Kushies Online Kritter Pillows Blow Out Sale

Check out these adorable pillows! My kids have something similar to these and they are blankets and not necessarily pillows (only because of their age). Look at the huge savings!
thefivefish.com, kushiesonline.com, Kritter Pillows
I just wanted to pass on this savings because who wouldn’t and couldn’t use a deal and with Christmas right around the corner?! Hurry before the sale ends!

[Source: Hilary Abbott Communications]
 *Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency.

He Hung and Roped the Moon

The ache, the constant nag, the swollen, sore eyes. While I wish these were all signs of my allergies I am heartbroken, at a loss, a loss beyond all words. Some of you have probably read my sisters very lovely post and we share our loss.

My dear, beloved Rock of the family. My Grandfather.

My grandpa is, was, and will be the only man I know who could look at me and see right through me. He KNEW me! He loved me and I loved him beyond everything man, material, cosmic, and heavenly.

He led a very long, experienced and good life. He was born in Indiana if I recall correctly, he served in the Navy where he met his long time wife, love, and pain in his ass my grandmother. He would goat her like no one’s business, life to him was to be enjoyed. They met when she was young, she was 16 and he was 23, and on a blind date, arranged by her friend. Grandma said it was love at first site! Grandma and Grandpa have five children, 10 grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

Grandpa loved life and said if life was not enjoyed by you, it was not worth living. He told me that once when I was a little girl when we were handling his horse and that statement has stuck with me ever since.

Karie Herring, Karie Hudson, Dan Hudson, thefivefish.com

He had many horses actually. He is and was my original cowboy. If ever you thought of a cowboy he was THE ONE. Rough, soft hands, tall and lean, strong and wiry. He was stern and gentle, sweet and saucy, mean and quiet all at once. You could smell the sweat and dirt on his Stetson (I can still recall the smell to this day), manure and dirt on his boots, the smell of the warm denim of his jeans, the leather from his chaps and saddle, the smell of a pipe or a cigarette lingering in his shirt mingled with the warm smell of cologne, a Polo brand. He was something to be reckoned with and a sight to see. I have only seen him angry once and he was never a man to fear, he was a man who demanded a sort of respect I have not seen to this day.

Grandpa had a story for everything. He was the man of the hour to take you on his lap, tell you all you needed to know about baseball and basketball, Horses and cars, life, men, and women. He was so wise beyond his years. He was not perfect but he was perfect to me. He loved his family like none other, family is, was, and will always be his life. He was my life. I could spend hours staring into his bold blue eyes, the eyes that never faded or changed with age, they were electric, all knowing, all loving, and you could always see his spunk.

I carry an immense amount of guilt though with his passing yesterday (October 17, 2009). All week I meant to email my grandmother to find the right time to come see him where he would not be uncomfortable. His health had deteriortated rapidly from when I saw him at Christmas. So a visit would almost incapicitate him, so I wanted to schedule time where I would leave the kids at home. Where I could have time with him alone as I knew this would upset his schedule. I never sent the email. I never got to see him one last time. I am riddled with guilt, at a loss. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him, how he was my rock for the last 31 years, that I would be lost without him but I knew I would take his strength, his love to conquer all that I have. That because of him I have never lost sight, I always went for the impossible, I made the impossible possible because he knew I could do it. He told me never let anything get in the way of something profound and meaningful in your life.

Grandpa knew I had an unbridled fury for life and for exploring life. Grandpa and I were and are one in the same. We shared our secrets, he never judged and we knew how important we are and were to one another, how he still is my eternal love, he is the most genuine being I have ever met. Everything he said he meant, he used his words wisely. He taught me that I could be a lady, a girl, a woman, a mother, a tom-boy, and always be beautiful. He taught me to dance and to love Sinatra, he taught me to dance to Sinatra (Luck be a Lady) and the man could dance like a pro, as if he had clouds under his feet.

