Things I learned this week...

1.  That Doctors don't actually "check in" with patients in person... they 'call in" on their patients...  Nurses need to get paid a LOT more.

2.  That if the Doctor is hanging around the patient... that's a BAD thing... thank God... there wasn't a Doctor for miles around my Mama this week...

3.  That my Mama having surgery was a huge distraction to the fact that I was without one child this week... Thanks Mama... great planning as usual!  LOL

4.  That you should NEVER, EVER, EVER flip off an idiot that almost sideswipes your car on the freeway... EVER...
Why? Because it MAY just turn out to be YOUR SON'S PRINCIPAL!!! (Did I mention he goes to a CHRISTIAN school? Yeah... I'm toast...Oops... my bad... AND... I'm human... sue me for being crude... it's been a hell of a week... glass houses... people... glass houses...

5.  If you scratch it... it will get infected... duh!!!

6.  That my sons truly miss each other when they are away...

7.  That I am NOT ready for my sons to grow up and become independent people... just yet...

My new Business...

BELLA SERA MEALS...
Do you hate to cook? Do you work full time and dread having to make dinner? Do you HATE that the Drive Thru window is how you feed your family most evenings? Would you like a solution to that? What if you could feed your family a nutritious, satisfying, easy to heat meal, complete with bread and dessert, knowing it was prepared by a Mom, for a Mom, who loves to cook and NOTHING is processed, from a box, and everything is handmade?

Welcome to my kitchen. I am here to serve you.

I offer a wide array of good, healthy, affordable dinners that you can either freeze and keep or have delivered fresh for dinner that evening. All you’ll have to do is put together a salad… and I can even do that for you… if you like.

I offer dinner for 1 to 25 people. If you have a special occasion coming up… and want a complete meal, that you can just heat and serve and impress your guests and ENJOY their company… I am the chef for you! My Mom and I will also cater for up to 200 people…

I use no lard, and no shortenings. I use ONLY Olive Oil or Extra Virgin Olive oil. All the breads I use are made by me, with no artificial ANYTHING! I can enrich all breads with Flax seed meal and wheat germ upon request. I use ONLY the freshest ingredients available, and if I can’t find a good quality ingredient, I won’t use it.

Save money eating this way… in your own home! These prices beat restaurant prices!

Call 909.641.5375 OR Iamchefsaundra@yahoo.com

Pasta, Meatballs (8), Fresh Sourdough, French, or Spinach/Feta bread or Garlic Bread, grated Pecorino Romano cheese, 8 cookies (Biscotti or Pizzelles)………… for Family of 4 = $29.00


Eggplant Rolletini (10)… Eggplant rolled up with luscious Ricotta Cheese w/herbs, smothered in Sauce, Fresh Sourdough, French or Spinach/Feta bread or Garlic Bread, Grated Pecorino Cheese, Cookies (8) ………For 4 = $35.00

Calzones … Choose your filling… Meatballs and Provolone or Mozzarella. Or BBQ Chicken, or Roasted Eggplant and veggies and cheese, or Ricotta Pesto and herb… (All bread is handmade, and you can choose your bread…
With a green salad and my famous Bella Sera Dressing & 8 cookies
A Calzone per person for 4 = $40.00 meal
Ala Carte Calzone = $12.00 each (no salad or cookies)

Bruschetta Appetizer– Fresh baguette bread of your choice, toasted to perfection with fresh garlic rub. On the side, will be a tomato, herb, olive oil topping to spoon onto your bread. Divine!!!! A great after school snack!
Feeds 4-6 = $15

Chicken Parmigiana – Freshly breaded chicken, homemade sauce, baked… not fried… to perfection, topped with fresh Mozzarella and Provolone Cheeses, smothered in homemade Italian Sauce, your choice of bread, cookies (8), side of Pasta and sauce… Family of 4 = $39.00

Lasagna Rolls – 10-12 rolls, filled with Ricotta cheese, smothered in sauce, topped with cheese, ready to bake or prebaked, you choose. Salad, Bella Sera Dressing, Choice of bread, cookies (8)
Family of four = $35.00 Family of six = $45.00

Meatball Sub – on your choice of baguette…topped with Provolone and Romano cheese, smothered in sauce… $15 (feeds 2-4) add Salad and Dressing for $10 with this meal!

