Saturday, June 23, 2012

posting a comment

Hi all!

So the easiest way to post a comment is to scroll through the Comment as: options and choose name/url or anonymous.  If you choose to sign in as anonymous just leave your name in the comment line so I know who ya are.  :)  I have no clue what AIM or Open Id is, so if you choose those I guess you know.

Or......you can always choose them if you are are looking to spice it up this weekend.

Kind of like the time I thought it would be more fun to choose the Spanish language option while calling American Express to activate a card.  No harm right?   That stuff is automated and surely with 6 yrs. or so of school Spanish I should know something.  So I pressed Numero Dos and proceeded to follow the instructions.  Entered all the important numbers no problem.  My mother's maiden name no problem.

Then came a full sentence, and I had no clue what Maria the automated lady was saying.  Evidently it was to wait on the line so someone could talk to me.  So, I just stayed on the line trying to figure out the last sentence in my pea brain hoping it would continue to repeat asking me for another prompt until I could figure it out.

Then a real person cut in on the line in full glory perfect Spanish.  Again another perfect friendly sentence, and I had no clue at this point.  They kept saying "Hola Hola!"

I figured I had 2 options at that point.  Speak really bad broken Spanish and pretend I was French and that Spanish was my 2nd language.  Except the only French words I know are ballet terms, so pas de chat grand jete plie tendu arabesque pirouette is only going to get me transferred to a French translator because hello.... this is Amex.  Always there to please.

Or, I could save my pride in trying to explain I really wasn't pranking the person on the other end, I just needed to activate my new card, and hang up humbled and embarrassed.  So I chose option Numero Dos and hung up.  Very quickly!

Of course Dave laughed at me afterwards.  I seriously wasn't expecting to get anyone.  Citibank is fully automated.  Yeah, not Amex.  Personal service at its finest.  Later,after thinking about it, Dave so lovingly pointed out that "They are in more countries worldwide."  Well golly gee thanks Mr. Logistics.  Next time you need help mobilizing the landscaping route and which vehicle / trailer combo to take first, who is driving, and how to get there without any left turns or C-DOT weigh stations, you be sure to call UPS or Fed Ex to help you out with that.  They can help you.  They have people.  Just don't choose the Spanish language option.

   

Friday, June 22, 2012

Crap

If you follow me on Pinterest you know by now that all of my boards are labelled Crap.  I am not sure why it turned out this way but somehow it did.  I have House Crap for ideas we would like to do when we add onto our home in the near future.  Food Crap for all of those recipes I have no plan on making anytime soon, but are there just incase I need to whip up a massive cake or a pitcher of fruity flavored booze.  And last but not least just plain Crap for all of those funny quotes and signs that don't belong mixed in with food and well....other crap.

Since summer has officially joined us, even though it seems like it showed up in March, I am in full summer crap pinning mode.  Never in my life have I wanted to make a large lawn Jenga, fruit filled mojitos, and decorate my porch that isn't finished with red white and blue bunting.



All photos courtesy of Pinterest

See what I mean.  Too Cute!  Except, who the hell has time to sew bunting, and actually add a pretty cut up hunk of fruit on the end of a toothpick to their mojito because they are downed within 5 min..  The Jenga set will happen come hell of high water except we might need to all wear shoes while playing now that I look at the picture again.

And that is why I love Pinterest folks.  Where else can you find all of these ideas and even dream about having that killer banging body thanks to all of the Exercise Crap I have pinned.  Too bad I actually have get my ass off the Pinterest page, stop drinking the mojitos, and exercise for that to happen.

So....now that Mother Nature has blessed us with 100 degree days, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite things for summer.  Not bunting involved.


Going Clockwise:

*Cucumber Wipes - End of day, exhausted, and falling into bed.  Still have to remove sunscreen and makeup.  These will do the trick.  I like to think they are more refreshing because they have cucumber.  Who knows, who cares, it is probably psychosomatic anyway.

*Mega Plush Waterproof Mascara  - I work outside sometimes.  Sometimes I sit on my ass all day in the office but we won't go there.  On the days I work outside I wear this mascara, sunscreen and a bit of Jemma Kidd Water Resistant Bronzer. (not pictured) Makes your lashes long, soft, plump, and not too flaky.  All of the things I like in a good biscuit.  Sorry back to the mascara.  It has some sort of gel in it, and it will come off with the above mentioned wipes at the end of the day.

