My older ds has learned to ride his bike! A few days ago, we removed his training wheels and his pedals so he could learn to balance without the added difficulty of pedaling. Yesterday he told us that he had learned to balance and that he wanted his pedals back on. I though no way did he learn to balance so quickly, but we put the pedals back on for him anyway. Well, he just took off! Today he's riding like a pro! I think my greatest joy as a parent comes as I watch my children learn new things.
I just had to share!
Alberta
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Here there be whales!
Hello March! So far it's come in like a Lamb. Does that mean it will leave like a lion? I actually hope so; we could use some extra rain.
Resolutions Update: (really, this is mostly for me so if you find it boring, feel free to skip it!)
1. Keep up with my exercise routine
We actually went walking in the rain one day. Now that's dedication! (In SoCal anyway, in UT it would have to be snow.)
2. No buying sugary snacks.
Okay, story time. I decided that this resolution was setting up a bad relationship with food for me. Have you ever tried to NOT think of something? Try it. It's like when someone says "Don't look!" what's the first thing you do? Look, of course! So I found with the no buying sugary snacks resolution, I spent more time thinking about snacks so I actually ate more. Therefore, I'm scrapping this one. However, I will replace it with another. I seem to respond better to positive goals, so this one will be changed to "Eat more legumes." Right now we have two dishes with beans in our menu rotation, hearty vegetarian chili and minestrone soup. So to begin with, I will add beans to two more dishes, making one dish a week that includes legumes. I could easily add beans to the chicken and salsa soup and I could use pureed green garbanzos to thicken the broccoli cheese soup. For ease in starting off, everything will be from cans (except the lentils and the frozen green garbanzos) but once the menu is established, I'll start cooking dry beans in the crock pot and freezing them for later use. So there it is. I'm actually pretty excited about this change!
3. Write in my journal once a week.
This month was great! I wrote every week on Sunday. The difficulty will come next week when I'm in Utah. I think maybe I'll give myself a vacation.
4. Write in my blog once a month.
Not as good as last month, but still within the first week!
5. De-clutter one room a month.
I did awesome with this one! I'm so happy with how the boys room is organized now, and it stays much cleaner. I should post a picture! I moved all my stuff to the less accessible side of the closet and put the boys craft shelf inside the closet. Then I added another small bookcase for all their games and I got more plastic storage for some of their new Christmas stuff. The only things left to do are to get rid of the pink plastic Ikea chairs and the gigantic bookcase that is sitting in our room (sighhhh). This month I'll organize the bathroom. That will mostly involve clearing out the cabinets under the sinks and throwing all the old stuff away. Hopefully not too difficult.
Whew! Not bad. Of course if we end up moving, it's all off!
I've decided it would be better to have a specific list of exceptions for the compact rather than a few all purpose, free for all exceptions. I don't have a good list made up yet, so I'll have to post it later, but it will definitely include HP7!
Tomorrow we are all going on a two hour whale watching excursion on a tall ship! I'm so excited!! I'll post pics next month.
Hope no one falls overboard...
Alberta
Resolutions Update: (really, this is mostly for me so if you find it boring, feel free to skip it!)
1. Keep up with my exercise routine
We actually went walking in the rain one day. Now that's dedication! (In SoCal anyway, in UT it would have to be snow.)
2. No buying sugary snacks.
Okay, story time. I decided that this resolution was setting up a bad relationship with food for me. Have you ever tried to NOT think of something? Try it. It's like when someone says "Don't look!" what's the first thing you do? Look, of course! So I found with the no buying sugary snacks resolution, I spent more time thinking about snacks so I actually ate more. Therefore, I'm scrapping this one. However, I will replace it with another. I seem to respond better to positive goals, so this one will be changed to "Eat more legumes." Right now we have two dishes with beans in our menu rotation, hearty vegetarian chili and minestrone soup. So to begin with, I will add beans to two more dishes, making one dish a week that includes legumes. I could easily add beans to the chicken and salsa soup and I could use pureed green garbanzos to thicken the broccoli cheese soup. For ease in starting off, everything will be from cans (except the lentils and the frozen green garbanzos) but once the menu is established, I'll start cooking dry beans in the crock pot and freezing them for later use. So there it is. I'm actually pretty excited about this change!
3. Write in my journal once a week.
This month was great! I wrote every week on Sunday. The difficulty will come next week when I'm in Utah. I think maybe I'll give myself a vacation.
4. Write in my blog once a month.
Not as good as last month, but still within the first week!
