In the last week, I have heard Baby Got Back on the radio three times. What’s the luck? It seriously could be best song released in the 90’s. And since everything 90’s is hot again, it doesn’t surprise me it is getting radio air time. A whole new generation will come to love this awesome track. Like most girls [of a certain age], I know the lyrics by heart and have to crank the volume way up. How can you not?
Just a little treat for you as we head into the weekend! Enjoy.
Tell ’em to shake it! (Shake it!) Shake it! (Shake it!) Shake that healthy butt! Baby got back.
While I am a modern-day housewife, I have not added canning to my resume. [That is taking it to a higher level.] However, I do love to make freezer jam. It is so sweet and fresh! We went on Sunday to our Farmer’s Market and bought fresh-from-the-farm raspberries. I was able to make six- 8oz containers of Raspberry Freezer Jam in under an hour and that included 30 minutes of set time. It takes just 3 ingredients, a bowl, a potato masher, and plastic freezer jars. Really any one can do it and *most kids are eager to help.
Raspberry Freezer Jam
1/2 flat of Raspberries [or 6 small baskets]
2 cups of sugar
6 Tbs. Ball RealFruit Instant Pectin
1. Crush berries one layer at a time with potato masher.
2. Add sugar and pectin and stir for 3 minutes.
3. Spoon jam into 6 freezer jars and let stand for 30 minutes
Enjoy now. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 1 year.
Use small-4oz glass mason jars to give this jam as gifts. Be sure to remind the recipients that it must be stored in the refrigerator. There is nothing better than giving away the sweetness of summer!
*Disclaimer: While most kids would be eager to participate in making jam, the child pictured in this post was not. Pictures are 100% staged. He had absolutely no interest in participating.
I know that summer is grill season, but I love a great plate of pasta. My grandmothers made pasta dishes year round, no matter the temperature outside. This time of year the pasta needs to be quick and easy, but still full of flavor. My recipe uses a few “cheater” ingredients to make this Puttanesca sauce a breeze to throw together.
Quick and Easy Puttanesca
1 clove of garlic
1 small onion
28 oz diced tomatoes [canned]
1 jar of your favorite prepared pasta sauce
1 cup pitted Kalamata olives
4 oz capers + a bit of liquid from the jar
1 deli rotisserie chicken
1. Mince garlic and chop onion. Saute together in 1 T. olive oil over Medium heat.
2. Add diced tomatoes and jar of pasta sauce. Bring to simmer.
3. Roughly chop olives and add to sauce. [Truth be told I used more than 1 cup of olives! I love them.]
4. Add capers and bit of the liquid from the jar to the sauce.
5. Let simmer for 20-30 minutes.
6. Shred chicken and add to the sauce. Turn heat to low.
Serve over your favorite pasta. Since our pasta must be gluten free, I used Scharr Spaghetti.
When you find a book you love, you need to share it! Little Man devours these books. With thirteen titles in the Fly Guy series, it is sure to keep him interested and entertained! The main character, Buzz, is a boy who has an unusual pet. He names him Fly Guy because, well, he is a fly! Colorful illustrations and funny plot lines are engaging for kids. Preschoolers will love this as a read-to-me book and older kids just like the humor. The reading level is for kids grades K-2. I am happy to see that the author, Tedd Arnold, has added non-fiction titles- including one on sharks! The most recent title released, Fly Guy and the Frakenfly, is on its way to our doorstep this week! If they love it, they will read it!
A week away from home at summer camp is a brave thing to do. So, the care package {or as Big W calls it- “care mail”} is a great way to send your kids a little love at camp. As this is my second year to send care mail, I thought about it carefully before sending it off !
Here are the items my camper will be receiving mid-week:
A white pillowcase for his cabin mates to sign with neon Sharpies. It is the same pillow case I sent last year, so the new signatures will just be added on! I love the idea of sending it every year.
A deck of cards, an extra disposable camera, and a Dot to Dot game pad. Hopefully this will add to the in-cabin entertainment.
Temporary tattoos. Each set is cut into individual tattoos and placed in a sealed bag. I sent along a washcloth so they could easily apply them.
