Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Good Reads: Can You Keep A Secret?

I'm so in love with Sophie Kinsella. Yes, I have a bit of a writer's crush on her. 
(Thanks, Victoria!...No really, Thanks Victoria.)  
 
I recently finished "Can You Keep A Secret?" (For the second time.) I laughed my butt off. (Again.)
 
Enjoy the ''Ectract" from:
 
And then go get the book, prop your feet up, and enjoy the delightful entertainment.
 
**************************************
 
Of course I have secrets.
 
Of course I do. Everyone has a few secrets. It's completely normal. I'm sure I don't have any more than anybody else.
 
I'm not talking about big, earth-shattering secrets. Not the-president-is-planning-to-bomb-Japan-and-only-Will-Smith-can-save-the-world type secrets. Just normal, everyday little secrets.
 
Like for example, here are a few random secrets of mine, off the top of my head:
 
1. My Kate Spade bag is a fake.
2. I love sweet sherry, the least cool drink in the universe.
3. I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is.
4. I weigh 9 stone 3. Not 8 stone 3, like my boyfriend Connor thinks. (Although in my defence, I was planning to go on a diet when I told him that. And to be fair, it is only one number different.)
5 I've always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.
6. Sometimes, when we're right in the middle of passionate sex, I suddenly want to laugh.
7. I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum, while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben Hur.
8. I've already drunk the wine that Dad told me to lay down for twenty years.
9. Sammy the goldfish at home isn't the same goldfish that Mum and Dad gave me to look after when they went to Egypt.
10. When my colleague Artemis really annoys me, I feed her plant orange juice. (Which is pretty much every day.)
11. I once had this weird lesbian dream about my flatmate Lissy.
12. My G-string is hurting me.
13. I've always had this deep down conviction that I'm not like everybody else, and there's an amazingly exciting new life waiting for me just around the corner.
14. I have no idea what this guy in the grey suit is going on about.
15. Plus I've already forgotten his name.
 
And I only met him ten minutes ago.
 
'We believe in logistical formative alliances,' he's saying in a nasal, droning voice, 'both above and below the line.'
 
'Absolutely!' I reply brightly, as though to say: Doesn't everybody?
 
Logistical. What does that mean, again?
 
Oh God. What if they ask me?
 
Don't be stupid, Emma. They won't suddenly demand, 'What does logistical mean?' I'm a fellow marketing professional, aren't I? Obviously I know these things.
 
And anyway, if they mention it again I'll change the subject. Or I'll say I'm post-logistical or something.
 
The important thing is to keep confident and businesslike. I can do this. This is my big chance and I'm not going to screw it up.
 
I'm sitting in the offices of Glen Oil's headquarters in Glasgow, and as I glance at my reflection in the window, I look just like a top businesswoman. My hair is straightened, I'm wearing discreet earrings like they tell you to in How-to-win-that-job articles, and I've got on my smart new Jigsaw suit. (At least, it's practically new. I got it from the Cancer Research shop and sewed on a button to replace the missing one, and you can hardly tell.)
 
I'm here representing the Panther Corporation, which is where I work. The meeting is to finalize a promotional arrangement between the new cranberry-flavoured Panther Prime sports drink and Glen Oil, and I flew up this morning from London, especially. (The company paid, and everything!)
 
When I arrived, the Glen Oil marketing guys started on this long, show-offy 'who's-travelled-the-most?' conversation about airmiles and the red-eye to Washington - and I think I bluffed pretty convincingly. (Except when I said I'd flown Concorde to Ottawa, and it turns out Concorde doesn't go to Ottawa.) But the truth is, this is the first time I've ever had to travel for a deal.
 
OK. The real truth is, this is the first deal I've ever done, full stop. I've been at the Panther Corporation for eleven months as a marketing assistant, and until now all I've been allowed to do is type out copy, arrange meetings for other people, get the sandwiches and pick up my boss's dry-cleaning.
 
So this is kind of my big break. And I've got this secret little hope that if I do this well, maybe I'll get promoted. The ad for my job said 'possibility of promotion after a year', and on Monday I'm having my yearly appraisal meeting with my boss, Paul. I looked up 'Appraisals' in the staff induction book, and it said they are 'an ideal opportunity to discuss possibilities for career advancement'.
 
Career advancement! At the thought, I feel a familiar stab of longing in my chest. It would just show Dad I'm not a complete loser. And Mum. And Kerry. If I could go home and casually say, 'By the way, I've been promoted to Marketing Executive.'
 
Emma Corrigan, Marketing Executive.
 
Emma Corrigan, Senior Vice-President (Marketing.)
 
As long as everything goes well today. Paul said the deal was done and dusted and all I had to do was nod and shake their hands, and even I should be able to manage that. And so far, I reckon it's going really well.
 
