I now have a roll of that paper headed my way! Woohoo!

That looks fantastic!!! Perfect knobs and hinges! I'm blown away by the stool (and have a couple of bar stools that need a makeover in the same vein).

She can handle the protein in the morning. She feels much better when she has more protein in her meals vs carbs, but she craves the carbs, which gives her headaches or grumpies (especially around her cycle). We tried to go light breakfast with protein bar-type morning snack (only 1 class allows) and then better lunch. But "better" lunch opportunities are limited based on cafeteria menu and how long her lunch has to last before she can eat it (late lunch period). I think we have maximized everything we can do with lunch and snacks. She just doesn't like any breakfast foods except waffles (which she is sick of eating after doing it every school morning for 2 years), pancakes, biscuits (plain), and chicken minis from Chick-Fil-A. She used to eat peanut butter on her waffles and pancakes, but she is so tired of peanut butter, too. She is willing to try all kinds of things and eats "exotic" stuff that I won't touch. However, she won't eat something everyday or even often unless she REALLY likes it. Thus my plans for a "Starbucks" smoothie. We made attempts at both chocolate smoothies and choc-coffee smoothies. She thought they were OK. But they weren't very yummy (and I agree). We drank about 4-6oz each. They definitely were not something that makes you say, "Hey! I'll have a smoothie!" ? Greek yogurt was a little too tangy but not too bad (can keep). The banana and peanut butter flavors came through too strong. The almond butter was too nutty (but I LOVED it). She said she prefers the berry smoothies. So tomorrow we will work on a berry version with greek yogurt and then cottage cheese for proteins. Found a ground flax seed combo at grocery store to add in. That was a keeper. We will keep trying. Thanks for the tips and recipes and thoughts to consider. I'm excited about the cottage cheese one tomorrow.

Maybe someone could help with where to start on amounts using these ingredients to keep me from making 15 smoothies and spending $$$ on trials: Almond milk (maybe chocolate flavored?) (maybe frozen in cubes) Almond butter (for protein) Cottage cheese (for protein) Greek yogurt (protein and creamy) Banana (frozen?) Cut oats (or what raw oats to use, don;t want to cook first) Cocoa powder Coffee (just chilled or frozen in cubes)

Maybe 8-12g? Probably equivalent to 1-2 eggs. I wish the girl would just eat eggs. She would eat eggs up until puberty.

I need a coffee chocolate protein smoothie recipe that does NOT use protein powder. I stink at smoothies. Too thin. Too thick. Not icy enough. Had to blend too long to get smooth. I bought a Vitamix a couple of years ago imagining all these wonderful smoothies to no avail. I am trying to get some natural protein in DD13 who hates eating first thing in the morning (like me) but must because she leaves for school very early. She hates all the usual, yummy breakfast protein sources (eggs, meats, pb, yogurt, etc). She loves a Starbucks on occasion so I thought about trying to make a Starbucks-type smoothie with some protein. Minimal coffee is preferred but I am hoping to use it as a gateway-drug to protein in the morning. :) I am looking all over the internet but only finding recipes with low protein ration or with protein powder. ...and is there a trick to the order of blending or something to get consistency right?! Please help me be better at smoothies! Side note: I read about a Hive recipe that uses frozen strawberries and mangoes with some chia seeds, almond milk, and Greek yogurt to make a smoothie, but I am not sure in what quantities and how to blend. <insert embarrassed emoji here>

nm :)

Obviously I did. :) It's my profile pic. Ages 4 and 2 holding baby bro in hospital. Also let the neighbor kids as young as 2-3 (that were like family) hold the babies. As long as they weren't sick and didn't stick their hands in baby's mouth or put baby's hands in their mouths all was good.

