Try Skim Milk

Ok this made me laugh.

Is that Borat's Voice?
(came via SwissMiss, via OnePlusInfinity)

Tiny Bubbles

My creation
Originally uploaded by MSabine

Here is Maya blowing bubbles in our back yard! We are homebound because we are getting new carpets in the house...;-)
I had to bath her afterwards as she got bubble soap ALL OVER!!

Weekend Snapshot: She is going to kill me....

We are spending alot of time in the pool these days. This is my 14 year old goofing around pretending to be looking for the giant anaconda. She is goin to kill me if she sees this photo on my blog!

Photo Hunt: Hanging

This week's Photo hunt is Hanging. I picked this photo of Maya swinging on the Rigi Mountain, near Luzern Switzerland. She looks like she is hanging over the precipice, but I can guarantee she was safe...

Hmmmmm.......

UNBELIEVABLE!!!! This is WHY I watch BBC news

Maya in Black and White

Maya in Black and White
Originally uploaded by MSabine

Today Maya and I were waiting for Malina to hack her horse. I was playing around with my Canon Point and shoot (SD 750)
I was watching her play and asking her question. Here are the many faces of Maya throughout our conversation.

Weekend Snapshot: Maya's first Swim Meet

Maya had her first swim meet this weekend. Here she is with her medal.

Photo Hunt: What is that?

This week's theme is WHAT IS THAT?


These are little houses or shacks for the fishermen to store all their fishing gear at the harbor. I just love the colors on the houses...Photo taken in Neuchatel, Switzerland

Enjoying the summer in Santa Barbara

Today, we decided last minute to drive up to Santa Barbara. We did not do the beach thing this time, but had a nice lunch, did some shopping on state street, and then decided (who's idea was it anyways!??) to rent this four person bike and bike along the beach. It was a fabulous day. Lots of laugh...and sweat...hey it is NOT easy getting this clunker of a bike moving.....
here are a few shots

This first photo is of a shirt I SHOULD HAVE bought....after my recent trip to Switzerland, I AM SURE MISSING MY COWBELLS!

Funny how life is....

I spent three whole days coming up with the best way to spend next Spring Break which coincides with my 40th (well a week before my 40th).
My first choice was YELLOWSTONE/GRAND TETON. I was ready to book when I read somewhere that most entrances into the park are closed until the end of April. WE would have to drive from Jackson hole all the way into Idaho to get into the park. SO forget that one
My other choices, in no particular order, were Machu Pichu, but too far to fly
Then, Galapagos, but no one takes little three year olds, except for one tour company. And that made me re think the idea of taking her on a boat for a few nights (considering I was scared with her on a jet ski, how would I be sleeping on a boat with her!).....

THE THING is I am really NOT a beach person, but I did look into it. Kauai, Mexico, Caribbean. But nothing sounded great. I even looked into some awesome (and super expensive places in Tennessee and South Carolina). I even checked out Travel and Leisures 500 best places to stay. Everything I would have been happy with, but I had to worry about my kids. The 11 year gap makes a big difference, and even though it is MY 40th, I want them to be happy. A 14 year old is never happy unless she is jumping off roof tops 24/7 and my 3 year old is happy as long as she is with us... Then there was the money part. Did we want to spend a HUGE amount of money on this trip....
so many things to think about....
SO this is what I decided with. A real shocker....
FOUR DAYS IN VEGAS at nice resort, so that we can attend four days of the 2009 FEI World Cup Show Jumping. So can you see who WON the vacation battle!?!?!
BUT, I also get what I want. I decided to take off later for a four day weekend with my hubby (leave the kids with mom and dad) and go stay at The Inn at Langley on Whidbey Island; doing what I WANT TO DO! Grandma and Grandpa still have to be contacted on this issue....
So that is what I have been up to these past three days.
Though, today, Maya and I got to the Gardens of the World in our city with my friend Lisa...

Monday: 1pm and still in my jammies

Oh boy what a day it has been! It is 1pm and I am still in my jammies. I have done all of my laundry and cleaned up a bit around the house. Then made calls to various doctors and friends. Then caught up on my emails, photos, blogs, etc..
Oh and I also made breakfast and lunch (oops haven't cleared lunch yet)
Maya slept until 9 and Malina slept until 11! What a day!
NOW, I am trying to figure out what I want to do next April. I turn 40 next April and I DO NOT want a party. Sounds selfish, but hey it is MY birthday and I love to do TWO THINGS: Travel and take photos. So I had it in my head that I wanted to do one of three things: (we only have about 9 days)
1. Yellowstone
2. Machu Pichu
3. Argentina
-The problem with Machu Pichu is the journey would be EXTREMELY long, so is it worth it for 9 days!?!?
-The problem with Yellowstone, not for me, is that it will be cold. AVerage is 46 degrees Fahrenheit! Come from California, that would mean bringing and BUYING Maya all new winter clothes for one week.....but I LOVE THE COLD-- then again, we are in the middle of Global warming, WHO KNOWS what the weather will be!
-Argentina- I want to see so much of it, not sure I want to only be there 9 days....the country is BIG

