LIM - Dry Cereal

For me, the cabinet that contains dry cereals should be marked, "Danger Zone" and perhaps have a combination lock on its handle. Remember the challenging potato chip commercial, "Bet you can't eat just one..."? Seriously, 
I can eat just one potato chip. But give me a bowl of dry cereal and a refill becomes mandatory. I think it's a kickback to my childhood, when huge bowls would be filled to the brim with flakes, sliced banana and milk. Soooo, my solution? 

With a portion of Chobani's fat-free/plain and not-even-a-portion of unsweetened cereal, I can pile on the fruit, eat slowly with a dainty spoon, and be satisfied. Try it; I promise you'll love it!

To Note: A great way to start the day with protein, calcium, fiber and Vitamin C.
Strawberries have been abundant and beyond delicious, this early Spring; we are enjoying them, daily.

Buon Appetito

Broken Promises

Okay, okay, I failed miserably at my vow to cease and desist from speaking of the weather. Impossible, this past season. Never, as in not ever, have we had such a mild winter. As for March? Surreal! On Thursday, we shall have record-breaking warmth. And today? It's officially Springtime... on the calendar, that is. There is clearly refreshed sunshine in my step. The great room is in bloom with its new decor and the bedrooms are without heavy winter quilts. YAY! Oh, and one more thing...

The first tree to "bloom" in our yard is always the Twisted Nut. In lieu of flowers, it grows yellow chains. See for yourself that they have appeared far earlier than ever before. While you're at it, how 'bout that green grass?!

HAPPY SPRING

LIM - Salmon Twice

Last night's wild salmon was outrageously delicious... simply baked with a spritz of EVOO, lots of lemon, dijon mustard and cornbread-mix crumbs, the secret ingredient. The sweetness of the breading really complemented the other ingredients. I prepared enough to make a salad for today's lunch, using one 6-oz. fillet, one Laughing Cow Light and a spritz of my homemade oil and two-vinegars dressing. Wrapped in romaine lettuce leaves, calories stay very low. This incredibly nutritious fish has only 250 calories in 6 ounces and is an awesome source of Omega-3. 

To Note: Never buy farm-raised fish. It grows in deplorable conditions, possesses unhealthy additives, and consumes its own excrement. Is that enough to dissuade you? 

Buon Appetito!

"The Descendants"

This movie is SO not a comedy, with endless shots of the dying wife. Jeesh! Has Hollywood lost its genre mind? Humor plummets downhill from that ever-popular trailer scene... you know, the one of George Clooney's character running in comical form with just flip-flops on his feet. Granted, light comedy occasionally softens tender and sometimes-realistic moments for this fractured family, as they work through grief-stricken lives. Gorgeous GC and his supporting cast act well, but not Oscar worthily. Hawai'i is never tough to look at, even in what seemed to be a lot of rain, during filming. We opine as such:

Joe rates it a "7" and "enjoyable". I'm givin' it a "5" for too many close-ups of just what death looks like. I guess I was more in the mood for girlie-style eye candy, if you know what I mean. See what you think.

Sunday Sun

Bouncy Chef Aubs

Aubs is growing so fast and is such a pretty, smart, kind and fun little lady, full of personality and ambition. She took charge, yesterday morning, as Joe and I enjoyed a first cuppa, nearby.

"We have a secret ingredient, G'pa. It's in my head!"

She single-handedly executed a breakfast of nutritious yogurt pancakes, turkey bacon, and eggs prepared to individual tastes. 

"You look happy, Sugar; there's a bounce in your step," noticed I. 

♡

Do You Have A Favorite Clown?

Mega-talented Jonathan Lee Iverson

We whisked Aubs 'n' Gav off to their very first Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, on St. Pat's Day. Ask me how excited I was!! With the alarm set for six-thirty a.m., I awakened every hour from midnight till six. You'd think we had first row for Neil.

What a blast! We'd not been since the boys were quite young, and I'm here to say that the circus has come a long way. Quality entertainment by scores of mega-talented artists was delivered with precision like we've never before seen. The Ringmaster, Jonathan Lee Iverson, is an incredible talent, with a voice worthy of any stage. In 1999, he was featured by Barbara Walters as one of her ten most fascinating people of the year. He was the youngest, as well as the first African-American, to fill the position. I consider it a stroke of luck to have seen "Dragons", our version of show with Mr. Iverson as master of ceremonies.

That's Billy on the bottom!

It is suggested that ticket holders arrive an hour before showtime to enjoy three rings of pre-show fun. We did just that, and amazing as it sounds, had already chosen our favorite clown, Billy. Of course, they were all adorable, and they never stop dancing and entertaining. And the animals....

