Those of you wondering where I have been for the last five months, I have been locked away working on a website idea that I am very excited to be launching this spring.  The website is called ConsumeU.com and the basic premise is providing user recommendations on items such as movies, TV shows, books, websites and more.  Users of the website will provide ratings on items from the categories previously described and based on their ratings, the site will provided recommendations generated from preferences of like minded individuals.  In addition to great recommendations, users will also be able to connect with the friends and family and share in the experience.  This is where the site gets really fun because in addition to being able to ask your friends and family about items that interest you, you will also have a CU Score with all website users.  The CU Score is a score from 0-100 helping identify who you have the most and least in common with based on all of your responses.  Ever wonder how similar your preferences are with your friends, parents or children?  You will be able to find out all of that here.

The ConsumeU website is themed around University/Education and has a cool professor that will help you out along the way. The more items you vote on, the more credits you receive and grade levels you complete.  There are a number of fun features like the ability to share items via Facebook, invite friends and family, plan an activity section, fun Professor’s Blog and more.  It is an entertaining website for all users and age levels.

Those of you reading this post I could really use your help.  If this sounds like something you are interested in please help me out by doing one of the following:

1) Those of you on Facebook, please become a fan of ConsumeU. 

2) If you are on Twitter please follow ConsumeU. 

Invite  those in your social network to become fans on Facebook and Twitter as well!  There will be fun posts and giveaways after launch.

3) Check back at Hayesvision.com or ConsumeU.com for updates on the website launch.

When the site goes live if you can spare 10-30 minutes, sign up for an account and play around.  I would appreciate any honest feedback on the site after it goes live.  If you like the site, I would be forever indebted to you if you would share it with your friends and social network.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks in advance for your support!

Below are a bunch of pictures from the Mad Hatter Tea Party baby shower I threw yesterday.  Many of the same pics are on Facebook with captions, but there are more pics here and most are self explanatory!

Emily: “Hunter, want to go downstairs and make some chocolate muffins?”

Hunter: “YES! I will be the SOUS chef!”

O-kay.

Emily just purchase the Wii Active game by EA Sports that we tested out for the first time tonight.  What we realized after the 15 minute easy workout was that “Wii” aren’t very active.  It is a pretty cool game though.

Hunter and I were having some of Emily’s delicious spaghetti at dinner tonight.  Hunter was not interested in the noodles so I helped him sort out the dish to get to the meat sauce.  When I asked Hunter what he like more the noodles or the meat he said “more neat!”

I keep meaning to share some fun recipes we have tried lately, and this seems like the best place to share them with everyone at once.  I will tell you what modifications I made as well, in case you are like me and see some parts of the recipe that seem like something you would not do!  These are all from Rachael Ray Magazine, which I love.  So many great ideas.  Even if you do not love Rachael, these recipes are good and you don’t have to hear her say “Yum-o!”  Soon I will post some non-Rachael recipes.  Enjoy!

Rachael Ray Mag Citrus Stacked Pork Burger: A big hit.  I used ground turkey because I couldn’t find the pork.  Also, only used one grapefruit and that tasted fine.  I burned the sauce of honey and balsamic the first time around, so be careful that “bubbling” doesn’t turn into charring.  Patrick really loved these.  Oh, I also just broiled the burgers because we don’t have a grill pan.  For the scallions, I cut them up first, then cooked them briefly in a really hot pan with a little olive oil.  Screw the grill pan.

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/lunch-recipes/Citrus-Stacked-Pork-Burger

 Rachael Ray Mag Stick Em Up Shrimp: Delish.  As good as Chinese takeout. I served with brown rice and here again, I sauteed the shrimp instead of grilling.

 http://www.rachaelraymag.com/Recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipes/no-recipe-zone-recipes/Peach-Jam-Glazed-Shrimp-with-Spicy-Peanut-Butter-Dip

Rachael Ray Mag Toasted Bread Salad with Salami: One of Patrick’s all time favorites.  He love love loves this.  It’s also perfect to take for a picnic.

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/salad-recipes/Toasted-Bread-Salad-with-Salami

Rachael Ray Mag Chicken Pasta: As the name suggests, not the most creative of recipes, but it is a crowd pleaser.  We can all eat this, and I don’t have to make something different for H.  Also, it’s really easy if you have frozen rotisserie chicken that you picked apart when you had the time, so this comes together very quickly with that already done.

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipes/on-hand-ingredients-recipes/Chicken-Pasta

Rachael Ray Mag Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Roll-ups: These were so easy and seemed SO fancy that Patrick asked incredulously, “You MADE these?  Like, from scratch?  Not out of a box?”  Yeah… I took it as a compliment and not an insult.  *raised eyebrow*

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/dinner-recipes/Sun-Dried-Tomato-Chicken-Roll-Ups

 Rachael Ray Mag Cracker and Parmesan Crusted Fish Fillets: We both loved this one.  Delicious and kind of a different twist on plain fish.  I didn’t really fry it per the instructions… I used a little more oil than normal but certainly not enough to coat the entire fillet.

