Monkey took the pictures, I think he did a pretty good job.
Vicky
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Mardi Gras
Here's our pooch... decked out in Pretty Pretty Princess necklaces and rings. She's all set for Mardis Gras.
Vicky
Vicky
Chicago Toy and Game Fair Giveaway!!!
ATTENTION ALL CHICAGOLAND FAMILIES!!!
I plan on going, letting the kids play and have a wonderful time. Yes, you read that! The kids can play with the toys, it's the ultimate toy store! Christmas and birthdays are coming up, I can see every type of toy out there in one place, under one roof. I may be more excited than the kids.
From Star Wars Breakfasts to a Young Inventor's Challenge, there's something for everyone.
The Fair is November 19th and 20th at Navy Pier. Tickets would run $5 for kids ages 3-13 and $10 ages 14 and up. I have FIVE FAMILY PASSES to give away from now until the fair (parking is NOT included). One pass will be given away on every Tuesday from now until the fair. The first drawing will be on Tuesday the 18th at 8pm cst.
But Vicky, how do I get these tickets? Simple! Leave a comment for each entry with your email in a [name at this place dot com] so I know who you are.
Mandatory entry (sorry, there's gotta be a mandatory entry right?).
1. Follow my blog and post why you'd like to go
Each of the following is one extra entry, be sure to make each entry in a new comment.
1. Go to ChiTAG and tell me what you'd like to look at while there. ChiTAG's blog
2. Follow me on Twitter
3. Tweet about this and post the link back here
4. Post on facebook, your blog, or some other social media site that I probably don't know about and post the link
Good luck to you!
Week 1 Winner: tragicoptimist - congratulations!
Week 2 Winner: Kelly - Congratulations!
Week 3 Winner: Katie - Congratulations!
Week 4 Winner: Lori - Congratulations!
Week 5 Winner: Brandi - Congratulations!
Vicky
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Supporting a good cause?
I have no self control. I have long since decided this. I really just need to stop looking at all the adorable diapers out there but I just can't see to break away. Like any addict, I convince myself that this time will be different, this time I won't click on that button, this time the diapers will be kind of cute instead of stinkin' adorable, I tell myself that "I'm just looking, I'm not going to buy anything". Before long, I have clicked and bought another set of wool longies, 2 more diapers, an extra soaker and a diaper that was for auction. This diaper though, was for a good cause! The WAHM that makes them is sending half of the money for Breast Cancer Awareness. It's a good cause! It's ok then right? This will definitely be my last purchase for the next 1 1/2 year that Bug is in diapers. I am done. Forever.
...Or until I see another adorable diaper.
Vicky
...Or until I see another adorable diaper.
How could I NOT buy it. Right?
Vicky
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Pizza Soup
This is my own soup, my husband named it. I've tried breaking from it, but like so many things, once it's been named, you can't change it. The recipe makes a huge pot so be prepared for either company, lots of leftovers, or freezing. The soup has a nice zest without being spicy.
1 lb ground Italian sausage, browned (I use mild)
1/2 stick or 5-6" pepperoni sliced and quartered
1 can tomato paste
2 diced tomatoes
1 diced onion
1 red pepper, chopped
3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
1 can or 1 sm carton fresh mushrooms, sliced and broken in pieces
1 chicken bullion cube
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
oregano
basil
pepper
celery flakes
Either pasta (we use 1/2 box of the mini fusilli) or Italian/French bread
I don't measure any of my spices, I just add them. I also forgot to add the celery flakes and it tasted just fine without.
Add everything to the pot except the carrots, pasta and mushrooms. Add carrots and mushrooms 1/2 hour before you plan to eat.
Cook for as long as you like. I've let it cook for a couple of hours but the other day I was out doing errands and only had about an hour to do all the chopping, browning and cooking. It still tasted great.
