lessons and suprises

Lessons learned this week...

blogging is fun.

lunch is fun.

blogging about making school lunches....not so fun (or interesting).

muffins are yummy!

Mama Pea's blueberry streusel muffins are extra yummy! (OK, I already knew this.)

You never know when a surprise around the corner is coming.....

surprise #1: Yesterday after sending my kidlings (students) home with their report cards, and reading miss p's, I just felt so done. Ed was at school picking up Paige to take her on a playdate. I looked around the classroom. Everything was ready for Monday. However, there was a pile or two or three that really needed sorting/organizing/putting away. What to do? Nose to the grindstone? Or spontaneous afternoon date?

Well, I threw caution to the wind and after dropping Miss P at her soccer pal's house, Ed and I poked around downtown Sunnyvle and I caffeinated. (Not that it helped - I was asleep at 8:30. Fell asleep during our family viewing of this week's Biggest Loser. Unheard of.) Ed was very excited about the spontaneous date today. The piles will wait, I guess.

Surpise #2 - today as we were lounging around before attending an American Girl Fashion Show including my niece, I got a call from my mil. A model is sick. Can Paige be in the show too? Can she? We are very excited and primping as I speak (type). Ed is too. He can't wait for us to leave for hours.

Do surprises come in #3's? I hope so.

Goin' Someplace Special

There's a sweet book called Goin' Someplace Special. It is set in a 1950's southern town. A little African American girl is heading to the one place that allows people of all colors -- the public library. Like Tricia Ann, the library is a special place for me too (for clearly different reasons.) It is such a thrill to be able to get an armful of books -- for free!

Paige and I headed over there today. Here's what I got:

Left Neglected - Kind of a deeper version of I don't know how she does it. In this book, our protagonist -Sarah- is an uber busy career woman and mother who ends up in an accident leaving her unaware of anything on her left side. She is forced to rebuild her life.


Double Delicious - by Jessica Seinfeld, sequel to her Deceptively Delicious. I am not a big puree person, but think this book will be fun to try out, even it I leave out that puree part.

Just let me lie down - by Real Simple editor Kristin van Ogtrop. A collection of crazy stories from the working mother. Another book I wouldn't have bought, but am happy to peruse.

Paige got a collection of Nancy Drew Clue Crews.

I'm off to another special place, my couch for the weekly Modern Family viewing!

...and another lunch

The latest in this week's parade of Paige lunches....PB & Apple Sandwich, raisins, strawberry yogurt, edaname, and graham crackers.

In other news, you know that feeling of satisfaction you get after finishing a marathon project? I'm relishing that now....report cards are done!

hop to lunch!

Paige's bunny lunch - pasta with marinara sauce, bunny bread, carrots (of course) and grapes.

Let's do Lunch!

Filled with enthusiasm after Foodbuzz on Saturday, I decided to pose myself a challenge for this week - make some fun lunches for Miss Paige and me!

I've always been a bit envious of my co-worker's lunch. She always has a hot and hearty meal to get her through an afternoon with kindergartners and the ensuing parent pickup, prep, and second shift at home. She once told me her 'secret.' When she plans dinners for the week, she always has lunch in mind. In fact, she said, dinner planning "is all about lunch, and what will make good leftovers.' Interesting way to look at it, I thought.

My lunches are pretty hit and miss. Meaning sometimes they are good, and sometimes I 'miss' them (don't make 'em) and head out to a local eatery for my food fix. Cha-ching. Worse, sometimes I throw together a blah lunch and when noon rolls around, I can't bear to eat it, and my eatie self goes searching for something more tasty. Cha-ching, Cha-ching.

Paige, on the other hand, usually has pretty good lunches, made by chef daddy. Why mess with success? Ed detests making lunch, like our friends over at DALS. I don't mind it. Ed also pretty much makes her the same thing each day, with some small variations. I say, 'lunch is what you make it. Why not make it fun?' And with that, I give you day one's offering above: zoo pasta, animal crackers, sliced carrots and grapes. Nothing fancy yet....but, it beats peanut butter and jelly, right?

right?

mindful muffins

So. Yesterday, I made a quick stop at Trader Joe's. I'm waiting in line and practicing being mindful of my surroundings (eavesdropping), when I hear a couple of women talking about an item in the store they can't find. Suddenly one woman's face lights up in recognition as she points at an item displayed right next to the check stand. "There it is!" she squealed. She proceeded to tell me (and anyone else paying attention) that this pumpkin bread/muffin mix was like a visit from God. That was enough for me. What a perfect breakfast before Church Sunday morning!

Miss P and whipped them up last night, deciding to add some chocolate chips, (and frosting to some). They were quite yummy, and I like how versatile they are (like most muffins). They can be dressed up for dessert (pictured here) or pared down for a healthier breakfast or snack. I can't wait to try more varieties.

FoodBuzz!

Coolness alert! I last minute snagged a Foodbuzz ticket!



It would have been quite the thing to stay the whole weekend and really soak in the food and atmosphere. I decided to go to the one snippet I really wanted to see -- my favorite blogger Mama Pea, on the panel - Taking Your Blog to the Next Level.

The advice from the bloggers? Be yourself in your writing, post daily (or often), focus on good pictures, and invest in a quality header/design. Everything Joy the Baker said was hilarious. Sarah (Mama Pea) was adorable, Kath (Kath Eats Real Food) was super nice, Tracy (Shutterbean) was very knowledgeable and impressive, and Jessica from How Sweet it is was so cute with an infectious laugh.
At the end of the round table, I finally got the nerve to introduce myself to Mama Pea and get a photo. I also got some dough balls!

I rode home full of ideas for my blog. The morning was a success!