I apologize

Sorry "Keep it real week" has been pretty uneventful...I had a goal to post something every other day but my real life didn't allow me to do so. SO, this may continue until Wednesday or so.

Real Drop Zones

Our house is filled with obnoxious drop zones where things that do have a decent place to rest just get piled until I go crazy enough with them that I actually put the stuff away. Here are what my drop zones look like today...

Forever shoes on this rug in this spot. Also a thermometer and Darth Tater's arm.
The counter space when you first walk in my house...a death trap for junk. Tools, charging battery, hat, diaper bag, puzzles, shopping list, movie rentals, groceries...ANYTHING set here immediately feels welcome and makes itself cozy and settled in for a nice stay.
The top of the entertainment center usually entertains (again) movie rentals (they pile up in both spots), CDs, camera case, remotes, books, activities, and toys.
Outside toy drop. Picture explains it all.

Sugestions on how to avoid drop zones???

Realishness

This week has officially been declared "keeping it real week" by my friend Sheena (link). So check back this week to find out the not-so-lovely details of life at the Burk house and post your own!
Let's be realistic, here. No one's life is as perfect as it seems to the rest of us. Now I want to see how un-perfect things are with you to make me feel better and we can all have a good laugh at each other's expense.

Isn't this a great game?!?!

So if you are reading this, I TAG you (except for you, Sheena. Because I'm simply stealing your idea (not-so-secret, secret shame)) and you I know you know who you are. (uhhhh....)

DO IT.

Here are some real things going on around here...

If you are thinking that that "y" just doesn't look quite right it's because it busted when I put this decoration away to make room for Christmas decorations last year. And NO, I didn't try and repair it. I couldn't even FIND the other piece. (but I probably would have at least tried to glue or tape it if I would have) And YES, I still put it back up, even though it looks entirely goofy. Why? I'm cheap. Which is also the reason behind this photo...

Yup, that's a candlestick with no candle and it's been this way since Christmas, when I put it away to make room for Christmas decor...wait, this sounds familiar...but this time it melted in my shed...Also on exhibit, a clock bought on clearance (check out the time- and that's not the afternoon. Someone had too long of a Sunday nap today), picture frame and flower arrangement from Ross, and table runner from mother- all sitting on entertainment center handed down from in-law's and filled with TV ("borrowed" for the past 3 years) from brother-in-law (thank you, Holden!). Which all confirms that I am cheap.

In my pantry you can try as you might but will never find what you are looking for because I have very cleverly disguised things by putting them in containers which they do not belong to. Shown here is flax seed (on left) and spicy trail mix (Spencer's creation) in ex-parmesan cheese containers. Looking for the rice? Check the old protein powder container. Sesame seeds? The cinnamon container. Genious.

Check out that darling baby with that exquisite rose-leaf complexion. Too bad that's not my baby. It's the one that came in the frame (plus I would NEVER let my kids sleep on their tummy, right?) and those 12 spaces surrounding her (note that there are no longer any male babies in this world. babies in general are refered to as "her") are for pictures of HER during HER first year. But I do love that picture of me in the frame next to it.And finally, bath toys. Every night Carter has to play with all of them and most every night I really don't feel like picking them up and squeezing the water out of every one of them. So I let them sit in the tub as shown until Spencer showers the next morning and picks them up. Yeah, they have mildew all up in them. I should probably buy some new ones but I'm too cheap (all bath toys here were provided by Grandma Sheriee except for the ducky, which was an offereing from "The Sleep Fairy" for sleeping through the night during our "skellikin" episode)

So there you have my first "keeping it real" post>>>Much, much more to follow. If you don't feel inclined to post your imperfections for all to see simply TELL ME in a comment below.

Jumping on the bandwagon

A lot of people have been doing this lately and I think it's pretty fun.
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Simple Math

Pudgy body + tiny bikini= a ruined bikini and an unsightly view for the rest of us having to endure looking at your muffin top, stretch marks, saggy skin, and every other blemish which would be covered if only you would buy a modest bathing suit.

