Mom Lunch

Lately, I have been better to myself and I have been making sure I eat a good lunch. For me, it seems like lunch is the meal that goes by the wayside.

My daily lunch consists of a salad like this. Mixed greens and whatever else I find in the fridge. And then I top it off with some balsamic vinaigrette. Today's salad with mixed greens, half a roma tomato, a handful of blueberries, a few slices of red onion, Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamic vinaigrette.



So may I recommend you do what I do? Buy a box of mixed greens and just add whatever you have in the fridge or pantry. It's quick and so good for you.

What did you have for lunch today?

Fess up No. 8

I had a bloggy friend, Shannon, e-mail me and ask for some money-saving ideas that will help improve her grocery bill. I replied with a few ideas. Here is a copy and paste of what I wrote to her.

1. Eat vegetarian. Meat is expensive and vegetables are not, especially vegetables that are in season.

2. Like I said, vegetables that are in season are cheaper. A way to see what is in season is looking at your grocery stores ads. Look for what is cheaper and build a meal around it.

3. Plan your weekly meals to the T. Plan out breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks. If you buy a bag of apples, have a plan for them. Don't buy anything that isn't going to go with your weekly menu.

4. Beware of the coupon clipping. You are getting a good deal, but you can end up with unhealthy, premade food. Food companies have the money to offer coupons. I mean did you really need those new Frito Lay Chipotle Jalapeno Cheddar Barbecue Corn Chips even if they were $2?

5. Eat oatmeal for breakfast. It is shockingly cheaper than cereal.

6. Don't fuss too much over side dishes at dinner. You don't need the traditional protein, starch and vegetable dinner. Nothing is wrong with no side at all and just a big bowl of pasta.

7. Plan to eat your leftovers. We eat leftovers for lunch more often than not. And send them with your husband for his lunch at work.

8. It is sad, but true, but making your own bread makes a difference. I am not a pro bread baker, but making your own loaf of bread is quite simple and very cost effective. Practice while your baby takes naps.

9. And something you already know, make everything from scratch. The more you make things from scratch, the more confident you will become in the kitchen all together.

Those are my idea, but what are yours?

How do you cook well, but pinch pennies?

Fess Up No. 7

My little Vanny loves watermelon. He sees it and starts going bananas and can't calm down. If I don't stop him, he eats the rind. I think his record is four slices in one sitting.


What is your favorite summer produce? What do you wait all winter for? Corn? Peaches? Tomatoes? Cherries? Blackberries? Zucchini? Strawberries? Watermelon? Fess up and tell me what it is that you have been gorging yourself on.

Fess Up No. 6

I find value in mothers exchanging ideas. We can always gleen from each others knowledge. And while some might find this a no-big-deal issue, other might be able to take an idea or two and implement it into their current methods.

So what is the thing I want your input on? Snack time for the children. Son One rides the child roller coaster of feast and famine. Probably sounds familiar to some other mothers out there. Some weeks, he is a bottomless pit and others, he is a complete beast about eating. I don't get too worried about one or the other because they are constantly changing. They seem to make up for each other.

The box of snacks with a picture on it of Jack eating,

so he can relate the snacks to eating.

During Jack's feasting seasons, he wants to snack all the time. My solution is what we call snack bags. In the pantry is a box of little ziploc bags of snacks. Pretzel, crackers, dried fruit, nuts- whatever is in the pantry at the time. I put a little of each into a bag and put the bags in the box. The box is kept at his level, so he can get a bag when he is hungry. When I first implemented the snack bags, we had a little meeting and I explained to him what the bags were and what the plan was with them. The rule is that if he gets a bag, he has to eat everything in it. I also like snack bags for snacks on the go. I can grab a bag if we are leaving the house and he can eat in the car or at the park.

Current snack bags:
pretzels, Wheat Thins, dried apple rings, dried pineapple and oyster crackers.

One thing that works well for Baby Van is oyster crackers. For a snack to keep him busy, oyster crackers are cheap and easy for him to chew on. They a scads cheaper than those dissolving Gerber thingies and even Cheerios. I think it was $1.50 for a huge bag of oyster crackers.

