The Christmas Letter

so……..Christmas cards went out on Wednesday. If you didn’t get one it is either because we don’t have your snail mail address or you are the card whose address label printed funny and Jeff put aside to show me and now we don’t know where it is!

if so, this is what it looks like:

 

(don't mind that little yellow triangle in the middle of the photo.....that is the photo place trying to tell me the photo's resolution is crummy! it looks just fine people......chill out!)

here is a brief tour of what each photo is of……….more specifically than “here’s Ryan and David and Dolly”……..which really is all that one in the center is! above that is the photo of Jeff and I (with Dolly) at the Running with the Bears half marathon. you might remember reading about it HERE?!?!? this photo was post race. yes, we all three survived! to the right of that is boys in mud. no shocker except it was after a 5K obstacle race and the boys are a bit older than your average mud playing kiddo. in the bottom right is a photo taken at our 20^th anniversary dinner at a super swanky restaurant in town (The Kitchen......duh!). unbeknownst to us, or her, a friend who is an awesome professional photographer was on assignment there that night. not only did it provide for some fun conversation, but also resulted in a really nice photo of us! I guess once every 20 years?!?!? and last but not least, a family shot from the Red Shoe Crawl. who can resist an afternoon of walking around eating scrumptious tidbits? I might have mentioned it HERE.

as you can tell from the photos, 2013 was a pretty spectacular year for us Bergs. we ate good food, we went to fun events, and a few of us even got older (not me).  Ryan would like you to know he got his driver’s license……but I am pretty sure you heard me scream. Jeff has gotten more interested in bike riding and David has been dipping his toe into the world of running. sssshhh........the word “marathon” has even crossed his lips! as for me, I went from taking Dolly for 2 mile walks to completing 5 half marathons in 2013 and starting to prepare for a couple triathlons in 2014……all something I would have laughed at you about a year ago!

 

with all that and a kid graduating from high school, 2014 is looking pretty crazy too! (starting with a Polar Plunge on New Year's Day........at least what passes for one in California!) I hope 2014 brings you some equally fun adventures!  

p.s. because I KNOW you miss it SO MUCH.....I will be doing a Year of 24 wrap up.......more like clean up......before year end. sheesh! what a slacker, huh??

Come to the Fair........California, life as it should be!!!

that is how the theme song for the first ever California State Fair I ever attended went. how do I know? I can't find it on the internet anywhere, but I hear it in my head and remember being in the house we moved in to when we arrived in Sacramento.......and we only lived there one year. (a lot happened in that one year in that one house.....but perhaps I should save that for another post?)

anyway.......with living in Sacramento, going to the State Fair seems like a "must do".......and for our family that is pretty much the case. we have had season passes, attended free concerts, done sleepovers, assisted in the birthing of animals, ridden rides, eaten way too much fried food, drank some of the World's Largest Margarita, etc. good times! good times!!

a general family Fair memory is back in the day when the Fair was held in August. I would take the boys' last day of summer off and we would go to the Fair. we would be there at opening, get all you could ride wrist bands. then the boys would ride their hearts (or perhaps stomachs??) out until late afternoon when Jeff would join us. the afternoon and evening were spent looking at exhibits (with Jeff telling me every year I should enter the next year), seeing shows, and then dinner of lovely Fair foods......usually fried ones.

but the BIG memory is of the boys' obsession with wheels at the 2007 State Fair.....you know, the ones you spin and possibly win something. the boys would spot one in the distance and race to get there first. it didn't matter whose wheel it was, what they might or might not win, etc......it was just spinning that wheel!

they were even excited to spin a wheel that would require them to answer a question! (looks like Ryan has a tough question.......but he still wanted to spin that wheel!) the crazy addiction to wheels continues but nothing like that summer at the State Fair!
 
what are your favorite California State Fair memories? if you have been once or a dozen times, this is when you should dust them off. you can enter the California State Fair Memory & Photo Contest......hey, you could be in a commercial for this year's Fair!!!

btw, tickets are on sale now. I thoroughly recommend the Family Pack. it is a great price even if you don't use the monorail tickets......but really, why wouldn't you? it is a nice break on a hot day where you can check out an aerial view of the Fair and maybe figure out what to see next! this year I definitely want to try the deep fried watermelon and spaghetti ice cream......the boys can help with that last one!

