Morning "announcements"

Good morning, all. I have several things I want to share so thought I'd ring the bell and share with you the morning announcements. - If you live in the DC area, Whole Foods' special one-day sale today is Grass Fed Ground Beef for just $4.99/pound. Make some burgers, meatballs (I'm going to make a batch of our favorite meatballs; see Em-i-lis Recipes if you're interested) meatloaf, whatever. Great price for a great product! For folks elsewhere, check your local WF to see if they are participating in this special.

-Great wine: the 2005 deTrafford Cabernet Sauvignon from Stellenbosch, S. Africa. It is divine, but note of warning: drinking this on an empty stomach will project you to the Moon of Tipsy at mach12. So, enjoy this but do so with a hearty meal such as steak. For DC peeps, Pearson's Wine Store on Wisconsin is having its annual Labor Day sale: 30% off of everything. They carry deTrafford so if you're down that way, stop by and grab a bottle or two. Delish!

-Let's hear it for Dulcet Morrocan mustard making another dish even better. It's great with the flank steak from last night and will make a mean sandwich for lunch today. The spices in it really accentuate those in the steak marinade. Here's my sandwich plan: flank steak, Dulcet mustard, arugula, oven-roasted tomatoes, and grilled/toasted baguette.

Almost-disaster, gym high, dinner

I often put my wedding ring by the sink when I wash my face. Obviously I'm not going to leave it there, and it couldn't fit into our drain, so I've never given it much thought. Dumb mom move! Oliver loves to stand on the toilet, which in our 1939 house is RIGHT NEXT TO the sink (what's up with some aspects of older architecture? why no ceiling lights? why bathrooms in which you can pee, wash your feet, and wash your hands simultaneously?), while I put on make-up and such. He asks for lotion, rubs it on his legs, tells me he might use make-up "when me older", etc. It's nice time together although I do sometimes wish for bathroom privacy. Anyway, the other day, I hear a kerplunk, and I said "Ol, did you drop something in the garbage can?" He says, very matter-of-fact and in his hilarious accent, "ya ring, Mom." People, can you imagine if he hadn't told me, or if the ring had fallen on a tissue and I'd not heard it drop? It would be in a DC dump by now, and I'd be crushed. Not to mention that I told T pretty much the night we got married that if he didn't lose his wedding band within the first year I'd be shocked, so wouldn't that be a bust to have it put back on "i'm so responsible" me. Thank you universe for letting that ring make a sound and my son be so endearingly honest. I have been to the gym 2 days in a row. Years ago, this was my norm, but now I feel as if I deserve a gold star. I feel awesome! I feel like I've graduated from the weeds that are the first two years of each child's life with you! This attitude could be totally different tomorrow, but I'm going to go on with my feeling-victorious self right now and raise a glass.

The steak has been marinating for four+ hours now and has taken on a lovely, dark brown hue, thanks, I'm sure, to the soy sauce and brown sugar. T's on his way home with romaine, and I'm about to toss up a tomato bruschetta. What day is it? Does it matter?

Peppermint oil

If you do not already use peppermint oil for sore muscles or for migraine-related neck/shoulder stiffening, let me praise its efficacy and encourage you to try some. Not only do you smell nice, in a candy sort of way, but it really loosens things up and alleviates tension and discomfort. You can get peppy oil at Whole Foods and a natural goods stores. Just make sure that you buy from a reputable source- that holds for all herbs, vitamins, oils and supplements! There's a lot of nasty stuff out there. Just recall melamine-infused baby formula in China. YIKES!