the time is nigh...

 So, SOONER rather than later 

my hubby will be back!

and staying put for at least 6 months!!

*cross your fingers*

I'm running around crazy

trying to pretend i haven't been in a funk

for almost 60 days since he left.

Clean, clean clean...

Can't wait to be smelling this

around my house again

and hopefully these guys won't be the only ones

getting any action around here *wink*

let's hope i don't go certifiable before then ;)

Sunday Treat: Pasta?

Pasta Salad is a treat?

Is taking a trip to the Mediterranean a treat?

Yea, I thought so.

Actually i have a family dinner to go to

and I am supposed to bring a pasta salad

I don't have time for a dessert treat

but THIS salad will NOT disappoint!

It's a different take on the standard pasta salad

and believe me, you may end up just taking a bag

of Doritos to your function so you can keep this at home and 

eat.it.all.

You can get the fab recipe for Mediterranean Pasta Salad HERE

and print it off, it's a KEEPER!

Happy Sunday!

ME do it!

really?

good luck with that.

Sunday Treat: 2 for 1

chips 

OKAY! i know...i already posted about food this week, OH WELL.

But today is Sunday.

And i promised Sunday Treats from now on.

Today is a 2 for 1 special!!!

Double Chocolate Mud Bars

&

Christmas Caramels

If you can eat either of these delectable yummies without cussing immediately 

cuz they're THAT good

Then you're a better person than I.

At least my mouth was full so no one could understand me.

Double Chocolate Mud Bars

1/2 C  (1 stick butter), softened

1 C   granulated sugar

2     large eggs, separated

1 1/2 C  all-purpose flour

1 tsp    baking powder

1 C     chopped walnuts

1/2 C   semisweet chocolate chips

1 C     miniature marshmallows

1 C     firmly packed brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease a 13x9in baking pan.

Beat together butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg yolks, one at a time, until blended.

Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Fold flour mixture into butter mixture

Press mixture into prepared pan.  Pack down firmly. Sprinkle nuts ( majority of my girls are allergic to nuts so i used butterscotch instead of nuts..highly recommend the flavor awesomeness), choc chips, and marshmallows over the top of mixture in pan

Beat egg whites at high speed until stiff peaks form.  Fold in brown sugar.  Spread over mixture in pan.

Bake for 35 min or until a crust is formed.  Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely.  Cut cooled bars into squares.

Christmas Caramels

1 C    butter

1 C    packed brown sugar

1 C    white sugar

1 C    light corn syrup

1 C   14oz can sweetened condensed milk

          dash of salt

Butter a 7x11in pan.  Combine butter, sugars, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, and sat in a heavy saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Adjust temp to maintain a steady boil and cook, stirring often, to firm-ball stage, 245-250 degrees on candy thermometer or (mixture forms a firm ball when dropped into cold water and won't flatten when removed)  This will take 15-20 min.  Pour into prepared pan.  Cool, then cut into squares and wrap each piece in waxed paper.  Makes about 75 pieces of candy.

I recommend running at least 3 miles BEFORE and AFTER these treats.

Or just close your eyes while eating 

Calories don't count if you can't see them...

muffin top is HOT...

okay. it's not Sunday yet, AND i did just post about a banana muffin recipe just recently 

so that's why i'm sharing this with you today.

Once again we had some bananas that started looking sad.

Piper requested banana muffins WITHOUT blueberries

Her wish is my command.

This recipe is a little different in preparation.

You'll feel like a true baker/pastry chef as you make them in the manner suggested.

So put on your nicest apron.

some lipgloss

& of course, stilettos.

these muffins are filled to the brim when you put them in the muffin tin

so be aware that it's alright

just makes them huge and yummy!

then you cool them off for a couple seconds, minutes.

you can separate one from the pack

they're weaker that way without all their buddies...

easier to overtake.

then put a little love on it.

or as others call it "butter"

there are several methods to eating a warm, aromatic baked good.

the "tentative" approach is always easy

if you want everyone to think you're a BABY, that is...

Eating one topless is always a popular choice.

