Slightly Domesticated

Whoops!

2010-06-07T09:59:00.002-04:00

To anyone that reads my blog -

Sorry I took a vacation from blogging on here! Anton and I started a tumblr, and have been consistent with updating that. You can find it - here. We figured it would be better if we both updated it because that way, we would be more consistent. Unlike what I am on here! Anyway, I hope that you'll switch over and read it. I might still come back here to blog one day. I do love this one.

Dear Crafters

2010-04-16T14:02:00.003-04:00

Dear World of Crafters Who Might Stumble Across this Post,

Is anyone interested in making me and Anton some new home announcement cards? We want something fun and bright/pretty. I'd love to spread your work around instead of Hallmarks! We are all about paying in the $1.00 - $1.50 range per card. We think we need between 25 -30. Let me know!

Love,

Michelle

Creative Writing Fun

2010-04-16T13:58:00.004-04:00

I really miss writing. For a long time my goal was to be a writer. Little things like money, stability, and time sort of crushed that. I still hope I write some version of a book one day. Creative writing in college was one of my favorite courses. Fun fact - it was in that class that I meet Anton.

Anton sent me this: creative writing assignment

It is hilarious, and pretty true when I think of some of the guy vs girl writing in that class. Worth a read for a giggle!

New Foods

2010-04-13T21:15:00.004-04:00

I've been beyond crazy busy getting ready to move in to the new place this weekend (new floor, new paint, new lighting, moving things over, lowes sucking, changing address, etc etc fun but busy) however, I haven't given up the new healthier foods search. Hummus, veggies, whole grain (pasta at least) and frozen fruit slush/smoothies with flax seeds are now in my daily diet. When I first met Anton's sister Danielle, I sort of giggled and said she ate funny exotic foods - i.e. hummus and avocados. Now, I can eat hummus by the truck load, specifically roasted red pepper hummus from Wegmans, and roasted pine nut by Sabra. I've also started eating avocados! So, sorry Danielle - I promise to automatically try anything that has your stamp of approval on it.

Apparently, avocados have a lot of calories but also the "good" fat. They are known as butter pears. They are friggin delicious with a little salt and pepper sprinkled on. See how I man handled this one as a snack during work? I've got to try to watch how often I eat them, but I mean, they are green. And a fruit/veggie. How bad can it be?

Also, I've been trying to incorporate veggies as more of a big part of dinner instead of a side. Anyone have a good stir fry recipe they'd be willing to share? Or any recipe, really - that's healthy, relatively easy and not super time consuming? Here is one of my experiments. Spaghetti squash dinner. It was meh. If you are into squash, I totally recommend trying the recipe found here. It is pretty easy to make. The hunt continues. Hey Diane, what do you sautee your green beans in? They were fantastic.

Please Please Please

2010-04-07T23:24:00.001-04:00

I need this! Especially after a day like today! Look at the tails wagging! It is love.

Mr. Easter Bunny, I Love YOU

2010-04-04T22:00:00.001-04:00

Thank you Mr. Easter Bunny for my clever riddle to find my Easter basket, and for the FIVE POUND GUMMY BEAR. Delicious.

Spiral Staircase & Thoughts

2010-03-28T23:27:00.003-04:00

Spiral Staircases are cool, but they are even COOLER when they involve bookshelves! All these teachers getting let go right before their tenure year in NJ and PA is depressing. It's just a bad time to be in the field of education, no matter how good you are it at, no matter if it is your passion and if every step you've made in the land of 'What I am going to be when I grow up' is for it. It makes me think, "Hey, what else am I good at?" Let me tell you, I am all about bookshelves. Maybe I can design some!?
Because, in my life, I need backup plans. I'm a planner, so the whole "no planning" thing would leave me restless no matter how much meditation (did I forget to blog about my sampling of meditation? putting on to do list) and living in the now that I try. The whole not having the dream career that I really feel like I've worked for still frustrates the hell out of me. What do you mean I can't have my own classroom? Here is the good part though - I am in love with Anton. Who loves me back, gives me the lovins, mellows me out when I get really high strung, and keeps me young and happy. Even now, with the mortgage payment fear I have - he isn't loosing a bit of sleep. He even finds positives with me possibly loosing my job in the future (who knows if I will, I just play the what if game with this), like being able to write a children's book, go back to school, or being able to take care of a puppy. At the end of the day, if I had to choose, or I bet if almost anyone had to choose - they would take amazing love life and best friend over great career hands down. So. no.more.worries. At least for now! Ha. A thank you to Anton for dealing with my neurotic insanity that has been popping up more often lately.

Anyway, these are beyond beautiful!

I Remember this Song

2010-03-28T22:29:00.003-04:00

It's still good, especially in the car on a spring day! Remember that Spirit movie? Never hear about that anymore.

Candy Bar

2010-03-28T18:29:00.005-04:00

I forgot to mention the best part of furniture shopping in Mealeys - the candy bar! How could we ever go anywhere else? Pssh. Anton was so so so excited by it. Totally made the experience worth it for us. "Hey you want to spend a couple thousand dollars? Don't worry about it. Relax. We have candy, coffee, soda, and water to make it feel all better. Just sign here."

Weekend Adventures

2010-03-28T18:16:00.003-04:00

Anton and I spent this weekend doing lots of stuff related to the new place that we close for on Wednesday (with hopefully no issues at all).

We went to the Melting Pot on Friday (I had a gift card) and it was of course, super delicious especially the dessert. Anton and I have never gone together so it was a fun experience. I was surprised with their new plates and way of serving the sauces. Definitely worth checking out if you've never been. I would have taken pictures of the amazing food but I didn't have my camera, and my cell phone doesn't do it justice. However, I did take a picture of the awesome chocolate and strawberry syrup Congrats house design that our super nice waitress made us. YAY!

I also got my car inspected this weekend. It PASSED. Without a working horn, mind you. Sheer luck. Anton got his car washed. I get disappointed because it isn't the kind that you sit in side for. :( Luckily, this car wash offers 2 hours on a Monday night where you CAN sit inside and it is for a cheaper price. I'm saving it for my car when we need one of these cheap date nights. And I know we are going to need it after my heart stops from our first mortgage payment.

We also got some paint samples for the living room (version of gold) and bedroom( a light grayish blue and then a darker blue for an accent wall), picked up our fancy chandelier and went furniture shopping. We found a sectional couch set that we love, but don't know if we can fit it yet so we are waiting till after Wednesday to go through with it. We did find our dining room table set! I didn't take a picture of it there because I forgot - however is the one that we found online for it. We went ahead and got that little cabinet thing too. It will be a nice place to store a wine bottle other than on top of the fridge. I always loved how a bench chair looked, especially one with a back for safety. I am clumsy. I think that the black from the table and the black from the chandelier should come together. Hopefully.

We measure and test paint on Weds, go buy the rest of paint and supplies on Thursday, plan to have someone come the following week to look at the floor to try and get hard wood, and go buy the remainder of furniture needed (couches, coffee table, entertainment center, basement ratchet couch) on Friday. PHEW. Brain.needs.rest. That's why today I did laundry, and then stayed in my pjs while vacuuming and reading. Hope you had a fantastic weekend!

Tonight

2010-03-24T11:40:00.004-04:00

I'm pretty excited to see him again! Make it sweet number four. I really like the new cd, especially more than the previous two.

Oh yeah, and Bon Jovi is going to be there. It's weird seeing Bon Jovi in Philly instead of NJ. Sort of sacrelig, no?

Enjoy a little Dashboard. How about some happy Dashboard? Not Hands Down, but something different. I usually prefer the depression love longing kind, but hey. It's a nice day out, and this song reminds me of high school.

Lighting

2010-03-23T00:11:00.002-04:00

We are going to need a dining room chandelier since that was the one thing the seller's really wanted to take with them from the new place. I am really into doing something like this and keeping the lighting in the dining room romantic. I'm pretty sure that there is a dimmer too. Here's hoping we can find this in Lowes and someone who will install it.

The Purchases Begin

2010-03-22T21:00:00.002-04:00

As much of this buying a place thing can be stressful, I do get very excited over most of it. We have started making purchases for decorations. We've been holding out a long time, and things are starting to come together. Granted we still need to look at paint, furniture, and work on the cable/utilities - but I want to talk about the bedding for our bedroom! It has been purchased and includes decorative pillows. We sprung for the 450 thread count sheets that match the blue color, but I plan to get a navy blue too in a smaller thread count. I've just never had nice sheets before, and I wanted to try it. We saved a lot of money on this 8 piece set - only $80 and it is still super soft. Holla.

The next question is, what color do we paint the walls? And what color should the curtains be? I was thinking maybe a gray for the walls, and Anton's sister Danielle suggested if we do that to include a blue accent wall - which I think could work out great especially on the wall with the window seat. We will have cathedral ceilings, so it shouldn't feel closed in. Thoughts anyone?

We also got some wall art. We love trees and stars and forests, and there is a lot of stuff out there for it. We got this but with a brownish tone for the bedroom.

I'm loving this decorating. I really feel like by the time we are finished, the place is really going to represent us.

You Know.

2010-03-19T00:10:00.005-04:00

It was one of those Dark Mocha Cherry Frappy kind of days. Working on the same street as Starbucks is torture. At least I got it light and with no whip!

Picked this up at the grocery store tonight to put in the blender with frozen fruit and yogurt. This is a shout out to Diane. I'm thinking of throwing it into our sauce when I make it too. I hope it tastes okay. It smells a little like miracle grow.

Check out those Mickey post its. I've had them for 4 years. I've only started to let myself use them daily. I think I was afraid to use them all too quickly.

Hovercat

2010-03-17T22:43:00.000-04:00

Spread the word, and the good cheer.

