wordless wednesday - gaga

what's cooking wednesday - quesadillas

One of our favourite go-to easy dinner is quesadillas, which are known as sardines in our house. The Abster had just started school and one day she asked me if I would make her a sardine for her lunch. I was pretty sure she didn't want an actual sardine in her lunch, but it took us a little while to figure out what that was in English. Turns out it was a quesadilla.... who knew?

The great thing about "sardines" is there's no limit to the combinations you can come up with. Abby likes hers with ham, cheese and mustard. I place all of that on a flour tortilla, fold it in half and toss it on the barbecue. Keep the heat lowish and watch it carefully, they can burn easily.

It's a great way to use up leftovers. Mike and I had ours with the leftover grilled chicken breast and shredded cheese from last night's dinner. I added some sliced mushrooms, onion and a drizzle of buffalo wing sauce. So yummy.

I love that it's easily customized to each family members tastes and cooking them on the bbq means I can cook all four at once. Dinner is on the table in no time.




What is What's Cooking Wednesday and how can I play?

What's cooking Wednesday was born out of a desire to get out of that what's for dinner rut. Playing is easy, on Wednesday post a recipe that has been tried and tested by you and then pop over here and add your name to the Mr. Linky. When entering your name also add the name of the recipe in brackets and make sure you link to your What's Cooking Wednesday post and not just your blog's front page.

*All front page links will be deleted!*
*Posts that aren't linked back will be deleted*
*Posts that don't include some sort of a recipe will be deleted*

Don't make me be a jerk. And don't forget to link back here, the home of What's Cooking Wednesday.

So for example I would write Shan (Speedy Chicken Stir Fry) in the name section. For the URL section I would post this: http://shanrev.blogspot.com/2007/10/whats-cooking-wednesday-speedy-chicken.html

I'll let you in on a little secret, my WCW recipes are almost never made on a Wednesday. So feel free to cook and photograph whenever you have time and join us posting on Wednesday

it's the simple things

Tonight at the dinner table......

Maya: Well I had a pretty great day today!
Me: Really, how come?
Maya: Well after we came inside from playing Miss M said we could leave our outdoor shoes on! We didn't have to put our indoor shoes on. We could leave our outdoor ones on!

sunday randoms

The countdowns have begun in earnest around here. Only 2 days of school left for Maya, 3 days left for Abby and 4 works days left for Michael and then HOLIDAYS! Am I excited? Heck yeah!

Just finished reading the Lovely Bones, I enjoyed it.... well as much as you can enjoy a book about a murdered little girl.... but it just lost me at the end. Anybody else read this? Thoughts?

Looking forward to all the Canada Day festivities taking place at the end of the week. We are one proud Canadian family.

I should probably go to bed, but I always drag it out on Sunday nights. I'm never willing to admit the weekend is over.

Owen Wilson in Hall Pass was not doing it for me. The hotness factor dropped significantly. I'm blaming the hair cut. Overall though, Hall Pass was a funny movie.

Poor Igor. Nothing ever goes easy for him on Restaurant Makeover.

pondering

Sitting here this evening mindlessly surfing the internet. Getting caught up in the addictive world that is pinterest.

Just walked back from dinner at the church. Kids rode their bikes. Maya wore a fedora and a candy necklace. Not while she was riding her bike, she had a helmet on for that. I carried her fedora so she could be stylish when she got there. I left Michael there to help out with dishes and general tidying up because he's a rock star like that.

My Jersey Girls will be here in an hour or so for Jammie Movie Night. I should give the kitchen a 10 second tidy, let the kids make the punch and throw the cheese dip in the oven.

Instead I'm sitting here just thinking about how great my life is right now. How much I am loving everything that's coming my way. It's not perfect and it's not immune to "the sad", but I feel I'm surrounded by fantastic people. It hit me on the way home tonight, I feel this shift in my mindset to one where I'm just ready to say yes to lots of different things I previously would have maybe said no to and I'm glad to be here.

friday high five - making me smile

So yes, there was been some sad swirling around the ole Blogmother Ranch, but life being what it is, there's not shortage of stuff to smile about. Sometimes it does your heart good to sit down and acknowledge it.

So for this week's Friday High Five.... things that are making me smile.....

1. Maya insists that a grilled cheese is a "girl" cheese. Don't try and correct her. Also if Mike is having one it's a "boy" cheese. It would be awesome if she called it that forever.

2. Our super duper awesome kindergarten teacher is leaving us for another school... no that does not make me smile. It makes me frown, quite a lot, but if she must go and she tells me she must, then I am happy with the teacher who will be teaching MyPie next year.

