asked. I am lucky to have a great consultant too. She has her groupies and we go to parties, learn new recipes and host parties of our own to get free stuff. I have my one party a year every May because that is when PC hosts it's Help Whip Cancer and they have cute pink items that they only sell during May and part of the proceeds go to fighting Breast cancer.

OK so here's my list of my favorite Pampered Chef items - today.

Kitchen Shears - I have the cover too and keep these under my kitchen cupboard. I use them everyday for cutting up the kids food, opening things, cutting box tops off the packages. These are by far the item that I use most of all.

Stoneware - it's one of those things that you just have to use to understand it. When I first saw a piece of used stoneware I said NO WAY not going to use it. The I got a piece for 60% off and tried and I am hooked. Cookies turn out perfect and you can use it for anything and everything.

Easy Read Measuring cups - Yes they are just measuring cups but they are wonderful. You don't have to pick these up to see how much you are pouring in because the lines/measurements and on the inside. I use the 4-cup size as a little bowl to mix things that need to be poured into something else.

I have so many more favorite so if you need some suggestions let me know. If you have to have something listed above I know a great consultant or you are welcome to crash my party in May.

I'll leave you with one last thing - a recipe that we made at my last party. YUMMY!

The Pampered Chef ®Mini Glazed Lemon Cakes
2 tbsp butter, softened, divided
2 tbsp sugar
2 small lemons, divided
1 pkg (9 oz) yellow cake mix
1 egg
1 container (8 oz) sour cream

Glaze and Garnish
2 tbsp lemon juice (from lemon used for cakes)
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup sugar

For cakes, brush six Prep Bowls with 1 tbsp of the butter; sprinkle evenly with sugar.

Thinly slice one of the lemons using Ultimate Mandoline fitted with thin slicing blade. Remove any seeds from lemon slices and place one slice into bottom of each bowl; set bowls aside.

Zest remaining lemon using Microplane® Adjustable Grater to measure 1 tbsp zest; set lemon aside for glaze.

Place remaining 1 tbsp butter into Classic Batter Bowl; microwave on HIGH 15-20 seconds or until melted.

Add lemon zest, cake mix, egg and sour cream; whisk 1 minute or until smooth.

Scoop batter evenly into prepared bowls.

Place bowls in a circle on microwave turntable. Microwave on HIGH 4-5 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean.

Carefully remove cakes from microwave using Chef's Tongs; cool in bowls 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, for glaze, juice reserved lemon to measure 2 tbsp juice.

Melt butter in (2-cup) Easy Read Measuring Cup.

Stir in lemon juice and sugar; microwave on HIGH 30-60 seconds or until boiling.
To serve, gently tap sides of bowls to release cakes; invert cakes onto Cutting Board. Transfer cakes to serving plates using Mini-Serving Spatula. Drizzle glaze over cakes.

Yield: 6 servings

My all time favorite - Family & Friends

I have been a little lax in my postings lately and with good reason. On Tuesday I got one of those phone calls that makes you heart skip a beat, my Mom was in the hospital and I needed to get to her as soon as possible. I called my brother who was only 20 minutes away from Mom and he dropped everything. I called my husband at work and asked him to please come home I needed to leave, he too dropped everything and rushed home. I sent a few IM"s to my boss and co-workers, they told me not to think about work, to go be with my family. I posted a message to my friends so they wouldn't think I dropped off the face of the earth. I packed, kissed my daughter and within 30 minutes I was in the car for 2 1/2 hours to get to Mom. The texts and phone calls started before I got out of the driveway. Friends checking on me asking if there was anything they could do, keeping me company on the long drive - with no radio UGH.

As I was driving the sun was setting and both sides of the highway were covered with the most beautiful grapevines in the most amazing shades of yellow, orange and red. That's fall in the Wine Country. I couldn't help but smile, to feel ok about everything, to know deep in my heart that everything was going to be OK. And the cell rang again, more friends to keep me company on my drive. When a friend called late on Tues night my bro said, "Wow you really have great friends". I DO!

