Sunday Six...Things that made me smile...

Another week when I can stop and say "thank you" for all the blessings in my life. The big and small things.With a thank-full heart....Karen~

1- Our friends son went into the Navy, and I sent him a little letter wishing him well and reminding him that we will be praying for him. Well he wrote me back the sweetest letter on "US Navy" letterhead thanking me for writing and being a link to home.It was such a sweet surprise and it was great to hear from him. What good manners he has....you Daigles did good!

2- I love my camera but my lens has been acting up.So I sent it in for repair and got an estimate for $119.00 to fix it. I called and spoke with a supervisor because I haven't had it that long,just a little over the one year warranty. She was so nice about it and said "no problem we will fix it as though its still under the warranty and it will be shipped fed ex so you should have it in a couple days" Totally Free! Gosh I love GREAT customer service. Thanks Canon! What a blessing!

3- A sweet email from Olivia... "hey neighbor, thanks for the smiles via your blogspot" It makes me happy that she keeps up with our family with my blog. I LOVE to read my friends blogs and feel a part of their lives. I wish they all would have one, especially those who have moved away to Arkansas! Olivia and I still call each other "neighbor"and I miss her family living across the street every single day.Having them as neighbors was the BEST! We spent so much time going back and forth for years. It was like having family on your block cause we felt so at home. I once went over and borrowed a diet soda,the boys had numerous tent camp outs in the backyard,we read magazines in lawn chairs out front, and often played scrabble in jammies after dinner. I don't think we ever used front doors, just a quick tap and in we went through the garage. Please move back someday!

4- I realized I really have to let the 'taco' thing go...My friend asked "How are you" and my response was.. Fried, Thanks, and You?

5- Golden Spoon Pumpkin Fro Yo.. I know it's scary how pumpkin crazed I am ,but the pumpkin frozen yogurt is the BOMB! And it will only be here for a while so go get one today! They will need to make room for peppermint stick and egg nog before Christmas. (Gosh I need to either get a life or not be so honest) But it is fat free so I am sure even Faith eats some!

6- The Sunday Six has really taken off!! So many of my blog buddies have started the tradition and I am thrilled! We all have so much to be grateful for. I have loved reading your blessings of the week too.So "Little Family" this ones for you... BYU colors? hope so,

Happy Nail~

It's Saturday Morning and as I was running some errands,I decided to stop in for a pedicure on my way home.It has been so dry here that my heels are snagging on the carpet.I usually go every two weeks but this was an emergency.I know there has been comedy acts about nail salons and such..but it's just too funny not to chime in. I walked in and the lady who knows the most English says "Hello, what you need" I tell her a pedicure please..."OK, you pick color" After settling in to soak someone comes and starts my pedi and the small talk begins "you no work today" "you want manicure too" I've seen the Seinfeld episode where Elaine finds out they are talking about her.And inside I'm hoping they are not chatting about my size 9 foot or saying "she have lot of cuticle" I ask about Cindy who once did my nails and am told "she no work here" They seem to move shops a lot! Now don't get me wrong I love my pedicures!But I just need to vent a little.I enjoy the magazines with Britney and K Fed on the cover from two years ago(that have been dropped into the water)the conversations that I don't understand,the posters of nail designs that should never be allowed EVER!!
The mango's and incense offered to Budda by the front door,the plastic flowers and dead Easter lilies,and there's even Christmas tinsel still around in June.The smell of jasmine rice waifing from the back.My salon has a candy dish but it is filled with stuff I have never seen? Maybe dried ginger? But what I love most are the names of the technicians. No way is your name 'Nancy' 'Janet' or 'Grace'. And what's the deal with the hooker shoes? They all wear these huge leopard print heels in a size four.Lastly...was there no one to give you advice on naming the place? "Happy Nail" "Joy Nail" "Shiny Nail" Seems like someone would have told them a cuter name before they ordered the flashing neon sign. OK, I got that off my chest.My feet do look and feel better and I appreciate your smile and service.I'll be in next Friday for a pedicure. With Heather,if she's available.

