NTS: Apply Heat

If you want a deep, brilliant color in hair: apply heat.

We bleached Kyra's hair and then put in turquoise dye. It sat in her hair for almost an hour and came out a light green. She was gracious and did not act too disappointed. In fact, I think I was more upset than she was. I did not sleep well.

Today I reread the bottle and it said to apply heat for deeper colors. OK, how do I apply heat? I made it up: add color, wrap in tin foil, fry hair with the straight iron, unwrap hair, heat hair again with straight iron, rinse.

Wha-la, deep, brilliant turquoise.

Who knew? Not I. I've never dyed hair before. I've only recently watched a zillion 12 year olds on YouTube doing it, mostly with kool-aid and chalk pastels.

If You think this is a Picture of Dessert, You're Wrong

The picture is actually of the clean counter, underneath the dessert. I finally have an island back! I haven't seen it since the beginning of the summer. How do I know this? We bought some bamboo at the end of last school year and set it in the middle of the island. That's the fatal mistake, we can't put ANYTHING on the island as a permanent resting place. If there is anything on it, it works like a magnet and attracts EVERYTHING. I've seriously been preparing and cooking off of 1-2 square feet of space for quite a while now.

NTS: Don't leave anything on the island or you will loose the island.

Now I can have people over again. I can make delicious looking cupcakes like my friend did here, and have a party! I can spill something and not worry about it soaking a bunch of school papers. Kyra can leave me a note in the morning and I will see it. "Oh, the things I can think..." of to do with a clean counter!

NTS: Get a Home Phone

I made quite a few phone calls one evening and got to leave messages with several husbands. That just doesn't happen very often anymore. I have my phone, Bill has his. Whomever you wish to speak to, you call and leave them a message. Nobody writes things down anymore, or do they?

Well, it was such a delight chatting with these old guys that I feel I'm doing people an injustice when I am the only one answering my phone. Shouldn't we have a home phone that my children can answer? Isn't that part of growing up, a rite of passage, or at least a fun way to torment telemarketers? Shouldn't Bill be able to share his vast knowledge of my whereabouts with my friends that call?

I just think we're missing out on a little socializing when you only get to talk to the person you are trying to reach. With caller ID, we're also forgetting our manners. We forget to acknowledge who we are, assuming that the person on the other end knows who we are before they pick up the phone.

So, next on the list: buy a home phone without caller ID or an anwering machine and teach my children phone etiquette. (and possible re-teach those same values to some of the people that call my home)

NTS: All Ground Turkey is NOT Created Equal

You can pretty much tell when you buy ground turkey if it is super soft or more like ground beef. The problem comes when you plan on making burgers and you want to grill them. Seriously, if you can't mold it and put it on a plate, don't try to grill it. That just seems to make sense to me. This evening I could pretty much tell, as I flopped the turkey in the bowl, that there was no grilling these babies. Bill really wanted to, so he started the grill, but they never even made it out the door. I pretty much had to drop the sticky mess into the frying pan and hope for the best. And oh boy, were they the best.

I started with 2(ish) pounds of mushy ground turkey, added an egg and all the bread crumbs I had (maybe 1/2 a cup). I chopped up some fresh parsley I had from a weekend meal, added some fresh minced garlic, and a chopped green onion that I bought for a Cinco De Mayo meal on Thursday. Tasha wanted them plain, so I cooked 2 just like that. Then came the feta cheese. Mmm,mmm, feta cheese. I crumbled in a bunch (like a cup) of Greek Feta from Haji Baba's in Tempe. That's the place to buy feta- $3.99/lb and it's good stuff. I know. I'm Greek. I added a couple of these burgers to the pan while I cut up some kalamata olives. These stupid olives, if they weren't so good, would be on my never-buy-to-cook-with list. But they are yummy, so I spent the pan frying time cutting the meat of of these olives. The first 2 burgers came off, I flipped the ones with feta, added 2 more with just feta and then proceeded to add the kalamatas to the remaining mix. I ended up with 4 burgers with all the goods in it.

10 burgers total (leftovers, hooray!) and they were a hit! Deliciously juicy and tasty with a little Greek kick to it. I was surprised that Bill raved about them since he ruined my Greek Easter plans with a "I don't like lamb" comment. But, that's a whole other post in the making...

NTS: All Pie is NOT Created Equal

I am not a pie baker. That's my mom. She bakes pie like it's no body's business. I once made an apple pie that her husband raved about and I was completely embarrassed. I had used a frozen crust that I'm sure had expired over a year ago and I kind of miss-matched the ingredients from a Lion House recipe because I didn't have everything on hand. I never could have duplicated that thing. I like berry pie and made a decent cherry one once, but I had red stained fingers from pitting all those dang things. In my opinion, the only one I've really gotten right was a simple triple berry (yep, from the Costco bag), store-bought, fold out, Pillsbury crust. Yum. Serve it warm with a little real vanilla ice cream.

Best pie I've ever had? Mom's currant pie. 1990. She used the last jar of currants that her mother had canned. I believe my brother and I cried while eating the last slice. We've tried to find good currants since, but just can't.

Best pie I've ever eaten out? Pie Town, New Mexico. Anything they serve.

Best pie this time of year? Pumpkin. From Costco. Don't even waste your time trying to bake one, and accept no substitutions. Well, I imagine someplace like Marie Calendars or something makes a good one with incredibly overpriced tag, but you get more bang for your buck at Costco and you'll need to share it with some friends.

Why am I writing this post? Because I tried to accept a substitution. Fry's had their pumpkin pie on sale for 6 hours only today, while I was there. I bought 2 'cuz they looked just like the pie I love. They are not. It is not even close. I repeat, accept no substitutions because all pie is NOT created equally.

NTS: You Can't Hold a Baby and Make Gravy at the Same Time

It turns out lumpy.

You need one hand to pour the liquid, and the other hand to stir.

NTS: Feed Your Son

Hmm. Solid food. When did we start that? I tried some solids several months so ago but Payton didn't want anything to do with it. He didn't want to be spoon fed at all and his pincher skills were, well, anything but stellar. Slowly he learned to crawl and find everything on the floor to put in his mouth so we started finger food bits again. It entertained him while we ate dinner and created quite the mess on the floor. Hey, at least we've had a clean floor for a few months while we've swept and mopped to keep up with the messes he creates.

So when, exactly, did he start eating regularly? When did he decide to take a few bites from a spoon while shoveling crackers and what not in with his other 2 hands? I only remember making the food, trying to feed him, and him shaking his head or sticking his tongue out. Residue of mashed up food graces the table in front of his clip on chair.

Cranky, cranky boy. He fussed and fussed this morning. He woke up early, made his dad take him out of bed and played with the girls for a while before nursing a bit more and taking a mini slumber. Then he fussed and fussed some more. We saw a little Baby Einstein, nursed some more. Fussed some more. I tried to make me some food to eat while he played at his favorite toy station: the dishwasher. He fussed, he cried, he pulled at my legs. Then, as I was placing some breakfast on my plate, it occurred to me: could he be hungry? Like, for real food?

Yep, that did the trick. Feed the boy.

NTS: Movies are Rated R For a Reason

It's been a while since I've watched a rated R movie. I gave them up like 10 years ago when Billy was at that "I'm old enough to do anything I want" stage of boyhood and was acting like a big jerk. I felt like a hypocrite telling him a movie was not appropriate for him to see, but yet Bill and I would go see it. I don't know why it was different for him than it is Kyra. Maybe because Kyra doesn't push the issue and I know she won't see it if I tell her not to. With Billy, his mom would let him see whatever he wanted. At least he knew he wouldn't be discussing it with us, because we wouldn't watch it.

Really the only R movies I've seen lately have been war movies so it was all about the violence and some bad language. The language was usually yelling, war language, so it wasn't typical conversation language taking place in a house. You get the difference, right? People talking to their spouse and children, throwing the F bomb every other sentence is just different to my ears than, say, guys swearing at each other as their limbs are getting blown to pieces by machine gun fire.

I broke my anti-R rule tonight and saw a movie with my friend. I really wanted to see The Kids Are Alright, but whooshta! It got great reviews, I love Annette Bening and Mark Ruffalo, the girl from Alice in Wonderland was in it, and well, it just seemed like a different story that was supposedly well done. Holy Schmoke! As we left the theatre my friend said, "Yeah, I'm really glad I didn't bring my daughter to that one." (She's 15) I asked, "was that abnormally R, or am I just not savvy anymore?" She confirmed that it was a bit over the top in the sex scenes and the language, again saying that she was really glad she didn't bring her daughter. Yep, I can see that.

