Southern girl plowing her way through life making the rules up as she goes. Warning: likes to bake, curse, quote movies/literature, is tattooed, married to The Man and mother of two girls. We bring new meaning to the "griswald way of life". Come along for the ride!



Life is My Highway

Montana and North Dakota have become home.... dang it lol.

These Girls

Lord help me but these babies wear me out.... they are just perfect!

Superheroes

Yes, it's from last winter but I adore this shot...so us....

Duchess

This kid glows from the inside out... my almost 11 year old!

We are so smexy!

Favorite sport: embarrassing our kids in public

Princess

My mini-me is finding her own way in life

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

I Said Good Day.....

There is nothing like a child that knows her own mind...a child that will stand up for HER beliefs and her wants/needs rather than even think of yours....this is a child that will go places....I have to tell myself this or I will cry.

This is pretty much the response I got earlier from the 4 year old duchess when told to clear the table.....yes well as interesting as that may be (heard in my head in a Dexter voice) I am much too busy playing restaurant and dealing with all that drama...I'm sure you can make the older child clean your kitchen.....

With a flick of her ponytail I was dismissed....crap, should have given them less royal nicknames on here, it's bleeding over into their personal lives! And hair tugging is not bad parenting, not when said hair was flicked in your face....

Monday, July 30, 2007

Beauty Day....


I decided to stop fighting nature. I'm gonna quit trying to obtain the glamorous streaky natural looking (but not really) hair color that I see on just about everyone else but me and I'm gonna stick with as close to natural as possible. I'll just fight my grays when they come back, cause yep, I have a ton of gray hair but The Man refuses to let me "go gray".

Except, my natural is wayyyyyyyy natural. Let me explain, my true hair color is extremely similar to that of my daughters, however over the years, L'Oreal and I have done alot of changing. So as the years go by, my roots get darker....and darker until it's now almost as dark as The Mans......I'm kinda in shock here......
So while I'm at the salon "going natural", Princess and Duchess were angels. I mean truly they were angelic. It was down-right scary! I think The Man bribed them, or their Mimi, somebody got to them before me.....lucky girls.


They kept everyone entertained as they did each other's hair....cause as Duchess put it, "mommy was getting her hair painted".


There was braiding involved and luckily we looked up in time to get the shears away from Duchess who was fixing to scalp her sister! Then they put in mousse and other assorted products the women kept tossing their way, cause they were too cute....and they got me a discount on some awesome iron spray.





So here I am in my natural glory! The Man kinda likes it. My eyebrows haven't actually matched my hair like this since 1993.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Why Don't I Remember This?

Last night over dinner my mother (who lives in my basement) and Princess were chatting. At one point, my mom starts telling her about how I reacted when she said No, I couldn't go to prom my freshman year.....

Apparently I pushed her into a display of canned goods in the grocery store....

Why can't I remember this? This would have been awesome! Sorry mom but come on....

Meanwhile Princess has these huge eyes as she looks back and forth between me and my mom. So I find myself justifiying why I was so angry therefore pushed my mother. It went downhill from there....

Well thanks to you, my boyfriend turned around and took my best friend as his date!

Yeah well be glad, his kids are really ugly...... (silence)

That is so wrong, take it back. All kids are cute.

Nope, my mom assured me, not true.

Uh-huh....

Nope, U-G-L-Y......

I can't help but wonder what Princess got out of that whole conversation?

Thursday, July 26, 2007

There she goes

Princess is determined to grow up. Sigh, this hurts my heart but it's true. She volunteered to cut her Princess hair off, and by that I mean the hair that has been waist length for quite some time. With science camp coming up very soon, we were worried that she would have trouble keeping her hair under control by herself cause face it, it's kinda roughing it people...it's not the Mariott.

So this past Sunday, I welled up and got the sniffles and had to leave the salon and go shop while they finished cutting her hair. Sigh, it's still below her shoulders but not by much.

Oh and they found curls in there too....huh!

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Wordless Wednesday


Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Somethings Gonna Give

Well since I've quit smoking (^$#$^&**%$# *). It's been 39 days. And 21 hours. Cause yeah I am detailed oriented and I know it's also been 27 minutes too. Since my last smoke.

However, I can officially confirm that the whole "quit smoking and gain weight thing" is true.

I have gained 20 lbs in those 39 days, 21 hours and 27 minutes.


F***!

The only bright light at the end of my tunnel is the fact that even at my current weight I'm still smaller than I was when I graduated high school, yes!

So this is my no-sh*t calling out...gonna start addressing this.... this weight thing!

Sigh, I miss smoking. Everything was alot simpler.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Left the House again...

