Pick your Pizza

wonderful pizza

Pizza Slices 

If there is one food that says American Culture besides the Cheeseburger, it's pizza.
(Warning: the above statement is based purely on my opinion.  I remind you this is my blog.)

~Ignorance is Bliss~ (I'd like to challenge that one day)  

To use this saying with pizza, when I was small I thought there was only one kind.  

Thick crust, thin layer of red sauce, lots of mozzarella cheese, and crispy pepperoni.

Just A Pizza, is where my family would order one large pizza.  1/2 cheese, 1/2 pepperoni.
Although just a small restaurant in Los Angeles, the taste is very similar to Pizza Hut but the crust is all hand-tossed.


Then my family moved to the Midwestern state of Kansas.

Fresh mozzarella cheese, red sauce, and oh the joy of stuffed crust!

Pizza Hut, where we would go after ball games and swim meets.  The family is larger now and we order two pizzas; one cheese, and one 1/2 pepperoni and 1/2 supreme (dad).

Domino's, my Grandmother's favorite.  When visiting her in Colorado she would order pizza and I'd pick the spicy pepperoni off complaining to mother "I only like cheese."


My family was in for a shock when we moved to Missouri!

(Ok, so this first photo is really unflattering... I know, but google Imo's pizza, there is a lack of aesthetic photos.)


Imo's Pizza,  oh where do I start?  We asked around for a pizza place soon after we moved, and everyone suggested Imo's.  We bought our regular two pizzas but after opening the first box we thought we were going to have to make pasta to go with the meal.

Now if you are from Missouri, I apologize in advance for discussing your famous pizza.
My first complaint is the cheese.  Imo's own special blend of Provel cheese which includes; Swiss, Provolone and mild cheddar.  Sweet cheese on my pizza was totally new for me, and even though it's all in my head... I can't stand yellow cheese on pizza.  Sweet sauce my taste buds were not expecting when I took a bite.  And last but certainly not least; THE CRUST is thin!  I'm all ok with people who order thin crust (they are cray),  but when I expect a thick and delicious pizza crust and I get cracker, I'm not lavishing praise.

Morel to life:  EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT

Other pizza's that need to be discussed...

It is hot-n-ready so the crust can be a little rubbery...  but it's thick!

Little Caesars Pizza, our savior in a land of Imo's pizza.  And a great price for a family that now buys four pizzas; two cheese, two pepperoni.

Including dessert pizza!

CiCi's Pizza, a buffet style restaurant that offers a wide selection of pizza and crust of differing sizes.


Humble Pie, the crust may be uneven but it's all good.


Other types of Pizzas:

Mexican Pizza

Taco pizza (little difference from above)

DYK, traditional Italian pizza was made with white sauce.

And my favorite:

Chicago style pizza.  They know that the crust is the most important part!
While it looks like a loaf with a layer of cheese atop,  cut in and find that glory inside.

If you are a big Imo's fan, let me know why so readers get two sides.

Also, I didn't even start on toppings, among my favorite pizza is Hawaiian pizza with the pineapple.  When I was in England their Midwestern pizza had corn, never thought of that and it was pretty good.

What's your favorite pizza?  Comment below.

~~ Edit ~~~



I found this on Xenophilia's website.  Someone come up with a caption please!  All I can think of is "And may the slice be with you," and that's just cheesy.

Tap that App!

App Store!

Apps are quickly becoming an everyday part of life.  The number of users go up, the number of developers go up, the amount of profit goes up... this reminds me Direct Variation that I need to be working on in Math... rats.  Anyway, it doesn't take a genius to know that consumers will be needing reliable sources to check on the APPtitude if they are paying or even using memory.

I received an iPhone 4s last year for my Birthday/Christmas/I paid for part, and it has been so useful and a really fun toy!  (I'm sure I must be overloading Siri's cloudy memory)
The first time I tapped on the app widget I was overwhelmed and felt way out of my league!

