3 Little Giggles

Wordless Wednesday Post - Confusing Sign

2011-05-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

Funny Store Names w/ Pics (a must read)

2011-05-07T17:44:00.000-07:00

I love coming across funny store names. The play on words are sometimes ingenious and sometimes just a little wacky. Here are just a few I have come across.

Spex Appeal - An eyeglass shop

Thai Me Up - Thai restaurant

A Brewed Awakening - Coffee shop

Do Me A Flavor - Icecream Shop

Twisted Scissors - A beauty salon

Curl Up & Dye - a beauty salon

Tequila Mockingbird - A Bar

Soon Fatt - Chinese restaurant

Master Bait and Tackle - A fishing tackle store

These are just a few funny ones I have found. Let me know if you have seen some too!

Wordless Wednesday - Statue inside The Venetian in Las Vegas

2011-05-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - All you Need is Love!

2011-04-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - Dog Tired

2011-04-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - Cheering can sometimes be such a "Drag"!

2011-03-23T11:43:00.001-07:00

Cheer Competition FUN!

2011-03-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

Ever been to a cheer competition and thought "Wow, this is a Blast!"? The energy that radiates through the whole place is addictive and your adrenaline pumps from the moment the festivities begin. But what you don't see is the amount of work that goes into planning and pulling off this grand event. Months of planning starts the process and then most the physical labor is done the day before and morning of the competition.

I was lucky enough to be a part of The Emmaus Cheer Challenge held earlier this month in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. This was the last cheer competition of the season and what a way to end it. It seemed to run flawlessly under the direct supervision of Stephanie Wright, EYWCA Cheer Coordinator and her crew of dedicated volunteers.

Here is a brief synopsis of what Stephanie and her volunteers went through preparing for the Cheer Challenge:

One of the biggest responsibilities is preparing the snack bar. Board Member, Jason Custer directs some volunteers on set-up and scheduling for the following day. Lots of donations were made to the snack bar which provided home-cooked food for the ravenous crowds.

Cheer Mom, Jeannine Korpics is setting up the Basket Raffle table. The table was overflowing with great baskets. Prizes ranged from bows to purses to gift certificates for various area businesses.

Many parents helped with the process of blowing up hundreds of balloons to form a balloon arch. It was great how everyone pulled together to create something none of us had ever done before.

Small details weren't overlooked, such as Cheer Dad, Mike Cichocki, programming the cash register to ensure everyones snack bar purchases were rang in correctly and most importantly quickly!

Even the cheerleaders got involved. Here are a few members of the Varsity Squad making noise makers for the Emmaus crowd to show their spirit.

Varsity Coach Deb stepped in to make sure the keepsake t-shirts were organized and neatly displayed.

Vendors are also a staple of cheer competitions. This time there was an offering of hair bows, jewelery, air freshners and flowers.

And what Competition would be complete without Awards?

These pics and this blog does not do justice to the amount of blood, sweat and tears that went on to throw such a fantastic cheer competition. So many wonderful volunteers played a key role in making this such a success.

And just in case you were wondering..... Emmaus won majorly at the Cheer Challenge. Emmaus Pep placed FIRST in their division. Emmaus Jr. Varsity placed FIRST in their division and Emmaus Varsity placed SECOND in their division. Way to go girls!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Big Bite!

2011-03-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-09T06:12:00.000-08:00

Yummy Southern Ambrosia

2011-03-08T07:12:00.000-08:00

Growing up in a traditional Southern home in the Alabama countryside, I had my fair share of amazing Southern foods. From Pulled pork to fried okra, from fried chicken livers to collard greens. Southern cuisine is full of history and love. I want to share a very simple recipe of one of my childhood favorites and best yet, no cooking required for this recipe.

Yummy Southern Ambrosia

Make sure to have a LARGE Bowl handy. Layer each ingredient one by one, do not mix! This looks great layered in a clear glass punch bowl!

Peel, section and cut up 4 navel oranges

Cut up 2 large apples (Braeburn, Fuji or any other crisp apple works best)

1 Large can of fruit cocktail (this is used mostly for its juice)

20 oz can of crushed pineapple

2 cups of crushed pecans (hint: buy in bag and crush using a mallet/meat tenderizer before opening package)

7 oz pack of flaked coconut

10 oz jar Maraschino cherries w/ out stems (cut in half)

You can add or leave out any ingredient you like in this Ambrosia - Customize it to fit your taste. Just remember to Enjoy!

First Place is Exhausting!

