The Mommydom Chronicles

O Pioneer

2013-05-17T06:44:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I went on a field trip to Prairie Village (http://www.prairievillage.org). I have a disclosure to make-I've had a fascination with pioneer life since reading the Little House books as a kid. I loved the tv show and was obsessed with it. When Mary went blind, my friends & I pretended to be blind, too. We played wagon train on my bed, where we'd put stuff on the bed as we went across the plains. It encouraged me to learn as much about that era in American history.

My favorite little house book still is Little House on the Prairie (which is not the first in the series, that distinction goes to Little House in the Big Woods. My obsession has a new layer as many of the books are set in South Dakota, my adopted home state. Earlier this school year, my son and his class read By the Shores of Silver Lake (http://www.littlehousebooks.com/books/bookdetail.cfm?ISBN13=9780064400053) and I was so excited to share my love of these books with him.
Except, he's all boy and would much rather read Conspiracy 365 or Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

The Ingalls homestead is in DeSmet, SD (http://www.ingallshomestead.com/index.html). The amazing thing to me is her life bridged two centuries and many, many changes in the world. She was born before South Dakota was a state, and died as rock and roll started to take off.

I was fascinated by the various buildings at Prairie Village. The size of the homes-especially the sod house-was amazing in how small they truly were. He was fascinated by the one room school house.
He went on his first train ride.
We saw the Lawrence Welk opera house (which was a source of entertainment in that era)
There were many churches on the grounds.
The boys were fascinated by a snake and a salamander in the bathroom.
The boys claimed everything was haunted.
The carousel was great.
They loved the merry go round the best.

It was a great day to go back in time.

Adams Apple

2013-05-13T20:42:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow night is the Little Man's Boy Scouts crossover ceremony. I honestly don't know much about this because 1. We're new to scouting and 2. We're new to scouting. I was very involved in Girl Scouts when my sister was younger, plus I was in scouts too, so I'm more familiar with that. It's a chance for awards, and my kiddo has worked very, very hard in scouting. Plus, it's something he loves. He's grown so much and I know that will continue.
I got an email from the leader asking families to bring treats for tomorrow at 5 pm today. Cause for panic, since I didn't plan on this when I went shopping over the weekend. Plus, it's Monday. That makes creative thought harder. So, off to Pinterest I went, and found a great idea using stuff I had in the fridge.

Apple pie wontons

1 c chopped apples
1/2 c sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tbsp apple pie seasoning
24 wonton wrappers

Preheat oven to 350. Line a mini muffin pan with wonton wrappers. Mix apples, sugar, vanilla & seasoning. Spoon into lined cups. Pinch closed. Bake 20 minutes.

They smell heavenly!

Teacher appreciation week: handprint bouquet

2013-05-07T05:38:00.001-05:00

Construction paper
Markers
Ribbon
Pipe cleaners
Cardstock tag
tape
scissors

Have your child trace handprints on construction paper. Cut out and fold up like a flower. Tape together. Tape to pipe cleaner stems. Tie into a bouquet and add a cardstock tag saying “I couldn’t have picked a better teacher than you!”

All pictures from Google images

Brighter Than The Sun

2013-05-06T06:08:00.001-05:00

Today is Melanoma Monday. It's a chance to bring awareness to a type of skin cancer that can be deadly if not caught early enough. From the National Cancer Institute website:

Definition of melanoma: A form of cancer that begins in melanocytes (cells that make the pigment melanin). It may begin in a mole (skin melanoma), but can also begin in other pigmented tissues, such as in the eye or in the intestines.
Estimated new cases and deaths from melanoma in the United States in 2013:

New cases: 76,690
Deaths: 9,480

I'm extremely fair skinned. Over the years, I've had some wicked sunburns. When I was 15, I fell asleep on the beach in Hawaii, for an hour, with baby oil smeared all over me. I had the worst burn in my life. There were others that weren't as bad, but pretty miserable. I got a wicked burn on my face skiing at Park City when I was a freshman. I also went tanning in my teens & twenties. All of these put me in a high risk category for melanoma and other types of skin cancers.

