Happy 4th of July!!!

We are having a few people over today for the 4th for some food and to break in my fire bowl. See pic above, I got it for free w/my Tastefully Simple Indulgence points--something we get monthly based on our sales. So I'm very excited to try it out, we have everything needed to make S'mores.

This morning I have been working on preparing the menu for our 4th of July Celebration.

We are going to be having...
*veggie tray w/Tastefully Simple Bacon Bacon dip
I like whole carrots vrs the flavorless baby carrots they sell, so I'm cutting up some real carrots along w/celery and everyone's fav. Sugar Snap Peas
*Fruit/Cheese/Cracker tray to go along w/a selection of white wines :-) The Kraft Natural Cheese is on sale really really cheap at Jewel so I got one of each of the cheeses that they make, and then I blew all my savings on some yummy Gouda cheese!
*Chicken Breasts marinaded w/Tastefully Simple Sassy Sangria Grill Sauce
*Corn on the Cob brushed w/butter and sprinkled with my favorite seasoning ever, Tastefully Simple Seasoned Salt.
*One guest is bringing Potato Salad and the Baby Blue Cobb Salad. Recipe from the TS fan page on Facebook

I am also making a salad, one with no dairy products in it, because Tom can't do dairy, this recipe is from the Hungry Girl Newsletter:

Crunchy Sassy Chinese Slaw

PER SERVING (about 1 cup): 111 calories, 3.5g fat, 375mg sodium, 17.5g carbs, 4g fiber, 10g sugars, 3g protein -- POINTS® value 2*

This slaw is so good, it's hard not to eat ALL of it (so do everyone a favor and make a double batch!)...

Ingredients:
One 16-oz. package Mann's Broccoli Cole Slaw
1 cup canned water chestnuts, drained and sliced into thin strips
1 cup canned mandarin orange segments packed in water or juice, drained and chopped (and rinsed, if packed in juice)
1 cup chopped scallions
2/3 cup Newman's Own Lighten Up Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing
1/4 cup slivered almonds

Directions:
In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together, and mix well. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Stir well before serving. Enjoy!

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

AND FOR DESSERT:
Smores!!!!

or my festive brownie creation:

Prepare the Tastefully Simple Truffle Brownies as directed.
Mix 1/2 a container of lite Cool Whip w/a large scoop of our White Mousse Chiller Mix and top the brownie once cooled.

Then take blueberries and cut strawberries and make a flag design!
Lastly,
Patrick really really wanted a jello dessert, so what we made red jello in a round bowl and then right before serving I am topping that w/Cool whip and then putting blue jello on top of that.

Now it's time to cross fingers for no rain tonight! Happy 4th of July

Heading to the Taste Today!

We have been having a very busy time around the Hamel family to end this wonderful month of June. Thursday I was off doing a great Tastefully Simple party, then on Friday we all participated in Relay For Life Oak Forest, which was fun and tiring. I couldn't find the charger for my camera battery so I have no picks. :-(

Saturday we went to the baseball picnic where they had 5, count them 5! jumpy houses or whatever those giant blow-up things are called. The kids were over the moon over all the jumping choices. Then after all that fun, later in the day, we went to a Graduation party in Flossmoor. The party was a fun and welcome relief for all of us after spending about 45 minutes driving around LOST trying to find the party--because our GPS stopped working due to low battery and because I lost the mapquest directions I printed out.

Sunday we went out for a late lunch with the kids, at which Bryce was like out of his mind w/misbehaving-ness. We figured out that his behavior was due to him being insanely hungry because we didn't realize he didn't eat his breakfast. Yes I know we are super rotten parents to not notice the poor middle child blew off his breakfast. Then Sunday night I had a lovely time at my Tastefully Simple party over by Midway.

Yesterday the kids got to go to day camp and I got to run for a long long time, then I was 'forced' to make good on my promise to take the kids to Chuck E. Cheese. Actually Monday at noon is a good time to venture into CEC as there were minimal other children there. Note to self: keep a good book in the car at all times so as not to be stuck at CEC w/o a book.

And today in about an hour I am off to the Taste of Chicago. Hopefully we'll be able to see the Barenaked Ladies and hopefully it won't rain. It is about 25 degrees cooler today than the last time I went to the Taste w/K. (Summer 2007) On that day it was I believe a heat index of 123 degrees Celsius.

When it comes to the Taste I am of the opinion. 1. don't take children. 2. only get 'taste' portions so you can try more! Number 1 is already accompished and so all I have to do today is accomplish number 2. A very do-able to-do list!





Taste Portions I'm thinking I'll try:

12 - The Grill on the Alley
909 N. Michigan Ave.

¢ Gazpacho with Chopped Avocado and Chives; Grilled Anjou Pear Salad with Walnuts and Maytag Blue Cheese

48 - Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse
2942 N. Lincoln Ave.
(Crunchy Plantain Chips and Sweet Plantain Wedges)
¢ Verdes (Crunchy Plantains)


31 - Polo Café and Catering Bridgeport U.S.A.
3322 S. Morgan St.
¢ Garlic-Mozzarella Cheese Bread; Crispy Noodle Shrimp

30 - Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
958 W. Wrightwood Ave.
¢ Chopped Salad; Bruschetta

54 - Adobo Grill
2005 W. Division St.
¢ Churros; Cheese Empanada

What I am crazy about this summer.

My friend K who is a big fan of reptiles has always liked the Sobe and the Sobe commericials. Me I've found the Sobe commericals on the creepy side. That aside I have to say that I am completely addicted to their new Sobe lifewater 0 calories drink sweetened w/"PureVia" ie Stevia (a natural sweetener the Whole Foods crowds are familiar with I am sure.

The Sobe Lifewater flavor that totally rocks is the Fuji Apple Pear. I am buying it like it is going out of style, it tastes yummy and fruity, but doesn't have that fake sugar aftertaste or calorie rich high fructose corn syrup. I was really glad to find a BOGO coupon on their website!

http://www.sobeworld.com/

And what is the perfect meal to accompany the Sobe Lifewater 0 cal? A McDonalds Southwestern Salad. Oh it is so good. The grilled chicken is covered with this yummy cilantro lime glaze. Only 320 calories and 9 grams of fat w/o dressing. however it is worth it to me to pour on some of the Paul Newman Southwestern Salad dressing.

I couldn't find a pic of it online. I guess next time I get one I'll have to take a pic. Here is a description:

Tangy, warm, cilatro-lime glazed chicken (grilled or cripsy), poblano peppers, roasted tomatoes, crispy chili-lime tortilla strips, black beans, fire-roasted corn, cheddar-jack cheese, lime 1/4 slice,

I could eat it everyday for lunch!

How to Make a Butterfly Cake - video on DisneyFamily.com

How to Make a Butterfly Cake - video on DisneyFamily.com

Shared via AddThis

This is what I'll be attempting as the cake for Anna's family bday party. I'm going to make a white cake butterfly and a devil food cake butterfly.

tomorrow day camp starts! wahooooo!!!

Not that I am looking forward to day camp or anything..

I've got their little camp outfits laid out. The water and a snacks are ready to go. I've got my running clothes all ready to hit the paths down south and I've spent the last 90 minutes getting my audible.com account reopened and the 4th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series (Dead to the World) is now finally in my ipod. So maybe you are saying:
1. Victoria is audible.com not very easy to use?

No audible is very easy to use and filled with directions on how to get your audible books right into your itunes library--it was Windows I was having problems with because Windows doesn't like itunes!

Or maybe you are saying..
2. So let me get this straight, the kids are going to day camp and you are going to spend the time running? Isn't that as much of a torture as kid wrangling?

No it's nice and peaceful on a walking/running/biking path. Definitely much more peaceful to listen to a nice Vampire Mystery than kids fighting.

