Eventful Days

Look at what I scored at the DI today...For a grand total of $3.

But my favorite part is how Bryan came home, looked at it and said,
"What is that and what is it for?"
And I'm thinking to myself, 'Do I even have to explain?'
It is, of course, every color of ribbon you could ever ask for.
And it's purpose?... for whatever and whenever my heart desires.
I would think that was obvious. ( :

New Subject:
A PREGNANCY INEVITABLE:
Through every one of my pregnancies I have had to endure a 'fall'.
aka: stumble on something, lose my balance, tumble to the ground in a very ungraceful and somewhat violent fashion.
Today I reached that milestone.
It was on my way to get Bowen from preschool as I was 10 minutes late, freaking out and in turbo mode.
I was rounding the back corner of my car when my foot caught on the somewhat bell-bottomy shape of my pants and I hurled down into the loose gravel (owy road rash on the palms of my hands)
Of course, Bryan and I have been watching "24" the past few nights and it must've rubbed off because I just quickly rolled over and popped right up as if I was just ducking a bullet or something.
This I have learned... falling while you're pregnant is traumatic.
There must be some super "save the baby" adrenaline that kicks in when it happens because 10 minutes after every time I fall my body just crashes.
And don't you dare ask if I'm OK because I'll just cry in your face.
This I know now to be true: I am not Jack Bauer.

New Subject:
The Bowen Routine:
I LOVE my job.
I LOVE MY JOB!!!
Bowen and I have fallen into this fabulous routine.
Everyday when Bryson goes down for a nap Bowen and I sit on the couch and turn on 'Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee'.
(For some reason BOTH of us are thoroughly entertained by this)
Eventually I offer to scratch his back if he lays down and we both are 'out' by the end of 'Everyday Italian'.
I then wake up in the middle of 'Barefoot Contessa', arms asleep and truly uncomfortable.
I then stare at my little boy and resist the urge to kiss his face off.
I love this boy.
I love that he sits with me at the piano in Primary.
I love that he tries to re-enact, with exact precision, the sound Wally makes when he's flying off into outer space.
I love that he can't wear a shirt unless the tag is cutout.
I love that he won't leave his room every morning until I come down there and let Bryson out of his crib (they share the same room).
There are so many things to love about Bowen.
He is growing up way too stinkin' fast.

SIMPLY DIVINE- Valentine Sponge Cake Cubes

Saw these on the cover of Women's Day this month and while I was in the checkout line I hurried and found the page it was on and memorized the recipe. I am such a snitch.

These are ABSOLUTELY DIVINE! They're so basic, it's ridiculous.

Quite Simply this...

Cut a FROZEN pound cake into 1-inch cubes.
Melt canned frosting in the microwave at 30 second intervals until it's the consistency of heavy cream.
Dip the cake cubes in the frosting like you were making chocolates. Sprinkle.

For all the extra little tidbits you might want to know when making these go to my recipe blog.
Plus, you MUST check out the real picture on the cover of Women's Day because they're so much cuter (couldn't find it online... maybe I have the wrong magazine???)

TIP: don't leave these on your kitchen counter overnight because in the morning you'll find yourself shoving them all in your mouth before you even realize what you're doing.

Parmesan Crusted Sandwhiches

Direct from Heidi's Recipe Blog.
These were UTTERLY FABULOUS!

Pregnancy Update Pictures

This is for you, Rachel G.
Currently between 16 and 18 weeks along (I don't really know. I always lose track.)
This is officially what they're talking about, aj, when they say, "Just wait..." It's called 'maternity pants the day you find out you're pregnant'.
Ultrasound is next Friday. Is he gonna be a she? oh my oh my!THIS BOY is totally crackin' me up...

AI - Kentucky

Brent Keith Smith
I predict Top 12... I mean, that dimple in his cheek already has my vote.

Recipe FLOPS

WHAT IS IT with the recipe flop fairy following me around these days? It's driving me NUTS!
Paula Dean's FAMOUS Crab Cakes. One of Food Network's Top 10 recipes for 2008... Check mine out...They look NOTHING like the picture (below). They tasted great but I couldn't for the life of me keep them together while I was frying them... they just totally fell apart. FLOP!
And here we have Lettuce Wraps that tasted SO GOOD 2 years ago when I requested the recipe from my fabulous Floridian neighbor but when I made them???... just not that great! FLOP!
Rachel Rays Braised Pork Chops. This was good... but it wasn't THAT good. It was quite filling and tasty but just NOT good enough to find a permanent place in the book. I call that a FLOP! I really would like to only spend my time and money on utterly fabulous recipes.
And below is my crooked picture of Pillsbury's Cherry-Blueberry Pie. This is still not going in the book but it wasn't a flop for 2 reasons: it was a spontaneous decision where I had all the ingredients on hand (score) and it really was pretty dang good just not utterly fabulous. (and Bryan doesn't like berry pies anyway so I had to eat it all myself).
And because of all these flops I am currently having a love affair with Tostitos Salsa Con Queso. And it MUST be dipped with Tostitos 100% white corn round chips. I could eat this and watch "24" every night and be perfectly content. On the menu tonight... Tator Tot Casserole! That stuff is good. There's no way it could flop.

Marcia Lynn McClure

First of all, I'd like to say how cool I am for posting 4 posts today.

And now to the subject at hand...

It has been confirmed that Marcia Lynn McClure books are totally and utterly fabulous.
Confirmed by my friend, Lauren, in none other than Gainesville, FL who took the plunge and ordered one from inter-library loan. She started reading it at midnight and next thing she knew it was 6am. I am so proud of her. This may be the beginning of a Florida sweep... meaning, watch out SE, the McClure men are coming. ( :

I was starting to wonder. I thought, "If these books are so fabulous, why are they not more popular or available in more libraries?" I don't know but I do know that if you can get your hands on one... just try it. You may never look back.

Currently and anxiously waiting for "The Time of Aspen Falls" (her new book just released). In the mail as we speak.

Girls Night

The Valentines cookies I couldn't resist making... Picky Palate's Soft Perfect Sugar Cookies.The girls...

(Kari, Me, Cindy, Alyssa, Rachel, Georgia)

The candid photo that had us rolling on the ground in tears.
You wouldn't think that Alyssa's stern stare is candid but that really is her 'before I smile' face. HAHA!

Tyler Florence's Chicken Parmesan

Rated as one of the Top 10 recipes in 2008 on Food Network.com.
A 5 star recipe... almost 200 reviews.

Made it. Loved it! The chicken... divine. The sauce... I don't think was that special. Maybe it's because I left out the Kalamata olives (which probably contained a lot of the flavor).

Tips for the chicken (from reviewers)...

• Use Planko bread crumbs (for crunchierness) mixed with Italian bread crumbs (for more flavor)
• Do not add sauce before putting in oven (will make crust soggy). Cook on a wire rack so bottom doesn't get soggy. Add cheeses the last 5 minutes.
• Add a little garlic powder to sauce and extra basil.
• Be sure chicken is pounded thin.

Dirties a lot of pans. Worth it. I think the chicken is the main star. When I make it again I'll probably just use marinara sauce or homemade spaghetti sauce.

recipe

On the menu tonight... Paula Dean's Crab Cakes (also a top 10). Can't wait.

AI - AZ

I CANNOT resist posting my thoughts...

I really like Emily Wynne-Hughes. I pretty much think she's a shoe-in. I predict... top 12.
So here I am spending 2 stinkin' hours of my time watching AI... hating half of it and loving the other half. And then we get to the end and they manage to pull out a tear-jerker... Scott MacIntyre, the blind pianist. And this is what he sings, "And So It Goes" by Billy Joel. The exact words...

