I Should Be Folding Laundry

FREE SHOES!

Those two words are so beautiful together.

This giveaway is very dreamy for me.  Anyone who really knows me knows that I love a great pair of shoes.  I think I'm going to love giving a pair away even more, I'm about to find out!

The folks at Ryka are sending me a new pair of running shoes that I won from Sk*rt and well, I wanted to add to the fun by giving a pair away on this blog!  and on my other blog!  You can enter to win on both blogs, doubling your chances! (if you click on the Ryka logo on the left, you can get a preview of some of their awesome styles)

Details:

-The winner can choose ANY pair of shoes from the Ryka website. 
-In order to win, please leave a comment on this post and please share the contest details on your blog.  Don't keep this contest to yourself! (if you don't have a blog, leave a comment!)
-The giveaway will end on Wednesday, September 5th at 9:00 pm. CST. 
-If you end up not winning on my blog or my other blog, starting September 5th, Ryka is giving away 30 pairs of shoes a day until October 16th.  That's 3000 pairs of shoes.  Which officially equals shoe heaven.

Have fun and GOOD LUCK!

*Contest is open to US and Canada residents.

Winner!

The generous donor who won a custom bag ($40 value) from Kimberlee Faith is........

DRUM ROLL.

Is drum roll two words or one?

DRUMROLL.

I think it's two words.

Oh yes, the winner!

Michelle from Henderson's Highlights!

Congratulations, Michelle!

Thank you TO EVERYONE who donated to Friends of Heroes, I appreciate your support SO MUCH!

I have no idea

I could not decide on a title for this post, a few came to mind.

For instance:

What to do if you want to lose $65.

Screen cutting is fun!

or

You've been in school for a whole week?  Let's play hooky!

You choose, it's up to you! 

This morning it was Racecar's turn to go to school.  Everything was going very smoothly, I even showered, which is a miracle which happens everyday.  We were ready to go early. Early!  I had my purse over my shoulder and my delicious, amazing coffee in my hand, Racecar decided to head out to the car before me, which is typical.  Unfortunately, on his way down the steps into the garage, he fell down on his knees, he was very sad and was crying very loud.  I dropped my purse and beloved coffee and ran into the garage, I calmed him down and put him into his car seat.

Then Ariel came out, she shut the door and climbed into her car seat.

I went to go get my purse and hot steaming cup of coffee from the inside of the house.

The door was locked.  With my purse in the house.  With my house and car keys inside my purse.

Every window?  Closed and locked?

Every other door?  Locked.  Bolted.

My brain?  Exploding.

I did cut a screen to see if the window was unlocked, but it was locked.  I then took another screen out of another window, bent the screen up real nice, but it was locked, too.  I apparently take our safety very seriously.

The best part of the experience was listening to Ariel and Racecar saying "just open the door."  "JUST OPEN THE DOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRR AND GET THE KEYS ALREADY, RACECAR IS GOING TO BE LATE!"

It all worked out, though.  Noah did miss school, but once I finally got back into my house, after hugging and kissing my coffee that sat so patiently in my house for 90 minutes, I e-mailed his teacher and she said it was okay.  She did say I was a bad Mom, but not an idiot.

She's so nice.

Don't worry, I learned my lesson.  From now on I am going to leave every door and window unlocked all of the time.  We will never be locked out again!

Oh wait, maybe she said I was a good Mom, but an idiot.

I can't remember. 

Last Day

Today is the last chance to enter the giveaway for a custom bag by Kimberlee Faith.  I use the bag she made me almost everyday and receive compliments ALL of the time.

Not only are you entering to win a fabulous bag ($40 value!) you are also supporting an amazing cause.  A cause I love and volunteer for all year round.  A simple $3 donation gets you entered!

To donate and enter the raffle -- go here.  (your donation automatically enters you into the drawing.)

To visit Kimberlee Faith -- go here.

To read more about this cause -- go here.

Raffle ends tonight at 9 pm CST.

