Dessert Contest Help Needed!

The annual Sasha's Work Thanksgiving Dessert Contest is coming up and I need your help.

Previously, I've won third place twice (read about it here and here) so I need to step up this year!

What's your no-fail recipe that will guarantee me a first place win?

More Sensory Books

I had a question about the prior book and if it had info about children who are sensitive to sound.

I think that book is really more of an "overview" and I don't remember anything specific like that. The two books below, the first in particular, have come highly recommended to me and I have them coming to me.

Too Loud Too Bright Too Fast Too Tight

The Out-of-Sync Child

Recipe: Taco Cornbread Pizza

Last night I was really craving cornbread, so I made the Sasha Family Favorite, Taco Cornbread Pizza from the Kraft website.

I modify slightly, so here's how I do it.

What you'll need:

• 1 pkg. (8.5 oz.) corn muffin mix (I ONLY use Jiffy! 44 cents!)
• 1 egg
• skim milk
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 pkg. taco seasoning mix (I typically get the low sodium McCormick)
• shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare corn muffin batter as directed on package using egg and skim milk; spread into well-greased 12-inch pizza pan. Bake 8 to 10 min. or until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, cook meat with seasoning mix as directed on package.

Spread meat mixture over the crust and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake an additional 4 to 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Top as desired with lettuce, tomato, sour cream, etc.

There's just something about taco meat and cornbread together that is so yummy!

Christmas Shopping- Post 1

I'm starting to pick up some things for Christmas if I see good deals, which I'm glad to share.

Over the weekend I was telling Mr. Sasha that I really hate the over-commercialization of the holiday season, and I told him I'd heard about doing a "Wise Man Christmas", which, if I understand right, involves giving 3 presents and relating it to the gifts the wise men brought Baby Jesus. Anyone know anything about this idea?

Anyway, I found what I consider to be a good deal on some character Crocs for the kids- regular price $29.99, and they are on sale for $16.99. Remember to use free shipping code crocsavp08.

Cars Crocs

Dora Crocs

Out of the Mouth of WC

Lately, in the car on the way home from school, the kids have been talking on top of each other trying to monopolize my attention.

Yesterday WC got especially frustrated and said, "Mommy, Bubba is messing up my talking!"

Dear Joy Johnson,

You are my hero.

I hope I can be like you when I grow up.

Kudos to you.

Fun Survey Site

Are We Sure It's November?

Last night was a night game, and I had purchased a red cord jacket that I hoped to wear to the game that was sure to make me the best dressed gal in the land.

However, it was 83 degrees at 3 pm yesterday!

So I wore a t shirt, shorts, and flip flops.

In November.

Crazy weather.

Sephora $10 code for the first to take it!

Here's a Sephora code I won't be able to use tonight......

code is YQ7U8UCG

Post in the comments if you've used it so no one else tries it!

All's Well That Ends Well

We are home. And the surgery went great. Here's what her arm currently looks like. They told us this bandage will come off on it's own in a few days.

I'm not going to bore you with all the crazy details of the day, but here are some highlights:

• WC threw up not once, but twice, in her carseat on the way there- evidentally she doesn't do well with orange Gatorade on an empty stomach
• WC can never ever again have Versed because she turns into the devil- hitting, kicking, biting, spitting, basically thrashing around trying to hurt herself and everyone around her
• In fact, after 45 minutes of her beating us up, they had to give her hydrocodone in the recovery room to knock her out so we could get her to calm down so we could start home
• And upon arriving home, we had two flat tires

Mr. Sasha and I appreciate all your thoughts and prayers. We are glad that the procedure went well and anxious for the bandage to come off so we can see it. We may or may not have another procedure done in six months or so to remove the rest of the scar tissue. If it look pretty good, we may just call it done. I needed a beer after all that was over and I'm not sure I want to do it again.

Good Deal Alert: Crocs Pelican Toddler Shoes

Remember how much I love the Crocs Pelican???? Well now you can score a pair for $12.99 with free shipping! The free shipping code is crocsavp08. They have navy for boys, and two different colors for girls.

Now, these only go up to size toddler 8/9, which is what WC wears right now. She's got quite a bit of room left in the lilac , so I ordered the pink ones because I am weak and I cannot resist. Mr. Sasha may be mad at me, but they are only $12.99!

Edited to add: They now have the toddler 10/11 on there in lilac! Don't think I didn't order those too! Mr. Sasha, calm down. They are for next spring.....