OMG, they are just so gorgeous. I'm always worried about proper treatment for the elephants, horses, dogs, big cats, little cats and llamas. The circus website addresses these issues, though, so I'm resting easy.

There is so much to see at every eye level possible. Where to look? The arena was pulsating with fun, and wide-eyed children were taking it all in... between bites of sugary cotton candy, that is.

Boys and Girls, and Children of ALL ages... do go to the circus! 

It's a "ten" day.

Color Us Inspired!!

Double The Sweetness ♥♥

Love Grows... Corey 'n' Nephew Max

JOSHUA LEDET OWNS THIS IDOL NIGHT!!!!

LIM - Food For The Soul

P*A*S*T*A P*R*I*M*A*V*E*R*A

There are endless combinations. Honestly, I could not write a fixed recipe if my life depended upon it. Grab what's in the fridge or freezer; combine frozen and fresh veggies; add tofu for protein and a piece of cheese for interest. This combo includes artichoke hearts, corn, pearl onions, roasted peppers, tofu, string mozz and parsley. I love, love it on angel hair, but if there's pasta that's ready to go... well, you know how hectic some days can be! 

Red Peppers are super cheap, now.
Roast up a batch to keep in the fridge.

For the less is more factor, decrease the carbs and up the veggies. Easy! Indulge for an amazing 400-500-calorie entrée. As for moi? I could live on this and this alone. 

Buon Appetito.

To Note: We went cold turkey on grated cheese 'cause of the salt and fat issues... how convenient this fact for LIM. :-)

Gran's Bowl Goin' Feng Shui

LIM - Sure We'd Rather Have Pie

There's no substitute for a slice of apple pie with crispy crust and a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla icing. 
But we're still in recovery from the weekend, so this dessert shall have to do. Simply stewed with four apples, dried cranberries and apricots, pine nuts, a spoonful of maple syrup and orange juice, I'm calling each dishful at

200 satisfying calories. YUM.

Chipmunk Confusion

This Is Bliss

Who Knew?

We began our weekend with the wearin' of the green and wound it down in similar fashion. Who knew that St. Pat would afford us such coincidental celebrations? Spectacular!

Aubrey's debut with her Brownie troop was a dynamite event. She and her maternal cousin, Aiyana, looked adorable, sitting next to each other. Smiles prevailed. Gavin called shotgun in the truck that pulled the float, and I had to chase them down for this rewarding reaction. Bri 'n' Kell participated, too. Lots of effort went into Rock Hill's second annual parade in honor the Irish. Very, very nicely done... and festive, to say the least. Afterwards...

We headed to Albany for dinner in celebration of Christian's and Dawn's expected BabyGrand. G-d, what a lovely and warm occasion, with blended families. What would it have been, though, without a show from stars, Hunter and Chloe, topped off by a walk/ride on the bike path, the next morning?! We felt refreshed and giddy, as we hopped into the car for a leisurely drive home.

A stop at a favorite haunt brought a huge surprise. Little did we know that the Hurley Inn hosts a St. Pat's week, with a very green fixed menu, live music and a packed house. You might recall my earlier mention of this fun place, where Mr. D's autographed photo hangs, as well as many of Dustin Hoffman, taken during the filming of a scene for "Tootsie". Well, as luck would have it, our waitress was the very baby being held in Mr. Hoffman's arms in those pics. Charming and full of fun, she introduced us to lots of Hurley history and also recommended her Aunt's Irish Whiskey Cake, for dessert. OMG, I think I died and went to Chocolate Heaven. 
'Nough said.

As we neared home and passed through Woodbourne, Joe spotted an eagle in the crystal clear, cerulean sky. Though my camera was not armed with the perfect lens for such a moment, I managed to capture the big bird, as it soared above the Neversink. Perfect!

Deal Of The Week - Java

Temptation has frequently lurked above my fingertips, as I browsed Keurig and Tassimo brewing systems. I'd get as far as "Cart", before canceling potential orders. Just couldn't justify "the deal". Till yesterday.

This simple system has no bells and whistles, but rather possesses the ability to brew small, medium or large/travel-sized cups of joe. It is 100% compatible with our Brita, taking exactly the same amount of water. At $99, less $10 for e-mail sign-up, with free shipping and bonuses of 2 attractive mugs and up to 40 cups of java (total worth over $40), it was a no-brainer. The icing on the proverbial cake comes by way of the additional free coffee that is shipped after registering the system.

Here's the link, in case you're interested. I'm not sure how long the special will continue. I can only say that we are thrilled, after indulging in first cups. Discs are fairly priced, also with free shipping here. 
My first order arrived in two days.

Salute!

