Let's make some new friends! Come on down to the Friends You Love Blog Hop!

"A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world."
~ Leo Buscaglia 

We all begin blogging for different reasons.

Initially we all have a story to tell or a skill to share.

Then, somewhere along the way, something happens.

We get a comment, an email, some type of validation.

And we respond.

A dialogue begins, and we begin to learn about someone new.

Most often, they live miles and miles away. Although sometimes we're lucky to find someone in our own back yard.

The next thing we know, a friendship is born.

The Friends You Love Blog Hop is a celebration of those friendships.

We encourage you to dig into your followers and reach out to someone you'd like to get to know better and ask them to guest post on your site!

Each Monday, you can feature those guest posts. Then, come back here, grab the linky, and link up! Share your new friend with the rest of the blogosphere!

And don't forget to visit the other blogs showcasing their new friends!

We hope to see you Monday!

Fall Into Friendship with Friends You LOVE!

It's back and better than ever! That's right friends, its time for the annual Friends You Love event. I am so excited to share the fun with you during the ENTIRE month of October. We'll be celebrating the amazing friendships and women we have in our lives with some MAJOR fun....and most definitely a few prizes! Plus just think of all the awesome NEW friends you can meet! BONUS!

I'm so stoked to be teaming up with some truly kick-arse women and some great new sponsors to be bringing Friends You Love straight to YOU!



 Take a peek at the fun we have in store for you!

- Friends You Love Kick-Off Twitter Party (RSVP Here!!)  - World's Greatest BFF Writing Contest - Besties Photo Contest - Friends You Love Scavenger Hunt - Friends You Love Twitter Gala - Friends You Love Blog Hop (a weekly feature!)  

Head on over to Friends You Love for more info and to keep updated. You won't want to miss out on the awesomeness in store!

Nom Nom Nom...WWTK Q&A time!

Grab a snack because its WWTK time, and this week its about one of my favorite things....FOOD!!! And since I'm totally PMS-ing and shoving my face with food ALL. DAY. LONG,  I guess I can put the chips down and wipe the crumbs off of the keyboard so I can answer these awesome questions, courtesy of my boo, Mamarazzi!


Here they are:


1. What is the one thing (food or drink) that you MUST have everyday?
2. What is your "go to" food when you don't feel well/need comfort?
3. Is there a dish that you make that people request when they visit your home/a family favorite?
4. What are 3 foods that you have TRIED and do not like and will NEVER eat again?
and our final question comes from Dee at Homesick Cajun (LOVE that girl!!)
5. What is one thing that you love to eat that people would think is weird and/or gross?

I'm getting hungry just thinking about answering these questions!


1. What is the one thing (food or drink) that you MUST have everyday?

Umm....have we met? Must I answer this?? :) Red Bull.  No ifs, ands, or buts!

2. What is your "go to" food when you don't feel well/need comfort?

When I don't feel well I'm normally not hungry, but I do love a warm cup of herbal tea. Its just so soothing. If I'm looking for emotional comfort then its normally a protein style hamburger sans the sauce from In N Out with a generous helping of fries of course! Allergy friendly AND delicious.... BONUS!

3. Is there a dish that you make that people request when they visit your home/a family favorite?

This is going to sound weird....but my meat loaf is quite the popular dish around these parts! Thats what she said. HA! I originally made it because its my husbands all time favorite meal, and it turned out that our friends LOVE it. How random is that?! Me, personally, well I wouldn't touch meat loaf with a ten foot pole. Not my gig man.

4. What are 3 foods that you have TRIED and do not like and will NEVER eat again?

This is easy. Anything with peanut butter, mayonnaise,  or donuts. It makes me dry heave to think of eating any of those. Blech.

5. What is one thing that you love to eat that people would think is weird and/or gross?

You probably haven't even heard of it, but I LOVE it and everyone that has seen me eat it (minus my amazing sister in law, Atlanta) thinks its  friggin GROSS...its Kimchi. If you've never heard of it, its a Korean dish that is made up basically of fermented seasoned veggies, mainly cabbage. Sounds appetizing, right? Well its is! Don't judge!! :)

Dang it...now I'm hungry....again. Happy Humpday amigos!  I'm off to go grocery shopping...which is probably a bad idea since I'm STARVING!

All posts for We Want to Know should include:

1. The darling WWTK button

2. A link to your co hosts Mamarazzi and Queso

Links must lead to WWTK posts that contain the WWTK button. Posts should lead to Family Friendly blogs. Blogs containing explicit language and/or sexually explicit content should contain an "adult content warning", or risk being removed from the link list. Kthanks!

Berfday cake!!!! And yeah...I made it....

A couple of weeks ago two of my favorite little people, Rozzi and Ryder turned the big 0-2! Terrible twos here they come!! And since their mommies are two of my besties I was more than happy to make a birthday cake for them....it turned out pretty friggin awesome if I do say so myself. Which I just did. So yeah.

The circus came to town...

Now I feel like making another cake...

