Cayenne and the Squirrel

This is my dog, Cayenne.

Today, Cayenne caught a squirrel.

The ballsy squirrels that roam our neighborhood regularly scamper precariously across the top of our six foot fence while Cayenne runs along the base of the fence, staring down the squirrel as she runs.  How she doesn't run into the bushes without looking where she's running, I'll never know. There are times that the squirrels taunt her, chattering in the tree branches that hang over the tops of our fence. I'm quite sure that the *click*click*click sound that the squirrels make is equivalent to "Na-na-na-na-boo-boo". When the chattering starts, Cayenne gets desperate and literally parkors up the fence.  Her head will clear the top of the fence, but I think she is too bottom heavy to get any higher than that.

Since she is bloodhound mix, all of this chasing is accompanied by "Rowrowrowrow!" and "Boooooooooooowwwwwww" (Bow, as in bow and arrow) This is what a bloodhound bark looks like when written out.  The more you know.

This morning started like most mornings.  Cayenne was out back and an occasional "Rowrowrowrow" echoed throughout the neighborhood. I'm sure my neighbors love me.  I'd call Cayenne inside every now and then to break up the monotony of her barks, but after a while a different sound was echoing in the neighborhood.  A mix between a squeaking mouse and a kid playing dead.  I walked outside onto the deck and what to my wondering eyes should appear?  Cayenne, tossing a mortified squirrel five to six feet into the air.  "Cayenne!" I yelled.  Of course she paid me no mind.  I mean little to nothing when there is a squirrel in her sites, and this time it was in her mouth.  No way would she let me stop her play.  I'm sure Cayenne was convinced she was simply playing with the helpless animal, and tossing it in the air was a mere gesture to get the squirrel to play back.

As I tried to save this helpless soul from the jaw of my dog, the following exchange happened:

AMBER: [Yelling] "Cayenne! Sit!  Drop it! Leave it! Cayenne! No!"

(I imagine if Cayenne were to talk, she would speak like Mrs. Doubtfire, so try to read the following exchange in her voice for an accurate immersion into the situation.)

[Cayenne tosses the small animal into the air]
CAYENNE: "Mom.  Seriously chill.  We're just playing."

AMBER: [Calmer, but firm] "Cayenne, drop it!"

[Cayenne catches the rodent softly in her mouth]
CAYENNE: [A bit muffled] Squirrel is not an it! Squirrel is an animal and my best friend!
[Cayenne tosses the squirrel into the sky]

AMBER: [Apprehensively steps towards Cayenne, extremely calm] Cayenne... come here.

CAYENNE:  [Suddenly stop in her play] Oh are you sad?  What's up?  What's wrong?  How can I help? GAK!
[Amber grabs Cayenne's collar as squirrel lands on the ground]
CAYENNE: MY FRIIIIIIEEEEND!!!!

My guy took the limp squirrel to the side of the house in the front yard, in hopes that it would emerge from its petrified state and find safety elsewhere... Unfortunately, I think it may have chattered its last chatter.  Poor little guy.  I let Cayenne back out back and she immediately ran over to the closed fence gate, peaking through the fence slats, craning to get a glimpse of her petrified friend. "Rowrow! Rowrowrowrow!"

CAYENNE:  [Sniffing frantically]  Squirrel!  Are we still gonna play?!  I had so much planned for us today! That was only the beginning! Squirrel!  This isn't fair!  This is a lame game!  I can't even get over there to play!

"Rowrowrowrow!"

After about thirty minutes of Cayenne switching between barking at the unresponsive squirrel and sniffing frantically, she accepted that her friend had left her.

If only squirrels could read.  I would post a warning sign on my fence:

DO NOT ENTER, YOU MAY NOT ESCAPE.

-Amber

The Difference Age Makes While Singing

I am an observer.  Some people call it creepily staring... I prefer observer.

A few weeks ago I was at church and my eyes began to wander and observe as the congregation sang.  I noticed two things:

1. My arms are way hairier than the lady's arms across the aisle
2. The older generation sings completely different than the younger generation.