5. De-clutter one room a month.
I did awesome with this one! I'm so happy with how the boys room is organized now, and it stays much cleaner. I should post a picture! I moved all my stuff to the less accessible side of the closet and put the boys craft shelf inside the closet. Then I added another small bookcase for all their games and I got more plastic storage for some of their new Christmas stuff. The only things left to do are to get rid of the pink plastic Ikea chairs and the gigantic bookcase that is sitting in our room (sighhhh). This month I'll organize the bathroom. That will mostly involve clearing out the cabinets under the sinks and throwing all the old stuff away. Hopefully not too difficult.
Whew! Not bad. Of course if we end up moving, it's all off!
I've decided it would be better to have a specific list of exceptions for the compact rather than a few all purpose, free for all exceptions. I don't have a good list made up yet, so I'll have to post it later, but it will definitely include HP7!
Tomorrow we are all going on a two hour whale watching excursion on a tall ship! I'm so excited!! I'll post pics next month.
Hope no one falls overboard...
Alberta
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Resolutions Revisited
Yay! I'm actually keeping my blogging resolution! Here's an update on my 2007 resolutions so far:
1. Keep up with my exercise routine.
No sweat. But that's only because it's too cold! (haha) This is my easiest resolution ever! Though I could probably stand to add another 1/2 mile or so to my walk.
2. No buying sugary snacks.
Not as good. I messed up in the first week by buying doughnuts because I forgot! But since then I've been really good. Of course I allow myself the exception of ice cream as long as I eat it at the store. I just can't give up my Stricklands! (I don't get it that often, especially in the winter.)
3. Write in my journal once a week.
I started out alright, but then I started forgetting. Last week I forgot to write on Sunday, but remembered on Monday. So far this week I haven't written, but I hope to remedy that tonight! You'd think this wouldn't be so hard! Trouble is I try to do all my Primary stuff on Sunday so I have the rest of the week for my kids, and it overruns journal writing time. Plus I can never seem to get it all done on Sunday so it spills into the week anyway. Sighhhhh. I think once I get used to the journal writing schedule, it will be easier to remember.
4. Write on my blog once a month.
100%! Wahooo! On the first day even!
5. Declutter one room a month.
I made a really good effort on this one, but I think I choose a bad room to start with. My room is the repository for everything that doesn't have a place, so no matter how hard I try it never seems to 'declutter'. Oh well, I'll get another chance later this year! On to the boys room! I think this one will be easier because everything HAS to have a place or it won't get put away. Since Christmas, there are some new toys and things without places so it has been very hard for them to keep it clean. But I have a plan that I hope will help! Hmmm, I'd better write it down someplace...
There it is! Not too bad, if I say so myself.
In other news, Harry Potter 7 has a release date! Finally! I'm severely tempted to preorder it from Amazon. We'll see what my dh says.
I almost forgot! February marks the beginning of a year long consumer "fast" for us. I got the idea from a group called "The Compact". Basically you refrain from buying anything new for a whole year. Of course there are exceptions, like food and shampoo. To get items you need you borrow, barter, or buy used. (You can read the details here.) We probably won't be as strict as the original folks (they probably didn't have kids!) but we're going to make our best attempt! Today is our 'kick-off' day. I'll let you know next month how it's going!
Here's hoping nothing big breaks this year!
Alberta
1. Keep up with my exercise routine.
No sweat. But that's only because it's too cold! (haha) This is my easiest resolution ever! Though I could probably stand to add another 1/2 mile or so to my walk.
2. No buying sugary snacks.
Not as good. I messed up in the first week by buying doughnuts because I forgot! But since then I've been really good. Of course I allow myself the exception of ice cream as long as I eat it at the store. I just can't give up my Stricklands! (I don't get it that often, especially in the winter.)
3. Write in my journal once a week.
I started out alright, but then I started forgetting. Last week I forgot to write on Sunday, but remembered on Monday. So far this week I haven't written, but I hope to remedy that tonight! You'd think this wouldn't be so hard! Trouble is I try to do all my Primary stuff on Sunday so I have the rest of the week for my kids, and it overruns journal writing time. Plus I can never seem to get it all done on Sunday so it spills into the week anyway. Sighhhhh. I think once I get used to the journal writing schedule, it will be easier to remember.
4. Write on my blog once a month.
100%! Wahooo! On the first day even!
