Carrot Muffins

As a busy mom I love having food that's ready to go for my boys. I'm also a big believer in limiting the amount of sugar and extra junk that my kids intake. Yes, I got made fun of the other day for not giving my boys Christmas cookies...not that I never will, but I don't think they know what they're missing yet so what's the point this young? I also didn't mind when my mom and sister-in-law gave spoonfuls of ice cream to my boys. That's what grandmas and aunts are for right? It's the general idea and effort that matters. Anyways, I'm not usually prepared when it comes to snack time. Crackers are often the go-to although many are full of not so great things. (My favourite are Triscuits which have 2 ingredients: whole wheat and salt...we get the reduced sodium kind).

I found this carrot muffin recipe in this book that I borrowed from my library several months back. I love that they have no sugar, wholesome ingredients including a vegetable and are easy to freeze. I will warn you, they don't taste great to big people but for little ones who aren't yet addicted to sugar and salt, they do the trick. They at least get the passing grade with my boys. Since I know several readers have toddlers and young kids around I thought I'd share. Let me know if you make them!

Carrot Muffins

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Yields: 12 muffins

1 cup plain, full-fat yogurt
½ cup whole milk
2 eggs
1 T maple syrup (I use PC organic 100% pure)
1 T canola oil
2 ¼ cups whole-wheat flour
½ t baking soda
1 t baking powder
½ t salt
3 medium carrots grated (about 1 cup)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray
2. Whisk together the yogurt, milk, eggs, syrup and oil until smooth
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
4. Add the grated carrots and the yogurt mixture to the flour mixture and stir well.
5. Pour the mixture evenly into the muffin pan and bake for 20 minutes. Cool and serve. (I always use an ice cream scoop with the spring handle...perfect for scooping batter into muffin tins!)

Home for the Holidays

One of the best parts of the Christmas holidays is having Joel home from work. He doesn't go back for another full week. We had one Christmas yesterday, another one tomorrow and one more two days after that, leaving some golden days in between with no plans. Our families live between one and fifteen minutes away so we don't have much travelling to do.

I've already enjoyed a few sleep-ins which is one of my absolute favourite things to do. Luckily, it's also one of my husband's least favourite things to do so it works out well. My little white noise machine has been key in giving me an extra hour or two while the boys play downstairs. We also want to do a few things around the house, things we've had on our mental to-do lists for awhile...organize the front hall closet, switch out clothes that don't fit the boys for the next size, purge more stuff from the basement. Perhaps we're getting a little boring in what excites us as we approach middle age but these kind of things feel good once accomplished and are somewhat of a necessity in having a home. Plus having an extra adult around to hang out with the boys while the other works is a bonus.

I also plan to tackle some big-batch cooking and restock the freezer with meals to make my life a little easier. I'm still not a huge fan of cooking during the crazy dinner hour but if I can make something while I don't have two toddlers tugging on me to be picked up, and have extra for bonus meals later, I actually find it quite enjoyable. On today's list: carrot muffins for the boys (I'll post the recipe later) and minestrone soup for the freezer.

One of my decisions for the holidays is to stay of Facebook until Joel is back at work at least. I've confessed in the past that I waste too much time on there. I don't really need to see the piles of presents people got, the Boxing day deals acquired, who ate how many turkey dinners etc. I don't actually care, I just use it to avoid other things. Facebook has its benefits but I can certainly live without them for awhile. If I have free time I want to spend it with my family, reading, playing games, going outside, having a conversation with a real person, drinking a glass of wine or doing anything remotely useful. Since I haven't been successful in setting limits I'm just going to stay away. And for those who I communicate with via FB messages, I've just had them sent to my regular email account. Brilliant!

I'm really looking forward to the next week. If you have holidays, what are you up to?

What We've Been Up To

No deep thoughts the past week or so, at least no energy to articulate them. There's always something going on in my head. All four of us have been dealing with colds so we've been fairly low key, trying to stay home and rest while not infecting the rest of the world before the holidays. Last Christmas was pretty miserable with illness and hospital stays so we're hoping to get it all over with before then and take another shot at it.

It's pretty hard to do nothing while taking care of toddlers, but I've enjoyed the rare chance lately to just sit (or lie!) on the couch and observe them. They continue to amaze me. Their vocabulary is growing like crazy and they pick up on new words in no time. They are also continuing to grow in their interactions. They call each other brother (more like 'bradda'...so cute) and Caleb is always looking to see what Micah is up to. If Micah is crying he will often say "Bradda okay?" I love his sweet sensitive spirit and Micah's adventurous playful nature. They are so different. The other day I asked Micah to give Caleb his water. Micah took it from me, handed it to Caleb, said "There you go" or his version of it and Caleb said "Thank you." It was a simple interaction but one that made me very proud of my boys.

Last weekend we went to a Christmas party for families in our area with multiples. I have never seen so many sets of twins and a few triplets too. Although slightly chaotic we had a lot of fun and was nice to see other families who all share something the multiple thing in common. One family had two sets of twins...girls about 3 years old and girls about 4 months old. They put us all to shame! The boys had their first interaction with Santa and not surprisingly he was not a hit. Caleb was shaking in fear. Maybe next year or maybe not. Do those pictures ever turn out well?

We're looking forward to the holidays, Christmas with both sides of our family and time to relax away from the usual routines of life.

Living Simply Part 3 - Christmas

When you have no fireplace the stockings have to go somewhere!

Living simply at Christmas can be hard but something it seems more people are getting on board with. We all know that our North American consumerism is at it's best (or worst) this time of year. People spend hundreds of dollars and get stressed out to the max buying more stuff that we don't need. Joel and I do stockings for each other but haven't bought gifts in awhile. Instead we choose an experience to share that we normally wouldn't do. My side of the family only buys gifts for kids and on Joel's side we draw names for one stocking and one gift, so gift-buying is fairly easy.

But as we've been getting closer to Christmas I've started to question why we even buy gifts at all. Then last night I read this post and the wheels started turning even more. For those of us who follow Jesus (I know not everyone reading this does) isn't it really him we are celebrating? Shouldn't we be giving gifts to him and isn't what he really wants is for us to give to those in need? Why do we give gifts to each other? Because it makes us feel good? Then it's still about us. Because we want to show people we love them? Why does it have to be with stuff? I know many people are changing the way they do Christmas, making handmade gifts, giving time instead of things or honouring people buy giving gifts that matter. So many great organizations have gift catalogues now, it's not hard to find one you align with.

I think over the next few years, while our kids are still young, will be the time to figure out our traditions and how we'll do Christmas. Will we give any gifts to each other? I don't know. I'm certainly not claiming that gift giving is evil. But I've just been challenged to think more about the "why" and how I can make Christmas more about what really matters. I want it to be less about us and more about others and while doing that, not unnecessarily contributing to the accumulation of stuff. What are your traditions at Christmas? Have you changed how your family does it over the years?

