channeling my inner little critter

As a child one of my favorite collection of stories was Little Critter written by Mercer Mayer. It has become a favorite with the boys as well and we always have a lot of fun reading them together. If your not familiar with Little Critter he is a little six(or so)year old critter boy who is as independent as he is mischievous and well....not quite as big of a boy as he would like to be. Some titles of his stories include "Just A Mess", "Just Go To Bed", and I Just Forgot". It's a running joke between Todd and I that not only do the boys have lots of little critterisms but sometimes I do too. A comparison I never found as funny as he did, that is, until today.

Here is an example of Little Critter from the story "I Was So Mad"

I wanted to keep some frogs in the bathtub but Mom wouldn't let me. I was so mad.
I wanted to play with my sister's dollhouse but Dad wouldn't let me. I was so mad.
I wanted to play hide and seek in the clean sheets but Grandma said "No you can't". I was just so mad.


Here is an example of Sarah Critter starting her Monday

I wanted to feel the sun on my face, but I woke up to four new inches of blowing snow. I was so mad.

I wanted to go to the gym so I could maybe wear a swim suit in the next five years, but the baby was up at 6am and back down to nap at 8:30. I was so mad.

I wanted to enjoy my birthday despite how I usually feel about it, but I looked in the mirror and noticed two new wrinkles and a whisker. I was just so mad.

I wanted to indulge in watching a movie while the kids were at school and the baby took a nap, but they called an early dismissal due to those four freaking inches. Boy was I mad.

I must appologize

I'm so sorry that I:

1) took so long to get this recipe to you(your gonna love them)

2) that I ever suggested you try this recipe(not so resolution friendly)

Classic Brownies

Be sure to test for doneness before removing the brownies from the oven. If underbaked (the toothpick has batter clinging to it) the texture of the brownies will be dense and gummy. If overbaked (the toothpick comes out completely clean), the brownies will be dry and cakey.

1 cup (4 ounces) pecans or walnuts, chopped medium (optional)

1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) cake flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped fine

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into six 1-inch pieces

2 1/4 cups (15 3/4 ounces) sugar

4 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 325 degrees. Cut 18-inch length foil and fold lengthwise to 8-inch width. Fit foil into length of 13 by 9-inch baking dish, pushing it into corners and up sides of pan; allow excess to overhand pan edges. Cut 14-inch length foil and, if using extra-wide foil, fold lengthwise to 12-inch width; fit into width of baking pan in same manner, perpendicular to first sheet. Spray foil-lined pan with nonstick cooking spray.
If using nuts, spread nuts evenly on rimmed baking sheet and toast in oven until fragrant, 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Whisk to combine flour, salt, and baking powder in medium bowl; set aside.
Melt chocolate and butter in large heatproof bowl set over saucepan of almost-simmering water, stirring occasionally, until smooth. (Alternatively, in microwave, heat butter and chocolate in large microwave-safe bowl on high for 45 seconds, then stir and heat for 30 seconds more. Stir again, and, if necessary, repeat in 15-second increments; do not let chocolate burn.) When chocolate mixture is completely smooth, remove bowl from saucepan and gradually whisk in sugar. Add eggs on at a time, whisking after each addition until thoroughly combined. Whisk in vanilla. Add flour mixture in three additions, folding with rubber spatula until batter is completely smooth and homogeneous.
Transfer batter to prepared pan; using spatula, spread batter into corners of pan and smooth surface. Sprinkle toasted nuts (if using) evenly over batter and bake until toothpick or wooden skewer inserted into center of brownies comes out with few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours, then remove brownies from pan by lifting foil overhang. Cut brownies into 2-inch squares and serve. (Store leftovers in airtight container at room temperature, for up to 3 days, or, ahem, in the freezer until your resistance gets the better of you.)

balancing act

The testosterone in my house runneth over. The estrogen in my house is unappreciated by all. I feel like I am on the endangered species list most days. One more environmental mishap and all femininity may be lost in this little corner of the world. I cling to what makes me different than"them". One way I balance the hormones in the house is with my preciously pink, wonderfully me craft room. They won't admit it, but they secretly love to be in there, probably because it is warm and cozy just like the mom they love and the women they one day will. Or maybe it's just that they think it holds some sort of secrets because it is deemed OFF LIMIT to all things male.