Friday is National Grilled Cheese Day!!!

seriously........seriously love these made up holidays! not quite sure why this one isn't considered a federal holiday, but whatever! you know I love celebrating them and this one is no different!

if you are local, you might considering hitting up Drewski's Hot Rod Kitchen for some gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. be sure to tell them Susan wants her Chevelle back on the menu......gosh darn it!

if you are more adventurous.......head down to San Francisco!! Tillamook is going all out to celebrate this monumental event! they are hosting a National Grilled Cheese Day happy hour from 5pm to 7pm at The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen! you get a FREE classic grilled cheese sandwich, cheese samples, games, prizes and more. (oh and for those cheese lovers over the golden age of 21......Speakeasy Brewery's local Big Daddy IPA will be $3.50/pint....sounds like a good pairing to me!)

if you can't make it......you can still play along:

• enter to win a year's supply of cheese by sharing your "cheesiest" grilled cheese moments beween today and April 12th on Instagram....tag your pictures #Cheesaholic and @Tillamook to enter! Rules are HERE!
• make your own celebration! Tillamook has oodles of great grilled cheese recipes! they even have a great Yum! Dance you can do to celebrate......or make room for more grilled cheese!

and before you ask........no, I won't be going down to SF for the fun. I am being a good and dutiful mom and spending my evening in chaos in an overstuffed high school gymnasium watching way too many kids make way too much noise.......wish they were offering grilled cheese sandwiches and beer! 

Walk fast Susan! Walk fast!

(you know......."Run Susan! Run!" but I don't run.....I just walk really fast!)

10K.........CHECK!

last Saturday I did my first 10K!!! I figured since I intend to walk a half marathon in May that I should probably get a 10K under my belt first. (though my original plan had me doing that 10K at the Sacramento ZooZoom on April 14th)

instead........a friend mentioned The Spirit of Benny 10K/5K Fun Run & Walk and I couldn't resist! (seriously........who am I to answer the siren call of exercise??) but I loved working in Placerville oh so many years ago.......a small wonderful community and gosh, it is gorgeous up there! so why not? this way I will have TWO 10Ks completed before I make the leap to a half marathon!

a friend, Lori, was suckered in to joining me at the last minute. crazy girl didn't think she was up for it........I had the fastest pace ever with her!

the course wasn't as flat as the race lead you to believe.....but having worked in Placerville, I pretty much knew that ahead of time! my FitBit told me I had climbed 24 flights of stairs by the end of the 6.2 miles! not bad, huh?!?!? the weather was PERFECT for the race! a little breezy in the shade and not too hot in the sun. the path went across a wooden bridge and through the woods. wish I could walk there every day......even with the inclines!

David was happy to do the 10K too.......once he found out he didn't have to s-l-o-w-l-y walk with MOOOOM and could run off on his own. how did he fair? we don't know. his number is all bunched up in his backpack so the announcer couldn't see it......and the timing equipment didn't pick him up crossing the finish line. on top of that......he isn't in any of the photos people took and posted on Facebook. this is the only proof that he did it......and the photo isn't even in focus!



as for me........I finished the race second to last (poor Lori got that honor) and last in my age group (obviously) with a 1:41:14.......but there were only 300ish people running and I was just happy to have not needed a handsome EMT's attention during the race! honestly, kinda bummed by the great time. it is going to be hard to beat at the ZooZoom!

next year........I'm taking Dolly!

The boys take the Mission Super Soft Tortilla challenge!

you may recall my previous post about being the recipient of a big ol' box of Mission Super Soft Tortillas.....this is the second post about the fun things that we did with our tortillas (other than eating them straight out of the packaging).

PIZZA TILLA

PIZZA! was the boys first thought about what to do with the tortillas! I thought it defeated the point of them being so wonderfully soft and pliable to crisp them up like pizza crust.....but hey, the boys were happy, the boys were fed. guess I can't complain!

medium Mission Super Soft Tortilla

pizza sauce

1/2 cup of shredded cheese

your choice of toppings - I chose pepperoni, black olives, mushrooms, and garlic stuffed green olives.

heat a non-stick pan to medium or medium-low (depending on your pan and burners). slide the Pizza Tilla from your plate to the heated pan. using a spatula move the Pizza Tilla every so often until the tortilla is nice and crispy and the cheese has melted. 

