Coffee Twice

I am not ashamed to say I frequent Starbucks. Their coffee makes me happy.

That said, I do try to make and drink coffee at home most days as opposed to buying out. I brew my strong 12 ounces and splash in some half and half and do alright.

Some days, like today, I want a yummier-than-usual coffee drink, and I don't plan to be out and about, and even if I do go out I just don't feel like forking over three bucks.

So I make this Maple Cinnamon Coffee.

I make enough for a hot cup in the morning and then later I ice the rest and add milk, 1 to 1, and it is a lovely iced coffee drink. I don't do the whipped cream usually, just my half and half or un-whipped heavy cream. And the amount of maple syrup she calls for is a little too sweet for me, but you'll have to experiment to see what you like.

On my nightstand

As a single woman, I had a book on my nightstand always. And one on the couch in the living room, and possibly another on the kitchen counter, and yes, the back of the toilet. You get the idea. Lots more time in the day where I got to actually decide what I wanted to do instead of have it dictated to me by three adorable little people.

Now I only have a book on my nightstand a few times a year. I love to read. I'm VERY discerning at this point about books, and it has to be an easy read that requires SOME thought but not too deep. Not because I don't want to think deeply, but because I just CAN'T right now, people. Another day, when I'm getting more sleep.

But right NOW, I actually have TWO books on my nightstand. Yikes! It's exciting! It makes me smile, and the covers are so pretty and inviting, and I can't wait to crawl into bed at night to devour a chapter of each.

Here's what I'm reading:



My mother bought this for me Monday night when we went to see Immaculee speak. Wowzers. Holy woman of God. And she autographed it for me, and she kissed my baby. Yay. Read about this apparition of the Blessed Mother, the only Church approved one in Africa. I only wish all of you could hear Immaculee speak about it. But this will be the next best thing.



This one is about unplugging, going completely off the grid. It is one couple's story. I just started it, but how interesting is that? It was an experiment to see what among today's technology is actually helpful to mankind and what technology is just sucking the life out of us. I'll keep you posted.

That's all folks.

Sunrise, Sunset

Both today's. An awesome opportunity to share the love of God with Grace and Joshua.

Good Deal on Green Works Laundry Detergent

If you like Green Works laundry detergent, this is for you.

If you haven't used it before, I will tell you from my limited experience that it works just as well or better than my usual suspects, such as Tide and Up & Up.

So here's the dealio. Click here for a link to a coupon for $3 off and then go to Target Coupons and print a Target Coupon for $3 off. You can stack these for a total of $6 off a 90oz bottle at Target. I'm pretty sure it was $9.99 last time I bought it, so at $3.99 for 90oz, that's a heck of a deal.

I'm also rolling the catalina deals at Dillons this week, let me know if you want the 411.

Not Your Momma's Zucchini Bread

I love the Zucchini Bread recipe I got from my sister-in-law. It has orange juice concentrate and orange zest in it, and it is refreshingly tasty. And I will be happy to share it with you, but not today.

Yesterday I was looking for something new and different and tasty (and healthy but don't tell the kids) and so I found a popular recipe on food.com and then altered it to suit my baking preferences (less sugar, different oils, heartier flour) and voila!


Yep, it was that good.

This bread is seriously desert-like, but you could totally eat it for breakfast. Or lunch. Or a snack. I ate half the loaf myself. I just made it last night. OK now you know too much.


Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

3 eggs
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup coconut oil
2 cups shredded zucchini, squeezed out (a tea towel works well)
3 cups whole wheat flour (hard red) (not white whole wheat)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 pkg. mini chocolate chips

I was in a rush (baby waking up), so I honestly just dumped it all in my KitchenAid stand mixer, gave it a whirl until it was well combined, and then plopped it in two well buttered loaf pans and baked it at 325 for 50 minutes. In the interest of full disclosure, the original had you mixing things up separately, you know the drill.


Neurotic Notes:
1. I've tried zucchini bread with butter instead of oil, and it really is better with coconut oil. Strange as it seems to me, I don't like the buttery taste in my zucchini bread.
2. Next time I make it, I'm going to experiment with a different, more nutritious sweetener. I'm considering: raw sugar, honey, or just less of the refined stuff. My recipe here has half of what was called for already though. Drop your suggestions in the combox.
3. Chopping up dark, higher quality chocolate would take it up a notch on the health-o-meter. I really liked the mini chips in the bread though, to be honest.
4. If the batter seems unnaturally thick, don't worry about it. I thought it would turn out a brick based on the way it went in, but it came out fine.

I hope you make it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Two Year Old Stares Death in the Face and Lives to Tell About It

On days like today

...when I am exhausted and just plain sick of my kids, adorable blessings though they may be, I dream about things like:

Building this house.














Running away with my sexy husband to Tahiti.
















