I know it’s old news by now, and I don’t really ever discuss politics here, but I have been slightly obsessed with this whole Gov. Spitzer scandal. It’s just so disappointing. It is not often I am shocked by politicians, believe me, but when I first heard the news my mouth literally dropped. I just never imagined him doing something like this. I feel so awful for his family! And now his honey is getting her 15 minutes of fame. Gross! Well, at least there is a decent succession plan as the lieutenant governor will replace him. Let’s hope he is slightly more ethical. God know there’s enough drama in Albany!
Month: March 2008
I love my desk
I know it sounds so stupid, but I really do love my desk. For years I didn’t really have one, and then when my mother-in-law and he sister moved in together we were offered some furniture, including the desk from my brother-in-law’s old bedroom. I was happy to take it off her hands and it’s in our living room. It’s just a simple wood desk, but now I have a place for all of my photos, cards, paperwork, and so on. Granted, it does need some major organizing, but at least all the stuff is in one place. Then, when we were over their house last weekend, Drew showed me the chair that goes with it. I’m so relieved! We’ve been using one of our old leather office chairs, which doesn’t exactly push in under the desk. So hopefully when we are down for Easter we’ll remember to take it!
Chocolate for breakfast?
Yesterday after Jake got home from school I decided to throw together a batch of brownies. Without much thinking at all I just mixed everything together and threw the pan in the oven.
Goodness! They might be the best brownies I’ve ever made. I think I seriously could use some chocolate addiction treatment because it’s not even 8 AM and they are already calling out to me… Maybe just one teensy little bite?
Pass the Poutine
So last Saturday we finally got passports for the boys. We don’t have anything planned, but there was a local “passport event” and since both parents need to be present for a minor’s passport, it worked out well for us and we decided to just get them and not worry about it for a while. So, since we’ll have them in six weeks or so, we’re contemplating going up to Quebec this summer. Maybe. Lord knows how much gas will cost at that point, and it might not be feasible, but we’re throwing the idea around. I’ve never been to Quebec, and Drew hasn’t been in years (that’s where his grandmother was from). If we do go, I will need to look around for some extra luggage because when we went on vacation in February I discovered that what we have is not enough for the four of us. I’m not sure I’m up for the drive, but… I’ll keep my eye on the prize, as they say. And that prize, of course, would be a big old bowl of poutine, made the correct way!
Delicious Turkey Burgers
Last night I decided to play around with a turkey burger recipe and it turned out so well! I basically wanted to something along the lines of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner… only not so traditional. Here’s what I did:
Turkey Dinner Burgers
1 lb. ground turkey
1 box stuffing mix
1 jar whole cranberry sauce
hot waterIn a large bowl, add just enough hot water to the stuffing mix to moisten it. Add ground turkey and half the can of cranberry sauce. Mix well and form patties. Pan-fry in butter. When cooked, top with remaining cranberry sauce.
We put a little mayo on our burgers before we topped them with cranberry sauce and served them alongside french fries with cheese and topped everything with a little gravy. I also served green bean casserole, which for some reason I had in the freezer. I must have bought a box of it by mistake — I never buy it, LOL!
At any rate, it all was very tasty and carbilicious. I need to scale way, way back on the amount of carbs I’m eating because it’s been a lot lately. If it keeps up I’m going to need diet pills! LOL, okay not really (obviously), but still… Good for a treat, though or if you are looking to do something different with ground turkey.
Spring Cleaning: Dining Room
Well that was easy! Of course, I have a bunch of stuff I still have to put away, but the room itself is nice and clean. Here’s what I did:
* Hung up coats in coat closet, brought misc. junk in the den to sort through this afternoon
* Swept
* Microfiber mopped
* Washed the floor
* Dusted the furniture and cleaned with Orange Glo
* Switched around some decorations
And the proof, of course. (I can’t believe I’m showing these… ugh, so embarassing!) Before:
And after:
I also just put together a few finishing touches to spruce things up a bit. I went “shopping” in other parts of my house and moved things around. This runner was in storage with old linens. The candles were on the sofa table. And the pitcher and bowl (a bridal shower gift from my grandmother) were in our bedroom. I thought the pansies were perfect for spring! Once our forcythia blooms (probably not until late next month), I’ll snip some stems and put them in the pitcher.
I also just switched things around on the sofa table. I found a doily yesterday, and I moved the tealights that were on the dining room table. I also moved the vase (with dried flowers from Valentine’s Day!) from the side to the middle for some height.
