Attempting to be a Super Mom

Let me start this post by saying that both of my children make me very proud every day. Now, maybe I'm a tad over protective, but I'm sure there are a lot of other parents out there like me.  I monitor what my children watch on TV and just how much TV time they get.  In a given day, there is no set amount of time they are allowed (mostly Ben right now because most of the time Sydney still doesn't notice it exists) to watch TV.  It's dictated by health, behavior, weather, etc, so some days they watch more than others.  One thing that doesn't change is what they are allowed to watch.  I'm not just talking about the typical no violence, bad language, or sex things that I think 99% of parents can agree young children shouldn't be watching.  Keep in mind, Ben is 3 and Sydney is 15 months.  Everything they see on TV, they learn and they don't know the difference between real and make believe.  They are very impressionable.  I us...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Hot and humid with some pretty scary storms at night. Things that make me happy:   Spending time with my family. Book I'm reading:   Uncharted TerriTori by Tori Spelling. What's on my TV today:   Secret Life of a Teenager, Real Housewives of OC, and a little Downton Abbey with my husband before bed, I'm sure.   Right now, It's Complicated.  It's my absolute, all time favorite movie! On the menu for dinner: Tortellini Salad On my To Do List: Laundry New Recipe I tried or want to try soon: I'm dying to try a  Jalapeno popper grilled cheese sandwich .  May make some for dinner at some point this week. In the craft basket: Nothing at the moment, but hoping to start something soon. Looking forward to this week: Hopefully getting rid of the massive amounts of mosquitoes we have in the back yard so we can spend some time playing out there.  If anyone has any tricks for this, please help! Tips and Tricks:...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Warm and wonderful.  Perfect for playing outside and good tomato growing. Things that make me happy:   FaceTime on my husband's MacBook.  I know that sounds silly, but it's been so awesome.  For Mother's Day, my mother-in-law got an iPad, and we have been doing FaceTime with her and the kids in the evenings and everyone seems to love it. Book I'm reading:   Uncharted TerriTori by Tori Spelling. What's on my TV today:   Well, the Casey Anthony trial was on this morning now for the rest of the day, I'm not sure.  Maybe some Downton Abbey and this evening with the family a little Mr. Bean.  We all laugh hysterically at Mr. Bean. On the menu for dinner: French toast  made with homemade bread, ham, and strawberries, blackberries, and cantaloupe. On my To Do List: Dusting Glass Floors Clean out the kids dresser New Recipe I tried or want to try soon: Lemon Blueberry Muffins ...

I have a major sweet tooth and warm homemade chocolate chip cookies are a definite favorite of mine.  I decided that I was bored with the typical Toll House cookie recipe we use over and over again.  Also, I have fallen in love with my almond extract and want to find new things to use it in so I decided, if there ever was a recipe to use it in, this was it. Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients: 2 1/4 cup flour 2 sticks butter, softened 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 cup dark brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla 1 1/2 tsp almond extract 1 bag of chocolate chips (I used half a bag of semi sweet and half a bag of milk chocolate) Directions: Preheat the oven to 350. In a small bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda.  Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, mix butter, sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy (recommend using paddle on mixer).  Add salt, vanilla, almond extract, and eggs.  Mix well. ...

Well, here in Kansas we seem to have gone from cold and wet weather to really warm and humid weather that seems to be announcing "Summer is here!"  I'm not complaining.  I would much rather have 95 degree days than 30 degree days.  Earlier this week, I made a stop at Scooters, which is a coffee shop that I love, and they had a sign for a lemon berry muffin.  With Ben having a peanut allergy, we never get food from these places, so I went home on a mission to recreate this with what I had in my fridge.  They turned out AMAZING and reminded me of the lemon blueberry scones my mother used to make when we were growing up. Lemon Blueberry Muffins with a Lemon Glaze Muffins Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 2 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 2 cup flour 1/2 cup milk 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp grated lemon peel Glaze Ingredients: 1/2 cup powdered ...

So, I know I say this often, but wow have we been busy!  Add to that, I don't have great access to a computer, and now I have a new addiction, I haven't had much time to be on here. I've been busy doing the normal day to day things with a 3 year old, a 14 month old, and housework.  I'm sure anyone with children can agree that the kids take up a lot of their time.  I'm alright with that though, because I love spending time with my kids.  Before when I had my laptop, I could blog from the couch or kitchen table while the children played together in the living room and now that I have to use the desk top in the office, I have to hope the kids nap or wait until Shawn comes home and we have nothing going on, to get on the computer and blog.  I'm ok with that too, because I'm doing things I enjoy (not that I don't enjoy blogging, because I do.  I love it actually) like spending time with my family. I, along with many others have become truly obsessed with ...