The Great Sale

Hello Everyone,

For those of you who are following my blog, I do not know if you recall my Monday post about finding all these hidden treasures in my garage, if not, I am mentioning it now! After careful consideration, I have decided that there is no room in any of my closets for these items, and will be selling them on eBAY. As of right now, I have clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories occupying three different closets in the house, and still feel they are overflowing. And since I promised Chafeek I would be emptying some of these closets soon, I can't think of a better way to downsize. This sale will include jeans, bags, purses, unworn baby clothes and many designer accessories. For anyone who is interested, details will soon follow!! But just to give a preview, here are two pairs of designer sunglasses: Giorgio Armani and Dolce and Gabbana, that are brand new and have never been worn!

If anyone is interested, these items have already been listed:

• http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220762798282&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_500wt_1156
• http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220762804885&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_500wt_1156

Spinach Linguine in Pesto and Tomato Sauce

Spinach Linguine in Pesto and Tomato Sauce and Fresh Mozzarella

After being absent from my blog for while, I feel like I have become obsessed with trying to find new entries and constantly keeping it updated! Or maybe, I am actually enjoying spending time in the kitchen ( something I never thought would happen!). Speaking of being in the kitchen, yesterday I was determined to mimic a recipe I had tasted at a restaurant on my recent trip to Panama City based simply upon taste. I know you must be thinking I am crazy, and there is no way it will actually come out successful, but much to my surprise, it did! So, if you're willing to take the chance on my recipe, here it is:

Ingredients:

• De Cecco Linguine with Spinach
• Buitoni Pesto with Basil Sauce
• 1 lb of Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
• One package of Organic Cherry Tomatoes
• Olive Oil with Pesto and Basil ( optional)

Preparations:

( cooking time: 40 minutes, serves 2-4 people)

I would first begin my preparing the pasta, because you can chop up the mozzarella cheese and tomatoes as you wait for the pasta to boil. So, begin preparing the pasta as you usually would by pouring 6 quarts of water in a pot per one pound of pasta on high and adding salt into the water to prevent the noodles from sticking. Meanwhile, as the water boils, chop up the tomatoes into small circular pieces keeping all the juices and seeds ( these will later help in preserving the tomato flavor when you get around to frying them). At this point the water should be boiling, so add the pasta and allow it to cook for eleven minutes uncovered. I allowed it to sit for 13 minutes just because I prefer softer noodles. If you choose to do this, make sure to be careful because overcooking pasta noodles can lead them to being sticky. As you wait for the pasta to boil, pour about two teaspoons of oil into a skillet, and allow it to heat. This should take no more than five minutes. Once you feel the oil has reached an appropriate heat, pour in the tomatoes with the seeds and heat for about 7 minutes. Or, at least until you feel the tomatoes soft enough, almost resembling a puree. No seasonings need to be added, because between the oil, and the natural flavor of the tomatoes, the tomatoes will produce their own flavor. By this time, your noodles should be ready, so drain the noodles but return them to the pot. The heat from the pot should allow the pesto sauce to melt into the noodles. I used about a tablespoon of the pesto sauce and mixed it throughout the noodles with a wooden spoon. Since I am not a huge fan of pesto sauce, I made sure not use it in excess. Once the pesto sauce is spread throughout the noodles, drain the tomatoes with the oil and seeds and spread evenly throughout the noodles. Depending upon when you choose to serve the dish, I would hold off on putting the mozzarella cheese until you're ready to serve it. But if you're making it to serve immediately, cut the mozzarella into small cubes, enough to serve as a garnish and spread evenly on top of the noodles. Lastly, drizzle with a teaspoon of oil for that authentic Italian flavor ( this is strictly optional). And, the recipe is completed!