The National Cancer Institute came up with a great acronym when you are checking for melanoma:

Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the shape, color, size, or feel of an existing mole. Melanoma may also appear as a new mole. Thinking of "ABCDE" can help you remember what to look for:

Asymmetry: The shape of one half does not match the other half.
Border that is irregular: The edges are often ragged, notched, or blurred in outline. The pigment may spread into the surrounding skin.
Color that is uneven: Shades of black, brown, and tan may be present. Areas of white, gray, red, pink, or blue may also be seen.
Diameter: There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas can be tiny, but most are larger than the size of a pea (larger than 6 millimeters or about 1/4 inch).
Evolving: The mole has changed over the past few weeks or months.
Melanomas can vary greatly in how they look. Many show all of the ABCDE features. However, some may show changes or abnormal areas in only one or two of the ABCDE features.

To get diagnosed, you will need a biopsy. Was that tan worth surgery?

All cancers are staged, which determines what kind of treatment a person will receive and what their prognosis will be. According to the American Association of Dermatology's website:

Stage 0: The melanoma involves only the top layer of skin. It is called melanoma in situ.
Stage I: The tumor is no more than 1 millimeter thick (about the width of the tip of a sharpened pencil.) The surface may appear broken down. Or, the tumor is between 1 and 2 millimeters thick, and the surface is not broken down.
Stage II: The tumor is between 1 and 2 millimeters thick, and the surface appears broken down. Or, the thickness of the tumor is more than 2 millimeters, and the surface may appear broken down.
Stage III: The melanoma cells have spread to at least one nearby lymph node. Or, the melanoma cells have spread from the original tumor to tissues nearby.
Stage IV: Cancer cells have spread to the lung or other organs, skin areas, or lymph nodes far away from the original growth. Melanoma commonly spreads to other parts of the skin, tissue under the skin, lymph nodes, and lungs. It can also spread to the liver, brain, bones, and other organs.

Depending on what stage the cancer is, depends on the treatment. It can range from the removal of the mole and nothing else to more invasive surgeries, radiation and chemo. The higher the stage, the lower the survival rates.

The best way to treat melanoma is with early detection. Today there are free screenings across the country. To find one go to the Spot Orange website http://www.aad.org/spot-skin-cancer/what-we-do/free-skin-cancer-screenings/free-skin-cancer-screenings#.UYeML3y9KK0 and enter your city. I will be wearing orange today to show my support of early detection and treatment. Take the no tan pledge (http://www.dosomething.org/actnow/actionguide/no-tan-pledge). If you want that sun kissed glow, get a spray tan. Share information with friends and family. Wear sunscreen and make sure your kids do too!

Wear orange and don't forget the sunscreen.

What Happens in Mexico....

2013-05-05T21:45:00.001-05:00

Today is Cinco de Mayo. It's actually celebrated more here than in Mexico! It's a commemoration of the Mexican army victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Today, it's an excuse to eat lots of yummy food and wear sombreros.

From History.com:

In 1861 the liberal Mexican Benito Juárez (1806-1872) became president of a country in financial ruin, and he was forced to default on his debts to European governments. In response, France, Britain and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, but France, ruled by Napoleon III (1808-1873), decided to use the opportunity to carve a dependent empire out of Mexican territory. Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large French force and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat.

Certain that success would come swiftly, 6,000 French troops under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez (1814-1892) set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in east-central Mexico. From his new headquarters in the north, Juárez rounded up a rag-tag force of 2,000 loyal men—many of them either indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry—and sent them to Puebla. Led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza (1829-1862), the vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans fortified the town and prepared for the French assault. On May 5, 1862, Lorencez drew his army, well provisioned and supported by heavy artillery, before the city of Puebla and led an assault from the north. The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated they had lost nearly 500 soldiers. Fewer than 100 Mexicans had been killed in the clash.

Although not a major strategic win in the overall war against the French, Zaragoza's success at Puebla represented a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government and bolstered the resistance movement. Six years later—thanks in part to military support and political pressure from the United States, which was finally in a position to aid its besieged neighbor after the end of the Civil War—France withdrew. The same year, Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, who had been installed as emperor of Mexico by Napoleon in 1864, was captured and executed by Juárez's forces. Puebla de Los Angeles was renamed for General Zaragoza, who died of typhoid fever months after his historic triumph there.

Cinco de Mayo in Mexico
Within Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is primarily observed in the state of Puebla, where Zaragoza’s unlikely triumph occurred, although other parts of the country also take part in the celebration. Traditions include military parades, recreations of the Battle of Puebla and other festive events. For many Mexicans, however, May 5 is a day like any other: It is not a federal holiday, so offices, banks and stores remain open.

