Slippery When Wet

It was 1987 and I was 15 years old.  Bon Jovi was coming to Shreveport!  GASP  I LOVED Bon Jovi and I mean the obsession was totally out of control!  I had a guy from high school tell me not long ago on fb that is the only memory of me... me and a bon jovi jacket I would wear.  I know how to leave an impression right?

I BEGGED my parents to let me go with some friends, I didn't win that "fight".  I was too young yada yada, which is honestly exactly what I would tell my kids when they are 15.  Maybe another year and it would have been different.  I cried and I cried and I cried.  I hated listening to EVERYONE at my school talking about going to the concert that day because I truly felt that I was the ONLY kid that would not be at this concert and it broke my heart.

I was a "latch key kid" so every day when I got home I would call mom just to let her know I was home.  I can remember this phone call as if it happened this morning:

Hi mom I am home.

Okay, well get your homework done because Daddy is wanting to go to a basketball game tonight and he was going to take you.  And change your clothes, but don't wear a short skirt or anything because you will be climbing up bleachers.

Yes ma'am.

So dad got home and off we went.  We ended up eating at a restaurant across the street from Hirsch, I think it may have been ElChico's??  This broke my heart even more, thanks dad for bringing me to a restaurant where I can look out the window and see ALL my friends going into Hirsch for what is surely to be the BEST concert EVER!  Then this conversation started:

Big Girl I think we should go over to the stadium and we will stand in line but when we get to the front I will just push you in through the gate.

Yeah right Big Daddy!

No, seriously I think we can do it.

Uh huh sure I WISH!

Big Girl I am telling you it will work.

Big Daddy it won't work I would get caught, you are so funny.

So he paid the check and off we go to the basketball game.  Except we turned... into the coliseum parking lot.  My heart kind of skipped a beat.  I asked what we were doing and he said I told you I am going to push you through.  So we start walking up and get in line and he is still insisting that he is going to just push me through the line.  To this day I never know when to take my dad serious.

We get to the front and my heart is just racing and then it STOPPED when he pulled out 2 tickets for the concert!  Now normally on any other day I may have been slightly embarrassed to be 15 and at a rock concert with my dad but honestly it never crossed my mind.  The only thing that did was my dad is COOL!  I knew he didn't really care for the opening acts but he sat there and grinned because he knew that I was the happiest kid ever that night.  But when Bon Jovi hit the stage I think he actually uncrossed his arms and I may have even caught a foot tapping on the floor to the music.  :)

A year or two later Bon Jovi came back to Shreveport and my best friend and I went, but I can PROMISE you I thought of Big Daddy that night!

PS   To this day I am not sure why my mom told me not to wear a short skirt, I think Jon Bon Jovi would have loved that!  :-)

"Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf. I LOVE meatloaf."

For the first oh 4-5 years that Matt and I were married he swore up and down and back and forth that he HATED meatloaf!  Therefore I never cooked it.  Until one day I said you know what.. I want meatloaf and I am fixing it!  So.there.period.  And I made it, then a meatloaf monster was born.  O.M.G. burned me out on meatloaf!  But he told me that mine was better than his moms, which is why he swore he hated it, so I still cook it for him. :)  This is another meal that doesn't cause eye rolls, sighs, or grunts because the kids love it also.

This is so freaking easy it is almost crazy!

First start with 2lbs. of ground beef, I buy 85/15 for this so it doesn't have as much grease.  Again, please "smoosh" the meat so it doesn't look like worms!  I think smoosh is my new favorite word.  With the smooshed meat in a bowl add:

1/2 tsp of salt and pepper
1 tsp of onion powder (you can use real onions but my hubby HATES them, weird I know)
1 tsp of garlic powder
2 tbsp of Worchestireshire Sauce (did I spell that right?  Yeah, neither can you so hush!)
3 slices of white bread chopped WELL  (big chunks of bread in your meatloaf is gross, just sayin', you could even use Italian bread crumbs)
1/2 cup ketchup

Now that you have all that in a bowl just stick your hands in there and go to town and mix well.  You may want to have some warm water running for when you are done because your hands will be COLD!

Now I swear I did take a picture of the mixture and somehow managed to delete it off my phone.  I blame Verizon because I don't make mistakes.  As if.

Remember the bread I was talking about?  Here is a picture of how fine I get it:

I use my handy chopper to do this, no really that is what it's called!

So once you thaw out your hands put mixture into a baking dish top with more ketchup cover with foil and cook at 375 for 45 minutes.

After 45 minutes remove from oven CAREFULLY, grab another set of hands and have them use a spatula to hold the meatloaf in the pan while you tilt it over the sink to pour out any grease.  And there will be grease, see:

Then put back in the oven without covering for another 15 minutes.

And there you go, another VERY easy recipe that even my husband could make.  Love you honey!

