Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 256

If you don't want to hear (read) me bragging, you better move on...anyway, you know I hardly evvvver brag.

Sometimes I am so good at cooking, I surprise even myself. I can't be a cooking blogger because I don't take pictures for every step of the process. I always forget and its boring.

Scott picked these grape 2 days ago.

They are VERY tart. No one has really been eating them and there are at least 2 more bunches getting ready. Since I hate to waste anything I (we) grow, I tried to think of what I could do with the grapes. Wine is not an option since there are not enough.

My big idea was grape jelly. Then I Googled it. Most of the recipes use grape juice. What??? Not REAL grapes. Holy cow, what a process to use real grapes. Maybe next time. So I google Grape desserts. Nothing interesting that worked with the ingredients I had on hand. So I look around and think about what goes good with grapes.....

Blue Cheese, Rosemary Focaccia with Home Grown Grapes, Walnuts and Caramelized Onions

Oh yea!!! How fancy is that $20 appetizer? 
Baking the grapes made them sweeter. Kids loved it,  MIL Phyllis loved it. Book Club- its on the menu for Friday.

I didn't take a picture of my Salsa Sea Bass because I didn't have any green onions or cilantro for garnish and Paula would think it looks like fish mush. Anyway I used our tomatoes, peppers and lime with some onions and the fish (that Scott, Colin and Andrew caught) and some spices and wine. Put everything in the oven in the Pampered Chef skillet and cook until the fish is done, then reduce the sauce on the stove. Soak up the sauce with some crusty baguettes. AWESOME!!!
Today, I am so good at cooking!

It is what it is...
Namaste

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 255

I don't like to complain and I realize I don't have a "paid" job outside the house. I guess Professional Volunteer doesn't count. I do not mind doing most jobs around the house however...

Everyone of the people in this house is over the age of 10 and are perfectly capable of being neat and tidy.

This is one of my personal pet peeves. Make a mess, clean it up!

For instance, you make yourself a delicious omelet in the middle of the night. Way to go! You took care of business and didn't wake me up. I don't want to go to bed with a perfectly clean kitchen and wake up to a dirty pan, a dirty Ninja blender, a cutting board, knives, onions, cheese and eggs in the sink. Clean up your mess!

In both bathrooms I keep a container of Clorox wipes in plain view. I know, not the prettiest thing to keep out but...If you sprinkle when you tinkle, please be neat and wipe the seat... or the rim, or the floor or that big blob of toothpaste you just spit in the sink. I am the MOM, not the maid! Clean up your mess!

It is what it is...
Namaste

Monday, July 29, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 254

Adult Field Trip day!

Phyllis and I went to Valley View Casino - home of the lobster buffet. If you join the player club, your first buffet is FREE! We have been talking about it for year. Today was the day.



Since I don't really gamble, my limit was $25. After that, my plan was to sit by the pool with a book and a cocktail.

As I head down to the pool, there are signs that that say the pool is for hotel guests only. I figure this doesn't apply to me. ( I learned that from my mom)


As I'm lounging and reading, I see a manager type person ask the security guard if he has checked to see if the people hanging out are actually hotel guests. To be clear  there is only myself, another man and a couple in the pool area.

Manager: ( to the man) excuse me sir, are you staying in the hotel?
Man: no, why?
Manager: the pool area is only for guests actually staying in the hotel. I'm going to have to ask you to leave.
The man leaves. The manager walks by me, then comes back. I guess my invisibility cloak is not working.

Manager: excuse me, are you staying in the hotel?
Me: yes
Manage: you are?
Me: yes:
Manager: what's your room number?
Me: 320
Manager: 320?
Me: yes
Manager: enjoy your stay.
Me: thank you.
He walks away and questions the couple sitting at a table, then he comes back.
Manager: nice try, there is no room 320. You will have to leave.
Me: ok
I could have complained or argued or went to the front desk but it was 3:30 and the buffet opened at 4. Not worth it at this point.

The lobster buffet was AWESOME! I stuck to my plan of lobster, sushi, crab legs, mussels, clams and then move to desert. No filler like salads or vegetables. It was delish! My stomach is still full at 8:30. I'm sure I will be cursing the lobster buffet at 3 am when I wake up with a stomach ache from over eating.

It is what it is...
Namaste

The Everyday Project Day 253


Great movie line...
"We're dead and woke up in a musical!" Loving the Disney Channel Teen Beach Movie. Phyllis and I are cracking up as Cara looks on horror. Hahahaha

Cara: This movie is horrible.
Me: why?
Cara: let me list the reasons: its stupid, it has bad acting, bad music and bad lip syncing...
Me: awww, want some cheese to go with your whine?
Cara: of course I want cheese with my whine. I love cheese.