For the past two days I have been surrounded by love and by the most thoughtful, caring people I know. The hubby has taken care of everything with the kiddos and hasn't allowed me to stress about not being home for one moment. K made sure that I had two Junie B books so I could still read to her at night so I wouldn't miss her too much. B calls me and tells me what's in his tummy and that he misses Momma. My friends from all over the country have texted, called, e-mailed and posted prayers, positive thoughts and even made me laugh. On top of all of this I work for an amazing company. A company that really believes in family and has made sure that I know that my family is the priority.

Everything you all have done for me has allowed me to focus on Mom. To help her, to stay with her, to get her through this rough time. Tonight Mom came home. She is doing ok. It's going to be awhile before she is herself both physically and mentally but she is going to be fine. She gave me a great big hug today and said thank you for being here I really needed you. I thought about everything it took to get me here and for me to be able to stay here for her and it's all because of you - THANK YOU I really needed you.

Clean kisses and huggies

My kiddos have very sensitive skin. We have to be very careful about what we use and always take soap with us when traveling. It's really hard for me to find soap that I like and won't give the kids a rash. I was walking through Target one day (ok so I am almost always walking through Target) when I saw the bright orange packing of Kiss My Face Kids. I read the label and the words "chemical free" and I knew I had to try it. We started off with "a whale of a soap" which are the cutest whale shaped soaps with an amazing orange scent. We have since tried the berry scent too. LOVE this soap! The kids had fun playing with the whale, there were no bad reactions and it smells so good. It comes in a package with two whales and they last a long time. After the whale soap we tried and loved the Self Foaming Hand Wash. The kids adore the scent, My favorite is that it has no color so it's not getting all over the bathroom like some other hand soap targeted for kids . It's also very kid friendly. I find that some of the foaming pumps are hard for the kiddos to use but my 5 and 2 year old have had no problems. So far I have found the Kiss My face kids line at Target and Safeway but you can also order online. Try it... you'll like it - promise!

Saving you time and money

You have to check this out.

Jo-Lynne from Musings of a Houswife has taken the time to search to the end of the Internet to find some of the best and most unique holiday gifts. There is a section for men, women, kids, jewelry, stocking stuffers and everything in between. My favorites are here, here, here, and if you know the Hubby tell him to go here. Make sure you click on the button above to check out the guide and look for special discounts codes on many of the products.

5 more favs

Is it Friday yet? This day has been so hectic I don't even know what time it is. I asked K what time is was and she broke out into song. I really need to get her the HSM 3 soundtrack so we can introduce a few more songs to get stuck in our head all day long. Which leads me to... more of my favs!

1. Taylor Swift's new CD Fearless - K and I bought it this weekend and one of our rules is that Mom has to listen to the whole CD first. There is something about Taylor Swift that I really like something that I never got from Miley. The songs are sweet even though she is totally boy crazy... but who wasn't at 15. So far my favs are Love Story and Fifteen. It's Mom approved.

2. Chic Critique - another website I love. The authors describe the site as "We are regular women reviewing beauty products for regular women. " So far I have bought three products based on reviews from this site this, this and this.

3. Hallmark movies - I love this time of year and all the new Hallmark movies. Have you seen the "Love Comes Softly" series? SO GOOD and something you don't have to pause when the kids come in the room. There are six movies in the saga. Set your DVR to tape them all; promise you won't regret it.

4. Friday Night Lights - 2 words... Kyle Chandler. If that wasn't enough this is the BEST show on TV even if you don't like football. The portrayal of the kids and families on this show is REAL. The dynamic between the Coach (Chandler) and his wife and daughter could happen in any American home. It's real and many times I forget they are actors. I love this show! This season is being shown on Direct TV channel 101 but will be shown on NBC next year. You still have time to get caught up! Oh and the best thing about watching on channel 101 - no commercials.

5. Quick Salsa - My neighbor gave me this quick recipe and my blender broke while making it - it was that good. Either that or the blender flipped out because I made salsa and margaritas in the same night and it didn't know what to do. It's so easy and so yummy.

2 cans of Petite Cut Diced with Zesty Jalapenos - Del Monte brand
juice from 2 limes
cilantro
Mix it all in a blender

And there you have it!

Gift cards - yes or no?