Another twist on Chopped concept since you already have dessert covered: For the appetizer course, have teams bind wrists together (like a three-legged race) to make food. That way ingredients could be kept simple (as mentioned above) but be a bit more challenging for 11yos (and use a bit more time). For the main course, have half team members be blind folded and the other half can't touch food. The "eyes" must tell the "hands" how to assemble the pizza. Again, adds a challenge and allows you to keep ingredients simpler (as opposed to using oven, etc). If there is a tie, the tie breaker could be tasting samples of food while blind folded. Make it familiar-ish food. Correct guesses rack up points for the win. This is a popular challenge on Hell's Kitchen and with tweens on our block.

It Made Me Laugh ...and still does! Hysterically when I recall my failed attempt at the perfect Pinterest-y Xmas picture (long before Pinterest existed). The baby screamed bloody murder while I tried to squeeze her into the jammies that were sewn wrong. These pics are all I got out of the hour ordeal. The name is even misspelled on the hat. ?

This is one of my favorite pics. 6 year old photo. They’ve grown so much.

It's a bit of a compulsive thing. I almost always finish a book, even if I must put it down and go back to it another time. There have been many books that I ended up liking at a different time. I've had the reverse happen, also. I've reread books and wondered why I ever read it the first time! I also never drink the last swallow of a beer. :) I always leave one bite on my plate, and my sheets must be perfectly squared and aligned before I can tuck myself in (just to name a few...ummm...quirks). :)

What am I Reading: I’m listening to Hillbilly Elegy. I find it interesting but do not agree with the author that his observations apply primarily to “hillbillies.” I’m reading The Woman in the Window: A Novel every night. I don’t really like it, but I always finish what I start reading. I must read Pool & Spa today because the water hardness level is slightly off in my pool, and I don’t know what that means. The hardbacks speak for themselves. Think I’ll start with The Obesity Code.

I still think bottom right. I'm drawn to more saturated colors though.

I struggled with this also. I found a charity with a cause that I really wanted to support, rented a Uhaul, and took everything to them. Some of the stuff will go to their safe house and some will go through their resale system (where their recipients also get to shop for free). I didn't mind not making money on the items (I just consider it my "tithing"), but I absolutely did not want it going to Goodwill and the likes where they tear stuff up as they receive the items and have a vague mission (at least in my area).

Bubbles: Another loose interpretation Clear backpacks. I loathe clear backpacks. My children have/will attend school in the third largest school district in Texas. In the wake of the Texas school shooting, the powers-that-be decided that everyone in middle/high school must use clear backpacks. They also removed all lockers. My daughter’s backpack weighed 30lbs. ? So I bought several styles and invited all the neighbors, who are bringing their selections. Instead of Tupperware party, we having a “bubble” backpack party. ?

Something Borrowed: Found these critters borrowing the trash can at the beach. They were gone by the next morning.

Something New: My notes and files for a meeting today. I’m pursuing something new—Physician Assistant graduate program. I’m headed to my Alma Mater to talk to an advisor about my odds of actually getting into the only program close enough to consider. Once upon a time I was waitlisted for a couple of med schools. I never reapplied because by then I had to get on with making a living with my degree. This is my last stab at it as a second career.

That video was hysterical!!!!!!!!!!!! We have the same “communication” issues around here. I have the added pleasure of having to make the list via Alexa, or DH won’t even look at the list. I loathe Alexa. She and I do not get along. She and I also have a communication problem. I will say “white bread quantity 2” and she will repeat “Ok. Monkey brew added to your list.” Needless to say, I have now taken back grocery shopping. ? It’s just easier!

Something Old: Base of Sunset Crater Volcano in Arizona circa 1085. We hiked on the Lava Flow Trail in drizzle and cold about an hour before the park closed. The kids LOVED it!! Little man thought it was so cool to use the trek poles and romp through the lava. Pine needles are hiding the lava in this pic. You can see a mound in the background. Took lots of great pics but this is only one on phone.

Evening: Most evenings DH and I sit out back and have a cold beer. Somehow it always tastes better when he dresses the beer instead of me.

Weather

Still chillin’ on the beach and, metaphorically speaking, climbing the walls. More beach dust

Liverpool rummy. DS8 currently in a feisty game with this family. Lots of people can play.

And finally... LIGHT AND SHADOW: Cornhole on the lawn