$14 worth of FUN

It's 104 in Dallas.  Not exaggerating. At. All.  Literally, Mia and I make a 15 minute trip to the store and she's red-faced and sweating.  Not much we can do here outside in this heat and keeping an 18 month old toddler cooped up in the house all day means more Elmo and Mickey Mouse than any person should be forced to consume.  

So, I guess we could go to the pool, right?  Wrong.  Not on a Saturday! You couldn't pay me.  No weekend pool time until Mia is old enough to push those stupid kids back in the baby pool.  Monday, I can do because there aren't as many kids. Saturday during crazy kid day? Nope.

So, this weekend, we spent $14 and bought a whole lotta fun!  A baby pool in our backyard! 

Oh, she loved it.  She played with at least 3 buckets and a million different kinds of cups (we're really into pouring water in and out of things now) and she probably played in it for an hour and a half.  Two sunscreen and one bug spray application later, we were pooped and done with the pool.

I foresee a lot of "pool" time this summer.  Right in the safe space of our  backyard with no grubby 7 year old stealing her bucket and knocking her off the steps to the water slide.  Monsters.

RANTS FROM MOMMYLAND: Domestic Enemies of the Work at Home Mom

RANTS FROM MOMMYLAND: Domestic Enemies of the Work at Home Mom: "We've had a lot of requests for this post so you can imagine how happy we were when our friend Carolyn sent it to us. Here's a little bit ab..."

TRUE THAT!!!!

Lemon Chicken Picollini

Oh....picollini! What a cute word! Right?  $20 to anyone who knows what it is!! Any guesses??

Okay, so it's pasta...just a smaller version of Farfalle. Okay, so it's tiny bow-tie pasta, enough with the fancy words. This weekend was killer for me...and I mean that in a bad way.  Lots of working at night and then getting back up at 5am to work some more.   Let's just say I didn't spend my weekend planning my weekly menu or anything, okay?  Anyway, today was a busy Monday (most are) so I had to throw something together.  And what I came up with, is pretty darn good!  Although Mia wouldn't take a bite of it.  Nope, not one bite.

The inspiration for this meal?  I had to use the 5 day old fresh broccoli crown in my fridge before it went bad.  Here's the end result (sorry for the crappy Blackberry pic)...

Lemon Chicken Picollini:

• Boil water, add some salt and bowl some picollini pasta until al dente.  Drain and set aside.
•  In a separate skillet, heat some olive oil and 1 heaping tablespoon of garlic until fragrant, add 2 cut up chicken breasts and cook until 1/2 cooked.
• Add one whole broccoli crown, cut into bite-size pieces and 1/2 container of mushrooms.  Put lid on the skillet to "steam" the broccoli until mushrooms are soft and broccoli is fork tender.
• Move broccoli,  chicken and mushrooms to a separate bowl and set aside.  
• Add 2 tbsp. of REAL unsalted butter to the warm skillet and melt.  Add 1/2 small container of heavy whipping cream and stir until simmering.  
• Zest 2 lemons and add zest to cream mixture.  Squeeze the juice from one lemon into the cream mixture and add salt and pepper.  Cut the remaining lemon into slices.
• Cook lemon and cream mixture for about 2 minutes.  Add chicken, broccoli and mushrooms to cream mixture and stir.  Add cooked picollini and stir. 
• Chop some fresh basil and add to pasta mixture, top with fresh lemon slices and......SERVE!!

Although Mia turned her nose, I loved it. JC loved it.  But it could have used more salt.  When you are using real cream...the rule is....YOU CAN NEVER USE ENOUGH SALT!

Father's Day Pizza

Well, we had just a marvelous Father's Day.  Except we didn't get to talk to my dad because he was working, but he got a picture of Mimi and I think he was happy.  We, of course, watched the US Open as we do every year.  Well, JC, his dad and brother watched it, while I sat there pretty darn bored.  I'm sorry, as much as I try, I just can't get into golf.  BO-RING.

We usually do steaks and stuff for dinner after the golf tournament, but this year I protested.  Why?  Well, here is how it usually plays out when the three of them get together.  The US Open gets over around 7:00pm and they want to grill the steaks after that so they don't miss the tournament.  That means at 6:00pm, I am working on doing the sides and marinating the steaks while trying to feed and bathe a little girl who is beginning to get the bedtime crabbies. Also, it's a pain in the ass to make a whole separate meal for Mia than the one we're eating and there is no way she can wait to eat until 7:30 or 8pm.  Nope.  Marinating steaks and making sides with a whiny baby on my hip makes for an unhappy Jill and while I'm trying to do it all and the dads are relaxing on Father's Day, I'm giving my husband the "Why don't you help me?!?!" evil eye.  Not exactly the Father's Day we had in mind.  Seriously, this happens every time. 

So this year, I proposed something better. Homemade Pizza! These two pizzas had just enough "specialness" to be okay for Father's Day, but not so much "specialness" that I was going out of my mind.  Here is what we (I) made:

Margarita Pizza:

- Pre-made crust (Yup, I went there)
- Sliced tomatoes, with juice squeezed out (that I spent $4.99 on because, well...it IS Father's Day)
- Sliced, fresh mozzarella (not from the bag)
- Fresh basil from my garden

Seriously...just add the sauce, slap on the toppings, cook for ten minutes and viola.  It was delicious. But the real show stopper was this....

Apple Gorgonzola Pizza:

-  Pre-made crust (Let's face it, I would just burn the crust anyway)
-  Sprinkle some Monterrey Jack cheese on the bottom...just a little
-  Add chopped green apples
-  Add a few sliced red onions (thinly sliced)
-  Add a few handfuls of walnuts
-  Sprinkle Fresh rosemary over the top
-  Top with shredded monterrey jack cheese and lots of gorgonzola cheese

Bake for 10 minutes and eat the crap out of it.  Seriously, I could eat that pizza every day of my life and be happy as a clam.  Add a tossed salad with homemade ranch dressing and some chocolate brownies with caramel and sea salt and the boys were in Father's Day heaven.  Super duper easy and no fussy Jill to be found.

Well, that was mostly because my hubby cleaned up the kitchen afterwards.  That helps. 

The best daddy. Ever.

In honor of Father's Day coming up...I just have to say it.  Mia has the best dad...my husband.  Wanna know why?  Here's one photo I snapped while they weren't looking.

See? Told you.  

It's not my birthday...but I'll eat your cake if I want to...

A week ago, Mia went to her buddy Hugo's 2nd birthday party.  The reason why I'm blogging about it NOW is because since, she got sick with some kind of virus and we've been recuperating (ie...not sleeping much).  Anyway, we're back (except for some bad allergies nonsense) and here are the pictures of Mimi before the party.  HOW CUTE IS THIS DRESS?!?!?!

Sad story is I can't find the dress and and I think we left it there after we played in the baby pool with the other kids.  Boo. She ran around the party like it was HERS and tried to open gifts and even eat the birthday boys' cake because he didn't want it!  The girl wanted cake and she didn't see why she couldn't have his, I guess. He didn't want it and it was rainbow-colored.  How could she resist, really?  Okay, just kidding...I drug her away from the cake kicking and screaming.  We left shortly after. 

At the party, people could not believe that she is only 18 months because she is so vocal.  She probably says over 50 words (seriously) and now puts 2 words together ie: "Read it" "All done" "I do" etc.  She is even starting to make certain words plural when they need to be ie: when there is more than one ball, she says "balls."  She knows her name and last name if you ask her.  Smart cookie.

At her 18 month check up this week, they did the test to see how well she played and if she knew what certain objects were.  They gave her a car, a doll and a few blocks.  They asked if she could stack the blocks and "feed" the doll.  So, she pointed to the blocks, said "blocks", stacked them, knocked them down and said "Uh oh."  Then she pointed to the doll and said "baby" and fed her the bottle and then she said "car."

They stopped the test and said, "Yeah, I think she's good." She's a show off and its awesome!

The best thing I ever...grew

Okay, so I didn't grow ALL of this, but I did grow the basil...right out of my garden.  I know, I know...basil is the easiest thing to grow ever...but I don't claim to be Ina Garten.  I wish. Who doesn't wish they had the foresight to add coffee to every chocolate recipe they make? 

Alright, back to the task at hand.  First of all, fresh basil clipped straight from the ground is WAY more potent.  And way more rustic.  See?

No pretty, single leaves in a plastic container here, folks.  I wish you could smell it.

When I went to Europe a few years ago, I had the best Caprese salad EVER at a small cafe on the streets of Venice.  (I know, I know...sounds pretentious, but it's the truth) This salad, seriously, was the best thing I've ever eaten.  It was so good, that I took a picture and have it framed on a wall above my dining room table.  Don't believe me? Fine.  Here's the proof...

The basil was muddled and I think steeped in olive oil and sans balsamic vinegar...but oh man, it was so delicious.  Being 5 months pregnant and in Italian food heaven might have been a factor, but regardless, I STILL dream about that salad. 

So, here is my take on the classic. Get some tomatoes.  (These came from the store, the tomatoes in my garden are still green)

Clip some basil.

Open a beer.  Wait... what?

Grab some fresh mozzarella cheese and assemble the salad as so...

Super delicious, and perfect for summer.  Add some avocado and prepare to have your mind BLOWN!  

The things you learn at the pool...

