Mommy Math

I need an ice cream cone.

Or a glass of whine wine.

Don't believe me?

Do the math:

toddler changing from two naps to one nap + Daylight Savings Time = preschooler raising eyebrows and saying with a grin, You're a funny mommy = (screaming + crying)baby/going for drive

Who needs a crib?

Mary Engelbreit's Nutcracker

I found it!

I've looked long and hard for a picture book of The Nutcracker that fulfilled the expectations of my childhood imaginings.

Over thirty years ago, my dance teacher and our moms escorted a bunch of little girls to see The Nutcracker ballet in Tulsa. I'd never seen anything so magical. The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy made a lasting impression.

My mother bought me a nutcracker ornament that day. The fur is sparse. The nose is gone. But I still love my nutcracker prince as much as any little girl.

Click here to see a few pages of Mary Engelbreit's beautifully illustrated version of the story. You won't be disappointed.

Writer's Wednesday: Literary Boyfriends

Long before I wanted a real boyfriend, I juggled several from literature. And what's better than a literary boyfriend? A literary love triangle!

No matter who the main character chooses, I always choose one similar to my first love: Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind.  That other guy Ashley Wilkes? Ew! Rhett may have been no "gentleman," but at least he stood up for what he believed and fought for it. My eleven-year-old brain read between the lines and wanted Ashley to stop being such a wimp about life and man up already.

How about you? Who are your favorite literary boyfriends?

To get the conversation started, let's talk about famous young adult titles that are already movies or will be soon.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Edward vs. Jacob
No contest! Edward is just too polished (like cold marble, I know)--and whiny--for my tastes. (Get it? Vampire pun there.) I prefer the warmth and personality of Jacob. He's a fighter.

The Selection by Kiera Cass
 Prince Maxon vs. Aspen
This one throws a wrench in the whole bad boy thing.  I prefer Maxon over Aspen.  Is it because he's a prince? Nope. I think it's because he really wants what is best for her, is willing to stand up to his father for his own beliefs, and doesn't whine about circumstances.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Peta vs. Gale
It's always been you, Gale.  Always. You're a rebel. A fighter.  Peeta...okay, in the book, you are not the wimp the movie makes you. You are your own kind of hero. You know how to use your brain and teach me, I mean Katniss, a thing or two. You save the heroine a few times yourself. Without you, she wouldn't have survived. But, Peeta, I'd rather be friends. Let's have dinner. You bring the bread.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Four vs. ???
So, there's no love triangle here, but I still wanted to mention my most recent literary boyfriend. 

Who is your literary boyfriend?  Do you prefer books with love triangles or not?

Tasty Tuesday: Southwest Chicken Chili

Tired of rich, savory holiday foods?  Add a little spice to your life and check out this chicken chili recipe!

The last time I made the chili was Halloween, so the skull and crossbones is not a commentary on the contents of the bowl.

The ingredients can be kept on hand at all times, so it's easy to whip up for gatherings.  Each year, we have a chili cook off family reunion and...ahem...I bring home an empty container. It's also a snap to take to a potluck soup and salad dinner. When hosting a group at my home I like to bring this out because it's all done beforehand and I can enjoy my guests. We've even served it on Christmas Eve to have something super easy for a bunch of people that tastes completely different from the big Christmas meal.

Southwest Chicken Chili
2 cans kidney beans--rinsed
3 cans pinto beans--rinsed
1 can corn
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes
1 pkg. ranch dressing mix
1 pkg taco seasoning
3/4 bag of frozen fajita pre-cooked chicken (you can also use leftover chicken breast or rotisserie chicken)


1.  Nuke the frozen chicken in the microwave about a minute so that you can break it into chunks.
2. Rinse and put the beans in first.
3. Add remaining ingredients.
4. Cook on low six or more hours so the flavors mix.

Everything is already cooked. You're just warming it up. 

Complete Magical Meal Suggestion
I'm not above setting out the premade Wholly Guacamole and a container of sour creme to add dollops of flavor. However, if you have a little prep time, create a variety of add-ons for your guests with lime slices, shredded cheese, sour creme, and avocado slices. Add cornbread or tortilla chips.  Lemonade, margaritas, and other fruity drinks are good. Add a brownie since it's the little black dress of desserts. If you simply have water or tea, lemon bars, lemon cookies, or key lime pie finish off the meal nicely.
Enjoy!

Giving credit: I revised this chili from a delicious beef taco recipe my friend Ange gave me.

Friday Favorite: Kung Fu Girl

Pair this Charles Smith's riesling Kung Fu Girl with Chinese takeout tonight.

I think it's my favorite riesling of all time. 

Cheers!

R2D2? Optimus Prime? Robot Mania has struck.

Me:  What do you want to be when you grow up?
Max: A robot.

Usually his answer is trashman. A year ago, it was construction worker.

But life is fast-paced and ever-changing with the preschool set.  Just a few months ago, my uncle excitedly gave Max a Transformer saying he wished he'd received such a cool gift as a kid. 

He peeked inside, dropped the bag and said, "No, thank you." Max was so terrified, he wouldn't stay in the same room. 

Uncle Ed claimed he gave it to another little boy, but I suspect that robot is carefully tucked away so he can play with it when Aunt Mary Sue isn't watching.

No matter the history, Maximus Prime is geared up about robots now.

Any guesses on his Halloween costume?

For now, check out this cool book for your robot man.

Will your little robot love Boy and Bot?

Affirmative.

Friday Favorite: It's the little things...

I like Lucky Brand clothes.  We get catalogs from them. The winter issue arrived and I laughed out loud when I saw it.

If this is the style this season, well... I just don't get it. Could they be for real?

Is it just me, or does this model look like a (sexy) homeless man who stole some bag lady's sweater to throw over the flannel he found that was so small he couldn't button it?

And look at the expression on his face.  My mind came up with all sorts of scenarios of what he must be thinking.

Give it a try. Leave a comment on what you think a caption to this photo should be.

Friday Favorite: Celebrate Society Shirts

Everyone possesses talent.  How one uses it makes all the difference.

When Jennifer Laws was in the hospital with her newborn twins and planning their future parties, her mind wandered to other babies in the world who were not born into such happy circumstances. Recently, she decided to use her party skills to make a difference.

Thanks to Jennifer, children who are in a local emergency shelter on their birthday will get the regulation cake from the kitchen--and they will also get a "party in a bag."  It's a kit she created that helps each child, when surrounded by strangers on the anniversary of his or her birth, understand that someone knows their existence is worth celebrating.

I love this idea almost as much as I love Jennifer's heart.

Want to know how to help?

She's funding this endeavor by creating designs that you can buy at her etsy shop. 

 

Print and iron the design yourself or pay a little more for her to create the whole shirt.

What a simple way to celebrate your little ones and help celebrate another child as well!

Any day decals:

birthday party decals:

and check out these adorable Halloween decals--just perfect for a t-shirt or treat bag:

 
Last month I witnessed the giddiness that is Jennifer on the morning of her sons' birthday party. "I love party day," she said, practically bouncing with joy. "This must be what Lebron James feels like on game day!"

Pretty accurate comparison.

Living a Pinteresting Life

I didn't know just how often I used Pinterest until I realized that in one day I'd used five things from the virtual board.

Since Pinterest entered my life, my son often looks at me in amazement and speaks in a little, awestruck voice. "I didn't know that." 

Here are two things that make bath time more fun.

GLOW FOR IT.

Rockabye Butterfly: Add glow sticks to the bath. Afterward, my little man stuck them on his windowsill, and they made a fun and fabulous nightlight. A pack of 10 or so from the Dollar Tree--ONE DOLLAR--provided thrilling bath times for my son. I could have put them all in at once, but a few did the trick.

COLOR ME CLEAN

Mommysavers: Make ice with food coloring. Pop it in the bath. Your child will squeal as he or she chases the cubes until they melt--which is rather quickly--and change the color of the bathwater. I liked this option less than the glowstick one because of the dye that transferred to my hands and the tub. However, it is friendlier to the environment.

Go ahead. Live a Pinteresting life.

Friday Favorite: Gigi's Cupcakes is pure ecstasy

I first experienced Gigi's Cupcakes in Norman, OK, when our friend brought them to us one weekend. They were so beautifully decorated and tasted so delicious I knew I would have them every chance I could.

Last weekend,we were in Norman for work and then stayed with some friends.  I declared we must pick up a dozen cupcakes to take as a hostess gift and to honor their son's first birthday.  (It's still a gift when you get to enjoy it, too, right?) They were delicious! Although, I'm not a fan of the Canadian Maple, which had bacon in it, I can't deny it was tasty. My mouth waters just thinking of the Pumpkin Cream, Wedding Cake, and Grasshopper.

Right before my family returned home, we chopped up the remaining cupcakes so we could have a bite of each. 

I've not been that indulgent in a long time, and it was divine.

The news gets better...it's a chain!  Maybe there is one near you.   If so, go there now.

What are you waiting for? Go now.

Few sure things exist in life. This is one of them. 

A Sure Thing? Strawberry Cookies

Nothing is a sure thing.

If I carefully schedule everything at home and the office--we're talking 10 schedules--so that I can have one measly hour to write or go to yoga, fate (that brat) will intervene to remind me who is boss.

If I stay up late on Pinterest to find activities to dazzle my three-year-old son, he will be unimpressed. He will stare at me in disappointment when I present the color/number wheel game I made with matching clothespins. Pipe cleaners and finger paint will fail miserably, too.  His thrill of the day will be when we pour baking soda and vinegar down a drain to unclog it.

The only sure thing...is that nothing is a sure thing

So, imagine my surprise when I discovered something that made everyone in my house smile. Strawberry cookies! My son loves how pretty and pink they are.  I love how easy and tasty they are.  Even my health nut husband ventured a nibble and said, "Those are some good cookies."

The best surprise of all was when I felt little arms surround me and heard, "Mommy, I love you."

Magic cookies. Thank you, Taste and Tell blog.

Are you ready for the recipe?  

Mix 1/2 cup vegetable oil with 2 eggs.

Add strawberry cake mix and 1/2 cup coconut.  

Drop onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.

A strawberry cookie may not be a sure thing, but it sure is a sweet one.