If you want to play too, visit the link above. The winner recieves $500. Today is the last day. You have until 3 EST.
Amazing Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
3 days ago
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Summer Fun
5 Minutes for Mom is having a Summer Fun Photo Contest. I was running out of time to submit something when I found this one. Probably not my all time favorite summer picture, but I still love it. I love the color, her facial expression and the 'summer' tablecloth!
If you want to play too, visit the link above. The winner recieves $500. Today is the last day. You have until 3 EST.
If you want to play too, visit the link above. The winner recieves $500. Today is the last day. You have until 3 EST.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Breaking Dawn (contains spoilers and will probably offend many)
Well, I can't say it enough. I was sooooooooooo disappointed in 'Breaking Dawn'! I knew something was 'off' when I read the first chapter in the special edition of 'Eclipse'. I am SERIOUSLY warning you. If you LOVED the book, you may want to stop reading this now. Don't say I didn't warn you! BTW, these are not in order of the book. Just the order they came to me!
*In chapter 1, Stephenie writes, "[Charlie] was most disappointed with Billy, Jacob's father- and Charlie's closest friend." OHHHHHHHHHH, right. Because we didn't know who Billy was. Yes, I can see how we could forget a semi-major character in all 3 previous books. Hmmmmm. Then she continues with, "For Billy's refusing to put up the flyers in La Push, the reservation on the coast that was Jacob's home." Seriously? I HATE when writers (or anyone for that matter) insults my intelligence! Some people have made the point that, 'The Twilight book came out a while ago and someone might have forgot.' Hmmmm. It still talks about it in the THIRD book! Phew, I need to calm down.
*Also in the 1st chapter, I was not convinced at Renee's attempt of maturity. "You're not making my mistakes, Bella. You sound like you're scared silly, and I'm guessing it's because you're afraid of me. Of what I'm going to think." WELL DUH!!!!!!!!!! If she's been talking crap about marriage and men for Bella's life, how else do you think she's gonna feel? And then to change so abruptly to appease Bella?
* AGAIN with the typos. Really? I tried not to count, but I swear I got up to 5. Come on
*::Ahem:: Renesmee? I read a comment on my friend's blog that says it perfectly. And I quote, "I liked [the book], although I LITERALLY CRINGED every time I read the name Renesmee. Dumbest name ever. I can't believe she went with that one." HAHA.. I laughed so hard that she said she cringed, because I did too!
*Since when have the Cullens used 'nick names'? Jazz, Em, Rose.
*I don't understand why Bella is fine with drinking the blood. Yes, I understand that when you are pregnant, you crave what the baby needs. But this is BELLA we're talking about. Bella can't even SMELL blood from across the room without passing out. And then after she's a vampire, still no problem with blood. It doesn't make sense.
*Why does Bella have such a hard time recovering some human memories, but others are clear as a bell? I realize that even as humans, we have degrees to our memory, but it bugs me! She says, 'Already, the memory seemed dim, like I was watching through a think, dark veil...' '...it was irritating to try to see through the human memories.' But immediately after she says this, she starts thinking about if Jacob was okay. Did he hate her. Had he gone back to Sam's pack. Were the Cullens safe. What would she tell Charlie. It's like she has selective amnesia!
(Everyone hate me yet? Well, I'm not done...)
*When Bella was bit the first time by James, the pain was excruciating. She already knew this about the vampire's venom. She should have been somewhat prepared. Yet, she screams and is in absolute AGONY. It lasted, what, a few minutes? So now she endures this pain for 2 days. And doesn't even whimper once? Because she doesn't want Edward to feel even worse? I didn't think Bella was that strong. Is it just me?
*I was SORELY disappointed that everyone believed (so quickly) that Alice and Jasper abandoned them in their time of need. This is ALICE we're talking about! And all Carlisle can say is, 'Alice is free to do what she will. I wouldn't deny her that liberty'. What a slap in the face! Why was everyone so willing to believe her? How sad.
*Can't Edward hear Alice's thoughts? Even if she's VERY far away?
*I was bummed that the 'big secret' for Bella to discover from Alice's clues was to get LEGAL PAPERS for Jacob and Renesmee? Um, they're half-human. It's not like Renesmee couldn't swim across the ocean like the rest of them if she had to. Papers?
