Nutella Cookies, Yes Please!

I am obsessed with www.pinterest.com.  It is a great waster of time, that leaves you feeling inspired and with a plethora of new ideas!  <3 it!

Last week, I found a recipe for Nutella cookies.  Yum. 
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/nutella-cookies/
Sunday mornings around here are baking day for the week.  I schedule a few goodies on the monthly menu to be prepared each Sunday morning, and used as after school snacks or dessert. 

Without further ado: here is the Nutella recipe


1 Cup Nutella
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Flour
1 Egg

Mix together.  Form into balls, flatter with your hand or the bottom of a glass and bake: 350 for 7 minutes

Mine turned out kind of hard. :(  When they come out they are a little squishy still, so give them a few minutes to harden.  I think next time I will also use two eggs.  They were a bit crumbly.

Let me know how your batch turns out.  The kidlets really like them here!
Enjoy! 

Preschool Pick up Dilemma

We have launched into the world of preschool and all that it encompasses.  Snack time, the tears at drop off, the making of new friends, etc.  What I did not anticipate about preschool was the immediate need for food, at the conclusion of the three hour school day.  Lil Miss is 'staaarving' when I pick her up.  We drive the 10 minutes to our house.  Where she walks in the door and flops on the couch.  And suddenly no longer is hungry, but it is lunch time. 

So, here is my dilemma:  child hungry when I pick her up. 

Possible solutions:
* let her skip lunch
* give her a snack in the car and then nothing for lunch at home
* give her a packed lunch in the car

What say you blogosphere?

We have tried all three.  And so far, there isn't a blaring winner.  But I do think I am leaning toward, lunch in the car.  Yippee!  :)  But the draw back, is she is so busy eating in the car, I don't hear about her day.  :( 

How I failed as a Mom

Mother
Wife
Teacher
Care giver
Kisser of booboo's
Story Teller
Laundry Fairy
Baker
Chef
Taxi Driver
Dancer
Theater Actress

These are a few words that I identify myself as.
Today, I discovered that I have failed as a mother. While I was driving my 14 year old to band camp, she turned to me and my failed motherhood, came crashing down around me, right there in my car.

J: Mom, what is Jesus Christ Super Star, about? I mean, besides the obvious?
Me: What? How do you not know the answer to that?
J: I am playing the music in band. There are words, like, 'I love him so'
Me: You are talking about the musical, Jesus Christ Super Star, right?
J: Ya, what's it about?
Me: (stepping out of alternate universe where my daughter does not know this & rolling my eyes) The obvious. Read the script. Watch the show. Rent the movie. Listen to the soundtrack.

I drop her off, and drive all the way home- shaking my head in disbelief.

Random Thankfulness & Excitement

I was thinking this morning about many of the wonderful thing in my life. Some that came to mind, were things that I still feel excited about or things that I am just generally thankful for. In no particular order, these are some things that I thought about.....

Water and ice in the door of a refridge
Garbage in the kitchen in a drawer
Social networking
hearing the words, "I can do it myself, Mom"
An every now and then, splurge- $$$
Laundry baskets with the hip curve
Sesame Street
Slippers
Ceiling fans

What are some things that you are randomly thankful &/or excited about?

old vs new

Picture this if you will:

A girl, nah- a young woman. It's Friday Night. Just out of the shower, picking out a hot little dress, killer heals, tiny handbag. Doing her hair and makeup. A last minute spritz of perfume before she heads out the door to meet a few friends for cocktails before heading to the club. At the club she and her friends will wait 10, maybe 15 minutes, to get in. Where they will dance the night away, never break a sweat and stumble home around 2am. Fall into bed, maybe taking off the killer heals, maybe not. Sleep. Wakes up at 1pm on Saturday afternoon, showers, drinks coffee, and goes back to bed.

Now picture this:
A girl, nah- a woman. It's Friday Night. Hair pulled back in a ponytail, jeans, tank top, flip flops. Reading "Good Night Moon" for the 70th time, singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and tucking in her daughter. Goes downstairs, checking off homework, washing dishes, sweeping the floor. Around 10pm falling into bed, turning on "Dirty Dancing" to just remember one more time... and then passing out around midnight. 7am Saturday, she gets up, makes breakfast, gets the kids ready for the day, drags them all to the gym, where she waits in line for childcare for 32 minutes, goes into the weight room, works up a sweat in 6.7 nano seconds flat. Works her arse off to not see any difference in her body. Grabs the kids from childcare, drops one off at soccer practice, another at art class, heads to the store to get a weeks worth of grocery shopping done in 45 minutes, with a toddler in tow. Picks up the kids from their class, goes home, and puts away all the groceries. It is now, 11:00am.

When did I exchange waiting 10 minutes to get into a club for 32 minutes waiting for childcare?

*all or none of these stories are based in truth*

**but I do wait 30+ minutes for childcare at the gym. Maybe if I went to a more $$$ gym, I wouldn't have to wait so long, and that might get me to the gym more. Maybe.**

Girlie Craziness!

It's not Christmas time. It's not Thanksgiving time. It's not even Halloween time. It's Halloween costumer making time! Some moms are all homemade all the time. Other are rockin' the store bought. I swing both ways. Looks like this year, I will be going the homemade route. Normally I would cringe a little here, say a little prayer, and take some pain killer pill for the on coming headache.
But this year, this year seems to be different. I am excited to make costumes. I am researching early. I am ordering materials online. I am embellishing costumes and adding accessories already! With only girls to dress for trick or treating, it's all girlie craziness. Tulle and sparkles. Pink and purple. Ribbons and wands.
So I'll let you know, I'll post pictures. Fingers crossed this girlie craziness continues enough for me to have the motivation to finish strong. Other wise, I'll be buying costumes.

Back to School?

Tis the season! Sending the kids back to school! It's the most wonderful time of year! More teachers, more books, and not to mention new back to school supplies. I'm a sucker for new pencils and pens! The first day of school we get up a little bit earlier then necessary, cook a big breakfast and take a few pictures, I even make the kids lunches, and drive the kids to school. The whole nine yards. The kids might spend an extra few minutes picking out their clothes. Or grab a few extra looks in the mirror. Just to make sure.

The question at the end of all of this; when does the new school year euphoria end? When do I get to sleep in again? When do the kids start walking to school again? When do the kids take over the responsibility of making their own lunch again? When does the 'shiny new school year' turn into just another school year? The second day? The second week? The second month?

I wish I could remember how long the smell of the new school year lasting on me. But for the life of me, I just can't recall. I also can't seem to recall what we have done in the past years. What I do know about Back to School... it's great the kids are back at school. The house is quiet for some time during the day. I get some chores done. I get to hang our with my friends again! And there may or may not be a nap happening in the afternoon again. I also know that I am 4 days into the new school year, and already I am tired of pampering the kids in their back to school newness. It is time for them to make their own lunch again!