Bresagna- My own creation! It’s Lasagna… but make with BREAD!... You have to see it to believe it. I layer fresh ricotta cheese mixed with sun dried tomato pesto/garlic/basil , or spinach/feta/Romano, or zucchini/pesto/feta between hand rolled layers of bread of your choice!!! One 13 inch loaf with salad and cookies for $28!!!

Ala Carte

Baguette of French, Sourdough or Spinach Feta Bread = $5

Side of Salad for 4 with Bella Sera Dressing = $17.00
Artisan lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, shredded carrots, Kalamata olives, shredded cabbage.

Bottle of Bella Sera Dressing = $4

Bucket O’ Pasta Sauce = $25.00 (sauce for 6- 12)

Meatball Madness… = $30.00 meatballs & sauce for (5-10)

Sweet Hawaiian Bread braid = $6 (great for breakfast)

School lunches = I will make school lunches for your kids for the week! Delivered on Sunday evening, they stay fresh in the fridge all week! A gourmet artisan sandwich a day for your kids! $2, or $4 a sandwich… I use only NON nitrite/nitrate meats, from animals with NO growth hormones or preservatives! Lettuce, Bella Sera dressing, tomatoes, pickles, lunch meat and cheese if desired!
Your choice of bread, handmade only!

Biscotti Platter (25-30 large cookies) = $20.00
Lemon Cranberry
Almond Chocolate Oatmeal
Double chocolate Almond

Pizzelles -5 inch diameter Platter (50) $25.00

Vanilla
Chocolate
Swirl (vanilla and chocolate)

*** I also do lunches… and if you live within 10 miles of GT… I WILL DELIVER! Order must be in by 9 a.m. for same day lunch… or order ahead for a luncheon!!!

My Mama has been in the hospital this week.  Knee replacement surgery with a little bit of complications...

I'll write when I get her all settled and out of the hospital.

Sunday Prep... More cooking...

So, yesterday... was my prep day for the week...

I made a bunch of my Bella Sera Balsamic Bliss salad dressing  (AKA "Salad Crack" named by my friend Andrea) so we can have salads at the ready this week for dinners...

And I cut up a bunch of veggies, peppers, onions, zucchini etc... for quick stirfries.  It's so nice to get all the time consuming partS of cooking over with in one fell swoop, instead of piece mealing it all week long.

It seems like so much less work... and it is less!

Made a bunch of biscotti... but healthy... no egg yolks, raw nuts, flax seed meal, good, grainy flour...

These are an old picture... but I made Lemon Cranberry and Espresso, chocolate Almond last night...

NO ONE suspects they are healthy... everyone says they taste sinful... so that's good.

Also made a bunch of healthy meatballs... I LOVE this pan... it suspends the meatballs 3 inches above the pan, so all the fat drips down and doesn't sit in a pool of fat...

I added shaved carrots, green onions, organic, non RBST beef, grass fed only... so there was MAYBE three drips on the whole pan...

Then I made a huge batch of pasta sauce...

washed and dried 10 heads of artisan lettuce and packaged them in Lock n Lock,

four batches of bread dough...

And now... I'm done for the week.

I just need to pull what I need out of the fridge, heat it up, and maybe make a little pasta or bread...

PREP...

I LOVE IT!!!

Sunday stuff...

My Johnny is leaving for a week to Hume Lake for an Outdoor Education Trip.

I HATE that it's an 8 hour bus trip away...

Why can't they just go up to Arrowhead?

My other two boys went on the same trip in their 5th and 6th grade years... so it's only fair that Johnny gets to go.

As if tuition isn't enough, it cost an arm and a leg to send them to this camp...

new gear, new this, new that, not to mention the cost of the trip... all tacked on to the monthly tuition so it "Doesn't hurt as much" according to the schools finance dept... LOL!

I swear, when these boys go to college and we are paying THAT tuition... we'll be paying LESS! 

I know... I've asked other parents that have graduated kids from private school...

