Random Musings & Cute Pics

So, I feel like I should have something funny or insightful or meaningful to say, but really I keep thinking about that yummy granola I made that's sitting on the stove in the kitchen just waiting for me to eat another handful.

No, you're wrong--I should NOT grab another handful.

Yeah, I know granola is healthy for the most part, but I'm pretty sure this isn't that healthy because it tastes just like a fresh baked oatmeal cookie.

I do want to lose those 2.5 pounds I put on while visiting my grandparents. But how BADLY do I want to lose them?

I worked dang hard to put them back on. Pizza from Papa Murphy's--(thanks Don!), pork chops & homemade mashed potatoes & gravy, my grandma's most amazing salad, hamburgers with all the fixin's, tacos, my pop's homemade butterfinger icecream that he makes just for me regardless of the time of year or temperature outside. Need I go on?

By the way, did you know they make Hershey's Kisses with coconut flavor now? I haven't tried them and I'm not even really tempted, but I wonder when this Hershey's Kiss flavoring madness is going to stop?

So, yesterday I gave up junk food. Yes, I did. I gave it up for the ENTIRE day. Wow, I don't know how I made it.

I didn't even eat any junk food today & if you dare to post on this blog about how my granola is junk food, I may just take the liberty to remove your comment. Don't push your luck. You're dealing with a woman who has not had chocolate in over 24 hours--nor any homemade butterfinger ice cream.

Wanta see something cute? Okay here it is--

That is my Papa--strongest and sweetest guy. That is his twin 71 years younger. Seriously, Owen has my grandparents' last name as his middle name and boy oh boy does it fit. Look at those smiles. They both have pieces of my heart.

Ready for the next cute thing?

Boy, that smile gets me every time! His poor wife, she'll never be able to stay angry.

I love the smiles and laughs that the photo below captured-- Plus, it reminds me of the butterfinger ice cream and that's a plus.

My grandma thinks it's her job to spoil my kids. I think it's actually in her contract. Anyway, she gave them an Easter Egg hunt the last night we were there. Some of the eggs were filled with money and others were filled with chocolate. I don't know which is more tempting to me.

The eyes slightly glancing to the side say, "Mom, I need to get more eggs! I'm just humoring you about this photo--it'll never really be great."

And this picture? It's another favorite. My kids--they are so perfect--even better than Butterfinger ice cream and Gram's salads.

In Case You're Not Fat Enough...

So, I was cruising the aisles of Wal-Mart doing my weekly shopping when I spotted this:
Have any of the rest of you seen or tried this? You're probably all too dedicated in your healthy eating to give it a try, so I offered myself up as a guinea pig for the good of everyone else's waists and thighs.
You probably can't tell exactly what this is, so I'll give you some details. It says, "Just add milk...and shake!" Yes, that's right, we have become so lazy about milkshakes that we don't want to go to the trouble of getting out the blender, ice cream and milk. It's a bit like that invention of the peanut butter and jelly all in the same can. Two jars to open for a pb & j? Too much work!
You even have options. One fill line says, "Creamy thick" and the other says "Xtra thick" (Take note of the incorrect spelling--another tip off that this product is directed at an audience who cares only about phonetics or has decided to join the texting--too many letters to spell correctly--generation.)
Myself, I went with cookies and cream and I wanted it Extra thick. I'll spell it correctly so as not to insult my brilliant audience.
What's inside the mystery can? If you've ever been to a zoo or mall, you've probably spotted them & perhaps even tried them--Dippin' Dots! Yes, apparently if you pour milk over those tiny dots of ice cream and "Shake it like you mean it for 30 seconds" as you're instructed, you can have an instant milkshake.
My complete review is as follows:
Taste: Quite yummy--the cookies & cream anyway. I can't comment on the other flavors.
Satisfation: Well, the quantity isn't big enough for me to consider it completely satisfying. I mean when I need a milkshake, I NEED a milkshake.
Worth the Money: It was $1.82 I think. Quite a rip off if you ask me, but I was curious and perhaps the 30 seconds of shaking burned a few calories before I gorged on ice cream deliciousness.
Problems: Since AZ is so blasted hot--and we're not even in the hot season yet--the dots had frozen into a solid mass by the time I got it the two miles home. I suspected they would need to be separated and took a kitchen knife to them and broke them apart before I dumped in the milk. Otherwise, this could've been quite interesting.

Wanna be a Winner?

My cousin posted this yesterday. I just found it today, but I found it in time. Perhaps you've seen this before. I've run into this before, but I've always been too late, but not this time! So, the first five of you to respond (and follow all the other rules) to this will be hooked up. Secretly, I'm hoping to be surprised to see someone who I didn't know was reading my blog, but maybe that won't happen. Here's the rules:

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations: 1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make for you! 2. What I create will be just for you. 3. It'll be done this year. 4. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a card. It may be a scarf or maybe even some creation I haven't yet dreamed up. I may draw. I may bake you something and mail it to you. It may not be big or impressive. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure! But lets be honest here. This is me and I will likely do something amazing. =) So come on, sign up! 5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to post this same blog on their blog and leave a comment telling me they did will win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Let's keep the chain of love going around!!

AND, if you weren't one of the first five, feel free to post about how devastated you are because you realize how cool I am and you wish you could've gotten some really sweet loot from me. Or you could just post and tell me you think I'm funny or cute. You can only tell me I'm cute if you're a girl or my husband might get mad. He won't get jealous though 'cause he's not like that. In fact, it's really quite hard to make him mad even. Anyway, post away!

Driving Me Crazy!

So, I have "friend" who got a ticket in the mail the other day. I'll protect his/her identity by referring to him as kereD.

Needless to say, the fine associated with one of these tickets is not cheap. Almost $200 to be exact.

Now, I'm not someone who believes in dishonesty or even crazy driving and I do have to say that the vast majority of people who drive and talk on their cell phones drive me crazy--pun completely intended here. In fact, don't even get me started about the issues in driving that make me bonkers--no use of turn signals, driving slowly in the passing lane, tailgating, etc.

That being said, I don't know that I'm a fan of these cameras and not just because I've been the recipient of one of these tickets myself. I mean honestly, if you flow with traffic on these interstates, you're almost guaranteed to get a ticket for speeding.

Whatever happened to the police officer catching you in the act? I mean, are we in such desperate need of money for the government that we need to catch a speeder with a camera? Sure, you can pretend that you didn't get the ticket, but if they send the constable out to serve you, you'll have to pay an additional fee and odds are--he'll catch you.

I feel really torn about the issue honestly. Probably because I like to drive over the speed limit myself. However, I've seen plenty of crazy driving that didn't happen anywhere near the interstate and with no police officers in site. I'm also a little bit bugged at the Big Brother idea that cameras present.

So, what do you think? Are these cameras a good idea or just a good way to have your day ruined at the mail box?