Saturday Random Ramblings

1) I would classify our first purchase from the Savannah Food Co-op as successful.  The eggs we got are unbelievable and so much better compared to grocery store eggs.  Our CSA mixed box had impressive variety. We got gorgeous oranges, apples and plums for snacking and bananas for bread (since neither of us like raw ones). I've already made a stellar salsa with the Roma tomatoes and Vidalia onions and I used one of the lemons in a chimichurri.  This week we'll be making fries with the Yukon gold potatoes and I have a recipe in mind for the head of cabbage. Brett made me a tasty salad for lunch today using the tender green lettuce that I wish we got more of.  Next order we are going to try some of the grass fed meats along with the eggs and CSA box. As I ld learn to use my resources more wisely, I see some large orders in the future.

2) It's less than 100 degrees in Savannah this weekend. Nights have had record low temperatures! We took 2 family walks without melting!  It's an Independence Day miracle!! Speaking of the 4th, please don't blow you yourself this holiday weekend! Practice safe illegal fireworks displays!

3) When Brett and I received a battery powered nasal aspirator (or zombie bwainsucker, as we call it) for a gift, I thought it was another unnecessary and overpriced tool that we would never use.  Well, the experienced Mom who gave it to us knew better.  The thing is brilliant.  Max is on his second cold since birth and it's heartbreaking.  Seriously, if the kid could just blow his nose, all would be fine but since he can't the bwainsucker is the next best option.  When position changes and breast milk up the nose aren't enough to clear the crud, we break out the big guns and suck out the snot so the poor kid can breathe.  Plus, it seems to be far less traumatic for him than the bulb syringe. For those of you thinking it's just a waste of money, in my new mom opinion, it's worth spending the extra ching.

4) I have decided  to dive deeper into this blogging thing.  I'm researching designers to make the blog more eye catching and to better represent who I am. I've started participating in blogging communities and I'm devouring various how to's on blogging and social networking.  If anyone has any great communities or sites to share, please pass them along. Look for exciting changes over the next few months.

5) I really really really want to win the Spa Bleu giveaway from the The Wedding Studios of Savannah and Charleston.  Several friends have raved about Spa Bleu and if Teresa allowed them to be part of the The Studio than they must be stellar.  Check out the giveaway here.

Writer's Workshop-A Happiness List

Sure, there are lots of things that make me smile after a bad day.  There are the obvious things in which everyone shares.  A hug from your spouse.  A big smile and laugh from your baby. Coffee and conversation with an old friend.  Yes, those things will put a smile on my face when I'm not happy too. However, here's a list of 10 less obvious things that really can turn a bad day good.

10) Will Ferrell Movies- My sense of humor is similar to what a teenage boy might have.  People getting hit in the junk, fart jokes, ect. I also love pop culture references. So, Will Ferrel movies tend to fall in that brilliant category of immaturity.  I can quote 90% of Anchorman.  Even love Blades of Glory.  I love all his stuff..except Land of the Lost.  That blew chunks.

9) Listening to Tom Jones's "It's Not on Usual" and doing the Carlton Dance. Seriously.  Try it (when no one is looking). It's hard not to have a good time.


8) The Chocolate Covered Orange Martini from Lulu's Chocolate Bar.  Alcohol?  Chocolate?  Oranges? In a drink?  Yes Please.

7) This clip from Mythbusters:

6) These shoes

Aren't they ridiculously hot? I saw them in a window and left my beloved grandfathers funeral luncheon to go buy them. Plus, they were a billion percent off. Gramps was a major bargain hunter so I think he were actually his doing.

5) When new people follow my blog (HINT HINT HINT)

4) Driving my car. This is my car, Louie. 

Now that I'm all parent-y and responsible, I don't get to drive it very often.  Day care is close to my work and Louie can't accommodate a car seat.  Thus, I get the family sedan most days while Brett takes my car.  I can't complain too much.  Brett did give up his fancy schmancy sports car completely. Still, on the rare occasional I am without Max and in my car, I take the long way home.

3) Joel McHale-'nuff said

2) Her cakes and desserts. So damn yummy. She's a great baker and even a better friend.

1) Sleeping for more than 4 hours in a row.  It never ever ever happens any more, but if it ever does again, I can promise you I will be a renewed, less bitchy woman. 

So- What makes you happy?

Sunday Steaks- A Monday Morning Recap

Now that we are all grown up and parent-ey Brett and I aren't able to have our regular fancy schmancy date nights.  So instead we've decided to crank up our Sunday night meal by implementing "Sunday Steaks".  It's like it sounds.  Each Sunday we will spend a little extra ching for a nice steak dinner.  As much as we wish it would, our budget doesn't allow for fillet each week so it's both a challenge and a tradition.

My husband cooks a mean steak.  Seriously, he can give steakhouses a run for their money.  It's a complicated process and one I'm not interested in attempting. I'll just come up well done- which in the case of steak is not a good thing. So when we find good cuts of steak on sale its his job is to cook them while I come up with interesting side dishes.  However, Sunday Steaks are not just about your typical grilled slab o' beef.  We plan to try a *plethora* of steak recipes/cooking techniques involving various cuts and complementary sides. I think it will be a fun tradition and hopefully we can expand our beef eating horizons. I'll post the recipes and results here for any fellow steak lovers.

The first Sunday Steaks dinner was a delicious success. Once Max went down for the night we got to cooking.  A violent southern summer storm was brewing so Brett seared 2 thick sirloins on the stove top with the grill pan instead of our charcoal grill.  (always charcoal, never propane in this house.  Sorry Hank Hill)  While he seared animal flesh I made Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions and Bacon. Sunday steaks is also about taking perfectly healthy vegetables and making them deadly!  We started the meal with simple salads of mixed greens and portabello mushrooms.  His was topped with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette while I topped mine with goat cheese and a few splashes of Black Cherry Balsamic Vinegar from Lowcountry Gourmet Foods here in Savannah (so yummy and supports local business!).  We also had a few slices of "take and bake" rosemary bread from the Kroger bakery. Oh and to keep it extra classy, we cracked open a box of wine. The fancy box design made it look yummier than Franzia but it wasn't.  Still wine is wine and after 9 months without, I'll take what I can get. And of course, we finished it off with microwave cake.

Look at those grill marks!  My man is talented!

These pictures just don't do the meal justice as I took them as an afterthought.  Still, you get the idea of yumminess.    If anyone has any great steak or side recipes, please share!

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Word up, Yo! I used plethora, the Word of the Week!

Saturday Ramblings

1)  We joined the local food co-op tonight and placed our first order- a fruit and veggie box. Now I can pretend to be all crunchy with my organic swiss chard and other vegetables I have no idea how to cook.  And yes, these days, Friday night fun means going online to join the food co-op.

2) I'm not actually crunchy because I just made a cake in the microwave.  THE MICROWAVE! I love you Deep Covered Baker.

3) At 2:30PM this afternoon I saw a guy running.  I didn't see anyone chasing him so I am guessing it was for exercise. Normally, there is nothing wrong with running but IT WAS ONE HUNDRED AND FREAKING NINE DEGREES today.  What masochist runs in 109 degree heat? I hemmed and hawed about even going through the grocery store for fear I would melt.

4) I somehow ended up watching a bit of the 4th hour of the Today Show.  My God, it is exactly like the SNL skit that mocks it. It's quite the mid morning possibly boozed fueled train wreck...and I LOVED it! I'm so ashamed.

5) Max learned a new skill today.  He discovered the toys on his swing and started moving them back and forth.  He was absolutely fascinated. My kids totally a genius...which he didn't get from me since I can't spell genius without spell check.

And yes, that is a Colbert onesie.