Pretty In Pink

You know, I just finished watching Pretty In Pink with Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, & Andrew McCarthy. I love, love, love the movie. The music just totally saves it for me. The Furs, OMD, Echo, & even some Manilow. Ok, I'm a Fanilow so I have to admit to liking the man's music. Don't shoot me. INXS, New Order, MORRISSEY. Some serious good music compiled. I remember owning the tape (totally dating myself now) and playing it until it stretched beyond repair, or maybe the tape deck ate it? Either way, once upon a time I owned the soundtrack. New quest: regain music soundtrack.

The storyline is your typical John Hughes 80's storyline. That I can cope with. I am after all a child of the 80's and still think it was the greatest decade to date for music. But that's just MHO. One thing though. I can get over Andie's (Molly Ringwald) annoying lips and bad teeth.  Blane's (Andrew McCarthy) inability to man-up in the movie (seriously why does Andie go back to Blane after he wimped out on her? Disaster!) I still don't understand why Duckie (Jon Cryer) was not given the respect he like totally deserved. I mean after all he is the Duck Man! Duckie has the best lines throughout the whole flick...yeah, I went there. Flick.

What I cannot and will not get over is Andies dress. I mean seriously. She's supposed to be this phenomenal sewer, a worker of miracles. She screw's up the courage to show up to prom with no +1 and her high noon showdown dress is that? I remember back in the day when I originally saw this movie at the theatre by the bowling alley...ALHS people, you know the one I'm talkin bout...seriously she wore that unflattering thing? I just don't get it even to this day. I mean seriously. She had the potential to really wow them and let them know she is not a loser, but she shows up in that pink on pink polka dot sack? Bad show. Now Duckie on the other hand...looked Sharp! Go Duckie!

Even though I once again experienced the sad disappointment that is/was Andies showdown dress I still had a good time listening to the great music of my generation. I will of course watch again. Need to repurchase the DVD/Blu-Ray. Now to start out on my soundtrack quest....

There! Now I feel better!

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa

Penguin Day Today!

Fun day in Kindergarten!

So today was another fun day in Kindergarten. It was Penguin Day where the kids got to learn all things penguin related. They made penguins and penguin cupcakes (Recipe Follows) and watched a penguin movie...unfortunately there was a cliffhanger and we have to resume on Tuesday.

On a side note Lorraine and I slipped out of the classroom when the kids were at lunch recess and took a quick trip to My Delight Cupcakery in Ontario for a yummy Samoa Cupcake. I also picked up Chocolate Salted Almond Caramel & Carrot Cake. My Samoa was sinful! YUM. Need to go back tomorrow!

OK, back to penguin day. We had a super great day spending it with the kiddos. They really enjoy building their own snacks and are really getting used to frosting things. Such pros!

Penguin Cupcakes

White Cupcake

White Frosting

Chocolate Chip Morsels

Orange Mini M&M's

Keebler Grasshopper Cookies

Goldfish

Really this recipe is all about assembly. White cupcakes (in white wrappers of coarse) frosted with white frosting. Take two Grasshopper cookies and cut them in half. Eat one half. Place the other half on top of cupcake for the head and the two remaining halves are now the wings of the penguin. Dip chocolate chip morsels and mini M&M's in the frosting and place on top of cookies for the eyes and nose. Place the Goldfish into frosting and VIOLA! Penguin Cupcakes! Our Kindergartners LOVE Food Crafts!

I just love Kindergarten!


Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa

Tea & Testimony @ MOPS

Well I was asked to give Testimony at today's MOPS Tea. Normally we have tea once a year but this year they decided to mix it up and have it at the end of each semester. Our beautiful Coordinator Elisabeth had read a post I wrote What Is MOPS To Me? back in September of 2010 and really wanted it for Testimony.

As always I didn't commit and she worked at me to speak. So finally I said I would. Before committing, our table had agreed to make hats for Tea & Testimony. I mean, come on, tea should include hats, correct???? How cute is that? The group of us gathered together and we made out hats and I have to say we looked absolutely smashing in them baby!

This morning finally gets here and it was a difficult nights sleep. Brian had training today so he was up and out early and I had asked him to wake me before he left. Since I didn't get much sleep last night I was up when his alarm first sounded and listened to his getting ready noises until it was my turn. Got ready and then the kids woke and they got ready. We loaded the car and were heading to school for the drop off and for my designated Testimony.

TALK ABOUT BUTTERFLIES!! I hardly ate anything and my heart was pumping the whole morning long. I had to take deep breaths to calm my nerves and kept up the silent prayers until it was my turn. First up to speak is my lovely friend Kristen and she gives an amazing Testimony. Then Elisabeth introduces me and it's my turn.

