Thirty Somethings At Outside Lands

My husband and I have not been avid concert goers. Ticket prices seemed to always be more than we wanted to spend.  I tend to fall asleep anywhere after 10pm. So for those reasons it wasn't ever a priority. 

When we found out we were pregnant, something happened to my husband and he developed a great urgency to live a little. The year I got pregnant he went to no less than six concerts. Two of them were music festivals. I fought to go went to one where we had seats , but I passed on the chance to go to Outside Lands that first year because after he took me to Florence and the Machine on our anniversary at four months pregnant. I knew I would not want to walk/stand for a three straight days without being able to drink. 

The hubby had the most amazing time and has gone every year since. This year after many setbacks I finally got to go with him. My brother and my soon to be SIL offered to watch Animal and my mom (who is his other primary caregiver) was there too. I didn't go all three days, so I had to try to see and do all I wanted in one day.

Doors opened at noon, we wanted to leave at 11, but as usual when it's a personal day we're always running late. So we left at a quarter to noon. We parked across from the shuttle at 12:30ish and got in line for the shuttle that would take us to Golden Gate Park. The line was long, the ride is about 25 minutes long. We were on the Shuttle at one and as we pulled away we were surprised to see the line had more than doubled since we got there. 

Next, as we are dropped of at the gate, we somehow manage to miss the line doubling again. It took nearly another hour to get in.

There was so much art. Live artist painting murals. Past murals lined the outer edges of the event. There were painted structures all over. Some to admire and others to rest your achy feet. I could have spent several hours just walking through this area and watching the painters. Sadly, as fore mentioned, I had only one day so I only spent and hour walking through the art.

There were DJs, comedy shows, Skits, vaudeville acts, magic shows, break dancers, arts and crafts, carnies and even "camp" where we could have played board games and shit. We walked past all of that. No time. I definitely need to go for the three days.

There were so many choices in food. So much to drink. We did not eat, or drink to our hearts content. I didn't want to use the port a pottys any more than absolutely necessary and I'm sure that's self explanatory. 

We did however stop at beer lands, wine lands and for a cocktail. So good and like all events so pricey. At least my cocktail wasn't watered down. 


Outside lands is held at Golden Gate Park, so it is dusty, windy and awesome. 

At four we head to the stage where Death Cab for Cutie would perform. The hubby likes to get as close to his favorite bands as possible so we head to that stage as the band BEFORE Death Cab is going to start.  We find a decent place to stand for Haim, a band I've never heard of. At first I'm really bummed I'm not getting one last drink because I know we're not moving once DCFC starts. Then the energy really picks up and I really enjoy the three sister band. 

After they finish and the crowd starts to leave, we inch our way forward to find a better, closer spot. They are awesome, they play everything I want to hear. I almost completely ignore the people who have continued to inch forward and are now standing in spots where was once 8 inches between me and the person in front of me. 

Death exits after marveling at the fact that they are opening for Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Again after they finish and the crowd thins, we inch our way a little closer to the stage. It's comfortable.

Until the show starts. Don't get me wrong. Tom Petty put on a great show and he played almost everything I wanted to hear. He really rocked and the crowd was super into it. However, after standing in basically the same spot for four hours prior to his starting, my feet, back and body were done. I'm a middle aged woman for God's sake. Not to mention the people again squeezing into spaces that don't exist. The hubby who is much larger and who had already done this for two days had to be dying. He didn't seem to be. He loves music so much and was just in mega beast mode. I was impressed. 

The show ended just before ten. We trekked out to the shuttles, waited, road back to our car, walked to our car and headed home. We got home after midnight. It was exhausting and wonderful. 

Chi-Chi Cocktail Hour

Remember South Park? The cartoon with the foul mouthed kids. Well the hubby and I still watch it. It's not on the DVR, but when we see it's on we watch it.  Recently the hubby watched an episode he really wanted me to see because there was a drink on there he wanted us to try.

I finally caught it and as usual it cracked me up. In this episode Butters returns to his "native"  land Hawaii. All the "natives" drink a special drink called a chi-chi in a coconut. The drink is made from coconut milk, pineapple juice and Vodka.

