Pretty Sucky/Pretty Lucky: Part II
As I’m sure many of you can relate to, I’m constantly writing in my head. The beauty of this is that many times when I sit down to write a post, I don’t even have to think. The words come spewing out like a full sippy cup of juice on my freshly Swiffered hardwood floor. Throughout the roller coaster of today, a brilliant concept popped into my head: Pretty Sucky/Pretty Lucky. “Wow, that has a great ring to it,” I said to myself. Yes, moron, because you wrote that post almost six months ago. Oops. Let’s hope this sequel (dare I call it a “peaquel?”) is more Godfather 2 than Speed 2: Cruise Control.
Pretty Sucky: Pea Daddy took a single bite of Lulu’s breakfast: the last biscuit in the batch.
Pretty Lucky: An extra squirt of Honey Bear to the rescue!
Why doesn’t every condiment come in the shape of a cute lovable animal? How about a hummus hippo? A nutritional yeast yak?
Pretty Sucky: I got my first traffic ticket in sixteen years of driving today for “passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk.” What does that mean? Lucky for you, the gang from Radiator Springs and I are about to show you.
After picking up Gigi from school in the Peamobile, I called Pea Daddy to see if he wanted to meet us for lunch downtown at this vegan friendly joint, Venti’s. Downtown was packed, but luckily I spotted a parking spot right in front of the restaurant (labeled #1 in the incredibly technical and artistic drawing). Pea Daddy’s role is being played by Pinkie Pie.
Unfortunately, Grandma Flo was waiting for her Social Security to kick in before she backed out and the girls were literally clawing at their car seats to get out and go see Pinkie Pie, er, I mean Pea Daddy. Keep in mind it is lunch time in downtown, so the traffic is bumper to bumper and there are My Little Ponies everywhere.
I spotted Parking Spot #2, thanked the Big Pony in the sky and gave up on Parking Spot #1. However, I failed to notice Johnny Law stopped at the crosswalk in the lane just next to me.
As I entered the crosswalk, I realized that two elderly ponies had just started to prance across. I immediately felt horrible and tried to rectify the situation by giving them a wave and mouthing, “I’m sorry.” I simply hadn’t seen them with all the congestion.
However, Officer Bagodonuts thought he needed to make an example of me, turned on his full sirens and lights, and to my horror, pulled me over.
Those ponies in front of the Peamobile? Just a Circuit Court judge I’ve argued in front of and two local attorneys who I haven’t seen since I retired from practice. Fun nuggets. I’m crying, the girls are begging to go to Great Harvest for a free slice and Tasey McGee writes me a citation for passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk and a warning for not yielding to pedestrians at a crosswalk. I’ve got a $278 fine or an 8 a.m. court date in two weeks. You bet your pretty ponies I’m showing up.
Pretty Lucky: I was pulled over right in front of a cute boutique!
Public humiliation tends to stifle your appetite, and I was actually pretty full from all the snot and tears I’d choked down as I casually waved to my former colleagues, so Pea Daddy got the girls lunch and I ducked into the boutique next door. I found an amazing dress marked down 75%, from $120 to $30.
I’ve got something cute to wear to court.
Pretty sucky: After we got home, Lulu spilled her full sippy cup of juice all over my freshly Swiffered hardwood floor. This sounds so familiar.
Pretty Lucky: I had a damp wet rag handy because I had just finished cleaning up the glass of water I had spilled…all over my traffic citation.
Pretty Sucky: I’ve had this zucchini in my fridge for two weeks.
Pretty Lucky: I have power tools and pent up aggression.
That felt good.
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
- 1 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 t. salt
- 1/2 t. baking powder
- 1/2 t. baking soda
- 1 1/2 t. cinnamon
- 1/4 c. canola oil
- 1/4 c. applesauce
- 2/3 c. organic sugar (I used half Nu Naturals Stevia Baking Blend)
- 1 t. vanilla extract
- 1 c. grated zucchini
- 1/2 c. dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with muffin papers.
Combine zucchini, oil, applesauce and sugar in a medium bowl. Combine remaining dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just mixed.
Spoon batter into muffin cups until they are about 2/3rds of the way full.
Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Pretty Lucky: The girls loved the muffins.
Pretty Sucky: She’s not actually asleep here,
or we’d be making these muffins every single lucky day of our lives.
***If you are on Facebook, I’ve recently created a Peas and Thank You fan page here. Much like a note passed in grade school, if you like me, you can check a little box. Maybe we can hold hands under the Big Toy afterwards.
you.crack.me.up.
