Mates of State.

They're my favorite right now.

This song chorus is going on a pillow:

Everything's going to get lighter, even if it never gets better...

{without the visual of the sad bear and the dynamite. Poor, sad, destructive bear. Poor, unfortunate woodland creatures.}

Thank you for sharing, Candace.

Her husband makes us (meaning you and me...us) an awesome mix each month. You didn't even know he was doing that for you, did you? now you know. you're welcome.

of life and artichokes.

I try to keep things real. You know, a messy clean, comfortable and simple. I enjoy simplicity.

You may not think blogging about what Joey got stuck up his nose this afternoon is relevant or influential, but it is good stuff. Believe me, someday you'll remember that lady's blog you read once whose kid liked to eat chocolate syrup and parmesan cheese for lunch, and think, wow...that kid was inspiring.

for real. you might.

So we've all established that my days aren't full of things that lift and inspire and motivate and make a difference and change the world and yooey whooey.

I'm common. and I like common. I'm comfortable with common.

But for real...

sometimes don't you wanna just be deep and intriguing? Don't you want to go volunteer at a free clinic across the ocean somewhere? It'd be nice to be the queen of something, like a parade. Someday I'd like to blog about the barn I built by myself out of reclaimed wood I hauled from a historic farm in Virginia, or about that huge race I just ran in my awesome umbros without throwing up. I'm not complaining, I just want to be the mayor. just sometimes. For a minute.

So I sit down and try to be intelligent. uh...

I know I have something profound to share.

I'm totally interesting. I know it.

Shouldn't I have a penetrating, thought provoking moment to exploit?

Can't I just pretend to be entirely captivating and have really real exciting experiences to pretend to be humble about?

Couldn't we all just decide my mundane is awesome; couldn't someone just ask me to be a Mormon Message already?

but alas...

look at the awesome artichoke lamp I got for 30 bucks!

that's all I've got.

In all actuality, I'd probably turn down the parade invitation. But thanks anyways.

My name's Cally.

I'm a wife and a mom.

I live a wonderfully common life,

I have a green artichoke lamp,

And I'm a Mormon.

awesome.

instant chocolate cakes.

I've been eating instead of crafting.

These cakes are good. I ate one and a half today after lunch (it was a healthy lunch so I have no guilt), and I'm not telling who's half I ate (okay, guilt for that). I will only tell when whoever it is notices half her cake is gone and starts screaming at her siblings for stealing her cake; then I must come clean. It's the right thing to do.

We made Food Network's Instant Chocolate Cake recipe last night, and I was surprised at how good they were. Rich and dense (not light and fluffy, so don't give it a bad review when it's not betty crocker), and yummy yummy yummy. Each one was way too much for the kids to eat, so most of them ended up in the fridge. Hence, my afternoon treat. and a half.

Food Network Instant Chocolate Cake:

Whisk 1/4 cup flour, 5 tablespoons sugar (we did four), 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (we did one), 1 egg, 3 tablespoons milk, 3 tablespoons vegetable oil and a dash of vanilla extract and salt in a large mug (we used ramekins) until smooth. Microwave until puffed, about 2 minutes (we did 2 1/2). And we added some mini chocolate chips.

Dani got an etch a sketch.

dear blog,

It's been one month since my last entry. don't be mad. I'd like to say it's because I've been busy, but not really. I've been ignoring you. We unplugged, you know, and although I did not include you in the official "unplugging", things just worked out that you were horribly and sadly left in the dusty corner of all things put aside. You were in good company...waiting patiently with American Idol and Emily Henderson. You have valiantly sacrificed your hunger for domestic attention in order to reconnect a family in need. Thank you, dear blog.

Here, I'll feed you with a few project pictures. yummy:

Ignorance no longer, poor, sad, blog.

there, there. it's all over.

I'm here.