Pics from today

2 for $20 three wick candle sale at bath and body works.


-these make me happy.


A decor tip from me-got a pretty bowl and display your weeks worth of produce on it....it is better than putting it in the fridge anyways.


Pics from tonight's dinner.























That was not all the steps and they aren't in order and those were not all the ingredients.....these are just simple pics.

Oscar Recap

Here is my Oscar recap:  I was taught when giving your opinion, you should compliment/critique/compliment.  So that is how I am going to structure this post.

First, I did like Billy Crystal as the host...there were a few sexual jokes that were unnecessary, not funny, and awkward coming from him.  But other than that...he was ok.

I loved the Cirque du soliei act.  It was amazing.

I really disagree with basically every winner...I was not happy with the results. 

Angelina Jolie is so tacky......her jutting her leg out in not only pictures but even when she presented just trashy.  A sexy slit on a dress is ok if it flows around and  you see a little peek.  But when you purposely stick your leg out in a "everyone look at me now" pose...it is weird.

The Dictator spill on Ryan Seacrest was so stupid, not funny, and inappropriate.  Not funny.

Melissa Mccarthy is so funny! End of story.

Finally, I do believe this is the first time I can say...I loved all of the dresses....there is not one I didn't like. 


Did anyone see Oprah on Jimmy Kimmel.....pee your pants funny!  That is the best I have ever seen Oprah!!!!!!!!

Do you agree or disagree with me?
 

Question?

I have a question....if there is anyone out there who is battling infertility....has there been any family history?

I have a story to tell about my family history that is very interesting and I will tell that story after a few comments.

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- This was my dinner tonight. Cheddar broccoli soup in a bread bowl. This was a great idea on my part for this evening.

(this is for the lady who left a comment on my previous post about the strawberry oatmeal bars...I can't seem to email you back, but to answer your question....the recipe is the "Pioneer Woman's" recipe. It is on her website.)

Now to watch the oscars with one break to watch RHOA.

Birthday prep

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I just made this card for my grandma's birthday tomorrow...I like how it turned out so I wanted to share.





I also made these strawberry oatmeal bars to take to her (some of my aunts and uncles will be there too). They were so easy to make.

Not sure I should say this??

I have been toying with wanting to write this for a long time.  There is something I wanted to get off of my chest and I really don't want to talk about with anyone I know IRL.  It is really personal, but it is something I have been thinking about for, honestly, 15 years.  Does anyone know about the book "The Secret" if yes and if it is true I really hope I didn't bring this on myself.


(Side Note: if you have no idea what the book "The Secret" talks about.  I don't want to spend much time explaining this so lets see if I can quickly summarize it.  Basically, if there is something you want out of life.  You put all of your energy into focusing on it or thinking about it and it will come true.  Like, for example, if you really wanted a boat..and you thought about it all the time...you will have a boat.  Basically if you put good energy in...you get good stuff, but if you think about bad things...bad things happen.) I guess this summary is close enough for now.

Well,  this first part is going to sound very snobby and like I am bragging.  If I want to be honest, there really isn't anyway to get around it without sounding that way and without being long-winded.  So, I am sorry in advance, but it will help give an understanding. 

I really have had such a great perfect life.  Everything has gone so smoothly and so perfectly.  I started noticing this at about the age of 14 or 15.  I have done everything I have ever wanted and have gotten everything I have ever wanted (except for one singe thing and that will be the point of this post at the end)  I had two parents that were very easy going...I had no rules...no curfew...I did what ever I pleased.  We had plenty of money, built a new construction home...when we built it the first home we had sold in 2 days from when they put it on the market.  I have two great brothers who I have always gotten along with...we played well as children...still friends today...(my brother has actually called me twice in the time I have gotten to this point in my writing.)  I got the vacations I wanted (I won't list them all....there have been a lot) I will mention New York, LA, and Europe. Ok maybe I will list more Texas, Florida, Nashville, California (other than L.A. which I already mentioned) and lots more.  I wanted cheerleader...got it....I wanted poms...got it....softball....varsity soccer....variety golf....basketball...piano lessons....I got the prom dress I wanted....I lived in a great town.  I was part of the 'popular' crowd and we were very nice people to each other and others.   I had the farm life and the city life....I serious live in between...I can go to our farm west of me or I can go to a downtown city if I go east.  I have gone to the concerts I want and have seen the Broadway shows I have wanted.  I do understand how conceded I sound...I get it.  These are superficial things....but you have to understand that I have gotten all the superficial things I have ever wanted.


