CIDER MILL DATE

I don't know about you but this rainy weekend weather in Michigan made me uber lazy! We basically couch jumped from room to room watching movies and eating all the snacks we could get our paws on. The only productive thing I really did was work at a Mom2Mom sale Saturday morning where I sold off all the unused baby items we had stockpiling in our basement. Otherwise, I did jack shit.

The weekend prior we were in super fall mode. We packed up and met Jerek's sister and family out at Blake's Cider Mill for an extremely warm and glorious day of hard cider drinking and apple picking. Blake's is a go to for us every year and we usually get pumpkins there but it was a little too early this time around.

Amy beat us out there and grabbed a mixed 6 pack of hard ciders for us to try upon arrival. I honestly can't say I've ever had hard cider before then, which is strange but it totally reminded me of a sweeter champagne, insert *heart emoji eyes* I think you can buy the hard cider that they make in local stores as well, but don't quote me on that! 

Tyler has been known to high kick many things in his day and despite a kidney stone making him moody he attempted to perform his usual antics apple picking, while Amy boomeranged him of course. Sky fell asleep so I forced Jerek into an improve photo shoot. Which totally reminded me, we need to get new family photos taken since the last ones were in Mexico at our wedding, oui! 

I already made two batches of vegan apple crisp with these apples and they were amazing! I also made one batch gluten free by using GF flour and it was just as good! This weekend I'm off to Traverse City for a girls weekend so it was really nice to just relax with the boys these last two! But it's Monday and back to the grind. Only 37 days till Black Friday so I must leave you to work on things for the shop! Happy Monday!

5 SMALL APPLIANCES YOU NEED IN YOUR KITCHEN

In college I could have cared less what was in my kitchen as long as a I had a wine opener, a coffee maker and a pot to make Ramen noodles in. Really, the necessities that got me through those 5 years.

The older I got the more I started to take interest in what was in my kitchen, mostly to make my life easier. I'm no chef you guys, in fact my motto is the higher the temp the faster that shit cooks! I also burn 73% of all things I cook so there's that.

I've been to a handful of weddings, even got married myself and I've bought and broke a good amount of small kitchen appliances. However, I've also learned what has worked for us and what we really need so I figured I'd share in case you're still cooking rice over a pot on the stove. Don't worry, I use to be there too. Just remember, nothing cooks faster on 450 when the instructions say to cook at 350.

BLENDER- One day I will have a Vitamix and drink green smoothies every morning because #health. Today is not the day though, I'd rather buy a plane ticket for that price. However I have upgraded my blenders over the years because I was sick of having a blender and a juicer so I got one that could do both (kinda, remember, it's not a Vitamix) until I land that beautiful Vitamix! We have a Ninja blender and it's been great! It has the individual cups with lids to take drinks on the go and the large pitcher for big old margarita's, smoothies.

RICE COOKER- My dad got us one for Christmas years ago and I'm so glad he did! It's been LIFE changing! Yes, a little magic machine that cooks ALL types of rice PERFECTLY. It also has a steamer tray on top for veggies, GENIUS! If you've ever struggled cooking brown rice get yourself a rice cooker people!

CROCK POT- I know all the rage is an Instapot but I don't have one of those and I don't see a need, right now, to spend money on one. We have used the same one for years and years and its held up great! I've even seen people do a whole month of meals in crock pots, this shit is crazy!

ELECTRIC KETTLE-Notice coffee machine isn't on this list. Coming from a coffee addict that means something. While we have a Kurig, an Espresso machine and a french press, I honestly think the best way to make coffee is a pour over. This is how all the great coffee is made over seas and in some of my favorite local artisan coffee houses locally that I frequent far too much. Heating up the water to do these pour over is where people get stuck. Do NOT heat that shit up in a microwave or "brew" water in your kurig, it's just not the same. Use a kettle. I've had a stove top kettle before but electric ones are the bee's knees. I recently got one for work so I can make coffee, tea and oatmeal RIGHT AT MY DESK GUYS!

HAND MIXER- I never registered for a big stand mixer like most brides, but id you know me, I was not "like most brides". Unless you use that puppy weekly it's just a very expensive prop for your Instagram photos or another thing on your counter tops that collects dust. No offense if you did and got it, props to you, but my hand mixer and Target mixing bowls get the job done. Cookies play dough, bread, lots of things this little guy can whip up real fast.

So there you have it, my 5 favorite small appliances I use on the reg. And if you're wondering, Chelsea, did this really warrant a whole blog post dedicated to kitchen appliances? The answer is yes, yes it did. I'm just a mom trying to help ya not waste money on things you don't need so you can make dinner faster and enjoy cocktails sooner.

HAPPY 4TH BLOGIVERSARY EAST WILLOW GROVE

Happy 4th birthday little blog you! I could have chosen a more flattering photo of myself but that wouldn't be fun! I was having issues with my manual focus and shooting by myself if you can't tell #bloggerprobs

I HAVE A FAVORITE KID

(Trace mean mugging me for even thinking that I'm allowed to kiss Skylor & not him)

I have a favorite child. It's true, I do.

My favorite child is the one that is not acting like an asshole when it's time to come inside. He goes to bed on time and doesn't put up a fight. The one that eats all the food at mealtime. He's the one that rarely talks back or throws a fit over absolutely nothing. Keeps the water in the bath tub when asked to do so and picks up his toys when he's done playing with them.

He's the one that can wipe his own ass, brush his own teeth and dress himself. He's the one that smiles so deep your heart melts deeper. He's the one that laughs the best, says I love you the sweetest and who gives the best hugs. He says sorry when he's wrong and he wants you to be happy.

If you didn't know, I've described both my kids.

My favorite kid changes by the day, the minute, the month. Every day there is always someone not listening, someone slamming cabinets and someone I can't wait to put to bed. Some days neither are my favorite and I want to lock myself in the bathroom and pretend I'm taking the longest poop known to mankind. But really, if I tried to do that they would all come barreling in looking for me so that wouldn't really work anyway.

"When I'm not near the kid I love...I love the kid I'm near" 

-Finians Rainbow

Sometimes my favorite kid is the dog. He never wastes food, doesn't need his ass wiped and sleeps really well. But he also can have accidents in the house, leave half eaten bones right in the middle of the hall where I step on half asleep. He will bark at the damn wind blowing and has eaten 100's of my underwear.

Sometimes my husband is my favorite kid, you know the one that makes me amazing dinners, can read my mind when I need a cocktail and will tackle any DIY project I throw at him. He can run the household while I'm gone at a bachlorette weekend, a trip for work or when I have a horrendous migraine. He takes the kids to run errands, does laundry and can cure my hangovers with Chipotle. 

And then sometimes there are no favorites. Each male annoys me to a point where I end up yelling CAN YOU ALL JUST LEAVE ME ALONE FOR A MINUTE!!! 

When all else fails, and no one is your favorite, I suggest walking around Target to watch other parents struggle with their kids. There's something that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when I see other kids being assholes to their parents! I realize that sounds neurotic, but it makes me want to go home and jump right back into the madness I ran away from in the first place.