Chicken and Bacon and Pasta

2010-03-16T22:46:00.002-04:00

I know. Bacon. During Anton's weight loss competition. I am practically the devil, right? Well, listen - I planned this recipe for my last grocery shopping excursion. I can't just let the food go to waste! Plus, I wanted to try it. Let me tell you, the chicken tasted pretty amazing. The sauce was good, not AMAZING, but good enough to be sitting on pasta underneath chicken wrapped in bacon.

Ingredients

6 pieces bacon
6 chicken cutlets
3 c penne pasta
3/4 c low fat chive and onion cream cheese
about 1 1/2 c fat free low sodium chix broth
3/4 c cherry tomatoes, halved
3 green onions, chopped

Start boiling water and cooking penne as directed on box. Wrap a piece of bacon around each piece of chicken (secure with toothpicks if you lack wrapping skills like me). Heat large nonstick skillet on medium high heat. Add chicken and COVER. Cook 5 - 7 minutes on each side. This will start to smell amazing. Once cooked on both sides, remove from skillet and put on a plate - cover to keep warm. Mix broth and cream cheese with a wisk in that skillet, keep wisking and cooking till blended and thick. Add tomatoes and onions to sauce mixture, cook for another 3 minutes. Put sauce over penne, top with chicken! Eat it up!

Luna Bar Review

2010-03-16T10:42:00.002-04:00

I've been trying lots of different healthy foods since Anton's weight loss journey - including about 4 different types of hummus. Last night I was craving a snack, and we were stopping at the food store to get Anton a bunch of bananas because he eats a banana a day. These "Luna Bars" were on sale, and I decided to try one since it is described as being a delicious bar for women. Woo! It TOTALLY is. Absolutely worth it. I plan to try more flavors. Girl Power.

Description on bag:

Created by and for women, LUNA bars were the first bar just for us, with the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to stay healthy. Wholesome nourishment and delicious indulgence, they are all-natural, 70% organic and just plain yummy!

How can something so good for us be so delicious? It’s simple. Start with the best ingredients possible (nothing artificial, everything natural) and nutrition that matters most to women. Mix with flavors that make mouths water and the rest is sweet (and healthy!) history.

High in calcium and folic acid
Rich in antioxidants A, C, E
9g protein, 3g fiber

Sup?

2010-03-10T11:23:00.003-05:00

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net (click pic to see it in full)

Tehehe.

Need Crane

2010-03-09T23:19:00.003-05:00

Update: My entire body still hurts from the self inflicted mini bootcamp on Sunday. Need a crane to bend down to pick up dropped pencils. "Hurt so Good" is the song I am trying to replay in my brain. I keep wanting to end rants that I have with "I'm on a horse" because of that Old Spice commercial.

Goodnight moon.

Aloha Pork Skillet

2010-03-09T23:10:00.003-05:00

Anton cooked this one since I worked late, but it was still pretty. The colors aren't really popping through this cell phone shot, but trust me -it was nice. The issue is that Anton and I both don't really like peppers, we aren't big fans of pineapple that is warmed up, and I am still on the search for a way to love pork chops/cutlets. However, if you like those things, this is a relatively healthy dish that includes them all!

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb pork cutlets
1 medium each:red and yellow pepper cut into chunks
2 8 oz cans pineapple chunks in juice (undrained!)
1/2 c fat free reduced sodium chix broth
1/4 c catalina dressing
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2c instant brown rice, uncooked

Heat large nonstick skillet on medim high heat. Add pork, cook 5 min each side or until browned on both sides. Add peppers, pineapple, broth, dressing, and garlic powder - mix well. Bring to boil. Stir in rice, cover. Reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 5 minutes or until chops are cooked through and rice is done. Remove from heat, let sit for 3 minutes. Enjoy and please eat while wearing a grass skirt, coconut bra, and lei. Let's get festive people.

Handsome

2010-03-09T23:05:00.001-05:00

"Look at Romo." "BURN." Very funny!

I'm On a Horse

2010-03-08T23:47:00.001-05:00

I play along and laugh every time. Amazing.

Taco Skillet

2010-03-08T21:57:00.003-05:00

This one pan taco skillet from kraft.com was really good and I am happy to share the recipe! It has been a while since I've posted a recipe, but I found a monthly ebb and flow of our favorite recipes and some of the newer ones that I've tried haven't been anything to post about. This one is easy, fast, yummy, and perfect for a weeknight meal. Enjoy :)

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
2 c water
1 pkg whole grain mac and cheese dinner box
2/3 c sour cream
cherry tomatoes, chopped
lettuce
tortilla chips

Brown meat in large skillet, drain. Add seasoning mix, water, and macaroni - mix lightly. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, cover. Simmer for 7 minutes. Stir in sour cream and cheese mix until well blended. Top with tomatoes, lettuce, and crushed tortilla chips. Fiesta!

Supporting the Man

2010-03-08T21:24:00.004-05:00

I've had all these odd feelings after Anton decided to join a weight loss competition with his friends. You can read about it at their Tumblr "Let Myself Go". See, I love Anton the way he is. Completely. I never look at him and think "Gosh, he's getting overweight." I look at him and see love and hugs and attractiveness. I know that Anton has been pretty sensitive and upset about his weight gain since college. He's at his biggest now, and he is not happy. I too, am at my largest weight. Eeeeek.
I feel like I am to blame. I mean, I cook our dinners and plan out our lunches. It has to be part me right? I've always tried to make more healthy dinners, and include fruits and veggies in to lunch, but I think the biggest issue is that Anton and I work late hours and really don't have much time to exercise after. I mean if we work till around 7, come home and eat dinner, don't we deserve those two to three hours of relaxation? The answer is apparently no - as we have gained weight since living together and working this schedule.
SO - Anton joins weight loss competition AND he has a free gym membership. I want a gym membership, but only to a place that is open late. Also, I am afraid to sign up for a gym membership before the mortgage hits. I know, if $60 is breaking the bank than we are in trouble, but I really don't want to sign up for more monthly bills before we know what our expenses look like. Anton asked me to join in to this competition, but I didn't really want to because I would be the only girl and I think I would pretty much lose instantaneously since men tend to loose weight faster. The loser apparently has to buy stuff and suffer shame. I usually hate living my life based on exercise and dieting. I don't really do the calorie counting and scaling of portions. It just ...annoys me? I don't know why I have such a negative attitude towards it. I just like to live my life happily. My self confidence isn't really suffering. I do worry about my health, and I really miss exercising in general - especially outside!
I want to support Anton, and I know it will make it a little easier if I am on board. I feel like I have to be. I mean, I can't be eating chocolates and pizza and chips right in front of him without him. He'll either look at me like, "Hey, I want that. Why are you rubbing this in my face?" Or he'll lapse into it and regret it, or he'll change into a health nut and give me the "Ew. How can you eat that? Gross." So basically, I am on a mini health plan for myself in an effort to live longer and happier, and support Anton in his competition.
Veggies and hummus have been eaten, fat free low calorie sorbet is my life saver, and we went on our first big exercise day on Sunday to Tyler State Park. We both love it there and were so excited for the wonderful spring weather. It's our special place, and it makes a good second best to the ocean.

We've been trying to do all the trails that the park has, and then highlight them on our map. We did the Woodfield Trail this time, and it was a pretty intense first excursion back into the world of exercise. Almost like bootcamp! It has about 20 signs along the way, each with an exercise to do. It starts with stretches, toe touches, and works up to chin ups, sit ups, and step ups on logs. I can't do a chin up if my life depended on it. I literally hung from the pole squealing and grunting. Anton said to me the words "Are you giving up now?" And I wanted to scream. I'm not giving up, I physically can't do this! GRRRRRRRRRRAA!!!!!!!! In the end, I did give up on that sucker, along with doing push ups with my feet on a log. I scraped my leg on the log. The signs also tell us if we are supposed to run or walk to the next stop. Intense! At least I knew that the run wouldn't be for too far. I always do better with running to a destination rather than along a track or on a treadmill. Helps me stay focused I guess?
So yeah. Anton is doing a weight loss competition and I am along for the ride and doing my own mini health quest. Woot. Support us! It's hard, haha.

Wow

2010-03-08T21:16:00.003-05:00

This is a library in Kansas. Wow. I've always loved libraries. They have a classic feel to them and they bring together fellow book lovers. After working at a library, I know that they are often used now for the computers and internet access - but there are still the die hard book fans walking around. I liked when teenage girls would go in and pick a young adult novel off the shelves about witch craft, bulling, anorexia and the likes. Reminded me of myself at 13 when I decided to check out Marilyn Manson's autobiography. My Dad had a straight panic attack when he read some of the pages out of it, but what can I say? He was an interesting character to me then (this was before Marlyn Manson had the boobs). And at least I was still reading. Anyway, this library looks pretty amazing and I am excited to see some of my favorite books are displayed HUGELY outside. It definitely gives an updated feel that will hopefully bring in lots of circulation.

Spring Cleaning

2010-03-08T21:04:00.004-05:00

This past weekend Anton and I had a major spring cleaning event. Always feels good to have a spree. We vacuumed the couches on all sides. Cleaned all of the bathroom and kitchen. I washed all sheets, blankets, clothes. And we cleaned out our nightstands. That was when we discovered that Anton has a problem. He is a pen hoarder. All of these pens were found in the top drawers of his nightstand. He dares to steal my Disney and papermate pens.

We also found an egg of starburst jelly beans that I got Anton for Easter last year that he let go to waste and expiration. Sin.

I'll Have This, Thanks

2010-03-04T13:47:00.003-05:00

Was scanning around some Irish jewelry. I love this. It's an official want.

Oh My Heart....

