Almost 13

Allie went to her first real Bar Mitzvah Party last night...the kind that runs from 7 p.m. - 12 a.m. She got ready at a friend's house so I did not see her until I went to pick her up. I actually had to go into the party and find her...how mortifying I know. As I stood in the background and watched her dance with her friends I realized that my baby girl is growing up. I also realized that she was wearing makeup! OMG! When I asked her about it in the car she told me she was only wearing bronzer (what the heck is that) and lip gloss. I have to admit that it looked pretty good!
Really Mom. You want to take my picture right now. It's 12:10 and I'm ready for bed.

Highlights from Yesterday

IT SNOWED!

We had snow showers on and off all day.

Big beautiful flakes.

The kind of snowflakes that you can catch.

A nap with your best friend.

Dinner cooked by my 16 year old.

Have a great weekend!

Oh, the Irony

This morning, I was supposed to be leaving for five days in Napa Valley, Ca.
Several months ago, Tony turned 45. For his birthday, I planned a surprise (sort of) getwaway. I checked with his secretary and there was nothing on the calendar. I booked the airplane reservations, the car, the activites, the hotel, etc. Then I made a little scrapbook of our plans and presented it to him on his birthday.

We were going to stay at the Cottage Grove Inn in Calistoga.

This was supposed to be us, enjoying a nice breakfast without any children around. Our cottage in the background...

I made spa appointments and we were even going to try a couples mud bath.
I made reservations for the Calistoga Sip N Cycle. I figured we needed to exercise after all of the wonderful dining that we were going to do at Bouchon, 25 Brix, and The Rutherford Grille ...not to mention all of the other fabulous places that we would have found.

I even made reservations for a sunrise hot air balloon ride. (So the scared of heights thing might have been a problem, but the alternative was sky-diving and I took the safer way out.)

Last weekend, Tony found out that he was going to have to go to New York for a trial and we would have to postpone our trip until February.

Yesterday, he found out that one of the witnesses that he needs to meet with before the trial is unavailable until Monday. You'll never believe where he is...

NAPA

Oh, the irony.

Paella Soup-Three for Three

Yet another recipe from Sunday Soup. So far, I am three for three with awesome soup recipes! I made this soup tonight and was told that I could make this for company! Always, the highest compliment from 6 critics. Anyway, it was super easy to make and very good.

2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/3 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup long-grain white rice (I used brown rice)
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crushed
1/2 cup dry white wine
4 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more if needed
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 pound large uncooked shrimp, shelled and deveined
3 ounces Spanish chorizo sausage, cut into thins rounds or diced
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup diced cooked chicken, preferably white meat
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives

1. Heat oil in a large, heavy saucepan set over medium heat. When hot, add onion, carrot and celery, and saute until softened, for 3 to 4 minutes.

2. Add rice, saffron, wine and stock and bring to a simmer. Season with 1 teaspoon salt. Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat. Cover and cook at a simmer until vegetables and rice are soft, for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.

3. Puree the soup in batches in a food processor, blender, or food mill, and return soup to the pot. Stir in the cream.

4. Set soup over low heat and when mixture comes to a simmer, add shrimp, chorizo, peas and chicken. Cook until shrimp have turned pink and curled, for about 3 minutes. Do not overcook or shrimp will become tough. Taste soup and season with salt, as needed.

5. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of chives.

*Note: My gang likes things spicy so they kicked it up a notch with a few shakes of hot sauce.

Nie Nie Tee

We got our For the Love of Nie t-shirts today! They are so cute. I like the colors of mine better than the one Ammy is wearing. Nie is short for Stephanie. Since 2005, Stephanie has had a blog where she has written about her husband and her family.

This past August, Stephanie Nielson was in a plane crash with her husband, Christian Nielson, and his flight instructor, Doug Kinneard, near St. Johns, Arizona. Doug Kinneard passed away soon after arriving at the Maricopa County Hospital.

Christian has sustained burns on over 30% of his body. His wife Stephanie’s body was burned over 80%. Christian has since been released and is rehabing at home with his parents. Stephanie has recently woken up from a medically-induced coma. You can follow her journey at her sister, Courtney's site. Courtney is taking care of 3 of Stephanie's four children. Stephanie's fourth child is being taken care of by another sister.


It is truly amazing to read their stories and to see complete strangers help out this family that they've never met. The blogging world...it's an amazing thing!