Children, cooking, marriage, random stuff, funny stuff, photography, dogs, cats, depression... Whatever you're looking for, you might find it here! The modern 5 and dime.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

You don't see this every day


Source

Monday, January 30, 2006

Back from DC













Hi all, I am finally back. I was in DC and did not bring a computer with me. It was amazingly computer and news free! Very nice.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Dogs and cats, living together...


Monday, January 23, 2006

Vacation

Of course, I was due to go on vacation this week. I am still undecided to whether or not I am going to go.

I told Rachel if I didn't get to go on my trip I wouldn't get to get her a present from my travels.

She said, "That's OK Mommy, the best present of all is a hug and a kiss."

Chicken Pox Central

Rachel came home from school on Friday with ChickenPox. I was shocked, I was floored- she had the vaccine! I didn't realize the vax is only 80% effective. But the good news is that with the vaccine she has had a very mild case and is ready to go back to school tomorrow.

But the bad news? I have never had chicken pox before, nor has my hubby. Hubby is home from work sick, in bed with a fever. We are unsure if it is chickenpox already. The incubation period for chickenpox is 7 days to 21 days, with the average being 10 to 14 days.

I don't want to get it, I'm irritated with my doctors now for never suggesting the chicken pox vaccine for me. Yes, if you have not had chicken pox, adults can get the vaccine and I highly recommend getting the vax!

She's done well for being sick. She's happy and playing, just feels itchy and uncomfortable.

In a weird turn of coincidence, I heard Jason Lee of "My Name is Earl" is also out sick with chicken pox this week. I hope he gets well soon, too.

Friday, January 20, 2006

By Popular Demand

The story of the yellow card...

My daughter's school uses a system of color-coded cards to indicate behavior. A green card is good, a blue is even better, and purple is "gosh darn it a miracle happened and your child was out of this world excellent today". A yellow card is "an oops happened", a red card is "ye shall be in trouble with the principal".

My daughter gets yellow cards every once in a while for talking too much (wonder who she gets that from :-) especially talking during class.

One of her first yellow cards she was explaining herself to me.

"I'm so sorry Mom, I couldn't help it, my mouth just flew open!"

Pizza wine


OK, when I first saw this posted over at Strange New Products, I thought it was pizza flavored wine. I was intrigued so I clicked.

But Pizza Vino has a Pinot Noir specifically made to go with pizza. Anyone who knows me knows I would take the Pinot over the Cab anyday, but they've got a Cab also. These wines are fruit forward, so I'd give a guess that these would indeed go well with a pizza. Granted, I'm not sure if you're one to drink a California Pinot with a Domino's delivery, check out my recipe below for homemade Grilled Portabello Mushroom pizza and open a good bottle of Pinot!

Better yet, these bottles retail for $8.99. Check out their website.

Source: Pizza Vino

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Apple was so not ready for this... privacy issues with itunes


So Apple wasn't ready for all of the attention their new version of itunes got... You CAN turn off the MiniStore feature, which will track everything you're listening to so itunes can make recommendations to other customers (similar to what you get at Amazon.... "Other customers who bought this song/album also bought..."

For more details on the controversy, read more:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking/apple-acts-on-itunes-privacy-concerns/2006/01/19/1137553690775.html

PHOTO SOURCE

Lunesta

Have you seen those commercials for the new, "non-addictive" sleeping pill called Lunesta? With the little butterfly that puts everyone to sleep?

In my household we affectionately refer to those commercials as "The Killer Butterfly". Because honestly, in my household we all have an issue with sleeping.

My 7-year-old daughter said, "*Sigh*, I need that. I can't sleep."

Ah, yes, get 'em hooked while they're still young...

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Recipe for that yummy pizza

Remember that yummy pizza I made way back when? I'm finally posting the recipe.
Grilled portabello mushroom pizza

First marinate the portabello mushrooms, I used Newman's Own Vinaigrette, for about half an hour. Grill mushrooms until they are cooked through, the length of time will depend on their thickness. Remove from heat.

Prepare dough*:

2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons quick-rising yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon olive oil
3/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees Farenheit: this is achieved in my microwave in about
30 seconds)

1. In a food processor, combine all-purpose flour with yeast, salt, and sugar. With machine on, add olive oil; gradually pour warm water through feed tube. Process, adding up to 1 tablespoon cold water, until dough forms a ball; then process 1 minute to knead. Dough should be slightly sticky. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; cover and let rest 10 minutes.

2. Coat a 12-inch pizza pan with cooking spray. Pat dough out in prepared pan, building up edges to form a rim.

*Source: 365 Delicious Low-Fat Recipes by Phyllis Kohn

Top with pizza sauce, mozarella cheese, and grilled portabello mushrooms. Bake at 500 degrees Fahrenheit about 12 minutes.

The recipe for dough can be used with any toppings, the pizza sauce, mozarella, and mushrooms are my favorite! You can also substitute whole wheat flour in place of some of the all-purpose flour. Enjoy!

If you have a Blackberry, you must read this

BlackBerry could be shut down, read here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060118/ap_on_hi_te/blackberry_battle

Could it be? An ipod cell phone?

