Whatcha Might Not Know...7x7 Blog Award

<Whatcha Might Not Know are Wednesday posts that are just that...something quick that you may or may not know about me, my family, my neighborhood, my city, my world, etc.>

  

Yes, this is one of those.  And it's my turn to participate in the fun.  Blogging is such an interesting community.  We have our own language with words like blog carnivals, meme, and linky.  The are "friendships" I made that are definitely real, but unusual.  I love how Sarah writes about going to meet blogging friends in person for the first time.  She'd fly across the country to meet and stay with them without every really "meeting" them first.  Yep, I'd probably do that too with a handful of bloggers.  (Maybe I'm too trusting.) 

And this past weekend there was a big blogging conference in Nashville.  I cannot believe I am admitting this, but being home was like missing the prom.  Seeing pictures of blogland friends meeting each other and hanging out and having fun was weird.  I wanted to be there.  Anyway, on with the show...

 1. Thank the person who nominated you:  

I'd definitely go to meet Mommyhuh any day of the week.  Jennifer is  a working mom and her @DCWorkingMommy tweets will definitely get you giggling.  Along with her Pinterest boards.  She writes about being a mommy to a toddler, being a working mom, fashion, makeup and DIY tips.

 2. Share 7 things about yourself (here's the Whatcha Might Not Know): I just completed an online "workshop" called 31 Days to Build a Better Blog aka 31DBBB.  It was hosted over at the SITS Girls.  A great support website/community for bloggers.  That is how I met Jennifer.  We were in the same forum together.

Through that workshop, I've done a few things to my blog (updated the Read! I Plead page) and have some other ideas that need to be implemented.

I talk way too much with my hands.  Even while on the phone.  My cubicle-mates hate me.

I love love LOVE cherry tomatoes...baggies of them.

I am also recently obsessed with Greek yogurt.  Preferably fruity flavors.

Through another blog challenge, I am currently anonymously reviewing someone's blog while having my own reviewed secretly as well.  Can't wait to get the feedback!

I cannot go to bed unless my kitchen island is completely cleared and wiped down.  However, the counter and the desk can have piles and piles and piles and piles...you get the picture.

3. Share 7 Blog Posts That Fit the Following Categories:

Most Beautiful: And the Garage Lights Were On...my post on love and marriage

Most Helpful: Recipe Blog...I get the most thanks from the recipes I post and then link over to the recipe blog

Most Popular: Top 10 Post on News & Blogs wins out by number of clicks with "Let Go of Jesus!" coming in at a close second

Most Controversial: The Nutmeg Posts without a doubt

Most Surprisingly Successful: Annual Day-You-Get-Dirty Day post about Lent

Most Underrated: Weighing on My Mind a good, but old post on weight issues

Most Pride Worthy: The In-Betweeners because I finally put it on paper and gave myself a new category

4. Nominate Share 7 other bloggers:

I am not going to hold any of the following to doing this activity.  Some of you may have already done this in the past...I did not recheck all of your archives!  I just want to share the following 7 blogs with my readers. 

Four Jedis: I just discovered Four Jedis not too long ago during the SITS 31DBBB.  So far, I like what I see/read.  She's a corporate momma so I can't wait to connect more with her. 

All Aboard My Train of Thought: If you aren't yet following my BFF's adoption story, do it!  Her last post was about GREAT news...

June & Bear: Her crafts, her pictures, her sense of style, her DIY fan-tabulous house projects, and those adorable littles...need I say more??

Chicken Noodle Gravy:  I noticed her commenting around the same neighborhoods I hang out in blogland so I headed over to her blog and I'm so glad I did.  She's a great writer on many topics.

Healthy Tipping Point: This I stumbled upon (like, old school stumbled...not stumbleupon - ha!) due to my involvement with Girls on the Run.  I truly want Caitlin to come make breakfast, lunch and dinner for me every day.  Her food looks amazing to me.  I enjoy following her first pregnancy and remembering back to myself at that point in my life.  Such excitement!  I was really bummed to miss her speak locally last week.

Funky Polka Dot Giraffe: I have no idea how I came across this adorable crafty blog, but I love it!  She has great tutorials and recipes as well.

Seven Thirty Three: I first found Kim about a year ago upon recommendation of another blogger.  Kim updated my blog design last spring and I'm still in love.  However, she has many talents and a great blog herself.  Go there for crafts, tutorials, recipes, etc.

 

Top 10 Celebrity Crushes

So it's Oscar week.  And I'm still regretting staying up as late as I did to watch them.  But I LOVE movies.  And I had seen "The Help", "The Descendants" and "Moneyball".  So I wanted to stay up and see who won what.  During that time I posted about Colin Firth on FB.  And someone replied back with comments on George Clooney.  Which led to this...

My top 10 Celebrity Crushes

(images from wikipedia)

First and above all, I adore George, so he's is my #1.

1. George Clooney - he had me early on, but sealed the deal on ER; also love the fact that he is local and enjoyed "spending time" with him last year while he was here filming "Ides of March"; the only thing against him in my book is his revolving door of girlfriends; although his villa on Lake Como makes up for that...I've been to Lake Como and WOW

2. Colin Firth - yes, I love his accent; enjoyed him in "Love Actually" and "Bridget Jones's Diary"; only thing he has over George is his longer term relationships and the fact that he has kids

So, given the choice between the two...my heart would be with George, but my mind would probably choose Colin.  Who am I kidding?  I'd be headed to the villa in a heartbeat.  But with Colin on speed dial for the moment when George won't commit and have babies with me.

Glad that's cleared up.  Now, onto the rest of the men:

3. Mr. Big - loved him in Sex & the City and now in The Good Wife; for the life of me cannot think of his real name right now!  ha!  (He will always be Mr. Big)

4. Joshua Jackson - fell in love with Pacey; watched Fringe for awhile

5. Matt Damon - So glad he had to go see about a girl (who can name it?)

6. John Cusack - "Serendipity" anyone?

7. Josh Lucas - had me in "Sweet Home Alabama"; I'd take him over Patrick Dempsey anyday

8. Anderson Cooper - I don't know why...he's just adorable to me

9. Ashton Kutcher/Ryan Gosling - I really used to like Ashton so much more; just adorable in "Valentine's Day"; kind of can't stand him lately with all his publicity about Demi and then don't like him on "Two and Half Men" (went downhill in my opinion)...so quickly replacing him with Ryan Gosling...mainly because he is just awesome on Pinterest...you've seen him on Pinterest, right?  And all the sweet things he says??

10. Marcus Buckingham...need I say more?   Well....you may be thinking, celebrity?  In a business-focused manner.  Yum.  Just yum.

Those are my picks for today.  Who is on your list?  Who did I leave out??

  

St. Patrick's Day Thumbprint Clover

Last week I shared a few St. Patrick's Day ideas including this craft. 

It was super easy and the kids enjoyed tolerated it. 

I just used some paint, not a stamp pad. 

I couldn't stand the thought of not knowing

whose thumbprints were whose years from now. 

So I wrote a tiny "S", "C", or "H" on each with a green sharpie.

I popped the final project into the frame that previously held

 our handprint Valentine's hearts.

I worked on a few more things to display on the other shelves.

Not quite finished, so more to come!

Linking up with:



Today's Creative Blog

Real Women of Pinterest at NTB

Bathtub Dress Ups - This Saturday's Shout-Out

A couple of years ago the girls received

a bathtub Barbie Dress Up toy.

They get to play with it probably once a week.

(Not every bath)

  And it will usually keep them happy

 until their fingers are completely shriveled.

Best. toy. ever.

The Barbie is actually in two pieces...

Lots of outfits to mix and match.

Well, Charlotte just got a new one for her birthday.

You can find it online HERE.

You might think, who could compete with Barbie?

This one comes with swim suits.

Lots of swim suits.

So the girls played "swim lessons"

until shriveled and wrinkled once again.

Let's Get This Straight...

Just a few things to get straight this Friday afternoon...

