Restaurants and Hotels at Disneyland & California Adventure

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Gail

Disneyland

If your Disney vacation, includes staying at the Disneyland Hotel or the Grand Californian be sure to plan ahead and make reservation well in advance.  Both hotels border on each park.  The monorail system does make a stop at the Disneyland Hotel to pick up guest, which makes the commute to Disneyland much easier.  Both hotels are great and each have their own attributes.

Make sure to stroll Downtown Disney, just to visit all the great shops and restaurants. Downtown Disney is situated between the entrances of California Adventure and Disneyland Park.  The shops include Fossil, Lego Imagination Center, Sephora, Studio Disney 365, ESPN Zone Studio Store and much more.  In the evening, they have musicians entertaining the crowds as they stroll the street.  Don’t miss this!

There are some very good restaurants, with a vast array of cuisine to choose from.  My favorite restaurant “downtown” is  The Rainforest Cafe, the atmosphere is that of the rain forest.  About every 15 minutes, it comes alive with animals and the entire inside of the restaurant transforms into a rain forest.  They serve salads, pasta, burgers and more.  The price rate is between $12 – $20.  On the way out, check out the gift store.   The House of Blues, serves southern specialties, but it is a bit pricey, but with great ambiance and music.  The Napolini is a good Italian Deli, and is priced on a moderate scale.  La Brea Bakery Express is just that, they serve pastries, sandwiches and is a very popular eatery and minimally priced.

Once your inside the Disney Park one of the best things to eat at Disneyland is the Turkey leg.  These little hunks of heaven are to good to describe.  You can find them at the stands that are located on Main Street and also in Frontier land.  They can actually feed two people, but you won’t want to share, so get your own.  If you don’t want to have a sit down lunch or wait in a line to eat, this can be fun.  Just grab a drink and sit down under a tree and Nosh on your leg while people watching.   Could not get better than this!

The best restaurant in Disneyland is the Blue Bayou, inside the Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square.  It is Bayou side dining at it’s best, and the ambiance is great.  They serve Cajun and Vegetarian food and I’m going to be perfectly honest… not the best I’ve had and it is a bit pricey.  You are paying mainly for the ambiance which is unbelievable.  Most of the other restaurants are minimally priced.  There is the River Belle Terrace in Frontierland.  They serve the famous Mickey pancakes, sandwiches, salads and more.  The Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country serves Burgers and fries.  In Tomorrowland there is the Tomorrowland  Terrace which also serve burgers, sandwiches and salads.  Red Rockets Pizza Port, also in Tomorrowland serves pizza, salads and more.

California Adventure

There are very few pricey restaurants in California Adventure and most are moderately priced and one on almost every corner.  There are a lot of burger, fries and sandwich shops.  Like the Taste Pilot Grill which is located next to Soaring Over California (a must ride).  There are a variety of restaurants to choose from, like Rita’s Baja Blender, Ariel’s Grotto, Paradise Pier Ice Cream Co.   In California Adventure there seems to be a restaurant at every turn.  One of the more upscale restaurants is the Wine Country Trattoria at the Golden Vine Winery.  They serve Mediterranean style cuisine and about twenty five different wines to chose from.   The one restaurant I do not miss when I go to California Adventure, is the Pacific Wharf Cafe.  They serve the best soups and salads, and they are served in fresh baked bread bowls.  The clam chowder is great, but my personal favorite is the chicken salad with apples and raisins in a bread bowl.  To me, it doesn’t get any better than that!  Another favorite of mine, is the Corn Dog Castle, oh my goodness.  The biggest corn-dogs on earth.  While in California Adventure you will not have a problem finding a place to eat, and most are moderately priced.  Don’t miss out on some good food!

 

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Must Do’s at Disneyland & California Adventure

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Gail

There’s so much to do at Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim, we want you to get the most out of your vacation and we don’t want you to miss a thing!

Disneyland Park  – You really need to spend more than one day in order to get the major rides in.  The parks are just too big to cover everything in one day.  Be sure to get your Park Hopper so you can go back and forth from Disneyland to California Adventure.  Before you decide on what rides you want to go on, be sure to visit our ”Fast Pass” blog and read that first.   It’s a must, if you plan on riding the “E” rides.

Good Times

The Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian border on each park.  They are both great to stay at.  Try and stay in a room that faces towards the Castle, so you can see the fireworks that go off every night. 

If you just go for the day, the parking lot is located at 1313 S. Disneyland Dr. Anaheim, CA  92802.

If you have never been to Disneyland before, the one thing you need to see is the fireworks and the Main Street Parade.  It’s like no other parade you’ve ever seen before.  If you aren’t interested in the parade, and you get trapped by the crowds, then here is Gail’s trick on how to get out of the way when the parade starts.  

Oh my goodness, that parade with all the people is enough to make you go Goofy.  Pun intended.  There are times that I have been “caught” in the crowd.  The way I get through the wave of people when I am on Main Street is I cut through the stores on either side of the street.  The stores on Main Street are open inside of one another so you can cut through and walk inside each store and not have to set foot on the sidewalks where you will most differently be run over by someone who thinks that they are in more of a hurry than you are (wait a minute that would be me).

