Major Milestones

our blog has fallen by the wayside. for that matter so has order/cleanliness in our home, already-iffy gym routines, and life's general upkeep, like scheduling a hair cut!



did you count those candles? i've been caught in the 100th day of school whirlwind. the kids have been working on their museum collections, gearing up as tour guides, and 100s day math work. for 5-6 year olds 100 is a big deal--recognizing all the double digist #s, counting, adding, intro to grouping and multiplication. big deal stuff, so you make it a big celebration.

the kids were totally excited and like a parent on christmas, it was rewarding to see them tickled. however, their joy wasn't the best part of the 100th day of kindergarten. i got home and flopped on the couch. truthfully i was not the best company--exhausted and cranky. and just then, jason handed me a folded piece of paper. i opened it and started crying as i read aloud the most thoughtful thing jason has done for me since our dating days, "100 Reasons Jason Loves Erica".

Is that romantic or what?

Jason and I have a Valentine's tradition of dining at Wondee Siam, our favorite hole in the wall Thai restaurant. A low key celebration is both of our preference, nothing over the top or contrived. And we find our tradition romantic. This year in discussing our plans, Jason teased that he was going to get me a heart shaped box of chocolates, a dozen roses, and teddy bear holding a balloon. Ultimately we decided no gifts this time.

Thursday rolls around, I hide a few love notes around the apartment before I leave for work and shape a rice krispie treat into a heart. That evening Jason picks up Thai take- out (I had a terrible cold) and we settle into the couch to watch Once.

A wonderful, relaxing evening...and then Jason pauses the movie and instructs me to close my eyes for a surprise. A surprise gift?! For me, when we said no gifts?! I put out my hands and felt cool pastic, opening my eyes to behold a new bottle of...fish oil. That's right I got fish oil supplements for Valentines Day. And then one more caring guesture...Jason says to me, with a voice oozing love, "They even reduce fishy burps." It did say so right on the box and I did suffer from fishy burps with previous supplements.


A perfect Valentines Day.

Spicy Corn Chowder

As promised...

1/4 c. butter (thanks ashley for catching the omssion)
2 tbs. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 (14.75 oz.) can cream-style corn
1 (15.25 oz.) can whole kernel corn
1 c. milk
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
1/2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 pinch ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried parslet

Melt butter slowly. Add onions and saute 3 minutes. Add flour, salt, pepper, cayenne, and parsley, and mix thoroughly. Add milk and cook until thick, raising heat if needed and stirring. Add cans of corn, peppers, and cheese. Let simmer on low for ~1 hour.

I'm feeling like a hypocrite from yesterdays post about obesity...but oh well, this stuff is delicious.

I usually double the recipe and use a whole onion and whole peppers. Sometimes I leave the cheese out. Like any recipe it can be modified to fit what's in the cupboards.

Ok Ashley, now how about you share the Cafe Rio pulled pork recipe you tried??

Would this bill ever pass?

Recently while reading the "Only In America" section of The Week I came across the following...
"The Mississippi legislature is considering a bill that would ban restaurants from serving food to very fat people/ The proposed law would revoke the license of any restaurant caught repeatedly feeding the obese. Mississippi has a 30 percent obesity rate, the nation's highest, and the bill's sponser state Rep. Ted Mayhall, said he was trying to call attention to a neglected public-health crisis. "No one's doing anything about it" said Mayhall. "They just keep going to buffets and eating all they want."

I'm not the healthiest person out there by any means but when I see adults feeding pudgy 3 years olds Cheetos, friend chicken, and soda on the bus, I find myself wondering if they know any better? And if those eating habits are passed from generation to generation, where will it end? So without going on too much of a rant, I agree with the obesity crisis part and respect this man for trying to call attention to the issue. But, is this the plan for real... How will it be enforced? Before eating will costumers have to get on a scale? Does this only apply to fast food and buffetss, or will restaurants serving "healthy" options be included?

fair according to erica

in response to a "that's not fair", i told one of my kiddos that i have an advanced degree in fair. if i did, i'd suggest some changes...

1. everyone gets a personal assistant. mine would handle all phone correspondence and do some of life's brunt work (dishes, post office trips, store returns, etc).
2. dirty hair would look clean--none of that tell-tale grease.
3. personality conflicts with medical professionals wouldn't exist.
4. 3 day weekends twice a month.
5. the writers would end their strike so we could all start enjoying the office again.
6. even in the chilly winter there would still be at least 11 hours of sunny, warming daylight (like today's).
7. thinking about exercise would burn actual calories.

now accepting suggestions...

Am I seeing what I think I see?

Every now and then you see a photo that just leaves you speechless.