being a mom = being an airhead

my shopping pals/weight-training program

I jumped on the Zumba bandwagon.  It comes so naturally to some - hips swaying, arms twirling.  Yeah, I'm not one of those.  I fell off the bandwagon in a cloud of dust, much less gracefully than I hopped on. Mine was something sort of like: listen to babies screaming, run and jump over the dirty clothes pile, hear something crack that shouldn't have cracked, yell at the cartoon instructor that she's crazy.

Then I promptly rewarded myself with some brownie batter dip.  That's the way this whole working out thing works, right?  Plus, I'm sure brownie batter has some essential nutrients or something.

I also happen to be making up for the events of last Thursday.  For the second time in the last year (less really, but whose keeping track?) I managed to drive all the way to a doctor's appointment, more than an hour, without a wallet.  I had my entire shopping list, my coffee, and my child.  Not the wallet.  I was struggling to decide if I should start sobbing or break something.

My sweet (angel) friend, Pepper met me at the doctor's office to wrangle Eisley while I waited on the doctor.  She gave me some of her cash to go grab essentials and that was that.  I can't think about the what ifs of the situation because it gives me a stomach ache.

Jimmy left that night for a weekend away at a football coaching conference.  Of course Ruby would choose this night to lock us all out of her bedroom all while I was ruining my orange-flavored macarons. Good news is I am now an expert lock picker given all of the right tools (knife, credit card, paperclips, and YouTube).  I'm a phone call away should you ever find yourself in the same situation.  I kindly ask you to remove the laughing children while I work, or they are promptly sent to bed.

Friday night was our second Favorites Party - so much food (that happens to alllll be in my diet plans, just like the brownie batter dip), so much laughter, and so many memories.  I can't wait for the next one.

In case you're keeping track, I did manage to remember the wallet on this day, and the checkbook for reimbursement purposes.

Saturday came way too early, and Pepper and I headed up to the outlets.  Jimmy encouraged it, and has since told me that I didn't get enough things for myself (!!).  I'm starting to wonder what happened to my husband, but who am I to question?

The girls and I met a college friend for dinner - Ruby managed to have an accident in her carseat on the way there (first ever; they always choose such grand times for these milestones).  Eisley threw up at the dinner table.  I got lost on the way to the hotel; rewarded myself with Papa John's Heaven.  The kiddos and I were up waiting for Jimmy to finish on Sunday - we played restaurant, Eisley practiced her walking, and sufficiently trashed the hotel room with shopping bags in record time.

We ate lunch at IKEA, returned to the outlets, and managed to snag an early dinner, where Ruby started singing songs about going to the bathroom.

By 6:30 yesterday, my feet ached and I couldn't keep my eyes peeled.  I went and turned 80 without realizing it - I am starting to fall asleep in strange places and I drink my weight in coffee every day.

This week: my house begs me to pay attention, my mixer taunts me every time I walk through the kitchen, I have a cinnamon roll date, and I will be finalizing birthday plans and projects.  I also happen to be up to no good in a super secret fashion.  My lips are sealed until April.

Other random tidbits:

Ruby insists she is a boy and won't believe otherwise.

She also insists that everyone be called Mister Sir.

Eisley has started standing and letting go.  I'm quietly willing her to avoid walking.  My food storage drawer gets enough of her undivided attention as it is.

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For the reason that you're really here.

What I really wanted to do was make the brownie batter, preserving it in all of its salmonella risk glory, but I decided some people don't enjoy eating batter (JIMMY!) and living on the bacteria edge like I do.

I used my favorite scratch brownie mix and replaced eggs with cream cheese.  It's like the baby of a dip and a cheese ball.

Brownie Batter Dip

1 c. butter

4 oz. semi sweet chocolate squares

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 c. granulated sugar

1 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt 

1 tsp. vanilla

2/3 c. confectioners' sugar

1 c. mini chocolate chips

Melt the butter and chocolate squares in small saucepan.  Allow to cool.

Mix the cream cheese and granulated sugar until well combined.  Add the flour and salt and continue to mix, scraping sides if necessary.  Add chocolate mixture and vanilla; mix well.

Remove from mixer and whisk in the confectioners' sugar.  Add chocolate chips. The chips are optional, but well worth it - it would also be find to add other chip variations, or even peanut butter or caramel ribbons.  The possibilities are endless.

Serve with your favorite crackers, cookies, or fruits if you want to feel slightly less guilty (don't kid yourself; I never promised healthy recipes).