So we are actually LOOKING FORWARD to paying for college.. I might be able to buy a new car one day... !

I'm not really complaining.. it's a choice... a privilege... I don't take it lightly...

I just get all bejiggety when all the birthdays start coming around, and we can't do as much for them... but everything is a compromise... no?  In my heart, I know we are giving them an opportunity of a lifetime to experience an education that is tailor made for them, with all the advantages afforded to them within the school.

The difference between my kids and the other kids?  Mine won't be getting Mercedes or BMW's for their 16th Bdays... they'll be rolling up in used trucks... LOL

Ugh... rant over...

Bill is working really hard on our outdoor fireplace area.  Johnny's end of year school party is going to be here this year.. and I want it all done and gorgeous come June... so I have been lighting a fire under his butt.

It doesn't help that we keep adding in features, like copious amounts of electricity for lighting all around the area...

that just takes more time... but in the end... I think it'll be worth it.

The 28 day waiting period before swimming in the pool is up... and every minute today... they have been BEGGING to go swimming.

I may say yes... because I KNOW it will only be a few minutes before they realize that just because weather outside is 75, doesn't mean the pool is... it's more like 55-60 and they'll jump right out... complain it's cold... and get my clean tile all wet...

I am soooo not one of those Moms that lets their kids swim just for swimming's sake... it's cold...

no one needs a shock to the system like that... unless you are in the Polar Bear club... there'll be plenty of hot weather to come... they can wait...

I've got to go do my Sunday Prep now... then I'm off to church tonight... and last minute shopping for Johnny's trip...

A little piece of my heart will be camping this week... my baby... I may be a little weepy...just sayin'

Just a little note...

I'm having a little giveaway at my other weight loss blog... if you wanna come on by and join in... I'd be honored...

it's at...

http://www.eatabiglunch.blogspot.com/

You can see what I'm giving away there...

Thanks!!!

Remember this toy?

Remember this toy?

If you don't... you are obviously younger than 30 or 35...

But when I was a kid... they actually sold these things TO KIDS...

What were they?  A "toy" made of either tempered GLASS or HEAVY RESIN... that when one flicked the hands up and down in a fast motion... the balls would hopefully hit each other and bounce to the opposing side and do the same...

Did I mention they were HEAVY, and HARD... and DANGEROUS???

I must have had, in my childhood... at least 5 of them at any given time.

My little brother and I would hurt ourselves so much with them, my Zia kept taking them away from us by throwing them in the garage, way up high so we couldn't reach them...

Did I mention that this particular Zia is 4'3" tall?

Yeah... by the time I was 8 or 9... I could reach them...

She was just trying to protect us.

We jammed our fingers, hit our heads accidentally with them, swung them over our heads and broke windows...

They were these heavy balls on tiny strings with a tiny plastic ring holding the strings together...

Catastrophe was BOUND  to happen.

When I asked for another pair after an initial waiting period, so my parents would "forget" how stupid and dangerous those Click Clack's were, my Mama got hip to my jive and told me

the company got into trouble and no longer made them.

That didn't seem too far fetched to me... we caused a LOT of damage with those insipid things...(which incidentally, I loved... the toy... not the damage) (except that one time my brother got one right between the eyes... THAT... I liked...he cut up my jump rope... and when he hit himself in the head... Karma was on my side...)

Then... we went to Woolworth's... and there they were... and she just said... "NO!" when she saw me eyeing them.

No explanation that they weren't discontinued... just "NO!".. and back then, kids had the good sense to understand that "NO!" was the final answer, and not another word was spoken about them...

Until the other night... when I had a dream that I was a kid, playing with them... and getting hurt... all over again...

and I called my Mama up in the morning to reminisce with her about that toy...

Instinctively she said... "No!"... "You will NOT BUY THEM FOR MY GRANDSONS!"

I wasn't going to...

But I shut up... said... "Yes Mama" and hung up the phone...

Some things never change...

Shoes for a better butt? Really?

I have officially seen and heard everything now... when it comes to what people will buy and sell.

