Home again, home again, jigged jig...

The family and I have returned from our week long vacation on Cape Cod.  I have been spending summer vacations on Cape Cod for as long as I can remember - it is so beautiful, peaceful, relaxing and holds many precious memories for me... I love that I am creating memories there now with my own children. 

I hope to post some photos soon but here are a few places, activities and notable finds from the vacation:

1. Great Breakfast place: Grumpy's Restaurant in East Dennis. 

The service was good - fast and friendly!  They can seat large groups easily - which is always nice.  The food was delicious - I had lobster florentine eggs benedict and it was out of this world!  My grandfather enjoyed Irish benedict with hash - the hash is made fresh!  Butterball enjoyed Banana topped pancakes - after eating all of the banana slices he proceeded to eat the pancake as if he was participating in a pancake eating contest... hands tied behind the back style. 

2. The Chatham Fish Pier and Fish Market - the freshest fish ever! We purchased some swordfish steaks for dinner one night - the fish had been caught and filleted just hours earlier that afternoon.  It was unmatched to any other fish I have ever eaten!  Later in the week we went back to the Pier for Lobster Rolls... all I can say is OUTSTANDING!!!!!

The Chatham Fish Pier and Market

A Lobster Roll fro the Chatham Fish Pier

(that is not me in the photo or my actual lobster roll - but I want to eat it anyway)

3. We were able to catch a Brewster Whitecaps game on Tuesday - the Cape Cod baseball league is a long time tradition on the Cape.  My grandparents live in Brewster so naturally we are fans of the Whitecaps!
The games are fun - the kids love it (Princess and Butterball may have enjoyed the playground a little more than the actual goings-on on the field), but it was ADG who really loved the game and likes to keep up the tradition of attending a game every summer.

Butterball representing the Brewster Whitecaps in 2009 - such a cutie!

4. Princess loves to walk up the Brewster General Store for Candy - it once was called penny candy, but it certainly is not a penny any longer!  I think I paid something like $0.10 for a tootsie roll midgee!  And I am telling you right now if Princess asks for a Pixie sticks again I am going to scream!  That is the dumbest candy - a paper straw of sugar - I do not think so.  Next to the General Store is Scoops ice cream - we frequent that establishment on a regular basis - their Almond Joy ice cream is my favorite (Princess goes for Monster Mash).

This place has more sentimental value and value of your dollar! But it is just too cute to stay out of!

SCOOPS!

5. One night we ordered in from El Guapo's Taqueria - located on Underpass Road right off the bike path.  It is delicious!  I had the fish taco seen below - yummo!

7. And last but certainly not least - I was introduced to a new Chardonnay.... Chateau St. Jean from Sonoma Valley.  Buttery, smooth and delicious... I wish I had a bottle glass in my hand right now!  I highly recommend it not just for the taste, but for its medicinal qualities as well... it takes the edge off things and plays a happy tune in my head that drowns out the constant "Mommy, Mama, Maaaa, Mommy, Honey, etc."  Yes try some - you will like it.

That was our vacation - at the end of the summer I will post some photos of all the trips and adventures we had throughout the summer months.  I am happy to be home and back to work (I know that may sound strange - but it is true). 

Meatloaf, Mac n Cheese and Tears

That is what my family had for dinner last night - Meatloaf, Kraft Mac n Cheese (4 cheese/shells), frozen Veggie and a whole lot of tears!  For some reason (probably the lack of a nap or the fact that I may have (alright I did)raised my voice when she spit out some food) Princess got upset while eating dinner.  This (of course) flipped Butterballs switch and he also decided to spend the rest of his time at the dinner table crying (with mac n cheese in his mouth).  There really is nothing like working all day, picking up the kiddies from daycare, preparing a hot, home cooked meal, sitting down and having 2 children cry while you are trying to eat and relax - really there is just nothing like it!
Well the kids missed out - I make a delicious meatloaf (muffin), the mac n cheese was creamy, and veggies were (microwaved) steamed to perfection - ADG and I ate everything! This is usually a favorite meal of everyone in the family - even the veggies (carrots, cauliflower (aka white broccoli) and (green) broccoli - they sell this as California Blend at the Stop n Shop).  Not sure what was going on last night, but hopefully we do not see a repeat of that tonight.
Tonight's menu - skirt steak, rice and green beans (cut and wet - that is way Princess requests them).