*I was sad that Emmett was such a jerk to Bella. Teasing them about having sex. Usually he was the 'lovable bear' big brother. I loved his relationship with Bella and felt this book really diminished that.
*ALLLLLL that build-up and there's no war with the Volturi?!?!?!?! I realize that Stephenie Meyer has talked about doing other vampire books that would include some of the characters. If she doesn't though, I'm gonna be mad! How can the Volturi just retreat? And why is it that big of a relief to the Cullens and co.?
*Lastly (I know, can you believe I'm finished?) I couldn't grasp Charlie's cool attitude towards the situation. He was fine, no no, happy to be on a 'need to know' basis? This is his one and only daughter who he's grown to love even more since she's lived with him. Whatever you say!
Okay.. seriously? I didn't HATE the book. I'll explain the things I loved about it, although that list is much shorter.
*I love Stephenie's chapter endings. They are almost always very eventful! I love being gripped RIGHT at the end of a chapter. She is AMAZING at that.
* Garrett's speech was so touching. I nearly cried.
*Jacob's devotion to Renesmee. (Even though I'm still in denial that it's over between him and Bella!)
*I still don't understand how Renesmee can live for hundreds of years (what with a beating heart and all) but I was happy they could all live for a long together.
*I TOTALLY cried at the end. I thought it was a perfect way to end the series. At first I didn't get it. Then when I realized that Bella was showing Edward her thoughts, I lost it! That was sooooooo sweet.
So there you have it. That's my perspective. NOW I WANT YOURS! And no, I won't be offended if you all LOVED it, because I know I'm the minority here. =) Also, if anyone has any insight into my 'issues' let me know! A GREAT BIG thanks to Michelle for explaining a few things. Because of her and her insights, there were 2 things from my previous list of complaints I was able to erase!
*In chapter 1, Stephenie writes, "[Charlie] was most disappointed with Billy, Jacob's father- and Charlie's closest friend." OHHHHHHHHHH, right. Because we didn't know who Billy was. Yes, I can see how we could forget a semi-major character in all 3 previous books. Hmmmmm. Then she continues with, "For Billy's refusing to put up the flyers in La Push, the reservation on the coast that was Jacob's home." Seriously? I HATE when writers (or anyone for that matter) insults my intelligence! Some people have made the point that, 'The Twilight book came out a while ago and someone might have forgot.' Hmmmm. It still talks about it in the THIRD book! Phew, I need to calm down.
*Also in the 1st chapter, I was not convinced at Renee's attempt of maturity. "You're not making my mistakes, Bella. You sound like you're scared silly, and I'm guessing it's because you're afraid of me. Of what I'm going to think." WELL DUH!!!!!!!!!! If she's been talking crap about marriage and men for Bella's life, how else do you think she's gonna feel? And then to change so abruptly to appease Bella?
* AGAIN with the typos. Really? I tried not to count, but I swear I got up to 5. Come on
*::Ahem:: Renesmee? I read a comment on my friend's blog that says it perfectly. And I quote, "I liked [the book], although I LITERALLY CRINGED every time I read the name Renesmee. Dumbest name ever. I can't believe she went with that one." HAHA.. I laughed so hard that she said she cringed, because I did too!
*Since when have the Cullens used 'nick names'? Jazz, Em, Rose.
*I don't understand why Bella is fine with drinking the blood. Yes, I understand that when you are pregnant, you crave what the baby needs. But this is BELLA we're talking about. Bella can't even SMELL blood from across the room without passing out. And then after she's a vampire, still no problem with blood. It doesn't make sense.
*Why does Bella have such a hard time recovering some human memories, but others are clear as a bell? I realize that even as humans, we have degrees to our memory, but it bugs me! She says, 'Already, the memory seemed dim, like I was watching through a think, dark veil...' '...it was irritating to try to see through the human memories.' But immediately after she says this, she starts thinking about if Jacob was okay. Did he hate her. Had he gone back to Sam's pack. Were the Cullens safe. What would she tell Charlie. It's like she has selective amnesia!
(Everyone hate me yet? Well, I'm not done...)
