Supercook

I rarely surf the Internet...checking my e-mail once a day is a stretch; so never do I find myself swapping websites. But, I heard of this one on the Today Show and think it's pretty cool. When you have those nights when last weeks groceries are dwindling and it's either mac 'n cheese or a mayo concoction on bread-go to this! supercook.com You can type in however many ingredients you have or you think would work together and the site comes up with numerous recipes that have those few ingredients in it! Great invention and resource. Happy scrounging!

Hotrod or Nimrod?

I'm beginning to think Will goes through cars like he goes through a package of hotdogs. Well, I am now along for the ride and because of my first experience in a car dealership, I am driving our cars until Will has to push me in them. I HATE CAR DEALERSHIPS. I am refraining from saying car salesmen are up there with their venue because there are very nice salesmen (my husband). But I was alittle on the antsy side as we gathered car information. So, from my recent experience I have constructed a "Top 10 Things a Car a Salesmen Should Say if They Want to Fail." Note: For best results at failing, use when addressing a young married couple that you don't know. 1. "My birthday was this weekend and I was a VIP at the strip clubs." 2. "Marriages don't work." 3. "I'm working on 100 percent commision." 4. "Apparently, you have to have a bachlor's degree before going to law school." 5. "9/11 was planned by the CIA." 6. "I'm splitting this sale so I can go home early and start drinking."(note: mon. night)(note #2: see number 3) 7. "I know alot of military secrets." 8. "I know nothing about cars." 9. Text during every conversation. 10. Share any life plans that make absolutely no sense. Perhaps I'm being too cynical but it's important to say this all came from one bad apple. Will and I did have a little chuckle after we calmed down from our entertainers charades and switched educators.

Ketchup

My blog vaca has officially come to an end. Being thankful that I now have a small following, I need to try to keep it. Although I would love to inform all that I have been a blog absentee for exciting reasons, that's not the case. However, a month of excitement can be as equally bad as good, so I'm appreciating the steady ride right now. Because of the concentration I have been putting on, dare I say, higher priority things other than my blog, I'm going to engage you in alittle game of catch-up for this entry. Ketchup 1: MY BIRTHDAY! My birthday was the fourteenth and it was wonderful. Who doesn't enjoy a day dedicated to them gracing the earth? The girls informed me that they mark their birthday as either celebration week or month...this sounded fabulous but by day three I was willing to give up the lime light. Still, celebration was still in order and we conducted this by several things. Here's the timeline. AM: Morning TV lineup. Today show followed by The View. Cute birthday outfit on completed with new heels and a headband. Afternoon: Class. Heels not feelin' too good walking on campus. Late Afternoon: Get home to Will. Birthday headband squeezing my brains together but I'm still stickin' it out. PM: Delicious dinner at My Big Fat Greek Resturant. Birthday outfit not feelin' so cute anymore. So, after a full wednesday celebration we wrapped it up on Friday with a few friends at Saddle Ranch in old town scottsdale where I asked for one, tasty margarita and they gave me a pitcher and I said it's my birthday and they gave me a giant vase of cotton candy and a serenade. It was a wonderful birthday and thank you for the mail, gifts, calls, voicemails, letters, ETC! I love you all and I'm so blessed. Ketchup 2: Miles is progressing very timely in both his kitty development and social development. I have put much focus and time into his social well-being because as a kitty, he is prone to negative social behavior. He plays constantly with whoever, whenever, and whereever. Needless to say, I'm a proud parent. Although he is very well socialized and has become extemely attached to Will and I, he still remains my special needs kitty. He is anatomically flawed a tad... but who's not to say a kitty can't have 24 toes? Clipping his nails is simply a longer process but he doesn't mind and neither do we. Pia calls him my clearance kitty because he was five dollars and has alittle imperfection but I think he's priceless and perfect. Ketchup 3: There is no update on the weather. It's still sunny every single day. Kethup 4: JONNY'S COMING! Jonny will be here this weekend which is therapy for both Will and I. I'm sure he will leave his mark in Scottsdale. Ketchup 5: It's been a few years since I have been roped into going to a haunted house but they all got to me this year and I made the walk down death row to the scottsdale haunted house. I did not have to take a change of underwear and pants but it crossed my mind several times. With last minute port-a-potty runs and air-tight closed eyes I made it through. The drive-in movie theater was my vote for a nice friday night in the desert but why not add a little stress to your weekend? Ketchup 6: Grandma and Grandpa Salsbury were in town and it was extremely nice to reconnect with grandparents and see them. They took us to dinner in old town so we could all catch up ourselves. Ketchup 7: Tonight we went to Amy and Eric's for the Iowa game (Go Hawks). Will had some quality football time with the boys and I kept the conversation and munching flowing with the ladies. Ketchup 8: I have now admitted to myself that I am a horrible cook. The moment I bring the grocerys home they don't have a chance. Still, it's a dash and dish process and I made the step of getting out my electric mixer tonight. I had my doubts about needing something that weighed more than my husband to make a simple dip but I'm in love. I almost got out my thank you notes to write a second one to Randy D. because I feel my previous naieve thank you note did not do the incredible mixer and the job it does justice. I think I'll be spending tomorrow mixing... Miles discovered the fire place...might want to rethink this spot come Winter.

Seasonal Pants

While my fellow midwesterners are reluctantly pulling out their wools and longunder wear from hibernation, I am basking in rays of sunshine. ahhh...:) On the up side, they now have even more excuses to snuggle their grandchildren, nieces, brothers, etc. It goes without saying, they still have the upper hand. I wouldn't have thought, but it's quite different not having drastic season changes from week to week. I have been picking up on how Iowa has shaped Will and I as we have gotton out of that comfort zone but I never thought it shaped our climate instincts...let me explain. As I was helping Will pick out an outfit for a lunch he was holding, we layed out his pants. Because of this, that, or the other thing, our options left us with two pant choices (Will is very particular). Our options cut down considerably, we now had two nearly identical pair of gray striped pants. Oh but no my friends, they were only similar to the naked eye. You see, Will had at some point, dubbed one pair of pants, "winter pants" and the other pair "summer pants". He certainly could not wear winter pants when it's 80 outside therefore, we were left with one pair of pants, with none to pack for his trip to Vegas(for work). I was not under the notion that pants, other than corderoy, were season-sensitive. Through feeling, sizing up the color difference, and thinking too much, I came to the conclusion that the pants were as suspected; the same. So, conclusion: my analytical Iowan husband, seems to be missing season change as much as I. P.S. I am still wondering when it will be appropriate for Will to wear his "winter pants" down here in Arizona.

I went to Oktoberfest and lived to tell about it.

Every year Clinton faithfully welcomes all the nation's top-notch carnies, funnel cake vendors, and the hill billies that brings. I must have tucked this away in my mind for safe keeping, as I persuaded Will and Amanda to accompany me to Tempe's Oktoberfest. We conquered the whole park in a considerably short time and have lived to tell about it. I remember the last time I attended Clinton's vacation park for the river rats and although both festivals are very similar, my disgust meter never hit the level ten it did on Saturday. Do parents really bring their newborns here? Where is that child's shoes!? Is this real chicken? Where is the sink in this porta-potty? Have these rails been sanitized lately? Guy, put on a shirt. Do you have an updated maintaince check list for this ride? AH! What is wrong with me? I once DRAGGED my older sister to the glamorous carnival! It was the social event of both the 6th grade and the whole south side of the tracks! Still, we MADE it fun and the festival proved your never too old...or healthy.. for a good carnvial hour. Not to spin my own wheel or anything, but we not only made it fun but EMBRACED it. Amanda and I drew the line when it came to the "German" brats but we did devour the grilled chicken and took our turn on the spinning ride (chicken BEFORE the ride; I will spin my own wheel to that). They also had roasted corn on the cob and I am all one for indulging into a little bit of Iowa. Oh, and of course, we enjoyed the musical stylings of, "Furious George." Here are a few pictures from our infested festival festivities!

When Will's away the mice will play!

Ok, the stahling is done. I have been putting off publicly announcing the new addition to our home because I am scared of the wrath of my in-laws. :) BUT here it goes... I got a kitty. I can explain. Will was gone (yes, this is ALL my doing) and I couldn't stop hearing mysterious creepy noises in the night and I just HAD to have some company. So, last Thursday I put my plan insto action. Craigslist was my partner in crime and I am arguing the fact that the handy website MADE me do it. There was a little, black, 7-week old, five dollar, kitty staring me straight in the face on the computer screen. The temptation was the true crime; not I who generously gave the kitten a warm bed and food. But, my record still stalks me and does not lie. This is my 4th kitty I have weasled my way into taking in...and it's the only kitty that I, personally am caring for. So, you do the math. With this being said, my parents are victims and most regretfully, my in-laws. Gracie and Sam are with my parents and somehow my in-laws got roped into caring for Olive. Honestly, all four people involved with these cats secretly enjoy them...who's not to say this was not a part of my master plan? Your welcome Bob, Mo, Mom, and Dad :) You can thank me again when you get your blood pressure checked and it has decreased considerably because of the extra furry cuddles that reduce your stress every night. Moving right along...(your faces will find color again when you see the pictures, I promise)...So Will was gone on business, Craigslist offered the weapon, and I went and picked it up. To be fair, I did tell Will that night that I picked up a kitty and he wouldn't believe me. However, he did believe me when he came home from the airport the next day and found the little ball of fur awaiting him. There you have it! Drum Roll please.... MEET MILES!