Coughing Kiddo

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. Inhalers are entirely too expensive.
Emma doesn't need one very much; but when we have to get a new one, the pharmacist always says, "Now, you know how much this is, right?"

2. Constant coughing is annoying.
Bless her little heart, I'm sure Emma isn't trying to bug the crap out of me, but...

3. I feel helpless.
I just wish I could help her get rid of her cough. It's got to be frustrating for her.

Game of Thrones

Big Daddy and I have been plowing through all the seasons of Game of Thrones for about a week now. We are now caught up and are ready, like everyone else, for the next episode.

I now totally get what the "big deal" is about this show.

And I just purchased book 1, so I will begin reading the series very soon. I'm sure it'll be fantastic.

At this point, my favorite characters are Jon Snow, Arya Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, and Olenna Tyrell (sassy old broad). And, honestly, I'm kind of starting to like the Hound.

I'm not sure how I feel about sharing a name with Jaime Lannister.

Of course, all this may change after reading the books. Like I said, I've only seen the show so far.

Wanna talk about Game of Thrones? E-mail me (or at least comment below), and we'll chat.

Turn Signals

Two Cents Tuesday

I was bored with Twitter Tuesday and wanted to make a change. My mom came up with this theme idea. Trying it out today, giving you my two cents on a topic.

Turn signals are important. Using them properly is even more important.

Making a turn up ahead? Let people know about it ahead of time by engaging your turn signal 5 to 10 seconds ahead of your turn instead of as you're turning.

Switching lanes in congested traffic? Use your turn signal to alert the cars around you of your intentions.

Just made a turn? A quick glance at the dashboard is all it takes to verify that your turn signal is no longer flashing (which can confuse and frustrate the cars behind you because they can't tell if/when you're turning).

I'm just saying.

Time Off and Hair Dye

You may or may not have noticed, but recently I've taken a small break from blogging. I guess I just haven't had anything to say.

I think it's time to get back to it. I enjoy writing. It's fun.

A few weeks ago, I decided I wanted to lighten my hair. I wanted to do it myself (because I'm a cheapskate). Well, I did it; and the color turned out strawberry blonde on me. Apparently my hair just has a reddish tint to it when I dye it. Which makes my face look flushed and/or sickly because I have red tones in my skin.

I left it for a few weeks, trying to get used to it. But this past Friday I decided I'd had enough and went with a different brand of dye. Which made it even MORE red, making me look even MORE flushed.

So I dyed it again today. I *think* I succeeded in toning down the reddish tint, but I'll need to wait and see. If I can't handle how it looks, I'm just going to go darker. That'll make the "grow out" process less awkward (i.e. less horribly visible roots).

I'll let you know how it goes.

Grammarly FTW

Wordy Wednesday

(FTW means "for the win" for those of you who don't know...)

It's a lot. Always and forever.

Just like would have or should have.

Even Tracy Morgan gets it.

Who's the April Fool?

I slept on the trundle bed in Emma's room last night. Went in there after she was already sleeping so I could surprise her in the morning.

Since I normally wake her up in the morning, I had to figure out a way to make her wake up and notice me in there without me actually waking her up. I used my phone as an alarm and hit snooze after it went off the first time right next to me. I then put the phone on her pillow next to her head and waited for the 10 minute snooze. I heard it go off, but I stayed where I was until she woke up and was all confused and finally whispered, "Mommy, your phone." To which I replied, "April Fools!"

It worked. She was surprised I was there. Mission accomplished.

Or was it?

That trundle mattress may be good for visiting little friends; but that thing is NOT good for an adult to sleep on. Harder than a rock. I'll be paying for that later today.

Cats, Naps, and More

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. I love playing with the adoptable kitties at PetSmart.
Since Norbert can't seem to handle other animals in the house, it's nice to be able to go over to PetSmart and spend some QT snuggling with sweet kitties. Emma and I are getting to be good friends with all the employees over there.

2. I don't think one day of warmth and sunshine over spring break is too much to ask for.
I mean, seriously.

3. Naps are awesome.
Need I say more?

Fists and Fives

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook. I don't watch hockey, but the good fights are always entertaining. This one didn't let me down. Watch until the very end.



A few thoughts:
1. I found it hilarious that the TWO refs just stood there and let the whole thing unfold.
2. Don't you think both men had sore knuckles and faces the next morning?
3. All fights should end with a high five and no hard feelings.

Spring Break: Day 1

Today's Events
Short time at work with me
Pediatric dentist appointment in Speedway (No cavities!)
Lunch with Big Daddy (@ Qdoba!!)
Trip to the Greenwood Park Mall (Hooray for sales!)
Continuing the Harry Potter marathon (Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire)

Tomorrow
Bowling with MIL and FIL

Wordless Wednesday

Pre-Paddy Party

Big Daddy and I celebrated St. Patrick's Day this weekend at The Monkey's Tale in Broad Ripple. He was asked to run sound for a friend's band, The Whiskey Ninjas (who were awesome, by the way); so I got to tag along.

Broad Ripple, for those who don't know, is touted as one of six cultural districts in Indianapolis. Wikipedia describes it as a lovely, diverse, cultural utopia. But if you ask someone from around here about Broad Ripple, they'll probably tell you it's a college bar scene.

Sounds like Big Daddy and me, right?

Well, here are some things I learned from our pre-Paddy party experience:
1. I am old.
2. I need more than 5 hours of sleep to function properly.
3. Next time I go out to a bar, I need to wear a purse with a cross-body strap. Holding a clutch all night is not fun.

Would I do it again? Yes. But not right away.

I've got to rest up first. And buy a new purse.

Nighttime Thoughts

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. Chromecast is really neat.

You can just toss the video or whatever you're watching onto the TV screen so everyone can see/hear it instead of turning your laptop around and making everyone move close so they can see the screen.

2. I loved wearing flip flops the other day.

I hope I can do that again VERY soon. That and go outside with no coat on and be comfortable. Man, that sure was nice.

3. I'm going to dye my hair tomorrow.

I've just decided. I know what I'm going to choose, but I'm curious as to what color my readers would like to see...

For Funsies

I can't get enough Olaf. He cracks me up.

So on this lovely Tuesday (and before winter comes back tomorrow), let's enjoy this happy song together. As many times as we want.



Go ahead. Sing along. You know you want to.

Almost...

Almost got a cat this weekend. Emma and I went to the Humane Society adoption event they were having at PetSmart on Saturday. I fell in love with this little light-colored kitten named Gunther (Adventure Time, anyone?). Then I noticed he had a sister (a sweet-faced black kitten named Elana) in there with him; and the literature said that they cried without each other. Which basically meant you had to take them both. Figured that probably wouldn't go over too well if we came home with two kittens when Chris was unsure we should even get one.*

Then we went over to another area of the store where there were 3 cats in a big, wire cage. A rabbit-colored one named Valentine, an orange and white one named Jasper, and a gray, stripey one named Uriah. Uriah fell in love with Emma. She crouched next to the cage and petted him for quite a long time. If she stopped petting, he would rub against the cage or paw at the cage, telling her to keep petting.

*Our concern on getting a new animal for the house is Norbert. He's 12 years old, has been an "only child" for his whole life with us, and he's crazy. Seriously. He's just an odd duck. Remember the Roscoe experiment? Yeah, that didn't go over too well with good ol' Norbert.

My idea was maybe a different species of animal wouldn't bother him as much. But I don't want to adopt an animal and then have to take it back because Norbert can't handle it. That's not fair to the adopted animal.

So it looks like we'll be waiting to adopt an animal until after Norbert is no longer with us. It's probably easier that way.

I never held Uriah. I knew if I did I wouldn't want to leave without him. Which is also why I never held Gunther or Elana or Valentine (who slept the entire time we were there) or Jasper.

I tell you what, though. I would have taken them all - and all of the ones at the Humane Society - if I could have. Which is probably why I shouldn't go to those kinds of adoption events anymore.

Happy birthday, Papaw!

My grandpa will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow. So on this Throwback Thursday, I thought I'd show you some old photos I found of my Papaw Bud.

Emma was 2.

Emma was 4 1/2.

Happy birthday, Papaw Bud! I love you very much!!!

Hiccups and Hurts

You know when you get those hurty hiccups that feel like they will never go away? Yeah, it stinks.

Speaking of hurty... I cut myself again with a sharp knife last night while making dinner. I cut my left pointer finger right at the top bendy part as I was hand washing the knife in the sink.

I went to the school nurse about it today. 

Really. I was helping out at Emma's school, and I was chatting with Mrs. Lee, the school nurse. I asked her if she'd look at my finger to make sure it was OK. She said it looked good, and I don't need stitches.

I shouldn't be allowed near sharp knives. I'm a danger to myself.

A Couple of Sillies

Twitter Tuesday

See what happens when Tina Fey and Jimmy flip lips: http://t.co/dkss2q7fHN #FallonTonight
— Fallon Tonight (@FallonTonight) March 4, 2014

Not Again!

Wellness Wednesday

It looks like I've come down with another terrible cold, just as Emma is getting well from hers. That's always how it seems to happen around here.

I've been using my Neti pot (this exact one, actually) in the morning and before bed since Sunday. It is helping some, so I'm hoping I won't have to make an appointment with my doctor; but it's looking like I may have to make that appointment in the next day or two, as my ears sound like they're filled with crackling Rice Krispies and my throat is starting to hurt when I swallow. Boo.

So if you happen to see me around or talk to me on the phone, I apologize for my ridiculous nasal tone. I really am trying to get better. It'll go away, even if I have to buck up and go to the doctor and get medicine to make that happen.

If you see me this time next week and I still sound like this, you have my permission to tell me the following:

Voldemort?

Twitter Tuesday

We might have been onto something with that @JamieMcMurray Superlative… http://t.co/LMppdXcOVr pic.twitter.com/60gl7L2gVP
— Fallon Tonight (@FallonTonight) February 25, 2014

“@jamiemcmurray: How did you know @jimmyfallon?@TheTonightShow @CGRTeams #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/9OUCnzVrUy” ha!! I knew it.
— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) February 25, 2014

Adventures in Cake Pops

My sister- and brother-in-law (i.e. Big Daddy's sister and her hubby) got me a cake pop maker for my birthday.

Emma was desperate to try it out as soon as we got home. I was really not so much in the mood to tackle that right then, but we all decided to do it as a family. And we had a blast!

We picked the red velvet cake pop recipe from the booklet that came with the device. But we didn't have any cocoa or buttermilk. Did we go to the store? Heck no! We improvised.

Thanks to Big Daddy's interweb prowess, he figured out how to use a mini Hershey bar + slightly less butter in place of the cocoa. Instead of mixing the cocoa powder with the dry ingredients, we blended the melted Hershey bar with the softened butter (which we decreased by a 1/2 tablespoon). Big Daddy used to watch a lot of Alton Brown's "Good Eats," so he learned a lot of the science of food and how important it is to keep the dry and wet ingredients separate until the right time. Totally worked.

He also figured out how to simulate buttermilk. I was busy mixing other ingredients while he did that part, so I'm not exactly sure how he did it. You'll have to ask him about it. I think it involved milk and lemon juice; but whatever it was, it worked.

We also made a vanilla glaze to go on the cake pops. So basically we made red velvet doughnut holes on sticks.

(That pill bottle is Norbert's antibiotic. He had a hurt-y paw the other day that required a trip to the vet. We use that knife to make a little opening in a piece of hot dog and slip in the pill. Works like a charm. Just in case you were wondering about the random pills and knife in the middle of the photo...)
*Also note Emma's concentration face. Hehe*

And you know what? They tasted pretty darn good!

Next time we'll do a thicker icing on the cake pops so we can decorate them with rainbow sprinkles (Emma's favorite). And I'll make sure to have the proper ingredients before we start.