*Crystal Light Mojito Mix - Does this taste like a mojito?  Hell no, but it says it is and so that is all that counts.  I drink this while I am sitting on my ass in the office and have to still pick up the kids at the end of the day.  Because no one likes a drunk mommy at Day Care.  That would be a no no.  Play date yes, Day Care no.

*Burt's Bee's Grapefruit Lip Balm - Please don't make me sing Jimmy Buffet's Juicy Fruit song ok.  This stuff is yummy.

*Luna Bars - Minis even.  Because everybody gets the munchies, especially when drinking, and these are mini and supposed to be healthy, so I say eat more.  Yes, I know I have portion control issues, hence the Exercise Crap motivation board.  Just don't leave them in the car in the hot weather.  It will give a whole new meaning to the words Hot Mess.

*Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Sunscreen - I have bottles of this stuffed stashed everywhere.  SPF 30 for daily use and 50 for those days when I know I will be schlepping mulch and watering plants in before they wilt.

*Essie Bikini So Teeny Nail Polish - Seeing as I probably won't be rocking a Teeny Bikini ever again thanks to 2 kids.  This way I can paint my toes, and pretend I am.

*Hair Ties - I have long hair so I can pull it back into a ponytail daily.  My hairstylist hates me because she knows this, so I mix it up with braids our a bun.  She doesn't understand if I am going to have long hair why not do something with it and wear it down.  Because wise one, many years of ballet ruin hair wearing down in face.  These are cute and you can leave them on your wrist if you so choose to wear your hair down for 5 min. in an attempt to look sexy for the milkman.  And then have it so you can quickly put it back up again once he delivers the milk without his shirt on and gets back into the truck.  Sorry, clearly I don't see much action out here in the country.

Anyhoo, all of my favorite crap can be yours.  The products pictured, not the giant Jenga, someone's dog, or the bunting.

Seriously!  I might as well give it to you after making you read this long ass post.  None of the people who make all of this stuff know who the hell I am, or are giving me the stuff.  I am doing it because I love ya!

All you have to do is leave me a comment below about your favorite summer thing.  It can be a tub of Blue Bell ice cream, or your fun noodle for the pool.  I don't judge.  Oh and if you start following me too and you don't already, that counts an additional entry.  Just leave me a separate line comment telling me are now a follower.

I am always on the lookout for more crap, so I would love to hear about your favorite crap.

Come Monday I will count up all of the comments and tell the 6 yr. old to pick a number.  Whatever number she picks is the winner, and I will ship it to you.  If you live outside the US I can't ship it, but if you are in Hawaii I will dislike you for 10 min. get over myself, then send it off.

Can't wait to read everyone's responses.  Oh, and if you would like to follow me on Pinterest, just search for callabee.

Happy hot as hell summer weekend!


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Knock Knock

I have a joke for you :)

Knock Knock?
Who's There?
Cara!
Cara Who?

Precisely my point.  Hi there, got sucked into a rabbit hole, or in my case a large water feature Dave designed for a client running into a lake.  Did I build it?  Oh Hell No....No one trusts me to do that.  I however had to put on my Landscape Architect hat and design the plant layout.  Evidently they trust me to do that instead.  Then I had to make sure what worked on paper worked on site, and rearrange everything around with the client before the holes were dug in the 100 degree weather.  5gal. shrub pots are twice as heavy when you have to schlep them around in the heat.  I am calling it my Cross Fit workout for the week.

At least this particular client didn't dig up all of the plants after the guys planted them and move them into different locations around the yard they thought looked better after we had left for the day.  Yes, some people are like that. You just smile and nod and say "Well bless your heart," and walk away knowing that in 6 months they will call you frustrated that the bush they planted right next to the front door is so big, they can't get down the walkway and it needs to be pruned.  No shit Sherlock.  Next time leave it alone.

