Go Play!

Day one of summer and I predict the kids are going to give me more than I bargained for. It's been a long day, long and we're just beginning. What began as a mellow day hitting up Target then meeting a friend for lunch and a little playtime action is turning into the longest day ever.
I took them in the pool, watched a movie with them and even took them to the Cheesecake Factory for a late afternoon treat (yes, that was for me.) It's not quite dinnertime and the kids seemed to have found some little friends to play with. Great. But now every five minutes they're barging in the door ("Shut it behind you! The AC is running!") for "props" for a movie their filming. "Mommy, where's that eye patch? You know the one I needed the other night when I was being dramatic and had something in my eye??" Of course, that one. Junk drawer, kiddo. Junk drawer.
It's always a plus when kids come up with activities on their own but do you notice that in the end it just creates more work for you?? Some examples:
Kinetic sand ("Mommy, look what I found under my bed!") then five minutes later, they're bored and don't feel like helping sweep it all up off the floor.
Legos. Enough said.
Play-Doh. Again...enough said.
Slime. Yes, I did this because I am a crazy person and for kicks and giggles, felt like trucking my kids to Michaels to spend about $18 on supplies for some "slime" that turned into hockey pucks and got left on the patio table within about five minutes and sat their until their dad forced them to clean the remnants of. (sorry, honey!)
Swimming, going to Barnes and Noble, going to buy Pokemon cards, playing "airport" (yes, I'm the genius who thought of that but then..."Who is going to play the ticket agent, Mommy?? Because there are only two of us and WE can't be the ticket agent.."), charades, puzzles, ice cream shop, you name it. The fun only begins when Mommy is sitting cross-legged on the floor on the action or shelling out loads of money. So I declare coloring time. Or reading. Or writing a story quietly.  Or napping. You MUST be tired from running around, right??
So the next time you hear the words "I'm bored" or "What should I do??" the answer is this-- go play, dear children, go play. Sometimes being bored is the perfect catalyst for the best, most imaginative games and if you're one of those mommies like me who feel guilt every time you sit down or enjoy a moment to yourself, knock it off. Eventually the guilt monsters will leave you alone.

Summertime Blues

So  you know how the term "summertime blues" refers to the end of the long, lazy, carefree days of summers as a kid? When we dreaded being thrown back to the wolves of school, homework and after school activities? Because it was just so much fun to ride bikes all day, run around barefoot and eat nothing but popsicles and top ramen?
Well, what's the opposite of that? Because I have this sense of dread that the summer is beginning and I have a whole 10 WEEKS to fill with the kiddos home. Under foot. Hungry and bored. It's enough to make any loving mother reach for the vodka. But then...
As I relaxed by the pool this afternoon, leisurely reading while the kiddos splashed around, I began to think that maybe, just maybe the kids are now old enough to really enjoy the summer ahead. So I decided to look on the bright side and came up with a few reasons why summer is going to be great!
Trips to Target
Trips to Michaels (Michael's? Apostrophes get me every time...)
Trips to Ikea
Trips to the mall
I know what you're thinking..."Why on earth would you want to bring two rugrats along on a peaceful shopping trip?"
Glad you asked.
First of all, I don't hit the Target snack bar alone. It just feels wrong and like I'm a fatty and all pathetic because even though I just ate lunch before leaving the house to run errands, the $2 popcorn and soda combo call my name. Every time. But add your kiddos to the mix and it's like Slurpee? Sure. Hot dog? Of course. Lunch at Target today! While you sit and much away, read that book (that we're going to put back at the end, obviously) I'll browse. New curtains? Check. Towels? Check. Brightly colored throw pillows and a new rug that scream summer? Check and check. (Hubby, if you're reading this, those are the same throw pillows from last year. They just look different.)
Summer is a time to catch up on all those projects you've been meaning to do and now that you have extra helpers, time to begin! Bust out your cookbook and try a new recipe or plug in that sewing machine and teach your kids how to use it.
Also, no wake up time! You don't have to drag sleepy kiddos out of bed, dress them, feed them, get their backpacks ready and get them to the car in record time. They can get themselves up and help themselves to some cartoons and cereal. While mommy sleeps.
Fourth of July, picnics, road trips, Thrifty ice cream cones, long days in the sun reading, 7-11, Netflix when it's too hot to go outside, the beach, Grandma's house, and last but definitely not least...kiddos crashing early because they are so spent that you finally, blessedly have time on the patio (or couch or bed or anywhere...) with hubby. Enjoy.

