Strawberry Shortcake

I am not sure what I can say but I thought this photo deserved some exposure. Isn't she HOT?

I can attest to the fact that her hair is half way down her back but when it dries it curly right up like Strawberry Shortcake. You remember the fruit smelling dolls from the 80's- Yeah those.

I think she may only briefly smell that good as a girl her age gets into trouble quick. She is friends with my daughter and I think they exchange ways to drive us crazy when they babble to each other.

I just got a letter in the mail addressed to the daughters of Fooseberry Pie. I open it and it is an invite to the Miss Brat USA pagent-What do you think, should we sign them up?? Ava could play the water glasses like Miss Congeniality.

So Thank You for the photo and keep them coming.

Scale and Hair

Crappy picture but you get the drift-disregard the work in the backround.


Scale Today says 176.6

In my quest to back to at the most 170 by vacation I am happy to post in a 176.6.
I have been a very good girl today and I should be as I just spent $100 dollars on protein. I got a whole box (15 I think) of my newest love-vanilla toffee bars from Muscle milk lite. Yummo! Also a box of PB protein wafers, Matrix orange cream and Wild Harverst Chocolate.
I also got my ass out on the road today. A first in a long time. I wanted to walk my daughter to school(in a stroller as I have a need for speed) but she bitched about the cold so I flagged down her bus driver and sent her off. It felt good. I gave Ava a walkman with the Wiggles and I with LL Cool J.I think we were both singing. The goal is to do it again tomorrow. Watch and see on The Daily Plate.
MM who I think was anti-exercise before is getting badges for multiple days of exercise so I figure I better get my ass in gear.

On another topic-
The hair is gone. I would show you but I can't load pics at work . Maybe I can get a cell photo but it will never show the color. I love Ariel. He did a great job and mixed 2 haircuts I liked into one. Maybe more to come.

Dog Kisses

Kohl
Moxie

Some of you know this story so I will keep is short-

About 6 yrs ago we decided to get a dog and started working thru the process of adopting from a Boxer rescue. Soon we found the best dog in the whole world at the local MSPCA and took her home. She was with us thru 2 babies and buying our first house and we had not one complaint about her. Unfortunately we had to put her to sleep in February due to cancer that was just making her too uncomfortable and unable to walk.

We have now decided that we miss her tremendously and want another dog. My youngest used to sit in her dog bed with her and watch TV( I think she shared a few Cheez-its too as Kohl was alll too happy to have a partner in her bed.)

We have just finished the adoption process once again with Second Chance Boxer Rescue and are looking for the right dog for us.

Our Requirements:

Must tolerate Fatcat (Don't have to be friends but you can't eat the cat.)

Must enjoy having your hair brushed with a Barbie brush.

Must like being put to bed with covers on and share your bed for afternoon cartoons.

Olivia also says you must like cereal because we need someone to clean it off the floor after Ava.

We are not too picky as long as the dog doesn't eat kids or cats we figure we can figure out the rest. Well after meeting 2 dogs today that a friend of a friend needs to find a home for I realized just how naive I am. He has 2 pure bred boxers that he is looking to find a home for together. That is a little more than we want but what the heck I think.

Well Holy Shit!!!

These dogs were big and hyper and on the furniture-I mean couch, coffee table in the bed and mowed over poor Ava about 3 times. I left there in amazement. First how can you let the dogs be so crazy with no discipline? And Pee - we won't even go there.

Anyway we came home and decided to look again and see what was available at SCBR.

They have a dog that may be good for us so I sent a message and we wait.

Soon we may have another snoring dog in the house and I can't wait.

By the way this is Moxie-No promises but isn't she cute?

