BloggedIn - Network. Nicely.

Because sometimes you just need one

Lauren — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:23:09 +0000

The videos from the “Free Hugs” campaign almost always makes me smile. I say almost because the one from France moved me not.at.all. But then nothing much about France does.

Tell the truth… would you take a free hug or pass?

Me? Bring on the hugs.

Weekend Menu and More

Lauren — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:09:07 +0000

My work at BloggedIn this week is super easy. I was recently hired by BlogHer and the National Dairy Association 3-A-Day Campaign to create a weeks worth of menus featuring dairy products… milk, cheese, eggs, etc. I included in this wrap up a collection of some of our most favorite, family friendly recipes. Each recipe also includes a comprehensive shopping list!

So, instead of giving you a weekend’s worth of recipes here on BloggedIn this week, I’d like to direct you to the Dine & Dish page of the ad campaign. Flip through the recipes and see what might fit for you this weekend. I especially love the some of the yummy breakfast and brunch selections!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Kristen

Because we just don’t have enough government regulation in our lives

Lady Why — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:36:43 +0000

Now the American Medical Association is poised to draft legislation that would ‘outlaw’ homebirths. Oh, please. A woman can choose to murder her baby at any point during a pregnancy, so says the Supreme Court and our illustrious presidential candidates, but a woman cannot choose to give birth to that baby at home. Ironic, eh? I’m sure there’s an oxymoron (emphasis on the ‘moron’) here somewhere.

Before you worry yourself that I might be planning a hot tub birth for my next baby, let me just put your mind at ease. I LOVE the hospital! The only thing I love more than my hospital when having a baby is my epidural! In fact, until this last baby where my body decided to go into labor all by itself (a miraculous occurrence for me, indeed) I’ve felt nary one contraction in the last two births. You see, my wonderful doctor and I have an understanding. I come to the hospital fresh, make-up applied, hair fixed, and he gives me an epidural before he starts the pitocin for my scheduled induction. It’s a beautiful thing, my friends! I’m a big fan of medical intervention.

Just because you wouldn’t catch me at home giving birth without an epidural ~shudder~ doesn’t mean that other women can’t do it. Us birthing mothers are a diverse group and we should have the choice to have our babies wherever we like, with whomever we like attending to us and with as much or as little medical intervention as we like.

As I read back through some of my more recent posts, I realize I have been taking a bit of a negative slant toward our government lately. Hmmm. I thought about trying to find something nice to say. I couldn’t do it. I’m a less-is-more girl when it comes to government regulation. I want my government to fix my interstates and defend my nation. After that, I like local control. And, even after that I like individual control… especially when it comes to educating my children, whether or not to vaccinate my children, and where to give birth to my children.

I don’t appreciate the bureaucrats deciding what is best for me. I’m a big fan of civil liberties. Even for the polygamists in Texas. Even for parents who choose to educate their children at home. And, even for mothers who choose to have their babies in the bathtub.

Call me crazy.

Weekend Menu VIII

Kristen — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:21:40 +0000

Before we get into the menu for this week, I have a confession to make. We have eaten out almost every evening this week! We’ve had swim lessons during the day, baseball games and baseball camps in the afternoon and evenings. 5 days a week for two weeks of constant running just so I can have the rest of the summer free. Oh - and did I mention a husband who travels constantly? It makes it even that much more easy to eat out when there isn’t another adult to cook for in the house.

Our next week is the exact same way, but I am vowing right now to not repeat this behavior another week. I hate it. Instead, I’m going to make a well thought out menu plan for next week and am going to make the meals quick and easy… something we can catch quickly in between activities or take on the go. If you have any recipes that work for this kind of crazy time, please let me know. I value your tips!

Now, for this weekend, I am dying to get in the kitchen and cook… I mean really cook. Hubby will be home, and I am tired of eating out!

Friday

We do have baseball practice tomorrow night, so what I am going to do is make one of my favorite make it, grab it, and go recipes…Barbeque Chicken Calzones. Go read my blog post surrounding this recipe and you will see exactly what kind of effort these calzones take. Any “slacker mom”, like myself, can pull it off easily!

As a very, very special treat for your kids after a hot night of playing, make them a Kool-Aid Slush. These are high in sugar, so they are just that… a treat, but I guarantee your kids will adore you for making these!

Saturday

Friday, we are ending the day with sugar, Saturday we are starting the day with sugar. These Snickerdoodle Muffins are my all time favorite muffin recipe. If you like the Snickerdoodle cookies, you will love these muffins!

