Holidays....and BandAids

I hope everyone had a great holiday!  I did.  My girly enjoyed her presents, tearing them, playing with them, all that good stuff.

Then the day after Christmas, lovely hubby had left out an empty Coke Zero can....and guess who grabbed it by the inside razor sharp edge?!?  Yes, my daughter ripped off a good chunk of the pad of her middle finger on her right hand.  I did not take a pic of the cut, that's just horrid.  But this does bring me to my ubject of BandAids.

How about the whoring up of Belle?  Hmmm??  Yeah, I've got pics of the Princess BandAids I bought for Caimbrie.  And let me tell you, Cinderella and Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) are lovely.  But Belle?  Front and center...total whore.  They've got cleavage and whorish make-up.  I was flabberghasted when I saw this.  Seriously, I was. 

I mean, seriously!  She looks all sultry and maybe you can't see the cleavage from the picture, but although it's not huge, it's still there.  I know, I'm probably overreacting.  But I was very upset when I saw this.  I should actually complain about it, they didn't make the other princesses look like they wanted to jump the daddy's bones who's going to buy the product, but they did Belle. 

And now I'm done complaining about this.  I just had to make my statement.  But I do have to say the last time I went to the store and looked specifically for these BandAids, they were different.  Maybe others complained?  Maybe it was just a picture change?  Who knows. 

Anyway, hope you all had a great Christmas/Holiday!

Inconsistencies

I'm not going to name names or places here, but don't you just hate inconsistencies?  I know, I know, in this troubled time for many people, this is the least of worries.  But when it makes a job or home life that much harder to deal with, it sucks.  When life already sucks, it sucks even more when people don't follow what they've done in the past or what you know they're going to do in the future.  And let's be honest, big shitty stuff sucks the big one.  But it's the little stuff, on top of little stuff, on top of more stupid little stuff, that makes that suckage soooooo huge.

And I know, I have my health for the most part and we don't have cancer or another incurable disease, which is a HUGE blessing.  Things can always be worse, I am totally aware.  We are happy enough and Jeff and I at least have jobs, we have a roof over our head.  But it does not negate how I feel and the things happening to us.  And it doesn't help the people surrounding us who have it so much harder and how that is affecting me and my mental health and stress level.

So what can we do but keep working, keep trying, keep worrying, keep helping, keep hoping and keep praying.  I've done a lot of praying, and mainly for everyone else, honestly.  And we've all been trying, not just sitting on our laurels waiting for a miracle.  I, and millions of other people, just need things to get a little better to feel like I am not drowning anymore.

And back to the inconsistencies.  Why can't people just do what they say they're going to do?  Why can't they just do what they're supposed to do?  Why?  Why?  Why?  That's just one little thing added to make the suckage of the week oh so much better.

And now I'm done bitching. 

Hunger Games

Well, I was ahead of the curve at work at least for reading the Hunger Games (many have now borrowed and read my books thoroughly).  I got the series for my birthday last November, not too long after Mockingjay was released.  I had heard the people on the podcast Pottercast that I listen to raving about it.  So I had to give it a whirl. 

Well, well, what a whirl it was.  I was actually very, very busy at work that week.  Had a ton of transcripts to do.  And I did all my pages throughout that whole week while reading every lunch hour and only at night after Caimbrie went down for bed and during breaks in court.  And I read all three books before the week was finished.  Damn, it's a great series.

Now, those who know me, know that I'm a Harry Potter fanatic.  I have my snitch tattoo to prove it....not that that's why I got it, but nevertheless.  I also like the Twilight series.  I'm not one to compare, I just like books to like them, or love 'em if I love 'em.  And although the writers and stories are completely different and I'm not obsessed with Hunger Games like HP, I do have to say I love the series. 

So I finally got a chance to watch the trailer.  A day late, yes, but I JUST watched it.  And wow, it evokes everything that I felt when reading the book.  I didn't think it would.  I was skeptical about their choices for actors (like I have the right), but I was.  Well, this put that skepticism away for me.  I really, really am looking forward to this movie.  And if you haven't read the books, I always believe there can't possibly be enough in the movies to portray the feelings and thoughts of the main character in a book on screen, so I say read them.  But I bet even if you don't read them, that the movie would be worth a watch.

http://youtu.be/p-5ANq4sAL0

Halloween and Birthday

Well, I'm 31.  Wahoo.  No biggie, never been upset or bothered by numbers.  It's how you feel.  And my knees yesterday felt about 80.  But that's cause of the weather.  But that aside, it was a decent birthday.  Not the worst, not the best.  But isn't that how it goes?  I did FINALLY get something from Caimbrie - more like daddy - that says that I'm a mom!  I got a World's Greatest Mom bag, very cute, pink and white.  And 2 charms for my bracelet: a World's Greatest Mom and a 2-part charm - a split heart that says Mother and Daughter.  So I've got my mother half on my bracelet and when Caim has a bracelet, she'll get to put the Daughter half on there.  Oh, how could I forget....Jeff got me a dozen - yes, a dozen - of my favorite Veruca Salt cupcakes from Bleeding Heart Bakery!  Mmm, Mmm, Mmm are they good.  I shared some at work yesterday, but it was my birthday and I have a right to be a little selfish with some of them, don't I?

And I know I'm going backwards, but onto Halloween, which was Monday...but Caimbrie was the cutest little Peep!  I know that I'm biased, but I got a lot of comments about how cute she was.  Jeff and I were both off and while he finished up our yard and putting out the fog machine and getting the mechanics of some things ready, I took Caim to my mom's work and to my work...and it made for a pretty tiring, long morning.  But the girl filled her pumpkin all the way between the two work places!  Mocha was a duck, and she got many compliments as well, and a few biscuits...which she doesn't need.  And those shoes?  They were just cheapy white shoes, but I double-sided-taped on the fluffy yellow trim....so cute!

And we actually came very close to giving away all the candy - full sized candy bars, I might add - to all the kids that came by.  Now, we bought the least amount we've ever bought, 4 boxes.  But there's 30 bars to a box and that's 120 bars. (The Reese's box was a back-up in case we actually ran out.)  Normally we get 5 or 6 boxes but only go through about 2 boxes worth, if that.  This year we don't even have a full box left!  Woo hoo!  Not like I mind, really, but we finally are getting some kids!  We live right by a grammar school, for goodness sake!

Pumpkin Carving

Well, we had a fun day.  Relaxed, cleaned, caught up on DVR'd stuff...and carved pumpkins.  Well, Jeff and I carved pumpkins while Caimbrie sat back and watched, eating cheese balls and drinking her milk...and dropping extra cheese balls to Mo.

We had a good time.  I got the small pumpkin, and my carving skills leave much to be desired.  I'm pathetic.  But that's okay.  I own it.

Jeff on the other hand, although it took him about 4 hours, yes, 4 hours....his pumpkin is  awesome.  Well, to me it's awesome.  He is methodical and spent all this time with little tools carving and sculpting and shaving....blah, blah, blah.  But I think it turned out pretty kick-ass.  And it is pretty awesome in the dark, if I do say so myself.  You get a better idea for the slight cuts in the mouth and stuff when it's dark and lit up from inside.

Cupcakes

Mmmm.....who doesn't love a fanfriggintastic cupcake?  Whatever your pleasure - big, small, vanilla, chocolate, buttercream, cream cheese frosting....there's something for everyone, right?  Well, I've had my fair share of cupcakes from this "cupcake craze" that's been going on lately.  And my disclaimer to this post is that I have NOT tried every cupcake flavor at each of these places, I'm only basing it off of what I've had, and family has had.   Some places it's 10 different cupcakes, some places it's only 3.  But still, I go on.

I had Flirty Cupcakes, from the blue van.  They're good, but a denser cake and if you're not a cream cheese frosting lover, which I'm not, the frosting is a little blander than I'd like.  Good, don't get me wrong...but not a to-die-for cupcake, in my opinion.  But I'd go back.

We went on a Chocolate Tour downtown, compliments of Amanda =), and went to More Cupcakes.

They were pretty flavorful.  I have to say, I did like them.  But honestly?  I'm remembering the decor of the small, chic place, more than the lasting flavor in my brain. But if I were around the area again?  I probably would stop in and try another one.

After that tour was finished, we made our way over to Sprinkles (not on the tour). 

My, my, my, was there buzz about this place?  Must be Ah-May-Zing, right?  I mean, we were about 6th in line....and then a few minutes later we turn around, there had to be at least 15 people behind us!!!  Yeah - no.  We were totally excited.  But they left something to be desired, quite honestly.  I mean, I'm a baker.  I don't claim I'm fantastic, but I can bake.  Pretty much anything.  We all make mistakes, I've done it, the best have done it...I'm not Top Chef: Just Desserts material, but I can put out a mean dessert.  I could make more flavorful cupcakes, in my opinion.  Sorry, but they left NOTHING to be desired for me.  Will not be going back.

Now for my favorites.  There are two.  I started with Bleeding Heart Bakery, whom I LOVE!  We had a tad of a mishap with the cake made for us for our 30th birthdays last year (above, my pic), but they fixed it and made up for it, and that's all water under the bridge.  I still stand by them for their flavors AND what they stand for.  And Organic Punk Rock bakery?  LOVE IT!!!  Anyway, they are fuckin awesome.  I LOVE the Veruca Salt.  I can't get enough of it.  But there's not one near me, so I don't get enough of it.  But it's an awesome treat!

Seriously, if you go, go by, whatever....try their cupcakes.  I'll ALWAYS go back.

Now for my most recent.  Wow, Crumbs.  Man, do they have it down, or what?  They rock.  Plain and simple.  Now, the only difference between them and Bleeding Heart?  The friggin size of the cupcakes.  They are SO BIG!  And that's just their regular sized cupcakes.  I'm not talking the Colossal ones.  I haven't even tried all the ones that Jeff brought home from the shop close to his work, but let me tell you, Holy Shit!  Wow.  I seriously cannot finish one by myself.  That's the only downfall.  If I got one and didn't have someone who liked the same flavors or whatever, I wouldn't be able to finish it.  Would it keep for a day?  Till the end of the day?  I have no clue.  But it's damn worth it.  But according to Jeff, they do make sampler packs or taste packs that have smaller cupcakes in them.  That may be the way to go, but I don't think you can pick and choose your cupcakes.  So you have to do what suits you in that respect.  But they have the moistest (what a kind of gross word, huh?) cake which is also light, but still oddly sturdy to hold the massive toppings and frosting they put on it that are chock full of flavor.  But the cake is also very flavorful.  So this place I would go back to, will go back to, am LOVING.  I wish they had a picture of the Coffee Cupcake that I ate and shared with Sandy, but they don't.  So I'll put up the picture of the Reese's Cupcake they have that's going to be consumed probably tonight at home.

That's my take on it!  And I don't know if I'm infringing on any of these websites by putting the pictures of the cupcakes on my blog or not, if I am, I'll delete them.  But I can take a pic myself of the Resee's one tonight, but not the Veruca Salt....and not the pics of More or Sprinkles.  But who knows.  Not me!

Peeps

Just a quick note before I give my little one a bath here.  I wanted oh-so-badly to be a Marshmallow Peep like my daughter will be for Halloween.  But money's been tight and I figured, okay, well, now's the time, if at all. 

With Halloween being Monday, it being Wednesday night....I cannot justify spending as much on shipping to get me the costume that they only made available for one year...last year....as the costume itself.  Ridiculous.

So I will not be a Peep, but a boring mom walking down the street with Caimbrie this Halloween.  And I was looking forward to it.  But in these times?  I don't think so....crazy companies.

My First Blog!

Okay, this is going to be short and sweet.  Maybe not sweet.  But I decided after many readings of other blogs, it was time to put on my own.  I guess more as a journal and my musings than anything.  But now I'm short on time, having spent it all figuring this thing out.  So for the none of you who read this, it won't matter that I'm not writing anything of substance!

So have a Magical Day!