What's The Scoop

Product #1
Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head Pumpkin Decorating Kits

These are wonderful! They come in several different kits including but not limited to a princess, a witch, a pirate, and a monster. Its exactly what you think it is. It has Mr. Potato head parts to poke in to your pumpkin. Our boys are always ready to get a pumpkin at the first sign of Fall. Usually because we carve one so early, the pumpkin ends up rotting way before Halloween and we throw it away and end up getting another one.
With the potato head parts, you don't have to carve the pumpkin and I'm guessing because of that, the pumpkin will last a lot longer. I'll have to let you know on that one. What I do know is that even if your pumpkin goes bad, you can still just pull the Potato Head parts out, toss it, buy a new one, and presto in 15 minutes have another one that looks completely like the first.
Can you just use regular Potato head parts? I haven't tried it but it seems to me that the Potato Head Pumpkin kit pieces have a longer stem to push in.
I purchased our kit at Target for $5.99

Product #2
Apple Cider Vinegar

This is not really a product review as much as it is a helpful hint. My sweet neighbor down the street gave me this advice when I mentioned we had a fruit fly problem. Get an 8 ounce cup and fill it half full with apple cider vinegar. Put 2-3 drops of liquid dish detergent (Dawn, Palmolive, etc.) Just let it sit on your kitchen counter for a few days and its amazing. The apple cider vinegar draws them to the cup and the dish detergent kills them. No more fruit flies!

Goodbye Old Friend

This week we said goodbye to an old friend of our family. She's been with us for 12 years. She helped us get to Baptist for the birth of both our boys, has been on countless vacations and weekend getaways with us, not to mention the day to day stuff.
On Monday, we took our 200,000 mile 1996 Ford Taurus to CarMax. The check engine light came on a few months ago and never went off. We've known for the past few years that we were driving on borrowed time. Jim dropped it off and when the mechanic called, it was the catalytic converter among other things and was going to be over $2000 to fix.
We've been without a car payment for a long time and it was a difficult decision but we felt it was time for another car. So off to Carmax we went because we don't buy new cars and we didn't want a huge payment. We settled on one. Our salesman said the only thing he did not like about the new to us car we chose was that if lots of miles were put on it, it would not hold its resale value. Ok buddy, we're trading in a 1996 200,000 mile Ford Taurus. Do you think we're concerned with resale value?? :)
What trade in money did our Ford Taurus bring us? Well, factoring in that it cannot be driven because it will not pass emissions testing without the above mentioned repairs, Carmax cut us a check for a whopping $250!!! Is that not hilarious!

If You Lived On My Street...

... you could have started your day with a huge laugh. Just as the school bus was pulling away, I realized that Avery had forgot to get his snacks for his classroom celebration. I ran in, grabbed the bag of snacks, grabbed Aidan and took off down the street running like the wind (ok maybe more like an elephant)to catch the bus. So here I am, Aidan in tow waving my arms like crazy, hoping the driver would see me. She finally stopped at the end of our street. By the time I caught up to her, I was so out of breath I could barely speak. So I'm certain I looked like someone crazy running down the street, flailing my arms BUT Ms. Huey's second grade class WILL have their celebration snacks. Its all about priorities. :)
And maybe next time I'll just hop in the car. :)

What's The Scoop

I am currently dieting so one of this Monday's What's The Scoop's product is about that. I promise next Monday's items will not be.

Product #1
No Pudge Fudge Brownies
Have you seen these in your local grocery store? I found them at Kroger. The package is bright pink with a pig on it (nice- put a pig on the diet brownies box!). It was located with the other regular Duncan Hines-Betty Crocker brownie mixes. I am doing the point system with Weight Watchers and was struggling to find something to satisfy my chocolate craving with few points. So I bought the No Pudge brownies and made them at home. They were good- not Ghiradelli chocolate, caramel, nut good but for 2 point brownies- good. The texture is a little different from regular brownies but how could it not be. All you add to the mix is 2/3 cup of non-fat vanilla yogurt. My seven year old even loved them.
They were expensive at almost $3.50 a box. It was difficult to buy them at this price, especially when you see the "real" brownie mix just below it for as low and $1.09. The cost will probably prevent me from buying them often. I talked to a friend who uses applesauce and other healthier things in place of vegetable oil when baking so I may get some recipes from her and try to make them on my own.

Product #2
The Wii Gaming System
You have to know me to know that for me to say any type of gaming system is good, it has to be GOOD. I'm just not a video game person. I have to tell you though, I absolutely LOVE the Wii. We got one for our boys for Christmas last year and have all enjoyed it. In my opinion the best games are ones like Wii sports, Carnival games, Wii Play, and Mario and Sonic Olympics. If you haven't played one you need to. It really is something the whole family can enjoy. At $249 its one of the most affordable gaming systems out there (especially when you consider that the Playstation 3 is $399. And the coolest aspect of the Wii is that you have to get up and move to play the games. If you're bowling you are up and swinging the wireless remote as if you were throwing a bowling ball. My boys also love the level games like Indiana Jones Lego and Kung Fu Panda.
If you think you want one for Christmas start looking now. They continue to be difficult to keep in stock. I was at the Target in Hendersonville this morning and they had four.
Just an added note- after looking around on several sites, it looks like they are bundling the console with extra accessories and games. The $249 we paid was only for the console, one remote, and Wii Sports.
And one other note- Wii games are expensive. What we've found that helps is to either rent from a video place like Hollywood or borrow from friends before purchasing. You can weed out ones you may not like.

The Walk To Defeat ALS

My mother was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease in October 2006. We now know that she had the illness long before her diagnosis. Currently there is no known cause, cure, or treatment for this illness. There are medications that can slow the progression of the disease. With ALS, a person loses the ability of all voluntary muscles. The progression of the illness can depend on the person with the life expectancy of 3-5 years. Its a terrible illness.
Jim, the boys and I will be walking on October 11, 2008 in Nashville, TN in an effort to raise money and awareness for the ALS association. It was the TN chapter's assistance that allowed us to care for my mom in our home until she passed. Her greatest fear was having to go to a nursing home and that would have been a reality had it not been for the help offered by this agency. They offered a loan program for expensive medical equipment, respite resources, and invaluable information.
If you would like to walk with us, we would LOVE to have you. Leave me a comment and I'll add you to the Team Joyce roster. If you feel led to give a donation, please go here.
We know this year has been a tight squeeze where money is concerned for most. So please know if you can't give monetarily, your prayers are valued just as much.

Frustrated

I'm just having one of those days, weeks, months! :) Do you ever have them? Where you feel like you are the worst parent? Like your children are going to need a lifetime of therapy to overcome how you parent? That is so where I am right now. I'm frustrated with my boys and they are driving me crazy- literally. I guess what frustrates me the most is that they are absolutely wonderful for everyone else. And they are good boys- don't get me wrong. They are just always so much better for everyone else than me.
And I know I shouldn't take that personally. But it does hurt my feelings. I am the one who provides for them, who takes care of most things for them yet I am the one they defy the most. I was just thinking- I wonder if this is how God feels about me? He is my provider. He loves me the most. And He is the one I defy the most.
I've been praying all morning that the Lord will help me be the mother He has called me to be to my boys. I know my patience is short and there are so many areas of parenting I need to work on. The Lord chose these boys for me. He blessed me with them. It is not a mistake that I am their mother.
I know we will make it through the defiance and the whining. I just pray that I'm not in a padded room by the time we get to the other side of it. :)

What's the Scoop

My friend Sarah did a post about how to write a successful blog. There were many helpful hints one of which was to begin a series of posts that you post on a certain day of the week. She has Monday Musings- you should check it out. Since reading that, I've been trying to think of something that I could post about once a week. So, Mondays are going to be What's the Scoop day. Every Monday I'll post about a product or products I or someone in my household has used,what we thought about it, and whether its worth the money.
I always love to hear about what people think about products they use, especially if I'm going to purchase it for the first time. Feel free to leave a comment about a product I post about or if you want to share a product leave me a comment. Obviously these posts are just my opinion.

Product #1
The Ped Egg

I know you've seen it. The commercial comes on tv about a million times a day it seems. Its in the shape of an egg and helps to file down those callous or hard spots on your feet. And it catches all of the "shavings" in the bottom portion of the egg which you just empty, wash and set to dry until your next use.
I bought mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $9.99. They had the regular Ped Egg and a pink one where a portion of the proceeds go to Breast Cancer Research. Both were the same price so why not purchase a pink one and help a good cause.
I LOVE it! I don't want to go in to too much detail about my feet but they were in need of some assistance. With the first use I could tell a huge difference. The rough spots around my big toes were gone! It was easy to assemble and easy to use. I liked it so much that I went back and bought one for my husband.
I've also seen them at Target for $9.99

Product #2
Pixos (aka Aquadots)
Do you remember these from last year? They were all set to be the craze for Christmas when it was discovered that the little beads were toxic. They were pulled from the shelves.
Now, they're back repackaged and renamed Pixos.
I bought a starter kit for each of my boys, ages 4 and 7. The age on the box says 4 and up. We sat down last night to do them. Frustrating with a capital "F." Both boys got frustrated because the pen dispenser you fill up with beads kept getting clogged. When the beads did come out of the dispenser, they never went to the place you wanted them to go on the template. I ended up doing most of my 4 year olds.
You should be able to spray them with water and they "magically" adhere to each other creating whatever template you chose. In my boys cases it was a dog and a cat. The box says to spray the dots on the template and allow them to dry for 10 minutes. No. Try 30+ minutes and then it was difficult to remove the creation from the template without it falling apart.
I bought these starter kits for $14.99 at Target.
Personally I didn't like them and my kids were too frustrated to enjoy playing with it. I don't think that Pixos will be on our Christmas lists

Cheese and Tamale Pie

This truly is a one dish meal. Its very filling.

