Talk About Tuesday--BON JOVI Edition!

Last night I went with my favorite concert-going pal, Wendy, to see Daughtry and Bon Jovi at the Qwest Center.

It probably won't surprise you when I say it was really, really good.

We got to our seats as Daughtry was starting. He has such a great voice and I really enjoyed the songs he played. He was gracious and put on a good pre-show.

As much as I love me some Daughtry, I was waiting for the main attraction! Bon Jovi came out and got the night started with Lost Highway. Wendy and I realized pretty quickly into the concert that Jon Bon Jovi isn't the greatest dancer. He had some crazy swimming moves and some jazz hands to rival any of the cast of Bring it On. Some of the best moves were found in the crowd. There were a couple of guys (mid 40's, I'd guess) that were seated in the section behind the stage that were rocking out to air drums, keyboard, and guitar. There was a lady in the 2nd row that kept swaying and running her fingers through her hair. Good stuff.

Bon Jovi has been producing hits for over 25 years so it was hit, after hit, after hit. I LOVED IT! Their second song was You Give Love a Bad Name. After the concert as we were leaving, there were some young kids (early 20's--if that) that were being loud and obnoxious and one of the girls shouted something like, "I WAS ARRESTED FOR GIVING LOVE A BAD NAME!".

The highlights of the evening for me were: Bad Medicine and Livin' on a Prayer.

Random things:
1. Richie Sambora--still rocking the 80's look with some crazy purple pants and a long colorful jacket.
2. The screens they used were really cool. There were four panels that could come together into one big screen and then they could stretch out to reach almost the whole height of the arena. The back of the stage was also an LED screen so it could raise up and down and project pictures on it.
3. Screaming for 3 hours doesn't do your voice any favors.

During the concert we talked a little bit about trying to get tickets to see The Police. They are coming to the Qwest Center in May. We talked about how much we were willing to spend even for nose bleed seats. As soon as I came home (around 1am) I did an internet search and found out that presale tickets went on sale for Citicard holders (which we are!) that day so I decided to buy some (they were the same price as Bon Jovi tickets and we were willing to pay more than that). I now have 4 tickets to see The Police on May 14th! Fan club presale starts tomorrow and the general public can get tickets (maybe) on Saturday. I can get 4 more tickets with my presale so if anybody wants me to hook them up, let me know soon!

Have something to talk about today? Do it here.

Talk About Tuesday--BON JOVI Edition!

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/talk-about-tuesday-bon-jovi-edition.html

Monday Night Plans

Tonight is the night!

Daughtry

Bon Jovi.

Enough said.

Monday Night Plans

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/monday-night-plans.html

Weekend Update

Here is the list I made on Friday:
1. Prime the walls in the bathroom.
2. Buy paint.
3. Buy new vanity light fixture.
4. Knitting Group (the highlight!)
5. Purge toys. It is time...again!
6. Finish the Teletubbie sweater.
7. Make root beer pulled pork. Yum.
8. More potty training. Yuk.
9. Make Eva some eggs...RIGHT THIS MINUTE!!! (so she says)
10. Take a nap? I have a feeling that is wishful thinking for sure.

Here is what I actually accomplished.
3. Buy new vanity light fixture.
4. Knitting Group (the highlight!)
7. Make root beer pulled pork. Yum.
10. Take a nap? I have a feeling that is wishful thinking for sure.

I got some other things accomplished that didn't make the list but I really didn't do as much as I had hoped. Oh well.

Theme of 2008: LOWER THE BAR!

Weekend Update

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/weekend-update.html

Project 365

02/11/08

Lizard Ridge progress.

02/12/08
Teletubbie Sweater progress.

02/13/08Smocked rib bag progress.

02/14/08Happy Valentine's Day from Caleb! Yes, he's wearing my skirt. He loves to twirl.

02/15/08

My new computer. I love it!

02/16/08
The view out my bay window.

02/17/08


Baking bread. Yum. My secret? Rhodes frozen loaves.

Project 365

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/project-365.html

SMART Habit Saturday

I have been doing a darn tootin' job with my habit this month. I've been making menu plans. Making a weekly menu plan and sticking to it has made my grocery shopping more enjoyable and my afternoons stress-free. Well, at least I'm not stressing about what to make for dinner.