3. Holidays are on the horizon. Only 4 work days between me and 11 days of doing whatever the heck I want.

4. Bossypants by Tina Fey.

5. Abby came home with her certificate of successful completion for the intense reading program she was in. Yay! The improvement is remarkable! I'm so glad she was a part of it and she's so glad it's over. Hurray for being able to take gym next year!

What's making you smile these days?

star

Today Abby had her last riding lesson before summer break. That was the last of her activities to wrap up and I'm excited to have the lazy days of summer stretched out before us.

The exciting news is that Abby finished out this session of riding lessons cantering by herself. It still makes me stomach lurch a bit to see her flying around the arena so fast, but my gosh if you could see the smile on her face while she was doing it. She is beyond thrilled to have graduated off the lunge line. I was disappointed not to have my camera with me to snap some pictures, but I know that in a blink it will be fall and we'll be back at the stable.

I did have my phone with me though and got to snap some pictures of Maya's big moment....



Her feet don't quite reach the stirrups yet and she was nervous as heck the first time she went, but her much more horse experienced older sister talked her through it.



And now... she's in love.

quiet

Yep I realize that I missed What's Cooking Wednesday, but I just didn't have it in me this week. There's been more than a little bit of sad news swirling around and it just kind of wears you out. I am saddened by the loss of a wonderful man and my heart breaks for his lovely family. I hope that they can find comfort in the kind thoughts and prayers that are being sent their way.

In the wake of all this I feel even better about participating in Relay for Life and it will likely propel me to participate every year from now on. It's the only way we'll put an end to the suffering. Thank you very much to all of you who supported me. I can't say how much it means to me, together we are making a difference.

with tzatziki

As per usual I am up too late answering emails and just generally putzing around on the internet while I watch the foodnetwork.

In related news......

I could really go for a gyro.

That is all.

relay recap

I'm not going to lie to you... I spent most of yesterday asleep. Relay for Life will do that to you.

It's not just physically exhausting and oh boy is it physically exhausting, but it's emotionally exhausting too. It doesn't start out that way though. Nope when the teams start getting together there's a real party atmosphere.....



How can it not be a party when you're dressed like this? My girls really brought it with their outfits. People commented more than once about how great we looked. Unfortunately we weren't quite awesome enough to win best dressed team this year.... the ladies with cupcake fascinators took that honour.... don't worry girls I won't make you wear pastries on your head next year. I have to say our tent looked amazing thanks to ML. We didn't take best decorated tent and I think we were robbed, but there's always next year!



And that sign right there... that Dream Team sign...... I am so proud of! There was 60 teams and only about half a dozen dream teams. At one point the Mom of a 16 year old cancer survivor came over and thanked us for being a dream team. It was an overwhelmingly hopeful moment.

So that part is fun and great and then opening ceremonies start. My team lined up a long the sidelines to cheer on the people in the Survivor's Victory lap. There always seems to be at least one small child in a yellow survivor shirt that gets my tears flowing and that's just the beginning. Over the course of the 12 hours we girls, shed tears.....



held hands.....





hugged.....





and slept.......





and we walked. Oh boy did we walk. Like I said it's not an easy night, but that seems fitting because cancer isn't easy. It's an event I am proud to say I was a part if with a team I am so proud to call my dream team. Thank you again ladies for coming out and taking on this adventure with me. Same time next year, okay!

dream team

I'm writing this in the morning to post later this evening, I won't be here. I'll be with my Jersey Girls, walking all night to raise money for cancer research.

Cancer sucks, folks. That's the long and the short of it. I've been reminded again this week of how much it really truly does suck. I've been fine preparing for the Relay for Life. I've tried to be the best team captain I can, sending out messages and encouragement to my team. I am so very mindful and appreciative of them taking on this challenge with me. I know they are all here because I asked them to be and that is simply amazing to me. I love each and everyone of those girls. This morning as I started putting together the pieces that I will need tonight I was feeling overwhelmed and more than a tad weepy. I started thinking about what I am doing and who I'm doing it for. Their faces have been flashing through my mind all morning as I wipe the tears away. I know every girl on my team is holding someone close to their heart today.... I know I am holding many, ones I've lost, ones who triumphed and ones who are just starting to fight.

Many of you already know that we've raised enough money to be classified a dream team. I am beyond proud of my girls for this. I knew we had it in us. The thing about these girls is... they were already my dream team. Each and every one of them has opened their heart and their lives to me in friendship... heck it's more than friendship. They have seen me through the best and the worst, they've laughed and cried with me, helped me out, encouraged me, supported me and let me enjoy their company. My life is better because of them. I am better because of them.

