My Little Helper

More like my little distraction.  ;)  Clara and I leave for the states on Friday to visit family for a month.  With Coleman working 12 hour shifts, and Clara being her fiesty little self.. packing and getting the things I want to get done before leaving has been a challenge.  So when she's being happy and cooperative, I have to work quickly -- and I'm getting better at it.  Although I did have time to do stuff while she took a 3 hour nap this morning... buuut, I decided to nap as well.  ;)  Hey, I'm going to need that energy for all the airplane rides and trekking through airports!

I am also trying to 'pack light'... which is proving to be difficult (I always over-pack).  Clara and I are sharing a suitcase.. and then my carry-on is mostly for Clara...... bottles, change of clothes, blankie, diapers, etc, etc.  This is going to be a LONG 14 hour flight.  Lord, help me.

I am SUPER SUPER SUPER excited to see my family and show off our little princess (oh, and um, be in AMERICA)... but..

I'm already missing my husband and I'm not even gone yet.  I don't like traveling without him.  :(  But he's been working so hard lately.. so I hope he gets the rest he needs while we're away.  I love you, honey.  :)

One Minute Peanut Butter {recipe}

Tasty Tuesday.. has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Anyway, if you can't tell.. I've been a bit obsessed about these single serving desserts (i.e. microwave mug brownie).  They're fabulous.. because with a 2.5 month old I hardly have the time or energy (most days, anyway) to whip up a full-on treat for my sweet tooth.  Yet, at the end of the day, I still want to find something yummy to stuff my face with.

Once again, all the ingredients are pretty much household staples (for my household, at least).  And for some reason we always have an abundance of peanut butter.  Which is weird because I hardly ever use it.  I'm not kidding.. we have at least 3 jars of peanut butter in the pantry at all times.

Okay, so we actually have five jars.  Thankfully we had some creamy peanut butter left (which I recommend using over chunky).

One Minute Peanut Butter Cake
from: back to her roots

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 heaping tablespoon flour
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• A hand full of chocolate chips (optional)
• 1 teaspoon milk
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar (give or take)

In a small bowl, whisk together egg, brown sugar, baking powder, peanut butter, chocolate chips and flour.  Pour batter into a greased ramekin (I just used a mug). Microwave for 30-45 seconds. While the cake is microwaving, stir together milk and powdered sugar, adding more powdered sugar if necessary to thicken the glaze.  Pour the glaze over top and ENJOY!  (the glaze is a must, imo)

Serves one.  And I think this just might be better than the microwave mug brownie recipe.. maybe.

Oh, and I promise my next recipe post will not be about a microwaved dessert.  ;)

Our Weekend

On Saturday...
     --Clara and I slept in until 10:30... Coleman had to work that morning :(
     --Cleaned house.
     --Skyped with my sister-in-law and niece.
     --Laundry.  Lots of laundry.
     --Made Apple Bread.
     --Went for a walk downtown after Coleman got off work.
     --Clara fell asleep in her stroller (as always:)
     --Homemade chicken fettuccine alfredo for dinner!

On Sunday...
     --Coleman had to work again :(
     --I woke up to a smiley baby.
     --Layed in bed and listened to her talk to herself in her bassinet :)
     --Started a packing list and list of things to do before Clara and I head for the states on Friday.
     --Changed Clara's outfit about 5 times... she was the spit-up queen today.
     --Bought new luggage for my trip.
     --Crispy Southwest Chicken wraps for dinner (ahhhhmazing).
     --Bath time for Clara... her favorite part of the day.
  --Drowned myself in HUGE bowl of cookie dough ice cream.. and it was fabulous.

Brownie for One? Yes, please! {recipe}

I've seen this recipe around the internet quite bit lately.. and I was a bit skeptical about it.  A microwaved brownie just doesn't sound right to me.  But I just had to try it... so I did.. and it was wonderful.

I love this because 1. it takes VERY little time to make 2. it doesn't make a mess in the kitchen 3. i don't have to make a whole batch of brownies and worry about me eating them all 4. i always have the ingredients on hand.  It's fabulous for when you have a craving, but really don't feel like doing much work... or if you're impatient (like me).

It's extremely rich, but I'm a chocolate lover.. so it's right up my alley (if it's too rich for you, just reduce the sugar and cocoa powder a little bit).  It's even better with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, though (which I did not have on hand at the time I took the picture... which is weird because we always have ice cream in the freezer....... so I guess that means I need to make a trip to the store very soon;).

I really think you need to try this.

