C'mon in. Sit. Have some coffee...

In an effort to stay in the kitchen, yet back away from the food this week, I borrowed an idea from Stacey over at Stacey Snacks (with her blessing, of course). And if you haven't been over to her place yet- go! You will always learn much, leave inspired, and never be disappointed.

While we bought our home 10 months ago, there are still a few boxes left to unpack, window treatments to make, and decorating to be done. This will be our home till we're old and gray, so I guess I don't have to be in too big a hurry.

With the exception of the range, we did purchase all new LG appliances. We love them, especially our three door LG refrigerator, except for the "silent" series LG dishwasher. It isn't very silent, and it's on it's second sump replacement (thank God for warranties), and it doesn't dry worth a darn. Our next purchase will be a new range, and we are looking at the Maytag Gemini. Without rearranging the kitchen, it's the closest I will get to a double oven for awhile. While our house has gas heat and water, for some reason the gas line was not run to the kitchen, so we are stuck with electric, unless we want to foot the bill to run the gas line to the kitchen. We are seriously considering it, but the tree in the backyard is just running out of bills...

Definitely, one of the reasons we decided to buy our home was the size of the kitchen, and the open feel it had relating to our family room. I love being able to have people over, relaxing in our family room, and still being able to speak to them from the kitchen, or, having them in the kitchen and not feeling like I have to ask anyone to get out of my way.

There was an awful, little gold light fixture above the table, that my hubby replaced with this one instead...


Our home is about 7 years old, and we knew when we bought it, despite it's newness, that some day, cabinets would need to be replaced. I definitely love the amount we have, but I guess the previous owners used this home solely for income property, and the cabinets were not "loved" as ones own. So, someday... maybe some a bit darker, with a bunch of nice, deep drawers and slide out shelving. In the meantime, I am absolutely in love with having a pantry...


An entire room to store a million things I don't need (I swear, I do not eat 90% of the things in there while I've been on this diet).


And all the cookbooks I have to have


With enough dishes and silverware to feed 40, because I hate paper plates for company.

I love having a counter at my every turn.


With even more to set up a buffet now and then.


I finally have a great kitchen "triangle"


And places to decorate with "all that clutter" as my hubby likes to call it.




The only thing I'm probably a bit weird about is how things are put into my kitchen drawers. I hate digging for things. Especially when baking, I want to open a drawer and find what I need right away. So when you open mine, you see this...


But I swear, my bedroom closets are trashed, and the laundry pile huge, I promise. No pics there though. I ain't that crazy to post pics of my dirty laundry. I did seven loads today- and there is still more.

And at the end of the day, when I want to unwind, have a glass of wine, and share my treats with you, this is where I am perched.


It's my formal dining "slash" living room. But having a couch right next to my table looked odd, so I opted for a nice desk instead.

So this is it... my "crib".

I feel very, very, blessed. ..

Rambutan

Isn't this the funkiest little fruit you've ever seen..? It's known as a Rambutan. Of course this little guy isn't as pretty as a freshly picked one, but with a trek all the way from Indonesia, I guess a little change in color is to be expected.

I was bored last week, and decided that if I couldn't (ok, shouldn't) stuff my face with unhealthy things, I'd go in search of healthier stuff to snack on. One of my favorite places to go when I am bored is AJ's Fine Food's. I love the unique food items, the prepared meals, the gift items, and they also have a fabulous wine cellar.

While walking through, I came across this little critter. I honestly thought it had something to do with seafood, but then felt pretty stupid since I was obviously in the produce department. I was so intrigued by it, that I bought two of them. Only two. At $12.89 a lb. It was either going to be an expensive fruit that I hated, or a cheap, spiny looking pet.

After I cut the Rambutan open, I started to laugh. It was if it was staring at me. The color of the fruit creeped me out, too. It really looked as if an egg had gone bad.

But once I popped the little bugger out of his shell, he looked less like an egg and more like an eyeball. It even felt like what I thought an eyeball would feel like. Maybe I should have saved this for Halloween..?


I braved it though, and took a bite. I have to say, it was pretty tasty. It had the texture of a very smooth kiwi, it's taste similar, but not with the tartness that a kiwi can sometimes have.

