Happy New Year!

We have been enjoying the days off of work

and school

and soaking up this holiday season.

I hope you all have a wonderful night

and an even better New Year

filled with happiness, positive progress, 

accomplishing new goals, joy

&

pushing ourselves to be better than the year before.

My personal mantra for the New Year:

"2011-Hottie Heaven"

that's right.

i hope to not recognize myself by next New Year's

and I hope to try and accomplish things I've never done before

or thought possible!

We can do anything we set our minds to.

Believe it!

Happy New Year!!

waz on my Dam phone: Dec 28th

i should've asked for a new camera phone for 

Christmas. ;)

how was Christmas?

I'm pretty sure Santa had H1N1, 

cuz he threw up all over my house...

ok

i've had a diaper bag for 8 years.

and i have now upgraded to "grown up" style.

i was SO excited that I got this from my sweet hubby.

it's a big deal for me. haha.

Lily and Piper received "paint your own" ceramics 

in our family gift exchange.

they wasted no time

and started immediately suffering for their art.

the best pacifier...

SUGAR! ;p

what do you call a child that never wears clothing?

...jungle baby...

speaking of no clothing, 

this chic likes to run around topless.

the best place to put topless babies?

the toy box.

that'll show her.

oh man...

i mean girl.

next year i am getting all matching ones.

non-gender specific. ;)

 booyah!

you know waz fun?

sitting in your dr's office and seeing what wonderful 

disease awareness posters they have for you to browse.

shingles.

yippee!

i itched for 3 days straight.

they truly have the best reading material in the waiting room.

i couldn't stop giggling.

then i got the munchies.

waiting for Santa, blows.

C'MON already!

stop stuffing your face with cookies

and playing chinese fire drill with the reindeer.

Hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Christmas!!!!

and have a TREMENDOUS New YEAR!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Merry Christmas!!

Enjoy your day...we obviously are *wink*

oh and if you didn't get a chance to see Santa this year

you realllly missed out.

he brings JOY to everyone. ;p

girls w/ their boy cousins.

Happy HOLIDAYS!

embrace the camera: dec 23rd

i would like to present our family christmas card this year

as my etc photo this week.

cuz we prob will only get another professional one

in another 8 years or so. haha

in case you think this is cheating

here is one of me and the Piperoni

we're so festive. ;p

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

have a great one everybody!

Waz on my Dam phone

'twas the Tuesday before Christmas

and all through the phone

not a mundane thing was forgotten

cuz i took pics of it, shalom.

what?

it rhymed. whatevah...

Let's get on with it

(said in Man from Snowy River voice)

how many batches of caramel did I make?

enough to not want to do it for a looong time.

wait they're delicious.

maybe i'll make one more. ;)

(btw, i used a 9x13 pan for the recipe.)

who in the hell-o would drive in this weather??

this crazy chic.

i was "nerbous"...

but you know what made me MORE nerbous?

this car.

i took the pic in record time, 

ya know...in case she looked in her rearview and cast a spell.

(the bumper sticker says "White Witch")

the thing about wearing your pants backwards, 

is that no one can tell if you're coming or going!

maybe that has nuthin' to do with her pants...

somebody loves ketchup.

and mean faces.

i forgot about this ornament I found

in August.

It has 4 girls!

4 sista friends!! perfect!

oh hi whale.

ya go ahead and smile

while we get the glorious news that Lily has strep throat.

will you be smiling when the rest of us get it, 

just in time for Christmas?

will you be smiling when i come back and kick you in the face?

ya...Santa doesn't love you. so there.

go link up and show us your phone pics.

it will be your Christmas gift to me. 

at least it's a germ-free gift!

thanks! ;)

I'm Mediterranean...

i know I just posted a recipe yesterday, BUT

I was making a salad for our family Christmas party tonight

and I loved it!