Let's face it, people, true beach bodies are hard to come by, yet bikinis are practically the only thing sold now-a-days. Americans are fatter than ever and our clothes are tinier than ever. Something isn't quite working here. Someone isn't doing the math. And it's not the bathing suit manufacturers. We all know how supply and demand works. They are thrilled because they can use a fraction of the facbric used for a one-piece suit and sell it for just as much money. But who is losing? ME!! Put some clothes on, for Heaven's sake! Can you not SEE??? Do you actually think you look GOOD in that? One thing I've learned from American Idol...there's a lot of friends who lie out there. If they tell you you look good in that ittybittybikini, don't trust them. You have to have a seriously nice body to wear a bikini. So if you put on that bikini and have rolls hanging out and your BA-ZOOMS are about to fall out of it, please spare the rest of us and go for the more modest choice. Thank you.

I Was Tagged

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. figuring out how to make myself not look flat (still haven't figured that out. a little help, please) 2. living in a teenage dreamworld
3. going to the beach or to 6 Flags Astroworld like every other day
4. going through puberty (yes, a late "bloomer". it's still a touchy subject)
5. not thinking about having kids

5 things on my To Do List:
1. gain control of sweet-tooth
2. mow lawn (i'm just not feeling it this week)
3. play Darth Vader an Darth Mall with Carter
4. clean mysterious brown stain off carpet. (i'm pretty sure I know what the brown stain is which is why it's still on my to-do list.)
5. watch Bachelorette (still haven't seen the finale but unfortunately saw the outcome on Yahoo. curse you, YAHOO!!!!)

5 favorite snacks or foods:
1. See's chocolates (white chocolate cashew brittle, butterscotch squares, molasses chips, caramels, turtles, most everything except the marzipan, gingers, and nasty fruity ones.)
2. my sister-in-law, Coby's party mix called "addiction" (recipe follows)
3. Mahi Mahi with Yvette sauce from Papadeaux in Houston
4. Chicken alfred0 (though I never get it)
5. sweet salad like raspberry walnut with bleu cheese or strawberry salad with bacon, mushrooms, the works)

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. take entire (immediate) family on sweet vacation
2. buy a bigger house in a nice neighborhood
3. travel with hubby
4. hire a chef
5. take trips to Houston to see family every other month

5 weird habits that I have: (I changed the question a little)
1. I make faces at myself in the mirror
2. I shake the milk in the carton before using it. Have no idea where I got this from.
3. I eat really REALLLLY well all day and then reward myself at the end of the day by scarfing tons of treats then complain I can't lose weight.
4. I purposely set my alarm 21 minutes early so I can push snooze exactly 3 times before I really have to get up.
5. I LOVE to sweat and work really hard at the gym then come home and remain in my own filth for a couple of hours and work some more.

4 places I have lived: 1. Westlake, Ohio 2. Rexburg, Idaho 3. Sugar Land, Tx 4. Perris, Ca

I choose not to tag anyone else. If you would like to be tagged, then consider this me tagging you and go ahead and have a ball.
Here's that promised recipe:

"Addiction"
Combine in large bowl:
1/2 box corn chex or crispix
1/2 golden grahams
1/2 c. sliced almonds
1/2 bag coconut (unsweetened, untoasted is better)

Sauce:
1/2 C. karo syrup
1 C. sugar
1/2- 3/4 c. butter
Bring to boil and boil well for a minute. Pour over the cereal mixture and stir well. Spread on cookie sheet sprayed with a bit of Pam. Let cool and then scarf until sick.
(This can be frozen, too!!)

Memories

Kids' memories are amazing. The big things- they forget. The little things they mention for months on end and make you wonder "What in the CRUD is he/she talking about?" and then one day it hits you and it actually makes sense. Every morning Carter puts his head under the kitchen table while lying on the chair and says, "Remember when Papa doos (not does) this? And he looks under the car and fix it?" Apparently one of life's big moments.
So yesterday I was surprised as Carter, while watching our screensaver of pictures, pointed at one of me in the hospital with baby Nolan and said,
"Mom, you member when you was born?"
"No, do you mean when baby Nolan was born?"
"Oh, yes! And I stay with Grandma Coleese (Clarice) and I go in Grandma's car to the....the...store"
"You went to the store?"
"Yes! To the BORN store! I go there and see you and baby Nolan. You member dat?"
"Yes, you came to the hospital to see us!"
"Yeah, I came to the hopspidal"
I was so impressed that he remembered anything about that at all. We haven't even talked about it since then.
But I think that he's on the right track with a "born store". Where can I find one of THOSE????!