A pimple popper? Seriously??? (P.S.  It had many bad reviews)

So I had to swallow my pride and ask my younger brother (who bought an iPad 2) for help.  I soon became familiar with how to use the search function, history, reviews and more.  My brother's rule of thumb is not to get a FREE app if it has under 200 reviews or less then 4 stars.   I am not that strict!  I like to live dangerously :)  I will add new apps just to try it out.

Note: searching "app" is pointless.

So my goal this new year is; two times a month (or possibly more)  I will write a blog post on current apps and the stats.

For January I'll start with my recent find:

SoundHound

I have had soo much fun with this helpful music search!  You can type the artist or band and it will pull up the song for you... normal right?  Well SoundHound also has an option recording your voice singing a few lines of a song that you can't remember.  It searches with your audio clip, and finds the song!!!  Not only can you listen to the song you couldn't remember, it has the lyrics to most of the songs!  It also has other songs from that artist and videos.

(sorry, I'm just a bit giddy about finding this.)  :)

Tell me what apps have been useful to you!

Five In a Row

When I was little I took a Five In A Row class, which involves lots of great children's books, and is where my love of books began.  If you are thinking about getting books for children (or yourself), these are classic. 

Volume 1.

My Childhood Favorites:

Then and Now

1. Ping

The story of a naughty duckling on the Yangtze River.  As a child I was mortified that someone would eat a duck!  Why don't they eat chicken like everyone else? (Obviously I had never read about chickens)  Rice cakes, even then didn't sound appealing, and wouldn't they get soggy?

 I live on a lake now, with water foul (in above photo).  I say not even they would eat rice cakes, they would just honk/quack for more Sara Lee® sandwich bread.

2. A Pair of Red Clogs

This tale of a young girl and her shoes was always strange and forgotten to me.  But I fondly remember coloring red clogs and wishing I had a pair of my own.  Although I would never lie.  :)

This story I believe is out of print, and sadly we have lost our copy while moving.


3. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

My brothers loved this book, and I enjoyed reading it more then having it read to me.  The movie which came out later, is cute and while the animation isn't great the songs make up for it.

"No STEAM shovels wanted!"  -sorry I got carried away!


4. How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World

I love Apple Pie, and I love baking, and that girl looks like me, and I want to see the world.  Can you tell this is a favorite book?

My favorite part is still the last page.   :)

5. Cranberry Thanksgiving

This story is sweet, and I remember making Cranberry Bread after, of course it wasn't with Grandma's recipe I'm no thief!

I think I have a fondness for grumpy old men in movies because of this.  Like Lauren from the Dr. Quinn series, who couldn't like him?  I guess that means I'm on guard against handsome young men who smell nice??? Not sure if that follows...

6.  The Clown of God

A bit scary as a child, but I remember clearly that the pictures in the book were works of art, and I would stare at them for hours.

I think this story holds a lot of truth now, and how others might view your carrier or looks isn't necessarily the real you.  (shout out to all my circus friends)

7.  Katy and the Big Snow

Living in L.A. I didn't see much snow (with the exception of visiting Grandma in Kansas) so this story would unleash my imagination and off I'd go a little snowflake

I read it to my youngest brother now, and he likes it "ok" but not the same as I had.  And the movie about it isn't great unless you close your eyes and listen to the narration.

These were my favorites from my FIVE IN A ROW class (volume 1.) other books in this class include:

Lentil - My brother's favorite.

Madeline - Would have mentioned, but I had read it before the series.

The Rag Coat - I would literally cry when this was read to me.

Who Owns the Sun? - I don't remember reading this one.  (but we did loose books in a move)

The Glorious Flight - Don't remember either.

Grandfather's Journey - I remember reading this to my siblings when I was older, not the unit study.

Another Celebrated Dancing Bear - This one escapes my memory too.

Papa Piccolo - I loved this story and the illustrations are amazing.

Very Last First Time - A chilling story, and it quite confused me.

Storm in the  Night - A wisp of a memory here, I think it is more of a poem then a story.