I personally love the edges.  :)

And if your kids won't eat it just ask them how piggy's eat.

Spaghetti for Dummies

Everyone can cook spaghetti right???

Well I used to have a roommate that couldn't make a grilled cheese sandwich so I am going to say it is probably not far fetched to say that not EVERYONE can make spaghetti.

Now this is a meal that I must make at least every other week or my kids would behead me.seriously!  It is the 1 thing I can cook and I do not get one moan, groan, sigh, roll of the eyes or any other do we really have to eat this gesture.

Well I used to watch my mom cook spaghetti but she would actually buy tomato paste, tomato sauce, yada yada yada....

Don't get me wrong it was DELICIOUS but who really has time for that or feels like doing that work after working at their job all.day.long?

So here you go, an easy "recipe" that your family will love and you should even have enough left over to freeze that way you won't have to make the sauce the next time.

(Sorry in advance for the bad quality of pictures, I was taking them with my phone camera)

First up browning your ground beef, I always buy 80/20.  I add a little garlic powder and onion powder while cooking for added flavor.  And if you buy the meat that looks like "worms" then PLEASE "smoosh" it up ... I can't stand browning the meat like that because for the very reason I referred to it for looking like worms.  And nobody likes chunky meat in their spaghetti either so chop that meat up!

Strain the meat after fully cooking to drain the grease then return to pan.

Are you ready for my next big secret ingredient?

Yum, that is it Hunt's Garlic & Herb, Hunt's Traditional and Classico Tomato and Garlic.  YUMMO!

After adding these to the meat I stir well then I will another secret ingredient:

This stuff is GREAT!  Has all the basic Italian spices in this so you don't have to buy a bunch of different ones.  I also toss in a little more garlic and onion powder and stir well.

It is seriously that EASY!  Just cover and simmer while your noodles are boiling (just follow package instructions) and viola you have a great meal that your family will think you slaved over for hours!

Throw a little grated parmesan on top, or in my case a LOT, and enjoy!

The next time you have company coming over and they suggest take out because you are the non cooking friend... surprise them all with this.  It is seriously fool proof!

Please respect my personal space

I know that I can not be alone on this pet peeve of mine.  It is enough to drive a person insane!  This has to rank on the top of my pet peeves list, do you have any idea what it may be?  Well I bet you do from the title.

People that get too close in line!

Why do people feel it is necessary to be all up in your business when you are in a check out line?  About a week ago Matt and I were at Wal-Mart with all the other fools buying the last gallon of water because we were supposed to get a little ice and snow. OH MY!  Actually we just needed food.

While in line the person behind me bumped the back of my foot with their buggy.  I did not even turn around, accidents happen right?  The second time it happened I let out a huge sigh (seriously I think people 3 rows over looked at me).  Apparently the person standing behind me did not understand this gesture so the 3rd time they hit me I simply placed my foot on their buggy and shoved it backwards into them.  Don't tell me they didn't deserve it!  I heard a faint "I'm sorry".  She did not hit me again so I considered it a success, really hate I had to get ugly though.  REALLY I do!  So why is it people in lines feel the need to get so close?  Do they think they will have someone cut in front of them?  Do they think they will be able to check out quicker?  I may never understand but if you are a close follower in lines, please stop!

While we are on the subject of pet peeves here are some more of mine:

People that won't stay off their cell phones during a movie!  Did you not see the nice ad that said "Please turn off your phone?"  Ooh that's right you were too busy looking at your phone to see it.  If you want to stay on your phone through the movie then why are you there?  The light is very annoying to the people sitting behind you.  I once told a young girl, probably early 20's, can you PLEASE tell whoever you are texting that you are in a movie and you will text them when it is over?  I got a simple yes ma'am and she turned if off.  Sometimes that is all it takes.

Speaking of movies... I hate when adults bring kids to movies that are clearly to young to be seeing them.  Matt and I went to see The Focker's movie and there was a boy sitting in front of us with his mom.  I would guess that he was maybe 10 or 11 years old.  I was so embarrassed when they were talking about sex and masturbating in the movie because this kid was in front of me that I couldn't even enjoy the movie.  (Not sure I would have regardless but you get the point.)  There were parts that I want to reach up and cover his ears, but again with the personal space.

Why do people post 100,000 status updates on fb within an hour time frame?  Is it REALLY necessary?  If you have that much to say then start a blog.  I did, you can too.

Why do people put things on fb like "O.M.G. I can't believe that just happened?"  Leaving me thinking WHAT?  WHAT HAPPENED????  I really want to ask but then another nosy person beats me to it only to get the response "I will text you".  Oh no you didn't!  If you are going to get people so worked up then you need to fill us in.  Otherwise keep it all to yourselves!

