I have officially reached the top of the hill. And while my first forty years weren’t anything I could have predicted, they were awesome years. I’m not even going to speculate on the next forty, but I certainly hope they will be filled with love and family.

Here’s to being a complete grown up, and celebrating with unicorns.

Hoping if the kids exercise, so will I

Workout routine. 

Started my workout routine tonight. Nothing too difficult, just mini-Thor and I doing some stretches. We tried getting the little Hulk to join in, but he just messed around and didn't actually stretch. That's fine, it's my first attempt. We climbed to the sky, held up the ceiling with each hand, then got some Star Wars in trying to hold the walls from closing in on us. After that we just grabbed the floor, then moved to sitting stretches. Basic V leg nose to knee stretch, then butterfly legs. Thor liked that since we just let our butterflies go earlier this week. Then I tried doing some weigh lifting, as sort of a reverse push-up, I laid on my back and did push-ups with Thor. He's about 40# and as much weight as I can handle so far. Then he hung on each arm while I lifted him up a few times.  That's going to hurt tomorrow. 

It's not an impressive recount, but since it's action, I'm happy with it. I also bought a jump rope today. I haven't tried that in more years than I can recall. It's a bit scary, just laying on the table, taunting me on how uncoordinated I have become. 😉

Strawberry pudding

Allrecipes Adaptation

1/3 cup strawberry purée
2/3 cup cream
1/4 cup sugar divided
3 egg yolks
2 T flour
2 T butter
1 t vanilla
Dash of salt

Heat up strawberries, cream and 2 T sugar in heavy saucepan over medium heat.

In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks and remaining 2T sugar until light in color, then add flour and salt.

When liquid starts to boil, temper egg mixture then pour back into saucepan.

Heat on medium heat until it starts to boil, let cook for one minute, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.

Place plastic wrap directly on top to prevent film from forming and chill.

Color is brownish, but tastes like strawberries.

Fun with felt

My husband fell in a lake. He survived, but the phone did not. In the aftermath of that adventure, I find myself with a plethora of rice. So I'm making bean (rice) bags! 

I can throw them in the freezer for all the scrapes the kids MUST have ice for and not worry about finding puddles later.

 First up - Ladybug bean bag

You need:

black felt

Red felt

Scrap of white felt

You also need either needle and thread or fabric glue if you don't like to sew

First, print and cut out the pattern, found here

Next, trace the cut outs on the appropriate fabric and then cut those as well. You will need two of the black body shapes, two red wings, two white eyes, and your choice of black wing spots (you just arrange spots however many you want, where you want them). I like to outline in chalk. I have lots and it's easy to clean up.

I used some masking tape to lay everything out where I wanted it, then started from the outer layer and sewed my way down. 

By working your way down, I mean I started with the spots on the wings, then the wings on the body, next the eyes, and finally sewing the top to the bottom. 

I liked the look of the white thread on top, but if the patchwork type of theme isn't your thing, feel free to use thread that matches your colors. Because I had the white thread outlining my shapes, I chose to go around the bottom of the wing instead of actually sewing to the body where it hangs over. You can glue it if your worried about your ladybug flying away, but I'm not worried about it. 

Don't forget to leave an opening so you can fill up with rice. How much rice you add depends on how stiff you want to bag to be. For more flexibility, add less rice, and to barely move, stuff all the rice you can in before sewing shut.

Then just pop in the freezer to be ready for all the inevitable bonks your kids get. 

Confession time. There are some things I’m just not going to eat. I’m not going to include them in my meals plans, I won’t have any recipes with them, and I’m okay with this.  If you like them, that's probably better for you.
Here is a(n ongoing) list of things I’m just not into:

1. Coconut. It’s just gross
2. Fish. I’m working on this. I would like to like fish, but again, gross.
3. Melon. Watermelon is the only exception to this.
4. Cheese that is trying to be dessert. Yes, this means cheesecake and cream cheese frosting. Cheese is awesome, and I’ll eat it with many things, but it’s savory. Not sweet.

This is the end for now. Some things, like kale, I’m still experimenting with to find a good way to eat it.


-Stephanie