Smell this Internet!

I walked outside today and was greeted with my favorite flower smell in the world... well- for the moment at least. This:


Seriously, can you smell the jasmine? It's what marks spring in Las Vegas. Well- that and 90 degree weather. I really wish you all had scratch and sniff screens so you could enjoy this with me. I have 4 of these bushes outside my front door- how lucky am I!?!

Also today child #3 is wearing panties. Real, potty training ultra thick panties. It's 10 am, she's been up since 6:30. Once in her panties and once in the potty. I'm feeling good about this. I really really am. My strategy? Otter Pops. She can eat as many as she wants- as long as she's sitting on the toilet when she does. I'm cutting them in half- but then she's getting liquid so she has more 'opportunities' and she's getting potty sitting practice. Best of both worlds. I tried doing the naked thing for about 5 minutes. But this is my OCD child who insists on being fully clothed- so I told her she could wear shorts as long as she uses the potty, but if she gets them wet then she'll have to go naked. Hopefully that'll work.

Mmm Mmm Monday!

A column! Everyone is doing it- so why not me right? Food is my thing. I enjoy making it- and eating it (have you seen my butt?) I like good food. Food that looks good and tastes good (and if it's good for you it's a bonus). So I'm going to be sharing a favorite recipe of mine (or my family's) with you each Monday. Mmm Mmm...Monday! I love trying new recipes as well. So if you want to share a recipe today let me know in the comments and I'll link you.


Today's treat?

Blueberry Banana Smoothie- the breakfast of champions!



1/2 cup of fat free yogurt
1/2 cup of milk
1 small banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 tsp of vanilla
Ice/water to consistency
dab of whipped cream


Blend all ingredients together until smooth, top with whipped cream.

I have this or a variation of this for breakfast daily. Fills me up until lunchtime. It is core if you are on Weight Watchers- or 4 points if you're doing flex. This recipe makes 4-5 cups (so twice the amount in the picture. So if you split it with someone (or half the recipe) then it's a great 2 point treat. YUM!

Alissa's Macaroni and cheese

Happies and Crappies

Happy- we bought a piano yesterday!! UNLV does a sale every year where they sell the pianos from the previous year from the music department so they can get new ones. They also have other used pianos for sale. The sale is sponsored by a music store here in town so if you decide (within the next 10 years) that you want to 'upgrade' they will take your full purchase price with your piano on trade towards another piano. Anyway, the piano is being delivered on Tuesday! YAY! I'll post pictures then.

Crappy- I was supposed to take dinner to someone in the ward on Friday and completely forgot. I feel so bad. I'm taking her dinner tonight.

Happy- Our yard will be started soon- then the girls can play in the back!


Crappy- we've all had the stomach flu. Well, all the girls. Steve started throwing up this morning about 2 am. I'm next- I know it.

Happy- I took all four girls to church by myself today. I survived, they survived. I don't know how single parents or parents who have spouses that travel a lot do it.

Crappy- Annika bit a kid at church today. I'm the mom of 'that kid'.

Happy- I spent an hour and deep cleaned the girls bathroom yesterday. It sparkles, it doesn't stink. YAY!

Happy- (I'm committing out loud) I'm starting to count Weight Watcher points again tomorrow. I'm going to do it. Remind me of that.

Crappy- I'm starting to count Weight Watcher points again tomorrow. It's so much work- but it's worth it right?

Happy- After taking dinner to this random person in the ward (church congregation) I'm struck with just how completely blessed my life is. Not just averagely blessed- but completely and totally in awe of the blessings that flow to my family.

Crappy- I can't believe the poverty that some people live in. It makes me sad to think about it.

Happy and crappy- This story

Happy- Ashley and I went on a mommy daughter date on Friday night. We went to a musical put on at the high school and then got a banana split.

Crappy- the only way to describe this rendition of Grease. Seriously- the.worst.production.ever. Sound system sucked, actors were eh, scenery ect was pathetic. I remember our musicals being a huge deal. Here? Not so much.

Happy- It was probably a good thing that we couldn't understand them. I'd forgotten how many drug references and sexual inuendos there are in that show. Probably not appropriate for a 7 year old.

Happy/crappy- my Grandma had triple bypass surgery, she's doing well though.

YAY!! I'm wireless!!

Whew! So I've had a laptop for a couple of weeks now. We waited for KB (our sucky builder) to come and set up the structural wiring network for our computers. They came- handed me a router and told me to call the Geek Squad to do it. Well, I'm cheap- and ticked- they told me that as part of the service that they'd set it up! But I'm also so frustrated with KB that I gave up. I finally just decided to try and set up our wireless router and get our network working that way. After spending hours on the phone today with Linksys they told me to try calling Sprint- my ISP. Ten minutes with Sprint and the problem was fixed. That got the Desktop going through the router to connect with the internet- but then the laptop would connect (according to the system) but IE wouldn't work. Sigh...

BUT- I'm not sure what I've done- but now it's working!! Finally! So now I can be wireless! YAY!

I broke my blog

Anyone know how to fix it?? I added the map thing on the bottom and now my sidebar is all screwed up. I tried taking the map thing off and it doesn't make a difference!! Acckk!

Works for me Wednesday!

Once again it's Works for Me Wednesday over at Rocks in my Dryer.

Today's 'works for me' are a few cake making tips... yes, I'm sharing deep, dark, secrets....

When using a cake mix to bake a cake there are some tricks to getting a dense, moist cake with very little effort on your part.

1. Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of pudding mix powder to the dry mix before adding wet ingredients. I have bulk cans of chocolate and vanilla pudding to use just for this purpose.

2. Replace the water with milk- same amount, just milk not water.

3. Add about 1/3-1/2 cup of sour cream to the mix.

4. Add an extra egg

5. Bake on 325 for about 10-20 minutes longer then you normally would if you were baking at 350. You have to watch it closer but the results are phenomenal.

These are some of my 'tricks' to making a cake mix taste 'homemade' (but better.) Hope it works for you!

Look what happened at my house today!!

We have a patio!!



Notice the flower garden spots on the side?




Also notice Corinne riding with Ashley? She seems to like it. But YAY!! Now we need a swing and patio furniture.... Grass and gardens should be coming in the next week. I'm so happy!!