BFL-November Begins

My picks:

Miami @ New York Jets
New York Giants @ Philadelphia
Denver @ Baltimore
Houston @ Buffalo
Cleveland @ Chicago
Seattle @ Dallas
St. Louis @ Detroit
San Fransisco @ Indianapolis
Jacksonville @ Tennessee
Oakland @ San Diego
Carolina @ Arizona
Minnesota @ Green Bay

Monday: Atlanta @ New Orleans points: 52


Carlos' picks:

Miami @ New York Jets
New York Giants @ Philadelphia
Denver @ Baltimore
Houston @ Buffalo
Cleveland @ Chicago
Seattle @ Dallas
St. Louis @ Detroit
San Fransisco @ Indianapolis
Jacksonville @ Tennessee
Oakland @ San Diego
Carolina @ Arizona
Minnesota @ Green Bay

Monday: Atlanta @ New Orleans points- 58

Head on over to Amazing Greis' house to join in and check out our spreadsheet on game day to follow all of the action!

The only post you'll ever see me write about Twilight

I haven't read the books. I haven't seen the movie. I'm not-so-much a fan of the vampire genre. But I jumped on the chance to check this out because I thought that YOU, my readers, might want to know about this book.

Brian Leaf is an educator that has written many SAT and ACT study guides. I think that this one must surely be the coolest. defining Twilight is a vocabulary workbook for those studying for the SAT, ACT, GED, and SSAT tests. Can there be anything better for an Edward-loving teen that really should be studying but won't put down the latest? Here's how it works: On the first page of each chapter it gives you vocabulary words and corresponding page numbers. You then go to that page and read the text and try to guess the meaning. The rest of the chapter gives you the meaning as well as sample synonyms, analogies, and sentence completion questions, then at the end of each group of chapters there are sample quizzes. I'm guessing that my Headless Girl might have actually studied for these tests had this been available when she was taking them. My HB#1 flipped through this and thought it was really cool too-he's great at vocabulary and even at 9 thought that the concept sounded fun. (I might be tempted to keep my sample if he was anywhere old enough to read Twilight, but he's not.)

Here's what all of this means for you: Since I won't be needing a SAT workbook in the near future, I'll be offering this copy to my readers, similar to my other 'click for clutter' posts. Do you have a daughter or niece that you think would like to have this book? Let me know in the comments. If I get any more than 1 comment I'll use random.org to choose who I will pass this on to. My copy only has a few fingerprints on it, so it's practically new.

Thanks, Brian, for sending this to me to review! Brian is also offering some free SAT/ACT help through this link as well where you can sample what he does.

(Disclosures: I was given this book to review. It's value is under $10, new. I am sending it to a reader at my own expense. I was not paid to write my opinion. The above Amazon link is to my Amazon Associates page and if you order this book, or anything else, from that link I will get a few pennies. Which would be cool for me, but you should know that upfront.)

I have closed comments on this post so I can choose a winner. Thanks for entering!

Congratulations to Carmen, Mom to the Screaming Masses for winning this book for her daughter!

Risotto

I used to be really intimidated by risotto. I thought that I couldn't possibly make something so complex in my own kitchen. Boy, was I wrong! Risotto is amazingly simple, but has great rewards in the oooh and aaah department. It looks and tastes like you worked really hard.

Simple Risotto (recipe from Joy of Cooking, tweaks and extras by me.)(Ingredients in bold.)

• Simmer 8 cups of chicken broth in a sauce pan. Keep warm for later.
• Use a large skillet or wok style pan. Deep is good.
• Heat 1Tbsp. olive oil and 1 Tbsp. butter until melted.
• Add one whole onion finely diced. Cook, stirring until onions are translucent but not browned.
• Add 2 cups Italian rice. (risotto, arborio, or American medium grain.) Stir in pan until rice is translucent, with a white dot in the middle. (About 3 minutes.)
  
• Add 1/2 cup of white wine. (Just about any regular wine will do. Just don't use any super sweet/dessert wine.)
• Remember to stir almost continually throughout the cooking time!
• Add chicken stock 1 cup at a time, stirring until all liquid is absorbed before adding more. Begin tasting rice after 6 cups. Rice should still be firm, not mushy. Add liquid at 1/2 cup intervals now, until done. (If you have left over broth pour it in ice trays and save for your next soup or slow-cooker meal.)
  
• Fold in 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Fold in about 3/4 lb. precooked, deveined, shelled shrimp. (Here's where you can get creative. You can try chicken, italian sausage, scallops, just about any kind of meat. Just make sure it's precooked. I think pounded, sauteed chicken sounds great, and may try it next time.)
• Top with a few spears of asparagus. (Cook them in your veggie steamer while adding the liquid.)(You can also get creative here: zucchini, broccoli, peppers, whatever kind of veggie you might want should be ok.)
• Garnish with fresh diced tomatoes. (Or whatever. You get the drift.)

Since it takes a while for the liquid to absorb I suggest two things: a glass of wine and comfortable shoes. This is not a difficult recipe, just a little time consuming since you have to stand there stirring, and stirring, and stirring. Start to finish, though, shouldn't take you longer than 45 min. to an hour, assuming that you have gathered and prepped your ingredients beforehand.

Buon Appetito!

PS-Have you entered my Oroweat giveaway yet? Get to it!

Hey, I didn't want the day to get away without letting all of you know that I have an Oroweat review and giveaway going on, and a Smelly Washer review and giveaway going on. Head on over and see what I had to say!

Just Curious-the Halloween Edition

Thanks for all of your suggestions on last week's question. I've been using a Rimmel foundation that fits my criteria but it irritates my eyes. I'll let you know when I find a new one that I like.

Now, on to today's question.

What was your best costume for Halloween? Describe it for us. Why was it your favorite? Do you use it every year or do you come up with something new?

I need some serious inspiration here.

Birthday Weekend

We celebrated both birthdays this weekend. I apparently celebrated by going to the grocery store a lot and baking. A lot.

That is Robin's Apple Pie and it is the very best in the world. If you need to bake a pie for the holidays this year this one is easy and so fantastic that your family will make you bring it again and again. Which is good because it's way easier than being responsible for the turkey or something equally as annoying. Tip-I used one tablespoon of cinnamon, (not the dash that the recipe calls for,) and scant a tablespoon or two of the 1 cup of sugar that it calls for. It was perfect!

Update #2

('Cuz I've already used "Update" once before.)

My dad is doing great! He was up and walking for a little while today, and should be ready to go home on Sunday. Let's pray for great pt, and great compliance. ;-)

We've got the crud around here...the boys have been on the antibiotics for ear infections since Monday. HG has been running a fever on and off since Sunday and finally went to the Dr. today and got a boat load of medication, but is actually feeling better. Good thing because my cheeks are on fire, and HD isn't feeling great either. Let's just hope we're tired, because HB#2 will be crushed if his birthday celebration is totally canceled tomorrow. (We've already had to cancel his party. It's ok! He'll have it in a few weeks. 2 birthdays for the price of one, right?) Actually, he probably won't care as long as he gets to open his presents. Then on Sunday, we get to do it all again for HG since she hasn't had a birthday dinner yet. Yes, birthday season has begun!

Oh, did I forget to mention that my baybeeeee will be 8 tomorrow? (Or maybe today, depending on when you read this?) Yikes! 19 and 8 in the same week.

We've had lots of bad news this week revolving around people that we know from HD's work. Illnesses, hospitals, layoffs. Suckage all around. I'll be happy for November to get here.

It's been a really rough week for me. I hardly left the house for 4 days. No exercise/stress relief. So on Thursday I had a mini-breakdown. I'm ok now, but it was one of those days that I couldn't quit crying. I was even worried that I couldn't make it through the grocery store without the ugly sob. Don't worry about me-I'm ok, I've just got a few things to work out and I don't want to say more before I work them out. I've figured out that my stress level is WAY higher than it needs to be. So, like I said, I'll work on it.

So anyway, that's my update. Have a happy weekend, y'all!

