Coffee Lovin Mom

My Kind of Town

2012-01-31T07:07:00.001-06:00

I was very tempted by the Vlog Talk prompts this week maybe because I have been wanting to highlight my travels more. When I started going through my pics, I realized I should start with the city I know the most because I visit it the most... CHICAGO!! I claim the city as my own but I have never actually lived there. I grew up in a south suburb about 20 minutes south of Comiskey Park now known as Cellular Field (where the Sox play). That name won't go away just like the Sears Tower being called Willis Tower (WHAT?!)

Being in Northwest Indiana now, we get there as often as possible when the kids are off school and you'll see why. There's so much to see and do!

If you ever have the chance to come to Chicago, there's so much I didn't even mention! Loads of family friendly things to do!

If you have been here, what was your favorite part?

This PITA is becoming a real pain in the ass..

2012-01-30T07:27:00.009-06:00

If you've been reading for awhile, you know that back in November I was diagnosed with a PITA. What first appeared as lower back pain is actually a bit lower in my right cheek. It began really cute and funny even...go look,
I'll wait..

I was told not to vacuum or do much laundry (oh dread) and take it easy. This condition came about without an injury that I'm aware of and they were first treating it as a muscle problem, using stretches, different exercises, and ice to loosen up the muscle only to result in not much improvement in pain. I have relief the day of therapy, it feels great, I get my stuff done and the next day it feels like crap again. The first appointment was the only one where massage was used because quite frankly, who wants to rub my ass? My husband, possibly on a good day and if there's sex involved. If anyone knows of an ass specific massage therapist, please let me know...there is now a big demand for it.

After the first four weeks, I was re-evaluated and only had a 20% improvement in pain. "That's not very much," I was told. I wasn't gonna lie, it was a little better but it certainly wasn't gone by any means.

During the second four weeks, when I still told them it wasn't any better, suddenly maybe I needed traction. Now it's no longer a muscle problem but a spine problem? My first traction was on a Friday - Saturday was the worst day ever! I could barely get out of bed and could not bend over without pain - a problem I didn't have when I started. My mobility and flexibility have never been a problem. When I went back on Monday, told them how Saturday went and that I thought I was worse, I was told that it is supposed to get worse before it gets better. It was suggested that I do traction at least three times to give it a chance. Who am I to refuse getting back into this contraption that in my opinion made me worse?

If you aren't familiar with traction, they put you in a device put out on the table where you are strapped down twice above the waist and once below and the legs are elevated from the knee down. The board that the bottom strap is holding you to moves down so as to stretch your spine and release the tension in between the vertebrae or relieve spinal decompression. As far as I was told from the x-ray done at the beginning, there wasn't anything wrong with my spine and the spaces in between seemed fine so why this was considered an option I'm not really all that sure but I went along with it. Who am I to say no to medical advice even though my body tells me different?

I have been through 8 weeks - 2 rounds - of physical therapy to no avail. I graduated as they call it but still don't really feel any better so today I am going to an orthopedic doctor to tell him the same story I've been telling since late September.

I feel like a Barbie feels when her leg comes off and you can't quite get it back in.

I feel like the pain is more intense in transitions like when I get up from sitting or when I lay down.

I feel like a broken record.

I feel like my house has only been vacuumed once or twice in the last 2 months.

I feel like I have been being treated for something they haven't gotten to the bottom of yet. Is it a muscle? Is it the spine? Can they really tell without further investigation? Am I going to have to just live with this?

I am really hoping that this appointment will give me a better perspective or at least a glimmer of hope at finding out what the actual problem is. Let's get to the bottom of the actual problem before we treat the symptoms. I know if my pain doesn't subside soon, I may have to hire a maid...or just decide to cure it with my mind like Charlie Sheen.

Thanks for listening..

I'm Out!

2012-01-27T07:07:00.000-06:00

Taking a little time out here with Coffee Chronicles this fine Friday as I am making my way "up north" to visit with Doctor Deborah Gilboa, MD aka @AskDocG who is visiting for a speaking engagement in Chicago and was kind enough to invite me out to breakfast at what she tells me is a great Pancake House. The coffee will give it away right off the bat..

We are giddy like school girls about meeting each other in person after all the interaction we have had on twitter and such - it's so exciting to meet someone in real life you feel like you already know. Being that she is native to Chicago growing up, I'm sure we will have lots to talk about!!

If you don't already know DocG, please pay her a visit - she is doing great things with parents these days - she also does speaking engagements if you know an organization that might be interested. I know a few parents that would benefit from her advice and expertise don't you?

Don't forget to Respect the Cup and #ThankCoffeeitsFriday!

So Hot, She Only Needs Initials...T.R.M.

2012-01-25T06:30:00.013-06:00

This year I decided I would take a path not traveled by this blog in general and invite some of my favorite bloggers to guest post. I am so excited about the line up, I can't even tell you - trust that you will be glad to welcome these fine people into your own bloggy world if they aren't already! I will be featuring at least one blogger a month and to make things easier on some of them, I asked some questions that might give you a little clue as to why they are here being featured. Little bits of wisdom go a long way and you can learn something from each of them so listen up good!

You all know my first Featured Guest from our follies on Fridays here on Coffee Chronicles - together, we make the Java Joe Mamas. It was coffee that brought us together and it's her persistence that tells us to #ThankCoffeeitsFriday and keeps it all rolling through her own robot family follies with doctors, toddlers and the occasional let's talk about poop while my husband is drilling the doorknob because we got locked out of the bathroom incident.

She has also been known to look like Sarah Jessica Parker - she of course doesn't see it. The problem is she was using a fairly current blonde Carrie Bradshaw version to compare. I on the other hand, saw it but more like earlier in her career, before Footloose, and even before Girls Just Want to Have Fun and all her glory on Dance TV (totally one of my favorite movies having grown up in a uniform) back when she was about fourteen on Square Pegs...

You can see it NOW, right???

Yes, even though we are barely a month apart in age, she still looks fourteen..also I have her to thank for breathing some much needed life back into my blog. If there's ever a flash mob with robot dancing, she is your go to gal! You know her, you love her, it's The Robot Mommy!!

10 Things...

1. How long have you been blogging?

My current blogs, the robot mommy and nuts and bolts in the kitchen, have been going on since March 2011. I started them when I realized how much I miss being around my kids while at work. T.r.m. was based on my son and his creative imagination but it's evolved to be a little bit of everything; him, my daughter, me and my hubby. It always comes back around to my son and his amazing personality. He is my muse.
Nuts and bolts was created to highlight recipes I love and for others to share their favorite foods. I'm not nurturing it as much as I would like. I hope to change that this year.

2. What piece of advice can you give to unseasoned bloggers?
Write what's in your heart not what you think the readers want to read. People will come when they learn of your uniqueness. Try to stay consistent, a true struggle I have and know others do too. Make a point to write everyday even if it to just start a post. Just write. Simple as that.

3. When is your favorite time of the day and why?
Early morning is still my all time favorite. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE TO SLEEP! There's something about the calm of early morning. It's when I get my best ideas to write too.

4. Where were you last Tuesday?
Home, as usual. My days consist of home, home, errands with my hubs and home. I don't drive in my current medical condition.

5. Who or what brings you the most inspiration?
My son, as I mentioned, is my biggest inspiration but truly, I get inspired by my fellow blogger peers. Talking on Twitter, posting on Facebook, Stumbling; it all brings a spark to write. All things combined give me a push when I need it.

6. What is your favorite movie?
High Fidelity. Love me some John Cusack. And one of my friends calls me Barry after Jack Black's character. Many crazy reasons why.

7. Why should people read your blog?
Because I think I write in a real voice. I like to add humor to most everything I write but I can be solemn or sad but always true to who I am. I'm relatable.

8. What blog post of yours is your favorite?
Oh god, really?!? My favorites would be: When Life Gets Me Down I Tell Life to Stop it and Get Awesome
&
http://therobotmommy.com/2011/09/when-life-gets-me-down-i-tell-life-to-stop-it-and-get-awesome/

Sorry I couldn't just pick one :)
(you didn't fool us, silly!)
She gives some really great Life Lessons over there too you guys..

9. Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
Spain. Summer before my junior year in high school and again for the 92 Olympics. Beautiful, haunting, historic, memorable... The first time I had nutella was there. Changed my life forever!

10. This or that:

Gloves or Mittens?
Fingerless gloves

Air Guitar or Lip Sync?
I look like an idiot trying to play air guitar so singing over the music :)

Cape or Mask?
A mask. And nothing else. Er...um..sorry. Moving on...

Heads or Tails?
Dude, always Heads.

Pie in the Face or Slip on a Banana peel?

Both? Love me some slapstick!!

You can also find The Robot Mommy blogging at Mom365 - go pay her a visit there too and try not to choke on your coffee!!

Join me next month when the party gets bigger - my 2nd Blogoversary Month which will have some more awesome Featured Guests and other fun surprises!

Everybody has a Klout Story - What's Yours?

2012-01-23T21:18:00.000-06:00

Klout was once one of my daily check-ins, seeing who gave out +K, announcing on Twitter who I give it to, seeing if my topics changed - or what crazy subject they might have given me this week. (I mean, Edmonton Oilers, seriously? Really? I'm from Chicago..)

I have recently, in the past few months, seen a couple open letters to Klout about not having a score or just in question of the true validity of what they are recording and the information that they are presenting.

I wasn't really paying all that much attention to my score since then, based on these letters from people who I trusted and I'm glad because here's what happened to mine in the course of a couple days...

KLOUT SCORE: Previously, my score had been closer to 60 than 50, that being before the "change" in algorithms or whatever it was they changed but it went from 51 here down to 43 - then back up...

AMPLIFICATION: Apparently completely unrelated, or just intentionally meant to drive one to the brink of insanity, my Amplification which was holding pretty steady at about 13-15 suddenly made an all time high of what - 32? and then right back down...hm. Also unrelated, my Network also went UP that same day.

I don't really even have an opinion about this - although I'm sure I would have if it had still been one of my daily check-ins. (I haven't checked my score since..) I also know everyone is in a different relationship with Klout so I am really curious what you all have to say..

So here's my questions:
Do you have a Klout story or are you still giving +K? When was the last time you checked your score?
Are they just testing to see who is active at this point?
What do you think?

Your Coffee Questions Answered by Ellen

2012-01-20T02:22:00.003-06:00

I have to admit, being short on cash is not where I wanted to be when I pulled up...but I had to get my fix.

"Hi, this is Shelly..what sounds delicious today?"

"Hello Shelly - Um, a tall is a small right?"
(I have not worked at Starbucks unlike the other Java Joe Mama)
...
"Why yes it is"

I could almost hear her secretly chuckle thinking she was speaking with an amateur - little did she know who she was dealing with..I've ordered Starbucks in Germany for the love of Mike..

If she knew me at all, she would know I get a grande or a vente quad shot or better, today I forgot my card at home and only had three dollars and some quarters. Definitely not enough for my usual caramelicious number and I was off...way off. The cup looked teeny tiny to me (I felt like a giant), it was too much milk because I couldn't afford the extra shot so I went home and made more espresso on the stove top, put it in a bigger cup, which required more milk and took away from any caramel deliciousness it ever wanted to have and I think may be the reason I am still up at 2:20am writing this post..

Ever been in this predicament, being thrown off from your normal coffee order?

If only someone had shown me this video...

I hope we've all learned something today and we know not to go to France for anything bigger than a shot glass.

Thanks so much for coming to see what the Java Joe Mamas are up to each week! If you have a coffee question, please leave it in the comments or you can email us at:

TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com
OR
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com

We would love to hear from you today!!

#ThankCoffeeitsFriday

From Where I Blog

2012-01-17T19:56:00.000-06:00

I know I'm usually late to the party and this case is no different because Jennifer at Just Jennifer put up a link LAST WEEK about posting about your wheres and hows of personal blogginess..quite honestly, it took me this long to clean the space enough to take a picture of it. I am a genius at work people, we are not known for our organizational skills. Let's just say I am happy there is a door to close on this space when I need it!

Jennifer came up with a great meme I'll Show you Mine if you Show Me Yours and of course it took like wild fire on the twitter with that title - ended up like Chinese telephone and there may or may not have been licking involved..

Without further delay, here's my space in our office in the basement:

I am more of a night blogger and post quite often in the middle of the night when I think nobody else is around - or at least after midnight because I don't usually get rolling on anything here until well after the kids (and husband) have gone to bed..it's just easier that way!

So I showed you mine..are you gonna show me yours?
There is still time to link up - I hope you'll join us!

Once Upon a Time...

2012-01-16T01:23:00.002-06:00

Once upon a time I had a job..

It took me places...

Like castles in Germany on the Mosel River....

I'm linked up with Galit and Alison for their monthly Memories Captured.

What memory would you most like to capture?

10 Years??

2012-01-14T13:11:00.000-06:00

I am still in disbelief that my son turned 10 this week.

A decade - it seems unreal.

He's proud of the fact that he's double digits and also that he knows I turned 30 soon after he was born so he will always know my age even though he agrees when I say I'm 29 - it's like it's our little secret..

I can remember thinking about what life would be like when they were 10 and 7 - here we are - it went by like a flash..much faster than I ever expected so my advice to those of you with young children: You will be here before you know it - Don't blink!!

I am serious about the blinking!Enjoy your weekend!

A Starbucks Blonde, Not My Type

2012-01-13T10:02:00.002-06:00

The Java Joe Mamas were out in full effect this week sampling some of the new goods at Starbucks they call Blondes. You've heard the hype, now hear the gripe. Personally, I found it to be darker than expected - this from someone who expected the Blonde roast to look more like tea than coffee. Not sure what I was thinking considering this is still Starbucks after all. On a regular basis, I do not choose Starbucks regular coffee as I go for the espresso drinks so I can get the extra shots to boost my coffee flavor. While that may make me a dark roast fan, I still don't think the new blend is what they are advertising. I think people are going to try this thinking like I did, that it would be more mild than the normal coffee which I really didn't think it was anymore mild. It still has that good old Starbucks kick to it. Here's what TRM had to say:

So, as a die hard Buckster.. Not because I work for the company but I truly do love their coffee.

Until now.

Their line of Blondes came out this Tuesday and it's encouraged to try each type of coffee: Blonde, Medium and Dark. I love this idea. I love to try and do tastings. It's one of my favorite parts of my job. About 2% of the coffees don't appeal to me. Willow is one of those.

Two Blondes walk into a Starbucks... One named Willow, one named Veranda. This coffee whore tried the Willow and without cream or sugar it tasted like... An airhead.

While it had a crisp acidity, similar to Breakfast Blend is was ...blah. Really light, like too light. I thought it was pressed wrong so I asked for another sample. Same. No joke.

Ok, ok so I'm a dark roast fan. I drink espresso like its water but I can appreciate a lighter roast if it has flavor able characteristics. It was so mild and mild I was afraid cream and sugar would turn it into an "amateur"

Amateur: Coffee made with so much cream and sugar you can't taste the coffee. Example: "I'd like a Venti (20oz) Mocha with one shot"

So, does this review make you curious?
Does it make you want to try it yourself?
I say you provide us a question and I'll BUY a bag of Willow to giveaway to a random question, um, giver!!

Prove us wrong! Tell us why you think it's a good coffee.

I dare ya.

Hey You Guys...

2012-01-10T23:11:00.001-06:00

I don't know if anyone has even noticed that I haven't posted yet this year, but I have not completely dropped off the face of the earth contrary to any scuttlebutt you may or may not have heard.

Really, I'm still here, re-evaluating what I want this year to be with this space and how I want to go about the future of it. Being honest, I just haven't been feeling it on the writing front, I have never considered myself to be a writer freelance or otherwise. You will not see my blog on a list of a top anything and that is okay with me - I'm far from the competitive type. I have a problem getting into a groove or a schedule or a niche for that matter and the only thing I am consistent about is being inconsistent. I'm usually funnier when I'm not really trying to be. As much as I would like to change this, I would also like to stay the same and not conform to any guidelines set by whoever the experts are - I've never been a numbers person. As a pisces, I am always going upstream when the rest of the world is going downstream.

I am working in the background over here making plans some of which include the 31 Days to a Better Blog with the SITS Girls that starts on the 16th and a monthly feature spotlighting some of my favorite bloggers. This already took me outside my comfort zone just by contacting these people I admire some of whom I have met in person in the last year, some I would like to be able to hug (again) in the near future. Either way, I want to make sure you know who they are and a little more about them because they are truly rising stars. (I'm psychic, I know these things..) I am seriously overwhelmed with the response I have gotten so far!

I can tell you these bloggers will be featured on Wednesdays and the first one for this month will be January 25th!

Don't expect huge changes in my style here but I would like to be more of a consistent blogger for the sake of my readers. I really do appreciate you all! My goal is not to be the biggest or the best, just better as time goes by. I plan to incorporate more video, more music, and the European trips - which I wish I had more video of! I am excited for the changes to come and hope you will stick around for twhatever this year will bring!

Hottest Drink your New Year can't do without..

2011-12-30T11:05:00.003-06:00

Welcome once again to another fantastically entertaining episode of Coffee Chronicles with the Java Joe Mamas. As promised, we saved the best drink recipe for last and it couldn't be more perfect for your New Years Eve celebration. Because really, who doesn't want hot dick for New Years? It obviously needs no further introduction so enjoy!

Hot Dick

· 2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream

· 2 oz Grand Marnier

· 4 oz hot Espresso

· Whipped Cream

Pour Bailey's and Grand Marnier into mug, and then add espresso (hot off the machine). Top with whipped cream.

This drink was by far the hit of the coffee party not only because of the name but it was also pretty tasty and the flavors blended better than I imagined they would. Here is the reaction from the peanut gallery aka my friends @JAG_III his wife and my husband...

Keep in mind it was also the last (we always save the best for last) of the drinks we tried which were featured all December long on Coffee Chronicles. This month flew by like a flash - it's hard to believe we will be starting a new year let alone a new month..

Speaking of saving the best for last, you will be really glad you showed up today because we have another fun giveaway since it's the last Friday of the year!! TWO Dunkin Donuts gift cards!

Manditory:

Leave a comment below with your coffee question for us to answer in the coming weeks.
Follow @coffeeluvinmom and @therobotmommy (or leave a comment that you already do!)

Optional:

Tweet this: Win a gift card for free coffee with @coffeeluvinmom http://bit.ly/szh6t9
Leave a comment on any other Coffee Chronicles post.
Like Coffee Lovin' Mom and The Robot Mommy on Facebook.

Please leave separate comments for each entry.

Two lucky winners will receive a Dunkin Donuts gift card in the amount of $17. (they were sent to me with $2 on each) The contest will end Friday January 6 at midnight, the winners will be contacted by email and announced. You can enter multiple times daily. Please include your email so we can contact you.

Just a little thank you for coming by each week for the love of coffee! We really do appreciate you each week you show up here, we couldn't do this without you! Join us next week when the snark resumes in 2012! Happy New Year - enjoy your weekend!

Java Joe Mamas

Of Christmas Present..

2011-12-24T23:25:00.003-06:00

Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!

Whatever you are celebrating this season, do it up good!

Chocolate Grasshopper and Homemade Kahlua

2011-12-23T13:26:00.001-06:00

Welcome again to another edition of Coffee Chronicles! We are so happy you join us each week and Thank Coffee It's Friday!

This week we are sharing a nice little number that will surely please your guests. I had a couple friends come over to help sample all these drinks and this one came in second place overall. It's got the mint chocolatey taste you will love!

Chocolate Grasshopper (cold)

1/4 cup strong coffee, cold

1/4 cup chocolate ice cream

1/2 ounces Creme de Menthe

Mix coffee, ice cream and Creme de Menthe in a blender.

Pour into wine glasses

My friend @JAG_III that I make mugs for

The texture of this drink took me by surprise because I expected it to be more like a shake and it came out smooth with a thick taste of peppermint patty - yumm! Perfect for any holiday gathering!

I also got an email from Deann Barnett this week with a lovely homemade liquor that was inquired about a couple weeks ago:

Homemade Kahlua

6 cups of coffee

1 lb. brown sugar
3 1/2 Tbsp. vanilla
1/2 liter vodka

Add brown sugar to hot coffee and stir well. When cool add vanilla and vodka. Best when served cold.

I can't wait to try this - gotta stock up on vodka first!

Have a Merry Christmas from our kitchen to yours! We hope you will let us know if you try any of the drinks we are featuring this month. You will definitely want to join us next week when we feature the drink that was the ultimate favorite - it's called a Hot Dick! Not even kidding, and yes we will remind you not to forget! We saved the best for last ...

Keep your coffee questions coming in as we will get back to the regularly scheduled program after the new year. Please leave them below in the comments or feel free to email us at :

TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com

OR
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com

Java Joe Mamas

I Don't Do Strong

2011-12-20T07:34:00.002-06:00

This from the little girl who cried when Bert fell out of bed.

This from the little girl who bawled when Snoopy didn't come back home.

This from the little girl whose mom had to tell her Lassie wasn't on the air anymore because she would be so distraught with every episode.

This from the girl who spent half the Little House on the Prairie episodes in the bathroom because she couldn't get through an episode without crying.

This from the girl that was crying so hard at the end of E.T. she made her uncle cry (and probably others in the theater).

This from the grown woman who had to stop watching Grey's Anatomy because the last 10 minutes of most episodes made her a complete wreck.

I've always been a crier ever since I was little. I once cried at an episode of Full House people...Full House. I was pregnant at the time but still, we're talking Uncle Jessie and Full House..

This is also one of the reasons I choose not to watch the news. You should see me at the children's productions, people probably think I need to be on medication to put it mildly.

My husband's good friend passed away last week through his own accord and although I want to be strong and support my husband, I'm just not good at it without tears. A young girl sang Amazing Grace at the wake last night and I lost it. In my defense, I don't think there was a dry eye in the place. I don't know if I have extra strong empathy bone or what the deal is but it feels like my heart is breaking every time I see something tragic like Bert falling out of bed, the Shiva episode of Grey's or the death of someone close..especially the way it all went went down.

I feel sorrow for this man's son who found him.

I feel sorrow for his wife who has to deal with the guilt of not knowing it was coming among other things.

I feel sorrow for his unborn grandchild who will never get the chance to know such a kind soul.

I feel sorrow for his mother who survived him and his son in death.

I feel sorrow for my husband having lost a very close friend.

Were we all in denial? Looking back on the past month or so, it seems like we should have all seen it. My husband has so many questions that will go unanswered. I hope I can support him through tears because that's the only way I know how. I personally don't think crying makes you look weak, and I welcome a good cry every once in awhile but I know to most of the rest of the world crying means weakness so just know this:

I don't do strong...unless it's regarding my coffee.

Do you see crying as a weakness?

What's your weakness?

Christmastime in a Can

2011-12-17T10:35:00.004-06:00

Here's a sweet little short from the Girl Scout event Caroling for Cans last night. There were a ton of food donations given to a local church for a food pantry, the best part being that all the caroling was inside. I hope you enjoy as much as I did..the girls did great! (especially considering they only practiced twice) My daughter was nervous about being on the "big stage" at the middle school. I think she's preparing for stardom..you can tell by how much she concentrates on her singing voice - and her diva bossy side at the end..

Enjoy your weekend - I hope you get your shopping done!

Mine is about done, I still have to get my husband - who do you have left? If you say everyone, I wish you luck! That's usually me!

Southern Coffee Recipe Santa Would Approve!

2011-12-16T08:45:00.000-06:00

Thank coffee it's FRIDAY!!

Welcome again to your Friday fix here at Coffee Chronicles..

We appreciate you coming by every week!

This week we bring you a great little chilled number which even though served as a cold drink, will be sure to warm you up on a cold winter night. We think even Santa would approve, as long as you are at the end of his shift!

Southern Coffee (cold)

1/2 cup coffee, cold
2 tablespoons Southern Comfort
2 tablespoons apricot brandy
1/8 cup heavy cream
Dump everything into a blender, mix well
Pour into glass

Please don't forget, we are still taking your questions and will start answering them again with the snark you expect once the rush of the holidays are over. In the meantime, we will provide you with some interesting and delicious drink recipes for your holiday visitors!

Join us next week for another yummy recipe that won't disappoint!

Feel free to email us if there is something you would like to see:
TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com
OR
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com

Have a great weekend!

Java Joe Mamas

Of Christmas Past...

2011-12-15T10:16:00.000-06:00

My sister and I circa 1977

My cute little dad circa 1955

My great-great grandfather circa 1904 (we're guessing)

I have the last one as my background wallpaper on my PC - I love that my family has taken so many pictures over the years. Rediscovering them is so much fun! Do you have any old classics?

Molluscum Contagiousum - Do you Know of It?

2011-12-13T06:28:00.011-06:00

YOU NEED TO!
If you have school age children, especially those who take part in physical extra-curricular activities or children in day care settings, this is a "common" skin condition which is also a viral infection that my daughter mysteriously contracted that says it's common but contagious. Here's the facts (credit American Academy of Dermatology) then you can hear my story and why I want you to know...

Who gets molluscum contagiosum?

This skin disease is most often seen in children. People who live in a tropical climate also are more likely to get molluscum. The virus thrives in a warm, humid place. Having atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema, also increases the risk of getting molluscum contagiosum.

What causes molluscum contagiosum?
A virus causes molluscum.

There are 2 ways to get this virus:

Touch something infected with the virus. You can get molluscum by using an infected towel. You can get it from touching infected clothing or toys. Wrestlers and gymnasts get it from touching infected mats.
Have direct skin-to-skin contact. Children often get molluscum because they have lots of direct skin-to-skin contact with others. People who participate in contact sports such as wrestling get molluscum from the direct skin-to-skin contact. Teens and adults often get the virus through sexual contact.

How do dermatologists treat molluscum contagiosum?

Dermatologists often recommend treatment for molluscum contagiosum. Treatment helps to prevent the virus from:

Spreading to other parts of your body.
Spreading to other people.
Growing out of control in people who have a weakened immune system.
Treatment, however, may not be best for a young child. Treatment can have unwanted side effects for a young child. And the bumps often go away without treatment.

Although the bumps often go away without treatment, most people should be treated. And people who have a weakened immune system should definitely get treatment. The bumps will not go away without treatment if a person has a weakened immune system.

There are many treatment options. The treatment your dermatologist prescribes will depend on your age, health, where the bumps appear on your body, and other considerations.

Treatments that a dermatologist can perform in the office to treat molluscum contagiosum include:

Cryosurgery: The dermatologist freezes the bumps with liquid nitrogen.
Curettage: The dermatologist may use a small tool called a curette to scrape the bumps from the skin.
Laser surgery: A dermatologist uses a laser to target and destroy the bumps. This can be an effective treatment for people who have a weakened immune system.
Topical (applied to the skin) therapy: Your dermatologist can apply various acids and blistering solutions to destroy the bumps. These work by destroying the top layers of the skin. Tricholoracetic acid is often used to treat people who have a weak immune system and many bumps.

Our story starts back at the end of school year last year when we thought she had acne. I know at the age of seven acne is not common but with the weather being warm and them being nestled on her neck where the sweat gathers, I treated it with an acne medicine that also had tea tree oil in it and they seemed to be going away. I decided to get some good old Stridex pads like I used back in the day and they blew UP! Which is when I took her to the dermatologist who told me it's this Molluscum Contagiousum which is common and that it could take up to a year to go away completely. (A year?!?) It was made out to be no big deal, had to run it's course, and her immune system had to be built up to fight it off. Nobody else in the family has it including my son who will be 10 or my niece who is the same age as my daughter. They all swam together over the summer and the girls change and exchange clothes eleventy billion times when they are together.

A topical medication was prescribed obviously given her age I wasn't about to let them burn or cut them off. The cream burned her neck too badly to continue after a week - she had a large scab in place of one of the bumps that I'm surprised didn't leave a scar. I decided to go back to the tea tree oil being all natural and it has been working. She still has breakouts which was to be expected (a year, remember?) which brought her to the nurse's office yesterday and a frantic phone call to me about needing a doctor note so my child could come back to school and why wasn't it in her record? To me, this is like putting on the record that she has herpes because she gets cold sores. Who wants that advertised? I was actually on the fence about it because as a parent, I would have liked to have known who it was that my daughter contracted this from. Maybe if they had it on their record...

Anyhow, I spent the rest of the afternoon on the phone between the school and the doctor's office which if you know about my phone skills or lack thereof...let's just say I was not a happy camper.

I gave the nurse the name to look up being that she's never heard of this "common" skin condition. The elementary school nurse you would think should have a clue about this condition that's so common among children right?

I left a message with the doctor's office who called back to say they want to see her again being that it's been a few months so I will be visiting both offices this morning to get things straightened out.

Who knows, maybe the school nurse will be out of frantic mode or maybe the doctor will give us a different diagnosis altogether.

Please tell me what you would do or would have done about this situation. I know the doctor will be trying to talk me back into the prescription medication which I am against - this to me is a bigger issue than the school nurse needing a little education or acting like this would be a school epidemic.

So tell me, what would you do?

The Banana Bread that Broke My Oven

2011-12-11T19:31:00.001-06:00

So often times when we buy bananas there are at least a couple out of the bunch that start to brown. Now even though I don't bake, this being my grandmother's recipe is one that I have actually used more than a handful of time unlike most of the others I've tried only once or twice. It is a simple recipe if I've tried it more than once, trust me. I'm not big on bananas but this bread goes faster than hotcakes when we go to visit her which is why she always had some extra on hand in the freezer. I can never get it quite the way she can do it but this time it turned into something different entirely...

My Grandma's
Banana Bread Recipe:
Pre-heat oven to 350
2 eggs
2 Tsp sour cream
3/4 Tsp baking soda
1/2 Tsp Salt
3 ripe bananas
1c Sugar
1/2 c Crisco
Pour into bread pan and bake for one hour.

I set the oven on 350 while I put the ingredients together but when it came time to put it in the oven, the bugger was still cold...not even warm at all and certainly not the 350 I set it at. I swore a little in my head and went to tell my husband who kindly told me to "Try it again, will ya?"

Now I know most times it is operator error and I'm no oven expert but pre-heating an oven couldn't be done wrong could it? Of course I took the manly advice and turned it off and back on again for a 10 minute pre-heat - which of course failed the second time as well..

By this time, my husband was the one in the kitchen swearing and trying to take the oven apart to find out what the problem was, coming to the conclusion that we probably needed a new one. So now I have the mix all ready and no oven so I go to find out if I could freeze the stuff..I texted my mom, aunt and sister and got these responses:

Aunt: I would call grandma on this one..

Mom: I don't know, you better call uncle Bob.

I don't think my sister even responded - if she had it probably would have been some smart remark about me actually baking something..

Which is why I also put the question to twitter and got huge responses about NOT freezing it and making pancakes out of it instead. So I give you twitter inspired Banana Pancakes! They were a bit dense for pancakes but the kids loved them..

They might have made better pancakes if I thinned them out a bit with milk but I didn't want to start adding stuff only to have to throw it away. Thick pancakes are better than no pancakes!

So now I have a broken oven until after the holidays unless Santa decides to surprise me..this the first year I had an itch to actually bake some stuff for a change. Let's just say I won't be entirely lost without it for a few weeks and yet I still find myself buying stuff like cornbread and cake mixes forgetting that it doesn't work.

What recipe have you tried that ended up something other than what it was supposed to be? Forgotten an ingredient or decided it wasn't necessary because you didn't have it? I know you have...I want to hear about it!

Saturday Shorts - The Boy Can Play

2011-12-10T08:13:00.005-06:00

This is from a recent Boyscout meeting - he was meeting his musical objective and did 4 songs, Jingle Bells being the only with both hands. This is one of the reasons there is music in our house every single day..I love it that way!

It was asked if he take requests - someone suggested Beethoven's 5th Symphony. His response, "I don't know that Beethoven but I know this one.." , then he busted out the first page of Fur Elise by memory. Melody only but still he has great responses..

Happy Weekend!

Coffee Float

2011-12-09T07:19:00.002-06:00

Welcome to another fine edition of Coffee Chronicles where we break down the low down on your coffee inquiries and Thank Coffee It's Friday each week! We enjoy your company as we hash out your questions and pull a little magic out of our sleeve like we are this month with the recipes. You never know what other surprises we might pull out..

This week, I made the recipe at my house and it was a big hit! The kids insisted on ice cream (we used vanilla) one of the last times we went shopping so we had all the ingredients - we used root beer instead of coke and the kids portions were more soda than coffee. It turned out to be a very easy and fun dessert!

Enjoy!

Coffee Float (cold)
3/4 cup strong coffee
1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 cup cream
1 scoop of coffee flavored ice cream
250 ml Coca Cola

Sweeten coffee with sugar, and chill
Mix coffee and cream
Fill 4 glasses half full

Add one scoop of ice cream to each glass

Top with Coke

So there you have a simple crowd pleaser that can only be outdone with whipped cream and sprinkles - one of which my husband added to it, not to try and outdo me or anything...

Join us again next week where we give you more heated (in more ways than one) recipes that will be sure to keep you warm during these cold winter evenings..

Is there a coffee recipe you would like to see?
Do you have a burning coffee question you would like us to answer?

Please keep your coffee questions rolling in by leaving them in a comment here or emailing one of us at:
TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com
or
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com

Enjoy your weekend and remember to Respect the Cup!

Java Joe Mamas

Memories Captured

2011-12-05T00:40:00.000-06:00

My son has his first holiday concert this week for a singing group he actually had to try out for. For this concert and their town tour, he needed to have black pants that weren't jeans and black shoes to go with the Nifty Notes logo shirt. I decided that this was going to be Dad's job - I think he did pretty well for someone who was very reluctant..

He's pretty serious

He loves this musical outlet and brings songs home some of which he can play on the piano. He's really big into Legos and making origami Star Wars guys including Darth Paper. He is a good Boy Scout, he's our recycler and I'm pretty sure he's the best person he knows..

My daughter on the other hand is much less serious and loves to make silly faces most of the time. She has been doing it so much lately that I have told her to stop before her face gets stuck that way...and she has to grow into her big girl teeth. She sings a lot but only tries to carry a tune - she seems more about the cartwheels anyway so maybe that's a good thing. She's a good Girl Scout and gymnast who would try to have her own web show if she could work it all..

Linking up with Memories Captured with Alison and Galit.

Coffee Recipe and Mug Winner #ThankCoffeeitsFriday

2011-12-02T12:51:00.001-06:00

Welcome again to Coffee Chronicles where we Thank Coffee it's Friday and give you the down low on the coffee fun. For the month of December, each Friday we will be bringing you some coffee recipes we think will keep you warm during this chilly month. We decided to start with this hot number:

Irish Coffee (hot)

1 shot of Irish Whiskey
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 heaped desert spoon of whipped cream
Hot strong coffee to fill the glass
Add the whiskey.
Add the sugar and stir in the coffee.
Float the whipped cream on top, but do not stir.
Drink it up! YUMMY!

Lastly, the WINNER of the Coffee Whore Mug contest was Jennifer of Just Jennifer! Congratulations to Jennifer and thanks to all who entered!

Don't forget to join us each week in December for a hot holiday recipe you will be sure and enjoy. If you have a specific recipe you would like to hear about, please be sure and let us know. Also keep those coffee questions coming in, we will resume answering those the first of the year! Thanks as always for joining us every week!!

You can contact us for recipe requests or questions below or feel free to email either of us at:

TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com
or
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com
Enjoy your weekend!!

JavaJoeMamas

I Have Been Diagnosed with a PITA

2011-11-29T15:55:00.000-06:00

I could not make this story up if I tried...well maybe I could but it's true..

Sometime in late September I started having pain in my lower back which I reluctantly went to the doctor for who gave me a prescription to basically go away, which is exactly why I'm always so reluctant to go to the doctor. That one week of meds didn't help so I went back, and an X-ray was ordered which determined that there were no bulging discs and the space between my vertebrates looked normal. So the doctor changed the meds, giving me an actual entire month's supply this time, and also prescribed physical therapy which I started today.

I went in to talk to the physical therapist describing my pain as feeling like a Barbie whose leg wasn't quite connected right - you know how she gets when her leg falls off and you can't quite get it back in the way it's supposed to be - that's how low the pain is...almost in the hip but not quite...

Upon feeling me out (literally) and determining that it wasn't really the lower back or the hip joint itself, it wasn't a sciatic nerve or bursitis - between cheek rubs he said, and I quote:

"This is what we lovingly refer to as a plain old PITA."

I started laughing.

"Oh you know what a PITA is huh?"

"Well I do have a husband and two kids.."

Best. Diagnosis. Ever! I couldn't be more proud!

Who knew that a PITA was an actual diagnosis?

Parade of Lights

2011-11-26T14:58:00.000-06:00

Our black Friday was all lit up with our local Parade of Lights led by the Grinch and included a group dressed up like KISS that went by wishing everyone a Merry KISSmas! Since we moved here, we go every year, my sister and her family come down for the fun. Here are some of the highlights that came out on the camera. The decorated horses are always my favorite..

Some of the floats took you away because they didn't look like something sitting on the back of a truck..

This would go quite nicely in my yard!!

My son was reluctantly in the parade with his Boy Scout troop this year. He's normally all about the candy so we had to convince him there wouldn't be much thrown out being that the parade was at night. As they passed, they invited my daughter and my niece to jump on their float - what a great way to kick off the season! Sorry I didn't get a decent picture of the KISS people but they did give away commemorative cards. The parade is usually what gets me going for Christmas so we are decorating the inside today with Chipmunk and Elvis music.

How do you kick your Christmas season off? Are there certain traditions you do the same each year like music or cookies?

Enjoy your weekend!!

Extra Caffeinated Breakfast Anyone?

2011-11-25T08:08:00.000-06:00

Thank coffee it's Friday!

Here's hoping you didn't have to go out in the thick of the craziness that shopping is on this the blackest of Fridays...and that you got all the deals you wanted if you braved that insanity! You won't catch me out there fighting for my life but would love to hear your story, please grab a cup and share...if you stay long enough you'll leave with a recipe that will perk you right up!

My dad gave me a bunch of instant coffee to take home from Thanksgiving because he doesn't like it (in so many words) so I decided to look up some instant coffee recipes in order to use it without having to drink it myself. Not that I wouldn't recommend instant ever, it's only because instant is just not strong enough for my taste... I won't tell you what my dad said about it..

Since 'tis the season and people are all about the new recipes, this week, Java Joe Mamas chooses to share one with you that is sure to be a pleaser. I baked these last night seeing as I amazingly had all the ingredients (aside from the nutmeg) because you know, we can never get enough to eat on this holiday. I used my *ahem* will power to save them for breakfast this morning and I gotta say, they were the perfect pairing for my morning cuppa joe!

Cappuccino Muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder (or instant coffee)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate mini-chips

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375. Line muffin tins with papers or grease liberally.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, espresso or instant coffee, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix milk, butter, egg, and vanilla until combined. Stir milk mixture into flour mixture only until combined. Do not overmix. Fold in chocolate chips.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake 15 to 20 minutes for standard muffins.

Yield: 12 muffins

Note: I did not miss the nutmeg...I also used more instant coffee than it called for because you know, I like it strong...

There was not a call for frosting but I thought something chocolate would compliment it well or even (from what I hear) delicious Nutella...yumm

There you have it, another coffee recipe this time from the kitchen of CLM who by the way doesn't bake...

Thanks for joining the Java Joe Mamas for another educational and slightly entertaining edition of Coffee Chronicles giving you the scoop about coffee each week. We are indeed thankful for all of you that show up to find out what we're cooking or dishing out every week! Don't forget, there's a mug giveaway for all you hard core coffee lovers out there...CLICK HERE for the post.

So what are your thoughts on instant coffee? Do you use it or can't you bring yourself to being the coffee snob that you are?

Let us know what inside coffee info you really want to hear by leaving it below or emailing us at:

TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com
or
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com

See you next week!
Java Joe Mamas

Kids Talking Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T01:10:00.001-06:00

So happy I was able to get in on #KidsTalkingTurkey as I have a couple of hams who were quick to volunteer their expertise in the Thanksgiving area...or lack there of - you know, it could go either way here and I think it did. Still, they are both convincing enough that you can agree one way or the other..

Although I'm not quite sure what she meant by be nice to the turkeys, I'm sure she will be eating some come Thursday!

Loved being able to link up!

Dos and Don'ts of the Eggnog Latte

2011-11-18T08:45:00.003-06:00

THANK Coffee it's Friday!

THANK YOU for joining us again for another rendition of Coffee Chronicles with the Java Joe Mamas where we give you the low down on coffee info every Friday. This week's question comes to us just in time for the holidays when we know you will want to be indulging in the sweetness of the seasonal, sweet and calorie rich drinks at your local coffee house. Don't forget, I'm giving a mug away this week for all the coffee lovers out there...CLICK HERE for the giveaway post.

NLQisRussellCollapse

What is the deal with eggnog? I mean really, aside from making amazing Frappachinos (probably spelled wrong I know.), it just doesnt really taste all that great when added to a hot coffee drink. Agree? Disagree? Discuss!

It's coming up!! The holiday drinks which means cute red cups, yummy recipes and.....

A shitload of calories.

But c'mon, you guys know this!!

One of the ones that everyone gets extremely giddy about is the Eggnog Latte.

And it's one of the ones I dread making all year.
It's not that it's harder to make or a pain to create... well...
Have you notice how loud the milk steaming is during the holidays?

Reason: Fatty Eggnog

It's so heavy that it takes a little more effort, patience and humility to make. My clothes get sprayed with eggnog daily during the holidays.

But you don't care about my woes, what you should care about is this:

21 grams of fat!?! Yikes.

So the alternate?

Basically, you are given the option to go nonfat, 2% or whole.

No whole milk unless calories mean nothing to you...

The ONLY way to create a great coffee beverage with eggnog (in this JJM's opinion) is to make a 16oz QUAD shot half eggnog/ half milk. Lots of cinnamon spice on top and a pump of cinnamon dolce syrup... Seriously, you die it's so good.

However, I do recommend keeping it tall, keeping it nonfat or 2% and keeping it a once a week or every two weeks treat.

Because wouldn't you rather eat a few of those holiday cookies instead? :)

Have a coffee question? No question is to big or small...
We really enjoy bringing you the coffee info and snark every week but without your questions we wouldn't be here so please keep them rolling in!

Please feel free to leave your question in the comments below or just let us know what you really want to hear by emailing us at:

TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com
or
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com

See you next week!
Java Joe Mamas

Have I Got A Mug For You!

2011-11-15T23:50:00.006-06:00

This idea was born on twitter so you know the story is good.
I think it may have started out as a bumper sticker idea that turned into the 'yeah you should make one of those' irresistible Fred Flinstone ideas that sounded really great at the time which probably was some ungodly hour.

I made one for myself obviously forgetting the fact that my children can read so I don't use it often enough - there is your fair warning for timing on this as far as if you really want to win it. If you have high school teens, you might be safe, if you have toddlers, you will be safe for awhile but the 5 - Jr. High range is not recommended unless you can erase their memory of it before going back to school to be absolutely sure they don't repeat it.

I can't really take credit for what I am about to unveil here today which I am passing on to you. So if you are a coffee lover and would do anything for your coffee, (of course you do, you are here) this is for you:

I have said forget about the Klondike Bar, ask me what I would do for my favorite coffee...

Here's all you have to do to win your own one of a kind mug:

Mandatory: Leave a comment telling me: What would YOU DO for your favorite coffee or what was something crazy you have done??
Mandatory: Make sure you follow GFC - leave me a comment saying you do
Optional: Tweet: Tell @coffeeluvinmom what you would do for your favorite #coffee here: http://bit.ly/sZQiii to WIN a one of a kind mug! or something of the like...leave the link for your tweet here in the comments.
Optional: Leave one comment on another post or whatever else your heart desires to stalk me further.

Winner will be selected Friday December 2 at 12am CST in a random drawing, contacted by email and must respond within 12 hours with additional information. Leave a separate comment for each entry, the more comments, the more entries. Good luck!

French Press Tutorial - Four Easy Steps

2011-11-11T07:27:00.016-06:00

Thanks for joining us again for another sahweet edition of Coffee Chronicles where we Thank Coffee it's Friday each week sharing with you our readers the inside snark and unpredictably entertaining coffee information most of the time..

This week we present a special video French Press Tutorial we think you will enjoy and learn from courtesy of a lovely seven year old who thinks she is iCarly. Showing you just how a French Press is to use in four easy steps :

(So easy a seven year old can do it)

The Great Tip she was trying to tell us about was that if you fill the carafe - or your own coffee mug - with hot water prior to pouring the coffee in, the heat will keep your cuppa joe warmer for longer.

Always boil your water rather than putting it in the microwave to heat it, please for your own safety and future well being. Just a thing..

Use the most coarse grind on your beans when using a press unless you enjoy grounds in the last cup. Auto-drip grind may leave you crunchy in the end with a bad taste in your mouth - you don't want that now do you?
Respect the cup!
CLM

Have a coffee tutorial you would like to see? A coffee question you need answered?

Please feel free to leave your question in the comments or feel free to let us know what you really want to hear or see by emailing us at:

TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com
or
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com

See you next week!
Java Joe Mamas
now available on Twitter @JavaJoeMama1 and @JavaJoeMama2

Cappuccino Crunch Bars for the Sweet Tooth

2011-11-04T09:16:00.012-05:00

Is it really Friday? Can I just say it's about time?
Why does it feel like it took a year to get here this week?

Thank Coffee It's Friday people! You'll be glad you grabbed a cuppa joe and joined us for Coffee Chronicles this week because we are treating you to what's bound to be a hit at any party you may have ...wait, screw that, make these for yourself and make your coffee lovin' mouth smile a little bigger - that's what I'm gonna do!!

From the kitchen of TRM:

If you have a sweet tooth and want some delicious while sipping a steaming cup of hot coffee, these bars will satisfy you. They are so good.

The hubby informed me that dessert was a bit scarce around the house so I quickly whipped these up. It's really hard not grabbing one every time I pass through the kitchen.

The coffee addition really gives them a rich background flavor and the white chocolate chip and toffee really puts them over the top. Just what we needed with all the excess Halloween Candy over here!

Oh well, these are nice to have around the house for the holiday season and would be a great addition to any cookie platters you have going out to friends.

Photo credit: Food.com

Don't eat them all at once.

Cappuccino Crunch Bars
Adapted from Bake Sale Recipes

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup butter, room temperature
1-1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules or espresso powder, dissolved in 1 Tablespoon hot water and cooled to room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup toffee baking bits

Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in large bowl; set aside.

Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy; about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add coffee mixture and vanilla; beat well. Add flour mixture; beat until well blended. Stir in white chocolate chips and toffee bits.

Spread batter evenly in a well greased 13 x 9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes or until golden brown (mine took 25). Cool completely on a wire rack. To get nice clean edges on the bars I refrigerate them for a couple hours before cutting them.

These really brown up nicely in the oven.

And there you have it folks, our treat...no tricks here!
Just our little way of saying thanks for showing up every week with the hopes of being a little more informed in your coffee knowhow. We enjoy broadening your horizons that way...

Have a coffee question? No question is to big or small...

Please feel free to leave your question in the comments or just let us know what you really want to hear by emailing us at:

TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com
or
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com

At the End of a Gun

2011-11-03T05:29:00.003-05:00

Last week for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop, I listed
22 things I have done in my life.

This Week's Prompt: Did you create a list of 22 things you’ve done in your life last week? This week, choose one item from your list and elaborate! We want the story.

Well here's The Real Story to the best of my recollection:

Late 1990

It was still warm weather even though school had started again, my first year of college - we had just spent the evening hanging out at his house - he was taking me home in his mom's Mustang convertible with the top down.

It was a Thursday night I remember because we were talking about what we were going to do for the weekend on the way home and how he wanted to just drop me off quick to be ready for work in the morning.

We pulled into an unusually dark driveway which I didn't even think twice about my mom turning off the porch light. It wasn't past midnight, I was home on time for a change.

My house was one off the corner and he pulled about half way in the driveway almost to the porch leaving the back end of the car exposed to the street light on the corner.

We chatted probably making out a minute taking advantage of the darkness of the driveway with the car still running because he was leaving soon when a figure appeared out of the shadows from the neighbor's house on his side of the car. A short, non-intimidating build, it looked like my neighbor from across the street as he came in casually asking how it was going...We responded that is was going good when he told us this was a stickup - no disguise, no gun, he wanted my boyfriends wallet.

I instantly became enraged sitting in my own driveway, a place I should feel safe - with my adrenaline pumping I decided to give the guy the what for in words I can't exactly remember but I know I was pissed. I'm sure it started with "Are you kidding me?"

Somewhere in the middle of the short lived rant about being in my own driveway, a gun came in from behind me against my temple with another hand holding my head and the voice of a much larger man: "I suggest you do what you are told lady."

The rage instantly turned into shock and fear as the hair stood on my neck thinking about what was going to happen here. Was this really happening? It was Thursday night and there was guaranteed only a couple dollars (if that) in the wallet being that tomorrow would be payday. So many scenes played out in my head knowing we didn't have anything to steal but the car.

They told him to turn off the ignition.
The keys to the car were demanded and then tossed up to the front of the driveway close the back gate.

Why they didn't demand we get out of the car and just take off with it was beyond me, it was the only thing worth what they were after. The wallet was confiscated and my pockets were checked by the hands of the voice of that big dude from The Green Mile after I told them I didn't have a purse. There was a pair of fake RayBans on the dash that they swiped before taking off around the corner in a flash with the sadly bare wallet.

We sat there a moment before I looked over at his pasty face still in disbelief.
He shakily whispered that he thought he better stay for a little while.

Of Halloween Past...

2011-10-29T10:15:00.001-05:00

Remember when all the costumes had masks? I can still smell and almost taste the inside just looking at this...

This Halloween was well before my time being my dad's brother and cousin, it's from the 60's but so timeless and sweet I just had to share!
Have a great Saturday and a safe Halloween!

To Flavor or Not to Flavor

2011-10-28T10:35:00.000-05:00

It's the end of the week and time for another edition of Coffee Chronicles where we Thank Coffee it's Friday the best way we know how. Thank you for joining us and coming back each week to learn about burning coffee questions...

This week's question comes to us from Tim of Sogeshirts who asks:

Tim Sogeshirts Collapse

Do you prefer regular coffee or flavored coffee and why for either?

Flavored vs. unflavored coffee.

Here's how the process goes:

Flavored coffee beans are coated with flavor compounds to supplement coffee beans' natural taste. In addition, these flavors help extend the shelf life of coffee by disguising changes in flavor due to decaffeination, oxidation, or aging processes. Flavored coffees in one form or another have been used for centuries, but the gourmet coffee boom of the 1990s resulted in an increased interest in exotic flavors of coffee. With current chemical technology, the beans can be produced with almost any flavor imaginable.

So did anyone pick up on the one piece of info that should be a reason NOT to go flavored?

Anyone?!?

Ok, it's this:

".....flavors help extend the shelf life of coffee by disguising changes in flavor due to decaffeination, oxidation, or aging processes."

Gross. This means that you can not tell how fresh coffee is if it's been flavored. Oh sure it smells great but the over powering scent has tricked your mouth.

Seriously, flavor your coffee with creamers or syrups AFTER its brewed. Add some cinnamon to your ground coffee before you hit brew.

Drink your coffee unflavored - just once to get the true flavor of the coffee itself. You'd be surprised that you can discover how much you enjoy (or not) your regular brew.

Respect the cup.

t.r.m.

Remember you can always email your coffee questions to us at:
TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com
or
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com

AND now you can also catch us at our new JavaJoeMama twitter handles: @JavaJoeMama1 and @JavaJoeMama2

Join us next week, we may have a few surprises up our sleeves!
Enjoy your weekend and your cuppa joe!

Things I Have Done

2011-10-27T09:00:00.001-05:00

To compliment last week's Writer's Workshop of 22 things I've Never Done, I will share 22 things I actually have done at the brink of 40.

Gone a day without coffee. I think.
Been Skydiving. Twice.
Seen the Eiffel Tower at night.
Conquered Lake Michigan. Well, my husband gets the credit for the conquering part, I just survived.
Traveled by boat down the Mosel River in Germany.
Cried at an episode of Full House while I was pregnant.
Watched a dear friend be defeated by cancer in a matter of weeks.
Watched the first 10 years of my son's life fly by already.
Been held up at gunpoint, in my own driveway.
Eaten a gourmet meal.
Seen the inside of one of the most haunted castles in Ireland.
Cried myself to sleep.
Observed how the other half lives up close and personal.
Tried pigeon - it wasn't that great.
Been a pre-school teacher.
Walked out in the middle of a (stupid) movie.
Been to woodstock.
Felt unconditional love.
Peed my pants on numerous occasions.
Cried at an episode of Roseanne while I wasn't pregnant.
Celebrated my husband's birthday in France.

Raced against a Mustang GT - and kicked it's ass.

This post is linked for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Pumpkin Carving is Much Easier on TV

2011-10-24T23:20:00.001-05:00

As we were covering the kitchen table in paper bags and getting the tools and other fine, sharp accessories out for carving pumpkins my son says: "Mom, they make pumpkin carving look much easier on TV."

Me: "Really? How's that?"

"You know, they start it and then there's one already magically done and waiting for them to show you the finished product right away..they don't show you all the time that goes into it."

He is absolutely right - our first half hour looked like this:

And This:

Then the next half hour was spent tracing the pattern onto the pumpkin and the actual carving took at least another 45 minutes which put us way past bedtime but the end result was worth all the time and effort..

The TV version would have been painlessly over and done with in a half hour or less. I would for the sake of arthritis like to be able to do the TV version of carving from now on...what would you like to see the TV version of in your house instead of the long version?

Lack of Grounds...Grounds for Divorce?

2011-10-21T09:15:00.019-05:00

Thanks for tuning in again this week for our Friday Coffee Chronicles where we Thank Coffee It's Friday each week here answering your burning coffee questions and this week giving you the winner of the Starbucks Gift Card.

First thing's first, let's get on with the question coming to us this week from Just Jennifer who asks:

Just Jennifer Collapse

Coffee question: Should my husband be punished severely for pouring out the last of the coffee before asking me if I wanted any more? If so, what is a suitable punishment?

Dear Jennifer,

So your husband isn't respecting your cup? Hmmm...

Read this, honey.

1453: Coffee is introduced to Constantinople by Ottoman Turks. The world's first coffee shop, Kiva Han, open there in 1475. Turkish law makes it legal for a woman to divorce her husband if he failed to provide her with her daily quota of coffee.

Given this little piece of info, you can see the important role that coffee played in a marriage.

Ok, you aren't Turkish... ( wait, are you?) and it's not the 15th century but who's gives a cinnamon topping moment?!?

Repeat after me. Make your hubby do it too.

"I will abide by the Constitution of Coffee and Marriage and will always remember the laws. As coffee is the foundation of a loving and civil union, by this documentation I will never sway:

No one shall covet another choice of cup. Thy cup is thy own and only thy own.

Always communicate to spouse regarding choice of cup. A mutual agreement must be acquired.

Never choose to take upon one's self to determine if said cup is done. Thy owner of cup rules over cup's disposal.

Sharing of cup is not optional. Believing this to be true will cause ill regard to both parties involved.

Respect the cup.

By this I do solemnly swear."

Hang this in the kitchen.

Cheers!

t.r.m.

And now, the moment you've been waiting for and the real reason you showed up this week: Our winner is....Kristin Silva!

Congrats to Kristin who is "a mother, wife, school counselor, sister, daughter, friend, animal lover, coffee addict, and a constant work in progress." She has a blog called LIFEOLOGY where you might just be able to catch her randomitis.

Thanks to Kristin and everyone who entered the contest - we appreciate all the interesting coffee questions we received from this and encourage you to keep checking in with us because you never know which Friday we might decide to reward you for showing up with some coffee!

Remember you can always email your coffee questions to us at:
TheRobotMommy@yahoo.com
or
CoffeeLovinMom@yahoo.com

AND now you can also catch us at our new JavaJoeMama twitter handles: @JavaJoeMama1 and @JavaJoeMama2

You guys all rock, thanks for loving us so hard - stay tuned next week to see if your question gets answered, gain some coffee knowledge and of course snark, let's not forget the snark!!

Things I've Never Done

2011-10-19T22:43:00.081-05:00

I will be cough (40) cough on my next birthday and I have never:

Made a gourmet meal.

Been able to find my libido after the first kid.
Stood in the pouring rain. Well not on purpose..
Taken my kids to Chuck E. Cheese.
Gone to Mardi Gras.
Eaten a fish taco.
Had a panic attack.
Tried to be about fashion.
Licked a frozen flag pole.

Found the gold at the end of the rainbow.
Watched Jersey Shore.
Shot a gun.
Been scuba diving.
Tried to smuggle something into another country.
Made Thanksgiving Dinner.

Been a people person.
Broken a bone.
Married for the money.
Been caught between the moon and New York City.
Camped without a tent.
Been swept off to Paris in a private plane.

Taken nude photos and leaked them on the internet. (You're very welcome!)

This post is linked for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Saturday Shorts - Children in the Corn

2011-10-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

Aaaand, we're lost! That didn't take long at all..
Have you been to a corn maze this season?

Take out Coffee vs. Brew at Home

2011-10-14T09:03:00.002-05:00

Thanks so much for joining us for another weekly edition of Coffee Chronicles - where we Thank Coffee it's Friday every week here for your enjoyment. Pull up a chair, grab a cuppa joe and stay awhile!

There were so many awesome questions from our Giveaway last week that proved you just can't tell when we will decide to give something away. (If you haven't entered, there is still time - GO NOW - it ends the 21st.) It was hard to choose which question should go first so we picked out of a hat and came up with this one that comes to us from April:

April Collapse

Question? Do you prefer coffee out or what you make at home more?

Dear April:

The best way to answer this question is with the REAL question here:

What is your coffee budget?

You don't have one? Seriously?
Ok, I get it. Coffee's not a "need"...

That's crap! Coffee is a need! A requirement. A gosh darn necessity.
And you don't think so, why are you here besides the fact that the JavaJoeMamas are so freaking AWESOME. Boom.

So. A budget. Maybe it's 10$ a month. Maybe it's 10$ a week but you need to create one. Not only will it answer this question better for you individually, it'll keep you in check to not overspend.

Average lb of coffee to brew at home: 10$ to 15$. And this doesn't include sales or specials. By the way, ground coffee you buy in a bag loses it's flavor slowly once it's ground. So that DD you got on sale at Target for $5.99, it's really a days worth of joe. And if it's flavored, that's what you paid for. Stale coffee covered in flavor. Not worth it.

Listen, the fresher the cup the better. G.A.Y.G. (Grind As You Go) should be tattooed somewhere on your body...or taped to the fridge. Buy whole bean. Invest in a decent grinder (AND keep it clean! Oils ruin a grinder!!) and brew fresh daily. A grind the night before is "ok" but even the Bux standard is to brew every 8 min before noon. Every. 8. Minutes. The fresher the better.

So your budget to brew at home maybe 15$ a week. That includes coffee, sugar, creamer or anything else you add. You need to factor in your average. An open bag of coffee whole bean lasts a week. Don't chill it or freeze it!! No no no!! Keep it in the bag in a non clear container; safe from moisture, light and air.

Now going to a shop is expensive. Even for a cup of regular brew. Expensive for your wallet, your watch and your waistline. But if it's your fix, do it smart.
Buy a gift card. Only use THAT card. Put a fixed amount on it a week and don't go over.

Starbucks has a Rewards program that allows you to register the card and earn free drinks. In addition, your syrups are free, soy is free and refills of brewed, iced coffee and/or brewed, iced teas are free. Plus you get postcards for free drinks every 15 transactions for ANY drink you want.

Other coffee shops have promotions like this too. Ask the barista for info and you could see the amount you spend out is comparable to the amount you spend at home.

The thing is if you love coffee, home or from a shop, you'll spend the $$ to get it the way you like. But don't compromise. Taste your drink before you leave to make sure you like it. You just paid 2.15 to 5.55 for your coffee, make sure you love it. And grocery store coffee? Never pre-ground. Ever. It's a waste of money and you won't be happy. I certainly won't be happy. And you might find me knocking on your door ready to smack you with a Torani bottle.

Just remember your budget and it'll all make sense.

Respect the cup.

Cheers!

t.r.m.

Have a coffee question you need answered? No question is too typical or sarcastic for us to answer!

You can ask your questions in the comments below or by emailing one of us at:

therobotmommy{at}yahoo{dot}com

coffeelovinmom{at}yahoo{dot}com

Don't forget to tune in next week where we may talk about punishing husbands for lack of beans - you won't want to miss the snark that is bound to ensue. Thanks for joining us!

Java Joe Mamas

10 Things - Never to Ask Your Spouse

2011-10-13T14:24:00.000-05:00

These ten questions are sure to get either the deer caught in headlights look or the look of death when asked in my house. I bet you can figure out which look I get on each question:

Wouldn't it be great if we could go on a date?
Didn't we talk about this last week?
Don't you know me by now?
How's that hairline doing?
Don't you listen when I talk?
Do you want me to drive?
Will you read this book with me?
Has it really been a month?
Have you talked to your mother?
Don't you think you've had enough beer?

That last one not only comes with the look, it will also have the immediate reaction of him directly getting another beer. This I learned early in our relationship and haven't asked it since 2000.

This was a fun way to do my first Writer's Workshop with Mama Kat!

What's one question you know will get you a look at your house?

The Farming Incident - #WordlessWednesday

2011-10-12T18:53:00.000-05:00

Letting Her Use My Voice

2011-10-10T01:29:00.002-05:00

I have been trying to create a great gripping post to help my friend Danielle at Motherhood Truth who is desperately trying to find aid for the Anderson family from the UK and she is asking for voices to assist in her fight to just get the word out.

You can read the family's story HERE (this is their most recent post)

I've wanted to do this since she first mentioned it last week in reading about the family and their struggles with both mom and preemie but I had no words to get started. Danielle, being the "speechless" one, gave me the opportunity to do just that with her Speechless post from Sunday:

I am Speechless

I think most writer's will tell you that words come naturally. Sure we have writer's block once in awhile, but it passes. Words are our things. We mold them into sentences, paragraphs and even pages to share stories, emotions and let others into our heads.

Today, I have no words. Well... I don't seem to have the right ones. Every time I start to write I draw a blank. It's not a writer's block blank. It's a feeling of no matter what words I use I feel it isn't enough.

When I was shown the Anderson's blog I was sucked in. Not on an "I need to know what happens next" level, but an "oh my God my heart hurts and I love this family."

I went to bed worrying about them. I woke up needing to know they were okay. I decided I would find a way to help them financially. You all were AMAZING in helping me get the word out. I hope you will all still continue to help.

The problem now is that things are not going well for the Anderson's. Baby Isla is fighting one hell of a battle. I cry for them. I don't even know them, yet I worry, and I wait for that update that Isla has made it another night.

I feel like I have typed all these words...but why. Doesn't seem like I have given you the emotion. Doesn't feel like I gave you anything you haven't heard. I feel like my words are gone.

I can't even leave comments on their blog because my heart hurts for them so badly right now and I don't even know what to say...but I have to say something. They need to know their are people out there for them. They need the prayers and the love.

Then I sit here, with a knot in my stomach worried sick about them, and think. I am always asking myself HOW can someone half way around the world that I have never met touched my life so much. Then when I start thinking about writing I start worrying people will think that I am being selfish, or am in some way ridiculous.

I am not any of those things. I know what I feel is NOTHING compared to what they feel. I know that my hurt is FOR them, I hurt because I have talked to them, and I have seen how grateful and loving this family is, and how cruel the world can be at times.

Isla needs prayers. If you would like to help there are MANY ways you can. I first encourage you to read their story. from the beginning. The happy moments of finding out they were pregnant. To "mummy" giving birth and having a stroke. To the day she woke back up and the moment she got to see her daughter for the first time. Read the heartache in Matt's voice as he wonders what is to come next. And to now, where Isla is fighting beyond the fight. Fighting to live her life with her incredible parents!

To help them you can tweet about them. Send out a FB post. Write something small or big on your blog. Use the button and place it on your blog. Leave them a comment, say a prayer. Donate $5, the cost of one coffee. Please just help them in anyway that fits your lifestyle.

Want to Donate Money?

No amount is too small! Every dollar will GREATLY be appreciated!

*Go to Paypal
*Click "Send Money"
*Enter the amount you wish to send and check "Friends and Family"
*Enter their email address mattaanderson {at} mail {dot} com
*Fill out the rest of the information asked of you

Please note that Paypal will do the currency exchange for you with the money being sent. It is a small fee in comparison to the other options of raising money.

Won't you let her borrow your voice to get the word out?

UPDATE: Baby Isla lost her fight on Oct. 10th at 11:57am. The family is asking everyone to release a balloon for her on October 21st. You can email them pictures, or I will be posting that day with a link up if you would like to write something and share your pictures. I just want everything in one place for this family to see how much support they have! More Info

Java Jive - Coffee Chronicles Giveaway Edition

2011-10-07T11:06:00.001-05:00

Thank Coffee it's Friday!

We are taking a lazy break this week but instead giving YOU the chance to WIN a $25 Starbucks Gift Card! Surprise!!

Enjoy the Java Jive video and then enter to win - it's that easy!

HOW TO ENTER:

REQUIRED: Make sure you follow The Robot Mommy and Coffee Lovin' Mom by GFC - Leave a comment saying you've done both. PLEASE make sure you leave your email so we can contact you!
EXTRA: Twitter love: "Follow the Java Joe Mamas @therobotmommy & @coffeeluvinmom to win a Starbucks Giftcard! http://bit.ly/n9HHxb" - Please leave your link in the comments to get the extra entries, if you are not sure how to get your tweet link, SEE 3 EASY STEPS to get it!!
EXTRA: Facebook love : The Robot Mommy and Coffee Lovin' Mom
EXTRA: Share a coffee story or question in the comments and be featured in a future Coffee Chronicles.

Stay tuned next week, we'll be back to the old grind!

Please leave separate comments for each entry. Contest will last 2 weeks - the winner will be chosen Friday October 21at 12am CST, have 24 hours to respond and be announced on that Friday's Coffee Chronicles Edition. Gift card will be purchased and sent to you personally by one of the Java Joe Mamas. Good Luck!

The Perfect Wife - The Real Story

2011-10-05T21:20:00.001-05:00

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

**I don't usually do cards but when I saw this one I just couldn't resist!!

Brought to you by American Greetings

It's Not About You...

2011-10-05T04:35:00.010-05:00

Let's just tell it like it is and not beat around the bush here...

You know, the Real Story..

I've been hem-hawing around about this blog post for awhile now and I've decided that it just needs to be out in the open.

Either she reads my blog or she doesn't and I guess I will find out which of those statements are true once I hit publish.

I have a deep, dark MIL.
STOP --- WAIT: This is my opinion and I wouldn't want you to think that because she's never been anything but nice. Ask anyone that knows her, she's quite a nice lady and would anything for you if you need her - I will give her that - nice.

I will state just the facts from here on out and you can form your own opinion - nobody can get mad at me for just stating the facts right?

The current issue is with Grandparent's Day for my son at his school which is coming in two weeks. Don't worry you aren't forgetting to send a card to your choice grandparents, this is something that our elementary school has put on every year and has never been a problem..

This is the first year that my FIL will be able to attend being that he and his wife just recently retired earlier this year.

Note that FIL has a new marriage and MIL is not happy with the new wife for reasons that are opinions and we are sticking to the facts.

MIL is insisting that he ~~demand~~ ask that the FIL not bring the new wife to Grandparent's Day.

Note also that the new wife has been the new wife for more than 15 years.
I know they were married a few years before I came into the picture.

Let's rewind now to an earlier time about 10 and half years ago to when I got engaged..to give you an idea of what's been going on:

At this point in the hate/hate relationship (which only ever comes from one of the people in the party) my future SIL was the only one with a child, and it was customary to have two separate birthday parties - one with MIL and the rest of the family and a separate one with FIL and wife. The first one of these circuses I attended I let my future husband know this would not be happening if we had children.

I can remember attending my future BIL's wedding and seeing daggers come out of MIL eyes when her grandchild was sitting on the lap of the new wife. Which at that time really wasn't even the new wife but I got that it may have still been fresh.

Then came the planning of our wedding - which she tried to help with every step being nothing but nice mind you and because I wanted to do it on my own without her help and guidance (keep in mind my OWN mother only went to one dress fitting) she was amazed it turned out as well as it did. Seriously she told my mom that when it was over. These are the facts people, my opinion will come again later.

If you didn't already know we had a shotgun wedding, our son was born 5 months later at 1AM and she tried to get into the room every single chance she got. Thank goodness I had a good nurse that didn't let this just happen. Keep in mind again my own mother wasn't even there for the delivery because aside from the fact that it was after midnight, I am a private person and I think unless you want someone else there, it should be between the two people that actually had something to do with the conception. Hell, my husband was even lucky he was there. Damn that wasn't a fact...that was a thought.

As a side note, I did have two separate baby showers because MIL worked at a place that she could get the clubhouse for free - my mom was willing to have it at her house also for free. My mom's house was full of friends, my side of the family, the wife and her daughter...which is why the clubhouse was filled with MIL's friends and my SIL and felt like more of a show than anything else. I'm sure I was completely unappreciative of it - I do not know if that was actually said so strike that last thought - it wasn't fact either.

Over the years this disdain from the MIL appears to have subsided little by little in that single birthday parties are attended by all and there aren't much for fist fights or even daggers from the eyes anymore
~~but this was apparently a front all this time because~~
AND here we are at Grandparent's Day.

A day for my son to proudly show ALL of his grandparents his school and put on a little show of a couple old crooner songs they've been practicing for entertainment.

MIL stated her opinion being that the wife is not a real grandparent only "blood" relatives like her and my parents and the FIL would be considered real grandparents - basically telling my husband to ask his father specifically not to bring his wife. So the disdain is back because apparently having the other woman there will make MIL uncomfortable...still....after what's gotta be going on 20 years.

But here's the thing, the wife has been known lovingly as grandma to my son since he was born - she came to the hospital to hold him and has been at birthday parties and as big a part of the kids lives as the MIL. Most importantly, MY SON - who this day is about - does consider her to be his grandma. This should be the end of the story.

Also as a side note, all the grandkids call the MIL Nannie by her request - not grandma just so there is no confusion. (I will refrain from stating my opinion here..)

Should someone be expected not to attend a public Grandparent's Day because of someone else's opinion or because someone will be uncomfortable?

Should my husband be responsible for relaying this information?
He keeps trying to put it back on her that if she has this problem she can take it up with them.

Shouldn't it be about the kid and not about the Nannie?

Thing about it is, FIL and grandma will back out before it becomes a big problem because they are used to having to do this over the years and I don't think it's fair. I would like to tell her to suck it up or don't show up...give someone else a chance for a change. Maybe I will call her tomorrow and tell her just that - okay now I'm not stating anything near facts because you people know I don't pick up the phone so who do I think I'm fooling?

She knows not to call me about it because I either won't pick up the phone or I will just tell it like it is and not beat around the bush here...

Thanks for listening!

*please keep in mind I don't know her whole side of the story other than her opinion of David's grandma (which was a choice word I would not like to share here because it's an opinion), why she has that opinion and lastly why I should share her opinion so I don't have ALL of the facts, just the ones that have been presented to me.

Zombie Tuesday - What Does a Zombie Good?

2011-10-04T08:15:00.006-05:00

This post started by your friend and mine The Robot Mommy:

With Halloween vastly approaching, I'm exposed to many a monster. In my tv. In my neighborhood Target ( the monster extreme). In my hubby. In my toddler. In my medical bills.... I would add my power bill to this and my husband in his nicotine craving moments when the daggers are coming from his eyes..

Ooooo. You get to sit on your ass at home and draw disability pay!! Fuck you, I'm in pain and have to pay for people to shove cameras up my tush and stab me with needles. I HATE NEEDLES!!!!

.... (stepping off soapbox). Sorry. Pain creates pissy robot.

Anywho.....Luckily, I got my robot goggles on and upgraded. I'm impervious to this monster crap. I'm not scared of you and your fear mongering ways.

You, especially you......

I'm talking to you, Zombies.

I know...I know... BRRAAAAAIIIIINNNS....

But let me clue you in on this tidbit of info. People are stupid. Stupid brains are hollow and not as tasty.
Here's some pictures to show you the brains that you'll be after:

This just felt right for some reason..
maybe he just deserves to go first.

We cannot leave The Robot Mommy's doctor out..
his brain is working overtime
to find out wtf is wrong with her
so it's gotta be a goodie...

They have helmets on because they know you are coming...
and they've done it ALL so it's a no-brainer there..

Besides the fact that you will also get the bonus Tiger's Blood,
you just can't go wrong with this
#winning brain that runs 24/7 on pure adrenaline..

Snooki: orange - skinned waste of space from a show called Jersey Shore.
Oh wait, I'm talking to zombies.... NO BRAIN. MOVE ON.

Who could pass up the BIG brain on Brad?

Just judging by the size of his horse teeth alone,
you must know how huge his brain is..

He tests positive for pure coffee in a urine test...
imagine what his brain would be like.
Coffee: it does a Zombie good!

I have also discovered Coffee Goggles work wonders in being impervious to all the monster crap - that, and they make you run faster so put yours on with your big girl panties this morning and help us in the good fight over at Motherhood Truth by linking up with her first #ZombieTuesday!!

Saturday Shorts - Stepping Back in Time

2011-10-01T13:45:00.007-05:00

This Saturday I am camping with the Girl Scouts probably freezing my patuckus off with the high in the fifties, I'm certainly not wearing shorts on this little trip.

Speaking of fifties, I recently came across this little gem that tells us how we should treat our man and our homes...it's from a little number called Housekeeping Monthly and they call it the "Good Wife's Guide"

To that and to those (like my husband) who might agree with that I say this:

Boy how times have changed huh? Plan ahead? Prepare myself for 15 whole minutes so I look refreshed??
This makes me laugh - it's like Stepford Wives...where are my pearls?
What's it like at your house just before your husband gets home?

Handling a Coffee Catastrophe - JJM Style

2011-09-30T10:29:00.003-05:00

Thanks for joining us again for another slightly entertaining episode of the Friday Coffee Chronicles with the Java Joe Mamas. This week's question is coming to us via E-mail and just came in asking for snark....I hope the answer wasn't too full of it..oh who am I kidding?

So you just pour the perfect cup of coffee. The creamer to coffee ratio is perfect. The temperature is exact. You set your cup down for a second to go do something and when you return there is a bug in it. What is the proper way to handle a bug in the coffee?

Danielle G.

Dear Danielle,

I'll make this as clear as possible so we don't get this type of question again.

When you say "bug", clearly you mean "nothing at all" since as a reader of this forum you would never, EVER set your coffee down when it is down right perfect. Think of it. Millions of people live out their lives with imperfect coffee. Do you mean to tell me that you would allow something so unfathomable to happen in this day and age? Who leaves a perfectly perfect cup of coffee to go off and do anything else?

You can call it whatever you want but let's be honest. The only thing "crawling" around showing their perfect coffee disrespect is you.

Get some Velcro for the handle and

RESPECT THE CUP!!
RESPECT IT!

t.r.m.

So what's your burning coffee question?
Have a coffee catastrophe you would like to share?
As you can see, no question is too gelastic or sarcastic.

You can ask your questions in the comments below or by emailing one of us at:

therobotmommy{at}yahoo{dot}com
coffeelovinmom{at}yahoo{dot}com

Don't forget to tune in next week, thanks for stopping in!

Java Joe Mamas

National Coffee Day!

2011-09-29T09:15:00.008-05:00

I can't tell you how excited I am to share with you some interesting coffee facts on this, the National Day of Coffee...Please grab a cuppa joe, enjoy the music and learn a little something - I know I did!

Coffee is the second largest traded commodity surpassed only by Oil, the world's world's largest traded commodity.
Espresso has 1/3 of the caffeine of a regular cup of coffee. (Which is why I need at least a quad shot standard)
"Expresso" is not a word; it comes from the same root as "express" as in "The Express Train." The term is ESPRESSO.
Turkish bridegrooms were required to make a promise to always provide their wives with coffee. If they failed, it was grounds for divorce!
Dark roasted coffees actually have LESS caffeine than medium roasts. The longer coffee is roasted, the more caffeine burns off in the process..
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote a cantata about coffee between 1732 and 1734. (Featured in the video below)
91% of coffee consumed is taken at breakfast. And sometimes is breakfast.
The 3 biggest coffee drinkers in the world are the Americans, the French and the Germans. Consuming some 65% of the total world consumption.
A small study had shown that 2 cups of coffee alleviated the pain of post-gym muscle pain.
Every single one of the fifty-three countries that grows coffee is located along the equator, between the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn.

So tell me..how will you celebrate this "Coffee Day"?
Do you have any interesting coffee facts to share??

National Coffee Week - A Video

2011-09-26T15:36:00.000-05:00

It's Monday - I just found out it's also National Coffee Week!
In honor of that, let me bring you a little coffee joy to this Monday! Enjoy!

Saturday Shorts - My Daughter is Driving

2011-09-24T09:50:00.001-05:00

Okay so maybe not so much...

Shorts season is pretty much over but enjoy your Saturday anyway!!

Coffee Concentrate - A How To

2011-09-23T08:45:00.004-05:00

Welcome to our second addition of COFFEE CHRONICLES - the place you can come to every Friday to get your coffee questions answered..

This week's question comes to us from a reader who inquires about coffee concentrate and comes complete with recipe:

I love my iced coffee and see lots of recipes for cold brew "concentrates" but they never say how much to use to make the actual drink! I drink one 8 oz iced coffee a day, how much cold brew syrup should I put in there? And what do y'all think is the best recipe/method for cold brew?
Thanks,
E.

Dear E.,
First to answer your question, here's my recipe for awesome coffee concentrate.

Grab a stockpot, a medium sieve, a fine sieve or cheesecloth and two mason jars with lids.

Makes 8 cups coffee concentrate

1 pound dark roast coffee, medium ground

10 cups cold water

Ice

Milk.

1. Put coffee in a nonreactive container, like a stainless-steel stockpot.

Add 2 cups water, stirring gently to wet the grounds, then add remaining 8 cups water, agitating the grounds as little as possible.

Cover and let steep at room temperature for 12 hours. Yes, 12.

2. Strain coffee concentrate through a medium sieve, then again through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth ( I prefer the cloth, btw.) Transfer into mason jars.

3. To make iced coffee, fill a glass with ice, add ¼ cup coffee concentrate and 3/4 to 1 cup milk, then stir.

To make café au lait, warm 3/4 to 1 cup milk in a saucepan or microwave, then pour into a mug and add ¼ cup coffee concentrate.

(Concentrate will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. But I use it within a week because the flavor will keep longer.)

To answer your question, I have to ask you:

1. How do you drink your coffee when you ice it?

2. When you get coffee at a shop, what do you normally order?

If you like the strength in your coffee, go with the recipe above as it carries a punch, especially with the dark roast of the coffee. 1/4th of a cup is quite a bit for a mild to moderate coffee drinker.

If you are a "I like coffee with my milk" type of coffee drinker, go with 1/8th of a cup to your milk and ice. Add the cc to taste, go small and then add. Always go small then add. Easier to add than subtract!

Hope this helps answer your question!

Cheers!

Do you have a coffee question you would like us to answer? Have a special drink you'd like the recipe to?

You can ask your questions in the comments below or by emailing one of us at:

therobotmommy {at} yahoo {dot} com OR
coffeelovinmom {at} yahoo {dot} com

Join us next week for some humor and coffee snark!

Java Joe Mamas

Versatile Me?

2011-09-20T11:55:00.001-05:00

Third time's the charm right? I have been awarded this in the last few months and didn't share not because I wasn't grateful or because I didn't have great bloggers to share, I think I'm just lazy. I appreciate that there are lovely people out there that enjoy my blog and here they are:

The three lovely bloggers that gave it to me:

1. Amberr Meadows of Like a Bump on a Blog

2. The Sarcasm Goddess

3. Kathy at My Dishwasher's Possessed

Now being that I am overdue on sharing seven things about me, I will share 10 - I know you can't hold your excitement to learn things about me but even more exciting is that I will also be sharing 30 bloggers that I think are great instead of 15 like the rules state.

Ten Things About Me:

I am still trying to find my niche. I know obvious one right? I'm really okay with this as I never like to do what I'm told and if I never have one, well it wouldn't surprise me.
I picked my daughter's name when I was in sixth grade. I had a friend in grade school who had a younger sister named Rhiannon and I fell in love deciding right there that I would name my daughter the same when and if I had one.
My Birthday is St. Patrick's Day. I love that everyone celebrates with me! I think the only reason my name isn't Pat is because my mother's name is Pat due to the fact that her birthday is the day after St. Patrick's Day - she had me for her 21st birthday, lucky girl.
I have never had an anxiety attack.
My very first job lasted all of a week. True story and probably a post in itself - I was hired at DQ and exploded a shake. I laughed when another employee slipped and fell in the mess - I was fired the next day after they made me do busy work cleaning windows. I went on to be a manager at Baskin Robbins and had no problems with the shakes there.
I am NOT a girly girl. Probably the farthest from it but I'm not a Tomboy either. I think I have a total of 10 pair of shoes, (only one of which is heels) I don't wear make-up or jewelry often, I couldn't coordinate an outfit to save my life, and I will never belong to a "Mom Club" or anything of the sort.
I was a Lollipop Kid in High School. We did the Wizard of Oz and I met the height requirements. I was also a witch who rode a vacuum in the same play. One of my fondest memories of high school.
I offend people without even trying. I'm not sure how but it happens all the time, maybe it's because I'm sarcastic - I've lost friends over it.
I have one breast implant. This one really is a post in itself and I'm concerned that one day I will have a perky one and one that hangs low, this has already started and I'm not sure what to do about it. Gravity is not my friend.
My maiden name is MacDonald. I know, laugh if you must - my kids think it's hilarious and they didn't believe me at first. Don't mistake it for the restaurant, it's more like the farmer.

Bloggers I can't get enough of that you will love if you don't already:

1. Don't Speak Whinese

2. The Robot Mommy

3. The Unemployed Entrepreneur

4. She's Write

5. From The Compound

6. The Fence

7. Am I a Funny Girl?

8. My Life as an Officer's Wife

9. Sober Julie Doing Life

10. Mommy's Little Monster

11. Adventures in Estrogen

12. Multitasking Mumma

13. Mama's Monologues

14. No Longer Quiet

15. The Truth About Motherhood

16. Motherhood Truth

17. Keeping Up With the Pickles

18. Sarcasm 101

19. Ask Doctor G

20. Mother's Hideaway

21. On the Go Momma

22. Laughing Abi Blog

23. Late Mommy's Blog

24. Good Day Regular People

25. Buried With Children

26. It's OK to Be Weird!

27. The World According to Lady Bren

28. Divine Secrets of a Domestic Diva

29. A Daddy Blog

30. Mama Mash

If you care to share this award, the official rules are for you to share and link back to the person who gave it to you, SEVEN things about yourself and 15 bloggers you think others will enjoy. I did more because I was way overdue and you know, I'm versatile!

Have fun spreading the love!