Microwave Mug Brownie

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp water
• few drops vanilla extract
• a dash salt
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

In a coffee mug mix water, oil, vanilla extract, and salt.  Whisk well.

Add cocoa powder; whisk well.  Add sugar; whisk well.  Add flour; whisk well.

Microwave for 60-75 seconds.  60 seconds for a slightly molten bottom, 75 seconds for uniformly done.  I put mine in for 70 seconds and I think it's perfect.  Top with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream!  And chocolate syrup (if you reeeeally like chocolate..).

Makes 1 serving.

Happy Birthday To Me :)

I celebrated my birthday the other day (on the 21st)... and it was a wonderful one.  :)

Church, out for lunch (@ Star Kebab, yummm), out for ice cream, a movie and a nap with my hubby and our little princess.. and then Clara and I played with some paints.  Oh, and it was just gorgeous outside, too!

My hubby bought me a new camera for my b-day present... a Nikon D3000.. that I've been wanting for a long time.  What a guy!  :)  Now with Clara here, I wanted a camera  that I could capture good quality photos of her and our family.. and I am SO happy with this camera (although I still have a lot to learn about it)!

And thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday!  I'm so blessed.  :)

She liked playing in the paint.. although it was a little difficult to get a good footprint.. she liked to squish her toes together.. ;)

Little Lessons #1

 Linked up to Celebrate Life.... just the little things I've learned this week!

Never EVER take baby girl out of the house without a pacifier... or an umbrella (especially in Korea!).

I love my house to be clean.  I used to be obsessed about it.  But I've realized there are more important things, like hanging out with my baby girl and wonderful husband.

I've accepted the fact that with a 2 month old, we're always going to be running a little late.

Always take advantage of the time when baby girl sleeps.. whether it be to take nap with her, have some quiet 'mommy time'.. or to actually eat some breakfast for once.

Don't sweat the small stuff.. none of it matters anyway.

My pretty little girl hates it when I put things on her head... like headbands.

She was trying to pull it off.. which is why it's so far down on her forehead... one of these days I will get her to like headbands.  ;)

Days Like Today

My hubby got off work early today (woohoo!), so he was able to go on a walk with Clara and I.  It was overcast out, but thank goodness it never rained... there was a cool breeze, too... a nice change from the sticky hot weather!  Clara slept the whole time, of course.  She loves going for walks.  :) 

I love watching her sleep.. her little lips and hands are so darn cute.

We walked around downtown for a while.. there's good 'people-watching' down there.  Then we ventured out towards where we used to live.  Haven't been that way in a while, so it was nice to reminisce.  ;)  And the numerous little alley-ways and houses upon houses never cease to amaze me.

Chili peppers.. they are everywhere around here.  It seems like they grow them on every street corner.  And for some reason, they just make me happy when I see them.

And of course, my husband will use his pocket knife every chance he gets... in this case, he was dissecting some random green thing that was growing from a tree.  I still don't know what it was.

And tonight... grilled chicken wings, brown sugar baked beans, and fruit salsa.. then snuggle time and movies (we bought some new ones today:)

I love days like today!

It's The Little Things

It's the little things that just make my day.. like free coffee.  I had a coupon for a free drink.. so Little Miss and I went for a walk to Starbucks and I got an iced white chocolate mocha (venti, of course).  Then we came home and played under her little play gym for a while.

A nice walk + free coffee + an afternoon playing with my baby girl... just perfect.

A Sad, Sad Day...

Clara's 2 month check-up was this morning... and.. shots.  :'(

She cried.. I cried.. it was a heartbreaking moment.  My poor baby.  But really, how cute are those chubby little thighs with the tasmanian devil band-aids??

On a happier note.. she is now 9lbs 11oz, and 21 inches.  My growin', happy girl (she was even smiling at the Doctor... before her shots).  She is fast asleep now.. all worn out.. our little princess is definitely going to get some extra snuggles and lovin' today.

She had the sniffles for about an hour after her shots.. it was so sad... so precious.. she's such a trooper.  I love her to pieces.

Laundry Day... Is Every Day

Laundry.

There is so much of it.  Every.  Day.  Most of it being my clothes, because every time Clara spits up she seems to magically miss the burp rag and herself.. and only get it on me.

I need to start wearing a bib when I burp her.  I also need to invest in some super powerful stain remover... my little ol' bottle of Spray n' Wash just isn't doing the job anymore.

Poor girl.  She hates it just as much as I do.

Ahh... all better:)