Coming along nicely

My collection of eggshells for Cascarones is coming along very nicely. I'm nearly at four dozen and am confident that a few more evenings of breakfast for dinner or big weekend breakfasts will get us to a solid five dozen. Ohhhh...I can't wait to crack a few over my boys' heads!

It's not too late to make Cascarones yourself. Check out my tutorial here. Just make a quiche or a nice egg strata and you'll be all set! 

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

A New Dryer

It's been about three months now that we've been without a working gas dryer but we've found something just as effective. On sunny and warm days, at least! Who knew I'd be planning my laundry around the weather forecast!

There is something soothing about carrying a laundry basket into the back yard, hanging it up and then taking it back down again a few hours later. I'm also falling in love with the smell of our line-dried clothes, sheets, towels and napkins, and the texture is much less stiff than I imagined it would be. In fact, I hardly notice.

Abel installed this rack right over the 2" pole that remained from the laundry line we promptly removed the moment we moved into this house (Total irony, right? But, the two cross bars were incredibly rusted and the line crossed nearly our entire yard.) Unfortunately it is located right under our largest tree, so, depending on how well the birds are able to aim, we may need to move it later!

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Cherry Blossom Kids' Run

Yesterday was one of those days when I just kept thinking, "The things we do for our kids...."

You see, ever since the day Abel found out he didn't win the lottery to run in the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, he has been looking forward to taking Lucas down to the Washington Monument to participate in the Kids' 1/2 Mile Run.

But then two friends decided to sell their bibs and so Abel did get a slot in the 10 miler. At first I totally assumed that meant that the 1/2 Mile Run was off for Lucas. But, I was wrong. It meant SO much to Abel for Lucas to do it, and of course Lucas had gotten pumped for the race.

And that's how my friend and I ended up trekking FIVE children ages 11mos to 6 years on the 6:59am Metro train to Smithsonian, across the Washington Monument grounds (dodging runners and blocked roads) so Lucas and his friend (team Fireskulls as you can see in the photo above) could run a quick 1/2 mile loop.

Oh, the things we do!

In the end it was, indeed, worth it. Lucas ran the entire distance and was so incredibly proud of himself. It was a beautiful morning, and other than some elevator challenges (the two youngest were in a double stroller), the trek itself went pretty smoothly.

Thanks to Abel volunteering to do an elite athlete airport pick-up a few days prior to the race (and yet not actually having to perform that duty--he is SUCH a lucky duck!), he's got a guaranteed slot in next year's race. And so I anticipate a similar trek for the Kids' Run again next year.

The photo above is my reminder to myself that, despite the 5am alarm, we should do it again next year.

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Good Fortune

Abel and I used a months-old gift card to enjoy a lunch date at P.F. Changs earlier this week. What a treat! I just love lunch dates. Of course, our darling companion Nathaniel tagged along although he had already eaten. (Lucas was at school--shhh don't tell!)

Nathaniel spent the entire lunch watching all the activity of the restaurant. His head turned to follow every server and he did quite a bit of flirting with the table of three ladies to his left (and behind my back!).

At the end of the meal, Nathaniel chose his fortune cookie and this was his fortune, "Your happy heart brings joy and peace where there is none."

I thought it was so perfect for our happy boy. His lovely nature and constant smiles (he always has one at the ready for anyone who gives him even a glance) bring such joy to our little family as well as all friends and strangers we encounter on our journeys. I am so grateful for such a sweet baby.

____________

My own fortune was one to remember as well: The simplest answer is to act. (The fortune cookie version of Just Do It!) Too often I dither or worry or get stuck in the circles of my own thinking. I need to just get out of my own head and act much more often. Maybe I'll put mine on the fridge!


Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Six Signs of Spring

1. Crocus spotting!

2. Mulch (from our nearby park) in Nathaniel's diaper.

3. Bath night becomes almost every night, instead of every other night (or even possibly every third night as sometimes happens in the winter when we're stuck inside for days on end!).

4. Muddy jeans, muddy overalls, muddy faces, muddy hands.

5. Puddle hunts!

6. Lucas's two pairs of shoes turn into the "muddy pair" and the "clean pair." Unfortunately, the clean pair often gets muddy, too, and so "clean" actually just refers to the least-muddy-at-the-time.

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Spring Things

A friend recently offered to give me a brand new bottle of Mrs. Myer's Basil hand soap because it was making her sneeze. The funny thing is that I had just unearthed a package of Medela pump and save bags that I wanted to give to her, so it was a satisfying trade for both of us. I have to say that Mrs. Myers Basil is my new favorite scent!

I have it at the kitchen sink and find myself washing my hands extra-often just for a whiff of the wonderful, spring-like scent. (And that's saying a lot because I'm a big hand-washer anyway!) Now I'm anxious to run out of counter top spray, all purpose cleanser and dish soap so I can replace them all with this lovely scent!

Thank you, Charlotte! (Though I'm terribly sorry it makes you sneeze!)

I was at Target the other day picking up a few prescriptions and of course had to peruse the $1 section. (I just adore that section!) In my opinion, The Find Of The Season is a set of three small, metal planter decorations. Each packet contains a pink, blue and green bird on a copper stick. I am just thrilled with them (especially the pink and blue...the green blends in too much with my green house plants) as the quality is fabulous!

{I may or may not be planning a return trip to purchase several more sets tomorrow! Ahem!}

I'm thinking of so many more purposes for them than as planter decorations. For example, one would be absolutely adorable tied onto a ribbon on the outside of a gift. Hopefully your Target has them as well!

(I bought the single sprig of Rosemary at our Christmas Market and am so thrilled with the purchase! I've already used it so often! I've cut off the new growth on the top and am trying to root a second sprig.)



It is time to start saving your eggs to make Cascarones for Easter! Long-time readers know this is my absolute favorite Mexican (or is it more generally Hispanic?) tradition that I married into. Whenever you use an egg, just carefully crack off the top, dump the inside to use, then rinse the empty shell and put it back in the carton. We're unsure of our Easter plans this year, but if we stay home, I'm planning to invite some friends to our local park to have a big Cascarones celebration this year!

Spring IS on its way, right? We're just desperate for it!

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Up, Up, Up

Our little guy loves to climb...


Happy as a clam on top of the table. He's never even considered sitting in those lovely chairs!

Usually this stool is against the kitchen sink so Lucas can easily wash his hands...now I have to make sure it is in the middle of the floor or I'll find Nathaniel standing at the sink playing with whatever (usually breakable!) things are in there! (Note that he's climbing from the back and not going the easy way via the step on the front!)

His goal was to climb from the cart onto the top of the shelves. But as he reached, the cart slowly rolled back. Of course I had to snap a quick pic before helping him!

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!