Suggestions

Today I would like to suggest: [that looks weird, hope I spelled that right]

1.  That you take a moment to enjoy something little.  Maybe buy some flowers when you are at the store.  Take 5 extra minutes and actually taste your lunch.  Look at a loved one when they don't see you looking. [what do you love most about them?] maybe their scorpion collection?! ;)

2.  Be this happy at some point today.  Okay, you don't have to look as stupid as me doing it, but do it!  Smile.  Smile big.

3.  And if your Hubby got your TV up and running last night too.  Give him a big one of these [crowns].  Or a huge smooch.

4.  And if you went to Costco and got a bunch of these [that are going bad way too quickly].  You'll want to make these . . Lemon Raspberry Streusel Muffins.

Amazing.

Muffins:


2 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar - I use splenda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 8 oz container of lemon yogurt

1/4 cup oil & 1/4 cup apple sauce

Grated lemon peel from one lemon

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries (do not thaw)

Topping:

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup all purpose flour

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter


Heat oven to 400 F. Grease about 16 muffin tins or line with muffin wrappers. (I also spray my wrappers with non-stick spray to help ease the removal.)

In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix well.

In small bowl, combine yogurt, oil, lemon peel and eggs. Mix well. Add to dry ingredients just until wet [I can't use the "m" word"].  Gently stir in berries. DO NOT OVERMIX.

fill to 1/2 -3/4 full.

In small bowl, combine sugar and flour. Using pastry blender or fork, cut in butter till crumbly.  Sprinkle over batter.

Bake at 400 F for 18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Happy Wednesday!

what's grosser than gross?

I'm going with these awesome photos of our "newest addition".

A very pregnant scorpion the Pita found on our back outside wall last Thursday.

Yippee, lucky us - - - they started hatching [or whatever they "do"] last night!

Don't worry, we have "normal" pets too.

Can it get any grosser?  I literally dry-heaved.

So does your hubby/spouse or significant other collect anything you wish she/he wouldn't?

I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all

I loved this line in the song "pain" [by Three days grace] when I heard it this morning while running.  "I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all"

I am an emotional being.

I cry a lot.

To others I know, I present a picture of contentment. Most people would assume I am happy with the circumstances of my life, [don't get me wrong, I AM] but I attribute my disposition to something else - my awareness of how fragile life is.

Some people hide their feelings - I embrace them.

There is something so real about experiencing pure, unadulterated emotion. Don't get me wrong, I delight in the tingling warmth of joy, but I have to say, more often than not, it's the pain and sadness that remind me most of my humanity.

Sometimes its a realization - a strong sense of love for my family, an appreciation for my life and it's gifts.  Sometimes a memory will flash through my brain, other times, a simple moment of empathy.



Whatever it is, I'll take it.

I'll take that feeling and suck on it like a Werther's Original candy, wanting, hoping to prolong the experience.



I think that's one of the greatest gifts I have been given - the ability to [intensely] feel.



I feel they give me a better take on life - and that's what keeps me going.



Do you ever take the time to consider the emotional path traveled by other individuals?  The guy in front of you at the post office?  The grouchy lady at the grocery store?  Some of us are walking wounded - carrying inside the fear, heartbreak, loneliness, disappointment of diminished dreams.  Others may be full of hate & anger.


I had lunch with a new-ish friend last week.  I'd compare her to a M & M.  Slightly hard, thin, outer candy shell. . . . but once she knew she could trust me . . . she showed me a side of her that could only be described as wonderful, warm & friendly.  Her "story" hit me like a ton of bricks.  .  .  the pain she has experienced in her life.  But it is a part of her.  Who she is today.  She embraces it.

I am an emotional being.

I embrace it.

Hallelujah . . .

. . . who knocks on my door while I'm trying to bang out my 16 miler this morning?

My.  new.  best.  friend.  Mr "TNT" [NZ company] delivery guy.

Giving
me
this
back.

My L i f e!  [I know, I know, it's a sad, sad life].  so. completely. happy.

So after retrieving 16 [no joke] voicemail from [ALL boys] for Peanut.  yikes.  I started up the treadmill to finish my run.  Seriously, long runs go so much faster when you text and run.  [I'm sure this is doing really bad things for whatever "form" I have].

whatever.

I have my phone back!  Who freaking cares!

So I finished this.

Yippee!

Then, I got back to my phone.  We have photos people - - photos!

That you want to see!

Like the sweet ride we had the whole time we were there. [please remember the Pita is 6'8" without shoes].

awesome.

It was like a go-cart on wheels.  Yes, dad it got great gas mileage.

And this seriously had me rolling on the 2X2" floor of the car.

Made Pita pull over & stop the go-cart for this one.  The pita:  Em, they are just pink sheep.  Me:  just pink sheep?!? Like that's normal [tears of laughter flow].

This was sad but noteworthy.

Where the last episode of the Bachelor was filmed.  The "eagles Nest".   