*When Bella was bit the first time by James, the pain was excruciating. She already knew this about the vampire's venom. She should have been somewhat prepared. Yet, she screams and is in absolute AGONY. It lasted, what, a few minutes? So now she endures this pain for 2 days. And doesn't even whimper once? Because she doesn't want Edward to feel even worse? I didn't think Bella was that strong. Is it just me?
*I was SORELY disappointed that everyone believed (so quickly) that Alice and Jasper abandoned them in their time of need. This is ALICE we're talking about! And all Carlisle can say is, 'Alice is free to do what she will. I wouldn't deny her that liberty'. What a slap in the face! Why was everyone so willing to believe her? How sad.
*Can't Edward hear Alice's thoughts? Even if she's VERY far away?
*I was bummed that the 'big secret' for Bella to discover from Alice's clues was to get LEGAL PAPERS for Jacob and Renesmee? Um, they're half-human. It's not like Renesmee couldn't swim across the ocean like the rest of them if she had to. Papers?
*I was sad that Emmett was such a jerk to Bella. Teasing them about having sex. Usually he was the 'lovable bear' big brother. I loved his relationship with Bella and felt this book really diminished that.
*ALLLLLL that build-up and there's no war with the Volturi?!?!?!?! I realize that Stephenie Meyer has talked about doing other vampire books that would include some of the characters. If she doesn't though, I'm gonna be mad! How can the Volturi just retreat? And why is it that big of a relief to the Cullens and co.?
*Lastly (I know, can you believe I'm finished?) I couldn't grasp Charlie's cool attitude towards the situation. He was fine, no no, happy to be on a 'need to know' basis? This is his one and only daughter who he's grown to love even more since she's lived with him. Whatever you say!
Okay.. seriously? I didn't HATE the book. I'll explain the things I loved about it, although that list is much shorter.
*I love Stephenie's chapter endings. They are almost always very eventful! I love being gripped RIGHT at the end of a chapter. She is AMAZING at that.
* Garrett's speech was so touching. I nearly cried.
*Jacob's devotion to Renesmee. (Even though I'm still in denial that it's over between him and Bella!)
*I still don't understand how Renesmee can live for hundreds of years (what with a beating heart and all) but I was happy they could all live for a long together.
*I TOTALLY cried at the end. I thought it was a perfect way to end the series. At first I didn't get it. Then when I realized that Bella was showing Edward her thoughts, I lost it! That was sooooooo sweet.
So there you have it. That's my perspective. NOW I WANT YOURS! And no, I won't be offended if you all LOVED it, because I know I'm the minority here. =) Also, if anyone has any insight into my 'issues' let me know! A GREAT BIG thanks to Michelle for explaining a few things. Because of her and her insights, there were 2 things from my previous list of complaints I was able to erase!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Phavorite Phriday Photo
Courtesy of Candid Carrie, I am posting one of my all time favorite pictures. (BTW, I do know how to spell... See Carrie's page if you want to participate) I love this picture because it is taken just minutes after Alexis was born. It shows her big beautiful eyes, her wrinkly skin, and her flattened nose! She's so perfect!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Random stuff about me
So I got this as an e-mail, but I figure I'd just blog about it. That way, I'm not sending it to people who are thinking, 'Why are you sending this to me? I don't give a crap!' Anyways, if anyone else wants to participate, great! If not, whatever!
1. What time did you get up this morning? 8:30
2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the movie theater? Batman. That movie is INSANE! So good, and VERY intense!
4. What is your favorite TV show? My ALL TIME fav. is Fresh prince (haha) but my recent fav's are Gilmore Girls, The Office, Friends and Seinfeld
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Cereal
6. What is your middle name? Marie. Like half of the population of females.
7. What food do you dislike? coleslaw & creamed corn
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? hmmm. probably my mixed CD courtesy of Kelly! I'm listening to it at least 3 times before I have an opinion. =)
9. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Nissan Ultima. Don't know what year! haha
10. Favorite sandwich? Turkey & Avacado on a croissant
11. What characteristics do you despise? hmmmm. I hate people that are know-it-alls. And those that give advice instead of just letting you vent. OOO! And me monsters! Yeah, I could go on for a while...
12. Favorite item of clothing? My AE jean capris.
13. Where would you go on vacation? Tahiti!
14. Are you an organized person? I thought I was until I met Shanna! hehehe
15. Where would you like to retire to? Somewhere warm. Get me out of UTAH!
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Probably last year when Tyler surprised me with my BOSE iPod docking station! It ROCKS!
