Bahama Shores Mama

I've made the first step......

2009-08-28T13:18:00.008-04:00

outside of my comfort zone today.

I'm not sure why I am agonizing so much over this, but I am.

I want to sell some of the things I've made. But my personality needs to take baby steps. I want to do some craft fairs, etc. but am unsure of the best way to do it all.

I've sold a few things I've made to friends. But today, I gave a few of my things to a friend to add to her beach booth to sell.

I did take pictures of the items I've cranked out the last few days and I'm posting them here to share them with my friends who have been my constant cheerleaders.

WARNING: MANY PICS TO FOLLOW!

Here's what I put out:

(the pictures fail to pick up many of the details making the dress :)

Babygirl sized pink tutu

Little girl sized Purple/White/Lt.Pink Fairy Tutu

Three crayon roll ups

Babygirl sized pillowcase dress

Babygirl sized pillowcase dress

big girl sized pillowcase dress (bad picture: blue pinstriped dress)

little girl sized pillowcase dress

big girl sized pillowcase dress

baby girl pillowcase dress

little girl sized pillowcase dress

Thanks to all who are so encouraging and I promise my neurotic tendencies will lessen over time.........(*at least until the next obsession)

To Represent or NOT

2009-08-25T12:09:00.004-04:00

It's the first day of school and my kids are representin' the SHORES~~~~

Bugaboo is gonna dominate 8th grade.

Chickiepoo is gonna rock 6th grade.

Boobear is gonna rule 4th grade.

And bunnyboo is trying to figure out her allegiance.

Forget it.........she'll just stay home with me.

It's over.........

2009-08-22T08:48:00.006-04:00

Summer is over.

We've just returned from a family beach vacation and the kids start school next week.

I'm hoping my bloggy mojo comes back then too.

Don't you?

Wait, don't answer that.

PS: does anyone else think feet are ugly?

Capturing Time

2009-08-11T15:41:00.004-04:00

Time.

It goes too fast.

Look how long it's been since I've last posted? See what I mean.

I've been feeling those warm feelings of completely loving someone.

Bunnyboo's vocabulary has exploded the last 6 months. I love how she says certain words and how she phrases things so they make sense in her world.

Lately, whenever she hears a noise, she'll turn to me with one hand over an ear and ask......

"What's that noise about?"

I swear I could eat her up at these moments.

Which reminded me of my other kids most memorable phrases.

Boobear used to get the word structure mixed up. When he meant although or wanted to use the word but ~ he would INSTEAD tack but/though on the end. As one word.

Like: " I really wanted to ride my bike, but/though."

And chickiepoo would say "hairpoo" instead of shampoo. I loved hearing her little girl voice say it and would try to get her to say it as many times as I could.

But my oldest, bugaboo? I can't remember ONE specific example.

And I'm heartbroken over it.

I've been racking my memories for days. Nothing.

Was it because he had some severe speech issues and being a first time mom I couldn't relax enough to separate what was normal from problematic? I'm not sure.

It took me more than a day to remember EXACTLY what boobear said. So maybe it's just the old mommy mind at play.

I am returning to my blog long enough to record these memories and hope to add more.

I refuse to not capture those words that fill me with love, but/though.

(All pictures capture each child around 2 years old)

Face Of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl.......My review

2009-06-14T22:10:00.005-04:00

This is the first review I've posted about a book I read. I heard about a publisher willing to send a book to be reviewed to anyone with a blog who was willing to write a short review. It was a WFMW tip over at We Are THAT Family. Free book??? Sign me up!

Face of Betrayal is the first book in what seems to be the start of a series as the cover indicates it's a triple threat novel. As in one of one? So it seems.
Lis Wiehl is a former prosecutor and a current legal analyst and commenter on Fox News. Which explains why I've never heard of her. She does seem to bring "inside" language and protocol, but not more than a well researched author would. April Henry must have helped write this since her name is both on the cover and the spine ~ award winning author Lis Wiehl With April Henry. After reading the jacket, I surmise that Ms. Henry is actually the award winning author.

The plot summary itself is what made me choose this book to review from the list Thomas Nelson Publishing provided.

