Alright, I have a few things to get off my chest...
I found a quote recently that stated "People don't change, they just become a clearer version of who they really are." I have to admit that I have lived my entire life striving to become a better version of myself, trying to fit within niches that don't really pertain to me and never could. I've always tried to change little things about myself here and there.
Take for example a few incidents in 7th grade that still haunt me. It was homecoming week, and in my high school a Prince and Princess was crowned for every grade. I was absolutely positive that I was going to be crowned Princess (for those of you that went to high school with me and are currently chuckling, it's perfectly okay. I've accepted that this was a completely irrational thought and am laughing along with you.) So imagine my shock, horror and devastation when I was in fact, not crowned Princess. I actually went home and cried.
But here's the deal - I wasn't popular, or pretty, or anything really. I was just me but for some reason, I wasn't okay with that and was determined to become a beauty queen. Me, the girl that grew up riding ATVs and building tree forts and playing with bugs. Yes, for some reason I decided that I was a beauty queen. Yeah, right. Luckily, that whole phase didn't last long.
A few weeks after the crowning of royalty, there was a spelling competition. Well, I thought, if I can't be the prettiest and most popular, then I'll be the smartest. And wouldn't you know, I didn't even make it into the top ten. Again, a heartbreaking moment that justified crying - only this time it happened in class, with my head down on my desk. Give me a break - I was only 13.
Not only was I not pretty enough, but now I wasn't smart enough either...
So what do these little anecdotes about adolescence have to do with a blog about country living? Because I'm always working on accepting myself and being okay with who I am and what I can and can't do. It's been a lifelong lesson, one that I'm still being taught every day. Even now, in my efforts to be a self-sufficient working housewife, I've learned that I am just not the domestic goddess I'd like to be. And I have to be okay with that.
Confession #1: I have a black thumb.
That's right - I'm a serial killer of plants. They come into my house knowing that they will only leave in a trash can after a slow painful death. I've even killed a cactus before. Yes, a cactus. How, you ask? I believe it was too much water. Yep - go ahead, read that again to let it really sink in. It doesn't matter if they are house plants or vegetable gardens - if it's green, I do my best to make sure it dies. I either over-water or under-water, too much sun or not enough sun. I forget to remove dahlia bulbs from the ground before it frosts. And I'd rather let weeds overtake the garden instead of pulling them out. I know that people say gardening is a very relaxing hobby, but to me, it's just another thing that I have do, one that often gets pushed to the bottom of the list.
But I love fresh vegetables and we inherited a gorgeous perennial garden in our back yard, so I'll keep doing the bare minimum. And my husband is very handy with plants and the outdoors, so he keeps things alive for me. Still - if you give me a plant as a gift and don't see it 3 months later, don't take offense. And if you do see it 3 months later, please give me a high five.
Confession #2: I can't sew.
I've covered this a few times already. I was never able to figure out the sewing machine, so I purchased a little handheld sewing device. Still haven't attempted to use it. Why? Because I'm not a sew-my-own-curtains kind of person. I wanted to be, and I wish I was, but I tried it and after some long hard debate, I am now comfortable with stating that I cannot sew and therefore will never be making my own linens, curtains, Halloween costumes, etc. Instead I will buy them and will do so without shame or regret. Yes, I know it's easy, but that's not the problem. For me, sewing is a lot like chemistry. Teach it to me and I'll understand. Test me on it 5 minutes later and I'll fail. Leave me alone in a chemistry lab and only bad things will happen. So instead of putting myself through more frustrating trials of attempting to be something I'm not, I'd rather stand up proudly and say that I can't sew worth a damn. If nothing else, I have a much greater admiration for those that can and do.
Confession #3: Just because it can be made from scratch doesn't mean it should be.
I found something on Pinterest the other day about making your own stain for wood using vinegar and metal or something like that. My initial thought: Why? Wouldn't it be just as easy to go to the home improvement store and buy some stain? I mean, if there was even an apocalypse and I survived and in rebuilding I wanted to stain some wood, it's very handy information. But until then, I'll buy my stain, thank you.