Back to real life

The party and school vacation is over. On Friday I went swimming with some friends as a last hurrah of school vacation.
I had bought 2 bathing suits last year as my body size was changing. The last one an XL. So I put it on thinking this will work for me now- Nope. I need a whole lot more spandex on this jelly body now.
I scoot on over to TJ Maxx for a cool new bathing suit for Olivia and myself. Olivia got a bikini and she is hot to trot. Her mother got a tankini and is not so hot.
Nothing brings you right to reality like a red Tankini.
I still have a complex when people look at me- Do I look fat or what are you looking at?? My good friend last night said to me "they are looking at how skinny you are now." That never occured to me. I felt safe enough because I was among friends so I didn't hide behind a towel or wrap and just took my T shirt off and walked to the pool with my kids. I think I might take a picture of myself in this bathing suit and post it to look at myself. Sounds weird but I just still have such a weird sense of my body and how I look. I still live like a roundgirl because that is who I am on the inside.
I really want to get back to the weight where I had the most confidence so you will now be stuck reading food posts and exercise my butt posts so bare with me. I still plan on blogging my crazy life too.
I got down to a low of 169lbs but am up to 178 and it is surprising to me how 10lbs has changed my feelings about myself. I can fall back on the "I am a loser" thing real quick.
I am traveling to Hyannis Wednesday to see my favorite hairdresser and I will reveal my new(old) haircut in a few days. Then I plan on traveling to Cape Cod Nutrition and stocking up on my protein favorites to get back on the straight and narrow( somewhat straight anyway).
If anyone reading needs anything while I make the trip let me know.

Ava's 2nd Birthday Extravaganza!!!

The big event finally happened and all but a few came. We ate, played games, ate some cake and I hope everyone went home happy.
We started by feeding everyone and then we got down to business-Pin the tail on the pig. This was super fun and a 3 way tie. Next we moved on to the pinata which had a million pounds of candy and almost broke under it's own weight. The only bad part was is broke under the muscles of the 3rd or 4th kid.
The cake and cupcakes were a huge success. Pig cupcakes and a sheep cake which you will hopefully see in the photos.
It was a great time but we are all exhausted and going to bed at 8pm.
Yawn......

See some awesome photos @

http://www.flickr.com/photos/meltingmama/sets/72157604748628523/show/

Meme you you

What was I doing ten years ago?April 24, 1998?
I have no idea. I have no memory for dates. I think I was dating Earl the Pearl secretly then - We didn't come out of the closet until he slapped me on the ass at Dairy Queen in front of our friends. Now that is love.

Five things on my To-Do list today:
Cook most of the party food.
Take a nap.
Kiss my daughter and sing Happy Birthday(She is 2)
Call stragglers and ask if they are coming to the party.
Make it to work on time.

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Pay off my BILLS.
Buy a house with a beautiful lawn.
Buy my Mom a house with a beautiful lawn and a cute man to take care of it.
Buy a car for each of my my sisters.
Oh and put some in the bank I guess.

Three of my bad habits:
Biting my nails
Some might say swearing but I like to.
Money


Five places I’ve lived:
Lowell
Falmouth
Worcester
Grafton
Dudley
Then back to Falmouth


Five jobs I’ve had:
Clerk at a retail store
Car/Truck rental agent
Sandwich maker
Nursing home kitchen wench
Police Dispatcher

Five books I’ve recently read:
I haven't read a whole book since kids. I love suspense, crime novels - maybe when I retire.

Five people or communities I’m going to tag:
Chella
Barry
Joe Cat
Henri


The Game Meme Rules
The rules of The Game get posted on the beginning.
Each player answers the rules about himself [or indeed herself].
At the end of the post, the player tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read his [or her] blog. (Explicit!)

I was a cooking machine today.

I started my day with the grocery store and 2 small children to get the last few things at 7:30. When I got home I started cooking for the party right away.

My daughter and I hand rolled 80 meatballs. I then made a full pan of stuffed shells with sauce and hot sausage. Next we moved on and made crab dip and a ham/cheese/broccoli appetizer that looks delish but I have not tried it. I had a great time and hope there is enough food.

Tomorrow we have plans to go swimming with some friends to kill off some school vacation energy then off to a roller skating birthday party.

