Hey, Y'all!

Non-Resolutions

There are a lot of things I want to do in this life and a lot I just could not care less about.  Over the past few days, I've written about things I want to do, particularly in the coming year, but here are a few things I could go my entire life never doing and still be perfectly happy.

• Sky-diving.  No desire.  Don't like heights, certainly don't need to jump out of a plane and plummet to the earth. I'm sure it's lovely if you're into it, but I can skip it.
• Learn to like brie.  I've tried it multiple ways. I've eaten it hot, cold, warm, baked, with ham on a sandwich, with fruit, and slathered on sourdough. I just don't like it.
• Run a marathon.  Or a 5K.  Or jog around my neighborhood. I don't like to run and I look like a goofball when I do it.  I don't experience a "runner's high" and honestly, it kind of bores me.  I'd much rather walk fast or get a nice bike to ride to stay in shape.
• Experience New Year's Eve in Times Square.  Bet that one surprised those of you who know me.  This seems like something I SHOULD want to do, like something I would love. I guess I was a NYC resident for too long, which means my survival instinct would kick in on December 31 and I'd stay as far away from Times Square as I could get.  I remember trying to hail a cab at 72nd St. one year and it taking almost an hour. Once I got back to my apartment, Marcus , our friends and I ate mini tacos and watched the ball drop on TV.

Anything you could live forever without doing?

2011 in Review

I've done a post like the before, inspired by one of my favorite bloggers (and the editor/owner of Food Lush and Style Lush!) Jennie of She Likes Purple.  I love the format and I think it's a really nice way to sum up your year. I hope 2011 has been kind, educational and full of love for each of you.  Here's to an even better 2012.

 

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

Visited Baltimore (to see Alissa!), went to a parent/teacher conference as a parent.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Well, let's look at last year's list.  I'd say I did ok.  A few things fell through the cracks, but for the most part, I'm happy with what I got done. (And no, I did not quit Coke Zero.)  My resolutions for next year will be up tomorrow.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

A few people we know, as well as a dear friend's daughter (who is becoming a dear friend herself!). I go to hold her snuggly baby boy when he was just over 2 weeks old.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Marcus's Uncle Billy passed away this summer.  He was one-of-a-kind and I'm very sad he's no longer with us. Fortunately, we got to spend some time with him during our trip to Florida in May, so we were able to say goodbye.  I missed getting his Christmas card so much this year and I will dearly miss discussing Dairy Queen desserts with him.

5. What countries did you visit?

None but this one.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn't have in 2011?

A cleaner house, a sturdy savings account, an herb garden that doesn't die of heat exhaustion.

7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

Dean's first day of preschool and Christmas.  Christmas was really, really good this year.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

I was promoted to Production Stage Manager at work. That means I'm the stage management department head.  It's both awesome and sort of terrifying, but is exactly where I should be at this point in my career.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not always speaking my mind.  I need to trust myself in my personal life as much as I do at work.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I broke a tooth, which sucked a great deal. I also got an infection in my finger from a stupid hangnail.  Other than that, just a couple of colds.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My iPhone.  I love it more than I thought I would and it has made life easier and more enjoyable.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Dean's.  He has done great in preschool, meeting the challenges, working through them as they come.  He's been so patient with us, the parents who still feel like newbies sometimes.   He rocked potty training, once he was finally ready to get serious about it, and he's doing such a good job of telling us what he needs.  I'm super proud to be his mom.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I plead the fifth.

14. Where did most your money go?

Bills. Food. Gas.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

I had the time of my life working on DRACULA back in October.  It was so much fun to work on a show where everyone was having a blast producing a great piece of theatre.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

"Someone Like You" by Adele.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Happier: yes

Thinner: meh

Richer: yes 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Visited with friends.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Worry

20. How did you spend Christmas?

We hosted my grandma and my parents at our house.  It was great! 

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Yes. With a kitten.  I was determined not to love her as much as my Audrey kitty, who was with us for 11 years, but Chutney has won me over.  She is sitting here with her paw on my lap, purring.  She has truly made our home a happier place.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I really, really enjoyed The Sing-Off this season. We've watched it every year, but this was the best group yet. 

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Truvia.  I know that is a product, not a person, but I hate it. I tried it and it's just gross. Sorry.

24. What was the best book you read?

Our family reads at bedtime each night and I have to tell you--Horton Hatches The Egg is a pretty awesome book.  I read some adult books, too, my favorite being Harlan Coben's Live Wire.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Not really sure. I didn't branch out much, but rather renewed my love of some songs from my past.