I also don't can my own vegetables (see Confession #1 above). True, I've never actually tried. I know it's easy to do and something I am perfectly capable of. But when I add store-bought frozen vegetables to a dinner I'm making, I can't help but realize there was a reason that such processes were created and that housewives and families across America were ecstatic when frozen vegetables became main-stream. I mean, I can crawl around on the floor and pick up all the dirt by hand, but I have a vacuum for that (okay, not the best comparison, but you get my drift). I do buy fresh vegetables whenever possible and when the pricing is good, but when it's December in North Dakota and the average temp is below zero, there isn't going to be fresh corn in the produce section of the supermarket.
It's not just frozen vegetables, though. I also buy frozen biscuits, among other foods. Could I make the biscuits myself and freeze them? Absolutely! But I'm also a mother of two who works 40 hours a week while trying to keep an entire house in order. I'd rather spend a Sunday afternoon outside with my family than making enough biscuits to feed an army. It's a convenience thing, pure and simple, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
Confession #4: I am too organized for my own good.
There's this saying for mothers who are expecting or who have infants - ask your friends and family for help and don't be afraid to accept their offers. Yeah, touchy subject for me. I have a lot of wonderful family and friends that are always willing to help. I, however, have a very hard time letting people help me. No, it's not pride. I'm a control freak (or as someone very gently put it, a problem-solver, and when things aren't in my control I can't anticipate problems to solve.) My own mother knows this side of me all too well, unfortunately. There have been some very tense conversations around dishes and laundry on some of her visits - specifically, that's she's not allowed to wash my laundry or dishes. Sounds crazy, right? Well, it is. It's not that I don't trust her - I don't trust anyone, really, because they don't do it the same way I do. I am a hard-grained creature of habit, and if something is out of place I get a little unfriendly about it. After all, my home is my castle and the one place where I feel I have the most control, so if you think you're going to come in and put a salad bowl in the wrong cupboard, you've got another thing coming.
I've tried to ease up on this, and it's something I'll continue working on. After all, the basis of it is that people are helping because they care about me, and I need to remember that.
So there you have it - my downfalls in the world of domestication. These are things I've learned about myself in the last year or so and have gone through a pretty lengthy process to accept. I can accept these downfalls, though, because I know they are only a part of me. While I can't necessarily grow my own food, I am an excellent cook, something that I will boast about and be proud of. I don't sew my own curtains, but I think I have very good decorating taste (thanks Mom). I am a little unstable when it comes to organizing, but I know where everything is in my home and it's (almost) always neat and tidy, which makes me happy. So there are silver linings to my deficiencies.
Judy Garland may have said it best: "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."
And in case you're wondering, I finally did become a beauty queen - if not in anyone else's eyes, at least in my own.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
The Commercially Fried Chicken Debacle
Well, I did something last night that I shouldn't have. I thought long and hard about it and knew that I would probably regret it, but I did it anyway.
I brought home a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken - Extra Crispy - for dinner.
I know, I know. And the fam wasn't too impressed either (my husband didn't even eat). But, in my defense, I am 9 months pregnant and have been in bed for the last two days with Braxton-Hicks contractions, nausea and headaches. Due to those factors, I stand by my decision. Here was my thought process on the whole debacle:
I need to make dinner tonight, but we don't have any food. I haven't showered and I probably won't and a quick trip to the grocery store requires a lot more effort now than it used to. And then, we won't get home until about 6:00, and Jackson will be starving and cranky. And if I cook anything, we're looking at 6:30 or 7:00 before it's ready. So if I get out of bed now, that's a solid 3 hours of movement, which is the most that my body has done at one time in the last 2 days.
So, fast food it is then. Ugh. What do I want? Chicken. Yes, chicken sounds good. KFC. But what is that commercial I always stick my nose up at? That KFC commercial where the teenage boy thanks his mom for the wonderful dinner when she didn't lift a damn finger to cook it and they're all actually eating garbage? Yeah, I'm about to be that mom. Can I handle that? Can I swallow my pride and do the exact same thing?
