Buen dia Mis Amiguitos!!! ...

Ay Dios Mio! ...I've been in for a wild ride since deplaning at the always lovely John Wayne Airport...But no complaints here! 

My decision to make this impromptu trip out West (and I would NEVER have it any other way!), has temporarily ceased me from being able to focus on blogging up a storm, as I had previously intended on doing.

But for me, *Family Always Comes First*.

..So if that means my blogging, and other responsibilities have to go the wayside for a few days, so be it. I will now forever have this special memory that I would never have had, if I prioritized the small things in my life.

Just look at this face:

*Priceless* 

I think we tend to do that all too often.

We prioritize the small things in life, only to realize that there is no time left to focus on the BIG things in life; The things that give MEANING to your life.

...And then we wonder why we feel Unhappy, Unfulfilled, and Dissatisfied with our lives. Think twice before cancelling, or turning down an opportunity to spend time with those we love, because we're "too busy," have "too much work to get done," etc.  

You've got to  Let the LOVE IN  In order to BE AND FEEL loved yourself. 

<<<SIGH>>>

...

I went really deep on your buns, without the intention to do so, but when I write, I just go with it...what can I say?! Y'all know I keep things REAL  up in here!  (<--- bytheway...can I tell you that having the ability to insert actual EMOTICONS is, hands down, my favorite part about this new functionality I have at my disposal.) Totes.

...Moving on...I thought I would share my very very ACTIVE and EARLY morning with you!

We kicked off our morning in HIGH GEAR, by first, making a delicious 

Tropical Slushie (Vegan, Non-Dairy)

Unfortunately, I have no photo of my concoction, but here is how to make!

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 Banana

1 Cup Frozen Pineapple

2 Giant Frozen Strawberries

1 Cup Ice

1/4 Cup Water

This was JUST what the doctor ordered, and extremely refreshing for a warm Summer morning...

...We then proceeded to the SWIMMING POOL (and mind you, this was at 9:30 a.m.) to get our bodies moving! We kicked, swam laps, and had a dance/jump competition - ELLA WON!  There was no time for Aunty Lola to get an alone-time workout in this morning, so we DID WHAT WE COULD...and MADE TONS OF FUN OUT OF IT! 

We have been on our feet ALL DAY LONG (until now-fewf!) and ended our swim-sesh with none other than...

A BAKING SESH!

We baked COOKIES & a special PINK CAKE to bring home to Mommy & Gracie-Pie today!

Bethenny's OATMEAL PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 

RECIPE:

3/4 Rolled Oats

1 Cup Oat (or Whole Wheat) Flour

1 tsp Baking Soda

3/4 Cup Raw Sugar

1 Egg

1/2 tsp Almond Extract

1/2 Cup All Natural Peanut Butter (We used crunchy-flaxseed PB today, because it's all Mama J had!)

1/4 Cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1/2 Cup + Semisweet Chocolate Chips

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat Oven to 350. Combine all ingredients (except choc. chips) with mixer. Stir in chocolate chips last. Use ice cream scoop to form cookies.

Recipe makes about 9-10 medium-large sized cookies .

These are seriously one of my favorite cookies EVER, and ALWAYS a crowd pleaser! 

I Love B!  --> http://www.bethenny.com/2010/05/05/oatmeal-chocolatepeanut-butter-cookies/

...

Last, but certainly not least, we made a BEAUTIFUL PINK CAKE for our new little peanut! It's not frosted YET...(and I don't want to blow any surprises) but here are the layers!

Instead of using the junk-infested boxed cake mixes-(although, Lord knows we all have a soft spot for them), we used Bob's Arrowhead Mills Vanilla Cake Mix:

Hopefully Bob comes through, and the cake is a HIT! ...I'll let it be known if it's no bueno...

...Well I'm famished now Dollios!!! ... I've got to get some COMIDA in my belly! 

I'll try to post as much as poss while I'm here! ....

MUCHOS BESOS!!!!!!!! 

Love,

Mrs. LDC* xoxo