Photo courtesy of google,it looked familiar and it cracked me up!

Parents say the darndest things.....

My brothers and I were recently talking about how many things will pop into our head that we learned from our parents. Nothing really profound just the everyday lessons that have stuck. I was returning some tupperware containers to a girl at work, and could almost hear my Mom saying "Honey don't ever return a dish or plate empty" So of course I will fill it with some treats first. Those little nuggets that replay in our hearts. My Dad would always say when he went to visit someone that he was stopping by to "shout his howdies" I am thankful for being able to recall the little things lived out and said by my amazing parents.I just don't want to ever forget them. And in case I didn't teach them enough to my own boys here's a few...

*Park by the light and come out with the crowd
*Always serve a roll.( No matter what they might have had at a dinner my mom would always mention the roll,or lack thereof)
*Bring back lots of beautiful memories
*Dont compare yourself to others-it will make you either vain or bitter
*You kids stop those shenanigans! (What exactly are shenanigans)
*Honey you just need a little protein
*Write a thank you note
*Be sure to fight nice
*Just put on a little lipstick...It brightens your whole face
*My Daddy told me to never marry a man with pretty hands.Because "honey a man needs to be able to shovel some sh*t sometimes"

Memory Lane~

Chad-Sara-Kory-Chloe and Travis

It's not normal !

Today I was responding to Kami's comment on my blog about the pumpkin cupcakes. I wanted to assure her they are a Weight Watchers Recipe...So easy,and so good. You just mix one box of spice cake mix with a small can of pumpkin. No oil... no eggs...maybe just a tad of water. If you make 18 they are 2 points each. Which in reality is zero because you have to factor in the calories used to mix them and the effort putting them in the oven to bake.And pumpkin is a fruit so that is zero calories too! It just makes them healthy all the way around. No sooner than I finish writing and this picture of Faith Hill comes up on my home page. First we had to see Kelly Ripa on the cover(who also has birthed three kids and has a bum maybe 5 inches across ) But now Faith?? I thought she was from the South? That she fries her taco shells and cooks chili with Tim? She was on Oprah and made chicken and dumplings for crying out loud! Doesn't she have Halloween candy laying around for the kids and once in a while maybe take just one or three? Doesn't she make pumpkin muffins for the family? I just don't understand how you can give birth three times and there is not even one stretch mark or jiggle of skin? It is not normal! Sure she is only 41...which is quite a bit younger than me ..and I think maybe I did look like that at 41? Didn't I ? I will have to check with Steve to be sure...

I truly do have a perfect size 4 body, but I keep it padded so it wont get scratched! Never mind the muffin recipe Kami ...we better just eat the plain pumpkin out of the can.

Sunday Six...Things that made me smile...

Another Sunday when I can stop and say Thank You for all the blessings in my life that brought a smile to my heart this week. Life is so much sweeter when lived with an "attitude of gratitude"

1- Travis sent a email after reading my" Taco Tales" post. This is all it said but it cracked me up..
" that is hilarious. thank you mom. i freakin love you "

2- Had a fun Halloween bunco party at Holly's Friday night. These girls have been such a HUGE part of my life in Temecula. Holly's darling boys helped decorate and made the house spooky for us girls.She served bleeding heart baked brie, eyeball soup, and eerie apple cake just to name a few. It was so fun! I kept telling folks at the wedding that it takes a village to raise good kids and have a sweet life.They are a big part of my village! Whatever would I do without their love, friendship,and support in my life.


3- The Farmers Market~ I LOVE to go to the farmers market on Saturday mornings. I buy the best fruit,veggies,and of course fresh flowers for my house.I adore flowers in my home! There is something really fun about the farmers market crowd.The smells of food cooking and the randomness of things for sale. tamales,avocados,oil lamps, jewelry,bread,dog clothes,it is a pretty hippy place but super fun!

