KidsBowlFree!

At the beginning of summer, all the "thrifty deal" blogs I follow advertised this great deal from the site kidsbowlfree.com. It sounded interesting, but I just passed it by telling myself it was an unnecessary expense this year. Instead, Michael and I have spent a lot of time at Greenlake wading pool (completely free and out in the beautiful sunshine).

But yesterday I was itching to do something different. I have a coupon for buy one get one free entrance to the zoo. But, then when Richard said he wanted to join, I thought bowling would be equally as fun. Then that site came to memory. It really ended up being a great deal afterall, even if I purchased it late into the summer. I just purchased the one week adult pass (13.95) that gives Richard and I two free games everyday as long as Michael is with us (he automatically gets two free games everyday for the rest of summer just for signing up). Richard has his own bowling shoes--so the price of shoes was cut down. That deal paid for itself by far on our first use. 

After bowling yesterday we stopped at Fred Meyer, and I saw this shirt that I thought looked like it belonged to a pro-bowler. I think Richard should wear it from now on. Not that he's pro. I mean, his highest score was 136 yesterday (which was definitely higher than my 101 score). But, he used to bowl much higher all the time. 

I couldn't stop smiling the whole time we played. I felt like it was "the good ol' days" when we and a bunch of friends would go bowling all the time (thus the reason his friends and I pitched in and bought him bowling shoes for his birthday one year. He still has the note we attached to them.)

So, to make good use of this one-week pass, we went again today! (After Michael and I spent the morning at the wading pool with friends, of course). Our scores were even worse today. And Michael was pretty worn out after the 6th frame, which means we may not end up going tomorrow to give him a break.

Life

Video #1--At Central Market. They had little carts! I love little carts.

Video #2--Michael explaining the game of LIFE. 

What do you think?

Sugar&Greens Blog

I've started another blog called Sugar & Greens. It's a place where I'll journal nutritional knowledge as I read and learn, and also track some of my personal goals. Right now it's not too exciting, as I've just been writing about how much sugar I stuff into my mouth, but I hope to start incorporating healthy recipes, guest posts of friends and their struggles with weight loss and nutrition, and research on organic vs conventional food and home cleaning products. Click here to follow along!

Swimming

This summer has already included a lot of swimming for our family. Michael and I will sometimes head up to the Mountlake Terrace indoor pool, but now that the sun is coming out we've been enjoying swimming in Enumclaw with friends, or going to the Greenlake Wading Pool *My absolute favorite go-to destination.

Last time we were there, I was wishing for ice cream. Then I spotted a guy sitting with his ice cream stand! Sweet. I got my chocolate bar, and Michael requested the Spiderman frozen treat. (Next time I'll just share because the thing melted faster than he could eat it, and he didn't understand that he couldn't just leave it with me for a little while to play).

And some random iPhone video of our swimming. (Michael was scared of the big pool and preferred to play outside of it the majority of the time). And the other video is really wiggly (because we were walking back to the car), but it shows Michael beating the ninjas and zombies that were in our way.

Hello Cupcake

I know, I'm on a roll with this sugary deliciousness here. Perhaps you'll remember one of my all time favorite posts on this blog about me. Upon first moving to Seattle, I was really into cookies, and now it seems I've moved on to cupcakes.

Well, feast your eyes on these:

Chocolate Balsamic Raspberry Cupcakes

This is the first time I have ever made cupcakes, and been absolutely terrified that I would even like them at all. I have never worked with Balsamic vinegar before, and the minute I opened it, I wanted to run away from that smell. I cautiously poured it in--tablespoon by tablespoon. When the frosting had thickened up, I dipped my finger in, closed my eyes and thought, "Here I go!"

I was blown away.

At first my tongue was wowed with the flavor, but shortly the taste of sweet raspberry rested on my tongue. I was quickly addicted--and of course, went back for more. It tastes 10x better when it's complimented with the chocolate cake made with pureed raspberries, coconut milk and balsamic vinegar.

