Friday Night Stream of Conciousness

Little disappointed with the upcoming cast of DWTS.
First off, I adore the Situation...but on the Jersey Shore.
Not sure if I really consider him to be a celeb let alone a half decent dancer.

Then we have Bristol Palin.
Really?
Really?
She's considered a celeb.
Let her be what she is.
A mom.
A mom whose mom is famous.
If she wants to be left alone dancing across America is not the way to achieve that goal.

Then we have Michael Bolten.
Again, really?
Perhaps he'll grow the mullet back.
Now that would be worth watching him strut across the dance floor.

As for the Hoff will he be booging to "Cheeseburger in Paradise"?
Just sayin.

I will watch.
I will pick a fav.
Hopefully next season they find some real celebs because I don't think these are even D listed.

Sigh.

So whose ready for Autumn?
Halloween?
Me!
Me!
Me!

Cheeks informed that now that he is 4 and he's a man (his words!) he wants to be Iron Man for Halloween.
Gone are my days of dressing him like a pumpkin or a lion or even a cute race car driver.
I was hoping to keep him as a baby at least for one more year.
That went out the window.

Cruised by Christmas Tree Shoppe tonight for a little Autumn/Halloween decor inspiration.
I was disapointed.
They had some cute stuff
BUT
Nothing eye catching enough.

They even had some Christmas stuff out.
Let's be real here, I liked it.
I love holiday decor.
Ask the Nana.
She endured many a year of me decorating the house for holidays b/c she's not that into it.
I held on to my little sister's paper plate pilgrims that she made in Kindergarten til I moved out of the house in 2002.
Oh yes.
Yes I did.

Do you decorate for Thanksgiving?
I collect turkeys.
Weird? Perhaps.
I just can't break out the Christmas decor til Black Friday.
Then it's game on!
Of course, that's after I hit up the Black Friday sales.
Nothing like a bargain at 3am with bedhead, puffy eyes & wearing pj's.
Wait.
I just described the female cast of the Jersey Shore.
Oh!

I like that show.
It's a guilty pleasure.
I dig Snook's bump.
I did it the other night.
I bumped.
It made me 6"1 in my stocking feet.
And my it was attractive.
Red hair, grey & brown roots with a big ole honkin poof held in place by a red clip that has seen better days.
Thank God Bobster wasn't home.
He would have thrown me to the floor & had his way with me.

So tell me what's going on in your neck of the woods.

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend is upon us.
Summer is over.
Boo! Hiss!
Really I am glad to see summer go, as I am an Autumn fanatic.

Anyway this is a busy weekend for picnics, partying, hanging down the shore (you know, like in Jersey Shore, holla!)

What I am asking you is take the pledge.
The pledge to either become a designated driver or designate a driver for you.
If you become one or pick one send them this badge:

Did you know that in 2008, just over the Labor Day holiday weekend, 194 people were killed in crashes involving an impaired driver?
Easily fixable, if you designate a driver.

Let me tell ya.
I don't drink
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I was always the designated driver.
I was always glad to do it b/c I knew my friends & family would arrive safely home to the best of my sober abilities.
This is nothing to mess around with.
Do you really want to lose your life b/c you like the taste of alcohol?
I didn't think so.

Check out their Facebook page here <~~~click it! They list 50 non alcoholic drinks that you can partake in. Again...HOLLA! Even getting buzzed is drunk driving. Not good. The Facebook page evens has a ride locator for those that don't have a designated driver but need one. So take the pledge with me at Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.
There is even a little game you can play.

Whose with me???
Are you going to take the pledge?

*I received no monetary compensation for this post. I do get entered in a contest. All opinions are my own & yes I do not drink so I feel very strongly about this!*

Cowboy & Wills

Recently my book club read Cowboy & Wills by Monica Holloway.
The book, based on a true story, follows the many animals Monica brings into her life to help her son, Wills, cope w/ autism.
Of course, the animal Wills most takes to is Cowboy, who is a little on the unhealthy side.
Cowboy & Wills are the best of friends & it's very much a love story between the little boy and the pup.

His relationship reminded me of my relationship with my cat, Beige.
Original name, no?
ANYWHO
I had that cat for what seemed like forever.
I think I got her when I was 6 or something.
She was half Siamese, half Manx.
Meaning she didn't have a tail.
She got sick & passed away.
I remember my mom telling me.

I was at my Grandparents & she called.
I cried so hard.
I loved that cat.
She was the best non attack, little thief one could have.
She loved Cheese Doodles & Yogurt.

She purred a lot.
We have had other cats since Beige.
Like one cat, who earned the nickname Pusshead. Don't ask. It was gross.

We had Cozette, Lucy, Murray.
Lucy out lasted all of them.
Sadly Murray was put to rest.
What's more pathetic is that he was put to rest & my sister & I never noticed.
Our parents had to tell us.
I really don't think we were attached to him.

Wills definitely is attached to Cowboy & vice versa.
Cowboy helps Wills is ways that are unimaginable.

This is definitely a book you do not put down.
I think I read it like 2 days.

It should be on your "to read" list.
You will not be disappointed.
Just keep the tissues handy.
Trust me.

Tell me what have you read lately?

Woo hoo

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It's for a good cause!

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His new jam!

Cheeks has a new fav song.

Check out the video...the music starts at the 1:03 mark.

Cheeks likes to sing the part that goes "Shhh....I got you"
And I am proud to say he sings just like me.
Horrendously off key!
Ha.

Warning tho., if you are in Cheeks presence & you want to sing this song, he will quickly tell you "No, please don't sing, this is my jam!"

Shuts me right up, it does!

What is your little ones current fav jam?

He works the charm

Cheeks was in trouble the other day.
Big trouble.

All was quiet in the house because he was being punished.
No toys.
No tv.
No books.
He was walking aimlessly in circles in the living room.
I was opening mail.

This is the conversation that transpired.

Cheeks walked over to me, I looked down.

C: "Mommy, I wanna give you a kiss"
M: "Ok" {i bent down & kissed his little lippies}
C: "I love you Mommy" {he grabbed my leg & hugged me}

He then walked away.
About 7 seconds later he reappeared.

C: "Oh Mommy"
M: "Yea?"
C: "Your really pretty too!"
M: "Thanks your still in trouble though"
C: "OH MAN!"

Yep, 4 yrs old & he's already figured out how to work the charm.

Thank God he's like his father & I knew his motives. Ha!

The hits just keep coming...

As if it isn't to have had kidney stones since my birthday, my 40th year has also given me another gift.

A root canal.

In my lifetime I have had like 8 root canals so I am used to it by now
BUT
do you think this could have just been a cavity…NOOO!

Bring on the power tools & novacaine, it’s root canal time!

I knew I was going to need one.
You just know.
Especially after all the dental work I've had done.
Numerous fillings.
All 4 wisdom teeth pulled on 4 separate occasions.
Braces not once, not twice but three times.
4 teeth pulled to make room for the braces when I was 13.
I had 8 extra teeth compared to the average person, who has 32.

I am just a walking tooth.
Now I have a tooth that has decided to revolt & not want to be part of the team.

So annoying.
Thank God for Vicodone!

Tell me, what dental work have you had done?

Curious George Live!!!

How did you spend your weekend?
Well this past Saturday I took Cheeks & my friend & her little princess to see Curious George Live!

You can barely make it out but the monkey is dancing with an Italian Chef in the pic.

My camera is broken so all I had was my phone.
Sigh.
I know, I know, the pic couldn't be any worse.

So the show was really cute.
Despite me hating that darn monkey the show was entertaining.
I don't know who played the monkey but OH MY! that person is very limber.
Swinging from here to there & jumping & dancin.
Whew!
I was exhausted just watching it.

The kids had a good time.
Although all thru the show they kept saying it's over & then when it was they wanted to see it again.

It was about an hour or so long with a 15 minute intermission.
Definitely worth taking the kids too.

I'd like to thank Comcast who provided me with the tickets to see the show.

What did you do this weekend?

Totally "MacGyvered" It

Remember MacGyver?
You know, cute guy, horrendous mullet, can do anything with a paperclip?

I totally MacGyvered last night.
Yes, MacGyvered.
It's a word.
Particularly a verb.
I just made it up.
You can thank me later for your new action word.

