Instagram Anonymous. [Frosted Zucchini Brownies]

Hi, my name is Nicole and I am an Instagram addict.

[Which by the way if you want to follow me I'm under: nicolehopefully]

Ok, yes, I said it.  I admit it.  I know, I know.  I really, really, really, like Instagram, even more than Facebook [is that possible?]  I always have this guilt inside of me that maybe I'm the Mom that takes too many pictures?  That I can't just go do something without taking 500 pictures as proof that I did it.

And I think I'm guilty as charged.  

I've always been a picture taker, I took photography in high school, back in the day when we developed our film in a dark room in the pitch black hoping we would load the film right and the whole roll wasn't ruined.  My photography teacher finally had to tell me that not every assignment could be pictures of my, "druggie boyfriend" aka Andy.  Although why he thought Andy was a druggie I'll never know, maybe it was the fact that he was in a band, wore a beanie 24/7 & had long hair?

[I've also decided I'm just going to start using my own pictures for my blog instead of random graphics I find.  My blog is mostly for myself and I think it will be cooler to remember what we we're doing at different times than random memes I think are funny that day.  So here's Andy teaching a science experiment for our homeschool co-op the other day.  

I guess I never did listen to my photography teacher, sorry Mr. Allen!]

Besides photography class I would constantly take pictures with my little point & shoot cameras or disposables if those we're on hand.  I would use my allowance to develop rolls of film every week and the ladies at Rite-Aid would ask if I was ok if I missed a Friday developing my pictures.  I don't know why but I have always just loved pictures.  I'm a big memory person I guess, I love looking through old pictures and remembering how horrible I looked, or what we did on vacations, the fun we had that night, old pets that have since passed. [We love you Caboose!]

My room in high school was plastered in photo strips from the old photo booths that had developer in them, if you put your ear up to it you could hear the tray tipping back and forth.  Another thing that's long gone and if I wasn't feeling older before I definitely am now.  Come to think of it, I can't even remember the last time I developed a roll of film myself.  I loved making collages with pictures for the front of my binders and even tonight I just got done re-doing our fridge with all the new Halloween pictures we just took.

I have carted literally thousands of pictures across the ocean and back.  Reminisced about my brother's rat tail, of beach bonfires on the Central Coast, birthday parties where everyone has a drunken grin, pictures of the kid's as they've grown.  Of Andy & I in high school, my favorite of him drinking tequila out of my hair, oh I pray my children are nothing like us at that age! 

So sometimes when I wonder if I'm just going with the fad, if I just like Instagram cause it's popular and I want to be like the cool kids I remember myself as a not so cool kid taking pictures at punk shows, at funerals, and of the things we ate on road trips.  I've never been big on souvenirs, or buying little things to remind me of the places we've gone or the things we've seen but I do love pictures.  Of visits with our friends in Washington, of my Nani's gravestone when I can't visit her there, of my Grandma on Christmas with her 50 year old fur coat in 70 degree weather.  When I miss them they're here with me.

I'll never be a photographer, I'm not good enough at staging pictures, [even tho my cousin and I would hang bed sheets in our room and play "photo studio"] I always miss that perfect shot and I can barely use the auto setting on our awesome Nikon.  

But I promise you, wherever we go & whatever we do.....I will always be there taking pictures. 

Like this picture!

Yummy zucchini brownies I made for Halloween.  I have tried other zucchini brownie recipes and not loved them, made these the other night & they we're a hit!  The frosting is delicious and you seriously can't tell it has zucchini at all.  I will never make another brownie again.

Frosted Zucchini Brownies

[adapted from mommyimhungry.blogspot.com]

1/2 cup Coconut Oil

1 1/2 cups Sugar

2 tsps. Vanilla

2 cups Flour

1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda

1 tsp. Salt

2 cups shredded Zucchini

1/2 cup chocolate chips 

Frosting:

2 cups Powdered Sugar

1/2 cup Whole Milk

1/4 cup butter

6 tbs. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

[1] In a stand mixer beat together coconut oil & sugar.  When combined mix in vanilla.

[2] In a medium sized mixing bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda & salt.

[3] Slowly add flour mixture to oil and sugar on low speed.  It will look crumbly and dry.

[4] With a spatula mix in zucchini and chocolate chips.  Stir well until there are no dry spots.

[5] Grease a 9x13 baking pan and set your oven for 350.

[6] Bake for 30-35 minutes until brownies spring back when touched. 

[7] Let brownies cool completely before frosting!

Frosting:

[1] In a medium sauce pan melt butter on medium low and whisk in cocoa powder. 

[2] Add powdered sugar, milk and vanilla and whisk until smooth.

[3] You can add more milk or powdered sugar depending on how thick you want your frosting. 

[4] Spread on brownies & enjoy! 

What to bring to the home birth away from home. [Nutella Cookie Crisps!]

With my impending labor coming any day now, really ANY DAY.  Hopefully.  I pray.

I was browsing Pinterest and as much as I love that site, like super love it, as I'm sure most of you can tell sometimes the things I see are just ridiculous?  

Or maybe just ridiculous to me.  Like one pin was 100 Toddler Meals!

Goldfish crackers & cut up hot dogs?  Wow, thanks for the tips Pinterest.  But I'll pass.

So I thought what would be a helpful list for me?  I know I have a certain niche I'm looking for and couldn't find it and blog material has been weak lately so I decided to post a list of what I'm bringing for my home birth away from home. 

Also a little side plug and because as always I'm not actually sure where I'm going with any of this, if you are at all interested in home birth 

watch the first 15 minutes of Jim Gaffigan's Mr. Universe stand-up.

hi.la.rious.  

Ask my husband, he had to listen to me busting up for an hour and a half.  

[Note to self!!!]

Note: I haven't actually had this birth yet so some of these things might be unnecessary, pretty much the same as when you pack a hospital bag and never end up using the yoga mat and birthing ball cause they won't let you get out of bed.  Hmm. 

So first things first! 

Baby stuff:

Car Seat

 [As hippie as we may be we still believe in safety, 

can't wear the baby in a Moby wrap home unfortunately.]

My Mom sent us this cool thing called a Pattem, which is basically like a big round changing pad that you unfold and it has small pockets all around for the baby's stuff.  It's kind of amazing when you breastfeed what a small amount of stuff a newborn really needs besides Mommy!

So in her Pattem is:  2 cloth G-Diapers in XS, 4 diaper inserts, 8 cloth wipes, her little Bee coming home outfit, 2 headband bows [cause I can't resist] Yellow & White, in case she's born with crazy amounts of hair like her big sister! Monogrammed wet bag, cause she's fancy, && a muslin swaddling blanket! 

[The Pattem!]

We will probably only be at the midwife's house for about 4 hours or so after birth so this should be plenty!  I think.....I hope.  Like I said I've never done this before so I'm getting kinda Type A on myself thinking everything is going to go wrong last minute.  Ack. 

Now for the Mommy bag!

. 1 package Chucks Pads [birth is a messy ordeal!]

.1 package giant size pads. [so fun!]

.brush [Just cause I like my hair to be brushed. Haha.]

.Bathing Suit

.Sarong

.Camera w/charged battery & camera card

.Comfy outfit to wear home

.Peri Bottle

.Gum

.Chapstick

.Massage Oil & Cream

.Lavender, Wild Orange & Clary Sage Essential Oils

.Contacts & Solution [I have a feeling my glasses will drive me nuts if I end up doing water birth]

.Emergen-C & Calcium w/Magnesium Pills to make Labor-Aid

.Toothbrush

So that's it!  Still sounds like a lot and I guess it is but my midwife has all the fun stuff at her house like the birthing tub, birthing ball, etc.  I really can't wait for this little girl to get here and even to get to experience giving birth again, especially in such a different way than my first 3.

Hopefully the next blog I write is about the birth of  Tulip Bea!

Even 40+ weeks pregnant I still have cravings.  Honestly, I have cravings pregnant or not.  At least I like to call them cravings, everyone else seems to just think I'm picky.  But anyways, I have been wanting CHOCOLATE.  Mmm.  After much searching for things in the pantry I found all the stuff I needed for these guys, and chocolatey they were! 

Nutella Cookie Crisps

1/2 cup Nutella

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 beaten egg [Weird I know but I cut the original recipe in half.]

1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

3 tbs. Flour

[1] Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

[2] Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips together.

[3] Gently fold in chocolate chips.

[4] Drop tablespoons of dough onto parchment paper, about 3 inches apart.

These WILL spread!

[5] Bake about 9 minutes, watch them!  

Let cool and enjoy!

They come out kinda soft & chewy in the middle and crunchy on the edges.

Addicting and chocolate overload, for sure eat these with milk!

I also recommend eating them the day of cause if they sit they'll get soft, 

which you might like but I liked them crispier. 

And just so I don't bag on Pinterest too much, forgive me Pinterest! 

I also got this super cool idea the other day and had to do it although Tulip will most likely not be eating anything for at least 9 months!  

[Hook for baby bibs on the back of your high chair!]

      I love projects that require me only to buy 1 thing, for less than $5 that I can do myself without nagging Andy to get out the drill or something.                             

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.