Book Review: Here I Go Again

I've been a Jen Lancaster fan for quite some time now.  I laughed out loud at her memoirs and can completely relate to her 80's references.  If I didn't know better, I'd think she is my long lost sister and we were separated at birth!

I've enjoyed Jen's foray into fiction writing and I think she outdid herself on this one.  Here I Go Again is about Lissy Ryder.  She was THE popular girl in high school but she was also THE mean girl.  Classmates of Lissy were terrorized, shamed and hurt deeply.  Even her boyfriend was a target.

She thinks she was loved by every one but the truth is that she was feared.  She does go on to lead a pretty good life, but it all falls apart one day when her bad karma comes back to bite her in the butt.  Lissy has a run in with every classmate that she's wronged at their high school reunion and after sleeping with a yak pelt, is given the opportunity to right the wrongs.

If you've ever wanted to go back in time and re-do some part of your life, you'll enjoy this book!  If you grew up in the 80's and you love Whitesnake, you'll love this book. If you already love Jen Lancaster’s writing style and wit, you probably already bought this book and are staying up late at night to read it.

Join me for some light-hearted discussion at the BlogHer Book Club.  I know you can’t wait to talk about what happens when you change the past and muck up the future.

If you are interested in following Jen Lancaster on social media she's on Twitter (https://twitter.com/altgeldshrugged) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenLancaster). And, of course, you can also find her on her blog, Jennsylvania: http://www.jennsylvania.com/. 

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Book Club: Jeneration X

Congratulations to Stephanie from Everyday Stephanie! 

Today is the day!

It's book club time!

Mimi picked the book this time and I'm thrilled.  I'm a huge fan of Jen Lancaster and am super excited for her next book.

Jeneration X

For a chance to win a copy of this book, leave me a comment telling me what book you're excited to read this summer.  

Contest ends on Friday at 8pm (MST).  

Already reading Jeneration X?  Join our book club on Facebook.

Disclaimer: The book I'm giving away was purchased by me and I'm not being compensated for blogging about the book.

The Bachelorette Ali: All The Right Reasons

I've made an executive decision NOT to read spoilers or Reality Steve this season. I want to be surprised and I don't what to know all of the alleged shenanigans that are being done by the producers of the show. Knowing all of that stuff ruined the show for me last time.

The show started off recapping Ali's time on Jake's show and I was pleased to see that they didn't spend a lot of time on that. I'm so over Jake and I hope he and Vienna (gag) will be very happy together for the next couple months.

They showed Ali trying on clothes to wear on the show and I was thinking how incredible of an experience that must have been. Lucky girl!!  Ali admits that she's scared that she quit her job for this.  Me too, Ali....Me too.

Fashion Note: I'm in love with the long sweater that Ali wore in the beginning of the show. Love it!

For the meet and greet...Ali has selected a long black gown with an open back.  It's pretty...but it doesn't do anything for her figure and it's very long and she keeps having to pick it up to walk and navigate the stairs.  Keith, who decided to work from the living room tonight (but he is NOT watching the show...let's make this very clear) said that the dress didn't do anything for him.  I thought it made her look lumpy.

Ali tells us her new mantra: A life without love is a life without happiness!

We spent a long time meeting the bachelor's in their hometowns and some of them freak me out....like Frank, who quit a great job in Chicago to become a screenwriter and Kyle who is a outdoorsman from Colorado who likes to kill animals and fish.

Finally, it's time for the cocktail party.  Roberto thinks that Ali looks superfly, Kirk brought her a scrapbook of himself which Craig M (my least favorite) makes fun of. Kasey tells her that his Dad cheated on his Mom and Hunter sang her a song that he wrote.

Hi, I'm Shooter! 

Enter...Shooter!  His real name is Derrick and he's not a bad looking guy but he told her that his nickname is Shooter and he wants to explain that the reason is that he had some pre-ejaculation problems in College. Seriously?  You thought this was going to impress her?