Vicky
1 lb ground Italian sausage, browned (I use mild)
1/2 stick or 5-6" pepperoni sliced and quartered
1 can tomato paste
2 diced tomatoes
1 diced onion
1 red pepper, chopped
3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
1 can or 1 sm carton fresh mushrooms, sliced and broken in pieces
1 chicken bullion cube
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
oregano
basil
pepper
celery flakes
Either pasta (we use 1/2 box of the mini fusilli) or Italian/French bread
I don't measure any of my spices, I just add them. I also forgot to add the celery flakes and it tasted just fine without.
Add everything to the pot except the carrots, pasta and mushrooms. Add carrots and mushrooms 1/2 hour before you plan to eat.
Cook for as long as you like. I've let it cook for a couple of hours but the other day I was out doing errands and only had about an hour to do all the chopping, browning and cooking. It still tasted great.
Vicky
Thou shall obey thy mother and father...
Hubby and I were getting dinner ready and the older two were sitting at the table. I had asked Sunshine to do something and she had whined a "but, but, but" at me. Hubby jumps in and tells her she needs to obey her mother. Sunshine asks, What's obey mean? A legitimate question, I don't think I've ever used the word before.
So I explain. "When I tell you to go upstairs and brush your teeth and you go upstairs and do it right away, that is obeying me. When I tell you to go upstairs and brush your teeth and you don't or you complain and whine, that is disobeying me." I thought it was a pretty good explanation personally.
"Oooohhhhh." She seems to get it.
I decide to push it and ask them, "So do you like to obey Mommy (said with a nice happy smile), or do you like to disobey Mommy (said with that warning voice you learn when you become a mom)?"
Sunshine thinks... "I like to... obey Mommy." Good girl.
I foolishly ask Monkey then. His reply,
"Um, I liiiiike... to disobey Mommy."
At least he's honest.
Vicky
So I explain. "When I tell you to go upstairs and brush your teeth and you go upstairs and do it right away, that is obeying me. When I tell you to go upstairs and brush your teeth and you don't or you complain and whine, that is disobeying me." I thought it was a pretty good explanation personally.
"Oooohhhhh." She seems to get it.
I decide to push it and ask them, "So do you like to obey Mommy (said with a nice happy smile), or do you like to disobey Mommy (said with that warning voice you learn when you become a mom)?"
Sunshine thinks... "I like to... obey Mommy." Good girl.
I foolishly ask Monkey then. His reply,
"Um, I liiiiike... to disobey Mommy."
At least he's honest.
Vicky
Friday, October 7, 2011
Piddle Poddles Review
Over the summer I saw a post on my cloth diaper board about Piddle Poddles and their "Cadillac" diaper. Intrigued, as I always am when it comes to fluff, I headed over to the website to check it out. I couldn't believe my luck, they were having a 1/2 price sale! Awesome, Paypal here we come!
Back up about 15 minutes. I would like to add that I did read about the diaper and didn't just look at the cute fabrics. The 'Cadillac' is an AI2 diaper with waterproof PUL on the outside. The inner layer is a combination of microfleece and organic bamboo fleece. The double snap-in soaker is organic bamboo fleece and organic bamboo velour and is soooo, soooo soft. I didn't want to wash it and risk loosing the silkiness (good news, multiple washes later and it's still soft). The legs are turned and topstitched so there's no ouchie rubbing against their little legs. Piddle Poddles claims to have been tested all night for 10+ hours with no cover.
Wait, what? Ten hours with no cover in an AI2? Now I have some pretty sturdy diapers that have held up for 4 or 5 hours but beyond that, I usually need some kind of cover. - Please realize, I do NOT have every type of diaper out there - yet.
Even more intrigued. I always enjoy testing if someone's "claims" are for real, I went ahead and bought one. It's an adorable owl diaper with brown snaps, brown thread and coordinating brown thread on the soaker so I will know that this is the exact soaker that goes with this diaper. Yes, I am that anal.