Cinco de Mayo in the United States
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with substantial Mexican-American populations. Chicano activists raised awareness of the holiday in the 1960s, in part because they identified with the victory of indigenous Mexicans over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla. Today, revelers mark the occasion with parades, parties, mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing and traditional foods such as tacos and mole poblano. Some of the largest festivals are held in Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.

Confusion with Mexican Independence Day
Many people outside Mexico mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican independence, which was declared more than 50 years before the Battle of Puebla. That event is commemorated on September 16, the anniversary of the revolutionary priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla’s famous “Grito de Dolores” (“Cry of Dolores”), a call to arms that amounted to a declaration of war against the Spanish colonial government in 1810.

This year, we had a non traditional fiesta. For dinner, I made Santa Fe lime chicken thighs-thanks to store bought marinade. On the side was prepackaged Spanish rice, which I doctored up with some fresh tomatoes, cilantro and jalapeños.

We had a Mexican soda bar, and Little Man and I both decided we liked the orange soda better than any other we've had!

I tried something new as a side. I had street corn in Tijuana many years ago, and have been dying to try it again. I found a great recipe that I changed to my tastes and bam! I found a new love.

1 tsp butter
3 scallions, chopped
1 tsp mayonnaise
2 tsp chili powder
1 handful cilantro chopped

Melt butter, sauté scallions. Add other ingredients and sauté well. Add to cooked corn and serve hot.

We finished the meal off with a piñata cake. I took the leftover mint julep cake from yesterday's derby party and put some skittles in the middle. I dusted the top with icing sugar, and yum!

My Old Kentucky Home

2013-05-05T07:09:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the Kentucky Derby. I am not much of a horse racing fan, but I love the Derby. I think it has more to do with the traditions and the fact it's a great excuse to dress up and party! At the Derby, it's all about the food and fashion. That's what it s for us too!

I found some great printables at Hostess with the Mostess (http://blog.hwtm.com/2012/04/kentucky-derby-party-taste-of-derby-printables-free/) that I used to decorate.

I made some traditional Derby fare including virgin mint juleps (we don't drink so any non alcoholic choices are appreciated)

1 packet lemonade kool-aid
1 c sugar
2 c water
2 c ginger ale
1 tsp peppermint extract

Mix the lemonade, water, sugar & extract together. Add ginger ale and garnish with mint leaves

Hot Browns are a traditional Derby dinner. While its a long standing recipe, I changed it up a bit for my family's tastes.

1 pkg crescent rolls
1 pkg turkey gravy
1/2 lb turkey breast
6 slices provolone
4 slices bacon, cooked
2 oz cream cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Roll out 1/2 the crescent rolls into the bottom of a baking dish. Layer the turkey, bacon and cheese. Top with gravy, and add the remaining crescents. Add a dollop of cream cheese. Bake for 25 minutes.

It wouldn't be a party without a cake! I made mint julep cake that was super easy.

1 pkg white cake mix
1 c ginger ale
1/2 c peppermint baking chips

Mix together, bake in a 11x9 pan for 30 mins at 350.

I had picked Verazzano to win, but Orb instead ran for the roses the fastest. So, I'm stuck doing dishes! At least ill be doing them in style!

Party Party

2013-05-04T06:44:00.001-05:00

I love an excuse to party. I don’t mean party in the sense that you go out somewhere and drink or do stupid things. I like to party in terms of having an excuse to get dressed up, plan an awesome menu and celebrate things. It could be something major and exciting like a birthday or promotion, or something as mundane as getting an A on a spelling test. There is something in everyday that is worth celebrating. When I am tucking Little Man in bed at night, after our story and before prayers, we do something called thumbs up/thumbs down, where we talk about things that were great and not so great about the day. No matter how difficult, challenging or plain awful the day may have been, there is always something good in it that gets a thumbs up.
The month of May is filled with lots of great things to celebrate and get our party on with:

Kentucky Derby
Cinco de Mayo
My first 5k of the year
Mother’s Day
Last day of school
My birthday
Memorial Day
Gardening season starting in South Dakota

Teacher Appreciation week: smartie jar

2013-04-30T21:13:00.001-05:00

Needed:
Mason jar
Smarties candies
Cardstock
Ribbon

Fill the mason jar with smarties candies. Make a tag out of cardstock saying “Thanks for making me a smartie!” and tie to jar with ribbon.