Because some things are much better acted out than written, here's what I watched unfold:

(If you're having trouble playing this video, just follow this link!)

So when does this phenomenon start, exactly?  Is there a specific age?  I hope 50 is the magic age.  I want to turn 50 and BOOM! I sing with so much vibrato that the Earth quivers.

-Amber

How to Save Money on Kids Clothes (Without Skimping on Fashion): Part 1

I would dare to say that some people might describe me as a fashionista. I adore a great outfit, a new style, and little edge, so it's no surprise that my daughter's wardrobe would be the same. Some people are all about the "baby" attire (smocked dresses, Janie and Jack, and Angel Dear type stuff). While beautiful and appreciated, it's not me.

Just to give you a couple examples of my daughter's style:

 

  

 

  

 

What SHE thinks she should wear!

What her Dad thinks she should wear

What she came home in!

Occasionally I will splurge on an outfit or definitely let Grandma splurge.

(Thanks, Rara!)

Though I'd love to dress my daughter in Giggle Moon, Mustard Pie or even Gap on a full time basis, our budget just does not allow it. So, how is the majority of my daughter's closet name brand clothes? Here's how I do it!

Know Where and How To Shop

1. Garage Sales and Thrift Stores 

Especially garage sales because you can buy in bulk and make them an offer. Don't be scared, negotiate, you'll love the feeling of accomplishment. Know when the local church's have their garage sales because they sell cheap! Watch your local thrift stores for bag days or big sales. That's right, I don't even pay full price at Goodwill. Back home in Abilene, Texas I knew when the shipments would come in from the metroplex area and when they would have the best selections, as well as sales. There was also one store in particular that had the best selection because they were the truck's first stop. Ask questions like this, call to see when the sales happen.

Complete outfit bought second hand

2. Big Baby/Children's Sales 

In Abilene they had a sale called Dittos, in Oklahoma we have Among Friends. This is a massive baby/children's consignment sale that usually happens semi annually. This kind of sale is a wonderful opportunity to make money and find good buys. You can consign your old items and usually volunteer so that you can get in early to shop before the crowds. At the end of the sale there will be a discount day or two where almost everything goes 25%, 50%, or 75% off. I like to come back for this to grab play clothes and shoes.

Mud Pie, $12

3. Retail Stores 

I happen to live about 10 minutes from an outlet mall with a Gymboree, Osh Kosh B Gosh, Carter's, Children's Place, Gap, and Polo. It's an outlet mall, so there are great deals to be had, but do I ever walk into the store without a 20% off coupon? NEVER! Sign up for the store's newsletters. If you don't want to fill up your inbox with random mail create a separate email just for signing up for store mailings. They are always having a promotion or sale of some sort and most of the time I just show them the coupon in my email on my iPhone. No printing. Now what do I use my 20% off coupon on? End of season sales. I wait until the racks are at least 50% off if not 70% and then I get to use my coupon on top of that. Stock up for the next season on basic items like shorts, t-shirts, play dresses, tights, and hats. I average around $2-$3 an item when I do this at the Children's Place. Target is one of my favorite places. It's as close to Disney Land as I'm going to get. Did you know that they have online coupons and they will text you coupons weekly? I know, music to your ears. Sign up for the texts and emails. Right now there is a coupon for $5 off any $20 Children's Shoe purchase. Not bad if you've had your eye on something. A lot of times there will be a coupon like this for the clothing. Go to the sale rack and buy $20 worth of $3 shirts then get $5 off. Remember to shop for the future, that's what makes this work. Most likely you don't need anything for the current season that's on sale. That's the reason the clothes are on sale, the new stuff is coming in. I promise that the blue t-shirt with the dinosaur will still be in fashion next spring!

Some of my favorite stores to frequent for current sales: all the stores listed above, along with Old Navy, Ross, Marshall's, TJMax, Kohls, Sears, JCPenny, Macy's... among others.

