Finally Finding My Brain!

We have been out of school for about three weeks, the first of which I spent painting the living room and negating my various degrees by watching trash t.v., the second of which I worked (comes with my job!) two days and played mom the others, and the third I spent in Charleston and Savannah.  If you heard a loud groan it was me having an orgasm over the pizza we had at Monza in Charleston!  After being assured the homemade sausage fit my definition of sausage (sorry, but it seems that these days anything can be made into sausage and it has really turned into a process vs. a product and that CREEPS me out) we ordered the tomato basil pizza and the sausage/onion pizza.  It was so good we got a third to go!  I am just in a love affair with brick oven style pizza and the world will just have to accept it.

Spent a lot of time learning some history- Charleston was an boat ride to Morris Island that included history and dolphins and the beach- best $ spent after the pizza!  Also spent time on the USS Yorktown (in 100+ degree heat, but  how could I complain when I am touring it for fun and those who lived on it were definitely not there for fun?) and checked out Magnolia Cemetery (interesting stories, esp. about the Hunley).  In Savannah we visited a Civil Rights Museum, which gave history from a different perspective than many of us were taught, and visited Ft. Pulaski.  Again, hot days, but how could I complain?

I also am no longer a Skype virgin!  I have never used it but this trip did it twice with my kids and I loved it, and I think they did too (they were giggly, it was sort of funny!).  I also completed the "50 Shades" trilogy, not for the sex but for the simple fact libraries were banning it...that is enough to make me buy most any book! 

Also continuing my new love affair with Pinterest...tonight making steak kabobs and we have four of the six plus a bf, and trying some Rosemary Bread but I adapted to the bread machine dough cycle.  Adapt is a loose definition, I dumped everything in, hit start, and am hoping...hold please for the outcome!  Dessert will be an angel food cake/blueberry pie filling concoction, we will see if that is all you need and poof you have a lowfat dessert that tastes good!  I am also counting calories with my Lose It ap again...spent a little too much time with my friends microbrew and wine over the past month!  Instead I will OD on Splenda sweetened iced tea and stay up later...wasting time...on Pinterest, Words With Friends, Scramble With Friends...but it is summer so :)!

Dinner in 20...

My recent fascination with brick oven pizza had me cooking tonight...had the pleasure of getting some things at Trader Joes this weekend, including a flat bread pizza crust ($2.99 each); made one with cheese and sauce for the kids, then the grown ups had sliced tomatoes, basil, and sliced mozzarella (I love all things caprese!)...and I grilled them, which made all the difference in the world in taste!  Also did Smart Balance and some Italian seasoning on some bread from TJ's, then salad- my go to salad- lettuce, goat cheese, toasted (in the toaster oven) pecans, and today strawberries; sometimes use Granny Smith apples instead, or even Clementines or mandarin oranges.  Also threw in some Craisins; Costco usually has a cranberry crusted goat cheese which is heavenly in this salad, but last time I went they were out...hope it was a temporary thing!  For dressing I just used the Kraft Light Raspberry Vinaigrette, but Balsamic Vinaigrette also works well.  I don't generally love salads, but would eat this one every day!  Start to finish dinner in 20!

The Calm Before the Storm...

I'm really lucky to have the opportunity to go on regular dates with my significant other even though we live together, and to say this has been a blissful weekend is an understatement; much of what I write here will be geared toward the blended family and fun (and usually off the beaten path and away from the large crowds) things to do with your love when you have the time...hopefully it will spark an idea for you (and maybe you will share one with me!).  It started Friday with the amazing brick oven pizza from  Pizzeria Moto at Doukenie Winery's "Bistro Night" (my new favorite default place to spend a Friday night...paired with their Sauvignon Blanc!)...  Saturday brought Olney Ale House for dinner and "The 39 Steps" at the The Olney Theatre- good show, clever how four people did it all!  Ending the weekend with checking out the new STARZ series "Magic City" (not bad- saw female and male butts within the first minute lol) and a great dinner; I promise we did do some housework in between, but took most of today to clear our minds (ok, I should have been clearing the boys' closet but last time I checked that mess will sti ll be there tomorrow.  The calm before the storm...tomorrow starts another full week, not to mention continued much welcomed rain (hoping it will lift the campfire ban by Friday so we can do our camping trip for the night!)...but until then will enjoy each other and some Orange Ricotta Pound Cake!