Barefoot Contessa

I have always loved Ina Garten.  Something about her I just love.  She always makes things seem so easy (I always like Martha a lot at times - she is the reason I have met some of my closest friends).  But I digress, I used to make homemade macaroni and cheese when Sam was a wee child.  Then I let the Kraft world take me over.  Did you know that I NEVER had Kraft MAcaroni and Cheese as a child?  The first time I had it I must have been 17 when my step mother made it for my brothers.  Anyway, I used to make my renegade way (even with my Culinary Institute of America Chef husband telling me how to do it).  I stopped somewhere from making it from scratch.  So this past week while shopping I decided that I will do right by my kids and make it FRESH.

It took me about 45 minutes but I made one really good Mac and Cheese for my kids (and myself because I LOOOOVVVEEEE cheese).  I had used panko bread crumbs instead of fresh (please don't beat me) and it came out very nice.  The kids were a little disturbe

d by the breadcrumbs but they loved the CHEESINESS.

I am very happy and plan on this being the way I will do it from now on, with one exception MORE CHEESE!

Long Weekend

I had a really nice time Friday night hanging out with some ladies from my kid's school.  We had gotten together last month and decided to get together again this month.  It's going to be a new tradition for us to just go out and have a ladies night.  We had a great time, I have met some great ladies and had a night out to myself.

Then...

I got sick on Saturday.   I thought at first it was from the booze but then I realized when I was visiting the bathroom many times it was the virus that my dear hubby had the night before.

But I recovered.  Sunday had a nice time a friend's house.  It was sort of a new experience.  It turns out my son  has a good friend who ironically I know both of the parents separately from high school.  They had us over to the their pool and we had a very enjoyable day.  We are planning a Sushi night soon (will post more about that later in another post).

So, I had a wonderful weekend, despite being sick, now it is back to the Monday grind. 

Christina's Giveaway

Christina over at Signs of Obsessions is having a contest to celebrate her 1ooth post.  Stop by and check out her and the contest.

The signs are AWESOME!

Lots of luck.

6 Uninteresting Things that make me happy

Again my friend Mimi posted today about being tagged by another Sweet friend Simone to tell about 6 Uninteresting Things That Make Me Happy.  Now she did not tag me to tell all but did ask if I wanted (and you too) then please do.  I've thought about these and after reading a few I came up with what makes me happy:

1. The smell of fresh cut grass

2. A relaxing bath, with a glass of wine and a good book - oh and without any disturbances

3. Swimming, I love to swim, always have.

4. Sitting by the fire on a rainy day

5. Watching tv.  I love tv and seeing my favorite shows or some sappy movie makes me happy.

6. Falling asleep with my children on Friday nights.  We have a routine of going to a friend's house for Pizza(kids) and wine (the moms).  When we come home the kids and I hop into bed where they fall asleep (most of the time hubby takes them out).  I remember cuddling with my parents(and grandparents) and hope my kids remember that some day too.

So that's it.  If you want to share a piece of you too, go on ahead.  We'd love to hear about you.

I love to cook

What better way to feel good about being a wife and mother than to cook an awesome meal?  Well, tonight I did one of my staples but I haven't done it for a while so it was "fresh" and new.  I have been a mom that for convenience cooked my children chicken nuggets, I know gasp in awe, it is done.  When I stayed at home I would cook chicken cutlets myself and they were very good. They are very good.  I haven't done them for a while because my local shoprite does not have Murrays chicken and I like their thin cutlets (no after a day of work I am not pounding chicken).  I buy no hormone chicken from Trader Joe's but they are not thin.  In any case, I got the chicken the other day from another local "gourmet" type grocery store with Chicken Cutlet Parmesan in mind.  My kids do not favor "Sauce" but hubby and I do.  I make my own and freeze it.

I also make my cutlets with Panko bread crumbs instead and season it up myself (BTW I used some home grown Oregano from Mimi that I got as a lovely gift from her for the holidays).  They were awesome!  I made some rigatoni to go with it and it was a hit!  I do so love to cook for my family.

Passing it on

Too often we overlook something we see or hear and as I was reading my friend's post today I realized some things that she said were true.  I also realized that we too often look at the bead things and not the good things.  Mimi often is very inspirational to me.  I have known her for a very long time, longer than blogging time and have always felt inspired by her. She simply asked that we talk about the nice things about ourselves, what we like about ourselves and qualities that we feel are good about ourselves (see a pattern here?).  It reminded me of a PTA event I went to last night.  It was the annual awards and recognition night.  Now I was not up for an award (lord knows there are many more people there who put in more time than me - I only have 3 years at the school, others have children graduating out so this is the chance to recognize them for their contributions).  So, the person getting an award has to tell their close friend who will be introducing them things they've done and so forth.  These women got up and spoke so eloquently about their friends.  I cried at a few.  I thought, "Geez, they do so much in the name of our children."  I was very impressed that even at times I have felt some of these things about some of these women and here they were being honored for it.  That was great.

It made me think about what I would say about myself (this of course in line with reading Mimi's post today).  So, if I were to say something about myself that I like as Mimi suggested it would be this:

I think I am a caring individual who gives to my friends unconditionally.

I am hardworking.  I have big eyes, thoughts and dreams.  I take on many things and get them done even if it is a struggle in the end because I made a commitment.

I am dedicated, to my family, friends and work.

I am doing my best to raise really good kids.  I am really proud of who they are becoming.

I like myself and I am very proud of what I have accomplished in my life.

That is just some of it.  Oh yeah, I am pretty creative and a good baker and cook.  

Please visit Mimi and let her know what you like about yourself.  Have a wonderful night.

Catching up

I am just catching up from the weekend and my busy week (even though it is only Tuesday).  I am so excited that Sam's room is moving along nicely.  I scored some pictures at AC Moore yesterday for his room.  I will wait to show you, but they are VERY cool.  The best part they were only $3.00 each. Yay Me!

I got the two on the right side.  Sam is very excited.  I will be putting together his desk that I bought and then in a few weeks when school ends I will paint the desk the same blue as the night stand.  Now I need to find a fabric for the valance, shade, window treatment.  His room is coming together nicely.  I am very excited for him.