Showing posts with label Secret Subject Swap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Secret Subject Swap. Show all posts

Friday, August 8, 2014

Secret Subject Swap-August 2014 Yabba Dabba Doo!

If you're a regular reader, you know that the Secret Subject Swap is a collaboration between various bloggers. We receive secret topics from a blogger in a secret e-mail and put our own spin on the subjects. The 14 blogs participating this time are listed at the end of this post. Go have a look and leave a comment. It will make my our day! :)

My “Secret Subject” is:
If your life were a cartoon from YOUR childhood, which would you be and why? 
It was submitted by: Dawn@ http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com

If my life were a cartoon, it would be "The Flintstones". One could learn a lot from that stone-age family. I know I did. After watching reruns every day after school for years, I feel like I could safely walk the gravel streets of Bedrock today with confidence. Hmm. That probably explains a lot about me, right?

Here are 10 Cheesy Inspiring Life lessons I learned from Fred, Wilma and the gang:


1. Nothing is written in stone. If it is, drop that stone like it's hot and be flexible. The world is so much easier with some wiggle room.
2. Don't be afraid to lean on others. If you need a friend, call her up. It's amazing what can happen over a gab, a cup of tea or a day out on the town. Friends always help you see things in a new light. If not, they'll at least be there to hold your hand through the rough patches.
3. Shop Wisely. It's silly to buy 26 pairs of shoes when you're living the majority of your life barefoot.




4. Enjoy everything in moderation. Snack or have that special treat. When you do, savor it and then be done with it. It's not every day the McRib 300lb. ribs are in town...
5. Appreciate what you DO have. So your car doesn't have floorboards? Neither did my first car! (a cherry red Chevy Chevette that I jokingly called the Flintstone-mobile) Maybe your house is small or it feels like you're wearing the same outfit over and over. (Betty Rubble did that and rocked her look every single day.) You get to wake up every morning with a brand new chance to be grateful or inventive. I used a cookie sheet to cover the rusted floorboard of that first car. It makes me thankful to now be able to tap my feet to music in my present car. Strong floorboards. It's the little things.
6. Wear your hat like a boss. If you're an artist, a quarry worker, a doctor, a teacher, a parent or Grand Poobah of the Water Buffalo, be proud of what you do. Own your hard work and walk tall.




7. Don't sweat running in place. Sometimes it feels like we're not moving forward; barely balancing on tippy toes. Think of yourself as revving up for your next move.
8. Work hard, but play too.  As soon as you're off of your shift or even if you're just taking a break when you can fit it in, set the stress of the day aside; for the rest of the night or for the next five minutes. Be present so you can enjoy the things you're working so hard for. When you can, squeeze in a movie or go bowling. (using your twinkle toes, of course!) Build a fort. Paint or sing. Anything to escape for a bit. Oh, and for the love of all things leopard-print... please, please MAKE time to laugh!
9. It's okay to be a dinosaur! I still have an AOL e-mail address, people. I write my blogs in cursive before typing them. I love the feel and smell of a well-loved book. Those things are going by the wayside for the next generations, but I'm quite happy keeping some of my old habits.



10. Breathe. Times are hard. When you take care of you, you can take care of others. Those days when things get too hard... Maybe your job is driving you crazy or you're unemployed. Perhaps you are overwhelmed or lonely. You might feel helpless or find yourself talking to imaginary green martians. What if you aren't able to find your (or anyone in your town's) pants? Problems can be big or small...Don't give up. Contact a friend. Or a neighbor. Or your therapist. Scream into a pillow or meditate.  If you're me? Always, ALWAYS take your meds vitamins. :) 
Smile, friends. Pants are overrated, anyway.

Thanks for the topic, Dawn!

Baking in a Tornado                          
The Momisodes                                       
Spatulas on Parade                          
Confessions of a part-time working mom               
Juicebox Confession                           
Evil Joy Speaks                    
Sparkly Poetic Weirdo                       
Follow Me Home                 
Someone Else's Genius                 
Crumpets and Bollocks                    
Stacy Sews and Schools                
Climaxed                         
The Bergham's Life Chronicles                    
Dinosaur Superhero Mommy         

Happy Friday, friends,
-Michele                            

Friday, April 4, 2014

Secret Subject Swap: 4/14 The Caffeine Story.

Happy April, friends!


