It's the little things . . .

I know it's really bad when my schedule is so crazy I don't even have time to get to the mall for the periodic Lancome or Clinique bonus sales.

However, I recently came across a wonderful on-line store that helps me out in that area! And if you order right now (something to do with Mother's Day perhaps?) you can even get free shipping. I don't know where the brick and mortar Boscov's store is, but it doesn't matter to me!!

I'm now back in stock with my Definicils mascara and I got a cute little French bag and some bonus make-up to boot!

I may have to go back to my on-line grocery shopping too. Thank goodness for that!!!

Because it's been too long

Here's a bow to Michigan weather . . . and a quick post because I have been too INSANELY busy to write anything lately!

I'll try to get back in here soon to post on something interesting.

But first, I need to work on at least six proposals and two presentations at work, clean all of my flower beds, fold five baskets of laundry, trim the ivy that's about to take over the front of my house, practice my solos and dance numbers for the show I'm in, practice music for my cousin's wedding in mid-May . . . and I'm sure I'm missing a few things. I have a list at home. It will feel really good to cross off a few things this weekend. Wish me luck! I have extremely high expectations for this weekend. It could backfire. Ya' think?

Tonight is date night though so I hope to kick off the weekend with something fun!

Ciao!

Sometimes they really like each other

There's nothing better than when kids get along . . . especially when they're sisters.

And there's nothing that makes me cringe more than to hear Vivian's screams of discontent when Audrey is doing something that is bugging her. It's like nails on a chalkboard for me.

Perhaps that is why I was happy all weekend. The kids were happy.

Due to circumstances beyond my control (cough, cough Curt), we missed my family's fish fry on Friday night in Ohio. (I did manage to party on my own with a bottle of wine that night.) But we loaded up the car and drove down on Saturday for our gathering. My daughters were involved in a record (for them) three different egg hunts this year.

Unfortunately in my wine-induced stupidity, I filled the plastic eggs with coins on Friday night but FORGOT to put the eggs out of plain site. And of course, Audrey always wakes up on Saturday mornings before I do. She came in to my bedroom, woke me up and asked me if she could have a couple of the filled eggs. DAMMIT! How could I have forgotten to put that away??? I tried to play it cool and told her I was just helping the Easter Bunny cuz he's so busy. "Did someone tell you to do that?" she wanted to know.

She was full of questions after that so I think the Easter Bunny cover is starting to get blown. Thankfully, it didn't dampen her spirits about Easter.

Vivian was full-out happy about everything. Egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, bunny-themed gifts, coins, running around with her cousins, and tons of surprises. They were even great at church in the wee hours on Sunday morning! Blessed day!

Group photo of the cousins (most of them - not all) getting read for the 1st egg hunt on Saturday afternoon. Audrey opted out of this one. Instead she helped the adults hide the eggs.

[Refer to note above about Easter Bunny cover blown. Shoot.]

Happy sisters = Happy parents!!


Sunday morning after church. The kids just noticed that the Easter bunny had hidden eggs in the yard!

Audrey found the golden goose egg!!

Right after egg hunt #3 . . . Audrey and Vivian with their loot after finding eggs in their house Sunday.

Viv loves chocolate!

Audrey posing for a photo. She uses that pink brush every morning now.

Still happy!

Can you feel the love tonight?

My butt is dragging today. But it was worth it.

I took Audrey to see The Lion King at the Wharton Center last night.

The evening did not start off well since I had trouble getting out of work early enough to run some errands like I hoped. Little things like, get money and put gas in the car. So . . . we were flying down I-96 hoping and praying that we wouldn't hit any snags.

No such luck.

Could someone please tell me WHY, OH WHY the Wharton Center website doesn't mention that the exit ramp to I-127 is CLOSED right now?????!!!! ACK!

I do not do well with detours and I lived up to my reputation last night. I was spitting nails in the car in between apologies to Audrey.

We missed a little bit of the show but it didn't dampen the appeal for Audrey. I had to get through 1/4 of the first act before I was calm enough to enjoy it. But enjoy it, I did. The singing and the spectacle were amazing!