Follow Through.... or lack thereof

I've recently written about several different goals I have for myself and I have to confess they are not going well. I am good at making goals and plans but have never been awesome on the follow through, except for when I said at a young age I would get married and move with my husband to Africa. I checked that one off in the second year of marriage.

One of my goals was to practice gratitude and record one thousand gifts. Sadly, since I've started this in August I'm at a whopping 31. A bit pathetic. It's not that I haven't had anything to be grateful for, but my journal is usually under a pile of books and I honestly don't think of it. New goal? Put my journal in the kitchen and leave it OPEN. I'm really determined to make thankfulness central to my life and clearly have a long way to go.

I've wanted to become a morning person. Well, I've gotten out of bed early to workout a whole.... wait for it.... 2 times. Yikes! I love sleep and have not yet been able to force myself into bed early so if I don't HAVE to get up at 6am, it takes a lot for me to set the alarm. It's a choice that I've simply not made This morning I just happened to wake up at 6am and knew that I'd lie awake in bed until 7am thinking about how I should be working out, (plus I really had to pee!) so I dragged my butt out of bed for a date with Jillian. I still believe the morning is the best time to workout and want to be fit, so I'll keep working on it.

The third goal was to work on living more simply by buying less food. I'm doing okay on this one. There is definitely more space in the freezer and pantry but I've failed a few times buying things I don't need or haven't planned into a meal. Overall I'm feeling pretty good about this one and still working away.

I don't write this to make myself feel guilty. Moms don't need more of that. It's just a mental check-in of where I'm at and a declaration that I will continue to work on these things. Overall life is pretty great these days. We've successfully made it through the one nap transition and I'm happy about that. Life is all about choices and we make hundreds of them a day. Inevitably I will make several bad ones before the sun goes down. I'm the kind of person that once I have a decent string of failures in a certain area I am very tempted to throw in the towel and give up. But no! I will not give up (cue inspiration music!). I will become a grateful person, I will value a healthy lifestyle by actually doing something about it, and I will learn to live more simply. It just looks like I'll be on the long, slow track to getting there, but hopefully the one that results in true transformation. Now excuse me while I go motivate myself by watching the Biggest Loser with a bowl of ice cream.

Pizza Puffs

A friend posted a link to this recipe so I pinned it (Are you on Pinterest? Awesome!) and finally got to making it this week. I LOVE things I can freeze for my boys and be used for a snack or quick meal and these were perfect, not to mention very quick and easy to make. They were a hit with the boys, who currently love to say the word "pizza". You could also add super diced veggies to round out the food groups. They're great for adults too... I popped several back in a row...especially as a yummy appetizer at a party! I have a feeling I'll be making these on an almost weekly basis. I think I only got 19 out of my mini-muffin tins but depends on the size. Let me know if you try them!

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (I didn't have this so used a pinch or two of oregano)
• pinch of salt (optional)
• pinch of red pepper flakes (optional, but I used them)
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup cubed pepperoni (I used cut up Natural Selections ham...healthier I think??? Will try pepperoni too.)
• 1/2 cup store-bought pizza sauce (didn't use this for the boys but would make them more delicious)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 24-cup mini-muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, Italian seasoning, salt and red pepper flakes (if using) ; whisk in the milk and egg. Stir in the mozzarella, Parmesan and pepperoni; let stand for 10 minutes.

2. Stir the batter and divide among the mini-muffin cups. Bake until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, microwave the pizza sauce until warmed through. Serve the puffs with the pizza sauce for dipping.

Hope on World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS day. I confess I had totally forgot it was coming. My thoughts are on our many friends infected or affected by AIDS. Above is my friend Rebecca who we met when we lived in Zimbabwe. She had been close to dying but was given the opportunity to go on ARVs and has responded well. She is still alive today and we're able to keep in touch occasionally via a friend with email or when friends go to visit. She is just one of the many brave people fighting this awful disease.

It is easy to get overwhelmed or just check out altogether. Many of us don't know people on this side of the world who are infected, but with 34 million people living with it worldwide it's a big deal. Today I have hope. Hope for a cure, hope for a better life for those infected through the help of medication. Hope of support for those caring for orphans or loved ones as they die. There is so much that can be done and I'm proud to be part of an awesome community who is making a difference. Is there more we can do? Absolutely. Are there many days it doesn't even come to mind? Yes! But it's too huge to ignore altogether and I want to do my part. So let's not think that it's too big that we can't do anything about it. Many people I know don't have a choice of whether or not they want to deal with AIDS. We do, and I hope that if you're not already, you'll choose to do something!

Transitions

The last few weeks my boys have been going through the transition I've been longing for and yet dreading at the same time... going to one nap! If you're a FB friend you might have noticed my questions and thoughts on the subject. As mentioned many times before, it's been hard to get out with twins, especially twins who love/need their sleep. I've been looking forward to getting out in the mornings and joining the outside world again. But like all transitions, it's been tough and I'm tired. I've muddled my way through trying to figure out how best to approach it. The were both sleeping beautifully in the morning but Micah especially wasn't in the afternoon. It was almost as if 2 naps was too much but 1 nap not enough. Something needed to change so we started the process. I'm pretty sure Caleb could still do 2 naps consistently but let's be honest, I like my boys on the same schedule. I need my breaks!

Finally in the past week or so we've had some success. I've managed to keep them up until around noon and have gotten a few days of 3 hour naps. We've also had several dinner time meltdowns and early bedtimes as their bodies are adjusting. They are difficult in the moment but having them in bed at 6:30pm isn't the worst thing in the world! In some ways I'm not sure why I wanted this so much. Keeping twin toddlers (or any child!) busy from 7am until noon is a LONG time. The key is getting out of the house. I will confess I've never been very brave when it comes to that. The other day we were at a play program the community centre. The play area was very large. With Micah walking he could go anywhere quickly, so I try to plant myself somewhere in the middle and keep an eye on them. I felt like a lifeguard again. At one point I could hear Micah crying but couldn't see him anywhere. Eventually I found him in a tunnel, not too happy.

I'm realizing that I need to take more risks, in parenthood and life in general, so have been forcing myself to get out with them. What's the worst that could happen? Two boys completely melting down in public? Not the end of the world. I've gone to the community centre, a playgroup the senior's home and an Early Year's centre. I'm proud of myself. Two of the three I can walk to and I find that less stressful. One of my fears came true at the Early Year's Centre when I had no idea how to get them both in the door. There were no strollers allowed inside and it's pretty hard to carry both of them. I was holding my crawler while my walker, not quite getting the concept of staying with me or holding my hand, ran down the side walk. I don't even remember how we got in, but we did and with the help of a volunteer, managed to get them back out.

