I borrowed this from MP, even though she didn't tag me. Meanie. :)
Four place I go to over and over:
Work
Maddy's daycare
Wal-Mart
Home Depot
Four people who e-mail me (regularly):
Heather
Lynn
Craig
Kristen
Four places I would rather be right now:
Shoe shopping
Golfing
The beach
Asleep in my bed
Four TV shows/programs that I watch over and over:
Friends reruns
House Hunters
Designed to Sell
Looney Toons Cartoons
Four things I have for breakfast:
Diet Pepsi
Yogurt
Special K Breakfast Bar
Water
Four animals I like best:
Dogs
Penguins
Fish
Giraffes
Four beaches I’ve been to:
Mamora Beach, Antigua
Longboat Key -Florida
Panama City Beach, Florida
Cancun
Tagging 4 people:
I will let you tag yourselves. Tell me in the comments if you do this.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Whip It Up - Week 8
I can't believe it's over. Maddy and I had a lot of fun with this project.
Since it's the last week, Chef Maddy will do the honors. Take it away, Maddy!
Hi, I'm Maddy. My mom and I made Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites. When she makes chocolate chip cookies, I sneak into the batter when she's not looking. But then she tells me it's not safe because of the raw eggs. I think if she ate it all those years, and she's okay... well, maybe that explains a lot.
Anyway, my mom found this recipe for egg-less cookie dough that you mix up, chill in the refrigerator, then cover with more chocolate. These are easy to make, because you don't have to turn on the oven.
Here are the ingredients. I was so excited to make these we didn't get to take a picture of the ingredients. But we did take lots of other pictures.
1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (we used fat-free)
2 cups flour
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 package chocolate candy coating
Combine butter and brown sugar until blended. Add condensed milk until creamy. Add flour and mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto a wax-paper lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate for abut an hour or until hard.
Melt candy coating in the microwave. You can either dip the whole ball in the chocolate or just brush it over the tops, like we did. Place in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to set the chocolate.
Was it easy? Very easy. I'm 9 and I could do it. My mom did help a little.
Was it good? I said yum! Mom said holy cow. Mom says they're really rich, and taste just like cookie dough.
Would I make it again? Mom said these would be good for a pity party. I asked her what that was, and she said when you have a bad day and need chocolate.
Full set on Flickr.
Since it's the last week, Chef Maddy will do the honors. Take it away, Maddy!
Hi, I'm Maddy. My mom and I made Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites. When she makes chocolate chip cookies, I sneak into the batter when she's not looking. But then she tells me it's not safe because of the raw eggs. I think if she ate it all those years, and she's okay... well, maybe that explains a lot.
Anyway, my mom found this recipe for egg-less cookie dough that you mix up, chill in the refrigerator, then cover with more chocolate. These are easy to make, because you don't have to turn on the oven.
Here are the ingredients. I was so excited to make these we didn't get to take a picture of the ingredients. But we did take lots of other pictures.
1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (we used fat-free)
2 cups flour
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 package chocolate candy coating
Combine butter and brown sugar until blended. Add condensed milk until creamy. Add flour and mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto a wax-paper lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate for abut an hour or until hard.
Melt candy coating in the microwave. You can either dip the whole ball in the chocolate or just brush it over the tops, like we did. Place in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to set the chocolate.
Was it easy? Very easy. I'm 9 and I could do it. My mom did help a little.
Was it good? I said yum! Mom said holy cow. Mom says they're really rich, and taste just like cookie dough.
Would I make it again? Mom said these would be good for a pity party. I asked her what that was, and she said when you have a bad day and need chocolate.
Full set on Flickr.
Monday, August 25, 2008
How I Spent My Lunch Hour
It has been absolutely beautiful weather lately. Today for lunch I walked over to Hardees for a mushroom swiss burger (heaven on a bun, I tell ya):
Tanned my toes (color is OPI I'm Not Really A Waitress):
Listened to the fountain:
And just enjoyed the scenery of this lovely city:
What did you do?
Friday, August 22, 2008
Working for the Weekend
It's Friday. Finally. It feels like this week should have been over yesterday. We've got another jam-packed weekend, and our next three are busy as well - camping over Labor Day, NASCAR, then a golf tournament. I won't have a free weekend until mid-September. Oy.
