Six Word Saturday!

It's Saturday! Do you have six words? I do! Don't know what I'm talking about? Click the box and Cate from Show My Face will explain it all to you!

My internal alarm? Yeah, it works.

So, my phone has a mind of it's own and tends to power off whenever it so chooses. It's really annoying and probably time for a new phone.

Well, I use my phone as my alarm clock. I usually set it for 6:55 AM. When the alarm goes off I hit snooze and usually read Twitter for five minutes before it goes off again. At 7:00 AM I get out of bed. Just incase my phone decides to turn off in the middle of the night (which had never happened) I set the alarm on my nightstand for 7:05 AM. This gives me a chance to turn it off before it blares it's very jarring, very annoying BEEP!!!! BEEP!!!! BEEP!!! into the stillness of the morning.

Thursday night my phone powered off sometime in the middle of the night. Ugh! It's probably time for a new phone.

Thursday morning I was dreaming. I was dreaming that there was an alarm beeping but it was the annoying alarm, the BEEP!!!! BEEP!!!! alarm. It woke me up. I reached for my phone but it was off. I looked at the clock on my nightstand . . . 6:55 AM. Not kidding.

My internal alarm (literally) had woken me up at 6:55 AM. Nice to see that it's working properly.

Diet Coke Brownies

I was wandering around Pinterest one day and found a recipes for a Pumpkin cake. The recipe called for one box of cake mix and one can of pumpkin puree. That's it.

Mix it all together, pour it in the pan, bake it all up. Viola! Yummy pumpkin cake!

Being a lover of cake and pumpkin I couldn't resist!

Do Not Bake This Cake. Ewww.

Super thick and super cake batter flavor. Not good.

After this experience you'll understand how I had some reservations when I found a recipe for brownies that called for one box of brownie mix and one can of Diet Coke.

But, I'm a fan of brownies and a fan of Diet Coke . . . (This looks familiar already) . . So, I thought, why not give it a try.

I acquired one box of Low Fat Brownie mix and 12 oz. of Diet Coke. I poured them in the bowl, mixed them up, poured them in the greased pan and popped them in the oven.

They took longer than normal to cook enough to pass the "toothpick test."

When they were cooled (enough) I sliced them up and tasted.

Good brownies!

I was so suprised!

I mean, of course, they're not as excellent as regular brownies. I did buy the Low Fat kind. But, they were good.

I definitely plan to make them again!

Yummy!

Random Tuesday Thoughts!

Happy Random Tuesday! Link-up at Stacy's for some more Random fun!

1. Flavored coffee. I have discovered something about flavored coffee. It's not my thing. It just never turns out how I'm expecting. I think I'll just stick to the classics.

2. Girl Scout Cookies. They are nowhere to be found around here. Seriously. Someone fix this. Luckily I have cousins! Cousins with kids who are Girl Scouts! Cousins with kids who are Girl Scouts who are willing to ship cookies to me! It's all good, People! Crisis averted.

3. To me, single parenting, not all that different from double parenting.

4. Exercising every day. I would like to weigh less, sure. I would like a flatter stomach, of course. However, right now, I just want to be rid of the extra thigh meat. Seriously, GO AWAY. Any suggestions of the best exercises to make this happen? I'm all ears. (Or, eyes in this case. [Maybe I should say I'm all thighs!])

5. I made brownies with Diet Coke. Come back tomorrow. I'll tell you all about it.

6. The weather is being ridiculous. Last Friday it was seventy degrees. Saturday it was forty degrees. I just want snow. That's all. Just send me some snow. Please?

7. PATRIOTS BABY!! It's the year of payback!

8. Speaking of. What's on your Superbowl menu?

9. Karate for Kid? Teach discipline. Good. Get exercise. Good. Teach my kid how to punch and kick people? Maybe not so good.

10. Too much TV. Too many good shows! My TiVo can't keep up! Monday is overbooked and Thursday will be overbooked in March. :( What to do?

And The Winner Is . . .

I would like to say, Thank you to everyone who entered my book giveaway!

I am about to announce the lucky entry!

I am confident that you (the winner) will enjoy this book!

Are you ready?

I just returned from Random.org.

I entered the numbers 1 through 29 (the number of comments I received on the giveaway blog). I hit "Generate."

A number popped up.

Was it your number?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

I trust that if you're already a fan of Destination Truth and your number popped up you will love this book.

What's the number? I'll tell you.

I also believe that if you're not already a fan of Destination Truth (WHY NOT??) this book could make you a "believer" so to speak.

Why won't I tell you the number?

I will. Don't worry.

I just hope that whoever the winner is . . . (yes, I already know) . . . you will enjoy this book.

Alright. I get it. Enough already.

You want to know?

You Really want to know?

OK!

And the winner is . . .

 . . .

 . . .

Congratulations, Critics in my Kitchen!!!

I hope you enjoy the book!

Six Word Saturday

It's Saturday! Do you have six words? I do! Don't know what I'm talking about? Click the box and Cate from Show My Face will explain it all to you!

I just do not understand anymore.

Random Tuesday Thoughts!

Happy Random Tuesday! Link-up at Stacy's for some more Random fun!

1. I'm having a Giveaway! I read and reviewed Josh Gates' book Destination Truth Memoirs of a Monster Hunter and I'm giving away a copy! Fun book! Check it out!

2.I had some great Twitter experiences recently. First, I tweeted about my giveaway and Josh Gates retweeted my tweet! I was so excited. Then, Sunday I check my e-mail and found a new follower that Made. My. Week. Seriously.

3. What are you reading right now? (No reason, just curious.)

4. Patriots and the Ravens on Sunday! Yeah Baby! I'll stress out through the whole game but I'm hoping it'll be worth it in the end! New England rocks!

5. One of my goals for the year (that I didn't put on my list) is to read every day. It doesn't have to be a lot, if I don't have time. But something every day. So far, so good.

6. I watched Alcatraz last night. Sam Neill is still very attractive. I just thought you should know.

7. Currently Reading: Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight. Author: Alexandra Fuller

8. No, I didn't finish A Clash of Kings. But, Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight is for our #jhbc. So, that one get's priority.

Happy Tuesday! Have a great week!

My Week Made

Sunday morning I woke up. I checked my Twitter. (From bed, yes. Because it's warm in my bed.)

I finally dragged myself out of bed and to the living room.

I turned on my computer. I opened four tabs. (Because I'm a tabaholic.) Like all the other mornings.

E-mail. Teemagnet. (Because I love the nerdy/geeky t-shirts.) Facebook. Pinterest. (Because Pinterest has become very important in my routine.)

It would be a long time before I looked at any pages but my e-mail.

I clicked the e-mail tab and started skimming the new headlines. I stopped. I stared. I squinted, in case I was seeing it wrong. I stared some more. Maybe, I didn't breath for a few seconds. I smiled. I stared some more. I thought, it's not real, is it? I thought, maybe it's not really him. (But, I knew better.)

(You're going to laugh when you see what the big deal is all about.)

I finally clicked on the e-mail to open it. It was really him. I clicked the link in the e-mail. It took me to the page. It was really him. There was a blue check and everything.

I still couldn't believe it.

By now I'm smiling (Because, apparently, it doesn't take much to make me happy.) a lot.

I clicked over to my Twitter page. It said the same thing there. I clicked back to his Twitter page. Yeah, same thing.

Peoples! One of my favorite actors (and an Oscar winner, I might add) followed me on Twitter!

Now, I know, he follows about 640ish people, that's a lot. I can barley keep up with the 300ish that I follow. But, he does have like 28,000 followers. Not sure why he followed me. I'm just hoping he doesn't get on Twitter one day and think "This girl is a tweeting machine! Unfollow!"

Oh well, whatever his reason, he made my week!

Thank you Mr. Hutton, for the follow and for getting me to 399 followers. One more to 400!

Six Word Saturday!

It's Saturday! Do you have six words? I do! Don't know what I'm talking about? Click the box and Cate from Show My Face will explain it all to you!

I'm having a Giveaway! Look HERE!

I would love for you to enter my giveaway. There's only one week left and the entries are low. 

But, PLEASE, please follow the directions properly or I can't count your entries. They're really VERY easy!

Happy Saturday! 

Random Tuesday Thoughts.

Happy Random Tuesday! Link-up at Stacy's for some more Random fun!

1. Latest RTT ever. Fail. (Hey, at least it's here.)

2. I'm having a giveaway! All the details are here: GIVEAWAY! (Please follow the directions, thanks!)

3. Psych has been renewed for another season! This makes me happy. I have Lassiter love.

4. Does anyone watch Leverage? You really should. It's like Robin Hood meets the A-Team. So fun. The cast is amazing and the writers and awesome. Check out the pilot. It's free on iTunes this week. :)

5. Currently reading: A Clash of Kings Author: George R. R. Martin.

Review and Giveaway: Destination Truth Memoirs of a Monster Hunter

I received this book for Christmas (as it was a high priority on my Amazon Wish List). I finished it today.