Me: take those headphones off and enjoy the movie.
Cara: why do you get to go on you ipad and I have to watch the the movie.
Me: Dance Along Edition!  Cara, you can learn the dances...jazz hands!Wanna watch Dirty Dancing next? ( I made her watch that last week) 

It is what it is...
Namaste

Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 252

It is very disturbing to me that Seth knows what the krocodil drug is. Google it - but beware of horrible, graphic images. Basically it is a synthetic flesh eating, Russian heroin.

He said his dad showed it to him on YouTube as something Not To Do.

You learn something new everyday.

I had to take Seth home today. I could tell he felt awkward asking to call his mom because he is usually so grateful to be in the house of unlimited chips and Dr. Pepper. Too much togetherness and not enough sleep makes for a cranky Colin. As well as the rest of us.

He was supposed to stay until tomorrow morning when Scott goes for the last day of his weekend soccer training in El Cajon. I realize it is only 30 minutes away depending on traffic but when everything is in a 5 mile radius, it seems far. I actually don't mind driving when I am alone and can listen to what I want.

It is what it is...
Namaste

Friday, July 26, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 251

Colin and Seth are the 3rd to last car on this roller coaster yesterday. It's not even the twistiest, highest one. I was terrified for them.


Looks like our grapes are ready to pick.


7 women have come forward to accuse our may Bob "Filthy" Filner of sexual harassment.

Its all over tv how he is now going to "rehab" for 2 weeks. He is 71 years old. If he has not learned in 71 years how to treat woman, 2 weeks in rehab is just not going to do it. I'm not sure there is a$$hole rehab.


It is what it is...
Namaste

The Everyday Project Day 250

You are either Disney people or you are not Disney people. We are not Disney people. We went once to Disneyland and once to Disney World. We have no desire to go back. Its crowded, the lines are long and its VERY over priced. No offence to the Disney people reading this, go there all you want because I know you know all the tricks... We just don't find it to be the happiest place on earth. To each their own. We decided to give Knott's Berry Farm a try this year. Its close to Disneyland. About 2 hours away.

Ok, just so EVERYONE knows, this is yesterday's post today. I think all those hidden bonus posts can count as a make up day for Knott's Berry Farm.

In case you don't know what Knott's Berry Farm is I copied this from Wikipedia for you.
The theme park sits on the site of a former berry farm established by Walter Knott and his family. Beginning around 1920, the Knott family sold berries, berry preserves, and pies from a roadside stand along State Route 39. In 1934, the Knotts began selling fried chicken dinners in a tea room on the property, later called "Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant". The dinners soon became a major tourist draw, and the Knotts built several shops and other attractions to entertain visitors while waiting for a seat in the restaurant. In 1940, Walter Knott began constructing a replica Ghost Town on the property, the beginning of the present-day theme park. Knott added several other attractions over the years, and began charging admission to the attractions in 1968. In 1983, Knott's Berry Farm added Camp Snoopy, which began the park's present-day association with the Peanuts characters.

It was fun but exhausting. We left the house at 8:30am and got back at midnight. Cara brought Cadence and Colin brought Seth. Phyllis and I were buddies for the day.

 Both kids made great friend choices because both Cadence and Seth are laid back and very agreeable. They also rode the gnarliest roller coasters. The lines were long and the boys didn't like that but what do you expect from an amusement park in the summer. They dealt with it. The girls were trying to ride EVERY ride but that didn't happen either. Maybe if we had made a better plan but ... we didn't. Phyllis and I mostly watched the shows (very good) and walked around. I should have worn a pedometer because I think I logged about 8 miles. 

No one bugged me for money for games and food. We packed a cooler full of sandwiches, drinks and snacks for lunch and had dinner at TGI Fridays. They each got a few reasonable treats and that was that. Plus they know if they want boardwalk money for NJ, they can't be spending the cash on stuff elsewhere. I save my change all year for the boardwalk and we count up before the NJ trip. What we have is what we have for the boardwalk games. We usually get about $300. That's a lot of games!

All in all, it was a great day! We should be good for another 5 years before we have to go again.

It is what it is...
Namaste

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

The EveryDay Project Day 249

DIY Day... you can learn to do anything on YouTube...Skills!

Our screen door was looking kind of white trash trailer park for 3 days now.
As you can see I tried all kinds of duck tape. And there was more on the other side. Like the camo and the pink colored. I can't believe there is an actual situation where duck tape doesn't work. 

Finally I decided to google " How do you re-screen a door?" Bang! there it was, just a click away. 

Off I went to Home Depot. First I checked out how much a new door would cost. That was Scott's suggestion. The cheapest was $80. 

