Just for Fun ~ The iPod Meme

Grace is doing this fun meme, I just had to join!

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn’t make sense. NO CHEATING!

How do you feel today? Fighter - Christina Aguilera (I sure do!)

What's your outlook on life? Daughters - John Mayer (oh, yeah)

What does your family think of you? Only Heart - John Mayer (aw! I hope so!)

What do your friends think of you? I'll Think of a Reason Later - LeeAnn Womack (LOL)

What do your exes think of you? Settlin' (they wish!)

How's your love life? Photograph - Nickelback (not sure about that one)

How will your love life be in the future? Hot in Here - Nelly (whoo-hoo!)

Will you get married? Clarity - John Mayer (huh?)

Are you good at school? California Girls - Gretchen Wilson

Will you be successful? Honey and the Moon - Joseph Arthur

What song should they play on your birthday? Fall Back Down - Rancid (perfect!)

What song should they play at your graduation? Face Down - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (this would mean I'd had waaaay too much chardonnay!)

The Soundtrack of your life? Stupid Girls - Pink (oh, I hope not!)

You and your best friends are? Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen (um..at least we're not Thunder Thighs!)

Happy times: Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover - Sophie B Hawkins

Sad times: Was that My Life - JoDee Messina

Every day: Anyway You Want It - Rise Against Revolutions Per Minute

For tomorrow: For the Windows in Paradise - Sufjan Stevens (how lovely!)

For you: Wrong Way - Sublime (uh-oh!)

What does next year have in store for you? Walk Away - Kelly Clarkson (I'm thinking this just means I should keep walking..period)

What do you say when life gets too hard? Glamorous - Feat, Ludacris (I turn to glamour when life gets too hard, this is true!)

What song will you dance to at your wedding? I'm Yours - Jason Mraz (beautiful song, very appropriate!)

What do you want as your career? It's My Life - Bon Jovi (you betcha)

Your favorite saying: Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

How will you die? 4-Ever - The Veronicas (sounds good!)

This was so much fun! Tho they didn't all make sense some of them did, and it made me realize what eclectic music taste I do have!

On My Hearth: WW Zero-Point Soup

Poor Lily seems to have caught my head cold, but hers also includes a nasty fever! She stayed home today, the last day of school, and is collapsed on the couch with o.j. and the tv remote control. Since she's mostly-vegetarian, I can't make her chicken soup so instead I'm whipping up some healthy veggie soup and a loaf of fresh bread. Hopefully she'll feel better soon!

Weight Watchers Zero-Point Soup

Ingredients:

2/3 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup diced onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat-free broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable)
1 1/2 cups diced green cabbage
1/2 cup green beans
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup diced zucchini

Directions:

In a large saucepan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, saute carrots, onions and garlic over low heat for about 5 minutes. Add broth, cabbage, green beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano and salt, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for around 15 minutes or until beans are tender. Lastly, stir in the zucchini and continue to heat soup for 3 - 4 minutes. Makes 4 servings.

The Nature Challenge

Mother-of-Invention went to see Dr. David Suzuki and has written a wonderful post about it, inspiring me to check out his website and join his Nature Challenge; I do many of these things already but there's always room for improvemnt. Anyone want to take the challenge with me? Mother Earth could use all the help she can get.

1. Reduce home energy by 10%

2. Eat meat-free meals once a week

3. Buy a fuel efficient, low-polluting car

4. Choose an energy efficient home and appliances

5. Stop using pesticides

6. Walk, bike or take transit to regular destinations

7. Prepare your meals with locally produced food

8. Choose a home close to regular destinations

9. Support alternatives to the car

10. Get involved, stay informed

Happiness Is...

*morning entertainment: watching the squirrels and blue jays fight over the birdfeeder; my backyard is becoming such a nature habitat!

*wearing a new dress to work today, in my favorite color! (Red, of course)

*my boss encouraging me to take some days off this upcoming month if I'd like; my wallet will be empty but I'll be happy!

*catching a dozen eggs as they were just about to slide out of the shopping bag and hit the floor, whew! It's the little things in life, you know?

*stealing a few moments out by the pool before the clouds moved in.

*anticipating a lovely cocktail hour with an old friend, our visit is long-past due and I can't wait to see her!

I'll Never Let Go..

My friend Grace posted this quiz so I had to give it a try. It describes me pretty well as yes, I do believe that though you can love many people, there is one that fits...they may not be the easiest to love, but they challenge you and help you grow as well as completely adore you. ;-) Beren and I are a perfect example of that, apart for 22 years yet here we are together again despite incredible odds!

I don't think our ending will be bittersweet, though, we've had enough of that already. I'm planning on happily-ever-after, thank you very much!

Your Love Life is Like Titanic

"Promise me you'll survive. That you won't give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless." You think that you only really have one true love in your life. And that you better to anything and everything to be with that person. You tend to be very nostalgic about past loves that didn't work out. There are many secret feelings that you keep to yourself. Your love style: Deep and emotional Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Bittersweet

What Movie Is Your Love Life Like?

Re-Decorating

Many, many thanks to Domestic Chicky for my gorgeous new header!! Isn't she talented? And so very sweet. The castle looks so lovely with it's fresh new face!

Now Playing at the Castle: Nickelback

Last night Beren and I were talking about my newfound love of Nickelback (I know, they've been around forever but I'm kinda slow about such things) and how I adore his voice. I am such a sucker for a deep, grainy, growly voice..the lead singers Creed, Pearl Jam, etc. they all sound like that and they all get to me. I told Beren that I don't even know what Chad Kroeger looks like, and I don't care, all he has to do is sing to me, Beren does a very good job with all the rest.

Happiness Is...

I'm suffering from a nasty head cold so my "appreciations" are rather simple right now...

*tissues with aloe; whomever thought of these babies, my nose thanks you!

*afternoon naps with two black kitties who seem to somehow know that I'm sick

*endless amounts of ice water and orange-strawberry-banana Crystal light. Good stuff!

*feeling well enough to do some late-afternoon gardening, my herbs are blooming so nicely!

*a wonderful boyfriend who kicked butt cleaning the patio and back yard in preparation for our little soiree today

*playing Gin Rummy by candlelight on said clean patio, the scent of dill & rosemary & lavender wafting in from the garden...a lovely time even if Beren did beat me every single game!

On My Hearth: Greek Pasta Salad

We are up to the letter "G" in our own little veggie adventure and since it's such a tough one (what vegetable starts with G?) we fudged a bit and decided to focus on Garbanzo beans. I served hummus with whole wheat pitas, cucumbers and olives & salad as garnish, and this tasty Greek pasta salad on the side. I used whole wheat penne to boost the healthy aspect, and substituted olive oil for the vegetable. The whole meal was really yummy and a good light choice to start off the holiday weekend!

Greek Pasta Salad

Yields: 8 servings

"Penne pasta has great company in this robust salad that is hearty enough to serve as an entree. Tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, sweet onion and black olives are tossed with the pasta and an herbed oil and lemon juice dressing."

INGREDIENTS:
1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic salt
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 cucumber, coarsely chopped
1 cup black olives, chopped

DIRECTIONS:
1. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Drain, and rinse in cold water.
2. In a small bowl, mix together oil, lemon juice, basil, garlic salt, and black pepper.
3. In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, green pepper, onion, cucumber, and black olives. Add dressing, and toss to coat. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Just for Fun ~ My Name in Lights!

Domestic Chicky did this and I just had to try it myself! How fun!


I got my name in lights with notcelebrity.co.uk

'Tis the Season

Well, not really but here at the castle I'm deep into my Yuletide shopping! I just ordered these gorgeous sketchbooks for Beren's daughters from Eboo; have any of you shopped there before? They have the most beautiful products for budding artists and writers young and old! I am amazed at the artwork, am seriously tempted to purchase a journal of my own! Today I refrained, though, and limited myself to a sketch book, matching pencil set and diary for each of Beren's daughters. With shipping the total was only $60.00, not a bad deal for quality products! I can't wait til they arrive, will post an update when I see them in person.

Now Playing at the Castle

Thanks to the Daily Om Music, I am discovering some really great new-to-me artists. Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes is my latest "find," to the joy of Lily whose been listening to him forever, thinks he is absolutely "beautiful" and "her perfect boy." *grin* Looking at this picture and listening to his amazing voice, I have to agree!

On My Hearth: Sizzling Citrus Shrimp

This recipe is courtesy of Meatless Monday, am having it on Wednesday instead. I've made similar shrimp dishes before and really enjoy the simplicity as well as the bite of that red pepper! I put red pepper flakes on everything, I tell you! I'm planning to serve this alongside couscous, yummy!

I happen to have all of the ingredients on hand except for lemon juice so I am going to walk to the market right now with my cloth shopping bag and grab some lemons!

Poor Beren has a nasty cold so he has requested his tried & true cold cure-all: Campbell's Chicken Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. I've tried to make him homemade chicken soup before but he swears it's the broth in Campbell's that makes him better. Who am I to argue?


Sizzling Citrus Shrimp
Makes 4 servings (3/4 cup each)

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined (30-40 per pound)

For the Marinade:
3 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoon dry white wine
2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced

For the Sauce:
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Combine lemon juice, wine, 2 teaspoon oil and garlic in a medium bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes, tossing occasionally. Drain the shrimp marinade into a bowl. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a 12-inch non stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook, turning once, until barely pink, about 30 seconds per side; transfer to a plate.

Add bay leaf, crushed red pepper and the reserved marinade to the pan; simmer for 4 minutes. Return the shrimp and any accumulated juices to the pan; heat through.

Season with salt, sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information Per Serving
Calories 170, Total Fat 6g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 172mg, Sodium 310mg, Total Carbohydrate 3g, Dietary Fiber 0g, Protein 23g

On My Hearth: Mediterranean Pasta with Artichokes, Olives, and Tomatoes

I found this recipe in the recent issue of Body + Soul magazine, am going to give it a try tonight. I love artichokes and olives so I expect it'll be a big hit!

Mediterranean Pasta with Artichokes, Olives, and Tomatoes

Prep: 15 minutes Total: 25 minutes

Whole-wheat pasta has almost twice the amount of fiber of traditional semolina pasta.

Ingredients

Serves 4 .

* Coarse salt and ground pepper
* 12 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1/2 medium onion , thinly sliced, lengthwise
* 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced crosswise
* 1/2 cup dry white wine
* 1 can artichoke hearts, drained, rinsed, and quartered lengthwise
* 1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, quartered lengthwise
* 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes , halved lengthwise
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more serving
* 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn


Directions

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water. Return pasta to pot.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, cook, stirring occasionally until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add wine and cook until evaporated, about 2 minutes.
3. Stir in artichokes and cook until starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add olives and half of the tomatoes; cook until tomatoes start to break down, 1 to 2 minutes. Add pasta to skillet. Stir in remaining tomatoes, oil, cheese, and basil. Thin with reserved pasta water if necessary to coat the spaghetti. Serve with additional cheese.

Happiness Is...

*pedicures with Kali & Lily; I love doing girly stuff with my girls!

*my office party at a really great restaurant with a lovely view..sipping Mojitos with my boss' wife while Beren does tequila shots with my boss. My workmates are so much fun!

*watching the mermaid show..sigh...it was as lovely as I'd anticipated!

*spending Saturday afternoon in one of my favorite towns, stopping at Fresh Market on the way home, loading up my French Market bag with all kinds of goodies! They had some beautiful plants outside so I scooped up a new basil and mint. I can't wait to make some Mojitos of my own!

*a new-to-me hot tub and gorgeous Italian-marble living room tables! Beren and I will be setting them up in the next few days and I'll be sure to post some pics. The kids can't wait to get into the hot tub, nor can we!

*middle-of-the-night cuddles with my sweetie..I thank the Universe every day for bringing this man back to me.

*stormy weather on a Sunday morning..nothing to do but sip coffee and perhaps head back to bed for more of the afore-mentioned cuddling!

Mermaids

I gotta tell you, I love mermaids. Ever since someone-who-loves me commented that I have a mermaid body (sweet but probably untrue) I have been completely enamoured with them. Thanks to family & friends, I now have quite the mermaid collection which includes t-shirts, figurines, artwork, etc. My friend Rhiannon shares my passion so we often pass mermaid pictures and presents back & forth. So, imagine my thrill when Kali emailed me this morning to tell me about The Hukilau where a "live" mermaid will be performing! Upon further investigation, I found that she appears every Friday night at a bar not far from The Castle! Whoo-hoo! I am so excited, Beren has agreed to take me there tonight. He'll suffer through watching a gorgeous woman swim by as he sips a frozen Rumrunner. What a guy, huh? *wink*

Dumpster Diving

My friend Aisling posted about her "dumpster diving" aka "gleaning" experience and asked for similar stories so I thought I'd share mine.

As much as I love treasure hunting, I have rarely found anything in the trash that I've felt worthy of dragging home, or when I do I'm simply to embarrassed to do so. Silly, really, because I think it's awesome when other people turn trash into treasures! I have one experience, though, featuring the chair in my bedroom.


My neighbor once put out a lovely wooden chair that I admired so I went to her and asked her permission to "dumpster dive" from her swale. She was more than happy to give me her trash, said that it had been her favorite chair but her husband was insisting that it had to go. (Her husband was quite happy to carry it across the street for me, guess he really hated that chair!) The only thing wrong with it was the color (a burnt orange) and a little crack in the wood, nothing to hinder it's true quality. I think it might be Ethan Allen as it is the same wood and similar lines to my own bedroom set!

9 years later, I still have that chair in the corner of my bedroom. I've never reupholstered it, just toss a colorful throw over it and am pleased with that look for now. It's become such a part of my bedroom, of my life really, it's where I sit to read, to chat on the phone, and often to work through a problem. My girls will sometimes walk by my room and say, "uh-oh, Mom's sitting in THE chair, what's wrong?" That's their que to check in with me and make sure I'm ok, or that they aren't in trouble!

Does anyone else have such stories to share? After seeing Aisling's beautiful find, I'm suddenly inspired to drive around my neighborhood in search of other goodies!

Santa Baby

Yes, I am one of those people who does holiday shopping early..really early. I usually start by early summer and like to be done by Thanksgiving, then I can relax and really enjoy the holiday season. Well, that hasn't happened in the past few years but I'm determined to get back on track now. I've already started picking up a few things here and there and will share the more interesting finds as I acquire them. (I run the risk of the gift recipients peeking but since my kids rarely venture here, I will take the chance).


I'm going to be leaning toward earth-friendly purchases as well; the first one is a good example, from The Emancipation Network: "a pathway of empowerment and hope in the fight to end human trafficking - the modern practice of slavery. We offer you a way to become involved in fighting trafficking, helping survivors, and educating others about this human rights crisis."

"Whether you are hitting the beach, travelling, or trawling for groceries, you will be glad to be sporting this unbelievably cool recycled rice bag tote bag. Made by girls rescued from slavery and exploitation, Hagar Cambodia."

After seeing this bag featured in a magazine, I knew I had to buy it for Kali and/or her boyfriend. They are both animal-lovers, and her sweetie works at a pet store in the tropical fish department! Since they are also artists and students, they often have to tote around a bunch of "stuff" so this tote bag will be perfect for them.

The bag arrived yesterday and I am very impressed! At $34, it's a bit more than I'd normally spend on such a thing but I feel good about where my money is going and am therefore willing to pay more. Now I see that it's worth every penny. Larger than I expected and the quality and workmanship are excellent, plus it's very cool looking! I think they'll both enjoy it if I can just hold out til Yule and not surprise them with it early!

Freedom from Self-Improvement Day!

