Fabulous Friday - Cutrone Style

Today I am wearing my fabulous Calvin Klein sunglasses and favorite Live A Little jacket...

I am Kell On Earth up in this bitch!

Now gettouttahere and visit Canada!

Please don't drink with the hockey players...

And congratulations to Padma Lakshmi  - Happy Birthday Krishna Thea!!!!

Recycling - Or, Why I now love Craig's List.

I had been growing pretty tired of the dishes my husband and I purchased at Ikea about a half-dozen years ago.  We bought them when he had HAD ENOUGH of the dishes we registered for at Target for our wedding...he hated that the deep rims made for poor dishwasher cleaning of them. 

It was kind of icky.

The Ikea plates were of two patterns, one all white (pattern?) and the other white in the center with blue rims. 

Nice, if a bit boring. 

Pretty, but stark.

I was reading a blog called Communal Global - awesome photographers around the world in ONE PLACE daily...they had a entry, "My Favorite Dishes" and Lola from Utah put up a flea market find of pretty antique blue plates...just five of them, but she loved them...even the chips.

THAT is what I want, I thought to myself...I want antique dishes!  Something unique.

Craig's List...hmmmm.

I searched and found a lovely set - 12 place settings of three plates, cups and saucers???!  Serving bowls AND platters!  Nine soup/cereal bowls, Eight sauce/fruit bowls??? 

But what is "Carefree China by Syracuse"??

I emailed and got a response from Donna Rose.  Is that not the best name of someone to buy antique dishes from? 

Donna Rose 

pretty, right?

She emailed me: 

Hi Lisa,

The china is still available. Carefree means it's very durable. I included a website below that is an old magazine ad and I typed some information in case you can't look at the website. The Flame Lily china is my older sister's wedding china (married in 1958!). I also bought Syracuse Carefree china in 1969 and still use it. I don't think a piece has ever broken. And just today I was reminded that it's ovenproof. I have always put mine in the dishwasher.


Donna
http://www.ohioriverpottery.com/pages3/miscline46.html
"it's guaranteed against breaking. Here's translucent, delicate-looking china that's safe in children's hands, your oven, your dishwasher, indoors, outdoors, 12 months of the year... all made in America."

AND it carries the Good Housekeeping seal!

I had to have it!  I emailed my husband and he said, "I would eat of them!"  Awesome.

I setup to meet Donna Rose's sister's daughter...yes, the lady who owns the china is traveling on the east coast with her hubby...but it was so fun to see her house, meet one of her daughters and chat and laugh and meet one of her granddaughters - all with my daughter in tow. 

For $80 and a trip to Eagan I have dishes now that have been part of another loving home for over 50 years.

I hope to keep their magic alive.

I emailed Donna Rose the following Monday that we got the dishes and used them THAT VERY NIGHT and would be proudly using them every day - she responded.

Wonderful! Pam told me you were very pleased to get them. They come from a very happily married couple, married for over 50 years. My sister will be glad her dishes went to a good home.



Donna

p.s. I put my Ikea dishes away for the kids if they get an apartment in the next few years - Sair is a FRESHMAN at Winona next fall!  The original set when we got married was donated to Mary's Place.

Art @ Hopkins Stages Theatre

where in the world?

True Story Tuesday - Radio Edition

Last Thursday I told the tale of working in radio in Ottumwa, Iowa at KISS FM. (it was Top 40 then, not classic rock!)

I alluded to Tom Arnold and Rosanne Barr near the end of the tale...because when I worked at KISS FM Tom and Rosanne were still MARRIED and building their mansion just outside of town.

And their "Big Food Diner" sponsored my all request lunch hour.

Yup.  Rosanne would call every so often and say, "Play that song I like, you know."  And she was JUST about to release her latest book - My Lives - claiming she had multiple personalities.  ummm, fun stuff.

I also dated a guy who was MUCH older than I was (okay, maybe he just SEEMED that way with all his gray hair?) ...he was a farmer, a former basketball player at Tulane, a local commentator on the junior college basketball team - that happend to broadcast on our station, and a friend to Tom Arnold.

He had a out-building that he had turned into big boy playhouse for him and his buddies; complete with bar, bar signs, pool table, wood burning stove, local drunks!  You name it.  They even cooked out there on a stove and the grill.  I was invited out for the first time and had no idea he was friends with Tom...I was running up to the house for one thing or another when....

zip zip zip

I almost get run down by a lunatic on a four-wheeler...

ROSANNE ARNOLD, as she was known then.

She pulled up to the building and did not even look my way.

That was pretty much her style in Ottumwa/Eldon, IA.

she did apologize when I said something about working at the station later...like, "Oh!  ha.  Hey didn't I almost run you down out there?"

Mommy Lisa Reviews - As Seen on TV - MEme Monday Late Night Special.

Today SupahMommy and MommyBrain are hooking you up with an extra special deal for...

not $49.95

NOT EVEN $39.95

For just $29.95 you too can play...

Okay...I lied.  Its free.

But Supah is poking FUN at my favorite informercial product.  Bare Escentuals...I am a believer and I use that shiznit daily!!!

I have purchased informercial products gone wrong... Nads?  Seriously, you could not rename that for the U.S. Consumer who was thinking "balls" they whole time they saw this infomercial?  Ick.

But here are the products "As Seen on TV" that I have purchased and USED because they actually worked!

Bare Escentuals - There are two other cheaper versions I also like...but BE is the best.

Wen Hair Cleansing Conditioner - This made me love Melissa Gilbert again.

Todd English's Green Pans...OMG!  LOVE THESE, thank you HSN.

And the Caruso Steam Setter.

I love to try new things...the only thing I ever REALLY get burned on from infomercials is the skin care products.  HOWEVER, I have gone and done it again and got the "Philosophy Makeup Optional" collection. 

When I get it and try it I will let you know if it is worth the $$$.  I figured it was going to be cheaper than getting professional peels, but you NEVER know. 

at least until you try...

Fabulous Friday - Music, Water, and Carnivals!

Today I am FAB-ulous because I am taking my daughter to her school carnival - and we invited my Brother, SIL and sweet sweet Baby Nora to join us.  (she 18 months, but she is still the baby!)

Oh - and I am drinking this FAB-ulous new water I found Natczowianka - and looking at pictures of  my babies! 

(one by birth, two by marriage...)

Now, Please enjoy the music...The Dandy Warhols!

Then visit my blog friend from the Great White North!

Radio Days Remembered - Olympics

A long, long, long time ago...Mommy worked at a radio station called KISS FM.  no, not that one...

This KISS FM was in Ottumwa, IA and played Top 40 hits - Think Ace of Bass and Steve Perry solo!  ;)

The year was 1994.  Mommy had just gotten let go at the end of 1993 from her first ever radio job...she remains friends with the boss because it was not her performance, but the fact that running a radio station costs A LOT of money.  And that is hard to find in Crosby, MN. 

Love you Margaret!!!  (mwah! kisses to Texas!)

The Olympics were about to get underway in Lillehammer, Norway -

Heia Norge!  shout out to my peeps across the pond!!

The big scandal had already occurred and we were waiting for the match-up of the AGES!!!

KERRIGAN V. HARDING

But, wait, what???  Who the heck is THIS???

Every morning my boss - the morning show guy and station manager had to read the results of the evening before...

He was having trouble saying "Oksana Baiul"

and I was laughing at him...

He thought if I thought it was soooooEASY to say

Oksana Baiul

then I could DAMN WELL SAY IT FOR HIM!  So over the few days of Women's Figure Skating at the Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway I got to be on the morning show to say:

Lillehammer - in perfect Norwegian accent

and

Oksana Baiul - in mock Ukrainian accent

next time ask me about Rosanne Barr and Tom Arnold...

I really need some advice today...

I saw True Confessions of a Single Mother's post today and was thinking about our dilema.

See this cute face.

I know, I know you have seen Boo Boo La La's cute face a lot.

The trouble we are faced with right now is that she is four.  During the day she is 100% potty trained and has been for a while, a year or so...she was a bit stubborn and wanted to potty on her terms.

We went away for New Year's like usual - Miss K, who Boo Boo La La adores and is younger by almost two months, does not wear pull-ups to bed.  Boo Boo still did. 

About a week later - the day after her 4th Birthday Party - she said.  "Mama, I am four now and I don't need to wear pull-ups to bed any more.  Miss K doesn't!"  Okay---well, you are usually dry in the morning.  Let's give it a go.

About one month later and after three crying pee pee bed wetting jags in two nights we had enough.

Mama and Daddy made Boo Boo put the pull-ups back on.  But, how do we get out of them?

1. She sleeps like a ROCK.  Nothing wakes her up short of the apocolypse.
2. She feels bad now, we are telling her she still needs to get up and go potty but the pull-up is just so she is not wet if she has an accident.  That it is not a big deal, she is STILL a big girl!

I was thinking of getting a calendar for her to put stars on for every morning her pull up is dry. 

Do you think that will help?  Or hurt?  (because of the mornings she gets no sticker...I don't want her to feel bad if she has an accident...)

HELP!

Everybody likes a compliment...especially me.

So yesterday I posted my MEme Monday from SupahMommy and MommyBrain, the quote from Abraham Lincoln...

Everybody likes a compliment.

And the responses got me thinking about my Valentine's Day.  You see on Saturday I got a letter from my Neighborhood Co-ordinator at Church, they divide us up by address to coordinate who will serve communion, work the nursery, etc.  I think TOTALLY fair.

I had volunteered to serve coffee.  Seems harmless and simple, right?

not so much.  I AM Lutheran after all.  I should have known this would be complicated.

My coordinator told me she would "remind me" with a mailing.  It arrived on Saturday the 13th for my Sunday the 14th shift...YIKES, I had forgotten. 

I had to arrive at church ONE HOUR before services.  The coffee pot has to heat up for 30-45 minutes. 

It was also a SPECIAL day and we would be having cake to celebrate a member of our congregation becoming a US Citizen.  Ummm, okay.

So - they did not want a collection basket out in case the person would think the money was for them.

But then!  Someone asked where the CARD basket was to give them cards.  Ummm, okay here is one let's put it here...

We get all accomplished except cutting the cake - we decide to do that right after the sermon. 

Church, sermon over.  HOLY BANANAS!  It is ALMOST 9:30 and I have to teach too!!!

Cutting cake, putting out coffee pitchers, folks start rolling in...YIKES they are putting money in the card basket.  My coordinator FREAKS OUT.  Takes the basket away.

I am frantically filling the table with cake from the serving window, people are avoiding the line and coming between me, the serving window and taking cake - of course me practically knocking them over in the process. 

THEN the woman who got US Citizenship comes up and asks me to "pass around" her certificate.  Umm-KAY.  If you want to pass it around, please feel FREE.  And just WHY would you pass around your citizenship papers???

Another idiot asks if we took a picture of the cake.  I laughed.

THEN after we announce WHY the cake...someone still stands up, gets everyone's attention and asks,

"WHO HAS A BIRTHDAY IN FEBRUARY?  Let's all sing "Happy Birthday!"

*cricket, cricket, cricket*  we are LUTHERAN, right?

I make it through.  And actually get a very grateful look and thank you from the coordinator. 

I get dismissed to FINALLY head down to my class and there is my faithful hubby who brought Boo Boo La La to Sunday School for me...he laughs with me, and told me the nicest thing.

"Kari said you were WORKING YOUR BUTT OFF!" 

It was nice that someone noticed.  ;)

Quote it.

Because who cannot admit that once a week it is all about ME!!!!

I love this prompt from SupahMommy and MommyBrain because I actually have a good favorite quote to share with you all!

If you recall - I was featured this past summer at ViewPoints.com??  If you don't recall...well, I forgive you.

 I did not have very many followers back then.    

I had been kind of ignoring my reviews for two reasons:

1. 
   
   a snarky comment on a review about bras that led to an email discussion with the snarky commenter that I just hated!
2. 
   
   school - my last class and I need my 4.0 intact!

But on my Profile "MommyLisa" at Viewpoints I have a quote:

"Everybody Likes a Compliment."

It is attributed to Abraham Lincoln...I am sure he was not the first, or the last, to say that - but I feel it is true.  If you compliment someone sincerely you get much farther than if you are a snarky beyotch. 

I like to look at the quote whenever I can so I can try to live up to not being a snarky beyotch myself.

Happy Monday!  It is all about YOU.  ;)

Today I am FAB-ulous because I actually went out last night on a school night...

my proof...

A YouTube video with really bad audio of my aunt singing...I took it on my Blackberry.

