Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Silly Haiku Wednesday - #7

Join the fun!

The basics:
Haiku is simple! It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (a great way to use your fingers!)

This week’s theme is: Light

The moon shines above
Giving off just enough light
Very beautiful


I totally spaced today but better late than never, right?



Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Whole Foods Market coming to Santa Barbara

I have to admit, I have been looking forward to Whole Foods opening for months now.  Santa Barbara needs more awesome stores like Whole Foods!  I have always gone to Whole Foods whenever I was in a town with one.  They have the best food, salad bar, dinner bar and everything.  They even sell "nutrition" bars at a nice discount!

I was really excited when Heather, a PR rep from Whole Foods, emailed me with their whole opening week activities and schedule.  Below is everything going on there:

Opening Day: Wednesday, October 7th
The first 200 customers in line for the 9:00 AM “bread breaking ceremony” will receive a complimentary demi-baguette, plus a reusable FEED 100 bag representing a donation of 100 meals to kids in Rwanda.  Each bag will be filled with a selection of 365 Everyday Value-brand groceries.

All day long, there will be free food tastings and Whole Body product samplings in all departments.

Mystery Gift Card Giveaway: Thursday, October 8th
The first 200 customers who enter the store will receive a Whole Foods Market gift card with a mystery value ranging from $5 to $100.

Coffee Day: Friday, October 9th
The first 200 customers who enter the store will receive a FREE Whole Foods Market coffee tumbler and a free cup of our famous, free trade Allegro Arabica coffee, served fresh all day long in the bakery.

Opening Day Redux: Saturday, October 10th
For the customers who missed opening day, here’s a chance to go back in time. The first 200 customers in line when the doors open at 7:00 AM will receive a free, reusable FEED 100 bag filled with a selection of 365 Everyday Value-brand groceries.

Salad Days at Whole Foods Market: Sunday, October 11th
The first 200 customers through the door will receive a free, pre-packed Everyday Value salad from our Prepared Foods Department.

Value Tours: Sunday, October 11th
At 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, customers can join the Whole Foods Market Value Tour – a custom-guided walk through the store to help the savvy shopper on any budget enjoy the freshest, highest quality food available. For example, Whole Foods Market’s own family of brands, 365 Everyday Value, 365 Organic Everyday Value, Whole Kitchen and Whole Pantry offers thousands of natural and organic products at prices competitive with conventional products at traditional supermarkets. To reserve a spot, simply contact the store.

Community Support Day: Wednesday, October 14th
Five percent of net sales for the day will be donated to the Santa Barbara PARC Foundation, which supports the acquisition and enhancement of open space, parks and recreation programs for the Santa Barbara community. 

I am definitely going to try to get to as many of these events as I can :)

Monday, September 28, 2009

My 300th Post

Wowee, this is my 300th post.  I had been thinking to myself just now that I wanted to set a post to auto-post for tomorrow, since it is Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement) and I won't be on.  What a special coincidence that Yom Kippur and my 300th post coincide.

So, on this Yom Kippur, please send good thoughts my way, as I fast for 26 hours (no food or water, but I do cheat and brush my teeth).

See you all on Tuesday :)

P.S. Enter my Tupperware contest below.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

My New Button

Thanks to my amazing anonymous friend (for button design) and Thom (for html help)....I now have a beautiful button!!!!!!  Please help me get my button out there by posting it on your blog.  I have a ton of people's buttons up on Becca's Contest List but I would be willing to put some up here as well for exchanges :)


Quotable Sunday - #13


Toni at A Daily Dose of Toni hosts Quotable Sunday each week. This week I have decided to do a quote on hippos, just because I think they are so cute!!!

There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.
- Carl Sandburg


Saturday, September 26, 2009

Six Word Saturday - #14



Show my Face blog hosts Six Word Saturday each week.

Here's what you do
: Describe your life (or something) in just six words.

Our new beds come this morning.

Check out my Tupperware contest below.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Aloha Friday #20


Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday. Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog . Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the Mr. Linky there if you are participating.

What foods are good for "dessert" that don't involve real or fake sugar?
Does anyone have any recipes including garlic that aren't gross?


I read that sugar is bad and garlic is great when it comes to getting rid of colds.  So any and all help would be appreciated.  I am missing dessert and tired of eating nasty chunks of garlic in pasta.

Thanks!!!!!