I haven't been skating in a bazillion years but I am looking forward to it. I may very well be blogging about a broken arm on Sunday but what the hell.

Tomorrow between all our plans I am going to be baking the cake.

Wait until you see the photos of that!!

Hello??? Is anybody home???

As you may have noticed I have made a small addition to my blog that includes a counter. It tells me that I am not really talking to myself anymore. There is a world out there and someone is willing to read about my shenanigans.
On the cool side I see someone looking from Ohio and a hit from Chile. Who from these places really gives a rats butt about my life?
Well I am hoping to find out.
So please comment-You don't have to say anything long winded just a Hi I am here. I am curious who you are and how you got to me would be super cool to know.

I know a few of you but I would love to hear from someone new.
Maybe you could tell me if you like my Turkey-LOL!!!

Pin the tail on the piggie

A SUPER talented friend of mine made us the pig for our pin the tail on the piggy game. I wanted to show you all before it is covered with tails.

Isn't she beautiful with those eyelashes??

Let me know if you are looking for a pig or any other animal as these are her specialty and I will pass on her contact info.

I will make sure Ava gives you a big kiss for this - Thanks!!!

Turkey pinata

So I am planning a Farm party as you may have read. Sunday night my daughter and I started to make our own pinata that we hope will end up looking like a turkey. Don't worry photos will follow. I thought every kid should know the fun of paper mache. So we mix up a batch and she is sitting on the counter and in about 2 minutes she is covered in pinata glue. She is either using pieces that are 4 feet long or as big as her thumb. After I put her to bed she was still itching from the paste stuck to her elbow.
I am trying to explain not to cover the square I drew at the top as we need a place to put the candy in. True to her Mother's heart her eyes light up- Candy??? Of course, I explain, the point of a pinata is to smash it to bits to get the candy out. (Well now we are extra interested.) So yesterday we put on the second coat. Today I pop the balloon and get a look inside. Some places are like cement and other places you can see light through but it is a huge pinata all right and soon will be full of candy and toys.
We plan on covering it with tissue and a giant tail tomorrow with some friends of my daughter.
Again stand by for some crazy pictures- Maybe we should name him??
What do you think??

Oink, Oink...

Next week Ava will be 2 years old. So what do we do ?? We plan a party of course.
We are having a Farm Party. We are going to play pin the tail on the pig, make farm animal decorations, break a turkey pinata to bits and eat cow cake and piggie cupcakes.
So when I plan a party I go a little overboard. I hate the comments I get from people. I enjoy it and if it seems like too much work for you oh well.
So I have about 60 people invited and only 1/2 have RSVP'd. So on I go prepping for ?? invites.
I made the 25 bags you have seen on a past post. I made 25 pig tails to play pin the tail on the pig. Olivia and I did the first layer of our own pinata tonight after Ava went to bed. I told her it could be her present to Ava.
Now food-Many people have told me to just buy stuff - It is easier. But really in my heart I LOVE parties. I am going to cook for a whole day and I can't wait. I have changed my mind many times but tonight I just thought screw it. I'm cooking. So if you are a reader and invited bring your appetite.
I am making the cake and cupcakes homemade too.
Now why am I doing this - I have thought alot about that lately. Then I realize doing these things are the same things that are some of the best memories I have of my childhood. My Mom always made our cake homemade and I remember the first time she bought a cake. I was a teeneager and she bought it at a nice bakery and I think she thought we deserved better than a regular homemade cake but in reality I was more disappointed and wanted a cake my mom had spent the time on. She always knew your favorite cake and it was always homemade frosting.
So I will do this for my girls and hopefully I can make some of the best memories for them too.

The Devil lives in my house.

So cute- NOT!!!

She is turning 2 next week and we decided to have a farm party as she is a farm animal herself. I did not know she could get any worse but she has. My 1st daughter had her moments but this one is the devil herself.

She throws plates full of food on the floor when she has had enough. She screams like a pterodactyl at the drop of a hat. She will not sleep through the night. Today she scratched her sister's face until she almost drew blood.

Does anyone want her-CHEAP !! I would be willing to take her back around 4 yrs old.

We have yelled, begged, put her in time out, smacked the booty, blackmailed her with candy and she shakes it off.

I hope she uses these tough skills to have a great profession when she gets older.

Sew what

So I am sewing or attempting anyway. I got this fabulous sewing machine from Santa last year and didn't open it until this Christmas when I was reminded that my warrantee was expiring. You can't break what you don't use right?

I started by making some killer curtains for my kitchen. I am now working on a project of 25 bags for the kids coming to my daughters birthday party.

Well let me back up- I tried to take a basic sewing class where you bring your own machine but I work at night and this was at a local Community night school so no go. My mom taught me the basics and I got the curtains done so I figured I would move on. Well the bags are almost done but not without a LOT of swearing. Today as I had done all my limited training had covered I gave up. The kids can get there favors in a brown bag for all I care.

But wait.... There is such a thing as an owners manual. I am married to a mechanic - we don't read owners manuals. We flub it and throw away the extra parts. Low and behold the directions helped!!! I learned that the bobbin was not threading right so it broke 1/2 way thru each seem.

So the moral to todays post is to read the directions!!

Anyway on a happier note I got about 8 more bags done and hope to finish the whole lot tomorrow.

I am a glutten for punishment and I also bought a pattern for some cute overalls I was hoping to make for her to wear to her party. We will see.

I will try to post some photos of my latest project. Horse bags for the boys and piggy bags for the girls.

A sure sign of Spring

So I stole this photo from a friend as I decided to post it as it is the most beautiful sign of Spring I have seen yet. It makes me want to plant,rake,mow and grow but it is still 22 degrees here some nights.
I want so much from my yard this year and we will see how many of those things get crossed off the list. I need a green lawn is that so much to ask??
I might even plant a seed or 2. I usually like to buy plants as they are instantly gradifying but also expensive. Also on my list is some of Uncle D's giant pumpkins. Nothing would be better than carving our own lopsided pumpkins that we grew ourselves. But enough about the cold Fall lets get back to Spring.
I usually have no patients this time of year- I want to get stuff in the ground and growing and I am reminded it will die if planted now so on I go to dreaming about my garden.

I hope to get some birds in my yard and as long as that damn wood pecker stays off the house we will all be happy!!

New day trying to be Food-Good

So a large part of my everyday consists of trying to be a good eater- HAhaHA!!
Anyway I planned my whole day on The Daily Plate- A great web site for logging food and exercise by the way-and when I got home at Midnight I happily packed all my little containers with love. So I am picking up my daughter from preschool and say" What's for lunch?" She picks Mcd's of course. So starving as I am I am ordering the American Idol happy meal along with her.
So much for my labor of love in the mini containers.
The only good thing is I have slipped in some cookies but no candy (yet) today. I am a crack addict with the candy. I guess small steps.
I have yet to find a rehab for sugar but if I do I may beg my insurance company to send me away to the sugar looney bin. I have read some articles about sugar busting but they all appear to have too many healthy carbs. I need a straight up protein thing.
Actually I need a crazy gestapo to pack my lunch everyday and zap me with a bark collar when I look at the vending machine.

1st day of my new blog

Ok so here is the first day of my blog.
I don't know what I will talk about or if anyone will listen but here I go.
I can make no promises about grammar or spelling but I promise to have fun.

I am a mom of 2 and work full time as a police dispatcher on sunny Cape Cod. This job will most likely create some interesting blog topics in the future I am sure.

I am a post RNY patient and have lost 135 lbs since last February. I talk about this to anyone that asks as I believe I could not have done it without the surgery. I am struggling now as I can eat most anything I want and the "wants" are what got me in trouble in the first place.

So maybe with the blog and a good food log on The Daily Plate I can get my head out of my ass.

Wanna chat??