Memorial Weekend Thoughts

Memorial Day Weekend. The name itself conjures up images of girls gone wild. A suitcase filled with fancy, going out… well basically slutty clothes, makeup, and bottles of pre game mixers and alcohol.

I can remember the outfit changes, fashion shows with the girls, the nights out, the drinks, the hook ups, the “list” on the kitchen fridge of beer goggled conquests. Oh the craziness that went on at the shore. What happens at the shore stays at the shore!

I remember the drive to the house, windows down, maybe smoking a cigarette (this was twenty years ago!) the excitement, the start of summer. The hope of meeting someone special if you were single, the looking forward to soaking up the sun by day, dancing the night away by night, and having a blast hanging with your housemates.

Weekends at the shore were a continuous series of laughs, drama, closeness, drinking, and late night pizza ( although that part was an ongoing problem. I think we all would set out saying, “I’m not going to eat pizza tonight!”

But come 2 am, someone would inevitably cave… Waking up to the telltale evidence of a late night pizza binge.

Seems like a distant memory. Those were fun days for sure. But these days, these types of weekends, when my husband is home for that extra day, and we get three days of family time and BBQs with friends, it’s pure bliss.

Hamburgers, pool parties, smiles and s’mores.

This memorial weekend I was happy to be home, hanging with my family, the thought of me in a bar, cocktails and cougars, sends a shiver of scariness down my spine.

Here’s a picture of my watermelon decorated sugar cookies I brought to a BBQ. Will be posting recipe and video soon.

Blue Berry Special Muffins

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO

This is a cute and easy idea to thank someone or just tell them that you love them or are thinking of them. And it’s super easy!

I made the labels on Microsoft Word. I stuck a blank label to the sticky back of a printed one.

Then I taped the label onto the toothpick and stuck them in!

Here is the recipe for the blueberry muffins.

Easy Blueberry Muffins

  • Servings: 12
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Delicious, easy blueberry muffins.


Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 – 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 6 to 8 ounces fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions

MAKE BATTER

• Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add oil to a measuring cup that holds at least 1 cup. Add the egg and then fill the measuring cup with the milk. Add vanilla and whisk to combine. Add the milk mixture to the bowl with dry ingredients and then use a fork to combine. Do not over mix. (The muffin batter will be quite thick — see note below for more details). Fold in the blueberries.

Divide the batter between muffin cups. (If making big-topped muffins, the batter will come to the tops of the paper liners). Sprinkle a little sugar on top of each muffin.

Bake muffins 15 to 20 minutes or until tops are no longer wet and a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out with crumbs, not wet batter. Transfer to a cooling rack.

Oh Just Keep it The Girly Reports

Calling all crazies… Auditions for neurotic mommies are starting now. I can hear the director announcing and I am first in line for the part.

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I have decided to keep my former blog name. The Girly Reports – even if I end up having a baby boy in May (I didn’t find out the sex).

Yes it’s true. I am someone who changes her mind a lot. I recently started listening to an audio book about being happy, Happier, Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy by Tal Ben – Shahar. It was really cheap on an iTunes audiobooks deal day so I downloaded it.
In one chapter, the author says a sure fire way of making a needed change in your life (something that is making you unhappy) is by instilling rituals and habits, gradually, until they are a part of your life.

It made me realize that I can’t just change the name of my blog, snap my fingers, wake up, and be different…I have done this sort of a thing in the past…Monday’s a new day, New Year’s Eve resolutions (haven’t we all?) or any type of “never doing this again” decision – I think a majority of people, including myself don’t follow through with plans to change unless there is an actual plan in place.

So it’s back to the old The Girly Reports. (Everyone liked the name better anyway…)I am still trying to cut back on the baking, projects, and trying to please everyone but a name change ain’t gonna cut it! Neither is writing about it…if I actually listed what I have baked/spent in the past three weeks, my husband would be kind of mad – oh wait- he already is! He saw the dining room table and it was no longer recognizable… a sea of pink and purple, stickers, goody bags, chocolates, frostings, cookies, flags, trinkets and my stressed out face…He didn’t even need to say anything, he knows that I know that I’m in trouble…

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“Hello, my name is Jill and I am an over-doer, over thinker, addict.”

I don’t know where this comes from, I just always seem to over do things…

I have this fear that I won’t satisfy everyone and it’s like a failure to me…I mean Gia just told me that one of the boys in her class never eats any of the treats I send in…
The horror ! I never knew this – should I contact his mother tonight and find out why he isn’t eating my cookies? I mean, what could he possibly like? I have made cupcakes, oatmeal cookies, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, marshmallow surprise, not too mention various chocolates – what the hell does he like!!! I am racking my brain for ideas!

Ok, ok, I’m just kidding – I’m not that pyscho…but writing that silly scenario just made me realize something – I better stop trying so hard because I am just one mini mama…not a bakery!

I am presently taking the first step by writing this, putting my feet up (my mom – in – law is always telling me to do this, but I never listen), and relaxing for a bit. After all, I did just finish nine loads of laundry, and I am exhausted – 26 weeks along and I am so so tired.

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I am underneath this awesome furry throw from Pottery Barn that is so warm and comforting, I wish I could stay under neath for days…my Mom sent this to me a few days ago and it was the best surprise I’ve had in a while!

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Notice the mismatched socks!

Maybe next time I venture out to buy sugar and flour, I should just hide under my throw!
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