Too Hot Too Cook Thursday

Yep.
It's Too Hot to Cook Thursday....brought to you by SJ Mom Bloggers.
It was so hot I just served cake for dinner.
Really.
It has eggs, milk, flour, all the necessities.
I kid!
I kid!
Tonight I actually did fried chicken from Acme with a side of buttered noodles & some carrots.
Pretty tasty actually.


But this post, with lack of a recipe, leads me to let you all know of a blog that has tons of great recipes & vidoe tutorials....FOR FREE!
Everyday Food Storage
This chick totally rawks!
The recipes on her blog make my mouth water!!! And makes me want to actually cook!
Go check her out.
Tell her I sent you!


Now this cooking thing has lead me to tell you I have been selected to go to a casting call for a new show about hopeless home cooks for the Food Network.
Unfortunately I will not be going.
If I am selected I have to go to NYC for a month at a drop of the hat.
Financially we can't do it
NOR
Do I want to leave the kids for that long!
So while you are reading my blog just think that I could have been famous!


For those of you wondering what is wrong with the pic from yesterday, it looks as if TimBob has no head.
How I managed to snap that I have no idea.
Emily was the winner!!!
You go girly! You go!


So congrats
&
Woops out!

A little this, a little that

Notice something about this pic.
Let me know if you do.
Guess.
You could win a small prize. Speaking of prizes.....I still owe the girls their Aveeno (I finally got envies to get them out) & Jacquie her Starbucks card.
I promise they will get out. I am shooting for Saturday.
I know.
I suck!


Tanya & Val asked if Lowes or Home Depot have the workshops for kids under 1st grade age. I am not sure.
BUT
While the middle boy & I were there, 2 boys came in that were 4 & 6.
They were allowed to participate & the project, with adult supervision, would be easy to do. They even had kid size hammers for them & gave away game cd's & a coloring book with each project.
So, swing on by your local one & check one out.
You have to sign a permission
BUT
I was never asked for it.



Now onto a blog for more inspiration.
Of course, you know, I scrap.
Although I don't really get to do it often anymore
BUT
still I love it.
This blog, Jennifer Stewart, RAWKS!
She has a cool decorating style & her scrapping is too cool.
She also teaches in her local area.
Wish I lived near here.
Check it out for massive inspiration.



Now onto another note.....Nana send more macaroni salad....Bobster ate it!
Need more!
More!
More!



Woops out!

A Little Trip to Lowes

So this past weekend, I manned up & took the middle boy to Lowes for their free workshop for kids 1st - 5th grade. Middle boy is going into 4th grade so he is the perfect age.

This weeks project was to make a Tetherball.
Here he is getting the base on.
Still banging the base on.
I think he is tying the string onto the pole in this shot. Looks intent doesn't he???
Tapping it all in.
Finally, the finished project.
All in all, he had a good time & even asked to make a second one. The lady let him b/c there really wasn't anyone else there. I told Chris maybe we could do one that was easier in the future & he actually said he wanted to do one that was more challenging!


He is a smart cookie that kid!!!!!
So I will see what ones are coming up & sign him up.
He also got a certificate & a patch. The cert would be cute for a younger kid but the patch was cool.


So, if you have kids, check out Lowes or Home Depot for these fabu workshops. They are fun, not a ton of time & free.
Ya know what they say...if it's free, it's for me.
That's my motto. Hee hee.



Woops out!

We are the champions! We are the champions!

Perhaps not we so much as he!!!
That's right baby!
Aaron McCargo Jr. is your Next Food Network Star!
Wooooooo!
Hoooooooo!
You go boyfriend!!!!!



I was so excited when they announced his name I sprung up on my couch, hands above my head, looked at Bobster & yelled "Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"



His show starts next week.
Make sure to tune in.
I know I will.



And, Aaron, if you are reading my blog, you rock & I will be the President of you fan club!!!!



Woops out!

Surprise! Surprise!

Bobster took me out this evening for a nice, romantic dinner for a belated bday gift.
I have always wanted to go to this one particular restaurant & Bobster remembered.
He wouldn't tell me where we were going, just that I needed to hurry up & get dressed.
So I changed & threw on some make up & off we went.
He told me he was taking me to Kunkels Steak & Seafood House.
I was floored!
Let me just say, the food didn't disappoint.
I got crab cakes for my entree & their signature calamari for an appetizer.
OMG!
People!
Go!
If you are in the area....head on over.
It's only 10 mins from my house (& um, at the end of the street from my sister) & so worth it.


