tales from mommyhood :: edition 3,429.

last night was a real hoot and holler.  i watched nbc's comedy night and on commercials (i'm glad liz lemon is baaaack!) watched the debate streaming live from cnn that was held 20 minutes down the road; i felt obligated in a way.  and now i am even less enthusiastic about voting on saturday.  one thing i am enthusiastic about?

these painfully addicting things: carmelitas.  they sound all sweet and pretty. carmelitas are sweet and pretty in a calorie-full type of way.  not in the i'll be your best friend kind of way.  cause really they're the devil in disguise; your worst enemy.

Carmelitas from Lulu the Baker

32 caramel squares, unwrapped
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Combine caramels and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until completely smooth; set aside. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda. Pat half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8x8" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel. Return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting. Trust me, COOL COMPLETELY.  otherwise you will be eating carmelita soup.

the good news? i don't run for nothing; i've put 21 miles on my nikes this week. which is a plus considering i most likely ate 2,100 calories worth of carmelitas.  i think crossing the finish line is almost as good as these chocolate and caramel packed magnificent obsessions, but it's still up for debate.

yesterday Hunter had his first official aiming lesson during potty training.  ::enter the need for mommy to eat more carmelitas; sanity::  hey, at least it means he's going.  right? thought you needed an update.  

also?  my kids are officially in the nose picking/eat your boogers/announcing every tootie (ie: gas passing) stage.  which makes a trip with the two of them a real hoot.  i mean toot.  no one ever told me being a mom would be so embarrassing. even if they did i'd still be in.  the red face is at least half worth the awesome laughs.

beyond carmelitas, there's another thing that keeps me slightly sane.  going to my backyard bff's (julie's) house and watching our kids play together while we try to muster up the brain power for a meaningful conversation in between breaking up fights and changing poopies and teaching a 19 month old what self-control means.

yesterday, after julie let their dog, clara, back inside from a potty break, clara left about five paw prints on their wood floor. 

hunter was not having the paw prints and asked julie right then to cween them up.  i mean.  the gall.  he is two and refused to walk across a paw printed floor.  and i thought he'd outgrow the dirty floor phobia.  

the thing that makes it all worth it?  before leaving our friends, and giving hugs, hunter announced a big hearty "i love you" to all.  that will do it.  carmelitas, friends, and i love yous? sign me up.

hope your weekend is full of carmelitas, friends and i love yous. or something kinda sorta like that.

///

ps.  congrats to: Jenn!!!  she's the winner of the lovely $50 shop credit to Art by Erin Leigh!

linking up with my girl, Rach.