Somewhat ridiculous...

but I can't help but wish I was going to see them in concert. What could be more fun than a bunch of 30 something mommies acting like they are 15 again while a bunch of guys who are pushing 40 dance and sing?

Anyone with me on this?

Oh, and did you see the girls with the mini skirt and shorts on? Her legs look exactly like mine. It was like looking in the mirror

I got

this one.

Fund Raiser for CF

Tricia and Gwyneth are out of the hospital!

In their honor, Lisa Leonard Designs will be donating 20% from all of today's sales to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Go treat yourself! I'm going to.

New Tunes

I know that there are a lot of people out there who frown on blog music and many of the "cool blogging kids" down right hate it. I don't care though. I discovered Renee & Jeremy last night and I just love them. So, if I wake your baby up, sorry. If you hate it, turn it down. And if you think having music on my blog makes me lame, so be it.

If it makes it take forever for the page to open, let me know....

True Jeans Giveaway

Those of you who know me in real life, know that I have a gift for finding a great deal. This "gift", has brought many lovely things into my life. A new, $900 Pottery Barn area rug for $200, A three month old, $3,000 Pottery Barn sectional for $800, my $1,500 Nicole Miller wedding gown for $30. If I do say so myself, I'm good.

I'm bad too. As a result of my love for a bargain, I have a fair amount of not so great fitting clothes that I bought simply because they were such a great deal. I'm working on it though, and I've gotten better. Over the last two years, I've adopted the Oprahism of "Would I want it if it were full price?". Usually, the answer is no.

That being said, I probably own 10 pairs of jeans, all purchased on sale, before having children or at some point shortly after. I don't like how any of them look and so, most days, I reach for my Yoga pants. I thought that looking good in jeans was another casualty of mommyhood until I tried on a pair of my friend Christina's 7 for All Mankind jeans. It was right before I got pregnant with Grace. I was back to my pre-baby weight, but not my pre-baby bod and those jeans looked amazing on me. My butt, was back where it belonged. The waist band was in the right place, eliminating my "muffin top". I vowed to get a pair. I began the hunt. I tried on 100 pairs of designer jeans. I fell in love over and over but I couldn't pull the trigger. $150 plus for jeans? Crazy. I told myself one pair of $200 jeans that are worn every day is worth it and better than 10 pairs of $20 jeans. I still couldn't do it.

Then I was pregnant again and my quest ended. I still want a pair though. I've been telling myself that as soon as I lose the last 5 pounds, it's off to Nordstrom I go....who am I kidding though? I'll never spend $200 on jeans.

Imagine my delight when I learned that 5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a $200 gift certificate for True Jeans! Excited? Just a little. I could spend that gift certificate in a heart beat. I wouldn't even wait to lose those last 5 pounds.

Dinner's ready!

About a year and a half ago I started getting together with my friends Bex and Kathy to make freezer meals. At first, it was a little overwhelming. Have you ever cleaned, chopped and cooked 15 pounds of chicken at once? Let me tell you, it can make you not want to eat chicken for a while....

When we first started, we used the cook book Cooking Among Friends for inspiration. We primarily made meals that were completely cooked and just had to be heated. This method is fine for a lot of dishes; chicken pot pie, shepherd’s pie, most soups and lasagna all reheat very well. However, there were some disappointments. While all of the recipes we tried were tasty, meat tends to get a little tough after being cooked, frozen and then reheated.

In November, a group of my friends went to one of those meal assembly places, like Dream Dinners, but not. After spending close to $200, I went home with six different dishes, divided into 12 meals. It was a lot of fun. All the prep work was done and we didn’t have to clean. We drank wine and laughed while dumping ingredients into freezer bags. However, I can’t say that I have been overly impressed with my meals. Don’t get me wrong, nothing has been bad, it's just been very basic. For $200, I expected a lot more. We did learn a valuable lesson though…leaving the meat raw not only saves a tremendous amount of prep time, but also guarantees that it will be tender and juicy when you are ready to prepare it.