Screw it. It's dinner. I make the decisions, and I'm not feeling well so that's what it is. Although, it would be fairly easy to make. I have potatoes and a very quick and handy mac & cheese recipe, and I even have frozen biscuits. All I would is chicken. Oh, and cheese. I forgot, we're out of cheese. I wonder what kind of breading I should use? I'd probably need to get something for that too. And how long does it take to bake chicken like that? Hmm.... so I know I could make this and it would taste better, be healthier and cost less than going to KFC. But then I'd need to go to the grocery store... (refer to the first paragraph and re-read, as I then proceeded to go over the entire conversation again in my head....)
Well, now that I've spent 20 minutes laying in bed thinking about dinner, I don't have any time to make it. KFC it is then. If they don't like it, they can find something else to make. I'll eat it.
So I pick up my son and pull into the KFC drive-thru and order a bucket of chicken. I have to wait. And traffic is horrible, so cars are lined up everywhere. And I hate traffic. And lots of people. And Jackson is very cranky and screaming in the back seat. And people are driving like idiots. And I realize I have officially become sheltered and could never live in a city with a population larger than 80,000. And I am happy about this fact.
Anyway, we get home and I throw a drumstick on a plate for Jackson. He proceeds to pick it up and bite off the end and I quickly realize that my 3-year-old doesn't know how to eat a chicken drumstick. This strikes a little bit of pride in me because any chicken he's ever had has been boneless, skinless, cubed and baked in some way. Score one for me.
My husband then enters the room, looks at the red bucket on the table, and asks what's for dinner. I point to the red bucket. He is confused. He asks again, what's for dinner, so I point to the bucket again (I am eating after all and trying to teach my son not to talk with his mouth full). He makes a face and walks away.
As I'm sitting there, biting into this chicken, I taste the grease, and it's gross. But, I keep eating because I'm hungry and 9 months pregnant. I didn't eat very much, and neither did Jackson. My husband didn't eat any of it and later that night, asked me again what I made for dinner. I reminded him and conceded that yes, it wasn't a real dinner and listed my reasonings for making the choice, then invited him (in a very polite way, of course) to cook dinner anytime he wishes.
I thought about this all night and realized a few things:
1) It will be a very very very long time before I buy KFC for dinner again. But, it does in a pinch.
2) I could make it, and it would be very easy. And so I will redeem myself with a baked chicken dinner this weekend (after we go to the store).
3) I have spoiled my family with home-cooking to the point where a bucket of chicken for supper is simply unacceptable. They would much rather eat my cooking. This little fact makes me extremely happy and makes me feel much appreciated.
4) I am not a horrible mother or wife for bringing home a bucket of KFC for dinner. I don't remember the last time I ate at KFC before then, and it will be a very long time before it happens again. But it will happen again, and I will not feel guilty and my family will either have to suck it up or learn how to cook.
5) I am a very good cook and my family showed their appreciation for this, even if they didn't intend to.
So tonight, breaded baked chicken, homemade mac & cheese and mashed potatoes - from actual potatoes and not a box. Take that KFC.
I brought home a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken - Extra Crispy - for dinner.
I know, I know. And the fam wasn't too impressed either (my husband didn't even eat). But, in my defense, I am 9 months pregnant and have been in bed for the last two days with Braxton-Hicks contractions, nausea and headaches. Due to those factors, I stand by my decision. Here was my thought process on the whole debacle:
I need to make dinner tonight, but we don't have any food. I haven't showered and I probably won't and a quick trip to the grocery store requires a lot more effort now than it used to. And then, we won't get home until about 6:00, and Jackson will be starving and cranky. And if I cook anything, we're looking at 6:30 or 7:00 before it's ready. So if I get out of bed now, that's a solid 3 hours of movement, which is the most that my body has done at one time in the last 2 days.
