Guess who has been wearing contact lenses for the last two hours? Guess! MEEEEEEEE!! I did it!! OMG and am I ever proud of myself! I prayed for bravery from the moment I got up today. I really did not want to take the time to go back again this week. Four visits was obnoxious enough. Anyway, they're in!! It's going to take some getting used to- suction cups on my eyeballs AND a stronger prescription all at one time. But I just know I will like the freedom of not wearing glasses every day. I've taken to calling myself a part time contact lens user. I mean, I still really like the look of glasses so its not like I am going to do away with wearing them altogether. To celebrate I indulged in waaaay too many calories at Dunkin Donuts and then bought a new pair of sunglasses at Tar-jay. Woo-hoo!!

Thanks a million for all of your sweet and encouraging comments last week! I've re-read them over and over and over again. And I tried every one of your techniques, too. Kisses!!

Not that anyone in the "know" gives a hoot about what I think. But I'm going to voice it anyway. OK, so this Debbie woman, mother of the older two kids, might be a nut. But um, Katherine Jackson cannot be the better choice to raise those kids. Everyone is all, Katherine is so loving, blah blah blah. Um, she raised Michael and the other Jackson children. And I respectfully-ish say this....they are all kooky! How on earth can she be a decent choice? Those poor kids. There is just no way any of them will turn out to be "normal." I mean, they spent the first 10 years wearing face masks. How the heck can one make heads or tails of that childhood? To be even more crass...I really do hope the kids write books one day. I am just so curious to know what it was like to grow up in their shoes.

I have about a half dozen bananas in my freezer just waiting for me to turn them into something. Do y'all have any fabulous recipes I need to try? Don't be shy. Even your favorite banana bread recipe is welcome- I still have yet to find one that I just love. Is there anything else I can do with my collection of very ripe bananas? And please tell me I am not the only person who sticks bananas in her freezer door when the inevitable last banana gets too ripe before I can eat it!!

Today you get the most fabulous and world's easiest cake recipe ever!! Let's me also state for the record that I don't like cake. I don't like cool whip (or fat free cheese or margarine for that matter). I don't like pudding. So knowing all of my dislikes should prove to you that this truly is a fabulously delicious cake recipe!! Ready?? Sure? OK then....


Angel Lush Cake
Prep time 15 minutes, plus refrigerating


Ingredients:

* 1 package (4- serving size) vanilla flavored instant pudding mix
* 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
* 1 cup thawed cool whip (or your grocery store's cheaper version works fine too)
* 1 package prepared angel food cake
* 10 small strawberries (or mandarin oranges or raspberries or ...)

Directions:

* Mix dry pudding mix and pineapple with juice in medium bowl. Gently stir in whipped topping.

* Cut cake horizontally into three layers.

* Place bottom cake layer, cut side up, on serving plate. Spread 1 1/3 cups of the pudding mixture onto cake layer; cover with middle cake layer. Spread 1 cup of the pudding mixture onto middle cake layer; top with remaining cake layer. S[read with remaining pudding mixture on top layer. Add berries/fruit to top. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Makes 10 servings.




My aunt got this from her sister-in-law but she wasn't sure where the recipe originated so I cannot give credit. Probably a magazine. We are very much a pull a recipe out of a random magazine family. That's how we roll! Hehe. Anyway, I tasted it to be polite at a family dinner a few weeks ago and about fell over as I shoveled the entire thing in my face! Angel food cake is my exception to the "I think cake is gross" rule. Love it. So last week I made a cupcake version to take to my neighborhood park dinner. They were a HUGE hit! And so easy. I just added a raspberry on top and called it a day. And because I didn't use all of the "frosting" on the cupcakes, I had half a bowl left over the next day. So I scooped it into a dish and tossed in berries and smiled as a I found my new favorite summer treat. Oh and if you so desire (and I do!), this can totally be a fat free treat! So please try this girls. It's so light and refreshing and easy peasy!

I promised some great new (to me anyway) recipes, and albeit late, I am a woman of my word. My aunt recently gave me my belated birthday gifts, two Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks. This recipe comes from the Our Best Recipes book and it is crazy good! The recipe called for four pieces of catfish. But my Price Chopper is very limited and didn't have catfish last week. So I used Tilapia and I would do it again in a heart beat. Mmmmm. I also only cooked two pieces as I am not huge on leftover fish for whatever reason. So I cooked only what I would need.