So are they or aren't they?

Expect to see the stories float around the internet for a while, but here's the scoop:

http://fisherwy.blogspot.com/2006/01/apple-goes-mobile-mobile-me-name-of.html

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Things that make you go "Awww"

"Mom, I love you more than toys."

Monday, January 16, 2006

Rubik's cube, we meet again


Apparently people DO still play with the Rubik's cube. The record was broken this weekend by a college student. I only solved it once by cheating- ripping off the colored stickers and moving them around.

I also had a Pac-Man rubik's cube.

It's so 80's, but you know you love it.

http://www.rubiks.com/
http://www.speedcubing.com/

Neat service


http://www.epassportphoto.com/

Friday the 13th-itis

Friday the 13th was not a good day. Nor was Saturday, Sunday, or today.

Friday the minor problems included the much-sought-after parking meter eating all of my quarters.

Today it includes my husband's cell phone getting stolen and my washing machine breaking. And hence my bank account crying.

One of these days I will stop spending the money for getting a much-longed for new oven on appliances that keep breaking! My current oven is so old I'm sure it could be in a museum. Despite numerous attempts (and many cans of Easy Off) to clean the window to the oven, the grease is so caked on that you cannot see through the window (the oven was like that when we bought this house- no, we are not that dirty- I think we were the first people to EVER clean this oven!)

But yet, the sun is out, it is a beautiful day. Happy MLK day! 5 more days until Girl Scout Cookies go on sale, support your local Girl Scouts!

Friday, January 13, 2006

It's National De-Lurking Week!


Come on, I know you're reading this!



Source: http://papernapkin.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/delurk6.jpg

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Too cute!


from http://cuteoverload.com/ Posted by Picasa

I like the Eat n Park dog, makes me miss those yummy cookies!

I'd also like to add that while Shawn forbids me from dressing up Kona in outfits, HE is the one who put the Mickey Mouse ears on Kona (see below post).

Children are so Literal

Rachel has always had problems with her scalp. She had cradle cap as a baby, and it appears it has begun to return, as a cross between a tiny version of cradle cap and teenage dandruff (remember, she's only 7).

So I got her some tea tree oil shampoo to help with the dry scalp problems.

Last night I told her about her dandruff (this is when I noticed it was back)- she was asking me questions about what it was.

When I was going through her scalp, she asked me what I was doing. I told her I was trying to remove her dandruff, and I had called that "Dried Skin".

Then she said, "Eww! What's showing underneath now that my skin is not there?"

It's Animal Day!


Face-off Posted by Picasa


I'm going to Disneyland! Posted by Picasa

I'd like to point out that this was totally Shawn's idea. I swear.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Chicken Scaloppine

Yes, I'm up to more cooking... I'll let y'all know how it turns out.

In the meantime, I don't know what's wrong with my formatting, I'll try to get it fixed.

Sushi or USB?

Cool gadgets, check them out:

http://www.dynamism.com/solidalliance/gallery.shtml

Yummy


http://www.dynamism.com/solidalliance/gallery.shtml Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

ipod my corgi love


Corgi love Posted by Picasa


ipod love Posted by Picasa

Monday, January 09, 2006

Twiggy the water skiing squirrel

Yes folks, you read that correctly.

A squirrel. That waterskis. Far better than I do, natch!

We saw this at the boat show. Check it out!

http://skiingsquirrel.com/

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Everything breaks all at once!

My brand new dishwasher decided to break last night *sigh* So I will hopefully be able to get it fixed today.

Immediately after it broke, every other electrical being in the house decided to stop cooperating. Including the humanoid 7-year-old.

The good news is it was 84 degrees again yesterday! Woo-hoo!

Wednesday, January 04, 2006


Grilled portabello mushroom pizza with home-made pizza crust Posted by Picasa

It's a dog's life

My puppy turned 11 months old today, entering his last month of "puppyhood". I am told his puppy-ish behavior will continue well until his 2. *sigh*

This morning I walked in the kitchen to discover a present he brought me. A dead baby critter of some kind. Quite gross, I can't believe I finally worked up the courage to pick it up and throw it out. I think my disgust at having to touch it was trumped by my disgust knowing it was in my kitchen!

I managed to cook a yummy pizza today, from scratch. Photo above!

Monday, January 02, 2006


Kona say, "Happy New Year! Aroooo!" Posted by Picasa

Happy New Year!

Happy 2006! It got here awfully quickly, didn't it.

The rains have come, so winter has finally arrived.

I am feeling so thankful today for my family and for my friends, for my pets, for my job. This year I moved into a wonderful new home, while it's a little small I adore it here. I had a big year, moving, changing jobs, my daughter had to change schools, I got a puppy, and I got married.

I wish I could say I've made some resolutions of things to change for the new year. I just want to be healthier and, oh yeah, finish that pesky thesis. Otherwise, I am grateful for all the gifts that are given to me day after day.

Enough sappiness. How did you celebrate New Year's Eve? In the rain, I felt like staying home, cooking, and watching a movie. And that's exactly what we did.