{FYI}

Given the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching I couldn't let it pass by without naming a few things I'm thankful for:

These little midgets that I get to be with every day. They keep me smiling and on my toes.This guy who provides, protects and puts things into perspective for me when I'm having a hard day. He also can do a pretty awesome Muppet dance.And for our new little addition coming in May. Although my current state is one of constant nausea and no energy I couldn't be happier knowing another little baby is coming to our home. We can't wait to find out next month if we'll be having an army of girls or a mini McVet.Happy Thanksgiving!!

*posts may be few while we prepare for visitors and such.*

{Yays & Boos}

YAY:Bret is awesome. He actually sat down and read through every comment that was left for the giveaway. It took him a while to narrow it down to 2 but in the end 2 winners were chosen.Bret said he chose Ashley because of what she said about eyebrows. He agrees that people would look pretty weird without eyebrows. He also has a deep dislike for his own eyebrows (a childhood thing) and so it made him be more grateful for his own - big and bushy is better than nonexistent right?

He chose Jacky because he really enjoyed the way she said what she was grateful for.

He did want me to mention that it was pretty hard trying to choose just two and really enjoyed reading all the answers. It really made him think about things he takes for granted (eyebrows?).

See Bret...aren't you glad I volunteered you?

BOO:You didn't win! Well I'll be making a Christmas mix with some of your song suggestions and my favorites in the near future and want to share it with 5 of you. Check back in the next week or so for more details on that giveaway.

*winners please email me at erica{dot}grover{at}gmail{dot}com.*

{Light reading + a lesson}

The past four days or so Mailee has only wanted me to read one book to her:I've gotta say, in the last few days I've learned a lot about birds.

When I am busy and can't read to her, she gathers her stuffed animals and gets cozy in a blanket and proceeds to look at each page.It's so entertaining to see her point to the birds, naming a few correctly and others she creates a new name altogether for the bird...usually based on a color she sees on the feathers.

When she came upon the page with Pigeons on it she pointed right at them and said "Stupid birds!".

I couldn't help but laugh. I'm pretty sure she was fully convinced that was the name of those birds. Not quite sure where she ...oh wait...remember the {pigeons we used to have}? Apparently Mailee remembers. I always forget how they pick up on everything we say.Although reading about how to band birds and different speicies has been interesting I'm ready to accidentally misplace this book and move on to another one.

I wonder if the next book she chooses will also be a good reminder to watch what I say around them.

{Concoction}

What do you do if you made a cake and accidentally over baked it, resulting in a very dry and porous substance slathered with chocolate frosting and sprinkles?

I for one would pick off the frosting and call it good. Bret however chooses to grab a glass, stuff a few pieces into said glass and fill with milk.

Yum or Yuck...you decide.

*for the record I say yuck...double yuck!*

p.s. Don't forget to enter the giveaway {HERE}

{giveaway}

No MPM today...I've been too busy this past week/weekend to spend time browsing the Internet for awesome finds and nifty little items. I'm hoping after this week my schedule will die down (doubtful given the holidays coming up).

I would however like to do a little giveaway. You might think I'm unselfishly doing a giveaway out of the goodness of my heart...but I'm not.

I want your help in putting together a Christmas mix for me this year. I made a Christmas mix over the weekend for the car, but realized though I love the ones I have I am in need of some fresh new Christmas tunes.

In order to qualify for this giveaway you need to do the following in a comment:

01. Share your favorite Christmas song and name of Artist/group that sings it
02. Share something you love/appreciate/grateful for.

I find myself venting and making lists of things that bother me, things that I could do without. Often it's easier to rant about things that bug you than it is to come up with the opposite. And although I'm grateful for my wonderful family, my children and my religion I'm hoping that you take a minute to really think about what you're going to share and dig a little deeper than the standard things we all are (or should be) thankful for.

Here are my answers for the curious:

01. "Winter Wonderland" by Jaszon Mraz, "All My Bells are Ringing" by Lenka, "Baby It's Cold Outside". I have far too many to narrow it down but these are the ones I've played over and over the past few days.

02. Bret's work ethic and drive. My husband works so hard and I'm so proud of him. He is so smart and succeeds in everything he attempts. It's so very key to me to be married to someone with drive and knows what they want out of life. I totally scored in the husband department.