Believe me. These are well worth your time.

Recipe stolen from Layla's blog, who stole it from Love and Olive Oil. I love how all of our frosting styles come out very different from one another. Word of suggestion if you use Layla's recipe: Either double your cake batter recipe, or 1/2 your frosting measurements. Got it? Good.

Pampering

Two things I would do weekly if I could afford it:

1) Get my hair done.

2) Get a 1-hr back massage.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes

Today I made these:

They were SOOOOO good! Probably my favorites cupcakes I've decorated yet. And the chocolate buttercream was delicious (really sweet), but my cake wasn't very sweet at all so it balanced out. I have posted the frosting recipe (and more pictures) on our "Mothers in the Kitchen" blog.

I have to give credit to Whitney (Wilcock) Berge for the idea. She has started her own cupcake business called The Modern Cake. I have fallen in love with all of her cupcakes (although I have yet to eat any of them, but her flavors are original and her decorating is creative). I saw her rendition of the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcake and knew I wanted to give it a shot.

As always, with cupcakes, I make more than my family can eat. So, I took a walk to a few people in the ward who live nearby us, dropped off these beauties, and enjoyed getting to know some people better.

Talents?

Many months ago, I was going through some clothes in my closet and was dreaming of ways I could reuse some of the old shirts I have. My creativity doesn't run too wild in that department, but I still thought to myself, "Sometimes I wish I had a sewing machine." This was a very fleeting thought, that was primarily on my mind because I have a bunch of friends who are good seamstresses and I had been involved in many of their recent conversations about things that had been sewing.

That same day, or maybe it was the next, I received a phone call from Layla.

"Hello?"
"Hi Diana, I have a random question for you. Do you want a sewing machine?"
Completely taken aback, I replied, "Umm...what?"


Layla told me of her current circumstance, where she was helping clean out a house and either putting things in the garbage or in a pile for donations. As I recall her telling the story to me later, she said when she got to this old sewing machine, she immediately thought of me. She pushed away the thought because it really is an old machine, and why would I want this old machine? But, thinking of me again, she picked up the phone and called me anyway.

And, it really made me happy. To be honest, I felt like it was a tender mercy from the Lord. Like, He was aware of my random wants (not even a need!) and He was happy to bless me with them. I don't really know how to explain it--except I felt this obligation all of the sudden, to learn how to use it because of the manner in which I received it.

Don't ask me if what I've sewn with it so far. I don't have an answer for you.

Is this an example of burying a talent?

He's at work

Today is a little bit of a windy, cloudy day. Michael and I still walked to the UPS store nearby to ship something off, but other than that we've been inside without a car, because Richard's at work.

I love being able to say that.

He is just doing freelance design for a company, but they asked him to go in for the day to work side-by-side another guy on a project. So, for at least one day this month I'll be over-using the phrase, "Oh yes, Richard's at work."

Heel Dreams

Sometimes I wish I wasn't so tall so I could wear heels and not look awkwardly enormous. But, sometimes I indulge and wear them anyway--but only at the store. Then, I carefully wrap them back up and place them in their boxes and go on my happy way.

ParkTimePlayTime

I learned how to be the popular mom at the park. Bring sidewalk chalk and bubbles.

A few days ago, Michael and I did just that. I sat on the grass, pulled out the bubbles and it wasn't long before I had 6-7 little kids by my side.

They were just like the birds on Finding Nemo repeating over and over, "Bubbles? Bubbles?"

So, I continued to blow bubbles. Some kids chased, and other kids hung out by my feet and coloring with chalk, begging for me to compliment their every line and squiggle.

And then I noticed it. I noticed that Michael wasn't around me anymore. I started glancing here and there. Where had Michael gone? I spotted him far off, starting to curl up comfy with himself in a secluded corner of the park.....with my iPhone in hand. Yes, somehow amidst the hustle and bustle and distraction of the other kids, he had managed to pull my phone from my pocket just to run off and play uninterrupted for a little while.