A high school student home for Christmas break from her senate page position, goes missing. Three women, each with a reason to be personally involved in the case ~ a reporter, a prosecutor, and a FBI agent ~ comprise the Triple Threat Club. They uncover a secret blog authored by the page. Theories abound as to what could have happened. Could the blog contain the answer?

I really wanted to LOVE this book. And it started off as a page turner. I loved seeing the friendship and respect the Triple Threat Club had for one another. Strong, smart, human women dealing with life while working a case was highly entertaining. I liked the suspense of the added twists and turns to create more possibilities for ~ Who Done It?

Which leads me to what I didn't enjoy. The transparency. I figured the WHOLE thing out before I was even halfway through the book. I traveled a few paths while reading this book that I hadn't seen coming. But in the end? I was left feeling disappointed. Maybe I've been spoiled by the likes of Jodi Picoult, but I now expect my legal thrillers to have HEART and SURPRISE endings.

If indeed this book is the first in a series, I'd consider reading the next if only to see where the Triple Threat Club members are in their lives. But my mystery expectations will be lower.

I highly recommend to each and every book lover who has a blog to check out the Thomas Nelson Book Review program. I love to read and read daily. This did feel like a school assignment and it's been many years since I've been in THAT situation, but I'm looking forward to giving it the old college try again ~ pun intended.

Inspiration or Copycat?

2009-05-29T09:08:00.004-04:00

Shabby Nest is hosting another party and I really want to go but don't have anything to wear.

Actually, it's more that I haven't taken many pictures of anything I've done.
Yet again.

However, I have this one thing I could pull together......
But will it be viewed as having inspiration or being a copycat?
(I'm crossing my fingers for your vote of inspiration!)

I have this built in. The shelves are slightly less deep the higher you go. I've piled on the obligatory family pictures over the years but have never been happy with the way it looked.

What's a girl to do? I was stuck.

With no extra money in the budget to buy extras like the good toilet paper, I was surely not able to redecorate anything.

And then as I was paging through a magazine (sorry, probably Cottage living, but I don't remember which one) I saw a bookshelf with all white dishes.

Wait a minute.

I have white dishes. Lots of them.

So I quickly pulled all those pictures down, and started real *frugal* like, shopping my house for what I already had.

Not great quality picture.......but I'm still in my pj's.
I told you I didn't have anything to wear to the party.

Meanwhile head over to the party. Go as you are. I'm sure you'll find real inspiration and then you can ask yourself if you are a copycat or not.

How much of a loser am I?

2009-05-28T23:17:00.004-04:00

Here I go and put up this hypothetical post and get all defensive with myself about why my blogaversary giveaway winner has YET to receive her apron.

And then I try to clean out my email.

And I find she has left me a comment telling me she has given me an award.

Two weeks ago.

How much of a loser am I? Seriously.

So it is with a humbled acceptance that I show you all my award:

MaryRC = Maryrocks!

That's how I read her name, anyway.
(please tell me I'm not the only one who tries to make one word out of things like this???, please??)

MaryRC is a makeup artist, but more than that she is a beautiful, hip, funny, chic girl who also is a mom. Probably the cool mom judging by the birthday party she threw her daughter. She has two blogs, Shaking the Tree and Crabtree Concontions (which is private), as well as her own professional website.

Thank God for memes like SPT that introduce me to other bloggers like MaryRC. (you said maryrocks, didn't ya?)

I'm gonna share the love myself by nominating.........(in no particular order ;)

1. Any-Hoot

2. Our Life Upstate

3. Migraine Mom

4. Bliss

5. 2 Big B's & 2 Little B's

6. Create Studio

7. You Go Girl

8. The Glamorous Life Association

9. Shell in Your Pocket

10. Crafting Chicks

11. Blue Castle

12. My Loose Threads

13. Pink and Polka Dot

and my last two break the rules, but we all know I can be a bit of a rebel.........

These go to my friends who deserve any award I can throw their way just for being my friend!

14. The Keeper of All Things

15. Neurotically Yours

Here are the rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Now to expand on the title thought? I am such a loser some of these blogs will be like, who the **** is this Bahama Shores Mama? I've never even gotten a comment from her! I am that much of a loser........

