• Last night I went to a fund raiser for breast cancer.  It was a great room of women all celebrating life and raising money to get rid of a terrible disease. There was a Chinese auction and I was lucky enough to win two of the prizes - gift cards to some great stores including Marshalls (my favorite) and Bed, Bath and Beyond. 

• Just watched Taylor Swift on NBC - I love Taylor and have for years. Mae went to a karaoke birthday party in 4th grade. Each girl had to pick a song to sing and let the mom know ahead of time and Mae asked for a Taylor song. No one at the party knew who she was but by the end of the night all the girls were singing Picture to Burn. 

• It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood - love this Indian summer we always get at the end of October.  I would love this weather year round!  I am heading outside to do some gardening as soon as I clean my filthy kitchen.

• The Walkman is officially dead - the last batch shipped today in Japan.  I think I still have my walkman and even my discman in a box somewhere - I much prefer my iphone! 

• I hate winter, snow and Ice ... that being said I am taking my kids skiing this week. Don't ask - it is something to do and not have them underfoot. I have enrolled them in ski school and I will bring a few good books. I bought a warm, waterproof pair of Uggs yesterday, a new down coat and am ready to brave the elements when I am not sitting in front of the fire.
• I went to the outlets yesterday and being Presidents Day, I knew it would be crowded - but I was not expecting the lines of people standing outside the Coach store waiting to get in - I don't know what they were giving away, but I was not waiting on line in the freezing cold just so I could spend money!
• I was a little skeptical of FaceBook and really only joined so I could keep up with whats going on - but I have reconnected with a few really good friends that I had lost track of - so now I am now liking FB a whole lot more. I don't get the people who friend request you that you don't know though - I have had a few friends of friends that I have never met friend request me - I think that is a little strange.
• Have a great week off with the kids !

• Last night we had a girls night out - PJ's at Cara's house with popcorn, candy, cake & wine and watched a couple of movies - very fun - thanks to our charming hostess for staying awake with us till 1:00 am LOL.
• Today Lu is taking her very first ballet class! She has been BUGGING me for over a year now and since there is one at the same time as her sister at the new studio we shall try it - don't know if she will stick to it since she doesn't seem to stick to anything!
• The "big snow" isn't much - really thankful for that... not feeling like shoveling today!
• Hubby moving furniture out of Aunt Muriels house and into mine. Getting a complete dining room set - I think I will miss my big empty dance floor.
• Today is one of those days where I have to go go go so I am off!
• Have a great Saturday... here is a recipe you might enjoy;

Grandma Melaniff's Crumb Cake
This recipe came off a box sometime during the baby-boom. When my mother-in-law is invited to someone's house, it's usually conditional to her bringing one of these.


Ingredients
Cake :
2 C Flour
3 t Baking Powder
1/2 t Salt
1/4 C Shortening
2/3 C Sugar
1Egg - beaten
3/4 C Milk
1/2 t Vanilla

Crumbs:
1 lb Butter - melted
4 C Flour
2 C Sugar
1 oz Cinnamon
Powdered Sugar


Procedure
Stir together Baking Powder, Salt, and Flour.
Cream Sugar and Shortening until light..
Add beaten Egg. Mix thoroughly.
Add dry ingredients, alternating with Milk.
Add Vanilla.
Spread evenly over Cookie Sheet.
Mix dry ingredients, add Butter. Should be lumpy.
Crumble over cake.
Bake at 350F (165C) for 30 minutes.
When cool top with Powdered Sugar.

• President Obama needs a new makeup artist- I think they were a little heavy handed last night - just sayin'.
• I felt like the President was lecturing me last night - not addressing me - again, just sayin'.
• Did Nancy not realize she was on national television sitting directly behind the President? She kept licking her lips and playing with her necklace and what about Joe? He couldn't stop smiling - it was a bit much.
• Michelle didn't look very happy last night...wonder if she and the president got into it just before he came out?
• Anywho - went to bed a little earlier than usual last night - thanks for that Mr. President - you had me asleep about half-way through your "address."
• On to new & better news - all are healthy in my house!
• Winter has decided to stick around a little too long for me... I am done - I think old man winter should back his bags and go.
• My mini-vanay (kinda like tarjay for the mini-van set) had to go for its 60,000 mile check-up yesterday and lucky me - it is healthy. This is the last mini-vanay I will ever drive so I would like it to last a few more years since it is paid for...but my kids are getting bigger so I am thinking about a convertible (a girl can dream, can't she?)
• I am off to the school book fair tonight to spend more money on books that my daughter doesn't really need because we live next to the public library people - I mean really? She can go next door and get any book she wants - but she is a book lover - unlike her mother. Don't get me wrong - I love to read, I just want the books gone when I am done - that is why I have a kindle. But Lu sleeps with her books all around her - it is very funny!
• Have a great Thursday - weekend is almost here - can't wait!

