Best Pals Dolls

Isn't this doll so so cute?? There was an article on them in the newspaper this morning. They are made by the Lennon sisters, which, if you watch Lawrence Welch reruns, or are over 50 maybe means something to you. The dolls are reproductions of vintage dolls the girls had when they were little and I just think they are darling! Miriam has more than enough dolls, so I can't justify getting her another one. If someone is looking for that first time doll this one would be perfect. They are called Best Pals Dolls and I know they are sold at Back to Basic Toys, although I think you could find them cheeper elsewhere. There is a blond doll and a brunette one. So cute!

I will get to a catch-up blog soon....but not tonight, I am tired!

Score!

Last Saturday, after going to the Zoo IN THE SNOW!! Miriam and I stopped by Pottery Barn Kids for a night light. We always end up staying in that store for at least an hour while Miriam plays with the kitchen stuff. I think the workers there hate me, they always give me that - we know you are just here to play with the toys and use our very clean very cute bathroom look- while saying an icky sweet "Can I help you?". Well last Saturday I proved them wrong because I found a Ric Rac Duvet cover on clearance for $45. They have virtually nothing else left from the line but I don't care. Ribbon and ric rac are easy to match. I did find a cute night light too. A week ago I found a complete sheet set in pink gingham for $16 at TJMaxx. So, Miriam's big girl bed is almost complete. For some reason Darin is just not as impressed with me as I am with myself so I figured I had better blog about this.

Quiz

You Are Spring!

Hopeful Playful Sweet Fresh Airy

What Season Are You?

Fun Quiz I found on Girlie Girl's blog. It says "You Are A Spring" in my composition but it's not showing on the post. I sound a bit air-headish, but I am hopeful, pretty playful, not fresh at all at the moment since I didn't have time to shower today.

Funny Mormon Video

I found this video on Simple Sentiments, I think it is so funny. Al Mormon

We found Toto!

I found a Pucci Pup that looks just like mangy ole' Toto at TJMaxx!! Hooray! We have been looking all over for Toto look-a-likes, and this one comes with accessories. It was the only one there, hidden behind some puzzles. I hope I didn't find some kids hiding spot. I use to do that as a child, hide what I wanted so it wouldn't get taken, hoping I could talk my parents into going back for it. So, I held the pup up next to a rack full of princess dresses and said "Miriam, make your choice" she choose the dog, but it was a LONG deliberation.

*Edit I guess I should add for anyone who isn't related, and doesn't follow my blog, this is all about Halloween Costumes. Miriam has been obsessed with the Wizard of Oz for almost a year, and has been so excited to be Dorothy. She became aware of the Disney Princesses a while ago, and they are edging Dorothy out.

Moroccan Spiced Chickpea Soup

Since it's all rainy and cold here, I made this soup tonight for dinner Moroccan Spiced Chickpea Soup. It's from "Good Deal with David Lieberman" from the Food Network. If you like Indian flavors (or Moroccan flavors, obviously) you'll love it. The only problem I encountered was that it called for spinach. Since there has been a huge E coli outbreak linked to spinach, and all spinach prepacked or not has been taken off supermarket shelves, I had to sub bok choy. Too bad I had bought a HUGE bag of spinach just a few days ago and have been eating it ALL WEEK. I now think I had the e coli and was one of the "healthy adults who get over it in a week", but then again I always think I have whatever is reported on the news.

Back to the soup....the first time I tried it was when my brother Erik made it. A little known fact about Erik, he is an amazing cook. I am serious, he made this soup so much better than I did, and you should try his roast beef (he cooks it without a crock pot). I don't know how he learned either, maybe he is just better at following directions than I am.

The Case Against Soda

Okay, I am a Pop lover, I adore the stuff. I would rather have a pop than cake, or brownies, or whatever. I also know how terrible it is for me. I strongly believe that so many of our health problems today are directly related to the amount of pop we drink. The rise in diabetes, the obesity rate, all of it has associations with pop. Knowing all that unfortunately, hasn't always kept me from drinking it. As we have been living in the chaos of painting our house I have been surviving with my afternoon coke. I am again, declaring myself pop-free from this moment on after reading this article my husband sent me.
The Case Against Soda

Pink Christmas here we come!

My invitation arrived today.....incredibly cute. Kristi, I just don't know how you do it, seriously. It's fun to have at little bit of information on the people we are giving to. It makes it more exciting to me. I need to get moving on my gift! Now that I know who I am giving to, I am changing some of my ideas a bit. Fun stuff.






We went to the Avenues Street Fair last weekend. There were tons of booths...everything you can imagine, but the find of the day was puddle jumper shoes for $12.99!! Although, they didn't have the polk-a-dot ones in Miriam's size which was sad. We are considering selling soap there next year.

The Maker Baker

"I want to be a Maker Baker!" that is what Miriam says when she wants to help me cook. Don't these pictures make you think I am the best mom in the world?? Making a healthy snack (fresh strawberry, soymilk, lowfat yogurt) with my daughter, teaching her about nutrition, and spending quality time together?? That's what I had in mind when we started this cooking lesson. Here is the part of the story the pictures don't share. She wouldn't eat the smoothie because of the strawberry seeds. She wouldn't eat the peach smoothie I then made because it had "red stringy things" (from the middle). I finally cut and peeled a peach and told her she couldn't have any crackers, or snacks until she ate it. I can not tell you how much time and energy I spend trying to get this girl to eat healthy foods. I took a parenting class where they said to remember that parenting is not about the outcome, because that is not up to you, it is about the attempts we make. Okay, so my attempts at getting Miriam to eat healthy should be enough, but I just needed it documented that I am trying.

