An update on the Lent promise. I'm doing much better at not taking out my frustrations on M. It has definitely helped put our reltionship back closer to where it was a long time ago. I'm able to appreciate all the little things M does for me, and hopefully do more of those little things for him. Just the other day, while I was getting ready for work, and AJ was still sleeping he ran out. I had thought he took the dog for a walk, but nope. At 6:10AM (when he doesn't need to leave until 7:20) he went to the gas station to fill up my car. Also, since AJ had a rough night, which means that I had a rough night, he made a stop on the way home at Dunkin to get me a coffee. How sweet is that?
I've noticed we're joking more with each other again. We're closer now that I'm not picking fights on nothing. As far as being nicer to others, well, I'm trying, but that seems to be harder. I still find myself getting quite irritated with certain people, so it's still a work in progress.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Granola
I got this recipe from Alton Brown at Food Network
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup slivered almonds
- 1 cup cashews
- 3/4 cup shredded sweet coconut
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup raisins
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar.
In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, oil, and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color.
Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.
I switched cashews for walnuts and chopped dried fruit mix for raisins. I actually loved it straight out of the oven without the fruit in it. It is so good.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar.
In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, oil, and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color.
Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.
I switched cashews for walnuts and chopped dried fruit mix for raisins. I actually loved it straight out of the oven without the fruit in it. It is so good.
Freezing
Last week M got some news. He has high cholesterol. Since this was the second time the military test came back high, he was told to see his PCP and figure out how to get it down. I know it's on my side of the family as well, I just haven't ever been tested. So, my weekly shopping trip became a family affair. M wanted to check out Trader Joe's, since it's my new favorite and he had never been there. We bought so many new things, interesting things to try, and some of the regular favorites.
When we got home, not all of it would fit in the freezer. Hmmm. While at the Farmer's Market I wanted a big freezer. Now after grocery shopping our freezer is full. Also, our house is the go-to for all family gatherings with M's side. A chest freezer was in order.
M and I went to Home Depot. We found one that we liked, we liked the price, however, it wouldn't fit in our car. So we went back home. My mother was over watching AJ while we shopped, so we took the back seats out of her SUV and borrowed that. We went to Lowe's because "they beat everyone's prices" right? Well, I guess, but the only freezers they had were either too small or too big for what we needed. I felt like Goldilocks. We leave Lowe's and head to another Home Depot. They have the one we were looking at originally. They only have the display model. I felt like Flo "DISCOUNT!" We head to the register and since Home Depot honors the price check system, they take military discount like Lowe's. So, again "DISCOUNT!".
So, now I have a chest freezer. As soon as it was up (or down) to temperature, I ran downstairs with some popsicles. I'm now dreaming of all the soup, stock and sauce I can make and store.
When we got home, not all of it would fit in the freezer. Hmmm. While at the Farmer's Market I wanted a big freezer. Now after grocery shopping our freezer is full. Also, our house is the go-to for all family gatherings with M's side. A chest freezer was in order.
M and I went to Home Depot. We found one that we liked, we liked the price, however, it wouldn't fit in our car. So we went back home. My mother was over watching AJ while we shopped, so we took the back seats out of her SUV and borrowed that. We went to Lowe's because "they beat everyone's prices" right? Well, I guess, but the only freezers they had were either too small or too big for what we needed. I felt like Goldilocks. We leave Lowe's and head to another Home Depot. They have the one we were looking at originally. They only have the display model. I felt like Flo "DISCOUNT!" We head to the register and since Home Depot honors the price check system, they take military discount like Lowe's. So, again "DISCOUNT!".
So, now I have a chest freezer. As soon as it was up (or down) to temperature, I ran downstairs with some popsicles. I'm now dreaming of all the soup, stock and sauce I can make and store.
Sans Kids
Three places of fun. First:
Sweet Kuppin Cakes. A bakery for cupcakes. Fancy flavors, normal flavors, and they're even normal sized cupcakes. Not those mountains that could be a birthday cake if you stick a candle in them. However the cupcake to frosting ratio is 1:1. A bit sweet. There were three of us making purchases that day, and we all got 6. Sadly there weren't any good crazy flavors that day. So we were "stuck" with Oreo, Oreo cheesecake, triple PB, red velvet, Thin Mint, Almond Joy, white chocolate raspberry, vanilla, chocolate. I don't think any of us got the Pinange (pineapple orange) or the Red Bull (each cupcake has 1 can of Red Bull). So good. Can't wait to go back.