15 trips to 4 different Nurseries to hand pick and pull materials, and I think everything is finally there.  Let's just say it better be.  Went to another job site today to drop off Dave's lunch and came home with only about 1/3 of the 250 pots from the water feature job.  It was all I could fit in the trunk out of the job trailer.


I should also mention I have about 30 plants here at the house that need to be planted after the hail storm hit a couple of weeks ago.  And..... I am pretty sure I am not going to get any help planting them from employees even if I paid them, let alone Dave.

See I have this problem.  I call it the Target Syndrome.  I head to the Nursery with intentions of pulling only the plants for what a client needs.  I leave with 30 other plants for my yard that I think will work somewhere.  Kind of like when you go to Target for deodorant and toilet paper and you come out with a new sports bra, slip and slide for the kids, Country Living magazine, napkins, Febreeze, pillow for the couch, and a new hairdryer even though the last time you blow dried your hair at home was in 2003 right before your wedding. (I can show you my receipt, it happened last week.)

While we are talking about plants I might as well introduce you to the new cast of characters: 
'Koko Loco' rose - starts off tan and then turns a dusty purple, 'Elijah Blue' Fescue, 'Hidcote' Lavender, 'Hall's' Honeysuckle, and 'Bright Eyes' tall garden Phlox.  I love the cool colors of all of these plants.  They will go underneath my bedroom window.  So on a cool night when the windows are open, the gentle breeze will blow in the amazing smells wafting off the blooms.  
'Wheee' Hosta.  The leaves are supposed to be ruffled.  You can see all of the leaves that were downed from the hail storm still hanging out in the bed underneath the apple trees.  Hostas take a huge beating in the hail.  Yeah....  I should probably have the mysterious lawn gnomes who take care of the garden in the night get on to cleaning that up here one of these days.  
Various other perennials to plant in the bed to make it look like a wildflower meadow, and a dipshit dingo dog photo bomb.  Coreopsis, 'Pink Poodle' and 'Tiki Torch' Echinacea, 'Champagne Bubbles' Poppies. 'Rocky Mountain' Columbine, Etc. Etc Etc.  See what I mean.  There are just too many cool plants out there waiting to go home with me, just like polka dot underwear from Target.  Dave is not on board with this look. (The wildflower garden not the polka dot underwear,) I am not on board with this entire area.  It is full of way too many ground covers, wild raspberries and all sorts of crap we installed back when it was cool and hip to have complicated gardens because we have no kids.  Now we have kids, have realized we are not cool or hip, and it is all just too much.  I am trying to work with it and brighten it up a bit seeing as my option to rip it all out is not there until January.  Calla thinks it's great.  And since I ask the opinion of my 6 yr. old daily, and don't forget I am wearing the landscape architect hat..... The plants stay!  
Besides, Matilda says so!  The additional plants mean more bunnies and butterflies.  That means more bunny poop for her to eat.  