Oh the things you can think (when you think about Seuss)

2013-04-30T06:17:00.001-05:00

It's been a Seussian spring in Sioux Falls! There currently is an amazing exhibit at the Washington Pavilion on the art and science of Dr. Seuss. It's an amazing experience, and highly recommend it! The exhibit features artwork, including early cartooning in which you can trace the evolution of what is now considered Seussian style.

Behind the scenes, late at night, dr Seuss created a fright
With pieces and parts sent from a zoo
And creativity too
Theodore Geisel created something frightful
Call unorthodox taxidermy
This exhibit made little man and I quite squirmy

Do you have eyes? Do you have a heart?
Then come see Dr Seuss' secret art!
He was quite a talent, that is not in doubt
These pieces were different from his books
They were drawn in secret, not to be let out
Insight into what his mind looks

There's sculptures too!
Some for me some for you
A cat in the hat
And many more
Are part on this special display on the floor

In addition to Seuss falls, Little Man's 4th grade did a performance of songs from Seussical. It was a great performance, and those kids are so talented!

As a way to wrap up our Seussian spring, we went to see Seussical at the Washington Pavilion. It was an amazing performance that was thoroughly enjoyable! Little Man (and me too!) loved it!

I Walk the Line

2013-04-28T16:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, the Little Man and I participated in the March of Dimes March for Babies. It's a cause near and dear to my heart. My Little Man was born early-at 34 weeks vs full term of 40-with respiratory issues and questionable sepsis (he wasn't!). I serve on the family advisory council at the hospital where he was born, as a way of gratitude for the awesome care he received.

It was a perfect spring day for the 5 mile walk. There were hundreds of participants, all walking for the same cause. To me, that makes my heart sing! Little Man said I was moving too slow, so he skipped off ahead of me. Guess he's growing up way too fast!

For the walk, I made a tutu to wear (this is a big trend with color runners!). Thanks to some great tutorials on Pinterest, I had one done lickety split.

You need
Tulle (I used purple & white-the March of Dimes colors)
Ribbon (use a thinner ribbon-makes it easier to tie)

Measure your waist and add 8 inches to tie.
Measure how long you want your skirt to be. Add 2 inches for knotting. Cut strips of tulle . Tie it to the ribbon.

That's it!

Grazing in the Grass

2013-04-26T08:29:00.001-05:00

We have finally transitioned from winter (we got 5 inches of snow on Monday!) to almost 70 predicted for today. I needed to wear something springy to set the mood. Today's outfit fits that mood perfectly!

I love my floral print Merona skirt from Target. I love Target, period, but one thing I don't like is the lack of plus size clothing that rocks. This one they did right. Bonus-I got it on the clearance rack, which always makes me a happy girl!

I also found the sage green Worthington shell on the sale rack (back when they had them at JC Penneys) and decided to change it up from the suit I usually pair it with.

Add a pair of flats (boo hoo no more heels for me!) and a light jacket and I'm ready to conquer the world. Or the car pool.

A Forest

2013-04-26T06:32:00.001-05:00

Today is Arbor Day. It started 135 years ago, as a special day for tree planting. It has evolved into a chance to help balance our environment visually and more. It's the last Friday in April, and coming on the heels of earth day, it can be lost in the sauce. It's more than just planting trees, it's about a sense of community. The Arbor Day Foundation (www.aborday.org) has some great tips on promoting it in your community.

Right now, Arbor Day is a welcome holiday in Sioux Falls thanks to a freak, spring ice storm and subsequent blizzard (check out some great pictures here http://mommydomchronicles.blogspot.com/2013/04/ice-ice-baby.html). Many, many trees were damaged by inches of ice. Unfortunately, due to the fact that it snowed inches as recently as Monday, it's not a good time to plant since the ground still is partially frozen!

Since we can't plant, the boys and I will celebrate it other ways. The City parks department did cancel the official event at Great Bear due to weather, but that doesn't mean we can't hike! There are amazing trails at both Blood Run and the Outdoor Campus. We can also go to a local nursery and look at trees. Best bet for bedtime-read a book on trees.

You can even make a tree out of recycled materials. Using materials from Starbucks coffee sleeves, construction paper, glue and some pinking shears you can make your own (earth day approved) tree.

