All You Care to Eat Dessert and Coffee

Have I died and gone to heaven? No, but hubby and I went on a fabulous date last night. We went to this wonderful dessert restaurant in Little Italy. Little Italy is this cute part of Baltimore, adjacent to downtown, full of independently owned delicious restaurants. For our anniversary in May, we ate at Tavola another restaurant in Little Italy and we were not disappointed. I am excited about all the new restaurants for us to try in Baltimore.



Last night our dessert for dinner date was at Vaccaro On Monday nights for $15.50 they will serve you all the coffee and dessert you care to eat. This is not McDonald's sundaes here but fine Italian desserts! Yum!



Max put me on the spot, ready to order when I was not, so I made a split decision for a cafe latte and taramisu. Max had already ordered a cappucino Vaccaro style and a cannoli. Taramisu is good but usually I like cannolis better. I had to try something different since Max already snagged my first choice.



My coffee and dessert were delicious! Max's cannoli was delicious. My taramisu was huge but I had to save room to try something else.



Round 2 consisted of the most amazing pound cake I have every tasted topped with the best vanilla gelato I have ever tasted and whipped cream and strawberries. Have a said yum yet! Max went for rum cake, their "speciality". It was good but I am not a big fan of the flavor of rum and he quickly helped me devour my delicious pound cake.



In the beginning I fully intended to order a second coffee and probably try a cream puff. I was SO stuffed at this point it was ridiculous.



We kept sending the waiter away, telling him we needed a "break". Finally he brought the check and we figured we better get our money's worth and order one more thing. We asked the waiter if there was something little he would suggest. He said he would bring a sampling of his favorite cookies.

This was all we managed to eat of the cookies. The powdered sugar one at top was delicious!

Hubby looking full but happy!

So full I was uncomfortable!

We walked around somewhat aimlessly hoping the over-full feeling would subside. It did not really. We finally wandered into Whole Foods. Hubby had never been and was amazed at the deliciousness found in the Whole Foods prepared foods section. He bought a deli sandwich and I bought some chicken salad I eyed last time I was there. And as a loving gesture hubby bought me an organic tomato plant. I don't have much of a green thumb but hopefully I will have some cherry tomatoes this fall to show for our fun date.

And today I will be starting my diet and exercise plan to work off all these extra calories. BTW did I mention I love sweets!

ABC Survey

I found this cute survey on the Semi-Slacker Mom's blog and thought it would be fun to share a little more about myself.

A B C survey

A - Age: 27
B - Bed size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: dishes, yuck!
D - Dog's names: no pets for us thanks!
E - Essential start your day item: coffee!
F - Favorite color: Pink
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Height: 5'8"
I - Instruments you play: played the clarinet for 5 years, played the bassoon for 1 year, would love to learn to play the piano
J - Job title: SAHM/Nanny
K- Kid(s): 3
L - Living arrangements: All 5 of us happily packed into our 1700 sq ft home.
M - Mom's name: Theresa
N - Nicknames: Don't really have one, maybe Shell.
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Chron's no fun!
P - Pet Peeve: rude or inconsiderate people (like not saying thank you when you hold the door for them or excuse me when they run into you).
Q - Quote from a movie: "ToTo, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore." The Wizard of Oz is my all time favorite movie!
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: Sister, Andrea, 24
T - Time you wake up: Too late lately. Has been 7:30am should be 6 or 6:30am.
U- First word that comes to your mind for "U"undeniable
V - Vegetable you dislike: mashed potatoes
W - Ways you run late: Do I ever run on time?
X - X-rays you've had: foot when I sprained it last June
Y - Yummy food you make: Super Mashers with Chicken and Green Chili Has (thanks Rachel Ray)
Z - Zoo favorites: tie with Lions and Tigers

A Thousand Words Thursday

Check out Jen at Cheaper Than Therapy for more ATWT posts.

Look at this little girl she is going to move mountains some day!

Award and Great Reads For The Week!

Thanks to Noah's Mommy at Project Mommyhood for bestowing this wonderful award upon me! If you don't already read her blog go check it out. I really enjoy reading her blog!