2011-03-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday - Supr Twins

2010-12-01T10:58:00.000-08:00

courtesy of BabyPop Designs

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-17T19:09:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday - Glamour Shots!

2010-07-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - Stereotyping (but I thought it was funny)

2010-07-07T08:00:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - Brrrrrrrr!

2010-06-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

Not so Glamorous Side

2010-06-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

This week I was given a really nice and unexpected compliment about my 3 little girls. My twins and I were attending Field Day at Juliann's School where she is finishing up 1st grade. I had the twins dressed in cute little sun dresses and OF COURSE matching hair bows.

A teacher who I had never met came up to me and told me I had "Stunning Daughters" and that I must hear this all the time. Well, I was a little taken back because I definitely think my girls are beautiful but you just don't hear the word "stunning" used when referring to children. I told her that as their mother, of course I thought they were beautiful. Her answer made me laugh when she said "Well, I have a little girl and I don't think she is all that". How do you respond to something like that?

I thought back on this conversation as we were camping this weekend and I looked at my "Stunning Daughters" with their dirty faces, windblown hair, and un-accessorized outfits and I thought what would this woman think about them now? But with their happy faces and big grins, I personally thought they had never looked more beautiful!!!

Wordless Wednesday.... Working Fireside!

2010-06-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - Bulldog Impersonation!

2010-04-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - All Cheered Out!

2010-03-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

A quick "Kayla"ism

2010-03-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

I love love love being a mom of 3 crazy little girls! We are never without laughter in this house... they certainly give me a lot of material to blog about. The twins happened to catch a stomach bug last night and was up most the night being sick. This morning they were wiped out and my normally rambunctious Kayla was pretty subdued, so I felt the need to blog about her...

One afternoon while allowing Kayla to make her own lunch I observed her being very generous with the peanut butter she was putting on her sandwich.

I say to her, "That's a lot of peanut butter for a little sandwich."

Without missing a beat she responds, "I'm a lot of little girl for this family!"

That about sums her up in a nutshell AND we wouldn't change it for the world!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Hug Denied!

2010-03-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday - Time to make the Donuts?

2010-03-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday - Cranky Child

2010-03-03T04:47:00.000-08:00

Out of the Mouths of my Babies!

2010-02-25T19:53:00.000-08:00

Kayla (age 5): Conversation I overheard Kayla having with her sister... "The only place you can pick your nose is in the bathroom; because that's where mommy can't see you take your 'burger' out!"

Kenzie (at age 4): My husband and I were sitting outside on our deck one Summer evening, enjoying the company of our neighbors when the more sensible of our 3 children comes outside sobbing and looking completely defeated. After calming her down enough to understand her she finally tells us "I am not pretty! I have flat hair and I really really really need the BUMP IT!" She had apparently just watched the commercial for this hair accessory and was devastated to realize she had flat hair and that only big hair was considered "fashiony"!

Juliann (at age 5): Juliann comes home from Pre-K one day all proud and informs me she is a TROPHY! "A trophy?", I ask. "Yes, Christopher and Luke are going to have a race tomorrow at school and whoever wins gets ME, a trophy!" Needless to say, this sent me into a fit of giggles.

Wordless Wednesday - This is a Doozy!

2010-02-24T12:55:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday (a day late)

2010-02-18T19:30:00.000-08:00

Another Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-10T16:04:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

Mommyhood

2010-02-07T19:11:00.000-08:00

Mommy, when we are all in Heaven can cowboys come up there too? asked by Kayla, age 5

Mommy, are you sure Kayla was not dropped on her head as a baby? asked by Juliann, age 7

Mommy, do I have to be a twin? asked by Kenzie, age 5

There are some moments in the day when I am speechless and have no answers for the varied and bizarre questions being thrown at me. And then there are the moments that take my breath away and makes me want to freeze time and keep my little girls from getting even a day older.

For every moment that I feel completely burnt out there are a million more moments that re-energize me and lets me know that I am exactly where I need and want to be.

God Bless Little Girls!

Motherhood such a "Blessing"?

2010-02-05T15:49:00.000-08:00

I have been blessed with 3 little girls who I love and adore on most any day of the week. These blessings were bestowed upon me with 21 months. The Lord apparently had a sense of humor when he doubly "blessed" me with my twins. My girls are beautiful, funny, bright and at times the cause of my insanity! Juliann is my oldest at 7 years old and the twins Kayla and Kenzie are 5 (and a half, as they are quick to remind me).

