Favorite Childhood Books

There are always fond memories of traditions and things that you remember most when you were younger.  I know with having my own children, I have always tried to carry down all the special things that I remember doing when I was little.

Some of my favorite things were Christmas time at my grandmother’s house when me and my mom would come over in the days prior to the big shindig and helping her decorate the nearly 15 dozen sugar cookies for the event.  She made cookies and could cook like nobody’s business.  I come from a huge family and I am one of nearly 30 grandchildren, and family was always a big deal when my grandmother was still here.

My husband and I read to our boys nightly before bed and it has become one of their favorite times in their day.  They also have some favorite books that they repeatedly pick up for us to read.  They love the Llama Llama series by Ann Dewdney, and we also read the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne.  Even though they have outgrown the Llama Llama series, they still love to hear them read and look at all the whimsical pictures.

When my mom read to me it was a favorite time for me, and there was one book that I still remember and still love even as an adult.  It was The Big Tidy Up by Norah Smaridge.  It was about a little girl who had a messy room and her mom refused to touch with a mop or broom from now until Christmas Day.  I still remember the words “Jen picked up stuff, blew away fluff, shook out the mats, and hung up her hats.”  Eventually we had read it together so much, that the binding and cover virtually disintegrated off the book and the pages began to tear.  So, I went on a search to find it.  I began to get disheartened when I saw that the available copies were selling up into the $300 range.  Eventually the reprinted the book in 2008, but today, when I went to look they are no longer in print again!  So, I started looking on ebay, because I wanted something from my childhood, that I could sort of hang on to.  Luckily, I came across the original book, in good condition, from the first 1970 printing and I got it!

Now, the trip to the mailbox has new meaning for me.  I can hardly wait to get it and read it to my boys.  I will of course be hiding this book safely out of the boys’ hands, but I am looking forward to sharing a little piece of my childhood with them.

What are some of your fondest childhood memories or books?

Wordless Wednesday

Oh this face!  This is what I get when I say no or he is mad at me  LOL!  I still love it though   🙂

VueZone Personal Video Network System

 

As a busy mom, I often wish I had eyes in the back of my head so I can see what is always going on in my house.  I can think of one instance in which the VueZone Personal Video Network System could come in handy.  We are having a problem with the twins where one says one did something and the other denies it.  Wouldn’t it be cool to actually know who did what?  Sometimes it isn’t always easy to know exactly what happened.

When we leave on vacation, a wireless video camera would be useful because, we leave our cat by herself and I would love just to check up on her.  My husband and I are without family here and will eventually have to rely on a babysitter for our boys to enjoy time out, and I would love to peek in on how things are going.  Also, I would love to see what’s happening going on outside my house.  I love that VueZone is discreet and better yet no wires everywhere and it seems really easy to install, minus the headaches.

How it Works

VueZone lets you check in on your life anytime…from anywhere! Create your own personal video monitoring network – with multiple battery-operated wireless video cameras that easily install with no wires or power cords.  It also has motion detection.

Install in minutes – no software to load, no cords to run.

Place cameras anywhere – wire-free technology lets you easily position or move cameras in seconds.

Add more cameras anytime – simple one-button sync lets you add up to 25 cameras to your personal network.

Check In From Anywhere

View your cameras from any computer browser and most smartphones. Just log into your private, secure account at my.VueZone.com.

This is something that as a mom, I would definitely use.  I can think of many uses for a camera both inside my house and outside.  It would give me some assurance about the safety of my children and my home.  And since I am not terribly tech savvy anything that is easy to use, would be a great benefit to parents.

 

Weight Loss Update

Recently, I mentioned that I was on a weight loss mission.  My ultimate goal is to lose 65lbs so I can go shopping for the cute clothes and just feel better in general.

I have been working hard for the past 4 weeks and I have lost nearly 20lbs in that time.  I am logging all of my intake, so I can be accountable for what I eat.  You would be surprised how much you can overeat without even knowing.  For instance, I love SunChips and this peach salsa.  When you “gasp” look at the bag you will see that a serving is only 15 chips or something like that.  When you sit there and physically count your chips one by one, you will realize that this seems like a meager amount.  Normally you would just reach in the bag as much as you want until you are satisfied.

I have had to adjust the way that I eat.  If I want something sweet, I head for the fruit before I go to my next step which is chewing gum.  I will admit that I do not deny myself treats.  In fact, I made a homemade chocolate cake with chocolate icing from scratch and had one piece nightly after dinner for a few nights.  The key is moderation.