So, fast food it is then. Ugh. What do I want? Chicken. Yes, chicken sounds good. KFC. But what is that commercial I always stick my nose up at? That KFC commercial where the teenage boy thanks his mom for the wonderful dinner when she didn't lift a damn finger to cook it and they're all actually eating garbage? Yeah, I'm about to be that mom. Can I handle that? Can I swallow my pride and do the exact same thing?
Screw it. It's dinner. I make the decisions, and I'm not feeling well so that's what it is. Although, it would be fairly easy to make. I have potatoes and a very quick and handy mac & cheese recipe, and I even have frozen biscuits. All I would is chicken. Oh, and cheese. I forgot, we're out of cheese. I wonder what kind of breading I should use? I'd probably need to get something for that too. And how long does it take to bake chicken like that? Hmm.... so I know I could make this and it would taste better, be healthier and cost less than going to KFC. But then I'd need to go to the grocery store... (refer to the first paragraph and re-read, as I then proceeded to go over the entire conversation again in my head....)
Well, now that I've spent 20 minutes laying in bed thinking about dinner, I don't have any time to make it. KFC it is then. If they don't like it, they can find something else to make. I'll eat it.
So I pick up my son and pull into the KFC drive-thru and order a bucket of chicken. I have to wait. And traffic is horrible, so cars are lined up everywhere. And I hate traffic. And lots of people. And Jackson is very cranky and screaming in the back seat. And people are driving like idiots. And I realize I have officially become sheltered and could never live in a city with a population larger than 80,000. And I am happy about this fact.
Anyway, we get home and I throw a drumstick on a plate for Jackson. He proceeds to pick it up and bite off the end and I quickly realize that my 3-year-old doesn't know how to eat a chicken drumstick. This strikes a little bit of pride in me because any chicken he's ever had has been boneless, skinless, cubed and baked in some way. Score one for me.
My husband then enters the room, looks at the red bucket on the table, and asks what's for dinner. I point to the red bucket. He is confused. He asks again, what's for dinner, so I point to the bucket again (I am eating after all and trying to teach my son not to talk with his mouth full). He makes a face and walks away.
As I'm sitting there, biting into this chicken, I taste the grease, and it's gross. But, I keep eating because I'm hungry and 9 months pregnant. I didn't eat very much, and neither did Jackson. My husband didn't eat any of it and later that night, asked me again what I made for dinner. I reminded him and conceded that yes, it wasn't a real dinner and listed my reasonings for making the choice, then invited him (in a very polite way, of course) to cook dinner anytime he wishes.
I thought about this all night and realized a few things:
1) It will be a very very very long time before I buy KFC for dinner again. But, it does in a pinch.
2) I could make it, and it would be very easy. And so I will redeem myself with a baked chicken dinner this weekend (after we go to the store).
3) I have spoiled my family with home-cooking to the point where a bucket of chicken for supper is simply unacceptable. They would much rather eat my cooking. This little fact makes me extremely happy and makes me feel much appreciated.
4) I am not a horrible mother or wife for bringing home a bucket of KFC for dinner. I don't remember the last time I ate at KFC before then, and it will be a very long time before it happens again. But it will happen again, and I will not feel guilty and my family will either have to suck it up or learn how to cook.
5) I am a very good cook and my family showed their appreciation for this, even if they didn't intend to.
So tonight, breaded baked chicken, homemade mac & cheese and mashed potatoes - from actual potatoes and not a box. Take that KFC.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
A Dash of This and Then Some
It was brought to my attention that I haven't written a blog post in some time (you know who you are...) and unfortunately I am very guilty of this. I've had a lot of my mind, and what better place to lay it all out there than on a blog. This blog will be a recap and update of most of the posts I've had recently since there is just so much going on!
First, I need to vent about something that is a constant struggle. Yes, that's right, I'm talking about static cling (I know, First World Problem....). I've tried several things to get rid of static cling, but for some reason it just keeps on clinging. I use the Bounce Dryer Bar, and while it makes my clothes soft and smell great, it doesn't really do anything for static cling. This shouldn't surprise me as I was using dryer sheets before this amazing invention, and regardless of how many sheets I threw in there was still static cling. I did some research and found some tips and have tried them, but to no avail.
