Such a Gloomy Day for Fat Legs

So Random Convo of the week that brought up a sad topic that most women experience but don't often talk about... Fat Thighs...

Yes.. I said it..  It's a gloomy rainy day and we're going to talk about a sad subject.  I saw this pic online and it cracked my face up....

I remember being younger and thinking it was strange to see women with bikini's that had a space between their legs.  After talking with the girls I was happy to see I wasn't the only one that didn't remember having one of those...

We began discussing this after talking about how recent weight gain had increased the whooshing sound that often accompanies fat legs.   It then turned into a conversation about wearing through pants in that area and how irritating it was to have to throw away a pair of pants because of this horrible phenomenon.

We came up with a simple solution...   In fact you've seen it before..  Just in a different format.   What do you think?

Smitten Kitten in the Kitchen

So It didn't save properly but I saw this cartoon this week and LOVED it!  Mr Hot Stuff and I had our first date 9 years ago next week and I always get a little sentimental about it. We've had a crazy nine years but alas.. I am still a smitten kitten.  And he does smell like both : )

This week for handsome I attempted to make a cake with a watch made out of fondant for a watch forum that he belongs to.  Not exactly what I was trying for but not too shabby for a first attempt.  The symbol and watch are made out of fondant and painted with edible pearl dust and gel food coloring.

Spring has sprung ...  Kinda...  This weather is funky.  But that means lots of YUMMY veggies!

I love asparagus!!!

For Book Club last night I made Prosciutto wrapped asparagus and stuffed mushrooms.   Here are the recipes.

Wrapped Asparagus

1 lb of asparagus  rub in olive oil and salt and pepper

grill or bake in the oven until they are tender with a little bite to them  ( 350 for around 10-15 mins)

After you remove them from the oven take a half slice of prosciutto and add a dab of goat or cream cheese (this is based on the flavors you prefer...  goat cheese is more tangy)

Wrap the prosciutto around the asparagus and allow the warmth to soften the cheese.

Stuffed Mushrooms

8 oz of cream cheese softened

1/4-1/2 cup of bacon bits or real bacon chopped

2 stems of green onion finely chopped

salt and pepper to taste

garlic powder to taste

hot sauce to taste

Mix ingredients together in a bowl

remove the stem from approx 20 button mushrooms ( You can use any type of mushroom that you like .. just note that you will need more or less mushrooms depending on the size and cooking time may vary)

Spoon enough filling into the concave spot on the bottom of the mushroom to fill and come up just over the rim.

Bake in a 350 oven for 10-15 mins until mushrooms are cooked and tops get golden (finish under the broiler if needed)

EAT AND LOVE AND LOVE WHAT YOU EAT!

Knitting for a Cause and annoy the dog at the same time.

A lady at church was trying to get us to make knitted beanies for people who may be homeless, have cancer or for new born babies.  Although I want to help where I can I seriously doubted my knitting skills.  (I had none).  She swore that it wouldn't take more than a couple hours for an entire hat and that anyone could do it.   I told her she was a liar but I sat down to work on my project.  The first one did take a little bit of getting used to but she was right..  It only took a couple of hours (now I'm down to 2-2 1/2 per hat) and I'M HOOKED!  I apologized for telling her she was a liar and handed in 3 hats that week.  So for all you out there that are interested in learning how to knit on a loom for quick things.  Or you want to help people by doing a quick craft here are some step by step instructions.

Here is the final product as worn by the irritated Bebe.  I needed a model and she was the only one home.  She loves getting her picture taken.  Can't you tell?!

First Step:  Buy Yarn (for Knitting) and a Knifty Knitter Loom set.  These come with 3 loom sizes generally and the hook you need.  You can almost always get these 40% off at Joann's or Michael's.

Start by making a loose tie around the end knob on the loom.

Make sure you have 2 strings of yarn going around each peg.

A Little Birdy teaching you how to be CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP

Ok…  Yesterday hopefully you got started with daily emails that will save you money.  Here are some other sites that you can sign up for that will give you free products, Info on where to find deals, coupons or discounts on home and clothing.

Here are sites that are either directly from a manufacturer or affiliated with them.  They will send you free products (usually full size) or coupons to get a free product just to try them out and tell your friends. They are a great way to try something new for free and be the first to be in the know.

Kraft First Taste: www.kraftfirsttaste.com

Pssst….: www.pssst.generalmills.com

Houseparty: www.houseparty.com

Vocalpoint:  www.vocalpoint.com

Saving you some scratch .. Unless you wanna itch...

So the Hub’s and I LOVE :  Going Places, Trying new things, Buying Stuff, Staying in nice hotels etc…   We like to DO A Lot but I do not like to pay A LOT .

