NIGELLA LAWSON is in the HOUSE!!! Well.....her COAT is!

As you already know, I ADORE NIGELLA LAWSON!! She is my WOMAN CRUSH!! Hubby and I compete with our level of CRUSHING when it comes to Nigella. But I am winning when it comes to CONNECTING with her. Mostly before it was with Twitter...so far I have received three direct messages from her...I KNOW and you don't have to tell me, its probably a young assistant in braces who is responding  to me and not her!! But deep down, I know its her!! OK!! DON'T shatter my DREAMS!!! But we took it to another level.....and I squealed with EXCITEMENT when I KNEW that I WON!!

Last month, I noticed on Twitter that she had donated a COAT, signed PHOTO/NOTE for Charity. High Fashion Society (@HighfashionUK) was holding an Celebrity Wardrobe Raid 2013. Winning proceeds were going to a Kids Company Charity. Quickly I went to the site...I had five minutes left to bid! The RATIONAL SIDE said NOT TO BID! Save your money for like FOOD and BILLS.....the IRRATIONAL SIDE said "BID BABY...BID!!" I had no idea what the conversion rate was and what was shipping??? Then Hubby TOLD ME TO DO IT!! That's all I needed... with a QUICK TWEET CONVERSATION with High Fashion to find out the prices/shipping.....I had ONE MINUTE LEFT!! And during that MOMENT I had to REGISTER before BIDDING!! After it was ALL done....I waited...sitting at the desk....waiting......

After 20 minutes, I dragged myself away from the computer.....the kids needed me and Hubby was suppose to be sleeping. An hour later, after the kids were in bed and things were settled for the night...I went back ON LINE!! I WON!! I WON!! I sat in the chair...and starred at the screen...I WON and there was NO ONE TO TELL...they were all ASLEEP! When I did go to bed, I just laid beside Hubby and starred at him...a DEEP STARE...I was talking to him through MIND POWER...WAKE UP...WAKE UP...and he DID...he LOOKED at me and asked "did you win?" YES YES YES!!!!

Now....if I could ONLY STARE AT HIM and MIND TALK HIM INTO PUTTING THINGS AWAY!

"Nigella Lawson has donated this gorgeous classic vintage coat designed by the Queens dressmakers 'Hardy Amies' straight from her wardrobe to support our Celebrity Wardrobe Raid 2013 charity auction to support Kids    Company. Nigella Lawson originally purchased this piece at the famous 'William's Vintage' boutique in London." 

*I just don't know where to put the JACKET!! Part of me wants to put it in the KITCHEN..in a DISPLAY CASE...I can "talk" to Nigella everyday....ask her opinion on things!! Think of the FUN we could have!!

BOYS and SHOWERS!!!

Ground Hog Day...the movie, with Bill Murray....you know it....SAME DAY OVER AND OVER. Well that's what it's like with my 7 year old son Josh, and SHOWERS!!! Why are BOYS so difficult at having showers?? Is it because BOYS like to be DIRTY!? I have two boys, Alex who is 3, LOVES to have a BATH and asks DAILY, sometimes HOURLY, for one! My daughter Katie, LOVES to be clean as well! The only issue she has is BRUSHING HER LONG HAIR!! She wants to have HAIR like RAPUNZEL.....enough said! But Josh takes the PRIZE for SHOWERING!!

It's NOT a NEW CONCEPT...he knows when he is suppose to SHOWER and avoids it like the plague. I will mention it briefly in the morning, "remember you have to have a shower soon!" He replies, "I know!" Then, when the time is upon us and I tell him, "its time for your shower," he FLIPS OUT!!

Take this morning for instance....I had just started making coffee, I pressed the button and was eagerly awaiting enough brewed coffee for my mug.  Standing there watching it, Josh came into the room, I told him the bad news....and immediately his shoulders slump and he was like a ball, bouncing and flipping back and forth between two walls, like the pinball machine.....I just watched him and glanced back at the coffee dripping through the machine and listened to his rambles about it not being fair!

After the ranting and spasms stopped, I look at him again...."are you done, cause you need to shower now, we are behind schedule!" He turns and slumps like a moody teenager and goes upstairs....rambling about something. I ignore him and pour my coffee....take a few sips and go upstairs to hurry him along.