Next stop
Indoor farmer's market at a HUGE greenhouse. AWESOME! There were so many vendors, plants, odds and ends. I would gladly drive an hour just to go back sometime. This was their last indoor version. I guess they think it will warm up sometime in the near future. There were so many people selling eggs, cuts of meat, products made with goat's milk, etc. Since I grew up on a farm, and my father still has a small version of one, I was so happy. It also made me want to have land so I could have chickens, pigs and goats. Oh well. My sister-in-law and I are going to see if we can talk my father into raising us some pigs on his land. Hmmm, not sure how his wife will feel about that. I also realized I'd have nowhere to store any meat should I buy bulk locally. After buying some iced green tea, we were off to stop 3
Home and Garden Show at the college. So many vendors. But the most exciting parts were raffles. I think I entered at least 20. I don't even know what I was entering by the end, just throwing my name in the bucket. They had a "meet the chefs" section, so we spent some time watching Mary Ann Esposito, of Ciao Italia (PBS cooking show, slightly more production value than Julia Child had). Once we realzed she was demonstrating how to use frozen puff pastry, we left. We bought some gourmet popcorn, and were headed off for lunch
Margaritas. Nothing is quite as much fun as drinking in the afternoon, when the kids aren't around.
It was so much fun to spend the day with family and not have to worry about a diaper change all day. Ahhhh, to feel like a functioning adult instead of just a mom.
Sweet Kuppin Cakes. A bakery for cupcakes. Fancy flavors, normal flavors, and they're even normal sized cupcakes. Not those mountains that could be a birthday cake if you stick a candle in them. However the cupcake to frosting ratio is 1:1. A bit sweet. There were three of us making purchases that day, and we all got 6. Sadly there weren't any good crazy flavors that day. So we were "stuck" with Oreo, Oreo cheesecake, triple PB, red velvet, Thin Mint, Almond Joy, white chocolate raspberry, vanilla, chocolate. I don't think any of us got the Pinange (pineapple orange) or the Red Bull (each cupcake has 1 can of Red Bull). So good. Can't wait to go back.
Next stop
Indoor farmer's market at a HUGE greenhouse. AWESOME! There were so many vendors, plants, odds and ends. I would gladly drive an hour just to go back sometime. This was their last indoor version. I guess they think it will warm up sometime in the near future. There were so many people selling eggs, cuts of meat, products made with goat's milk, etc. Since I grew up on a farm, and my father still has a small version of one, I was so happy. It also made me want to have land so I could have chickens, pigs and goats. Oh well. My sister-in-law and I are going to see if we can talk my father into raising us some pigs on his land. Hmmm, not sure how his wife will feel about that. I also realized I'd have nowhere to store any meat should I buy bulk locally. After buying some iced green tea, we were off to stop 3
Home and Garden Show at the college. So many vendors. But the most exciting parts were raffles. I think I entered at least 20. I don't even know what I was entering by the end, just throwing my name in the bucket. They had a "meet the chefs" section, so we spent some time watching Mary Ann Esposito, of Ciao Italia (PBS cooking show, slightly more production value than Julia Child had). Once we realzed she was demonstrating how to use frozen puff pastry, we left. We bought some gourmet popcorn, and were headed off for lunch
Margaritas. Nothing is quite as much fun as drinking in the afternoon, when the kids aren't around.
It was so much fun to spend the day with family and not have to worry about a diaper change all day. Ahhhh, to feel like a functioning adult instead of just a mom.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Pure Joy
Yesterday my mother and I took AJ to the mall. I wanted to get her new shoes for spring/summer, but we went into the Disney Store first. O.M.G (and I never use those letters like that). There was no other description for the sheer excitement she displayed. She literally screamed and shook at the sight of the figures on the ceiling. She was running around the whole store and I think she hugged and kissed each and every Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto in the place. She hugged Manny, she carried Perry and Phinneas around until she found Minnie cups and tried to feed a stuffed Donald with the cup. It was truly the most amazing thing to see. All of her morning show friends were in the place and she was in heaven. I wish there was a way to bottle that sight and feeling to keep forever.
Infected
This is mainly for my records, and to jog my memory should it happen again.
For the past two months AJ has been sick. She has been coughing, congested, and just plain cranky. Mid-February we went to her 18 month well visit. Her doctor said she probably either just had a few colds back to back or it could be allergies. He told us to try a vaporizer in her room (we were already doing this) and give her Zyrtek in case it could be allergies. In true Murphy's Law, AJ didn't cough or sniffle once until he left the room at the end of the appointment. He did say her eyes looked a little pink, so if it got worse, we should call back for Pink Eye drops, especially since I was told it is part of the daycare petri dish at that point. A day after the appointment we had to call for drops.
The cough continued. The congestion continued. The meds didn't seem to do much of anything. Some days it would be less than other, but it was always there, the congestion, the coughing, the crankiness. We had lots of theories during that time; a really bad cold, more molars, change in weather, allergies, genetic abnormalities, and just plain toddler-hood.
Daycare issued new rules to deal with the rampant illnesses in the room. No toddler was allowed in with a runny nose, cough, temperature of any sort even low grade, and all the other bad symptoms of course. We were worried. AJ's nose runs like that's its job. So Wednesday morning came and I had my cell in my pocket all day expecting a call. I figured she'd had it for so long now, she couldn't possibly still be contageous. Wednesday was fine. I picked her up and the teacher said she had a great day, wasn't cranky at all. Woot!