5. Declutter one room a month.
I made a really good effort on this one, but I think I choose a bad room to start with. My room is the repository for everything that doesn't have a place, so no matter how hard I try it never seems to 'declutter'. Oh well, I'll get another chance later this year! On to the boys room! I think this one will be easier because everything HAS to have a place or it won't get put away. Since Christmas, there are some new toys and things without places so it has been very hard for them to keep it clean. But I have a plan that I hope will help! Hmmm, I'd better write it down someplace...
There it is! Not too bad, if I say so myself.
In other news, Harry Potter 7 has a release date! Finally! I'm severely tempted to preorder it from Amazon. We'll see what my dh says.
I almost forgot! February marks the beginning of a year long consumer "fast" for us. I got the idea from a group called "The Compact". Basically you refrain from buying anything new for a whole year. Of course there are exceptions, like food and shampoo. To get items you need you borrow, barter, or buy used. (You can read the details here.) We probably won't be as strict as the original folks (they probably didn't have kids!) but we're going to make our best attempt! Today is our 'kick-off' day. I'll let you know next month how it's going!
Here's hoping nothing big breaks this year!
Alberta
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Resolutions
Hi everyone who is still checking my blog in the hopes that I will post (all one of you). To you I say, sorry! I was/am so overwhelmed with Primary stuff, I had to let some things go, and this was it. But I think I may be able post again to a limited degree. Plus, it's 2007!
So with that in mind, here are my 2007 Resolutions:
1. Keep up with my exercise routine.
2. No buying sugary snacks.
3. Write in my journal once a week.
4. Write on my blog once a month.
5. Declutter one room a month.
I usually don't make resolutions because they are so hard to keep and why resolve to do something you know you won't! But I think these are ones I can keep. Besides, I plan to give myself a lot of leeway, and if I happen to mess up, that doesn't mean I get to throw them out. I'll just pick it up the next time around.
Here's my plan in more detail:
1. I go walking most every weekday morning at 7am with a couple of friends in the ward who also live in my housing complex. The key is someone else is counting on me to show up, so it's harder for me to flake. It's worked well for over a year now, so I resolve to keep it up! (I know, it smacks of cheating, but at least I have one resolution I know I'll keep!)
2. This doesn't mean I can't eat sugary snacks, I just can't buy them. And if I do get a craving for, say, chocolate, I have to make it from scratch, which will be healthier anyway. So homemade snacks like cookies etc. are okay. I think this one will be the hardest to keep!
3. I don't write at all now. I know, terrible! But setting a goal of writing every day seems impossible to me right now, so I figured if I could get to the point where I write once a week, on Sunday, it would be doable.
4. I'll post at the beginning of each month, within the first week. If I happen to miss a month, I'll post the next! No pressure!
5. I go crazy if I have a cluttered house. Really. But I live in a small apartment with two kids and a husband and not enough storage. This resolution is for my sanity, so I this is the one I most want to keep. I'll start with my bedroom (jan), then the boys room (feb), the bathroom (mar), the porch (apr), the kitchen (may), and the living room (jun). July I'll take a break then start over. Anything that hasn't been used in the past year goes to DI or freecycle.
There it is. I'll use my monthly blog to review my progress. And thank you to my one reader for sticking with my through this long post!
Happy New Year!
Alberta
So with that in mind, here are my 2007 Resolutions:
1. Keep up with my exercise routine.
2. No buying sugary snacks.
3. Write in my journal once a week.
4. Write on my blog once a month.
5. Declutter one room a month.
I usually don't make resolutions because they are so hard to keep and why resolve to do something you know you won't! But I think these are ones I can keep. Besides, I plan to give myself a lot of leeway, and if I happen to mess up, that doesn't mean I get to throw them out. I'll just pick it up the next time around.
Here's my plan in more detail:
1. I go walking most every weekday morning at 7am with a couple of friends in the ward who also live in my housing complex. The key is someone else is counting on me to show up, so it's harder for me to flake. It's worked well for over a year now, so I resolve to keep it up! (I know, it smacks of cheating, but at least I have one resolution I know I'll keep!)
2. This doesn't mean I can't eat sugary snacks, I just can't buy them. And if I do get a craving for, say, chocolate, I have to make it from scratch, which will be healthier anyway. So homemade snacks like cookies etc. are okay. I think this one will be the hardest to keep!
3. I don't write at all now. I know, terrible! But setting a goal of writing every day seems impossible to me right now, so I figured if I could get to the point where I write once a week, on Sunday, it would be doable.
4. I'll post at the beginning of each month, within the first week. If I happen to miss a month, I'll post the next! No pressure!
