Have you seen people on the internet making sushi bowls recently? They look really good but I don’t have most of what they need, and I’m pretty white, and I’ve hardly ever even had sushi. But, in true Hailey spirit, I got the idea into my head and bought some of the ingredients a while back, “just in case” I make them. Thankfully, those were nothing crazy.

Unlike the old standby Hailey, I actually decided to make these things the other day. I bought a couple more things – nothing crazy – and prepped to make one for lunch the other day.

I pulled up Pinterest and searched for easy sushi bowls, and there were more differences between them than I remembered. I got discouraged that I still didn’t have all the things, or just that I’d have to modify recipes. Remember, I’m not especially confident in the kitchen.

Except! Sometimes, I kinda am, now! Go figure!

So I improvised. And if we’re being honest, at home, I call this a white girl sushi bowl. And just because its not authentic asian food doesn’t mean it isn’t yummy!

Behold!

Ok. This is how I make it. Over explained, as per usual.

White rice. I don’t know what sushi rice is.

I drizzle rice vinegar over it. I always think thats going to ruin it, but it doesn’t.

I had to buy those snack packs of seaweed. I crumble 2-3 of them overtop of the rice. They’re cheap and easy to have in my pantry, so I don’t mind. And apparently they’re a sort of substitute for furikake, which is an asian seasoning that I haven’t been able to find. So. Seaweed sheets. Crumbled on top.

Imitation crab. Take it or leave it. I love that I have an excuse to have this stuff in my house, haha! Its yummy and inexpensive, and the only ingredient a person would have to actively repurchase on purpose, in my opinion. I hack up a few chunks. Don’t overthink it.

Same for cucumber. Cut a chunk of and hack it up. Doesn’t have to be pretty.

Ok. Spicy mayo. Sriracha mayo. I don’t opt for this kind of topping ever, but its really, really good. I don’t know what kewpie mayo is. I don’t have it, I know that much. And while I could use regular mayo and sriracha separately, it wouldn’t be as pretty. So drizzle that sucker. And then add more the next time.

And then you’re supposed to sprinkle black sesame seeds on top. Again, I don’t have those. So I went with everything bagel seasoning, lol! And, to me, that makes it. It gives it little salty pops and its SO yummy.

Anyway. I’ve made these a handful of times now for my lunches. Everyone in my home has tasted it, and while not everyone would choose to eat a bowlful, no one disliked it. The babies devoured it, spicy mayo and all!

Guys. You should really give it a go. Its so much more delicious than you’d think.

Mmmmm. Now I’m all hungry.

My mind has been swirling to say the least for a good while now. I had a cry yesterday out of total overwhelm, and today over breakfast, I printed out a brain dump page and loaded her right up!

I’d show you, but of course, I can’t, because thats the rules. But I’ll give you the gist.

A list of things for Brady to pick up from work.

A list of errands for Dekker to run on his way home after youth drop-in.

Arrange the pick up of a gift from Rowan for Laela.

Don’t forget to get the last items that are at Dollarama.

Hang the hay rack.

Dekker needs to wrap a gift.

Kids need to clean off their bedrooms floors for vacuuming.

Where are Wavys boots?

Blog.

Prep for New Years blog.

Prep for present report blog.

Update the foster book!

GET LICENSE PHOTO TAKEN

Bake muffins x2

Arrange teacher/leader/doctor gifts

Wrap last presents

Pack gift boxes that are shipping

Get gifts prepared that are being delivered.

More formula from Nordon to last through Christmas.

Chase tracking to final parcels.

Finish peppernuts out of freezer.

Bake banana bread?

Sugar cookie dough

Chairs into van

Confirm visits for the week

As for commitments of time, today held:

An appt in Saskatoon
Laela read through
Dekker drop in
Parent meeting
Grocery delivery

The last things further down the list are making a grocery list for the meals I’m hosting/helping with, and getting all the old leftovers out of the fridge.

I’m tired just typing that out 😅

Bedtime. For some of the kids, anyway. There is still much to do.

💜

Has anyone seen Wavy’s boots? 🤔

The last three days have held plenty of excitement in our household. Specifically for Laela! Friday was Laela and Waverly’s ballet recital, which they have worked VERY hard for. Saturday held Laela and Solomons piano recital, which was an even bigger deal being that it is their first year playing piano! And then today, Laela was Mary in the church’s kids Christmas play! Wavy was in it too, but let’s be real. Her part was “grandkid” which meant she sat on the stage and listened to the story. So. It counts but it doesn’t, lol! No burn, Wave! Tomorrow Laela has another fun thing up – her first read-through for the spring musical!!! Have I mentioned that she got a role?? We may have to talk about that sometime soon on here. For now, I’m going to keep it locked 😎 Just for kicks.

This week also holds school Christmas plays, which Laela (surprise!) has a part in. Its also the final week of parkour and piano. Dekker has Christmas stuff at youth, as well as the high school Christmas banquet. I need to get teacher gifts organized and delivered. All three babies have visits this week. The list goes on and on.

As chaotic as things look when listed out, I truly love our life, and feel incredibly blessed to live it 💜

For a while now, I’ve been seeing reels online where people roast up a big pan of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and garlic, and make it into tomato soup. And I’ve just really wanted to try it! So the other day, I went to Walmart (in person, like the old days, lol) and the kids and I bought 6 lbs of tomatoes. It felt like a lot… 🍅 🍅 🍅 🍅 🍅 🍅 I also bought cream. I had everything else at home. And today was the day to try it all out!

So naturally, I forgot to take a picture of the prettiest part – the big pan of halved tomatoes, with unpeeled hunks of garlic on top, salted and oiled and roasted.

I went slow motion. The recipe was all “meanwhile this” and “meanwhile that” and I rather read a few steps ahead to make sure I wouldn’t get caught burning stuff or ill prepared. While the tomatoes cooled, I did exactly that. I mixed up some veggie broth. I put together the few seasonings and cut up an onion. I peeled all the garlic as soon as it was cool enough. Somehow that stuff feels high stakes to me. I’m still new, I guess. But once all the details were accounted for, I melted a little butter and got into it.

Onions, sugar, and oregano. Nothing special. It eventually softened and I threw in all the other things. Garlic. Tomatoes. Broth. And then I left it alone until it started simmering.

I let it cook down for a little bit, 20 minutes or so, and then I turned it off to let it cool good and proper.

Well actually, I only let it cool for a short time, but then my blender disagreed so I let it cool a little longer, and when my blender cooperated, I buzzed it all up!

But then I had to strain it and let me tell you. That bugged me a LOT. It was taking forever.

But then I found a method and got the end bit done, and it came out smooth and beautiful!! It didn’t make as much as it promised to, but I imagine there’s a learning curve. I threw in some cream, salt and pepper, and voila!

The best part is that even the kids all enjoyed it, which I did not expect. It was delicious and, believe it or not, it tasted like tomatoes, which I only now realize canned tomato soup does not! Lol! Don’t worry. I’m not nitpicking anyone who eats soup from a can. I certainly do. But this was a fun thing to try and it turned out surprisingly good!

Laela exclaimed “If this is cheaper than canned soup, we should have it ALL the time!!” 😅 ‘Tisnt, Laela. Not even sort of, lol! But thats not the only reason to eat something thats good for you! Anyway. A whole conversation opened up from that, and it turned out to be a really successful suppertime.

As the Christmas baking continues, I give you….. *drumroll please*….. jam jams.

Jam jams a la GHOST!!! 👻 I know what you’re thinking, and you’re right. They couldn’t be any cuter. They even taste good.

*takes boo bow*

Cher and I went out on the town last night!!!

Not in the sexy way. You get it.

We kicked it off at Lawson Mall for asian food. Its the best mall asian food in the city, in our opinions, and we are right. Cher did not feel happy that I took a picture of her…

so she elected to highlight my wounded face.

which was fair.

