Spring Cleaning

So I have good news and bad news.  The bad news is I got sick Saturday night.  I either had a stomach virus or it was the Chinese food.  Processed Food is BAD!!!  So I did not bake or cook, but the good news is we cleaned.  Every time I get sick I freak out about the clutter and make everyone clean.  I know I'm a horrible wife and mom.  But Addison's room and bathroom are spotless.  Addison took everything out of his closet.  All the clothes he couldn't wear went to Goodwill and he organized everything else.  JT really kicked butt today.  He moved everything under our bed and moved the furniture so he could shampoo our bedroom carpet.  It looks brand new and everything smells so good.  JT also took everything out of the linen closet, threw away old towels, and donated sheets to the Goodwill.  I scrubbed the doors, the base boards, and corners.  Our house looks so good I feel like I should get sick more often.  I told you I was terrible.

JT thought it would be funny to put Luna in the linen closet.

Luna didn't think it was funny.

Finish closet!!!

I also started reading a book about my camera.  I really need to sign up for a class but for now I really want to learn how to work everything.  My pictures are turning out good.  It's my actions shots that I'm not that excited about.  I really need to learn how to tweak my shutter speed, focusing, and how to follow my subject.  Addison's diving pictures were very hard to take and they still didn't turn out great.  The problem is diving is indoors so the light is not that great and he's pretty far away from me.  I hope this book will teach me a lot. 

Tomorrow will be a great day.  No school and Addison doesn't have any activites.  Maybe I will get some cooking and baking done.  We will just have to see.

Oh I almost forgot about my nails.  They held up!!!  I'm totally sold.  I scrubbed with bleach and soap today.  And I mean really scrubbed, I even used my nails to get up stuff.  Guess what?  No chips!!!  I couldn't believe it!  After washing and scrubbing I would think there would be some chipping but they look like I just got them done.  The bleach didn't even effect the shine.  I'm amazed!

Rainy Saturday

So it rained all day today so we didn't get much done.  JT had to work today and Addison just wanted to be lazy.  We did make it to skating lessons this morning and then went to J. Christopher's for brunch but that was about it.   I caught up on some recorded programs I haven't been able to watch because of school and read some magazine that are almost 2 months old.  I have been to busy to read magazine??!!! That's pretty bad.  The dogs even slept most of the day.  I even decided that I didn't want to cook so JT suggested on picking up Chinese food on his way home.  This is bad since we are trying not to eat any processed food but I guess a treat here and there is not that bad.  I promise to cook and bake tomorrow night.

Oh speaking of cooking, I didn't post the pictures of the lamb roast I made Thursday night.  It turned out wonderful.  For sides I made Northern beans and spinach gratin.

 

Juicy Lamb

 

Cheesy Spinach

 

Addison's Plate

I have no idea what I will be cooking tomorrow.  Maybe chicken or pork?  Hmmm..

Oh and speaking of baking Sweetapolita put a new cake recipe up on her blog.  It's a 6-Layer Rich Chocolate Malted and Toasted Marshmallow Cake.  She says it's the yummiest cake she has ever made.  I got the Neapolitan cake recipe from her blog and that cake was incredible.  I have to make this pronto.  I can't believe it's better than the Neapolitan cake.  We will just have to wait and see. 

Here's her pictures of the cake from her blog:

 

YUMMY!!!!

So I guess I'm cooking and baking tomorrow.  :)

Before I go, look at my future Olympic diver.  He's just so athletic.  He didn't get it from me. :)

 

Oh Nails look exactly the same so I decide not to post a pic until tomorrow.  We will see what happens after all the cooking and baking I have planned.

Nails

So I got this new manicure called Shellac or Gel Pro.  They put about 6 layers of 2 different polishes on your nails and put your nails under a UV light in between each polish application.  The manicure is suppose to stay chip free for 2-3 weeks.  I decided to try it since I hate getting manicures.  I hate wasting an hour of my time letting someone polish my nails that will be chipped 2 days later.  I usually only get manicures for special occasions, like dressing up for weddings.  But if this manicure really last for 2-3 weeks I will start getting manicures all the time.