Today we had no plans and my boys seem tired. They were both lying on the floor asking to go "night night" so I've declared it as a 2 nap day. They've been down for almost an hour and I'm pretty sure Caleb is fast asleep while Micah is babbling away. Was it the right call? I have no idea and I might pay for it later but I'm doing my best. Soon this will all be a distant memory and I'll long for the days that they napped at all. Being a parent I've learned there are a million phases and I don't want to wish them away. It goes too fast. How do you deal with transitions? Do you like change? And if you're a mom to young kids, want to come over for a play date? ;)

Living Simply Part 2 - Food

I love grocery shopping. I could spend hours walking up and down the aisles of our local store. If I could get paid to do anything, besides being a mom and power-washing dirty transport trucks (yes, it's kind of my dream!), I would grocery shop for people. I also love deals. Flyer day gets me excited. I used to go through each one and carefully plan out where I would buy each item. I would often hit 3 or 4 different chains in a week to get the best price on certain things. Who knows if the gas used to get there was worth it but it I felt satisfied. Deal hunting is in my blood. My mom is the queen and when she found a good one when it came to food, she bought plenty. We had a room in our basement we nicknamed the "bomb shelter". It had shelves stocked with food and I'm sure you could last a year eating off the food in it. It was also great for playing store as a little girl. I remember Bran Flakes going on sale, which my brother loved, but there was a limit of 6, so my mom would send each of us into the store with money separately to take advantage.

While I don't mind being a deal-hunter and respect this trait passed onto me, I realize I have a problem. I buy TOO much food. Flyers are different these days now that my husband works for the biggest (and in my opinion, the best!) grocery chain around. I am pretty faithful to their stores and luckily love their products. But that hasn't seemed to curb my consumption. I have a large kitchen cupboard, basement pantry and deep freezer full of food. Besides the basics I can't avoid, I rarely buy things that aren't on sale. But do I really need 5 cake mixes even if they are only 99 cents? No. I'm all for saving money, but when saving money turns into things I never get to and items expired I can't even donate to a food bank, it's not good. I think it's okay to have a supply of food, especially of things we go through on a regular basis. We all love Triscuits so when they're less than $2, I stock up. The cereal Joel eats everyday is expensive so you can bet when it went on sale for half price, I bought a bunch. I know we'll go through them. But I need to cut down. I've had a dream for well over a year, of eating through our freezer. We're going to do it. The new PC Insider's report has come out with some great new products and I've decided I won't buy any of them until we've cleared out at least half of our food.

I don't think it's wrong to have a cupboard full of food, meals ready to go in the freezer and regular items on hand but I do want to simplify. Why? a) I don't want to buy things just because they are on sale...a clear weakness of mine. b) I want to look at the flyers and plan actual meals, hopefully a week in advance. c) I want to have less stuff in my house. d) I don't want to become a hoarder (perhaps I am close, judging by the pictures below). e) I want to cook more from scratch and use simple ingredients... in a realistic, "I have twin toddlers" kind of way. Let's be honest, the occasional frozen lasagna helps keep me sane. f) I want to spend less money on groceries and more on other people. And finally, g)It's just a good discipline for me in my quest to live a simpler life. I look forward to having a little more wiggle room in my cupboards and freezer and working on being a little more disciplined when I see a great deal. We'll see how it goes! Now with the slight fear of being judged and a bit of embarrassment, take a look at what I'm working with....

Our freezer, filled to the brim

My basement pantry, overflowing!

My kitchen cupboard, with no room for more

A Weekend in Muskoka

I love Muskoka. Except for maybe a few gems I've discovered in southern Africa, it might possibly be my favourite place to go. I didn't grow up with a cottage but camp was my cottage and I spent my summers there for well over a decade. There is something about being on a lake that is so relaxing and Muskoka is full of them. Joel and I were itching to get away and I happened to see a deal on Travelzoo for a resort in the heart of Muskoka. Our wonderful friends, Alice and Wayne, graciously offered to take the boys for the weekend so we could escape. We lucked out with the most gorgeous weekend of weather and had a fabulous time. A beautiful drive, naps, swimming, hot tub, sitting on the dock by the water, a nice meal, late night desserts, getting up whenever we wanted, a breakfast buffet. It was perfect. Here are a few glimpses....

The view from our balcony

"Dressed up" for dinner...meaning a nicer shirt with my jeans!

Happiest by water

Lunch at Weber's and possibly the first time I've eaten outside in November!

My quest to become a morning person...

I feel like I'm at a bit of a cross-roads in my life. It's not as dramatic as it sounds, but it is true. My boys are starting the transition to taking one nap instead of two each day. After some hard work they became wonderful nappers and I loved my breaks. I didn't love how isolated I felt. getting out was difficult. Now that they've started to have many one-nap days I'm realizing how much it changes our routine. I basically have to keep them occupied from 7am until noon or 1pm. That's a long stretch with two little toddlers. Getting out is definitely key and I'm looking forward to reconnecting with the outside world. BUT, I didn't really think of how it would siginficantly reduce the amount of time I had to myself. My routine was generally to stay in my PJs until their first nap around 9:30am, put them down, often workout, shower, and fold some laundry. Then in the afternoon I would have some me-time, catch up on emails, do a few chores and think about dinner. It was wonderful. Now I only have a short amount of time to do everything that can't be done with two little ones in tow.

I value staying fit. I don't always love working out but I think it's important so I generally try to make time for it. Once I realized the realities of one nap I had to make a decision. Waiting to workout and shower at 1pm is not ideal. There are plenty of other things to check off the list during that time. So, my options have now become a) workout in the evenings, b) wait 'til the boys are in school and not workout for another 3 years with the occassional weekend one, c) get up earlier and get it done before the boys are up. A) wasn't really an option in my head. Evenings often have social things or just chill time with Joel. When the boys go down that's the last thing I want to do. B), I have to admit I did consider. How fat could I really get in 3 years? Although decent, I don't have the same metabolism as my teens and twenties and some level of maitenance is necessary. So sadly the most logical conclusion became C).

Now I am NOT a morning person. I live for Saturday sleep-ins. I naturally like to stay up late and usual no matter how tired I am something in me wakes up at 10pm and says it's time to play. I usually have lights out by 11pm so I can get my 8 hours in but if I had nothing to wake up for it would probably be much later. But I do want to work out (kind of), I do want to have time to myself to think, journal and pray and I'm pretty sure that means I need to get up an hour earlier. Arggh! So for the past few days the alarm has gone off at 6am. I know that's not extreme, that many get up that early, if not earlier, but for me it's a stretch. While it was still dark out this morning, I was having a little date with Jillian Michaels. I already feel tired and it's not even noon. I know my body will adjust and it will just mean getting to bed earlier. That will be the hardest part for me. In my heart I know I want to be a morning person and that it will feel good once I'm up. I just hope I can stick with it. Are you a morning person? What time do you usually get up?

