An Obsession...REVIVED!

101 Things To Do...

...in your life together!

Target's Club Wedd recently posted this list on Facebook and I thought it was awesome. A nice little reminder to do something out of the ordinary once in a while with the love of your life.

1. Build a fort in your living room
2. Watch a black & white movie marathon
3. Do a home improvement project with your neighbor
4. Build a tree house in your backyard
5. Watch a meteor shower
6. Perform a duet in a record store
7. Play a practical joke on your partner
8. Make your own artisan cheese
9. Have a spa day at home
10. Have a food fight
11. Camp out for a concert
12. Walk everywhere for one day
13. Play a game of flag football
14. Throw a black tie dinner for two
15. Apply Feng Shui to your house
16. Perfect your guacamole-making skills
17. Mix your own signature cocktail
18. Make a mix CD for each other
19. Get lost on purpose
20. Map your family tree
21. Take dance lessons
22. Write a note to your future grandchildren
23. Go backyard bird watching
24. Kidnap him for a play date in the park
25. Go skydiving
26. Go on a health kick together
27. Book a trip and travel on the same day
28. Karaoke while you cook
29. Cook everything from A to Z
30. Pretend to film a cooking show in your kitchen
31. Pick her up in a limo on a Tuesday
32. Paint a ceiling in your house to resemble a famous mural
33. Camp out close to home
34. Treat her to breakfast in bed
35. Do something touristy in your hometown
36. Go skinny dipping
37. Surprise her with a clean house
38. Bury a time capsule in your backyard
39. Spend a week at sea
40. Set a world record in something
41. Learn 3 guitar chords and play a song
42. Spend a night in a haunted house together
43. Swim in the ocean with a large fish
44. Take her out for a date in your living room
45. Teach her how to build a fire
46. Cook something that you've grown with your own two hands
47. Brew your own wine or beer
48. Go on a hot air balloon ride
49. Build a house of cards and then run through it
50. Build something that will outlast you both
51. Take an extended nap in a mattress store
52. Have a pillow fight
53. Send handwritten notes to each other
54. Get your palms read
55. Volunteer at a soup kitchen over a holiday
56. Eat every dinner at the table for a week
57. Throw a dart at a map and eat a meal from that country
58. Fly a kite
59. Go white water rafting
60. Test drive a car you'll never be able to afford
61. Climb to the top of a mountain and yodel
62. Go bowling
63. Get tattoos
64. Learn how to surf together
65. Cook breakfast for dinner
66. Make your own pasta from scratch
67. Donate blood together
68. Learn a new language together
69. Host a croquet tournament in your backyard
70. Make a movie together
71. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day
72. Send a message in a bottle
73. Watch 26 movies in 26 days starting with each letter of the alphabet
74. Plan a poker party
75. Throw a party because its Tuesday
76. Dress up for Halloween when it is not Halloween
77. Carve your names into a tree
78. Take a road trip
79. Cultivate a bonsai tree
80. Go jogging in your pj's
81. Learn how to throw a knuckle ball
82. Go for a ride on a scary roller coaster
83. Build a giant snow fort
84. Pay for the next person in a drive thru
85. Go on a 24-hour cleanse
86. Bake cupcakes and give them to a neighbor
87. Put the iPod on shuffle and dance all night long
88. Cook a 5-star dinner in the great outdoors
89. Take a cooking class together
90. Go to the top of the tallest building in your city
91. Go out dressed 80's style
92. Play a game of H.O.R.S.E.
93. Switch sides of the bed
94. Take part in a rally for something you believe in
95. Put on a puppet show
96. Volunteer at an animal shelter
97. Plant an herb or vegetable garden
98. Build a birdhouse
99. Put together a giant jigsaw puzzle
100. Paint each other's self-portrait
101. Do yoga on the beach

Dan and I have done 58 of these in our 13 years together. How many can you check off the list?

Picture of the Day: Buzz & Woody

I was lucky to get away on a girls trip to Palm Springs this weekend. This is a picture of my boys on the morning I was leaving. They were so happy to be in these pajamas together!

What a team they will make.
And what a bittersweet moment.

Such a simple one that just took my breath away because as I was packing up my suitcase, I was so very aware of how in love with them I am. My little Buzz & Woody.

Picture of the Day: Thirty Tiny Pedicured Toes

I love baby feet, and the girls love to get their teeny tiny toenails painted (easier said than done sometimes--best accomplished while they're in their booster seats eating a snack).  They relish the opportunity to paw through my box of polish colors and choose the perfect shade, and they take sitting still very seriously so as not to smudge the paint.  Just a little moment that brought us all joy this morning :).

