random stuff like boys and hash browns

I am feeling much more myself lately, except the part where I can't think of anything to say. But I figure if I want my readers to continue to return, well then it would be logical for me to pull my head out and cough something up. Okay that didn't come out right. But I know you know what I mean.

Lots has been going on around here, including the unusual phenomenon of southern California continuing to have a pretty decent reasonable facsimile of the season known as "winter". I don't care about the buckets in my family room collecting rain and I don't care about muddy doggie paws. I'm just happy to wear socks and a sweatshirt.

As far as these photos go, I am aware of how random they are. They have been part of my Shutter Sisters 365 project. I am happy to say I have not missed one day, though it has been a challenge. It has though, turned much more into "a moment in my day" than me experimenting with my larger camera or learning new techniques. At least for now. But I figure that's all right too - I am enjoying the process and that's the most important thing. 

The first photo of the TUMS represents what I've been having for breakfast lately! Hah! Breakfast of champions indeed :) My back is still giving me a hard time, which means I have to take a lot of bruhaha, which is hard on my stomach, blah, blah, blah. I know what you're thinking. Why then, am I drinking hot cocoa with half a bag of marshmallows on top if my stomach is giving me trouble??? How's this for an answer: because I wanted to.

Awww...  look at my sweet Angel :) This was late at night when everyone was in bed and no one was eating anything. Then and only then can she finally forsake her taxing job of foraging for food all day and being the family garbage disposal. At this very moment she's dreaming of the potato chip she scored from my shirt pocket.

I do have to admit that I was feeling very sorry for myself at times this week. There was a blogging conference in Salt Lake City last weekend that I wanted to go to so badly my teeth hurt... and it was only made worse when so many of the bloggers that were there started tweeting about how fabulous it was... I know, I know - next year! 

So much else going on too..... things I am holding inside - you know how that is? It feels like an anvil around my neck. It's dragged me down for so long..... I just want to take the anvil off and be free of it. But I will not let it keep me down. And that's when I remind myself of all the amazing things. My boys. My wonderful friends. My projects. Color, and trees, and flowers, and my silly dogs that make me laugh. Oh dear, this whole paragraph sounds absolutely nutsy. Please forgive me - I'll go listen to Joni Mitchell for a while and be fine.    

Back to the usual mayhem at the Walker house. Here we have 5 boys playing ping pong against my front room wall. Yes, you heard me correctly. And I was on the couch in their direct line of fire, so I retreated to the dining room. No, I did not try to stop them. I mean look at their cute faces having so much fun. Meh - I love these boys!

Anyway, it was a very busy week! Doctor appts, lunches with friends, all the usual chores and errands and chaos, carpools, music.... very loud music.... lots of boys and men and friends practicing music.... but it was a great week. And come on, seriously, how could it not be a great week when you come home from church on Sunday and make hash browns with scrambled eggs and cheese toast!?!?! 

Hot Cocoa

Since we have had a fluke of what I shall loosely term "cooler" weather lately - in the high 80's as opposed to the 100's - and since I have a personal goal this year of getting most of my Christmas plans organized by the end of August (I know, I know... I simply amaze myself, too)... I find I have been craving hot cocoa every single morning. Hot, lucius, velvety cocoa. Where you can feel it go all the way down your throat like a liquid chocolate bar, and pool into a warm, comforting pond of happiness in your belly. And all is right with the world. MMMMMMMM. Ahhhhhhhhhh.

I'm sure if I kept at it, I could think of many other ways to procrastinate facing this huge photo order I need to commit to so I can fill my Etsy shop with all kinds of wonderful new notecard sets and 5x7 prints. But that calls for pulling on my Big Girl Panties and being all grown up and I think I hid them on purpose for just such an occasion. Dang. I think I need to put on some Christmas music.

a tiny mixer on steroids

Okay, okay - I know I've kind of beat the hot cocoa thing to death (I guess that was kind of a pun - heh)... But seriously - especially for our friends who are suffering f-f-f-freezing temperatures right now - if you're going to have hot cocoa, or hot anything...............

............. you simply must (MUST!) have one of these! 

The tiniest little hand-held mixer you could possibly imagine. On steroids. I started using one years ago (in fact, I got my first one on eBay) and could not live without it! My current one has no name, so I did a bit of poking around so I could tell you all where to go ;) I'm such a giver.

You can find them here and there under different names, but I found the one photographed in it's package at Bed, Bath & Beyond. It's called the Aerolatte and it's right around $20. You're welcome ;)

Happy New Year 2009 ~ I Wish You Peace

I wish you peace when the cold wind blows

warm by the fire's glow

I wish you comfort in the lonely times

arms to hold you when you ache inside

I wish you hope when things are going bad

kind words when times are sad

I wish you shelter from the raging wind

cooling waters at the fever's end

I wish you peace when times are hard

a light to guide you in the dark

and when storms are high and your dreams are low

I wish you the strength to let love grow

I wish you the strength to let love glow.

~ the Eagles

P.S. They're way cool - and 50% off at the Sundance Catalog - I've had my eye on them for years, oh yeah :)

M.I.A.

Hi all :) Sorry I've been Missing In Action lately. My random photos will give you some clues as to why I've been away and what I've been up to. First of all though, many thanks to all of you who made comments here, or through e-mail, or in person, or on Facebook... about the RED BED! It was awesome to have so much enthusiasm :) Thank you!

As you can see from the stack above, I had 125 Christmas cards to address. I really don't mind because I enjoy sending something handwritten in this day and age. But it is time consuming. Our assembly line to get the cards ready worked out great though - I folded the newsletter, my 17-year-old put the newsletter and greeting card into the envelopes, my husband sealed the envelopes, and the Mouse put the return stickers and stamps on. Now that's what I'm talkin bout! And the usual brawl didn't start until later when we were playing Uno...
Now, between the hot cocoa and oatmeal on a tray, and the cute little toes poking out from underneath a blanky, I bet you can guess what else has been going on... the Mouse has been sick with a sore throat and swollen glands - fun stuff. He missed 3 days of school, but I am happy to report he's feeling better, and is caught up on his homework. And went back to school today. After I shoved him out the door. 
If you look at the photo below, here's another fun update (and subliminal message): my iPhoto program went *kablooey* and nearly gave me a freaking heart attack. I had over 6,000 photos on it - most of them backed-up fortunately (Europe and everything!) - and I spent an entire evening at the Apple Store. After navigating 3 freeways to get there. And spending 4 hours walking in circles. At a crowded mall during the holidays. While they reloaded all 6,000 photos one by one. By one. That was a really fun evening. 
But here is a favorite reason I've been missing... I've finally started decorating for Christmas! My husband put up the outdoor lights while I decorated our front porch. In 90 degree weather. Sheesh. A few days later all of us trimmed our tree while we listened to Christmas music. Our "less is more" theme turned out lovely. I still need to get my nativity scenes out, and our stockings, but things are looking good. I have had this precious little angel (below) since I was very young. It's one of the only Christmas decorations I have of my parents' things. She's teeny tiny, and so sweet. I really, really cherish her :)
I've been busy doing the usual things too, but I refrained from taking photos of our dirty laundry, dirty dishes, and the Poo Garden, for obvious reasons.

And guess what! I finally finished making *Rochelle's double-dipped rice crispy treats* and have the pics to prove it! Oh my gosh - soooooo good! We are flipping out over here! And I'm also excited to introduce you to another wonderful, talented friend of mine. Maria. She's so awesome. So stay tuned - fun things are on their way!

OOOPS!

I forgot our TGIF photo! So it's a few days late but here it is. This is a shot of Paris, from inside the Eiffel Tower elevator, on the way to the very top. How cool is that! I figured we've all seen tons of Eiffel Tower photos, so why not highlight a different view :)

THIS WEEK we have lots of things to look forward to, including a cool TUTORIAL, Rochelle's RECIPE from my hot cocoa post (per reader demand), and I'll also be spotlighting 3 ETSY ARTISTS I came across and loved their work! Stay tuned!