Set Your DVR: I'm Going to Be on CBS's The Talk This Thursday



Photo by Heather Wines/CBS)



You may have heard that New Orleans is hosting this year's Superbowl!  It's all this town has been TALK-ing about for months. 

And for the first time in Superbowl week history, a daytime talk show is broadcasting live from an outdoor venue.  The Talk has set up camp in Jackson Square where they will welcome guests like Neil Patrick Harris, Craig Ferguson, Daniel Dae Kim, James Brown, Vanessa Williams, oh, and ME!

A few weeks ago, a producer from the show reached our to the founders of the New Orleans Moms Blog (for which I am a contributing writer) in search of a Nola mom who loves football, loves to entertain on gameday, is enthusiastic, and wouldn't mind being on live tv.  What do you know, that description fits me to a tee.  I was introduced to the producer via email and asked to share a little bit about myself and what a Sunday is like in our house.  I was also asked to share one of my signature tailgating recipes.

Why, you might ask...  Because they were choosing two finalists to compete in a cooking segment on the January 31st episode.  OMG!!!!!  What could I possibly sumbit that would be award worthy and contain a required secret (I can't share that until Friday) ingredient.  I thought and thought about it, and it was not until around midnight when I woke up to the sounds of Jane's coughing that the light bulb went off.  I submitted my recipe and held my phone for days until I finally heard something from the producer...

Two weeks ago, I got a call telling me that I was one of the two moms who whose recipes had been chosen for the segment!!!!  I was so excited I wanted to run around the neighbor shouting "Hooray!"  Instead, I calmly explained that I was just so happy to be able to be a part of the New Orleans Superbowl experience. 

So, on Thursday morning, a car service will arrive to my house to pick me up to take me to the set.  For just a few hours, I will get to experience the magic of Hollywood.  I hope you'll join me on Friday when I share with you a recap of my experience on live tv!!

Tasty Tuesdays: Weight Watchers Easy Chili Mac

Photo and recipe courtesy of Weight Watchers

Well, friends, tomorrow I will be going to a Weight Watchers weigh in for the first time in a long time.  I have a pretty good idea about where I'll be weighing in, and my goal weight will be about 20 pounds lower than that.  Eeeshh!!!  

In preparation, I spent Sunday looking up some great recipes to make for the week.  I then made my list and bought only what was on there.  Woohoo!!!  

I even planned for lunches.  Planning for lunch is my weakness.  I always feel like I am having to prepare two meals to make lunch after I make dinner.  When I found this recipe for WW's chili mac, I couldn't help but think it would be perfect for a weeknight meal and leftover lunch.  We ate it tonight, and it was scrumptious!  Jane even ate a little!!  

You absolutely must try it!

Ingredients

1 spray of cooking spray

2/3 lb. lean ground beef

2 medium uncooked onions, chopped

29 oz. canned stewed tomatoes, Mexican style (undrained)

2.5 cups canned tomato juice

4 oz. canned green chili peppers, diced, drained

2 tsp chili powder

1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni

31 oz. canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

• Coat a large skillet with cooking spray; set over medium-high heat. Cook beef and onion until meat is browned, stirring and breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks, about 10 minutes; drain off fat.
  
  
• Stir in undrained tomatoes and their juice, tomato juice, chili peppers and chili powder; bring mixture to a boil.
  
  
• Stir in macaroni and beans; return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until macaroni is tender, about 15 minutes. Spoon chili into bowls and sprinkle with cheese. Yields about 1 cup chili and 1 tablespoon cheese per serving.

A Christmas Miracle: Jane's First Steps

On Christmas night, we witnessed Jane take her very first steps.  We had been practicing all day, but right when we would let go, she would plop herself down on her bottom.  We have videos of half a dozen failed attempts.  Just when we thought she was too tired to try again, she became very interested in the silver wrapper of my dad's chocolate bar.  Using it as baby bait, we lured her into taking her first steps.  I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as we did.  I think we've watched this video over a hundred times by now.

I didn't intend to take a winter break, but I have to say it was nice to spend family time here in New Orleans and then a week in NYC without a laptop, well, on my lap.  I'll post an update of our family friendly NYC adventure tomorrow!!

Dear Santa, Love Jane

Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is a box!

Love, Jane

Heavy Heart

Today, something as ordinary as picking Jane up from school seemed like an absolute miracle.  To hold her tightly against me as I kissed her face and wiped cheerio residue from her face, I felt like the luckiest person in the world.  There are mothers and fathers out there who would give anything to be doing the same.  My heart breaks for them.  I will go to sleep tonight uneasy and uncertain about the world we live in.  I will pray for them to find grace and guidance so that they may one day find their way back to experiencing something ordinary.

With peace and love...

Merry Christmas Cards!

Before having a baby, I could never get it together enough to send out Christmas cards.  Now, it is something I look forward to the second Halloween passes.  We recently had Jane's one year photo session and decided to choose a picture from each of her sessions for our card this year.  It is amazing to see how much she has grown and changed since this time last year. 

From our family to yours, I truly wish you the very Merriest of holidays and the best of things to come in the new year.

 As always, I have to thank to very talented ladies for making these cards happen.  A million thanks to Jennifer Zdon for being the incredible photogapher that she is and to Lauren Alsop for designing yet another incredibly inspired creation. 

Five Fabulous Hostess Gifts

Is your calendar packed with festive holiday fetes?  If you're like me, you barely have time to catch your breath between office gatherings, birthdays parties, cocktail soirees.  I always feel like I'm running out the door without a gift fit for the hostess of the parties we're attending.

Here's a few fun ideas that you can put together pretty quickly that are sure to make your host or hostess merry!

Thanks a Latte!  

Bring along a little pick me up.  Down here in New Orleans, we are partial to our local purveyors such as CC's.  I love this holiday duo of CC's ground bread pudding and ground holiday jazz.  

Something Sweet!

Fresh's Sugar lip balm is the perfect cure for lips chapped by the winter weather.  I could keep one in every nook and cranny.  

Light the Way!

You can never be certain that the same fragrance you spend hours enjoying at home will be appreciated by your hostess.  But, who wouldn't love these beautiful Florentine Deer Pillar Candles by Pottery Barn.

Seeing Stars

I have been in love with these coasters for years.  If you haven't seen them in person, you should run to your nearest Anthropologie to check out the Celestial Coaster Set.  When you know people will be putting their glasses down throughout the evening, these would be perfect and pretty!

That's a Wrap

Check out Loomed Nola's Fractal Peskirs.  These amazing Turkish linens are absolutely gorgeous.  I've had to stop myself at four of these guys that we rotate through our kitchen.  The color choices are to die for too.  My favorite way to gift them is to wrap them around a bottle of your favorite olive oil or bottle of wine.  It's two gifts in one!

I hope this provides you a new idea and sets your holiday social season off on the right foot!

What about you?  What's your go to hostess gift?