So fess up. What are your ideas? What works for your children? Here are a few ideas I have found around the internet:

Muffin tin snacks by O.C. Mormon Mommy
Snack plate by Hartmanation

Fess Up No. 5

This sandwich reminds me of my Grandma Sally.

Grandma Sally lived on the other side of our elementary school. We would walk across the million mile field to get there. You could also walk through the haunted orchard to get there. But it was haunted so that wasn't an option.

Grandma Sally would make us these sandwiches for lunch. Two pieces of bread, mustard, turkey, tomatoes and Lay's potato chips. She would make us our sandwiches and then send us out to the backyard. We would usually sit in her little grove of trees. Grandma Sally had a little grouping of aspen trees in the backyard. Haley used to play "Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove" under those trees. One time I lost a pair of my grandma's sparkly clip earrings in that grove of trees. She wasn't too happy about that.

Grandma Sal on the right.
Ah ha! So that is where my cankles came from!

Whenever I eat a turkey tomato sandwich with potato chips, I think of my Grandma Sally.

What foods remind you of your grandparents?
Fess up. I really want to know.

Fess Up No. 4

I recently was talking to a friend about food tricks with kids. You know, Jessica Seinfeld but not that extreme and weird. In case you didn't know, I have opinions about everything and I have opinions about Jessica Seinfeld's trickery with food. Her book is great and all but you aren't TEACHING kids to like vegetables. I would rather teach my kids about vegetables than sneak it into everything they eat. Spinach brownies? Really? Stop pretending they are good. They just aren't. And all she makes is toddler food. I am not into chicken nuggets for dinner even if they are made with eggplant and kale, or whatever it is she puts in them.

I have a few tricks in my apron pocket that I use to get the goods into my kids bodies. I'll share a few and then you share a few. I am a little crazy like Jessica Seinfeld, but not that nuts. I do have a bit of food trickery I use so maybe I am being hypocritical. Oh well, let's begin.

1. Instead of buying Eggo waffles, make them. You can make a big batch of waffles, wrap them in plastic and freeze them, just like an Eggo waffle. When you are doing breakfast, put your own homemade waffle in the toaster and wah-lah! Breakfast! You can make the waffles whole grain and put all kinds of goodness in them, like flax seed and oat bran. You're kids still hate them? Put food coloring in the batter. Blue waffles are so much more fun, even if they are whole wheat.

2. From the get-go, lie to your kids. That really is the only way. Jack still thinks granola bars are candy bars. And don't any of you tell him otherwise.

3. For ice cream on the fly that is better for all, freeze yogurt. You can even put it into popsicle molds. I have also frozen chocolate-covered bananas. Click here for the info.

4. For little kids who haven't quite been around the block and don't know any better, dice up dried fruit and call them fruit snacks. It's fruit and a snack, so you aren't a liar. I have found that dried mangoes and dried apricots are big hits. For the lucky people who can go to Trader Joe's, dried mangoes are really cheap there.

5. Jack LOVES soda. Like he is asking me for my diet Coke as I am typing this. In the past I have tricked him with fruit juice and club soda. I can control how much fizz goes into it and what kind of fruit juice. I am such a freak about having control- all the time.

Those are the ones I can think of right now. Fess up. What are yours?

Fess Up No. 3

THINGS I CARE ABOUT

Spending time alone with my husband. A "friend" once told me that I am taking away from Jack's future by spending a lot of money on dates. What a backwards comment. I firmly believe that if Ethan's and my relationship is in order, the benefits for Jack go beyond his college fund.

Spending time alone for just me. I crave alone time. I would rather shop alone. I would rather exercise alone. I would rather have time to myself to think and organize my thoughts. Without alone time, I kind of really go bananas.

Making sure Jack learns how to be a gentleman. He isn't too young to learn how to open doors and help bring groceries in.

Making sure my boys are dressed to the nines for church. I want them to know that we take our Sunday worship seriously. Sunday isn't just any regular day.

Allowing myself to be a fun mom. It is easy to be a headcase and keep my schedule in mind too much.

Pictures of everything. Ethan doesn't have very many pictures of him as a baby and little boy. I wish he did so I could compare my boys to him! Plus, I want to make sure I have plenty of memories of my babies and toddlers.

