african desserts

What I Wish for 2012

This morning on the radio there was much discussion about 2012. And what was being discussed really had me thinking.

I almost hurt myself.

All jokes aside, I keep my life light. I try not to make a deal out of something that shouldn't be a big deal. Stress is a friend to no one. And so I rarely touch upon topics that reach beyond my diaper changing, taxi driving expertise.

Today I feel the need to voice just a bit of what I wish for this year. And it has nothing to do with treadmill runs or being more organized (although both are on the personal short list).

I hope this year we take back our holidays. I wish for more employees to have off on Thanksgiving Day and for Black Friday to be ON FRIDAY.

I wish for family time for everyone, and for corporate greed to relax. To chill. Because you can't take it with you when you die. Eventually, the pace has to slow down. We can't run on fast track forever.

And I wouldn't want to. Too many important moments are missed when we live too "fast".

I wish for small towns to be revived. I wish for them to thrive. I am personally tired of driving past vacant shops in my downtown. If we don't start supporting small town America it will be gone before we can say "Walmart".

And I'm not saying Walmart is a bad place, or not to shop there. I love "rollbacks" just as much as the next frugal shopper.

I'm just saying we can't do ALL our shopping there. Strolling downtown is good for the soul, and for our neighbors.

I wish for people to save more, and spend less. Because there is great peace of mind when the bills aren't rolling in.

If the cash isn't in hand, wait until it is. We need much less than we think we do.

I know this year, possibilities are endless. And there are great things in store for everyone.

But these great things have to start with us.

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Back to the Grind

Today, as soon as I dry my quickly frizzing hair and remove myself from this computer, I am getting back to the grind.

The house better be ready, because it has no idea what's coming.

The tree has been warned, it will be stripped naked of its glistening lights and ornaments by noon. It will then be dragged (by Hubby) to the woods, where it will live for all eternity.

It had a good life.

I will then spend an hour sweeping up pine needles and organizing the Christmas storage area that is 20 degrees. Laundry will be washed and folded and windows and counters will be cleansed.

All hail the Windex.

Happy 2012 everyone. Time to get life back in order.

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A Mommyhood Year in Review

Here in pictures, I present the "Mommyhood Year in Review".

We've learned to swim, to waitress and to use the potty. We've had doctor appointments (more than I can recall), testing, surgeries and medications.

We drove to Disney for the 1st time, ran races and celebrated birthdays.

With family, I believe the more the merrier, and the more the crazier.

Here is our very concise year in review:

January

Cold Stone Creamery contacts me to review their ice cream flavors for 2011. They send a car. We arrive in city and spend an hour in a penthouse eating ice cream.

I will forever love Cold Stone Creamery for appreciating my sincere and genuine love for ice cream. And for trusting my expertise.

February

I begin my first official waitressing gig. The girls are fun and the money is better than retail. After six hours waiting tables, our evenings end with greasy food and money.

We drive 19 hours to Disney for the first time. Or, hubby drove 16 hours and I drove three. I like to pitch in when necessary.

March

A very dear childhood friend, who also happens to be a phenomenal Dermatologist, uses me for a demo on Botox and Juvederm.

The clock turned back ten years for 9 short months. It was fab.

April

A few local mommies created a running group. Our first race was at the Bronx Zoo. We left early in the morning and we ran for penguins. We had a three hour lunch afterward.

Hubby was thrilled.

May

Our little Moopa had corrective surgery on her eyes. She was a trooper. I wish I could say the same for myself.

On a happier note, our Gymnastics Queen won State Championships on the uneven bars. On her 8th birthday. It was pretty awesome.

June

Our oldest hit "double digits". Ten is a big birthday for a little boy.

July

My Sports Fanatic and my Gymnastics Queen ran a five mile race. The both finished with their tiny faces beaded in sweat and blisters on some toes.

I was very proud.

The week after the race, my youngest brother got married.

August

LLG, the resident maniac, learns to swim. Parenting a child with no fear is wonderful in these instances. In 90% of other instances parenting a child with no fear just causes mini heart attacks.

September

Hubby and I celebrate another anniversary. Eleven fabulously fabulous years of wedded bliss.

October

Our Sports Fanatic earns back his quarterback position. This taught him much about perseverance and hard work.

