Shannon's World

One of my favorite shows is coming to an end this Sunday night: West Wing. I will miss the show not only for the acting and story lines but it reminds me of the time I spent working on Capital Hill and in Washington, DC. I am hoping there’s a chance for some sort of spin off with Jimmy Smits as our favorite POTUS. I am a little annoyed that a show like this is coming to an end when shows like Nanny 911 and Unanimous are still on the air. . .if only we were a Nielsen family!

Also on Sunday (60 minutes) is an interview with one of my favorite bands/girl groups: the Dixie Chicks. While I don’t always agree with their political statments, I do like their music and am looking forward to their new album’s release on May 23.

I don’t think my Mom has found this blog yet, so I think it’s safe to post about one of her Mother’s Day gifts.  I have been making a lot of neclaces lately and decided I would make one for my Mom.  This design was inspired by a necklace we saw when we were traveling in Milan (I know, I haven’t done anything with my pictures) and also a bracelet at red envelope that doesn’t appear to be available anymore.  I ordered my materials from fire mountain gems.  I’ll post more pictures of the other necklaces I’ve made over the next few days.

This is pretty entertaining; I’ll have to grab some Buzz Lightyear undies next time I see Jackson.

http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1246

I got this email from a friend and instead of forwarding, I thought I’d post.

Place an X by all the things you’ve done:
This is for your entire life:
( ) Smoked a cigarette
(x) Drank so much you threw up
( ) Crashed a friend’s car
( ) Stolen a car
(x) Been in love
( ) Been dumped
( ) Shoplifted
( ) Been laid off/fired
(x) Quit your job
( ) Been in a fist fight
(x) Snuck out of your parent’s house
(x) Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back
(x) Been arrested
(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Lied to a friend – Only for their own good
(x) Skipped school
( ) Seen someone die
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
( ) Felt like dying
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with only coins
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced/Did something else in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Made a bonfire on the beach
(x) crashed a party
(x) Gone roller-skating
(x) Ice-skating

Any nicknames?
   Not really – Cross?
Mother’s name?
   Susan
What is your favorite drink?
   Iced Tea (non-alcoholic), Margaritas (alcoholic)
Tattoos?
   No
Body piercing?
   Just ears
How much do you love your job?
   I love it quite a bit most days
Birthplace:
   Oakland, California
Favorite vacation spot?
   Kauai, Hawaii
Ever steal any traffic signs?
   In High School
Ever been in a car accident?
   No
2 Door or 4 Door?
   4 Door, but shopping for a new car
Salad dressing?
   Balsamic Vinegar
Favorite pie?
   My Mom’s Apple pie
Favorite number?
   9
Favorite movie?
   Top Gun, but that’s slipping – Love Actually is right up there.
Favorite holiday?
   Thanksgiving
Favorite food?
   Chips with guacamole and/or cowboy caviar
Favorite day of the week?
   Sunday – going to yoga and coming home and making a big brunch with Mike.
Favorite brand of body soap?
   Rosemary Mint (Aveda)
Favorite TV show?
   House and Grey’s Anatomy
Toothpaste?
   Crest
Favorite smell?
   Fresh Laundry
What do you do to relax?
   yoga
How do you see yourself in 10 years?
   Hopefully with a couple kids, living close to family and friends, sitting on a front porch swing drinking a margarita with Mike

Last week Heather, Alison and I met for a quick dinner at Panera Bread, followed by an evening at Dream Dinners. We had a great time (note the latex gloves), although we really had to stop socializing and start thinking when we began making our meals (since the meals serve 4-6, we halved the meals and things got complicated if you weren’t paying attention).

I have yet to try one of the meals, but the freezer is stocked. Alison tried penne pasta last night and reported that it was good (had a strong lemon taste) but most important it was easy! Dream Dinners seems pretty economical: it works out to about $5 per meal per person for Mike and I.

Here’s a list of some of the meals I made:

• Garlic & Balsamic Flank Steak
• Blackened Steaks w/ Corn & Sweet Pepper Relish
• Apple-Braised Pork Chops
• Stir Fried Chicken and Shrimp

Mike and I had a fun cinco de mayo in downtown St Charles with Amy and her fiance Matt. There was enough margaritas and guac to go around, so I was a happy camper.

Saturday I drove to beautiful South Bend, IN to assist my favorite photographer at a wedding. Nate and I always have fun together and this wedding was no exception. We even got to stop a South Bend’s finest establishment The South Bend Chocolate Company Cafe for the best hot chocolate!

Sunday consisted of chores and crafts – more details on that later!

Micki and Scott were blessed with a new little girl Grace, yesterday at 11:38 am. How cool that her birthday is practically on Cinco de Mayo?! I can’t wait to buy her her first margarita . . .

I try to bring my lunch to work most days and so do most of the people on my team at work.  One of my co-workers was raving about the new Lean Cuisine Grilled Panini’s and they are as good as she said.  I tried the southwest chicken sandwich yesterday and it was great.  I was quite skeptical because I hate soggy sandwiches and these were not soggy, in fact quite crispy and good.  It was also a good size sandwich, I was not hungry later in the day.  I wholeheartedly recommend – bon appetit!

The perfect white skirt does exist and it’s no surprise where i found it – my favorte store, AT Loft. Thanks, Eliza! (apologies for the toilet in the background, I didn’t have my assistant photographer hat on . . .er, rather, MY assistant didn’t have his assistant assistant’s photographers hat on).

I made Jambalaya from Real Simple’s recipe; it was really simple and delicious. I used left over brats from dinner with Heather and Bob and it worked out well. Here’s the recipe:

Jambalaya from Real Simple
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 16-ounce package kielbasa, cut into 1⁄4-inch rounds
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes
1 8-ounce box jambalaya, Spanish, or fiesta-flavored rice mix
1 1-pound package peeled and deveined raw shrimp
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the kielbasa. Cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes along with 1⁄2 cup of water and their liquid and crush with the back of a spoon. Bring to a boil. Add the rice mix. Reduce heat, cover, and cook for the time specified on the package. Add the shrimp, stir, cover, and cook until pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the hot pepper sauce (if using). Spoon onto plates.

*Note = I could only find Zattaran’s jambalaya microwave rice and it worked fine. I used two packages instead of 1.

I don’t want this blog to turn into a celebrity gossip blog, but I just read those of us in the Chicago area will have new neighbors: Jen and Vince.