Friday, February 26, 2010

A new addition



No, not THAT kind of addition. Quick, someone pick Tone's jaw off the floor!

I have a new Web site -- I've had a food blog for about 2 years, but I started using a new, better looking blog service and bought the domain name: IEatVeg.net

You can check it out here.

I'm still tweaking a few things, but already it's a vast improvement over the old one. And, fortunately, I was able to transfer the old blog so I still have my backlog of recipes from the last two years.

You'll probably recognize my Sous Chef and Chief Taster. Of course, if you have a recipe you ever would like to share, send it my way. I'd love to share it!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Hau`oli la hanau, Maggie!

Hope you have a great birthday, Maggie! We love you!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Happy Birthday, Lucas!



Hope everyone had a great time in Ionia today -- I know we had a blast yesterday! Here are a couple of pics. I'm going to try to upload them to Sarah's Shutterfly account overnight tonight though, so go to the link to the right to see them hopefully sometime tomorrow!




Sunday, February 21, 2010

Box Tops 4 Education

I recently unearthed a note sent home from Claire's school about Box Tops 4 Education and thought I would share my new quest to collect the little 10 cent pink squares from random everyday items I already buy...

Basically, the sheet Claire brought home was a tally sheet -- I'm not sure how often, but whatever class collects the most "box tops" gets a pizza party or some kind of reward -- but that's not why I'm doing it.

Further investigation into the program via the Box Tops Web site revealed that Claire's school (Oakland Elementary in Royal Oak) seems to have just started collecting the box tops this year for the first time. Although their first-year goal only was $500, they've only collected $654 this year. For a school with so many students, that doesn't seem like very much money!

The school actually gets 10 cents from every top collected. It doesn't seem like much, but it could really add up! So, I thought I would spread the word and perhaps get a few more handed in to her school all for the cost of a postage stamp to you. :)

I've found the small pink squares -- just like the logo above -- on all kinds of things. Today, I took them from a Gogurt box and the bottom of my package of toilet paper. In the past, I've found them on frozen foods, frosting, boxes of Ziploc, cereals, Pillsbury cans of rolls, etc., and oh, so much more.


You can print off coupons on their Web site for all kinds of stuff too -- which, in turn have the Box Tops on them. This gives you an idea of what things should have them on their too.

Though I've not had the opportunity yet, you can earn box tops (so to speak) for purchases through their Web site in various stores online too. I don't expect you to go that far, but if you happen to notice the Box Tops 4 Education logo, please cut it out and maybe pop some in the mail to me after you get a decent stack. In about a month I have about $4 the worth, but it's $4 more than the school had before and it didn't cost me a thing!

I imagine now that I'm aware of it, I'll notice it more often still and will end up with more and more. So, keep yours eyes open! And let me know if you need our address! Thanks!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Kid Quotes

Here are a couple. One is from tonight. One was from a desperation stop at a McDonald's on the way home from Ohio after Christmas...

Tonight:
[Kirsten and Dan singing]
D: Now I get why kids are so embarrassed of their parents.
K: Right. Parents are old enough to not care if they look stupid. They're too old to be embarrassed.
D: Right. And we're way cooler than our parents were.
C: (Totally monotone without skipping a beat) Cool people don't say they're cool.


McDonald's:
K: Should we hit the road? (Claire) do you want to take those fries with you?
D: OK, Claire, go wash your hands.
Claire: But aren't they just going to get dirty again since I'm taking my French fries with me.
K: You have a point.
C: Finally! I have a point!!!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Happy Birthday, Ellie!

Hope you have a great day, TEENAGER! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Happy Birthday, Janet!

Hope you spend the day soaking up some sweet sunshine for your birthday! Keep the pictures coming!

Friday, February 5, 2010

The little Brussel Sprout



Here he or she is -- at 10 weeks. According to some pregnancy books, the baby is the size of a lime and has little arms and legs (which you can see). The baby was even moving around during the ultrasound!

Just thought we would share. Lucas gets to go to the 20 week ultrasound and is very excited!

Look at the difference between 8 and 10 weeks!



Thursday, February 4, 2010

Leigh-bird spookin' up the joint

Here's a video of Leigh doing pom the other night.