BFL

My picks:

Green Bay @ Cleveland
San Diego @ Kansas City
Indianapolis @ St. Louis
Minnesota @ Pittsburgh
New England @ Tampa Bay
San Fransisco @ Houston
Buffalo @ Carolina
NY Jets @ Oakland
Atlanta @ Dallas
Chicago @ Cincinatti
New Orleans @ Miami
Arizona @ NY Giants
Monday:
Philadelphia @ Washington combined score: 38



Carlos' picks:

Green Bay @ Cleveland
San Diego @ Kansas City
Indianapolis @ St. Louis
Minnesota @ Pittsburgh
New England @ Tampa Bay
San Fransisco @ Houston
Buffalo @ Carolina
NY Jets @ Oakland
Atlanta @ Dallas
Chicago @ Cincinatti
New Orleans @ Miami
Arizona @ NY Giants
Monday:
Philadelphia @ Washington, combined score 38

Join our league by visiting Amazing Greis, and follow our spreadsheet here.

Prayers, Please

Today (Thursday,) my daddy is going into surgery for a knee replacement. We would appreciate your prayers for a safe surgery and speedy recovery.

Thanks!

I love you Daddy. Talk to you soon!

Love Grows in the Garden

Nineteen

Nineteen is college, friends, a boyfriend.

Nineteen is freedom, work, and studying.

Nineteen is sleep, shopping, sorrow.

Nineteen is lessons learned, and lessons to learn.

Nineteen is womanly yet so young.

Nineteen is letting go and being held on to.

Nineteen is my baby, almost all grown up.

Nineteen is hard for your mama. You're gone in so many ways. I sit here and reluctantly watch you go, yet I cheer you on.

I cheer for you, Nineteen. It will be so much better than eighteen, yet not as golden as what will come after.

Happy Birthday, Bug. You'll always be my first baby no matter how old you get.

Just Curious-Just for the Girls

Last week I asked about your favorite movie. Thanks for all of your great suggestions-I'm going to keep my eye out for them on the OnDemand feature of our cable, (a much cheaper way to catch up on movies than the theater or renting.)

As for my favorite movie of all time, it would have to be When Harry Met Sally, followed closely by Moonstruck. They are both romantic comedies, so I suppose you could say that is my favorite genre, although I do love me some '80's teen movies. Come to think of it, some of those could be romantic comedies, too, so I guess I am pretty consistent after all.

For this week's question, I must turn to the ladies in the crowd. I need your suggestions on your favorite makeup foundation. I'm almost out and I'm looking for something with moisturizer weight and medium coverage. Any favorites? Oh, and hopefully it will also be affordable!

Thanks!

Honesty

Liz at This Full House tagged me for the Completely Honest meme.

Before we get to it I have to say that I'm honored to be tagged with such an amazing group of bloggers-men and women. Seriously, to be mentioned in the same sentence as GraceD, Jenn, Busy Mom, and Mrs. Flinger, and the others is shocking to me. I'm humbled, so thanks for that, Liz.

Now, first things first. The meme is to say 10 completely honest things about me.

• I recently was 'unfriended' by someone irl (I'm not sure why,) and it really pisses me off. The only thing I can figure out is that I tell my boys to stand up for themselves-not to take any crap from anyone. Yes, even if that means resorting to some type of physical confrontation. Really, would you want a man that doesn't know how to stand up for himself? Apparently she disagrees.
• Much of my stress lately comes from a very.tight.budget. Like tighter than we've ever experienced since we've been married.
• I have a pretty big aversion to children that call adults by their first names. I was raised by southern parents and I would have been beaten if I had done that. It's Mr. and Mrs. for my kids.
• Trolls really piss me off. Why can't they just hit the little red X?
• I hate the word "freaking," (even though I occasionally use it. Honesty, right?) We all know what it means, and what you're really trying to say. I'm talking to you, teenagers and kids that think it's ok just because it isn't the whole f-word. And to you, too, adults of aforementioned children that allow your children to use that kind of language in front of other adults.
  
