Have your cake and eat it too.

I have about 10 boxes of cake mix sitting in my cupboard. I buy them here and there, but never use them. I don't really have a sweet tooth (I crave the salty snacks) but keep them on hand "just in case".

A couple weeks ago, my friend was telling me instead of using the eggs, oil and milk/water, you use.. Da da DA....Diet coke. D.I.E.T. C.O.K.E. Put your eyebrows down. I did that too.

She had heard about it at weight watchers but hadn't yet tried it. I forgot about till tonight. I decided to get a second opinion. So off to Google I went. I googled "diet coke cake" and up came a gazillion and two links for it.

"okay", I thought to myself. "this can't be that bad." At worst case scenario one box of cake mix, one, yes ONE, bottle of diet coke would go to waste. So I hauled out my chocolate cake mix, my ONE bottle of diet coke (it STILL seems weird) mixed it together, baked for the required amount of time, and...??

VOILA!! CAKE!! That tastes like cake! Fluffy little morsels of (mostly) guilt free cake!!! I couldn't believe it! I put the regular store bought icing on it, but I read using cool whip is a great guilt, I mean, calorie reducer too!

Next time I'm using chocolate mix with diet orange pop. Mmm... Chocolate orange cake! Doesn't that sound good?? THEN, I'll do vanilla cake mix with a diet sprite. Or chocolate with diet cherry coke. There are so many options!! I can honestly say, I have never been so excited about cake!!

Oh yeah. One more thing... Without the eggs, oil and water? There is less cleaning up to do after!

Idol Chatter: The Final Four

OK, let me just start by saying......how can you not love Jamie Foxx. The guy is so immensly talented. And not bad eye candy either, am I right?

Now, if I had been singing on last night's show, I think this would have been my choice for performance piece. It's a really slow song, but I think if I could have played with arrangement a bit, it would have been amazing:

Now, on to the contestants:

*Lee -- "Kiss From a Rose": Well, he blew it on the first high note. His breath control was terrible during the chorus, and he sang the whole thing a little too fast. It wasn't the worst thing I've ever heard, but it definately wasn't his personal best.

*Mike -- "Will You Be There": Snoozefest.....He adlibbed almost the entire thing. There was no "meat" to the performance. I think he played it way too safe. It was a terrible, boring song choice. And I completely disagree with Simon. I don't think he gave it 100% at all.

*Lee & Crystal duet -- "Falling Slowly": I adore this song. I'm not sure I completely loved this duet. But I did enjoy it. This pair should be the top 2 of the show.

*Casey -- "Mrs. Robinson": I think that I really liked this. I love this song, and it was kind of a funky, acoustic arrangement. He may have saved himself with this performance. I agree with Simon about lack of huge substance, but I still liked it better than Big Mike's performance.

*Crystal -- "I'm Alright": There's your winner. Competely stellar performance. I would buy her album right now. That was head and shoulders above any of the men. Loved it, loved everything about it.

*Mike & Casey duet -- "Have you ever really loved a Woman": Snoozefest again. Boring, pitchy, too much vibrato by Casey. And when they tried to harmonize together on the high note, it was WWWWAAAAYYYYY off. Horrible.

Anyway, so Mike and Casey are going to be your bottom two, and really at this point either one of them could go home and I wouldn't be say. But based solely on this performance, Mike deserves to get the boot.

Mother's Day

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother- Abraham Lincoln

The REAL 10 Best Things about Parenting

So, a few days back I had posted the Top Ten Best Things About Parenthood, courtesy of a card my friend had given me when I was first pregnant 13 years ago. One of you lovely readers thought I should try my hand at crafting my own list. So, the challenge was on! I gave a great deal of thought to the matter (ahem, yeah, I can focus.....what are you looking at me like that for?) and here's what I came up with:

Mama's Top Ten Best Things About Parenthood. Possibly.

10. You can get away with wearing dirty clothes, including those covered in spit up, chocolate and jelly.

9. You can drive a minivan and still feel funky. Inside.

8. You get to be used as a tissue. (it's all about being there for your children, snot and all)

7. You can go to bed early (occasionally) and no one will think you're a wimp.

6. You get to be an expert in waste removal. Good times.

5. Having someone regularly point out your faults (and things you've said) at inappropriate times. In front of other people. At totally inappropriate times. Did I mention they do this at inappropriate times?

4. You get to experience all variety of communicable infections, courtesy of daycare and school.

3. You can look like a train wreck and always blame the kids, i.e. "I was up all night with so and so..." This also applies to your house and vehicle.

2. You can milk "baby" weight for a very long time. If they hit high school, you'd probably best stop using that excuse, though.

And, the number one best thing about parenthood according to me?

1. You can opt out of any event, anytime with an excuse related to the children, i.e. "You know, we'd love to come but little Mikey has a dreadful contagious cough right now and we just don't want to spread it around." (and what you really mean is "I'm so tired that I couldn't bear having to spend an evening being social.")

And, you know that my real number one is exactly the same as the other list - the three monkeys. They are the the light of my life, the cat's meow, and the fly in my soup. :)

Alright, now you add one to the list! Best thing about parenthood?

Happy Birthday 10 Yr. Old

Dear Randall:

It seems so cliche to say that "Time flies when you're having fun," but in this instance, I truly believe it. Could have been last month that I was sitting in the doctor's office, planning on the day of your birth. I remember it vividly.

It's been ten years ago today, that you breathed your first breath. I could never put into words the sound of your first cry, and the relief I felt when I heard it, knowing that you were healthy and striving.

Seeing your dad hold you like a tiny fragile bundle, gazing into your eyes, kissing your soft face. You were the most beautiful newborn creature I had ever laid eyes on.....just like your big brother had been three years earlier.

My favorite time was the three days we got to spend together in the hospital. We snuggled and loved on each other in complete privacy, and it was as if there was no one else in the world but you and me. I studied your brand new features. Your tiny fingernails. Your tender, pink skin. I sniffed your head endlessly all day, like I was getting a high just from your sweet, intoxicating smell. I was in such a daze when we first met.

I have savored your childhood more than anything else in this world, and I am sad to see it go as you turn ten today. If I could ask for one thing in the whole wide world, it would be to keep you my baby forever -- for you to need me as you did the day you entered this world until the day we both depart this world.

Randall, I am for sure going to be shedding some tears today but please don't hold it against me. I am so very happy to see you reach your tenth birthday and every single birthday to come, but at the same time, I am mourning the past as well.

Gone are the days of the late-night rendezvous while the rest of the world sleeps. I am no longer your only source for nutrition and being. From when you used to reach for me every time you needed so much as a hug, to where you proclaim your freedom by pushing me away. Going forward, your independence will grow and grow until you no longer need me to help you through life, pick you up when you cry and feed you when you are hungry.

Although you may not always remember the details of this special day, I hope that you will remember how much you are loved and cherished and valued today and for always.

Happy birthday big guy! I love you!

Mama

Idol Chatter: The Top 5

OK, I was beyond thrilled to find out that it was Sinatra night. If you know me, you know I absolutely love the old Rat Pack music. And Harry Connick Jr. being the nights mentor? Well, that was just the hot and sexy icing on the cake. He was by far one of the most enteraining additions to the show thus far.

Anyway, ahem, onto my song choice for the nights. I love this song so much, so naturally, I think I would have sang it.

And, now the actual contestants:

*Aaron -- "Fly me to the Moon": Umm.....is it just me, or does he look like he is auditioning for "Newsies"? Horrible outfit and hairstyle on him. I found it kind of sleepy and boring. It just didn't have the Sinatra "swagger". Ha ha ha!!! And as soon as I mention it, Simon mentions something about swagger. Damn! I'm good. Maybe I should take over his judging seat next season. Anyway, didn't really like this rendition of the song at all.

*Casey -- "Blue Skies": sigh......I know that Kara was probably a little too harsh on him, but I am so happy that someone else has finally mentioned his insane vibrato. I can't stand it. I hated this performance; it had absolutely no pizzazz to it at all. I actually fast forwarded through about half of it. He is just too uncomfortable up there without his guitar, and it shows.

*Crystal -- "Summer Wind": Well, for the second week in a row, I am a little nervous for her security in the competition. I think she looked totally hawt, but it was kind of a lackluster performance from her. A whole lot better than the first two performers, but definately not her personal best.

*Big Mike -- "The way you look Tonight": OK, so let me start by saying how much I love Mike and I adore his voice. That being said, I think this balladeer week after week, is starting to catch up with him. He's becoming boring and predictable, and while his vocals were great with this song, I thought the performance was really safe, and quite boring.

*Lee -- "That's Life": OK, people. This is what I'm talking about. That performance oozed the swagger. I loved it, thought he was fantastic. I don't agree with Kara at all about his lack of confidence. I thought that was one of his best performances to date.

I have a feeling, Aaron, Casey and Crystal will be the bottom three with Casey going home.

So, there you have it, peeps. What did you all think? Who's safe? Who's in trouble? Who's going home? And, who is going to drool over Harry singing at the results show? C'mon, I know I'm not the only one with my hand up.

**Also, today is Rand's 10th birtday, so look for another post from me a little later tonight.

The Top 10 Best Things About Parenting

So, before I start, it has come to my attention -- yet again -- that I didn't include my performance piece for American Idol this week. Sorry, mommy brain is running amok in my head. So, without further adieu......here's my song:

Now, my actual reason for posting tonight.

As I was cleaning up a box of assorted things from years past, I came across a card that a friend had given to us when we were pregnant with Drew, thirteen years ago! (wow, where has the time gone?)

Anyway, seeing this card again made me laugh. It's for the parents-to-be and listed the Top Ten Best Things About Parenthood. I thought I'd share them with you and we'll see how many of these things are actually the truth!

Here we go:

10. You get to use phrases like "When I was your age..."

(Sadly, I've used this phrase more times than I can count in the past year. Does that mean I've turned into my parents?)

9. It's more fun to name a human being than, say, a puppy.

(Really? I mean, I was a little disappointed I couldn't name my kids Rover, Bowser and Brutus.)

8. Two words: Teddy bears.

(This is a good thing? Stuffies overflowing from every nook and cranny, much like those crazy Tribbles from Star Trek...dammit, Jim, I'm a parent, not Christopher Robin!)

7. You'll get to attend those wild PTA meetings.

(It's taken every effort to restrain myself from attending these desirable parties.)

6. You can finally put to use all those parenting lessons you've learned from watching years of TV sitcoms.

(No matter how hard I try, I will never have the patience and calm of the Huxtables or the Keatons. Am I dating myself with those references?)

5. It gives you an excuse to buy that minivan you've always wanted.

(This is where I laugh, having (pre-children) said many a time that I would never, ever own a minivan. In fact, I even said it after the first child. Now that I'm older, and more weary, I can confess: I like owning a minivan. ::shudder::)

4. It increases your appreciation of a good night's sleep.

(Ain't that the truth!)

3. Maybe your child will eventually become fabulously wealthy and buy you a new home.

(I guess there's always hope.)

2. Two more words: tax deduction.

(I've yet to see this one really work in our favour. I must call a meeting with Stephen Harper to discuss...

1. And, the number one best thing about parenthood is...You're both such high-quality human beings, you owe it to society.

(::blush::)

I'm wondering if that friend regrets sending that card now that she's seen what we've produced! Gah! ;) I'll wrap up tonight by sharing with you my own three best things about parenthood: