Catch Mouse!

Catch Mouse!

When we moved into our new house last fall, we were told all the new home construction in the mountains had stirred the field mouse population and to expect to run across one in our garage or basement.

We did see a little one in our garage when we were moving in. He ran away before we could catch him and seen from a distance, the little thing was kinda cute.

When I realized this weekend there was one living in my CAR, totally creeped out, any memories I had involving cuteness towards the nasty creatures vanished.

We suspect he made his way into my car from the field, to our garage, to the stroller (which we sometimes store in the garage), to the car. I became aware of his presence when I found my half-marathon training schedule, which I had left in the backseat, chewed into suspiciously-looking nest-like shreds.

I went to the store and purchased every kind of mouse trap they had. I then left it to my hubby to rid my car of the beast.

My hubby had a preference for the traditional snapping mouse trap so he dotted two of these traps with the suggested peanut butter, set the triggers, and placed them in my car.

The next morning he checked the traps. The traps remained un-triggered, sitting exactly as before. With one exception. The peanut butter was licked clean.

Tricky little devil. I might expect such advanced thinking from a more experienced rodent, such as, say, a city rat. But a field mouse? My hatred toward the creature, now a clever adversary, grew stronger.

I took it into my own hands to dot two of the sticky traps from my mouse trap collection with peanut butter and place them strategically in the car. And I waited.

About 10 o'clock last night Jake checked on the traps. A little confused, he came in and asked me where I had placed them. I told him. He said one was still there, but the other was missing. Completely gone.

Back into the car and armed with only a flashlight, my hubby,and manly hunter, found the mouse. With its front paws stuck to the trap, he was under the driver's seat desperately trying to flee using only his hind legs.

Jake put him in a cardboard box, still stuck to the trap, while we tried to figure out what to do with him. We laughed when we noticed that although stuck and desperately fleeing for his life, the mouse had still taken advantage of his position and licked the peanut butter clean. We battled our sudden feelings of humanity toward the creature and our more dominent feelings of disgust.

Disgust won. He won't be coming back.

Find soundtrack.

Find "Music and Lyrics" soundtrack.

My hubby and I went on a date last weekend and he let me see "Music and Lyrics."

LOVE this show. LOVE.

NEED the soundtrack. Seriously-- need it.

Plan Dinners.

Plan Dinners.

So somehow I spent all but about $100 of our entire grocery/ household products budget in the first 7 days of the month.

Unfortunately, my hubby was the discoverer of this little tidbit and bewildered, looked around the house proclaiming we had no food and couldn't imagine what the money had purchased.

Perplexed myself, and knowing I did not have any sort of meal plan for the day let alone the remainder of the month, I rummaged through the pantry and freezer and made a list of meals I didn't need to go to the store before making. Despite my early-month overspending, I pledged I would still stay within the month's budget. (Lucky for me it is a short month). We have plenty of cereal, oatmeal, sandwich meats, and soups for breakfasts and lunches but dinner was the real trick. Below is my list without touching the $100 still in my pocket. Though it becomes quite a stretch towards the end of the month, still, I admit, I am quite proud of it.

Feb 10th- Garlic Shrimp Alfredo

11th-Pork Chile Verde

12th-Thanksgiving Dinner (Roasted the Turkey all day and everything. So yummy.)

13th-Turkey Casserole

14th-Lasagna

15th- Steak Dinner! (Liz and Jared were in town last night and came over to watch a TiVo-ed LOST --they made a bad, bad decision and are TV deprived right now-- and treated us to steaks on the barbie, well-salted veggies, Mtn Dew, of course, and ice cream and berries, yum!)

16th-Grilled Hamburgers and leftover steak

17th-DATE NIGHT! (We go out like twice a year, this meal doesn't count)

18th-Grilled Chicken Sandwiches

19th-Taco Salad

20th-Spaghetti and Meatballs

21st-Shrimp Primavera

22nd-Homemade Sausage Pizza

23rd-Ham-Roasted Red Beans and Rice

24th-Broccoli Chicken Pasta

25th-Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup and Grilled Cheese

26th-Beef Strogonoff

27th-Buffalo Wings and Mashed Potatoes

28th-Chicken Cordon Bleu

Any of these may also be substituted with Breakfast Dinner (Pancakes or French Toast, eggs, sausage and hashbrowns).