At the intermission, we caught up with Kailey and her family and moved to our correct seats. Audrey was in heaven sitting next to Kailey for the second half. We also picked up a few Lion King trinkets that she was pretty pleased about.

Audrey asked me if we were going to go up on stage after the show like we did for Beauty and the Beast. ahhhh . . . if ONLY!

Like a good girl, she fell asleep immediately when she got settled in the car while I tackled the road construction trying to figure my way out of there and on toward home.

Curt had a date night with Vivian at Arbor Brewing so the two of them continued their love fest with each other.

I need to schedule some Vivian nights in the future, too.

My husband is all class

Curt just emailed me this picture from his desk at work.

I'm speechless.


He then wrote me back, "It's cool. I have another picture on the other side."

Vivian's Banana Cupcakes

Vivian's many birthday celebrations earlier this month included a party at her preschool. For this party, I decided to make home-made cupcakes since I figured it would be easier for the preschool teachers to deal with.

I found this recipe and it was a HUGE hit! I tripled the recipe to cover teachers, kids and a few for home.

And since Vivian LOVES "banas" it made perfect sense to me. I added sprinkles of yellow sugar on top just like the picture.

Yum!

Banana Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients
Banana Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting Cupcakes:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup mashed very ripe bananas

1/4 cup plain yogurt

1/3 cup finely chopped pecans (I didn't add this due to possible nut allergies)

Frosting:

4 ounces cream cheese softened

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Finely grated rind of 1 lemon

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

2. To prepare cupcakes, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl.

3. Beat butter with a mixer until smooth, about 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar and beat until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla and bananas. Stir in half the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula; add yogurt. Mix in remaining dry ingredients, stirring only until batter is smooth. Stir in pecans. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups but don’t bother to smooth the tops.

4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until cupcakes are golden brown and spring back when pressed in the center. Cool in the pan 5 minutes, then remove and cool on a wire rack.

5. To prepare frosting, beat cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in extracts and lemon rind. On low speed, gradually beat in powdered sugar only until frosting is smooth and thick. Frost each cupcake.

Refrigerate about 1 hour to set the frosting. Bring to room temperature before serving. Leftovers keep well, covered in the refrigerator, for 2 to 3 days. Serves 12.

Sorry for the delay, but . . .

I've been busy.

My life kicked into high gear lately due to my constant inability to say "no." But I least I recognize that, eh? That's the first step to healing, isn't it?

It's Lent so I've been singing a lot at church. Just when everyone else is slowing down, taking stock in their lives and simplifying things (the basic idea for Lent), my schedule gets even more hectic. I sang a solo at a special Lenten production a couple of Sunday's ago that kicked butt. Father Jim was very forthcoming with his praise -- something I don't hear much from him. It was nice. Audrey also danced in a ribbon dance during this same production. Very cute.

In other news, Curt and I attended parent conferences for both Audrey and Vivian within a week of each other. I'm happy to say that we received glowing news for both girls. The only negative report was a little something about Vivian's feisty attitude at times . . . but even Chris (the daycare employee who gave us the report) admitted that they were as much at fault for that as anyone. Apparently, Vivian walks all over everyone there and they just sit back and say, "Aw . . . isn't she adorable?" She's quite a charmer, that one.

My work has also kicked into overdrive. Business is somewhat solid but we are proposing on everything we can get our hands on these days. So . . . I'm typically working on about three things at once and bringing work home. Oh joy. But man, my days go by quickly!

And as if that wasn't enough, I auditioned for a show over the weekend. I got in but not in the part that I was expecting/hoping for. And since I take lots of time to plan and prepare when I decide to audition for something, it was a bit of a let down, I'll admit. And oddly enough, I should be FLATTERED by the role that was handed to me. I somehow landed the ingenue role. What? I'm 44! I'm no ingenue. That train left years ago. But perhaps they see something I don't see cuz that's what I got.

The production is Kiss Me Kate. I'll be playing the role of Lois Lane/Bianca . . . Kate's (ahem) younger sister and a cabaret singer who's getting her first shot at a B'way show. I'll get to do a lot of dancing with boys so it will be fun. But I'm still smiling and shaking my head in disbelief.

I better break out the Grecian Formula.