I missed this yesterday but think it's such a great idea I'm posting it anyway. I'm trying to come to a place of loving myself while still making positive changes, realzing that we women are ridiculously hard on ourselves and need to be doing lots more self-love and lots less berating, criticizing and general self-hate.

Apparently Jennifer Louden feels the same way as she created this wonderful holiday from self-improvement!

From Jennifer Louden, International Freedom from Self-Improvement Day creator:

"Ever since I learned of International Talk like a Pirate Day (September 19th), I’ve wanted to create a holiday that felt as fun. Sitting in meditation one day, the idea came to me: what if we all collectively gave up on being any different than we are, just for 24 hours? What a perfect holiday for a me to create? After all, I’m the perfect paradox: my mission in life is to help people feel how perfectly okay they are and I constantly struggle with evaluating myself for everything I’m not doing or didn’t do right.

I hope you’ll celebrate with me and invite all your most self-critical and hard working friends to join in. Send a few Freedom From e-coupons, sign our declaration, download our PDF of ideas for celebrating (and send that to your friends too), and post how you are getting into the groove on our special blog. And while you are at it, enjoy our celebrity line-up of short audios to inspire you to slip into the Freedom From mood!

Can you feel the lightness?"

Check out her website and blog and if, like me, you didn't celebrate this yesterday, I encourage you to do so today. There's no time limit on self-love.

Happiness Is...

*a lovely Mother's Day Brunch at Kali's house! We drank Mimosas, ate croissants and shared laughs with my Mom as well as Kali's boyfriend's family. She did a wonderful job as hostess. Thank you, sweetie!

*perfect, heartfelt gifts including a gardenia bush from Sam which I can't wait to plant in my garden, professional photos of my girls, and some fun little items from my daughter who appreciates my need for a bit of silliness in my life. Thank you, Bambi, I have been using my Hello Kitty pen all day and am smiling from ear to ear! And thank you to Kali for the vintage Journey albums, can't wait to put them on the turntable but in the meantime I'm admiring Steve Perry on the covers. oooh-la-la!

*fabulous ice cream cake, a perfect accompaniment to champagne!

*watching an afternoon chick flick with Lily & Bambi; the movie stunk but we had so much fun anyway!

*a late-night gift from Lily: the most beautifully-written letter I have ever received, caused me to sob & laugh at the same time. She is such a great writer, and has such a good heart. The best gift a Mom can get from her teenage daughter is a reminder that she's doing a good job...and that she is loved. Thank you, Lily, for that, and also for the incredible homemade cd you burned for me! John Mayer is playing right now, perfect background music to my fun day.

Thank you to all of my girls for the absolute best Mother's Day! I love you all and am so incredibly blessed to have you. You are my reason for living, and the only accomplishment that really matters is having given birth to you. I love you...so very much.

Sweet Escape

I am tagging along with Beren who's on a business trip, having a grand ol' time so far. We ate lunch at a reeeal fancy spot called Hogsbody, shared the biggest burger I've ever seen in my life and still left some on the plate! So much for Meatless Monday. groan. It was delicious, though, I must admit.

Tomorrow while Beren works I'll probably putter around the city, perhaps do a little shopping or hang out at the amazing waterfall hotel pool! There's a science convention going on here, though, lots of cute geeky men running around so I'm not sure if that's the best idea. *wink*

I love these little road trips, they are forced relaxation for me, an opportunty to read, play on the computer, shop...all the stuff I feel guilty about doing when I'm at home. It's a sweet little escape from the daily grind, an opportunty to just play relatively guilt-free. Oh, I still worry about the kids and I'm ever-so-glad to go home, but 24-36 hours away is just the right amount of time for me to refresh & renew my spirit and return a better mom as a result.

Wish you all were here to play with me!

Happy Mother's Day

Mom O Matic posted this and I just had to share. Be forewarned: It's a Mother's Day tearjerker!

Treasure Hunt

Those of you who know me in the "real world" are aware of the fact that I hate shopping..at least, I hate traditional mall shopping. From the time my kids could handle it themselves, they have done all of their school clothes shopping on their own. Once she could drive, I would pay Kali to take her younger sisters and I didn't feel a bit of remorse over it. I was happier, and so were they because I am simply no fun to shop with. They can all tell you stories of me having episodes of sensory overload where I'd have to make a hasty exit from whatever store we were in, go sit somewhere quiet and just breathe. I know, it sounds silly, but that's just how I am. Now & then I'll brave the mall if I'm 1) alone and 2) not on a time limit and 3) it's not even slightly busy.

Now, I do love "treasure hunting" which takes place in consignment shops, thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, even department stores such as Ross & TJ Maxx. I could spend hours & hours poring through those types of places. In fact, I often get so immersed in my hunt for treasures that I lose all track of time. It's like I'm in this twilight zone where nothing else exists except for the baubles and trinkets before me. I always head straight for the housewares first, it's where I spend the most time and money. I adore aprons, old Pyrex, milk glass, cloth napkins, etc. etc. It's just heaven to me! Fortunately Beren shares my passion and when we travel we constantly seek out new shops to visit, rarely leave there emptyhanded. The excitement comes, of course, from the unknown, the surprise of findng just the right item that you might not even have known that you needed! It's just such a thrill, really.

