I Want to Ride my Bicycle

{picture was taken in 2008}

I'm really tired of everyone complaining about the weather.

But if you can beat'em, join'em.

Yesterday I rode my bike. It felt so good. I zipped out 4-5 miles in no time. I couldn't help but smile the whole ride, just thinking about riding my bike to the museum today made me happy.

Nope. It's pouring. Again. I just want to ride my bike to work.

I'm fondly remembering 2008. I started riding my bike to work in February and had very few days that I couldn't due to the weather. Now, 2011, maybe in July I will be riding my bike to work. And with gas prices in our county at a national high, I want to ride my bicycle.

I need the exercise.

I want to really see my town.

Sunshine?

Where are you?

Please come back.

For two days in a row?

Pretty please.

Chubby Hubby Bars

Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby ice cream is yummy. The creamy ice cream with the crunch of the chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels creates a favorite flavor.

My guys love the chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels from Trader Joe's store. In fact, Max was very irritated that I was going to use the pretzels for baking.

Can I just say, the skeptic has eaten most of the brownies.

My Hubby who is not a Chubby Hubby has not eaten very many of the brownies, only one.

When I found a brownie recipe for Chubby Hubby Brownies online I was all over it. I made some changes, of course.

Chubby Hubby Brownies

15 Chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels, cut in half
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature

Peanut Butter Frosting
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
4 Tablespoons butter, softened
2-4 T. half and half
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

plus Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels, crushed into small pieces for garnish or I just used chocolate covered pretzels, Flipz.

Sift together the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder and salt. Set aside. {I never sift}

Take 15 chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels and cut them in half. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl with the paddle attachment, mix together the packed light brown sugar, sugar, soft butter and vanilla extract on medium speed.
Add in the eggs one at a time. Slowly add in the dry ingredients on low speed. Mix until just combined. Take a spatula and fold the ingredients together.

Add the chopped chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels and fold them in. Spread the brownie batter into a lightly greased 8×8 inch baking pan. Bake the brownies at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cool the brownies before frosting.

While the brownies are baking, make the peanut butter frosting. I put it in the fridge to firm it up while the brownies were cooling.

Sift (heehee, who me?) the powdered sugar. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl with the paddle attachment, combine the creamy peanut butter, softened butter and vanilla extract.

Slowly add in the powdered sugar and combine. Pour in the half and half and mix until smooth.

Once the brownies are done cooling, frost them with a thick layer of peanut butter frosting. Crush some chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels into small pieces and sprinkle on top of the frosting.

I think next time I'll make brownie bites in my mini muffin tin. Oooh! Yum! And they will be just the right size cuz baby, these brownies are rich.

A Royal Wedding with a Beautiful Bride

So pretty!

I love the royal pageantry, the hoopla, and the bride.

Just like Princess Diana I had a bum bow on my gown. I'm excited to see the trends that come from Princess William's (Kate's new title) wedding gown.

I am hoping for sleeves.

I'm tired of strapless wedding gowns. So much detail can be on the sleeves of the gown.

Gowns with 3/4 length sleeves make me swoon.

There have been too many brides wearing strapless gowns that did not have the arms for the gown. Strapless has become boring and sometimes unattractive on brides with chubby arms.

Long live the queen.

Long live the sleeves!

The mother of the bride chose a lovely suit and hat, Victoria Beckham did NoT.

Best Wishes to the Royal Couple.

I think I'll watch TV all day... for once it is not depressing.

School Days

This week was Grandparents and Special Friends Day at the elementary school. Since Emilyn and I are friends, I got invited. There are some pretty cool things going on in second grade. I wish I could have some time set aside to make an Indian village or to read up in the loft or swing on the monkey bars.

It was special this year because Emilyn has Miss K as her teacher. Miss K., as in my friend, Emily. She does so many great projects with her cherubs.

Emilyn isn't dishing out her usual BiG smile as she has no teeth.

And frankly, Emilyn is not a school lover. I learned that when she went to K and then to first grade, she only likes the Art because it's the best of the worst...

in school.

I do think she likes the social part though, just not the assignments.

I get that.

Thanks for inviting me, Emilyn. I loved reading the book you wrote, very funny stuff. :)

Hang in there kiddo, you only have 10 years of school and college to finish!

Easter to the MaX

We had such a nice Easter. Our church had a beautiful Easter worship service. I love the Hallelujah chorus and the masses of lilies and white azaleas in front of church. We went to my folks for dinner. It was a small group this year. It made for a some nice visiting and more ham for those that were there.

Big Max and Little Max kinda look alike. Brown eyes. And apparently Little Max's folks have to use reverse psychology with him too. Imagine that! I warned them that after almost 18 years of that kind of parenting I'm tired. Real tired. Then I wished them luck and danced a little jig that I am so much closer to the finish than them.

Besides Max's little sister, Little Max was the only kid for our Easter egg hunt.

It's really fun when you get to find all the eggs!

Typical cold Northwest Washington Easter egg hunt, put on your boots and parka...

Happy Easter

Wishing you a Blessed Easter today!