Happy Halloween!!

Yay! Tip Junkie is doing another Talk to Me Tuesday with Mr. Linky!




AND The Lazy Organizer is doing a Halloween Talk About Tuesday!

After reading Kat's post about Halloween, I dug through boxes of (very unorganized) photos to see if I could find a few pictures of some crazy Halloween costumes I had made. I dug for two hours, but could only find one picture of a few of my crazy costumes.

This costume was from 1994 and I was a Pumpkin Troll. Remember them? Let me refresh.














There was a troll doll for everything! Cheerleader Troll, Basketball Player Troll, Chef Troll, Zebra Troll, S & M Troll...Okay, they didn't have an S & M Troll. OR DID THEY??? You go ahead and research that. On to the costume!



















People could not believe that was my hair and not a wig. Trust me, it was my hair and I had the snarls for a week to prove it! It would have been a great time to start my dreadlock (that would be in the singular because I only have enough hair to have one).

Tonight, I am taking the midget over to a friend's house for chili (and Pumpkin Pie Martinis courtesy of moi) before we go trick-or-treating.

By the way, here's bumblebee midget. Isn't she too cute for words? And yes, she was not real pleased at her mommie, hence the puffy eyes, red nose, and snotty face. Oh well, it's cute anyway!

Cranberry Breakfast Bread

My mother-in-law graciously passed on her cranberry bread recipe to me. It has a very interesting consistency and the taste is amazing! I made a few modifications and it turned out great! I made a double batch and baked it in a large stoneware casserole. You have to try this--it is simply scrumptious!!

Cranberry Bread

2 cups flour
3/4 cup splenda
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons coconut oil
juice of one orange
2 teaspoons orange zest
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 cup cranberries, halved
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x5x3 loaf pan.

Mix together flour, splenda, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest. Cut coconut oil into the dry ingredients--it will resemble cornmeal. Set aside.

Add water to orange juice to make 3/4 cup of liquid. Pour into separate bowl and add egg and cheese.

Pour into dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Fold in cranberries and almonds.

Bake in prepared loaf pan for 50-65 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Let loaf stand at least 8 hours before serving. Texture will be crumbly, a bit like cornbread.

Leelou Launch Party

One of my favorite blog designers, Leelou Blogs, is having a super fantastic launch party with tons of giveaways! Leelou designs adorable FREE blog backgrounds, but also does custom designs at a reasonable price! Go check it out by hitting the button above!

Stay Tuned!!

I'm almost back in the land of the living! I'll see you soon!

Here's a Sneak Peek at a post for tomorrow evening. Guesses anyone?

I'm Featured on Tip Junkie Today!!

I had to take a break from all the craziness going on at my house to welcome Tip Junkie readers! I'm featured today on Tip Junkie for how to make your own button for your Blogger blog! Take a look around!! If you like what you see, please subscribe! I love making new bloggy friends!



Be sure to see my post on how to make a favicon for your Blogger blog.

It's Going to be a Cran-tastic Week!

Happy Monday everyone! I have a crazy week ahead of me, so please forgive me for not commenting on your posts this week! I will try to catch up at the end of the week as best I can.


In addition to still not having started my quilt for Soldier's Angels nor my Halloween cards (which need to be sent out no later than Friday), my husband brought home ten pounds of Cranberries this weekend that I need to tend to. TEN POUNDS, FOLKS! There is going to be a lot of activity going on in my house this week!!

In a grand attempt to sabotage my productiveness, my coffeemaker decided to take a crap on me this morning, so I need to go take it back so I can get everything completed this week! Aaaaaack!! At least this involves a drive near the love of my life--Chik-fil-A!! Yippeee!!! The closest one is 45 minutes away, so I have to take my chicken sandwich lovin' when I can get it!

Seven Random Things Tag

Dr. Wifey tagged me to do a meme of seven random things about myself. Because I have several things to do that I am procrastinating, I am actually completing this tag in less than a week from the time of tag. Plus I haven't done a real post since Wednesday and I'm feeling a little guilty...

So here are your seven random-ish things:

1. In addition to being a classically trained vocalist, I am also a classically trained violinist and have played since I was 10 years old. In High School, I went to All-State Orchestra, sat first chair, second violins in both our Full and Chamber Orchestra, and played with my hometown's symphony for a few seasons.

