Friday Letters

Dear NF, you’re everything to me… I can’t believe 4 years ago today I was baking Halloween cookies for a charity (best cookies ever and I should probably make them again in your honor) and by Sunday night I was having contractions ALL night – and you were born at 6:47 PM Halloween night.  You make me so happy and proud to be a mom.  It could be raining outside and you’ll still tell me it’s a beautiful day.  I can’t squeeze hug you enough!!

Dear hot chocolate, I’m kinda liking you lately, but as soon as I actually buy a box of you, I’ll probably be over it and throw the box out 2 years later when I realize it’s expired (has happened before).

Dear rain, stay far far away tomorrow PLEASE, thanks.

Leah Remini, I’ve always been a fan of yours.  Since like saved by the bell days (though it felt wrong, Zack needed to be with Kelly, honestly).  I loved you on the talk when I was on maternity leave… I am loving you filling in for Erin Andrews on DWTS the past two weeks.  Wasn’t I expecting a book Fall 2013 when you were a contestant on DWTS?  Is this the book that I’ve been waiting for?  Two years later… ugh I gotta read it.  I wish it came out Nov 1st instead of 3rd…. is it possible it would be early release like Orange is the New Black?  Leah, are you actually going to answer my Friday letter to you?

Dear pumpkins in the lawn, what animal has been terrorizing you and taking bites out of you at night?

Dear Fayetteville Target, why would you not have a Starbucks, I mean come on?  Super weird.

Dear holiday themed shower curtains, I think I wanna be that mom who does this.

Lamar Odom, k got it, you’re still in the hospital.  but why do I still read every update?  This is going to be a long recovery and I’ll know every detail, whether I want to or not.

Dear Smellen, I wish I was with you on your honey moon.  and I wish you weren’t missing Halloween.

Dear Grey’s and Modern Family, UHHH I wish I had a warning you weren’t going to be new this week.  and WHAT no modern family Halloween episode?  How disappointing.

Dear The Chew, I gotta see what you guys dress up as this year, GOT TO!

Dear Janman, I can’t believe you got a princess peach costume to go trick or treating with NF, you’re nuts, and I love it.

Dear baby in my belly, I can’t wait to hold you and I hope you’re a very good baby that sleeps a lot… like preferably from 8 pm to 8 am and then naps during the day.  Thank you!

What I’m Loving Wednesday

It’s Wednesday and THIS is what I’m loving…

NF: This guy!  I am just amazed at the words he’s saying… tonight he said “shut” while playing with the doors on his toy buses.

Olay Body Wash Plus Body Buter Ribbons With Jojoba Butter 10 fl oz: I got this in my stocking for Christmas and I love it especially during the winter.  I like that it’s all marbled.  When I googled it – they make different kinds!  So after I’m done with this one I might be picking up a different one.

The Chew: I LOVE this show.  It started right before I went on maternity leave and seriously I looked forward to it everyday.  I was able to work from home today because of the snow storm (I never do that)… and I put NF down to nap at 12:30 and it was SO nice to have The Chew on in the background from 1-2 during his nap.

Book Club: It’s month three for my book club and it’s going great!  This month we are reading Labor Day and then the first weekend in March we’ll see the movie together then discuss the book and movie afterward somewhere at the mall.  Not sure if we’ll have coffee, sushi, frozen yogurt, or what but whatever we do I am so excited for it!

Syracuse Orange: my mom made NF that sweater last March… I’m starting to really feel the orange pride around here.  Seriously I think we NEED a championship after this winter, it’d really mean so much!  Go Syracuse!!  (P.S. we are #1!!)

Thursday Thoughts

It’s Thursday and I’m linking up with Jen from Ramblings of a Suburban Mom.

I’d like to start with what I am thankful for.  I know everyone’s like ugh I heard what everyone is thankful for the month of November on facebook and it was annoying.  Hopefully this won’t be annoying to read… if it is.. sorry.

I’m thankful for having such a happy child.  Seriously he’s pretty much always happy.  This is him this morning… he just put C’s hat and gloves on himself.  Don’t the gloves look gigantic?