5. I go crazy if I have a cluttered house. Really. But I live in a small apartment with two kids and a husband and not enough storage. This resolution is for my sanity, so I this is the one I most want to keep. I'll start with my bedroom (jan), then the boys room (feb), the bathroom (mar), the porch (apr), the kitchen (may), and the living room (jun). July I'll take a break then start over. Anything that hasn't been used in the past year goes to DI or freecycle.
There it is. I'll use my monthly blog to review my progress. And thank you to my one reader for sticking with my through this long post!
Happy New Year!
Alberta
Monday, July 31, 2006
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
I won!
Actually, I got first place in the cherry tomato division of the Farm and Garden competition at the OC fair. It's my first placing at the county fair! Sadly the day to pick up my ribbon was this morning from 7am to 9am and I didn't hear about my placing until this afternoon. :( I don't even have a picture of the tomatoes because we completely forgot to visit the farm and garden competition display and take one. They go off display as of today and are now property of the OC fair to probably throw away, including my ribbon! There is one more pick up day for the next round in the competition, so maybe I'll go and see if they still have it. I hope! I entered a new variety of cherry tomato just sold this season from Burpee called "Black Pearl". Not as tasty as I'd hoped, but they do look quite striking. I have more than I know what to do with, so I think I will try to sun dry some of them, or maybe freezing. I could even make jam out of them! I wonder how that would taste. Hmmm.
Speaking of too much produce, I also have tons of zucchini (surprise). And since many of my readers are in Utah, I know you have extra zucchini too (or will soon). So with that in mind, here are my best zucchini recipes! Enjoy!
The best cake recipe I've found is in the Richey family cookbook "Nearer Home" on page 273, 'Chocolate Zucchini Snack Cake' (for those of you who have it). There are also tons of zucchini bread recipes in that cookbook on pages 208-210. But the very best zucchini bread I've made is from the "Best Ever Banana Bread" recipe below, just substituting 2 cups of shredded zucchini for the bananas.
For something more main-dishy, I really like my mom's 'Zucchini Boats' (see below). And I just discovered a zucchini recipe that my boys, who WILL NOT eat zucchini, actually like! It's a zucchini pancake recipe, though I like to call them "Zucchini Patties" to avoid confusion.
I am also in the process of trying 'Quick Zucchini Pickles'. They are like the familiar cucumbers in vinegar water we all know.
Even with all these recipes at my disposal, I still have to give some of my zucchini and summer squash away! And unlike most Utahans I actually try to pick my zucchini while they are still small! However, since the zucchini are the same color as the leaves they are sometimes hard to spot, so often I am surprised by a giant after I thought I had picked them all! They are VERY prolific plants! I'll have to check into preserving them. Then I can have zucchini bread all winter!
Happy to have a garden,
Alberta
================================================================= Best Ever Banana Bread
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 bananas, mashed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, sugar and eggs. Mix sour cream and soda in a separate bowl; let stand until foamy. Add vanilla, bananas, salt and flour; mix well.Place in 2 greased, floured 9x5x3"loaf pans or one bundt pan. Bake 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Freezes well. ================================================================== Zucchini Boats
Cut in half lengthwise:
4 medium zucchini
Scoop out pulp, reserving:
1 cup pulp
Place zucchini cut side down in a large casserole dish with:
1/2 cup water
Microwave on high for 3-5 minutes, or until zucchini becomes slightly tender
Mix in separate bowl:
Reserved pulp
1/2 lb. ground sausage, cooked
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 egg
1/2 cup saltine crackers, crushed
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp salt
Some of your favorite herb, fresh or dried
1 clove minced garlic
Drain water from zucchini and place cut side up in casserole dish. Spoon mixture from bowl into the boats. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Serves 4 to 8. ================================================================== Zucchini Patties
Shred on the large holes of a grater:
2 1/2 lbs. green or golden zucchini
Sprinkle lightly with:
Salt
Mix together in a bowl:
2 large eggs
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (or medium firm tofu)
1/2 cup dry unseasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup flour
1 bunch scallions, slivered
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
Salt and pepper to taste
Quickly rinse the squash, then, using your hands or a towel, squeeze out the excess liquid. Add the squash to the batter.