But don't be like me kids! Go show some of your own love and visit the above sites and leave some comments. The love kind.

Will this ruin the anticipation?

2009-05-28T22:27:00.005-04:00

Hypothetically speaking:

If you were to win a giveaway on a blog celebrating her one year blogaversary, for example.

And the giveaway was a oh, I don't know, a apron, perhaps?

Would it ruin the anticipation to see a picture of said apron BEFORE you received your package in the mail?

But what if the package was UNBELIEVABLY delayed in being mailed through a comedy of errors?

Like the blogger made the apron and packed it up for shipping but had a million things going on for the next week and never actually made it to the post office?

And the post office conveniently upped the price of stamps that week and the stamps she had at home weren't sufficient postage?

And then she took a trip ACROSS the country to New Mexico to visit her mother and brought the package on the plane with her. Meaning to mail it in the airport, but had to check the bag it was in?

Once she arrived in New Mexico, she talked her mother into stopping at a post office to mail the package on their way to Santa Fe 4 1/2 hours away. But the line was unbelievably long and after waiting a few minutes in line decided to mail it from Santa Fe.

But was so busy sightseeing in Santa Fe, forgot to mail the package.

So she asked her mom to mail it for her knowing that when she returned home from her first trip without her husband OR children in like forever, she wouldn't get a chance to run to the Post Office.

Her mom called her the day after the holiday weekend to tell her that the grocery store had been out of stamps that day, but she'd go back tomorrow and then mail it.

So she left a message to YOU, the winner, telling you it would be arriving shortly.

And her mom called again today to tell you she went back to the store, then another store and finally to the post office. Both stores were out of stamps and the post office had the long line again. She sounded frustrated.

Finally she calls you later that night saying her local news announced that as the June 1st date approaches, the post offices are crowded with people attempting to get their passports they will need to go to MEXICO after June 1, 2009. You can SEE Mexico from your front yard. No wonder the line is so long.

Phew! Are you still with me?

If you answered yes, to the dilemma I've completely hypothetically stated, stop reading now.

But, for the love of God, come back tomorrow.

If you are still with me............

Here's the little summer flirty apron I hope will be mailed to MaryRC any day now.

Legal immigrants willing.

I hope the apron lives up to the hype.

It's got tiny ladybugs. Who can resist tiny ladybugs?

WFMW:No excuses Exercise

2009-05-27T20:04:00.001-04:00

It's Wednesday and I've been MIA for too long.......

It's been an extremely busy time of year in Bahama Shores, but I decided to quickly share what has been Working for Me this Wednesday. Nothin' earth shattering, but here goes anyway.

I find the best way for me to conquer any problem I'm having is to work somewhat backwards. I try to figure out where my "road blocks" per se are. When I'm lucky, I can foresee them, other times they come through trial and error. And usually more trial and error.

This is how I mastered my age old dilemma of exercise:

ROAD BLOCK:

1. I don't have the time. Ummmm, we all have the same 24 hours. Use them wisely.
2. I let any little thing pop up and delay or cancel my scheduled workout. Get up an hour early. If all you would be doing is sleeping, nothing else should interfere.
3. I am not able to consistently hold myself accountable. Badger a friend until she relents and agrees to meet you at 6 am at the local park for a two mile walk with free gossip/counseling.....whichever is needed on that day.
4. I go full force in the beginning and then burn out. Let your friend pick the days that work for her. In my case, only 3 days. You can always work up to more.
5. I'm so tired in the morning I can't find my workout clothes, let alone brush my teeth. Or exercising. Put your clock across the room so you have to get out of bed to turn it off. Put your whole outfit -bra to shoes- in the bathroom the night before. Stumble to the bathroom, pee in the dark while attempting to dress (go slow here so your don't pee on your clothes ~lesson learned). Forgo brushing teeth or hair and laugh with friend over your frugal "mace". It's dark anyway. Soon she'll be following suit. And as far as being too tired to exercise: You'll have to trust me on this one.......I swear by the halfway point of the first lap, you will be wide awake chattering away like you're coming off a ten year vow of silence.

