Whirlwind Woman [Happy Birthday Oreo Cake Batter Blondies!]

So, lately life has been a whirlwind.  I'm sure most people understand that.  Not enough time for anything, or just a little time for everything and nothing finished.  Kind of like how I clean the house, as I walk from room to room I stop and fold some laundry here, pick up some trash there, throw some toys in a bin over here.....the end result is nothing really being done.

But for now, I'm okay with that.  We recently decided as a family that I will be continuing my college education for oh, 6 more years or so.  The decision was daunting and it required a lot for me to realize that I will not, cannot be the Mom that does everything.  Taking a full college load, being a mother of 4 young children, working part-time in addition to being a wife, friend, and very sporadic blogger means I cannot do it all.  And on the worst days I can't do any of it.

I'm trying my best for now, to relax about it.  I have come to understand that my anxieties are not just my own but a burden on my family and also in direct relation to my trust in God.  If He has set me on this path I must trust that each day will take care of itself.  My laundry may never be completely done, my kid's might have unbrushed hair and unorganized rooms but ours hearts will be full.

So for now, while school takes priority over mopped floors and alphabetized blu-rays [yes, I do that.] I will do what I can.  And what I can do is make this awesome dessert in under 5 minutes.  Super easy. not healthy in the slightest, and my kid's loved them.  Hopefully when I've finished my Masters I'll look back at this time in our lives and be joyful about the things I let go.

Happy Birthday Oreo Cake Batter Blondies

• 1 box Yellow Cake Mix
• 15 Golden Happy Birthday Oreos, chopped. 
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup sprinkles
• 1/3 cup milk 
• 1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 11x7 pan.
2. Combine cake mix, coconut oil, egg and sprinkles.
3. Slowly add milk and stir together, batter will be thick!  This is good. :)
4. Once combined fold in 3/4 of your chopped Oreos and 3/4 of your sprinkles.
5. Pour into the greased pan and sprinkle reserved Oreos and sprinkles on top.
6. Bake for 28 minutes until edges are slightly brown.
7. Remove from oven and let cool completely so blondies can set.
8. Enjoy! 

Nesting, nesting.....1,2,3.

Oh the joys of being a mother, the things that once would have been a burden are now my "guilty pleasures."  One of those things is cleaning a house in peace!  Yes, I love it.  

It seems weird but there is nothing more relaxing to me than cleaning the house in peace & quiet.  Well kidless, peace and quiet.  Some music on, today's pick is the Death Cab for Cutie Pandora station to get myself pumped up for the concert next week. [!] Maybe some iced coffee if I'm lucky, feeling a little shaky today so trying to stick to iced water.  All in all, the ability to actually finish something is great for my list making, task buster self.  

I realized today that Tulip is due in just 40 or so days!  Yikes!  While I'm all ready to snuggle my newborn babe I am NOT ready housewise.  My nesting instinct has kicked in full force since our visitors left and as I type I just pulled Marshmallow Blondies out of the oven and am washing a load of cloth diapers.   But still, there is more to do.  This blog is probably for myself more than anything, but then again aren't they all?  But I figured with that little time left I better make a list of what I'd like to accomplish.  Hopefully I can fit in everything I would like cleaned and organized among school for the kids, school for me, midwife appts, birthday parties, church, weddings, and relaxing.

 I know everything will be ok even if I can't get it all done, which I know in reality, I can't.  Especially with 3 young kids, I can't even keep 1 room clean for a whole day let alone our whole house!  Before this might have driven me to the brink, panic attacks and anxiety abound.  But now, ahh that peace.
  I really have been loving it.
It is such a release to know that regardless of what happens a clean house and a finished list are not the goals of this life, although my Type A personality will still beg to differ.

1.  Kitchen:  Clean under sink.  Organize under oven.  Deep clean fridge & freezer.  Clean windows. 

2.  Laundry Room:  Set up light/colored baskets.  

     Get rid of random crap that's not supposed to be in there.

3.  Pantry:  Organize drawers, move foil etc. to bench storage in dining room.  Purge Tupperware.                   

     Organize snacks.  Make list of things to stock up on.  Figure out what to make with all those dried  

     beans?  Sweep whole back room. 

4.  Back storage room:  Get rid of stuff!  Put together baby swing.  Take out all baby related items.

     Sort Christmas presents & make list of who we still need to shop for.  Label all boxes.

5.  Front storage room:  Clean out, get rid of useless stuff.  Rotate kid's clothes, put clothes too big for  

     now in storage.  Store ice chest & folding chairs.

6.  Bathroom:  Organize all pull-out cubicles.  Deep clean!!!  Make Dawn shower cleaner.  Get shower 

     bar for kid's toys. Clean windows. 

7.  Dining Room/Front Pantry:  Organize!  Clean all shelves.  Fill dry goods jars.  Make grocery list.

     Get rid of least used cook books.  Sort kid's book toybox.  Fold kitchen towels. Wood polish table.

     Clean ceiling fan & adjacent wall. 

8.  Living Room:  Clean/Organize white bookshelf.  Get rid of at least 5 things on it.  Put up last 2 big 

     picture frames, worry about printing new pictures later.  Clean entertainment center drawers.  

     Febreeze couch & carpets.  Wipe down walls.

9.  Tulip's Area [Front Room]:  Set up crib.  Put on new bedding.  Hang up circus tent.  Get white  

     shelving unit for clothes.  Organize/sort clothes.  Prep newborn diapers.

10. Bedroom:  Finish building closet walls.  Finish wall between our room & kid's room.  Organize 

      closet.  Get rid of AT LEAST 15 pieces of clothing and/or pairs of shoes, purses.  Finish organizing

      desk area.  Deep-clean mattress.  Clean white fan & move it to pantry. 

11. Kid's Room:  Get rid of stuff!  Finish sorting kid's clothes.  Clean ceiling & floor fans. Wipe walls. 

      Febreeze beds & carpets.  Organize dress-up stuff.  Set up table for art? Hook up DVD player. 

12. Van:  Get all crap out!  Vacuum SUPER good.  Re-arrange car seats.  Get new tires & oil change.

      Febreeze.  Get right sized bin for beach/outdoor stuff to store under Lily's seat.  Clean & install    

      Tulip's car seat.

13.  Downstairs back lanai:  Get all of our stuff moved to storage unit.  Put clothesline stuff in a 

       clean/organized area.  Fix tire on Phil & Ted's stroller. 

14.  Kid's classroom:  Organize!  Work on curriculum for rest of 2012.  Get girl's AHG badge binders  

       started.  Put together a Take it to the Streets binder for Lily & Jonas.  Prep Sunday school 

       curriculum for rest of 2012. 

15.  Misc.:  Return disposable diapers to Costco.  Exchange Diaper Genie and baby gate at Babies R' 

       Us.  Turn off Netflix subscription.   

This blog should probably come with a disclaimer that says something like....

 "Andy, do not read this blog."  

I have really high hopes that I can get all of this stuff done, and I love love love my lists.  I figure if I don't take any breaks, rest or breathe I can take two days to get each thing on my list done and still have a few days of rest before Miss Tulip arrives!  Not to mention that I have a creeping sensation she might be a little early, but we'll have to see if that one is right!

So here's a recipe for those Marshmallow Blondies!  They are so sweet but seriously so good.
Sometimes I'm just craving something not healthy & delicious and these just so happen to fit the bill.

Disappearing Marshmallow Blondies
from www.bakedperfection.com

1 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups mini marshmallows
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1.  Melt the butterscotch chips & butter over low-medium heat in saucepan.  Whisk constantly until smooth, don't leave this or it will end up badly!  When it's done pour into a stand mixer bowl.  Turn on low.

2.  Add the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla & eggs.  The mixture will look weird at times, don't worry keep adding and mixing.  

3.  When it creates a thick batter turn off the mixer and fold in the marshmallows and chocolate chips.

4.  Pour batter into a greased 9x13 pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.

5.  Let cool for at least a few hours otherwise they will be impossible to cut!  Our house is so hot right now they never really set all the way so I think I will put them in the fridge tomorrow.