Hot Soup in the Clean House Tonight

I was not expecting to have the weekend to myself so when I discovered I would be alone of course the first thought is CLEAN HOUSE. Okay, I know most people would not be as excited, well no, lots of my friends would be excited so maybe I am not as nuts as I thought. Because I work full time and I try to be a super good, focused, quality mom sometimes the house takes the back burner but not this weekend.

The funny things is that I cleaned like crazy and THEN I started organizing and pulling things out and rearranging things so if you came over to my house today you might look around and think 'this is clean?' well yes and no. If you look at my super clean shower head then yes, super clean!

I tried this shower head cleaner idea I got from Frugally Sustainable I thought it looked easy so I gave it a try. I was amazed at how clean it was but even better how much better the shower sprayed. This is a keeper. Plus I think my son will love to watch the vinegar and baking soda reacting! (Maybe it will help him want to clean - one can dream!)

After a weekend of cleaning and organizing I wanted something yummy to eat and hopefully on the healthy side. So I tried Broccoli Cheddar Cheese soup. Now, I know what you are thinking - healthy?!? And you would be right. When I got this recipe from Pinterest it said, 'Broccoli Cheddar Cheese soup (light)' and I thought maybe it showed a lighter version of something with cheddar cheese in it. Well sort of this is the lighter version instead of heavy cream and tons o' butter. I still removed the '(light)' from the recipe card because it isn't, not really. I did use skim milk (as suggested - couldn't bring myself to try almond milk) but then adding four cups of cheddar cheese probably didn't help, not to mention the butter. Oh, well it was yummy and it has broccoli and carrots it is so it can't be ALL bad. It was easy to make. I love when recipes call for things that confuse me. Nutmeg for example. Who knew putting nutmeg in broccoli cheddar soup would give it that extra something special. Angie McGowan knew that's who - she wrote the recipe. I loved it - this one is a keeper too.

In my last post I said I was going to try healthy banana bread and a craft. I couldn't find 'almost' over ripe bananas at the store so they are ripening at my house as I type. Craft - hmm just could not bring myself to do it this weekend. Cleaning was so much more fun. Maybe next weekend. Since I call myself Mama Bookworm maybe the next post will be about a book or the very least Legos!

Pinteresting

I discovered Pinterest. It's like Columbus discovering America. The site is amazing and interesting and oh so fun. I found this quote "comparison is the thief of joy" (on Pinterest) and I wanted to make sure that I utilize Pinterest and enjoy it without allowing it to steal my joy. Thusly.

I decided to take something I find on Pinterest and use it - weekly. Whether it is making a scrumptious recipe or trying out a craft (which would be fun to watch, seriously me and crafts are like vinegar and water) or attempting a new and improved cleaning method or even (gasp) undertake a new exercise routine - I am going to USE my new knowledge not abuse my curiosity and interest in clothes or perfect homes.

So sit back and enjoy my "Pinetersting Experiment"

Experiment 1

Success! I tried the Over Baked Parmesan Seasoned Fries http://playwithsugar.blogspot.com/2009/07/oven-baked-parmesan-seasoned-fries.html. Holy Toledo! In a word - YUM. Even my child who is notoriously fickle about his fries asked me to make these delicious spuds again. Practically fool proof too, as I mentioned on Facebook, I was half way through baking - yes baking these little tots are good for you! - when I realized I forgot the Parmesan, truly a disaster as they are called oven baked PARMESAN fries. I pulled the tuber sticks out of the oven dumped the whole thing back into the Ziploc bag I used to get the other seasoning on the fries, added the parm and placed back in the oven. Even with my culinary skills these little darlings made this Idaho Potato smile. This recipe is now on our permanent love list.

Additional Note: I made this again last night and they were even better than the first time!

Experiment 2

Disaster! Here are the exact directions: Section hair into 5-10 big sections then braid each in a loose braid. Run a flat iron over each braid, let them cool down, spray hairspray and undo braids. Okay I don't know if I don't braid correctly or if my hair is just too short but my hair was kinky and frizzy and out of control, except on the top of my skull which was stick straight. I looked like the Mad Hatter without his hat!

Short guy was like whoa, what did you do to your hair! Fortunately I had plenty of time to straighten it before work! Now, I wouldn't dismiss this as it is highly likely that this was operator error but I don't think I will try it again.

Experiment 3

Indifferent. Slow Cooker Smothered Chicken. Eh. http://slow-cooker.recipes-network.net/smothered-chicken.html

I wasn't impressed but I didn't gag it up either. Chicken is always good in the slow cooker because it is so moist and just falls apart. I love that! But the combo of soups and flavors was just, well like I said, eh. The boy ate a couple bites and then proceeded to create his butter and salt rice creation. If I don't watch carefully he will dump WAY to much salt on it. I think I will move on to a different slow cooker chicken recipe. Call me a website snob but I also thought the website looked a bit amateurish. Not that I could do any better but I would figure it out if I was pandering to the masses.

I am excited to try my next Pinteresting Experiment. I think I will try 'healthy' banana bread - sounds mildly frightening. And a craft - sounds terrifying!

Vocal Point

I am sitting at my desk on Thursday afternoon and get a random email from one of the secretaries in the building. That happens more often than one would think, I was about to delete when I thought hmmm could have some interesting information. So I pop open the email and open the first attachment, classical music on a Saturday afternoon, hmmm no. Not that I don't like classical music, especially in the afternoon on a Saturday but I never know when I am or am not going to have Sam and he can only take so much classical music. Thinking that yes, I should just close the email and get back to work I open the next attachment. Vocal Point in the small theater - just across the street! Awesome. Not so awesome it is on Saturday, this Saturday. I call up the ticket office thinking they will be sold out. NOPE! I scored three tickets. I invited a friend that I was supposed to go see a movie with on Saturday but then I ended up having Sam so no movie for us but fortunately or unfortunately - depending on how you look at it - she couldn't go. Sam wanted to invite his friend Aiden.

We had perfect seats, not that there are any bad seats in a theater that seats 1,000 people. After we sat down my boss sat down next to us so I told the kids, "Be REALLY good!" I didn't really need to tell them that, they were well behaved gentlemen.

The concert was so fun. It was funny, uplifting, high quality entertainment. I asked the boys what their favorite songs were: Sam said his was Game Day which is very entertaining to watch and Aiden said his favorite was when 'that guy' (that would be Tanner) did the beat boxing thing. I have to admit that was one of my favorite moments too. I loved every moment but I thought it was hilarious when the 'deep base guy' (that would be Robert) did an Elmo voice, the best Elmo impersonation I have ever heard and then when one of the other members said "What part does Elmo sing?" He said in an Elmo voice, "Elmo likes to sing..." And then in a really deep rich base "BASE" So funny. They also sang some spiritual songs.

At the end they said they would be signing autographs at Deseret Book both Sam and Aiden looked at me with big eyes and pleading faces. Oh alright, we'll go. Happy children!

 Tanner and Robert were so cute with the kids asking them their names and what their favorite songs were both Sam and Aiden asked to see Tanner's 'neck' mic - I have never seen anything like it! We learned a lot about beatboxing!

 I wish the pics weren't so blurry but everything happened so fast. Sam was so excited to shake McKay's hand. They were all so friendly and great with the kids.

 Smiley happy people!

I couldn't pass up the chance to buy a CD and let the boys get signatures. Both of them were like "I am going to keep mine forever", "I am going to protect it from the ninjas" Seriously they were so funny about it.

The night was so fun. Thanks Aiden for coming with us we had a FANTASTIC time!