My little herb and veggie garden Part 2

{My garden now}

A couple of months ago, I showed you my little herb and veggie garden. Well, we have had some hits and some misses. My strawberry plants produced some very sweet and tasty strawberries. However, the worms liked the sweetness quite a bit so the worms ended up winning out with the strawberries. The zucchini over took the little strawberries as well. Wow...those zuccs have sprouted up like weeds, as have the roma tomatoes. The worms have been eating the lower tomatoes as well. Next year, I will be using the topsy turvy tomato planter.



I am so excited to show you my first zucchini from my little herb and veggie garden. It is soooo big! I am just giddy over it. We ended up grilling it for the 4th celebration. It was super yummy. We also had my little Roma tomatoes with the burgers!

{I took a picture of the zucchini next to a full size bottle of wine so you can see how big the zucc is!}



I hope everyone had a safe and fun filled July 4th!

Dude, it is that bad? The Greatest Freak Out Ever....I think it may be.

You have got to watch this video. This kid's parents cancelled his World of Warcraft game account. His brother taped his freak out episode. Dude....so bad but so funny!

Dream House

It has been a LONG time since my last post. I haven't been feeling very bloggy lately. {is bloggy even a word?} Since my last post, I went on vacation to my homestead {North Carolina}. It had been 2 and 1/2 years since I had visited...needless to say, my mom was super excited to have me home. She is building her dream home as we speak. They should be moving into it in July or August. IT IS HUGE!!! My step father is an architect and designed it. He cut down the design twice to reduce the square footage. BUT IT IS STILL HUGE...almost 6,000 square feet! He based the design on the Karen Blixson museum in Africa. That house was in the movie Out of Africa. My mom and step dad went to Kenya on a trip a while ago and visited this house and FELL IN LOVE with it. So my stepdad designed his house based on it.

{Karen Blixson Museum in Kenya}




In an effort to save money, they didn't use the stone as in the Blixson house. Also, my stepfather increased the size of the house too!

This picture is taken from the back of the house.


Most of the house in on the first floor. This is only a three bedroom house! All the rooms are very spacious, though. Each room has it's own bathroom. Two bedrooms are on the second floor along with an awesome open playroom...not just for kids, but adults too. There is an elevator in the house as well. And you should see my mom's closet. Ladies - you would die for it! HUGE with built-in shelving and attached to the bathroom with it's own little dressing area.

I continue to ask..."Ummm, why didn't you build this house when I was living with you?" The reply is usually, "You can come live with us now!" {It is big enough...}

We also visited my hubby's family while in NC. I will leave that to another post....we went shooting guns....super scary to say the least.

It is nice to be back!

Awkward Family Photos

I found this blog and I couldn't even handle it. So here's a shout out to Awkward Family Photos.

Should we call Ghost Hunters???

This one is completely inappropriate. But - I had to post it.

You have to check out this site http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/ for more absolutely hysterical photos.

My gift to myself

Yay!!! When I received my tax refund, I decided I would get my self a little something before the rest of the money went to savings. I custom ordered this fantabulous ring from Lisaslovelies (this links to her blog). I have bought quite a few of her pieces over the years....all of which are fantabulous.

This stone is pretty amazing. It is seraphinite. It's properties are pretty amazing too. I am a huge crystal and semiprecious stone nut. I truly believe in their energy and the potential for healing. {especially if used during meditation}

This information is brought to you by http://www.skylineminerals.com/Seraphinite.html.

• Seraphinite which is the gem variety of clinochlore has
  silvery chatoyant fibers much like charoite. It is difficult to
  say now who gave this “Angel” name to the stone, but they
  say that it helps to contact angels and communicate with
  them.
  

• SERAPHINITE is said to be the PREMIER HEALING
  STONE OF THIS AGE! It is strongly recommended for the
  strengthening and activating of all chakras. This stone is
  also believed to cause old patterns of disease or imbalance
  to fall away. This creates a space for new patterns of well-
  being to form. Seraphinite is healing for nerves and brain
  cells.

I totally need a manicure.

I am in love with it! Thanks, Lisa!

Wednesday's Who Gets the Boot from American Idol?

Man o' man. I had a lot of feelings about last night's Idol. The fact that none of the contestants were able to rehearse their songs prior to the show really screwed things up...and I believe screwed some of the contestants. There is a huge difference in practicing with an empty house and then in front of a packed house. The acoustics are COMPLETELY different....which is why Danny and Kris couldn't hear themselves. The audio mix wasn't right and they weren't wearing their ear pieces. SUCKY!!! Anyway...I will get on with it!

Adam was the best of the night, however, I wasn't a big fan of the performance. His voice sounded great, as always, but it was kinda lame - if you ask me. To me - the worst of the night was Danny. First of all, "Dream On" was the song that booted Michael Johns from the competition last year...doesn't that teach you ANYTHING, Danny? I guess not. That last note from Danny was painful - to say the least. Dude - if you can't sing that high - DON'T! I didn't think Kris was as bad as Simon thought. Kris was waay better than Danny.

However, according to last week's votes and the performances last night...the bottom 2 will be...


Danny


and Kris



And as much as I HATE to even put it writing and attach energy to it....

Kris will leave the competition.

God, I hope I am WRONG on this one! I want to see Kris and Adam in the final!

