Hip to be Mom

The eleventh hour

Clairity — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:56:33 +0000

This is the typical scenario in our house on the weekend before the exams.

“Mom, I need to go to the bookstore. Got to buy some workbooks.” — “Okay, when are the exams?” — “Next week.”
“I can’t find my Biology book! Has anyone seen it? It has a blue cover.” — “Isn’t it on the table? Thought I saw it there.” — “No, that’s not the one! Can someone help me find it please? My test is tomorrow!”
“Has anyone seen my test timetable? Think I need to text my friend to text it to me!”
“How can you study with those headphones on?” — “Music helps me remember.” — Wokay !

4:00pm with book over head: “Zzzzzzzzzzzzz!” — “Wake up and get studying!” — “I am, Mom… by the process of osmosis!”
20th trip to the fridge: “Where are you going – again!?” — “Hungry, Mom, gotta eat!”
10:00pm: “Going to sleep, Mom, goodnight.”

No grades were harmed in the actual exams.

Dinner on Mother’s Day

Clairity — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:34:56 +0000

So how did your Mother’s Day go? I came down with a chronic migraine shortly after breakfast and cradling my head, dived back into bed before lunch. With that and the blazing 90+ temperatures, I was eager to avoid the kitchen at all cost. Dinner out sounded like a great idea. It wasn’t meant to be a Mother’s Day dinner per se, more of a regular Sunday dinner.

We were trying to beat the crowd and thought if we got there early, we might be able to snag a table. As expected, the crowds had beat us to it and there were long lines everywhere. So we decided to try Chicago Ribs, a restaurant that’s new to us. We were in luck because they weren’t even offering a Mother’s Day menu and we got a table right away. No waiting.

For starters, we had Buffalo Wings which were okay but not nearly spicy enough for us. The girls still prefer my homemade Buffalo Wings, I think.

Their Nachos were scrumptious. As Raine says, topping the nachos with pulled pork is pure genius. When something is this good, you can bet the next I’m going to be doing is to replicate this at home.

This is the Rattle Snake Chicken Pasta. Interesting name but the rattle snake somehow failed to jump out at us. The chicken was toasty but flavorless but we didn’t mind that. But then the pasta didn’t exactly ss-sing out with flavor either.

The Pork Tenderloin with Cinnamon Applesauce, well, the meat was dry and bland, the veggies soft and overcooked and that plain old baked potato would’ve done a lot better with a handful of bacon bits and a ton more chives.

Skye’s choice of Fish and Fries turned out great. The portion of fish was generous, crispy and not greasy. And my potato lover somehow 2 potato sides.

Their food definitely could use a lot more flavor, more toppings and bigger portions for the price they charge. Most places go crazy with their salt and fat. This is probably one of the few places I’ve dined at that’s low-sodium, and that’s really great.

Weekly Schmooze #5 and Happy Mother’s Day

Clairity — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:30:42 +0000

1. Quick tip: If you tend to procrastinate on running a certain errand, it actually helps to sandwich it between those that are a little less of a drag.

2. I don’t know what the big deal is about Zuckerberg wearing his hoodie to a meeting with prospective investors. At least it’s not indecent. Just look at the skirts our young women wear to work which barely cover their another-word-for-donkeys.

3. In “The Avengers” movie, the Black Widow says Loki has killed n number of people in n days and Thor replies, “He’s adopted” and people are upset and take it to mean it’s being directed at those who are adopted? I don’t get it. (1) It’s just a movie, it’s not real. (2) He’s referring to Loki. Are all adopted people named Loki? (3) Stop taking everything personally. Where’s your sense of humor? ’nuff said.

4. I love and value your comments, y’all know that. But if you’re going to use a name like “Grizzly Bear Holidays” instead of your name (or your grizzly bear’s if he insists, personally I wouldn’t argue with a bear), then your comment just won’t get approved.