I give it 2 thumbs up!


As for Bobster, he gets 2 thumbs up plus lots of kisses for taking me to this great place & arranging for a babysitter in the form of our 14 year old.
Yay Bobster!



On that note.....
Woops out!

Too Hot Too Cook Thursday

Hola Peeps!
Today's recipe is brought to you by SJ Mom Bloggers & the letter X b/c well I like it.


So today's recipe is lifted.
Lifted from Picky Palate. Have you been here?
No!
OMG!
Run, run to it now.
This girl creates her recipes & they totally, totally ROCK! Just looking at her pics makes your mouth water!



So todays recipe can be found here: Garden Vegetable Couscous with Simple Dijon Dressing. Does this not look devine?
Holy Heavens to Mirgatroid it does!!!!
Can't wait to try it.
Perhaps the Nana will read the blog, make it & bring it to her starving grandson & mommy will have to taste it.
So go visit the Picky Palate & tell her I sent you!



On a sad note today....I lost one of my slides.
Not just any slides but my really cute black & white gingham Aerosole's.
I got them back in like 2000/2001 when the Aerosoles in the mall was closing.
$16!
A steal.
And they still look brand new.


Sadly, tho, the velcro decided to die today.
Not a big deal except the velcro stuck together & just the material separated, causing the slide to fall off my foot.
I ran across to the office across the hall & got super glue & stuck it back together til I can get it to a shoe maker.
How embarrassing.
I would have waited until I got home but I can't drive barefoot. Ridiculous, I know!



On that note...
Woops out!

Why can't everyone remind.......

To just say no to Walmart.

I don't care when I go, it's always filled with rude, ignorant people. I mean seriously...it's bad.

Tonight I had to get diapers & wipes & new sippy cups (which I forgot but did remember to get the new All You magazine...priorities people! PRIORITIES!).

People are just amazingingly loud & just do not care if you are trying to get down the aisle or pick something off the shelf. They just park their cart smack dab in the middle of the aisle & shop the whole length of the aisle making it impossible for you to get around. So you have to ask them to move their cart, in turn prompting them to look at you like you are rude or you have to move their cart for them. Sigh! There are other reasons I am down on Walmart in my area. I have found one that I will visit but it is about 15 mins from my home (that's without traffic) & with the price of gas, I stay close to home. So I will keep going to Target but sadly, Target doesn't carry the sippies that I found work fabu for Cheeks...only Walmart. So I have to schlep back. I will just have to time it right.

Now I told you I would share some inspiring blogs I have found. I am not sure where I found this one....It may have been at Kims blog....Today's Creative Blog...if you haven't been, go check it out! Now!

Anyway the blog I want to share with is Mind Your Manners....2 decorators who posts great ideas on their blog. Their wreath is to die for plus they get personal too. Go check it out.

Do you have any good blogs for inspiration?

Share them with me, k?

Everyone knows I am a blog ho!

Love them.

Woops out!

Happy Birthday

To my little sister, Erin, otherwise known as "Er-ree".
Today she turns 25.


I remember the day she was born. She messed up the show "The Waltons" & here's a little trivia, she is named for the character on the show! Of course, she could have been named Peggy Sue or Wendy as my dad wanted to name me but she got off easy! I used to change this chicky's diapers & buy her all kind of toys & clothes.



She most recently moved into her 1st apt with "the boy". You can read about it on her blog over there <~~~~~~~~~~~~ altho. she hasn't updated in awhile. So go, leave her happy birthday love!


Woops out!

Monday, Monday

Do you think he would cook dinner?
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
He just likes to inspect the pots & pans & make sure they are clean.
Hmph!
Let him wash the dishes from now on!



Tonight, Cheekers, went where no Cheekers has gone before.
He is obsessed with the potty.
Don't get excited. He didn't go on it.
Instead, he just put his hand in the bowl, touched the inside of it & went ew.
So I disinfected his hand & told him dirty.
I don't mind him playing with water but not toilet water.
Ick!



So I have some birthday money to spend so I have decided to upgrade some stuff in the humble abode.



I found this cool store: The Stainless Steel Store. Of course I headed right to the decorate section of the site. I was immediately drawn to these, Blomus Stainless Steel Star w/in a Star Christmas ornament. Not because I need more ornaments but b/c I use star ornaments in my kitchen for accents. For those not in the know, my kitchen is stars & angels. Plus they are cheap! Cheap! Cheap! Cheap! And cheap is for me.


I also saw this great Blomus Stainless Steel Wall Mounted CD Rack. A litte on the higher side BUT I think it would be nearly indestructable in the boys room.
Right?
I hope....boys are hard on things!



How cute is this: Stainless Steel Seven Piece Finger Food Set. Not to mention most of the items I have found on this site....free shipping!
Hello!
Spave right there!
Plus they have these super cute Stainless Steel Hand Magnet Set....do those hands remind you of any particular character? Hmmmmm? My sister is a Disney freak so I am thinking these maybe a potiential Christmas gift!



Well I have done my whining, my crying & my recommendations for some cute stuff for around the abode, so I must leave now.



Woops out!

You go Boy! You go!

Yes!
He is on to the finals!!!
Wooo!
Go Aaron!
Go Aaron!
Of course, Bobster says "Aaron goes home this week!"
Me "No way! They are keeping all 3!"
Sure 'nuff, all 3 have moved on.
In actuality 2 are hometown boys. Aaron is from Camden, NJ & Adam is from Philly.
But, of course, Aaron holds all the talent & he totally nailed the promo challenge tonight.
Wooo!


Ok enough ramblings about him.
My day was delightful.
I had some much needed "girl" time with 2 of my very good friends, Kathy & Megan.
For my bday the girlers took me "The Cheesecake Factory."
It was totally devine! I had the Grilled Shrimp & Bacon Club.
For dessert: Snickers Bar Chunks & Cheesecake!
OMG!
So yummy.
I actually ended up taking home 1/2 the cheesecake b/c I was so stuffed from the sandwich which is HUGE!


Of course, for dinner, I made the culinary delight of hamburger helper for my family.
Please!
Hold your applause.
I know.
Hamburger Helper...it doesn't get much more original cuisine than that.
Bobster scarfed it up!
Cheeks, not so much, but he ate it.
I ate it but wondered to myself why the meat was grey.
Of course, not grey like when the Nana makes grey meat.
Don't ask people! Don't ask!


I digress.
Didn't do much more than that.
Bobster & Cheeks went to the garage & worked on the race car.
Well Bobster worked, Cheeks ran around with the skimmer for the pool, then the broom for the garage.
I went to B&N where I got Cheeks a book about "MoMo's" or motorcycles.
It is shaped like a motorcycle & has actually wheels.
Well you would have thought I told him he was going to meet Elmo.
The kid was so happy with his book.
He looked through & Daddy read it to him & then he rolled it around on the table & the floor making "Varoom, varoom" noises.
So cute.


So I have no bored you all to death with the mundane details of my Sunday
BUT
it's my blog & I can do that!


So what did you end up doing today?
P.S. Once again I am stuck with the military channel on the tv & Bobster snoring on the couch.
Good times!
Good times!



Woops outs!

Sentence Structure

Ah Cheeks.
You make mommy proud.


Tonight he put his 3rd sentence together in less than a week.


He proudly proclaimed, in the middle of Target:



Mommy got boobies!



Then lifted my shirt as to show all of Target.



Woops out!

For the Love of all the is Holy

It is hot!


Like Africa Hot.


Good Lord Almighty!


I think I am melting.



1st I want to say thank you for everyone who left me a comment the other day. I am feeling a little better today & just have to realize that I will get through this b/c Heavenly Father will never give you anything you can't handle.



Plus, yesterday, I did a spur of the moment thing. Bobster called to say he was headed to the campground. I really wanted him to come home but he was like well it's easier with the race car, blah, blah, blah. So after I got mad & hung up, I called back & declared...."I'm coming down!" He was flabbergasted. So I packed a quick bag for me & Cheeks & off we headed. Got there about 9. Cheeks fell asleep about 11 or so but not before devouring some cookie cake to make him just that more "jazzed" up! Then his cousins came inside to play. They are 5. Then the bugger got up at 8:30 am.



