Now that's entertainment

Yesterday the kids finished their homework and chores in record time. So, I decided to take them to the mall for dinner and run some errands. There was an arcade just inside the food court entrance, and Charlie just about had a stroke when he saw it. I was not about to indulge that pinball wizard fantasy so we moved on. I know, I'm mean but I was hungry.

Despite all of the culinary choices, we dined at Chic-fil-a. As we were sitting in the eating area Samantha spied a mall cop. But she calls him a mall police. I don't know why but I think that is funny. The mall 'police' is fascinating to her because, hello, a movie was just made about one and he saved the day. Who knows what may unfold before our eyes. As she watches him intently, he stops his patrol and stands near our table. Oh, the excitement of it all. To see a mall cop up close. This began the whole discussion of whether or not he carries a gun. All the while he is talking into his walkie talkie.

"I don't see a gun.." "Do you think he has a taser gun?" ... "Is he getting ready to taser someone?" I am getting annoyed because they cannot eat while watching the mall cop. He just might taser someone when they take a bite of a chicken nugget. And then they would miss the action.

Finally, another mall employee walks up with a towel. He wipes up a spill the mall police has been guarding. No taser action needed. And my kids were able to resume their dinner.

After our dinner and a show, we walked around a bit, Charlie and Sam were amazed at the amount of stores and kiosks that are in the mall. "Look mom a... ". " Look over here." "Can we go in here?" It was a case of mall sensory overload. I didn't realize how rarely we go to the mall until I saw how they were enchanted by it. Charlie ended the outing by saying..."I wish we could move out here because I would be at this mall all the time."
And I'm sure he would.

Now you see why there are days in between my posts. And you probably wish I would skip some more.

Have a happy day.
Sabrina

Friday Fill Ins

Here we go....
(thanks Janet)

1. "In a hole in the ground there lived _____." a groundhog

2. "_____ but that ain't no matter." .....

3. "After dark the rain began to fall again, _____." and I slept well

4. "_____ from the hold of the Spanish galleon." Mice ran

5. "There was a hand in the darkness, and _____." it stole my cookie

6. "Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, _____." and the unprepared

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____! hanging out with my family, lunch with the in-laws (it was postponed from last week), go for a long walk with my family.

Have a happy day.
Sabrina

Nothin' says summer like a fish and crisco

This past summer while we were at my parents house on the lake, my brother caught a big fish. This is him with my cute nephew Will. Not that my other nephews aren't cute but this is just one of them. He just had a birthday and you can read about that here.

This fish inspired our dinner... a fish fry. Yummm. I will let you experience this through pictures. And not very good ones at that. But believe me it was much better than I make it look.

First, my dad cleaned and filleted the fish.

Next, it is off to the frying station... this is outside because we don't want the house smelling like the fry station I worked at during high school. Uhgg. I hated smelling like a fry pit. That and the oily skin it produced was the bane of my high school experience.

Next he put the fish in a plastic trash bag with some corn meal, salt and pepper. And shook it to coat the fish. Which is why this picture is blurry. This is my dad trying to humor me while I took endless pictures and got in his way. He really was very patient.


Then when the grease was hot (about 325*), he had to quickly put the fish in. Watch it intensely. Then remove it at just the right time. This picture is really blurry because I was getting in the way while dad was trying to get the fish out quickly.


You have to do the fish in batches. So, the shaking, frying and intense watching went on for awhile. I would run the plates of cooked fish inside to be kept warm in the oven. But this meant I got to 'test' each batch without being caught. I always volunteer for the 'runner' job.

ok... that picture is blurry because I am a lousy photographer. And I am sad to say that I had to think about that word photographer, 'picture taker' is what actually popped in my head first. So sad.. but true. This is why I am not allowed to be the fryer in the fish fry.

My 'runner' job had another perk. When I brought the fish inside, my sis-in-law, Donna (oh, hi donna. how are you)


was making

these.


And I had to 'test' them too. How could I possibly resist? Delightful, they were.

Have a happy day.
Sabrina

Friday Fill Ins

Thanks for your suggestions to my decorating dilemma. Please keep 'em coming. I will post pics when I get something done.

Friday Fill Ins is something I found over at Quiet Life with Miz Booshay. I wanted to start putting them on my site, so I emailed her. That is the first time I have emailed a blogger I don't know personally. Would you believe it... she emailed me back. And directed me to where to get them. I find these fun to do. And hope you do too. Put your answers in the comments. Enjoy


Friday Fill Ins...
thanks to Janet at Friday Fill Ins

1. When I look to the left, I see_____. (an empty plate)

2. _____ is the room that has the best view in my home. (master bathroom)

3. Let it work _____. (itself out)

4. _____ done dirt cheap! (Dirty deeds)

5. _____ is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share. (reducing comsumption of the Earth's limited resources)

6. If you have any _____ feel free _____. (humor... share it)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____! (relaxing... lunch with the in-laws...take a nap with my hubby)

Post your answers in the comments.

Have a happy day!
Sabrina

Decorating Dilemma

Not alot going on over here at Bri's Tiki Bar these days. Who am I kidding, there never really is. Lacrosse is just starting up for Charlie and we go to the barn every week for Sammy. Their school is starting a track team so, I think I will sign them up for that.

So, since I don't have alot to chat about I am going to ask for help with a problem that has been haunting me for a couple of months. This....

We repainted this room and I don't know what to put on the walls now. At first, I didn't want to put anything up because I enjoyed the new color so much. Now it just bugs me because the room looks ... well, it just looks unfinished. But do I put up art? We did have 3 light house pictures up. But I'm just not feeling that anymore. Do I put up photos of family in some sort of display like this?


Or do I save family photos for the halls and out of the way places?

Then what do I do with this entertainment center? See where the candles are? That looks kind of sparse. I used to have family photos there but now I don't know what to do with it. The boat we just didn't know what else to do with it either.



I like this lighthouse picture because it has scripture with it. But I am not sure about the cut glass candle things on the sides. I was thinking of putting a taper candles with coffee beans around them inside the hurricane part. What do you think? Please be my Candace Olson of Divine Design.

Oh, the wall color is a light gray. And the window treatments and pillows are blue, tan, brown and gray. I like the mix of warm and cool colors.
Thanks for any and all suggestions

Have a happy day.
Sabrina

For better and for worse

As I laid my head down to sleep on Sunday night, I thanked the Lord that I didn't have any aches and pains, nor the feeling that I was going to throw up, and not the slightest rumblings in my bowels. I felt as though I was going to get a good night's sleep after having to fight for my life with the stomach virus (or at least that's what it felt like). But a good night's sleep was not in store for me that night. You see my little Peanut got the stomach virus and was up on and off all night. First, she would run to my bed. I would be jarred from my sweet dreams with..."Mom, I think I'm gonna be sick". I would in turn say "Quick, run to the bathroom". Then the mom routine of damp cloth on the forehead, water to rinse her mouth and tucking her back in. This would happen about every two hours. Finally, about 20 minutes before my alarm went off I was awakened by my Charlie who came in to say... "Mom, I've got a leg cramp. Will you rub it?". Sure climb on in. Here's the $20,000 question. Did my man wake up once during all this commotion? NO! Crazy! How can he sleep through all that running around??
I just don't get it.
But then again, I sleep through the smoke alarm and he gets up for that.

I remember when the kids were babies and I would be dying for sleep. I would hear them cry in the night and tell my man... "Honey, they're crying for you. They're saying 'daddy'." He fell for it in his sleep deprived state and would get up to take care of them.

Anyway, back to the Stomach Flu '09. My man had the stomach flu a couple of days before me. We had it about the same amount of time. He lost 10lbs! I only lost 4! Seriously, even when sick he can loose more weight than me. So not fair! Not that it is a competition or anything. But if it was... not fair!

Have a happy and stomach flu-less day.
Sabrina

Because sharing is what friends do

I just want to share some sites that humor me. Check them out

Cake wrecks... is where professional cakes go wrong. Sometimes it is misspelled words other time just all out bad decorating. Either way it is funny.

Passive Aggressive notes... Oh how this site is write (ha ha get my pun?) up my alley. Some can get naughty but for the most part very humorous.

Post Secret... this is where people write/draw their secrets and send them to this fella. There are actual books of these too. Some are cute. Some funny. Some sad and some that make you go hmmm. Some people get real creative with their presentation. I always think what would I send in? I haven't come up with one yet. Oh, the guy updates every Sunday.

Just a few I wanted to share.

Have a happy weekend
Sabrina