My Stepmother's Breast Cancer Update

I have some great news to share! For the past 16 or so weeks, my stepmother has been going through some vigorous chemotherapy. She had one type of cancer in the right breast and a different type of cancer in the left. {To refresh your memories - she had a double mastectomy} I am happy to announce that Thursday will be her LAST chemo session! I know it will be such a relief to her. Her white blood cell count has been excellent throughout chemo. Needless to say, we are very excited.

After Thursday, my father and stepmother are going to celebrate...my hubby and I are going to celebrate in LA too!!

The next step will be for my stepmother to undergo surgery to test the lymph nodes on the left breast. {They tested only the right breast nodes prior to chemo} If the left side is clear of cancer then she will have radiation on the right side only. Of course, if the cancer is in the left side, then radiation will cover both sides.

The radiation is supposed to make her really lethargic. I believe that will be a piece of cake comparatively. Fingers crossed!

My stepmother has been a real trooper through everything thus far! She is constantly looking at the bright side. My father has been the best nurse to her as well. {He was always the best to have around when I was sick...of course my mom was best too!}

Oh happy days!

Wednesday's Who Gets the Boot from American Idol?

Hehehe...I have gotten quite a few laughs for doing these posts. Clearly, it is the only one I have been doing lately. Just remember you cynical peeps out there - I work on the show and am flooded with American Idol. So - I am always choosing my bottom three and sharing with my coworkers. I'm usually pretty good at picking the person to go and at least two of three that will be in the bottom. So - I like to strut my stuff a bit. ; ) I have to say, this year has been a little more difficult to call. Not sure if it is the talent or what...or maybe I am just off my game.

Anyway - let's get to it. Tonight's Idol was better than I expected it to be. Last week when Simon used to the save and stated next week is Disco week - I was not excited to hear the song choices. I am tired of these themed shows. THANK GOD - most of the contestants shook it up a bit and took us away from disco, even though they had to sing a disco song.

I loved Adam and Kris! I have to say, I enjoyed Matt, too. Not sure if America will, though.

Last week when Lil was safe and Matt was the one to potentially leave the show, I was totally bummed! I am so tired of Lil not choosing songs that do her voice and style justice. This week was NO DIFFERENT! Lil is definitely in the bottom this week. So is Anoop - basically because that performance was lame and he isn't as charasmatic as the rest of 'em. And unfortunately, Matt will, more than likely, be joining the two - completing the bottom three. Although, I have the strange feeling they may not have a bottom three this week because two are leaving. Just speculating...



And the lovely contestants leaving Idol this week will be....................................

Lil
&
Anoop

Really sorry to see my fellow North Carolinian booted BUT - unfortunately, I think it is time.


*photos are from idolonfox.com*
*I do not know the results, only guesstimating*

Wednesday's Who Gets the Boot from American Idol?

Last night's show was kind of "eh" to me. No big deal...except for Adam's performance of "Born to be Wild". I am so tired of the song and he made it TOTALLY entertaining. Bravo - Adam!! Yet again!

The bottom three for me was really easy.

Allison is kick ass! However, I didn't really like her version of the song last night. I don't believe she deserves to be in the bottom - but I think America will think so.

I love me some Matt, but again he isn't picking the right song.

Lil is pissing me off! How many freaking times does she need to be told what to sing? And how many times will she continue to sing bland songs over and over again? YO - LIL...SING MARY J!

And going home will be.......



LIL!




*photos are from idolonfox.com

*I do not know the results, only guesstimating

Results of the Economic Crisis

Why does money have to rule the world? And why is it that whenever I don't have any, I need so many things? I wish we could go back to the barter and trade days and forget money! Money is evil.

When will this economic crisis end? I am ready, now. My husband's employer cut all the employee's hours back...and we are really feeling the hit. Barely scraping by. It is frustrating. The thing is...my hubby graduates in May and will be looking for a career changing job. I am hoping with all of my power that he gets a job quickly. Then we won't be in such a pickle.

It is time for a hair appointment and new summer clothes both of which I can't afford right now. My dogs were in dire need of a grooming. Kayla's hair was so long and super shaggy and Gus's hair was just plain long. In efforts to refrain from spending any extraneous money, we decided to make an attempt at cutting their hair. Sounds pretty easy, being that my dogs are little ones...HAH! Not so, people, not so. First of all, Kayla is the most gentle and trusting dog ever. She was doing everything in her power to get away from the clippers...especially around her face and legs. I think the noise freaked her out more than anything. Finally, she realized that scary sounding thing wasn't going to hurt her. It took AN HOUR or more - just to cut the hair...does NOT include a bath. I have to say, I am impressed with the job we did. Not so bad. Now, she looks really, really tiny.

Before:




Kayla after:

Gus....oh boy. He tried EVERYTHING to get away from those clippers. He was trying to scoot away on the towel {we had underneath to hold all the hair}. My husband had to cradle him like a baby so I could at least get the long hair on his belly and chest. He absolutely did not want me touching his legs. We shaved and shaved his body...but his hair is super thin that it appeared to only be thinning the hair NOT taking the length off. UGH! So - we lost all patience and gave up on poor Gus and the clippers. He "allowed" me to use the scissors around his face and legs. So I did...YES. I chopped the shit out of his legs. {Didn't cut him...just butchered the hair}. Needless to say, he doesn't look very good. But it suits his crazy, rambunkous personality. And makes us laugh!

Gus after...check out his leg.




I am tempted to try this again. On Kayla...it isn't too difficult. Gus...well...he may return to the groomer.