It's like my shoe post.  Once I started being a mom certain things weren't as important.  You use to get my hair done and my nails done but now I feel like those things are a waste of time.  I haven't let myself go, I just have become low maintenance.  I used to be way too high maintenance.  One time I took of work just to get my hair done, this was back when I had a weave.  I know a weave what was I thinking?  Now, I won't even put a perm in my hair.  I believe I look beautiful natural and I don't need all of that. Hey, my husband still thinks I'm hot and I still get looks from men.  Oh and Addison still says I'm pretty.  :)

So I have decided to try to take a picture of my nails everyday so you guys will know if this manicure can really hold up with my busy schedule.  I'm hard on my hands so we will see.  If it does, I will tell everyone female I know to try this manicure.  It's only about $5 more than a regular manicure, mine was $25.  I think an extra $5 is worth not having chipped polish for over week.

Here's the pics.

Favorite Things

So it's Wednesday.  Remember I was going to tell you my favorite things every Wednesday. 

So I was wondering if I should tell you about my favorite kitchen things.  My friend Melissa received an Williams-Sonoma gift card and ask what she should buy with it.  I had to think there are so many things I love there.  So I thought about it and asked Addison.  Addison helps me cook most of the time so I try to get tools that make it easier for him to help and just make my life easier too.  So we have some great kitchen tools.

1.  Hand Chopper -  we have two hand choppers.  Michael got me the VeggieChop for my birthday last year and then I purchased the Rosle Multi Chopper 5 months ago.  They both work great, the Rosle comes with a basket and extra accessories so you can do more with it, like chop herbs and make salad dressing.   We use them everytime we cook.   Addison doesn't mind chopping onions or green peppers.  Chopping is easy, no stinging the eyes, and clean up is even easier.  I even puree my fruit with these for baking and making ice cream.  I have a food processor but I hate using it all the time, it can be a pain.  That is why I love these little choppers. 

VeggieChop

Rosle Multi Chopper

2.  The strawberry huller - I always get fresh strawberries.  We eat them with fresh whip cream, or I make strawberry ice cream, or I use them for baking.  The one thing I hate is taking the stem off of them.  After 5 strawberries, your thumb and thumb nail hurt.  This little gadget does it for you and it so easy.  Addison will ask to do the whole bowl of strawberries.  Another thing that's wonderful about this is it doesn't just remove the steam and leaves, it removes the middle white part of your strawberry that can be bitter. 

3.  OXO Nonstick Tongs -I know you are thinking, "Tongs?"  But I use Tongs for everything when I cook.  From flipping meat, to picking up any type of food.  These tongs are great because the are non-stick but that's not really why I love them.  I love them beceause they lock shut. So they stay closed for storage which is great since I keep my tools in a drawer.  I threw away my other tongs after buying these.  I was going crazy everytime my drawer got stuck because the tongs were open and sideways.  

4.  JT's favorite thing- All-Clad Belgian Waffle Maker- OK JT's favorite thing might be the coffee maker but his second is definitely the waffle maker.  I bought him this nice one last year and he loves it.  JT cooks a big breakfast every weekend, yes he's that dad.   It's usually waffles, bacon, eggs, and sometimes grits or hash browns.  We have been through some waffle maker and he has said this is the best one.  I have only used it twice and I think it's nice but I'm not the waffle master like him.  So if JT loves it, it's great!

5. And last but not least, of course - My Kitchenaid Mixer - JT's mom bought me my Kitchenaid mixer last last Christmas and it was love at first sight.  She is the reason for all my baking.  I was baking before but no this much.  I love it so much it stays out so everyone can see it.  I can whip up batter in about 30 mins because of this mixer.  This is definitely my favorite tool in my kitchen. 

OK, if I don't stop now.  I won't have anything to talk about next Wednesday.  I have linked stuff to Williams-Sonoma website because that's where I bought most of my stuff.  My mixer was not bought there and it's not red it's silver.  I think The Godfather has the red one.  But, I know you can find most of the stuff at other places.  

I need to finish up some laundry before I go to class tonight.  This is my long night because I have lab so I won't be done with class until 10:30.  :(

See you later.