Chocolate Covered Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Footballs
I want to be a cheerleader. Not the competitive, insane basket throwing kind on ESPN. More of the Sue Heck, bursting with enthusiasm, persistently optimistic kind. I know it’s a little late, but I can still carry that cheerleader spirit into my life. And maybe the skirt? I’ve spent too many years of my life thinking it was uncool to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. I was too cool to play mini-golf, listen to boy bands or let my mom call me... Read More
Love Notes
Can it really be February? Otherwise known as The Month I Have to Hand Over the Manuscript I Only Started Three Months Ago. I have 23 days. I promise not to count it down every day on here until the due date. You know I don’t blog on the weekends, so there’s that respite for you. It’s also the month of love. And the love notes are flying around here. Lulu brought home this picture she made in preschool. That’s her in the yellow with... Read More
Black Bean and Roasted Corn Nacho Bites with Avocado Crema
We took a trip to the local farm stand yesterday and the girls were in absolute heaven because I bought them fresh honey sticks. Gigi got grape. Lulu got strawberry. And after sucking most of the honey out of the straws, slobbering and smacking their way through, they wanted to trade. Uh, no. Because there are some things that just don’t seem right to share. (And I’m not talking about my chocolate stash—that’s just a hoarding situation,... Read More
Notes From the Shoot: Weekend Edition
1. We’ve cooked and photographed 17 recipes in the past 5 days. My fridge is stuffed. And so am I. 2. Those are my photos of the recipes from the blog that we shot, not Ashley’s. Thank heavens she’s here. 3. If you recognize a favorite recipe from above and want to send me/leave me a quote to possibly be used in the new book, by all means, please do. If you want to come take any of the above out of my fridge, by all means, please... Read More
Twenty-One Questions To Ask Your Kids
Holy moly. I had a very rare breakdown into tears while packing lunches this evening. Pea Daddy asked why. Big mistake. My response: “I’d say it’s getting up at 5:30 to workout, racing home to make sure everyone is dressed, gone potty, had breakfast and has their hair done, packing snacks for preschool, making Cracklin’ Cauliflower, packing lunches, taking Gigi to school, finishing the Quinoa Tabbouleh, picking Lulu up from school,... Read More
Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs
I am the worst offender at helicopter parenting. Always have been, always will be. But when we went on our “adults only” vacation last week, I knew I had to let it go if I was going to have a good time. Yes, the girls might not eat, sleep or wear their hair like they do when they are at home, but they would survive. And they probably needed a break from me as much as I did from them. Still, the less I knew the better. I simply would... Read More
Cauliflower Rice Paella
How are those New Years’ resolutions holding up? I didn’t make any because, as I like to say, I am on a constant journey of self-improvement. My husband wishes I would hurry up and get there already. One of the ways I’m trying to improve is by learning balance. And not to feel guilty about it. That’s the hard part. Would you want to punch me in the face if I said that before we went on vacation I found myself googling “How to not... Read More
Flex on the Beach Smoothie
Well, aloha. I’m sorry I didn’t send you a postcard. I didn’t find one that spoke to me. I was looking for something really sleazy, with six women lined up in different colored thongs saying “Flex on the Beach.” I know you love that kind of thing as much as I do. I’m sorry I also didn’t bring you home a box of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. We bought a Costco-sized box full at, where else—Costco, and then got to the airport... Read More
The Getaway
Who are those people on that beach in Maui? You, girly, with your long hair, your perky…smile and your uncompromised uterus. Quit looking at my uterus. You, young man, with your shoulders yet to have given a piggy back ride, your eyes sparkling from uninterrupted sleep and your…Tommy Bahama shirt. Oh. I guess that is us. My how eight years have aged us. We’ve become grownups. (shhh…don’t argue with me.) We’ve become parents. And,... Read More
Wannabe Recipea: Goldfish Crackers
Lulu might be taking her self-imposed lessons in empathy a little too far. Yesterday she sat in her baby doll stroller and rolled herself around the house, claiming to be in a wheelchair. I was going to put a kibosh on her game as being insensitive, but it came to a crashing end all on its own. Let’s just say our stairway is not up to ADA standards. Today she’s pretending that a pair of blue Minnie Mouse sunglasses are actual eyeglasses and... Read More
Games Peas Play
1. We received about eight board games for Christmas and played them each a half a dozen times this weekend. Any bonds of friendship bragged about last week have since been broken. Badly, badly broken. This led to me playing a game called, “Google Cocktail Names To Decide Which Drink I’m Going to Order First When We Get to Maui.” Odds are 4:1 that it’s a Lava Flow. 2. The point of the game “I Never Forget a Face” is kind of... Read More
Wannabe Recipea: Chocolate Chip Zee Bars
There are lots of things I don’t get. Of course, that’s just a nice way of saying, here are some things I am going to complain about before I give you a recipe. We could be here awhile. But we won’t be, because incessant complaining is one thing I don’t get. It’s a cruel joke of fate that I could teach a master class on it, though. Such a wasted gift. #1 Thing I Don’t Get: Sweaters for Dogs Or rain slickers. Or any sort of outerwear. ... Read More
I’d Lie, Cheat or Steal For You
My girls have a bond that I am not sure I will ever understand. Though I have brothers, I definitely don’t relate to the connection they have. The willingness to do anything for each other. The nicest thing I ever did for my brother was sneak into his dresser drawer, break all his cigarettes in half and stuff them back in the package. I thought I was so clever. What was he going to do? Tell my mom? My girls, on the other hand, will do whatever... Read More
Everyday Eats: Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Corn and Peppers
My year is not off to the luckiest of starts. Yesterday, while packing up all of our Christmas decorations, putting our gingerbread house and painted pinecones decorated with Red Hots in the safest of places*, Gigi made an upsetting discovery. *the recycling bin is a very, very safe place She found not one, but two Karaoke Christmas Microphones that my dear aunt gave the girls for Christmas. I had unfortunately not put them in the safest of places**. **Pea... Read More
Wannabe Recipea: White Chocolate Cranberry-Kissed Cake
I’m trying really hard not to be cliché. Then again, maybe I’m just lazy. My hair for the day would confirm that. I’m going through an awkward stage which I’m attempting to mitigate with the tiniest ponytail you’ve ever seen and a headband. I look like I either just got my wig snatched on Jerry Springer or like I’m about to film a Proactiv commercial and am poised to go in for the big sink splash. The UPS guy came to do the door,... Read More
Palace of Pain
One innocent day, a couple weeks ago when I was wiping a Baby Mouse’s runny nose with my bare hands at Nutcracker rehearsals, Pea Daddy went Christmas shopping for the girls. There’s no denying that Pea Daddy’s a great dad. There might be loud, shrill denying that he is always the best of husbands. Rarely. But when selecting Christmas gifts for the girls he overlooked the important consideration that should always be made in all key decisions: “How... Read More
Everyday Eats: Mediterranean Salad Shakers
Now’s the time of the year when everyone starts making lists. It starts with lists of what they wanted to achieve last year, followed by big red checkmarks and “x”s by what they did and didn’t achieve. It’s a real “feel good” exercise. Then, in the afterglow of their successes and shadows of their failures, they make lists of what they want to achieve next year. If I’ve learned anything in 2011, though, it’s that no matter how... Read More
Lessons From Christmas
1. Do not buy your children Advent calendars. It is better that they don’t know when exactly Christmas is. Unless of course you enjoy waking up at 1:00 am, 3:00 am, 4:00 am, then there was that long stretch until 5:50 a.m and then 6:30 am only to tell your little angel that it is still not time to open presents yet. 2. Remind your spouse to buy things to fill your stocking so you are not going through your junk drawer at midnight finding... Read More
Gifts You Can Eat (But Shouldn’t): Lavender Rosemary Gel
One of the worst things about making a living putting things in writing is that, well, it’s in writing. Even really stupid things. Even worse is when you spell “lavender” wrong, photograph it, realize your mistake and know there’s no way in h-e-double hockey sticks that you are reshooting. Don’t do that. Worse still is when you say something stupid in a book. That doesn’t go away, people. Pull out your copies of Peas and Thank... Read More
Tuesday News
1. I’m still addicted to Pinterest, and it’s not doing me any favors. Since joining, I’ve been wearing a sloppy smoky eye to Target for laundry detergent, I’ve stopped washing my hair with shampoo and I’ve cut off the sleeves from my cardigans to make boot socks. In other words, I’m a hot mess. Thank you, Pin-interest. 2. The candy on our gingerbread house is “accidentally” falling off faster than it was put on. ... Read More
Wannabe Recipea: Gingerbread “Cliff” Bars
You know what’s the worst? Staying up until midnight watching the Survivor finale and then having your phone alarm go off at 5:45. Only your phone fell off your nightstand and under your bed and you have to scramble around and try to find it before the whole house wakes up and you have to workout with an audience. And they totally call you out when you do girl pushups. Also the worst? Getting icing caked on your jeans that you just washed for... Read More
Gifts You Can Eat: Ranch Oyster Crackers
Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. I find myself saying this a lot. “Look Mom, I can stick this whole Christmas ornament in my mouth!” It wasn’t a candy cane. And the ornament hook is still missing. That’s gonna leave a mark on the way out. “Look Honey, I can get free shipping on a Tommy Bahama dress for you for Hawaii!” Perfect. I’ll look lovely in it while I crochet doilies on the plane... Read More
For Santa: No Bake Snowball Cookies
I haven’t been fully working this Santa thing to my advantage. We haven’t gone and seen him yet this year, and I’d be surprised if we do. I’d also be surprised if I make gingerbread men for our tree or mail out our Christmas cards. The Christmas card thing would be especially surprising since I never ordered any. So, friends and family, consider this your Christmas card/newsletter nearly every day of the year. Merry Christmas! But back... Read More
Ten Things About Sunday
1. On the 13th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me, one case of pinkeye, acute bronchitis, four missing teeth, and a partridge in a pear tree. 2. How ‘bout some irony? Gigi, both a pacifist and a vegetarian, has been cast as the solider who gets to kill the Mouse King in The Nutcracker. I feel nothing but pride. I suspect Lulu, cast as a mouse, will find her harder to forgive. 3. The worst part about writing a cookbook: 4. ... Read More
Vegan Pie in The Sky (GIVEAWAY)
I was on Math Team in seventh grade. I’m still not sure how that happened. I was a book nerd. I read books. And not books about math. Unless you count A Tale of Two Cities. See, I‘m such a book nerd I actually said that. Is it a wonder I was bullied on my seventh grade math team? Our math team, wearing matching purple t-shirts with all sorts of algebraic formulas screen-printed on them, would pile onto a big yellow school bus and... Read More
Gifts You Can Eat: Eggnog Spiced Nuts
I’m nuts. I blame Jingle Cats, which Pea Daddy decided to play for the girls right before bedtime last night. Brilliant move. I heard meowing Christmas carols from their bedrooms for an hour straight. I further blame the 102 degree fever I spiked around caroling time last night. And for that I blame Maya, Myla, Mayla or whoever was coughing on my lap at Nutrcracker rehearsals last weekend. I wanted to die when I woke up this morning, only... Read More
The Antidote for Mommy Guilt
From the moment I found out I was pregnant with Gigi to this very instant right now (and now….and now…), I’ve experienced overwhelming love for my children. Coupled with overwhelming guilt. Mommy guilt. This guilt stems from: Riding every ride in Disneyland including the Tower of Terror 13 times before I officially knew I was with child. Poor fetus Gigi. Forgetting to put a note in Gigi’s lunchbox this morning. Getting, no, begging for,... Read More
Recipeas Worth Repeating: Pumpkin Spice Bars (VIDEO)
I know my timing is totally off on this pumpkin thing. You’re all onto flavors like gingerbread (I’ve got a bar recipe pending), eggnog (I’ve got a gift recipe pending), and peppermint (I’ve got a homemade mocha pending…in my stomach). But some recipeas and some opportunities are just too fun to pass up. Personal girl crush of mine and amazing cookbook author, Julie Hasson, invited me up to her home to cook with her on the webcast... Read More
Lessons from the Weekend
1. There’s something far worse than having a broken dishwasher–having a broken door to your garage. When you are locked inside. And without easy access to get out of your house to go to the grocery store, to ballet rehearsals, to anywhere away from children that have woken up at 5:45 to eat chocolate. 2. Chocolate-filled advent calendars are evil. For the last four days, my children have been waking up at an ungodly hour so they can eat chocolate. ... Read More
Gifts You Can Eat: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cups
It’s only December 1st, and I’m already feeling the holiday time crunch. Lucky for me, I am armed with lots of time-saving tips. They aren’t always endearing and they’re rarely hygienic, but I have many ways I cut corners and add a few more minutes to my day. I sleep in my workout clothes. There’s nothing hotter than sports bras and shorts with built-in underwear. Yeah, baby. I keep a grocery list going on the whiteboard in the kitchen... Read More