Since my menu plans are going well, I'm starting to work on getting my magazines under control. I've torn out most of what I want to keep and have a binder to put them in. I've also cleaned out my mail station so I have room for a "filing" section. I'm feeling really good about what I've accomplished so far and have big dreams of an organized home. Could it be possible?

Have a SMART habit you want to work on? Do it here.

SMART Habit Saturday

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/smart-habit-saturday_16.html

Pulled Pork and Purging

Root Beer Pulled Pork

1 two-three pound pork sirloin roast
salt and pepper to taste
2 medium onions, cut into wedges
1-2 cans root beer (NOT DIET!)
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup bottled chili sauce

Stick the meat into a crock pot and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add onion, 1 cup root beer, and garlic. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.

For the sauce, stir 3 cups root beer and chili sauce in a saucepan. Bring to boiling, reduce heat. Simmer about 30 minutes or until reduced to 2 cups.

We take the pork out of the crockpot, drizzle on the sauce (sometimes I even put the sauce in the crockpot) and then eat it on hamburger buns with lettuce...or we just eat it right out of the crockpot whenever we pass by. It is delicious!


Purging Toys

When I purge toys I find it best if I do it when Carl isn't around. He grows attached to toys and thinks the kids actually play with them. I'm around all day and I know that they haven't seen any kid action for months. I'm really ready to get down to the bare minimum of toys. The kids each have 4 bins in their rooms (the canvas totes from Target) and there is one toybox in the family room. I'm going to have each tote be a designated toy type (trains, cars, dolls, etc...) and put a picture on the bin. That way the kids can clean up after themselves better. If they haven't played with the toys in a while, they are gone. If they are worthy of donation, I'll do that (or save them for my sister). Otherwise, they are going in the trash. Good fun if I can get around to it. I've been working on getting out from under a pile of mail and magazines.

Pulled Pork and Purging

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/pulled-pork-and-purging.html

Weekend Plans

1. Prime the walls in the bathroom.
2. Buy paint.
3. Buy new vanity light fixture.
4. Knitting Group (the highlight!)
5. Purge toys. It is time...again!
6. Finish the Teletubbie sweater.
7. Make root beer pulled pork. Yum.
8. More potty training. Yuk.
9. Make Eva some eggs...RIGHT THIS MINUTE!!! (so she says)
10. Take a nap? I have a feeling that is wishful thinking for sure.

Weekend Plans

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/weekend-plans.html

Chinese New Year

First off, let me say that I am LOVING my new computer. I kind of like having a fresh start. We're still working on recovering my files (PICTURES!!!) but I can't be too sad because I know that I have most everything documented on my blog.

These are the first pictures I've uploaded on my laptop. The good news: I can use Flickr with Firefox! On my old computer I could only see flickr photos by using IE (which I don't like). There was some component that was keeping me from being able to do it. So, now I'm able to see them and use them. Because I'm addicted to ravelry and they only use Flickr, I'm going to be sending my pictures that way from now on.

And now, here is my report on Chinese New Year.

We were invited to the festivities by one of Carl's grad students. She is on the planning committee and I'm hoping she had some free tickets to offer us (otherwise she had to pay for us to get in). I was worried how Caleb and Eva would act with all the excitement but they did really well.

The ticket said that dinner would be starting at 6pm so we got there just before. It ended up being an hour later. We tried to keep the kids occupied as best as we could. I had a flashlight in my purse that Eva played with for a while. I don't really have a good shot of Caleb--he was sitting right next to me.

When it was our turn for food, we were hungry! Eva cleaned her plate. Even Caleb ate his fair share. The food was so delicious. It was the best Chinese food we've ever had.
Even though we had to wait a long time for our food, the rest of the event was so well planned and organized. I was so impressed with the sheer magnitude of the event. There were hundreds of people there and it was extremely well managed. Kudos to the students that worked so hard on this activity!

The first thing on the program was the lion dance. The kids LOVED this! Caleb had me cover his ears the whole time (typical--when the music is loud and not expected) and Eva wanted to stand on the table to see the "monsters". There were 4 lions in all even though I only managed to capture two in this photo.
I can't say enough good things about this event. It was so much fun and I'm glad we went.

Happy Year of the Rat!

