The Budge Bunch

I knew I was going to BlogHer since February. You’d think I would have prepared for it a bit more. I have NOTHING done. I am actually not going to have any time to really do anything to get ready for this trip. We are so busy right now, and we go on vacation right when I get back. I need to have all that packed and taken care of, kinda before I leave. I am leaving a list of all the things that NEED to get done while I am gone, but come on…

But I was thinking about it today, and I realized something. Who the hell REALLY cares what I am wearing? Does anyone really care if I bought all new clothes, and had my hair done? I am going there to meet my FRIENDS. People that already like me. I really hope they DON”T care what I am wearing. Because I know I won’t be paying attention to what the hell they have on.

I want to SEE them. I want to HEAR them. I want to HUG them.

I do promise to shower daily. Well, I mean if I am not in too much of a rush in the morning. I am sooo NOT a morning person. What do you expect? Superwoman all of a sudden?

I want to go to BlogHer and meet the people who have changed my life for the better. I want to have fun. Not just while I am there, but in the days leading up to it. Thinking about how much fun I am going to have.

I know I am NOT going to look back at this time and regret not making myself crazy with shopping and worrying about what private parties I wasn’t invited too. Life is way to short.

And I have ENOUGH other things in my crazy life to stress about.

But I will tell you one thing….I am taming my beastly eyebrows for the occasion. Although I hope you don’t judge me for my bad taste in clothes, I really don’t need you running away in horror at the unibrow.

See you in NYC!!

5 Comments | In: Friends, i'm a dork, love | tags: BlogHer, friend, love. | #

I had lunch with Chef Jon Ashton today. I have NO pictures. What kind of blogger am I? I mean really?? I actually did have my camera, but I was having such an awesome time, I didn’t even think about pictures. Kicking myself now as I am writing this post. Oh well…such is my life.

I had no idea what to expect when I got to lunch.  I did not know much about Jon Ashton before getting there, and was looking forward to hearing what he had going on, why he is in Connecticut, and all of that fun stuff.  You know, the stuff the blogger in me wants to know.  But when I sat down I immediately felt like I was having lunch with an old friend that I hadn’t seen in a while.  I felt like I totally knew him already!  I sound like a crazy person huh?  He is really THAT genuine and THAT real.  The passion that you can feel when he talks about his philosophy of simple and seasonal cooking will blow you away.  He LOVES food and you can feel it.  Plain and simple.

Oh yeah..you want to hear what he is doing here in Connecticut?  Jon is teaming up with Big Y and Driscoll’s to do a fun in store session at the Big Y in Avon CT tomorrow from 2-6pm.  Learn all about cooking with the Seasons best Blueberries.  Here is Chef Jon Ashton’s recipe for the Driscoll’s Blueberry Parfaits that he will be demonstrating in the store tomorrow!

Driscoll’s Blueberry Parfaits

1 package Driscoll’s blueberries
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla essence (optional)
1 cup whipped cream
1 cup mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp almond extract
1 pound cake
1/4 cup blueberry preserves
1/4 cup toasted almonds

Place blueberries in a ziplock bag with sugar and vanilla and crush with hands, let sit for 10 minutes.

First, slice a half lb cake sideways and spread each half with blueberry preserve. Chop them in to cubes. Then divide them into 4 parfait, white wine, or other tall glasses.

In a bowl of a stand up mixer with a paddle attachment mix  1 cup mascarpone cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and a tsp almond extract until light and fluffy. Then fold in the 1 cup whipped heavy cream.

Spoon 2 tablespoons mascarpone into each glass and smooth surface. Spoon 2 tablespoons crushed blueberries over top and smooth surface. Repeat the process till you fill the top of the glass and for a finishing touch sprinkle with toasted sliced almonds. This simple yet lush dessert will leave every guest at the table wanting more!

Looks easy enough even I am going to try to make them!

Don’t forget!  Big Y in store demonstration July 1st 2-6pm

255 West Main Street, Rte 5
Avon, CT 06001

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Last week I did a #FollowFriday post and I really enjoyed being able to write a little bit about each person.  Not to say that I am going to do this EVERY week.  We all know I can be a bit of a slaker…but I am doing it again this week.  So here we go!

@RachelFerrucci You need to be following THE Rachel Ferrucci on Twitter.  She is an amazing person.  Always there with a fun story to go along with even the most boring tweet.  Not only will she make you laugh, but she will be there for you if you need anything.  She may forget your name, but she will always treat you like family.  Make sure you go and wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!

@childhood I love this girl!  Actually, I think everyone who meets  Kelly instantly loves her.  Her energy is contagious.  If you are in need of a pick me up and a good laugh she is the person to look for!  She is not only a wonderful person, she is also a Clothing Designer, a Web TV Show host, event organizer and this list goes on and on.  I don’t think there is anything this chick can’t do.  Check out her blog and see what I’m talking about!

