Stat Counter

I installed stat counter to track all the visitors of this blog. You know, all ten of you.

It's interesting to see where you found me or where you clicked and what blogs you read!

I just saw that somebody found my blog by google-ing "toddlers and tiaras gay dad". haha!!!!!!!! I thought this was so funny. So I followed the google link and apparently I am not the only person that thought that Dad was in the closet!!!

Edit: So I wrote this post after I saw the google search. After I posted I continued reviewing my stat counter. Check out these other google searches that led to my blog! Some are from Hawaii, Connecticut, Missouri, and Illinois .

"toddlers and tiaras strange mom"
"the gay dad on toddlers and tiaras"
"toddlers and tiaras gay"
"toddlers and tiara, pageant dad"
"toddlers and tiaras and pagaent dad" (google helped this person with the
spelling of pageant, it's a tricky one)
"toddlers and tiaras full episodes"

Toddlers and Tiaras

Did anyone see this show?

The first episode was based in Texas. Shocking.

The weirdest thing about this episode was that the Moms competed in the pagaent too. So they were up against their own toddler daughter, weird right?

Family #1-The Dad is a total pageant Dad and clearly doesn't know he is gay and neither does his wife.

Family #2-Someone needs to tell the Mom that she shouldn't be in a swimsuit. In public. If you don't got it, don't flaunt it.

Family #3-The Mom felt that competing with her daughter made her want it more. I guess it worked, because the little girl won.

So the Pageant Director has a few interviews during the show. She said in one interview that this pageant was one of those pageants that the more glitter and glam the better. Fake eye lashes make your eyes look bigger, glitter and shiney costumes make you stand out, fake hair and nails are great. Then, later in the show she talks about how she doesn't like the girls to tan b/c she wants them to look natural! ha!

I can't show a picture b/c the site won't let me dowload.
Check it out some time....TLC Tuesdays at 9.

This morning....

I almost got run over by a large truck this morning.
The back windshield said....

I'd rather be cummin that strokin.

Why? Just why would someone do this?

I am so cool, I got an award!

So I am just getting into this blogging thing. And it's so fun to read other people's blogs. I am trying so hard to be entertaining...it's just not working. But Casey gave me an award and I am so pumped!

I've got to select 10 people to send it to! Oh the pressure!

Thanks Casey...you are the one that made me do this and now I am completely addicted. I'll send you my therapy bills someday! ;)

My blog award is the cute little lemonade stand to the right!
Cute, uh?

Old Fashioned Fudge Pie

This pie is soooo good and sooo easy!

Ingredients
2 (1-ounce) square(s) semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell
Whip cream or ice cream

Directions
Preheat oven to 375.
Melt chocolate and butter together in sauce pan over low heat. Remove pan from heat and add sugar, then eggs; beat well. Pour filling into pie crust and bake for 25 minutes. Serve warm or cold, with whip cream or ice cream.

Ghetto-Fab

I totally want to be a "social" like Olivia Palermo.















But I have this feeling that she's not singing Snoop Dog's Gin and Juice at the top of her lungs when she's driving home from work.

Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice. Laid back (with my mind on my money and my money on my mind).

I am also pretty sure she doesn't pretend like she's Kanye at the clubs.

Year in Reviw

Wow! Looking back at pics! 2008 was great! Here are some of the highlights!

Started the year off with the Cowtown Marathon Feb. 2008
(Did I say marathon? I meant 5k!)

Annual ski trip to Lake Tahoe!

We then lost our minds and rode our bikes around Dallas for 30 miles in the Tour Dallas bike tour.

Our second niece, Cara arrives!

Our nephew, Ethan turns 1!

Dude, I met Rosie O'Donnell! BTW: Totally love my hair in this pic!

Celebrated our 4th Wedding Anniversary at the Dallas Arboretum "Cool Thursdays" with friends. Although, it was NOT cool at all. It was over 100 degrees!

Lost our minds AGAIN and participated in the Peach Pedal Bike Race in Weatherford. I was promised peach cobbler at the end of the 26 mile race!

My sweet friend Meg wanted to celebrate her 30th birthday in STYLE! She flew us all to Chicago for a girls weekend! We partied it up, saw Wicked, visited Navy Pier and hung out at the Hancock Building! It was a great weekend! Thanks Meggers! (Two of the girls were pregnant...actually 3...but the third didn't know yet!)

Shortly after Chicago we went on an AMAZING vacation to Costa Rica. This was defintely one of our best vacations. I have the best travel agent.....my husband. Seriously, I just pack and show up!
Searching for dolphins!

Waterfall repelling! Scariest thing I've ever done until....

(I'm on the right and you can hear Mr. Fitz cheering me on...but in a sarcastic way!)

I had a better video of Mr. Fitz doing the zip line, plus you really don't want to hear me screaming!

Headed back to Chicago in September for my friend Mary's wedding. We've been friends since 1st grade!

Shortly after this picture was taken A LOT of champagne and wine was consumed. I cannot post the pictures after this moment. The Internets is just not ready!

High School Buddies!

Off to Nashville for our friend's wedding! So fun when all your college friends get together! Crazy things happen...why do we feel the need to act like we were back in college??

The wedding was at the botanical gardens the reception on the rooftop of a building in downtown Nashville! So much fun!

You'll soon learn about our weird Elvis "thing"!

We've got this pose down!

For appetizers they served mini cobb salads with a mini grilled cheese on top. How cute is that! And they also had a macaroni and cheese bar. Three types of macaroni with all sorts of toppings. It was DELISH!


And the rest was Thanksgiving and the holidays...and I already bored ya'll with those pics.

We are only in the 22nd day of 2009 and it feels like it's been much longer. I hope everyone has a wonderful year and that it's even better than 2008!

Tagged!

I've been tagged by Casey, so here it goes.

5 things I did today:
1) Read another chapter of My Sister's Keeper (almost done Ang, finally!)
2) Laid in bed a lot! (recovery from minor surgery)
3) Read a few blogs
4) Watched Ellen
5) Searching for a house on realtor.com
(really need to do this section on a more exciting day! I am really not this lame!)

5 favorite restaurants:
1) Taverna Pizzeria and Risotteria(the best seafood risotto!)
2) La Margarita in San Antonio
3) Starbucks, it does count! ;)
4) Sea Island in SA
5) Piranha Killer Sushi

5 shows that I watch:
1) Real Housewives of anything (just started watching this series, love it!)
2) The Bachelor (dang it! Got sucked in again!)
3) Grey's Anatomy
4) The Office
5) The Hills and The City and The Real World (just started again this week

5 things I wish for:
1) be/get healthy
2) sell our house this year
3) buy a house this year
4) job security
5) family to be healthy

5 things I look forward to:
1) Season premiere of Lost! (1/21)
2) Arrival of Baby Riley and Baby O'Neill
3) Running in a 5k, still TBD.
4) Reading more books over watching TV.
5) Summer vacay!

And, so I tag:

Sylvia
Angelique
Dixie
Allison
Angela

Chicken, Orzo, and Spinach Casserole

Here is a recipe I cooked between Christmas and NYE. I try to make at least one casserole a week b/c they usually make good leftovers and that means one night I don't have to cook. This casserole was really good the next day!

Chicekn, Orzo, and Spinach Casserole
4 (6-ounce) skinned and boned chicken breasts
2/3 cup uncooked orzo
1 (8-ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
Vegetable cooking spray
1 (10-ounce) packed chopped frozen spinach, thawed and well drained
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can low-fat cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon seasoned pepper
3/4 cup (6 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs

Boil chicken and water to cover in a large Dutch oven 12 minutes or until done. Remove chicken, and set aside.
Cook pasta in reserved broth according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.
Saute mushrooms until tender in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray.
Remove from heat. Stir in chicken, pasta, spinach, and next 4 ingredients. Spoon mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with cheese and breadcrumbs.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
Yield: 8 servings.

Jack in the Box

Since some of you...okay one of you asked about Jack's head on my couch.

Two years ago at work we had a pumpkin decorating contest. So I decorated my craft pumpkin to look like Jack! I won $100!

Happy Birthday to me!

Last year I celebrated my birthday by having a fabulous celebration.

This year...I got new carpet.
I spent most of the day cleaning up this mess.

Happy Birthday to me! ;)

Gingerbread Souffles with Lemon Cream

Here is the recipe for you Ang! Enjoy!

This took me A LOT longer than I thought. Make this when you have time. Don't fill the cups too high b/c they over flow. You can half the souffle recipe and the lemon cream recipe.

I made 4 cups and filled them way too much...but it was mostly because I didn't want 8 cups for 2 people. I did store the other two in the refrigerator and they still tasted pretty good the next day. Couldn't let a good dessert go to waste!

Gingerbread Souffles with Lemon Cream

prep: 20 minutes cook: 30 minutes other: 20 minutes

Butter or margarine

Granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1-4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups milk

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup molasses

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 large eggs, separated

Garnish: powdered sugar

Lemon Cream

Grease bottom and sides of 8 (6-ounce) custard cups or ramekins evenly with butter. Lightly coat bottom and sides evenly with granulated sugar, shaking out excess. Place cups in a 13- x 9-inch pan. Set aside.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in large saucepan over medium heat; whisk in flour. Cook, whisking contantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. Remove from heat. Whisk in 2/3 cup granulated sugar and next 5 ingredients.

Whisk egg yolks until thick and pale. Gradually stir about one-fourth of hot mixture into yolks; add to remaining hot mixture, stirring constantly. Cooke over medium heat 1 minute. Cool 20 minutes.

Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixture until soft peaks form. Gradually fold egg whites into custard. Spoon evenly into custard cups.

Bake at 400 for 18 to 20 minutes or until puffed and set. Garnish, if desired. Serve immediately with Lemon Cream.

Yield 8 servings

Lemon Cream

prep: 5 minutes

1 cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon grated lemon rind

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Beat whipping cream at medium speed until foamy; gradually add sugar, rind, and juice, beating until soft peaks form.

Yield: 2 cups.

Christmas 2008

Had a great time in San Antonio visiting with family and friends!

We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve with my parents, sister, bro-in-law and nephew. We exchanged gifts and hung out in our pajamas!

On Christmas Eve we went to mass and to my Aunt's house, as usual. We always have Mexican Food on Christmas Eve. Tamales, queso, rice, beans, guacamole, and ojarascas (also called pan de polvo). I think I gained about 5 pounds it that one night!





















My sister and her family! Can they be any cuter??.
Ethan and his egg nog mustache.

























The Fitz's annual Christmas pic!
















Ethan opening presents. If you look closely you can see his tongue sticking out.


Mr. Fitz and I left SA on Christmas morning to make it back to DFW for dinner with his parents. It was the first time since we've been married to spend Christmas with his family. We had the traditional Christmas dinner and an Irish tradition of plum pudding for dessert.





















Dining Room table and Mr. Fitz's Dad lighting the plum pudding. You can't tell in the picture but there are flames as he lights the brandy over the dessert!


We were home for the rest of the weekend! It was kinda nice and relaxing.