Garage Sale-in' Fools

It only happens once a year folks...the Lakeland Hills Neighborhood Garage Sale and it is fan-freakin-tastic! We always have a very precise plan of attack and move through the hundreds (may be a slight exaggeration, but go with it) of sales with frantic frenzy...ahem...grace. We are armed with a wish list written days in advance, Starbucks, re-useable grocery bags, and a mama mobile sans car seats!

2011's first purchase of the day. The Notebook. A classic. Sarah was pleased! (until she saw one later with hottie Ryan Gosling on the cover. Doh!)

These babies were a dollar each and brought a huge smile to little Carter man's face!

Sarah's loot.

Lindsay's number one wish list item. A kid-sized picnic table: $5.00

Great day!

Summer time fun: $7.00

Best find? Two identical (and brand new) Superman sleeping bags: $1.00 each!

Hannah loves Scooby Doo so Sarah was stoked to find this $2 costume!

Find of the day? Maybe Doug's new Star Wars toy. Vintage for $0.50. It transforms from the ship below (complete with miniatures) into Han and Chewy-bots above.

Sarah's new sangria pitcher! $3!

Love the bowl: $2 and it now resides on top of the fridge. Shiny!

Happy Mother's Day! (just another day in The Mutha-Hood)

Happy Mother's Day Weekend, readers!  (Hope you all enjoy Anita Renfroe as much as we do :)

Recently I wrote an essay as part of a Green River scholarship application; I ran into some perplexing questions.  I was at a loss, really, as to how to explain my work experience or academic achievement, so here's how I introduced myself (tongue firmly-in-cheek, of course):

"For the past five years I’ve held the position of Chief Executive Officer of a small, successful-though-chaotic enterprise. My responsibilities include but are not limited to: budget allocation and record-keeping, maintenance, meal preparation, buyer (of everything), efficiency expert, health and personal safety advisor (including personal hygiene), and transportation of precious cargo. I am on-call 24 hours a day. In exchange, I receive zero compensation. I get zero days off per year, and (BONUS!) also get zero vacation or sick days."

Then I included an interview I did with the girls about Mommy going back to school:

Here’s what my charges have to say about me:

Q: Would you say that Mommy’s a hard worker?
A: “Yes, when you get home from the gym, you’re always really sweaty!!”

Q: What would be good about Mommy going back to school?
A: “You really need to learn about Jesus, and makeup, and Easter egg hunts….”

Q: Would Mommy be a good nurse?
A: “Yes! You’re great at checking us out with the doctor’s kit!” … “But don’t give any kids shots Mom!”

They crack me up.  Being a mom is hard work.  It's also hilarious, and that's part of the reason we started this blog in the first place--to celebrate the hilarity of motherhood.  Try interviewing your kids today with some questions about you, your time with them, your profession, the world...we'd love to hear their responses.

Check out South Sound Macaroni Kid (one of our favorite sites!) for a list of events going on this weekend in the area.  Enjoy your celebrations, Mommies!

Hurricane Monday

Typically, our week starts with a early phone call to discuss the madness that is Monday in our houses. 

"Have I gone mad?"

"I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. The best people are." 

(Love this exchange between the Mad Hatter & Alice)

Somehow, the weekend equals a mess that we have lovingly dubbed "Hurricane Monday". Don't quite know what it is about our husbands being home for two measly days that creates this kind of mayhem, but we busily get to work tidying, cleaning, and laundering for the remainder of the week only to have it happen again five annoying days later. Here's a look at some before and after shots of one such "Hurricane Monday".

Lindsay's playroom:

Sarah's bedroom:

We're SURE we aren't the only mommies that experience this phenomenon...

Disaster relief in full force today.

Happy Hurricane Monday and have a great week!

Running Stuff

Took this picture while running a 10k in Orting a couple weeks ago--lovely!

In October I did a post called "The "Run"down" about my demented desire to run in the Boston Marathon to celebrate my 30th birthday.  (I thought this was a unique idea, but Doug came home one day and told me there's a whole chapter of a book called Stuff White People Like about women turning thirty, with little to no running experience, and big dreams of running in Boston.  He thought this was hilarious.)  Here's an abbreviated update: Training's going well, right on track to run my first full marathon in June, haven't given up the Boston dream yet.

Doug's a biker.  (Or perhaps bicyclist is more accurate if your mind conjured up images of him on a Harley.)  I used to give him a hard time about all the stuff needed to be a proper bicyclist--the pedals, the shoes, the clothes, helmet, bike computer to track miles, etc.  Running, I felt, must be superior, more pure, because all you need to do is throw on your shoes and run out the door.  No stuff!  Just running!  (Reminds me of Mel Gibson in What Women Want--no games, just sports.)