When people think of twins they automatically think they are going to act the same or look the same, at least have some similarities. Such is not the case with mine. My Kenzie is "My Scarecrow". I gave her this nickname after watching The Wizard of Oz. When Dorothy says goodbye to her friends she says, "I think I will miss you the most Scarecrow." Kenzie is my tender-hearted, quiet, content with being by herself child. She is my budding artisit. She writes at almost the same level as her older sister and is starting to recognize her sight words.

And then there is Kayla.... she is my free spirit. As I am writing this she is putting a dress on her Ken doll and throwing him down the basement steps yelling "fly baby fly". She is the one who at the Dr's office will not cooperate during the eye exam. When prompted by the Dr. to tell him what letter he is pointing to on the eye chart she responds "what letter do you think it is?"

At age 3 she would not tell people her real name. She would go for weeks referring to herself as "Rollerskate" , "Eyeshadow", "Fishtank" or my all-time favorite "Princess Flower wearing dress and lots of makeup".

Kayla is definitely the one who is turning me and my husband grey. The one who was the main factor in deciding to wait a year to send the twins to kindergarten. And she is the one who reminds me so much of ME when I was little. So I guess my mom got her wish... for me to have a child just like I was! But you know what? I wouldn't change it for the world!!!

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-02-03T16:49:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-27T15:38:00.000-08:00

My name is Brandy and I have an addiction...

2010-01-24T17:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's true! Me, Brandy Cichocki, mother of 3, loving wife, Baptist, cheer coach, active member of the PTO, President of my Neighborhood Assoc. and Owner of 3 Little Giggles has an addiction and I am about to reveal it to the internet world. I am addicted to... Reality TV. And not just slightly, I am obsessed with it. You name it, I probably have it scheduled to be recorded on my DVR. As I am typing this I have this weeks Real Housewives of Orange County playing. BTW, loving the big hats ladies.

My most recent obsession is with Jersey Shore - OMG, I love every moment of that show. Hair poofs, fist pumping, Guidos, Guidettes and don't forget TGL (tanning, gym, laundry). I mean this show has it ALL! For all intents and purposes I should not love this show. I am a 35 year old, married, mother of 3 and seriously this show should not appeal to me BUT it so does.

My husband, God bless him, puts up with this obsession of mine but I think it's starting to get to him. Our DVR is 90% full and it's all my recordings and he has no room for his own. But my argument is, I do not make him sit and watch all these shows, I record them so we can watch his. And then I watch these late at night as I am up working on hairbows.

This is what is currently on my playlist:

Project Runway

Models of the Runway

Jersey Shore Reunion Show

Real Housewives of Orange County

Watch What Happens: Live

Toddlers and Tiaras

Millionaire Matchmaker

Little Miss Perfect

Biggest Loser: Couples

Chef Academy (the whole season, I haven't had a chance to watch it yet)

Tabatha's Salon Takeover

Food Network Challenge

Launch My Line

Hours and hours of mindless tv. It is my guilty pleasure and if loving it is wrong, I don't want to be right.

An odd Holiday Tradition!

2010-01-09T15:36:00.001-08:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE Christmas! Not necessarily actual Christmas day but the weeks (perhaps months) leading up to it. For me the Christmas season starts in October. I know as I am carving pumpkins, hauting the house and prepping Trick-or-Treat goodie bags that Christmas is just around the corner. My wonderful hubby knows that he soon will be dragging out the 2 dozen or so rubbermaid containers full of Christmas decorations; setting up the 2 inside trees as well as decking the halls outside.

One of my favorite, non-traditional activities is driving around looking at all the lights. BUT not just the classy all white displays or even the over-the-top color explosions. I get most excited when I see the homes that are all decked out in their Christmas best along with the their left-over Halloween displays. I mean seriously, I get all giddy and tingly when we drive past a lovely Nativity scene set up right next to a plastic glowing jack-o-lantern or seeing Jolly O' Saint Nicholas swaying in the breeze next to an inflatable Dracula. You have to appreciate those souls who think it is quite ok to walk right past their Halloween decor and set up their Christmas displays. My favorite is this one house who puts up a plastic pumpkin around their street light - very festive for All Hallows Eve and then for Christmas they place a bright red Santa hat on top of said pumpkin.

Now that we are in the second week of January I am sad to see most people have turned off their Christmas lights... not necessarily taken them down, but turned them off. :-(

2010-01-02T10:01:00.001-08:00

Hello World, I am entering the world of blogging.... wish me luck!