What I’m Loving Wednesday

1. Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics. We have enjoyed these free clinics for kids at Lowe’s. Most recently, Trip made a claw game. Basically, the kid gets a kit with instructions, wood, nails, stickers, and whatever else needed to make the project.

It’s a great introduction to “DIY.” Also, I imagine on some level it’s good for business. Believe me, Trip knows Lowe’s.

2. Kids reenacting 2014 Academy Award nominees. 

Don’t think too much about why the kids were supposedly allowed to watch American Hustle but not 12 Years a Slave. I’m pretty sure the kids were just reading lines. What I found funny is that when the Oscar nominees were named, the only movie on the list for Best Picture that was on my radar was 12 Years a Slave. That was a must see for me. So, I’ve seen 1/9 of the movies thus far. What I was more familiar with was the list of nominated best animated features. I saw 3/5 of that list in the theater. That’s the category I’ll be watching with great interest.

3. A new season of House of Cards on Netflix. I have only watched the first episode of season 2 so far. A shock despite some heavy foreshadowing during the episode. (Knew it was coming but still a jolt!) Some great lines from both halves of the the cold and calculating power couple–Claire and Frank Underwood.

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum Visit

Trip and I visited the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in the museum district of Houston. The museum offers free parking, which makes it very easy to visit.

The term Buffalo Soldier originated in the nineteenth century and was used to describe African American regiments in the military. The Museum has a broad focus and recognizes the contributions of African Americans military members from the Revolutionary Era to present day.

There is a short (around 15 minutes) video to introduce visitors to the Museum and the story of the Buffalo Soldiers. The museum has a small collection of artifacts and historical memorabilia, including a “wall of technology,” soldiers’ uniforms, and photographs. There is also a nice collection of prints, paintings, and sculptures.

The museum’s collections would be more powerful if there was more interpretation, explanation, and questions and/or discussion added throughout the displays. There were no “hands-on” activities available. The most interesting part of the visit for four-year-old Trip was seeing some of the sabres on display.

What I’m Loving Wednesday

1. Godiva. They have a club where you get a free piece of chocolate every month! Trip and I went to the Galleria and each picked a treat. We each had fun selecting a beautiful piece of chocolate. Which leads me to…

2. The Galleria. It’s really not all about the shopping. We went on a cold, rainy weekday and really just enjoyed walking around and visiting some fun stores. Trip was very interested in the ice skating rink, but what most impressed him on his first trip to the Galleria was going up the glass elevators. Oh, and he wanted to eat at the Rainforest Cafe. (Which we indulged him on Valentine’s Day, but we went to the one in Katy.)

3. The Lego Movie. Tons of voice talent and fun for the whole family. Everything is awesome!

4. Cat Bouquet. Well, darn I didn’t get this plush kitten bouquet from ThinkGeek for Valentine’s Day. It’s sold out. Boo. But how funny….

BUT WAIT!!!!!!! They have a unicorn bouquet.

Nothing Says Lovin’ Like Bacon Salt

I saw a friend post a link for “Bacon Salt” a few weeks ago, and it was like a lightbulb moment.

David would love that! What a great idea! 

I decided to make it as part of his Valentine’s Day present. For weeks, I lived in fear (well…not that bad) that bacon salt would be trending in a food blog or something that he reads. I thought surely this will be the day he comes home and excitedly tells me that he is going to make bacon salt.

But, that didn’t happen.

Then, a few days before Valentine’s Day, I went out and bought the bacon. With Trip. I thought either a) Trip is going to tell him OR b) David is going to find the bacon in the fridge and ask why I bought it.

That didn’t happen!

A few days before the 14th, Trip and I went to Michaels. They were offering a free kids’ craft activity to make a frame. Trip decorated a frame for David, and then we found a container for the bacon salt. When David asked Trip what we did that day, Trip responded, “We went to Michaels…we did nothing there.” Oh, yeah. We’re not suspicious at all.

And then, February 13, I waited until David was asleep to begin baking the bacon. As the bacon aroma wafted through the house, I thought this is going to either a) wake David up OR b) cause everyone to have dreams of bacon (there are worse things).

Sadly, “b” didn’t happen. (Now wouldn’t that be an original gift. You dreamed about bacon last night? You’re welcome.) Fortunately, “a” didn’t happen either.

I left the bacon to cool, but I hid it before I went to bed.