If you're a regular reader, you know that the Secret Subject Swap is a collaboration between various bloggers. We receive secret topics from a blogger in a secret e-mail and put our own spin on the subjects. The 14 blogs participating this time are listed at the end of this post. Go have a look and leave a comment. It will make my our day! :)

My “Secret Subject” is:


You are Alice in "through the looking glass" (more commonly known as Alice in Wonderland) what type of land would you find? And how would you get out?


It was submitted by: the beautiful Dawn @ Spatulas on Parade 

My looking glass was in the dairy section of a grocery store. I was in a hurry to find my favorite coffee creamer. I searched among the shelves of milk, cottage cheese and sour cream.

I finally spotted the sweet treat. It was of course, the last one of its kind and was waaayyyyy back on a high shelf. I reached into the blowing air as far as I could when suddenly, I started to smell the delicious scent of coffee. I reached further and further in the refrigerator section until I found myself on the other side of the glass. 



I looked behind me wondering if I had broken the shelves. How else would I be on the other side? Was the Walmart manager going to scream at me? When I was able to focus, I noticed that I was NOT in the back storage area of a grocery. Instead, I was at an outdoor coffee party. What in the world??? What a beautiful sight. There was a soft breeze blowing along the yard. This must have been the place where the smell of coffee was coming from. I didn't remember getting invited to any party, but sure enough, there was a place setting for me. How curious!


The table was set for many more people than were seated. I could tell by the brown rings in some of the china cups, that many a creature had come before me to this same coffee gathering. As I sat down, I was handed samples of every kind of coffee imaginable. First, espresso. Then cappuccino. A latte followed a mocha; it went on for hours. Each smell, each taste, was pure heaven. Instead of feeling the familiar wakefulness, I started to feel sleepy. 





I thought I was imagining a ghost in the trees when a large dog came into sight. He had a clear smirk on his face. I wondered what he was up to. I watched as he jumped from the tree and landed softly on the grass. He was mumbling something I couldn't hear. 

When the dog came toward me from under the table, I swear I heard him say, "I've got you!" Had I lost my mind? He said it quietly at first. As he walked away from me, I could hear his voice become louder and louder. "I've got you! I've got you!"


I decided to stand my now-full body up and follow the dog. He looked back every-so-often, wearing that same silly smirk. I followed him for what seemed to be forever. When he finally stopped, I looked around at what was clearly a "wonderland." At least, MY kind of wonderland. Spinning around, I no longer could see the smirking canine. I could however, hear that loud voice..."I've got you!"


The voice eventually began to fade. I noticed a soft rain starting to fall. I'm not pulling your leg. It was raining...coffee! There was a babbling brook made of creamer and the tall trees were made of whipped cream. I didn't know where I was and I didn't care. Everything was marvelous. Had I died? Was this heaven? 


I took it all in, people. As much as I could. The aroma, the majestic view, and of course, the taste. I walked in a daze, drinking as much as possible. I stopped only when I saw the familiar dog appear in front of me. He was wearing that smirk and shaking his belly. I believed he was laughing at me. The voice began to emanate from the animal. "I've got you!" I heard.

"I've got you!"



"What in the world have you 'got'?" I asked.

The dog came closer. "You!, I've got you!" he laughed.
"I don't understand!" I yelled, feeling frustrated.
"Ha ha ha!" he continued, "This coffee. The party. This...place."
"What about it?" I asked
The dog looked into my eyes and spoke the most evil words ever. The words I would never have equated with this "wonderland."
His words rang into my ears until I couldn't hear anything else.

"This place. It's...DECAFFEINATED!"

"Nooooooooooooooo!" I screamed and fell to the floor. The room began to spin and I couldn't see anything. I closed my eyes wishing for everything to stop. At last, it did.

I opened my eyes to the sight of feet and wheels. Customer's feet and shopping carts. I must have passed out.




"I've got you." said a store worker as he stretched out his hand. I looked all around. I was terribly embarrassed, but then I began to focus past the customers and carts. About two aisles down, I saw it. There was a taste-test lady who was trying to sell hot coffee. There was a large sign warning children not to touch it. It was hot and full of caffeine. 

"Yeah, baby!" I shouted as I pulled myself up, grabbed that last bottle of creamer, and headed toward the angel selling hot, styrofoam cups of Joe. Heaven.


 Thanks, Dawn for the "wonderful" topic!