@ClutteredBrain Alexes is one of the most fun tweeters on Twitter.  She is completely herself and I absolutely love it.  Aside from cracking me up on Twitter, she is for sure one of the most supportive women I have gotten to know.  She is everyone’s cheerleader and fully enjoys Social Media and Blogging/Vlogging.  Her passion shows in everything she does!  I hope to some day meet Alexes in person and give her a huge hug!  Check out her blog and you will want to hug her too!

Happy #FollowFriday!

4 Comments | In: friendship, i'm a dork | | #

I have heard through the grapevine (my brother)  that there are concerns about me being addicted to Twitter and Facebook.  Gasp!

I am.

I love it.

Can’t get enough of it.

Okay…in all seriousness.  I am NOT addicted to Twitter and Facebook.  I DO NOT even have a Farm or Mafia!  Real addicts have Farms and Mafias!  Anyway,  Although I do spend a lot of time on my computer.  Doing a lot of different things.  Twitter and Facebook are a part of my daily life, yes.  But so are a lot of other sites.  Those other sites just aren’t as much fun to talk about.  Unfortunately, whenever someone sees me on the computer, they are assuming I am just sitting here chatting away to a bunch of strangers and having fun.  They don’t realize I am working and it just happens to also be on the computer.  That is what people don’t understand.  I am well aware that I spend a lot of time on my computer.  Sometimes it sucks. It is not all fun and games all the time. There are just some things that some  people are just not going to “get”.

I LOVE Twitter.  I LOVE the friends and relationships I have made because of  Twitter.  I would never give that up.  I am VERY thankful for it.

*for the record…my husband and kids do not feel that I am in any way addicted to Twitter.  at least that’s what i think they said…….  oh well, i have some influential people to retweet and places to check in on four square.  see ya.

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Make sure you go and check out Eighty MPH Mom for more great Mingles!

Hey, why not link up one of your own?

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I haven’t been around much lately.  Although I have been around.  I have been quiet.  I have been looking, reading, listening.

I have been thinking.

I have been full of fluff.  I hate fluff.  But I have been dishing it out.

It has been a long year.  A long year of trying to figure out my place, my niche.  What do I have to offer?  Where do I belong?  Who is real?  Who is fake?

Why am I here?

Why do I do this?

I started blogging a year ago.  I am a news and politics junkie.  I loved to read blogs.  I have for years.  After my lung collapse, I was stuck in bed for a while.  I kept busy by reading my favorite political and entertainment blogs.  I had a few go-to favorites.  They said something.  They were real.  They were not fluff.   Even if it was nonsense, it was well written nonsense.

I am not a writer.

But in my post op drug induced need to keep busy so I don’t pick up a cigarette state, I decided to start a blog.  Then I found Twitter.

I am changed.

This year has changed me.  Changed who I am, and who I want to be.  Even at times when I feel lost.  I know I am surrounded by my other lost friends.  We are lost in a good way.  We are lost in a way to challenge ourselves to figure out who and what we want to be.  We have alot to say.

I stopped reaching out.  Stopped writing about my life and my family the way I wanted to write about us.  We are real.  We have nothing to hide. When I started out,  I looked at this blog as a way to document my family life.  Kinda like the baby book I never finished making for Caitlin or even started for the other three.  Our family is not perfect.  I want them to see that.  I want them to see that even with all of our imperfections, we are still an amazing family.  I want them to be able to look back at this blog years from now, and laugh or cry at what we have been through.  I want them to know that no family is perfect.  Even the family they may have some day. I want them to know that  your family is perfect because it is yours.  But every family goes through rough and horrible things.  But don’t be afraid to talk about it. I know I am not a bad parent when I am going through something tough with my kids.  Even though I may feel like it and need to have a tantrum about it sometimes.

I am not worrying anymore.  I have changed.  I have stepped back and took a good look around and I know what I don’t want.  I know who I am.  I know who is real and I love them.  I thank them.  They get me.

That is why I do this.

It is not all fluff all the time.  No matter what anyone tries to make you believe.

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Last night I had a Thirty-One Gifts party at my house.  I had a blast!  It was so good to just hang out and relax with my friends.  It doesn’t happen often enough.  Even my friend Tommi was able to make it with her girls.  Which is a miracle since our schedules are so crazy it has been impossible to hook up!  It was chaos at times, but I loved it.  Finally @RachelFerrucci and @Tina529 were able to meet!  One of my favorite things about the night was that Carissa (Rachels daughter) was able to make it.  It was so awesome to see her and Rachel glowing when talking about the new babycoming soon!   This is going to be a fun nine months!  I can’t wait to see this baby!  Great night.  We ate.  We drank. We laughed.  We shopped.  What could be better?

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