While David was at work on Valentine’s Day, I finished up the bacon salt. I had a *crisis* moment. I had blotted the bacon pieces after baking them, and the bacon strips were cooked very crispy. Still, once I started to blend it in the food processor, the bacon started to seem more like paste. (So, note to self, next time don’t get bacon with a high fat content?!) I thought I was going to have to give David “salty bacon paste.” But, I was able to render the fat and got the bacon paste to look more like bacon bits. I put it in the container so it’d be ready when he got home.

I made the mistake of not labeling it. We’ve moved recently, and I just didn’t know where anything was.

So, when David got home and Trip and I gave him his presents. David looked at the jar, and I said, “It’s bacon salt!” He didn’t seem all that excited about the jar of bacon salt goodness that I just gave him, which I found confusing because the man gets excited over anything bacon related.

I think it just took time for it to sink in. He told me later that he thought it was one of Trip’s “science experiments” that I was giving him.

But, once he figured out it was a legit bacon product and not a four year old’s science experiment, he started coming up with ideas…most of which are already out there on the internet if you look for bacon salt recipes. Use it on eggs, sprinkle it on this or that…

Today, we are back to making bread in the bread machine. David was preparing the loaf. Knowing that the recipes call for salt, I said, “You should use the bacon salt.” His eyes went wide with the possibility. So, we’ve got bread made with bacon salt baking right now.

Overall, I think this bacon salt thing was a success.

The recipe I used was at the blog Not Quite Nigella.

What I’m Loving Wednesday

1. Rigoletto, Houston Grand Opera. I went to see the final showing of Rigoletto on Sunday. Still have La dona e mobile in my head. There was a collective sound of recognition from the audience when it started.  And now you can have it in your head too:

2. Preview of Season 4 of Game of Thrones. OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG! Winter is coming! Hodor at 11:00…LOL!

3. Winter’s Tale. Opens on Valentine’s Day, but I got a ticket for a local screening. A love story for Valentine’s Day. Apparently the book is much better, but I enjoyed the movie (and loved that it was a free screening). There were some unexpected big name cast members. (Check it out on IMDb if you’re so inclined.) The story is just ridiculous, but you just have to accept the romance/fantasy aspect of the story. Willful suspension of disbelief. The tagline of the movie kind of sums it up:

“This is not a true story. It’s a love story.”

What I’m Loving Wednesday

1. Getting a new library card. What can I say? I love checking out books and other media, and I really enjoy the family programming. Finding the local library was one of the first things I did when we were somewhat settled in the new place. Trip picked a few dinosaur books. I checked out Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, which came highly recommended by some of my friends.

2. Peanut Butter Dip. I made a Peanut Butter Dip in a rice crispy treat bowl last year for the Super Bowl. This year, I nixed the bowl. I made the dip and the rice crispy treats for dipping. This stuff is the peanut butter fluff of the gods. Delicious.

3. Pei Wei. Seriously. Always loving Pei Wei. I received a gift card for my birthday. There’s a current offer for buy one entree, get one free, so I guess I’m sharing.

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The Jolly VoxBox from Influenster

I was one of the lucky Influenster members to receive the 2013 Jolly VoxBox in December.

I received some great stuff complimentary from Influenster. The box included:

• Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer: Kind of a mix between the color intensity of lipstick with the shine of a lip gloss. Loved the applicator! It has a little indentation to collect the lacquer. (I have since went out and bought a second tube of this stuff in a more neutral color!)
• NYC New York Color HD Color Trip Eye Shadow: Nice neutral colors for everyday wear, or for toned down eye color when wearing a bold lip color. I usually wear eye shadow with a primer, so eye color lasts for me. My one issue with this product is that it came with an itsy bitsy two-ended applicator. Really too small to be useful.
• Ducklings Mini Rolls: I was so excited to get this little guy. It was a cute zebra pink pattern. Had all sorts of crafty plans. But, in the midst of moving and such, those never came to fruition and this roll remains largely unused. I did use it to wrap up my fraying computer cord. Ducklings to the rescue!
• Puffs To-Go: A familiar product for sure and oh-so-useful in a mother’s purse.
• Skinny Cow Candy:  I received peanut butter crème-filled chocolates. I’m not going to lie. These did not last long. I found them as satisfying as eating a candy bar for snacking. There were three pieces in a serving package, and each serving has 130 calories. The peanut butter creme was not as dry as a peanut butter cup, but there was also peanut butter filling.