I thought I was going to tear through my paper with all my shaking. My voice is all over the place and I can hear my heart beating! I'm thinking as I'm talking and shaking and listening to my heart gallop....they can hear this on the mic....right???? The galloping I mean??? But I made it through and gave my Testimony. Now I can eat. As I'm sitting here I have to say I'm emotionally exhausted because like a total ninny I cried. There go the water works yet again. So now I have that emotional drain for the remainder of the day.

Either way, I'm done. I've given my testimony and I feel relieved to have that behind me. It's been too long since I've spoken in front of a large group and I will say it was the first time I have spoken about something that wasn't business related and purely personal. Serves me write for writing a blog hu? hahahahahaha! Oh well, you know that's not going to stop me from posting.

All I can say is I'm pretty sure "my audience" is happy I didn't go through with my thought of having us all sing the Cheers Theme song. I mean talk about a perfect mantra for MOPS.....

Where Everybody Know's Your Name
Making your way in the world today

Takes everything you've got;

Taking a break from all your worries

Sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

All those night when you've got no lights,

The check is in the mail;

And your little angel

Hung the cat up by it's tail;

And your third fiance didn't show;

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,

And they're always glad you came;

You want to be where you can see,

Our troubles are all the same;

You want to be where everybody knows your name.

Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead;

The morning's looking bright;

And your shrink ran off to Europe,

And didn't even write;

And your husband wants to be a girl;

Be glad there's one place in the world

Where everybody knows your name,

And they're always glad you came;

You want to go where people know,

People are all the same;

You want to go where everybody knows your name.

Where everybody knows your name,

And they're always glad you came;

Where everybody knows your name,

And they're always glad you came...

Now I got that song in you head, didn't I? = )

Side Note on MOPS Themes:

2006 - Fresh Air: What Every Mother Needs

2007 - The Home Factor

2008 - Adventures in Mothering

2009 - Life on Planet Mom

2010 - Momology


I'm going to go take a nap now...

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa

But I don't wanna go to school....

We had a baaaaad case of the I don't wanna go to schools this morning. Poor boy is fighting this cold and it's really made him whiny. This morning was no exception. He's never whined about going to school which is very shocking but this week hasn't been such a good week for him. He had his buddy taken away because he was rude to him, but he was given a second chance. He's had his pin moved. Some of the other boys were picking on him. So, yeah, not a good week for him.

This morning he said he falls down to much and hurts his hands on the wood chips. (reason #10 why I don't like the wood chips.) Well I'm sorry, that's no excuse. My response was for him to watch where he was running and then he wouldn't trip and fall. Then the tears. You know those crocodile tears? Yeah, well I am not fooled. Hugs and while we are hugging. Ok, you can stay home but no video games or tv and you have to stay in bed all day. The choice is yours. He hemmed and hawed but said he was going to school and proceeded to walk towards his room in tears again. OY! Poor kid is really fighting this cold. So I gave him some meds and packed his lunch and sent him off to school. The classroom is really low on kids because everyone is sick. We've been lucky so far. No fever only runny nose which can be stopped. Hopefully he can make it through today and then we are skipping practice (we don't even know if he has practice today or not) so he can rest up today and tomorrow. Wish us luck!

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa

Finnish Pancakes Recipe

My good friend Maria shared this recipe with me and I haven't used it in a while but this week I dusted off my book and used it for MOPS breakfast. I had great hopes of taking some wonderful pictures of it sitting on our MOPS buffet table but unfortunately there was not one piece left for me! All gone before I even got to the table and I thought as I was making it that maybe I should make a second pan of them. Well, I guess I should have! hahaha oh well hind-sight I guess.

So the weekend arrived and I realized I really needed to get that picture for you guys. It was my mission and I needed to accomplish it. What I do for you people.....So naturally I made some before the game yesterday. & of course I HAD to eat some. It's what a girl has to do in order to get the shot!

Finnish Pancakes

4 Eggs

1/4 Cup Sugar

Pinch of Salt

2 Cups Milk

1 Cup Flour

1/2 Cup Butter (1 Stick)

Topping (Make To Your Liking)

2 TBS Cinnamon

2 TBS Sugar

Prehead oven to 400 degrees. Put milk, eggs, sugar, salt and flour in blender. Blend well. Place 9x13 pan in oven with butter in it. After it melts, tip to butter the edges well and pour excess into blended mixture and blend again. Pour mixture into hot 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar; place in oven. Done in about 30 minutes. Can be served with yogurt, fruit, syrup, powdered sugar, etc. ENJOY!


