Storytime...

... with a few close friends.

HAPPY 4TH EVERYONE!!!!

May you all enjoy a happy, healthy & safe holiday weekend!!!!

Love,

Ruby & Bear
(& Momma too)

Room on the Broom...

Ruby's current favorite 'before bed' read is:
Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

It's funny, most books she just wants me to flip through the pages for her & will almost never sit for the whole story... but this book? NO WAY! SHE SITS STILL THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THIS BAD BOY WITHOUT FAIL EVERY NIGHT! And the best part? The BOON at the end! *grin* (That's Moon for you non Ruby speaking folk...) hehehehe

I don't know what it is about this book, but my girl LOVES IT, and it's really a cute story too... not to mention that I do all the voices & have a fun routine when reading it, that never hurts. ;)

Tuesday Night CANCELLED Club...?

...Ok, CBS- what GIVES?
Tuesday Night Book Club was just YANKED from the air without warning. My TiVo didn't even know what hit it!
Scott & I had planned to curl up every wed night to catch the previous night's drama.
Granted we've only just started this weekly ritual, but when they've only aired the first two eppisodes, they really didn't give us much choice but to have JUST started to enjoy it, correct?

Sure there's other things on tv to watch but I kinda liked this show. Sure it's title has nothing to do with what it's actually about, these women wouldn't know what it's like to pick up a book & read it through to the end if they're life depended on it, however...
They were real.
They were interesting.
They were trying so desperately to be 'perfect' when truly, perfection doesn't come in the form of a syrringe filled with botox.
Despite their high powered jobs, their access to money, the flashy cars matching an even flashier lifestyle they all had underlying issues:
Emotional Drama: the common denominator that connects us all
on the most basic of human levels.

No matter how wonderful your life may seem to the outsider, chances are that behind every closed door, there's a tear being shed, or a fight just moments from exploding,
or some tragedy about to spin your life right up on it's ass.
Things aren't always what they seem & these women, exccentric though they may be, were brave enough to let cameras follow them, follow their lives, their families, their drama for a national audience... at the very least, they get kudos for that.

I wanna know if anyone else out there started to watch this show & was giving it a chance just as CBS yanked it abruptly like an infected tooth?

I left the following Comment on tvsquad.com in regards to CBS's sudden removal of the show:

"My boyfriend Scott & I had plans of curling up on the
couch every
tuesday night to tune in, but then last night- Nothing. It's sad that
there was no warning, no reasoning why, just pulled hard & fast, like
an infected tooth. It's sad really, because not only did we enjoy the
show, but it was our time. Our time to snuggle, to watch these women,
trophy wives they may be, but still REAL to the core. Under the botox
and lack of actually reading the books they selected, were real issues
unfolding & tears shed for things that no drug or fancy car can fix. I
agree that it wasn't properly showcased beforehand. I never even heard
of it until I think the night before the show, so I TiVo'd it, what
could it hurt, if it sucked, I cancel the recording... but it was
interesting and we both enjoyed it. I very much would like to see the
remaining eppisodes aired, if not on tuesday nights, maybe on a 'not
so must see' night just for those of us who WANT to SEE WHAT HAPPENS
NEXT! I think I speak for that small percentage of people who tuned
in... please let us finish what we started... otherwise it's all too
reminicent of my childhood & the neighborhood 'indian giver' kid who
I still loathe to this day. Don't be that kid CBS... "

It seems as though Scott & I were in the minority concerning 'T.N.B.C.", I googled it this morning & came across several articles that were slightly harsh, this one in the The Arizona Republic, another one here at The Hollywood Reporter.com and even another at tvsquad/BLOGGING TELEVISION.

I want to know what you all thought, I guess at the most basic of levels, I'm a voyeur... I mean really, who wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall of someone else's life?
Sign me up!
All it really does is make the problems in our own lives seem trite,
if only for those 60 minutes every tuesday night.

Guess now I'm gonna have to go back to knitting scarves & watching old reruns of FRIENDS.
*sigh*

There's Nothing Like...

... FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER!!!

And there's nothing better than FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER when cooking!
And when it's coming from this gorgeous Handmade Exotic Wood Pepper Mill crafted by Bert Hamblin, it's EVEN BETTER!

This little beauty is located on Page 4 and is an 8" Pepper Mill #734.

It's made of four different types of wood: Maple, Beech, Mahogany and Cherry!