So then what? One of the trips I HAVE ALSO BEEN dying to go on is the GALAPAGOS. But is it a trip for a 3 1/2 year old? It is about an 7-8 day trip and the flight is about 9+hours. Totally do-able. But how would it be with a 3 1/2 year old. One touring agency doesn't allow kids under 7. So is that the case for most!??! Also, will I feel ok with a 3 1/2 year old on a boat for a few nights? I mean she is a great swimmer, but we are talking the ocean here and she can't sleep with her life jacket on and I cannot expect her to sleep with me laying on TOP OF HER JUST TO BE SURE SHE DOESN'T LEAVE THE ROOM!
Well so much to think about. Any recommendations?!?
For now, I am going to clear up the kitchen, close my laptop and go shower...it is 1:40pm now...I think it is time to get dressed.....

Weekend Snapshot: Quack Quack

We took a trip to a lake over the weekend and had a pic nic. Someone was VERY interested in what we had to eat...though we didn't share...

Photo Hunt: Support

This week's theme is SUPPORT. I went with this Swiss photo of a bridge, which SUPPORTS the train across the valley. Just in case, you might be interested, the bridge is on the outskirts of the town, Saint Ursanne in Switzerland

Photo Hunt: Together

This week's theme is TOGETHER.
Here is a photo from last summer. I just stumbled upon it. It was a great time, though I was a bit nervous. My brother TOGETHER with Malina, took Maya for a spin on the jet sky...



PhotoHunt

HELP!?!? How to cancel my old email account with YAHOO?

About 6 months ago I switched from yahoo to .mac for my email. ON Yahoo I was just bombarded with junk and couldn't handle it any longer.
I haven't officially canceled Yahoo and would go once in a while and check. Today I checked after a month of being away, and I have over 2000 emails! YIKES!
So I went on a search to cancel my yahoo email account...
Cannot find it for my life. ANY IDEA?? Please help...

Simplicity at its best

I have always craved simplicity. My next house is going to have to be simple, with straight lines, and all spaces not wasted. I think I might have found THE house. These are prefab homes by Ron Radziner and Leo Marmol. They can be customized and they are green, modern and steel framed. I LOVE THE IDEA. Check out their web site. They also have a blog

Le Tour

I have been watching Le Tour de France. It is something I grew up doing in person while growing up in Switzerland. Now I content myself seeing it on TV (and thank goodness for DVR or Tivo). My favorite rider is Fabian CANCELLARA on team CSC; in case you have not guessed it he is SUISSE!!!
I leave you with this STOP on LE tour...

When you have to go you have to go...Thank goodness this is a male tour (not sure why that is, but it could be because it would much harder for us LADIES to stop for a pee.)

I HATE PENNIES- The cent is Sensless...

One of the things I hate most, next to Ironing and Flossing is change, especially pennies! WHY are we even bothering with the 1 cent penny in today's economy. I hate the prices in this country such as $14.99. OK make it $15, who are you kidding with your 14.99.
Ok maybe it is not THE right time to get ride of the penny, considering our economy, but oh I AM SOO ready for this country to get rid of it! Though the Baristas of this world, would make less tip, as I ALWAYS throw my change in their tip jar!
Check out this 60 minute video from last night



I hate to break it to you, but looks like the US is NOT ready to give up its penny...

Weekend Snapshot: My girls

Been away for a month, but I am back. I leave you today with two photos; one of each of my girls. I could not decide.

My creation. Flickr meme

My creation. Flickr meme
Originally uploaded by MSabine

Here is my Flickr meme. For my Photo Hunt, please see below...
I found out about this from this blog
It is alot of fun....


Here's how it works:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker

And here are the questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

This week's theme is pointed....
This is what I came up with....
A point-y(ed) cactus...ok long shot but this is what I wanted to use...
I also came up with this... a pointed church steeple (photo taken on my trip to Switzerland)

That is what I could come up with.. I have had a difficult time getting back in the groove of things after being away for a month....I will take the time to write more next week or over the weekend about my trip...

Home...too tired to blog

I am home, doing laundry and exhausted...
Thanks to my friend, Carver, I have my Swiss Cows...if only I could put it on Repeat



while on youtube, you can't stop at just one video...here is one great one I found....