The first thing I tried was a ball of tinfoil. I found several posts online about how easy, cheap and effective it is for getting rid of static cling. Well, it sure didn't work for me. From what I read, it didn't matter what brand was used. All you had to do was crinkle up some tinfoil into a ball and throw it in the dryer. And the same ball could be reused in every load. I tried it in about 5 loads of all different fabrics, including towels, bedding and regular clothes. I even tested if the tinfoil had to be in a tight wad or loosely crumpled. Didn't matter. The static cling remained.
The next thing I triehttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4893420851954377642#editor/target=post;postID=7148313248345081857d was a tennis ball, which is something my mother-in-law uses as well. While it didn't seem to have an impact on static cling, it did help separate the clothing in the dryer, causing them to be less tangled and therefore dry quicker. Since they were drying quicker, I was able to cut down on the heat setting and run the dryer for shorter periods of time, thus saving energy. Making sure not to over-dry clothing was another tip I found online about fighting static cling. This did seem to help, although it didn't get rid of it altogether. I realized there simply wasn't a reason to use the hottest and longest dryer setting and that not only was it wasting energy, but it wasn't good for my clothing and fabrics, either. Regardless of static cling, I would suggest using a tennis ball in the dryer and also cutting down on the heat intensity and time frame for drying.
The last thing I tried was vinegar. I had a lot of hope for this one as vinegar is one of my go-to products for just about everything. Hey, if it can get rid of stains and soap scum, why can't it get rid of static cling? According to various internet sources, you're supposed to use it like fabric softener and add it to the washer so it can be used during the rinse cycle. Of course you don't need a lot - a few tablespoons at most. Since I don't have this feature on my washing machine, I followed the advice of one user and poured the vinegar into a Downy ball, then threw it into the wash. The good news is that my clothes didn't come out smelling like vinegar. The bad news is that the static cling persisted. Another idea down the lint trap.
Likewise with the vinegar, it was advised to add baking soda to the washing machine as well. The directions said to sprinkle in a few tablespoons directly into the washing machine. Well, I was already doing this and it hadn't done anything for the static cling. It does, however, help my whites shine a little brighter and also makes my clothes incredibly soft. It also helps with smells, especially for those fabrics that tend to get very dirty and smelly, like, say, sheets from the bed of a potty-training toddler. I also recommend using baking soda in the washing machine.
After trying all those, I surrendered (for now) to static cling. The good news is that the weather has changed and my clothesline is now set up outside. Also, it's not as dry as it was during the winter, so I don't have to fight with static cling for a few months now.
And now for an update on the bulk shopping experiment. I've had a membership to a bulk shopping store for about 3 months now. I now have shelving in the storage room in the basement. I've cleared out the pantry, although it's not organized (that is a kitchen wide project that will wait until I have time and enthusiasm). After the first shopping experience, I was concerned if it would be cost effective. I am happy to report that by the third shopping trip, the amount spent was cut in half. There are a few reasons for this. First, I've been doing price matching and I now understand what is cheaper and where. Second, I became very aware of what my family needs in bulk quantities. Cereal? Sure! We eat a lot more cereal now. That giant box of garlic bread? Not so much. It's frozen, so it will keep, but it's going to take us a long time to eat it all, and that's if we don't get sick of it. Our eating habits have also changed and the bulk shopping has allowed us to add a lot more fruits and vegetables to our diet. I always have the basics on hand, so I'm able to be more creative and feed my family actual homemade meals instead of relying on something from a box. All in all, the bulk shopping is turning out to be the right move for my family, and now that I know the layout of the store and the selection, I'm able to be more creative with new meal ideas.