And this is why my eyes are closed
It's just as well for all I've seen
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows

What the heck? Don't they know that pregnant woman watch this show? Do they not realize that a situation such as this is bound to stir emotion within? Of course they do. And I was touched. Mission Accomplished. (sigh)


Bikini girl..... GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!

And why didn't they just cut out that clip where Seacrest tried to give MacIntyre a high five? I suppose they thought it would give AI more press. Hm.

Valentines

What? You think it's too early to think about Valentines? (disappointingly, Target does)

I am official WAYYYYYYY into our next holiday.

Check out all these urges I must fight:

• the urge to buy every Wilton cake product at Micheals
• the urge to dress in pink every day
• The urge to buy every size of heart shaped cookie cutters (oh wait, I just did that)
• the urge to bring heart shaped cookies to girls night tonight (I'm not fighting that one)
• the urge to buy a big deep reg shag carpet to go in my living room (I really don't want to fight this one)
  
• the urge to buy super nice expensive Valentines decor at Pier One (I will fight this one and win)
• The urge to go tanning (oh wait, that's just cause it's getting springy here)

Which reminds me... after watching Suze Orman on the Oprah Show I was all set out to NOT buy a yard this year and save all our pennies until we have an 8 month cash stash (as suggested). But look what happened... Mr. Sun came out and has decided to taunt us with St. George spring weather. I have since decided it would be a mere impossibility to go through another spring here without green green grass in our backyard. Just completely impossible. (sigh). Dear yard, I command you to be fruitful.

Nacho Libre

INCARNACIOOOO - HONE!!!!!!
That was probably my favorite part of the whole movie.
I couldn't find a short clip of it but it JUST MIGHT be worth 20 seconds of your time to watch this starting from 1:30ish on.

His delivery... so much feeling.

I have to say, Lauren, that I really was 'moved' during the fight scene. I think it had a lot to do with the heightened emphasis of the theme song that had been playing throughout the whole movie... And I quote, "I'm proud I am. I'm glad I am. I am I am. I'm proud I am". Doesn't that sound like a song that would move you?

And remember THIS scene...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Just.... ya know.

I can't seem to get my thoughts together enough to post something that's... ya know, something. But I MUST GET MY POST FIX! My blog calls to me... "Mariewee, come post. Come post, Marie. You must post. Post you must. If you do not post, I will blogtalk in your mind all day." And so it has been. Not only is my blog talking to me but I am talking in Dr. Suess. My life is really taking a turn this year. ( :

Mindless thoughts that deserve a showing:

• An overabundance of hormones somehow makes me feel like I am living life more fully. Why? Because I can cry 4 times during a 10 minute stretch of Forest Gump. That's right. There are a lot of truths in that movie that deserve a good hard sob.
• I also realized that during this tender time in my life I can feel true sympathy for Superman when I listen to that song by Five for Fighting. "Even hero's have the right to bleed..." He's only a man in a silly red cape.... Does that not just make you (sigh)... sad?
  
  
  
  
  
• Ok, so maybe this is a crying post. I LOVE pregnancy posts. I cried today when Bowen wouldn't go into Sunbeams. I let myself get carried away thinking that this one defining moment would determine the rest of his life. Not a healthy way of thinking for a mother of a 3 year old.
• Well, enough crying. Let's examine the other side of having an overfillment (not a real word) of 'feelings'.... I experienced true, unmatched, yet bewildering joy when I received my Costco coupons in the mail this week. I still experience giddiness thinking about running over there and giving them all my money... all the while saving it. I'm not really sure how that works but I think it means I get to go to Cafe Rio afterward.
• One more thought... my new office. I say new because it feels like new now that I've finally decided to give my walls a little love. There's only about 17 other huge walls in the house that need the same treatment. I must say... I'm really proud of the minimalism of it. That little black box there on the right is where our entire house is run out of. You take that box and our house will blow up. I may find myself watching 'Nacho Libre' tonight. Wish me luck.