He also took a trip to watch the Chargers (his #1 team) play the Chiefs in Kansas City. It was the trip of a lifetime for our football fanatic.

November

I reconnected with Edward. Breaking Dawn hit theaters and finally Edward and Bella....got married.

December

We spend another Christmas together, celebrating our family and the real reason for the season. Santa brought exactly what the munchkins asked for, and we once again give thanks for how blessed we are.

Happy 2012! All the best for a Happy New Year! Be safe!

January

Cold Stone Creamery contacts me to review their ice cream flavors for 2011. They send a car. We arrive in city and spend an hour in a penthouse eating ice cream.

I will forever love Cold Stone Creamery for appreciating my sincere and genuine love for ice cream. And for trusting my expertise.

February

I begin my first official waitressing gig. The girls are fun and the money is better than retail. After six hours waiting tables, our evenings end with greasy food and money.

We drive 19 hours to Disney for the first time. Or, hubby drove 16 hours and I drove three. I like to pitch in when necessary.

March

A very dear childhood friend, who also happens to be a phenomenal Dermatologist, uses me for a demo on Botox and Juvederm.

The clock turned back ten years for 9 short months. It was fab.

May

Our little Moopa had corrective surgery on her eyes. She was a trooper. I wish I could say the same for myself.

On a happier note, our Gymnastics Queen won State Championships on the uneven bars. On her 8th birthday. It was pretty awesome.

June

Our oldest hit "double digits". Ten is a big birthday for a little boy.

July

My Sports Fanatic and my Gymnastics Queen ran a five mile race. The both finished with their tiny faces beaded in sweat and blisters on some toes.

I was very proud.

The week after the race, my youngest brother got married.

September

Hubby and I celebrate another anniversary. Eleven fabulously fabulous years of wedded bliss.

October

November

I reconnected with Edward. Breaking Dawn hit theaters and finally Edward and Bella....got married.

December

Happy 2012! All the best for a Happy New Year! Be safe!

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Jammies and Ice Cream

For us, the pace slows after the holidays. This week is a welcome break from the running around we do the other 51 weeks out of the year.

I let 75% of the mess stay where it is. And I ignore it beautifully.

We stay up later and sleep in past 8am. We order take out and rent movies.

We wear jammies and we eat ice cream.

It's pretty awesome to hide out from the world every once in awhile.

Sometimes we need to recharge the batteries in peace.

The hibernation in this house continues. I may just hang here until Spring...

Happy Friday to everyone. Hope it's as awesome as you are.

It's pretty awesome to hide out from the world every once in awhile.

Sometimes we need to recharge the batteries in peace.

The hibernation in this house continues. I may just hang here until Spring...

Happy Friday to everyone. Hope it's as awesome as you are.

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Broccoli Stuffed Mushrooms - One of my MOST FAVORITE appetizers

Every Christmas Eve my Mom makes these for appetizers.

On the way to her house on Thanksgiving, one of my kids always asks

"is THIS the holiday that Grandma makes those mushrooms?!?!"

They are just plain a never fail yummy warm appetizer that is easy to love.

These would be a great addition to your New Year's Eve celebration!

broccoli stuffed mushrooms

Broccoli Stuffed Mushrooms

12 large mushrooms

1 very small onion, chopped

6 T butter or margarine

2 T Flour

3/4 t salt

dash of white pepper

2/3 c milk

1 pkg (10 oz size) chopped frozen broccoli, blanched and drained

2 T finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Remove stems from mushrooms and chop.

(I have found that a strawberry huller works GREAT for this step!)

Quickly saute chopped mushroom stems with onion in 3 T of butter in a frying pan. About 2-3 minutes.

Reduce heat and stir in flour, salt and pepper. Gradually add in milk and continue to cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Add broccoli and heat thoroughly.

Melt remaining butter and brush the inside and outside of mushrooms caps. Fill each mushroom with an equal amount of vegetable mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake stuffed mushrooms on a cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, until hot.

I love to prepare them the day before, and bake them when I am ready to serve them.

I have put them in a chaffing dish to keep them warm, but they tend to get a little watery. It's really just best to bake them in the oven.

Every Christmas Eve my Mom makes these for appetizers.