I have been to the Magic Kingdom enough times that any day now I should be hearing from the Walt Disney Corporation with my frequent fly-er badge.  I love the sights, the sounds and smell of this place so much that when I step through the entrance,  I feel instantly rejuvenated.  Both California Adventure and Disneyland in Anaheim each have their own attributes when it comes to having fun.

Disneyland is the Tried and True fun park of all time.  Going down Main Street gives you the feeling that you have stepped back in time.  Walt Disney, when designing this park, wanted every patron to know what it was like when he grew up and walked down His main street.    I have spent many of hour in the Fire Department with both of my children Jordan and McKenna as they played on the Fire Truck.  What great memories!  Sitting on a bench and watching the Mark Twain ship go by while your children are playing at Tom Sawyers Island is priceless.  Just hearing that sound of the blow horn takes me to a different place in time.  I always said that if I died and came back as a bird, I am going to live at Disneyland.  Just think about it….You will never be hunted down.  Always feed a great meal of popcorn droppings, and could fly in 2 minutes to a different land.  What a perfect life for a bird.

Some of the rides that you should not miss are the of course the Pirates of the Caribbean.  You could go into this ride and see something different every time.  If you ever get a chance and want to have a very special lunch try the Blue Bayou.  You will not regret it as the food is good and the ambiance is even better.  Go early or make a reservation.  If you do this your chance of getting by the water will be even better.  Remember, planning ahead is the key.  When your over in New Orleans Square, don’t forget to go through the Haunted Mansion.  During the months of October through January they decorate this ride in the “Nightmare before Christmas” theme.  The decor is absolutely great.  Really, a must-see.

Tomorrow Land is another great place for rides.  The adults (sometimes the kids are up for it) will love Space Mountain.  This is the one ride that I go in with a voice and come out “horse” as I have screamed the entire time in shear delight.  This is my personal favorite.  I cannot get enough of this ride. The kids really enjoy the Autopia.  I like to call it  the “Shaken Parent Syndrome” ride.  There is nothing like having your 5 year old at the wheel.  If you think about it, there is not a lot of difference than a 16 year old driving. The Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger ride is an interactive one that is fun for the parent and kids.  You shoot “light” beams at various aliens and try to outscore the kids.  I am currently working at bettering my intergalactic score to show my child he isen’t the only one that can use a space gun.   By the way, this is a great ride to get a fast-pass .  From this point, do not miss the Star War’s show they have as the kids go completely nuts over this.  Get there early (do you see a pattern here) so you can sit in the front.  Buy your lunch and sit down with the kids and it actually becomes a nice little break before the show starts and its a great way to make your children eat as you can hold it over their little heads that if they don’t they will not get to see the show.

The other must see at Disneyland is Fantasyland, (I like to call it Crazyland) as this is a place that has more rides in a smaller area.   There are not fast passes available so you must go early but you will find that your little ones will be able to ride on a bevy of things before they tucker out.  Don’t forget to go on Its A Small World.  The song alone will play in your head for the next month.  There is something about those little dolls that really get me.  It is a great ride at Christmas time as they decorate it so cute during the holidays.  Actually, the entire park is done in such a way that it is a tradition to go just to see the decorations now.  The “magic” of this place is so great on so many levels it never ceases to amaze me what the people of Walt Disney will come up with next.  You go Mickey! 

When California Adventure opened up, I was the biggest skeptic around.  “How can this new place be anywhere on the level of Disneyland”.  Well, let me tell you, my friends, it is three words…Fab-u-lus!!  The minute you walk through the Golden Gates with the music of California blaring in the background, I feel so proud that I am a true California Girl besides being a Disneyland Girl.  The isles are wider and it just has a different feel than our tried and true Magic Kingdom.  I love how everything such as the fine eateries are  named after California and the attractions mirror that same thing.

The one ride that absolutely no one should miss is my personal favorite, “Soarin’ Over California”.   First on your list should be, as my inner mantra dictates,  GET YOUR FAST PASS.  When it is your turn to ride, always ask for the front row.  It does not matter if the cast member rolls his eyes at you….stare right back and get a back bone.  “Yes, I want to ride in the front”.  This ladies and gentlemen is completely worth the extra wait in line.  If you don’t do this, there will be a huge chance of your starring at the first rows shoes and legs dangling in your midst through the entire ride.  This is because the way the ride is designed, the first row is on top then the second row, then the third row.  Quit ingenious in design but again always ask for the front row.  Not all rides in California Adventure demands first row seating such as the Grizzly River Run.  The best rapid ride you will ever go on.  You cannot be in the first row because there is no first row.  It is like a round table.  It spins as you go through the rapids and on a hot day, there is nothing like it.  I could go on this 10 times and be soaking wet and still yell out “again”.  What a trip!

If you like to walk on the wild side, like I do, take a trip to the Hollywood Hotel, Tower of Terror.  O’h my gosh, this ride is completely off the charts.  The decor and the intro to this ride is so unbelievable, it makes the anticipated suspense all the more exciting when your elevator drops  and your stomach stays on the 15 floor.  I will let you in on a secret, do not go on this ride for than four times in a row.  I pride myself on being a true connoisseur of that fast and furious, but this will definitely make you go green in the face.

