Musical Monday - Sunshine Lollipops & Rainbows

Musical Monday - What moves you! hosted by Diane from Good Mourning, Glory! You should go visit her and tell her Kelly sent you...

One of my first memories as a child was a record album by Leslie Gore - across the cover read "Sunshine Lollipops, and Rainbows" This is the first album I took ownership of - it was my sister's but either she "outgrew it" or I just inherited it... I'm not sure.... But needless to say it became mine. I remember setting all my stuffed animals in my room as my own personal audience and I would dance around my room - singing this song.... Also - I use the quote "Sunshine Lollipops, and Rainbows" when I am trying to explain a great feeling.... So here's to you - my bloggie friends. Here's wishing you a "Sunshine Lollipops, and Rainbows" Kind of week....

The Birds....

Have you ever seen Hitchcock's Classic - The Birds? That movie completely freaks me out... For that reason - I cannot stand crows.... hate those ugly things... So last night while the sun was setting my husband comes home and says you have to go out in the backyard and see the birds...

We could tell they were coming from the Northeast - so we ran to the first of our home.. The Sky was amazing too..

Obama And The Mortgage Industry

Last night I watched a few minutes of the President's State of The Union Address. To be honest, I have never watched a State of the Union speech before and for the most part I am not interested in politics...but.. What I found interesting is that in the few minutes that I watched President Obama talk he was addressing the big changes that have happened in the mortgage industry... My industry.... This change is the biggest change in the mortgage lending business in 30 years and everyone is going crazy.... As one lender put it to me - leave it to the government to "simplify" a document - by making it 3 pages rather than the 1 page it was..

What President Obama stated in his Union Address is that buyers needs to know the fees that they are paying.... I completely agree with that statement but..... the form could be better.... the impact on lenders and brokers could be less drastic.... This is what is happening today with the NEW and Improved HUD - Department of Housing and Urban Development and NEW and Improved RESPA- Real Estate Settlement Procedure Act.

As of January 1st of this year - there is a new Good Faith Estimate - this is a form that outlines the fees you may pay to obtain a new mortgage loan... Before this year the form was 1 page - it had a list of services and the prices that are associated with a particular service... An ethical loan officer (all mine are) would fill out the form as close to the costs as possible - in most instances - my officer would quote high... and at the end of the day - if the fees were lower my loan officer would be a hero..

Now the form is a little confusing - after taking three classes to understand it - I got it but... it really isn't fair to the broker.... Basically what happens is this: If the broker (me) under quotes a fee - whether it be my fee... the lender's fee... escrow or title's fee... or a fee that was added by the lender after the fact..... Not only that - if the loan is a purchase - we must disclose some of the seller's cost - which in all fairness has NOTHING TO DO with the borrower's loan... This is new and if we mess up - there is NO TOLERANCE and the broker eats the difference...

Webster's Definition of Estimate is:

Main Entry: ¹es·ti·mate

Pronunciation: \ˈes-tə-ˌmāt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): es·ti·mat·ed; es·ti·mat·ing

Etymology: Latin aestimatus, past participle of aestimare to value, estimate

Date: circa 1532

1 archaic a : esteem b : appraise
2 a : to judge tentatively or approximately the value, worth, or significance of b : to determine roughly the size, extent, or nature of c : to produce a statement of the approximate cost of

Estimate is just that an estimate not an exact fee - with interest rates and the cost of a particular rate changing daily... at times by the minute - it is very difficult to quote an exact rate. The way lenders and brokers work is going to be much different... Many of my officers are afraid to quote due to the fact - they may be wrong and end up paying to close a loan rather than make an income... My submissions to the lender is lower than it has been in years - why? because my loan officers are afraid to mess up...

The government needs to realize that not all - lenders and brokers are bad people... I have been in this business for 23 years and I have always maintained high ethical standards... and so have my loan officers... I believe instead of penalizing the entire industry - penalize the lenders who have proven themselves to be abusers of the system... It would be much easier to have a monitoring system for fees on the government side vs having everybody adhere to strict and unforgiving guidelines....

It's a New World.... It's a New Day..... It's a New Government....

Kelly's TV Guide Lasagna

It might not be really famous - but it definitely is a crowd pleaser.. I found this recipe about a hundred years ago in TV guide - remember the TV guides that were still small and easy to read -the size of a Reader's Digest? My TV guide was a trusty dear friend who was always in my mailbox by Friday... I miss my old TV guide..... Funny - nowadays I have no idea what is on unless I see a show advertised....

Kelly's TV Guide Lasagna

Note: I used to boil my noodles but now I use the no boil noodles and they work every time.

Preheat oven 375 degrees

Ingredients:

1 pound mild Italian sausage - you could use beef if you like - I just like sausage
12 noodles cooked or uncooked.
1 large container of Ricotta Cheese - about 16 oz
2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 large jar of Ragu Old World Style Spaghetti Sauce - 26 oz - any sauce would do - I like Ragu

Brown the sausage



Add Spaghetti sauce to sauce and simmer.




Combine ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and eggs in bowl.



Spread 1 cup of meat mixture in 13x9 baking dish. Layer 4 noodles, then 1 cup of meat sauce, 1/2 of the Ricotta mixture; repeat. Top with remaining 4 noodles and the rest of the sauce. Cover tightly with aluminum foil back 1 hour.







Remove foil and sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake uncovered for 10 minutes. Let
stand a few minutes. Enjoy!

Musical Monday - Everybody Hurts - REM

Once again it's time for Musical Monday - What Moves You? Hosted by Diane at Good Mourning, Glory . Be sure to go and visit Diane - She's the Best.

My niece, Kristin sent me this video last week.... I have to warn you it is shocking.... It is a video - I believe created in Australia for DUI drivers... It is heartbreaking - graphic - and something I believe many should see... I clearly remember the days when I was a young girl driving home from a party and/or bar and being thankful that I did not kill anyone or myself...

Seeing Rainbows

I think today is the last day of the big rains in Southern California.... at least until next week.. I am thankful that we will have a weekend of clear blue skies.... I am looking forward to going outside tomorrow and smelling fresh clean air - air that only comes after a really good rainstorm.

But I do have to say - the rain has been fun... seriously.... Rain this intense is so very rare that I just had to enjoy it.... As I was driving home from dropping my kids off at school today - I was going over the freeway and to my left was the most incredibly huge rainbow... Every color - and it looked to be ending where I live... Of course, by the time I made it home - the rainbow was covered by clouds.... but just for the small moment in time - I was in awe... I saw God's promise to me....

My sister, Debbie - was lucky enough to see a rainbow today as well - except she took a picture

Jake Doesn't Take Any Crap!

I cannot express how thankful I am that the psycho Michelle is gone from The Bachelor... I was laughing so hard when she asked for a kiss and he gave her a tight lipped peck - the agony was written all over his face.... But what got me about falling onto the floor was when she asked for a "real" kiss and he left her hanging.... Then she gave the ultimatum... and he called her out and bye bye, Michelle.

I have to say that this bunch of women are by far the most back stabbing that I have ever seen... The drama is higher... The claws are longer.... and this bachelor is not having too much fun with this one. The last two (2) cocktail parties before the Rose Ceremony could have been mistaken for a Wake... seriously.... Last week one of the girls had an "inappropriate" relationship with a technician on the show - she was booted off the show - and now this week.... Michelle with her ultimatums - and the claws - and the ganging up on poor misunderstood Vienna.... I lost count on how many times she cried.. But I have to say my favorite bachelorette, Ali was not very nice last night - she was just plain mean.. Ali really has it out for Vienna.

So I will stay tuned to next week - the preview shows Jake not wanting to give out a couple of the roses.... he looks not too happy.... oh the Drama..

Here are a couple of clips to get a taste if you haven't seen it.

This is wacko Michelle - and her coconuts..

Jake, Michelle, and the awkward kiss - oh and he asks her to go...



The cats attacking Vienna

Okay I know I Am Crazy But...

My name is Kelly and I am addicted to The Bachelor.... Every season - I say I will never watch it again but here I am six (6) minutes until it starts antsy with anticipation... The girls this season have got to be the worst so far.... Beautiful no doubt.... but man these chicks have got some claws... meow.... and the bachelor Jack is my fave... at least so far...

This girl - is super crazy psycho and for whatever reason she is still here....

Her name is Michelle...

I am crossing my fingers she is gone tonight - last week when she was given a rose - my husband thought I had finally lost it..... no doubt - I was yelling at the TV - "Jake, no don't pick her she's crazy.." He did not listen.. maybe tonight..

If I Were A Rich Man - Rich Girl

Come Join us For Musical Monday - What moves you - hosted by Diane at Good Mourning, Glory!

What truly cracks me up is when my kids believe a song of theirs is an original.... Songs I listened to while I was growing up are now being remade...by various artists..

I was introducing my kids to The Fiddler on The Roof - one of my all time favorite movies... and when Tevye starts singing about being a "Rich man" my kids thought he copied the song from Gwen Stefani..... If I was a Rich Girl... funny..



Now Gwen

American Idol and The Scary Guy

I love love love American Idol - I was hooked from the first show and my love has grown stronger every season.... Last night there was some amazing talent and I believe we are in for a great season... But I do have to say this.... this guy totally freaked me out...... He was just scary... What do you think?

His name is Andrew Fenlon

Musical Monday - Let The River Run

One of my favorite blogs is Good Mourning, Glory - I love her wit and her incredible artistic talent - Every Monday she hosts Musical Monday - What Moves You - drop by and give her a visit... Tell her Kelly sent you....

Last weekend - I watched Working Girl with my kids... Watching the movie and hearing Carly Simon Sing - Let the River Run - reminded me how far I have come... How hard I have worked to get where I am and Not to give up - there are Happy Endings....

Looking For Appetizers

I have never been one for a big sit down meal.. I like a variety - buffets have my name on it... Not to get a bunch of food at once but to get a bite of different foods. My husband and I entertain every so often and one of my favorite things to do is have game night - everyone brings their favorite appetizer to share and their favorite beverage.... and then the battle of the sexes begin.....

This last party I was stumped for ideas.... I ended up taking a friend's suggestion and I went to a Vietnamese food place and ordered their egg rolls.. Not only did the rolls stink up my car and house for a week - several of the party goers had to take more than one - two - three trips to the bathroom - Stinks ville I tell you Stinks ville... Never ever again... TMI? Other than the gastro egg rolls - there was the usual meatballs, chips and dip, deviled eggs, mini cheese burgers, mini cheese cakes, and assortment of meats and cheeses....

I need some ideas... some recipes... I am asking you - My bloggers - my pals.... to get me out of this appetizer rut and give some good ideas... I will thank you - my guests will thank you.... and my dog will thank you......