This weekend Bex, Kathy and I got together and cooked. We each chose two recipes from Dream Dinners and purchased ingredients to make six batches of each. From start to finish, it took 3.5 hours to prepare, package and clean up after making six different recipes and a total of 36 meals. It was just as much fun as the pricey meal assembly place and really not much more work. I now have twelve delicious meals in my freezer and best of all, it only cost $80. Works for me!

Here are the recipes for the two meals that I made:

Chicken Cordon Bleu (1 meal)

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 slices of ham, thinly sliced
6 slices Swiss cheese
½ c canned cream of chicken soup
¼ c white wine
¼ c sour cream
1 T Dijon mustard
1 c mushrooms, sliced
1 t minced garlic
¼ t ground nutmeg
1 t kosher salt
½ t black pepper
2 scallions, chopped

Place each chicken breast on a cutting board. Arrange a slice of ham and Swiss cheese on top of each one. Roll each chicken breast tightly and secure with a toothpick. Place in baking dish.

In a bowl combine everything but the scallions. Mix thoroughly. Pour over chicken. Sprinkle with scallions.

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes at 375.

To freeze, cover with plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw in refrigerator before cooking as directed above.

Slow-Cooked Barbecued Beef (1 meal)

2 lbs beef chuck roast
1 c yellow onions, diced
1 t minced garlic
2 c ketchup
¼ c balsamic vinegar
2 T Dijon mustard
¼ c packed brown sugar
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1 t kosher salt
1 t black pepper

Place roast in crockpot. In a bowl, combine other ingredients and mix well. Cook on low setting for 6-8 hours, until the meat falls apart easily. Shred the meat with a fork and serve over hamburger buns or potatoes.

To freeze, place the roast in a freezer bag and pour sauce in. Thaw in refrigerator and cook as directed above.

I’ve already tried them both and they were delicious!

My very sophisticated sense of style....

I spend a lot of time poking around Etsy. Imagine my delight when I stumbled across an artist who has painted tributes to the characters of my two favorite shows, Lost and The Office. I'm telling you, if I had a bigger house with a designated home theatre room I would buy some of these in a heart beat.






Okay, so I probably wouldn't buy the Lost ones, they're fun but they don't have the same impact on me as these. I'm envisioning them on stretched canvas hanging over my couch...I think they would make me smile every time I walk into the room. Especially Dwight.









Check out Elloh's art on Etsy! If you don't think she's fun, I don't know if we can be friends.

A good reminder...

I complain a lot about the weather in my little corner of the world and dream of moving someplace warm and a lot less expensive (where a half million dollars buys you your dream home and not an 1800 square foot cape). However today, chilly as it was, was a day that I was struck by the beauty of this place and remembered that yes, I really do love it here. I don't think any other place could feel so much like home.

In the summer, this harbor is dotted with sailboats. When Brad and I first met, he took me fishing for Stripers here. He and a friend shared a little boat with a little engine that was perfect for trolling around the harbor. Dressed in jeans and sweat shirts, we drank beer and ate sandwiches as the fish literally jumping out of the water around us. The night was clear and the sky filled with millions of stars. I caught nothing on my own, but he let me real a bunch in. The future was unknown and it was a wonderful night.

We got married in this town and had our pictures taken with this harbor as a back drop. My friends tell me that it was freezing cold (and from the pictures, I'd say it was), but I hardly noticed.

Now we are lucky enough to have this place to bring our kids to play. Even in the cold, they loved playing at the park. I think Sam summed it up best, "It sure is beautiful, huh?"

I couldn't resist!

Our second trip of the year to Target resulted in the breaking of one of my top New Years resolutions....don't buy things you don't need...

but can you blame me? They were on clearance for $7 and I giggled out loud at the thought of them with a bright pink tutu....on Grace, not me of course!

Michael W Smith Christmas Album

A few weeks ago, Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer wrote about an opportunity to receive the new Michael W. Smith Christmas CD for FREE. Nothing against MWS, but this is probably not a CD that I ever would have gone out and purchased. I've never been a fan and if I'm honest, the only song of his that I can even name is "Go West Young Man" (and I hate it). However, being a lover of all things free and excited to discover that my blog receives enough unique hits each month to qualify, I signed up.


