It's time to review the Boys

The gentlemen adorned the stage last night in attempt to stay another week. With the results just hours away, here's my take on the Boys of American Idol...

Todrick Hall~ Very comfortable on stage. I enjoyed the performance but didn't feel his vocals were contest worthy. Not at least in this performance.

Aaron Kelly~He did well. I just don't see him standing out. I think he'll quickly get lost in the mix.

Jermaine Sellers~ This poor guy was so nervous. The result was a lot of bad notes.

Tim Urban~ Enough with the smoldering looks into the camera. Those high notes were hard to listen too. He's cute, though, and I think he'll make it through to next week.

Joe Munoz~ Strong performance although the words sounded muffled in the beginning.

Tyler Grady~ I don't like looking at him. Never got into Jim Morrison, don't want to now.

Lee Dewyze~ This was my surprise of the evening. I don't recall seeing much of him in previous episodes. I really enjoyed the sound of his voice and predict he'll make top 6 for the guys.

John Park~Wow. this was another hard to watch performance. The vocals improved at the midway point but it was already too late. Tell the producers to stop making the guys "make love" to the cameras. It's distracting, fake and annoying.

Michael Lynche~I really like him and his story but why was he putting his mouth all over the mic? That was bothersome. I was also surprised at his reactions to the judges criticisms. Looked like he was going to go postal.

Alex Lambert~Nothing about this kid stands out to me. He reminds me more of aPlano dentist than an American Idol. Maybe it's because he reminds me of Herbie?

Casey James~ I hope that's the end of the Casey/Kara references. It's just gotten to be too much. It could also be bad for both of them. I'm probably the only one who doesn't like his hair. He's a good singer, though, and will definitely make it to the top 12.

Andrew Garcia~ My favorite guy after Hollywood week. I did not care for or know the song but still think he'll be in the top 12. I also hope he is more creative in his song choice next week.

American Idol Recap~ It was Inevitable

Yep. The ladies just performed and there is nothing I like more than wine and Idol. I've been watching wince the auditions, so my judgement may be clouded, but here is what I've got.

Ladies Night~ 12 ladies perform. It's America's job to dwindle them down to 6. My recap...

Paige ~ I'm not into her ...yet. Think going first has its demerits. Was she really sewn into her outfit? That would suck and I couldn't sing if I had to pee for 5 hours. Did a good job for first up. She'll make it through...to next week.

Ashley~ Not sure of her song choice. Not the right one for her. There is something about her I like though. Seemed a little nervous but very adorable. We'll see her next week.

Janelle~Wine Rep? I think she may be my new BFF. Not my favorite performance by her. Very karaoke-ish. But I think she has more to show and I look forward to it.

Lilly~ I didn't even recognize the song but I think she's brilliant and will be around for a while.

Katelyn~ I really like her, but what's with the hair and make-up. Seriously, fire those people because it just distracted me from the performance. Made it seem Cabaret-ish. Would have been better without all the visual distractions.

Haeley~ So cute. I love that she got her nosed pierced to commemorate but it I feel she fell short in the vocals. Liked her better with the Country songs. Something nasal in her voice. Cute but irritating. She may be going home.

Lacey~ So cute and spunky. I did not like her performance but hope she gets another chance.

Michelle~ Way too cute. Real. Hope she does well. Seems very comfortable on stage but maybe could have picked a better song for her voice.

Didi~ Her voice is one of a kind and not annoying. I'd like to see her stick around for awhile. She needs to figure out who she is.

Siobhan~ Interesting character. I like her voice but another one who hasn't yet figured out who she is. Strong competition. Did she get her teeth fixed?

Crystal~ Seriously. Best female in the group. Very authentic. I hope everyone votes on talent. She may have not felt she was right for this competition but I'm sure Daughtry felt the same. I'd like to see her in the final!

Katie~ Cute girl. Kind of felt like it was Britney's coming of age video. Love her back story and think she has a voice but is too commercial at this point.

Other notes...

Surprisingly and sad, Ellen seemed very uncomfortable and seemed to copy what others said. I think she'll warm up.

Surprisingly~ I think Kara is my favorite judge this season. Very real. Not obnoxious. This season may prove to be the best.

