links

I haven't linked for a while so I thought I would share some of my favorites.

*This thai peanut noodles is delicious.  I'm loving this so much that I just might have it every night.  I've made it with both tofu and chicken - of course everyone else in the family prefers chicken.  Really, what's so bad about tofu?

*I'm passionate about our culture of extreme parenting and how it affects mother's and their relationships with other mother's and their children.  I absolutely loved this article on engineering perfect children. 

...You know the child I am talking about: precious, wide-eyed, over-cared-for, fussy, in a beautiful sweater, or a carefully hipsterish T-shirt. Have we done him a favor by protecting him from everything, from dirt and dust and violence and sugar and boredom and egg whites and mean children who steal his plastic dinosaurs, from, in short, the everyday banging-up of the universe? The wooden toys that tastefully surround him, the all-sacrificing, well-meaning parents, with a library of books on how to make him turn out correctly— is all of it actually harming or denaturing him? ...

*Thanks to Cutzi, I made these Pumpkin Cinnamon rolls.  I made them in my bread machine using the dough setting.  Dave actually said they were one of the best he'd ever had. I saw this list of pumpkin recipes and I just couldn't help sampling a few.

*And here's a Thanksgiving printable we think is pretty cute.

Have a great Thanksgiving!  We have much to be thankful for.

Super great cookies.

Dairy and my digestive system don't get along all that well.  (bet you wanted to hear that, huh?) So, I've been trying to make some changes.  We currently drink lactose-free milk which helps all of us (and yes, all you raw milk drinkers, I've heard it helps.  I'll buy into it someday.)  But I'm starting to notice some other dairy foods make me free pretty awful.  So begins the elimination of dairy journey.  Super fun, huh?

I found this blog, Oh She Glows.  Most of her recipes are vegan and at first, sound a bit strange. But, I wanted to try a few a see what they were like.

First, I tried the Pumpkin Pie Banana chunk oatmeal cookies.  So good!  Everyone devoured these.  They are like a breakfast cookie.
Note: don't put them in a ziploc bag.  They will get really soft.  The counter makes them a great consistency.

Here's my modified recipe: (I omitted the banana, I didn't have any on hand)

1 Flax ‘egg’ (2 tsp. ground flaxseed + 2 tablespoons water)
1 cup regular oats
1 cup Barley flour (or whole wheat flour)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 tbsp mini chocolate chips
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup pure maple syrup (just got a sweet deal on Amazon)
3/4 cup canned pumpkin

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375F. Mix flax egg in a small bowl and set aside. Mix dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl and set aside. Mix wet ingredients in a small to medium sized bowl and then add flax egg. Stir. Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients. Stir well and shape cookies onto a pan. Makes 12 large cookies. Cook for 13 minutes at 375F.

Then I tried the Pumpkin Pie Monster smoothie.  The almond milk is taking some adjustment and the kids definitely didn't like it and Dave would even look at it b/c his face once got shoved into a pumpkin pie and it makes him dry heave now.  But I managed to get it down.

Some have mentioned using tablets to help ease the dairy intolerance, but I'd rather just adjust my eating so that I don't have to take a tablet before every meal that includes a dairy product.  I'm eating more vegetables and fruit as a result which is a great thing for a former vegetable hater.

I've really enjoyed following Oh She Glows.  I love that she has worked through her negative relationship with food and has arrived loving to cook and work out.  Something I'm aspiring too.

*And just to tack this on because I just read it, we're totally doing the "day" thing (you have to read it).  And I'm going to be fun!!!

Favorite recipe

I've found a great recipe that works well for all family members (except Sam, he doesn't eat anything except carbs).  It's really easy and delicious.

Hearty Pita Tacos
From Taste of Home - Healthy Cooking

• 1 pound lean ground beef (I use ground turkey)
• 1 small sweet red pepper, chopped
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 can (16 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 3/4 cup frozen corn
• 2/3 cup taco sauce
• 1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 6 whole wheat pita pocket halves
• 6 tablespoons shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
• Sliced avocado and additional taco sauce, optional

Directions:

• In a large skillet, cook the beef, red pepper and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the beans, corn, taco sauce, olives and seasonings; heat through.
• Spoon 3/4 cup beef mixture into each pita half. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve with avocado and additional taco sauce if desired. Yield: 6 servings.

My notes:
I usually make my own pitas, but store bought are good also.  I also add shredded lettuce.  If I don't have time to get all the spices out I just use 2 tsp of taco seasoning.

weighty issue (pardon the pun!)

So many thoughts milling about my brain so I'm just going to throw them out and hope they make sense.

I have a poor self-image.  (how's that for starting out?!)  If someone were to compliment me on my skills (organized, efficient), I would feel over the moon.  That would encourage me the most.  If someone were to compliment me on my looks, it makes me want to crawl out of my skin.  Why? Not sure, but it seems like a good time to tackle it b/c I've got two tiny girls that are growing up fast and their watching what I'm doing.  And how I respond to myself is how they will respond.

So how did I realize this?  We had pictures done in the park the other day.  It was a perfect afternoon.  The not so perfect part - the location.  The day was beautiful.  But we were in a park.  Rule #1: NEVER, and I mean NEVER, have your children's pictures taken in a park with a playground.  They are distracted and unable to focus on the task at hand.  They're 1,3 & 5.  Makes total sense.  I wouldn't be able to focus either if my mother never took me to parks.
No one would look at the camera, Sam was incredibly cranky and I was getting more and more anxious by the minute.  The flow was not happening.  Finally, the day was finished.  Here's just one example of this day was NOT flowing (gotta love that scream)

 On the way home Eloise threw up in the car from being carsick, Sam gagging himself and Lily watched on in horror as I'm frantically begging her not to have a sympathy throw up.  Once we got home, my first response was to eat myself silly from all the anxiety.  Or bake.  I resisted both but it brought up a good point that this is not the way to deal with frustration and it's not the way I want my children to deal with it. (side note:  Lily threw up in her bed the next morning at 4 a.m. from coughing so much....what are the chances?)

The above story to say, when i got the pictures back, I was in a few.  I could barely look at them.  I was tearing myself apart.  Granted, the outfit I chose was not the best, and I'm okay admitting that, but it was not the outfit, it was me.  Immediately I went to my overall look and weight. Well, I need to lose 30 lbs.  That's what would make this all okay.

Nope, it's not what would make it all okay.  Because when the lbs are gone, I still haven't deal with the heart issue of it all.  Do I love the person God created me to be?  When He created me He took delight in what He made?  If my child comes to me and says that they don't like their hands, my first response would be, No.  They are perfect.  They were created for you and they are exactly as intended.  Beautiful.  So, I'm imagining, as I look at myself and think all these negative thoughts, my Father in Heaven is thinking the same thing.  No.  I made those perfect.  I designed them just the way I wanted them to be.  Take delight in my creation.

So I'm trying to connect it all together.  I haven't come to any conclusions besides what habits I want to break for my children.
First, stop seeing other people in terms of weight.  Weight does not determine their success or failure in the world.  And it certainly does not determine their worth.
Second, start seeing myself through the eyes of my Creator.  I know how to eat well.  I know when imbalance is off.  The key isn't working myself into a place where I feel like I'm pleased.  It's being pleased with the design I started out with and learning how to eat the great foods that God created for us to eat (I could start learning to like raw carrots.  It might be tough, but I'll try).
Third, to make sure my girls NEVER see me demean myself because of weight.  I DO NOT want them to demean themselves because of it.  Therefore, i have to model it.

This is such a big concept for me to get, but I'm committed to the refinement.  I'm committed to taking this issue of weight and kicking it to the curb.  And please remember, I'm in no way saying that losing weight is not a good thing.  It's great.  I'm so proud of the accomplishment when people lose weight.  I'm proud of their commitment, dedication, follow-thru, and decision to work hard to get their bodies to a place where it's flowing in a healthy way.  I commend all of that.  I just want to be satisfied with who I am before that process starts.  To know that my Father is pleased with His creation regardless of the 20lbs I'm still carrying around.

Two of my favorite pictures

 Everyone is actually looking at the camera.  It's a miracle!

Sometimes I look at pictures like this in complete disbelief.  THAT is my family. Crazy!  Am I really old enough to be responsible for all those people?

How cute are they?