I Solved the Cookie Dilemma/Guilt

Since I had no vanilla and couldn't make cookies to bring to our daughter, Squirrel, at college I found a solution that makes me a [wee] bit happier.

Who knew you could buy fresh baked cookies, delivered warm, with cold milk, to your kid's dorm room? [Duke Mom #1 - did you know about this?]

Not I.  Until today.

Yipppeee!

I went on line and entered cookies, her college name and Google popped out a company called "Campus Cookies."

I went to their website and ordered this:

This will be a fun, late night snack for her while studying, I think.  Mondays are her hardest days because she has 4 of her classes in a row.

I hope this makes her happy.

I know these make me very happy - again!

Pooldad surprised me flowers

Plus! He is making Chicken Manicotti for dinner.

In progress. 

After an hour add the cheese.

Ta da! Done!

How did I get so lucky?

Pick What's For Dinner

Help me out here Tadpoles, please!

Take your pick of what we should have for dinner.  If you vote "other" please tell me in the comments what you would choose.

Thanks!

What Should We Have for Dinner?
	Tacos
	Chicken Enchiladas
	Parmesan Chicken Breast Tenders
	Meatloaf
	White Chicken Chili in Bread Bowls
	Vegetable Soup
	Other
pollcode.com free polls

Happily Worn Out

What a great day!

We left Saturday morning at 10:30 to visit Squirrel at college. As Mynx can attest to I hadn't slept all night and by the time I said goodbye to her we were on the road.

Side not - never ask an Australian for a cookie recipe at 4 am.  Useless - they have weird stuff over there [sugar syrup - what the heck], and honestly?  Who keeps coconut on hand all the time?  [Don't answer that Bizzy and all you other amazing cooks.]  It is simply not a staple in our house.

And Mynx I am keeding. Keeding, I swear.  Dang anzac cookies.  Which I now want. [Yes, I did buy coconut today on the way home, why do you ask? ::wink::]

Okay...so ignoring my digression - we arrived in Harrisonburg at 12:45 and greeted Squirrel with squeals, hugs and a rug. :)  Her Dad found an area rug in our garage during his "Great Garage Excavation of 2010" [who knew we had one and where it even came from?] and we took it down for her.  She was tickled.  So were we because we didn't have to buy one. Bonus! It is brand new too. YAY!

The girl was so excited she did this:

And this [which concerned Wallene]:

It was so much fun to hang out, go to lunch and do a little shopping.  Shopping was interesting tho' since I was so worn down and in pain we skipped Wal Mart [the parking lot was PACKED - it looked like Christmas] and Pooldad was nice enough to zip us over to CVS.  You can find some good deals and neat stuff in the drug store Tadpoles let me tell ya'.

It wasn't long enough by any means and I fell asleep hard on the way home and after we returned home ["Just get me to the loveseat sweethea....zzzzzz....." It was just like that. Done!]

But I wouldn't give up those 4 hours with our girlie for sleep or a cookie.

And...We're OUTTA Here!

My last wish [from this week] is coming true - We are off to see Squirrel at college today.

Amazingly enough we are leaving on time.  Wow.

But without cookies for her. :(  I found I had no vanilla to make her favorites and not creative enough to come up with something that uses maple extract. <----only flavoring I had.

Can someone remind me again why I even have maple extract in my pantry?  It scares me.

Hope everyone's Saturday is going to be awesome! YAY.

See ya' on the flip side Tadpoles.  Take care and big hugs.

WOOT!

Wishes With a Side of Chicken

HA!  I wished for a bunch of stuff this week and every, single one came true.

Check it out:

Pooldad left for his conference in Atlantic City on Monday.

He took 70 pictures with my camera. 90 % look like this.
Yeah.
::shaking my head::
Me either.

I wished he would come home soon. Safe and sound.  He did - in a snowstorm.

YAY!
Pooldad is in da' house!

Then I wished that if it was going to be so darn cold at least give me some snow.

Look!

6 inches Tadpoles.
So pretty.

My neighbor's tree.
I have no idea why they don't cut it down.
It bends like that even without snow.

Then I wished that my baby could stay home with me more this week.

The snow took care of that - because schools have been closed since Wednesday. 

YAY for us.

Although we missed her Orthodontist appointment due to snow.
Braces next week. eek!

Since I missed Pooldad so much and was sad that he had to go back to work on Thursday, I was thrilled that he didn't have to go.  The snow effect.  Work was closed for the day! Whippeeeeeee!

Dad and Wallene made a snowman.
As only a Poolman can do they use pool parts for the buttons and eyes.
Sort of changes the lyrics to "Frosty" doesn't it?

Pool parts work pretty well.
And it did get warmer. With snow.
That's a twofer wish come true.

