Another Year Older...Another Funtastic Party!

Liam's 4Th birthday party was Sunday and it was a success. The hit of the party was the bouncy house of course. Liam did tell me at bedtime he wished I would have planned games?! Who knows where that came from because he has yet to attend a party with games. I told him next year I would be SURE to have some fun games planned.

The cake turned out pretty good and everyone had at least one piece. I neglected to get many pictures of the room before everyone started showing up. One hour to decorate was not enough! The food catered from the Club was just OK. I really do prefer having cookout birthdays. But all in all it was a great party. The only thing missing were the grandparents and our Pensacola Pals!

Marshmallow Fondant

My cake decorating instructor told us all about a cool recipe she had seen on Wilton.com for marshmallow fondant. Most people aren't huge fans on fondants flavor but it looks great when done well. Marshmallow fondant is easy to make, cheap, and made from marshmallow!!! Need I say more? I found a recipe/tutorial on a great blog called Cake Journal and gave it a go. SO easy to make but a bit of a mess. (Well at least the way I made it.) If you would like to give the recipe a try you can find it here.

This week will be super nuts with me trying to get Liam's birthday cake complete and looking presentable. I will post pictures as soon as I can of both cake and party. Fingers crossed everything falls into place. If you know me at all you will know I like to make sure I top my previous projects.

Birthday Time Again!

Liam's 4th birthday is right around the corner and party planning has begun! I LIVE to throw parties! This year Liam is wanting an Imagination Movers party. The sad part is Disney has not come to their senses and started putting out Movers merchandise yet. They just got picked up for their 3rd season so I am sure they will have a whole like out about a month after Liam's birthday! OH WELL! My brain is already pumping with ideas. The cake will be a challenge but I am planning on making it again this year. Keep your fingers crossed that I get a stand mixer soon. The one down side of living in the UK is that 220v situation. I could have my mixer shipped over here but a transformer for it would cost a couple hundred dollars! Mike said I could buy a 220 mixer but now the search is on to find one.

I am looking forward to this party planning...it makes me feel ALIVE! A little dramatic tonight, sorry! Stay tuned to see how the party and cake turn out and if I get stuck in blue coveralls!

Scones: Take One

Now that we are living in England I thought I should start making scones. I have always enjoyed a nice blueberry scone from Starbucks but haven't been able to find those here yet. Seems that cheese and raisin are the preferred flavor. Last night on Masterchef Australia they made scones and the recipe actually made since to me. I hate that most cooking shows here use a scale and weigh ingredients. I refuse to buy a scale! It's an extra step and one more thing to clean. Here's the recipe and it can be used for both savoury or sweet. If making a savory omit the sugar, fruit and zest.

150 mL milk
150mL cream
1 egg
3C. self rising flour
2Tbsp sugar

1C. fruit
zest 1 lemon

Combine ingredients. Turn out onto floured surface and give a gentle knead, flatten and cut into shape. Brush top with milk and sprinkle with sugar.Bake 10-15 min at 200C

I made them way too big and ugly! Plus my convection oven does not bake evenly and it's driving me nuts! I hope that my next attempt looks better. Thankfully they taste yummy!

Who Knew Alpacha Was Sooooo Soft?

Liam goes to a very neat school here in England called Busy Bees Nursery School. The school was suggested to us and when we checked into it we knew Liam had to attend. The school is a working 10 acre organic farm with animals (including a large pack of alpacas) and gardens. They even have their own indoor pool and swim instructor on staff.

The founder/owner of the school dyes and spins the alpaca hair into beautiful and soft yarn that they sell in a shop on the school grounds. The shop was open this morning and I popped in to take a look around. I was blown away that she dyes all the yarn with dye she makes out of 4 plants she grows organically. The number of colors that she creates from those 4 plants just amaze me! I ended up spending 30 minutes chatting with her and being shown all the cool stuff she carries. She even had soybean and camel! She really made me want to learn more about crocheting or knitting.

The Big Weigh In

Last month I talked about how Mike and I have noticed we are shedding a few pounds. Today is the first time I have been on a scale since April 2009 and I have to say I am happy. I love not being obsessed with weight and numbers and being "skinny". For a long time I was obsessed and was never happy. THe worst part was I was thin with great curves and I didn't know it. I still kick myself for not being comfortable in a bikini between 1997-2002.

I hate to admit this, but after today I am ALMOST motivated to start doing a little exercise! This is the first  time since 2005 that I have been under 150 lb.... I doubt I get that motivated but stay tuned!

Solutions Update

After just two treatments I have already seen a marked improvement in my hair. Even Mike noticed that it is looking a little shinier and feeling softer. 


The treatment that I have been using is 50% hot water 50% distilled white vinegar. I slowly pour the solution over my wet hair, let it soak and then wash with shampoo. Even though I am washing my hair twice AFTER the treatment there is still a hint of vinegar.


Stay tuned to see if and when I get my hair cut and if my hair gets better.

Super Mom? NOPE!

Since Liam was born almost 4 years ago (April 2006), Mike has only lived with us full time for +/- 2 years. Mike has always been a very hands on Dad when home and Liam has ALWAYS been a daddy's boy. They are like two peas in a pod. (Does that make me the pod?) Now that we are all together again (and have one car) our morning routine is very different from anything we have ever experienced. All three of us need to be up, dressed, feed and in the car by 0730 to get Mike to work on time. In an ideal world I would be up early, showered, dressed, make up on and making a hot and nutritious breakfast. In our house that isn't reality. Mike and Liam are both up at either 0630 or 0700 while I struggle to get out of bed. Mike is dressed and getting Liam breakfast while I am brushing my teeth and trying to find something to wear. I do grab Liam's clothes and toothbrush from upstairs but Liam demands Mike get him dressed and brush his teeth. Apparently I brush too hard and rush him to get dressed to quickly. Mike also usually pack's Liam's snacks for school and gets his shoes on. They usually are in the car waiting for me while I grab last minute stuff.

Yet again I am brutally aware that I will never be Super Mom/Wife. June Clever, Martha Stewart and Melanie Hostetler will always be unreachable role models. When I was thinking about all this I started to feel a little bad for my husband and all that he does. Then I remembered all that I have done and put up with while he worked away!

Solutions

As you might know from my pervious post I am having hair issues. (I still need to make a hair appt.!) While I was checking out all the blogs I regularly follow, I stumbled across an entry on Pioneer Woman (one of my favorite blogs and I am dying for her cookbook) that might just help me. Honestly I am pretty shocked that I didn't do any research when my hair started going south. Any who! I am off to call the husband and ask him to pick me up some vinegar. Stay tuned to see if this helps! If you have any other suggestions or solutions please share.

It's OVER!

One of my oldest friends has let me down and I think it's over between us. For 27 or 28 years we have always been there for each other. We have always been inseparable. It just really breaks my heart. Where did we go wrong? How could this all happen?

I knew there was something wrong about two years ago. My friend's attitude changed and it started getting a little wiry and had a change of attitude.  I really thought it was a phase. Apparently not! This change is here to stay and I am not happy at all!

This hair has got to go!

Stressful Shopping

Since moving to the Uk in January I have done the bulk of my grocery shopping on base at the commissary. It's not my first choice but it is nice being able to use my coupons and get all the items I am used to from home. Plus, hitting the commissary is easy since I am on base about 3 times a day. But I really do prefer buying my fruit, veg and meat products from a local grocery store. My personal preference is Waitrose. It's located in Ely right at the city centre. We go to Ely at least once a week and it give me a chance to pop in and grab some yummy goods. There is also a place in Ely called Tesco. Waitrose is very much like Publix's or Harris Teeter while Tesco is equal to Walmart (although Asda is the UK Walmart and I haven't been to one yet). There is something about Tesco that stresses me out. No...let me rephrase that; Shopping in the UK stresses me out!!!

Everyone in this country is in a hurry and on a mission. You never see anyone in a UK grocery store (at least the ones I have been in so far) with a grocery list or reading labels. A lot of times I am gently nudged out of the way by a stranger wanting to be where I am standing. No one smiles or says hello. DO NOT GET ME WRONG: there is absolutely nothing wrong with any of the above. I personally enjoy strolling around the grocery store checking things off my list, finding the best deal and checking out new stuff. I am also way to nice to knock people's carts out of the way. Maybe I can find a training course that will teach me to shop a little more aggressively?

One more little thing I need to get off my chest: the UK shopping carts. Have you ever been to Ikea? While at Ikea have you ever grabbed one of their shopping carts to push around and fill with your finds? The shopping carts go sideways not forward and are a BITCH to push around a crowded store. I really, really dislike them can you tell?

Today, since Mike is home sick, I decided to run to Tesco and pick up some things for the weekend. I honestly thought it wouldn't be bad since it was before noon on a Friday. Silly me for thinking most people would be working! Tesco is so much like Walmart in that respect. The parking lot is always full and you wonder who in the World is working! I ended up being there for one hour. The aisles were packed with people sliding around their junky UK carts. By the time I made it to the car I could feel my heart racing!

I'm not sure I will be going to Tesco again! Or should I force myself to go there weekly as a type of therapy? Check back and see if I have what it takes to shop with the locals!

Just Some Random Photos

Not much has been happening in the LeCroy house since my sister Megan left two weeks ago. Mike and I both got sick right as she was about to leave and it took me 10 days to get better. Never in my LIFE have I ever had such a horrible sinus infection. Thankfully we are all healthy at the moment. I am hoping for some nice weather soon so we can go on another adventure. Of course nice weather just means nothing more than a light sprinkle and 32 degrees!

Please enjoy some of my random favorite pictures of the moment.

Funny Dreams

Aren't dreams wonderful? My entire life has been filled with strange, full color, creative dreams. Last night I had two great dreams that made me giggle when I woke up. In one dream I got on a scale and weighed 139.5 lb.! hahahahaha! I haven't weighed 140 since...hummm...maybe 2004 or 2005? We don't even own a scale and I let go of my number obsession in 2005. Mike and I have been talking a lot lately about how we have shed a few pounds since arriving in the UK. There are not many fast food establishments for us to frequent and we eat at home most every night. Not to mention we have three flights of stairs we walk up and down a million times a day! This dream almost makes me want to step on a scale to see my current weight. Stay tuned to see if I get brave enough.

My second dream involved a visit to a small factory in Parkersburg, WV that made chocolate covered marshmallow bunnies for Easter. The factory only operated two weeks a year and I had to place an order for my bunnies. They made marshmallow bunnies in lots of shapes that I don't think would be possible in reality. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten chocolate before bed last night! I wish the factory really existed!

Liam's Favorite Dinner

There's nothing better than the smell and taste of a chicken roasting in the oven. This has become Liam's favourite meal. It always turns out so beautiful, tasty, and impressive. If you haven't roasted your own chicken before I suggest you give it a go. Your guests will not be disappointed.

1 Whole Free Range Chicken
1 stick soft unsalted butter
1 Lemon
Fresh Thyme
Salt
Pepper
Garlic

I make a compound butter with some thyme, salt, pepper, garlic and lemon zest. Loosen the chicken's skin and place the butter under the skin. Make sure to push the butter all over under the skin. Cut the lemon in half or quarters and place in the cavity with some sprigs of thyme and whole garlic gloves. Salt and pepper the outside of the bird and place in the oven. Don't forget to let the chicken rest when it comes out of the oven.

Really?

Before reading this post I suggest you read this article about super model Gisele Bundchen's recent child birth experience.

I always give credit were credit is due. All natural child birth is an area that deserves an award or a big fat diamond in my opinion. Over the years I have acquired a large group of friends that have chosen to have their wee ones with no pain medicine. They are truly amazing women! Even I considered this option for Liam's birth but decided to go with a light epidural instead. I really hate to fail and knew I would not be able to live with myself if I was reduced to begging a nurse for an epidural.

After reading this article and Gisele's comments I had a laugh. Being one of the most gorgeous women in the world with one of the hottest men by your side isn't enough? Nope! You also have the biggest pain tolerance in the World and can give birth without blinking an eye. NOT FAIR!

Now I have to get pregnant and see if I can have a pain free child birth! Yes...I am really that competitive!

Moss Green

I just wanted to stop by my pretty pink blog and get a slap of color! My morning was spent in a classroom full of digital camouflage uniforms. Personally I like the good old fashion black, brown, green camouflage that is being fazed out. There are tons reasons why camouflage is a good thing and why our soldiers need to wear such patterns in combat. IN COMBAT. If they are sitting in a class or office on a base who are they hiding from? Could we see some color? Maybe some office wear? A "I'm not in a combat zone" uniform?
Can you tell I am having a little trouble adjusting?

**Disclaimer**
This post is not meant to offend, anger, or upset anyone. These are my PERSONAL views and THOUGHTS and hope that they are taken as such. Thankfully my country still allows me to have my own opinions and I am THANKFUL to those how defend my right to do so.

Hmmmmm

As a child (and still today) I have always had a vivid imagination. As a child I would often sit in front of my mirror and interview myself as though I were famous. You can laugh. It's funny and strange but it was fun. I am pretty sure I had some imaginary friends when I was little also but Liam is on a whole different level! He has imaginary worker friends that get a whole lot done and build everything. His worker friends have gotten him into a little trouble in the past and he likes to use them to blame things on when he gets into trouble. A year or so ago he told us his arms were names Tito and Waka. Mike and I found it rather amusing but lately they have taken on minds of their own and made me say hummmmmm!

Liam asked if he could wear my watch. Mike let's him all the time but my watch is pretty and pink and expensive. Told me that Waka was responsible and would take good care of my watch. Liam then went on to explain that Tito was mean and liked to hit him in the face. Tito then pro ceded to slap Liam in the face. It was hard to keep a straight face as you can imagine. I have my fingers crossed that Tito and Waka won't get him into trouble at school.

What am I going to do with this crazy boy!?

My New Domestic Life

My new domestic life in England consists of a whole lot of driving, cooking, laundry and cleaning. WOW! Sounds a whole lot like my former domestic life in the states! All kidding aside I am really enjoying myself so far. IT would be nice to have some girls to hang out with but finding friends takes time. Especially when you are as picky as me.

I am not afraid to admit I miss my American fast food! Fast food has always been a love of mine and I can honestly say I am loosing a little weight without it. There is a Burger King and subway on base but they aren't that great. THe nearest McDonald's is over 30 minutes away. Liam is adjusting well to the lack of McDonald's but only because he likes Subway. He is having a hard time on the rare occasion that we do eat out. Yesterday we had our first English lunch experiance. We picked a sauage roll for Liam (a mild sausage in a flaky pastry) and I chose a jacket potato with cheese and bacon. Liam liked the pastry but the sausage was not a hit. Mike's lunch came with gravy and Liam soon discovered he loved gravy. His lunch ended up consisting of pasty topped with gravy. Bacon is not the same as in the states. It's more like a slab of ham. I knew what to expect but needed to try something new. Didn't like it! OH well.

My sister is coming to visit the first week of February and I am super excited! I am looking forward to a little time away with her doing girl things! Check out our family blog for pictures and adventures.

Christmas Time in Destin

The stockings are hung, cookies and milk next to the tree, and Liam all snug in his bed.

Mike, Liam and I are spending Christmas at the Sandestin Resort with my parents and sister. The house we rented is FANTASTIC and gorgeous. Everyone has there own bedroom and there are 3.5 bathrooms.

Liam was up at 6am so he could see PaPa and was ready for a "Boy Only Day". I have a feeling that Christmas morning is going to be an early on as well.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Check back soon for pictures.

2009 CNN Hero's

In 2008 my mother-in-law Carolyn LeCroy was chosen as one of the CNN Hero's. It was a great opportunity for her and the wonderful work that she has done over the years. Carolyn started a wonderful organizations called The Messages Project which helps children and their incarcerated parents connect and bond.

The voting has begun for the 2009 Cnn Hero's. Please go to the CNN website and read about these wonderful people and vote. It's amazing to see the wonderful things people do for others.