That was .... BEFORE.  Before I found RoadRunner Sports in Kent.  Before I got my Nike+ IPod Kit and heart rate monitor.  Before I started reading books written by other runners about all the ways I could improve and enhance my running experience (Marathoning For Mortals and Brain Training For Runners).  That's right--I needed stuff!! 

My two new favorite acquisitions:

6 inch Pro-Tec Athletics Foam Roller ($24.99)
I have IT band issues (knee/hip pain) that have plagued me towards the end and after my long runs.  I thought about making a doctor's appointment, but instead I went to the chiropractor for a neck issue and mentioned my training and IT pain...he's a miracle worker.  (Dr. Thompson in Auburn--go see him!!)  He showed me the proper stretches and strengthening exercises, and introduced me to this foam roller, which helps release tight muscles.  Pain gone!  Great stuff.

Nathan Sensor Pocket for Nike+ Sensor ($8.99)
This little gadget is designed so you can use your Nike+ sensor with your non-Nike favorite shoes.  I've been using Velcro to secure my sensor to my Asics, but I was thrilled to find this product--no more peeling off sticky Velcro backing so I can switch from Asics to Nikes.  YAY FOR STUFF!

I also thought I'd share some music stuff.  Who doesn't need fresh ideas for their workout playlist?  Lindsay mentioned this jam yesterday, but she introduced me to it and it deserves another shoutout: Bruno Mars' "Runaway Baby" is my current favorite running song.  LOVE LOVE LOVE.  Another random addition is the French rap from the series finale of Sex And The City by MC Solaar "La Belle Et Le Bad Boy".  If you're a fan of the show you'll recognize it.  When it cues up on my Nano, I picture Carrie running breathlessly through Paris, trying to make it to her party on time, and Miranda simultaneously telling Big to 'go get our girl'.  Run Carrie run!!!

Glad I got to share my new stuff with you!  What's the workout stuff you can't live without??

5 Things I Love This Week

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen:
I read this book a couple years ago and loved it. The movie is being released next month with two of my favs Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon. I don't normally choose the 'movie' cover of a book. But this one is especially delicious.



Wisteria halter dress by Anthropologie:
Can't afford it, but man is it adorable!

doo-wops & hooligans by Bruno Mars:
Purchased this a couple months ago and love it more & more every time I listen.
"You better run run runaway. Runaway baby. Before I put my spell on you" So good.

Mini Eggs by Cadbury:
By far, my FAVORITE Easter candy ever!

Metallic wallet by Gap:
Loving this...hmmmm...I do have a bachelorette trip coming up :)

Im-POP-sters?

Two years ago I discovered a little website called Bakerella (created by blogger-baker Angie Dudley) that specialized in sweet confections, unique and beautiful.  Her most ingenious idea?  Cake Balls and Cake Pops, and she'd perfected the art.  The top picture is her original Cake Pop creation from January 2008--the Pop that started it all!  In April of 2008, Martha Stewart featured Angie's pops on her show.  Her readers have wholeheartedly embraced her creation (she shows off the best of their submissions here) and last fall she published a Cake Pops book.  See my post One Weekend, Two Desserts for the pops I made for our Halloween party!

I was surprised to discover cake pops last week in our local Starbucks store.  I didn't see Angie's book anywhere!--I just assumed they'd be promoting them together.  But the baristas had never even heard of Bakerella, so I had to do some investigation of my own.  I discovered this post on Starbucks website, posted March 17, which says this about cake pops...

"This has been an emerging trend popping up in specialty bake shops, on blogs like Bakearella and even touted by Martha Stewart."  ... and then they go on about how hard they've worked to produce them on a mass scale, yadda yadda yadda. 

Yep that's not a typo, they couldn't even spell her blog's name right!  Well it's true that other people have been making them, and that Martha touted them, but until now, Bakerella has been given credit where credit is due.  Starbucks is mass producing her creation and assuming that the public will remain ignorant of their greedy corporate misdeeds.

(Photo courtesy http://www.starbucks.com/)

Starbucks Im-POP-Sters!!

I'm not about to swear off Starbucks because they stole a dessert idea (I'm not crazy--no one makes my Venti Quad Nonfat Iced Caramel Macchiato like they do!) but I thought it was only fair to Bakerella, whom I love, to make sure our readers are at least aware of the situation.  And now all of you have the recipe (here it is again if you missed the first link) so you can make your own for just pennies.  Shame on you and your im-POP-ster cake pops, Starbucks!