I Heart My Mom
Hey guys! Well, after all that talk about productivity in my last post, at 2:30, Ryan and I hit the hay for a TWO HOUR nap!!! Lol—it kind of came out of nowhere—I mean, neither of us has been exactly missing sleep lately. I actually used to take naps almost every day in grad school, but I hardly take them at all anymore. It was nice—I just hope it doesn’t mean that I’m going to be awake until 2 a.m. now!
Around 4:30, the UPS man dropped off a surprise Valentine’s day package from my mom!
Look at the cute bag she sent:
So sweet! She also sent a beautiful glass blown bottle with a bird cap (I’ll take a pic—I know it’s kind of hard to picture!), a candle, some lace doilies, and other fun V-day stuff! What a great surprise! Thanks Mom!
Around 5:00, I hopped on our treadmill and walked at an easy pace (4.2 mph) for an hour while I watched some Dr. Oz. He kind of gets on my nerves, but I have to admit, he sure does know a lot! Today he was talking about cancer prevention and superfoods.
And he’s a heck of a lot better than Dr. Phil! 
For dinner tonight, we cooked up some easy, comforting pasta. We bought this pasta a while back at a gourmet Italian store a few towns over. Isn’t it pretty? Little leaves:
For the sauce, we cooked up the rest of our Light Life sausage, a BIG bag of spinach, and some Bertolli marinara. Simple, healthy, and delicious! I always add spinach to my pasta sauces—it’s a great way to get some veggies in there when you don’t feel like having a salad.
Check out how much it cooks down:
Five minutes later:
And ten minutes after that:
This morning, I peeled some bananas and popped them into the freezer, so I knew what I was having for dessert…
Banana soft serve:
But it was missing something…bunnies!
The bunnies add a little sugar…but they’re worth it. 
A great end to a great meal!
* * *
Another reason why I love my mom…she’s hilarious! Check out this e-mail that she sent me and my sister this afternoon, and tell me you don’t just love this woman:
Hey, Girls! I have to tell you a funny story that just happened to me. I was walking around the neighborhood, looking at all the snowmen (I think every kid in Shreveport has built one!) Anyway, I got to Dudley and there was a teenaged boy (maybe 17) who had built a large snow penis (think Washington Monument with 2 beach balls at the base) in his front yard. He saw me and got this teenaged cocky grin on his face and said "Hey, you like my snow sculpture?" Me: "Yeah, that’s something else!" Him: "But, it keeps falling over" Me: "That’s what she said!" He looked at me and then died laughing. I was so proud! I think that’s the first time I’ve gotten to use that line appropriately. The moral of this story is that I think it’s time for your dad to get home when I’m out bantering with teenaged boys!! Mom
My mom is awesome.
We’re about to watch Julie & Julia!!! I’m so excited—I didn’t like the book (although I LOVED My life In France), but I have high hopes for the movie!
Have a great night, y’all!
That story about your mom is HILARIOUS!!! Haha! And the bag is too cute.
How do you make the banana soft serve? I’ve tried and tried but have never gotten it right
I just froze a banana and plopped it into the cuisinart. It is LOUD for the first few minutes, but eventually it starts to smooth out. You can help the process along with a splash of milk (I added about 1/4 cup of almond milk) about 2-3 minutes into the process.
Thanks!!!!
Your mom is too cute! I loved Julie and Julia!
Hey, there’s def. no need to apologize for the long comment- I love those! Those Annie’s bunnies are really addicting; they’re one of my favorite snacks
Your mom is so cute & I laughed at her e-mail
So funny about your mom’s comment! I don’t think mine would ever think to say that! The banana soft serve with bunnies sounds like a perfect dessert
Haha I just love your mom’s email!! And that fact that she emailed that story at all
Can’t wait to hear what you think about the movie- I liked the movie better than the book but neither made my favorite list.
Your mom is too funny…I love that she emailed you a story!
Julie and Julia is a fabulous movie. I bet you will LOVE it.
Have a great night!!
I love Dr. Oz and need to catch up! Dinner looks great and your mom is so sweet and funny!
I didn’t like the book either, but I LOVED th movie, and Meryl Streep’s version of Julia CHild…hilarious! And just like your mom, too! Hee hee, she’s so adorable.
I LOVE THAT PASTA by the way! OMG. So cute. I wish I could find stuff like that!
Haha! Your mom is hilarious! I love That’s what she said jokes! They are endlessly funny to me!
Your mom truly is awesome! I love how proud she was of properly using the phrase
I also love the leaf pasta- so pretty!
That leaf pasta is adorbs!!! I love that shade of green too.
I never ever ever take naps. I used to take a zillion naps in high school but I have enough trouble falling asleep at night that if I take a nap, my chances are shot!
My mind races too fast when I’m at school, I could never calm it down to take a nap : /
What a cute care package for VDay! And the dinner, lovely. The relationship w/ your mother, totally enviable. I am seeing mine for the 1st time in 18 mos next week. We are not close, at all. They are coming to see their grandchild, not me. I only hope I am raising my child with the kind of love & compassion your mom did for you so that in 20 yrs, I have with skylar what you have w/ your mom. xoxox
I’m sure you and Skylar will have a great relationship– you can tell just by the pictures that you post how much she worships you!! She is ALWAYS smiling!
Mommy-mail is seriously the best, no?! The other day I got a card and a lil spending money from ma mere and it totally made my day
Mommy-mail is seriously the best, no?! The other day I got a card and a lil spending money from ma mere and it totally made my day
http://www.justjac.wordpress.com
What a sweet mommy!
I just had to comment about the 4.2 mph being an easy pace. I am so short 4.2 is jogging for me.
Glad you got your package. Sorry there were no chocolates, but I didn’t think you’d want it with the sugar challenge. I’m so proud I made the blog – I feel like I’ve been published!!
Your Mom is amazing, end of story.
Have fun watching, “Julie and Julia”! I looved it, I think you will feel very warm and fuzzy afterwards.
i still have not tried the banana ice cream yet! what a great mom!
Love easy comforting dinners like that! Love the email from your mom. Too funny. My mom would NEVER in a million years say anything like that.
hahahh your mom is funny! love that email.
How sweet of her to send that bag! My mom always gets me the best valentine’s day stuff, too.
Aww your mom is too funny
And your banana ice cream with your bunnies look yummy too!
Stop!! That is SOOO funnny my eyes are watering!
Haha, your mom is too funny. I love that she was proud of herself for using it correctly!
OMG I LOVE YOUR MOM HAHA
Banana soft serve! Looks so delicious, is there a better way to end the day? I think not!
That is hilarious- your mom rocks! I love the office
hahahah twss!! Awesomeness. your mom sounds amazing.
The valentines bag is sooo darn cute <3
I LOVED Julie and Julia (the movie) Obsessively watch it!
Um, that is the best TWSS story I’ve ever heard. And I’m stoked that it was said by a respectable mother! That makes it even better!