I got a car at 16.  I landed the best high school job you could get. (I worked at a video rental store...I think that is the best high school job ever....better than working with food or hard labor....I got to rent anything I wanted for free and keep it for as long as I wanted....I thought it was the perfect job anyways)

I did dance.....you should see how cool of a neighborhood I grew up in and the fun neighborhood kids in it and what we did in the summer time and evenings....it was perfect.....we even had the perfect snow sledding hill in our backyard and we lived on a lake in your second house....so I got boats and swimming time all the time. 

I have even been in bad situations that should of been worse...I have been to underage drinking parties where I was drunk and the cops showed up and I got away without being caught.  I have put myself in horrible situations with men that could of been bad.

My little brother served 2 tours in Iraq and came home great.  He also got in a horrific motorcycle accident where he was thrown 40 ft and landed in a ditch and he was not wearing a helmet.  He got a cut on the back of his ankle (it wasn't even a broken bone in his foot) but he did break a hip, but it was set and it fine today. 

I have 3 out of 4 grandparents still living at this age.

I mean perfect stuff.

But the most perfect thing of all that has happened to me is that I really did find the perfect husband....he is cute, hard working, he really adjusts to all my quirks, I mean perfect.  He does everything I ask of him.  I found him at a great age and we married at the perfect age.  (I married at 25 I thought that was a perfect age) I had a great college life.

Ok I need to stop here with this I hope you get the point.  I am sure you do.


But, at the age of 14-15ish...I started to notice how everything works out so perfect all the time....I thought "Something bad is going to happen one day"  I am going to go through something horrible I just know it......I have thought this way since that age.  I have always been waiting for something to happen....I know something was going to happen....when, where, and what???????


Then I found out: INFERTILITY



I knew it.  This is really gut wrenching pain......and this pain is in my face every second of every day!!!!!!!!

I feel as if I am suppose to have this....I feel I deserve it....I feel that childless is my story. 

I don't even feel like I should go through infertility treatment.  I feel that I am suppose to be this.  I feel as if this is the reason why everything else has been so perfect.  I was the perfect American girl and I have done everything. 

So basically half of me feels a little peace (this is what you have been worrying all your life about....this is finally the answer) and part of me feels so much pain.  I feel like medical intervention isn't right for me and I shouldn't press this because it will be selfish.  I can't describe the understanding vs totally pissed off feeling I feel.  This is my consequence.

Personal Taste

This post was inspired by Gordon Ramsey.  I was watching his show over the weekend and one of his restaurants he was trying to save was an Italian restaurant.  You know at the beginning of his show he taste tests their food and finds fault with everything......

Well he was eating some pasta and of course flipped out because it was over cooked.

Well this got me thinking.  TV chefs always tell you how something has to be cooked to be 'right' and I have seen shows where they make mean comments for a dish that isn't cooked to there liking.

So, the point I am trying to make is there are foods that my husband and I like when they are not cooked 'right'.

Let's start with the pasta.  Technically pasta is suppose to be cooked 'al dente' or with a little bit of bite to it.  My husband prefers his pasta way over cooked.  He likes it to the point of mushy where it falls apart in your mouth.  Because he likes it this way, I prepare it like this and I have grown to prefer it this away.  TV chefs would probably send us to food jail.

I do not really like hot dogs very much.  I never have to eat them.  But sometimes when you are at a cook out or bonfire...that is the only thing available.  But, when I eat a hot dog, it must be burnt to a crisp.  I cannot eat a hot dog that is put in the microwave for 30 seconds.  It must be cooked over a flame till it is mostly black.  I know this is weird.

Meatloaf:  My husband likes his meatloaf with ketchup on top and at the very end of baking you turn the broiler on and burn the ketchup.  He likes it with black spots all over the top.

One Easter I had several parties to attend.  I attended my uncles get together last and it was very late in the day.  I was drinking and he had one of those electric roasters with ham in it.  Well, after everyone ate (hours before) no one shut it off.  So the ham cooked and cooked and cooked...way too long.  Well I decided it try this over cooked, dried out ham....and I loved it!  It had a beef jerky feel with a salty ham taste.  Weird, I know.

Does anybody else have anything they like that is not the 'way you are suppose to prepare' a certain item?

Randoms and One Rant

Ok, lets start with Random-
I am not sure if you watch "Watch What Happens Live" but there is a segment at the end of the show called "Jackhole" where Andy Cohen basically picks one person who has done something mean or stupid.  Well, tonight's "Jackhole" is someone by the name of Christopher Carlson.  He is a grandfather who made 3 of his grandsons hike the Grand Canyon in triple digit heat and deny them food because he thought they were too fat.  Well here is a picture of this "Grandfather"

How is the world is this guy old enough to be a grandpa....the grandkids were 12, 9, and 8.  Does this guy look old enough to be a grandpa????  I googled him (well obviously because that is how I found his picture) and it says he is 45. 

*Husbands are weird-For my husband's birthday last year I gave him a box of tons of "Green Bay Packers" stuff....one of the many things in the box was a GB Packers freezer mug.  I am not sure if you know what that is...but it is a double wall cup with this gel stuff in between the walls that you put in the freezer and then when you put your beverage in it it is cold.  This is what it looks like:

Well I bought it at ProImage at the mall.  (Proimage is a store that sells licensed sport items...I don't know if this is a national chain or not)

Well, Friday, it was hand washed, dried, and put in the freezer and Saturday when he went to the freezer to use it...it was cracked up the side (the full length of the cup).

Well, anyways, we took it back to ProImage to exchange it.  They did not have anymore in stock.  So they have him $20 credit to spend in the store.  (that is how much the mug cost) So this is why I think my husband is funny.  He looked and looked and looked....and all the items that the store had...this is what he picks out.

A stupid license plate frame.  Really, that is what you picked out?  I don't know I just thought it was weird...I would of gotten a t-shirt or hat or really anything else?  A license plate frame???? Really??

*Tomorrow, I am going to go see "This Means War"

I hope it is good.  I have heard good things.

Ok, now for my rant-

As I said earlier, we went to the mall today.  While we were there, we walked into a store and there was my mother in law and sister in law.  They said, "Oh hey!  We are just out shopping and grabbing lunch for a girls day out."   I just thought, "Well, thanks for inviting me for a girl's day out"  I am not very close with any of my inlaws.  It just hurt my feeling that they didn't invite me and have never invited me anywhere ever.  Well mainly my mother in law....my sister in law has invited me and hubby places before. 

Also, last Friday, my mother in law who is single posted on her facebook page that she went to "Cracker Barrel" (that is a restaurant) and the hostess made it weird that she asked for a table for one.  Well, why doesn't she invite us.  If I don't want to go somewhere alone.  I call and invite someone.  She never invites us anywhere.  My mother invites my husband and I places all the time.  My mother-in-law just makes things so weird so often that it is hard for me to invite her places now.  I have invited her places in the past and she always has declined.  I even made her a mother's day picnic before and she made it weird.  I don't know what to do....does anyone else have any mother-in-law drama?

Pet Link Up

I have the best dog ever!!!  He is definitely (wo)man's best friend!  He is so great and so well behaved....I really lucked out.

We got him as a gift from my brother for our one year wedding anniversary.  His birthday is April 24, 2008...and he came home to our house on July 10, 2008.

My mom's cousin actually runs a very successful Labrador kennel here.  He sells labs to many many different states.  He sells akc registered hunting dogs.  They are very good dogs.  I did want one of his dogs but he sells them for $800-$1,000 or more based on m/f and which dog.  He probably would of given me a little discount but it still would of been $600 or so and I didn't want to ask for the favor.  He puts a lot of money into the dogs for finding the right breeding...food...vet...and housing.  Also, my brother bought him for us as a anniversary gift and he didn't want to spend that much.  So I found someone in the paper and called them...they said they had purebred yellow labs for sale for $300.  My brother was much more comfortable with that price.  We drove to the dogs and they lived on a farm with a very nice couple.  We played with all the puppies for about an hour or more and chatted with the couple.  I told them about my cousin and they said that is where they got the mother dog (which is their pet) and where they found the father to breed.  So I did get one of my cousins dogs after all so I knew they were good.  My cousin has a great reputation for dog breeding and I have seen where the dogs are kept...they have pretty nice digs...like a hotel for dogs....he is also very honest and really does a great job.  He loves his dogs....he loves them so much that a few times he sold dogs to people...who had the dogs for awhile and then couldn't take care of them anymore or neglected them and he bought them back.

Anyways, we played with the puppies who were about 10 weeks old on this farm...my husband said, "Pick anyone you want"  Oh, my, I could not decide!!!  This was the hardest choice I ever made because I wanted all of them!!!!!!!!!!  Well I picked one...and the lady said, "That one is the cuddliest, he will sit on my lap and snuggle forever"  I was like perfect, exactly what I want!!!!!

So we took my baby home.



We (I) named him Huckleberry for three reasons...
1. Again his full name is "I'm Your Huckleberry" and that is a quote from a movie named Tombstone. My brother and I owned that movie and watched it hundreds of times growing up. We would use the quote all the time....to us "I'm Your Huckleberry" meant the same as "Sure" For example:

Me: (walking upstairs)
Brother: Will you get me something to drink while you are up there?
Me: I'm Your Huckleberry.
(So he knew that meant-"Sure, I will bring you a drink when I come down")
Understand?

2. There is a song by Toby Keith entitled "Huckleberry" that I really like.


3. I like Brad Paisley and paisley prints so I wanted to name a pet 'Paisley' but I think that sounds better for a female animal and since mine is a male...I will save that name for a female one day. But, Brad Paisley named his son Huckleberry (William Huckleberry to be exact) so I still get my connection to my favorite musician.

His personality:

He really is so cuddly...he really is very clingy and I love that...he can be as clingy as he wants!!!!  That is why I got a dog. He wants to be touching you at all times.  When I cook he follows me in every turn and sits and waits patiently as I stir and chop.

Also, house breaking was a breeze...I didn't know it could be that easy....the first night he was home we were in the kitchen and he started to pee.  I said, "No" very loudly and swatted him on the butt.  (I do think there is a difference between a swat on the rump and kicking the living crap out of a dog)  I did give him a swat on the rump...but him outside and said "Potty Potty Potty"....he NEVER EVER EVER went pee in the house again....ever.  (and thank goodness his one and only pee accident was on the kitchen floor so it was an easy, non stain, clean-up.   The next day we were in the basement which has part concert floor....he started to poop...one turd dropped and I swatted his rump...said "No" ran him outside and said "Poop" and pointed to the grass.  He finished pooping and that was the only pooping accident he ever had in the house...(again on concert so easy clean-up) that is it....he has never had another accident in our house ever.....he can also hold it for a long time if we are at a party. 

Also, I am a neat freak....I clean all the time....I did want a dog but I wanted him to stay in the kitchen area on our main level.  I was going to get a baby gate and put up.  But, we got him late at night and I was going to pick one up later, but I actually trained him to stay in the kitchen on our main level....he has full run of the basement (which my husband spends a lot of time in), in the kitchen, and we have a fully fenced in back yard.  So I never had to buy the baby gate.  She he hangs in the backyard during nice weather.  He has never entered the rest of the main level in my home.  I have brought him upstairs and few times....but the stairs are right next to the entrance of the kitchen. (see pic below)

He is very quiet and almost never barks...he really is a great dog.

tricks: he can sit, lay,  catch a treat that was sent on his nose that he flips in the air, shake, and high five.  He can also stay in the yard if we are in the front (backyard is fenced remember).  He gets the mail with me without having to be leashed. 

He is also akc registered...we filled out the paper work...and I have three generations back.

His mom's name is "Cami the camouflage companion" or Cami for short and his dad is "Bite the Bullet" or Bullet for short.

He is so gentle...I nuzzle my face with his all the time...my friends trust him with their babies...he will let me play with his lips and ears without snapping.....also I could set a piece of meat on the floor and say "leave it" and he will let the meat sit there for hours until I say "go get it".

When he was little

 See clingy...he likes to touch you all the time.

 So happy in his backyard

 Whenever he has toys...he likes to sleep with them close to him.

 In a navy hat...(my brother is a Marine and he has a friend in the navy so they traded covers for fun)

 My husband is a deer hunter.

 These are beads from a St. Patricks parade I went to.

 Here is a pic showing where he stops in the kitchen.  That is as far as he can go in the main level...he lays there and sleeps all the time.

 That is wood on his nose because he was chewing on a stick.

 THis is his birthday cake.

Valentine's Day

Yay! Valentine's Day!

I have such a fun day planned and I got my gifts a few days early....

Here are my Valentine's Day gifts:

It has built in wifi-so I can take a pic and upload it to fb, email, or a video to youtube right from my camera and it is a pretty red.  I already have a canon rebel slr....and I have a kodak easy share point and shoot that is old....I just wanted a new point and shoot to keep in my purse. (this is the exact camera I got)

I also got an:

I have wanted an Adirondack chair for a long time.  I think they are so comfortable.  I got this exact one.
I just need spring to come so I can enjoy my chair in the fresh air.

Today I am meeting a friend for lunch at noon.

Then when my husband gets off of work we are going to Qudoba for dinner because they are having...buy an entree get one free if you kiss.  I thought that was an original idea so that is why I want to go there.  Plus I love the place...and it will be cheap and hopefully quick. 

Link-Up

Hello and Welcome to my blog!  I blog under "Life of a Wife".

This is a random blog.  I really blog about anything and everything.

Here are a few things about me:
I live in the Midwest.
I am a substitute teacher.
I have been married to my wonderful husband for 4 1/2 years but we have been together for 10 years.
I have a wonderful furbaby-a yellow lab named Huckleberry.  His full name is "I'm Your Huckleberry" and there are three reasons why I named him that.  I will tell you if you ask. 
I am a big scrapbooker and card maker.
I am really good at cooking a baking.
The best things I cook are: lasagna and roast.  I would put my lasagna and roast up against anyone. 
The best thing I bake:  I am pretty successful at almost anything I bake.  I really don't mean for this to sound so conceded.  I know it does.  I would be honest with you if I didn't.  I only work part time so I have lots of practice.
My favorite TV shows are:Mad Men, Teen Mom, Pan Am, The Middle, Modern Family, The Office, Parks and Rec, American Pickers (I have meet Danielle and her sister was once my waitress), Any of the "Real Housewives" Series.
I love anything vintage...I do a lot of antiquing.
My screen saver at the moment is Ryan Gosling.
I have done many of the crafts that I have pinned on Pinterest. 
My favorite ice cream is Mint.

I started blogging for two reasons.

First, I was trying to get pregnant so I was hoping to get pregnant and meet other moms....however....it turns out I can't get pregnant, so that plan went out the window.

Second, since I only work part time and all my friends are having babies....they have less time to socialize with me...which I understand....so I started blogging as a way to socialize with other women close to my age about day to day things.  I really wish they could come over and sit on my back porch and have a glass of ice tea...but that would require a plane ticket :) (My stepfather is a pilot for American Airlines...so I could get you a discount...just joking :)  (not about my stepfather being a pilot, but about excepting someone to fly to see me.)