17. What are you going to do when you finish this? Go make dinner and try to finish reading Breaking Dawn
18. Furthest place you are sending this to? don't know who'll read it
19. Person you expect to send it back first? I hate these kinds of questions...
20. When is your birthday? Jan. 30th
21. Morning person or night person? I used to be a morning person, until Tyler got done with school. Now we stay up until 11:00 at the EARLIEST!
22. What is your shoe size? 7 (used to be 6 or 6 1/2 until I got pregnant with Alexis!)
23. Pets? No no no no no no
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? My house is incredibly clean today! That's exciting, right?
25. What did you want to be when you were little? a vet
26. How are you today? BLAH + headache
27. What is your favorite flower? I really don't have one. Well, I would probably have one if I knew anything about flowers. I should go to a flower shop someday and have them show me around. Then maybe I'd find something.
28. What calendar day are you looking forward to? I don't know? Maybe whatever 'calendar day' Tyler gets accepted into the radiology program?
29. What are you listening to right now? Alexis whining for me to help her go down the slide
30. What was the last thing you ate? Some rasberries from Tammy's yard!
31. Do you wish on stars? Sometimes
32. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Hmmm, today? Probably gray.
33. How is the weather right now? Gray
34. Last person I spoke to on the phone. Tammy
35. Favorite soft drink? I guess Pepsi
36. Favorite restaurant? Cafe Rio! Their's is the only food I can't replicate to my satisfaction. Everything else I can pretty much do myself, so why pay good money? Oh, and Taco bell. I LOVE TACO BELL!
37. Hair color? Brown
38. What was your favorite toy as a child? My little Pony's and my dolls.
40. Chocolate or Vanilla? What kind of a question is that? I would like to meet these vanilla freaks... Do they even exist?
41. Coffee or tea? Neither
42. Do you want your friends to email you back? again with the stupid questions
43. When was the last time you cried? Yesterday. Watching Batman. Twice. Yeah...
44. What is under your bed? blankets
45. What did you do last night? Watched a dumb movie called, 'Over her dead body'
46. What are you afraid of? Everything. Oh, and spiders.
47. Salty or sweet? Both. Lately salty. GRRRRRR! I just realized I forgot to get Chili picante Cornnuts at Wal-mart today. UGH!
48. How many keys on your key ring? 3
49. How many years at your current job? 4 years as a mom, AN ETERNITY as a house keeper
50. Favorite day of the week? Don't really have one. But once Tyler gets a job, it'll be Saturday
51. Do you make friends easily? Not really (shocking, right?)
52. How many people will you send this to? BLAH BLAH BLAH
53. How many will respond? What kind of question is that?
54. Do you like finding out information about your friends? yup
55. Would you use a time machine? Sure. I'd steal someone's invention, go back in time and claim it as my own (like on Meet the Robinsons). Then I'd be rich, do a full body makeover and convince Brad Pitt to marry me. Okay, maybe not.
1. What time did you get up this morning? 8:30
2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the movie theater? Batman. That movie is INSANE! So good, and VERY intense!
4. What is your favorite TV show? My ALL TIME fav. is Fresh prince (haha) but my recent fav's are Gilmore Girls, The Office, Friends and Seinfeld
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Cereal
6. What is your middle name? Marie. Like half of the population of females.
7. What food do you dislike? coleslaw & creamed corn
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? hmmm. probably my mixed CD courtesy of Kelly! I'm listening to it at least 3 times before I have an opinion. =)
9. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Nissan Ultima. Don't know what year! haha
10. Favorite sandwich? Turkey & Avacado on a croissant
11. What characteristics do you despise? hmmmm. I hate people that are know-it-alls. And those that give advice instead of just letting you vent. OOO! And me monsters! Yeah, I could go on for a while...
12. Favorite item of clothing? My AE jean capris.
13. Where would you go on vacation? Tahiti!
14. Are you an organized person? I thought I was until I met Shanna! hehehe
15. Where would you like to retire to? Somewhere warm. Get me out of UTAH!
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Probably last year when Tyler surprised me with my BOSE iPod docking station! It ROCKS!
