One Fabulous Mom: January 2012

Psychic Fortune Cookies- The greatest dinner conversation starter!

I had heard about Kimberly Berg through a friend of mine. She had told me that she did Psychic Fortune Cookies. Not just fortune cookies like you get from your Chinese food delivery order, but real psychic readings in your own fortune cookie!

Since we were set to go away with friends for Hubby's birthday, I thought it would be a great surprise for hubby and our guests. Boy was it!!! Most of the fortunes were pretty spot on, leaving even a few skeptics to be slightly convinced...Mine was amazing. She had never met me but had figured out what was going on with me. Gave me some great advice which I took!!! It made for great conversation about what was going on in out lives, who we were and where we were headed!

I ordered them for my family for Christmas and it was a huge hit at our Christmas dinner.
Here's how it works:

Go here: http://www.psychicfortunes.com/

Give your first and last name. You pay for the cookies and she ships them. You can do it for anyone. Would be so cute for a Chinese themed dinner! After all it's the year of the Dragon!

Don't Judge Me. I Bought A Bounce House!

I know what you're thinking.

One Fabulous Mom? What are you running a day care?

Who do you think you are Melissa Gorga from Real Housewives Of New Jersey? With a bounce house inside her house "on display, on display, on display...."

Trust me when I tell you this is the best money I have EVER SPENT.

Landon's playdates are now filled with kids laughing, sliding, jumping and having a ball. They are worn out at the end of the day and beg for me to blow it up starting at 6 am.

Now this is not a huge bouncey. It's for young kids and can only hold 3 or 4, but let me tell you:

1) It's a snap to set up and blow up, takes seconds.
2) Entertains the kids for hours
and
3) It's fun!

So don't judge me.

Get one here. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EHJ7GG/ref=oh_o03_s00_i00_details

Fabulous Recipe! Seared Scallops over Wilted Spinach and Parmesan Risotto

I found this recipe on Pinterest (my new obsession) but it's from Skinnytaste.com which is my new favorite website!! It is amazing and soooooooo good!!! Try it!
Seared Scallops over Wilted Spinach and Parmesan Risotto

Parmesan Risotto
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 3 • Size: 3/4 cup • Time: 30 minutes • Calories: 309 • Points: 6.5 pts

1 cup arborio rice
2 tsp butter
1 shallot, minced
1/2 cup white wine
4 cups fat free chicken stock
salt and pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp chopped parsley

Heat chicken stock in a small pot.

In a medium size heavy sauce pan, add butter on medium-low heat. Add shallots, sauté about 1 minute. Add rice mixing well until well coated and transluscent, about 2 minutes. Add wine, salt and pepper and mix well until it is absorbed into the rice. Ladle 1 cup stock into rice and mix until all stock is absorbed, add another ladle, and continue adding and stirring until all broth is absorbed, about 20-25 minutes. Add parmesan cheese and parsley, mix well and serve.

Seared Scallops over Wilted Spinach
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 3 • Size: 5 oz • Time: 10 minutes • Calories: 172 • Points: 3.5 pts

16 oz (about 12-14) sea scallops
salt and fresh pepper
2 tsp butter
1 tsp olive oil
1 shallot, minced
10 oz baby spinach, washed

Wash scallops and pat dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Heat a medium size pan on a high flame. When pan is hot, melt 1 tsp butter and place half of the scallops in the pan. Sear without touching them for a few minutes until the bottom forms a nice caramel colored crust. Turn over and cook about another minute or 2, until the center is slightly translucent (you can check this by viewing them from the side) and the bottom is seared. Be careful not to overcook. Remove from the pan and set aside on a warm plate. Add addition tsp butter and cook remaining scallops.

Add olive oil to the pan and sauté shallots, add spinach, salt and pepper. Toss until spinach wilts.

Serve over spinach over risotto topped with scallops.

Back To The Gym- Dance With Me!