The cute apron is from Mormon Handicraft, it came with all these play-dough tools in the pockets (thanks G'ma sherbear). I think they have a hair dresser one, tool one, they are very cute.

Soap Soap Soap

A few weeks ago, while selling soap, a guy walked by and yelled "It's too hot for Soup!". I did my obligatory laugh and said "sure is!" brightly, all while wracking brain trying to figure out what in the world he was talking about. The only thing I can figure is that he thought our sign read 'All Natural Homemade Soup' instead of soap, but I still can't figure out what he thought the bars all over the table were...Fudge??
Anyway, we are living in soap soup at the moment. It is everywhere! Our house really smells nice, which is surprising since we have so many different scents going on. We have had a low inventory for the last few weeks while waiting for this soap to cure. Last week a woman bought every bar of Sensitive Skin soap we had! I need to give a special thank you to my in law's for helping us with this hobby. My Father-in-Law has been so great to make extra batches when we need it, and my Mother in law has put up with us destroying her kitchen every few weeks. Thank You!!

A Tag or Meme or whatever they are called.

Here is a tag or meme (I am not sure what they are called), that I got from Stephanie 's Children's Literature Book Club. If you have adolescent children, her blog is a good resource for book information.

1. One book that changed your life.
I know this is a cop-out but every book I read about a different culture or ethnic group or time in history changes my life in little ways. I view the world differently, and think about new things.

2. One book you have read more than once.
I have read Pride and Prejudice and Little Women more than any other books. I read them first in Jr. High and just keep reading and reading and reading them. I have already dowloaded them on my ipod from a free online library called librivox.com

3. One book you would want on a desert island.
I think I should say scriptures but lets just assume you get to bring those too to make it interesting. Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchey. I adore this book. I wanted to name our next daughter Bernedette "Benny" after the heroine. Darin already nixed that idea.

4. One book that made you laugh.
Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot always makes me laugh. Okay, and I have to admit Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding had me crying with laughter. Warning: Not a book of high moral fiber, frivelous I guess is a good word, with lots of British swearing, but I laughed so hard.

5. One book that made you cry.
I cry every single time I have read the Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. I read it 3 times in the 6th grade and probably every year until high school. When Ponyboy sees Darry after having run away, and then when Johnny says "Stay Gold" to Ponyboy...I am getting teary-eyed just thinking about it.

6. One book you wish had never been written.
I can't remember the name but I think it was set in Newfoundland...or Canada back in the 1900's. This guy has to marry a girl of a different religion and ethnicity who he ends up hating but falls in love with their daughter who reminds him of his mother! It gets worse from there; rape, abuse, death, suicide. It's one of those books that makes you think men are the worst things God ever created. I can't get the depressing, gross story out of my head. It was well written, and received lots of praise but I just don't need that kind of story in my mind. I feel the same way about The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.

7. One book you wish had been written.
I wish my brothers would each write a book about anything. They are really good writers.

8. One book you are currently reading.
Ugh...I wish I were reading a more interesting book! The Potentially Sane Mothers Guide to Raising Young Children by Tamera A. Fackrell. It's a good book as far as self-help books go, just not a classic or anything.

9. One book you have been meaning to read.
Mrs. Mike because TX Girl suggested it.

Labor Day

Just a weekend update. We were with my in-laws all weekend, making soap. It's always nice to spend the weekend at their home. It's very serene and peaceful, well it is until we arrive. Darin and his dad mess up the kitchen with soap, Miriam brings with her lots of running about accompanied with noise, and all our stuff seems to take over the basement. They are wonderful people, and welcome us with open arms, inconveniences and all. Miriam had some bonding moments with her Grandma this weekend, I can't believe I didn't take pictures! They colored, played ring around the rosies, and danced together. Miriam checked out this instructional ballet DVD from the library so she had us all doing "paddy shaws" and spins in the living room. If you knew Miriam you would understand how hilarious this all is. Miriam walked at a year, but it's taken 2 1/2 for her to master a two footed jump. Wait, did I say "master" thats not the right word, atempt is more like it. Her running....I just can't explain how funny it is, but think lots of arms and very little leg movement. We love her uncoordinated leaps and spins! Miriam has strict dance studio rules: 1. No talking in the studio! 2. You must bow to signify the performance is finished. 3. Everyone must clap at the end.

Darin's dances always cause fits of laughter. He hides this talent under a bushel. Until now, I have been the only person on this planet to witness Darin's moves. It's amazing what a little girl can get her daddy to do.



We went to the Wellsville Parade with Regan, Vanessa, Danielle, and Mom & Dad, to watch Cameron play his trumpet in the band. It is a cute parade, lots of beauty queens (we saw the Dairy Princesses and thought of Cristin), fire trucks...you know standard issue. Miriam made a killing in candy. After she had spent the parade running for the taffy and tootsie rolls said "That was a hard day!". There was one last entry after the police cars rolled by signifying the parade to be over. About 15 people dressed up as Native American's on horses rode by shooting real guns (not real bullets) and making a ton of noise. Darin thought maybe this was an "unofficial" entry, like it may not be PC but it is tradition, so the town allows it but doesn't want to take responsibility. We are not from Wellsville so we can only speculate. We tried to get a picture of Cameron getting mauled by 3 or 4 girls after the parade (one who couldn't take her hands off his head) but we couldn't get a good shot. Danielle is turing in an avid fisherman. Regan and Vanessa were taking her up the canyon to do some more fishing. I hope they caught something! It was a productive and fun weekend!