• I was date-raped as a college student. The worst part was that one of my sorority sisters didn't believe me and continued to be that guy's friend. I got some revenge though by punching him in the middle of a fraternity party a year or so later-in front of all of his brothers. It felt good.
• My first roommate in college tried to beat me up for 'trying to steal her boyfriend.' Yeah, she chose the wrong girl, and he was nasty anyway.
• As much as I initially hated going to work for a restaurant, (I had a degree and it was all I could find at the time,) I ended up loving it. The hours were perfect for a night owl like me. I had many opportunities there that I could not have gotten otherwise. Oh yeah, and I gained a husband and daughter in the deal, too.
  
• I can sleep almost anywhere, anytime, and have never experienced insomnia.
• I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, that He died on the cross for our sins, and that one day He will return to rule and reign. I believe that with my whole heart and soul, and wish that I was better at sharing my testimony with others.

Now, on to the 7 tags:

• Kelly and Steph-because I tag them with everything in hopes of getting them to post more often. Thank goodness they love me, or they'd hate me for tagging them so often.
• Neil and Amy-because they are two of the best writers I know, actually in person, for reals, and I love them.
• Marcy and Suz-for being my local fan club.
• My friend A from Rocks in the Wash. She and I have been friends since college and I love that we're able to keep up through our blogs now.

OK. I followed all of the rules. I hope I haven't given anyone a heart attack. Enjoy all of the links-I hope some of these are new to you, my precious reader.

BFL picks

My picks:

Houston @ Cincinnati
Detroit @ Green Bay
St. Louis @ Jacksonville
Baltimore @ Minnesota
NY Giants @ New Orleans
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
Kansas City @ Washington
Philadelphia @ Oakland
Arizona @ Seattle
Tennessee @ New England
Buffalo @ NY Jets
Chicago @ Atlanta

Monday: Denver @ San Diego-50

Carlos' Picks:

Houston @ Cincinnati
Detroit @ Green Bay
St. Louis @ Jacksonville
Baltimore @ Minnesota
NY Giants @ New Orleans
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
Kansas City @ Washington
Philadelphia @ Oakland
Arizona @ Seattle
Tennessee @ New England
Buffalo @ NY Jets
Chicago @ Atlanta

Monday: Denver @ San Diego- 52

Join the BFL! Visit Greis to link up with your picks for this week. Follow our spreadsheet to see how you are doing against all the other bloggers and friends. One of these days I'm gonna get that winners badge!

Luckily There Wasn't a Big Mess

So many things going on, so little time. Currently:

• Football practice was rained out on Tuesday. Normally I would have been excited but I had a bunch of food cooking for the snack bar (each age level runs it throughout the season,) and it ended up just being a pain.
• Wednesday was the busiest day I've had in a loooong time. I had a business call to get in somewhere in between working in the classroom and 2 scout meetings (one was here, I ran it, and one was at a local gymnastics facility,) with little time for transition. Got the call in though. More news to follow....
• I must find a way to feed the 4 (5) of us from my freezer and cupboards. Sandwich suggestions, anyone?
  
• Oh, and practice was canceled by email around 12:30. Then, while at the gym at 4pm I got a call that our practice WAS STILL ON. Holy cow, did I have a mini-panic. (Remember the snack bar thing?) Anyway, after busting a move to get all of my stuff done, stopping for ice, and racing to the field I found out that we were not having snack bar after all.

And then my head exploded.

Remembering Summer

I took this picture on our vacation to Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. The colors make me smile and remember the sunshine. Today we have rain which in itself is glorious.

Find the sunshine through your rain today!

Just Curious-Whoops!

I guess in all of my worry last week I forgot to answer my own question! Sorry! Forgive?

OK. Good, thanks.

For you all, the consensus was eyes and for those of you that I've met I'd agree that they are beautiful! My favorite feature of my own is my legs. I was a cheerleader in high school and after camp sophomore year I became obsessed with being able to do a hurkey. (A jump that cheerleaders do: one leg out and straight, the other bent back, kinda to the side. The hurdler version looks just like a runner jumping over hurdles. I did a hybrid of the two.) I managed to master that jump and I directly attribute my great legs to the conditioning that cheerleading gave me. We certainly did not work out as hard as today's cheerleaders, but it's what got me moving in high school.

