Quick and Easy Shower Clean Up

I am sorry to admit, but I had let my shower go...taken over by soap scum.  A small job became a big job that I continued to put off.  I read somewhere (probably Pinterest) that mixing white vinegar and Dawn dish soap in a dish wand will clean your shower.  I was skeptical...especially looking at my shower.  It came off like magic!  I hardly had to use any elbow grease.  Easy, quick and cheap!  

Guacamole

I wanted to use the rest of the cilantro and the jalapeño from my neighbor's garden and I found this yummy guacamole recipe on Pinterest.  So Good!!!  I can't eat raw onions so it is really difficult for me to eat pre-made guacamole.  Luckily my husband is flexible and doesn't mind skipping the onions.  

4 Ripe Avocados
2 Limes, juiced
1 Roma Tomato, diced
1 Small Red Onion, diced
1 Jalapeno, deseeded and diced
1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 tsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper
Kosher Salt to Taste

Take the avocado cut across the center and split in halves. Take the pit out and take the avocado out of shell using a large spoon. Place in a mixing bowl and add juice of lime. Incorporate together using a large spoon to break up the avocado.

Add remaining ingredients, stir to combine, and season to taste. 

Balsamic Chicken, Spinach and Tomato Pasta Salad

Tonight's dinner was pretty easy and yummy for the hot summer. Check out the link for the recipe. We have a lot of left overs for our family of three.

Variations:

•  I might use the smaller package of tortellini and only 2 chicken breasts next time.  
•  I had my husband grill the chicken and the yellow peppers.  

http://www.multiplydelicious.com/thefood/2010/01/balsamic-chicken-spinach-and-tomato-pasta-salad/

The Dark Knight Rises

Our family has been anxiously awaiting the new Batman movie for lots of reasons. First, we pretty much see all Superhero movies as soon as they are released. Second, it is a huge Blockbuster. Finally, my husband was an extra during filming! He and his brother worked two days last summer to film the stadium scene in our hometown, Pittsburgh.
The movie did not disappoint (but no sign of my husband or his brother :( ). Of course Christian Bale was not a disappointment either. Anne Hathaway was really good too.
On another note, I spent a lot of time watching the exits and scanning the theater. Christopher Nolan, the director of the movie, shares a statement on the website that expresses how most if us feel. The movie theater is a place where we can get lost in a story, forget life for a bit, and this man in CO took that away from us. It will be a long time before I will feel safe in a public setting. I'm so sad for the victims and pray for their families.

Www.thedarkknightrises.com

Cilantro

My neighbor brought over some yummy smelling cilantro. I love it! So I made a BBQ pizza. I used a Schwan's home delivery starter crusts (so yummy and easy to use). I added some BBQ sauce, cheese (mozzarella and cheddar), 2 grilled chicken breasts (also Schwan's) and the cilantro. Easy and so good!

Www.schwans.com

Chicken Florentine

Tonight I decided to make a dinner from Pinterest.  I have been pinning lots of food on my board but haven't made anything yet.  I made Chicken Florentine and it was pretty good.  My eight year old loved it...which is rare!  

I think next time I will use a little less pasta then what is called for, it could have had a bit more sauce.  I will definitely make this one again.  

http://picky-palate.com/2011/08/05/chicken-florentine-bowtie-pasta/

Books

Anyone read any good books lately?  Anyone have time?  I find that if I have a good book, I make the time...sometimes even instead of watching TV!  Summertime is the best for new books.  
I jumped on the Fifty Shades and Christian Grey bandwagon with all of my girlfriends.  The first book started slow and then quickly got what? hot, weird, sexy, exciting, strange?  By the second book I was into the story but now I am stuck on the third book.  I will finish it eventually but I needed a break.  Plus my FAVORITE authors are both releasing new books this July.

http://jenniferweiner.com/default.htm

I am currently reading "The Next Best Thing" by Jennifer Weiner and really liking it.  The book is about a writer that becomes a Hollywood showrunner.  She is a great storyteller, easy to read and get into the story.  


I am most looking forward to Emily Giffin's new novel, "Where We Belong" coming out next Tuesday.  If you have not read any of her novels check them out.  I have already pre-ordered for my Kindle.  She is the only author I actually get excited about.

http://www.emilygiffin.com/

Happy Reading!

It's Tuesday...Redbox day! Who LOVES Redbox like I do?  We love movies at our house and Redbox is the easiest way to rent.  Today, I rented "Friends with Kids."  I guess that will be my early morning TV time tomorrow.  As long as you return on time, it is an easy, cheap way to catch up on movies.  

www.redbox.com

My family

My amazing family.

New Blog

My new blog!  Same title as my old blog...just this time with the domain name to match.  

I'm a mom, a wife, a teacher, a Christian, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a Crohn's Disease sufferer and a girl that is just trying to do all these things well (like everyone else!).  

As I embark on my first year of being a stay at home mom and wife, after years of being a full time professional, I will be relying on lots of blogs to get me through.  

I'm hoping that the cyber world (and my real life girlfriends) can help me decide; whats for dinner, how can I save money, how do I keep an eight year old busy, what do I do all day, how does the dynamic change when mommy doesn't work anymore? I'm hoping I can share some of the things I have learned along the way!