Chris Harrison brings out the first impression rose and all of the guys freak out and realize how REAL this is.  They start scrambling to get Ali's attention and one on one time.

Roberto jumps at the chance and tells her all good things, happily married parents, owns his business and then he teaches her to salsa dance.  She thinks he's sexy!

Justin...the entertainment wrestles with the broken ankle reveals his shirt under his suit says RATED R on it.  This is also not very impressive....well, maybe if you are in your twenties.  I think it's stupid.

Craig R wants to warn Ali that Justin and maybe the weatherman are not here for the right reasons.  I'm not sure anymore what those reasons are.

Chris Harrison brings out a box and wants the guys to write the name or names of people that they think are not here for all of the right reasons.  There is a flurry of activity as the guys try to remember what Justin and Craig M's names are so they can write them on their cards.

The first impression rose goes to Roberto!  He made her feel comfortable and at ease and it doesn't hurt that he doesn't live at home with his parents.

Chris Harrison appears with the results of the vote and Justin received the overwhelming number of the votes.  Ali must now decide if she wants to keep him or not.  She gives him the rose....

Rose Ceremony!!

Yay:

Jesse  24, General Contractor from MO.
Ty  31, Medical Sales from TN, loves his dog, great accent.
Craig R  27, Lawyer from PA, tattle tale.
Tyler V  25, Advertising from VT, seems shy.
Frank  31, Screenplay writer from IL, bold.
Chris L 33, Landscaper from Cape Cod, failed to tell Ali his Mom is dead.
Kirk  27, Salesman from WI, brought her a scrapbook, made a rose out of a hankie.
John C  32, Hotel Business from WA.
Chris N 29, Entrepreneur from FL, looks like Ryan Sutter.
Chris H 28, Real Estate Developer from Canada
Hunter  28, Account Executive from TX, sang song.
Craig M  34, Dental Salesman from Canada, bad boy, looks like Dean McDermott
Jonathan  30, Weatherman from TX.
Kasey  27, Account Executive from CA, Dad is an A-hole, looks like Jake.
Steve  28, Salesman from OH.
Justin  26, Entertainment Wrestler from Canada, voted most likely to be Wes, broken ankle, looks like the gardener from Desperate Housewives.
Roberto  26, Insurance Agent from SC, Salsa Dancer, happy parents, got 1st impression rose.

Nay:

Derrick aka Shooter...ironically, he leaves...early!
Derek...brought her leaves to catch...but they were unlucky!
Jason...did a back flip off the roof of the limo, but it wasn't that impressive.
Jay...Lawyer who didn't really say much.  Said he would have sent himself home.
John...I suspect he is gay.
Kyle...back to the woods with you!
Phil...
Tyler...told her he wore boots because she did on The Bachelor.  He had the wrong girl. 

See how much Craig M looks like Mr. Tori Spelling? 

I can't understand why so many of these guys have the same name.  Three of them named Chris and two Craigs.  How confusing!

I'm working on my Bachelorette Ali Drinking Game and will have it posted later today. It's ready now!

In other breaking reality show news....Kelly Killoren Bensimon is now following me on twittah. (that's how Mallory says it) I'm baffled really because I'm kind of Team Bethenney.

In other, other breaking news...my favorite author Jen Lancaster will be (or has been depending on your time zone) on The Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee today. YAY!!

Live from The Panic Room

Last week...I thought I saw *something* scurry across the floor and under my desk in our family room.  I screamed, jumped into my chair and called my husband on my iPhone. He wasn't happy to be woken up at 5am to come downstairs and investigate.

We found nothing....

The next day, hubby was working late in his office and he heard noises.  Like the thump of a dogs tail.  We don't have a dog.....

The next morning was chilly and the heat kicked on and a couple pieces of insulation with wood chips in it came up through the kitchen vent.  I freaked out a little because I had just started reading My Fair Lazy and Jen had a RAT in her house! I tucked my pants into my socks.....