Let me first preface this post by saying... If you have, or plan to own these shoes and products I am about to mention... don't get all up in my grill about how you love them, or how I should just shut up... this is my opinion, and it's meant to be satirical in nature... chill out...

Ahem..

Shoes... that make your butt and legs look better... hmmmm.... remember the 70's?  Yeah.. nothing is really "new" anymore huh?  Remember Dr. Scholls?  Those clunky, wood bottomed, leather across the toed "leg shapers" that sounded like a Clydsedale horses were within 10 feet of you?  Yeah... I owned them... and they were UNCOMFORTABLE AS ALL GET OUT...  I was 10 in the late 70's... and my older cousin told me the shoes were a "miracle" and that I should get them... whatever she said was like listening to God himself... boy was I dumb...

So now there are these commercials touting that these sneakers are made in such a way that it will exercise the butt and legs...

Really?

Are we gonna go "there" again?

They. are. shoes.

What exercises the butt and legs? EXERCISE... WALKING... SQUATS... etc...

I want advertising agencies to STOP thinking we are all stupid know nothing's that will buy ANYTHING they put out there...

Oh... You own a pair?

And?...

Is your butt not touching the ground anymore?

Are your legs back to the shape they were in at 18?

You wanna know what I wish they would come out with?

A freaking bra that will ACTUALLY make my boobs not be 4 feet long anymore...

It's really annoying when I need to scratch my knee, and I have to move my once perky, now stretched beyond recognition breast out of the way...

Why doesn't Madison Ave come out with an advertising campaign for a bra that makes boobs up tight and outta sight... without surgery!!!

Oh wait... I know why... IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!  Just like I feel it's impossible that a shoe can do, what an hour a day at the gym can do.

Unless those shoes have weights sewn into them... I don't see how they'll work... but they sure don't have a problem with charging $100 for them!!! or more!!!

Look... if you own them and love them... great... I hope your butt tightens so tight that you can bounce a feather off of it.  I hope your legs get so shapely, they ask you to be a leg model for pantyhose...

I just get cynical when they make things out to be something they aren't...

Don't even get me started on anti wrinkle creams... and breast firming butters...

Lord have mercy!

Progress and prep...

The backside of the new Fireplace.  All that wood is for the forming of the area around it so cement can be poured.  Bye, Bye beach sand...

This is the stamp we used ALL over the fireplace.  Next... I need to buy a cement stain, and some cement water colors to faintly color in the grapevines, and to give the cement coating some character.  It's pretty gray right now...

So while the fireplace was getting worked on... I went about my Prep for the week...

So I made all the bread for sandwiches...

And all the bread for breakfast for the week... just slice and toast...  this is Raisin/Cranberry cinnamon bagel bread.  It's FULL of flax seed, whole wheat flour, no yeast, just my starter, yogurt and other yummy things...

And I made another batch of Butternut/Corn/Pea Slurry.... I thinned this down with some homemade stock...

it's in the fridge waiting for dinner bowls...

Then I sliced all my onions for the week, bbq'd all the chicken, made a 2 bean chili soup, made a mayo free coleslaw (yum) recipe will be here soon, and made 4 batches of dough...

I'm pooped... but I feel ready for the week now.  We have 5 baseball games in 4 different cities and dinner's need to be healthy, ready, and on the fly... so preparation is my saviour...

Time to take the kids to school now...

The next two days will be my last two days driving my own car... my oldest will be commandeering the steering wheel from now on...

Has anyone seen my suit of armor, and our crash helmets... and those industrial strength seat belts?

Hey... where's a good tank when you need one!!!

I want...

I know I shouldn't wish my life away... I know it won't do any good... but why... oh why.. do kids have to grow up!!!

I remember when the boys were all small... and I thought I was never going to be able to shower again at a decent hour... or I was always going to be destined to rock them to sleep forever... that they would "need" me for everything forever... and I'd never be a woman again... with thoughts and dreams and goals and aspirations...

And then BANG!!! Fast forward 11 years... My men are 16, almost 14 and almost 11. 

Oh... how I wish they were small again.  I would love it if a tiny person would pull on my blouse and bend over and ask me to wipe his behind... in the kitchen... with the entire length of toilet paper trailing behind him...