The hubby couldn't stop talking about how tasty it sounded and how much he wanted to try it. Being the good wife I am. I went out and bought all the ingredients including fresh coconuts to pour our drinks into.

Saturday night after Animal went to bed, I googled chi-chi recipe and found several recipes along with some fun facts. Like the chi-chi was once a popular cocktail and has recently started to see a comeback (because of South Park? I wondered). Also if you happen to have piña colada mix, all you need is to add some vodka for an instant chi-chi! Lastly most recipes call for coconut cream, not coconut milk.

Here's the recipe I made:

1 measure vodka
4 measures pineapple juice
1 measure coconut milk
Blend with ice, then pour into your coconut and add a straw. Enjoy!

This cocktail is great! It's creamy, sweet and the perfect amount of liquor. You know, not so sweet you wonder if someone forgot to add the spirit, and not so strong you wonder why you bothered getting a drink instead of a shot. Even my dad drank one. That may not seem like a big deal to you, but he rarely drinks, so this was a big deal to me. Added fun, when your done you can scoop out the tender coconut meat and eat. Double yum!

This drink was so good in fact, we're cooking up a plan for a chi-chi night. The hubby wants to BBQ pig, and I'm wondering if I should find a Tiki bar. This is an excellent drink to make a pitcher (or 2) and just refill the guest coconuts. Very low maintenance summer night drink.

I can't wait to host now that I have a back yard. With potential to be lovely backyard.

Raising a Scorpio

I have always thought of Astrology as good clean fun.

Something to giggle at and make snarky jokes about. Even though secretly, I enjoy being an Aries and think the descriptions fit me rather well. Still, I take it with a grain of salt, and reason that if I read the descriptions of other signs I would find some similarities in those as well, because they are all rather general. Right?

Recently I noticed that while I have friends from all walks of life, the one thing we all have in common is that we like to drink. This has given me a lot to think about. Is it that I don't want to be judged? They don't either, so hanging out with me is perfect Or is it that all the social gatherings at my place include me mixing drinks? During my musings I thought about the hubby's friends (the ones before me) what do they all have in common? Are they all party animals? Bohemians? Mostly, but actually what they have in common is they are highly educated and most are educators. When I mentioned this to him he laughed and said that was true, but the other thing they had in common is that they are "into" Astrology.

I laughed and said I didn't believe him. Then he said, "You wouldn't believe how often one of my friends says, of course Animal did that...he's a Scorpio". Really? I was intrigued. So I Googled "Raising a Scorpio boy". I was honestly surprised by the plethora of articles.

More surprising was how much of the characteristics of a Scorpio sound like my son. Here are the things that all the articles said, that describe my son (and many other strong willed toddlers). He's intense (has an intense gaze). Charming. Secretive. Physically strong. Strong willed. High energy. Sensitive. Needs lots of discipline. Can be vindictive and manipulating. Or forgiving and generous. Smart. Determined. Testy.

I'm not going into great detail because that would be giving to much credit or thought to something that just doesn't merit it.

Reading through them was a little surreal in that they sound so much like him. He has a need to destroy read one, saying my son would benefit from having magazines to shred and blocks, later legos to build and destroy. When I want to occupy Animal (since infancy, remember he's always been alarming strong) I will give him paper to destroy. Old magazines, ads, receipts. Few things delight him more than destroying a piece of paper. Ever since he had control of his arms and could begin to crawl, I would build things and he would knock them down. We bought him Mega Blocks for Christmas and his greatest satisfaction is from taking the blocks apart.

That is just one silly example.

The parts about how important loving but firm and consistent discipline are for him, are the ones that really got to me. I'm that kind of adult, but when it comes to Animal I feel as though I'm failing him. Not because I don't discipline, but because he doesn't seem to take me seriously. I don't know how to get through to him. The hubby says it's that I'm disciplining him with a weak tone, that I'm not putting my heart into it. Maybe that's true. I'm so conflicted with being gone for so much of his day that it's making me too patient, and ineffective. When the hubby disciplines him, Animal is visibly at attention and you can see sadness flash over his face at his fathers strong tone and intense gaze (Animal often lashes out in anger or excitedness, and his father will say "It's okay to feel angry/excited/hurt, but hitting/biting/yelling/throwing is not how we deal with things. Use your words. Never hit/bite/scream for attention/throw). He listens to his father. He cleans up for him. He calms down for him. He stops his aggressive behavior for him. I have to step up to the plate and do my part to help raise a good kid.