I went back to the gym yesterday, this was no small feat considering it had been MONTHS and MONTHS! There I was with two girlfriends ready to take my favorite class: Dance With Me. It's taught by these two sweethearts Billy Blanks Jr (Dad is Billy Blanks of Tae Bo fame) and his wife Katherine.

These two are so positive, uplifting, and sweet you ALMOST forget you're sweating. They teach an aerobic class featuring all styles of dance. Yesterday was Country, African Jazz, and Balinese among others! I think dancing and having fun is a wonderful way to burn calories. We are all in there smiling out heads off.

Here's a little of what we do:

I really think if you are going to exercise it should be fun. Or something you have a passion for. Otherwise why would you invest that time! You can buy their DVD's on amazon if you like what you see!

I've heard Zumba is great too, going to check that out as well. How about you? Are you back at the gym? What's your workout?

A Perfect Day

I remember what my "perfect day" used to consist of.

Usually it would be a day in the week, when I had not much going on. I would lunch with the girls, shop, get my nails done, do some writing, and then maybe a great dinner out. That would be a perfect day. That still sounds pretty good...but funny how things shift.

I have my share of stress. There are many days when I am grinding my teeth at the thought of another day, or up all night worrying about something. I sometimes dream that my perfect day is back in Santorini with The Mr having lunch looking out over the ocean....but then back to the stress.

Last week, however, was a different story. Landon has been star of the week at school, and yesterday his Dad was his special guest. Since Landon loves the drums, Daddy brought his HUGE drum set.

Coco and I watched as the kids got a chance to play and Daddy told them all about how the drums worked. Landon was smiling, I was smiling, and Coco was full of joy as usual!

Then I went to drop Coco off at her class and she was already dressing up in animal costumes with her friends and laughing. I got in my car, and headed back to the house. I did two conference calls for work, cleaned my house, and came back to pick the kids up at noon.

We took a bunch of kids and their friends to CPK for lunch and riding the carousel there. It was the usual mahem, but the kids were having a blast and the moms are my good friends.

Back to the house for Landon's physical therapy with Tracy whom he LOVES. They laughed and played, I worked a little more. Coco did her puzzles. Then I realized I left my favorite sweater at the carousel. I called around to find it but nothing. Oh well....

Onto Landons first tennis lesson. He loved every second. He had a half hour lesson and wanted more. The head coach let him stay and play with the older kids. He kept hitting every shot over the net. Everyone was amazed. I called The Mr and had him come over to see. We stood there beaming with pride.

Landon rode home with his Dad, I got in my car to meet them there. As I started the car I thought: "This is my perfect day!" No stress, kids are healthy and happy, work is going well, 80 degree weather at the cute tennis courts in my neighborhood, and my son, even with one arm that doesn't work as well as the other, has a natural ability for tennis. I thanked God. I had to acknowledge when everything is going RIGHT. I had been caught in the groove of stress and worry and had to remind myself this is nowhere to hang out! This was a perfect day. I was enjoying every second.

That night I went back to the same area for dinner with The Mr. As he parked the car I was still reveling in my perfect day. Then I remembered my sweater. I was a little sad about it being gone, but I was not going to let it ruin my perfect day! I asked the parking attendant if he had seen it. He went into his office and came out with it. I squealed and hugged him. He was smiling too.

I felt lucky. I felt blessed. I felt grateful.

There may be more stressful days, but I am learning that the "perfect" ones are closer than you think.

Top Baby Names Of 2011!

I love this list. No idea why. I think it's because I was a Sociology major in college and I wonder about how society influences us!! I must say I know a ton of Sophias, Isabellas, and Avas! I get a slight sense of satisfaction in seeing my kids are not in the top 20! What do you think of this list? Anything surprise you? I saw Kaylee on there and about fell over. See how the news creeps in? (Casey Anthony's poor daughter).

Top 100 names of the year

Girls' Names

Boys' Names