P.S.  Don't forget to enter my Tupperware contest below.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A cold

Well....I have a stupid cold.  I posted on my facebook asking for ideas, but now I am taking to my blog.  If anyone has any ideas to help me get rid of this thing quickly, I am desperate!  Thanks :)

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Win a Tupperware FridgeSmart Stackable Containers Set



Audrey at Recipe Tips and Hints and I are giving away a Tupperware FridgeSmart Stackable Containers set.


For your first (and mandatory) entry into this contest, list 5 things currently in your refrigerator. Please make sure to leave your email address in your comments.

To earn extra entries you can (please leave a comment for each additional entry):

1) Become a follower of my blog or let me know if you already follow (please don't do anonymous, i have to be able to see you)
2) Become an email subscriber of my blog or let me know if you already subscribe
3) Blog about this contest (and comment with the url)
4) Follow me on twitter and tweet about the contest (comment with your twitter name and the url of your tweet)
5)  Become Audrey's friend on facebook (comment with your Facebook name)
6) Make a purchase from Audrey's site (not mandatory but worth 5 extra entries so leave 5 comments!)

This contest is open to anyone with a US mailing address that is 18+. Contest ends Sunday, October 11th at 11:59 pm pacific time. Winner will be picked and notified by email shortly after.

Orange Plum Chicken

My dad was flipping through a cookbook the other night looking for food for my mom's birthday party, and came across a great chicken dish we decided to try last night!

Orange Plum Chicken

1/3 cup plum preserves
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 to 2 1/2 pounds meaty chicken pieces (we used breasts)
1/3 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch (we inadvertently skipped this ingredient)

1.  In a small bowl stir together plum preserves and soy sauce.  (My mom accidentally added in the orange juice as well).  In a 3 quart rectangular baking dish (we used a casserole dish) arrange chicken pieces so they don't touch.  (ours touched and nothing exploded)  Brush chicken pieces with plum mixture.

2.  Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 45-55 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink.  Remove chicken from dish, reserving juices; keep warm.  (we didn't do this, as my mom had already kinda omitted the next step)

3.  Pour reserved juices into a 2-cup glass measure.  Skim fat from juices.  Transfer juices to a small saucepan.  Combine orange juice and cornstarch; stir into reserved juices.  Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.  Cook and stir for two more minutes.  Serve over chicken.  (We did not do any of this)

Makes 4 servings

I didn't take a pic...because it just looked like chicken.

Enjoy!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Friend Makin Mondays - Craigslist


This is a new meme I just found, currently hosted by Amber at AE Filkins.

This week's theme is - Craigslist

I love trying out new things, so I have been a Craigslist addict on and off for years.  They are almost like a one stop (local) shop.

I have found places to live, garage sales to go to and tons of (free) moving boxes!  I have also found some job leads, but never gotten a job off of there.

I have only sold some comic books and given away moving boxes.

I have only had positive experiences with Craigslist and would definitely recommend them to anyone! :)

What are your thoughts on Craigslist??

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Six Word Saturday - #13



Show my Face blog hosts Six Word Saturday each week.

Here's what you do
: Describe your life (or something) in just six words.

Today is Rosh Hashana.  Shana Tova

(Shana Tova "means" Happy New Year)

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Aloha Friday #19


Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday. Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog . Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the Mr. Linky there if you are participating.

I have another Aloha Friday that isn't exactly a question...

Tell me about where you live.  Is it a house, apartment, etc?  One story, two, more?  How many bedrooms and bathrooms are there?  Do you have a backyard?


Our new house is 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.  That area is closed off by a door (that we never close lol).  We have a super small front entry way, a coat closet, a living room, the dining room is my mom's office.  Our kitchen table is actually in the kitchen eating area for once.  Our kitchen is okay sized (our last kitchen really did not hold 2 people at one time).  There is a small room off of the kitchen with counter space and cabinet space.  We have a front and back yard.  Both yards have multiple fruit trees!  I think I covered everything ;)


Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Thursday Thunks - Ouch, denim, news and that desert island question again....


I'm trying the Thursday Thunks meme again. Hope everyone enjoys my answers!

1. My daughter (aka Demon #1) informed me the other day that her hugs were worth a million dollars. Would you give up hugs - giving and receiving - for the rest of your life, for a million dollars? I am not a huge huggy person so I think I probably would.  I like the occasional hug...but a million dollars is a lot of money!