 That night at dinner, Calvin told me that he had heard noises and I told him about the insulation so I made him call Justin our pest guy. Justin told Calvin about an animal super highway and that sometimes they aren't living in your house they are just passing through.

I'm now picturing a maze of roads running under my house...filled with little varmints. Two things....1.) not a good idea to tell your terrified wife what the pest guy says and 2.) ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS?

I die!

Over the weekend...I found a small amount of stuffing by the stairs that go to the basement. I showed it to Calvin and he said it was from a stuffed animal and I said I was suspicious that it is from our little *friend*. On Sunday night, I saw a small amount more on the couch where I spent the entire day in my PJs because it was my day.

Yesterday, the kids were building an ark playing nicely in Alex room so I plopped down on the couch to watch Army Wives and when I did a cloud of stuffing flew high into the air.  It was like a scene from a movie! I jumped up and thought what the heck is all of this from...and I slowly removed the couch cushion.

OH MY HELL!

I immediately called Calvin and told him what I'd found and that it was LIVING IN MY COUCH!! I also told him that he needed to come home and take this couch out of my house.  He didn't not find that this was an emergency so I gathered up the children, my iPad, iPhone, a cooler full of snacks and I sought out the sanctuary of my bedroom.

The Panic Room!

We stayed in the Panic Room for 5 hours until Calvin decided to come home and remove the couch (and creature) from the house. I watched as he pushed it into the garage and nothing came out...except for Vivienne's Christmas Card.

I rearranged the furniture and tried to get comfortable in a new spot (since my old spot is now in the garage) and felt a little like Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory. And that's when it happened.  The mouse ran across the family room from the love seat I was sitting on...to the entertainment center!

I jumped up on the back of the couch and screamed!  WHAT THE HELL! Calvin went to the basement to retrieve the trap that Justin had left and placed it near the furniture.  We spent the next two hours speculating what it was doing and where it was building it's nest.

Calvin thinks it's pregnant.

This morning...I'm reluctantly sitting at my desk in the family room and resisting the urge to retreat to The Panic Room.  Calvin tells me that mice are nocturnal and won't be wandering the house during the day light.

I've named the mouse....Victoria. (twilight reference there in case you didn't catch it)

Also...in the not at all helpful category...Calvin told me a story about Kangaroo Mice and one that ran up his sleeping bag and he demonstrated ON ME with his hand. Try to sleep after that....

If you need me...I'll be in the Panic Room with my iPad and my stack of magazines.  And some Sprite.  And that's all I need.  Well, maybe some jello. 

This is also were I will be while I recuperate from my wisdom teeth being removed.

If You're Going To San Francisco.....

Well...my plans for today have changed.  TOM just showed up with a migraine.  I slept until 7:30am which is unheard of for me....I just couldn't open my eyes.  I won't be searching the Top of Utah for My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto
because I felt so badly (and lazy) that I bought it on iBook so that I can read it on my iPad.  I guess this is one of the upsides of having the iPad...instant gratification.  The downside is that if I ever get to meet Jen Lancaster...I'll have to have her sign my iPad instead of her book.

If you're going to San Francisco

Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

If you're going to San Francisco

You're gonna meet some gentle people there

For those who come to San Francisco

Summertime will be a love-in there

In the streets of San Francisco

Gentle people with flowers in their hair

I'm planning a trip to San Francisco.!!  Calvin decided (with my help) that he should attend the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June and I invited myself along for the trip. My parents have agreed to come stay with the kids for that week so that we can have a second honeymoon.

I am super excited and I've been researching all kinds of things for me to do during the day while he's at the conference. I even selected our hotel so that I would be half a block from the mall. I don't even know what I'll do with myself for 6 days without my kids. Six days to do whatever I want. Six days to eat anything and everything I can get my hands on that isn't a french fry, a cheese burger or a chicken nugget.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to gain 10 pounds while I'm there. I'm hoping to lose 10 during my wisdom teeth removal so that I have some wiggle room.


I've been searching the house for things I can sell to add some cash to my shopping fund. There's a Sony TV, a Parazul handbag and some speakers on the list. If I could...I would sell our home gym too! I don't even think Calvin would notice it was gone since he doesn't use it.

 I was just checking the weather for June...it only gets to 67 degrees.  I guess I will still need a jacket or at least a cardigan.    Now I have an excuse to buy some more cardigans...I do love them so.

If you have been to San Fran before and you tips or recommendations....please share they with me in the comments section.


Talk to you all later...I'm off to read my new book and inhale a box of Strawberry Poptarts....

2nd Annual Jen Lancaster Day

Tomorrow is the big day!  The 2nd Annual Jen Lancaster Day! See the 1st Annual Jen Lancaster Day HERE.  It's a very special day all across America where women proudly wear their pastel colored Izod polo shirts and pearls and drink White Russians.  If you don't know who Jen Lancaster is...she is only the most brillant and funny author of all time!  Some people call what she writes Chick Lit...I just call it fabulous.

I will taking the kids out on a bit of a field trip tomorrow in search of the new book.

You are probably wondering why I didn't just pre-order the book.  Well...I enjoy the hunt.  Finding Jen's new book can sometimes be slightly difficult in Utah because she uses cuss words and doesn't have any vampires as characters.  This is fine by me because I'm not a fan of vampires (or wolves)...they scare me.

We will start at the closest bookstore and work out way south until I find the object of my desires!  And for lunch...we shall dine at CHICK Filck A.

If you are a fan don't forget to celebrate Jen Lancaster Day and pick up a copy of her new book My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto




Oh...and don't forget the the ultra fabulous Real Housewives of New Jersey starts tonight!

10 Ways to Beat Boredom

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.  ~Ellen Parr

I think there are very few times that I have ever been bored in my life....well, except for September 2002 to April 2003 when I dated a 40 year old GREEK Electrical Engineer that lived with his parents.  That was an experience I could have done without...his Mom kept feeding me and then telling me I needed to *make diet*.  I barely escaped from that situation....if you want to hear the story about this guy, then take the poll over on the left.

Mama Kat has a great list of prompts this week and since I wrote yesterday about blogging block...I thought this prompt was perfect!

Write a list of 10 things that can be done to stave off boredom.

1.  Look through your husband's old boxes for pictures and letters from old girlfriends.

2.  Eat cookies while watching the channel that has exercising on it.

3.  Read my blog.

4.  Take up a craft.

5.  Research a vacation destination.

6.  Go shopping with Bobbi.

7.  Write in a Journal

8.  Watch You Tube Video's of Panda's sneezing.

9.  Read a Jen Lancaster Book

10.  Exercise

Boredom: The desire for desires. ~ Leo Tolstoy

Burning Questions

I like to keep a list of interesting ways that people have landed on The Young and The Relentless.  And if possible I like to answer the burning questions that cause people to google these things.  It's a bit of a public service that I like to provide to the world.

Jen Lancaster on Oprah
 I get at least 2 folks a day coming here to ask this question.  As you know, I love Jen Lancaster and I would love to see her on Oprah but I don't think she's going to be on for a while....but maybe when her new book comes out in May!  Here's an idea...let's all write to Oprah and ask her to have Jen on....it would be super easy for Jen to run over there since she lives in Chicago.  Click HERE and fill out the form.

Lance Robertson Orange Jumpsuit

I didn't understand this one until I figured out that they were talking about DJ LANCE.  I'm not sure why he wears this...a more important question is...what's with the hat???

Relentless Crying 1 Year Old
  All crying is relentless as far as I'm concerned.  My favorite trick is distraction....especially if it's a cookie.  Most kids will stop crying for a cookie.
 
Did Byrson off Young and Restless play on family matters?
  Yes. And he was also friends with Michael Jackson.