Have you ever heard of couscous?

it's SO much easier than rice.

it's actually a tiny tiny pasta

but the texture is soft and fluffy.

you can find it in your rice aisle in all different herbs and flavors

any one of them will do because you just need the couscous,

you won't need the seasoning packet that comes with it.

you boil water.

you pour it in. 

you wait 5 min.

and fluff.

if you've never tried it, i think this is a GREAT way to 

introduce it into your menu items.

simple.

yummy.

quick.

AND

this is a fun alternative to the boring green salad

that you usually bring, or I bring. whatev. ;)

I like this salad because the flavors are light

and fresh.

you feel healthy eating it!

MEDITERRANEAN COUSCOUS SALAD

1 C + 2 Tbsp chicken stock

3/4 c quick cooking couscous ( 1 box)

1 lg tomato, seeded & chopped

3 oz feta cheese, diced to 1/4 in squares ( I got the already crumbled up  cheese)

3 Tbsp aragula or 1/4 c minced watercress (for some reason my grocery store did not have these, i used parsley instead)

3 Tbsp minced green onion

5 Tbsp olive oil

3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Salt & Freshly ground pepper

Green olives ( i used what i had on hand which were kalamata olives)

Toasted pine nuts ( i didn't use)

Bring stock to boil in small pan.  Mix couscous, cover and remove from heat.  Let stand 5 minutes.  Fluff with fork.  Turn into medium bowl. Cool to room temperature.  Mix tomato, feta, aragula and green onion into couscous.  Whisk together oil, lemon, salt and lots of pepper.  Mix into salad. Enjoy!

 *I mixed the olives right in, and keep in refrigerator a couple hours or as long as you can so the flavors can come together.  I did try it right after i made it and it tasted delicious so if you don't have time to refrigerate it's still lovely, but if you have time I'd recommend it.* :)

  Don't be surprised if a man named Stavros

comes to find you and your excellent Greek salad.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

sunday treat: christmas caramels

buttery

soft

chewy

fat laden

christmas goodness

i've made these before

but it was worth a repeat.

Now,

I am NOT a candy maker

seriously.

but surprisingly these are quite easy to make, 

just keep stirring...keep stirring

and don't overcook

you don't want a brick of caramel. ahem.

you can pair these with a plate of cookies 

or holiday cakes and goodies you make

and take them to neighbors

or just let these stand on their own.

they're THAT good.

it tastes like the candy store 

ooey gooey scrumptious caramels.

believe you me!

Christmas Caramels

1 C    butter

1 C    packed brown sugar

1 C    white sugar

1 C    light corn syrup

1 C   14oz can sweetened condensed milk

          dash of salt

Butter a 7x11in pan.  Combine butter, sugars, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, and sat in a heavy saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Adjust temp to maintain a steady boil and cook, stirring often, to firm-ball stage, 245-250 degrees on candy thermometer or (mixture forms a firm ball when dropped into cold water and won't flatten when removed)  This will take 15-20 min.  Pour into prepared pan.  Cool, then cut into squares and wrap each piece in waxed paper.  Makes about 75 pieces of candy.

then spend days cutting them into lil' squares

and wrapping them 

in waxed paper. 

one for you...one for me...

throw them in a goodie bag 

and impress your neighbors/teachers/stalkers!

or you can always keep this bag in your car

for when you want to gain 5 lbs immediately

cuz you're just feeling TOO thin 

during the holidays. ;)

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

&

Bon Appe'tite!

Christmas Swap

i participated in THIS

and my swap partner was miss Elizabeth

from

City Lights & Camo Nights

she is darling and is a new military wifey, 

having her 1st Christmas with her hubby and 

just bought their 1st house!

besides being adorable

she is psychic

cuz when i opened up my box

it was like she read my mind!!

all things that i would've wanted she totally boxed up all pretty-like 

and sent my way.

