Friday, January 30, 2009

What are you Looking At?

I have been in all my splendor with the new tv that has been on! Check out all these goodies...

American Idol - you know I'm front and center each night it's on. It's fun to watch with the kids although I am totally ready to get the show on the road. Enough with the auditions! I can handle Hollywood week which is coming soon thank goodness! The new judge isn't really leaving me a good nor bad impression, she's just "there". Randy is still my favorite. His inappropriate laughing is infectious! My favorite bad audition by far is bearded guy singing a droll "Walking on Sunshine" which I've been doing a lot around the house. Always a crowd pleaser!

Real World Brooklyn - How is it that I am approaching 40 and still watch this show? It's one of life's great mysteries if you ask me. I have been with this show since it's first season and I still call it the pioneer in the reality shows. The cast is pretty good this season, but even if they weren't I have a feeling I'd still watch it.

Real Housewives of OC - Can't look away from this show and NYC is back in Feb. Jeana's sons are seriously the RUDEST boys, they should be ashamed of themselves they way treat her. Still not caring for Tamra either!

Top Chef - Can't get enough! I think I am routing for Jamie or Stefan. Haven't seen last night's episode yet. I kind of like crazy Carla too :)

Lost - love, love, love Lost! It doesn't frustrate me like it does some b/c I look at like a great movie I don't want to end. If you have never seen this show, I command you to sign up for Netflix and get the previous seasons. It's awesome and you're really missing out on good stuff!

The Office and 30 Rock - 2 words... so funny

Big Love - only show on HBO I am watching regularly. I think Chloe Sevigny is SO good on this show.

Rescue Me - on FX is another favorite - I recommend this on Netflix too! New season starts in March and I can't wait!! Dennis Leary is really good!

60 Minutes - ok not really (although I do like the show) but needed to bump up this list intellectually :)

As you can see I am pretty booked in the tv world but would love to hear your "not to be missed" line up! I'll leave with this...... enjoy (and ps that is not me laughing in the background - I pulled it off youtube)!



xo, Brie

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Bad Blogger


I've been a rut lately with the blogging!! I'm sorry and am going to make an effort to get this ball rolling again. Sooooo much going on with my struggle to come up with new ideas for Keeks and Brie, kids school work definitely bumping up, my menu planning (which is going great by the way), my new workout schedule (also going not so bad), keeping up with this house, and my complete and utterly ridiculous addiction to facebook. Not only have I not been blogging regularly, I haven't been reading regularly either and solemnly swear to get back to it pronto! Enough excuses already, putting on my thinking cap now :) xo, Brie
guilty puppy pic from lightanddark.typepad I googled "bad blogger image" and here he is.... just how I'm feeling about it :)

Monday, January 26, 2009

X marks the spot

Ms. C's preschool class has a letter of the week each week. The entire curriculum is focused around this letter. There is even a class sign up list where each mom takes a turn providing Friday snack for the whole class that starts with that letter.


Being the ever organized mother I was late to sign up and all that was left was "Q" and "X" - good grief! Q seemed ridiculous and I didn't think the kids would be up for roasted quail so I signed up for X. I had to put the old thinking cap on and came across this AWESOME cookie cutter site. Seriously they have every shape you can think of..... including the letter X. Thank you to the Cookie Cutter Shop! You must check out their site - so fun! xo, Brie



http://www.cookiecuttershop.com/

Thursday, January 22, 2009

New Year, New Me!

You've probably heard this one before :) I am seriously trying though to be more healthy in my eating and upping my trips to the Y this year. All 4 kids are in school so I am running out of excuses here. Here are a couple of steps I am taking to the new and improved me :)


I joined a class at my YMCA called "The Circuit" it meets once a week for 45 minutes and my favorite spin instructor is running it. You basically go through a series of 12-14 exercise cycles (twice) and do each for 20 - 30 seconds until she calls time and then you switch to the next one. It combines weights, cardio and floor exercises. Sounds easy, right? That's what I thought.... it's not. I am in week 2 now and am SORE. I do love it though!! This is a random pic, but you get the idea... ours is not set up in a circle thank God!





Keeks recommended this cleanse she found at Whole Foods put out by their 365 line.
It sells for about 18 dollars and is a series of vitamins and fiber that you take for 2 weeks and it is supposed to remove toxins from your system. I really like it!! I haven't lost a single pound on it but still feel better for some reason!

There are quite a lot of capsules to take and I am not going to lie... they are big and there are quite a few to take. I choked them down for the first 4 days but then it got easier.

Just for a size reference here's a nickel next to these super sized fiber capsules




and here's how many you take every night for week one! Ay carumba!



Good news is, I feel better and might even look better! See for yourself.....







Another fun time waster! Cheers to good health! xo, Brie

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Tuesday Rewind

Oh how I loved the picture page segment of Captain Kangaroo. I was quite jealous that I couldn't play along b/c I never actually had the picture pages and I longed for the cool beepy pen! Did anyone actually have the picture pages? I'm guessing no :) You Tube is the greatest! xo, Brie

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Big Love!


Beach Boys music is just starting... Big Love season premiere is right now! I love me some good reality tv but I am soooooo ready for some good scripted tv. It's been too long! Remember when HBO was a no brainer to pay for when they had SATC, Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and Curb? Can't wait to watch this, hope it's a good season! xo, Brie

Thursday, January 15, 2009

NoTORIously forgetful.....


Time to up the Ginkgo Biloba :) I forgot about 2 things with regards to my giveaway of STORI Telling by Tori Spelling!