Night of the Moonjellies - I didn't remember this until I looked it up, and I saw the cover.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert FROST wrote this. :)

What were your favorite books as a small child?

Bread and Butter

I am one of the most selfish people on planet earth.

(whew)  Glad I got that out of me!

When I found out my mom was going to have her fourth child, I prayed it wouldn't be a girl.  I was the eldest and the only girl in my family, and since my mom was an only child. . .  I was seriously spoiled!  :)

But thankfully, God gives us just what we need (which for me is never what I ask) so when I was about seven years old I had a new baby sister.  BTW as soon as I saw her I loved her more than any any toy and I treat her better then my growing porcelain doll collection.

Ten years later...

My sister on her princess birthday party.

My sister and I are like night and day.

This is a picture of my personality. (and since I'm not a cartoon I get two)
 

These are her personalities

Miss Fancy Nancy

  (except her name isn't Katie)

As you can see I'm the more; plain, sensible, mature, book loving, and I hope the graceful one. (Although I do have some Latino in me that occasionally comes through.)

And my sister is the; fun-loving, loud, fashionista, party planer, always accessorizing, and sooo cute! 

Another key difference.

She loves these!

This is my kind of doll

Needless to say we have our battles.  Trying to decorate the room was a big one!  She wanting Zebra stripes, hanging canopies, and hot pink camo on the walls. (She does have older brothers) And I was wanting peach and blue beach scenes.   We settled for Paris,  so the room is pink, green and black with the Eiffel Tower everywhere.



What does this have to do with the title of "Bread and Butter" you might ask.

Well, nothing much except I LOVE BREAD AND BUTTER!!!

I could make something up for you if it would make you feel better;  My sister and I are like bread and butter, we complement each other and one without the other isn't much fun.
(Are you happy?)

I am very thankful for my sissy, without her I'd be a snobby spoiled brat I'm sure.
And soon I might post on the prank her brothers and I just pulled on her. :)

Siblings really change who we are, are you thankful for them???


Before I go, I'ma gona give a shout out to my S.I.C.O's  (Sisters In Christ Overboard) I really have the greatest friends on the planet.




Like gum on my shoe, a sister sticks thru.

Brothers. . .

"Ow!" ((groan)) "Oooo"

So today I learned the defensive stance today... or, I don't remember the name.

It's kina like the cha cha slide, but your continually stuck in a one way zone.

(Oh my poor legs!)

I have two brothers that play basketball on a team called the Patriots.
And they have to practice the defensive stance... or whatever.  So being the older sister (who thinks she can still beat her brothers), I challenged my brothers, fourteen and twelve respectively, to walk around the lake we live near and then do the defensive stance across the dam.
They agree.

We have a nice walk, bit chilly but it's fine.  Getting to the dam we take five minutes deciding which two will face and who will lag behind.  Again since I'm the older sister, it is decided that the 14yr. old and I will face off with 12yr. old right after.  Also, we determine that everyone has to agree before for a break if we will want one.

"I'll be the motivator/coach," says Caleb (14yr. old)
"I'm the assistant then," says Josiah (12yr. old)
"That leaves me to be the Caleb BEAST!" I tease.

We're off!  And I'm doing great!  Since I am shorter I don't have to bend my knees as far as the boys, and that has me at the advantage.  Caleb, is yelling in his mock coach voice something about going lower, and toothfairy, but I didn't really hear him.
One third of the way down Caleb asks for a break,  Josiah, who can long distance run/swim/climb/eat/jump, of course said NO.  At this point I approve greatly of the break and make my intentions known.  They boys glance at each other and I'm sure I see an evil glint!
"No breaks" they say in unison, like they are Siamese twins or something.
So they travel faster and (in need of a break too) decide to just continue on leaving poor jelly legs... er jolly laevoduction, to "buck up."

At about two thirds of the way, I wish I could say still had a cheerful spirit, but I had giving the stance up and was skipping girlishly and breathing heavily.  Who had put a cheese grater down my throat???
"B B Br rake!" grated the air in my throat.
"No!" came the collaborated reply.