2.Have you ever been bitten by a member of the canine family? My dog bit me really hard one time on my foot...but thankfully I was wearing my Doc Martens.  He had found a carcass while we were walking and I did not have a good time trying to get it away from him.  Normally he is the most mild-mannered dog on earth!

3. What is your favorite color of jeans?  I like dark (but faded) blue jeans. 

4. What is something that has changed in public schools that you wish was the norm when you were in school? They offer more languages like Latin, Chinese, etc.

5. What is your news source? For real news, I like CNN.  For most everything else I like Perez Hilton.

6. What sort of people do you think read your blog?  From what I have noticed, all kinds of different people read my blog.  I would love to make some local friends tho (or far-away friends to go visit)

7. If I told you that I had a headache, you would say..........??? Take 3 Advil...it works wonders!

8. You go to a buffet style restaurant, what is the first food you put on your plate? I always make a big salad first...I don't know why I fill up on salad...but I always do!

9. If you were stranded on a desert island.... no, we aren't asking that again. Lets put a twist into this. Would you volunteer to be dropped off on a desert island, to be picked up in a month? And you don't get to bring those 3 items, either.  If the island had my laptop and internet, maybe.  Otherwise, probably not.

10. When the sun sets, what are you usually doing? Lately, I have either been grocery shopping or out walking.

Silly Haiku Wednesday - #6

Join the fun!

The basics:
Haiku is simple! It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (a great way to use your fingers!)

This week’s theme is: Chaos

Life is so busy
I think my head might explode

Is it next week yet?


I loved having a reminder from Jenn to do this :)

Monday, September 14, 2009

Ask Dr. Oz

The "Ask Dr. Oz" show premiered today.  I have always enjoyed watching him on Oprah and decided to tape his show to watch.

He covered many topics in one show, but everything was really informative.  He talked about erogenous zones, women having unnecessary surgeries, what fast food does to us, germs in purses, chicken skin and dancing to lose weight.  I think I got them all LOL

I would definitely recommend watching this show if you have room on your DVR or are home during the day.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Quizzes

I am super tired from a really long day at work...so I am just taking a few breakfast themed-quizzes.  Try them out and share your results



You Are Chocolate Chip Pancakes






You prefer sweet and rich foods.

You shy away from anything that's overly bland or unnaturally fat free.

It's not likely that someone would find low fat cheese or sugar free cookies in your kitchen.

Instead, someone might find a pan of brownies baking in the oven or warm popcorn covered in real butter.



You Are a Corn Muffin





Even though you've been accused of being otherwise, you're a simple, uncomplicated person.

You just want the same things everyone else wants. You're just happier with what you already have.

You are confident and strong minded. You are proud of who you are.

You enjoy being recognized for your accomplishments, and you like to be the center of attention.

Sometimes your ego can get the best of you. You do tend to outshine people.

It's hard for you not to have a big head - very few people have it as good as you do.




You Are Cheerios




Like other Cheerios eaters, you want to be a responsible adult.

But you can't help but still be a kid at heart!

You try to make good decisions. You're a clean cut, conscientious person.

You're the type of person who would never skip breakfast.

Part of you thinks that breakfast is too important to miss...

But a bigger part of you knows it's too fun to miss!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Small Talk Six - 6 things you think would be yummy if they were covered in chocolate



MomDot hosts Small Talk Six each Saturday, with a new topic weekly. You have to respond to each topic with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, or 6 photos.

This week's topic is - 6 things you think would be yummy if they were covered in chocolate
(My list is in no particular order...can you guess which one is actually my #1?)


1) Gummy bears


2)  Marshmallows


3) Pretzels



4) Oreos (I am not a big fan, but covered in chocolate they are great)


5) Bananas (not the frozen kind...just room temperature)


6) Almonds (like with oreos, not a huge fan, but love them covered in chocolate)


What are your favorites??

Friday, September 11, 2009

A different sadness today

While what happened 8 years ago is absolutely heart-breaking...something happened exactly 1 year ago today that really affected me personally.

On this day, last year, I had to put my doggy, Charlie, to sleep.  He was my first dog (and pet).  He was a strange mix.  Half Rottweiler...half cocker spaniel.  I have always loved animals, but my parents never wanted a pet.  Finally when I was in 7th grade, I managed to talk my parents into it.  We went to the pound, and Charlie was the only dog not barking.  After we brought him home, we actually worried he might be deaf because he was so silent.  But he could hear us...so we thought his voicebox was maybe damaged.  And then one day...he barked!  It scared the crap out of all of us.