Yes, I think I still have fabulous legs. I walk the hills around my house to keep up the muscle tone, so it's not all easy, but it's definitely worth it. Especially when my husband notices! ;-)

I've gotten a little more forgiving lately of my body. (I said a little.) It is helping me to notice the good things about my body. I'm thinking I'm not looking too bad for an (almost) old broad. Take it from me-even just a little positive talk every day makes a world of difference. Try it. Move beyond your eyes to your shoulders, your legs, your feet, your arms-whatever would be your second choice- and embrace it. If you're alive, there is something else that you like about your body.

Now, on to today's question. I promise I'll be back next week (maybe not on Tuesday, though,) to answer!

What's your favorite movie?

With winter coming up I need to catch up on the movies I've missed. Old or new, Hit Me! Considering we could be in an El Nino year, I may be spending a lot of time on this couch!

Thinking About Blogging. No, Really, That's What I'm Thinking About.

I've been thinking a lot lately about my place in the blogosphere. I've loved it here for two years, I've made a happy home for myself. I have some fantastic friends and readers, and have been able to have some fantastic opportunities that I would never have had otherwise.

Oops, before I go on, I know that this sounds like one of those "I'm gonna shut it down" type of posts. It's not.

Last night I popped over to read what Heather has been writing. (If you don't know who I'm talking about then email me. She's big. So big, in fact, that I won't link it because some will think I'm writing about her for the hits. I'm not.) I find her fascinating. I find it fascinating that she has enough 'haters' that she can devote a whole page on her website to them. She had a family member pass away this week, and even in the midst of her grief the haters still come. And still post awful things in the comments. Really? Is this who we are?

If our president has called for change, then it has to start at home, with us. With who we essentially are. If we have these kinds of people around us, then who are we really? When Katrina hit the gulf coast, millions sent money or went to help. When someone in our families die, shouldn't we, at the least, offer soft messages of condolence? I may not like our president, but he's got a point about changing who we are. I don't think that the examples of what I saw on Heather's site will be getting us anywhere, anytime soon.

I don't get many hits. The posts where I get more than a few comments are few and far between. My BlogHer checks aren't very big. I don't have many corporations banging down my door to do big reviews for them. I'm not even big enough to have haters. I'd like to think that my little circle is more than that, though. I think that I have found a circle of friends in cyberspace that would be my friends even if they/you lived down the block. (Hey, that would be fun! Cocktail parties every Friday!)

This isn't even a post about friends. Or the lack of them. Nope.

They say persistence is the key, in blogging and in life. There are many things that I am persistent in. Bed times, for one. Dinner, as a family, for another. I am persistent in blogging to a point, I think. I keep you all updated on all of the headlessness around here. I toss in some photos, some memes, recipes. But what really brings people here? And where do I draw the proverbial line in the sand between writing for you and writing for me?

In some ways I write for me, and me alone, but to be honest, You, my reader, is always in my mind. If I were truly to write for me, I'd be writing more posts on things that I'm not sure you want to hear, or that I don't necessarily want you to know. Am I now not being 'transparent'? I'm honest in what I do write about but does that make me dishonest that I don't put it all out there? Would you really want to read about my anxieties and fears when others write about them so much more eloquently than I?

If I was writing for "you" alone, (read: 'the hits') I'd probably be surfing the internet for Today's Hot Topic, and boring you with more of the same commentary on Jon and Kate or health care or the Broncos going 5-0. Would those things get me more hits? Maybe, but is that the community that I want? Would my voice stand out amidst all of the others out there? I doubt it.

I've found that I say way more about myself when I'm commenting on other's blogs than I do here. Why is that? I leave my link with "Headless Mom". You know who I am, or how to find me. Then you get here and get my fluff. Why do I do that? I was reading another post last night that left me close to tears and I left a bare comment about myself and my short-comings as a mom. Why wouldn't I just post it here? I'm not sure.

I'm actually not even sure what this post is about except to say that I'm thinking a lot lately, but not coming up with any answers.

I have a new post up at Draft Day Suit...go check it out to find out why I won't be watching football all weekend!

BFL- Oct. 10th

Congrats to Tom for a perfect score last week! That was impressive...now if I can just get back to my record of 13 wins I'll be happy! My picks are in bold:

Cleveland @ Buffalo
Pittsburgh @ Detroit
Dallas @ Kansas City
Minnesota @ St. Louis
Oakland @ NY Giants
Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia
Washington @ Carolina
Cincinnati @ Baltimore
Atlanta @ San Francisco
Jacksonville @ Seattle
Houston @ Arizona
New England @ Denver
Indianapolis @ Tennessee

Monday Night:
NY Jets @ Miami
Combined MNF Score = 48

Carlos' picks in bold:


Cleveland @ Buffalo
Pittsburgh @ Detroit
Dallas @ Kansas City
Minnesota @ St. Louis
Oakland @ NY Giants
Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia
Washington @ Carolina
Cincinnati @ Baltimore
Atlanta @ San Francisco
Jacksonville @ Seattle
Houston @ Arizona
New England @ Denver
Indianapolis @ Tennessee

Monday Night:
NY Jets @ Miami
Combined MNF Score = 49

Head on over to Greis' page to enter the BFL. Newcomers are welcome!

By The Numbers (EDITED)

23- hours spent at Sea World, Fri. night through Sat. afternoon

12-6- score of the lost football game on Saturday (that I had to miss.)

2- formerly leaky toilets in this house (Yay Headless Dad!)

56- dollars spent at the grocery store

27- dollars saved in the same trip

506- posts on this blog in 2 years

30- degrees the temperature has dropped in the last week here

1- times that I've cried this week, because of:

1- pea-sized lump in my breast

EDITED: The surgeon said that I have fibrocystic breasts, and that if I want the pain to go away I should stop drinking coffee, and try taking vitamin E.

So. There it is. Amazing thing, though. My stomach ache has gone away....

I'm in no mood to post, but if you have even one friend left from high school you must read this. I cannot tell you how much it has touched me this morning.

Happy Birthday to Just Breathe

Debby is having a birthday today and celebrating by going to Disneyland with her family. While she's away let's surprise her with lots of wishes for her day!

Go to Just Breathe now and give her some love!

Happy birthday, Friend. I'm glad you're in my life!

BFL

We have a new addition this week. A friend of mine from Facebook is throwing his hat in the ring! If you want to also, go on over to Amazing Greis' page and sign up!

My picks:

Tampa Bay @ Washington
NY Giants @ Kansas City
Cincinnati @ Cleveland
Oakland @ Houston
Tennessee @ Jacksonville
Seattle @ Indianapolis
Detroit @ Chicago
Baltimore @ New England
Buffalo @ Miami
NY Jets @ New Orleans
St. Louis @ San Francisco
Dallas @ Denver
San Diego @ Pittsburgh

Monday: Green bay @ Minnesota- combined score 32

Carlos' picks:


Tampa Bay @ Washington
NY Giants @ Kansas City
Cincinnati @ Cleveland
Oakland @ Houston
Tennessee @ Jacksonville
Seattle @ Indianapolis
Detroit @ Chicago
Baltimore @ New England
Buffalo @ Miami
NY Jets @ New Orleans
St. Louis @ San Francisco
Dallas @ Denver
San Diego @ Pittsburgh

Monday: Green bay @ Minnesota- combined score 39

Follow the wins on our spreadsheet!

Two

My blog is 2 today.




Thank you all for your love and support over the last 2 years. I have made some great friends, and strengthened old friendships. I have learned more than I ever thought I would. I have cried with you and laughed with you and cheered you on, the same as you've done for me.

Thank you for making this community a great place to be, my little home on the web is a pretty comfy place thanks to all of you!

My Blog Cares

As you all know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. An easy way to help and get the word out is put this badge on your blog.




I've added it, and you can to. Just go to this post at Diets In Review, get the code, put it up, and contact them with your information. for every button displayed they will donate $5 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in your blog's name.

Let's wipe this out together!