Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Wordless Wednesday


A little summer psa
 - walk - 
don't run, skip, hop, jump, jog, moonwalk, etc in flip flops

Monday, June 16, 2014

Snap, Crackle, Matcha!

    I'm part of a group online that is currently obsessed with CrispyCakes aka souped up rice crispy treats. There have no been spottings out in my neck of the woods and I just can't bring myself to pay for shipping since they already cost a hefty penny. Major bummer.

   The other day I had a hankering for a green tea latte and that's when the light bulb clicked on. What if I made some green tea rice crispy treats? That way I'd fill both of my cravings (and no... not pregnant - lol).

   I gathered up my ingredients and fiddled with some measuring. I also had a kitchen co-pilot with me. Bear was along for the taste testing ride. 

   We used:

   1 package of mini marshmallows (10.5oz)
   3 tbsp butter
   1.5 tbsp matcha powder
   5 cups of rice crispy cereal
   ** opt. 1-2 sample packets of Eat Green tea leaves 
   (I had these sample packets from a sub box and figured I'd toss them in) 



   Stir the marshmallows and butter together over low-medium heat until melted. Helpful hint - spray your spoon so it doesn't stick too much.



    I turned the heat off and then added the matcha powder and tea leaves packets. It took a while to make sure all the powder was mixed pretty well so keeping it on the warm burner helped keep the marshmallow mixture moving.
**I started with one tbsp of matcha powder but found that too weak for me so I added another half tbsp. It's all up to your taste but I suggest starting with at least 1 tbsp.





    Remove from heat and add the rice crispy cereal. 

    Spray pan with nonstick spray and spread the mixture in the pan. 
    *I sprayed my hand to move it around so it didn't stick.



    Cool and enjoy!!
That's the best part!!

And it's Bear approved. 
Now to decide if I should/can share the rest.
What do you add to your crispy treats?
Have you ever had a CrispyCake?


Friday, June 13, 2014

Birdie to Birdie

    Today we had a little visitor. He showed up on our patio and made himself comfortable. He was loud. I mean, he was real loud! He followed us where our voices went. He was shooed away and then came back. He let us take pictures of him. He even let Bear pet him (which she promptly afterwards ran inside to wash her hands). He let Jax check him out and say hi. We named him Emilio and Bear insisted that he go put on some shoes. 





    Bear and I had to run to the mall to pick up our updated family pictures and I didn't immediately look for him when we got home but after a while of cleaning up the house I realized it was quiet outside. I checked to see if he had left the area we last left him. Sadly, Emilio the shoeless hatchling passed away in the rain while we were gone. 
   Bear was looking for "Meelo" and of course Big Sis found him before the Hubs could take him from view. I know she couldn't grasp what she saw, a motionless, stiff legged bird but I felt a crumble inside for her and I. 
   We told her that he left and that was that. She looked once more then was ok. Weirdly enough, I felt like the three of us bonded this morning. Poor little guy. Rest in peace Emilio. 

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

A little gal and her dog
aka our June Birthday Girls
One will be turning 2, the other 10!




Monday, June 2, 2014

Summer Vacation Newbie

    I admit it. I am a summer vacation newbie. For the first time I will have all three kids home everyday until September. I am a bit scared. Ok, not a bit - a lot! What am I going to do??!!!

    I have been very lucky with my oldest. She was scouted at the high school track by the track coach for the summer recreation running program. (She's only 6.5 years old! Insert proud mama moment here!) We also decided to let her choose an art camp program at a local art store. It's only a week and its only for a few hours a day but she was so over the moon when I took her to sign up. She loves art - just like me! I grew up crafting and sewing and then progressed into painting abstracts and still love doing all of that to this day - that's when I get a free moment to myself that doesn't involve me melting into the couch from extreme tiredness. 

    My little man has not shown any interest in anything that I ask him. No soccer, no art, no track, no karate, nothing. I haven't asked him yet if he wants to do a cooking class at a local grocery store but I have a feeling he'll say no. I can drag him out to the playground and maybe even Geo-caching if I ever decide on which package to purchase but ultimately I think he'd rather be whipping around the yard on the Power Wheels. I did ask him if he was interested in learning to play an instrument.., and he said yes. When I asked him which one he immediately said the drums. Oh joy! So maybe I will have to find someone local or see if the music shop in town does drum lessons.

    As far as my little Bear goes., I dont know what to do. Maybe I can find some play group or toddler gym group so that she can play away from me for a while. I'll have to see what is out there that doesnt involve paying an arm and a leg. I do plan on that whole potty training thing being accomplished - even as I type she's sitting on her plastic potty as we begin the journey. (oh joy)

    Luckily we have a zoo membership and a newly built swing set but there's only so many times I can take them to the zoo while its under construction before we loose interest for a while and I'd prefer not to play outside when the summer noon heat hits. I'd like to do some continuing education but don't really know where to start since I will have a 2yo, PreK and 1st Grader altogether. Perhaps I will start researching now and hope I have some things for rainy days. 

    What do you do with your kiddos during summer vacation? Do you rely on day camps or summer programs?