The Christmas music is playing, the Starbucks holiday cups are out and it's not even Thanksgiving. If you are like me you have almost finished your Christmas shopping... oh wait you haven't even started? Can you believe all I have left is the kiddos, the hubby and my Dad. Yep that's right and the only reason Dad is not done is because Dad doesn't like gift cards. Which leads me to my question of the week...

Gift cards - great gift or no thought? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Here my 2 cents - This year I worked my tail off was lucky to get an award from work. This award could be used to purchase gift card with award points. Hubby and I talked and decided to get our Christmas shopping done and save ourselves and our checking account by getting almost everyone on our list a gift card. For each person I thought about which store to go with. I thought about their hobbies and what they liked and made sure to make a good fit.

Then I started reading about a backlash on gift cards and how they are impersonal and take no thought. I tend to disagree. Personally I would much rather get a gift card then another vanilla scented bath basket. I like the idea that people can go and get what they want or need with a gift card.

I may be in the minority but I even like the idea of gift cards for kids. I love taking K shopping and letting her figure out how much she has to spend and picking something out that fits her budget. I think the idea of a gift card for a book store for a 5 year old is a wonderful idea. Yes, I know exactly how much you spent but I don't care. It really is the thought and anyway I am a Mom and a shopaholic so I already know how much everything is. I like the idea that you can have a budget and stick to it and not have to worry about wrapping paper and cards and bows.

And just to make things a little more personal I'll be sure to add a picture of the kiddos; because you know that's what Grandparents really want. If you need it to be a little more personal I'll let you take the kiddos for a whole weekend... my treat. Oh wait... that would be a gift for me. I am sneaky like that.

Mommy Blogs

On Wednesdays I am going to share some of my favorite websites and this week it's all about the Mommy blog. I don't know how this all started but I think the first Mommy blog I read was Mama's on a Playdate's blog about her daughter Allie. I clicked a link on a sidebar to another site and then another and I have been hooked ever since. I have a very large blogroll that I'll share with you. I check their site almost daily. I try to comment as much as possible especially after one of the bloggers posted about how comments are like pats on the back and make the posters feel better and I am all about making someone smile. Almost every day someone posts something I can totally relate to and make me feel like I am not alone out here.

So here are a couple of my favs for this week:

• Musings of a Housewife - She tells it like it is and every week she tells a story that makes me laugh or nod in agreement because my kids just did the same thing. She's also the one that introduced me to Twitter.


• I Should be Folding Laundry - An amazing women who has been through some tough times lately and has blogged it all. She open, honest and OH MY you HAVE to check out her photography.


• The Daily Mish Mash - This lady cracks me up! She is hilarious. You must be sure to stop by her site every Friday for some eye candy.


• Bakerella - You probably don't know this but I want to grow up to be the Ace of Cakes or Bakerella. I want to make everything she posts about but I just know it won't be that cute. I will be trying her cupcake pops this holiday season.


• WantNot.net - I check this site every day to find some of the greatest deals on the web.

So there you have it, the first 5 on my blogroll. Oh but wait there is more, much, much more.

I'm a Tip Junkie

As promised here is one of my favorite blogs - Tip Junkie. This site has a great collection of tips and ideas from other Moms, women and bloggers for just about anything you can think of. Right now you can take a look at

and the 12 Days of Junkie giveaways starting on Tuesday November 11. The shopathon features Mom-preneur's and their talent. Let's help support other Moms and buy homemade this year! One of the things I like best is how all the products are categorized and easy to find.

My favs - check out the Ducky Soaps, Elli Noelle Designs and Simply Silhouettes. Time to go shopping!

What's New - Baggu's

I had a whole shelf in my laundry room that is full of nothing but plastic bags. I have tried reusing them for lunches, cat liter, making kites for the kids but I swear they are like gremlins and they just multiple. I had to get rid of them!

Everywhere you look, at every store you go to you see reusable bags. Bags with ads for the local grocery store, or just plain green or black. I wanted something with a little more color, something that everyone would see and ask "Where did you get those bags?". I was visiting one of my daily Mommy blogs and saw a review for Baggus. The bright colors immediately caught my eye. Then I saw the price. A little steep for me. Then I went shopping and came home with 25 plastic bags. Yep 25. I only have one cat this plastic bag thing isn't working. So I took a leap, spent the money and bought 6 Baggus in colors like persimmon, saffron, peacock and lime.

