Suck It, Dora

There was this thing that involved reading maps and contests and I don't remember the specifics, but I won. It was some sort of academic contest and it was determined that of all of the freshmen in my tiny little high school, I was the one who could best read a map.

Fast forward a few years and it occurred to me that reading a map was a rather pointless skill. In a world where the Internet can give you turn-by-turn directions, maps are sort of helpful. But, in a world with GPS, where even your phone can tell you that you need to turn right in 50 feet, nobody needs to be able to read a map.

I mean, it's still a useful skill, but not. Suck it, Dora.

Don't tell Alexis, though.

I don't know why she is fascinated with maps, but she always has been. If we go to the zoo, she grabs a map. She will use it to tell us what is coming up next and follow the paths all around.

She does the same thing at Phipps.

The crazy thing is that the kid could be a tour guide at both of those places. She doesn't need the dang map to know that we need to turn right, but yet she spends ten minutes staring and getting her bearing and figuring it all out every time it's time to move to a new section of the complex. IT'S MADDENING.

But yet, it's not.

Because the kid knows how to read a map and that's pretty cool.

Hitting the Bike Trail with Capri Sun

There is some magic that happens when your kid suddenly discovers the ability to ride a bike for miles on end.

ROAD TRIP.

Or, rather, TRAIL TRIP!

Now that Alexis has fully and completely discovered her identity as a Real Bike Rider, we're all about the family outings involving miles and miles of biking. We meander down gravel paths, up wooded hillsides, and all around our city.

It's bliss.

Part of why it works is that I'm all about the preparation. We can't just go ride bikes. That would be silly. Instead, we Ride Bikes. It's an event complete with a picnic lunch, a fun place to take a break (think water fountain or creek or such), and cute clothes. The cute clothes are for Alexis. Obviously. I will ride in anything.

Half the fun is watching Alexis prepare for the outing. She will excitedly dig through her drawers looking for the just right shorts and t-shirt. She always coordinates her shoes. She makes sure her helmet will look cute with her other wardrobe choices. The attire alone is An Event.

But then there's the picnic lunch.

If you've never asked a 7-year old to pick out things for a picnic, run now. Do it. Do not walk, just run to that 7-year old and ask him or her to pack for a picnic. If you don't have a 7-year old handy, you can use mine. Just make sure that I'm around so that I can enjoy the magic that is her face lighting up as she considers the possibilities.

Alexis will dig through the pantry for trail mix. She will cheerily assemble a bunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She'll even throw some bananas or grapes in to the pile of food. She will also make sure that we have some Capri Sun Juice drinks to go along for the ride.

I've been a fan of Capri Sun Super V Fruit and Vegetable Juice Drink for a while now. It has no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, but yet it contains a full combined serving of fruits and vegetables*. It's magic in a shiny little silver pouch, and it tastes good. Seriously. You can make fun of me for drinking out of a pouch and I won't care because YUM. That's all to say that I'm cool with Alexis' love for all things Capri Sun, so I keep it around the house. That means it's always around when Alexis wants to pack for a bike picnic.

So, into a backpack will go a whole pile of fun picnic food and a few packs of Capri Sun Juice drinks. We will navigate our bike path, pointing at birds, watching for deer, and generally enjoying the day. Then we will stop for a break complete with a little picnic.

Alexis thinks it's the best thing ever.

I think I agree.

(Alexis just discovered Capri Sun Roarin' Waters Flavored Water Beverage, which are basically fruit-flavored waters in a pouch. She might be obsessed with them. Just a little. Find out more about all of Capri Sun's Juice Drinks on their Facebook Page)

*Each pouch provides 1/2 cup of fruit and vegetable juice. According to US dietary guidelines, Capri Sun Super V Fruit and Vegetables Juice Drink contains one combined serving of fruits and vegetables - 3/4 from fruit juice and 1/4 from vegetable juice. Be sure to feed your kids a variety of whole fruits and vegetables each day.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

You know how sometimes you just want to sit on the couch and stare at the big black box for ten minutes? And how you need it be mindless and vaguely amusing?

Ain't none of that happening for me tonight.

I don't watch TV nearly often enough to be interested in the Emmy's. I'm so bad at TV that I don't know what that Breaking Boardwalk show thingy is about, even.

And don't get me started on the Steelers. Really, don't try. Because I can't. I have no energy for what is happening with them so far this year.

BUT I FOUND A CURE!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

So I discovered this bit of magic by accident a few weeks ago. I was running low on butter because me and grocery shopping just haven't been friends for the past few months. In the absence of enough butter to make regular Cookie Dough Dip, I glanced at the pantry and said HELLO, MY FRIEND to the peanut butter.

A little switcheroo and TAH-DAH! Magic!

It tastes exactly like peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough, which is a VERY good thing. It's so good that I keep making it, despite the fact that I don't actually need it.

Except for when the black box ain't cutting it. Then I NEED it.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

1 - 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 bag mini chocolate chips

1. Melt the peanut butter and butter in a small saucepan over low heat.

2. Turn off the heat. Add the brown sugar and stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar mostly dissolves.

3. Add the vanilla. Stir.

4. Allow the butter/sugar to cool for a few minutes and then mix in the cream cheese. A hand mixer and medium speed works nicely.

5. Fold in the chocolate chips. Refrigerate until it's time to serve it.

6. Serve with graham crackers, animal crackers, Nilla wafers, apples, bananas, or whatever makes you happy. For what it's worth, a spoon makes me happy when the Steelers are impersonating the Browns.