The last ride that you must not miss is the one and only…California Screamin.  What a hoot!!  On this ride your choice of seating should either be in the first cart or the last.  Tell you what, try both ways.  The starting out point on this ride makes you want to scream and you haven’t even left the dock.  They  count down and then shoot you so fast that your face stays on the dock and you are already on the the first drop down.  It is a smooth ride and one that will definitely bring you to your knees.  I use to think that I was loosing inches because I was getting old….I have found out it was because I have rode this ride so many times I have come out a few inches shorter every time.  Don’t forget to buy the picture they will take right before the ride ends, your hair will never be the same again.  If your hair does go awry remember your Pizza Inserts could help with your new do.  Now, go out there and be adventurous and always ask for the front row.

 

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Disneyland & California Adventure Fast Pass

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Gail
Don’t forget your fast pass

Since I first met my husband he has always called me his “Disney Girl”.  I am sure it was because I have loved Disneyland for as long as I have walked this earth.  Some of my best memories as a child and adult has been at this wonderful place.  I have told my family that when I pass, I would like my ashes spread over Tom Sawyers Island.  Through my many adventures at Disneyland, I have come up with several ways to make my day there much more fun and tolerable when it come to lines and just getting around the different lands.  As a reader of our blog, I am going to let you in on some secrets that I have told only my close friends and relatives.  Intriguing isn’t it?

If your visiting both parks on the same day follow this example:

The  “Fast-Pass” is the single most important thing when going to Disneyland.  The minute you walked in, go get your first fast-pass at your favorite ride in Disneyland.   The reason for this is because more people visit Disneyland than any other park in California including California Adventure.   Most likely, it will be one of the rides you will need to wait in line if you don’t have a fast-pass.  Next, go across to California Adventure and get your fast-pass there.  Read the small print on the bottom of the ticket, another ticket will be available to you in approximately one to two hours (sometimes less).  You can keep doing this until you have accumulated all the fast-passes on the rides you want to ride the most, which will cut down on your waiting time by at least half.  Don’t wait, be at the ride you want to get your next fast-pass when that time slot becomes available.

“Let’s Ride”

Most people think you can only go on the ride in the time slot allotted on your ticket.  Not True.   You can go anytime after the first printed time until they close.   For instance, if the ticket reads “visit this attraction between 1:20 and 2:20, that does not mean you can only go for that specific time.  You can go from 1:20 until they close the park.  They only put this on the ticket as a “crowd control” system.    Going in between parks  and using your fast-passes, you’ll be able to ride on more rides with less frustration and that equals Fun, Fun, Fun!

When going to the park make sure you have your map.  The one thing that drives me crazy, is when I go with someone and they don’t have a clear idea of what rides they want to ride, or which “land” they want to explore first.  I will not criss cross my way through, because time is important and I make sure I utilize it wisely.  Having a plan makes my trip less stressful when there are lot of people there.  I love this place and I am going to get the most out of it when I can.

 

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Love can be simple too!

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Gail

“What do you mean the sky writer is going to be late”!  Has this ever happened to you on Valentines Day?  If it has, then this is the blog for you.  I am not going to go in the direction that you may think.  I am a firm believer that sometimes less is more.  Even in love.    Just think about this…if you only showed your love one day a year, what would our lives be like?

Don’t get me wrong, I like getting a card from my husband on Valentines Day.  But the huge over- the- top gifts are not for us.  We like to go to dinner and most of the time it is with our child in tow.  We do not usually go on the night of Valentines Day because of the crowds.  We will wait until a couple of days later.  Whether it is going to the Red Lobster (because our son can eat more crab than any human alive) Outback or the  Sizzler or even to Ruth’s Chris’ Steak House, it’s just nice to get out and have someone else do the cooking.

As for the gifts that people give on Valentine’s Day, some of them make me laugh.  I could not for the life of me ever see me giving my husband  a bouquet made entirely of fruit.  It’s a great idea in principle but it would last about 1 minute in our house.  The reason I know this is because we go through 4 bunches of bananas and two bags of  tangerines a week.   The other gift that I know for sure that I could never give my husband would be a massage at my favorite place, Burke Williams Spa.  If you have never been there, drop what your doing and run to the nearest location.  From the minute you walk through the doors you are transformed into the most special person you could imagine.  They treat you like you are the only one there.  Its heaven.   My husband, on the other hand, would not last one minute in the quiet room.  He is more of a “find me a mountain and let me take a picture” kind-of-guy.  Not the “let me sit here with cucumbers-on-my-eye’s” kind.  If he was I would surely get the couples massage package.  Total decadence!

So my point is, keep your life and love simple.  Show that person you love them everyday not just one day a year.  The little things in life are the most important because if your looking for the big things all the time, your going to be waiting a long long time.


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Shelf Life of Food

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Mindy

Some food will last years on the shelf, as long as it hasn’t been opened.  One thing to always remember,  When in doubt, throw it out!!

When you purchase any food, make sure the packaging is secure.   Make sure dry food items are stored in airtight containers at a temperature between 40ºF – 70ºF.   If storing for long periods of time, store in a cool, dark and dry area.

