tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28682177546488730982024-03-05T19:52:54.004-05:00Stories from the road.......A girl and her LAPBAND on a road trip......
who I am, where I am going and all the adventures along the way.....Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.comBlogger1840125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-27218167388840372502015-04-02T05:01:00.000-04:002015-04-02T05:01:00.108-04:00HOPPING DOWN THE BUNNY TRAIL! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9M0QPCUHUU_vvd3lSa74Y5nh9vnvJEehl8I-aOj0pP6Drx1v5brktYlOqTUKnLK18OvSRvv_suvunkDipL-6Zh6AEkCJdwl1JLn3kd2ffFzfYowm3DS0Weg_olTGe8anMr38f9eLSr2T/s1600/Hopping+down+the+bunny+trail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9M0QPCUHUU_vvd3lSa74Y5nh9vnvJEehl8I-aOj0pP6Drx1v5brktYlOqTUKnLK18OvSRvv_suvunkDipL-6Zh6AEkCJdwl1JLn3kd2ffFzfYowm3DS0Weg_olTGe8anMr38f9eLSr2T/s1600/Hopping+down+the+bunny+trail.JPG" height="227" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Hippety, hoppety Easter is on it's way! </i></span></td></tr>
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We are taking the Bunny Trail on a little Easter weekend road trip. </div>
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A much, much needed one. </div>
My resident engineer is just returning from a rather annoying business trip to Atlanta....where everything that could go wrong....<i>did.</i> In fact, what did go wrong even managed to send me into a bit of a tail spin for a few hours. He somehow managed to lose his phone...dropping it in a parking lot. When he finally found it....it appears he had run over it....<i>goodbye phone.</i> But, he didn't know anyone's phone number (they are all programmed in his phone!) and no one could reach him. So, of course, I thought he was laying dead somewhere in an alley in Atlanta.....not a good way to spend the early hours of April Fool's Day!! Like many of us.... his phone is his lifeline for everything---from is daily appointments, his email, his connection to his office....<i>everything. </i> By the time he and I connected, he was not a very pleasant guy to talk to and although I was relieved that he wasn't dead in an alley, I was in serious need of some sleep. He was hoping to get an earlier flight out but due to the loss of his phone (where he had his boarding pass loaded and all of his flight info!), he had to take care of some details...which delayed him enough that he's on a later flight.....<br />
<i>Yeah, not good. </i><br />
And, if I haven't mentioned it yet---my dear fashionista daughter accepted a new job a few weeks ago....working for the first time "behind the scenes of fashion"....in the corporate office of a very large retail organization. Although it was hard for her to leave a place she loved, she knew this was a great opportunity. It's been a very overwhelming few weeks for her and I've found myself picking up my cheerleading pom-poms more times in the past few weeks than I ever had to with her! <br />
<i>But, it's all good </i><br />
<br />
SO......<br />
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This year, for the first time in over 30-some years, I will not be shackled to my kitchen for close to 3 solid days whipping up the traditional Italian Easter favorites and I won't be entertaining a gadzillion family and friends. Although many of the traditional foods are welcomed, there are a few that no one really cares about. <i>Except me.</i> I care about them so I make them. And, then....I eat them. For days and days and days. </div>
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So, yes....we are breaking with tradition this year. We are loading up the car and going to visit my son the doctor.</div>
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We're hoping to just relax and enjoy some very rare family time......<i>just the 4 of us</i>...and our darling grand dog.</div>
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Friday, we plan to visit a few of our favorite shopping spots and markets and then enjoy what my son is telling us will be a culinary adventure in his gourmet kitchen. I am so looking forward to that! He's a super creative cook and spends enormous amounts of time and energy on planning every aspect of a meal. And.....he is extremely careful to hunt down local products and produce. <i> It fills me with great pride.....not to mention a great meal! </i></div>
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On Saturday, we have some loose plans....visiting a new brew co op our son joined, doing the mid-day wine tasting at a <a href="http://www.arrowwineandspirits.com/Wine___Beer_Tastings.html">wonderful wine, spirit and gourmet shop</a> we stumbled upon a few years ago </div>
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and then we have reservations at a Latin tapas restaurant that's been getting rave reviews for Saturday night as our official Easter celebration. </div>
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No <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pizza-rustica-recipe.html">Easter Pizza Rustica</a> (similar recipe) or <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/ricotta-pie-old-italian-recipe/">Sweet Easter Pie </a>(similar recipe, although I add chopped marachino cherries too) in sight.........</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Sending you all the blessings of Easter.....</i></b></span></div>
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Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-73823481389177641822015-04-01T12:50:00.000-04:002015-04-01T12:50:00.087-04:00Who is the FOOL?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD-__ym9lIou6EnumBG5_UpKahfvxWgDaRmvFwegRmhqzplcbtD6iJo4fEQEkDm-ZQRTPfvkvgb9RZcPKV1OV4yUNnubz4og1QomamYDX9YeE7eyiwgY1Nuy4rG-DertwVxzfJG2eod4-/s1600/April+fools!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD-__ym9lIou6EnumBG5_UpKahfvxWgDaRmvFwegRmhqzplcbtD6iJo4fEQEkDm-ZQRTPfvkvgb9RZcPKV1OV4yUNnubz4og1QomamYDX9YeE7eyiwgY1Nuy4rG-DertwVxzfJG2eod4-/s1600/April+fools!.jpg" height="320" width="306" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>APRIL FOOL!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Truth: There's nothing easy about it........</i></span>Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-17726386387929413132015-03-31T05:43:00.000-04:002015-03-31T05:43:00.580-04:00Confessions of a BAD GIRL.......<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJLhvt-kBPQQXaQ3Fpuv8rDTYr4tO8YySU2O9H7ZFTD16YVds7zMwtm3oPG1nl03ACHURxzfRlT_ehaBNC7T2BTw7HoAzXX8ytYUBdHHp1clOU9D6gGpGa9H_82oGfijXeb1CPOIbHAVi/s1600/good-girls-go-to-heaven-bad-girls-go-everywhere-34.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJLhvt-kBPQQXaQ3Fpuv8rDTYr4tO8YySU2O9H7ZFTD16YVds7zMwtm3oPG1nl03ACHURxzfRlT_ehaBNC7T2BTw7HoAzXX8ytYUBdHHp1clOU9D6gGpGa9H_82oGfijXeb1CPOIbHAVi/s1600/good-girls-go-to-heaven-bad-girls-go-everywhere-34.png" height="320" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">So, where was Judi?</span></b></i></td></tr>
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I have NEVER taken a month off from blogging. <br />
Then, again...in the past 7 years, I have never taken a month off from exercise, good eating, taking care of myself, respecting my band and all of those things that keep the pounds away.<br />
But, I did it.<br />
And, boy did I DO IT! <br />
My bad behavior has caught up with me......in the form of <i>almost 20 pounds. </i><br />
<i><b>THERE! I SAID IT! 20. TWENTY......</b>(hopefully, this the first step in my recovery.....)<b><br /></b></i><br />
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<i> </i><br />
There are pants that don't fit.<br />
There are mirror reflections that I just can't bear to catch.<br />
And, there's that daily ritual of blogging that is no longer happening. <br />
It's all making me quite an unhappy girl. <br />
Unhappy is a very familiar way......where my avoidance, my reckless behavior and my weight gain makes me miserable. <br />
Those feelings from long ago when I could not stop a fast moving train, of feeling defeated and ashamed....<b>they are back. </b><br />
With a sad, sad vengance. <br />
It's been a very long time since I've been so afflicted. <br />
And, I can tell you.....I didn't miss it. <br />
The havoc it is playing with every fiber of my being is not a fun place to be. <br />
Sure, I am out there living my life and doing all the things that I normally do.<br />
In the harriedness and busyness of my days, I manage to push it aside.<br />
In fact, I keep myself even busier. I tell myself that<u><i> this</i></u> must get done or <u><i>that </i></u>must happen.<br />
I occupy my brain with self-manufactured to-do lists that are never ending and are humanly impossible. But, I keep making those lists and finding those distractions..... <br />
But, in the darkness of my bedroom as I lay my head down on the pillow, I am faced with the reality of what my world has become.....I am living in fear of the pounds and I am feeling powerless. In fact, I am doing everything I can to avoid it. <i>I have filled every second of my days with work and toil so that I can avoid what is really happening.......</i><br />
At 56 years old, I know myself too well. <br />
What's a girl to do?<br />
Sure, I know the answers. But, what I really need is the true motivation to do what I need to do. <br />
<i>Where, oh, where has my motivation gone? </i><br />
As I sit and analyze it all....the only thing I can think of are poor-me reasons that I can't fix what is happening to me.....<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I miss the newness of my Lapband. <br />I miss those days when I didn't know how to eat around it or fool it.</i></div>
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<i>I miss those moments when I was maniacally devoted to ridding my life of 100 pounds! </i></div>
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<i>I miss the daily challenges and rewards.</i></div>
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<i>I miss the kinship of sharing my journey with new banders as we navigated the ups and downs and highs and lows of Lapbanded life.</i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
<br />
Sadly, I know exactly what I am doing to myself. <br />
I need to break the cycle. <br />
I need to find the courage and the strength to stop all this craziness.<br />
I am just not sure how. <br />
<br />
Whoever said having weight loss surgery was the easy way out?<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Off with their heads!!!</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Yes, I have missed you.<br />
I hope you missed me too. <br />
<br />
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<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-35922063669169903712015-02-26T05:27:00.000-05:002015-02-26T05:27:00.717-05:00Lapbanded Life......Seven Years and Half Years Later......<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>What's it like? </i></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<br />
Well, let me tell you what it's like on the OUTSIDE...... <br /><span style="font-size: large;">It's like this......</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_t7dUdE0s05FxufRaZ6eRUCFMnLqqgsVgh_UEnaU8PUCDrhlUhBb2v3RcACSv8zFGrtJrnFiKSbIQa3cZm7rQtFLZ7WBl4fGgoCLSHxVkAWpDpd35h0_JufF_j6iOICG7S0lt9BNqFfE/s1600/February+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_t7dUdE0s05FxufRaZ6eRUCFMnLqqgsVgh_UEnaU8PUCDrhlUhBb2v3RcACSv8zFGrtJrnFiKSbIQa3cZm7rQtFLZ7WBl4fGgoCLSHxVkAWpDpd35h0_JufF_j6iOICG7S0lt9BNqFfE/s1600/February+2015.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">February 2015....out to dinner in the neighborhood...with my cutie husband and my pretty Goddaughter Ashley....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, NOT like this......</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxqXvGJz8uC6hyphenhyphenMrTocNQCVGe4Ni4XxoHDK14VsNxnc3Hr_i9vupTj_5c7lqy4ugsgYgvpkay0n21pgWv7mpgcJsAACnpQieau6fvAfMPh_fVp-ej_uBTe7rMu6hbcrJttr31lqH1k0uT/s1600/Leaving+for+surgery-August+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxqXvGJz8uC6hyphenhyphenMrTocNQCVGe4Ni4XxoHDK14VsNxnc3Hr_i9vupTj_5c7lqy4ugsgYgvpkay0n21pgWv7mpgcJsAACnpQieau6fvAfMPh_fVp-ej_uBTe7rMu6hbcrJttr31lqH1k0uT/s1600/Leaving+for+surgery-August+10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day of surgery.....August 10, 2007....don't ask what I was doing....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>This is what Lapbanded life is like Seven and Half Years Later on the inside.....</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
In the early days of Lapbanding, it was all about getting used to a new way of eating.<br />
Yes, there was quite a bit of work involved in it all. <br />
I had angst and frustration and even misery.<br />
But, I always had hope.<br />
THIS<u><b> was</b></u> going to be my last attempt at getting the life that I deserved.<br />
Failure was not going to be an option<i>. NOT. AN.OPTION. </i> <br />
Hope is what helped me through the angst and the frustration and even the misery.<br />
Although there were always new obstacles to tackle, I was pushed to make it work by holding on to hope and determinedly staying the course. <br />
I was not the perfect Lapbander. <br />
But, I told myself that I wasn't on this journey to reach perfection. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Just smaller pants. </i></span> <br />
There were pounds gained and moments when I ate nachos and ice cream.<br />
But, I adopted a new way of thinking--I wasn't going to let those times stop me from where I was headed. I was going to pick myself up, wipe myself off and remind myself that it was a new day and a new chance to get it right. That <i>new </i>way of thinking was harder than I ever thought possible. <i>Old habits are hard to break.... </i><br />
There were times when I felt tired and overwhelmed by needing to lose <i>100 pounds.</i> <br />
I would be knocked down and unmotivated and would feel tremendously sorry for myself. <br />
Those were the times when the only thing that helped me was to connect with other Lapbanders or write a blog post. I needed tangible, living, breathing reminders of that I was not alone on my journey. <br />
That is what I needed and who I was. I wasn't following a script. <br />
There was no magic formula. There was no right way to do it. <br />
There was just hard work....+ hope+determination. <br />
I'm NOT saying there weren't rewards and payoffs along the way because there were! <i>Lots of them. </i><br />
REWARDS ARE NEEDED TO KEEP THE HOPE ALIVE! <br />
I was so right to have HOPE! <br />
And that same HOPE will sustain me. <br />
Because I still need it. <br />
Why? <br />
Because..this journey has NO DESTINATION, IT DOES NOT END.<br />
Even though I thought I got my Lapband to help me get the weight off , <u>what I really need it is to <i><b>keep</b></i> the weight off. </u><br />
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<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-2827000869403081632015-02-25T05:03:00.000-05:002015-02-25T05:03:00.251-05:0050 Shades of Grey?No, I'm not going to talk about <i>that </i>movie. <br />
You know how I feel about it....now, let's move on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15UwSmP8Ij5yu2MS-O5tZdMJxqWSYny-is0ihQr3jy7nSpgSzom7XUbB3fYYELWJMdr6TKSpAGlpHDM5DESRFKqqpPhmf7l0q-TniOhztnyn90loa6KomfwJuR1-ab9R2aszTR9IjrWCL/s1600/keep-calm-and-go-grey-5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15UwSmP8Ij5yu2MS-O5tZdMJxqWSYny-is0ihQr3jy7nSpgSzom7XUbB3fYYELWJMdr6TKSpAGlpHDM5DESRFKqqpPhmf7l0q-TniOhztnyn90loa6KomfwJuR1-ab9R2aszTR9IjrWCL/s1600/keep-calm-and-go-grey-5.png" height="320" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or, should I give up and dye?</td></tr>