Call the World Records Books, cause we actually left the house again, to sight see....twice in six months! We're on a roll people. Full of pancakes, ham and hashbrowns....we lost ourselves high in the mountains....
I love this shot, the sun coming through the trees gave off this awesome blur as we were heading downhill, quite fast actually, The Man kinda likes the sharp turns....it was also where the girls started to lose interest in the trees and really got into the Root Beer and Starburst from the emergency snack run before we started the mountain climb.
The distance we were able to drive up in the mountains was amazing. The temp dropped 22 degrees from the valley below to the top, all up in the canopies of trees.
It was about here that the first massive Root Beer and Starburst burp rattled the windows...Princess had some depth in there!

We came across a perfect fishing spot, The Man was fit to be tied that he didn't have ANY fishing gear at all...cause what kind of woman goes anywhere without her rod and reel in the trunk?
Did you know that Root Beer and Starburst combined makes alot of gas?
Again, we were going a little too fast for a great shot. The Man really is quite the driver, he was actually trying to pass this one cyclist who kept passing US! The old guy was a stud!

I've got this thing about fences. Probably cause I have this obsession with the white picket fence. I so need to get me a house with a white picket fence. The blur on this last pic isn't from the speed as we drove by when I took the picture. I literally jump out of my skin when the last Root Beer and Starburst burp ripped through the car....

So I leave you with this....do not mix Root Beer and Starburst!

Friday, July 20, 2007

OCD? Maybe a tiny little bit?

Pretty sure that they offer help for this....next up, the hair and nail accessories!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Down Right Irritating

Sometimes you just have to be silly, or you could be normal like most people and go through your entire adult life being serious and productive. I prefer silly.

There are many stages to silly: laughing so hard you begin gasping for air and try not to wet your pants or giggle fest or even silly face time....

The Man can be silly with the best, however when he's not in the mood, it kinda just eggs me on...
So here Duchess and I are doign the whole cheesy picture thing....
Then the tongue comes out and we do all sorts of weird mouth moves.....

Then we combine the two......

Can you see why I lost it here and the gigglefest quickly went into hysterical, can't stop my self, can't breathe laughter.......he was so not in the mood....

Duchess didn't let that bother her either. Her and puppy joined right in.........

Monday, July 16, 2007

She's Got This!

Duchess is our youngest! In the past two years, her health has taken such an amazing turn for the better, that we still tend to shelter her. However, she is growing up and really trying new things. The latest is her bike. The bike that has sat in the garage since Christmas. She has sat on it twice, not pedaled, sat. So the other day, when I was talked into taking Princess on a bike ride, Duchess decided she was going, and as a bonus, so I couldn't say no, she volunteered to wear the hat.....she hates the safety hat. So The Man decided to tag along....here we goooooooooo

Starting out, she was very excited! Woohoo, I'm going for a bike ride. And I'm wearing new flip flops, yes!
I can almost see the sweat popping out on her forehead here, she is starting to pedal and keeps looking back at me like, "You gonna push anytime soon?"

Princess is literally flying around her in circles. Princess is a die hard bike fan, can you tell, that is a monster of a mountain bike she has there.....

We finally got off our little street and onto the main drive. She is determined to catch up to her sister, who is out of sight by now, waiting at the flagpole. But that didn't stop Duchess from yelling at her....constantly....while gasping for breath and pumping those little legs....

At this point, she is really going along. Good speed, good pace, only slightly red-faced.


Until she hit the fence and bumpy road...then she kept veering towards the fence. She was also really tired but refused to give in. So The Man kicked in to keep her on the straight and narrow.


We finally turned around and on our way back, the *&$&^()_ sprinklers came on, so we hit the road as so not to get soaked. Princess is moving right along....


And here is Duchess on the home stretch, the house is in sight and she couldn't be happier. She is already muttering about needing to lay down with a milk and watch some cartoons cause she is really hot. Poor little red face....
What impresses me the most is that once she made her mind that she was gonna ride that bike, she went whole hog. She gets that from The Man.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Mental Vacation

I love a good book. I read for "mental vacations", the losing oneself in another reality. I have traveled through time, I have danced in Victorian ballrooms and I have taken care to not read NOT ONE love scene. The Man can vouch for that, I would never read those......ummm ever.

Any who....occassionally I come across a writer that I stalk become a loyal subject of. Yep, I have stalked eagerly researched several writers, I know when to the date their next book is coming out. I belong to their newsletters and I have even written them emails, how utterly un-cool, but true. I adore them, they are like really good friends, who have no clue I exist or even care that I exist....hmmm sad really.