Catfish (or any white fish) With A Crunch
Start to finish: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

* 4 4-oz fresh or frozen catfish fillets, about 1/2 inch thick
* 1 egg
* 3 tbsp Dijon-style mustard
* 1 tbsp milk
* 1/4 tsp pepper
* 1/4 cup all purpose flour
* 1 cup coarsely crushed pretzels
* 2 tbsp cooking oil

Directions:

* Thaw fish if frozen. Rinse fish; pat dry with paper towels. In a shallow dish, combine the egg, Dijon-style mustard, milk and pepper, beating with fork until smooth. Place flour in another shallow dish. Place coarsely crushed pretzels in a third shallow dish.

* Coat each fish fillet with flour. Dip into the mustard mixture, then into the crushed pretzels. In a large skillet, cook fish in hot oil over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until golden and fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. (Reduce heat as necessary during cooking to prevent overbrowning.) If desired, serve with red onion and lemon slices. Makes 4 servings.


I served my fish over a bed of fresh, baby spinach and other veggie sides. But the fish sort of wilted the spinach- it was really terrific!!

Enjoy!!

I will be the first to admit that the last 15 years or so, the name "Wacko Jacko" was much more fitting for him. But I vividly remember dancing to the Bad and We Are The World records (for the younger set....records look like gigantic CD's and preceded tapes....we're talking old school!) as a little kid. I did a recital dance to Man In The Mirror. Oh, Michael Jackson and I go way back. He was strange. But incredibly brilliant.


And I am grossly curious to know what happens to his children. I sadly predict that the mother of the older two will have a court battle similar to that Larry guy who fathered Anna Nicole Smith's daughter.


You know this is big news when it is even on CNN around the clock. Anyone else find that strange?

OK, so here's my week in review in regards to learning to use contact lenses. I had my first appointment and check-up on Tuesday. I tried and failed that first day to put in the lenses. My frustration level was through the roof so I made an appoint for the following day, Wednesday. Tuesday evening I went to a neighborhood pot-luck party. It was fabulous. But it was in a park. Full of grass and flowers and trees. All enemies to severe allergy-ridden people like me. I could feel it coming on as I was going to bed but brushed it off. When I woke up on Wednesday morning, I was in a full on serious allergy and sinus attack. My eyes were watering and nose was flowing and voice sounded like a heavy-smoking man. So I decided this would only make matters worse. I rescheduled for Thursday.

So Thursday I went in for my second learn-how-to-use-the-damn-contact-lens appointment. I was there for about an hour and a half. Made a lot of progress. Got close. Very close. But in the end, just needed to walk away. So I went in today, Friday, for my third and hopefully final appointment. After one hour and 45 minutes, I got the left contact in!!!!!!!!!! I didn't even believe it at first because I couldn't feel it in there, nor could I see it. Good sign, right? I was determined to get the darn left eye in now! But now only having one eye to work on (before I would switch between the two eyes when I would tire of one- I wear the same prescription in both eye). This working on one eye got old very fast. I was so so so close but I blink it out a half second before it suctions on. Arrrggghhhh!! So then she suggested I try learning to take out the right lens. This too took me a while to figure out as I couldn't see or feel the thing. But I did get it out. In the end, I was there for 2.5 hours. I was starving and frustrated and tired and just needed to not poke my poor little eyes any more this morning.

I really like the girl who helped me Thursday and today so I wanted to make sure she would be there for my next (FOURTH) session. Since she doesn't work until Tuesday, that's when I am next making a go of this. I am going to practice touching my eye this weekend. I actually think having a few days break from this will help me. By the time I left today I was stressed beyond words with myself.

Normally I would be mortified to admit that I am 31 and struggling this much with something seemingly so simple and every day. But last night I googled "scared to use contacts" and holy heck, I am not at all alone! Lots and lots and lots of adults seem to struggle just like me. I find this oddly comforting that I am not the only wimpy one out there when it comes to eyes.

But I have to tell y'all that your comments and advice were invaluable!! I read and re-read them over and over and actually tried all of your techniques. To be honest, I don't think there is a technique I have yet to try. But if you have one to offer, please don't hold back on me. I have never been more open (and practically begging!) to advice.

