Christmas Island Dreaming

Why can't I live somewhere where these are not only acceptable but appropriate to wear in December?

Instead I'm working on a history paper this morning while covered in 2 blankets, an internet search for warm slippers is pulled up on my computer and snow is on the ground outside my window.

Not fair.

And this is why I want a kitten for Christmas...

A Themed Linkage

A glorious Lake Lure wedding. Makes me wish we'd had more time and a better situation in which to explore around Asheville a bit more. If I ever get the opportunity to hone my photog skills with a real camera, I want to learn how to be as good as this lady. Delicious is her entire website.

365 Photos About 365 Kinds of Diapers. I'm in total awe of the dedication some people have. And November 4th made me tear up, exactly 44 seconds in and you'll see what I mean.

Thriller and Interconnection. But mostly, Thriller. I love stuff like this.

Squirrel in Focus. If you all click no other link I ever post on my blog ever again for as long as we all shall live, you'll click this one and we'll all die happy.

How Twins Are Made. If ever there were a case for having two at once, this is it.

Candy Coloured Cuteness. Pink chuck taylors and a white wedding dress is a combo I can thoroughly get behind.

Your Camera Takes Great Pictures. Yes, yes, yes! I hate this backhanded compliment. "...The camera does not make the photograph. It records the image that the photographer tells it to and shows the vision of the artist behind the camera."

10 Photography Quotes That You Should Know. A nice awakening. I need to stop being inhibited by my lack of equipment and instead focus on thinking outside of the box with what I do have. This summer I've taken less photos than I have in at least 5 years. I should do better.

Quote of the Day

"We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written. The Holy Koran tells us, "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another." The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace." The Holy Bible tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth."

--Excerpt from President Obama's speech in Cairo (full text at link)

Old Tweeter

Was going through old Tweets tonight when I found this one about taking our beloved gnome, Cotton Cuddlesworth IV on vacation with us:

Jon on Cuddlesworth's trip readiness: "He's probably looking foward to seeing the lady gnomes on the beach."


So that made me laugh pretty hard. But like my family always says...I'm easily amused.

Runner up Jon quote from Twitter (for now, because this list could get long if I continue):

"April, I know my presidents and vice presidents and brothers of presidents." Jon, when asked if he knew who Ted Kennedy is.

The Wives Wait

And the Pursuit of Happiness by Maira Kalman
May 28, 2009: At Ease

I never forget to take a peek at Maira Kalman's work, this week was especially beautiful and poignant. But, that's usually the case.

Sound Familiar?

AN AMERICAN FAMILY was television’s first reality show, shot documentary style in 1971 and first aired in the United States on PBS in 1973. The show was twelve episodes long, edited down from about 300 hours of footage, and chronicled the experience of a nuclear family, the Loud family of Santa Barbara, California, during a period of time when parents Bill and Pat Loud separated (in a infamous and powerful on-camera sequence) and Pat filed for divorce.

The parents had five children. One of them, Lance Loud, was a gay 20-year-old man who occasionally wore lipstick and women’s clothes and took his mother to a drag show in the second episode of the series. He lived in the Chelsea Hotel during its Warholesque heydey and this is captured in the second episode (Holly Woodlawn was his neighbor and appears in several scenes, along with Candy Darling, Jackie Curtis, and other famous drag queens of the time).

On airing, the show drew over 10 million viewers — phenomenal viewership for PBS in 1973 (or even presently) — and drew considerable controversy. The series was widely discussed in the media in 1973, and the Loud family appeared on the cover of the March 12, 1973 issue of Newsweek magazine.

--An American Family: The Story of the Louds (1973)

In the wake of the news that the Jon & Kate Plus 8 trainwreck last night was its (and TLC's as a whole) highest rated episode ever (no doubt giving fuel to what appears to be TLC and Kate's desires to not end the show) I find it interesting that this isn't the first time America has become captivated by a family in trouble.

What exactly does that say about us as a society? I'm not entirely sure.

Blog of the Day

Flip Flops and Applesauce

Quite possibly the most adorable blog I've found in a long time. Before I knew it I was sucked into pages and pages of wonderful photos and cute ideas. And I must admit, I was tempted to print the beautiful printable coloring books she offers for myself. Doesn't a box of fresh Crayolas a blanket and a sunny day sound like a glorious way to spend an afternoon?

