This Stop Willoughby

We have a new obsession with advertising, around here.  Television commercials, print ads, radio ads and billboards are all included.  We've turned it into sort of a game.  The point of the game?  Pick out the stupidest statements advertisers make.  Here are a few favorites: Farm picked broccoli (from a commercial for frozen meals).  As compared to what, free range broccoli?  Seriously, where else are you going to pick broccoli? Check with your doctor before taking prescription X (from dozens of ads for prescription medications).  Wouldn't I need my doctor to prescribe the medication in the first place?  Maybe this statement is for people who buy their meds on the street. Sauce made with real tomatoes (from a commercial for frozen pizza).  I agree with this one, I hate the taste of faux tomatoes. We pick only the most tender vegetables (from a commercial for frozen vegetables, the vegetables shown are carrots)....

My Vacation If you've been wondering why I haven't posted a new blog or stopped by to comment, recently, it's because I've been on vacation.  I know, I didn't tell you I was going on vacation, but it was a last minute kind of thing.  I think it's almost always that way when you take a vacation............from sanity. Yes, friends, that's where I've been.  At home and losing my mind over an endless stream of unexpected expenses, pricey auto repairs (on every vehicle we own), damaged kitchen countertops, an early spring thaw (can you say mud?), an overwhelming winter storm (can you say knee deep snow?), and one particularly clever field mouse that snuck in the house and evaded capture for over a week. When I shared on Facebook that it was raining lemons around here, a friend suggested that I make margaritas.  Wouldn't you know that we were out of tequila?  Such is life.... A Celebration Today is a day of celebration in our house because it...

Recently, I received an email that said, "Willoughby, you seem to have it all together, how do you do it?" (That's how I interpreted it, anyway. The actual email said something about my having won the British lottery, but I knew what they meant.)  I have to tell you, I'm asked this question frequently (never), and my response is always the same, "I'm a little bit of an idiot.  I keep it all together by embracing my inner moron." I know, I know, you're skeptical.  After all, I don't seem like an idiot (sometimes), but that's only because I try not to flaunt it.  I wouldn't want to make anyone feel inadequate because they did not possess the same potential for idiocy as I do. Let's take yesterday, for example.  The kids had a snow day, which gave me plenty of time to putter around in the kitchen.  I was making spicy Mexican food for dinner, so I thought I would make a cool and creamy dessert.  My plans for...