26. What did you want and get?

A KITCHENAID STAND MIXER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

27. What did you want and not get?

My engagement ring fixed.  I did try, but it won't happen until the new year.

28. What was your favorite film of 2011?

Was Super 8 this year?  Then yes, that.  (We don't go to the movies much.) 

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 34 in February. I was in tech rehearsals for a new play ALL DAY LONG. However, I received 3 birthday cakes!  Dean and Marcus also treated me like a queen on Valentine's Day, which is the day after my birthday (and was my day off).

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A trip to NYC.  

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?

I have discovered scarves, people!  I have also fallen completely in love with one-of-a-kind or very unique jewelry.  A friend made me a gorgeous pair of earrings that I love more than I can tell you. 

32. What kept you sane?

Marcus, Dean, days off, my commute (believe it or not!) , baking, blogging

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

I try never to talk politics on the blog.  Think I'll stick to that. Know that I have issues that make me hot, though.

34. Who did you miss?

I really missed going to BlogHer this year and I still miss my NYC friends.   I also really REALLY miss my friend Tanya, who used to have my job, but left in search of something better. (Which she found--yay, Tanya!)  (But I still miss her.)

35. Who was the best new person you met?

My new buddy Jen B.  She was in DRACULA and will be back for another show at our theatre in the spring.  She's one of the most down-to-earth, hilarious, talented people I've ever met and I felt an instant connection with her.  The more time we spend together, the more I love her. (She made the earrings I mentioned up there.)  She's also a puppeteer, which is maybe the coolest thing in the whole world.  Jen is an absolute ray of sunshine and I'm so happy she's in my life.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Planning things out is really, really cute. Admirable, even.  Then life laughs at you and turns you on your ear and you go "OH" and take it from there.  (I've learned this lesson before...)

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"God only knows what I'd be without you."

I don't know what in the world I'd do without my husband. He's my rock and I'm his.  How lucky that we have each other.

 

What's your year been like?

Let's Play A Game

I was talking with my friend Kat yesterday (she doesn't blog, but she should and probably would if she had more free time) and we were brainstorming ideas for NaNaBloPop posts. ( One of the reasons I like Kat is that she regularly speaks my language. )  She recommended we do a sort of storytelling game, like one of those fun icebreakers you sometimes do at parties or other functions.

I'll start with the first line of a story.  Everybody leave a comment with the next line and on Sunday, I'll combine them and post our story in its complete form.  It's kind of like a bloggy Mad Lib.

Here goes:

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Mitch who lived in Tuscon and dreamed of adventure.

 

Your turn.

WINNER of Lysol Giveaway

And the winner is...

 

Kat!

Congratulations!  I'll put the good folks at Lysol in touch with you so you can collect your No-Touch handsoap system and Dual-Action wipes!

Thanks to all who entered and many thanks to Mom Select and Lysol for making this giveaway possible.

Lysol Product Review and GIVEAWAY

I had the great privilege of being chosen to review two new products from Lysol®.  Here's my first impression:  THEY ARE AWESOME.

The first product was a container of Lysol® Dual Action Disinfecting Wipes, which I loved upon sight because HELLO! the package is purple. 

 

Seriously, though?  When I found out I was reviewing wipes, I was not immediately excited. Sure, I use wipes in my kitchen and bathroom all the time, but what was so different about these? Let me tell you--they are fantastic!  One side is like your traditional wipe, smooth and even, very multi-purpose. The other side, however, is a bit rougher for tougher jobs, like caked-on sauce on your counter, sticky ketchup on your kid's plastic picnic table or dried liquid from where your rice boiled over onto your cooktop. One swipe of the "scrubby side" and messes are a thing of the past.   In the bathroom, I used the scrubby side to wipe up dried, goopy toothpaste and a couple of shampoo drips. None of the surfaces I wiped were scratched or damaged in any way and I didn't have to scrub hard to get the messes cleaned up.  The smell is fresh and pleasant and your surfaces dry quickly and without streaks.  The folks at Lysol® even passed along some great kitchen cleaning tips to keep your house as healthy and shiny as possible.

The second product I was sent was the Lysol® Healthy Touch® No-Touch Hand Soap System, which has easily become my new favorite household product. 