Our food was magically delicious, and over far too quickly. Goodness I don’t know what it is about food court asian, but its like my grandma used to say about ice cream – it just slides in between, as though you simply never run out of room for more. Anyway. We called it at one super combo between the two of us, and figured we’d top up with our yearly Starbucks bevy.

Cher needed a sleeve for her very sensitive wittle fingers 😏

Caramel Brûlée lattes were gone in no time, and we headed oot and aboot for some Christmas shopping! We went to a handful of places, but the highlights were easily the Walmart and Value Village in Stonebridge. We rarely hit that location, being that its across the world city, but it was worth it. We got some gifts for people, among other things that we needed. The Lemon Drop has sized up and needed jammies. Things like that. A highlight was these classy coffee cups that may or may not be for colon cleanses… Butt first…

Cher had some amazing finds at VV which made her whole entire day and possibly the next, also. We closed the day off with a donut and a relaxed dark drive home 💜 It was peaceful and lovely.

It is always a beautiful time together, dear girl 💜 Merry shopping date. I love you.

Aaaaand everything thats left on the list is going to have to come from Amazon, lol!

I’m definitely on a bit of a kick over here. I went to the kitchen this morning to work on a little bit of Christmas baking, and forgot completely what i was actually going to do, and ended up making more peppernuts. It helps that I have a ton of the dough already in my fridge, and I have some rolled up in the freezer, ready to be sliced and baked. But. I have SO many now, hahaha! So hopefully everyone is happy knowing they will be getting them for Christmas 🤣

I ate them while I baked them, hahaha! Even this one little guy seemed ready and willing to join the party.

They are delicious and it is very easy to eat too many. They are on the softer side, which is my preference but not everyones. But, I’m right, so 🤷🏼‍♀️

Anyway. I feel like maybe next year I should make a million ahead and sell big bags of them or something, because they are SO yummy, but they are also tedious, and not everyone can make the time for them. But if I can, I’d like to! Its been a yummy season, and its only just beginning!

While I was in the city today, I hit up Value Village with an intentional list.

And would you believe those punks had absolutely nothing that I came for??

And because they’re such jerks, they had OTHER things that I ended up wanting?!?! Man. They are indeed thieves of my time and money. But also, I have no regrets, hahaha!

I’m not going to show you all the cool things I found just yet, but I will show you one gem that I visually enjoyed before setting it back on the shelf.

You’re welcome.

Most Christmas shopping to come tomorrow!! Can’t wait to hit up our yearly evening shop, Cher! 😘

I wish you all a peaceful, uninterrupted, settled, dreamless sleep!

When the going gets tough, the tough struggle.

When the going gets tough, the tough cry themselves into a puddle.

When the going gets tough, the tough husband makes mochas.

When the going gets tough, the tough have a soak that has bubbles and the sleepy time epsom salts.

When the going gets tough, the tough hugs their kids super duper extra tight.

When the going gets tough, the tough eats lasagna in bed.

When the going gets tough, the tough gets weary.

But.

When the going gets tough,

God is tougher.

💜

Today, my mom was over, and we talked Christmas! Plans about where and when, and decided how unplanned things are also going to be. Some nifty gifty talk as well, of course. She spent some good time in the afternoon reading to my kids. They started a novel a while ago, and today, they officially finished it! But while she read and the babies napped, I got some more Christmas things going.

I made some cookie dough that I forgot to talk pictures of…

and a crazy ton more peppernut dough also made! I super misjudged the container on that one 😬

Whoops! Ah well. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have time to scoop some out of there and get it baked up, and then the container should close 🤣

I also made a double batch of puppy chow, because YUM, and who doesn’t want that?

Nothing is safe with toddlers, so I have limited spaces to actually set things out to cool/dry. Even this is risky, for the Morsel has been known to drag footstools over to wherever the action happens. But these batches did set and make it into a big fat container in the fridge, so, success.

Last night felt restless, but my brain and body and heart are tired, so tonight I will pray well before bed, and then I plan to sleep like a rock. Please, Lord, give me rest for the week ahead.