There are various foods that will have years of shelf life if unopened.  Dry items such as beans, macaroni, wheat, rice, powdered milk, rolled oats, and potato flakes.  Canned food such as meats, vegetable, fruit, and jam will last for years if unopened.

When purchasing your goods, make sure they are securely packaged and unopened before storing on shelf.

Always, refrigerate any canned or jarred food that has been opened, and always transfer canned food to a bowl or airtight container (never leave food in the can when refrigerating).

Here are some widely used foods,  and their shelf life.  Be sure to always check packaging for expiration dates.

Bouillon (Cubes) – 24 months

Bread, Crackers – 3 months

Cake Mix (most) – 9-12 months

Catsup – 12-24 months

Cereals, Ready-to-cook, oatmeal, . – 12 months

Cereals, Ready-to-eat (unopened) – 6-12 months (opened 2-3 months)

Cheese, Cheddar(opened/refrigerated) – 2 months

Cheese, Cottage cheese (refrigerated) – 10-15 days

Cheese, Parmesan, grated – 12 months

Cheese, Parmesan, Romano (opened/refrigerated) – 2-4 months

Crackers, Ritz – 8 months

Flour, White enriched – 12 months

Frosting, canned (opened) – 3 months (Refrigerate)

Half and Half, Light and Heavy (refrigerated) – 7-10 days

Jellies – 12-18 months

Marshmallows – 2-3 months

Mayonnaise – 3-4 months

Milk, Canned, Condensed – 12 months

Milk, Canned, Sweetened Condensed – 24-36 months

Mustard, prepared yellow (opened) – 6-8 months      (unopened) – 24 months

Non-dairy, Creamora – 24 months

Oil, Olive – 24 months

Oil, Corn, Mazola (Best Foods) – 18 months

Oil, Salad – 6-9 months

Peanut Butter (opened) – 2-3 months

Peanut Butter, (unopened)- 24 months

Popcorn, both microwaveable and regular – 24 months

Sour Cream (refrigerated) – 2 weeks

Salad dressings, bottled (opened) – 3 months    refrigerated

Tortillas, Corn – 1-2 weeks

Tortillas, Flour – 1-2 weeks (refrigerated 2 weeks)

Tuna, canned – 48-60 months

Vanilla Extracts;  - 18 months

Vinegar (opened) – 12 months

 

 

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Using a Pizza Protector

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Gail

What ever did we do without all those kitchy little things that we now have available to us.  Just think for a moment what “kitchy little things” I am referring to.  The itty bitty grater for Ginger.  The orange peeler that looks like a pencil with a hook on it.  Don’t get me wrong,  I hated to bite into that darn Orange to get it “started” and for the next hour or so my mouth tasted like orange rind.    But was life so difficult without these things?  I think not.  We have gotten just a wee bit spoiled and just when I thought I don’t need these here comes another one.

Knock, Knock the pizza man is here.  Just imagine what I started to find a couple of years ago in our pizza box.  The little plastic inserts that are known as Pizza protectors, they prevent the box from collapsing on my yummy pizza.  I use to throw these things away.  What was I thinking?  There is a plethora of things you can do with them. 1) Aerate your plants. 2) A ring holder at the Kitchen Sink. 3)  Taco stand.  4) Cake protector from covering it.  See, a little dab of plastic has made my life easier.  What ever did I do before!

I bet if you walked around the house and just took a look at some of the things you have in your home you too would come up with some great ideas.  After I get through with my blog I am going to be doing this very thing, but first I am putting my new hair bob in….you guessed it….I am wearing my pizza insert.  Don’t hate me because I am beautiful!!

 

 

 

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“Life is too short”

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Gail

It’s 2012 and another year has come and gone.  When my sister Mindy and I thought of this web site, we came up with every idea imaginable.  We knew we had something to offer from our everyday living.  When we hit on our Simple Life, we thought this would be perfect.  During the last five years, we have said good by to many people in our life that we never  thought we could ever say good by to before.  Our family has been a pillar of strength and for this I am truly grateful.  My blog was all set in my mind when I sat down to type today.  But I really think I need to say this.  By the way, I will let you know tomorrow about all the things you can do with the pizza box inserts.

It was kind of like a self-realization at 3:00 am.   Life is too short for any of us to take for granted.  My family can sometimes drive me crazy.  I live with all males and at times I could nearly drown in testosterone.  There have been times that I have called my mom and pleaded with her to throw me a life preserver.  But through it all, I thank my lucky stars and I thank Him above for the life he has given me.  I feel like a crazy woman with all of these little Post- it-Notes stuck to every part of my body reminding me to do these things that my brain could not possibly remember.   I have to every now and then step back and say to myself “life is too short”.  Let’s not forget what is really important and the only thing that comes to mind is family and friends.     I like giving our input on what we can do to make our lives easier and more simple.  Because when we do this we end up having more time for our families.  I think keeping the saying “Life is too short” right in our back pocket keeps us grounded for what is important to each of us, whatever that may be.

You just never know what is around that next corner.  Keep it simple and life will go on.