Cara's two cents: I didn't watch A) because I knew it would just be an Obama Fan Club meeting with a lot of Rah! Rah! Rah! and no real ideas or information. B) Because I was at a Mayberry School District meeting to find out what our asinine Governor is taking away from my school district that will make my taxes go up once again. God Bless America.

• The stomach flu has shown up at our house - so far only claimed one victim - we shall see how long it lingers.
• You think cleaning up baby puke is gross - just wait until they are 13.
• I am longing for warmth and sunshine.
• January is whizzing by in a hurry. I haven't caught my breath from December yet.
• I am no longer addicted to shopping. In fact I have no interest in going to the stores at all!
• As bad as your day was, somebody else's was worse (kinda makes you feel better.)
• I do not enjoy cleaning up after my dogs but I do it everyday - wish everyone else did too.
• HGTV is back - WooHoo.
• Hubby is off to London tomorrow.
• January has turned out to be a much busier much than I ever imagined!

• What was Tiger thinking? He has a beautiful wife & children at home - I don't get it - but what is any husband or wife thinking when they decide that what they have at home just isn't enough? Tiger had to have known, as a major public figure, that these stories would come out. I would love to hear his parents reaction!
• It sounds like a scary movie in my house - the winds are howling today.
• I met a very nice woman yesterday on line at the store. We had a funny conversation and then it was time to check out - we said goodbye and I am sure I will never see her again. People don't seem to be in that grumpy, gotta-get-it-done mood yet.
• The Nutcracker is this weekend and my darling daughter has 4 or 5 different parts - she looks beautiful in all and I can't wait to see it.
• How do floors get so dirty so quickly? If I miss a day of vacuuming (or a week) the floors just pile up with dust and debris - and we don't wear shoes in the house - where does this stuff come from?
• I put 30 something candles up yesterday in my windows - it looks beautiful
• Today I am waiting for my oil delivery, cleaning and decorating - I am going to try and not leave the house today except for school drop-off, Girl Scouts and Tennis...Have a great day.

• I need to buy 40 automatic candles for the 40 windows in my house (excluding the 8 basement windows) plus two double A batteries for each candle... Do I really need a candle in every window?
• Do I need to decorate for Thanksgiving or can I just skip straight to Christmas.
• All the stores are now playing Christmas music - which I am not happy about - I really prefer Christmas music to start Thanksgiving Day -though I did hear my one of my favorite Christmas songs by the waitresses yesterday in Kohls and I did buy the Kohl's Christmas CD with all the country music stars 'cause I do love that cowboy music!
• Still don't know if my sister is coming for Thanksgiving - she hasn't decided yet (!) I think she is waiting for a better offer.
• My daughter's second grade teacher is high maintenance
• My dogs are high maintenance
• I am low maintenance
• If you currently are not a texter - I highly recommend it - it cuts out all those unnecessary phone conversations.
• I love Cake Boss - but I want to know what those cakes COST
• Why am I a girl scout leader?
• I have not taken any more pictures in the 52 challenge besides the first one - I am now down by two - I think it is because I really don't enjoy having my picture taken
• The next door neighbors came over with a loaf of banana bread last night and introduced themselves - and I can't remember their names!
• My headlights on my minivan are on the blink - literally - they kept turning on and off last night - very scary - so will the repair bill I bet!
• Off to the Christmas Tree Shop today with the girls to kick off the season ... Fa La La
• Kids are off Wednesday for Veterans Day - thanks to our veterans and their families.
• Have a great day - try and do something just for you today.

• Halloween is Saturday and I have not bought everything for my kids costumes yet - this is very unlike me.
• Christmas is in approximately 8 weeks.
• My office is a mess - still haven't unpacked it yet and it is not fun to look at.
• My kids are annoying me this week with all their petty fighting - I am trying to get them to be kind to each other.
• I read an article last night about how important it is to have girlfriends in your life - especially ones who make you laugh... so thanks to the girls who make me laugh!
• I am off to BJ's today for a major shopping - Oh Joy!
• I need to post my 2/52 picture so I will have to take one today - wonder if I can get my surly 13-year-old son to pose with me?

Those are my not exciting, mundane thoughts for today - I may add more later so check back. Don't hold your breath - they won't be any more exciting.

Cara's two cents: Well, personally I liked the one about funny friends...