A Child's Tradition: Oreos

Everyone knows that your first Oreo experience is a tradition...just look at the commercials!

Cheers!

W.A.'S Momma

Boy's Spaces...(on a Budget)

I love putting together rooms that express personality!  Although W.A. has been indifferent so far, we have created a space for him that reflects my Kentucky Gentleman's tastes, and they are all boy!

My husband has been interested in sailing since I have known him and Pirates comes in at a close second.  So, we did the whole sail theme in W.A.'s bedroom and the Pirates got stuck in the bathroom.

I have to say, I am very pleased with the way it turned out!

Arrrgh!

W.A.'s Momma


Bedroom
Lamps, Bedding, Curtains, Sailboat Wall Decals, Nautical Flag Garland, Anywhere Chair: Pottery Barn Kids
Rug: Target
Toybox: Warm Biscuit Bedding Company
Dresser, Lighthouse Prints: Regency Furniture
Crib: Babies R Us
End Tables: Bombay Companies
Picture Frame: A Children's Boutique, Louisville, KY

Bathroom
Life Preserver, Shower Curtain, Rugs, Shark & Fish Decals: Pottery Barn Kids
Picture: Art.com
Stagecoach Curtain: Wal Mart
Waste Basket: Dollar General

Coastal Living's Sticky Rum Sauce Jamaican Jerk Ribs...YUUUUM, Mon!

Another 70 degree day here in Fredericksburg, Virginia!

We pulled some weeds, filled in holes, set up a water garden, cleaned up the back yard and decided it was yet another good day to have a Jamaican-inspired evening.  We found this great recipe for ribs in this month's issue of Coastal Living.  I've reprinted it here for you to try.  This meal was so good it made me want to slap my momma.  Even W.A. loved it (notice his shirt)! 

We also decided to get a papaya and slice it, soak it in dark rum then grill it for dessert.  Can you say "yum"?  And, no.  W.A. did not have any rum of any sort, prepared in any kind of way.

Our evening wouldn't be complete without some rum in our diet cokes!

Still pining for some warm weather that lasts through the coming weeks! 

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma

These are our ribs, we grilled 'em a little and then cooked them in the slow cooker on low for 6 hours.

Coastal Living Rib Recipe below...

Viva La France, and I dont give a Crepe...

One useless piece of trivia about me is that I love everything French.  I don't mean just french-kissing and french-fries (I never was down with that whole "freedom fries" crap) although those are both very nice.

I love the French food, the French people, the French culture, the French language, French lands, anything Francophone, honey! 

I went to France for 3 weeks with my sisters in July/August 2000.  It totally changed my life and I cannot wait to go back!  We stayed in a guest house on a family estate with people our own age so it was not one of those touristy trips.  It was an in-your-face-French everything.  IT WAS AWESOME!

We wanted to name our sailboat L'Autre Femme, which translates to "the other woman" (it was my husand's boat) but no one could pronounce it correctly, so we went with Ma' Jolie, which is still French (and means, "my pretty" or something like that).

Once, my friend Jenn and I celebrated Bastille Day, yelling "Viva La France" and downing red, white and blue shooters, layered to look like the French flag of course!

Anyway, let me get to the real reason for my post.  I have a new neighbor who, wait for it, IS FRENCH!  And she (Edwige) made me some real crepes.  Not the store bought ones, but honest to goodness crepes!  So Edwige is my new best friend and I tried my hand at crepe-making yesterday.  Wich is the real topic of this post.

I looked for a basic crepe batter which I found online at http://www.cooks.com/ and it follows:

1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup flour
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 Tbsp melted butter
pinch of salt

Mix altogether and let set at room temperature for 30 minutes.  Make sure you have a crepe pan or an iron skillet.  I have a Lodge iron skillet.  It's flat with no sides and it works the best. 
The real skill is in getting the crepes to look like circles.  Here is my first crepe:

Not too pretty, but let me tell you it was DELICIOUS!!  I'll get better with practice, but I think I will ask Edwige for a little lesson in crepe making. 

For crepe toppings you would traditionally use butter and sugar according to Edwige.  However, I am a fan of slathering Nutella all over the thing!  You can use fruits as well.

Cheers!

W.A.'s Mere

Spring Fever...

Today I woke up to 63 degrees!  I have Spring fever, bad.  Here's what I did:

Put on a chunky torquiose necklace and a white linen shirt.

I wish I had a mimosa.

Slid on my boat shoes and headed outside.

I pruned back my hybrid tea roses, and knockout roses.

I wish I had a margarita.

I swept off my patio, walkways, and porch.

Took inventory of my pots for planting some annuals this year.

I wish I had a margarita.

Arranged the beautiful flowers my husband brought home for VDay.

I wish I had a margarita.

Fed bluebeard, wiped down the counters.

I turned off the heater and opened the windows.

Is 1 o'clock too early for a margarita?

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma

Happy Valentine's Day

Last night I had the most amazing dream.  If you know me, you'll completely understand this in the first sentence.  If you dont, you'll get it by the end of the first paragraph...

I dreamed of my Grandma and being at her house for "Sunday Supper".  My whole entire family was there.  My sisters, cousins, and aunts and uncles from Georgia to Texas.  It was great.  But the best part was W.A. was there with his cousins, which is "the best part" because, see, my Grandmother passed away on December 31, 2007.  She has only "met" one of her great-grand-babies and that was Regan (who is 4 now).

This dream was so vivid that I woke up this morning and for a nanosecond thought to myself, "oh, I should call Grandma and say hello."  I felt so good.  For a nanosecond.  Then I had that hollow chest, the heart-in-your-throat feeling because I remembered she was gone.  I was as sad as I was at her funeral, all over again.  I really miss my Grandma.  I think about her alot.  Then my husband says, "she came to visit W.A. and wanted to celebrate Valentine's Day with you since I'll be working."  I laughed and then I realized: YES!  Yes, you're right!  Because my Grandma knows how much I want W.A. to know her and she didnt want me to be alone on VDay.

This dream suddenly started to make me feel good, instead of sad.  And then, all of a sudden, my husband asks me "was there fried chicken there?".  I looked him like he was a turd in a punchbowl and replied, "why, yes.  It is the South, and it was Sunday Supper." 

My Grandma was always cooking her collards, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and macaroni and cheese (among many other things) on Sundays.  So I decided to cook this for my family tonight.  I know it didnt taste as good as hers, but it was pretty good.

I will always miss my Grandma, (especially around Easter, her favorite holiday).  But I am so thankful for these memories and especially these "special visits" like the one I had last night.  It reminds me of how much she loved her grandchildren.  And the food was the best part, honeychild!

Happy Valentine's Day Grandma!  I miss you!

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma

P.S. I wonder when Kenny, Keri and Samantha are going to get over here and help me do the dishes...



Journey 4 A Cure!

For all of you in the area on April 30th:

http://www.active.com/running/brambleton-va/journey-4-a-cure-10k5k1k-family-fun-runwalk-2011?cmp=23-2

Come run/walk to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer!  This family thanks you for it!  There is something for every skill level: 1K, 5K and 10K!

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma