That Time I Flashed Father Marty

I tried on 14 dresses.  It is really very difficult to find a dark colored, conservative dress in the middle of summer.  I found one that I liked but Alex said I looked pregnant in it and it was $40.  I'm not paying that kind of money to look fat. No way man!

I finally gave up and decided to wear something I already owned....even if it wasn't appropriate.  I had spent  the morning writing the obituary and putting together a tribute video....I was emotionally spent!

The next day, I pulled out my dress and realized it was more black than white.  Perfect!  At the last minute I decided to wear my onesie spanx.  I told iKeith this decision could go one of two ways.  I'd either cry more because I was in pain, or I wouldn't be able to cry because I wouldn't be able to breathe.

As you can see from the picture....I was wearing a wrap dress.  What you might also be able to see is that it's tied in a triple knot because as I was being introduced to Father Marty my dress came untied and I flashed him.

Did you hear what I said?  My dress came OPEN as I shook Father Marty's hand.  He saw my spanx. I was mortified!

Father Marty sat in the second pew behind Bobbi while people were speaking about Robert and she handed him a couple tissues when she heard him crying.  She thinks it's because I've ruined his vow of celibacy.

Speaking of Bobbi.  She was never a Girl Scout, but she should have been.  She is so resourceful.

She ran out of hands and found a place to store her silverware!  Smart girl!

5 Stages of Grief

Until you're lost someone, you don't really understand the 5 stages of grief.

Denial

Anger

Bargaining

(no photo available)

Depression

Acceptance

I've filled multiple pages of a notebook telling Robert how I feel and I think I'll keep this notebook to write letters to him when I wish I could call him up.  He's going to miss so many things....but mostly, watching his niece and nephew grow up.

The grief of children is also an interesting thing to observe.  Memories or thoughts about Robert have hit them when we least expect it.  I suppose this will happen for a long time and I hope to keep his memory alive for them.  We're already making plans to celebrate Robert's birthday and I'll have to come up with something for Christmas.  Anyone have any ideas for me?

Nine Years

On Saturday, I told someone that it feels like we're been married for 20 years.  She took it wrong....like I meant our marriage had been long and tedious, but that's not what I meant.

I feel like I've known Keith my entire life....like he's always been here holding my hand and snoring while we sleep.  We know each other so well that we often are thinking the same thing and finish each other's sentences.

I think the real test of a marriage is how you handle crisis.  I can tell you that the events of last week strengthened our already strong bond and we're more in love today than we've ever been before.  I know our love will stand the test of time because we are a team and we support each other.  Most importantly, we love like it could be our last day.

A last note about this photo.  The person on the other side of the camera....was Robert.  I wish I knew what he said to get this response from us....as you can see, it was hysterical!

Pieces of Robert

I feel like I need to apologize for all of these sad posts.  You guys know I'm an upbeat and fun loving gal but this pain and grief is weighing on me...hard.  Please don't leave me....I'm sure I'll be back to the funny soon.  In fact, I've got a funny story about the funeral if you can believe that.  Of course you can...it's me we're talking about here.

My kitchen and living room are full of Robert's things.  Keith brought another load home last night and now I'll have little touches of Robert everywhere.  His beautiful cat has adopted me...funny how that works and I'm now his person.  I think he sees the resemblance to Rob in Keith and stares him down hoping to hear his voice.

Meet André

I have another story for you.  This one makes my heart happy.  One of Robert's closest friends is Ron.  Ron is 69 years old and has spent his whole life on the stage!  In face, he choreographed the last play that Robert and I saw together last November.  Two days before he died Rob asked Ron to make him a new bracelet with red in it.  Ron finished the bracelet 15 minutes before he got the call about Robert.

On Sunday, when we were packing up Rob's house....Ron came up to Keith and put the bracelet on him and told him that it was meant for Robert. Keith, who is not a friendship bracelet kind of guy...is wearing it proudly!

Keith is back to work today and we're trying to return to our normal lives.  I still can't believe Robert is gone and feel like he could call me at any moment and make me laugh. What I do know, is that his spirit lives on....and that makes me happy!

The Broken Chair

Robert's service was really lovely.  There was a large turnout and several people spoke, including a woman he'd only worked with for the last three months.  This is how Robert touched people!  I'm proud of the obituary I wrote.  I figure it was the most important thing I've ever written.  You can read it here.  I also made a video, here.

