Friday, August 22, 2014

A night out and my voice

Last night I attended an informal get together at a friend's house, and it was great to have a night out, and just talk with friends (new and old).  I loved how it was a small enough group, that we could each grab a glass of wine, punch or water, and just talk around the coffee table. 

What I found interesting, was that there were a few bloggers around the table, and they talked about their own blog, and the category it fell under, which most was "lifestyle."  While I know I have a blog, last night I discovered within myself that it is not just a "recipe" blog, and while I don't have to aspire to be the SMITTEN KITCHEN blog, (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE), my blog is still my own creative work, and something to be proud of and not to say "it is just a simple blog."  It is my own work.  My blog is more than recipes, or updates about my kids.  Sometimes I go off on a topic that is important to me (women in the workforce treated and paid as equals) or how I get everything done (super organized).

But, my blog is written by me, and I have a voice!  And it is an important voice.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Mr. Mark and the Ice Bucket Challenge

Mark accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge from his good friend, Mitchell.  He then nominated friends from Newton, MA, Marblehead, MA and Australia!

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

HE IS HOME


 
Summer is over!!!  Seven weeks have passed, and I have my son home!  Cue up the eye doctor and the braces!

Monday, August 11, 2014

ALS ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE

Our Ice Bucket Challenge for those of you NOT on Facebook!


Lake Day

Friends invited us to their lake house, and we accepted.  Of course, I made them a few things to bring:

  • One fresh challah
  • Salted Chocolate Brownies
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
  • Zucchini Muffins and Bread
  • Brown Butter Salted Rice Krispie Treats

Back to the lake . . . Naomi had never been in a lake before!  We have spent time in pools and at the beach, so this was a new experience.  Of course, I had forgotten that our hosts had a brand new dog!  So, Naomi not only played with the dog, but spent most of the afternoon in the lake, and it was hard to get her out (five more minutes PLEASE?).

Naomi swam, kayaked but her favorite thing was a noodle in the shape of a horse.  She had never seen one, and loved it.  She created a whole world in the lake, in which she just played and hummed.  She liked when a boat went by and created a wake.

And of course the best sign of a great day is when your child falls asleep on the drive home!  See the last photo!




Friday, August 8, 2014

Muffins and Breads

It is harvest season in Boston!  If you have a garden, you should be enjoying tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini.  And, if you don't have a garden (like me), either you are loving the farmers markets, or can't wait for friends to bring you the over flow!

The other day a friend brought me two good sized zucchini and a zucchini that could be used for a bat at Fenway park.  I grilled up the smaller two, and knew what I was going to do with the baseball bat!  Zucchini bread!  And it made a double batch - FIVE small breads and 36 glorious muffins!

Zucchini Bread
This recipe was given to me by my mom. When I was little we grew zucchini's in the garden, and they looked like baseball bats. Here is one way to use alot of zucchini (especially if you make two or three batches).

It is dairy free!

3 cups zucchini (NOT peeled, ends cut off)
1 1/2 cups canola oil
3 cups sugar
3 large eggs
4 t vanilla
4 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1 /2 t. baking powder
4 1/2 t cinnamon
3/4 c nuts (chopped walnuts or chopped pecans) (Optional)

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl. Don't over mix. Pour into well greased loaf pans.  Bake at 350 for 70 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick.  (If making muffins, bake for 18-22 minutes, and check for doneness with a toothpick.)
 

 

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Parenting a 12 year old

So, my eldest child is at overnight camp, and will be coming home on Wednesday!  I can't wait to see him and hear about camp (after I ask all the questions, which he will answer quickly).  In yesterday's mail, he received a Bar Mitzvah invitation . . . . and it took all of my might NOT to rip it open and look at the invitation and put the date on the calendar.  Instead, I texted the mom to let her know that my son got the invitation, and since I was waiting for him to open it, would she let me know the date so that I can put it on the calendar. 

The next BIG thing I have to do is schedule meetings with invitations people. . . . . I get excited over food (the caterer) and the music (the DJ).  Somehow I need to get myself excited over the invitation.

But today, my husband and I are meeting with the caterer and we are going to start making the big decisions - sit down or buffet.  And what the adults will eat.  We will wait for our son to come home from camp to give us his opinion about the under 14's menu.

Stay tuned!