I know it's costly but it's an item I'll only ever buy once, and I cook ALOT and only EVER use Freshly Ground Pepper so I know it'll get used EVERY DAY in this house!

Once in a while, it's nice to treat yourself to something you not only love but will absolutely use every day & appreciate. My kitchen will be better for it.
*grin*


PS: The talented gentleman who makes these amazing Mills only started doing so three years ago. I spoke with him this morning on the phone & he was friendly & pleasant with a great attitude towards life. He suffered his second heartattack five weeks ago & is happy to be back up & working again. Hell, a guy in his 80's who is this skilled & talented who discovered his gift so late in life?
In my eyes, worth every penny!
Makes me wonder what fun things I might be able to do when/if I make it to my 80's, right? =)
Thanks again Bert, I look forward to 'Oscar' arriving here
to his permanent home, right in my kitchen!
Many wonderful meals await...

True Love...

... a Girl & her Bear.

Saturday Morning Sillies...

My Top Ten COMEDY DVD'S TO OWN! *

These are the movies (in no particular order)
that I not only adore, but that whenever watched-
cause me to produce the UGLY LAUGH!
You know the kind I'm talkin' about...
the one where you can't stop,
it HURTS to continue to do it &
you could and most possibly WILL
SNARF ANY/ALL BEVERAGES STRAIGHT OUT YOUR NOSE &
ALL OVER THE ROOM AND ANYONE WITHIN A TEN FOOT RADIUS!
hee hee

(*this list is subject to change at any time should my memory kick into overdrive & I recall one that I missed this first time around)

STRIPES











GROUNDHOG DAY










SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER












FUNNY FARM











TOMMY BOY










DUMB & DUMBER












FERRIS BUELLERS DAY OFF












BETTER OFF DEAD










SCHOOL OF ROCK











WHAT ABOUT BOB








*BONUS #11 BECAUSE IT JUST HAS TO BE INCLUDED HERE:





NAPOLEON DYNAMITE

Home Video! (gotta love it!)

Ok, so if you're anything like me, you can't even REMEMBER the last time you actually WENT OUT to a movie theater to see a movie... right? I mean, I'm a Mom now, I have more things to do than I can possibly shake a stick at and let's be honest, when it's a 'good day' if I've managed to squeeze in a shower, well, going to the movies just doesn't rate up there in the grand scheme of things.

So, what do I do you ask? Well, I either rent them, wait till their out on HBO/SHOWTIME OR Buy the DVD!

That said, I just received in the mail today one of my alltime favorite movies:
"So I Married An Axe Murderer"

I'll get more into my literal 'Top Ten' of Movies later but for now, let's just enjoy the SERIOUSLY FUNNY COMEDY OF MIKE MYERS & his CAST OF UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS!

Seriously, go pop yourself some popcorn & slip this little number into your DVD player & you've got yourself a PARTY! (just try not to snarf your beverage everywhere when you hear... HEED! PANTS! NOW!)

hee hee

Scott (aka: Steadman) Reads A Story...

Of course you KNEW it was a 'BOON' book!

Yes, my daughter calls the MOON the BOON...

...it's caught on cuz she even has my father saying it;
"Hun (to my mother the other night)
look, it's the Boon!"
hee hee
*smile*

Ah, the power of free speech...

(Received in a recent email...)

Dear Kotex:

I recently noticed that the peel-off strip of my pantiliner had a bunch of Kotex Tips for Life" on it.
Annoying advice such as:

a.. Staying active during your period can relieve cramps.
b.. Avoiding caffeine may help reduce cramps and headaches.
c.. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to keep you hydrated and feeling fresh.
d.. Try Kotex blah blah blah other products...Obviously the individual behind this was someone who has never possessed a functioning set of ovaries. Go ahead and tell a menstruating woman that drinking 6-8 glasses of water will help keep her feeling fresh. Like we need more fluid inside our bloated bodies from hell...but go ahead. See what happens and report back. I'll wait.

While you're at it, dump out the coffee at work and remove the chocolate from the vending machine. I garan-friggin-tee that the first responders will be females who just ovulated. This advice was some brain function of a male.... right???

Staying active will relieve headaches & cramps...well guess what , the only activity that interests me is eating...and oh...does ripping someone's head off count as a friggin activity?????

Look, females don't need or want tips for living on feminine hygiene products. Younger girls are already hearing "helpful" crap like that from their elderly relatives. Veteran females have already concocted their own recipes of survival, many containing alcohol.