And finally I grabbed a few vintage books from the basement to add a little color and lift up the wine bottle light that my sister-in-law’s mom made for me. I think it stands out more this way than just on the table.
And there you have it! The change isn’t dramatic, but it sure feels nicer to me! Now I’m off to grab some lunch so I can start putting away all the random doo-dads that found their way into the dining room and made it such a mess!
Spring Cleaning
I am about to embark on my spring cleaning journey. Am I ready? Uh… no. Not at all. But I’m feeling motivated, so I might as well get started. I think today I’m going to focus on the dining room. It’s not bad at all, just a lot of clutter on the table as usual. And I have to find one of the tiebacks for my curtains. (The boys are always taking them off — grr!). I’m sure it would be easier to just have roller shades, but I like the country look of my curtains. Anyway, I figure if I start with an easy room, it will give me a sense of accomplishment and I will then be ready to tackle some of the other rooms that are in rough shape, LOL… Photos later!
Spring Decorating!
Ah, spring! It’s my favorite season and it’s just days away. I’ve got plans to start my spring cleaning so I haven’t done a lot in the way of decorating, but a little bit here and there. A new blog read, There’s No Place Like Home, is inviting everyone in blogland to share some photos of their Spring and Easter decorations, so I thought I’d join in. I bought a package of three small bird nests with eggs a couple weeks ago at The Christmas Tree Shops for like $1.49. I knew I wanted to use one on a wreath and originally I’d planned to use a grapevine wreath and some silk flowers, but I found a wreath at Michael’s the other day (on sale, of course) that is so much prettier than I could make — plus, the cost ended up being less than if I’d bought supplies to make my own! I just stuck one of the nests at the bottom and hung it on our coat closet.
The only other thing I’ve done is our mantle. I just arranged two silk forcythia stems, the last two nests, and these two little birds that I bought at the gift shop when we were on vacation last month. Nothing terribly fancy, but it reminds me that spring is on the way!
If you’ve never read Kelli’s blog, you’re missing out — she always had the nicest seasonal decorating ideas and great recipes too. You should check out her site!
Week’s Eats: March 10
As expected, I didn’t do so well sticking with last week’s menu plan, but it was a crazy week and sometimes that happens. We weren’t home at all on Saturday, so I am making the pork roast today, though with a different recipe. I have to say that it smells really good! I hope it isn’t disappointing. So on to this week!
Sunday: Shells with ham, peas, and alfredo sauce
Monday: Tangy Slow Cooker Pork Roast, buttered egg noodles, green beans
Tuesday: Turkey burgers, marinated mixed veggie salad
Wednesday: Pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, oven fries
Thursday: Cheesy chicken noodle bake, broccoli
Friday: Pizza, salad
Saturday: Leftovers
Next week will be light on cooking. Sunday Drew and I are going to see Rent, so we’ll get dinner in the city beforehand. Friday and Saturday we’ll be in Massachusetts. My grandmother’s burial is on Saturday. Depending on what time we leave to head back home, we will either grab McD’s on the way or else I’ll order a pizza when we get back home. Then Sunday is Easter (already!!!) and we’ll have Easter dinner at my mother-in-law’s. I think I am bringing dessert, so I’m hoping I’ll have time to make Coconut Lemon Mousse Cake. It’s such a wonderful Easter dessert — I made it a couple years ago and everyone loved it. Though I find it easier to make a boxed cake in two round 8 or 9-inch pans rather than cutting up the pound cake. Though, I suppose this would make an awesome trifle too. You could buy the pound cake and cut it up and layer the filling. Hmm… Maybe I’ll do that instead! Anyway, I have time between now and then to think about it.
For more menu ideas, check out Organizing Junkie, as always!
What Can I Even Say
Lewis Black did a bit about this the last time we had these crazy tax rebates, so I can’t say I’m surprised. It doesn’t make it any less infuriating, though. Talk about a waste of our money. From CNN:
At a cost of nearly $42 million, the IRS wants you to know: Your check is almost in the mail.
The Internal Revenue Service is spending the money on letters to alert taxpayers to expect rebate checks as part of the economic stimulus plan.
The notices are going out this month to an estimated 130 million households who filed returns for the 2006 tax year, at a cost $41.8 million, IRS spokesman John Lipold confirmed.
And then, of course, they’ll have to spend that much again to mail the check out.
Sigh…