You may have seen the show Extreme Couponing on TLC.  I enjoy watching the show and it has inspired me to coupon a ton.  BUT! That show is totally unrealistic.  These women spend 30+ hours a week cutting and organizing coupons, stalking mailmen and newspaper deliverers, miss out on family gatherings and cover their houses full of items that some of them don’t even need.  Now I say more power to them if it makes them happy and saves them money but how do us normal people implement money saving into our already busy daily lives?  This was my quest…  The internet is an amazing place and there is a ton of info out there.  I search all of the time for deals, coupons, freebies and sales.   Here is a list complied from several of the sites I use. These are links through my accounts or you can go to the website directly.  I hope it will reduce your search time and save you some dollars!  

Today's Blog is about Saving money online through email sites.  I will post more later this week about Couponing, Travel savings and Clothing savings.

Note: Not all sites have a discount for your area but you can sign up anyway for national deals or for areas that you visit on a regular basis.  We love San Francisco so I sign up for deals in that area.

1. BEFORE YOU SIGN UP FOR THESE I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SETTING UP A SAVINGS EMAIL ACCOUNT SEPARATE FROM YOUR REGULAR EMAIL.  You will get lots of emails and it is nice to not have them all jumbled.
2. If there is a store that you frequent often or a product that you use on a regular basis : sign up for emails directly from that store.  You will get coupons, discounts and updates that are not available unless you are on the list.  (I do this for certain clothing stores, craft stores and restaurants)
3. SIGN UP FOR EBATES!!!!!!  You can get money back on these purchases!!! I got a check last week.  http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=jKT6A7rBAVthxhqgGsu7Xw%3D%3D

Discount Websites that send daily emails (Buy tickets, products, gift cards etc.)

The UnDomestic Goddess of War and Potatoes aren't just for funerals anymore

I was blessed to be born into a wonderful family with many of the same Easter traditions that I’m sure most of you out there share.  I recall dying eggs with my grandmother, hunting for eggs and treats on the lawn in my new pretty dress and fighting to preserve my candy stash from the grips of my parents who thought they had children just to be able to take their candy.

I was also blessed to marry into a loving and incredibly large Mexican family.  This brought on new family Easter traditions for me….. Namely Cascarones.   If you have yet to experience this little treasure… you are missing out.  My family was always very polite with our eggs so imagine my shock the first time I came over for a Rodriguez Easter and a cousin whacked me in the back of the head with a cleaned out egg shell filled with confetti.  

Traditionally you are supposed to save your egg shells and create your own.  Except every year I forget until the day before… I have the desire to do all things domestic and creative... But rarely the organization or forethought nessesary.  Thank goodness for walmart selling premade ones.  Walmart has everything.

Now..  These are a hot commodity among the kids but adults get in on the action as well.  I traded one of my eggs for allowing me to smash one and take a picture.  See Cousin Jayden below.

Here are photos of the aftermath of the massacre.  Just a reminder Mexican kids have been raised to crush eggs and beat cartoon piñatas to death…  Watch yourself accordingly.  Hubby and I went home with lots of goodies in our hair.

In deciding what dish to bring to our gathering I knew that I wanted to bring potatoes…  I can’t get enough…  Ever….     Every Mormon funeral luncheon attendee has partaken of Funeral Potatoes….   I Love Funeral Potatoes….   I go to weddings for cake and funerals for potatoes..  What can I say.. I’m a fat kid at heart.   But I say..  why wait for a funeral for deliciousness?     Below is a copy of the recipe for your dining pleasure.

 

• 32 oz bag of frozen cubed potatoes
• 2 (10 3/4 oz) cans cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups sour cream
• 1 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese (I like to use sharp cheddar cheese)
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups finely crushed corn flakes
• 2 Tbs butter or margarine melted
• Hubby requested bacon next time

 

• Grease 9x13 baking dish and preheat oven to 350
• In large bowl combine soups, sour cream, cheese, onions, and the 1/2 cup of melted butter.
• Gently fold potatoes into mixture.
• Pour mixture into pan.
• Combine crushed corn flakes and the 2 Tbs. of melted butter and sprinkle on top of potato mixture.
• Bake for 55 minutes.  Check potatoes to make sure they are cooked through.

Modified recipe from http://www.grouprecipes.com/12808/funeral-potatoes.html

ENJOY!

Knitting Hats, Book Club and the idea of Half @*&%ed living.

So last night at Movie Book Club I started working on my 2nd knitted cap of all time.  I tried to be crafty and figure out how to change colors mid knit.   Lets just say there was some correcting that needed to happen.  As I was discussing my recent freakish crafty/coupony/baking obsession, I also mentioned my penchant for beginning things and not finishing or not making them as pretty or perfect as other crafters.  Low and behold my fellow readers have several half finish projects of their own.  They also have several hundreds and thousands of dollars worth of equipment and supplies sitting around. Basically the idea for this blog came to me through our raucous discussion of my desire to do all and be all but never getting around to it.  I love looking at other blogs with their pretty pictures, super crafty/clever/imaginative ideas, posts and thoughts.  But......  That's also generally extremely unrealistic (at least for me).   If you get a bee in your bonnet to craft, save money, try something new etc.  and it turns out well half the time...  Then this is the blog for you....


Note: the picture is not styled...  and the hats are different sizes  : )   Like I said...  Things aren't always perfect in my world.