I Loved it!

If you are not familiar with Destination Truth . . . Why not? It airs on the Syfy network and it's a great show.

The premise is this: A team of investigators/adventure seekers travel around the world searching for the stuff of myth and legend. Bigfoot? They looked for him (a few times). Lake Monsters? Yup, searched for those. Ghosts? Sure, they've investigated a few huntings. Chernobyl? Uh huh, they went there. Elves? Yes, elves. They have wandered through Iceland searching for elves.

While the investigations are interesting and sometimes turn up some very odd evidence, my favorite thing about this show is easily the cast. More specifically, the host, Josh Gates.

Josh is very witty and entertaining and the entire cast seem to work very well together. They make the hard stuff look easy.

Watch Destination Truth.

The book.

I loved this book. Well written with a lot of behind the scenes takes on the Destination Truth episodes that I love.

It was VERY hard while reading the book not to stop and read every other paragraph out loud to whomever was in the room. It was that fun and interesting. As a matter of fact, I often gave in and read large portions aloud. Once I even got out of bed to read a page to J. He was as equally shocked as I was by the information I was reading to him. (Chernobyl, anyone?)

At different times while reading I was entertained, amused, laughing out loud, cringing and down right terrified. (Not kidding. Chernobyl, anyone?)

This book will definitely make you want to get off your sofa and travel. Maybe not to Malaysia or Chernobyl but you will absolutely want to travel more. I was in awe as I read the descriptions of the places Josh has been and the things he has seen and experienced. In awe and a little jealous. (But, not of Chernobyl.)

I would definitely recommend this book. It helps if you're a fan of Destination Truth but I wouldn't say necessary. The tales recounted will keep you entertained either way.

How do I get a copy of this awesome book? you may be asking yourself. I have an answer for you! It's available on Amazon here Destination Truth Memoirs of a Monster Hunter in either hard copy or Kindle editions.

OR

You can enter my giveaway here. You see, I received two copies of this book for Christmas and I would like to give one to one lucky reader.

Entries are simple and there are Many ways to enter! Eight way to enter, to be exact!

YOU MUST LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY TO COUNT.


1. This one is Mandatory (Come on, I need at least ONE mandatory entry): Leave a comment here telling me if you watch or have ever watched Destination Truth and why or why not.


Non-mandatory Extra entries.


2. Follow my blog. (Leave a comment letting me know you have been following or are a new follower.)
3. Leave a comment with your favorite Destination Truth episode.
4. Leave a comment with a favorite quote from Destination Truth.
5. Follow me on Twitter: @Justaddjava (Leave a comment, with your twitter name.)
6. Follow Josh Gates on Twitter: @JoshuaGates (Leave a comment with your Twitter name.)
7. Tweet about the giveaway. Include the tag #DTBookGiveaway in your tweet. (Leave a comment, with your twitter name, letting me know you tweeted.)
8. If you have a blog and you want to share this giveaway there, be my guest! (Leave a comment with the link to your blog here.)

The giveaway will close on January 20th. That gives you Two weeks to get your entries in and spread the word! I'll announce the Winner on January 23rd. 

There you go! Eight ways to enter. Tell your friends!

Good luck!

P.S. My apologies but currently my giveaways are for US residents only. So sorry to anyone else. :(

(Fine print: I was not, in any way, compensated for this review. I simply Loved the book and since I received two copies I decided to share.)

It Tastes Good, Really! Yeah, Sure.

Kid will never trust a Pharmacist again.

My kid, like most kids, doesn't like medicine. He ESPECIALLY doesn't like liquid medicine. When I buy Tylenol or cold medicine I buy chewable or the kind that dissolves on your tongue. Liquids make Kid gag.

Now, he doesn't like medicine but he's usually good about taking it. I mean, he complains (Duh) but he eventually takes it because he has too.

Kid's been complaining about ear pain for a couple days and I assumed an ear infection. I finally got him an appointment yesterday.

We were right. Poor thing has an ear infection. The Doctor said "I'm going to get you something that tastes good."

Doctor doesn't know my kid very well.