29th-And even if it was leap year, I have extra stuff for egg, ham, and cheese English Muffin Sandwiches.

Cut Chase's Hair.

Cut Chase's Hair.

Chase has been sporting the long 'do and pulled it off like a rock star but we have had the itch to cut it all off for a while now.

The perfect excuse came along this weekend when I went a little crazy 'trimming" his hair. Here is Chase in his "before" picture.




















Soon after hair was flying everywhere.

















It made quite the pile.




















We have a brand new little boy running around the house. So cute with or without hair, don't you think?

Practice my shot.

Practice my shot.

We have a three-week hiatus from church basketball and based on the last game, I think it wise to use this time to work on my shot, which is sadly far, far from my basketball life peak, pictured here in Jr. High at age 12. Don't I look fearsome.

Go Hunting.

Go hunting.

For those of you who were unaware, this morning was the morning of the big hunt.

I awakened at 5 am and as true hunters (huntresses?) do, dressed myself in appropriate winter hunting attire and rolled out of the driveway before the sun rose in anticipation of the hunting expedition before me.

The first animal I encountered was a wild rabbit, but as it scampered away, my eye was quickly drawn to a deer up ahead in the distance.

Stunned by my headlights, the deer stared at me--frightened-- as I drove right past and turned out of the neighborhood. I was not animal hunting; I was bargain hunting!

My sister-in-law and I met and drove to a large warehouse sale where brand new shirts, sweaters, and swim suits, all once priced as high as $80, were rumored to be selling for as low as $2 a piece! The doors opened at 7am and long lines were expected, even in the 17 degree darkness, to break those doors down when they did. We were expecting, and anticipating, the cat fight of all cat fights.

And disappointed we were not.

Arriving 30 minutes before opening, we were among the first in a long line of women desperate for a deal. Not being one for Black Friday or After-Christmas shopping, this was my first experience being crammed with a warehouse of women fighting over a $2 shirt. But $13, two swimsuits, two sweaters and a shirt later, I prevailed.

I proudly brought home my kill and showed the family, then hung it (in my closet) to be admired, and then worn (but not eaten). I also kept it in the front seat with me and did not strap it to the roof of my car. In case you were wondering.

Also, to clarify, I am not the girl pictured who killed the warthog.

Rent the movie "Grease".

Rent the movie "Grease'.

I shamelessly declare that I love, love, love the new reality series "Grease: You're the One That I Want!".

I now shamefully admit I have never actually seen the movie.

I'm the product of a three-brother household.

I have seen bits and pieces at slumber parties over the years but as I was more interested in torturing early sleepers with cleverly frozen undergarments and hands carefully placed in cups of warm water, I have never watched it in its entirety. I am officially adding it to my long list of "deprived- childhood-girlie must-sees".

I have, however seen this modern-day Grease favorite multiple times.

So I'm starting a list here and now, what other gems am I incomplete as a woman until I have viewed?

Stop Watching Local News.

While looking around on the local news website, this story caught my eye. I would love to have been the reporter who wrote this lead . . .

Pregnant Girls Attack Group Home Director, Escape

(KUTV) AMERICAN FORK Three pregnant teens living in a group home whacked the director in the head with a frying pan, tied her up and fled in a minivan, police said.

Stock car with Diet Soda.

Stock car with Diet Soda.

I just watched a news story about a Colorado lady who survived several days stranded in her car in freezing temperatures on 4 cans of Diet Pepsi. Brilliant. I wonder if Diet Coke would also sustain one through near-death circumstances. I'm totally adding it to my car's emergency kit.

I also find it a bit disturbing this found its way onto my local 10 o'clock news.

Love my dinnerware.

Love my dinnerware.

At least two of my friends have this dinnerware set from Pottery Barn. It's very pretty and I'm a little jealous.

I have this Corelle dinnerware from Wal-Mart.

















While getting out of the car today, the bag carrying the extra awesome cereal bowls (not pictured) swung off my arm and landed HARD on the driveway. I thought by the sound, they were for sure in pieces.

Not a scratch. Bet your Pottery Barn can't do that.

Have a Girls' Weekend.

Have a Girls' Weekend.

My awesome hubby stayed home with the kids last week while I flew out to California for a "Girls' Weekend" with old college roomies and blogger friends Brooke and Liz.

With a high temperature only in the 50's, California was in a state of emergency trying to cope with the sudden "deep freeze" (yes, I stocked up on avocados when I returned home before the produce price skyrockets).

While too cold for beach sunbathing, this turned out to be the perfect temperature for a day of jumping from one hot bath to the next at the Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa. As a huge disappointment to Liz, we did not meet any celebrities.

It was good for all of us to share recent stories and laugh about our old stories. And I'm now pretty sure my college days of rock-hard abs (at least this is the way I choose to remember it) came from laughing so hard, so often.

I then returned home to 9 degree weather, which was not considered any state of emergency.

Let's get together for another ab workout soon girls!

Eat healthier.

Eat healthier.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to eat healthier (I need to be in top shape for the ever-so-competitive women's church basketball league that starts this month--you know.) It was going really well until I made this totally 80's, totally fabulous mint chocolate chip ice cream pie a friend brought on New Year's Eve and my hubby and I fell in love with. It resembles this picture but is made true 80's style in a 9 x 13 casserole dish. It has been in my freezer killing my healthy eating ambitions all weekend and I think the best thing for me to do is finish the entire thing off tonight so I won't be tempted the coming week. Yes, I think that is definitely the solution.

Wear fleece.

Wear fleece.

Target has had the cutest sock monkey pajamas for boys, girls, men and women. I held out until it all went on clearance after Christmas and then couldn't resist what they had left in our sizes--flannel pajamas for Chase, a fleece robe for Taylor, and fleece pants for me. It was an unnecessary purchase but I don't regret it because they are our new favorite articles of clothing and we have worn them every day since I brought them home. Taylor walking around all day with her robe on over her clothes cracks me up but is one of the cutest things I've ever seen. I went to another Target to see what else I could score but not only did they not have anything else in our sizes (I can't think of anything that would delight Jake more than me bringing him home some monkey flannel pajamas), but their things weren't on sale, bummer. Anyhow, I am wearing my pants right now and despite the fact they make me look about twenty pounds heavier, they are so warm and soft and perfect for these cold winter days I don't know why I haven't given in to fleece pants sooner.

Make New Year's Resolutions.

Make New Year's Resolutions.

I have had so much fun seeing family and entertaining friends in December but I am tired and ready for the new year. Bring on 2007 (and my 10-year high school reunion, yikes!).

I think the constant repetition of days, weeks, and years is the coolest thing ever. How awesome is it that we are constantly given a fresh day, week, or year as yet another chance to try again to do things right? Can you imagine just plowing through life without that constant refreshment? I'd rather not.

One of my resolutions this year is to run a half marathon. It has been 5 years since my marathon and I think it's time to test my legs again. So, the highlight of our New Year's gathering last night, for me, was (drumroll) ...conning the men into hauling my treadmill up from the basement into my bedroom. Oh yeah, we know how to throw a party.

Asthetically, I detest treadmills in bedrooms but strangely, so far, there is something comforting about looking over and seeing it sitting there by my bed. Maybe it's because it's still a symbol of this year's possibilities and not this year's failures, but, at the end of day one, so far, so good.

My goal for day one? To plug the treadmill in. And make sure it still worked after two moves and a year in storage. (Don't laugh, baby steps).

I am already rocking the year as I not only attained today's lofty goal, but surpassed all expectation when I got on it for a quick 30-minute jaunt in my new kicks (that's youth-speak for shoes-- yup, I may be 10 years out of high school but I am still hip). Oh, yeah.
Happy New Year!

