Friday's Random Thoughts

I havnt done a random thoughts post in a looooong time!  I am well overdue! I hope you had a great week and have something wonderful planned for the weekend!

-Please pop over to Royal Ribbons to see all the new designs!  I am posting new ideas every day!

- I have noticed a number of very quiet people in my life seem to expect people to remember them.  And put them on the spot!  If you want to be remembered 10 years later, do or say something memorable!

- I see people parked in handicapped or mommy spots just hanging out all the time when I go shopping.  I suspect they are hanging out with the child or smoking while the passenger has gone shopping.  Does this happen everywhere or is it just in my town?  I find it really annoying when I have lugged my 3 year old half a kilometer through a busy parking lot to see the mommy spot is being held by someone who is babysitting as opposed to using the spot to make being a mommy easier.  If you dont need to actually get children from the car to the store you can park anywhere!

- At dinner the other night with another couple I asked if anyone remembers the Peter Cottontail special from the 70s with the evil bunny Irontail.  Anyone?  Everyone just stared at me like they didnt understand the words coming out of my mouth.  Well, I googled it and I didnt just imagine it!  Here Comes Peter Cottontail is a lesser known Rankin-Bass production.  Hmpfh!

- I got my hair cut in another town closer to the city the other night.  I had forgotten what it's like in these big, busy, professional salons!  Being out here in this small town for 5 years has taken it's toll on my hair and it was so nice to go to a real salon!  While I was waiting for my stylist I was offered water and tea and coffee and asked by everyone who passed by if I needed anything.  Then the stylist actually listened to what I wanted and gave me a dry cut.  I havnt had my hair blown dry by a stylist in years because I just get so frustrated with it.  This new stylist did the whole thing, and then I started crying.  I was so happy with it and I had forgotten what it was like to leave a salon feeling good...the tears just started and took a moment to stop.

- Have we been watching RHNJ?  Is Teresa's brother in a constant state of drunkenness?  He is such a whiny crybaby!  Maybe someday he will have the scotch glass surgically removed from his hand - I havnt seen him once without a drink!

- This week I had a town council committee meeting and couldnt find a babysitter with such short notice, sooooo the Little Prince came with me and had his first experience with municipal politics!  Thank goodness for those little containers of Pringles, they make a great bribe for good, quiet behaviour!  I am happy to report he sat in my lap most of the time, ate his snacks, whispered his demands to me and then hung out at the window watching the overhead train going by.  Success!


Have a fabulous day!

Christmas Pretzel Treats!

I will be making these today! Strange...I've never made them before! A cetain guy I know who loves sweet treats will be getting a bag/box/tray of them tomorrow.  I better make extras for the Suburban Prince to snack on in the car! 

I hope you are having a wonderful week leading up to Christmas!  I spent the weekend at home with the Little Prince relaxing and watching his favourite show...Housewives!  I am serious when I say he asks me to put it on all the time!  The Suburban Prince is thoroughly impressed...not!

Yesterday I took the Chilean exchange student to the city and the Eaton Center to look around and see the city done up - is it just me or does it seem a bit blah this year?  I wasn't blown away by the decorations in the city.  We did go to see Santa and the Little Prince was a superstar who diegned to sit on Santa's knee to get his photo taken.  Have I mentioned I have the most beautiful child in the world?  He takes a gorgeous photo! 

Today I am ringing the bell for the SallyAnn...in front of the liquor store!  I am sure to see lots of people I know passing by!  Then I have a book club meeting after dinner...the book is All My Friends Are Superheroes and I read it in just about one sitting..I couldn't put it down!  It's a short, very sweet book full of laughs, insights and colourful characters.  I highly recommend it!


Tomorrow we are heading to High Heeled Life's house for the day and will be leaving first thing in the morning and back home late at night and we are all looking forward to seeing them and their furbabies!  The Suburban Prince is excited to see the deer stand and the Little Prince can't wait to see his new auntie and uncle who fuss over him almost as much as I do!

I will wish you a Happy Wednesday now as I wont be able to blog tomorrow!

In the meantime here are the instructions for the yummy treats I will be making....
Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug
M&M's candy

Heat the oven to 170F. Set a number of bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels (one for each treat) in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug.

Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of each Kiss.

Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes. Place handfuls of the candies in clear plastic bags and tie on colorful ribbons.


Have a fabulous day!!

Yummy Chicken Salad

Dont miss my Back to School Giveaway!

I decided to try Bethenny's Chicken Salad recipe and I am so glad I did!  It reminds me of my favourite Moroccan dish, Bastilla and was very simple to put together.  It tasted great the next day too!

Here is Bethenny's recipe - I never bother measuring as I feel we should cook by taste and feel so dont be a slave to this, make substitutions as you wish but you must, must use the cinnamon...more than a pinch though!  It really takes chicken salad to a whole new level!  It took me about 20 minutes from the time I got home 'til the Suburban Prince had dinner in front of him...I served this on a salad for dinner and as a sandwich for lunch the next day.  I think this recipe would serve 1, maybe 2 if you have small portions but I made a big batch and froze the leftovers for another day!

•1 cup shredded cooked chicken (I have no idea how to shred a chicken so I just chopped it up)
•1 tbsp. slivered almonds
•1 1/2 tbsp. dried cranberries
•1 1/2 tbsp. nondairy mayonnaise (I used normal mayo)
•pinch of cinnamon
•1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard (I used an old style grainy mustard)
•1/2 tsp. salt
•1/2 tsp. black pepper
 
 
Have a fabulous day!

Bethenny? Really?

A couple of weeks ago Hermes Scarf Friend was over for lunch and I was telling her about a phone call from my mom during which I told my mom to take responsibility for a situation and correct it rather than blame someone else who has no idea what the expectations were.  HSF laughed and said I may be the only person she knows who will 'check' their own mother.

Suburban moms dont usually toss around words like 'check' so it made me chuckle on the inside while remembering Sheree's rather loud argument with her former event planner.  I was wondering how she even knew the word then HSF then asked me if I had seen that Real Housewives episode.....we obviously don't spend a lot of time talking about tv shows but after shouting 'Who gon' check me boo?' a couple of times the discussion moved on to the other Housewives.  HSF doesn't watch the shows and only knew the one line because Ellen played it over and over.  In fact, I dont have one single IRL friend who watches any of the Housewives.  Le sigh.

We got on to the topic of Bethenny Frankel - HSF said something about her body after giving birth earlier this year and how she thinks Bethenny is sending women the wrong message.  I said I find Bethenny very inspirational which stopped HSF in her tracks.  Bethenny?  Really?  Here is why Bethenny is my new girl crush/idol/inspiration/un-met mentor...

She attended the Natural Gourmet Culinary Institute in New York to become a chef. After she graduated, she formed BethennyBakes, a company that provided wheat-, egg-, and dairy-free baked goods, meals for private clients, and a custom-meal delivery service. The company ceased production upon the launch of Frankel's Skinnygirl brand in 2009.  (SP - She was creating allergy-free baked goods when this sort of thing was unheard of!  She herself says she built her company out of rubble!)

Bethenny was one of 16 candidates in The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. She made it to the series finale before losing to Dawna Stone.  (SP - How amazing is that?!  To even make it onto the show is a huge accomplishment!)

Bethenny is currently one of the seven women featured on Bravo's series The Real Housewives of New York City.  On June 10, 2010, Bravo TV aired a series spinoff, Bethenny Getting Married?. The show follows Frankel through the planning of her wedding and life with Jason Hoppy.  (SP - Imagine being so interesting!  If cameras followed me most days there would be a lot of footage of the dishwasher being loaded, laundry being folded....)

In March 2009, Frankel's first book, Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting, was published by Fireside.  (SP - My own book is in the works so I know what goes into it - to be picked up or approached by a publisher is huge!)

In December 2009, Her second book, The SkinnyGirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life was published, also by Fireside. (SP - Her first book was such a huge success the market warranted a second one!)

She released an exercise DVD, Body by Bethenny, in spring 2010.  (SP - I dont have the time, energy or motovation to put an exercise dvd on let alone make one!)

The Skinnygirl Rules, an audiobook read by Frankel, was described as a summary of the first two books.

She is currently working on two more books, A Place of Yes, and Naturally Fit Pregnancy, as well as a skincare line.  (SP - remember when she told KKB she comes from a place of yes?  At that moment my entire view of Bethenny changed!)

On June 10, 2010, her new series, Bethenny Getting Married?, had the highest ratings of any series debut in Bravo history with over 2 million viewers.  (SP - I havn't even watched my own wedding video!)

Bethenny posed nude for PETA in September 2009. The photo was featured on a billboard in Times Square as part of animal rights group PETA's anti-fur campaign.  (SP - No one wants to see me pose nude, not even for a cause!)

Just 3 weeks after giving birth Frankel posed in a size-4 swimsuit for Us Magazine.  (SP - I would love to be a size 4!!!)

Once again, thank you to Wiki for making me look like I know a lot more than I really do.

If I had this cheeky little bod I would wear a bikini too.  Everywhere.

In the middle of all of of this Bethenny has come out with her own drink and a new brand! 

I have invested some time into getting my own drink off the ground and let me tell you, it isn't easy!

I am picturing something like this in pink and green with my logo on the side!

Bethenny graced the cover of People last week - the first Housewife to do so. 

If you have seen her new show you will know just how hard Bethenny works.  She did not come from money or fame...she simply worked hard her whole life to get to this place.  In a time when so many people think everything should be handed to them Bethenny has earned every dollar she has made with her drive, ambition and hard work.

She is a great example of what we can accomplish when we set our minds to it!

Have a fabulous day!

Real Housewives of New Jersey - Bye Dina

I'm actually quite sad that Dina has decided to leave the show...sadder than I really should be!  She has always been my favourite RHNJ especially after season one's final episode and Caroline's mafiosa speech.  I would like to think Bravo could give her a spinoff show but let's face it...she doesn't have that much going on right now.  I wonder if Danielle's insanity will seem stronger now without Dina's mellow demeanor.

Take care Grandma Wrinkles!

Have a fabulous day!

Swing your razor high Sweeney! (Or, have a great weekend!)

Happy Friday!!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!   Please don't miss out on my March LillyP Giveaway!

I still have a couple of pairs of Olympic mittens - if you would like to buy a pair (or two) please email me!

Thank you to everyone who helped me with the blogger editor!!!  I got it switched over and yes this is much easier but at the same time much different.  There is no spell check!  Or do I need to tell it to add spell check?

To answer a question from yesterday...We went to Morocco for the first 3 weeks of our honeymoon.  We spent a few days relaxing poolside in Agadir and then flew to Casablanca where we started the real tour of Morocco.  Casablanca is really not as glamourous as one would think.  There was nothing fabulous about the place as it is more of a business centre as opposed to a touristy kind of place.  There are so many other places I would recommend visiting in Morocco but we needed to get to Casablanca to meet a group of people - we only stayed one night and one morning there.

Tonight the Suburban Prince and I are going to see Sweeney Todd - I can't wait!  I have hardly seen him all week so it will be nice to spend an evening together watching the show!

The weather here is supposed to be beautiful (10degrees!!) so we are going to take the Little Prince to the zoo on Sunday morning.  I am looking forward to being outside in the sunshine!  I can't believe how much I have missed just being able to walk around outside!

I spoke with my golf teacher this week as he is back in Canada after a winter down south!  I told him I want to run charity golf tournaments so he is going to help me get in with all of the bigwigs at the golf and country clubs!  He said he himself runs a few tournaments through the season so I will be helping him and learning the ropes!  Hopefully I will figure out my purpose in life soon!

Did you see RHNYC last night?  I hear it was very dramatic!  I didn't see it as it doesn't air here for a while - months even - so I will have to try to find it online!  Unfortunately sites like Bravo dont allow anyone from other countries to watch their videos so I will have to be creative about finding it!

What are your plans for the weekend?


Have a fabulous day!