#72 Read 133 books and review them-8

Living with PCOS:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

A great book that actually included information about PCOS that I didn't previously know. I am always trying to read new research and new books on this since I do have it.

#62 Pick blueberries with Emma

My girl lovvvves blueberries. We also picked blackberries. She had a great time and did not want to leave. I kept finding her sneaking blueberries into her mouth. Even though I do not like blueberries I did have fun picking them. We even saw a bird's nest complete with egg.

#69 Watch 100 movies and review them-12

Toy Story 3D

It was a great movie and reminded me of when I saw the first two many years ago. I am glad I didn't take my young ones to see it because there were some intense moments. I will admit I cried...but I was also having a crappy week and have already cried a few times. Barbie and Ken had me cracking up. So many movies that come out with more than 2 additions aren't that great but I did love this one as much as the other two.

A weekend of completion-book 7

This weekend I was invited to Charlotte by my friend Cameron. I "met" her a few years ago on the knot. We are very similar and were both bummed about the 3 hours in between us. We have managed to see each other a few times though and I have never been to Charlotte.

I had to work Friday night so I left early Saturday morning. I arrived in Charlotte just in time for lunch and it was a good thing because I was starving. Cameron asked me where I wanted to go and in my search for penguin items I had found that Charlotte has a place called The Penguin Drive-in There was a wait to get in. It gets great reviews. I wanted to go just because it had penguin in the name. The food was great. I had a penguin patty melt and we shared fried pickles. It is the first diner that I have ever been to that served alcohol. After the week I had I decided to give something a try...Sex in the Penguin. It was yummy!


We then shopped till we dropped and finished the day with a pedicure. Lunch was so filling we weren't really in the mood for dinner but a few hours later we met up with Cameron's husband and friend and went to On the Border for dessert. We ended up getting appetizers instead and were too full for dessert. The night ended watching you tube videos and talking some more. You should look on you tube for Jacks films and Glozell. Hilarious. Watch the wtf blanket first.

Sunday we woke up and headed to Ruby Tuesday's for their 4 course brunch. Jon and I have been wanting to try it but just haven't made it there yet. Cameron and I are basically twins and we got the same thing. Steak and eggs. It started with the best sweet biscuits then a oatmeal parfait with fruit sauce, and followed by dessert which we both chose cheesecake with blackberry sauce. It was so yummy and I was so full I may never eat again.

Cameron took me to The Owl's Eye Winery next. We tried 8 wines I think and there were only 2 that weren't high on my list. I ended up buying a bottle of Niagra and Tweyelight. The Tweyelight had a cool bottle and the label is blue. It is a blend of Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc. For a person that is not a big fan of Chardonnay or Pinot I absolutely loved their wine. I have to go back and buy more the next time I am in Charlotte or try and see if they sell it here. Don't they have the coolest logo?




Cameron has one less pet than we do and they are no less cuter. I got to meet Wolfwood, Jewel, Knight, and Neko. If Cameron wouldn't of killed me or Jon divorced me I would have taken all of them home with me. I used to pet-sit for a greyhound and I forgot how much I liked them. They are sweet, soft, and gentle giants. Wolfwood approved of me also. He didn't bark at me except for when I entered and he didn't get too excited and pee on me. He even got close for a few pets on the head.

Jewel and Knight taking a break on the couchNeko testing out my new picnic blanket I got at Bed, Bath, and Beyond

It was a fun trip and a big thanks to Cameron and her husband for having me. :-)

I also finished Jodi Piccoults's Handle with Care. It was a great book. It was one I became emotionally involved in. If a character was hurting I was crying right along with them. It felt like I was reading a real life story. Would you tell a jury you wish your child was not born in order to pay off all the debt incurred by a disabled child and to provide for her future?

#31 Bake Something New

Fresh Blackberry Cobbler from cooks.com

1 stick butter

1 c. milk

1 c. sifted flour

1 c. sugar

1 qt. blackberries

In bottom of baking pan or large baking dish, melt butter. Add milk; do not stir. Sift flour and sugar; add to dish. DO NOT STIR. Add blackberries. Bake at 325 to 350 degrees until crust rises to top and browns.

If you are like me you do not have time to sit and watch your cobbler bake until it browns. I found another recipe that said bake for 30-40 minutes so I used that. In the last 10 minutes though I realized that it also said 375... so I upped the temp and cooked it about 10 minutes longer. I had issues with being told not to stir and I will admit I didn't stir the milk and butter but I did pour the sugar/flour mixture over the blackberries and coated them before adding them to the mixture.

It was super easy to make and I let a 3 year old help me. It turned out great and everyone loved it.

