Purposeful Pitter-Patter

I love listening to Lauren's little bare feet run along the hardwood floor in the hall from our room to hers.
She's usually running to get another book from her shelf so she can bring it in and plop on the floor with it while I do my hair.
Then, when she has flipped through one book and vocally acknowledged the kitty's, the balls, the daddy's, the ducks, the puppy's, the "bishy's" and the stars, she'll get up and run down the hall again for a new one.
I love the purpose in her pace and the intent look on her face. What a joy to see the application of a smart, healthy developing little brain!
And if we could all approach each daily task with the same amount of enthusiasm!..........

Sunshine!! Spring!!! Warmth!!!!!!!!!

I don't use the word hate very often.

I used it on my mission when referring to the numerous, ever-present, barking, disease-ridden, hairless, 4-legged animals that so many people love. (One bit me, completely unprovoked!)

(but now I try not to say it because Lauren loves them and I do recognize they can be good pets......)

And I use it when referring to being cold.

I hate being cold.

Dave tells me I have reached a professional level of whining on the subject - that I could market my whine for voice-over work. I guess I shouldn't be proud of it, but it's true. I would rather be miserably hot than cold.

So, these last two days have been HEAVENLY!! I think we all agree.

Here are the good things about the last two days:

• Flip flops
• Picnics two days in a row
• Getting flowers at 1/2 off and planting them!
• Using my little green watering can
• Capris
• Wearing just a t-shirt!
• Digging in rich, dark soil
• Being outside with Lauren when Dave came home from work
• Breaking out the sunscreen and Lauren's hat
• Blossoms on trees
• Feeling the sun on my back
• Playing at the park

YAY FOR WARM WEATHER!!!

Granola

I love Granola. I love it plain by the handfuls, on yogurt, or with milk. I love it! I love nutty crunchy things. But the issue with granola is that it usually has a lot of oil in it.....aka: a lot of fat.

Here's a recipe that I found in a "Martha Stewart Living" magazine.

It uses olive oil instead of vegetable oil. So at least it's a healthy fat ;)

Then there are walnuts, which are a great source of Omega 3's.

And unsweetened coconut flakes - another good fat.

And the unique flavor of nutmeg.

I admit that at first, I thought it tasted strange with the olive oil and nutmeg, but now I'm hooked. Try it!!

MAPLE GRANOLA

from Martha Stewart Living

3 c. rolled oats (I like old fashioned)

1 c. dried unsweetened coconut chips (usually found at a health food store)

1 c. pecans or walnuts

1/2 c. pure maple syrup (I just used honey)

1/2 c. olive oil

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1/4 cup sesame seeds

1 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. nutmeg.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Mix everything together (all dry ingredients first) then spread on a cookie sheet.

Bake, stirring every 10 min for about 40 min. ( I usually do less than that - just watch it closely)

Take it out when the edges start to brown slightly - the coconut looks slightly toasted.

It will be soft, but as it cools, it will crisp up.

*I also like to add flax seeds - you'll for sure chew a few of them and get some more omega 3's.

YUM!!

Sweetened Condensed Milk, My Little Cabbage Eater, and All Binkies Accounted For

One day I made a chocolate cake and didn't have time (or didn't feel like) making the ganache frosting to top it. So I scattered these big chocolate chips on while it was warm, then drizzled sweetened condensed milk all over it. YUM! It was a big hit. Everyone kept asking what was on it and requesting the recipe. Yay for sweetened condensed milk! It makes everything good. I love it so much I could eat it by spoonfuls from the can!
BTW - if you want the original delicious recipe, with the ganache frosting, look here.

Lauren loves cabbage! And the cabbage she's eating here is warmed up in the microwave, left over from last night's dinner! She has always been a good eater - let's hope it continues!

Empty bowl - happy girl :)

And now, about the binkies.

