Hi My Name is Kasey... and I'm an Addict

It's been 6 hours since my last Mountain Dew.  I have been addicted for years.  I stopped drinking it while I was pregnant only to pick up the habit again.  I drink about 16 ounces a day which didn't sound like a lot to me.  Until recently.  In my never-ending journey to lose weight I signed up for Spark People.  It's a really helpful website that helps you track how many calories, carbs, and fats you consume each day.  There are so many features and resources that I'm still trying to figure out but the daily tracker is awesome!  Unfortunately, it showed me just how many of those daily calories and carbs I'm drinking.  220 Calories and 62 Carbs to be exact.... UGH!

I've been tracking for about 4 days and I know it's time to say good bye to my habit but habits are hard to break.  Right now I'm hungry.  My bag of Sun Chips at Subway along with the Dew I drank has put me a little over my calories for the day.  I'm not way over but I know that if I didn't drink that Dew today then I would be able to have a healthy snack tonight.  It's sad that I am willing to substitute a bottle of soda for food.  Can you say addicted?!?  

As I'm sitting here thinking about what I'm going to eat tomorrow, I find myself still factoring my Dew in.  To eat or to drink... this is a toughie!  As long as I make extremely healthy food choices, it should fit in just fine... Right?  I know, I know. I'll give it up cold turkey as soon as the last 4 bottles are gone!  Pinky promise!

Chocolate Melts in the Sun...

My sisters and I hosted our very first fundraiser this past Saturday and overall it was a success.  We learned an important lesson though:  Chocolate, and icing, melts in the sun!


We got a late start but we started strong.  Before the table was set up we sold 2 dozen of these cute cupcakes:

Everything looked absolutely adorable and pink!

We started a reject pile of cupcakes and cookies that got messy when I dropped the container on the ride over.  My sister was going to sell them to her poor boyfriend.  Unfortunately, at noon the sun started to melt everything and his pile of treats was getting ridiculously big and sad looking.  We realized we had a problem when someone went to buy a chocolate lollipop and it turned to mush.  

We ended up tossing more than we sold but we did raise $310 for Susan G. Komen!  Lesson learned... no more chocolate and frosting during these hot summer months!

Five Question Friday!

I hope everyone is looking forward to this weekend and spending time with the Dads in your life!  We have our fundraiser that me and my sisters have been working hard on so I'll be sure to let you know how we did.  I'll also let you know how Abby did since her Uncle is babysitting her for the first time... should be interesting!



Now, it's time for Five Question Friday!  Pop on over to Mama M's to link up!

1.  What is your favorite thing about summertime?
I love summer... mostly because I don't have to worry about snow!  Here in Maryland we had about 70 inches this past winter... ugh!  Summer means nice driving weather so we can visit who ever we want without worrying about it.  Love it!

2.  What is your ideal retirement location (if money didn't matter)?
Where wouldn't matter as long as we are close to family.  My ideal retirement would be spent traveling... stateside and internationally!

3.  Do you live in the same town you grew up in?
Nope... but I wish I did.  Growing up I went to the same schools as my parents, had teachers that my parents had or went to school with, and hung out with kids whose parents knew mine.  I miss that sense of community.  My dad lives on the same block he did growing up and most of the same people are there too.  I didn't appreciate much when I was younger, but it also meant that everyone looked out for you.

4.  What nervous habit did you have as a child that you kicked to the curb before becoming an adult?
At first I couldn't think of anything but then it hit me!  My mom used to always tell me that when I was a toddler, I would also pick my toes!  I know... kinda gross but true.  Apparently I hated lit and I would sit and clean in between my toes!  I'm happy to say that I have kicked that habit and actually have no memory of ever doing it.

5.  What is the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you while on the job?
Oh my... I cringe thinking about it!  Let me start by saying, I have a highly reactive stomach which leads to many embarrassing situations.  While working for a cosmetic company in a department store my stomach decided to be reactive.  So, I said I had to go to the stock room but instead went to the bathroom.  I came back and started helping customers.  After I was done helping my customers, a coworker came over and told me I had a toilet paper tail!  She was nonchalant about it, thankfully, but I was mortified!!!  I am so happy she told me and I didn't walk around all night like that!  Embarrassing!

Keeping Busy... Abby Style!

While I was busy this morning making these

And these

This is what Abby was doing:

Makes me want to say, "TOGA! TOGA! TOGA!

If only she had some olive leaves!

Kitchen Adventures with a Culinary Goddess

In my head, I'm a culinary goddess.  Someone who can whip up a fabulous dinner with the odds and ends left over at the end of the week.  In my head my baking is out of this world and there is nothing that is too complicated.  In reality, my skill set does not quite match my ambition!  It doesn't stop me from trying and I think today was a success!

After about 4 long hours, I now have 43 pink ribbon white chocolate lollipops!  I've never made chocolate lollipops before (which didn't stop me from agreeing to make them for the fundraiser but also for Abby's Christening) and it was a little bit of trial and error at first.  Here are some things that I learned:

• It's much easier to use the double broiler method then microwaving the chocolate.  First, I found it took longer in the microwave for some reason.  Second, using the double broiler allows you to keep the chocolate warm while your working.
• I had bought a little squeeze bottle which I had read was the easiest way to deposit the chocolate into the mold.  I couldn't agree less.  Unless you melt the chocolate in the squeeze, it takes a lot more time.  I found it was much easier, for this mold anyway, to use a baby spoon.
• The first test lollipop had lots of air bubbles.  Tapping the mold helps to release them.  The method that worked best for me was to tap after every scoop of chocolate.  This also helped to distribute the chocolate evenly.
• Since I'm a total perfectionist, I was worried about keeping everything neat so I was using a paper towel to clean up any chocolate outside the mold.  Thankfully, I figured out there was no need to do that!  After putting the chocolate in the molds, I froze them for about 5 - 10 minutes.  When you pop the lollipops out the molds take a lollipop and just run it around the outside to clean it up. The spills should have only left a thin layer of chocolate and they fall right off!  Voila... a perfect lollipop!

I'm hoping that the rest of my kitchen adventures go without a hitch because I have a million and 1 things to do before Saturday!  I'm sure for a culinary goddess like myself, everything will turn out perfect! Wish me luck!

To Serve and Protect

There are so many dangerous jobs in this world.  Accidents happen and result in tragedy.  Most recently, the oil rig workers in the Gulf oil spill.  Most of us go to work each day and never imagine that we may not be coming home.

There are some people whose job requires them to be in the thick of the most dangerous situations.  They have volunteered to put their own life on the line to protect us.  I'm talking about our service men and women, firefighters, and police officers.  These men and women are called upon to respond to situations that everyone else is trying to flee from.

My husband was in the military when we met and spent the first year of our relationship in Iraq.  When my husband came home and his military life was behind him he went on to fulfill his lifelong goal:  become a police officer.  I've been asked a lot over the years how I handle always being worried and my answer is always the same... I try to ignore it.  I tried to keep myself never fully aware of what was going on when he was in Iraq and do the same now.  I trust my husband and know that in intense situations he remains level headed.  I trust that he will come home and don't want to fill my days with needless worry.

Sometimes, something will happen that reminds me of the reality of his job.  Last night, a 24 year old state trooper was shot and killed in the county my husband works in.  I woke up last night at 2:30 in the morning to find that my husband wasn't home.  My first reaction was fear and then I checked my cell phone and saw the text he sent:  an officer was shot.  My second reaction was a mixture of sorrow and relief.  My husband was ok but someone else was not.

I can't put into words how sorry I feel for this officer's family.  I can't put into words how sad I am that we live in a world where someone can take the life of another over something as petty as a tab at a restaurant.  I have struggled since I was 5 years old to understand how it is possible for someone to take another's life and still look in the mirror the next day.  

Today, I ask you to remember all of our emergency responders... EMT's, firefighters, military and police officers.  Remember all of the fallen and keep their families in your heart.

Five Question Friday

It's Friday so that only means one thing... time for Mama M's 5 Question Friday!  As always, hop on over to her site to join in!



1.  What do you think makes a good friend or friendship?
A good friend


2.  What is the last thing you bought and later regretted?
This happens all of the time.  Just this past week I bought labels that were too big, clothes for my husband that were too small, and sandals for my daughter that hurt her feet.  All of that can be returned and is really small potatoes compared to our big regret.  Our biggest purchase that we regret is our bedroom set.  The dresser and night stands are discolored for no reason and the mattress slumps in the middle.  It's only a couple years old and looked so pretty when we got it but none of it seems to be very good quality.

3.  Have you ever had a prank played on you?
I can't remember anyone ever playing an elaborate one on me although I've played a few of my own.  Hmm... I really can't think of one right now.  I'll have to ask my husband later if he remembers any (my memory is not that good so I often tap into my husband's brain!).

4.  What is your favorite theme part?
Wow, I haven't been to an amusement part in years!  I used to love them, especially the roller coasters!  I would have to say that Six Flags in New Jersey... the one with the Safari... was always my favorite.

5.  Have you ever seen someone else give birth?
No way!  I didn't even want to see myself give birth!  I even made my husband promise he wouldn't look.  That changed once I was actively pushing because at that point the last thing I was worried about was who was looking!

Have a great weekend!

Writer's Workshop: What Would It Take?

