Product Review - Prima Pasta

We can all use alittle help now and then.  Since I had a coupon and my grocery store was running a buy one, get one free deal, I thought that I would give the sauces from Pasta Prima a try.  There was so much to choose from, they have a ton of products out there, but I decided to start with the alfredo sauce, mostly because I hate to make it from scratch, but I love it.

So I made a quick dinner of Chicken Alfredo the other night, and it was wonderful.  The sauce was thick and creamy.  I did add alittle cracked black pepper while I was heating it up, but that is more about me, then the sauce.

Pasta Prima has many different types of sauces and pastas, they are 100% natural and they are a company with a green philosophy.  The next one on the list for me is the butternut squash ravioli. Check out their website here for all the information and products. 

Enjoy!
~Cyn

When the Bride Needs a Shower

We have like a ton of weddings of this year.  I have to tell you, I'm pretty excited.  My family has even has the honor of throwing a shower for one of these weddings.  I haven't thrown a shower in a long time, so that got me thinking that maybe it's time for alittle refresher on the rules.

Who should throw one?  This is tricky, some people think that it should be the bridesmaids, some people think it should just be family.  The correct answer is either.  The shower we are planning is for my cousin, who happens to be my Mom's god daughter, so that is perfectly acceptable.  I don't think that the bride's mother (MOB) should be responsible for throwing one, she should be able to sit back and enjoy that the day along with the Bride.  Other than that, I think that almost anyone associated with the Bride can host one.

Who should you invite?  This is always hard.  Of course, anyone who is invited to the wedding is eligible.  But, you should really invite immediate family (aunts, cousins, grandmothers) and those friends who you are close to.  I also think that it's good idea to invite women that are new to your circle of friends (think the best man's new girlfriend) so that everyone can get to know each other before the wedding.

To Theme or not?  If the wedding has a theme incorporate it.  In my experience it is much easier to plan around a theme that just around colors.  If the wedding doesn't have a theme, think about giving the shower one, maybe an afternoon tea or laundry and linens.  Coordinate your invitations and decor around that theme.

What to serve?  Finger foods work the best.  Something that will not fall, when the paper plate is balanced on Grandma's lap when she is trying to make a veil out of toilet paper.  What to drink?  I would limit it to one custom drink (think champagne with raspberries) and then just cola and water.  If you have children coming, make sure you have a few drink boxes on hand.

Games?  I'm not a huge fan of games, but I think there should be at least one.  Something simple, I like '20 questions about the Bride' which helps everyone get to know her, or if you have members of the Groom's family involved, change it to '20 questions about the Happy Couple'

Just a few more things to remember...

-Invitations should be mailed, not emailed.
-You should not throw a shower for a second wedding, just plan a special girls night out instead.
-Couples showers are not fun.  Plan an engagement party instead.
-Do NOT ask you guests to address an envelope for the their thank you note, you had their address to invite them, you have their address to send a thank you.  To the Bride - you are not that busy, they took the time to shop for a gift for you, you should take the time to address an envelope.

Now you are ready, go out and plan! 

Did I miss anything?  Need help getting started?

Leave me a note below!

Later
~Cyn

SOPA

I know that everyone else took down there site, but honestly, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get it back up, so I decided not to post, but then I decided I should post something. 

So here is my quick post.  Educate yourself on SOPA, it is the beginning of a slippery slope.  Contact your Congressmen (or woman) here is where you can find them.

Later~
Cyn

52 Bags..okay maybe 24 bags

A couple of weeks ago on my way home from work, they were talking about clearing out the clutter from your house, one bag (per week) at a time.  It was right before New Year's so they were talking about how they were on Week 52 (how I missed this the other 51 weeks, I have no idea) and how successful they were. 

It inspired me.  But, I'm not sure that I can commit to a bag a week, if I hit a rough week I'll lose focus and then it will stop happening.  So my first project was the corner of the bedroom, this has been my donate pile for the last couple of months.

So it literally took me like 20 minutes to go through, make sure everything was clean, fold it up and pack it in bags.

So now that corner looks like this....

So I've decided two bags a month will work just fine for me.  Below is my next project.

I know...it's a nightmare! 

I only grabbed one thing from the donate pile.  This cookie jar, I cannot help thinking that it's a blank slate and it could be something great, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

So, check out the original 52 bags in 52 weeks.  The link is right here.

Later~
Cyn

How I've been Spending my time

This is how I've been spending my free time lately.

First of all, I haven't taught myself anything.  It has been the most frustrating couple of days I have had in a very long time.  My short stubby fingers are being very uncooperative.  But I will not give up. 

~Cyn

Old Man Winter Has Arrived, Are you ready for him?

My least favorite time has arrived, winter.  With living in Chicago you have to be prepared for anything.  Last year was a terrible year with the blizzard thing and since I have an actual driving commute this year, I need to get ready.  I have a pretty good commute, well traveled, nice roads, but if I have learned anything from last year, it doesn't matter, you can still get stuck.  Just ask all those people from Lake Shore Drive.

Now I have the basics in my car, jumper cables, and whatnot, but for winter I felt like I needed to be prepared alittle more.

Look who was helping Momma

So this is what I put together:

Parka - yes I do wear a winter coat, but this one is waterproof
Blanket - so I didn't run the heat to much and run out of gas
Extra Hat and Extra Gloves - both big enough to fit over the ones I wear every day
Water - hopefully I won't need that much
Candy Bars - just in case I get hungry or feeling alittle stress
Summer Mix CD - to help me envision warmer weather

So this is now in my trunk...Bring it on old man...I'm ready for you...

~Cyn

Makes Me Want to Shout for the Wrong Reasons

I really, really try not to use this blog as a means for complaining about everything that goes wrong or products that have not worked right or companies that have let me down. Sometimes I just think that you guys need to know, and sometimes something ruins your favorite shirt and you have to vent.
This Christmas my dear mother got Hubby so much needed new (did I mention that they are bright red?)Ohio State sweatpants, which he loves.  I finally got around to washing them this weekend.  I knew they would run, because it was the first time that they had been washed.  I decided it was time for me to use the Shout Color Catcher that had been collecting dust in my laundry room.

I took this with this intention of writing a glowing review...not so much...

Do you ever have like two white things that you decide can go in with the darks, especially when you are a using a product that is supposedly designed to for that very reason?  If you ever have that thought, just put the whites back in the hamper.  Because your favorite shirt will end up pink.

I know it's hard to tell, but it's pinkish...

Oh, there I feel better...

~Cyn

2012 - A Checklist

I’ve decided to ditch the resolutions this year and instead I’ve opted for a checklist of things I want to do in 2012. Mostly, because I’m terrible at keeping my resolutions, so I decided I need to do something different this year. So here we go…


o Learn to Crochet. I have a book and everything.

o See Kid Rock in Detroit, this of course is dependent on him playing Detroit this year.

o Learn to make homemade pie crust, I have a new/old cookbook I hope is going to help with that.

o Read all the books on my nightstand

That's alot right?

o Make it to Columbus to see alitte Urban renewal.

So I don’t have a lot on my list, 2012 is going to be a lot about being comfortable with who I am and figuring out where I want to go with that.

Wishing you all a wonderful 2012 – may you check everything off your list!

~Cyn