Baking in a Tornado                          
The Momisodes                                       
Stacy Sews and Schools              
Follow Me Home                       
Someone Else's Genius                        
Confessions of a part-time Working Mom                            
Dribbles and Grits                                
Impoverished Vegan                        
Spatulas on Parade                      
Dinosaur Superhero Mommy                                   
More that Cheese and Beer               
Evil Joy Speaks                    
Juicebox Confession                          
Climaxed                        

Enjoy the world through your looking glass, friends.
-Michele

Images property of shellybean and created by CJM                          

Friday, March 7, 2014

Secret Subject Swap- March 2014

Happy March, every one!


If you're a regular reader, you know that the Secret Subject Swap is a collaboration between various bloggers. We receive secret topics from a blogger in a secret e-mail and put our own spin on the subjects. The 14 blogs participating this time are listed at the end of this post. Go have a look and leave a comment. It will make my our day! :)


My “Secret Subject” is:
You have a magic lamp. Where did you find it? What were your 3 wishes? Where did you leave the lamp?
It was submitted by: Michelle @ DribblesnGrits

Okay. I'm assuming infinite wishes aren't part of the deal, right? That would have been so easy!! (and maybe a little dangerous!)

Now that the snow is thawing, we are once again seeing our yard and all the work that's going to be weekends in the making. I might complain at this point, but I'm much too happy to have the snow on the mountain top (where it belongs) and not in my yard.

Leave it to the dogs to wander the depths of the yard in full gusto. Henry came back from behind the shed with more mud on his coat than hair. What in the world? I wandered back to the part of the yard I usually try to ignore: the (dreaded) grass heap. Henry had dug up something. Stepping up to the hole, I peeked in and prayed that it wasn't some one's beloved pet. Or grandma. Hey, we live in an unincorporated area. There's no telling what one might find…

I brushed off the "dug up" treasure. It was a box. Dear Lord, it WAS some one's grandma! I'm kidding. The wood cube was beautiful and locked. No worries, though. You know me. A bobby pin, the tine of an olive fork and that baby would be golden.


After a minute of my "other-side-of-the-tracks" skills, the box was open. It wasn't some one's grandma. Or money. Dang. There also weren't any spiders. If there were, the box would have to have been set afire (naturally). Nope. Sitting perfectly in the box was a kettle. A MAGIC kettle. How did I know it was magic? Because when I rubbed it, a beautiful genie that looked like Taye Diggs came out and told me I would be granted three wishes!  I turned it upside down it said the word "Magic" on it and stated that every twenty years, when polished, 3 wishes would be granted.



We signed at the top, February 2014


Now. I have read The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs. I'm fully aware of the consequences of being greedy. I chose NOT to ask the kettle for a box of assorted ice creams. That would just be selfish, right?

It makes sense. 3 wishes, 3 kids. It's what a mother SHOULD do, right? What are the chances that one of them would choose the assorted ice-cream? Eh. Here we go:

A. (the 20 year-old daughter):

"I would wish to start my dream-teaching job tomorrow (on PAYDAY!) so I can drive my brand-new car to buy myself a huge burrito from Taco Bell. I wouldn't give one care about the price of that delicious Supreme Burrito.


J. (the 9 year-old son):

"I wish for unlimited money."




C. (the 15 year-old son):

"Well…"


Three wishes. Some fulfilled more than others. What about the man, you ask? Well, before burying the box in a secret location, he partook of the extra wish we didn't know we'd get. It's the little things, people. Thank you, Taye Diggs. Magic Kettle.


Thanks for the prompt, Michelle!


Baking in A Tornado                          
The Momisodes                                       
Stacy Sews and Schools              
Follow Me Home                        
Outmanned                                  
Confessions of a part-time Working Mom              
Dribbles and Grits                                
Spatulas on Parade                       
Dinosaur Superhero Mommy                                 
Someone Else's Genius                     
More than Cheese and Beer             
Searching for Sanity                  
Rants From My Crazy Kitchen                             
Climaxed        

Cheers to having your craziest wishes come true :)

-Michele

Images property of shellybean and created by CJM                          

Friday, February 7, 2014

Secret Subject Swap-February '14

Happy February, friends!