LIM - The Virtues Of Pure White

Egg whites are fabulous for a low-calorie (15 per), decent dose of protein. My preference is for blandness, at breakfast-time; but watch out if it's mid afternoon, when veggies of all colors work well, and herbs and spices ramp up flavors.

5 whites, 2 slices tofu, 1 string cheese and a
few reds = only 300 filling calories

Yesterday morning, I was ravenous. Whites and rice cakes didn't cut it, so I went for an omelette with creamy tofu (60 calories in a 1" slice) and mozzarella string cheese (85 calories for one, part-skim piece). A dash of red and no further enhancement.

The MORI-NU organic tofu is amazing. Soybeans water and a coagulant are poured into packages and sealed. The ingredients transform into tofu. Refrigeration is unnecessary till opened. The product is unlike any other I've tasted. Niece Vicki tells me she eats it right out of the box! You must try it. It's readily available online for as little as $2.00 a box, free shipping. I order in bulk, thanks to its freshness factor. I'll soon experiment with new ideas.

 Please stay tuned.

IDOL Chatter... Clearly This Week's Winner

There shall never be another Whitney, but this sixteen-year-old paid her amazing tribute.

LIM - Strawberries 'n' Yogurt

You can pull this one in for well under 200 calories, depending upon the yogurt you use. Serve it up pretty,
'cause it'll taste even more spectacular!

LIM - Tuna Tortilla

Thought to start a new feature on CMI. Rather than lengthy recipes, herein shall be quick suggestions for the segue from heavier winter foods to the lighter fare of springtime. I'm labeling the entries LESS IS MORE, and shall abbreviate the same in ensuing titles. For example:

Mix 1 5-oz can of solid white tuna in water (120 cal), no salt added, with 2 wedges of Laughing Cow Light (70 cal)) and a short hit of homemade dressing - EVOO, white and red balsamic vinegars, Dijon mustard and Italian herbs (30 cal). Wrap with thinly sliced tomato (20) in a heated whole wheat tortilla (45 cal). Serve on a pretty plate along with with crudités, for a delicious and satisfying total of under 300 calories. 

After you use some vinegar, the bottle makes an awesome vessel for your dressing. 

The bonus? It has a shaker top!

BON APPÉTIT

G'ma, G'ma...

"G'ma, G'ma, can G'pa get on the phone, too?" asked Hunter.

"Sure, Honey... okay, we're on speaker."

"MOMMY IS HAVING A BABY!!"

♡

PitStop?

Perfect! A pitstop on the way to Kaua'i. "Our" seats are only $879 per, 

real time on TicketsNow. 
Ahem.

Squirrel-Proof

Talkin' Words

LITTLE BEE by Chris Cleave

Don't you just love words? Playing WORDS. Writing words. Reading words. Learning new ones. And G-d only knows, talkin' them. 

The English language is so intriguing, isn't it? The way differing letter-combinations make the same sound, such as to/too/two or they're/their/there. Or how about vowel pronunciations for variations of the same word, as sē-nile or sen-ility, each spelled with the same se, at its beginning. 

When I read from my iPad, I'm fascinated by the luxury of digital note-taking and automatic saving. Further options allow me to print or e-mail my choices. Thanks, Mac... how delightful. On that note, pun intended, when I came across this passage from my current read, I thought to share it. See what you think of the main character's opinion of our language:

This was always my trouble when I was learning to speak your language. Every word can defend itself. Just when you go to grab it, it can split into two separate meanings so the understanding closes on empty air. I admire you people. You are like sorcerers and you have made your language as safe as your money. 

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss

It seems that my local KidGrands share my fascination. A few weeks back, Gavin came home, saying, "G'ma, I learned the new word, 'infer', today." 
He then proceeded to define it for me. Thus began our very own version of WORDS WITH FRIENDS G'MA. I purchased Moleskines for each of them, entitling one "Words With Aubrey" and the other "Words With Gavin"... shiny and new safe havens for their treasures. (Not to worry - Hunter's and Chloe's are ready to go, upon our next visit.) It has been incredible to observe the rapid growth of our game. For example, Aubrey must have commented at least a dozen times, yesterday, "G'ma, you just said a new word." Well, think about how kids hear dozens and dozens of new words each and every day. Thing is, they mostly understand their meanings, in the context of conversations. But taking or having the time to actually notice, discuss and write them... why that's a whole new dimension.

This is so exciting to me, as herein lies a quest that shall last a lifetime, for never shall there truly be a **penultimate** syllable. 

When I finish the book, I'll be back to review it properly. Meanwhile, I'm definitely enjoying the author's unique word-crafting; it has me laughing and crying, at the same time.