In case anyone is wondering what campground it is, check this out: Wading Pines.

Woops out!

Rough Day

Do you ever feel, that no matter how hard you work, try, think, get creative & do whatever it takes, that you are getting no where? That you can't get ahead?



Do you ever feel like no getting out bed? Like, why bother?



Do you ever just want to cry but no you can't b/c other people don't like to see you cry?



Do you ever feel like your just treading water & are going to drown at any minute?



Do you ever feel like you are just whining & saying the same things over & over?



Pretty much sums me up.

Too Hot To Cook Thursday

It's here!
It's here!
The heat.
The humidity.
Gots to love livin in Jersey this time of year.


Anywho, it is just too darn hot to do anything fun, let alone cook.
So what do I serve the hungry masses as I come through the door after work?


Chicken Caeser Salad.
EZ Peasy.
Check it out.


Bagged Lettuce ~ Up to you what kind...I either go classic iceberg or throw in some romaine.
Pre-cooked Chicken Slices ~ Again up to you...I use Perdue Roasted Chicken Slices.
Some parm cheese.
Some bacon bites for some extra pazzaz
Caeser dressing.


Put lettuce in bowl.
Heat chicken in microwave...I usually do 2 minutes.
Throw chicken in bowl.
Add cheese & bits.
Toss.


I leave the dressing on the side b/c everyone likes a different amt.


Also, I serve with garlic bread on the size.
Beefs up the meal
&
Between the garlic bread & the caeser dressing, your breath is kickin!


Woops out!

*This post brought to you by.... SJ MOM BLOGGERS*

They say it's your Birthday

Yep.
It's official.
I am now 22 years old.
Ah where did the years go?
Alright!
Fine!
I'm 38 but I look 22!


I couldn't find any baby pics with my parents so I did the next best thing...my Grandpop.
Amazingly, he still looks EXACTLY the same!
I mean...IDENTICAL!


I digress.


The day was nice.
I got lots of wishes from family & friends.
Bobster got me a beautiful card, a balloon & a dozen PINK roses....which are my fav color of roses.
I also got moola, a g/c to Target, some earrings & the book "Baking from my home to yours" by Dorie Greenspan. I am totally going to devour it & can't wait to start baking some of the delish stuff out it. I found out about this book from the Daring Bakers BlogRoll Blog. Check out that blog because it lists some phenomonal blogs & these people don't just bake, they cook as well. OMG! YUM!


My sister had the fam over to her new place.
She baked me vanilla cake w/ vanilla icing.
Wasn't in the chocolate mood, ya know?
Her apartment is cute!
Her kitchen is huge & I am officially jealous, since I have a shoebox kitchen.


Here it is, the end of my birthday & I am blogging & doing laundry.
Do I know how to celebrate or what????



Woops out!

Last day I can say

I am 37.
In just a few short hours, I will be turning 38!
Hello!
38?
For the Love of God it can't be!
Seriously.


Anyway the above pic is from when I was 3 months old.
How do you like that shine?
Reminds me of Bobster now!
Baahaahaa...I kill me!


Speaking of Bobster...someone is ill.
He has the stomach virus.
All I can say is when men get sick, watch out.
They become incapacitated.
And extremely whiney.
I think I have 4 boys now, instead of 3.
Sigh.
I feel for him tho.
Throwing up is the worse.
I would rather get a rectal!
Ooh...my butt cheeks just puckered.
TMI!
TMI!
I know.
Hopefully by morning he will be feeling fine.
He usually just sleeps these things off.


I am feeling super creative lately just too exhausted to actually do anything creative.
I have found some fabu blogs for creativity.
Talk about inspiration.
I will post a few in the upcoming days.
I know you are all just waiting with baited breath!
If you have any super cool blogs that you think I should be reading, send them my way.
I am a blog ho ya know!



Woops out!

*Edited to add: Tanya & Erin...Steve & Barry's filed for bankruptcy, so they may be slashing prices...just an FYI*

I Can't Drive 55!

So we have Cheekers motto.
He absolutely loves to go fast & well this here golf cart gets up to, I think, 15 mph. He stands there, holds on to the front & laughs, smiles & points. The faster Daddy goes, the harder he laughs.
Occasionally he will sit on the seat or even get to drive if Daddy's lap will allow it.


We also had our 1st complete sentence from Mr. Cheekers today.
As we were driving down 295 the trucks were coming, all of sudden Cheeks points & yells "Daddy Big Truck!"
Clear as day.
Of course get him to say truck again & well, we could nickname him Mr. Filthy Mouth.


Now, on another note, how is it that Bobster has turned on the Barrett Auto Auction on tv. I am sitting here, on the computer, looking at Bobster SNORING away on the couch.
Keep in mind that if I attempt to change the channel, he will jump up & say "I was watching that! What are you doing???!!!"
It's unbelievable.
He can snore & sleep through me yelling "Come on Bobby, get up!" but change the channel on the tv & he is instantly wide awake! I think I am going to try it tho. Reruns of Friends come on in 10 minutes & they always keep me entertained.


Well, on that note, Woops out!!!

Camp? Camp? You mean this isn't the Holiday Inn.

Yes folks...you read that right...I went camping & here's the kicker...I enjoyed it.
A lot!
Would definitely go back!!
Of course, I didn't do it in a tent.
GOD FORBID!
We used my bil & sil's camper.
Ah, a/c, tv & a toilet...what more could ya want...well room service so I had Bobster cook lunch & dinner!
SCORE!



The kids had a BLAST!
Tim said he wanted to be left alone & relax, so that's what we did.
He hung out, played PSP & sunbathed.
Chris ran around, fished w/ Bobster, walked on the trail, swam, hung out, etc.
Cheeks ran around like a maniac, swam like a fish, played & got FILTHY! I mean FILTHY!
Bobster & I relaxed, swam, went for a walk on the trail & just spent some much needed relaxing time together.


Cheeks know says 3 new words....water, aqua & momo.
Momo? you say.
Yes.
Momo.
Short for motorcycle.
He saw them all weekend & fell in love.
Momo! Momo! He would say & point.
I think it was the highlight of his weekend away.


And now for our pictorial!

To prove that I went in the creek!
Cheeks loves his big brother, Chris...I mean LOVES him!!!
Look, it's Big foot & two small children....step away children! Step Away!
Love this pic!
You know you can only wear white sandels after Memorial Day...good move there Cheeks!
Go, fishy! Go! This kid can swim like nobody's business!
Another favorite of mine!!!
Woops out!

May I present....the fish!

I will just rely on the daddy for some protection in the water.
Oh I can jump in here...this is nothing.Daddy, look over there...it's Rebecca & Uncle Chucky!

I love being tossed from Uncle Chucky to Daddy.
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWW!!

It's A Miracle, A True Blue Spectacle, A Miracle Come True (thanks Barry Manilow!)

See that man up there?

The one in the bright blue?

The daddy?

Well, not only has he had the house straightened up when I've come home this week

BUT

Tonight....he cooked dinner.

Blow me over with a tulip!

He made pasta w/ broccoli & then served chicken on top.

Not just any chicken......Chicken that was marinated then baked.

OMG!

It was delish.

It was a little Italian dressing, some cinnamon, basil, a bit of hot sauce, some EVOO & Italian Seasonings.

This was the bomb diggity yo!

He marinated it for 90 mins, popped in the oven @ 350 for 25 minutes.

It was so damn good!

The chicken was juicy & tangy & sweet.

And the best part....LEFTOVERS!!!

Wooo!

What else?

What else?

Ah, Hells Kitchen....ok who watched?

Christina won.

I was happy.

Yet.

Felt bad for Petrozza.

He put up a good fight but he had that bitch on his team, Jenn.

Can't stand her.

Christina had Matt on her team.

Talk about a whiner.

For the love of God, Matt, you suck as a cook! Realize it!

Now I just have to wait until Sept for that sexy Chef Ramsey to be back on Kitchen Nightmares.

Let's see, still dealing with the depression.

Am going to the doc on Friday to talk about things.

Got some freebies yesterday & today.

Got Pantene shampoo for red heads, 2 samples of Dove deodorant...good thing, I was running out of the big D & 2 issues of Metropolitan Home magazine.

Interesting decor ideas in that one.