We DO this EVERY TIME he has to SHOWER!!

I think though, that this morning, it was the coffee that saved me. I remained calm, I didn't stoop to his level and freak out...like I "sometimes" do. I just starred at my COFFEE dripping through...and thought about Katie. She was right, it does look like the COFFEE is DANCING into the POT!!

The funny thing.....once Josh is in the shower, he is there FOREVER.....singing and dancing and sometimes talking to himself! When he is done, he will comment that he LIKES SHOWERS!! NOW....why cant he REMEMBER that when I say, "its time for your shower!"

I am also thinking, that the next time....I WILL FLIP OUT AND BOUNCE ABOUT LIKE A BALL BETWEEN THE WALLS and show him how he acts.....what do you think???

PS. YES we made it back from St. Lucia.....can I go back!? PLEASE!!

Leaving my BABIES........

AS you know...I have THREE ADORABLE, HELPFUL, LOVABLE yet at times CRANKY kids! And from past entries...you might know too, that Hubby and I have NEVER BEEN AWAY FROM THEM. We have only left them ONCE, overnight.....to attend a Wedding! And now almost nine years into this relationship, eight of them with KIDS....we are leaving them for a WEEK. Hubby and I are going on HOLIDAYS!! HOLIDAYS.....ALONE...NO KIDS....its FOREIGN CONCEPT to US!!
We are EXCITED and I am NERVOUS(not sure if he is...but I am)....NERVOUS for various reasons!

I am NERVOUS about leaving my HOME COUNTRY ...getting on a PLANE, flying 5HRS and LANDING in a BEAUTIFUL but UNKNOWN COUNTRY. Nervous that the PLANE might crash!  I know it wont, being a parent now...my perspective has changed.....EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED since having kids! Its NOT about ME anymore...its about THEM! We have God Parents...even though we don't go to Church.....I wanted ALL areas COVERED!!  I even decided that I want to be cremated and have some ashes spread in PEI! Let me tell you......I have ALL AREAS COVERED!! I am NERVOUS about not being at HOME with my BABIES....how will they SURVIVE!!? Which is funny,  cause I know they will survive...I have LEFT MANY NOTES/PLANS/SCHEDULES....there is no way they will get LOST! But as a PARENT....you worry!!

I am EXCITED about going away.....not having to look after the kids and all that entails with it!! You know what I mean!! Meals, laundry, cleaning, potty breaks, homework...all the daily routine of caring for three kids!! I am off for the week!!! I am EXCITED to re-connect with my Husband!! Who is this MAN I that SLEEP with and who helps me to RAISE these KIDS!? What will we talk about? Now we TALK about the KIDS, his WORK and MONEY. But being AWAY we will have to talk about something else! We will  be re-discovering each other, almost like a FIRST DATE!! Remember those?? Eeek.....

I am EXCITED and NERVOUS about getting into a bathing suit....which if you have read the previous posts, than you know all about it!!!

So much happens when you WIN a TRIP...so many  things to think about!
SO....I will part here, Dear Reader!!! I will return in about a WEEK!
AND I can guarantee you....ONCE we return and the LOVE FEST is over from the KIDS and they start to fight again....I will be WISHING to be AWAY.....BACK ON THAT BEACH!!
Cheers!

Do you BELIEVE in YOUR HOROSCOPE!?

I VOWED when 2013 came in I would make changes....make this YEAR the BEST yet!! Take chances! Basically get off that fence, that we all sometimes sit on comfortably. Not to be passive! Dream BIG cause you never know....and JUST LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST!! No regrets!! That is what I am trying to do!!

I want to do this with EXERCISE too...(sigh...that can be hard, to be motivated)....but since Hubby won the trip at work, I am REALLY FOCUSED......we LEAVE in April for St. Lucia...you know, St. Lucia...FULL OF BEACHES and OCEAN!! Which has me totally scared, CAUSE I HAVE to WEAR a BATHING SUIT!! I know....I shouldn't worry about what others think, but I cant HELP IT!! AND I know, Hubby LOVES me for ME and thinks that I am SEXY....so that should be all that matters....right! I hear it...I believe it...but somewhere deep down in me I lack that confidence! So....for the past three weeks, I have been  toning my tummy and various areas!!! The only CRUSHING part is that Easter is coming up and those DARN CADBURY MINI EGGS are EVERYWHERE....come on!!!! I must say though.....lately I have been strong and have RESISTED the URGE to GRAB them!! ((applause now....))

Then came the PART to DREAM BIG! For ME to be ME. I am Mommy to three and a Wife, a Daughter, Sister and a Granddaughter and a GOOD FRIEND in GENERAL( I hope)....but I want to be ME and do what I LOVE...which is CREATING!! I LOVE to BAKE/COOK and REFURBISH! Why not try to get MY stuff out there.....SHOWCASE my TALENTS(maybe TALENTS is too strong of a word, but its what I believe)!! Thinking about all this and reading my Horoscope(DAILY) it started to coincide! When I started to doubt something, I read my Horoscope and it would reassure me.....it told me to take it easy, or to listen to my inner voice! I was never one to believe in Horoscopes...but now, I am thinking this Horoscope business is on to something!!

So I am taking that CHANCE, creating a FaceBook Page, showcasing my TALENTS, offering my SERVICES, using Twitter(connecting with people with similar interests) and just GETTING MYSELF out there!! I have had some success! And a LITTLE SUCCESS is better than NONE at all!! Right!!? At least at the end of the day, when its all said and done, I can tell my KIDS that I tried, I got off that fence!! I sought my DREAMS!! Its all about Baby Steps and READING your HOROSCOPE!!

**Just thinking though, when it comes to that trip and wearing a BATHING SUIT!! I think I will be FINE, its an ALL INCLUSIVE CLUB....therefore I will be HAPPILY SIPPING MANY DRINKS, perhaps TOO MANY to care any more what YOU think of me in a BATHING SUIT!! Problem SOLVED!

UPDATED to ALMOST PERFECTION, Triple Chocolate Cookie Balls!!!

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE COOKIE BALLS@Sherry Watton

Preheat Oven to 350

½ cup Butter(softened)

½ cup Brown Sugar and ½ cup White Sugar

½ cup of Cocoa

2 eggs

2 cups of Flour(just the regular All-Purpose Flour)

2tsp Baking Powder

½ cup of Mini Chocolate Chips(I like Semi Sweet! I use Mini Chips, for little kids, you get more chips in a bite)

Cream the Butter and the Sugars, once well blended, add the Cocoa, cream again, then add the eggs and cream again…..NICE AND CREAMY!!!

In another bowl have the flour and B. Powder mixed together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet. When its almost thoroughly mixed, I add the Chocolate Chips. Mix it all, it will get hard to mix after awhile, all thick and NICE!! Then I make balls…grab some and roll it in your hands(to stop the sticking to your fingers(if it happens at all) I dust my fingers with  Cocoa Powder). I make 30 Balls…(TimBit size)but  if YOU want BIGGER balls…you want bigger Balls…just remember to adjust your time for BAKING. I have adjusted my baking time to 8 minutes…I still want them soft, like brownie consistency …..then let them cool. If you have a WIRE RACK, great, if not its OK! Wire racks will allow the melted chocolate to drip through.

CHOCOLATE COATING: In the microwave(cause I have that button to melt chocolate) 1 cup of Mini Chocolate Chips(in a Ziploc Bag), then add 1tbsp of Veg. Oil, for glossiness…smush it all together, so its well incorporated.

OR: Melt the chocolate chips & oil in a small pot, just on low heat, stir occasionally so it doesn’t burn!!

NOW, snip the tip of the Ziploc Bag and drizzle/zig zag over the Balls!! OR, if using a pot to melt the chocolate, use a spoon and drizzle the chocolate over the cookies…..then after add some sprinkles or whatever you have…or nothing at all!! Mostly I do the sprinkles for the kids.  Put in the FRIDGE to HARDEN for an hour….roughly!! ENJOY!

A month without CABLE!!

Its been a month now without CABLE!! I know..... I can hear you gasp as you place your hand to your mouth and I can read your thoughts...how is she doing that?? Three kids...no cable?? A Hubby who loves Sports....no cable?? I'd have to admit...at  first I thought I was missing out on something! I did have the shakes, more so at night, when the kids and Hubby were in bed......I would just sit there...starring at the TV...hoping it would come back!! BUT actually...I started to watch movies that we had bought years ago....and never watched! They sat on the shelf, all neatly wrapped!!  Why is it that we buy movies and never watch them? I realized that we bought them cause they were on sale! Such a waste!!! However, I did get caught up!! Some of which are NOT even worth the sale price!! PLUS I watched favourites....I would throw in Persuasion and make a pot of tea, grab my magazines and just enjoy the QUIET evening!!

IN reality....I don't miss it!! I am over it!! I broke up with television....it no longer holds me prisoner!!
Anything I really want, I can get on the Internet! Hubby even watches games on the computer! So why was I paying BIG BUCKS for CABLE!? I know the kids watched their shows.....and at first for them it was hard. BUT now.....they are doing other things...living, playing and being creative....what a NOVEL IDEA!! They don't even ask for certain shows! And don't worry, on rainy days....they still have their FAVOURITE DVDS!

So in CONCLUSION.....anyone can really give up CABLE!! Think of the life I have just gained by cancelling cable!! I am making my OWN LIFE, creating a HISTORY, rather than watching a MADE UP LIFE on TV!! I know its not all made up.....there are some educational aspects to TV....but I get that from the Newspaper, Radio and Internet!! Plus my BANK ACCOUNT is getting FATTER!! I am sure that Gail Vaz-Oxlade(Till Debt Do Us Part) would approve!

COMMON COURTESY! CITYLINE has it!! NIGELLA LAWSON too!!

I suppose I started tweeting/emailing a certain show back in January, to find out when Nigella Lawson was coming to Canada. I knew from research, OK...from reading tweets and following people(like a mad woman) that her NEW book was coming out on February 12th...NIGELLISSIMA. Nigella even tweeted me that she was coming in FEBRUARY!! I was trying to find if TICKETS were available, or if she was doing any of the TALK SHOWS(in the Toronto area) that I had enquired with....NO REPLIES!! REPEATEDLY I tried...no RESPONSE!!

Today's RANT is why on EARTH would you list a TAB for "CONTACT US" if YOU DON'T REPLY!! NOTHING!! OK...... maybe I was at the point where I was becoming OBSESSIVE......I wanted to FIND TWO TICKETS(if possible) for myself and my Son, who is 7 and adores Nigella!! We saw Jamie Oliver last October, and Josh(my son) had so much fun!! Why not try for Nigellla!!!??  NO RESPONSE!!! I would have been satisfied with the common "glad to receive your feedback/enquiries, in a few business days we'll try to respond." BUT I GOT NOTHING!! NOTHING!!

Then about a WEEK before her arrival to TORONTO....I emailed another show, one that for some reason,  I didn't think would have her, don't ask me why, I don't know...I just assumed(and you know what they say about ASSUMING). I emailed the show, after I heard that they were giving away Nigella's new book! I got a response....A REAL RESPONSE.... I was shocked, seeing it sit in my IN BOX!!! It was from CITYLINE! They responded and gave me as much information as they could...actually we shared a few emails back and forth!! CITYLINE took the time, I know it must be hard to REPLY to ALL enquiries...and I am sure that some are missed......but they HELPED me when I needed it!! Perhaps they took pity on me and my Son(who knows), but they included me, and MAILED me, NIGELLA'S NEW BOOK!! I was was very grateful and excited and so was my Son....more so when the book arrived in the mail.

I just wanted to give a SHOUT OUT to CITYLINE! Thank you for taking the time in replying to my MESSAGE....it MEANT A LOT! I have become a FAITHFUL VIEWER!! I have always enjoyed the show before.....but now I feel closer to those around it, they embraced me as a "friend"! CITYLINE is CONNECTED with its VIEWERS!!

Since receiving Nigella's new book....I have made "Spaghettini with Lemon & Garlic Bread Crumbs", although, being me...I have tweaked the recipe....more so for the kids...to keep everyone HAPPY and added SAUTEED MUSHROOMS on top(with a little extra cheese too)!! It was DELISH!! The KIDS ask for it regularly!!! I'm EXCITED to try out more recipes soon.......

BOTTOM LINE....if you are a TALK SHOW and have a WEBSITE and have a TAB  that says "CONTACT US"......have the decency to REPLY!! Even if its the auto-reply...have something!!! Grrr.....