Printing out shit advice while sneaking in ads for the brand that was already purchased is just plain annoying, not to mention rude, and enough to send a girl running to the Always brand.

Mostly we'd like to forget that we even need these products. It's not a fun time, but DO NOT try to cheer us up by adding smiley faces or bunnies or flowery cutesy crap to your products or the packaging. Put the shit in a plain brown wrapper so we can throw it in our cartsdiscreetly and have it blend in among the wine and beer.
There is nothing more annoying than having a blinding pink package announcing your uterine state to everyone in the store. Why don't ya just add an in store microphone to the damn package & announce that...helloooo, another female is on her damn period!!!!!

So take your tips for living and your cute bunnies & the smiley faces that needs to be smacked hard, and shove them right up your ass.

Ovarily Yours,

Miss PMS

Napping...

... in a very special T-shirt.




(Thanks Aunt Catherine!)

1st Day Of Summer

Well, it's official, SUMMER IS HERE!
And to celebrate that, Ruby & I spent the entire morning in the pool swimming!

I forgot the camera (yell at me later) but wanted to share with you all the FANTASTIC FLOATIE that Miss Ruby LOVES!!!

It's available online and here are the links to the various styles they have, TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THAT I GIVE THIS THING A DOZEN THUMBS UP FOR A FLOATIE TOY FOR TODDLERS!

Ladybug (this is the one Ruby has & LOVES!)

Dolphins

Sports

Flower


FYI: Don't attempt to blow these up by mouth, trust me, I'm sure you could but it won't be sturdy enough to hold the weight of a toddler. If you don't have a compressor (like my dad does) in the garage, then take this bad boy to your local gas station & use their air pump (usually free) and fill it up so it's good & strong.
ENJOY!!!

It's TUESDAY again... *UPDATE* (THANKS TAMMY!)

... and you know what that means, right?
Ruby's Uncle Steve comes over for dinner & some quality TiVo.

It started out as American Idol but now we watch 'Last Comic Standing'.

And what's on tonight's menu you ask? What else, MY FAVORITE THING TO MAKE!
( I have about a thousand different ways to make it, but it's a meal in & of itself!)



Tripple Pepper Risotto with fresh onion & garlic.



Mmmmmm doesn't it look YUMMY?!!

DON'T YOU WISH YOU WERE COMING FOR DINNER TONIGHT?
*grin*

Hey, if you live close enough, come on over, I'll ALWAYS feed you!


UPDATE: Ok, I'm officially a CHEEZEBALL! Thanks to Tammy's quick eye!
She politely comented that I might want to include the recipe, DUH!

So, here goes:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cloves Fresh Garlic* (minced)
*ready minced garlic (1 heaping Tablespoon) is ok too but renders a slightly different flavor than the fresh...
1 large spanish onion (chopped)
3 large peppers (chopped )
-1 green
-1 yellow
-1 red
(or colors of your choice)
1 cup uncooked Italian Risotto
4 cups Chicken Stock (or veggie stock if you want it vegetarian)
Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper (to taste)
4 T Italian Seasoning
1/4 - 1/2 cup Freshly Grated Imported Parmegiano Regianno Cheese (please trust me on this, that kraft ready to shake shit that they dare to call "Parm" cheese IS NOT THE REAL DEAL & MAKES MY NONNA ROLL OVER IN HER GRAVE! It won't give the optimum flavor for this dish... you can find the wedge of the REAL stuff at the cheese section of your deli & it's worth every penny! Work your muscles people, buy an extra fine cheeze grater & go to town, your taste buds will thank you for it!

Directions:

In a large non stick skillet over medium high heat, add Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Once minced & chopped, add garlic, onion, peppers & uncooked risotto.
Add salt, pepper & italian seasoning, mix well.
Cook over medium high heat stirring occasionally until risotto becomes slightly transparent.
Once that happens, add (one cup at a time) chicken stock & let slowly absorb.
Risotto will swell & become sticky & you want it to slightly stick to the bottom of the pan, once that happens, stir well & then it's time to add the next cup of broth.
Continue adding one cup at a time till all 4 cups fully absorb into Risotto.
Once all cooked & thick & sticky & your house smells heavenly, remove risotto from heat & let cool slightly & then add Parmegiano Regianno Cheese & blend well. Always offer extra cheese for those who want to add more to it just prior to eating! (me) *grin* LOL

Serve as a meal (which is how I do it) or with your favorite meat & a side salad & enjoy!

