Inked.

I have 6 tattoos.
I have 6 tattoos and I don't care if you don't like them.
I have 6 tattoos and can't wait to get more.

I love, love, love tattoos. My boss doesn't get it. My mom doesn't get it. And you know...that's alright with me. Every tattoo of mine is deeply personal. (I would never, never, NEVER just walk into a shop and pick something off the wall. If you would, that's cool...but I would not.)

I'm linking up at Mama and the Dudes. I love to show off my artwork!

My first tattoo, I hate. I don't hate what it was supposed to be, but I hate what it ended up being.

This is what I asked for:


See it down there...bottom left corner? It's vintage-y and beautiful and I had wanted it since I was 14 years old!!

Years, I waited, until I was 21, and I finally took the plunge...and got this:


Not only is it ugly...it was poorly done. I still need to find someone to vintage it up for me...someday.

Tattoo 2 and 3...

The man and I decided to get "matching" tattoos. I'm a sucker for words, and typography. We went with "truth" tattoos which mean so much to us. We each have different fonts, but they're both on the inside of our right wrists. Mine is white...can you see it?I love it...

It's white ink and it's very special to me.

I have another white ink tattoo on my other wrist. It says "live" but it doesn't match as closely as I hoped, so I will be covering it, probably with "live" in a scripty black font instead with some sort of image...we shall see.


Tattoo #4...

The second "matching" tattoo the man I got. "Amor Vincit Omnia"..."Love Conquers All". His is on the inside of his bicep...mine across my back. (I chose the scribble-esque font...and love it.)


Last two...one was my birthday gift from my tattoo artist friend. It turned out better that I had ever imagined. "All You Need is Love". (This was HANDS DOWN my most painful tattoo). That's said tattoo artists actual handwriting...with embellishments. I adore this tattoo of mine.


And then there's my bird...ohhhh, my bird, how I love you.


Also done by my tattoo artist friend (actually, ALL of the tattoos with the exception of the first were done by him...). He drew me this and it is more than just a sparrow to me. It means so, so much more. It is about peace and science and acceptance, all in one gorgeous piece of artwork. And I love her. I can't wait to get married some day so I can wear a strapless wedding dress and show that baby off!! <3

My next piece will be a big paisley, boho-inspired piece on my upper left arm...it will incorporate the names of my boys. Momma's boys. :)

There are SO many more on my list, including some that were (or are being) designed just for me!!

Want to see more artwork?? Check out Mama and The Dudes!!

xoxo

Hello Health - Week 2

I am taking part in a weekly "Hello Health Party" over at "Along the Way with K&J!" Week 2 already...wowza! Time flies when you have no time to work out! LOL!

Days I have worked out this week: Actual workout...zero. (Sorry!) But I did get some cardio with chasing kiddos all week long. I think a day at the pumpkin patch, carrying pumpkins, bean bag tossing and wearing a baby counts as exercise!

Minutes per day I worked out: N/A

Health Find/Tip of the Week: I had the brilliant idea (ha) to DVR some workout shows from FIT TV...so now I have some workout "videos" at my disposal when I do find time for a work out.

Health Question of the week...: How do you make sure you're maintaining proper portion control? I really struggle with that sometimes... (If you are linking up, answer this question in my comments, link up over at Katie's blog, and input your own question in your weekly update for others to answer in your comments!)

Pounds lost this week/so far: I am down 1.2 pounds today! Woot! It's a start!

**************************************************

So I was DOWN in weight this week...I've been trying to remain concious of my eating habits. I did well most of the week...not as great yesterday. (We always have food, football and friends on Sundays, so I guess that's my "day off".)

I'm just happy to be headed in the right direction...slow and steady... :)

Pumpkin Patch - 2010

If you're not in the mood for A LOT of pictures, this is not going to be the post for you! We had a GREAT time at the pumpkin patch today! We started off the day with some sausage, egg and cheese breakfast muffins (recipe soon!). The kids HATED them. LOL! I don't know why? They were delicious! Even Adam liked them and he hates eggs. They rocked. I think the boys just woke up in a mood.

But, promises of a trip to the pumpkin patch lifted everyone's moods. We packed up and headed out with Grandma (my mom) to the Berryland Farm. They were tentative when we first got out of the truck, but it didn't take them long at all to warm up to the fun and activities!

Luc, Mikey and Benji...


Checking out the haybale fort! They LOVED this thing!



Time for a trip into the corn maze!!!!




More photo fun!


Ring and Bean Bag toss!




They also had arts & crafts areas and face painting! FUN!

Duck races...they loved this!


Then it was time for the (mildly) haunted hayride!


And a pumpkin hunting adventure! (This is Mikey with my mom!!)




Wish Will, McKenzie and Adam had been along...next year, for sure!


And last, but not least...hanging out with the smallest of my best friends. <3


After such a busy day we all zonked out for an afternoon nap! Bliss! I made pea soup for dinner (recipe later) and now it's almost bedtime!

Had a great day! Hope everyone else did as well!

xoxo

Project: Cookie Monster - Week 2 (Homemade Oreos)

We didn't forget about our weekly project already! I just didn't upload the photos until today...LOL! Busy, busy! You know me!

So for week two, we made Smitten Kitchen's Homemade Oreos! (Check out that blog, if you haven't before...TONS of really amazing recipes! Yummy!)