I love these things. The colors are great, the are very sturdy and you can fit the contents of at least 3 plastics bags in one Baggu. They each come with a little pocket to store them in. They fit perfectly in your purse so you always have one with you. Every time I pull out my Baggus everyone asks where I got them... just what I wanted.

I use my Baggus for more then just grocery shopping. I take them to the beach, use them to bring in Kindy snack, soccer snack, trick or treat bags, and to carry all those extras you take with you on vacation. I always carry one in my diaper bag and purse because you never know when you are going to need a bag.

A quick tip - when you take your Baggu out of the pocket, put the pocket in the bottom of the bag. That way when you empty your bags you pocket will be right there and you won't lose it... I only lost one before I figured it out.

Better then sliced bread

My top 5 things I know and love this week in no particular order
Oh TIVO how do I love thee. OK so I don't really have TIVO anymore we have a DVR. OK really we have two DVR's, two HD DVR's but that is all Hubby's doing. What in the world did we do before TIVO? Play outside? Talk? Sleep? Never know what was going on in the Olympics? Watch commericials? Remember when we had to wait until Saturday to watch cartoons, and we had to get UP to change the channels? I remember being home sick and watching 21 Jump Street wishing that there was something that would change channels for me during a commercial. I really think that the dvr is the best invention ever. And yes... I watch way too much TV.

Mr Clean Magic Erasers. These things are amazing. I use them to clean everything and they really do clean almost everything. I have been able to get gum off a wall, sharpie off a dresser, clean my baseboards, and oh my do they work wonders on tile grout. You know I luv you because look - You can get a FREE Mr Clean Magic Eraser

Basin Lip Balm. Not only do I love this product but I love this store. I found it in Downtown Disney in Anaheim. They have the most amazing and creative soaps and bath products. I got the lip balm because it came in the shape of a baseball and you'll soon know I love baseball. Once I started using it I was hooked. The baseball lasted almost a year and I use lip balm ALOT. When we got to Disneyland this year my very 1st stop wasn't Splash Mountain or It's A Small World. It was right to Basin!
Starbucks. I know it's not PC and it's not the best thing to do during an economic crisis, but I LOVE ME SOME STARBUCKS. Did I mention I don't like coffee? I don't know how that works but it does. Peppermint mochas, iced vanilla white mocha and if it comes in the holiday red cup even better. There is just something about stopping by Starbucks on Mon and Thurs that makes my mornings just a little better.

Mommy Blogs - First thing I do in the morning is check CNN. No wait that's probably more like 10th. I don't even know what the weather is going to be like until I check my blogroll. I have a list of blogs that I check daily and a few more that I check when I have time. I feel like I know these women. Like they are speaking to me. I buy products they reccomend, I watch shows they mention, I go to sites they link to and I even cook recipes they list. The Mommy Blog craze is amazing and I love it. On Wedneday I'll even post some of my favorite blogs.

This is Reviewza-palooza

OK so I am a little late to this Mommy blog thing; but I am a Mom and I know how to blog so I figure better late then never right?

I thought for awhile about what to write about. I am not a writer. I am not the most articulate person. I am fluent in two year old, Kindergartenese, Gossip Girl, gansta rap and did I mention I work full time. Not bad for a college educated girl from the suburbs. I would venture to guess that most of the Moms at school don't know the real me, unless they happen to walk by when my cell phone rings "Ice-Ice Baby" which means I am getting a text. Texting... one of my favorite things, but we'll get to that.

I thought about a kids blog a place to post all the craziness that is our lives; but I already do that and it's a private blog. I read somewhere that google is forever and I don't think the hubby is ready for the internet to read all about our lives.

So I figured I would do what I do best and that is ramble. A little bit of this and a little bit of that with a sprinkle of toddler antics and Kindy sass. Most of all I want to share about the things I know and love.

For now here's the line-up:

• Mondays - Things I know and Love
• Tuesdays - What's New
• Wednesdays - The Wide Web World
• Thursdays - You tell me - Question of the Week
• Friday - Anything Goes

I reserve the right to mix things up depending on my day and how much sleep I got.

I hope you'll have fun getting to know me and my world.