Just don't forget to accessorize

"Eager Beaver" is an excellent way to stuff your face

just make sure you chant, "these are DELICIOUS"

over and over

so the experience is burned into your memory

If you have no patience for pleasantries

there's the "Git 'er done" method

stuff the dang thing in your chomper!

just make sure to chew, a couple times at least.

Seems my kids want baked goods when they get home from school.

Must be the cooler temps...

or their need to feel loved or some junk. ;p

If you want the recipe, go HERE

tell 'em Bobby Flay sent ya.

done and done.

I've decided.

I'm going to be a Paralegal.

I'm going to work alongside attorneys.

I'm also going to specialize in being a CASA.

A "Court Appointed Special Advocate"

a child advocate for those children who has suffered from every form of abuse and neglect and ultimately end up in the hands of the court to make the decisions for them.

I can help that child and be their voice to make sure they get the best outcome possible, 

and to not be scared when they're in the courtroom

I had a profound reaction to stumbling upon this program.

And by profound, i mean i KNOW this is what I, Hillary

should be doing.

I'm excited to start my journey.

and i'm passionate about my choice.

loud thinking...

this was me...10 years ago, outside of mississippi.

ok, jk. BUT i flippin' love this photo. I love great photography!!!

I WISH i knew how to do it and have the cool cameras to do so and to make a career out of it.

I remember when I was little I wanted to be a photojournalist or a nurse.

i took pics of everything

and i loved writing and making up stories

so I thought the perfect combo career would be a photojournalist.

or fashion...ugh i wish i didn't love it so...

how fun would it be to be in the fashion world, to go to fashion shows, 

to create clothing lines or jewelry pieces

or be a stylist for other people to help them dress up!

BUT

I also love people.

I'm a people person

I love to interact and help people.

Being a nurse would be a great outlet to love, nurture and help heal those around me.

I have a knack with children and those with "special needs".

At one time I thought of being a Special Education teacher because of my ease with children and people with those needs.

I'd be one of the few girls at church dances that those who were a little more "special" gravitated towards and I would gladly oblige and dance with them or talk with them, when it seemed others didn't know what to do or want to have anything to do with them.

I think jobs of "service" are a natural fit for me.

I'm a fighter too

Fighting for justice.

I've always wanted to be a voice for those that don't have one.

I've been told numerous times to speak..speak, speak, do not shy away from leading and speaking.

How do you become an advocate?

I'd love to be a leader for change for tougher Sexual Predator laws

to speak out for more harsh sentencing and fight for the children that can't fight for themselves.

or help women in domestic abuse situations

or sexual assault victims

How do you start being a part of that

and making a difference?

But what happened?  I'm now in my 30's mid 20's and I haven't done those extra things I wanted to accomplish.

Being a mommy is the greatest thing I'll ever do

and where I find the most pride and joy from

so I'm not saying I haven't done anything

but now that my last baby is turning 1yr old soon I'm seeing that the opportunity for me to do something for ME is swiftly approaching.

So I have a lot of contemplating and soul searching to do, to figure out what would truly make me happy and how I can best serve the world and my purpose in it.

Maybe I can take pics of the evil jerks I help put behind bars and write about how awesome it is that my new law is keeping them there for the remainder of their stinky lives.

Thanks for letting me think outloud.

Sunday treat...

 

So I've decided every Sunday I'm going to put up a TREAT to share with you.

I love me some treats, and I can't guarantee they will always be healthy, 

but they will always be yummy!

Today is your lucky day, it's BOTH!!

I found the recipe for these chocolate almond drops about 6 months ago from THIS blog, 

which btw you should follow. She's uber talented photographer, totally cute/witty/healthy/fit mommy and food lover 

and i may or may not be quazi-obsessed.

SO! this is SUPER easy to make, pretty healthy, and to die for little snack!

It's beyond...trust me.

Chocolate Almond Drops

1 C almonds (toasted in pan~10min- u will start to smell them) & chopped

1/2c dried cherries ( I usually have Craisins on hand so I normally use those!)