2. I am obsessed with forensic crime shows and pretty much always have the television on a true crime show when I get to choose what to watch. Cold Case Files, New Detectives, FBI Files, Snapped, I could go on and on. Macabre, yes, but would you expect anything less from a Mortician's daughter??

3. I HATE those live traffic feeders that appear on people's blogs!!! I know most of you have sitemeter and I'm okay with that, but for some reason, having the whole world know I have arrived on this blog via that blog feels like a massive invasion of privacy!! Okay, so I'm totally paranoid--I admit it! Like some comment I make on your blog is going to make one of your visitors track down where I live and come find me, kidnap me, and make me say witty things?? Oh yeah, and all that information is also available on my profile anyway. I know it's completely and totally irrational, so just shut up and get Sitemeter, m'kay???

4. I do not like tomatoes or green peppers, but I will eat them. I like tomatoes if they are cooked, but raw ones practically gag me if I eat them by themselves. If they are on a sandwich, I can usually make it through half the sandwich and then have to take the rest of the tomatoes off. I will, however, scarf them down if combined with fresh mozzarella, olive oil, and basil. I have the same issues with green peppers. Raw?? NO EFF-ING WAY! Cooked?? Maybe. I do love green peppers on one thing and one thing only--Pizza Hut's Supreme Pan Pizza. Yummmmm....

5. My husband is nearly 12 years older than I am. If I were his son's mother, I would have been nearly 12 when I conceived him. By the way, I have never dated a man younger than me--ever--and dated very few who were the same age as me. In a Christmas letter my mother sent out when I was 9, she described me as 9 going on 30. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing???

6. I met Luis from Sesame Street when I was 10. For some reason, he came to the little mall in Helena, Montana and did a program for kids. At one point during the program, he asked if anyone knew how to count in a different language. I raised my hand, jumped up, and counted to ten in Spanish. He asked if anyone else could count in a different language and once again, I raised my hand, jumped up, and counted to ten in German. Talk about an attention hound!!! I was such an annoying little kid! Now I can count to ten in seven different languages. If I'd known them all when I was ten, I probably would have just walked up, taken the microphone away from a stunned Luis, and done them all. Then I would have curtsied heartily and gone back to sit down.

7. I had a boyfriend in Kindergarten named Joe. Joe and I used to go up in the fun fort and kiss! What a hussy, huh?? My mom always tells the story of my Kindergarten Christmas Program, when Joe kissed me in front of everyone in the gymnasium and I hauled off and slapped him across the face! The fun fort is one thing, but in front of the whole school and everyone's parents?? That was NOT acceptable! I have a lot more stories about Joe, but I'll save some of those for future memes.

Now to tag my seven:
Actually, this is usually what takes me so long to get these memes done. I hate picking people for these things!

SOOOOOO consider yourself tagged, dear readers! Today, I'm taking the easy way out! Have a great weekend!

Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to Christine and Christa, our formula checks and coupons giveaway winners! I will be sending an email shortly! Remember, responses must be received today so you can get your checks and coupons in time to use them! Readers--go check out their blogs!!

Oh, the CARNAGE!!

I can't believe I'm showing you these, but these pictures show the aftermath of what has come to be known as "Hurricane TiffanyHeather"--the SITS Blog-a-thon--which blew through yesterday! I admit to being a bad SITSa lately! I have not been commenting the way I should have, but I am back on track and back with a vengeance (and with quite a few new blogs to read and comment on--oh crap)!

As I was talking to my husband on the phone about the blog-a-thon and how much fun I had yesterday, he asked me if I was just about done with my blogging phase. Whaaaaat? Excuuuuuuuse me! Oh no he di'int!! Good thing he didn't arrive home from one of his work trips to the following...

This is what the living room looked like when I dragged my weary body to bed, eyes bloodshot, butt-back-wrists-neck aching from sitting in front of my computer most of the day.

These are the dishes waiting to be put in the dishwasher, which has yet to be unloaded. Please note the gigantic stain on the midget's high chair tray. That is what happens when Pasta Fagiouli is left to sit for a few hours on a white porous surface.




And finally, my kitchen table and buffet covered in miscellaneous stuff. My cute harvest decorations are completely overwhelmed by all the junk sitting on the table! And the material for my Blankets of Belief quilt sits heartbroken amongst other piles of junk, just waiting to become what it has always wanted to be when it grows up...







If I wouldn't have had leftovers, I think the midget would have starved to death...

SITS Blog-a-thon!!

A few months ago, I noticed a little leopard print logo on a new blog I'd just started reading. The blog was Deanna's Corner and somehow, I'd stumbled across her blog. After doing a little bit of research this morning, I realized this was the first post of hers I'd ever commented on, and my comment was a doozy!

The strange thing was, she came to my blog and commented on a few of my posts!! Whaaat? I reserved comments for things that were unbelieveable or amazing, but this lady gave her comments freely?? WOW! I went to her blog and commented on her posts and she returned to mine.

A few days later, I clicked on the little leopard print logo I saw on her blog that looked like this:


After visiting The Secret is in the Sauce a few times, and seeing it on other people's blogs, I finally figured out the secret of why Deanna was so generous in her comments!!

Soon, Deanna and I realized that we were sisters separated at birth! Okay, not really, but Deanna and I became SITSas through The Secret is in the Sauce.

Here are just a few of the people I've met through SITS.
Heather
Wep
Mommaof4wife2R
Aubrey
Brandy

So all of you that read my blog, but don't comment--leave me some commenty love so I can come leave some on yours! I'll even share my Secret!

p.s. *hint* It's in the sauce, my bloggy buddies.

My First Blanket of Belief

Conservative Belle issued a challenge earlier this month to make blankets for our troops through the Soldier's Angels Blankets of Belief or Blankets of Gratitude programs.

I took on her challenge and finished my first blanket a few moments ago! Take a look!!

This was my first no-sew blanket, and it was really easy! I would say it took me a total of one hour to complete, but I probably could have gotten it done faster if I'd done it all at once.

Just in case you think you can't do this--do you remember I have a one year old?? You can do this--easily! So take on the challenge and send a blanket to our troops!

Look for my second blanket sometime next week. It is my first true quilt, so I hope it turns out okay! I can't wait to tell you the story of the lady at JoAnn's who helped me, but I will, just to keep you in suspense...

A Very Quick GIVEAWAY!!!!

I'm feeling generous today, so I'd like to give away some of my formula checks and coupons! I know many of my readers don't have little ones, but I'm posting this giveaway to Money Saving Mom and The "Cent"sible Sawyer in hopes that a few readers will be able to take advantage of these very generous money savings! For confidentially purposes, my name has been photoshopped out of these posted pictures.

I actually have TWO quick giveaways!! Yaaaaay!!!

GIVEAWAY #1

I have three Nestle Good Start checks good on any Good Start Formula, $11, $8, and $1. The $8 check expires on 11/1 and the others expire on 12/15. I also have a $3 off any 1 Natural cultures formula 24 oz. or larger Manufacturer's Coupon that can be used in conjunction with one of the checks (exp 12/7). That's a total of $23 in savings!!




GIVEAWAY #2

I have two Enfamil Next Step (specifically designed for babies & toddlers aged 9-24 months) Lipil formula checks One for $4 on any ready to use Next Step formula only and one for $5 for any Next Step Lipil formula. Both checks expire 10/31. In addition, I have two Manufacturers coupons for $5 off any 1 can, any size, of Enfamil Lipil Powder. You could use a coupon in conjunction with the $5 check and save yourself $10 off ONE can!! In many cases, you could get your can for FREE!! That's $19 of total savings!!

STOP THE PRESSES!! I just received a catalina manufacturer's coupon for Enfamil Lipil buy one can of powder (any size up to $13.85) and get one FREE!!!! I will add this to the Enfamil giveaway, bringing the total up to nearly $33 in total savings!

So how do you win??? It's simple!!!
Leave me a comment telling me whether you'd like the Nestle bundle or the Enfamil Next Step bundle by Thursday 10/16 at 11:59 p.m. I will use random.org to choose the winner and announce on Friday morning.

Please, one comment per person only and be sure to leave your email address or blog address so I can contact you on Friday morning. Due to the fast upcoming expiration dates, you will only have until midnight on Friday to respond to me with your address or I will need to have random.org choose a new winner on Saturday morning.

Good Luck! Please take a look around my blog and subscribe if you like what you see!!

I'm looking forward to meeting you all!!

A Fantastic Website for Pre-schoolers

The past few weeks, while I've been preparing breakfast, I've turned the television on and put on Sprout. Call me a bad mom if you wish, but I think small doses of TV are okay for kids. Sprout is a PBS cable channel aimed directly at children pre-school aged and younger. They have shows like Sesame Street, Caillou, Bob the Builder, and many other great shows.

