My kitchen cupboards

Julie has come up with a cute spin on the "Corners of my home" posts and asked us to show our shamefully messy and unorganized pantry spaces.

First, here is my kitchen. My husband re-did the kitchen about five years ago (he is one handy guy). He worked hard making it just the way I wanted it - even putting up wallpaper that I promptly HATED! So, after all these years he is going to take it down and paint the kitchen my favorite color - green. I can't wait. We will also be replacing the window with a double hung (to match the rest of the house).



Anyway, here is not only my snack pantry, but also the drawer where I house forks, knives, chopsticks and other junk. The snacks used to be in our lazy susan, but we had to move them up out of "Leah" reach.



Oh, and try these - they are yummy!



And speaking of food, my neighbor Sharon, who is a dietician, introduced me to this awesome monthly newsletter called "Nutrition Action." It is only about 16 pages long, but it gives you great, easy to understand nutrition advice. I love the section called Right Stuff/Food Porn, where they rate name brand packaged food. Did you know that the Pillsbury Perfect Portions Buttermilk biscuits have 4 1/2 grams of trans fats (about the same amount you would get in a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnut)! You can find out how to subscribe here.

Hmm, I wonder what they would say about my Chex Mex Turtles?

33

Today I turn 33 years old. My husband, who is out of town, gave me an early birthday present. Now, I get to blog on this nice new 19" flat screen monitor. Thanks sweetie! I am also going to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch with my Mom. You know, turning one year older isn't so bad!

BEFORE


AFTER!

Corners of My Home #7

OK, so it's been like two months since I posted about my home, but I just had to put this up because it makes me smile.



Leah and I love doing craft projects, and this is one of the most recent ones we did together. It's called a "stained glass window" and we found the instructions on this awesome weblog Kiddley. I am always so inspired by all the really cool craft blogs (Moopy & Me, SouleMama, Wee Wonderfuls and Kiddley).

Leah was so proud of her creation that she wanted it hung right in her bedroom window. I think it looks beautiful.

A weekend away

No, this isn't some post telling everyone that my husband and I are going away for the weekend. Unfortunately, it just isn't in the cards for us right now. It is though for Nicole and I am thrilled for her (I am also a bit jealous, since she will be staying at one of my all-time favorite places).

A while back, before Leah was born and I was working full time, Joe and I would take long weekends away. I just love New England, so very often we would stay at a cozy little bed and breakfast somewhere in Vermont or Maine. These always made for the perfect pick-me-up. After a hearty and delicious breakfast we would spend our days reading, shopping in little country stores and talking with the other guests. It was just so good to unwind and take a step back from life.

Do you remember, or have experienced lately, the perfect weekend getaway?

Oh, and Nicole, enjoy this view!

Boy, have they grown!

Do you remember this post from April? Check out those same babies in the following pictures taken just two weeks ago. Thanks Dad for the great photos!

She hit the nail on the head

My daughter is very much a typical "girly-girl." Every day, she begs me to let her wear a dress. She loves to put on lip gloss and what she calls her "tappy" shoes. She carries around her pink and blue "Hello Kitty" purse filled with plastic jewerly. We talk about what she wants to do with her hair in the morning.

So, we were pleasantly surprised when we read Leah's response to a questionnaire from her pre-school - What do you like to do with your Dad? This was all part of a Father's Day project they were working on. Leah simple response was that she likes to help him with his tools. For all the girly-ness within her, she just loves playing with her Dad and his screwdrivers, wrenches and all the other greasy little tools she can get her hands on. That night, Joe cleaned out one of his old toolboxes, took Leah to Home Depot (in her overalls, of course) and together they began to fill it up with her "own" tools. Now she is very proud to explain to everyone about the various tools she keeps in HER toolbox. Don't know how to use a nutdriver? She does...

Hawaii vacation pics - part 2

Awake

Ok, so let's see...I am now going on night number sixteen of almost NO sleep.

• June 3 - 9th - tried to sleep next to my ever turning and kicking daughter while in Hawaii.
• June 10 - 13th jet lag and pain from the blockage of my eustachian tubes in my ears helps to keep me awake
• June 14th - severe migranie which I fall alseep with at 9 p.m. and wake up with ten times worse at 1 a.m.
• June 15th - tonight - now being heavily medicated for the tube drainage and have developed lovely post nasal drip and cough whenever I lay down.

Typing this at 12:33 a.m. Needless to say, I am not a happy camper. I want sleep.

On the bright side, I did read The Undomestic Goddess in two nights. It was very predictable, but a fun read anyway. Maybe I should just pick up another book.

Kids TV -the good and the VERY BAD

The other day while enjoying a playdate with my friends Tracy and Nicole, we were talking about our favorite kids tv programs. There are some really great, educational and just plain fun children's programs available today. Little Einsteins, Max & Ruby, Pinky Dinky Doo, Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer...the list goes on and on. There is even an entire blog devoted to The Backyardigans (I like the show, though maybe not quite that much).

But, with the good comes the bad.