Any suggestions??

The Boob Tube Edition... WWTK Week 23

Can anyone PLEASE tell me why the television is called the "boob tube"?? I'm stumped and I really don't want to google the phrase "boob tube"....I have a feeling it won't be what I'm looking for. HA! Anyboobies, onto this weeks We Want To Know Q&A, with your lovely hosts Mamarazzi and ME! Due to the crazy amount of new shows and premieres on this week, I thought we could talk about our love, or not, of television!



 Take a gander at the Qs my friends!

1. What is your MUST SEE show?
2. What shows are you most excited to watch this season?
3. How many hours a week do you actually watch tv?
4. Do you think tv has gotten too "racy" (vulgar, pushing the limit, etc) ?
5. How many tvs do you have in your house?




Now for the fun part...

1. What is your MUST SEE show?

Um, I have to pick just ONE!? If there was a gun to my head I would have to go with Castle. I love love LOVE that show!! Nathan Fillion seriously has the best character EVER! He's like our modern day JB Fletcher a la Murder She Wrote (Which is the BEST show ever made. Truth.)  AMAZEBALLS!

2. What shows are you most excited to watch this season?

Don't judge me...I kind of have a lot. In no particular order I would say: Castle, Criminal Minds, Parenthood, Sons of Anarchy, Jersey Shore and It's Always Sunny. I'm sure there's a few I'm missing.

3. How many hours a week do you actually watch tv?

Well I'm not sure how many hours I actually watch. Its on at night, but mainly as background noise while I chat with the hubs, play with the kiddos, and peruse the ol' interweb. But I normally sit and actually pay attention to about 4-5 hours a week.

4. Do you think tv has gotten too "racy" (vulgar, pushing the limit, etc) ?

Oh TOTALLY. Its crazy what getting older and being a mother will do to you. It freaks me out how much my kids can be exposed to with just the switch of a channel. I'm getting prude-ish in my old age, I swear. It kills me to see teens having sex and partying and totally glorifying it for kids to emulate. Its awful. Thank goodness for PBS, that's all I have to say. Ok, I'll get off of my soap box now.

5. How many tvs do you have in your house?

One. Yup. How ancient are we? I grew up in a house and well all had a TV in our own room. Which meant that we were all watching TV in separate rooms instead of being together! So I decided that when I had a family of my own I only wanted 1 TV in the house. It brings us together and allows us as parents to monitor what our kids watch. Holy crap, I sound OLD and responsible! UGHH!

Alright amigos, now its your turn! Happy Hump Day! 

Bow chicka bow wow....

All posts for We Want to Know should include:

1. The darling WWTK button

2. A link to your co hosts Mamarazzi and Queso

Links must lead to WWTK posts that contain the WWTK button. Posts should lead to Family Friendly blogs. Blogs containing explicit language and/or sexually explicit content should contain an "adult content warning", or risk being removed from the link list. Kthanks!

The newest Cline member!

I want to introduce you guys to someone....but before I do, can I just say that I've seriously been trying to write this post for almost 2 FRIGGIN WEEKS but someone keeps taking up all my time! Any by "taking up my time", I mean piddling on the floor, waking up at 5 in the morning ready to play, eating every 5 seconds and looking absolutely ADORABLE while driving me absolutely NUTS!

Friends....meet Lola....the newest resident here at the Casa De Cline.

Cholula "Lola" Cline....

My two favorite ladies....all together now...awwww!

Giving her brothers a run for their money!

My 3 favorite children....shh...don't tell the kids. HA!

That's right. 

3 dogs.

One for each kid.

Pass the straightjacket...I'm gonna need it.

On the road again...with WWTK Q&A!

It's been 2 months since my last road trip, and after reading Mamarazzi's questions for this week I'm totally inspired to plan another one! Lego Land? Disneyland?? I better start planning! But for now, join us for this weeks We Want To Know Q&A with the lovely Mamarazzi and of course ME! This week's fabulous questions are brought to you courtesy of Mamarazzi and her latest adventure! So read on, link up, and enjoy!



1. What are 3 must haves for a long road trip?

2. What was the destination of your most recent road trip?

3. What do you miss most about home when on a trip?

4. What is the furthest you have traveled on a road trip?

5. Will you "stop for the largest ball of twine, etc" or are you a "hurry and get there" road tripper?


And here we go friends!

1. What are 3 must haves for a long road trip?

Well of course I have to bring Red Bull...no Red Bull is a deal breaker! Duct tape Movies for the kids to keep their mouths shut keep them entertained. And last but not least...COMFY CLOTHES!! Sitting in a car for hours on end is TORTURE if I'm not in comfy clothes!

2. What was the destination of your most recent road trip?

I packed up the kids (SANS Hubby, he had to work) and drove down to So-Cal to spend a few days in Long Beach visiting la familia. In all honesty, I should have stayed home! That trip was a disaster and a half.

3. What do you miss most about home when on a trip?

My fridge! I hate not having access to my food. When you're allergic to EVERYTHING it gets tough eating on the road. Plus it keeps my Red Bull cold.