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<br />
This past weekend, I got snowed in at the mall.<br />
That's more of a fun fantasy that any novel or movie about <i>50 Shades of....</i>oh you know what I mean. <br />
Ah, I digress.<br />
So, how did I get snowed in at the mall and what does that have to do with <i>grey anything?</i><br />
Well....you see.....it goes like this.....being the anxious parent that I am, I did not want my darling daughter to venture out into Saturday's snowstorm to go to work. She had to get to work by 9 am. It was 7 am and it was the height of the storm and the news was blaring about road conditions and all of the storm that was still due to hit in the next few hours. And, all reports pointed towards staying off the roads!!! The salt trucks and plows had not had a chance to make the roads between the mall and our home safe to drive.<br />
So, as any good mother---I told her she was not allowed to drive. <i> But, I didn't want to drive either.</i> So, as any good wife would do.... I riled my husband out of his peaceful slumber and ordered him to dig our 4-wheel drive vehicle out of the driveway and demanded that he chauffeur our daughter to work. And, I promised to ride along.....<br />
What does this have to do with <i>grey anything....?</i><br />
<i>Stay with me here....it will all make perfect sense soon enough.... </i><br />
Anyway....the trip to the mall: blinded by the blizzard, barreling through slick side streets and coasting down a narrow, car lined, snow covered main road, then through the tunnel, over the icey river, on to the snow covered parkway, over another icey river and down a hilly, windy, slippy road--- was not fun at all. But, we got there after our harrowing and very messy drive and delivered our precious cargo to her door....just as the storm was bearing down even heavier. <br />
Instead of turning around to go home, we decided to head into the mall to get our Starbucks fix and maybe walk around until the snow plows had a chance to clean up the main roads--with the hopes that during that time, the snow would slow down enough to make visibility a little easier. <br />
Needless to say, the mall was a complete ghost town. Even as the stores slowly opened their gates, it was eerily quiet and unusually peaceful....<i>for a mall. </i> <br />
About an hour into our mall meandering, our daughter texted us that she would probably be leaving a little after noon due to the slow business. So, we decided that we might as well stick around the mall instead of drive home and then drive back to pick her up.<br />
Carmen decided he was going to get a massage so I opted to walk around and see what I could see.<br />
That's when I ran into a storefront called "StyleOut"....it was a hair and make up bar for "quick makeovers and glamourizing".....<br />
It was exactly what the doctor had ordered. I was in between haircuts, I was feeling particularly unattractive and old, my grey roots had sprouted and were very visible and I was certain that a new hairstyle would fix me right up. <br />
The blow-out expert was thrilled to see me enter the door and eager to have business and <i>someone to talk to. </i>She had a great style about her, she wasn't some 20 year old with tatooes all over her arms and piercings on very surface of her face and I liked her hairstyle! <i>She could be trusted. </i><br />
<i> </i>So, I told her my sad tale of woe---I had never had anyone other than my sister-the-hairdresser cut and color my hair, I was tired of my hair style, I was sick of dealing with grey roots and I desperately wanted to look like<a href="http://therighthairstyles.com/15-spectacular-lisa-rinna-hairstyles/"> Lisa Rinna.</a> (minus the lips). Could she help me?<br />
She sat me in her chair and examined my head and my hair carefully.<br />
<i>"Do you know that you are completely grey?" </i> she asked me.<br />
How would I know....I'm addicted to the bottle!!! <br />
The fact that I was completely grey was not what I wanted to hear. <br />
When I grimaced, she laughed--<i>"the good news is that it's a beautiful grey!" </i><br />
I smiled a bit.<br />
"<i>And, you have wonderful hair! It has such great potential!'</i> she told me.<br />
Potential? <i> </i>It has potential???? I am walking around with unused potential?<br />
<i>"I am going to suggest you consider letting your hair go completely grey!" </i>she said with great enthusiasm. <i>"It would go great with your coloring, your hair would be more healthy and I know you would love it. I can tell from your style that you</i><i><i> would be the perfect candidate for it! You could carry it off!" </i></i><br />
I had to think about it. <br />
In the meantime, she went about styling my hair......<br />
And, I have to say--when I left, I felt fabulous.<br />
A 20 minute blow out and a little pouf here and a little wisp there....was all it took. <br />
No, I didn't look like Lisa Rinna. But, I could feel my mood lifted.<br />
Always a good thing.<br />
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A little while later, I met up with Carmen and even though he thought I didn't look much different, I corrected him---<i>yes, I looked much better. </i> Men!! <br />
I told him about my blow-out experience and admitted that the idea of going grey was starting to appeal to me.<br />
"<i>Really???</i>" he asked in great shock. <i>"No! I don't think so...." </i> was his reaction.<br />
No man was going to tell me <i>NO! I don't think so</i>. It was my hair. I would decide. <br />
<i>He is not Christian Grey..... </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, what do you think????</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Should I go grey?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(well, I guess I am really grey.....) </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, the real question is...should I stop hitting the bottle? </span></span><br />
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<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-30999792590311750952015-02-24T04:59:00.000-05:002015-02-24T04:59:00.292-05:00Dear Winter,<i>You have my permission to go now. You are making me very cranky. At least I hope it's <u><b>YOU</b></u> that's making me so cranky and not the gazillion other things that could possibly be making me a cranky girl. </i><br />
<i>Because lately, I am becoming a girl I don't even know....</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxL5BGzKK983v1p_fKvhlU4SvHphBsgfqB5ciW5ty_LpYneZGgIGEzCpCN16RP7Db1VEcufpEpOR0T1MNtySB-IE0KVPs0KRTjWEjk6t3UXi8jeZtnLEjUzp3Vaoh-kPGyZRJSSdPIgVt/s1600/cold+day+in+hell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxL5BGzKK983v1p_fKvhlU4SvHphBsgfqB5ciW5ty_LpYneZGgIGEzCpCN16RP7Db1VEcufpEpOR0T1MNtySB-IE0KVPs0KRTjWEjk6t3UXi8jeZtnLEjUzp3Vaoh-kPGyZRJSSdPIgVt/s1600/cold+day+in+hell.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, it's another cold day in the <b>hell that is winter!</b></td></tr>
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One of the many upsides of doing a blog for a long as I have is that I have a diary of what I was thinking, what I was feeling, what I was doing and even how I looked day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month and year-by-year. <br />
Every so often, I take myself back to check on my past. Sometimes it helps me to see that I really have come a long way and other times, it reminds me of past situations that may help me deal with something in the moment or something in the future. Then, there's other times that I realize that as much as I think I've overcome something--it's still with me....reminding me that I just need to fight my way towards finally overcoming it or telling myself that it's okay that I haven't been able to do it!<br />
Last night, as I was pondering my blog post for today, I was consumed by a feeling of dejavu. <br />
I wanted to yell and scream at winter and kick my feet and pound my fists and share my weariness and frustration....it felt <u>very</u> familiar to me. Like I had said it all before. <br />
<i>Why was it so familiar? Do I do that often? Aren't I just a sunny, optimistic, happy person?</i><br />
That's what brought me to check on my past blog posts. <br />
I started with all the Februarys over the years. <br />
WHATTA WAKE UP CALL!!! <br />
<i>Evidently, I bitch and moan my way through February all of the time.</i><br />
Oh, my poor blog readers....having to put up with me!<br />
Funny thing was that I didn't even recognize ME. <br />
Although I am very sure that I wrote all of those <i>bitching and moaning</i> posts, I was shocked that I felt that way so often in February...<i>like. almost. every. damn. day. </i><br />
Who would want to hang out with me? <i></i><br />
Who would find any kind of enjoyment from reading my blog?<br />
Tinged with sadness but hoping it was just a February-thing with me, I decided to check on a few other random months in the past to see if my <i>bitching and moaning</i> was much less.<br />
Although I am happy to report that on a <i>bitching and moaning</i> scale, February did seem to take the honors. Shockingly, however....there are other months that aren't too far behind.<br />
Every month seemed to fall victim to at least one, two or maybe ten <i>bitching and moaning</i> posts. <br />
Give me a holiday or a season or an issue or just a damn day and I <i>bitch and moan. </i><br />
It just goes to show you, it's always something...if it ain't one thing, it's another.... (I say in my best <i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Roseanne Roseannadanna</span></span> </i>voice).<br />
Perhaps <i>bitching and moaning women</i> are more funny than ones who gush about the beauty and wonderfulness that is their lives....??<br />
If that's so, I'll bet my dear blog readers just howled laughing their way through all those Februarys.....<br />
Should I apologize that I want/need to bitch and moan today and go into a blog rant about winter and how exhausted I am and how overwhelmed I am and how I hate my hair?<br />
Or, should I just end it right here and thank you for your time?<br />
You pick.....<b><i>I'm too cranky to think right now........</i></b><br />
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<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-40146985838714302052015-02-22T06:39:00.000-05:002015-02-22T06:39:00.185-05:00They like me! THEY REALLY LIKE ME! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc01CbjrL92FC5R1Oiv2eq54POkN6cvI6QKXJcLL5NlTROFN5n05h0mspLFzRg-fFRlRxFByA3P1Qwfz53-0jEQpw8IjI3NtLPeDGOpfbE_V8WAlZFNCoG30IHMXiyz3FH8lL2zl_xGrS2/s1600/and+the+oscar+goes+to......jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc01CbjrL92FC5R1Oiv2eq54POkN6cvI6QKXJcLL5NlTROFN5n05h0mspLFzRg-fFRlRxFByA3P1Qwfz53-0jEQpw8IjI3NtLPeDGOpfbE_V8WAlZFNCoG30IHMXiyz3FH8lL2zl_xGrS2/s1600/and+the+oscar+goes+to......jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting my OSCAR on! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Academy Awards Sunday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Are you planning to join in the fun and fanfare of the Academy Awards?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you have a favorite movie that you are rooting for this year?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Are you rooting for a certain actress or actor? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Or....are you like me and just tune in for the fashion and to have a little Sunday-night-dinner-on-the-couch party? </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tonight, we are forgoing the fancy attire and the over-the-top menu. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not that we really ever did that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">But, we have went to a Red Carpet viewing party a few times and on occasion, we have had people in for a more elaborate spread and Oscar-related activities. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">But, this year, it's just my fashionista daughter and I in our favorite jammies with some wonderful candles burning, a fire in the fireplace and <a href="http://www.wine.com/v6/Nobilo-Sauvignon-Blanc-2013/wine/128099/Detail.aspx?state=PA">a bottle of one of our favorite wines..... </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I'm going into menu planning mode now, then I'm going grocery shopping then I'm meeting up with two of my favorite college friends for a winey, catch-up lunch.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I said last evening:</span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Not every meal has to be AN EVENT....let the TV take the center stage, not the food!"</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(the word according to Judi, February 21, 2015)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i> </span></span></div>
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<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-2736606792195105302015-02-20T05:12:00.000-05:002015-02-20T05:12:00.036-05:00It's FRIDAY! It's FRIGID! <i><b><span style="font-size: large;">And, I am FRIED! </span></b></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarDj_GD-1f3Sd6x7Jg4apQKOPmVxnKRiOQQTRTosVWV9bZRiRZ4cl7oM_RlleYxLxa7l7rlUbqY343BDykAqr-Vy9EW-PLLUdQq4Wty7dYooi4e9HXXKHlF2BOWNMVqCAnErWE1LjUZiF/s1600/Freezing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarDj_GD-1f3Sd6x7Jg4apQKOPmVxnKRiOQQTRTosVWV9bZRiRZ4cl7oM_RlleYxLxa7l7rlUbqY343BDykAqr-Vy9EW-PLLUdQq4Wty7dYooi4e9HXXKHlF2BOWNMVqCAnErWE1LjUZiF/s1600/Freezing.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple weather forecast......</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">~THE END~</span></b></div>
Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-76918113612869852015-02-19T05:06:00.000-05:002015-02-19T05:06:00.327-05:00WHY AM I ALL ALONE????<i>Why am I the only woman who refused to read Fifty Shades of Grey and will DEFINITELY NOT to seeing the movie????</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP07qMXTFEhXv3GtMDOQn3pJrudivCNIqHYCvcrVxT7SXbsG1o4BMzdRt2DjjiaKXCPv3hdNyUM5ojxRF7oZUTvPDVOAugnSYTLHp49Kz5TX1SBbaP6Y6Ck8LZRf0D0V1AVXMu2UQtCEa/s1600/Fifty+Shades+of+Grey+NO!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP07qMXTFEhXv3GtMDOQn3pJrudivCNIqHYCvcrVxT7SXbsG1o4BMzdRt2DjjiaKXCPv3hdNyUM5ojxRF7oZUTvPDVOAugnSYTLHp49Kz5TX1SBbaP6Y6Ck8LZRf0D0V1AVXMu2UQtCEa/s1600/Fifty+Shades+of+Grey+NO!.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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There is not a prude bone in my body. <br />
Not a one. <br />
Go ahead.....give it a whirl....test me out....you will see....this girl never was nor will I ever be a prude. <i> FUCK NO!</i><br />
I am all for the women exploring their sexuality through consent....regardless of the sanctity of the relationship. And, I am about as ga-ga as the next girl when it comes to racey, sexy-hot stuff. Show me a naked, fabulous looking man and I'm gonna peek....and maybe even stare. Hot and steamy stuff give me quite the blush. And, let's not get me started on steamy sex scenes....<br />
<i>Okay, okay....I better stop here before I have a hot flash.... </i><br />
Yes, I know....that might be too much information for you but I just figured I'd get the record straight just in case you think that I am repulsed by the story that's been taking the world by storm because I am a prudish naive, straight-laced, super conservative, chastity-belt wearing 56 year old woman.<br />
Because you know I am not. <i>Anyway, a chastity- belt would make me look fat.... </i><br />
Those who swoon over the very mention of Christian Grey and the movie itself consider my views on the topic as idiotic. Or, as one my wonderful, smart, beloved friends said....<i>"Judi, it's just a fun, fantasy movie..plain and simple...."</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Um....</i></b></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48SQQr5vwjCIlFU6G9i2XgdnXJ0UTAjuhDZKAIUHCAuPGhoSzKiyd-brMhkWLbTHOCPPir3lXrGJ1Wv1HMYT9M2yXtwEgu7DfDEvFDJjY8f6limYqG9kuP04eqq3A729MtcMfb5yUDDKl/s1600/660-50Shades-NatlCtr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48SQQr5vwjCIlFU6G9i2XgdnXJ0UTAjuhDZKAIUHCAuPGhoSzKiyd-brMhkWLbTHOCPPir3lXrGJ1Wv1HMYT9M2yXtwEgu7DfDEvFDJjY8f6limYqG9kuP04eqq3A729MtcMfb5yUDDKl/s1600/660-50Shades-NatlCtr.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is NOT my FANTASY! This is NOT my kind of FUN!</td></tr>
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Why is it that my own daughter and my own sister and many of my own friends (like the one I mentioned above) can't wait to see the movie? <i>Why do they consider it a Romance Movie?</i><br />
And why do<b><u> I</u></b> decide to choose this moment and this movie to dig my heels into the sand and say NO, NO, NO. I mean after all, I really am not a radical person when it comes to most causes. Sure, there are a few. Well, maybe a few more. But, I don't get all postal about them. <i>But, this one?</i> Well, this one just makes me a little crazy. Yes, I admit that part of the problem is that I don't like to be the one in a million person who feels this way! It's not fun being alone on a topic that is setting the female population all a flutter. I like to be aligned with other women and their feelings and beliefs. I want to support other women and what they love and care about!!! <i> I really, really do....</i><br />
And....OMG....I really can't understand the acceptance that my own loved ones have for this move. <i>Haven't I taught them well? Haven't I been a good influence on them? What are they thinking? Where have I gone wrong?</i><br />
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbtFm2vwYfi3vtHfCVwdTqXCRA7ye_b3GgCv_FfzwMi9Qf2i998GKpecRRHUCYnZEnNXpI0xt2FKa-1nbBiD9cPKL5YGZvQe4ZlKISOZLuqFQuoCuWGWMc9hqHDWa3Rb06BJ_2CJakEnA/s1600/50+shades+of+Grey+truth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbtFm2vwYfi3vtHfCVwdTqXCRA7ye_b3GgCv_FfzwMi9Qf2i998GKpecRRHUCYnZEnNXpI0xt2FKa-1nbBiD9cPKL5YGZvQe4ZlKISOZLuqFQuoCuWGWMc9hqHDWa3Rb06BJ_2CJakEnA/s1600/50+shades+of+Grey+truth.jpg" /></a></i></div>
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<i>Here's the deal--- I do not....nor will I ever.....support the glamorization and romanticism of emotional and/ or physical abuse. I will not support the objectification of women or the notion that belittlement and entrapment are forms of romance and love. </i><br />
<i>And, I will never, ever understand how anyone else can either.</i><br />
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I am not going to see this movie. <br />
It does not deserve my money or my time. <br />
Sure, I will miss the popcorn.<br />
But, that's okay. <br />
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<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-10652491045146801712015-02-18T04:58:00.000-05:002015-02-18T04:58:00.768-05:00It's not over.....even when the FAT LADY sings......<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Today, I feel like THE FAT LADY WHO SANG TOO SOON!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN9FbmLQGPNCxaSPdtLFqiKBjE7DFvFUWLjI6_3T5oZmAoqmyrruKMdukN-m0RiCELYVp40j7c2X_A6MXc70xl8aUB3oLOhU-0FcB7mJkIKK4WpjPyhVVDM5khQHAaYWAo-s3HqTQjPK6/s1600/Success-Enjoy-the-Journey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN9FbmLQGPNCxaSPdtLFqiKBjE7DFvFUWLjI6_3T5oZmAoqmyrruKMdukN-m0RiCELYVp40j7c2X_A6MXc70xl8aUB3oLOhU-0FcB7mJkIKK4WpjPyhVVDM5khQHAaYWAo-s3HqTQjPK6/s1600/Success-Enjoy-the-Journey.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><br />
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About 100 pounds ago, if you would have asked me if I lost 100 pounds if I would finally feel like my weight loss journey was over <i>and</i> if I considered it a success, I would have answered a loud and definite <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>YES.....YES....YES....One trillion times YES......</b></i></span><br />
<i><b> </b>Oh how naive I was in my youth. </i><br />
What I have come to learn as I lost those 100 or so pounds is that S<i>UCCESS is not a DESTINATION.....<b><u>IT IS A JOURNEY. </u></b> </i><br />
Just because you arrived at that holy grail of weight loss, that does not mean that your are done. <br />
The mission is not complete.<br />
It is not over. <br />
You have a million miles to go.....<i>if you are lucky. </i><br />
Over the past seven years, I have battled that theory.....many times. I got cocky or confident or maybe just plain tired....or perhaps even a little stupid. As you are my witness and you can attest to, I have come to this blog on more than a few occasions and I confessed to you that I gained some weight<i> and I did it by own doing. </i>The weight didn't just magically or inexplicably land on my stomach or my hips or my thighs or my face....I put it there. Yes, I convinced myself that I didn't have to worry about eating loaded mashed potatoes followed by a a few Oreos with a chocolate sundae chaser (doused in real whipped cream). And, I let myself believe that it was A-OK that I didn't follow my walking program for up to 4 weeks while I indulged in the occasional nacho platter washed down by one, maybe two...or three margaritas. And, I let it be perfectly fine to sooth myself with a dinner comprised of all or most of the above because I was either sad or tired or stressed or really pissed off. Yes, and I even gave myself the blessing to indulge in just another piece of coconut cream pie because, after all, it was a celebration or a holiday. <i>All of that and so much more....</i><br />
Interestingly, when I think about it and analyze it to death (as I always do!), I am stunned by the fact that when you get right down to it, <i>it was never about the food. </i> It was more about the feelings. As I am doing it---<i>I think it's about the food. </i>But, when I reflect upon it, I am enlightened....once again....<i>my emotions made me eat it.</i> <br />
This is not new news. You know that. I know that. Hell, there are books and PhD thesis written about that very thing. People have made themselves very rich and famous by telling us just what I have told you in less than a paragraph. <br />
I am the poster child for<u> not</u> following the old adage---<i>do the same thing and end up with the same results. </i> Most times, it doesn't really get to me....I am optimistic enough to know that I can turn things around and I have complete faith that everything will be just fine. But, sometimes.....especially in the bleakness of February....I find myself completely overwhelmed by it all. I am tired of slaying dragons and turning water into wine and smiling when I really feel like crying. Thankfully, none of that lasts very long....because I am also the poster child for being impatient with being anything but a glass-is-half-full kind of girl. Sadness, misery and depression are just not good looks for me. Plus, I don't like to be <i>that kind of girl</i>....the one who is always whiney and gloomy. I have a responsibility to Judiland to be encouraging and uplifting and Ms. Fix-It and the life of the party. <br />
Yes, it can all be rather tiring...especially when you are battling things you don't have the energy or the desire to battle. And, ironically, making life look breezy and perfect is a monumental.y exhausting, unrewarding job in itself.....<i>trust me on that. </i><br />
All of that weakens my ability to say no to the 10 pm chocolate sundae. <br />
<i>And makes me need new pants. </i> <br />
It's complex, that's for sure. <br />
So, as I sit here on the first day of a season where we are asked to prepare for the coming of Easter through prayer, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Penance">penance</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Repentance (theology)">repentance</a> of sins, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Atonement in Christianity">atonement</a> and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" title="Asceticism">self-denial, I am asking myself how I can take those expectations and practice them in my life to help me continue my journey in a way that brings me closer to understanding and learning from my failings. </a><br />
That's pretty big stuff. <br />
<i>Just another stop on the journey that never ends...... </i><br />
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<i> </i> <br />
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<i><b> </b></i><br />
<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-54172508111197762862015-02-17T04:16:00.000-05:002015-02-17T04:16:00.439-05:00F*A*T Tuesday returns.......<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">As it always does........</span></i><br />
If you've been hanging around <i>Stories from the Road</i> for any length of time, you know that I just hate the word FAT. It's an ugly word. I guess there are some good things about the word but for the most part, I try to avoid it completely. <br />
However, when you write a blog that was conceived due to weight loss surgery and there's a day that's called <i>FAT TUESDAY,</i> you just can't avoid writing about it?<br />
Right? <br />
Yes, right.<br />
<i>I guess. </i><br />
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Considering I have been writing about it for 7 years, perhaps I've done my penance and I can get on with other things...... <br />
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<i>How about a little early morning story????</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Some scene-setting.......putting empty bottles to good use!</i></td></tr>
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On Sunday, in a fit of winter blues and to try to make the best of a Valentine Weekend that was more about obligations than celebrations, we decided that we would do something totally crazy....<i>shop for a meal that we cook together.</i> <i> </i>So, we went to <a href="http://www.marketdistrict.com/">our local ginormous market place</a> to gather up a few nice ingredients to cook up a romantic dinner.....you know the kind...with candles and pretty flowers and lovely dishes and loving gazes and whispering sweet nothings..... <i></i></div>
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<i>Yes, I know.... borderline insane. </i></div>
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Grocery shopping <i>and</i> kitchen togetherness are rare activities for us...it is not known to lead to loving gazes and whispering sweet nothings. Typically, it's anything BUT romantic. It's more like a bicker-fest than anything else. But, I figured...maybe we've matured.....</div>
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<i>My daughter said it would only last 5 minutes while my nephew gave us more credit and said it would end after 15 minutes. </i></div>
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You see...my resident engineer--who doesn't cook at all--is also a master of better-ways-to-do-things and he loves to tell me about them! While I want him to respect my expertise in the kitchen (and to be quiet!), he wants to improve it with his ideas (by lecturing me!). </div>
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Not a good mix.... </div>
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And, he can be quite impatient with processes. </div>
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While I am all about the process in the kitchen, he is all about the <i>let's-hurry-this-along-so-we-can-eat-then-I-can-relax-and-watch-TV </i>. </div>
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And...don't even get me started on our grocery shopping style differences! </div>
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When I go to our ginormus market place, I like to linger over things and talk to the butcher and the fish monger and anyone else I happen strike up a conversation with. </div>
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Again, he is much more about <i>get-your-stuff-and-get-the-hell-out. </i> </div>
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Since we really didn't have any special plans--<i>which made me a little sad--</i> I suggested to shake things up a a bit with grocery shopping and cooking <i>together. </i>And, since he didn't have to come up with something to do for Valentine's, he went with it....<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>I know. I know. Risky business. Living on the edge. </i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Martinis helped. Forgive me, but I think this cute apron makes me look F*A*T! </i></td></tr>
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Just when you think you are going to hear an awful horror story....you are not.</div>
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But, I don't want to disappoint you! </div>
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So, I will report on the few minor glitches.....</div>
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The first glitch was the predictable "what do you want to make?" problem of wandering around the store aimlessly hoping something magnificent would just appear in your cart. </div>
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My shopping partner doesn't take too kindly to not having a plan. </div>
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So, he was very impatient. In fact, he disappeared a few times--leaving me to make decisions that I was sure he was going to nix. <i>I was a bit annoyed....</i></div>
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Thankfully, I was rescued by my daughter's high school sewing teacher who was standing in line with her friend at the fish counter with a recipe in hand. She oohed and awed about it and her friend just gushed over it. Even the fish monger chimed in to sing the praises of the recipe and to give us some insider tips. A perfect sign that <a href="http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/03/25/market-district-recipe-shrimp-scallop-pasta-primavera/">this recipe</a> (they suggest the garlic and herb Boursin cheese so I went with that...) was meant to be.....</div>
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So, I immediately got in line behind them and ordered whatever they were ordering....</div>
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Shrimp. Crab. Scallops. </div>
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(although the recipe doesn't call for crab...they strongly suggested adding it and since crab is one of my favorite foods, I was onboard.....) </div>
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Although we had a little disagreement over the type of pasta---he prefers <a href="http://www.dececcousa.com/">DeCecco </a>Spaghetti and I thought we might spring for <a href="http://www.cenacolorestaurant.com/">Fede</a> pasta---we ended up with his choice....<i>.this time. </i></div>