There are lots of ways to celebrate Arbor Day with your family.

All My Rowdy Friends

2013-04-25T12:15:00.001-05:00

Today is the first day of the pro football draft. It’s a chance for football teams to make or break their futures. I have been a lifelong Jets fan, for better or worse. In my lifetime, my team has not done well, and the last time they made it to the Superbowl was in 1969. I wasn’t even in utero for that! I did have a brief flirtation with the Dallas Cowboys in the mid-1990’s. I should rephrase that; I had brief flirtation with Troy Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys back in the mid 1990’s. Other than that, I have been fiercely loyal to my Gang Green. When Mark Sanchez was drafted as quarterback a few years back, I got a call from my husband while I was picking up dinner in Hy-Vee. I let out a big cheer which earned me a lot of weird looks. It wasn’t because I am a football nut, just that I wasn’t either a Packers or Vikings fan.

The Big Man is a die hard Giants fan. The Little Man loves his Vikings. I bleed green and white. I don’t like Philadelphia, and never will. I’ve been eagerly studying what the experts are predicting for this draft, and I have to admit that no one has me really jazzed. The Princess went to WVU, which is where the top rated quarterback Geno Smith is from. He will go a lot higher up than the 9th pick my beloved J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets will pick (and besides they have more quarterbacks than they know what to do with). The experts are predicting that the Jets will draft Barkevious Mingo, an outside linebacker. Personally, I just like saying his name. Bar-kee-vee-ous. If this upcoming season is anything like the last few, I will at least have a fun name to cheer for. They are also predicted to pick another WVU player, Tavon Austin at #13. Another possibility for the Jets is another OLB, this time from BYU Ezekial Ansah but he probably will be picked a lot higher up in the draft than 9. The weirdest story of this year’s draft is Manti Te’o, who had enough off field intrigue that should automatically make him a Jet. However, there already is enough drama on that team for it to win an academy award.

Enough of the football minutiae.

It wouldn’t be a draft night party without some super snacks like Buffalo chicken rollups, layered nacho dip and tortilla chips, spinach artichoke cups, soda and water and of course football cupcakes!

Buffalo Chicken roll ups
2 cooked, shredded chicken breasts
½ c buffalo chicken sauce
¼ c cream cheese
¼ c Blue cheese crumbles
Crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 375. mix shredded chicken, sauce, cream and blue cheese. Spread crescent rolls on a baking sheet. Place a scoop of the mixture in the widest part of the triangle. Roll up. Bake for 20 minutes.

Spinach Artichoke Cups

1 c spinach cooked
1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 pkg silken tofu
2 tsps minced garlic
Dash srichia sauce
Won ton wrappers
½ c shredded mozzarella

Preheat oven to 375. Mix garlic, sauce and tofu together well. Add spinach and artichoke hearts. Line mini muffin pan with wonton wrappers. Spoon mixture into wrappers, top with shredded cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.

Layered dip
½ package cream cheese
1 jar corn and black bean salsa
Shredded Mexican cheese blend
Jalepenos

Preheat oven to 375. Spread cream cheese in the bottom of a baking dish. Pour salsa over the cream cheese. Top with cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, top with jalapeños. Serve with tortilla chips.

All my fellow draft watchers get a prediction card for the first 10 picks, with what the experts say. Our in home experts get to pick who they think are going to be picked, and the one who has the most right answers gets a lovely football plaque. Its super simple to make too!

Wooden plaque
Mod podge
Football scrapbook paper
Brown paint
Card stock
Picture of winner

Paint the plaque with brown paint. Let dry. Next, mod podge the scrapbook paper to the top side of the plaque. Glue cardstock to it and then when you have a winner, glue their picture!

Banana Pancakes

2013-04-25T06:15:00.001-05:00

Last night we went to Pancake Days at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. It's a fun event, sponsored by the Lions Club, as a fundraiser. Over 13,000 people were expected over the two days the event happened! The Lions Club is the largest service club in America, and was founded in 1917 in Chicago. The Lions are best known for their work in advocating for health-especially sight, hearing and diabetes. They also are involved in disaster relief. Plus, they encourage youth to be involved in their communities, which is something after my own heart.

One thing to keep in mind with Pancake Days is be prepared to wait. The lines are long, but there is entertainment to keep you occupied. We watched folks from the Siouxland Renaissance Festival juggle, dance and interact. Little Man enjoyed the juggling!

