Vampire Salad

"Doesn't this salad look yummy?"

"Maybe if you're a vampire."  - DS10

I made a Black Berry Chicken salad, inspired by the best meal I've ever eaten in my life and a recipe I found in this month's Better Homes and Gardens. It was so good, I ate two bowls! DS10 just decided to eat his chicken in a separate bowl with a side of baby carrots. He really missed out!

I had to start with frozen, boneless, skinless chicken, so into the slower cooker I placed 1/4 C of OJ, and the juice from one lemon. After the chicken was cooked, I dumped it into a fry pan to brown up and cook off the marinade.

I chopped up Romaine, English cucumber (seedless), sliced red seedless grapes, strawberries and threw in whole washed Black Berries.

For the dressing I blended 1 pint of washed black berries, 1/4 C Red Wine Vinegar, and 1/4 C olive oil. The Black Berries were expensive, two pints for $5, but I figured I'd treat myself to something really healthy and tasty since I'm no longer eating cookies or candy. It was definitely worth it and cheaper than eating out.

13 for Thursday

Life's been a tad bit nutzo, but I thought I could crank off 13 for ya today.....

1. Spent much of last night fixing stuff at work that would have been fine if my co-workers would just use the software program I set up. I understand learning new things can be scary, but if they'd just calm their anxieties, they'd realize they are more than capable.

2. We have a Vibe, now let's hope its a good one!

3. Is it stalkerish if I contact a complete stranger who's name I found in the car manual in the glove box to ask them if they have the extra key?

4. $129.85 to replace a car key?? I can live without a key fob, but is there really a tiny microchip in the key itself that "communicates" with the engine? Do I believe Mr. Satan Spawn when he tells me Ace Hardware can't cut me one?

5. I can't believe I made it an entire day without candy, cookies or chocolate chips. One day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time..... I can do this!

6. Ice rain today - Is this necessary? Haven't we suffered long enough?

7. Mourning Dove I'm glad you're back. Was worried that bird seed was going to get pretty stale. Hope you plan on hanging around.

8. Did you know one could be a "Professional CONTAINER Gardener"? How can I land this gig? Is it a step up from florist, but not quite a landscape architect? This month's Better Homes And Gardens features a woman who turned her garage into her workshop. I guess she meets with clients and designs container gardens for them. I'm stunned one could make a living doing this.

9. Project Purge needs to change course direction and the next few days are all about paper. I need to find the van title so I can get that rusting bio-hazard off my driveway.

10. "No, you can't have the van to turn into a clubhouse for the Posse Rats. Our neighbors would not appreciate it. I know, I know, it sucks living in suburban sub-division uniformity."

11. The birds on our Audubon bird clock have personality disorders. The Kingfisher hoots thinking its a Horned Owl. (Or maybe I better check the battery.) Time is correct though.

12. DH told me I was crying out in my sleep last night. I guess I have him to blame for not stopping the aliens taking over my kitchen.

13. Why does my life these past few days feel like the last 10 minutes of pretty much any movie on the LMN channel? (Lifetime Movie Network)

Spawns of Satan

I have spent way too much time around car salesman. Its only been 2 days of active searching for a new (used) car, but I'm going to get big time sick if something doesn't work out soon.

I've been praying, praying, praying, and in many ways, I feel like I'm being carried through this, but then again, I also feel so lost, stuck in a bad dream.

I'm trying my best to exercise, eat well and get needed rest, but the reality is I haven't had much sleep the past two nights, car shopping during meal times means fast (fat) food, and too much driving around in one vehicle means little time for exercise. 

The boys have been outstandingly supportive. All of this has effected their routines as we spend less time "home" schooling and more "car dealership" schooling. They have been excellent back seat testers, and have been saintly patient while we've tried hacking out numbers. Two nights of late night suppers of take out, babysitting little brothers while mom and dad try to share one car, hauling around the Gameboys, I guess its not a completely bad scene for them. Why do I feel so guilty for not being as available to them?