2010-03-02T22:15:00.003-05:00

This is a staircase. A BOOKSHELF staircase. Great for storage, and awesomeness. My heart can't handle this, I love it. I would probably walk up the steps about 100x slower everyday. Since we are moving somewhere in April (fingers crossed for the place we have a contract with to work out), all I want to know is - where are my bookshelves going? Can I finally have all the books I own in one house/room?

Blanket for Reading Happiness

2010-03-02T21:36:00.003-05:00

Anton showed me this interesting "Happiness in a Bed" which is a duvet cover with sleeves. It also has a free tip of the index finger which is perfect for reading. We are in the market for a new comforter set when we move, I don't know if this is the direction we are going since we are over having a white blanket. Still cool though!

Steak

2010-03-02T01:07:00.003-05:00

Steak - it's what was for dinner. (Anton loves him some meat and potatoes) This picture does it no justice. With a simply tasteful glaze, cheddar veggies, and garlic mashed potatoes, it had much more color than the cell phone camera allows.

Twizzler Surprise!

2010-03-02T01:02:00.006-05:00

Thank you Anton for helping me make a new layout! You are the best, love you. He also left me a Twizzler surprise on my pillow for when I came back from doing laundry. It is love.

Grandma :)

2010-02-28T21:32:00.011-05:00

(Grandma with my Dad)

One thing that Anton's sister Danielle and I love are old pictures. I think we are both born in the wrong decade for our fashion preferences. My uncle is selling the home that my Dad grew up in, and while moving all of the stuff out of it they came across lots of awesome old books and pictures. My Grandma (who passed away 5 years ago) actually made little notes on her Christmas menu that she served, who attended, and some memories. She was the best. I was so excited when my Dad showed me these pictures they found of her. I've had people that knew my Grandparents tell me that I look just like her/"have her shape". Sigh, I miss her. She was classic.

I wish the name Dorris was still sort of in style, because I would consider naming my future daughter after her and calling her Dorri. I was trying to sink in the name Dorothy after my Great Grandmother into future kid name plans with Anton, but he will have none of it knowing of my love for the Wizard of Oz.

The Borgans

2010-02-25T21:43:00.002-05:00

Hey, I had a snow day today. I read some Pigtopia, drank a coffee, did some laundry, watched an episode of Dexter, and had an all around great day. I hung out with the MorganBorgans a bit. Here is a fun picture for you! Hope you had a nice winter day!

Dance It Out

2010-02-24T09:28:00.002-05:00

Dance it out Wednesday. Thanks Jillian for showing me this song! :)
Passion Pit - Little Secrets.

Sometimes I get caught up in rather melancholy music, or slow soulful tunes. Today though, I am dancing to this while getting ready for work.

Shark Navigator

2010-02-23T22:32:00.003-05:00

I am sad to report that the Roomba is on the fritz. I think we worked him too hard. A Roomba is really good for day to day cleaning, light work. We used him for EVERYTHING. Perhaps he just needs a new battery/filter. We still plan to use Roomba for touch ups. However, Anton and I knew - we needed a bigger vacuum with a little more space and control to vacuum with. I had one of those dandy 20% off coupons for Bed Bath and Beyond, and also a $25 gift card for there that I got on a mail in rebate for an air mattress. When we got to the vacuum section, it was crazy. So many choices! The most attractive of course, is the Dyson ball. It's cool looking, it has great feedback, everyone seems to love it - definitely the IT vacuum. However, the price - YIKES. I really didn't want to spend $500 for a vacuum. I'm all for a vacuum working for a minimum of 5 years, but that is so much money. Hoover and Dirt Devil are classic, but I think Hoover is losing its touch. I don't like dealing with the bags, and I feel like they fade fast. Then I saw the Shark Navigator. Listed at $200, with a matching deal of a 5 year warranty and this magical "never lose suction technology." What really got me is the LIFETIME filter. I am really bad at buying new filters for anything, so a vacuum with a filter that can be clean and reused is much better for me. I watched the video that a tv nearby was playing about it, and I decided to give it a chance. I know Bed Bath and Beyond has a great return policy, plus with the coupon and the gift card I got it for a little over $120. I didn't want to do a review till I used it at least 3 times, and let me tell you - I LOVE IT. It has great suction, a NOTICEABLE difference with the setting for carpet and hard surface floors. Lightweight. Easy Emptying. Easy cleaning of filter to be done every 3 months. Totally awesome purchase, and so happy I tried something new. I am tempted to try the Shark steamer thing that looks like it can clean anything.

Slippies

2010-02-16T23:12:00.004-05:00

I had an assortment of slipper socks, and a pair of Mickey Mouse Christmas slippers that I was perfectly fine loving season round. However, these slippers caught my eye early on. I had been watching them to see if they ever dropped to a reasonable price - and at $12.25 I can say they were BEYOND worth it. My feet love them, and they are pretty cute. Highly recommend this purchase. They come in pink and tan as well.

Rats, I can still see some stain from my red candle wax mishap.

OrangeOnions

2010-02-16T22:54:00.003-05:00

I've been having a bit of a dilemma. Around Christmas time I ordered a Grumpy mug for my Grandpa for his gift from the seller "OrangeOnions" on Amazon. I ordered it pretty early in the month, before December 10th I think. It was said to arrive by the LATEST on the 21st. I figured that gives me 3 extra days, just in case they were bogged down with holiday orders. I would say around the 17th I started to get concerned because I never got a shipping notice, and I couldn't track my order. I sent an email to them. Nothing. I called. Nothing. When the 24th came and went, I got super ticked because now I didn't have a gift for my Grandpa and had to do a scramble to put together a package of different war dvds (which worked out well, but still). I then left a SUPER mean email, and a rather mean phone message (channeling the spirit of my mother, from when I used to hear her on the phone with customer service people who had done her wrong). Hell hath no scorn. Then, the most amazing thing happened. Instead of them contacting me at all, I got a shipment notice. The item arrived by January 7thish. Great. This was in time for my Grandfathers birthday, so I still got to use the item. When the day came around for me to leave my seller feedback though, I was PUMPED. What I said:

1 out of 5: "I can not believe how horrible this seller was in customer service. NOT ONLY did the package not come when it was supposed to, but it was SHIPPED three days after the latest it was meant to arrive and only after I called three times, and sent two emails. Which received NO RESPONSE. Seriously the most horrible online shopping experience I've had. DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM."
Date: January 10, 2010 Rated by Buyer: mschanck3

Upon doing my review, I noticed that plenty of other people had the same experience, and some even got damaged goods in super faulty packaging. Who is this OrangeOnions company? I picture them as basement trolls now. What amazes me is that they still come up as 90% positive feedback and in the green -but there were AT LEAST ten other horrible reviews. I wish Amazon started putting more weight on their negative feedback.

Well well, recently I got an email from the mythical customer service department of OrangeOnions. It reads as follows:

"Hello Michelle.
Upon viewing your Amazon Feedback, we would like to sincerely apologize for your experience. We at OrangeOnions.com care about our customers and insuring a satisfactory resolve is very important to us. We would appreciate the opportunity to be given another chance to show that this unfortunate experience is not typical operations for our company. What we would like to do is have you try OrangeOnions.com out again on us! If you would kindly remove your amazon feedback, we would like to show our thanks by sending you a gift card in the amount of $15.00 good towards any purchase from our website.
If you feel that this is an opportunity that you would like to take advantage of please contact our sales staff via email at sales@orangeonions.com . Again we apologize and look forward to mending this relationship, as your business and feedback is very valuable to us.

Sincerely,
OrangeOnions.com Staff"

Ahh. This explains a lot. I bet they would have even more negative feedback if they didn't bribe people with $15 to take it down. Even still, what's $15 worth with them? Might not even receive the item that I order within the next year! It seems so...unethical to take the money. Then again, money is money? If I delete my feedback, it might create more innocent victims. What do I do!?

Valentines

2010-02-15T22:29:00.012-05:00

I hope everyone had a splendid Valentine's Day. I had a really great weekend. Anton and I went to the spa and got a couples package including massages, manicures, and pedicures. I'm convinced one of the best things is seeing your boyfriend in his first pedicure. Anton didn't really take to all of it, but had a good time. Then on Sunday we went house hunting and FINALLY found a townhome that was lower in price and had a lot of what we wanted. Granted, we sacrifice a yard and garage - but we are okay with that for now. We would most likely only use a garage for storage and a yard for our puppy. We figure not having a yard means we need to walk our future dog - and really, it's going to be like the dog walking us because we need the exercise and usually lack the motivation at night after work. I would feel comfortable having a baby here, although hopefully by the time I start having more than one child we will move to a home with a yard. We have a basement (hallelujah) and a pretty nice kitchen. Because it is cheaper in price, and only has two bedrooms I really think we will be able to furnish it nicely and I am pretty sure we can afford to put some hardwood floors in the dining/living room area which is something I really want. It's a nerve wracking experience, this home buying. After a little back and forth, we agreed on a price of 258,000. I am so excited. I swear, my thoughts and dreams right now are basically a personal HGTV. Who wants to take part in our painting party? I know I shouldn't get ahead of myself with the inspection being this Saturday, but I sort of can't help it.

ANYWAY! I participated in this really awesome Valentine swap hosted by Auburn Street. I always send cards to my friends, family, and former students - but this was going to let me try and get a little crafty and send some lovins to strangers. I would send 5, and get 5. I was pumped. How romantic and cute! I will first post the five I made, front and back.

Number 1
The saying on all of them goes something along the lines of "I know my craft skills are on the same level as when I was in elementary school, but I promise I love them as much as I did then too! I wish you a life of love, and a very Happy Valentine's Day"

Number 2

Number 3

Number 4

Lastly, Number 5

They were fun to make. I was making mine on a bit of a budget, so most of the supplies were from the dollar store and coloring books I had here.

I was super happy with the four I got too. I might still get one more, but I didn't want to wait to post this - if I do get the 5th, I promise to post it.

