Ask my youngest what he wants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and his response will quickly and emphatically be, “A chocolate sandwich.” Sadly he has one at least one a day. A chocolate sandwich? Uh, that would be Nutella between two pieces of bread. The only redeeming nutritional value is that I serve it on two pieces of whole wheat bread. I do draw a line somewhere.
This Sunday, February 5th, is World Nutella Day. The official website declares: Nutella lovers unite for one day! Well wouldn’t you know….a day made just for my little man. I could have contributed an idea for the website’s recipes. I have grilled the sandwich in the morning with each piece of bread buttered. I think if you added a sliced banana, it could be pretty darn delicious.
Interested in celebrating something other than the Super Bowl on Sunday? http://www.nutelladay.com/
OR if you live in the Seattle area-you may indulge your Nutella tooth on Sunday!
Zeppole, Nutella Mascarpone, Ginger Sugar
airy, deliciously yeasty dough that’s fried crisp, dusted in a ginger sugar and then filled with a rich Nutella mascarpone
I came across this website today and immediately thought….how ingenious!
Tom Robinson writes:
“While sitting on Brighton beach (England) back in 2005 with my new girlfriend Verity I suddenly thought the view of our feet pointing out to sea would make a nice photo. Ever since then, we’ve continued to document our travels in this way, resulting in a collection of over 90 photos. In 2011 the series took a new twist with the arrival of a third set of feet – our daughter Matilda.”
dating
proposal
third set of feet
Don’t you just love it? I am a little late in the game, but if you know someone who recently started dating…..pass along the idea. You never know where your feet might lead you!
I already have my name on a pre-order list at Nordstrom! They are so darn cute in person. You can’t try them on, but you can stare longingly at them through a glass case. Funny, right? Once again, sticking to my new motto. I am not allowing myself to buy them in black! Color me happy!
I think I spy a receipt in there. Obvious work to be done!
Remember the parameters:
1. Tackle 1 small(ish) project each week. Complete one week from today.
2. Set a timer and work in 15 minute increments.
3. Hopefully, reign in the CHAOS and gain a sliver of sanity.
Our weekly task:
manage the CHAOS: the makeup drawer.
Only two sorting piles this week. Keep. Throw! Old makeup, unneeded products, crusty lotions, half used tubes? Toss them and don’t look back. If I remember correctly, in Econ 101 these past purchases are called sunk costs. Don’t feel guilty…just feel free of all that clutter.
This should be a quick task. When you are getting ready this week-put aside all the makeup and products you ACTUALLY use on a regular basis. Choose the essentials you use for a big “night out” and the rest – are history!
I had to giggle this weekend while reading Bossypants by Tina Fey. She included a list of attributes women must have to qualify as beautiful in our modern age.
She writes, “Now every girl is expected to have:
Caucasian blue eyes
full Spanish Lips
a classic button nose
hairless skin with a California tan
a Jamaican dance hall ass
long Swedish legs
small Japanese feet
the abs of a nine year old boy
the arms of Michelle Obama
and doll tits
The person closest to actually achieving this look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes. Everyone else is struggling.”
She then went on to list the healthy body parts for which she is grateful. While that is a difficult task for most of us, it is probably the healthiest thing you could do for yourself today. Why not give it a try?
PS. Also loved this message I saw recently! Had to share it. Going to repeat this to myself everyday this week. I may even write some of it on my bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker. (Thanks, Becky!)
I am reminded this week of a quote I carry in my wallet on a small card.
“The most important thing she’d learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” ~ jill churchill
we are all in this together. lean on those around you when you need it. be the support for others when you are a strong. (I have been doing a lot of leaning lately.)
Umbrellas. I have been thinking about them quite a bit lately. Hmmm, I wonder why? It all started when I spotted this lovely one carried by a prince.
The London premier of War Horse was water logged. Catherine’s Temperley London floor length gown was gorgeous and I am certain she didn’t want to cover it up with a trench. The umbrella was absolutely perfect! The shape ~ devine. With the perfect accent of black, which played off her dress.
Then I remembered a little something I purchased on my recent trip to NYC!
Isn’t it the cutest? The bubble umbrella is all the rage!
Want a bubble umbrella for yourself? I did a little research for you!
Took my boys to get haircuts yesterday after school. I always take them to Rudy’s Barbershop on Bellevue Way. Great cuts, no appointments, old auto garage, kinda hip. So thrilled to pick a little something up for myself at check out time!
A shower bomb! They come 4 to a box for $9.
The description on the back of the box (and on their website):
THIS TRICKED OUT LITTLE BROTHER TO THE BATH BOMB COMBINES MENTHOL, EUCALYPTUS AND TEA TREE OIL, ALONG WITH THE STEAM FROM YOUR SHOWER, TO CREATE A UNIQUE IN-HOME SPA EXPERIENCE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BREATHE DEEP AND RELAX, AND LET IT WORK ITS DETOXIFYING EFFECTS.
Could this be the answer to my “stay on a budget in January” and still cure the winter doldrums? Let’s hope so!
Want to give ’em a try? Check out the Rudy’s Barbershop website for the shop nearest to you in Seattle, Portland, LA, (and soon to be NYC).
I know, crazy how Tuesday is here already! I have to admit, didn’t complete the previous assignment. With children underfoot all last week, not much got done. (Well, aside from sledding and watching movies!) SO, that means double the work this week!
Your weekly task.
Manage the CHAOS: the game closet-or your equivalent.
As you notice, I do have shelves. Somehow everything gets thrown on the floor! Hmmmm, wonder who does that?
Remember the parameters:
1. Tackle 1 small(ish) project each week. Complete one week from today.
2. Set a timer and work in 15 minute increments.
3. Hopefully, reign in the CHAOS and gain a sliver of sanity.
Same drill. Keep. Donate. Throw Away. A big roll of packing tape might come in handy this week. Many times game boxes need to be reinforced with a little tape to hold their shape. Good luck!
PS. I am thinking when my play room morphs into something more grown up, this storage system from The Container Store might work superbly!
What does one do when home with the children for 7 (unplanned) days straight? Bake. Came across this recipe third hand (from blog, to blog, to blog to ME!). I could not resist it and picked up the essential ingredients to whip up a batch today. And just in time to take them along to the ski hill tomorrow.
salted brown butter krispie treats
**The following deliciousness is direct from smitten kitchen **
What’s different about these? Oh, just a bit more (coughdouble) butter which you toast until it’s brown and nutty and help along with some coarse salt, just minor things. But it changes everything.
Makes 16 2-inch squares or 32 1- x 2-inch small bars
1 stick unsalted butter, plus extra for the pan
1 10-ounce bag marshmallows
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal (about half a 12-ounce box)
Butter (or coat with non-stick spray) an 8-inch square cake pan with 2-inch sides.
In a large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. It will melt, then foam, then turn clear golden and finally start to turn brown and smell nutty. Stir frequently, scraping up any bits from the bottom as you do. Don’t take your eyes off the pot as while you may be impatient for it to start browning, the period between the time the butter begins to take on color and the point where it burns is often less than a minute.
As soon as the butter takes on a nutty color, turn the heat off and stir in the marshmallows. The residual heat from the melted butter should be enough to melt them, but if it is not, turn it back on low until the marshmallows are smooth.
Remove the pot from the stove and stir in the salt and cereal together. Quickly spread into prepared pan. I liked to use a piece of waxed or parchment paper that I’ve sprayed with oil to press it firmly and evenly into the edges and corners, though a silicon spatula works almost as well.
Let cool, cut into squares and get ready to make new friends.
