#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Weekend Photos in Review

September 5, 2011 · Photos

Hershey Park - Entrance
This weekend, our final Summer hurrah, brought about Surprise #2 from our Summer 2011 Bucket List. A trip to Hershey Park. But that’s not all. Mystic’s family joined us, and we met Jamie (the kids’ old babysitter) there for dinner the night before and the next day. So a 3-in-1 surprise, which was the perfect way to finish the season off with a bang.

Traveling with seven, and being responsible for five kids, I can totally get how Kate Gosselin feels. There was a lot of “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ok, we’re good” going on, and with the older kids sometimes going in different directions, it can definitely be a challenge, but it worked out rather seamlessly. Speaking of five kids, Sunday morning found us at the pharmacy, and while the pharmacist was answering a few questions for me and Mystic (one of the kids was under the weather), the kids starting coming to stand near us. The pharmacist stopped for a second. “Are these ALL yours?” We nodded. “Wow, it’s like they just keep coming.” Really, folks? Five kids is a lot? I could see if it was maybe five kids under four or they were all climbing the counters or rambunctious, it might seem a little overwhelming. Or like the Duggar family. But five?  People amaze me sometimes.

Hershey Park - Madeline's Favorite Stop
This is Madeline’s favorite part of Hershey Park, Chocolate World. And it’s really not even in the park. It’s outside of the front entrance. It has a ride where you can learn all about how they make Hershey chocolate. She calls it the cow ride because singing cows are featured prominently throughout, and asked for it from the moment we got to Hershey yesterday morning, until we finally did it at 9:45 pm Sunday night.

Hershey Park - Fire Truck
I don’t know how he managed to squish himself into this fire truck, nor uncoil himself to get out, but if Madeline asks, it’s as good as done.

Hershey - Dippin' Dots

Hershey - Madeline and Taylor

Hershey - Milk
…

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Recipe: Salmon Burgers

March 23, 2011 · Narrative

Dig InTo say that I’m a late adopter to all things salmon would be an understatement.  If you’re a regular reader, you’ve heard about my relationship with salmon before.  Growing up, my mom made this amazing creamy risotto type dish with salmon and that was the only way I would eat it.  Any other way?  Ick with a capital I.  And, ahem, I haven’t had that dish in years, hint, hint.

But then a few years ago, on a whim I made a smoked salmon pizza, and was smitten.  In fact, it quickly became a favorite during our dinners with The Neighbors.  And then I discovered a smoked salmon spread, which has been a staple on many Feast of the Seven Fishes Christmas Eve dinners in our family, and appeared at our New Years’ Eve Seafood Feasts ever since.

So while I have not completely embraced a love of salmon, I have waded in its waters, so to speak.

As I focus more and more on my health, I can’t deny how good salmon is for me.  For you.  For all of us.  It’s a good fat, and a small 4 oz serving provides your entire daily vitamin D requirements.  That same 4 ounces will also give you half of your daily needs of vitamin b12, niacin and selenium.  And let’s not overlook the b6, omega-3 fats and magnesium it has as well.  And if it’s the canned version you’re eating?  Extra calcium to boot.  It’s hard to ignore such a super food all-star.

A few weeks back, my old trainer, Michael, posted a video of a lunch he made using canned salmon.  And then all the sudden, I had to have it.  I’m quite hot and cold like that.  One day, I won’t eat something, and then the next, I can’t get enough.  I bought a few cans of salmon (wild only, please) at the grocery store the next day.  That following weekend, I happened to be at Trader Joe’s, and their cans of wild salmon were nearly a dollar cheaper.  Three more cans followed me home.

But now what to do with all my canned salmon?  Although Michael had mixed his with a bit of mustard and just topped some leftover vegetables with it, I went a different route today.  Salmon Burgers.  Oh yeah baby.

And nearly completely clean eating ones at that.  Some whole wheat bread crumbs, an egg, a few herbs and spices, Dijon, low-fat mayo… once done, I put it inside a whole wheat sandwich thin that had smooshed avocado on it, a little zip of horseradish sauce, and lunch was served.  No fishy taste.  No guilt.  Full-on flavor and a total nutrient packed meal.

YuckI have no idea what these little bits are (bones? cartilage?), but I picked them out when I drained my salmon. Whatever they were, they were hard.

The recipe I wrote will make you three salmon burgers, so if you’re not sharing, freeze them or use them for quick lunches later in the week.  Whether you’re a latecomer to the salmon bandwagon like me, or have loved it from the first moment, try these on for size.  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed one bit.

Ready to Get Golden

Yummylicious

…

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Weekend Photos in Review

September 6, 2010 · Narrative

Hershey Park

When I mention that we’re going to Hershey Park, the response is usually “Again?  You must really like that place.”  I do, but unfortunately the past four times we have attempted to go, we have been thwarted at the last minute.  Call it the O’Malley Curse.  When we went back in October with The Neighbors, we didn’t actually make it to the amusement park because of the lousy weather.  We went back in December, but only planned to do the outside light festival, so I’m not counting that visit.  Then we planned to go in April, and I thought ahead and checked the weather forecast.  With a 90% chance of rain (and it did rain torrents that weekend), we aborted the mission and rescheduled for June.  In June, the family we were supposed to go with had a medical emergency and the trip got canceled at the last minute.  This time, I didn’t believe we were actually going to make it until we checked into the hotel.  For the kids’ sake, thank goodness this was finally a successful mission!

By the numbers:
5 adults
7 kids
4 boys, three of whom were named Nick
Meals for 12 at every stop
My first visit to Waffle House and Bob Evans
Madeline’s 4th visit to Hershey, PA (her first was when she was just 10 months old)
Times we had to stop on the way there? 0
Times we had to stop on the way home?  2
Hours in the park Friday night: 4
Torrential downpour while in the park Friday night: 1
Hours in the park Saturday: 12
Times Madeline rode on the “cow ride”: 2 (it’s a ride in Chocolate World that she loves, complete with happy singing cows that make delicious chocolate)
Times Madeline rode the Carousel: 4
Depth of water Nick swam in: 6 feet (so proud!)
Days my calves might need to recover from all the walking: unknown

And now the pictures…

What Used to be My Favorite Spot

This used to be my favorite section of Chocolate World – all the peanut butter items they sell. Now, unfortunately, in a cruel twist of fate, it’s not. All this clean eating I’ve been doing this year has really done a number on the little sweet tooth I had. Pity.

So Happy

Madeline spied these monkeys in a game booth, and her monkey obsession is still apparently in full force and she was desperate for one. I played the game once with a free voucher and won a small dolphin. Nick went back and played for her, winning something else, and convinced them to trade the two smaller prizes for the equally small monkey. He came tearing across the park with the monkey, so proud to give it to her. And I was bursting with pride on what he did for her. Love him to pieces!

Nick Flying High

Loved It

No fear this one!

My Brave Little Girl

What Used to be My Favorite Candy

My Littles

Rainbow Ice

Clearly not my hand since it is absent of chipped black nail polish!

Getting Inked

My Favorite But I Resisted

…

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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