The first thing I need to tell you is that this was not my idea.
In fact, I kept trying to change the subject every time it came up, in the hopes that they’d forget all about it.
The little one made fruit shish kabobs with a group of her little friends last week. On our way home that afternoon, she asked if we had some of those same sticks and if we might be able to make these at home too, you know, with kinds of fruit that she enjoys. Like apples!
And maybe… oh yeah. Just apples.
Today, I’m bringing my homeschooled children along with me to a prenatal exam with my midwife.
Hi, my name is Alison and I am a former mainstream, rural, middle class girl turned still-middle class, urban, hippie (but not hip) stay at home mom. Nice to meet you.
Before we head out today, I’m making some granola! Of course I am.
No matter where you happen to fall on the lifestyle spectrum, chances are good that you’ll like this stuff.
Please allow me to introduce you to my crunchy granola friends:
Avocado!
That’s right. We’re putting avocado in the blender this morning ’cause we’re making a chocolate avocado smoothie for breakfast.
Aren’t you excited?! I’m excited too.
See, I’ve never used avocado in a smoothie before because avocados usually don’t make it past salads, bean burritos or stay-at-home burrito bowls around here.
But today, half an avocado is going into the blender with one banana, a good pour of almond milk and a couple teaspoons of cocoa powder. Maybe some spinach too if you feel like it.
It was another egg and everything bagel kind of weekend here.
(That means it was a good weekend.)
But now it’s Monday, and we’re moving on to better and bluer breakfasts.
These little wild blueberries from Woodstock Farms are my current favorite small blue thing.
I pop about a half cup of them into a dish and let them thaw in the fridge over night.
Or, if you forgot about them last night like I did, an hour on the counter at room temperature works too.
Dear Everything Bagel,
I know you aren’t the best thing in the world to eat, but you’ve really got a hold on me right now, so I’m rolling with it. Like a bagel would roll down a hill, you might say.
I justified you today with an early morning two mile walk to the bagel shop and then a two mile walk home. Kids at Granny’s for the weekend, husband at home in bed – just you, me, fetus and Jillian Michaels on a sunny Sunday morning? There are worse things.
Under normal circumstances, I try to avoid cereal like the bubonic plague.
(I don’t know what the bubonic plague is exactly, but I do know that I like that word “bubonic”.)
I had a coupon for a box of this stuff and it looked good, so I went for it.
Except “normal circumstances” no longer applies, at least not for a while here. You see, I am in the first trimester of pregnancy with our third child.
(Surprised? Yeah, me too!)
(Surprised, but ultimately delighted!)
I have Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in my freezer.
Blasted Halloween.
These are Maxine’s, and it was her idea to put them in the freezer. I think there is something programmed into women from birth to know that chocolate + peanut butter are best when cold.
I will not eat Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for breakfast, but I totally could.
Good thing they aren’t mine. And good thing I also have frozen bananas in my freezer.
Because frozen bananas + oats + cocoa powder are the start of something magical.
Ava said, “you’re sticking your tongue out” while I was taking this picture.
That’s my Thinking Tongue! And besides, that’s how the French do it.
(OK so maybe I left out that last bit when responding to my 7 year old’s observations.)
I had French toast on the brain when I woke up this morning, so French toast it was. I remember eating French toast as a kid and how mysterious it seemed. How on earth did my parents turn ordinary bread into something so soft and sweet and delicious?
I’m trying to make peace with the fact that early morning outdoor exercise is soon to be a relegated to the weekends.
For the first time since early spring I busted out the pink hat (you know, the hat I knit myself) and gloves for a morning walk/run today. More walking than running this morning, sometimes it nice to simply walk.
It’s also nice (and necessary) to remember that no matter how freezing it is out there, you DO warm up once you get moving! If anything, the cold is motivation to pick up the pace in the beginning. Knowing how good that early morning air and sunshine will feel on your skin is enough to make it worth it to drag myself out from under the covers.
It’s simply that time of year.
I don’t usually buy flavored coffee, but for whatever reason, I decided to go for it this time. I think the Green Mountain Coffee Marketing Department totally sucked me in with their “Limited Edition!!” ploy. I can’t miss out! Throw it in the cart!! HURRY!
I’m such a sucker.
It’s too pumpkiny though, to the point of being nearly undrinkable.
I solved that pumpkin problem by buying a pound of regular and brewing a 1/4 pumpkin, 3/4 regular in our little 4 cup pot.
More Mama’s Weeds