They reached the end of the dam and waited for me.
Josiah, had long past me up and I was now the dragging one, pulling in two hundred yards after them.
"Huuhhh," came a puff of grated exhaustion.
"Lets jog to the rock and sprint home from there!" said the hardly-out-of-breath Caleb.
WHAT??? ARE YOU KIDDING??? I wanted to scream, but the grater was moving on to potatoes and hard carrots and was trying to make vegetable soup!
"Um, I think we better walk," said Josiah taking one look at me.
He wrapped my jacket arm (somehow void of my arm) around his shoulder and was literally dragging me.
"Little help Caleb?" he asked.
Caleb grabbed my other jacket sleeve and thus they dragged me to the rock.
I'll have you know that didn't help the extreme chef show going on in my esophagus, the zipper was all up in my throat.

Once at the rock we took our places, got ready, and they were off.  I'd like to say at this time I'd regained my strength, but all I'd retained was a bit of pride.  I ranish walked in a daze until reaching the property line, then collapsed on the sweet sweet grass.  The grass doesn't care if I can't run.  Sweet grass. Through misty vision I picked out the boys playing sticks or something high above.
"A little help up please?" I asked the stick boys.
"Sure, poor wittle Stephyyy," Josiah said like I was tweety.
He grabbed my arms and tried, but I was dead weight and he's only twelve.
"Caleb..." I moaned (but glad the chef's salad was done).
"Get off the ground you Blue Knight!" Caleb said with disdain.
Just then the neighbor's grey cat came and sat on me, like I was some piece of lawn furniture!
"Guys, little help here?" I groaned.
"Look, it's the neighbor's cat!" announced Caleb.
Yes, Caleb I know.  "Could you move it?" I asked. "Please?"

Caleb squatted down in the grass where I was prostrate.
"Aww, da wittle kitty likes you, here kitty kitty," he called to the cat.
"Get it off"I said with a mouthful of tail, yuck!
As if dying on the cold hard ground wasn't bad enough I would do so surrounded by my brothers playing sticks, WITH the cat.

They did eventually help me up and into the house, and after some toast and hot cocoa, I announced that I was ready to do it again with them. . . tomorrow.

Moral of the story: Don't think you can still challenge your younger brothers and live to see the next day.  I barely did.

What's in a Name?

So it's getting really late and that's when my brain seems to jump from topic to topic and right before going to bed I want to ask a question.

Q. What's in a Name?

Now I'm not in love with someone who my father is trying to kill (although it's likely that day will come), nor am I Shakespeare who penned the question.

I was just looking in the U.S. Census Bureau at the top surnames (last names) in the last count.

The top 10 are as follows: (give it room for errors, the government can't know everything)

1. Smith -  Big Surprise.  How many years has this name been first?
2. Johnson -  I hear it often, my great-grandmother's maiden name was Johnson.
3. Williams -  I am privileged to know a reputable family with this name.
4. Brown -  A close friend has the last name and is lucky he wasn't named Charlie!
5. Jones -  Whenever I think of this name, I think of neighbors or something.
7. Miller -  My mother reads the Amish books of; Miller and Yoder.
8. Garcia -  This is the first time a Hispanic name has made top 10 in America.
9. Rodriguez -  Along with Garcia, this name replaced Moore and Taylor this year.
10. Wilson -  I think of an old couple (sorry to anyone with the last name, but they are a nice couple!)

Here just for comparison.

And even though I only was going to mention ten, I'll note that Martinez almost bested Wilson for the tenth seat.  Martinez is my mother's maiden name.  :)  I see more Martinezs er, Los Martinez, then I could count.

Anywho (as a Southern "Newfield" says),  It's just something to ponder.  Not long hours in a garden while the rain is pouring on you, but maybe on a bus waiting for your stop, reading the newspaper headlines in the {hands of the} sketchy man in front of you.


Ok, now I gotta go catch some missing Zzz's!

*Edit's per comments! :)