Today I Guest Posted.

Good Morning! 

Sometimes I open my eyes and find another little pair staring intently at my face.

Followed by a very happy grin because I'm finally awake. 

I did a little post to help with wedding anniversary gift ideas over at Or So She Says...  Check it out.  And have fun.  Oh!  And let me know what you think too.

Today I Died Of Heat (close enough anyways).

I'm definitely suited for the generally mild weather of the Pacific Northwest.  We've had heat in the high 80's the past three days and it's due to stick around several days more.  **faint** 

Nobody has air conditioning here.  No one I know at least. 

We've been living in a cave since the heat started.  Meaning - opening all the windows as soon as I get up to catch the coolness of the morning, then by late morning I close all the windows and blinds and turn off every light.  Why?  Because none of us handles heat well.  And it IS humid here.  No where near the walking-through-water feeling one gets during the Summer in Houston, but still... yuck. 

Being out in the heat for too long gives me a pounding headache.  Even if I guzzle water the whole time. 

Now, my question is: how did I get like this?  My mother would be better suited for Arizona and REALLY doesn't like the rain, clouds, or winters here.  She LOVES the heat and the sun.  How did I end up being the complete opposite?  Seriously, too much heat and I get seasonal depression! 

Looks like Ash is a girl after my own heart. 

I let her play in a little bucket of water and next thing I know she's chillin' in it.

And then wonders why her dress is wet.

No sweat.  Haha!  There's The Tongue again.  It's her new thing. 

So, how do you feel about the heat?  Prefer it over cold?  Regardless of your temperature inclination, I hope everyone is having fun in the sun!!

Today I Found A Great Use For My Glass Jar Collection.

This is the wall in my kitchen.

The only wall without cupboards, that is.

I really like it. 

As you can see, I've used a lot of empty glass food jars as decor. 

Until I use them for something else.

Well, THIS is what I'm going to do with every last one of them.

Beautiful.

Go HERE for the how-to.

Today I'm Frustrated Over Meal Planning.

Ash is allergic to tomatoes, soy, and milk products.  So, I'm currently pulling my hair out over trying to figure out how to feed this family cheaply and without using my favorite meal go-tos: tomato sauce, cheese and soy sauce.  **heavy sigh**  I also would like to keep the meat ingestion to a minimum.  Help?

Also, I'm including a link to a giveaway because then I get an extra entry.  And for those of you who have dairy issues in your family, you may like to enter the giveaway as well.  It's over at One Frugal Foodie.  The giveaway is for these two books: 

They had a giveaway last week for a cookbook that was soy-free AND dairy-free but I missed it.  But at least with one allergy taken out of the recipes I only have to be on the look out for the remaining two. 

People, did you even know how many pre-packaged foods contain soy????  EVERYTHING!  Or so it seems.  Just start reading labels - which I thought I did, but now that I know about Ash's allergy I'm seeing soy everywhere.  It's in crackers, cereal, granola bars, cereal bars, salad dressing, bread, cookies, soup, tuna fish, noodles, chocolate, etc, etc, etc!!!!!!  **exhausted** 
It's really tough stuff to get away from.

So yeah.  Help.  Please.

Today I Studied The Fremont People.

(Tony & Ash walking up to the petroglyphs)

If you've been following then you know that our little family went out to Utah to camp with my dad, some siblings and their families, and my paternal grandparents.  After we'd packed up camp we headed down to to Vernal, UT (also known as Dinosaur Land).  While we were there we saw some awesome rock carvings.  I've seen them before.  My dad took me and some of my siblings out there to see them and the dinosaur bone quarry about 20 years ago (dang, that makes me feel old). 

(Aren't they so neat? How come they all have antennae?)

Anyways, this art work is awesome.  My favorite is the naked man.  It was 95 degrees out there which was a bummer because I would've loved to run and around and climb and explore like I did when I was a kid.

(My bro and his cute lil family)

The little bit I've learned about the people who made these petroglyphs:

(My fave. Naked Man.)

The Fremont People lived between 400 and 1300 AD in small communities throughout Utah, eastern Nevada, southern Idaho, southern Wyoming, and eastern Colorado.  They were farmers, hunters and gatherers, but mostly farmers - growing a lot of maize.  Maize is corn. 

(Yes.  I tweaked the photo a bit so the carvings would stand out more.  You're welcome.)

They lived in pit houses.  Basically a hole in the ground.  Supposedly these pit houses were kind of like a teepee, in that they were temporary and mobile.  For permanent homes they lived in pueblos.  Have any of you ever been to a pueblo?  I have.  They are REALLY cool!

(Pit house)

From my brief online search, I have gathered that not too much is known about this ancient culture.  I wonder what happened to them?  Experts think that temperature changes had something to do with their disappearance.  Guess ours isn't the only time period that has had to worry about climate change, huh?

(My dad taking it all in)

(Turtle Rock)

(Do you see them?)

(Let me help you.  Now do you see them?  **grin**)

So, next time you're in Vernal, Utah go check them out!

Today I'm Craving A Cheeseburger.

That I can drink.

Wait. 

WHAAAAAAT?!?!?!?!?!

Yup.  Gonna be lines out the door at Jamba Juice for the newest fast food that you don't even have to chew.

You have got to see this video. 

Did they actually pay someone to come up with this????

http://www.cheeseburgerchill.com// 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!  Good one.

Today I Was Reminded To Bloom Where I'm Planted.

I discovered these sweet little flowers right outside my back door.  I didn't plant them and as you can see, they are growing in sand.