Sweet Valley Fluff

When I was a kid I devoured books. I couldn't get new ones fast enough. This has carried over into adulthood, I read as often and as much as I can. I used to be a fan of those dichotomous Sweet Valley twins, so I was intrigued when I heard that a sequel recently came out, Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later. Truthfully, I haven't thought about the twins in years. But I was suddenly curious - what had become of Elizabeth and Jessica?

Well they've pretty much turned out as you might have imagined they would...successful and gorgeous. But that conniving Jessica might have finally gone too far, even pushing Elizabeth to the point of evil revenge plots. The book is very reminiscent of the old Sweet Valley books I read years go, though the girls are all grown up now and the author, Francine Pascal, is tipping them over to R-rated territory. Light and shallow, entertaining yet not really thought-provoking at all, Sweet Valley Confidential is a good book to read when you don't feel like stretching your brain muscles much. If you were a fan of the books as a kid, give this one a try, if only to satisfy your curiosity. Because I know you've been tortured all these years by the uncertainty of the Wakefield twins' ascent into adulthood.

Food Dreams - Disclaimer: Do Not Read on an Empty Stomach

Have you ever had a meal that was so good you couldn't stop thinking about it...for years? That when you remember it, makes you close your eyes and smile and salivate for those exact delicious morsels? I have a few of those, one of which I'm hoping to relive next week. Last year when the kids and I visited Chris's aunt in Roger's City, his uncle prepared for us the most delectable dinner of freshly caught fried perch. I don't eat fish...ever. I almost didn't have any, but it was so nice that he made a special trip and went to a lot of trouble to make this dinner for us, so I thought I better try one piece just not to seem rude. And ohmygoodness it was positively dreamy. Just the right amount of breading, just the right amount of crunch, not greasy at all, melt-in-your mouth and not fishy tasting at all. I had a second helping. And a third. As embarrassing as this is, I might have even had a fourth (!). Next week the kids and I are heading back to Roger's City, and a special request has been passed on to Uncle Leo to make his perch again. I hope my memories don't exceed reality.

Years ago, at least 10 or 11 because it was before we had kids, Chris and I were visiting a different uncle of his at his cottage up north. We were treated to the most amazing breakfast extravaganza I have ever experienced. I don't even remember the details. Uncle Mike kept bringing dish after dish out of the kitchen; there was so much food and every dish he brought out was more delicious than the last. Homemade everything. We just ate and ate and I never wanted it to end. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and this particular meal surpassed every other breakfast of my life. Every time I see Uncle Mike I have to remind him of how that meal changed my life.

A few years ago, Chris and I took the kids to Niagara Falls. One night Chris walked over to a Chinese restaurant across the street from our hotel to get a carry-out for the two of us. I don't remember why the kids didn't eat it - they had probably already eaten something else earlier. And once again I can't even remember what I ate, just that it was chicken and it was fried and doughy and it was like no other Chinese food I have ever had the pleasure of devouring. At least once every few months I subtly hint to Chris that maybe we could just take a quick drive to Niagara Falls to get some Chinese food. I'm thinking about it right now. I haven't had dinner. Oh boy.

There are other foods too, not really meals but various things I have eaten that I wish I could go back in time and eat again. Things like...

• My mom's chocolate chip cookies. She doesn't eat sugar anymore and hasn't made these in years. I remember how she used to cut open paper grocery bags and lay them on the table to put the cookies on when they came off the baking sheet. Somehow I don't think my chocolate chip cookies are ever as good as those were.
• My grandma's French Canadian family recipe for dressing. It was so good, and the one and only time we cooked Thanksgiving dinner a couple years ago I tried to get the recipe but no one in my family had it. So sad. It was different from any other stuffing I've ever had.
• My Aunt Char used to host Easter at her house every year, and every year I anticipated her rainbow Jello, potato salad, and macaroni salad. I could maybe still convince her to make one of these for me (she made the macaroni salad for Bethany's 1st birthday-Bethany will be 10 this summer), but we just don't have family gatherings like we used to, so I can no longer look forward to eating her signature dishes on an annual basis.
• In high school, I used to babysit quite a bit for a little girl in our neighborhood, and her mom made The Best spaghetti sauce ever. I was not a huge fan of tomato sauces when I was younger (they've grown on me somewhat, although I still scrape the sauce from my pizza), but hers was perfect. It had just the right touch of sweet, and somehow it didn't taste too tomato-y at all. I was always so happy when I showed up to babysit and there was leftover pasta in the fridge. 
• Fried ice cream from Chi-Chi's. Does Chi's Chi's still exist anymore, anywhere??
• Does anyone else recall the candy phenomenon that was Chewy Chalk? It was this chewy candy (maybe sort of red licorice?) that was shaped like chalk and had a white candy coating on it. The last time I had it was probably somewhere around the neighborhood of 1989, but I have never forgotten it.

What about you? Do you have fond food memories you wish you could re-live?

