Monday, April 29, 2013

A family of three distinct personalities and one plan for the back deck....

Last night my family had Chinese take-out for dinner with each family member getting their own dish to highlight that we all have distinct personalities and at dinner I introduced a plan for the back deck that worked with all personalities and my family was a go (to quote an old favorite TV show, the A-team, "I love it when a plan comes together.")

To elaborate—one planner, one who does well under pressure and one with an organizing gene and the plan: to order a new picnic table and benches in 48 hours from internet research and the organizer gets to set it all up and have a budget to buy cushions (she is only 8 years old).

Thursday, April 25, 2013

In the Kitchen on Thursday: One Pan Chicken Dinner

Salt and Pepper Chicken with Bok Choy

1 1/2 lbs. Chicken thighs (bone in and skin on)
1 Tbsp. Coarse Salt
1/2 Tbsp. ground black pepper
1 lb. Bok Choy
6 mini sweet peppers
Oil (sunflower, grape seed or canola)

Preheat oven to 450.  Line a rimmed cookie sheet with tinfoil and lightly oil the foil. Mix the salt and pepper together. Place the thighs on the pan and generously sprinkle the S&P on them. Place in the oven and roast for 30 minutes. Meanwhile clean and cut the peppers in strips. Clean the Bok Choy and separate the leaves.  At the 30 minute mark add the vegetables to the pan and continue roasting for 5 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 4 servings.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

A "murse"?

Today at the gym, Live with Kelly and Michael asked Snoop Lion (a.k.a. Snoop Dogg) about his "murse" (man purse) which is worn by his body guard and I realized that my hsuband is soooo old fashioned in putting his wallet in his pocket and asking me to carry his eyedrops in my purse and that my marriage lacks "trend" and I realized that this is all all right.

Wednesday's words: putting your foot in your mouth, not!

"Make sure your brain is engaged before putting you mouth in gear. Unfortunately, there is no back space on out mouth. " --J.P. Olson

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Tuesday's Tip: Remember to breath

I heard this over and over in my yoga class and it got me thinking that if we took time on several occasions during the day to "remember to breath", that is focus on our breath, we could slow down, quiet or mind and in the end be more productive—so thanks to my yoga teacher, Evalena for reminding us to "slow down."

Monday, April 22, 2013

Not the usual Monday

Tea with one friend, lunch with another, the gym in between and the solution to our backyard dilemma-- just replace the table and benches now and the rest when we someday redo the backyard (removing the PIA above ground pool).

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Monday, April 15, 2013

My dad, My daughter and a golf swing....

Today when I was at the gym, I realized that one of the exercises I was doing was like a golf swing which father taught me (Thanks, Dad!) and now I am wondering if my daughter is on the Ipad for an hour plus what am I teaching her.

Friday, April 12, 2013

De-cluttering in the rain.....

A rainy day is keeping me inside and allowing me to exercise my mind by getting a lot of work and organizing done, so my brain and desk are no longer cluttered—this is an awesome feeling.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

In the Kitchen on Thursday: Chicken Tenders

Crunchy Chicken Tenders (even a kid will love—my daughter does.)

3-4 boneless chicken breasts
2 egg whites
2 Tbsp. milk
2 Tsp. Sriracha sauce
2 Tsp. chopped Scallion, greens only
1.5-2 C. Panko bread crumbs
Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Grease the top of a broiling pan with cooking spray. Whisk together the egg whites, milk, Sriracha and scallions. In a shallow dish mix crumbs with pepper. Cut the chicken in strips lengthwise. Coat each strip with egg white mixture and then cover with bread crumbs. Place on the pan. Repeat with the rest of the chicken. When you are done, give the chicken pieces a misting of cooking spray. Place a piece of tinfoil on a lower rack and the put in your pan on the upper rack. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Serve with your favorite dipping Sauce.

What is Sriracha sauce?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

More words...

"Money is for helping people, not for controlling people." —Anonymous

Wednesday's words: Persevere

"I am convinced that almost anything can be accomplished if one does his or her very best and perseveres" —Rose Sachs

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Cleaning grout the easy way

From Bottom Line Personal

Going back in history for Tuesday's Tip

#614
If you want to find out if your bathroom scale is telling you the truth, test its accuracy by weighing a 5 or 10 pound bag of flour or sugar on it.

From 1003 Household Hints and Work Savers, copyright 1947

Monday, April 8, 2013

Another Monday with the addition of HGTV

After a productive day (gym, bank, grocery shopping and folding laundry), I set down to watch HGTV with my daughter and discuss what she believes is the sorry state  of the house to which I informed her she 8 and she informed me that she would like to have an adult conversation with Bernard, a friend and interior decorator—what are we in for when she is actually a teenager?!

Friday, April 5, 2013

It is finally spring out...

Today I got my first iced coffee of the warm weather seasons and took a walk in a local park, where I brainstormed, listened to good music, partook of some overdue sunshine and hopefully burned a few calories—a great way to start the weekend.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Monday, April 1, 2013

A mother/daughter day any mother would want

Today my daughter and I spent the day together (she is still on school break) cleaning, organizing, having lunch with daddy and when the museum was closed, walking around, buying a book and running errands, so I am grateful that my 8 year old has a go-with-the-flow attitude when needed.