Ice Ice Baby

Well, we haven't left yet. Turns out WC's surgery isn't scheduled until 12:30 tomorrow, so we'll just drive down in the AM and save ourselves a hotel stay.
So my main problem right now is how to keep her happy before the surgery tomorrow morning since she can't eat anything after midnight tonight. She can have water and gatorade until 9 am tomorrow though. I got a fabulous tip from a friend to get her some Sonic ice and let her "eat" that on the drive down tomorrow. I think once we get to the surgery center at 10:30 and start doing pre-op stuff, we can keep her distracted.
But I am open to tips and suggestions. I am packing lots of toys and books, including Aquadoodle stuff and coloring books and crayons. Lots of movies too since we have a portable DVD player.
Any ideas?

Where's Sasha?????

Just wanted to let you guys know I'll probably be a bit MIA for the rest of the week.

We're headed south tomorrow to spend the night in a hotel since WC's hemangioma scar revision surgery is scheduled for Thursday morning. Assuming all goes well, we'll be headed home sometime Thursday afternoon since it's an outpatient surgery.

This is also one of my busiest times at work, so I'm trying to get quite a bit done before we leave tomorrow.

We'd appreciate your thoughts or prayers for a safe trip and an uneventful, successful surgery.

Pre-Halloween

Small step backwards.

I thought that The Politician was all set to wear last year's Halloween costume, but at the last minute he vetoed the fireman jacket and chose to wear the Indiana Jones accessories he acquired at a birthday party on Saturday. We couldn't talk him into changing shirts. I do think the baseball T confused some people at the church festival. Someone asked if he was a hobo.

The Wild Child loved her costume. It was a little big and involved some last minute sewing (yes, I can thread a needle!) but it turned out fine.

Now we'll see how Friday goes. Will he be Indiana again, or wear the fireman jacket?

I Can't Wait for November!

Because Hostess is coming out with 100 Calorie Pack Twinkies!!!!!

Yay!

(Can you see the pic? I think my IT dept is on to me and all of the sudden I can't upload pics to blogger, so I tried tinypic, but now I can't see it!!!!)

Woo woo!

Guess what I won as a door prize at my accounting conference today????

$100!

What shall I spend it on?????? I did get an email from Sephora today with a code for $10 off $50.....

Ideas please?

Do You Remember

Mrs. Beasley? This is me in my Mrs. Beasley doll's glasses as a child.

Workin' On My Fitness

Lipstick asks: ......what is your running/workout schedule? Do like mornings, evenings, run around your neighborhood, treadmill?

Well, Lipstick. My schedule is pretty much "fit it in where I can". Weekday mornings are out since I'm already getting up at 5:45.... I simply can't make myself get up any earlier than that! I've also pretty much cut out organizations with weeknight activities-- like being a sorority advisor and Junior League. I really just need the weeknights to spend time with my family and take care of myself. (Although sometimes I do make exceptions for meetings with beer involved, like PTO or a miscellaneous girls night.)

Mon: I pick up kids and Mr. Sasha works out after work
Tues: Mr. Sasha picks up the kids and I work out after work
Wed: I pick up kids and Mr. Sasha works out after work
Thurs: Mr. Sasha picks up the kids and I work out after work
Sat: I meet a friend to run at 7:30 am
Sun: try to fit a run in if possible

We typically share dinner responsibilities and try to eat around 6:00 Monday-Thursday. Neither of us typically exercise on Fridays, as beer is usually in our future.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, if it's a nice night, I'll sometimes try to run outside after dinner.

As for where..... that all depends on the temperature! I'm super hot-natured and hate getting too hot- it makes me feel sick. If it's nice outside (read: cooler than 70) I'll try to run outside, listening to an audio book (currently: Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep a Secret?). If it's too hot or too cold or rainy, I'm all about the treadmill with a fan on my face! I've got tons of good TV on my Tivo I can watch while I run.

I'm trying to work in some strength stuff, but honestly, running is my true love. I get bored of Minna or Kathy Smith or the Firm gals. They just don't hold my attention. I'm not tired of Jillian yet, but she's only 20 minutes long......

So how do you all fit it in?

Lookybook

You guys with kids should definitely check out Lookybook. It's a site to view entire children's books online before you buy! Very cool! I haven't found a way to search by age, so if you figure that out, let me know!

Shoe Find

What do you think of these?

Women's Mossimo® Irene Peep-Toe Dress Shoes - Red

$22.50 at Target!

Aren't those precious?

I am pretty sure I need them.