After we got inside, we had another line to wait on before we got served, but it was worth it. Inside we heard the Washington High School Jazz Ensemble play some original compositions. Little Man, who takes piano, was excited to hear the pianist riffing away.

Pancakes, smokies, juice, oh my!

Little Man did say that he liked my pancakes better, especially since he doesn't have to wait so long for them!

As we were leaving, it started to pour down rain. By the time we got to the car, we were a bit drenched, but we looked up and saw a gorgeous rainbow from end to end.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes

1 egg
1 c flour (I use 1/2 c whole wheat and 1/2 c almond for a great texture)
1 c milk
1/2 c canned pumpkin (not pie filling)
1/8 c apple sauce (I use plain unsweetened)
1/4 c chocolate chips
3 tsps baking powder
Dash salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Dash pumpkin pie spice

Mix wet ingredients and fold into flour. Add remaining dry ingredients. Pour onto a preheated griddle. Serve hot! I love mine with maple syrup, sliced bananas and almonds.

Ruffles and Flourishes

2013-04-24T06:16:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite stores is Anthropologie. Unfortunately, we don't have one in South Dakota, so I am forced to drool over their luscious website (http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp). Such torture.

I did get a chance to visit their store when we visited New Jersey. I fell in love with a few things including a pitcher, a skirt & a statement necklace. Someday...

One of their trademark pieces is the ruffled blouse. I love them, but not the price tag. It's a big ouch. There are tutorials out there to make them, but right now sewing isn't happening around my house.

I found a lovely green knock off shirt. I paired it with awesome black trousers. I wore it to go to a hospice conference, where I learned lots and lots.

I felt like I stepped off the website into real life.

Ruffle and flourish love.

Hail All Scouts

2013-04-24T05:40:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was Scout-a-Rama at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. It was a chance for different scout packs to teach and show off skills acquired through scouting. Little Man learned to make rope, cooking in a Dutch oven, and more!

One of our favorite activities was the super slow bicycle race. The other favorite was target shooting with nerf guns.

It was a great day where my little scout learned lots!

Big Yellow Taxi

2013-04-22T06:28:00.001-05:00

Today is Earth Day. It's a chance for us to celebrate our marvelous planet. It's also a chance to think about ways we can continue to support ways to sustain it. Reduce, reuse & recycle is a great tag line, but if you don't put it into play, then it doesn't really matter.

To celebrate earth day in our house, I was inspired by Skip to my Lou to create an earth day goodie jar for the little man. His included an angry birds hot wheels car, flower seeds, and a tie die kit. We've got lots of fun coming up with that!

We also are making egg carton caterpillars that I saw on Pinterest. We made these when he was little, but it's still a fun project as a tween. It's super simple too!

Egg carton
Paint or markers
Googly eyes
Pom poms
Pipe cleaners
Glue

Paint or color the egg cartons.
Glue Pom poms and googly eyes
Use pipe cleaners to make antennas

Right now, we are still snow covered. We can't exactly play in the dirt! I saw this sensory bin on Pinterest too. We're going to make it with rubber worms and hopefully chase the snowy blues away.

Then we're signing the earth day pledge.

How are you spending earth day?

Blueberry Hill

2013-04-22T05:54:00.001-05:00

Last week my son's school had the Dakota Step tests. This time of year can be incredibly stressful for kiddos, especially those who are on the spectrum. Little Man can get really anxious over the fact that there are time limits, and the hoopla leading up to testing week. At home we try to help him prepare for them by ensuring he eats healthy and gets enough rest. We also make sure he has fun! That's equally important.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm quite the goofball and I love to have a great time as often as possible. That goes over into my parenting too. We sing silly songs, I tend to break out into spontaneous song & dance numbers (I've seen way too many musicals). I leave goofy notes in my son's lunch box and around the house. To help him feel less tense over testing, I used a few motivational tools. I saw this on Pinterest and knew this would be perfect:

From http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Motivational-Testing-Notes

You were 'mint' to succeed! (Mint).
Do your best Smartie Pants! (Smarties)
Don't be an Airhead! Ace the test! (Airhead)
You're a Starbust of knowledge! (Starburst)
Blow that test out of the water! (Bubble Gum or Blow Pop)

He-and his classmates-got a good giggle out of it.

I also made a healthy snack for his class-blueberry muffins.