We're gonna miss you Simon. But we'll be A-OK without you.

Look what Jimmy's doing now

I mentioned here that I have a new 4 week gig for The View. Now I have to watch. It's rough sometimes all the demands that I put on myself, lol.

So. I'm watching The View last week and they are discussing that Jimmy Johnson is the new spokesperson for extenze. (So is it him that keeps sending me all those emails?) They were talking about how embarrassing it would be to promote such a product (which, according to these funny ladies is a product for hair) and what would make a celebrity choose to do it. I was reading here that Jimmy uses the product and so I guess he thought he may as well get it for free. Shouldn't some things stay private?

Girls Night In~ Kiss from a Rose

Another Girls Night In has come and gone. I'm getting sloppy. We're having so much fun I keep forgetting to take pictures of the food. It was another fondue night. Steak and Shrimp. I will never get sick of that. We also had some brown rice and a salad comprised of romaine, mixed greens, roasted pecans, cranberries and brie tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette that was to die for. I think I had 5 servings of that. Thanks Kathy!

The star of the night was the beverage.

Kiss from a Rose
1/2 oz. Raspberry Liqueur

1/2 oz. Creme de Cassis
4 oz. Rose Cuvee

Garnish with fresh berries

We modified the recipe slightly. we used 1/2 oz. of each liquor and then filled the wine glasses with champagne. We also left out the fruit.

This is the first beverage (with the exception of Margaritas) that everyone loved. We're a Red wine drinker, a Pink Wine drinker, a Whiskey and a Rum drinker collectively but all really enjoyed this drink. It was light and fruity but not so much so that it clashed with the food. It was a perfect celebratory beverage and we've all decided to have it again.

As usual, we laughed and caught up on everything going on in our lives. We talked diets and fitness (as we drank and filled our bellies). We probably should have talked about the best hgh supplements. Hot topics of the evening were American Idol and the Olympics.

It was a fun and crazy evening and I look forward to next months even though I don't remember which day we picked to have it. Oops.

*Thanks goes out to the nice folks at Barefoot who graciously supplied the Rose Cuvee and the recipe. They truly made the night special with a drink we all loved.

Highlight Saturday~ Barefoot Bubbly Extra Dry

Since I work most Saturdays and don't really get the chance to post or blog hop. I'm starting a new tradition of highlighting older posts (re-posting them) in case you weren't here the first time around. I swear it will be less painful than reading cla reviews and you might even enjoy some of the wines and foods I've discovered.

In honor of Barefoot, who is sponsoring our Girls Night In tonight. I thought I would post a review I did (with another blogger) for their Extra Dry Champagne. The champagne for the review was purchased by me.






I'm not sure where to begin. The Wine Whore and I had so much fun last time with our Hob Nob review that we decided to treat you with another edition of a He said, She said review. This time I let Randy pick the variety and he decided on Barefoot Bubbly Extra Dry Champagne. I usually only drink champagne on New Years and other very special occasions, so there is not much about the production I can share with you. I do love everything else Barefoot produces that I've tried though, so I thought I would give it a whirl.

I usually don't drink the extra dry or even dry versions of champagnes because Hubster doesn't care for them and he is usually my partner in crime when there is a toast to be made. That will no longer be the case. I love this champagne and fully understand why it got 90 points in the 2007 California State Fair wine competition.


I started with a glass as I prepared dinner and could definitely taste the apple flavor it boasts. It was very smooth and refreshing and left me wanting more. I paired it with Scallops and a rice-spinach-onion-mushroom medley and it complimented my choice exquisitely. I really think I need to drink champagne more often. I had a key lime bar for dessert with another glass of the Bubbly and thoroughly enjoyed the combination. While some of the champagne's flavoring was masked with different foods it remained very smooth and delightful to drink. A nice diversion from the wines I usually consume.


Overall I would have to give Barefoot Bubbly an 8.5. It might be higher but I'm not a true connoisseur of champagne, yet, and need to leave room for other great selections. Truly enjoyable and I will definitely buy it again.


If you want a real version of a review, with big words and winery terms, or just want another perspective, head on over to Randy's place and check out what he has to say.