Now, am I reading into it? Maybe. I read through some other signs, he doesn't sound as similar to any other signs. Will I take it to heart? Or with a grain of salt? With a grain of salt, I think. But is my son a Scorpio? As much as mommy is an Aries. We're destined to be friends, it's written in the stars, and I'm not going to lie, I like that.

Microsoft Office Site

Crispin Honey Crisp Review

It probably wasn't the smartest idea. That I drink this today. I'm sick. I have a super shitty cold and I realize that drinking will not help me on the road to recovery, but I'm so miserable. I reasoned with myself that this cider has honey, and honey is good for a cold and outstanding for a sore throat.

Plus, don't I deserve a little happiness for my misery? I do.

First, I forget to turn my bottle upside down and swirl. Boo, my first fail.

Next, even though this is delicious, of that I am certain. I'm not entirely certain that I am taking in all the flavors. Smelling I know enhances flavor, and I can't smell anything I'm so stuffed up.

It's sweet, light and crisp. It looks beautiful in my tall Crispin glass.

No, they didn't pay me for this review (but Crispin, you CAN hire me). I had the great luck of meeting a Crispin rep at Costco while shopping with my sister. A four pack (variety) for 13.99 and glass (today only) with my purchase. I am a sucker for commemorative glassware.

I highly recommend this tasty cider, but I must admit I will have to try again as I cannot honestly tell which cider I prefer. I need a non-sick trail to be sure...

Zippity Do Da and A Wino

Click Here to read more or join in!

Zippity-Do-Da-Motherfuckers! I made it. I actually posted for every letter. I basically wrote  everyday. It was a hectic month. I've had a lot of shit on my mind and dark clouds over my head, writing has really helped in a way that only running used to. Yay, for free therapy!

This week's topic is: What's bugging you lately?

What's bugging me, is that I've run into a road block. It's my drinking. I'm trying to lose weight and drinking is not conducive to this quest. Unfortunately not drinking means...(dramatic pause)... No drinking, and that just sucks.

It bothers me that I'm an alcoholic.

Not in a lose my job, family, home, dignity kind of way.

Not in a have to do it, to make it through a day kind of way.

I just like to, and I do. Often. It's just every time I shouldn't, because it's empty calories, or it's poison for the body I'm training, or I was pregnant and then pumping and nursing. I have to face the fact that I hate not being able to drink when I want to. That my friends makes me a wino.

And that really bothers me.

This post is brought to you
by the letter 'Z'

Blood Orange Margaritas? Hell Yeah

My friend from Rarita Vanesita the Obnoxious Wall Flower brought me this tasty cocktail recipe, for a blood orange margarita. 

Blood Orange Margarita

1 1/2 measure Tequila reposada 

3/4 measure Cointreau 

1 measure blood orange juice

1/2 measure sour mix

1 orange twist

(optional)

Pour liquor into shaker, fill with ice, shake. Pour into a (salt or sugar rimmed) cocktail glass half filled with ice and add orange twist for garnish. Enjoy!

Because I am Mexican and eat delicious Mexican food often, I like to reserve Cinco De Mayo for nachos and margaritas. Preferably at home with friends and family. You all know I'm kind of a lush so friends and family are optional too.

This drink is ridiculously good. I mean ridiculously good. I was very sad not to have a new bottle of tequila handy and that I couldn't spend the day drinking my day away (I do still have to be a responsible mommy). I HIGHLY recommend this beverage for your next girls night, Mexican themed dinner party or afternoon spent by the pool.

Cocktail Hour

They sure look pretty don't they?

Two weeks ago on Mod Mom Beyond IndieDom, She made the tastiest looking cocktail. Short. Sloe. Squirt. Also, awesome name for a cocktail. The ingredients list was short and contained one of the only sodas I enjoy drinking (very occasionally). Squirt! 