My dear Grandpa Dan, I know you are at peace, but selfish me wants you back, to give you your breath and take away the hurt and pain for one more day to spend with you, but in the words of Frank, you always did it your way!
I love you, your oldest Granddaughter, Kare Babe.

These Kids Eat Like….Hobbits?

You thought I was going to say
horse
I fooled you!!

Seriously I think my kids eat ALL the time. Non-stop from the moment they wake up to the time they go to sleep. You would never know with Sara, unless she has a tape worm or something, we don’t call her Little Bitty for nothing! Seth and Grant could probably eat some linebackers or at least some fullbacks under the table FOR SURE! And they aren’t fat…..but I have been tracking their eating, and seriously all day. So instead of telling you their eating schedule, please watch this informational video that I found on YouTube which will fully explain the extent to which my children eat….and the times they eat!

I Heart My CSA

csa, farming, agriculture, organicI just have to tell you all again how much I love my CSA. What is a CSA you ask?
Community Supported Agriculture.
Agriculture? As in farm, You got it!

I had never heard of a CSA until one of my twin mommies told me about it and I have to tell you I am hooked! I don’t think I can go back to the standard way of buying my produce and eggs from the store. I did a HUGE post about it some time ago, so you can go read all about the deets there and why CSA’s are important to our community, the environment, and of course….YOUR HEALTH!!

But enough of my soap box….just take a gander at these beauties!CSA, agriculture, organic, community supported agricutlure, produceLook at all of that!! And that my friends and readers….is just a ONE WEEK basket from a CSA. Let me detail all the wonderful items in that picture for you if you can’t already decipher:

CSA, agriculture, organic, community supported agricutlure, produce
One Dozen Eggs
CSA, agriculture, organic, community supported agricutlure, produce, free range eggs
2 Armenian Cucumbers (which are THE BEST, super crunchy and tasty!)
One watermelon (last of the season and still sweet as sugar!)
Butternut squash, perfect for fall
Licorice Basil (Oh em gee the aroma…my whole fridge smells like it, and just YUMMY), I can’t wait to make my famous Pan Chicken with this and some FABULOUS Organic Marinara Sauce
CSA, agriculture, organic, community supported agricutlure, produce, free range eggs
Now here we have Okra, which I fried up last night in a tablespoon of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, pepper and added some Parmesan and OMG was it to DIE FOR!
Organic Tomatoes, which are JUST again TO DIE FOR!
Organic Pomegranate which I am DYING to dive into today
Did I mention this is all to die for?
Acorn Squash, again PERFECT for fall
Finally, a Purple Bell Pepper which smells divine and cannot wait to use in a recipe.
CSA, agriculture, organic, community supported agricutlure, produce, free range eggsSo let me ask you…..Do you know where your produce and food comes from? If not? You should! Mine is made with lots of love from my fabulous farmer Mike. Learn all about CSA’s and or Food Coop’s and enjoy all the benefits of Organic farming, supporting your local farmers, businesses, and heck the kids will LOVE going to the farm like mine do.

My Falling Star

You see my great post about Grant being the star student?

Yes, DH and I are so proud. What an accomplishment.

Until Today. I thought twice about posting, but I think so surreal to being a parent and bragging about being a great parent with having a great kid. My star student initiated actions that resulted in a friendly call from my friend “The Principal.”

Correct, THE principal. Papa…well she is a Mama Grande. The head honch, the big kahuna, THE BOSS.

She called me to tell me about some unfortunate circumstances, unacceptable behavior, and disgusting actions. Not that my son is not totally capable, but really I figured these would be left until at least high school.

  • His blatant disregard for authority
  • His disregard for his unacceptable and intolerable actions
  • His foul mouth! (Decided he would call everyone a “fucker” today)

I am totally in awe that my boy decided to act so unfavorably, so much like a heathen, so despicable. I do not doubt his culpability and capability, but I doubt the he acted alone and without provocation. So I now ask you, have you had one day where you are like “OMG, where is my kid?” when the principal or teacher calls? Have you had a day where you are just completely lost on what happened to your normal, everyday, easy breezy child? I just cannot believe my kid….my boy acted in such a manner. Again, not denying it, just completely cannot believe he could act that way, especially in school. I hope we can resolve this, I would hate for my Star Student to fall from grace.