Anywho, yesterday the Grandpop, was at my abode waiting for the delivery guys to deliver Cheeks new big boy bed.
So while he was hangin out he was doing God knows what & had to call to ask me something.
The answer to it was my middle name.
Do you know that after 40 years, my dad doesn't know how to spell my middle name?
Seriously!
He even picked it out.

I digress.
After that debacle, I guess he was feeling the guilt so he decided to put together Cheeks new headboard.

When I got home all that was left to do was attach it the bed frame.
The Grandpop said it would take 2 peeps to do it & we would have to do it over the weekend.

Well I can't wait so I carried the sucker upstairs, got a screw driver & other tools, got Cheeks to help & proceeded to figure out how to attach this sucker.

Here's what I did.
I leaned this 30 pounder of a headboard against the wall.
I told Cheeks to get me his Candyland game, then he Hi Ho Cherry-O game.
Which I promptly put under the post of the headboard thus lifting it to be even with the bed frame.
Then I screwed the headboard to the bed frame.
Viola!
Done in 20 minutes.

Totally "MacGyvered" it.

The Grandpop was impressed.

So, tell me, what have you "MacGyvered" lately?

Happy 4th Birthday Cheekers

How did my sweet newborn go from this:

To a little boy:

overnight?
It feels like the other day I brought him home & endure sleep deprivation.
I miss my baby
BUT
I so enjoy my little boy!!!!

Happy Birthday Cheeks.
We love you!

Let's get this party started!

That's right everyone.
She did it!

She won The Next Food Network Star.

Rightly so because Aarti rocked all season.
What a sweetie.
What a cook.
Makes me want to try Indian food & to be honest, I am not usually a fan of Indian food.
Unfortunate experience with some curried goat.
Don't want to rehash the incident, I'm still in therapy.

Did you watch this season?
Who were you rootin for?

I knew she was gonna win.
I just knew it.
She fits the niche I think.
Not to mention, the biatch can cook & work the camera!

You go Aarti!
You go!

Fresh Beat Band

Do you have a small child?
A tween perhaps?

Have you heard of The Fresh Beat Band?
It's on Noggin, sorry, Nick Jr or whatever they changed it to now.
I still call in Noggin.
Love the channel.
Love this new show.

4 kids.
In a band.
Cute show.
Clean language.
Cool themes.

Likable kids.
Except one.
I feel like such a heel saying this
BUT
Twist, OMG, can not stand this boy!

I am sure in real life he's great.
What a dork on this show.
He's the one in the yellow hoodie.

So annoying.
I really don't think it's him singing either.
If he doesn't talk I can handle him
BUT
He is such a doofus.

Am I going to Hell now b/c I can't stand this kid?

I think the show is great.
I just wish they would downsize Twist's role.

Do you watch?
What shows do your kids like?

Psst...local readers

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Red Alert! Red Alert!

The Dollar Tree has put out there fall stuff.

That is all.

Are you a fan???

Of the chic?
The Chick-fil-a??

I am!
Huge fan.


Let me tell you about my devotion to the chicken chain.
I am devoted b/c

1. Their food always tastes fresh & doesn't taste like "fast food"
2. Their establishment is always spotless.  I mean any Chick-fil-A is spotless.
3. They have an extremely clean play area that is just the right size.  Not overly large that you lose a kid but small enough that you might have to mingle with the other parents.  LOL
4. Every single employee is the sweetest thing.
5. They value family.
6. They have the best deals.

Tonight for example I stopped with the Cheekers after get his hair cut.
I order his meal, my meal...only difference was 4 nuggets.
Digress.
The sweet little girl behind the counter says "you got a kids meal free b/c every Thursday is buy an adult meal get a kids meal free".
Well thank you girly!
The last time I was there it was dress like a cow get free food.
I had no idea.
Some stranger dressed my boy up like a cow & we ate like Kings on Pauper's wages.

Every time you go into Chick-fil-A you get a sense of community.
That this establishment loves families & kids.

I was at another Chick-fil-A in the start of the summer.
The crew lost my order.
I waited like 20 minutes.
The manager came flying out & apologized profusely.
He gave me free coupons for free food & a coupon for free ice cream for the Cheekers.
Not to mention a carnation for me b/c I was a mom.

Again, love this chain!

I will go out of my way for Chick-Fil-A.
Have you had their lemonade?
O!
M!
G!
Delish!

Tell me, what's your favorite chain restaurant?

*This post was not endorsed by Chick-Fil-A.  It is soley my opinion & just a topic for a post.  I want to share my great experience with all of you*

Fashion, Turn to the Left, Fashion, Turn to the Right

Let's first say thanks to David Bowie for writing such a hit song that allowed me to borrow a quote for my title.
It's very apropos.
Trust me.


Today, at work we had a meeting.
A female only meeting.
It was for dress code.


Specifically shoes.
My company is very particular on what you wear on your feet in the summer.
Now they are trying to clarify what is good, what is ok, what is not ok.
This includes clothes as well.


We are a business casual establishment.
You'd think this would be able to be easy to follow.
Not so much.
Why?
Take a gander:

We would have people show up wearing these get ups.


Now let's take a minute & discuss my fashion.
Or lack there of.


I'm what you call fluffy.
You know, fuller figured.
For me finding clothes that fit & cover what I want is a chore.


Usually you can find me rocking some black dressy pants & a corresponding black & white shirt or just a plain black shirt.  Like t-shirt material w/ cute black loafer slides.
Black is a fluffy girls friend!


On the weekends I can be found in jeans or black capries & some t-shirt.


Well now I have to step it up a notch.
No more cute blue hippie shirt w/ the black flowy pants & strappy sandels.
My piggies should prob. be hidden from sight anyhow, seeing as they are naked, for this time of year.


I like comfort.
And clothes that make me appear smaller than I am.
Omar the tent maker ring a bell?


Really, if my job let me wear pj's I would be all over that white on rice.
Sadly, not gonna happen.


So, what I need to know is, if you are a plus size, where do you shop?
I need ideas!!!

Little of this, little of that...

First I would like to take some time to say thanks for two wonderful things.
Up as numero uno:
Nabisco Oreo's Mint.
Thank you Nabisco.

These are divine
&
If you ask me, they taste just like the Girl Scouts Thin Mint cookies.
Delightful I tell ya. Simply delightful.
I have yet to decide if I am sharing with one soon to be 4yo boy.


Next up.
Toilets.
Preferrably ones that flush.

See, last week it seems Cheeks & Brandon decided to put some cardboard fish where they belong.
In the toilet.
My maintenance dept couldn't get the toilet unclogged
So...
They left me a note & a plunger on Friday evening & a note saying they'd be back on Monday.
Well, um that left 2 days of me having to plunge every time someone used the potty.
It left my bowl looking not so fresh.
BUT
Today they fixed it.
And left me a messy bowel to clean when I got home from work.
Sigh.
At least it flushes now.
Thank the toilet bowel Gods.


Secondly, took Cheeks to see "The Last Airbender"

The little boy who plays the last airbender is just the cutest thing!
And Jackson Rathbone from the Twilight movies is also in it.
He is so cute.
Just found out he was born in 1984.
1984.
That's a year younger than my sister.
Gosh, I feel all gross & icky.
He's like a little boy.


Oh well.
He's very easy on the eyes.
All I'm sayin.


Who do you think is easy on the eyes?
Do tell!

Hey everyone...

Head over here to see the latest on my participation in VTech Voices & um, it's another giveaway!!!!

Meghan's Mindless Mutterings: Reviews & Giveaways

PSA: Dear Activitists

Dear Anti-Abortion Activist

I am down with you.  If you are against it, so be it.  I see both sides of the coin on abortion.  I've never had one. 
Will I say if I am Pro Choice or Anti Abortion?
No.
I don't want things thrown at my head.

What I am writing this PSA for is to ask that, perhaps, when protesting you can leave the graphic pictures at home.

It's a bit of an awkward situation as I drove by a womens center, that btw does other things than abortions, and have to divert my son's attention to the other side of the road.  I do this because of the graphic, humoungous in size posters you have displayed of abortions.  My son will be 4 in 2 weeks.  I do not think I should have to explain to him what the pictures are.  Mark my words, he's almost 4 so he questions everything & doesn't drop it.

Luckily I was able to divert his attention to the other side of the road today by telling him I thought I saw the Incredibe Hulk.  He believed me.  Whew.  Now I just have to explain the reason he couldn't see him.  Thank God I am quick on my feet.

So, please, feel free to protest.
I support you in it.
I will also support you if you decide not to protest.
I'm equal opportunity.

I just ask that you tone down the photos.  Think of the little kids who have no idea what they are looking at nor why you are at the building. 

Whaddya say?
Deal?

Just call me Monty Hall!

Phrase I've never thought I'd have to utter

Let me preface this with, while I have 2 older boys, I wasn't blessed with them til they were 11 & 6.
I didn't have to deal with certain things.
Ask me what I'm dealing with now & I can tell you some stories.

I digress.

I have noticed lately the following phrase being repeated, a lot, in my home.
Directed at my very soon to be 4 yo.

The phrase:

You aren't peeing, so stop touching it!

What phrase do you find yourself saying?

Winner! Winner! Splenda Drinks for Dinner!

The winner has been chosen.
I used Random.org & here it is:

Random Integer Generator



Here are your random numbers:


13

Who pretell is lucky #13?

victoria99 I'm a fan. I"m victoria lester

Congrats sista!
You are one gift closer on your gift list for Christmas.

Stay turned for more giveaways!

Of course don't forget to check out my VTech V.Reader giveaway over here: VTech V.Reader

Stream of Conciousness

Do you know who wrote an entire book in the stream of conciousness form?
James Joyce.
It's like Irish torture really.
I should know.
1. I'm Irish.
2. I was an English major & it was required reading.


Take a gander below:

Like it?
The Cheekers & I made it.
A million foam blocks glued to a Legg's Egg half.
Remember Legg's when they came in Eggs?
Do you eat Green Eggs & Ham?
Sam I am.
I crack myself up sometimes but that is what you get with stream of conciousness. Just mutterings.
Hence the title of the blog.
It's a frog.
We made a frog.
Cute no?


Wanna know what's not cute?
One almost 4 yo & one 4.5yo who decided to take the cardboard fish from a counting game & put the fish where they belong.
In water.
The water that is in my toilet.
My toilet, to no avail, will not become unclogged.
I think there is a fish stuck down in the pipes.
Ah, good times.


This is also the child who called Burger King, King Burger.
Convinced me to go there Saturday.
I loathe BK.
Not only does the food suck but it is so poorly run & they hire the inept.
This could be a bias from the job that I do but really have the employees fill out applications before you put them behind the counter.


Sigh.


What's on your mind tonight?

Psst.....

I have a giveaway for you!
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Christmas in July Giveaway

That's right everyone.
It's Christmas in July.


Santa is on vaca but has asked me to help you out.



So what is on the giveaway list, take a gander:

This would make a great gift for anyone, including yourself.


So here is what you need to do to win my Christmas in July giveaway.

1. Leave me a comment telling me your fav Christmas carol.
2. Become a follower of the bloggeroo.  If you are already, leave me a comment & let me know.
3. Post the giveaway on your blog & leave me a link.
4. Become a facebook fan Meghan's Mindless Mutterings & leave me a comment telling me so.
5. Tweet about the giveaway & leave me a comment with the link to your tweet.

That's it.

Merry Christmas!!!!

*Giveaway open til 7/28 @ 8pm*

*This giveaway is sponsered by me & only me.*

Little Saturday Craftiness

Preface: I do not have a before shot b/c well I forgot.
There.
Said it.
Whew, weight off my shoulders lifted.


Without further adieu here is my Saturday craftiness.

A few years back I was given this frame. It was white with gold trim. Didn't exactly scream moi.


Then a few months ago, my dad gave me old skeleton keys he got on Ebay.


So, I thought, hmm, I can do something crafty with this.
Got out the spray paint.
Got out the frame.
Sprayed, sprayed, sprayed.
Viola.
Instant black frame.


Then I got out the skeleton keys, counted out five...two for the momma & the pappa in the house, 3 for the monsters children that live here.  Cut out some cute scrapbook paper.  The Modge Podge'd the keys to the paper.

It now hangs in my teeny tiny foyer, ok there's no foyer just small bit of wall but foyer sounds more classy!

And that, readers, is my Saturday craftiness.

A little Tom Jones

I've been having a lousy week but my dad sent me this video in an email & well now my week is looking up!


I luvs me some Tom Jones!!





Who do you love?

Pain

I swear I have a black cloud hanging over my head since turning 40.


Yesterday I ended up back in ER with severe kidney stone pain.
I mean, OMG! I wanted to die.
They doped me up pretty good...(Love the ER drugs!)
Sent me home tho & this morning at 2:30 I woke up with pain again.
Took a Vicodone.
Thank God for them!


Still feeling like I got kicked really hard in my back
&
I am now suffering from a migraine
BUT
It has to go up from here, yes? no?


Have you ever had a kidney stone?
How did you deal with it?

Review: Geek Dad

Come.
Check it out.
Over here:
Geek Dad Review

Chef Crush

Do you have a Chef crush?
I do.
Who? you ask.


Feast your eyes on:

That's right.
Bobby Flay.


OMG! I love him.
He is just so darn lovable.
He has a good personality & even when he's trying to "throwdown" & be tough on his shows, he comes off likable.


Plus he's a fabu chef.
Bobster took me to his steakhouse last year for my bday.
Delish! I tell ya, delish!
If you are ever in AC, check it out...it will not disappoint.


Tell me, who are you crushing on?

Wordless Wednesday ~ Lunch ala Cherry Hill Mall

Over here....

Silicone Valley New Jersey Mom Blogs has ceased.

I am now over here & today is my very first post.

Go me.

Click here.

Turning 40 stinks!

Yesterday was my birthday.
I was ok with it.
Really.

At 5pm I started to not become okay with it.

Here is how it progressed.

5pm - Sitting @ desk when I suddenly get a growing discomfort in my neither region. I visit the ladies room 4 times in the next 30 minutes.

5:30 - Visit the ladies one last time to discover a "pink" tinge to my urine. Leave, pick up E.

6:00 - Drive home I keep getting pressure in my lower back & feel like I am going to pee my pants. Upon groaning with a bit of pain, while driving, I hear from the back seat "I know, honey, I know" from my 3yo.  He even rubbed my back when we got home.  Whatta kid!

7:00 - Arrive @ ER. My mom went w/ me & we were there from 7 til 2 in the morning. We had a nasty male nurse who figured I was in for a UT infection & told me about his disgust for us being there. He also left all my blood samples in my room causing us to wait an additional 2 hrs or so b/c he "forgot" them & my labs never got done. At approx 1:30 or so, my really, super sweet doctor comes in to tell me I passed a kidney stone. Happy Birthday to me!

9:00am - I have an accident at home that I do not want to go into but lets just say I wasn't able to control something resulting in me having extra laundry. Yep. Good times.

12:00pm - Discover that overnight, someone decided to do a funny & pried off my driver's side rear tail light assembly, leaving the lights exposed. This is after the beginning of the week someone broke into the van & took, of all things, a wind up radio.

Can I have a do over!?!

New Decade

Well, I've talked about it enough this month.
It's D Day.
Yep.
I have entered a new decade today.

I am officially 20, err, 30, 39 again, OK! fine, I am now 40.

How shall I ring in the new decade?
Any thoughts?

PSA: Dear Food Network

I want to let you know how much I enjoy your network, sister networks & what not.
I am particulary obsessed fond of "The Next Food Network Star".


This weeks episode had them in lunch trucks.
I liked it.
Well, imagine my surprise when I was gandering at the equipment in the truck & noticed the baffle filters that were over the grill in all the trucks.


3 out of the 4 trucks had them installed incorrectly.
Take a lookee here:

The baffles run up & down.
The 3 trucks had them side to side.
That's a big ole no no & can result in a fire b/c they are installed improperly.


So, please, FN, find whoever got the trucks for you & installed those filters & get them to put them in correctly. We would want Aarti to go up in flames. She's my fav, in case you were wondering.


Thanks much,


The Baffle Filter Police

Is this thing on?

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