I got gift card for date night w/my hubby! SCORE!

and a Starbucks giftcard

to help pick me up when i'm exhausted.................

there's caffeinated hot chocolate right? *wink*

 she got me a sleep mask!!

i totally need one, i'm hoping that will help me sleep better!

and look at the cutie penguin ornament

and a Happy New Year ornament

I'm soooo looking forward to the New Year starting!

 Now I may or may not have been more excited at all the chocolate goodness

resting at the bottom of the box

it's like she knows me too well!

and i may have been just as excited to open up a box with ONLY chocolates in it.

haha.

Doing this Christmas Swap was so fun! 

I got to meet someone new

and it's always so so fun to receive something in the mail

especially around the holidays

and especially if there is chocolate. ;)

Thanks again Elizabeth!!

Don't forget to check out her bloggity blog!!

11 things

remember when i posted about snowballs?

well i got it from THIS blog

and she just did a post on what 11 things you do NOT need in your life in the New Year.

so, "what are 11 things your life doesn't need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?" (taken from her blog)

it got me thinking, and here are mine.

(this may be looong)

11 Things I Don't NEED in 2011

1.  dinner issues.  everyday, dinner rolls around and i want to kick somethin'.  if dinner were a person, i'd slap it in the face. it's always an issue, and my kids(mostly hubby) are sooooo very picky. and i'm scrambling trying to think of a meal that doesn't make everybody cry and curl up into the fetal position (again, the hubby). they like the stuff we always make, why do you venture onto new recipes lady? but then we have the same stuff and it's like...ahhh, that AGAIN? SO, i do NOT need dinner issues in 2011, i'm getting rid of them.  I'm going to plan, yep you heard me. PLAN menus for the week, and that way when i go grocery shopping I'll have a plan of what ingredients i need to have on hand, AND i'm going to use my crockpot more, so it's already done for me. go away dinner issues, don't make me punch you. (how many times can you incorporate the word plan into your paragraph?) ;p

2. bemoaning my weight.  i do it often. i make jokes at my own expense. i constantly tell my muffin top to get outta here! i always WISH for miracles, that don't happen. and i know we ALL have body issues, regardless of having had children or not, but i know for MY body having 500 kids can take it's toll. BUT i'm done bemoaning. I've lost a couple lbs this month, nothing fancy just eating less, watching what i eat, consistency in exercise. i'm a big dorkface and always jump on latest diet craze or new exercise bandwagon, when in all honesty it just takes consistency. and who said you have to run 5miles a day? if you get bored easily (like me) then DO all the crazy exercise fads out there, switch it up all the time, have fun with it. AND slow and steady wins the race. i'm a tortoise, i'm no hare...even though I LOOK like a "bunny"...what? ya heard me. *wink*

3. money issues.  stop spending on wants. only needs. nuff' said.

4. laziness.  ahh, why even write about this, i don't wanna. jk, just being lazy. ok, now some of my laziness isn't really from being lazy but from being exhausted, so i wouldn't really call it laziness, BUT i can do better. would it kill me to spend 10 extra minutes in the kitchen ONCE a week to make my kids a hot breakfast? i did this morning and it was like the angels were singing, my kids thought mom was still in bed and I had gotten them a cool mom robot for an early Christmas present. stop being lazy with church, go EVERY Sunday, at least try harder. Ready my scriptures EVERYDAY, incorporate more spiritual things/times in my day. It DOES help, and I need to do it more often and not be so lazy about my relationship with God.  I was VERY productive yesterday, and i need to have more days like that becuz everybody feels better when I do. including me.

5. envy.  i soooooooo don't need this in my life.  i don't have a stick thin body. i don't have $100+ jeans and shop at only expensive places for me and my children. I don't make homemade goodness that looks professional for teachers/neighbors/loved ones. i don't have a house full of creative goodness from Hillary. I don't have an amazing blog design.  I don't have a perfect husband, children, skin, home, attitude or life. But i do have my family that i'm in love with, and I like ME and what we have and I cherish my dear friendships and my extended family, and I can't compare or be envious of anyone anymore. it's evil. it only brings negativity, and i want 2011 to be all about the positive.

6. surprise pregnancies. ummm, i'm hoping this will NOT happen, we have taken all the necessary precautions and steps to ensure this doesn't happen, but this has been my life for many years.  I SO do not need one of those in 2011. ;D

7. conflict.  who wants that? but i seem to have them with my children, my husband, myself. i need to be less defensive, less quick to anger, less finding fault and be more conflict-less. take the high road, be more patient (now, i AM pretty patient person, but I'm a Gemini so I do have that "other" side, muahhaha). i don't like conflict. i like peace. and i can totally work on helping things be more peaceful around here.

8. "moving-in"...18mo later.  i don't need to STILL be moving into our home, 18 mo after the fact.  It's time to go through all the boxes in the basement, get rid of CRAP, organize organize organize and start making this house a HOME for crying out loud. i guess i should refer back to #4...hmmm

9.  new projects.  oh my gosh, i do NOT need new projects this next year! how about FINISHING all the myriad of projects i have never completed!! wow, what a concept. follow-thru!! 

10. new clothes.  i'm a girl. of COURSE you can ALWAYS have new clothes. but i truly don't.  I've been seeing everyone around the blogosphere do 30 for 30, where you pick 30 items of clothing and mix them around for new outfits everyday for 30 days.  I can do this for WAY longer than 30 days.  I always feel like i have nothing, but truly i have a lot. AND if i lose all my weight i have SOOOO many things that i could wear, that i don't right now, so it would be like a whole new wardrobe!! so lose weight, and be happy with what i have is a win/win.  also my girls do not need anymore, the laundry WILL win someday and then you'll never hear from me again, i will have been swallowed up.

11. 10 yr anniversary bonanaza.  i don't need a BIG 10 yr anniversary celebration this coming June 2011.  I do not need to go somewhere beachy or tropical to commemorate making it through 10 yrs of marriage.  I don't need diamonds or spa days or romantic evening/couple days away from children, or other silly things to thank me for being such a trooper. and this is NOT reverse psychology in case my hubby happens to read this post. 

what 11 things can YOU do without?

leave them in comments

or link your blog with YOUR 11 things.

hooray for a NEW YEAR!

waz on my Dam phone: dec 14th

i seem to have had a slow picture taking week...

the holidays seem to be making me so lazy busy, i guess. ;p

when you need to go to the post office in the morning, 

make sure you look extra unibomberish

or gangsta.

i did grow up on the streets of Cali

so watch yo'self.

 look at those Madonna's!

(her top teeth ;) )

she's teething more

grind away baby, grind away.

 i think i prefer snow to this bitterly cold frosty frost...

my kids were so excited to see mom and dad get on the ball

and actually start putting a few gifts out, 

little do they know they're all school textbooks

i figure they need the knowledge over Christmas break...

kids get over broken hearts faster than adults, it's gonna be ok.

 hey if you missed seeing Home Alone this holiday season, 

just check your phone! you could have a billion scenes stuck on there!!

(thanks Piper)

 Hi, I'm Hillary

I'm and adult

with a Dora bandaid...

so glad my kids wash their hands thoroughly before 

wiping them on the towel...

good thing it's just chocolate! 

DO IT!

sunday treat: snowballs

What's winter without snowballs??

these tasty lil' morsels were seen on THIS fantabulous blog

which i've stalked for 18 months

and she knows that

and it's alright. ;)

But these are GREAT to do with kiddos (or adults :) )

cuz they loooove to roll 'em around in the "snow" after they're baked.

these also make a perfect treat to take around to the neighbors

because they're a cinch to make

they have NO egg, so they keep for a looong time

and they're adorable!!

