What? No, I don't see anything different.

Excuse the mess. I am working on a new look. I've never really *liked* the templates or backgrounds available on blogger, so I found a website with some freebies.

What do you use for a template/background and where did you get it? I've seen so many that I love, love, love and I can't figure for the life of me how other bloggers get their blogs to look so nice (without paying someone to make them one special, of course.....although I'm not completely opposed to considering that).

Please, if you have help/information leave a comment.

Oh, and let me know what you think of this one.

~H

Funny

A conversation between me and my increasingly chatty 2 1/2 year old: (her in the blue, me the black)

"Pretzels?"

"You want some pretzels?"

"Oh-kay!"

"Mommy will get you some pretzels when she's done going potty."

"Oh-kay!

A few minutes later, while I am on said potty....

"No pretzels."

"No pretzels?"

"No pretzels."

"Okay. No pretzels."

"No pretzels. Ice cream."

Is it just Boys?

While eating dinner tonight, my 8 year old son asked me if I'd like to hear his "Top 5" Favorite Drinks? Ah-hem:

5. Kool-Aid

4. Grape Soda

3. Beef Gravy (!!!???)

2. A-1 Steak Sauce (!!!!!???!!!!)

1. Mountain Dew

Let me assure you folks out there that he is NOT allowed to drink these items very often. In fact, I don't know that I've ever let him "drink" #3 or 2. It was surprising for me to hear those on the list. But I do know that he has asked to drink the A-1 on a number of occasions. Apparently condiments count as drinks in the boy world.

And, just for fun, my Top 5 - most of which I NEVER get to have because I cannot process caffeine when pregnant or nursing.

5. Skim Milk / Water (tie)

4. Grape Soda (about 2wice a year, as I really don't like bubbles)

3. Orange Juice, preferably reconstituted Cascadia Farms Frozen Organic Concentrate (with non-organic the "not from concentrate" are much better, with the frozen tasting kind of burnt....but with organic, it's the opposite) (also don't have this anymore b/c we cannot afford organic anymore)

2. Hot Lady Grey Tea (like Earl Grey, but better) with cream and sugar (no fake crap)

1. Cold, Strong Brewed, Iced Tea, Full Caffeine, Full Flavor, sweetened with REAL Sugar, a ton of it

And yours?

~H

Quick Takes

I have much to say....but not much to say about each thing. Here are some quick takes from my quirky brain for you.

~~1~~

I love LOL Saints. I can't get enough. Funny saint/religious pics with comments, and not disrespectful either. I love that if you click "read more" you get a little background story on the saint and the art.

This is my favorite. I don't think I'll ever see one this good again.

~~2~~

I know St. Valentine's Day has passed, but I have a complaint comment, okay a few, to say about this.

First, I do not like V-Day. I believe it is a "Hallmark Holiday" complete with all the trimmings.

Next, I am so happy my husband thinks the same as me on this. I already have special days in my marriage, like my anniversary, births of my children, to celebrate the love we share. Not to mention that if I need to think of what we'd "get" each other......I've already gotten so much, and so has he. I have a house, beautiful children, a man who works so I can stay home and be with them. What more do I need?

Finally, our son has *GASP* been in public school. I cringe dread making V-day cards and card holders. At all costs I would like to avoid having to celebrate this "holiday" (and I use that term loosely) with my school-aged child. Little did I know that among the homeschooling world, V-day is something the families, kids especially, get really excited about and wish they could do "just like the building school kids". Also, little did I know, I was on the committee to organize that party this year. Ouch.

~~3~~

Pet peeve of mine: Misuse of the words past and passed.

Past = gone by or elapsed in time; beyond in space or position (the house just past the church)

Passed = having completed the act of passing; past tense of the verb "to pass"; pass, to move on or ahead in position or time (car #4 just passed car #6)

There is a sign off the interstate that gives directions to some business - "It's just passed the A&W". Really people.

~~4~~

My little babies are sleeping and napping at regular house. I don't know how I did it, but I did. Pat on the back for me.

~~5~~

Lent. This is my first official Lenten season as a Catholic. I am giving up cake. I made a 9x13 pan of Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Vanilla cake topped with their Creamy Home-Style Frosting. I frosted it at 9pm. My son had a piece and so did my husband. I also had a piece at that time. I got up in the middle of the night and had a piece, and I also had some for breakfast and lunch. The cake was gone by 2pm today. I need help. And my help is Jesus (meant in a humorous/serious way). I've got to give this up and I know I can do it for Him.

I am also rewarding myself with something to replace the cake - more prayer. I am going to integrate more prayer into our family life during Lent. I can't wait!!

I also have 2 more cake mixes to use up before Wednesday. Shouldn't be a problem.

~~6~~

WTF is President Obama thinking? I know I bring this subject up a lot, but it's really something that is on my mind a lot.

Stimulus Package? There are so many things wrong with this (mainly money allocated for abortions oversees and a $3 million "help" for the CDC to promote vaccines) I don't have the time or space today to talk about them.

My favorite is the $15,000 tax credit for people buying new homes. Um, Mr. President, you have to have $15,000 of taxable income for that to help. Not all of us make $150K a year. (Soapbox back in the closet now.)

~~7~~

Tax Refunds. Is yours spent before you receive it? Does it go to bills, fun stuff, or savings? We are faced with a real exercise in decision making this year with our return. I won't go into details, but I am curious as to what is the most common choice.