AMERICAN IDOL

FOX

IDOL has clearly left "idle" behind, with fabulous choices for the top thirteen contenders. Ten earned America's top votes, as three wild cards were selected by the judges. My favorites are numbered, but in no particular order. Joe's roster includes even more, but I thought to narrow the field! I truly like these six and consider all to be possibilities to go the distance. I did mention #3, Philip Phillips, while the masses were trying out; but he now has a boatload of competition. In an interesting twist, the judges brought #4, Jermaine Jones, back into the competition, after giving him the boot, last week. America then voted him into the top ten. His beautiful, powerful baritone voice is unusual IDOL fodder; but he's a major talent.

Next week, the girls choose from Whitney's catalogue, as the boys select Stevie Wonder songs. 

We shall see, 'cause we are still hooked.

Here's to the music.

Update 3/14: Jermaine got the boot, and rightfully so. He snowed the producers by concealing information that disqualifies him from the show.

Snowy Strawberry Shortcake - A Recipe

Today was a snow day. You know... in kids' jargon, the equivalent of a major holiday. Aubrey couldn't wait to whip up her now-mastered breakfast of pancakes, turkey bacon and scrambled eggs. They were starving, and no consumption-coaxing was necessary. She then needed to get a poster done for Brownie/Girl Scout cookie sales... Samoas. YUM! Awesome job, don't you think?

A cake was also in the works, if Gav didn't eat up all the strawberries, first. 

Ingredients:

Two finger-lickin', terrific KidGrands

A Duncan yellow cake mix + necessary additives

Leftover heavy cream and icing from the freezer
Washed, hulled strawberries

"G'ma, what's for lunch?"
♡

March...

So, the month is moving in as legend predicts. 
Let's hope it soon finds it's baaing counterpart.
Happy March.

Lovin' My Aubs-Mail ♡

Synching The Calendar

Ah, something different. It's the acknowledgment of CMI's very first Leap Day. We're catching up to ourselves, in synching our calendars with the cosmos. And those born on the 29th get to celebrate - legitimately. How lovely. Kind of reminds me of the silly childhood game. How many leaps did you last for? 

Thought I'd share this little ditty, currently leaping its way across the Internet. If you "x" out the ads, a little musical history shall be revealed.

Dancin' Fever

Line up the Words games, 'cause it's gonna be a long stretch of reality TV. Along with IDOL, now we'll have greater interest in Dancin'. "Why?" you ask. Well consider that homeboy, Gavin DeGraw, shall be a contestant. Bri once dated this celeb's sister. Does that count for anything, in the ticket arena? Also, Martina Navratilova will be stompin' her feet. Excuse me, while I figure out just how many days we've spent breathing the same air, at the US Open. Then, there's The View's Sherri. On Mondays through Fridays, I jog to the sound of her input. Not enough? How's this - Maxim is, after all, returning. 

Still, I'm loyal. Who can ever outdo JT?

Our Michelle ♡

No news is not always great news; but it can be okay and hopeful news. Such is the case with Michelle, whose past year has included cancer that metastasized to the breast, a double-mastectomy, radiation and tons of chemo. But still, she carries HOPE, wherever she goes, spreading the only word she wants to hear... 
well, except for "remission" or, even better, "cure".

With Spring, she'll gear up to participate in an annual fundraiser for Kids With Cancer. If she's got the energy and time, who am I to pull the "busy" card. I'm back in business, 'cause one thing is clear:

We Love Michelle.

♡

Playin' Hard Ball!

Money talks; and it can sing and dance, and it can walk. I'd vote for Kid; 'nough said. Smile. AP Photo

Real Time - How Low Can He Go?

Doin' The Limbo Rock

Offbeat Filmmaking

Oscar proved one thing, last night: 

Audiences are ready to accept the unusual. 

Consider "The Artist"; it won Best Actor and Film categories, upsetting the perceived George-Brad race for the prize. Who could have imagined the comeback of a silent film? We look forward to forming our own opinions.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we watched a simply told story from Josh Leonard. You might remember him from "The Blair Witch Project". In his current film, "The Lie", he explores issues between a young couple with a child. His character tells a freaky lie to avoid work, one day. The untruth develops a life of its own, eventually baring underlying reality. Joe gave it a lowly "3", though he's the one who stated its message, something I enjoyed the conveyance of. Maybe a "6".

AP Photo

Back to Oscar. I've already reviewed both the book and movie, "The Help", somewhere in the archives of CMI. I was thrilled for Octavia's Best Supporting prize. She was phenomenal, as was Viola. But I'm sure I'll love winning Meryl, too, as she's always been a favorite.

The fashion? To die for.

Windstruck

And Aubs hoped he'd last till July!