Goals

The topic for this week is to discuss your goals for this upcoming month:

Diet/Exercise:

 I have been doing great with the number of days I work out, but really need to run more.  I have definitely fallen off the running wagon in a big way.  I want to run a 5 miler this Thanksgiving, and defiantly could not do that right now.

As for my eating, carbs are sneaking their way back into my daily consumption.  I need to get a handle on this and put an end to it.  Battling this demon has been way harder than I would have ever expected.  I am defiantly addicted.

Knitting

I have a bunch of holiday monsters to make, and I would like to finish at least one of them this month.  I also want to get started on a gift for someone who might read this, so I am going to keep that mum.

Adult Stuff

No not, sexy adult stuff... geez.  I need to figure out how to pay for the kids college tuition, and if I am going to get a job to do that I need to get cracking on that task.  I have some ideas about that, but am not ready to share them yet.  I would like to take the first step to exploring my idea this month.  This is probably the most important thing I plan to do this month.

That's about all... hopefully this month goes well.  Want to see what the other ladies have on tap? Check them out at: Froggie, Momarock, and Merrylandgirl

Cooking... my way

Cooking... that is the topic this week.

When I go to the grocery store I am always amazed at how much processed food people buy, frozen meals, convenience foods, etc.  But, that doesn't even tip the iceberg.  Hannah reported to me that our family is weird because we only eat out 1 or 2 times a month.  Most of the kids in her class eat out 1 or 2 times a week. 

Wow is all I have to say.   We never eat out because it is expensive and for the most part not that good for you.  We eat home cooked meals.  I will admit that since I have started cooking for kids, the complexity of our recipes has diminished significantly.  No more fancy foods, just a simple protein, veggie and salad.  I try and make enough for me to have some for lunch.  That is harder than you might think.  It is inexpensive, healthy and gets the job done.

When we moved here and I was showing the estimator from the moving company around our old house, he opened my pantry and said, "you cook don't you?"  I was curious how he could tell.  He said it was because I had ingredients in my pantry and not pre-made food.

I don't always like to cook dinner, but it is healthier, cheaper and tastier than the alternatives.  Looking for some quick recipes?

Better than your Momma's brisket

1 can cola (not the diet kind)
1 packet onion soup mix
2 packs of mushrooms (pre-sliced if you are pressed for time)
1 brisket

Put everything in the crock pot for the day and enjoy!  I like to serve with potatoes, either mashed or roasted.  Don't scoff at the odd ingredients... it is better than your Momma's!

Fish Tacos

6 4oz Talapia filets dipped in breading mixture (below) and cooked in oil in a frying pan.  Use enough oil to lightly coat the pan.  We aren't fryin' chickens here.
sweet peppers sliced thin
cilantro
avocado
corn tortillas
salsa

layer all the of the above in the tortillas and enjoy!

breading mix:

2T flour
1T chili powder
1/2T onion powder
1/2T oregano
1/2T cumin
1/4T pepper
1/4T cayenne pepper (more if you like it spicy)

My kids love this.  Talapia is very mild and not fishy.  This is a good starter fish for kids to try!

Just a few ideas.. if you have any questions about them, let me know. 

Want to see how the other ladies cook it up?  Check them out at: Froggie, Momarock, and Merrylandgirl

 

Great Spanking Debate

Topic for this week is spanking.  Based on this article.
 http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/canadian-experts-call-nationwide-ban-spanking-180200392.html

What are your thoughts on this??? This certainly can apply to any of us, since our parents may have or might not have spanked us as kids.

Spank, don't spank.  Breast feed don't breast feed.  Drink 32 ounces of soda, don't drink 32 ounces of soda.  At the end of the day, it comes down to choice.  I choose to spank, breast feed and drink 32 ounces of soda.  You might not make those choices.

A bit more about my choice to spank.  When my kids were toddlers, I spanked them.  The eldest looked at me and said, at the tender age of 2 1/2, "That didn't hurt Mommy.  Is that all you got?"  After I scrapped myself off the ceiling, I realized that spanking this kid wasn't going to work.  Taking away television on the other hand worked like a champ.

My middle son, would look at me and through the biggest veil of tears you have ever seen, seriously Niagra Falls is mini in comparison, and say "I'm sorry Mommy, don't hit me."  I had to spank him once and just the suggestion that I might have to do it again caused him to change what he was doing.

My daughter, she needed a few spankings here and there and sometimes still does.  It will work better than anything else.  But, I can count on one hand the number of times I have spanked her in the last year.  Again, a trip to her room or taking her monkeys away is usually all that is needed.

Do I abuse my kids?  I don't think so.  DCFS will not take away your kids unless they feel that you are acting outside of what is reasonable.  They would constitute what I have done in the situations I have done it reasonable.

Now that they are older, I wouldn't dream of spanking the boys.  It is just inappropriate.  Besides, I have much better things I can do like take away the phone or video games.  Do my kids think that I abuse them?  Probably, they don't have any ice cream in the house right now and they need to clean their rooms this weekend.  For all their faults, my kids are fine.

What we need is for government to STOP telling us what to do.  Let's let adults make adult decisions.  We don't need government to regulate everything.

Want to hear what everyone else has to say?  Check them out at:  Froggie, Momarock, and Merrylandgirl

History Lesson... again

This weeks topic is on pregnancy and education, specifically:

There is a charter school in Louisianan that requires students suspected of being pregnant to take a pregnancy test. If the student refuses, or test positive they have to be home schooled. Here is a link to one of many articles about this controversy.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjVH1yWjOjUn0EPS6b10Y2etxR8Q?docId=a8e7fa91ef734274a662a662e6833dd9
 

You may be wondering if they can do that. In legal terms the answer is, NO. In fact this policy is in complete violation of the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. According to Title IX and its regulations schools cannot exclude any student from an education program or activity, “including any class or extracurricular activity, on the basis of such student’s pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery therefrom.”  The fact that not one of the families who send their girls to this school has uttered a peep about this is surprising to me.  But, it is a clear violation of the law.

If I understand what one of the Republican Politicians said,"women are pregnant before the conceive," all girls of childbearing age are pregnant.  As such, no girls can receive a public education in Delhi, LA.  Interesting way to control your education costs.

Ultimately, our country is at a crossroads.  We have a VERY conservative christian right that wants to impose their morality on everyone.  Situations like this are just examples of how that extremest group has started to infiltrate our culture.  I feel like this needs to stop.

Let me go back to the reason folks jumped on boats and cruised out of England, it was for religious persecution.  The dudes that founded the country wanted to be able to practice their religion anyway they wanted.  The constitution says there is no national religion.  This country supports the idea that your path to G-d is just that, your path.  So, why do these right wing Christian politicians want to change that?  You go be conservative on your own time, and I will be over here having abortions and a pregnant teen OK?

I need government to STOP telling me how to live my life.  Leave these kids alone.

Check them out at:Froggie, Momarock, and Merrylandgirl.