4. What is the furthest you have traveled on a road trip?

Well I've driven from Cali to Texas, from Cali to Arkansas, and from Cali to Illinois....so whichever one is farther. Have I told you I suck at geography? And I'm too lazy to calculate mileage.

5. Will you "stop for the largest ball of twine, etc" or are you a "hurry and get there" road tripper?

Mehhh...it really depends on where I'm going and who I'm with. I love to stop and take in the sights and explore new areas. Plus I kind of love shopping at random little gas stations. Weird, I know...BUT with kids in the car, sometimes its just better to hurry and get there! That's what she said.

All posts for We Want to Know should include:

1. The darling WWTK button

2. A link to your co hosts Mamarazzi and Queso

Links must lead to WWTK posts that contain the WWTK button. Posts should lead to Family Friendly blogs. Blogs containing explicit language and/or sexually explicit content should contain an "adult content warning", or risk being removed from the link list. Kthanks!

Good Ol' Fashioned Tea....bagging

Nothing says family fun like tea bagging your brother! Right?? On second thought that sounds kind of bad, let me explain.

This last weekend ALL of my family came to visit for the weekend...and by all, I mean ALL. Houses and cars were packed to capacity and everywhere you looked there were kids, kids, and more kids! But we had good reason to celebrate, my sister in law moved RIGHT DOWN THE STREET from me! She relocated from Virginia with her 2 kids while my oldest brother, Conrad, is deployed for 14 months to Afghanistan. So ALL of the family came to welcome them....including MY BROTHER CONRAD! It was the BEST surprise and it made for an emotional family gathering. He's been gone at training for 2 months and leaves for Afghanistan next week. While he was only here for the weekend, it made all of the difference to his wife and kids. But of course...we had to sneak in some family fun time.

I swear, even though we've all grown up, we haven't really grown up. I'm pretty sure our inner 12 year olds were out all weekend...Hence the tea-bagging!


Settle down sickos! I don't know what you were thinking when I said tea bagging...this is G rated tea bagging, Earl Grey style! Luckily for my brother, Nate, we only messed with him a little...falling asleep around our family can be dangerous.

But like the weekend, my family has come and gone and now its back to reality...pass the Red Bull and my car keys, this girl has got to GO!

Have an awesome day amigos!

Candy corn and jingle bells! WWTK Q&A Week 21

I love the holidays...like really LOVE the holidays. I may or may not listen to Christmas music in July, don't judge....sing along! And while perusing the shelves of my favorite store (Target of course) I found my cart filling up with Christmas goodies. LOVE IT. What about you? Do you love the holidays?! I wanna know this week on We Want To Know! So join me and the fabulous Mamarazzi for another fun Q&A....Holiday style!

<center><a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/OurDandelionWishes/WWTKbutton-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>

Here are this weeks questions:

1. What is your favorite holiday?

2. Do you have any fun holiday traditions? What are they?

3. When do you start Christmas shopping?

4. What is your favorite holiday food?

5. Share a favorite childhood holiday memory

6. Have you ever actually tried fruitcake??

Read on amigos!


1. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas. Hands down. I love EVERYTHING about it. The smells, the tree, the lights, the true meaning! I love celebrating our Savior's birth! It is seriously my favorite time of year. Fa la la la la la la la laaaaa!

2. Do you have any fun holiday traditions? What are they?

Well, this may not seem fun to anyone else, but we have come to love it! Ever since I can remember we have listened to The Chipmunks Christmas CD while we decorate our tree. I have vivid memories as a child and can hear that music playing in the background. And now, every year, I see my kids singing along while they decorate the tree to the same music. It warms my heart to see the happiness it brings. And even though The Chipmunk voices are incredibly annoying, its one tradition that will never change!

3. When do you start Christmas shopping?

Umm....about 2 months ago. HA! You should see my stockpile, its intense! In my defense, I find amazing prices and shop smart....a lot.... :)

4. What is your favorite holiday food?

I have to pick just one? I'm going to have to go with hot chocolate. I know its a drink and not really a food, but there's something about a warm cup of hot chocolate that just SCREAMS happy holidays! YUM!

5. Share a favorite childhood holiday memory

I wish I could find the picture to this, but one year my older brothers and I all got skate boards and Body Glove sweaters for Christmas...we thought we were the shiz! I'm pretty sure that was the year we got Hypercolor socks too...it was a big Christmas for us that year, lol!

6. Have you ever actually tried fruitcake??

Oh heck no. And I don't think I ever will. There's something just not natural about it.

There ya have it friends! Now its your turn :)

All posts for We Want to Know should include:

1. The darling WWTK button

2. A link to your co hosts Mamarazzi and Queso

Links must lead to WWTK posts that contain the WWTK button. Posts should lead to Family Friendly blogs. Blogs containing explicit language and/or sexually explicit content should contain an "adult content warning", or risk being removed from the link list. Kthanks!