2 c bisquick
1 container blueberry chobani yogurt
1 c milk
1 pint blueberries
1 eggs
1/8 c sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Mix ingredients and blend well. Pour into a greased muffin pan (I made mini muffins) and bake for 15-18 minutes.

Shipping up to Boston

2013-04-16T06:43:00.001-05:00

Yesterday the unthinkable happened. Twin bombings went off at the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three and injuring over a hundred (as of this morning). It was a sucker punch to the gut on so many levels.
I went to college in New Hampshire, about an hour north of Boston. Many of my friends were from the Boston area, and as a result I spent a lot of time in the city. This is in addition to vacationing at both Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard (and some fond foodie memories here http://mommydomchronicles.blogspot.com/2011/10/fishing-in-dark.html) I had my purse stolen in Faneuil Hall when I was a college freshman. St Patrick's Day in that city was always an amazing time. I've seen a lot of great shows there too. One of my favorite radio stations, WFNX, recently ended a multi decade run (see my love letter to them here: http://mommydomchronicles.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-impression-that-i-get.html). I've also been in Boston for marathon Monday in the past, cheering on the runners. It's a party atmosphere, especially since its held on Patriots Day (a holiday commemorating the start of the Revolution).
I'm also a runner. I've been running since high school. It's been a big part if both my life and my exercise routine (http://mommydomchronicles.blogspot.com/2011/10/keep-on-running.html). Over the years, ive run various parts of the boston marathon course, including the notorious heartbreak hill. Runners are a crazy bunch, and we tend to stick together. When you meet a fellow runner, there's an instant bond. No matter what the differences you may have, you have that commonality of running. To think one of the highlights of the running calendar was targeted is heartbreaking. As a 5k participant, one of the greatest joys at a race is hugging your family at the finish line. I was sickened over the senseless death of an 8 year old boy hugging his dad who just finished the race.
I've spent time helping my son understand the tragedy. He's upset over a child dying-rightfully so-and afraid of being hurt himself. I can't force him to feel secure, which I wish I could. Instead, as we watched the horrific coverage, I pointed out the heroes helping others. We talked about the good they were doing in the midst of such tragedy. We talked about what we can do to help those suffering. We came up with a pretty great list-send cards, donate blood, pray. I held him for a long time, just hoping that this doesn't destroy his childlike innocence.
Pray for Boston.

Menu Monday Tax Day Edition

2013-04-15T06:34:00.001-05:00

Winter is still lingering in South Dakota, much to my chagrin. Last week's ice storm cabin fever has now morphed into an incredible cold, since I've managed to avoid being sick all winter. I'm hoping for SPRING and warmer temperatures (unfortunately we have more snow predicted for this Wednesday). With this week's menu, I'm reflecting the weather map (all over the place)

~Monday~
Angel hair pasta with sausage, garlic bread

~Tuesday~
Steak carnitas, cilantro lime rice, salad

~Wednesday~
Pork chops, potatoes, veggies

~Thursday~
Cheesesteaks, tater tots, veggies

~friday~
Pizza and Seussical

~Saturday~
Chili & corn bread

Good Year for the Roses

2013-04-13T07:39:00.001-05:00

Being curvy, there are some limited fashion choices when it comes to wardrobe essentials. I struggle with blouses that button down the front. They never seem to fit just right.

However, I found a grey and black floral jones New York blouse that fits perfectly.
It's pretty and feminine.

Trousers can be tricky. I've got a big rear end. I don't like anything clingy or form fitting, so I usually try on about 30 different pairs of pants before I find ones that fit.

Sometimes, I get lucky on both accounts.

I've also wanted to try a top knot bun, and Jessica from What I Wore (http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/post/47696488092/big-top-knot-for-medium-length-hair) featured a great, easy to follow tutorial.

It's a good year for the roses.

It Snowed!

2013-04-12T08:34:00.001-05:00

Yes, it snowed in April. The Little Man has been off school (and I've been off work) since Monday. While its been a fun, unintentional vacation, I'm ready to get back to normal. The Big Man and I have been together for over 20 years now, and after all that time, things can be taken for granted. With cabin fever, homemaking and home ownership duties, parenting and more, the last thing on either of our minds is date night.

That's what makes it so important.