Husband Tracker
  I've used the iPhone app called Loopt to track my husband but he was always at the same place (work) and I got bored and stopped tracking him.  But from previous past life experience...if your man goes to bars, make friends with the bartenders and tip them generously...they will tell you everything you need to know.
 
Loving an Engineer
  Where do I begin?  They don't get your jokes, they'd rather play World of Warcraft then make whoopee and the simplest things are difficult for them.  Buy lot's of pocket protectors and get yourself a WOW account.  Plus, if you can't sleep at night...ask them how work is going.
 
Reasons Why I Can't Sleep
  Hubby snoring, hubby wheezing, kids crying, too dark in the kids room, kid is scared, hubby makes too much noise peeing, I drank too much water before bed,  text from some BIL at 1am, dog barking, brain working overtime, Mormon's lighting fireworks.
 
Yo Gabba Gabba Doll makes my kid cry
  That's too bad.  That scary Mark makes my kid cry and what exactly is DJ Lance hiding behind that giant Boom Box?
 
Focus on the Family I like Jello
  You must be from Utah and I think you need to take a breath there and focus on one thing at a time...like the family. I like Red Jello.
 
My second grade girls are being mean to the other girls
Ohhh....mean girls.  I don't like mean girls.  In my experience, mean girls are like this because they are insecure.  Plus, if they are popular...they love that other people will blindly follow them.  Can you find a common ground for all of the girls? I can't tolerate mean girls and I stay as far away from them as I can.  I've even been known to unfollow them on twitter.  If that doesn't work...give them cookies.

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 In other news, I reached another milestone on my diet....I'm no longer OBESE!!  YAY!  Also, Bobbi (my sisterwife) started the diet last weekend and then quit this morning because she only lost 2 pounds all week. I'm bummed because it was nice to have someone doing this with me.

Are you planning to participate in Simple Mom's Bookclub? I'm so excited to read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families and I'm ordering my book today along with another book I just found out about....but I'll tell you about it after I get it.

What's for dinner this week....my menu is up at my food blog and I'm doing great with my budget challenge!  Join us if your budget needs help.

Did you see the preview for The Bachelor on TV last night?  Tenley told Jake that she's PREGNANT!!  That will be the most dramatic season ever!  There's a pregnant gal on the show!

Quiet Christmas Morning...In the Colorado Snow

Mama Kat's got some great writing prompts this week and this one really called to me:

Describe how you would celebrate the holidays if it was totally up to you and money was not a factor.

I have always had a dream of spending Christmas in a cabin in the mountains. I'm not really sure why because I'm not a skier but I suppose it's possible that growing up in Colorado may have something to do with it.  Here's my dream cabin in the mountains.....

 

And here is where I will sit next to the fire, drinking my coffee in the morning while reading the lastest Jen Lancaster book.

 

Later in the afternoon, when the sun has come up...I will sit here with my glass of Pinot or a warm mug

 of hot chocolate.  I'll bring a quilt that I made myself and the sun will warm my face.

And at night after the kids are duct taped tucked in their beds, Calvin and I will come outside to the fire and drink Irish Coffee and snuggle under a big wool blanket and make smores.

What a wonderful dream....I hope I can make it come true someday.  What's your dream Christmas destination?

Did you see my Cook from the Book Challenge this week?  It was yummy!

I Don't Like Being Sad

I have a list of things I want to talk about this month and I was all ready to pick something from the list this morning and then I got some sad news.  My Aunt Nancy passed away this morning.  I'm sad to say that I didn't know her very well...she was mentally challenged but always remembered who I was and who I belonged to.  Even though I lived so far away, I thought about her often and always enjoyed hearing about how she was doing.  She had been in poor health recently....and now she's in heaven with my Grandpa.

I prayed for my Grandma and talked to my cousin Rachel on the phone and then I felt better.  My only regret being that I live so far away and can't attend the services.  Calvin is out of town all week so even if I could afford the trip...I couldn't go anyway.

I don't like being sad and there is rarely a moment without laughter in my house, especially when Alex is running around the house in Bobbi's high-heeled boots that he calls his tap shoes.  I think he is destined to be in the GLEE CLUB.

Then, I finally saw something to brighten my day!  Jen Lancaster announced the title, book cover and release date for her next fabulous book!

Coming to a bookstore near you May 4, 2010!

Come hell or high water...I WILL attend a book signing this time. If I have to travel to the ends of the earth! AS God is my witness...I will finally meet Jen Lancaster!

Vlog: Wacky Wednesday

I decided to vlog today...since I had make up on.  And I had some stuff to talk about and I will be posting my Connie's Diary entry on Friday so here we are with Wacky Wednesday!

I posted about my skin cancer situation on Facebook today when I got home and found out from several people that when they had their surgeries...the tissue was examined during the surgery to make sure they got everything....instead of sending the tissue off to be checked.  I wish I had know about this type of surgery before I chose this doctor.

In other news...The Ares 1-X launched from Kennedy Space Center this morning and I missed it by 30 seconds. I walked in the door right after it happened. Luckily, Calvin taped it for me.  I was glued to twitter the last two days watching the hashtag #ARES1-X and I was disheartened by so many people that wanted the rocket to fail.  I would like to dedicate this song to those people.

On to the vlog!

Weekend Update...Scooby Snack Mutiny

Sunday...planted our Recession Garden. For details on what we planted click HERE. The kids are so excited to see what is in the dirt and I have given steen warnings not to touch or pull out any of the plants. They are super scared of the dirt nazi (that would be me).

Monday...laundry, laundry, laundy! And Mallory decided to sop up a puddle with her clothes. This girl loves a good puddle! The kids were so excited to water the Recession Garden and did a great job of sharing the watering can.

Tuesday...spent the day anxious about the Unplugging I was about to do. Soaked in as much internet, twitter and facebook as I could. Kids wouldn't take a nap and I thought about running away from home. We ate Subway at the park for dinner.

Wednesday....Unplugged! Looking back on our day...it was very nice to not have the distraction of the computer and the TV. We read more books and I felt calmer. We had a great time at the Ogden Nature Center and we are looking forward to many more visits there.


Note to self: Always watch where you are walking at the NATURE park. You might find more nature than you bargained for and STEP in it.

Thursday...Alex decided it was 80's day and was channelling Jen Lancaster! Doesn't he look adorable? He even brought out the teen angst just for me. I found out that my friend Loralee had her baby on Tuesday night! Yay Aaron is here!

Friday...another beautiful day in northern Utah! The kids are bored with watering the garden. I see no puppies in our future. Mutiny ensues when it is revealed that we are out of Scooby Snacks*. We drove to Layton to meet Calvin and had dinner at Red Robin. Then Mommy escaped for some retail therapy and grocery shopping and the kids and Daddy went to the park. Have you been to TJ Maxx lately? I got a super cute green straw handbag for summer, some sunglasses, a pair of underwear and a crystal goblet! It's almost as awesome as TARGET!

Saturday...In an effort to jump start my weight loss (which has been very slow) I am doing a juice fast today and a colon cleanse tomorrow. I had to laugh when I went to the healthy food store and the cashier's comment about my supplies was *brace yourself*! Now I'm scared shitless to death. I'm mostly worried about the sugar and caffeine withdrawals that I'm about to experience. Wish me luck!

Potty Training Update: In the words of Alex....Never, never, never!

Job Update: We have heard nothing from the Denver company. I'm bummed....but also frustrated because the cost of living (housing) is so much more in Denver than Utah and we would have to downsize considerably. I don't want to move to Denver and not be able to afford the lifestyle that I want to live there. Does that make sense?

Here is the backyard tree that I told you about a few weeks ago!



*Scooby Snacks...little gummy fruit snacks that the kids are addicted to.

Celebrating Jen Lancaster Day!

Happy Jen Lancaster Day!

I had this idea kicking around in my head a few weeks ago that May 5th should be Jen Lancaster Day. If you have been reading my blog for more than 5 minutes you probably know who Jen is and that she is my favorite author of all time. I have been reading her books for a couple months now and today her newest book Pretty in Plaid is coming out! What's that? May 5th is Cinco De Mayo? I think I can safely say that Mexico is not our best friend right now and we are much better off celebrating someone that doesn't give us the flu and make us die. Right?


I was so excited that I thought the whole day should be devoted to Jen and my quest to find her book. Find her book, you say? Yes. Here's the deal....in Utah, unless your book is about vampires....it is a little hard to find a funny, sassy book with cuss words in it. Dang it. See! I couldn't even cuss just then because I am in Utah. In fact, when my sister was here a few weeks ago....we searched high and low in Target for Such a Pretty Fat and finally found a copy on the bottom shelf.

Which brings me to my next order of business. I am going to put Jen's new book, Pretty in Plaid in front of all of the Twilight books other books at the store. So it's just a sea of Plaid! Good idea right? I want everyone to know how great these books are!

And because it isn't a party without a theme...I am dressed in Plaid & Pearls today! I even unearthed my Fauxberry purse from the closet! And when I return home with my prized possession...I am going to have a White Russian! It will be 5 o'clock somewhere....


I'm also going to let you in on a little secret....for years it has been my dream to travel to Chicago and meet Oprah. Like if I were on my death bed and you asked me 'what do you want to do?' I would say....Eat Fried Chicken with Oprah! This is no longer my last dying wish. Now, I want to go to Chicago and meet Jen Lancaster.

I have a family vacation to Milwaukee planned in July and we are going to Chicago for one day. My family doesn't know it yet but they are going to help me locate and stalk meet Jen! Oprah can suck it.

So you know what you need to do today right? Get out there and buy Pretty in Plaid! Heck just buy all four books because they are all hilarious!

Best Day Ever! *UPDATED*

I woke up with a migraine yesterday and I don't know if the pain was the reason but I was feeling all sorry for myself and I was lonely. But the sun was shining and it was promising to be warm so that made me feel a little better.

Then around 10:30am I received a couple comments from Amy in Ohio on my Connie Diaries posts. I didn't read them right away because I was fixing a snack for the kids but when I finally did...my face flushed and my heart started to race!

She told me that JEN LANCASTER sent her.

For a moment, I was stunned. Jen Lancaster...my favorite author of all time? Why would she....oh wait. OH MY HECK! I raced to Jen's blog and well...you go see for yourself. I'll wait.

**********************************************

So...I was all excited and I emailed my sister and everyone I know and told them to go look and it was like being on Oprah except better because I was still in my pajamas. I watched my statcounter all day and saw people from all over the world visiting my little blog. I gained some new friends and a few people commented and I didn't feel lonely anymore. It was a great day! Seriously, it was the most excitement this stay at home mom as had in a long time!

EDITED: Today's 80 picture at Jennsylvania shows a 80's wedding. Go look at the picture here. And then check out this picture from my first wedding. Bobbi was my lucky bridesmaid/flowergirl/gum smacker in the wedding.



Speaking of Oprah. Did you watch her show yesterday? She was supposedly revealing all the secrets of being a Mommy. There are secrets? The show was entertaining because most of the talk was about how horrific being a mother is. Even though I have a bad day here and there, for the most part I love being a Mom and being home with the kids. And I have to tell you that I don't think I would EVER pee in one of my kids diapers. I thought it was interesting that she had some Mommy Bloggers on but never mentioned that they were bloggers. Is that a dirty word when it is paired with MOMMY?

Please head over to my friend Monica's new blog and sign up to win a beautiful necklace! Today is the last day so hurry!