MarytheKaytheBlog

White Rabbit!

Oh, ya'll.  I have been waiting all month just to share this. 

There is a family in our little community that is notorious for beating everyone at saying "White Rabbit" on the first of every month.  No matter how hard you try to remember...or how hard your kids try to remember...this family always seems to BEAT everyone at this little game.  If this family weren't so doggone likeable, I do believe more people would be frustrated by their constant winning. 

(You do know what the White Rabbit game is, don't you?  Whoever says "White Rabbit" first on the first day of the month...gets good luck that month...or something like that.  Mostly, it's just a funny ongoing game to play with your friends.  Well, except when your friends ALWAYS WIN.)

Now, I haven't personally partaken in the White Rabbit challenge with them, but my daughter has.  Mostly, I like watching the friendly banter play out monthly on Facebook.  Or, rather, I watch the monthly frustrations of their friends being beaten.

But, last month...Last month I do believe this family was White Rabbit-ed in the most fantastic way. 

Let me preface this to say that this White Rabbit happened at our summer camp.  And you know what they say--What happens at summer camp...NEVER STAYS at summer camp!

I just had to share the funniest White Rabbit greeting I've ever seen!

This is the scene the family woke up to....in their driveway at camp...very early on August 1st...

 

 

Oh, and THERE'S MORE...So very much more!

 

 
 Hundreds, and hundreds of little yellow Post-its that say "White Rabbit."  I think these girls, these 2 genius partners-in-crime, are AHEAD in the White Rabbit Contest for years and years to come...

See what I mean?

 

 

Isn't that just a work of art?  White Rabbit Art.

And I have to say...it couldn't have happened to a nicer, more fun family--who enjoyed it all in the name of good, clean fun.

I just LOVE friendly pranks.  Well, except when they are directed at me.  Then, they stink.  But when they are directed at others--they are just hilarious! 

Remember--I said FRIENDLY pranks.  Mean pranks suck, and they're just...well, mean. 

So, here's my question for you:  What's the BEST (friendly) PRANK you've ever done? 

Or had done to you?
 

Modern Etiquette Question

 
 If you're on Facebook, you are faced with this dilemma almost daily. 

You, along with a hundred others, get invited to group events.  Or you and 46 acquaintenances are invited to a product party.  And most problematic of all--you and 23 others are asked for some kind of help.

These are all invitations of some sort.  My Facebook account is flooded with them weekly. 

Here's the dilemma:  Am I rude not to respond?

Notice that my question isn't "Should I respond?" or "Am I obligated to respond?"

My question jumps past the niceties and the shoulds.  It jumps straight to the "I'm not planning to respond at all...is that terrible?"

I guess it's the sheer number of requests I get--that we all get, I'm sure.  Or maybe I am just old fashioned about invitations.  I only feel bound to proper when it comes in an envelope with a stamp, and with my name on it.  Now, I am not at all against online invitations.  I've used them myself.  They're easy and practical--two of my favorite things!  However, I do think about them differently.  I consider them much more casual than a mailed invitation, or a phone call--or even a text. 

That's not saying that I never respond.  I do sometimes.  I even try to sometimes. 

*Confession time*   But, the bottom line is this:  I don't respond to most  of my Facebook invitations.  Is that rude and terrible, and now you'll never send me another invitation?

What do you think? 

I'd really LOVE to hear what you think about this modern etiquette question.

Flickr credit: Debs

God's Phone Number

 

 
 Aren't you just a little bit curious?  I have to admit, the title makes me smile a little bit.  I mean, who wouldn't want God's phone number? 

I'll be the first to admit that I have a lot of questions for God.   Questions I'd love to be able to ring up, and get an answer right away.  Just like I have to call one of my friends every. single. time. I make 2 recipes.  For the life of me--I don't know what it is--I can never remember these 2 recipes.  Heck, I can't even write them down, I guess.  I just know that when it's time to make Taco Soup or Peanut Butter Dudes, I have to call Dawn.  Thankfully, she always answers as I'm wielding my cart through the grocery, waiting for her to remind me of those 7 ingredients for Taco Soup...

