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 have lived in the town I live in for most of my life. We moved here when I was in second grade. I spent a year in New York when I was sixteen, and a couple of years in Litchfield after I got married. But I ended up back here. Even though I said I couldn’t wait to leave, it is hard to imagine not being here.

My town is not really considered a “small” town in this area. Although it felt like the smallest town in the world growing up. And that is what I love about it as an adult. One of the reasons we wanted to move back here was the diversity. Our children can see and learn about almost every culture just by walking down our Main Street. Mixed within the bars and resturants are beautiful trees, flowers, historic houses and water fountains.

It is funny how you look at the world so differently after you have kids. I always thought I’d want to raise my kids in a big city to make sure they were exposed to everything, and had amazing experiences. Who knew I would go back to the place that gave me my best memories.

3 Comments | In: Family, Uncategorized, love | tags: Family, food, love. | #

My heart aches for my friend. I want to give her a hug and tell her everything will be okay.
I can’t.
I can’t because I am too far away, and it won’t be okay, because it is not okay.
But it is still what I wish I could do. I wish everything would be okay for her. I wish there was no such thing as loss.
Ever.

2 Comments | In: friendship, love | tags: love. | #

When I told my son Jake we were going to have a Kung Zhu party here at the house, he just rolled his eyes and walked away. He was totally not interested. My daughter Chloe was thrilled since she already LOVED her original zhu zhu pets she had recieved for Christmas.

Well that all changed when the box arrived at our door. When we opened it, and he looked inside and saw all the battle gear, he was hooked! He has been playing with all of it ever since. As a matter of fact, he is sitting here next to me playing with the set on the floor right now.

Our Kung Zhu party was a huge hit! The kids LOVED it. All they wanted to do is battle each other. It was a lot of fun. Jake had fun showing all the kids how everything worked, and how cool the whole set was. I had a hard time with pictures because we were playing so much! But I managed to get some, so check out our video of the kids playing below.

Now for the fun stuff! The Giveaway! We are giving away one Kung Zhu prize pack.
Mandatory entry:
Leave a comment telling me what you favorite toy was growing up!

Extra entry:
Follow The Budge Bunch on Google Friend Connect

Leave a comment for every entry! Good luck!
Giveaway ends 7/16/10 11:59 pm EST

15 Comments | In: Uncategorized | | #

This Fourth of July was very different for us. It was hard, and weird. Just like Memorial Day was and Labor Day will be. It is hard when there are changes in your family that make you re think what you thought was important. It is hard when all of your traditions change and your kids are hurt and don’t understand why. But sometimes that is just the way it is. There is no other way to say it. For as much as I missed what I didn’t have this Fourth of July, I was constantly reminded of everything I DO have. And I am lucky.

2 Comments | In: Family, love | tags: Family. | #

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

2 Comments | In: i'm a dork | tags: food, friend. | #

It was a very quiet week. It was the first week the kids had off for Summer vacation. We just hung out. So great. So amazing. So nice. We just relaxed and did nothing scheduled.

Now it is Sunday night and I am getting ready for the week ahead. Chloe starts Safety Town this week. As much as she loved kinda just laying around, I know she is thrilled to get back to getting up and out in the morning. That is much more her personality. Chelsea and Jake have activities starting up in the next few weeks, although they do not enjoy getting up early in the morning. That will be fun. I’ll be back to a modified work schedule, and all will seem sorta normal.

So, we are all getting back into somewhat of a routine, a different routine. A Summer routine.

What about you? Are you getting used to a new routine for the Summer? Love it? Hate it?

1 Comment | In: Family | tags: Family, relax. | #

So…my kids LOVE Fathers Day! They actually love Mothers Day, and birthdays and any day that they can do something fun and keep secrets about the presents. It is so awesome to see how excited they get when they start thinking of ideas for presents and things to do. We would be so broke if we bought or did all the cool things they want to do for their family. I love how sweet they are.

Well, you all know that I am loving my new Price Chopper that just opened this week. (I am shocked I am not the mayor on Foursquare yet) They did the cutest thing on Saturday. They let kids come in and decorate a big cookie or cake for their Dads. What a fun idea! The kids had fun making up some weird story of where we were going, and we headed out to decorate some cakes!

