a little [MadeByGirl] blog love.

It is no secret that I love blogs.  The creativity of the women behind the blogs I read daily astounds me!  I can't help but feel inspired. [And simply want to live better!]  Jen Ramos is the woman behind MadeByGirl.  Not only does she pen MadeByGirl she also has an online shop.  Her paper goods and typographical posters are to die for.   

Her original paintings are gorgeous!

 {via cocoa and hearts}

And now, just in time for Valentine's Day, she has put together Cartas de Amor.  A sort of online magazine that she created. It features love letters contributed by 18 bloggers, plus gifts, recipes, and

ideas for the love(s) in your life.  It is stunning actually.  Take a peek..... Cartas de Amor.

 {via MadeByGirl}

You really do need to check out Jen Ramos and all of her creativity.  It is inspiring!  

in my ear[buds]

World Spins Madly On :: The Weepies

[perfect for lazy days in dreary February]

banana oatmeal chocolate chunk muffins

If you are trying to make every calorie count, but need a little sweet in your life...I have just the muffin for you!  Wholesome goodness and easy to make.

{oats, banana & flax make this muffin hearty}

{quality chocolate chunks add just enough sweet}

{perfect for the on-the-go breakfast or mid-afternoon treat}

Ingredients:
2 cups almond meal/flour (Bob's Red Mill is the easiest to find.)
1 cup oats
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup almond milk

 2 eggs
1 TBSP. baking powder
1 tsp. pure vanilla
1 TBSP ground flax seed
2 TBSP light agave nectar
1/2 cup {or maybe a bit more} semisweet baking chunks.  (I used Scharffen Berger.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix all ingredients together.  [Yes, it is that easy!].  Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray.  Fill each muffin cup 3/4 full.  Bake 20-25 minutes, until muffins begin to brown around the edges.  Let cool and remove from tin.  

Recipe adapted from:

Fit and Healthy with Debbie

GreenLite Bites

**I used gluten free oats, so my muffins were gluten and dairy free. 

when your kids do wrong

[more innocent times. sweet little hands.]

When my kids do wrong it is heartbreaking.  I love these two little beings more than life itself and yet it isn't enough to keep them from making mistakes.  Yes, falling down is part of growing up, but as a parent it is saddening and even embarrassing.  I quickly begin to question my skills as a mother and expose all my shortcomings. It must be my fault somehow, right?

I am raising two boys.  The adventure that lies ahead is often staggering to think about.  Over the past year or so, I have formulated a few guidelines for myself.  Really, its just my way of finding a way to survive this crazy ride!

1.  Be firm, follow through, but remind them just how much I love them.  

Yes.  There is a consequence for a bad decision.  However, I remind myself to tell them clearly, "What you did is not ok, but I still love you and I know you will do better."

2.  Keep talking to a minimum.  

They tune me out after the first 30 seconds.  I have to choose words that will have impact.  The point needs to be made quickly if it is to penetrate the mind of a young boy. 

3.  Don't apologize for them.

Every fiber of my being fights this!  When my kids have messed up, the first thing I want to do is apologize.  I want the injured party to know just how serious this is to me.  In the past few months, I have stopped myself from doing this. While it is true I am sorry it happened, I can't own it for them.   As I speak [or type an email] to an adult, teacher, principal, or coach I convey how very disappointed I am in the actions of my son.  However, if an apology is to come - it must come from my child.  He must own it.  Not me.

Please know that my process may also include crying [privately or in public], some yelling, a whole bunch of crazy unleashed on my husband, and seeking solace with my girlfriends and a glass(es) of wine.   

No one is perfect {including kids} and we're all in this together.  At least we should be.

the [modern] game of Life.

The game of Life.  Remember it?  The spinning wheel, cars, weddings, and babies.  Check the cars from my boys' recent match up.  They decided to marry a boy and adopt their kids along the way.  I am calling it the [modern] game of Life.  Thing is, I was telling the truth when I said, "You can marry a girl or a boy.  It's your choice."  That's life. [And it's pretty damn awesome!]

Truth be told..they were pretty repulsed at the idea of getting married at all.  Boy or girl?  Who would want to get married and have kids?  Plenty of giggles. 

play-well. party on.

Little Man had a birthday.  It happens to fall late in December, so we party with is friends in January.  This year it was a full on LEGOpalooza!  I would highly recommend Play-Well TEKnologies.  The kids built a motorized LEGO mini-walker with the help of an extremely, patient instructor!  For 90 minutes the kids built, played, laughed and created.  It was dreamy!  [All I did was take pictures.  What is more dreamy than that??]

He also requested ice cream sundaes for his sweet treat.  When it comes to a birthday dessert, it can't get much easier [and fun] than a sundae.  The more toppings...the better!!

Sources for ice cream fun:
1.  Shop Sweet Lulu- sweet little striped spoons and ice cream cups.
2.  Mark & Graham- gold chevron paper placemats

[Additionally, in following my own party tradition, there were no goodie bags! We spent a little more on the party and got rid of the junk.  Read more about my answer to the goodie bag dilemma.]

read it. make it. eat it.

I love to read.  I love to cook. And I love to eat. [good thing I like to run.] Lucky for me the world seems to have gone cookbook crazy!  While browsing in my local book store a few new cookbooks caught my eye.....

1  Savory Sweet Life by Alice Currah.  [A book spinoff from Alice's acclaimed food blog- Savory Sweet Life.]

2  What Katie Ate by Katie Quinn Davies.  [A spin off from the blog What Katie Ate.  The photos and typography had me the moment I opened the book!  It is a work of art.]

3  More from Macrina by Leslie Mackie.  [Favorites from a local Seattle bakery.  Macrina for brunch, lunch or pastries.  You can't go wrong!]

4  The Truck Food Cookbook by John Edge [ Mr. Edge seems to have worked hard sampling food for this book.  The food truck revolution makes me smile.  This book promises 150 recipes from the best food trucks in America. I am all in.]

One cookbook was sold out on my visit....

I adore the Smitten Kitchen blog and cannot wait to own this cookbook.  This blog is a must read.  You must try this recipe for the best rice crispy treat you have ever had! 

Which cookbooks [new or old] are your favorites?