jack lalanne 1914-2011

i remember jack lalanne from a shirley temple movie.
only his voice on the radio leading a work-out.

he was pre-kanye's work out plan.
pre 8-minute abs.
pre-jane fonda.
he was an original.

my dad says he remembers my grandmom working out to jack.
today my work out had meaning.
because i did it for jack.

did you do it for jack today?
he would like that.

also, have i told you how much i love my new balances?
check them out!
even bought a pair for my ma for christmas.

bow-tie lasagna

it's funny that michelle just talked about her delicious.com site
because i have her site as a favorite at work
and just last night made a recipe i find on it:

i adapted this recipe for bow-tie lasagna
this is already the second time i've made this dish.
james compares it to a home-made hamburger helper.
i use to love hamburger helper as a kid.
and now this healthier version is an easy week-night meal.

bow-tie lasagna
1. cook one box of bow-tie pasta
2. brown a pound of ground beef
3. combine cooked pasta & beef, dash of olive oil, jar of tomato sauce, italian seasoning and garlic powder
4. add 1 cup mozz cheese & 4-6oz of sour cream
5. heat over low heat until cheese is melted & combined.

yuuuum!

how to survival the mental & physical cost of day-care...

our baby is blessed to have two grandmoms
who are splitting three days a week of babysitting
come august when i have to had back to work.

but two days he will attend day-care.
& no this isn't a rant about day-care in any way.
(even though i've ranted in my head for both sides everyday recently)!

except that we did decide to send him to best.
& the best costs $$$.

so in order to not have to sell my body.
or my first born..

helen's hassack will be busssyyy.
so keep checking it out for new items..
& sale items.

like this awesome vintage empire state building penant !

the year of magical thinking - joan didion

not my normal read.

a non-fiction.
one year in the life of the author.
i enjoyed her thoughts on grief, marriage & death.
life in general.
lots of medical info,
but not overwhelming.

what i liked the most:
i walked away thinking.
usually i'm down for a fiction book that takes me away from my life.
this book really made me examine a lot about my current situation.

i really didn't think i was going to like a book with so much talk of death.
i hate death.
like nighmares about death are normal for me.
it surprised me that i was able to read this book
& not have nightmares or be fearful.

like the author i always plan on j & i dying together.
mayber when we're 95,
a plane crash on the way home from hawaii.
never expecting what life will be like for one of us without the other.
favorite quote:
'marriage is memory, marriage is time'

she really highlights the experience of marriage
& the relationship that goes beyond love and romance.
recommended for:
someone experiencing grief.
anyone experiencing marriage.
those like me who are fearful of death.

speaking of books - more cook books are available @
Helen's Hassack

& thank you atlantic city?

so happy to see boardwalk empire win a few golden globes last night.

but everyone forgot to thank the real star of the show.

atlantic city & the surrounding county (our homeland).

when the economy crashed it hit atlantic city too.

so here is my little shout-out of why you should come visit atlantic city.

1. the beach (it's free. no beach tags)

2. the boardwalk (since the 1920s - the rolling chairs still roll & the taffy is still the best @ fralingers)

3. newer hotels are bringing back old school class & charm without the casinos (a la the chelsea)

4. vegas charm without the vegas distance & price.. (most like vegas - the borgata)

5. good eats - (our favorite late night pizza - tony's baltimore grill)

6. good drinks, already planning my first post-baby martini - continental

three days of freedom.

a three-day holiday weekend.
the perfect excuse to relax after a long holiday season.
& conquer some of the recipes i've been collecting.
i was in complete recipe overload!

i chose a turkey & broccoli slow cooker lasagna.
& spent the day cleaning the kitchen
& cleaning out the soon-to-be nursery.
it's.. umm.. getting there?

turkey & broccoli slow-cooker lasagna..
adapted from some magazine which i've lost the title to.. oops.

1. cook one onion & a spoonful of minced garlic over medium-heat about four minutes, or until onion is soft.
2. add 1.25lb ground turkey to onion & cook until pink is gone, drain. add salt, pepper & oregno to taste.
3. in a small bowl combine 15oz of low-fat ricotta and 1/2 cup of shredded italian cheese blend.
4. thaw and squeeze dry 10oz package of frozen chopped broccoli (next time i might double this?)
5. in crock pot layer 6 lasagna noodles (broken in pieces as needed), top with half meat mix, half broccoli mix, half a 24oz jar of tomato sauce and 1/4 cup of water.
6. spread cheese mix over top of layer in crock pot.
7. add another same amount layer of noodles, meat, broccoli, tomato sauce & water.
8. cook on low for 5 hours or high for 4 hours.
9. top with another 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and let heat for 15 minutes in crock pot.

& ta da..

a long lost friend.

i've gone back to the library.
i drive out of my way to go to the good library.
the same library i browsed as a kid & a teen.

it's a mix of trying to save money
& the free time of not being in grad school.

yesterday i requested two books
& took out three other books.

today my books came in..
now i have five books to read.

snow day please?
book reviews to follow.

i also caught up on my google reader yesterday.
the first time since november?!
wowza.

so excited to find out that two of my favorites are expecting
& loved getting caught up on their journeys:
we met in a bar
summer harms