Not So Wordless Wednesday: BRRRRRR!!

Oh, what do you do in the wintertime when all the world is white?

(If you don't want to read this, just skip to the end. No hard feelings. Promise. The title says it all.)

Ok, so it's not exactly white here yet, just really, REALLY cold. AccuWeather said "feels like 12" but when that wind picked up it felt like single digits to me. Yes, I'm whining. And wishing I was a bird so I could migrate south til spring. My son concurred after his brisk walk home from the bus stop. I tried to tell him... but it's not cool for 11 year old boys to listen to their mothers or wear coats. I get it.

Problem is I am not a bear. Or a lover of freezing temps. I don't have that extra layer of blubber or hair to insulate me. You can mock me if you must, but this really is a flaw come wintertime in Iowa when you are only double digits in terms of weight. And it is only the beginning. I know we've been gifted with warmer than usual temps up until now, but I can't help but dread the colder temps ahead. My kids have already started name calling the shivering noises that exit my mouth.

So, I did the only thing I could think of to cheer me up. I trolled my old pics. Pics of cold, white, perfectly preserved days last winter.

If you are anything like me, I hope this perks you up too. This is a very condensed sneak peek of what we do in the wintertime when all the world is white...

I guess if it's going to be this cold it might as well snow so we can play. We certainly know how to do that. And boy did we have some fun white, winter excursions.

“Despair is most often the offspring of ill-preparedness.” -Don Williams, Jr

So, I'm digging out my thermals and long wool socks, hats and scarves, and anything warm. I'm gonna have a rockin fun time this winter, freezing temps and all. I deserve nothing less.

Watch out world...

Oh, and by the way, I'm a hoarder of "shut in, too cold to go outside snow day" kind of ideas.

In case you missed my Doughnut Snowmen, here's a card for the taking. A great way to pass some time. And yummy to boot.


Just right click and save as an image and print. Voila.

And check out this fun idea for days above 10 degrees. Ever spray paint snow with kool-aid? Now why didn't I think of that?

Got any fab winter ideas for kids? By all means, please share.

Ok, peeps. I'm done gabbin. If you wanna join my linky party add your link below. Then hop over to the other cool WWs, like...

Wordless Wednesday Headquarters

Live and Love... Out Loud

Parenting For Dummies

5 minutes for mom

Plus TONS more

You can also find a complete list of WW hosts over at Shibley Smiles. Let the games begin.

Project Smile: November

Before I start, I just want to invite you to join me. I'd love nothing more than to hear what is making you smile these days. I think smiles are contagious and can have a powerful ripple effect for good in our lives.

Also, I've been a bit MIA and am making up for lost time. If you missed DIY Christmas Cards, Freebies, and More or my Tasty Tuesdays Bloghop make sure to swing by. A little something for everyone.

Ok, back to Project Smile. Here goes. Ahem...

The days are shorter. The clouds are thicker. The air is cooler. And smiles are harder and harder to come by, at least for me. I think it's time to migrate south for the winter. But this is the exact reason that Project Smile was born.

Thankfully I have 2 crazy kids that know just the right tricks. I mean come on, how could this not make you smile?



Other things that curled my lips up this month include:

1. Not having to make Thanksgiving dinner. Doesn't it taste better when it isn't your own cooking? (Or is that just me?)

2. Celebrating 18 years with hubs by dining cheap and crashing early. What can I say? We're old.

3. Smelling soap in Little Man's hair. Trust me, these days are rare.

4. A giant zit finally kicking the bucket after 3+ weeks. So long, sucker.

5. Hubs making an organizer for my necklaces and not having to part with any. Yah me!

6. My sis giving me some sa-weet brand new Steve Madden boots. Score.

7. My new bangs rock. Makes life easier most days.

8. The kids being so quiet on the 8 hour drive home from KY that I nearly fell asleep driving. Seriously, quiet as church mice. Also rare. No worries- caffeine to the rescue.

9. Seeing my 11 year old boy skipping with neighbor kids. Skipping! Then getting his first zit. Gotta love those tween years.

10. Gopopgo's response to my deforestation post, "Deforestation? Did you really use -that- particular word to describe your hair removal? Dear God, Alicia. I hope they brought out the big guns for that!"

11. Pokey and Little Man completing what looks like a burial plot they call a hole. You'll have to just take my word for it. Plus gobs of other Reasons to Laugh.

12. And last but certainly not least... scared to even say it out loud but this is the furthest we've ever gotten in the home selling process. Here goes. Ready? Sitting down? We signed closing papers today with a notary and overnighted them to the title company. Keep your fingers crossed!! If you missed any of that story, you can get the latest version here. They tell us we could be done at week's end. Ok, exhale now Alicia.

That's all I've got for now. I plan to do this Project Smile the next few months. (I post the last day of the month and keep the linky open for a week.) And will end come spring. If you would like to join just grab the button and link up. No rules. Anything goes. Stories, lists, photos, you name it. I have yet to have one the same. Last month I shared a photo for every day. It was a little too reminiscent of my daily Project 365, but it is nice to look back and remember all the beautiful things in my life.

You can find my previous Project Smile posts here.

And by the way, it's never too late to smile. Despite all of life's hiccups and heartaches, there really are smiles to be found. Sometimes we have to open our eyes and actively seek them out, but they are there. I promise you that much.

I'm gonna keep it short because I haven't seen my hubs in a week and according to him I'm way too wordy anyways. And although I do believe that men's attention spans are about as much as a toddler at times (1 minute for every year rule), I'm in need of a little R&R, maybe even some TV time, so here's to few words and lots of smiles...


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This linky will be open for one week until Tuesday, December 7th at 11:59 PM. I know life is crazy busy right now, but all the more reason to stop and reflect on all the smiles. Please join me on my smile crusade.

Tasty Tuesdays Bloghop: Guest Inspired2Cook

Today I'm mixing it up here at Tasty Tuesdays and bringing you a special guest. This lady knows her way around a kitchen. Her blog is a foodie's dream, chock-full of fab recipes. Click here to learn more about her. She has an extremely busy schedule and still managed to squeeze in a couple great recipes for the holiday season. Without further delay I bring you Andrea.
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Hello! My name is Andrea and I’m a stay-at-home mom and author of Inspired2cook, a blog filled with recipes and cooking tips. I post new recipes 2-3 times a week…recipes that are easy enough for a new cook yet interesting enough for a “seasoned” cook. My hope is to inspire you to get in the kitchen!

When I’m entertaining, I try to do as much as possible ahead of time. This is especially true for the major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. As much as I love cooking, I don’t want to spend an entire holiday in the kitchen and miss out on precious family time. Here's a couple recipes that are delicious and can be made a day ahead of serving… WOOHOO!

-Roasted Carrots and Parsnips with Fresh Herbs, a perfect side dish for turkey.
-Pumpkin and Ginger Pound Cake, an excellent alternative to pumpkin pie.

I hope you’ll swing by and say “Hello” at Inspired2cook . Happy cooking!

Roasted Carrots and Parsnips with Fresh Herbs- recipe from The New Thanksgiving Table by Diane Morgan


Here’s one vegetable dish that doesn’t need any last minute attention from the busy Thanksgiving cook—and I'm thankful for that. These orange and ivory root vegetables, flecked with fresh herbs, complement turkey and are a colorful addition to the holiday table. Parsnips are woefully underused; once most people try them, they are surprised by how sweet and pleasantly complex they taste. Look for medium-sized, well-shaped parsnips that are firm. Avoid ones that are limp or spotted. Store them wrapped in paper towels inside a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. They are also terrific combined with potatoes for a pureed winter soup. Serves 8 to 10.

7 medium parsnips (about 2 1/2 pounds), peeled, trimmed, and cut into 3-inch-by-1/2-inch sticks
1 1/2 pounds tender carrots, peeled, trimmed, and cut into 3-inch-by-1/2-inch sticks
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

In a large roasting pan or 9-by-13-inch baking dish, toss the parsnips and carrots with the olive oil, dill, parsley, pepper, and salt. Roast, stirring once or twice, for about 45 minutes until the vegetables are tender when pierced with a knife and lightly caramelized in spots. Serve immediately, or cover and keep warm for up to 1 hour before serving.

Do Ahead: The roasted vegetables can be made up to 1 day in advance. Refrigerate, covered, and bring to room temperature 2 hours before reheating.

Pumpkin & Ginger Pound Cake
-recipe by Diane Morgan, Fine Cooking Magazine (October 2002)


This delicious twist on pumpkin pie will keep for two days at room temperature if wrapped tightly. You can also make it up to three weeks ahead: Wrap it first in plastic, then in foil, and freeze it; pull it out of the freezer four hours before serving.

Serves eight, with ample leftovers.

1/2 lb. (1 cup) unsalted butter, completely softened at room temperature; more for the pan
9 1/2 oz, (2 1/2 cups) cake flour; more for the pan
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. table salt
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup unsweetened pumpkin purée
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. minced fresh ginger
1 to 2 Tbs. confectioners’ sugar for dusting
1 qt. vanilla ice cream (optional)

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat the oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour a 10-inch tube pan or 12-cup bundt pan, preferably nonstick. Tap out any excess flour.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, and cloves; set aside. Separate the eggs, putting the yolks in a small bowl and the whites in a large mixing bowl.

Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, cream the butter on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the vanilla and the brown sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time. When all the brown sugar has been added, stop the mixer, scrape down the sides, and cream the mixture on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Use a fork to lightly beat the egg yolks; then, with the mixer on low speed, add them slowly to the butter-sugar mixture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, increase the speed to medium, and beat for 1 minute. On low speed, add the pumpkin purée, oil, and fresh ginger. Beat until smooth.

Using a rubber spatula, stir in one-third of the flour mixture, and continue stirring just until the flour disappears (don’t beat or overmix). Repeat, adding the remaining flour mixture in two more passes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and set it aside.

Add a pinch of salt to the egg whites and beat with an electric mixer just until they hold soft peaks. Gently but thoroughly fold them into the batter. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake until the cake springs back when touched with a fingertip and a pick inserted into the center of the cake comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 45 to 50 minutes. Set the pan on a rack to cool for 10 minutes. Carefully run a paring knife around the inside edge of the pan. Invert the cake onto the cooling rack and gently remove the pan. Let cool completely. (If you’re making the cake ahead, wrap it now). Just before serving, use a fine sieve to sift the confectioners’ sugar over the cake. Cut into 3/4-inch slices and serve with a scoop of ice cream, if you like.

Thanks Andrea for these wonderful recipes. That pumpkin pound cake is calling my name. If any of you would like to be a guest here at Tasty Tuesdays, please let me know via comment or email, lish@mchsi.com.

As always I appreciate the visit. Leave your recipe below and feel free to grab the button or the linky. Happy hoppin.



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DIY Christmas Cards, Freebies, and More.

It's that time of year again. Santa is on his way. And I have a list a mile long. A list only a mom can appreciate. One of those things just so happens to be the dreaded Christmas cards. Are you already updating your mailing list or procrastinating as long as humanly possible?

As organized as I am, I'm a bit of a procrastinator. Plus I have no idea where November went.

Good news though. Cards don't have to require tons of time, money, or even a graphic design degree.

Thought I'd share a few alternative ideas. And I'm not talking about the arts and crafts kind of DIY cards. I'm talking photos. You don't have to have a fancy camera or be a professional photographer...

Photos with Santa are always a hit. At our mall if I buy one 5x7 they let me take as many photos as I want. Add Ho, Ho, Ho- Merry Christmas in a cute font. Done.

You could do a collage (above) or just use one fun one. Our Santa was hamming it up.


Or add a festive frame to dress it up. You can find more frames here.


Take a photo of your decorated tree. Maybe a series of pics decorating it.


Or zoom in on an ornament.


If you are religious, dress up like the favorite nativity scene. This backdrop was at our church last year.


Use goodies you make with your kiddos.

By the way, you can find the recipe for these doughnut snowmen here.


Add text and what a fun card.

Put on some Santa hats and stop by a rustic barn. The kids were freezing, but these only took a few minutes.


Put your favorite ornament or tree out in the snow and snap a pic.


Or use a photo of a rustic country scene.


This was my card I used a couple years ago. The kids were having fun and I captured some great moments.


Write a letter to Santa.


Take a photo of a tree. I changed it to black and white and then inverted it in photoshop. Add text. And voila!


Here's one you can grab.


The possibilities are endless. Point is, it doesn't have to be a professional photo shoot to be a fab photo or Christmas card.

It's amazing what a little crop and text can do to a photo. And you can print them fairly inexpensively at most drug stores. Every now and again you can find an amazing deal from snapfish or another site for free printing. Snapfish had a 365 free photos with a $10 purchase that ended November 20th, but I know there are more out there. Keep your eyes peeled. Snapfish has a deal every day until Christmas. Today is 30% off everything with free shipping. HURRY.

Becky Higgins is also offering FREE card templates that you can download and slide in your own photos. Beautiful. Easy, peasy.

If you think you aren't a scrapbooker or able to do any of this, you should check out my guest post over at Our Mommyhood here.

And if you are still feeling a little less than confident you should check out these photography tips I shared over at Kludgy Mom. Chock-full of links that will be beneficial no matter where you fall on the spectrum.

And here is a 25 days til Christmas download I shared last year.

If you want to do a "25 days til Christmas" book or would like a scrapbook page to highlight the Christmas countdown, this is for you. It's formatted for an 8x8 sized book. If you would like to have it in a PSD file, you can click on the 4 shared link below and you will be able to customize it to your liking. Otherwise, you can save it and print it as a JPEG and manually attach your pictures. This will be my cover page and my goal is to plug a picture into each of the 25 squares. It will highlight traditions and preparations for our December days leading up to Christmas.



4 shared

credits:
K Pertiet Holiday Trees No5-1
K Pertiet LetterBox Christmas Blocks-7
K Pertiet December Memories LT No1
(from Designer Digitals)
fonts:
CK Bella
Depressionist Three

And here is the finished page from last year.


You can see larger versions of the photos here. A fun way to remember your family traditions.

I'd love to hear any tips you may have. Any favorite traditions? Card ideas? Are you on the ball or drowning in the crazy holiday hustle and bustle?

Wordless Wednesday: Just giving thanks.

Life is hard, but the world is a beautiful place.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tasty Tuesdays Bloghop: Mom's Pink Stuff

In need of one last minute side for that Thanksgiving feast? Got a winner for ya.

A secret ancient Danish recipe thanks to my mom-in-law. Ok, so not so Danish. Or ancient. Or secret anymore. But it is a fav of hubs. There is no feast complete without the pink stuff. And it has now been adopted by my own mother and family members, particularly when hubs is present.

This is the original copy you will find in my collection of recipes, written by the very hand of my sweet, Danish mom-in-law. It is a must have, dear to my hub's heart kinda recipe. One that we all treasure.



And let me apologize for the quality. Taken by an iphone and texted to another iphone by hubs himself. After a long 8 hour drive to KY with the kidlets I am exhausted. Luckily no kids were left on the side of the road and we all made it in one piece with sanity intact. But boy is that drive a killer.

So, back to my point. The photo. When all else fails, technology can sure be a lifesaver. And yes, this is the same girl that dropped the "I'm having an... all things techy burnout" on twitter. Even after I badmouth it to it's face- it still pulls through for me in my hour of need.

But because I'm kind I'll throw in an easier to read version.

Mom's Pink Stuff
1 large strawberry jello
1 can pineapple
2 cups buttermilk
1 12 oz cool whip

Heat jello and pineapple in sauce pan to boiling. Put in refrigerator to jell slightly. Then stir in buttermilk. Last, fold in cool whip. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Makes 9x13 pan.

The absolute best kind of recipe. Few ingredients. Thrown together in a pinch. A perfect addition to any meal. Sure to be a crowd pleaser. And if you'd ask hubs, anything with cool whip is a winner.

Feel free to link up any recipe you would like to share. I'm sure we all have some fab recipes on the brain with this being Thanksgiving week and all.

I have much to be thankful for and what a wonderful holiday that gives us reason to reflect on the many blessings in our lives. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday filled with family, fun, and much good food.

Deforestation: A Woman's Story

There are moments in life that define you. Surviving a bully. Overcoming a phobia. Giving birth to your first child.


But today I want to talk about a recent one. Enduring laser hair removal.


It has come to my attention that not all are created equal, contrary to what you may have heard- particularly when it comes to hair.


We live in a society that has very high standards when it comes to hair on a woman.


Roots and dead ends are ugly. And should be addressed on a regular basis.


Frizzy, unruly, dull hair is a sign of poor hair hygiene.


And all other hair on the body should be removed as frequently as possible.


This seems an unreasonable standard for a busy mother and wife, at least this one.


Keep the house tidied, get the bills out on time, have dinner on the table, kids to all activities, laundry done, nails pristine, look beautiful for hubs, oh- and hair removed around the clock.


That is where my big beef comes into play. Because like I said, we are not all created equal. Were you aware that there are actually some women out there that rarely have to shave their pits and/or legs? And I’m not talking about hairless people. I’m talking people that were gifted with the gene that makes hair only grow occasionally.


Then there’s me. I shave my pits before my workout. By the time I dress, drive to the gym, workout, and return home 2.2 hours later I have already grown enough stubble that I shave- again. And although not quite as obvious, my leg hair could also be removed on a bi-daily basis.


Please tell me, how does one keep up with this insane hair schedule and get anything else done?


For a while I was doing regular Brazilian waxing treatments. But they only last for a couple weeks and then the annoying hair is back.


So, I did what any sane woman would have done, I enquired about laser hair removal. A little pricey and possible risks.


But after years of being tormented with hair, hair, and more annoying hair…


When I heard about a new nurse practioner that started doing this via a close friend, it was time. She was cheaper than the local clinics offering the treatment and it seemed a no-brainer.


I’ve only had two treatments. The first was the bikini area. The most annoying area of all, particularly those few months of summer when the kids expect me to live in a swimsuit.


But it wasn’t until the 2nd treatment that I decided to bite the bullet and get my pits done as well.


How bad could it be, right? I mean, I’ve already done my most intimates down there. Yeah, it was more painful than anticipated, but nothing can get much worse.


Those were my last thoughts before she started shooting that laser into my pit. Every swear word my mind could muster flooded my brain all at once. And words I didn't register. The pain was off the charts. Worse than anything imaginable. Rubberband snapping my butt. And this from a woman that has given birth not once, but twice.


To make matters worse was that my “stubble” was much longer than realized and with each excruciating zap of that laser the hair actually burned to a crisp. I smelled of how I imagine a morgue to smell. Like I was being incinerated. And mixed with the pain- there were no words. I gritted my teeth. I squeezed my eyes shut. And I dreamed of an exotic beach with waves and blue skies and… but the PAIN and the SMELL were unbearable. Breathe, Alicia.


And just when I couldn’t take even one more beam, she was done. Holy freaking PAIN!!!


The bad part about the laser, besides the price and the pain- which we have already established is not in my head- is the fact that it takes the average person about 5 treatments to remove all unwanted hair from a general area.


It wasn’t until yesterday that it hit me. When did I last shave my pits? Seriously. I couldn’t remember.


I know I did it right after, well a couple days after the rash and burning went away. Let’s be real. That kind of pain is going to leave a small mark. And in the last few weeks I can only remember one other time and there was hardly any hair.


I checked yesterday and there were only a few stray hairs. And they were soft, hardly recognizable, and easy to remove.


Hallelujah!! Happy day! It was NOT for NAUGHT. Turns out the pain and anguish was worth it. I’m practically hair free. And only one treatment. A miracle?


So, for all of you out there suffering with unwanted hair that seems to need shaved around the clock… I highly recommend you save up your money and gumption. And seriously consider going under the laser. The results are unbelievable.

Not So Wordless Wednesday Linky Party: Those Good Ol' Days

With Thanksgiving so close, I have family on the brain. I spent a few minutes rummaging through old photos with my daughter today.

Unfortunately there are few photos to show for my 37+ years alive. And even fewer of me and my siblings together. Maybe someone has a more formal photo of all of us, but I couldn't recollect one and I most certainly don't have anything of the sort in my possession.

Mom says Dad was always better at taking photos. Truth be told, I don't think he could ever really see. And interestingly enough, I don't have even one memory of him holding a camera. And Mom was too busy tending to her six kids to do anything, let alone think about snapping photos. No hard feelings, it was just the way it was.

I was a middle child. (12 years younger than the oldest and 4 years older than the youngest. And there is an 8 year gap between number 2 and 3.) Hand-me-downs were all I knew and private space was nonexistent. We gardened. We shared. We worked hard and played harder.

My other cherished memories are strewn together one crappy photo at a time... (Now you know why I am passionate about documenting my kid's lives.)

I am the far left. My best guess is that those curls came from sponge rollers. They were around then, right?


I am the one with my head turned. Figures.


I am the one sitting on Grandma's lap.


I am the angel. (Couldn't be more fitting. Wink, wink.)


I am the third from the right. No mocking. Those are sa-weet bangs.


I am smack in the middle with the light turquoise top. I've lost count, but this next year (2011) we have another family reunion planned in OBX, NC, and if I count correctly there are 31 grandkids. I believe 3 of those are great-grandkids. Don't quote me. Getting nearer to that 50 number for my family with every passing year. It sure makes our get togethers crazy and a little pricey. (Try finding a home for that many people.) The beach is always a hit with all those kids though.

This year my father celebrated his 70th birthday with all of his kids by his side. It was a rare occasion to just hang with my siblings and parents. Like the good ol' days.

Unprimped, Unplanned, and Unprofessional... I'm sure this photo will be treasured for years to come.

I am second from the right next to my little brother who is 18 months younger than myself. The one that towers over all of us. He may or may not belong to us. (Only kidding, bro.)

The Family - “That dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to.” -Dodie Smith

Happy WW! Thanks for stopping by. Any Thanksgiving plans? Hope your week ahead is filled with good food and great family and friends. And check out my family's Turkey Hash recipe if you missed it. A great way to use up that leftover turkey.

Make sure to stop by a few of these other Wordless/Wordful Wednesdays if you have a chance.

Wordless Wednesday Headquarters

Live and Love... Out Loud

Parenting For Dummies

5 minutes for mom

You can also find a complete list of WW hosts over at Shibley Smiles. Let the games begin.

Tasty Tuesdays Bloghop: Lish's Own Kid Friendly Chili

Here it is folks. My own chili. And my kids dig it. I do realize that not all kids are made the same. And some people loathe legumes. And yes, my chili does include legumes- just to be clear. It's reminiscent of the Wendy's chili flavor, which is a mild flavor (if you aren't in the states, it's a burger chain) minus the giant chunks of hamburger. I like my meat broken up into tiny pieces. And I like my chili to be a little on the soupy side so there is something to soak up in your cracker or corn bread.



