kristin's blog

In Italy, scampi are shrimplike crustaceans known elsewhere as Dublin Bay prawns or langoustines. American cooks use the same term to describe sautéed jumbo shrimp in a buttery, white wine sauce. This version is more garlicky and saucy than most, and is delicious served over pasta, rice, or even grits.

Jumbo or extra-large shrimp, 11⁄2 pounds
All-purpose flour, 1⁄2 cup
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Olive oil, 2 tablespoons, plus more as needed
Unsalted butter, 12 tablespoons
Garlic, 3 cloves, minced
Dry white wine, 1⁄4 cup
Finely grated lemon zest, from 1 lemon
Fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons
Fresh flat-leaf parsley, 2 tablespoons finely chopped
Lemon wedges for serving
Makes 4 servings

Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tail segment intact. In a shallow bowl, stir together the flour, 1⁄2 teaspoon salt, and 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper.

I had an opportunity last weekend to go out of town for one evening with two of my girlfriends to the Outer Banks of North Carolina which is about an hour and a half from us. I have not been on an overnight trip with these girlfriends for 10 years, and it was in our pre-children days- so a quick day away from our family responsibilities was deserved and needed.

I almost didn't go for several reasons, but I felt I needed the girl time and a little break from the daily life of work, and motherhood.

We took off with our bags in hand and headed South. We hit a few outlet stores and we each found several great items. After that we went to dinner and by the time we were mid-way through dinner it was obvious we had begun to relax and were enjoying ourselves. We had great conversation and lots of laughs.

Earlier today I had to run to an appointment and when I got into my car, I realized I did not have my phone in my bag so I ran back inside. I searched the kitchen, my office and anywhere else I might have set it down.

After a quick search, I left without my phone and thought maybe it dropped behind my car seat. When I double checked, I was wrong-my phone was no where to be found.

A few hours later I started to get ready to go out to dinner with some girlfriends, I realized I really did not know where my cell was so I decided to call it to see if it was even in the house.

I call and it takes a minute but as I walk through the house I begin to hear my cell ringing. I go in the direction of the ringing and search the nearby counters and stools but nothing. Then I get closer to the sound and seriously freak out. My phone is in my trash can and I cannot even see it.

This past weekend my husband and I took our kids camping with 8 other families. We have three boys that are 7,5 and 2.5 years old and we knew it would be a busy trip. The evening we arrived we got the tent put up and cooked our dinner in the nick of time. A thunder storm came through and we sat in our car until it passed about an hour and a half later.

But the storm was a typical storm and once it passed we were ready to make a fire and roast marshmallows for smores.

The evening was relaxed and enjoyable.
As the night wore on and the clock hit 10pm my middle son went into the tent to bed. As the clock hit 11 my youngest and oldest kids went in to sleep.

Last week was my kids' Spring Break which meant no school for them and long days for me.

The weekend was exhausting with a Surprise Birthday Party for my brother Randy, and then Easter activities that went from 8am until 9;45pm (Church, then Easter Brunch and Games, and an Easter Dinner) between all of the family events.

And to our surprise the night was far from over. Just as I was getting ready to hit the hay around 11:45 I hear a coughing or choking sound from my boys' room. I thought it sounded like someone was going to be sick but when I got into the room I realized my 4.5 year old was coughing and having a very hard time breathing. I sat him up and he could not breathe well. I gave him Children's Benadryl and then tried the breathing mask w/ medicine (we have it for our youngest son).

My birthday was last month and my oldest son always asks if he gets to go to the store to buy me a gift.

I told him he has to talk to daddy about that, but I also tell him what would make me very happy to to get a special card and piece of artwork from each of my kids on my birthday.

So after school, I set up an area for my 3 kids to paint and gave them heavy weight art paper and asked them to paint me a picture for my birthday.

6 year old's painting

My 6,4, and 2 year old all painted me lovely pictures that I will put in frames and mount on the wall where we feature their best art pieces (their favorites and my favorites).

4 year old's painting

Secretly Dreaming of Being a Chippendale. Arm Up. Arm Down. Now Shake It!

So this week is sure to be filled with comfort foods and sweets. It is my birthday week and I have a few evening planned to be out on the town, and I am preparing myself for the transition to no sugar.

It will be a difficult month once I start on this journey but it is a journey I have tried with limited success several times and I know I have to kick the addiction to sugar for my health.
I have lots of red flags that tell me I really do need to cut out the sugar and the foods that act like sugar.
I have a brother and sister with Type 1 Diabetes that came on when they were in their late 20s, my dad has hypoglycemia and I have an enlarged thyroid and possibly some problems with blood sugar (doing the 3 hour blood glucose tolerance test and having insulin resistance tested this week).