4- I am grateful for being old.There is something so "OK" with it. What used to upset me so much when I was young I can now laugh at! Example this week. A HUGE zit. When I was a teen I remember asking my mom if I could stay home from school if I had one. I once had to "call in ugly" at work because of a outbreak. Well this week I had a pimple that was a doozy! Steve and I called it my goiter. Sweet Trish at work had to be on"zit watch" in case it was ready to blow. But no...this one was a huge undergrounder,right by my nose.It hurt so bad it gave me a headache,and I know it had a heartbeat. I could almost see it if I looked down. But there was nothing I could do it but wait it out.(and being Greek I did try the windex) I am thankful I was able to laugh at myself and not cry. Hasn't everyone had at least one of these stupid things? And I am thankful for Steve's ability to always make me smile. Thursday when I left for work he said "I love you and hope you and your friend have a good day"

5- Pumpkin!! I burned my fabulous new pumpkin candle all week long (thank you Ashlyn), I made pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, had pumpkin creamer in my coffee, and loved remembering how many times my Dad called me "pumpkin"

6- "How Its Made " Steve and I found this show and it is fascinating! We have been recording it and I LOVE it!
All the things you take for granted in everyday life and when you see what goes into making them it is amazing! marbles, tires, plastic cups, wallpaper, balloons, It really makes you think about how ingenious inventors are. There is so much junk on TV and I am thankful for the shows that teach us things.We are like two little old people in our chairs at night..it makes me smile. Who would have ever thought

Happy Birthday Chloe~

Tomorrow is a very special day! It is Chloe's birthday! It is impossible to describe how much I love this girl. My precious niece and my kindred spirit.... People have been telling us both for years that she could be my daughter! And there is no greater compliment to me that people think we are similar.Sometimes it is scary how much we are alike! We like the same books, television shows,music, (if she calls me with a new song to download I don't even listen first, I just know that I will love it if she does) We like the same shampoo, makeup,magazines, we even like the same banana popsicles and laffy taffy.We both have a love for nice hotels and purses. Last week Bonnie Hunt said that "sense of humor" is like a taste. Either people share your taste or they don't. When it comes to humor we share the same taste exactly!!! We once found something funny at Arco and we were both be on the floor laughing,trying not to pee! We totally know what the other one is thinking without saying a word. When she turned 21 we went to Vegas for the weekend. (at the Wynn of course) Here she was with her old auntie Karen and she was happy as a clam. When 8 o'clock rolled around we put on jammies...watched tv...talked...and agreed if anyone asked what we did we would say we went "clubbing" She is the easiest person to be with. Always content to just be !! Kenny and Lindsay did an amazing job parenting her and she's always been just the BEST kid. The last few years we have become really great friends and I am so thankful for the blessing of our relationship.Of course in our family we never have just one name. So Happy Birthday "Cleo" " Cha-lo-hay" and " Kendall" We could not love you more! We just found out this week that she got accepted for a internship at Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee and we are super proud of her! But I am already wondering how I will ever survive 4 months without her nearby...I guess it's Tennessee here I come! A fun girls weekend with Chloe is worth flying hours for.....

Taco Tales!

