Please Hold...

I'm supposed to be closing on my house in the morning.  Unfortunately...that just isn't going to happen.

I'm ready!  The sellers are ready!  I've completed enough forms that I think I may have killed a few trees.  My loan is approved, got the home owners insurance all set....but the current lien-holding bank hasn't approved the sale.

I know I'm not alone.  This is the story of thousands and thousands of short sales in process right now...but it's still a bit frustrating and disappointing.

On the bright side - I'm going to start scouting out living room sets (I'd buy it now if I could guarantee that I'd have somewhere to put it in a month!), catch up on some reading, go to the beach, and otherwise enjoy a five day weekend.  :-)

Celebrating Mom

Ladies, today was mom's last day of chemo!  I'm so happy for her.  I always knew how strong she was - and making it through multiple surgeries, pulmonary embolisms & chemo treatments has made me appreciate that strength all the more.

From here, she needs to go through HER2 treatments every three weeks for the next year.  In one way - these treatments are going to be a piece of cake in comparison to the chemo cocktail she was on.  But, these treatments come with risk and her oncologist says that heart problems are something that she keeps her eye on during this time.

I will be so relieved when she makes it through her HER2 treatments and is one step closer to being in remission!  Plus, that means she can go visit her friends in England - something she's been looking forward to for MONTHS.

Way to go, Mom.  You rock!

Tuesdays At The Table - Dragon's Breath Dip

Happy Tuesday! I can't believe that July is almost over.  Where has the summer gone?  Oh yeah, it's been a heatwave and we've all been stuck indoors!  I hope August is a bit better to everyone.

I'm supposed to close on my house this Friday.  It's still really iffy, so if everyone could keep their fingers crossed for me - I'd appreciate it!  Even if I do close on the house and am in process of moving - I will have a TATT post for you.  :-)

I've seen a few different variations of this recipe...but this one is my favorite.

Dragon's Breath Dip

2 heads garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 oz. Brie cheese
1 (3-oz.) small pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash or two of fresh cracked pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut top 1/2" off the top of the garlic heads and remove some of the loose papery skin, leaving the heads intact. Place each on a piece of aluminum foil, drizzle each with the olive oil, and wrap tightly. Bake at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes, until the garlic is very soft and begins to brown. Cool until easy to handle and squeeze each head to remove the soft roasted cloves.

In a food processor, process Brie cheese and cream cheese with the salt, pepper, and garlic cloves.  Refrigerate several hours to blend flavors.  Serve with melba toast, crackers, crustini or the like.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Bambi

JC and the boys came across an unfortunately scene yesterday.  Momma deer had been hit by a car and killed... How sad!  They soon realized that hiding nearby was Bambi.

Here she is.  Isn't she cute?!?!

Bambi has been turned over to the local SPCA to be taken care of.  The boys got to play with a baby deer and do their good deed for the day.  :-)

Good work, boys!

Scenes From A Commute

I spend A LOT of time in my car commuting back and forth to work.  Luckily, I really like my car - and have fun driving.  :-)

I have seen some WEIRD stuff lately though!  In the few weeks I have been witness to the following:

• A week and a half ago - A driver with his left leg hanging out the window.  Yes, sir - I understand that your tall.  However, that's one party trick I don't need to see again!  I was afraid you were going to lose your leg when another car passed you.  (He wasn't really in danger of losing his leg...I just get nervous about that kind of stuff!)
• Last Saturday - A black lab in the back of a pick-up truck.  Not tethered, not leashed, not buckled in - STANDING UP as his/her owner went barrelling down the highway.  Maybe I'm a bitch - but I view this as animal cruelty.  No one EVER intends for their beloved pet to get injured - but putting that pet in a position that increases the odds is COMPLETELY unacceptable to me.  Plus...I kinda think it's illegal in Massachusetts.  I'll have to research that.
• Yesterday - Someone eating soup while driving home.  Not horrible...just weird!  And how do you not wear half your soup?  Do you steer with your knees so you can keep the bowl in one hand and the spoon in the other?
• Last Tuesday - A car coming from the opposite direction weaving in and out of traffic by the mall.  This driver was weaving and speeding so much that he/she lost control of the car and flipped over.  There is nothing at the mall that's worth almost killing yourself!
• Today - Three motorcycles popping wheelies in the middle of rush hour traffic.  Dumb asses happened to do this for the third or fourth time after a large bend in the road - and right into the sight line of a state cop.  I laughed for a good five minutes as they got pulled over. (Yes, I'm mean!)
• And the piece de resistance - last Thursday. Whilst sitting in traffic as I headed towards the Cape, I had the distinct pleasure *gag* of seeing a couple being intimate.  Sure, kiss and hug in the car.  That's your run of the mill PDA.  However, when my SUV looks down into your little red sports car and sees a bobbing head, you've crossed the line of acceptable behavior.  Um, hi!  It's light out!  You're engaging in a sexual activity in PUBLIC!  My lane of traffic moved faster than yours... at least 4 more cars had to pass you!  And finally - EWWWW!  Bring that car for a wash (inside and out) now-ish please!

So...see anything weird while driving lately?

Tuesdays At The Table - Heirloom Tomato Salad Dressing

Happy Tuesday, ladies!  We're still in the midst of a heatwave.  It stinks for me and my asthma...but my tomatoes - especially the heirloom ones - LOVE the heat!  Sorry I don't have a picture to share, but I didn't think to take one until about an hour ago and we're in the middle of some strong thunderstorms.  Hmm... maybe I'll do a post on my garden later this week.  :-)

Heirloom Tomato Salad Dressing

3 cups chopped  heirloom tomatoes (about 7-8 tomatoes)
1 generous sprig fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup grated parmesan

Put all ingredients into the blender, and blend a full minute until mixture is creamy. Pour into a narrow neck bottle and shake well before serving. Refrigerate leftovers. Keeps about a week and makes about 3 1/2 cups.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Asthma

My asthma has hit me hard this summer....

I was a preemie, so I've always had slightly under-developed lungs, but I didn't officially get diagnosed with asthma until I was 12. 

Really - I'm lucky!  With some hard work and really good drugs, I've been able to control it for the most part.  Knock on wood, no trips to the ER for an asthma attack in almost a decade.  But, the heat and humidity have made life really difficult this summer.  Wheezing abounds almost as soon as I leave an air conditioned environment.  Which, frankly, sucks!!  It's awfully hard to go out and "play" if you are limited to only indoor activities that are fairly sedate.

Because of this - I've come to realize that most people really don't understand asthma. I have a fabulous pulmonologist who put my asthma in perspective for my mom shortly after I was diagnosed.  For me - I good day is like breathing through a regular straw.  A bad day? Well, it's kinda like breathing through a coffee stirrer.  If you ever want to experience the life of an asthmatic - try breathing through a straw for a few minutes.  It's exhausting!

I was on the elevator in the parking garage last night and a woman looked at me and asked "not to breath so loud".  Um...lady...I'm WHEEZING.  So sorry, but I have no control over that, mmkay?!  I choose to think that she's uneducated about asthma, not ignorant.  What?  I'm just nice like that!

Now, who wants to go to the movies or out to dinner so I can at least get out of the house?  :-)

Tuesdays At The Table - Peanut Butter & Banana Pup-sicles

Thank you all for the birthday wishes!  You know how to make a girl feel special.  :-)  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

We are still in the midst of a heat wave - ICK!  And as much as the heat is bothering me, it's my pups that I really feel bad for.  How to make them feel better?  Pup-sicles of course!

Peanut Butter & Banana Pup-sicles

4 cups plain (or vanilla) yogurt
2 large bananas (mashed well)
[Alternatively - peach baby food works well too]
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup wheat germ

Microwave the peanut butter a bit to make it easier to work with.  Mix all ingredients together well and pour into ice cube trays.  Freeze for 1-2 hours and serve to your adorable pups.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yep, today is my birthday.  :-)  I refuse to acknowledge that I've aged...but I still enjoy my birthday.  My parents always get me the best gifts.

I asked for this:

But got this:

Fair trade, right?!?!  With the (impending) purchase of my house, I guess this year is about the "practical" gift.  Honestly, LOVE coffee - this is an AMAZING gift.

