Saturday Scrapbook: Homemade Pretzels

Don't get excited, I'm not going to give you some great tip on how to get your scrapbooks to be fabulous and complete in one day or less. 

By the way, if anyone knows a tip for how to do that, please let me know. 

No, for Saturday Scrapbook I thought I'd just share something that was going on around my house during the week, and it could fit into a number of different categories.  Basically, I'm telling you Saturday's going to be a surprise every week.

My darling love is amazing; he does laundry and dishes and cleans a lot.  He treats me well, takes care of me, works hard, loves his children and mine.  He can cook some things on his own and if I leave him directions about how to cook a specific food he does a perfect job.  He's pretty fabulous and I love him very much.

With that said, I've never really seen his as him as a "natural" in the kitchen, chef-ing it up.  Sorry, dear.  I am getting to a point.

He's recently been interested in making homemade pretzels.  Honestly, when he brought this up, I looked at him like he was a nut!  However, after a few tries he has figured it out.  Here's the link for the recipe that worked for us:  Homemade Pretzels at Food.com.  We did change it to include slightly less water in the mix, reducing it by 2 tablespoons or so, and the dough was perfect.  Here are my photo documentations of the perfect dough day.  (A photographer, I am not, but you get the idea, right?)



Ta Da!



Fashionista Friday: Dressing for Muffin Top and Love Handles

Ok, people may not view me as a fashionista. Who knows? In my mind, however, I fit this category. I dream and drool over runway couture in a way that is unhealthy and pretty shallow.

Since I do not have a couture budget, I have taken a few lessons from the school of life and maybe, kind of, sort of, developed my own thing. It's jeans. Every day.

Jeans photo courtesy of bulldogza; freedigitalphotos.net

Wait.

That's not my own thing, is it? Every mom is doing it.

Shoot.

Well, here's what I'm NOT doing...muffin tops and love handles. Over the last 2 years I've, well, expanded a bit...from a 6 being loose on me to quite honestly, needing to buy a 10. Hey, Haagen Dazs is good stuff, I'm sorry!

I'm still squeezing into my 8's and one pair of size 6 stretch jeans, but with my added padding, especially in the love-handle area, I've found it necessary to adjust my normal dressing habits. I've found a few solutions that work well for me.

First solution: Old Navy Sweetheart jeans. If you've got some rear baggage and a little meat to your thighs, these are an awesome friend to have. They have some stretch and best of all, they are that perfect waist to crotch height that gives coverage without becoming the “mom jean” I cringe at the thought of. I highly recommend Old Navy for a reasonably priced selection of many fits and styles.

Second solution: Buy longer tops. In my experience, this means you spend slightly more on tee shirts and whatnot, but if you get 10 cheap tee shirts and you feel like crap when you wear them so they stay in your closet/dresser/laundry basket, have you really saved anything? Buy great tops. They're worth it. And please, if you are 5' 2” or less, don't buy anything that goes past your crotch. You'll thank me. Even at 5'6” I find it hard to wear anything long without looking like I'm drowning.  Look for tunic or "long length" in the product descriptions, like this Bella tee on Amazon: Long Length Tee

Third solution: Buy flesh colored underpinnings. I mean camisoles, body shaping Spanx, (I have Spanx Higher Power High-Waisted Panty).  Choose whatever works for you. Get some that can breathe for summer, some to provide extra warmth for winter. Having the correct underpinnings prevents the floppy skin show all together. I mean, how many of us really want to see all we actually do see out there? Love handles and thongs and crazy tattoos.  Underpinnings don't have to be tight and scratchy and about sucking you in and moving fat around;  it's about coverage.

Keep it in your pants, ladies! Hey, I've been guilty of this in the past because I was too busy/broke/changing sizes too much to get proper things, but I'm taking a stand...let's start a new revolution, because the current one is grossing me out.

Photo courtesy of Ambro; freedigitalphotos.net

Woman in pink panties photo credit

Jeans photo credit; bulldogza; freedigitalphotos.net

Thoughtful Thursday: Overcoming Self-Doubt

My aim today is just to look at something that has affected me and could possibly be of help to others.  Something about the war that goes on in our heads, sometimes our hearts...I'm really not sure if this will be a flop, but here goes!

The most prominent issue in this category for me at this time, well, most of the time, is self doubt.  I go through this war in my mind about many, many things.  This blog, for example.  I was back and forth, like I had the devil on one shoulder and an angel on another...

Art courtesy of digitalart; freedigitalphotos.net

"You don't have anything to say."  
"Then why do I have so much in my head?"
"You already spout off at the mouth too much!"
"I know and accept that fact.  But this could channel my spouting!"

You get the idea.  In spite of this, here I am!  HERE I AM!  I am doing it!  I have leaped across so many hurdles in the self doubt category lately, I thought I'd try to corral my thoughts and give a few tips about what has helped me.

1.  Gather information.  This is tricky.  Gather information in the spirit of collecting data, not in the spirit of making yourself feel prepared enough to jump in.  You will never have that much information before starting, it's not possible.  Some things only come through experience; the older I get, the more I think that applies to most things rather than just some.

2.  Find people succeeding at what you want to do.  Simple.  For example, if your dream is to be the top direct salesperson in your region, look to the top salesperson in your region for inspiration, advice, ideas, and assurance that it is possible.

3.  Let go of haters.  Yes, I actually used the word "haters".  Yes, I'm shocked too.  It is true though, that not everyone will wholeheartedly support you, not everyone will believe you can do it.  If you can't get your head wrapped around letting what they say go in one ear and out the other, don't talk to them about your ideas.  Simple.  If they put doubt seeds in your conversation anyway, walk away.  Hang up the phone.  Let go.  It is about them, not you, so don't take it on.

4.  Get support.  You need supportive people in your life, no matter whether you are inventing new cures for cancer, sewing crafts for hobby shows, battling a chronic or terminal illness, or battling a teenager!  Gather those supporters close to you and hang on their words.  I never would have been able to accomplish this without the support of my dad, Papa B, the support of my darling love, and the support of my dear friend, Neonatal Nurse Nancy.  Many people have supported me and I thank ALL of you, I'm just mentioning here the people who have been, day to day, championing me.

5.  Stop getting in your own way.  You know what I'm talking about.  That running tape in your head that has all those doubtful, negative remarks in it.  Here's how I overcame that part:  I thought about my daughters.  I thought, "Would I ever say these things to my daughters?  How would I feel if my daughters said these things to themselves?"  In this way, I have moved around my own self-sabotaging thoughts.

6.  Jump In.  Take a deep breath and just get going.  What are you waiting for?


Angel/devil art credit

Hump-Day Helper: Menu Planning

It's Wednesday, a.k.a. Hump Day!  The big hump in the middle of the week that's got us sliding into the weekend at it's end. 

Listen, I'd like you all to know you don't have to resort to those meat "helper" boxes on the grocery store shelves.  Let me share with you my secret for not resorting to packaged food or takeout (too much)...it's a big one...it's....now wait for it................................make a menu plan!

I encourage you to at least think about your menus a week ahead.  You know what nights you have basketball practice and dance class and guitar lessons to run to.  We have 4 to 6 kids in this house at any given time, plus half of the neighborhood kids fairly often;  if I can make plans with all my chaos, anyone can.

I'd recommend checking out this cookbook by Jonni McCoy, Healthy Meals for Less.  It has recipes focused on feeding people for less than $1 per serving.

I like to plan for one easy-peasy meal a week.  This is boxed or canned or something otherwise completely unhealthy.  I'm talking canned ravioli (around here, I make fresh ravioli with homemade sauce that I have simmered for hours, and canned ravioli is still preferred - I gave in).  I'm talking spaghetti or macaroni and cheese or tacos.  Easy.  Ready in 20 minutes.

When desperate, check out http://www.myfridgefood.com/.  In this incredible site, you can click to include what you already have in your kitchen and it will create meals for you!  I have been wishing for just this type of tool for years.  Bookmark it, trust me.

Photo courtesy of John Kasawa; freedigitalphotos.net

Crock pots are sent from heaven.  If you don't have a good slow cooker cookbook, get one or start googling some recipes.  This is the solution you need for practice nights when you are running hither and yonder and back again with no time to cook.  The Fix It and Forget It cookbooks are a favorite go-to for the crock pot.

Saturdays or Sundays are a great day for a nice big family meal.  We sit down at the table, together for the most part, 7 nights a week.  This is not possible in every family, so try to make it happen at least on Sunday.  Roast a chicken (I have to roast 2 for this bunch) or cook a roast beef or ham.  Some steam-in-bag veggies tossed with olive oil and kosher salt and a little couscous and you're ready for a fabulous sit-down with the family.

So now you've got Sunday family dinner, one easy-peasy night, and say...two crock pot nights for those hectic practice nights...you've already got more than half a week planned!  Woohoo!  Make Friday pizza and movie night and you only have to get creative to plan 2 dinners.

Try this planning sheet...it has plenty of room for writing and also a space for the grocery list.  The first page is a to-do list; second page is the menu planner.  I print page 2 every week and  I hang it on a kitchen cabinet so the kids all know what to expect...presto!  No more bugging about what's for dinner!

Crock pot photo credit; John Kasawa; freedigitalphotos.net

Author's note:  Edited to include photo attribution in crock pot caption 2/8/12

Tightwad Tuesday: Saving Money on Groceries



Photo courtesy of worradmu; freedigitalphotos.net



We all need to save a little cash these days, right?  That's what Tightwad Tuesday is all about!  My income over my adult life has had peaks and valleys and everything in between, but no matter my income I've always loved to learn how to save a little green.

What I do not like:  things that are too time-consuming and things that are more effort than the money saved.  With that in mind, on Tightwad Tuesday posts I'd like to share some of the little things that help to save big money over time.

My first tightwad tip is to save money on meat.  If you are feeding one, two, or a crowd like mine, the bill for meat purchases can really add up.  Everyone knows to shop sales and look for great deals, so I'll leave that as a given.

Shred your meat.  It's that simple!  Ever make a delicious soup or casserole and have the meat you carefully cubed up all gathered together in one section, or laying at the bottom of the soup pot?  I find it hard to distribute meat evenly in these types of dishes.  The best thing you can do is shred it.  If you've got a bowl and two forks, you're all set.

Pre-cook the meat and let it cool slightly.  Put it in your bowl-a mixing bowl is what I usually use-and use the two forks to shred it by holding the meat with one fork and dragging the other fork across the meat.  By doing this, the meat shreds will be deliciously distributed throughout your dish eliminating the, "Hey, he got a bigger piece that I did!" and "I didn't get any meat in mine, mom!" In doing this, I have made casseroles and soups to feed 9 hungry bellies with 2 or 3 chicken breast halves.  Now that's saving some cash!!!

 Fork w/cash photo credit





Monday Motherhood Musings

As I type the title for this post I am thinking, "Wonder how many people use Monday Musings for a theme on their blogs?"  I'll have to Google that.

My weekend has been fraught with anxiety and self-doubt.  Things like, "I can't do it.  What do I have to say that anyone cares about?"  I'm trying to overcome that, so even if you don't care...just click away from the page and don't tell me; I can't handle it yet.

Along with my racing thoughts, we had an exciting weekend with a house full of kids, as we do on alternating weekends.  Six kids is a full-to-the-brim home in a 3 bedroom colonial.  This is a constant sore spot, I think...kids in blended families having to share bedrooms is difficult.  Coming from a family of 6 kids, I think on some level I enjoy the chaos and noise of it all.  My 4 kids are used to it and just go with the flow...my darling love's kids have enjoyed a quieter existence in the past and are not quite so keen on the whole thing.

My exciting weekend includes one very sick little girl, BeanzG11.  She just started with a cough on Wednesday, and having a million kids, I do not run right to the doc with every sniffle.  She went to school Thursday, then seemed worse Friday.  She stayed home.  She didn't do much that required her to be vertical Friday, Saturday or Sunday.  On Saturday I made a frantic trip to Target to get some sniffle meds that would not conflict with the expectorant I gave her in the morning, since everything suddenly moved into her face. 

The poor girl.  BeanzG11 gets sick in a major way.  When she gets a head cold or sinus stuff going on, she just starts leaking out of every orifice in her face, it seems.  Leaky eyes, leaky nose.  She just looks drippy.  Sunday the fevers set in and my relaxed, wait-the-virus-out attitude blew into the wind when ibuprofen wouldn't touch her fever, and frantic-mama-needs-to-save-her-baby blew in.  A call to the doctor's office got me a call back in a short few minutes, and I learned something new.   (Who knew?  With 4 kids, shouldn't I know it all?  I'll post about that another day.)  No need to be overly concerned if the fever won't come down with medicine, and it's very common in the evenings.  I'm not a new parent. My oldest is 13 (that's BananaG13).  BeanzG11 is, well, 11, but I've not had too much experience with fevers that cannot be controlled.

I also learned that I am too old to sleep in an overstuffed armchair with an ottoman pulled up to it.  This was my configuration last night while I let BeanzG11 sleep on the couch.  I mistakenly thought this would be more comfortable than sleeping with her in her twin bed, but I was dead wrong.  Yes, I could have had my darling love sleep on the couch while BeanzG11 and I stretched in the master bedroom, but he must work a long, hard day today and I didn't want him to be aching.  My night was a long series of waking up to find my too-big size 10 rear slipping into the meeting point of the chair and ottoman and pushing the ottoman out and away, causing me to constantly be dropping down between them.  It was lots of fun.  Occasionally I glanced over at BeanzG11 and thought about trying to comfortably fit us both on the couch, but by the time I thought of that I was hopelessly caught in the middle of too lazy, too stiff, too tired, too sore to bother changing everything. 

I hope my sore stiffness is a result of using the muscles in this flabby thing in an effort to stay afloat in my makeshift bed.  Maybe I found the answer...exer-sleeping!  If I was a better person, I would sleep there repeatedly and see if it toned my hiney so I could let you know, but that is so not happening.

We're off to the doctor today.  I'll take along a bucket and towels to catch everything leaking out of BeanzG11 and see what he has to say.

CPT

Update 2/12/12:
BeanzG11 has recovered quite nicely.  Doctor heard a nasty bronchitis in her chest; sent her for chest x-rays and just to be safe, started her on meds to treat pneumonia.  She perked up considerably after the initial super-dose of meds.  Chest x-ray came back a few days later to reveal no pneumonia.  She's fully back to her old self, lovely tween gal that she is.