New love ...

Meet this week's BFF...

I found her at World Market over the weekend.  It is the exact same flavoring as I remember from my favorite Mango Peach Tea that I used to order at B. Matthew's Bakery ... back when it really was a bakery. 

Note the little Sugar Free label?  I never meant to buy Sugar Free, but the helpful salesperson at World Market said they don't even bother with ordering the regular sugared version anymore because the sugar free flies off the shelf. 

Rightly so - it is DIVINE!

Use a shot glass for measuring, 1 per glass of tea.

Mean Girl Syndrome

I think God had a plan when he blessed me with little boys.

Sure, little boys are rough and tumble and they are not at all interested in wearing any of their clothes the way that I had envisioned. (Apparently, the layered look on GAP Kids mannequins is not what boys want to look like at six and nine years old.)  They are also not into girly things - and rightly so. 

(However, you must know that both Owen and Miles can drink a mean cup of Emperor's Bride tea and are quite at home in The Tea Room - this came natural, I mean, hello!)

But the coolest thing about little boys is that they do not hang in vicious packs, whispering about other little boys the way that girls do.  

In case you haven't been on a school playground in the last several years, the girls out there are systematically sizing each other up (and sizing the adults up too) - even as kindergarteners. I have made my way into a few of their circles, being Miles' Mom and all, but some of these girls are just plain mean. I remember girls from middle school, but I had no idea that it started this early.  No wonder they are so adept at it when they become grown women!

Sadly, I have to report, even after middle school and high school - the mean girls are still out there.  They are on the soccer fields, the McDonald's Germ Playlands, and they are in corporate America too.  They are still sizing each other up - and whispering to each other.  Sometimes when they whisper to me, I am not brave enough to shut it down.  That part is sad, and I am definitely trying to improve upon this flaw.

I think that if we, as women, dared to revel in each other not for our sameness, but instead compliment and FEED our differences - we could do, make, create and solve HUGE things together.  Who wants a million female robots marching around dressing, talking and acting the same?  If we all wore red heels (or fantastical cheetah ones for that matter) they wouldn't be so great anymore, would they?  Those of us who stand out now, would blend in if we were all the same.  Sameness sucks.  Being different is KING (or QUEEN) as in this case. 

Maybe together we can stomp out Mean Girl syndrome.

Get out of the shallow end of the pool where the kindergartners are.  And stop staring at everyone else's bathing suit - it doesn't matter which of us has on a great J. Crew bikini and who swims in a tshirt and shorts.   Lately, I am hanging with the tshirt and shorts girl - because she is more real on the inside anyway.  Because to me, it's the inside of a person that matters.  The outside is just a shell.  And if you only have the outside ... well, what does that say about your inside?

Sweetened Condensed Milk Toast

What a fun and easy recipe for a weekend breakfast!

You will need:
Slices of 3/4" Italian, French, Brioche or Challah Bread
Softened Butter
1 Tbsp (per slice) Sweetened Condensed Milk

Toast bread, spread with butter while still hot, then slather each slice with 1 tablespoon of condensed milk.  Run slices under broiler to brown. 

Yum!

It's a tough world out there...

Today, after having lunch with Miles at school, I reluctantly agreed to go out onto the school playground with him.  Going out onto the school playground is a sweet idea in theory, and especially to those who have never been before themselves.  The reality is that I will be swing pushing, listening to, sat on and dragged by the arm by not one, two or five kids.  It means that I will be Grand Poobah Push-Master Supreme, Tiny-Tot Therapist, Sitting Cushion Numero Uno and Mrs. Here-Come-With-Me, not to just one class full of youngins, but five classes.  Five classes multiplied by 20 kids equals 100 children.  Do you feel me now?

 And for the record, I was cute when I left the house ... now, about an hour or so later, I am not anywhere near cute. 

(Jim's exact comment when I walked past him after I got home ...  "You smell like a little wet puppy.") 

Nice. 

Miles & Grandpa

Learning to tie shoes is a stressful thing.  I remember being baffled by it when I was little.  It took awhile.  Here are Miles and Grandpa hard at work.

Thursday Funny -

I work with pranksters.  This is what I found on my To Do list on Thursday morning. 

Me being gone on Wednesdays just leaves them too much time to think up naughty ideas.

Easy gift...

Recently, my long-time and super creative friend, Kristen Morgan, had her 40th.  I wanted to put together something fun, functional, and healthy (cause all of us chickens are watching our waistlines) for her special day.

Here is my take on an easy, healthy and happy gift for a friend, teacher, co-worker, principal (like if you child has recently been in a tussle on the playground...)

This is how you put it together:  

1.  Make a mad dash to Walmart with kids in tow.
2.  In their housewares section, grab a large acrylic jar with lid - this one with a clamp is perfect and only $6.00!
3.  Run to the snacks section and buy a large bag of Tropical Trail Mix.
4.  On to the baking aisle to grab a bag of Nestle Tollhouse Dark Chocolate Chips.  Dark Chocolate has anti-oxidants, which do something for you, I just don't remember what, but  Dr. Oz says we should eat them ... maybe they will make us skinny?
5.  Hope that you have some fabulous ribbon at home.  If you don't, you'll need to hit the craft section before you head home.
6.  Once home, wash the container and dry.
7.  Layer trail mix and chocolate chips (tasting the yummy papaya chunks here and there for quality control) until you've reached the top.
8.  Make a cute tag, tie on the ribbon.
9.  Congratulate yourself for putting together a yummy, cute gift, all for around $12.00. 

Win, win baby!

Sweet friend ...

Ever get lucky enough to have a friend that likes to share?  There is nothing better!

They might be pretty, but...

Sometimes pretty just isn't enough.  Meet my favorite red heels ...

They came from my favorite store - White House Black Market. They are evil, but I have found a way to wear them without them wearing on me!  The trick is to bring a pair of old faithfuls to work with you and wear those at your desk - then swap 'em out when you have to walk around.  This works perfectly and only you are in on the secret!

5:00am comes early ...

For the last few weeks, Wren and I have been behaving like lunatics. We wake at 5:00am and suit up to walk our neighborhood. 

The day it was 22 degrees - special "gear" was required under my sweats to stay warm.  Perhaps this is what a homeless clown might be found wearing, but it worked - and as a bonus, it matched perfectly with my green on green striped gloves ...

You know, only a true friend wouldn't be embarassed to hang out with a person dressed like this - but then again, I think we were the only two awake and it was dark ...

Cake Batter Muddy Buddies

The words Cake Batter and Birthday Cake always catch my eye.  When I discovered Birthday Cake ice cream, it was a life altering event. 

Here is a fun recipe that would work great for a party, a classroom event at school, goody bags, party favors, or simply for moms to gorge on while sitting around talking trash.  These are easy and good. (Not to be misinterpreted as good for you.)

This recipe can easily be doubled - just alter the measurements below and use an entire box of Rice Chex.

A double batch will fill up a gallon size ziploc.

Cake Batter Muddy Buddies
Makes 5 cups

5 cups Rice Chex cereal
10 ounces (5 squares) vanilla flavored Almond Bark
3/4 cup yellow cake mix

1/4 cup powdered sugar

colored sprinkles

vegetable shortening, optional

Directions:
1. Pour 5 cups of Chex Cereal into a large bowl.
2. Melt Almond Bark according to the package directions, adding vegetable shortening to thin if desired.
3. Pour Almond Bark over cereal, stirring and folding until the cereal is completely covered. Generously shake sprinkles over mixture and fold them in as well. so they stick to the Almond Bark.
4. In a large bag or covered container such as Tupperware, put cake mix and powdered sugar and shake to mix evenly.
5. Pour the Almond Bark covered cereal into the large bag or container containing cake mix and powdered sugar. Seal the bag or container and shake until all the cereal is coated with the powdered mixture.
6. Discard excess powder and enjoy!

Knock You Naked Brownies

I have made a lot of recipes recently that just didn't have that zing factor.  So many of these recipes have been pulled out of my favorite cookbooks (Barefoot Contessa - come on!  Owen's birthday cake was a huge let down.) 

So, after weeks on the brain and with promises of flying clothes, I finally made Knock You Naked Brownies.  The wait was worth it. 

You should make these right now!

Knock You Naked Brownies
Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman

1 box (18.5 Ounce) German Chocolate Cake Mix (I Used Duncan Hines)

1 cup Finely Chopped Pecans (optional - I didn't use.)

1/3 cup Evaporated Milk

1/2 cup Evaporated Milk (additional)

1/2 cup Butter, Melted

60 whole Caramels, Unwrapped

1/3 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, chopped pecans (optional), 1/3 cup evaporated milk, and melted butter. Stir together until totally combined. Mixture will be very thick.

Press half the mixture into a well-greased 9 x 9 inch square baking pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove pan from oven and set aside.

In a double boiler (or a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of boiling water) melt caramels with additional 1/2 cup evaporated milk.

When melted and combined, pour over brownie base. Sprinkle chocolate chips as evenly as you can over the caramel.

Turn out remaining brownie dough on work surface. Use your hands to press it into a large square a little smaller than the pan. Use a spatula to remove it from the surface, then set it on top of the caramel and chocolate chips.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Remove from pan and allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for several hours.

When ready to serve, generously sift powdered sugar over the surface of the brownies. Cut into either nine or twelve helpings, and carefully remove from the pan.

Under Construction: Boys Bathroom Makeover...

The last of the sky blue walls and the sweet baby boy white shower curtain with red cars ...

Here begins the transformation to slimey green walls and hard core camo!

Standby for the ultimate BOYS GONE WILD transformation...

(George Brown character by Aaron Blecha)

Feelin' Crafty ...

So I get a picture and text from my good buddy, Wren, who lives right around the corner.  She has an excellent sense of humor - a happy mix of cynical and sarcastic and just down right knee slappin' goodness.  Her text says, "I'm a crafty bitch today ..." with a picture of a wreath that she made to hang on her front door.  This, of course, gets me all excited (and makes me laugh hard enough to require a Depends Undergarment too, I might add.)

In my excitement, I decide to make a heart garland - in celebration of Valentines Day ...

     
Yes, I am sure that this might seem a bit elementary to you (it did to me too), but cutting and pasting has a calming effect on my high-intensity brain.  Even the piles of paper cuttings didn't freak me out until the very, very end. 

This is what I used to make my grade-school garland...

I love paper clips and twine - don't you?  They make me happy ...

Even just one is cute ...

But a few more are even cuter ...

Love ...

Now who made this big mess?  (Pretend you don't see the tea cup.  Sheesh!)  

And for the finale - Wren's fabulous and highly crafty wreath!  Love!

Lotsa projects going on at the Murphy house...

Pinewood Derby Car Fabrication & Design... 

For those of you that do not have a resident boy scout up in da house ... The Pinewood Derby is a race of the fittest and finest of boy scout and parent fortitude. 

Boys and their Dads (or Moms, Grandpas, Uncle Doug-Bob-Joes) spend some quality time together designing, cutting and painting a regulation car to eventually race for the prize against other boy scout contestants in their pack or den. 

For some, this is crazed competition and tension is high.  We are sort of middle-roaders on this.  I know that we Murphys can become fierce
(S-O-C-C-E-R, ya'll), but this is a much more calm sport and that is, of course, the way it should be, after all.  I mean - ya can't run head on at everything like a lunatic banshee jacked up on Red Bull & Starbucks ... right?  Right?  Right. 

This is Miles' car...

and Owen's ...

These are the early stages, of course.  Soon they will be macked-out with all sorts of Pinewood Derby regulation bling - both to win and to wow the spectators.  Standby for updated shots of these fantastical cars.