GFCF Banana Coconut Cupcakes

Yesterday, we had our Liesegang kids over after school, for some Valentines Day fun.

Cupcakes were on the agenda.

The kids worked together, mixing and making the BEST GFCF cupcakes we've had yet!

I used my go-to recipe for cupcakes, but tweaked it a bit.

1 1/2 cups AP GF flour (mine includes xanthum gum)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 whole banana
1/2 cup almond milk
2 tsp. vanilla (real)
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs

350 for 20 minutes.

Mush the 'naners with the almond milk and vanilla- set aside.

Whisk together the flour, salt, BP together- set aside.

Beat the oil and sugar together until they are "fluffy" (about two minutes on high)
Add one egg at a time- allowing them to fully incorporate with the sugar and oil.
Alternately add the flour mixture and the banana/milk mixture.

Pour into cupcake pan and bake away!

I then just used coconut oil and powdered sugar for the frosting (oh and I added a bit of vanilla).

Our Story: love.

8 years ago, Jake and I started our love story.
He was in Oregon.
I was in NY.


Jan 2, 2005 we started to email.
We emailed every day (sometimes twice a day) for the next year.

We typed about our pasts.
Our hopes.
Fears.
Trials.
Successes.
Emotions.

Story after story.
Thought after thought.

Emails filled with honesty, humor, kindness, hope, and admiration.

Those emails- those words- created a foundation for the marriage and family we have now.

A few months back, Jake asked me to check on an amazon.com shipping order in his email account.
When I popped in I found a folder titled "Jilly".
I opened it.

He kept every single email we had written one another.

So today- in the spirit of the day of LOVE- I printed them out and got them bound.



I titled our story:

love.

Valentines

Tomorrow is Lou's Valentines Day school party!
Thought I'd look around the house to make her classmate's valentines:
I used leftover paper from the $3 stack of paper I got for their dollhouse.
Extra burlap from my burlap garland.
And ribbon that's been hanging around.
Jake ran up to the little grocery store ,here in town, and got a bag of 'hearts'.
A cup of coffee.
A list of names.
Valentines Day can commence!

Curriculum Writing 101

About a year ago I was sitting in a Starbucks with a client from Enrich All, working on their social enrichment plan (something I created while working with Enrich All), when I was approached by a man and his business card.
He told me he was over hearing my conversation and ideas and was hoping to meet with me to discuss his website and my enrichment plans.
I was a bit skeptical at first- but after visiting his website and reading reviews, I realized this dude was legit and I ought to hear him out.

After a business meeting, he offered me a spot as a Curriculum Writer for the online autism community, Mundo Pato. (www.mundopato.com).

My Job:
I am to write a curriculum for families, guardians, professionals who live and breathe Autism- Social Enrichment for the Transition Years.
Through my curriculum, the families/ professionals will learn how to:
1. Develop their loved one's self worth.
2. Create a social enrichment plan for their loved one.
3. How-To Guide to put the plan into motion.

It has been MORE than a challenge to get this project done, but today, Jake took the Ladies to the beach for the weekend, my mom is here watching the Fella, and I have three days to pound out the first draft!

It's ON!

Organization: A LARGE Challenge

My brain may never regain its full function, and for someone whose brain was a scallywhompis mess in the first place- this can be trouble!

Organization and I have never been the best of buds. I'm pretty rad at living a minimizing life; where the clutter is kept in control by just not having a whole lot to control- but with three kids and countless hobbies...my house is starting to look like my brain:
A scallywhompis mess.

I'm going to show some pictures.
These pics may or may not bring shame upon our clan- but that is a risk I am willing to take.
These pictures are of our spare bedroom, downstairs, that I have wanted to turn into my craft room. So far, it sits as our "catch all", aka my skeleton.

Over the next few days I will be chipping away at this hoard.
I will not buy anything new, but use what I have already- just use it more effectively (or maybe just start using it in the first place)!

So- without further ado....my hoard:

Bandana Bibs

I fell in love with bandana bibs a bit ago, and was so excited to make a few for our Cowboy Crew.
Today I got my chance.
(Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for wonderful puzzle time distraction!)
I found a totally rad tutorial on www.purlbee.com- fast and easy! I made these two in thirty minutes today.
(Cowboy Crew is pretty fab at modeling if you ask me).

GF Pantry UpDate

I asked my mom in law to keep her eyes open for rad glass jars while she hit up her Goodwills and antique joints.
This past Christmas I got a gift of TEN totally fab jars to add to my GF pantry.

Gf AP Flour mix
Gf AP Bobs Red Mill flour
Sugar
Powdered sugar
Brown sugar
Masa
Corn meal
Gf Oats
Quinoa
Gf pasta
Rice
Gf Pancake Mix

Thanks Claudia!
Love.