Why is it every time Matt and I pay good money for a babysitter to have a nice quiet dinner alone we ALWAYS get stuck sitting next to the worst baby or kids in the world??  Never.fails.  I am sure people feel the same way about my kids when we take them out.  Especially when we were at Chili's the other night and Ashley "flicked" a piece of crayon across the restaurant and it hit a little boy on the back of the head!  Yeah I don't think mom and dad saw it, thank goodness!

Ok, well those are just a few of my pet peeves.  What are yours?

You should REALLY keep some information to yourself....

About 6 months ago I had someone tell me something that I just can't seem to quit thinking about.  Obviously this is just disturbing me or otherwise I would not give it a second thought.  Now I try really hard not to judge people because .. well have you met me?  I am by no means perfect at all and I know this, but I know when to keep some information to myself.  Are you ready to know what it was that has me disturbed? 

They told me...

They brush their teeth in the SHOWER!  GASP

I know right?!?!?!

Now if you are thinking *that isn't really disturbing Connie* then you need to think about this statement just a little longer, I mean REALLY think about it!

Here are the reasons I think this is something to be disturbed about:

1)  You are spitting toothpaste into the bottom of the shower which you are standing in.  I don't care if it is minty fresh it is still gross.  (ok, honestly I didn't even think about this one myself but a friend of mine pointed this out, it was the first thing she thought of.  So obviously it is something that should be included.)

2)  Are you REALLY sure that your husband, boyfriend, partner or kids are NOT peeing in the shower??  I mean are you REALLY sure?  If you are only 99.9% sure then that is just not sure enough!

3)  You are brushing your teeth in the same small area that you are washing your a-hole!  And not only your a-hole but your husband, boyfriend, partner and kids are too.

4)  What if you drop your toothbrush, don't tell me that couldn't happen!  Have you seen the hairs that collect in a shower?  They are not ALL from your head.  just sayin'

Is there really any point in saying anymore? 

I didn't think so.

So, if you happen to be one that brushes your teeth in the shower and you think it is normal, it is NOT normal and please stop.  Put the toothbrush back by the sink please. 

And PLEASE if you do this, do not try and justify it because there is no possible way I will EVER think this is something you should do. EVER! 

Also, friends and family if you do this I really don't want to know. 

Thank you for stopping by and I love to hear your comments.  If you would like to add to the *why you should not brush your teeth in the shower* list please feel free.  Maybe we can somehow make shower brusher's (yes I know that is not really a word)  understand that this is NOT ok!   :-) 

While googling to find a picture to use I discovered there is actually a FB page for people that brush in the shower!  REALLY?  Are there that many in the world that they need a FB page???  I am going to puke now!

If you want to check out the page then here you go:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-brush-my-teeth-in-the-shower-to-save-time/234310174976

More random thoughts because I REALLY don't feel like cleaning!

Tonight is Bunco!  Can I get a woot woot?!?!  Thank you very much.. now stop that seriously between you raising your hands and hollering woot woot at work they really might start wondering about your mental status.  (unless you read my blog where I asked you to raise your hand you won't *get* that part)

Anyway, I am really just sitting here stalling.  If I would just clean what needs to be done I would be through in less than an hour but I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT!  Wait am I becoming my kids because that is what they always tell me when I ask/tell them to clean their rooms. 

Would you like to hear some really random things about my life?  I didn't think so... thank you for stopping by.  For those of you that are just stalling from cleaning or working you can continue to read.

1)  I get addicted to things REALLY easy.  I am not sure which parent I may have gotten this from.  Hmmm I will have to think about that one harder.  Some of my current addictions are:

     a) words with friends - have you not played this game?  O.M.G. so much fun, even better when you can
         win!  I actually bought an IPod touch just to play this game, seriously I don't have 1 song on my IPod
         and I bought this over a month ago! 
     b) word feud - are you starting to see a pattern?  This is a game I can play on my phone because I can't
          get a stupid IPhone with Verizon.  I know I know they JUST announced they are getting it, 4 months
         AFTER I bought the Droid Incredible.  But let me just say I LOVE this phone and now that I have my
         IPod touch I really don't need the IPhone.  (the blackberry storm SUCKS people, do NOT buy it!)
     c) online bunco - I only have one person to thank for my newest addiction, you know who you are.  She
         tells me to play this game, which I follow orders so I am, and now I am on level 7.  She is still on level
         0.  Guess who got more hooked?

