2am

Well for some reason I couldn't sleep very well last night after my DH went to work, so instead of just lying there I decided to get up. -So whatsa girl to do at 2 o'clock in the morning??? -I made Koolaid grape playdough and banana nut bread!
Let's just say my kitchen had a very unique smell when I was done, LOL!

Happy at home

"The happiest moments of my
life have been the few which
I have passed at home in the
bosom of my family."
- Thomas Jefferson

Ok, now I don't have anything against my in-laws or other people that have campers, but I do wonder why they use them so often. I love my home! -And lest you think that I have a super cool home with an entertainment room with all the coolest games and gagets, let me tell you that it's not so. I do have, for the time being, a very nice apartment, most of our stuff is in storage at my DH's warehouse, and the tub isn't big enough for a adult human being to soak in....but it's our home and as they say, it's where my heart is.

Money Stash

I read a brief article this morning about Japanese housewives hiding money from their working husbands. It said that 46% of the ladies surveyed hid an average of 2.41 million yen (20,000 dollars) from their spouses! -That's alotta dough!

Well my hubbie is safe, he knows about any money I have and I like it like that. -I'm sure he does too! What I find interesting is that these women feel like they have to hoard hide it from their assumed Love.

Apple Oat and Spice Muffins

Here's a muffin recipe I made this morning. These come out moist and delicious and smell fabulous when baking!

Apple, Oat, and Spice Muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 3/4 cup shredded apple (I used Granny Smith)
3/4 cup low-fat or nonfat buttermilk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 400°
*Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 7 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
*Combine apple, buttermilk, oil, and egg in a bowl. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
*Spoon batter into muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Combine 2 teaspoons sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 400° for 22 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove from pan immediately. Serve warm.

Yield: 1 dozen muffins or 6 jumbo muffins.

Adapted from The Complete Cooking Light Cookbook.

Lily

You are a Lily:
You are graceful, gentle, calm, and pure and perhaps a little shy (though your shyness is part of your charm). You are a very honorable person who always wants to do the right thing. Your calm attitude has a soothing effect on others.

Symbolism: The lily has long been used as a symbol of majesty, honor, chastity, and purity of heart.

What flower are you?
brought to you by: Quizzilla











(via http://www.tulipgirl.com/)

90 days

Well, just an FYI, we received notice that they are converting our apartment to a condo and that we have 90 days to buy it or move out. So, while this is a great location to live, we are choosing to move somewhere else. We still need to rent until the CA housing market calms down some, so we'll be looking for a house to rent here in town.

The Wagon

Well, I think it's time for me to get back on the wagon and start taking better care of myself again. I'd much rather eat lottsa chocolate and sit and read or watch TV instead of placing some boundaries on myself...but I'd also like to be able to chase around our children some day, and unfortunately with Lupus it's harder to do so if you don't take care of yourself. So (deep breath) tomorrow I'm going to take our dog out for a REALLY good walk (Caesar would be so proud), and not stress on all the things I could be doing instead. Then I'd like to start back up at the gym next week.

Now, as far as eating goes, we eat pretty healthfully (is that a word?)...but I am a snacker....especially when I'm stressed or board, so I'm going to limit myself to only healthy snacks and allow myself a piece of my favorite dark chocolate every night.

I didn't die...

No, I didn't die, I've just been super busy and have been trying to stay away from the 'puter so I could get back on track with my daily routines. Plus the weather here in CA has been awesome! I just love being able to pretend it's spring in February!! Yesterday J and I went for a walk with our dog to the park. There were a bunch of other dogs there, which is pretty unusual for a Wednesday afternoon. But Granola had a great time playing with them and playing with the ball J brought for her. She was totally pooped the rest of the night.