The worst...

... is having a sick kid! I normally carpool to work 2 days a week (since it's just shy of 100 miles round trip) and today would've normally been one of those days. My carpool partner had parent/teacher conferences and couldn't drive with me today and thank goodness! Just as I'm ready to take my lunch break DH calls me frantically to let me know that J has been puking all morning and he can't leave work to go get her. Perfect. A sick kid, tons of work to be done and even more plans for the next few days! I guess we will spend the rest of the day deciding how sick she is, will she get A sick and who gets to stay home from work tomorrow?! I think I just convinced A & J that it was nap time so maybe I can crank some work out before they wake up. Here's to a better weekend!

I'm a River City Rat!

I successfully completed my first 5K yesterday at the River City Rat Race! It was an awesome day for a race. The sun was shinning and it was in the upper 50s/low 60s ... glorious! This will definitely be a race I run again next year.

Before the race

Style ... or lack of

Do you ever get to the point where you don't like anything in your wardrobe? I feel like I stand at my closet and look through all my clothes and think "I have nothing to wear". I seem to wear the same thing every day to work and then on the weekends I really don't have anything that doesn't scream "MOM CLOTHES!". I need a new style, a new direction. I feel I should have this issue ... I'm young ... doesn't that mean I am in style? According to my kids I've got beautiful and fabulous clothes, but when you ask someone other than a 4 year old ... well I could use some help. I need something practical. Let's face it, I'm not about to run around chasing my kids in 4 inch heels and I'm surely not going to the grocery store looking like I'm ready for date night with my DH. I need a good balance, a comfortable yet stylish balance. Wish me luck!

My green bin!

You see that green bin? It brings me goodies every other Wednesday. The kids gather around and try to rip it open as fast as possible. This green bin of goodies is delivered right to my door full of fresh, locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables courtesy of Green B.E.A.N Delivery.

This week's bin consisted of:
1 green cabbage
2 lbs of ivory sweet potatoes
1 bunch of broccoli
1 lb celery hearts
1 lb baby carrots
2 granny smith apples
6 red bartlett pears
4 honeycrisp apples
1 pomegranate
1 lb bananas
1 lb red grapes

Wanna know the best thing ... it only cost me $31.50! A normal (small) produce bin is $35 (still an awesome price!), but I follow them on Twitter and they ran a little contest this past week. It took me two minutes to submit them a link to my blog and they gave me 10% off my bin! (I love discounts!!) Well maybe the price isn't the best thing ... seeing these happy faces when they get to pick something out of the bin is pretty great too!

If Green B.E.A.N delivers to your house I highly recommend signing up. Be sure to tell them I sent you (then I'll get another discount!)

Etsy Browsing ...

I have a bad habit. I frequent Etsy shops during work and make up dream wish lists. Here's some of my favorites from this week ...

Personalized beach pebbles 

Bird Photograph

Distressed Sign

Half Apron

Zoo Day

Posing with the orangutan statue

A climbing through the tree house

J next to the safari jeep

Halloween Art

I got out the paint and canvas again last night went to work on some new Halloween decorations. I wanted something that will last for years to come. I got my Pick Your Plum order last night (tin signs that came in orange, black and white) and since my order got lost they included an extra set of vinyl stickers. I placed the BOO! sticker on the sign which I'm thinking I will bring to work and hang in my office area. For the canvas I put the letters down, painted over the top then peeled off the letters. I finished it off with the vinyl spider (which A chose instead of the witch's hat). All I need to do is add a hanger on the back and we are ready! Super easy and just what I needed for my decorations.

Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Muffins

These are not the healthiest muffins around, but they are delicious! Perfect for a weekend breakfast or as a snack (that's how my kids eat them!) and the cinnamon and sugar topping reminds me of the doughnuts you can get at the local fall fair. Not to mention that they make your house smell AMAZING! Yum!
I slightly modified the recipe that I found at Baked Perfection.


2 cups flour (1 cup all purpose, 1 cup whole wheat)
1 TBSP baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 large eggs
1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt (I used a non-milk variety for A's allergies)
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
4 TBSP oil
1 tsp vanilla


Preheat oven to 400*. Line muffin pan with paper cups (I also made a few minis, perfect for the kids)


Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, yogurt, sugar, oil and vanilla. Add flour mixture and mix with light strokes until the dry ingredients are just moistened. Don't over mix; batter won't be smooth.


Divide batter among muffins cups and bake until toothpick inserted in one or two come out clean. About 12-15 minutes.


While muffins are baking, melt 1/2 stick butter (I used soy butter) and pace in a bowl just large enough to hold a muffin. Combine 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon in a small shallow bowl. As soon as the muffins are done, dip them once at time in the melted butter and roll in the sugar mixture. {I used tongs so I didn't burn my fingers!} Set on a rack to cool.


Makes 12 standard muffins (plus maybe some minis)


Enjoy!

Yarn Wreaths!

I apologize now for my crappy cell phone pictures. I really need to just get use to taking pictures with my digital camera and uploading them.

My completed yarn wreath!

I made it for my mom's birthday, it will be hard to give it away

Felt flowers