Powpuff Girl…Bubbles, Halloween

The head was finished with about 6 layers of plain ol paper mache, then left to dry for a few days.

We primed it with tacky primer (grey).

I then got acrylic paints to start the painting.

The "flesh color" (who's flesh, huh?)

was not right, so I had to go out and get some diferent colors.

 Painted...

 and painted

 then got Daddoo to do some painting ….

 oooh now whe is looking like something….

 I thiught we should do the angry Bubbles, but the smile was cute!

 Mommy got the ears on…they are flat, but worked perfect.  (held on with Popscicle sticks)

Let's try it on!!!

(we drilled little holes then put screen over it and painted it for the eyes)

Worked ok… should have done the eyes first.

lookie!

heehee.

Go Olive…errr I mean Bubbles!

And as our frined Chris said, Hopefully she won't stand to close to any kid who might think she is a Pinata.

happy halloween!

Cooking to make my liver happy

My liver is killing me.  

Seriously.  I even copped out of riding the Motorcyle to Denver to do more drinking with friends this afternoon just to give it a rest. 

 I hope it thanks me.  

I started my weekend hanging out with my friend Kris.  We began knitting at 9 am, which did not include drinking, although at that point I wished it had.  Later in the day we ended up at Oskar Blues to do more knitting and let the girls hang out in the play area, while we did some more drinking.  Then the men joined us which meant more drinking and food…then home, only to start all over the next mid morning.  We headed to Grimm Brothers Brewery, drank and knit…the men talked motorcycles, then when we were done there we headed to Kris's house to sit outside with the fire pit, let the girls play and do, yes you got it, more drinking.   Today we were to go to Denver to see some friends and drink some more, but I stayed home to cook.  Sheeeewwwww.   I had to, I just couldn't drink another drop, until later at least.

I cooked today.  I made stew for Bobby, enough to eat and one batch to freeze.

I made these divine Apple Muffins from the website "the girl who ate everything"

 the batter was so thick!  then Olive sprinkled the brown sugar on top

 Kid's ate the leftover batter, gross

 Wilma enjoyed them

Ilin gave them the thumbs up

so go check out that recipe.

Now I'm making veggie pot pies, gonna do my p90x and knit some more

have a great fall day!

x

m

Vegetarian French Onion Soup

Last night I finally cut into the big bag of onions we picked at Miller Farms.

I apparently have never used a truely fresh onion, because these onions were full of moisture, not super eye killing and so tasty.

I made some divine 

Vegetarian French Onion Soup

 Olive oil and or butter (Whichever you prefer, I added both)

5-7 large Onions

1 clove garlic

mustard powder or brown sandwich mustard

1/2 T. sugar

Thyme to taste

S&P to taste

1-2 boxes Veggie Broth (I used Organic boxed)

splash of soy sauce (optional)

for the Top:

Baguette 

Grueyerre cheese or Swiss  ( Swiss is easier to find)

Thinly slice all the onions.

Chop one clove of garlic

Use a large, heavy bottomed pot and heat the oil and butter

Add the onions.

It seems like a lot, but the will cook down.

Stir the onions and at this point I add the sugar, mustard, and Thyme.

let cook, but stir occasionally…it will make quite a bit of liquid but it will cook out.

As the onions start to brown turn down the heat, [ut the lid on and let them cook for about an hour, stirring eery 10-15 minutes.  They will begin to turn brown.

After about an hour, and the onions all look cooked, there may be a bit of browness stuck to the bottom of your pan, slowly add the broth and soy sauce while stirring and scraping the brown off the bottom.

Add as much broth to make it soupy.

When all done, taste and add seasoning.

put in bowl add crouton/sliced french bread, and cheese,

put under broiler in oven at 500 for 1 minute until Cheese is melted.

Eat it…yummmmmmm

xo 

m

Baaaa

We went to Miller Farms yesterday.

I fell in love with her

xo

m

P90x…did one day..or day one

how I hate and love this man at the same time.

He is over 50…he's sexy, and he's bad ass…and I'm pretty sure he dates a 20 year old.

But today I got my Jillian Michael's DVD out and said, "Girl, I love you, but today you won't cut it…I need Bad Ass"

So P90x it was

Now my arms are like piece of spaghetti…

The costumes are started

As you may or may not remember, last year I threw together the Deadmau5 head for Ilin Blue.  Since Ilin is getting a bit older, this year, he is in charge of his own and Olive gets the creation. ( Although I feel the Princess Lea was pretty good last year too.)

I definitely lack in the parenting department…but for what I lack there, I like to think I make up in Halloween costumes and Xmas decor…and cursing.

I started last night on the Power Puff Girl Bubbles.

Step 1: go to neighbors and get all recycled Newspaper, you will need a lot

Step 2: Rip, or cut, into strips.

step 3:  make paste….1 C. white flour, 2 cups water (or until right consistency)

I had a hard time finding a beach ball…so Ilin had the idea to use a big balloon.

it must be bigger than the kid's head.

start the process.  You want to stabilize the balloon on a big bowl.  make sure you have an area where you can clean up easily.  It's messy.   This is the first layer.  You have to let the layers dry of you will have a nasty mess.  It always takes longer for it to dry then you think, especially if it is a bit chilly.

Layer one done…about 10 more layers to do.

I'll keep ya posted.