I have no funny kid anecdotes today because of this conversation after church:

Patrick or Bryce says something funny--I cannot remember which of the two said it or what they said, my brain has all drained out at this point but earlier today I laughed and said: Patrick or Bryce that was funny!
Anna says:
"How come you never say I am funny?" This is of course accompanied by her pouting and crossing her arms very dramatically.

And here is where I made my mistake, I said:
"Anna all my friends think you are very funny. I put the things you say on facebook and my friends laugh and laugh and they say 'hey! we need an Anna story!!! And I then say I also share the funny things you say Patrick. And Bryce you too.

Apparently they all want to be on stage. They are craving the limelight and for hours today they tried very hard to be funny. Which meant that I got to listen to lots and lots of poop jokes. Potty humor at its finest it was not!

this and that

So on the Tastefully Simple front I have officially earned my place for a free all-inclusive trip to Cancun in April 2010, which will be perfect as by the time April rolls around I am at my tired of cold weather wits end. Now once I add 1 more person to my team then I'll also have Tom's spot reserved which is even more perfect as I am at my wits end having Tom point out to me that I get to go on all kinds of travels for free or almost free because of my Tastefully Simple business. So yippee!

On the home front, the children made a mess and this is what Bryce told his brother and sister:
"you should both be ashamed of yourselves, you think it's a garbage can in here."

tell em bryce!

But the really funny thing today is from Patrick. Earlier today he said that he was going to make a spongebob shrine. I didn't take him seriously, but then I came home tonight to this in his room.

Vacation Pics!!

oh light a candle and say some prayers to your favorite diety (tongue in cheek)

Summer Vacation is here! Ack! wish me luck! (and a busy Tastefully Simple party schedule so I can spend some time with adults this summer!)

Yesterday was the last day of school. To celebrate me and the kiddos walked over to Kokos for lunch. This was a big deal for them because A. they think walking is fun. :-) and B. the only time we go to Kokos is when my parents visit--so it's only for special occasions. Lunch went very well, Anna only climbed under the table twice...and Patrick only talked one of the waitresses ears off.



When we arrrived back home we received in the mail not one but two FREEBIES! First we have a coupon, which I was nice enough to give to Patrick, for a free chocolate bar from Mars (dove, milky way, snickers, 3 musketeers, m&m or twix) They are giving away free chocolate coupons every FRIDAY at:

http://realchocolate.com

And then just in time for Anna's upcoming birthday BBQ a coupon good for one free package of any Oscar Mayer Franks! I think you can go get your free coupon at:

http://oscarmayer.com

The kids will enjoy theirs w/ketchup--ugh! But mine will definitely be topped with Tastefully Simple Cherry Honey Mustard Sauce. Yum! I am going to have to order a bunch of it w/my 36% off because, it's only back for June and July!

http://tastefullysimple.com

Jogging with Anna

yesterday before I ran, Anna begged to come with, so I took her around the block with me one time and then she was very upset that I was going back out to run. Why couldn't she come with, ah well Anna
1. I run to get some quiet time away from you kids (that was just in my head, I didn't actually tell her that one)
2. I'm going to run 6 miles, your not ready for that.

So she says what do I have to do to go the whole way with you. And I agreed to take her around the block twice today.

Anna is quite disappointed that I will not let her run in her flip flops. She feels they are more than adequate for running. I tell her, no gym shoes no running. Then she looks for a compromise by putting on silver flats given to her by the Mighty Maggie--all clothes and shoes from Maggie are the best! ATA (According to Anna). I say fine.

We head out for our jog, Anna is next to me running along and she says:

Mama, I look so cute jogging with these shoes on, I like to look down at them!


She is such the fashionista!

For the love of Pete

Oh for the love of Pete, Patti blogovich (sp?) is going to do that reality show since her narcassistic criminal husband can't leave the country. Those poor kids of theirs!