Gifts

Happy Monday, dear friends.

Over the weekend I was given two amazing gifts.

1) A coupon for 50% off 5 full price items at Banana Republic (Thank you beloved Kelly).

2) A few child-free hours in which to utilize the coupon (Thank you beloved Hubs).

The trip went like this:

Two empty carseats! 

I can't remember the last time I was alone in the car. There may have been singing. 

Upon arrival at the mall, I was free to park anywhere because I didn't have two children to lug through the dangerous mine field of the parking lot. 

I can't remember the last time I was at the mall. It was most likely at least 1-2 years ago.

Why on Earth did they opt for carpet? 
Carpet? In the mall? Am I the only one who finds this odd?

Anyway, as I strolled blissfully along, guess who I spotted?

Santa on an escalator!

Why is it that Santa always needs a handler?

And then...

A glorious period of time...

Where I shopped, selected, and tried on clothing that I couldn't afford (until the coupon, that is).

I do not know the last time I was able to enter a fitting room.

Of course I didn't shop just for myself. Christmas is just around the corner, you know.

Please excuse the odd seam running down the center of this photo -
I sort of look like the phantom of the opera, but you get the gist.

Sigh.

Best. Day. Ever. 

Friday Moments

Friday Moments, as usual, with Soule Mama. This week I'm sticking to the rules - a single moment, no words.

If you have a moment or two to share, please leave a comment with a link.

No words means no words, Melissa.

Stop typing.

Walk away from the keyboard.

Go with the flow

Living with children can be frustrating, exhausting and often amusing. 


Yesterday, when I stumbled downstairs at oh-dark-thirty in the morning, to try to squeeze in a few, just a few quiet moments of mama time before the children woke up I was greeted by:

"Good morning, Mama."
"Good morning, Bear."

As I continued bumbling around the kitchen, searching for coffee, I was greeted by an item on my to-do list. 

Sigh. Anyone know how to get play-doh out of denim?

Shortly thereafter the children were up, and the Wee One requested hummus for breakfast. 

"How about pancakes?"

"No!"

"Waffles?"

"No!"

"Cheerios?"

"No!"

"Yogurt?"

"No!"

"Banana?"

"No!"

Sigh. 

Apparently it can never be too early for hummus.
Please forgive his breath. 

One more day 'til Friday!

Why, hello there, weekend. Come here often?

Crock Pot Chicken Soup

Gosh it's been a long time since I posted a recipe, and I'm horrified to admit it's almost time to start making cookie dough for Christmas.

Here in NH we seem to have sped straight by fall and landed smack dab in winter. Therefore, my crock pot has been getting a serious workout lately. And the most requested item? Chicken soup.

Here's the easy, oh-so-easy, recipe.

1/2 medium white onion chopped
1/2 green pepper chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
1 cup baby carrots chopped
2 cloves garlic (smashed and finely chopped)
2 cups chicken chopped (the dark meat from a rotisserie chicken works great, but you can also throw in raw chicken - white meat, dark meat, whatever floats your boat)
1 handful of a starch (rice, barley, but not pasta - it disintegrates in the cock pot - if you want noodles, cook them separately and add them to each bowl as you serve the soup)
1 large can low-sodium, low-fat chicken broth
pepper
a shake of bells seasoning (I always have this left over from Thanksgiving - but if you don't a pinch of ground rosemary is fine too)
2 bay leaves. 


Throw everything in the crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 8 hours.


Viola! 


Soup! 


Oh please oh please share you favorite crock pot goodness - I'm always looking for something new. 

Tuesday

Tuesday.

Tuesday is not really a day for pondering the meaning of life, but if not now? When?

This weekend I did not act my age (damn you pumpkin martini) and I paid for it the next day.

As I cursed myself and declared "Dang it Melissa you are thirty two years old and should know better" a thought was born.

Thirty two years old. 


There are lots of things I should know.

When my sister was thirty two and I was twenty six, I remember thinking she might be the wisest person I'd ever met.

I could ask her anything (still can) and she could answer.

I, on the other hand, don't watch the news and am still reading vampire-romance literature. Frequently.

But now, dear friends,  I have two children.

I am supposed to be wise. I'm supposed to be a confident advocate for them. I'm supposed to be making sure that they have what they need and don't turn into serial killers.

How can I possibly be responsible for these two when I was just recently outsmarted by a pumpkin martini?

All kidding aside, when I stop and think about the magnitude of what I am doing here - I am humbled.

Me?

Responsible for them?

But one time I hit myself in the face with a wrench. 


Poor kids.

Monday

Monday

5:50am

The Wee One is up.

Children do not understand daylight savings time.

Not the best way to start the week.

Here is a picture of the hawk that landed on our playhouse roof this week.

Cool, no?

He was freakin' huge.

Anyway, this is what happens to BadMamaMoments when the children get up too early. My writerly impulse is bludgeoned to death by the splat of cheerios on the (freshly washed) floor.

And now I hear the pitter patter of Big Boy feet.

Happy Monday.

Sorry for the lame post.

If you are unaware Hyperbole and a Half has a new post.

So go read that and when you're laughing and feeling all happy you can remember it was Bad Mama who sent you there, and perhaps forget about this failure of a blog post.

xo,
M

Friday Moments

I'm back!

We have been without electricity since Saturday, but it came on last night - hooray!!

Today's moment was the last photo taken before the snow fell.

Big bulldozer. Little bulldozer. 

If you have a moment or two to share, please leave a comment with a link!

Happy weekend!

Hooray for electricity!!