First, this smoothie I pinned...not so good.  The green monster was somewhat green ick.  Four cups of spinach was just way.too.much for our household.  Charlotte said yuck from the beginning.  Stella tried to like it, but didn't last past 4 sips.  Henry refused it from the start.  And Andy wouldn't touch it.  I didn't think it was so bad, but again, needs less spinach.  I could taste the banana and peanut butter, but not enough.  Stella wants us to try it again with some strawberries.  And so we will.  Until then, not recipe blog worthy in our book.

Let's get this straight...

For those of you who commented on the Girl Scout Cookie post...no worries.  We can still be friends.  I DO love me some Somoas.  I just happen to love shortbread more.  I think it's because the Somoas are so rich and sweet that I can only eat 1-2 and the experience ends devastatingly quick.  But, like I mentioned, I can eat an entire sleeve of shortbread while watching a 30-minute TV episode and the joy just lasts longer.

Let's get this straight...

I wrote that really long post on Pinterest last Friday and even included some iPad directions.  Well, I tried using just the iPad app and pinning things from Safari with the bookmarklet.  It let me (would kick me out to the app to choose my board, etc.), but when I went back to Pinterest, there was no link attached to my pins.  So I deleted the app and just used Safari and it's working again.  However, it works for other people within the app.  Moral of the story...however you end up pinning things...double-check to make sure the website link is connecting to the pin and it doesn't just say "uploaded by user".

Let's get this straight...

I never imagined that my Lenten post from Wednesday would be so popular!  Thanks to all the comments.  Blogging is a funny thing...you never know what will stick.  I will think a certain post will cause a commotion and nothing.  But this I wrote on a whim, thought nothing more about it and WOW...lots of feedback.  Love that there are many other wishy-washy, buffet-style Catholics out there.

Let's get this straight...

Speaking of comments, I'm considering changing the commenting aspect of the blog.  So if you comment and hate change, be prepared.  I tried Disqus earlier last year and everyone hated it, so I deleted it.  Well, now CommentLuv can be used with Blogger and it seems great.  I have no problem commenting on other blogs that use it.  You do have to enter your name and email address but the email address isn't shown.  It's nice because if I reply to your comment you actually get that reply via email.  Anyone using CommentLuv?  Like it?

Let's get this straight...

I owe mommyhuh a blog post.  So since I'm so far behind and really want some thought put into it...it's still not ready yet.  I'm hoping this small shout-out will keep her happy for now!

And finally, let's get this REALLY straight...

I love my middle child to pieces.  She's a snuggler and so creative and funny.  Just downright hilarious at times.  And the girl has moves.  (So what if they look more like possible pole-dancer moves, she's got rhythm and timing.)  Unfortunately, she gets a bad internet rap.  Especially with this post about our morning routine and this one on bedtime battles.  I write about that stuff to make other moms not feel alone in their independent-stubborn-(usually)middle-child battles.  And to show you that my life isn't all crafts and cute kids and a clean house and date nights and perfection.  We wouldn't really kick her out of the house.  And I wouldn't really trade her for any other kid.

 

Annual Day-You-Get-Dirty Day

Last year's Ashes - no picture today! 

Yesterday a co-worker and I were talking about Lent.  She stated something like "Oh, right, tomorrow's the day you get dirty."  Um, what?  Oh, ashes.  Yep. 

Is that toner on your forehead, ma'am? 

Nope.  It's ashes.

Ashes? 

Yep.  (Conversation really happened when I lived in Alabama…not a very Catholic state.)

For whatever reason, Ash Wednesday is important to me.  And I'm a self-admitted very wishy-washy Catholic.  I don't know if it's the importance of Lent and getting a fresh start to regroup with God through prayer, almsgiving, and giving up a vice (another wishy-washy is that I don't fast but I do go meat-free…a hungry momma is an angry momma which makes an unhappy household).  Or if Ash Wednesday is my way of showing the world, "Hey, I'm trying here" by physically showing my ashes all day.  Which is the exact opposite of what the church wants you to do.  The priest this morning commented on making your Lenten journey yours and private.