Chinese New Year

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/chinese-new-year.html

I'm BACK!!!!

Carl didn't fix my computer and I technically don't have internet at the house (I'm poaching right now so I don't want to stay on too long). We have to get our old computer working well enough to run our wireless.

I bought a laptop this morning. Now I can't be mad that my computer crashed. This is pretty sweet. I got a Compaq Presario F750US. So far, so good. It will take me a while to get all of my stuff loaded and recovered. I'm also getting Adobe Photoshop soon which is something I've wanted for at least a year (Tiffany- I made sure to ask him last night).

I have so much to blog about--especially Chinese New Year! I've also been able to get lots of stuff done in the past couple of days. It is amazing what I can do when I don't have the internet to entice me away. Lots of knitting and even some cleaning and potty training. Weird. Maybe I'll be ready to do those posts tomorrow.

I better not tempt the fates any longer and get off this internet connection. Until later, my friends!

I'm BACK!!!!

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/im-back.html

The blog fog

I'm still unable to blog. I miss you all; my life seems in disarray. I am living in a thick fog...

The blog fog

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/blog-fog.html

Oops, I crashed it again...

Hello faithful readers. This is Carl. I have been a naughty boy and crashed our computer this morning. So it falls upon me to inform you that Christy is unable to blog today and hopes to return to her public very shortly. (I will be working toward this end tonight after work. May the great Windows spirit look favorably upon me.)

Oops, I crashed it again...

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/oops-i-crashed-it-again.html

Music Monday

I don't have my menu plan prepared for the week. I'm going to the store tonight after the kids are in bed. Caleb will be home in about 30 minutes so I wanted to hurry up and get my blogging done for today while I know I can.

You guys were NO HELP at all in helping me with my decision. Now I'm even more confused than BEFORE! Anyone else care to weigh in? I still have those half price items. I'd hate for them to not be used (but apparently not enough to use them myself).

I thought I'd fill my little blog space today with ten songs I get when I shuffle my iPod.

1. Le Tango de Roxanne from Moulin Rouge. I love that movie.
2. Too Much Time on My Hands by Styx. I rarely feel that way.
3. I Will Survive by Enrique Iglesias. True. So true.
4. Rockit by Herbie Hancock. Interesting that this should come up today. Did you see that Herbie Hancock won album of the year last night at the Grammys?
5. Living on my Own by Freddie Mercury. Not quite.
6. I'll do Anything by Jason Mraz. I love him.
7. You Should Be Dancing by the BeeGees. Should I? Really?
8. Song 2 by Blur. WOO HOO!
9. (You Drive Me) Crazy by Britney Spears. Interesting how this song has new meaning now.
10. Runaway by Bon Jovi. I am going to see them in ONE WEEK!!!!!!!

Happy Monday, everyone!

Music Monday

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/music-monday.html

Project 365 (366)

My week in pictures.

02/04/08

Fabulous, by Caleb.

02/05/08Eva's BFF.

02/06/08

Bird in Hand...almost.

02/07/08

My distraction.

02/08/08

Chill Out.

02/09/08

Worn out!

02/10/08

Wearing Japanese Cherry Blossom body cream to the Chinese New Year Celebration tonight at UNL.

Project 365 (366)

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/project-365-366_10.html

Decision '08

There is democratic caucus in Nebraska today. Obama has called me a couple of times this week to try to persuade me to vote for him. I wonder if he knows that I'm not even a registered democrat? I've thought about going tonight (they'll register me as a democrat at the door) but decided that I'll let others hash that out and I'll vote in the May primary for Republicans. Besides, I have other decisions to make.

I'm closing my Lia Sophia party* and I can get anything out of the catalog for $15. I have it narrowed down to these 3 necklace choices. Got an opinion? Which one should I get?

*I have 2 half price items that I'm not going to use--anybody want to buy something from the catalog for 1/2 price? Email me at sra_nelson AT yahoo DOT com.

Decision '08

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/decision-08.html

Distracted

Yesterday I decided I needed to clear out my stash and get it organized. I have way too much yarn for the space I'd like to use so I thought it was time to pare it down. There are certainly some things in there that I can part with.

Last night I went in my yarn/craft room (don't you all have rooms for your yarn?) and I was choosing some things to sell.