DH is getting over the most wicked sinus infection I've ever seen. Have you read the book, The Stand? I was getting really worried about him. I can't help but think I'm next given the stressful existence I'm currently living.

I guess, I am learning through this. You'll have to check out the website, www.nada.com.  It can really help you determine a car's value. Did you know about gap insurance? (I sure hope we don't need it!!) Having the vehicle identification number is a Godsend as well!

I can't forget its Fat Tuesday. Did you know Shamrock Shakes are back?!! I may have to treat myself to one before tomorrow rolls around. I've decided to not give up sugar entirely. That would be too difficult for me. I think I could still benefit from the nutrition from eating fresh fruits, but I could give up cookies, candy, cakes, etc. I'm going off the diet fizz as well, sticking to tea and water.

Well, it's almost time for me to meet once again with the devils at the dealership. Prayers, deep cleansing breaths, calm blue oceans, fields of wildflowers, forests of tall trees, Blind Melon concerts, I'll try to remember all of these when I'm in the hot seat.

Stressing out...........................................................

I hate motor vehicles.
I hate that I have to rely on them.
I hate that I'm poor and can't afford them.
I hate that I have two in my driveway that don't work.
I hate that I have to get up early, drive DH to work, drive around to car dealers instead of spending the morning in our Sleepyhouse.
I hate salesmen.
I hate the cold.
I hate rush hour traffic.
I hate that a car payment will soon be a reality.
I hate jumping through financing hoops.
I hate that my dad lives too far away to come help me.
I hate that if I don't find a vehicle by Tuesday, our one remaining drivable car will have to put an extra 350 miles in this week.
I hate that I'm going to lose 2 hours a day!!
I hate that we can't afford to live where public transportation is possible.
I hate that I have to work away from home.
I hate asking someone to work for me.
I hate that I can't afford not to work!

Thanks for letting me vent. I'm going to go dry my eyes and put on some comfy PJs before I decide to reach for chocolate.

Cop or Donut Shop

DS10 has decided if he doesn't end up with a career in law enforcement, he'd like to run a donut shop. He's begun his market research.

First field study, the big chain, Dunkin Donuts. Jared brought his notebook, and we were hoping to sit down and take notes. Unfortunately, the joint was packed. No seats were to be found, we'd have to try carry out style.

Jared picked half a dozen for us to sample, and I grabbed a cup of Joe for the road. He decided the product was passable, but over priced. He's had grocery store donuts that tasted better. He did note how crowded the place was and determined having a brand name helps bring in customers, even if your product is not perfect.

Our next field study will be  the opposite of Dunkin, a small, home town, ethnically rich bakery, Fosdals in Stoughton, WI. Maybe if its not too crowded, Jared will feel comfortable surveying the customers.

He's been creating plans for his own style of donuts. One of which, is square, covered in green icing with white on the corners. Its his baseball diamond donut. He's begun a portfolio of his different donut designs drawn in colored pencil.  (I should figure out how to get my scanner working so you could see!)

As soon as the weather is warm enough, we are planning a donut fry up with our home school posse. (We thought using our fryers outside wouldn't make our homes smelly.) Each family is going to bring a different dough recipe. I noticed Giada has an Italian donut recipe that looks easy. We'll also have to consider whether to try cake or raised.

Jared's also decided he'll go with the D-O-N-U-T spelling rather than D-O-U-G-H-N-U-T. I wonder if this is a regional thing. My first reaction is to use the shortened spelling, but then the purist in me wants to spell it properly. Of course with today's text society, short and sweet fits the bill.

Makes me wish I would have went garbage picking

I'm a few weeks late. I should have been hanging out by the book store's dumpsters with a pick up truck.

Read this article and cry with me.

http://www.city-journal.org/2009/eon0212wo.html

Black Bean & Noodle Stoup

Healthy, cheap, comforting, and easy, I decided to make a black bean stoup, (stew like soup.) I had fallen into a food rut and needed to remind myself that healthy meals are attainable. It tastes better than it looks.