I have been grinning all week! Let me explain...I make some pretty mean tacos! They were always my Daddy's favorite thing. And when he would be invited for dinner, 9 times out of 10 he would ask if I would make him tacos. And of course I did. The kids growing up would be able to pick what they wanted for dinner on their birthdays and Chad always picked tacos. (he would want all the toppings in separate little bowls) So over the years I cant begin to count how many times we had tacos for dinner. This last weekend Travis was so cute telling me that Ashlyn made him the BEST homemade tacos.Then he added "Mom she even fried her own taco shells, she didn't use the store bought ones like we used to have" WHAT?? Store bought taco shells? Where did this kid grow up? Now this momma knows how to fry.I would lay out a brown paper grocery sack and line it with paper towels just like my mom always did (Because everyone knows if you do this it drains off all the fat and virtually every calorie from any fried foods) I would make some kinda crispy and some a little more soft. And I would have to make at least 12 before we even sat down to dinner because the boys had such huge appetites. Of course the house would smell like oil for a couple days,even though I would windex the stove and counters after cooking. And this boy of mine thought he grew up on boxed taco shells? But all week I couldn't help but smile when I thought of this funny story. He loves that his sweet new wife cooks for him and he has so much joy and pride in her great cooking. He appreciates everything she makes him and it's all so much better than anything he ever had at home. And I wouldn't have it any other way!!! It just warms my heart...

But when I sent him a text this week I couldn't help but sign it ...Love Mom(The mom who fries her taco shells)
Then when Travis asked "how are you mom " I answered
" Fried thanks and you"

Shepherds Pie~

I thought it would be fun to post a new recipe every now and then. I LOVE to cook but some days I just want to make something new and easy. So my neighbor told me about her Shepherds Pie. And I made it Sunday and I have to say it was delicious! So easy...very inexpensive...and it made plenty for lunch for Steve. Now this isn't from" The Joy of Cooking"..it has no leg of lamb or mutton. It is more like a" Sandra Lee" type of recipe. Very semi homemade. I remember when we were little and my mom would cheat and make this chicken chow mein out of a can.She would sprinkle packaged chow mein noodles all over the top.We all loved it...and she would say "If its made at home it's homemade" And that has become my motto too! Even for frozen lasagna.Gosh do I ever ramble...back to the recipe.....

1 lb ground beef

1 clove garlic

4 cups frozen mixed veggies(I used one bag of C&W petite mixed)

1 cup brown gravy( I used the jar one)

2 cups mashed potatoes (I used the instant bag of mashed potatoes, made 2 cups exactly)

1-1/2 cups of grated cheddar cheese

Just brown the meat with garlic,drain and add defrosted frozen veggies, and gravy. Spread into a 9inch square pan and cover with mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with cheese and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes until heated through.

Sunday Six...Things that made me smile...

Another Sunday, and with a grateful heart I say thank you...Nothing really out of the ordinary, just ordinarily special~

1- Totallyfreecrap.com-What a fun website for a girl like me who loves to get mail and packages.I have gotten lots of fun stuff! Free packs of gum,pens,granola bars,a razor,laundry soap,it's just random stuff but its so fun!(and free)

2- We had a wonderful dinner with the new Carter's at "Ruth's Chris" Steakhouse last night. The Greeks LOVE to eat there and were surprised that we had never been. So sweet Thia Mary sent us a gift card and told us to take the newlyweds. Wow, I can see why they love it so much! We had a great dinner in the San Diego harbor and a super fun time on our double date! Thank you Thia for being so generous!

3- Ponds Face Wipes-I Love these! I now buy the four pack at Costco. They are the best at removing makeup or if you are super tired you can actually wash your face with them. They are a great size and super soft.

4- My sweet daughter in law Ashlyn taught me so many new things about my blog. Like how to change the color of the text and how to link.(if you click on the links now it will go to that page ) It has been making me crazy trying to learn it. A little hands on lesson is so much easier for me. Thank you Ash! And thank you for being so darn precious! Your home is so welcoming and sweet. You guys are darling and so happy to be "home" as a family. And I gotta say... Trav makes a killer Mocha on their new espresso machine. Yummo!

5- Steve surprised us all and shaved off his mustache and goatee! He looks so young and he really looks like Chad! It was the first time in his life that Trav has ever seen his Dad without a mustache. And his reaction was priceless! Ashlyn noticed in about 2 seconds but Trav took a couple minutes... but when he did it was quite funny!