Serves 12. 164 Calories each serving. Using the myfitnesspal recipe generator.

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa

Second Week Of Soccer Down

What an awesome banner! Who designed this totally awesome banner??? Oh, yeah, that's right.... ME! hahahahaha!

Look at these girls, now don't they look ready to take on the world?

You can't see Elena behingd #10 but if you look closely you can see the blue ball streaming towards the goal.......GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!

Well folks, we've finished a second week of soccer. Boy what an exciting day it was too! ELENA SCORED THE FIRST GOAL OF THE DAY!!! Talk about a come back after last weeks game. Her game is totally improving. Her team is working together nicely, it's like they have been playing together for weeks instead of two games. I'm very proud of those girls 3/0. (I lifted these pictures from my Stalker Tracie's page, unfortunately the picture link wouldn't work but you can see these and last weeks on her page) http://mckinnonclan.blogspot.com/

Now Haydens team unfortunately I wasn't able to watch this week. As both teams were playing at the same time one starting 15 minutes before the other. OY! So we divided our time and it was fun. Poor boys they just follow the ball. It's soo funny to watch. No pictures for his team this week. Card was full. Guess I gotta empty it. His team didn't take a W but to be honest I really don't expect them to....too funny to watch those boys hug that ball. Our coach has his work cut out for him with coaching them.

This morning was so nice, the sun was shining and it was a lot warmer than last weeks game. Afterwards we headed over to Casa Sanchez for lunch and then headed home for a movie with the in-laws. It was a great day spent just family bonding. If every week is like this one I think I'll be able to tolerate this season!

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa

It's been a while!

WoW! I cannot believe just exactly how long it's been since I've posted here. It's not for lack of topics. Believe me I could fill this blog with what I have to say. It's just for lack of focus and availability.

So lots have happened as is always the case in my world! Let's see the kids started soccer. Both of them. At the same time. With the same league. I started my whole weight loss bid. 5 pounds down. =) MOPS is back from our Christmas Break and so is my Small Group. Doing the A Woman After God's Own Heart® Deluxe Edition & A Woman After God's Own Heart: A Bible Study Workbook It's now time to start ramping up for the schools Benefit Auction Dinner. Oh so much stuff going on as usual! Currently I am in the process of planning 4 parties - wait make that 7 parties/events in planning - and only one of them is really my own. I really need to think about going into business or finding a company that could use my skills.

I started the year with a really positive attitude and I have to say I've been able to keep it up. More smiles and sunshine or maybe complete obliviousness on my part. But really, I am super happy right now and feel like I am ready to take on the world! I've put together a list of things I need to accomplish this year and hopefully I will get a few of the top items finished real soon. I've put together a few recipes that I will be posting on in the next few days. Vegetable Spaghetti Sauce, lasagna, spinach and lentils, & Candy Cane Fudge. Yummy stuff like that. Anyway, I just wanted to log on real quick and let you know I haven't forgotten about you...I've just been distracted! I PROMISE!

Anyway, here are a few pictures of Elena & Hayden's first soccer games. BTW - Elena took a soccer ball to her face on her first game ever and her eye looked like it was going to blacken. It just was red for a few days and is back to normal now. Hayden was put as goalie and I think coach learned a lesson. Hayden thought it was the funnest thing when the other team got a goal off him. He jumped and cheered! Gotta love my non-sporty kids.

Can you see the red eye? Soccer balls are mean!

Running with her friends. She will eventually learn it's ok not to talk to them while on the field.

lalalalalalalala

Coach doing a last minute potty check

Just before game 1

This was right before the other team scored on him.

All right, I'll be back in a day or so...

Oh and one last thing. Currently on my Kindle.... Bram Stoker's Dracula (Collector's Edition) so far it's not as gory as I thought it would be. It reads like a journal.

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa

The Long Awaited January 2, 2011

Good Morning Everyone!


We are finally here! FINALLY! January 2 is here. I have been waiting for this day almost as much as I have been waiting for January 1. January 1 marked the new year and the end to last years beastly bad year. January 2 marks the beginning of my weight loss. Tracking it on MyFitnessPal.com


So, I've already weighed in and am ready to take my life in hand. First step is the weigh in and measurements. I don't like that part. But then again who does????? Next step is to pay attention to what I eat and to stay away from the bad foods. Today I am taking down the tree and Brian is going to move in the bike so I can start peddling the pounds away. Then I'm going through the pantry and trashing the candy.


Busy day ahead so I better get cracking! Wish me luck and Pray for me!


Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa