Whatever Friday

Sooooo....it's Friiiiiiiday. Which has a whole new meaning now that school is in session, BTW.

Did ya'll do anything fun this week?

I did lots.

1. Jordan started school this week. She loved it the first day, came home all excited and happy and bubbling over with thoughts about what she did, who she played with, how nice her teacher is...and then day two happened. I guess in all her excitement about school she forgot she was...at school.

If only there was a degree in Social, Jordan would be golden.

2. I'm giving away digital scrapbooking software from My Memories. If you think you don't need it...well you're wrong. Don't scrapbook? No problem! If you like to make cute tags, frames, invitations, and general craft thingamabobs, you need this software. Good think you have another day to enter to win it!

3. I happy to be a part of a birthday celebration this week! Dawn, at Addicted to Recipes, is celebrating her birthday week with a ton of fun giveaways. I'm giving away ad space, go here to enter!

4. And...I made you more dessert this week. Hey, what can I say. We bloggers don't do #rfr5k for nothing.

I made Dump Cake with feet peaches. And, surprisingly, it didn't taste like feet.

I let peanut butter be the star, instead of being in the shadow of her BFF chocolate.

Aaaaand...the popcorn I told Jordan I'd share with her but didn't. Liar liar pants on fire...

5. Little word of advice...back up your blog. Often. Especially if you're going to change any code at all. Even if you think you know what you're doing. Thank God the little voice in my head made me save the other day. Or...well, let's just say I would have gone through a lot of wine that night. And some cuss words.

6. It was so nice to have guilt-free time to blog while Jordan was at school. In fact, yesterday I made three new recipes in less than an hour and a half. I think I could get used to this.

7. I often wonder how many people, upon reading #5, will think that I need a "real" job.

8. It's still August, but lots of Fall-themed recipes are showing up in blogland. I dusted of my Fall Pinboard and added some new things to it this week. All of a sudden I have anxiety. Because it's only August but tomorrow it will be Halloween and by Monday it will be Christmas.

9. I ran 3.6 miles (outside, waaaaay different than 4 miles on the treadmill I discovered) Monday, then walked 7.8 miles on Tuesday. I tried to run again on Thursday....and couldn't. Hopefully my body will have recovered by next week. #itsucksgettingold

10. I wish I could use hashtags in real life. I like how it sums up a feeling in less than a sentence.  Related to that, how many of you have tried to like a picture in Facebook by tapping it twice? #itdoesntwork

11. I'm off to don a hazmat suit and clean Jordan's bathroom. Who said girls weren't gross?

Have a great weekend! I hope you all do something way funner than cleaning. Whatcha up to?

xo,
Dorothy

Whatever Friday

It's the last Friday before school starts. I'm happy (more than you can imagine), but it's bittersweet too. It's been a fun summer. But we're all so ready for it to be Fall!

Did you do anything fun this week? Our week was super busy.

1. Jordan got her braces. It's kind of emotional for me, to see her with all that metal, because it's my genes that gave her that mouth. Way back before we started the process, I thought she would get a palate expander and be done. She wasn't so lucky. She had to have four baby teeth pulled. She got a palate expander. And we were scheduled for partial braces, just on the top.

When she came out of the exam room on Tuesday she had full braces. The doctor made the decision she needed them.  Because her mouth is that bad.

It's so bad that, when we first saw the doctor he said "don't worry, I've fixed something this severe before."

It was either this (and she'll have them again at 12) or surgery to fix her palate.

So yeah, I feel really guilty. And sad. And hopeful that her self-confidence can weather this metal storm.

{Cheery sidenote: when we left with her new bling she said she thought she was even prettier than before.}

2. I made you some treats this week too. What else would I do?

I freaked you all out with green dessert again.

I made my new favorite lunch.

And remade an old favorite.

3. I'm giving away a doughnut pan that makes ginormous doughnuts. Want it?

4. I haven't done Flashback Friday in awhile...oops.

This weeks installment: last years' teacher treat: Apple Oreos.

5. A few things I did this week:

I went rock climbing again. Jordan came too and took pictures. Oh-so-flattering!

The child is part monkey.

I took one for the team and spent a day here. More on that next week.

6. It's the last weekend of summer vacation so we're doing a stay-cation. I'm hoping that means I don't have to cook.

What are you doing this weekend? Have your kids started school yet?

Have a good one, peeps. See ya' on the flip side.

Kisses!
Dorothy

Whatever Friday

Happy Friday!

Another week bites the dust. What are you all doing this weekend?

A lot happened this week.

1. I purchased my hosting through BlueHost. *Gulp*

Side note: if you follow via GFC (Google Friend Connect, that little widget down on the sidebar) you may want to follow via RSS instead. RSS feeds go through a reader (like Google Reader). Even if you follow blogs in your Blogger dashboard, all those blogs you follow are also in Google Reader. (Does that sentence even make sense to non-bloggers? Lol.)

2. I took Jordan to get her ears pierced. This has been a tricky subject around my house for awhile. Mel was totally against it (he thinks she's too young). She's wanted it forever and my only issue was making sure she was responsible enough. When we learned she would need four teeth pulled as well as partial braces and a palate expander this summer, I figured earrings were a good consolation prize.

Now she's a big girl. *Sniff*

3. I invented a new Olympic sport.

I packed for the grocery store.

And I waxed poetic about second grade.

4. I also hosted a giveaway for a Roul'Pat...it's still going on. Have you entered yet?

5. A few other fun photos from our week...

We went to Donner Lake. Every time we go we brainstorm how we can vacation there. West End Beach, people. If you're in the area, go there!

We had sno-cones. I got root beer float. Thank you Hayley for introducing me to my new favorite place.

Jordan climbed the rock wall at the gym and made it to the top three times (she's never been able to do it before).

Jordan has a certain...style. I hope that second grade mean girls don't beat it out of her. (Notice the glove. On one hand. With the thumb cut out.)

I set up a prop shelf. Because it was getting out of control. Anyone else have this problem?

6. I was all excited for my Saturday-free Fall, since Jordan opted out of soccer. We could travel! Do whatever! Then she requested I sign her up for cheer. (Not CHEER, cheer. For flag football. Way less risky. And cheaper.) She's doing dance and cheer. And she wants to take acting class. I think I've finally found what she likes. Only took me seven years.

7. I'll leave you with a laugh.

And...that's it folks. What are you doing this weekend? Be safe and happy and I'll see you soon!

Kisses,
Dorothy

Whatever Friday

Happy Friday! Only two more weeks of summer!

{Yes, I'm gleeful. There, I said it. I'm happy to get back to the school routine and time for blogging that doesn't involve hours of TV.}

Did you all have a good week?

1. This week was super busy around here!

I made deep-fried wonderfulness.

I made sugar cookie crack.

I guest posted for the superawesome Hayley.

I made *healthy* popsicles.

Aaaand...I co-hosted a Facebook Exchange Party. (It's still on! Go check it out!)

Whew. Now I'm exhausted.

2. Have you entered my giveaway for The Busy Mom's Cookbook by Antonia Lofaso? Hurry, you still have a little time left!

3. If anyone knows why the shadow boxes on my photos are suddenly back (when I removed the code for them ages ago AND added the proper CSS to get rid of them) and why my post editor will not allow me to change the default font to, well, default (it's stuck on Times) please let me know. I've tried asking Blogger for help, which is kinda like asking the President to dinner (you never get a response). Scratch that...the White House would probably send a courtesy reply. So, nothing like Blogger.

4. Jordan got her spacers on Wednesday. And some impressions. She's such a big girl now that she doesn't even need me in the room with her while she gets worked on. Sniff. Sniff.

5. Last weekend we had a pool party. I made cocktails.

I didn't take photos. I didn't write a recipe. But it was too good not to share. Two cups each of lemonade (low sugar kind) and Sprite Zero. Add in a cup of watermelon juice (puree the watermelon and strain), a half a cup of midori, and a cup of vodka. Way too good.

6. It was a "Grill Your Own Pizza" party. I made lots of dough. Too much, but now I have several dinners worth of partially grilled mini pizzas for fast school night dinners. Score!

7. I instagramed this picture of my fruit salad. With the comment "yummy, yummy." I don't think anyone got it.

{Do you get it? Fruit Salad....yummy, yummy...}

{The Wiggles. With Greg. Always Greg. Never pseudo-Greg.}

8. I have an end of summer bucket list that includes: Donner Lake, more rock climbing, the Loomis son-cone stand, and finally scheduling Jordan's BFF for a sleepover. What are your rest-of-summer plans?


I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Eat some sugar for me.


xo,
Dorothy

Whatever Friday {Lot's 'o talking and an Ice Cream Round-Up}

Well, another week bites the dust. Only three and half weeks until school starts.

Wait. WTH? We still haven't done anything! Sigh.

Did you all have good weeks? Full of glitter, rainbows, and brownies? Mine was pretty good, thanksverymuch.

1. Last weekend I accomplished one of the goals I set for myself in January: rock climbing.

Indoors of course. I'm not insane.

I have a general fear of all things high, athletic, and involving ropes. So it was a pretty big thing for me. I climbed to the top four times! I really wanted a photo of me climbing, but Mel was on belay, and I figured that was more important than fishing out his phone to take a pic.

2. I made you lots'o sugar this week too.

Like boozy ice.

The baby that carrot cake and cinnamon rolls had.

Aaaand a pie I ate all by myself.

What did you make?

3. Jordan spent last weekend with my parents. It was very quiet 'round here. Then I picked her up...and it wasn't.

4. Braces Summer Event #2 happened this week. She got the second two teeth pulled. Next week...spacers. Triple Sigh.

5. I took a break from my stack 'o books I shared last week to read Dean Koontz's 77 Shadow Street. Scary good. Classic Koontz. I love his books SO much.