Jake and Chloe had a blast! The girl that helped them was amazing with them. So sweet. Everyone that was walking by thought it was such a cute idea. You really can’t beat it for five bucks each, they both got to make a cool dessert for Fathers Day. They were so proud of themselves. They couldn’t stop smiling when they brought them out after dinner. So happy to have the BIG SURPRISE!

Even happier that Daddy LOVED it and completley FREAKED out when he saw them. So cute!

2 Comments | In: Chloe, Family, Jake, love | tags: Family, love. | #

I am sitting in bed drinking coffee, watching the Today Show. (FYI, Omarosa is getting a dating show) I am checking email, and catching up on Twitter.

Next to me Chloe is sleeping. She NEVER sleeps this late. But we have had a busy week and our schedule has been all weird, and she has been staying up late. It looks like the craziness has caught up with her.

I keep looking over at her sleeping. So peaceful. So sweet. So quiet. My heart almost stops beating. I can’t believe five years have gone by so fast. There are so many things that I feel I have missed, even though I was there. Things that I feel I rushed through. Needed to just get through the day. Said “hurry up” when she wanted to stop and look in amazement at a worm in our driveway. Said “wait a minute” when she wanted to show me her new dance moves she just made up. Said “be quiet” when she was singing a made up song over and over.

Yesterday morning I was laying in bed, just about to get up. Chloe crawled into bed with me and snuggled right up. It was heaven. I thought about nothing else. I just enjoyed that moment. After a little while she whispered “Mommy, you’re the best Mommy in the world” Talk about the BEST way to start your day! It is moments like those that remind me that I don’t have to be perfect, and I never will be perfect. But I am perfect for my kids. We are one big NOT perfect family.

Chloe is the baby in the family. She is starting Kindergarten in the Fall. I am so excited for her. She cannot wait to go to school everyday, all day. She loves to learn and is crazy smart. I can’t wait for her to make friends, and tell me elaborate stories about her day. I am going to miss her. My heart aches every time I think of it.

However, these feelings are more about me, than about her. I know she will be amazing at school. Just like her two sisters and brother. All of my kids are fiercely talented. Crazy smart. Wonderful people. Even if they don’t always think they are. I am proud of each one of them. Even if I don’t say it enough, I hope they know it and feel it.

Now I have to think about my life. What do I want to do? Who am I? I will always be a Mom first, but it is now time to also move on. Do something for ME. I have been looking forward to this time in my life. Trying to find my place. Wanting to do what I love. Still wanting to be there for my kids. Trying to stay true to myself. It is a bit overwhelming. It is scary.

I am about ready to pop out another kid. For real.

Talk me down people! Any advice?

8 Comments | In: Chloe, crap in my head, love | tags: Chloe, love. | #

Call me a dork!
I have been looking so forward to Price Chopper opening up in Middletown. Today was the grand opening. We got there around noon, and it was pretty crowded. We were shocked we found a parking space! Once we were in the store though it didn’t feel as crowded as I thought it would. Seemed to be a good layout, and flow. Chloe was on cloud nine to see BALLOON ANIMALS! She is now the proud owner of a balloon puppy and has already said that she wants to come to Price Chopper every day.

I was so mad that I didn’t have my camera with me. I always have it in my bag, but I forgot to put it back in after uploading pictures from the weekend. I’ll have to get some good pictures the next time I go. Which I know will be soon. My daughter Chelsea had an Oreo smoothing and she LOVED it. There were tons of samples. Even brownies. Every single employee that we talked to was SUPER NICE. That is extremely important to me. There is nothing worse than bad customer service.

The sale prices were great. I forgot to print my coupons before I left! Thanks Michelle for reminding me! Check out her awesome site for all of the latest sales and deals at Price Chopper. She rocks!

So, if you are in the Middletown, CT area. Make sure you check out the new Price Chopper on Washington Street. You will love it. It is nice to finally have a store in that plaza again!

2 Comments | In: Uncategorized | | #