To the ever growing list of writers: I add the Paladin series, just click on the washboard abs to go to the website to get an idea of this series. I dare ya.....just finished the new one. Now I've already set a calendar notice for the next one coming in December! Yeah baby!

After you finish drooling over these, I highly recomment: Janet Evanovich, Linda Lael Miller, Nora Roberts (ohhh loving the Irish ones), Julia Quinn and my all time favorite.... Karen Marie Moning.

So read away, take a mental vacation on me....send me a postcard. Oh and if you have any authors that I can stalk enjoy, send them my way.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Feisty Monkey Bites Back

I had intended to write today about my ongoing project: quitting smoking. However when looking for an appropriate picture, graphic or cartoon, I got this instead "Feisty Monkey Bites Back". Well that was good reading, took my mind off smoking.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

He makes me melt....

Yep, The Man and I are approaching 10 years of wedded torture bliss. However, we have actually been together longer. Very rarely does he surprise me, but when he does....watch out. Like the midnight dinner cruise for two around the bay for one anniversary? Yep, killer. Candlelight people, it was by candlelight!

So I know that he can do wonderful things....

No matter what you say, a diamond is truly a girls' best friend.....he picked it out: three stones....one for each daughter and one for him.....that makes me melt.

Yeah, this is me driving to work, looking at my hand. Can you tell that I like it?

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

They Clean Up Good...

Heading to Church *Yes that is an ax on my wall. We collect alot of Native American things.

I agree.....

"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other constant bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."

ARTICLE I: You do NOT have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes . (This one is my pet peeve...get an education and go to work....don't expect everyone else to take care of you!)

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! (Lastly....)

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!

Friday, July 6, 2007

What did you do for the 4?

Fourth of July was spent stuffing our face with way too much food. Ribs, two different kinds of marinated shrimp, potato salad, rolls and you get the idea. Way too much food. So afterwards instead of a nap (like The Man) us girls went to the park. My kids are just too cool!

Princess just finished up tumbling for the year. Next year she moves onto ballet, sniff sniff. So off she goes.......
And when she lands, she did this.....tuperware people, she is tuperware!
Duchess then announced that she would also perform that trick....

So she starts off, and then tries again, cause in her tumbling class .... hello.... there is a spotter. Where is my spotter????? I can't work under these conditions!

Ahhhh, here is her spotter, to the rescue......


At this point, I got snacky and put the camera down and was licking shrimp off my fingers. Duchess might not be tuperware but dang, she is persistant and gives a good show!

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Planning the Party

The Man and I will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary soon. I can wait. Simply cause we are horrible planners. We can plan a 1700 mile total house relocation but we can't agree on date night plans. We have issues.


However, I can't believe I'm saying this....we're trying to plan a cruise. Several people we know have went recently and raved about it, so we're looking a cruise.....

Do you realize how much planning goes into one of these?

Very little. Pick a date, pay for it, you're done!

So why is it that we can't even pick a date yet?

10 years and counting, and still learning to compromise!

Monday, July 2, 2007

Countdown Begins...

The countdown to the 4th of July has begun. I love the 4th! It's not just that I get a paid day off work, although that helps! It's not just because of the idea of freedom for our country! No, it's mainly because I love food.

There are so many ways to cook All-American food that I lose count. But my favorite is the hot dog. I don't want to know what's in it....I just love it.

I'm not a hot dog snob. I don't care if it's beef, chicken or turkey. I don't care if it's Chicago style (yeah baby!), Chilli-ed up, or even plain.
However, the 4th is the time of year to publically declare my love for the SAUCE DOG.
A small diner in my hometown served SAUCE DOGs when I was growing up.

The secret to the bbq-ey tasting sauce was so heavily guarded that the owner supposedly made it at home, brought it in and when that batch was gone, that was it people. I ate there often, smacking my way through sauce dogs left and right. Never thinking that there could be a world without sauce dogs. Until I left home. I even told The Man about them and on the first "Family Visit" trip back home, he got to taste the bliss that was a sauce dog. And didn't even question why I ordered six to go and then put them in my purse.

But after that fateful visit, the diner closed and withit, the recipe for SAUCE DOGs....closed with it. Sniff, sniff, the though makes me tear up still today.

Now, does the memory of the sauce dog taste better than the actual sauce itself? Has the sauce dog become the "one that got away"?

Stay tuned, I think I've found a recipe people and I'm gonna try it out....on the 4th....With my new hotdog grillers*....
*You know I would never buy anything so tasteless, so I'm gonna have my friend purchase them for me. The look upon The Man's face will be compensation enough....