Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
My Weekend at the Hynes Center: Boden Clearance & Family Science Day
No big travel plans, international adventures, spas or luxury hotels for the Housewife this first weekend of the February school break - I spent most of my weekend wandering corridors and halls of the Hynes Convention Center in downtown Boston.
First there was Saturday's Boden Clearance Sale. A Mom-pal and I ditched the families - it was even her husband's birthday, so he really deserves a medal! - and headed into town.
Each August and February Boden cleans out their U.S. closets and sells it all at steep discounts. It's a serious bargain hunter scene, notin' fancy (there's no merchandising and minimal organizing) and hundreds of determined shoppers, but when you can score a $200+ warm & wooly coat or a funky tunic that usually goes for over a $100 for $30-$40 that's worth a little shopper's effort in my book.
I did pretty well at last August's sale -- two dresses, a silk skirt and tunic for just over $100. And I did even better this time -- two dresses, two tunics, two tops & a pair of blue suede shoes for $265! That averages out to about $38 per item!
Sunday I found myself headed back to the Hynes Center for a day of Big Bang fun with my adorable geeky guys.
Family Science Days is put on by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in conjunction with their Annual Meeting, which brings together 1000's of scientists from around the world -- makes for some fun people watching and "imagine what kind of scientist he/she is" games.
But the Handsome Husband, who works for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) company, just couldn't resist pointing out that the little ROV kept getting hung up on its tether, unlike an AUV that has no tether.
Don't fret if you missed this weekend's scientific fun, the Cambridge Science Festival is coming up in April (12th thru 21st), with activities and events for families, teens and adults at locations all over the Boston-metro area.
Boden Bi-Annual Clearance
First there was Saturday's Boden Clearance Sale. A Mom-pal and I ditched the families - it was even her husband's birthday, so he really deserves a medal! - and headed into town.
Each August and February Boden cleans out their U.S. closets and sells it all at steep discounts. It's a serious bargain hunter scene, notin' fancy (there's no merchandising and minimal organizing) and hundreds of determined shoppers, but when you can score a $200+ warm & wooly coat or a funky tunic that usually goes for over a $100 for $30-$40 that's worth a little shopper's effort in my book.
I did pretty well at last August's sale -- two dresses, a silk skirt and tunic for just over $100. And I did even better this time -- two dresses, two tunics, two tops & a pair of blue suede shoes for $265! That averages out to about $38 per item!
Family Science Days
Sunday I found myself headed back to the Hynes Center for a day of Big Bang fun with my adorable geeky guys.
Family Science Days is put on by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in conjunction with their Annual Meeting, which brings together 1000's of scientists from around the world -- makes for some fun people watching and "imagine what kind of scientist he/she is" games.
In addition to engaging presentations on the main stage, including one by a real astronaut, the hall was filled with fascinating, hands-on exhibits from MIT, Harvard, Boston College, Raytheon, iRobot, Clay Observatory, the American Meteorological Society and Scripps Research Institute to name just a few.
Chemistry lessons with Legos, real fossils and solar powered whirligigs were all "super fun".
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| Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Demos |
But the Handsome Husband, who works for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) company, just couldn't resist pointing out that the little ROV kept getting hung up on its tether, unlike an AUV that has no tether.
Don't fret if you missed this weekend's scientific fun, the Cambridge Science Festival is coming up in April (12th thru 21st), with activities and events for families, teens and adults at locations all over the Boston-metro area.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Almost Wordless Wednesday: Standing Tall After Blizzard 2013
Saturday, February 9th
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| We worried these evergreens would snap under the weighty white stuff. |
Wednesday, February 13th
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| But after a few days of warmth & sun, they're standing tall once again. |
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Blizzard in the 'Burbs: The Blizzard 2013
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| Those poor evergreens normally stand almost two stories tall. |
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| Smiles & shovels . . . and the snowdrifts slowly receded. |
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| Meanwhile, indoors, Zara kept an ailing Housewife company as she stichted. |
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| No quickie cocoa for Needham's best shoveling crew! |
Monday, February 4, 2013
Mama Pride Tsunami
Yesterday this former swimmer sat (and sweated, cause indoor pool buildings are brutally humid & hot!) and watched with overwhelming pride as Jackson swam in his first district championship meet.
This was 7-year-old Jackson's first swim team season and I have been amazed and impressed by his dedication, focus and hard work. He has grown so much these past months - as a swimmer and a person, both in maturity and in height (all his pants are 2" too short!).
Special thanks to Jackson's wonderful coaches, Kristen, Sam & Colleen for their endless patience, support & encouragement - he couldn't have done it without you!
Go Charles River YMCA Tsunamis!
Now, I'm off to swim laps, 'cause I'm not ready have Jackson beat me in a race! Not yet, at least.
This was 7-year-old Jackson's first swim team season and I have been amazed and impressed by his dedication, focus and hard work. He has grown so much these past months - as a swimmer and a person, both in maturity and in height (all his pants are 2" too short!).
Go Charles River YMCA Tsunamis!
Now, I'm off to swim laps, 'cause I'm not ready have Jackson beat me in a race! Not yet, at least.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Almost Wordless Wednesday: California Violets on a Cold New England Day
The mercury was on a roller coaster ride this week, and now they're sayin' a chance of snow on Sunday.
So imagine the bout of homesickness when I saw these lovelies from my CA-pal Susan's garden on Instagram this week! (Remember her garden burstin' with poppies back in May?)
Susan says "I wish it was smell-a-vision too. They smell amazing!"
Yep, that helps the homesickness. Thanks, pal!
So imagine the bout of homesickness when I saw these lovelies from my CA-pal Susan's garden on Instagram this week! (Remember her garden burstin' with poppies back in May?)
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| Photograph by Susan C. Weber www.weberwork.com |
Susan says "I wish it was smell-a-vision too. They smell amazing!"
Yep, that helps the homesickness. Thanks, pal!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Getting Creative with $5 Buck Clucks
Rotisserie chickens are ubiquitous these days -- Costco & BJ's, Safeway & Shaws -- even smaller, locally-based grocery store chains like our Sudbury Farms & Roche Brothers (owned by the same company, so someone please explain to me why two names) offers $5 Buck Cluck every Thursday.
Unfortunately, there are a finite number Thursday nights my family will willing eat the same ol' rotisserie chicken. Many weeks I skipped the chicken, but that seemed like a bargain missed and time-savings lost, so I made a quick, off-the-top-of-my-head list of things I could make with those chickens --
It was a good start, but not terribly creative, so I flipped through a few of my favorite cookbooks and found --
The next week I grabbed two more chickens, cut 'em up Thursday, then Friday morning I filled up the slow cooker with a mega-batch of White Chicken Chili.
That evening the boys' school had it's annual skate night at an outdoor rink -- it was a balmy 23 degrees that night, and the thermoses full of steaming hot Chicken Chili were a huge hit with my guys. (Recipe to follow.)
Last Thursday the Handsome Husband was working late, so I closed the kitchen and let the boys choose our dinner date destination, but I didn't skip gettin' a couple of Clucks!
Cut up, labeled & stowed in the basement freezer -- the way I figure, you can never have too much cooked cluck at the ready to toss in the slow cooker or pot, slice up to put on a nice mixed green salad, or dice up for some good ol' fashioned chicken salad.
This week's cluck is going into tonight's Kasbah Chicken Vegetable Soup with Couscous.
But I need your help -- my cluck list is still pretty short -- please share any cluck-worthy recipes you have in your culinary arsenal!
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| Dinner's main dish all cooked up for you for just $5! What a deal! |
Unfortunately, there are a finite number Thursday nights my family will willing eat the same ol' rotisserie chicken. Many weeks I skipped the chicken, but that seemed like a bargain missed and time-savings lost, so I made a quick, off-the-top-of-my-head list of things I could make with those chickens --
- enchiladas
- quesadillas
- soft tacos
- chicken noodle soup.
It was a good start, but not terribly creative, so I flipped through a few of my favorite cookbooks and found --
- Kashah Chicken Vegetable Soup with Couscous
- Tortilla Soup
- Raj Chicken Soup
- White Chicken Chili --
The next week I grabbed two more chickens, cut 'em up Thursday, then Friday morning I filled up the slow cooker with a mega-batch of White Chicken Chili.
That evening the boys' school had it's annual skate night at an outdoor rink -- it was a balmy 23 degrees that night, and the thermoses full of steaming hot Chicken Chili were a huge hit with my guys. (Recipe to follow.)
Last Thursday the Handsome Husband was working late, so I closed the kitchen and let the boys choose our dinner date destination, but I didn't skip gettin' a couple of Clucks!
Cut up, labeled & stowed in the basement freezer -- the way I figure, you can never have too much cooked cluck at the ready to toss in the slow cooker or pot, slice up to put on a nice mixed green salad, or dice up for some good ol' fashioned chicken salad.
This week's cluck is going into tonight's Kasbah Chicken Vegetable Soup with Couscous.
But I need your help -- my cluck list is still pretty short -- please share any cluck-worthy recipes you have in your culinary arsenal!
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