Milk Thistle

We finally have music in our house again!

I've always had a piano in our home.  It was the first thing I bought when Rhiannon and I became a duo.  I can't play much because I have arthritis in my fingers (awesome!) and Rhiannon always lacked the dedication to try and learn.  But, I did manage to teach her the one and only, Heart and Soul, and lots of people I know play beautifully so my piano's have always been used.

    However, the Mister got tired of having to pay to have it moved from our five thousand different apartments. 
So we have been without for the last 4 1/2 years or so.

 I compromised on style and we ended up with an electric piano. 

(Something I said I would never do.) 

This is ironic for two different reasons;

1.  It's the most expensive piano I ever had.  The most I ever paid for a piano was $100, and that was the very most.  (I had to give the Mister a very hard time about that one.)  There are a lot of really nice piano's available on craigslist for free-if you pick them up.
2. We just bought this house, so we are not moving anytime soon.  We could have gotten the worlds heaviest piano and it wouldn't of mattered. 

Regardless, last night Rhiannon and I pounded out (quite possibly the worst rendition of) Heart & Soul , while giggling up a storm.  

We then pouted while the Mister sat down and played some beautiful sounding melody he pulled out of thin air. 

(He's never had any training or experience in anything musical.)

Luckily for Clara, she seems to take after her dad.  

(She starts lessons next week.)

Happy Humpday!

Precious

How is it Wednesday already?  

I have been in a completely different place this week. 

Did you know that Depeche Mode is coming out with a new album?

I wonder if it will be as sexy as this.

(As if that is possible)

Happy Wednesday! 

Chinese Pepper Steak/Wednesday Music Break, Up the Junction

I have been in my kitchen for the past two weeks (since the anti-gluten dairy-free diagnosis.) 

I think I have finally found a recipe that everyone in the family loved.    

Chinese Pepper Steak

• 2 tsp oil (I used grapeseed)
• 1 tsp sesame seed oil
• 2 onions diced
• 3 green bell peppers diced
• 6 garlic cloves minced
• 2 T chopped fresh ginger or 3 tsp ground ginger (I used ground)
• 2 lbs sirloin steak cut in strips
• 2-3 T gluten free soy sauce (I swear it tastes the same)
• 1 T cornstarch mixed in 1 T cold water

1. Heat oil in our wok or pan (M heat)
2. When oil is hot add in your onion, green pepper, ginger and garlic.
3. Stir-fry for about 3 minutes.
4. Take vegetables out of wok and set aside.
5. Add meat to wok.  Stir fry til the meat is cooked well enough for your liking.
6. Add vegetables back.  Add soy sauce.  Cook together another 2-3 minutes.
7. Shut off heat and add cornstarch mix.  Mix well.  Bring mixture back to a boil and simmer for another 1-2 minutes, until the liquid starts to thicken up.

Serve over rice.

Enjoy!  

Thinking of you today, Ms. Julie Lyn.

This one is for you.

  Loves you.

Squeeze – Up The Junction by VEVO

Wednesday Music Break, Virtual Insanity

Man o' man.

This weather is putting me in a FUNK.  

Good news of the day?  

All my babies are under my roof again.

That's reason enough for me to celebrate.  

Also, it's Wednesday.  And you know what that means.

Now lets dance it out.

Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity from Nugroho Christiaji on Vimeo.

Yes, Lori, this is just for you!

Happy Hump Day!

Wednesday Music Break, Teenage Dirtbag

After I posted the wonderful feel good Bare Naked Ladies song last week I got quite a reaction.

From my almost teenage daughter, that is.  

I believe the words she used were "That is the dumbest and worst song I have ever heard."  

The more I thought about that response the more it made me giggle......

She was talking about the music I loved....when I was her age!

So I decided from now on to post a music video each Wednesday of music from "way back then" that I really like(d).  Because, if you are reading this, that probably means you are also "old" like me and you like(d) it too.

Also, it's just another way that I can have documented proof of how embarrassing I am to my sweetheart.

And it's Wednesday.  

Everybody deserves a little break and some fun happy music on Wednesdays.

(I'll also take requests.)

I picked this first Mama's Music break out just for you Rhiannon.  

As things are about to get strange and weird and different and new, try and remember that you don't always have to be the cool kid.  