I chose to write on Prompt #3 from Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop:  What would it take? Write an imaginary scene where someone you are still angry with finally deserves to be forgiven.  I'm glad to finally get this off my chest and hope that you'll be honest.  Tell me if you think I'm being petty or if I'm justified in how I feel.  I won't get offended, sometimes I need an outside point of view to make sense of things.


I had this friend, we'll call her Mary, since Junior year of high school.  We had both just moved and were new at the school.  I was moving from New Jersey and she was moving from upstate New York.  Moving from a town that is 15 minutes from NYC to a town that is surrounded by tree farms with only 3 (yes, 3!) roads that lead in or out of town located in the mountains of Pennsylvania was rough on me.  It was a small town and having someone who understood was such a relief.  


We stayed friends, although sometimes loosing touch, for about 13 years.  She had a lot of trouble with her family and my Mom tried to do whatever she could to make her feel welcome.  She lived with her mom, step dad and 2 much younger brothers and always felt like she wasn't really part of the family.  One year right before Christmas, Mary was upset because she doesn't usually get anything and she's always upset on the holidays.  So, we bought her some gifts and made everyone wait until she got there to open up presents.  The funny part?  Not one person in my family minded because she was like family.


Through the years we both moved.  First, she moved to Virginia and then I moved to Maryland.  When she was pregnant with her son and I found out her mom wasn't throwing her a shower, I planned one from out of state.  I went down the day before, paid for everything, and decorated.  Her mom never even responded.


Why am I mad at this great friend?  Because I finally realized that the relationship was never a two way street.  I guess I always knew that on some level but when my Mom passed away that was the last straw.  My Mom passed away while visiting me in Maryland.  Around 3 am the morning my Mom passed away, I called Mary.  She didn't answer and I really didn't expect her too but I was hoping she would.  The next day she called me from work and all I could do was cry.  When I finally got the words out, all she could say was "Don't cry.  Can I call you later?"


I tried to chalk it up to her being at work and maybe not wanting to get upset.  But, she never called that day.  I think she may have called the next day but I can't be sure.  I did receive a text though asking me to call her but by then we were in the mist of planning the funeral and trying to figure out how in the world to piece everything together.  I just couldn't call.  Abby was 3 months old and I had 4 brothers and sisters looking to me for answers I didn't have.


The day of the funeral, Mary wasn't there.  I know it's a far ride but for all my Mom did for her and for all I did for her, she should've been there.  My Mom lived in the same small town as her mom.  A town where my uncle is the Mayor.  It wasn't hard to know when the services were being held.  I would've have been there for her.


We only spoke once since my Mom's funeral.  Mary made a comment that she wanted to be there but didn't know when anything was.  I tried to explain that it was tough to even think straight and to be honest, I think I mentioned that it was in the paper or something along those lines.  


So, on to the point of Mama Kat's prompt:  What would it take for her to be forgiven?  An apology.  I'm not sure we'll ever be as close as we once were but I wonder how she's doing from time to time.  So, in my imaginary world, Mary would admit she was wrong and tell me she was sorry.  It's as simple as that.

Baking Adventures!

Our first fundraiser is quickly approaching and I couldn't be more excited!  We're having a bake sale outside of Walmart and it's on  the 19th.  It's a Saturday so I'm hoping we'll be super successful!!  I've been planning and prepping for it all week.  


A bake sale is not as easy as it sounds for someone who needs things to be as close to perfect as humanly possible!  I tested the M&M cookies 3 times and finally think I got it!  The first time I omitted the rolled oats because I didn't have them.  Apparently the rolled oats are important because although the cookies tasted ok, they were flat as pancakes!  So, then I tried another recipe and took one bite and they were dry as  dirt!  Trust me, if I won't eat something with chocolate in it then it must be awful!  Finally, I went back to the original recipe and used rolled oats... PERFECT!!!  I guess recipes are meant to be followed after all!

Those are some good looking cookies, if I do say so myself!  For the bake sale I'll be making them with pink M&M's.  Here's the recipe I used:




Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
3/4 cup m&ms
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 slightly beaten egg
1/2 cup butter (melted slightly in the microwave)
1 teaspoon vanilla


Preheat oven to 350.  Mix all the dry ingredients together.  Mix the egg, butter, and vanilla and then add to the dry ingredients.  You may need to use your hands to fully mix all of the ingredients.  Roll dough into a walnut sized ball and bake for about 10 minutes (mine took about 11 minutes).  


* This recipe was courtesy of Bakerella.  If you haven't heard of her before, click here to see all of her yummy creations!  The cake pops are on my list for our next bake sale!

