My PB + J

Wishful Wednesdays : I wish I could re-live Easter of 1987

This week’s Wishful Wednesday’s topic is:
‘I Wish’ . . . I could re-live one Easter memory from my childhood, and it would be the Easter that I got my Fisher Price “Puffalump“.
To get in on Kelsey’s “wishful Wednesday” click the button below:
I love this weeks topic! Every year around this time I reminisce about our Easter from 1987. Holidays back then seemed better. Holidays in general as a child seemed better. We spent our Easter Sunday at Waters restaurant in Irvine, now, recently closed due to the deterioration of the building and the slowing in the economy. It was once a beautiful restaurant on a lake in the Woodbridge community where I recollect spending many Easter’s, a wedding reception and late afternoon dinners with my Grandparents. On this particular Easter, we were all together: both Grandma’s, Aunt’s, Uncle’s and Cousin’s. I remember this particular holiday more so than other’s because my sister, cousin Ashley and I all received our Fisher Price “puffalumps“. I remember getting this soft, squishy, cold-to-the-skin, stuffed animal very vividly. I would hug it so tightly, swing my mousy by her tail in the air and sleep with her nightly. I had this stuffed animal until it was tainted with stains and finally when I reached my teenage years I said good-bye. I don’t remember much more about this particular holiday besides walking on the beams around the perimeter of the restaurant, hugging my toy in complete and udder joy upon receiving it, taking our family photos and talking to my Aunt Andy. Ah. . . to be five-years-old again!


Our Family Photo: I love my Dad’s body language. It cracks me up. When I showed Jim this picture for the first time he was dying saying that my Dad looks very Hugh Hefner-esque.

My sister Lindsay (4), Cousin Ashley (3) and Me (5).

OH! How I miss thee Mousy Puffalump!

My Blog is Carbon Neutral

Make your blog carbon neutral. . . for free!
Visit: The Carbon Neutral Website to register your blog and to read more on their project!



“My blog is carbon neutral” is an initiative, originally started in Germany by the “Make it Green” programme, that has the goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. We plant a tree for your blog and thereby neutralise your blog’s carbon footprint for the next 50 years! Everyone can make a small contribution to the environment. Every tree counts!


carbon neutral offers and shopping with <span class=

Easter Planned Ahead

If your like me this week you’re probably planning your Easter festivities. Our family will be attending church on Saturday evening and then brunch will be held at our house. This is the third year we have hosted Easter dinner for my family and soon we will be able to mix it up a bit since my sister and her hubby finally closed escrow on their first home. We all have a lot to be thankful for this Easter and hope that you get to spend the day with your loved ones.
I am in planning mode, I want this Easter to be a little bit more special than ones before (praying that our plumbing doesn’t decide to act up for the third year in a row), I already have Payton’s and my nephew and nieces baskets ready, and dinner planned out. Below is what I *think we will be having. I cannot wait!! I have my coupon’s clipped and shopping lists made, now it’s time to hit the stores!

We will be having a honey baked ham, a family friend is ordering this for me since she works at the corporate office. Ham is always so easy and it gives great leftovers for our fav spilt pea soup! We will also be roasting a small turkey breast since a friend does not eat pork.

Ina Garten’s roasted asparagus bundles look so adorable wrapped up! Perfect for individual portions and they won’t roll all over the plate.

I am tossing around ideas for my Easter table. My dining room is already decorated with my usual decorations and now with some additional items that my Grandma made that my Mom passed down to me this weekend. Since my dining room will not fit all of us I will be setting up a few tables in my living room so we can all sit together. I think I may do something like the picture above for the center and then individual clay pots with name tags, candy, and probably a cupcake.

My family loves scalloped or Au gratin potatoes. When we were growing up we ate them frequently especially with the ease of Betty Crocker’s boxed version. This year I am going to try this recipe from the food network for their version of a scalloped potato recipe with creme fraiche.

While browsing this months issue of Cooking Light, I stumbled upon this recipe for fresh coconut cake. I am debating baking these as cupcakes instead of a cake. I have my sister’s voice creeping over my shoulder saying, “I hate coconut” so I will probably bake her fav luscious lemon cupcakes to go alongside this cake.

I love this monkey bread recipe. I love getting together with my knot and bumpie friends because Dani always bakes this rich, gooey, loaf of happiness. Go Here to get the recipe.

What are your Easter traditions?!

The only thing I fear is fear itself.

One week from today I return to work. I have dreaded this day since I went out on maternity leave on November 25th. I have hysterically cried, sat here with grief and wished for something short of a miracle that would keep me from returning. I have taken out my frustrations on the hubs, which I regret, I just know that I will never get this time ever again. Days where PJ’s never get taken off, the hair and make-up not done for days, The Today Show right as I wake-up and continuing into the 10 o’clock hour to tune into Kathy Lee and Hoda. Right as the clock strikes 11 when the tune to Deal or No Deal comes on I know it’s time to start my day. Even if I sit here all day, where my rear has left an indention on our couch, I am okay because it’s been a great day with my baby. I am mortified to return, I have sunk back into the depression that haunted me in late 2008 and have tried to work these issues out in my head but unfortunately, I haven’t been able to. The shower has become my place to think, cry and silently scream. I am envious of all the mother’s that don’t have to work. I ask myself why everyday but I know I have to in order to provide for my baby and to keep this roof over our heads. I have to enjoy this last week, I cannot let my fears overtake me!

Wishful Wednesdays : I wish I could afford “this” handbag

This week’s Wishful Wednesday topic is:
‘I wish’ …. I could afford this ______ handbag without putting a dent in my pocketbook!

If you wish to get in on the action click on the button below:

A year ago I could probably tell you immediately what bag I had my eye on but like I keep posting, my priorities have immensely changed. I cannot even fathom spending more than ten dollars on myself. The last handbag I purchased for myself was when I became General Manager two years ago, it was a huge deal for me. Then the last handbag I received was from a friend who was getting married, I helped her out with her invites and her day of coordination so she thanked me with a gorgeous black leather coach tote. However, if I had a few extra hundred dollars to blow I would pick something like the following handbags:

MARC BY MARC JACOBS Bow Wow Wow Leola Leather Hobo

PRICE: $498.00

Michael Kors ‘Skorpios – Large’ Hobo
$1,095.00


Gucci “Hysteria”
$750.00

Marc Jacobs “Blake”
$1,050.00

This is the handbag I purchased two years ago. I love it. Every time I look at it, it reminds how hard I have worked. Kinda silly to some, but I don’t drop hundreds of dollars on bags like loose pocket change.