When my mom was here last we scoured Joann's fabric for material to make Becca a baby blanket for the little girl she is expecting soon. My mother made a beautiful blanket for her and was thoughtful enough to make me a pillow cover for my room. How adorable is this?! I'm headed up to MY room right now to flutter around in all it's girlishness, sing " A Few of My Favorite Things " and I don't know...curl my hair or something :)

"Geez! Turn the light out already"

Going against what I thought was my better judgement I started reading the Twilight Saga. Becca had read all four books in a week and that peeked my interest. Bec isn't a literary snob or anything, but when a woman who is 8 months pregnant(and has two active boys) can stay awake until 2:30 am reading, it makes me wonder if I am missing something.

I'm hooked. Hooked in a major way and savoring every page. I am 2/3 into the third book and already thinking about how I am going to miss Edward and Bella. I can't believe I just said that. For crying out loud it's a book about vampires and werewolves-silly...but oh so good.

Todd complains about me reading in bed. I have accused Todd of being jealous of my new found loves. He has accused me of acting like a teenager. Umph! I am enjoying my obsession and yes, it does make me feel just a smidgen younger. Just like Facebook does, listening to Pearl Jam and watching Sixteen Candles. Today am 35 years and 352 days old going on 16. And most days I almost believe it until I look in the mirror-gasp, when the heck did that happen.

in need of just a little tweak

I never make New Years resolutions and I am never going to, but I am in need of just a little change. It just so happens that it is time to do it and it just so happens it has to do with fitness and weight loss and being healthier and all that stuff which coincides with what the rest of the world is resolving about.

So.....I have 2 pounds(although 5 wouldn't be so bad) to lose to get back to my happy weight. I know how stupid that sounds. Two pounds is not a lot to complain about, but hey-they count and the previous 10 I had to lose after baby didn't come off as easily as I would have liked. So two pounds is work, and this month I turn 36 so they aren't going to get lost any easier soon- they are just going to start getting easier to gain(hmmm...I wonder what 40 is going to be like)

This is where I have to talk about how with a few simple changes you really can loose weight. From 20 to 2 pounds-it can happen. In my early twenties I was 20 pounds over weight and when I started to do just two things I saw my weight finally go down. One was exercise, but wait...it wasn't cardio crazyness every day for five hours. It was walking. I started by just walking around a couple of blocks. I worked up to three miles(a brisk pace will start to come naturally) and only three times a week-simple right? The second thing I did was stop drinking soda. Soda is bad OK.

Then in my early thirties I made another change. I stopped eating so much fruit. I was a fruitaholic-you know because it is just so good and good for you. Well it has a ton of (natural) sugar and even the good stuff will turn to fat. I also stopped eating yogurt because it is chock full of the stuff. I just had maybe 1 1/2 servings a day and really saw a difference.

Now I am TRYING to do a makeover on my breakfast. I am a huge cereal lover(hello sugar-although I do eat one with low sugar it is still too much). I eat cereal every morning. Honey Bunches of Oats, with half a banana, a few tablespoons of flaxseeds and wheat germ and I am good to go. I am so sad to say that I think it is time I put the bowl down and try protein in the morning. My hope again is that cutting back on sugar will jump start a little more weight lose for me. I am also thinking(I have not committed yet) about how to change my "special treat" of the day. I always have a little something after lunch. A cookie, a handful of chocolate chips(two handfuls if it is just that kind if day) or some spicedrops. I want something sweet, but something that will satisfy my craving with half the calories and sugar BUT I'm not talking about every day, just a couple times a week because a girls GOT to have her chocolate, and I LOVE cookies and so do my kids so they CAN'T be banned from the house!!

Boy...can you tell this one is going to be tough. I guess I really feel strongly about cookies and the chips that go in them. Well, wish me luck on making my changes that you know have nothing to do with resolutions. I just happened to need some changes and it just happened to be the beginning of the year.

The following picture has nothing to do with this post. My Mom just needs to see the baby :)

oh baby!

the best of 09

Happy New Year to all my friends and family. Today I am looking back, counting my blessings, letting go of failures and anticipating the future. As one of my favorite bloggers put it. There are 365 days on the calendar waiting to be LIVED. Hallelujah!