 

 The package serendipitously arrived on a day when I was making meatloaf for dinner. Now if you are a maker of meatloaf, I don't have to tell you how many times you have to wash your hands while you're preparing it.  I, however, am a complete and utter germophobe when it comes to raw meats, so I probably wash my hands twice as many times as I actually need to when handling them.  This product made things so much easier! No more trying to pump the soap out with my wrist! No more having to double-pump because I didn't get enough soap the first time!  You just place your hand underneath the spout and VOILA! The Healthy Touch® No-Touch Hand Soap System dispenses just the right amount of wonderful-smelling, moisturizing soap into your hands.  I received the Aloe Vera & Vitamin E with Moisturizers variety and I absolutely love the smell and feel of the soap. My hands feel soft after I use it and the fragrance is just strong enough to notice. I can't wait to try all the differnt scents they offer, especially Refreshing Grapefruit Essence!

So what's the bottome line, you ask?  Both these products made cleaning easier and more enjoyable for me. Once these packages run out, I will definitely be purchasing refills and will continue to use both of  these products.

WANT TO WIN SOME FOR YOURSELF??

Yeah, you do!  Lysol ® was kind enough to offer me a set of Healthy Touch® No-Touch Hand Soap System and Dual Action Disinfecting Wipes to give away to one of you!  To enter, follow the instructions below.  A winner will be selected on FRIDAY, AUGUST 26. Please be sure to include your email address so that I can notify you if you win!

GIVEAWAY ENTRIES:

Mandatory:  Leave a comment on this post telling me which of the two products you're most excited to try and why.

EXTRA ENTRIES--please leave a separate comment for each:

*LIKE Lysol on Facebook +1 entry

*Follow me on Twitter (or let me know that you already do.)  +1 entry

*Tweet this giveaway (once per day--be sure to mention @jennelsonlane!) +1 entry

*LIKE Hey, Y'all on Facebook +1 entry

*Comment on another post here on Hey, Y'all (include the hashtag #lysol in your comment) +1 entry

*Become a subscriber! +2 entries

Thanks and good luck!

Disclosure: This review was made possible by Mom Select and Lysol®. I was provided with a Lysol® Healthy Touch No-Touch® Hand Soap System and Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes: Dual Action  for myself and one random winner in exchange for my opinion. My opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way by the sponsors.

Comfort Food Saturday: For Jennie and Mikey

This week one of our own, Jennifer Perillo, a phenomenal food blogger, lost her husband, Mikey, to a sudden heart attack. He leaves behind Jennie, his soul mate, and their two young daughters.  I cannot even begin to imagine what Jennie and her girls are going through right now.  The Twitter-verse quickly became abuzz with requests of "What can we do?" Jennie answered with this heartbreakingly beautiful post.  At the end, she asks that, as a tribute to her husband and family, we all join together and bake Mikey's favorite dessert--a creamy peanut butter pie.  Bloggers all over the place joined together on Friday to bake a pie in honor of this man most of us never had the pleasure of meeting.  We can't do peanut butter around here (Dean has a sensitivity), but we took the sentiment to heart and baked our favorite dessert--tea cakes.  Standing over our favorite mixing bowl, my hands next to my son's tiny fingers in the dough, I said a prayer of comfort for Jennie and her family and a tearful prayer of thanks for all I have.  Please, if you want to leave a comment, click the link above and leave it for Jennie. She could use all the love we can send her way right now.

 
 
Click on this post at Food 52 to see the outpouring of love.

Rockin' The Baby

Shell over at Things I Can't Say is hosting a fun link-up called Rockin' The Baby.  I went through my photos and selected a few of my favorites from Dean's baby days to share with all of you.

Here we see Dean in an adorable hat made especially for him by my friend Angelina:

 
Don't you wish you could sleep like that?

Or this?

 
How 'bout that hat?  Marcus insisted that Dean wear a hat at all times when we brought him home from the hospital. Sure it was January, but our apartment was about 400 degrees, hence the short-sleeved onesie.  This hat earned him the nickname "Gangsta Dean."

Speaking of Marcus, he just glanced over and asked why I'd chosen 2 pictures of Dean sleeping, since, honestly, these may be the only moments Dean slept somewhere other than on one of us during his first 4 months of life. Touche', Marcus Lane, touche'.

Here's one of him in an adorable onesie that reads "Everyone's Favorite."

 
Tiny muffin.

And finally, what very well may be the all-time greatest baby picture ever taken:

 
CHUBBEH!  On the left is my nephew, Adam, who was about 16 months at the time; on the right is Dean, 4 months.  Everyone in our family has framed copies of this shot, and we lovingly call them the Buddah Babies.

Got any cute pictures of your babies?  Link up at Shell's blog!