If you have a wine you would like reviewed...let us know.


I'll leave you with a picture of my dinner

Please Clean Your Own Plates ~ Fitness Friday

It's Friday. I'm feeling kinda crummy. Pudding Pop has a cold and spent the entire night couching directly in my face. I hope she feels better soon. The upside of getting this cold is the loss of appetite she has demonstrated. I can only hope to achieve a quick trim around the mid-section by not eating for a couple days.

I've hit my goal of 3 hours of exercise per week since the beginning of 2010. Wii Fit Plus is tracking my time and any exercise outside of that is just bonus. I've added 2.5 pound ankle weights and for Valentine's Day the kids got me the riser for the balance board to increase the efficiency of the step aerobics.

I've (sort of) started using Weight Watchers. A dear friend sent me all her information so I can count and keep track of points and only have to weigh in at home. Isn't a bulging Mii enough humiliation?

While I have been steadily working out since January, I wasn't seeing much in the way of results. With the added weights, riser and WW menus I've managed to lose 5 pounds just this week. I think the eating healthier thing is just psychological for me. While I love fruits, vegetables and all food healthy, the minute I resolve myself to eating that way I just want burgers and chocolate.

To make it easier, I purchased and cut up a vegetable medley of zucchini, squash, red onion and orange pepper. I have a large tub and saute up a bowl for an afternoon snack of to accompany meals. I also cooked up and shredded some chicken breasts and have had a spinach salad topped with the chicken each night for dinner. I'm eating a heavier lunch than usual and then eating lighter at the end of the day.

Last night the kids wanted breakfast for dinner. I made buttermilk pancakes, sausage and hash browns. I was completely happy eating my salad while everyone else feasted on some of my "other" favorite foods. Fine until it was time to clear the table and do the dishes. The discarded food on the plates were begging to be eaten.

Note to children...If you are not going to eat everything on your plate, you will need to discard the leftovers before putting your plate on the counter to be washed.

Special Note: If you are tired of hearing about all the fun I am having with my Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus and do not own a Wii but would like to try out the system, go to Wii Mommies for a great opportunity to get a Wii and the Wii Fit Plus to start getting fit. Looking for 5 non-Wii owners to try out and report your findings. Must be willing to follow a designated program and document results.

Kevin Smith has Nothing on this Guy

With the recent news of Kevin Smith being ejected from a Southwest flight I've been having flashbacks to my senior year in high school and a trip I took to Las Vegas over Spring Break.

While Kevin may become the new spokes person for fat burners for men, he has nothing on the guy who sat across the aisle from us.

The year was 1986. Security was nothing more than a gate to walk through. Non-passengers were allowed through security, right up to the gate to kiss loved ones good-bye. Smoking was also still allowed on the air crafts.

My friend and I boarded our plan. Excited to be off on an adventure without supervision and going somewhere the other kids wouldn't be. We may have actually coined the term "What happens in Vegas...". Anywho...

There was this guy on the plane. Right across the aisle from us. He was a safety hazard. Not only did his spillage block the aisle and cause difficulty for the food and beverage carts to get through, this man couldn't stay awake. He'd take a bite of food and then immediately fall asleep. His arm would drop to his side, in the aisle, and any food that hadn't made it into his mouth would fall to the floor. He would wake a few moments later for another bite, or because the flight attendants (who were called stewardess') would tap him to get his arm out of the way of the cart.

I know. You're thinking that food on the floor isn't really a hazard. The arm in the aisle may cause a back up in an evacuation situation, but that's rare. But what if I told you he was also smoking? Because he was. Same thing that would happen to his food would happen to the lit cigarettes. He'd take a puff, fall asleep and we would watch in horror as the burning stick would fall to the floor. I'm pretty sure this is the single-most reason that smoking was banned on airplanes. Just saying.

Wii extras, Wasabi Peas and the Olympics

It's my favorite time of the week. When I get to say Hell a lot and rant about all sorts of random stuff. Yep. It's What the Hell Wednesday. What the Hell have you been up to this past week? If you would like to rant about it and have a couple of What the Hell moments to share (and who doesn't) head over to Elle and Stacy's place and link up. Way fun.