I think that the next time I consider breaking the anti-R rule I will be a little more conservative. "strong sexual content" plus "nudity" was a little much. What was I thinking?

It was kind of funny that when the father figure (alright, he was just the sperm donor) was in front of the kids he would say, "shut the front door" instead of swearing. It made me giggle every time he said it. Guess you had to be there.

NTS: Don't Wash Cell Phone

I imagine that this one should go without saying, but the complications that come with washing your cell phone are not good.

If you text me, I'll get it eventually.

If you call me, leave a message or I won't know you've called.

The funny thing is, I know 2 people that have experienced the phone symptoms that I am having and they both say that the phone dried out and worked fine after several days. Here's hopin' 'cuz it's been a week.

NTS: The Eighties are NOT Back

We took the girls to Skateland for mutual last night. There were several girls there with ponytails to the side of their head, the necks cut out of their shirts and tied up over a colorful tank top. They were wearing short shorts that looked more like gymnastic shorts than anything you would wear in public. Anyway, I turned to the other leader that was there and said, "oh, look at that, ponytails on the side are making a comeback." That made me giggle.

Later in the night we realized that there were several more girls dressed in such a manner. Then there was a kid in a Hawaiian shirt with a fake mustache. And a lady with a jazzy belt around the outside of her shirt. A guy with 2 collared shirts on, both collars sticking up. Oh, and the dude with the giant black wig. The big realization was when it was clear that all these people were together. Apparently it was a youth group of some sort and the theme was 80's dress.

Big sigh. Eighties style is not back. But here I sit, with a pony on the side of my head which will never see the light of day.

NTS: Comfort Kyra More

This morning, while nursing Payton in the bedroom, I heard Tasha yelling at Kyra. Again. And again. And again. It's nothing new, and it pretty much happens on any given day at any given time. There is no rhyme or reason to it, and believe me (!), I have tried to figure it out. I have also tried pretty much everything to put an end to it and not much seems to work. There just seems to be no empathy in that little one. She just honest to goodness can't see/feel how her actions are affecting the other people around her. A friend of mine said that some kids you have to teach that to. That's my new quest- how to teach empathy.

Anyway, this morning I opted not to yell at Tasha, not to send her to her room, not to "talk" with her about it (because that usually ends in yelling and room sending), and quite honestly, not to deal with Tasha about it. I just went into the kitchen and kissed Kyra on the head. Then I hugged her, pushed her head up and gave her another kiss on the nose.

"What's with all the kissing and hugging?" Kyra asked.

"Oh, I just think you've had a rough morning. You've been yelled at a lot and I know that doesn't feel really good, does it?" I replied.

"No. It doesn't" (not in her pouting crying attitude or mean voice, just matter of factly)

"I just figured you could use some lovin' and I thought I'd tell you how much I appreciate you and how hard you try to please your sister some times," was my final word and then I walked out of the room to finish getting ready to leave.

Do you know what that little stinker Tasha did? She apologized to Kyra! The second I turned the corner of the room, she said, "I'm sorry I yelled at you Kyra." What a little $#@*!!! I swear to you, I will never figure that kid out. But if I do, you'll be the first to know.

NTS: Do Not Read Ingredients on Unknown Meat

Especially just before cooking.

Especially on foreign meat products.

Especially if said meat product comes in a "casing".

It could ruin your whole breakfast.

NTS: It's Still Too Cold to Go Swimming

Ai, yie-yie! We took the girls to my brother's house yesterday to go swimming and yikes (!) was it cold. What was I thinking? Um, I was thinking that Kyra joined a swim club at school and didn't know how to do a somersault under water. She was pretty sad that day so I figured we could learn this weekend before she was faced with the problem again next week. Nobody at all questioned me on water temperature. Not Bill, not my brother, not my mom. It's hot out so it's time to go swimming. Nope. We pulled in and Loreen said, "Did you guys come to use the pool? It's still going to be pretty cold." Where was she with the voice of reason when I needed her?

Oh well. We came, we swam, we froze. Mission accomplished, somersault completed.

NTS: I Don't Like Garbonzo Beans, Even if They're called Chickpeas

Chickpeas sound cute and soft and round. Garbonzo beans are not. Garbonzo beans and chikpeas are the same thing. I know this. The can states it. You buy garbonzo beans and they say underneath the big letters that they are chickpeas. You can't buy one without buying the other because they are the one in the same. I don't like either one. Not even in soup. Especially not in a soup where the bean/pea is the main ingredient. Even if the soup has roasted red peppers in it. The only hope was to mash those babies up and hope they taste a little better. It worked, in the texture department, but they were still garbonzo beans.