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Once the main course was chosen, the rest of the shopping went pretty well. </div>
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Everything else fell easily into place.....</div>
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Appetizer: <a href="http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/885/Artichoke-Hearts-And-Prosciutt79674.shtml">Artichoke Hearts and Proscuitto roll-ups</a> (a good recipe when you are only serving 2-4 people...Carmen especially likes this appetizer so I figured I'd make it!)</div>
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Salad: <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/spinach-salad-with-meyer-lemon-caesar-dressing-and-flatbread-croutons-recipe.html">Spinach Salad with Meyer Lemon Parmesean Dressing</a> (I used my own croutons)</div>
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Dessert: <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/raspberry-chocolate-parfaits-recipe.html">Raspberry-Chocolate Parfaits</a> (I had already decided on this before we left the house!)</div>
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Another issue came up when it came to martini time. </div>
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As a Valentine surprise for Carmen, I ordered him <a href="http://www.rolandfood.com/products/Dirty-Martini-Olive-Juice-%28%2371650%29.html">the olive juice</a> that they use at one of our favorite <a href="http://www.olive-twist.com/">martini bars in the downtown area.</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"></a></div>
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Unfortunately, it did not arrive in time for our day-after-Valentine's-Day-martini-time. </div>
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So, this left me in quite a quandary. </div>
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But, I decided to remedy it by visiting one of our favorite local suburban bartenders and see if she could score me some good olive juice (this stuff is pretty tough to find, trust me!). Luckily, she was able to share some of her stash and off I went carrying my little to-go cup with a lid filled with this precious olive juice....<i>yes, it looked like a specimen! </i></div>
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Anyway...</div>
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Come martini time, Carmen noted that we did not have his favorite vodka......which was quite unusual. (he also noted that we had my favorite gin!)</div>
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Not having his favorite vodka made him quite unhappy. </div>
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Even when I presented him with my olive juice score, he was still a bit pouty....</div>
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For the record....my martini was just perfect. </div>
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His....notsomuch. </div>
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He be-damned using the precious olive juice with such a substandard vodka and had quite a little pity party for himself having to endure such a hardship......</div>
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<i>Oh, the problems of seasoned martini drinkers..... </i></div>
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Even with a not-perfect martini, my cooking partner was able to loosen up enough to go with the flow-of-Judi and follow directions without interjecting better ideas......</div>
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The cooking part of a success.</div>
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The romantic dinner part could have used some help. </div>
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But, I have to admit that I am not really sure how to do this <i>intentional </i> romantic dinner thing. It feels way too contrived for me. And, I giggle....</div>
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<i>Which I suppose was another glitch.....</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Would this have been more romantic????</td></tr>
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<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-37331028084705029302015-02-10T04:52:00.000-05:002015-02-10T04:52:00.100-05:00I.O.U. ......<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>.........a recipe!</i></b></span><br />
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You may recall that in the month of December, I do a series called Tasty Tuesday each Tuesday (<i>imagine that? I do Tasty Tuesdays on a Tuesday...</i>) of the month where I share tried and true recipes that you may want to use for your holidays. <br />
Well...due to all the hoopla of the holidays in Judiland, I didn't share a recipe on the final Tuesday---December 30, 2014. Even though I had it all planned out, it just did not happen. Sorry about that!<br />
Hopefully, you ate well despite this little snafu... <br />
SO, I want to make it up to you......<i> in hearts! </i><br />
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Now that it's February,I doubt you are planning your 2015 holiday menus (<i>but, if you are....I am very impressed</i>). But, I was thinking-- you may be planning your Valentine's Day Menu. After all, this year, it falls on a Saturday. Which means that you may want to spend the entire day in the kitchen in your cupid outfit cooking a lovely meal to celebrate this holiday.....<i>or not. </i><br />
Well, whatever....<i> </i><br />
<i>Let's go with some recipes that will keep you in the kitchen long enough to enjoy the experience but not so long enough that you are too exhausted to enjoy the meal....</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <i><b>Before-Dinner.....</b></i></span><br />
<b>La Vie En Rouge Cocktail</b><br />Lately, when I am entertaining a small-ish crowd, I've done away with the "full bar" before dinner and have went with one signature-type cocktail to greet everyone and get them relaxed and ready for the evening. But, you know, sometimes finding just the right cocktail for everyone is a bit of a crap shoot. Although our before-dinner drink of choice is always a martini, not everyone has a taste for straight booze. <i>It's always best to consider that your guests might not be the boozy hounds that you are... </i><br />
So, I decided to go to the source for some advice when I was having 2 couples for dinner (who I hardly knew....business associates of my husband's and their wives ) right before the holidays. Yep, I asked one of my favorite bartenders. He asked me a few important questions about the guests and the menu and he threw out a few ideas at first and then....as if a light bulb went off in his head....he excitedly decided that the only cocktail that would do was a <i>La Vie En Rouge</i> (translation--"Life in Red"). As intriguing as a classy-named cocktail that includes my favorite color in it's name could be, I wasn't too impressed when he described it to me. But, since he is the expert, I indulged him and told him to shake it up. One sip and I was sold. <i>It was the perfect cocktail for our upcoming evening....</i><br />
Fast forward to our little dinner party and this cocktail was a major hit. I think our guests went with 2 each....<i>which, I might add-- made them much more enjoyable to be with! </i><br />
Considering its red color and it's winter-like quality, I decided that it would also be the perfect Valentine's Day cocktail. MAKE IT!<br />
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<i> </i><b>Ingredients:</b> (makes 1 drink)<br />
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<ul>
<li>1 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier</li>
<li>1 1/2 oz. cranberry juice</li>
<li>1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice</li>
<li>1/2 oz. simple syrup</li>
<li>Fresh rosemary needles</li>
</ul>
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<b>Preparation:</b><br />
<ol>
<li>In a cocktail shaker, muddle 10-12 rosemary needles lightly with simple syrup.</li>
<li>Add remaining ingredients into the cocktail shaker, add ice and shake vigorously.</li>
<li>Pour into martini glass</li>
<li>Garnish with a rosemary sprig.</li>
</ol>
<b>Wine Jellies and Sharp Cheese Tray</b>....<br />
I don't know about you but sometimes my favorite foods are the appetizers. Not only are they fun to eat and lend themselves to the relaxation of an event....they can also hint as to the formalness or the casualness of the evening. Because I like to entertain somewhere in the middle of the two--if I am only serving one appetizer (which I often do when we are hosting on a smaller scale and if there's 3-4 course meal to follow), I always strive to find the perfect balance of fancy and not-so-fancy that compliments my overall menu. Not an easy task. Yes, I make myself crazy over it. That's where my menu diary comes in---knowing what worked and what didn't work in the past helps me to focus when I'm feeling all over the place in my planning. That's what I did when I was coming up with a perfect appetizer when we hosted a before-going-out-to-dinner cocktail hour for a group of out-of-town guests that were visiting during the holidays. After a bit of page turning, I hit upon some notes that I had written in my menu diary about a wonderful, unexpected and so-easy appetizer that we served on Christmas Day. My son the doctor and his friend had made some wine jellies as gifts and in an effort to show off his culinary talents, I decided to put them out on a cheese platter along with all of the other appetizers I was serving. As it turned out--everyone raved over 2 of the jellies--a delightful Chardonnay and an intense Merlot. Smeared on chunks of a super sharp Irish cheddar <a href="http://kerrygoldusa.com/products/cheese/dubliner-cheese/">(I used this one)</a> --it was both elegant and easy! And.....ohmygosh delicious! <br />
In fact, as I was reading my notes, I recalled that I was even scarfing down all of the leftovers the next day.....which left me with one huge problem---since I did eat all the leftover jelly--I needed more if I was going to serve it again! Having never made jelly before in my life, I couldn't imagine embarking on such a challenge especially for such a quick little event. But, I called my son anyhow to get some info on the jellies and he directed me <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/wine-jelly/">here</a>....the very same recipe he and his friend used. He said they used very inexpensive wines. And, he assured me it was easy. And, he was right. Plus, the bonus was that I got to impress our out--of-towners....."<i>you actually make jelly?</i>" one of the men asked as his eyes perused the dining room and all the holiday decorations! <strike>Surely, he thought I was a real Martha Stewart and he considered my husband the luckiest man on the planet....</strike> So, what's my appetizer recipe for your Valentine's Day menu? Get a pretty platter, put some of that fabulous cheese on it with some cute little ramekins of some wine jelly (which I am sure you could buy at a good grocer) and some darling little spoons and serve it.....<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Dinner is served.....</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<b>Pear and Endive Salad</b><br />
What can I say except every time I serve <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pear-Arugula-and-Endive-Salad-with-Candied-Walnuts-104472">this</a>, it's a huge hit. So, I don't mess with it. <br />
<br />
<b>Giada's Chicken Piccata</b><br />
Another<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chicken-piccata-recipe2.html"> recipe</a> that I never mess with. It's the perfect go-to dish for special times and ordinary days and everything in between. But, there's nothing ordinary about it. I always make extra sauce to ladle over plain risotto or pasta. You must make this. <i>You really must. </i><br />
<br />
<b>Store Bought Cannoli</b><br />
An easy, delicious way to sweeten up the end of this perfect meal. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jGDFJqvoGY9-3nRSvTpLBSYJNbbkbH9C-6aQA5nZeTBbmNXaRKuiPklUHsXJr4olrC9IA3QgkvEkDHBFDT0ndZIqXhMYesG4xdVndF1eeNZNuj2eZYW9kns-fNdjQjNOH2Xiz-hXXRQi/s1600/hearts+too.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jGDFJqvoGY9-3nRSvTpLBSYJNbbkbH9C-6aQA5nZeTBbmNXaRKuiPklUHsXJr4olrC9IA3QgkvEkDHBFDT0ndZIqXhMYesG4xdVndF1eeNZNuj2eZYW9kns-fNdjQjNOH2Xiz-hXXRQi/s1600/hearts+too.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Apertif....</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Have you ever heard of <a href="http://www.tuaca.com/age.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fDefault.aspx">Tuaca</a>?<br />
I never did either.<br />
But, now that I have my very own bottle, I am a believer. <br />
Tuaca is the perfect after-dinner drink...slightly chilled, sipped from darling little champagne glasses.<br />
<i>What a perfect way to end a perfect Valentine's Day dinner.....</i><br />
<br />
<i> </i><br />
<br />
<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-90597731937511869262015-02-07T06:53:00.000-05:002015-02-07T06:53:00.083-05:00Take my mania, please......<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONuf570-z_P6KyU2MEtYwzyuku6_JBjKqDKJmZspHFFVTF6-tHWlheZ5D_nFEhJ4EdbZcRTOx3mLXbJOlXlt5HQ4FywlAr64dRi3RZDUYhDJV0IYxBvy60MQzhvzGLH0JElJn5K0EMFO7/s1600/IlPilazzo+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONuf570-z_P6KyU2MEtYwzyuku6_JBjKqDKJmZspHFFVTF6-tHWlheZ5D_nFEhJ4EdbZcRTOx3mLXbJOlXlt5HQ4FywlAr64dRi3RZDUYhDJV0IYxBvy60MQzhvzGLH0JElJn5K0EMFO7/s1600/IlPilazzo+lunch.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who is this woman?</td></tr>
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I am not big on New Year's resolutions. And, sometimes I think I should probably embrace the idea. It's always a good thing to have something to work towards. But, for a life long dieter like me--<i>a girl who did every diet known to mankind and resolved to lose the weight with each one</i>--but still ended up obese, I shy away from resolutions because I worry that I will fail....because, you know, I failed so many times. <br />
The dieting lifestyle is still deeply imbedded in my being. As much as I say that I am over it, I realize that I am not. And, if I was being totally honest--sometimes I miss it. I miss that feeling of hopefulness embarking on the journey into the promised land of thinness and beauty. I miss the sisterhood of dieters. I miss the fantasizing of what life will be like after losing weight. I miss the day dreaming of things I will do, the person I will become and the many wonderful things that will happen when I lose the weight. <br />
As I know I've told you before, I still feel my heart skip a beat and my toes curl when I hear about a new diet plan or tool. And, sometimes I am oh-so-sad that I am no longer on the hunt for the holy grail of diets and weight loss and the glory of entering into the eternal wonderfulness that would surely accompany it. <br />
Yes, that's all true. <br />
What I <b><i>don't</i></b> miss is being so overweight that my life revolves around what will fit me tomorrow or next week or the next time I am going somewhere special. I <b><i>don't</i></b> miss the embarrassment of being obese. I <b><i>don't</i></b> miss the fear that I am an embarrassment to my husband or my children because of my size. I <i><b>don't</b></i> miss the agony of having to think about my size when I get on a plane or an amusement ride or sit in a booth at a restaurant. I <i><b>don't</b></i> miss the anxiety that accompanies a trip to the doctor when I have to step on the scale and face the number with someone standing right there seeing <i>what I really weigh. </i>And, I <i><b>don't</b></i> miss the constant fear that I will die a 500 pound woman and need to be buried in a double-sized plot. <br />
I may be a bit crazy but I'm not certifiable.....<i>at least not yet.... </i><br />
<i><b>You see that picture of me up there? </b></i><br />
Well, I included it in this blog post for a reason. <br />
Although I adore the jacket I am wearing and the wine I was drinking was exceptional and it is a picture from a wonderful day, I don't consider it an exceptionally good picture of me. <br />
So, I didn't put it there because I think it's that great. <br />
I put it there because it is a picture I texted to my girlfriend as a way of showing her that we were enjoying <a href="http://www.palazzo1837.com/">a wonderful restaurant</a> that she had recommended. That explains my "thumbs up"!<br />
I remember so vividly that after I sent it, I immediately regretted it. <i>My face looked fat, I looked old, I looked a little pudgy, this jacket is not flattering on me, I shouldn't wear turtlenecks....</i><br />
A few minutes later, she texted me back.....<i>"OMG you look so skinny and elegant" </i><br />
I texted back.....<i>"Thanks but I think I need to lose a few pounds!"</i><br />
She responded.....<i>"WHY DON'T YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?" </i><br />
Maybe it was the wine but all of a sudden, her words sent my mind screaming to myself <i>"WHY DON'T YOU SEE WHAT SHE SEES?" </i><br />
<br />
I'm now working on that<i>. </i><br />
I call it my <i>mental diet. </i><br />
It feels good to have something to work towards. <i></i><br />
And, it's even better since it has the word <i>diet</i> in it. <i><br /></i><br />
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<i> </i><br />
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<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-62503349088336283432015-02-06T05:45:00.000-05:002015-02-06T09:40:30.514-05:00The days are long.....<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>......but, the years are short. </i></b></span><br />
This causes me quite a conundrum.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijIuF4mKXT6Q5hanIpYxCaU12hE5U0oUDrOKdovvAsmiLwVhQNyksb4cOx9qvEnH-G-X8wKPU7Id2WKzuY6w6r4mh0GncIZWAAwF08GAkWhmIvo78jZsTfRi0GQr0dOeIPLpVG5Fri-B2/s1600/Surround+yourself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijIuF4mKXT6Q5hanIpYxCaU12hE5U0oUDrOKdovvAsmiLwVhQNyksb4cOx9qvEnH-G-X8wKPU7Id2WKzuY6w6r4mh0GncIZWAAwF08GAkWhmIvo78jZsTfRi0GQr0dOeIPLpVG5Fri-B2/s1600/Surround+yourself.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
All week, I wished for Friday.<br />
The cold. The snow. The ice build up in the driveway. My hat hair. The hunt for rock salt. <br />
Mornings that came too early. Days that felt too long.<br />
Tired. Tired. Tired again. <br />
I couldn't wait until Friday got here.<br />
And, now it's here.<br />
My wish came true.<br />
I will never get back the hours that I wasted wishing the time away.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-682739193427452332015-02-05T04:33:00.000-05:002015-02-05T04:33:00.392-05:00Yes, I took a long winter's nap.......and all that jazz....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwR6M_1awWg-qRW7emYQrH-z0hhjuhfYe-yoOXHp3m4-w2iHGiYebRe5u1lQU0jyqLERcKgRwNbwNM0AkgqIootPgl5HT5pyfJqG9woSTunKVVfJTMny2BmJAB8I1-WDu9XDLMMKLGo6gN/s1600/Carmen's+bday+at+Mitchell's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Just when you thought Stories from the Road <i>hit the road</i>.....I'm back.<br />
(and I brought lots of pictures.. ummm...<i>more like evidence ....</i>.) <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxOtytHEd8SvodlFLVHd-L4pKS129PrDA0knVDyw00G-kidwk4VidsLrEtbpzHDEveJVoj1Yk8FqsjpIQ01RlIAknhdt-mlpYgWhBj_0amAakh0jjVj6nmSsNdvI-dauuRioExkOLguC_/s1600/Judi+drinks+well+with+others.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxOtytHEd8SvodlFLVHd-L4pKS129PrDA0knVDyw00G-kidwk4VidsLrEtbpzHDEveJVoj1Yk8FqsjpIQ01RlIAknhdt-mlpYgWhBj_0amAakh0jjVj6nmSsNdvI-dauuRioExkOLguC_/s1600/Judi+drinks+well+with+others.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof of my survival....my official 56th Birthday picture......January 23, 2015</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Now, where were we?</b></span></i><br />
Ah, yes, it was Christmas.<br />
I am pretty sure Christmas is what did me in......<br />
And, sadly, I don't really think I'm completely recovered from it all....in all aspects of life.<br />
<i>Even my house is suffering..... </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VhdmijqBH_SgS4lBYWggFgQy1TtbeL_DpyBJB3T2jImXNS6K2B7CB9ziUax2GhyphenhyphenmLOaCMVQnDuHYKaxrWG8PHSihC3Kvfgsbb9gxYUkQLn5TNILL7W26YvuaisQefAg4nMyPFdG2OJjv/s1600/Christmas+Eve+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VhdmijqBH_SgS4lBYWggFgQy1TtbeL_DpyBJB3T2jImXNS6K2B7CB9ziUax2GhyphenhyphenmLOaCMVQnDuHYKaxrWG8PHSihC3Kvfgsbb9gxYUkQLn5TNILL7W26YvuaisQefAg4nMyPFdG2OJjv/s1600/Christmas+Eve+2015.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard to imagine this corner of the dining room looked this serene and lovely for Christmas Eve dinner! At the moment, this buffet is piled high with Christmas china and glassware, holiday serving platters and whoknowswhatelse!</td></tr>
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<br />
Although the holidays were lovely and filled with family and fun, it was also filled with too little sleep, an inconvenient house fire on Christmas day during the evening gift opening session (yes, it's true!).....<i>and a reminder to buy a fire distinguisher!....</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_5UQKVKgQPBO7YtHbRBRrx7wT1onam3oiJT4g2TPCA72NS3-bOEREQEury9pf7gVKw-vWQojrXhBy205AuQ5DsVe1AkYrE7ZTufwp-flsno5IUVaLtzmh9xBalPNKr_sZe-Sg6M2KBEm/s1600/The+fire+starts+Christmas+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_5UQKVKgQPBO7YtHbRBRrx7wT1onam3oiJT4g2TPCA72NS3-bOEREQEury9pf7gVKw-vWQojrXhBy205AuQ5DsVe1AkYrE7ZTufwp-flsno5IUVaLtzmh9xBalPNKr_sZe-Sg6M2KBEm/s1600/The+fire+starts+Christmas+2014.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the proof....see the fire starting in the background? We had no idea when we took this picture! I was just taking a picture of my daughter showing off her gift from her cousin (my niece sitting next to her).....</td></tr>
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<br />
Then, there was lots of cooking, lots of clean up and more cooking and clean up...<i>and then a little bit more...</i><br />
No sooner did we bid farewell to Christmas weekend, it was all about gearing up for more visitors, Carmen's birthday, more comings and goings and more cooking and clean up. And, of course, a little break in there <i>to go to work.... </i><br />
So, considering that we also had lots of Thanksgiving activity and other activity in between Thanksgiving and the holidays, <i>it was non-stop, non-stop for close to 6 solid weeks. </i><br />
<br />
But, this old girl held up rather good.....as the evidence below proves....<br />
<i>(and, to be totally honest, I thank my Lap Band! I would have never have had the energy or the desire to keep up with this version of life in Judiland 100+ pounds ago) </i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9hKUnEtak-tJV_5x69HDIr7XbuhKX9aUC26ffS38k0xCWVqkzAh-AjSIPxwiBzrg6XIenz7CMQtqhhQBAH_yS7vMnIhPpfcRdykzRxbWQIL2poBymS5FnKMA8VuYfpHv7Qge8DWTxrXD/s1600/Judi+in+the+kitchen+Christmas+Eve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9hKUnEtak-tJV_5x69HDIr7XbuhKX9aUC26ffS38k0xCWVqkzAh-AjSIPxwiBzrg6XIenz7CMQtqhhQBAH_yS7vMnIhPpfcRdykzRxbWQIL2poBymS5FnKMA8VuYfpHv7Qge8DWTxrXD/s1600/Judi+in+the+kitchen+Christmas+Eve.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooking up a feast on Christmas Eve</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwR6M_1awWg-qRW7emYQrH-z0hhjuhfYe-yoOXHp3m4-w2iHGiYebRe5u1lQU0jyqLERcKgRwNbwNM0AkgqIootPgl5HT5pyfJqG9woSTunKVVfJTMny2BmJAB8I1-WDu9XDLMMKLGo6gN/s1600/Carmen's+bday+at+Mitchell's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwR6M_1awWg-qRW7emYQrH-z0hhjuhfYe-yoOXHp3m4-w2iHGiYebRe5u1lQU0jyqLERcKgRwNbwNM0AkgqIootPgl5HT5pyfJqG9woSTunKVVfJTMny2BmJAB8I1-WDu9XDLMMKLGo6gN/s1600/Carmen's%2Bbday%2Bat%2BMitchell's.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating Carmen's birthday with our lovely daughter and her fun beau</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdnA-Ffc-JMBtqBA6s6iprcW0x37assyzsyTV_8sIDqBJ8fHjJ55-Eav9X8MPlO_BgQuNtieTNhNoOrCNwzck28Y_nVHd5TjOGQfXJLXBHIOZy-5BX2t_a44DN64vOF6l23LNOv6T5soq/s1600/Celebrating+Alexa's+bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdnA-Ffc-JMBtqBA6s6iprcW0x37assyzsyTV_8sIDqBJ8fHjJ55-Eav9X8MPlO_BgQuNtieTNhNoOrCNwzck28Y_nVHd5TjOGQfXJLXBHIOZy-5BX2t_a44DN64vOF6l23LNOv6T5soq/s1600/Celebrating+Alexa's%2Bbday.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating with my sisters....at <a href="http://www.steelcactuspgh.com/shadyside/">a fun little place </a>when my niece from Chicago stopped into town</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvI85BY9VGYCPZ6gc7QqBwXEpqxoMD4lJ59rQmM1zlow6Q2hBDscnkItBqT47xuFrRXqymYY8FJY7WiE_NLevK7JbXfmzMJ8dXrl8AE3i3DjJrVI4rcM5FzL82sIqao3WUI2y-8S7Rl-Sd/s1600/CVM+and+I+NYE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvI85BY9VGYCPZ6gc7QqBwXEpqxoMD4lJ59rQmM1zlow6Q2hBDscnkItBqT47xuFrRXqymYY8FJY7WiE_NLevK7JbXfmzMJ8dXrl8AE3i3DjJrVI4rcM5FzL82sIqao3WUI2y-8S7Rl-Sd/s1600/CVM+and+I+NYE.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating New Year's Eve at one of our favorite downtown <a href="http://www.bravofranco.com/">restaurants</a> before heading to the theatre to usher out 2014 by seeing the musical "Motown"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFtB5SrWalNm5DVRMSg98ZCS1mEyYCsXjnmX0zeNdbBjWJvhyphenhyphenbDpAeGdAgaj1oTnjcuF5QOJy9TCkHri2dnnj6SMhSnnA2T0MqpYntq6o-emhs8mvpxSYbp5HCmtVnm-4qfgHkjMCbwyG/s1600/Here's+to+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFtB5SrWalNm5DVRMSg98ZCS1mEyYCsXjnmX0zeNdbBjWJvhyphenhyphenbDpAeGdAgaj1oTnjcuF5QOJy9TCkHri2dnnj6SMhSnnA2T0MqpYntq6o-emhs8mvpxSYbp5HCmtVnm-4qfgHkjMCbwyG/s1600/Here's%2Bto%2B2015.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bringing in 2015 at midnight at our <a href="http://www.muer.com/gandy-dancer-saloon/index.asp">favorite bar of all time</a> with wonderful friends....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XGaASG5-FjYydrbUhRZWx6YMVDGxwAq2A1xS1QHU8lL4cHgGDsMJ-CP8KQkNkDG67SxJE5XIP-Vi6MpnuuWisr6A8pgNW6Zqeh0rknYXNmqr2Hia-VNcGN4Tj6fDOk-5sFKOjfYzYcEB/s1600/New+Year's+Day+in+the+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XGaASG5-FjYydrbUhRZWx6YMVDGxwAq2A1xS1QHU8lL4cHgGDsMJ-CP8KQkNkDG67SxJE5XIP-Vi6MpnuuWisr6A8pgNW6Zqeh0rknYXNmqr2Hia-VNcGN4Tj6fDOk-5sFKOjfYzYcEB/s1600/New+Year's%2BDay%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bkitchen.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And, then back in the kitchen on New Year's Day to cook up a storm for family and friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>That's where the "holding up pretty well" ended. </i><br />
No sooner did I shut the door on the dishwasher for the final load of dishes on New Year's Day did my body decide it was time to crash. <i> </i><br />
<i>I turned to Carmen and said "I think I am sick...."</i><br />
And, I was oh so right! <i><br /></i><br />
And, the timing couldn't have been more awful.<br />
You see, we were due to take off the very next day for a lovely, fun filled Pittsburgh-style weekend at <a href="http://www.westinpittsburgh.com/">a lovely hotel </a>for a 3-day wedding extravaganza with all the Pittsburgh trimmings for Carmen's cousin's gorgeous daughter.<br />
<i>It was not the time to get sick.....</i><br />
I decided it was time to ignore my body and just get on with it.<br />
So, I put on my lipstick, dressed myself up and headed into what was to be non-stop fun activity with family and friends from all over the country...and Italy. <br />
I made it through the first day activities with all the energy I could muster and then I made it through the wedding ceremony......<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJRN2Zs_lrOSrhCbn_rmWLrnb9elvbP6QeM7P85IQiitvS58W0_UMEB2iW7Qwy472G-PpPtXoYez3_Ce9mAz0Tp42_VKUsLfzTUdCJ9IuYnOuxrbHlTxw3RjQLvqptEERlLyD4mPK83z1/s1600/Angelica+and+James.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJRN2Zs_lrOSrhCbn_rmWLrnb9elvbP6QeM7P85IQiitvS58W0_UMEB2iW7Qwy472G-PpPtXoYez3_Ce9mAz0Tp42_VKUsLfzTUdCJ9IuYnOuxrbHlTxw3RjQLvqptEERlLyD4mPK83z1/s1600/Angelica+and+James.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And, what a gorgeous ceremony it was! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And, then I managed to make it through one martini, part of the fabulous dinner and a few sips of a delicious wine...... <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7mjhErA2hYy48LI-ZRfjicF-Dr9zM1f2_D5TdZjApPU9YhHtH1P4zeCbrzVBSZ1IBEGSXyd7BnsfrB_UpsrCWLlfEHUTZNRH1fgm7oQFKCRXzZdx6DFSNxb8rHSRG-7aZqH1LrSfF7Ln/s1600/Carmen+and+I+at+Angelica's+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7mjhErA2hYy48LI-ZRfjicF-Dr9zM1f2_D5TdZjApPU9YhHtH1P4zeCbrzVBSZ1IBEGSXyd7BnsfrB_UpsrCWLlfEHUTZNRH1fgm7oQFKCRXzZdx6DFSNxb8rHSRG-7aZqH1LrSfF7Ln/s1600/Carmen+and+I+at+Angelica's%2Bwedding.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The evidence to prove that I did make it through dinner!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>And, then, I just gave in. </i><br />
Unfortunately, even my Lap band couldn't save me.<br />
So, I hobbled up to my wonderful king sized bed in a beautiful room overlooking our beautiful city and I crawled into bed......and I slept...and I coughed....and I slept....and I coughed......<br />
Day 3 came and went. <br />
As everyone else partied it up and enjoyed some of my favorite places in our fabulous city, I watched Food Network, drank Thera-flu concoctions and slept in the comforts of that lovely room....I didn't even have the strength to feel sorry for myself....<br />
No sooner did I recover from that nasty illness, I was off to New York City for several work-related events......<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeYMKSrCdlJFaDWiUPTNmSYSr8Uj7o70G6tdBh0TrAv5TDKORbv3A2hMhfP6uhboJ1xb4XbH4JNPaH502izXOYZFcG30ARxobCXGz_1ST2b59zV94eWMImOTAvsMNAHny_jns4ha5lIXv/s1600/NY+Stock+Exchange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeYMKSrCdlJFaDWiUPTNmSYSr8Uj7o70G6tdBh0TrAv5TDKORbv3A2hMhfP6uhboJ1xb4XbH4JNPaH502izXOYZFcG30ARxobCXGz_1ST2b59zV94eWMImOTAvsMNAHny_jns4ha5lIXv/s1600/NY+Stock+Exchange.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I hung out on Wall Street....here's the New York Stock Exchange....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
.......only to return home with another bout of some kind of nasty illness.....<br />
Which brings us to today.....<br />
The remnants of that second nasty illness...or was it really the first nasty illness?....still remain.<br />
And, I still need to chase Christmas away from my house.....<br />
And, there's still gifts to exchange. <br />
And, I want to get back to my running....<i>and many other things. </i> <br />
But, I made my first stop of getting back to things here....at <i>Stories from The Road. </i><br />
I've missed you and I sure hope you missed me.....!<br />
<br />
Oh, by the way...the good news?<br />
<i>Yes, there's good news..... </i><br />
I actually lost 6 pounds since Thanksgiving.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>PARTY TIME!!!</b></span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfpdG4Tf1FsaBd4NgrMkBIXVDZqEvCnShsKOkY-yGYH7zJnO-Nytnj2XQHEl-dQXl5yhdg3UzHpOoTUVcSapJRr_0qFUVbSwtR6qIsLZNsiteQGHbi0lDuoaAmM3kd9vrgbtthw2lMiym/s1600/Our+martinis......jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfpdG4Tf1FsaBd4NgrMkBIXVDZqEvCnShsKOkY-yGYH7zJnO-Nytnj2XQHEl-dQXl5yhdg3UzHpOoTUVcSapJRr_0qFUVbSwtR6qIsLZNsiteQGHbi0lDuoaAmM3kd9vrgbtthw2lMiym/s1600/Our+martinis......jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 martinis + Judiland=PARTY TIME!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh, and did I mention that today is my dear father's 94th Birthday?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyczdLK_kvJNTjMloyuiX34SP2cJgpVzhxio1XNlxUxzAgVG0lqUf50MqwYLWWdevKGv9LxiZ1qBkxV0eDtsrQVh6GFu3ZGF-YrhMLflIe5O9t0ZW4YPoKlpneWpfkjQxENPDfErPanz4/s1600/Dad+and+kids+Chrsitmas+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyczdLK_kvJNTjMloyuiX34SP2cJgpVzhxio1XNlxUxzAgVG0lqUf50MqwYLWWdevKGv9LxiZ1qBkxV0eDtsrQVh6GFu3ZGF-YrhMLflIe5O9t0ZW4YPoKlpneWpfkjQxENPDfErPanz4/s1600/Dad+and+kids+Chrsitmas+2014.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father enjoying his grandchildren on Christmas Day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-44015312738540510802014-12-25T06:24:00.000-05:002014-12-25T06:24:00.273-05:00From my beautiful city to yours......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWhaoVYQ5NWN7ZA7VGd-uVGdz5lMWoDrTgx_OtPtkmF24yJl4kUXlqjg6bpnKxewWvCBIihkWhO9PMO25IoGL81J-jQl1RaR4JGo_V6KlYV2klCkoYjPVVaM-ZC-8z65EXvemIDWGKKQK/s1600/Steeler's+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWhaoVYQ5NWN7ZA7VGd-uVGdz5lMWoDrTgx_OtPtkmF24yJl4kUXlqjg6bpnKxewWvCBIihkWhO9PMO25IoGL81J-jQl1RaR4JGo_V6KlYV2klCkoYjPVVaM-ZC-8z65EXvemIDWGKKQK/s1600/Steeler's%2BChristmas.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Much Love,</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Judi</span></i></div>
Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-13127579958293732442014-12-24T04:08:00.000-05:002014-12-24T04:08:00.033-05:00Why hasn't Judi's weight loss ticker been updated?<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Because it's Christmas.......</i></span><br />
And, I am giving myself a present. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Merry Christmas Eve!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdYdQAyD9dfuGa2hNhga-SoJiuVezZGY7y8PjtSoCE8CA8Iy1mv_SSNa-Ev9CQKGrhpvZsVbTMvjeBxNgndPYKC503MdBG09_vrkNmfWO2Wk9l1CvTG3upsaur5XpASOLydAKQK_y5DOF/s1600/White+Christmas+Wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdYdQAyD9dfuGa2hNhga-SoJiuVezZGY7y8PjtSoCE8CA8Iy1mv_SSNa-Ev9CQKGrhpvZsVbTMvjeBxNgndPYKC503MdBG09_vrkNmfWO2Wk9l1CvTG3upsaur5XpASOLydAKQK_y5DOF/s1600/White+Christmas+Wine.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
DEFINITELY!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-26213971747933817942014-12-23T03:06:00.000-05:002014-12-23T08:41:55.092-05:00'Twas the night before the night before.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTdfHFQy0UTSLyFVqpCYKa5tfvJRkqvtXPK6b_jnFDjHzNXva7OxbSQFWETsWdmOum1UJRw4dhNYKymeo55IHHumdZL-G9aya4avXGcS-Suacovup5WvZxKDo7ercUq_edXZeH9mGV8pP/s1600/Tastey+Tuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTdfHFQy0UTSLyFVqpCYKa5tfvJRkqvtXPK6b_jnFDjHzNXva7OxbSQFWETsWdmOum1UJRw4dhNYKymeo55IHHumdZL-G9aya4avXGcS-Suacovup5WvZxKDo7ercUq_edXZeH9mGV8pP/s1600/Tastey+Tuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
Welcome to the December 23rd rendition of Tasty Tuesday Recipe Exchange!<br />
I am going to let you in on a little secret.....I am not ready for Christmas but I am pretending like I am......<br />
So, just sit back and let me pretend that I have my menu completely planned and all of the ingredients purchased and that I'm relaxed and calm.<br />
And, just go with me when I tell you that I am not planning on adding another menu item to menus that are already bursting at the seams. Carmen is already threatening to cut back on the buffet tables that I have planned to hold what I already have. I blame his behavior on a lazy wine-infused Saturday night when I read an article that said holiday meals should have no more than 5 menu items. After glass #3, my inhibitions were gone and I told him all about this theory. I should have known better. But, I thought he had drank enough wine that he would forget all about it. No. No. No. All of a sudden, that article is coming back to haunt me. "REMEMBER, ONLY 5 MENU ITEMS ON A HOLIDAY TABLE..." has been his mantra these past few weeks.<br />
"WHAT ABOUT THOSE SEVEN FISHES FOR THE FEAST OF SEVEN FISHES? THAT'S SEVEN RIGHT THERE!" I have screeched to my full-blooded Italian man about 89 times. <br />
"ONLY FIVE!!!" is always his bellowing answer.<br />
There's no messing with this guy.<br />
So, I am trying hard to figure out how to sneak in<i> just a few</i> extra dishes.....<br />
Tell me NO and I figure out a way around NO. <i>It's just who I am.....</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqu5C7Rm6BVLfc6opUaYJj4SFWlD5YamRVetZiGYgff9AcDHhhvGggFvkpCHMfWv3NXq7HfmyJoaSSw83v1lUumg25L6n3pSiktQV1N9YRCGIgJ8gtDTxB7hK8Niv2YOXPGqbPtWdq3xN/s1600/Italians+be+like......jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqu5C7Rm6BVLfc6opUaYJj4SFWlD5YamRVetZiGYgff9AcDHhhvGggFvkpCHMfWv3NXq7HfmyJoaSSw83v1lUumg25L6n3pSiktQV1N9YRCGIgJ8gtDTxB7hK8Niv2YOXPGqbPtWdq3xN/s1600/Italians+be+like......jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearly this 50% Irish girl is more Italian that my husband when it comes to feeding people!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>Enough about that.....let's talk about what recipes I am sharing today!!!</i><br />
At a lovely holiday party at a noted wine restaurant a few weeks back, I became enchanted with a RISOTTO BAR.<br />
Yes, you heard me right--a RISOTTO BAR.<br />
A few years back, a MASHED POTATO BAR stole my heart.<br />
Before that, I was smitten with a PASTA BAR. <br />
<i>Maybe I just like BARS......and carbs</i><br />
Ever since my risotto bar encounter, I've been scouring sites looking for the most amazing risotto at the party---A BUTTERNUT SQUASH & GOAT CHEESE RISOTTO. This stuff was heaven.<br />
Finally, I came upon a simple recipe that looked like it might fit the bill. So, one night last week when I was supposed to be either wrapping presents or cleaning the bathroom, I decided to take to the kitchen and try it out....<i>just in case I need a risotto dish during the holidays....</i><br />
Well, I am here to tell you that this recipe tastes just like the amazing risotto I had at the party. It's rich, creamy and absolutely delicious. And, it's so perfectly simple that I just had to share it with all of you<i>....just in case you need to add risotto to your holiday meal....</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Risotto</b></span></div>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
1 cup arborio rice (sometimes it's actually called RISOTTO)<br />
2 tbsp olive oil<br />
3 1/2 cups chicken or veggie stock (I used chicken because that's what I had on hand)<br />
1 cup dry white wine (I used Pinto Grigio)<br />
1 shallot, finely minced (I used a white onion since I did not have a shallot)<br />
1 cup cubed butternut squash (cube it very small)<br />
3/4 cup crumbled goat cheese<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
<i>Note: Instead of using the stove top for this (for reasons I don't even want to tell you!), I used<a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/889725/?catalogId=68&sku=889725&cm_ven=Google_PLA&cm_cat=Shopping&cm_pla=default&cm_ite=default&gclid=CjwKEAiAqrqkBRCep-rKnt_r_lkSJAArVUBcbLblwrAAZDYVLqbqG0ZBpiMOCUtZtMM27gc7gypIdxoC0gTw_wcB&kwid=productads-plaid^82946569783-sku^889725-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^42817962943"> this newly acquired appliance </a>and I was super happy with it....</i><b> </b><br />
Heat olive oil in a medium sized pot over medium high heat. Once hot,
add the minced shallot and the butternut squash. Saute for about 6-8
minutes, until shallot is translucent and squash is tender. Add
the rice and stir well. Cook for about 2 minutes.<br />
Add the white wine and cook until all is absorbed, stirring constantly (probably about 10-12 minutes).<br />
Then, add the stock, a quarter cup at a time, stirring continuously over medium heat. As stock becomes absorbed, add more. Continue until all of the stock is used, and the rice has cooked
through.<br />
Remove pot from the stove and
stir in the goat cheese crumbles. Season with sea salt and pepper to taste and serve. Feeds about 4-6 people. <br />
Note: Risotto takes a lot of stirring....do not leave it on it's own. It's probably about 20-25 minutes of stirring time. But, oh, it's so worth it!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
No respectable night before Christmas Eve recipe sharing blogger would go without sharing a good seafood recipe. Right? RIGHT!<br />
<i>And, I'm nothing if I am not respectable.... </i><br />
Plus, no good party girl would not share a good appetizer recipe....Right? RIGHT.<br />
<i>Hey, I'm nothing if not a good party girl. </i><br />
And, considering that it is the night before Christmas Eve, a kind-hearted blogger would never share a complex recipe! Right? RIGHT!<br />
<i>And, I'm nothing if not kind-hearted.... </i><br />
So, sit back and relax and know that all you have to do is get a few ingredients and do a little bit of prep work and you are on your way to these yummmmy<i> EASY CRAB PUFFS.....!</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Easy Crab Puffs</b></span></div>
This recipe comes to you by way of my girlfriend--the caterer to the stars of Pittsburgh. She serves this for cocktail receptions and it's always one of her most requested items from her clients. In fact, one of her VIP clients just ordered 80 dozen of them for a New Year's Eve buffet that she is hosting. When my friend told me this the other day, I laughed at the absurdity of 80 dozen---"that's a hell of a lot of crab puffs!" I said. But, my girlfriend was thrilled to have someone order a super easy recipe as opposed to a more complex one if she had to make that many! "These crab puffs are my little secret weapon to a happy cocktail hour!" she exclaimed. You know, she is right....they are easy to make, they are not costly, they taste great and they make a grand entrance! Between you and me---she told me that she lifted it from a Pepperidge Farm cookbook a few years back so I am not really not giving away her little secret weapon. I have made these many, many times and always receive rave reviews. I think I might add these to my Christmas Eve menu....<i>shhh...don't tell my husband....</i><br />
<br />
<div class="ERSIngredients">
<div class="ERSIngredientsHeader ERSHeading">
<b>Ingredients for 24 Crab Puffs</b></div>
<ul>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">8 oz. canned crab meat (she uses <a href="http://www.bumblebee.com/products/crab/bumble-bee-lump-crabmeat/">this one....</a>)</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">6 oz. Cream Cheese, softened (she uses a store brand)</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1 tablespoon Mayo (she uses a store brand)</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1 clove Garlic, minced or 2 Tlbs. of garlic powder</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">½ teaspoon Worcestershire</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">½ teaspoon Soy Sauce</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">3 Green Onions, chopped plus one more for garnish</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">1 sheet Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry, thawed</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients">Salt and pepper</li>
</ul>
</div>
<b>Directions</b><br />
Preheat over to 400 degrees <br />
<ol>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">In a medium bowl, mix together crab, cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic worcestershire, soy sauce and green onions.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Flour counter top and roll out sheet to a 10" x 15" rectangle.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Using a pizza cutter or knife slice 24 2½" squares.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Place one square in each mini muffin well.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Add one tablespoon crab mixture into each cup.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Bake for 20-25 minutes or until puff pastry is golden.</li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Top with green onions and serve immediately.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<i> </i>Finally.....this respectable, kind-hearted party girl cannot let Christmas arrive on our doorsteps in less than 2 days without sharing a new-to-me cocktail that's been all the rage at all the bars in Judiland....the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_mule">Moscow Mule.</a> As a gin-lover, I asked one of my favorite bartenders if he could mix me up one using my favorite libation--Hendrick's Gin. And, I had one more request--being a Lapbanded girl, I should not really drink anything carbonated so I asked him to come up with one that isn't too fizzy. It took him a week or so but he came up with a fabulous rendition just for me....and I just love it....<i>and, I know you will too! </i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>JUDI'S MOSCOW MULE</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<div class="cocktail-ingredients">
<h6 class="title">
</h6>
<h6 class="title">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ingredients</span></h6>
<div>
<table><tbody>
<tr><td class="qty"><span style="font-size: small;"><sub>2</sub><span class="slash"></span></span></td><td class="units"><span style="font-size: small;"><acronym title="Ounce">ounces</acronym></span></td><td class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: small;">Hendrick's gin</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="qty"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>1</sup><span class="slash">⁄</span><sub>2</sub></span></td><td class="units"><span style="font-size: small;"><acronym title="Ounce">ounces</acronym></span></td><td class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: small;">Lime juice</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="qty"><span style="font-size: small;">4</span></td><td class="units"><span style="font-size: small;"><acronym title="Ounce"></acronym></span>ounces</td><td class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: small;"> non alcoholic Ginger beer<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">---leave the bottle open for a few hours to cut down on fizziness</a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="qty"><span style="font-size: small;">2</span></td><td class="units"><span style="font-size: small;"><acronym title="Slice">slices</acronym></span></td><td class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: small;">Cucumber</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
<div class="cocktail-instructions">
<h6 class="title">
<span style="font-size: small;">Instructions</span></h6>
<div>
Muddle 1 cucumber slice
with the gin and lime, and strain into an ice filled copper mule mug.
Top with ginger beer, and garnish with a new cucumber slice</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">YOU BETTER WATCH OUT.....YOU BETTER NOT SHOUT.....!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(oh, go ahead and shout!)</div>
Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-81451633319138619282014-12-16T05:17:00.000-05:002014-12-16T05:17:00.239-05:00TASTY TUESDAY RECIPE EXCHANGE......#2.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Hello again Tasty Tuesday fans!<br />
These weeks whip by faster in December, don't they? <br />
If you are anything like me, you are up to your eye balls in ideas and things you want to do but you're also knee deep in things that just<b><i> have </i></b>to get done! Although there's no law that says we have to have the picture-perfect holiday season that not only looks beautiful but also feels beautiful and <i>smells</i> beautiful....we all try to create it. <i>Or, maybe that's just me.....</i><br />
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<br />
As I was thinking about what recipes I would share this week, I realized that it's come to that point in the month that we are pressed for time! These last days leading up the Christmas can be stressful. The last thing you might want to hear about is some recipe that you have to add to your holiday plans. So, I figured that maybe you would appreciate some quickie dishes that I am using to get me through this frantic countdown to the big day. Here in Judiland, every weeknight and weekend beginning today is accounted for so actually putting dinner (or any meal!) on the table feels like an impossible fete. Thankfully, I'm all about taking on the impossible and depending on ready-made products when it comes to menu planning. <i>My big thing is that anything that's ready-made has to be good enough for me to lie that I made it myself!</i> It's just another crazy quirk of mine. One of my criteria in deciding on what to have on hand was that I didn't want it to be anything similar to what we might be eating over the holidays. <br />
So, this past weekend--in between my regular Judi duties and decking the halls and keeping the mall in business, I set aside a bit of time to figure out a few easy, good, ready-made products to have on hand so that no one starves in Judiland.....<br />
Having a glass of wine while figuring this out helps tremendously.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">RECIPE FOR </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS</span></b></div>
<br />
<b>Ingredients</b><br />
-Glass of wine<br />
-Pen<br />
-Paper<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
-Sip wine <br />
-Write down the following items to purchase<br />
-Sip more wine<br />
-Decide when you will shop for these things<br />
-Sip more wine<br />
-Pour more wine<br />
-Drink up, you deserve it!<br />
-After you have sobered up, go shopping for a few or all of these vital staples! <br />
<br />
<i>At TRADER JOE'S....</i><br />
-Wine Country Chicken and Walnut Salad (great to have on hand for quick lunches)<br />
-1 bag of Party-Size Meatballs and 1 jar of Basil Marinara--put both in the crockpot on low before you leave the house. Even if you aren't having a party! A quick note: Rachel Ray raved over these meatballs in her magazine this month. I could have told her they were rave-worthy....<br />
-Frozen sweet potato gnocchi with sage and butter (buy 2 bags!!!). Quick, hearty and tastes so good! <br />
-Frozen mac and cheese--this stuff is pretty darn good and great to have on hand for those times when you tell people to feed themselves!<br />
-Frozen Mandarin Orange Chicken....it's good on it's own or over rice or pasta but it's a house favorite over greens for a Chinese Chicken Salad<br />
<br />
<i>At WILLIAMS SONOMA.....</i><br />
-Balsamic and Carmelized Onion Braising Sauce (this is stunning to throw over bone-in chicken breasts and into the crock pot....it's as simple as that). You can serve it with quick rice on the side....the sauce makes even the lowly Minute Rice taste like something super special<br />
-Chunky Artichoke-Parmesean Spread...this stuff is the BOMB over cooked pasta or baked on flatbread. Add a little extra cheese to either and it takes it up another notch. It's also wonderful slathered on a cooked chicken breast! It's quick, it's delicious and it will win over your dining partners every time. <br />
<br />
<br />
<i>At any GROCERY STORE...</i><br />
-2 lbs of thinly sliced roast beef and 1 lb of sliced provolone from deli, Italian-style buns from bakery, 1 jar of beef gravy, 1 bottle of Italian Dressing. Put beef, gravy and dressing in crockpot before you leave the house. Everyone on their own with Italian beef sandwiches.<br />
-Rotisserie chicken, taco shells, grated sharp cheddar cheese and desired taco fixings. Everyone on their own chicken tacos!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">What are your favorite stay-out-of-the-kitchen meals? </span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
I bet you didn't see this coming....did you?<br />
<b>BONUS RECIPE</b> (to put you back in the kitchen....so don't go too far!!):<br />
So sorry blog friends but I just could NOT help myself. I tried to hold back but my conscious would not let me me. You <b><i>need</i></b><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/goat-cheese-mashed-potatoes.html"> this recipe</a> and you need it like now. So, I will apologize upfront for sharing a recipe that might interupt your perfectly planned holiday meals. But, honestly....and I say this with lots and lots of love and understanding....you need to make this recipe...even if you have to nix Aunt Dorothy's famous potato recipe, you must, must make <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/goat-cheese-mashed-potatoes.html">this. </a> Aunt Dorothy will understand once she put this wonderfulness to her lips. It's that menu item that will take you to mashed potato stardom and I am not kidding you. No, I am NOT kidding you. Seriously. What's not to love? There's potatoes. There's garlic. There's sour cream. There's GOAT CHEESE. <i>Did someone say GOAT CHEESE?</i> Oh, did I mention that it's easy and can be made the day before? What's not to love?<br />
Now...here's a<a href="http://www.thebittenword.com/thebittenword/2014/11/thanksgiving-2014-ina-garten-barefoot-contessa-goat-cheese-mashed-potatoes.html"> link</a> to some good notes on this----in fact it was this particular post from 2 of my favorite foodie bloggers that encouraged me to try out this recipe a few weeks back---on a Sunday when I was serving my famous Sunday roast (essentially, it's a rump roast slow cooked all day with crushed Italian tomatoes, garlic, basil, onions, carrots and celery, a deep red wine like zinfandel) for just Carmen and I and our daughter and her beau---I needed something to serve along side it when I hit upon this tantalizing post...the rest is history. Yes, I took a risk serving it without taste testing it but I trusted these 2 foodie bloggers and I always trust the Barefoot Contessa....don't you? Then, the other day, in a fit of <i>what am I going to make with my prime rib (or sirloin rib roast or something like that) on Christmas day</i>, I was transported back to this fabulous recipe and I just knew I couldn't keep it a secret from you......<br />
So, anyway, when you are out there shopping for those "easy" meals that I suggested above, be sure to pick up what you need to make these Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes! Seriously. Make them. <br />
<i>Eat them. </i> <br />
<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-26156975870660272252014-12-12T04:54:00.000-05:002014-12-12T04:54:00.036-05:00MERRY ME.......<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5BDjSre7n5_0XYmxcrIbooKRuBos-qTEeRPla-KrgXaDGYU-W-WStYOJD45CnqwtyEqyweQ776jejZL1fkodKpon_ufAQN6LOB_2MDwYlUac5Gpx-ZLvkjsupityv5PikapwoFrXfPi8/s1600/25de632294b9575c05456228798dcd5e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5BDjSre7n5_0XYmxcrIbooKRuBos-qTEeRPla-KrgXaDGYU-W-WStYOJD45CnqwtyEqyweQ776jejZL1fkodKpon_ufAQN6LOB_2MDwYlUac5Gpx-ZLvkjsupityv5PikapwoFrXfPi8/s1600/25de632294b9575c05456228798dcd5e.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I definitely need this coat......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>TGIF!!!</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Now, please excuse me while I attempt to get my merry on.....</i></span>Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-74037316640411645392014-12-11T05:24:00.000-05:002014-12-11T05:24:00.033-05:00What my Christmas Tree and my Lap band have in common...... Stay with me here folks. <br />
I promise this will make sense. <br />
<i>Really. </i><br />
<br />
Christmas trees in my world were always....<span style="font-size: x-large;">.<i><span style="font-size: large;">the bigger the better. </span> </i></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UKyCm2Zrtmo9kNJzD_M_5MbWrqWJ7vqpQVhRtsV0uOTjf_PKBEsa0V_Wg00cLvB4i-6pLA3UYV87yfNPnaerbPA9_K_6iSX6QWagtOnksetPCtOrBzFyTI8J0_tDlkRQSS1wVlIdgzdy/s1600/Skating+Ring+Tree-Market+Square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UKyCm2Zrtmo9kNJzD_M_5MbWrqWJ7vqpQVhRtsV0uOTjf_PKBEsa0V_Wg00cLvB4i-6pLA3UYV87yfNPnaerbPA9_K_6iSX6QWagtOnksetPCtOrBzFyTI8J0_tDlkRQSS1wVlIdgzdy/s1600/Skating+Ring+Tree-Market+Square.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite Christmas Trees....the BIG ONE at <a href="http://www.ppgplace.com/directory/the-rink/">the skating rink at PPG Place</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Until last year. <br />
That's when my humungus prelit tree de-lit completely right after all the ornaments were painstakingly placed on it. <br />
<i>Yes, within moments of it's completion. </i> <br />
As I stood there exhausted--with every bone in my body aching--checking out my workmanship,. each section of the tree went dark...as if it was on a magic timer. I messed with cords, I shook the tree, I ran over to my sisters to get her doo-hicky that's supposed to fix these problems and then when I was still left with a prelit tree that would not light, I flung myself on the couch and pondered opening the front door and just tossing it out into the street. <br />
It was just another in a series of things that particular week that was making my holiday season pretty miserable. Even my own Christmas tree was against me!<br />
<i>So, why not just throw out the tree and thus throw out Christmas all together? </i><br />
Not wanting to be an unmerry person and as someone who is impatient with misery and glumness (it's a bad look for me, ya know?), I decided I was going to take off all the lights and DIY a prelit tree all my myself. I was feeling prickly and pissed off enough that I was going to show the world who was in charge...<br />
Um. Yeah. <strike><i>Wrestling lights off a pre-lit Christmas tree and then re-prelighting it would definitely show the world who was in charge.....</i></strike><br />
Let's just say that was the real misery. <i>Talk about a bad look for me..... </i><br />
<i> </i>Many hours, many trips to the local hardware store and many tears later, my tree was stripped of it's prelit lights and restrung with thousands of newly purchased lights and then redecorated.<br />
As I placed the final ornament on the tree for the second time in one week, I gave the finished product a stern warning...<i>"listen you little bastards, you better never go out again or I swear, you are outta here!" </i><br />
By December 26, about a fourth of the tree was unlit, by New Year's Eve, another fourth went out and then by January 1, only the top section was lit. <br />
My husband informed me that I should have bought LED lights. But, since he was already on my shit list last holiday season, his comment only made me hate the tree...<i>and Christmas</i>....even more. <br />
So, I held true to my warning--I tossed that Christmas tree out into the trash and vowed that I would never, ever, ever have a big, fat tree again. <br />
It was time for a <i>SKINNY TREE. </i><br />
<i>Aren't skinny things better? </i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kCikpJMN2ZkgXvMTNxkCClMshfxk_Avoh-wRSL09_oslT_FNHw-kmk4J2P2hTqaJh9PPue-RE6NbarzpoDE-eQd1rQdFUV0rVU3KqQAoWCmzese_9drWJcw5KkKoGLcOsVdu7xB_4YoZ/s1600/christmas-tree-profile-comparison-big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kCikpJMN2ZkgXvMTNxkCClMshfxk_Avoh-wRSL09_oslT_FNHw-kmk4J2P2hTqaJh9PPue-RE6NbarzpoDE-eQd1rQdFUV0rVU3KqQAoWCmzese_9drWJcw5KkKoGLcOsVdu7xB_4YoZ/s1600/christmas-tree-profile-comparison-big.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I guess "slender" is a nicer word than "skinny"....even for Christmas trees....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Flash forward to a big, big after-Christmas sale on trees and my sister on one of her notorious bargain hunting excursions and before you know it....I was the proud recipient of a 9 1/2 foot <i>SLENDER </i>Christmas tree for my January birthday. <br />
So, last night, I decided to get my merry on and decorate my new tree. <br />
After it was all set up and I had my decoration boxes unpacked, I looked around and realized-- I might not be a SLENDER TREE GIRL.<br />
I might be a BIG TREE GIRL.<br />
After all, I had a gazillion ornaments. And, lots of garland. Lots and lots and lots of everything. <br />
I didn't want to give up any ornaments. <br />
They all meant so much to me.<br />
I couldn't imagine living a Christmas without my ferris wheel ornament or my surf board ornament or even my bowling ornament or my......<i>they were such a part of me....ya know....</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdIaPeHBaVcJUuSIrG9asY_nvWrB8YQeQQiG5kfPGLP-hsi8Ep6dzHVXE420Z0jBbqDgDpk24bmnOsdqA3e1ObfVnhHov5y2hxlgIiU88yNyRUlLIXyhINw_lsM8J8k-jBfcJeP2vpS5p/s1600/funny-christmas-ornaments-christmas-pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdIaPeHBaVcJUuSIrG9asY_nvWrB8YQeQQiG5kfPGLP-hsi8Ep6dzHVXE420Z0jBbqDgDpk24bmnOsdqA3e1ObfVnhHov5y2hxlgIiU88yNyRUlLIXyhINw_lsM8J8k-jBfcJeP2vpS5p/s1600/funny-christmas-ornaments-christmas-pictures.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I remembered feeling this way before.....almost 8 years ago.....after my first Lap Band information session.....I thought I couldn't live without Diet Coke or Big Macs or Lasagna or Tonic Water or straws.....<br />
Amazingly, I was able to do it.<br />
Maybe I could be a SLENDER TREE girl.....<br />
I'm going to try it again tonight. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Wish me luck. </i></b></span><br />
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<i><br /></i>
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<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-75740894729434431272014-12-10T05:17:00.000-05:002014-12-10T05:17:00.813-05:00All I want for Christmas......<i><span style="font-size: large;">is peace, love and 10 less pounds.....</span></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTk5UFz2hi9XVYla2dDLVpthQSxsJuewaJbN9Mm_QRDUbSLxuuOWNDDnOIKU8NGrHLF6uZbtYMBfW20SZZZXbfDxMA1tkUzhxM6rhMpSoUoz64AEiM3nU2ZjKoRlFVxUDKmyr8qAGANYo/s1600/christmas-special-for-car-lovers-how-to-write-a-thank-you-letter-to-santa-claus-41453_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTk5UFz2hi9XVYla2dDLVpthQSxsJuewaJbN9Mm_QRDUbSLxuuOWNDDnOIKU8NGrHLF6uZbtYMBfW20SZZZXbfDxMA1tkUzhxM6rhMpSoUoz64AEiM3nU2ZjKoRlFVxUDKmyr8qAGANYo/s1600/christmas-special-for-car-lovers-how-to-write-a-thank-you-letter-to-santa-claus-41453_3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, it's true, I added a few other things to my list too......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
It's been awhile since I mentioned weight. So, I figured I'd talk a little about what's happening here on my belly. As I shared a few weeks back, I've been struggling with close to a 20 pound weight gain. And, I'm pretty sure most of those pounds planted themselves firmly on my belly. Thankfully, I've been able to erase about 8 of those pounds by refocusing myself on <a href="http://www.bandedliving.com/public/Long_Term_Success_With_Lap_Band_Surgery__Getting_Back_to_Basics_After_Falling_Off_The_Wagon.cfm">these Lap Band basics</a> as much as I can and by recommitting to a good but reasonable exercise program (mostly walking and some running). And, I must give some credit to the craziness of the past few weeks with my husband's bout with illness, my uncle's passing and all of the comings and goings of visitors and house guests....in addition to the regular business of life here in my world. <br />
This bout with weight gain shouldn't have caught me by surprise but for some reason, it did. I have to admit that I slacked off a little bit more than I should have for awhile and the results made themselves known in my pants, on the scale and how I felt about myself. Even though I know better than to assume that my Lap band will save me from ever gaining weight, I still behaved like I didn't have to hold up my end of the bargain. Maybe I just needed a break from the hard work of maintenance, maybe I just got tired or maybe I just didn't feel like thinking about it all so much. <br />
Looking back, I can see what happened....I'm not exactly sure why it happened and I may never really know. But, it's a hard reminder that my Lap band is a tool. It is not the magic bullet. I have to do the work. It is not the easy way out. It is not a promise of thinness or a guarantee of never gaining weight. Yet, I let myself fall into that trap for a little while. <br />
Fortunately, I caught myself before that 20 pounds turned into 50 and then into 100. Therein lies the magic. You see, I knew what it felt like to live for close to 7 years as someone who felt good about herself and her weight loss progress. I knew what it was like to fit into pants without struggle, to look in the mirror and not want to cry and to want to go out and enjoy life. <i>And, I knew that's how I wanted to live forever. </i> You see, feeling that way wasn't so far out of my reach---it wasn't just a distant memory.....it was recent and it wasn't that many pounds ago. That's how and why I caught myself. That's what helped me to refocus and recommit. That's what helped me to get back on track and to turn the scale around. <br />