I hope you can tell how fabulously she sings from this poor audio...sorry Auntie Bucky!  Love you - you are super fabulous and rockin' the pink shimmer shirt from Luethold's. 

and let me say dear readers, I am SHOCKED that Luethold's has a website... 

I should have taken a picture this morning! DARN..well, she was wearing this dress.

That is a lovely photo of two girls who play together really well...have ever since they were little.  I mean they met each other when Boo Boo was almost 2 months and Ms. K was a few weeks (or was it days?  I think I was on maternity leave still...) old.  :)

Boo Boo is wearing that lovely little clearance frock from Hanna Anderson (I LOVE Hanna Anderson - Auntie Lois got her the first dress from there...adored!) for her Valentine Party at Pre-K.

They do all the "bad" stuff at her Pre-K, cuz its not public. 

Christmas Party - YUP!

Will they talk of Easter? 

Am I a blonde Lutheran Norwegian?

Yes and You Betcha!

Wait, why was I writing this post?  Oh yeah...last night.

Anyway...last night.  Last night was weird.  My group for my class got together at our usual time on Wednesday and it was a MARATHON session of over 2.5 hours to make decisions for our fake company.  One person in particular was fighting, fighting, fighting to keep our camera price HIGH.  Ummm, for THREE WEEKS the system has told us our weakness is a high priced camera.  HELLO!  We have DECLINED over the last three weeks.

drink the kool-aid, we are lowering the price.

I was kind of jazzed up by the session and needed to work on my other paper for the online discussion so I did not get up to my room until 9:30.  By then Boo Boo and T-Bone were pretty out of it...T-bone kept drifing off and snoring, I was waiting for Sair to make it home from the DB's wrestling meet. 

I just was NOT ready to nod off...

plus, T-bone brought home these chocolate covered mini-brownies.  I tasted one and quickly got a second to have with a teeny glass of Five Rivers Pinot Noir.  CURSE YOU GENERAL MILLS sending those treats home with hubby...and I cannot even BUY THEM YET!!!!  Argh.

I watched the re-play of Sheer Genius, sooo much better than Project Runway this year, and then flipped over to Letterman.  Sair was home, thank goodness, because Jessica Biel?  YAWN!  I was ready to rack out.

All this time Roofis is laying on my legs...I do not know what has been up with him the last 12 hours or so, but he has NOT wanted to leave my side.  Normally when he is on my legs he jumps down if I move twice, last night he never left!  Not until...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Rang out from Boo Boo La La's room and T-bone JUMPED up to see what was going on. 
It was the pee-pee patrol. 

When Boo Boo turned 4 she said,
"I am a BIG GIRL now and us BIG GIRL'S, like me and Ms. K, do NOT wear pull-ups mama." 

But, Boo Boo sleeps as deeply as Lestat awaiting a new dawn in New Orleans.  So, there are accidents.
What can I do about that one?  I have taken away drinking anything after 7pm (don't judge she goes to bed at 8:30 or 9pm.  We have teenagers and that has ALWAYS been her schedule because of baseball/softball games, conferences, etc.)  Really, any ideas to avoid the accidents?

During the comotion Roofis had enough - he took off to hide until things settled down.  Then he nestled back in until I got up to go to the gym at 4:30am.  He would NOT leave me...followed me all over the house and even tried to go out the door in the freezing cold with me.  While I was locking the door he put his little paws up to the window, "TAKE ME WITH YOU MAMA!" 
I have not had that love from him in a year! 

It must be that Valentine's Day is in the air...or that I have filled his bowl with food the last few days.  ;)

Te amo,
ML

Reason number 215 to not allow your husband access to the camera....

Post-It Tuesday! Guess who has a new milestone...

And to both of you...I was not kidding.  Sometime after school is over Mama needs a break!

Don't forget to link out to Supah to play this or other awesome reindeer games!

There goes Santa Claus...MEme Monday.

Wanted:

Better video camera to take cool videos of random happenings to myself and Boo Boo La La.

p.s. Santa made our day Saturday!

This is a test...only a test....

Blogger has neglected to post TWO of my last scheduled posts since I moved to the new blogger formatting.

I am testing to see if it is user error or if blogger just sux.

Please enjoy this video inspired by yesterday's Blonde Episodes post:



Carry On.

Friday - Fabulous - Fun - (F)video!

