Back to School

I began this week with mixed feelings. I knew I was going to miss these two cuties, I was nervous for both of them because they both started new schools, I was sad that this would be Maddie's last 1st day of school with us and I was worried about being left alone with plenty of spare time to think about what happened to my Mom.

It turns out I had no reason to worry whatsoever. Sweet Hubby took Monday off and we enjoyed a rare date day. The girls have had a great week at school although Maddie's got off to a bit of bumpy start in her 1st class of her 1st day. When asked last night how they would rate their comfort/happiness at their new schools on a scale of 1 to 10, Emma said a 7 and Maddie 8! All things considered I'd say that's not too bad for the first week in a new school! As for me? It's been a surprisingly good week for me. I feel like I'm getting my grove back. I even plan on getting back to some Cottage type blogging next week. Gasp!

But before I do, I thought I'd share some fun back to school things with you. I believe this is the cutest lunch box and thermos ever. Emma loves all things French as well as all things Japanese. We found this at Borders of all places!

Every year on the first day of school as well as various other school days, I make these yummy chocolate chip muffins. They are always served on these plates. We call them happy plates and clearly you can't eat anything off of a plate covered in cherries and not be happy. Am I right?

Back to School Muffins aka Monday Muffins aka Bad Day Muffins
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup milk
1 cup chocolate chips
demerara sugar

Grease 10 muffin cups or liners.

Preheat oven to 400°. Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil in a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill muffin cups right to the top and sprinkle with demerara sugar. You can skip this part but my kids would have my head on a platter if I even considered it.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

Then just in case those muffins weren't bad enough, I found some yummy fun treats at Trader Joe's. These yummy alphabet cookies

and these yummy bags of Kettle Corn. Truthfully I bought these because of the packaging. That is the most beautiful food packaging I've ever seen. And it's my favorite color! It made me want to design an entire party around it. Is that wrong?

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and I'll be back next week to talk cottage with you.