( cuz my kids have nut allergies, i substituted *almonds* in this recipe, 

and also used a little whole wheat flour too. :))

Snowballs

3/4 c butter, room temp

1 tsp vanilla (I like to use mexican vanilla in these of course:)

1 TBS water

1/8tsp salt

1/3 c sugar

1 1/2 c flour

1 c chocolate chips

1 c chopped pecans or walnuts (I like pecans)

Cream butter, vanilla, water, sugar and salt. Add flour and mix well. Stir in chocolate and nuts. Form into 1” balls. Bake at 350* for 20 minutes. Cool for a few minutes. Roll in powdered sugar while still warm. Makes about 3 doz.

friday facts...

fact #1:

I'm still rocking Wednesday's hair...today. holla!

fact #2:

i'm in desperate need of a blog design

(as if you couldn't tell)

and my glorious uber talented blog designer friend April is having a giveaway

for a free blog design!

i want it, i need it, i better get it...or else! ;p

fact #3:

i miss my siblings.

none of my family lives in this silly state.

most of them are in California, and one is in Oregon

sigh...must be the holidays.

fact #4:

I'm a sugar addict.

i try not to eat it, but i crave it!

i've been doing well ALL week with eating my MEALS just fine and what i'm supposed to

be eating. 

but i snack on candy and goodies in between.

maybe that makes me an addict AND a cheater...

fact #5:

I'm a totally social person, 

but I'm pretty sure my neighbors think i'm the Klopek family from "the 'Burbs"

(ever see that movie w/ tom hanks? it's a classic.)

i don't go out much and when i do i'm fiddling with the trash can 

or leaving in my car.

maybe i'm a bear cuz i definitely start hibernating once it gets cold...

or maybe i'm a bear cuz i eat sugar which totally helps my waistline, 

no matter

i'm big and furry

so perhaps it's best i stay inside.

fact #6:

my 2 yr old has been a "dog" for 3 straight days now.

walking on all fours

answering everything with "ruff"

only talking in "dog"

luckily doggies go potty on the toilet

otherwise we'd be in REAL trouble...

have a wonderful weekend!!

embrace the camera: dec 9th

morning 'bobbie' time

and cuddy time

is a favorite time...

have you embraced your camera today?

waz on my dam phone: dec 7th

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today...

it's Tuesday!!

but I don't have a hamburger

but i DO have tons of bad resolution,-need a better phone-camera pics!!

woohoo!

you can do it toooooooo!

who needs a baby gate, when you can jimmy rig all ghetto-like?

that's how we roll...

i know there are nicer candles

like Salt City

or fancy Scency

AND 

i know a lot of peeps hate the Corporate giant that IS WalMart

BUT

this big ol' thing was only $4

and smells soooooooooooo good

and i want to eat/drink the air now

seems good to ME

 delirium can cause many things to happen to a young sprite.

like putting a piece of bread on your nose

cuz it's like a "an-daid"

to make your non-existant nose owie feel better.

it also makes one pass out, moments after said pic is taken.

 oh, Hi holiday weight gain!

how YOU doin?

 i hate waiting...

 yippee for finding a diamond necklace from the hubby

that i THOUGHT i LOST 18 mo ago

when we moved into our new house!

do you know people that LOVE their dogs? 

Like, obsess and stress over them like it's their child?

I have a brother-in-law and his wife like that.

so he was gone in Vegas this weekend, and grandma had the dog.

Grandma brought the dog over.

Hubby decided to take pics of him "pretending" to hurt their dog.

we like to have fun at other people's expense over here. ;)

"holy" what the crap is right!

satan must've gotten a hold of my cellphone

i best make it to church this sunday.

pray for me.

christmas decorations from hyper midget's view

 i am NOT kidding when i say this happens every time.

stupid gravy.

 laundry won again...

gah!

 i sometimes want to cut my hair all short and sassy

but then i remember i have thin hair

and flat hair

and it wouldn't look like this

dumb false advertising!!

 these are interesting going in AND out. ahem.

why do we say we want it to be cold when it's summer time? 

i surely cannot remember...