So I had to try it, I was only missing one ingredient. Vodka Citron. We always have Vodka, but  I don't often buy flavored Vodka, so a trip to my favorite candy store was in order. 

The liquor store!

Once all the ingredients were purchased, I made this for one of my favorite drinking buddies and we enjoyed it on a hot Saturday afternoon. It was 81 degrees, and this drink was refreshing. It surprised me though. I expected a sweeter taste, because of it's bright color. It was honestly good, easy to make and pretty. I'll make this again, for a summer BBQ, or hanging out on the porch on a hot summer night. I recommend that you check out the link if you like Sloe Gin, Vodka or Squirt. 

Happy Drinking!

No More Margaritas For Me

19 Damn points for this?

No more margaritas for me, it hurts just to think it. 

This is just another example of how Weight Watchers has changed my life. 

I had been pining over my favorite cocktail (to drink when out) since the day I first learned that I was pregnant. All of my pregnancy I talked about having a few with my sister, my friends and with the hubby when we went out to eat.

Then when Animal was born and I saw that I could just barely keep up with his ginormous appetite with precious little to freeze, I realized I would not be drinking until I introduced solids (maybe) or until his first birthday (what actually happened). 

On a date night a few weeks ago, I finally had my much drooled over drink. 

It was okay. Way sweeter than I remember. 

At home I use equal parts tequila, triple sec and cointreau then add the juice of two limes or a lemon. Anyway let's just say it was not what I remembered. Then later that night I added it in to my points tracker and God damn I couldn't fucking believe it! That cursing and taking the Lord's name in vane was completely necessary, and not at all  overly dramatic. 19 points! The same number of points that I had used to have grilled salmon over rice pilaf, steamed veggies AND a glass of wine at dinner! THE SAME AMOUNT FOR ONE MEDIOCRE DRINK! Well Fuck me, never again! No margaritas unless I'm home making the drink and can control the points so that I'm not wasting any on some syrupy crap, when I drink a margarita I expect copious amounts of alcohol involved to make a delicious and perfect concoction, that nets about 10 points.

Anyway, what I really wanted to share with you all is that I have surpassed the halfway mark. I have officially lost 24lbs. I am just a chunky monkey again. I can't tell you how amazing I feel to just be "normal". I'm weighing in at 145, 10lbs more than what is healthy for my height. A totally manageable amount of weight to lose before me. I feel so much better.

I can run with so much more ease. Climbing stairs is no biggie. Lugging my 27lb toddler is awesome (I know he wont always want to be held, hell he doesn't want to be held now!). I am no longer wearing ANY of my maternity gear. All the clothes I'm wearing now is my own pre-baby fat clothes I loved too much to get rid of. 

I am starting to see definition in my arms again and even the promise of a waistline! Now don't get me wrong, I have noticed something I was dreading but knew was probably unavoidable. What I look like (specifically what my gut looks like) at 145 is much different (and by different what I mean is flabbier) than what my abs looked like before. Now they're just a sad, embarrassing mess. I'm gonna try hard to tone as much as I can, but also except that it's just different now. I'm older and a human being did take residency in this belly so, as much as I don't love it, I do love that baby and myself so, that's that.

Ok, so here's the new update of my next milestones:

1 lb to lose and hit 25 (where I'll get a Nifty charm from WW)

7lbs to hit the weight I was at the doctors appointment when I learned I was with child.

10lbs to hit my the healthy weight range! 

18lbs to hit goal. 

So the next update will come once I hit goal and start the maintenance part of my life. 

When I rejoined WW with my good friend, nursing student, we decided that this time the goal isn't the weight. It is to learn from our mistakes, and change. This time, we need to figure out why we do, what we do, and just stop doing THAT. 

So easy to say. SO hard to do. But I am really, really trying. 

To be truly honest with myself and just be different. I'm tiered of giving in to my weaknesses. It's time to be the best me, because I love myself, because I want to be healthy and because I want Animal to have a great example.

I'm excited to change. 

Fantasy Time

available at Macy's

I have this fantasy...

Where I'm a bartender. I love drinking and entertaining, and work well under pressure. I'm friendly and good at making small talk. I can easily relate to people, people like me.

I just think I would make an outstanding bartender.