17. What are you going to do when you finish this? Go make dinner and try to finish reading Breaking Dawn
18. Furthest place you are sending this to? don't know who'll read it
19. Person you expect to send it back first? I hate these kinds of questions...
20. When is your birthday? Jan. 30th
21. Morning person or night person? I used to be a morning person, until Tyler got done with school. Now we stay up until 11:00 at the EARLIEST!
22. What is your shoe size? 7 (used to be 6 or 6 1/2 until I got pregnant with Alexis!)
23. Pets? No no no no no no
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? My house is incredibly clean today! That's exciting, right?
25. What did you want to be when you were little? a vet
26. How are you today? BLAH + headache
27. What is your favorite flower? I really don't have one. Well, I would probably have one if I knew anything about flowers. I should go to a flower shop someday and have them show me around. Then maybe I'd find something.
28. What calendar day are you looking forward to? I don't know? Maybe whatever 'calendar day' Tyler gets accepted into the radiology program?
29. What are you listening to right now? Alexis whining for me to help her go down the slide
30. What was the last thing you ate? Some rasberries from Tammy's yard!
31. Do you wish on stars? Sometimes
32. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Hmmm, today? Probably gray.
33. How is the weather right now? Gray
34. Last person I spoke to on the phone. Tammy
35. Favorite soft drink? I guess Pepsi
36. Favorite restaurant? Cafe Rio! Their's is the only food I can't replicate to my satisfaction. Everything else I can pretty much do myself, so why pay good money? Oh, and Taco bell. I LOVE TACO BELL!
37. Hair color? Brown
38. What was your favorite toy as a child? My little Pony's and my dolls.
40. Chocolate or Vanilla? What kind of a question is that? I would like to meet these vanilla freaks... Do they even exist?
41. Coffee or tea? Neither
42. Do you want your friends to email you back? again with the stupid questions
43. When was the last time you cried? Yesterday. Watching Batman. Twice. Yeah...
44. What is under your bed? blankets
45. What did you do last night? Watched a dumb movie called, 'Over her dead body'
46. What are you afraid of? Everything. Oh, and spiders.
47. Salty or sweet? Both. Lately salty. GRRRRRR! I just realized I forgot to get Chili picante Cornnuts at Wal-mart today. UGH!
48. How many keys on your key ring? 3
49. How many years at your current job? 4 years as a mom, AN ETERNITY as a house keeper
50. Favorite day of the week? Don't really have one. But once Tyler gets a job, it'll be Saturday
51. Do you make friends easily? Not really (shocking, right?)
52. How many people will you send this to? BLAH BLAH BLAH
53. How many will respond? What kind of question is that?
54. Do you like finding out information about your friends? yup
55. Would you use a time machine? Sure. I'd steal someone's invention, go back in time and claim it as my own (like on Meet the Robinsons). Then I'd be rich, do a full body makeover and convince Brad Pitt to marry me. Okay, maybe not.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Do you ever feel like an Elephant in a world full of Hippos?
This post goes out to Cory Talbot, who is (almost) as cynical as I am.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
First words
A few months back Alexis uttered the common first words of Dada (can you tell she's a daddy's girl?) and then a WHILE later, Mama. She hasn't said either in AT LEAST two months! Nothing. She's like Cameron was. Very boring sounds. The same sounds, over and over. Not really sounding like a conversation. Just one syllable 'di' or 'uh'. That's about it! But last week she started trying to say 'bath', and tonight she started trying to say 'stuck'! So here she is!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Genius!
A few weeks ago I asked Cameron to read the word 'it'. I showed him how to blend the sounds together and he did it without any problems. He then read 'so' and 'to' and 'on. I really didn't think anything about it. I mean, he is 4, right? Last night we were reading a book and I had him sound out the word 'dog'. He did this as if it was nothing. So we moved onto another word. 'Top'. And another. 'Ball'. And another, 'Bed'. I couldn't believe it. So I had him bring me a piece of paper and a pencil. I began writing down words for him to sound out and read (without my help). He proceeded to read 26 words! (all 3 letter of course) I was so excited, and as soon as he figured out what he was doing, he was too! Every time he'd read a word and look at me for confirmation, he'd pump his fist and say, 'YES!!!!!'. It was so cute! I can't believe how much he's growing up! What a smarty pants. =)
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