I would LOVE it... if when they needed a bath... I could pile them all into the bathtub and have splash time again... and say things like... "No Johnny, don't drink the bath water... and No... Alex... no peeing while washing... that's what the toilet is for."

I NEED someone to ask me to read him a story.

I MISS being asked to "Marry me Mommy" every single day.

I miss having a baby boy sleeping on my shoulder...and sighing the sigh of a satiated, clean baby... while his bottom lip quivers in his sleep.

I miss my baby boys.  They are getting so big... so independent.  One is going to be driving in one week.  How the hell did that happen?  It just can't be!!!

 I want naked little boys to run around the house again... laughing about being naked... and screaming... Mama!!! I'm naked!!!  You can't catch me!!!  While I playfully scold them to go put their clothes back on.

I want to step on Legos again.  I want there to be too many toys cluttering up my house.  I want tiny chairs, and Little Golden Books all over the place.

I want them to fit in my lap again.  I want to have to get a babysitter again.

It's weird... when they were little, I always seemed to be going somewhere where I needed a sitter.  Now... that I don't need a sitter... I never go anywhere anymore...

When I used to long for time "away" from being a Mama, when they were little... I now long for MORE time... for the Mama time to last just a little while longer.

They wash their own clothes, they can cook their own food, if I'm not available, they can reach things on higher shelves than me.  They don't need me for anything anymore... and I'm heartbroken about it.

Luckily... William will hold my hand, kiss me in public, even at his High School, and tells me he loves me... but I know it's only for a little while longer... until a *sigh* girl takes his heart...  Alex tells me his friends like me, and think I'm "cool"... but once again... only until the 'girl' takes his heart... and Johnny... thank God... he's still young enough to think I'm still the living end... but he has two older brothers that are making him grow up faster than normal... it's inevitable...

I'm going to be phased out... all too soon.

I'm. Not. Ready.  It's too soon.  I was just holding them and cooing at them just yesterday... or maybe that was 16 years ago... yeah... it was... it seems like a dream...

I need more time... I need to reinvent myself... so I can occupy my time when they are on their own...

Is it too late to be Cindy Crawford?

American Kids VS. Italian Kids.

THIS IS A RE POST... I LOVED IT SO MUCH, I THOUGHT IT MERITED ANOTHER GO...

I know... I know... My kids are Americans, as am I... BUT! My kids are experiencing things that only truly, really ethnic families can relate to in their lives, and how they are brought up.

My children didn't have the luck that I had growing up, by being brought up by immigrant parents, and living in Little Italy (my house) for 24 years. They are, however learning to love their Italian Heritage, savor it, live it when they can, and really get into it.

I try to make my home and bringing them up as close as I can to the way I was brought up.

My son Alex LOVES listening to his Nonno talk. He LOVES the accent, and tries to mimic it all the time.

So last night, I was googling around and stumbled across this little ditty and I thought it was so funny and so right on the mark when it comes to my kidlets!

So here goes!

***

American Kids: Move out when they are 18 with the full support of their parents

Italian Kids: Move out when they are 28, having saved enough money for a house and are 2 weeks away from getting married... unless there's enough room in the basement for the newlyweds.

American Kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake and you sip coffee and chat.

Italian Kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings 3 days worth of food, begins to tidy up, dust, do the laundry and rearrange the furniture. (yep)

American Kids: Their Dads always call before coming over to visit them, and it's usually only on special occasions.

Italian Kids: Are not at all fazed when their Dad shows up, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 7 a.m., and starts pruning the fruit trees. If there are no trees, he'll plant some!

(Oh my God, that is SOOOO MY PAPA!)

American Kids: Always pay retail and look on the internet or yellow pages when they need to have something done.

Italian Kids: Call their Dad or Zio (uncle) fand ask another Dad or Uncle's phone number to get it done... cash deal...know what I mean? (Done that a few times in my lifetime!)

American Kids: Will come over for cake and coffee and only get cake and coffee. No more.

Italian Kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and GET antipasti, wine, a pasta dish, a choice of two meats, salad, bread, a cannoli, fruit, espresso, and few after dinner drinks.

