Independence Day

This year, our 4^th of July celebration is going to be a bit more subdued.

 My husband is still battling cellulitis. Right now, he still has to go to the hospital for twice daily infusions, which are exhausting. 

He is slowing recovering, but its frustrating for him to be limited in what he can and can’t do physically. My mother is currently working on rebuilding her strength in a focused rehab offered by a local nursing home.

 I am trying to preserve some sort of summer fun for my kiddo.

 He and I will go to our city’s parade, and the fireworks that night. 

Depending on the weather, we may go to the pool 

or just hang out at home. In between all of that, I am a caregiver as well. This year, I don’t think we will be grilling since my BBQ King is laid up.

Instead, we will be having firecracker franks

 

1 package crescent rolls

1 package hot dogs

1 oz Queso fresco cheese, crumbled

1/2 c tomato sauce

½ tsp red pepper flakes

¼  c chopped green chilies

 

Preheat oven to 375. Unroll the crescents into triangles on a baking sheet. Mix tomato sauce, red pepper and chilies together. Brush onto crescent rolls. Crumble cheese over top. Roll hot dogs into crescent, starting at the widest point. Bake 15-20 minutes.

 

*if you want to get really festive, you can brush the rolled up crescent rolls with food coloring before baking, turning them red, white and blue!

 

Oh the things you can think (when you think about Seuss)

It's been a Seussian spring in Sioux Falls! There currently is an amazing exhibit at the Washington Pavilion on the art and science of Dr. Seuss. It's an amazing experience, and highly recommend it! The exhibit features artwork, including early cartooning in which you can trace the evolution of what is now considered Seussian style.

Behind the scenes, late at night, dr Seuss created a fright
With pieces and parts sent from a zoo
And creativity too
Theodore Geisel created something frightful
Call unorthodox taxidermy
This exhibit made little man and I quite squirmy

Do you have eyes? Do you have a heart?
Then come see Dr Seuss' secret art!
He was quite a talent, that is not in doubt
These pieces were different from his books
They were drawn in secret, not to be let out
Insight into what his mind looks

There's sculptures too!
Some for me some for you
A cat in the hat
And many more
Are part on this special display on the floor

In addition to Seuss falls, Little Man's 4th grade did a performance of songs from Seussical. It was a great performance, and those kids are so talented!

As a way to wrap up our Seussian spring, we went to see Seussical at the Washington Pavilion. It was an amazing performance that was thoroughly enjoyable! Little Man (and me too!) loved it!

All My Rowdy Friends

Today is the first day of the pro football draft. It’s a chance for football teams to make or break their futures. I have been a lifelong Jets fan, for better or worse. In my lifetime, my team has not done well, and the last time they made it to the Superbowl was in 1969. I wasn’t even in utero for that! I did have a brief flirtation with the Dallas Cowboys in the mid-1990’s. I should rephrase that; I had brief flirtation with Troy Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys back in the mid 1990’s. Other than that, I have been fiercely loyal to my Gang Green. When Mark Sanchez was drafted as quarterback a few years back, I got a call from my husband while I was picking up dinner in Hy-Vee. I let out a big cheer which earned me a lot of weird looks. It wasn’t because I am a football nut, just that I wasn’t either a Packers or Vikings fan.

The Big Man is a die hard Giants fan. The Little Man loves his Vikings. I bleed green and white. I don’t like Philadelphia, and never will. I’ve been eagerly studying what the experts are predicting for this draft, and I have to admit that no one has me really jazzed. The Princess went to WVU, which is where the top rated quarterback Geno Smith is from. He will go a lot higher up than the 9th pick my beloved J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets will pick (and besides they have more quarterbacks than they know what to do with). The experts are predicting that the Jets will draft Barkevious Mingo, an outside linebacker. Personally, I just like saying his name. Bar-kee-vee-ous. If this upcoming season is anything like the last few, I will at least have a fun name to cheer for. They are also predicted to pick another WVU player, Tavon Austin at #13. Another possibility for the Jets is another OLB, this time from BYU Ezekial Ansah but he probably will be picked a lot higher up in the draft than 9. The weirdest story of this year’s draft is Manti Te’o, who had enough off field intrigue that should automatically make him a Jet. However, there already is enough drama on that team for it to win an academy award.

Enough of the football minutiae.

It wouldn’t be a draft night party without some super snacks like Buffalo chicken rollups, layered nacho dip and tortilla chips, spinach artichoke cups, soda and water and of course football cupcakes!

Buffalo Chicken roll ups
2 cooked, shredded chicken breasts
½ c buffalo chicken sauce
¼ c cream cheese
¼ c Blue cheese crumbles
Crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 375. mix shredded chicken, sauce, cream and blue cheese. Spread crescent rolls on a baking sheet. Place a scoop of the mixture in the widest part of the triangle. Roll up. Bake for 20 minutes.

Spinach Artichoke Cups

1 c spinach cooked
1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 pkg silken tofu
2 tsps minced garlic
Dash srichia sauce
Won ton wrappers
½ c shredded mozzarella

Preheat oven to 375. Mix garlic, sauce and tofu together well. Add spinach and artichoke hearts. Line mini muffin pan with wonton wrappers. Spoon mixture into wrappers, top with shredded cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.


Layered dip
½ package cream cheese
1 jar corn and black bean salsa
Shredded Mexican cheese blend
Jalepenos

Preheat oven to 375. Spread cream cheese in the bottom of a baking dish. Pour salsa over the cream cheese. Top with cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, top with jalapeños. Serve with tortilla chips.


All my fellow draft watchers get a prediction card for the first 10 picks, with what the experts say. Our in home experts get to pick who they think are going to be picked, and the one who has the most right answers gets a lovely football plaque. Its super simple to make too!

Wooden plaque
Mod podge
Football scrapbook paper
Brown paint
Card stock
Picture of winner

Paint the plaque with brown paint. Let dry. Next, mod podge the scrapbook paper to the top side of the plaque. Glue cardstock to it and then when you have a winner, glue their picture!

On the Road Again

I am getting ready to go on vacation next week. We will be driving across the country and visiting family, but that doesn’t mean that it will all have to be unhealthy and sluggish. There are things that you can do ahead of time to make sure your trip is healthy and happy-and that you keep your mind, body and spirit connected.
First things first, I pack my yoga mat (have mat, will travel). Now that my son has really kicked his practice up another level, he wants to bring his as well. I did google to see if there are any classes we can take near where we are staying, but no such luck. I would love to take a class again at my old studio, but they moved about 30 minutes north of Princeton, so I don’t think I can squeeze that in. I guess Little Man and I are on our own, but that’s ok. I will bring our Yoga Pretzels deck and we can play that way.
Secondly, I want to make sure we have healthy choices on hand for our trip. I plan on bringing my less guilt Chex mix, some trail mix (including Little Man’s favorite fish food!). I also plan on packing sliced fruit for water infusions (lemon, lime, mint and more!) and real fruit to snack on, rather than rest area junk. Nothing is better than almonds, grapes and string cheese as a snack-its filling, nutritious and so much better for you!
We are fortunate to have chosen hotels on the road that have fitness centers. Since we are going to be sitting in the car for 8-9 hours, I need to get my blood pumping first! Even a 30 minute workout between cardio and weights will do a body good, and keep me from feeling like a slug on the road. They also have pools, so the Little Man and I can splash around and blow off steam.
Most of all, vacation is a chance to recharge my batteries. The Queen is being left in capable hands. The puppy & krazy kat will be well loved while we are gone. Now it's my turn to relax, recharge and renew.
I can't wait to get on the road!

Strawberry Girl

In the summer, Little Man and I spend a lot of time at the pool. We are so blessed in Sioux Falls that we have several pools to choose from, but there are 3 that are our particular favorites. The pools officially opened on Friday, but it was a cold, dreary day. By Sunday, it was hot and humid and perfect pool weather.
To beat the heat, we bring our own treats-chips, fruit, and drinks. One of our favorites is strawberry lemonade-and it couldn't be any easier to make.

You need:
3-4 strawberries, sliced
3-4 lemon slices
Several sprigs of mint
Lemonade mix (I like pink)
Water according to lemonade mix

Add water to lemonade mix and stir well. Add in strawberries, lemons and mint. Refrigerate 2-3 hours to let flavors combine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v86f6k_mqQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Centerfield

We have a minor league, non affiliated baseball team in Sioux Falls, the Pheasants. Unlike the farm teams, these guys are playing for the love of the game more than anything else. It's always a lot of fun, with interaction and contests between innings and that sort of thing.
Last night was opening night. We are still celebrating our straight A's and the end of the year, and this was the perfect way to spend a spectacular evening. It was perfect weather!
Little Man came prepared with his glove in case a foul ball came our way. We had spectacular seats, on the 1st base side, and a great view of everything! The Birdcage, where they play, is a really nice ballpark, much like Waterfront Park back "home".
Little Man had fun keeping score. We danced to YMCA, sang take me out to the ballgame really badly and just had a lot of fun.
Even though our team lost, we were winners with our night out in right (center)field!