I'm praying it works…because there is nothing like a a Halloween costume which goes awry 3 days before the big day

xo,

m

Monday's walk 365 days

dog and me, originally uploaded by v8grrl.

I got out of bed….

it was a feat, considering I couldn't sleep until 2:45 am

Life is hard, but

You just keep on going.  Well, that is the game plan anyways.  The past few months I have had a hard time coming to the realization that I work.  It seems odd doesn't it?  I went to school to become a nurse and couldn't wait to get started.   Now, I'm exhausted and my little pea brain can't wrap itself around the fact I MUST go to work 3-12 hour shifts a week to keep myself employed and the family with benefits.  It's not much to ask, so what is wrong with me?  Before I got this coveted full time benefited position I worked halftime and I was happy and functioning, although a bit guilt ridden.  You see, I worked 3 shifts a pay period (in 2 weeks).  The money was less, the benefits not as good, but I was happy....and I could pick up extra shifts for "golden time" if I wanted.  

Is it me?  Just never satisfied?  possibly...

Is it working the 12 hour night shifts and being a crappy sleeper?  maybe

Or is it the fact I just want to be a stay at home mom and go to knitting group in the morning and volunteer for the kids field trips?

( go check out Monster By Mail...so cool)

this picture actually looks like me :)

You see, if I could just figure out how to function I'm sure it would be better.  How can I incorporate real life and 12 hour night shifts?  How can I work out?  How can I grocery shop or garden when I am so tired...or better yet zombiefied?  3-12's, a lot of people would die for that!...Even I'm not sure I could go back to 5-8's.

Life is hard, but it seems to me its even harder when you can't grasp the reality it hands you.  There are no classes for this, or really good pieces of advice.  You just keep doing what you need to do.

My friendships, at this point in my life, are non existent which makes life non escapable.

There is no Friday Afternoon Club to attend or couples family fun night.

It's an abyss.  

Its life.

It's time to figure it out.

You guys have a great weekend

Somehow my schedule got all put at the end of one week and the beginning of another so I have 3-12's on one night off the 3 more 12's

basically 6/12 hour shifts in a row.

Thats basically an 80 hour work week in 6 days….at night.

xo

m

ps: and people wonder why I'm such a crotch

What a Good Day, knit, run, falldown

Today was late start at school, which I forgot so I was screaming at 730,  " Get Up!!! GEt UP!!!!"

Only to hear Olive go, "Mom, Its late start."

Oh, ok go back to sleep

 which I did, but apparently they could not, so they were up clanking around the house.

I got a workout in, went out to walk all the kids to school and there was a MOM!!!!  Joan, from Joan and Bill, who live a few blocks over.  She said, "hey, I'll ride with the kids this morning since I never get to."  

Well OK...sweet.  

You see, it's kind of a thing in our neighborhood since they took our crossing guard away.  We take turns walking the kids to the big intersection, crossing the street, then letting them go.  Whichever parent has the most guilt or most free time is the one who does it.  Which puts me in the lead in both categories.  But not today, I got a break !

I tld you guys about falling while running a few days ago right?  The picture does not capture the purple on my chicken sticks

lovely...now they really look like 12 year old's legs.

Man they hurt.  I didn't even put my flipping hands down....Although I did try to do a shoulder roll, but the train tracks were not condusive to a roll, so it was a smack and a skid.

I am still working on this great knitting shawl called Vlad.  I'm hoping to finish it this century, then I can get my friend Kris B to help me block it.

Here's what I got:

here's what it should look like when done:

calliopeknits at flikr

I'm starting to have my doubts.

Well, I'm on a roll, so I better keep it moving and try to stay away from crawling back into bed, since that has been my MO lately

miss you guys...

xo

m

Nursing report Telemetry

I'm trying something for my friends at Allnurses.  seeing if I can figure out a way to upload a report for them to copy.  If you are an RN and want a report, feel free to copy this one.  I think if you click the picture you can save it and print it full size.

I do what I have to do...

Right?

Right....

Here's what I did today.

I came home from work at 8 am, slept...then thought

I thought long and hard, and made a decision that I thought I would have liked to have happened when I was 15.

So, when Blue came home from school.  I took him to Floyds to get a haircut, which one I don't know, because for 25 dollars they really didn't cut much of anything...but whatever

Then to Target....

then I took this kid:

To Planned Parenthood....unbeknownst (sp?)

 to him.

He didn't act freaked or surprised, really.

We walked around the glass to the counter, where there was this adorable 20 something girl working.

"Hi, can I help you?"

"Yup, I'm bringing my son in here so he knows where his options are...if need be"

"Oh cool...well, right there to your left are condoms...free or donation....we can help with anything that you need...and there are a bunch of pamphlets on the wall...and there are some pamphlets about how to talk to your teens about sex....but I think you might have that one covered"  (big grin from her).

"yeah, Thank you   .....Blue, here are the condoms, not that you need these or will need them EVER, but if one of your "friends" may need one, or you guys have an issue you can come here, and they will help you, you know, if you are a bit confused...or whatever.   Buying condoms at the Walgreens is sometimes nerve wracking...so here, please be safe when you need to be."

He didn't get any, but he looked at the lady and said thanks...looked around, got his bearings and I could tell he was taking mental notes.

We got in the car and I said,"Just so you know there is another place to go, if you can't talk to me...but you can always talk to me.

"Thanks mom, it's cool"

I wish to God, my parents had given me more than trial and error when I was his age.