I’m digging this “Week in Review” routine for Mondays. It’s the perfect chance to look back on everything I accomplished over the past week (mostly the accomplishments caught on my iPhone, because who remembers anything the old fashioned way anymore really?)
The accomplishments were legit this week. I don’t kid myself – it’s not typically in my schedule to make several batches of two types of edible play dough. Or bake “mullet cupcakes”, which I’ll explain later on in the post. Or wear 5 inch heels. This week was full of activity and (back pat to myself) a decent dose of creativity.
Well, now that I said that, I’m not sure I can own any creativity because I was really just doing what Drew told me I needed to do (he was home for Passover break all week!) Either way, things got done. Let’s take a look back and see what happened.
Running
Since sometimes we talk running on this blog, I’ll start there. I ran a total of 10 miles this week – 8 by myself (4 each Thursday and Saturday) and 2 with Emily (Wednesday) as our 5k “training” sort of continues. By sort of, I only mean we’ve done 2 training runs together, an oops on my part, but I’m hoping to run with her once more before the 5k next Sunday.
Sadly this run wound up not so great for Emily (we went first thing in the morning on my time, not hers!) and now she only wants to run later in the day. I tried to explain to her that every runner has bad runs, but it’s definitely tough for a 7 year old to totally understand why you’d want to go out and run again after one of those runs. Luckily the 5k is 10am so I’m thinking she’ll be in better spirits!
Crafts
I’m very proud of my Thursday play-doh making so you’re going to see more pictures than you want to, apologies.
The first recipe was a basic rice play dough that I found here on Pinterest, that is gluten free and technically edible, but, I don’t think anyone actually would want to eat it. It felt like legit play dough though which was cool! I loved it too much.
The second dough we made was a whole lot tastier – a marshmallow dough (also gluten free, lol) made of marshmallows, cornstarch and coconut oil. Amazing! Although, this dough was more of a silly putty consistency rather than play dough, and very stretchy. All 3 kids loved this stuff and actually wanted to play with it rather than eat it.
Food
In addition to creating and photographing two new recipes for the blog, I remade my very favorite Sweet Potato Salad with Eggs and Bacon and it was quite the hit! Diana even begged to eat leftovers for breakfast, which speaks for itself.
I also made a key lime pie which I’m obsessed with and want to eat 3 times a day. Okay fine, it was technically a “lime pie” but key lime sounds better. You can make it a key lime pie, or a lime pie, and I bet it will be just as crazy addicting.
Since we had leftover marshmallows from our edible play dough, I made the kids matzo s’mores (remember the matzo obsession?)
The matzo s’mores were the highlight of the week until I made legit buttercream frosting for the first time in years. Or at least a year. All for Drew’s very-specifically requested birthday cupcakes – chocolate cake with pink and blue vanilla buttercream and sprinkles.
I call these “mullet cupcakes” because they’re Paleo on the bottom, party on the top. Get it? My sister was the only one who fully appreciated my cupcake humor. Sure, I could also just call them “grain free”, but this is my blog and they are mullet cupcakes.
But seriously, the chocolate cupcake part of these was a spin on this recipe that I might just have to work with, since they were even better than the original.
Birthday Boy and Weekend
Drew started out his birthday with a t-ball parade and practice with Adam, and he was even sort of happy to go because he got to dress up in the above outfit! And because Adam promised him a piggy back ride.
The girls spent a lot of time finding Drew repurposed old toys for presents and making him a birthday poster, all of which he loved.
Since he’ll be having a real party in a couple of weeks, Saturday was just family (and cupcake) time.
Saturday night, my sister and her husband babysat the kids while Adam and I went to his friend’s son’s bar mitzvah. This was the only picture I managed from the entire night somehow, but it was a whole lot of fun. (And by fun I mean I wore heels and a strapless bra.)
I can’t believe I didn’t take a picture of the 2 glasses of wine I drank (whoa), but just imagine me, hobbling along in a mini dress with 5 inch heels and a glass of merlot and you’ll get the idea. The wine even matched my dress – super 🙂
And, because life doesn’t stop for hangovers nowadays, Sunday was full of kid activities. Yup, two glasses of wine and no sleep = hangover.
Drew had a friend’s birthday party, followed by all 3 of them getting their dance recital pictures taken. Followed by Adam taking Emily into the city for a dance team performance at Mt. Sinai hospital. All the way through May, our weekends will be jam packed just like this one!
Have you ever made homemade play dough? Have you ever eaten it?
Favorite way to eat s’mores? (Honestly I used to love s’mores pop tarts)
Last time you wore heels 4 inches or higher?
I really can’t wear heels ever. Even at weddings I stick to less than 2 inches. On Saturday night I had (barely) 2 glasses of wine and went to bed and 11 and felt like crap on Sunday. When I go to bed that late I still don’t sleep in so I feel it the next day!