Pretty sweet place.

There is just no explanation for this.

We saw 8 total while driving.  Yep, pig skins.  So.  Gross.

You know only a man would do that.  I have pig skins - hear me roar!  oink.  oink.

The trash can I loved.

I was a tidy kiwi spouse.

Well, that's all I'll bore you with today my friends.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I'm beginning my countdown to this.

I.  Can't.  Wait!

Emz-ology

Let others know a little lot more about yourself, repost this as your name followed by “ology.”




Q. What is your salad dressing of choice?

A. Balsamic vin


Q. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?

A. Chipotle


Q. What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?

A. Hana [sushi].


Q. On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?

A. 20%



Q. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick off of?

A. carrot cake



Q. What marathon would you run if you could run ANY one you wanted?

A. NYC



Q. What are your pizza toppings of choice?

A. Canadian bacon & mushrooms



Q. What do you like to put on your toast?

A. almond butter



Q. What is your favorite type of gum?

A. The whitening kind



TECHNOLOGY



Q. Number of contacts in your cell phone?

A: if I had my cell phone, I could tell you. [ugggggg!! - Pita's sister -- PLEASE SEND IT!!!!]



Q. Number of contacts in your email address book?

A. 146



Q. What is your wallpaper on your computer?

A. This picture.  My favorite family photo. ;)

Q. How many televisions are in your house?

A. 5



BIOLOGY



Q. Are you right-handed or left-handed?

A. right



Q. What’s your best feature?

A. Well......the body part I am least unhappy with are my abs.


Q. Have you ever had anything removed from your body?

A. no, unless a teacher pulling Peanut off my leg at age 4 counts?!



Q. Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?

A. SMELL - without a doubt -- SMELL



Q. When was the last time you had a cavity?

A. three years ago



Q. What is the heaviest item you lifted last?

A. a filing cabinet



Q. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?

A. no.  I pass out pretty good on my own.



BULL[CRAP]OLOGY



Q. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?

A. No. I want to live for today, not tomorrow or November 14, 2014.



Q. Is love for real?

A. Absolutely.



Q. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

A. Savannah



Q. What color do you think looks best on you?

A. Blue or green but I am true to my black & white.



Q. Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?

A. No comment.



Q. Have you ever saved someone’s life?

A. Maybe.



Q. Has someone ever saved yours?

A. In an emotional way . . . absolutely.



DAREOLOGY



Q. Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000?

A. Sure, if that street was in Waipu, NZ.  I'd only have to worry about the animals seeing me.  What?  It's still public.  It's a city!!



Q. Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000

A. No.  way.



Q. Would you never blog again for $50,000?

A. Not after the blog-friendships I've made - no way.



Q. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?

A. ehhhh, why not.



Q. Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?

A. Yes, If I can watch Modern Family on Hulu.com



DUMBOLOGY



Q: What is in your left pocket

A. Uh, nothing.



Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?

A: Abso-freaking-lutely



Q: Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house?

A: Neither.  Concrete.



Q: Do you sit or stand in the shower?

A: Umm, what kind of freak show sits in the shower?



Q: Could you live with roommates?

A: ummmm, apparently, I can.



Q: How many pairs of flip flops do you own?

A: 5 [it's AZ folks!]



Q: Where were you born?

A: Phoenix, AZ



Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: what I am today [just a better version]



Q: Who is number 1 on your top 8

A: Pita



LASTOLOGY



Q: Friend you talked to?

A: hmmmm, "talked" - I emailed Kim & Judi this morning.  Talked to would have to be my sweet Mum, last night.



Q: Last person you called?

A: My Mamma!



Q: Person you hugged?

A: The pita as he left for work



Q: Person you kissed?

A: Peanut, she just woke up.



Q: Number?

A: 4  [is there any other number?!]



Q: Color?

A: blue



Q: Season?

A: winter [winter in AZ is spring for the rest of you]



CURRENTOLOGY



Q: Missing someone?

A: Cassandra



Q: Mood?

A: sore.  [is that a mood?]  calm/quieter than normal and sore.



Q: Listening to?

A: sponge bob in the other room.  man, I hate his voice.



Q: Watching?

A. I'm not that talented.  It takes all my concentration to type.



Q: Worrying about?

A: I'd change it to "thinking about" . . . . future plans.



RANDOMOLOGY



Q: First place you went this morning?

A: funny.  McDonald's.  On Thursday's, I don't make breakfast for the Pita.



Q: What can you not wait to do?

A: Go to back to sleep tonight.  Stopped taking ambien after 2 months.  I swear I am going through detox.



Q: What’s the last movie you saw?

A: Edge of Darkness



Q: Do you smile often?

A: a lot, actually



Q: Are you a friendly person?

A: I think so.



Q: Now that the survey's done what are you going to do?

A: Hurry and get ready to get my hair done --- yippee!!



Let others know a little more about yourself, repost this as your name followed by “ology.”

You're MY brown eyed girl

Dear Peanut,

Ten years ago today . . . .There I was, a brand new mother cradling my new bundle of love. You were perfect, and so beautiful. After [what felt like] a lifetime of wondering what motherhood was all about, my moment had finally arrived. I was ready to mold and shape and inspire and do all those wonderful life-changing things mothers are to do.

But I quickly realized that you didn't want to start doing all the mother-daughter things with me just yet. You couldn't bake with me. And you weren’t ready to run or even swing on the swings. In fact, all you really wanted to do was eat, and sleep. And then eat, sleep & poop. And finally, you’d eat, and then sleep.

And there I was, alone most days in our quiet condo. Your Dad was working four days a week from 6am-6pm. So we had a lot of time to spend together. Everyday, I'd clean the house (that took all of 20 minutes.) I'd bake something. I’d clean the one VERY big window that looked out over the parking lot. I'd have our dinner plans organized by 9:00am. I'd color coordinate your baby clothes. I'd straighten your diapers...again. And again. And then I'd look out that one big window. Sigh. So much for changing the world.

One thing has certainly changed - -  you are now ten years old. You have beautiful long, brown hair and you’ve always been daddy’s little brown eyed girl. You are smart, [insanely] funny, and have a wickedly serious imagination. And I miss you everyday as you bounce off to day camp this summer.

I found a paper you wrote last month in school. Here is a portion of what it said:

"I love my Mom. My Mom has two jobs. Her first job is being my Mom. Her second job is buying a lot of clothes to sell. However, even though my Mom does very well at job #2, she does a better at job #1. HELPING ME!" And then, in her [then 9 year old] wisdom, she said, "I can help change the world by being a Mom. Mom’s teach children."

Your words pierce through me [especially today]. I think back to those simpler, condo days. How quickly time has slipped through my hands. Now, especially, as I long for the time [back] to look into your eyes without any other responsibility or interruption. As for dinner? You know, I'm usually scrambling to get it on the table by 6:30. And you certainly know I do not color coordinate your clothes. You’re lucky if I fold them!

But today as your father &I celebrate the life of you ---- my healthy, funny, talented, emotional, understanding & thoughtful Peanut. I cannot help but feel grateful. Blessed. Loved. Lucky to have you to share my life with.

You are my #1.

I am proud to be your Mom.

Happy "Double Digit" Birthday Peanut.

Love,
Your Mom
[ok, fine, and Dad too] ;)

8 days & 1 rant = not bad

Peanut:  Ummm, we're staying here?  This is no resort.

Ahhhh, my little Peanut.  Run.  Run for your life.

Oh man, how she should have begged to take that statement back.

[little info to help]

We love Priceline.  We should own stock in Priceline.  Seriously.  A resort for $55 a night?  With a flat screen tv/bubble jet bath tub/a tv to watch while in the bathtub/slides at the pools/fun little sample size offerings in the bathroom [her fav]/etc.  Love it.

Hokianga . . . . let me just say . . . .  beautiful.  amazing.  breath-taking.  they have no idea what resort means.  We were in NZ in the "off" season = great rates = happier wallet for us.  So when we found we could stay at the "resort" for an insanely great rate - we swooped it up.   Much to Peanut's dismay - this in all fairness - did look like a motel 6.

Then it hit. 

Well, his words hit. 

For like - e v e r. 
or
7 minutes that felt like the most hilarious 7 minutes I had ever witnessed. 

A father.  trying.  to.  explain.  what.  life.  was.  like.  for.  him.  growing.  up.  without.  resorts.

Rant:

"did you really just say that.  you can sleep in the car.  when I was a kid [Me - thinking-ahhhh crap, here it comes]  we didn't get to stay in hotels we were broke.  I didn't have an ipod or mp3 or napster or cable.  heck, I hardly even got to watch TV I had so many chores to do and when I did.....it was usually whatever he [step-dad] was watching and even then I just had to stand up every 2 minutes and change the channel, by hand!
 
it continued [I had to go into the bathroom at this point, sorry kid.  I was crying I was laughing so hard and it wasn't making the Pita any happier]

..... no playstation 3, no atari even!  No frogger, no mario . . . ya guess what we didn't have a computer or internet or [gasp] google?!?  no microwave popcorn [not sure what that one was about], no caller ID, no call waiting, no call declining, no voicemail, no texting, no cell phones.  No DVD's no blu-ray.  You are spoiled Peanut.  So SUCK IT UP and enjoy the resort life in Hokianga!" 

HOLY ________!

I peeked my door open to see the damage - in true Peanut fashion - her first words were.  "oooooooooo kkkkkkkkk aaaaaa yyyyyyy.  got it.  So Mom, wanna go to the beach?"

Ummm, you better believe it.  I'm outta here!

So this is how we got these sweet pictures - Peanut has a thing for flowers in her photos.  Yep, she took them.

Enjoy!

Man, I'm just happy he left out that "walking 5 miles, up hill both ways" part.