So yesterday I went to breakfast with Lily, Bambi & Sam, then to our favorite thrift store. I wandered the store for an hour, loading my cart with the most wonderful treasures! My favorite find of the day was a gorgeous heavy milk glass pitcher, the kind with the raised bumps all over it. (Sorry I am not a professional collector, I just know what I love!) I can't wait to fill this with iced tea or perhaps even champagne punch for our Mother's Day Brunch tomorrow! I left the store with four bags full of goodies, my wallet only $35 lighter.

A successful hunt indeed!

Cast of Characters: Introducing Bambi

My youngest daughter has been the hardest to "name" here, there aren't any particular goddesses or characters that she's attached to and despite my nagging she hasn't been able to come up with anything. So I'm going to use what I'd originally decided upon, the nickname she was given when she was just days old: Bambi.

When Bambi was born she developed a very bad case of jaundice and had to be kept in the hospital for a week, spending hours under the UV lights, doctors threatening a blood transfusion if her bilirubin count didn't go down quickly. We were terrified, of course. I had a c-section and went home after a few days but we went back & forth every couple of hours to see her, and while I was home I was expressing breast milk for the nurses to give her at night. With 6-year old Kali and 17-month old Lily at home, and me recovering from major surgery, it was stressful to say the least. Thank the Goddess, Bambi didn't need a blood transfusion and we were finally able to take her home 6 days after she was born, on Father's Day. We brought her in the house and I kneeled down so that Lily could see her...at that point Lily took one look, petted her head and with the biggest smile on her face she said, "Hello, Bambi." Now, we have no idea why she called her this but it was just the sweetest moment, I've never forgotten it and have affectionately thought of her as Bambi ever since.

Bambi has always been calm and peaceful, the most gentle and sweet child ever. She is often quiet but make no mistake, there is tons going on in her head! She's a Gemini which makes her a bit unpredictable, you never know when the "other twin" is going to show her face! When she was a baby she had the amazing ability to calm me..I would just cuddle her into my arms and I would immediately relax with her little body curled up next to me. Honestly, a hug from her still has this affect. Incredibly smart, a talented artist, wonderful friend, the best daughter anyone could ask for, this is my youngest child.

She is an amazing soul, I've never met anyone else like her in my life. I am just incredibly blessed to have her, my sweet litle Bambi..my baby.. my little dear.

On My Hearth: White Beans with Cheese and Basil

I haven't tried this recipe but it sounds so delicious, and so easy! I love white beans; seems like this is a modern version of the "butter beans" recipe my Mom used to make. The basil in my garden is still hanging in there despite the drought and heat, am looking forward to picking some for this dish!

White Beans with Cheese and Basil

Adapted from Lose Weight the Smart Low-Carb Way, by Bettina Newman and David Joachim (Rodale Press, 2002).

Think of this divine--and economical--main dish as having all the appeal and comfort-factor of macaroni and cheese, but with only 91 calories and 11 grams of carbs, no wheat, and lots of fiber and nourishment from beans.

Using canned beans makes fixing this hearty dish a snap, and it will keep in the fridge for several days.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cans (14 - 19 ounces) cannellini or other white beans, drained, 1/3 cup liquid reserved
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

1. Preheat oven to 425F.

2. Place the beans and reserved liquid in a large mixing bowl and partially mash the beans against the side of the bowl with a wooden spoon. Stir in the oil, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix in the basil.

2. Place in a shallow 2- to 3-cup baking dish, and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

Serves 6.

Helpful Hints:
This dish may be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350F oven for about 20 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Care2

A New Routine: Part 3

I've been doing this new cleaning routine for a couple of weeks now, as best I can in between the "stuff" that's been going on in my life. I'm finding the Daily Chore page to be a huge help as it keeps me on track and gives me a sense of accomplishment. If nothing else, at least I can complete the minimal daily tasks to keep things running smoothly.

What I've learned so far:

*Do all of the morning chores before sitting down to the computer. So far today I've marked everything off my list and had extra time to put a loaf of banana bread in the oven. I am nearly ready for work, just have to finish dressing, grab my purse and head out the door. I now have an hour to myself to read, play on the computer, etc. When I walk in the house after work things will be tidy, dinner will be planned, and I can easily move onto the afternoon tasks. Cool!

*Have good supplies on hand. I need to buy some rubber gloves that fit (one size fits all does not work with my small-ish hands) and some new cleaning cloths, but I've recently replaced my vacuum and mop and that has made floor cleaning much easier to tackle. "The right tool for the job."

*Even when you don't feel like doing it, JUST DO IT ANYWAY. No matter how big my case of don' wannas is, once I get started, do just one little thing, I can't stop. I get on a roll, in the cleaning zone, and before you know it the house is spiffy and I feel so much better!

Now if I can just get the deep cleaning stuff under control I'll be in good shape!

On My Hearth: Mom's Banana Bread

For as long as I can remember, my Mom's been making this banana bread. It's so delicious and simple, there's no reason to try any other recipe! Since I have some brown bananas on my counter, I'm going to whip up a batch for my co-workers this morning. I'm sure they'll thank you, Mom!

Sam's Banana Bread

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup (2 medium) mashed ripe bananas
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup nuts

Preheat oven to 350'. In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in banana, milk and vanilla. Add remaining ingredients and stir by hand just until combined. Pour into 9x5 inch greased loaf pan. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool completely before slicing.

Suburban Sprawl

To further the discussion about plastic bags and shopping in general, Patty over at Morning Ramble has been posting a bit about the demise of walking, a whole book was written about the rise of sprawl and its impact on the nation, and I just came across an article on Treehugger which bemoams the ever-increasing Suburban Sprawl:

Ten Things Wrong With Sprawl
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 7.07

Treehugger often says that cities are the most sustainable way to live. The converse is that suburban sprawl is probably the worst. Preston at Jetson Green points us to James M. McElfish of the Environmental Law Institute, who lists ten problems with sprawl:

1. Sprawl development contributes to a loss of support for public facilities and public menities.
2. Sprawl undermines effective maintenance of existing infrastructure.
3. Sprawl increases societal costs for transportation.
4. Sprawl consumes more resources than other development patterns.
5. Sprawl separates urban poor people from jobs.
6. Sprawl imposes a tax on time.
7. Sprawl degrades water and air quality.
8. Sprawl results in the permanent alteration and destruction of habitats.
9. Sprawl creates difficulty in maintaining community.
10. Sprawl offers the promise of choice while only delivering more of the same.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, what can we in Suburbia do about it? I have two commercial grocery stores within walking distance of my house, but it's not a comfortable walk and they are not the best shopping for organic, healthy foods. For that store I need to get into my car and drive. I so wish lived somewhere that I could walk to easily, pick up fresh items needed for that day, ala the "French way." Since I'm not in the position to move right now, are there other options? I'm open to thoughts and ideas, dear readers.

Witches Knickers

While striving to improve my family's "shade of green," I have stumbled upon several blogs which mention the whole plastic shopping bag issue, and I've come to realize that there is a now a controversy about a certain re-usable bag. I've also learned a new term, witches knickers, referring to plastic bags that end up hanging from trees! Such a cute expression for an annoying and potentially harmful situation.

I always knew about the dangers to sea turtles but this story just broke my heart!

In light of all this, I am filling my car trunk with the dozen or so tote bags we have lying around the house and am going to do the same with Lily's car. Kali and her boyfriend are very earth-conscious so I bet she has already eschewed those wretched plastic bags. I am determined to cut down severely on my use of such things, doing my small part to cut down on clutter both in my home and at my local landfill.

Does anyone else want to join me in the Prevention of Witches Knickers Project? I'm being playful about it but I'm truly dead serious; it's just one more tiny little thing we can to do help the healing of Mother Earth.

On My Hearth: Zesty Southern Pasta and Bean Salad

It's definitely warming up here and I'm starting to focus on some cool meals that can be enjoyed at poolside barbeques as well as toted to the beach for picnics. This pasta salad from allrecipes sounds like a winner, the tex-mex flavors really appeal to me. I can see serving this as a side dish with simple bean tacos which require little prep, allowing more time for fun in the sun!

My Notes: I used canned Ro-tel tomatoes,light Ranch dressing and a packet of taco seasoning mix as substitutions because that's what I had on hand. Also used farfalle pasta instead of seashells. With the remaining box of pasta I whipped up a little baked pasta by adding pasta sauce, 15 oz of ricotta and a couple handfuls of mozzarella, topped with another handful of mozzarella and a sprinkle of Parmesan, it's baking now. When I have time, I love to make a few meals at once, saves time later in the week if things get hectic.


Zesty Southern Pasta and Bean Salad

Submitted by: Aria
Rated: 4 out of 5 by 19 members
Prep Time: 1 Minute
Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 15 Minutes
Yields: 8 servings

"A zesty pasta salad with pinto beans, black beans, corn and tomatoes."

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups small seashell pasta
1/3 cup Italian-style salad
dressing
salt to taste
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse pasta in cold water. Place in a large mixing bowl and add dressing and salt; mix well.

2. Combine pinto beans and black beans in a colander; rinse with cold water and add to pasta. Add corn, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dried red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste; toss lightly.

3. Chill salad in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Happiness Is....

*finding a car for Lily that is both affordable and adorable!

*dinner at Tijuana Flats afterward to celebrate; that Corona Light was much appreciated after a day of dealing with used car salesmen!

*spending a Sunday afternoon on the waverunner, picnic-ing on a deserted island, enjoying some alone time with my sweetie

*meeting my brother-the-doctor for delicious Chicago-style pizza, catching up as best I can after not seeing him for a year. I wish he lived closer!

*a big ol' thunder & lightning storm last night, producing some much-needed rain. I love cuddling up on the couch in my nightie, watching the light show outside the window, happy that my family is home safe & sound.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Earth Day seemed "bigger" to me this year, perhaps due to the whole Invonvenient Truth thing combined with Planet Earth. (I've started watching the latter, am terrified to view the former). My family has always been earth-conscious but, like this post by John Mayer, I imagine us to be "light green", choosing our battles and making changes that mean the most to us.

We eat a mostly-vegetarian, organic-whenever-possible diet, take full advantage of our city's recycling program, bring re-usable tote bags to the grocery store..when we remember. Lately there's been a lot of talk about the hazards of plastic, something I've been very concerned with for years. We have very little plastic in our kitchen, and I replace more & more of it with glass each year. Other than the Tupperware containers I bought years ago that hold dry pantry items, the majority of my food is stored in glass. I scour thrift stores for Pyrex casseroles and other storage containers that house leftovers, etc., my refrigerator is filled with them. I never, ever re-heat in plastic.