This one was made by Gayle Hodgins. My favorite part of this one: the birds kissing is actually cut paper on a version of...rubber? I don't know, but it is awesome and looks pretty meticulous.

This one was a simple, and clean cut cute. It featured dotted lines on a map going to where I live with a heart. I liked it. Creative! Made by Not Your Average Ordinary. Plus, the blue is almost identical to Tiffany's blue. While I don't have many things (one) from Tiffany's, I do enjoy their shade of blue.

This one was smaller, and when I saw the front I thought, "okay, heart stickers, red construction paper, a classic Valentine" and then I opened it. A tea bag with the a note "You're my cup of tea!" Pssh, love it. Made by Erin Pugh.

And lastly, my can't help it favorite:

This features a picture and amazing quote from one of my favorite movies, When Harry Met Sally. "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." It also has pages from a book (I LOVE BOOKS!), and a mini envelope inside the card with a note inside all about the person, and how they read up about me on my blog. It also has lots of other mini cutsie details like ribbons, string and glitter. This was made by Micaela Lechuga. I just loved how I got to know her a little from her letter, and how it was made with some of my interests involved in it. That is effort. Love it, love it, love it.

And how could I not post a picture of this cute puppy - this Valentine was not part of the swap but from one of my favorite couples, Danielle (Anton's sister) and Ethan. Puppy's name is Greenly, and she is beyond cute. Danielle definitely has a way with details too, like the background paper and heart paperclip.

Thank you to all for the Valentines (even the cards I didn't post), and to Anton for another fantastic Valentine's Day and year filled with love. YAY! I LOVE TO LOVE!

Coffee and Apple Pie

2010-02-11T01:13:00.002-05:00

Perfect treat for a white out.

The Savory Butterscotch Krimpets

2010-02-10T20:51:00.003-05:00

I got an email from Bed Bath and Beyond about their special values going on now. I always like to look at emails from Bed Bath and Beyond and Crate and Barrel even though I never order anything from them online. It's just nice to get ideas of what is out there and what's a good price for it for when Anton and I move. I know that I am going to need a couple of serving things.

That's when I saw that they were featuring this beauty - Social Rectangular Serving Tray. "Lovely presentation for any special occassion." Mind you, I don't care that much about the tray. It is the PICTURE they are using that had me giggling.

Whaaaaaaaat? Now, I love TastyKake's butterscotch krimpets but can you imagine me serving them on a fancy tray like this at our housewarming party? Tehehehe. My kind of classy. Where are the product photographers? Come on, they are supposed to make desserts look like delicious pieces of art.

In the Bag

2010-02-10T14:33:00.001-05:00

Spiderman has got this one in the bag, for sure.

Happy 25th Birthday JenJen!

2010-02-09T00:58:00.018-05:00

Dearest JenJen,

In honor of your 25th birthday I wanted to give you a special shout out post. I've included some of my favorite ridiculous pictures of us in college when we lived together (with some slight descriptions). We have tons of pretty normal pictures of us together, but these are just more fun in that "love ya best friend" kind of way. Can't wait to celebrate. Miss you!

Jen's 21st birthday: we got her a margarita collection.

Jen did not approve of this Santa?

Jen made us masks with extra fabric, and we decided to give ourselves agent names and also to eat dinner while wearing them with matching outfits for when Danielle got home. She just gave us a sigh and a bit of a "wtf?"

Halloween with us as Dalmatians and Cait as Cruella. The 'Before' going to a party shot.

The After, yikes.

We had multiple themed dance parties. This is a pic from our wear black and sunglasses 'Walk the Line' one.

Next couple of shots are from a pretty silly photo shoot Jen and I decided to have involving hats.

Where is my neck and chin?

Bad to the bone.

My roommates had a lovely and entertaining habit of dressing up in my clothes and modeling, or putting a hodgepodge on and rapping/dancing/posing.

I decided to sneak attack and nail Anton with CoolWhip when he came to visit me one time. Jen, forever my partner in crime helped! It got a bit out of hand after.

Okay, one nice one.

And now, I present to you Jen, one of the biggest presents I can give. The picture you took of me doing the UGLY SLEEP. Because you lived with me and saw me pull this pretty often, you deserve a good chuckle.

Hope you enjoyed it.

To Anton, With Love

2010-02-09T00:51:00.002-05:00

Happy Snowed in Saturday Morning Breakfast!!!

Crumb cake Muffins

Cheesy Eggs

Bacon

Strawberry Kiwi Fruit Juice

I made this breakfast for Anton on Saturday morning. I was feeling really inspired from getting a snow day off of work. I know I am posting this late, but in the spirit of Danielle and Ethan it seemed wrong not to post a picture of a hearty breakfast.

Boyfriend is Going Down

2010-02-07T21:22:00.005-05:00

The other day Anton said to me, "Can you please start to put the toothpaste cap back on after you use it?!?" To which I responded, "Sure, the second you start putting your dirty clothes in the hamper." It has been a full year since I moved in, and we've been having this issue since day one. A bad habit of mine is leaving the toothpaste cap off. Consistency gets weird, and Anton hates that and how the toothpaste then oozes into the top of the cap. He also hated how I squeezed the toothpaste out. I basically used to just squeeze wherever, where as Anton is a squeeze from the bottom from the start type of guy (who does he think he is?). Anton never puts his dirty clothes in the hamper/still clean clothes away. I mean, I can see one days worth of clothes, but Anton will let them accumulate till there isn't a speck of floor left on his side of the room. I've tried different approaches to getting him to quit this habit. I've picked them all up day after day and played the guilt trip. I've let them stay for weeks till they inconvenienced him. I've gotten angry. I've gotten sad. I've played the super nice girlfriend just batting her eyes and begging. Still, no dice. He can't let it go and break the habit. His only way to handle it is to one day throw everything into an overflowing mountain in the hamper. I can't decide if this bothers me more because of how it looks, the fact that I can't walk around on that side of the room, or that I do his laundry for him and his only responsibility relating to his clothes is putting the ones he has worn away in the appropriate place. Either way, I want this to stop (sorry boyfriend, I love you, but this is still making me crazy). I just can't put down my guns on this issue - and I guess he can't either on his toothpaste.

CONCLUSION: For the past 4 days morning and night I have been making sure I am being wary of my toothpaste using. I have been placing the cap on and squeezing at the appropriate places.

Anton hasn't put any of his dirty clothes away and I have been cleaning some up after taking photographic evidence (we had guests coming, and a weekend off to do laundry, I had to).

Michelle - 4, Anton - ZIP ZIP ZIP.

What shall we wager in this war? All I know is I am winning. But by winning, am I losing too because the clothes are STILL ON THE FLOOR!? RAAAAAAAH!!!

ANTON PICK UP YOUR CLOTHES AND DON'T PUT THE CLEAN ONES IN THE HAMPER!!!

Goodie Bags

2010-02-07T21:18:00.003-05:00

I love making the holiday goodie bags at work. There are some elementary school teaching parts of me that just can not be put to rest, and holiday festivities are one of them (along with stickers on papers and colored pens). Woo Valentine's Day is getting close :)

Impressive, Most Impressive

2010-02-05T10:47:00.001-05:00

I don't really listen to Pink, and I didn't watch the Grammys this year - but this performance from them is super impressive. The song is pretty too. I want to fly from scarves.

The Weary Kind

2010-02-03T14:23:00.004-05:00

I had fell in love with this song when I was doing my monthly Apple movie trailer research. My job is doing an Oscar pool, and I am going to put my money on this song to win. Enjoy!

Pajama Jeans...Hmmm....

2010-02-02T14:34:00.001-05:00

Have I hit a new level of ridiculousness since I am actually interested in purchasing a pair of these?

Sad, but a Version of True

2010-02-02T14:25:00.002-05:00

Me and Anton (mostly). Happy One Year of Living Together Bliss!

(click to enlarge)

Puzzles Please

2010-01-27T23:36:00.004-05:00

These pictures are from weeks ago, but I'd like to recap. I got Anton a Lord of the Rings puzzle for Christmas, because he loves Lord of the Rings and seemed to miss doing puzzles at home with his family during winter. I made a slight booboo getting him only a 300 piece one, but it was okay because we did it in one day, instead of a little bittle each night for a month or so. I plan to get more puzzles. More in the 500 piece range. Step up our game.

(finished product picture)

I'm thinking this Sunday we are going to play the game Risk. Because we are THAT cool.

Holiday Insights

2010-01-27T00:30:00.003-05:00

When I worked at the library, coming up with different things to celebrate and theme activities around each month was a challenge. The Holiday Insights website was a massive help to me. Anton reminded me of it recently, and I'm excited to share with you our birthday holidays and today's holiday.

Starting with my birthday, June 29th: HUG HOLIDAY!

Hug Holiday Day encourages us to give hugs to those who need them. On this day, people go out and give hugs at senior citizen centers, hospitals, and other places. The focus is upon elderly, sick and invalid, lonely people and anyone who needs the warmth, cheer, and love that a hug provides. This very special day was created by the "Hugs for Health Foundation". According to the Foundation: " Hug Holiday is founded on the premise that hugs, friendship and volunteer support are vital components to the overall senior care plan."Celebrate Hug Holiday Day today by:

Giving hugs to those who need one
Joining Hugs for Heath
Making a donation to this or another group

I'm so excited that my birthday shares a holiday with hugs, I'm all about them and from this day on expect extra hugs on my birthday and I plan to give them too.

Anton's birthday, August 15th: Relaxation Day
Relaxation Day is a day to kick back and do nothing. Ahhhh! What a great day. The stresses, the hustle and bustle seemingly consumes us, every day of the year. Even Sundays are no longer days of rest and relaxation. There never seems to be a day to just kick back and relax. For those us with a hectic lifestyle, Relaxation Day is a day to look forward to. It provides a break from the madness of your busy work and personal schedule. Todays is the day to enjoy either doing absolutely nothing, or partaking in your favorite relaxation activity.Avoiding stressful activities today is the rule. For example, if golf is your favorite hobby, yet it can cause you stress, then make plans to play golf another day. Spending the day in a hammock is a far more appropriate activity.

Top Ten ideas to enjoy on Relaxation Day:

Do nothing today
Go to a Spa
Go fishing
Play a round of golf(caution: not always relaxing)
Lounge around in a hammock
Take a bubble bath
Spend the day at the beach
Go to the movies
Do a little gardening (no heavy duty work, though)
Have a picnic in the park

How perfect! Anton tends to answer the question "What do you want to do for your birthday?" with the answer "Nothing. Literally, nothing is what I want to do." Now it makes sense, and I will be sure to indulge him with some of these top 10 ideas.

And now, I am pleased to present you with today's day: PUNCH THE CLOCK DAY

When : Always January 27th

Every once in a while, you come upon a special day that just defies definition. Punch the Clock Day is one of those days. Despite all of our research, we found no content information on the Internet to define the purpose or meaning of this day. And, you won't find information about today in the old Encyclopedias either. But, Punch the Clock Day is prolific on Ecard and calendar websites. So, it must truly be an important day of the year, right!?! Not ones to give up easily, we put our thinking caps on, and pondered the meaning of this day. We quickly determined that this day is not intended to encourage people to punch their clocks. This is destructive, serves no logical purpose, and may result in personal injury.Smart as we are (tee,hee), we quickly surmised that Punch the Clock Day is a day to celebrate the punch clock or time clocks used at work. Now, we wondered, why celebrate the punch clock............??

To be honest, I am more interesting in punching a real clock. I feel like I've been banking so many hours in January that my batteries are running dry. What stinks is that on the weekends, we've been doing a lot of house hunting/visiting - which means basically zero relaxation in sweats with a book/movie/whatevs. I am hoping that if we get most of the house hunting done alllll day Saturday, that maybe it will just take up a little bit of Sunday morning and I can get in a nap and some quality reading time. For today though, I am going to keep imagining punching, slamming, and destroying some work related clocks. Happy Wednesday.

Honestly, What are you Doing?

2010-01-27T00:13:00.003-05:00

I love all things related to Disney more than most people. So much so, that I do check their website to see all the new things they are selling. Granted, I don't buy them (except for mine and Anton's personalized pjs for Christmas - those don't count), but I still like to see all of their new gadgets. I came across these interesting frocks. This is being sold as "Disney Couture" for about a minimum of $50 a shirt. Craaaazy. What is this? Long sleeved Jasmine? And TIGER LILY gets Couture shirt, but Ariel doesn't? That's bs Disney, B.S. I mean, I liked Tiger Lily, but still.

Check these shirts out. They are something close to silly. (Sad but true, I might have considered wanting an Ariel/Belle one)

My Zombie Valentine - HUNGRY 4 LOVE

2010-01-22T10:47:00.005-05:00

Let me just say, I am pretty excited for Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day gets a bad wrap as being a Hallmark holiday. However, it involves love, the color red, cards, chocolate, and romance! I'm all about it. I love cheesiness. I know people say "Why don't you show the people you love that you love them EVERYDAY?" Well listen, I try. I do. In an effort to constantly enhance my relationship, I've recently attempted to instead of waking up Anton in the morning with a "GET up. PLEASE. Turn off your alarm. GET OUT OF BED. I don't have to be up for another 45 minutes so PLEASE WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP!!!!" I'm switching to some kisses on the back/face region with a "Handsome, you have to get up. hehe. I know you don't want to. Please get up," and I try to turn the shower on for him to eliminate 30 seconds or so from his routine.

Also, Valentine's Day makes me lovely in general. Jillian showed me this awesome V-day swap, and I am so excited to participate in it. I love arts and crafts. In college, Valentine's Day was all about me and my lady friends celebrating together. We would have champagne, our own movie night, fondue. The works. One of my closest friends Danielle reenacted the sign scene from Love Actually and related it to me and my roommates for us about our friendship. One of my favorite Valentine's Day experiences ever.

What this post is really all about, is one of the hilarious parts of Valentine's Day - and that is the cheesy novels that are rushed out by authors. I swear, I can write one of these. My new favorite find? My Zombie Valentine by a slew of female authors. Description:
"Gentlemen Prefer Voodoo" by Angie Fox. Voodoo practitioner Amie Baptiste concocts a love spell to bring her soulmate to her. However she would ask for her money back if some other voodoo queen sent whom the magic brought forth to her."

"Bring Out Your Dead" by Katie MacAlister. Zombie life coach and English instructor to the undead Ysabelle Raleigh meets Sebastian, a vampire who claims she is his long lost beloved. She scoffs at his insistence though she thinks he is kind of cute. He must persuade her that he is serious and not just handing out a line for a quick bite in between battling despondent zombies and a teenage vampire. This entry was published as part of the Just One Sip anthology.

"Zombiewood Confidential" by Marianne Mancusi. Unaware that art imitates life even in horror movies; makeup artist Scarlett Patterson accepts a job on a B horror flick in order to work with actor Mason Marks. She quickly learns real life contains its share of horror.

"Every Part of You" by Lisa Cach. Angelica Sequiera visits the plastic surgeon for a minor fix but ends up on a date with Tom Haggerty.

Tired of vampires and werewolves? This quartet of comedic zombie romances by bestselling authors will drive you mindless with hilarity! These four lighthearted paranormal romances are fun fantasies starring heroines who are unsure whether to run from or towards their beloved.

YOU FOOLS! RUN AWAY!!!!!!!!!!

I actually am interested in reading this. Guilty pleasure I guess? I'm so ashamed.

Blorp on Blorp!

2010-01-21T11:04:00.002-05:00

Tehehehehe, look how happy they are. What is that nose!?

Tango with a Mango

2010-01-20T23:36:00.006-05:00

I've gotten some complaints on my lack of blog posts. I apologize. I really like blogging. Lately, I've been a brat and getting stressed over stuff that really doesn't NEED to be stressed. I get like this occasionally in my life. I think it's because I am generally happy, and content, and an overall optimist. THEN after a while, it's like my body registers it's annual meltdown. I'm lucky to have a pretty amazing boyfriend and some pretty sweet friends that help me mellow this out, however I feel this said meltdown lurking in the background. Like I need a good ridiculous cry over something like fruit blintz or something insane. ANYWAY, house hunting, working on being good at my relatively new job position, and trying to see friends and family is stretching me a little thin. I'll get over it.

So I've been trying to eat somewhat healthier. Not necessarily a new year resolution, more like a "wow, I want to be healthy and live a long life." Anton and I have been pretty good about packing ourselves a fruit and veggie with lunch at least 3 days a week. Which brings me to my title of this post. Mangoes just so happened to be on super sale at Acme this week. Now, I like mango flavored things, I figure I am going to try and eat a fresh one. I've never really done this before unless it was pre-cut and in a fruit salad of sorts. Mangoes are super pretty. However, I had no idea how to eat it. Dig right in like an apple or peach? Avoid skin like kiwi? What's the name of the game here with this exotic fruit? I googled. Apparently, a lot of people have allergies to the juices found in the skin of mangoes where their lips blow up and get swollen. No thanks. And it is said that the skin isn't all that enjoyable. So it is recommended slicing down middle and sucking off of the skin (this would not work for eating at my desk at work, as I have rather accidentally messy eating habits). Mangoes also have MASSIVE pits. HUGE. Thin PITS.
It is said to slice in half around pit, and then using a paring knife to separate flesh of fruit from skin. Right. I am all out of paring knives. Feel free to gift me with these gems. My knife cutting skills are still sub par, even with a years worth of cooking practice. At the end of the night, this was all the fruit I had left. It's pretty sad if you saw the massive mango I started with. TOTALLY delicious though. I highly recommend expanding the weekly fruit selection to adding in mangoes.

If you've been cutting and eating mangoes all your life, and can do designs related to this:

Go you, I am jealous and apologize that this is the comeback post. However, Jillian at Back to the Nest has inspired me to write a post about a year of transitioning from living with parents to a significant other. Coming soon. Swears it (sort of).

Thank You

2010-01-10T21:31:00.001-05:00

A special THANK YOU to everyone who sent us Christmas cards this year! :) I really do love them.

Buttons!

2010-01-01T20:32:00.002-05:00

I plan on doing a fancy updated New Years post. I have had really amazing holidays this year, and I am excited to share. However, I am too lazy to do that at this moment. Instead, what I am sharing with you is one of my favorite Christmas gifts from Anton. Meet BUTTONS! He is a candle/decoration that is almost a foot high. I love him forever. He makes me happy. I hope this is one of those decorations that I have twenty years from now that I take out and put up in the winter and remember this first Christmas living away from home and with Anton. Woo, love.

I want these.

2009-12-30T01:36:00.002-05:00

I've wanted galoshes for quite some time. Never actually buckled down and bought them. I can never find them for a price under $30. I don't know if I want to spend $30 on some boots that I'll pretty much only wear in harsh weather conditions. There are so many fun designs too. Today I found these. I want them. I like ones with ducks on them too. Or cherries. Whatevs.

Dear Keurig

2009-12-29T00:35:00.005-05:00

I love you forever.

This is the first drink I made using it - hot chocolate for Anton in my fancy new mug from my cousin Jen. It was followed up by some hazelnut coffee for myself in my prized Dean and Deluca mug, which I was pretty pumped to get a few years back (because of my love for the show Felicity), pictures as evidence. Love love love this Keurig Christmas present.