Then, I got distracted.


I found a bag of yarn that I had used for the Teletubbie hats. It also had some turquoise that I used to make a gift for my aunt Sharon.

Then I remembered some really cute bamboo boucle yarn that I picked up last October during our knitting guild's trick or treat swap. It would match perfectly.

It didn't take long before I had a design in my head and I started knitting.

Never mind that I had a mitten to finish, more stash to go through or laundry to do. I had to knit up that yarn right then and there.

The beginnings of a sleeve.


I'm making this a girls size five (or so) so Eva will be able to wear it next year and beyond. I got quite a bit done while watching Survivor Fan vs. Favorites and the Celebrity Apprentice.

Distracted

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/distracted.html

Kenneth

Kenneth

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/kenneth.html

Anxiously Engaged

Yesterday early in the morning I got the call that my sister was at the hospital in labor. All day I waited. And waited. I was pretty good and only called three times. All day. Ken didn't get here until after 7pm. I'm so glad I didn't have to go through any of that! I'm such a wimp.

So, what did I do all day?

1. Kept the kids busy--there was no school due to snow. Carl, however, had to go to work. They didn't cancel the classes at UNL.

2. One measly load of laundry. I could have/should have done more. Oh well. It isn't going anywhere and we don't have to go naked yet.

3. At lunchtime I got a call from a kid in our neighborhood (yes, the one that used to always come over and the one I paid $1 to get a dead rabbit out of our yard). He wanted to come over. YIPPEE! He ran the kids ragged all afternoon. Seriously. All afternoon. I paid him with pizza and some headphones we didn't use but he wanted. Well worth it. The kids had so much fun.

4. While the kids were running around the house like little crazies, I knit this.

The front view of my Bird in Hand mitten. I just need to knit the thumb and it will be finished. I even whip stitched the picot-edge. I also did my finest kitchener stitch ever. I didn't think to take a picture of that, though. Maybe when they are finished. Here is the view of the palm side of the mitten. I hope to finish the thumb today and then I can show you the little birdie that will magically appear!

These mittens are going to win a blue ribbon, I know it! Oh yeah, and keep my hands warm. They fit so perfectly.

5. I also made dinner. It was pizza day for the kids and soup was on my meal plan but I wasn't up for it. I had some extra time so I cooked up a flank steak (that was supposed to be for yesterday's sirloin salad that we didn't make) and had some steak tacos. Muy delicioso. I've been eating so well lately and drinking lots of water. This n-lighten nebraska program is really keeping me on track. I can't let my team down!

And that, my friends, was my day of waiting!

Anxiously Engaged

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/anxiously-engaged.html

Baby Ken

My very first nephew ever was born today. You can bet I'll post some pictures as soon as I have them.

What I know so far (my mom can fill in the blanks in the comments if she is able to get online sometime):

Kenneth Greer Charlton
7 lbs 1 oz
Super-cute
chubby cheeks
lots of hair

I'm pretty sure he is named after our Grandpa Jacox. But, our horse-shoer and first pony when we were kids were also named Kenny so you never know. ;)

Tomorrow I should have some pictures and also an update of what I was working on while I was waiting for the news.

Baby Ken

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/baby-ken.html

Black Bean & Jicama Salad

I made this salad for my Lia Sophia party last night. We had a ton of snow and a lot of people bailed out (understandably so). For those of us that were there, we had good food and a fun time.

I served the recipe with garlic pita chips and we ate it mainly as a salsa. It was so yummy, I could hardly stand it! I'll certainly be making this again!

Black Bean & Jicama Salad

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/black-bean-jicama-salad.html

Talk About Tuesday

The girls (I've got Whitney here this morning) are coloring so I've got a few moments to talk about this super cute sweater (modesty at no extra charge) I made for Eva. It is the Pinwheel Sweater found here. I used Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. The Columbine colorway (the purple-ish blue) was my most used and it didn't even take up a whole skein. I think she likes it. I don't know if I'm going to do anything to the front to make it stay closed. I could use a ribbon or a clip of some kind. Eva just likes scrunching it up with her hands and saying, "I so cute!". I think she's right!

Have something to talk about today? Do it here.

Talk About Tuesday

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/02/talk-about-tuesday.html