Saturday night is going to be seafood night. Southern Style Shirmp is a recipe I found in a cookbook a few years back and it is one of those that was so good it made our regular rotation! I hope you enjoy it. As a side, throw in some good crusty bread and this recipe for The Best Spinach Salad.

Sunday

If the weather cooperates, I am going to have my husband grill up some Cowboy Steaks on Sunday.

As always, I must leave you with a dessert. I made this easy, refreshing and delicious Golden Buttermilk Cake this past weekend and enjoyed it so much I have to recommend it to you to try.

That’s it for this week. I am bound and determined to try a week full of simple and delicious recipes during the week and will be sure to pass the hits on to you next week. Hope you’ll join me in the kitchen next time.

Take care,

Kristen

Please Note: PDF Menu’s and Shopping Lists will return next week Thursday. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Room Service Anyone?

Shera — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:18:02 +0000

Every once in a while I find myself getting caught up in the sometimes crazy service-led life I lead as a mom. One day I don’t even think about all I have to do, another day it makes me feel a little crazy and usually the day after that I end up finding myself in a position where I’ll either laugh or cry at the craziest little things.

Genny Heikka of My Cup 2 Yours is a new bloggy friend of mine who I often visit for inspiration and little nuggets of truth and hope. So when I read this post that included the line “But, blame it on being at that delirious parental breaking point where, like it or not, you’re either going to laugh or cry, I started cracking up.” I knew I HAD to feature it!!! That is a place I’ve found myself oh, so many times!

Room Service Anyone?

Not long ago, my husband got a new phone system in our house that makes working from home easier for him. One of the features of the system is that the phones intercom each other–a convenient thing when you need to ask a quick question from upstairs or downstairs and don’t want to holler.

My daughter thinks this is a handy feature too, and has had plenty of fun calling from room to room.

Especially at bed-time.

The other night, literally one minute after my husband and I put the kids to bed, we heard the intercom…

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I picked up the phone.

“Mommy?” My daughter said. “Can I have some warm milk?”

“No, Honey. It’s late. You haven’t even tried to get to sleep yet.”

“But, Mommy?”

“What?”

“I’m starving.”

“You already had dinner and brushed your teeth. It’s time for bed.” I got ready to hang up the phone.

“Wait, Mommy. If I have crackers, do I have to brush my teeth again?”

“You can’t have crackers.”

“But I’m starving.”

I knew I should stand firm. I knew it. But against my better judgment, I started to waver.

Maybe she’s going through a growth spurt, I thought. Maybe she should have a little snack…

“All right,” I said reluctantly, guiltily aware of the fact that I was teaching her if she bugged me long enough, I’d give in. “You can have an apple.”

“Mommy?”

“What?”

“What about quesadillas?”

“No!” I’d just caved and offered her a snack, and now she was getting picky? “No quesadillas. It’s bed-time. I’m hanging up the phone and I’m bringing you some apples.”

“Okay. But, Mommy?” she said in her sweetest voice possible.

“WHAT?”

“Can you please cook me some bacon?”

BACON?!?

“NO! I’m not making bacon. It’s nine o’clock! What do you think this is? Room service?”

Cute little laugh. “Yeah.”

I know I should’ve stopped the conversation right there. Or given her a consequence. Or done something to discourage her behavior. But, blame it on being at that delirious parental breaking point where, like it or not, you’re either going to laugh or cry, I started cracking up.

I laughed, then she laughed, until we both laughed so hard we couldn’t stop.

“Well, it’s not,” I finally managed, catching my breath.

“Okay,” she said, still giggling.

“Listen.” I tried to sound firm. “I’ll cut you some strawberries if you don’t want apples. Then you need to go to sleep.”

“Okay. I’ll have strawberries.”

“Okay.” Sigh.

“And Mommy?” she said.

“What?!?!”

“While you’re at it, can you make me some warm milk?”…

I don’t think these intercoms are such a handy feature after all.

________________________
~ Written by Genny Heikka

Weekend Menu VII

Lauren — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:21:04 +0000

One of my favorite things about summer is the sudden plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables available. It seems like in the summer, we try to eat a little lighter and opt for farm fresh ingredients. This weekend, we have some fresh sweet corn coming our way. I, personally, could live off of corn on the cob this time of the year, but we do have to have more than that. How about incorporating some market fresh ingredients into your menu this weekend?

Friday

We often like to make Friday night’s “appetizers for dinner” night. How about some fresh guacamole and chips? Another favorite, especially for the kids, is Extra Cheesy Crescent Mozzarella Wedges.

