Time to make the lunches

Do you remember the commercial from the 80's about Making the Donuts?  It was a commercial for Dunkin Donuts, where the guy got up early and all he thought about (and said) was, "Gotta make the Donuts."  He woke up early, didn't seem too enthused about it, but, he did it.

That's exactly how I feel about making lunches.

My mom used to complain about making lunches for us when we were growing up.  We got to an age and she made us make our own.  I didn't see what the big deal was about making lunches.  It's not THAT difficult.  Put things in there that you would want to eat for lunch the next day.  Easy, right?

Then, I had kids of my own and had to make lunches.

It all started out fun.  Making a lunch here and there.  Putting in things that you know your child will eat (and that will survive in a paper bag/lunch box until lunch time).

Then came the requests.  Those were a great help because after awhile, you run out of fun ideas.  Unfortunately, the ideas stop and I was left on my own again.  Lunch making is now the time I dread.  I feel like I'm making the same lunch for all of the kids.

Just like in the Dunkin Donuts commercial, I have to keep going. Come rain, sun, sleet, snow I still have to make the Donuts....I mean the lunches.*

*those are links to two different commercials. Check them out. 

Yummy Cupcakes

I finally found a delicious cupcake recipe from scratch.  Yes, using a box mix is a lot easier to make, but, I was looking for something healthy.  In other words, I wanted to know ALL of the ingredients in my cupcake.

I found this recipe in the newspaper a few years ago and love it.

The Perfect Cupcake

1 1/2 sticks of butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 T warm water
1 t vanilla extract

Oven to 400 degrees.  Line your muffin tin.
Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Alternate adding eggs and flour (starting with and ending with the egg), beating until each is thoroughly mixed.
Divide batter into muffin tins.  Bake until fully cooked and golden, 15-17 minutes.  Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes.  Put on wire rack to cool.


A few side notes:

I don't add the full cup of sugar (surprise, surprise).  If you are going to frost them, there's your added sugar.  :)

I have also made these cupcakes and substituted coconut oil.  They turned out delicious! (and healthy, too!)

B A Bay

For those of you that watched the Three Stooges you probably recognize that title. If not, then watch this here.

When I was growing up, I remember watching this episode and singing along. I don't remember singing it THAT much.  Maybe my brothers were singing it, too?  I don't know. 

I remember my Dad came home from work one day and asked us to sing the song. Apparently he heard us sing it so much that he was singing it all day long at work. Unfortunately he only knew one line ("B-A-Bay) and sang it over and over.  I think he figured if the song is stuck in his head, he might as well learn the whole song. I thought it was funny that he was singing it. I didn't think he heard it that many times. I don't think he was too amused about singing it. Especially when he only knew one line of the song. (Luckily he had a sense of humor)

You're probably wondering why I brought this up. Obviously there's a story behind all of this singing. 

 Well, I was having a similar experience last night. Bella is learning to play the recorder this year. She happened to find one inside the piano bench and started playing. She only knows two notes: A and B.  She also knows a song using those two notes. It goes like this:

B  A   Blues
Got me in the groove
Every body singing
B  A   Blues

Hearing Bella play and sing this song over and over (and over and over) reminded me of my Dad singing the Three Stooges song. I knew I would get this song stuck in my head.  I was already singing along with her (and without her).   I would probably be singing it for a couple of days. 

Although, after watching that clip..."B A Bay, B E BE, B I Bicki Bi, B O Bo...."

You know you've hit rock bottom when you go to the grocery store like you have just rolled out of bed (because you pretty much have just rolled out of bed).  In sweats and boots, haven't combed your hair or washed your face.  Hoping and praying that you don't see anyone that you know.

Palmer Candy Cane Cups

If you like peppermint (like me) and chocolate, you have to try this candy. 

Found this bag at the dollar store. 

Bite sized chocolate candy cups. They look a lot like the Reese's peanut butter cups but, instead of peanut butter, these are filled with peppermint candy. 

How good is it?

Lets just say that I don't plan on sharing. 

In not sure what it is, but, lately RT has gotten quite chatty. The only problem with this new found "chattiness' is that it takes place at 4am.

As you may recall from many of my posts, for some reason, I wake up in the middle of the night.  I don't physically get up out of bed.  I just stay in bed and try to get back to sleep.  RT realizes I must be awake if I get up to go to the bathroom.  (I'm awake, but, sometimes tired enough to (maybe) fall back asleep).  RT doesn't see it that way.  He just starts talking to me.  It's like he's been waiting all night for me to wake up so he can talk to me.

I don't want to be rude.  I just want to get a little more sleep.  I try to mumble something, like I'm half asleep.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  Unfortunately, my big dreams of falling back to sleep are broken, and I am wide awake until I finally roll out of bed.

You know me, I love a good conversation, but, not in the middle of the night when I still have a good few hours to sleep.

The lack of sleep makes me tired earlier in the evening.  Going to bed earlier would be nice, then I can catch up on the lost sleep.

Or, maybe RT can just have these conversations with me during my awake hours.

"Yes, officer, I realize I was speeding, but, I just picked my son up from basketball and he waits until he gets to the car to release his gas.  My car smells like a big fart.  I wanted to get home and breathe some fresh air.  I figured driving fast with the windows down would help get some fresh air in the car and get me home to safety faster."

Doesn't this happen to everyone?