Yesterday was a hard day. Robert had just moved to Aurora a few weeks ago and had bought new furniture, dishes, bedding and towels.  Walking into his home was like walking into a model home!  He really did have such great taste.  We had to go through all of his belongings, decide what we each wanted to keep and what to sell.  The kids each selected something from the house that reminded them of Uncle Robert and even though my largest momento is his cat André (seriously...he weighs 13 pounds)...I found a few things.

We brought everything home and started putting some of the items in the basement storage closet.  But first we had to move out two of the extra chairs for the dining room table.  Once we had kids we bought two extra chairs so that everyone would have a seat when we had family dinners.  When our family was all together there were always 8 of us.

I started to pull one of the chairs out of the little dark closet and it fell apart in my hands.  The back completely fell off!  I've moved this chair a dozen times in the last 3 years and it was always sturdy.  I carried it to the dumpster and as I laid it inside I realized that this was likely Robert's chair and we didn't need it anymore.  Big tears rolled down my face as I let go of the chair.  Robert will never sit at my table again.

Waiting to Exhale

My sister is on her way.

She was the first person I called after I heard the news about Robert and she immediately cancelled her plans for the week and jumped in her car to drive to Denver.  I feel like I'm holding my breath waiting for her to get here.

Keith and his family are making the funeral arrangements this afternoon and I've been tasked with making a slideshow of pictures and writing the obituary.  I don't know who has the tougher job.

So many memories have come rushing back to me.  Robert has been such a huge part of my life from the day I met him.  We became immediate friends!  He helped pick out the ugly furniture for our house, he helped plan my wedding, he planned and hosted my baby shower and brought Alex a stuffed animal the day he was born.  He took care of Alex and Mallory for the first time so that Keith and I could go to Vegas for a weekend, he was there for Alex's first day of Kindergarten, he photographed Field Day at school and he was there for the kids' singing performance at Barnes and Noble.

How do we go on without him?

He was supposed to be my back up.  He called himself my brother husband and said that if Keith died he'd marry me and help raise my kids.  I feel like I've lost my best friend.

We had so much fun together and so much of it is here on this blog.  Many of you have messaged me with so many kind words and thoughts for my family and you felt like you knew Robert because of what I shared with you.

I'm so glad that I'll always have these memories of my Adventures with Robert here to enjoy.

A Sad Day

A week and a half ago, my brother-in-law Robert stopped by our apartment.  He was moving from a place a mile away, to Aurora, a good 45 minutes away.  He wanted us to have something that he'd been saving.  A bottle of Champagne from our wedding.

I didn't know that would be the last time we would see him.

Yesterday, we got the call that he had died of a suspected heart attack and now we are planning a funeral.  We're heartbroken.  Please keep my family in your prayers as we deal with the aftermath and find a new normal without Robert.

TOTES! Journal Storage

A while back, my dear friend and partner in organizing all things showed me her Thirty One Tote that she uses for storing greeting cards.  Jessica is just brillant when it comes to finding clever way  keep her things tidy so I always try to steal borrow her ideas when I can.

Several months ago, I was walking around Home Depot.  I think I was looking for the bathroom because I constantly have to pee, when I found a bunch of handheld tool totes.  I looked that them for a long time and thought I should get one of these so I can copy Jessica.  I found the bathroom and forgot about the tote.

This week I was walking around WalMart.

Disclaimer: I drove 20 miles to the nice part of town so that I could have a pleasant WalMart experience.

I found myself in the tool section explaining what all the tools are for my kids and I saw it.  My Tote!!

TOTES!  It's perfect and purple and doesn't scream CRAFTSMAN on the front!  It's exactly what I was looking for and it was only $12.98. I snatched it up and took it home and hugged it for a long time before I put all of my stuff in it.

Here is what is in the my Journal Tote:

• Smash My Year Smashbook and Thirty One bag that Jessica gave me to hold all of my stickers and what not. 
• My kids journals that I write in every week
• My journals that I write in every week
• Sharpie Markers
• Papermate Markers
• Scissors
• Stuff that needs to go into journals (pictures, movie stubs, invites)
• HAPPINESS

It looks so great sitting on the corner of my desk and since I don't have a dedicated space for crafting/journaling and I ofter lug all of my stuff to the bedroom or in front of the TV, it's just perfect!

