One is the Loneliest Number

Last night, Little Miss was talking in her room. This isn't unusual. She often talks to her stuffed animals or reads. Last night, we heard her talking to an octopus though. Then, I went in to check on her and she popped her head up and said she was playing Hide and Seek with Professor Inkling (You can see his picture here - he's the pink octopus). She mentioned that he wasn't real, but she was playing with him. This morning, she mentioned that he's imaginary and only she can see him, but she likes to talk to him and asked if she could bring him to school. We said yes, of course.

So, yes, one is the loneliest number... unless you have an imaginary friend and then you're never alone.

Sleepless Nights

Little Miss has been a very restless sleeper. Since the beginning, Husband has gotten up with her in the evening. Only when I can sense that he's becoming frustrated do I step in. I think it stems from the fact that if I don't get a good night's sleep, everybody is miserable. Either way, the other night, Little Miss admitted while she was having issues sleeping. Her leg sleeves keep rising up her legs.


It does make sense that if her arms are called sleeves so would her pant legs. She's so imaginative. In the meanwhile, we've switched her to leggings to sleep in and I think it helped - hard to tell when I sleep through calling out at night.

Books Read in January 2012

1. The Next Always by Nora Roberts (NOTE: This is the first book in the Inn Boonsboro trilogy.)
2. Barely a Lady by Eileen Dreyer (NOTE: This is the first book in the Drake’s Rakes series. Because I read the rest of the released book, the order is actually in the post.)
3. Never a Gentleman by Eileen Dreyer (NOTE: This is the second book in the Drake’s Rakes series. Because I read the rest of the released book, the order is actually in the post.)
4. Always a Temptress by Eileen Dreyer (NOTE: This is the third, most recent, book in the Drake’s Rakes series. Because I read the rest of the released book, the order is actually in the post though the series is ongoing so if you’re interested, keep checking Eileen Dreyer’s website for updates.)
5. Slow Ride by Erin McCarthy (NOTE: This is the latest in the Fast Track series. The order can be found here.)

No book club book because I read it last month. Go, me! This never happens. Good, enjoyable month though. Eileen Dreyer is a new-to-me author that has come highly recommended, and I enjoyed her books and definitely enjoyed the unique voice, location and plot. With historical romances, I sometimes feel like everything is recycled. I adored the Nora Roberts book, but she’s always fairly reliable when it comes to a good way to pass an afternoon. Hopefully, February has some good ones coming. I picked up some clearance books as well as Kristin Hannah’s newest so high expectations for all.

Movies Watched in January 2012

1. Doctor Who
2. Beastly
3. Beauty and the Beast 3-D
4. Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall
5. Last Play at Shea

Let’s see. I’ve been watching Doctor Who on Netflix Instant Play obsessively. I’m just shy of finishing 2 seasons in a little over 2 weeks. I rented Beastly and Last Play at Shea. I saw Beauty and the Beast in the theater. I got Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall for Christmas and popped in the DVD. I also snuck in an episode of Mad Men, but I’m not counting a random rewatch of an episode. When we do the full rewatch of last season, I’ll mention it.

Weekend Update - AHHHHH

This is the first weekend in awhile (and for awhile) that we had absolutely nothing planned and, therefore, did absolutely nothing.  Little Miss wasn't feeling that well on Friday so she came home and cuddled with a bit of lethargy and maybe a low-grade fever. 


On Saturday, she was back to normal.  She was, and I quote, "excellent"!  We did take a little walk to the CVS and Chick-Fil-A, but mostly we stuck close to home.


On Sunday, we did less than nothing.  We woke up, had brunch, and then Little Miss and I took separate naps for the rest of the afternoon.  Little Miss did a great job of cleaning the majority of the living room and her bedroom.  She was really funny and loving (though mostly to Husband).


So, it was a fun weekend and it was nice to enjoy it before the busiest February ever.

Weekend Update - Bowling

Last weekend, we met friends at the bowling alley. It was a lot of fun. We did dinner at our place while the kids played. It was great and so surreal to be with Husband's childhood friend and watch our own children.


I can't remember Sunday, but if I do, I'll come back and edit. Below, there is a picture of what happens when you tell Little Miss that it's time to make pancakes. She got her own mixer, mixing bowl and ingredients (the play flour and sugar are slightly out of view).