If you're a regular reader, you know that the Secret Subject Swap is a collaboration between various bloggers. We receive secret topics from a blogger in a secret e-mail and put our own spin on the subjects. The 11 blogs participating this time are listed at the end of this post. Go have a look and leave a comment. It will make my our day! :)

My “Secret Subject” is:
Martha Stewart, inspiration or horrible show off?
It was submitted by:  http://spinstersnacks.com

Martha, Martha, Martha.

I wrote a small note to Martha and Bob Villa a few years back. It sadly explained how we three were NOT alike in our decorating. I respect both for their careful, planned-out projects; but for the love of wood-glue and sawdust, I just can't be a step-by-step girl. I re-did my whole staircase with fall garland still on the banister. I begged my husband (ignoring his pleas) to install a glass door on our bathroom. I'm a little off. Admit it. That's why you're here in the first place.

Martha's likes: delicate china, bidets, and building things "plumb, level and square."
My likes: eating cookie dough from the mixer,  peeing when the kids will let me, and using tons of caulk.


So. Is Martha a show-off? I'm not sure. Anytime I think of the ridiculous, glitterific-dodecagon crafts she comes up with, I try to remember that she has a huge staff behind her. Those people are probably coming up (hourly) with more ways to make humans feel inadequate. I doubt it's purposeful. I also doubt that Martha milks her own cows and rips her own cheese cloth to come up with cream for her morning coffee. She's a brand. There are things I disagree with regarding her process, but she's obviously doing something right to be where she is today. Rather than tear her down as a person, I thought I'd high-light a few differences between ol' Martha and me. There are many solutions to problems. Some are careful, calculated, precise and thorough, and some are mine.

Here are a few quotes from Martha and me:

Martha: "I have cotton or flannel sheets, depending on the weather. They have to be ironed, and I get my bed changed nearly everyday.".-brainyquote.com

Me: "If I make it to bed without having to shake off a pound of dog hair, without having my fitted sheet pop up from where the fabric pulled away from the elastic, or even if I have to kick off a few jellybeans/popcorn/kids from the bed, I've had a good day. The man knows when the sheets have been freshly washed because there is always a "damp spot" that the dryer has missed; and somehow, that always ends up on his side."
***
Martha: "I have a minor gripe…Who are these bloggers? They're not trained editors at Vogue magazine. I mean, there are bloggers writing recipes that aren't tested, that aren't necessarily any good, or are copies of everything that really good editors have created or done. So, bloggers create kind of a popularity, but they are not the experts. We have to understand that."- Bloomberg TV

Me: (gritting my teeth) "Bloggers are wonderful. They've used social media to benefit their businesses, build contacts and network. They connect with others offering advice, support or an often-needed smile. Many bloggers are beyond educated. Not only by holding college degrees, but by raising children without "guides". We pull foods for dinner out of what we have left in our pantries (not from french cookbooks). When our children are crying, we are the only ones who get to solve their problems. Most of us do not have a "staff." I have about 100 followers, which is anything but popular. Still, I write for my sanity as well as to share my ideas. As for using our recipes and having them work? If they can feed a husband, three finicky children and 2 dogs, I say they are more than tested. Dang it, I can rock a grilled cheese sandwich! Can an editor at Vogue make micro-wave popcorn ala shellybean? I think not. You know what? That's okay too. I'm happy to share the recipe. You're always welcome to read about my world; my successes and my epic fails. That's what bloggers do."
Micro-wave popcorn ala' shellybean


***
Martha: "It's a good thing."
Me: "On the eighth day, God made caulk, and it was good."


***

Martha: "I'm never sick. Why get sick? It's a waste of time." -brainyquote.com
* "I love to be sick! There is nothing like throwing up or writhing in pain on my 'down-time."- said no woman EVER.
***

Martha: "I find that when you have a real interest in life and a curious life, that sleep is not the most important thing"- thinkexist.com

Me: "I find that in order to walk upright and produce clear thoughts, one needs to sleep. Lack of it often makes the creative dull; it makes workers (blue and white collar) incapable of properly doing their jobs. Most of all, it makes for one grouchy household. We all know it: When mama ain't happy….COME ON NOW."


studying sleep :)



***
Martha: "Never ate fast food. I proudly can tell you that I've eaten one Burger King and I think maybe two McDonald's... and today I ate an In-N-Out burger. It was okay. You know, it's not my favorite food. I would much rather have a salad or sushi or something like that.-credit: Foodista
Me: "God Bless you, Martha Stewart."

