gifts

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I almost forgot to show you my one and only handmade gift from Christmas! I made the Emmeline Apron (again) for the coolest hot lunch lady around- my Mother-in-law.

I've made this one before, it's such a great pattern. It took me one evening to cut it out, and two afternoons to sew. I love how it's reversible!

I'm taking the Little Boy, and we're headed out the door for a little overnighter in my hometown. Last week it was my brother's birthday. Tomorrow is my dad's. We're going to celebrate both tonight. I'm bringing the cake. Cheesecake that is- a lemon one. Recipe here. I can't wait for dessert!

Cherrio!

granola

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I love granola. Always have. I love it by the handful, with milk as cereal, and on yogurt... always will. I know it seems to have lost some of its favor with today's paleo and "clean eating" crowd, but I don't care. I am still eating it. It's delish. My kids love it too.

I like to make my own granola in big huge batches (I usually double the recipe below). MMMMM it makes your house smell wonderful while it bakes. If you can stop yourself from munching munching, it keeps well in lidded jars. The ingredients are simple and there is A LOT of room for creative license. Almost anything goes. Are you ready for the basic recipe? Here goes:

Printable Version

4 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup sesame seeds

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup blanched/slivered almonds

1/3 cup honey

1/3 coconut oil (melted)

2 T vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup raisins (I love dried figs, apricots, cranberries, cherries, blueberries- you get the idea. Branch out. Raisins are merely a starting point. Even little bits of crystalized ginger are good!)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl mix the first four ingredients. Then pour honey, oil, and vanilla all over the oat mixture. Spread out into a thin layer on baking sheet. Bake for about 35 minutes stirring granola often (every 5 minutes.) Remove from oven, allow to cool, add dried fruit, and mix together. Store in a sealed jar to maintain freshness.

Example for enjoyment:

Oh yum. You'd better go make some.

catching up

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The girls went back to school this week. I really expected to jump right back into my pre-holidays rhythm-- It hasn't happened quite yet. I did manage a couple trips to the gym, attended two births (in one 24 hour period), taught my childbirth class, took down the outdoor Christmas lights (the indoor decorations came down 12/26 at 8am!), shuttled everyone to their lessons/sports, and enjoyed spending a little more one-on-one time with Ian.

But everything else has pretty much remained like this:

It's hard to keep up. If I step back even for a day (to catch babies at the birth center) things run amuck. I'm convinced that just the daily operations of running this house could constitute a full time job. Nevermind any of the emotional investments that go into mothering and being there for your family... 

Also, my camera battery has been dead. It's an easy fix if your son hasn't run off somewhere with your charger. I haven't stopped long enough to search for it. 

I'll find it, and be back to make up for lost time with:

a tasty granola recipe

a hair tutorial (only because so many of you have been asking)

5 days of lunches

an introduction to a new family member (*hint: he has four legs)

...and who knows what else will pop into my mind.

I hope you have time to catch up this weekend too. Breathe in and smile.