American Kids: Will greet you with "Hello" and "Hi"

Italian Kids: Will greet you with a hug, a kiss on your cheek, and a pat on your back.

American Kids: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.

Italian Kids: Call your parents Mom and Pop.

American Kids: Eat Peanut Butter and Jelly on soft mushy White Bread

Italian Kids: Eat Genoa Salami and Imported Provolone with sundried tomatoes and roasted red peppers on crusty Italian bread.

(OMG, I pack that in my kids lunches every day!)

American Kids: Like Hip Hop and new Music

Italian Kids: Worship Tony Bennett and Sinatra (Uncle Frank)

American Kids: Think that being Italian is cool

Italian Kids: KNOW that being Italian is cool!

Things I learned this week...

1.I learned... that no matter how much I fought it... no matter how long I delayed it... I am a Mother of a driver...
Having never taken a drug stronger than a Tylenol... is Xanax in my future? or Valium?  yikes!

2.  The closer my William gets to driving independently... the more nervous I am becoming.  I want to place a law in place in Southern California... NO CELL PHONES.. NO TEXTING... NO DRINKING AT ALL... NO DRIVING ON THE STREETS FROM THE HOURS OF 5 AM - 8 PM... while he'll be on the road potentially... so he is safe... Dear God... keep him safe!!!

3.  I learned buying our teen son a truck is a much longer process than I anticipated.  He is precious cargo... and it needs to be large, clean, mechanically sound, not too great of a stereo, MUST have air conditioning, and not too old.  I want him safe... I want him to be proud of his ride... but at the same time... I want him humble too.

4.  I learned that I am very happy when my floors are all cleaned... 80% of my home is now tile... and mopping it sucks... but when it's done... it's divine!!!  I love the smell of bleach!!!

5  I learned in the last month... that a person I thought was a friend... REQUESTED that her son not play on my husbands baseball team...  I'm not upset about her request ... she has every right in the world to do that (heck, I've even done that before... but not without telling the coach first... what I'm upset about... was her inability to tell us, or to have given us a heads up last year that she was unhappy with the way my hubby was doing things...  some people are cowards (and she REALLY needs to be careful when she is talking smack about someone and LOOK AROUND because I was three feet from her when she said it to a mutual friend...and I don't take too kindly to having my hubby talked about or my kids)... and choose to do things underhandedly and under the guise of "not wanting drama or confrontation".  Whatever... for that one person NOT wanting him to be his coach... my sweet hubby got 10 others REQUESTING that he be the coach, and dozens of phone calls before the season asking if he was going to coach and if he does, could he please pick their son...
I learned that she is less of a friend than I thought before.  I won't lose any sleep over it... at all.  She can suck it! AND... if she can do better... she and her hubby need to get off their high horses... and COACH... so they can be perfect... and her kid can play the position he wants...

6  I learned that I am happy that I am not afraid of confrontation.  Confrontation does NOT mean yelling, screaming and bashing... but telling someone immediately when a concern arises... and nipping it in the bud...in a clear, calm, concise manner... so as not to put the other person on the defensive... I learned that THAT type of people are the kind of people I crave to have around me.

7. I learned that I have three really unique, great, sweet, generous boys... and a hubby that was willing to spend all last evening replacing ALL FOUR OF MY BRAKES until 11 p.m. just so we are safe... I heard my brakes squeak, and he was on it immediately.  I love having a husband that can fix, build, make and create everything!!!!

Writers Workshop 4-15-10

Writers Workshop at MamaKat's

"Write a letter to a Reality Star of your choice"

Easy.

Here goes.

Dear Kate,  Having NEVER seen an episode of your "reality" show John and Kate plus however many, I don't have a lot to go on as far as history.  All I know about you is that you have a gaggle of kids, your picture was splattered all over the place for a while, you are getting divorced from John, and now you are dancing on one of my favorite shows... Dancing with the Stars.

YOU... are a hag.  If you acted like that on your show... I GET why you are getting divorced.  Having a bunch of kids does NOT excuse you from having basic good manners.  Need I remind you that YOU chose to put your life on camera for the world to see... why are you now surprised that Papparazzi are all over the place?

