Vegan Values: Pumpkin Protein Bars & Homemade Lattes
Pea Daddy is such a diplomat. We’ve been talking a bit about our finances lately, trying to figure out the best way to set money aside for both the girls for college, pay off our school loans, and really be wise with our choices. I have to admit, I’ve gotten a little lazy when it comes to the “being wise with our choices” part. I blame changing seasons, seasonal flavors and sweater season. Curse you, Fall. Enter Mr. Subtle. Pea Daddy... Read More
Eight Hours and Seven Links
Say hello to my little friend. I spent eight hours this morning on radio interviews across the nation to talk about our new book. It was a cruel joke that we scheduled our radio tour for 4 a.m., the night after The Bachelorette finale. I admit it, it was stupid to stay up ridiculously late to watch what will surely be long-lasting love between two complete strangers. I’d do it again. Therefore, say hello to my little friend. But it was... Read More
Den of Sin
I’m not really feeling much better today, despite going to bed early, skipping any sort of physical exertion whatsoever and sneaking downstairs at 2 a.m. to take a hit off the Afrin bottle. Let’s keep that one between you and me. How about a flashback to happier times? When I was in law school, I lived with my brother and his wife in a rental house. I actually loved it. They got a little help with the rent and I got free pastries. How... Read More
Wean From the Bean
I’m closing my eyes and inhaling deeply, imagining the rich, roasty aroma of those dark delicious beans filling my nose. I’m picturing the sound of the hot steamy lava pouring into a thirsty, patient cup, little bubbles of foam rising to the surface and a light fog of steam sending that delicious scent all round me like a caffeinated hug. It still feels like the first time. But… it’s been nearly two months since my last cup of coffee. I’ve... Read More
Love in a Cup
Someone’s getting a little big for her britches. Gigi has been in kindergarten for a week and three days, and today I realized she has been grooming me the whole time. Each day as we pull up or walk to the front of the school, she’ll make what I presumed was an off-hand remark. “Oh look, there isn’t a free parking spot out front.” or “I better run ahead, I think I’m late!” I didn’t think much of it. It never even dawned on me... Read More
A Matter of Perspective
As some of you know, specifically my Twitter followers, I’ve been off of coffee (again) for exactly 166 hours, 23 minutes and 48 seconds. When you look at it that way, via a description stretched over seven numbers and three increments of time, it seems like an eternity. In actuality, it’s been a week– a long “still wearing my Breathe Right strips during my first set of squats, drank my way through an entire box of decaf... Read More
Call Me “Tiger”
By that, I mean you can call me “Tiger,” which is far different from “Call me, Tiger.” I’m not his type. Or am I? Where were YOU when Tiger gave his apology? (“I am a golfing robot. Malfunction. Malfunction. Abort mission! Abort mission!”) If I see one more reporter treating this absurd story like it was 9-11, I’m going to put on a red golf shirt, a black Nike hat and hold a press conference... Read More
Pyramid Scheme
I’ve got a new trick up my sleeve in the our ongoing battle between feeding my kids right and outside forces. Fun Dip and cupcakes aside, we were also the recipient of more Conversation Hearts than can legally be possessed without a permit and a couple of heart-shaped boxes of several Walgreen’s specials. You can bet those Conversation Hearts are getting turned into a couple of art projects. Unfortunately, you can also bet that Lulu... Read More
Accepting Substitutes
I’m on my third cup of coffee today. I was up a little too late last night searching for a replacement for a member of our family. You know Blankie. Blankie appears in the background of a lot of our pictures, and while we do notice how much the girls have aged when we look at old pictures, we also notice how much Blankie has grayed from his previous glory. Unlike George Clooney, though, Blankie’s maturation hasn’t made him grow... Read More
I’m Going Through “The Change”
Before Gigi started preschool, I was terrified. To know Gigi, is to love her. I know it’s cliche, but she just has sunshine coming out of her fingertips and joy coming out of her curls. I’m a creature of habit, and the fact that for nine hours a week I would not have her warmth around me made me want to lock her in our house, sew all of her clothes, and never let her cut her hair. Yet somehow, Lulu and I have settled into our mornings... Read More
The Bright Side
When life hands you lemons… make Lemon Rosemary Roasted Chickpeas! Nothing about the last 24 hours really went as expected. Still, no one wants to hear me whine, so I’m simply going to relate them to you in the most annoyingly positive way possible! I didn’t even need my alarm to wake up Friday morning and was even able to pay a visit to my general practitioner to test out my new health insurance! I was happy to let McDreamy... Read More
All Before Breakfast
Subtitle: How I Make My Life Harder Than it Should Be Due to just having a gut feeling that Gigi’s ballet class wasn’t the best fit for her (she can’t wear her fuchsia tutu, for goodness sake!), I decided to enroll her in the same class she took over the summer. The bad news: it’s a forty minute drive and starts at 10 a.m. Please note, we deliberately don’t collectively leave the house until at least noon each... Read More
No Regrets
My main goal in life is to have as few regrets as possible. Today was no exception. I thought I would regret not going for a run, but I actually enjoyed getting a killer workout from a hot broad with a killer ankle tat. If I could do this everyday until our Hawaii trip, maybe I won’t regret that new two piece I plan to buy. I do regret letting my toddler have coffee. I think she tore out the springs on her Jumperoo that day. I didn’t... Read More
The Sweet Smell of Christmas
With yesterday’s cleaning behind us, we set out today with one goal in mind: to transform our household of tutus, My Little Ponies, tiki idol nightstands, Brandon Roy bobbleheads and bottomless Starbucks coffee mugs into a winter wonderland. The first step in Jesus-ing out our house: a Christmas tree. I steeped a cup of Fireside Chai in half water/half almond milk to take with me and warm me to my core. Wasn’t that nice of Phyllis Diller... Read More
Warm and Fuzzy
I’m always reminded of my grandma when the holidays grow closer. She WAS the holidays to me. She would slave away in the kitchen making everyone’s favorite dishes, including creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes with nary a lump. I would make my plate and then get a huge soup bowl just to fill with mashed potatoes. We’d have dessert and instead of going back for a piece of pie, I’d go back for more mashed potatoes. I don’t... Read More