I am just so close. Right there. But not. You know? Oh and the thing is, I can all but guarantee that I would be able to do this in a fairly short period of time if I was at home. I would be so much more relaxed. But I have to prove it to the doctor in the office before I am allowed to take them home. Drats. So back again I go.....for stinkin' round FOUR.....on Tuesday. Please cross your fingers and pray that the fourth time is the charm. I have a lot of other things I need to be doing instead of spending hour upon hours poking at my eyeball!!

Y'all, I need advice and some courageous vibes!! I have no problems standing on an alter or stage and speaking to a crowded audience. I love roller coasters. Hold newborns and change diapers like a pro. Quite comfortable talking to strangers and stopping 15 times to ask for directions. I don't understand why people squirm at the notion of going out to eat and see a movie solo. It's not like you talk to anyone in the movie theater. But .... fear not friends .... I too have "my thing."

I hate eyes. I so badly want to get contacts so that I am able to do things like jog and see at the same time. Fancy, I know! But I can't even look at a graphic of an eyeball, let alone watch you put your contacts in. And do it myself, forgetaboutit! But today, I took the plunge. I prayed the entire car ride for courage and will-power. Got through the puffy eye exam OK but when it came to learning to use the contact lenses.... Let's just say I have appointment #2 tomorrow! I was a nervous wreck. And let me tell you what does not help me to be less nervous. Telling me to "just get over it" does not miraculously solve my problem. It only serves to annoy and embarrass me, furthering my nervous situation.

So if any of you have been in my situation, had a completely irrational (hey, I can admit it!) fear of touching your eye but did it anyway, how did you do it? Help!! I really really want to conquer this dumb fear. But I might need a Valium or two to make it happen at this point!

I'm still here- alive and well. Just busy lately. But I promise to be back in Blogville by tomorrow. With a few new and fabulous recipes, too!

I think I am losing my mind, y'all! I just spend 25 minutes tearing my bedroom apart, a frazzled and anxiety driven hot mess, frantically searching for something, that was IN MY DAMN POCKET!! Even for me, this sets a new "blonde moment" record! I think I just need to go to bed and start all over again tomorrow. This seriously does not bode well for 20 years down the road. I (if I am lucky enough to be one!) am totally destined to be that mom who forgets her coffee cup on the roof of her Volvo, only to be told by the PTA president as I roll through the morning drop off line a mere 87 seconds before the bell rings. Not good, my friends. Not good at all!

Wow! Did y'all about fall over when you watched the finale of RHNJ?! First let me say that I am so shocked how much I loved watching this show. I honestly thought that it would be like the Atlanta show for me- watch one episode and decide it was just far too trashy for even trashy reality TV. But they totally grew on me, these Italian divas from the NJ! Jacqueline and Teressa remain my favorites. But really, I liked watching everyone except for Danielle. She should move to the Atlanta show!

I about died when Danielle took the time to show her children nekkid modeling photos. Holy TMI! And I really believe in education but there was just no need to show the youngest child her racy photos. Trash-ay!!

Also, how small is this town that there is only one hair salon in a rinky-dink tiny strip plaza?

And while I stand by Jacqueline in the whole, "I'm not lying just because we are in-laws" debate, the entire dinner was appalling! I mean, why on earth did Danielle even go. She should have let it all blow over before trying to get in with the girls again. And is she making $ from the book? Why bring it to dinner? By that time, surely they all knew what she was referencing. I hope all five women look back and are mortified by their behavior. Every. Single. One. Of. Them! I don't even know what the tossing the table accomplished, Teressa. You are the one who invited Danielle. You know she is crazy. And slutty. What exactly did you expect? The worst part of the event was that they all behaved so poorly and used terrible language in front of their children!! Teressa wants them out of the room but then causes the biggest blow up of the night. Not that she was wrong to confront Danielle's big bag of BS. Just the manner in which she did it, is my issue.

But of course, it all made for fabulously trash-tastic TV. I am drooling in anticipation of the reunion show next week! Sure to be deliciously juicy and confrontational.

In looking for the above photo on Bravo's website, I saw an announcement that Jacqueline gave birth to a baby boy. Good for her- she really seems like a sweet person. I related to her personality the most. And did you read that Teressa is preggers with their fourth? She dresses them too over the top for my taste, but she has beautiful daughters. And I have now taken to saying "bubbies" all the time. New favorite word.

