Onions Anyone?

Guess what I learned I may have at my OB appointment this past Thursday?

Oniomania.

Definition: for the compulsive desire to shop, more commonly referred to as shopping addiction or shopaholism.

I though it had to do with an obsessive need to eat onions. Which a certain brother-in-law of mine suffers from (you know who you are!).

And though I greatly like to shop, I usually don't purchase anything. What's the term for that? Noncommittoniomaia? Windowshoppyicism? CompulsoI'mjustlooking?

While waiting for my appointment to start my always entertaining husband picked up a Taber's Medical Dictionary and started quizzing me on medical terminology just for fun. Cause what else are you going to do while waiting for your appointment to start. Read a pamphlet about peri-menopausal symptoms or painful urination?

Anyways, we got to see our new little peanut wiggling around on the ultrasound screen, bringing bright smiles to our faces. I learned I need my blood drawn again, bringing a sad scowl to my face.

A

Sharing The Love...

Thanks to Ms. Diaper Diaries for:



The rules of this award are: SHARE THE LOVE!!! Share this award with all those blogs out there that you love. All the people who make you smile. All those that make you laugh. All those that make your day. All those that leave uplifting comments on your blog. **All I ask, is that you include a link to this post with the award and ask your recipient to do the same**

This award goes out to ALL my regular commenters...you know who you are! Just grab the pic, put up the rules and linkylove, and share the LOVE!

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Superb Ice...

Yeah, I know, I've been gone for a bit.

A bit meaning 10 days. I DO have some good excuses though.

We finished packing up all our belongings (junk) and moved into our first house. Goodbye to nine years of apartments! We are thrilled to have such luxuries as a backyard (full of dirt and weeds, but I'm NOT complaining!), a garage to park our car in (we could finally fit it in amongst all the junk yesterday), and an ice and water dispenser in the fridge.

Seriously, the ice is a HUGE deal for me. I'm easy to please. I feel spoiled because I don't have to fill those annoying little trays with water to make ice. I usually would end up spilling half the water out of the trays anyways. So, I've been drinking a decaf iced vanilla latte this morning, and can I say, the ice is SUPERB.

See? Easy to please.

Bubbalu has been adjusting rather well. He's sleeping well, which I am certain is because of the endless running around he does, exploring every nook and cranny in our home.

How is everyone else? Any new news? I haven't been surfing the blogisphere lately, but WILL return soon...I promise.

A

Hello Cat, You May Now Exit The Bag...

Wanna know why I've been a slacker housekeeper, wife, friend, blogger and Mama lately?

Here's why:



That line is faint, but it's there! And by the way, the picture is dated 4-30-08, and we are eleven weeks along already.

Turns out blogging suffers a bit when you need a daily nap and spend all your awake time on the couch. Actually, almost everything in your life suffers a bit.

Bubbalu's been thrilled having Mama so close by all the time. I lay on the couch, he drives cars on my face. It's a good compromise.

A

Cougar Bait...

My husband had been a teaching assistant in dental school this past year. He enjoyed working with the younger classes, helping them learn and develop their dental skills.

The last week of school they announced a 'Wear your favorite T-Shirt to Class' day that Lance participated in.

He came home and said that he was made fun of the entire day, with fellow students pointing and laughing at him. Apparently I am out of the slang loop, as his shirt was this one:

Now, I have never been one to be verbally trendy. I still say "cool" and "awesome" which I am pretty sure hit their peak 10 years ago.

So, anywho...a cougar is described in urbandictionary.com as :

• A woman from approximately age 45 and up that particularly prefers and attempts to attract young attractive males of a considerable age younger than herself.

Obviously, Lance did not know that. He readily admits he is afraid of real, live ANIMAL cougars...after a particularly scary hunting experience when he was younger.

Apparently, he now needs to be afraid of a whole new breed of cougar, as his shirt was blatantly inviting older women to hit on him. Good thing someone let him (us!) in on the real meaning.

The really funny thing about this? Lance's 14 year old brother has the same shirt. Should I tell him the real meaning?

A

Eat Your Vegetables Day

Tomorrow, June 17, is Eat Your Vegetables Day. It makes me crabby just thinking about it.

Why?

It is not because I dislike vegetables. Quite the contrary, really. There's nothing better than a steaming plate of veggies. Well, maybe chocolate. And cake. And ice cream...OK never mind.

Anyways, there is a certain little someone living in our home who hasn't voluntarily eaten a vegetable in approximately 2 months.

Yes, Bubbalu is a picky eater.