I love soups and chilis because they are so forgiving, even for me. And they are perfect on a cold autumn or wintry day. Did I mention they are predicting snow here this week?

These are the things I typically throw in...



1 lb Hamburger or Ground Turkey (cooked and broken up into small pieces)
1 can chili beans (they add a little flavor)
1 can pinto or kidney beans (I prefer pinto if I have them on hand)
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies (I like Rotel)
1 package of seasoning (whatever brand works- I normally get original or mild flavor then I add a little of my own cumin and chili powder to taste towards the end)

Throw it all together and simmer until you achieve the desired flavor. Easy Peasy. My favorite kind of meals.


And the best part? It's great for leftovers. Warm it up, add some cheese, and voila.





Oh, and on a sidenote- I've had many people tell me that they've tried the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins or are planning to. So, I thought I'd let you know that I made an addendum to my last week's post. The next Martha shared some of her very own tips.

Addendum from the NEXT Martha herself: I have never added the almonds, I dont think they need it. I use semi sweet chips but this last time I used bitter sweet and they were quite extraordinary. The key to moistness is to not over mix or over bake them. I also use foil muffin papers. The smallest can of pumpkin I have found is twice as much as the recipe calls for so I always add about 1/4 cup extra, I think that makes them more moist as well.

Another tip: load the batter into a large Ziploc, seal it and cut one corner about an inch. Perfect way to fill the muffin cups without a mess.

You can also find it along with the original post here.

Happy Tuesday Ya'll. Thanks for stopping by. As always, if you want to link up grab the button and happy hoppin! We had a great turnout last week. Lots of fab recipes.

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Week 45 {365} Reasons to Laugh

Went to Little Man's concert. Had to postpone dinner and fight for a parking spot, but made it in a timely fashion for the perfect spot. Or so I thought...



Then I went about the task of locating my child in the crowd. I had to think for a minute.



Oh yeah. He was wearing this shirt. Trust me, it was better than the alternative.

Still couldn't spot him. Then I realized he must be smack in the middle. Behind the lovely conductor.


Hrrumph.

But wait... he is moving.



Hmm...


And a closer look...


So, I fought the crowd to have a lovely view of the top of my kid's head. What can I say? Regardless it made Little Man happy. Plus I had a good chuckle.

When you have kids- exotic, luxurious lives are a thing of fantasy. I'm livin the humble, real life of a mom. Today we organized the garage, all kids helped, mine or not. Friday night we played chutes and ladders. My son is going through an "I don't flippin care" phase that makes me nuts at times.

And there are rarely dull moments.

Little Man is out sculping clay, so he says. But when I peeked outside to check up on him I spied my 11 year old boy skipping with some neighbor kids. Yesterday I found a bowl of mud on my front porch.



He wanted me to sign a consent form for him to build a stage in the basement. Oh, and he's diggin a hole to China in his fort across the street. But photos aren't allowed until it's completed.

With Pokey we are never short on laughs. She informed me this week that "apple juice is so yesterday". And were you aware that "you can tell if someone is popular by the way they wiggle their butt"? Accordingly to my 9 year old it is fact.

And when I went out to clean out the garage I found a pile of kids hanging in the boat jamming to Black Eyed Peas.


Gotta love em.

I've been down with my 80 year old hip. Turns out I'm a bit of a freak. Not exactly symmetrical. And running might not be the exercise of choice for me. Sigh.

So, I'm thankful for kids that give me reason to laugh.

Not many pics this week. But the few I got speak volumes about our life. And as I get older I realize it's those less than stellar, imperfect photo op kinda days that we will remember when all is said and done.

Happiness doesn't come in a perfect package.


Hubs made an appearance in the nick of time for Little Man's concert. (Top left photo.)

And my Turkey Hash was featured over at Kludgy Mom yesterday. You can check it out here.