I'm trying something here...

If you like me Shoyoroll! I mean Shoyosupport by following me. If you follow me, your picture will show up in my sidebar, people will know you're cool, and they'll click on your face!
~~~

I'm conflicted by Bobby Flay's Throwdown. He is an Iron Chef but he loses most of his throwdowns. But then, what is he supposed to do? Win them all? It's enough that these people are lied to and told they are going to be featured on their own Food Network special - for which they all seem so excited - and instead here comes Iron Chef Bobby Flay to challenge them to see whose version of that person's specialty dish is better. I know I'd be bummed.

Okay, so you tell me - how would you feel if you thought you were going to be featured in your own Food Network special because your [insert dish here] was considered among the best ever made and then Iron Chef Bobby Flay shows up and says, "guess what, it's not about you, it's about me! Mwahahaha! I'm here to challenge you to a throwdown!"?

Now, how would you feel if he won?

Yeah, Throwdown the Drain. That's what I say.
~~~

So at work around mid-morning yesterday, I discovered that I had a small blob of oatmeal dried onto the center of the v in my v-neck blouse. It wouldn't have been that bad if the blob didn't look like a gigantic booger had flown out of my nose and landed on the top of my blouse! And if I hadn't have already had conversations with three people!

Speaking of disgustingness...every night before bed I floss Katelyn's teeth. There really isn't much gunk that I floss out. Unless there is! Like the other night. Little pieces of broccoli and chicken from dinner were set free by the floss. And I realized that when I floss her teeth, I kneel down and position my face about 6 inches away from hers with my mouth wide open - as if keeping my mouth open will keep her from closing her mouth on my fingers, or keep her tongue from wandering around and tasting the minty floss. It's like, when you're playing Mario Kart or Burnout and you move the controller around as if your motions will somehow better guide your car around the track. (I know right, it's not like you're playing on the Wii.)

So I realized that maybe this isn't the best position for me. Maybe I ought to close my mouth. So I did. Oh no. You are mistaken, Kimosabe. No broccoli bits or chicken flew into my mouth. But what if they had?! I mean, they've hit me in the eye before!

