CA Girl

Mark your calendars for Monday March 19th.  Dancing with the Stars is back for its 14th season, and I am excited.  Do I really have to wait two whole weeks!??  Sadly, yes.  But at least we now know who the cast is... Gladys Knight!  Please tell me I don't have to explain who she is.  She is paired with Tristan McManus.  This is his Sophmore season.  I really like him.  He is patient and sweet and a good dancer.  Plus he is funny.  Our resident jock...Donald Driver.  He may be a super star now, but he grew up homeless and had a number of other obstacles to overcome.  I am intrigued to see his story unfold.  The football players are usually surprisingly light on their feet.  Will he be?  His partner:  Petra Murgatroyd also in her Sophmore season. Gavin DeGraw....now this is one I do not know.  He is chart topper(no wonder I don't know who he is I never listen to the radio!) but can he dance?  His partner is last season's champion pro:  Karina Smirnoff Swoon it

When you have a sister who is outspoken, and a brother who is ... well... who makes his presence known, you often get overlooked. Sometimes that is okay.  Especially if you are more like a wallflower.  Or if you embarrass easy.  But somewhere inside lurks a star who wants out.   She is there.  If you watch her, you just might catch her. But be careful, if she sees you...she will hide once again... So imagine my surprise when my Little Middle tried out for the school talent show.  She did improv.  At this point, I do not know if she made it.  And it really doesn't matter.  The fact that she got herself up on that stage and put herself out there is enough for me!  I couldn't be more proud. What is your proud moment?  Share it with EmmyMom and Kmama !

A couple of weeks ago, we had my nephew over for dinner for his birthday.  We don't get to see him very often so my mom let him choose his favorite dinner.  He picked, Chinese food.  And by that, he meant homemade.  My mom is never one to cut corners.  She goes all out.  And I thought hmmm...I will take pictures of the prep and spread and share the recipes.  So here we go....  Chinese Egg Rolls My mom learned how to make these from a gal in her Ward.  She is the real deal too.... 30 egg roll skins (4” square)                    Sesame oil to taste 6 cups shredded green cabbage               Salt and pepper to taste 1 1/8 cups shredded carrots                     Oil for deep frying 1 cup bean strings                                    Cornstarch paste (2 parts starch to 1                                                                   part water) 2 Tbsp. Vegetable oil                                 Flour, for dusting ***************************************************

Is February already over?  Even with an extra day in there it sure went by fast.  And at the end of each of month, I get to look back reflect on ten things that made me smile and then I link up with my bestie Emmy and her Ten Things to Smile About! 1.  Getting my craft on... 2.  Seeing my Bestie twice in ONE month! 3.  Finding The Holy Grail 4.  Watching Ryan go from training wheels to a two wheeler! 5.  Being a costume designer...and a darn good one if I do say so myself! 6.  Sometimes it's a line from a TV show...last week it was Grey's Anatomy.  The doc's were betting on the one who got the cool surgery to puke during it.  "Come on, puke already!"   7.  When the weather is so nice you can be outside in shorts.  Please don't hate...it's back to cold. 8.  Going to lunch with my mom and shopping for fun and not for stuff we needed for the house which is totally boring. 9.  Making these super yummy cookies I f

What's the best part about the Oscars?  Is it the anticipation of who will win what?  Is it the speeches(puh-leeze!)?  No!  It's those dresses!  The red carpet.  Seeing who is wearing who?  How is their hair done?  I have a handful of pictures and my humble opinion to go with them. Bo Derek is 55 now and look at her!  She is dressed age appropriate, and classy.  But my problem is it's too plain.  I love the color though.  It just needs a little something.  GAH!  It's the dress that ATE Emma Stone!  Seriously, this dress would be stunning were it not for the collar and giant bow trying to take over. Best Support Actress nominee looks likes she is wearing an oriental rug.  Only JLo could pull this off.  And was there or wasn't there a wardrobe malfunction while she was presenting with Cameron Diaz? Kate Mara.  Please stand up straight!  Didn't your mother teach you this basic lady principle!  It might help this dress along. Oh dear Lea, are t