Picture Perfect Weekend

Happiness is...

*winning a Home Depot gift card from Carrie at Life in the Slow Lane! Thanks, Carrie!

*knowing there are only S-I-X days of school left!

*grossing out your mom.

*taking time to smell the flowers.

*getting such great help with cooking from a sassy little princess.

*the love and affection of a good dog.

*friendship.

*knowing that one day you'll be big enough.

Black Bean Salsa Recipe

I swear this will be the most delicious black bean and corn salsa you have ever tasted. It is so flavorful, fresh, delicious, and addictive!

You need: 2 cans black beans, 2 cans diced tomatoes, 1 can or frozen bag corn, 1 medium red onion (not pictured), 1/4 C cilantro, 1 large avocado, tobasco sauce, 1 lime, 1 tsp. cumin, 2 tsp. basil, 1 T. red wine vinegar, 1 T. olive oil, and salt and pepper.

Drain and rinse the black beans. Pour into large bowl. (You will notice this bowl wasn't big enough and I had to switch mid-way through the recipe.)

Add the corn. I prefer frozen corn that has been thawed. It seems fresher and crunchier.

Drain and add the tomatoes. I used one can of regular diced tomatoes and one can of diced tomatoes with chiles.

Chop the avocado into small chunks. The avocados I found were pretty small, so I used two.Add the chopped onion. I used a small red onion, but you can also use one bunch of green onions.

Squeeze in the juice of one lime.

Add 1 T. olive oil,

1 ts. cumin,

2 ts. chopped basil-dried or fresh. I had dried, so that's what I used.

Next you need 1 T. red wine vinegar.Now add 1/4 C fresh cilantro. I like mine chopped really finely, so I use a food processor.

Now add tobasco sauce, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix it all together and refrigerate several hours.

Oh, it's SO GOOD! I like to serve it with tortilla chips. Some people just grab a fork and dig in.

Enjoy! I'd love to hear what you think if you make it!

Sucker

Cole has been trading little plastic animals with another boy at daycare. A lion for a tiger, a cow for a pig, etc. No big deal. Cole is always so excited each day to show me what he traded for.

Today was no exception.

When we were in the car, Cole exclaimed, "I gave my plastic fish to B today!"

I asked him what he traded it for.

Wait for it...





A plastic soda lid and 2 popcorn kernels.

Seriously.

I'm pretty sure someone got screwed on that deal.

And the winner of the John Deere lawn toys is...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

22

Timestamp: 2009-05-21 00:27:11 UTC

Who's number 22? It's Sara from I'm the Mommy, That's Why!

Congrats, Sara! Sara is a SAHM of 2 adorable kiddos. Unfortunately, Sara's dad just passed away so I know she could use some well-wishes. If you have a sec, pop on over to her blog to wish her well. And Sara, when you have time, I need your address to get your goodies shipped to you!

Stay tuned for another Learning Curve giveaway next week! Want a peak? You know you do!

iHeart Faces-Blurb Book Photo Contest

This is my first time entering a picture on iHeartFaces! So exciting!

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures of my son. I love everything about the picture: his expression, the beads of sweat on his lip and chin, his big, blue eyes, the green background, his sweaty blonde hair. This picture IS Cole.

I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites.

Have a great face photo you want to enter? Just click on the link below. But hurry, entries close at 9:00 p.m. Central time.

Questions

Did you know...

*that I got new glasses?

*that I used the "gritty" effect on this picture with Picnik?

*that I always take a self-portrait in front of my Nester-like plate wall?

*that I have 12 days of school left?

*that I couldn't handle 13 more days of school because the kids are driving.me.crazy?

*that I have a giveaway for John Deere lawn toys going on right here?

*that I cringe every time I see another wedding, graduation, and shower invitation in the mail?

*that I do not plan on spending even one minute of my summer on silly committees and classes?

*that I DO plan on taking the kids to daycare one day a week? I call those my mental health/clean the house/shopping days.

*that I am out of wine but luckily have a bottle of vodka and orange juice?

*that my son graduates from preschool on Wednesday?

*that this is my new ringtone and I love it?

*that my sister got a swanky new iPhone and wanted that ringtone but couldn't get it on iTunes so I stole it? Neener.

*that my sister is moving an hour and a half closer to us? Yay! Let's hope we get several baby-sitting sessions in before she starts popping out babies of her own!

*that in a few short days I will have nothing to watch on TV? Amazing Race? Over. DWTS? Finals this week. American Idol? Winner chosen this week. Bones? Season finale last Thursday. What's a girl to do?

*that it is now time to get the kids fed, bathed, and in bed so I can pour myself that cocktail?

John Deere Lawn Toys Giveaway Time's Up!

Yes, you heard me right! Another John Deere toy giveaway! My new BFFs at Learning Curve sent me oodles of John Deere goodies to share with my blog friends. (That's you, by the way.)

Now that spring has arrived, there are lawns to mow, weeds to clear, and hedges to trim. My guys have been hard at work already trimming up all of the green!

So what better to give away than...lawn toys?!

One lucky reader will walk away with ALL of the following toys!
(I know, seriously. Are these people amazing or what?!)

First off is the John Deere trimmer (or weed eater as we call it.) We have had so much fun "trimming" the weeds with this toy. It is durable, well-made, and the best part? It doesn't require batteries! You power the "motor" by simply pulling on the retractable cord. This poor toy has been through wind, rain, dog teeth, sand, dirt, and it is still working. We love it!

Next is the John Deere hedge trimmer. I have to admit, we have been using it as a chain saw. Both kids have had so much fun "sawing" the tree then running away yelling, "TIMBER!" This one also has a retractable power cord (again, no batteries needed!) The inside shakes around throwing the "clippings" around. (I may or may not have hogged this one from the kids.) It's super fun and is sure to be a favorite!

And last but not least? The interactive John Deere toy lawn mower. This will quickly become a favorite with any little person in your life. This mower has voice prompts to check oil and gas, rotating grass clippings, and a fold down handle for storage. It requires 3 AA batteries which are included. This will be a hit with any child from toddler to big kid. My son had one when he was just learning to walk (it makes a great little push toy) and loves it even more today at 5 years old.

To enter to win:

Go to this website and look around. Leave a comment telling me what other Learning Curve product catches your eye. This is your first entry; it's a must before the bonus chances!

Bonus Entries (all separate comments):

*Follow or subscribe to this blog. (If you already do, that counts too!)
*Blog about this giveaway and link back to me.
*Tweet about this giveaway and leave your Twitter link in your comment.
*Follow me on Twitter.

Fine Print:
*Winners are chosen by Random.Org. If you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!
*Winner will be contacted by email; be sure to include your email if it's not enabled
*Contest ends Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. EDT
*Open to North American addresses only
*Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid
*Have a wonderful day!
*Good luck!
*Is anyone still reading?

Weekend Whirlwind

Our Mother's Day weekend couldn't have been better.

We caught fish.

Frogs.Little sisters.

We even caught a little boy trying to get some privacy!

There was flower smelling.

Laundry hanging.

More flower smelling.

Adorable grinning.

And then there was this. Really, I have no words.

I hope your Mother's Day weekend was fantastic!