Bigger is better when it comes to balls - Cotton Balls that is

I have been using, for what seems like forever, small sized cotton balls.  Normally I use the triple size cotton balls, which is about the size of a walnut (with shell) whereas the small sized ones are the size of a grape.  Though that doesn't sound like much of a difference, let me assure you that it is.  I did NOT purchase these small sized cotton balls as they drive me nuts.  They are hard to use and to small to be practical for much of anything.

My college age daughter, obviously not knowing there was a difference, picked up a bag of the small sized balls at the local drug store.  After using them once, she realized the errors in her ways.  So she brings them home and me, being one not to waste things, decides that I will use them up.  Heaven forbid I throw away a perfectly good (though admittedly not very useful) $1.29 bag of cotton balls.

I have a small clear container on my bathroom counter which holds cotton balls and q-tips.  I refill the container roughly every week.  You would think the cotton balls would be all gone after 2 months...but NO....the bag is still half full.  I think they are multiplying in my linen closet, which is really pissing me off.  I just want to be done with these ridiculously small sized cotton balls.

Seriously, they are worthless.  It takes 2 or 3 for each eye when removing mascara.  The balls are small, but when they get wet, they are even smaller.  I might as well just crumple one measly square of toilet paper up in a ball for the same effect.  When removing nail polish, it takes at least two per finger.

I've decided to say F#&? it and screw frugality.  Next time I go to Rite Aid I am buying a bag of triple sized cotton balls.  As for the remainder of the bag - maybe I'll dump the cotton balls in the yard for the birds to use as bedding for their nests.  But oh wait, they are bleached cotton balls, and will most likely cause harm to the birds and the environment.  Maybe I can give them to good will?  But would anyone want them?  I don't think so!  They are heading for the garage.

RIP you absolutely worthless bag o' balls.

Saturday morning breakfast

I made apple fritters this morning for the first time.  They were surprisingly easy and absolutely delicious!

Here they are frying in canola oil.  Only took about 2 1/2 minutes per batch.

Below is the finished product after a powdered sugar glaze and dusting with more powdered sugar.  YUM! (You can see on the right the edge of a giant fritter.  That was my first attempt and they were just too big to cook evenly without burning.  So, I stuck with the smaller 1T size for frying)

These scrumptious fritters along side some scrambled eggs made for a great Saturday morning breakfast.

You Capture - Quiet

This weeks You Capture theme over at I Should Be Folding Laundry is "Quiet".   To me books represent quiet.  I grab my cup of coffee, cup of tea or glass of wine and sit down to get taken away to another place or time, learn something new and ultimately relax and unwind.

I am currently reading The Space Between Us and thoroughly enjoying it.  A friend loaned me Plum Wine and I picked up The 19th Wife at a local used book store and I'm eager to start both.  If time allowed I could read all day!

New Look

I am thrilled with my new blog look.  If you were sitting next to me now, you would hear the excitement in my voice.  I absolutely love it and I have Beth to thank at 2 Bird Designs for her creativity and hard work.  I have played around with different blog theme templates available to the masses and none screamed ME.  Until now.

Incorporating my love of scrabble into the design just makes me giddy.  It's my favorite game and I love it as no two games are ever the same.  If there was a way to make money playing professional scrabble I'd say sign me up!

I toyed with the idea of changing the name from Party of 5 to something more fitting.  After much discussion with the family and penciling out ideas, nothing seemed MORE fitting than Party of 5.  Though we don't all live under the same roof anymore, we will always be a family.  Everyday living on this earth is a celebration of life and it's our PARTY to embrace, enjoy and celebrate. So Party of 5 it is.

I think the overall look is inviting, easy to read and most importantly fits me to a T.  And no one else has this blog design.  I'm unique in a sea of millions of bloggers, which I think is pretty darn exciting.

Curious, what do you think of the new look?

Kudos to Delta Airlines

I can't thank Delta airlines enough for brightening my day.  Yesterday, it was decided that Sarah would fly back east with me to help Kristin drive back across the country - 3 drivers will make it a lot easier! At least that's the current plan and hope anyway!

Last minute flights typically aren't the most economical but I did some research on kayak.com and expedia and still found it was cheaper to book directly on Delta's website.  I booked my flight back in January, but now a week out the second leg of the trip from Salt Lake to Baltimore was sold out.  The only thing available for Sarah was a flight from Salt Lake to JFK then on to Baltimore.  We would be on the same flight from Lewiston to Salt Lake.  Because of the good price I booked it for Sarah and she was a bit timid about traveling part of the way by herself, but in the name of family peace decided to just deal and suck it up and travel alone.   While out on my walk this morning (I do my best thinking while walking!) I had this great idea that perhaps once in SLC Sarah could get on standby to Baltimore and hopefully then be on the same flight with me.

When I got home from my walk I quickly looked on the computer to see what was available today.  I was so excited to see a seat available on the exact itinerary as mine (why this seat is available today and not yesterday I don't know, but I was happy!)  I immediately called Delta and explained that I wanted to change Sarah's flight to match mine and since there is now a seat available, but how much it cost - that would be the deciding factor.  He puts me on hold and says he can switch her flight and I'll get a $75 credit.  I'm really excited at this point, not sure how he did the math, but excited nonetheless.

He then says there are no seats next to each other, but then he asks how old Sarah is.  I tell him, and he says well, I'll just put you both in an exit row.  I'm very happy now.  More leg room, a $75 credit, and one more person to help out with the driving from DC to home...all 3000 miles.

So, some serious kudos to Delta Airlines.

March 4 already?

Strange that it is already March 4, 2010.  The older I get the faster time seems to go.  January and February were like a whirlwind.  Seems like just yesterday we got back from Mexico and had a lovely New Years celebration at the Hawbakers.  Can hardly wrap my head around the fact that my life is half over or perhaps even more so.  I am trying hard to live each day for what it is (good, bad or otherwise) basically, to live in the moment.  It's hard though because so much of what I do, work wise, is to keep things in balance for the future.  Accounting is strange that way.  It's a financial balance of the past so you forge ahead in the future.  Sort of like laundry, you are never really caught up except for that exact moment in time.

I am so excited to forget accounting, work and taxes today.  Today, tomorrow and this weekend is about family.  I am having breakfast with Jake.  Then Sarah and I are heading to Seattle where she will have an official tour of UW.  Jim is back east at a conference in DC.  He is done this evening and will spend the rest of the weekend with Kristin.  Sarah and I will stay with Betsy and family.  Alex, Ryan, Philippe, Betsy....I wish we lived closer.  I love them dearly.  I'm so lucky to be part of such a great family. 

Road tripping with Sarah is always an adventure.  The music will be loud, funky, in appropriate at times, but we will talk, laugh and share.  She's a true delight.  So proud to be her mama!  I know the house will be in good hands with Jake while I'm gone.  He's a good son with a very good heart.  Things will be in good order when I get home, provided there is no pineapple vodka involved!  

Kristin being 3000 miles away has been an adjustment.  She is coming in home in 2 weeks though before heading back to UW in Seattle.  Wish I could freeze moments in time when all our family is together under one roof.  The older they get, the rarer it is. Glad Jim has the opportunity to visit with her and see her cute place.  Proud of her and her accomplishments, but I miss having her closer.


My family = love.  :)  And thinking of them makes me happy. 

Signs of spring

Beautiful signs of spring in La Conner, Washington.