On the way to her house on Thanksgiving, one of my kids always asks

"is THIS the holiday that Grandma makes those mushrooms?!?!"

They are just plain a never fail yummy warm appetizer that is easy to love.

These would be a great addition to your New Year's Eve celebration!

broccoli stuffed mushrooms

Broccoli Stuffed Mushrooms

12 large mushrooms

1 very small onion, chopped

6 T butter or margarine

2 T Flour

3/4 t salt

dash of white pepper

2/3 c milk

1 pkg (10 oz size) chopped frozen broccoli, blanched and drained

2 T finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Remove stems from mushrooms and chop.

(I have found that a strawberry huller works GREAT for this step!)

Quickly saute chopped mushroom stems with onion in 3 T of butter in a frying pan. About 2-3 minutes.

Reduce heat and stir in flour, salt and pepper. Gradually add in milk and continue to cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Add broccoli and heat thoroughly.

Melt remaining butter and brush the inside and outside of mushrooms caps. Fill each mushroom with an equal amount of vegetable mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake stuffed mushrooms on a cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, until hot.

I love to prepare them the day before, and bake them when I am ready to serve them.

I have put them in a chaffing dish to keep them warm, but they tend to get a little watery. It's really just best to bake them in the oven.

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Hibernation

This week, the munchkins are on winter break.

There is no school bus to chase down and no homework to complete. Basketball games are on hiatus, and the gymnastics team only attends the day camp. There are no practices to run to and no lunches to prepare.

This "nothing to do" week has me wanting to go nowhere. The desire to hibernate is strong.

Fierce.

Paralyzing.

My bones are craving sweatpants and my tummy is craving pizza. My days are spent cleaning, running laundry, "resting" my eyes while the munchkins play and clawing through Christmas mess.

Every few hours I accomplish something. The time in between is for nothing-ness.

And it's lovely.

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The White Elephant

This year, my family held our first annual "White Elephant" gift exchange. It was fabulous. And cheap. And we laughed until our nostrils flared.

The rules of the swap are simple:

1. Find and wrap anything in your home that you no longer want, need or have had hidden away for years because it was given to you and it's awful.

2. Wrap this "White Elephant". Wrap can be inviting, simple or downright ugly.

3. Bring gift and set in pile with other White Elephant items.

4. Gather family, and draw numbers. Lowest number goes first. This person selects and opens gift. Everyone laughs because this item is most often quite unique. Or atrocious. Or both.

This year featured:

Obscenely large framed photos, giant stuffed animals, heinous lamps, strange metal Indian sculptures and more.

5. The next person in line then either steals the first person's gift, or selects a new one. If you steal a gift, then that person has to choose a new gift, or they can steal a different gift from someone else.

More laughter.

Two very important rules:

Each item can only be stolen once per round. Once an item is stolen, it can't be taken again until the next person is up to choose a gift. So people can't just keep stealing the same item over and over again.
An item can only be stolen 3 times. Once it has been stolen for a 3rd time it has reached its rightful owner.

6. The deal with the "White Elephant" in our family is that every gift MUST be used/displayed/worn. If you receive an ugly sweater, you better be wearing it to Easter. If you went home with an owl ash tray, it better be front and center on your coffee table when I visit your house in two months.

Or if you opened Mellville, the founder of an old family business, he better be above your couch.

I highly recommend implementing a punishment if someone is not displaying their White Elephant prominently. Punishments can be hosting a brunch, or paying for a round of drinks.

Either way, the game is a fabulous tradition. It's fun and easy to play. And people dig up some real "winners" when given the opportunity.

You also go home with a heck of a conversation piece.

Send out the bulk email now, and give everyone a year to comb their attic.

Mommyhood Footnote: Hubby chose a small metal Indian figurine from 1948 which is on his desk. I went home with a classy framed photo of several Easter Eggs dressed as punks with weapons. Underneath them it reads, "This Easter beware. The eggs have gone bad".

Both items are better than hanging Mellville.

Each item can only be stolen once per round. Once an item is stolen, it can't be taken again until the next person is up to choose a gift. So people can't just keep stealing the same item over and over again.
An item can only be stolen 3 times. Once it has been stolen for a 3rd time it has reached its rightful owner.

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