Catch up

I've been away from this blog for a while, busy raising kids, working full-time and gasp! getting divorced then re-married to my real-life prince charming. I've kicked some butt, taken some names, given up liquor (sigh...) spent many fun-filled days in the sun with my kiddos watching them grow. I've learned about life, love and have finally found my voice at 33...took long enough.
So I'm back to encourage you and give you some stories that will make you laugh, cry or just get you through the day, or until dinnertime at least. I know that with the demands of motherhood, wifehood (is that a word?) and finding time for ME is enough to make my head spin most days.
But then I get real and I get thankful...to a hubby who lifts the heavy loads when I can't, to my dishwasher, crock-pot, and to adorable kiddos with missing teeth and tiny tushies, to fresh coffee with creamer when something a little stronger is really in order, to take-out, to Netflix and of course the most important, to the LORD my bff who has seen me through the last heart-wrenching couple of years. I'm back and better than ever. Won't you join me on this crazy ride through life???

Chocolate, chocolate, and bananas...oh my!

Today I was super green and found a way to use my almost-too-soft bananas (like I almost threw them away!!) for some chocolate banana bread. Since my hubby is super picky and asked..."can you make mine without the banana?"...ummm what?? I decided I would simply up the ante with chocolate, lots of chocolate! It would (hopefully) disguise the fact that there was actually something healthy snuck in that delicious loaf of goodness! So I began with a yummy recipe for banana bread then added cocoa and chocolate chips, lots of them! He conceded and agreed that although there were bananas in the bread, it was ammmazing!!! And yes, it was. Here is the recipe, adapted from a couple I found on Pinterest. Pinterest is my friend...

Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Banana Bread:

• 1 stick softened butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 ripened bananas
• 1 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (save the 1/4 for the top...)

Instructions: Cream egg, sugar and butter (fancy way of saying mix until nice and smooth!) Ok, then mix the remaining ingredients (save the 1/4 cup of chocolate chips for the top, of course!) and bake for about 45 minutes at 350 until middle is just done! Enjoy, friends, enjoy! (Maybe with ice cream or wine or in my case? Both. Yes, let that sink in a second...)

Something Sweet

It's been a long time (looooong) since my last blog but today I bring you "something sweet". Pulling something yummy and sweet out of the oven to go with your coffee (or wine, perhaps?? Once the kids are in bed?) is like pulling a little love out of  the oven...for family, friends, for YOU! I can't think of anything I'd rather do in my spare time than whip up something yummy. Except for devour it, of course! Now, between working a full-time job, juggling two kids, karate, homework and oh yes, a hubby...it's a treat these days to squeeze in the time for homemade baked goods. This is where shortcuts come in, of course! I swear by them! Who cares if your goodies began with a mix or if that coffee cake you shared with co-workers had icing from a can?? Nobody, that's who! I like to take a little from scratch, a little store bought and make it my own. Since I'm the neighborhood weirdo who passes out salsa for Cinco De Mayo, cupcakes for Mother's Day and sugar cookies for Easter, I need a little help! (side note: I'm not like a super friendly, amazing chick...I just happen to have a food obsession but don't want it all to go to the hips so I share. A lot.)

Here it is, a recipe for my latest fave: Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Icing:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (I use half cup milk with a little vinegar..)
• 1/2 cup coffee, lukewarm (you can use decaf coffee if desired!)
• 24 mini peanut butter cups, unwrapped 
• Mix ingredients, placing one pb cup in each cupcake wrapper...
• Bake at 350 degrees about 15 minutes! Ice and enjoy!!

OR: Just be lazy girl and make a boxed chocolate cake mix...no judgement up in here!!

Then, what I did was ice them with a can of cream cheese icing mixed with a cup of creamy peanut butter and topped with a peanut butter cup!

                                                                

Savoring Summer

After a short hiatus, I'm back with more ideas, crafts, recipes and more to inspire you as we approach the new school year!
With the Dog Days in full swing, it hardly feels like the end of summer here in sunny southern Cali! Though my little ones are back to school and navigating the waters of (gasp!) second grade and kindergarten, it is hotter than ever! In these last brutal days of summer, I'm trying to enjoy what's left of the season and prepare for the next. One last family trip to Palm Springs, a trip to the local pool, making s'mores and sipping wine on the patio while the sun dips into the horizon...these are a few ways I have been relishing the warm days that turn into cool summer nights.
Today, as I mentally prepare for the LOOOONG labor day weekend (yes, holiday weekends are longer when you have kids to entertain...) and plan things for us to do, I encourage you to enjoy the last bit of summer we have left. Hit the beach, do a craft or two, run in the sprinklers, enjoy a popsicle or homemade treat and chill.

30 Meals in 30 Days

Ready to change things up a bit, I have decided to follow suit and try a month's worth of new dishes! Weary of the handful of go-to dinners that I know will be consumed without gripes from little ones, (sound familiar?) I am ready to up the ante and get back to having fun in the kitchen. My kiddos are in a good place eating-wise as they have gotten a little older and over most of their weird food phobias (sauce on the side! plain chicken only!) so I'm excited to try some new things. I'm going to make dishes that I've either never made or am attempting again after a few years or perhaps a botched attempt..there are plenty of those!
I've come up with a well-rounded batch of recipes for the month so join me on this adventure! Make things easier on yourself by baking chicken ahead of time and storing portions and preparing the roast in the crock-pot at the beginning of the week! Here's the first week of recipes:
Roast Beef with Loaded Baked Potatoes
3 pound roast
1 large baking potato per person
potato toppings: sour cream, butter, cheese, chives, bacon...etc.
Roast the beef in a crock-pot six hours or until fork-tender and reserve half for roast beef sandwiches. Season with salt and pepper. Bake potatoes for about ten minutes for two and add toppings as desired!

Ravioli-Meatball Casserole
1-25 oz. pkg. frozen cheese ravioli (boil for about five minutes and casserole will bake a lot faster..)
10 frozen meatballs, defrosted
1 jar vodka cream sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and combine first three ingredients. Top with mozzarella and bake about thirty minutes, longer if you didn't boil the ravioli first. Serve with green salad and garlic bread.
Serves 6.

 

Sweet and Sour Chicken with Green Beans
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup canola oil
1 cup flour
1 cup sweet and sour sauce
1 cup white rice
1 pound fresh green beans (you can also use frozen..)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 cloves chopped garlic
sesame seeds
Get rice cooking in pot with one cup rice to two cups water. For chicken, prepare large saucepan by heating oil over low heat. Coat chicken in flour and fry about five minutes, turning so chicken is crisp on all sides. Remove chicken and allow to drain on paper towels. Remove excess oil from pan then return chicken to pan and add sauce and let simmer until heated through. For green beans, steam first in microwave for about two minutes then add to a saucepan with one tablespoon canola oil and garlic. Add brown sugar and about two tablespoons soy sauce. Cook until browned and tender. Garnish plate with sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Makes 2 large servings. (kids ate something different that night..)

Roast Beef Sandwiches
1 pound leftover shredded beef from roast beef night
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 stick butter, softened
8 slices Swiss cheese
8 slices rye bread
1 bag frozen fries
Heat oven to 400 degrees and bake fries for twenty minutes. Meanwhile, saute onions with two tablespoons butter in a large skillet until golden brown. Add shredded roast beef to onions and heat through. Assemble sandwiches with two slices of bread, Swiss and roast beef. Grill over medium heat, using remaining butter. Serve with fries.

Thai Chicken Pizza
4 pieces naan bread for crust (you can use any crust, homemade or otherwise!)
1 cup shredded chicken
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
cilantro
Heat oven to 400 degrees and begin by making peanut sauce. Combine peanut butter, soy and brown sugar to make peanut sauce (or you can buy it premade). Spread over naan crust and distribute cheese over each. Top with chicken and carrots. Bake for about ten minutes or until cheese is melty and browned. If using a fresh pizza dough, bake at least twenty minutes. Garnish with cilantro!
Serves 4
Chicken and Veggie Couscous and Pad Thai Noodles
1 box couscous (any flavor) plus ingredients
1 box pad Thai plus ingredients
2 chopped, cooked chicken breasts
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 cups broccoli
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons ginger, finely chopped
soy sauce, to taste
sesame seeds for garnish
Make the noodles and couscous and set aside. Heat oil in large skillet and add garlic, chicken, broccoli and ginger. Saute until golden brown then add cooked couscous and soy to taste. Serve immediately with noodles sprinkled with sesame seeds.
                                            
Enjoy these fun recipes and come up with some new ones of your own!