Oats in a jar

Have you ever found yourself trying to scrape the last molecules of peanut butter out of your jar?
It's difficult, and most of us weren't built with tongues long enough to lick it out!
PB is too good to waste any, and if I don't have a backup on hand, I want as much as I can get.

I discovered this solution to the ever so "get the last of the PB outta the jar" debacle.

What you need to do is make your regular oatmeal.
(I use 1/2 cup rolled oats per 1 cup water, boil 3 minutes.)

Add in whatever fruit, sugar, supplement you choose.

{I like to add banana, milk, and raw sugar.}

Pour into your "about to throw out because you can't get the last morsel of PB" jar.

Enjoy with a spoon.

Two (of many) reasons you should try this:

1. You can happily consume the remaining bits of PB, all nice and creamy.

2. Easy to eat on the go, so if you enjoy while driving...

       people think you are consuming PB by the spoonfuls ;)

Showers

On Saturday we ventured up to Orange County to celebrate Mel's baby shower.
It was a perfect day for a shower, since the weather decided to produce RAIN showers!
The shower/ housewarming party was hawaiian themed.

We ate mac salad...

kalua pork, and plenty of delicious fruit!

Of course we had cake...

and ate it too!

vanilla cake + passion fruit and raspberry filling = double YUM

favors

game table

The day was full of fun.
The parents- to-be scored some awesome baby items.
Spending time with family is always an amazing time.
Celebration = success!

We drove back the same night in the rain. Sometimes it's just easier to make the trip in one day, when you have a little nugget.

Sunday was a perfect family day since the hubs didn't have to work.

It was rainy again, which was perfect!

I had one of my best runs.
The air was full of cool crisp fall smells and misty wet rain.

3 miles, 8:54 min/mile

We ventured to ikea to get out of the house a bit.

Nugget spent part of the day playing with her bestie...

and of course spending quality time with daddy!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Now that fall is finally here we can finally turn off our air conditioning...

I can honor the arrival of fall appropriately!
the way I've been wanting to!
it's what we all deserve!!!

It is now ok to indulge in pumpkin.
{It's NOT ok when it's 100 degrees...}

I decided my first pumpkin treat should be a muffin.

So I discovered this recipe and thought I'd try it.

Of course, being that I am ME, I altered it.
( I TRY to make things healthier so I can consume more!)

To make these delectable treats to enjoy all day,
you will need these ingredients:

Ingredients:

dry ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose ( I use un-bleached)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

wet ingredients
1/8 cup vegetable oil
2 cups (1 can) pumpkin
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raw sugar
2 eggs

cream cheese ingredients
8oz cream cheese
2 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp raw sugar
1 egg yolk

Mix the dry ingredients together in one bowl.
Combine the wet ingredients in your mixer bowl.
Add the dry ingredients slowly to the wet until combined.

Divide the batter evenly into prepared cupcake tins.
(sprayed with oil or use liners)

Once divided, mix together cream cheese ingredients until combined.

Plop cream cheese on top of each uncooked muffin.

Use a knife or toothpick and mix/swirl the cream cheese with the batter.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Enjoy!

walking = playing

Now that the nugget is walking,

her amount of play has increased!

She just loves walking around grabbing different toys to play with.

Toddler class is a hoot for nugget...

play

play

play

play

and just a bit more playing!

After all that play...

it's time for a nap

San Diego Running Group

I joined a San Diego Running group!

Their meetup times are all over the place and it usually just doesn't work out for me...

Until Saturday!!

The hubs didn't work until 12, so he was able to stay home and play with the nugget!

I met up with the group at 8, in Ocean Beach.

We started our run at 8:15, and I'm proud to say I kept pace with the middle of the group.
{ I thought for sure I'd be panting way behind in dead last}

This was the most beautiful run I'd been on in San Diego!!

The majority of the run were trails that ran along cliffs, with the beautiful ocean view.

It was HOT for both the beach and the end of September!

It makes such a difference running WITH people!
The miles and time just run fly by!

I hope I'll be able to join this group for many more runs!

Vegas, baby

I have been looking forward to our Vegas Vacation for so long!

Of course I was also apprehensive leaving the nugget over night.

I just didn't want her to feel sad that I wasn't there. 

She doesn't understand that I'll be back tomorrow!

But alas! We did it! The turnaround trip was a lot of fun.

It was so wonderful spending time with the hubs,

playing in an adult play land,

and of course attending a friends wedding!

After our 4.5 hour drive, we arrived at our hotel, but couldn't check in yet.

So we grabbed lunch at the Hard Rock hotel's Pink Taco

Eating out has never been so delicious!! ;)

The pink is pickled onions and they were amazing!

 We walked around a bit and laid by the pool before the wedding.

I <3 the Strip Hubs.

5 minute wedding = perfection

High School friend Stephanie and her boy

H.S. chums unite!

Happy Couple

 After a short "reception" of sandwiches, some of us younger folk headed to the strip to light up the night!

The Chandelier @ Cosmopolitan

We walked all around the strip til about 1 am.

Now that is WAY too many hours past my bedtime.

But I survived!

It's Vegas baby!

Bellagio Gardens

enroute to Bally's

The hubs w/ his giant Jagger-bomb

All night -outs should end with a heaping plate of nachos, right?

 I was up at 5 despite the late night.
{Which is normally when I should be going to BED in Vegas...}
Ready to get on the road to see my baby girl!
Albeit beating the traffic as well!

Goodbye Vegas, til next time. 

The hubs and I could've never had this getaway without my trustworthy mom and stepfather.

Forever am I grateful they were able to come from MN to spend quality time with their granddaughter while we played in adultland Vegas.