Like, what's with The Wonder Pets. Can you hear it? "Linny, Tuck and Ming Ming to, we're Wonder Pets and we'll help you! What's gonna work, teamwork!" I can....over and over and over in my head. They sing most of the program in opera, helping other animals out of tight jams. Like the poor Dolphin who gets stuck in the fisherman's net. One of those little annoying pets (there is a gerbil, duck and turtle) sings something like "we've got to help him, or he will drown." Well yeah, if you don't shut up and do something, he will. Duh.
In a NY Times article, Nickelodeon's creative director for preschool television, Brown Johnson said she believes operetta is an art form particularly suited to children. "I used to run around singing my life to myself," she recalled. "I'd be singing 'I'm going to fall down,' singing about what I was having for lunch, about how mean my brothers were." REALLY?

My Mom LOVES Lazytown. I truly have no idea why (do you want to comment Mom)? The main character, Stephanie, runs around in a fushia wig with her weird puppet friends. They are always taunted by the local bad guy, Robbie Rotten, who wears his pants way to tight. Sportacus, the local hero (and real life producer of the show and like, Mr. Iceland or something) creeps me out. What is he doing hanging out with kids anyway. And all the flipping gives me a headache.

Oobi - OK, it's a talking hand. It doesn't speak in full sentences, only one or two words at a time. Once in a while they throw in a talking foot. That's just gross. Surprising fact - the guy who created Oobi also created The Wonder Pets. I would have never guessed.

Miffy - OK, this may be one of the cheapest kids television programs ever made (with the possible exception of the hand and foot diseased Oobi). Miffy's mouth doesn't move - she is just a clay figurine with a voice coming out of who-knows-where. Oh, and it's BORING!

What kids tv programs do you just adore / hate with a passion? Oh, and does anyone know what type of animal Uniqua is?

Closing program

This morning, Leah participated in the closing programs at her preschool. During the program we watched all the kids march in, heard them sing songs and watched an incredible DVD which is a take home gift for the parents. The DVD lasts a few minutes and shows pictures, set to music, of the children all throughout the school year. You couldn't help but get teary eyed while seeing all the cute pictures. It is really a beautiful keepsake. We then had refreshments in the backyard play area.

In addition, we received an "All About Me" book that the kids created throughout the year. It has the first picture they drew at school, a self-portrait, a few more drawings and a questionnaire that the teachers helped them fill out. Here are a few of her answers:

What is your favorite story? The Seven Chinese Sisters

What is your favorite thing to do in the summer? Go in my mini-pool

What do you want to be when you grow up? A police officer

and my personal favorite:

Where do you like to go on vacation? Hawaii and China

Leah posing for a quick picture in our backyard

before heading out to the program

Nothing like a home cooked meal

After eating out A LOT while on vacation, I quickly got tired of restaurant food. Now don't get me wrong, I am the first one in the car when my husband suggests that we go out to eat, but every single day gets to be a little much.

So, last night I enjoyed a yummy home cooked meal with Joe, Leah and my newly married girlfriend Chau. Her husband Chris was playing in a baseball game last night, so she was solo. Anyway, on the menu was salad, grilled chicken and corn on the cob. The chicken was grilled with a spice rub on it, which included paprika, cayenne, brown sugar and a few other ingredients (I got the recipe from Rachel Ray's magazine). The salad was something I was trying to recreate from Chau's wedding. It had mixed greens, goat cheese, fresh raspberries, wasabi peas for a little spice and crunch and balsamic vinaigrette.

Let me tell you, this was probably one of the best meals I have had in a while. Like I said, there is truly nothing like a home cooked meal.

Hawaii vacation pics - part 1

Early morning on the beach



Joe & Leah enjoying the pool

My sister Chris and her husband Dominic



My Mom & Leah waiting for the movie at the beach



Joe & I hiking to the top of Diamond Head



Joe on the top of the mountian



Leah and her Grandpa



Leah and her cousin Vanessa



Part 2 post, nature pictures, coming soon!

YEAH!

Checking my e-mails from the Internet cafe, I got this from my adoption agency:

We are happy to inform you that on May 18, 2006, your China documents were logged in with the China Center for Adoption Affairs. Only 9 days from when they mailed them out!

They also mentioned that the most recent child assignments took 11.5 months from log-in date to the assignment of a child and they do anticipate that the waiting times will increase. Bummer.

Vacation's over

Well, not quite, but it sure feels like it. My husband has flown back to New Jersey, my daughter has a low grade fever and tossed and turned all night, and my sister and parents have gotten into a fight. I am ready to be home. I guess after visiting Hawaii for the third time it has worn a little thin.

Hmmm, maybe a trip to the bookstore will make me feel better...

Aloha from Honolulu

Finally, I found an internet cafe! My husband Joe left to head back home yesterday night. He slept all the way home and then proceeded to hit the Home Depot shortly after landing. Hey, I have my blog, he has Home Depot! Anyway, here are a few highlights from our trip so far.

• Enjoyed "Sunset on the Beach" or, what I like to call "put your toes in the sand, enjoy the sunset and then watch a movie on a huge screen." Last night's feature was Shark Tale, perfect for Leah.
• Joe and I hiked up to the top of Diamond Head and enjoyed the beautiful view of the ocean and downtown Honolulu.
• Had a blast at the pool almost every day and just pretty much relaxed.
• Finished "The Kite Runner." RUN to your nearest bookstore and buy this book. It was one of those rare books that you just don't want to end. The kind of book you want to buy for all your friends. It was that wonderful.

Pictures to follow once we are back in New Jersey.