The Secret Code Is:

After my post this morning the girls were ready for breakfast and said they wanted waffles. Ummm, alright. Alright would be code for I just cleaned up the kitchen but sure, why not.

Waffle Day

They love to stir while I read the recipe and measure out ingredients for them to add in. Add in is code for play tug of war with a cup of milk.

We used the waffle recipe straight out of the waffle box. The drops of syrup on that recipe is my proof.

2 cups of all purpose flour is code for 1 cup of white flour and 1 cup of whole wheat flour.
3 tablespoons of sugar is code for 2 tablespoons of Agave Nectar.
1/4 cup of vegetable oil is code for 1/4 cup of canola oil.

Waffle Recipe

That’s right Black and Decker I totally cracked your stinkin’ code!

Maxine, waiting patiently.

Waiting

Maxine, impressed!

Maxine is Impressed!

Ava said these were the best waffles she’s ever eaten. Shhh, don’t tell Kashi we upstaged them.

Ava Is Too

So while I don’t get the wedding gift waffle maker out regularly, sometimes I am motivated. Motivated is code for begged. That recipe made 4 waffles, so there were plenty left over and these are great to pull out and toast up in the toaster oven for a couple more breakfasts and snacks.

Waffles Up Close More for Later

I didn’t have one, I was still happily digging my magenta juice and cantaloupe buzz.

And lesson learned, don’t accidentally leave the far-from-cheap Grade A Maple Syrup unattended while you turn your back for just one second. Turn your back for just one second is code for run off and check your email.

Don't Check Your Email

Now we know.

Waffle mess and syrup covered children cleaned up, it was time to make a big salad mess.

Salad Mess

Red leaf, spinach, carrots, tomato, cuke, sprouts, shredded zucchini and a PURPLE pepper straight from the garden. All ingredients in a large bowl, a little dressing…. Shake, shake, shake… shake shake shake… shake my salad! Right JanethaB? That’s the only way I roll. Roll is code for tossed.

I worked around the house and then it was time to set the kids free of the confines of the house and meet up with my dad at the yacht club for a little pool time.

But first, a snack! And this is where things started to turn eerily familiar.

Snack of Shriveled Stuff

Hmmm, didn’t I have that same salad for lunch yesterday? And I think that shriveled snack of dried apples, raisins and walnuts is a repeat too!

Hey man, if it ain’t broke…

Snack time and then pool time. Pool time would be code for Mama’s undisturbed reading time.

Reading Time

We ended up staying pretty late. My dad was out sailing and it was nearly 7 by the time I convinced them we were packing it up and getting the show on the road. Convinced them is code for drag a reluctant Maxine out of the sandbox and giant play Pirate ship while trying to let her think she’s in charge by giving her the option of going down the slide or walking the plank.

Boy that was some code. But yeah we cracked it! High Five! And she chose to walk the plank in case you’re wondering.

We stayed so late I completely underestimated how hungry I was and how long the car ride home was. In fact, to say I was hungry would be putting it mildly.

My favorite Natalia inspired Hold Me Over snack while I waited for the microwave to do it’s thing. That’d be carrot sticks while waiting for leftovers to heat up, baby!

Carrot Snack

Not pretty but I don’t care. I was hungry! And hungry would of course be code for STARVING.

Leftovers

Did you know that food tastes better when you are hungry? True story. Well, I think it’s a true story, I don’t have a link to any sort of prestigious study to send you to but I know I’ve read that before. Basically it has to do with your hunger hormones, ghrelin probably. As I understand it, it’s nature’s way of encouraging you to eat MORE. If you are really hungry when you sit down to eat your body thinks food is scarce and wants you to tank up. Food tastes better, therefore you eat a lot. Reason #561 not to go too long without eating.

Luckily for my waist line this leftover beauty was pre-portioned out and therefore portion control was built right in.

While I’m not willing to wager a small child on the validity of that little tidbit, I’m fairly positive it’s true. But I’m no RD, I just read a lot. I’m mentioning all this is because I was thinking about that as I was eating the best chili EVER. It certainly seemed true tonight because I was STARVING by the time we got home and this tasted about 100x times better than it was last night. And it was good last night!

It was the best chili I’ve ever eaten.Β  Shhh… don’t tell the Alison of Christmas Past that I upstaged her.

And now it’s time for bed. No, bed is not code for anything.Β  I’m just going to bed.

18 Responses

  1. Your posts make me laugh, you life seems like such a fun adventure!

  2. K that chili looks even better today and I’m so making it soon. End of story.

  3. Gah! I want to get a waffle iron so we can have those fun breakfast times! Your girls are so cute all messy and happy. What do you think of Thrive? I read it over a while ago and really enjoyed Brendan’s insights.

  4. You were quite the detective today, cracking all those codes and whatnot ;). And yes, going hungry is no fun at all, but it sure does make food taste amazing-er. I think some of my yummiest meals have been when I was downright starving!

  5. Thanks for sharing reason #561. It makes complete sense. I eat dinner way too late quite often and end up eating a little more than I should.

    I have I mentioned how cute your girls are!? Adorable photos today!

  6. O how i love Ava’s belly shirt! Gosh her and Maxine are the cutest!!!

    Can i have some carrot sticks, i packed myself a huge bag of baby carrots today, i’ll be thinking of you! haha

    One question!? Is your chili recipe on your blog. Must get. it looks AMAZING!!!!

    ttyl Alison! πŸ™‚ x and a bunch of those O’s

    http://saladdiva.wordpress.com

  7. Max digging into the syrup is toooo cute.

  8. Love all the codes in your life… πŸ˜‰

    Happy Thursday! πŸ™‚

  9. You crack my sh&% up hun, I love this i feel like i am with you every day like when we where kids sharing in all adventures

  10. Chili is always better the second day, looks delicious!

  11. I agree with your theory…everything tastes good when I’m starving and I’m much more willing to eat anything and everything. πŸ˜‰

    Looks like the girls are celebrating waffle week in the best way possible…love the syrup pic! πŸ˜€

  12. I want a waffle maker! The kids would love it! It looks pretty fast and easy.

    I had to laugh that Maxine chose to walk the plank. (haha) So cute!

  13. hahaha I LOVE reading your posts! Your kids crack me up. I love how excited Maxine was when she saw the waffles. hahaha and what a mess of the maple syrup they made! I’m sure you were happy to clean up that sticky mess.

  14. fabulous post. fabulous chili. fabulous salad. fabulous waffles. fabulous code. fabulous you.

  15. I have a “wedding waffle maker” that I bought for a wedding long past that we didn’t make it too…cuz our car broke down on the way…and, um, well, I kept it.

    shhhhhhhhhhh

    obviously another family member we see sooooooo often!

    ha

    I thought code for “flour” was whole wheat flour and oat bran…. maybe I cracked the code wrong.

    and any and all chili, left to “sit” is code for UBER YUM

    now you know!

    xoxoxox

    I love Max’s lil surprised face! and the tug o war over the milk…. I didn’t raise my two kidlets toghether so I missed “sibling rivalry”

    but I remember it from long long ago…boy the stories I could tell.

    πŸ™‚

  16. My second born is always getting into trouble when I turn my back too!!! Shhesh!! I made a huge batch of quinoa last night for dinner. I should make leftovers into chili!!!!
    -A

  17. hooray! you are celebrating waffle wednesday/national waffle week in full force. and your girls look too adorable working in the kitchen. and i love the one of max looking ultra impressed by the waffle iron! food def tastes better when hungry.

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