D thought he had burned his Pizza Tilla and set out to make a second once. while he did that, R and I ate his first crust. it was a bit overcooked but that little bit of char was tasty! so if yours gets a bit darker than you think you might like, try it anyway!

Hubby came home a bit late and decided to try using the oven and the broiler. It was quicker and he got that same nice char that D got. I wouldn't suggest this method unless you are going to cook them for the kids........or like cleaning your oven! 

S'MORSADILLAS

a dessert the boys can customize and make themselves? yes please! this one could be done with bits and pieces leftover from other noshings.

the boys had open faced S'mores in mind while my mind went more towards the dessert quesadilla. my version did a better job of keeping the good stuff in the tortilla, but their version was prettier! either way, we were all happy with our results.

small Mission Super Soft Tortilla

traditional and non-traditional S'mores toppings: I used mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and crumbled graham crackers

fold your tortilla in half to give it a little crease (don't worry, it won't crack) and place in a non-stick skillet at medium heat.

add your fillings to one half of the tortilla and fold the other side over.

using a spatula, press down the top of the tortilla as the fillings are melted, turning over occassionally to crisp the tortilla.

I did not get mine as crisp as I think I would have prefered. however, I had 3 people behind me waiting for the skillet!

the boys opted for open face S'morsadillas and hubby started that way but decided to fold it up at the end for his own S'morsaTACO. Look at the great crisp on his tortilla! they both added the graham cracker after all their fillings melted. guess that is a benefit of doing it open faced?

Disclosure: In case you were sidetracked by mentally wondering if you had the makings of S'morsadillas in your cupboard, I received compensation for this blog post in the form of free tortillas.....which is awesome! There is also the possibility of a fun filled trip away from my family in which they will probably survive on........quesadillas and burritos and S'morsadillas made with Mission Super Soft Tortillas!

Mission Super Soft Tortilla's Walking Omelets - aka: breakfast for the family on the GO!

A couple weeks ago I received the email that we all wish we would get......no, I did not win the Liechtenstein lottery (again)......I was being offered some of the new Mission Super Soft Tortillas to try, make a recipe for, blog about, and potentially win a trip to the International Food Blogger Conference in Seattle. Well.....you know me......they had me at "tortilla." Seriously! Those things are a staple in our house. With an active family and growing boys, tortillas are BETTER than sliced bread!

Then the box arrived and I had to fight the boys off! We were given a package of fajita, soft taco, and burrito sized tortillas (aka: small, medium, and large). Being in a crazy house, I wanted to think of something that would appeal to like-minded people who need good food fast and sometimes on the go.

Thus........the Walking Omelet! You might say it is "just a breakfast burrito" but I beg to differ. Those burritos are wrapped in paper (if you buy them in a drive thru) or fall apart and have to be eaten with dirty fingers or utensils (if you make them at home). That wouldn't suit my purposes! I wanted something that the boys could grab as they rushed out the door to school, Scouts, whatever, without me fearing their breakfast was falling out behind them.

Thus..........the Walking Omelet:

bacon strips (newly cooked or leftover from a previous meal)
scrambled eggs (made in bulk with enough for as many Walking Omelets as you plan to make. we generally go with 1 1/2 per person)
shredded cheese
salsa
sliced avocado
sliced black olives
really, anything else you would like to put in an omelet!

(If you are fortunate enough that everyone likes the same omelet ingredients, I would make a big ol' omelet and then put scoops of the completed omelet in the tortilla. That is what I did when it was just me, myself, and I. However, in my family no one agrees on anything so the eggs are made separately and a post cooking omelet is created in the tortilla.)

The tortillas are soft so there is no need to warm them up. Pile your ingredients in, slightly down one side to allow room to fold up your Walking Omelet.....and GO!!! No fear of the tortilla cracking or ripping causing you to lose the most important meal of the day!

Disclosure: In case you forgot after seeing those yummy pictures of my Walking Omelets, I received compensation for this blog post in the form of free tortillas.....which is awesome! There is also the possibility of a fun filled trip away from my family in which they will probably survive on........quesadillas and burritos and Walking Omelets made with Mission Tortillas!

Oh, and btw, I have already been informed by the boys that they have a better idea for using these tortillas......so you might see another post coming real soon with a few more ideas!

Wishing you a Holly Dolly Christmas!

as before, Christmas time reminds me of how many wonderful friends I have......and how many addresses I don't have. heck, some of them I don't even have phone numbers......but that has not lessened the friendship! thank heavens for the internet.

to each and every one of you, I thank you for your friendship!