We sat and waited at the pharmacy. When they called kids name, we went to the counter so the pharmacist could explain the dosing. The first thing Kid asked "Can I chew it?"

Nope. It's liquid. The Pharmacist ASSURED him that it tastes good. Most kids love it. The lady next to him agreed. "It's one of the few that does but it tastes good."

Kid wasn't convinced.

At home I opened it and called Kid to come take his medicine. We sniffed it. Seemed OK. I repeated to Kid that the Pharmacist said it tasted good.

Kid tasted it.

ADVERSE REACTION!

Drink Water!

Whining.

Gagging.

More Whining.

Another sip.

Drink water!

More gagging.

More Whining.

Drink water.

More whining.

Finish medicine.

Drink water! Drink water!

GAG! COUGH! GAG!

Success!!!

It was ONE teaspoon, people. One teaspoon.

Random Tuesday Thoughts!

It's the first Random Tuesday of 2012! I haven't done Random Tuesday since October! I hope it still works the same. :)

Link-up at Stacy's where she is STILL  rocking the rebellion!

1. I am sick.Ugh. Bleh. Just a cold but it's enough to make me feel ick.

2. Today is the first day back to school. Waking up? Nightmare. Ready to get back into my routine but the first couple days? Murder. 

3. I hate Max and Ruby. Max is such a bad, bad bunny and all the things he does wrong end up being praised in the end. What???

4. Did you Christmas wishes come true? J got me Josh Gates' book and I was thrilled. I also finally have a printer! Yay! (Now, I just need to find a place to put it . . . )

5. Kid found out on Sunday that Darth Vader is Luke's Dad! He nearly had a meltdown. "He has to destroy his Dad!?!?" He had problems working it out in his mind because "It's not nice for his Dad to be Darth Vader, Darth Vader is a mean guy!" Dad's are not supposed to be mean guys.

6. Why do all of the light bulbs in my house seem to blow out at the same time? Going to invest in LED lights if I can afford it. They're more expensive but last SO much longer.

7. Sugar Cookie Tea from Celestial Seasonings. Ew! It sounded SO GOOD in theory. In reality (in my opinion) it was way too weak. Maybe if I throw two bags in and try again? Maybe I should just stick to nice black English Breakfast Tea.

8. Haven't exercised this year yet because I feel like ick. This needs to stop.

9. Currently reading: Destination Truth Memoirs Of A Monster Hunter. Author: Josh Gates

Resolutions

Resolutions!

OK, I don't love that word. I shall use "Goals." (Are these different? Don't tell me if they're not, let me live in my ignorant bubble. Thank you.)

Goals!

I have some goals this year. Previous years I set a goal to read a certain number of books. I did not do that last year. I'm not making that mistake again this year. That, among other things, is one of my goals this year.

Here's my list.

1. Read at LEAST 20 books. - I know 20 isn't a huge number but I'm starting small.

2. BLOG! Blog At LEAST twice a week. - So, if you read my blog and all you see is random Tuesday and Six Word Saturday posts you know I'm lazy.

3. Exercise. - I know this is only nearly everyone's list. But it's a good thing to have on your list. I was doing really well and then completely slacked off. No more of this! At LEAST twice a week. Not sure what type of exercise but something. I'm being encouraged to do the Couch to 5K program. Not sold on that yet though. We'll see.

4. Eat healthier, buy more Organic foods. - Organic food is expensive! Why is this? Anyway, I won't be able to go crazy but I do plan to do better. I'm also going to try to "sneak" some meatless meals into our rotation. That should go over well.

5. Drink more water. - Not hard to do. Drink more water.

6. Date night. - This would be nice. Maybe every two weeks? Something, come on?

7. Spend more time with Kid. - Definitely last but Not least!

Well, there's my list, for now. We'll see how well this goes.

The exercise may have to wait until I get over this stupid bug but after that, it's on! (Or you know, maybe.)

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope everyone had a nice, safe New Year's Eve last night. 

Can you believe we're in 2012? (I have a theory on the Mayan thing. They lived SO long ago that they just probably Gave Up counting at 2012 because in their minds that was way longer than time would last. Works right? Shut up. It works! I refuse to entertain all this 2012 crap! [Mostly because I'm a huge wimp and 2012 stuff freaks me out.])

I've never been one for resolutions. I prefer to call them goals. I have some for this year. I'll talk about them in a post soon. 

Happy New Year, Everyone!