I like being busy, but sometimes I feel like we're so overscheduled. However, my weeks are not as busy now. Maddy has soccer practice only one day a week, and we won't start gymnastics until after soccer is finished. I think we can handle that for now. It's nice to be able to go home, put on my comfy clothes, and even be able to sit down and watch some TV. I can cook some decent meals, we can get homework finished, showers taken, lunches made, and not feel all rushed.
She's been getting out of bed faster this week, ever since I stopped Tuesday night and bought Krispy Kremes for breakfast. About 10 seconds in the microwave freshens them right up. I've been known to wave pancakes under her nose to get her out of bed, too. Whatever works is my motto.
Wouldn't that be a great alarm clock? One that gives you coffee, or diet Pepsi, or pancakes as it gently awakens you with daily affirmations of "you are fabulous, now get up and show the world what you're made of."
I like being busy, but sometimes I feel like we're so overscheduled. However, my weeks are not as busy now. Maddy has soccer practice only one day a week, and we won't start gymnastics until after soccer is finished. I think we can handle that for now. It's nice to be able to go home, put on my comfy clothes, and even be able to sit down and watch some TV. I can cook some decent meals, we can get homework finished, showers taken, lunches made, and not feel all rushed.
She's been getting out of bed faster this week, ever since I stopped Tuesday night and bought Krispy Kremes for breakfast. About 10 seconds in the microwave freshens them right up. I've been known to wave pancakes under her nose to get her out of bed, too. Whatever works is my motto.
Wouldn't that be a great alarm clock? One that gives you coffee, or diet Pepsi, or pancakes as it gently awakens you with daily affirmations of "you are fabulous, now get up and show the world what you're made of."
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Whip It Up Wednesday - Week 7
This week's suggested theme was salad, which was perfect timing in my quest to lose weight and eat healthier. I've got a wedding or two to look good in, you know!
Maddy recently fell in love with baby spinach, and I'm always up for a cool salad on a warm summer day. I wandered through the grocery store, and grabbed what I thought might be good, and that Maddy would eat. We put together this salad, which we have dubbed Kitchen Sink Salad (based on the "everything but the kitchen sink" saying).
Kitchen Sink Salad
1/2 bag pre-chopped salad greens (I used a lettuce trio mix)
1/2 bag baby spinach
1/2 cucumber, sliced
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1/4 c sliced mushrooms
2 oz gouda cheese, cut into small pieces
3-4 T shredded italian blend cheese
6-7 pieces of frozen pre-cooked fajita chicken, heated OR one grilled chicken breast, sliced
Croutons, bacon bits, favorite dressing to taste (I used Kraft Light Zesty Italian)
Mix the greens and divide among shallow bowls. Top with vegetables, warm chicken, cheese, toppings and dressing. Enjoy!
Was it good? Very good. For a salad, it was quite filling. Maddy said we should eat it more often. We probably should eat more fresh vegetables anyway. I'm glad she's a kid that will try things and then turn up her nose, instead of just outright refusing to eat anything new. She tried a raw mushroom, without much success. She did like the chopped red peppers.
Was it easy? Very easy. Most of the prep time was chopping the vegetables. Prepackaged salads are a fabulous invention, just make sure you look it over carefully for brown pieces before buying. There's really no way to screw this up, unless you accidentally drown it in dressing.
Would I make it again? Definitely. I will add more vegetables, like radishes or carrots. I might also try it with cooked shrimp. I might also use almonds to top it instead of croutons.
Pics on Flickr.
Maddy recently fell in love with baby spinach, and I'm always up for a cool salad on a warm summer day. I wandered through the grocery store, and grabbed what I thought might be good, and that Maddy would eat. We put together this salad, which we have dubbed Kitchen Sink Salad (based on the "everything but the kitchen sink" saying).
Kitchen Sink Salad
1/2 bag pre-chopped salad greens (I used a lettuce trio mix)
1/2 bag baby spinach
1/2 cucumber, sliced
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1/4 c sliced mushrooms
2 oz gouda cheese, cut into small pieces
3-4 T shredded italian blend cheese
6-7 pieces of frozen pre-cooked fajita chicken, heated OR one grilled chicken breast, sliced
Croutons, bacon bits, favorite dressing to taste (I used Kraft Light Zesty Italian)
Mix the greens and divide among shallow bowls. Top with vegetables, warm chicken, cheese, toppings and dressing. Enjoy!
