to be continued....

My cupcake "experiment" kind of fell a little flat --these sour cream vanilla cupcakes will be stuffed with lemon filling and topped with fresh raspberry butter cream tomorrow. I have never made these cupcakes before. I tried one and it reminded me of sour cream sugar cookies, the flavor is awesome, they just need more fluff.

Oh... and Nerf dart shooters make me want to pull my hair out !

wrinkles

Say Cheese!

Not to state the obvious but,.... boy is it ever HOT! 105 degrees HOT! The AC {thank god for central air} has been running non-stop just to keep the house at 80.

bacon in the sun

5:30 PM in the shade!

doughnut carnage PM

precious

Baby Jordan

doughnut carnage AM

Good things come in pink boxes

because it's fun

Some days your hot, some days your not. Today was a hot day, really! I unintentionally got sunburned and am tired, but I survived my first garage sale and can call it a success. I also have a roommate who will be renting my 3rd room at the first of the month! What a load off!

My boy Justin was being exceptionally photogenic today. It was impossible to pick one great shot of him.

And Jimmy - he cracks me up. He will be 3 in two days! He was eating a popsicle in front of a mirror and I got a few priceless pictures of him.

The boys did well at the garage sale. They spent some time riding bikes and some more time just being silly boys.

tired dogs

I don't see 7:30 AM very often, it is amazing how alive the neigborhood is on a Saturday morning. Garage sales are okay, semi-fun, but this may be my first and last one. I did manage to get rid of a lot of "baby" stuff I was holding on to, but hanging out in my driveway hawking stuff isn't my favorite way to spend a day.

And whats a tired girl and little boy to do after a day of hard work....?

Pedicures! Of course!

T minus 8 hours 43 minutes

This picture does not do the pile o' garage sale goodness justice. The BIG sale is a little more than 8 hours away and nothing is priced or obviously organized. I did manage to run around {while pushing Justin in the wagon} and hang signs, and I did get change, so I can make change, and post the ad of craigslist. But this pile, this pile will wait until tomorrow! See you at 8:00 AM!

a hot mess

This is why they invented hair straighteners!

new skirt

I wore a skirt to work today, which happens once in a never. I took my camera into work today in the hopes of capturing something interesting... it didn't happen.

cat nap

Today I thought I would solidify my position in the 'Crazy Cat Lady Society' by posting yet another cat photo. I brought this ladder into the house a few weeks ago to hang some stuff up and the cats have claimed it {Paxil and Harlow - to be specific}.

I hereby challenge myself to photograph something more exciting and meaningful tomorrow.

photo block strikes again

I have photo block, so I took a picture of an easy subject. I should have taken my camera to the grocery store tonight to snap a picture, but it slipped my mind.

love/hate Sundays

I have a love/hate relationship with Sundays. They are a sleep-in day, they are part of the weekend, they are good... but, why do I always get grouchy, anxious, pissy, etc. on Sundays? This isn't new, I have had this issue with Sunday for a long time. It kinda makes me want to kick my own ass, cause there is not good reason for it. Now Sunday night, the weekend is over, I am preparing for Monday - then and only then should I be allowed to be cranky.

Anyhoo... my bad 'tude got in the way when Amanda and I were at the mall today. Or maybe it was lack of money to buy things that I really don't need. Regardless, I need to find a way to make friends with Sunday. After our quick mall trip we came home and did some clean-up, then it was off to the train station. Amanda needed to catch her train back to Seattle. She has made many trips down this way over the past several months. I like it!

No title today

I love weekends with company here, they are twice as great! After brow waxes {for me and Amanda} we hit up Washington Square. Nordstrom's is having their semi-annual sale and we thought it would be a good time to get a bra fitting {this was Amanda's idea actually, I just tagged along and of course participated, cuz, why the heck not}?!Amanda took this picture of Justin in the fitting room, I guess he was feeling left out of the "fun". I am sure this picture will embarrass him someday, heck, it embarrasss me now! Justin was an awesome shopper today and got 2 balloons as reward.

After hitting up Freddies for some supplies we headed home and I made spaghetti, then we took a little walk around the neighborhood. I had grand illusions of making some fantastic cupcakes from scratch, but did not because then I would have to eat them and before I could eat them, I would actually have to make them - and I wasn't in the mood. Sometimes I wish I could just snap my fingers or wiggle my nose and makes things I want appear out of thin air - that would be sweet!

getting artsy

Picked Amanda up at the train station tonight and after a quick dinner at McDonald's {Justin's choice}, we went to paint some pottery. I always have grand illusions of painting something wonderful, but I am so bad at it. Justin painted a vase and I helped a little. We'll see how it comes out when we pick it up in a few days.

Snow day in July... kinda

Daycare was closed today because Ann's daughter Brittnay was being induced. Baby Jordan was born this evening and we are {at least I am} excited to meet her.

We hung out at the house today with one goal in mind, to get stuff done. Unfortunately Justin's goals didn't match mine - he wanted to play and make messes. On days like today I easily get frustrated. There is so much to do and trying to balance play time with clean up time makes me nutty. But I did manage to:
-finish making my small Scentsy testers (while Justin painted a bird house)
-clean out Justin's closet and start a garage sale pile (while Justin helped and freaked out that I was getting rid of his stuff)
-a load of laundry
-dishwasher emptied and reloaded
-a few backyard weeds pulled (Justin wanted to help, but was freaked out by a few spiders)
-plants watered
-bathroom cleaned (while Justin took a bath, as a side note he did dump a lot of water on the floor so he kinda help me mop in there)
-vacuum canister emptied and hosed clean
-a very smelly garbage can bleached and hosed clean (done while Justin fished in the driveway)
-garbage pulled from the car
-started putting Justin's scrapbook pages in new binders (done with Justin's help)
and that is all I can think of right now, although I know I started many other little projects too. Sometimes I just go crazy because I have so many things in progress at once, I can never focus on one thing until I complete it.

And Justin and I did manage to rock out to a few Michael Jackson videos, Justin's fav is "Black or White", we put together puzzles, played trains and watched SpongeBob.

choo choo

feeling neglected

My back yard has been neglected for the past 2 years. It needs some serious TLC. The lilies I planted near my dogwood tree are looking amazing though. There is so much potentioal in that tiny back yard of mine, I hope someday I can make it rock!

It's Monday...

...which means... The Bachelorette is on!!!

While I induldged my love of reality TV I also:
-folded 2 loads of laundry with another in the washer/dryer
-unloaded the dishwasher and reloaded
-did some carpet spot cleaning on the stairs
And that was just in the first hour!

gone fishin'

I don't normally fish, in fact I had to purchase this pole, but when Jamie and Scott were talking about going I figured Justin would enjoy it - and he did! I would cast out and he would reel in. He would look at me with big eyes and say "there is a fish on my hook!" We didn't catch anything, but had fun.

Busy today

Me: "What are you doing?"

Justin: "Waiting for the bus."

So glad he loves to get crafty!

testing my green thumb...

...or lack there of. Only time will tell.

My car wash boy

Nearly every night, Justin can be found washing the car.

07.08.09 @ 10:11:12 AM and PM

07.08.09 @ 10:11:12 AM
We were getting our coffees ready for the day. Justin wanted nothing to do with having his picture taken!

07.08.09 @ 10:11:12 PM
Reading "Emily's Balloon", but I change the words to read "Justin's balloon" - he likes it better that way!

red white and blue

It's no secret, our preferred choice in footwear is flip-flops. Justin has 4 pairs. I have 10 pairs.

cool or what?

If I remember {and I better} I want to play along!
Get more of the scoop here: http://elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com/2009/07/smorgasbord-of-numbers.html Here's how to play:
1. Have your camera handy on July 8th-this Wednesday -which is also Jermey's birthday! :)
2. Take a photo of whatever you are doing when your clock says 10:11 am or pm. (we won't worry about timezones)
3. Challenge yourself to think outside of the box in how you take the photo or don't worry about that part and just snap one real quick!
4. Post the photo on your blog or an online gallery. Leave a comment on http://elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com/ linked to the photo and be entered into a giveaway(Yes, share this fun game with your friends on your blog, the more the merrier.)

ME

I asked Justin what I should take a picture of today. His response: "me!" And now take note of a few things here:
1.) pants are on backwards - this is on purpose {so the big back pockets are in the front - which makes it easier to access his checkbook, which in turn works out well when he is taking orders at his restaurant}.
2.) the dance - Justin has an incredibly goofy, totally cute little dance his does of late. {he was busting it out when I asked him to stand so I could get a pic of the pants}.

As for me - it is Monday... I am trying to eat well this week {too many cupcakes, cookies, and other forms of white flour have caught up with me}. But I am hungry and craving junk, something tells me I better opt for some protein instead {which doesn't sound nearly as good}!

my helper

Justin loves to help me. He often pulls the bench up to the kitchen counter and says "I help my mom" - and he does! After helping me start dinner he measured and poured salt. It kept him busy for like 2 minutes.

Happy 4th of July!

It was HOT today! So we set up the sprinkler and pool.

BBQ hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner!

Sparklers!

I love ants!

Justin loves ants. The little black sugar ants. He found an ant in the bathroom and picked it up and talked very sweet to it "awwww, bay-beeeee, oohhhh!" he would say. He lets the little ant crawl on his fingers and hands. Then will enthusatically jump and wave his arms and exclaim how much he loves ants! Funny guy he is! Here he is telling me just how much he likes ants while his little buddy is crawling on his hand.

Not only is he sweet to ants, but he is sweet to me too. I had my toes near the edge of the sofa and Harlow was under there and went to swat at my toes - when I jerked my foot away to avoid cat claws in my feet I rammed by ankle bone right into the table leg. I doubled over in pain, it hurt! Justin gave my boo boo a kiss and insited that I wear this band-aid. Sweet boy he is!

spicy noodles

A new food addiction: Spicy Thai Style Pasta Salad from Trader Joe's! It is fantastic! This weekend I am going to try and make this at home. But seriously, this costs me $3.99 - unless I can talk people into coming over to hang and eat - there will be no point in whipping up a big batch.

buck-up buttercups

Wednesdays are no fun for Justin. After spending Saturday and Sunday with me and Monday and Tuesday with his daddy - well... Wednesdays are his Mondays.

He tried to convince me to let him stay in bed. He tried to conivce me to let him stay home alone. He sat on the sofa and pouted. Eventually he sucked it up and walked out the door - and - go figure, he had a great day!

As for me, I had to suck it up too. I had an annual doctors appointment today and Dr. Scott suggested a tetnus booster and a vitamin d test. Now the blood draw doesn't freak me out {anymore}. The shot had me freaked though! I am quite sure I declined the shot last year out of fear and I figured I might at well be a big girl and take it like a man. So I did. The shot was nothing, a breeze! I felt like a super hero, I looked the shot straight in the eye and didn't let it get me down! I was a little sore after (like getting punched in the arm), but not bad at all. I am a tough kid - and so is Justin :)

P.S. - Yes, Justin is wearing the same outfit he had on yesterday. I wasn't gonna argue with him on attire when it was all I could do to convince him to get out of bed this morning.