I only needed 3 things. Total cost $15.60.


I took the door off and gathered my tools. The spa made a perfect surface to work.
(I guess the beer didn't make the picture.)

Less than 1 hour later...
SKILLS!!!!

Also on the  project list today
Homemade baked mac and cheese 

Orange Rice Pudding
Don't you love when you happen to have all the ingredients for a recipe that is in today's newspaper? 

It is what it is...
Namaste

PS: Field trip to Knotts Berry Farm tomorrow. It will probably be a late night so be prepared for a morning post.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 248

Chico's - Love it or hate it... or hate it sometimes but love it when you hit the jackpot. (Bobbi's favorite store...FYI)
Phyllis and I took a field trip to the Viejas Outlets. If I was going to El Cajon to pick up Seth aka Sid, I might as well go 10 extra miles and do a little shopping.

I got a pair of white pants, a totally cool,  blue-ish top and a long chevron type go with everything I own sweater for only $60.  Original total $120!
And Jackpot! I got 2 pairs of shorts and 2 Vans logo t-shirts for Colin at the Vans outlet for only $40. SCORE!!!(he is hard to fit and hard to please.) Thank goodness for cell phones because I took a picture of almost everything in the store.
I'm not sure why Colin did not want these shoes...maybe too bright? 


HS friends of Scott's who are touring the Left Coast came for dinner. Rita (Scott's friend) married Joe (her teacher and Scott's coach) along with daughter Julie, friend Frankie (stationed at 32nd Street) and nephew Dillon. On the menu - Carne Asada Taco Buffet

Grill Masters Colin and Seth

And Pi
Clockwise from the top: Joe, Rita,
Dillon, Julie, Frankie, Scott

Rita, Scott, Phyllis

Joe, Rita, Scott

It was fun watching Scott and Rita catch up and talk over the "old days". I even busted out the Cherry Bombs. Julie did her share. Good thing she wasn't driving... 

There are still tons left for the Book Club (drinking club) meeting...
Cherry Bombs

It is what it is...
Namaste



Monday, July 22, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 247

Day 2 of my project to use up all the "odds and ends" I have laying around. You know, the 1/2 cucumber, a little Italian dressing, some spaghetti. What to make, you ask? Scott's favorite! An oldie but goodie...spaghetti salad.

Some garden tomatoes, a cucumber and a 1/2 a shredded onion

WAIT! You SHRED onions???? Well of course! Using my vintage MOULIE (from France). I got it from my mom when in around 1980.
Mine, I just used it.

 As seen on Ebay for $52. I will not sell. 

Next two ingredients: Salad Supreme and Italian Dressing. Use as much or as little as you want. It depends on the amount of your other ingredients. Just eyeball it.. make sure it looks like a good amount of stuff.

The best flavored dressing with not a ton of calories.
The finished salad. Chill for awhile.

I also got my limoncello bottled today. 5 weeks in the making. In case you don't know, limoncello is an Italian after dinner drink. Google it. Its super easy if you are patient. (like I am)

I also made some shrimp salad with some shrimp that was in the freezer. Phyllis and I had that on the hot dog buns that were on their last day. I toasted them with butter and they weren't stale anymore. It was like I planned it that way.

This is why when I have a free day, I don't read, although its what I thought I would do today, after my RIPPED class at Being Fit. (I added that in case Maria is still stalking me online, HAHAHA) 

Gotta go. The Bachelorette, Men Tell All starts now,


It is what it is...
Namaste

Sunday, July 21, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 246

Here's the result of my jewelry project from my swap meet finds.

My inspiration was this Tom Binns Urban Tangle Necklace sold on this website for $962 down from $1375. Yes, you read that correctly almost $1400! Granted they used 24K gold plate but still not 24K or even 14K real gold. 


http://www.shopbop.com/uber-urban-tangled-chains-necklace/vp/v=1/1522756439.htm?folderID=2534374302159487&colorId=20157&extid=affprg-2178999

You may think it looks like a bunch of tangled junk but it actually looks good on a  white or black non-v neck t-shirt. It also looks nice with my white button down shirt. And it cost less than $5. HA!

I also made this popular ball chain bracelet.
I have been on a kick today to clean out all the odds and ends from my freezer. For lunch, I cooked up all the mostly eaten packages of fries, taquitos, mozzarella bites, popcorn chicken, etc. Then I had to use up all the fruit...

DOD
Mixed Berry Adult Smoothy.
It is what it is...
Namaste


Saturday, July 20, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 245

Field Trip to the Swap Meet. I only got some broken jewelry for $4. I have a plan to make a necklace similar to one I saw online. I'll see what happens tomorrow.

More costumes at the Con on those Meehan kids. LOVE those  Superheros!