But, what if I could call God when I have those burning questions...or have an emergency where I really needed extra prayer in a crisis?  What if I could ring up His cell phone...and what if He'd answer...every single time?

My dad has hundreds of clever sayings and poems tucked away in his memory.  I have no idea how he always remembers them, and how he pulls them out, always at the right opportunity.

This is one of them:  God has a phone number.  And this is what it is:

Jeremiah 33:3

 What would you dial up God's number for?

Flickr photo credit: nate steiner

How to Carpool like a Rockstar

Hold onto yer hats, pardners, because I am about to change your CARPOOL LIVES!! 

Do you dread your carpool day?

Or do the neighbor kids drive you batty during the 15-minute drive from school?

Well, have I got a FUN SOLUTION for you!

Just last week during a fun lunch with some girlfriends, I heard about a FANTASTIC IDEA from none other than the CARPOOL ROCKSTAR herself.  Well, when I heard about this idea, she became known to me...as the Carpool Rockstar.

There she is--the Carpool Rockstar! Everybody say, "Hello, Janna!"  (I cannot mention her last name...You know...the paparazzi and all...)

So, what does the Carpool Rockstar do--you know--that makes her the Carpool Rockstar?

She plays CASH CAB with her carload of neighborhood kids.

(What's Cash Cab?  Click here to check it out.  Also, please climb out from under that rock.)

Brilliant, right?  Ahead of time, Janna prints out some Disney trivia, throws it into her purse, and just when the kids least expect it...or when she cannot stand another minute of rowdy kids...she pops down the little rear-view mirror.

DING DING DING!!!  When she pops the little mirror down, CASH CAB BEGINS!  And bonus for the person riding shotgun--they get to be the "Final answer person."  All the kids work together to decide the answer, but the front seat person gives the official answer.

 Wanna see some of the Carpool Contestants?

Isn't this brilliant?  Janna said this game sort-of evolved.  In the beginning, she would just ask random trivia off the top of her head.  After a while, she started planning ahead and printing off some trivia.  

And the prizes?  Well, they are not elaborate.  Sometimes, the prize is just the satisfaction of playing.  Other times, it's whatever fun snack she has in the car.

You wanna be a Carpool Rockstar like Janna?

Well, go print off some trivia right now.  Here--I'll help you!

Printable Disney Trivia(be sure to scroll down to the print icon before printing)

More Printable Disney Trivia

Disney / Pixar Characters

Team Mascots Trivia  (for your little sports fans)

Want more?  Here's a whole index of lots of different types of trivia questions.  You'll want to select the "PDF Print" option.

5 Easy Steps to Carpool Rockstar Status:

1.  Print off some trivia your kids will love

2.  Throw those printed pages into your purse

3.  Grab some little snack treats for prizes, and throw those into your purse

4.  Wait for just the perfect moment of carpool chaos to introduce Carpool Cash Cab!

5.  Wait for the paparazzi to start following you...through the pick-up line...the neighborhood...the Sonic drive-thru...Because YOU. ARE. NOW. A. CARPOOL. ROCKSTAR.    Congratulations.

We all have Janna to thank.  Never forget SHE is the ORIGINAL CARPOOL ROCKSTAR.  

Linked up with:

Friday Funnies

I don't know about you, but I sure am glad the weekend is here!!

In honor of the weekend, and in anticipation of seeing all of my family next weekend (WOOT!!!), I thought I'd share some of my family's humor.  My family has been laughing about some of these clips for years and years.  If you've been around us very long, you've probably even heard us quoting some of these things...

Family friendly warning:  I would rate a couple of these clips as PG.  However, all the little childrens in my family have heard them.  And don't you worry--all of the mamas in the family sufficiently fussed at the menfolk for corrupting their babies' minds.

 

I'll start with my family's most-quoted video of all times.  In fact, my brother-in-law knew my sister was the girl for him when she quoted something from this.  It was true love after that...  I'm pretty sure there are certain members of my family who have this entire sketch memorized. 

After you watch this clip, I'm sure you'll be very jealous of my family's humor...

