My Bedazzled Butt

Utah Oddity - Designer Jeans


Before I get the oddity of the day, I thought I would take the time to let you know of the goings on in the house.  Macaroni got himself grounded from the car.  Apple is shopping like crazy since she had a job.  Had is the key word there.  Cheese is bouncing off the walls since it's been cold outside.  And Whine is obviously not getting enough sleep because she's been a little crabby lately.  And by little, I mean a lot!  The more things change the more they stay the same.  I'm trying a new recipe for dinner group.  So my neighbors are my guinea pigs.  Sorry guys!  And Oscar has been busy with his church calling and work.  Last week he helped a neighbor move into a new house.  Oh the joys of his calling!  Just glad it's not me!

So, in Utah, you see a lot of women wearing designer jeans.  And they wear them everywhere.  (I almost typed everywear......a little play on words for you!)  Designer jeans are not cheap.  They can cost up to $300 dollars.  You know the ones right?  They have thick stitching, usually in orange, blue or white.  They have jewels sewn on the back pockets.  I admit, they are really cute.  Of course, if you're a size 0-6, everything looks cute on you.  You're tiny!  Skinny little #@$#@#!

I see these cute tiny women all the time.  They usually have a few kids with them.  The kids are are dressed in clothes more expensive than my grocery bill.  They look like these perfect little families.  Cute, thin, immaculately dressed, perfect people.  I just laugh.  I laugh because I know that they are not perfect.  They probably are lonely, or struggling or sad.  I laugh because, even though they look so cute, I know that they, like everyone else has their struggles.  I laugh hysterically when I see a woman, with her $300 jeans on, going into Walmart.  Really?!  You can spend hundreds of dollars on jeans but you're shopping at Walmart?  I laugh also, because if you ask any one of them, they will say "I got them online for 1/2 the price!"  Or, "I got them on sale!"  So basically, we want to look like we are wealthy, rich people, when we are not.  Oh, Utah.  You're so funny!

I have to quit laughing though.  You know why?  I bought a pair!  Just what I need, a pair of jeans that is going to emphasize my big old backside.  I'll make sure to go to Walmart in them.  But it's OK, I got them on sale!!

Back to school!!

Crapola  (MSW) - see also, crap.

After 3 LONG weeks, the kids are all back in school.  I want to celebrate!  I want to rejoice!  I want to dance and sing in the streets!  I want to go to bed!  And yes, I will do that last one.  Tomorrow morning.....can't wait!  Even as I wrote this, my teenager comes home from high school with his cousin for lunch.  See, they are always here!!  Aagh!

This year we are trying something a little different.  I now have Saturday's off again.  Another reason to rejoice!!  So I made a list of wants and needs for the house.  Like, painting a bedroom....that's a want.  Putting up closet doors in my kids room....that's a need.  (Since we finished our basement about 10 years ago, I made it a need.....hello?! 10 years with no closet doors!!)  We also put activities on the want list....like go to Jump On It ( a trampoline place), mall, movies, etc....  So every time we get some things done on the need list, we can reward ourselves.  I hope it will work out.  I want to do this every month to encourage some productivity around here and get everyone's help.  And just so we are clear, it's not really a honey do list!  Both Oscar and I are doing them....or at least we're trying to.  He is better at some things that I am and vice-versa.

A couple things on my need list:

Closet doors ....  DONE!!!
Organize den .... in progress.....everyday Oscar is going thru papers and shredding things....yeah!!
Organize laundry room ... in progress.....took all the mis-matched socks and matched them.  Any extras I threw away!  Very liberating!!  (a great idea from my neighbor!!)
Organize Whine's bedroom ... DONE!!  (with some help from Apple)

A few things from the want list that we did this weekend:

Classic skating
Going to Charlotte Russe in the mall

I hope this want versus need thing works out well.  The kids are excited to put stuff on the want list that's for sure.  It's getting the need list finished as well that will be the hard part.  Crapola!

I think I'm so great....

Itshay (MSW) - it's pig Latin for a different word.

You know, I think I'm so great.  I took my kids who are out of school to Classic skating the other day.  Great mom!  I cleaned the house, swept the floor.  Great mom!  I got my coupons organized and put away for my next shopping trip.  Great mom!  I organized all my Tupperware and lids, so every container has a matching lid.  Great mom!  I made a pork roast and baked potatoes for dinner group.  See, great mom!  I even made "green" breakfast smoothies the last 2 days for the family.  Dang, I am so great!!

Oh, how quickly I fall.

I try so hard to stay organized and clutter free.  So hard!   But for the life of me, I can't find the paper listing all the swearwords I thought of for this blog.  I'm been looking with no success.  That is why I haven't written in a while.  I need my cheat-sheet!  Where is it?!!

Every day with the kids home makes the house a disaster area.  I am constantly picking up stuff, doing dishes, laundry.  Go back to school already!

The kids, being out of school, are screaming and yelling at each other.  Satan spawn!

I am trying desperately to loss weight.  It's not coming off as quick as I want it to.  Cheesecake anyone?

The teenagers are going a hundred miles an hour and always need the car.  Dude, get a job and get your own car!!

Along with the teenagers and their busy life, if I see another McDonald's wrapper in the car from your activities, I'm going to scream!  Stop wasting your money!  Plus, I'm on a diet.  If I smell french fries, I'll want them!

Itshay!  I'm falling, and I'm falling fast!!

As always, there is a silver lining.  We did schedule a vacation in May to Disneyland.  Too bad the kids are coming with us!

Funeral Potatoes

Utah Oddity - Funeral Potatoes

I had to make these yummy potatoes for our Christmas Eve dinner.  I love them.  It's probably a recipe that many have used, but in Utah, they are called funeral potatoes.  Why?  Because this is a dish that is served at most Mormon funerals.

When someone of the Latter-day Saint faith (Mormon) passes away, the family gathers after the funeral for a luncheon.  The people of the church (ward) makes food for the family and serves them.  It is usually a meal of ham, funeral potatoes, salads, veges and dessert.  But almost ALWAYS the potatoes are there.  It is the best comfort food.  And comfort food is what is needed after a loved one has passed away.  I have been on both the receiving end and the giving end of this tradition.

When I first moved to Utah, I had these at some dinner function.  I remember thinking that those were so good!  Since then, I see them everywhere.  And I make them quite a bit.  Several years ago, I heard them being called funeral potatoes and the name stuck.  Actually, during the 2002 Winter Olympics in SLC, one of the souvenirs included a pin with an image of my beloved funeral potatoes!  Man, I wish I would've found that pin!  Yummy!  I'll even include the recipe for you!

Ingredients

---

• 32 oz bag of frozen shredded hash browns
• 2 (10 3/4 oz) cans cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups sour cream
• 1 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese (I like to usesharp cheddar cheese)
• 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 2 cups finely crushed corn flakes
• 2 Tbs butter or margarine melted

How to make it

---

• Grease 9x13 baking dish and preheat oven to 350
• In large bowl combine soups, sour cream, cheese, onions, and the 1/2 cup of melted butter.
• Gently fold hash browns into mixture.
• Pour mixture into pan.
• Combine crushed corn flakes and the 2 Tbs. of melted butter and sprinkle on top of potato mixture.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
• *If wanting to, you can use cubed potatoes instead of hash browns but you will need to increase baking time to 55 minutes.