I have kept this blog secret from my family and friends in my 'real life' I guess I can say.  This really is a place that I sometimes vent....it is a 'me' place.  I want comments and opinions from people who don't know my day-to-day.

I have two brothers...so I have never had that sisterly bond. 

However, my brothers are some of my best friends...we are really close.

   Yes, that is lipstick on his forehead

Is It Just Me???

I always find it a little annoying when people claim things that everyone does.  For example, I just read on a blog that "brunch is a 'city' thing"....umm no, brunch is not a 'city' thing.  People do brunch all over.  I grew up on a dairy farm/small town house in the midwest.  We have been doing brunch my entire life.  We have brunch on Sundays, on Easter, on Mother's Day, Christmas, house warming parties, heck..we do brunch all the time.  We have restaurants that have brunch....I had brunch in California before, in Colorado, and in Florida....(in non-big cities).  It just seems weird...brunch is something everyone does.  It is like saying "wearing jeans is a Wisconsin 'thing'"...of course people wear jeans all over the world.....

I could see how surfing would be a coastal 'thing' or skiing could be a mountain 'thing' that makes sense.  But brunch being a city thing does not.  Also, Football is not only a 'Southern thing'....coming to my state during football season....it is just as crazy....Football is a 'lots 'o people thing'.


Can Football be played basically anywhere???? yes    (I know it is not played in Antartica or somewhere..just bear with me)

Can surfing be done in Oklahoma?  No

That is what I think. 

I have also found it weird that sweet tea is a southern thing.....there was a pitcher of sweet tea in my grandma and mom's fridge my entire life.  Restaurants here serve sweet tea....I don't consider it a 'southern' thing...I consider it something to drink. 

Saturday Shopping

I love Saturday shopping.  I went downtown this morning and I had such a good time.  I got a new bra and two new shirts.  I then went to hobby lobby and got an embossing heat gun.  That is it...just those 3 things, but I had a great morning browsing.  Now I have a little time to relax before the hubby comes home from work and I make dinner.....to MAD MEN dvds I go.......

Snow

Well it is finally snowing!  I am sure there won't be any accumulation, but the flurries are pretty.  I am(well besides this quick post) watching Mad Men and looking out my window at the flurries.  It really is so relaxing.  Here are some quick random things going on right now.

*Wednesday- one of the little girls in my class last name was Golightly....Anyone know why that is cool to me?????  Hint...movie. 5 points for a correct answer.

*I have already received my Valentine's Day Presents but I am going to wait until Valentine's Day to blog about them.

*Mad Men is the greatest show ever, but I sometimes feel bad watching it.  The women are so elegant.  If the characters show up at someones home late at night or if the scene is set at home in the evening...the women are in these beautiful night gowns with matching flowing robes with their hair so smooth and silky and perfect.   
                                   Me last night-old t-shirt with hole in the armpit, ratty hair in an old scrunchy
                                             (due to hair breakage....I have started wearing scrunchies while I sleep
                                                    only...my hair rubber bands break my hair so bad)  and a big blemish
                                                        on my forehead.
*Shamrock shakes are the greatest thing ever made!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*I am trying to sell stuff on craigslist and it is making my nervous.  My first planned sale was cancelled on me at the last minute...tonight I have my second planned sale....I hope the buyer shows.  Also, I will not have someone come to my house so we are meeting at a local business and my husband is coming with me.

I am so happy it is Friday!

Free Stuff

This lady I know knows that I scrapbook.  She wanted to start scrapbooking/card marking and bought a whole bunch of supplies, but she said she never uses them.  She decided since she has done anything for over a year she wanted to get rid of some of her stuff to clean out.  So she gave it to me.

Color envelopes:




Catalogs for ideas:




Nice leather box:



Full of stamps:



Embossing power:



Embossing tool:



An entire Fiskas untimate embossing system:








ink pads:


  Score!!!!!!!!!
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