I’m thankful for my sister, mom, and dad.  I’m thankful they all live close to me too.  And yes, I am saying this, I am thankful that my dad works at the same place I do, and goes to the same gym I do.  I can complain sometimes, ugh I see my dad way too much, but really, it’s actually a good thing.  My sister well no one gets me like my sister does.  My mom, she’s extremely dependable and logical – I may have wanted a mother that knew how to do hair and make up and dress me cool growing up… but the other things she did know how to do, like set me up for success, I get it now. And now that I am a mom I really appreciate her so much more like when I change diapers, got spit up on, stayed up all night I thought, wow, my mom did this for me, I should really really thank her.

Some other thoughts… I THOUGHT Scandal was going to be on tonight… and it’s NOT.  whyyyyyyyyyyyy.  It doesn’t come back on until February 27th!!

NF, my sister, her boyfriend, and myself will be going to Lights on the Lake the VERY last day… Sunday.  I bought the ticket at work for a reduced price way before Christmas and we  never went.  I wanted to go as a family but looks like that’s not happening – so I invited my sister and bf and they are so excited.  Glad I didn’t go just me and NF tonight… the more in the car the better!

After watching the whole 1st season of Orange is the New Black, we’re reading the memoir for book club.  It’s really good so far.  I recommend it.

And our book club… it’s going great!  I love it.  We’re on our 2nd book.

Anyone else excited for Daphne on The Chew to have her baby?

Real Housewives of NYC sneak peak for season 6 came out and OMG… http://starcasm.net/archives/257506 you have to watch!

I guess that’s all.

Flash Back Friday

April 11th 2012… I decided to make a recipe I had seen on The Chew, one of my favorite day time shows (back story… the show was very new right when NF was born and I was on maternity leave… I looked forward to this coming on everyday for the 3 months I was off from work).  I had made a few Chew recipes before and they turned out pretty good…  I decided to make Michael Symon’s Chicken Kiev.  It looked so good on TV!  And they kept saying how easy it was to make.  You have to make herb butter for this dish… so I did…I went out and bought all the herbs.  I chopped them all… but not as finely as I should have (parsley, dill, and chives) – I made the butter into a big roll and everything!  Just like on TV.  Sooo I got my chicken breasts out I did not have a meat pounder (I still don’t by the way hint hint Christmas gift)… so I just hit it with a rolling pin, then an empty wine bottle then got scared of it breaking and I decided it was flat enough.  Ohhh no it was not.  But once I had gotten the chicken all covered in eggs and flour it felt too late to go back to pounding it with a wine bottle or some hard object.  I couldn’t roll the chicken closed… all the herb butter melted out leaving giant pieces of herbs… I remember I cooked it like 10 minutes LONGER than it said but when I served it the chicken wasn’t cooked through…. I snatched the plates away after this horrific discovery and continued to cook it.  I served it again but C wasn’t convinced it was cooked so I cooked it in the oven longer… I served it again and he picked at it to be nice.  I was so disappointed – it was supposed to be amazing!  This picture might deceiving… it actually looks pretty edible.  But it was not.  I will NEVER make chicken kiev again.  Maybe I should send this story to Michael Symon on The Chew and they’ll have me on to face my chicken kiev fears.  I also ruined Guinness stew.  Two things I will probably never attempt to make again.

Some TV thoughts…

So here’s some thoughts on TV lately…  Hopefully I hit some / all / at least one… of the shows you watch and you can tell how you feel too..

First off… The View… all I have to say about The View right now is that it’s WEIRD without Joy Behar and Elisabeth.  and it’s WEIRD to see Elisabeth on Fox and Friends (which I do not watch purposely, it’s just on the TV every morning at our Italian, Catholic, Republican, woman I LOVE that watches NF).  I also NEED to mention, Jenny McCarthy has perfect hair…

Jenny McCarthy’s hair… does it get any better???

Next I need to discuss The Chew.  I was SO excited to watch this live on the day off I took for NF’s 2nd birthday.  I was going to pretend to be a stay at home mom and watch The Chew when he napped.  Unfortunately C got out of work early and came home and ruined my whole plan and put sports center on.  AHHH so I asked him if I could watch The Chew, and he pretty much said yeah whatever, and took a nap.  So it turned out fine and I was able to watch.

OMG THEY DIDN’T!!!

THEY DID NOTTTTT disappoint!  Daphne had the idea going as the Spice Girls for Halloween and it was perfect.  Everyone fit their spice girl amazingly!!  I didn’t care about the food they made at all – I just loved the costumes.

The Middle… the very best part of The Middle is Sue Heck.  If you don’t watch the show… you just should because Sue is amazing.  This week Sue holds a seance with some friends and calls for the ghost of Christopher Columbus and swears she sees the Santa Maria.  I died.

Calling Christopher Columbus!!!

Telling everyone what she saw…

And now… I CAN’T forget to mention… LAST NIGHT ON DWTS….. OMMMMMMGGGGGGGGG CHER!!!!!!!!

I love you Cher.

It was amazing.  I loved every minute of her being on the show.

ohhh the girls of bh

Sooo Real Housewives of Beverly Hills started last night – and I still haven’t decided if I’ll watch…

Everyone knows how I feel about The Neighbors… it’s like my favorite show.   My fav quote from this episode is, “Oh Reggie, love actually doesn’t exist in this house between September and Super Bowl Sunday.  There is no love.  There’s only Lovie Smith.  Lovie Smith was the head coach of the Chicago Bears and there’s no surgery that can make me un-know this.  The only thing that I do know is that one day you’re a love struck 16 year old girl who’s boyfriend calls you every other night at exactly 8 PM the next thing you know it’s 20 years later and your marriage has taken a back seat to ALL THINGS NEW YORK GIANTS.  In the next 3 months he’ll have less of a dialog with you than Adam Rosenblam and the rest of the members of the Time Teblow’s division of the greater New Jersey fantasy football league.  I’m sorry, what was your question?”

I hear ya Debbie Weaver!

OH… and can’t forget SNL’s parody of What does The Fox Say… THE BESTTT!!

That’s all for now!!

What I’m Loving Wednesday

 

NEW YORK: Today is the 12th anniversary of 9/11.  And I have to shout out my home, my life, the place I’ll raise my children, New York.  I’m loving it.  I will never forget.

NF: THIS little guy here… who might be ready for the potty?!  Any tips or tricks I need to know about before we start this adventure?  (not that anyone reads this?)

http://www.tmz.com/

Lamar Odom and TMZ: TMZ can’t get ENOUGH of Lamar Odom and basically knows every single move he makes and reports it…. and for some reason I can’t stop looking for the latest update.  The most recent headline, “Lamar Odom buys popular ingredient for homemade crack pipes” … okay, normally I think tmz is ridiculous but a NBA player like Lamar doesn’t just go out and buy copper scrubbing pads to clean the kitchen with.  But they don’t have an actual picture of him and the grocery bag – just his alleged driver… and now I find myself thinking, why do I need to know this information, and more importantly why do I care?  I just do, I’ll answer myself.

Bethenny: Bethenny’s new talk show started on Monday….  and to be honest, I am not really enjoying it.  It’s too crude for me.  I mean I don’t even want to list the topics discussed on the show on here because I feel like it’s inappropriate.  I feel uncomfortable having it on with my toddler in the room.  BUT what I do love about this is that it’s better than Maury (oh my god by a million, I dislike the who’s the father talk show episodes).  I am sad because I wanted to really like this show.  Sorry Bethenny, I’m sticking with Ellen.  But let’s all be real here, who’s missing Oprah like whoa.

Daphne Oz is having a BAYYBAYYYY!!: Oh my goodness… I wish we were pregnant at the same time (but we’re not).  I’ve been waiting for Daphne to have a baby (we’re the same age ya know)…. and FINALLY it’s happening!!  She’s so cool – I love her on the chew and I LOVE Carla Halls reaction in that picture.  I hope Clinton Kelly does baby Clinton Craft Corners… oh this is just the best ABC news!!

Kimbo Slice: I had no idea Kimbo Slice is only 39 years old, I seriously thought that he was like 60… but that’s because I get him confused with Mr.T.  Anyway, I like Kimbo Slice and always root for him whoever he’s fighting.  I love when fights end in a knock out in like under 45 seconds.  (Maybe having Kimbo Slice was a pretty random addition to my “what I’m loving wednesday” but whatever, it’s my list – gotta keep it a little unpredictable!)

http://www.tmz.com/

Tom Hanks has jury duty: This just makes me happy just because it makes me feel like Tom Hanks is a real nice regular person.

Friday’s Letters

Dear NF, you amaze me!  Every little new thing you do, I am just like, “LOOK LOOK HE JUST PUT HIS LEG THROUGH HIS BASKETBALL HOOP AND IS JUST WATCHING TV LIKE THAT LOOK QUICK!”  yeah, I’m that parent right now.  Feel bad for your future sibling because I don’t know how amazed I’ll be with the next one (I HOPE the same, but I can’t envision that same amazement).

Dear Smellen, I’m excited to finally make Clinton Kelly’s Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit Cassarole with you this weekend – I think it’ll be a hit!!

Dear Clinton Kelly, I’m a total fan!  I love you on The Chew!!

Dear Justin Bieber, what what WHHHHAT!  When did you get these abs!?  I had no idea!  Forget that you were at a club where alcohol was served or that you peed in a mop bucket?… focus on those abs! 

What I’m Loving Wednesday…

NF: I took this picture this morning… I like to think he wasn’t too keen on the bright yellow plaid overall shorts outfit I put him in, but he really doesn’t seem to care what he’s wearing.  He looks arodable though.  Ohhh baby boy!!  Don’t grow up on me too fast!

Target Whale Soap Dispenser: I got this on sale at Target for $10.  I’ve been eyeing it for a while now.  It’s super cute, and my soap dispenser I bought at a craft fair for $25 broke!  I know this isn’t sophisticated adult, but it’s blue and totally matches my bathroom and I love it’s whimsicalness!  The way the soap comes out is great too.  I’m REALLY loving this!

JP Morgan Corporate Challenge (NewsChannel9 WSYR)

JP Morgan Corporate Challenge: I ran my first race last night!  3.5 miles in 40:45 – pace 11:39 min/mile.  Not too bad for my first… this will be my time to beat now.  I didn’t really know what to expect – or how far I had left to go… but now I know what 3.5 feels like in a race and I’m excited to try again.  I understand why people like doing it – I felt so accomplished going across the finish line.  And everyone was so happy and friendly.  It was like a big party!

The TV Show Save Me on NBC: I decided to watch this show as part of my I’m totally trying it June edition.  And I like it.  It’s about a lady who just recently started to think she’s channeling God.  It’s funny, and every episode has a lesson, and I like that, it gets me thinking.  I know it’s a summer show they taped and now are cranking out the episodes and it’ll likely never have another season… but I hope that it does!  NBC, I’ll surely watch!

Clinton Kelly’s Bacon Egg & Cheese Cassarole: My sister made this recipe again for Father’s day.  You can see where she made it for Mother’s day here.  This time she made the biscuts bigger.  Either way is good – it all depends what you want.  This is becoming a family favorite!

 

Make Me Smile Monday

Happy Mother’s Day!!  (day after).  NF was not in the picture taking mood but we took it anyways.  I’ll remember how squirmy he was forever now.  By the way, last week it was like 85 in NY and now it’s like 40’s.

I am a HUGE fan of the show The Chew on ABC.  Back in March 2012 Clinton Kelly shared one of his go to group breakfast recipes, Clinton Kelly’s Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit Casserole.  My sister made Mother’s day brunch and I suggested that she made this, and SHE DID!  They turned out terrific and we’d probably make them again.  They’re great for a bunch of people!

She ALSO made Donna’s Cream Puffs, another recipe from The Chew.  They were AMAZING!!!  Sometimes on the show they have 3 grandmas share their recipes and they call it Iron Grandma.  These cream puffs are from an Iron Grandma Brunch Battle.

And I leave you with NF and one of his best friends, Charlie.

Thursday Thoughts

Linking up with Ramblings of a Suburban Mom for some Thursday Thoughts…

Joey Lawrence averages two numbers on ABC’s Splash… Anyone else still watching this show?  I am.  My favorite part now is where Joey Lawrence averages the two scores together.  He’s a math genius!

Farrah’s ___ tape… When I heard the rumors that Farrah made a you know what tape I totally believed it.  She’s done just about everything else sooo it just seemed like it was going to happen sooner or later.  I don’t really want to comment on it much more than that.

image credit: The Chew

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio… I’d just call it pasta with garlic and oil… and I want it.  Mario Batali made this on the Chew… and for anyone who doesn’t know how to make this go here and then make it.  It’s delizioso!  (and simple).

Thunder in APRIL!?… It thundered and lightninged Tuesday and Wednesday night this week and it made me nervous but I kinda liked it.