Black Bean & Noodle Stoup

1 T olive oil
1 onion, chopped or diced to your liking
baby carrots- a handful chopped or diced
2-3 garlic gloves- chopped, more or less to taste
1 Quart of vegetable broth
Two handfuls of "No Yolk" egg dumpling noodles (about 3 cups)
1 Can of black beans, drained and rinsed
2 plum tomatoes, chopped or diced
1/2 C frozen corn
1 Jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
1-2 t cumin (to taste)
1 t pepper (to taste)
2 T fresh cilantro, chopped

Archer Farms Black Bean and Jalapeno tortilla corn chips from Target

In your soup pot, add the oil and chopped onions and dance them, (cook), over a medium heat until the onions sweat it out. Add the chopped carrots and garlic to the pot party. 

Add the veggie broth and make those veggies swim. Stir in the noodles and as the noodles begin to soften, add the beans, tomatoes, corn and jalapeno. Spice it up with the cumin, pepper and cilantro and allow the stoup to thicken.

Circle your stoup with tortilla shark fins! Its so yummy and offers a great variety of textures and flavors.

Do you know what's awesome, cool, annoying.....

I stole this from my son's blog.  His answers were better than mine, but it still inspired me to write my own. (I'll copy his post after mine since his blog isn't public.)

My answers

You know whats awesome? Dove chocolates- I just love the messages inside.

You know whats cool? foam swords - They're only $1 at Target

You know whats annoying? Charity/telemarketer calls that say they don't want your money, just a moment of your time.

You know whats nice? Pink Domos

You know whats bad? Wisconsin roads after winter

You know whats dumb? Institutionalized education

You know what makes you angry? Charter Communications

You know whats awkward? Having to tell a complete stranger she's had a period accident while noticing she's obviously on a date

You know what feels good? Down comforters

You know whats the most Annoying battle ever fought? Trying to keep a plastic garbage bag open enough in order to dump all the waste in

You know whats gross? Public toilets

You know what totally sucks? Being poor

You know what stinks but used to rock? The Fox network

You know what rocks? Blind Melon of course

You know whats frustrating? Trying to use keys with mittens on (Gloves aren't warm enough!)

You know whats entertaining? Children at  play

You know whats funny? My husband

And here is what my son had posted on his blog

You know whats awesome? Metal gear solid 4.

You know whats cool? Shoe boxes.

You know whats annoying? When you are taking a dump and then the toilet water hits your bottom. Its kinda like the toilets revenge for pooping in it.

You know whats nice? When you find a dollar on the ground.

You know whats bad? When you are using a public bathroom and its out of toilet paper.

You know whats dumb? Movie sequel names.

You know what makes you angry? The jerks who run charter(I'm sure my mom will blog about it soon).

You know whats awkward? When you fart in front of people at the bookstore.

You know what feels good? Hot tubs.

You know whats the most Annoying battle ever fought? You vs. the printer.

You know whats gross? Surgery shows.

You know what totally sucks? When you lose your wallet and its totally loaded with cash.

You know what stinks but used to rock? Cartoon network.

You know what rocks? Boomerang.

You know whats frustrating? When you lose all your data on a video game.

You know whats entertaining? Watching your mom play scrabble via facebook against your uncle.

You know whats funny? Watching your grandma play wii fit.

Ice Cream Cake Roll Recipe

As requested- Enjoy!

Ice Cream Cake Roll

3/4 C flour
1/3 C cocoa powder
1 t baking powder
pinch of salt
4 eggs
3/4 C granulated sugar
2 t vanilla
2 T powdered sugar
3 C mint chip ice cream, softened

Chocolate syrup, caramel syrup and whipped cream - Optional

Heat your oven to 350 F. Line a 15 x 10 x 1 jelly roll pan with foil so the ends stick out and spray with non stick spray. (The over hanging foil will serve as a handle to lift the cake out of the pan.)

Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl.

In a separate bowl, beat 4 eggs until creamy yellow. Slowly add in the granulated sugar and vanilla.

Fold in the flour mixture until completely mixed. Spread in the prepared pan.

Bake for 12 minutes or until the cake spring back to your light touch.

Lay out a clean kitchen towel and dust it with the powdered sugar. Lift the hot cake out of the pan and turn it onto the powdered towel. Roll up the cake with the towel starting from the short end.

While the cake cools rolled up, remove the ice cream from the freezer to soften.

Once the cake is completely cool, unroll it slowly. Spread the ice cream to within an inch of the edges. Re-roll the cake and ice cream. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil and place the log in the freezer for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Allow the cake to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before trying to slice it. Serve with chocolate and/or caramel sauce and whipped cream if desired.

Our Valentine's Day

Meet my new baby! How could you not love this face?!

My men got me a Pink Domo for Valentine's Day! I just love her!! I may have to change her name to Doma, or Domolita, or Domola. I'm still trying out names and waiting for her to tell me which one she likes. LOL!

We we blessed to share our day with Grandma. We had lunch at Famous Daves, thinking we'd avoid the evening crowds. It still packed up. I had yummy catfish, but the real treat was the corn bread muffin! YUMMM!!!

MY MIL & I did a little antiquing while the boys hit up the library for books and movies.

We then headed home to play Scrabble and Wii games.  I think I have a serious Scrabble addiction and trying to teach Grandma how to ski jump was hilarious! (Keep at it Grandma! You'll get it!)

I made an ice cream cake roll with chocolate cake and chocolate chip mint ice cream for our dessert. (More YUMMM!!!!)

We watched Underworld, which I was surprised I enjoyed. Maybe it was all the chocolate I'd had by then? DS10 won $10 because he bet his grandmother she couldn't stay awake throughout the entire movie. For someone who watches a lot of movies, I wonder why every time we watch a movie with her, she falls asleep?

Today DH is taking DN to the Motley Crue concert, so its just me and the boys. I think we'll order pizza, and DS10 has requested we watch a scary movie, maybe Clownhouse.

My sister sent me Crapola....

And now I'm full of it!!!! (snicker)

As a thank you gift, my sister sent me Crapola granola from Ely. Its so good!!! I have to discipline myself from eating the entire bag. My sister had a milestone birthday and celebrated in Ely, MN getting fitted for Mukluks. While there, she discovered Crapola.

Yesterday we gathered with our home schooling posse and made Valentines for veterans. For a group of pre & young teen boys, it went amazingly well. (I found ideas that weren't too girly.) We made paper airplane Valentines that said, "You're Plane Awesome", and we used old heart playing cards to make Valentine buddies, ATC's with pipe cleaner arms and legs. I'm kicking myself for not bringing the camera.

I found out that I'll probably be hosting not one, not two, but three workshops at the Wisconsin Parent's Association's home schooling conference! I'm stoked!! Every year, the first weekend in May ends up being a fantastic family weekend away while we get pumped back up for home schooling. We've been attending for years now, and although I no longer need workshops like, "How to start homeschooling","Great math ideas", "How to prevent home schooling burnout" etc., I am finding its a great opportunity to give back.

My family will be hosting, once again the Letterboxing event, and two new workshops, Flat Travelers and Apples to Apples. I'm a bit sorry to see they passed on my offer to host another ATC workshop, but I understand why. They don't want to keep offering the same workshops, year after year, because people will stop attending. You have to mix it up to create interest. I do think I will sneak in a few LTCs, (Letterbox Trading Cards), during the Letterboxing workshop.

I'm thinking long and hard about making a huge lent sacrifice. Last year I gave up carbonated drinks, which turned out to be easy after the first few weeks. This year I'm considering giving up sugar.

