Problem Solved
Problem #1: Daddy had a court appearance this morning (he’s a lawyer; he’s not being held in conjunction with a string of liquor store root beer bottling plant robberies), so I had to work out, get Gigi ready for school, get breakfast and be ready to leave by 8:15.
Solution: I hit the treadmill at 7:30, was done by 7:55. I scarfed a heated up pear, topped with Kashi Go Lean and Pumpkin Spice granola whilst perfecting Gigi’s flawless ringlets.
I stayed in my gym clothes so I could lift weights when we got home, which meant that while I was sweaty and makeup free and looking like my 7th grade gym teacher, Gigi looked like there was no way she could belong to me.
I told her to pose like a model. Why am I not milking this cash cow? Oh yeah, I’m vegan. Plus there’s that whole Lindsey Lohan thing.
Problem #2: Lulu is still sick with a head cold AND teething. She’s just plain miserable.
Solution: I took her to the best pediatric dentist I could find.
“Open wide!”
Look at the tender, loving care.
Then she just threw in the towel.
Problem #3: Many of you asked for the Sesame Tahini Dressing recipe that I obsessively use on my salads, stirfries and oatmeal. Okay, not my oatmeal, but now that I mention it, that sounds DELICIOUS! But the recipe is from Dreena Burton’s Vive Le Vegan, and I love Dreena so much that I’m considering changing my name to “Seena Murton.” I can’t just give away her recipes!
Solution: IF you were to Google “Sesame Tahini Dressing,” and IF you were to scan the Search Results, and IF you were to happen upon a blog that had posted the recipe, well there’d be nothing I could do about that, would there? (Seriously, though, buy her cookbooks…NOW!)
Problem #4: The girls and I constructed the Little People Ring ‘O Fun this afternoon, but I was drawing a blank when it came to make-believe story plot ideas.
Solution: I simply borrowed some story ideas from Hollywood. It’s not like the girls are going to know.
Julie and Julia
Survivor (she’s going to eat that butterfly)
Thelma and Louise
Ugly Betty
Super-Size Me
Paranormal Activity
Problem #5: I had HIGH hopes for a package of tempeh and dinner. And by HIGH I mean that I must have been high if I thought my kids and husband were going to eat it.
Upon closer look…
While “smelly rotten tempeh” is definitely an oxymoron, even I draw the line somewhere.
Solution: How about some Broiled Sesame Orange Tofu?
- juice of 1 orange
- 3 T. low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 t. ground ginger
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 t. sesame oil
- stevia to taste
Drain and press tofu. Combine marinade ingredients and marinate tofu for at least 20 minutes. Preheat broiler. Place marinated tofu on a baking sheet and broil on each side for 6 minutes.
I served mine on some broccoli, carrots and mushrooms that I stirfried with some garlic and soy sauce. Of course, I also put on some tahini sauce and sesame seeds.
Problem #6: Lulu still felt awful during dinner. She just wanted to crawl up on my lap and cuddle, but I wanted to eat.
Problem solved.
I don’t even know where to start. This post is full of genius, as usual.
So…I about died laughing at the “story plots”. Way too funny.
That tempeh…I have no words.
That last picture…too cute for words.
I think I must have commented on no less than 10 blogs about a half hour you did just now. As if I have been in hot pursuit but you’ve beaten me there. Apparently you’re better at getting your kids to bed earlier than I am LOL Diana, Snackface, MamaWeeds, Heather are just a few that I recall but I am off to Elise and Gena and I know you’ll have beaten me to the punch. But we had trick or treat tonite…so that’s my excuse.
So sorry your lil one is sickie. No fun for mamma, either.
And getting out the door by 8 or even 10am here is unheard of. Unheard.Of. I am really impressed!
I love the tempeh action. I can’t eat it, I am too soy sensitive but you made it look awesome!
I agree ED & BV rocks. There are so many recipes in there that i dont even know about til I am like, huh, you made that, from ED & BV?! Then I go back and sure enough, it was in there, I had just missed it. Like your dressing. I dont know how I’ve missed that…off to my bookshelf…
OMG GiGi!! SO adorable. That pose is precious!
I love the stolen plots lol! and Your salads always look so yummy!
Liking your Hollywood theme ~ Thelma & Louise especially!
