7 Quick Takes about Skiing, Turkeys, and Being a Better Mom

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Things have been rather slow for me on the blogging front.
Just about everything in my life is on the back burner right now because of skiing.

I have been blessed that my parents owned a condo at a (semi) nearby ski resort which has meant that skiing has always been a big part of my life. In fact, my husband and I met when we were both ski instructors.

My parents sold the condo two years ago and for the past two winters they have rented a place just for the month of January. This means that we pack all of the skiing we can into this month, and everything else is put aside until February.

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My daughter has been asking if she can snowboard for just about as long as she's been skiing. A snowboard instructor once told us (in her presence) that 8 years old was the best age to start... and so, we have been able put it off, until now.

If you're not a skier, perhaps you won't understand. But this is the text that my husband sent me on her first day:

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I made a turkey this week. Making a turkey has always seemed like a huge and overwhelming task. It really wasn't such a big deal. It was, however, somewhat of a disappointment. For such a huge bird (and a rather hefty price) we yielded very little meat. It was hardly more than I would have gotten from a much smaller chicken for a much nicer price.

The best part of the meal was the gravy... which was amazing. My husband said that I should jar it and sell it. If I did this, however, it would cost a fortune since I yielded one cup of gravy from one $20 turkey.

And yes, I did cook that bird on my pathetic looking cookie sheet (my mom asked...she thought maybe it was just for effect) Nope. That was the only thing I had that would fit it. I did, at least cover it with foil after browning it.

I also turned it breast side down after the first 20 minutes. Before cooking it, I googled "turkey...breast side down or up?" Apparently this is a rather hotly contested issue.  Where do you stand? Up or Down?

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My daughter has been bit by the blogging bug! She's been talking about it for a while, and when she had a snow day a few weeks ago, we finally sat down and worked on it.

This has been an awesome way for us to connect. It is also such a great "organic," way for her to practice her writing skills and also to learn technology skills like photo editing.

The challenge is the whole marketing aspect. Anyone else have a kid with a blog? I'd love to connect her with some other kid bloggers so that they can support each other.

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Are you familiar with Hands Free Mama?

Last week, my mom gave me her book. Though what she writes is similar to what she has on her blog, for some reason, the book has inspired me to action in a way that the blog never did.

As a result, I've spent a little less time on the computer this week. But, more importantly, I feel like I've been a better mom. I've hugged more. Listened more. Looked my kids in the eye more. And said, "yes," more to questions like: "Will you play with me?" "Will you read to me?" and "Can I make up my own recipe?" (<< I'm working on a post about this last one!)

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Whole New Mom recently posted about the generational effects of diet. It is definitely worth a read, and reminded me of this study that I read about a while back.

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Please tell me that I'm not the only one who has recipes that look like this!! (I copied this recipe from a magazine in a doctor's office 5 years ago and this is still the recipe that I use --- if I can find it!)

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

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Are You a Chicken?

Yes, that is a turkey. I thought of the title, and was rather proud of myself for it, and then remembered that, oh yes, that's right, I'm making a turkey.

I have never made a turkey before.

My mom thinks I'm brave in the kitchen.

She is wrong.

Usually, it takes me forever to try something new. (Case in point: despite the fact that I make chicken broth all the time, I have beef bones that have been in my freezer since September… waiting to become broth. I put, "make beef broth," on my meal plan nearly every week. And nearly every week, I change my plan.)

Sunday night, I bought a frozen turkey. I put it in my refrigerator to thaw.

Today, at 3:00 p.m. I realized that I needed to make that turkey.

But I have no idea how to make a turkey and I have visions of the burnt, dry, inedible turkeys that plagued every t.v. sitcom family of my childhood.

However, my frugality (can't let this puppy go to waste) is winning out over my fear, and so, I am making a turkey.

Here's the thing. I think that nearly everyone struggles to try something new. Everyone needs some help being brave.

It's easy to look at someone else's finally without seeing all of the fear that they had to push through to get there.