Monkey See, Monkey Do

I am constantly wondering what Abby is thinking.  Lately, she loves when people copy her.  She makes silly noises and laughs when you mimic them.  When we went to visit my Dad, she would walk up the street and keep looking back to see who is following her and then laugh.  This is her new thing, Elephant Ears:

She'll do it throughout each meal and gets a huge kick out of everyone copying her.  She even wiggles her fingers.

It makes me wonder, what is she thinking?  Well, when she looks around a table and sees a bunch of adults doing Elephant Ears I'm sure she's thinking, "Look at these fools, I can get them to do whatever I want!"

Yup kiddo, you're cute and we will do anything to make you smile!  I just wish I knew... are you laughing at me or with me?!?

Happy Birthday Hubbins!

Thankfully, I'm feeling much better from the other day.  More importantly, Abby and I are doing much better (and she hasn't played in her dirty diaper again!).  It was just one of those days.


Today is a special day... It's Hubbins birthday!!!  Poor guy has to work this afternoon for a little bit and we have to take a class at the church so we can Christen Abby but other than that he's free to do whatever.  Yesterday he told me he wants to stop at Toys R Us... ah, another year older but still a kid at heart!  (Here's a post about how we met but it also explains his childlike tendencies.)  
  

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."

~George Bernard Shaw~

Happy Birthday Hubbins!  I hope you always stay at a kid at heart!

The Joys of Motherhood

This is how felt I felt today, although I have no idea why.  I felt instantly annoyed and frustrated from the moment I woke up.  

Since I was feeling so crazed, so was poor Abby.  We just couldn't click today.  She fussed, moaned, and wanted everything she couldn't have.  I took shower and she hung out with Hubbins and she was fine.  I got out and she saw me.... she cried.  Same thing when we went shopping.  Hanging out with Daddy, fine.  Me, yelling and crying.  Just one of those days that ended with her playing happily in her diaper.  EWWW!!! GROSS!!  

I guess, that's just one of the true joys of motherhood.  Long, cranky days that end up really shitty!!  But, the day is almost over and this is how I want to feel.

Come on all the tired Mommy's out there.... say (or scream) OMMM!!!!

Writer's Workshop: Laugh even though you shouldn't!

I decided to take part in Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop this week and write on prompt 2... laughing at inappropriate times.  Hop on over to her place to see the other prompts!

I always laugh when I'm uncomfortable or nervous which is usually the worst time to laugh.  Once, my friend tapped a parked car and I laughed.  Another friend, got pulled over for speeding and I laughed.  This past weekend my aunt was yelling at her daughter and, well, I laughed.  That's just what I do.

The most memorable uncomfortable laughing outburst was the day of my wedding.  I'm not the type of person who likes people to look at me and the thought of 150 sets of eyes on me was enough to make me sick!  It sounds crazy because it was a room filled of family and friends but I was super uncomfortable and would have preferred that no one turned around when I walked down the aisle (well, except Hubbins of course!).  I laughed through rehearsal the night before which made my sister's laugh so I knew I had to try to keep it together.  I did great up until the most important part of the ceremony... THE VOWS!!!

The priest almost called my husband Don instead of Dan.  It was a quick slip up and most people didn't catch it.  I did though... and I couldn't hold it together!  I actually had to apologize and turn my head.  I remember looking up and saying to myself, "Please, let me stop laughing!".  I think it took me what felt like an eternity to compose myself and by then my sisters were laughing too.  The rest of the ceremony was filled with silent laughter and a couple of snorts!

At the reception, they actually inserted our vows into our wedding song.  It was so sweet and it almost sounded like I was a choked up.  It's a great memory and definitely let everyone know right from the ceremony that our wedding was going to be fun!

We Made It!

Wow... what a weekend!  Abby and I headed out on our adventure and had a great time! Being away made it impossible to keep up with blogging but I have to admit that it was kind of nice to be away from technology for a while.  We traveled to New Jersey on Thursday and spent the afternoon and night at my Dad's and then headed out early Friday for Vermont.  Our days there were spent hanging outside and playing with the dogs (Abby was blissfully happy!).  We even fit in some shopping in Manchester where I got a new pair of jeans that actually fit!  The best part?  They were $12 at the Gap outlet! Our nights were spent on the porch looking at the mountains relaxing.  No computer, no cell phone... just great conversations and coffee!  Fabulous!

(Sorry for the quality... I forgot my camera and had to use my phone!)

Abby handled the road trip like a champ!  She stayed awake most of the ride but fussed very little.  We met up with my sister in New Jersey so she was with me for half of the trip which was super helpful!  The worst part about traveling with a baby alone... going to the bathroom!  It's such a chore and for some reason, every time I get around Delaware I have to go... never fails!  

On the other hand, I've missed all of you in the blogosphere!  I hope all of you had a great weekend!