No Cheeses for us Meeces

2009-12-20T18:22:00.002-05:00

If I haven't mentioned it before, I love the Muppets and all things created by Jim Henson. The Muppet Christmas Carol is one of the best Muppet movies in my opinion, and I love the theme song from it.

My favorite would be at the 1:50ish mark. The no cheeses. Enjoy!

For Your Viewing Pleasure II

2009-12-20T02:39:00.004-05:00

I may have picked out Anton's pajamas for the night after reading The Grinch.

STINK! STANK! STUNK!

(Don't kill me for posting this Anty, it's just Christmas fun and love)

Oh Christmas Tree

2009-12-20T02:25:00.005-05:00

I love Christmas in a passionate way, and I have always loved real Christmas trees. However, last year when Anton and Doug had the huge real tree here, a massive 9 footer all the way till February - I began to see the up side to having an artificial tree. See we live upstairs in a condo complex. To get rid of the tree last year, we had to throw it off the balcony. It shed about 70% of its needles on the way to the door. Roomba still finds some occasionally. This year, Anton and I talked it out and decided to go at least look at the artificials. Target was our main zone and we happened to like a few there. Prices ranged from $100 - $500 for a decently sized tree. There are all these features to think about, like the special plastic needles versus the ones that look just like bristles. Also, I am ANTI being able to see through the tree to the other side. It's my biggest gripes with artificial. It was sort of stressful picking, all this money, and what if it stinks!? How do I decide this? It's essential for the Christmas season to have a good tree! Our first tree together for me and Anton, no less - it had to be good. We decided on one that was pre lite with white lights, and had lots of "cashmere tips". Makes it very realistic. It was also priced in the middle at $200. We thought that was fair, and Anton promised me if I really hated it we could get a real one next year. Hating a Christmas tree for more than one year is just not allowed. SO, a couple of days after purchasing, we decide to decorate it on a Friday night. We open the box and ..... it's the wrong tree. Anton knew it in two seconds flat. It was shorter, had those bristles, and no cashmere tips or white lights. The box was the right one, the tree was not. Looked like someone had returned it with the wrong tree. Panic stricken, we went back to Target, who had to get us a tree from the back after much searching. At midnight we took it home, and set it up later on in the weekend. After lots of fluffing and sprucing and decorating - it came out looking beautiful. Of course, Anton and I picked out this natural looking twig star with berries which is super cute, but really hard to put on. Here are some pictures of mine and Anton's first Christmas tree. YAY!!!! Love.

Oh, and we need some fun ornaments. We have a set with all different color balls, but very few personal ornaments that have meaning, which is always a fun thing for me when decorating a tree is to go through memories with the ornaments.

I spy a Mickey Mouse snowman.

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-20T02:12:00.007-05:00

I went hopping around outside today while Anton shoveled (we only have one, it was just the walkway, I would have done it - don't yell at me for simply hopping). It was beautiful out! I love this snow storm. I might change my tune on Monday while I am trying to drive, but for now - I am in a Christmas time heaven. It's perfect that this storm happened now, so it might still be somewhat white for Christmas, without the horrible commute on Christmas Eve. Here are some pictures from tonight, and also a couple of random ones from Bethlehem last weekend. I didn't get to take too many pictures because Anton hates it when I do, and it was really crowded there and I hate being the person who holds up the walking traffic for snapshots. However, I really loved Bethlehem. Anton and I got to go to the bar in our hotel and hang out and talk and have some drinks then walk back to our room. We never really get to be in a buzzed state together , because one of us is always driving. We saw the Nutcracker, ate out at some fancy restaurants, broke glasses (we are clumsy), went on a historic bus tour, visited the Chris Kindlemarket and our hotel had ethnic Christmas trees from around the world. Our favorite was Germany, seen below. It was the perfect weekend getaway. Any thoughts on where our next weekend getaway should be to?

(standard hotel room shots)

\
(Germany tree)

(before the breaking of a glass)

(massive tree at the place where we had a brunch buffet)

For Your Viewing Pleasure

2009-12-19T20:51:00.001-05:00

From a couple of weeks ago...

"What do you mean my hair is sticking up?"

The Nutcracker

2009-12-17T00:02:00.003-05:00

Anton and I had an amazing getaway weekend in Bethlehem, and during our stay we got to see The Nutcracker. It was Anton's first time seeing the show (what a sport) and my hmm, 20th possibly. My younger cousin Jen, who I love dearly, was in it every year when we were younger. I loved getting to see her in all her new roles, starting from I believe a mouse to Snowflakes and Flowers. It's hard for me to pick a favorite song from the Nutcracker. However, when I went to see it this past weekend this one packed a lot of emotion for me. Ah, memories. Enjoy! I've been listening to it/watching versions of it nonstop. This would be the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier.

YAY CHRISTMAS!

Jaw Dropping Amazingness

2009-11-24T20:00:00.002-05:00

Oh my god. I love this! Couldn't have come at a better time, I just saw the Jim Henson exhibit on Friday. I SAW ERNIE and KERMIE. The real deal, IN PERSON. I know, right? Anyway, this video is awesome, the Muppets own, and I about peed my pants when it came to "Galileo, memememe".

Disney Princess Dolls

2009-11-24T00:06:00.002-05:00

There is now a Disney Princess doll "Happily Ever After" set, which is pretty much awesome for any girl who loved Disney movies. When I was younger, the princesses were cool, but now they are such a THING. My favorite was always Ariel, and I had an Ariel and Eric doll that I just loved. I have a strong sense that I definitely would have wanted this set when I was younger. I mean, to get ALL of them in one shot? Mind blowing.

The set includes Pocahontas, Snow White (love), Sleeping Beauty, Ariel (love), Belle (love), Jasmine, Cinderella (love), and Mulan. Sweet deal. I wonder if I would have set them up to have soap opera like dramas in my three story Barbie dream house. Yeah, I might have played with Barbie/baby dolls till the end of 5th grade. IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY VIVID IMAGINATION AND MOTHERING INSTINCTS (just let me tell myself this)! My parents have these sweet stories about how they would ask me what the name of the doll was that I was holding, and apparently, I always had these super crazy names like "Ishwallatine Apricot!" Anyway, I would have wanted these. I know it. Also, Ariel has gotten a sweet update to her hair. Check it out.

Much more volume. Although, from the looks of this picture she does appear thinner and her shell top looks smaller. Hmmm. I'll have to go eyeball this change in the Disney Store one day.

Sad, but True

2009-11-22T21:42:00.003-05:00

I'm so ashamed. This whole "Zhu Zhu Pets" hamster thingys are definitely something younger Michelle would have wanted. If you can get past the random fart sounds and horrible music, check out the clip of these things.

Apparently, these are one of the hottest toys of the year! I was really into any type of animal that seemed realistic when I was younger. There were these dogs that you could "train", and of course Furbies. What I think is cool about these things is how they move all around their cages, and roll out in the ball and the car. Hamster cages sort of always fascinated me. Even though hamsters didn't, because they looked like rats and I always thought they would bite me. Oh, and my cousin Amanda had two that mated, and then they proceeded to eat all the babies because she touched one. Gross.

IDEA!

2009-11-20T10:34:00.003-05:00

I had an idea. I think what I am going to blog about for the next month, are all the toys and stuff that I think little girl Michelle would have wanted. I've always LOVED looking at the new big toys and what's out there for kids these days. I can totally tell what sort of things would have been topping my list over 15 years ago (ew).

For starters, I'd like to introduce you to the Crayola Color Explosion Globe. Now, when I was younger any new Crayola thing fascinated me. I was very arts and crafts. Still am.

Totally cool. Does it run on battery life, or need to stay plugged in? How do we clean of this globe?

Christmas List

2009-11-17T23:50:00.002-05:00

I have been working diligently on my Christmas list (as I do every year). Here is a fun one for Santa Anton.

I would like to play with this puppy for Christmas. The one that does the split at the end. I love him. Please, thank you, I love you.

Busy Busy Busy!

2009-11-17T23:47:00.002-05:00

Sigh, sorry for the lack of blog posts. I feel like I have been seriously busy lately with the new job and trying to do really well with it, and driving all over to visit people and get things done. I'm still happy, but when I am hope - I am doing a lot of laundry, and laying in my pjs and catching up on tv. Anyway, I hope to be back to sharing things on a more regular basis. For now, enjoy Ninja Cat and all of his creepiness.

Jealousy

2009-11-11T10:15:00.001-05:00

Anton showed me this video this morning because he thought I'd be interested and impressed. I am the coupon and savings queen of grocery shopping. I really try to stretch the dollars. After watching this I'm jealous and I'm thinking I should start getting the Sunday paper. This is really crazy what this woman can do. Go her.

Disney Princess Engagement Rings

2009-11-05T19:53:00.004-05:00

It looks like Disney has been taken to a whole new level with the fairy tale dream come true love wedding stuff. These are Disney Princess inspired engagements rings found here. Some are really pretty. I'm torn between the Snow White and the Sleeping Beauty as my favorite. They're all pretty in their own way. I don't know, is it a bit corny to have the engagement ring be based on Disney? Even my love and dedication has it's limits (I think).

Happy Halloween!!

2009-10-31T11:44:00.003-04:00

I hope Burger and Fries, the world's angriest cat, doesn't scare you too much. Enjoy the holiday :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0tiT7KlACM

Fantastic Festive Weekend

2009-10-26T21:27:00.007-04:00

I absolutely love the fall season. I was lucky enough to have the weekend off and I spent it looking for Halloween decorations for Anton's office (The BugDen), painting pictures of bugs, watching scary movies, visiting a lake, corn maze, pumpkin picking, 3d alien encounter haunted house, take out, and football! It was fantastic. Here are some pictures of the events.