This presents a huge challenge for me. Sugar is everywhere! I'm referring to the entire catalog of sweeteners, although I think I may decide to cut myself a break and still use honey. If I can pull this off, I know I'll feel better, but its the detox that has me a little scared. I'll keep praying about it.

An herbalist once told me to try dried fruits when giving up sugar.  I'm discovering dried cranberries usually contain sugar. Same goes for dried blueberries. I'll have to hit the co-op and see what my options may be.

I better get cruising. I'm taking my Crapola on a photo walk. I'm hoping to win the photo contest and win a case of Crapola!

In The Event I Go Into The Witness Protection Program

1. REAL NAME:
Dawn Inger Petersen

2.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME:(mother and fathers middle names)
Catherine Henry (perfect, I love it.)

3.NASCAR NAME:(first name of your mother's dad, father's dad)
Helge Charles (Swedes don't have southern boys' names)

4.STAR WARS NAME:(the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Petda (Sounds like a pet store to me)

5.DETECTIVE NAME:(favorite color, favorite animal)
Indigo Tiger (Wicked cool! Maybe its more James Bond though?)

6.SOAP OPERA NAME:(middle name, town where you were born)
Inger Chicago (also cool!)

7.SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Green Tea (boring, but perhaps my superpower would be anti-oxidants!)

8.FLY NAME:(first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Daen (I wouldn't even know how to pronounce it.)

9.STREET NAME:(fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)
Fox Fudge Freak-out Chocolate Chip

10.SKANK NAME: (1st pet's name, street you grew up on)
Muffin Manchester - (Very skanky but with class! LOL!)

11.GANGSTA NAME:(first 3 letters of first name plus 'izzle')
Dawizzle

12.YOUR GOTH NAME:(black, and the name of one of your pets)
Black Yumi

13. STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav scent, fav sweet )
Grass Chocolate - (Doesn't work at all does it!)

What we've been up to...

Everything is melting into muddy messes. I was able to find the lid to our garbage can since the snow bank has been reduced to a crusty, dirt covered mound. Today I'm tempted to open the windows since we will probably break a high temperature record. It may be in the upper 50's!!  Its been great for walking, but I should be careful of the wind.

Something strange is going on with my ear. I can't tell if I'm getting an ear infection or what else could be happening, but it really hurts, and I can't hear out of it too well. I'm not running a fever though. If it doesn't go away in a few days, I'll guess I'll break down and pay for the doctor's visit.

DS10 is doing extra jobs, helping me organize. He wants to save up enough money for the video game, Skate II. Cleaning out the cabinet, he helped me realize we have way too many plastic bags. I like having a few around for cat box presents and to line our smaller trash cans, but we have enough to stuff a bean bag chair!

DS10 has also been into drawing his own comics lately, inspired by the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid series. He drew one of Domo this morning in which his TV wasn't working. Domo ends up grabbing his rabbit friend and placing him on top of the TV to improve the reception. (Get it, rabbit ears!) I thought it was very clever.

I'm reading a really good book, The Language Police by Diane Ravitch. Its about the damage that has been done to the education of our nation due to groups lobbying for censorship in textbooks and curriculum. I've always felt our nation, (the US) has been dumbed down and this book explains how this has happened. The author offers an eye opening list of banned words and phrases and a terrific book list in the appendix.

Reading this book makes me so glad we home school! If I want to read Huckleberry Finn to the boys using the word, "nigger" I can. I can also explain to them how in our history's past, this word was used freely. We can further the discussion by examining the damage this has caused our country's race relations, and how we can make wiser decisions knowing these effects.

In the business of publishing and education, money motivates. You won't sell books if you offend. Whether its removing theories of evolution in textbooks marketed to schools in the bible belt, or banning references to pizza and ice cream to comply with California's ban on junk food. Diversity isn't marketable.

DS10 wanted to know what my dream job would be. When I thought about it realistically, I had no clue. I told him I loved being home and learning with him.

"But what are you going to do when Jake and I don't need you anymore?"  The kid is 10 and he's forcing me to think about an empty nest!

I have no idea really. I love teaching, but schools that last place I'd want to be because my philosophy of learning is so different. I'll have to brain storm it a bit and reflect.

Last week I was asked if I had all the money in the world, what would my dream house be like. My boys were in disbelief when I told them I didn't need a Crib's mansion, but all I would require would be lots and lots of land to grow gardens and forests on. This made me realize I should be doing more with the little lot we do have. If nature is so important to me, why isn't this reflected on my little patch?

And on that note, I'm going outside. The sun is high in the sky and I need to feel the wind on my skin. 

The Dining Divas

I went out with my Divas last night. We try to get together every month or so for a girl's night out. This outing included my sister, SIL, cousin and aunt. We dined at the 5 Forks and then saw, He's Just Not That Into You.

The photo is my sister's Chilpotle and Turkey pizza. It had blueberries on it! I would never think blueberries on a pizza, but it was so good! I had crab cakes with citrus salsa, red pepper aioli and a mustard remoulade. They were also very tasty, but I'm paying for the salt consumption today. I'll have to drink lots of water. 

The movie was Divalicious. Yes, its a chic flick, but it also makes a great date movie. Its packed with strong, female actors, but no one over powers it. Its a great ensemble piece.

We had such a great time its inspired me to pitch a reality show idea to Food Network or the Travel channel based on our fun, "The Dining Divas!" It would be 5 women, 5 different palates, dining out at restaurants all over the world. The Divas would dish on the dining experience, but they would also dish on each others lives.

Of course I'm hoping we're all chosen to be the 5 Dining Divas. We've got our endorsements all planned out! LOL! There will be cookware, fashion, jewelry, even luggage- "Diva cases", since we of course will be traveling all over the world! We'll be so much more fun to watch than Anthony Bourdain! LOL!!

Did you know I AM a Superhero

Find the superhero in you at http://www.cpbintegrated.com/theherofactory/

I couldn't choose  my name. If I could have, I would be Jedi Kitten.

Scattergories

I forgot how much I love this game. Want to play with me? Consider yourself "tagged" if you do.

Rules: Copy to your own blog, erase my answers, enter yours, and tag 10 people. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real . . . nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

1. What is your name: Dawning

2. A four Letter Word: deep

3. A boy's Name: Daniel

4. A girl's Name: Daria

5. An occupation: doctor

6. A color: dark blue

7. Something you wear: Domo t-shirt

8. A hobby: doll making

9. A food: doughnuts

10. Something found in the bathroom: duck

11. A place: Dodgeville, WI

12. A reason for being late: Don't have anything to wear

13. Something you shout: DUDE!

14. A movie title: Do The Right Thing

15. Something you drink: Diet Rite

16. A musical group: Blind Melon - (Ok I cheated, but there is no other for me!)

17. An animal: dog

18. A street name: Doty

19. A type of car: Datsun

20. The title of a song: Dumptruck (yes its a Blind Melon song)

I should wake them up.

I can't believe they are still sleeping. They talked it up big last night that they wanted to get up at 5:00am in order to get to Denny's by 6:00am. Denny's is offering free Grand Slams breakfasts today.

I'm sure when they do get up, they will give me a hard time for not waking them. What can I say? I preferred to stay in my warm house, with my hot mug of Sangria tea, cozy slippers on my feet, munching on Trader Joe's Anti-OXidant Nut & Berry mix.

Did you know my cat like's dried blueberries?

I'll make it up to them. Maybe we'll go out for lunch.

Death cold is back. Wind chills in the negatives once again. Crazy thing is, by the end of the week, we'll be in the 40's! It will feel so good, I bet we'll put on shorts!

I've discovered I really like punching! Who would have thought a pacifist like me would find such gratification from socking it to a punching bag? Maybe you do have to watch out for us quiet types?

We bought a heavy bag for DS10's birthday and hung it in the basement. I had no idea what a workout it could be! I can feel myself being more relaxed and calm throughout the day, and I know its because I've sent all my stress into "Everlast" land. After my first session, my arms felt really weak the following day. Now I'm doing better. I have to remember to dress appropriately though. DS13 broke out in laughter when he caught me trying to kick box with fuzzy slippers on.

Ok, they're up now, and I'm in trouble. They are asking for breakfast which is strange because usually they take awhile to wake up first. How can they be hungry after eating so much for supper last night?

I made a pound of hamburger, "crumbly" style, along with pasta and broccoli. DH and I didn't eat any of the crumbly meat. Our offspring polished it off all on their own. I guess I'm not cooking right for growing teen boys. Have we really become a more than a pound of burger family?  Where's the recipe book for teen boys? I'm not understanding the portion requirements.

I better stop babbling now and get them fed before things turn ugly and they remember our Denny's plans.

Groundhog was set up....

DS10 pointed out perhaps they shouldn't hold that groundhog up so high and his shadow won't appear that big. You think people would learn to erect a tent over him so the sun's rays miss him entirely.

I so need spring. This past weekend it did warm up enough for an outdoor walk without a cold air induced asthma attack. That was a blessing. It felt good to stroll and stretch my legs, but I still had to watch for melting ice and snow.

DH fought with setting up computers and convincing the cable guy we needed wireless. "But you aren't hooking up a laptop?" Dude, with two computers, and two game consoles, we don't want wires everywhere tripping people. We're still having reliability issues with the online gaming.

Now that the new computer is up and running, DH confessed to me that our old computer's fan has gone completely out and its a matter of time before we lose the hard drive if we don't replace it. I have to make a point to get all my photos burned and uploaded to a backup site. For now, I use Winkflash.com because prints are only .6 cents each. DH may ask our nephew to help him install a new fan so we don't lose our old computer.

For months now, DS10 has been a tad bit envious of DS13 because we decided DS13 is old enough he doesn't need to be told when to go to bed. I told DS10 he could stay up and read if he wanted to, but he had to do it in his bed for now. He was ecstatic. He thought that was the coolest thing, to be able to read all night if he wanted.

Since we home school, I don't have to wake them at any certain time. They can sleep until they feel rested, and they are learning to listen to their bodies and go to sleep when they are tired. I actually read last week that there are physiological changes that happen to the teen body that prevents them from getting tired before 11:00pm. Unfortunately, teens in school have to get up early, so they are not getting enough sleep. A high school in Minnesota pushed back the morning start time and grades started improving.

We watched the Superbowl and I had to remind DH, although we were rooting for the Cardinals, we're used to losing because we're Bear fans. "Settle down and take it like a Bear Fan!"

I made guacamole and discovered I have no diminishing returns when it comes to creamy green heaven! I can't have avocados in the house. As if that wasn't enough of a calorie nightmare, I made brownies too. Hopefully the weather cooperates and I can keep walking outside. I get too bored on the treadmill just watching TV.

I have to go. Yumi is freaking out. With the little bit of snow that has melted, the stray cats are once again on the prowl. She sees them in the yard and goes bizerko. I should look into getting her those kitty happiness pheromones. 

Smooth Away Hair Removal

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

After having a nightmare my face was covered with white fur, I was motivated by subconscious fear to try Smooth Away, that "European hair removal secret". I didn't have to order it online but instead our Walgreens carries it for $10. I thought for $10, it was worth a try.

It does really work. Yes, you're basically sand papering your skin, but if you don't push too hard, it not only removes hair but exfoliates your skin. I rinsed and moisturized my skin afterward and it felt great. No nicks from razors, no painful waxing or tweezing.

I was afraid my skin would end up all red and swollen but it didn't. I don't know how long the pads will last, but the kit came with several replacements. There's also a travel case so I can bring it to the pool with me in case of "Opps, I missed a spot."

Now I'll be super quick swimming those laps! LOL!