#69 Watch 100 movies and review them-11

Valentine's Day

I didn't love it but I liked it. I did enjoy the huge amount of big stars in it. I thought Taylor Swift was hilarious.

#11 Inspire someone to do a 101 in 1001 challenge

I finally branched out and joined a few social blog networks and finally I inspired someone else to do a challenge!

Side note about ads

See the one over there -> that says Canvas people? I just ordered an 11x14 of one of my wedding pictures from their site and got it for $9.99 and paid for shipping. I got the link from the deal wise mommy blog. I will review it when I get it but I am super excited to have gotten such a great deal on a canvas print and was surprised to see them as one of my blog ads.

#31 Bake Something New

My boss had a birthday and I knew she was not a cupcake or cake fan but still wanted something birthday themed that my kids could help make. I decided on cake mix cookies. I had them awhile ago at a baby shower and found out what they were. They are delicious!

CAKE MIX COOKIES
1 box cake mix (any flavor)
1/2 c. oil
2 eggs
Roll in balls. Place on greased cookie sheet. Set oven at 350 degrees. Cook them for 8-10 minutes.

Super easy to make and my boss and kids loved them. I will definitely be making these again.

#69 Watch 100 movies and review them-10

When in Rome

I was hoping to watch this with a friend but sadly I ended up watching it alone. I was working on a blog header for one of my other blogs and this was the perfect movie to have on in the background. I thought it was cute.

#69 Watch 100 movies and review them-9

The Blind Side

Our young believes group at church had a movie night on Friday. Cake, drinks, pop corn and movie snacks. Jon and I were able to snag a couch. I loved this movie. I think I knew it was based on a true story and then I forgot. I loved it for being such a great story without making me bawl in front of people I don't know that well yet.

45. Buy flowers for pots on porch and keep alive for 30 days

Last year I bought violets and spider plants for the front porch. I kept them alive all summer and I covered them for the first potential frost and then we had a freak cold spell and they didn't make it. I was so sad. This year I decided to plant Impatiens. I bought Red and white and they are doing well. I bought them a week ago and I have yet to plant them in pots. I had planned to do it this weekend but throwing up blood kind of ruined my plans.

#69 Watch 100 movies and review them-7,8

Carriers

Chris Pine looks better with a little scruff. I think the people that made the most going into the movie were the people that died first. A deadly disease is spreading and 4 people are trying to make it to a desserted beach called Turtle Island or something like that. I did not want to watch it but while I was sick my husband took advantage and convinced me to see it. I didn't dislike it but I won't be watching it again anytime soon.

Dear John I thought I had read this book before I watched the movie but I didn't remember anything so I must not have. I think this is the only Nicholas Sparks book/movie I wasn't a fan of. Channing Tatum more than made up for it though!

The Lovely Bones

As usual I liked the book better. A young girl is murdered and watches her family from heaven. Her father cannot rest without solving the murder and her mother cannot be the mother of the dead girl and leaves the family.

#72 Read 133 books and review them-6

Hello, My name is Mommy

I loved this book. Sheri from the Bob and Sheri show on the radio tells it like it is. There are no sensors on the thoughts you have as a parent (or someone who cares for children) This book tells you the truth instead of puppies and rainbows.

#72 Read 133 books and review them-5

The Duggars: 20 and counting

I love watching 19 kids and counting. You can say whatever you want about the Duggars but I like them. They have 19 children and they are debt free. Most people with one child cannot say that. This book starts at the beginning and includes pictures and recipes throughout. You learn about all the businesses they had and how 5 or 7 people lived in a two bedroom house. (I forget the number but it was insane)I do think after the recent preemie birth of Josie that they should call it quits. I wish the book had been written later so I could've read more about the journey of a preemie. It was a quick read.

#68 Stay in pajamas all day and watch movies-5,6, #69

It was really hard to stay in pajamas all day and not go somewhere or do stuff around the house. Because we traveled on Memorial Day weekend though I was a little behind in school work and I did use the time to complete my reading, discussion question, and to write my paper.

We watched

Leap year
Weekend at Bernie's 2
Fireproof
Lakeview Terrace
and some dvr

Jon had never seen Fireproof but I watched it recently before I started this challenge. I think every couple should watch it.

Leap Year

A young woman decides to follow a family tradition and propose to her bf on Feb 29th. She sets off on a plane to fly cross country to see him. Of course she runs into trouble and a attractive inn keeper helps her get to her destination to propose.

It was a little slow and I give it 1 1/2 stars. The ending made me angry but then it turned around and ended nicely. Matthew Goode was nice to look at. :-)

Lakeview Terrace

This movie hurt to watch. The couple move into a house next to a cop who is off his rocker. They can't call the police because he is the police. It made me thankful that we have nice neighbors. I did not enjoy watching it because Samuel Jackson played such a great bad man.