Ok enough about plants, lets catch you up to speed and not necessarily in order. 
Spent my birthday up the mountain at the Ameristar Casino in BlackHawk / Central City.  Dave and I had a wonderful time just the two of us.  He humored me earlier in the day while we went to the annual Old Glory Antique Fair in the lightning and rain, and then waited patiently while I peeked into crumbling down old turn of the century buildings once we got into town.  While we don't gamble much, it was somewhere to go.  And a nice place to go at that.  The rooftop pool was great and I did pretty good on the Swan Lake slots, until we decided we needed food, and then hit the buffet.  Note to self, don't watch people eat at a buffet.  I am so not kidding.  Kind of like how you really don't want to look at what people have in their grocery carts at the Wally World Supercenter.   
 Drank pomegranate Mojitos.  (Hey look Dave is wearing his wedding band.  I guess we are married after all.)
 And ate bowls of Pho.  Yes, I went to a buffet and had Pho.  What.... like I was going to turn down that bowl of noodle yumminess to eat chicken fried steak or nachos instead?  Told you it was good casino to hang out.
Came home from the fresh mountain air to the large plumes of smoke from the High Park Fire.  The firefighters are doing an amazing job.  This probably the worst fire I have ever seen.  View to the West.  No mountains to be seen that day, and had to keep the house closed up from the smoke.  We are about 25 miles away even.  
 Views out the corrals to the North.  That night when the sun set, the smoke was so thick it reminded me of "Gone with the Wind" when Rhett and Scarlett steal the horse and buggy to get Melanie and the baby home to Tara with Georgia burning in the background as they were leaving.  
Oh yeah, and I will be shot if I don't include some of these pictures as promised.  Calla had her ballet recital.  One of the moms backstage got real snitty with me when I was getting Calla ready.  (Such a whole other life when your kid is dancing and you are not.  Kind of weird actually.)  She mouthed to another mom, "well I supposed SOME PEOPLE (wink, nod, look over at me blatantly) have lots of time on their hands to do a proper bun and makeup."  Actually no, I didn't have any time that day lady and wolfed down McDonald's in the car on the way to the theater 15 min. before it started.  Hence why she is getting ready at the theater.  I may not be good at a lot of things, but one of the things I AM GOOD AT, is throwing hair up into a bun, shellacking the crap out of it, and schlepping on stage makeup in 5 min. flat. (10 min. if I have to get Ethel ready in her wrinkles or Miss Universe tiara.)  If she had been nicer about it, and not made me out to be like that cray cray Abby lady on the tv show "Dance Moms," I may have offered to help her out.  Next time might I suggest a You Tube or Pinterest tutorial first.  
 I had no idea what she was dancing until we got there.  Since I take class at the same time as her, I don't get to watch her rehearse.  Not that she would let me anyway.  She kept telling me she was a doll.  When the music came on for Giselle, and I realized that is what she was dancing to, I lost it.  She was so stinkin cute, and ahhhh Giselle.  Nice nice 95 lb. six pack abs Peasant Pas and man hating Willi memories of Giselle for Mommy.  "Sniff Sniff" If you did Giselle with me back in the day, you know what I am talking about.  I love you man.  
And last but not least my girls.  Me (sans 6 pack abs,) Calla, my niece, and her little sister who was also dancing too.  It was fun to see both girls up there dancing their little hearts out.  Who knows, maybe we will all be on stage together one of these days.  By then we won't need to draw on Ethel's wrinkles or frost her wig, she will be good to go au natural.  

So that should about cover things.  I have plans for some my favorite things posts, because I know they are everyone's favorites.  Maybe a giveaway too, to make up for being gone for a month. 

Hasta.    

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Party Hard

How To Have an Eclipse Viewing Party:

Step 1:

Assemble your cast of characters.  Frozen rum in a bucket, a welding mask, and mint chocolate chip Blue Bell ice cream.  Proceed to front deck with cast of characters to watch the eclipse.

Step 2:

After convincing your 6 yr. old that it ok to look at the sun if she puts on the welding mask, place it over her head.  Freak her out by telling her if she takes it off she will burn her eyeballs.  She tells you it is cool, but then asks why the Rusty doesn't need a welding mask.  Tell her it is because he is a dipshit dingo dog, and doesn't really care about the sun but is most likely stalking a bunny, or the roofers working across the street.

Step 3:


While waiting for the moon to cover the sun, proceed to drink the rest of the frozen rum and sugar in the bucket, and let your 6 yr. old take awful stupid pictures of you.  Note: She has not been drinking and had no issues when handed the camera.  However she did have plenty of green food dye in the mint chocolate  chip ice cream, and was just as goofy.

Step 4:

Continue to wait for the eclipse to happen, but get sad when the clouds cover the sun.

Party over :(

Monday, May 14, 2012

Manic Monday

Today was well....One of THOSE days.  Let's back up for a minute to this weekend.

Saturday was kind of a gloomy day, so taking a ballet class seemed like a great idea.  Something about bundling up in warmers and taking a Saturday morning Company class is kind of soothing for me.  Call me crazy.  So I threw my hair up into a sweaty band and put on an old nasty leotard, and some nike compression capris and went to class.  When we got there, I got Calla into her class and went to get rolled out, warmed up, and do some sit ups.  I didn't notice our ballet mistress teaching class.  Sign # 1.  I did however notice a nice looking woman who looked like Jane Goodall that was dressed to either teach class or take it.  As more and more people started showing up I also realized how people were dressed. Sign # 2.  Nice pink tights and a leotard.  Doh.  She was a Guest Teacher.  I didn't get the memo but everyone else seemed to be in the loop.  Whoopsie.   Needless to say, I stayed bundled up for a good majority of the class because my leotard was that bad and I didn't have any tights.  Oh well, class was a good workout none the less.  Note to self.  Pack tights and clean out leotards.