In case you were looking for a delicious simple Meatloaf recipe:

1 to 1.5 lbs Ground Beef or Meatloaf mix (pork, beef, veal)
1 egg (whisked with a fork)
12 to 15 Ritz crackers (finely crushed)
1 long squirt of Heinz Ketchup* (about 2 to 3 TBSP), plus more for topping
Onion powder - generous sprinkle
Garlic powder - generous sprinkle
optional - BBQ sauce or Worcestershire sauce (a couple of squirts or shakes)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Throw all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix it up with your (clean) hands. 
Once everything is incorporated, divide into 6 balls and place in a 6 cup muffin pan (preferably nonstick).
Top each mini meatloaf with a squirt of ketchup.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, let them cool for 5 minutes before serving.

*if you are not using Heinz Ketchup don't bother making this recipe or anything else for that matter!

Weekend in review...

Good news - my kids had fun with their grandparents (while we were away) and I think my in-laws are still talking to us - so I will call it a Win!  The in-laws left in a flash upon our return - but who could blame them... I would do the same thing!  It is a lot to watch 2 small children for 2 nights - especially being away from your own home.  I can't thank them enough!
The weekend was full of fun - the rehearsal dinner and wedding were a BLAST!  The bride and groom were both beautiful - smiles never left their faces the entire night.  The band was sensational - the dance floor was packed all night long - my feet are still aching a little.  The hotel was nice - the bed was super comfortable!  I drank and partied a lot throughout the weekend and I can confirm I am hurting a bit today... it is just another sign that I am getting older - oh well!

The bride and groom left for Greece today - I hope they have a fabulous time!  I hope my in-laws are resting today as well... I am thinking about when ADG and I might be able to get away again soon.

If you are ever in the Philadelphia area and looking for a great cheese steak (besides Pat or Gino's) check out Jim's Steaks (South St location) - the guys (ADG, my Dad and BIL) attempted a Cheese-Steak-A-Thon over the weekend and confirmed this place was awesome! They ate like kings and some napped like babies afterwards.

A Wedding, A Hotel, No Kids... Oh My!

I am leaving this afternoon for my cousin's wedding - that's right LEAVING the kids at home (for 2 nights - not Uno, but Duos BABY!) with the in-laws - while ADG and I go wild and crazy in Philadelphia, PA!  We have been looking forward to this wedding for a while now - it is the 2nd wedding for us this summer.  The first wedding was fantastic - one of my oldest and dearest girlfriends got married 2 weeks ago - Princess, Butterball  and myself were part of the wedding party.  It was great fun for all.  But this wedding/weekend will be different - NO KIDS!  Don't get me wrong I love my children more than life itself, and I will miss and worry about them the entire time I am gone... that said I am still planning to have a good time.
It has to be at least 4 + years since ADG and I have been away (together) without the kids for more than one night... if all goes well (at home) maybe we can take an actual vacation some day soon! 
Needless to say I am looking forward to spending time with my (adult) family members - drinking, dancing, drinking, eating and just having fun (read: drinking)! 

This weeks' Shout Outs:
Jeff and Laura - I am so thrilled for you both!  Thank you for asking me to be part of your special day!  I promise to deliver my line during the ceremony in a serious and thoughtful voice... after that all bets are off!

My In-Laws - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

I will recap the weekends festivities on Monday!

My Endless Love... my TiVo!

I know in my last entry I declared my love for all kinds of food, but my love for television is so deep that at times have chosen to watch TV rather than get up and make myself (or go buy) something to eat - my extreme laziness plays into this scenario as well (but that is besides the point).  My loving sister (and BFF) tried to teach her daughter (my niece) to call me Aunt TV after hearing my gut wrenching saga of a particularly rough weekend without any cable (scene: major snow storm and I was stranded in my apartment for 3+ days with no cable whatsoever!)... I did survive, but it was touch and go for awhile.  Oh yeah - the Aunt TV business never really caught on... thank you very much!
That was all before TiVo came into my life..."You walked out of my dreams and into my arms (or into my TV cabinet), Now you're my angel divine"... These days I am rarely at a loss for something to watch - I have plenty of episodes of Oprah, Real Housewives of NJ, Holmes on Homes, Barefoot Contessa, Entourage, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives (aka Triple D), Army Wives, My Life on the D-List, Wipeout (that show cracks me up!), and lots more!  In addition to my shows I have many (read: a ridiculous amount of) hours devoted to the favorites of Princess and Butterball... I have something like 15 episodes of The Fresh Beat Band, at least 6 episodes of Good Luck Charlie and that is on top of a few Phineas and Ferb episodes, Dora the Explorer, Jacks Big Music Show, etc.  As you can imagine the kids are avid (read: slightly addicted) TV watchers as well.  ADG has a few items on the TiVo list, but sometimes I have to accidentally delete them on purpose in order to save room for my shows... I don't think he really watches any of the sport related shows or Comedy Central specials anyway.
The only thing better than my TiVo would be 2 newer TiVo models - I understand now that with the new models you can send shows between the two!  That way I can record something in the living room and then watch it in my bedroom!  That would save my back from a few aches since I would no longer fall asleep on the couch watching my shows, but fall asleep in the middle of Say Yes to the Dress (I adore TLC!) in the comfort of my bed!  I guess I will have to talk to ADG about adding a 3rd party to the bedroom... but until he agrees I will be dreaming of you know who...

