Blah, Blah, Blog

Well its been a few days since my last blog. I don't want anyone to think I have given up. Rather, I don't really have much to say. Everything is going along just fine for the Wallerstein's. The kids are in school, Erin is playing soccer and A.J. is on the track team (throwing the shot put and discusses). We have had no major meltdowns and nothing of extreme excitement happening. We are getting ready for our SPRING BREAK trip to Hawaii. Maui, to be exact. It has been in the works for nearly a year and I can't beleive it is finally happening. I have researched, researched and planned and I am GOOD TO GO. I don't need to do much shopping, believe or not, and I plan on packing light. I am driving the kids a little crazy. I have started a pile of stuff we will be taking. Everytime I place something in/on the pile I shout, "HAWAII PILE". I think sometime next week, when they start placing things in the pile, they will get into it. If not, oh well its nice for ME to drive THEM crazy for a change.
We will be staying at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort and have lots of fun activities planned. We will bike ride down Halakala. Erin and Dave will do a zipline course (A.J. is too big) and we will go on a snorkling excursion. Erin would like us all to take a surf lesson together, which we plan on doing, and we will relax by the pool. I will try to blog a little from the trip and include a few pictures. If you have any advice or must do's please let me know. Once we return we get into a whirlwind of activities surrounding AJ's graduation and going away to the Academy. It will be our last chance for a family vacation for a good long time. I will try to relax, enjoy and savor every moment. ALOHA!

Getting to Know Me

Every now and again one of my friends sends me an email with a questionarre about me. They have completed it and forwarded to me. It is then my turn to complete the survey and forward on to friends. I might be in the minority of my friends but I actually enjoy them. I like telling my friends about myself and I LOVE finding out things about my friends I never knew (i.e. her middle name is Ida, she got a new car, she dreams of the same vacation spot as me.) Here are 2 I recently received....

This one was completed THIS MORNING...
1. WHAT TIME DID YOU GET UP THIS MORNING? 5:35
2. DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? diamonds
3. WHAT IS THE LAST FILM THAT YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? Charlie Bartlett, and I do recommend it.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? Top Chef
5. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? pretzels and a diet coke
6. WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME? Helene
7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINE: Cooking Light
9. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? Ford Explorer
10. FAVORITE SANDWICH? grilled vegetable
11. WHAT CHARACTERISTIC DO YOU DESPISE? chauvinism
12. FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING? my comfy sweatshirts
13. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON VACATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? Paris, France
14. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM? dirt and grime
15. FAVORITE BRAND OF CLOTHING? whatever looks good
16. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO? Carpenteria, California
17. WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY? I guess it would be my 30th birthday--I was in New Orleans upon the completion of a cruise.
18. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Whatever my kids are playing
19. FURTHEST PLACE YOU ARE SENDING THIS? Orange County
20. WHO DO YOU LEAST EXPECT TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Rochelle
21. PERSON YOU EXPECT TO SEND IT BACK FIRST? Jen
22. FAVORITE SAYING? "good to go"
23. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? 7/14/65
24. ARE YOU A MORNING OR NIGHT PERSON? morning
25. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE? 8
26. PETS? 1 dog
27. ANY NEW AND EXCITING NEWS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? I think I have shared enough lately. 28. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE? an attorney
29. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? much better than yesterday
30. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANDY? Scotchmallow or ScotchKiss from See's Candy
31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER? Gerber Daisy
32. WHAT IS A DAY ON THE CALENDAR YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? April 6th--we leave for Maui
34. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? the a/c fan in my office that NEVER shuts off
35. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? pretzel sticks
36. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? on occasion
37. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? cornflower blue
38. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? a little chilly but it looks like it will be a beautiful day.
39. FAVORITE SOFT DRINK? DIET COKE
40. FAVORITE Restaurant? I never pass up thai food at Siam Rice
41. SIBLINGS? 1 sister, 1 brother
42. FAVORITE Day? Sunday
43. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? Skateboard
44. SUMMER OR WINTER? definitely summer
45. HUGS OR KISSES? Both at the same time!
46. COFFEE OR TEA? neither (see #39)
47. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? vanilla
48. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO EMAIL YOU BACK? Yes please. I love to find out new things about everyone.
49. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? yesterday morning
50. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED? dust and junk
5 1. WHO IS THE FRIEND THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE LONGEST? Lena
52. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? took Erin to soccer practice, made dinner and watched TV
53. FAVORITE SMELL? my husband when he is dressed and ready to go out
54. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? dying before my children are grown.
55. SALTY OR SWEET? salty
56. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR RING? 5
57. HOW MANY YEARS AT YOUR CURRENT JOB? 6
58. HOW MANY TOWNS HAVE YOU LIVED IN? 4
59. DO YOU MAKE FRIENDS EASILY? I like to think I do

The second one was a bit tougher. It required you to answer each question with just one word and it was completed about 2 weeks ago...
1. Your cell phone is? helpful
2. Your significant other? adorable
3. Your hair? brown
4. Your mother? amazing
5. Your father? special
6. Your favorite thing? sex
7. Your dream last night? realityTV
8. Your favorite drink? dietcoke
9. Your goal? centered
10. The room you're in? family
11. Your ex? non-existent
12. Your fear? creatures
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? mortgage-free
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you're not? thin
16. Muffins? blueberry
17. One of your wish list items? Paris
18. Where you grew up? northridge
19. The last thing you did? chopped
20. What are you wearing? schlumpadink
21. Your TV? foodtv
22. Your pets? tolerable
23. Your computer? laptop
24. Your life? changing
25. Your mood? plesant
26. Missing someone? nope
27. Your car? troublesome
28. Something you're not wearing? bra
29. Favorite Store? Target
30. Your summer? hot
31. Love someone? forever
32. Your favorite color? pink
33. When is the last time you laughed? lunchtime
34. Last time you cried? Yesterday
35. Who will/would re-post this? sister

Hope you have learned something new about me. Feel free to copy and paste either or both of the surveys into an email and let me know your responses. I really want to know about you, too.