Sunday was a great Mother's day.  The girls gave me some nice gifts and then made Orange Danish rolls.  Dave even surprised me with an overnight stay for the two of us at the Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa up in Blackhawk.  Gallery.aspx

Side note:  Children can't go into a Casino :)

We then headed over to Dave's parents for a nice cookout lunch with his parents and brother and sister.

And now we are here and it is Monday.

This morning's drive started off watching a guy shave in his car.  No big deal right?  If you use a battery motorized razor that is.  Yeah, this homie had a full on shaving cream beard and was shaving his face while driving.  Now I can put on makeup and do various other things while driving, but shaving.  WTF?  Does the bowl of foam, water, and hair just sit in the front seat of the car all day?  Yuck.

This afternoon Dave came home early and we all were up in the office talking when all of a sudden he started screaming at the dogs to get out of the garden.  It sounded like the sprinklers were going off.  Umm..... No.  This happened:


Thanks to Boy Wonder and his trusty shovel, he split this nasty sucker into 5 pieces.  The dipshit dingo dog was about 1 ft. away, and his partner in crime was about 3 ft. away before Dave got to them.  I'm sure I will have some fabulous dreams about this coming after me tonight.  The damn thing still gives me the heebie jeebies.  You know they continue to twitch for a bit afterwards too.

Anyway I thought I would leave you with a nicer image in your head then that one.

 
Nighty Night.  Don't let the bed bugs, or snakes bite. :)  


Thursday, May 10, 2012

Thursday Tangets

Hi there.  Remember Me?  I am alive and we are starting to come out of our Spring work coma.  Things are still pretty busy but hopefully after hiring more guys, including 3 that live together, we will be peachy keen in a week or 2.  Happenings in these parts:

We finished the deck and path:



The pad next to the door is a Colorado buff snap cut flagstone that came from the Quarry up the mountain in Masonville; as are the large pieces for the steps.  We needed to cover our existing foundation step coming off the house and this was the most creative way to do it.  If you want better detailed pictures, let me know.  My fabulous instagram picture taking has turned into a whole new level of laziness.

The deck is a composite Evergrain deck board.  While I am not a fan of the fake looking stuff, I am also not a fan of sanding and staining cedar every couple of years.  Convenience and my bare feet won out this time.

The pavers are a beat up tumbled brick from General Shale.  Yes Virginia, I bought an already distressed brick.  The house is 100 yrs old, so I can't use a new paver it would look funny.  Oh, just so you know, I also buy blue jeans already distressed too.

The white wicker set I snagged at ReSource.  I am not usually a huge fan of wicker, but it matches the farmhouse.  The set cost me $25 for a table 2 chairs and a couch.  The cushions and paint cost me $140.  Figures.

The dipshit dingo dog is a fan of the couch, and we still need to figure out how to cover and add on the roof.  But in the meantime, please enjoy the large 20 ft. poles coming out of the ground.  

I am also done with this:


It took a lot of work to make Sleeping Beauty happen.  And when I say a lot of work, I don't mean rehearsals.  I only had 2 before heading into tech week with spacings, dress rehearsals, and then 3 shows.  Being the professionals we are, Greg and I rocked it.  Hey now that I notice, where the hell are my flowers?  What actually took a lot of work was to turn Ethel into this:


Everything was fake.  Boobs, hair, eyelashes, nails, jewelry, you name it.  I actually scared small children because it didn't look like me.  In order to match the 5 ft. of fake Miss USA curly hair I had to have help  clipping into the winning pageant queen tiara, I had my dark dirty blond hair highlighted.  I asked for lighter blond.  I was feeling kind of fat and frumpy and my hair stylist and I decided going blonder would make me feel better.