Awesome Bloggy Buddies Award

Instead of passing this along I am going to break the rules and share some great reads I found this week:

If you don't already read My Charming Kids you should! Her story is amazing and her faith is unwavering. Today she posted this amazing story about her husband showing mercy to someone he doesn't know. As a Christian it was truly inspiring to me. You can find it here.

Sara at Domestically Challenged is one of my newest blog finds. Today she wrote a hilarious post that described my husband to a "T" except for the golfing part. I am really beginning to realize that all men are scarily similar. You can read her post here.

Thanks for sharing the bloggy love!

What Makes a Daddy?

What Makes a Daddy?

Is it bravery, strength, good looks?

Nope!

How about smarts, athletic ability, wealth?

Nope!

Anyone can be a child's father but it takes someone special to be a daddy!



Daddies are there for the good times and bad!

Daddies are both your biggest supporter and ready to pick you up when you fall!

But most of all Daddies are full of love!

Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy of all!

Aloha Friday

It is Aloha Friday over at Island Life Aloha Friday is where you take it easy and get ready for the weekend.

My Question:

What are your summer plans?

My Answer:

Trip to the amusement park, beach, and camping planned, as well as the kids and I are going to Colorado for two weeks.

Vaccines

Controversial, political, personal. All words that come to mind when I think of vaccines.



I will start by saying that all my children are fully vaccinated and I think vaccines are a good thing. The more I have learned about vaccines the more I realize that they are forced down most parents "throats" with little education, little real information, thought, or options presented.



When B was born I did not even consider not vaccinating him. Even though that was more than 9 years ago some people were already choosing not to vaccinate. I think in recent years the debate has become more public.



I feel the same way about vaccines as I do about a lot of things. I think the most important thing is for people to educate themselves and make an informed decision not simply to do what the doctor or politicians say we should do.



A week and half ago I picked up the editorial section of the Baltimore Sun Times to find an editorial about vaccinations written by the President of the Maryland Chapter of the AAP. I was outraged to say the least and I am writing an editorial back in response. I am slightly delayed but maybe it will get published. I did have an editorial published before so maybe.



The editorial tries to shove vaccinations down the public's throats and goes as far to say the state of Maryland should mandate "no exception" policies requiring every child to be vaccinated with no exception.



REALLY? Are we still in America here people? Do I think vaccinating is a good idea? YES! If I have another child I would research each vaccine more thoroughly and possibly do a delayed vaccination schedule with my child. Do I agree that if large numbers of children are unvaccinated it starts to diminish the "public health"? YES! But when Americans are unable to make their own health decisions we have a real problem.



Toto I don't think I am in Kansas anymore! Or more like "Michelle I don't think I am in the West anymore." East Coast politics and ideology is definitely different than the West. Whether the President of the AAP likes it or not I am keeping my right to think for myself. I think whether or not to vaccinate your children is a very personal decision, not one to be made by the government. The President of the Maryland AAP even states that in certain Western states that there are geographic areas where large numbers of children are unvaccinated. Most likely this is because these parents flock to areas where like-minded parents also live. I suspect near where I grew up (Boulder, CO) is one of the unvaccinated "hot spots."



So ladies, what do you think? I would love to hear some of your opinions and have some good old political debate. While I know this is not a political blog. My degree is in political science and I always love a good discussion.

One of my "Besties" is Coming to Visit

I have a list of blog topics I have been thinking about, some very exciting, some political, and even some controversial but I spent tonight working in the yard (which I hate) and one of my best friends is coming to visit tomorrow so I am going to blog about her and friends.

I am very lucky to have a great group of girlfriends. I know a lot of women can't say that they are close friends with 5 of their friends from high school or before. I truly feel blessed.

We have been in Baltimore since March and April (my friend) is our first Colorado visitor and I am very excited to visit with her and show her some of the local sights.