With your next challenging issue, try putting up all the road blocks you can and knocking them down one by one. It is so empowering.

To see what is working for other bloggers this Wednesday go see We Are THAT Family.

SPT: Something Blue ~ The Kids of the Shores

2009-05-26T21:37:00.006-04:00

It's SPT Tuesday and the theme is something blue.

I present to you: The Kids of the Shores!

Here's Bunnyboo........

And boo bear............

And Chickiepoo.........

all of eyes of blue.

And then we have Bugaboo...........eyes of green

.......but wearing blue.

Go see whatever else may be blue @ Amuse-Bouche.

Saturday Yumminess: Mrs. Norris' Apple Pie

2009-05-09T11:14:00.005-04:00

My friends from college, Billy and Sharon are visiting this weekend.

I get to see them at least once a year when they come down to visit.

Every time we are together this story gets told:

Billy was a minor league baseball player and their first year of marriage they were living in CT. I drove four hours to spend Easter with them. Billy had a game that day so Sharon and I decided to prep for the Easter meal (we had several other players and Billy's sister and BIL coming) before heading to the game. At 22 years of age, we thought we knew it ALL.

(I see you smiling and nodding your head.)

Among all the other prep, we peeled the potatoes and cubed them and decided we'd transform them into the yummmmmy mashed potatoes when we returned.

Ummm, we returned to BLUE potatoes.

We didn't know you had to cover them in water.

After a frantic phone call to Sharon's mother, she told us they were fine to eat. Well first she had to stop laughing, and then she assured us it was strictly aesthetic.

Those blue potatoes have never been forgotten. Nor repeated. But they were eaten. Billy's always been a good sport like that.

I did come away with a keeper recipe I use EVERY Thanksgiving.

Sharon's MIL's easy, peasy recipe for apple pie.

I've since dubbed it:

Mrs. Norris’ Apple Pie

Pie Crust
1 T. flour

1T. sugar
1 t.c cinnamon
Sliced apples

Crumb Topping:

1 stick butter
1 c. flour
¾ c. brown sugar

Add 1 T. flour to bottom of pie crust. Arrange sliced apples and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Crumb Topping:

Mix stick butter, flour and brown sugar by hand to form crumb topping.

Top pie.

Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

I apologize for the lack of picture to accompany this recipe.

Use your imagination.

Can you smell what the mama's been cookin'?

Giveaway Winner Announced!!

2009-05-09T09:36:00.003-04:00

Winner

Winner

Chicken Dinner!

(photo from google images)

Mary RC has a new apron coming to her!!!

Mary RC the randomizer chose your number.........aren't you the lucky gal?

I'll be sending this apron off to you next week. I've sent you a message requesting your addy.

Are you disappointed you didn't win?

Keep visiting Bahama Shores Mama.

This giveaway was so fun, I'm looking around my house as to what else I can giveaway :)

It should be a summer of chicken dinners!

Sincerely 'Fro Me to You: Baby Fro

2009-05-07T09:42:00.004-04:00

Who rocks the fro?

The baby rocks the fro!

Short and sweet today.........but go to The Glamorous Life Association and see who else is rockin the fro.

Don't forget:
*Click here to enter my blogversary giveaway*

~~It's been a year already!!~~

WFMW: Frugal Edition: Leftovers

2009-05-06T13:45:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite dishes is leftovers.

You read that right.

Leftovers.

I can take any leftover and add crescent rolls and cheese and make a meal we all enjoy.

Even if the kids may not have liked it in it's original form, they'll enjoy it the secondtime around :)

Here are some combos that we enjoy:

~chicken, corn, grilled onions, cheese and bbq sauce.

~ham, brocolli, cheese and brown mustard.

~shrimp, asparagus, parmesan cheese and lemon butter.

~taco meat,salsa cheese and corn.

~pot roast and all the fixins'.

~spaghetti, mozz cheese, and extra sauce.

~hot and mild sausages, grilled peppers and onions, mozz cheese and creamy italian dressing.

Get the picture????

Just take any leftover, add cheese and roll it up in two cans of cresent rolls. Doesn't matter how you do it.

It will be fantastic!

(I meant to have a picture to accompany this post, but I've been stuck tending to flu victims ~ and we are hoping it stays as just plain, jane vanilla flu!)

Head over to We are THAT Family to see other frugal ideas this wednesday.

It's my one year blog anniversary today and I'm having a giveaway! Please go enter!

It's been a year already * Giveaway*

2009-05-06T12:05:00.005-04:00

It's been a year since I stuck my neck out of my shell and started a blog.

It was a big step for me.
I hate to be judged. To the extreme.
Like I went to all the practices before the tryouts for cheerleading, but couldn't go to the actual tryout to make cuts.
Every year of high school.
Yup, I'm that much of a loser.

So to put my stuff out here, without being able to control how others would perceive me was BIG.

Control seems to be the key word, hunh?

Anyway, enough about my issues.........let's talk about yours.

Just kiddin!

Back to me.

I like to be liked.
That's wrong.
I need to be liked.

The blog world has a measure for popularity.
I've just ignored it.
Until today.

Today I added followers to my sidebar.
I currently have three. Me, myself and I.
No, really I only count for one.
And another one is my RL friend.
But the third one? I don't know her. Really!

Why don't you become a follower?

And just to spice it up a bit.......I'll offer a giveaway.

Leave a comment between today and Friday and I'll enter you in the giveaway.
Become a follower and leave another comment and I'll enter you twice.

You don't have to have a blog to leave a comment. Do it anonymously, if you feel the need.

I'll draw the winner and announce over the weekend.

Winner will receive a fun, flirty summertime apron ~ handmade by the Mama!

Comments and followers...........two of my favorite things.

SPT: Something Old: Bahama Shores Mama

2009-05-06T10:35:00.010-04:00

I really took this assignment literally and am making this post somethin old as this was supposed to be done yesterday :)

The something old I chose to do was my blog.

It's Bahama Shores Mama's one year anniversary ~ today!!!!

It's a bit of a cliche ~ but I can't believe it's been that long, and on the other hand it seems like I've been doing this so much longer!

I go in spurts where I am obsessively composing posts in my head to other times when my creative blog mojo is as dry as...........well, no need to go there.

Sometimes it seems I'm talking to myself, and many days I just may be. I have not been consistent enough to really build a following. And most of the time I'm okay with that.

I do believe to everything there is a season and my blogging comes and goes. I just hope for longer seasons.

Please check with me later today for a little giveaway to commemorate my blogversary.

In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, please go to Amuse-Bouche's and seeing all the old stuff that other's chose to showcase.

Saturday Yumminess: Parmesan Drumsticks

2009-05-02T08:14:00.003-04:00

This is a family favorite.

Even people who claim to hate dark meat and/or drumsticks LOVE this.

The key is SKINLESS drumsticks. You can either buy them this way, get the butcher to take the skin off for you, or do it yourself at home. The value packs of drumsticks are perfect for this.

PARMESAN DRUMSTICKS

12 skinless drumsticks

1 Cup Parmesan cheese

3 t. oregano

2 t. paprika

1/4 c. butter

1 T. olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine dry ingredients. Melt oil and butter together.

Dip each drumstick into butter mixture, then cheese mixture. I prefer the ole' shake and bake technique.

Lay them flat in a pan and bake for 1 hour until done.

Bask in the aroma that now fills your kitchen!

WTF???? Friday: Backpack check

2009-05-01T00:01:00.001-04:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A 5-year-old student at Apple Valley Elementary in Yakima headed home on the bus with more than books in his backpack. Inside was a smelly package his father never imagined he'd be toting around.

"I'm still kind of in shock over this, because why would somebody do this? It's disgusting!" said the boy's father, who wished to be identified only as "Jason."

Jason says his son's kindergarten teacher had bagged up a piece of human feces and stuck it in his son's backpack. His wife found the stinky mess.

"She found a clear plastic bag with a piece of fecal matter wrapped up in a brown paper towel with the note on it," he said.

The note read, "This little turd was on the floor in my room."

Jason says his son's teacher, Mrs. Graham, called last Friday and said her classroom was "stinky." She asked if the boy could have had an accident.

Jason acknowledged the possibility, as his son had had a couple of accidents in the classroom in the past. He told Mrs. Graham there were extra clothes in his backpack.

Jason never imagined the teacher would send his son home with evidence of his accident.

After his wife found the bagged mess, Jason e-mailed school officials. Days later, he received a response apologizing for the delay in dealing with the issue. On Tuesday, he was still waiting for a chance to speak to school officials about the incident.

"What would have happened if it had stayed in there and she hadn't checked the bag? And other kids were playing on the bus and it got out? And it's a very hazardous thing. It's disgusting!

"The school's superintendent said the boy's teacher and the school principal are being questioned. School officials said they'll meet with Jason and his wife next week.

In the meantime, Jason wants his son placed in a different teacher's classroom for the remainder of the school year.

Komo News: Seattle Washington

This "news story" gets an automatic WTF???? That teacher should be fired. End of story.

However, it's some of the commenters on the above linked article that gets my personal WTF ???? seal.

Seriously, WTF???? are people thinking blaming a FIVE*YEAR*OLD????

Sincerely 'Fro Me To You: Hawaiian Flavored

2009-04-30T04:01:00.002-04:00

It's time for me to dig in our box of photos again and this week I came up with a few.

Several years ago, for My Man and my 10th anniversary we went to Hawaii. This was a first for both of us.

We had "won" a time share vacation at an auction 2 years before and when we called to see if it had expired, we were told we could vacation at over XXXX places. One of those places happened to be.........Hawaii.

So we scrapped together airfare and a "fun" budget, called my wonderful MIL and went in July ~ two months before our actual anniversary. My MIL is a teacher and has summers off. It's impossible for her to come for more than 1 or 2 nights during the school year, so we have started celebrating EVERY anniversary early. (I actually LOVE it 'cause we still go to dinner on our actual anniversary, prompting TWO celebrations).

It was beautiful and the weather was perfect.

Our relationship? Not so much.

Looking back, I can't believe I spent a week in this paradise with such discontent in my heart for the love of my life.Combine this negative attitude with my ability to be self conscious anywhere and it leads us to this next photo.

More back story: We have a kinda-sorta annual (meaning it happens as often as it happens) Tacky Party. It's a great time and had gotten a bit out of control the year before with some of the guests skinny dippin'.

We saw this sign and immediately shared a giggle. I suggested we take this picture and use it for our next invites. My Man took it a step further and wanted to take his shirt off, roll his shorts up a bit and squat behind the sign, pretending to be NUDE.

Enter my immature insecurities wherein I tell him that there are too many people around, please don't. Maybe I didn't say it quite that nicely. Remember we were fighting.

We have settled all that we were arguing about at that time at the cost of one potentially GREAT vacation.

That's why this picture would make it to the scrapbook, but not without giving me papercuts every time I handled it.

Looking back, I wish I could have embraced the silliness and judgement be damned.

It's something I continue to work on and hope it bypasses my children completely.

I'm sure there are even funnier "Fro's to point and laugh at. Go visit The Glamorous Life Association and get your laugh in.

WFMW: Making the Most of YOUR Library

2009-04-29T09:18:00.006-04:00

If you know me for more than 5 minutes you know how much I LOVE the library.

It's a big deal in our house to have your own library card. On your fifth birthday we go to the library, sign your full name that we've been practicing for this moment, and then go out for ice cream to celebrate.

But for the past few years, we barely go to peruse the shelves.

We no longer have to.

We utilize their website. You can sign in to your account with your card number and password. Then you can request books, renew books, check due dates, and search for availability.

When I'm on the library website I also have 2-3 other windows open. One is for either barnes and noble or amazon with book suggestions. I may also have goggled books for teen boys or if my kids have a specific interest I'll search for books relating to that. We have found so many great books this way.

The other window we have open is blockbuster.com. We check for new releases every week and request to be put on the waiting list at the library for all the new movies we are interested in. This has been a huge money saver as we aren't attending movies or paying for rentals.

All of this is done from the comfort of our home.