 

though......Dolly may not quite feel the same way!

why I vote in person......

because, gosh darn it, sure would be great to vote by mail!

• voting by mail means you get to do everything in the peace and quiet of your own home......assuming you ever have peace and quiet there.
• voting by mail means you can do it whenever it is convenient for you.
• voting by mail means you don't have to stand in lines and deal with really slow old people working at the polls who can't seem to figure out that yes, you ARE the Berg that is listed right under the Berg they just checked in! (funny how that works!)

BUT............

voting by mail means you don't walk to the polling place with your kids every election (I'll admit sometimes we drive due to weather or time constraints)

and this is super important to me. it is easy to tell the boys that I voted and they should too. but I think it makes a greater impact when they see their parents take the time and effort to show up at the ballot box. they also get to see the others who have done the same. and yes, they also get to see those really slow old people who call them "honey" or "sugar" and give them an "I just voted" sticker even though that would be a federal offense (voting, not the sticker or sweet name calling).

sadly, this choice has caused me to miss voting in one election. an unplanned business trip out of town snafued my plans. but I figured if I missed one election in 27 years I am doing pretty darn good!

today is the last day to register to vote in California. if you are 18 or over, do it! do it, read about the issues and candidates and make an informed choice! start here now: REGISTER TO VOTE ONLINE!

Speaking of FUN ..... SundayFundayIDon'tHaveToRunDay

well, kinda........

last year I reminded you about the Citrus Heights Fun Day that runs from 11am to 4pm at Rusch Park. it is THAT time of year again......THIS Sunday in fact!! same ol' same ol' that I told you last year about what they'll have their and how much fun you will have.......and please note I mentioned the parking issue last year! this year I expect it to be a bit more chaotic due to construction and a really stupid light cycle. (yes....that "reader" is ME! and while I am totally supportive of the improvements they are doing, I want them completed before someone gets hurt!)

back on topic.............. this year, the City politely sent us all a postcard about the event and apologized for the parking/traffic issues associated with THROWING US A FREE PARTY!!!

"Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding." Lol!

I am SO not going to tell you how I feel about THAT......but if you know me you already know how I feel. I do wonder how many people they sent those postcards too........because if my house is the closest parking you can find, I'd suggest a movie instead!

Youth Outdoor Sports Fair - family fun! free for kids!

I am sure you have heard of the International Sportsmen’s Expo. It comes every year for 4 days of outdoorsy fun at Cal Expo. But did you know that they fill up 20,000 SF of it with a Youth Outdoor Sports Fair? I didn’t! Heck, 2 years ago, Ryan spent a morning showing off the Boy Scout Adventure Base 100 (he was even on TV with a very uncoordinated newscaster who tried the obstacle course). Afterwards Ryan walked around and checked out the Expo and even he didn’t know they had a youth section!

What is my point here? Well, KIDS 15 AND UNDER ARE FREE!!
That means that they can learn archery, fishing things (there is even a catch & release activity), turkey calling (VERY important if you live near me! Seriously!), and safe gun handling in the NRA airgun range. Something I like, and very Boy Scout feeling, is “Tread Lightly!” They are a national non-profit group that encourages responsible use of public lands and waterways. The kids’ Sports Fair area will have games for the kids, giveaways and raffles, ATV photo opportunities, falconry displays, “Lucy’s Pond” with a waterfall and river, and a whole lot more. Oh yes, and Radio Disney will be there!

Show times for the Youth Outdoor Sports Fair are

• Friday 3pm to 8pm (the Sportsmen’s Expo opens at 11am, but those kids have to go to school!)
• Saturday 10am to 7pm
• Sunday 10am to 5pm

I think we could easily spend an entire day just in the kids’ area. Which is good because I want to learn how to talk to those turkeys that block my path when I go to the library!

Anyway, kids are free, grown-ups are $15, and parking is $10.

BUT, I am giving away 2 pairs of tickets! All you need to do it post a comment with what you think your kids will be most excited about at the Youth Outdoor Sports Fair by 6pm 9pm January 18th -that is Wednesday night! Can you say short notice?!?!? (Sorry! I have been having technical difficulties.) I’ll do a random drawing of all entrants and let you know ASAP.

If you aren’t patient, don’t want to enter, or don’t win you can use this link to save $2 on adult tickets now! Have fun and I'll see you there!

Susan’s Super Sportsmen’s Expo Saver Link

Disclosure: I was given a set of passes to the Expo along with the ability to share the discount ticket link in exchange for posting about the Expo. But, once the boys heard about the kids’ area it didn’t matter, we were going free tickets or not!

Meatless Mondays - Comedy or Tragedy?

A couple weeks ago we (ie: me) decided to start doing meatless mondays. Hadn't really thought too much about it or done any research. I know that we eat too much meat. Even enforcing portion control is difficult. I also wanted to expand the family's diet. The boys aren't vegetable fans, so I promised no straight out salads. (That is fine....I don't really like lettuce and we rarely have it in the house. A salad with dinner is usually more a bowl of chopped veggies.....which are then drowned in dressing! Oh well!)

The first Monday was easy. I was donating blood the next day so a simple marinara in a cast iron frying pan was perfect! That went over well and showed that no meat wasn't going to kill them. (And I aced the blood iron test!)

We skipped last week.

Last night we were back on track. Had planned on bean and cheese burritos but it was cold and foggy and was wanting some comfort type food. So I hit the internet for some inspiration. There is a site for Meatless Monday. (Who knew?) Thankfully it has loads of recipes! Found this one for Enchiladas. It looked easy enough and I was pretty sure I had everything at home so I was good to go!

Did you read the recipe? I didn't. I looked at the ingredients and the photo, assumed the veggie chili was filing, and went on my merry way. When I got home to make the dish, I noticed that you are supposed to make 12 enchiladas with 8 oz of cheese (and have leftover cheese to put on top) and the chili is put on top of these itty bitty enchiladas! And after all that, you make enchilada sauce??

Needless to say, I didn't follow the recipe. We ended up with what we jokingly called "Deconstructed Mexican Vegetarian Lasagna." You know, because we are quite the foodies! Layers of chili, cheese, and corn tortillas. Ended up using fewer tortillas and more chili and cheese than in the original recipe. It tasted okay, better than I think the recipe would have ended up.

In the meantime, I am working on my list of meatless meals that I know will past muster. Figure I can start with these and sneak in new ones as I find them. Any tried and true family loved meatless dishes you can add to my list?

• Cheese/veggie pizza
• Mac & Cheese (except Ryan will only eat the blue boxed stuff)
• Pasta w/marinara sauce
• Madras lentils & bulgar (an old WW fav)
• Soup & grilled cheese

 Also, please remember to enter the Some Stuff You Might Win Giveway!!

Let's talk turkey....turkey DAY that is!

So.....what are your plans for Thanksgiving? Sleeping in and then heading out to enjoy some turkey and stuffing with family members? Maybe some crazy pre-Black Friday shopping? 

Back to dinner, let me guess......you start with grace and end with 1 pie per person? Along the way you cruise through 2 kinds of cranberry sauce and enough mashed potatoes to pull a Richard Dreyfus.

For many families in our area, this isn't the case. For many families, Thanksgiving is a Thursday like any other Thursday: one when they go to bed hungry. But I know you know that. And if you are the way I know you are, you do what you can to help. You donate money to your favorite charities, and extras around the holidays. How the heck can I dare harass you about this? 

I'm not........I want to tell you how to feel GOOD! How to make your Thanksgiving THAT MUCH BETTER! How to START your day of giving thanks REALLY feeling thankful!

The Rat Brothers bright and early Thanksgiving morning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consider starting your morning with a cool 10K or 5K. Might I suggest the Sacramento Food Bank's 18th Annual Run to Feed the Hungry? A wonderful CRAZY event starting at 8:30 or 9am (depending on your race length). Let me tell you, no run ANYWHERE gives you a better feeling! You can some fun exercise in the cool morning air and leave knowing your entry fee will go to feed local families through the Sacramento Food Bank! 

And hey, before you say "oh, but I need to go get ready to feed my family" or "how the heck can you expect me to get up that early?" Let me tell you.....you get to sleep in later than you will for Black Friday......and you'll be done and home by 11. That is plenty of time! I guarantee it! How can I? Well, because this will be me and my family's 4th year at the run! And we don't run....oh, NO!! We show up BEFORE the runners, help set up, and register same day runners! And, yes, there are plenty of runners who are done and gone before us.

