Back To Reality

After an unexpected week off of school the older two were finally back to school this morning. God willing we will have a normal week of school for everyone. While it was lovely to have a surprise winter vacation, it will be nice to get back to a routine. I really struggled to keep up with my blog with three kiddos stuck in the house. Hopefully things will get back to normal this week.

                                  

L was not as happy as I was that the schools were open today. Poor boy didn't know what to do without his adoring fans. Hopefully he will have a better day tomorrow! (Hubby's note- This picture kills me! Makes me laugh every time I see it. L looks a bit like Popeye in it.)

Such A Deal!

It is no secret, I love a good deal but I have never been as good as my mother at finding quality brands at rock bottom prices. That was until today!

I took to the kiddos over to Home Goods today simply because I "needed" to get out of the house. (A mom can only take so many days stuck inside a house with three kiddos.) My plan was to just look around. I had no list or real need. But I found a need as soon as we went down the kitchen clearance aisle! 

                                

For whatever reason, the clearance aisle was filled with All-Clad fry pans and sauté pans. I quickly put a 3 quart sauté pan with lid in my cart. I mean really, it was marked down to $45! How could I walk away from that? Yes it had a couple of scratches but nothing else was wrong with it. Winner-winner if you ask me. 

I might have called my mom tonight to tell her about my find. To say that she was impressed would be an understatement! 

What great deal have you found lately?

You can also fond me at Savvy Southern Style. 

No School This Week

I can not believe I am typing this but I just got the phone call from our schools and was informed that my kiddos are off for the rest of the week. That means that they will not go to school at all this week! They were off on Monday for MLK Day and the rest of the days are snow days. Four snow days!

Don't get me wrong, I love having my kiddos home for a snow day or two but four does seem like a bit much. This must be a NoVa thing because my mother still will have to go to school tomorrow and they had way more snow that we did. 

                                

So help a gal out, what are your favorite snow day activities? #cabinfever

Tournament Weekend

Did y'all enjoy the long weekend?  Around these parts a long weekend means it's a tournament weekend and this past weekend was no different. Hubby got to take B to her last tournament so it was my turn to take her. Honestly I am not sure who was looking forward to this tournament more, B or me?

I hope you will forgive me but there was no way I could not post a ton of pics of B. She played so well and clearly had fun for the whole tournament!

I just love watching B play field hockey. Win or lose, B left the court with a huge smile after every game which makes it all worthwhile!

"Saving Mr Banks"

A little while ago B and I snuck away for a girl's afternoon. As B gets older I fear that she will not want to spend her free time with her boring mother. So how could I say no when she asked if I would take her to the movies!?!

Per B's request, we went to see "Saving Mr Banks". Both B and I love the movie "Mary Poppins" so I thought it was more than fitting that we see a movie about how it came to be a movie. I had no idea that Walt Disney (played by Tom Hanks) had tried for over twenty years to obtain the movie right to "Mary Poppins" because of a promise that he had made to his daughters. Nor did I know that P.L. Travers (played by Emma Thompson) never really wanted to give Disney the rights but had to due to money issues. The movie did a wonderful job of telling the story of how Disney came to get the movie rights, all the while giving us some insight into P.L. Travers' childhood.

I do have to say that the movie had more "dark" parts than the previews would have led you to believe. I was very happy that I only took B to see this movie and did not bring the younger two alone. All in all it was a great movie that B and I enjoyed. That must say a lot if the tween and I agreed on it!

IKEA Broke My Back

I have been planning my trip to IKEA for what seems like forever. Truley I had been looking forward to today. And it was wonderful! I got everything on my list and I was all giddy until dinner.

Now I fear my time at IKEA broke my back! Ugh!!! 

                                 

I had asked for some help loading my car but was told that it looked like I could "do it myself". Really!!! I never know what to say when someone is just plain rude so I did load my car by myself. And my back hates me for not speaking up. 

I never want to seem like a wimp or helpless but sometime I do need help. Could someone please explain to me what happened to costumer service!?!

Tomato, Olives and Caper...Oh My!

Our Sunday dinner was just too good! It was one of those dinners that was not really planned, it just sort of came together. Plus it was as easy. Grilled swordfish with a tomato, olive and caper sauce. Hubby grilled the fish while I whipped up the sauce. Gotta love team work!

Tomato, Olive and Caper Sauce

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 pint cherry tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup pitted katamala olives, chopped
2 tablespoons capers

In a medium sized sauce pan heat olive oil. Add garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Then add the chopped tomatoes and wine. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 5 minutes. Finally add the olives and capers to the tomato sauce and stir until all ingredients are heated.

We served this sauce over grilled swordfish but I think that the sauce would work well on any firm fish. It would also taste great with sauteed shrimp. Maybe even with just some pasta. Endless uses my friends! Enjoy!!!