1 lb ground chuck (or ground turkey)
1 large onion chopped
1 large green bell pepper chopped
1/2 cup salsa
1 (15.5 oz) can pinto beans drained
1 (14.5 oz) can diced chili style tomatoes drained
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups (8 oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 1/3 cups self rising cornmeal mix
1 cup milk
1 large egg slightly beaten

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook first three ingredients in a large skillet, stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Return meat mixture to pan, stir in salsa, beans, tomatoes, and salt. Simmer 5 minutes. Spoon mixture into a greased 11X7 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese
2. Whisk together cornmeal, milk and egg in a bowl. Stir in remaining one cup of cheese. Spread batter over beef mixture.
3. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes
4. Bake at 350 for 1 hour

The F Word

I can almost guarantee you its not the word you're thinking. :) You have to watch all the way to the end. I had to hold myself together when I realized that was the word he sang!

Lucky Number 13

Thirteen years ago today Jim and I were married. Its funny to look back to those first few years. Our first year of marriage was no doubt the hardest. We can laugh about it now and we are very aware that God carried us through that year.
So, Happy Anniversary Harvey! (if you don't know the story behind the names Jim and Harve, e-mail me-ha!)
In honor of my husband and our thirteen years of marriage, here are thirteen things I love about him!!
1. He loves the Lord
2. He loves me with all of his heart
3. He loves our boys unconditionally
4. He would rather spend time with me and the boys than do any thing else anywhere else
5. He moved from his home in North Carolina to middle Tennessee so that I could be closer to my family
6. He is a compassionate man and is not afraid to show his emotions.
7. There was no hesitation on his part when my mother became ill and needed to live with us. He took care of her just like I did.
8. He has an odd sense of humor. After thirteen years I've finally grown accustomed to seeing a movie with him and having him cackle out loud at something that no one else in the theater is laughing at.
9. He's skilled and can fix just about anything around the house or the car. (Now getting him to do that is another story- just kidding sweetie!)
10. He loves my friends deeply and would do anything if any of them were in need.
11. He is honest.
12. He's a hands on, get down in the floor and wrestle, sit in the chair and read, play the Wii kind of dad.
13. And last but not least, he's put up with me for the last thirteen years and that's no easy task.
Love you Harvey!

6 Things

you may or may not know about me. I was tagged by Sarah A. because she wanted to know what I had to say. :) Here goes...

1. When I was in college I had a stalker and I do mean freaky, worry about your safety kind of stalker. I worked 3rd shift in the jewelry department at Walmart. I replaced his watch band for him and said, "That will be x amount of dollars. Thank you." That was the extent of our interaction. He sent me letters, gifts, got my home information from someone who worked with me at WalMart who didn't know I didn't know him. Scary!
2. I LOVE crime shows- true and fiction. CSI, Criminal Minds, Snapped...
3. My middle name is Marie. I dropped it when I got married and kept my maiden name as my middle. My family used to (some still do) call me Surie which was a combination of Susan and Marie.
4. I'm adopted. I gained access to my records a couple of weeks before Avery was born. I know the names of my parents but haven't tried to contact them yet.
5. I hate bugs- any kind and will make a fool out of myself if one gets on me.
6. I have probably been on more blind dates than anyone you know. My best friend Meredith set me up literally with every available guy from her hometown, I think. :)

I'm tagging:
Meredith
Tracy
Saundra (ok- you are already on facebook- may as well start a blog and looks here's your first post! Or you can just leave a comment here.)
Jamie
Heather
Audrey

All because I want to know what they have to say. Here are the rules...
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules to your blog
3. Write 6 random things about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.

However I'm not following the rules b/c I think most people have Google Reader.

I Know Why The Word Diet Has Die In It

Ok so maybe that title is a little over the top. And I'm not really dieting in the sense that I'm doing the Atkin's plan or South Beach. I've decided that I can't do that. I can't not have carbs. I did decide to limit my intake of sweet stuff. I know myself and if I say I'm removing that altogether from what I eat, it will be my downfall. I'm allowing myself to splurge a bit once a week so as not to set myself up for failure.
Here's my question though and maybe its just me. Maybe no one else has this problem. Every time I even think to myself about limiting what I eat, I feel my hunger level rise. Do you? I know its mind games. I used to have amazing self control. I was the kind of person who would take my slim fast shake to Burger King and sip away while my co-workers had whoppers and fries. Now just the thought of even drinking a slim fast shake makes me nauseous!
Today I went to Mimi's Cafe with some friends. It was such a nice lunch and so nice to hang out with them. At the end of our lunch, our waiter brought us all four HUGE muffins in a container to take home.
Side note- If you eat at Mimi's Cafe and you are a first time customer, ask for your free muffins to take home. They give all new customers free muffins.
So here I am with these four HUGE, scrumptious looking muffins just sitting on my kitchen table. I'm going to make Jim take them to work with him in the morning. For me what I've realized is that its much easier to practice self control when you don't have so many temptations in reach. Immediately when I limit myself food wise, that's the very thing(s) I crave the most.
So I'm off to move the muffins some where out of sight and to have some yummy no butter, plain, 94% fat free popcorn. Mmmmmmmmmmm.