UPDATE:  Last Sunday, I met a friend for a mani/pedi.  Then, I had to rush home because Husband has been meeting friends for all the football playoffs so Little Miss and I had a nice afternoon/evening at home.  I tried the recipes I previously posted and settled in to watch some tv.  I've been dangerously obsessed with Doctor Who lately.

Can't Handle the Cuteness

I missed the origin of the conversation, but I walked in to hear Little Miss tell Husband that she was nervous to read.  She's been showing a lot of interest in reading and can pick out some simple words like "no" and "cat" and the like.  So, we assured her that there was no reason to be nervous.  The more she practices, the less nervous she'll be.  

So, later, I asked her why she was nervous and she looked at me and said, "I'm nervous because when I read, you won't read to me anymore."

I mean, come on, it doesn't get cuter than that.

The Octonauts

The Octonauts is Little Miss's newest obsession. Let me tell you "Octonauts" is impossible to understand out of a toddler mouth, too. She kept asking me to record it, and I had no idea what she was saying to look it up in the guide.

It's essentially an adorable show with bright colors with a cast of characters in an underwater habitat. Through stories, they teach kids about different aquatic animals. The show is based on a series of books and aired a year ago in England but finally made it stateside. This means that all of the merchandise is very expensive due to the long trek across the pond. I assume eventually the toys will make it, but I'm not sure it'll be before Little Miss outgrows the show. Still, she still likes Chuggington and those toys finally made it here so there's hope.

Weekend Recipes

Husband went out yesterday to watch football with friends so I was on my own for dinner. So, I actually cooked a full meal. I made Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders first so Little Miss could have dinner. She ate them with carrots and grapes and I let her have a 100 Calorie chocolate covered pretzel pack for dessert. I did not make the dipping sauce.

Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders (about 18)
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan
• 3/4 cup Italian-style seasoned bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

Brush 1 tablespoon of oil over each of 2 heavy large lined baking sheets. Place the buttermilk in a large bowl. Add the chicken tenders and stir to coat. Let stand at least 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mash the garlic with the salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in the vinegar and then the remaining 1/2 cup of oil. Season the vinaigrette, to taste, with pepper. Transfer the vinaigrette to a small serving bowl.

Stir the Parmesan and bread crumbs in a pie dish. Remove the chicken tenders from the buttermilk and dredge them in the bread crumb mixture to coat completely, pressing to adhere. Arrange the coated chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over the chicken tenders and bake until they are cooked through and golden brown, about 12 minutes.

Transfer the chicken tenders to a platter and serve the vinaigrette alongside for dipping.

For a side, I made scalloped potatoes. This was a recipe I've had in my box forever and never made. I'm not sure of its origin. It's 3 lbs of potatoes sliced 1/4" (and gave me a nice excuse to use my mandolin). You put the potatoes in a pot with 2c water and 2c milk along with 3 cloves of garlic smashed and peeled. Bring the pot to a boil, stirring so the mixture doesn't stick to the bottom. Once it is to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender. Then, using a slotted spoon, scoop out half the potatoes and put on the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan. On top, put a layer of Gruyere cheese and a pinch of cayenne pepper. The recipe calls for 3oz total, but I put a little less than 8oz and it still wasn't that cheesy. Repeat with layer of potatoes and cheese with a pinch of cayenne pepper. After, pour a cup of heavy cream evenly on top. Cook in a 350 degree oven until golden brown.

I was a little heavy with the cayenne pepper, but it was tasty, maybe needed a bit of salt, but I'm bad and never salt my foods.

I also roasted cherry tomatoes - a pint of cherry tomatoes, salt, pepper, thyme and oregano and a couple of cloves of garlic. I put them on a baking sheet in a 400 degree oven until they popped so like 10 minutes or so.

Super yummy dinner! Little Miss and Husband both loved the chicken. I can't remember the last time Little Miss asked for seconds.

Weekend Update - Girls' Weekend

Every year, during MLK weekend, Husband goes to Vegas with the boys. So, for the last few years, I've gotten together with my friends for fun and the Golden Globe awards. On Saturday, we all congregated at a friend's house and had a nice lunch. Little Miss made herself at home - as she always does.

Then, because we hadn't time before Christmas, we exchanged presents. Little Miss (and I) were spoiled with kindness. Then, Little Miss helped my friend's husband work on a little project. She loved helping. I don't know how much help she actually was, but she talked about it all weekend long.