What are you afraid to try?

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Birthday Enchiladas: Our Family's Favorite Meal

Why "Birthday" Enchiladas?

Because when I asked my daughter what she wanted me to make for her birthday, she answered, without hesitation, "Enchiladas."

Because last year when I was trying to decide what in the world I could make for my son's birthday that could be served to a crowd which included 4 people who were gluten-free, 2 who were dairy-free, and 2 who were tomato-free, the solution was enchiladas… 4 ways (wheat with and without cheese, corn with and without cheese)!

This recipe is, by far, my family's absolute favorite and I'm so excited to finally share it!

Ingredients

For Filling:

1 lb. ground beef (can sub: turkey, chicken, or 8 oz. chopped baby bella mushrooms)

2 cups black beans

1 medium zucchini chopped @ 1 ½ cups

1 medium onion- chopped

1-2 T homemade taco seasoning (I only use ½ t. cumin and I omit the cayenne)

For Sauce:

2 cups chicken (or veggie) broth

1-2 Tbsp. chili powder depending on desired level of spiciness

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. cinnamon

*5 Tbsp. flour ( 4 T if using whole wheat), or 2 Tbsp. Corn or Arrowroot starch for GF

5-6 Tbsp. water (2-3 Tbsp. if using corn or arrowroot starch)

For Enchiladas:

8 whole-wheat tortillas ( or one small package corn tortillas for GF)

2 cups cheddar (or Mexican blend) cheese (omit for DF)

Instructions

Filling:

1. Brown ground beef. (If using mushrooms, sauté in fat of your choice)

2. Add onions to the ground beef and sauté in the beef drippings.

3. Add zucchini and sauté until soft.

4. Add black beans.

5. Push all meat and veggies to the side and tip the pan slightly in order to create a small puddle of liquid, add a bit of broth or olive oil if all liquid has cooked off.

6. Put the spices into the liquid and stir until it begins to create a sauce, then combine with the meat and veggie mixture. Cook an additional 3-4 minutes.

Sauce:

1. Bring broth to a boil in a small saucepan.

2. Combine spices and mix into the boiling broth.

3. Combine flour (or starch) and water in a small bowl and mix until smooth. It will be thick but not so thick that it cannot be poured from bowl. Add more water if necessary.

4. Pour a little at a time into saucepan while whisking aggressively to avoid clumping. Whisk until smooth and the sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat.

Enchiladas:

1. Spoon mixture into center of tortillas.

2. Top with a small sprinkling of cheese.

3. Roll tortilla and then place seam-side down in a 11x13 baking dish.

4. Top with enchilada sauce and remaining cheese.

5. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted and enchiladas are hot and bubbly.

**For GF Casserole, layer meat/ veggie mixture, corn tortillas, sauce and cheese. Depending upon the size of the dish, I usually use 2 layers of each, starting with the meat mixture on the bottom. If you prefer to use (or taste) more corn tortilla, you can use three layers of tortillas.

Linked up to Allergy Free Wednesday and Gluten Free Friday

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How's Your Relationship?

Though I have been working on this blog off and on for a few years, I've struggled to define exactly what my focus should be.

Until, a few weeks ago.

Oddly enough, inspiration for my focus came from an advertising campaign that Special K is running right now encouraging women to "fight fat talk."

It made me think, not only about the ways we damage ourselves with this talk, but about the things we say in front of our kids- about our bodies, about food, about food and our relationship to it.

It made me realize why I cringe when I see a recipe that claims to be "guilt free."

It made me realize why I'm turned off by talk of fat and calories and working out.

It made me realize why I'm not comfortable simply focusing on "healthy," eating, or "healthy," foods.

I would venture to say that most of us have been in an abusive relationship with food at one time or another. As a child, I watched food become the enemy. First it was calories, then it was cholesterol, then it was fat, then it was carbs…

As each new food became the enemy, there were new rules, new reasons to feel guilty, new reasons to see food as something to work against, rather than to work with...