We had such fun times with him.  He loved to play ball in the yard until we got tired (he never got tired).  He loved to go for long walks.  He also loved to step on my feet.

As he got older, he developed a ton of health problems.  He was growing a huge tumor near one of his back legs (thankfully it never affected his walking).  He developed a thyroid condition.  He got arthritis.  And then his cataracts got so bad that he was fully blind (thankfully we had started voice training him to go up and down curbs so he did okay on walks still).  We asked the vet, and she said as long as he was still happy, to let him be.

And then one day, he wasn't really eating anymore.  And he was just laying there sleeping all day and all night.  The drive with him to the vet was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my whole life.  I tried to do it by myself...but I was bawling so hard that I just stopped my car at the corner and waited for my mom to come get me.  He walked himself into the vet, but then...my dog - the one who would never let us pick him up at all - let the vet scoop him up and take him away.  And my mom and I just stood there and cried and cried.  I'm crying now as I write about this.  It really was one of the worst days of my whole entire 26 years of life.

So today, on this already heartbreaking day, I just want to take a moment to remember my dog...and to let all of you know a little about him as well.

RIP Charlie

(Charlie is the black dog.  As you can see, he looks like a Rottweiler but was the size of a Cocker Spaniel.  Argus is the white dog and I have blogged about him a bit in previous posts)

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Aloha Friday #18


Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday. Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog . Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the Mr. Linky there if you are participating.

I'm going to do things a little differently today....I need blog ideas!  I sometimes have trouble coming up with things to write about, but have no trouble writing once I get an idea.

So, please give me at least one idea of something to blog about.
 

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Good news for me

I forgot to post about it last night...but I had been calling into jury duty for the last week.  Last night, they said my services were no longer needed, I didn't need to call again, and they may contact me in the future.  Woohoo!!!!!

I had absolutely no time to serve on a jury with how busy my life is right now :)

Silly Haiku Wednesday - #5

Join the fun!

The basics:
Haiku is simple! It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (a great way to use your fingers!)

This week’s theme is: Education

Learning is so fun
But tests and exams are not

Can't we just skip them?


Woohoo I easily remembered to do one this week :)

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

What grade should I teach?

I just saw a quiz about what grade you should teach while visiting Thom's website, and decided to take the quiz for myself.





You Should Teach Second Grade



You are an excellent communicator and instructor. You would take teaching seriously.

You know how to present a subject in many ways. You are good at coming up with examples.

You are both supportive and challenging. You know when to push, and you know when to praise.

You have a lot of energy, and you don't get discouraged easily. You don't give up on people.


I love kids of all ages but I think little kids would be easier to teach :)

Chicken Enchiladas

On many of my menu plans, I leave a link to our chicken enchilada recipe. It's a family recipe, and I have no idea where it came from before that. We always post these really nice pictures of what it looks like in the casserole dish. Well the other night, she served me some before I got into the dining room, and I just wanted to share that lovely picture with you. It really reminded me that looks don't matter hehehehe And...don't let the picture scare you off...it really is delicious!!!!


Ruby Tuesday #2

This is my second time doing the Ruby Tuesday meme. It is hosted by Work Of The Poet. All you have to do is post a picture with red.


I had seen a spider a few days ago...but didn't have a camera nearby and then it disappeared. My mom took out the trash last night and saw the same spider in our trash area. Below is the picture. Does anyone know what it is? Think it's poisonous?

Do you have a red pic to share? :)

Monday, September 7, 2009

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist


I have a 3-at-a-time Netflix membership, and currently am a bit behind on movies. I rented Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist because I heard it was good and because I think Michael Cera is hilarious and cute in a totally nerdy sort of way.

Wow, what a great movie. I don't want to spoil it incase anyone hasn't seen it...but it takes place over one really long night! It's about a group of different high school kids and how they end up interacting with each other. The acting was really cute and everyone played their roles really well! I also used to go to a lot of music "shows" as a teenager so I can relate to the characters!

I would highly recommend it, but it might not be appropriate for kids lol

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Friend Makin Mondays - Favorite Things About Fall


This is a new meme I just found, currently hosted by Amber at AE Filkins.

This week's theme is - Favorite Things About Fall

1) Rain


2) Halloween (and my mom's birthday)


3) Football (that's a pic of my high school in the dp helmet)


4) Honeycrisp apples

What are your faves???

The 13th Warrior


On Friday night, a friend invited me over to watch "The 13th Warrior". I generally enjoy Antonio Banderas as an actor and had never seen this movie, so I happily went over to watch it.

While I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see many of my friends, I didn't enjoy the movie overly much. The acting was fine, but the beginning of the movie was in whatever language and not subtitled (although Antonio Banderas' character had someone translating to him sometimes). Therefore, I really had no idea what was going on for a long time. The action scenes were okay, but the movie is about 10 years old and you could really tell that by the special effects.

So, while I wouldn't say this movie was bad...I would definitely say it wasn't that good. If you are in the mood for an Antonio Banderas movie, I would definitely recommend one of the Zorro or Shrek movies instead of this one.

If anyone else has seen the movie, I would love to know your thoughts on it!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Six Word Saturday - #12



Show my Face blog hosts Six Word Saturday each week.

Here's what you do
: Describe your life (or something) in just six words.

Going to a birthday bbq shortly.

Get to try my jello shots.

Friday, September 4, 2009

The CW Fall 2009

The CW did a 30 minute preview of their 2009 line-up. I eagerly taped it on my DVR. Below is the schedule of shows....

Monday - One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl
Tuesday - 90210 and Melrose Place (starts Sept 8)
Wednesday - America's Next Top Model and The Beautiful Life: TBL (starts Sept 16)
Thursday - The Vampire Diaries (starts Sept 10) and Supernatural
Friday - Smallville and America's Next Top Model (encore)

Melrose Place - New characters Ella, Jonah, Riley, Lauren, Violet, Auggie and David. Returning characters Michael and Sydney. I loved the original show and absolutely cannot wait for the new one.


The Beautiful Life: TBL - Stars Mischa Barton, Sara Paxton, Corbin Bleu and some other actors I have never heard of. It is about the world of high fashion. I absolutely loved Mischa Barton on The OC and can't wait to watch her in this show!


The Vampire Diaries - It's a show about two vampire brothers and the woman torn between them. It reminds me a lot of "Twilight" but I love Twilight, so I'm okay with that! :)


Life Unexpected - Baze, Cate and their daughter - Lux. They gave her up for adoption and she finds her birth parents in order to get emancipated. (This show seems to not be starting in the fall line-up)


I am so excited for some of these new and returning shows. I wish the other stations did this!

Friday Fill-Ins #7


And...here we go!

1. I feel pretty...oh so pretty. hehehe

2. Playing Shanghai with my family is always fun.

3. Right now, I can hear these things: the whir of the fan and my sister typing.

4. I just ate a banana and I'm glad I got to try my new sugar free Hershey's syrup.

5. The last time I had jello shots was last weekend. (and I am having more this weekend)

6. I am going to my cousin Bobby's birthday BBQ this Labor day weekend.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing at home, tomorrow my plans include driving about an hour for the family barbecue and Sunday, I want to either finish cleaning the garage or start cleaning out the storage shed!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Aloha Friday #17


Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday. Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog . Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the Mr. Linky there if you are participating.

My question is:

What do you suggest to plant in a "garden"?

We have a large patch of assorted shrubs (it looks like someone scattered a variety of seeds...super ugly) and we are thinking of ripping it up to plant something.

I have thought of azaleas, roses and tulips.


Tell Me Thursday - #3

Tell Me Thursday is all about Wordless Wednesday.

After Kiki said to google "weird white furry bug", I did. I came up with a few possibilities but I really think my mystery bug is a mealybug. There are a few different varieties of mealybug and I don't care to get that specific lol.

Thanks Kiki!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Silly Haiku Wednesday - #4

Join the fun!

The basics:

Haiku is simple! It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (a great way to use your fingers!)

This week’s theme is: Freestyle

No more ants inside
The bait seemed to do the trick

Hope they don't return


I really have to get into the habit of doing these each week!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Wordless Wednesday #3 - Mystery Bug



If anyone knows what this bug is, please enlighten me. I found it on our orange tree. I would love to know. And...sorry the second picture is blurry, my phone camera doesn't do up close shots very well.

For more Wordless Wednesday, go here or here.