1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips ( I have ALWAYS used DARK chocolate chips- 60% Ghiradelli dark chocolate                   chips and it's extraordinary...dark is better for you)

                         Melt chocolate (microwave is easy, every 30 sec..stir until melted)

Mix together.

Drop by small spoonful onto wax paper.

(sprinkle of sea salt)

let set up in fridge

Try not to eat the whole batch ;)

u obviously won't be disappointed. 

much better.

they say you shouldn't turn to food for comfort.

i've been really good not to.

but sometimes

you just need a homemade chocolate chip cookie.

So, I mixed this...

then baked...

which made these...

and then i did this...

and i feel better. much better.

October-October

It's been a long year. 

      I've been alone & have done it on my own for most of it.

I'm usually good.

but

I do occasionally have days like today...

Bye Summer...Hello Fall

Labor Day was yesterday and it seems to always be the last day of summer.  So we took advantage, and had a picnic! Flys kept dive bombing my face and making me yelp so that the construction workers and neighbors thought I had Tourette's...

They lived on this, allllllll summer. It sat neatly between our house and my SIL's house so that cousins could jump, and sometimes even in their swimsuits with the sprinkler underneath. Go weed patch!

But if your heart is sad for summer to be over, nothing gets you in the mood for cooler temps and holiday spirit like impromptu costume fashion show.  These girls are ready for the holidays, are you?

Don't be scared to channel your inner Rock Star this year! You go Hannah..you go.

You can always be Tinkerbell, but in her true form! Sad and depressed that Peter Pan led her on all those years...

Nothing says sexy like being able to adapt to land OR sea. Hair extensions? not worth the money...Mermaid Wig? Priceless...

 BFF's dress the same, didn't you know? So hit up your friends and you can ALL wear the same costume. just never ask, "Who do you think looks cuter?" It's not princess-like to cat fight.

There is nothing more precious than a topless fairy, so I'd highly recommend this look...

If you just can't decide, you can always bust out your Lion-ness.  No one ever messes with them, or their ice cream. Always remember to wear your seatbelt though..it's a jungle out there.

power undies.

after MONTHS of trial and error..mostly error , she decided it was time I guess.

She received new Dora undies, and the next day she wanted to wear only those.

1 accident in the morning, then was 100% the entire rest of the day.

there was a little 10 minute #2 moment as she sat on the potty,  where we chatted about everyday things until she felt comfortable enough and finally went! If you've never had a long conversation with your 2 yr old while they're on the potty I highly recommend it. ;p

We're on day 3 and she's been excellente'!!..as Dora would say.

Now I just need THIS marshmallow to hop on the potty bandwagon...

yes i took her 3 strands of hair and fashioned a pigtail out of it, wouldn't U ?? ;p

etc: thur sept 2nd

My girls started school this week! Miss Lily is in 3rd grade, oh and scored a new uber cool pair of specs.

Miss Piper started kindergarten! look how happy she is!..look how um..mixed emotion mommy was..ha

It's awfully quiet in the afternoons here, i guess that makes it easier for the little ones to nap, and by little ones I mean mommy too ;)

Go embrace your camera today! you can click on the blue camera box up at the top for all the deets.

She was supposed to stay tiny...

I have a KINDERGARTNER!!

I think afternoon kindergarten is great for Piper since the little ones take a nap, but the anticipation school to start everyday might just do her in..;)

Ya, I'm 5yr old, oh and I go to kindergarten now...

Did you get my shoes? Yes, Piper, you're stylin..;)

Oh, she's cute from the front AND the BACK...

She was so majorly excited and I actually started to feel a little emotional, what a sap...

Can you FEEL the waiting?? where is that bus!

Woohoo! it got here! later mommy!

So i drove to the school so I could see her go into her class for the first time, and we may or may not have gotten there 20 minutes before the bus did.  These 2 were thrilled to wait that long, seriously.

Okay i started getting bored too... Hey Look! Gellies!

Yea! She made it to school! Just about to go into her classroom for her 1st day!

Ok, mommy...she was probably saying "you can leave now" between her teeth. haha 

Love you big girl, can't believe you're in kindergarten already!!

Big sis made sure she got home safely on the bus, what a terrific day!!