True or False

True or False:

1) The back tire blew out and no less than 5 gentleman had to stop and try to help me.  The donut is hidden in a super secret hiding place and could only be released using a bit of kung fu magic and a few Chuck Norris moves..and 50 calls to the husband who didn't have his cell phone on him.  I was half-way through learning how to change the tire over the phone, when 2 men from Virginia stopped to finish it up for me.

2) I thought I had it all together for the foodclub and then wrecked an entire order that cannot be placed again until next month.  An order worth over $2,300.  For 26 people.  Gone.

3) I burned my finger tip so bad I had to keep my finger in ice water for over an hour.

4) I had a 10-minute-long conversation with a 65 year old East Texan Farmer this week.  We needed information so we could publish in the paper what produce will be available at the market this weekend.  I still have no idea what he said.  This is what I heard, "Mmh der der dat der der spinach.  Mer den der der ad ber der turnips."  At one point, I believe he was referencing a competitor because I heard the word "butthole".  I could have had a more meaningful conversation about farming with this guy...

5) I made these and let the kids have some.  I call them "So you want to clean up poop for 2 days" muffins.  Damn you almond flour...

Since all of the above statements are 100% true, and they all happened in the last 2 days, I decided to work on a few items to tip the scales in my favor.

Homemade nutella for the win!!!  This is the recipe.  I made it in my cuisinart and it took about 5 minutes!

I keep it in the fridge, but when it warms to room temperature, it is the same consistency as the store-bought stuff!

I used soaked and dehydrated hazelnuts and just added sugar, vanilla, cocoa, a little coconut oil and salt 

I used some of the scraps from the t-shirt bags we are making and made a fun scarf

Jason said it looks good enough to pass as a "real" scarf but I am skeptical.  For now, it will be in the costume bin :)

Here's to hoping the scales tip even more in my favor this weekend.  And that the foodclub members forgive me for my ridiculously large mistake...

We really have three??

Sometimes Jason and I really can't believe we have three kids...

And then they start fighting and screaming and the serene moment of contemplation is smashed and we jump right back into work.

Help me...

One of my absolute best friends is getting married in September.  

She is next to me in the middle.

The bridesmaids get to pick the dresses we wear.  I chose this one:

*This dress, worn by yours truly, is brought to you by Spanx...

Now I need help.  I do not shop.  I don't like it.  I don't like shopping trends or fashions.  It just isn't what I am into.  The last time I paid any attention to being "fashion-forward" was after I saw Clueless.  And that only lasted one fuzzy sweater.  Then I retired my fashion sense and settled for the monotone v-neck in assorted colors.

Now that the hard part of picking a dress is over, I realize my work is far from done.  I still have to accessorize?!?!  Our only instruction was no black.

I am in dire need of help.  The only time I wore shoes that weren't black, they carved holes in my toes and ankles for the 3 hour high school graduation ceremony.  Now I need to do it over again and I have no idea.  

Earrings?  Shoes?  Necklace?  Please help!!!

7 Quick Takes (#49)

1) It has been almost a month since I wrote a blogpost.  You would think I would be full of material.  I am not though.  So suffer through these with me, m'kay?

2) I am super pumped that tomorrow is the very first day of our brand-new Tyler Farmer's Market.  I will be sitting at a table with friend and my sewing machine.  If you bring a t-shirt, we will make it into a grocery bag for you.  Or you can buy one of the ones we have already made!!  Also, even though our farmers have had terrible spring crops from freezing weather, a bunch of local artists, my favorite local coffee roasters, and 2 of my favorite local food joints will be there.  I can't WAIT!!  Who said being a stay-at-home-mom is monotonous and boring?  I'm the busiest I've ever been in my entire life!  

3) While I sewed bags, the kids got to crafting.  But not because I'm super mom.  Only because they lost the Roku remote and they can't watch tv anymore until we find it...

4) These two are best friends.  And they are rarely apart.  If they are together, they are usually wrestling.  But, once in a while:

5) I finally did it.  I made homemade deodorant.  1/3 cup coconut oil, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup arrowroot powder.  Stir and store.  I doubled the batch and shared with my friend Carmen.

The amazing thing is that this stuff WORKS!!!  When I'm working out, I smell like a fresh coconut.  Even hours after applying, I smell amazing.  And I keep checking just to make sure it isn't a fluke.  

6) I refuse to throw away bananas.  I always think "Oh that would make awesome banana bread!"  But the worst part about this rationale is that you never make the banana bread, and you have to suffer through a fruit fly infestation.  So this time, I used the banana for good, not evil.

DIY Fruit Fly Trap: Banana with some jelly on top.  Cover with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in the top.  The flies can get in, but they canNOT get out!

Rotting banana FTW!

7) I finally found my cord for the camera.  One month of not taking pictures just because the cord was hiding in the mini-van was not fun.

Happy Weekend everyone!!

And visit Jen for more takes!

Theme Thursday - Grow!

This week's theme: Grow!

This little basil plant I picked up for $5.00 in a tin can.  You water it and let it grow.  I lost it, forgot about it, and then mentioned it to Jason the other day.  We finally found it hiding in the backyard and it had sprouted!!  I expect big things from this basil plant.  I live on caprese in the summer and can't afford it anymore because the basil is too expensive to buy in those $5 packets that only last me one lunch.

So this will be my bread and butter: 

I'm going to make lots of raw milk mozzarella to go with this even if it is saddest ratio ever.

Look what we found hiding in the corner!!

Then, while I was in the backyard snapping a few photos, I realized I haven't shared my favorite thing ever: The neighbor's backyard:

We live right across the street from the richest people on the block.  They own the local internet/cable provider.  And in their huge backyard, in between the greenhouse and the pool is this:

Just seeing it every day makes me happy.  I keep expecting some big-toothed Brit to pop his head over the fence and bid me a "S'appening??"  I'm sure it will never happen, but the possibility still makes me happy to live here.  

Never say never, right?

Now, go visit Cari to see the rest of the submissions!!

Potty Training made simple

This little beauty:

is potty-trained!!!!!!!!

She turned 3 in February and I was so nervous to try and potty-train her after the complete and utter failure of Leo, I sincerely thought I would just skip this major milestone...

But reason prevailed, and we happened to have all the treats on-hand after Easter, so I thought I would suck it up and try to improve my batting average.  (Just for reference I was at a negative 2,304,592).  I used chocolate, the iPad mini, oreos and the promise of a trip to the Zoo.

In true Elena form, it took only a matter of hours to potty-train her.  She is 100% successful. 

I am already laughing at how easy this one was.  

If only my wiser self could yell for my idiot self to wait until Leo was older to start trying!!!

The best part of this is watching her practice moving around without the bulky cloth diapers.

Time will tell if we nailed it.  Potty-training Leo (*too early*) was just the worst experience.  It took a year and half and lots of TLC to correct him.  I doubted all of my mothering skills and instincts in that year+...

And Roman helps me make sure she doesn't pass out and have an accident on my couch.  

This parenting stuff is EASY!!!

And look who gets his choice of any color diaper now that they are all his!!!