Robin - I love her like a sister. She is generous to a fault. Never skimpy with the hugs. Always supports me in everything I do. Everyone deserves to have a person like her in their life. She's is the best friend you could ever ask for and I am so lucky she's mine.

ML - I am thankful every day that we took that leap and turned our friendship up a notch. We've run in the same circles for many years, but never really connected outside of the casual chat when we'd bump into each other. She and Robin are similar in a lot of ways. She's just a heart on her sleeve kind of a girl who would give you the shirt of her back if you needed it.

Karen - It's never an easy adjustment when you add a new sibling to the family.... try it on for size when you and the new sister are teenagers. Yep, we're a blended family. I never imagined I'd grow to love her as I do. She's just fantastic and I'm so glad to claim her as mine.

Heather - Is one of the funniest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She is incredibly generous and gives the best hugs. I love that she's always up for whatever adventure comes our way and I'm grateful that she came into my life.

Jen - I've known Jen forever and her husband even longer than that. They are the kinds of friends that when life gets in the way we can still pick back up where we left off when it slows down. I also love that she's a super great sport about all the stuff I manage to talk her into.

Sherry - Sherry comes as a package deal with ML, what with them being sisters and all. We connected right away and her husband is my internet BFF. She's got a great big heart and is always willing to jump in and help no matter what's going on.

Jenni - JJ is the best neighbour you could ask for. I can't tell you how much sugar, flour, cough medicine, tinfoil, tie tying skills have been passed back and forth between our houses. She's always willing to let my wild girls over to play at her place. It's another relationship I'm happy we turned up a notch.

Iona - Another package deal friend, she came along with Robin many many years ago. Two for one deals are the best aren't they? She's just so much fun and never skimpy with the hugs. I'm lucky to have met her.

Am I lucky or what? Thanks ladies for being my Dream Team.

knowing me, knowing you - june 2011

I swear one of these months I will be on time with this...... time once again for that monthly interview project - knowing me, knowing you.

1. What's you're favourite kind of chips?

Hmmmm ketchup, love love love ketchup chips. Also salt and vinegar, but there is never enough salt or vinegar and Lays salt and pepper. I do have a fondness for original doritos. I can't stand plain chips... total waste of time in my opinion, unless you have a killer dip, then maybe... if there's nothing else.

2. Have you read Gone With the Wind?

Many many many times. It's one of my most favourite books (and movie, by the by). I just love the story. I just finished reading Rhett Butler's People and loved it. It was such a treat to read the other side of the story. I highly recommend it to all the GWTW lovers out there.

3. Do you sleep on your front, back or side?

Usually my right side and very occasionally on my stomach.

4. Do you own a pair of white pants, shorts or capris?

Nope. I don't like to wear white pants. I think other people look lovely in them, but I can't wear them myself. Just not a fan.

5. On any given day would you rather wear heels or flipflops?

I am a total flipflop girl. I wish I had a reason to wear heels more, but that's not really the life I lead. I am in love with a pair of high heel wedges one of my girl friends bought recently. I may still buy a pair myself. Until then I did buy a pretty fancy pair of flip flops.




So now the rules, they're pretty simple. Post your answers to these questions on your own blog in the next few days. Remember to link back here in your post and sign the Mr. Linky too, so we can all see what you have to say. Please make sure you link to your actual KMKY post and not your blog's front page. Any front page links will be deleted. And most importantly, have fun! Have suggestions for next months questions? Leave me a comment or send me an email and let me know.

hacker in training

To use my laptop you need to know the password. I know I swore if I ever got one I'd never let anyone else touch it, but I do let the kids use it every now and then. Not Mike though, he did horrible horrible things to his computer... like *turn off his internet security* and now it's so full of bugs it's barely usable. One of these days when I have a spare few minutes I'll unhook it and send it out to be cleaned up.

So while the kids can use my laptop, they have to ask first and I punch in the password for them, the other day I found Maya sitting in front of the sign in screen...

Maya: I'm trying to figure out your password.
Me: Oh you are, huh?
Maya: Yep. I've been trying all day.
Me: Have you?
Maya: Yeah, I tried Daddy's farts stink, but that wasn't it.
Me: Really? That wasn't my password?
Maya: No. Then I tried please Mom please and that wasn't it either.
Me: You don't say.
Maya: Then I tried Maya sucks and that wasn't it.
Me: No, huh?

Oh my gosh she is funny!

what's cooking wednesday - dressing

We've been eating a lot of salad around here these days, some nice spinach, a few snow peas, some mushrooms, cuke and don't forget the feta! Then drizzle it all with a little dressing. Here's a recipe for a double duty dressing.

