02 December 2010
What is it about music that evokes such emotion? Does it strike a nerve within the limbic system of the brain? Is it all chemical? Drug addicts look for that perfect euphoria that they can claim again. Doctors prescribe anti-depressants. In the end does it matter where emotions come from: whether it's from a little pill, a bottle, or the aftermath of sex. The fact that something can make our heart flutter, is amazing in itself.
06 October 2010
20 May 2010
Looking back
Just looking back on my blog, I realize how much my children have changed, how much I have changed. I went from a mother of one to a mother of two. Two very active children, I might add. I remember when I first had Desmina I had all these delusions of grandeur that I would be the best mother. I would never yell, I would never hit, I would never lose my temper. I would be patient, I would be kind. I would serve home cooked meals every day. I would home school. The list goes on. And while I have not lived quite up to my expectations, I am still happy. I may lose my temper. But I'm a work in progress. I am at a better place than I was at a year ago. I still yell, but not quite as much as I used to.
Recently I was reminded to spend more time with my kids. Play with them and look at them with child like eyes. I want them to remember me for the fun we had. I want them to go to bed each night knowing I love them, despite the fact that I yelled at them for pouring pickle juice on my freshly mopped kitchen floor. Every day is a new day, a new day to start anew.
On homeschooling, we decided to give public kindergarten a whirl. I had so much fun in school. I loved having my own little cubby, my own desk, a school supply box. Don't tell anyone this, but I loved home work. I even made up practice work sheets just to learn some more. I loved the kiddy games we played, Seven up, Red Rover, Doggy, doggy, games that aren't as fun with two children. I have social anxiety bad. I have to mentally prepare myself to step outside the house even if it's a trip to the store. I hide it well. I prefer for friends to come to me. Thus, socializing my children will be a challenge. I can do the academic aspects of home schooling. The nerd in me loves it, but the geek in me fears being around other people. I just don't want to pass that anxiety on to my children, like my mother did to me. I do wonder what Desi will be like in school. Will she listen to her teacher? Will she boss the other kids around? Will she throw her infamous temper tantrums? I am not afraid of the school system. I don't think it's faulty. I know it's not for everyone, but I believe that it's worth giving it a shot and see if will meet my children's wants and needs.
Recently I was reminded to spend more time with my kids. Play with them and look at them with child like eyes. I want them to remember me for the fun we had. I want them to go to bed each night knowing I love them, despite the fact that I yelled at them for pouring pickle juice on my freshly mopped kitchen floor. Every day is a new day, a new day to start anew.
On homeschooling, we decided to give public kindergarten a whirl. I had so much fun in school. I loved having my own little cubby, my own desk, a school supply box. Don't tell anyone this, but I loved home work. I even made up practice work sheets just to learn some more. I loved the kiddy games we played, Seven up, Red Rover, Doggy, doggy, games that aren't as fun with two children. I have social anxiety bad. I have to mentally prepare myself to step outside the house even if it's a trip to the store. I hide it well. I prefer for friends to come to me. Thus, socializing my children will be a challenge. I can do the academic aspects of home schooling. The nerd in me loves it, but the geek in me fears being around other people. I just don't want to pass that anxiety on to my children, like my mother did to me. I do wonder what Desi will be like in school. Will she listen to her teacher? Will she boss the other kids around? Will she throw her infamous temper tantrums? I am not afraid of the school system. I don't think it's faulty. I know it's not for everyone, but I believe that it's worth giving it a shot and see if will meet my children's wants and needs.
25 April 2010
Vegan strawberry daiquri cupcakes
adapted from several recipes. Thanks Amie, for the strawberry one and putting up with my cupcake talk.
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 cups sugar
1 package of vanilla pudding mix(check the ingredients because a lot has nonfat milk)
16 oz pureed or crushed strawberries
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup canola oil
2 TSB distilled vinegar
1/2 cup of rum
1/4 cup coconut milk (optional)
2 lime zests (optional)
In a smaller mixing bowl combine oil vanilla and vinegar. In a blender add the strawberries and rum. Mix until it's pureed crushed. If you don't quite have 16 oz of strawberries, add coconut milk. Combine the strawberry concoction to the wet ingredients. Add lemon zest.
Sift together flour baking powder sugar and vanilla pudding mix. Create a well in the middle of the bowl and pour the wet ingredients to this. Stir just until the ingredients are combined. You don't want to over stir. This will be very thick and not liquid like some batters.
Add to muffin tins and bake on 350 for 30 minutes. This yields about 24 cupcakes, but I ended up wit only 21.
Top with a whipped butter cream icing Jennifer P has great recipes. Add cherries on top!
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 cups sugar
1 package of vanilla pudding mix(check the ingredients because a lot has nonfat milk)
16 oz pureed or crushed strawberries
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup canola oil
2 TSB distilled vinegar
1/2 cup of rum
1/4 cup coconut milk (optional)
2 lime zests (optional)
In a smaller mixing bowl combine oil vanilla and vinegar. In a blender add the strawberries and rum. Mix until it's pureed crushed. If you don't quite have 16 oz of strawberries, add coconut milk. Combine the strawberry concoction to the wet ingredients. Add lemon zest.
Sift together flour baking powder sugar and vanilla pudding mix. Create a well in the middle of the bowl and pour the wet ingredients to this. Stir just until the ingredients are combined. You don't want to over stir. This will be very thick and not liquid like some batters.
Add to muffin tins and bake on 350 for 30 minutes. This yields about 24 cupcakes, but I ended up wit only 21.
Top with a whipped butter cream icing Jennifer P has great recipes. Add cherries on top!
13 April 2010
10 April 2010
Collard greens, turnips and black eyed peas
I made up this recipe upon a whim. At first I cooked the collard greens and turnips then added the uncooked peas and water. I think this overcooked the collard greens and turnips, but it was still very flavorful. No bitter after taste that turnips and collard greens are known for. The balsamic vinaigrette was a good balance. Fred and the kids loved it. Next time I will cook the BEPs first.
1 cup dry black eyed peas
1 bunch collard greens
1 turnip
2 cloves of garlic
2 to 3 tomatoes
splash of balsamic vinaigrette.
Rinse and soak the BEPs. Rinse and cook the peas. Drain. Or you can just used canned or frozen BEPs.
In a skillet, sautee turnips and garlic with soy margarine. Add Collard greens. Then add the tomatoes. Then add the BEPs. Finally add a splash of balsamic vinaigrette for flavoring. Serve over brown rice.
1 cup dry black eyed peas
1 bunch collard greens
1 turnip
2 cloves of garlic
2 to 3 tomatoes
splash of balsamic vinaigrette.
Rinse and soak the BEPs. Rinse and cook the peas. Drain. Or you can just used canned or frozen BEPs.
In a skillet, sautee turnips and garlic with soy margarine. Add Collard greens. Then add the tomatoes. Then add the BEPs. Finally add a splash of balsamic vinaigrette for flavoring. Serve over brown rice.
06 April 2010
Overheard
While driving home
B: [trying to spell his name] B...A....
M: No, Bodhi, there is no A!
B: You hurt my heart. There is A in my name!
He usually knows how to spell his name too, don't know why he was insistent about the A part. I assured him that his last name had an A and he was happy with this.
B: [trying to spell his name] B...A....
M: No, Bodhi, there is no A!
B: You hurt my heart. There is A in my name!
He usually knows how to spell his name too, don't know why he was insistent about the A part. I assured him that his last name had an A and he was happy with this.
29 March 2010
Topic of the week
Bears and hibernation
Today we talked about bears, the different type of bears and where they live and what they eat. Both Desmina and I learned that Koala bears are actually marsupials. Bodhi learned about the different types of bears.
Our plans for this week are to head to the library and pick up some books on hibernation, a bear puppet, and a science experiment. Pics to come!
Today we talked about bears, the different type of bears and where they live and what they eat. Both Desmina and I learned that Koala bears are actually marsupials. Bodhi learned about the different types of bears.
Our plans for this week are to head to the library and pick up some books on hibernation, a bear puppet, and a science experiment. Pics to come!
21 March 2010
20 March 2010
24 February 2010
Rally annoucement
If you know anyone who is interested in attending, please send them this info.
For more info, you can visit Thehitting stops here.
19 January 2010
That kid
"That kid." You know the one that hit your precious baby at the playground. Or the one that is always screeching at the top of her lungs. What about the one that eats glue all the time? Then there is the biter.
As a parent, we want to protect our children. We want to think that our children would never to such and such. No, not my Charlie. There must be something obviously wrong with that child or else she wouldn't be biting all the time. It is clear that her parents are just not disciplining her.
As a parent of "that kid," I can tell you that there is nothing wrong with my parenting. My children are perfectly normal. I just happen to have a biter, or did rather. If you followed my blog, you may remember that Desmina has had several incidents with biting the land lord's daughter and another "precious child." Luckily the land lord was understanding and never kicked us out. The parent of the other child, on the other hand, failed to see that her child was also part of the problem. Now I'm not saying that Desmina was always guiltless.
This period of time caused me a lot of grief, heartache, and low self esteem. Being a parent of "that child" is a very hard pill to swallow. I just hope that she won't always be labeled as such. I'm just tired of the looks, the rolling of the eyes, or the whispers every time I don't react quick enough. People are so quick to judge the offspring of someone else. Why must we have these "mommy wars?"
I just ask for you to remember before rolling your eyes at a kid on the playground, or telling all your friends that Roscoe's mom lets her children run wild, take a step back. Please remember that sometimes "that child" can very well be your own.
As a parent, we want to protect our children. We want to think that our children would never to such and such. No, not my Charlie. There must be something obviously wrong with that child or else she wouldn't be biting all the time. It is clear that her parents are just not disciplining her.
As a parent of "that kid," I can tell you that there is nothing wrong with my parenting. My children are perfectly normal. I just happen to have a biter, or did rather. If you followed my blog, you may remember that Desmina has had several incidents with biting the land lord's daughter and another "precious child." Luckily the land lord was understanding and never kicked us out. The parent of the other child, on the other hand, failed to see that her child was also part of the problem. Now I'm not saying that Desmina was always guiltless.
This period of time caused me a lot of grief, heartache, and low self esteem. Being a parent of "that child" is a very hard pill to swallow. I just hope that she won't always be labeled as such. I'm just tired of the looks, the rolling of the eyes, or the whispers every time I don't react quick enough. People are so quick to judge the offspring of someone else. Why must we have these "mommy wars?"
I just ask for you to remember before rolling your eyes at a kid on the playground, or telling all your friends that Roscoe's mom lets her children run wild, take a step back. Please remember that sometimes "that child" can very well be your own.
03 January 2010
01 January 2010
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