I can make simple drinks who can't, and we keep well, we used to keep, before we expanded our little family a nicely stocked bar. If we had more expendable cash, my bar would be dangerous.

We used to host these little get together's  where I would practice making a certain new cocktail or a couple of different ones using a certain spirit. I had so much fun doing it, and expanding my repertoire.

The hubby and I are hooked on this show on Spike called Bar Rescue. My favorite part is watching the expert mixologist come up with a new drink menu for the bar they are trying to rescue. I want to take a bartending class so bad, but it's just not in my budget currently.

You gotta check this show out! 

I realize that the whole thing is so tempting because I'm not around drunks. The thing is, I'm a drunk and I don't think I'm an asshole when I drink. In fact I think I'm a fun drunk. But I understand not everyone is like me when they drink. The hours would suck, probably. and if it was a job full of responsibilities, I may not enjoy it as much as I think I would. Not to mention I wouldn't get to do any of the drinking...


So for now, I'll just keep dreaming about the fun I could have making money, making drinks.

Absolute Tune an Amateur Review

What your looking at in this photo is Absolut's new concoction. A sparkling white wine infused with Vodka. 

If you drink alone it's bubbly with a definite vodka kick. I was intrigued, it came with a little cocktail recipe book and if I purchased after tasting I got the fun commemorative glass. I'm a sucker for those things. Also it was 5 bucks cheaper than the current price at BevMo so I thought I would buy and try for New Years. 

Well first I tried their Screwdriver Mimosa and it was No Bueno. BOO!  Next I tried a glass with  little chambrod (as pictured above). Chambrod with sparkling white wine is delicious, but this was not good, not good at all. Finally I had a glass with cranberry juice. Absolut Tune and cranberry juice, tasty. BUT, and it's a rather big but, not as good as a standard cranberry and vodka. Also the price I paid 29.99, and thought it was ten bucks more than what I thought it was worth. 

So there you have it. Not worth it, at least not for me. 

Do you have any suggestions? Any liquor or cocktail you've been meaning to try, but don't want to buy or take the time to make? Send your inquiry here. I'd be happy to try and I'll let you know if it's worth your time.

Three Wishes Cabernet an Amateur Review

Here it is ladies (and gentlemen?), I found the Cabernet Sauvignon. As you can see by the photo, I like to fill my glass and I have had more than one glass.

These wines come in an ECO friendly bottle that leave a smaller footprint, so that you can feel a little less guilty about partaking in the sauce! "But Honey, look, It cost two bucks and is better for the environment, I may as well get the case". 

This full bodied(for lack of a better words) wine tastes of berries, black currant and has a gentle whiff of alcohol (can that odor be gentle?). Well it'll get you drunk and that's what we're here for most nights. Not as good as two buck chuck, but come on, that isn't good either. It works on the cheap and it isn't gross.   Obviously I have high standards here folks. Stick with me, and we'll both be looking for a designated driver! 

Next week: climbing the cost ladder I'll be reviewing Absolut Sparkling Fusion Tune (It's Absolut's new sparkling wine, I know, I know very exciting, because the only thing my wine is missing is Vodka!)

Cheers to you!

Three Wishes Merlot An Amateur Review

Well I promised you a review earlier today when I saw that Whole Foods was selling a bottle wine (Three Wishes) for 1.99, a case for 23.99! What!?! I know, alcoholics rejoice!

 I believe they would like some of that 2 buck chuck action, and who could blame them? Two Buck Chuck aka Charles Shaw has several varitals, while the new Three Wishes is available in 3, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot. I don't usually drink Merlot, but they were out of Cabernet and I HATE Chardonnay. I'm gonna do my best to review it anyway.

First, I'll say this, sadly it is NOT Cabernet. So I'm already disappointed. It's mildly flavored, smooth, with red currant and earth flavors (read a little acidic, for lack of a better word). Did I already say that it is not Cabernet?

I wont buy the Merlot again, but it wasn't terrible. If you like Merlot, you might like this? I don't really know.

I don't really know how to end this. Sometimes you get what you pay for. I'm not drunk or feeling happy so this bottle was a fail. But it was win for the pocket book.