DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte

Mmmm, Fall. My favorite season, and one of the best times of the year. With it comes cool weather, pumpkins, sweaters, changing leaves, and, of course, pumpkin spice lattes at everyone's favorite coffee chain. If you *don't* feel like shelling out $4 for a cup of coffee, here's my cheapo pumpkin spice latte recipe (which is better than Barstucks, in my humble opinion, but mostly because I don't like it as sweet as they make it).

For two servings of Pumpkin Spice Lattes:
Use 1 tablespoon of your favorite Pumpkin Spice seasoning mix (or 1 teaspoon each cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger) added directly to your coffee grounds before brewing (this eliminates the unsavory sludge problem caused when you add it directly to your cup, though you could also put the spices in a tea strainer with very fine mesh).

While coffee is brewing, heat up milk however you want and pour it into two mugs (1/4 to 1/2 cup milk each, depending on your preferences). Froth the milk with your favorite frother (I super pink puffy heart this one from Ikea, and it's only $3!!! It's actually stood up to heavy use for the 9 months we've had it), or not, if you are opposed to frothy milk.

Once your coffee is brewed, pour it into your prepared mugs. Sweeten to taste. I generally use 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon of sweetener per serving, but that's just me. You can also add the sweetener to the milk instead so it gets all blended in while you froth everything, but I'd wait until you've discovered your magic amount of sweetener. I like to use agave nectar or just plain sugar in mine.

Top with whipped cream (if you're feeling decadent) and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Enjoy!

This can be pretty easily scaled up to brew a whole pot (using 1.5 teaspoons of spice mix per serving), though usually C and I just make a couple in our french press using the ratios above. We went through a lot of pumpkin pie spice mix last fall and winter. Good thing we live pretty near a spice shop!

September 3, 2012

C got me this for our anniversary in July and we finally got it mounted in the dining room! I *love* it.

August 31, 2012 and Its Associated Muddle

Everything is speeding past me. I feel like I'm caught in some kind of vortex. I'm caught up at work, but somehow I feel like I'm grasping at rapidly flying objects and unable to get ahead in life. That isn't how it is in reality, it's just how I feel.

My children are fine. I'm healthy, C is healthy. I just can't get my heart out of the downward spiral.

Someone (jokingly) yesterday said something about being able to leave your kids on the balcony of a nearby apartment so you could watch them while you were at the bar (we were at happy hour), and then another friend pointed out that you could see when they climbed over the rail and fell so you'd know you were about to be arrested for child neglect. As soon as the words "climbed over the rail" were out of her mouth I could picture L falling, falling....and my spine crawled and my heart raced and I had to redirect my thoughts immediately or ohmygodiwasgoingtocry.

I feel like I haven't been taking my meds, but I HAVE. I take that damn Zoloft every morning. I haven't missed a dose in at least 2 weeks, and that was only 1 day and wouldn't still be affecting me. I can still redirect myself but I still feel quiet and melancholy and grief-stricken inside. I have dreams about my dear friend in which I try to figure out which tattoo to get to remember her (interestingly, these dreams also prominently feature my younger sister who was extremely close with Kristen). Maybe I'm just still grieving. I know it's only been a few weeks, it's entirely possible.

I also am still bleeding/spotting from the Mirena I had inserted at the end of July. That was exactly one month ago today, actually. I've had 2 days where I wasn't either spotting or bleeding. *Whee.* From what I understand things should be getting better soon, and then hopefully no more periods at all (or at least, very light ones). We shall see.

I don't even particularly feel better having gotten all this out. I think I just need the upcoming 3 day weekend to get here so I can rest and relax and do some crafts. I've been feeling twitchy and compulsive lately, which is also not necessarily a good thing. It's not this bad yet, but it's still not a picnic.

August 30, 2012 - Mini-me!

Ponderances

I've been debating putting my blog up on Facebook. Hmm. If I did this, several things would happen.

1. Potentially, my family would see it. As would coworkers. Possibly even read it. Including my previously mentioned BSC* family member. And his offspring.

However...
I don't use names. Just initials (if that). So *technically* I don't identify them. However, it's pretty obvious who is who, and I won't be able to bitch about family or coworkers here anymore. 

2. I might get more readers, which would be good, but I might come off as jumping on the bandwagon and so on. What makes me think I am worthy of being a blog on Facebook? I don't know. I feel like I am a little behind the times since my blog doesn't have a Facebook page, but I don't feel worthy.

3. It might encourage me to blog more. Maybe. Don't know for sure.

Hm. I guess that's really only one sort of negative thing. Thoughts?

Anyone?

Bueller?

August 27, 2012 Sunrise Over the City

There are some advantages to getting to work before dawn once in a while.

all® mighty pacs™ Giveaway!

We do lots of laundry in our house. I imagine that most families do, especially those with small children. As a result of this, a large chunk of space is devoted to the whole laundry process, including our diaper detergent, our regular detergent, our dryer sheets, the vinegar for rinse cycles, the baking soda for odor and stain lifting, the spot remover spray...anyway. Anything to help simplify the process is appreciated, and when the people at all® and MyBlogSpark asked me to do a review and giveaway, I was happy to participate.

C does most of the laundry (being a work-at-home-dad), and neither one of us has the time (or energy!) to go through every single piece of laundry (especially the kid's stuff!) and spray to remove stains before washing. The all® mighty pacs™ contain super concentrated detergent with stain lifters, so there's no need to spray anything. We have used all® free clear detergent in the past and we already were fans, but I don't generally buy any scented detergents. We received a sample of original scent all® mighty pacs™  and tested those first. I have been looking for that scent (sniffing for that scent?) for years. I dated a guy in high school whose mom used it, and ever since then I've LOVED the smell of that detergent but I had no idea what brand it was! Well, now I know.  Heaven, I tell you. Anyway, if scented isn't your thing, the "free clear" ones work wonderfully as well. The detergent is super easy to use- you toss one pack in for small loads, and two in for large or heavily stained loads (kid clothes, anyone?). Because the pacs come in a bag (resealable, of course) and are 100% dissolvable, there is minimal waste so they are eco-friendly too. 

We are very happy with how well the detergent works. The scent is not overpowering and lasts a long time. I was a little skeptical because the detergent inside seems so watery (unlike other all-in-one pacs I've seen, which seem very gelatinous), but they work very well to clean and remove stains.  It removes stains as well as the spray we were using which saves us some serious time!

You can explore below for a $1 off coupon and some more information, too.You can print the coupon twice, and there is a Target coupon available as well, so you can save even more!




In addition to the two full-sized bags of all® mighty pacs™, we received a beach ball (which the kids have been playing with pretty much nonstop...), a beach towel, and a laundry bag (which actually is a great size for a wet bag for our diapers, I may be testing it out for that purpose).

Now, the part that you've been waiting for!

I'm giving away one prize pack consisting of:

• all® mighty pacs™
• One 24-count of all free clear mighty pacs
• One 24-count of original mighty pacs
• Reusable laundry Bag
• Beach Towel
• Beach Ball

How to enter:
Mandatory Entry:
Leave a comment on this post telling me your least favorite household chore. You must include your email address in your comment, preferably in this format (to keep spammers from getting your info with their spambots): mamasmockingbird at gmail dot com.

Optional/bonus entries (up to 7):
You may do one (or none) or all of these, just make sure you leave a comment each time to let me know you did so. You only have to include your email address with your first entry, but please leave your name with each comment so I can figure out who is who!

1. Follow my blog, or, if you already do, let me know you do. 
2. Share your favorite laundry trick or tip to make your life easier
3. Blog about this giveaway, and link directly to your blog post. 
4. Follow me on Twitter (@simplytena) and leave a comment with your Twitter name; if you already follow me, just let me know.
5. Tweet about this giveaway (include @simplytena in your tweet), and link directly to your tweet.
6. Share this on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did so. For privacy's sake, you don't have to link to your FB post.
7. Like all® on Facebook http://goo.gl/H0KTM and leave a comment saying that you did so.

That's all! This giveaway will run until September 3, 2012, at 11:59pm MDT.

Disclosure:  The information, products and additional all mighty pacs gift pack was provided by all® through MyBlogSpark. I was given these so that I could review and give away a prize pack, but opinions expressed here are my own and cannot be bought. 

August 26 - Go Broncos!

In honor of the last pre-season game, I give you some adorable (phone camera) pics of L:

She is wearing her "fancy shoes" which she ADORES and calls her "cee shews."

August 25, 2012 - Homework

J's first homework assignment. *sniff* My boy is growing up! I helped put the glue on where he told me to, but he did everything else.

August 22, 2012 - First Day of (Pre)School