It arrives, it's prepped and it's promptly put on Bug's butt. This has a fold-down rise and I must say that I really like it. I've had a couple with this type of rise but the never laid flat for me or the rise would then be too short. This has a nice high rise for all babies. He wore it quite a few times, even going out of the house when he ended up wearing it overnight. It just kind of happened, I was at my parents' house, put the diaper on him and he fell asleep on the way home. He slept for 9 hours and was still completely dry.
I now have 2 more of her diapers and 2 on the way.
Robin is upfront about the timeline and turnaround on the diapers. She gets back to you quickly and professionally. She also regularly has sales so if you miss one, you're bound to get in on another.
You can find her store on Hyenacart at:
http://hyenacart.com/piddlepoddles/
Vicky
Back up about 15 minutes. I would like to add that I did read about the diaper and didn't just look at the cute fabrics. The 'Cadillac' is an AI2 diaper with waterproof PUL on the outside. The inner layer is a combination of microfleece and organic bamboo fleece. The double snap-in soaker is organic bamboo fleece and organic bamboo velour and is soooo, soooo soft. I didn't want to wash it and risk loosing the silkiness (good news, multiple washes later and it's still soft). The legs are turned and topstitched so there's no ouchie rubbing against their little legs. Piddle Poddles claims to have been tested all night for 10+ hours with no cover.
Wait, what? Ten hours with no cover in an AI2? Now I have some pretty sturdy diapers that have held up for 4 or 5 hours but beyond that, I usually need some kind of cover. - Please realize, I do NOT have every type of diaper out there - yet.
Even more intrigued. I always enjoy testing if someone's "claims" are for real, I went ahead and bought one. It's an adorable owl diaper with brown snaps, brown thread and coordinating brown thread on the soaker so I will know that this is the exact soaker that goes with this diaper. Yes, I am that anal.
It arrives, it's prepped and it's promptly put on Bug's butt. This has a fold-down rise and I must say that I really like it. I've had a couple with this type of rise but the never laid flat for me or the rise would then be too short. This has a nice high rise for all babies. He wore it quite a few times, even going out of the house when he ended up wearing it overnight. It just kind of happened, I was at my parents' house, put the diaper on him and he fell asleep on the way home. He slept for 9 hours and was still completely dry.
Enjoying his new diaper, but not being very cooperative for the camera!
I now have 2 more of her diapers and 2 on the way.
Robin is upfront about the timeline and turnaround on the diapers. She gets back to you quickly and professionally. She also regularly has sales so if you miss one, you're bound to get in on another.
You can find her store on Hyenacart at:
http://hyenacart.com/piddlepoddles/
Vicky
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Crock pot potato soup
I wish I could take credit for this, but alas, I cannot. It takes a bit of effort since you do need to get it ready in the morning. I think next time I'll make the bacon and use the leftovers for the soup instead of making the bacon for soup then eating the rest of bacon as I put it in the fridge.
2 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried dill weed
1/2 tsp ground white pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups (1 pint) half and half cream
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
DIRECTIONS:
1. Lightly brown the onion with a small amount of butter or margarine.
2. Put onions, condensed soup, water, potatoes, salt, dill weed, and white pepper in crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW 6 - 7 hours stirring occasionally.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and half and half. Stir into the soup along with the evaporated milk and bacon. Cover and cook another 30 minutes before serving.
Serve with chives and cheddar cheese.
Vicky
5 large potatoes, diced - not sure how large a large potato is, I had too many in mine, I'll need to try less
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cans of condensed chicken soup2 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried dill weed
1/2 tsp ground white pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups (1 pint) half and half cream
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
6 slices of bacon, cut into 1/2" pieces - Hubby said 6 was not enough but I thought it was fine
DIRECTIONS:
1. Lightly brown the onion with a small amount of butter or margarine.
2. Put onions, condensed soup, water, potatoes, salt, dill weed, and white pepper in crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW 6 - 7 hours stirring occasionally.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and half and half. Stir into the soup along with the evaporated milk and bacon. Cover and cook another 30 minutes before serving.
Serve with chives and cheddar cheese.
Vicky
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)