I am still trying to redecorate on a small, barely there budget.

I have an idea for a project & have the materials....just have to wait til it's not so humid to start it.

I will post a pic when I finally complete it b/c I know all my loyal readers will just want to see what I made!

On that note....

Woops out!

Winding Down the Weekend

I am a brave one.

Posting this pic.

For the love of God, watch out for me...those whale poachers are everywhere!!!!

How was everyone's weekend?

We started off Thursday night by taking Cheeks to see fireworks.

We hung in the mini van til they started then I took him out. He was scared. He kept looking at them & then behind him b/c of the echo.

I put him back in the van for about 5 mins & that seemed to help.

He got back out & enjoyed the fireworks from the safety of mommy's hip.

He did not allow me to put him down

BUT

the child had a grand time.

Oooohing.

Aaaahing.

Pointing.

Everything.

So fireworks...SUCCESS!

The 4th we went to the campground.

Cheeks went swimming with his daddy, played with his cousins, got to ride in a parade, ran around like a raving lunatic.

He fell asleep on the ride home at 7.

Yesterday was an errand day.

Today, I was going to go down to pick the daddy up at the campground but he is coming home later so....

I put on a bathing suit.....FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SHIELD YOUR EYES!

&

put Cheeks in his suit.

Hoofed it all 50 feet across the street to the pool where they let me in.....for free!

We had a great time in their splash pool.

We played til Cheekers lips were blue.

He loves going under water....I haven't seen anything like it before.

Totally jumps right under!

Now he is sleeping & I should be making out my grocery lists but it's starting to thunder so I am just hanging.

Happy July!

Woops out!

*I actually have this post spaced out but for some reason it comes out altogether no matter how often I put breaks in it...grrr*

It's Too Hot To Cook Thursday

It's here.

It's our "Too Hot To Cook" Thursday post.

Come check out the group for SJ Mom Bloggers over here....SJMOM BLOGGERS That is, if you are a mom blogger from South Jersey or close to South Jersey! LOL





Anyway my recipe tonight is super duper easy.

Tuna Macaroni Salad



I use:

Veggie Macaroni by Wacky Mac

Mayo

2 cans of tuna (your choice)

Salt

Pepper

Celery

Onion





Boil the pasta

Rinse in cold water when done.





Add mayo, get moist.





Drain tuna, add, to pasta mix.

Also add in chopped onion & celery, s&p to taste.





Stir.

Little more mayo...til you like it.





Viola!

Tuna Mac Salad.





My work is done here.

Woops out!

It's a Wednesday

Really, does it get much more classy than a kid in a diaper, sucking on a popsicle while toys & shoes are strewn across the dusty floor.
And what are those?
Flip flops with unpainted toes in them.
Obviously, the Nana, didn't get the memo on how to make sure the nails are "poppin" this summer. Nah, I just have to paint them for her. She has diabetities so a pedicure at the local salon is a no no.


I digress.
Still in a funk.
I feel better than I did BUT
I am still feeling not up to par with everyone else.
I don't want to whine.
If I wrote what was bothering me, all my readers (yes, all 2 of you) would be like "Girl, are you nuts? Please" BUT
these are problems to me.
So I will let it be.


Now, the real reason for the post.
I want to say thank you to all the people who are driving trucks & motorcycles who notice when a certain little boy gets so excited by seeing them that he stares & does the "O" face.
Tonight Bobster was walking Cheeks across the street to see the fountain in the lake.
A motorcycle was coming by, so Cheeks took out his bink, went "OOOOOOOOOOH" & pointed.
Bobster stopped & the gentlemen on the motorcycle, saw Cheeks, slowed down & waved.
Last weekend we were walking around the corner when a nice size pick up truck was parked at the light.
Cheeks pointed & I had to lift him & take him closer to the curb to get a better look. The gentlemen in the car saw him, smiled & kept waving to him as Cheeks went "OOOOOOOH".
So thank you people for taking the 2 seconds out your day to make a little boy happy by letting him get excited over your vehicle.
It makes my day to know some people are really sweet.
Others not so much but this is an uplifting post so I will not say a thing about the bitch I had on the phone today. Not a word.


BTW, check out my post about the winners to see if you won the cream & then email me!!!


Woops out!