Laundry Detergent update

I used the following recipe:

Laundry Detergent Recipe
4 quarts water
3 gallons Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar
a 5 gallon bucket with lid

First you grate up a bar of soap. I used Kirk's Castile soap. I had planned to use Fels Naptha but the bar I have is currently being used as a pretreater for stains. It is approximately $1.50 maybe for a bar and so far it has been the best thing I have found to pre-treat stains. I used my kitchen stand up grater that I use to grate cheese.

Bring 4 quarts of water to boil and slowly add little handfuls of the grated soap into the water until it is all melted and mixed up.

Fill the 5 gallon bucket with 3 gallons of hot tap water. Add the melted soap, Washing Soda, and Borax into the bucket and stir until it is all dissolved.

Put the lid on and let it sit overnight. The next day stir it up and it is ready to use.

1 cup per load of laundry

It will look something like the picture above. I also found fresh linen essential oil to add before every load for a stronger scent. I liked it without the oil but I like a stronger fresh smell.

My first test was towels. I added the oil before adding the towels and then added my one cup. The towels came out clean, fluffy, and smell like fresh laundry.

My next test was clothes that had a few items with stains. All the clothes came out clean. :-)

I am sold on homemade laundry detergent. I think I might try the powered version next time.

Other Goals

Now that I have started this challenge I find myself striving to finish other little or big goals that I have set for myself.

One I have been putting off for awhile is making my own laundry detergent. I found out how inexpensive it was and how easy it was to make and decided I wanted to try it out. We plan to cloth diaper our future kids so why not start the savings now? I bought the ingredients today and plan to attempt making it tomorrow. I will post my results and the recipe I used later.

#69 Watch 100 movies and review them-4

Couples Retreat

Not too bad for a chic flic type comedy. Each couple is having problems and think they are going to do what they want on the retreat and are all very upset when they have couples skill building at 6 am. They all continue to have problems until the end when everything magically fixes itself. Good for a few laughs.

# 82 Go on a trip on my parents boat with Jon

Jon has been away a lot recently for work. I hate it. I do not know how couples that are away for days, months, a year at a time do it. I need my husband and while I may occasionally enjoy a weekend away I do not like being away from him often. Last year I took a mini vacation before I started my new job and went to Md to see my parent's boat. They had just moved it to a new marina in Md. My friend Sharon and I went for the weekend and we had a blast. A week later I finally felt like I was off the boat.

I have been trying since last 4th of July to make time to take Jon with me. Recently we found a teen at church willing to watch our zoo and we have taken advantage of a trip with out dogs twice.
We drove up Friday afternoon and made it in about 5.5 hrs. We hung out with everyone and showed Jon around. We all went to the restaurant directly in front of my parent's boat, Waterman's, and had dinner with the group. We then headed to another bar/restauarant for dancing. Jon actually danced.
Saturday we were up early and ready to head out for a day on the water. We took a short boat ride to Swan creek and hung out all day with two other boats. Only a few people enjoyed the cold water. Saturday we went to Waterman's again for dinner and stayed for dancing.
Sunday we decided it would be nice enough to anchor out for the next night. We took a longer boat ride with 3 other boats and headed to Dobbin's Island. It is a small 7 acre island that is popular for people taking day trips. It was hot and all of us enjoyed the water. We saw a police boat board 3 boats. ALso there were many idiots. One smaller boat anchored and went to shore. The two guys were gone for hours. I had been watching the boat swing from one direction to the other and come very close to another boat. The owner of that boat finally got out moved the boat and anchor of the boat. Idiot owner came back hours later and was not ok to be driving a boat. The funny thing was his boat was now stuck on the sandbar. We had to be further away from the island because we had a sailboat with us and it needs at least 4.5 ft of water. We ended up being the wave breaker over the sandbar and at times it was a little rocky. 3 out of 4 boats had a grill so dinner was yummy. We all hung out and talked and listened to music until it was late.
Monday morning the oh so smart people were out early and one guy drove over all 3 of our front anchors. It took about 10 minutes to get him off of our lines. The scary thing is they hadn't even started drinking yet. We were glad to be leaving. We had a yummy grilled breakfast and headed out to Swan Creek again. A boat we were traveling with has an older dog and he was starting to act funny so we headed back for the dock instead. It was a good thing we headed back because while she was taking him potty he passed out on the dock. It was scary and we are waiting to see how he is at the vet today. We were not very organized and it took forever to walk over to dinner and get our stuff ready so we did not leave till around 7:30. We got home very late this morning. It was a successful trip and we plan to head back for July 4th.