Halloween

I used to love Halloween. What kid doesn't like free candy right? Then as I grew older it became less and less exciting. I'm not the biggest fan of dressing up and we've never had huge turnouts of kids at our house. But once I had my boys it became a little more exciting again. Last year I wasn't planning on doing too much as my the boys were just over 4 months, but a last minute deal on costumes at Children's Place and a more eager than I expected husband (perhaps because of his new photography hobby?), I was in. We took our two little monkeys to a few neighbours to show them off and didn't get any candy. It was a little too obvious that they wouldn't be the ones eating it.

This year I knew it would be a little more fun with two active toddlers. We bought some Tigger and Poo costumes at a used clothing sale last year. If my boys ever ask me to help them make a costume I will do my best, but for now my less than creative self is thankful for the pre-made, zip them up type. It works for me. As soon as it hit an acceptable time we hit the street. Only about one in four houses in our neighbourhood participate in Halloween but that was plenty for our boys. As they get older we might just have to search out somewhere better to trick-or-treat. The boys loved it. My little Tigger was running up and down the streets and Poo, who is still not quite walking, was happily plunked at each door step waiting for a friendly face to appear. Who doesn't love two adorable little toddlers. I'd take that over pathetically dressed teenagers trying to eek out one more year of free candy, anyday. Call us mean, but we haven't given our boys any of the candy. We figure they aren't old enough to care or miss it so why bother. I've always been pretty conscious about how much sugar they have and they'll be exposed to that stuff soon enough. We did give each of them a bag of chips to play with and shake. I admit that sounds a bit lame but we really couldn't think of a good reason to let them indulge this time around. Next year I know they'll understand better, and yes, we will let them eat candy! I can't wait to see what dynamic little duo we can come up with for next year!

Life and Death

Last Saturday was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me where two parts of my life intersected. On the previous day, my second niece was born weighing a tiny 3 pounds, 4 ounces at 33 weeks. The pregnancy hadn't been easy and it was determined that she'd do better continuing to grow on the outside, so out she came. Although small she is completely healthy, breathing on her own and doing well. She'll remain in the NICU for several weeks and hopefully soon be transferred closer to home. I was eager to go meet her. But turning the corner towards the hospital I was hit with a flood of emotions. Seven years ago almost to the day, in that same hospital, is where Joel's mom passed away due to injuries from a car accident. I knew her for less than two years but I saw the impact her devestating loss had on my husband and his family. From the little I knew her I can honestly say she was one of the kindest most positive people I have ever met. It hits me at different points... when others talk about their mother-in-law (often complaining and I know I'd have nothing to complain about) and especially for my boys who are missing out on a wonderful Grandma. I will make sure they grow up knowing what a special person she was.

I walked through the same doors to see my niece that we walked out of seven years ago, not quite believing what had just happened. I held it together until I saw my brother and then the tears fell. He has seen me through many tear-filled moments but probably wasn't expecting it as I was coming to meet my daugther. Life is full of highs and lows and a whole lot of in betweens. As I tried to wade between the extremes I fell back on thankfulness... thankful for the life of an amazing woman that was cut too short, for her legacy that lives on in her family and for what she taught me in the few short years I knew her... and also thankful for a beautiful little niece, born too early but hanging in there and for the family she gets to grow up in. Isn't she sweet?

Advent Wreath

Aside from occassionally opening a calendar of plastic-like chocolates, I haven't done much in the past to prepare for Advent. Now with a family I'd like to start some traditions and thought this wreath was a simple and unique idea. It's handmade by the 15 year-old son of the author of this book I've written about, and 100% of the proceeds go to Compassion. You can't go wrong. There are a limited number so incase you're interested in getting one, you should move quickly. I'm looking forward to the memories and lessons that our family will share together.

Living Simply.... part one

This is something I've wanted to write about for a LONG time. I feel like I have so much to say and yet have no idea how to articulate it all, so please bear with me and my ramblings. No doubt there will be many posts on this topic. This is not something I've written much about on my blog, but I am a follower of Jesus. Growing up with all things Christian my entire life, it's always been part of me. To make a long story short I have struggled with that label and my whole relationship with God for a good decade at least. I think it began in my university days. I decided to go to a Christian university (whatever a "Christian" anything means) and each year when my eight months were done, I worked at a Christian camp and back and forth I would go with a three month break living in Zambia working at a... you guessed it... Christian school. Basically I became pretty jaded about God, didn't know how to have a relationship with him, didn't really know what difference he made in my life. I knew a lot of the time I was faking it so assumed that many around me must be doing the same. I knew in chapel I was supposed to have this intense look on my face when I was singing, possibly if I was brave to raise my hands when the emotional bridge came along. I knew the Bible studies to join, the prayers to pray, the things to say. But I got tired of it. In some ways I still am quite tired of it and am generally not a huge fan of most things part of the Christian culture. I have struggled, wondering if Jesus was really for me, if I was only part of this only because it's what I grew up with. I have more doubts than I ever have, more questions, more things that annoy me. Sometimes I feel pretty messed up and discouraged on this journey, but in the midst of the mess I know that I really do want to follow Jesus. Much of the other crap associated with Christianity I'm willing to leave behind, but Jesus? Yes, I'll follow Him.

Okay, that was a long preamble. One of the main things I think (let's be honest, I know) that Jesus teaches is about our relationship with money, giving generously to those in need and living simply. For the most part, I think Christ followers in our culture, myself definitely included, could get a big fat FAIL on that one. I struggle with it everyday and yet more and more it's something that's stirring in me, something I desire for myself and my family, my community. It's something I think that anyone who calls themself a follower of Jesus needs to get on board with and start taking seriously. We make a lot of money. We are rich. In fact, we are in the top 1% wealthiest in the world and I'm guessing almost everyone reading this is there or somewhere close. And yet I am greedy, I want more, I want more stuff, a bigger house, more savings. Even with it being top of mind I am constantly failing. Heck, I've lived among some of the world's poorest people. Yes, I'm one of the few that have seen it firsthand and yet I still fall into our culture's trap of wanting more. We give a lot of money away but that is only just a start. I need to intentionally be making decisions about my lifestyle as to whether they will benefit me, or others who are in need. I want to live simply and I want to be part of a community that wants the same. I think it's pretty hard to do on your own. But I'm discouraged with myself and those around me. I really think we've messed up on this one. No happy conclusion and many more thoughts on this one to come, but for now I'll leave you with a blog post from someone who is gets it a lot more than I do. It left me with a lot to think about.

Back to Work

Recently, after over a year and a half, I've been able to put my teacher hat back on. While I've primarily decided to stay home with my boys, I've decided that supply teaching once or twice a week is good for all of us. The boys go to a wonderful babysitter from our church who watches children in her home, where they are interacting with other kids and learning a lot. Getting out with twin toddlers is tough so aside from a few playdates, social events and church on Sunday they usually just have each other. It's also been good for me to do something else I love outside of the home. I've really been enjoying it. I am pretty much just working at my school so most of the kids know me, the routines are familiar and the staff are friends. Sitting the staff room, socializing for an hour at lunch is glorious and a real treat. While supply teaching is a little different than the usual teaching gig, it reminds me that I really do love my job. It's funny to me that teaching 25 kids can feel like a break from 2 toddlers, but it is.