I haven't seen one smile on your face that looks real.  It's like you are incapable of feeling actual feelings.  I sure hope you do differently with your kids.

Never mind the fact that you can't dance, and you are incredibly rude and narcissistic with Tony, I can't figure out why you haven't been voted off!

I hear from people that you are worrying about how to raise your kids.  Here's a clue... YOU RAISE THEM... the best you can... no matter where or how much money comes in.  Money doesn't determine how well your kids turn out...

To me... you got celebrity for doing nothing more than having a bunch of kids.  I know lots of people with a bunch of kids, that don't have TV shows, that have to scrimp and save, and JUST DO IT... that aren't totals hags.

Quit whining and get on with being a Mom!

You might have to get a real job...!!! 

If you treated your husband the way I keep hearing the way you did... you should have thought of what it would be like raising the darlings alone...before you bashed him.

I hear he's not such a peach either... and I have to no respect for a man that takes the crap the way you shoveled it.

It's getting more ridiculous these days... making celebrities out of people that do horrible things.  Tiger Woods mistresses are being made out to be celebrities and given photo shoots, and talk shows....

WHY. WHY. WHY. WHY. WHY!

Go raise your kids Kate... be the Mom you say you are... get off the TV... and... bye bye...

Random and (gross) shots from Spring Break!

While the boys and I were out and about last week for Spring Break... I, of course, had my camera with me...

Thank God!

There are some pretty strange people in the world... and unless you get out there and see it for yourself... you'll just never know...

Soooo....

Allow me to introduce you to a couple of sick tickets I ran into while fishing and and at an amusement park.

Now... last week was warm.  It was about 85 the day I took this picture... and everywhere I went this lady was right there too.  What she was wearing wasn't so much weird... but the fact that she CONSTANTLY complained that her boots were getting wet was really annoying.

SHE WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE LOG RIDE AND WATER SPOUT FEATURE while complaining... helllooooooo.... MOVE! or ... wear appropriate shoes for the weather!

I mean... REALLY?  IT WAS 85 DEGREES!

This next one.. I apologize for the vulgarity... but I had HAD ENOUGH!  This dude... bent over right in front of me ONE too many times... and since I had my camera... I HAD TO CLICK...

If I had had a printing dock in my car... I would have printed it out and HANDED IT TO HIM... just so he knew what sort of commotion he causes when he bends over... INCESSANTLY in front of people...

and yes... I do believe he scared the fish away...

You're welcome.

Sunday Night Prep!

What's been cooking around here???

Well... first... let me say... THANK GOD my kids can cook... because I didn't cook ANYTHING for 7 days while I had my weird fever thing going on.

I'm all better now.. and have begun my Sunday night Prep.

Four loaves of Sweet Hawaiian Breakfast Bread...

These should last all week long, if I just allow one per day out of a hiding place.  My men love toasted it and eating it with a little butter and jam or sometimes... just plain!

Aren't they pretty?

And... today, for our big lunch... we ate William's prized Rainbow Trout... He was so happy to see it all dressed up... after I finished gutting the thing...

Salt, pepper, onion, lemon, fresh parsley... YUM!

It's all ready for the oven!

15 minutes at 375 and we will be in business!!!

Now I'm off to chop my onions for the week, get some beans soaking, make all the lunch sandwiches, and brown up some chicken!

Then... all week long... all I have to do is put dinner together!  All the hard stuff will be done!

Our fishing trip...

Took my men fishing today.

Daddy, of course, was at work making the dough, and since I had to cancel our camping trip to this exact place, the least I could do was take them fishing there... so I did.

We have this lovely camping timeshare nestled 3200 ft up into our local mountains, complete with every amenity... heated pools, 3 lakes, paddle boats, hiking trails, arcades, restaurants, mini golf, laundry, hookups, cabins and of course, RV camping... too.

It only takes us 20 minutes or so to get there... and it's JUST enough of a getaway too help us feel refreshed...

So after the requisite picture taking...

and saying "Cheese"...

I let them go have a ball.

Okay, I snuck some shots in...

And they fished... and fished.... and waiting... and waited...

And waited...

and waited...

Until FINALLY... SUCCESS!

a HUGE 3 lbs Rainbow Trout!

That sucker cost us... about $40 bucks when you add in the gas, permits, gutting... etc...

but you know what?

Who cares... really...

We were together...

They had fun, I got some sun...

All was well...

So we are on our way home, and Alex asks me about when my Dad would take me up there to wade in the creek.  It's one of my favorite childhood memories with my Pops.  He asks... "Hey Mom, is the creek really cold? is it clean?... sooooo

I pulled over, and let them see and feel for themselves!

When I was a kid, you could drink right out of the creek and it was so crisp and clean... it was like healing water... no to much anymore...

He doesn't look almost 16... does he?

Across the creek, is the side of one of our beautiful San Bernardino Mountains... made of this, gorgeous rock and shale... always shifting with each earthquake....

I love this creek.

There is one park of it, at the top, by a lovely waterfall, that is COVERED in raspberry bushes...

I used to pick and eat to my hearts content when I was young...

It was a good day...

A very good day...

That smile proves it!

Consolation Prize

I had to cancel our camping trip TWICE this week, because of my ongoing fevers... (Yes, I am still getting a fever every four hours... just 100 or so... but still...like clockwork) and it's my boys Spring Break... and I just couldn't do NOTHING... so I took them to The Cheesecake Factory (my fave) for lunch, and to a local amusement park, (No... not Disneyland... $500 for entrance and then God forbid anyone gets hungry or thirsty... nope...their education first... Disneyland later... LOL) for a little fun.

I was feeling better... so I said... what the heck...

So they rode rides...

And we took pictures

I forgot I had my sunglasses on... They are prescription, so I enjoy sight so much I forget to take them off...

besides... I wasn't wearing any eye makeup anyway...

They obliged me my manic picture needs...

And smiled for me...

And posed for me...

And were able to ride all the rides as many times as they wanted... there were only 100 people at the park... the workers said no one knew they were open, because they usually aren't open during the week... except this week... for Spring Break...

They rode this log ride AT LEAST 30 times in a row...

Tomorrow... they wanna go fishing...

Wish me luck...

Progress!!!

Yes!!! The Fireplace is ALMOST finished!  Bill is going to design a cool sheet metal hood and stack for the top, then we are going to apply the Meditteranean/Tuscan touch of slapping on some stucco to make it look super rustic...

It's a two way fireplace... see through, with an option to close either side...  The back side will have seating for about 6 comfortably... and the front (this side) is comfortable for about 10-12 in front of it.

One side will hold the wood... the other will hold the cooler or fridge...

Ahhh... the pool is allll done!

We got a grey plaster and the water looks like a turquoise jewel!

Bill fixed the lights, and as soon as the fireplace is done, we start on the cascading waterfall into the pool we are building ourselves... yes... I mean "we" this time...

It's all finally coming together...

Finally.

I better go make my bed and show you my new tiled bedroom!

Rob Doran!!! YOU ARE A MASTER!!!!

My new blog!

I have to say.. I am LOVING the new blogger.  I also have to say... I CAN'T STAND Wordpress right now... sooooo... I completely switched my entire 'Let's Eat and Lose Weight" blog over and back to blogger.  It was a total pain in the neck... but I did it... little by little.

So my new weight loss blog is at http://www.eatabiglunch.blogspot.com/

I have recipes, true stories, facts, deep stuff, light hearted stuff, affirmations, food facts, and confession on that blog.  Needless to say... it has really helped me shed these 75 lbs, knowing I have a place to convene with friends and followers, and fellow LDL'ers and commiserate and share joy also!!!

Sooo... won't you check it out?  It's not a DIET site per se... it's more a peek into my head... (scary place though it may be) and my journey thus far...

I would be honored if you would read me... click to be a follower if you like... even if you don't have any weight to lose, there are TONS of ways to get healthier and live with more vitality and less fatigue.
Weight loss is just one benefit of my eating plan... there are soooooo many other benefits also...

I look forward to hearing from you...

Sandra...