Electronic 20 questions game/20Q! I sent the 8 ball last year and it was big hit! Hope this one is just as popular.
Contraband. No food items allowed in care packages. Candy isn’t food, right? Either way, it makes the boys happy. {You have to break the rules sometimes!}
Ever send a care package? What items did your kids love?
I won the lottery! Well, the lottery selection to attend the Altitude Summit {ALT} in San Francisco today. It is a hot ticket in the blogging world. Lucky me! ALT SF will bring over 300 bloggers from around the country together to exchange inspiration and knowledge. I guess you could call it my first “business” trip. I am so excited to meet others that share my passion for writing and creating. After a full day at the conference, we will attend a party hosted by Pinterest at their headquarters this evening. The theme? Alice in Pinterland. Whoa, how can it not be awesome? I promise a recap upon my return. Thank you again, so much, for reading.
Lately, I have been wanting to go to the movies. I have been wanting to go all on my own. There is something about grabbing some Milk Duds and going to a matinee that really appeals to me. It wouldn’t be a lonely thing to do…you don’t talk to anyone during a movie, do you? I thought about it during the school year, when I have a bit of free time, but never did it. Now the kids are with me all day [everyday] so I will have to wait. Bummer too, because there a few movies I would really like to see. Kings of Summer and The Way Way Back are quintessential coming-of-age movies. The Bling Ring is just guilty pleasure and I like Sofia Coppola.
Have you ever been to the movies by yourself? Do you think I will like it?
We spent less than 24 hours in Napa Valley this weekend. We didn’t arrive until 1pm on Saturday, but it was worth it! The summer brings large crowds on the weekend, yet the beauty of the valley somehow makes up for the “big business” of wine tasting. We started north in Calistoga and worked our way south toward Napa. Using Silverado Trail for much of the afternoon, we avoided the traffic and we were able to visit three wineries plus have lunch before 5pm. Then a quick rest and dinner in downtown Napa. Pictures tell the best story.
First stop, Chateau Montelena . Amazing grounds, historic chateau, and the winery that put California on the map of the wine making world in 1976. [If you haven’t seen Bottle Shock, rent or stream it tonight. It tells the story perfectly!]
Lunch in St. Helena. La Condesa. A girl can not survive on wine alone. Chips, guacamole, and tacos paired with the most refreshing margarita! It had me at cactus lemongrass-infused salt rim.
A quick jump over to the Silverado Trail and Rombauer after lunch. Red wine a hot day is tough, but the views from the deck cannot be beat. Rombauer is a great spot for a picnic! Tables are scattered throughout their gorgeous trails and grounds.
Mumm Napa was our last stop. We were able to grab a table on their patio [umbrellas and misters help with the heat] and we each enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine. We couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing way to end our afternoon of tasting. I highly recommend the Santana Supernatural Rose. Delicious!
After a thirty minute power nap at the hotel, we were off to The Thomas in downtown Napa. I will not belabor the point, but this place is top rate. Food, service, ambiance. The entire package. The dining room is cozy with an open kitchen. It is keenly decorated, with one entire wall displaying antique white table cloths and windows into their wine collection. In the heart of downtown on Main Street, The Thomas also has a roof top bar and deck which looks over the Napa River. I tell you-it is a must visit! While everything we ate and drank was outstanding, the warm cinnamon, sugar doughnuts with black pepper strawberry sauce put the meal over the top!
Our afternoon is Napa was the end to a great weekend in California. We had time together [just the two of us] and we were able to see our dear friends get married! A huge thank you to my mom and dad for holding down the fort and keep our boys fed and watered.
Lauren Bush Lauren founded FEED in 2007 as a humanitarian mission to feed children around the world. To date, FEED has provided over 60 million meals through the sale of bags and apparel. FEED has teamed up with Target this summer. Their line of over 60 products will help provide meals for children and families across America. FEED USA + Target is in stores now, but I didn’t realize how many products were available. Take a peek online to see the entire line. I snatched up a bag [which I am excited to use as my carry-on this weekend] and a tank. My purchases will provide 36 meals in the United States. Feeling pretty good about that. I rounded up a few of my favorites. Pop on over to target.com and peruse. Report back. Which are your favorite things from this collection?