What faces do you make when you are concentrating? Pay attention, I bet they'll give you a good laugh.
~~~

From Incredimazing.
Krispy Kreme cheeseburgers spotted at the Google cafeteria.

Is it wrong that I want to try one??

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Oh my gosh this dress is amazing! Putting a link up on my blog enters me in the giveaway. Can you believe it - she is giving this away? I appreciate the chance to enter her giveaway, but really, I'm just posting this because I want you to enjoy the handmade beauty. Check it out - it's gorgeous!

Create at Deece dot Net

A few Sunday's ago I made this creamy pasta for dinner. It was decent. I made it for the kids mainly, so it lacked a bit in the flavor department, but it wasn't that bad. I made it! From scratch! I know, I can hardly believe it either. Pasta, chicken, brussel sprouts, cream sauce, parmesan cheese.



I know I said I'd use mushrooms the next time I made split pea soup. But I didn't. And it was sooooo good! I think it's the best split pea soup I've ever had! I made it last night. And it was even better for lunch today. Why limit yourself to split peas and ham?

Carrots

Zuchini
Dried yellow split peas

Dried green split peas

Bacon

Onion

Garlic

Dash of black pepper

Chicken stock (or bullion cubes in this case)

That's it!

Simply un-fooled around with.

(Would someone help me out...which commercial is that from??)

(Yes, I fried up the bacon first...or sorta...I didn't make all the pieces fully crispy. Then I drained the grease and had the onions and garlic sweat in the bacon pan.)

All that jazz.

I'm sick. I've been sick since last Saturday. So you know what that means? It means that I've eaten so much that in the past week I have put back on all the weight that I've lost over the last few months. Why, oh why, can't I be one of those people who loses weight when they get sick? Oh well, at least my sister is pregnant.

Here, look at this nice sandwich...

Whassat? Oh, yes. My sister is pregnant! Isn't that great? It means there is going to be another baby in the family! And I'm going to get skinny!

Here look at the cuteness...Isn't Jacob in big boy underwear just the cutest thing ever?! He turned 18-months old today and he's practically potty trained - this is almost all thanks to his nanny, mind you.

Oh, whassat? Yes, my sister is pregnant...yes, I will get skinny.

Wha...whassat? Why do I think that?

Because that's what always happens, silly goose.

Here look at Katelyn wearing the skirt I made her...

Huh? Whassat? I don't know why it happens, it just does. First baby...BAM! Deece drops 20 pounds. Second baby...baaaam. Deece loses some excess body fat. Third baby...bammm, then pop! Deece begins to lose weight then rapidly gains 60 pounds as she, herself, is pregnant. Fourth baby..baaa...we'll see, but I'm hoping the trend will continue.

Here look at this stunning red ginger...

(I know it's a nice photo...don't use it...it's mine. All rights reserved, and all that jazz.)

Which Way Today?

You can take the high road, the low road,

or a meandering one between.

So what do you say,

which way today?

east or west

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of last week's Wednesday What Is It?

A stapler!

5 points to Boni!

2 points each to Kap, Bruce, and Sheila.

I define my life by grades.

If you asked me about my trip to Japan, I'd tell you that it was October of 8th grade. If you asked how old I was when I broke my wrist, I'd say second grade.

If you really needed to know how old I was, I could work it out - I know that I was 13 when I started high school, I was 16 when I graduated from high school and NMC, and I just turned 17 when I started college - but it would take me a while because I still count on my fingers.

As an adult, I define my life by employment or my children's ages. What happened in 2005? Oh, that's when I got married and had my first child. What did you do in 2006? Well, 2006 is when I stopped working at NMC and began at my current place of employment. Was 2007 a good year? Most definitely, my son was born in early 2007. How about 2008? James was blessed with his new job in January 2008.

Although born in the 80s, I consider myself more of a child of the 90s. As such, I have selected some totally awesome 90s' nostalgic moments, sayings, fads, etc. to share with you (taken from some forwarded email with my comments in purple):

• You got super excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school. (Wasn't this in the 80's?)
• You know the profound meaning of "Wax on, wax off" (again...80's??)
• You still get the urge to say "NOT" after (almost) every sentence...Not...
• Two words... Trapper Keeper.
• You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell"
• You watched the original Care Bears, My Little Pony, and Ninja Turtles (What about the Gummy Bears?)
• All your school supplies were "Lisa Frank" brand. (Not! But I wished they were.)
• You know the Macarena by heart.
• "Talk to the hand"
• You remember when everyone went slinky crazy.
• Get Over Here!!!! means something to you. (Oh my gosh! YES!)
• Drinking Sqeeze It "Squeeze The Fun Out Of It"
• Wild & Crazy Kids
• Clarissa Explains it All
• CAMP NOWHERE - Salute Your Shorts (CAMP ANAWANA)