Red Envelope Project

I came across this online this week while reading many a catholic blog (thanks to everyone who put this up!!).

A wonderful idea and awesome project.

The plan is to get 50 million of these to President Obama representing the 50 million lives lost to abortion.

Send your red envelopes to:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20500

On the back, write the following message:

This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception.

Then, go to this website and record the number of envelopes you sent (optional). Also visit the "sister sites": Red Envelopes for Life and Send A Red Envelope.

We will be having a Red Envelope Party at our homeschool this week. How about you?

~H

Apparently the Hairy-Legged Monster Works for Blogger

So, I just spent 10 minutes uploading my knitting "in the works" onto blogger. Guess what I got? Not pictures of my knitting. I got pictures of some bras I sold online. Argh. I also got this really cute picture of my now 6 month old Lovey.

Isn't he beautiful. So all is not lost. I am just a little irriated that my pictures didn't load up. In fact, I can't even find them AT ALL on the ScanDisk.

But that little face just melts my world.

If H is for Huge, What is 42 for?

I finally did it.

I got a bra. That. Fits.

(2 actually)

My adventures in nursing never cease to surprise me. I never thought I would see the day when I seriously could consider my bras to be parachutes, or at the very least large enough to slow down a small vehicle if opened behind.

When I first started pregnancy, child numero uno, I was what I then considered (ha! ha!) a large cup size - D. Of course, when you are a young, skinny teenager weighing 125 lbs. (ha! ha! again, can you even imagine?!), a D cup is reasonably large especially on my small Puerto Rican frame. I cannot tell you how horrified unsettling it was when I reached an F while nursing my first child. For all of you none savvy bra wearers out there - an A is 1 inch of breast bigger than your rib cage, a B 2, a C 3, and so on. An F is 6. Yep.

And then I was not nursing and after about 2 years I settled into a DD. Not so bad. Not available at every store, but not impossible to find either. Back pain on a scale of 1-10....7 or 8. Livable. Clothes shopping....achievable. Average bra price....$30-45. Can do.

Child number 2. Got up to the F early, before birth. Nursed this child as an H cup. 34 H. You know what happens when you're that size? You have to special order bras from Europe. This is because our country thinks that if you're a 34 you must only have a B or C cup and if you have an H cup you don't exist (because no American bra manufacturer makes them). Hmmm. Let's compare. Not available at ANY store. Back pain on a scale of 1-10....12. Excrutiating pain by midday. Check. Clothes shopping.....futile. Average bra price.....$60-75 plus international shipping. Ugh.

Unfortunately, I was still nursing in the H cup when I became pregnant with child numero tres. That means there was no shrinking inbetween. I also gained weight without the advantge of having a break from nursing to lose it. The result is this:

I went to the specialty bra shop where a nice little old lady works. The kind of bra lady who looks at you and instantly knows the right size. She took one look at me in my too-small, no support nursing tank/camisole thing and ran off. She came back with a bra in size 42.

Four. Two.

Fourty-Two.

I asked her if she really thought that was necessary. I used to be a 34. I'm sure I've gained weight but I was delusional thinking maybe a 36 or 38. 42? She said, "Well, we can measure if you like?"

She got out the tape measure and proceeded to check me. "Yep. 41 1/2, just like I thought. You want to try this on now, Hon?"

Umm, let me take my foot out of my mouth first, then yeah.

F-O-U-R-T-Y T-W-O.

I will not be divulging my actual cup size at this point as I am still trying to process this and I don't want to send any of you into shock. Most of you probably think this is a little too much information anyway. Sorry. ;)

~H

Kool-Aid Makes Cheap Fun

We start with a normal, natural colored, Aristocrats wool soaker.

A pot of tepid water on the stove.

Add a glug of vinegar and 2 packets orange Kool-Aid.

Add soaker. Stir and swish for uniform color - leave be for variegated.

Turn heat to medium/medium-high. Heat until steaming but not boiling. Really cool.....the water turns clear as the wool absorbs the dye. You know your done b/c the water *tells* you. Turn off heat and leave to cool (until it's room temperature).

Voila! You are proud owner of orange Aristocrat.

~H

Catholic = Universal

cath⋅o⋅lic   /ˈkæθəlɪk, ˈkæθlɪk/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kath-uh-lik, kath-lik] Show IPA Pronunciation

–adjective 1. broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal.
2. universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all.
3. pertaining to the whole Christian body or church.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Origin:
1300–1350; ME < L catholicus < Gk katholikós general, equiv. to kathól(ou) universally (contr. of phrase katà hólou according to the whole; see cata-, holo- ) + -ikos -ic

The word "catholic" has, in our society, come to mean only those who are members of the Catholic Church. What I find interesting as a convert to the Catholic faith is that the word catholic means "universal".

The more I research and study the origins of the Church, the more I realize just how universal it is.

The Catholic Church IS THE CHURCH. Before about 1000 A.D. there was only 1 (one) denomination of the Christian faith - catholicism. Either you were Christian, and belonged to the Church, or you weren't. The bible, which so many protestant denominations quote often and liberally, would NOT EXIST without the Catholic Church. The Church kept the works of the books of the bible together, protected their sacred nature, and sheilded them from the hands of those who would otherwise wish to destroy them for over 1000 years.

I am eager to read "The Fathers of the Church" which I hear will help me to fully understand the history of Christianity and the origins of my faith. I've heard that anyone who reads this cannot help but believe, and know, they are Catholics.

~H