Her recipe is as follows (this is just copy and pasted):

For the chocolate wafers:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar [see recipe note]
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg

For the filling:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Set two racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375°F.
2. In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass.
3. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately two inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.
4. To make the cream, place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy.
5. To assemble the cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip, pipe teaspoon-size blobs of cream into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie, equal in size to the first, on top of the cream. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream. Dunk generously in a large glass of milk.

The only difference between her recipe and what we did is that I couldn't find Dutch Process cocoa so I had no choice but to use natural unsweetened cocoa...I'm not sure how that affected the cookie, but they were still yummy!

They were actually a little on the sweet side for me, but the kids LOVED them and so did the folks at my work that I shared them with! The recipe was very easy to make and was not difficult to assemble. I'm sure we'll make them again sometime!

I didn't take any pictures of the process, but did take some finished pics! (Sorry...I got sidetracked that evening and we forgot!)

Mmmm...



Yummy!!!!!!!



In week three we are making Vanilla Wafers...can't wait!!!

Linking up all over this Friday...





The DIY Show Off Fall Friday




Stop on everywhere and check out the other projects and blogs and make some new friends!!

M&M Game

I grew up in a town that has a FIERCE football rivalry with the town I live in now. Every year, the “M&M Game” takes place between our neighboring towns…the oldest Interstate rivalry in High School Football History. It’s a BIG deal. I BLEED Maroon & Gold…you have to be FROM here to truly understand how deep our loyalties lie.

When I purchased my house, and moved to the enemy neighboring town, I didn’t think about football. My kids are little…what difference does it make? Well…it does. This morning, I dressed my elementary school aged boys in PURPLE (I’m gagging as I type) and sent them off to school for their pep rally. **heavy sigh**

This is NOT going to work…LOL! Is it sad that I’m considering open-enrolling them into a different school district? Haha! (Ok, kidding…sorta.)

I’m actually not GOING to the game this year. (Boo!) My brother, who is a senior this year, decided to quit football (DOUBLE boo!!) but I was there last year, all decked out in my Maroon gear cheering on the team with my family! (The games are better the year’s they play in my home town anyway! We have a far superior field…I think most folks from the other town would agree, to be honest.) BUT, tomorrow at work, we get to dress up to show our support for our home teams, so I will be here in my Maroon & Gold, loving on my “home” team in spirit!

Check me out...last year with my "little" brother!! (We won!)

And in high school...that's me...second from the right. U Rah Rah. :) (The cheerleading pic is actually from the Detroit Lions old stadium where we played and WON our State Championship game!)

A few (ok, maybe like 10) years ago, my Grandparents told me about an old tradition of the West End bar (which has since been torn down, (by my dad, actually) and replaced) making split pea soup and serving all of the bar patrons after the Saturday day-game. That tradition is sadly, long gone but in honor of it, this weekend I will be making Split Pea soup (so watch for that recipe!) My kids and I will be taking a trip to the pumpkin patch so that will be a yummy, warm lunch to come home to. More on that later!

Ciao,

Homemade Donuts - SUPER easy recipe!

Not much makes my kids happier than DONUTS for breakfast. But seriously...who feels like getting up and running to the store bright and early? Not this girl!

Thus, you can understand my excitement when I came across this SUPER easy recipe for homemade donuts! My kids were STOKED (as was momma...not gonna lie!)

We paired ours with a Danimals Crush Cup yogurt and breakfast was complete!

1. Open a can of southern style biscuits. (Do NOT use the "flaky" kind with the layers!) I just used a generic brand.

2. Using a cap from a 2 liter bottle (or any other small round something you may have) cut a hole out of the middle of each donut. Don't throw that extra dough away!! Fry it up for donut holes! YUMMY!



3. Heat oil in a skillet until "hot enough" (LOL...how helpful am I right now? Sorry!) Cook donuts on one side for about a minute.



4. Flip and cook on the other side about a minute. (I slightly undercooked mine on accident so they were doughy in the middle...icky.)



5. Remove from oil and place on paper towel. Blot to remove oil.

6. While still warm, dredge in a plate of sugar. (Next time we're going to try homemade icing and sprinkles!!)



7. FEAST!


(Edited to add: For the record, my wall isn't filthy! That's spots on the camera lens. I forgot to touch them up in this photo! LOL!)

Try it out! You won't be sorry...TRUST me!!

Linking up...blog hopping!!




Here, too!!







And HERE!






Got stuff to do?? Check out 10 in 10!

I am going to start taking part in Night Owl Crafting's "HOO ARE YOU" Tuesdays!

Stop on by to participate and get to know some new friends!

1. How tall are you? How tall do you WISH you were?
I am 5'8"...and so wish I was 5'7"...yes that one inch makes a big difference in finding jeans that are long enough!

2. Do you have a birthmark? Where?
Yes...on my neck...and I hate it and WILL have it removed someday.

3. What is your biggest money waster?
Ooo...good question. Ummm...just random stuff, I think. I can't go into a Walmart without leaving with a cart full of stuff (which is their intent I suppose.)

4. What song are you tired of?
Anything by Kesha. Yuck.

5. What stresses you out the most?
Couple things...money worries (guess I should stay out of Walmart...LOL!) And Luc's behavior. I wonder if he has ADHD...I worry that he isn't going to have an easy life is he continues on the behavior path he's on...I wonder if it's something I did or if there's something I can do that I haven't thought of...I worry.