Ode to Butter: How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways...

I made these blueberry muffins with a cinnamon crumb top and they were delicious. But my favorite part was the crumb top which is made with butter, cinnamon, flour and sugar. I ate three in one sitting, and each time I ate the crispy, flavorful, crumb top, I couldn't help but think to myself how much I love butter. It makes everything butter, I mean better.

Seriously. Whoever thought of churning cream until it thickened and became a solid substance should have won the Nobel prize.

Other genius food creations which inventors I applaud is bacon and any food items that contain bacon, anything fried, cheese, hamburgers (which is why cheeseburgers with onion rings and bacon are my favorite), steak, prime rib, Korean BBQ, and potatoes of any kind.

Hungry yet???

Day Two: I Only Had One Drink...

The girls are out of school so it's me plus 3 kids. Alright, so it ain't 8, but still, I consider it a great achievement that no one has run of out the house with their hands waving in the air like a mad man screaming, "she's really lost it this time!" Of course, the biggest potential culprit of such lunatic behavior would be me, but I have remained sane and sober--actually, that is the great achievement of the day.

In fact, not to toot my own horn, but yesterday, the girls and I made this together:


The hardest part of this project was keeping Sam from eating all the candy. I had to keep giving him other candy or white trash sugary snacks to keep him at bay (ehem...not that I actually have Twinkies or Ding-dongs in my pantry...)

Today, we spent the day at Giggles N Hugs. My friend chose a booth and she situated herself and her kid in a way that I had to have my kids sit in a row on one side and me on the other. My darling little angels were all sitting quietly and eating. My friend with her one kid was extremely impressed. "They're so good!" I smiled smugly and replied, "They ARE good. What can I say? I've trained them well." I couldn't help but feel like just maybe, I have it all figured out.

As we left the kiddie play area, Sam's didn't want to go. So I was trying to carry him in one arm, and three jackets and my purse in the other. I can only carry a screaming, squirming Sam for about 50 feet before he breaks free from under my arm (I usually carry him under my arm like I hold an evening clutch, though considerably less elegantly). After he breaks free, then I usually have to drag him by his arm. If people are around, I pretend to get him to stand up so it doesn't look too abusive. We got to the valet area and I just dropped him and let him roll around on the asphalt. I usually wait for the inevitable raised eyebrow from a nearby adult who could potentially call child protection services on me before I pretend to care.

Tonight, I wanted to go to Lawry's. Last year, we went and it was a wonderful experience. The kids were all so well behaved so the thought crossed my mind to make it a family tradition for Christmas. More logical parents would think twice about such an occasion considering the meltdown that I had just experienced at the other restaurant. But nope, the chance the eat at the happiest place on earth was just too enticing for me. I thought I would tempt fate.

Luckily we got seated right away but when we got to our table, I realized that it could not accommodate a high chair (i.e. Sam would not be strapped down). Again, I should have known better but the thought of waiting for a better table was unfathomable. Now, I wasn't just tempting fate, I was playing chicken on fate's high speed freeway.

A five inch smear of mashed potatoes on my dry clean only dress, and a dinner (for Sam) that consisted only of chips and hot fudge sundae later, we made it out alive. The girls were so well behaved. They were trying to choose between "O Holy Night" and the Chipmunk Christmas song for the carolers to sing, but decided to choose the former after finding out it was my favorite song.

Multiply that chip that Sam's holding by 20 and throw in some hot fudge sundae and there you will have Sam's dinner tonight at a prime rib restaurant.

Despite all the chaos (and a mischievous caroler putting his hat on my head), I was happy--prime rib, wine, and Christmas cheer. And, I got to wear my boots! What more can a girl ask for?

Merry Christmas!

In Case You are Curious

Sorry for all the weight loss stuff but if you are curious, I am happy to share what I did. I went hardcore with the intention of doing it for two weeks only. I knew I couldn't sustain it but at the same time, I wanted results fast.

I think five pounds was just from eating until I busted my pants for four days straight recently. So the first week, 5-7 lbs came off easily with the daily runs (about 3 miles on a very hilly terrain while pushing Sam in the jogging stroller). Two of those days, I also worked out on the circuit training machines (about 30 reps on about 6-7 machines) plus another 50 crunches on the floor mat. The second week I ran four days, the same 3 mile trek but didn't have time to go to the Y so no circuit training.