Hidden Treasure Box: My Garage

As children we all fantasize about finding a hidden treasure box enclosed with tons of jewels and gold that will make us forever rich, but then we grow up and realize these ideas of grandeur are just fantasies. But today, that dream somewhat came true when I decided to clean out of my garage! After years of collecting shopping bags, boxes, and just plain junk, I decided to take ten minutes to clean it all up. Layth was enjoying walking up and down the ramps between my garage and the neighbors, I thought this would be the optimal time to do some spring cleaning. This would also buy Layth some time to utilize some of his repressed energy before we began our day of running errands. As I began cleaning the shopping bags I once thought were empty, the treasure began to present itself. And as more and more things began to appear, the more intrigued I was to clean some more. But after twenty minutes, Layth was bored and I was done cleaning!!

A List of the Things I Found:

• Brand new with tags size 26 Joes Jeans
• Two brand new pairs of Victoria Secret silk boxers ( female)
• New and unopened Victoria Secret Shampoo and Conditioner
• A pair of 3T Amy Coe Pajamas
• Brand new with tags Betsey Johnson bracelet ( still in it's case)
• An unwrapped photo frame
• Gift Bags ( something I'm always in need for)
• 5 new with tags Ralph Lauren layettes ( baby boy, size 6 months)
• New unopened packages of tissue paper ( again, something I'm always in the need for)
• TULLE charcoal sweater
• Brand new with tags beaded Banana Republic Belt
• Unopened Lacoste 8 oz perfume
• 4 unwrapped Blockbuster DVD's from their Going Out of Business Sale
• Two Sesame Street Themed Counting Books
• Sz 12 month Paul Frank T-shirt

" Pump It Up"

Ever since becoming " Layth's Mom" , I have been invited to the new age Chuck E. Cheese, " Pump It Up," which replaces mechanical toys with inflatable toys, hence why their motto is " the inflatable playground." It's no wonder they are becoming a national hit among moms and children alike. I will have to admit my favorite ride there is the giant inflatable slide. Yes, I am guilty of enjoying the inflatable rides with Layth, since he is still too young to tackle them by himself. A typical toddler, he runs to the ride that most intrigues him, but has to make sure mommy is right behind him to accompany him. I love it too, because I get to enjoy spending time with Layth while releasing some of my child like energy. And what I love most is their designated toddler playtime that does not keep us relying on the next birthday invitation. However,being at my parents' house in Panama city, I must admit to preferring their facility more because it has all the rides enclosed in one large space rather than dividing them into two rooms ( making it easier to keep yours on your toddler). Nonetheless, if you're looking for something to do with your toddler, take them to " Pump it Up"!

Lime Blossom Photography

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to share a local secret here in Memphis, and that is photographer, Shanda Lyman. A self taught photographer with a small company, Lime Blossom, on its way to blossoming, Shanda has amazing talent! For years now people have told me about her talents, mostly colleagues, and so, I thought to myself what better person to photograph than Layth!! At the time Layth was just 16 months, and still had his long shaggy hair, so it was just perfect for Shanda to capture on film. Of course, my photographer husband, Chafeek, learned of my actions and insisted he too, become involved within the photo shoot. And so, on one sunny day in November, we headed out to Arlington, TN to an abandoned cotton factory dressed in brown blazers and jeans to begin our photo shoot. Shanda insisted Chafeek intimidated her given his photography experience, but I was not worried: I had seen the work she had done for other friends of ours, and I was deeply satisfied. A few months later, I obtained the edited CD from Shanda, partly because we couldn't coordinate a meeting time, and I am in love with the photos she has taken. So, for all you Memphians who are in search of a photographer, I would greatly recommend Shanda!!

Lazy Day Pot Roast

Hello My Lovely Readers,

I am in such a good mood today, because I attempted a rather difficult task: making a pot roast, and it was successful! The whole purpose of this blog was to motivate me into becoming a better housewife and an even better mom! I knew I would never be "super mom" but I do want to be better than the average mom. Layth, who has been nothing but a joy since he's been born, deserves it! And so, I was determined to venture beyond my comfort recipes and make a pot roast!

