Oh, Spring, where art thou???
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| Pathetic view from my office window... |
Thursday, February 10, 2011
It's snowing...again
That's what I was thinking and I heard a resounding chorus of it around the office. Let me make this perfectly clear: I am so tired of snow. I meant to say it like this thought: I'M SO TIRED OF SNOW.
Oh, Spring, where art thou???
Oh, Spring, where art thou???
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
So fond(ue) of New York...
I am a shameful bad blogger. Why? Because, I have not had time to blog here lately or there (http://www.bluegrassmoms.com/ or http://www.what2readnext.blogspot.com/) Bad me.
I have been a good little Realtor, traveler and cook though! We had so much fun-fun-fun in New York the weekend before last getting to see the Isabug (our favorite New York attraction), going to Broadway shows (Billy Elliott and Mama Mia), kicking rats on the streets of Manhattan (hope the PETA people don't get after Mary Rollins), eating yummy foods for breakfast (Marc says the Tres Leche and the Hazel Nut doughnuts at Doughnut Plant are the perfect combination. Will recommends one Blackout Doughnut after another, I'm going to need more samples before making a final decision), brunch (Good Enough to Eat) and dinner (Italian place in Brooklyn = love), oh yeah, and shopping!
This past Saturday we had Fondue Night. I have the fondest memories of Fondue Night when I was growing up. We'd been talking lately about going to The Melting Pot but we've also been talking about being on a "budget". So, last weekend everyone was home on Saturday (including little neice Sara who came over to the Mathewsies because she didn't feel good and the dorm was too loud) and we had a Lost-Fondue marathon. I had no fondue pot but Grandmother Williamson was able to immediately lay hands-upon the good old fondue pots of my childhood AND two sets of of Fondue forks. I was so impressed. She knew exactly where they were!! Again, I was so impressed. The grandparents have kindly put the vintage fondue pots on permenant loan to our house. Maybe next time you come visit, you, too, can have some fondue!
Some fondue observations -- pretty much you can dip anything in chocolate fondue and it tastes good. ANYTHING!! Apples, grapes, banana, pretzels, vanilla wafers, marshmallows, fingers, an empty fondue fork...
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| My new favorite Mathewsies picture. |
I have been a good little Realtor, traveler and cook though! We had so much fun-fun-fun in New York the weekend before last getting to see the Isabug (our favorite New York attraction), going to Broadway shows (Billy Elliott and Mama Mia), kicking rats on the streets of Manhattan (hope the PETA people don't get after Mary Rollins), eating yummy foods for breakfast (Marc says the Tres Leche and the Hazel Nut doughnuts at Doughnut Plant are the perfect combination. Will recommends one Blackout Doughnut after another, I'm going to need more samples before making a final decision), brunch (Good Enough to Eat) and dinner (Italian place in Brooklyn = love), oh yeah, and shopping!
This past Saturday we had Fondue Night. I have the fondest memories of Fondue Night when I was growing up. We'd been talking lately about going to The Melting Pot but we've also been talking about being on a "budget". So, last weekend everyone was home on Saturday (including little neice Sara who came over to the Mathewsies because she didn't feel good and the dorm was too loud) and we had a Lost-Fondue marathon. I had no fondue pot but Grandmother Williamson was able to immediately lay hands-upon the good old fondue pots of my childhood AND two sets of of Fondue forks. I was so impressed. She knew exactly where they were!! Again, I was so impressed. The grandparents have kindly put the vintage fondue pots on permenant loan to our house. Maybe next time you come visit, you, too, can have some fondue!
Some fondue observations -- pretty much you can dip anything in chocolate fondue and it tastes good. ANYTHING!! Apples, grapes, banana, pretzels, vanilla wafers, marshmallows, fingers, an empty fondue fork...
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Thoughts about the weather forecast...
I don't know about you but I often find weather.com, The Weather Channel and the weather app on my iPhone all sort of useless. Useless in the way that looking at them only leaves me frustrated and confused about the most important impact weather has on me as a city-dwelling mom and Realtor. Quite frankly, what I most need from a weather report is what the weather means in terms of my daily outfit.
I told this to MR this morning and she agreed with me 100 percent! In fact, she suggested that I should look at the weather report and learn to translate it into a daily recommended outfit on rhe blog for other weather-challenged fashionistas. I imagine the result looking something like this:
Today, January 26 will be snowy but feel relatively warm compared to last week's temperatures. Because the snow will be wet and heavy, you would be advised to wear boots but NOT suede boots which might be damaged by the moisture. Patterned, rubber Wellies tucked in skinny dark jeans could prove an excellent choice, however, be sure to wear thicker knee-high socks to protect your toes from the cold if you plan to walk more than a few blocks. A bright patterned boot will certainly lift your spirits on this otherwise sun-less day. In choosing outerwear, temperatures will reach the mid-30s translating to a shorter, warm jacket. A layering of sweater and shirt below should suffice to keep you warm. We recommend a coordinating scarf and gloves would indeed be handy today!
I told this to MR this morning and she agreed with me 100 percent! In fact, she suggested that I should look at the weather report and learn to translate it into a daily recommended outfit on rhe blog for other weather-challenged fashionistas. I imagine the result looking something like this:
Today, January 26 will be snowy but feel relatively warm compared to last week's temperatures. Because the snow will be wet and heavy, you would be advised to wear boots but NOT suede boots which might be damaged by the moisture. Patterned, rubber Wellies tucked in skinny dark jeans could prove an excellent choice, however, be sure to wear thicker knee-high socks to protect your toes from the cold if you plan to walk more than a few blocks. A bright patterned boot will certainly lift your spirits on this otherwise sun-less day. In choosing outerwear, temperatures will reach the mid-30s translating to a shorter, warm jacket. A layering of sweater and shirt below should suffice to keep you warm. We recommend a coordinating scarf and gloves would indeed be handy today!
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| Don't lose your head over what to wear. Check the daily Fashion Forecast... |
Friday, January 21, 2011
Snow days can be fattening...
Maybe that seems obvious but I’ve always been possessed with a good, keen sense of the obvious. I’m not sure it’s really a marketable skill but my real estate clients seem to like it. For example, if I’m in a house that smells strongly of cigarette smoke or cat pee, I usually point it out. I just like to be sure that everybody’s on the same page.
Anyway, it probably seems obvious to most people that snow days have the potential to be highly caloric. Especially, if you live with a 14-year old who aspires to have a reputation for being a good cook. That’s one of the things I really love about my daughter (again with the keen sense of the obvious --who doesn’t love their daughter!) but Mary Rollins doesn’t say, “when I grow up I want to be a professional chef,” she just says, “I want people to think that I bake well.” And, let me tell you, she really does bake well. And certainly, there are worse reputations one could have!
As I already reported in on the superiorness of last snow day’s delicious waffles, today was French toast. Not just any French Toast, but cinnamon swirl French Toast adapted from a recipe in a delightful little book called, The Homemade Life – one of Isabug’s favorite books – that I recently started carrying with me to doctor waiting rooms that might have a poor selection of magazines.
On a side note, someone asked me recently what good books I’d read lately and the first thing that popped into my head was The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook. It makes me think that I have indeed become a true Mathews – a family known for its serious devotion to food. In fact, my mother-in-law used to write us long letters from Florida about recent meals she’d eaten. Long before The Food Network, these people were foodies. Williamsons on the other hand seem to like to eat but really don’t have a relationship with their food.
Our morning French Toast was, to use a French word, incroyable! Heavy with soaked in egg-y goodness but fried up crispy in at least a tablespoon full of swirled around canola oil. And, that my friends was the secret – not stingily spraying the pan with Pam but generously committing to a full out frying of the bread. Even with some blackened edges this French Toast was superb topped with butter and syrup (or doused liberally with confectioner’s sugar a la Will).
Thank goodness I managed to run a few treadmill miles this morning because I can’t wait for lunch!
Anyway, it probably seems obvious to most people that snow days have the potential to be highly caloric. Especially, if you live with a 14-year old who aspires to have a reputation for being a good cook. That’s one of the things I really love about my daughter (again with the keen sense of the obvious --who doesn’t love their daughter!) but Mary Rollins doesn’t say, “when I grow up I want to be a professional chef,” she just says, “I want people to think that I bake well.” And, let me tell you, she really does bake well. And certainly, there are worse reputations one could have!