My Star Student

Grant Baby I am so proud of you!

I hope I tell you enough each day how proud I am of you. I am so happy that you are having a WHOLE week in the spotlight as Star Student! You deserve it buddy, way to work hard! Good job on your poster too bud, even if Mom did help a little with the poster of everything that makes you special.

I love you!
Mom

At Home with Friends: Joshua Bell album

This week has been so fabulous for me because I celebrated my nine year wedding anniversary and I got to do it in a really fabulous way. I know, can you tell I love to use FABULOUS!

So the week started off with reviewing and holding a giveaway for the new Harry Connick Jr. CD “Your Songs” which is heavenly. I love anything HCJ, he reminds me a lot of Sinatra, Van Morrison, just awesome. Then as the week progressed I got a chance to review the AWESOME sounds of Joshua Bell.

If you have never heard of Joshua Bell, go, go now and Google, get him on iTunes, buy his CD. I am a music snob and his music is really right up my alley. He is a violinist for starters. I am a violinist. *GASP. I know, who would have thought this snarky mom of three would play the violin, let alone like any artist that plays themselves. I grew up attending The Nutcracker Suite productions with a full orchestra, I have gone to the symphony (and am that snob in full applause at the end), I am a HUGE classics fan.

So when the ladies at One2OneNetwork asked if anyone wanted to reivew Joshua Bell’s new CD, I was scrambling to make sure my  hyperlink was clicking as fast as it could! I love his music. The violin, folks, is one of the most emotional and powerful instruments I personally have ever heard and to hear this man play the way he does is absolutely magical. My kids when they heard his music were like the children from that Lowe’s commerical with the green paint, at ease.

His new CD which became available on September 29th is JAM packed with other phenomenal artists. Imagine the divine singings of the violin strings with Josh Groban, Sting (SWOON! BIG BIG SWOON!), Regina Spektor, and Sergei Rachmaninoff (classics composer in case you didn’t know).

If you thought a date night with Harry was great….MOVE ON OVER! The music of Joshua Bell is a serenade, but don’t feel pressure to take my word for it.

Oh and he was on The Tonight Show last night, I happened to miss because I was listening to him at home for my anniversary. Thank you! But even better if you missed him on The Tonight Show if you happen to live in the Chicago area, he will be ON TOUR! Yes catch this violinist master at his best at Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center in Chicago. But don’t fret, you can still catch him on TV for the following days:

Better TV www.better.tv – October. 6
WNET Sunday Arts – October 11th between 12 and 3 PM .
Tavis Smiley on PBS check your local listings at PBS.org – October 5th
WGN TV Noon News – October 8th at 12:00 noon

Here is a little about Joshua’s album and music:

The album covers all of the genres, from classical to pop, bluegrass to Broadway, jazz and ethnic World Music. There are even a couple of seasonal tracks just in time to celebrate the holidays.

Joshua Bell is a Grammy Award winning violinist and performed on the Oscar winning soundtrack for Best Score to the film The Red Violin. Joshua attended Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music where he recently returned as a senior lecturer. 

You don’t need me to tell you anymore, go listen for yourself on his website and be sure to tell the ladies and gents at One2OneNetwork thanks for the recommendation on some superb music! I know I am grateful to listen to Joshua’s new album over and over until the next one comes out.

The All New Momma Diet Plan

Ladies, the buck stops here for all those diet scams and plans.
(Oh really?!)

Have you tried all pills, exercises, food and meal plans? Exercise machines and bogus contraptions? Let me tell you I have the ultimate plan for you and this is how you begin said plan!