OK, so I don't understand about 90 per cent of what they're saying.
 
But then I didn't understand much of my GCSE French Oral either, and I still got a B. 'Rebranding . . . analysis . . . cost-effective . . .'
 
The man in the grey suit is still droning on about something or other. As casually as possible, I extend my hand and inch his business card towards me so I can read it.
 
Doug Hamilton. That's right. OK, I can remember this. Doug. Dug. Easy. I'll picture a shovel. Together with a ham. Which . . . which looks ill . . . and . . .
 
OK, forget this. I'll just write it down.
 
I write down 'rebranding' and 'Doug Hamilton' on my notepad and give an awkward little wriggle. God, my knickers really are uncomfortable. I mean, G-strings are never that comfortable at the best of times, in my opinion, but these are particularly bad. Which could be because they're two sizes too small.
 
Which could possibly be because Connor bought them for me, and told the lingerie assistant I weighed eight stone three. Whereupon she told him I must be size eight. Size eight! (Frankly, I think she was just being mean. She must have known I was fibbing.)
 

Story Time Craft: Sharks

This is what we were working on the library when the storm came through and knocked the power out. Katelyn got a shark book, and got to build her own aquarium!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Royalty in the house!


Bored! So we made a princess crown.
 
 
(FYI: Katelyn made me take a picture f myself. She even told me 'Eees, Eeees!)

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Danville

Caught up on the season 2 premiere of TNT's Perception, and the criminal being evaluated was born in "Danville, IL"....uh-oh...I think the writers found the Most Dangerous Cities list...Mi Familia- Get out while you can! =P

Grilling Out!

Ok, so yes, we like Hell's Kitchen.
If you do to, then you've seen the whole Mary and her tongue hanging out thing...
 
 
Here's Chris's impression.
She got our vote!
 
(He's making super delicious Cilantro Chili Chicken Skewers)
 
 
  • 2 pounds boneless/skinless chicken thighs or breast meat
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic, mince
  • 3/4 bunch fresh cilantro (save remaining for garnish)
  • 1 teaspoon salt & pepper
  • Sweet chili sauce for basting

  • Soak skewers in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning.
    Cut chicken into 1" cubes and place into bowl.  Add olive oil, garlic and cilantro in a food processor and pulverize. Pour the marinade into the bowl with the chicken, add teaspoon of salt and pepper and marinate overnight if possible.
     
    Preheat the grill to medium heat and coat with oil. Remove chicken from the refrigerator and put 5-6 pieces of chicken on each skewer.  Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side. Brush chili sauce on chicken just before done cooking to create a nice glaze.

    Wednesday, June 26, 2013

    Show Time!


    I had so much fun last night attending the Stage-It show with Adley Stump.
     
    She was on season 2 of The Voice
    (Sorry, I only watch the blind auditions...
    so I have no clue how far she actually went on the show.)
     
     The show was great, her singing was great. Loved it.
     
    Ready for the next show.  

    Sandbox!

    Loving it!!!!!
     
    The store actually had these sandboxes in 2 different places.
    Inside they were labeled 69.99 on sale for 49.99 with a $10 Mail-in-Rebate.
    Outside they were tagged 69.99 on sale for $29.99....Score!

    Tuesday, June 25, 2013

    Back to...The Moffatts...?

    I'm not even going to pretend I wasn't totally in love with The Moffatts. If there was a precursor to my *NSYNC obsession- those fiery obsession skills seriously started with this group. I still remember my mom calling me in to the living room to watch them for the first time, and after that she bought me the CD, oh man! There was no boredom for me as long it was playing- I was dancing and singing (terribly)...and it was always playing. Every song on that album was utterly amazing, and even now, it's an impossible task to choose a favorite song to share on here...I had to snatch them all! (Well, I thought 5 was sufficient!)

    Ok, so why a random walk down Moffatt memory lane? Because I've recently (within the last couple months) been introduced to Stage It, and while shuffling through artists shows I saw Scott Andrew Moffatt in X days, and now all I want to do is the Caterpillar Crawl. 

    If I remember I'll check out his show!












    Family Picture w/ Victoria!


     



    Monday, June 24, 2013

    Story Time Craft: Five/Ten Little Monkeys


     
    Library Story Time was all about counting books.
    Five Little Ducks
    Five Little Kittens
    Five Sea Shells
    and
    Ten Little Monkeys
     
    The craft was making your own "Monkeys on the Bed" picture.
    This would be super easy to do at home, too. The images including a bed, monkeys, and bananas were 'rough' cut, and the children just glued them on the construction paper, and then colored the paper with crayons.

    Boo...Sad...

    Oh, this dreaded day always seem to come much too fast.
     
    Bye Victoria!!
     
    We love you, and we'll see you soon!