During the morning hours, they have a show called The Sunny Side Up Show, which features a puppet bird called Chica. They feature birthday cards viewers send in and they choose some of them to show during the show. The rest of the birthdays scroll across the bottom of the screen. Just out of curiousity, I went to their website this morning to see how to submit a card to get it on the show.

WOW! This is one seriously great website!! If you have kids from the age of 1-5 (older kids may enjoy some of the crafts and coloring), you need to look at this website! There are a million crafts, coloring pages, recipes, activities, and games--all with an educational twist!!

I highly suggest you go check out Sprout Online!! You do have to sign up to get into the website, but you can opt out of getting any further information from them and their partners. I can't wait to do some activities!

Happy Fall!!

Okay, so it's totally hokey, but I don't care. I think it's friggen cute! I wish I had the motivation to decorate for Halloween and then Thanksgiving, but I'm way too laaaaay-zeeeeee for that! Speaking of lazy, my neighbors will be lucky if this comes down before Christmas...

Mmmmmmmm.....

I'll let the picture speak for itself.

Tomato Preserves--Updated

Sweet Mother Mary, do I love this website--Pick Your Own. I have used it so much this year!

I used their recipe for Tomato Preserves. I only had about half the amount of tomatoes their recipe called for, so I halved everything. Next time, I would put the entire box of pectin in, as I felt the texture was a bit runny. Aren't the little half-pint jars adorable??

"Preserves" is just a fancy way of saying "jam." Preserves just refers to the use of pectin as a gelling agent. These preserves are sweet and can be eaten just like jam.

I also had tomato juice left after using the solids for the preserves, so I strained and canned some of that as well. I'm not a big fan of tomato juice, but my husband loves a good tomato beer, so he was happy!

Make Your Own Baby Legs!!

Look at what I made!!!

Baby Legs are so nice to keep your little ones legs warm in the fall/winter/spring and add great cushioning to those little knees on hardwood or tile floors.

I love the real thing, but sometimes, there are designs in regular socks that you just can't find in Baby Legs! Enter in this fabulous Flickr tutorial on how to sew your own!

I made two pairs because when it comes to sewing, I always have to do a test-run! I'm glad I did because my first pair--one "leg" was longer than the other by about two inches and I sewed the cuff on inside out! haha I will never be a great sewer, but as long as I can make something that doesn't look completely wonky, I'm just fine with that!

'Fess Up Friday Mr. Linky--Pregnancy Brain!!

A new bloggy buddy, Christian, and I were commenting back and forth about how stupid we got during our pregnancies. Christian had the fabulous idea of creating a Mr. Linky to trade "pregnancy brain" stories. SHEER GENIUS, I TELL YOU!

So here is my story. This is a post written when I was at 28 weeks. I threw in a prego pic so you can relish in my huge-ness.

Okay, I have been a bit forgetful this week. Here are some shining examples of my brainpower.

I forgot about an appointment I had--I was sitting in my office cleaning out my email and realized I was supposed to be there five minutes ago and it was going to take me at least 15 minutes to drive there.

I left my house without my glasses (thank goodness I don't need them to drive--just to read signs while I'm driving) and I had forgotten to fill up with gas, but I didn't have time to fill.

I forgot to go home and take my dogs out at lunch one day.

AND THE CHERRY ON TOP OF THE SUNDAE......

I put my underwear on backwards and didn't realize it until I went to use the bathroom at work. In my defense, I wear boyshorts and they are cut almost exactly the same front and back. But, I should have noticed that the tag was in the front when I put them on.

Boy, I hope this gets better after I give birth!!

Tell us a story from your pregnancy where you felt like your baby was eating your brain!! Please link DIRECTLY to your post, any links to your blog's homepage or a non-related post will be deleted and as a courtesy, I request you link back to this post.

So ladies, FESS UP!!!

Heading Out!

I'm leaving with hubby for a week and a half. I will try to sneak in a few posts (I have one already scheduled for Friday and it is going to be FUN) and I'll do my best to keep up with everyone's blogs! I'm still reading them, even if I'm not commenting!! Most of my reading will be done from my phone (pocket pc with wireless) and for some reason, I can't comment with it.

Talk to y'all soon!! Wait until you see all the stuff I finished before I left!!