I had not been used to eating healthy, so at first a piece of fruit tasted like crap to me.  But now it is something that I crave.  If I eat a piece of chocolate and go to fruit, the fruit doesn’t taste sweet, so try to avoid high sugar foods.

I have gone from walking between 5-10 miles per day, to starting to run.  I only made it ten full minutes, before I thought I was gonna die, but it feels good do it.

My favorite snacks so far:

Sliced white peaches with a Tbs of light whip cream

SunChips Garden Salsa flavor with peach salsa

Carrots drizzled with a half tsp of green goddess dressing

Apple with 1 tbs natural no sugar peanut butter

Cranberry Rush Trail Mix from Meijer and Nutrition Nut/Fruit Mix from Planters

Canteloupe

Chocolate graham crackers with light whip cream in between, and put it in the freezer for a mock ice cream sandwich

My favorite breakfast

Maple and Brown Sugar Outmeal with Flax by Three Sisters

As for dinner, I haven’t found a favorite meal, but I tend to eat whatever is made for the family but I measure out portions.  I will drink water but sometimes I want something else and I have found that I really like the regular Vitamin Water.

What are your favorite lo cal snacks?

 

 

Preparing Your Child For Kindergarten

I should probably term this post preparing mommy for kindergarten, because I will be the one next year crying as my boys disappear into the doors of their elementary school.  I happen to want my boys to have fun and, of course, succeed, but I am a little jealous that someone else will now be able to watch my children learn and grow.  The alternative would be to home school but I think I lack the patience to do it and feel like my boys just want to get out there and go.

So with this being their last year at home, I am decided to investigate little way in which I can get them ready for kindergarten.  Here are some really great ideas to give them a leg up.

Practice writing his/her first and last name
1. Have your child practice writing his/her name using a variety of tools such as a Magna Doodle, crayons, pencils, and markers. Check that your child is gripping the writing utensil correctly. You may even consider having your child practice writing his/her name using different items around the house such as pudding, rice, sand, or shaving cream.
*** Be sure that your child uses a capital letter only at the beginning and lowercase for the rest of their name.  So far my boys can only do all capitals, I guess it’s time to teach them lower case!

2. Write your child’s name in large letters (or use magnetic letters). Say each letter aloud as you write or place it so your child can associate the name of the letter with the shape of the letter.
3. Cut apart the letters of your child’s name (or use magnetic letters) and have him/her put them back in the correct order saying the name of each letter while doing so. (Start with just the first name, adding the last name only when they have mastered this.)
4. Label your child’s door or other objects so his/her name can be seen in print.

Practice recognizing and writing the numbers 0 to 10 (or higher)
1. Read and enjoy counting books together.

2. Point out numbers in license plates, in the store, in your home, and all around you.
3. Use magnetic numbers to have your child practice naming them. Have your child put the numbers for your phone number in order saying each number while doing so.

4. Practice writing numbers with a variety of materials such as pencils, crayons, markers, sidewalk chalk, etc…as in name writing above.

5. Have your child count object like their snacks, or buttons on their shirt

Practice naming letters in the alphabet correctly.

1.  Recognize letters on street signs, in restaurants, and on billboards and favorite books

Recognize Primary Colors

1. Sort candies, bright colored buttons, etc by colors.

Practice naming and recognizing basic shapes

1.  Look around the room and recognize shapes in your home

2.  Practice drawing and recognizing shapes

Practice your phone number and address

1.  Have your child practice dialing their number on a play phone

Practice Coloring in the lines and Cutting in straight lines

1.  We like to cut out shapes, and pictures in magazines.

2.  Provide coloring pages with large illustration and well defined lines and challenge them to stay within the lines.

These are just some basic things you can do with your child to get them ready.  If your child seems frustrated after so many attempts then stop and try again another day.  I find that when they get frustrated all learning flies out the window.  Make learning fun and interesting as if it is no big deal and they seem to do so much better.

I know I am not ready for them to go, but if I can get them as ready as they can be for the classroom, it will help them succeed!

 

Dont Walk Run

So I am back after my week long sebatical.  We did a little traveling as a family in the awesome Ford Flex (more on my experience later).  I took a little break from my weight loss/fitness adventure when we went to visit my parents over the holiday.  It wasn’t by choice but because I was so busy, and didn’t have the same resources that I had here to maintain my same level of activity.