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere!

(Thank You SO MUCH to our dear friends Karen & Gwen,
for sending the bubbles our way, WE LOVE THEM!)

Can ya tell?

It's such a 'slight' difference that it's hard to spot right away,
but, if you look really close...

This first image is clearly: "Fred Flintstone"

This second one is: Fred Flintstone in Drag, right?
*grin*

Not too shabby for a saturday afternoon eh?

LOL!!!

*PS: for those of you wondering, my color choice was: OPI's 'All The Berry Best'

Italian Risotto with Shrimp, White wine, Onion & chives.

Recently my best friend mentioned to me how much her husband A. loves rice dishes & B. adores shrimp... so I did a little fiddling with my basic Italian risotto recipe I've made & rearranged a thousand & one times & came up with this. Since I have never made it nor do I like shrimp, I can't tell you how good it may be, HOWEVER... those of you who DO like shrimp & yummy Italian food, please be my guest & give this one a go & if you make it & LOVE IT, SEND ME FEEDBACK COMPLETE WITH PICTURES CUZ I'D LOVE TO KNOW HOW MY CREATIVE COOKING GENE WORKED OUT FOR THIS ONE! =)
Enjoy!!!

Italian Risotto with Shrimp, White wine, Onion & chives.

Ingredients:
4 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 large spanish onion chopped
1 clove fresh garlic minced
1 lb fresh or frozen shrimp (cleaned)
1 cup arborio risotto (Italian Rice)
1 cup dry white wine (Pinot Bianco is best
4 cups fish stock (add 1 cup at a time until absorbed)
2 T. Italian Seasoning
1/4 cup diced chives for flavor & color
1/4 cup Freshly Grated Imported Parmegiano Regiano Cheese
Salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

Set stove to Medium High heat & in a LARGE DEEP SKILLET put your Oil, Onion, Garlic, Shrimp (cut into bite size pieces), Risotto, & white wine. Cook until risotto becomes slightly transparent. Once that happens, add your fish stock (one cup at a time), Chives, Italian Seasoning, Salt & Pepper & reduce heat to medium/medium low.

As stock is absorbed, mix & when you feel the risotto slightly sticking to the bottom of the sautee pan, it's time to add the next cup... (continue this until all fish stock is used up... risotto will fatten & become a more sticky & hearty consistency.)

Once all stock is used up & rice is tender & full, remove from heat, let slightly cool & then add the freshly grated parmegiano regiano cheese & blend throughout.

Serve warm, not piping hot & enjoy!
(best if topped with a shake of the cheese just prior to serving.)

FLAT is where it's AT!

We think so anyway...

Ok, so look to your right, there are two new links
so that everyone can follow along in our many 'FLAT' adventures!

We're sure to meet some really kewl people along the way!

Join us, won't you?

You KNEW this would happen...

... so last night, Bear came up to me with a small request.
Although the 'real' bear wouldn't DREAM of leaving Ruby's side,
'if' there were a 'FLAT BEAR', he may perhaps enjoy getting out on his own to see the world.

I thought about this for a minute & I believe Bear has a good point.

SO, this morning at breakfast, I got out our crayola's and went to town,
with Bear having the final creative approval.
I am now pleased & proud to present to you all:


FLAT BEAR!


Ready for his first ever
WORLD TOUR!
hee hee


Even Little Miss Ruby Cate showed her approval
in this flat little rendition of her beloved Bear...


I think the kisses sent it over the top.

So, here's how this is gonna work. Flat Ruby Cate is already on her way to N.C. as we speak, but FLAT BEAR would LOVE to be headed somewhere himself!
As Flat Ruby Cate & Flat Bear aren't as tied at the hip as their real counterparts, this little fuzzy flat guy wants to travel the world & strut his stuff!

So, who to send him to first, you ask?
Good question... and the answer is:

THE FIRST PERSON TO COMMENT LETTING ME KNOW THEY WANT FLAT BEAR TO VISIT THEM IN THEIR CORNER OF THE GLOBE!

And then Flat Bear's travels will officially be underway.

(Now don't post your address on the blog, once the first comment is made, whoever that person is can click on 'email me' and send me their address privately.)

And Now: LET FLAT BEARS ADVENTURES BEGIN!