Now it's come to my attention that even the plastic water bottles aren't good for you. I've been toting my own for a while now, choosing to use my own filtered water instead of consuming dozens of bottles each week, but after some research I've decided to switch over to aluminum. Though I would love to have the cool Sigg bottles they are a bit out of my price range at the moment so I've found a comparable model on Amazon.

So that's where I am right now, a bit of minty green but aiming for kelly or perhaps even forest some day. One step at a time, we do what we can.

Wish Me Luck

Today Beren and I have dedicated the whole day to car shopping with Lily. She wants a Ford focus so we are..well, focusing on that model. I'm completely prepared, have printed out several ads posted on the internet, complete with dealers phone numbers, addresses and maps. I have my insurance information on hand, a pre-approved draft from my credit union for the maximum amount we want to spend. I got a good night's sleep, am dressed in my most comfortable yet attractive attire, have made breakfast plans with my car-hunting teammembers and am ready to head out the door.

Now, somebody should call the used car sharks..I mean dealers..and warn them that a PMS-ing momma is on the way. Fill them in on the week I've had, the trauma of the crash, etc. Please suggest that the salesman show us cars in our price range, not thousands higher. When I get there to see a specific car that was posted on the internet site, don't tell us that that auto is "not sellable" because it has "bullet holes and blood inside." Puh-lease! (yes, that really happened) We are not stupid, we know all about bait & switch. Oh, and kindly send us someone who knows what the hell they're talking about, ok? I'm not asking too much, just litle things, really. I'm not implying that I expect any trouble or anything, just thinking ahead, that's all.

As an added precaution I'm filling my flask with chardonnay and my pocketbook with Hersheys. Just in case. Always be prepared, that's my motto.

Today's Inspiration: Slow Food

"The founding father of the Slow Food Movement, Carlo Petrini, recognized in 1986 that the industrialization of food was standardizing taste and leading to the annihilation of thousands of food varieties and flavors. Concerned that the world was quickly reaching a point of no return, he wanted to reach out to consumers and demonstrate to them that they have choices over fast food and supermarket homogenization. He rallied his friends and began to speak out at every available opportunity and soon the movement was born and Slow Food was created. Today the organization is active in 50 countries and has a worldwide membership of over 80,000.

People have responded to the growing movement, because they have become tired of buying the same things, eating the same foods and living the same lives. With these interests in mind, our mission is to create a robust, active movement that protects taste, culture and the environment as universal social values. Slow Food programs are dedicated to the mingling of taste, culture and the environment."

I have recently learned of this Slow Food Movement and have been receiving the local newsletter from My Kingdom. Here at the castle we've always tried to sit down and share meals together, enjoy our food slowly in the company of family & friends. When the girls were younger we ate together every single night at the dining room table, complete meals with cloth napkins, candlelight, etc. Not only did they learn how to behave at a formal table, they also learned how to truly enjoy their food, not just rush through it while doing something else. I believe that this mindful eating has helped them stay fit & healthy with good eating habits. Dessert was always part of the meal, even if it was just a simple bowl of fruit or a scoop of ice cream. Since it was never forbidden or "bad," they learned moderation and that chocolate and goodies were a part of life, to be enjoyed along with tasty veggies and healthy meals. It's all good.

Now that they are older and have jobs, school activities, etc., those opportunities for leisurely meals are fewer, but we try to dine together at least once a week, even just for a simple lunch or breakfast. It's important, it nurtures both body & soul.

Cupcake Love

Cupcakes are suddenly the rage, aren't they? Cookbooks, blogs and specialty stores are filled with them! I have always loved cupcakes, both baking and eating 'em, and have fond memories of making cupcakes for my children and their classmates. When Kali was in high school she became the president of a "feminist club" which met monthly. My contribution to her efforts came from my kitchen. For each meeting I'd bake cookies, brownies, etc.; I was told that some of the kids joined just because of that, apparently word spread that Kali's club had the best goodies at their meetings. I'll be forever-known for my famous "boob cupcakes" which I made in October to celebrate Breast Cancer month as well as Halloween. They were simply cupcakes with candy pumpkins on the top but they did indeed resesmble breasts! Yep, those were a real hit, probably ranking up there with the male-genitalia project that Kali did for her biology class. Let's just say that donuts never looked so good. But, I digress..I have signed up for this really cool Taste of Home Weekly Cupcake newsletter which I am really enjoying! These adorable little bees were featured a couple of weeks ago; I have yet to make them but am feeling inspired and creative today.

Bumblebee Banana Cupcakes

Sweet lovers are sure to make a beeline to the kitchen when you bake a batch of these cute-as-a-bug cupcakes. "These treats are perfect to serve for kids' parties or your next garden party," shares Beatrice Richard from Posen, Michigan.

INGREDIENTS:

1 package (14 ounces) banana quick bread and muffin mix
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
5 drops yellow food coloring
12 large yellow gumdrops
1/2 cup chocolate frosting
12 semisweet chocolate chips
24 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
12 large white gumdrops
Black shoestring licorice, cut into 1-inch pieces


DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine the muffin mix, milk, oil and eggs. Fill 12 greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

In a mixing bowl, combine vanilla frosting and food coloring. Frost cupcakes. Cut yellow gumdrops in half widthwise. Use the rounded tops for heads. Flatten remaining portions into ovals for bodies. Place one head and one body on each cupcake.

Place chocolate frosting in a resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of the bag. Pipe stripes on gumdrop bodies to resemble a bumblebee. For the stinger, place one chocolate chip at the end of body with pointed end facing out. Position two mini chocolate chips in front of head for eyes. Cut white gumdrops in half lengthwise; position next to bodies for wings. Insert two licorice pieces for antennae.

Happiness Is...

...the library. When I was a little girl, I was a voracious reader. We lived about 5 blocks from the library so once I got to a certain age my Mom would let me walk there by myself. Our local library was so tiny, just a double wide trailer with the adult section on one end, children's on the other. I would start at the letter "A" and read my way all the way through the alphabet then start all over again. I was constantly bugging the grouchy librarian with requests for inter-library loans, spent hours pouring over the card catalog. We had a 10-book limit back then, and I always checked out the maximum allowed. I'd pile my books into a tote bag and head home, breathless with the exercise as well as the anticipation of my new tomes. I'd curl up in my bed and devour each page, in absolute heaven. I never had a late fee because I read the books too fast, couldn't wait to return them and start the process all over again. Books were my friends when I was lonely, they helped me escape when I was worried or scared, they made me laugh and cry and learn about life.

I continued to read throughout adulthood and fostered the passion in my children. I visited the library so often that I became on first name basis with all of the librarians. Something shifted, though, when I started going through the divorce. I found myself unable to focus as well, my mind wouldn't settle down and follow the plot. For once my beloved books did not provide the respite from daily life that they once had, so I took a hiatus from reading. For about 3 years I only read a couple of novels, focusing instead on magazines which catered to my short attention span. Beren mentioned this to me the other day, was surprised to hear what a huge reader I had been he never saw me with an actual book in my hand. Huh. He was right, and it bothered me. I realized that I was missing my favorite authors, my literary life. There is am empty spot that only reading can fill.

So tonight I grabbed my pink fuzzy Emily Strange tote bag and headed to the library, greeted my librarian friends and gathered up some treasures from the New Fiction section. As I drove home with a smile on my face I once again felt just like that little girl, anxious to get home to meet some new friends in the pages of a book. Happiness indeed.

Give Me the Chocolate and No One Will Get Hurt!

When I was married and/or dating someone seriously, there was one rule that absolutely had to be followed during PMS time: Bring me chocolate and a Cosmo magazine, leave me alone and we'll be fine. One man tried to deviate from that pattern, he hasn't been seen since. I'm a very nice girl usually, really I am, but those couple of days a month I transform into some kind of beast that can only be soothed with the aforementioned formula.

Since Beren has to work very late tonight and therefore can't be expected to adhere to the rule this time, I'm going to take matters into my own hands and whip up this lovely little treat. He'll just have to buy me double next month.

Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes with Cookie Crusts

POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 0 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Individual chocolate cheesecakes on top of chocolate cookie crusts - who can resist? A fine finish to any holiday meal.

Ingredients

* 12 items chocolate wafer(s), about 2 1/2 oz
* 8 oz Neufchatel cheese, softened
* 1 cup 2% reduced fat milk
* 2/3 cup sugar
* 2 envelope unflavored gelatin
* 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
* 1 cup water, boiling

Instructions

* Line 12 muffin tins with paper muffin liners. Place a wafer in the bottom of each of 12 muffin tins (or custard cups); set aside. (If the wafer doesn’t fit in bottom of muffin liners, break into pieces to cover bottom.)

* Place cheese in bowl of a food processor and process until loose. With food processor running, pour milk down feed tube.

* In a separate medium bowl, mix together sugar, gelatin and cocoa with a fork or spoon. Slowly add boiling water, mixing as you go; mix quickly until gelatin has completely dissolved.

* With food processor running, slowly add cocoa mixture through feed tube; process thoroughly, about 1 minute.

* Fill each muffin liner (or custard cup) with about 1/3 cup of cheese mixture. (Muffin tins will be filled up to the top; custard cups should be about 2/3 full.) Chill for a minimum of 2 hours. Yields 1 per serving.

Notes

* These easy-to-make cheesecakes can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. If you’re a coffee lover, add a teaspoon of instant espresso to the cocoa mixture for an extra kick.


© 2007 Weight Watchers International, Inc.

Spanx Me!

Now that I have your attention, I'm not talking about anything naughty (this time), I'm just referring to those undergarments that everyone is raving about. As I mentioned last week, I was clothes shopping when the Crash happened and had just paid for a little pair of Spanx Power Panties. I didn't have high expectations but, hey, if Oprah loves 'em and says she doesn't wear panties anymore (just about TMI for me), they have to be good, right?

Well, let me tell you, the hype is true! No, they don't make your body suddenly look like Angelina's but they certainly hold in the pudge a bit, flatten your tummy and keep everything just a little bit tighter. My clothes fit nicer and I feel more "finished," if that makes any sense.

The only caveat: do not, I repeat do not, wear them with short skirts or if you are plannning any sort of..um....romantic liasons as they are far from sexy. For workdays, though, when there's no chance of a rendezvous, I say go for it! I'll be buying myself another pair very soon.