1. I forgot that I promised Keeks she could read it when I was done and she was none too pleased to see I was raffling it away and not making good on my promise. She has it in her possession now BUT the good news is she is a speed reader and will be done b/f the weekend.


2. I also forgot to pull a winner... let's do it right now - LIVE- off I go to the random number generator. I am entering numbers 1-9 and let's see....


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:7
Timestamp: 2009-01-15 15:10:38 UTC


7, 7, who is 7? Backtracking now to original post.... and the winner is....


PREPPY LIZARD - hooray and congrats!


Send over your address to me at bridget at keeksandbrie dot com and Keely will mail you the book as soon as she is done! Happy Reading!!! xo, Brie


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

OC Housewives


Was anyone else seriously appalled with Tamra last night? For someone who supposedly has "it all" - she is lacking class in a big and bad way. Having fun at someone else's expense is lame.... cruel intentions anyone?
Gretchen can sure put away the drinks - I seriously would have been unconscious with all the tequila shots.
WHAT is up with Lynne's daughters getting so much air time? She is doing them NO FAVORS - can you imagine going back and watching things you said and did when you were 18? I cringe at the thought of it! Even Tamra seems to have enough sense to keep her younger kids out of the show.
As for the older son Ryan - he seems to be on a mad scramble this season to squash the gay rumors! Let us not forget the "nugget" tattoo on his inner lip- and the touching backstory to boot!
I usually look forward to the Bravo shows like this one, but last night's just made me MAD! Did you see it? Good for us that Lost starts next week, now THAT I can't wait for!xo, Brie

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Happy Birthday KayMo!!!!

Then.....

and now.....



How are you 12 already? Love you! xo, Mom

Friday, January 9, 2009

I heart Cake Wrecks


Thank you to my friend Becca who sent this blog over to me! Such a funny blog about professional cakes gone bad and the writer is hilarious. She needs no publicity - this blog gets major hits but in the event you were missing it like me..... go check it now, it's good stuff Cake Wrecks!

PS Can someone tell Mr. KB this dashing young man in the speedo on the bear skin/stay puff marshmellow man frosting rug HAS to be my 40th bday cake!!!! xo, Brie

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Rainy Day Blues


I'm cold, it's pouring, and everything is encapsulated in 2 inches of ice. I made these this afternoon and they cheered me up (sorry about the bright burn your retinas flash, but like I said it's dark and photography isn't listed in my skills set). I made these with strips of fabric and the amounts I have are limited so I am going to list them in my etsy shop! xo, Brie
PS referring back to my famous "Marco Polo" martinis - I hope you haven't ordered one out. It has been brought to my attention (by my sister who gave me the recipe) they are called Marco ISLAND martinis which actually makes a whole lotta more sense.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Always proof read the 2nd grade spelling sentences.....


A penny is worth one cent.


Except he didn't spell cent right. Instead of the "e" another vowel was used. I'll let you figure out the rest..... always, always, always proof read! See you next Tuesday (sorry couldn't resist) xo, Brie

ebay Tuesday


Who had this record? It was one of my all time faves along with the humongous hard cover purple book that accompanied it! I know every word to every song and poem :) Don't dress your cat in an apron just cause he's learning to bake :) I bought the whole album off i tunes last year and it's just as good you remember! xo, Brie


bonus bonus bonus - I have never seen this... mooncystal on youtube has ALL 17 installments of this! Love it!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Menu Planning in 2009


I am working away on my "to do" list here and one of those things includes careful meal planning and shopping. This is not a strength of mine but I found this great blog here that is full of tips to get you started. I am making my menu plans (3 weeks worth already thank you very much) along with separate shopping lists here to keep me a little less A.D.D. in the supermarket and will also be nice to have on a file backup when I plan on working the weeks into repeat.

It is also going to require me going grocery shopping once a week which I seriously hate to do!! I am hoping since I am going to be approaching this trip in such an organized fashion that it won't be a painful for me :)

So here's week one

Sunday Asian Pork Tenderloin (never made this before but it's a Southern living recipe I found on the Organizing Junkie site- really easy so I hope it's good!)


Monday Spaghetti and Meatballs


Tuesday - sandwich night (Tuesdays are busy with activities and I also refuse to cook when the cleaning lady comes every other week)


Wednesday - hamburgers


Thursday - Chicken cutlets


Friday - make your own pizza


Saturday - we're having friends over for dinner so that's a whole separate trip to the store - a party requires my undivided attention and I can't mix the 2 :)
Of course there will be some sides mixed in there too... which usually means at least a salad so don't worry, we are getting our veggies :D
So there you have it! What's for dinner? xo, Brie

Friday, January 2, 2009

Stori Telling.... a giveaway


A few months ago One Fabulous Mom had a giveaway for the book Stori Telling by Tori Spelling and then Life on the Other Coast chipped in another copy on the offering block. Lucky me won!! I am only slightly embarrassed to tell you that I while I had the book in my possession for 3+ months I never had an opportunity to sit down and read it.

I am pleased to report that I finally finished the book!! It is a quick, easy, light read and I actually enjoyed it very much. I think it's the "inquiring mind" in me :)
In the spirit of paying it forward, I am happy to ship this to you if you would like to read it. Maybe you can give it away to another lucky reader on your blog when you are done. Leave me a comment if you are interested and I will randomly select someone next week. I am hitting the Twilight series next - another 2009 resolution involves more reading!! xo, Brie

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy 2009!!

I usually get used to writing 2009 on checks etc sometime in July - resistive to change I guess! Here's to clean slates and fresh starts all over the world!

I found another year in review video. It's not as good as last years' but it was the best one I could find. xo, Brie



2008 Year In Review - The most popular videos are a click away