P.S. For anyone reading this blog that just said "I have a DVR and it is just like TiVo" - I have some news for you... you are soooo kidding yourself!!!!  TiVo blows any DVR option offered by a cable company out of the water!  Just wanted to give it to you straight up (now tell me do you really want to love me forever, oh, oh, oh, or am I caught in a hit and run... Paula Abdul - did you watch her reality show? Whoa - can you say wacko?)

Ummm Bacon!

I love food - I love eating - I love cooking - I love fancy restaurants - I love fast food! This has resulted in years of dieting on and off, the scale going up and down, etc. That is a blog entry for another day. Today I want to tell you about a new item on Wendy's menu - the BLT Cobb salad! It is delicious and I am fairly certain not at all healthy for you (as one would believe salad should be!). It is a delightful combination of crispy Applewood Smoked Bacon, spicy grilled chicken mixed with real blue cheese crumbles, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes and lettuce, served with avocado ranch dressing. The bacon was actually crisp AND thick!! As my girlfriend LC would say it is Dilli (short for delicious). So if you find yourself at Wendy's and not in the mood for a burger (and you are not counting calories/fat grams for that meal) I highly recommend the BLT Cobb Salad.

It just so happens the kids and I enjoyed Wendy's for dinner last night while ADG played his weekly softball game. An evening on my own with the kids can be daunting... last night was no exception! Princess fell asleep in the car between Wendy's and our house (FYI - as of this past Monday Princess's new pre-K class has discontinued napping because they are "big kids” now... She is thrilled - I am NOT), she sleepily made her way from the car into the house and onto the couch… while I carried Butterball, the school bags, my purse and the food up the stairs from the basement. While I was getting everything layout on plates for dinner Butterball ran around like a manic screaming "Beat! Beat! Beat!" (translation - I want to watch Fresh Beat NOW!). When I called both kids to the kitchen for dinner Princess began crying (loudly) – I do not think I need tell you I was about an inch way from reaching my noise tolerance threshold (read: about to lose it). My (generic) response was I tell her to stop crying and get in here! Well she comes into the kitchen with a bloody tissue to her nose... she has a major nose bleed! It looked like she hit with a baseball bat - blood on her hands and face and (of course) on the COUCH! Princess claims she was just lying on the couch (apparently on her back) and her nose started to bleed, so she rolled over on her stomach (yes - face down in order to really get some good stains on the couch) and saw the blood - that was when she started crying. The bleeding subsided, we cleaned her up (although she insisted on keep a tissue up to her nose throughout dinner) and I sprayed the stains on the couch with stain remover. About 10 minutes later we finally sat down to eat… while I ate my yummy salad, Princess drank some chocolate milk and Butterball ate a half a chicken nugget and 5 french fries – then they both promptly declared themselves finished by giving me the old “I’m full… can I go play now?”. I surrendered – they went off to play (read: shout and squeal at the top of their lungs) and I cleaned up. I was exhausted at this point and it was barley 7pm! The rest of the evening went smoother – kids in PJs by a reasonable hour and Butterball did not give me a hard time when I put him to bed (usually ADG handles this nightly task). Princess gave me a little trouble about going to bed, but ended up falling asleep on the couch while watch 10 more minutes of Dragon Tales. Thankfully ADG carried her upstairs when he got home.

What time do your kids go to bed - I am guessing earlier than mine!?!? Comment below!
Tomorrow – My love affair with…TiVo