For days now, I have been searching for a Kosher pot roast when I finally stumbled upon one, the recipe called for a 4 lb pot roast, but since we were just two and a half people, I could make due with the 2.25 lb chuck pot roast I found. The recipe also called for the pot roast to be in the crock pot for 6-8 hours, and starting it at 2pm, kind of worried me. However, the boys were willing to wait when it was completed at 8:45 pm after being in the crock pot for close to seven hours! And the best part was seeing Layth digging his hands into the crock pot to attack the gravy!

Ingredients:

• One 2.25 lb Kosher chuck pot roast, trimmed of all its fat
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
• 4 large organic carrots, cut into thin pieces
• 4 organic potatoes, cut into thin pieces
• 1 yellow onion ( optional)
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 cups of water
• 1/2 cup of vinegar
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• Crock pot/slow cooker

Instructions:

1. Put the roast in the crock pot after sprinkling both sides with salt and pepper. Add the chopped carrots, potatoes, onion and bay leaves. Pour the water and vinegar over the meat and vegetables. Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours ( depending upon how soft you like your meat).

2. Transfer the meat and vegetables to a platter. And then, turn the cook onto " High" With the remaining liquid, you're going to make the very fattening gravy. First, you're going to mix the butter and flour until it becomes thick, which you will eventually transfer into the crock pot. Once the hot liquid, butter and flour are mixed together, wait until it becomes think and less clumpy before serving it as a gravy. And, the recipe is completed. It sounds a lot more complicated than it was to make it :)

In Search of the Perfect Ankle Boot

In Search of the Perfect Ankle Boot

After days of searching online for them, I finally found my perfect ankle boot. And, it belongs to none other than the eccentric Betsey Johnson. I remember first trying them on at the end of October during a visit to Phoenix, and the store had just gotten them in that week. Priced at $140, I thought that was pretty reasonable. I was not about to allow the price deter me in purchasing these fabulous ankle boots. Sure, I have other ankle boots and there are plenty of other boots similar to them, but I loved these because they were surprisingly very comfortable. And having endured a knee injury a few years back, not every heel is compatible with my knee; therefore, comfort plays a large role! I also loved that they were open toe too, which does not just restrict me to wearing them only in the Winter months. They also work well for both Fall and Spring. I was moments away from pulling out my credit card and purchasing them when the sales associate told me if I come back in December, they will only be $50 or so, because no one has any use for boots here in Phoenix. And since, I have family in Phoenix I was sure to be back in December. It's always a trade off between spending Christmas or New Years in Phoenix. However, this year was different, I went to Egypt for a solid three weeks ( the most amazing time of my life before the riots began!). And so, my boots had to wait. February, came and gone, and still no boots! Luckily, Betsey Johnson was having their annual Winter clearance sale, which could not have been more perfect except that they did not have my size online. I thought it was not meant to be after searching endlessly for that few days, until my friend referred me to this website. Although I did find these gorgeous Alexander McQueen Gold Studded Ankle Boots, it was almost as though fate had directed her to inform me of this website and in a few days they shall be mine!

To Check Out the Alexander McQueen boots, here's the link: http://www.shopstyle-shoes.com/alexander-mcqueen-gold-studded-faithful-bootie.html

I haven't forgotten about you!

Hi Readers,

I know I haven't posted a new entry in a while, and have neglected my blog, but do not worry I haven't forgotten about it! I promise I have a lot more exciting entries in store for you guys. It's just I feel these past few weeks; particularly, the month of February, has been ridiculously busy! Although I am currently taking on the role of housewife/stay at home, it's still a lot more work than you expect! I feel as though I am more busy now than I was before when I was working as a third grade English teacher and going to school at night!, that might also be due to my adorable 20 month old, Layth. He keeps me busy, but every moment with him is simply precious! I would not give that up for anything this world has to offer. I am not sure if I will stay at home this long with my next child, so I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given. Well.... that's enough of me babbling, but just wanted to keep you guys informed!