Target outfit, 7$

4. Online 

Have you heard of Zulily? I'm addicted. It's a discount website where the deals change daily. SO many brand name clothes and toys for fractions of the price. This is where you're going to spend a little more money but it's for the special occasion outfits or nicer attire. Don't make multiple purchases at once. Purchase everything separately because after your first purchase you get free shipping for the next 24 hours. If you see something cute, post it to your Facebook. If someone purchases an item from Zulily's website after clicking on your link you get a $20 credit! They have great customer service and I've never been underwhelmed. A lot of times I've seen something really cute that I want but I'm not about to pay $80 for an outfit so I Google it. Maybe there's a boutique in Indiana that's having a sale. Amazon is a girl's best friend and how about Ebay? Ebay is a great way to get really nice clothes for half off and to sell your stuff to make money to pay for the new. At least it's a good way to justify it to your hubby;)

Mud Pie Skirt, Zulily $5

5. Shop Local 

I know I just finished a whole spiel on shopping online, but support your local businesses too! Find some of those cute boutiques and like them on Facebook, and sign up for their newsletters. Most will have sales, specials, and giveaways that you will only find out about through social media or print advertising. I've always found a sale rack that's calling my name at my local stores.

Isabella and Chloe, $15

6. Let's get Creative 

Friends have kids with closets and lots of outgrown clothes. These places are a great place to shop! Maybe you could make some trades. Even if you don't have any clothes they might need, maybe you have a garden overflowing with squash and black beans. Or you have a skill they could use like alterations, or even better: your husband or significant other has a skill like changing the oil in a car! How about stocking up their freezer with a couple frozen casseroles? The ideas are endless. This works for toys as well. You could also host a Swap Party. Invite a bunch of friends with kids over for appetizers, finger foods, wine and swapping. Everyone bring a bag (or 5) of kids clothes, shoes, toys that they no longer need/want and swap for stuff you do! All the while enjoying your friends in the process.

Whew! That's a lot of information. Stay tuned for Part 2 to learn how to make clothes last through multiple seasons, what to buy, and how to save on accessories!

Worst Spontaneous Poses

Today I was looking through all of my Facebook photos that I was tagged in.  I like to get an idea of what my stalkers look at when they come to my profile.  (I like to think I have stalkers.  It makes me feel wanted.)  Anyway, as I scrolled through my tagged pictures I realized that I may have chased off any possible stalkers because of my awful photo poses.

Picture this:  My stalker comes to my Facebook page.  "Hmm, I wonder what Amber looks like now?  She used to be pretty cute".

As this said person scrolls through my pictures, a look of disgust forms.  "Oh geez.  Well, she went downhill."

I admit it; I take awful pictures.  I'm actually not sure if it's that, or if I'm just not that of an attractive person.  Either way, the pictures of myself are rarely appealing.  I started to realize a trend in my bad photos. To help you avoid bad poses, I have compiled my worst poses in one place.  You're welcome.

So here you go. Worst spontaneous poses a girl (or guy) can do:

The Poop Squat

What are all those girl on the bottom row squatting for?  That's why the picture is cut off.

Make It a Double

I imagine my voice is a few decibels lower.  "I love you baby".

Ugly Face Winner

"Hey everyone!  Let's make this picture our silly face!"  Silly face or the ugliest face I can manage?  It's such a fine line.

Chatty Clickclick

"Ohhhh he's sooooo cuuuu-" *click*.... I should have guessed my friend was taking the picture since the camera was pointed at me.  I also may think I look cuter when I talk than I really do.

Secret Teeth

Someone with full lips just can not pull this off and look good.  Ever seen a duck try to smile?  Well, now you have.

Head In, Body Out

"Guys.  Guys, am I in the picture? Guys? I'll just tilt my head to make sure my face gets in... the baby can stay out."

The Chin Is My Leader

I have such a carved chin, I point at things with it.  Thankfully, my guy was kind enough to make this a bad picture for both of us.

The Eyeball Pop

The thinking behind this pose has gotta be "Maybe my eyes can be as big as my mouth".  With enough stretching, maybe.

Rear and Turn

Please.  PU LEASE remind me to always turn completely around for pictures.  My butt will never look as good as I think it does.  Also, remind me to never wear my jean like that.

Don't you feel better about your awful pictures?

-Amber

Mmm... hummus!

My child loves hummus and eats it by the handful. She could literally eat an entire container of hummus from the grocery store in one sitting. I decided it was time to embark on the journey of learning how to create my own. I started with two bags of dry chickpeas (garbanzo beans) from the grocery store and ended up with six batches of homemade, delicious hummus. Easy and yummy!

I got this recipe from Whole Foods. It's a great starter recipe. If you'd like you can get creative and add your own seasonings or veggies. We like it plain and dolled up:)

What You'll Need:

1 15 oz can of chickpeas (or some that you've cooked!)

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup tahini

Half of a large garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt (I only used a 1/2)

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

2 to 3 tablespoons of water

Before we get started let's discuss tahini. It's not as intimidating as it sounds.  It's essentially sesame seed butter. I got a jar of Organic Once Again tahini from Whole Foods for $6.99. It's very yummy and can be used as a spread just like peanut or almond butter. 

In a food processor combine tahini and lemon juice, process for one minute, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then process for 30 more seconds. (This helps make the hummus smooth and creamy.)

Add the olive oil, minced garlic, cumin and salt. Process for 30 seconds, scrape sides and bottom, and then process for 30 more seconds.

If you're using canned chickpeas, open the can, drain the liquid, and rinse them well with water. Add half the chickpeas to the processor and process for one minute. Scrape the sides and bottom, add the rest of your chickpeas, and then process for two minutes or until smooth. 

Most likely the hummus will be think and possibly slightly chunky at this point. Gradually add the three tablespoons of water as the processor is running until you get your desired consistency. I used all three tablespoons. 

The outcome was a hit and my daughter had a hummus and pita chip snack that required a bath immediately following. Happy Hummusing!!!

-Ashley

How to Cook Dry Chickpeas

The chickpeas should either soak over night before you want to cook them or you can use a speedier method, which I used.

Take out a baking sheet and pour your peas in an even layer, discard any that are really shriveled, then rinse with cold water.

Then put the peas in a pot and cover with two inches of water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. Simmer for four to five minutes. Remove them from the heat and let soak for one hour, and then get out your colander and drain and rinse the peas.

Put the peas back in the pot and cover with three to four inches of water.  Bring the water to a boil and simmer on medium heat for an hour or until nice and tender.

You can add salt at this point if you'd like and let the peas absorb it while they cool.

Once cooled, drain the peas and use them for hummus, stews, etc. immediately or you can freeze them for later use.

I used two small bags of dried peas. Once they cooled I sorted them into 15 ounce batches (which is how much would be in a can) in ziplock freezer bags. Now when I 'm feeling like hummus I can grab a bag from the freezer and whip up a yummy snack. The chickpeas themselves were very tasty. My daughter and I kept snacking on them while they cooled.

Not sure what to make with these cooked beans? Try my awesome hummus recipe!

-Ashley

Stuffed Peppers

I am always trying to find easy, healthy recipes that everyone likes. This was a keeper according to my family. I am slowly trying to reduce the amount of meat that we eat. Although, my husband did notice the lack of meat, he didn't complain. He actually ate leftovers for lunch the next day and was happy about it. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine did.

Stuffed Peppers

4 Bell Peppers

1 cup cooked Brown Rice

1 can (drained and rinsed) Black Beans

1 can Rotel or your favorite Salsa

1/4 cup fresh chopped Cilantro

1 cup shredded Cheese

Salt to taste

Heat oven to 400 

Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and tear a piece of foil the length of the cookie sheet.

Cut the peppers in half and remove the seeds.

In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together except the cheese.

Fill each pepper half full with the rice and bean mixture.

Put the peppers on the cookie sheet and cover with foil, but leave two sides open for ventilation.
Cook for 40 min, remove foil and top each pepper with cheese, and then cook another 10 min or until the cheese melts.

-Ashley