So yes, I'm wishy-washy.  Church every Sunday?  HA!  Have you met my (now) 3-year old?  We even mention going to church and she states, "I cry a lot there.  I no like it."  No kidding.  My current church doesn't have a nursery, only a cry room.  And it's packed.  Full of criers.  And only makes me angrier by the minute because I'm trying to pray.  And then I get nothing out of church.  But to say that I went.  Whoopee!  And although Dweej at House Unseen wrote a great post called Pro-Life Means Pro-Child about how we should treat people with children at church, my 3 year old is beyond just being a slight distraction.  So for now Andy takes Stella to Sunday School, enjoys mass himself and I power through laundry and read books at home to the other two while praying the whole time that he'll come home.

I question myself often about why I am Catholic.  I've thought of switching religions, but then I feel guilty.  Because guilt is the number one thing all good Catholics share, right?   And I'm sure I'd find something "wrong" in any organized religion, so I might as well stick with what I know!

There are so many Catholic things I enjoy – tradition, the music, the values, our church friends and activities.  And so many things I just don't get – just let the priests get married, have women lead churches, quit focusing time and energy on changing things like "and also with you" to "and with your spirit" during mass and spend more time on issues like declining parishes and sex abuse scandals. 

In all honesty, I don't really think a person's religion matters.  Gasp!  I think someone's spirituality and faith and values matter more.  I really enjoyed Sellabit Mum's recent post Mormons Exposed!  The whole post is just awesome, but I think she sums it up perfectly in her last paragraph:

"And I hope that no matter what religion you are. Or aren’t. That you will just teach your children about peace, love, kindness, equality and acceptance. Because I think they need a little bit more of that these days so that maybe their futures will shine a little brighter." – Sellabit Mum



My Favorite Day of the Year...They're HERE!

I am a complete sucker for the Trefoils (shortbread) Girl Scout Cookies.  So when I got the call yesterday that my cookie order was in...and then realized it wasn't Lent yet...OMG!  I scheduled an immediate pick-up. 

And yes, when Andy and I sat down to watch the latest episode of How I Met Your Mother (meet the mom already!!) we were giddy to have cookies and milk.  Ok, so Andy was definitely not giddy...but the guy does love his Tagalongs.  And, sadly, I can easily put down a sleeve of shortbread in one sitting (and I did).  I also love the Thin Mints.  We I ordered some Do-si-dos for the girls because we were not about to share our favorites!  Ha. 

Yes, I order an obscene amount of cookies each year.  To support the Girl Scouts of course.  Mainly because I order from probably 4-5 people.  And I do freeze most of them.  Because usually I don't get the cookies until Lent and I've often given up sweets.  So I enjoy them well into the summer and sometimes into the fall.  Pulling out a box here and there.  I really don't buy any other cookies during the year.  Some Nilla wafers, but no Keebler, Chips Ahoy, etc.  My poor, deprived kids.

Someone once mentioned to me about feeling guilty about taking the Girl Scout cookie order form to work.  Are you kidding me?  People at work (not that I would know about this personally) depend on the office cookie order form.  How else will I you order and hide extra cookies in my your desk drawers?  Cookies that definitely won't be eaten by your spouse or children?  Don't EVER stop the "work" cookie order form, ever.  Just sayin'.  In case there is someone like that at your office.

And I was completely done ordering...until someone from KY approached me.  And they had different cookies on their order form!  Same baker, but different regional choice.  So I just had to order the ol' Thank You cookie not offered in OH this year.  Who doesn't love shortbread AND chocolate!!

What's your favorite Girl Scout cookie?

St. Patrick's Day Ideas and Free Printables

Last month I showed you my Valentine's Day Decorations which included lots of free printables.  Click HERE to take a look back if you missed it.  I took all of the hearts and reds and pinks, etc. down over the weekend along with the snowman and winter scenes.  Just doesn't look like we are going to get any snow this year so I am ready for St. Patrick's Day, Easter and SPRING!
I already had the St. Patrick's Day free subway art printable from eighteen25 (lots of great free printables) so I easily swapped that out in the foyer bathroom.

Now to decide what other St. Patty's Day things to do. 

I'm pinning stuff as I see it (hair clippies, recipes, crafts, etc.):

Source: etsy.com via Tricia on Pinterest

Source: blog.gummylump.com via Tricia on Pinterest

Source: saraweaver.blogspot.com via Tricia on Pinterest

I'm not having any luck finding St. Patty's Day M&Ms...anyone seen them locally??

If you also like printables I just saw that A to Zebra Celebrations has a linky party to free printables (click her Linky Love header and click on Sunday Free Printables).  I haven't checked it out yet, but did see that one person linked to a blog post that has 60 St. Patty's ideas.



Very Pinteresting

 

This is a great infographic about Pinterest from Mashable.  Click HERE to see it larger.  Pinterest is definitely a quick success and I'd be surprised if you hadn't heard of it or have an account yourself.  But with success comes many other things...critics, confusion, etc.  Some are still not sure what exactly it is, how to use it, etc.  Others think it's a complete waste of time.

While some have written about why they no longer have an account - Pin This by Scary Mommy - I still enjoy it tremendously.  It has enabled me to cook and bake more than ever before.  I've done some awesome crafts with my kids that I might never have come across.  So I am enjoying the postive side of it day after day.  (I do still wish you could mark a board "private" to keep those party favors a secret!)

Here are a few good links to others in the bloggyland (ladies I enjoy reading) that have recently written about Pinterest.  And if you are having trouble pinning on your iPad, scroll to the end...I've included the step-by-step instructions that a co-worker shared with me that she found on Pinterest.

Little Green Bow wrote a great post on How to Use Pinterest.  In it, like me, she links to other great resources.  I just found her HERE on Pinterest.

Mommyhuh wrote about The Problem With Pinterest.  And she's on Pinterest HERE.  Follow her...her pins can make you snort your drink out your nose they are so funny.

Marian Schembari wrote Stop Ruining Pinterest For Everyone Who Loves It.  She highlights some of the better examples of companies on Pinterest and her thoughts on Pinterest and marketing.  She's HERE on Pinterest.

They are Sucking the FUN Out of It made me laugh out loud about the zebra cakes.  My Name is Momma puts her own spin on what is happening to Pinterest already with all the (I'll call them) boring pins.  She's HERE on Pinterest.

And Sellabit Mum has made another separate business out of it.  Her post Only Pinterest Can Justify My Time on the Internet describes it.  You can find her HERE on Pinterest and read even more about Pin Savvy Social HERE.

And seriously, are people shocked about Pinterest somehow making money?  Why would people be working there otherwise?  I know it's fun and all to pin, pin, pin...but ya gotta make a living somehow!

For inspiration to Stop Pinning and Start Doing! be sure to follow the RWOP (Real Women of Pinterest) led by MEP or Pintervention with Stephanie.  Those are the two reasons I complete Pinterest projects...they inspire me to get. it. done.  If you know of other Pinterest parties...let me know!

And here are the instructions for the iPad (from Pinterest):

Pinterest Instructions for iPad

1.    Download the Pinterest app onto your iPad.

2.    Login and go to Account.

3.    Click on “Install Bookmarklet”. It will open a page in the Safari browser with instructions. Ignore those instructions and do this:

a.    Hit the box with the arrow at the top near the web site address.

b.    Hit Add Bookmark

c.    Then go to the bookmark icon (looks like the open book and click on the bookmark that says “Pin it”.

d.    Click the edit button

e.    Click on the Pin It bookmark

f.      In the line below where it says Pint It (which is the URL address for the bookmark), copy the code below and paste all of it into that line:

javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://passets-cdn.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());

g.    Once finished, hit the button that says bookmark at the top left (not the open book)

h.    Then click Done at the top right.

i.      You can now pin from your iPad, enjoy!

I know for me it still has some quirks on the iPad.  I actually quit using the iPad app (which I think you actually download the iPhone app but it works for iPad, right?) and just logged into Pinterest on Safari.  However, when doing that...the Pin It bookmark wouldn't work right if I also had the app loaded.  I think it got confused because I was logged in both places.  So keep that in mind.  If you are going to use Safari, delete the Pinterest app after following the above instructions (Pin It bookmark will still be there).  Otherwise, if you are going to use the app, don't log in on Safari...make sense?

So...who's on Pinterest?  Who needs an invite?  Who am I not following???

Already on Pinterest?  Be sure to check out my boards as well.

 



Embrace the Camera: Charlotte's Birthday Treats

Yesterday was such a busy day with all of Charlotte's birthday activities, but as I mentioned we did have some time in the afternoon to bake together.  Without Stella.  Which was definitely unique!  Andy snapped a photo of the two of us in the kitchen so today I am linking up with Embrace the Camera.  Such a good reminder...get out from behind the camera and get IN the picture with your kids.

We were busy making Strawberry Cake Mix cookies.  Andy was very bummed because strawberry is not a flavor he enjoys.  At all.  Too bad for him, because they turned out awesome!  Go HERE for my version of the recipe which I found on....Pinterest, of course. 

 

 
 RWOP on NotToBrag.Net 

Whatcha Might Not Know...Birthdays

<Whatcha Might Not Know are Wednesday posts that are just that...something quick that you may or may not know about me, my family, my neighborhood, my city, my world, etc.>
When it is one of our kid's birthdays, Andy and I take the day off to spend with just that kid...the other two still go to daycare (after sleeping in).  We find it's a nice way to have some two-on-one time with the birthday child and then we celebrate together as a family for dinner, presents, and cake.

So today we spent the whole day with Charlotte.  We took her to the Aquarium, we went out to lunch at Dewey's Pizza, then stopped for a birthday balloon (yes, she picked Barbie) at the Party Source, had a quick rest at home watching Toy Story 3 (makes me cry every time), made treats to take to her class tomorrow (and recipe tomorrow), then she requested leftover pizza for dinner (awesome) and we all sang happy birthday to her and her cupcake.

Spent a lot of time thinking about her arrival into the world three years ago. Quite an adventure that included a detour to an ER and carrying my placenta in a bucket.  I was going to write her birth story today, but ran out of time (sigh of relief?  or wanting more?).  Definitely something I want to do in the near future to have for her.

Below are some photos of the day including the annual birthday shot next to the inflatable birthday cake.

Do you have special traditions for birthdays at your house?

Top 10 Favorite Valentine's Day FB Posts This Year

Here they are, my favorite Facebook Status updates from today copied word for word (one hubby name removed for privacy) and one winner (just means you were the ultimate favorite).  If you wrote one of these, thanks for the inspiration!  The pictures were also posted on FB...I have no idea of the source other than the website listed on them.  Enjoy!

10 minutes until midnight.  Guess I should get started on my kid's Valentine's for school tomorrow.

What did the boy pickle say to the girl pickle on Valentine's Day?  YOU MEAN A GREAT DILL TO ME!

Am I totally going to regret getting my son a whoopee cushion for Valentine's Day?  Now that is love.

What did the light bulb say to the light switch on Valentine's Day?  YOU turn me on!

The most UNcrafty mom out there gets to do crafts here in a few at the preschool.  I know the littles are going to show me up…

Not getting on Facebook again 'til tomorrow…I don't think I have to explain why.

To me, love is not traditional. Love is my family, love is my friends, love is my city, my school, my faith and my work. Love is being vulnerable to the things that I'm passionate about. Love is gratitude for all of these things-- and allowing this gratitude to align me with my truth. Truth is love. When you find pieces of it, you want nothing more than to share it with those around you. I hope you find pieces of love in your world today.

What did the boy elephant say to the girl elephant on Valentine's Day?  I LOVE YOU A TON!

If you are feeling sad that no one loves you on Valentine's Day, just remember – No one loves you on the other 364 days of the year either…LOL

I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day.  When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.

And the winner:

A man who gets me pajama jeans AND hoodie-footies pajamas on the same Valentine's Day is a keeper.  Happy V-Day hubby.  You had me at 100% cotton.



Brown Sugar Blondies - Valentine's Style

You won't believe how yummy these are. 

And super easy to make. 

Head over to Tastes From Tricia's Table for my version.

This was another Pinterest find.

My neighbor tried them first with great success.

And I am so happy I went with her recommendation.

Here is the original pin (why can't I get it centered???):

Source: bakedperfection.com via Tricia on Pinterest

RWOP with NTB.