Thanks to everyone who has donated already.  You all rock my world.

August and Everything After

I am having a difficult time believing that August is over.

I'm having an even harder time believing school has started.

And I can't even believe that it's almost time for pumpkins and mums and apple picking.

Every year in October, my sister and her husband and my husband and I go on a two night trip to southern Indiana.  It's beautiful.  Not just because of the time of year, but because we are without children, while we shop and eat ice cream and drink.  Liquor.  And Coffee.  While we shop, the guys play golf.  It's Perfection.  I can't believe that trip is almost here.  Although I can't wait, the trip also signifies the season is changing, last year it snowed.  Snowed!  In early October.  We didn't mind.  We were drunk. I think.  I don't remember.  Who was!  You were!  Polly wanna cracker!

And then, Halloween.  I'm very excited about Halloween because I have a 3 year old who wants to be a Car, as in a real car, and I have a 4 year old who has been dreaming of becoming Ariel since November 1, 2006.  Should be fun.

Yum.  Then it's Thanksgiving!  And maybe even the first snowfall.  Turkey.  Mashed Potatoes.  Christmas shopping. Long lines, pushing, shoving and yelling.  Well, I guess that's just dinner at my family's house.   

And then it's the joyous Christmas season.  Christmas Cards, Christmas Cookies, Christmas Shopping, Christmas Carols. Christmas trees, Christmas specials, Christmas lights, Christmas Boxers.  so much Christmas, so little time.

And it will be here before we know it.  As fun as all of this sounds, I still don't want summer to end. 

But, I am excited to start wearing jeans again.  Jeans are the best.

But maybe, just maybe, this will be the year that Northern Indiana has the same climate as Florida.  I'm crossing my fingers, it's bound to happen one of these days.

Right?  No?  Well, Merry Christmas, anyway!

Wordless Wednesday

Lost in Indiana.

For more Wordless Wednesdays, go here and here!

And just for fun, here is Lynette doing an impression of this creature.  Notice the creature right in front her.  She's a crazy one, that Lynette.

Worth Sharing -- Low Fat Chicken Enchiladas

I discovered a low fat recipe that was delicious.  My goal was to find a recipe that was low fat and that my whole family would enjoy.

And I found it.  I can see this recipe becoming a usual meal for us here, it was THAT outstanding.  If you love Mexican food and enjoy a little kick, Aye Caramba!, this recipe is for you.  I found this recipe at 3 Fat Chicks, I decided to try it because every comment left after this recipe was positive.

This recipe calls for shredded chicken.  A few years ago I learned a very easy way to make shredded chicken.  Simply add chicken pieces to boiling, I check the chicken after about 5 minutes and it's always done by nine minutes.  I cut the chicken breast into smaller pieces so it's takes a shorter period of time.  If you do it right, the chicken shreds easily with a fork!

See?

Your Basic Delicious Ingredients.

Before entering the oven.  The recipe called for 15 minutes, I only did 10 or so.

Three Year old Racercar, "thanks for the great food!"

And now the recipe.  I look forward to you trying this.  It's terribly delicious.

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
Serves: 8

recipe ingredients

1 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup bottled picante sauce
3 oz. 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
1 tsp. ground cumin or chili powder
8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
1 1/2 cups bottled green taco sauce

recipe directions
Preheat oven to 350*F. Place a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat until hot. Add onion, and saute 6 minutes or until tender. Add chicken, 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, picante sauce, cream cheese, and cumin. Cook 3 minutes or until cheese melts. Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla, and roll up. Place enchiladas in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish; drizzle with taco sauce, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese. Cover and bake at 350*F for 15 minutes or until cheese melts. Serve enchiladas immediately.

calories	total fat	sat fat	protein	fiber	sodium (mg)	carbs	ww pts
272	8	3	18	2	924	32	6

For more low fat recipes, go here!

Works for me Wednesday

It's been a while since I participated in Works for Me Wednesday, but it occurred to me today while showering that there is something I do to make my legs feel extra smooth after shaving and thought WFMW would be a great way to share my tip!. 