I don't know how to explain the satisfaction it gives me when I know that all 4 of Lauren's binkies area accounted for! It just gives me a sense of peace and completion. When I know that there's one in the car for back up and 3 in the cupboard, my mind is at ease. :) Maybe it's a little OCD, or it could be that I'm just convinced I won't buy any more binkies for her. (isn't it amazing how the little things just disappear in your own house, never to be found again?!) So when I know we still have 4, I know there are plenty of extras.

Even Lauren finds comfort in knowing where they all are.....one in her mouth and one in each hand :)

I love this book!

This is a sweet reference book - very easy to read and very informational. I like leaving it out so I can just browse through it every once in a while. I have referred to it so many times! It's categorized by fruits/vegetables/grains/meats/oils, etc. Extra good foods have a big red star by them. It's easy to flip through and find a great food you can incorporate more into your diet.

-full color pictures of each food

-easy to understand descriptions that explain why the food is so good for us.

Thank you Amber! I love this book!

Dancing

Pandora (this is a good thing in and of itself - amazing invention!)
Dave's in the garage working on wood- his current passion.
I'm in the kitchen, swinging my hips to the music :)
Since marriage and motherhood, this passion of mine is usually drowned out (my own fault), but occasionally, it emerges and I remember......

I still love dancing.

A Thick Blanket of Snow and Tiny New Plants

This morning we woke up to this:

And this:

See how they all lean to the sun! I love that! It fascinates me! These brand new baby plants know where the light is and they are drawn to it. They open up to it. They need it. Can an analogy be drawn here? .........

Dave's parents gave him this cool little indoor greenhouse for his birthday. We have plans to start our garden from seeds. So we planted various vegetables and herbs in tiny little planters and put them in this warm, humid "incubator". They're sprouting like crazy!! :) It's so fun to watch the tiny plants pop up through the soil.

Though a thick white blanket of snow is gorgeous, it sort of makes you feel like you're back in the middle of November, which is a little strange when you just celebrated Easter and you see daffodils blooming everywhere. So I'm grateful to have this new green growth that remind us Spring really isn't far away.

Toddler Overalls and Mom Aerobics

I was a little intimidated to post my first official "good thing". It's the first one. It should be thought provoking and enlightening right?
I could waste time overthinking. I'm good at that.
But I won't - here are the things on my mind right now:

• Overalls on Lauren. I absolutely love overalls! I think they look so cute!



• Jane Austen movies. Dave and I have recently seen "Sense and Sensibility" and "Emma" (both BBC/Masterpiece Classic versions checked out from the library). We both loved them and didn't want them to end!



• Carrying on that theme, the Masterpiece Classic version of "Jane Eyre" is also just as good. (and also checked out from the library)



• Chocolate chips straight from the freezer - I'm addicted.



• Gingersnaps (I can eat like 10 a day)



• Little House on the Prairie. I am a lifetime fan. How can you get more wholesome? I have had a crush on Charles Ingalls since I can remember.



• And finally, "Mom Aerobics" at the church. The turnout is usually around 4 moms and 8-10 kids. We haul in the nursery toys and the kids play in the gym while the moms work out..... and try not to trip on kids or toys .....and monitor escapees roaming the halls.......and encourage sharing of Cheerios and Goldfish..... and comfort crying toddlers who have been pushed or robbed of a toy. Sometimes you get more of a workout than you bargain for, and sometimes you have a great excuse when the workout is too hard :) It's always a win-win situation.

Let the Good Times Roll

I've been considering starting a blog for several months now.
I just needed the right motivation to do so.
It came today while reading about someone who was "born of goodly parents" and who "had a great knowledge of the goodness of God."
I started thinking of the good things in my life and I remembered that 5 years ago, while on my mission in Argentina, I had made a list of things that made me laugh, brightened my day, made a good memory, tasted good :) etc. etc. etc.
It was in a small hard-bound notebook.
It was called "The Good List".
This will be a continuation of that small notebook.
It will include good moments, good photos, good quotes, good books, good recipes, good music......basically anything that qualifies as good!
Good times.