So now.  I made another purchase that was inspired by watching Jennifer from Tatertots and Jello participate in a crafting challenge a few days ago.  Have you seen the house that Jennifer is re-doing?  It's so cool and exactly what I'd like to do someday if I had a husband that was handy. Anyway!   I bought this!

It's for my top secret painting project that I just realized I can't start until next week because of the holiday coming up this week because iKeith can't know what I'm up to.  It's a secret!!!!  Shhhhh.....

Like it?

Goodbye Billy Joe

The last few days I've been writing the story of my life before iKeith.  Before I moved to Denver, I was married to Billy Joe and I lived on a 660 acre ranch.  I recently found pictures from that life and I was going to write about it.  The story is hard for me because it was full of such turmoil.  When I moved to Denver, I was running away from a life that I thought I was stuck in.  A life I didn't think I'd survive.

So...I started writing the story a few days ago, starting at the beginning and the day I met Billy Joe.  This afternoon when I was googling the songs that were popular that day, I realized I hadn't googled his name in a while.  I google his name occasionally because he has a bad habit of getting arrested for not having a drivers license and drinking while driving.  Even though we've been divorced for 12 years I still worried about him hurting someone or himself.

I don't have to worry anymore.  He did.

I googled his name this afternoon and saw that he died on June 10th from injuries sustained in a car accident.  My heart practically stopped!  This is what I'd been afraid of and never wanted to see!  I read further and learned that he ran a stop sign on a country road and the man that hit him died too.

According to the obituary he has a wife and a son.  I'd always hoped he would get his life together and not be a danger to himself and others.  There was a time when I loved him so much and he was my whole life.  In a way, I'm relieved that he can't hurt anyone else.  And I guess this chapter of my life is finally over.  I don't have to worry about him anymore.

RIP Billy Joe.

San Francisco City Pass

The kids and I had four and a half days to fill while iKeith attended the WWDC Conference in San Francisco.  We decided that we'd stay in Fisherman's Wharf and that he'd commute to the Moscone Center via Muni(bus) each day.  The F bus stop was right outside of our hotel so it was very convenient!   This left the kids and I right in the middle of all of the action.

When researching things to do, I was easily overwhelmed!  San Francisco is an amazing city with museums and learning experiences everywhere you look.  When I was researching how we'd be getting around, I stumbled upon the City Pass.

For the low price of $202 for the three of us, we got a 7 day Muni pass and admission to 4 attractions.  I already knew that I wanted to take the kids on a boat tour and to the Academy of Science and they were both included.  It seemed like a no brainer!

Day One~Aquarium of the Bay and Pier 39

We started off this day by finding a place to eat breakfast that wouldn't blow my budget.  Food is ridiculously expensive and a kid's meal can run you $10. I found a great place where the kids could have pancakes and I could have Pho!

Next we walked over to Trader Joe's and saved $200 on food for our stay.

My little boy is all about the fishes!  He loves the aquarium so much and loved all of the displays.  At the end we got to touch a shark and manta rays. This is a small attraction and only takes about an hour to get through....less if one of your children suddenly develops an aversion to fish tanks and freaks out.

Aquarium of the Bay is on Pier 39 which doesn't look like much from the front but its a two layer mall with a Merry Go Round and the world famous Sea Lions.  This takes about 2 hours to navigate but there are many restaurants (print coupons from home before you leave)  scattered through out including the California Wine Bar where you can get a flight of Pinot Noir for $16.

Day Two~ Academy of Science and the Golden Gate Bridge

We traveled to the Golden Gate Bridge on the mass transit system which can be very confusing.  Download an app that tells exactly which buses to get on and where.  This is also helpful for figuring out when the next bus is arriving.

This bridge is really breath taking!  And when you read all of the plaques about how and when it was built, you are just amazed that it is there at all.  There are very affordable souvenirs here like cool pencils for $1.  Just don't do what I did and leave them somewhere. There is also a little cafe where you can grab a drink and a pastry.  The coffee is really good here!

The bus dropped us off on the outskirts of Golden Gate Park.  There is one bus that will take you right to the front door of the Academy of Science but since we made a stop at the bridge we didn't take that one.  But it's so fine because the park is beautiful and is worth walking through.  We found ourselves in the middle of a rose garden.

The California Academy of Science is an amazing place.  It has a natural history museum, an aquarium with African Penguins, a rainforest and an earth quake simulator. On the very top....is a living garden!  It's almost too much to put under one roof and not be overwhelmed.  Make sure to download their app so you can get more info about the events happening during your visit.  We were able to be front row at the Penguin feeding (10:30am every morning) because I checked the app.

Day Three~The Exploratorium 

The Exploratorium recently moved to a new building on Pier 15 between Fisherman's Wharf and The Ferry Building.    This place is amazing!  Give yourself a good two hours to navigate and be ready to use your brain a lot!  Basically, you are about to do 400 science experiments in a short amount of time. There is so much to read and see and do.  You will have to come back a second time to really see everything.

Day Four~Bay Tour

Blue and Gold Fleet Bay Cruise does a great job of showing you the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.  There is indoor seating if you don't want to stand or sit in the wind and you can buy drinks and snacks onboard.   We loved hearing all of the history while sailing around the bay!

I was so pleased with the City Pass and would use it again in San Francisco or any other city that offers it.  I figured out that we saved about $150 and all of the activities are worth seeing if you are visiting the city!  Make sure to visit my food blog for info about where to eat while visiting the great city of San Francisco!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for writing about the City Pass.  I just loved using it and wanted to share it with my readers and anyone else that comes across my blog while googling 'crap to do in San Fran'.  

A Little Fun in Ventura Beach

It's so good to be home!  Mostly, because I got sick a week ago and suffered through that last week.  It's so much better to be sick in your own home with your own bed! Do you want to know how sick I am?  (pausing...for How Sick Are You Connie?) I'm so sick....that I've had 5 beautiful chocolate truffles in my possession for a week and I have not eaten them.  I'm so sick that I didn't drink the 4 bottles of wine that my father in law bought for me.  I'm so sick that I haven't had a cup of coffee in 3 days! Also...I was at my in laws for 2 days and he expected me to drink 4 bottles of wine?  Okay then.

Yesterday, I sat around coughing and peeing my pajamas and reflected on the trip.  I also made a Apple photo book on my computer...can't wait to see it!  It felt like a dream come true to take this trip.  It was a last minute decision when iKeith actually did get a ticket to WWDC (they sold out in 2.5 minutes) and the only reason we tried is because his company would pay for the ticket.  The Golden Ticket!  There wasn't any other way we could afford for him to go.

Then we decided that we would all go and we'd drive (I love a good road trip) and we'd visit Keith's parents.  Keith's brother and folks decided to buy us airline and train tickets and also took us to Ventura Beach for two days. It was so kind of them to make this trip happen for us!

Next week, I'm going to tell you more about our trip and the San Francisco City Pass that we used.  But today, I'm going to share a moment of fun that we had at Ventura Beach!  We had just had a great meal at Brophy Brothers (watch my food blog for more about that) and decided to walk over to an ice cream store.  We found these funny cut outs and started snapping pictures of each other!  So Fun!

Keith was such a good sport when I said....let's switch holes!  Through clenched teeth he said....this is going on your blog isn't it?  Well...yes, it is darling!

We played in the sand a little bit before sun set and played in the water as the tide came in.  Alex, Keith and Uncle Andrew built a sandcastle and I chased a crab around.  I posted some videos on vine.

 

I waited and waited for the sun to slip behind the mountains but it just sat there and I had to pee so we left, this is the closest I got to a sun set on the beach!

I can't wait to tell you more!

Ten Ways iKeith and I are Different

We're headed home from our vacation today and I'm anxious to get back, sleep in my own bed and eat some healthy food. I'm been sick for the last 5 days but Keith's been pumping me full of pills like I'm Anna Nichole Smith!

I've decided to copy The Pioneer Woman's post today because there are many ways that me and iKeith are different. Let me count the ways.

1.) He snores.

     I talk in my sleep.

2.) He likes to fly by the seat of his pants.

     I like to plan every last detail.

3.). He doesn't think I'm very funny.

      I think I'm hilarious.

4.). He likes movies with violence.

      I like movies that make me laugh.

5.). He likes danger.

      I like playing it safe.

6.). He likes bringing the entire contents of our bathroom on vacation.

      I like packing light.

7.). He likes putting things where he can see them.

      I like everything to have a place, preferably in a drawer or box.

8.). He likes white chocolate.

      I like milk chocolate.

9.). He likes being a few minutes late.

      I'm always 10 minutes early.

 10.) He likes the window seat.

        I like the aisle seat. ( it's closer to the bathroom)

Please pray for our safe trip home today. There were tornadoes in Colorado and at DIA yesterday. And please don't tell the papperazzi that I'll be at LAX at 3:05pm today.

Liquor

We were walking back to the hotel from dinner when I saw this funny sign. I asked Mallory to take my picture. She did....while yelling LIQUOR! LIQUOR! The tourists walking by we're laughing and egging her on, while I asked her through clenched teeth to stop saying LIQUOR! 

Gosh it's great that she's learned to read!

In other news, it's so hard for Keith to find a hat that looks good on him.

I've Still Got It

The kids and I had a super busy day traveling all over San Francisco seeing the sights. If you follow me on Instagram, you know what fun we had!

So much happened that I can't wait to tell you about but I didn't bring my lap top and I'm attempting this update from my iMini. 

We met iKeith at the WWDC conference after seeing Epic at the AMC IMAX and we were on our way to dinner when a nice 40's-ish Asian hipster started hitting on me.  I was wearing my favorite coat....the 2011 WWDC version so I might have looked like a hottie girl programmer ( a rarity) instead of a hottie PTA Mom. Bless his heart, I had to explain that I was on my way to dinner with my husband and kids walking ahead of me.

Speaking of hipsters....I love how many of them are here! The skinny jeans rolled up and the cute shoes! I should start taking pictures of them to show you!

I'm sorry to report that there won't be a Bachelorette recap this week and probably not next week. I will share my thoughts here and on my Facebook page. 

It was rather upsetting to learn that Brian is a cad that mistreats single mothers. Lets hope that enough people saw this and he'll never date again. 

I'm not convinced that Ben is a bad guy. He's just not here to make friends and he's right....this is not called the let's make friends show! I think he is cute and is really into Des. It'll be interesting to see how far he goes.

I love Zack K. 

I'm not surprised to see Brandon go. He is too serious/needy/broken and it killed any chemistry they could have had together. The guy needs to let his past go or it will continue to haunt his future.

Goodbye Dan, we barely knew you.

I'm wondering where the helicopters are? Three episodes in and no one has flown anywhere.

Operation: Take Connie To Prom

My Senior year of high school was not my best year.  The summer before I had dated a real bad boy.  I broke up with him after I found myself involved in a high speed chase through a trailer park.  It scared the heck out of me and turned me off from dating for a while.

I spent my senior year working at Hillside Auto Supply and studying.   This is likely the only time in my high school career that I devoted so much time and energy to my school work.

My Senior Prom was coming up,  I hadn't been asked to go and I was completely fine with it.  I was paying for all of my own expenses now, because my Dad had been in a bad horseback riding accident and wasn't working.  I didn't want to spend my hard earned money on a silly dress that I wouldn't wear again.

A week before the dance, I got a phone call from Ken, a friend of my Mom that was an armored truck driver.  You know, the trucks that pick up money at businesses for banks.   There was a collaboration called Operation: Take Connie To Prom that I was unaware of.   The masterminds behind this plan were:  My Mom, My boss's wife (she also had her deposits picked up by Ken) and the entire office staff at my high school (also customers of Ken).

They all decided that poor little ole Connie should go to Prom and Ken should be the guy to take me even though....he was 27 years old and wore a toupée.

Yes.  That's right.  He wore a toupée

So I got a phone call from Ken saying that he was taking me to Prom, he already rented a tux and bought the tickets and made dinner reservations and ordered a corsage.  He wasn't going to take NO for an answer.

Shit!

So, I went to Prom with Ken and his toupee in his powder blue El Camino with curtains in the window and my friends all laughed at me and asked me over and over how OLD my date was.

HELP ME!

The only thing that saved my evening was the two Orange Wine Coolers that Ken gave me in the car.  This might be where my drinking problem started....THANKS MOM!

Ken called me the next day and asked if I wanted to go for a ride on his motorcycle.  I declined....all I could think about was his hair coming loose and smacking me in the face.  We didn't go out again.


Note: My apologizes to my parents who are just now learning of the high speed chase and the wine coolers.  Lucky for me, I'm too old to be grounded.   I've also changed my dates name to protect his identity.  The truth is...I can't remember his real name and Ken sounded good.  

I'm Feeling 42

Hi friends.

 You're probably wondering what happened to me.

 PTA is kicking my ass! So much to do and only 7 more days to do it. I'll be back, I promise.

 Just a friendly reminder that The Bachelorette starts NEXT Monday. I'll be watching and recapping.

 In the meantime, I leave you with a little entertainment. I was watching The Billboard awards last night and I heard Taylor sing this and I immediately changed the words to fit whats happening in my life right now.

 My Ode to Peri-menopause! Sing it with me...I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 42!


 


It feels like a perfect night to dress up like spinsters
And make fun of our menses, uh uh uh uh
It feels like a perfect night for ZzzQuil at midnight
To fall in love with Midol uh uh uh uh
Yeaaaah
We're happy free confused and horny at the same time
It's miserable and magical oh yeah
Tonight's the night when we forget about the hormones, it's time uh uh

I don't know about you but im feeling 42
Everything will be alright, if you do what I tell you to
You don't know about me but I bet you used to
Everything will be alright if we just keep acting like we're 42, 42

It seems like one of those nights
This bra is too crowded, too many L.B.'s.
It seems like one of those nights
We wake up at 3am  and end up screaming instead of sleeping
Yeaaaah
We're happy free confused and horny in the best way
It's miserable and magical oh yeah
Tonight's the night when we forget about migraines, it's time uh uh

I don't know about you but im feeling 42
Everything will be alright, if you do what I tell you to
You don't know about me but I bet you used to
Everything will be alright if we just keep acting like we're 42, 42

I don't know about you, 42, 42

It feels like one of those nights
We ditch the whole sheet
It feels like one of those nights
We won't be sleeping
It feels like one of those nights
You're having hot flashes, I gotta cool you

The Buick Discovery Tour

It's snowing again.  Yes, it's April and we've had more snow this month than we've had our entire winter.  I'm ready for SPRING!  Luckily, Sunday was a beautiful day.  It was a bit overcast but the sun was out when we test drove a new Buick Encore.

Actually, Rachel gave us a ride. I don't like to drive in downtown Denver if I can help it.

Photo Credit: Connie Weiss

What do you think of when you hear Buick?  You probably remember the super reliable and big cars that your grandparents drove, right?  I've always thought Buick cars were too expensive and that's why older folks drove them.

Funny story!  When I met Keith I drove an Oldsmobile.  Four doors, vinyl top and electric doors and windows.  It was a Grandma car.  While we were looking at the cars he told me that he almost didn't keep dating me because of my car.  WHAT? Rude! 

Buick....you've come a long way since my Grandma's grocery getter!  I fell in love with a couple of the cars.  I'd love to put Keith in the new Verano when his car wears out.  It comes in a turbo (which he doesn't need) and it gets great gas mileage. 

Plus, I think it would be fun to have a Murano and a Verano.  And, Peyton Manning LOVES the Verano. Have you seen the commercial he's in?  I love it!

Photo Credit: General Motors

You're probably wondering why Keith and I were running around downtown Denver letting pretty school teachers drive us around.  We were invited to The Buick Discovery Tour that was put on by Buick (obviously) and Food and Wine Magazine.

I spent a lovely three hours at the Four Seasons eating, drinking and watching food demos by amazing chefs.  You may not know this but in my former life (BK...Before Keith) I was a manager of an auto repair shop and auto parts store.  I know cars!  In my new shiny Trophy Wife life....I'm a Rookie Foodie and highfalutin gal.

Photo Credit: Connie Weiss

We learned how to make fresh Ricotta and Cavatelli pasta from local chef Alex Seidel of Fruition Restaurant and Farms.  Alex is super adorable and has convinced me to get a sheep, a pig and a pasta maker. THIS JUST IN...Keith says I can't get a sheep or a pig but I can get a pasta maker. We can't wait to visit Fruition and take the kids to the farm for a tour!

Photo Credit: Intersport

Next was the adorable and funny cookbook author and pastry chef, Hedy Goldsmith.  She told us a charming story about her easy bake oven and is very passionate about balancing savory and sweet.  The recipe she made for us had basil in it and it was so delicious!  I can't wait to make the Basil Panna Cotta with Strawberry Consomme for my family.

Photo Credit: Intersport

Our next culinary adventure involved 21 weeks of wine instruction in 20 minutes with the hilarious Michael Green.  We tasted two wines with two different items.  A Sauvignon Blanc that was made better by sucking a lemon slice and a Tempranillo that was fantastic with a piece of dark chocolate.  The most important thing that I learned from Michael was....if a wine tastes good to you, it's good wine and it's okay to swallow.

ME and Michael Green
Photo Credit: Keith Weiss

The best was saved for last!  Michael Psilakis, world famous chef and restaurant owner made the most amazing little Gyro Sliders that I've ever tasted.  He told us a story about how food has connected him to his family and it touched me so much because this is what I want my kids to take away from their lives with me. I want to plant the seed!

Photo Credit: Intersport

I will be testing all of these recipes in the Rookie Food Kitchen in the next few weeks.

At the end of this wonderful experience, we were given many gifts!  Keith has asked me to give his swag away to one lucky reader.  Come to The Rookie Foodie for a chance to win a Buick Discovery Tour Swag Bag.


Disclaimer: I was given free tickets (all the tickets were FREE)  to The Buick Discovery Tour and a lovely swag bag from Food and Wine Magazine but all opinions are my own. 

Be a Smartie, Vote for Connie

I think I've wanted to be the PTA President ever since I heard the song Harper Valley PTA when I was a kid.  I obviously didn't understand the lyrics because it is NOT a pro-PTA song.  If I followed their rules I'd have to send myself a note for drinking too much wine while doing school work with my kids.

Through the years, I discovered my keen ability to organize, plan and lead people. I also have a mild addiction to excel spreadsheets.  I believe that I am born leader and I know that I'm passionate about my school and my kids education.  I'm so devoted to the PTA that at the last meeting a offered to tattoo the name of a local business on my rump in exchange for a donation.

PTA just seems like the perfect place for me to use my talents for good and not evil!

I didn't have any immediate plans to run for President but then the opportunity arose and now next week, I'll be voted in!  I had big plans to actually run for President with shirts and campaign songs.  My BFF Heather is going to be my co-president, provided that we convince another of my friends to be the treasurer.  I've been assembling a TEAM to make the next two years the best this school as ever seen!

I had a few songs selected to use as our campaign song.  Please vote for your favorite!

The Dog Days Are Over

When You're Good to Mama

Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now

I'm a Slave 4 U

I've got a campaign sloan too!  

Be a Smartie, Vote for Connie

(and Heather, but mostly Connie)

Disclaimer: This post is all in fun.  The days have not been doggy and Mama can't do crap for you.  Heather is my partner....as long as she doesn't get rid of her iPhone and does what I tell her to do.  Just kidding! She can get a different phone.  Just kidding! 

Note to parents from my school:  If you happened to google my name because it's been in the school newsletter a million times lately and you found my little blog....HI.  Keep in mind that I'm a humor blogger and a part time stand up comedian.  You can catch my act at the next PTA meeting.  It's fun....I promise!    

Fairy Garden

I've got BIG plans to create a Fairy Garden out in the woods by the lake near our house.  I'm going to secretly create this garden and then happen upon it with my kids.  This may be the coolest thing I've ever done and I'm so excited I could pee my pants.

Actually, I shouldn't say that.  I've been sick for over two weeks and have peed my pants about 30 times.  Having two kids in one year plus coughing constantly equals Connie pees her pants.  I also learned the hard way that you should NEVER cough while squatting next to a small child's desk in a Kindergarten Class.

Back to the Fairy Garden.

I just discovered that TARGET is selling little Fairy Garden sets but you have to order them online.  They are just precious and will compliment my plans perfectly.

I love this Dreamscape Fairy Garden.

I can also see the Backyard Oasis working well for me too.

This is the Fairy Door that I'm ordering from NothinButWood on etsy.

DISCLAIMER: Target is not paying me to write about their stuff. I just can't get enough of Target and had to share.

SMASH Your Year: March

Welcome to SMASH Your Year!  Me and my friend Jessica are SMASHing two (or more) pages a month for the whole year to document our lives!  We don't want to lose these precious memories and scrapbooking is too hard.  It's not too late to join us!

January SMASH pages
February SMASH pages
Jessica's pages


I feel like I lost a week of March.  It was very busy and we traveled 1900 miles to Texas and back.  My daughter also turned 6 and I now have two six year olds for the next couple of weeks.  She thinks during this time that she is the BIG sister.  We let her think that.....

 I did two pages for March and then a bonus TEXAS vacation page.  Only problem is that I accidentally skipped two pages in between.  Dang it.

This month I listed all the great things that happened! I love those little booklets from SMASH BOOK.

I had to do one whole page about the birthday girl!

THE TEXAS PAGE!

I've been sick for two weeks so my pages are not as creative as I would have liked.  Hopefully they will be better next month.

And my cover....I added TYPE A.  I think it fits me.

April pages will post on May 9th!