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Baby Steps in Blogging

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Mindy

The first thing they tell you when your researching on how to set up a blog is, if your in it to make quick money,  ”don’t quit your day job”.   It takes roughly a year to get enough traffic to where you can start making decent money.  Setting up a blog isn’t as easy as it sounds.  But, had it not been for a great website called ”How To Make Money With A Blog“,  I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this right now.  I’ve learned most everything from this one website and I even had to email the author with a question, and the response was prompt and very helpful.   However, along the way I did have to go to various forums,  help pages and even You Tube videos.  There are so many variations setting up a blog, and different steps that need to be taken to make sure everything looks just right, not to mention all the pages, posts, links, plugins, setting, tools and so forth and so on.  Unless your a computer wiz, don’t expect it to be an easy task.  It’s been a long time, since I’ve had to read this much information, in such a short amount of time.  The good thing about setting up this blog, is that my sister and I are doing this together, so we are in the same boat and keeping each other afloat.  I enjoy learning new things but this is like “Are you kidding me”?   Thank  goodness for all the Google programs like AdSense, AdWords, Analytics and Webmaster Tools for helping to tie everything together and help bring traffic to our site.

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The Salt Room Halotherapy

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Mindy

I just discovered an amazing new concept, (it’s probably been around a while, but I just heard about it).  They are called the “Salt Rooms”,  and there are only two that I know of.  One is in Thousand Oaks and the other is in Bakersfield (both in California).   It is called Halotherapy,  and scientist and researchers have discovered that inhaling the microscopic salt particles is a healing therapy for people who have sinusitis, asthma, emphysema, allergies and any other types of upper respiratory problems.  I’ve done just a bit of research on this, and what I read was that this was actually discovered by accident.  They found that salt miners who worked in the “salt mines” actually came out feeling better than they did when they went in.  The salt actually dries up and disinfects mucus membranes in the sinuses and lungs, which allows people to breath more easily.  The entire room is covered with salt,  on the walls and floors.  All you do is, sit in a lounge chair and just breath in the salt air.  Many parents take their kids in, who have breathing problems, and they can sit with them during the treatment.   I believe the sessions last for about 45 minutes each, and the cost is about $45.00.  If you go to groupon.com, living social.com or daily deals.com, you might be able to find a good deal, I know they’ve had some good Salt Room deals.  They had a groupon deal for Thousand Oaks for $15.00 which my daughter and her friend bought.  I’ll blog later and let you know how they liked it.

 

 

 

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Disorganization, Chaos and Forgetfulness

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Mindy

How many times has this happened to you?  I think we’ve all had similar experiences and if you have, ya just can’t help but laugh!  I received this through an anonymous source and it gave me such a laugh I just had to share because this is exactly how my oldest daughter spends most of her days .

A Day in the Life of Kimber

I decided to wash my car. As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trashcan under the table, and notice that the trashcan is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first. But then I think, since I’m going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.
I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the bottle of coke that I had been drinking.
I’m going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the coke aside so that I don’t accidentally knock it over. I see that the coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye–they need to be watered. I set the coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I’ve been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I’m going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, we will be looking for the remote, but nobody will remember that it’s on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I’ll water the flowers.
I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.
At the end of the day: the car isn’t washed, the bills aren’t paid, there is a warm bottle of coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren’t watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can’t find the remote, I can’t find my glasses, and I don’t remember what I did with the car keys.
Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I’m really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I’m really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I’ll try to get some help for it, but first I’ll check my e-mail.
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Please report to the Blue Kitchen

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Gail

The first time I actually thought that cooking was not going to be my “thing” was when I was 13 years old.  I took Home Economics along with every other girl in the 8th grade.  Wood shop was my first choice.  I am sure my teacher to this day, regrets my not getting my first choice.    What separated me from the rest of the crowd is that I could care less about my caking rising and would it be edible once it reached the dining table?  Every kitchen in Home Ec  had a specific color.  I had the blue kitchen.  Nice wallpaper with little flowers and accents.  One day  in 3rd period class we all received our recipe to bake a chocolate cake.  Simple enough, I thought.  How hard could this be?    You have no idea.

I started gathering the ingredients that I would need to bake the cake.  Now, this is where I want to put in a disclaimer.  IT SAID 4 CUPS.  I will stand by this statement until I die.  Well, after mixing and pouring and putting it in the oven, I went to my next class.  The teacher would take out each “kitchens” cake and then let them cool down and we could ice them the next day.  About an hour and a half later, I hear over the intercom……..Gail Pharris…..please report to the Blue Kitchen!!!!!!!!!!!!

I walked in and not only has the fire department greeted me, but there was the Principle of our school, and my teacher staring at me.  My cake blew up.  It was all over the Blue kitchen.  Burnt pieces of cake everywhere.  The wallpaper was now black and crispy golden brown.  The Gaffers and Sattler Oven was a goner.  The White cabinets were painted a black hue dripping with my cake .  The teacher calmly walked over and asked me what ingredients I used.  I ran through my list and as I read it the room full of people were all laughing loudly as I said “4 cups of Baking Powder”.  I was wrong???? It should have read  3/4 cups not 4 cups.  So I made a mistake…to the tune of $843.10, which is how much it cost to replace the oven, wallpaper etc.

There are a some things I  learned in 8th grade. You should not  use 4 cups of anything.  Pillsbury Cake Mix is perfectly fine when trying to bake a cake.  The other, when your name is called on the intercom at school….it will probably not be a good thing….so do not be so darn happy when you you hear it.