It is what it is...
Namaste

Friday, July 19, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 244

A cloudy day at the beach is better than most days anywhere else.

And to rub it in to my East Coast peeps who are sweltering away in the high 90's with 2000% humidity, it was about 70 and I was wearing a hoody. Awwwww.......Snap!

It is what it is...
Namaste

Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 243

Comic-Con turns SD into nerd alert, super hero CrazyTown. Not that I have ever been, but my friend Estella goes every year with her fam. These are her kids at the Con.
I usually get some cool stuff. I'm hoping for something Dr. Who for Cara...

My mother in law, Phyllis arrived today. Let the appetizers be tasty and  the DOD's get flowing.



Toasted Caprese bruschetta and Honeydew, cucumber, lime mint cooler. Right from the cover of last month's Real Simple magazine. Healthy too! ( cause ya know I'm all about healthy) hahaha

It is what it is...
Namaste

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The Everyday Projet Day 242

What was for dinner last night?
Fish Tacos
sorry no picture

What was for dinner tonight?
Bacon, ham and cheese quiche
This recipe showed up on some Oprah email I get. It looked easy, different and I had all the ingredients. It was the first time I made one and the first time either kid actually had quiche. They LOVED it!
The spelling of quiche took up about 10 minutes of an argument on how to spell it between smart kid, Cara and smart mouth, Colin. Of course Cara won that one...

It is what it is...
Namaste



Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The Every Day Project Day 241

Today we have a guest. My sister, Paula. Here is a little background on the email she sent me today.


Stanton Holly Trail is a house tour at Christmas time that has been held for 50 years. Committees decorate houses in the area of Stanton, NJ (where we grew up and Paula still lives) People then tour the houses on the 1st Saturday in December.  It is a fundraiser where the money raised goes to the Stanton Reformed Church or the Hunterdon Medical Center on alternate years. I understand they raise a great deal of money.
Stanton Reformed Church

About 8 years ago, Paula upgraded the Silver Tea portion of Holly Trail to include fancy, homemade cookies of Martha Stewart quality. They must be exactly alike in size and doneness. They are coordinated to be pleasing to the eye and palate and are packaged in a professional manner. 3 to a cellophane package with a napkin. And a logo sticker. They are of the highest quality. At Holly Trail time, Paula and a select handful of helpers, namely my dad and Joy and David Scull bake 6,000 cookies. Thats right 6,000! or more... I'm not sure because there are the ones that don't make the cut.
She uses A LOT of butter!
And she publishes a recipe book...

A sample of the fancy cookies
And she writes a history of Holly Trail...
Page 1 of the 20 page glossy booklet. 

There is much drama surrounding Holly Trail that I have been hearing over the years. Paula is also a past prez of the whole operation.( I know, it  runs in the family) Although she has been talking about it for a few years, This year she has decided to give it up.

The following is the email, I got from the Cookie Queen today. Way to go sis!

Hi all my loyal cookie supporters.

Just letting you know that I met with the woman that originally said she would like to do the cookies for the Silver Tea this year and then left me a voicemail saying that she said she would "help" and now wanted to know where my head was at in relation to making them…

I told her "NO". You would all be so proud - I didn't share much of my own information either, just the facts of how many I made. I only gave her last year's recipe book but no other handouts of spreadsheets, files or anything.

I also "encouraged" her to consider doing something else instead of cookies, not to try and replicate what I had done (thanks, Patty, for those wise words!) and we brainstormed a little about that.

Needless to say, she was OVERWHELMED! I said I would consult if she wanted to run any ideas past me but my health was my focus this year.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support during my 8 years of cookie drama!

Paula

PS
She started the conversation with, "So you don't have any kids, right? At least that's one element that you don't have to work around." Roger said I should have gotten up and left right then with a big "FU!" but remembering Marybeth saying that our mom always said "A lady never curses", I bit my tongue and let the evening progress.

By the end of two hours she found out all that I've done for HT as well as working full-time over an hour from home and now doing intensive physical therapy 3 times a week over an hour from home PLUS have a 350 tree apple orchard. She'll never underestimate people without kids again!


Monday, July 15, 2013

The Everyday Project Day 240

As the t-shirt says, " A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work." Scott took the boys our on a half day boat. They each caught a few fish but since there were only 13 people on the boat and Scott is a good tipper, they came home with about 10 lbs of sand bass. Maybe more... fish tacos tomorrow. 
Andrew and Colin starting off the day.

Cara talked me into breaking my No More Cartoon movie rule. We went to see Despicable Me 2. It was good. I liked all the inventions and Steve Carell as Gru is hysterical. The rule is back in effect...

It is what it is...
Namaste