I am fabulous because I got a well-rated booster seat, 25% off, and in my Boo Boo La La's favorite color.

whatta nice mama...

Happy Friday all my bloggity-blog friends!

Look @ me...

This award was given to me by My Life In Purple...

She always makes me think about this poem.

Needless to say I was speechless...

My hair stood on end....

But, I will share the love!   This time with a woman who so richly deserves to be called a Beautiful Blogger for her opinions, determination, love of books and family - plus, she needs a big hug every now and again!

So MNMom at Happy to be from Iowa...this award is for you!

Stepping onto the soapbox.

At the risk of offending some readers - (actually TOO bad) I am re-posting this from MNMom because no group that says women cannot make rational choices when they are pregnant should be given a forum as large as the Super Bowl audience. 

From NARAL:
CBS cleared the way to subject nearly 100 million people to Focus on the Family’s extreme agenda by agreeing to air its new pro-life ad during the Super Bowl.


Focus on the Family has an unmistakable anti-choice, anti-birth-control, anti-sex-education, anti-gay agenda. If that wasn’t bad enough, its views on women are just plain insulting and dangerous. For example, its web site urges women facing an unintended pregnancy to seek “wise advice” because “the hormones and extreme emotions of pregnancy make reasonable decisions more difficult.”

CBS still has time to change course if enough of us apply pressure. Urge CBS to drop Focus on the Family’s ad.

You can go to the NARAL site and sign their petition.

Or you can Email CBS by going to cbs.com and scrolling to the bottom and clicking the "feedback" link.

Here's what I (and she) sent:

"I am respectfully asking you to drop the planned Focus on the Family ad during the Superbowl. Pandering to their extreme agenda during a family/recreational event is shameless. I will avoid the Superbowl, and all other CBS programming until I hear your decision has been reversed. I may be one person, but I will spread this message and urge others to do the same."
 
I mean, they allow fear and hate advertising, but not this???
 



Farts are funny...

Morning Dropoff @ Daycare...a peek of my life.

ML: Jackie, is this Boo Boo's sweater?

JP: It has to be hers it has been here for MONTHS and I have tried to give it to EVERYONE.

BB: It is NOT MINE!

ML: Yes, it is.  Grandma gave it to you for Christmas last year...

BB: It doesn't even fit...(she has not tried it on at this point so I say...)

ML: Here, let's try it...

BB: SEE It DOESN'T FIT MAMA!

ML: Uh, right.  Well, it is still yours.  I will take it home.

End Scene.

Breakin' the law....breakin' the law!

This week it is time to SPILL YOUR GUTS!  Tell SupahMommy and MommyBrain just how naughty you are....

BEHIND the WHEEL!

Follow the link to read the rules...or continue breaking the law!

My story comes from when I was in my late-twenties.  I remember the day because it was the day of the infamous OJ slow-speed-chase down a California highway with Al Cowlings.  I was home at my parents because I was wanting to go out for an early round of birthday fun from my job in radio at KXRA (sad but true, the website is no different than it was in 1994) in Alexandria, MN.  My friend Amy and I went downtown Minneapolis to Bunker's to hear some tunes and get cheap beers.  All anyone could talk about was OJ!  I mean I don't even remember who was playing that night! (it was most like Dr. Mambo's Combo...or GB Leighton, some thing DO NOT change.)

Anyway, a few dollar beers later...I drove Amy home and then headed for my parents house.

Whoopsie!  Pulled over right across the street from Eden Prairie mall!  Cute cop comes up to my window...
"Do you know you went over the line back there?"
I did?
"Yes you did!  Are you okay?"
Yes, I am fine.  Just driving home to my parents house.  Why?
"Oh well, you seem fine.  I will just give you a warning...can I have your license?"
Uh, sure!  Ummm.  Here.
"Thanks, wait here."
a few minutes pass...
"Thanks Lisa.  You know, here is my card, if you aren't busy - give me a call."

Oh, SURE!

WTF?  Instead of a breathalizer and walking the line I got hit on by a cop?!?  I mean, I would have passed any test - I was not "drunk" but I am sure he could smell the beer!

At least he was cute, but he obviously knew it!

Disclaimer - MommyLisa is no longer the single hell-raiser she was in her twenties...she is WAY more mature and makes her husband drive or does not drink.