Heat in a large skillet:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
Drop in the batter, using 1/4 cup for 4-inch cake. (Flatten if needed). Fry over medium heat until golden brown on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Turn and brown the second side (I like to sprinkle them with cheese here). Keep the fried patties warm in the oven while you fry the remaining batter, adding more oil if needed. ================================================================== Quick Zucchini Pickles
Cut zucchini in thin slices and place in a colander. Salt generously, rubbing the salt into both sides of the zucchini. Let it drain over a sink for 30 minutes, squeezing the excess water out every few minutes. Rinse well in cold water. Transfer to a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 Tbsp dried dill, and enough water to cover. Refrigerate for an hour. Enjoy! ===================================================================
Speaking of too much produce, I also have tons of zucchini (surprise). And since many of my readers are in Utah, I know you have extra zucchini too (or will soon). So with that in mind, here are my best zucchini recipes! Enjoy!
The best cake recipe I've found is in the Richey family cookbook "Nearer Home" on page 273, 'Chocolate Zucchini Snack Cake' (for those of you who have it). There are also tons of zucchini bread recipes in that cookbook on pages 208-210. But the very best zucchini bread I've made is from the "Best Ever Banana Bread" recipe below, just substituting 2 cups of shredded zucchini for the bananas.
For something more main-dishy, I really like my mom's 'Zucchini Boats' (see below). And I just discovered a zucchini recipe that my boys, who WILL NOT eat zucchini, actually like! It's a zucchini pancake recipe, though I like to call them "Zucchini Patties" to avoid confusion.
I am also in the process of trying 'Quick Zucchini Pickles'. They are like the familiar cucumbers in vinegar water we all know.
Even with all these recipes at my disposal, I still have to give some of my zucchini and summer squash away! And unlike most Utahans I actually try to pick my zucchini while they are still small! However, since the zucchini are the same color as the leaves they are sometimes hard to spot, so often I am surprised by a giant after I thought I had picked them all! They are VERY prolific plants! I'll have to check into preserving them. Then I can have zucchini bread all winter!
Happy to have a garden,
Alberta
================================================================= Best Ever Banana Bread
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 bananas, mashed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, sugar and eggs. Mix sour cream and soda in a separate bowl; let stand until foamy. Add vanilla, bananas, salt and flour; mix well.Place in 2 greased, floured 9x5x3"loaf pans or one bundt pan. Bake 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Freezes well. ================================================================== Zucchini Boats
Cut in half lengthwise:
4 medium zucchini
Scoop out pulp, reserving:
1 cup pulp
Place zucchini cut side down in a large casserole dish with:
1/2 cup water
Microwave on high for 3-5 minutes, or until zucchini becomes slightly tender
Mix in separate bowl:
Reserved pulp
1/2 lb. ground sausage, cooked
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 egg
1/2 cup saltine crackers, crushed
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp salt
Some of your favorite herb, fresh or dried
1 clove minced garlic
Drain water from zucchini and place cut side up in casserole dish. Spoon mixture from bowl into the boats. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Serves 4 to 8. ================================================================== Zucchini Patties
Shred on the large holes of a grater:
2 1/2 lbs. green or golden zucchini
Sprinkle lightly with:
Salt
Mix together in a bowl:
2 large eggs
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (or medium firm tofu)
1/2 cup dry unseasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup flour
1 bunch scallions, slivered
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
Salt and pepper to taste
Quickly rinse the squash, then, using your hands or a towel, squeeze out the excess liquid. Add the squash to the batter.
Heat in a large skillet:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
Drop in the batter, using 1/4 cup for 4-inch cake. (Flatten if needed). Fry over medium heat until golden brown on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Turn and brown the second side (I like to sprinkle them with cheese here). Keep the fried patties warm in the oven while you fry the remaining batter, adding more oil if needed. ================================================================== Quick Zucchini Pickles
Cut zucchini in thin slices and place in a colander. Salt generously, rubbing the salt into both sides of the zucchini. Let it drain over a sink for 30 minutes, squeezing the excess water out every few minutes. Rinse well in cold water. Transfer to a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 Tbsp dried dill, and enough water to cover. Refrigerate for an hour. Enjoy! ===================================================================
Monday, July 10, 2006
Thank You!
I'm participating in the One Skein secret pal exchange and I got my first skein over the weekend. I love it! It's 100% organic cotton, so smooth and soft, and in pink! Gorgeous! So I just want to say a big thank you to my secret pal!
This past weekend we also went to the OC Fair. We went on opening day because parking and admission were free between 12 and 1pm. It was fun, but crowded. We went with out friend Vicky and her 2yo son. And I got to take some pictures of my crochet entries (I found my camera). They weren't displayed very well, and my picture taking abilities leave something to be desired, but here they are anyway.
I've got 4 free tickets to the Fair!
Alberta
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