Healthy Cooking Substitution

Thanks to Tresero's Blog I learned this new trick today for healthier cooking:

Unsweetened Applesauce Is The Wonder Substitute In The Kitchen
You may be surprised to discover that unsweetened applesauce is a great cooking substitution that can be used in place of oil and butter for almost all recipes. Simply match the measurement in the recipe exactly. 1/4 cup butter is substituted by 1/4 cup of applesauce and it will not affect the recipe except for reducing the fat content in the final product.

A great candidate for the applesauce cooking substitutions is banana bread. All you have to do is substitute the oil with the same amount of unsweetened applesauce. Believe it or not, you have eliminated approximately 950 calories or more than 100 grams from this recipe. You can still make that favorite bread with some basic substitutions. The banana bread with the applesauce substituted for oil is amazingly moist, flavorful and, with all those fat calories gone, healthy. Feel free to make the banana bread, your family will enjoy it and you will have the personal satisfaction that they are not eating an unhealthy snack.

Homework Blues

Mr. B wore me out tonight during homework time. We didn't actually get much homework done, mostly he just sat at the table whining and crying while I tried to ignore him by reading my book until he was ready to cooperate (which never really happened). It took him 45 minutes to do 3 math problems (this is only 1st grade math so we are not talking rocket science here). By the time we moved on to word families I made it into the second word of the first family when I reached my limited and tagged AH for his round with the boy. I fumed upstairs to cool off, which did happen, but the funk stayed with me and I've been kind of feeling blue the rest of the evening. I seriously hate doing homework with an uncooperative child. It's one of those areas where I have no patience. . . at all.

So I've been hunkered over my computer for hours now perusing my favorite blogs and websites, feeding off the inspiration of others, when I decided to add a new list to my blog. The list is of things I'd like/desire/want, but don't really need, and if you bought it for me I'd probably be your slave for life, kind of list. Anyway, while adding things to my "list" I came across the rug I LOVE so much that I even though I couldn't afford to buy it big I did buy it small for our entryway door and it makes me happy every time I see it. Well the "rug" is on CLEARANCE (I know!) right now and the 8x10 is down to $299.00. AH, after just telling me what our tax return will be this year, immediately said, "No!" and that $300 was too much for a rug (AH doesn't get out much unless it is to REI, Craig's list (drooling over motorcycles) or the Dodge parts catalog). MOM I expect you to intervene here and explain to AH that $300 for a wool rug is an excellent price and to snatch it up as quickly as possible!!!! (a phone call would be most effective in this case)

The thing that is perfect about this rug is that it has all my colors in it AND it is dark enough to be placed under my kitchen table w/out showing all the spills that happen when a rug is placed under the kitchen table. I heart this rug! The picture doesn't do it justice - it is so much more vibrant IRL.



What's a girl to do?

The Power of a Nap

Shortly after 12pm today I received a phone call from Mr. B's teacher. Apparently Mr. B fell asleep during story time and nobody had been able to get him awake afterward.

The timing was perfect since Beeb was due at school shortly so I drove her down and we both went to visit the sleeping Mr. B. I found him slumped over his desk and out for the count. Someone had been kind and slipped a square red pillow under his head (little did they know that he drools in his sleep!). It took a few tries and the threat of making him go running with me to bring him back to consciousness but he finally sat up on his own. I got him eating his lunch and he was nearly done when his peers started coming back in from their lunch/recess time.

I left Mr. B, surrounded by his classmates who were in awe of his getting to eat lunch in the classroom as well as his sleeping through lunch and recess. My only regret. . . not having my camera with me to capture him snoozing.

When Mr. B got off the bus this afternoon he told me that, "today was the bestest day." He said he was all rested and ready to play.

My kids, there is never a dull moment.

Wee Wee Gotta Go Pee

Today is the start of our mid-winter break from school. Luckily it is nice today, even a little bit sunny. I spent last night looking at things to do in our area, trying to come up with an activity plan so that this week is not spent just laying around the house.

Today the plan was to take Mr. B to see the new Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightening Thief movie. I arranged a play date for Beeb at a friends house this afternoon and Mr. B and I were off to the theatre.

After getting our tickets I asked Mr. B if he had to use the restroom before we found our seats. He assured me that he had no need. Of course within the first minute of the actual movie starting he leans over to me and says, "Mom, I really have to go to the bathroom." WHAT!!! So I took him to the restroom and missed the opening scene which I know was vital.

We both enjoyed the movie, though it didn't follow the book (but do they ever?). Mr. B kept asking me if the Gods were real. He thought their powers were very cool.

As we left the theater I asked Mr. B if he needed to use the restroom and once again was told "nope". Shortly after we left the parking lot and were waiting at a stoplight to turn onto the interstate Mr. B announces, "Mom, I really really have to go pee!" Are you kidding me? How could you have not realize that you had to go 3 minutes earlier when I asked but now suddenly it is so urgent you can't wait at all. With no way out of line, and no restrooms in site I had really only one option for the boy. Time to teach him the time honored male tradition of being able to pee in a plastic bottle. I handed him his empty Nestle Quick bottle and told him what to do. He was flabbergasted and yet eager to try.