    Sunday, June 23, 2013

    Yikes!

    Have you seen the price of...CORN!!!





    Chef Katelyn/Park Videos

    Since I posted this one on FB, I have two!


    Saturday, June 22, 2013

    Chicago * Cubs Game





     
    It was soo cold, and we didn't even get to sing "Go Cubs Go!"
    ...But we had loads of fun!
     
    It was amazing getting to spend time with Victoria's family this week, and now we can't wait to take a magical journey across Brasil to visit our growing family there!

    Friday, June 21, 2013

    Weekly Craft - Wind Sock



    Katelyn was too cute at Story Time on Friday!
     
    The Audubon Society was there to teach the children about dinosaurs, and they had these cut-outs to pass around during the story, and Katelyn was one of the few that didn't get a chance to hold one.
     
    Before starting the craft one the ladies asked if all the children got to hold a dinosaur. Katelyn understood exactly what she was asking- all on her own she stood up, held her hands in the air, and brought the dinosaur to sit on my lap. I took a picture, she said 'rrr' and without any prompting from me she got up, and handed it back to the lady.  


    *******
    The wind-sock was a lot of fun to make! (and simple!) We had a bag of tools which included:

    1 sheet of construction paper
    3 streamers
    5 stickers
    1 glue stick
    1 piece of yarn (about 6-8 inches)

    You'll also need a couple pieces of tape, a hole punch, and a stapler.

    TO MAKE:

    Decorate one side of the construction paper with stickers and drawings, staying an inch or so away from the side edges.

    Glue/Tape the streamers in equal spacing across the bottom of the opposite side of the construction paper.

    Bring edged together making a cylinder shape, and staple in the middle and at each end.

    Put two holes across from each other near the top of the wind sock, and tie string through on both sides.

    As Katelyn has learned to say --- Ta-da!

    Thursday, June 20, 2013

    Ring My Bell!!!

    My Green Bell! Ha! Ha!
    First one - with more on the way!

    Update....
     Oh, yeah!
     

    Berry Pickin' Good




    Seven Pounds on Saturday. Five pounds on Tuesday.

    Wednesday, June 19, 2013

    Up Early....

    To make Homemade Laundry Detergent.
     
    Obviously not early enough to finish the task before Katelyn woke up. =P

    Turns out...she was a huge help when I overfilled one of the jugs.
     
    She was going for the cleaning rags before I even realized just how big my mess was, and she pretty much cleaned every bit of it up herself.

    Father's Day


    We celebrated Father's Day at Indiana Beach with Grandma, Rachel, and Ashley.
     
    Katelyn's Gifts:


     
    Mommy's Gift:
     
     

    Tuesday, June 18, 2013

    Indiana Beach Visit 2

    We actually camped out near the park, but the camera died shortly after we got to the park....this is all we got...



     
    So glad we bought season passes! Katelyn LOVES the park, and knows which rides she loves....hm... that'd be all of them.

    Monday, June 17, 2013

    Naner, Naner

    Pepper - that is! Can't wait to eat this little guy. It's been slow growing, but finally!

    Sunday, June 16, 2013

    Kite Time

     
    It was a perfect day for flying a kite last week! Katelyn absolutely loved, loved, loved her kite.


    Friday, June 14, 2013

    Playdate Group

    Finally took the step I was waiting on someone else to take and started a play group page on Facebook. We had our first 'get together' today. It was fun at the park!




    Thursday, June 13, 2013

    MMM....

    Katelyn eating her yummy frozen yogurt bites!
    I just put the yogurt in a baggie, cut off the corner, dotted the yogurt on some wax paper and froze.
    She loves them!

    Monday, June 03, 2013

    Two Cool Craft/Games

    Haven't posted a craft in too long! These are both craft/games we've put together.
     
    The First: Music Shaker
     
    This one was fun to make. It is 2 small paper plates, some tissue paper, stickers, glue stick, popcorn and staples.
     
    The one we made here represents the ocean! Katelyn took her time dragging a glue stick all across the bottom of the plates, and then she stuck the colored tissue on the glue, and decorated the "water" with stickers. She did this on both sides.
     
    Then she put two handfuls of popcorn kernels on one of the plates, covered with the other, and then  stapled them together...WaaaaLaaaa - She has a music maker. (Which she wouldn't leave at home and had to shake through most of an hour long trip to the grocery last week.)

    This week's craft was a bit messy on our skin, but eh...it was alright.
     
    At tumbling we played this clothes pin drop game that she seemed to enjoy a bit. So...I was thinking of something to do this morning and this is what we got. I dug up the markers and clothes pins and she spent some time coloring them with me, and after a little time to dry, she stood on the step stool and tried dropping them into the box. I guess it was kind of educational too since we counted how many she made.