Speaking of food, last weekend I made an amazing Cinnamon Applesauce bread. The recipe, which came from my new low-cholesterol cooking cook book, called for wheat flour and wheat germ, things I had never used before. I didn't have walnuts, so I substituted almonds. The bread turned out moist and full of flavor, just sweet enough but not sugary. The best part? It was homemade and I knew how healthy it was, even though it didn't taste "healthy." I've been cooking a lot more and paying a lot more attention to what goes into food. Due to cooking more, I'm eating out less during the week at work since there are always left overs. Also, instead of running to the vending machine for a bag of chips, I'm reaching for fruit or nuts or other healthy snacks. My next challenges? Making healthy homemade snacks that can be kept around the house - like cookies full of fiber that taste good or homemade granola bars. I'm also going to start making more vegetarian meals, which is an entirely new concept for me and my family. I made a lovely pasta casserole the other night that didn't involve any meat, only to realize that it was the very first vegetarian meal I'd made for my family. Even when I used to make Mac n' Cheese for Jackson, it usually had some form of meat in it or on the side. Once I realized that, I also realized that I was missing out on an vast majority of meals and that this would have to change. I'm still working on convincing my carnivorous caveman husband that meat doesn't need to be present to constitute a meal, but it's just upped the challenge for me. The day I can get him to eat - and enjoy - a vegetarian meal, I have won.
Lastly, I want to do a little self promotion. I am very appreciative of everyone that follows and reads my blog. It's such a wonderful creative outlet for me and the response I've gotten has been nothing but positive. Because of this, I was strongly encouraged to (finally!) publish a book. I've been a writing all my life and always dreamed of being a published author. Well, now I am, and it's been such a fantastic experience and I've gotten so much love and support that I'm going to continue writing and publishing.
If your interested, check me out on Amazon.com. The title of my book is "Beneath the Battered Oaks" and it's a digital book selling for $2.99. You can download it onto your Kindle, iPhone or iPad, Android device or your computer. It's my debut novel, but there will be plenty more to come - in fact, I plan to have at least one more book published and available by the end of the year.
Thanks Everyone!
First, I need to vent about something that is a constant struggle. Yes, that's right, I'm talking about static cling (I know, First World Problem....). I've tried several things to get rid of static cling, but for some reason it just keeps on clinging. I use the Bounce Dryer Bar, and while it makes my clothes soft and smell great, it doesn't really do anything for static cling. This shouldn't surprise me as I was using dryer sheets before this amazing invention, and regardless of how many sheets I threw in there was still static cling. I did some research and found some tips and have tried them, but to no avail.
The first thing I tried was a ball of tinfoil. I found several posts online about how easy, cheap and effective it is for getting rid of static cling. Well, it sure didn't work for me. From what I read, it didn't matter what brand was used. All you had to do was crinkle up some tinfoil into a ball and throw it in the dryer. And the same ball could be reused in every load. I tried it in about 5 loads of all different fabrics, including towels, bedding and regular clothes. I even tested if the tinfoil had to be in a tight wad or loosely crumpled. Didn't matter. The static cling remained.
The next thing I triehttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4893420851954377642#editor/target=post;postID=7148313248345081857d was a tennis ball, which is something my mother-in-law uses as well. While it didn't seem to have an impact on static cling, it did help separate the clothing in the dryer, causing them to be less tangled and therefore dry quicker. Since they were drying quicker, I was able to cut down on the heat setting and run the dryer for shorter periods of time, thus saving energy. Making sure not to over-dry clothing was another tip I found online about fighting static cling. This did seem to help, although it didn't get rid of it altogether. I realized there simply wasn't a reason to use the hottest and longest dryer setting and that not only was it wasting energy, but it wasn't good for my clothing and fabrics, either. Regardless of static cling, I would suggest using a tennis ball in the dryer and also cutting down on the heat intensity and time frame for drying.
The last thing I tried was vinegar. I had a lot of hope for this one as vinegar is one of my go-to products for just about everything. Hey, if it can get rid of stains and soap scum, why can't it get rid of static cling? According to various internet sources, you're supposed to use it like fabric softener and add it to the washer so it can be used during the rinse cycle. Of course you don't need a lot - a few tablespoons at most. Since I don't have this feature on my washing machine, I followed the advice of one user and poured the vinegar into a Downy ball, then threw it into the wash. The good news is that my clothes didn't come out smelling like vinegar. The bad news is that the static cling persisted. Another idea down the lint trap.