Words About Wednesday
1. This week we each made out our Christmas lists, and for the most part they were surprise free. Especially when it comes to Lulu’s wishlist. Numbers 6 and 8 are real shockers. (P.S. Her handwriting is remarkable, no?) 2. I’ve resorted to inappropriate means to get Lulu to brush her teeth in the morning. Namely threatening to call the dentist and tell on her. I’m about six months overdue for a cleaning, though, so that’s... Read More
Everyday Eats: Sugar Cookie Smoothie
It’s about to get cheeky in here. I’ve been working hard to get in bikini shape before we go to Hawaii right after the New Year. Really hard. So hard in fact that I let a friend talk me out of buying my usual safe, skirted swimsuit bottoms and into something just a tad less modest. I thought skirted bottoms were retro. Turns out they might just be a bit more coverage than what I need. But what a deal! Twice the fabric for the same... Read More
The Dishwasher
In the grand scheme of things, there are far worse things that could happen than our dishwasher breaking. In fact, far worse things did happen. For example, at the movies this weekend when, in the very top row, Gigi accidentally dropped her brand new angel Christmas ornament down the back of the row in front of us. Let me tell you, you have not lived until you are on your hands and knees, in the dark, on the floor of a very popular movie theater. ... Read More
Dinner Tonight: Shepherd’s Pie
Last week, I was driving down the road with the girls, doing some last-minute grocery shopping and listening to Christmas music when a commercial came on. Lulu had just pointed out that she “hates” Christmas music. She’s getting coal in her stocking. Which makes shopping a cinch. The commercial was for Hellman’s Mayonnaise and the voiceover was by Mark Consuelos. I like to say Spanish words and names in a full Spanish accent, mostly... Read More
Tuesday Countdown
10. Calliou’s Holiday Movie is on right now. It’s an hour and a half long. Help. 9. Gigi and Lulu both invited imaginary “friends” over today. Lulu then told Gigi that all of Gigi’s “friends” liked her better and weren’t going to play with Gigi anymore. Gigi started crying and then we all had a nice talk about how sisters can be real friends and play real games together. Then this happened. Three rope burns and... Read More
This Thanksgiving: Roasted Garlic and Herb Smashed Potatoes and Gravy
Want to know how to make the best mashed potatoes you’ve ever had in your life? Peel and boil your potatoes, mash them with heavy cream and then stick them in a crockpot for a few hours with an entire block of cream cheese and an entire stick of butter. At least that’s what my grandma did. I’d fill my plate half full, go back for seconds and then have another heaping bowlful for dessert. We don’t need no stinking pie. Oh, Grandma. She... Read More
This Thursday
1. Lulu slept in until 8 this morning, when I heard her rummaging through her dresser drawers. She came downstairs wearing a full tutu, pink feathered crown, arrowhead necklace and sense of self-importance. She said she was ready for preschool. They were not ready for her. 2. Pea Daddy introduced me to Angry Birds on Sunday. My life, as I know it, is over. I think my book manuscript would be finished if it weren’t for those... Read More
Wannabe Recipea: Baked Hush Puppy Bites
Kids can be so literal. As in Lulu. This morning. Waiting for the hush puppies to come out of the oven. I don’t have the heart to explain it to her. Lulu’s not the only one unfamiliar with hush puppies. We went out to dinner with friends Saturday night to a great Southern food restaurant, Screen Door, where everyone ordered up Hurricanes, grits and collard greens. Yet, only half of our table knew what hush puppies were. (It was the girls. ... Read More
Recipeas Worth Repeating: Pickle Soup
Happy National Pickle Day! Happy I Took Nyquil At 8 pm and Slept Until 8 am Day!* Happy Pumpkin Pie For Breakfast Day!* *may not be actual holidays As shiteous as I feel, I couldn’t let the day go by without honoring pickles and everyone’s favorite pickle fiend. (I realize using the word “shiteous” costs me a dollar. It’s worth it.) So I’m revamping my post for Pickle Soup from almost exactly a year ago. Generally when I repeat... Read More
This Thanksgiving: Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Pie
If you are confused by the previous post “Dog,” please know that Lulu had a hold of my iPhone while I was making dinner. Imagine my surprise as I’m going through my Google Reader and see a new post from…me. I kind of have to leave that post up out of respect because I’m not even sure I know how to blog from my phone. And she’s racked up more comments with less words and photos than I have ever seen. Mad respect. And... Read More