I have, thanks to both yourself & Gina Fitnessista purchased myself a copy of ED&BV, which I am very happily starting to work my way through
I hope Miss Lulu feels better soon.
Hahahahah that paranormal activity shot was hilarious, my husband was half asleep and I made him wake up to see it. Awesome!
Your tofu dish looks delicious, that is something I would absolutely love to eat.
Omg, that last pic is soo cute!
And Gigi is adorable too in her school outfit eheh
Awww that last photo! Precious!
Thanks for the link to the dressing!
I have ED&BV and i’m considering getting VLV! Which book do you prefer?
My heart melted at that last picture. You are one good mama.
Too. freaking. adorable.
OMG those were hilarious! Survivor LP butterfly eater and Thelma and Louise were my absolute favorites – I laughed right out loud at 6:15 sitting at my desk in the dark!
OK so you know tempeh is supposed to look like that, right? That’s not spoiled or rotten (like an only child – I AM NOT!) but yeah, it’s just not very pretty. I know it’s not Survivor in your kitchen but that was OK to eat!
Poor LuLu! I hope she feels better soon.
Hahahah, I love the paranormal activity characters…
Awww poor LuLu! My heart goes out to the little pea.
Hope she feels better soon.
Haha, I love playtime today.
Wow, that stir fry looks and sounds fantastic. I love tofu stir fries and could probably eat these everyday of my life. Yum!
Have a great day!
OMG…first of all…that Lulu…she can crawl up on my lap like that anytime. What a doll face. Enjoy THAT…they grow up so fast. My boys are so big now, wouldn’t fit that snuggly on my lap, although we still do it often!
The Orange Tofu recipe looks great and I DID order Eat, Drink and Be Vegan this morning. I”m hoping to see it’s arrival on my front door very soon!
Aw poor Lulu! That last picture is so sad! Poor baby
Gigi is too cute, girlfriend can really strike a pose. I love the little people, when did they get so chubby and cute?!
Gigi could definitely model! She’s gorgeous! Great job on the treadmill workout:)
I love the story ideas you borrowed from Hollywood – I bet they loved them!
heh. Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down. Your kids are so adorable. I can’t wait to try your chickpea recipe from yesterday’s post. Also, all 3 sentences I just wrote have no flow whatsoever.
Hahaha I love the Ugly Betty Little Person!
You are quite possibly the most hilarious superwoman to ever exist. Have a wonderful Thursday
.
Sarah
Thanks for recreating paranormal activity, now I don’t have to go see the movie!
Also, does Gigi’s outfit come in adult size? Because I want that dress and boots!
I am cracking up over the movie thing…I love “Supersize Me” and “paranormal activity.” I can’t say that tempeh looks very appetizing, but your salads, the tofu and those chickpeas do!! I definitely need to try the recipe you posted on your other post – I think Averie made them as soon as you posted yesterday!
Poor Lulu – I hope she feels better soon. Gracie DOES look like a model!!
Poor Lulu. I hope she’ll feel better soon. Teething and a cold is no fun…
I love your Hollywood story lines! Too funny!
Have a great day!
That is some natty azz lookin tempeh!!
Funny story lines. I liked the survivor one
.
Hope Lulu gets well soon!
~Justine
Oh my goodness, that picture of Gigi “modeling” is the most hysterical/adorable thing ever. She really does have a future in modeling…not that I think you would subject her to that, but jeez, she is freakin cute!
Okay I am loving your posts! I seriously laughed out loud when I saw the stories you create from the Little People Ring O’Fun characters. And I really thought for a minute that you sent your daughter to a dentist–until I read further. It is good that you get joy out being with your girls, and that you can find amusement in the things you do with them.
And thanks for the answer about the Tahini dressing! Your dinner looked awesome!
Will you come do some problem solving in my life? haha
Gigi is absolutely a model, just give a few more years and you can take that show on the road!
Hope lulu feels better!!
poor little Lulu
I hope she’s feeling better today!!!
that stinks about the tempeh – it looks scarier than Paranormal Activity!
that last picture is adorable. great tofu idea- i’m on it this weekend! thanks!!
Awww sisterly love. Sorry Lulu isn’t feeling well. But she looks so cute curled up in your lap.
Poor Lulu loves! Oh I bet she is uncomfortable.
I have no idea how to handle kids and teething. When my dog was teething I gave him a frozen washcloth to chew on, somehow I don’t think this technique would translate over all that well.
My heart just grew three times it’s size with the hollywood style little people shots. So cute!
Haha I love these movie scenes! That chick is totally ugly Betty! And Paranormal Activity? Genius.
Why I’ve not purchased a Dreena Burton book by now is beyond me. Stupida? Si.
I know Lulu feels awful, but that dinner photo is the most precious thing ever. Love it. And you!
i’m a little bummed that tiny gigi has way better fashion sense (and poise!) than i will ever have
the pic of lulu crashed in your arms is adorable
have a wonderful day <3
So I know the tempeh looks disgusting, but it’s actually perfectly fine to eat. If you’re up for it. I just took a class on cooking tempeh and the chef informed us that it’s totally ok to eat. I did eat some of the “bad looking” tempeh and I was a-ok!
But it DOES look disgusting and I completely understand your aversion to eating it!
That last pictures is seriously too cute!!!!
good lord, could your children get any cuter? even sick lulu is adorable!
Aw, I hope little Lulu feels better…what a precious picture.
And I’m totally laughing out loud at the Paranormal Activity scene – hilar!!
Seriously, I am with everyone else- genius post! I couldn’t pick a favorite little people scene if my life depended on it.
Gigi and Lulu are far to precious. Gigi looks like a tiny supermodel in that photo!
But hey, her good looks must come from her mama pea!
Tempeh is so awesome. I love making “dads brown sauce” with tempeh. Basically its cloves, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, with onions, and some cornstarch. delicio!
I’ve been thinking of buying that tempeh but I wouldn’t know how to prepare it and season it in my dorm room so I usually get preflavored
Mommy-Lulu cuddle picture = SWOON!
Mama Pea, what I want to know is, where were YOU during the writer’s strike, HMM?!?!
LOL!! Love the Little People movie characters. Ugly Betty brought tears to my eyes!!
LOL LOL LOL I love the Little People celeb sightings. Super Size ME?!?! I was dying!
AWWWW. I love that the Little People represent tv. I also love that someone else knows as much as I do about what is on television. Lulu and Mama Pea are too adorable together! You can eat around her cute butt right? Your girls are just adorable and I wish I could write half as well as you do!
I hope little miss Lulu feels better soon!! I think you’re missing two plots: Real Housewives and Community. Super Size Me is pretty good, though!!
So true-lindsay lohan started out as such a cute red-headed child….and look at her now!
Lil’ G is perfect just the way she is
And check out those bossy boots!
Oh and just to let you know, I MUST make that tofu dish the second I get home for thanksgiving….mmm tofu, i miss you and all of your baked, NON-boring/cold/plain glory!
Hi! I have only recently discovered your blog, but I wanted to tell you it is amazing!!!
I am trying to improve my eating habits, and the healthy-living blogs are a great help. I found yours linked from The Fitnessista. Your recipes and advice are wonderful.
Your anecdotes are hilarious and your family is indescribably beautiful! Thank you for sharing all of it.
That last picture broke my heart. Hope Lulu is feeling better soon.
Off to learn how to make my new favorite dressing.
You are such a cute mama! And thanks to you, I have discovered the awesomeness that is microwaved apples
hahahahaha i laughed out loud at the movies named after those toys. and fun fact: those were my favorite toys growing up. gigi’s ringlets are perfection (must be that garnier curl creme)!!! soooooo cute!
if you could come over to my life and solve some problems, it would be much appreciated
p.s. your salads are epic!!!!!!
I can totally relate–people ask me for the recipe for Cashew Ginger Tofu all the time, but I can’t post it–it’s all Dreena!
That tofu looks pretty rockin.
Gra…Gigi totally has that pose perfected! What a cutie. I hope Lulu feels better soon!
Hope Lulu feels better soon.
When I was sick as a kid, there’s nothing better than cuddling! I love that picture at the end!
Awww…so cute of you both
I read this post yesterday but couldn’t comment at work and then forgot once I got home! Been wanting to tell you that there is also a tahini dressing on that website you referenced with the tofu ricotta. Have you tried it? It looks good!
My tempeh looked like that too! I got the same package and looked it up… apparently it’s normal for tempeh to “discolor” or “gray”. Hmm.