Sewing a cute apron.



















What do you dream about?

Cheap Chips

So I thought I might just share a few of my cheap finds here and there. The ones that wouldn't be difficult for you to repeat should you so desire.

Print this coupon, and then head over to Dillons today or tomorrow (it's a 3 day sale and I believe it goes through tomorrow) and buy yourself some Nestle baking morsels that are on sale for under 1.50. I can't remember the exact amount. The coupon doubles, so you will actually get 50 cents off of each bag. So, you will score two bags of Nestle baking morsels for under a buck each. You should be able to print two coupons, and buy four bags if you like.

Sweet.

I Got This One Mom

Just a little cuteness to brighten your day.
Should have started the recording BEFORE I put the cup down on her tray. She picked it up herself.

Do You Delano?

Hey y'all.

This is kind of selfish but kind of not. I buy Delano bread every week at Dillons, because I don't have time to do everything and making bread (even though it's fairly easy and I really like my recipe) is something I have given up for now to make life easier. Oh but back to Delano bread. It appeals to my "locavore" side and tastes good and they have whole wheat and double oat bran and my kids like it etc. etc. etc.

Ok so the selfish/not selfish part is this: I am sharing a referral link here that will earn me Groupon credit but link YOU to a great deal. It is for $15 worth of food/coffee/delano product at Dolci & Joe's in college hill. It costs YOU $6. I bought three myself, because even if I don't go there for a date (which would be wonderful), I can buy Delano bread there for just over a buck a loaf. It sells for 3.19 at Dillons. Oh. Yeah.

Here you go if you want in: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu2636311

It's only good today.

Apparently...

I write like
James Joyce

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Mommas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys...

Although I don't think this hat is authentic "cowboy". It would be leather, right?

But he sure do look cute, don't he? My little Marnold. Oh Joshua, stealing hearts everywhere with those big soft brown eyes.

The price of a half-hour of peace

Well, this about says it all, really.

Slavery

"Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible." (1 Cor 9:19)

St. Peter Claver (1580-1654), whose feast day it is today, vowed to be "the slave of the African for ever." He was a Jesuit and a missionary among the African slaves in Colombia. He is the special heavenly patron of all missions to the African peoples.

My sister-in-law compares motherhood to little ones to the life of monks who must drop their work immediately when the bells call them to prayer. As mothers we never know when that "bell" is going to ring, but we cannot be so attached to our other tasks that we resent our children for interrupting them constantly. Constantly.

Which is why I relate to the above quote from St. Paul found in my Morning Prayer this morning. And admire St. Peter Claver who vowed to be a slave for ever, while I think daily how I can't wait until I don't feel so much like a slave to the constant needs of my little ones.

Oh I have so far to go. St. Paul and St. Peter Claver, pray for us!

Signing...How We Roll Around Here

Sometimes I stop to think about it, and when I do I think it's really cool that my children sign. Most of the time I don't stop to think about it, because it is our life. We couldn't do without it.

I haven't counted how many signs the kids know. A lot. Here are two of my favorite signs, demonstrated by each little cutie pie in turn. Sorry the sound is static-y. I think the camera cord was brushing against the mic.

Grace, take it away...



Joshua, you're up!



Hope they make you smile. We need those moments desperately around here.

Cough 'Em Up!

My newest preoccupation as of late, besides all the new life of spring (gardening and raising chicks), has been 'adventures in saving money', mostly in the form of coupons matched up with sale prices or rebates and the like. I'm having a lot of fun with it and saving us some money too.

More reflections later on what I've learned...right now I just want to know what websites YOU like to consult if you're playing the same game I am. Please leave comments!

To Pet or to Plate?

Only time will tell.

Meet the newest addition to the Arnold household. We have ten chicks of some "Red" variety, known for being good layers. They are currently residing in our basement in a large cardboard box, destined for the out of doors in a few short weeks. (It may feel long, depending on how stinky they get in the meantime.)

Why ten? We hope to end up with three or four hens and we were told about 70% would be male. So until we know for certain, there will be no getting attached.

happy happy Easter!

He is Risen! He is Truly Risen!

God blessed us with a wonderful day yesterday. My parents joined us for Easter Mass and breakfast (french toast anyone?) followed by gingerbread lattes from my espresso maker (welcome back my friend) and nap time. A nice afternoon with Paul's family and a restful evening completed our day. The grace of his rising was really working in our family yesterday. I went to bed feeling...peaceful. Blessed. Joyful. Thankful for our Savior, without whom I would have nothing.

Faith

"It is not really a question of trust in God...for we want very much to trust him; it is really a question of our ultimate belief in his existence and his providence, and it demands the purest act of faith." (He Leadeth Me, 78)

If I believe that God IS, then what do I have to fear? What cannot be overcome?