B Gets a Haircut

I took these photos with my IPhone - that is why they are crappy.  

B gets a haircut about every three months.  While her hair never seems to get any longer, it gets shaggy, so Roxanne cleans it up.   B's favorite part of her haircut is the lolli she gets while roxanne is cutting.  The moment that made me so proud is when B said to Roxanne, "Thank you for my hair trim".  

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

Cold has arrived, again. Outside and inside. B has the worst of it for once. I keep telling myself, I am not going to get sick. I am taking it all. Emergen C Immune Defense, Cold Snap, ColdCalm, fresh juice. B has been home from school for 2 days. Runny nose, lots of coughing. I thought about sending her today, but Mike asked me how I would feel if a parent in B's class sent their sick kid to school? Not that they don't send their sick kid to school. Where else would B get it? Anyway........ Hopefully B will go to school tomorrow.

B Makes it Snow

We won a sledding basket from the school auction on Saturday night.  B found it in the car today and wanted to bring it inside and open it.  In the "basket" was a saucer sled, snowball maker, a snowman kit, a hot chocolate pot and hot chocolate.  B and Mike opened the hot chocolate pot to check it out.  B really wants snow so she took the styrofoam out of the box and shredded it.     Instant snow.  

Natural Desserts Strawberry Jel Dessert

B went to a birthday party two weekends ago and they served Jello.  B had never had Jello, mostly because it just isn't on my radar.  I haven't had Jello in decades (totally not a stretch to say that).  B liked it, so I decided to see if I could find it at Whole Foods Market.  I was picking up flour and yeast and found this jel dessert with the other baking supplies.  I actually didn't know it said "jel dessert" until I made it today.  I bought strawberry and raspberry.  Today,  I made the strawberry.  The dessert was so easy to make, just boil water and mix it with the enclosed packet.   Here is a photo of the box - not sure why it is blurry.  

There is a review at Veganessentials.

The reviews are decent.

The finished product.

It tastes OK.  B ate a little more than half a serving.  Jel or Jello has a weird texture.  B gagged a bit towards the end of her snack.  We'll see if she eats it again.  I might make some raspberry juice to use when I make the raspberry jel - that might boost the nutritional value and the flavor.

On the Table in the Trash: Coffee Cake Muffins

I made plans to have a friend and her son over to play this morning, but B is sick.  Runny nose, coughing, a bit warm.  I thought I would make Coffee Cake Muffins (from the Martha Stewart website) and put them out with some fresh fruit.  Since I had the butter, sour cream and eggs at room temperature, I thought I would make them anyway.    After reading the comments, I added an extra 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to the streusel and some pumpkin pie spice.  

The streusel before I added the butter.

B helping out.

The finished product.

The problem I had with making the muffins is this;  it is hard to judge how much batter to put on the bottom and still have enough batter to top the muffin off.  I used 1.5 ounces of batter on the bottom, I would have been better off with an ounce.  I also should have added more streusel to the middles.  They didn't look right (which is why there isn't a photo of the muffins before I put them in the oven, I didn't think they would turn out) and I pretty much wrote them off.  Low and behold, they came out pretty good.  The taste is nice, the muffins are moist, but they are big.  I would have liked them regular muffin size as opposed to jumbo.  I don't know what I am going to do with all the muffins - they are definitely On The Table.

Gorgeous Weather on James Street

Today the weather was perfect.  It had to be in the mid to hi 60s.  B and I walked to get her hair cut, stopped for a passport photo for me, hit the re-sale for books, then wrapped up the outing at the candy store for blue Jelly Belly's.  When we got home from our adventure B stayed outside on the patio jumping around.  My husband took a half day so we al headed out to play in the yard.  B loves to play outside.  She often wants to stay out for a bit whenever we get home from anywhere.  I guess we both get our vitamin D that way.

B Loves Her New "Backpack"

We are heading to Disney this month and my mother has been harping on me to get a leash for B so she doesn't run off.  Now, I have read some things where people think it's horrible to leash your child.  It it a little off-putting to call it a leash.  Restraint system?  Goldbug call it a 2-in-1 harness buddy.   This harness doubles as a backpack with a detachable animal tail.  See how I am justifying it?  I showed B all the options and she picked the unicorn.  It came yesterday and she put it right on!  B thinks the "tail" is cute.  

I am hoping she'll wear it at Disney.  Or even at the airport.   This way she can walk by herself, but not get lost in the crowd - especially at the airport where myself and my husband might have our hands full and can't hold her hand.  I hope this is successful, or else we'll just look like the jerks that leash our kid.