April and I met in 9th grade. We quickly became friends and started hanging with the same group of friends. April introduced me to some of the finer things in high school such as partying. High school was a great time in my life. April and I always had a blast together. While April and I got ourselves occasionally into trouble, OK I always got into trouble with April somehow, I was lucky enough that my parents never found out and was able to make it through high school as the "good girl" (until my mom reads this).

I have many memories with April. Most of them are pretty mischievous and not internet appropriate but April is a great friend and I feel blessed to have been her friend for these past 12 years. April is the kind of friend who will tell you what you need to hear whether it is what you want to hear or not. Isn't so important to have true friends that can be honest with us about ourselves, our decisions, and even our thoughts.

Here are a few snapshots. Sorry the high school ones are MIA.

Left to Right Michelle (not me but my BFF with the same name), Becca, April, Me, and Catherine (2005)

Jamie, April, Katie, Catherine, and Me (2003)

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade!

A quick peek into my life this evening:





I leave work at a reasonable hour (around 5:30pm), kids in tow head home to make dinner. I start chopping onions and cooking ground beef for chili. I put the chili pot on the stove, add the tomatoes, grab the kidney beans, and wait where are the chili and pinto beans? I am positive I had them since I put chili on the menu this week. You guessed it, they aren't there.





My next thought is crap, dinner is half ready and I need to run to the store real quick. Too bad hubby in traveling for business. I better modify. Thanks Rachel Ray for teaching me that cooking is approximate not an exact science. No need to measure, substitutions welcome.

So my crisis turned into this yummy dinner:

Chili Mac

Cell phone camera picture sorry hubby took real camera on his trip.

I quickly doubled the diced tomatoes, doubled the green chilies, doubled the spices, boiled some elbow macaroni, and added some water to make up from the liquid that would have came from the other two bean cans.

I was delicious! I am so proud of myself!

And how was your evening?

Not Me! Monday

Check out My Charming Kids for more Not Me! Monday posts.

1. I did NOT get up early and go to my first pilates class Friday morning at 6:30am and felt great because of it. Not Me! I hate getting up early ;-)

2. I did NOT start feeling sick around bedtime Friday. I was surprised that I was sick considering the 16 month old I nanny for was sick last week and 16 months olds NEVER spread germs!

3. My 6 year old did NOT say this morning "I hope my cup doesn't fall off the pile of dishes in the sink." Of course NOT! I NEVER have both sides of the sink full of dishes! It is amazing to me that 5 people can fill up both sides of the sink in about 36 hours. Crazy!

4. I do NOT have a mountain of peed on laundry in my laundry room from last night. Something like 1/4 of all kids wet the bed but 2/3 of my kids do. I guess we are above average. Now you see why I can't keep up with the laundry either.

5. I did NOT bail on my 3rd graders "Fun Day" that I said I would come to. That would be bad! Since this is the first day I am starting to feel better but not well yet standing in the sun and heat for 3 hours would not be good. Good thing he only kind of wanted me to come in the first place. Oh no! He is 9 and I think I am beginning to be "uncool" to him.

6. I have NOT sat on the computer for the last 2 hours doing the Grocery Game and blogging, in my pajamas when I have bunches to do. Not Me! I am very motivated!

I can't wait to hear what you did NOT do this week!

A Thousand Words Thursday

Check out Jen's blog Cheaper Than Therapy for more ATWT posts.

Can you tell what is on my mind? SUMMER!

Summer, Summer, Summer Time...

Time to sit back and unwind!

It feels like summer here in Maryland. Beautiful weather, the kids have less than two weeks left of school, and we've already taken our first trip to the beach!

I know summer doesn't officially start for a few more weeks but I am look forward to spending time with the kids, enjoying the sun, swimming, camping, traveling, and generally having fun.

Here are some pictures from our first trip to Ocean City this year. Since we used to live in a land-locked state it has been 2 1/2 years since my kids have been to the beach. They had a blast! I can't wait to go back!

The hubby, happy in the shade

It was a windy day at the beach

Beautiful!

Look at the sky (and cute kids)!

FiFi

B carrying water for their sand creations

Wyn showing of her goofiness

Sand sculptures at Ocean City. Amazing!

So what adventures do you have planned for the summer?