Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Reasons I *Heart* Valentine’s Day


I love Valentine’s Day.  I know some people get all uppity and cynical; they claim it’s a Hallmark Holiday.



I could not disagree more.



I am totally OK with a holiday that

A) Celebrates people I love.  It’s not that I need a holiday to do that, but there is something about this holiday that adds some fun and lightness to it.  Maybe it’s the fun décor or yummy treats without the stress of planning parties to accommodate everyone’s different and busy schedules.  It’s just fun.  (Side note: it’s not like we don’t buy presents and are nice to others only at Christmas.  Why does Valentine’s Day get the bad rap?)



B) Breaks up the monotony of winter. (Which has been especially monotonous with barely any snow and 47 days plus of sickness).



C) Revolves around eating chocolate in various forms.  Cupcakes, candy, whatever.  I love it.  (Except Hershey Kisses.  Ever since Thomas was born, that particular brand of chocolate tastes like dirt to me.  At first I was sad.  Now, I (and the scale) am totally fine with it).



Here’s the thing: I love holidays mostly because I love the tradition of it all.  It makes me feel happy and cozy.  I want The Babes to look back and say they had fun baking cupcakes and making cards.  I want them to remember eating their favorite meal (this year, it will be tacos) on the fun tablecloth. 



I have vivid memories of sitting around my kitchen table as a kid opening the Valentine’s card and some candy from my parents and brother.  Ordinary, yet special stuff.



Traditions, whether it’s shopping for Valentine’s Day stuff or baking Christmas cookies or eating pizza while we watch a movie together every Friday night, are what hold us together as a family. 



Hope you have a happy Valentine’s Day!


Thursday, November 10, 2011

What Do You Think Thursday with Skinny Scoop: Switch Witch 2011



Halloween? Not my favorite holiday. The only saving grace is candy. The sweet and salty perfection of a Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup and the lusciousness of gooey coconut paired with the roasted almond covered in smooth milk chocolate of an Almond Joy *almost* makes up for all the other shortcomings of this holiday.



Seriously, I could eat those two candies for the rest of my life. They make my heart race. I feel all glow-y and happy inside. (Real Mommy Chronicles calls this chocolate wasted). If I could live on these two chocolate candies for the rest of my life, I would.



Because I can handle my chocolate.



But Thomas? He cannot handle his chocolate. He has a serious sweet tooth that I fear he will fight from now until eternity.



Here’s how a typical conversation begins:



Thomas: (in super cute, high pitched voice) I have one piece candy?

Me: No, not now. You can have some raisins.

Thomas: (again in super cute voice now accompanied with adorable hand gestures) Just little bit candy. Please?

Me: No, but you can have a banana.

Thomas: (in scary, roaring voice that sharply contrasts the sweet little voice he just used): NO BANA! CANDY! I WANT CANDY!  GGGRRRRR!!!! (now he attempting to break through the childproofed cupboard to get his fix)


All of this before 8:30 a.m.



I decided it was time for the Switch Witch since we had so much success with it last year. The idea was introduced to me by my friend, Laura. You have your kids pick out a few pieces of their favorite candy, and leave the rest behind for the Switch Witch. When the kids are sleeping, the Switch Witch takes all the extra candy and switches it with a movie or a toy or a craft.



Brilliant!



This year the Switch Witch brought a set of tempera paint, foam turkey crafts, and glue sticks.



Thank goodness! We are trapped in the house because Marie is sick, and since I took away our pastime of eating candy and I cannot stand to watch My Little Ponies, we are doing crafts.












We had candy?  What candy? This is sooo much better.




So here’s my Skinny Scoop survey of the week:





Hope everyone is having a great week!



If you missed it, I have written some posts for The Macomb Patch and Whole Living. Check them out and let me know what you think!