 

 

On Our Table

I've shared my menu plans here before, but this week seems like a booming success of planning awesomeness, so I thought I'd let you know what we're eating up in here!  I generally do the bulk of my grocery shopping at Publix. They have great Buy-1-Get-1-Free deals, almost always including things I really need, like apple juice or pasta.  They also double coupons up to 50cents and have the best produce in town.  Their meat prices, however are H I G H, so I do my meat shopping at our smaller "local" stores, the Piggly Wiggly and Lucky's Foodland.  For less than $20 at the Pig, I bought a huge family pack of chicken breasts, a big pack of thick-cut pork chops and a 1.6 pound package of ground beef.  Combined with the rest of the stuff we bought at Publix (which included some non-food items, like parchment paper and Drano, plus some "Stock-up" items like salad dressing and soy sauce), we spent less than $100 at the grocery store this week.

Here's our menu plan:

Sunday:  Grilled teriyaki pork chops with rice and grilled asparagus.

Monday:  Grilled chicken Caesar salads (We are seeing a pattern with the grilled-ness, yes?)

Tuesday:  Pork fried rice (2 grilled (!) pork chops with veggies like bean sprouts, carrots, peas and leeks)  **I did the math (!) and this meal cost us $2.02 per serving.

Wednesday:  Grilled chicken breasts with baked potatoes and kale.

Thursday: Lasagna because MAN are we gonna be sick of pork and chicken! Also garlic bread. Possibly grilled.

Dean and I are heading to my mom and dad's for the weekend and Marcus has a crazy bunch of work commitments Friday through Sunday, so our grill will be neglected for a few days.

 

What are you eating this week?

 

Gratitude

First of all, OMG, I'm posting on two consecutive days! Over the shock? Fantastic.

Molly had a great post today about finding happiness. It reminded me of something I've done over the years, on and off, called a Gratitude Journal.  There have been times in my life when I've sworn by gratitude journals and I've even been known to give them as gifts.  Whenever I'm having trouble seeing the silver lining on a particular set of clouds, I buy myself a blank journal and start writing down five things each day that I'm grateful for right at that moment.  They can be big things like my health, my family, my job, or small things like seeing a pretty flower in the park, filling up at the cheapest gas station in town or eating a Hershey's Special Dark.  Coffee also frequently appears on my lists.  I prefer to write my entries at the end of the day so that I go to bed with a smile on my face. I find that no matter how crummy my day has been, I can always find five things to be grateful for an that those things have the power to change my perspective drastically.

Today I'm thankful for:
1.  My friend Tanya. We had lunch then went shopping this afternoon. We also had frozen yogurt. I like Tanya a lot.

2.  A 2-show day at a job I love doing a play I enjoy watching over and over again.

3.  My grey pants. My mercy, they are comfy.

4.  Inside jokes.  They are just such fun sometimes.

5.  Blog comments on yesterday's post. I've missed you lovely people.

What are you grateful for today?

A new year

2010 was a great year.  I watched my son grow and change in ways that have blown my mind. I went back to work outside the walls of academia and settled into myself, proving I COULD be both a mom and a stage manager.  I've watched my husband work and  fish and smile and enjoy being a dad and it's made our marriage stronger.  Together, we made the sensible yet difficult decision not to expand our family and took care of things in a permanent way.  I almost lost my mom, and now I thank God every day for the "almost" part.  I cooked and baked and listened and laughed. I found a great new home online, an amazingly fun creative outlet, where I'm surrounded by some great, like-minded foodies.  I traveled "home" to NYC. I met so many friends who had previously just lived in images online. I finally lost the baby weight.

Most importantly, after three years of craziness, including a pregnancy, a child, some health issues, a major relocation and professional redefinition, I found myself again  in 2010.  I'm so ready to take 2011 by the horns. I can't wait to see what's in store for my little family.

Here's my top To Do's for 2011:

• Learn  to make killer guacamole
• Bake a Buzz and Woody cake for Dean's third birthday
• Come to grips with the fact that OMG my baby is THREE (but not til next Wednesday)
• Visit friends and/or host them in my home
• Go on more dates with my husband
• Meet more blog friends
• Nurture all my friendships
• Take a trip with my parents
• Spend one week eating nothing but fresh foods
• Quit drinking Coke Zero I totally changed my mind about that one. Already.
• Teach someone how to do something. (I'm not picky)
• Get my engagement ring repaired so I can wear it again
• Have a completely clean house, even if it's only for a day. Ok, an hour. (Baby steps, you know.)

What are  your goals for the new year?

Happy 2011, friends!