But.......it is SO worth it! Never has a turkey tasted so good as one eaten after knowing you helped other families have a good meal the same day. So, consider this your invitation! Come join us for the start of the best Thanksgiving you will ever have!

Things to do......you know, pretending its Fall and all!

And here is where you expect me to tell you "go to Apple Hill....see the leaves turn.....blah, blah, blah." Assuming you live anywhere near here, you already know about Apple Hill (go early, leave early). I want to tell you about the other things happening! Let's call them the "B-side" of the things to do list! lol!!

This Thursday, September 22nd is West Wind Theaters annual Customer Appreciation Night! What is better than the drive-ins? How about FREE drive-ins!! You get your choice of Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Transformers 3. Long rumored to be their "last year" every year, West Wind has done a great job of remaking themselves as more of a family destination. Let's hope the weather is a bit cooler than those meteorologists are saying so we can all hang out watching movies and eating $1 nachos......oops! I forgot to mention that! Yeppers, $1 nachos!

If that puts you in the mood for some more family together time, check out Citrus Heights' Sunday Fun Day on Sunday, September 25th at Rusch Park. This is the 15th year for this free bounce house, pony rides, rock climbing wall, live entertainment, and give-away event. There will be lots of food, music, and fun for everyone in the family! I have some great photos of a cute little Ryan on the amusement rides, and the boys a bit older "steering" the fire truck, and now spinning give-away wheels. The worst part of this event.......parking! Be patient and be willing to walk. It will make life a lot easier.

So if anyone has any pull in the weather department, order up some cooler fall weather!

Labor Day Weekend: enough time for FUN & a little relaxation!

School has started and I can't believe how much I am already looking forward to the first holiday, Labor Day! A three day weekend somewhat guarantees me I'll get to sleep in at least ONE morning....and even offers that whispered promise of a possible date with hubby!

But just when I start thinking wonderful thoughts of kicking back, that old adage comes crashing through: "the universe hates an empty calendar." This must be why there are SO many things to do this weekend! And believe me when I tell you, there is something for everyone: young at heart, old fashioned at heart, and gay at heart! (sorry! just couldn't pass that one up!)

Here are my top picks for this coming Labor Day weekend:

• Sacramento Gold Rush Days: Did you know I was a history major in college? They called it "social science" but it really was history! Anyway, I used to participate in events like this on the side. The folks from the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation (and others) are going to truck in a bunch of dirt to Old Sacramento, have loads of people in period costumes (like I used to do), and pretend Proposition 13 and Governor Terminator didn't exist! The sites says the year is 1850, but if you want to attend the preview night on Friday, it will only be 1849......as in $18.49! If you can hold on until the clock strikes 1850, the event is free and runs from 10am to 5pm. No planning ahead necessary! If you are good at planning ahead (to go back in time) check out the Old Sacramento Underground Tours while you are there! The site also has a great schedule of performances and events.....you know, in case you are good at that planning ahead thing.

• If you want a more colorful weekend, how about checking out Sacramento's own Rainbow Festival! This event runs Friday through Sunday (you will need Monday to rest). The Rainbow Festival is held to raise awareness and raise money for charities that provide support and services to the Lesbian and Gay Community......and to have a blast!!! The main event is the festival street fair Sunday from 10am to 6pm. There will be entertainment, vendors, etc. J and L Streets between 19th & 21st will be blocked until about 8pm Sunday night for the Festival.

• Should the Rainbow Festival prove a bit TOO colorful for you, how about Sacramento's 20th Annual Chalk it Up! Held at Fremont Park Saturday through Monday, this will feature artists creating works of chalk art, kids activities, and even your own opportunity to create your own personal square!! If nothing else, you might want to check out the festival just to get a chance to track down your favorite elusive food truck! AND, Blackbird Kitchen & Bar is going to be there! These are the awesome people who fed us some AMAZING oysters at the last Sacramento TweetUp! I am SO looking forward to these guys opening for business! Anyway, come get your hands dirty (or chalky), listen to some music, and be a kid again!!

