Hello Sweetnickers, happy weekend to you!

Madeline’s fourth birthday is officially still six days away, but the kids aren’t with me next weekend, so we squeezed most of our birthday celebrations into this weekend. When we saw Dolphin Tale many months ago, there were previews for Big Miracle, and Madeline was transfixed. Animals? Especially water-based ones? She’s so there. We found out when it was opening up and marked our calendar. Very fitting that it opened on her pre-birthday weekend, and it became the perfect way to kick off the festivities.

But first, a quick dinner at home.

I told Madeline she could choose Saturday morning breakfast, and she’s in love with these new heart-shaped donuts she spied on a recent commercial.

This was her first year having a “friend” party, and I embarked on making forty-eight cupcakes.

Nick walked in right about this point and told me the house smelled like a bakery.

I think that was a compliment.

She requested chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting. I added a batch of vanilla too, for the non-chocolate lovers.  You know, like her mom.

Madeline wanted a unicorn-themed party, so I went with rainbow lollipops, a sheet of unicorn stickers, and a unicorn rubber duck stuffed inside a unicorn muslin bag. Simple.

All hands were on deck as we stuffed the bags twenty minutes before we left for her party.

And then today was our “family” party, including Aunts, grandparents, cousins, honorary “Aunts,” Mystic and his daughter. More celebrating, and more gifts. She is lucky to be so loved by so many awesome people.

This is about how we all feel tonight. Insanely busy but fun-filled weekend.

To my special Saturday night and Sunday morning kitchen helpers, thanks again, I couldn’t have done this weekend with you.

On a programming note, starting tonight, I’m going to be shifting to a new publishing schedule on Sweetnicks. I will be posting Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights now. For my weekday office readers, that means a Monday, Wednesday, Friday post for you.

See ya on the flipside!

Yesterday threw a few challenges my way.  In fact, I think I may have gotten more than my fair share.  Did you accidentally send me yours?

Mystic texted me “How are YOU?”

And my answer was loud and clear.  “I am just a little spent, and more than ready to pull the plug on today.”

A challenging afternoon led way to a restless night and little sleep, and getting the kids ready this morning, I was seriously dragging.  I knew some of the challenges would be spilling over today, so I put on a little sparkle.  Because despite the doom and gloom of the wet, rainy weather, and despite the muck of the day ahead, sequined shoes surely make everything better, right?

A very observant friend caught me taking a picture of my shoes on her way home tonight.

Yesterday, three of our town’s finest were leaving our home.  (We are all fine, swear.)  One of them paused at our front door when he saw one of our hanging prints.

“Wow, that’s great!”

Oh, thank you.  He called one of his partners back inside to show him.

He asked me where I got it and although I could have directed him to the Etsy shop, I had a feeling that interest in an artisan marketplace wasn’t going to happen.

“Why don’t you take a picture of it?” his partner suggested.

He looked at me. “Do you mind?”

No, of course not.  Please.

He grabbed his cell phone and snapped a quick shot of it.

“That’s really awesome.  So motivating.”

Thank you.  I thought it was the perfect thing to see right before we head out the door in the morning.

He nodded.  Smiling big.  And it’s now his screensaver.

This morning as I left the house with the kids, grabbing exactly 46 things I needed during the day, I gave the print a quick glance.

Sometimes that really IS all you need to quickly get you out of your funk.  A glance at one of my favorite prints as we start our day.  Some sequined shoes to finish off your outfit.  An inspirational quote (and if you follow me on Twitter, you know I love a lot of them).  Twisting your daughter’s hair into a new, funky hairstyle.  Mashed potatoes and gravy for lunch (xoxo to the friend who needed that).  Or a small piece of chocolate mid-day.

But let’s be honest.  Sometimes your trials can’t be cured by a motivational quote or a piece of indulgent sea salt flavored chocolate from Lindt.  But I am all for the days when it can.

It was a day that called for chocolate.  For the office and the five kids (!) I have under my care tonight, it’s giant chocolate chip cookies.  For Mystic (and leftovers for the office), it’s another round of fudge.  Once I get on the kick of a new food, I want to find the best recipe possible for it.  And then I move on.  Well, most of the time I do.  Recently, I shared the Three Minute Three Ingredient Fudge.  Delicious stuff and totally worth making.  Especially if you like fudge.  Or mint.  And definitely if you like both combined.  But then last night, I came across this recipe for Mackinac Island Fudge.

Let me preface the recipe by saying this.

I am super picky about fudge.

And about sweets in general.

There are only a few kinds of fudge I like.

And even fewer that I’ll make.

And chocolate is not any of them.

In fact, in nearly seven years of writing here, there are only a handful of fudge recipes that I have made more than once.  Butter Pecan.  Peanut Butter.  That’s it.

But I tasted some of this Mackinac Island Fudge yesterday.

You know, quality control and all that.

I mean, I don’t want to poison my kids.

Or Mystic.

And omg, is it ever good.

Make it if you like fudge.

And especially if you like chocolate fudge.

And if you like chocolate fudge and had a challenge-filled day or two.

Or just because you feel like indulging.

Or need to fill that 20% margin for error.

Find your reason and make it.

Mackinac Island Fudge
Recipe courtesy of Group Recipes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1/2 cup nuts (optional) (I skipped)

Directions

• Mix milk, butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and salt in heavy pan. Cook at medium heat until boiling. Boil exactly 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract,cocoa and confectioners’ sugar. Beat with mixer until smooth and thick. Add nuts, if desired. Pour into a buttered pan and freeze 20 minutes. Cut into pieces.
• Makes approximately 1 pound of fudge.
• Peanut Butter Mackinac Island Fudge: Reduce butter to 1/4 cup and add 1/2 cup peanut butter
• Great Hint: If you want to make “authentic” Michigan fudge, when the fudge has cooled somewhat,( find that marble cheese server your sister in law gave you years back and never used) and spoon the mixture on it and make a log! Then chill of course.

Last night, we were sitting around the dining room table, just chatting, long after the plates had been cleared.  Somehow the topic of Twinkies came up, though, for the life of me, I can’t remember why.

“Twinkies?  What are Twinkies?” Nick asked.

I looked at Mystic and said, “My nine-and-a-half-year-old doesn’t know what Twinkies are.  I don’t know whether this means I’m doing a good job as a Mom or not.”

“I think if Nick doesn’t know what Twinkies are, you’re doing a great job as a mom.”

Oh how I love that man.

And it’s true.  Although I was surprised Nick didn’t know what they were, I have to say, I was pretty proud of that too.

While it is sometimes hard to get the kids to sit down and focus on eating a meal, largely because they both fall into the “grazer” category more, I don’t often complain about how or what they eat.

The snack drawer is filled with organic applesauce, packages of goji berries and pomegranates, and granola bars.  Fresh fruit or cherry tomatoes makes it into Madeline’s lunch box nearly every day of the week, and she usually eats that first.  Homemade hummus is an oft-requested lunchbox item for Nick.  The amount of yogurt we all eat is ridiculous.  More often than not, they make the right choices on their own, with no prompting from me.

Do we have processed foods in our house?  Yes.  Without a doubt.  There is a package of Oreos or two.  An occasional foray into Cheez-Doodles.   Ice cream from the local dairy.  But it is the exception, rather than the rule.

And that’s just the thing when it comes to treating yourself right.  Whether you’re an avid Eat. Live. Be’r.  Recommitting to a new exercise routine.  Or finding a new one.  Revamping your eating habits or getting comfortable with what you already do.  If eight times out of ten, you make the right decision for yourself, and do right by you, it will be ok.  It will all fall into place.

Although we focus on “clean eating” and whole foods, I don’t consider the occasional processed snack falling off the wagon.  It’s a moderation thing.  The bulk of what we eat is made from fresh ingredients.  From our own kitchen.  And is just the fuel we need.

If you indulge once in awhile, own it.  My old trainer always used to say, ice cream sometimes is ok.  Just make it the best damn ice cream you can buy.  And then the next day?  Go back to the overall game plan.  Don’t beat yourself up about it.  Don’t feel guilty.  Just keep on keeping on.

Decide what your plan is (whether it’s related to health, fitness, an eating plan, a new career path, what have you), and follow the 80/20 rule.  Eighty percent of the time, be rigid and stick the the plan.  If you deviate, get it done with and hop back on the train.  It’s all good.

I actually spied Twinkies in the store today when I ran out to pick up a few things, and picked up a package.  I debated about buying them.

“You didn’t want to mess with a good thing, did you?” Mystic asked me tonight.

Nope.  I think it is A-OK that the kids don’t know what Twinkies are.  And if they sometimes have one, that’s ok too.  They can enjoy the heck out of it, and go back to something better.  After all, one of their grandfather’s favorite old-school indulgences is a Hostess cupcake.

Be sure to check out my fellow Eat. Live. Be. girls and see what they’re up to this week … Joanne, Patsy, and Sarah.

January 25, 2012 – Bonus Photo

The Big Miracle movie previews were seen by the kids many months ago.  And Madeline, being an equal opportunity animal lover, has been counting down to its opening weekend.  We see the signs when we go past the movie theater.  It’s marked on our calendar.  And she dug out her dolphin ring to drive the point home even further.  It opens next Friday.  The kick-off to her birthday, double party, weekend.  Perfect timing if I ever saw it.

Thanksgiving seems like so very long ago.  And yes, I’m going to tell you about something I made for Thanksgiving.  Fact.

But here’s the rub.

A – I actually have stuff heaps older to still tell you about.  That may or may not make it better.

B – This is something you can make anytime.  Not just Thanksgiving.

So we’re cool then, right?

My sister hosted the holiday for the first time, and I brought my Cranberry Conserve.  As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter who is hosting the holiday, it just isn’t right until that conserve is on the table.  Period.

Besides the conserve, I wanted to bring something a little fun for the kids.  And I wanted my own kids to be able to participate in the making of said “something.”  When I spied this super cute picture on Pinterest (yes, again, with the Pinterest addiction; if you’re a fellow addict, I need not explain more), I was set.

• It takes seriously just minutes to make.
• The kids loved making it and once I gave them the basic instructions (and melted the white chocolate for them), they did it completely on their own after that.
• It yields something that is nothing short of adorable.
• I bet you might even have the ingredients in your own cupboard, ready to make right now.
• If you like the salty-sweet combination, you’ll be all over these.

You don’t need more convincing than that do you?

These would be supercute for a Dr. Seuss “green eggs and ham” mini-celebration.

Or a fun afterschool project with your kids.

Or make a pink version for Valentine’s Day.

Or when you’re snowbound and stir-crazy.

Madeline was in charge of yellow M&M placement.  She kept forgetting to put the M&M with the M face down, so we just decided those were just special “M for Madeline” treats.  Worked for her.  I know, you’re surprised, right?

Want to know how to make these little treats?  You can get the deets right here.

Tomorrow?  Eat.Live.Be.

Want more of me?  My latest article on divorce is up on ParentSociety.  Until tomorrow.

January 24, 2012 – Bonus Photo

Ok, who of my smarty-pants readers can tell me the brand of these sneakers? I spied them on one of the coaches at Madeline’s practice on Sunday, and I have to say, I kind of love them. The coach disappeared before I could find out where to score my very own pair. Help?