And when we do it this way, the book or video is held behind the circulation desk. Our library does engage in a inter library loan system in which if our library doesn't have a particular title available, you are able to request from another library and they will send it to your library. But even if your book is on the shelf at your library, once you request it on line, they pull it and hold it. Then when I go in to the library, I just pull out our cards and hand them to the librarian and she hands me back a stack of books and videos.

I also get emails letting me know when a title I've requested and been waiting for is available for pick up.

We are at the library several times a week now.

We keep a library bag by the front door for all of us to put in books and videos that are ready to be returned.

Sometimes we will still take a Saturday to slowly meander the shelves of the library.

And bunnyboo and I go to Mother Goose storytime on occasion, as well as the yearly play put on for preschoolers. Puppet shows, movie nights, and craft days are also fun times.

We've patronized the library book sale and found some great deals as well.

Our library also has many clubs; book clubs as well as other interests like chess clubs, genealogy, etc. etc. They also have little or no cost classes such as sign language, computer, etc.

Making the most of my library works for me. Have you made the most of YOUR library?

Head over to We are THAT family to see what works for others.

SPT: gifting a total stranger

2009-04-27T15:57:00.007-04:00

It's Tuesday and time for a SPT challenge. Lelly assigns a theme each Tuesday and challenges you to interpret it through a self portrait. We all know Mama hates to have her picture taken, however I am SLOWLY working on this.

Here's what Lelly said for the month of April:
"wouldn't it be great if we spent this month giving gifts!and before you lovingly remind me of the economic recession, let me add that no money is to be spent on these gifts! let's focus on the gift of service, the gift of a smile, the gift of a repurposed or gently used item, the gift of a kind word. you know, those gifts that would be hard to wrap in a box with a pretty bow.
for tuesday, april 7: gift a family member
for tuesday, april 14: gift a friend
for tuesday, april 21: gift a neighbor, teacher, co-worker
for tuesday, april 28: gift a total stranger
i have a feeling that by the end of this month, the person who will have received the greatest gift is...YOU! "

This may have been the hardest challenge yet. You see, I've never met a total stranger. Seriously, after two minutes I'm your best friend.

But there is something I started doing back in college after hearing about the RAK (random acts of kindness) wave.

Here in Florida there are tolls for so many of our roads.

This is a old DOT photo of a toll road out to one of our local beaches. Don'cha love it?

In college I started paying my toll AND the toll for the car behind me. The feeling was great!

However, nowadays we have Sun Pass's that deduct tolls from our checking account. I have gotten into the time saving habit of using the SunPass only lane (which you only need to slow down for, not completely stop). There is no way to deduct more from this transaction.

But next time?

I have this. When I'm heading out to the beach (or any toll road) I can get in the "slow" lane and use my sun pass for my car, and these quarters for the car behind me.

And I get to tell the toll collector to have a BLESSED Day. (another lesson in college: toll collectors had the highest suicide rate among professions ~ however this was only like 15+ years ago so it may not be accurate any longer).

Wanna see how others gifted a total stranger? Head over to Amuse-Bouche.

Using the instructions that came with my camera

2009-04-27T12:02:00.011-04:00

I am not good about using my camera. I'm also horrible about taking pictures of my kids. I'm sure I've mentioned this. When I've read posts from other bloggers saying you don't HAVE to take a photography class, just pull out your manual and learn your camera, I thought it was a good idea. I finally just did it on Saturday. I need way more details to really know anything and so I have to dig out the "Big daddy manual" but I didn't let that stop me this Saturday.

Here are a few shots that are straight out of the camera.

Because really, if I hadn't taken the time to learn how to use my camera..........did you REALLY think I'd learned photoshop yet?

Here was my previous profile picture. There s something so sweet to me about baby feetWhich is funny, since I hate ugly adult feet.

I love this picture I took of Bunnyboo's 2 year old feet. And so it's my new profile pic.

Right as I went to take the first shot a bug flew into Bunnyboo's eye. Good times.

You can see here she is so fair any little mark shows up. Poor baby.

This is the kid's favorite shot. Um, me.......yawn.........it's cuuutee and all, but.....

I love this one.

This one is for my mom. See the curls? Look closer.
And when it's wet it touches the middle of her back.

This is My Man's favorite shot. Here Bunnyboo is doing her "silly face".

I need to get the other kids out for a session.
But I'm not sure the tutu will look as good on the others.

Which one of these pictures would you recommend framing?

ETA: I removed this picture of boo bear and bunny boo together because boo bear was shirtless and a very good friend reminded me that there are all kinds of crazies who may use this photo for evil. Better safe than sorry.

Sunday Linky Love:

2009-04-26T00:21:00.001-04:00

My man and I saw this Friday night and I'm still singing seductively.

I just discovered the share button in my google reader. But I've always loved how Like Merchant Ships has a link post, so I thought I'd do it too. Imitation is the highest form of flattery you know.

Here are a few of the items I've starred in my google reader this week:

~Frugal Decorating Project Carnival @ The Shabby Nest
~One of the hardest things of being a mom @ Domestic Spaz

~Creative House numbers tutorial: @ Blue Castle
~ I love quizzes like this: @ The Shabby Nest
~ I want to shop at this market: @ Notes from a Cottage Industry

~ May Day Baskets: @ Skip to My Lou

~ Adorable Give Away: @ Little Birdie Secrets

~ Fleur Cart: @ Joys of Home

~WMFW; I always get so much from these @ We Are That Family

~List Making at a whole new level: @ Everyday Celebrating

~ Organized Meal Planning @ Nannygoat

~ My number 1 basket: @ Joys of Home

~Bread, the mama can live on it alone: @ We Are THAT Family

~New google reader trick for me: @ Tip Junkie

~ Inspiration for the next baby shower I throw: @ Imperfect: The Pleated Poppy

~I'm sure I can find something to add: @ Oh Crap. My Parents Joined Facebook

Enjoy..........and remember, When You're Good to Mama, Mama's Good to YOU!

Saturday Yumminess: Ensalda 1905

2009-04-25T00:02:00.001-04:00

Ensalada 1905 (picture from The Columbia webstie)

This may be my favorite salad of all time.

It's a toss up.

Get it?

Oh I kill myself.

Anyway, it's served at The Columbia Restaraunt and when a friend of mine said she had the recipe I just had to have it! They have a recipe book for sale on their website that is now on my wishlist for Mother's Day. Everything I've ever eaten there has been fantastic. Or drank. They have a white sangria that is to die for.

Ensalada 1905

Head iceberg lettuce
2 tomatoes [cut in eighths]
4 stalks celery
1 c. swiss [cut in julienne strips]
1 c. ham [cut in julienne strips]
1/2 c. green Spanish olives
4 tsp. grated Romano cheese

Toss all ingredients together EXCEPT Romano cheese.

Dressing:

1/4 c. white wine vinegar
8 cloves garlic [minced]
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 c. olive oil
S&P to taste
2 tsp. oregano
4 tsp. lemon juice

Mix garlic, oregano, and Worcestershire sauce with whisk. Add oil beating to form an emulsion. Add remaining ingredients. Toss with salad and cheese.

I could eat a big ole bowl of this and a loaf of bread for DAYS on end.

Do you have any recipes from local establishments that you were stoked to get ahold of?

Don't be greedy ~ Share!

Doing Something to the Dining Room

2009-04-24T13:44:00.003-04:00

The Shabby Nest is hosting a Frugal Decorating Tip party. I love nothing more than a good party, so I'm soooo there. Go and see how others are decorating the frugal way. It'll put more projects on your weekend list than you can imagine!

The only problem is the admission is a post with my own tip. Hmmm. The only way I know how to decorate is Frugal. However, I have not used my camera much to take pictures. Bad Mama.

I do have a few pics that I'll share and pinky swear to get better about using the camera ~ fair enough?

Tip #1: If you find a yard sale table that has a classic shape but the top is marred beyond the repair time you want to put into it..........cover it with fabric.

Leftover fabric and my handy dandy staple gun transformed this table in less than five minutes. I love that it adds another layer of texture to the dining room.

Tip #2: If you still have MORE left over fabric and no art..........get cheap art canvases from Walmart.
The same leftover fabric and staple gun were used here; along with appliqueing letters. Applique first, then staple. Original, cheap and fast that's how we do it in Bahama Shores.

What have you done lately???