Likewise with the vinegar, it was advised to add baking soda to the washing machine as well. The directions said to sprinkle in a few tablespoons directly into the washing machine. Well, I was already doing this and it hadn't done anything for the static cling. It does, however, help my whites shine a little brighter and also makes my clothes incredibly soft. It also helps with smells, especially for those fabrics that tend to get very dirty and smelly, like, say, sheets from the bed of a potty-training toddler. I also recommend using baking soda in the washing machine.
After trying all those, I surrendered (for now) to static cling. The good news is that the weather has changed and my clothesline is now set up outside. Also, it's not as dry as it was during the winter, so I don't have to fight with static cling for a few months now.
And now for an update on the bulk shopping experiment. I've had a membership to a bulk shopping store for about 3 months now. I now have shelving in the storage room in the basement. I've cleared out the pantry, although it's not organized (that is a kitchen wide project that will wait until I have time and enthusiasm). After the first shopping experience, I was concerned if it would be cost effective. I am happy to report that by the third shopping trip, the amount spent was cut in half. There are a few reasons for this. First, I've been doing price matching and I now understand what is cheaper and where. Second, I became very aware of what my family needs in bulk quantities. Cereal? Sure! We eat a lot more cereal now. That giant box of garlic bread? Not so much. It's frozen, so it will keep, but it's going to take us a long time to eat it all, and that's if we don't get sick of it. Our eating habits have also changed and the bulk shopping has allowed us to add a lot more fruits and vegetables to our diet. I always have the basics on hand, so I'm able to be more creative and feed my family actual homemade meals instead of relying on something from a box. All in all, the bulk shopping is turning out to be the right move for my family, and now that I know the layout of the store and the selection, I'm able to be more creative with new meal ideas.
Speaking of food, last weekend I made an amazing Cinnamon Applesauce bread. The recipe, which came from my new low-cholesterol cooking cook book, called for wheat flour and wheat germ, things I had never used before. I didn't have walnuts, so I substituted almonds. The bread turned out moist and full of flavor, just sweet enough but not sugary. The best part? It was homemade and I knew how healthy it was, even though it didn't taste "healthy." I've been cooking a lot more and paying a lot more attention to what goes into food. Due to cooking more, I'm eating out less during the week at work since there are always left overs. Also, instead of running to the vending machine for a bag of chips, I'm reaching for fruit or nuts or other healthy snacks. My next challenges? Making healthy homemade snacks that can be kept around the house - like cookies full of fiber that taste good or homemade granola bars. I'm also going to start making more vegetarian meals, which is an entirely new concept for me and my family. I made a lovely pasta casserole the other night that didn't involve any meat, only to realize that it was the very first vegetarian meal I'd made for my family. Even when I used to make Mac n' Cheese for Jackson, it usually had some form of meat in it or on the side. Once I realized that, I also realized that I was missing out on an vast majority of meals and that this would have to change. I'm still working on convincing my carnivorous caveman husband that meat doesn't need to be present to constitute a meal, but it's just upped the challenge for me. The day I can get him to eat - and enjoy - a vegetarian meal, I have won.
Lastly, I want to do a little self promotion. I am very appreciative of everyone that follows and reads my blog. It's such a wonderful creative outlet for me and the response I've gotten has been nothing but positive. Because of this, I was strongly encouraged to (finally!) publish a book. I've been a writing all my life and always dreamed of being a published author. Well, now I am, and it's been such a fantastic experience and I've gotten so much love and support that I'm going to continue writing and publishing.
If your interested, check me out on Amazon.com. The title of my book is "Beneath the Battered Oaks" and it's a digital book selling for $2.99. You can download it onto your Kindle, iPhone or iPad, Android device or your computer. It's my debut novel, but there will be plenty more to come - in fact, I plan to have at least one more book published and available by the end of the year.
Thanks Everyone!
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