Sigh. Soon maybe. It sounds too perfect.

Freezer Meals

Once a Month Mom

I found this link through Meredith at Like Merchant Ships (great tips for living, decorating, entertaining on a budget), and found myself quickly engrossed in the recipes and ideas. The concept: freezing a month's worth of meals. But unlike the pricey specialty shops where you can go do this, she offers meal plans, grocery lists, printable labels and directions to do it all at home FOR FREE.

Free is my price point!

I struggle with dinners a lot around here, especially on evenings when nobody feels like prepping a meal and I end up in line at a fast food joint. I think I just might have to give some of these a try. Maybe not a full month yet, but a modified version to start?

She also has baby food recipes for freezing which I'm thinking of whipping up for Riley. So for the Mamas and soon to be Mamas reading, heads up!

A Few Deals to Start the Week

Bare Escentuals is offering a free 10 day sample of their foundation with a FREE Buki Brush, all you have to pay is $3.95 shipping. I believe you can only get one shade per order, but I was able to get 2 different shades for the same $3.95 (my mother and I have different skin tones) (or order one for now and another shade for your summer tan). CLICK HERE!

Open this PDF file HERE for a sheet of printable Babies "R" Us coupons. Including high dollar coupons for nursery furniture, and percentage off of several potential baby shower gifts if you happen to need to buy those soon.

CLICK HERE to learn about a week long (7 day) vacation in historic Williamsburg, Virginia for only $243. If I weren't traveling with family and dogs I would totally jump on this deal. If Williamsburg isn't your cup of tea there are numerous other good deals to be found on that website, so just look around a bit.

Quiznos is giving away a million free subs. CLICK HERE to register your name and email (remember the spam email account I told you to open) to get a printable coupon for one sent to you. We adore Quiznos around this house. Yum-o.

Go to Restaurant.com and enter the code: MENU when checking out to receive 80% off of your order. $25 gift certificates are only $2!! $10 certificates for select restaurants are on sale for $3 making them 60 cents after the code. I've not used them in Louisville before because I don't eat out that often, but I have used them at restaurants in Florida with no problem.

*****
Happy Deals!

We're All Girls Around Here, Right?

There are some things you can never have too much of in my book. These things include toothpaste (4 people go through an insane amount of it in my house) and feminine products. I keep a drawer full of toothpaste in the bathroom, and a basket full of tampons, pads and pantiliners under each bathroom sink. Normally fully stocked.

So imagine my shock tonight after going to both baskets and finding them EMPTY. Seriously?! How did I let this happen?

So I pulled up CouponMom.com (free to register there, provides a coupon to sales matchup for Kroger, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Target and Walmart) and matched up the Walgreens deals with my coupons to remedy this emergency situation.



Carefree pantiliners (40-60 ct) and Stayfree pads (16-24 ct) were on sale for $2 a package.

Stayfree, 2 packages= $4.00-$2.00 off of 2 coupon= $1.00 per package
Carefree, 2 packages= $4.00-$1.00 off of 2 coupon= $1.50 per package
Colgate 4.6oz toothpaste= .99-.75 off coupon= .24 cents
grand total after tax= $5.78
total savings after sales and coupons= $11.31

I've said it before: I love saving money. But I also love knowing I'm walking away with much more of a stockpile for less money.

Free Nail Polish

Get 2 Free OPI nail polishes when you sign up here: http://www.teenfreeway.com/opi_nail/index.htm

I went with hot pink, a summer mainstay in my book, and yellow...just to be bold.

All I've Got Left

Go read THIS to find the links to get a FREE 2 year subscription to Parents Magazine, one year of Women's Day or Martha Stewart (third offer for anyone who has missed it so far.) Given the number of Mommy blogs I seem to be reading as of late ;) , the Parents Magazine seems timely.

While I'm on the subject, you Moms and potential Moms should also go read THIS POST on having a baby without breaking the bank. It's never too early to start stockpiling and learning how to play the CVS deals could save you hundreds of dollars on diapers and wipes and other baby needs each year.

Speaking for my own situation, I've gotten the weekly grocery budget for my family of four down to about $75. This weekend I spent $37 at Kroger, coming home with deals like 4-4 packs of Cottonelle for FREE, Cheereos for 67 cents per box, and Colgate toothbrushes for 24 cents each. I just find that super exciting! haha

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I originally listed the ways in which my life currently sucks here. But I'll spare everyone the details.

But if you're the praying sort, please throw one out there for me. That I find some clarity and that maybe soon the burden is lifted. My shoulders are feeling awfully heavy.

Best of...

I think it's easy to forget that many of my regular blog readers don't actually follow along with what is going on over at Tumblr, where I dump most of my favorite photos, links and quotes (among many other things) as of late. So forgive me. I'm going to try to pull together a Best Of kinda post here, just for you guys.

Another Right Wing Conspiracy in Washington?

Ann Coulter Under Investigation for Voter Fraud

"Back then, stimulus and package had a whole different meaning."
-Rahm Emanuel, former Clinton aide and current White House Chief of Staff, on the Clinton Era

"And really, if you’re at a college party and you see Michael Phelps smoking out of a bong and you think “man I should take a picture of this and sell it to magazines” rather than “man I’m partying with Michael Phelps” then you need to take a good hard look at yourself in the mirror, because really, you’re a dick.”
- Seth Meyers, during the “Really?” segment on SNL's Weekend Update

"An estimated 90,000 sex offenders have been identified and removed from MySpace this week. So to those sex offenders I say, ‘Welcome to Facebook’!"
- Seth Meyers, SNL, Weekend Update

50 Amazingly Helpful Time-Tested Tips for the Kitchen



"It’s like our President only has two speeds - John Kennedy or John Kerry!"

--Jon Stewart, the Daily Show.

This is a Norman Rockwell painting of Ruby Bridges, who had to be escorted to school by federal marshals. “On November 14, 1960, 48 years ago, Ruby Bridges faced hostile crowds as the first black child to attend a previously all-white New Orleans school. She was 6 years old and had only been told by her mother that she was going to be attending a new school that day and ‘had better behave.’ Little did she know that she would be bombarded with jeers and even death threats, and that she would end up being the sole child in her first grade class after other children were kept home by their parents.”


…Forty-eight years later — January 5, 2009 — here is a picture of Sasha Obama, a little 7 year old Black girl, being escorted to school by her mother, First Lady-elect Michelle Obama, and the Secret Service because Sasha’s daddy is now President-elect of the United States, Barack Obama.

If Loving Rahm is Wrong....

When I was 10, we went to England. My mother was shooting a miniseries there… My dad took me to Paris for the weekend. We had the most amazing time. On the plane back to London, he asked me, ‘Do you know why I took you to Paris, only you and me?’ And I said, ‘Why?’ And he said, ‘Because I wanted you to see Paris for the first time with a man who you know will love you for the rest of your life.

--Gwyneth Paltrow

I know many of you loved this show as much as I did, so if you didn't already know: Dead Like Me: Life After Death

"Our president’s approval rating is somewhere between pictures of baby pandas on the Internet and Free Beer."

-- Rachel Maddow

TripAdvisor's 2009 Top 10 Dirtiest Hotels

"The GOP won’t regulate the market but they will regulate my uterus."
--Ashley Judd

"What if schools got all the money they need, and the military had to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber?"

--Pete Seeger


via Silenced Majority Portal

Joaquin Phoenix

"I met last week with a number of career State Department employees and was surprised when one said she was looking forward to the “Glinda Party” next week. I asked her: if Hillary was Glinda, the Good Witch of the South from the Wizard of Oz, did that make Condoleezza Rice the Wicked Witch of the West? “You’re on to it,” she said."
--State Dept. Staffers Compare Rice to Wicked Witch of the West
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I think that's enough for now. haha

Martha!

Follow this link:
http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/ms_living_em/sg_ms_living_pg1.htm

To get a free year subscription to Martha Stewart Living Magazine.

This is how I get the majority of my free subscriptions. You don't have to enter billing information, which is the only way I'll sign up for 'free' subscriptions. You just have to fill out a small survey.

If you are worried about spammy email, my word of advice is to have a separate spam email account just for things like this. I have an extra AOL account for this purpose only. It always makes me laugh when people will refuse to sign up for deals like this because of fears of spam email. Don't use a really important account! Simple.

Anyways, like I said. This is totally legit. I've been getting TV Guide, Better Homes and Gardens, Hallmark and Travel & Leisure from this site for the past year, so feel free to do it if you want Martha for a year.

(thanks MoneySavingMom for this hot tip!)

UPDATE: It seems the offer is over now, sorry if you missed out!