Was it their turn to dress like High School Kirsten for the night???

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Que Sa-rah, Sa-rah


Complete this sentence. 2009 will be remembered as the year that....
Anthony stopped throwing up all the time.


What one event or change defined your year?
The Nanny!


Any run-ins with the law?
Never!


What do you wish you did more of?
Exercise and cooking


What do you wish you did less of?
Complaining


If you had to pick one food to eat at least once a day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Cookies


Could our family possible become more enmeshed?
Possibly...we do have some stragglers lately!


Culture: What was your favorite movie/book/TV show/music artist (any or all of the above)?
Book: Pillars of the Earth


Did you pick up any new skills this year?

teaching preschool French


Name your best outing of the year (Family holidays/parties don't count!)
Trip to fla with Nanny and two kids in tow...funniest day ever getting there!



What was your most embarrassing moment?

I am sure there were plenty, but I can't think of any


How many grandkids do you think the 6 sibs/spouses will end up with? (Note: by the end of 2010, the tally will be 8 -- Sarah/Loren: 3; Mike/Sarah: 2; Ryan/Amy: 2; Nick/Beata: 1)

17



Did you make any new year's resolutions this year?
Not officially


Are there any plans for 2010 that you're really looking forward to?

Welcoming a new addition!

Monday, February 1, 2010

The Whole Danchilada


Complete this sentence. 2009 will be remembered as the year that....
I was able to pay my bills again on the reg.

What one event or change defined your year?
Jersey Shore.


Any run-ins with the law?
I'm cop-bait. You know how cats can tell cat food is cat food just by the crinkle of the bag? That's how cops are with me when I drive past: "I want that!"

What do you wish you did more of?
Reading, I guess. But mostly I'm doing all the stuff I want to do.

What do you wish you did less of?
Mindlessly surfing the internet.


If you had to pick one food to eat at least once a day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Already sealed the deal on this one. Falafel. I practically eat it every day, sometimes even twice a day!

Could our family possible become more enmeshed?
I'd like to see some public feuding going on at these family events. You guys are too agreeable for my taste.
Culture: What was your favorite movie/book/TV show/music artist (any or all of the above)?
Movies: Avatar was a different experience than I've ever had at the movies. Also really loved the new Christmas Carol, Up, Where the Wild Things Are, 500 Days of Summer, Coraline and Inglorious Bastards.

Book:
I read Bolano's "The Savage Detectives" and it was life-changing. Corny but true.

TV: Damages was off the hook. Mad Men is probably my favorite show. I also loved Jersey Shore, In Treatment, Entourage, Eastbound and Down, and Hung.
Did you pick up any new skills this year?
I learned a LOT this year about music production working in commercial music. I think I picked up a few skills that have to do with being a better human being along the way too. I also took my daily comedy output to a whole new level. Does that count?
Name your best outing of the year (Family holidays/parties don't count!)
I have a really bad memory and sometimes it's hard to remember past last week so I'm just going to say my date with Kirsten last night. We tried a new Sushi restaurant in our neighborhood and the food rocked and the bill rocked, then we went to some party for a Web site at an art gallery in the ghetto and ended up back at a poolhall in Ferndale where we were just going to get "one more drink" but magically nearly every person we knew in town was there already. Many drinks later...

What was your most embarrassing moment?
Last week at work I spent 45 minutes warming up this Amy's vegetarian entree that I was trying for the first time. After taking it out of the toaster oven, carefully removing the tin foil, and stirring the dish I picked it up with my bare hand and immediately dropped the plate and my lunch smashing to the floor because the thing was burning hot. I had one of those moments where my own lack of common sense or basic survival skills shocked me and I felt acutely aware that the human race is in the process of weeding itself out of existence through natural selection.

How many grandkids do you think the 6 sibs/spouses will end up with? (Note: by the end of 2010, the tally will be 8 -- Sarah/Loren: 3; Mike/Sarah: 2; Ryan/Amy: 2; Nick/Beata: 1)
I'm hoping for an octomom out of the deal.

Did you make any new year's resolutions this year?
I have some goals, yes.

Are there any plans for 2010 that you're really looking forward to?
Nicaragua with Kirst. Making a lot of music. Turning Claire into a Lego freak.