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Random update

Today I was Central Market doing a little bit of light grocery shopping and I saw that their corn is on sale 10/$1!

Of course I bought 10 ears. We go through corn very quickly here in this household. We incorporate it one way or another in probably 4 out of 7 meals.

Yum!

Tonight I'm making mahi mahi. I was roped into trying a sample at the demonstration kiosk (in between the seafood and fruit sections) and WHOA. That had to be some of the best fish I have tasted in my life. The lady pointed me towards the rub she used and advised me on how to cook it. The fish had just been flown in fresh from Hawaii that morning so I couldn't resist trying it out on my own. I've got some pretty high standards to live up to but here's to hoping that mine comes out as good as the bit I tasted earlier today!

On a slightly different subject... thank goodness Babystyle is back! There was a bit of a dry spell there for a while but now, now I think we're on the right path.












Newbies from The Gap:










Has anyone else been listening to the new Coldplay album? I'm really loving it. I know it's gotten some negative reviews but I don't care, I think it's great! I have been listening to it non stop for the last 2 weeks!

I'm pretty sure

I'm getting another sinus infection.

What's the deal with that? I counted my sneezes yesterday.

SIXTY-EIGHT!

That is not a misprint and no I didn't accidently add a number. I actually sneezed that many times. Do you know how traumatic that is for a person? Most of those came in spurts of 6 or 7, which made it worse. I think I may have whiplash.

I broke down this weekend and gave into the temptations that were coming from Lindsey's blog. I've read her posts about homemade ice cream for over a year now and I couldn't stand it any longer.

I thought about it for a while. About which one I would buy, if I would really use it. So on and so on. I originally wanted the Kitchenaid one because I thought it would be easy to use seeing as how I have a stand mixer and all. Then I thought I might run my motor down with all of the ice cream making I would be doing. I use my mixer on average 3-4 times a week ( sometimes more ) for pretty big projects so the thought of adding an additional 20 or 25 minutes onto that a week (or more knowing me) just didn't sit right.

Anyway, I decided to go with the one that Lindsey recommended. I figured I couldn't go wrong that way. She's got pretty good taste when it comes to kitchen gadgets.

Here's a picture of my super awesome homemade vanilla ice cream. Yum! This week I plan on making strawberry cheesecake, chocolate marshmallow (rodney's favorite) and key lime pie. I can already feel the fat on my thighs.



Btw, the ice cream maker doesn't disappoint! It works great and fits in my pantry! Just in time for the 104 degree weather! (rolls eyes)

Speaking of hot weather and summer - last night I decided I wanted to make something light and summery for dinner. I remembered a post that my bff Jess had written about their picnic for Concert in the Garden a few weeks ago. I decided to try it out!

I made everything pretty much the same way with a few minor exceptions. I decided to make our sandwiches on ciabatta bread. Once I had brushed it with the olive oil (and added the s&p) I toasted it flat side up in the oven for a few minutes. 5 minutes to be exact. I like the middle of my sandwich to have a little crunch but not too much.

I made Rylee the same sandwich minus the basil -I didn't think she'd be too into the basil. She did love the sandwich though. Like, really, really loved it.

We all loved the roasted corn. It was delicious. Definitely perfect for summer meals. We'll be having it often.

Thanks for the great idea Jess!



Gotta get some rest! We are oh so very busy this month. Getting everything together for my cake classes is consuming my life!

Returning home

Wow. We had a great time in south Texas! I can't believe I'm already back here typing this out!

Schlitterbahn was great on both days that we went. We got there early enough each day that we were able to pick a prime spot to set up camp, get changed/ slathered in sunscreen and catch two or three of the biggest tube rides with no wait at all. I really, really love that park. There's something so great about it - I'm not sure if it's because it's nestled (nestled makes it sound small, this place is HUGE) in trees and hills or if it's because it's powered by natural water (well, west is anyway) or if it's because the tube shoots and rides there are seriously some of the most fun you will have in your life. We took two rolls of film on our waterproof cameras and I can't wait to get them back!

The first day we went we took Rylee. She loved it. She didn't want to leave at all and I totally understood. She rode some of the big rides - there are 4 that she is not able to ride just yet - but she rode the bigger tube rides and she was totally fine. We got there early enough that we were able to get her one of those tubes designed especially for little kids and it was perfect.

The second day we went without her and the boys were wrestling around and causing havoc on every ride. I fell out of my tube just before a slide on Hillside and went down the slide on my bottom. Luckily there was a lifeguard there to catch me, my sunglasses and one of my flip flops. I fell out in front of a ton of people waiting in line, it was incredibly embarrassing. Oh well, I think we all fell out one or two times actually.

Austin was also nice. We got to eat at all of my favorite places. Kerbey Lane, Catfish Parlour, Texana...it was all so good! It was Clifford and Matthew's first time to Kerbey Lane and I think they enjoyed it. I already miss the white queso!

One thing that never changes about our trips to Austin is that we always come back with so much more than we left with.

Woo!



We also came back with a pretty neat ice chest actually. It looks like this but ours is red and black. I kind of like it.



And an icecream maker. I do not have a photo.

Today was Rylee's first ballet/tap/tumbling class. She looked so cute this morning I could have melted right there. She did so well too. They had us all go in there for a few minutes and look around and then off we went. There were a few girls that cried but Rylee didn't and from what very little I could see, it looked as if she was doing as she was told.

This had come in the mail for me while I was gone! I love it! It's exactly what I wanted when I set out to find a ballet bag!



I got it off of an etsy site called tinygreenapples.

Hope everyone had a lovely fathers day!

My little ballerina

Got Rylee's ballet and tap shoes last weekend. Also got her leotards in as well. Class starts next Wednesday! She's pretty excited!







And...here's some of my favorite stuff we've sent out of the shop lately!








We're headed out tomorrow evening down south for a few days at Schlitterbahn! Have a great weekend!

Final 25 things about me

25: I think the raspberry sherbet from Target is the best sherbet ever
24: I love rain storms
23: I hate the heat.
22: I am currently sunburned
21: It doesn't bother me to leave the house without makeup
20: Rylee was the same weight and length as I was when I was born
19: I waited on the guys from Mudvayne when I was 19
18: I hate fondant
17: I had my tonsils out two years ago
16: I've had strep throat over 30 times
15: Someone once told me that I should be a hand model
14: I won 2nd place in a baby beauty contest
13: I'm allergic to wasps and bees
12: I'm slightly obsessed with coats and jackets
11: I don't like fruit smells
10: I can hyper extend both of my arms
9: I make wishes when all of the #'s are the same on the clock
8: I can ice skate
7: I'll eat anything with peanut butter
6: I like to make up recipes
5: I'm bossy
4: My favorite house is my grandmothers house
3: I only like white Christmas lights
2: I buy about half organic products
1: I love provolone

Done!

Summer Movies and 25 more things

This week I discovered that Harkins Theatres are running a children's movie every day of the week (minus Saturday and Sundays) at 9:45 in the morning.

This week Veggie Tales, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything is playing so I decided to take Rylee. It was pretty fun and she did pretty well. She's been to a few movies but never with just me (except for when she was very little) so I thought it would be interesting to say the least. The great thing was that the entire theater was full of mothers and fathers with their small children and infants so no one cared if someone was screaming or crying. I think we're going to make this a weekly thing, it's so great that they are showing it every day of the week too, that way you don't have to miss it!

What a fun thing to do in the summer!

25 more things about me

49: My favorite flower is the calla lily (close second is the orchid)
48: Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era
47: I like tea with no sugar, just a lemon slice
46: I played volleyball for many years
45: My favorite season is winter
44: I think a lot of blogs are for show
43: Every man that I have been involved with (seriously) has had a name that started with an R or a C
42: My house will soon have a red door
41: I don't like dogs
40: I don't like country music. At all.
39: There's a water tower behind my house
38: I know quite a bit of sign language
37: My family is Catholic but I'm not
36: I don't like being tan
35: I don't use store bought whipped cream
34: I think I am a good listener
33: I like driving
32: I've traveled from Dallas to Tulsa, back to Dallas to New Orleans in 24 hours.
31: I've never seen a Wayne's World movie
30: I've played hide and seek in an empty movie theater on several occasions
29: I'm ready to have another baby
28: I'm working on a cookbook
27: I bite my nails
26: I'm very modest
25: Some mornings I cat nap on the sofa while noggin is on. (not for long)

only 25 left!

Dinner Tonight

Today while I was grocery shopping at Target - and I was in the frozen food section picking up some boca patties - I happened upon some Contessa shrimp that was on sale. I took a look at the three different kinds they had in stock, Shrimp Scampi, Whiskey Jack Shrimp and Shrimp Marsala. I noticed that each box had two different recipes that incorporated it's kind of shrimp into it. I decided it was worth my $5 to give it a shot.



I wanted to make the Spicy Shrimp Pasta. The only ingredients it required was some penne pasta, a tomato, scallions and some whipping cream! Easy enough!

Somehow through my shopping trip, I managed to forget the other ingredients needed to make this recipe so when I went to make dinner tonight I was left with some things to figure out.

I decided to make it using what I had in my pantry/fridge

Stephanie's version of Spicy Shrimp Pasta -

Boil one package of penne pasta according to directions
Heat large skillet on medium heat and add shrimp



Add scallions and diced tomato - I had neither of these so I added a quarter chopped red onion and a can of diced tomatoes seasoned with basil, garlic and oregano. ( I drained half of the juice of the can of tomatoes)



You're also supposed to add a 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream at this point but I did not have that either! So I added a 1/4 cup of skim milk and a tablespoon of butter.

Let mixture cook for 4-5 minutes until shrimp becomes orange and opaque in the middle.

I tasted the sauce at this point and decided it still needed a little something.

So, I added 2 cups of Target brand spaghetti sauce. I keep it in the pantry just in case I need it for a quick dinner here and there and today it came in quite handy!

At this point, you add the pasta and mix and you're ready to chow down!



I gotta say, this was a VERY good meal. Rodney loved it, he just told me he loved it again even and he had no idea I was typing this. We paired it with some crusty garlic bread and it was exactly the kind of meal I was hoping it would be. Though I can't help but wonder what it would have been like had I followed the directions and used what it actually called for. Oh well, I love what I did to it so I'm positive I'll be making this again. Looking forward to lunch tomorrow!

25 more.

Actually, this will be 23 since Jess so graciously pointed out to me that I repeated 95 and 96 on my last post. How odd!

72: I love bold and bright colors
71: I have dyed my hair various shades of red for the last 10 years
70: I have an entire cabinet of deodorant. I'm not even kidding.
69: I've had my livejournal account for 8 years now
68: I struggle with my eating habits
67: I was a vegan for a year
66: I (along with Leila) slept in my car in the parking lot of an Austin hotel SEVERAL times on my way back from shows either in Austin or San Antonio despite the fact that my grandmother lives there.
65: From the ages 12-16 I would go into electronic stores with my dad and type the same sentence on every computer each store had, this is the last worthless evening that you'll ever spend.
64: Vanilla is my favorite flavor but I hate things that are scented vanilla.
63: I get my news from the internet
62: I don't let my daughter watch Dora The Explorer
61: I ran my high school radio station for 2 years
60: I had a radio show with my high school bf for 2 years.
59: I like to walk around Target 2 or 3 times a week
58: My favorite color has always been blue
57: I don't like gold
56: I love trying new foods
55: I don't understand why everyone loves chocolate so much
54: I wear a size 9 1/2 shoe
53: I had my tongue pierced at one point in my life
52: I am a planner
51: After Rylee was first born, I vacuumed every day for 3 months
50: I have one small tattoo

100th

This is my 100th post, woo!

I bought this for Rylee. Really love it. Might love it more than she does.





So since this is my 100th post, I think I'll spend this week updating with (among other things) 100 things you might not know about me.

First 25:

100: I like reality tv
99: I stay up until 2am or later every night
98: I try to do things differently
97: I wipe the sink out every time I use it to make sure it's completely dry (the bathrooms and the kitchen)
96: I taught myself to decorate cakes and I am still learning
95: I thought I never wanted children (but very glad my mind was changed)
96: I clean dishes as I use them
95: Someone has called me the "cleaning nazi"
94: I am scarily good at Mario Kart
93: I like to watch almost all live sporting events
92: Cooking relaxes me
91: I am obsessed with buying Rylee swim suits
90: I would leave Texas in a heartbeat
89: I find a sense of humor the most attractive quality in a person
88: I met my husband at a rock show
87: I like to eat popcorn with m&m's
86: I managed a movie theater when I was 18
85: I hate Nascar. Really, really, really hate Nascar.
84: I'll probably never cut my hair shorter than shoulder length
83: I have a very good memory
82: I tend to have a temper
81: I would have a snowboard attached to my feet for the rest of my life if I could
80: I am sick of healthcare issues in this country
79: I'm pretty sure I eat chips and salsa every day
78: I hate jelly
77: I don't enjoy talking on the phone
76: I can sing a little
75: I was a merch girl back in the day

*This is going to be harder than I thought!