If you are interested in joining us for the next Subject Swap, you can visit its creator, the wonderful Karen @ Baking in a Tornado. She is an amazing woman. You can also read all about the swaps by clicking on the SSS icon on the side of my blog.

Don't forget to check out this month's 15 talented participants!



Baking in a Tornado                          
The Momisodes                                       
Stacy Sews and Schools               
follow me home                     
Dinosaur Superhero Mommy                                   
Dates 2 Diapers 2                       
Confessions of a Part-time Working Mom                        
Evil Joy Speaks                   
Spinster Snacks                                         
FBX Adventures (In Parenting)                           
More Than Cheese and Beer        
Searching for Sanity                     
Small Talk Mama                                          
Juicebox Confession                         
Spatulas on Parade 
     
Digital cartoon credits: CJM Happy Friday, friends :)
-Michele               

Friday, January 10, 2014

Secret Subject Swap: January '14

 Happy New Year, friends. I hope yours is already off to a great start. Like everyone in the U.S., we are dealing with the snow, smog and the cold.  Ugh. I hope you are doing all you can to stay warm and cozy. Why not sit down with something hot and take a glance at this month's SSS. ?

If you're a regular reader, you know that the Secret Subject Swap is a collaboration between various bloggers. We receive secret topics from a blogger in a secret e-mail and put our own spin on the subjects. The 11 blogs participating this time are listed at the end of this post. Go have a look and leave a comment. It will make my our day! :)

My “Secret Subject” is:
The best and worst gifts you ever received.
It was submitted by: Stacy@Stacy Sews and Schools     


I've decided to tell you a story that took place when I was seven. What started out as a wonderful gift, turned into (by my own doing) a gift I'd like to forget.

One Easter, (1977, I believe) my grandmother bought each grandchild a GINORMOUS, solid chocolate rabbit. I remember this not only because it was SOLID CHOCOLATE, but because, well…I've got nothing. I guess that was it. Did I mention it was Ginormous?

That chocolate rabbit, i.e. hug-from-heaven-wrapped-in-cellophane, sat on my grandmother's buffet, taunting me during Easter dinner. That was the deal. Eat the food, get the rabbit. In my head, the chocolate was going to taste better with every nibble of corn and mashed potatoes.

One might think that I'd finish that Easter dinner and be too full to even touch that rabbit. One would be so wrong. Even at the ripe old age of seven, I knew the glory of sweet cocoa. This wasn't my first rodeo. I shrugged off any doubt and bit somewhere into the top of the brown, animated rodent. Cue angels singing and white fog. I think that rabbit came alive for a tenth of a second. We may have danced on clouds together, I can't recall.

I didn't completely finish him. (That day). Back at home, I set the remainder of my Easter gift on top of the refrigerator. Every time I walked into the kitchen I'd sneak a bite. I walked in to the kitchen A LOT. Bit by bit, I nipped gnawed away until the rabbit was an unrecognizable chunk of chocolate. Still though, it WAS chocolate. The bites would melt in my mouth. I'd swirl the mixture so every single taste bud would savor the glory, then I'd slowly swallow it, licking my lips to make sure nothing went to waste.

Me, tasting the chocolate rabbit

 When I finished the last of it (RIP, beautiful bunny,) I shook the crumbs at the bottom of the bag into my mouth. Yes, I realize that might be a bit much, but it's not like I licked the inside of the bag or anything. (That came a year or two later.)

I thought that was the last of my Easter treat extravaganza, but it wasn't. By force of habit, I traveled to the kitchen, reached for the top of the fridge and what do you know? There was a crinkle of plastic. Was it an old loaf of bread? Was it a package of Pork Rinds? I grabbed the item and stared at it. What the What? It was another my chocolate rabbit!!

Smelling the familiar heavenly scent should have ended there.  Let's not be unreasonable here. I was seven. And it was ME!  I took the tiniest bite possible while trying to keep the rabbit intact. It tasted just like I remembered. I quickly wrapped that bad boy back up and put him atop our golden appliance.

It may have been by habit, but every now and then (every five minutes), I'd find myself back at that familiar place, unwrapping the crinkly plastic and biting down on the dwindling treat.

