Use Your Words: September 2014

Hello, friends!

Today’s post is a writing challenge created by Karen @ Baking in A Tornado. This is how it works: 11 participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, but there's a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who received their words or in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.

At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featured in this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they were given and how they used them. 

My words are: Lemony pancakes ~ phone marketer ~ zoo ~ car insurance ~ yell ~ laundry

They were submitted by the wonderful Tamara@ Confessions of a part-time working mom  

The "Before-Dinner-Snack"

Weekday afternoons are often like a zoo around here. At three o'clock, the kids start coming home from school. Before the front door closes, they're yelling about one thing or another. Usually, it's announcing that a friend (or three) has tagged along, or asking loudly if the laundry they had balled up under their bed has been washed. 

I'm commonly multitasking by asking about homework or reminding the kids to pick up their shoes/jackets/backpacks while ALSO telling telephone marketers that I am NOT interested in lowering my car insurance rates/ buying a new roof/ completing a survey, etc.

It gets to be a bad rhythm around here; from three to five o'clock every day. There's always a bit of chaos, exhaustion, bickering, and non-connection. Definitely, our proudest moments are NOT happening at that time of day.

Some days, we just have to slow down. The shoes can be put away later. I don't need to yell about where the laundry chute is located five times a week. We all need to remember to breathe...and eat.

Ten years from now, my kids won't remember what the homework was. I won't remember who I was mad at for not putting their clothes away. What we will recall are the moments we did something completely unexpected. 

Like the time I made lemony pancakes at 3:30 in the afternoon. With whipped cream and thick syrup. No rhyme nor reason; just because. I had no idea what we would be having having for dinner that night. All that mattered was that we were going to sit down, eat something rich, and talk about our day. We didn't make a four-course meal OR healthy choices that day, but we did make some sweet memories. :)

The "Let's Just Eat!" guide to Lemony Pancakes 

Ingredients: Lemon boxed cake mix, 3 eggs, 1 1/2 cup water, 1/3 cup oil

Optional: Syrup, yogurt, fresh fruit, whipped cream

Make cake mix according to the directions on the box.

Scoop mix onto a hot griddle@ 325 degrees. The smaller the pancake, the better. Mine were too big.

When the pancakes start to bubble, slow-roll them over (like crepes) Cook thoroughly.

Stack on plates. If you're making more than needed, sprinkle with powdered sugar for easy separation later. The pancakes taste like cupcake tops. They can be served warm or cold.

Let the kids serve themselves up and enjoy.

 AFTER savoring your time together, remind the youngest to hang up his coat. Hey, we don't live in a zoo!

Make your memories on your own terms, friends :)
-Michele

Thanks for the words, Tamara!!

Baking in a Tornado                              

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