It came today and I played it while I cleaned my house. I was pleasantly surprised. It is indeed MWS, just as I remember him, but it's also festive and joyful and the lyrics are beautiful. No songs about sleigh bells ringing or walking in winter wonderlands (or going west:), but songs of hope and joy about the birth of The Messiah. It's beautiful, I'd like it even if I had paid for it.

If you want to hear a few of the songs, click on the little MWS thingy that is adorning the left side of my blog that I promised to put it there in exchange for the CD....

Freecycle

I've been a Freecycler for over a year now. It's been a great way to get rid of things that we no longer need and we've also received some really great things. Check out what I picked up yesterday, for FREE! It all looks new...If I had bought it it would have been around $250 plus shipping! Way to be green!

Jesse Tree

Although I grew up in a Christian home, using a "Jesse Tree" as a way to celebrate Advent is new to me. For those who are unfamiliar, it is a set of 28 ornaments that each depict a Bible story leading up to the birth of Christ. Each day, you tell the story and display the ornament. It's a wonderful way to share the true meaning of Christmas with your children while counting down the days to Christmas.

Although Advent has not started, I wanted the last ornament on our tree to go up on Christmas day, so we started yesterday. Sam loves it. This morning while eating breakfast he asked, "Mommy can you tell me about God and then we'll hang an ornament on the tree?"

The story was about Adam and Eve and the ornament depicts an apple with a serpent. Sam had lots of questions;

"Mommy, why they disobey God?"

"Did they get a spanking?"

"Why the snake talked to them?"

"Was God really mad when they were bad?"

I answered the best I could but was a little unprepared for the next set of questions.

"Mommy, where did they live?" to which I replied, "The Garden of Eden."

"Mommy, where do the Wiggles live?" and just like that, it was over and we were on to something else.

Stay tuned.....my knock off Pottery Barn, made by me, Jesse Tree is just waiting to be photographed...I am becoming very crafty!

Merry Christmas to me!

Guess what Momma got yesterday? This!!! Now I just have to learn how to use it...which is a little more complicated than I thought it would be...

Christmas is coming....Lead free gift ideas!

Today was 34 degrees. The sky was grey and it looked like it could snow....As I drove to the grocery store with my kids this morning, random thoughts crossed my mind....where the heck did the last year go? Was it really 80 degrees six weeks ago? Holy cow, Christmas is six weeks away!

A few years ago, we stopped buying gifts for our siblings....if just felt too stressful. Nobody is rolling in extra cash, and quite frankly nobody really needs anything. We all have closets full of clothes and homes full of clutter...plus, as we get older, I've found that it's harder and harder to buy the right thing...every one's size and style has changed....

We do buy for the kids though. This year, I'm finding that to be a bit stressful too...okay, maybe not stressful, but certainly confusing and thought provoking. Every time you turn on the news there's a new toy on the recall list. Lead paint and other toxic chemicals seem to be on (in?) just about everything. If you walk down any toy aisle in Target you will see a minimum of three recall notices....what's a mom to do?

This year, I will either be making or buying handmade and lead free gifts. The little girls in my life are getting custom made tutu's. Although they are a bit labor intensive, they are inexpensive to make and they look adorable on...I can't wait to get pictures of all my nieces together in colorful tutu's!

I love Etsy. If you've never checked it out, you should. It's completely addictive....I for one, can spend hours browsing. Some of my favorites sellers for kids items are:

Hillcountry Dollmaker

Joyce makes the most adorable Waldorf Dolls

Tiddlywinks the cutest dolls and animals...she's having a sale right now!

Grandpa's Woodshop sells beautiful handmade puzzles with a non toxic finish (what little boy wouldn't love this fire truck?). Nature's Enchantment sells wonderful Waldorf inspired toys. The miniature fairies and fairy houses are so sweet. I wish Grace was old enough to play with them! You must check out the Chenille Chef. She makes the yummiest looking play food. I want it all...but alas, Grace is just one years old and if I buy it for Sam....well Grace will never have anything but hand me down toys.

For the grownups on your list Dragonflies sells beautiful marble magnets, coasters and aprons. She is wonderful to work with and the quality of her products will not disappoint. Brag Bags is another great shop. She makes very reasonably priced photo jewelry. I had a bracelet made for my mom and for myself for Mother's Day. There isn't much listed right now, but check out the items that she's sold.

If you are not making a commitment to give hand made this year (the more I think about it, I know that I probably will have to buy some store bought gift...they will be lead free though!), I have one fail proof gift idea. Season three of The Office. If you don't have seasons one or two than those would be just as good! If you are not a fan, you will be! There's something Seinfeldish about it....you can just pop in an episode and no matter how many times you've seen it, it's still hilarious.

For me...here's what I'm hoping to find under the tree.....I really don't expect my husband (or want him to) to make me a gift!

For more great gift ideas, check out The Christmas Shopping Carnival at Don't Try This at Home.

Mom's night out...AKA....Multitasking

I was one of the last in my group of friends to get married and have children. In fact, three short years ago I was just about the only one in our group who didn't have kids....We refer to that era as the good old days....Brad and I lived in an ocean front condo. We had a boat and kayaks thirty yards from our front door. We went on vacations and slept in on the weekends. We could have sex whenever we wanted and for as long as we wanted because there was no fear that someone would wake up crying or turn up at the side of the bed looking to cuddle. Back then, I cooked wonderful meals and if I didn't feel like cooking we ordered takeout or ate at one of the many restaurants in the seaside town that we lived in.

I'm pretty sure if one of my "mommy" friends had told me that they were getting together with other mommies to make meals that they could take home and freeze, I would have rolled my eyes and thought, "Wow, how can you possibly control your excitement...that sounds about as much fun as a root canal..."

Fast forward three years....can you guess who organized a cooking gathering and has been looking forward to it for weeks? Yup, that would be Moi! You know why I did it? Another friend organized one a few weeks ago and I didn't register in time to get food. Even though I couldn't make anything, I STILL WENT just to get out of my house. I watched ten women make meals....just for fun. The food looked so amazing that I went home and reserved a night for my friends and I had no trouble getting eight women together to join me for a night of cooking bliss.

I know that there are chains that are similar to what I did last night...but this isn't a chain and I'm not sure that there is anything out there that can rival the quality and variety that is offered. The owner Karen, is a chef and a mom who understands how difficult it can be to make healthy and delicious meals for your family. All of the ingredients are organic. When possible, vegetables and fruits are purchased from local organic farms. All of the meat and poultry are grain fed and hormone free. She does not use farm raised fish. Best of all, all the prep work is done and the menu is gourmet! Last night I "made"

Herb Rubbed Steak with Olive Provencal, served with Orzo

Curried Potato, Spinach and Lentil Stew, served with pitas and cucumber raita

Glazed Stuffed Roast Loin of Pork (stuffed with apples, cranberries herbs and spices)

Athenian Orzo with Shrimp, served with Foccacia

Maple Thyme Roasted Chicken

and for comfort, Chicken Pot Pie

Three years ago, I wouldn't have been interested in this and wouldn't have believed that it could be fun....but it was. It was great to spend time with the girls and without our kids. I can't remember the last time that I cooked without someone yanking on my leg. I can't remember the last time that I enjoyed a glass of wine while cooking (let me be clear, I drink all of the time while I cook....emphasis was meant to be on the word enjoy....) Best of all, there are twelve meals in my freezer just waiting for me to put in the oven. After we eat them, all I'll have to do is put our dishes in the dishwasher, 'cause Karen already cleaned up the mess.

Hillcountry Dollmaker

I really can't say enough about Joyce of Hillcountry Dollmaker. I found her on Etsy months ago and have been admiring her Waldorf dolls and wanting one for me, I mean for Grace.

