My 10 Happy Things. [Zucchini & Quinoa Stuffed Portabellos]

My 10 Things.

I love......[in no particular order.]

1.  My new home, for how much of a pain in the ass this move has become, no matter how much I bitch and complain about the process, what we still have to do, etc. I am SO excited to be in a bigger house and looking forward to all the memories we will be making here.

2.  Babywearing.  Something about it just makes me feel like a skilled parent, even tho I'm not the best at it.  The wraps are so pretty, Tulip loves it and I can get shit done.  Enough said.

3.  My husband.  Obviously this guy has to make the list, he is such an amazing Father and loving husband.  God knew what he was doing when I met this crazy kid.

4.  Workaholics.  It's just a good show.  I mean come on, have you seen the Ninja Turtles episode?!

5.  Leggings.  They're so comfy.  I know you're not supposed to wear them like pants but sometimes I do.  I mean a longer t-shirt, but still.  I know. 

6.  My kids.  My sweet flower girls.  My crazy boys.  These four little people have helped me grow so much, I am forever grateful for their love and patience with me everyday. 

7.  My church.  Be it small but mighty.  It's easy to be discouraged about the things you're not doing, but I'm hoping to remember the things we are.  

8.  Tattoos.  They're just so pretty. 

9.  The beach.  I love the beach so much more now, the smell of the ocean, the color of the water, sand in my toes and usually happy kids all around.  A day at the beach is always a good day.  Unless you get rained out with a newborn and than a homeless guy starts a fire in the rocks and runs away and fire men come and think it was your husband that started the fire.  Than it's just an ok day. 

10.  My new blog designer, Miss Tobie!  Be on the look out!  This space will be looking rad someday soon-ish.  But for now I'll keep working on my writing and getting yummy recipes out!  

Zucchini & Quinoa Stuffed Portabellos

1 lb. grass-fed ground beef

2 tbs. olive oil

5 Portabello Mushrooms

1 medium zucchini, diced

1 cup cooked quinoa

4 slices good cheese, optional

Salt

Pepper

1.  In a large skillet brown the ground beef with the olive oil. Season to taste with salt & pepper.

2.  Once meat is browned add the diced zucchini.

3.  Cook for 5 minutes and than stir in the quinoa, season again with salt & pepper.

4.  Scrape out the gills, the brown inside, of the mushrooms with a spoon.  

5.  Arrange cleaned mushrooms on a baking sheet.  Drizzle olive oil inside each cap, season with salt & pepper.

6. Fill each cap with a scoop of the beef mixture, dividing it equally between the 5 caps.

7.  Bake at 400 degreed for 10 minutes, top with cheese or panko crumbs if desired and bake an additional 5 minutes.

To make vegetarian/vegan:  Replace the ground beed with tofu or more veggies.

I'm also trying to figure out how to work Blogger a little better, especially in the aspect of adding pictures and the stories they tell.  I LOVE taking pictures, all the time, anytime, of anything and I really want to be able to go back through my blog one day and see the pictures and remember this time in our lives just because I know it moves so fast.  I'm trying to figure out the easiest way to do it but for now, they're here.  Pictures top to bottom: 

1.  Lily reading her new Junie B. Jones book under a slide at the park the other day.  She got the book from the tooth fairy the other day and is starting to love reading.  That makes me incredibly happy!

2.  A typical day for me.  I was on my second Nutella iced coffee of the day, taking a break from baking a Chocolate Banana Bundt Cake with a little munchkin tugging on me.  I'm pretty happy. 

3.  Oliver the Grouch.  Just look at it, you know. 

Vistorus Interruptus.

As much as I hate to admit it I am a creature of habit.  

I like to wake up every morning, enjoy my coffee, check my Facebook and slowly ease into my day.

Get my burst of energy by the time Andy gets home from work to start cleaning & doing school with the kids, etc.  Everyday may not be the same but most start with coffee and end with me snuggling with my love in bed.   

Having my Mom & sister here visiting from California is so awesome but it definitely throws off my Mama schedule and makes me let things go I might not usually be able to.  And while sometimes that is hard for my Type A personality it definitely does make things seem even more organized when I get back to it. So after a week or so of not blogging I actually missed it!  But time is short so I'll do my favorite type of writing, a list.  

My [current] life in numbers.

[20] minutes until I hope to be in bed. 

[19] the age my sister Jordan turned today!

[18] days till my first Hawaii doula client is due.  

[17] the age my sister Sierra turned today!

[16] my stupidest age, so far & hopefully ever.

[15] pounds I have gained this pregnancy.

[14] days until I start school again.

[13] pages of Fifty Shades Freed I've read.  I give up, I'm over it. 

[12] ingredients in the recipe below.

[11] babies latched on at The Big Latch-On West Oahu I hosted on Friday! 

[10] years I have been with the love of my life. 

[9] years until I am a midwife!  I hope. 