NTS: Take Easter Pic. at Christmas

Walgreens has some stinkin' cute Easter cards and I didn't send out Christmas cards (again!) this year. Why not just skip the chaos of Christmas and wait for Easter to do it, right? It's seems like I've thought this before so maybe now that I've written myself a little note here, I'll do it. Christ's resurrection is just as good as time as His birth to say, "hey there, I miss you".

NTS: Payton Doesn't Like Spicy Chili

We had a rough day today. Apparently the chili I had for dinner last night did not agree with Payton this morning. He didn't fall asleep until I needed to get him in the van to go pick up kids. I walked outside with him 4 times. Once he slept in the sling for a about 1/2 an hour so I sat and stared at the baseball field. By 4 I had given up putting him down on his own at all and just slept in the recliner with him for a max of 45 minutes. The good thing is, the chili milk has slowed down the poo velocity and there was only one minor poo escape onto a pair of overalls that are too small anyway.

Well, it's 7 now and he finally nursed and fell asleep... hopefully for a good long time. Now, do I try to do all the things I didn't get done today, or can I rest it off since the day was such a challenge? I'll probably do a little of both. If I don't do some laundry he'll have nothing to poo on tomorrow!

NTS: Baby Powder is Not Just For Your Baby's Butt

Last night Bill was searching the house for something for me to put under my head/neck to provide the right amount of pressure in the right spot to get rid of my migraine. While we were on vacation I was able to hang my head off the foot of the bed where there was a wooden footboard. It was heavenly. I know, I know, sick and wrong.

Anyway, we tried a glass, he broke a chunk of wood in two, and I finally settled on a plastic bottle of Miracle Whip. As I passed by Payton's crib to lay down I saw the baby powder. It was the perfect square shape, the perfect height, and had just enough give to meld to my neck. Oh, sweet bliss. I fell asleep almost instantly.

NTS: Buy Bill Some Glasses

My glasses are all crooked. Bill lost his glasses and now he decided to put on mine so he could read something. He stretched them all out and now they sit lopsided on my nose. Plus, these skinny wire frames just plain don't look good on him. He had some with black frames that looks G.O.O.D. He'd be reading and then look over the top of them to say something to me and... well, I liked those glasses. A lot. Where oh where did they go?!

NTS: Plug in the Charger, DUH!

In order for a Dust Buster to be recharged, not only do you have to plug the charger into the dust busting unit, but you also have to plug the charger into the outlet in the wall. DUH! Can I place the blame on whomever unplugged the charger in the first place?

NTS: Make One Thing a Priority

I've found that I can count on getting about one thing done per day. ONE THING!!! If I get more than that accomplished then I consider it a good day. SO, if I only get one thing I have to make something a priority, and anything else is a bonus.

Things that don't qualify for the "one thing" category, but have to be done and interfere with getting that one thing accomplished:

• nursing the baby


• changing diapers


• breaking up arguments between the girls


• directing the girls on tasks other than watching TV


• ignoring the dog (this takes effort to not explode in anger)


• making the bed and putting away clothes


• doing dishes (if this has become priority then things have been REALLY bad)


• eating done after 11am (if I get breakfast then it was priority or it was a good day)


• driving anywhere


• answering the phone


• answering email (read my technology post, this is as necessary as the phone now)


• keeping the peace between siblings, parents, and friends


• making dinner (although, by default do to the first item on this list, this task has fallen on Bill's shoulders more often than I'd like to admit)


• carpooling

Things that I have to make a priority if I want them done:

• showering before noon (this is done if I have someplace to be later and need to make sure I'm presentable before people)


• working out (the time will vary depending on the mood and sleeping habits of the baby, and who is around to watch him)


• grocery shopping


• church


• meetings (both church/calling related, and school)


• cleaning the floor (although this was a bonus one day as I was waiting for my mom to come watch Payton while I went to the gym since that was priority that day)


• cleaning the kitchen (if I did this regularly it wouldn't have to be on this list, dang it!)


• LAUNDRY!!!

When did life get so complicated?

Oh yeah, when I became a mom.

So what is tomorrows priority? Finishing the laundry that I started Saturday. Then I'm finding a friend to hang out with and whine to about not getting anything done.