On Sunday, Little Miss got picked up by the in-laws for a sleepover. So, I went out to see a movie and then had a friend over for dinner (see here to see what I made for dinner). Then, we watched 95% of the awards. I'm a dunce and missed about 30 minutes of them. Afterwards, she went home and I watched a bit of post-show before bed. I had to work on MLK Day so no staying up late for me.

On Monday, Husband and Little Miss came home and all was right in the world again.

Weekend Update - End of Christmas

The weekend after New Year's, we took down all the decorations. It was a sad day. Little Miss was very upset to see her little bedroom tree be put away, but she was a good sport. I took the time to reorganize the apartment and clean out a few closets.


When we disposed of the tree, we forced the birth of many, many insects. It is unclear what kind, but Husband killed many, and I squealed for days every time I saw one. It was an ugly, ugly scene - a virtual massacre. I don't think I'll ever be the same. On the plus side, the apartment is pretty tidy and we've kept it up for 2 weeks now. This is a shocking development. In addition, I cleaned the closet that's never been cleaned. It's beautiful.

Weekend Update - Happy New Year!

For New Year's, we head out to the parents' mountain house. Uncle, Aunt, Cousins, Sister, Sister's Boyfriend, Nephew, and the parents were all there already. Sister and her boyfriend left the first full day we were there so we celebrated Christmas that day. It was a big orgy of presents as Christmas should be. Then, we had a big dinner and played Scattergories. Later, we all rang in the new year (well, the kids had gone to bed).

The next day, we all got up to go skiing. It was raining, but we pushed on. Little Miss was great. We took her up a couple of times, but Mom and I were poor teachers and she's a giant lead weight. So, then, Dad had a moment and took some time with her and she progressed much better. When she had enough, she and Nephew went home with Uncle while the rest of us skied.

The day after we head home.  A big storm was heading in so we all got up and got going.  Then, it was school and work the next day.  It was a good time even though time goes by quickly!  Video below of Little Miss showing the slope who's boss.

New Recipes!

I tried a few new recipes this past weekend with the boy out of town and brought back some favorites he won't eat. On Friday, I tried Ina Garten's Meatloaf.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon good olive oil
• 3 cups chopped yellow onions (3 onions)
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/3 cup canned chicken stock or broth
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 1/2 pounds ground chuck (81 percent lean)
• 1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs (recommended: Progresso)
• 2 extra-large eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup ketchup (recommended: Heinz)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan. Add the onions, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not brown. Off the heat, add the Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste. Allow to cool slightly.

In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck, onion mixture, bread crumbs, and eggs, and mix lightly with a fork. Don't mash or the meat loaf will be dense. Shape the mixture into a rectangular loaf on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Spread the ketchup evenly on top. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F and the meat loaf is cooked through. (A pan of hot water in the oven, under the meat loaf, will keep the top from cracking.) Serve hot.

I prefer mine a little more on the tomato side, but it was still tasty and easy to make.  I heated up some leftover corn to go with it.

On Saturday, I made Tyler Florence's French Onion Soup. It was pretty tasty.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 4 onions, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 fresh thyme sprigs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup red wine, about 1/2 bottle
• 3 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 quarts beef broth
• 1 baguette, sliced
• 1/2 pound grated Gruyere

Directions

Melt the stick of butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and salt and pepper and cook until the onions are very soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes. Add the wine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the wine has evaporated and the onions are dry, about 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Dust the onions with the flour and give them a stir. Turn the heat down to medium low so the flour doesn't burn, and cook for 10 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Now add the beef broth, bring the soup back to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

When you're ready to eat, preheat the broiler. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle the slices with the Gruyere and broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.

Ladle the soup in bowls and float several of the Gruyere croutons on top.

Alternative method: Ladle the soup into bowls, top each with 2 slices of bread and top with cheese. Put the bowls into the oven to toast the bread and melt the cheese.

On Sunday, I roasted a chicken with a little butter, lemon slices, thyme and rosemary.  It was good, but I'll still have to play around with it.  For my first try, it wasn't bad.  It was good enough to eat at least.  I also made roasted cauliflower with it. That was delicious. I've made it before, and it always gets better and better.

Oven Roasted Cauliflower, Onions, and Garlic

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
• 3-5 cloves garlic, cut in half if large
• 1-2 small onions, cut into large cubes
• 3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Optional Garnish - chopped parsley or chives, crushed red pepper flakes, or parmesan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400F. Place veggies in a large casserole dish; toss with dressing. Bake at 400F for about an hour, stirring every 10 minutes. Garnish.

Last night, we had various leftovers - the soup for an appetizer and meatloaf as a main course.  I sauteed up some shallots in butter, added snow peas and then squeezed a slice of lemon.  It's such an easy and tasty veggie and just something different than our usual stand by veggies.

Haircut!

I got my haircut on the way home yesterday. I liked it more yesterday when I had someone fuss over it for more than 30 seconds. Still, I do prefer it short as does Husband.

Weekend Update - Merry Christmas!

I worked a full day the Thursday before Christmas, but after work, I met friends and went to a movie.  It was nice to get together before the holidays hit and it was going to be weeks before we could get together again.  I did have Friday off. It was a nice relaxing day. On Saturday, we lounged around the house and then got ready to host Christmas Eve dinner. We went to church and then had the In-Laws over for dinner.


On Christmas morning, Little Miss woke up and came into our room to whisper, "There are presents under our tree!"

So, of course, we had to get up and open presents. It was nice. We had time to open presents and play with all her new toys. Santa didn't give her too much because she was going to be spoiled by the family, but she was happy. Then, she and I took a nice nap before we went to the Inlaws' apartment for dinner. She was thoroughly spoiled as expected.

The day after Christmas, we were off from work. We took Little Miss to the park to blow bubbles and play at the playground. She had a blast. Then, we went grocery shopping which is one of her favorite things to do. After, there was naptime and dinner.

All in all, it was a nice holiday and relaxing. I think Little Miss had a good Christmas, and that's all that counts.

Oh, in regards to that second picture, she's obsessed with Pinkalicious.  So, she wore her new Pinkalicious t-shirt and dressed in pink from head to toe.  This was the only way to convince her to wear clothes on Christmas.  As a bonus, Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law and Nephew bought her the book and stuffed doll as a Christmas present.  She's been sleeping with the doll every night since.

Movies Watched December 2011

1. The Descendants
2. The Vampire Diaries
3. Love & Other Drugs
4. The Big Bang Theory
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
6. Soul Surfer

A little bit of everything. I saw The Descendants and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in the theater. I watched Love & Other Drugs and Soul Surfer on cable. We rented The Big Bang Theory on disc, but we have also been watching the show syndicated on TBS. The Vampire Diaries was watched streaming on my nook – equal opportunity entertainment here.

Books Read in December 2011

1. Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis (NOTE: This is part of the Lucky Harbor series. The order in which to read can be found here.)
2. Cowboy Cassanova by Lorelei James (NOTE: This is part of a series. You can find more information and order in which to read here.)
3. 22 Brittania Road by Amanda Hodgkinson
4. Love, Accidentally by Sarah Pekkanen
5. Only Us by Susan Mallery (NOTE: This book is part of the Fool's Gold series. The order in which to read the series can be foundhere.)
6. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Decent book month. I read 2 book club books - December's and February's and a couple of short stories. They were all ebooks this month.

Weekend Update - A Little Bit of This and That

On Friday and Saturday nights, Husband and I made hundreds of potato and cheese pierogi. Saturday, during the day, Little Miss and I went to the library, I think. We did something in the morning. Then, we took a very lengthy afternoon nap. That part I do remember. On Sunday, Little Miss and I went to brunch for book club. Afterwards, we walked to the bakery where they had a free decorate your own cookie activity.

You'll remember that we're trying to get Little Miss to try new foods. Last Sunday night, she tried pierogi and kielbasa as a nod to her Polish half. The kielbasa (or hot dog as she called it) got a thumbs up. The pierogi did not pass muster. Still, our experiment has been going well so far.  The picture above is Little Miss eating kielbasa on seeded rye. 

On Monday, school was cancelled.  Little Miss has had a productive cough for about a week now.  On Monday morning, she threw up all over Husband.  I swear I didn't laugh.  Much.  So, I took her to the doctor as a precaution.  It turns out her cough is nothing.  It turns out she wasn't quite herself because of a diagnosed double ear infection.  So, she's on an antibiotic.  She's a bit easily worn down and extra sensitive, but she is mostly back to herself.  She did go to school on Wednesday after staying home Tuesday.  We figured it was important she go today because there is no school until January 3.


So, now it's just a mad dash to prepare for Christmas!  Little Miss has already started getting the first of her presents.  She's definitely embraced the spiritual and commercial side of Christmas this year but with a good balance, I think.

Weekend Update - It's All a Blur

Seriously.  It's all a blur.  I have no idea what we did.  On Friday, Husband and I went grocery shopping.  Little Miss came home and we hung out.  I fell asleep on the couch watching tv until Husband noticed and told me to go to bed. Saturday kind of flew right by.  Seriously, I can't remember a single thing we did on Saturday.  On Sunday, Little Miss and I walked to CVS to run some errands and took a picture with Santa.  Well, her picture was taken with Santa.  I watched and paid.  That's it.  It flew.

On Tuesday, I took off of work to help out at the preschool. The kids were cute. They all called me Little Miss's Mom the whole time. After school, Little Miss was excited when I picked her up. We then went to the grocery store, she took a very long nap, and then we walked to the library. Little Miss has been really enjoying our trip to the library though sometimes, she is sad to return the books.

This weekend, we have a busy one planned - Christmas cooking and book club. So, I'll have more to report over the next few weeks than I did last weekend.

New Foods - Pumpkin Cupcakes and Lemon Pasta w/Chicken

We're lazy.  This is not new information.  So, Little Miss has had a pretty easy diet of things she happens to like.  Nothing unhealthy necessarily, just no big variety.  I noticed recently that she is downright defiant when it comes to eating or trying new foods - even different ways of serving foods she already likes.  I informed her that in the next week, she was going to start to try new foods.  This didn't go over well, but I told her she can pick out a food each week on her own.  Depending on what it is, we can make it together.  In an effort not to ruin new foods for her forever, I suggested we start with fruits, vegetables or desserts.  So, she suggested pumpkin.  I said we could make pumpkin cupcakes (aka pumpkin muffins).

Last night, when Little Miss came home, she and I baked up a baker's dozen of pumpkin cupcakes.  Then, the three of us split one before bed.  They were quite moist.  Little Miss liked it a lot and ate about 3/4 of it (the remainder was split between Husband and me).  I think she liked it better than I did!  

We went through a food magazine, and Little Miss wanted to make a pasta dish for next week, but we amended that to having her try a dish Husband already makes - a lemon chicken pasta.  It's a slow start, but we're already making progress.

KYLE CHANDLER

Heck, if anybody deserves an all-caps title, it's my favorite actor in the world, Kyle Chandler. GQ just gave him 2011 GQ Coach of the Year as part of its Men of the Year issue (for his portrayal of Coach Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights). Super 8, right in time for my birthday.

I Know Everything - except...

First, I have to elaborate.  When Little Miss was in trouble at the movies, it wasn't so much the behavior in the theater.  For acting up during the movie, she was physically removed.  If she calmed down, I fully planned on bringing her back in.  However, in the lobby, she started screaming louder and then balled her fists and jumped up and down.  Then, she started hitting me.  At that point, I took her arm and calmly (no, really!) told her we were going home.  

So, later that night, after everything was settled, Little Miss was eating dinner.  I told her something, and she looked at me and said, "I know, Mommy.  I know everything."  Then, she paused.  "Except listening, jumping and hitting."

Punishment

Little Miss hasn't really been punished often.  She'll occasionally go to bed with no TV or get no dessert, but nothing's ever really sunken in before.  So, this past incident, she not only had a long-term punishment, but she also had to have a lot of dialogue about her behavior and what was considered good and bad.  Late last week, we explained that when she does good things, good things happen.  When she does bad things, bad things happen.  She nooded and said, "That's the truth." 

So, she's learning!

Weekend Update - Living Like it's 2006!

Well, Thursday, I took a half day from work, got a pedicure and then drove Little Miss to my parents. We celebrated Sister's birthday and then Little Miss spent the night. On Friday, my parents took both grandchildren to NYC for the Radio City show and other holiday sights around the city. So, we had the whole weekend to ourselves, without a child, to do with as we pleased.

So, on Friday night, I went to a friend's house for a Jewelry and Chocolate party and sipped a chocolate martini and laughed and shopped. Then, on Saturday, I slept late. Then, I slept some more. Then, I pretty much showered and went to dinner with a friend. We had a few cocktails and then went to a late movie.

On Sunday, I slept late again! Then, I met Sister for lunch and we had a cocktail and did some Christmas shopping. After, we met our parents and kids, had dinner, and closed up the weekend. I know Little Miss had fun, but I think she was really glad to be home.