All in all, it was far too short! I was completely entertained and they are now my second favorite housewives, right after the NYC ladies. While I think it will be fun to see the soon-to-be Chicago and DC shows, I also think it would be a hoot to see like RH some random Midwest or Central US city. Or farm town. My TV taste has truly taken a turn for the worse over the last few years!! Bravo to Bravo for bringing me down in life!!

Tonight's dinner again came from the Rachael Ray magazine. And just like last night, I changed it a bit. So here's how I made it... It was not low fat, but worth it. Soooo yummy!


Biscuit-Crusted Sausage-Egg Pie

Ingredients:

* 1 teaspoon EVOO
* 1 package pork breakfast sausage, cut into chunks (I used kitchen scissors)
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1 package refrigerated dough
* 1 red onion, thinly sliced
* 1/4 package shredded cheese
* 1 can artichoke hearts, quartered
* 2 large eggs, plus 2 large egg yolks
* 1/3 cup milk
* salt and pepper


Directions:

* Preheat the oven to 375. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon EVOO over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and oregano and cook until just browned, about 5 minutes. Drain and let cool.

* Grease a 9-inch pie pan with either more EVOO or EVOO cooking spray. Take biscuit dough and flatten them into 1/4 inch thick disks. Mush a bunch of them together to form dough large enough to fit in the pie pan. (Now, the RR recipe says one can accomplish this with only four dough disks. But I beg to differ. I needed like 6-8. You just have to wing it I guess.)

* In a large bowl, combine the cooked sausage, onion, cheese and artichoke hearts; spread evenly over the crust. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs, egg yolks, milk and 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper.. Pour the egg mixture over the sausage mixture and bake until set, about 30 minutes. Let cook for 5 minutes before serving. Serve next to spinach salad for a complete meal.



Now I forgot to take a photo tonight. So in a effort to do fewer posts void of pictures, here is a little something I made recently. Pretty prep-tastic, if you ask me!

Earlier this week I was suddenly craving Rice Krispy treats. Strange, considering the last time I made them was like three years ago. And before that....who knows? I mean, they're yummy but it's just not something I ever crave. But since I was still craving them yesterday evening, I ran to the store to get some cereal to make up a batch. I had leftover marshmallows in the freezer so I figured this was as good a time as ever to finally use those up. They were just taking up space anyway. So into the pot went the remaining homemade marshmallows and one stick of butter. But you see, this is where the "measure twice, cut (or in this case, cook) once" comes to mind. Of course I didn't look up the recipe to make the treats. Oh no, I was sure it was a bag of marshmallows, a stick of butter and six cups of cereal. Absolutely, positively sure!






As soon as I mixed in the cereal, I realized I did something wrong. So I added more cereal. It just seemed to be so liquidy. After adding THREE more cups of cereal, I decided that must be plenty. The mixture was not quickly solidifying like usual, but then again, it had been three years or so since I last made them. I brushed the greasy look off to not remembering correctly. I tasted some while hot and it was very greasy and sticky and chewy. So I popped it in the fridge. After it hardened I tasted it again. There was this disgusting layer of grease gunk on the bottom- seriously so gross. And they were still chewy- not crunchy like normal RK treats. It was only then that I googled the recipe. To realize that I likely used too many marshmallows AND DOUBLED the amount of butter. I waited another hour to see if things got better, they didn't, so into the trash can they all went. Talk about a royal waste! Oh well, lesson learned and my craving is totally gone, too! I will say that the coconut flavor marshmallows added a fun extra spunk to the treats. Everything else was just plain gross though!

We all have our "thing." Or "things." The last many years, I am 100% in need of a 12 (or more!) step program to work through my ridiculous addiction to cotton fabrics. It's out of control. But I love love love fabric! I'm not even ashamed. One of the sub-categories to my ever-growing fabric addiction is Lilly Pulitzer fabric. Which is not exactly easy to find, my friends. At all. It takes effort. LP no longer sells their fabric by the yard. So we, the Lilly-fabric-aholics, are forced to buy it from people who happen to live near the factories in various Asian locations. Whatever, a true addict like myself is always willing to pay shipping for her next "fix."