6. Time for Flashback Friday!

With all the talk of brownie batter lately, I thought I should share these babies from last year. One of my favorite flavors!

7. Can you believe those people at Google caused us all that heartache for nothing? They launched Ribbet this week, their *new* photo editing program. Looks suspiciously like Picnik. I haven't used it yet, but I'm super excited that THEY HAVE PUPCAT (font).

8. Last week I ran 2.5 miles twice, did three days of p90x (kickboxing, chest/back, and legs/back). Then I decided to go rock climbing and then I ran again the next day. And then I wanted to die.

8. Every year in late July or early August, I take a photo of Jordan in a family-heirloom rocking chair at my parents' house. It's kind of a photo diary of how she's grown. We now have 8 photos in it (so sad!)

{2010 was a bad year. That look on her face? She wore it the entire frickin' year.}

9. I guess this month was National Ice Cream Month (who knew? Oh, yeah, I'm supposed to, I guess?) I posted some ice creams this month (totally planned...not!) I even have a link over there in the sidebar to all of my ice cream recipes. I'm not the only one who loves it though...here are a few from my Pinterest board that I thought I'd share with you:

1. Carrot Cake Ice Cream by Kitchen Meets Girl
2. Birthday Cake Ice Cream by Pint Sized Baker
3. Toasted Coconut Ice Cream with Fudge Ripple by Life Made Simple
4. Guilt-Free Snickerdoodle Ice Cream by The Domestic Rebel
5. Biscoff Pudding Pops by Bakeaholic Mama
6. Marshmallow KitKat Ice Cream by Inside BruCrew Life
7. Butter Pecan Ice Cream by Sweet Tooth
8. Nutter Butter S'mores Ice Cream by Something Swanky
9. Funfetti Ice Cream Cupcakes by Kristin's kNook

Have some ice cream this weekend!

10. People who use Wordpress - I need your advice! My eventual goal is to move to self-hosting. Because of money, I'm figuring I will get Thesis or Genesis and build the site myself and then pay someone to integrate all my content and followers. Here are my questions for you: what child theme do you use? Do you use Genesis or Thesis? How hard was it to build your site (headers, colors, social media, etc.)? And were you able to take your GFC followers with you? Who did you use for your migration, if you used help? Any advice is greatly appreciated!


Well, that's it for today. Ha!


I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Mine is going to involve a watermelon lemonade cocktail I will be creating on the fly. If it's good I'll share it. :)


Toodles!
xo,
Dorothy

Whatever Friday

Happy Friday! Whatcha been up too this week? Hot weather? Cocktails? Come on peeps, I want to hear all about it.


Oh? You want to hear about my week? Well, don't mind if I do.

1. This week I...

Introduced you to my favorite childhood combo: cereal and ice cream.

Celebrated my hubby's birthday with peanut butter explosion.

Aaaannnd...confessed my love for avocados.

{Speaking of strange avocado recipes that may you do a double take...have you entered the Unique Sweets Party that's being hosted by White Lights on Wednesday and My Happy Place? You still have a couple days! A party full of unique, different, or challenging sweets, judged by an awesome panel of judges. And there are prizes! Go check it out!}

2. Jordan had dance camp all week. She could not wait to go each day. If only she could be that excited for school! If only I could sign her up for it every week...three hours of dancing...three hours of silence for me...


3.  Hayley and I had a two-part Real Housewives of Orange County viewing party this week, complete with midori lemonade cocktails. Those women are whack. I mean, if you're really friends with someone, do you need to keep the emails you write them for proof that you were telling the truth? It was like a big hair convention gone bad.


4. Seriously nothing funny is happening to me. I'm out of stories. Got any good ones for me?


5. This week's Flashback Friday is a special one.

Anniversary Cheesecake with Macadamia Nut Crust. I posted it a year ago. For my 10th anniversary. This weekend is our 11th. That kind of makes me feel old.


6. Because my parents totally rock, they are taking Jordan for the weekend so we can celebrate our anniversary alone. We're not going anywhere; just having a quiet weekend alone. We did decide to do something a little adventurous (for me) on Sunday. It's going to cross off one of my goals for the year. Expect Instagram photos...


7. Do you watch Drop Dead Diva? That chick created a Pake! (Pie + Cake) I'm sooooo jealous. Is it wrong to copy a TV show?


8. Just a little light reading for the next few weeks:

I finished the 50 Shades Darker (better than the first, has an actual plot) and Tricks (jeez, a little depressing, but good). A couple library books just came in too...so I don't know where to go next. The dark side or the sexy side?


What are you reading?


I hope you all have a great weekend! My goal is to stay away from the computer until Monday afternoon. (Yeah, right.)


See you soon!


((Hugs))