 

 

This audio clip has been around for years and years.  It is a prank call, made by one of my home state's famous radio personalities, Craig O'Neill.  Enjoy!

 

 

I don't care how many times I've listened to this, I CANNOT HELP giggling every stinking time...  Don't click off too quickly--there are 2 calls.

 

 

Now this...this is the soundtrack of my very young years.  I can't help but think of my Grandaddy when I hear the name "Jerry Clower."  So many evenings, I remember hearing Jerry Clower's voice on my parents' record player, and my dad and grandaddy's laughter.  I'd start giggling just hearing their laughter.

 

 The end.  Sure hope ya'll have a happy weekend!  See you good people back here on Monday!

What's on my Daughter's iPod?

 
 Just this summer, our daughter asked me if she could download the video "Firework" by Katy Perry onto her iPod.  Our family rule is that the girls (11 and 6) have to ask every time they want to download anything--a song, a game, a video.  Usually, our answer is: "Do you still have money in your account?"  And always--we quickly check out what they want to download. 

When she asked to download the video "Firework," I took a quick look at the beginning of the video, and very nearly said, "Yes."  It's a catchy tune.  And it's a song that the girls and I have giggled and belted out the chorus together, driving down the road.  It seems like an inspiring song.  What could be wrong with that message?

What's wrong is the video.  The video itself is dark, both in lighting and theme.  There are images that flash on the screen, that, frankly, I don't want our daughters to see right now.  I sure don't want an image bouncing around in their brains, when they are not mature enough to understand it.  Heck--I don't really want some of those images bouncing around in MY brain.

But, let me warn you.  "Firework" is NOTHING compared to some of Katy Perry's other videos.  I'm not encouraging you to go out and watch them.  Unless you want to get really depressed.  Videos seemingly aimed at high schoolers--since they are portrayed as high schoolers on the videos--that promote partying, breaking laws, becoming someone's victim, binge drinking, casual sex, and group sex.

I'm not naive enough to think our daughters will never be exposed to edgy music lyrics, or be drawn to talented musicians who seem soul-less in their climb to fame.  I'm not even naive enough to think our daughters won't know some of those lyrics, or worse--download them to their iPods.

Sometimes I lean towards the parenting philosophy that says anything you withhold too strongly from kids, will only act as a magnet to them.  That the moment kids gain some freedom, they will explore for themselves those forbidden things.  I want to keep communication open with our daughters, and talk about songs/movies/videos that are questionable.  I'm really hoping that by talking about those things (which I'd secretly like to forbid), that our girls will learn to make good choices on their own. 

However.  A BIG HOWEVER.  There are times I wonder if I shouldn't just nail up as many boards and walls and obstacles as possible--to protect my precious daughters from the filth of the world.

Especially after today.  I want to pack up and move to a remote island somewhere.  You see,  I spent some time today on YouTube.  I spent time exploring many of the popular music videos in the tween/teen world.  I wanted to be more aware of the music marketed to my daughters and their friends.

Now, let me preface this whole conversation with the fact that I don't watch many music videos.  Even back when MTV started (you know--back in my Glory Days), I just never watched that many videos.  I also have always been more of a music girl, rather than a lyrics girl.  I rarely pay attention to the lyrics of a song.  Now that I am a parent of a daughter who wants to download these songs onto her iPod, I try to pay more attention.  Most times, I have to look up the lyrics online.  Or, as in today, check out the videos on YouTube.

I know music has always had its share of harmless teeny bop artists, as well as edgier artists pushing the envelope.  However, I just don't remember as many mainstream artists singing and performing videos that are...Honestly, I don't even have words to describe the videos I watched today.

Have I just turned into an adult prude?

Or are music lyrics and videos different/more explicit now?

I feel like I'm walking a slippery slope of parenting.  What's the answer?  Protect?  Or have more open communication...but risk some of those dark images and ideas sticking in my sweet daughters' minds?

What do you think?

(Today's topic was inspired by Mama Kat:  Songversation. Take a current song that teens and tweens are listening to, share the lyrics, and offer a conversation that you might have with your child about the song.  I went a little off-topic after I watched the videos on YouTube...I guess I'm not ready to have those kinds of conversations with my daughters yet.  Eek!) 

Check out what others have written about this same topic!

Image credit: Flickr

Same Song...Second Verse

I am feeling very tired today.  Earlier today, I was trying to figure out why I'm so tired.  And I think I figured it out:  We've been running, running all summer...then we moved home from summer camp last Saturday, and started school on Monday.  Now, here we are running, running again. 

I'm tired of running.  Is it okay if I just sit down for a moment?

I was looking at my blog posts from last year right around this time, and I think I found another reason I'm tired.  Last year's blog post could very easily be this year's...  I am dealing with the same unpacking, same messes.  Messes that make me want to become a minimalist, and start tossing things into trash bags.  (I don't think I should be held responsible for those actions...do you?)

So, in lieu of more words (whining), I thought I'd just re-post last year's thoughts...and embarassing pictures.  I have no idea why I love embarassing myself so much.  I guess I'm just keeping it real.

-------------

(re-posted from August 2010)

I am all about keeping things real here.  I know that earlier this week I wrote about the inexpensive kitchen makeover we did a couple of years ago--just by painting our cabinets.  Now, although I am VERY proud of the VERY HARD WORK we did to paint those cabinets, and how my lighter kitchen just makes my heart happy...I think I need to show you the not-too-uncommon state of affairs in said kitchen.

 But, first!  I need to make a disclaimer.  Hey--get used to it.  This blog will have lots and lots of disclaimers.  It's my blog, and I'll make excuses disclaimers if I want to! 

 We've been living in our summer camp cabin all summer.  We moved home the other day to our 1,000 degree house with the broken air conditioner in the middle of heat-advisory temperatures.  Seriously, it was hotter in our house than outside!  So, "moving home" consisted of walking in the door, and dropping each load of stuff somewhere in the house.  There was NO putting anything away.  I couldn't even think straight in that heat. 

 We just got our air conditioner fixed (*cue the Hallelujah Chorus*), and spent our first night in the house last night!

 This morning when I woke up to the glorious messes everywhere, I just knew I had to snap some pictures.

 So, here is the horrible, ugly truth about my house today...  Hopefully in the next couple of days I will be able to post some nice and tidy "After" pictures.

 Here goes...  I hope you will not disown me or un-follow me because of these pictures.  I am a work in progress--and evidently, so is my house!

 

Can you BELIEVE I was able to sleep last night with a sink full of dirty dishes?  Gasp!  For some strange reason, we decided to completely clean out the fridge last night before putting stuff away...  Ah, but the fridge is sparkly beautiful!  But, dishes in the sink--eh, they can wait until morning!

In the midst of all of the clutter, I still heart this kitchen very much.  Sigh.

Oh but wait!  The mess doesn't stop in the kitchen...it overflows into the living room!  You can see how we just dropped load after load of stuff right in the middle of the floor.  (Those are some well-fed dogs, huh?)

 Oh, but the next picture is the most embarrassing of all--to me.  Our master bedroom, our sanctuary from the outside world, our lovely made-over (nearly finished) bedroom...Well, is not so lovely...yet...

Yes, this is where the bulk of all of the moved home from summer camp stuff has landed.  In the back room of the house, where messes can be hidden from prying visitor's eyes.  And, here I go showing it for all the world to judge.  Oh well.  The only bright spots in the picture are possibly the 2 cheery Vera Bradley duffel bags.  Do you see them?  Vera can make you smile...even in the midst of a room tornado.

Do you notice the nice little trail through the room?  Reminds me of a song my sister and I used to love to sing together...

 Dum ba dee dah, Dum ba dee dah, Dum ba dee dah, Dummm

Happy Trails, to youuuu

Until we meet againnn......

 Okay, I'm done embarrassing myself.

The end.  No more.

Now go on home and mind ya own bidness!

How to Flash-Freeze 3 Pies at Once

Today was Quiche Day at our house.  No, that's not some newfangled multi-cultural holdiday we decided to celebrate.  I just had some extra eggs and fresh spinach I needed to use up, so  I decided to make ahead and freeze 6 cheesy spinach quiches.  Now, whenever I need a quick meal--I can pull out a quiche, and have it on the table in 40 minutes!

I'll post the recipes for the quiches soon.  Well...as soon as I can taste them.  Gotta make sure they're good before I tell the recipes.  I'm sure ya'll don't want any nasty tasting quiche.

When it was time to flash freeze 3 of the unbaked quiches, I had a dilemma.  And that dilemma was called:  SOMEBODY broke into our house and FILLED UP our deep freezer.  Now, I know some of you womens would be thrilled to have a freezer full of food.  But, uhn-uh, not me.  See, my dream freezer looks like this: See?  Nice and tidy, and plenty of room for 3 pies.  Right? 

And, NO, I am not taking a picture of my deep freezer and posting it here.  I had to, uh, turn in pictures of it for, uh, evidence.  Yeah, that's right.  You know--to solve the case of WHO filled up my deep freezer.

So, what is a girl to do when she needs to flash freeze 3 pies, with no room in her deep freezer?

Well, wouldya look at this.  This, my friends, is a thing of beauty.  A thing to be admired, and copied in your own places of freezing:

I'm sure you're GASPING with disbelief over the feat of physics and sheer ingenuity I performed in our side-by-side freezer. 

In case you cannot tell, I inverted a 10" cake pan on the bottom (with a pie underneath), and an acrylic bowl (my favorite acrylic bowl...from Target, in case you're interested) on top of that.  I cut 2 little strips of shelf liner "gripper" to make sure the bowl didn't slide over when I put the quiche on top.  Wouldn't want to clean up a raw egg and spinach mess in the freezer--yuck!  I would have used another 10" cake pan, if I'd had one.  Heck--if I'd had 4 more 10" pans, I could have frozen 5 pies in a row!  Golly gee!!!

(Oh, and by the way, I had the shelf liner "gripper" handy because--remember--that is what I use in transporting food, to keep things from sliding around.)
 

Once the 3 quiches are frozen, I'll slide each into a gallon ziploc bag, label with baking instructions, and just stack right on top of each other in the freezer! 

What's the most recent "problem" you've solved in a creative way?

Painting and Possums

Well, how's that for a title?  I kind of like it, myself.

Oh, and just to let you know...I know the animal name is spelled "opossum."  But, around these parts, we call 'em possums.  Or better yet:  VARMIT.  (By the way, do classy people ever utter the word "varmit"...or just formerly classy girls trapped in redneck country too long?  Suddenly, I am feeling very insecure about using that word.  Not that I'm at all insecure about using the word "possum."  Just the word "varmit.")

But, I'm getting ahead of myself.  I'd better tell you about the painting part first, or you will pay no attention at all once I start talking possums.

And, I really WANT you to pay attention to the painting part.  Because I worked my fingers to the bone painting all of the furniture on my front porch this weekend.  Okay, I didn't literally work my fingers to the bone...but it sure does give me some satisfaction saying so.

Oh, how I wish I had taken a "before" picture.  Aren't all bloggers legally bound to take pictures of every single thing that happens in their family's lives?  Somehow, I got too excited about the dozen spray paint cans, and forgot to take a picture before I started. 

Just imagine here...white furniture that had gotten dingy and faded...

And after a dozen cans of white spray paint, look how pretty and fresh everything looks!

 Now, I know you probably do not care about my freshly-painted furniture.  But, since I worked a LOT of hours lugging that furniture to my driveway and killing off 2 pointer fingers on spray paint cans, I figured I would MAKE you look at it!  So, LOOK, would ya???  Ooh-ing and Ahh-ing would be good, too.

Also, here's a helpful hint for ya.  And this will make subjecting you to my furniture picture WORTH IT ALL.  Be careful when using a stubborn can of spray paint that splatters, and you're too tired to get another can so you continue using it.  Did you know that spray paint can splatter up onto your glasses?  Yep, it sure can.  Now, I cannot tell you how to get the splatters off.  You'll have to Google that for yourself.  While you're at it, please send me the link.

 Oh, all right.  I know the only reason you folks are still here is for the "possum" part.  But, thanks for sticking around to see my painting masterpieces first.