I added 2.5 pound ankle weights to my Wii Fit workouts. I even did a weigh in with them on (by accident) and was pissed I had gained 1.8 pounds. What the Hell? I thought. Then I danced around realizing I had them on and had actually lost 3.2 pounds. Pretty sure I found it though. Those pounds never stay lost for long.

Then...because I'm determined to lose weight without giving up chocolate and chips, I decided to add an extra fat burner. I added the wii balance board riser and boy, have I mentioned how un-coordinated I am? I'm not sure why I can't get the rhythm right on the side to side, and I'm all the sudden really good at the purple steps. Practice makes Perfect. Perfect is my goal...with riser...and weights.

Boog had a Valentine's Snack-nic. What the Hell? He's 6. I also need to get a patent on that word fast. It's seems to be catching on. Remember you read it here first, kay?

I'm addicted to wasabi peas? Have I mentioned that yet. A guy brought them into work and I've been eating them everyday since. What the Hell? They are crunchy and spicy and I'll never be able to get enough. They surprisingly go well with wine too. Just saying.

Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics was a bust at our house. I was ready and excited. The kids were not as enthused. Hubster wanted to see it and kept getting distracted. I kept rewinding in hopes he's soon show up. At 8:30 (an hour after the start) he told me to go ahead and watch. He was with the kids in the den getting them settled but could tell my frustration watching the poor guy crash over and over. I'd start it when he came into the room and then he would walk back out. I started watching, hit record and fell asleep somewhere around 10:30. I went back to watch it the next day only to find that the delay in the actual torch lighting made the "show" go past scheduled time and I missed it. What the Hell? Trying to find it online is like giving away your first born. I'll assume it was cool.

Okay. I'll leave you with time to read more What the Hell post. Head over the Blue Monkey Butt and see who else is playing.

This Will Make You Want to Drink

I've been trying to figure out why Boog seems to get stuffy and congested when he goes to be at night. He also seems to get more colds and viruses than the rest of us. Hubster always goes for the most dramatic and expensive solutions and believes it's mole under the house. Wouldn't that affect us all? I started looking into other things.

It could just be that Boog is a first grader and spends more time than the rest of us around germy kids, but his sister never gets anything he has. She could just have a better immune system. Then I came across this video and thought "What disgusting stuff is in his pillow?" I've probably purchased 8 pillows in the past 2 years with Boog and Puddin Pop each getting a new bed but...Boog insists on using the absolute oldest, and flattest pillow we own. I think it probably ranks up there with the germs and dust mites of the last lady. Ewww, right? I'm going to toss it right NOW.

Okay. I'm back.

Now that I know that pillows should regularly (every 4-5 years) be replaced. I'm thinking that writing the purchase date on the tag would be a good idea. Otherwise how would you know?

My daughter has 3 pillows on her bed but two are in pillow shams and never get used. I may rotate them on laundry day. Son has 2 pillows (one now) and I'm looking to replace the one I just threw out with an allergy pillow...just to see if that diminishes his late night stuffiness and susceptibility to colds. I believe Hubster and I have 7 on our bed. He uses pillows behind his back and butt (for support) and between his knees and claims this is the only way he can get comfortable. Who wants to put their head on those? Ewwww. I have a pillow that is unlike anyone else's and always make sure it's my pillow under my head. I haven't always been this anal about my pillow. It started when Hubster started with the back, butt and knee pillows. Do you blame me?

So what is your pillow replacement procedure. Did you have one before now?

What the Hell Wednesday~ Commercials

All anyone is talking about the last few days are the Super Bowl commercials. I'll be the first to admit that I only watch for the ads and usually never even know who's playing. I know, What the Hell? This year I just wasn't in the mood to fast forward through all the game play to watch and instead watched some shows I had DVR'd. Hubster went over to the In-laws to watch the game with his dad. I asked him who won when he got home and he didn't even know. He's an ad watcher too.

So I was thinking about ads and remembered it all use to be about the jingle. If you had a catchy jingle, people were remembering it. What happened to jingles? I remember back in the day of 8-tracks, What the Hell, I really am that old. My mom had one of Barry Manilow that had all his classic jingles. I found this on You Tube.