[8] weeks left in this pregnancy! Give or take a little.....

[7] months we have been back in Hawaii.

[6] tattoos I have.  For now.

[5] strawberry shortcakes I made for dessert tonight. 

[4] days left until my baby shower!  Yeay! 

[3] kids I have, for just a little bit longer. 

[2] notifications I have on Facebook, last time I checked.

[1] God I love! 

And by popular demand......

Homemade Jumbo Nutter Butters! 

from www.cookiesandcups.com

Cookies: 

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla

2 1/2 cups AP flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup extra sugar for rolling

Filling:

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 cup creamy peanut butter

4 cups powdered sugar

1 tbs. milk

For cookies:

[1] Cream butter, peanut butter & sugar in a stand mixer.

[2] Add eggs one at a time & then vanilla.

[3] In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda & baking powder.

[4] Slowly add dry mixture to wet in mixer, try not to over mix!

[5] When dough has come together roll into 1-inch balls and then form your balls into logs.  Ha. 

[6] Roll logs in sugar and place on ungreased baking sheet.  Keep them spread apart cause they get big!

[7] With a fork make a criss cross pattern on top of each log, while you're doing this pinch the log in the middle so it makes a peanut shape.  Very good. 

[8] Bake at 375 degrees F for about 10 minutes.

[9] Let cool on a rack while you make your filling!

For filling:

[1] Cream butter & peanut butter.

[2] Slowly add powdered sugar.

[3] Check consistency and add milk if you like, may take a little more or less or none at all. 

[1] Spread filling between two cookies & chow down!

Nutter Butter time! 

Mornings are never good. [French Toast Iced Coffee recipe.]

If you know me at all, you know I am NOT a morning person.

I keep waiting year after year, child after child for my body and myself to understand that waking up early is just the adult thing to do. I always imagine waking up early, doing my prayers in a calm & quiet house and using the time before the kids wake up to be productive and wonderful.

But try as I might to convince myself, it just never happens.  I HATE mornings.  I don't like being woken up until I'm good & ready.  Of course I'm usually woken up to various unpleasant scenarios because of this.....Oliver somehow got his diaper off & peed all over our bed, Jonas & Lily are fighting over the iPad, someone is STARVING and must be fed rightthissecond or they will die.  The usual.

So, I know it might be time to give up this illusion of sleep that comes with being a mother.

Resign myself to the fact that I should be waking up before them, or if not at least before them than at least with them and not try to fight them off for an hour in bed grumbling that I just need 5 more minutes and wouldn't they be kind enough to leave Mommy alone?

A few things to help my morning transition go a little smoother.

A hot shower.

Waking up to a clean house. 

Cartoons.

COFFEE.

Morning prayer.

Cartoons for the crazies, since they don't get to watch much TV I do like it for the morning so they can let me shower in peace and if we can catch the Ryan Reynold's episode of Sesame Street, even better. 

I also love waking up to a clean house, ahh nothing is better than that.  

It's pretty rare but just such a nice way to start my morning without the stress that comes from already having a sink full of dirty dishes and yesterdays beach gear thrown all over the living room.  I know that stuff will come soon enough, an hour or two without it is my heaven.

& coffee.  My constant companion.

I made up an awesome French Toast iced coffee yesterday morning and its become my new addiction.

Seriously, so tasty. 

Yesterday morning Andy also found us an awesome prayer for morning time and I'd love to wake up everyday and recite it to help my day start off on the right track no matter if I'm waking up to a cup of water being dumped on my face or 3 pairs of feet in my face cause they all missed me so much in the night.  

I may never learn to love mornings, and people still might call me "The Beast" if I'm awake before 8am.  But I can choose to start my days better no matter what time that is and prayers & coffee will definitely aid in that.  

Morning Prayer of Consecration

Good morning, Lord!

I adore You,

I bless You,

I love You,

I praise You,

I thank You,

and I worship You!

Lord, I consecrate this day to You, and call upon the fullness of:

Your anointing,

Your grace,

Your guidance,

Your healing,

Your power,

Your presence,

Your protection,

Your provision,

Your revelation,

Your understanding,

and Your wisdom

to permeate everything that I do today.

I ask all this boldly and confidently:

To the eternal glory of God the Father in the might name of Jesus the son, and through the awesome power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen!

French Toast Iced Coffee

I cold French Press all my coffee, I just don't like hot coffee.  Weird I know, but at least here in Hawaii it makes sense.  So this is exactly how I make my coffee but you can tweak it to however you make yours!

[1] Put ground coffee, about 1/3 cup into bottom of French Press, I have a standard size.

[2] Fill with cold water & leave in fridge over night.

[3] In the morning pour coffee over ice.

[4] I use French Vanilla creamer, pure Maple syrup, about a tbs. && garnish with TJ's cinnamon sugar grinder!  

But really, you get the idea.  Tweak it to your taste, I like my coffee pretty sweet!