Boyfriend Fit

I love the "boyfriend fit" pants every store seems to be carrying. They are very flattering.



These are both from gap. Problem is, when the cold comes, what shoe do you wear with them?

Good Find

This is the perfect rug for my boys' room. I love the colors in it: orange, brown, green, yellow, red. Happens to perfectly go with their bedding.

Also happened to be 60% off, so that makes it even more perfect.

Health Update

We are still sick. Same sickness, different kids. The boys spent the first days of this week at home. Thankfully, they were both back in school today and doing much better. My oldest on the other hand, decided to join the party and became very ill yesterday. Why not? Everyone else is doing it. So, more trips to Urgent Care, more trips to the Pharmacy.

The good news is that now we know what we are up against: Strep. On a whim they tested for it 4 days ago (at our first Urgent Care visit) and it came up negative. They sent it to a lab for more accurate results and sure enough: STREP! My son just happened to be on the antibiotics for his ginormous spider bite, so he was feeling much better. (Incidentally, after his 2nd visit to urgent care, the Dr. determined all the other spider bites were actually an allergic reaction of some sort. But the big one, yep, that was a bite.)

Even so, I spent several hours yesterday sprinkling this all over the boy's room. Then vacuuming. It is supposed to get rid of insects. Just in case.

While the boys were sick we watched a lot of movies and more Disney Channel than I ever thought possible. The movies followed a theme:

Once my oldest's illness hit, we had to find something else to watch. I picked up this at Target.

Something I've been meaning to do anyway. I also bought a very inexpensive DVD player for my room, because for some reason it seems to be the desired place of convalescing.

And Mark is traveling for work, again. Sigh.

I am ready to be made into a Saint because a week straight of rotating sick children? It's hard. Can they do that if you are not Catholic? Do they have Saints in the Mormon church? I have never checked.

I am ready for a break. Maybe a pedicure. Or a shopping trip. Or a quiet hour spent alone, without a sick child. Or, is it sad that I am secretly hoping that maybe I will get sick and they can all take care of me?

Eliza Magazine

I just ordered a subscription of the Eliza Magazine. I am excited. I ordered it partly for me, but partly for my daughter. I want her to know there are alternatives to the fashion magazines in the stores that are full of clothes we could never afford, wear, or feel comfortable in.

From their website:

"ELIZA Magazine is created for women who want to be stylish, sexy (ed. note: okay, so my daughter is not allowed to be sexy), and engaged in the world while retaining high standards in dress, entertainment, and lifestyle.

The ELIZA reader is educated, creative, fashion-conscious, and on the hunt for clothes to feel comfortable in. We continue to pick up the scent of fashion and modesty and deliver it to your door season after season."

If you are thinking Little House on the Prairie, you can browse their past editions online and see that yes, indeed they have some very cool stuff (nary a bonnet in sight.) Can't wait for it to come in the mail.

How To Spend Labor Day

We are in a hot bed of infection around here. This is the tally thus far:

1 - Child home from school last week.
1 - Child home from school half day.
2 - Children throwing up.
3 - Children with debilitating fevers.
2 - Number of Days fever lasts.
4 - Children with sore throats.
4 - Children needing Tylenol, cuddling and various other kinds of medicine.
2 - Children with Spider bites.
15 - Number of Spider bites on just 1 child.
1 - Spider bite that got as big as my hand.
1 - Trip to Urgent Care that was closed.
1 - Trip to Urgent Care that was open.
1 - Trip to Pharmacy that was closed.
1 - Trip to Pharmacy that was open.
1 - Prescription of antibiotics for said Spider bite.
1 - Phone call in the middle of Sacrament Meeting.
1 - Counselor who got blindsided with my Primary Sharing Time last minute and got to run the show by herself and now deserves a spot in heaven for her goodness.
5 - Number of Family Members who missed all or most of church Sunday.
4 - Number of concerned phone calls from church members.
1 - Number of concerned texts from church members.
1 - Child who inexplicably, hilariously, with great relish and imagination, takes on every symptom of all her sick siblings. (Ahem, A.) When she has not been truly sick herself.

1 - Number of Parents at home to take care of sick children.
1- Number of Parents who were out of town.
(He was cheering on the COUGARS for their victory over Oklahoma, which by the way is completely and utterly an excused absence. I am thrilled he got to go.)

