I’ve had a few hectic days. 

I had some vacation time to burn at work so I scheduled a “super long weekend” for myself.  I planned on lots of relaxation and visiting with friends and family in between some holiday baking, finishing my Christmas shopping, wrapping all the gifts.  Alas, my weekend didn’t exactly go as planned. 

Where to start? 

My oven hasn’t been working that well lately.  It takes forever to heat up and last Tuesday when I turned it on to bake the cookies I was preparing, it smelled like gas pretty badly.

Not a good sign! 

The cooktop seemed fine but Lloyd banned me from using the oven.   

On Thursday, the first day of my vacation, I woke up to the sound of the doorbell.  We were having new cable installed and apparently, they forgot about that whole, “We call one hour before we come,” thing. 

Oops. 

I spent Thursday homebound, without cable, internet, or an oven.  Out the window went the plans to do my baking all day while Mr. Cable did his thing. 

It’s really hard to occupy yourself at home in December without TV or internet or a working oven.  Especially when the TVs being wired are in the bedroom, the kitchen, and the basement.  It was hard to make myself scarce. 

Eventually Lloyd came home to relief me so I could do my exciting errands like go to the library.  While I went to the library, Saint Lloyd went to Lowe’s and picked out a new stove because Ms. Bossypants could not go another day without a stove!

Friday I woke up with a migraine.  In an effort at self-medicating, I chugged coffee by the Christmas tree, because I would be damned if I didn’t feel better by that evening for my friends’ Christmas soiree.  Lloyd called to say that my new stove was being delivered sometime that afternoon! 

Hooray!  I would have a stove when I got home on Saturday. 

Until Lloyd called back to say that Lowe’s had messed up.  The stove they sold him was out of stock and they couldn’t deliver it.  Did he want to come back and select a different one? 

No, Saint Lloyd told them.  They would find that stove and they would deliver it, ASAP. 

Finally, they were able to locate the model at another store and yes, they would deliver it ASAP. 

And did I mention it cost a cool grand? 

Yea… about getting home on Saturday. 

My friend Lindsay and I met up to drive into Boston, and I left my car at a Train station overnight.  So after Lindsay dropped me off, I was on my merry way to my car, all excited to go home and finally bake.  I patted myself on the back for the hangover I didn’t have, commending my responsible self. 

And then my car didn’t start. 

And it was 8:30 AM, aka, Lloyd wouldn’t be awake for another… 3 hours? 

Much to my surprise, Lloyd answered his phone when I called.

Except… he couldn’t come rescue me until Lowe’s came to deliver the oven that was supposed to be delivered the day before. 

Yea.  So I was advised to sit tight until Lloyd could come jump start my car. 

And did I mention my phone was about to die? 

And I was in capri yoga pants because that’s what I packed to sleep in, so the area between my kankles and calves was exposed and I was also wearing my shoes from the night before because I forgot to pack sneakers. 

And it was cold.  All of a sudden, winter came to Boston.  Just in time!

Lloyd finally came to my rescue.  My car still wouldn’t start.

That was fun.

At this point, I can only imagine Lloyd must have been thrilled to realize… this is his life.  Forever.  And he must have been thinking, “is it too late to get out of this?” 

And so we left my poor little dead car at the T station overnight.  I came home and remained horizontal on he couch for the remainder of the afternoon into the evening, eventually slipping into a coma around 8PM.

I woke up Sunday, slightly panicking because, you know, my dead car was stuck 25 minutes away in a parking garage. 

Lloyd woke up and we discussed our game plan for my car and made some phone calls.  We tried to start it again with no luck.  We called AAA.  As the minutes ticked by, Lloyd made it clear that my dead car was interfering with his football-watching and fantasy-playing. 

AAA came, and couldn’t tow it because they couldn’t get it in neutral. 

They left and sent another truck back with a new battery to try swapping it out. 

Three hours passed, and $200 later, I had a new battery and a working car. 

I sent Saint Lloyd on his merry way to get home in time for what I was told was a very important day of sports and I went on a mission to complete my Christmas shopping, which included purchasing 3 male beta fish as gifts for our niece and nephews. 

But that’s neither here nor there.  (Just cross your fingers that I can keep them alive for five more days.  My track record with plants, fish, and cats is nothing to brag about.)

My weekend certainly did not go as planned. 

However frustrating and inconvenient, I tried to keep things in perspective.  Of course, I cried and threw a temper tantrum when I realized we had to throw away money on a stove and I cursed that damn car battery up and down.  But then I realized, I am still better off than most people.  I am lucky to have a home with a stove and own a car… even one with a dead battery.  For once, I decided that rather than focusing on my setbacks, I’ll count my blessings.  I am better off than a lot of people out there. 

Now, because most things in life don’t come quick and easy, let me leave you with a recipe that is both of those things! 

These mini muffins are a cinch to make and incorporate seasonal flavors that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.  These will make you forget about all your troubles, if just for a minute.  Sit down, relax, enjoy these muffins, and count your blessings.  Enjoy the magic, peace, and calm of Christmas time.

‘Tis the season!

Baked Gingerbread Mini Muffins

Based on this recipe from Pinch of Yum

Print this recipe!

Yields about 2 dozen mini muffins

Ingredients

• 1 C flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp of allspice
• 1/4 tsp of cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 C brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 C applesauce
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp butter, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Mix all dry ingredients.
2. Whisk in egg, applesauce, maple syrup, milk, and butter
3. Pour batter into mini muffin pans and bake for about 8 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and let cool. 

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