I contacted her about ten days before Gracie's birthday to see if she thought a doll like this would be appropriate for a one year old. She got right back to me with all kinds of suggestions and modifications that could be made. She also said that she would finish it and have it at my house in time for the big day.

I spent hours looking at her shop on Hyena Cart. Her work is amazing....everything is done by hand. They are stuffed with wool from her sheep and she dyes the yarn for their hair and the fabric for the clothes herself. No lead paint in these sweet babies!

Her long haired dolls are my favorite, but not a good choice for little girls who eat their toys. She also makes dolls with baby pigtails and they are so sweet. I actually liked the pigtails better than what I chose, but I was afraid that Grace might rip them out and then we'd have a bald baby...

If you're in the market for a really special present for your little one, check Joyce out. They cost a little more than a doll you'd buy in a store, but you will not regret it! I'm already planning my next purchase!

My first yoga class....

For those of you who haven't seen me in a while....I'm shorter than I used to be, considerably shorter...A few weeks ago I had a physical and discovered that I stand a giant 5'5" tall. Although I think that this is still slightly above the average height of most American women, my drivers license declares me to be 5'7". I'll admit, I don't honestly know if I was ever 5'7"...but what is indisputable is that when I had a physical just after Sam was born, I stood a proud 5'6 1/2".
My shrinking is concerning for a couple of reasons....there's the obvious osteoporosis, degenerative bone disease concerns...and then there is the fact that I have been telling myself that as a 5'7" women, I am only a few pounds overweight...(at some point I read that 5 pounds for every inch over five feet is acceptable and normal...a little piece of trivia that I have clung to for years!) However, now that I am in fact only 5'5"...well, let's just say that I have a little more than a "few" pounds to lose!

One of the things that the doctor suggested (along with a bone density scan and a lot of calcium supplements...) is to take a yoga class. Apparently, you can regain 1.5"! So yesterday morning, I headed off to my first, Bikram "Hot Core" Yoga class....

I was the first person to arrive...so I got to hang out with the instructor, Peter (who greeted me in bright red yoga panties and from what I could see has no hair anywhere on his body). Peter is a muscular freak of nature...he could be used to teach anatomy classes...even if he had been fully clothed, he's got a body type that screams, "I can wrap my legs around my shoulders and then walk on my elbows and feed myself with chop-sticks!"...Peter was very happy to meet me, he welcomed me to my "sanctuary" and began to demonstrate proper yogi breathing....then Peter let me into the yoga studio....I knew that it was going to be hot, but I had no idea that it would be so hot that I would be soaked in perspiration ten seconds after entering the room (I'm not exaggerating...not even a little).

My friend Ann ( who I begged to join me) arrived a few minutes later. Peter was happy to meet her too, although Ann (pronounced "On" by Peter) quickly fell out of Peter's good graces when she asked if it would be OK to take a break to call and check on her four month old son...the look on his face was the same that you might get if you showed up to test a Lamborghini riding on the back of a garbage truck...."This is your sanctuary, you want to take a phone break?"....

There were only four of us in the class...one very fit yoga body looking women, one middle aged, not in better shape than me looking women and then "On" and I ...My intimidation quickly melted (no pun intended) away as I discovered that I am more flexible than I thought, and I could in fact do most of what was being demanded....at one point, "On" and I got yelled at for talking...when we weren't, we just smiled at each other....I wanted to interrupt the reprimand and explain that we hadn't said a word, but decided that wasn't very Yogi...I also have problems following instructions like "proud chest, swing your arms, left over right, elbows behind your ears, perineum drawn upward" (Not really sure how to do that last thing...), Peter had to tell me more than once to bend "my other left leg"...but overall, I loved it. In fact, last night I felt so good that I contemplated going back this morning for another 90 minutes....but then I woke up this morning feeling like I had been beaten with a bag of rocks....I think I'm taller though.

Cool Web Site

Maybe everyone in the world already knows about this, but I just discovered it today. Etsy -Check it out, there is some great stuff!