Day four – Make it, Do it, Love it

On May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 By JillIn Mommy Confessions, Mommy Musings, The Cookie Chronicles, Thirty day challenge - Make it, Do it, Love it, What's Going On?2 Comments

Busy day! Good busy! Spent the morning baking these awesome cookies – Snickerdoodle Surprise! I don’t think that is the official name but that’s what we’re calling them. My brother in law’s girlfriend, Courtney, told me about them and we love them! Always pays to ask someone what they’re baking these days!
The cookies are Snickerdoodles, stuffed with a marble size ball of Cookie Butter!

Obsessed with Cookie Butter

Those who have seen me in the last week know all about Cookie Butter- really goes to show you the power of word of mouth…I am sure at least eight people will be buying this at Trader Joes soon! Yum. Arianna is loving this on her pancakes, which I totally forgot to mention that Tom made these tasty ricotta cheese pancakes, from SCRATCH, of course! and people, just so you know – BISQUICK is not from scratch pancakes! Just because your mixing, doesn’t mean home made!

This is what cookie butter looks like and its close counterpart, Biscoff Spread- picture, care of Courtney!

After I picked Gia up from school, we had two of her friends over! So fun with all of the laughter and playing in the house! Grilled cheese and grapes- felt like such a Brady Bunch moment!

Took Gia to gymnastics and brought her teacher some of the magical cookies! She was thrilled and said it was such a great surprise and was just what she needed today. Ahhh, behold the magical power of cookies, sure to cheer up any mood, just say the word aloud – COOKIE, sounds so sweet and innocent, a simple COOKIE, melts all your troubles away…bringing you back to childhood, mommy’s kitchen, homework at the table, simple joy.

And screeeeeech, stop the fantasy! Many of us were coming home to an empty house, rummaging around in drawers looking for leftover fortune cookies, but hey, at least it was a cookie, right?

Fun playing in the park for a bit after gymnastics, we met more friends ! That makes two new numbers I scored in my phone today for future play dates! I am so damn cute and fun- people just love me…..oh, wait, it was the kids that we’re playing, I’m just their kangaroo … Let’s just say I have a high jump and a big pouch …. Meaning I bring the kids everywhere and have lots of room for making new friends!

Ok, I totally apologize, sometimes I am so odd. Do you know that people used to ask me if I was high years ago and I didn’t even know what that meant! I can be a bit of a space cadet, OH WELL!!! It seems to have gotten me this far!

More on the self control front

Let me tell you about the mouth watering smells in my house today…cinnamon, sugary goodness, buttery grilled cheese…mmm…

Food confessions…

I ate a half of a Reese’s Pieces Brownie (leftover from a batch I made for a friend’s birthday celebration – it was amazing! Two mini peanut butter cups from the half pack that was still in my pantry!
One savory Snickerdoodle surprise cookie, oh that sweet goodness in my mouth! The usual Jill would keep on goin…I mean look at what else I have lurking in my closet. But I stayed strong, a few more not so fab nibbles tonight, couple bites of the kid’s sweet potato fries, a few bites of their leftover grilled cheese, but no major food frenzy!!! Hurray for Jill!

I am a sucker for the Walgreens, dollar deal, just can’t say no to those poor salesclerks. “Will that be all for today? Did you find everything you need today? Do you want to buy the dollar deal of the day?”

OK! OK! I’ll take three!

Make it, Do it, Love it…and Get to it

On April 27, 2014 By JillIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

You all know from reading my posts that I’m kind of an anxious gal! Being at home with two difficult children isn’t always fun. But, I can’t keep posting about the tiredness, tantrums, and troubles! Once in a while is ok, but if I keep it up, I’ll turn into a withered, sour lemon.

Unhappy about something!

Oh Noooooo! Um- “Ahhhhh, seriously not AGAIN!” Major mess! I will finish in a bit…

Hour later…

I cannot believe this happened again! While I was writing this post, Arianna got into the nail polish. This messy situation had already happened six months ago. My friend Joy was over for a playdate and Arianna came downstairs covered in hot pink nail polish. It turns out she painted her entire body and part of our cream colored rug. That was a complete nightmare. Had to run to CVS with the baby, illegally left her in the car- she was completely pink! Bought three huge bottles of nail polish remover, raced home, and went to work on the carpet. It took me two hours to get most of the polish out. I would pour the remover on the towel, then blot the polish on the carpet. I remember my shoulders ached the next day.

This time she got into our bed and starting painting again with the polish- on her, our sheets, and bedspread!!!!

And I just wrote about laughing, but I am not laughing now. Ok – deep breath, and another…will figure that polish situation out.

What I started to say was I am going to do a 30 day challenge.

Make it, Do it, Love it…and “Get to it,” Gia heard me and added that one!

Do one thing each day that brings joy, a relaxed, or a positive feeling. Write about the experience, and not the complaining!

Previously I wrote that I was going to have a different blog for anxiety, but that in itself brings on the stress. Hard to find the time to write on one blog, never mind two! So screw it, I’ll just write it here. Good luck to me!

How do you deal with stress/anxiety/feeling negative? Any tips to share?

Just love this picture – fun, PJ’s and baking

Oatmeal Squash Muffins

On April 16, 2014 By JillIn Uncategorized3 Comments

Every time I opened the fridge, I stared, uninspired by the yellow squash (and might I add organic)- yes, sort of getting on the organic bandwagon. I personally don’t like yellow squash, the kids don’t like any vegetables lately. Ari throws them on the floor saying, “Disgusting” and Gia just moves them all over her plate- typical kids, hating their veggies- actually squash is a fruit- Did you know that? I just learned that from the Internet.

But hubs bought the annoying squash- he sometimes does the grocery shopping, which he should really stop – I just got back from the second trip to the grocery store to get all the stuff he didn’t get…he goes on Sunday, when I am not in “work mode.” Too lazy to write a list, head a bit foggy from a slight hangover from usual Saturday night fun- oh yea- this mom still parties…granted the party scene is a bit different these days, my wingmen, are actually girls and they’re not super helpful with helping me score…they are more like the blocker types…with their late night crying and refusal to go to sleep.

So, sick of looking at squash, I decided to make these muffins. I found the recipe on modernbeet.com.

Gia saw me cutting the scorned fruit and said, “Ew, squash, I hate squash!” She really does. I tried pureeing it and mixing it in with macaroni and cheese (one of her faves) but to no avail, she detected it. I have scattered, smothered, covered, and chunked this fruit among other miscellaneous produce (I knew my college days would come in handy- thank you Waffle House!) mmm – Waffle house, remember those late nights my southern friends…

Here’s a pic of Gia and what she thinks of the muffins.

But I did get her to eat one and she said she “loved them,” but only with a bit of jelly, of course. She is my sweet tooth. It’s funny because Gia doesn’t like chocolate and Ari does, but Ari rather have a salty snack and Gia prefers a sweet snack… Just goes to show you we are all so different.

Anyway, I feel proud of my healthy muffins and use of yellow squash- See, I told you we were moving on from cookies and donuts!

Here’s the recipe

1 c. all-purpose flour*
1/2 c. whole wheat flour*
1 c. rolled oats
1 T. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon

1 egg

1 c. milk
1/4 c. oil
1/4 c. honey
1 1/2 c. grated summer squash or zucchini

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine flours, oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and mace in a medium-large bowl.

In a medium bowl, combine egg, milk, oil, and honey. Mix well. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just moistened. Gently fold in squash.

Fill lined or well-greased muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

*Note: feel free to use whatever flour combination you want — all whole wheat, all AP, whole wheat pastry, white whole wheat — just make sure it adds up to 1 1/2 cups in total