Potting Soil (A Calamity of Sorts)

The cat knocked over a huge potted plant this morning. It crashed to the living room floor spreading potting soil as far as the eye could see. On white carpet. Wet, black dirt all over the stark white carpet. And that's how I began my day.

My Dad knocked over a huge glass of coke just moments ago. The amber liquid spreading like a wildfire over the recently mopped kitchen floor. It managed to speckle a light colored jacket on its way to the floor. That is how I ended my day.

I have spent the middle of my day worried about a number of things. My mind racing, a million thoughts and scenarios screaming across my brain in bold neon strobes. At least that's how it feels like. The thoughts are wild and varied.

-the first day of the new semester. When I was a wild eyed and bushy tailed freshman without a care in the world I never stressed about the first day. Now that I'm a seasoned pro at this school thing, and geniunely worried about exams and grades (oh the thought!) I get myself into knots over it all.
-finding a new job. And subsequently running out of money until that is achieved. Affording books and the rest of my tuition bill. It's all a bit overwhelming.
-my car. My lovely little bumblebee that I can't even remember what it's like to drive. This credit market. This car market. The whole market. The recession. I am losing it. (not really, it just feels that way)
-the snow. The snow and my commute. And my mental health. Because really, snow and I do not mix. At all. We're mortal enemies. I get along with it just slightly better than ice.
-this blog. Which is actually giving me ZERO satisfaction anymore. Yet I'm too stubborn to stop updating it. (because then what happens to it? I stop updating and it dies somewhere in blogland, only to be found by me later and I'm left to wonder why I stopped blogging these minute details of my life?)
-a stupid post from this weekend. That I'm still convinced (despite evidence to the contrary) that everyone must hate me over.

It's just stupid. And silly. The whole lot of it. But sometimes I guess it just feels good to purge.

A last nugget of good news: I really feel like I'm beginning to make progress on some life goals. Namely career direction and ultimately a big out of state move. I think it's too early to commit to laying out details of it all (mostly not to jinx it or feel like a giant failure if it doesn't pan out). But my parents are being super supportive, to the point of being interested in the moving aspect themselves. I'm just feeling closer to being solid about my future. And despite all my worries, that is a piece of ground I'm happy to be standing on tonight.

postscript: some cooking/baking blog links I've recently come across, just because I'm in a generous and sharing mood. And these are fantastic:

Baking Bites
Erin Cooks
Bread & Honey

post-postscript: Hillary's confirmation hearing is tomorrow. You know, so we can make it official that I've hobnobbed with the Secretary of State.

post-post-postscript: the potting soil came out of the carpet. in case you are wondering. if it ever happens to you: sweep up as much as you can with a broom and dustpan, then vacuum. surprisingly easy to clean...believe it or not.

We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.

Let's talk cookies, shall we?

I've been in a cookie mood lately, I think it's Christmas. Christmas is a big cookie eatin' time, isn't it?

Today I wanted something chewy, and crispy. Which, if you think about it, is kind of a fine line to try and mix in one cookie. Aren't they usually one or the other? I'm difficult I suppose. Which is probably why I'm a cake and pie person.

Who does one turn to when searching for such a cookie? Ha, duh! MARTHA!

Martha should be the Queen of America as far as I'm concerned.

Buttery Pecan Rounds

I omitted the halve of pecan on the top of the cookies, because I'm cheap. (I don't have Martha's money, obvs.)

I chilled the dough a bit so it was easier to scoop.

And I baked them on a nonstick cookie sheet. Which is totally necessary unless you have actual parchment paper or Silpats. Because let me tell you, these things WILL stick.

Follow my rules and I promise they are super easy and super tasty. The perfect combination of crispy cookie on the edges and chewy in the middle. Not to mention, who doesn't love a nice huge flat cookie?



Next up I tackled super easy peanut butter cookies. I've blogged about this recipe before, but I can't find it. If you've heard this before, pretend you haven't.

Magical Peanut Butter Cookies from Paula Deen

These cookies are so insanely easy, and actually pretty tasty. They are not your usual peanut butter cookies, they have a bit more of a peanut butter fudge taste to them. But I can almost guarantee you have all of the ingredients needed in your pantry right now and they take 5 minutes at most to whip up the batter. You have to try them, at the very least, for the novelty of making such an easy cookie.



And finally, my parents have been married for almost 26 years. Have known each other for almost 28 and for that many years my Mom has been trying and failing to make fudge that somehow emulates how my Dad's mother made it back in like the 60s. She's tried every method you could think of and it's never right. A few weeks ago I tried this recipe, and surprise! It was exactly the fudge he'd been wanting all this time:

Festive Fudge

Yes, all of those candy thermometers and stirring over hot stoves and as it turns out my grandmother's fudge was nothing more than sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips. We, really, seriously, should have known. Because bless her heart, but my Mamaw is not domestic.

Octoberfest

Did you watch!?

I planned my entire day around the debate. We had the best time watching last night, my Mom was shouting out the funniest things. This morning I awoke to my Dad's best Sarah Palin impression. Ask him to do it the next time you see him, it's a hoot. I think in his previous life he was a hockey mom from Alaska...just saying.

Here is an interesting article on the prosperity gospel I blogged about a few days ago and its connection to the subprime lending crisis: Time Magazine: Did God Want You To Get That Mortgage?

Taylorsville is having an Octoberfest this weekend that I'm oddly excited about. I'm hoping there is warm cider. Or something equally as 'fall-ish'. I'm tempted to break out pumpkin roll for the first time tonight. I'll blog about it if I do because I have a fantastic recipe to share for one.

And I've decided I have to make this Crock Pot Apple Butter before my weekend is over. It sounds too easy and delicious to pass up.

But I'll admit, while the excitement of fall is all new and wonderful right now, the summer lover in me is not enjoying the cooler temperatures. I just don't think I have it in me to adjust to the colder weather. I'm sure it'll be another long winter of my whining! (I apologize in advance.)

Heads Up

Since the 2008 election is coming to boiling point, I've decided to use my Tumblr as my go to political venting outlet. I'm posting heavy over there with links, pictures, quotes and commentary on the '08 election, so as not to clutter up my regular 'personal' blog, and to offer less room for total anarchy to break out in the comments section. Since I know we don't all share the same political beliefs. ;)

While you can't comment, you can send me an email, or message on myspace to share your own thoughts on something I might post there! avwatkins @ gmail dot com

www.apsies.tumblr.com

As far as my meltdown from last week goes, I'm doing fine. And hoping things are going to fall into place. I'm trying to chill out. Because, really, that's all I can do.

Life is a big messy thing. Accepting that, I've found, is the first step.

Freebie Five

Dooce tackles a subject today that I often think about. She refers to it as the 'Five Fame Fuckers List', and not to take anything away from the great and mighty Dooce I prefer my favorite gossip blogger Lainey's term: 'The Freebie Five'.

Lainey has done this list for years now, she has a little sidebar section for it and her list is ever changing. (She's also smart, witty, hilarious, very chic and posh and everything I like in a gossip blog. That's why she wins. So I read her and you should too, I swear you'll enjoy.)

Anyways, the premise of a 'Freebie Five' is kind of rooted in a stable relationship, the five people you'd be allowed to fuck if given the opportunity...free of consequences. But since I'm not in a relationship I like to call this 'The Five People I'd Do Tomorrow JUST BECAUSE I CAN' List.

1. Michael Phelps (Lainey and Dooce have Michael on their list, as I suspect many women do right now. Michael's going to be a busy boy is all I'm saying.)
2. Prince Harry
3. George Clooney
4. Billy Bob Thornton
5. David Beckham

Michael is an obvious choice. I understand some take offense with the mouth or ears, but I find him completely charming. And I'm totally turned on by ambition and success. Sad. But true.

Prince Harry. Oh come on. Eye candy. And money. And royalty. (Wait, I'm sensing a theme here.)

George Clooney. Beautiful. Charming. Dark and handsome. Love. Oh, and it would have to take place at the Lake Como Villa. Just saying.

Billy Bob Thornton. (What!?) I know. But he's sexy. Dirty. And sexy. I swear.

David Beckham. It's the tattoos. And accent. (Also successful, ambitious...hmm...should I psychoanalyze this or let it go?)

Now for the respectable part of this post that doesn't involve sex.

Last night I went on a bit of a nature walk behind our house. (A little set up for those unaware, the house backs up to a farm and woods and is very 'country' in some respects.) Of course halfway through my camera battery went dead and I ran out of memory on my SD card. But here are a few of my favorite shots before all went to hell.









So, who's on your 'Freebie Five'?