Fill gas tank at Harmon's.

Fill gas tank at Harmon's.

I have taken notice that a new grocery store nearby consistently displays gas prices about 2 cents lower than the local competition.

To sweeten the deal, they also offer up to 30 cents off when you buy your groceries there.

A big grocery shopping trip there last week put me over $100 which got me 20 cents off--and put my price per gallon at $1.89!

I filled up my Tahoe for $35 and I saw it dropped another 2 cents a gallon this weekend. This time last year it was costing me $60 a tank. Time for a road trip?

Defrost Turkeys.

Defrost Turkeys.


Because my first turkey-cooking experience was so overwhelmingly successful, I decided to sign up to cook a turkey for the church Christmas party tomorrow night.

If that sounds crazy enough, I actually signed up to cook TWO. ha ha ha ha ha.

To top it off, they brought them to me just last night, all 36 pounds of turkey, still in an arctic deep-freeze.

They told me just "leave it out for 24 hours and it will thaw". If this is the advice they gave to all turkey cookers last night, the advice I have for those attending the party tomorrow night is "don't eat the turkey".

So because my name will be attached to any food poisoning epidemic this weekend, my entire day today is devoted to doing the safer"cold plunge" thawing method on them. I did run to the grocery store to pick up a bunch of Christmas goody supplies too to experiment on while I'm on turkey watch both today and again tomorrow while I cook them. Homemade caramel, fudge, chocolate caramel pretzels, peppermint bark and sugar cookies. Yum! I am so domestic.

Inside I am in a bit of a panic and feel a bit like Joey from Friends in the Thanksgiving episode where he gets his head stuck in the turkey.

Those were good times. Watch it here. (this particular episode is referenced about 4 minutes in)

Hang painting.

Hang painting.

While looking for toys online, I ran across this oil reproduction and with it already being over $100 off and me having a coupon for an additional 30% off that, that put this three foot square framed work of art just under $100. Although maybe not something that will evoke transcendent conversation, I like to look at it, it's colors looked warm and like they went with the house and trees and landscapes remind me of home so, obviously, I couldn't pass it up.

I picked it up from the store today and while I am a little disappointed the colors are much more vivid than pictured online, for under $100, it does the trick of helping fill up our huge empty yellow walls. Merry Christmas to me!

Now if only Jake and I weren't both too injured to hang it.

Shovel Snow.

Shovel Snow.

We got a LOT of snow last night.

It pretty much figures. I had been waiting two weeks for snow so that we could take our family photo outside with a backdrop of pretty Christmas white. Yesterday around noon, I got tired of waiting and had my mother-in-law come take a picture for us. So an hour later, what happened? The temperature dropped and the snow-fest began.

Also, conveniently, my hubby, who threw his back out putting up the Christmas tree two weeks ago but was finally feeling better, had a sudden injury relapse as the snow started piling up on the driveway.

Which is why I am now laying helpless on the couch with his heating pad on MY back after shoveling snow for TWO HOURS. Tell me again why I wanted my driveway that big? All I have to say is Santa better be bringing me my basketball goal to make use of that big, perfectly cleared basketball court.

Appreciate my work schedule.

Appreciate my work schedule.

I just read this article on Yahoo news about Best Buy going to a clockless workplace--meaning the new corporate philisophy is as long as you get your work done, you can come and go from the office as you please. I think the idea is brilliant. The real selling point though, I think was this quote:

"This is like TiVo for your work," says the program's co-founder, Jody Thompson.

Awesome. I then realized this is already my work schedule. Even more awesome.

Tune guitar.

Tune guitar.

I am ready to pull my guitar out of storage. If I can remember how to tune it, and probably re-string it after a two-year hiatus, I think I may even learn some holiday tunes.

You can now buy my guitar for half the price I paid in high school here.

This is still twice what I paid for my very first guitar, which was an "Oscar Schmidt" that my first guitar teacher (who plays guitar, plays harmonica and does vocals with Don Williams ) nicknamed "Schmidty."