However, I don’t think that is actually pinky pie playing the role of pea daddy. star wishes maybe? bumbleberry? definitely not pinky pie. Pinky pie and minty are representing the elderly who got you in trouble. So says my 3 year old.
I spent fifteen minutes on MyLittlePony.com trying to figure out who that damn pony is. I almost woke Gigi up to ask her. She has tulips on her booty. Any help?
I’m so sorry about the ticket! That’s so unfortunate
“So unfortunate” is such a nicer way of saying “Pretty Sucky.” Too bad “unfortunate” doesn’t rhyme with “lucky.”
The zuke muffies look great.
The Dress, NICE SCORE!!! Love it when stuff like that happens. And to me, it never seems to. Enjoy and wear it loud and proud you hot mama!
The citation. My husband has been the KING of photo enforcement tickets on the freeway since we moved to AZ. He has gotten them on multiple days 1 or 2 mile markers and 2 mins apart. To the tune of $250, each. I will tell you, he’s had more than 10 in 6 mos. Do the math. It’s been expensive. Sigh.
Good luck getting outta yours! Back in the day, I was the queen of traffic court. Me and the cesspool of humanity that is in traffic court most days.
Nice fan page, too
LOL…I’m sorry, I know it sucks to get tickets, but I am dying at your recreation. And hey, at least you got a cute dress out of it, right?
I remember the first time you did the pretty lucky/sucky post and I must say that I love this peaquel.
Now I just need to get my hands on a spiralizer!
Best ticket explanation ever! I vote bringing pics to court. I understand now, but I still don’t get the passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk thing – is that only cause the pedestrians were there?
Cops hate me too and I have gotten some seriously stupid tickets. I took one of them to court and the cop changed her story THREE times in front of the judge and I still lost. Boo!
I got a ticket in the last month and ick, those are never fun! But getting the dress was definitely a good way to ease some pain/annoyance. I can’t wait to bake these zucchini muffins….I have a lone zucchini hanging in my fridge right now!
We’ll get to hear about Mama Pea JD in action…cool
And I to am constantly thinking of things to write. I have a little notebook to trap all the ideas before I forget anything.
The dress makes up for the ticket. Or, it would for me.
peaquel – love it!!
Your hardwoods are very clean!
I feel bad that I enjoyed this post so much since it sucked so bad for you. The my little ponies just cracked me up! At least you got a great deal on an awesome dress!
Just became a fan on Facebook.
OK, so I often react like Lulu when CD snags a bite of my food. Well, not quite, but it’s close!
Can’t believe the cop pulled you over in a parking lot. Glad you’re going to court, and you’re going to look hot in your new dress!
Muffins sound delicious as do all your vegan baked good.
Hope today is more lucky than sucky.
Oh, so sorry about the ticket! I hate cops like that! I got pulled over for driving too slowly recently. It was awesome.
But the dress was a major lucky. Perhaps it was all providential?
The zuke muffins looks fab Mama Pea!
I am SO glad I read this post before work! Because now I am smiling ear to ear
Oh the crosswalk! It has so many rules that I swear we didn’t learn in driver’s ed. My brother got a ticket because the person had crossed but stopped at the end without getting on the sidewalk to chat to someone standing up on the sidewalk. He drove through and immediately saw blue lights!
i’m in tears from laughter…even though i don’t have kids yet, i can only imagine how stressful that must have all been! good think zucchini chocolate chip muffins can cover a multitude of sins
Oh, I am really sorry about the ticket, but I applaud your putting the positive spin on it. I always bake when I get overwhelmed and frustrated as a relaxing technique! The muffins look delicious! Oh and if you figure out a food that makes the kids go to sleep…I would definitely like that recipe! Have a great weekend, Sarah!
the cops are out to get everyone!! hopefully going to court will get rid of that ridiculously high fine that you really don’t deserve :/
lulu reminds me of me when i was young. that first picture pretty much explains it all!
Parking lots scare me! I am always terrified that I will hit a little kid that is is running around
Haha, oh no, poor mama pea, but you have to admit this is pretty funny!
God definitely has a sense of humor, I’m sure of it! 
Those zucchini cc muffins look great!!
Have a good weekend!!!!
I’m sorry about the ticket (why can’t they ticket the people who really need to be ticketed instead? Those who are actual endangering others! Drives me nuts.).