Some of the most genuine, successful and pure of heart people I know, I met while we were just a bunch of teenage dirtbags.

Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag by Max-Power

 Happy Hump Day!

If I Had A Bajillion Dollars

If I had a Bajillion dollars, do you know what I would do?  I would have my personal shopper go out and buy my family and myself a new outfit to wear every single day.

But don't worry.  

I would have her/him go to a thrift store to buy said outfits.

And once I were done I would have them cleaned.  

(By someone other then me).

I would then have them taken to a homeless/womens shelter.

Because even as a bajillionaire I would still continue being green.

Also, if I had a bajillion dollars...........

 I would buy you a monkey 

(Haven't you always wanted a monkey?)

And since it's now in your head........

Since I am not presently a bajillionaire, I will now get back to this.......

(Sigh)

And I will also hum that song all day long.  Right along with you!

You're Welcome!

Holiday Favorite Snipets

Tonight we were FINALLY able to have Christmas at our house, so the holidays are now ended for us.

Here are some of our favorite parts........

This is what Clara asked from Santa......

Although when we got there Santa made her do this.....

And she forgot to tell him what she wanted........

So instead of asking, she went to bed clutching the picture of "her crying on Santa"........

And woke up to this........

Then, tonight my twelve year old, who refused to tell me or anybody else what she wanted, got this.

And then she cried Bieber Fever tears.  

It was fantastic. 

I'm ending this wonderful holiday with a bottle of champagne I didn't get to drink on New Years and  watching Up with my baby.  

AKA the best movie ever.

Happy New Year, folks.  

(This year I'm going to try not to be so chubby.)

The Phantom Lives Here....

In 2004 Hollywood and Andrew Lloyd Webber came out with a fantastic rendition of the classic hit show Phantom of the Opera.  In case you have not seen it before, it comes with a very handsome all-star cast that includes, Gerard Butler, Patrick Wilson, Minnie Driver and Emmy Rossum.  I went and bought the DVD right after it came out.  It was expensive (I think almost $30) and to be honest I really couldn't afford it, so for almost a whole month after that, when I wasn't working, I was at home watching my most favorite indulgence.

In 2004 Rhiannon was a whopping 4 years old.  

I'm pretty sure her favorite movie was some sort of Strawberry Shortcake, Finding Nemo or Barbie's Swan Lake.  However after watching this one time with me she was HOOKED.  It made my heart so happy to know that she loved a part of musical theatre, even if it came as a big box Hollywood sensation.

You gotta start somewhere, right?  And who was I to judge?  I loved it too!  

That year the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis had The Phantom of the Opera come through.  I bought the best tickets I could afford and made a Mama/Daughter date out of it. 

(Babies, I tell you!)

I have to be completely honest, I was worried.  

Rhiannon was only four years old.  I didn't want her to  

A. Hate it and ruin any chance of her going with me to see theatre again, or...

B. Have a meltdown and have us ruin the experience for the other patrons.  

I'm happy to report that she did beautifully!  

She was so attentive and into the storyline the entire time. 

She gasped, jumped and grabbed my hand when the chandelier fell.  

And, (one of my most precious memories of Rhiannon) at the very end, when Christine Daae is being rowed away from the Phantom, I looked down to find my sweet little baby silently crying.  

When the lights came up she looked at me and said, "I know I'm supposed to be very quiet and I'm not supposed to cry, but the Phantom was just so sad."  

What do you say to that?  All I could do was hug her tight as my heart melted.  

After that day it had became her favorite movie.  She burned through 3 DVD's before she moved on to her next phase.

Fast Forward to 2012.  The Mister and I have Amazon Prime.  A few days ago I was browsing through the free movies, desperately trying to find something else besides Diego and Dora the Explorer for Clara to get into, and wouldn’t you know it?  There was The Phantom of the Opera!  

I took a chance and told Clara that we were going to watch Mama's singing movie instead (with hopeful fingers crossed.)

 

Today we watched/had it on in the background for the fifth time in three days.  When she asks to watch it she says, can I watch mama's singing opera show?  Once again, this Mama's heart is happy.  (Even though I am shushed by a two year old when I try and sing along.)

(Clara's favorite part.)   

Snow, Mama!  It's snowing!

(Seriously, I think it might be mine too.  That cape is FANTASTIC!!!!!)

  

Happy Happy Tuesday To You All!