Little Miss has her own Christmas tree. It is her favorite because of the red lights and is an extra night light as well. So, her punishment after last weekend's behavior was that she lost the Christmas tree for one week. Plus, there was a lot of communication between all of us and apologies all around. Anyway, after a glowing report on her behavior in NYC, she got all her Christmas toys and tree back.  So, good weekend all around!

Weekend Update - It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, we woke up when Little Miss woke up. We all got ready and left the house to get our Christmas tree. Per our usual routine, we drove halfway and stopped at IHOP for brunch and then drove the rest of the way to the tree farm. After Little Miss introduced herself to the owner's kids and horses, we searched out the perfect tree.  The tree above is the one Little Miss picked out.

We chose the one above which looks small in the picture, but it is not.  We trimmed the top a bit, but it is much fuller than trees we've gotten in the past.  I'll post a picture later all decorated.  We had some last minute fixing throughout the last week or so.

On Saturday, Husband went to hit some golf balls and run some errands. I'd love to say Little Miss and I took advantage of the time and did lots of things. In the morning, we had breakfast and walked to the library. Then, we ate lunch. Then, we napped until 6:30. Seriously. I actually woke up earlier, but I read in bed while she slept. It was glorious.

 

On Sunday, Little Miss and I met a friend for lunch at Cafe Deluxe. It was really nice, and everyone treated Little Miss very well. We walked around the area and then watched Little Miss play on the playground. Then, we settled in to watch The Muppets. As expected, Little Miss slept through a bit of it. Then, she woke up and watched a little. Then, she flipped out. So, we left the theater early and she was punished. Still, it was a learning/teaching moment. It also came in handy the following week. She took the punishment like a champ though.

Weekend Update - Thanksgiving

That's Toby. He's my parents' cat. That's what he did all through Thanksgiving - until he nibbled at Little Miss's cupcake, but I get ahead of myself.

We had a very relaxing Thanksgiving. I woke up with Little Miss at 8:30. Then, we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. In between, I showered and got ready. Then, after the parade, Little Miss helped me make cranberry sauce and roasted butternut squash. She loves to help in the kitchen, and I try very hard to let her help even though my inner neat freak goes a little crazy.

At 1PM, we went to my parents' house and hung out with them and my grandfather. Little Miss liked having 100% of the attention and 100% of the use of nephew's toys. I think she missed her playmate and cousin though. We had an early dinner and left in time for Little Miss to make her bedtime.

When we got home, Little Miss went straight to sleep. She actually fell asleep in the car and then slept on the couch for a little while before we carried her to bed. In the meantime, we cleaned the apartment and got the Christmas decorations all ready because Black Friday is when we get our Christmas tree every year. (See next post.)

What If...

I don't want to give away any television spoilers (you can click here if you want to know limited details, but there is a show that is doing an episode with an alternate reality. The premise is based off the question "What if this big event hadn't happened?"

So, Entertainment Weekly asked its staff the same question and the writers came up with their own list of What If moments like "What if Picard had remained a Borg?" on Star Trek: The Next Generation or "What if Jack had died at the end of the first season as planned?" on Lost.

Are there any What If scenarios in your favorite tv shows that you would like to see?

Entertainment Weekly did hit on my big TV wish:  I wish Zack hadn't gotten mixed up with Gormogon on Bones. My second wish would be that Tim Riggins hadn't lived with ferret guy who cooked his own meth or the Riggins brothers never had a chop shop (and poor Canadian Taylor Kitsch never had to say the word "chop shop" in his Canadian, poor Texas accented voice) or, wish of all wishes, Tyra and Landry never killed that guy.  

And now I must go watch Friday Night Lights...

Books Read in November 2011

1. Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl (NOTE: This book was the last book in the Donovan Brothers Brewery series. The order in which to read can be found here.)
2. Sweet Jiminy by Kristin Gore
3. Room by Emma Donoghue
4. Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis (NOTE: This is a 2-in-1 book that contains the first two books in the Lucky Harbor series - Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing. The order in which to read can be found here.)
5. Small Town Christmas by Jill Shalvis (NOTE: This book is am additional book in the Lucky Harbor series. The order in which to read can be found here.) The other authors in the anthology are Hope Ramsey and Katie Lane.
6. Holiday Hideout by Jill Shalvis, Vicki Lewis Thompson and Julie Kenner.