On a more positive note, can we focus for a moment on how hilarious “Officer Bagodonuts” is? I may have a juvenile sense of humor but that one made me laugh out loud
Go contest that ticket, I bet he’ll be too busy filling his feed bag to show up
Your story cracked me up as usual, but I also genuinely appreciate the reenactment–Matt is taking his US driving test next month, so I had him pull up a chair for a quick lesson from the House of Pea. I hope you kick their little pony tails on your court date.
Shocked that you didn’t get to weasel your way out of the ticket with two adorable kids and some tears. I better start stopping at those yellow lights!
hey darling…i am so sorry you got pulled over and were humiliated…some cops are dirt bags!
i actually got pulled over early one morning, on my 26th bday…ice storm, i was on my way to work…i made a left on a green light, it turned yellow…and i was driving pretty slow…i heard sirens and saw the cop right up my butt, so i pulled over, thinking he was pulling me over for driving too slow…he asked me, “do you know why i pulled you over?”…he didn’t even give me a chance to answer…i was crying hysterically, so i couldn’t answer quickly enough, and it was the first time ever being pulled over, after 10 years of driving…”well you just ran a red light, you were still in the intersection and the light turned green, and it was my turn to go…”…i was horrified! i don’t run reds…and i didn’t even realize i had been driving that slow…anyway…he gave me the $200 ticket…on my bday of all freakin’ days! jerkhead!
anywho…at least you scored a pretty dress…and at $30!!!! good for you!
have a wonderful weekend…and just forget about the stupid traffic ticket…until the day you walk into court with your pretty dress and take the cop down…after all you are a pretty darn good lawyer, right?!
=)
I can’t believe that was a $278 ticket… ouch… Glad you can chuckle about it now though.
I’m going to make those muffins tomorrow for sure!!
My favorite line is, “I’ve got something cute to wear to court.” I don’t usually LOL when I’m alone in the house, but I did this morning!
And I’m making those muffins today! I made your biscuits last night and they were PERFECT with our gorgeous strawberries. I poured rice milk over the biscuits/strawberries and ate it like that….loved it!
Oh my goodness! I wish I had the gift or the motivation anyway to write on a blog my exassperating days. I think it would help me see my day (as yours does) with optimisim and laughter. I try….I really try.
I want a hummus hippo!!!!!!!! Or a protein powder panda!! surriously.
this post was adorable. i love your collection of mini cars. Too bad I didn’t grab an extra mini tuk tuk for yall when I was in India.
love you mama! hope Saturday is pretty luckyyyyyyy!
Oh, that is pretty sucky. Hopefully you’re now on track for something lucky!
I became a fan on Facebook! How do you set up a page like that? It’d be great if both people who read my blog could pass me a note about it.
I’m trying to remember how I did it. Initially, I just searched the “Help” section on FB until I found pages. I think there is a way to do it from your home page too, if you click on pages?
Haha, I often think of posts in my head all day and then when I actually sit down to write, my mind goes blank!!! But I know what you mean by the words just flowing. I love when that happens.
Oh no, that does suck about the traffic ticket. I’ve never heard of such a violation. Sometimes, I think the cops are just making these things up in their heads.
Have a great weekend girl!
Oh man. Peaquel, nutritional yeast yak… How do you come up with this stuff? A $268 dollar ticket? No way! That is nuts, it’s not like you ran the ladies over… At least you found a nice dress and were able to write a hilarious post, right? Okay, maybe that doesn’t justify it all, but with your skills i am sure you could talk, or write your way out of any ticket for that matter, especially one you obviously didn’t deserve. I seriously love the fact that you reconstructed the accident for photo purposes, reminds me so much of something i would do (have done) except instead of ponies i think i used flackers.
Sorry about the ticket…although the muffins sure look good!
Love zucchini & chocolate! There’s always the bad with the good, isn’t there? : )
Oh you poor thing (re the ticket.) Geez they sure made a drama out of it all didn’t they. Sorry for that
Ahh, I’m really sorry that happened to you; that sounds awful! (Despite your amazing scene re-creation, I’m still not sure I understand what it means/why it is bad to pass a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk? I suppose it means that other people were “yielding patiently” but you went around them? Pretty ridiculous.) Maybe Officer Pullerover had read your previous post about having yearned to argue passionately in front of a judge?
um yeah, i am with you on the constantly writing in my head. i’ve considered hiring a scribe.
anyway, hi! so many things that are hilarious about this post, but mainly the most points go the the super tech reenactment. that was solid gold right there. big pony in the sky? elderly prancing ponies? people should pay you for this. big bucks.
and hold the phone! tomorrow (sunday) is.. wait for it.. NATIONAL ZUCCHINI BREAD DAY! glory.
ahahah.. please design a nooch yak. pretty please?
great peaquel. and i am taking you up on that hand holding offer.