One day (how did I not see this coming?) My mom gave my baby sister her chocolate rabbit. Reaching the top of the fridge, mom reminded my sister that she had to make the treat last and that….Oh no. I felt both bunnies fall to the pit of my stomach.
"WHO ATE THIS CHOCOLATE RABBIT??" screamed my mom, as if the neighbor down the street would know the answer.
Then my dad walked in. He slowly took the rabbit from my mom, viewing it from all sides. Wow. Was it really THAT small? Someone else HAD to help munch that thing down.  With all the genius of a little girl I said, "Are you sure YOU didn't eat it, Mom?"
"No! I'm on a diet! Besides, my rabbit is right here!" she answered. She reached in a cabinet and pulled down a solid bunny of her own. It wasn't as big as mine was, but in was whole. Wrapped up with its original ribbon. Shoot. Why didn't my mom put my sister's rabbit up there too? I was about to be busted. So busted.

Dad, who had lately taken over as the family's own CSI, pulled out a flipping magnifying glass. Where did that come from? What was this going to prove? He asked both my little sister and me to take a bite of the chocolate bunny. DUN DA DUN DUN.

The three year old took a full bite that still amounted to that of a china doll. Small, petite and adorable. I might as well have screamed out my guilt right then. It's time to admit to my readers that as a child I had the biggest, buckiest teeth NOT belonging to a rabbit. Not only that, but I had a crooked canine tooth that came in behind the others. We called it my tooth in the second row. I took the chocolate (Which would probably be the last time I'd ever eat again) and bit softly into the bunny. Dad took the chunk back and put the magnifying glass down. He didn't need it. Anyone could see the glistening scratches down the front. My teeth marks looked like a ski run. Ever so often you could also see where that crooked tooth got in the way.

close up of a not-so-innocent girl

All eyes were on me. I was humiliated. My dad yelled for a minute. My mom gave her own chocolate rabbit to my sobbing little sister. I just stood there like the food-stealing criminal I was. My dad then took me to the front porch. I was confused. Beatings don't happen on the front porch. Even in the seventies, for fear that your neighbor's mom would join in too.

We sat down on the front steps. I looked around. Were the Hershey police coming? Would the Easter bunny literally hop by my house skipping only me from now on? More nervous than ever, my dad handed to me the last of the crime's evidence. The last chocolate chunk . 

"You stole this chocolate. You didn't ask, you just took it for yourself" he said.
I hung my head in shame. Was he going to make me hold it until it melted? Was I going to have to recreate a new rabbit out of it?

"I want you to put that chunk in your mouth. You stole it. You wanted it. Now eat it. Eat the whole thing, now. No talking. No whining. Think about what you have done". he said

Now, if you were a kid like me, you've been spanked with a hand. Or a switch. Perhaps a fly swatter or a wooden spoon. Maybe you've been yelled at until you wanted to break your own ears off. That was not happening this day.

My father watched me stuff a huge chunk of chocolate into my mouth. I'm not sure if I was suppose to gag for effect; I'm not sure if I was to look like I was pondering what I did wrong. He just looked at me for a few seconds and returned to the house.

It was at the moment I heard the screen door shut behind me that I finally exhaled. (Through my nose, of course). I moved the by-now malleable piece of chocolate in my mouth to each side of my cheeks so I could periodically swallow. I'd lean back and let the liquid slide and find its way down my throat. I did that until it was gone.

Best. Punishment. Ever.

Lesson learned:

I apologized to my sister fully knowing that she could care less; she was too busy playing with her dolls.

I apologized to my parents who probably imagined that I made myself sick mixing shame with melted chocolate.

I would TRY not to steal sweets again.

Since my mom was on a diet, surely she wasn't going to finish that whole chocolate rabbit.

Thanks for the topic, Stacy!

If you are interested in joining us for the next Subject Swap, you can visit its creator, the wonderful Karen @ Baking in a Tornado. She is an amazing woman. You can also read all about the swaps by clicking on the SSS icon on the side of my blog.

Don't forget to check out this month's talented participants!

    
Baking in a Tornado                         
Follow Me Home                   
The Momisodes                                       
Confessions of a Part Time Working Mom                          
A Working Mom's "Whoas"                           
Evil Joy Speaks                   
Go Momma!                                 
Juicebox Confession                             
Stacey Sews and Schools                 
Searching for Sanity                       
Spatulas on Parade                       
Small Talk Mama                                 

                       
Cheers to the chocolate lovers every where.. You know who you are.
Happy Weekend, friends
-Michele