By the way….my mom and dad really liked the wood napkin holder I made in Wood shop.

Posted in Bit of Humor, Cooking | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Gail’s Bomb Shelter

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Gail

Today is a new day and after driving my son to school I noticed to my amazement that I have completely utilized my car to the nth degree.  That is to say, I could quite possibly live out of my car for 1.5 years and never once step  a foot back into my home.  How did this happen?  Could it be all the times when I drove up into my driveway and had my arms full of items,  that I just said to myself “I will come back out and get the rest of my stuff later”.  Well, “later” never happened.  Once I got into my home, life took over, and my car went by the wayside.  I had good intentions of going back out…… really, I did.  But you know that once your in the home  you start to think of all the things you need to do and all of a sudden your things in your vehicle start to not seem as important as it used to be.  So what do you think I did in regards to my “stuff” in my car……you got it…..I bought an organizer.  That, ladies and gentlemen, is how my car became my own personal “Bomb Shelter”.

I truly believe that I have anything and everything I would ever need (sans, a refrigerator or oven) to live life to the fullest in my vehicle.  I never knew how much a Toyota Highlander could “house”.  I have in this car……Jackets of every kind and color.  Possibly, the reason for this is because my eleven year old son, is a Ice Hockey player.  The ice rink that he plays out of is colder than any walk-in refrigerator I have ever been in.  I have scarves, gloves and cute little beenies, blankets and hand warmers.  If we were ever hit by a storm of any size, my car is the place to be.  Warmth……no heating blanket could ever compete with what I have in my car!

In my organizer in the back of my car, I also have my mesh shopping bags that I have had for 22 years.  I also have 3 different First Aid kits, Zip-lock bags of every size and assorted books, Lego’s, and more Handy Wipes than you could use in 2 life times.    It is truly a bevy of everything you could think of and more.  If I don’t have an item I need in my home, I always know I can go to my car and there it is.  I guess you could say that “Car Camping” in my driveway is my other hobby.  Since we live in Southern California,  I think that this started when we had a big earthquake in the 90′s.  News reporters telling everyone to stock their cars and homes with various items that you would need to survive for two weeks.  Well, I did that and have kept doing this for sometime now.  But seriously, do I really need enough Handy Wipes for every person I come in contact with?  Maybe not.

Right after I get through with this blog……I am going to my car……or should I call it my 18 wheel truck on 4 tires….and I am going to clean it out!  Nothing is going to stop me this time…..hold on…..darn…..gotta go friends…..I just had an idea to better organize my knife drawer.  O’h well, I will clean my car out tomorrow.

Posted in Bit of Humor, Organizing | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Pretty in pink!

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Gail

I thank goodness my husband is color blind.  That is to say, if he were not, I am sure he would really be upset with how his undergarments have taken a turn for the worse.  Yes, there have been many times that I have heard him shout….”Gail, what the heck happened”.  Usually, it’s because of my cooking.  But that is a whole new blog and I will tell you about my culinary skills, or the lack thereof, at a later date.  No, this is about the laundry.  O’h lovely, lovely laundry.

I really do not know how this happens.  My mom has always said do a load of colors and a load of whites.  Easy enough in principle, yet you tell that to the red sock that somehow maneuvers it’s way into my wash.  That ladies and gentlemen, is how I change everything from white to pink in one cycle.  It’s really a gift, if you think about it.  One lone sock is all you need for brightly colored anything.  Yes, it would look good on a girl or women.  But somehow my husband just does not  appreciate his feminine wardrobe as much as one would think.  By the way, if my husband can tell the difference in his T-shirt or Underwear color, then it would have to be pretty darn pink.

This started innocently enough when I was pregnant with my son (who is now 22).  The last 2 months I was quite the scatterbrain with trying to get things prepared for his arrival.  Mindy came and stayed with me the last two weeks before I was due.  I could not believe that I actually visited Macy department store 5 times in one week.  I had to go as I needed to purchase identical clothing that I had ruined in the wash.  I bought my husband’s blue buttoned down shirt 5 times that week to replace the one that I had ruined because I left a crayon in the pocket of one of my daughters pants.   What a mess!  Then when I got home from Macy’s, I had to destroy the evidence, that is to say, the packaging,  that the various clothing items came in.  That was a very expensive month.  But I did help the economy with the purchases though.  Remember, there is always a bright side to everything.

Now, flash forward to the present day.  I just found a little gem in the laundry isle at Albertsons.  It is called “Shout Color Catcher”.  What a concept.  I have a feeling that any day now I should be getting a call to let me know that they want me to be the “Shout Girl”.  I could be the poster girl for the laundry room and the heading could state…..”Don’t let this happen to you”.  I used these little pieces of goodness in my drier and it is like magic.  The color actually “sticks” to it.  Can you believe all the time and money I could have saved by using this product.  There would be no more of my running into the Men’s department yelling “get me another blue buttoned down shirt” STAT!!!!  All the while, the women in the store laughing hysterically and pointing …..there is was…….the red lone sock stuck to my backside.