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipes/rachael-ray-30-minute-meals/Cracker-and-Parmesan-Crusted-Fish-Fillets

Rachael Ray Mag Pesto: Made this using our fresh crop of basil, growing under our Topsy Turvy for maximum watering potential.  I made it to use in the next recipe.  I did not have pine nuts so I used almonds per the internet suggestions.  Eh… I would try for pine nuts next time.

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/dinner-recipes/Pesto-2

Rachael Ray Mag Summer Shrimp Rolls: Delicious and versatile… could take on a picnic or serve as a salad.  Different twist on shrimp salad.

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/lunch-recipes/Summer-Shrimp-Rolls

Rachael Ray Mag Pan Seared Chicken with Grapefruit Butter Sauce: This was pretty good but a little time consuming.  I wouldn’t make this now except maybe on a weekend when Hunter was otherwise occupied with Patrick.  I added a bunch of butter (Smart Balance) to the potatoes because the only seasoning called for was the parsley.  Boring.  It was pretty good, but sectioning the grapefruit took a while since I am not a pro!  My mom suggested buying the grapefruit in the jars in the produce section… genius.

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/dinner-recipes/Pan-Seared-Chicken-with-Grapefruit-Butter-Sauce

Rachael Ray Mag Eastern Shore Crab Slaw:  In the magazine, this was positioned as a main dish for under $10.  While that may be that you could make it for $10, I do not recommend this as a main dish.  It was a lot of slaw taste, and I think there is a reason that is normally served as a SMALL side.  Patrick didn’t mind it, but we both agreed it would be a much better side dish… maybe alongside a burger of some sort?  Good flavor, but I would add more hard boiled eggs as well to give it more interest.  I bought the bag of “coleslaw” mix in the produce dept instead of ending up with two half-heads of cabbage leftover.

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipes/dinner-for-10-dollars-or-less-recipes/Eastern-Shore-Crab-Slaw

 Rachael Ray Mag Waldorf Salad Style Penne: This was very good.  Patrick and my dad both loved it, and my dad remarked that it would be a good one for a “pot luck” or work picnic.  If you don’t LOVE cumin, I would maybe cut back on the amount used, because it comes out VERY cuminy.  It is a neat salad to serve for a luncheon that would not be something everyone has seen before.  Also, there is a lot of mushy texture here, so be sure you pick firm nectarines.  Mine were borderline spoiled and VERY mushy… next time I would know better!

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipes/on-hand-ingredients-recipes/Waldorf-Salad-Style-Penne

Last Wednesday, Hunter and I visited my old friend Fireman Dan at his fire station. When we arrived, Hunter was just up from a short nap and was in a raging bad mood. Fireman Dan took us inside the station right away and all the guys were great about talking to Hunter and snapping him out of his bad mood. They even noticed that he wore his special “Fire Chief” shirt to visit them!

After we saw the inside of the fire station, we went outside to see the trucks and spray the hoses. Hunter wasn’t so sure about the hose situation, but once he got to flip the lever, he got a little more into it. I wish I had a picture of the moment the firefighter asked if he wanted to take a ride in the fire truck! He was all over it! Fireman Dan took us around the block in the fire truck and even let Hunter blow the big horn a bunch of times. I only felt a little sorry for the people in the neighborhood… Hunter’s face was priceless. He told me it was “only a little bit loud.” When we got back to the station, Hunter hopped down and pointed to the ambulance and said, “Ride in that.” Fireman Dan was a champ and said of course… so we went around the block again, this time in the front of the ambulance! Now every time we see a firetruck or ambulance, Hunter thinks we can just get out of our car and go for a ride! When we got back in the ambulance, Hunter went around and around the trucks exploring all their levers and buttons. Fireman Dan showed him all the gear and Hunter declared the Jaws of Life, “Super cool!!”

Our visit ended when the firemen got a call and had to leave in both trucks! We got to stand outside and watch them zoom out of the station with the lights flashing. As they turned onto the road, the sirens went on – what an exciting end to our fun visit!

Thank you, Fireman Dan! Hunter talks about his rides in the ambulance and fire truck every day, especially when he is scared to go to bed and we tell him to think about happy things!   I will post some pictures soon of the time I took my nephew Alex to the SAME fire station, TEN years ago, when Fireman Dan was working, and he was awesome then, too!  Thank goodness for the fireman connection… it makes me look like a cool aunt and mommy!

For those of you who have yet to hop aboard the tomato planting craze are missing the pure enjoyment that is the Topsy Turvy!  We planted our tomato plant April 26th, 2009 and the plant has just taken off.  A few weeks back I had allotted time this weekend to take down the Topsy, pour the dead plant into the garbage and find somewhere to store this thing for 12 years until we tried it again.  I guess I will have to move the date back for that ceremony.

For those of you with a black thumb like myself, I highly recommend getting one of these things.  It says it is impossible to over water the plant which works well for my attentiveness and consistency.  So far we have about a dozen or so tomatoes that are making their way toward deliciousness.  We will photograph their final resting place in a salad of some sort.  Anyway, gardening is fun, at least for this week!