I have been walking daily now for about 8 plus miles a day total.  I realized that my feet were taking a beating and pain means I have to stop but I don’t want to.  My legs, feet and knees have been taking a pounding and I am afraid my walking shoes from New Balance which have served me well, just aren’t liking the extra activity.  So I started looking for a running shoe, since I am heading in that direction.  I have started running in short bursts on my walks.  I walk trails, but I also walk the pavement and treadmill, so I need a little of both.

There are about a bazillion choices for shoes out there and it is a little overwhelming!  There are running shoes that are trainers, there are trail running shoes, and regular running shoes.  There are good shoes for over pronation and supination, but all I want is something that makes my feet feel good and the weight of my step.  I am totally clueless, but need something ASAP that I can use.

On the weight loss front, I maintained my weight over the holiday.  I didn’t gain or lose which is perfectly fine.  I craved the exercise which is also new, because normally I dread even going.  I walked int he rain the other night, which was fabulous.  The dog looked at me like I was crazy, but it felt good to get back out and get going!

Week 1 Weight Loss

One week has passed in my journey to lose weight.  The first few days were awful!  Around the evening time around dinner, I would start to feel depressed about all the new changes.  I felt like I was missing out on something.  Maybe it was food, or maybe it was just all the changes that I know have to be permanent in order to maintain a healthy weight.

I am exercising almost nightly with my dog.  She thinks I am trying to kill her, and I think I am trying to kill me too.  The first few days I started off slow, but then I began to enjoy the time.  I started out walking about a mile and finished off the week walking nearly 4 miles every night.  It seems that when you have catchy tunes playing in your ear, you can walk miles.

I am journaling every morsel of food, I am eating and I am enjoying the taste of fruit.  I did a little experiment quite by accident when I took a drink of the boys chocolate milk.  It was incredibly sweet and then I went to take a bite of my canteloupe that for the past few days tasted like pure sugar and it tasted like nothing.  It tells you how sweet actual sugar is and how your taste buds adjust to fruit sugars versus regular sugar.  Fruit tastes just like candy to me, when I am avoiding the refined sugars and high fructose corn syrups.

I am enjoying keeping track of everything, I am attached to a pedometer all day every day.  I have gone from just a few thousand steps to more than 15,000 steps per day, and I am feeling pretty good too.  Officially after the first week I am down 10lbs.  I know this will slow, but I will be happy with about 2 lbs per week!

I am up for the challenge!

 

Diet Schmiet

Diets are no fun.  The minute I start to eat all the so called good for you foods, I get cranky.  Going through the grocery store, makes me feel like I must be blindfolded so I don’t pout.  And flaxseed with oats tastes a bit like dirt, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

I hate water, well not hate but, I like soda, and not diet.  My goal is to avoid artificial sweetners and soda all together.  I am drinking more water, and feel like I need a catheter permanently attached to me, so I don’t have to be in the bathroom peeing every five minutes and im only drinking three glasses a day folks.

I am walking every night and dragging the dog along.  I put my iTouch on shake to shuffle, and walking quickly made me feel a bit ADHD because it didnt like my brisk walking and proceeded to change songs with every step.

Day two and I am still alive! I am sure after my chocolate and coca cola withdrawals (in about 4 weeks), I will be a much happier camper.  But until then look for crab apple posts like this one.

I will conquer.

 

Wordless Wednesday

One of the many things I love about the Summer is the warm weather, and  just being outside with the boys watching them play and interact together.  Love this candid shot.

Brothers

Blackberry Pound Cake With Vanilla Custard Sauce

I am a fruit picking fool lately.  There is something about going out to a farm and out in the fields and picking your own personally selected berries and fruits.  For me, I get a real sense of peace being out there and picking fresh berries with my family or just by myself.  Recently, I decided to go blackberry picking because I had simply never been.  It was a challenge finding a place to go, and then I found a place about 20 miles from me and off we went!  I actually frequented the blackberry patch twice in the last two weeks.  The first batch went to make seedless blackberry jam and the next was to get more and find some things to make with them.

My first recipe was a blackberry pound cake with a vanilla custard sauce that was simply to die for! So, I thought I would share the recipe I used.  I de-seeded the blackberry puree because I didn’t like the seeds in it, but you can do either way.

Blackberry Pound Cake

Ingredients

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