Panties, tarts, and kiwis oh my!

Today has been  very weird day. Nothing went quite as I'd have hoped. Didn't end up getting to work or to schedule an appt I wanted to. Couldn't take a drive and get stuff done. I did make a delicious vegan potato soup. I really like my vegan bacon. The boys did too. Bean gave me a touch of attitude, but that was more to do with the celery than anything else. The kids have been a bit woooo since they got back from their dad weekend. I was hoping to make gingerbread men today, but they were too amped up. So instead we just hung out read and played. That aside it was the VS show today! And boy do I love VS. Still not feeling the ridiculous rave colored pink collection. I am however feeling the lace merry-widow, so gorgeous! Issues with him again making the sadness creep back into my soul. I am so tired of the back and forth. He'd say it's me. And maybe it is but if I am unhappy because of all  of it and he won't change maybe I should walk away again. But every time I try it feels wrong. BLEH.
 Had an issue on my favorite message board to top of my day, I am already feeling fairly lonely and what not with people I know irl... I don't especially want e-drama. So I won't post on that thread anymore. I am not dealing with crap from people I don't know. psssssssh.
I made myself a kiwi peach Italian soda. It was refreshing and tasty. The kids all stole from it, lucky for them they are cute. I do love me some kiwis. I also can't wait to use all the coupons I got for free stuff from Victoria Secret!

Oh Today Today... BLAHHH and WOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Today was such a busy day. I spent yesterday baking and preparing for today. I made the aforementioned faux peppermint joe joe's. They were messy and the recipe was poorly adapted, but the cookies are nommy. The filling was a nightmare but with much effort I made it into a really tasty peppermint glaze! Even Auntie loved it and she does not dig on pepperminty stuff. So I decided to make brownie bites for the scouts meet and Jen's reception. Then I topped them with some of the peppermint filling. Tres good! I still have so much no clue what to do. Auntie says I should stop baking so much and rest. But that's so not me. >>  The kiddles were at their dad's so I had the day to do whatevs.. which was making breakfast one hour of me time, then cleaning, dressing up to try and look nice for the days events. Shopped for the next week and a half. And got all the nonfresh prep stuff I need for Thanksgiving, except I need to go back to Golden Harvest and snag some vegan broth for to make stuffing! I have all the ingredients I need for the next few days when I am planning to experiment with potential Christmas goodies. I hope that people at open mic want to sample them, because at this point unless crazy stuff happens I will have three or four goodies. I digress. After shopping was a quick trip home to unpack them. Played with the pup for a few minutes and then a surprise mid day visit from the children. Then got Aidan in uniform and it was off to the scouts big popcorn sale pick up,  Turkey bingo and potluck. It was fun, but Noodle totally crashed out on me. So we left before bingo. Thanks to all who bought popcorn, Aidan is a popcorn knight again! I have to find out how he can earn the belt loops we missed at the last scout meeting I did not know when it was., :( After scouts I delivered some of the popcorn. Then went for tea and toast with Auntie. We chatted and relaxed. Then we got ready and went to Jen's and Ivan's reception. They picked a super place for a reception. It was very serene and smelled lovely like autumn leaves and a nice fire. Scott was there grilling away on some ribs. Jen was totally adorable as always with a phenomenal green coat! Aunt Julie and I had a nice time and they had a great spread of nommies. I got to have some homemade hummus and some zucchini salsa! I must say both were excellent! Plus some ho-hocake!  Nom. And Jen serenaded Ivan with "Make you feel my love" while Scott and Bob played. It was beautiful! I had a great time. Then back to town. Home for a little cleaning and moving of things. Then kissed the kiddles bye and back out the door to see Mandy Mae for coffee! It's always nice to catch up.  And then after like 8 cups of coffee. >> Back home to do some cleaning, packing, present wrapping for Laura Beth.. and getting ready for the home showing tomorrow. I am so flipping exhausted!!! If you made it to the end of this, thanks! <3 It's was quite sweet of you.

Greens, 9 pounds of candy, and toothpaste!

I was experimenting with turnip greens today. They were delicious. I sauteed four cloves of garlic, grated half of a small sweet onion, in a tbsp of olive oil. Then I added 1 1/2 pounds of turnip greens and tossed them in the onions and garlic. I added a tsp of ground cayenne pepper. Then in a cup of veggie broth I added two tbsp of sweet spicy mustard whisked them together. Then I added it to the greens and cooked them until the liquid was gone. They were nommy! I know most people are like ewwww greens, but seriously they are so delicious. And also full of vitamin k which I am totally hoping will heal the wound on my lip from the pinata incident!
I have depressingly not had a chance to make my peppermint faux joes.. which I am very sad about.. but there was much to do today. Got my secret Santa person. Sorted through multiple bags of Halloween candy from the kids. Saved each a gallon bag and a popcorn tin of candy. Well the tins are for the candy house and for m&m cookies. They are excited to make the m&m cookies. But they will not usurp the peppermint faux joes.. nope! Anyway when I turned over all the extra candy, which will be shipped to the troops <3, we had given 9 pounds. That's 3 pounds a piece and came out to 9.00. Which I will be using to buy them new toothpaste. Deliciousssss irony! I am planning on making broccoli and tofu with peanut sauce. So good sounding.. I love tofu so much!

Candy Cane Joe Joe's!

I recently learned of the existence of this double decker candy cane and creme filled deliciousness... I was saddened to learn they only hail from  Trader Joe's... because there are none of those near here. Then again other than trees, deer, water, and mosquitoes there is not much near here.  I am excited to try the recipe that I found for them. I will have to mod it slightly, because... it's me and I do that. But I am excited to give them a whirl. I think some happy baking will take my mind off the upcoming shit storm. I have to sort candy from the Halloween bag for the children's ginger bread house... and then ditch the excess at the dentist. I feel bad taking away there candy but there have to be consequences for raiding the cupboards and stealing and ruining three containers of sprinkles at 6 am. My irritation at waking up to three sugar crazed muppets was immense. But quickly faded as they are the ones who will be depressed at the loss of all that candy, candy, candy! And there is a dentist who is buying it. So that gives it a place to go to. Ditch the candy and use the money to buy toothpaste. That may upset the balance of the universe.. but it pays off part of their cosmic sprinkle debt.
 Anyway I am off to scan some papers and such... catch you all on the kale side. <3