Guest Post - 5 Summer Essentials

Summer is upon us, and if you're anything like me, you just might be near the bottom of your list of priorities. I asked Dawn Wheeler, owner of Bobbepin.com, an affordable Indie clothing website, to write a guest post about summer essentials. So pamper yourself a little. You deserve it. And check out Bobbepin.com.

5 SUMMER ESSENTIALS

1. The Beach

In California we are lucky to be surrounded by so many beautiful beaches…but don’t forget the sunscreen.

2. Flirty Summer Dress

 

White & free flowing! Monoreno $50

3. A BIG White Bag

I need one that will fit EVERYTHING. Graffeo Faux leather $58.

4.Sunglasses

I have a few mood (read Big Rim) glasses & sports sunglasses.

5.Confidence

It doesn’t come with a photo it’s your own beautiful reflection, but has the power to make you feel unbelievable, just remember to be yourself and know your body.

By Dawn Wheeler

Owner

WWW.Bobbepin.com “Shop Indie Fashion”

RoC Look 10 Years Younger Challenge - Week 4 Update

I'm a few days late on my RoC update. In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm taking part in the RoC Look 10 Years Younger Challenge by 
using their Deep Wrinkle Night Cream every night for 12 weeks. One of the best things about this challenge so far is that it has pushed me to reach my goal of washing my face every night before bed, something that I'm typically so lazy about. Hopefully by the time the 12 weeks is up, not only will I look 16 again but I'll also have this new face-washing habit deeply engrained in my psyche.

As promised, here are some pictures of my progress so far. 

End of week 4

End of week 3

End of week 1

Before I started the Roc challenge

I seem to be missing week 2. But anyway, I think we've established by now that my camera takes craptastic pictures, these are all taken with my phone or my iPod and they don't fare much better. They give you an idea but not the clearest picture. What I've noticed so far is that the lines in my forehead are beginning to fade. The ones by my eyes bother me the most, and I haven't noticed as much of a change in that area yet, but heck I'll take forehead wrinkle erasure any day of the week. I still have 8 weeks left, so I'm hoping there are lots more drastic changes ahead.

**If you want to take part in this challenge, or just try any RoC anti-aging product, it's not too late for me to snail mail you a coupon for $3 off. They do expire June 30, 2011, but Walgreens will have the Deep Wrinkle cream on sale for $17.99 starting June 12 through June 18. Just leave me a comment either here or on my Facebook page along with your email address & I'll be in touch.**

I was provided with a 12-week supply of RoC Deep Wrinkle Night Cream to try and review by SheSpeaks. I received no other compensation, and the opinions and views are all my own.

Wedding Bells

Yesterday was my friend Julie's wedding day, a day that has been long anticipated for those of us who love Julie and her new husband Eric. Let's just say they've been together a looooooong time. Julie has been one of my best friends since 4th grade, and I was honored that she asked me to be her matron of honor. I was stressing majorly, juggling my kids and trying to figure out how everything was going to fall into place. Chris assured me everything was going to be fine and he was right, it was. 

The day started bright and early with hair and make-up people coming right to Julie's house to make us pretty. It was awesome to not have to rush around to salon appointments, and I have a new appreciation for celebrities and their full-time make-up staff. Because it'd be pretty awesome to walk around every day with airbrushed make-up and fake eyelashes. I wish those eyelashes would have stayed on longer, but they were already falling off when I woke up this morning. We were ready early and had tons of time to sit around chatting and eating bagels.  

Peeking into church from the dressing room

The other girls met us at Julie's house and then the limo came to pick us up and take us to church, where we arrived two hours before the ceremony to get dressed and do some pictures with the photographer. Lucy was the flower girl and she met us at church. 
She was the comic relief for the rest of the day. Oh my goodness what a chatterbox. She talked constantly throughout the entire ceremony and there was not one thing I could do about it because I was up at the alter with the bride, groom, and best man. She was sitting next to the two junior bridesmaids in the front row, and Chris

and my mom were sitting several rows behind her and couldn't hear her, so they didn't do anything to stop her either. Oh well. Eric's sister told me that every time she was about to start crying she just looked over at Lucy and had a giggle instead because she was being so silly.

With the junior bridesmaids.

I am not really a person who enjoys being in the spotlight (at all) so the whole walking down the aisle thing and then standing up in front of everyone throughout the whole service was rather nerve wracking. But I got through it and everything was lovely and perfect.

Lucy was thrilled to go in a limo for the first time and continued to make everyone laugh on the ride to the hall for the reception. I don't think she was nervous one bit, all day. I wish I had some decent pictures, but it is becoming an annoying trend that I never have any good pictures because my camera sucks and my phone takes crappy pictures too. Hopefully someone else has some great ones and will share with me. 

The reception was great, the food was delicious, and I was exhausted beyond belief by the end of my 15-hour day. Hopefully my feet will recover soon from the torture I put them through.

I can't believe it was almost 13 years ago that Chris and I were married. It feels like yesterday and it feels like an eternity has passed. I wish Julie and Eric many happy years together. (This would be a great place to put a beautiful picture of the newlyweds, but this is the best I can do. Sorry.)