5. Oh, that’s right, it’s Mother’s Day. How will I be celebrating? Good question, I’m not sure if I will be. I liked it when it was a little less commercialized. I’m not sure, we’ll see. Anyhoo, here’s wishing Happy Mother’s Day to moms, MILs, grandmothers, aunts and let’s not forget, any woman who’s ever played the role of mother to a child who’s needed one.

6. Picture of the week: Kiehl’s has a guy handing out free candyfloss and Skye got handed one. We each took a teeny bit of it and the rest went into the trash bin. We feel really guilty about throwing away food but sorry, Candyfloss, you’re just too sweet!

What I’d like to be eating right now

Clairity — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:32:05 +0000

Can you believe I haven’t published a single post about food this week? Strange, I know. I find writing recipe posts a bit of a drag but food posts are okay. So let’s drool over some of my favorite foods.

I love, love, love this Cranberry, Apple, Walnut Grilled Chicken Salad. The minute I grab this off the counter at Carl’s Jr, my fingers are going crazy ripping open the little bags of dried cranberries and glazed walnuts. Once when I couldn’t crack them fast enough, I brought them back to the counter to have the guy cut the bags open for me.

When it comes to In-and-Out burgers, I’m usually quite conservative and never go beyond a single. I look across at the folks having double and triple burgers and I’m wondering how to even start eating it. Do you eat it one layer at a time, or try to cram all 3 layers in at once ?! It’d be interesting to watch me try it!

And Cheesecake Factory, I absolutely love. I don’t care how many thousand calories my order is. I really don’t. I don’t count calories so what do I care?!! I just want to get at my pasta. OMG, this is so rich and so so so ~~fattening~~ good! I can usually only get through half my serving with no room left for cheesecake. But then next day, I can’t wait to get to the leftovers. Yums.

Ack, I’m super hungry just looking at these pictures.

We don’t talk anymore

Clairity — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:21:44 +0000

There we were at dinner one evening. At the table next to us was a family of 5. Daddy, Mommy, 3 kids – and 3 gadgets (see red arrows). Daddy is coaching the middle child (aged about 7). When I snapped this picture, they’d gone to the restroom. Mommy is coaching the youngest (aged about 5). The oldest child is well on his own.

Everyone is “busy”, “engaged”, eyes fixated on their screens. All is quiet. Not a beep from their table. The only communication in this family seems to be the wi-fi connection. Even after the food arrives, they’re still at it and barely ate. Do you see anything wrong with this picture?

It seems to be becoming more and more of a trend these days. Scary, I know. Families are spending time together – apparently – but they don’t talk. Couples are on dates but they don’t talk. The gadgets have taken over!

The #Avengers – awesome is an understatement

Clairity — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:48:51 +0000

Of course, we went to watch The Avengers. Did you really think we were going to miss it? For a coupla weeks, we’ve all been holding onto our toenails waiting for it. Man, how long has it been since we were at the movies again? Too long, chorus my two movie buffs. Think it’s been like over a year.

Okay, The Avengers. Well, the plot is simple. It’s the sort of good guys teaming up against One Major Bad Guy movie that the 10-year-old in me loves. We love Iron Man (snazzy geekery and Pepper Potts) and Captain America (6-pack and all!). But that’s pretty much all I’m going to say about the movie. I don’t want to spoil it for you guys who haven’t seen it yet.

So yes, we loved The Avengers. In a world of hypocrites, leeches and piranhas, we sure could use a couple of hours of superheroes. And the fact that our cushy Gold Class movie tickets fell from the sky and came with free popcorn, Coke and these…

Woah, at 18 and 16, you would think my lovely teens are long done with toys. But you should’ve seen the giant grins on their faces when they were handed these 5 mini muggs (as they are called?) and since then, The Avengers have been making surprise appearances on my desk, my dresser, my dashboard …

Here’s Thor, in my kitchen, keeping an eye on our Bratwurst sausages. Don’t anyone move or I’ll hammer your fingers to a pulp, heh heh heh!!

It’s a great movie to bring the whole family. Lots of action. A plot that’s simple enough even for kids to understand. The girls and I may just go watch it again. Have you watched it yet? If so, what do you think?