(Anton and I really liked to take the off path and pretend people were chasing us)

Carpentry Skills

2009-10-19T23:49:00.005-04:00

I ordered these Outhouse decorations for our bathroom/future bathroom in new place. Anton (and all other men I know) tends to get a little...aggravated, and stressed when building things if it doesn't go his way 100%. I decided since I ordered it, that I was going to try and build it. BEHOLD! Outhouse toilet paper holder, and above toilet cabinet. Now, to figure out how to wall mount...

I thought it was pretty hilarious that Anton kept telling me I was like Jesus with my carpentry skills.

Nice Boyfriend

2009-10-19T23:45:00.003-04:00

I recently got a nice promotion at work to Assistant Director (YAY!) and with that came having my own office (pictures to follow when decorated). On Saturday Anton sent me flowers to congratulate me and help decorate the office. They were super pretty with sunflowers, roses, leaves and mums. It is love.

Halloween Costume, II

2009-10-18T14:08:00.000-04:00

To be festive.

Halloween Costume

2009-10-18T14:06:00.002-04:00

I'm pretty pumped to wear this for Halloween. If only it would get here in the mail!!

Catalina Chicken

2009-10-18T13:44:00.002-04:00

I am always excited to come home to Anton making me dinner, which is happening more often than not now because I am working till about 7 or 7:30. His attitude about it is great too. Phew. Lucky girl, I am. Anton tried a new recipe called "Catalina Chicken" which Anton thought was too oniony, but I still enjoyed. I'd give it about a 3.5 stars, and rated it at about a 2 or 3 stars. I'm including the picture of the meal he actually made, because he has such fantastic presentation when he wants to. I'd say give this chicken recipe a shot, if for no other reason than it is something different.

Ingredients

2 tsp oil
1 1/2 lb chix breasts (about 6)
1/2 c Kraft Catalina dressing
1/2 apricot jam
1/2 pkg dry onion soup mix

Preheat oven to 350. Heat oil in large skillet on medium high heat. Add chicken, cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove chicken from skillet and place in a 3 qt baking dish. Mix dressing, jam, and soup mix in small bowl. Pour over chicken. Bake 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serve on top of white rice and sugar snapped peas. Enjoy!

If Ever Bored

2009-10-18T13:40:00.001-04:00

If you are ever bored, this website can keep you occupied for quite a while. Since I have zero musical talent, this thing really makes me feel like a prodigy just from clicking with my mouse. Enjoy the Andre Michelle Library Tone Matrix.

Stop This Maddness

2009-10-16T23:21:00.003-04:00

I haven't blogged in a while, and I am going to start making up for that right nah. First off, dlisted introducted me to some new horrible revelations. The world of cartoons is taking old favorites and making them THINNER. Case in point, Strawberry Shortcake. Who I loved! Who didn't? She smelled fantastic. I personally enjoyed her oven and baking supplies. LOOK AT THE TRANSFORMATION.

For shame. I mean the new one is cute, but Strawberry Shortcake is a cuddly little baker girl with color/ scent coordinating friends. Not a pop princess. I was a bit ticked. I worry for young girls now, they are taking away all the cutesy old school items and revamping them. Strawberry Shortcake was a child! She doesn't need to be all flashy just yet!
So I was already upset having read about her, and then, the world went too far and touched Rainbow Bright.

Old school -

Sure, this doll was a little creepy, but in a cabbage patch mixed with Chucky sort of way.

Where is that video tape of mine that had this recorded on it? I want to watch it.
Oh, and the Updated Rainbow Bright -

SIN SIN SIN.

Please make the makeovers stop.

Funny Animals

2009-10-08T11:04:00.001-04:00

WOLVERINE! SABERTOOTH!

Oh Nannypooh

2009-10-05T00:09:00.003-04:00

My mom, Nannypooh, made one of her famous purchases known as a "need" by her. See, she needed new prescription sunglasses for when she is driving, but didn't feel like paying for them. Instead, she found these amazing things called "The Solar Shield." These go OVER her normal eye glasses. They are fantastic. I was crying from laughter in the car when she put them on.

Me: insane laughter
Nance: What? They're big aren't they.
Me: BIG!? more insane laughter
Nance: Do they make me look like a blind person? Sigh, they are so that I'm not blind while I am driving.
Me: insane laughter with tears rolling down cheeks
Nance: Go ahead. Laugh it up. So what, I don't care. Grandma loved them.
Me: OF COURSE GRANDMA LOVED THEM!
Nance: Are you actually taking a picture of this!? TO SHOW WHO!?
Me: takes multiple pictures with cell phone to attempt to get the best angle

And here I am, showing you these gems. I hope you find them as funny as I did.

Domo = Happy Michelle

2009-10-02T01:04:00.001-04:00

Anton made an executive decision to go get Slurpees tonight. Of course, that didn't happen for us when we realized that Hersheys hot chocolate was back in 711, plus the cold air. Sooo delicious. To make things even better - they have these cute, perfectly portioned 99 cents Domo cups which I just LOVED. 711 clerk says they just got them today, and I am one of the first people to try it. What a day perker. Love. Need more.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

2009-10-01T23:39:00.002-04:00

With the recently cold weather, I decided to make a slow cooker beef stew. This is a reduced fat stew, but it was actually LOADED with flavor and Anton and I both really enjoyed it. Very hearty. Anton gives it 4.4 stars, and I give it a full 5 stars in the land of stew. Plus, I was really proud of myself for the effort, so I guess that might affect my rating. Gives off great aroma in the place too.

Ingredients

1 c fat free reduced sodium beef broth
1/4 c Kraft Light zest italian dressing
1/4 c bbq sauce
1 tsp dried oregano
1 lb boneless beef chuck for stew cut into 1 1/4 in cubes
1 lb red potatoes, quartered
4 large carrots cut into 1 inch thick slices
1 onion cut into chunks
3 slices bacon, chopped
3 TBS flour
3 TBS water

How to make this: Mix broth, dressing, bbq sauce,and oregano in slow cooker. Add all remaining ingredients except for flour and water. Toss to coat. Cover with lid and cook on low for 8-9 hours, OR on high for 4 -5 hours. Okay, the tricky part - after cooking, transfer meat and veggies to a serving bowl via a slotted spoon and cover, set aside. Mix flour and water until well blended. Stir into juices in slow cooker, cover. Cook on high for 15 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened. Then serve it over meat and veggies. (I managed to screw up that flour/water bit at the end, and instead when I added that rue, it just coagulated in the sauce - but hey, it didn't affect the taste, phew. I wish you luck with trying it). This was super flavorful and definitely worth making again throughout the cold season. Healthy makes it a bonus. I also discovered that even though I've been cooking and experimenting for a while now, I have virtually no knife skills. It took me an hour to prep the veggies and bacon. MUST PRACTICE! and - BUY BETTER KNIVES! Also, I don't own a peeler. This makes peeling carrots rather difficult. Santa Claus - do you hear me? I NEED A PEELER!

Star Wars in Concert

2009-10-01T15:21:00.002-04:00

Anton, Shaun, and I recently purchased tickets to go see Trans Siberian Orchestra. I am so excited! We are going November 21st, right when Christmas spirit should be starting to roll in. Of course, while buying the tickets we stumbled across a little gem called "Star Wars in Concert"!! OMG, right? Described as:

Concert goers will be transferred into a galaxy far, far away in a unique multi-media event, featuring live musical performances, movie clips and a special display area of characters from all six of John Williams’ epic Star Wars scores in Star Wars: In Concert at the Wachovia Center on Sunday, November 15 at 6:00pm.
Narrated live by Anthony Daniels (the actor who portrayed C-3PO in all six films), the production features a full symphony orchestra and choir, accompanied by specially edited footage from the films displayed on a three-story-tall, high-definition LED super-screen – one of the largest ever put on tour. The live music and film elements are synchronized in order to create a full multi-media, one-of-kind Star Wars experience.
“We’ve taken the key themes from the music and cut together all the images that fit with each theme, so you can really get a sense of how the music played into the images,” said George Lucas, creator of the Star Wars Saga. “The whole soundtrack is a testament to John Williams’ creativity and his extraordinary ability to enhance the emotional aspects of the films.”

Tempting, very tempting - however, I won't be going. Trying to reduce my enjoyment spending, and events are always the most attractive for me. That would be two very expensive events on weekends back to back. One day though, I am GOING to see this. To buy tickets for yourself though - go here. Might be a GREAT early Christmas or birthday gift for someone who is a Star Wars fan.

Tonight for dinner...

2009-09-30T23:17:00.001-04:00

We had the classic spaghetti and meataballs. YUM!!! This video is a must, especially since I have been singing it repeatedly for days.

Bork Bork Bork.

Pastasaurus

2009-09-30T13:47:00.002-04:00

Tehehehe, I can't help it. I want it.

I and Love and You

2009-09-29T21:35:00.004-04:00

Really loving this song.
Update: Interestingly enough, I think they were on Dave last night. I really enjoy the live version. Possibly even more. Posting both.

Decisions, Decisions

2009-09-29T13:01:00.002-04:00

On Valetine's Day I had hand painted a ceramic toothbrush holder for mine and Anton's bathroom. Something we desperately needed. It was cute, personal, and functional. Held 4 toothbrushes. Loved it. Well, here is the thing about it - because it is ceramic, there is no way to clean inside. After water and leftover "whatevers" drip down the toothbrushes it starts to create a yucky black sort of looking mold. The kind that you can find in a shower that hasn't been clean for months. It is time for the toothbrush holder to go. :( It saddens me, all that effort. I thought this was going to be like one of those things we have when we are 80 and are still using. I hope the mug that Anton painted for me holds up, it is my favorite. And so began the search for a new toothbrush holder. I was preordering the new Tegan and Sara cd yesterday, and decided I might as well buy it on Amazon in order to qualify for the free shipping. Well, who knew there were so many options for toothbrush holders? These were the top 3 I had narrowed it down to (keep in mind I am trying to do something simple, since I have no idea what our bathroom will be painted/decorated in when we move):

Choice A: iTouchless UV toothbrush holder/sanitizer:

This one really intrigued me. It was $19, and the description reads: "The iTouchless UV Toothbrush Holder/Sanitizer functions to eliminate unwanted and harmful bacteria, spores, fungi and viruses that reside on your toothbrush. Using the UV-C sterilizing lamp, up to 99.9% of these germs are eradicated from your toothbrush in approximately 7 minutes. This UV-C lamp also known as germicidal UV emits sufficient doses to eliminate dangerous micro-organisms. The UV-C lamp will last an estimated 6 years. Holds four toothbrushes at a time, so it's great for whole family. Powered by two standard AA batteries (not included) which will last approximately 3 months if used twice per day."
Okay, so this is a FANCY toothbrush holder. It just sounds cool and it looks like a spaceship. Plus, eliminating spores!? Fantastic. However, a $20 toothbrush holder that requires batteries - I don't know. Am I going to far? Am I letting my minor OCD get to me a bit too much and becoming a germaphob? Is this going to be one of those times when people say "you are getting rid of the good germs too!" Just like how it is with antibacterials? Decisions, decisions.

Then there was this Steeltek Pewter Veil holder.

Sleek, only $9, and because it is so open it must be easy to clean. It looks like it could match just about anything. I also liked the design of how it would be four in a row, not the circle. It might possible take up less space, or go against the back of the vanity nicely (OCD in me likes straight lines). A definite contender, especially because how we have our bathroom decorated now would definitely compliment this.

Then I was thinking, FANCY. Maybe work towards having a whole matching set of bathroom things like a garbage bin and a q-tip holder. Oh, and a soap dispenser. I came across this from Steeltek, part of there Cashmere collection:

Oh la la. It looks like a pretty vase, and is priced at $15. Only two slots for toothbrushes, guest toothbrushes are NOT WELCOME here! But wait. What is that big mouth thing for? The toothpaste? That will completely throw off the fancy look. Then it started to look like a smiley face for me, but not in the good way. Kind of like that blue happy face that is the mascot for some insurance company.

At the end, I decided on choice number 2, the cheaper, easy to clean and match option. They were all so tempting. There were other off designs like things like this:

Intriguing, but - no. Anyway, I was a bit shocked as to how hard of a decision that a toothbrush holder purchase would be.

BBQ Beef Filled Biscuits

2009-09-28T22:58:00.004-04:00

These are surprisingly delicious and actually, look much better in person. It is like gourmet BBQ ground beef. I tried these on a whim and am so happy that I did. They were great and so easy to make! I highly recommend them. Anton and I both rate it at about a 4.5 stars or higher.

Ingredients

1/2 lb extra lean ground beef
1 medium green pepper, finely chopped (Anton and I both don't like peppers, so I opted out on this, but I imagine that the flavor is complimentary)
1 medium carrot, shredded
1/3 c bbq sauce
1 can (7.5 oz) biscuits (need 6 biscuits, most containers come with 8)
2/3 c shredded mozz cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Brown and drain beef. If using pepper, add and stir for about 5 minutes (until peppers are tender). Remove from heat. Add carrots and BBQ sauce, mix well. Separate biscuits. Press a biscuit into the bottom and up the sides of each cup of a medium muffin pan that is sprayed with cooking spray. Spoon meat-veggie mixture into biscuit cups, pressing down with spoon. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese, continue baking for another 3-4 minutes. Yum yum yum.

Pooped

2009-09-21T12:09:00.003-04:00

I had work on Saturday morning, then a lot of fun with my parents and brother who visited afterward. On Sunday I went to the awesome Renaissance Fair in NY which is crazy big and totally FOR REAL with people dressed up all over. I really liked it, I have no pictures from it because I stink. However, please enjoy this pug who represents how I feel a little pooped on this Monday. My throat is also killing me, and I think that is due to allergies. Stupid tree and weed pollen.

Da Piggies!

2009-09-18T13:47:00.001-04:00

Omg the piggies in pjs.

Chicken with 20 Cloves of Garlic

2009-09-18T13:18:00.003-04:00

Anything with 20 whole cloves of garlic sounds terrifying to me. This picture however, it just - I had to try it! Apparently, this is a very traditional dish. I was afraid that my kitchen was going to stink to high heaven afterwards. Fall weather means windows open though! I also made with this my own take on a sliced baked potato. Everything was a success, Anton and I agree with giving this recipe a 4.5 stars. Totally worth it! Surprisingly enough, the garlic isn't even close to being overpowering if it isn't sliced or minced. It's almost like the aroma alone did the flavoring. Anton and I were not brave enough (or maybe we are just kind to each others noses) to try an entire clove of garlic after it was cooked, but everything looked and tasted extremely yummy. I totally recommend giving this recipe a try. Especially if you want to do the ol shockaroo on someone - "WHAT? We are eating something with 20 cloves of garlic? Are you nuts?" And then it tastes/smells great. OH - and it doesn't take long at all. I think the traditional recipes use a whole chicken, but since I'm all about saving time - boneless skinless chicken breast work for me.

I peeled the 20 cloves (actually - I probably only used about 16. One of my garlic bulbs went moldy. I bought it less than a week ago. Moldy garlic? Whoever heard of such a thing?) first, while the oven was preheating at 385. Then I started the potatoes.

Ingredients for Potatoes

2 baking potatoes
light italian dressing
grated parm cheese

Preheat oven to 385. Slice the potatoes in to thin strips, about 1/2 an inch thick, discarding the ends. Then toss the strips into about 1/4 c italian dressing (making sure each one gets some on it. Place the strips on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Then top with parm cheese till your hearts desire. Place in oven. Leave in there for the remainder of the time it takes to do the deal with the chicken. I would say at least 12 minutes is necessary.

Ingredients for Chicken

1 lb of boneless skinless chix breast
20 cloves garlic, peeled
3/4 c reduced sodium non fat chix broth
1/4 c Kraft light caeser dressing
1/4 c grated parm cheese

Heat a skillet on medium high heat, add chicken and garlic. Cook chicken for two minutes on each side (browning). Stir in broth and dressing, cover skillet with lid. Cook chicken and additional 3-5 minutes on each side (or until done). Sprinkle with parm cheese, recover and remove from heat. Let stand 1 minute. Enjoy!

Disney Tasty Bakers

2009-09-08T22:46:00.002-04:00

Saw this on Lakeside. I can't wait to have a Mickey kitchen when I move. This is a must, I think.
Also, I stumbled across some other cute little features that I think I'll have to invest in eventually. Like this Mickey paper towel holder.

Oh, and this super cute bowl and colander. I'm telling you, this future kitchen of mine will own in its own way and you won't be able to feel anything but happy in it (even if the happiness is caused by laughing at me). :)

Happy Weekend!

2009-09-05T00:53:00.002-04:00

Gosh, I was really waiting for this weekend. Anton has been working crazy overtime. I am excited to see people this weekend, and hopefully at some point spend some QT with him. Look at this money/ape. Hilarious. I love him.

LearningRx Students

2009-09-03T20:16:00.002-04:00

I know I don't mention my job on here too often, because that can get tricky - the whole blogging about the job deal. However, I do really love my job. I am a Cognitive Skills Brain Trainer at a learning center called LearningRx. I follow a program and do games/puzzles and other stuff that works on strengthening a student's cognitive skills like long and short term memory, visual and auditory processing, attention, speed, and focus. We use a certain visualization method in order to teach the students to learn all of the presidents. For them to get a gold medal, they have to be able to say the presidents forwards and backwards in under 40 seconds. I am pleased to say that all 3 of my current students have made gold! And to show them off, I've included their youtube videos of them doing it here.

Here is Lizzie:

She's awesome. She has actually done this a lot faster, but she gets the MAJOR giggles when a camera is on her, and every time she looked at me she wanted to crack up. This is probably take 10, with the other takes soon to be on a blooper reel.

Here is Matt:

He can be shy, but a force to be reckoned with when he sets his mind to something. Matt's best time is about 15 seconds.

And here is Lauren:

My bosses daughter! Lauren is cute as pie and great to work with. All of them are really, they make me smile every day and I really like to watch them achieve their goals. I am giving them an air high five right now.

I also tried to do a video of me saying them in order to make the kids feel more confident. I got to about 25 before I started making bloopers and then just looked around and said "uhh, no. right? i am wrong?" They found it hilarious. I hear it is going in the bloopers reel and if so, I will gladly post me humiliating myself. In other great news - I might be in the newspaper! My picture anyway, of me working with some students. Maybe next time I can score giving an interview. That has to be good for a portfolio, right?

Ken Lee!!!

2009-09-03T20:15:00.000-04:00

This still makes me giggle everytime.

Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese

2009-09-03T15:02:00.003-04:00

Anton made this while I was suffering from "Labyrinthitis." The oddest virus I've ever had that causes extreme vertigo. This tasted delicious, and was a pretty basic recipe. A little flare on the basic. Anton did a great job and this is definitely being added to the recipes I now know he can make ;). I give it a 4.8 stars.

Ingredients

1/3 an onion, chopped
1/4 c Kraft light zesty italian dressing
1 lb extra lean ground beef
1 26 oz jar sauce
1 small can diced tomatoes
1 lb spaghetti
2 TBS 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1/4 c grated parm cheese

Cook and stir onions in dressing in large skillet on medium heat until crisp-tender. Add meat, and cook on medium-high heat until browned, stirring frequently. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti as directed on package. Stir in tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, simmer on medium-low for 15 minutes. Add cream cheese to sauce mixture and stir till blended. Remove from heat. Drain spaghetti, place in large bowl. Top with sauce and parm. Delicious.