Following I got to hear all about his amazement at this new reality, as if it were a superpower bestowed upon all boys. I am sure all the neighborhood mom's are going to love me after Mr. B shares his new talent with their sons.

The Sleeping Beauty

Last night a friend and I went to the PNW Ballet performance of The Sleeping Beauty. It was so beautiful. The costumes were divine, the set and lighting magical and of course the dancing was amazing! They PNB really puts on the most beautiful productions. I was a very very nice evening out.






(all images courtesy of the PNB website)

Something New - Who Knew?

This past week I realized something about myself that I hadn't realized before; I can't focus on work when music is playing. I know a lot of my friend use music to help them concentrate, but I found that while I was trying to preparing for a big show this week, when the music was playing, I had to turn it down so I could concentrate. And it just happened again when I was trying to type this entry - my brain could not focus on both things at once.

Now this is not to say that I can't ever listen to music while working. What I've noticed is that if the work is "mindless" then it is no problem, but if the work requires significant concentration on my part I can't handle any distractions.

Which, now realizing this, explains why I can't stand to have AH in the kitchen while I am cooking. Cooking, though sometimes fun, is very stressful for me because it requires a lot of concentration on my part to follow the recipe(s). AH usually gets home from work while I am in the midst's of preparing dinner and I always shoo him away because I lose my focus when he is talking to me or I end up ignoring him.

Such a strange thing, our minds. Good thing I recognized a while back that mine is "mom"-entarily out of order. Nobody can say that I didn't warn them!

Beeb - The Injured

Today at 3:35pm I got a call from the kids school. They told me that Beeb had walked into a pole and cut her nose and was in the office being treated. They didn't sound urgent so I didn't take it too serious until I arrived at the school and saw the fire department aide car.

Indeed Beeb walked into a pole after being distracted by her friends. She ended up cutting the bridge of her nose on the metal sign attached to the pole. It was a clean cut straight across and it bled profusely as all head wounds seem to do.

When I got into the office she was being treated by the firemen. I didn't want to upset her, and I knew she would start crying if she saw me, so I held back while they finished cleaning her up. When I did go into the nurses office I tried to act nonchalant but it didn't fool Beeb and she started to cry. We hugged and I kept trying to distract her from her pain and anxiety and offered assurance that she would be fine.

We got clearance to head to the hospital and so we dropped Bryce off at Grandma's and I took Beeb to the local E.R. for treatment. She did really well with the entire process. She stayed calm and let the nurse and doctor clean out the wound and prepare it for stitches. Unfortunately the numbing agent didn't take very well and she had to have some shots directly into the wound to numb it enough for the stitches. It was very painful and Beeb was exceedingly brave!

The stitches went well up until the 5th one. For some reason that one was painful and Beeb was crying and nearly hysterical by the end of it. She still had one more stitch to go and I was ready to tell the doctor that it looked good enough, I did not want my Beeb in any more pain. The doctor tested the area of the last stitch before she proceeded and it appeared to be numb and thankfully it was.

All in all Beeb ended up with six blue stitches across the bridge of her little nose. She earned a yellow crayola bandaid, a Popsicle and a trip to McDonald's for some dinner. I am so proud of her bravery and calmness during such an upsetting event. She is already bouncing around again and back to her old self - it may take my heart a few more days to recover.

Chicken What?

This past week I had the pleasure of being one of the chaperons for Beeb's kindergarten class field trip to the library. I was very excited for this adventure as we would be shown the behind closed door, top secret, employee only areas - such as the book drop basket. Did you ever wonder where your book went after you put it into the outdoor basket drop? Well now I know!

Near the end of the tour the children's librarian assembled all the kids into the meeting room for story time before releasing them to find their own book to check out and take home. While she chatted with the kids I took note of the book she was holding in her hands; the same book I had purposely removed from the room when we initially arrived at the library thinking it had been left there by another patron and which I deemed inappropriate for my daughter (and her classmates) to see. So there I found myself dumbfounded at the idea that the head children's librarian would share "Chicken Butt" with these kids. I casually strolled over to Beeb's teacher and asked her, "Is she really going to read Chicken Butt to them?" Looking very uncomfortable, she assured me that indeed this was the case and then we both stood there unsure what to do.



In my mind I had the internal debate over how to proceed. I certainly did not want Beeb to hear this book and I definitely did not want "Chicken Butt" to become a regular term in our house, which I was sure would happen once Mr. B caught wind of it. Finally my moral code won out over social pressure and I called Beeb out of the room much to her dismay. I explained to her that the librarian had chosen a book that had words that were not appropriate and that we don't use in our house. To console her I let her pick out several books to take home, instead of just one, though I could see she was not happy with being pulled out of story time especially when she heard the kids laughing.