I got a few other house-centric gifts too - some towels, new pots and pans, and cute pink kitchen gadgets. :-)

I Can't Decide!

I'm less than a month away from closing on my house.  Given that it's a short sale - nothing is guaranteed until I actually  close.  That means I can't order furniture, set-up utilities, start changing my address on bills, etc.

If you know me - you know I am ORGANIZED!!  I hate "last minute".  So, I'm bound and determined to have a list of utility companies to call when I really do have the last document signs.  Presuming my hand isn't broken from signing a forest of paperwork, I want to get EVERYTHING set-up that day.  (Yes, I am unrealistically ambitious...thanks for noticing!)

Your going to laugh at me...but where I'm stuck is cable/Internet/phone.  Do I do bundled services?  Buy each separately?  Seriously, ladies.  I NEEEEED your advice!

I'm really considering both Comcast and DirectTV.  Anyone have positive or negative experience to share?

Tuesdays At The Table - Honey Mustard Dressing

Happy Tuesday!  I hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend.  I started my weekend with a Girls' Night - we did dinner and Eclipse (which I'll post about later) and then spent most of my weekend just relaxing and shopping for stuff for the house.  Ahh, I needed this little break!  :-)

I LOVE honey mustard!  I use it for chicken fingers, salad dressing, and sometimes to dip celery and carrots in.  I know, I know...I should have a brilliant recipe to share after a long weekend.  However, we're in the middle of a heat-wave, and my brain is fried!

Honey Mustard Dressing

1 1/2 cups real mayonnaise - low-fat okay
1/4 cup Grey Poupon® Mustard
1/2 cup honey

Stir all ingredients together until well combined.  Refrigerate for an hour or so...and serve!

What's cooking in your kitchen?

The Doggie Name Game

Frankie decided that there should be a name game for the 4th - and my pups agree.

Carmella Bay- My name is Hebrew for garden or orchard.  I was almost Freckles...but my Grammy's dog started with that name. Sure, his name ended up as Lucky, but I wanted a name that was all me. :-) And, um, the Soprano's was popular when I was a pup.

Meadow Breeze - My name is English for um...well, you know.  When my mom found me she knew right away that I was either a Meadow or a Willow.  The ladies at the Delta ticket counter made her name me before I could get on the plane.  So, Meadow it was.  And I like it!

Beckett Scout - My name is English, but there's a debate over what it means.  It's either "dweller near the brook" or "beehive/bee cottage".  I prefer the whole "live near the water" thingy.  Cuz I'm allergic to bees and the irony isn't lost on me.  The lovely ladies at Delta pressured mom again to name me before I flew home.  For a few days - my name was MacAllister. I'm so much happier as Beckett.

And now that we've pointed out what a hippie goof-ball our mom is...pups and kitties, how did you get your name?

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! I hope you're out enjoying the fresh air, a good cook-out, the company of family and friend & some fireworks!

Sending My Prayers To Cohen...

What: Moment of Silence for Cohen and Loving Support to Megan & Brent


When: Thursday July 1st from midnight to 11:59 pm.

How: Bloggers participating will post the Cohen banner (above) or simply post Cohen’s name in large letters on their blog.

Why: July 1st Megan and Brent will be holding Cohen’s memorial service. The moment of silence is an opportunity for Megan’s blog followers to show their love and support to her during this difficult time. Linking up will give Megan a chance to see just what an impact her son had on those around him.

Participating bloggers can Link Up on today at Send Love To Cohen.

P.S. ((MWAH)) to Sara whos post I "borrowed" as my starting point. 

Retail Therapy

I close on my house in less than a month! I’m so nervous…so excited…so unprepared!


I’d love to say that I’ve bought my new living room set, a new fridge and washer & dryer. But, the house I’m buying is a short sale. Absolutely nothing is set in stone until I pass papers. That means no big purchases. Instead, I’m passing my time with little purchases. All the stuff that I need and won’t be a pain in the a$$ to keep sitting in boxes if my closing doesn’t go as planned.

Yesterday I found these! Love them! The best part (other than the obvious – HELLO, they’re PINK!!!) is that they support a good cause (KitchenAid’s Cook For A Cure). Plus, a two piece KitchenAid set for thirty dollars! I’m all over that. :-)