A Little Time for Ourselves …

March 18, 2018 by still a dreamer

If your life is anything like mine, it’s hard to find time to do some of the special things we love. Among them for me, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, is baking. Today I had changed my plans and decided to make some muffins. From scratch, of course. Chocolate chip muffins.

I searched through my collected recipes, but did not find one for chocolate chip muffins. Everything but. So I turned to my good friend Betty Crocker. No matter how many cookbooks I have or how often I’ll search out a recipe online, I will never be without a Betty Crocker or Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. Why? Because it always has so much basic cooking and baking information as well as a variety of recipes both easy and complicated to make. Forgot how long to poach an egg? How many tablespoons of butter are in 1/3 cup? How many cups of chopped nuts you’ll get from a 1 lb. bag? And although these things can always be found online, the internet can be a big time suck and have me looking at all kinds of things I don’t need to be looking at. Just give me the facts, Betty, and I’m good.

I looked up Betty’s basic muffins, and they seemed a little too basic to me. Soooo … I went online to a place where I’ve had great muffin success in the past – Mr. Breakfast. And right there on the home page was #1 of their Top 20 Favorite Recipes – chocolate chip muffins. OK, I’m in! I read glowing reviews and then compared them to Betty’s version; Mr. B’s are sweeter and more fattening to be sure – butter instead of traditional oil, and a bit more sugar. I’m still in.

The bottom line here is that baking these muffins made me happy. It’s time well-spent – a small gift I can give to myself. It’s something we don’t do for ourselves nearly often enough, sometimes even when we do have the time. Between all the things that really must be taken care of and all the ways we can lose our time to distractions (and here, I repeat, the internet), what about the things that fulfill us? Whether that be writing, art, music, gardening, baking, crafting, restoring furniture, reading a good book … what about spending a little extra quality time with loved ones/pets … whatever it is, why not give it to ourselves?

Speaking for myself, it doesn’t really take much to make me happy, a trait that I am enormously grateful for. My guess is there’s probably a whole lot of little things that make you happy, too. Be kind to yourself; allow yourself to be happy, and enjoy those little things.

p.s. The muffins? Maybe a bit more chocolate chips than I need. I had already cut down from 12 to 9 oz. Ghirardelli’s Dark Chocolate Mini Chips (what I had on hand), but 6 oz. would certainly be enough. Other than that? Mouthwateringly delicious and worth every second making them. Yum!

Posted in Creativity, food, Home Stuff, Inspiration, Just Fun, Life | Tagged Baking, being good to ourselves, Betty Crocker, chocolate chip muffins, made from scratch, Mr. Breakfast, muffins, time for ourselves | 17 Comments

17 Responses

on March 18, 2018 at 6:51 pm Toni Myers

Chocolate Chip Muffins with too many chips? Is there really such a thing? Sounds so delicous that I am inspired too.

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- on March 19, 2018 at 9:55 am still a dreamer
  
  I know, right? Whoever thought I’d say that??!! And p.s., thanks for “Sugar Lips” – she was too adorable; I loved it. 🙂
  
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on March 19, 2018 at 2:23 pm Lavinia Ross

Enjoy all the good things in life, Jeanne! 🙂

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- on March 19, 2018 at 5:49 pm still a dreamer
  
  That’s always my plan! (Even if it sometimes takes a while to get there.) 🙂
  
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on March 20, 2018 at 11:26 am Cynthia Reyes

Yum-yum to you! It sounds delish!

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- on March 20, 2018 at 11:57 am still a dreamer
  
  My challenge? Spacing them out so they don’t disappear too fast! You know, there’s a link to the recipe there, should you feel so inclined. 🙂
  
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on March 23, 2018 at 10:56 pm 47whitebuffalo

Oh I have a basic muffing recipe to which I add EVERYTHING. Chocolate chips with some dried cherries and shredded coconut.
Thanks for visiting my blogcasa and commenting. Much appreciated.

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- on March 25, 2018 at 12:39 pm still a dreamer
  
  That sounds delicious! I hadn’t planned on baking that day, so just turned to what I had in the pantry. But you’ve got me thinking. And you are most welcome!
  
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on March 28, 2018 at 3:52 pm roughwighting

I find that baking is extremely satisfying. When I’m worried about something, I bake. When I’m stressed/frustrated, I bake. When I’m happy, I bake. My guy thinks it’s terrific. I spread my baked goodies far and wide, including freezing them and then sending them to my son in CA (he misses my baked masterpieces – haha). I am going to make these choc chip muffins in a few days. This morning I baked my chocolate chip oatmeal butterscotch bars for a friend’s birthday – and these are her favorite. Baking muffins/cookies/bars is a terrific homemade gift. xo PS, I prefer butter to oil when I’m baking also….

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- on March 28, 2018 at 4:14 pm still a dreamer
  
  I wish I had more time to bake, but when I do, like you, I get in that zone and it’s just me and the baking process. And then there’s always enjoying the fruits of our labor. And while I’m careful about butter in other areas of eating, there is just nothing better than butter in baking – makes all the difference. Good luck with the muffins! (Mr.Breakfast also has a yummy gingerbread muffin – great for Fall.)
  
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  - on March 28, 2018 at 4:21 pm roughwighting
    
    I think I’m going to have to get to know Mr. Breakfast. 🙂
    
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    - on March 28, 2018 at 4:30 pm still a dreamer
      
      Cinnamon muffins, too. Hee, hee.
      
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      - on March 29, 2018 at 7:55 am roughwighting
        
        Ack. STOP! I’ll eat breakfast all day long!!! 🙂
        
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on April 4, 2018 at 8:27 pm writersideup

Jeanne, I just wanted to pop in to say “hi” and I see these aMAzing looking muffins! NOT what one wants to see the first day trying to be “good” again lol I hope you’re well, my dear. You going to the conference this year?

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- on April 5, 2018 at 4:14 pm still a dreamer
  
  Hi Donna! I love to bake, but I also love photographing food. I think I would have enjoyed being a food stylist – maybe next life! 🙂
  I am going to the Conference this year, but not staying over. Horrible migraines on each Sunday of the last 2 conferences I went to has convinced me it’s worth schlepping back and forth and avoiding FebrezeLand. How about you? Will I see you? And maybe we can grab some time and catch up?
  
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on April 5, 2018 at 7:37 pm Bespoke Traveler

Your chocolate chip muffins would make me happy too. I think life is all about balance, and an essential part of that is being able to appreciate the little beautifies in our world in whatever form they appear. Enjoy your muffins!

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- on April 9, 2018 at 5:07 pm still a dreamer
  
  There are times, as you no doubt know, when balance is easier and more then difficult to find. It’s always worth pursuing because out-of-balance makes for unhappiness. The muffins were delish, and most definitely added a bit more balance to my life. Thanks for stopping by.
  
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