Glad I’m not the only one who feels like crap after that sort of night, lol!
so much to say here! the cupcakes look delicious, the girls look so pretty in their dance costumes, I was born at Mt. Sinai and so was my son and I love that you made edible playdough! I haven’t worn my heels in a bit but I did wear nice boots the other night to go out for dinner and even had a glass of wine (I really don’t drink – makes me faint lol). I need details on the bar mitzvah!
The bar mitzvah was nice – a good balance and didn’t have the “wedding” feel some of them can have now! The Mt. Sinai performance was cool because they live streamed a video of the dance to the kids in the hospital. And the cupcakes were gone in a flash.
What a great idea with the matzo smores AND mullet cupcakes! I never loved the taste of marshmallows but love the smell of campfire/roasted marshmallows. The color of the buttercream frosting is awesome!
I tried to get the colors perfect, lol! Score mullet cupcakes 🙂
LOL mullet cupcakes! OMG I was laughing so hard when I read that. I can’t remember the last time I wore heals. I’ve had so many foot problems but now that they’re better I would probably fall down if I tried!
I was never a fan of heels and those are old and my only pair! I need new ones!
It looks like you had an amazing weekend. I would concur with telling Emily that we all have our bad runs, and it’s amazing that she’s running at 7. I was 14 when I started, so she has 7 years on me! I hope the 5k goes so well! The cupcakes look good, and I’m thinking Drew had a really good birthday.
He did, thanks! And I didn’t start running until about age 21 so she definitely has me beat 🙂
Love the play doh recipes, I may just make some for myself 😉 and seeing those Tenafly Little League uniforms is hilarious for me because I have good friends with photos in the exact same outfit from 15 years ago…
Ha! That’s hysterical! And if you’re going to make one go marshmallow 😉
I totally used to eat play duh as a kid…well at least lick it (it was so salty!!!) Hahahahahahahahahahahah! Maybe I GAVE myself celiac disease by doing that 😛
I’ve never tasted the “real thing” but I’ve heard it’s salty! The rice one had no taste at all (just rice, cornstarch and applesauce or water) and the consistency was legit!
Dance recital pictures! I remember those days when I was a kid – recital time was always so exciting. That key lime pie looks like it was delicious. It’s one of my favorite desserts!
I love key lime pie! Definitely one of my favorites especially to order. The crust on this one is almost as good as the filling!
I know Drew must have loved the play doh experiments especially since he’d been asking for it. I wonder which he enjoyed more, the play doh or the legit buttercream frosting. I’d totally pick the second and by the way, I’m cracking up at the mullet reference.
Also you get special kudos for rocking out in 5 inch heels and a mini dress. I bet it felt great to get those puppies off at the end of the night. 🙂
Thanks for linking up. I love seeing you at the WIR.
From the time he spent on it I’d say the play dough was the winner! On Friday he played with the marshmallow one all day telling me how much he loved it. So funny what amuses kids 🙂
A) i want everything that you ate this weekend. like now.
b) Happy Birthday Drew!
c) the wedding in NYC (last night). Hampered my punjabi dancing. Before that? The last wedding we went to (in October, just before I got hurt). Oh, and I have a pair of wedges, but they aren’t 4 inches (my Toms wedges, which are the best!)
I’m such a baby with heels now! I want to try the Toms wedges 🙂
4 inch heels strapped on right now at work! though they are platform so probably only about 3inch in reality. they are open toed and oddly more comfy than lower heeled pumps i have. you are such a good mom to go to dance all hungover ! i mean it seriously not in a mean way. i would have totally pulled the “sick” card. sadly if i have a hangover now a days from staying out to late and partying i feel oddly proud of my immature young self rearing its ugly head. i need those days here and there !
The platform makes a difference! You get major points for wearing them on a weekday in my opinion 🙂
Hey Michelle, I love the edible play dough. What a great idea!
Thanks,
Gabrielle
It was fun to make, definitely worth trying!
Your homemade play dough sounds much better than the kind I make and the kind my mom used to make. Haha. It was edible, but certainly not tasty. I’m going to have to try your version!
Definitely go with the marshmallow if you try it! The colors take better on that one too because it’s so white to start.
Those cupcakes look awesome! 🙂 I love straight up classic s’mores best! Soooo delicious!
Graham crackers are pretty awesome, lol! And thanks!
I’m impressed by your homemade playdoh! When I was little I wasn’t allowed to play with playdoh unless it was in my room on my own. Why? Not because my parents were mean, but because my little sister would eat ALL the playdoh she could get her hands on and squish it all together. Is it any wonder why I started nannying when I left school so I could make up for my lack of playdoh childhood? Haha 😛
I love the term mullet cupcakes – so perfect, haha!
Haha! Maybe make some of this play dough to make up for the past 🙂 They’re both really cool in their own ways!