I also write in my head! Unfortunately, it’s not usually quite this witty when I type it out. This was one of the funniest posts I have EVER read on ANY blog! The funniest part of it all for me (probably the worst part for you) was when you saw your old colleagues. One of my best friends is a lawyer so I know (secondhand) about the importance of “image” in that field. I’m sure they were at least impressed that you got out of the house-my bff said that a lot of people she knows from the legal world become depressed and never leave the house when they become “mommy, J.D.” So mad props to you for not just functioning, but thriving. And thanks for sharing this hilarious story and reenactment.
This post is cracking me up! I love the use of the ponies. My 3 yr old just came in and asked if we could make a cardboard street for her ponies and hot wheels. It may just be in the cards on this rainy day. What a lucky kid, huh?
Your posts are so great…you are definitely one of my favorite bloggers! I was driving home today and was about to go through a crosswalk when I saw an officer starting to cross. I slammed on my brakes, visions of Radiator Springs diagrams danced in my head, and (mercifully) the officer waved me on.
I love you little picture! It made thing much less confusing!
hee hee snarf, peaquel. I don’t need to tell you how funny you are because 40 other people just did. Ok I’ll be the 41st. Funny, clever, great writing. AND a brainiac/lawyer on top of it! I’m beyond impressed.
Wow, Lulu looks like you ripped her hip out of her socket rather than poor little daddy pea taking a wee little bite of said last biscuit. But like Heather said, she might react the same way and I’m certainly a drama queen so I wouldn’t put it past me either.
I love squash/zucchini in muffins
Life is full of highs and lows- peaks and valleys. The first picture is so one of those things that we can all relate to- if it’s early in the AM and one thing goes wrong, it’s the end of the world
Katherine
Delicious muffins!! I made a batch after church today and I think I have eaten 3 already! Next time I am making a double batch for the freezer. Love your blog and the wonderful recipes!
I was angry when I got a $100 speeding ticket. $300 seems unreasonable!
made these today!! They were delish!! thanks for the recipe!!
Popping on quickly to say I’m sooooo sorry! You’re now a criminal like me who was going 43 in a 30 last year (up a hill) and totally got speedtrapped (in a church parking lot no less!). I got it reduced, but it still stings. Good luck!
That first picture of Lulu = PRICELESS!
Also – seriously!?!?! that cop sounds like a huge d-bag. I’m the first one to get ticked off about getting a ticket – but even when that happens, in the back of my head, I’m all “you know you deserved it”.
Your situation TOTALLY sucks, and you DEFINITELY did not deserve it! I can’t wait for you to go and fight it! Kick their @ss!
peaquel! hahaha, i nearly rolled over laughing. i think lulu’s sense of humor is more mature than mine…if only they relaly did make hummus hippos. dang. that would be epic.
i think i looked similar to lulu yesterday…and again today. im not at my finest emotionally speaking, but i gotta say, your posts always put a HUGE smile on my face and for that, im truly grateful. i hope im 1/6 the mom you are. and since my IUD appt failed miserably today, maybe i will be.
hiii! just made your zucchini muffins and they are absolutely AMAZING!!! i didn’t think i could bake something that tasted so heavenly! thank you for the recipe!
and im so sorry about your ticket. i was caught in a speed trap once and fined $300, so i know it’s sucky for sure!
I love these muffins. I am making them again today for my grandma for mothers day!!
Lots to say about this one…
1. I am so sorry about your ticket!
2. I am impressed that you provided us with
a visual aid. I would particularly like to
applaude the ponies for their portrayals of
jaywalking seniors. And innocent
bystander Pea Daddy, aka Pinky Pie, aka
STAR WITNESS.
3. The cuteness of your children ALONE
should have gotten you out of the ticket.
4. Hello, warning, perhaps? Even a sinister
Arch Criminal such as yourself can be
rehabilitated.
5. You deserved a fabulous markdown
fashion find. Instant Karma.
6. They had better be ready for you in court…
the fashion savvy, healthy supermom
also WENT TO LAW SCHOOL.
Good Luck, MP!!!
Made the muffins, and they’re great! I even used a full 1/2 cup of applesauce and omitted the oil, and they were still great. Really moist!
My friend Tori made these zucchini muffins the other day for a play date in the park, and all the mom’s LOVED them!! I am now a Peas and Thanks You Fan! And I look forward to trying some of your recipe’s…everything sounds so good.