Finally - my pal Bizzy over at Bizzy Kitchen posts the most fabulous recipes.  The woman can cook.  She also cooks healthy - which is a double bonus.  She shared her recipe for Chicken Cordon Bleu the other day.  I was salivating [as I usually do when I visit her blog] and decided this was a must.

Growing up my sister always asked for CCB for her birthday dinner.  Our Mom made it, only begrudgingly, because she said it  was so hard and labor intensive.

I hate to call my Mom a liar, but ...um...she lied.

This dish is so, so easy.  It also tastes exactly like my Mom's and is amazing.

Delicious.
Bizzy's pics are prettier.
I promise.

My husband plated this.
It is messy looking, but oh, ho, ho is it good.

There you go Tadpoles.

I hope you go visit Bizzy.  She is everything and more then I said.  She could really use a couple of more pals right now, I am sure.  Her beloved husband Tony is undergoing treatment for cancer and with their great attitude [and some fantastic humor] they are working really hard at getting through.

Go share a hug, a good thought or a prayer, please? - we are all really good at that and I know Biz would appreciate it.

Have a great Friday - the weekend is here and I bet we all have something to smile about.

Hugs and love!

What is UP With that SLUR and Why are People STILL using IT

I really wouldn't have come to my blog to celebrate the birthday of a celebrity [so not my style] - but I have a reason, as you soon will see.  Please read the birthday wishes and know I mean them, but I have a reason beyond wishing a happy birthday.  You will see why.

Today is Ellen Degeneres' birthday.  I am an absolute, unabashed fan of this lovely woman and her wife, Portia.  My husband and children are huge fans as well.  I DVR the show just so my 13 year old can watch it when she arrives home from school and we can replay the fun on the weekends.

Happy Birthday Ellen.  We love you!

Just gorgeous!

After watching Ellen's wonderful birthday celebration show today I received this phone call:

It was Squirrel.  As we were chatting about classes, snow, dinner - whatnot, she said, "Mom I have to tell you something."

Her voice was full of concern and worry.  

That made me worry.

I asked her "Honey, what is wrong?"

Squirrel said, "Mom I was on the elevator today with three other girls and one of the girls was messing with a hat another girl was wearing.  The girl wearing the hat smacked the other girl playfully and said 'Don't touch my hat you FAGGOT.'"

I was stunned and speechless for a moment and then asked "Squirrel are you serious?  What did you do?"

She said, quietly, "Mom I looked at her and asked 'Are you KIDDING?' Then I asked her if she really just used that word.  I couldn't believe it."

Me, "Then what happened sweetheart?"

Her, "They looked down at the floor and didn't say anything again.  They just got off on their floor and I went onto mine."

Couple of points Tadpoles.

• I am INCREDIBLY PROUD of my daughter.
• I am glad those girls didn't argue with Squirrel because I am sure they knew they were wrong. [I am actually incredulous they didn't kick her behind. Kids can be so mean.]
• I am also shocked that this word is still coming out of the mouths of children.  Don't get me started on who I think is to blame, but I am going to suggest ignorant parents first. 
• I am heartbroken that our world hasn't come far enough that people think that word is acceptable. I expect more.

You are welcome to your own opinions, and knowing you all, I am sure you agree, but if you disagree, it might be time to click off being a follower and Tadpole. I don't obsess over followers - so I am not going to fall over if any of you  leave.  I have never written this blog for anything other than my family.  The fact that I have Tadpoles - my great friends from it, turned into a GREAT bonus - I am not out to be a writer - but you lose your Tadpole status if you don't think what that girl said was wrong.

I have no problem with that.  If you think that kind of thing is appropriate and an accepted way to talk, then go. Away.

What happened is not a point I will argue with anyone.  I am right and if you disagree with me you are wrong. Period.

I am pretty restrained when it comes to politics, religion and all things controversial on my blog - but I will not tolerate the hurt and ignorance that people continue to spread against people that are born different from others.  You can form your own thoughts about politics, religion, etc while you are growing up - but we are all born a certain color, we are all born a certain sex and we are all born with a certain sexual orientation.  These ARE NOT choices and SHOULD NOT be discriminated against, dismissed or worse, vilified.

Those three things cannot change, will not change and the sooner everyone accepts that we are all human and should be here to help eachother, love eachother and not hate - the better off this world is going to be.

I can't stand that my daughter was put in this position tonight.  

The world needs to grow up.  

Grow up now.  

My 18 year old daughter just gave a BIG  "What for" to the bigots of the world.

I would expect the rest of the population to catch up.

In the words of Mrs. Degeneres "Be kind to one another."

I Love Soapy at Star Schmucks

I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but it made us laugh so hard.
Just wait for the word "FABULOUS!"
[Warning: Anti Starbucks and foul language.]



Yes, Starbucks was incredibly helpful to me when I didn't have internet, but we did pay handsomely for their coffee, tea and biscuits while using the free wi-fi.

Your laugh for Wednesday Tadpoles.

Let's make it the best one we can, eh?