As a kid, I was at the pool alot.  During the summer, we probably went at least 3 times a week.  I went through swimming lessons and when I was in college, I was even a lifeguard at the community pool for a summer.  Needless to say, I've been around the pool "block", so to speak.  But yesterday, I learned so many new lessons at the pool that my head spun, I left dumb-founded, confused and a little mad, actually.

Yesterday, in the scorching 100 degree heat of North Texas...Mia and I decided we needed to cool off a bit.  We have a wonderful community pool a few blocks from our house and we were SO excited to go.  They have 3 slides and the coolest little water jungle gym thing. 

First of all, let me just say, Mia was the most styling kid there.  See? This was right before we left.  Matching strawberry swimsuit AND cover-up.  Dear lord, it was cute. 

We got to the pool and it was just as I expected.  Tons of kids, tons of parents, all laughing and playing.  While I had never paid much attention to the kiddie pool in the past, that is exactly where we headed as soon as we walked in.  We sprayed ourselves with sunscreen got out the water play bucket and shovel I had just bought for the occasion, put on our sunhats and dove in (not literally, more like we waded in 1 foot of water.)

Here is where it gets ugly folks.  Listen...I know that all children are precious and a gift from God, but seriously...I wanted to put a few of those little hooligan brats in a time out for AT LEAST 30 minutes yesterday. 

Here are the lessons I learned at the pool: 

1.  Never, ever, ever bring toys with your child.  None of the other kids (who are considerably older than yours) have toys and you will spend most your time  trying to get away from that creeper little 4 year old girl who keeps following you around eye-ing your kids blue water bucket.  Mia got her bucket stolen 4 times yesterday.  FOUR TIMES! At first we used it as a "sharing" lesson...and it was okay.  But at about the 3rd time, the kids just got mean...Mia cried and looked at me for help...the little brat who stole the bucket's parents were no where in sight and so I couldn't exactly do much about it.  Lesson learned.  All I could do was say to the girl "That wasn't very nice."  She gave me a death stare and threw the bucket in the air and waded off.  Really?

2.  Don't ever assume other parents are competent.  While you can assume most parents won't let their kids drown at the pool,  don't assume they will actually discipline them and keep them from being complete and utter monsters.  (Sorry, I don't pretend to be PC here guys).  Here is how it played out...

Little four year old bratty monster (a different one than the above) steals Mia's bucket for the 2nd time.  She tries to exchange a ball with Mia.  Mia doesn't want the ball.  Little monster's stupid dad is close by and watches the whole thing and looks at us sheepishly. Mia cries.  Little monster won't give back the bucket.  Stupid dad says "Honey, the little girl wants her bucket."  Little monster still won't give back the bucket.  Stupid dad laughs nervously but doesn't do much else.  I stand there super annoyed but unable to take back the bucket.  OMG GIVE US BACK OUR BUCKET YOU STUPID LITTLE MONSTER GIRL. 

We had to leave without the bucket.  Seriously, it was that bad.  I now assume that no other parents at the pool can be trusted.

3.  Never ever take your eye off your kid.  Okay, so this is a no-brainer, but not for the reasons you think. Of course you want to keep an eye on your kid...BECAUSE THE OLDER KIDS IN THE BABY POOL ARE HORRIBLE! They will run over your baby, knock her down and then look me straight in the eye and pretend like they didn't do it.  Monsters, all of them.

Alright, so like I said.  I don't pretend to be PC here guys. It's just a lesson I think you all need to know about the pool.  These lessons were hard-learned but I think we're better for it.  Next time, we'll be prepared for the pool and all of the little hooligans that inhabit it. 

Also, I bought Mia some ice cream to make up for all the bucket nonsense.  

Friday List of Wonderful Things

Wonderful Thing #1 - Obviously.

Wonderful Thing #2 - Mia and I are going to the pool tomorrow.  And we have a 2 year old birthday party on Saturday.  And I have a "girls night" on Saturday night!  That's enough fun for this weekend, I think.

Wonderful Thing #3 - My husband got new golf clubs.  He deserves them.  Big time. 

Wonderful Thing #4 - I found this blog.  Pregnant Chicken Read it, you'll thank me later (after you pee in your pants a little).  

Wonderful Thing #5 - Mia is 18 months next Tuesday.  How?  What?  Seriously?  I'm in some kind of time warp, obviously. 

Wonderful Thing #6 - I am going to cook something awesome this weekend.  And photograph it.  Maybe I'll cook something with the GREEN BELL PEPPER I just picked out of my garden! (Mia may or may not have already taken a huge bite out of it and called it an "apple"). 

Why I can never be a good blogger

This.  This is why.  Does it get funnier than this?  No, I submit that it does not.  Maybe when I have more kids I'll be this funny.  And this pissed off.

Top Ten Reasons Memorial Day is not a Holiday for Moms

But here's a cute picture of my baby playing with her buddy today.  It's about 100 degrees here in North Texas, so off come the clothes.