Decent month for books. I really enjoyed Real Men Will. Sweet Jiminy and Room were library books. I liked Room, but it was a tough book to read. The Jill Shalvis glom is, as always, fun.

Movies Watched in November 2011

1. The Muppets
2. The Walking Dead
3. Hot Tub Time Machine

Little Miss and I attempted to see The Muppets in the theater. We missed the very end, but it was enough to count. I know The Walking Dead is a television show, but I’ve been watching through Netflix Instant Play and thought to make record of it. I enjoyed the first 6 episodes. We’ll see about the second season.  I actually kind of enjoyed Hot Tub Time Machine.  I watched it on Netflix Instant Play last night and it was a good relaxing-on-the-couch movie.  Everyone looked like they had fun and the clothes were hilarious.

Korean Style Short Ribs

Photo from this website

I made Korean Style Short Ribs in the crock pot this past weekend. It tasted pretty good so we saved them for dinner tonight. We're eating them over rice. It's a bit sweet, and I have a feeling it'll be heavy on the garlic, but it's tasty and easy, and we almost have all of the ingredients at home excluding the meat and green onions.


Korean Style Short Ribs
recipe adapted from Blisstree


Ingredients:
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup packed light brown sugar
4 tablespoons sesame oil
4 tablespoons rice vinegar
4 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
I head of garlic, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
5 lbs beef short ribs, uncut whole ribs
1-2 stalks green onions, sliced thin for garnish
1/2 teaspoon white sesame seeds for garnish


Directions:
Mix soy sauce, sugar, oil, vinegar, ginger, garlic and red pepper in a small bowl. Place ribs in a 5-quart slow cooker and pour sauce over. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Remove ribs from crockpot and serve hot over a bed of rice with a garnish of green onions and sesame seeds.


*Alternately, if you don't have a crockpot/slow cooker, simply place the ribs in a foil lined baking sheet and baking in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1-1/2 hours until cooked

Weekend Update - Super Saturday

On Friday, Husband and I did our grocery shopping before Little Miss came home so we would have a nice, quiet evening with her. On Saturday, we had a big day.

Little Miss and I got up early and met Sister and Nephew at the mall for holiday pictures. Then, we picked up some lunch and went to my Parents' house to eat. Little Miss and Nephew played and then we met Husband at our friends' house for their son's birthday. They have a daughter who is Little Miss's age, and Little Miss loves them. Also, Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law and Nephew showed up. Little Miss had a blast and then passed out cold on the way home and didn't wake up until the next morning.

On Sunday, I slept gloriously late. We had a family breakfast. Then, Little Miss and I took a walk to the library. After the walk, Little Miss and I took a nap. Then, we woke up, had dinner and pretty much went back to bed. A perfect Sunday.

"Reading"

Little Miss has started pre-reading where she can identify letters and will ask what certain words are on the page. She will also memorize entire books and then "read" them to us. We're not long before she reads us bedtime stories which is only sad because I was never a good person to sit and listen to a story. I'd much rather be reading it myself. Anyway, tonight, I recorded her reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. It's in two parts because I didn't realize she knew the whole book, and she was kind of bummed that I had the camera off. It's a bit lengthy and some of it is fast so she may be hard to understand, but she knows almost the entire book.  You certainly don't have to watch both lengthy videos, but if you don't watch the second, how will you know how the story ends?

Here is the second video:

Weekend Update - Wedding Bells

Last Friday, I left work to drive Little Miss from one set of grandparents to the other where she spent the whole weekend which included a sleepover with Nephew.  So, she had a blast.


On Saturday morning, Husband and I drove to NJ for a wedding. We made good time, had a quick lunch at a diner and then attended the wedding and reception. It was a really good time with good friends. Unfortunately, Husband wasn't feeling well on Friday and got worse on Saturday, but he made it through the wedding and 3/4 of the reception.


On Sunday, Husband drove us to the Parkway and then I drove the rest of the way home (so you know he was sick!) I dropped him home and then went to pick up Little Miss and spend a little time with my grandparents. It was a crazy busy and fast weekend, but it was a lot of fun by all.

Friday Story

So, a man accidentally threw away his wife's engagement ring. Then, with Waste Management's help, dug through a lot of trash to find it. You can read the entire story here. Do please click on the link because the first comment is my favorite. "Let's be honest here - did he really have a choice? LOL" Seriously, I think Husband would dig through 9 tons of garbage over listening to me nag, yell, and scold him for the rest of his life.