But even after working only 6 days so far in this school year, it is crystal clear to me that I am not cut out to work full time outside the home. As a twin mom, a common thing I hear is "I have no idea how you do it" and that's my thoughts towards moms who work outside the home everyday. Because Joel generally does drop off and pick up I see my boys for less than 2 hours a day when I work. I don't like that. It doesn't feel right. We've since bought a second set of car seats so I can pick them up earlier on some days which will add a few hours to our day together. While every family has to make the decision that works best for them, I know that my heart is at home with my boys. To keep my job I'm required to go back to some degree next September so we will have some decisions to make. I love the flexibility I currently having by picking and choosing when and if I work and someone who will watch the boys when needed. I know it's a very unique situation. As the school year continues I'll figure out if I want to cut back and won't go over my self-proclaimed maximum of twice a week. I'm thankful to be part of such a wonderful profession but ultimately that I get to do the best job in the world as a mom.

Why I Don't Own a Smartphone

Is that what they're called? I'm so out of the technology loop. Rumour has it that Blackberry was down yesterday and many people were faced with the dilemma of how to keep on living without their little devices connecting them with the world. How did they tell the time? Know what to do next? Text their friends? Do business? People are often buzzing about the latest iPhone on Facebook (I know we're on #4 now, right?) and the amazing new things it can do, who's going to line up for it, etc. It's hard to go anywhere these days and not see someone staring at their little device. I, however, seem to be one of the few people without one. I am clearly behind the times. I have an old-school PC pay-as-you-go cell phone I use for emergencies, if I really need to contact someone when out or occassionally call Joel from the grocery store to find out if we need milk. More recently I've even sent a few text messages, albeit brief ones as I don't have a proper keypad. I think I've maybe sent 10 or so in my entire life! As much as I want to be the cool kid on the block I've decided, at least for now, not to join the wonderful world of smartphones. Here's why...

1. I'm cheap and they are expensive. As far I can tell you can't get a plan for under $50 a month, most much more than that (please enlighten me if I'm wrong!). I don't like spending money and would much rather pay my $20 every few months for my pay-as-you-go deal.

2. I'm too afraid of getting addicted. I already waste too much time on my computer. I don't have a laptop so it's not like I can be on it all day but when I can I find I let it suck away too much of my time and energy. There's something nice about having a message in your inbox, and add text messaging to that, I wouldn't trust myself to not always be checking.

3. Along those lines, I see how attached some people are and I don't like it. I find it irritating being at a social event or family gathering and someone is on their phone. Is it really that important? Barring an emergency can't you just engage with the people that are in front of you in real life? One of the saddest things is seeing two people eating in a restaurant, both on their phones or a parent glued to them while supposedly hanging out with their kids. That being said, most of my friends have them and seem to be able to use them in moderation. It can be done!

4. I just don't need to be in contact with people that badly. The phone and internet work for me. I spend a lot of time at home and I don't need one for my job. I know people use them for work which I get. Joel has one but doesn't really use it after work hours.

Will I ever own a smartphone? Probably. I imagine that when my little phone eventually dies I won't have many other options. I'm not against them if they are used well. They certainly have their benefits and help people to keep in touch more frequently. My only real issue is when I see them taking away from quality real life interactions and I have enough struggles that I don't need another temptation right now. If you can find me a plan for less than $20 (I know, I'm dreaming) than this deal-lover may be convinced! If you're a Smartphone user, what do you like about it? What issues, if any, do you have with them?

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is quite possibly my favourite weekend of the year. The fall colours are peaking, delicious turkey dinners are ready to be consumed and there is lots of time with family. But two years ago Thanksgiving day took on a whole new significance. It was the day I took a pregnancy test (or three), certain I wasn't pregnant, only to get the shock of my life. An ultrasound a week or so later revealed that I was going to have not one, but two babies and my life has never been the same. I am still overwhelmed at the two gifts I've been given in my sons and for their amazing dad who I get to do life with everyday. I have much to be grateful for!

Thanksgiving 2009...

Thanksgiving 2010...

Thanksgiving 2011...

Election Day... again.

Today is our provincial election. It feels like I'm always going to the polls. As I've been moderately been following the lead-up today I've been thinking a lot about whether or not I SHOULD vote. Besides voting for my mayor I think this election affects me most. Being a teacher, the provincial government influences my profession quite a bit. So I've done what I can in the time that I have to try and get informed. Education is my main issue and quite honestly I'm fairly neutral about most others. Our union sent an email with a grid of where the parties stand on issues pertaining to education. I found that they pretty much said the same things. I watched the debate (before my PVR cut it off) and found they all say a lot, but I don't necessarily believe they are going to do anything they say. I tried to get informed in other ways but quite honestly, I had no clear convictions about who to check off on the ballot. I've made a decision but I consider it my "best guess."

I'm married to someone who doesn't vote. He honestly doesn't care. You hear a lot that if you don't vote you have no right to complain and I agree with this. Not once in our 8 years together have I heard him complain about any of that stuff. Someone came to our door recently representing a party and when he told them he wasn't planning to vote the man was appalled. He said he had to do it for our children and his children. I thought that was a bit dramatic. So is it okay not to vote? If you really don't care and are happy to let the people that do, decide? I've come to the conclusion that it is okay. I often hear that voting is a privilege and it's true. But if we don't feel convicted about something I think it's okay not to take advantage of the privilege. We don't live in country run by dictators whose position of power could literally mean life or death for thousands. I think those situations are different. I absolutely believe that everyone should have the right to vote and we should work towards making that happen just like I believe everyone has the right to clean water. But someone without clean water would probably much rather I work towards helping them get some, than drinking water myself just because I can.

I want to have a say in what happens so I vote. I plan to teach my boys about it and keep them informed but ultimately the decision is theirs. That's part of living in a country with freedom. I'm sure not everyone agrees and would love to hear your thoughts.

One Thousand Gifts

I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude this year. It was all sparked by reading about this book on a few friends’ blogs. I was really excited to read it although it ended up taking several months. I found the writing a bit too flowery for my tastes and hard to get through, but loved the concept of it. Like the writer, I struggle with finding joy in my life. Although I’m overall a happy person, it’s easy for me to find the negative in something and I often catch myself being more critical than I’d like. I think discontentment has become a bit of an epidemic in our culture. What’s the antidote? Thankfulness. And not just spouting off a few things we’re thankful for in our bedtime prayers... intentionally hunting for all the good gifts that surround us each day and taking time to acknowledge them.