So here goes. Here's my focus. When it comes to my kids, I want to help them develop healthy relationships with food.  Because right now, healthy food, or unhealthy food, I think that what many of us struggle with is our relationship with food.

We overindulge and feel guilty.

We restrict ourselves and feel cheated.

We see food as the enemy.

We have taken food and turned it into chemicals and numbers.

We look at the obesity epidemic and think we simply need to change the food, change it's chemical makeup, change the amounts, change the numbers.

I think that this is a relatively new phenomenon and I think it may be at the root of our problem.

In the past, food served several purposes. At its best it provided enjoyment and nourishment. At the very least, it provided sustenance.

Perhaps we need to start over. To get to know food all over again without all of our preconceived notions.

We don't need new diets.

We don't need new foods.

We need a new relationship.

With food.

How is your relationship? What can you do to enrich your relationship (and your children's relationship) with food?

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7 (More) Last Minute Homemade Gifts for Kids

Let's be honest. This time of year, there isn't much interest in teaching kids to be healthy eaters. This gives me a chance to have some fun posting about other things that people ARE interested in!

Right now, my most popular post, by far, was one I wrote two years ago: 7 Last Minute Homemade Gifts for Kids.

So, I decided to do it again….

Here are 7 (more) last minute, homemade gifts that kids will love and that you can create with minimal effort, ability, time or money! (Everything used for these was purchased at Dollar Tree-- or were things that I already had around the house.)

"Make Your Own," Magnetic Poetry Kit 

 Cost: $2-$3  Crafty Abilities: None  Time: 15 Minutes

What's more fun than a set of magnetic poetry? A kit to make your own! This way, kids get to choose their own words and then reuse them again and again in new (and amusing) ways.

Materials: Magnetic Tin, Fine Point Sharpie, Magnetic Vent Cover (From Dollar Tree!) Sticky Label or paper and Mod Podge (optional)

How To:

• Cut vent cover into strips (mine are 1.25 inches wide) and then cut the strips into varying lengths.
• Make a label for the outside: "Make Your Own" Magnetic Poetry
• Write a few starter words…
• Put all strips and a Sharpie in the tin.

Silly People Dry Erase Pages Fun Pack

Cost: $1-$3  Crafty Abilities: None    Time: 10 minutes

*Inspired by: this 

Materials: Plastic Sheet Protectors, Plastic Envelope (Could also use a binder), Dry Erase Markers, (optional) microfiber cloth for erasing, Black and White Pictures printed on printer (not photo) paper.

How To:

• Print full size photos of people who are special to the child receiving the gift.
• Put pictures in plastic sheet protectors- if putting in a plastic envelope, cut off the end of the sheet protector with the binder holes.
• Assemble all items into plastic envelope.

Coloring Pages Fun Pack

Cost: $0-$3 Crafty Abilities: None  Time: 2-10 minutes

Materials: Plastic Envelope, markers, crayons, colored pencils, printer, computer, printer paper

How To:  

• Check out coloring pages here (the ones I used) or here (a Pinterest board full of fun pages)
• Print as many as you wish. You may choose to use a theme or to print a variety of pages. A few of the links (from the ones I used) have letters… you could choose to do all of the letters in the alphabet or all of the letters in a child's name. You may also choose to do all Christmas pages (I'm doing this and bringing it along to one of our Christmas gatherings for all of the kids.)  If the gift is for a boy, I highly, highly recommend the Lego Man coloring pages! My boys will sit for long periods of time coloring these over and over!!
• Put coloring pages and crayons, markers or colored pencils in plastic envelope (mine were two for a dollar at Dollar Tree!)

Baby Doll(s)

Cost $0-$1  Crafty Abilities: Minimal Time: 5-20 minutes

Materials: child's sock (long), rubber band, red and black markers, piece of fabric.

How To:

• Follow this tutorial on Catholic Icing.
• Follow this idea for swaddling a baby and do the same with your mini-swadde. (My daughter had the idea of making a set of different swaddles to go with a doll.
• Optional, find or make a small bed or basket for the doll. (We made ours from a cardboard box which I cut and taped to size and then covered with brown wrapping paper that came in one of our Amazon boxes!
• Bonus: Check out this basket of babies… then find a basket and make multiple babies for a homemade "Basket of Babies."

Regifted Treasures

"One man's (child's) trash is another child's treasure."

Cost: $0 Crafty Abilities: None Time: ??

Materials: Container to hold the treasures, Collected small items that your children no longer play with or that you no longer have use for…

How To:

• Search your toy bins, junk drawers, under the seats of your car ;), Goodwill box, anywhere that little treasures may hide. Those little items that may seem like trash to you or your kids are treasures to another child who has never seen them before… and somehow, they become even more fun when gathered together into a "treasure box."
• Put the items into a container (raid your recycling!)
• Give to another child (or trade… I think that this would make a great pre-school or playgroup swap!)

Letter/ Number/ Word or People Jewels

Cost: $1-$2  Crafty Abilities: Minimal  Time: Under an hour

Materials: Magazines, Large Glass Jewels (from Dollar Tree), Bag or pouch, Mod Podge (or homemade Mod Podge)

How To:

• Find letters, numbers, and or words in magazines (or for the quick and easy version, create a word doc and print them.) *You may also choose to print pictures and make people jewels- I recommend black and white on printer paper.
• Make sure that the letters are the right size by putting a jewel over the top of it, before cutting.
• Cut out the letters.
• Mod Podge them to the flat side of the jewel by painting Mod Podge on the jewel, laying the letter on the Mod Podge and then painting additional Mod Podge over the top.
• Allow all of the Mod Podge to dry. If you choose, paint over the back with a solid color (I didn't do this, but this will give the back of the jewels a neater appearance.)
• Put the jewels in a a bag or sack. (A little jewelry pouch would be perfect!)

Jewel Sorting

Cost: $1-$2  Crafty Abilities: None  Time: ??

Materials: Glass jewels (I used large and small of various colors- again, from Dollar Tree), various (not fragile) bowls, tins, cups, etc.

How To:

• Collect or find plastic or metal bowls and containers (I found mine at our local thrift shop)
• Put glass jewels and containers into a container or bag.
• Give to a child and watch them play! (I honestly couldn't drag this away from my child long enough to take a picture of it today!!) *Be aware that these jewels would be a choking hazard. Use your best judgement and make sure to only give it to a child who would not put the jewels in his mouth.

Do you make homemade gifts?  Do you actually have "crafty abilities," (unlike me :) )What have you made?

Linked up to: Thrifty Thursday, Christmas Presents for Kids Roundup, Pinworthy Projects and Fabulously Frugal Thursday

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Five Favorite Saving Graces This Advent (And a "Flash Giveaway")

This time of year can be notorious for being rushed and stressful. While I have still been up until midnight too many nights these past few weeks, this Advent has been *slightly* less stressful than past years. Here are a few of the reasons why-- My Saving Graces:

1. The Blog: Efficient Mama

A few months ago, I discovered Rachel's blog, Efficient Mama. Rachel is a fairly new mom, but seemingly has a peace about motherhood that I could have only dreamed of as I stumbled through parenthood with my first child.

I love this post about leaving her son with a babysitter for the first time for several reasons.

First of all, I love the pictures of her hubby and her from their night out… I love seeing pictures of bloggers, it helps me know who is "talking." These pictures give me a sense of her personality… she is just too cute!!

Secondly, this post highlights what I see as a beautiful, "humble confidence," in her mothering. While she made a choice that many people disagreed with, she did what she felt was best for her and her son, and she was ok with that.

I often wonder what it is that connects me to certain blog. I think, more than anything, it's when they say something that continues to resonate with me and haunt my thoughts long after I've read it. Rachel's blog has been that way for me.

One thing, in particular, that she said, was in her "Advent Unplugged," post. She was talking about needing to cut back on using internet and watching TV and said, "I find myself hungry for the words of other adults during the day."

As a parent, I have had this struggle, but have never been able to articulate it. When I read, "Hungry for the words of adults," I immediately felt a sense of recognition, "Yes, that's it. That's what it is."

Knowing why I have become so dependent on the internet is helping me to, first of all, give myself a little grace, and secondly find more effective ways to combat it.

2. Promise not to judge? Paper Plates

And yes, these are my beautiful used paper plates because as I went to take a picture, I realized we are "all out!!"

This time of year can definitely have a tendency to get overwhelming.

And, nothing overwhelms me more than seeing a sink full of dishes. So…

"Guilt free," use of paper plates for breakfast and lunch, right now, are helping me to survive.

3. The Piano Guys

A few weeks ago, while reading through some five favorites posts, someone (and I sincerely apologize because I forget who!!) shared this video and I was hooked!

Not only have I watched it over and over, but I have watched many of their Christmas videos.

They never fail to ignite the Christmas spirit.

My second favorite video is this one… Every time (except if I try to catch him on camera) that I start this one, my toddler pulls a chair over the counter so that he can stand in front of my computer and shake his little bum to the beat!

4. #31 Days of Yum

I am still new to Instagram and trying to learn to love it. Until I discovered #31daysofyum, I didn't see any use in at all. However, I've been really enjoying seeing the food pictures that other "Instagrammers," have shared and have even found inspiration.

Thanks to this "gram," from "goeatyourbeets," I realized that every dinner doesn't have to be a "recipe," and doesn't need need involved 10 different pots, pans, trays, and bowls.

It inspired this...

Chicken thighs, veggies (I had sweet potatoes and  carrots, so that's what I used) spices, broth, bacon--Bake. 

This one dish dinner was really easy, practically mess-free (one dish!!), and has become a new family favorite. I'm already making it for the second time in two weeks!

5. Online Shopping

Yes, this is a commercial (because I am an Amazon affiliate and do get a commission fee if you buy something after clicking an Amazon link at my site) but, honestly, I would be remiss, if I didn't mention that shopping online, specially, at Amazon has absolutely been a "Saving Grace," to me this year.

Every time someone asks me if I have finished my shopping and I say, yes, I realize what a blessing it has been.

Thanks to shopping on Amazon, my shopping is done. I didn't spend time chasing deals. I didn't see all of the things in the stores that may have made me question my decisions, or think that I needed to buy something that I hadn't thought of before.

I didn't have to return things that I bought and didn't need. I didn't overbuy. I thought about what I wanted to get for someone, searched for it on Amazon, checked the reviews to make sure it was all it claimed to be, and bought it. Done.

And, thanks to Amazon Prime, all of my shipping was free. I didn't worry about whether or not I spent enough to meet the threshold, I didn't buy something extra to "earn," free shipping. I bought what I came to buy, that's it.

Shopping this year, has been less stressful than it ever has been before.

So...

As I wrote this, I thought about the fact that I still have one $5 Amazon card that I earned from Swagbucks sitting in my account, and I won't need to use it for Christmas presents… I am done.

Then, I thought about the $25 "gift," ($25 off of a $25 or more purchase) I received from Kohl's because one of the gifts I ordered from then arrived late (and by late, I mean a few days after it should have… I hadn't even noticed.)

This morning, I thought about spending both of these… I even spent some time searching Kohl's, and then I realized…

I don't need to. That gives me an amazing amount of peace, and I would like to share some of this, if I could. So, as I wrote this post today, I arrived at the idea of having a "flash" 24 hour giveaway to help someone else finish up their their Christmas shopping.

The Amazon card can only be used online, but if you have Prime, 2-day shipping should still get the gift to you in time for Christmas. The $25 Kohl's coupon can be used in store or online.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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