• However, should your weekend plans include a belated spring cleaning.....or early fall cleaning, maybe you are looking for something a bit more practical? How about an e-waste event? You are in luck! One is being held this Saturday from 9am to 1pm in the parking lot by the softball field at Mira Loma High School!
• They can accept: monitors, tvs, PCs, VCRs, stereo equipment, speakers, keyboards, mouse(s), PDAs, digital cameras, zip drives, telephones, cell phones, printers, copiers, toasters (huh, didn't know about that one), blenders, microwaves, laser and multifunction scanners and fax machines. They'll even destroy your hardrive!!
• They cannot take: household appliances like fridges or washers/dryers, furniture (seriously people? when is furniture considered e-waste??), hazardous household waste like: flourescent light bulbs, paint, pesticides, used oil, cleaning supplies, and tires......again, not e-waste!
• While you are there, consider making a donation. That IS what it is all about, right?
  

So, a big beautiful weekend ahead of you! Lots of fun things to do......and still get that lazy morning to sleep in! If you decide to check out any of the events listed above, please let me know! Also, remember to take a moment and tell me how you would have some fun sharing Tillamook Cheese! I have some great ideas (and terrific jokes) already!

Sharing Loaf Love! And you can too!

Thanks to all the fun I had with them at the Sacramento Zoo last month, I was fortunate to receive a very special care package from Tillamook Cheese. They call it a "Baby Loaf Box". The wonderful people at Tillamook asked that I use the contents to Share the "Loaf" Love to bring friends and family together for some cheesy fun. (and promote Tillamook's awesome cheese of course!) Honestly, the possibilities for sharing the cheese were endless and a bit overwhelming. A favorite idea that didn't make the cut was a "build your own nacho bar." I don't think it will be too long before you hear me blog about that happening....maybe a football game party?

Anyway, as you may remember, our family tries to have a game night each Sunday where we end the weekend and start the week playing games and reconnecting. Recently, these have gone the wayside to last minute errands, Scout meetings, etc. Tillamook Loaf Love was just the incentive we needed to get back to this favorite habit.

We invited the Powers family over for a Sunday night fondue. The Monterey Jack and Medium Cheddar Baby Loafs were perfect for this! (yes, shredded cheese would be easier, but I have 2 kids that want to help and shredding cheese is a great way to let them help!) I wanted a nice balance between the more classic fondue dipping items and more "kid" fun kind of bits. By the time the Powers arrived, we had lots of goodies ready to dip: sausage, meatballs, tortellini, lots of veggies, apples, soft pretzels, and tator tots. Ready for dipping were a white wine Monterey Jack cheese with some garlic and nutmeg (surprising but tasty!) and a beer bacon Cheddar cheese fondue with bacon pieces, mustard, horseradish, and Worcheshire sauce.

Eight people around the table, dipping and talking made for a fun, loud meal! Lots of laughter, reaching arms and tasty cheese fondue! It was fun seeing how the same items tasted different in the two different cheese pots.

The kids decided their favorite dipping items were meatballs that had been baked and halved and the chunked sourdough bread. (don't tell the kids, but I think they ate more veggies tonight than they normally do!)

After dinner, the kids played Wii and the grown-ups sat around and chatted. The evening was definitely a success!

So, wanna know how "you can too" share in the Tillamook Loaf Love? Well, in the Baby Loaf Box were some coupons (and what I call "party favors".........see the photos with the two Baby Loafs) for me to share with my blog readers! The coupons are good for 2lbs of Tillamook Cheese!! (did you know the cheddar is aged and someone actually tastes it to make sure it is aging nicely? I want THAT job!!)

Here is the deal:
Tillamook asked that I have my blog readers post their ideas for how to Share the Loaf with their family and/or friends. The most creative ideas will win free cheese!
And since you know how I love puns, I am going to give the best cheesy joke or pun free cheese too!!
You have until September 10th to post your ideas and jokes!!

And when you win, be sure to check out Tillamook's blog or website for some great recipes using that tasty cheese!

Disclosure: In case you hadn't figured it out, in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR Part 255, Tillamook Cheese has generously supplied me with complimentary tasty cheese for promotional purposes.

of mice and men.....and boys and books.....

so as a "good mom" I try to keep up with what is happening in school so I can help the boys out with their homework. J is a great dad and very helpful, but R passed him in math skills in 5th grade or so. I will even admit to having R call Auntie Misty earlier this year. we can still handle D's math, thank goodness! science is completely beyond me. I won't tell you what I did to pass science in high school.

but when it comes to english and history, I am spot on! and as R has started reading what I would consider "classics" I have read along with, or ahead of, him so that we can discuss the points of the stories. I have read most, if not all, of them before, but it has been a couple of years (ha!) and some of the more minor details have escaped me. I am sure I will have to read them again in 2 years to go through the same thing with D. I like talking about books with the boys, especially books like "Of Mice and Men" and this year's earlier assignment "To Kill A Mockingbird."

so my purpose for blogging about this: I am glad that the schools haven't been so beaten by political correctness that they don't teach our kids the mistakes of the past so that they can grow up to not repeat them. I realize these books are fiction, but within them are the kernels of society. I want the boys to know that things weren't always fair and that people don't all live and feel like we do. I hope it will make them grow up to be open minded, thoughtful, and appreciative. all the things we want from an education!

12 of 12 July summertime break weekend edition

hello and welcome to this month's edition of 12 of 12! with inspiration from Chad, the idea is to take 12 photos of your day on the 12th of each month.

this past week was a rough one. unhealthy air, long hours at work and taking a horribly torturous notary class and exam, and the fact that J and R were gone to Scout camp left me not sleeping well. so this morning I was thankfully able to sleep in this morning......until.........

Tessa decided to bark at something and woke me up......... but hey! it WAS 3 1/2 more hours of sleep than I had been getting! and a week of exhaustion had resulted in me actually sleeping quite well finally! lol!!

but.....since R was gone I had to feed Stubbs........Princess Stubbs. I couldn't resist trying to snag a few photos. sadly I couldn't get a shot that wasn't ruined by some stuff on the side of the cage. I think it is the vitamin stuff we dust the crickets with before sacrificing them to the Gecko Goddess! lol!! (be thankful I missed the shot of her snagging her prey. has taken me almost an entire year to be able to watch her)

D fed Tessa. too bad this isn't a video so you could see her nosing out the *inferior* nuggets so she could eat her favorites......... those little golden squares. in a few minutes there are pieces strewn around the her food area and all the golden squares are gone.

I did my daily Webkinz and even helped a friend a bit. course, got myself a cheesy price for my own spin...... but she'll be happy to know I got her a Wish Token.

then I took some time to clean the fridge. oh boy oh boy what fun! lol!! it actually looks pretty organized now......and hey, I needed a food shot since I didn't show you my breakfast (that I forgot to eat! lol!) after cleaning the fridge I decided we have WAY too many pickles and mustards! there is half a shelf of pickles and a door shelf full of mustard. insane! totally insane!

after my cleaning I finished up work on a recipe swap I am doing. these were a whole lot more work than I expected them to be......but I think they came out cute!

yeah! finally J and R got home from camp. be darn thankful that this is not Smell-O-Vision because they STUNK!!! they were freakin' STINKY!!!!

so after they were showered, we headed out to Weiner Works for dinner. here D is posing at our table while we wait for our food. as you can see, the walls are covered with photos and writing, etc. you can see some of it on the side.

FOOD!!!!! these guys make the BESTEST french fries!! this is a large order.....just ONE large order! lol!! we rarely finish them....though this particular order seems a bit larger than the normal large! and you can't believe how wonderful those hot dogs are!

since I had taken the two photos here with my cell phone, R wanted to try and take one......so I got a good smoochie phone of me and dh! much better kissing him now than before his shower! lol!

the traditional odometer shot. my mileage is going back down now that I am not doing carpool in the morning. even better than before I think since I don't have my car at lunch I don't use up gas running errands. and hey, Light Rail is $4 a day......less than 1 tank of gas!

as for the temperature........ the high was only 91 degrees today. earlier this week it was over 110! so much for drama. not that I LIKE blazing hot weather, but it would have been a lot more exciting to post a photo of it being that hot instead of a boring 91! lol!!

ah shoot! I didn't even think about changing the orientation of this next photo. another one I took from my phone. and maybe now is where I should mention that our desktop is having a Zone Alarm problem and I can't get on the internet with it. so I am doing all this on the laptop.....with no photo program.

anyway........don't be too fooled by this photo. prices have been dropping the past week or so. this is the lowest I have seen....probably the lowest in all of Sacramento. I was excited to pay $4.25 a gallon earlier this week courtesy of my 10 cents off at Safeway.

Dairy Queen has Thin Mint blizzards. we had them tonight for dessert. we deserved them, right? another sideways one...... sorry!

anyway......that was my day. I think I actually had 13 photos.....but between using the camera phone and e-mailing them to myself and rigging up the camera to the laptop to try and use, I was thankful to have any!