0 - Number of fun things we can do for Labor Day at home with sick children.

My Turn

My personal stylist came over to help me coordinate my closet. I often text Heidi pictures of outfits before I leave the house, to make sure I am not embarrassing myself. She is really worth having on the payroll. Of course we took loads of pictures.

I can wear this with wellies . . . . . . . . Or loafers.


Change the shirt, wear it with navy casual shoes or giraffe print ballet flats.


Belted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . or not
Black shoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . or ballet flats


Brown sweater with turquoise heels or flats


Maybe add a sparkly belt.


I almost gave away this striped shirt.




I never wear this shirt either. Now I have several options.


I have owned this green sweater for years and never worn it.




I am digging the ruffle. . . . . . . . . but I like the turquoise shoes too.


I wore this today. (but I changed into my COUGAR blue for the game.)


(Some chubby pics - I have no idea why I look kind of chubby in some of these pictures. I blame camera error. Vain, so vain.)


Please note in this second photo I am wearing 2 different shoes. Both go with the outfit and we were getting lazy - didn't want to take two pictures.


I have never worn this turquoise shirt, I will now.


SO. Armed with new ideas, I got myself dressed to go run errands. (Yes, I am wearing my wellies.) How do you think I did?

A Family Update

Already? www.carie-list.blogspot.com

Spooky Strawberries

I saw these here. Originally posted here.

Two Long Months

I was introduced to the Nestle Mini Chocolate Chip refrigerated cookie dough by my friend, the Enchantress. It has since become a long time staple in our house.

After being taken of the shelves for "reports" of "E. coli" Nestle refrigerated cookie dough is back in a grocery store near you. I have missed it greatly these last 2 months. We are having some tonight for fhe dessert.

The Perfect Skirt

Absolutely adorable. Available at Old Navy for a song. Whenever my little one wears it she can't stop twirling or touching the fabric. Happens to match perfectly with her Crewcuts sweater. Highly recommended.

Decisions Decisions

It's never to early to be thinking about Halloween costumes. My youngest decided she wanted to be Madeline for Halloween a few weeks ago.

But then I saw this in the Pottery Barn Kids Catalog and it is really giving Madeline a run for her money:

So Madeline or Cupcake?

Creme Brulee French Toast

I have eaten this recipe twice before making it myself for the first time. It is so delicious and I was surprised just how easy it was to make.

Creme Brulee French Toast (via Epicurious.)

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• an 8- to 9-inch round loaf country-style bread
• 5 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon Grand Marnier
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

In a small heavy saucepan melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over moderate heat, stirring, until smooth and pour into a 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking dish. Cut six 1-inch thick slices from center portion of bread, reserving ends for another use, and trim crusts. Arrange bread slices in one layer in baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit.

In a bowl whisk together eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, Grand Marnier, and salt until combined well and pour evenly over bread. Chill bread mixture, covered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.

Preheat oven to 350° F. and bring bread to room temperature.

Bake bread mixture, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed and edges are pale golden, 35 to 40 minutes.

Serve hot French toast immediately.

Some notes:
*Several reviewers said to skip the corn syrup.
*My friend uses the Round Chullah Bread from Atlanta Bread Co. I used 2 loaves from Jimmy Johns (2 loaves fit in a 9X13).
*You can substitute Orange Juice for Grand Marnier

True Love

We have been enjoying some unseasonably cool weather for the month of August. I am taking full advantage of these days while training for my half-marathon. Thankfully, I have yet to run at the gym in 3 full weeks of training. Miraculous.

This morning I began my run under a cool, overcast sky. Absolutely perfect running weather.

A light drop of rain.

Another.

Another.

Then Complete Downpour.

(This is what I looked like after the run. Maybe you can't tell from the front view, but I am so wet water is dripping off me. The side view shows the contrast of the dry and wet. Also, check out my hair: it was straight when I started my run.)

I am from the Pacific Northwest, so rain doesn't really bother me. But thunder and lightening? Probably not such a good idea to run in a lightening storm.

Not 5 minutes after the storm began, I see a familiar car pull up to the side of the road.

It's my husband. He was worried about me. He stopped his work, got in the car and drove around until he found me.

It's just a really good feeling to be loved.

Family Stuff

www.carie-list.blogspot.com
Posting about the family. Isn't it about time?