Do NOT tell my kids...

I am not sure they know other kids misbehave in certain ways. And I certainly dont want them learning this late in the game. It has come to my attention that my kids have NEVER done the following.....

1. Say, "I HATE YOU" to each other or their parents.
Dave and I feared the day this would happen. He always hoped it was when he was at home because he knew I would fall apart. I am happy to say it has never come out of their mouths. They may have thought it but they didnt say it. This is the opposite of me. I said it to my folks, along with worse things, all while stomping up the stairs and slamming my door. I know when I was in college I heard a daughter say it to her mother at the mall and I started crying. I felt horrible that I had ever said those terrible things to my parents. I went home and apologized to my mom. I am not sure if I ever did to my Dad---sorry to both of you!!

2. Feigned illness to get out of school.
This is another thing I did on more than one occasion and probably at least 1 time in every grade in junior high and high school. I know the kids have asked to miss a day of school because they wanted to avoid a test (probably Erin not A.J.) but never just claimed a headache, cramps or a sore throat. In fact, AJ has NEVER missed a day of school due to illness in all 12 years of public school.

3. Hit or kicked or any physical fighting with each other.
AJ is really into rules. He was told as a very young boy that you do not hit, especially girls, so he hasn't and Erin learned by example. This, again, is something I did with my siblings. I would pull my sisters hair. In fact we would each grab on to each others locks and scream "let go, no you let go" all the while neither of us letting go. And with our big brother we would wack him in the back and run like heck. I really don't recall him ever hitting us back. He took lots of abuse from his sisters and handled it with grace!!

I know I am not OUT OF THE WOODS yet but I am nearly there. AJ will be leaving in just 3 months but Erin has much teenage angst ahead of her. If any of these items do crop up I do hope I can remember how lucky I have been.

A few of my favorite things...

Yesterday while I was cooking dinner I was thinking about all the things in my kitchen that I love..the gadgets, utensils, etc...and I thought you might like to know about them. Here are the things in my kitchen I would hate to have to live without.....

1. GLOBAL Statoku knife It is sharp and cuts through anything. The handle fits perfectly in my hand and isnt too light. I like it so much that I also have a Global chefs knife and paring knife.

2. Onion Googles You may laugh but I swear by them. In the past when I cut onions my eyes tear up something awful. I would have to stop many times and wipe my eyes/blow my nose. After many years and many onions it got worse, not better. I tried all other home remedies (chewing gum, running water, putting the onion in the fridge and more) but nothing worked. These googles do the trick. I have them on the whole time I am cutting the onion and never a tear. I highly recommend them!!

3. RubAway After chopping all those onions, and some garlic too, this little bar takes the odor away. I simple hold it in my hands, like a bar of soap, and rub it all around. I then wash and dry my hands and waa-lah no odor.

4. Le Creuset Casserole It is great for so many things. It can be used in the oven and on the stove top. Just last night I used it as a wok. It is enameled cast iron cookware. It will last forever. My mom has a piece or 2 that she has had since before I was born. Every time I am cleaning mine I am transported back to my childhood when I would stand at the sink scrubbing the pot clean. I hated it then but love cleaning mine now.

5. Garbage Disposal Stuffer I think this one speaks for itself. Who wants to touch the garbage in the sink?

Do you have gadgets utensils you can recommend?

What's on the Menu?

Today is Friday but I already have my menu planned for next week but I have a problem. I am doing something a little different--I am cooking on both Saturday and Sunday night this week and while I planned those menu's I figured I would plan the rest of the week. The problem--I don't know what to make on Thursday night. If I ask AJ he will ask for Shepard's Pie. If I ask Erin she will ask for French Dip Sandwiches. If I ask Dave he will say its up to me. Got any suggestions? Here is what I have planned for the other nights, just so you know....
Saturday (no kids, its just Dave and I)
Lamb chops
Polenta with arugula
Cipolline onions with a balsamic vinegar reduction
Sunday (the folks are coming for dinner)
Baby Back Ribs
Chipolte Coleslaw
Black Beans
Jalapeno Corn Bites
Monday
Beef with Onion
Birds Nest (Trader Joes)
White Rice
Tuesday
NONE--boys will be out and Erin and I will find something
Wednesday
Veggie Soup
Grilled Tuna Sandwiches
Thursday
AWAITING YOUR SUGGESTIONS

Sometimes I need a little inspiration or outside help. That is where you come in. Please help as I am stuck. The only thing it can't be is fish. Erin won't eat it so I save fish entrees for when she is not going to be home. I am looking forward to hearing from you!