 

 

Posted in Bit of Humor, Shopping, Tip of the Day | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Baskets Anonymous

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Gail

Do you ever have one of those days when you don’t want to do anything?  Well, I had that kind of a day on Sunday.  I just wanted to lay around and not do a thing.  The only problem is my brain is not wired that way.  It just keeps on ticking away like a second hand on a clock…tick, tick, tick.  Stop the madness!!  My two voices were really at each other that day.  One saying….”sit, relax, don’t do a thing.”  The other side saying….get up…do something…even if it is wrong…(Mom, is that you?).  Well, I compromised with myself and I decided to chose one thing to do so when I lay my head on my pillow, I know I did at least one constructive thing that day.   I will organize something.

We have in our home, two Yorkies named Jack and Sumi.  They have three specific needs, and they are, in order, 1) Cookies (treats)  2)Toys  3)Matching Sweaters.  I had everything stored in a plastic bin, it was  not attractive, but  effective.  I decided to go through some magazines and come up with a better idea.  That’s when I found it. Baskets!!  I went to our local Pottery Barn.com, and from the moment I stepped into the basket isle everything went into a haze.  My brain checked out.  It was Basket Mecca.  There were baskets of every kind-Small, Medium, Large.  Hampers with Liners, No Liners, Utility Baskets, with Handles, No Handles, it was shear basket heaven.   I walked up and down the isle looking for just the right ones.  I am sure the people at the store were concerned when they heard me talking to myself in regards to which one “WE” wanted.  The selection at Pottery Barn is amazing!  I finally chose the Savannah Lidded Basket trio.  They are made out of sustainable Seagrass and have cut-out handles.  They are perfect for my smaller items as well as my larger ones.  They fit nicely under my cabinet and I would like to add, they look, in three words…..Fab-U-Lous.

Just a note.  I am starting my 10 step program on “Baskets Anonymous” very soon.  The sweet smell of natural wicker sends me into a different world.  If you see me at the store, curled up in a fetal position, drooling and mumbling “hand woven, of thick natural Arurog….”clutching a basket in my arms, don’t feel sorry for me, just say this to yourself….”its not the worst way to go, at least she is organized”.

Posted in Bit of Humor, Organizing | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Shop & Save

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Gail

Coupon shopping will save you hundreds of dollars a year. It may be a little time consuming, but it always pay off in the end.  We will give you tips on how to organize your coupons to make it easier for you.

Most people think that coupon shopping can be overwhelming, time consuming and a waste of time.  Truth is… it can be overwhelming and time consuming, but it is definitely not a waste of time.  Just make sure you check your local stores for double coupons and ad they are running and go from there.  You’ll be glad you did.

First off, you should organize your coupon binder your way.  What ever way is easiest for you is the way you need to set it up.  May daughter uses two binders because she has so many coupons,  its just easier for her.  You can find some good ideas on You Tube on how to organize and prioritize for coupon shopping.A lot of people think that coupon shopping can be  overwhelming, time consuming and a waste of time.  Truth is… it can be overwhelming and time consuming, but it is definitely NOT a waste of time. Just make sure you do your homework before you go shopping.  For example:  Find out what stores in your area double coupon.  Make sure you know what your store’s coupon policies are.  If your not sure, talk to the stores customer service representative and ask questions.  Remember, there are no stupid questions only stupid mistakes.

Don’t forget…when you ‘re shopping,  to ALWAYS check out the discount shelves the stores have to offer.  Sometimes you will come across some deals that are too good to pass up.

 

Posted in Saving, Shopping, Tip of the Day | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

There’s always something

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Gail

Just when you think you can add another chore, activity or PTA meeting……when you say “yes” to one thing, always remember, you are saying “no” to another.   Never sacrifice your family time. You have 24 hours in a day, as everyone else does. How you choose to spend it, will depend entirely on your priorities. Simply put, organize your mind,  the rest will fall in place. As you better manage your time, you will see that you begin saving hours in your day that can be used for higher priority things, no matter what they are.  Everybody has different priorities, no person can say their priority is more important than yours.

My favorite “family fun rules” are things that I would love to have my family do but I will not lose sleep over if they are not done correctly or at all.  It’s things that I do around the house that makes my life easier, not necessarily everyone else’s.

You have 24 hours in a day, as everyone else does. How you choose to spend it, will depend entirely on your priorities. Simply put, organize your mind,  the rest will fall in place.

Posted in Parent's Corner | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Using time management effectively

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Mindy

The secret to time effective management is using your small amounts of time well.  This in turn, will let you “create” more time to do what really matters most in your life….such as family.

Maximizing the efficiency of each room in your home will go a long way by how you organize it.  There is no right or wrong way to do this, which ever way is easiest for you, is the way you should organize. Get rid of unused items, whether it be clothes, kitchen gadgets, etc., dealing with clutter can be very frustrating.  A cluttered room can breed a cluttered mind.  If you have something that hasn’t been used in the past year, toss it out or donate it to charity.  Don’t forget to get a receipt so you can use it as a deduction on your taxes at the end of the year. Some people feel they need to be on a cleaning or organizing “schedule”.  We believe in organizing and cleaning as you go.  For example, instead of having one day of the week to do laundry (and if you have a large family, that could be an all day task), then just do laundry as soon as you have a load or two.  This will free you up to do other things on your “laundry” day.

You have 24 hours in a day, as everyone else does.  How you choose to spend it, will depend entirely on your priorities.  Simply put,  organize your mind, the rest will fall in place. As you better manage your time, you will see that you begin saving hours in your day that can be used for higher priority things, no matter what they are.  Everybody has different priorities, no person can say their priority is more important that yours.

Organizing tip of the day If you do only one thing all day, the one thing you do is make your bed, it somehow makes everything else look less cluttered and unorganized

Posted in Bit of Humor, Organizing, Tip of the Day | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

I really had good intentions

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Gail

I truly believe that I have anything and everything I would ever need (sans, a refrigerator or oven) to live life to the fullest in my vehicle.  I never knew how much a Toyota Highlander could “house”.  I have in this car……Jackets of every kind and color.  Possibly, the reason for this is because my eleven year old son, is a Ice Hockey player.  The ice rink that he plays out of is colder than any walk-in refrigerator I have ever been in.  I have scarves, gloves and cute little beanies, blankets and hand warmers.  If we were ever hit by a storm of any size, my car is the place to be.  Warmth……no heating blanket could ever compete with what I have in my car!

In my organizer in the back of my car, I also have my mesh shopping bags that I have had for 22 years.  I also have 3 different First Aid kits, Zip-lock bags of every size and assorted books, Lego’s, and more Handy Wipes than you could use in 2 life times.    It is truly a bevy of everything you could think of and more.  If I don’t have an item I need in my home, I always know I can go to my car and there it is.  I guess you could say that “Car Camping” in my driveway is my other hobby.  Since we live in Southern California,  I think that this started when we had a big earthquake in the 90′s.  News reporters telling everyone to stock their cars and homes with various items that you would need to survive for two weeks.  Well, I did that and have kept doing this for sometime now.  But seriously, do I really need enough Handy Wipes for every person I come in contact with?  Maybe not.

Right after I get through with this blog……I am going to my car……or should I call it my 18 wheel truck on 4 tires….and I am going to clean it out!  Nothing is going to stop me this time…..hold on…..darn…..gotta go friends…..I just had an idea to better organize my knife drawer.  O’h well, I will clean my car out tomorrow.

 

Do you ever have one of those days when you don’t want to do anything?  Well, I had that kind of a day on Sunday.  I just wanted to lay around and not do a thing.  The only problem is my brain is not wired that way.  It just keeps on ticking away like a second hand on a clock…tick, tick, tick.  Stop the madness!!  My two voices were really at each other that day.  One saying….”sit, relax, don’t do a thing.”  The other side saying….get up…do something…even if it is wrong…(Mom, is that you?).  Well, I compromised with myself and I decided to chose one thing to do so when I lay my head on my pillow, I know I did at least one constructive thing that day.   I will organize something.

We have in our home, two Yorkies named Jack and Sumi.  They have three specific needs, and they are, in order, 1) Cookies (treats)  2)Toys  3)Matching Sweaters.  I had everything stored in a plastic bin, it was  not attractive, but  effective.  I decided to go through some magazines and come up with a better idea.  That’s when I found it. Baskets!!  I went to our local Pottery Barn, and from the moment I stepped into the basket isle everything went into a haze.  My brain checked out.  It was Basket Mecca.  There were baskets of every kind-Small, Medium, Large.  Hampers with Liners, No Liners, Utility Baskets, with Handles, No Handles, it was shear basket heaven.   I walked up and down the isle looking for just the right ones.  I am sure the people at the store were concerned when they heard me talking to myself in regards to which one “WE” wanted.  The selection at Pottery Barn is amazing!  I finally chose the Savannah Lidded Basket trio.  They are made out of sustainable Seagrass and have cut-out handles.  They are perfect for my smaller items as well as my larger ones.  They fit nicely under my cabinet and I would like to add, they look, in three words…..Fab-U-Lous.

Just a note.  I am starting my 10 step program on “Baskets Anonymous” very soon.  The sweet smell of natural wicker sends me into a different world.  If you see me at the store, curled up in a fetal position, drooling and mumbling “hand woven, of thick natural Arurog….”clutching a basket in my arms, don’t feel sorry for me, just say this to yourself….”its not the worst way to go, at least she is organized”.

Posted in Bit of Humor, Organizing | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Learning Something New

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Mindy

Setting up a blog isn’t as easy as it sounds.  But, had it not been for a great website called ”How To Make Money With A Blog“,  I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this right now.  I’ve learned most everything from this one website and I even had to email the author with a question, and the response was prompt and very helpful.   However, along the way I did have to go to various forums,  help pages and even You Tube videos.  There are so many variations setting up a blog, and different steps that need to be taken to make sure everything looks just right, not to mention all the pages, posts, links, plugins, setting, tools and so forth and so on.  Unless your a computer wiz, don’t expect it to be an easy task.  It’s been a long time, since I’ve had to read this much information, in such a short amount of time.  The good thing about setting up this blog, is that my sister and I are doing this together, so we are in the same boat and keeping each other afloat.  I enjoy learning new things but this is like “Are you kidding me”?   Thank  goodness for all the different Google applications for helping to tie everything together and help bring traffic to our site.

Posted in Home | Tagged , | 2 Comments