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| The French Toast Source and a fun read! |
On a side note, someone asked me recently what good books I’d read lately and the first thing that popped into my head was The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook. It makes me think that I have indeed become a true Mathews – a family known for its serious devotion to food. In fact, my mother-in-law used to write us long letters from Florida about recent meals she’d eaten. Long before The Food Network, these people were foodies. Williamsons on the other hand seem to like to eat but really don’t have a relationship with their food.
Our morning French Toast was, to use a French word, incroyable! Heavy with soaked in egg-y goodness but fried up crispy in at least a tablespoon full of swirled around canola oil. And, that my friends was the secret – not stingily spraying the pan with Pam but generously committing to a full out frying of the bread. Even with some blackened edges this French Toast was superb topped with butter and syrup (or doused liberally with confectioner’s sugar a la Will).
Thank goodness I managed to run a few treadmill miles this morning because I can’t wait for lunch!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Netflix
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| Isabug, Self-appointed Director of Netflix Promotions |
That is all.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Best ways to spend snow days...
1. Writing/blogging
2. Eating waffles made by MR in her new Christmas gift waffle iron. Let me tell you, all waffle irons are not made the same. New waffle iron made the best waffle I have ever had in my life. Truly.
3. Watching episodes of Lost. Obsessed. Which also leads me to say, thank you masters of technology media and entreprenuership for the invention of Netflix. Marc Mathews even said, "Netflix is worth every penny." He really did, I swear. This from the man who uses his iPhone *only* as a phone and email receptacle (although he recently discovered the weather app).
4. Making rolled, stuffed flank steak from the Williams-Sonoma catalog. Not nearly as good as it sounds and a lot of work. However, it did force me to learn how to butterfly a flank steak (I watched a video on You Tube -- I'm such a geek) AND cooked leeks. I am 44 years old and I have never used leeks in a recipe. FYI, leeks are super-yummy.
5. Sleeping in a bit.
6. Selling a house (yeah!).
7. Exercising in the basement (here's my new winter biking regime with treadmill running. I ride my old bike on the trainer for 45 minutes while watching an episode of Heroes -netflix of course, I ride in different gear for each character as they come on. I think it might be like a spinning class except I've never been to spinning class). Yesterday I had time to watch Heroes, I mean bike, AND then run on the treadmill after I finished my bike ride when I found out it was a snow day. Then I took a bubble bath. It was like an indoor triathalon.
8. Dream of Spring
2. Eating waffles made by MR in her new Christmas gift waffle iron. Let me tell you, all waffle irons are not made the same. New waffle iron made the best waffle I have ever had in my life. Truly.
3. Watching episodes of Lost. Obsessed. Which also leads me to say, thank you masters of technology media and entreprenuership for the invention of Netflix. Marc Mathews even said, "Netflix is worth every penny." He really did, I swear. This from the man who uses his iPhone *only* as a phone and email receptacle (although he recently discovered the weather app).
4. Making rolled, stuffed flank steak from the Williams-Sonoma catalog. Not nearly as good as it sounds and a lot of work. However, it did force me to learn how to butterfly a flank steak (I watched a video on You Tube -- I'm such a geek) AND cooked leeks. I am 44 years old and I have never used leeks in a recipe. FYI, leeks are super-yummy.
5. Sleeping in a bit.
6. Selling a house (yeah!).
7. Exercising in the basement (here's my new winter biking regime with treadmill running. I ride my old bike on the trainer for 45 minutes while watching an episode of Heroes -netflix of course, I ride in different gear for each character as they come on. I think it might be like a spinning class except I've never been to spinning class). Yesterday I had time to watch Heroes, I mean bike, AND then run on the treadmill after I finished my bike ride when I found out it was a snow day. Then I took a bubble bath. It was like an indoor triathalon.
8. Dream of Spring
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Oh the irony
Why, I wonder, are the only two available magazines in the waiting room at my dad's doctor's office Plane & Pilot and Golf Digest?
Is there something wrong with stocking a good Vogue or People? I was counting on catching up on some celebrity gossip!
Is there something wrong with stocking a good Vogue or People? I was counting on catching up on some celebrity gossip!
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