• Hey Dude
• Beavis & ButtHead
• When Ninja Turtles ruled the world (I freaking LOVE the Ninja Turtles - I had all the movies, I had the cartoons, I even had them as stuffed animals!)
  
• You remember boom boxes vs. cd players
• You remember New Kids on The Block when they were cool (I just watched a VH1 special on them two nights ago...I loved the New Kids.)
• You remember the craze, then the banning of slap bracelets.
• You can sing the rap to "The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air"

A question for you, my internet friends, what nostalgic moments, fads, or sayings do you remember from your youth?

A heavy heart: Being a working mom is tough.

Just as I was finishing up my lunch break yesterday, I heard the jazzy ring of my cell phone. Home was calling.

"Hello?"

"DC" my mom said, "you need to talk to your daughter because she doesn't want to take a nap and she just wants you."

*sigh*

"Mommy?"

"Hi baby....how are you sweetheart?"

"I just don't want to sleep, because I just don't want to. I want you to sleep with me." *sniffle, sniffle*

"Katelyn, I'm sorry. Mommy is at work right n..."

"I don't want you to work. I just want you to be here and lay down with me. I just want you come here and sleep with me and not be at work."

*double heartache sigh* "Katelyn, why don't you take your baby doll and put her to slee..."

"I just don't want to lay down. Jacob is sleeping. Maui says it's four-eight o' clock and I don't want to sleep. I just want you."

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of last week's Wedesday What Is It?

Cooked Spaghetti!

Also acceptable: noodles, pasta

5 points to Sheila!

2 points each to Erdene and Mark, Tami, Boni, and Kirida.

Paguroidea - gross!

Q: What do you do with a can of spinach?

a. Force feed it to your toddler son to see if he gets all Popeyed out.
b. Hurl it like a shot put at a cement wall and watch it splatter to create abstract art.
c. Make salmon patties and pasta.
d. Flush it down the toilet and say "spinach go down the hoooole".
e. Nothing because it's freaking canned spinach - blech!

The correct answer is c. Make salmon patties and pasta.

Well, not at the same time. I apologize in advance for not having the correct pictures to go along with this post - I don't know what happened, but I don't have any. So instead I will leave you with other yummy pictures following the recipes - well, maybe not reicpes per se, but general directions, rather.

Deece's Salmon and Spinach Patties with Mayo/Paprika sauce

• 1 can of Salmon (16 oz? not the little ones like the canned tuna, but the larger ones like a can of green beans) de-boned and de-fleshed
• about 3/4 of a can of spinach drained and chopped (16 oz? the same size as the can of Salmon)
• 1 egg
• approximately 1/3 cup of breadcrumbs
• salt
• black pepper
• cardamom
  
• paprika
• a coupla cloves of minced garlic and not too much chopped onion sauted in a bit of butter
  
• approx 1 tsp of mayo

Mix all ingredients, form into patties, and saute in butter and oil (or Pam - or the Western Family Pam equivalent) until a little crisp on each side. Serve with sauce made from mayo, fresh lemon juice, and paprika.

I'm not sure if the mayo leant anything to the patties. Next time I will omit the mayo, use two cans of salmon and one can of spinach, and up the amount of spices I throw in, oh, and I'll add tobasco to the sauce (we were out).

Pasta with Spinach in the Sauce (nice name, no?)
To make the pasta sauce combine:

• browned ground beef (or whatever meat you desire) sauteed in olive oil with onions and garlic and seasoned a bit with salt and pepper cause when you forget to do that, even if your sauce is salty, your meat tastes yucky. This time I used 1/2 pound - I liked this better than a whole pound like I usually use.
• 1 can/jar of spaghetti sauce (I used Hunt's mushroom spaghetti sauce because it's only like a buck fifty or something)
• 1 can diced tomatoes - I don't know...12 oz can?
• 1 can of spinach (I drained and chopped it - I drained it down the drain, next time I'll drain it into the sauce because I ended up adding some water to the sauce later on...I figure there is enough water in the can of spinach)
• some spaghetti seasoning (My basil died, otherwise I would have added some. Shoot! I just realized I forgot to add a bay leaf - next time.)

I simmered the sauce for a while. Then I cooked up some pasta and mixed it together. It was good! And the kids loved it too!

Disclaimer: I am by no means an great cook, but I get by. If you are a new cook, my recipes should work for you.

...and now, pictures...

French bread with Pesto Brie (available where else, but Expressions on Capitol Hill)




Thai House fresh spring roll with peanut sauce. Typical Thursday night Street Market dinner for me.



Katelyn with the Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats we made. Isn't she cute?

Wednesday What Is It?

What is it?

Here's how to play.

Wednesday What Is It? Results

The results of last week's Wednesday What Is It?

Instant Coffee!

I know...two weeks in a row of difficult ones.
But OMGosh! I loved your answers - all of them!
Mexican cuisine meat, chorizo? I love it!
I hope you had fun.

Here we go....