I found a great idea on Pinterest (I spend way too much time there, but my family does benefit!)for a snow date. I pinned it to use next winter, since I didn't plan on the icepocalypse happening this week. It's pretty simple-play in the snow and have some hot cocoa! It's a great chance to reconnect, be silly and just have fun.

I love the hot cocoa recipe from Hershey's. it's super simple and super delish!

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa Dash salt 1/3 cup hot water 4 cups (1 qt.) milk 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Miniature marshmallows or sweetened whipped cream (optional)
Directions

1 Stir together sugar, cocoa and salt in medium saucepan; stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Add milk; stirring constantly, heat to serving temperature. Do Not Boil.

2 Remove from heat; add vanilla. Beat with rotary beater or whisk until foamy. Serve topped with marshmallows or whipped cream, if desired. Five 8-oz. servings.

Rise Above

2013-04-12T07:51:00.001-05:00

It's Fitness Friday! What do you have planned for this weekend?

Last August, I broke my fibula, which has changed how I work out. For years, I relied on yoga and Pilates to stay toned and was a runner. Due to the slow healing nature of my fracture, I couldn't run at all, and relied on stationary cycling (which I determined I strongly dislike). I also added in weights, at the suggestion of a friend who's also a trainer.

At first, I was reluctant to, mainly because I wasn't sure what I was doing. The Big Man, who has been big into weightlifting for years, taught me the proper form. There are a lot of great benefits for women to lift-from revving up your metabolism to fat burning to preventing osteoporosis. It's a win win for your body!

It doesn't require hours at the gym, either. Just two sessions a week produces benefit. I found a great infographic on Pinterest that has a pretty basic weight lifting routine that helps get you started.

Riding the Storm Out

2013-04-11T21:10:00.001-05:00

It's day 3 of the icepocalypse in South Dakota. We had a massive ice storm that hit on Tuesday, which was followed by eight inches of snow yesterday. In April. That means it won't linger, but the damage to trees and power lines has already happened. Fortunately our power came back relatively quickly, and we've had heat.
This morning, a neighbor who has a plow on his truck cleaned out our cul de sac.
I've been hearing great stories about neighbors helping neighbors.
While it was exciting to not have school for a few days, the inevitable boredom set in today. That's when I sent the little man outside to go play. Soon, a neighborhood snowball fight broke out, and laughter filled the air.
Making the most of riding the storm out.

What This World Needs

2013-04-11T08:35:00.001-05:00

“I have concluded that no opportunity is so worthwhile, no circumstance is so urgent, that it should make us ditch our values and convictions.”
— Jordan Christy~ How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World

Being snow and ice bound the last several days has meant lots and lots of tv viewing. I have to admit that I am very disappointed at the portrayal of women on it. Before you think that I'm about to go off on some sort of feminist rant, bear with me. I grew up in the 70's & 80's. My mother was part of the original Ms. Magazine feminist wave. It's entrenched in my DNA.

I think that's why I feel the way I do.

Feminism allows women the freedom to choose. It allows us to have many more opportunities from working to being a stay at home mom-or to have a hybrid existence. It doesn't mean one or the other. We have choices of who our role models are. I've chosen this one:

10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

For me, this is a great role model and something I can aspire to. I'm not telling anyone else to make the same choices, although I'd be honored if you did. I'm not a fan of chickies who have it all hanging out, because you are more than your bodies. The fact that Victoria's Secret is now targeting kiddos my son's age scares me. Sexting and a rape culture is becoming more and more prevalent, as evidenced by the distribution of pictures and videos from two (unfortunately) high profile cases. The most tragic part is a young life ended because the perpetrators shared video of it. No respect, objectification, tragedy.

Many women feel that they need to subscribe to a package deal that to be a feminist you need to believe. If you don't then you're not on a feminist. It's a shame that being able to think for ones self is not a privilege. For a woman to proclaim she's proud to be a wife and mother, she's berated and bullied, called a traitor to the cause. If you-gasp-admit that you are a pro life conservative, you are marginalized. Feminism is about choice, not marching lock step into an ideology.

Despite all the forward progress of feminism, someone still needs to scrub the toilets, do the laundry and cook dinner. At the end of the day, it's my honor and privilege to do so for my family. I'm raising my son to take care of himself, so he will be an amazing husband and father some day-just like his daddy. I pray he finds a wife who is honorable and will be a great partner (because marriage is a partnership). I hope he's an Audrey fan, too