What the Hell? Right? Remember any of those?

My two all-time favorite commercials are the one from McDonalds with the kid in the swing that kept smiling as he went "up" because he could see the Golden Arches (watch it here), and the one with the two brothers dipping Oreos in milk. The younger brother had a sippy cup and he eventually figures out he can drip milk onto his cookie (watch it here). That came out before sippy cups were abundant in my house but long after my infatuation with Oreos began.

What are your favorite commercials?

Now head on over to Blue Monkey Butt and get all your What the Hell moments out of your head!

7-11 Launches Proprietory Wines

At a recent stop for Slurpee's at our local 7-11, I noticed a new label in their ever-growing wine selections. I purchased a Yosemite Road Cabernet for just $3.99. Skeptical after the last "cute wine cube" I purchased...and tossed, I figured worst case scenario...I'm out $4.

I had a glass last night after the kids went to bed. It wasn't bad. I just poured another glass. Either I'm more in the mood for wine or...it's better than it was yesterday. I like it. It's smooth and a tad fruitier than other Cabs. The finish is quick and non-overbearing. This is an enjoyable, mildly spiced wine that doesn't need food to bring out it's flavors. If I was pairing it with food, I would choose a cheese/cracker/grape tray or a salad of mixed greens, blueberries, walnuts and bleu cheese crumbles.

I went in search of more information about this wine I had never seen before and found out that after researching current purchases of their patrons, 7-11 found their inexpensive (under $5) wines to be gaining popularity. This is from the 7-11 newsroom...

Value-priced wines, those under $5, have been gaining in popularity and enjoying double-digit sales growth at 7-Eleven stores as consumers continue to search for value in their purchasing decisions.

How cool is that? They're finally paying attention to my purchases.

“The development and production of Yosemite Road wines was a global team effort and is just the beginning,” said Kevin Elliott, 7-Eleven senior vice president of merchandising and logistics. “By using our collective purchasing power to negotiate product exclusivity and pricing, we can meet customer demand for quality and value, as well as differentiate our brand from the competition.”

Experienced, award-winning wine-makers John Willumson and Jim McDonald were tapped for the task. The winning vintners created a Chardonnay, described as fresh and zesty with notes of apricot, peach and honey, and a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with juicy plum overtones. Both are well balanced, offered at an affordable price and can be enjoyed anytime of the year.

Who wants to throw stones at those glass tiles of wisdom?

So see. It's not just me looking for value wines. Yes, 7-11 isn't the premiere place to shop for wine, but it is convenient, they do listen, and they are providing more and more choices.

Do I have to Count Calories?

I've been bad this week. Boog was out of school Monday-Wednesday for "Inclement Weather" and we made the most of it. We wend sledding and had some friends over. It was fun. I did not get my daily workouts done these days and had to force myself to get back on it yesterday. I kept meaning to do it. I kept finding other things to do. Why is that? I finally got on at 4pm and dreaded the daily weigh in since I normally do it first thing in the morning. It wasn't as bad as I thought. I also noticed that I was really tired at around 3 o'clock, like I was before I started regular workouts, which made me realize I wasn't having those sleepy bouts since I started exercising.

I thought by just exercising I could start losing these unwanted pounds. I guess my body feels differently. I'm going to need to watch what I eat. I just got to the point of making one meal for the whole family to eat, and I hate the thought of now making something different for me. It's been 6 years of being a short order cook. I like the idea of counting calories and limiting portions better than eating something totally different. Trust me. The kids and Hubster won't eat most the stuff I do and anything with (visible) vegetables freaks them out. Last night I made pork chops, mac'n cheese and corn. I substituted a salad for the mac'n cheese on my plate. I'm hoping these small changes will help. I also need to get back to eating something in the morning to jump start my metabolism.

Hubster has chronic back pain and just had another MRI done this week. Every doctor has given a different diagnosis. I tell him to just exercise and get off the couch. I can't imagine that spending all day in a chair and then hitting the couch to lay down is a good ankylosing spondylitis treatment. I would think that getting daily exercise and stretching the muscles would work much better. We don't know that that's what it is. It's just one of the only things that hasn't been suggested yet and we're still awaiting this weeks tests results. Since every MRI yields something different...just saying.