This morning as I was getting ready to take a shower, I took off the lid to my shaving cream and out poured rusty water all over my freshly washed bathrobe. I was so annoyed and audibly let my frustration be known. After all I had just taken it out of the dryer and would have to throw it back in the wash. Then I caught myself. Seriously? This is what I’m upset about? So I immediately tried to think of things to be thankful for... the invention of the razor and shaving cream, clean water, a bathrobe, a washing machine and dryer (definitely not the norm in most of the world), time in my day to fit in a shower... the list could go on. That simple act of being thankful helped my attitude take a 180 degree turn in a matter of seconds.

But gratitude, at least for me, requires discipline, and disciplines require intentional practice. In the book, the author has been challenged by a friend to write down one thousand gifts that she observes around her and she’s been doing it ever since. Apparently it’s been quite life transforming. So when I finished the book this summer, I decided to try it. I bought a journal and left it open in my kitchen to write down things I was thankful for. Then September came, the journal got closed, never to be re-opened. I got to 17. But I’m ready to start again and intentionally work towards making gratitude a central part of my life. With Thanksgiving weekend coming up, what better time. I want to choose joy and see how my life changes because of it. Anyone want to join the hunt for one thousand gifts?

Workout Train - Halfway There

I'm one month into my two month goal of 22 workouts and I'm happy to be at 13 at the halfway point. October will be a busier month with a few getaways planned and hopefully working a bit more (already have a job booked for Wednesday!) so I'm glad I'm slightly ahead. Last Friday the boys were at the babysitters and I had no job so decided to try hot yoga for the first time. I bought a voucher off of Dealfind for 20 classes for $20!!! To make it even better, a few friends bought the deal which meant Dealfind paid me. They've sent me cheques for a total of $103 so I actually consider the yoga, a haircut and highlights and 3 hours of housecleaning that I bought, all to be free. Yes, fireworks are going off in my deal-loving brain. Anyways, hot yoga was extremely intense. I walked in thinking, "Weird, it's not very hot in here" only to have sweat dripping out of every pore of my body within minutes. I thought I was going to be sick a few times but perservered and was praised, along with my fellow rookies, by the intructor for not giving up. There is someting I love about a good sweat, knowing my body is getting rid of a bunch of toxins. I will definitely be back for more.

Another goal I have from now until Thanksgiving is to watch less TV. By the time the boys are in bed and the house has been tidied we don't feel like doing much so we often relax on the couch with one of our favourite shows. I'm not against TV and I really enjoy the few shows we follow, but this week I want to be intentional about finding other things to do... having deeper conversations, enjoying a glass of wine, reading a book, calling a friend, going to a hot yoga class perhaps! So we're not going to watch any TV in the evenings this week. It occassionally goes on during the day while I fold laundry or the boys eat. Today I was watching part of the leaders debate I had recorded and still have no idea who I'm going to vote for on Thursday. I'm all for relaxing and having some downtime each day and looking forward to finding other ways besides the TV to enjoy it. At the end of my life I'm not going to wish I watched more TV, but there are plenty of others things I will have wanted to invest my time in. Time to change some habits!

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

My goal for cooking has been a few new recipes every month. This past week, with no teaching jobs on the horizon, I found myself trying several new ones. My Wagjag suscription deal to Canadian Living is paying off! On Thursday I did my biggest one of the week... Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie. I've never been a huge fan of Shepher's Pie. I think I've always found it bland, but I like that it contains ingredients for a balanced meal for my boys. We also rarely eat beef at home (steak at a restaurant is another story) as I substituted all ground beef for turkey, but I thought the iron would be good. Turns out swapping regular potatoes for sweet potatoes made all the difference in taste for me.

This recipe takes some time (lots of peeling and chopping) and has a long ingredient list. It states 40 minutes of hands-on time but mine was at least double, if not triple that, partly because of the twin toddler factor. But the part that makes it worth it, besides being delicious, is that it makes enough for two pies so you can freeze one for later. I will definitely make this again, probably on a weekend when Joel can help me with the chopping. So here is...

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

2 lb (900 g) extra lean ground beef

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup tomato paste

3 ribs celery, finely chopped

2 onions, finely chopped

2 carrots, peeled and diced

1 turnip, peeled and diced (my first time cooking with a turnip)

1 sweet green pepper, seeded and diced (I think I used orange instead)

2 bay leaves

1 1/4 t salt

1 t dried thyme

1/4 t ground nutmeg

2 T all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sodium-reduced beef broth

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 t Worcestershire sauce

4 lb (1.8 kg) sweet potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped (I used 3 large, 2 small to get 4 lbs)

1/3 cup milk

2 T butter

In a dutch oven (I used a large wok), cook beef and garlic over medium heat, breaking up with a spoon, until browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in tomato paste; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Stir in celery, onions, carrots, turnip, green pepper, bay leaves, 3/4 tsp of the salt, the thyme, pepper and nutmeg. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes (this was perfect for my finely chopped vegetables... might need a bit longer if they're bigger).

Stir in flour; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in broth, water and Worcestershire sauce; simmer for 3 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Divide between two 8-inch (2 L) square baking dishes.



Meanwhile, in large pot of boiling salted water, cook sweet potatoes until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain and return to pot over medium heat; cook, stirring, until dry, about 1 minute. Stir in milk, butter and remaining salt; mash until smooth (I used an immersion hand blender as I found it hard to get smooth with a regular masher). Spread evenly over each beef mixture.Bake 1 of the pies in 350°F (180°C) oven until bubbly, about 35 minutes. (Make-ahead: Cover remaining pie with plastic wrap then foil and freeze for up to 1 month. Bake, uncovered and frozen, in 350°F/180°C oven for 50 to 60 minutes.)


The half-devoured finished product

*Found in the September issue of Canadian Living*

Mmmm... Butternut!

I was feeling a little disappointed today. Disappointed that we couldn't find a babysitter for week #2 of our homechurch and I'd be staying home alone. Joel has been more than generous in letting me go most nights we can't find a sitter. I'm home all day and crave time out with people. He's an introvert and is generally happen for a night to himself. But he's in charge of a compassion initiative that needed to be talked about last night, plus he's long overdue for a turn.

So, I decided to get over it and think of the ways I could spend the evening. Plus I was excited to surprise him with a recipe for butternut squash I've been wanting to try for weeks. I was feeling good. But then came the dinner hour. I had taken the boys outside to play in the yard knowing I had to be in at a certain time to get dinner going. They were having fun and I stayed out later than planned. My neighbour was kind enough to help watch the boys while all of our kids played and I started on dinner. But sadly I only read the second half of the directions and didn't cook the squash for long enough, resulting in a meal of fish and only fish at the appointed time. I quickly opened a can of corn, my kitchen a disaster, hungry boys and feeling grumpy about my squash. Necessity caused me to pull it together and try to salvage my mistake. I'm happy to report that after a decent meal of fish and corn, we were able to finish it off with a dessert of butternut squash... and yes it really was that good to be considered a dessert. Joel gave it five stars and I believe described it as "insane"... definitely worth the wait.

So if you're looking for a delicious side dish or even just a lighter meal, that's easy (if you read the directions right) and perfect for this time of year, I present to you.....

Butternut Squash with Sage Bread Crumbs

1 butternut squash (2 lb)

2 T olive oil

1/2 t each salt and pepper

1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs (I eyeballed it but used less, just store bought)

1/2 cups shredded old white Cheddar cheese

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1 t dried sage

Cut squash in half lengthwise; remove seeds. Place cut up side on lined baking sheet. Brush with half of the oil; sprinkle with half each of the salt and pepper. Roast in 425F oven for 30 minutes (this is the part I neglected to do at first, so it was done later).

Stir together bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, sage and remaining oil salt and pepper; sprinkle onto squash. Roast until topping is crisp and golden and squash is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

**Found in the September 2011 issue of Canadian Living**

Our Backyard

Last weekend I completed a little project I had been thinking about for awhile... a new backyard set up for the boys. I've always found it hard to be outside with them, except when they are confined to the wagon or stroller. They dart in different directions, and having a small yard it doesn't take many seconds before they are in the neighbour's territory. We live in condo townhouses so we have our own little backyard section, but the fences only are as long as our patios so the back part is connected with my neighbours. The downside, not a ton of privacy. The upside, there is lots of space to run (possibly a downside with toddlers) and easy to get to know your neighbours. Anyways, I've been determined to spend more time outside so with two toddlers, that meant having enough distractions to keep them from escaping. Our space is small, but removing the patio furniture for the season, we had a bit of room to work with. The boys loved the playhouse that was up at my parents farm so I thought that might be fun. I hunted for a few weeks on Kijiji and finally found a good one for a great deal as well as the slide. The teeter totter was passed on by friends.

I would love my boys to have a big yard to run around in, woods to explore, creeks to play in, making toys out of things from nature, but the reality is that I live smack in the middle of the suburbs so I make do with what I have and put up with a little more plastic than I'd like. I'm also wary of my boys having too much 'stuff'. It's tricky at this age to keep them distracted in a small space. I am happy to have spent only $90 on our entire set-up. I also like that because our backyards are connected we can share what we have with the other kids in the neighbourhood. Yesterday while playing out back, we had a few kids join us while we chatted with their parents and the other neighbours on either side of us. I liked the little community feel to it and am looking forward to many hours outdoors before the snow hits. Fall is my favourite season and I plan to enjoy it!

My Love-Hate Relationship With Facebook...

...and the general online world. I've now been on Facebook for more than four years. I first discovered it while living in Zimbabwe, of all places. On a frequent trip to town where our internet connection was a billion times faster than in the bush (but still dial up!) I received an invite from a friend and was able to connect, thus resulting in many an hour spent in the guest house lounge, reconnecting with friends. Living on the other side of the world in moderate isolation, this was very welcome. When I got back to the world of high-speed connections, it took off. It was so much fun finding old friends. My best friend in grade 4 moved to Greece and after a few exchanged letters we lost touch, never to be heard from again. Over the years I tried to find her (yes, even paid for a Classmates.com membership in my attempts), which never happened until I discovered Facebook. Almost everyone I know, even my parents are on it... my husband being one of the few who hasn't given in. (don't do it babe, you'll hate it!)

What do I like about Facebook? I like that as a new mom I've been a little less isolated than I would have been without it. I like asking questions and getting answers from people who have been there, done that, or are at least struggling to figure it out like I am. I like that it's reconnected me with people that have led to many real-life interactions that wouldn't have happened otherwise...friends we get together with more, playdates for the boys, high school friends coming to visit after years and years. I had help at some point of almost everyday in the first few months of my boys' life, often because of my requests sent out to the FB world. I've been able to help out other people who needed it, because their needs were made known. I have watched friends' children grow and shared in the joys and sorrows of life with many. I'm not saying that none of this wouldn't have happened without it, but it has certainly helped.

What I don't like about Facebook? I waste WAY too much time on it. I know WAY more about people's lives than I need to and am far more interested than I care to admit. I don't like that I check it multiple times a day and it's the first thing I run to when the boys are down for a nap, largely because I can sit on my butt and check out of all things requiring any energy. I don't like that it exposes my various levels of self-absorbtion. Why am I really sharing THAT thing... because I want to brag, make myself look better, I feel self-righteous even though I don't want to admit it? I don't like that I sometimes choose to spend time on it, instead of choosing my family, my husband, my real-life friendships, God, my home etc. etc. And it's not just Facebook, it's the internet in general. One search leads to another link, to another, to another and all of the sudden I'm looking up some blog post about the latest drama on the Bachelor Pad. Really? Yes, I admit it's true. Sad.

So I struggle. Something that can be so great and positive that I'm not ready to do away with altogether. But also something that sucks away the time and energy I could be spending on things that really matter. How do you balance it? Set time limits? I have changed the way I use it. First of all, if you're not someone who ever interacts with me on there, you are limited to what you can see. My "friends" who I have zero interaction, can't see photos... it's only for people who care. I try to make my posts less self-absorbed and generally things that are beneficial. I share my needs/wants (I'm a big fan of all things used), ask my mommy questions, and ocassionally yes, I brag about my boys or mention something fairly meaningless or silly just because I want to. I'm okay with that. I like when posts lead to interaction and shared ideas.

I know I'm not alone in this. I know there are others out (almost everyone?) who spends more time in the online world than you probably want to. How do you balance the virtual world with the real world, and if possible make the two intersect? If you struggle like me or have figured it out to some degree I'd love to hear what has worked, or not worked, for you!

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

Last week I tried a new recipe, Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup. This has been in my "Recipes to Try" folder for well over a year and I was ready to attempt it. My verdict? It's a keeper. First, it's made in a slow cooker so all the work is done well before the crazy dinner hour. Bonus! Secondly, I don't like cooking meat, especially chicken. So a recipe that requires me to simply place it on top of some other ingredients, is a winner in my books. Other things I liked... it's healthy, has lots of protein, requires very little prep (ie. opening some cans) and is great for leftovers. And it was also a hit with my boys. It'll definitely only be eaten on a bath night around here in the future. Here's the recipe incase you want to try it!

1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans (I don't know what chili beans are so I used white kidney beans)
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer (I used chicken stock as I wanted it toddler friendly)
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained (I used crushed tomatoes with no green chilies...one 24oz. can)
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning
3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
shredded Cheddar cheese (optional... but who doesn't love cheese?!?)
sour cream (optional)
crushed tortilla chips (optional... but I recommend it!)

Directions
Place the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, beer, and diced tomatoes in a slow cooker. Add taco seasoning, and stir to blend. Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, pressing down slightly until just covered by the other ingredients. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover, and cook for 5 hours.
Remove chicken breasts from the soup, and allow to cool long enough to be handled. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup, and continue cooking for 2 hours. Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips, if desired.

**Note: I mostly buy the "no salt" versions of canned goods and broth to keep the sodium down. I figure you can always add a little salt later if needed.**

Busy Bags

Last night while camped out in front of the TV with Joel, I was busy cutting up paper and counting out rocks. A month or so ago I was invited to be part of my first Busy Bag swap. What's a Busy Bag? It's a bag that contains a homemade activity that a preschooler can do by themselves to keep them busy. I am not highly creative and don't have a ton of extra time but landed on this simple activity that involes counting with rocks (the internet is full of great ideas). My boys aren't quite at the age where they can do these activities but I plan to start collecting them for the future. Nine of us are participating so I created 9 bags of the same thing and after the swap I'll have 9 different ones for my boys. I'm really excited to see what we get! And for those of you with toddler-aged kids, I plan to host my own sometime in the new year. I love that they are simple, homemade and a creative way to keep kids occupied. Thanks Letitia for inviting me to be part of this! I'll let you all know what fun activities we aquire!

Back on the Workout Train

My new BFF...she's pretty hardcore as you can see!

So as you may have read about here I've been struggling a bit with the post-weaning state of my body. I did an intense month of working out in June, didn't see results, got discouraged and took the whole summer off. Looking good or not, I believe exercise is important. Few of us perform labour intensive jobs all day where we're strengthening our bodies the way they need to be. Sure, if you're a farmer, you might not need a separate workout time, but I don't know any. I was also watching a program that talked about how being thin does not equal healthy. They featured one woman who looked quite healthy on the outside, but who didn't exercise and her internal health and percentage of body fat wasn't what it should be. Especially as women, we need some weight bearing exercise to help keep our bones strong. I believe in prevention. Too many season of the Biggest Loser have convinced me that I don't want to become one of those moms who "never took time for myself" (not that there aren't often WAY deeper issues than that) and end up in a life or death situation. I also want to stay as healthy as I can for my family, and, let's be honest, I also want to look the best I can.

So I have a renewed commitment to make time for my workouts. Several years ago I started a little Facebook workout club where we choose a certain amount of time (often a few months) and each person chooses how many workouts they want to complete. Then we check in every two weeks by email and track our progress. It seems to work for me. Although I haven't been perfect, accountability of others works to motivate me. In the past I've printed a calendar and given myself a sticker for each workout... yes, the four year old in me shining through, but it's very satisfying! The workout club is back on and I've commited to 22 by the end of October. So far, one down. A bit of a slow start but I'll get there. The benefit of my boys still napping twice a day is that I do have time, and when they go down to one, I'll make the time. We all have it if we want it... get up earlier, watch one less TV show, say 'no' to something else that's not as important. I'm sure that'll be a struggle when it comes around. I'm hoping to lose a few pounds, tone up a bit and replace a few of my treats with healthy alternatives like fruit. I will enjoy my daily taste of chocolate, the occasional weekend bowl of popcorn or ice cream, but all in moderation. There are many times I fail (like the entire summer) but I think the key is to just pick up where you are and decide to do something today to make it better. And I'm thankful for my growing group of friends commited to staying active and helping to keep me on track!

Pressing the Reset Button

My list for September. You know you want one ;)

It's September 1st and since I've pretty much always been a student or a teacher, in my mind it's the start of the year. Not that life has been chaotic, but I want to be a bit more on organized and on top of things. I made a list of things that I want to get done around the house each month. Some are weekly, some every two weeks, some just once. I divided things up and made a week-by-week list of what I want to accomplish. Who knew creating something simple in Word could be so satisfying. Feel free to mock me, but I'm a stay-at-home mom and I'm embracing the domestic life!! :) I'm hoping it helps.

Joel and I have been working hard around the house getting it more organized. I've been going through closets, and cupboards, purging things that are expired or no longer used. This morning I organized my recipes, scrubbed the shoe mats and cleaned out under the kitchen sink... things that have neglected for awhile. Joel is attacking the basement, getting rid of a bunch of stuff. Our goal is to make a second play space for the boys and a work space for me. Aside from laundry and working out, we have a whole floor of the house that doesn't really get used.

While not the most thought provoking or deep posts, this is what I've been up to lately and it feels good. There are few things more satisfying to me than being organized, checking things off lists and having a home free of clutter. What do you do to stay on top of the domestics of life? Are you a more "I'll clean it when it's dirty" type? Do you have lists? I love learning from others!

My Dinner Dilemma

Saturday's big batch cooking

I don't like making dinner. I'm not the biggest lover of cooking. Unlike some of my good friends, there's nothing in me that wants to spend all day making something that will be eaten in a matter of minutes. I like simple meals that don't take a ton of prep time. It's also a challenge with two toddlers roaming around, trying to take any opportunity to get in a cupboard, their toys strewn all over the floor and often needing attention. Because the boys are still napping twice a day, the late afternoon is often the best time to get out and go for a walk or play outside. Joel used to do a lot of the cooking. He enjoys it and he's good at it. But we like to eat dinner as a family so that means it now needs to be ready as soon as he gets home so there is time for baths and the evening routine before the glorious 7pm bedtime!

One of my goals for the fall is to make dinner less stressful. I have to feed my family so it's not really an option. Something I want to do more of is big-batch cooking... making large quantities of food to freeze so I can easily pull something out to defrost but it's still homemade. If you have the space I think a big freezer is a great investment. On Saturday I made five dinner's worth of one of our family favourites, chicken broccoli casserole. If you've hung around me long enough, I'm sure I've served it to you. Joel BBQ'd all of the chicken at once and I had a ton of broccoli from our trip to the farmer's market. The best part is that making large quantities doesn't require that much more work. I've also been pulling out recipes from magazines that I'd like to try and am hoping to attempt at least two a month. I'll let you know if I discover any good ones. My other ways to ease the dinner-time stress are to make a weekly meal plan. We brainstormed a list of all the meals we like to make so I can easily look at what we haven't had in awhile. And I want to do as much prep as possible earlier in the day. We'll see how it all goes.

In the mean time I'll share with you this weekend's recipe incase you don't already have it! Just double it, triple it etc. for several yummy meals. It's easy and freezes well.

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1 head of brocolli, cut into small pieces
2 cans cream of chicken soup (use more if you like it saucier)
1/2 cup mayo (I use Miracle Whip)
1 t. lemon juice
1 T. curry powder or to taste (I use a lot more)
cheddar cheese
breadcrumbs
rice

1. In a 9x13 pan sprayed with cooking spray, spread out broccoli and cooked chicken.
2. Mix together soup, mayo, lemon juice and curry powder. Pour over top of chicken and broccoli.
3. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and bread crumbs.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 45 minutes or until top is browned and bubbly. Serve over rice.

Let me know if you try it or have any dinner making tips!