After shaving I lather my legs with hair conditioner and then rinse.  You won't believe how good it feels!

For more WFMW, go here!
______________________________________
Don't miss out on my Kimberlee Faith Fundraiser Giveaway, go here for details, the raffle will be held on 8/30.

It's official. I'm annoying.

No, no. I am.  I realized it today after picking Racecar up from preschool.

Racecar, Ariel and I were strolling away from the school towards our vehicle when we were about to pass a mother holding a car seat, with a 3 year old preschooler and a 2 year old handful.  Things appeared a little hectic, and well, why shouldn't things be hectic.

I, using as much tact as a tack, said "you sure have your hands full!"  (as if she didn't know  that already.)  I even said it with a chuckle and a large, stupid smile!  She turned towards me and she was even pregnant!  And I said "Wow!  And you're pregnant!  How far long are you?"  I say this while still chuckling and smiling!  She replied.  "I'm not pregnant, I just had this baby."  She says while holding up the hand carrying the car seat.

I did it.  I did that thing I swore I would never do, that thing I hate so much when people did it to me.  I always said I would never say those words to someone unless I knew for a fact that she was pregnant.  But I said it.  She really looked pregnant.  She had just had the baby two weeks ago and she obviously did not gain a single pound in her face, arms or butt, just a little poochie in her belly, but I didn't need to remind her of that poochie belly.

I'm such a jerk.

I apologized from the bottom of my heart and I did offer to carry the 2 week old while she held the 2 year olds hand across the street, but that doesn't take away what I said to her.

I'm totally going to make her dinner once a week and offer to clean her house now.  And I'm never, ever going to ask about a pregnancy again for the rest of my life.

I think I need to learn that sometimes it's nice to just walk by and smile rather than make small talk that could potentially go bad.

Armpits

In case you ever get the urge to swing on one of these things.  Don't.  Because the following day you won't be able to raise your arms, or wipe down a counter top or put on deodorant.  (the idiots in the picture are myself in the blue shirt, yes I am 30.  And my sister in the yellow shirt, who is 29 and then my 19 year old niece in the tank top.) The pain is intense, but through the pain I still managed to fold a ton of laundry this morning and clean my van, which looked like someone put a box into my van that was filled books and cookies and straws and receipts and sweatshirts and umbrellas and who am I kidding,  french fries and then it blew up all over my van.

I also managed to take a one hour nap, but it wasn't my fault, my intention was to sleep for TEN minutes, but I accidentally woke up one hour later and then I drank coffee, did some work, (remember I work from home??) made dinner and walked/ran for 2.55 miles.  To be exact.

Speaking of running.  I have quit trying to become a runner.  I am really disappointed about this decision, but the burning sensation I feel in my shins and the pain in BOTH of my knees when I am running and when I am not running is going to kill me. or at least make me crawl everywhere I go, which I think would embarrass my children when I drop them off at preschool.   so, I guess I'll just plain ol' walk.  If I do run, it will have to be on a treadmill because the shock my shins take when my feet slam into the pavement is intense and makes me want to roll on the ground while crying, but since there are like sixty million other serious 'non-shin splint having' runners running around me, I just keep running like a complete idiot, through the pain.  I even smile (and wave!) at other runners like "hey!  I'm running just like you!  I'm not in any pain!"   The tears rolling down my face make it hard for them to believe me, but I just play it off like it's really intense Runner's Sweat.

Never had Runner's Sweat come out of your eyes before?  Must not be a Real Runner.

Alright, enough of my running woes, I've got first day of school pictures!  I know you've been waiting for them!

Here's Racecar on his first day.  He was deliberately trying to look like he was 18, I think.  I told him I did not appreciate that because he's still my baby and sent him directly to a time out.

And here's Ariel on her first day.  She too was trying to look very old. little stinkers.

And here I'm pretty sure they were teaming up to try to make me cry.

It totally worked.