This time of the year is notorious for destroying good eating habits and for packing on the pounds. It doesn't have to be. I proved that for 6 holiday seasons and I plan to prove it for 6 more and then 6 more after that and then 6 more.....<br />
<i>So, Santa, my dear.....now that I think about it.....just give me peace, love and all those other things. </i><br />
<i>I got these 10 pounds.... </i>Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-86504265310742848972014-12-09T05:27:00.000-05:002014-12-09T07:10:25.386-05:00Drumroll please.....THE RETURN OF TASTY TUESDAY RECIPE EXCHANGE!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBayRz1fmVLDAj2gEOpD7C9O12bwuc6Ezase-dnHm1OKNIwEIrcdK0yzFyOm6dNh3XG4_sPRUNFYFXkQNWbvF39HTZaxL8imxmw4YyKIQfoCtM5T1-BVadLDCFIxhzLW88gEArsna5Bh_/s1600/Tastey+Tuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBayRz1fmVLDAj2gEOpD7C9O12bwuc6Ezase-dnHm1OKNIwEIrcdK0yzFyOm6dNh3XG4_sPRUNFYFXkQNWbvF39HTZaxL8imxmw4YyKIQfoCtM5T1-BVadLDCFIxhzLW88gEArsna5Bh_/s1600/Tastey+Tuesday.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I know "tastey" is spelled wrong on Santa's but. Hell, it's been spelled wrong for 7 years...<i>why fix it now? </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL TASTY RECIPE EXCHANGE BEGINS NOW.....<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>GET READY, GET SET.....START YOUR OVENS!!!</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sorry that I'm a week late in getting us started! </i></b></span></div>
Welcome back Tasty Tuesday Recipe Exchange Fans!<br />
I am so happy you are back for more recipe sharing!<br />
And, a big <i>HELLO</i> <i>THERE</i> to new Tasty Tuesday Recipe Exchange readers!<br />
I am excited you are joining us.<br />
I promise all of you 4 Tuesdays of taste tested recipes that will surely make you the star of the holidays......! I try not to repeat recipes from previous years or ones that I may have posted throughout the year. But, I can't promise that for certain! <i>Some recipes are just worth repeating.....</i><br />
Thankfully, it's been another year of good eating here in Judiland.<br />
So, I'm armed with an arsenal of taste tested and fabulous recipes!<br />
For those of you who are Tasty Tuesday veterans.....you know the drill.<br />
For those of you new to the drill---here's how it goes:<br />
<i>Beginning today and each Tuesday in December I share a recipe or recipes from my ginormus pile of
tasted and tested holiday-worthy recipes. And, I ask you to do the
same.....share a recipe in the comments section of the posting.</i><i> It's a great way to help each other get ready for all the kitchen
olympics that go on this time of the year and the perfect way to make
you the FOODIE STAR of your holidays!</i><br />
<i>
So, dig out your best recipes to share! </i><br />
<br />
Let's start out this season of recipe-sharing with a recipe that I made this past summer and then again over the Thanksgiving holidays. It might be one of my most requested recipes of the year! People love mushrooms....<i>who knew?</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Marsala-Dijon Mushrooms</b></span></div>
(this version serves about 15 people as a side dish)<br />
This recipe is super yummy. There is a real richness to the sauce. I am not exactly sure how I came up with this recipe but I do recall that the first time I served it was way back in the summer. At that time, I paired it with steaks on the grill and baked potatoes. Over Thanksgiving, I served it along side the turkey and all the trimmings. It was equally adored both times. Our vegetarian Thanksgiving guests really loved it.....<br />
<br />
-5 lbs of mushrooms--cleaned and sliced thick.....I used a combo of baby bella, shitake and white<br />
-1 1/2 sticks salted butter<br />
-swirl of olive oil <br />
-1 small onion--diced small<br />
-handful of coarsley chopped or juilliened) rosemary, sage or basil (rosemary is great for summer, sage is great for fall or winter and basil is great anytime) <br />
-handful of Italian parsley<br />
-4 cloves of garlic...smashed<br />
-1/2 cup marsala wine (you might want to add more at the end, before serving)<br />
-2 heaping tablespoons of dijon mustard<br />
-Salt, pepper to taste <br />
<br />
In a large saute pan....on medium heat<br />
-Saute onion, garlic in butter and olive oil (about 3-5 minutes)<br />
-Add dijon mustard and stir well--until you have a "gravy-like" consistency<br />
-Add mushrooms in small batches, stirring as you go....coating with liquid<br />
-Once all the mushrooms have been added and reduced a bit, add the wine....stir well<br />
-Add herbs<br />
-Reduce heat to simmer, cover and let simmer for 5-8 minutes<br />
Can be made ahead of time and reheated before serving<br />
Add additional wine if needed<br />
Toss with additional parsley is desired<br />
<br />
<br />
This second recipe is one that I worked hard to recreate after having it at <a href="http://rpmitalian.com/">RPM</a> in Chicago. As a rabid polenta fan, I am always beyond thrilled when I see it on the menu. This polenta did NOT disappoint. It was probably the best version of soft polenta I have ever, ever had. I know you think you heard me say this before about several other polenta recipes<i> but this time, I mean it! </i> From the moment this polenta hit my taste buds, I was on a mission to make my own version and let me tell you....I came pretty darn close. If you love polenta as much as I love polenta, you will be doing back flips over this rendition of this godly food. And, for those of you who don't have a penchant for polenta, I challenge you to make this and eat it and then tell me that it's not one of your top favorite foodie loves of the year! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Polenta with Marscapone</span></b></div>
<br />
This recipe can be served on it's own or alongside any main course. It serves 4 people as a main course or 6-8 as a side. I tinkered with several recipes from so many different sources online that I can't really give credit where credit is due for this one. Let's just say it's the marriage of many recipes. Please be warned that making polenta is a labor of love...there's lots of stirring involved!!! You'll need this extra exercise.....butter and heavy cream warning!!! <br />
<ul>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"> <span itemprop="name">8 cups chicken broth </span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="name">1 cup of heavy cream </span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"> <span itemprop="name">2.5 cups Italian polenta(I purchase mine at a local Italian deli but there are good ones on the market)</span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"> 1 stick of salted <span itemprop="name">butter, cut into cubes </span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"> <span itemprop="name">3/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese </span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"> <span itemprop="name">1 cup mascarpone cheese </span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"> <span itemprop="name">Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste</span></li>
<li itemprop="ingredient" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/RecipeIngredient"><span itemprop="name">4 basil leaves cut into strips </span></li>
</ul>
<h2>
</h2>
In
a 4-quart (4-l) soup pot over high heat, bring the broth and cream to a boil.
While stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, add the polenta in a
thin, steady stream until incorporated, then continue stirring to
prevent lumps from forming. Reduce the heat to medium-low so the mixture
bubbles occasionally. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom and sides
of the pan, until the polenta is thick and starts to pull away from the
sides of the pan, about 30 minutes.<br />
<br />
Remove the pan from the
heat. Stir in the butter a few cubes at a time, then stir in the
Parmigiano-Reggiano and mascarpone cheeses. Season the polenta with salt
and pepper. Divide the polenta among warmed bowls, sprinkle with more grated cheese and a few strips of fresh basil and serve
immediately. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Cooking!!! </span></b></div>
Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-33838405514837646032014-12-05T05:08:00.000-05:002014-12-05T05:08:00.268-05:00JUDI DID NOT GET RUN OVER BY A REINDEER!!!! I have hit a few detours but all is well....<br />
Now, that I'm back.....fingers crossed that we can get on with December at <i>Stories from the Road..... </i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysYF5EcjdXqsM_JJgdFgBezNX9sh-9a56T6BsZA9qKZ60etxHZlm9HvbawPj3X5yK-NaQ2TAuO49Q3fRfjpoEQxlog-BAM0087VfWfqvkRN7NjXG04MrP7pNxzZtYJevVQ0xkCOulJCTM/s1600/Christmas+decorating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysYF5EcjdXqsM_JJgdFgBezNX9sh-9a56T6BsZA9qKZ60etxHZlm9HvbawPj3X5yK-NaQ2TAuO49Q3fRfjpoEQxlog-BAM0087VfWfqvkRN7NjXG04MrP7pNxzZtYJevVQ0xkCOulJCTM/s1600/Christmas+decorating.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to deck the halls, shop and all that December jazz!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
You know, life has a way of reminding me sometimes that I am not always in charge of how my time or my energy is spent. <br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Let's start with where we left off....</span></i><br />
-If you recall, I was heading into a weekend brimming with the excitement of a date night-- going to a new restaurant with some fun friends. So, here we are at that wonderful restaurant overlooking our beautiful city..........<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2celCJtvHTD-2GkHn6iwFt1_SLx4Zw4O1x5vOcg3rx1KjEejqHtQS1avZUSuk1uoTinOi2fjRv6RQa4U91VTsYVyYadSZl53Ooh7fgA3FTgAZBkilkX8duCDHiDuFkoLp2zOHkM0CSK9/s1600/Altius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2celCJtvHTD-2GkHn6iwFt1_SLx4Zw4O1x5vOcg3rx1KjEejqHtQS1avZUSuk1uoTinOi2fjRv6RQa4U91VTsYVyYadSZl53Ooh7fgA3FTgAZBkilkX8duCDHiDuFkoLp2zOHkM0CSK9/s1600/Altius.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great time was had by all......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
-Within hours of that picture being taken--poor Carmen got very, very ill. After a scarey few hours and a trip to the hospital, he was diagnosed with a pretty hefty strain of the flu and double pneumonia! He was one very, very sick guy. Needless to say, our home turned into <i>Judiland Hospital</i> with me as the head nurse. I am not a nurse nor did I ever profess to be! And, if truth be told--nursing is not my thing. I am very impatient with illness. Yet, somehow I became a nurse who had to develop patience. There were moments when I am sure I could have been sued for malpractice or lose my nursing license. But, I am happy to report that my husband and my marriage survived it all....<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EorYQe3f-go-SxYX6dTNtgGBib6H7nXbxwl63zXjX6yvRcdc1L9c-eqgAEDcTsyGrOy8Jx08eBJ_5o4LzRYLz3D2OyWJs78-nJMPivoh-GiD78NCd0lhlI2faKffcuhyotEBGYpKH3hs/s1600/Judi+and+Carmen...Thanksgiving.....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EorYQe3f-go-SxYX6dTNtgGBib6H7nXbxwl63zXjX6yvRcdc1L9c-eqgAEDcTsyGrOy8Jx08eBJ_5o4LzRYLz3D2OyWJs78-nJMPivoh-GiD78NCd0lhlI2faKffcuhyotEBGYpKH3hs/s1600/Judi+and+Carmen...Thanksgiving.....jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My recovering patient and me--his NURSE.... on Thanksgiving.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
-In the midst of Carmen's illness, my dear Uncle and Aunt needed my assistance. My Uncle has been suffering with Alzheimer's for several years now and it was becoming obvious that the end was near. With both of them being 93 and their children living out of town and me being incredibly close to them, I was called into service. Thankfully, they were blessed with the means to employ around-the-clock in-home care to attend to all of my Uncle's needs. However, my Aunt was becoming increasingly anxious and in need of support and there were other issues that needed addressed during this difficult time. So, I took on the role of making sure hospice was called in, directing all the comings and goings of the many medical team folks and making sure that my aunt was eating properly and that there were friends or family with her throughout the day and evening when I couldn't be there. <br />
-Then came Thanksgiving. House guests and cooking and more cooking and cleaning and more cleaning. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2OTUTybrIiqkK03AzKQK6caJAcJw8RrA8DLlYSqX6IaQmAgaH-OKcQvRgR5e1RL-qgZcudRHRNtiruv-Svlbzg9Pm_z_PH1R8fAOHHLaT1L3zGBEAJfXXpTeIJFU4hxdkiKhey4VFJLc/s1600/Bandit+and+Breck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2OTUTybrIiqkK03AzKQK6caJAcJw8RrA8DLlYSqX6IaQmAgaH-OKcQvRgR5e1RL-qgZcudRHRNtiruv-Svlbzg9Pm_z_PH1R8fAOHHLaT1L3zGBEAJfXXpTeIJFU4hxdkiKhey4VFJLc/s1600/Bandit+and+Breck.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of my Thanksgiving weekend houseguests---my Granddog Bandit and his friend from Denver--Breck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
-Then, my dear Uncle Passed away......<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk4esNWNgAdj72Okrt5zk9i9Jp95zcJiBa8pbgAAa3xQ-pHWnKs_XjfuYpprpz9kMxb6J2Z-l6Fgm7OKkv9m3IMOrsMrbNeeK8qKOcT-lMsuUxDZyuNTIjISACwT7DJRd3GOp66KOq3BF/s1600/Uncle+Tony+Scotti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk4esNWNgAdj72Okrt5zk9i9Jp95zcJiBa8pbgAAa3xQ-pHWnKs_XjfuYpprpz9kMxb6J2Z-l6Fgm7OKkv9m3IMOrsMrbNeeK8qKOcT-lMsuUxDZyuNTIjISACwT7DJRd3GOp66KOq3BF/s1600/Uncle+Tony+Scotti.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the man we adored......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
-And, you can probably guess the rest of the story.....with plans to be made, cousins coming in from around the country and everything else that goes with it. Amid it all, we were reminded how blessed we all are to have each other. We come together in happy and sad times and share the gift of family. Although the years go by and we all scatter....<i>we are family. </i><br />
<br />
<i>-And, now, I shall take the weekend to regroup and hopefully hang some holly...... </i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Counting my blessings as I embark on December......</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868217754648873098.post-85004292649147652432014-11-14T05:19:00.000-05:002014-11-14T05:19:00.085-05:00IT'S HERE!!!! IT'S HERE!!!!<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes, FRIDAY IS HERE......</span></i><br />
I don't know why I am doing mental cartwheels and make-believe jumping jacks just because Friday is here. Because I know all too well that my weekend is already burdened with an almost impossible to-do list that must be completed by the time the clock strikes 4:45 am Monday morning......<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTVJJf5PFhuQRCbTcvRS3iQdSDaQTOGYfokyqLSOXwgYJSjZR9jzDXMLeXUzlwKXm2dcm5oncmQ7PUu-hRl7500JY-nZoVm2v-0Q8rVFX79ZW_bvjW0ImtxiX5E8v4RHw4dHV-W-qRG58/s1600/words+to+live+by.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTVJJf5PFhuQRCbTcvRS3iQdSDaQTOGYfokyqLSOXwgYJSjZR9jzDXMLeXUzlwKXm2dcm5oncmQ7PUu-hRl7500JY-nZoVm2v-0Q8rVFX79ZW_bvjW0ImtxiX5E8v4RHw4dHV-W-qRG58/s1600/words+to+live+by.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">WORDS TO LIVE BY!!!!</span></i></td></tr>
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So, for the moment, I am going to forget completely about all of that and focus on the weekend plans that will take the edge off <i>that ridiculous to-do list....</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYO-zwPCVlr7EQuu5L324MeSABuYX8EXdPe4khTfFvjlRljbwanzb8WsK-TOMH41srs25MlLimhPyCwjJO3OBcz926oq5gTwsemIZVZnDW1XU5cY4kLFvXkFMnXPtDmVE69mTlVoOgf1Cg/s1600/todo+list.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYO-zwPCVlr7EQuu5L324MeSABuYX8EXdPe4khTfFvjlRljbwanzb8WsK-TOMH41srs25MlLimhPyCwjJO3OBcz926oq5gTwsemIZVZnDW1XU5cY4kLFvXkFMnXPtDmVE69mTlVoOgf1Cg/s1600/todo+list.png" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> So.....TO-DO-LISTS should be abolished!!! </td></tr>
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*My sister and I are going with a bunch of other groupies to see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y0C447s1fI">a singer that we really like</a> at a comfy and fun little local pub. Music and martinis can cure lots of things. <br />
*My spirited gal pals and our lucky-to-have-us husbands are going to a much-buzzed-about <a href="http://altiuspgh.com/">new restaurant </a>that we have waited quite some time to get into. This particular restaurant opened in the old <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/life/dining/2013/07/01/Georgetowne-Inn-a-Mount-Washington-institution-to-close/stories/201307010175">Georgetown restaurant </a>where Carmen and I had many dressed-up date nights in the early days of dating and marriage...oh so many years ago. So, I'm super excited to see the transformation....I hear it's spectacular! And, we are huge fans of the chef since she is also very involved in the creative menu and cooking at <a href="http://bistro19.com/">a wonderful little place </a>in my neighborhood where we go quite often. Good friends+Good food+Good wine+ A view of our GRAND city=HAPPY. <br />
*My forever friend and I will be attending the 3rd installment of our Thanksgiving cooking technique classes....it's our annual November tradition. <i>Old friends and traditions are the best.</i><br />
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Sometimes all I need is a reminder that even though it feels like it's all work and no play.....<i>I really do play. </i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Hello Friday......</span></i>Judihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014735777454955352noreply@blogger.com3