New obsession: flax seeds. I've been making a huge effort to add them to just about everything this week. My favorite is my breakfast of strawberries, vanilla or plain ff yogurt, peanut butter (I nuke it in the microwave for a minute to make it spreadable), banana and top it off with flax seeds for some nutty crunch. Tonight I sprinkled them on top of my asparagus and mmmmm- delish! Anyway, I've been busy but still have nothing of note to share other than my new found love of the cute little flax seed. Sad but true.


Oh, and I am soooo excited that the second-coming of Y2K....I mean the switch to digital TV broadcast.....is almost over! I am soooo beyond tired of hearing the instructions to buy a converter box (I was in Target last week and they had an entire shelf full of them if you still need one yourself) and re-set your channels. Just pull off the band-aid and get on with it.


One more thing.....since my state's government has gone to hell in a handbasket this week....making both sides of the aisle look like damn fools throwing temper tantrums....I'm focusing on Iran. How amazing would it be to see life change for the better and chalk it up in great part to the voice of the youth?!! Crossing my fingers and saying prayers for you, Iran!

I don't really have anything fascinating or fun going on this week so I thought I would give you an update on my mini farm.....aka my garden. Look at my lettuce! I'm loving that it it starting to turn fun colors and shapes! On the left you see my two pepper plants- one yellow and one rainbow variety. And three t'mater plants- on big plant in the center and two smaller on the right. And that blank space is where my carrots are growing.




Remember when I told you that I planted the root bottoms of the green onions last year? And the squirrels dug most of them up so only two little onions survived? Well this weekend as I was walking up the back steps, I looked over to see several green sprouts in the gutter. And realized that the squirrels must have tossed the onions in the gutter. But there was so much dirt/leaves in there that they were growing!! I reached in to find several baby onions, walked back down the stairs and properly planted them. Even if you just have some pots on your back deck, you should try this. Save the root ends of the green onions and bury them. It's like two for the price of one green onions. And it's fun to see something great grown from something you would usually throw away.

**This is specifically for Upstate New Yorkers.


WP Realty, the company managing the Colonie Plaza, has NOT paid local contractors for the improvements to the plaza that were necessary for the opening of the new Green Price Chopper. Contractors have banded together to ask Price Chopper and the other businesses operating in the Colonie Plaza, as well as their customers, to pressure WP Realty into paying their bills.


Please call WP Realty at 1-610-522-6000 and tell them that their refusal to pay the contractors has added an enormous strain to businesses that are already struggling in this unstable economy. You may also email the contractors at and they will forward your comments to WP Realty and the plaza businesses.


My family's business is directly involved in this unfortunate situation. And if the matter continues to go unresolved, family members could easily lose everything from businesses to homes and then some! Let me also clarify, Price Chopper does not own the building. But by staying silent they are not helping matters. These contractors worked incredibly hard to make it possible for the new Green Price Chopper (and no- I have no idea what that means, but its what it is being called locally so I am just going with it) to open its doors. At the great expense of local families.


Please, please take a few moments today to make a phone call or send a brief email, encouraging (or begging!) WP Realty to do the right thing and pay up. In any economy, stealing services is wrong. But in the current economy, it really might be the difference between families with little children being able to stay in their homes or not.

Have y'all heard of this awesomely neat non-profit organization called Cell Phones For Soldiers? You can send them your old cell phones, no postage necessary if you use one of their special mailing baggies. This gets your old phones (and those highly toxic batteries) out of your house. But the best part is that they turn around and exchange the donated phones for $. They turn the $ from one phone into a phone card worth about an hour of phone time for a soldier abroad. All from a piece of plastic junk collecting dust in your house right now.

Please go here today and have some of the of the postage-free plastic mailing envelopes sent to you. Perhaps you might even bring a few extra into your office or church or local book club so that everyone can both get rid of old junk and help give our soldiers some much needed phone time with family at home. I think it's so awesome that even those who are not in a position to donate money (they will of course take it though if you have it to donate), are still able to help. Between me and my father, we have four phones to mail in.

And while you are on the Cell Phones For Soldiers website, take a moment to read about the two kids....that's right....I said KIDS who started the organization. I can barely manage to plan a week's worth of meals and these two children started an impressive non-profit organization!!

What the heck .... I'm gone for a weekend and Lisagh went private? Why? Was someone mean to her? Will someone please give me the skinny on that situation?!!