  1. Have twins, or at least a couple kids, get nice and round.
  2. Make sure said kids have appetites like NFL Linebackers
  3. Make meals they will NOT eat and YOU will (or so you think)
  4. Sit down to attempt to eat said HOT, warm meal children will not like
  5. Children flock to you and said HOT meal to eat it
  6. They eat it off YOUR plate
  7. Every speck
  8. Leaving you just the crumbs
  9. ENJOY your little morsel of a meal, at most 100 calories in crumbs ladies
  10. You will be fit and trim in no time with that meal plan, BON APETIT!

Watch the gnomes, at least the Little Bitty Sara gnome,
in action as she feeds her Daddy…after she feeds herself.


Mom and Dad feeding from Karie Herring on Vimeo.

Forever I Do

Who knew that nine years ago today that we would seal our fate forever, that our lives would be where they are now. We thought this day was like any other day, just a job to be done and handled. Who knew what the last nine years have brought.

Through the rough and smooth, the good and bad, the pretty and ugly, we have been there for one another.

On this day nine years ago we made this pledge:

It is my intention to be your best friend, to respect and suport you, to work together with you to achieve those things that are important to us, to accept you unconditionally, and to share life with you throughout the years.

I loved you the day I met you, I loved you the day you proposed to me, I loved you the day you married me, I loved you the day we moved, I loved you the day we became parents for the first time, I loved you the day we became parents for the second and third time (all at once). I have and will always love you.

I love that you know I like my toast done on one side, I like tea in the summer and coffee in the morning, I love that you know I will be stubborn but always open to something new, I hate being dirty but I love playing in the mud, I love that you know me for me and that through all of this time you are still you and I am still me. That we are still us, and that we have ALL of us with the kids.

My best friend and enemy, my best debate partner and ally, my best idea expounder, my bodyguard, my wrestling mate, my shoulder, my ear, my lover, my ying and I your yang.

I would not change a thing. I have no regrets. I wish for nothing more than to have you by my side in all our adventures, fears, good times. I love you. Happy Anniversary.

Come Get You Some

I have to admit I am a Funewga (fa-noo-gah) (Fuckin New Guy…in case you didn’t know…old car biz saying) to this whole blog thing. I mean truly I am, still a little wet behind the ears and getting the hang of everything. So I was completely humbled, surprised, and totally honored by a few special messages from some very special bloggers.

Tania over at the Lucky Canuck awarded me with the One Lovely Blog Award. I tell you, this means a whole lot to me, because some days, I think that my blog is less than lovely, so this truly was a huge honor.Especially because she is just rawkin! She is just too sweet really she is, very quiet in the emails we have passed back and forth, just a Canadian gem…like all my Canadian blog friends!

Amanda, over at A Family of Shorts awarded me with the I Give Good Blog award which is totally wicked and again a huge honor and totally humbling to me. She is totally nuts and I love her, a fellow Zonie (AZ native) and so awesome I found her….or rather maybe she found me. Love her!

Have you all met Holly? She is a ROCKIN’ chick and also a fellow Zonie and twin mommy. So she knows the crazy we sell and talk about around here. She does Tea and talks about her twins at Saguaro Blossoms so check her out. She was ever so awesome to pass on this award, so to her I am grateful as well.

I am not one to take compliments well, I am generally the one giving them, just part of my nature and who I am I guess. So here is the deal. I am suppose to link up 15 new bloggers that I have found. Well I tell you, I found at least that this week and no way I can remember, I fave them and I just click through my bookmarks. What I want to do since you have to limit who gets these awards, I want to add a McLinky here!!

I want you, to come give yourself the award, grab it, steal it, pass it around, mom it forward to someone else, or heck just showcase it on your blog and let me know you did by adding your link at the bottom! I think we are all great bloggers, there are so many that I read in a day that I can’t get to everyone to comment, and I surely cannot just limit my choices. So please, come link up, grab your awards! Seriously! You deserve it!

So sign the linky that you took your award. And hey….helps your rankings!!