Other things that come to mind, down comforters, vehicles, dear friends we've known forever, libraries/books, fridge and pantry filled with food, family, our new home, Sunday naps, and awesome friends that make living here even better.

Two winners will get to choose a pair of lovelies currently in my shop or from the Christmas shop update happening in early December.

I am looking forward to reading your comments!

*Giveaway ends at 12 AM (PST) on Wednesday. Winner's will be announced on Thursday. Winners will be chosen by Bret*

{Ode to Costco}

I realize my posts have been lacking lately. I've been so busy trying to finish up photo sessions, directing a show for our ward/church, trying to work the kinks out of our primary program (church again), getting lovelies made for the shop and trying to be present as a mom and a wife, that I just haven't had time to take any pictures or do anything interesting as of late.

I did however make my bi-monthly Costco run yesterday and as always love going there. I'm always tempted to buy all the children's books and stock up on things we don't really need in the dessert and candy sections.What are some of the items you love at Costco?

Here are just a few of mine:
+croissants - the best I've found
+rotisserie chicken
+Chocolate cake - my favorite
+apple pie
+chicken pot pie
+pineapple - always sweet
+Cheesecake Factory cheesecake - a whole one for the cost of a slice at the restaurant
+IZZE's
+children's book selections
+carter's sleepers

Are you a Costco fan or a Sam's club fan? I know I've said this before but I'll say it again...

Costco = Target, Sam's Club = Walmart

{How to eat an Artichoke}

Artichokes are beautiful. The pattern, symmetry, and color of this beautiful vegetable automatically make it a favorite of mine, add to that the fact that it's fun to eat and delicious and you've got a match made in heaven for me.

A dear friend of mine emailed me the other day requesting that I post how I eat an artichoke.

Artichoke dip is divine but my favorite way to eat an artichoke is by steaming the whole thing and eating it, leaf by leaf until I get to the heart...the best part of the whole artichoke.

So Rochelle, here's how I eat my artichoke:

How to cook:
If the artichoke has thorns on the ends of the leaves you can cut them off (I usually skip this part. Remove stem. Rinse the artichoke in running cool water.

In a large pot add about 2 cups of water and a slice of lemon (lemon is optional and only used if I have a lemon on hand).

Add artichokes and bring water to a boil allowing to boil for 2 minutes then bring down to a simmer. Cook for 25-45 minutes depending on the size of the artichoke. You know it's done if you can easily peel the leaves off.How to eat:
Everyone uses a little something different to dip their artichokes in. Mayo, melted butter, sour cream...these have all been mentioned to me before.

Mayonaise is not my favorite and can't fathom ruining my artichoke by dipping it in straight mayo...gag! You can add a dab of mayo to some homemade vinaigrette dressing (let me know if you want my recipe) or if you don't have any homemade on hand the BEST dressing to use on salads and artichokes is pictured above. It's the closest thing I've found to my mom's homemade red wine vinaigrette dressing.Pour some dressing in a small dish (add a dab of mayo if that's your thing). Pull off petals one at a time and dip them into the dressing. You don't have to dip the whole leaf into the dressing, just the bottom where you can see the "meat".Tightly grip the top of the petal. Place in mouth, dip side down, and pull through teeth to remove soft,delicious portion of the petal. Repeat this process until you reach the baby leaves that are white in color. You can pull multiple baby petals off and dip together.Work your way down to the middle (the heart) of the artichoke. Remove the few baby petals that cover the heart. Covering the heart is a fuzzy layer known as the "choke". Remove the choke with a spoon and discard.Once the choke has been removed cut the heart into bite size pieces. Dip pieces into dressing and savor.Artichoke hearts are used in most artichoke dips and found canned in grocery stores, but nothing can compare to a fresh artichoke heart.

Eating an artichoke is an enjoyable and delicious process and my favorite way to enjoy artichokes.Do you like artichokes? How do you eat yours? What do you use to dip your petals in? Have any good artichoke recipes you'd like to share?

{Pleasant day of P's}

Saturday was Bret's day off. It was a day filled with fun family time. While looking at the pictures from that day I realized it was also a day full of P's:

Playing at the park

Watching Bret perform some parkour (The Office style). He makes me laugh everyday...I love it.On our way down from the park we couldn't pass up the Pizza Palace's $8.99 for an XL pizza, giant lemon bars and fudgey brownies.

Yeah...it was pretty much an awesome P day.