It keeps you young and healthy.
Category: Uncategorized
Food thoughts and plans
When I went grocery shopping yesterday I was reminded of what I would buy if it was only me I was feeding. Loads of Velveta Mac and Cheese, Chicken Ramen noodle soup, chocolate milk and Captain Crunch. I am not the healthy one in the family. 🙂 I can schedule meals if I have to, but I would seriously eat cereal in pretty bright colored bowls most of the time if it were me.
I on the other hand married the opposite of me. One that looks at the nutritional value of a box of mac and cheese., which seems silly to me cause we don’t eat if for nutritional value, but maybe that’s me. I do have to say that I am better because of him. Literally. I’m healthier than I would be plus I have to use my brain to make up meals, Â grocery shop on a $200 month budget and make something we all like and is healthy. I like this challenge.
I also get to use pretty bright colored reusable bags. They have pink yellow and polka dots with butterflies.
Part of meal scheduling is figuring out Trav’s lunches. Because he is healthy I can’t just send him on his way with chips, cookies, a sandwich. And I’ve learned that making things from scratch is cheaper. Plus you feel kinda like superwoman when its all made. (nice feeling)
I came home with almost no food at our house and so I had to think shrewdly and creativly. Here are some things I made yesterday and today for Trav’s lunches.
Pretzels: Dollar store
Seasonings: Ranch packet (for making dressing) and garlic salt.
EVOO
Drizzle, sprinkle mix and bake
I made mine a little too long but at 350 they should be ready in like 10 min. And now I have a nice ranch flavored bag of pretzels. (healthier than snacking on chips) and something different to put in lunches.
next…
Why mess with a classic? These are chocolate chip, oatmeal and reeces pieces cookies.
next…
After posting I’m making cranberry banana bread. Great snack but also good in the lunches. It’s so moist that you don’t even need butter.
I also bought trail mix (Trav’s favorite!) in bulk and am giving him carrots and apples. (haha not that he’s a horse) I also make him different kinds of sandwiches and of course the wonderful left overs.
What ideas do you have for lunches to make them different? I am always looking for new ideas.
New Years Eve
This year we went to the Space Needle (tradition) and invited Jamie (my sista) and the boyfriend Sean.
We did some dancing…Trav got out of a lot cause he was ‘taking picture’. Whatever, I think he just didn’t want to be int he conga line.
Have I mentioned how much I love my sister? I do. A lot.
Outside freezing out butts off 🙂
but it was worth the cold. Oh so worth it! Beautiful!!!
Incredible huh!
Happy New year! I’m looking forward toward to a new year for sure 🙂 What are you looking forward to this year?
Emma’a new haircut
It seems that with Emma’s new haircut she also has a new strongwill. The complient ‘whatever you say mama’ has fled out the window and now I have what feels like a preschooler.
Example: Trav and I were driving back to Portland from the holidays and as I was helping her from the front seat she said, ‘No mama. Don’t look at me’ and swished her head to the window. I laughed as Trav and I gave each other looks. I’m fine to give her her space and respect that but I’ve also found that time outs and making her go to bed early does nothing. She relishes in her alone time. Crap. Time to find something else so I can have some kind of leverage.
Another fun story: She wanted to watch ANOTHER movie and I had the nerve to tell her no. Her response: *crossed her arms. ‘But MOM! I NEEEEED TO!!!’ Chuckle, sorry kiddo. There is more to life than the television.
One thing that I really make an effort on though is never telling others about her choices to not listen to me in front of her. I want her to think and know that I am her biggest fan! I don’t want her to hear me tell others how she didn’t listen to me. My job is to have her hear me brag about her to others about how awesome she is and her quirky straight forward independent personality. After all, I did pray for those characteristics, I won’t whine about my prayers being answered.
Shoot
I think of many different ideas and subjects to write throughout the day and it seems like they all escape me when I pull up my dashboard.
Basically a lot of seious thoughts and questions, but right now I need to get off so Trav and I can skype friends living in Poland. I hope you had a happy Christmas, we did in our family. 🙂
Been roaming the internet
and found these!
Thinking about my entry way…
How ingeniously smart is this?! lol
Darn you Anthropology. Why do you have to make such beautiful things?! I’m glad I don’t have a credit card. It would end very badly
Death Grip on Pink Monkey
Not much time to write, but I had to inform you about a little exchange Emma had with a stranger. We were at Barnes and Noble (our new library on rainy days) and it was time for us to leave. If you have a 2 yr old you know leaving stores are not easy. Emma had grabbed a hold of a freeky looking bright pink monkey. She had a death grip on it and was adiment she had to have it.
I was again the bad guy and even though I gave her choices and options she freaked out. It was great. Not really, no. A while ago I became OK with Emma throwing fits in public. Maybe it was because I had some good interactions with strangers but that’s for another blog post. So I’m half carrying her cause she’s trying to wiggle out of my death grip on her. We’re walking throughthe cafe part to go outside and OVER emma’s yelling a woman near us yells, “Oh, baby are you having a hard time?!” Â She meant well, but something in me got totally annoyed immediatly.
I paused for Emma’s reaction. People were watching the interaction and Emma in her beautiful ‘two-year-ism’ glared at the lady and covered her eyes while whipping away from her and snuggling with me.
I felt triumphant. I did nothing but walk out and hide my smile from the lady.
Emma just ran to me and said, “i love you mommy! Let me see you” Â What a great day.
The amazing Carley Bishop
We had a friend take some family pictures of us back in Seattle. It was awesome because she was so straightforward and relaxed at the same time. She said things like, ‘OK, now I’m going to be all up in your business!’ and smiling the same time and it was just normal to smile back and laugh. Which was perfect for someone who’s all up in your business. You don’t want to make a silly face or anything right?
I actually asked for this. A silly picture. Surprising I know.But it’s me and I wanted a picture of that.
We walked all around downtown and I found out somethings about myself:
1. I wish I had brought a scarf. I always wear scarves and it would’ve been nice to represent that.
2. I wish I had brought Emma a hat. Cold, slightly breazy weather makes for cute, little, red noses though. 🙂
3. I will always have Carley take our family pictures. She makes the whole thing seem normal and natural. Who cares that we’re on the monorail and she’s in our faces taking pictures like we’re movie stars. *click *snap click*  That’s normal-right? 🙂
4. I am HORRIBLE with cheesy predictable backgrounds. I was saved by Travis and Carley. (although she is the professional). We have now nice artistic pictures that don’t scream ‘Touring Seattle’.
This is Travis’ favorite picture. 🙂 And no we weren’t posing, we were looking at the huge fountain outside Seattle Center House. We were just ignoring her and this is what she got. lol Amazing what good pictures you can get when you ignore the photographer.
All in all, for me it was fun to be snuggly with Trav and have someone document it. These are the times and moments I want to remember. Who needs to remember fights or disagreements?! I want to remember the times I stole kisses from him. 🙂 Memories of me being dorky and him smiling and joining in.
This next one is my favorite of  Trav and I
Good thing I didn’t have anything in my teeth huh! 🙂 Sorry, did that ruin the ‘aww’ moment? lol
If you live in Oregon or Washington please please, for your own good, pay to have Carley take your pictures. It will be a good experience. Full of laughing and goofing off. Why should picture taking be so serious anyways?! I learned that about her. She wants to take pictures that capture you as a family or couple. Being you. Laughing, making faces or whatever.
*And, no, Carley has no idea I’m writing this. It’s just because it was so wonderful and awesome! Even Emma was into it for 4 hours! That takes skill people. Here’s her web site.
lazy saturday
Lazy Saturday. 🙂 Good day to have stickers on your face and snuggles with your little one.
Check my girlfriend Rae out. It’s her birthday and she’s giving away an AWESOME giveaway. You have to check it out. You’ll love it. Promise. But in reality, I hope I win. Sorry.