6- I am so thankful for my three big brothers, but this week especially for Paul and his family. Someday I hope that I can share why. But for now I will say he has incredible courage and so much love for his family. He is so proud of his 4 boys and so are we! Sometimes you may feel like your boat is sinking but the truth is that your family is always with you and they are bailing the water right along side you. And that love keeps us all afloat at times. I have always been so proud to be one of the "Krikac" kids and I am very proud to be his little sister.

Courage~

Some days I feel as though the cowardly lion and I have a lot in common! Courage is something that the poor lion thought he just didn’t have enough of(if any at all)Sometimes I feel just like that lion…
Afraid
Scared
Fearful
Unsure
Especially when it comes to my 3 kids. I am such a worry wart!I would be so much happier if they didn't drive,or travel,and certainly if they wouldn't take surf trips to other countries!I was all excited to get a email from Chad today,but then I read the letter and the worry starts to set in.

hey folks, chad here down in barra de la cruz. in the middle of the jungle. crazy down here, i wake up in the middle of the night to mosquito's, snakes, exotic birds, horses, the animals are all around our cabana. i have over a 100 mosquito bites. dad would get worked down here. the waves are insane, better than Malibu on its best day. locals are treating us well. they are having the towns 43 anniversary this weekend. i´ll take plenty of pics. my body has taken a beating from the sun, bugs, and 4-7 hours of surf in the last 5 days but its well worth it. i really miss you guys a lot. tell pops i said hi-i love you guys

snakes? animals? big surf? can you get malaria from mosquito bites? how far away is he? My heart is racing! But I know that God wants me to trust Him and not be afraid.Seems like lately that has been my lesson over and over again.I LOVE this quote from Corrie Ten Boom...
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God"
Also in Deuteronomy 31:6 it says...Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified,for the LORD your God goes with you,He will never leave you nor forsake you. Today I am so thankful that none of us are ever alone!!So I am going to have courage and be strong!I am going to have faith,seek the One who loves us more than anything,and be courageous like the Lion! And like this little guy...

Books~

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers" — Charles W. Eliott
I found this quote today and just loved it! I have always LOVED books!I love the way they smell, look and feel.I can remember sitting on my canopy bed in my yellow room with a charms sucker reading "Henry and Beezus" books. I loved the Boxcar Children, James and the Giant Peach,Little House On The Prairie,and Anne of Green Gables. There are so many books tied to my childhood.And I can close my eyes and remember myself at a young age escaping into the stories.I remember the excitement I felt at book fair night coming home with new books and feeling so happy! My friend Janet and I would climb up into the McLaughlin's tree and read.I don't remember why we did that,but we did it often.We could spend hours reading together and not speaking a word.I love when someone calls and says "I thought of you when I read this book and you have to read it" My friend Dori brought one to the wedding from Colorado for me to read because she loved it so much.Dave shipped me one from Tennessee because he and Sandy loved it.Chloe has become quite the reader too and we often share books.I even have customers who recommend books.Those are the best kind of books because those people know you and want to share a good find.In fact that's how I joined my book club because Nancy would come into the store and we would talk about books.So she invited me to one of their meetings and I have gone ever since.I still always thank her for inviting me because they have become great friends,and have been such a source of joy in my life.And I have read things I might not have ever picked on my own.So if you have a favorite book let me know so I can read it too....And if it's been a while since you picked one up,find a good one and snuggle in.It is truly one of life's greatest treasures.

Sunday Six...Things that made me smile...

On a way too quiet Sunday morning, I am glad to say "Thank you" for the big and small things...
1-Steve went away for the weekend and I was excited to have some time alone to putzy and clean.I wanted to decorate for fall,shop,clean,read,and go through some closets. But after 12 hours I was missing him something awful! I once read "A spotless house is a sign of a misspent life" and I would have to agree.Its super clean but feels so empty.I remember when the boys would go to camp and I couldn't wait until they came home and messed up the house again. Hurry home Carter I miss hearing Fox news on the TV and your dirty coffee spoon being in the sink.

2-Chad arrived safely in Mexico. And I have heard from him twice by phone and three times by email. I just hate him going there! If he wasn't 22 I would ground him and tell him he couldn't go.But I am praying for him everyday and trusting the Lord to bring him home safely. (I would love your prayers for him too)

3- 70 Million people watched the debates! And I think that's awesome. I am so glad that people care about our country and feel the need to be educated about their vote.

4- Pumpkin Creamer is here! My favorite flavor ever. There is just nothing better in a cup of coffee hot or iced. I only wish I could freeze it or that they would make it year around.Its like fall in a cup!

5- I am trying to not be controversial on my blog but I have to say I am so glad that OJ is in jail for a very long time after a GUILTY verdict! The Goldman's will no longer have to see video of him golfing and smirking.I know that God is the ultimate judge and that he didn't get away with anything 13 years ago.But I am thankful for justice.

6-Got a sweet "I love you" comment from Abby this week on my blog. I love you too!! And still think you are just the sweetest young lady ever.I still want to come by with a housewarming gift and see your new place! Thanks for loving me Abby

Like my Momma would say...Honey put on a little lipstick and cheer up

Today was such a cruddy day! Everyone has a bad day now and then, and I try really hard to just write about the good stuff.(Just ask Chad)But sometimes you just have to vent.I spent the morning sorting through all my medical bills from my last kidney surgery. And man was it FRUSTRATING! How do people without medical insurance ever cope?I am usually so organized and pay things as they come in. But there were so many,and from so many different doctors.So I have just been putting them aside for "another day" Well today was "another day" I decided to wake up, make coffee,turn on my morning show,and start the calls. There was 3 just from the hospital alone? and they all had different acct numbers and different amounts due.I asked her how that can be...but never did get an explanation.Then the person who takes the Xrays, and the person who reads the Xrays are two separate bills.(of course they are)The lab work was $481.00 to check blood? Good Lord what is there to check? So I whipped out my debit card and started paying,all the while thinking "Where is my financial bailout" I am most grateful to be stone free and not in pain but gosh for the money I have spent I could have had some much needed work done!A tummy tuck, lipo, great new rack, maybe even a Brazilian butt lift.(does anyone even know what that is?)But I don't have a thing to show for it! So like every person should when faced with bills I am going to tighten my belt, ease up on the extras, pack my lunches for a while and pay them all off!! Now if only wall street and congress could operate in the same manner.Thanks for listening to me whine.I promise to be happy by my next blog post. Broke...but happy!

Mischief and Bonnie

We had such a fun day at the Bonnie Hunt show taping! She was a kick,and is even cuter in person than she is on TV (& really thin).Sandy, Chloe, Lindsay and I went and it was a great day. We were super giddy to be there and made sure we yelled out to Don and the gang like we knew them. We got front row seats because the guy knew we were HUGE fans! Her set is super cute and all the young interns wear Chicago Cubs attire.And before Bonnie comes out they bring you hot dogs and root beer! Just like at Wrigley field.The Culver studios where she tapes is like old Hollywood and it's in a great city walk area. So after the taping we walked over to a fun place for dinner where there was a huge mural of Lucy and Ricky.It's just a great way to spend a day. Now nowhere on the tickets did it say anything about leaving after the taping is over.....so of course we just had to explore.We took photos of us with her make up lady,her intern, we drove the security cart,we chatted with the body guards,took pictures of the grounds,and when one intern came to walk us out? we even took a picture with her too. There are no cameras allowed inside the set area so don't ask me how I managed to get a couple of shots in there? But I think my blog readers deserve the inside scoop.They were all super nice and even promised us VIP tickets if we want to come back!(although that was before the whole exploring thing)So if you are ever in LA let me know and I will call my "people" and get some good seats.Next time its backstage here we come!! And then lunch in the commissary.It is for everyone right?