I still have no idea what kind of recipe I could possibly make out of these. But the entertainment value was pretty good, and they did keep me from eating the Toll House bar cookies my daughter made. Have I mentioned I can't wait until this diet and fitness challenge is over..? Only 23 lbs more to go...

I "heart" you , Boston

If I don't take a break from thinking about food, I will accidentally climb into my freezer and eat the frozen Reese's Peanut Butter Cups some one put in there around Halloween. I've lost 9 lbs in the last 3 weeks... I can't screw it up. Thanks for understanding. So in the meantime, I thought a trip down memory lane might be fun.

While leaving exercise class this morning, me and a couple of the other moms were talking about music and old lead singer crushes. It was funny how we all went crazy for some of the same guys. But I will never forget this one- Brad Delp, the lead singer of Boston, one of the greatest groups of all time.

I remember, when I was a teenager, taking my Boston album to school so that I'd be able to play it in art class- on a RECORD PLAYER!!. Even the teacher (who was fairly young herself) was singing away with us. This was me, long, long, ago in a teen galaxy far, far, away...


And this is the song that, to this day, I will sing along with in the car and not care who is staring at me.



You turned it up, didn't you..? You're singing along, aren't you..? Don't worry, I can't hear you... Bust out!

Our Christmas...

Quiet coloring moment


My table
Only 1/4 of the food out so far
Sanity saving punch
My favorite homemade rolls
My cutie
Yummy Kolachki's
Wine & Kolachki's baking
Gigaball fun
Roll Ted, roll!

He can see us in the dark
I made cinnamon rolls for the neighbors
Pickle prize- the family tradition
Go for the Pickle!
Anthony "brudder"
Ted-man

Ummmmm...ok...

I have this little tradition. Every year I try and find something bizarre and weird to put into my husbands stocking. I think this will be hard to top. This was last years gift, and as you can see, still unopened. I just found it while I was cleaning out the pantry, and it made me laugh hysterically! To learn why it is called this, go here, or here. My laughter comes from wondering just how you tell people what you just ate. "Yep, just had me the best spotted dick... the sauce was a bit hard, but I loved how spongy the dick was." Ya know, I am laughing so flipping hard right now people, I just can't type...

People out there like me..?!

Wow, how cool is this?! Yesterday and today I have been tagged! The first was yesterday, by Jenn, over at I hate Whine, with the "Ohana Friend Award." Today was the "You've Been Tagged" by Cha Cha over at Noodleroux. I've really had so much fun figuring out stuff in this online world, and have met THE neatest people! Both of the gals that have sent me these have great blogs, and a terrific sense of humor...not a day goes by that I don't stop over to their places. Thank goodness though that neither of them have talked to my kids, who would all swear I'm not interesting enough to answer these questions... but you know, Mommy is more than just Mommy. Here goes:

1. I dated Perry Damone in 1987. His father is actor Vic Damone, and stepmother Diahann Carroll of Dynasty and Greys Anatomy fame.

2. Also in 1987 I did the voice of Bart Simpson in local radio commercials.

3. I had a ~*blush*~breast reduction 2 years ago. I kept falling forward and everytime I ate, the "girls" fell in my food, so yes, I gave up what many women have paid gajillions to have. It was a good thing...

4. I was part of an amazing group of women who came forward, to testify against a Doctor, who in the end, received a 37 year prison term for his abuse.

5. I did one, count 'em, ONE, 5k race in my life... and have no desire to do one again.

6. My great, great, great, great cousin was William Howard Taft the 27th President of the United States.

7. I worked in dentistry for 20 years.

Wow... that was some serious thinking, and a bunch of memories! Now, here are 7 people I just think are awesome! Head on over their way. Some are just getting started... others are daily fav's of mine- better than the daily newspaper!

Family, Friends and Food

The Nielsen Family

Pearls and Chocolate

Gisele Jaquenod & Birdie

A Yankee in a Southern Kitchen

A Dozen Flours

No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner

Ok,I got it done! Your turn everyone... share the love!