I had a whole plan to avoid the picky-eaterness that plagues some parents. I diligently fed Bubbalu homemade baby food, saving the sweeter foods for later. He happily gulped down everything I offered to him. Peas, broccoli, carrots, green beans, everything!

Now? Not so much. I have written of my frustration before, where I said that Bubbalu ate 3 peas in the past week. I should have realized then that 3 peas a week meant a GOOD week.

I've tried disguising veggies and sneaking them in with another bite of something tasty, but they always get spit out. Maybe he's getting some nutritional benefit from just sucking on them for a 1/2 second.

We are giving him vitamins and I've actually started giving him fruit and vegetable juice blends.

I know about the recently published books about hiding veggies in everyday food, but are the recipes easy? Do they really work? Or do the kids catch on?

"Uh, Mom, why does my jello taste like broccoli?."

My MIL has suggested smoothies laced with squash puree, and I have yet to try it. Mostly because I already packed my blender and food processor.

So, do any of you have any good veggie tricks and recipes for stubborn toddlers?

A

My New Favorite Commercial...

Saw this commercial for the first time this afternoon, and about fell off the couch cause I was laughing so hard:



Isn't it the best when you laugh so hard you cry?

A

A Shopping We Will Go...

Just cruising Walmart.com again...here's what I found:

Pair this Square-Neck Pintuck Top:



With these Roll-Cuff Shorts:



( don't you just love how long, lean and toned my legs are?! )

• The Square-Neck Pintuck Top is $14.82
• The Roll-Cuff Shorts are $12.00

Grand total of $26.82, give or take $10,000-40,000 for the liposuction, leg lengthening, laser leg hair removal and weekly salon spray-on tan.

HellOOO!! Isn't this Pierce Shantung Dress completely adorable!?

Every great dress needs a rockin pair of shoes :


Colored pumps/stilettos seem to be en vogue this season. I like how this shoe is Dorothy meets the vixen.

• The Pierce Shantung Dress is $26.88
• The Mossimo Heidi Satin Bow Heels are $19.99

Grand total $46.87. And yes, I strayed from Wallyworld to find the shoes at Target. And no, I don't think I am daring enough to wear the dress. I'd like to think I am. We'll see.

A

Craigslist Is My Friend...

If you are moving, be sure to make good use of Craigslist. We are moving in less than two weeks (let the ear plugging and lalalaing commence) and were in desperate need of boxes and packing materials.

Enter Craigslist. On the advice of a fellow dental school graduate who will also be moving soon, we decided to search for free moving boxes online.

Monday morning I saw a new post for some free moving boxes and packing paper and bubble wrap. Made a quick phone call and Lance headed over to pick up some boxes. Turns out this couple had been moved by a professional moving company and had PLENTY of boxes, packing paper and bubble wrap. They even asked if they could drop more off at our house later that evening. Um, OK!

We have boxes coming out our ears, and filled the entire under-the-stairs closet full of packing paper. We also were given the appropriate boxes for dishes, glasses and cups, as well as picture frame and wardrobe boxes.

So, we are doing well in the packing department.

Guess how much it cost for all this packing gloriousness? The gas that it took to pick them up. Yep. FREE. A quick Uhaul 3 bedroom quote had us at $379.98 for boxes and packing material.

So, what has been YOUR best Craigslist score?

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So, We Bought Us A House...

And we're moving in a little over 2 weeks.

TWO WEEKS!

If I stick my fingers in my ears, squeeze my eyes shut and say, "lalalalalalala!!" I'm ok. If I don't? Then we are quickly boarding the train to freak-out land.

We have moved one too many times in the past few years. This house will be Bubbalu's FOURTH home. Yep, he's 18 months old.

After this move, I want to settle for a bit. Put down some roots. Finish unpacking from the last move. I don't like living in a constant state of turmoil and never knowing where "home" really is. I guess the good thing is that the people inside of whatever home we have been in these last 18 months have not changed. It's always been Papa, Mama and Bubbalu.

And that is what home really is.

A

Recipe for Yum...

Made this for game night with Nat n Megs tonight...

• Take one box of white cake mix.


• Stir the mix as directed, but add 5-6 Oreos to the mix and get em all nice and crumbly.


• Bake in oven as directed


• Frost cake after it is completely cooled


• Smash 5-6 Oreos and scatter over top of cake.
  

Perfecto.

It tastes good, is super easy, and you can snack on Oreo's the entire time you are baking the cake. What's not to like? Unless you don't like Oreo's, but then I don't know if we can still be friends.

What's your favorite recipe for Yum?

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