Diet wise, you have to keep in mind that I am a full-fat loving person. So I am sure my body went into shock. I used to have some form of dessert every night after dinner, which is why I had to at least treat myself to the fun size plain M&Ms every night.

Mornings: decaf coffee with soy creamer and then went for my run (I cramp easily so my stomach can't be too full when I exercise). Then some fruit after I was done.
Lunch: Two eggs made into egg salad with no bread and fruit, or a can of soup with two Trader Joe's veggie samosas and fruit, or an omelette with ham and cheese and fruit.
Snacks: I only ate if I really felt hungry at which point I would eat candied walnuts and/or fruit.
Dinner--asian chicken salad or taco salad with tri tip. If I made pasta or korean food (a meal in which I knew I could consume carbs), I really limited my carb intake. I would say that my carb intake used to be 50% of my meal, but I limited it to 25% or less.
Dessert: fun size plain M&Ms and Arbonne detox tea

I stuck to this on the weekdays, and weekends I let myself eat more junk and carbs, but was still more conscientious.

Sorry if this is TMI but I thought I would share. I had to make drastic changes but I also gave myself a time limit so that I wouldn't give up after a few days. Knowing that I was only going to do it for two weeks made it easier for me to do those daily runs and eat those salads. Now I haven't been running and am eating a normal amount (yes, dessert has come back) but my clothes are fitting better. I am getting older and something about having a third child made getting back to my old self much harder. So I came to this realization that I would have to work at it, and I finally made the decision to "just do it." I'm glad that I did!

I would have so won...

biggest loser! I went jogging Monday through Friday one week and then Monday through Thursday the following week. I also REALLY limited my normal intake. If I craved McDonald's, I went for the grilled chicken snack wrap, as opposed to the crispy chicken that I usually get. I made a lot of salads for dinner and only had pasta twice a week. I tried to replace my usual carb fest with protein, and my potato chips with nuts. Instead of snacking on chocolate, I would eat fruit, but I would eat one fun size bag of M&M's every night so I didn't totally deprive myself (I could never completely give up chocolate).

Well, it worked...I think I lost 12 lbs! The original scale that started it all is on its way back to Australia so I am basing this weight loss calculation on a scale at the YMCA. I am almost back down to my pre-Sam weight which is my goal.

One thing I realized during these last two weeks is I make really bad food choices. I always think, oh, it's just one little cheeseburger, fries and chocolate shake...how bad can it be? But it adds up...hopefully, I'll never go back. And as the summer approaches, I'll probably be outside a lot more gardening which means fresh fruits and veggies from my garden.

And the best thing out of all this? Getting hit on at the gym...he he...that's right baby, still got it!

New Year 2009

Like everyone else, I am mentally making resolutions for the year. During service at church today, I really feel like I need to make some changes. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, 2008 was a year of rest. Even though it was still frenetic and filled with the unexpected, I tried to take it easy...as easy as one can take it with three kids, three "jobs" and a million other things to juggle. But I didn't make efforts to take Sam to classes, socialize with friends (aside from my much needed monthly PTA meeting aka parents turning to alcohol), or exercise. Even though I think my hips have gone back to normal, my waist has not. I write this complaint next to three pounds of See's chocolates that I confiscated from my mom since she needs to stay away from this stuff. Cancer cells thrive on sugar and fat...but so does cellulite...

Though I still have every intention of eating those three pounds of chocolate, I vow to make an effort to not let it settle on my ever-growing pooch.

I also vow to read the Bible more. I have been avoiding it because I just didn't feel mentally ready to read anything meatier than a Pottery Barn catalog. But I am ready and it felt good to read it today and actually be able to process the words. I can hear squeaking in my brain as the cogs rotate again.

I vow to take my husband out on a date night each month--even if it means we need to pay for a babysitter.

I vow to yell less at the girls. I have been thinking about the next five years and it makes me sad. I know that it is going to be 2012 before I realize it and my little girls won't be so little anymore. I never, ever, ever thought I would feel this way but a little, tiny part of me is sad that they are going back to school tomorrow. We've had fun these past two weeks. I want to make a concerted effort to not zoom through afternoon and evening hours, trying to get them into bed as soon as possible.

I vow to smother Sam with even more kisses, if it is even possible. He is just getting more and more delicious. Trying to walk more these days, being more demanding and control freaky, saying "uh oh," "oooo," and "what's that?" It is very adorable and frightening. He's getting a mind of his own and I'm not sure how much I like that. Seriously, the blob stage is my favorite.

Happy New Year y'all!

The Happiest Place on Earth (for me at least)

I really wanted to go to Lawry's this Christmas. It has been a while since we have seen the carolers (a quartet of singers dressed up in Dickensian costumes that go from table to table and sing Christmas songs by request). We haven't taken the kids with us to Lawry's since Elysha was born. I guess out of fear that the kids would misbehave, and not being sure if they would like the food.

Well, they definitely are my kids...all three of them gobbled up the prime rib, creamed corn, yorkshire pudding and baked potato. I am alone, however, in my love for the creamed spinach and baked potato with all the fixings and extra sour cream. Yum, yum! Either the kids ate a lot of my meat, or I was really hungry because I finished my entire Lawry's cut and sides (minus the baked potato which I like to take home and eat later). We then feasted on the C.C. Hot Fudge Sundae for dessert.

It is a good thing I was treated to my favorite meal last weekend. The warm memories of the happiest place on earth will have to carry me through these next two weeks of having all three kids home with me. So far, they have been behaving well. I have also brought out some arts and crafts stuff to get me through this time. A friend told me about Family Fun Magazine website. I'm going to try to be a good mom and figure out some craft ideas for the girls and just pray that Sam doesn't eat too many glue sticks.

Coffee: My Ambrosia

I LOVE coffee. Cannot live without it. It is not the caffeine because I have been drinking decaf since I found out I was pregnant with Joey. It is the flavor, the aroma, the comfort, the sensation--I love it all. That being said, I am no connoisseur. It's like wine. Really, truly, I know nothing. I thought it was cool to drink merlot until they made fun of it in the movie Sideways. And wine in a box? Why didn't I think of that? Make it pink and sweet so it takes like a cocktail (i.e. white zinfindel), awesome!

So, being a coffee dork and more importantly, not being a morning person, I would make a big batch of coffee once a week, put the carafe in the fridge, and nuke a cup every morning. The flavor, the aroma, the comfort--all good enough for me. But honestly, in the morning, I could be drinking hot poop water with some hazelnut creamer, I wouldn't know the difference until about 10:30 which is when I become conscious, despite having been awake for a few hours already. It would be around that time that I would say, holy crap! I am drinking, well, crap!


But I have a friend who freshly roasts coffee beans. When the husband found out what I was doing, I think he nearly had a heart attack. Apparently coffee goes rancid. Huh, who knew? Plus, I guess it wasn't the smartest thing to store something so acidic in my metal carafe. Eh, you live and learn. So at my favorite store Tar-jey, they had this interesting contraption:



Perfect for me and my delicious, fresh roasted beans. Yum yum!

Not What I Signed Up For

On Sunday morning, the girls and I participated in a cancer walk in honor of a friend's mom who passed away last year from lung cancer. In addition to the 5k, there was also a 1.5mi walk which, you would think, is doable for kids.


All I can say is thank God I have been running these days! I envisioned that the girls would walk half of the way and then I would have to push them the rest. Instead, I pushed them about 90% of the way. Not only that, because we were late, we parked in the overflow lot (was dealing with yet another tantrum from a certain child this morning). So I had to run uphill while pushing 90 lbs of kids and stroller to the registration tables. Then I ran to catch up to some friends. But Joey wanted to find her BFF who was towards the front of the walkers so then I had to run to catch up to her friend. All while pushing the girls. Yup, not what I signed up for...


Fortunately, we went to Souplantation afterwards to hang out and I got to replenish my body with some biscuits and gravy, breakfast scrambles, french toast and ice cream. All this after having already eaten a McDonald's breakfast. Food...I will always sign up for food...

Not sure what my kids did to deserve that medal...

Too Many Tomatoes, So Little Time

I have so many tomatoes in my garden right now that I don't know what to do with them. I wanted to do a marinara or arrabiata sauce but is that really the best thing I can do with them?

Any ideas? I found a Shrimp and Tomato Risotto recipe which I will try for Saturday dinner. I also found a tomato pie recipe which apparently tastes like deep dish pizza (I miss Zachary's Pizza in Oakland--better Chicago-style pizza than the pizzas I've eaten in Chicago). I LOVE tomato bisque so maybe I will make some for myself and the girls with grilled cheese--one of my favorite comfort food meals. I'm not sure if making all these things will use up all my tomatoes.

Okay, this will hopefully be the last post about my garden. I'm sure this is not interesting to anyone else but me.