Being a full time working mama, I'm always looking for things that make my life easier (and really who isn't!)
I adore grocery delivery services (thank you Amazon Fresh!)
I'm all about running errands on my lunch break (when I can).
And I really need to be better about using my crock pot. I love the idea of coming home from a busy work day and smelling something warm and delicious wafting through the house, like my personal cook was busy there all day long. But I haven't tried too many crock pot recipes aside from the standard pot roast.
But this past weekend was different. In the mail I received my supplemental EveryDay Food magazine (I'm still so sad that magazine no longer exists!), but I was thrilled when they published a small version of it this month. I immediately flipped through it folding down pages like crazy. Then I stumbled onto this gem: Italian braised pork. Cooked in the slow cooker. Yes please!
I made it first thing Sunday morning while the wee one entertained herself as my sous chef with some plastic measuring cups, a wooden spoon and basically anything I could hand her that gave me 10 minutes to chop, saute and dump into the crock pot. I made this over quinoa and it was a hit with my family! We had the left overs last night and it tasted even better the next day.
I would have posted pictures but I was working on borrowed time to get it prepped. And it was so tasty it was gobbled up too fast for a photo once it was done.
This recipe is a keeper! I highly recommend it! Once again, thank you Everyday Food & Martha Stewart for another fabulous recipe!
I am many things. A woman. A wife. A mother. A writer. A TV producer. A sister. A daughter. But I've also recently discovered that I'm an imom. What is an imom you ask? It's not a mom who's super handy/techy with all things Apple related. It's a mom whose child has a serious eye condition. I didn't know these imom were out there as I stood holding there wee one when she was just 3 months old & we were in a pediatric ophthalmologist office. Or when, just a few short days later I was again holding her, crying (me, not her) at Seattle Children's Hospital as they explained (again) what it meant to be born with a pediatric cataract and what was in store for us. But I'm grateful I've discovered these other imoms. They are support. They are encouragement. And they are going through - or have already been - where I am and where I'm going. And they are here to tell their tale. It's not an easy journey. I've shed many, many tears over this battle. And I feel like it's only just begun. I've learned there's no shame in asking for help. I've learned there's no shame in crying hysterically at the doctors office. I've learned there's no shame in coming home from these doctors offices and making a very strong gin & tonic. And then making another one. I recently shared our story on an eye blog that I follow (they fit right in with my knitting and cooking blogs). The site is called Little Four Eyes. I shared the wee one's story here. Please take a moment to read about it. Then take a moment to schedule an eye appointment for your wee one. Or yourself.
Every once in a while I tend to get a wee little obsessed with something. From running, to a particular lunch place, a TV show, it happens from time to time. Lately, it's The Pioneer Woman (but just in case Ree Drummond is actually reading this, she doesn't need to worry. I'm no stalker. Plus it really does look like she lives in the middle of no where, thus making stalking a wee bit difficult.) I've heard of her blog before. And seen her cookbooks around, but never paid much attention to it. Then recently the Food Network changed their Saturday morning line up giving the PW (as she's abbreviated on her blog) an early morning time slot. I know this because Saturday is the hubby's sleep in day, thus my morning to get up with the wee one. However sometimes, the wee one doesn't want to waste one minute of the weekend sleeping so we're up bright and early and ready to play. So play she does while mama lays on the floor with the Food Network on. Now, say what you will about having the TV on and kids in the room. That it's bad for them...blah..blah.. blah... did you not read the part that it's 6 a.m. on a Saturday?! OK, judgement aside, the wee one and I enjoy the FN early in the morning. And now we really enjoy the PW. Some people have raised an eyebrow when I mention something from her show, or give me a funny look. I defend her and say she's a genius and seems really down to earth, like she and I could be friends (and this where the stalker part may come into play.) She's on TV, but she talks like I talk. She makes jokes, movie references and some of them work...and some of them don't. But she just laughs it off. But her recent post about the season 3 finale of Dowtown Abbey really cemented why I love her so. While she and I are both (spoiler alert) broken hearted about dear old Matthew, she made one comment that just made me laugh. I had to share it: Okay, let’s grieve together. Share, vent, mourn in the comments. Please tell me it’s just a dream or that Stefano DiMera has just abducted Matthew and is keeping him on a remote island in a cage. GENIUS!!! A Days of Our Lives reference from way back in the day! I remember that episode! Anyone remember who Stefano DiMera kidnapped and put in a cage on a remote island?* And why was he never arrested for that or any of the other shit he pulled? Considering half of the Brady's were/are cops, what's up with that? OK, I'm digressing. Anyhoo...back to my point. To sum it up: 1. I love the Pioneer Woman. You should totally check her out. 2. I can't take the heartbreak on Dowton Abbey anymore. I'm now convinced that in season 4 Alfred will start cooking and accidentally blow up the manor and kill them all. And that will be it. 3. Why did the Brady's never send Stefano up to the big house? Oh, and if on the way, way off chance that the PW herself is reading this, um, hi. And really, I'm cool. Not stalker like at all. *It was Hope. Not to be confused with the many, many times Stefano kidnapped Marlena.
In honor of Valentine's Day this week, I thought I'd share a little something for our hearts: education. Heart disease is one of the top killers for women. And the symptoms of a heart attack are different for women then they are for men. But sadly, not a lot of women know that. And worse, these issues aren't discussed in their doctors offices. As one who is known to be a bit of um, shall we say, a "squeaky wheel" I think it's important to talk about these things. So in honor of all the heart celebrations this week - both the chocolate, candy and other kind, here's a little video from the lovely and talented Elizabeth Banks. I'm sure we've all had mornings like this (minus the heart attack hopefully).
Hello, is anyone still out there? I hope so, but I wouldn't doubt you if you weren't. To say that's it's been a while is an understatement. It's been more than a year since my last post. But to say that I've missed blogging is also an understatement. But I needed the break. I needed the break to be a new mom. To be a working mom. To get the hang of things. And I'm here to report back that I so don't have the hang of the whole "working mom" thing but basically I miss blogging so here we are. So what have I been up too? Let's see. Lots of diapers. Sleepless nights. Lots of baby giggles, snuggles, hugs and very drool-y kisses. Lots of work stress, meetings, errands, etc. Way more take out & ordering in than even when I was in college. Not a lot of knitting, but I'm also hoping that changes. I've missed everyone. And I'm glad to be back. Stay tuned. There's more to come.