I get addicted to restaurants really easy too.  I mean if you find something you like why not stick with it huh?  I will tell you why, because you will burn yourself out QUICK!  And if you don't get burned out your spouse will start rolling their eyes every time you mention it.  Some of the places I am or have been addicted too:

     a) Wing Stop.  Now this place is AWESOME with a capitol A!  Come on they sprinkle a little sugar on
          the fries and you can get nacho cheese sauce to dip them in.  HEAVEN!
     b)  Popeye's - This is no surprise to most people.
     c)  Chili's - We would seriously be in trouble if they built a Chili's in Clinton.  I LOVE it, luckily Matt
          loves it too and isn't burned out on it, yet.  Side note about Chili's, Ashley HATES going there.  If we
          want to go somewhere to eat and she says she hates it then we respond "ok we will go to Chili's" and
          then she will suddenly be ok with the other place.  works.like.a.charm.

How I became addicted to photography.  Ok, I have ALWAYS loved photography.  I still have the first camera my mother ever gave to me.  But what really sent my passion over the edge was a friend that got married a few years ago.  She found out the day before the wedding that her photographer wasn't coming.  This is probably every brides worst nightmare!  She had just bought her husband a really nice Nikon for Christmas so I said well if I can use his camera then I will do it.  And being that she wasn't paying me I felt zero pressure, I just *winged* it.  And that my friends was the day I knew I wanted to be a photographer.  Thank you Gretchen and Andrew for helping me realize my dream! 
Here are a couple of pictures from my first *job*:

The wedding party:



The flower girls and ring bearer:

More useless facts about me:

Matt and I met online in a Shreveport Chat room.  Remember those?

We were married within the year.

We are in our 6th house and we will be married 12 years next month.

Our kids are the most important people to us and we love them 110% but they drive us INSANE!  If you say your kids don't drive you insane you are lying, you only have 1, or they are still babies.  Give it time.

I hate being in front of a camera, I get this from my dad.

I wish I was OCD.  I mean have you ever been to a persons house that is OCD?  HELLO!  Spotless!

I hardly ever wash my car.  Isn't that what rain is for?  This drives my dad INSANE! 

But in my defense I hardly ever drive my car. 

Being a stay at home mom is not all it is *cracked up to be* (and if you disagree then let me know and I will write another blog explaining this in more detail)

Ok, wake up now, wipe the drool off that is running down your face on to your desk. 

Thanks for stopping by today and you are probably a little dumber now just for reading this, my apologies.





The day the police invaded our house

 A couple of weeks ago we decided to go see a movie.  It has become wonderful since the kids are now old enough to see what they want while Matt and I go see what we like.  So this day we went to see the 100th Fockers movie.. or so it seems like it was.  Time to lay that movie to rest.

About half way through the movie Matt's phone went off, Oklahoma number, hmm don't know who that is so just ignore it.  Until the 3rd time they called I said you better see who it is since they won't stop calling.  He walks out of the theatre, wish EVERYONE would do that, and comes back and said our home alarm was going off.  Apparently the back door came open. 

So, do we need to leave what are they doing? 

He said the police were there and they said every thing looks fine. 

WHAT???  Now I KNOW the first thing that should have gone through my head was thank GOD nobody was in the house and everything was ok.  But what ACTUALLY went through my head was..  The POLICE have gone through our house????  But we didn't make the bed (which we never do because really what's the point?)  and there is laundry on the bedroom floor and did we do dishes today or is the sink full too? 

UGH the Clinton Police are going through our dirty house and I am not there to apologize for the mess!  But then again if I were there the alarm wouldn't have gone off.  We live in a small town folks and I don't need people to know I didn't make my bed or that there was laundry on the floor or there may have been dishes in the sink!  I really don't like people judging me!

Probably the funniest part to this story.. when we arrived home I told Matt to go inside and check it out before the kids and I went in.  Of course I am giving him the run down.  Be sure to look in the pantry, behind clothes in the closet, make sure the attic door in Ashley's room is locked, check in the tub, check in the clothes dryer ok so I didn't take it that far!  But what cracked me up was when he finally walked back out to give us the all clear he was holding the largest kitchen knife we own.  Yeah, good thing our imaginary robber didn't have an imaginary GUN!  Wait just a minute... wonder if the "not me ghost" got bored and wanted to go outside?  (for those of you that haven't read that story we have a ghost!)

Well now our house is clean and I am REALLY tempted to set the alarm off so the fine police officers of Clinton, MS can go back and tell everyone we must of just been having a bad day! 

Seriously friends and family... if you do not have your home protected by a security company DO IT and do it NOW!  It will give you such a peace of mind that you, your family, pets and belongs are being well guarded!  It is soooo worth the $35 a month!  (and after 2 years that is reduced to $19.99, I am starting to sound like a commercial)

I did a lot of research and pricing inquires before we decided on a company and we chose Pro Tech Security located in Madison, MS.  Their installers were nice and professional, they cleaned up the mess before they left and we did not pay a PENNY for the install.  Please give them a call if you are looking for a company to keep your family safe!

http://www.pro-techsecurity.info/
or visit them on facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/PRO-TECH-Security/135735416460548
I did not get paid anything to give their information, we just love them that much!