Goal: Letting daddy sleep.
Kids and me at McDonald's after church. I rarely get to take them here, or any restaurant alone as Daddy is the pro at one parent eating out. Nice treat for all of us.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
My Skinny Capris
Goal: Making my health a priority.
In 2008, I replaced my summer wardrobe as I had achieved the lowest weight of my adult life. Then I got pregnant.
In 4 years I haven't made it back into those clothes.
My goal for this summer was to start wearing that wardrobe or I was giving it away.
I have been trying on the capris every couple of weeks. In January I couldn't get them above my knees! March, over my hips. April, I could do them up but they were too tight to walk. Today, victory!
Now they are still on the snug side, but I'm ok with that. By July they should be perfect, which is four years to the date of their purchase.
If you see me wearing my skinny capris, don't notice the pull of a bit too snug. Notice the pride at getting closer to my healthy weight, and the work it has taken to achieve that.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
New Phone
Well, after loathing my phone for the past year and a half, Hubby got me a new one. No cost to us. Yippee!
And this one I can blog on. Which is great, as with the iPad I can't, and since I always have my iPad, but nothing else, my entries have been a bit sparse this month.
Right now I'm sitting on my back deck in the beautiful sunshine watching my kids play in the water table. Perfect.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Temper Tantrums
Goal: Maintaining my sanity, while helping my son learn to control his emotions.
Two year olds have temper tantrums. I think that is where the phrase "Terrible Twos" comes from, though I could be wrong. For the most part Social has been a fairly easy two-year old child. He is amazingly affectionate. He is polite. He is inquisitive. He is mostly obedient.
There are two aspects of his personality that have been escalating in the past month that are grating on both hubby's and my nerves. First of all he whines, and this whining tends to happen first thing in the morning when we are already tired, under a time pressure, and in the middle of doing a billion things at once. The circumstances probably have a lot to do with why he is whining. He does not get our undivided attention in the morning, and if there is one that that Social likes, it is your undivided attention.
The second escalating issue is temper tantrums. Prior to the last month, he had a handful of temper tantrums, but this week he had three in rapid succession. A temper tantrum for Social involves screaming, kicking, crying and the inability to reason in any way. I admit that hubby is much more consistent at dealing with them than I am. He takes Social immediately to his room, closes the baby gate that keeps him safe and inside, and waits in our room, which is next door, until Social calms down enough to reason. I have been staying with Social in his room while he works through the emotion, cuing him to breath deeply to help him figure out how to calm down. Temper tantrums with me last double the time of when hubby deals with them, and I'm not convinced that I'm actually helping him by being there. So we've decided that from now on we'll use Hubby's method.
This past week, we were in the mall, and after a series of whining/refusing to obey situations, Social descended into temper tantrum mode. Hubby immediately took him to the van for a cool off time. When Content and I returned to the van, Social was still in full on tantrum, screaming and thrashing about. It took him almost the entire 15 minute drive home to calm down, and then discuss what the problem was and how he could fix it next time.
That was two days ago, and I can honestly say we've had no whining or tantrums since. Which is great! The three in three days was a tad much. I'm hoping that we're through the worst of it. I can hope that right? But if not, at least we've got a united consistent strategy to help Social.
Tonight, while I was putting Social to bed, he pulled out some of the toys that he has in his room. I asked if we should move a few more toys to his room so if he needed to have a time-out he could play while he was calming down. He was excited by the idea, and decided that we'd chose some more of his toys this weekend to move upstairs to his room. He then told me exactly what happens during a time out. Including how he stands at his door yelling/screaming/crying, "MAMA I WANT TO GO DOWNSTAIRS RIGHT NOW!!!" while stamping his feet and rattling the gate. Then he said, "Then I get calm, and say Mama I go downstairs, please. And you come and get me. I love you Mama."
I love you too, Buddy.
Two year olds have temper tantrums. I think that is where the phrase "Terrible Twos" comes from, though I could be wrong. For the most part Social has been a fairly easy two-year old child. He is amazingly affectionate. He is polite. He is inquisitive. He is mostly obedient.
There are two aspects of his personality that have been escalating in the past month that are grating on both hubby's and my nerves. First of all he whines, and this whining tends to happen first thing in the morning when we are already tired, under a time pressure, and in the middle of doing a billion things at once. The circumstances probably have a lot to do with why he is whining. He does not get our undivided attention in the morning, and if there is one that that Social likes, it is your undivided attention.
The second escalating issue is temper tantrums. Prior to the last month, he had a handful of temper tantrums, but this week he had three in rapid succession. A temper tantrum for Social involves screaming, kicking, crying and the inability to reason in any way. I admit that hubby is much more consistent at dealing with them than I am. He takes Social immediately to his room, closes the baby gate that keeps him safe and inside, and waits in our room, which is next door, until Social calms down enough to reason. I have been staying with Social in his room while he works through the emotion, cuing him to breath deeply to help him figure out how to calm down. Temper tantrums with me last double the time of when hubby deals with them, and I'm not convinced that I'm actually helping him by being there. So we've decided that from now on we'll use Hubby's method.
This past week, we were in the mall, and after a series of whining/refusing to obey situations, Social descended into temper tantrum mode. Hubby immediately took him to the van for a cool off time. When Content and I returned to the van, Social was still in full on tantrum, screaming and thrashing about. It took him almost the entire 15 minute drive home to calm down, and then discuss what the problem was and how he could fix it next time.
That was two days ago, and I can honestly say we've had no whining or tantrums since. Which is great! The three in three days was a tad much. I'm hoping that we're through the worst of it. I can hope that right? But if not, at least we've got a united consistent strategy to help Social.
Tonight, while I was putting Social to bed, he pulled out some of the toys that he has in his room. I asked if we should move a few more toys to his room so if he needed to have a time-out he could play while he was calming down. He was excited by the idea, and decided that we'd chose some more of his toys this weekend to move upstairs to his room. He then told me exactly what happens during a time out. Including how he stands at his door yelling/screaming/crying, "MAMA I WANT TO GO DOWNSTAIRS RIGHT NOW!!!" while stamping his feet and rattling the gate. Then he said, "Then I get calm, and say Mama I go downstairs, please. And you come and get me. I love you Mama."
I love you too, Buddy.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
New Soup
Goal: Trying something new. Pea and Carrot Soup with Rice.
My brother and sister-in-law have given me a subscription to the Rachel Ray magazine for the past two years. Most months I find a recipe or two that I'd like to try. Usually I read the magazine twice, and Charlie reads it once. We pull out the recipes that we're interested in, and then I throw them into the rotation. Some are great. Some are o.k. All the recipes that we've tried have been edible to say the least.
I've had this recipe in my "to try" pile for quite a while now. When initially saw the picture, I wasn't exactly enthusiastic. Actually, I think I made some kind of comment about "who would eat that" to my hubby. But on that second reading of the magazine, I actually read the recipe. Ooooh, pesto?? Well that changes things dramatically. I decided that I would give it a try.
It required three separate containers to cook. That's a bit much for a weeknight preparation, but for a Sunday afternoon it was o.k. Especially since Hubby was doing the dishes. The butter and oil makes it rather luscious to eat, but at just over 350 calories a serving, not very waist line friendly. If I was making it again, I would try to reduce the fat overall in an effort to reduce the calories. Now, the recipe says it makes 4 servings, but I split it into 7. (You figure out the calories on the intended size! Creeping in to 600, I think.) To keep it purely vegetarian, I used vegetable stock instead of the called for chicken stock. The mint is light and lovely, and the peas and carrots perfect for spring. I didn't freeze any, but I think it would freeze fairly well.
The family's reviews were a tad mixed. I definitely liked it the most. Hubby, not a big fan of peas or carrots, said he would eat it again. Content had about half a bowl. Social wouldn't touch it. Not surprised since he's in the "nothing mixed together" stage of toddlerdom.
Pea and Carrot Soup with Rice
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup orzo
1 cup white rice
6 cups chicken stock
1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp. EVOO
4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
2 leeks--halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise and thoroughly rinsed
Salt and pepper
2 cups fresh or thawed frozen organic peas
1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 - 1/3 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano
3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
1 large or 2 small cloves garlic, halved
Directions
1. In a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the orzo and toast until deep golden and fragrant. Stir in the rice, add about 2 cups chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally and adding a bit more stock if the rice begins to stick, until the rice is just tender, about 18 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a soup pot, heat 2 tbsp. EVOO over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and leeks; season with salt ad pepper. Cook stirring, until softened, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the remaining stock and the fresh peas (if using frozen, stir in just before serving). Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer.
3. Using a food processor mix the parsley, mint, cheese, pine nuts, garlic and about 1/4 cup EVOO into a pesto. Stream in more EVOO iuf needed. Stir the pesto into the rice pilaf.
4. Serve 1/2 cup of the prepared rice in each of 4 soup bowls. Top with the peas and carrots in broth. Stir to combine.
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| Add the Rice |
 |
| Orzo Browning in Butter |
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| Simmering Vegetables |
 |
| Toasting Pine Nuts |
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| Making Pesto |
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| Pesto and Rice - This would be good on its own. |
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| Yum. |
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| Peas |
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| Everyone into the Hot Tub! |
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| Kids Supper |
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| Adult Portion |
Pea and Carrot Soup with Rice
from Rachel Ray Magazine
Serves 4 according to the original, but 7 in my world
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup orzo
1 cup white rice
6 cups chicken stock
1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp. EVOO
4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
2 leeks--halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise and thoroughly rinsed
Salt and pepper
2 cups fresh or thawed frozen organic peas
1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 - 1/3 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano
3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
1 large or 2 small cloves garlic, halved
Directions
1. In a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the orzo and toast until deep golden and fragrant. Stir in the rice, add about 2 cups chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally and adding a bit more stock if the rice begins to stick, until the rice is just tender, about 18 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a soup pot, heat 2 tbsp. EVOO over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and leeks; season with salt ad pepper. Cook stirring, until softened, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the remaining stock and the fresh peas (if using frozen, stir in just before serving). Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer.
3. Using a food processor mix the parsley, mint, cheese, pine nuts, garlic and about 1/4 cup EVOO into a pesto. Stream in more EVOO iuf needed. Stir the pesto into the rice pilaf.
4. Serve 1/2 cup of the prepared rice in each of 4 soup bowls. Top with the peas and carrots in broth. Stir to combine.
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| Leftovers |
Monday, March 26, 2012
The Formula Eating+Exercise=Health
Goal: Living a long, healthy life without being winded when walking up stairs, and being able to keep up with my kids.
This blog started as a health blog. Specifically, my health in terms of food choices and exercise. I haven't wrote about this topic in a while, but I thought I might let you know about how I am doing in this area of my life.
My weight has been a struggle for most of my life. I'm not a small woman by any stretch of the imagination. But, for many years now, I would say that I have not been an unhealthy woman either. Basically, I'm a healthy person encased in a layer of fat. Overall, my food choices for the past 10 years have been more consistently good than not good. I exercise with relative consistency, allowing for interruptions due to life changes such as pregnancy, and two small children. I'm happy with me.
Of course, physical fitness is a daily choice in my world. I can very easily sink back into eating entire tubs of ice-cream, while not moving from one specific spot for hours and hours at a time. I have to chose the satisfying bite over the fat filled empty calorie fairly regularly.
With my first pregnancy, I gained just under 60 lbs. I lost about 40 of it before getting pregnant again. Then I promptly gained just over 60 lbs with my 2nd pregnancy. This time I lost just over 40 before getting pregnant yet again. Though I suffered a miscarriage for my third pregnancy, I had already packed on about 12 lbs at almost 12 weeks. After my 3rd pregnancy I was still about 35 lbs above the weight that I started at prior to having kids. And that pre-pregnancy weight, though the lowest in my adult life, was still several lbs away from the top of my recommended weight according to the BMI charts.
January 1, just like 90% of the western world, Hubby and I recommitted to making our health our priority. I re-joined Weight Watchers, and he started using myfitnesspal.com. We also started making time again to exercise. He has continued to go to the gym throughout this time, but I gave up my membership over a year ago as I couldn't justify putting my kids into daycare for additional hours while I worked out. I've been working out at home, with limited success, since that time. In January though I decided that I need to make this working out at home thing work, so dedicated myself to actually giving it an honest go.
My exercise in January was rocky. February I got my feet under me though, and met my starting goal working out 3 times a week at 5:30 in the morning. With the end of March just around the corner, I've met or exceeded my goal for this entire month. I feel strong. I can do my DVDs without modifications. I actually ran! Yes, ran, and boy to I hate running, for a full 30 minutes a couple of weeks back. That is something I would never normally do.
Eating wise, I switched to myfitnesspal.com in February, as Hubby, and a few friends, were having outstanding success. Meanwhile, me on Weight Watchers, a program that I've had nothing but praise for previously (I lost 100lbs using WW about a decade ago, and kept 80 of it off consistently since then), was not seeing results. Since switching, I've lost 19lbs. I've met my first goal of pre-Content weight, and am quickly heading toward my pre-Social weight. I'm hoping to keep going and actually meet my ultimate weight of being within the healthy range of BMI for my height.
I'm looking forward to a summer where I can fit into my clothes, and maybe a fall of buying some new ones! Not to mention, having the energy, and stamina to keep up with my two toddlers. I promise to update a picture of me soon!
Is health a priority for you? What do you do to stay healthy? How to you fit physical activity into an already full schedule?
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| Me at my Heaviest. September, 2000 |
Of course, physical fitness is a daily choice in my world. I can very easily sink back into eating entire tubs of ice-cream, while not moving from one specific spot for hours and hours at a time. I have to chose the satisfying bite over the fat filled empty calorie fairly regularly.
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| 9 Months Pregnant with Social. May, 2009 |
With my first pregnancy, I gained just under 60 lbs. I lost about 40 of it before getting pregnant again. Then I promptly gained just over 60 lbs with my 2nd pregnancy. This time I lost just over 40 before getting pregnant yet again. Though I suffered a miscarriage for my third pregnancy, I had already packed on about 12 lbs at almost 12 weeks. After my 3rd pregnancy I was still about 35 lbs above the weight that I started at prior to having kids. And that pre-pregnancy weight, though the lowest in my adult life, was still several lbs away from the top of my recommended weight according to the BMI charts.
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| 9 Months Pregnant with Content. October 2010 |
My exercise in January was rocky. February I got my feet under me though, and met my starting goal working out 3 times a week at 5:30 in the morning. With the end of March just around the corner, I've met or exceeded my goal for this entire month. I feel strong. I can do my DVDs without modifications. I actually ran! Yes, ran, and boy to I hate running, for a full 30 minutes a couple of weeks back. That is something I would never normally do.
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| At my Fittest June, 2008 |
I'm looking forward to a summer where I can fit into my clothes, and maybe a fall of buying some new ones! Not to mention, having the energy, and stamina to keep up with my two toddlers. I promise to update a picture of me soon!
Is health a priority for you? What do you do to stay healthy? How to you fit physical activity into an already full schedule?
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Back to the Blog
Goal: Finding time to blog!
Right now it is Saturday afternoon, just after lunch. Both of my darlings are on their way to sleepyland. The laundry is in process. The kitchen messy. My exercise routine calling. And the huge, heavy bag of school work is laying at my feet. I though, am blogging!
Two weeks ago was March Break in my world. I was home every blissful day with my children, and Hubby was too thanks to some vacation time. We had a fabulous time together. It was our first trip to the zoo for 2012. We had swimming lessons everyday. We spent a weekend at my parents', and a weekend at my in-laws' house. We went to the drive-in (crazy weather we're having here to go to the drive-in in March!). We walked, played at the park, watched TV together, snuggled, etc. Life was great.
This past week, it was back to the almost real world. Hubby was still off, but the kids went back to daycare, and I went back to teaching. Of course the weather stayed beautiful, so in the evenings we walked or played outside.
All this to say my computer time has been rather limited as of late. I haven't had a chance to post my weekly menus, even though I have still been making them. I haven't had a chance to tell you all the wonderful thoughts that roll through my head on a daily basis. Believe it or not I haven't even been posting to Facebook as much as usual and barely logged onto Pinterest at all! This is so not like me.
I'm still here, for those of you that follow me. (Thank-you for that by the way!) And if you don't follow me, but have just stumbled on this entry, click around. Believe me there is much more of value than these past couple of weeks show.
Here is a favourite new recipe that I've been making weekly for almost a month now. With the return of cool weather today, maybe some of you are looking for something hearty and warm to ease the dreariness of the day.
Mushroom-Barley Soup
Adapted from Verdant Eats
Yield: About 4 large servings
4 cups (1 L) water
2 vegetable bullion cubes
1-1/2 pounds fresh crimini mushrooms, sliced
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup pearled barley, uncooked
1 Tbsp butter
2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp steak spice (I used The Keg)
1 tsp soy sauce
Combine all ingredients except the soy sauce in a crock pot. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Ladle into a bowl and spoon soy sauce on top.
Right now it is Saturday afternoon, just after lunch. Both of my darlings are on their way to sleepyland. The laundry is in process. The kitchen messy. My exercise routine calling. And the huge, heavy bag of school work is laying at my feet. I though, am blogging!
Two weeks ago was March Break in my world. I was home every blissful day with my children, and Hubby was too thanks to some vacation time. We had a fabulous time together. It was our first trip to the zoo for 2012. We had swimming lessons everyday. We spent a weekend at my parents', and a weekend at my in-laws' house. We went to the drive-in (crazy weather we're having here to go to the drive-in in March!). We walked, played at the park, watched TV together, snuggled, etc. Life was great.
This past week, it was back to the almost real world. Hubby was still off, but the kids went back to daycare, and I went back to teaching. Of course the weather stayed beautiful, so in the evenings we walked or played outside.
All this to say my computer time has been rather limited as of late. I haven't had a chance to post my weekly menus, even though I have still been making them. I haven't had a chance to tell you all the wonderful thoughts that roll through my head on a daily basis. Believe it or not I haven't even been posting to Facebook as much as usual and barely logged onto Pinterest at all! This is so not like me.
I'm still here, for those of you that follow me. (Thank-you for that by the way!) And if you don't follow me, but have just stumbled on this entry, click around. Believe me there is much more of value than these past couple of weeks show.
Here is a favourite new recipe that I've been making weekly for almost a month now. With the return of cool weather today, maybe some of you are looking for something hearty and warm to ease the dreariness of the day.
Mushroom-Barley Soup
Adapted from Verdant Eats
Yield: About 4 large servings
4 cups (1 L) water
2 vegetable bullion cubes
1-1/2 pounds fresh crimini mushrooms, sliced
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup pearled barley, uncooked
1 Tbsp butter
2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp steak spice (I used The Keg)
1 tsp soy sauce
Combine all ingredients except the soy sauce in a crock pot. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Ladle into a bowl and spoon soy sauce on top.
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