Top 10 Signs You Are A Mom...

I found this on Goodies For Mom's blog...and thought I'd play along.

Here are my Top 10 Signs You Are A Mom (Or a Dad):

1. You hope ketchup is a veggie...because it's the only one your kid eats.
2. Not only have you mastered the "bedhead" look...you've also mastered the "I haven't showered in days" and the "I haven't really slept in months" look
3. It's 3 PM and you are still in your pjs. (Okay, that's if you are a SAHM/SAHD lol)
4. You stop criticizing the way your parents raised you. - That, and spanking starts to make a lot more sense.
5. You find yourself cutting your sandwiches (even if it isn't for the kids) in cute little shapes and peeling the crust off...or chopping everything into tiny bite-sized pieces.
6. You begin fantasizing about playing cowboys and indians or hide and seek...just so you can tie them up and hide (or just hide if the game is hide and seek).
7. You are so desperate for adult conversation that you tell your problems to the telemarketer...and they hang up on YOU!
8. You are out with your friends and you excuse yourself to go "potty"
9. You measure your time in cartoon increments "You can watch ONE backyardigans...and then off to bed!"
10. You just spent 3 hours doing heavy duty cleaning: scrubbing, mopping, dishes, vacuuming, dusting, picking up...and in 10 minutes...it looks like you haven't done anything at all.
And a bonus: Somedays you wonder if you really are cut out to do this at all...but you know you'd never ever trade...not for anything.

Thursday Thirteen No. 7

Thirteen ways to decorate Easter eggs:

*Click on the link beside each one to see HOW!





Silk Tie Easter Eggs












Stamped Eggs










Tissue Paper Eggs











Egg Creatures












Botanical Eggs











Beaded Eggs










Natural Egg Dyeing Techniques












Chalkboard Easter Eggs











Marbleized Swirls













Elegant Eggs














Wax Resist Eggs










Glittered Eggs













Stenciled Eggs

Works for Me Wednesday - Backwards Edition

Alrighty...well...this week powers other than ME have decided that this Wednesday is BACKWARDS EDITION. Usually, every Wednesday I post a tip. Well, today...I have the question! And, I need you for the answers!

I want to know:

What are your Easter traditions?

You don't eat pancakes for the protein.

So, the other night I got this craving for pancakes. At 9 pm - and the closest grocery/Walmart open this late is 25 minutes away. We had the pancake mix, the syrup, and even some chocolate chips! But, no eggs or milk. So, what's a girl to do?

I took it upon myself to search for a recipe where I could make eggless, milkless pancakes - all the while trying to think of a way to pressure poor hubby into making the run to the grocery so I could satisfy this horrid craving. And, in my search results I came upon the oh-so-helpful Yahoo Answers - where everyone is an expert (yeh in bull...sorry). Anyways...

The question was (someone else had asked): Can you make pancakes without eggs?

I began getting hopeful. Oh good! 15 replies! And then I started reading them...

Buttermilk. Right. I don't have milk OR eggs genius...why would I have buttermilk?

Use a mix. Thanks genius. Already doing that and it wants milk and eggs. Should I add a different pancake mix to my grocery list too?

....and my favorite reply?....

"Yes...but why deny yourself the protein?"

Wait a minute...who in the dickens eats pancakes when they are concerned about protein? I mean, sheesh. Kinda like you don't eat brownies for the dairy. Duh.

Okay, okay...so if you were wondering...I did have my pancakes.

To make egg-less, milk-less pancakes, you just add 2 c. of pancake mix and 1 1/3 c. water. You can add a little more pancake mix after that to thicken it. I couldn't really tell a difference. But, then again...I had chocolate chips and peanut butter....

Rebel Ink Baby

There's a sassy new brand in town : Rebel Ink Baby. Despite what the name implies, it's not just for baby...you can dress your toddlers too (up to 5T).

Here are a few of my favorites:

Change is Good
I Live in a Gated Community
Do I Pass the Sniff Test
Cereal Killer
It Ain't Gonna Change Itself

And, guess what! We're giving away a Rebel Ink Baby pacifier and a Pink and Blue Make Me Spew onesie. Want to win it? Just visit Rebel Ink Baby's site and come back and comment, telling us which onesie/t-shirt is your favorite ( be sure to leave your name and email address if you don't have a blog with blogger!)!

Good luck!

(Winner will be announced on Monday!)

Tasty Tuesdays!

Easy Microwaveable Cakes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling (for yellow cake mixes) or cherry pie filling (for chocolate cake mixes)
  
• 1/2 cup applesauce

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix the box of cake mix, eggs, pie filling and applesauce till moist. Use a microwave safe bundt pan or substitute a microwave safe bowl that has a microwave safe cup or cone placed in the middle of it (to mimic a bundt pan). Pour mixture into the bowl around the cup.
2. Bake on high for 6 minutes 30 seconds, turn and bake for another 6 minutes 30 seconds on high. Remove from oven and cover bowl with a dish and let stand for 5 minutes (this finishes the cooking process).
3. Turn cake over onto dish and remove cone (cup) for a delicious quick dessert. Good hot with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.

Oh! The adventures!

The last time Baby L has really touched grass was...well...right after she was born, and that summer. But, since she mostly did nothing but "lay around," she never has truly gotten the full effect. Until today.

The weather was absolutely beautiful. A surprising 65-70 degrees with a warm breeze. Lovely. So, of course...we headed to a local park. Baby L loves to swing...okay, okay...mostly she loves trying to kick whoever is in front of her....



And, we crawled through tunnels...



Slid down slides...



And, ate leaves?


Wait...Baby L...why do you have a leaf? And, before we can grab it, Granny says, "Nah! Let her have a taste! She'll figure out she doesn't like it really quick! She'll think it's icky." So, we succumb to the great wisdom of Granny and wait for Baby L to spit the leaf out on her own and wrinkle her nose in disgust. And, we keep waiting...but the leaf disappeared. Yes, she ate it. Baby L was quite the explorer today...

Here's a quick recap of some of the things she learned:

She learned that twigs don't float in the wind quite like leaves do (she tried to let the wind catch a twig after seeing several leaves float away...instead, it hit Grandpa in the foot).

She learned that leaves = yum. But, are apparently hard to get out of your mouth.

She learned that pinecones stick your fingers.

She learned that grass is scratchy and dirt is just too weird right now.

And the shells? They look yummy. Actually...everything looks yummy.