She's a Unicorn and SUPER Happy About It

It's such an odd juxtaposition having a VERY EXCITED preschooler around on a day when things aren't right. Mila is a hurricane of happiness nearly all of the time, and she doesn't know to chill a little when the world is upside-down. Thus, she spent Saturday ALL OF THE EXCITED.

It came after hours of pinging off the walls and making me crazy. And by hours, I mean she was up until 2:00 am Friday night supervising one of my projects. MAKE IT BIGGER, MOM. IT NEEDS MORE FLOWERS. I WANT MORE PURPLE, PLEASE. BIIIIIGGGGGGER! I put the child to bed at least a dozen times but she kept showing up because she was really very concerned that I might screw up her dream costume if she didn't keep tabs on my every move.

I made the dreamiest dream costume ever. The smile says it all.

For what it's worth, that's not Mila's real Halloween costume. That's her consolation prize because, as usual, her job on Halloween is to be her big sister's accessory. Mila has accepted her role in this world as an accessory in part because there's always a consolation prize. I scrape together a second costume for her to wear to preschool and any pre-Halloween events we may encounter.

This year's random pre-Halloween event was dance class, where costumes were allowed, and a Halloween party, where costumes were encouraged. In other words, Mila got to be a rainbow unicorn for like 12 hours on Saturday, so BEST DAY EVER.

Except, it wasn't the best day ever.

There are no words that adequately describe how odd it is to have a little person living their best life even as you watch your city fall to its knees.

Cinnamon Apple Bake

When the fog of sadness won't clear but a Tiny Human is wrapped up in her own cloud of pre-Halloween excitement, it's hard to navigate the day. While I want to spend my minutes thinking about the 11 Pittsburghers who should still be here, Mila wants my minutes to be spent paying attention to her. She's a unicorn, don't you know. LOOOOOK.

We compromised by coloring the Taco Truck that lives in my living room. Then we baked. I don't know what else to do, frankly, so life moves on. It moves on in slow motion and with extra pauses here and there, but it moves on.

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Cinnamon Apple Bake

1 package Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls (the whack-a-can type)
4 medium apples (peeled, cored, and diced)
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Cut up the cinnamon rolls (each roll should be cut into 6 little pieces) and place in the bottom of a 9x9" baking pan.

3. In a large skillet, melt the butter. Toss in the apples and brown sugar and stir. Allow to bubble, stirring frequently, until the apples are softened. Add the cinnamon and vanilla and stir some more.

4. Pour the apples over top of the cinnamon roll pieces.

5. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

6. Drizzle with the cinnamon roll icing.

7. Serve warm. Feel free to add some vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if you want bonus points. I'm not sure if this is more of a breakfast thing or a dessert thing, so let's just say it's both.

Cinnamon Apple Bake

When the fog of sadness won't clear but a Tiny Human is wrapped up in her own cloud of pre-Halloween excitement, it's hard to navigate the day. While I want to spend my minutes thinking about the 11 Pittsburghers who should still be here, Mila wants my minutes to be spent paying attention to her. She's a unicorn, don't you know. LOOOOOK.

We compromised by coloring the Taco Truck that lives in my living room. Then we baked. I don't know what else to do, frankly, so life moves on. It moves on in slow motion and with extra pauses here and there, but it moves on.

*******************************************************************

Cinnamon Apple Bake

1 package Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls (the whack-a-can type)
4 medium apples (peeled, cored, and diced)
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Cut up the cinnamon rolls (each roll should be cut into 6 little pieces) and place in the bottom of a 9x9" baking pan.

3. In a large skillet, melt the butter. Toss in the apples and brown sugar and stir. Allow to bubble, stirring frequently, until the apples are softened. Add the cinnamon and vanilla and stir some more.

4. Pour the apples over top of the cinnamon roll pieces.

5. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

6. Drizzle with the cinnamon roll icing.

7. Serve warm. Feel free to add some vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if you want bonus points. I'm not sure if this is more of a breakfast thing or a dessert thing, so let's just say it's both.