Report Card

If you have trouble viewing the photo, you can click on it and bring up the larger image.

I can't believe it was our second parent/teacher conference. Last year, we were a bit nervous, but this year, I think the report went just as well as we expected. There were no surprises.  Sometimes, I think these report cards are a bit arbitrary at this age, and it's mostly the teacher assuring the parents that their kids aren't little crazies.  Husband had concerns about Little Miss's listening skills (or lack thereof), but the teacher assured us that she is fine or normal for her age and, of course, she listens to other people better than her parents.

So, good progress.  Hopping was difficult for her last year so it's funny to see how much she's progressed from last year over concentrating on the things she is still learning.

Weekend Update

Last weekend, we had a good weekend with Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law and Nephew.  I forget what we did on Friday, but I'm sure it was low key. 

On Saturday, Little Miss and I went to the library and chose new books.  Then, we came home for lunch, and she took a nap.  Afterwards, we went to Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law's apartment.  We chatted and ate and watched the kids and ate and then got pizza.  We tried to keep Little Miss up later than usual so she could adjust to the time change the next day, and she handled it ok.

On Sunday, we met Sister-in-Law and Nephew at the mall for holiday portraits.  This is the first year that Little Miss was absolutely perfect.  Poor Nephew is entering the phase that his cousin just exited.  Still, I think the pictures came out well.  After, we grabbed some lunch and then head for home.  Little Miss napped on the way home and then wouldn't nap once we got home which is fine. 

Good weekend overall!

RIP Bil Keane

Bil Keane passed away. My mom and I were always big fans of the comics. We knew all the characters like they were family. Though we weren't the biggest Family Circle fans, there were always heartwarming comics that captured our hearts and attention or at least gave us something to discuss around the breakfast table (or lunch depending on the time we got around to reading the paper).

And Sometimes, It's All Worth It

I would never categorize myself as messy, but I don't like to clean or tidy so I go as long as possible without doing it.  With limited space in our apartment, our living area becomes messy within a day if there is no cleaning or tidying.  So, when we went 2 weeks including a deluge of presents from Little Miss's birthday, it got pretty bad.  So bad that Husband cleaned floors and did his part last weekend (we divide the chores).  As it happens, if I do a big cleaning, Husband will follow so conversely, when he breaks down to clean, I follow with my jobs.  So, last night, I finally put away Little Miss's changing pad from the top of her dresser and put all her knick-knacks up there.  That freed space in her bookshelf to put actual books.  Then, I picked up the toys and changed the sheets and put away the clean clothes.  Little Miss came home and ran into her room and gasped.  "Mommy, you made this place look wonderful!"


So, there may be days where being a grown-up is a thankless job, but sometimes, it's all worth it.

Cupcake Vodka?

I am sure my best friend, Grey Goose has nothing to fear, but I read Cupcake vodka is coming to America. It comes in different flavors and there are drink recipes. The apple one seems like a good idea for Thanksgiving, but it also sounds kind of gross. Either way, it seems like the cupcake gimmick isn't as strong as it was years ago, but I guess with the popularity of the whipped cream vodka, this was bound to happen. Anybody hear anything about it? Think it's worth trying?

Movies Watched October 2011

1. Ides of March

With new television on air, there is a lot less movie watching. However, Husband and I went out for our anniversary and saw Ides of March. We really enjoyed it. So, quality over quantity this month.

Books Read in October 2011

1. Chasing Fire by Chasing Fire
2. Only His by Susan Mallery (NOTE: This book is part of the Fool's Gold series. The order in which to read the series can be found here.)
3. Bad Boys Do by Victoria Dahl (NOTE: This is part of The Donovan Brothers Brewery series. You can find the order in which to read here
4. More Than Words Volume 7 by Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips, and Donna Hill
5. Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward (NOTE: This is part of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The order in which to read can be found here.)
6. Ape House by Sara Gruen
7. Covet by J.R. Ward> (NOTE: This is part of the The Fallen Angels series. The order in which to read can be found here.)
8. Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis (NOTE: This book is the second book in the Animal series. The order in which to read can be found here.)

It was a really great month for reading with most of it happening in the first week of the month. I read all electronic books and continued borrowing books from the library for my nook. Very pleased with this month’s books overall.