Jewelry. I have a lot of jewelry from Ethan over the years. Each piece means so much to me. I want to make sure I keep it nice so I can hand it down to my family members.

Gratitude. It is easy to get bummed about what you don't have. It is harder to notice what you do have.

Knowing I am watched over by a higher power. My conviction in that can brighten many a rainy day.

Having a home of my own. There is something magical about having a place that you and yours can call home. A place where everyone is safe and loved. A place where we can escape from the bad news of the world. A place to create a haven for my husband to come home to after a long day of work.

The honest to goodness reason for the season. This year, my family has decided on no gifts. What a great Christmas this will be! I feel zero stress this Christmas. We plan to spending Christmas Day sledding, fonduing and marshmallow roasting. We will get to spend time with each other and not the things we really don't need in the end. We will be able to focus on why we put up a manger in the first place.

What do you care about these days?
What matters most to you?

Fess Up No. 2

THINGS I DON'T CARE ABOUT:

Brushing my teeth every night.

Brushing Jack's teeth every night.

Bathing my infant everyday. He stills smells good all the time. He's a baby for heaven's sake.

Unfolded laundry all over the boy's floor.

Doing my hair everyday, even though I have bangs and if I don't tame my bangs, I look like a 7th grade girl who doesn't care about how she looks.

Matching in family pictures. Someone PLEASE explain to me the logic of matching in family pictures.

Maternity pictures. Would you normally ever take a picture with your shirt half up?

My vacuum left in my house in California.

My spider plant, basil and mint plants left in my garage. I am sure they are dried and dead.

Not eating too many peanut butter M&Ms. I've said it once and I will say it again, peanut butter and chocolate are a celestial marriage.

Getting Christmas presents for anyone but Jack. Van, you are too little and you won't remember. Ethan, we are poor and love is priceless. Everyone else, we are in a recession.

Christmas cards. Normally, I do that. But this year, I have completely lost the fire.

Letting Jack wear underwear and rain boots and nothing else.

My husband's use of a cane now and forever. It's kinda sexy.

Getting enough sleep. Who does that anyways? Tired is the new cool.

The fuel pump in Little Red. Let 'er die, let 'er die.

What do you not care about these days?
Do tell and don't be ashamed.
No one is going to judge you................ except for me:)

Confessions of a high school trouble maker

My sister Megan has embarked on a series of confessions from her high school escapades. I want to do that same. Maybe this will clear some things off my plate of conscience.

Dear Alan Godinez,
I am sorry I egged your house. I am sure it was a huge mess to clean up.

Dear Provo City Cop,
Sorry for lying about egging Alan's house. I knew you would figure me out the moment the lie came spewing from my lips.

Dear Clay Barnes,
Thank you for telling me where the Juvenile Court was. You seemed to know where it was like you knew where your house was.

Dear Heather Snow and Matt Holyoak,
Sorry for helping my nameless friend spy on you guys while you were watching a movie one night. Nameless friend had a major crush on Matt and I think we were just waiting to see some action. I think I remember my nameless friend leaving a makeup face mark on your window.

Dear Garrett Rose,
Sorry for toilet papering your house all the time with Desi.

Dear Tyler Jarman,
I am really sorry for tattling on you for throwing that tire iron through the back of Trent Beesley's car.
p.s. Trent, why were you hanging out with junior girls in high school when you were at least 21 years old?

Dear Brad Cherry,
Sorry for throwing bags of leaves all over your car. We couldn't let all those leaves just go to waste!

Dear Provo High School,
So sorry for peeing on the 50 yard line with Gentree Hope and Ashley Stice. We felt like we had to "leave our mark" as graduating seniors.

Dear Royce King and Kyle Kinateder,
Sorry for spying on you. Stefanie, Melissa and I got a real kick out of you guys talking about wanting summer girlfriends.

Dear all the boys in Jamie's hot tub,
Sorry for spying on you too. There was something so exhilarating about spying back then.

Dear John Taylor,
I am sorry I swiped your back pack and almost got you suspended because of late homework. But I did give it back, so don't hate me.

Dear Lucy Clark,
Sorry for that lame Spanish Fork kid breaking your window. Totally unintentional.

Dear Korby Ercanbrack,
Sorry for doorbell ditching you all the time. We just wanted to see your mom who was rumored to look like Barbie.

Dear Everyone at the Stomp aka Dance,
Sorry for throwing pellet ice down all your shirts. It was dark and Desi, Stefanie and I just couldn't resist.

Dear Travis Bushman,
I'm sorry for making your car alarm go off all the time. It was just too funny to watch you flip out every time that would happen.

I think that about covers it. Why do most of those involve boys? Looks like someone was screaming for attention.

Fess Up No. 1

We all try hard to feed our children good stuff. We all are supposed to hate high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils and preservatives. Organic is a goal we all aspire to, but let's face it ladies, that crap is expensive. I am proud of my son's eating habits, but I am not about to say they are perfect. So what food do you let slide? What thing do you let your babies indulge in that they really shouldn't?

What's Jack's? He drinks a lot of diet soda. If he sees an unattended can around the house, he attacks. I used to care, but I got sick of yelling at him all the time.

So fess up. What do you let slide? What is just not worth the food fight in your home?

Snacky snack snack snack snack

For some, it is potato chips. For others, it might be crackers. For the smart ones, it is an apple or a banana. For me, it's eggs.

When I am hungry and need a little snack, I fry up some eggs. Over medium with Tabasco. So freaking good.

What is your snack?

Bless the Beasts and the Children

Does your family have an anthem? A song or album that makes everyone happy and calms down the minis? We do and it is The Carpenter’s “A Song For You” album. It started out being Jack’s simmer down music. When he was about a year old, listening to “A Song For You” would help him relax and fall asleep. I suppose the smooth, dulcet tones of Karen Carpenter’s voice sings to Jack’s soul, or something.

Since that album was always our saving grace, we listened to it a lot. Both Ethan and I have the entire album memorized. Ethan can even give you a great rendition of the guitar solo in “Goodbye To Love”, with his mouth. When Jack is being a beast, I like to sing “Hurting Each Other” to him. And there is no way to get a better laugh than listening to Richard Carpenter lisp away on “Piano Picker”. Go ahead and cruise on over to iTunes and look that one up. You will thank me.

As annoying as both of us claim this album is, we still go back to it. I think it calms us all down.

What does your family listen to over and over again
without it getting old?

Patronus! Now!

I know there are more Harry Potter sluts out there than have commented and told me what their patronus is. And yes, I just typed Harry Potter sluts out loud.

So I think I have given you all enough time. Go ahead, scroll down, look for the picture of my sweet, little 10-week-old wearing the red onesie. Then comment on that post and tell me what your patronus is. Do it or you know what will happen... Avada Kadavra!!!!!

Expecto Patronum

This onesie was from Ruth. I find it quite ironic that it has a sparrow on it. How did Ruth know my patronus is a sparrow?

You don’t have to answer yet, but what is YOUR patronus? Think about it if you don’t know yet. This question isn’t easily answered, so take your time. Return and report when you are ready.

You don’t know what a patronus is? That means you haven’t read “Harry Potter”. I am a self-proclaimed “Harry Potter” missionary, so please read it.

The most popular question I get asked (at least 3 times a week)

When did you start to like cooking?

I have always liked to cook. Food intrigues me. My mom let us mess around in her kitchen as much as we wanted. A took a few classes in high school and I loved those. When I got married, I didn’t do too much cooking. I was working a lot and too poor to buy decent ingredients. Once we started a family, I realized I wanted to be the one to fill my family’s bellies, not some restaurant or fast food place. I wanted to instill good eating habits in my children. Along with good eating habits, I wanted my kids to like a wide variety of foods. So far, so good. You will never see a 3-year-old rip the tail off a piece of shrimp or down a stick of celery faster than Jack. But don't let that fool you. He most definitely goes through his own self-induced hunger strikes. And during those strikes, he will only eat candy.

They are setting us up to fail

Read this article about kid's meals at restaurants. It seems a little uncomforting, don't you think? No wonder America's kids are obese.

What ideas do you have for having your kids eat a decent meal at a restaurant? Comment and let your ideas be heard, or read:)