I'd love for him to start using Wii Fit. He could probably stretch those muscles with some of the yoga poses...and then I would do them trying to beat his score. There's only two or three that I do so it may motivate me to do more.

Okay. Before I get off track again, I'm getting off here to go see Mike. This will complete my weekly exercise goal. I'm still on track. I just need to nudge myself to keep at it.

How's your exercise resolutions going?

Snow, Work and Sledding

Another Wednesday and more What the Hell moments. Post your rant and head over to Blue Monkey Butt to link up.

So. We finally got the snow we've (I've) been hoping for. Kids were already out of school Friday and Monday for end of Semester. Imagine my surprise when I received a phone call Sunday afternoon stating "due to inclement weather, school will be closed on Monday." What the hell? Someone royally screwed that one up. Now it's Wednesday and No School still. Apparently since the snow melts some during the day and then re-freezes at night, it's too dangerous for the kids to go to school. I also heard that some of the schools still have ice in their parking lots and on their sidewalks. The city hasn't made it out to clear them and the school's don't have the manpower to clear it themselves. I'd think the employees that are going in could each take a handful of salt and throw it down. Just saying...

I usually work one day a week. Recently it has been on Saturdays. I was scheduled this Saturday (When all the snow was falling) and next Saturday according to the schedules posted last week when I was in. I did say I could work both weekend days, but was only scheduled the one. As I was leaving on Saturday, I happened to stop in the office to get my check. I looked at the schedule posted there and realized I was working Sunday. What the Hell? Maybe it's just me. I'm thankful to have the work but 15 hours just isn't enough time for me to wrap my mind around working...when I thought I wasn't...and there's snow. I did it. It was fine. And thankfully the snow was still here on Monday.

I took the kids sledding for the first time yesterday. The problem living in a place that rarely sees snow is that when it does snow there isn't a sled to be found anywhere. Proof of this is the multiple inflatable tubes we sold over the weekend at the boat store. People were paying $100 to have something to sled on. What the Hell? We used laundry baskets. The kids had a blast and I even turn a turn down the hill. If anyone out there had a camcorder and recorded me going down the hill...in a laundry basket...ERASE IT NOW. You've been warned.

No Job, No Insurance, The Grammys and Some Snow

It's Tuesday. Already. The weeks keep going by faster and faster. Time to get all the random junk out of my head. If you've got random, post it and link up with The Un Mom and all the other Randomers.

I posted that Hubster is about to be out of a job. He's looking, but who knows what will happen in this economy. He has a lead on a work-from-home position but I'm not sure both of us being home all day is the wisest choice. Gotta take what we can get though, right? What I didn't think about is that without his job we will have no insurance. This isn't a big deal for me, I don't visit the doctor very often. Two regular visits for girly things a year and I'm done. The kids are another story. I don't like the idea of them not having insurance. Puddin Pop is due for her 4 year old vaccinations at the end of April. The job ends at the end of March. Hmmm. Not sure how that's going to work. Hubster will also lose his life insurance he has through his employer. Has anyone purchased online life insurance? Wouldn't hurt to have a policy for me either.

We have SNOW. First good snow the kids have seen. It came on Saturday and since it partially melts during the day and then freezes up over night, the schools are closed. We've got a group taking the kids sledding today. I think they will LOVE it.

I had a birthday (yesterday). Since my darling 6 year old insists on telling everyone my actual age, all future birthdays have been canceled. He made me a card with a cake on it. The cake had four candles. He says it's because he didn't have room for all the candles and he knows I don't like it when he tells people my age. So I'm 4. Works for me.

Was is just me or did Taylor Swift sing totally off-key during the Grammys? That was hard to listen to. Poor girl. The 3-D Michael Jackson tribute was awesome. I ran for 3-D glasses that the kids got with their latest Lego catalogs. I thought they did fantastic job. The kids watched it yesterday and thought it was cool too. Thank You Lego for making sure we had the glasses.

That's all I got. Heading over to The Un-Mom to see what randomness everyone else has.