 

So, this weekend my husband took both our daughters to a very cool Field Day at the Proving Grounds, put on by our very famous (in the deer world) friend.  Both daughters had a wonderful time shooting .22 targets and archery targets, and just hanging out with their dad in the woods.

Dave called me as he and Rebecca were driving home on Saturday, and told me, "Rebecca got 2 opossums and 1 red fox."   Our call got disconnected, and I was pretty puzzled by how Rebecca had been able to shoot 3 animals.  I knew lots of people were at the Field Day, and I couldn't imagine how Rebecca could have safely shot 3 animals.

Heck, I'm such a city girl, I don't even know if it's legal to shoot opossums and red fox.

When Rebecca got home, she was ALL SMILES.  She pulled out from behind her back the 3 pelts she had traded.

*For you city folk, "pelts" are animal furs that have been professionally prepared and tanned.*

 Oh yes--here she is--a very proud owner of 2 POSSUMS and a RED FOX.

 These animals, formerly known as opossums, will now hitherto be called by me POSSUMS at this house.

Because, in case you cannot see this, people--these are REAL LIFE POSSUM PUPPETS.  That both of my daughters think are soft and cuddly and cute.

Yes, yes, I know.  We are FANCY people over here. 

You would have thought us even FANCIER if you had heard me tell Rebecca at lunch today--AT A RESTAURANT--"Rebecca, please take the possum off the middle of the table!"
 

Seriously.  Sometimes I wonder what kind of world I have wandered into.  However, what can I expect?  I fell in love with my husband while skunk hunting...

Linky Dinks: Summer is Slipping Away

 

 
 

These Facebook Updates I Don't Want to Read made me laugh out loud.  Hard.  Seriously, if I didn't already love Mama Kat, I SURE WOULD after reading this post.  Please, oh please tell me in the Comments which part of this is your favorite.  Mine may be "Your 'kids' are purse-size chihuahuas" or "I love Jesus.  I really do..."

 

Cooking adventure...Lasagna Cupcakes?  Oh, yes ma'am.  Please, ma'am!!!  These would be so fun to make, and great to send in kid lunches!

 

Did I mention we just got a new refrigerator?  Surely, you're heard me crunching on my crushed ice!  Oh yeah!!  This article on organizing your fridge caught my attention.  Also, because I really love the Organizing Junkie, I had to check out what she had to say about fridge organization.  Her article reminded me of something I thought about today as I cleaned out a NASTY MYSTERY FOOD ITEM in an old Cool Whip container:  USE SEE-THROUGH CONTAINERS in the fridge.  Can I get an Amen?

 

Speaking of kitchens...  Doesn't someone have a guest house or a garage apartment that needs a freestanding kitchenette?  This may be the cutest kitchenette I have ever seen in my life!  Oh, I don't care that it is handmade, and costs a fortune.  My butler will write a check for me and see that it is fully stocked.  (I found this link on StumbleUpon.  Do you Stumble?  It's a great way to pass the time on a road trip!  Um, when I'm not driving, of course!)

 

Hey!  Hey YOU!  Yeah, you, that's trying to fall asleep on me after dozing through my kitchens and organizations links.  Well, WAKE UP NOW, cause my last links are GONNA MAKE YOU LAUGH.  You might even snort.  These links are brought to you by my best friend Kelley.  You know--Kelley of the hilarious Kelley's Break Room?  Well, let's just keep the best friend part between you and me.  I wouldn't want her real-life friends to be jealous, ya know.  Oh, but back to the funny funny.  How about Adult Diapers Need Decorations, too!   

Ooh, and how about a quiz?  I just love taking these kinds of quizzes.  This one is How Gangsta Are You?  I gotta tell you--I tested pretty high on this one.  My mom will be so proud...  I especially identified with #8. 

 

Well, that is all.  Now, go prop up your feet.  It's the weekend and all.  Don't forget the bon bons.  You think I forgot about those precious things, didn't you?  I shall never forget the bon bons, and neither should you.  Unless your waistband is getting snug.  Then maybe you should only have a bon.

Goodnight, good people.