Level up!

You know those accomplishments that take you to different stages in your life? Things like, the first time you wear big kid underwear and kept it dry, the first time you rode a bike without stabilisers or swam without arm bands? Your first bra, your first pair of high heels, the first time you drive a car etc... ? Today I discovered that owning a barb-e-cue and being "allowed" to light it and own it and cook on it and everything involved with that makes me feel like I'm grown up. Never mind that I've been married for 6 years and we've been paying our own bills and just bought our first mattress (we moved up two levels in ONE week!) and stuff... We didn't need to ask for permission!

Today I've grown up... a little.
What an adventure!

Join hands and hearts and voices, voices, hearts and hands:

We had a nice quiet Thanksgiving this year. We don't have space for left overs, nevermind counter space to actually make food - with two squares of counter one for the microwave and one for drying dishes, who's idea was that anyway?!

So instead of the traditional dinner that we didn't have space (or money) for we decided to treat ourselves to our favourite food. Indian. As with a normal Thanksgiving meal we were eating it for about three days after the big day. I know! It took up less space though.

Mr Laura got to spend a lot of time in his jammies and played games over the internet with family. I did my usual but enjoyed it more having my lover home.

How was your Thanksgiving? 

Where did you go?

Was it lovely?

I don't think you're ready for this jelly:

I really like to do fun things. Sometimes I want to do something that sounds like fun to me because I can see the potential in it but it sounds completely daft to someone else. I think this was one of those things.

Stuart only has one day where he gets home before 4.30pm through the week. That is the day I'd like to try have our adventures on. So this week I researched and chose wisely my adventure. The Jelly Belly Factory.

How could that not be fun? I think Stuart took me just to get me off his back, which I appreciate because I don't necessarily enjoy whining, not at this age. I do however enjoy sweeties and I know for a fact that he enjoys Jelly Bellies - specifically the Pomegranate ones - be careful not to get them mixed up with Cinnamon because I did that this morning and had to give myself CPR.

Now we know all about how Jelly Bellies came into existence and I am more than happy to share that knowledge with you but I won't spoil the tour for you so let me just say, Jelly Bellies are from heaven. They were completely inspired by angels. They are beautiful little beans of glory and you should go visit the factory. You won't be sorry. Amen.

They give you free candy on a FREE tour!!!

Have you "bean"?
Was it like being in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory?

Legeeeeend!

Who loves Oregon?

Her cupcakes bring all the who to the where?

My eyes get such a feast when I visit Conversations With A Cupcake. My eyes love it but my thighs get so confused. I drool and I giggle. Cheeky little cupcakes and a sassy, quirky baker-lady. What's not to love, really?

Tick.Tock.

Tick.Tock.

Tick. Tock.

Ding.

The day begins.

Here I go again

trying to find the

perfect balance

between

1 dapper husband

4 winsome children

18 soiled loads of laundry

1 blog

52 afterschool activities

1,000 inspired visions

3 square meals

4 cluttered bedrooms

101 sightseeing locations

15 scout badges

24 cupcakes

3 nearly completed book proposals

28,987 unorganized photos

And only one lifetime

to get it all done.

So, I grab onto the pendulum

Hold on

Hang in there

Enjoy the ride

Hoping

everything I do

(and don't do)

will even out

as my minutes turn

to days

and years

and memories.

Tick.Tock.

Tick.Tock.

Tick.Tock.

Wheeeee!

Brooke, thanks for taking time and Gypsying over here. We think you're the cat's whiskers. -Laura

Top 10: Snack Foods you could eat your weight in

I'm a super snacker. I love snack food. It's a recent thing, I think.

1. Crackers. I love crackers. I have to put some in a baggie at the start of the day to ration my intake. The day I discovered Goldfish crackers was a glorious one.

2. Cheese. The perfect companion of crackers. For snacking I have to say String Cheese.

3. Popcorn. Never used to be such a fan but I love flavoured popcorn... cheese flavoured funnily enough. White Cheddar ORRRR Salt and Vinegar. YUM! Husband is also a flavoured popcorn fiend.

4. Crisps AKA Chips. I like plain salty crisps. With dip... with my mum's cream cheese and onion dip. Happy memory: sharing a bowl of said dip with my older brother late one night over Christmas. Pringles are maybe my fave Crisp.

5. Muddy Buddies. Really, who doesn't love those?

6. Ice Poles AKA Otter Pops. Lime and Orange are my favourite. Blue Raspberry is too but I'm never bothered about giving it up for someone else as long as there's a lime or orange one for me.

7. Soft Pretzels. Love! It's such a treat when we go to the mall and husband buys me a hot buttery/salty soft pretzel. I love them a lot.

8. Chocolate covered Raisins.

9... I can't think of any more. Tell me yours...

The apple of my cyber eye...

This picture was taken the very day I decided to create my Gypsy Feet baby.
It was taken this time last summer when I was addicted to Rocky Mountain Carmel Apples.
Yump.
Such a yummy treat.
The fact it's an apple covered in layers of carmel and chocolate and snickers and marshmallows and happiness almost makes it feel like a healthy snack... almost...

PS. We were nominated for Most Inspiring Blog on Blog Luxe! Go vote. Use the buttons on the top right hand side :)

Panda Expressions...

Along with Italian Soda's I have to admit that Panda Express Orange Chicken is another of my favorite American things. I was so excited to have it last night so I could strike it off my summer list. - Our gypsy, Megan is collecting Live lists. Check it out.

Growing up we'd sometimes get Chinese (or Indian) food as a treat, normally on a Friday or Saturday. It wasn't a frequent thing until we got older and were able to buy our own but we don't have Orange Chicken where I come from. My favorite and 'my usual' was Sweet and Sour King Prawn with Egg Fried Rice. Basically the best thing in the world. My older sister, Emma would always get Chow Mein and I always thought it looked slimey and gross until Panda Express. Now I'm like, "rice who?" YUM!

Panda Express has the best Orange Chicken - crunchy, crispy, zingy, sweet, sticky... but where's the Prawn Crackers? If it's not one thing it's another, right? Although, I think I'm happy to trade the crackers for the take-away boxes I always saw on American films. Love them.

What's your favorite take-away food?