It's Summertime!!

     School had been over for a week now, and I didn't have any real plans on how to keep my kids entertained. I don't know, I'm usually so on top of things. This year I wasn't even able to put together thank you presents for my children's teachers and support staff in school, in previous years I'd have everything prepared weeks in advance.

     I've decided to run my errands along with doing things to get my kids busy. For example, we needed to return library books that are soon over due, and next to the library is a playground. So today, we headed to the library to drop off the books and I let the kids play in the playground. As a treat we hit a McDonald's drive thru for breakfast and enjoyed ourselves in the playground.

     Living in California, its simply hot, hot, HOT especially in the summertime. I've made it a point to run any errands and go to appointments as early in the day as possible, that way by the time it heats up....I'm in the comforts of my air-conditioned home or headed there!

    


    

Quality time with my Daughter

     My 7 year old daughter Ali is what I call a fashionista, a girly girl. I might add that this child has a  heart of gold and a great sense of style. She loves clothes, jewelry (even if they're the fashion/fake kind) and bags. She is too young for make up, but I let her had lip gloss, lotion and some type of body spray which she calls her perfume!

     I so cherish my time with all my kids, as I know they are not young forever. So I feel from time to time, it would be nice to do something special for them. One day I was headed to the nail salon and decided to take Ali with me, she was so thrilled to get her nails done just like mommy. The look on her face was priceless and I felt it was the start of something just her and I can do together. By the way, she loved the flower design on her big toe!!

  

My Favorites

    There's only three different brands of ice cream that I love, brands I will eat and yes I can be that picky...Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey is one of them. Chunky Monkey flavor was the first ever Ben and Jerry's ice cream I've ever had. I still remember the first time I tried it. I was living on my own after moving out of my parents house, I think it was the flavor that caught my eye..Chunky Monkey, hhhmmm!!

     Chunky Monkey has the perfect blend (and I meant perfect blend) of banana ice cream, fudge chunks and walnuts, are you drooling yet? In all the time I've been buying it, I have never been disappointed by its flavor or quality. How I wish I had a better camera, so you can see all the chunky goodness up close!

   
     Sadly Ben and Jerry's ice cream doesn't come any bigger than a quart, at least not where I've lived (Philadelphia, New York and now California). This particular tub I got at a supermarket in Delaware (thanks mom!) when I was visiting my parents. I was there for about five days, I had a little bit each day..and it was gone just before I left!!!

Need a Laugh? Funny things kids say :-)

I read this a long time ago and ran across it again, I had to share! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did....

1. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?   (written by kids) 

You  got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. 
--  Alan, age 10

No  person really decides before they grow up who they're  going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you  get to find out later who you're stuck with. 
--  Kristen, age  10 


2.  WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED? 
Twenty-three is the best age because you know  the person FOREVER by then.
--   Camille, age 10


3.  HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED? 
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
--  Derrick, age  8 


4.  WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON? 
Both  don't want any more kids.  
--  Lori,  age 8 


5.  WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE? 
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. 
--  Lynnette, age  8    (isn't  she a treasure)

On  the first date, they just tell each other lies and that  usually gets them interested enough to go for a second  date.
--  Martin, age  10 


6.  WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?  
When they're rich. 
--  Pam, age  7 ( Love her )

-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- - Curt, age   7
 
-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.  
- - Howard,  age 8 


7.    IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? 
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
--  Anita, age 9   (bless you child )


8.  HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?  
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
--  Kelvin, age 8 

And the #1 Favorite is .......wait for it.....        


9.  HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?  
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
  --  Ricky, age  10 

Lesson Learned

     I've been thinking a lot about the things my brother Al talked to be about with regards to his job as a police officer. I feel as a public servant, he (and his brothers in blue) has done it all, seen it all. He has told me funny things, weird things, serious things that's happened during his days on the job. And I thought I'd share one of them.

     He told me about a time when a car was blocking his driveway on his way to work. Al waited patiently for the owner of the vehicle to return and spoke to the 'guy'. My brother (dressed in regular clothes) was nice about it, just telling the 'guy' to move as his driveway was being blocked and he had to go to work. 'Guy' decided to be mean about it, talking stuff about how he can park where he wants, etc. While 'guy' was running his mouth, he didn't realize Al was checking the license plates of his car and memorizing it.

     A few weeks (or days, I can't remember which) my brother while on the job sees the said car parked illegally, again....though not blocking my brothers driveway. Al checked the license plates to make sure it was the same car from before --- and it was! So aside from the ticket the 'guy' got for illegally parking, he got ticketed for every infraction possible with his car, like a broken tail light, ...etc. Amounting up to $500.00 almost. I'm sure the man just about had a heart attack when he saw the ticket! Ha

     Now Al said, there's a lesson to be learned here. Treat every one you come across with respect as you don't know who you're dealing with.

   

I Love Bobby's Burger Palace

     As you know my family and I were away for the holidays. My Mom and siblings live in the east coast, New York, New Jersey and Delaware to be exact. And I live in California.

     I don't often see my side of the family, so Christmas and New Years were the best times to get together for us. Included in our vaca is eating at different places we don't normally get to eat in California. One is Bobby's Burger Palace (or BBP). Oh my goodness! The name alone makes my mouth water.

     Bobby's Burger Palace is the mindset of chef Bobby Flay, who aside from having a cooking show on the Food Network ( Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Grill It! With Bobby Flay to name two), also owns restaurants like Bolo Restaurant and Mesa Grill, to name another two. BBP serves 10 different kinds of burgers, inspired by his travels, along with sides like sweet potato fries, milkshakes and sodas.

     The pic below is my fave. It's the Dallas burger. It's a spice crusted burger, topped with coleslaw, Monterey Jack cheese, bbq sauce and pickles. I like my burgers crunchified, meaning top with potato chips at no extra cost.

   

 My fave side is the sweet potato fries. It comes with honey mustard horse radish sauce.

     So if you're ever anywhere there's a BBP, do stop by and try their burgers. The service is as good as the food!!!

What We Gave Our Families For Christmas

 For Christmas 2011 I've decided for the grown ups we are giving presents 'per couple' instead of individually. The first picture below is part of my stash, stuff I've accumulated earlier in the year. 3 wick candles, foaming hand soaps, body lotions, hand sanitizers and mini candles all in different scents. I make sure I only buy the things I like, that way even if I don't give them away, they will definitely be used -- by me!

This picture is the 'after', after the items have been wrapped in clear bags and tied with red ribbons. The bags and ribbons I got for free at Bath and Body Works (or BBW). Every time they had a sale, I made a purchase (with coupon of course) and I asked for a few bags and ribbons. BBW products make great presents all year 'round!

 Here is a close up of one of the gifts. Inside is a 3 wick candle, foaming hand soap, body lotion, lip gloss. I tied a pocket back hand sanitizer with a silver tie (can't tell from the picture) that I already had, along with the gift tag. And over that I tied the red ribbon, makes for a pretty presentation, don't you think?