I do my best to keep this blog lighthearted. I try not to "preach" or toss out opinions that could bring up conflict or start drama. However, something recently has come up and I feel strongly about it, so please bear with me, and after I get this out of my system I will get back to crafting and cooking and general happiness of all sorts!
I am sure you all have seen the controversial picture posted by a mom, Maria Kang entitled "What is Your Excuse?" I have seen the picture and been to her website and have read alot of rebuttles slamming her picture and saying that it is horrible and making "fat people feel bad". Alot of people are saying that she is making fun of heavier people.
After visiting her website I don't see that side of her at all. She has been on a journey just like the rest of us. She has struggled with her weight, eating disorders and other personal issues, and has conquered them. I believe she is sharing the picture as inspriation.
This year is the first year that I have consistently worked out for longer than a month or two. I have been doing Crossfit for 3 months now. I am doing things that if you had told the 16 year old me I would be doing, there is no way I would have believed you since I am asthmatic, dealing with thyroid problems, bad joints and an all around clumsiness! I am seeing results, I have muscle definition that I have never had in my life.
Why am I doing it? The biggest reason if for my health. I want to be around for my kids and my grandkids and be able to keep up with them. For those of you who know my little Roo, you understand what a challenge that is. I am also doing it as an example for my kids. We have a problem of obesity in this country. I want my family to be part of the solution to that! I want my kids to grow up thinking the excersise is just part of your day and never have to develop the habit.
Getting back to Maria Kang, I personally, don't believe she is saying that you have to look like her, I think she is saying, what is your excuse for not being physically fit? We all are not going to look like her. Her job is to work out, mine is not, mine is to run around and take care of my house and children.
As a Christian I believe my body is God's temple. To be a good steward of that temple I need to keep it in good shape by what I choose to do with my body and what I put into it.
I shall now step down from the soapbox and go craft something!
Friday, October 25, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
Friday Morning Musings......
Once upon a time, in a lifetime far, far away I was a "Monica". For those of you who had other pursuits in the 90's and early 2000's then following the antics of 6 friends in New York city I will explain.
The tv show FRIENDS was a perfect show to lure in the "Save by the Bell" generation. It satisfied the longing we had to have a "posse" that "Saved by the Bell: the College Years" didn't do. Everyone who watched a show had a character that they could identify with. Mine was Monica.
Monica was the super organized, cleaning guru of the group (some might say she was a control freak and a bit germaphobic,but I am not one of those people). When I lived on my own my books, cds and dvd's were organized by genre and then by author/artist in alphabetical order. My apartment was pristine, everything had a place, and if it didn't fit one of the categories is was hidden in a deep dark closet.
In case there are some of you reading this that think I "became" Monica to emulate the character on the show let me explain that I was like this since a child. My mother had to hide the shapie markers so that I wouldn't outline the toys on the shelf so that my sisters would know exactly where things went, and don't even get my started on how I kept my dollhouse!
But there is a bigger point of this blog post then reminicing about one of the best shows of all time. I would really, really like it if they made a follow up episode showing how Monica dealt with raising twins. I want to see how she managed to keep her house clean, because I don't have twins, but I have had to "relax" my standards.
When I had my Little Professor I tried my best to keep up the "Monica" style of housekeeping. During every nap I would painstakingly organize his board books alphabetically. I wiped down his toys every night to clean them. I mopped the floors everyday, and nothing was out of place. Then my little Roo came along, and all assemblance of order went out the window, and got shoved in deep dark places only the brave are willing to enter.
All of this hit me today as I was getting ready for the day and realized I was standing on my pjs, yes, on not in. Instead of placing them where they go, the proper laundry basket, I took them off and left them on the floor! Oh, the horror!!!! The 1999 me would be agast with terror! What have I become?
Oh yeah, I became a mother. Instead of having to clean up after one person, I have three other people to clean up after, and take care of, and entertain and drive around.
In my mind I long to be the perfectly organized mother. My home filled with pretty things that help stimulate my children's intellectual growth, a chart documenting what should happen everytime of the day. My children would always be dressed like the kids in the GYMBOREE ads. My house would inspire others and pictures of my organizational skills would dominate PINTEREST. And while I am living in a dream world, woodland creatures would frolic in my backyard, but they wouldn't be talking because that would be creepy.
I wonder if Monica's home would fall into disrepair. I wonder if she would she would still organize her towels into categories or just be happy that there were clean towels in a laundry basket. I would like to think that motherhood mellowed her out, that she would figure out as I have that taking time to sit down and play LEGOS is more important than making sure the LEGOS were organized in perfect boxes. That having a tea party with mismatched tea sets is more precious than making sure the tea sets match.
(this picture would make the 1999 me cringe in disgust, the 2013 me is going to leave it a bit messy and go play house with my little Roo)
The tv show FRIENDS was a perfect show to lure in the "Save by the Bell" generation. It satisfied the longing we had to have a "posse" that "Saved by the Bell: the College Years" didn't do. Everyone who watched a show had a character that they could identify with. Mine was Monica.
Monica was the super organized, cleaning guru of the group (some might say she was a control freak and a bit germaphobic,but I am not one of those people). When I lived on my own my books, cds and dvd's were organized by genre and then by author/artist in alphabetical order. My apartment was pristine, everything had a place, and if it didn't fit one of the categories is was hidden in a deep dark closet.
In case there are some of you reading this that think I "became" Monica to emulate the character on the show let me explain that I was like this since a child. My mother had to hide the shapie markers so that I wouldn't outline the toys on the shelf so that my sisters would know exactly where things went, and don't even get my started on how I kept my dollhouse!
But there is a bigger point of this blog post then reminicing about one of the best shows of all time. I would really, really like it if they made a follow up episode showing how Monica dealt with raising twins. I want to see how she managed to keep her house clean, because I don't have twins, but I have had to "relax" my standards.
When I had my Little Professor I tried my best to keep up the "Monica" style of housekeeping. During every nap I would painstakingly organize his board books alphabetically. I wiped down his toys every night to clean them. I mopped the floors everyday, and nothing was out of place. Then my little Roo came along, and all assemblance of order went out the window, and got shoved in deep dark places only the brave are willing to enter.
All of this hit me today as I was getting ready for the day and realized I was standing on my pjs, yes, on not in. Instead of placing them where they go, the proper laundry basket, I took them off and left them on the floor! Oh, the horror!!!! The 1999 me would be agast with terror! What have I become?
Oh yeah, I became a mother. Instead of having to clean up after one person, I have three other people to clean up after, and take care of, and entertain and drive around.
In my mind I long to be the perfectly organized mother. My home filled with pretty things that help stimulate my children's intellectual growth, a chart documenting what should happen everytime of the day. My children would always be dressed like the kids in the GYMBOREE ads. My house would inspire others and pictures of my organizational skills would dominate PINTEREST. And while I am living in a dream world, woodland creatures would frolic in my backyard, but they wouldn't be talking because that would be creepy.
I wonder if Monica's home would fall into disrepair. I wonder if she would she would still organize her towels into categories or just be happy that there were clean towels in a laundry basket. I would like to think that motherhood mellowed her out, that she would figure out as I have that taking time to sit down and play LEGOS is more important than making sure the LEGOS were organized in perfect boxes. That having a tea party with mismatched tea sets is more precious than making sure the tea sets match.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Did You Miss Me?
I haven't posted in a very long time. Life has just been super busy! But now it is fall, the time of year that I love, and now that it is cooler bakiong and crafting are on my agenda!!
Yesterday I made my first "fall recipe", Butternut Squash Soup. It is one of my favorite soups, and I have played around with different ways of making it, and I think I finally got it just right! So here is the recipe!
Welcome Back Fall Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients:
1 Large Butternut squash cut in 1/4s
Olive Oil
salt for sprinkling
1 appled cut in 1/4s
2 shallots with the skin peeled off
1 can chicken broth
1 cup of white wine (or apple juice)
1 tsp ancho chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup of shredded parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
1 cup of milk
Place the squash, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, apple and shallots in a roasting pan. Pour one cup of water into the pan. Roast at 350 degrees for about an hour, or until squash is tender (keep an eye on the apples, take them out early if they need to be taken out).
When it is cool enough to touch, scoop out the squash and the apples from their skins. Add the squash, apples and shallots into a large saucepan. Pour in chicken broth and wine (or apple juice)simmer for 30 min.
After the 30 minutes are up add 1 tsp ancho chili powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp ginger and 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes, let simmer for 30 min more.
Then blend the ingredients together with an immersion blender or in a blender in batches.
* at this point the soup is great to freeze if you are making this ahead of time*
About 30 minutes before you are going to enjoy the soup, add with milk and shredded parmesan cheese. Heat over low heat until it is heated through. Garnish with more cheese.
A quick side note, I would not try making this recipe in the crockpot. I have tried in previous years, and was disapointed in the texture.
This year I added Martha Stewarts Bacon Jam. However, I did tweak it a bit to make it "paleo friendly" for a few of my friends! If you google it you will find the original recipe, but I will share what I did.
Bacon Jam
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
2 medium yellow onions, diced small
3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 cup pure maple syrup
3/4 cup brewed coffee
In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is lightly browned, about 20 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet (reserve for another use); add onions and garlic, and cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes. Add vinegar, maple syrup, and coffee and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up browned bits from skillet with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes. Add bacon and stir to combine.
Transfer mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker and cook on high, uncovered, until liquid is syrupy, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Transfer to a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped. Let cool, then refrigerate in airtight containers, up to 4 weeks.
Making this soup and the jam made my house smell so homey and "fally" yesterday!! What a great way to start the season!
Yesterday I made my first "fall recipe", Butternut Squash Soup. It is one of my favorite soups, and I have played around with different ways of making it, and I think I finally got it just right! So here is the recipe!
Welcome Back Fall Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients:
1 Large Butternut squash cut in 1/4s
Olive Oil
salt for sprinkling
1 appled cut in 1/4s
2 shallots with the skin peeled off
1 can chicken broth
1 cup of white wine (or apple juice)
1 tsp ancho chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup of shredded parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
1 cup of milk
Place the squash, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, apple and shallots in a roasting pan. Pour one cup of water into the pan. Roast at 350 degrees for about an hour, or until squash is tender (keep an eye on the apples, take them out early if they need to be taken out).
When it is cool enough to touch, scoop out the squash and the apples from their skins. Add the squash, apples and shallots into a large saucepan. Pour in chicken broth and wine (or apple juice)simmer for 30 min.
After the 30 minutes are up add 1 tsp ancho chili powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp ginger and 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes, let simmer for 30 min more.
Then blend the ingredients together with an immersion blender or in a blender in batches.
* at this point the soup is great to freeze if you are making this ahead of time*
About 30 minutes before you are going to enjoy the soup, add with milk and shredded parmesan cheese. Heat over low heat until it is heated through. Garnish with more cheese.
A quick side note, I would not try making this recipe in the crockpot. I have tried in previous years, and was disapointed in the texture.
This year I added Martha Stewarts Bacon Jam. However, I did tweak it a bit to make it "paleo friendly" for a few of my friends! If you google it you will find the original recipe, but I will share what I did.
Bacon Jam
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
2 medium yellow onions, diced small
3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 cup pure maple syrup
3/4 cup brewed coffee
In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is lightly browned, about 20 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet (reserve for another use); add onions and garlic, and cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes. Add vinegar, maple syrup, and coffee and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up browned bits from skillet with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes. Add bacon and stir to combine.
Transfer mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker and cook on high, uncovered, until liquid is syrupy, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Transfer to a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped. Let cool, then refrigerate in airtight containers, up to 4 weeks.
Making this soup and the jam made my house smell so homey and "fally" yesterday!! What a great way to start the season!
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