Was it good? Very good. For a salad, it was quite filling. Maddy said we should eat it more often. We probably should eat more fresh vegetables anyway. I'm glad she's a kid that will try things and then turn up her nose, instead of just outright refusing to eat anything new. She tried a raw mushroom, without much success. She did like the chopped red peppers.
Was it easy? Very easy. Most of the prep time was chopping the vegetables. Prepackaged salads are a fabulous invention, just make sure you look it over carefully for brown pieces before buying. There's really no way to screw this up, unless you accidentally drown it in dressing.
Would I make it again? Definitely. I will add more vegetables, like radishes or carrots. I might also try it with cooked shrimp. I might also use almonds to top it instead of croutons.
Pics on Flickr.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Marriage 3.0
I created a new blog, Marriage 3.0, for those of you who would keep up on the wedding planning progress. I didn't want to turn this blog into a blow by blow of dress shopping and cake tasting (mmmm, cake).
Pop over occasionally, check it out, and feel free to leave comments.
Pop over occasionally, check it out, and feel free to leave comments.
Monday, August 18, 2008
I Love The Smell of New Crayons
Maddy's first day of school was last Friday, for two hours. Why two hours? Anyway, today was her first full day, complete with PTA membership money, Time for Kids subscription money, lunch money, and 7000 forms signed and filled out.
Last Friday she hauled her new backpack to school, crammed full of "supplies." I use the term "supplies" loosely, because every year the list gets longer and more ridiculous. Does she need permanent markers, thin and thick line? Dry erase markers? 10 reams of notebook paper? Two white washcloths? What the hell?
I get that teachers spend a lot of their own money on their room decorations and even supplies. I know that there are kids who can't afford their supplies. However, if the 10 reams of notebook paper are getting put into a community closet, and there are 24 kids, that's a lot of paper. Is there any left over from last year? Do we really need to send 10 reams on the first day?
So, being the rebel parent that I am, I don't send it all to school with them. I buy a lot of paper, pens, pencils, folders, crayons, glue sticks, etc., at the beginning of the school year, when prices are dirt cheap, and keep them at home. On the first day, she takes the minimum - one ream of paper, two pencils, two pens. That way, in three months when she needs something, we have it and I don't have to run to Wal-Mart at 9:30 at night, since that's the designated "oh I forgot to tell you" time in my house.
I remember taking crayons, scissors, glue, pencils, paper - you know, the basics. I never had to take colored pencils, dry erase markers, permanent markers, glue sticks, washcloths. (I need to ask her exactly why she's bathing at school). I don't mind sending paper towels and boxes of tissues with her, but still. Where exactly are my tax dollars going?
Yes, I know teachers are underpaid. Yes, I know taxes go for more than just school supplies. It just seems to get more and more absurd every year.
Was there something your child needed this year that made you say WTF? (Lynn, I'm looking at you and the orange folders!)
Last Friday she hauled her new backpack to school, crammed full of "supplies." I use the term "supplies" loosely, because every year the list gets longer and more ridiculous. Does she need permanent markers, thin and thick line? Dry erase markers? 10 reams of notebook paper? Two white washcloths? What the hell?
I get that teachers spend a lot of their own money on their room decorations and even supplies. I know that there are kids who can't afford their supplies. However, if the 10 reams of notebook paper are getting put into a community closet, and there are 24 kids, that's a lot of paper. Is there any left over from last year? Do we really need to send 10 reams on the first day?
So, being the rebel parent that I am, I don't send it all to school with them. I buy a lot of paper, pens, pencils, folders, crayons, glue sticks, etc., at the beginning of the school year, when prices are dirt cheap, and keep them at home. On the first day, she takes the minimum - one ream of paper, two pencils, two pens. That way, in three months when she needs something, we have it and I don't have to run to Wal-Mart at 9:30 at night, since that's the designated "oh I forgot to tell you" time in my house.
I remember taking crayons, scissors, glue, pencils, paper - you know, the basics. I never had to take colored pencils, dry erase markers, permanent markers, glue sticks, washcloths. (I need to ask her exactly why she's bathing at school). I don't mind sending paper towels and boxes of tissues with her, but still. Where exactly are my tax dollars going?
Yes, I know teachers are underpaid. Yes, I know taxes go for more than just school supplies. It just seems to get more and more absurd every year.
Was there something your child needed this year that made you say WTF? (Lynn, I'm looking at you and the orange folders!)
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