P.S.  If your hair salon serves wine, don't decide on what hair color you want AFTER you consume 2 glasses and receive a scalp massage.  I ended up with Miss Texas blond (only fitting.)  Exhibit A:


Hi there bleached blond, haven't seen you in a long time.  You now match your small child named after a large country instead of the one named after a flower.  Not sure what the hell I am going to do with you in 4 weeks when your roots start showing, but don't feel frumpy anymore.  

After doing all of these Ethel character roles, I am thinking it might be easier to strap on a tutu and some pointe shoes and go that route again.  Might not be pretty, and would require me giving up.... oh I don't know.... my personal life and all delicious food, but man it has to be easier to get ready before a show.

Speaking of the food I am not ready to give up.  These arrived:


Four fine funky frizzled fowl flitting furiously stinking up my mud room.  They had been in the coop de Hilton outside, but it got cold the other night and so into the mud room they went. We have no intentions of eating them, but this time a round we named them after food.  They are more exotic bantam chickens like Birdy.  

So we have in the box..... 1 red and 1 black Frizzle.  Their feathers go backwards like I blew dry their fro the wrong way.  The red is named Cacciatore aka Tori, and the black is Mole'.

The little yellow is a d' Uncle.  Head to toe fuzz including the feet.  She is narcoleptic.  We named her Biscuit.

The blue gray one is a Silkie.  Same deal, head to toe puff of soft feathers.  So far the only food name we could come up with was Nugget.  But I have 2 kids, and chicken nuggets are one of the major food food groups around here.  I kind of like Dumpling or Chow Mein, but want something prettier.

I know it looks like I and turning into a crazy chicken lady.  Kind of like the crazy cat lady that has too many cats.  But in all fairness, I have wanted these breeds for a while, and each time we headed to the County Fair, they had to drag me out of the chicken exhibit because I kept oohing and aching over the damn frizzles.  So I think I am done.  14 is plenty.  Oh, and if you ever need eggs, send me a text.

Got the annuals planted at our maintenance properties:


These are the leftovers.  The flowers are part of the "Cocktail" Collection at Gulleys.  They are all named after alcoholic drinks.  Blue Hawaiian, Bahama Mama, Egg Nog, Blackberry Pilsner, Strawberry Daiquiri etc..  I figured it was only fitting since they are planted next to CSU.  Happy Graduation Students.  Cheers!

That is all I have for now.  Will be back sooner then later.  Oh, and if you commented on some previous posts, and I didn't respond back I apologize.  Blogger ate the responses.

Got any chicken dish ideas?  Recipes welcome too ;)

XOXO.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

My life in a nutshell

Last night Dave and I watched a PBS special on Hawaii.  (such fun bags we are)  It brought back memories of our honeymoon, and made us both realize how bad we both need a vacation.

Without our lovely children.  :)

Hawaii is our happy place, and as nice as the new Disney resort on Ohau sounds, it just isn't the same.  So in order to cope, I am making teriyaki chicken with white rice and macaroni salad for dinner, and listening to the Hawaiian channel on Pandora.  BTW if someone wants to come make me a pina colada I am not going to turn them down.  Cause that is the best I'm gonna get in Colorado in April.

Completely unrelated to this are a whole bunch of pictures for your enjoyment.  If I start telling all of the stories of the past month like a Polynesian Grandma, we'll be here till this evening, and then my dishes will continue to wrap around the corner, grow legs, and head out the door.  Not to mention the freakin inbox might just explode.  Enjoy, Aloha and Mahalo!

Pretty sure the clown was responsible.

This is what happens 5 min. after I attempt to organize toys.

Work and Abby Cadabby.  Too bad she can't poof my work done.

Spring in the house.

Got the elastics sewn at least.  No clue where the ribbons went.  Wish I could wear them more.

It snowed.....once.

Landscaping the front yard.

Sisters n Wellies

Swinging.

Front path almost done, deck and stairs next.

So....Ringo Starr walked into Target, and came out as Elton John.

Work.... this time not at my house.  Like duh! 

G is for Garanimals from the 70's.  Wish those pants still fit me.

A new clothesline for Calla.

Can't complain about the view while running up the road.  

The newest member of our family that takes longer to get ready then the two of them combined.
Julie the American Girl Doll birthday present.   

Yup....now just imagine it on all the counter tops.  

The End