H&M!

I was downtown the other day, on the Red Line, which I NEVER take, and I saw it...it's coming...I can't even believe it!

H&M IS COMING TO PORTLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!!!

Estate Sales!!!!

I needed some good cookware, especially since I have a few new mouths to feed! :o) I looked around for some Pyrex Bakeware, and it was just too spendy for me. So I did what I always do...headed straight to Craigslist! lol And it worked! I found this amazing guy selling all kinds of amazing things. He buys from estate sales for dirt cheap, then sells them himself! His collection was insanely wonderful! I just wish he had cutlery, knives, and electroics (like the KitchenAid mixer I'm dying to own!) He said his family always gets the good knives! They wipe him out when they come to visit! Lucky them! I was lucky though, he had an Oster blender with a glass jar in great shape...and it was only 5 bucks! AMAZING!

So here's my loot...and it was only $53 for everything! I cannot cannot wait to go back!

I Tweaked This Oatmeal Cookie!

I found this recipe (for the life of me I can't remember where I found it online!) and really liked it, but I HAD to make some changes. First it calls for 1 1/2 cups flour, but I substituted 1/2 cup unbleached flour with whole wheat flour (next time all go for more!). Then it called for 1 cup peanut butter, but I used equal parts peanut, almond, and NUTELLA! lol I can't enjoy anything unless there's chocolate involved! I also used old fashioned oats...I like them better. They came out so abso-freakin-lutely delicious! It's also my first time using a cookie recipe that calls for shorting. I think it gave the cookies a nice gooey texture, with a slight crisp on the outside...LOVE IT!



Here is the original recipe:


PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL COOKIES

Ingredients
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick-cooking oats

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, cream together shortening, margarine, brown sugar, white sugar, and peanut butter until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the oats until just combined. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until just light brown. Don't over-bake. Cool and store in an airtight container.

The Final Countdown...

My two little ones will join us in a little over a week! I seriously feel like my year long vacation is coming to an end and I'm NERVOUS! lol I want to enjoy these last few precious days of unadulterated free time!

Lots Goin On...

So much going on right now. The nursery is taking off, I've got two enrolled and I'm so excited; they're great kids! Brianlily will finally have playmates, I'll have an income, and best of all...I get to be home with my daughter. I'm trying to work school into the mix, I just don't know how. I need classes that are late evening and nothing is offered later than 5:30. Ugh!

Life is starting to feel like the motion of a train...starts off slow, then full steam ahead; hard, fast, loud, and seemingly out of control, but on the right track.

Google Analytics...

Damn I love my Analytics accounts!

Children's Place...

Am I the only mother that didn't know about "adjustable waistbands"?! I'm in love! It's genius! I've been buying clothes from Children's Place for Brianlily since she was born, but not until she's been a toddler have I noticed their adjustable waistband. It's incredible! It totally works! I always buy her clothes bigger so she has room to grow, but her pants fall. Now with these adjustable bands, I can cinch them in the beginning, then let them out as she fills the pant in! LOVES IT!! Just checked out BabyGap online and they offer the same feature! I'm sure everyone is on this band wagon!

Photo to come!