When the story was over we reentered the meeting room where the kids were given more instruction about how to select and check out their books. Several times kids could be hear shouting out "Chicken Butt" followed by giggles from their classmates. Beeb looked confused and I stressed that she would still pick up this term and bring it home (luckily she didn't).

A short while later Beeb's teacher approached me (btw she is a very very nice woman) and told me that she spoke with the librarian regarding her book selection. The librarian’s response, "well we all have butts." Hmmm, last I checked she wasn't giving an anatomy lesson. Lucky for me my daughter wasn't a captive audience to her poor selection like the many other kids whose parents weren't there to help make that decision for their own children.

I hope this was one of those memorable teaching moments for Beeb, when her mother had to "choose the right" in a moment that made her uncomfortable. I hope she will draw strength from that little action when it is her turn to do the same.

Who Am I?

I have been struggling with a dilemma for the past few weeks that weighs heavily on me. The hardest parts of it, for me, are the assumptions, false accusations and the moral implications being applied to my person by someone who does not know me.

When this dilemma presented itself I consulted with my husband, a few friends and a few fellow professionals (since the issue pertains to my business). I received a variety of responses of which I could see both sides. Despite knowing that I had not intentionally set out to create this problem, nor do I really see the issue presented as being an issue, it bothers me that someone thinks I had done this thing on purpose and that I was caught in the “act” of the wrongdoing.

I readily admit that I am far from perfection (it’s actually a joke to even write “I” and “perfection” in the same sentence) and am often sticking my foot in my mouth since I am an individual whose emotions all to quickly get to my mouth before my brain does. However, I do try very hard to be an honest person, despite my other shortcomings, and in this case did not purposely set out to do what I am accused of doing. In fact the truth of the matter is that what happened was quite the opposite. Last year I spent about 9 months contemplating a change in to my business. I researched what I wanted (because of the investment involved) and looked to my local competitors to ensure I wasn’t copying someone else’s idea. Unfortunately, despite my due diligence, my area is saturated with others in my line of work and it is impossible to see everyones business.

Legally there is no a case of wrongdoing and morally I know there is no case of wrongdoing, so then why do I feel guilty? Why do I care what some unknown person thinks of me especially when I’ve done no wrong?

What I’ve chosen to do is not to engage in a reactionary way of being defensive, overly explaining myself or “my side of the story” (which I tend to do) because it will only lead to higher emotions and it will definitely not bring us to a resolution. I’ve replied that I would consider the matter but made no promises beyond.

Sometimes life throws you a twist and it is at those moments that you have to decide who you are and respond accordingly. Often I have to rant for a bit but then after I take some deep breaths, sit down and think about my being a daughter of God and how He would want me to respond. I am thankful He is there to guide me each step of the way and that with His help I am a better person. It doesn't take the hurt feelings or pain away but it does give me a sense of relief to know that He knows the truth and that does comfort me.

Oh Boyo & Beeb

As soon as Mr. B stepped off the bus this afternoon I knew he was sick. His watery eyes, puffy red lids and sour expression clued me in the most but then as he dragged his feet toward me I could hear his earnest sniffles as he battled nasal mucus.

Despite his cheery disposition (total sarcasm there if you couldn't tell) I took his temperature (normal) and fed him a snack and then started one of my favorite kid movies, The Neverending Story, for him to watch. Beeb joined us on the couch as we were all nicely cocooned inside our blankets.

20 minutes into the movie Mr. B was sleeping. When I tried to carry him off the couch to his room he woke up protesting and insisted he wasn't sleeping. Here is Mr. B not sleeping at 4:30pm:



Poor kid! He is rarely ever sick and I hate to see him so lifeless; very untypical of him.

On another note ultra sneaky Beeb (there's that darn sarcasm again) greeted me in the house after school (she ran ahead of Mr. B and I) with strict instructions not to go into her backpack because she already took everything out of it. I glanced at her bulging backpack and questioned her motives, "So what's in your backpack then?" "Mom, can I please please please bring a stuffed animal on the bus? Please!", she pleaded.

Beeb is, despite having a super sneaky brother, not at all sneaky. Let me reiterate that, Beeb is not sneaky at all. Silly girl!

Fish Free Once Again

#2 bit the dust over the weekend. We are officially fish free once again with the empty fish bowl (still filled with water) acting as a stark reminder why we should never get another fish again.

Enough said.

One Down, One To Go

Goldfish #1 is dead (Beeb's of course!) - long live #2! (we'll see)

This has become such a normal occurrence that this is what happened when I broke the news to Beeb on the way to swim lessons this morning.

Me: "By the way Beeb your goldfish died yesterday."

Short pause.

Beeb: "Can I get a new one?"

No crying, sobbing . . . nothing.

My sentiments: Stupid fish.