Honey Dijon Dressing

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp dijon mustard

Shake all ingredients together in a tightly covered container. Shake before serving.

Or if you fancy a honey poppy seed dressing, leave out the mustard and add a tablespoon of poppy seeds.

Easy peasy right?

Now I have to make my salad for tomorrow's lunch. Yum!!




What is What's Cooking Wednesday and how can I play?

What's cooking Wednesday was born out of a desire to get out of that what's for dinner rut. Playing is easy, on Wednesday post a recipe that has been tried and tested by you and then pop over here and add your name to the Mr. Linky. When entering your name also add the name of the recipe in brackets and make sure you link to your What's Cooking Wednesday post and not just your blog's front page.

*All front page links will be deleted!*
*Posts that aren't linked back will be deleted*
*Posts that don't include some sort of a recipe will be deleted*

Don't make me be a jerk. And don't forget to link back here, the home of What's Cooking Wednesday.

So for example I would write Shan (Speedy Chicken Stir Fry) in the name section. For the URL section I would post this: http://shanrev.blogspot.com/2007/10/whats-cooking-wednesday-speedy-chicken.html

I'll let you in on a little secret, my WCW recipes are almost never made on a Wednesday. So feel free to cook and photograph whenever you have time and join us posting on Wednesday

we are....

Tonight ML, as my co-captain, and I attended the final Relay for Life Meeting before the big event. All of the committees it takes to organize this event were there to tell us all how it was going to go, about the survivors, the volunteers, the food, the ceremonies, the luminaries, tent city and so much more. It was emotional and informative, but the absolute best part was handing over $3425 that my team of Jersey Girls.... Relay newbies..... helped raise. We also managed to sell 30 luminaries and that my friends makes us a bona fide Dream Team. Heck ya, it does!

I am so proud of this team I can't begin to tell you.

dear abby

Dear Abby

Well my sweet baby girl, some how when I wasn't paying attention you went ahead and turned nine years old. Nine. How is that even possible? You used to be this tiny pink bundle and now you are up to my chin. Shouldn't be too much longer before you're taller than me.

As much as I miss my baby Abby, my toddler Abby, my pre-schooler Abby and so on. I enjoyed eight and all evidence points to me liking nine as well. You're definitely growing up, maturing and it's a whole new world for you and for me. You've never been a tween before and I've never been the Mom of a tween so we're kind of muddling through this together. I'm nervous though, this strikes me as a very important time for you and I only pray I am doing the very best by you.

I like this maturing. I like that we can lock eyes over Maya's head when she's being both decidedly five and "Maya" as only she can be and share a shake of our heads or a roll of our eyes and let that look say what we're both thinking... "can you believe this kid? Seriously?" I can see our relationship growing, the friendship starting to blossom and I love it.

You still want to be an artiste. Your Dad worries that you'll be a starving artist trying to sell paintings and living with us forever. I think your artiste dream can take you many places... textiles, art teacher, graphic designer... and I'm so curious to see where you do end up letting it lead you. Although you have already submitted a verbal resume to Uncle Dave. Not that I'm biased or anything, but I'm pretty certain Page Design would be lucky to have you.

I think you have to raise a volunteer and I think we're raising one. Yesterday you headed out with your Dad and walked a long parade route and handed out pencils on behalf of our local fair. You've taken a real interest lately in the volunteering your Dad and I do, asking questions about what we do and why. You've started helping out where you can in the projects we're working on. Next Friday night you're going to join me at Relay for Life. I can't wait to share that experience with you. May be you'll be captaining the Junior Jersey Girls for next year's Relay.

You are a funny kid, always ready to share a laugh. You are quick with a funny face or a silly sound when you notice your sister is upset. You love your sister and take good care of her with your excellent big sister skills, but you're at that stage where you need your own space without your hero worshiping little sister tagging along. It's been a bit of a struggle find that balance. Whatever happens we can usually count on you thinking it's been too much togetherness while Maya thinks it's not near enough. Thankfully you and your across the street bestie and fairly good natured about having her hang around.

You still love to sing. I am so thankful for the music director at church who made singing fun again and has taught you so much. I still get emotional when you're up there singing. I am so proud of you. You are the very special little girl who made me a Mom for the very first time. Thanking you for coming along when you did. I waited for five years to be a Mom.... I never knew I was just waiting for you. I love you baby girl. To the moon and back!

Mom xo

one more plea

I am one tired Mama this evening. I'm not even sure why I'm sitting here watching this Restaurant Makeover rerun and fighting to keep my eyes open. I'm going to have to get all the rest I can before the Relay for Life. It will be a little embarrassing if the Team Captain can't make it past 7:30pm. Just over a week left before I walk in a 12 hour relay with my best girls. So far our team has raised $2700. I'd love to give $3000 to cancer research. Please consider helping us get there. No donation is too small.

what's cooking wednesday - smothered chicken

Now that we're trying to get our heads back in the weight watchers game, grilled chicken features prominently on the menu. This is one of my favourite ways to have grilled chicken.



Smothered Chicken

Start with one grilled boneless skinless chicken breast per person. You can grill it on the bbq or in a George Foreman type grill. We're out of propane so George Foreman type grilling it was.

While the chicken is doing it's thing saute or grill in a bbq wok some veggies, tonight I went with onions and mushrooms, but green pepper and/or zucchini would also work. Really you are only limited by your imagination. Place your chicken on your plate, top with grilled veggies and some grated cheese if you like. I crumbled up some feta, but I bet goat cheese would be awesome! Finally I drizzled a bit of buffalo wing sauce over top. Delicious. We will be making this again for sure!!




What is What's Cooking Wednesday and how can I play?

What's cooking Wednesday was born out of a desire to get out of that what's for dinner rut. Playing is easy, on Wednesday post a recipe that has been tried and tested by you and then pop over here and add your name to the Mr. Linky. When entering your name also add the name of the recipe in brackets and make sure you link to your What's Cooking Wednesday post and not just your blog's front page.

*All front page links will be deleted!*
*Posts that aren't linked back will be deleted*
*Posts that don't include some sort of a recipe will be deleted*

Don't make me be a jerk. And don't forget to link back here, the home of What's Cooking Wednesday.

So for example I would write Shan (Speedy Chicken Stir Fry) in the name section. For the URL section I would post this: http://shanrev.blogspot.com/2007/10/whats-cooking-wednesday-speedy-chicken.html

I'll let you in on a little secret, my WCW recipes are almost never made on a Wednesday. So feel free to cook and photograph whenever you have time and join us posting on Wednesday

weekend round up

Life was full this past weekend. I'm still kind of impressed we managed to squeeze in as much as we did.

Friday night the kids slept over at Papa and Grandma Linda's so Mike and I could pretend that we were still in our twenties and headed out with friends to my cousin's buck and doe. He was the ring bearer in our wedding and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that's he's now old enough to be getting married himself. Our game plan was to be home early-ish, but the drinks were tasting good and the laughs weren't stopping and we were enjoying the company of old friends and before you knew it the clock was reading 2:30 as we climbed into bed. And just to set your minds at ease... yes we did have a DD.



So to bed at 2:30 and up at 6:30 to go grocery shopping for the Abster's birthday open house. This was our first time going the open house route. Abby was performing with the choir at a Music Evening at the church in the evening, so we decided to have an open house over lunch. I loved this a bunch. People came and went. We had the food laid out before guests arrived, there was no need to fuss in the kitchen. Abby opened gifts as people arrived leaving her time to visit and play with cousins and friends. It was awesome.



I may have mentioned that Maya's favourite song is the Glee version of Beth. She's gone on itunes on my laptop and played it 21 times. She plays it on my phone.. it's my ringtone. She loves this song like crazy. Abby got Glee Karaoke Revolution for her birthday... so now Maya is singing Beth through the speakers on the TV every chance she gets. Yesterday she laid on the couch with a microphone and sang it and sang it and sang it and then she sang it again. And every time she finished a performance she says... Thank you. I love you! Good night! I'll see you next time! It is equal parts adorable, funny and frickin' annoying.



Saturday night we attended Music Night at the church, put together by our music director, who is so crazy talented you can't even believe it and she's only 17. Amazing!! The music was fantastic and both of my girls got up and sang. They were fantastic! And I'm not just saying that because I'm their Mom. So glad Auntie Yoli could share the evening with us...... Yay for her moving closer to home!!

Sunday was our church's 210th Anniversary. Can you believe that? Special guests joined us for the service and then we all shared lunch together.... awesome, but we missed the ice cream truck. Dang. It's okay, we caught him on Saturday.

Wow I got tired typing all that out.

tie dyed

I have the most amazing Relay for Life team that I am pretty certain is going to be the most amazing looking team there. Saturday night we all got together to tie dye some team shirts. It was a fun process and we all created some wonderfully unique shirts. Big thank yous to HPH for the tie dye idea and to ML for showing us what to do. It's actually a pretty easy project that would be great for a birthday party.



Just add in some jammie pants and maybe a feather boa and we're good to go.