Thursday was another story. She was super cranky as well as everything else she still had. Around 5 her nose started draining green. Not good! I knew she'd be going to the doctors in the morning. She got a fever that night, and was just wimpering all night. She'd wake herself up coughing and just wanted to be held. Not like her. I spent the night with her on the couch, just watching her.
Friday morning I call her doctor's office when it opened. I told them the symptoms, and they moved things around to get her right in. Not a good sign for mommy.
The nurse practitioner she went to discovered the problem(s). Double ear infection, with the right side about to burst, and a sinus infection to boot. Wow, did I feel like the most horrible mother in the world.
I know hindsight is 20/20, and boy did it suck to review the past few weeks. The worst was that she was telling us. Literally telling us. She would say "ear" and point. She is learning body parts, so I just happily said "yes honey, that's an ear. Good job". She did everything her little 19 month old self could do. Then I reviewed my pictures from the week before and found this
How did I sit behind that viewfinder and not notice this most obvious sign of distress? Ugh!
So, anyway, it's been a few days on the antibiotics and AJ is doing much better. She's back to her old self for the most part. It had been so long that I had almost forgotten what normal is for her. I'm so happy she's feeling better.
Oh, and a note to self: never, ever, ever give an antibiotic without stopping with the Miralax first. YIKES!!!
For the past two months AJ has been sick. She has been coughing, congested, and just plain cranky. Mid-February we went to her 18 month well visit. Her doctor said she probably either just had a few colds back to back or it could be allergies. He told us to try a vaporizer in her room (we were already doing this) and give her Zyrtek in case it could be allergies. In true Murphy's Law, AJ didn't cough or sniffle once until he left the room at the end of the appointment. He did say her eyes looked a little pink, so if it got worse, we should call back for Pink Eye drops, especially since I was told it is part of the daycare petri dish at that point. A day after the appointment we had to call for drops.
The cough continued. The congestion continued. The meds didn't seem to do much of anything. Some days it would be less than other, but it was always there, the congestion, the coughing, the crankiness. We had lots of theories during that time; a really bad cold, more molars, change in weather, allergies, genetic abnormalities, and just plain toddler-hood.
Daycare issued new rules to deal with the rampant illnesses in the room. No toddler was allowed in with a runny nose, cough, temperature of any sort even low grade, and all the other bad symptoms of course. We were worried. AJ's nose runs like that's its job. So Wednesday morning came and I had my cell in my pocket all day expecting a call. I figured she'd had it for so long now, she couldn't possibly still be contageous. Wednesday was fine. I picked her up and the teacher said she had a great day, wasn't cranky at all. Woot!
Thursday was another story. She was super cranky as well as everything else she still had. Around 5 her nose started draining green. Not good! I knew she'd be going to the doctors in the morning. She got a fever that night, and was just wimpering all night. She'd wake herself up coughing and just wanted to be held. Not like her. I spent the night with her on the couch, just watching her.
Friday morning I call her doctor's office when it opened. I told them the symptoms, and they moved things around to get her right in. Not a good sign for mommy.
The nurse practitioner she went to discovered the problem(s). Double ear infection, with the right side about to burst, and a sinus infection to boot. Wow, did I feel like the most horrible mother in the world.
I know hindsight is 20/20, and boy did it suck to review the past few weeks. The worst was that she was telling us. Literally telling us. She would say "ear" and point. She is learning body parts, so I just happily said "yes honey, that's an ear. Good job". She did everything her little 19 month old self could do. Then I reviewed my pictures from the week before and found this
So, anyway, it's been a few days on the antibiotics and AJ is doing much better. She's back to her old self for the most part. It had been so long that I had almost forgotten what normal is for her. I'm so happy she's feeling better.
Oh, and a note to self: never, ever, ever give an antibiotic without stopping with the Miralax first. YIKES!!!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
It's time
I've spent a lot of time being excited for the warmer months. Oh how I longed for the extra hours of sunshine. What I didn't anticipate was how getting to those extra hours would impact a certain little girl.
It's currently 8:30PM and she wants to play ball. WTF!?
Usually AJ is tired around 7PM and is out by 8PM. I really hope those nights come back eventually. Especially on the nights when M isn't home. Now, AJ is exhausted, cranky and clumsy, but still awake. Oh what fun.
If only these extended nights had any impact on her ability to start the day at a time even the animals think she's crazy for being awake.
How wrong would it be to put a little Benadryl in her bottle? (I kid, I think)
It's currently 8:30PM and she wants to play ball. WTF!?
Usually AJ is tired around 7PM and is out by 8PM. I really hope those nights come back eventually. Especially on the nights when M isn't home. Now, AJ is exhausted, cranky and clumsy, but still awake. Oh what fun.
If only these extended nights had any impact on her ability to start the day at a time even the animals think she's crazy for being awake.
How wrong would it be to put a little Benadryl in her bottle? (I kid, I think)
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