Saturday

I am going to get up a little bit early on Saturday and start a loaf of Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread. Once it has baked, add some butter… or even better…toast it and you have a yummy breakfast treat!

We are going to have a late lunch on Saturday because we have a baseball game in the late morning and a neighborhood party to go to that night. For a filling, yet quick lunch, we are going to have one of our family staples - Lemon Chicken Spaghetti Toss. Try this… I guarantee you will love how easy and delicious it is! For a side, try this Zucchini Sauté. You cannot beat fresh zucchini this time of year and this recipe is a delicious way to highlight it.

Sunday

I don’t care if you make anything else this Sunday, but you have got to fit in Texas Peach Cobbler somewhere during the day. This is a simple and light (well… until the big fat scoop of vanilla ice cream tops it) dessert that is a great way to use the fresh peaches of the season! I fell in love with this recipe last weekend and could not wait to share it with you all!

Well everyone, that is it for this week. I hope you’ll join us in the kitchen next week!

Take care,

Kristen

Finding the strength to go on.

Overwhelmed — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:00:44 +0000

Most of you know by now that I am a foster mama. We became licensed last November and were placed with two little girls within 3 months of being licensed.

It took me over a year to convince myself that I had the strength to become a foster parent. Throughout the licensing process, and especially during the 10 weeks of training, I had nagging doubts about the decision I had made to go forward. It’s not easy hearing of the abuse that children coming to you from the foster care system have gone through and how it might affect your family after placement.

Thankfully, I had some fantastic support along the way from friends both in person and online.

As I was skimming through blogs looking for my next Highlights post, I came across a foster blog written from a man’s perspective as he and his wife jump through the hoops to get licensed. In the post I’m highlighting, he confronts his fears about having the strength to go on.

Won’t you please read his post and then offer him some encouragement. Fostering isn’t for everyone but even if you’re not at a place in your life to become a foster parent, encouraging those that are is a very good thing! I know the encouragement that I received made all the difference in the world!

Where does time go?

I can’t believe it’s Thursday again and I’ve neglected the keyboard all week. Well, I’ve been sick. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

Yesterday we had our official home visit from the case worker. She went over the criteria we choose last time she was here, to see if we had any changes since we started taking the classes. I’m not sure. Do I have the strength to do this?

Last Thursday’s class we covered two classes worth of material, to make up for the rained out class the week before. the further we go in this endeavor, the more distressing it becomes. It is really heartbreaking to read some of the sample case studies and what these children go through at the hands of their parents. What are we doing to our children?

Ok, here is the updates of classes and topics discussed:

Class 5 - Helping Children Learn to Manage Behaviors

This subject is tough for us. There is the urge to punish, but you can’t. Discipline! Punishment is “a behavior designed to stop a behavior.” Discipline is ” training intended to produce a specified character or pattern of behavior.”

Punishment is the quick and dirty way, but Discipline produces long-term results!

We worked through the differences between RISK and SAFETY in Foster Care. Risk is the likelihood of long-term harm or mistreatment, while Safety deals with immediate issues.

An example would be the situation with the FLDS church kids in Texas. Texas CPS pulled those kids when the compound was raided. However, there was no Safety issue to justify the removal. There are Risk issues, yes, but nothing that would justify immediate action. Although I would prefer they err on the side of caution instead of Arizona, which seems to have a habit of leaving kids in bad situations until they are dead.

Mainly, we dealt with safety and care in the foster setting, and how that should help mitigate some of the behavior patterns in the children, at least to an extent.

Class 6: Helping Children with Birth Family Connection

This module is a bit hard to describe. It deals with self-concept, connections, identity and culture.

We learned the definitions of identity, self-concept, Connections, Culture, Race and Ethnicity. We worked at identifying and understanding cultural needs as well as ways to manage problems with family visits. This whole module is focused on dealing with interactions between the child and birth family and what it might entail.

Class 7: Gains and Losses: Helping Children Leave Foster Care

This module has been the hardest for me personally. We talked about children leaving the Foster Care program, either through adoption, return to parents, or Age-ing out of the system.

Unfortunately, the points of this class were hammered home through case histories and interviews with case workers and children that the system failed. They are classic stories of society failing. I took from this reading an idea of what NOT to do in the future. It was also interesting that they took one girl’s story and contrasted it with the case worker’s report. Wow.

Foster Parents have a big roll in transitioning children out of Foster Care, and how we fill that roll makes a big difference in how the children will function.

The homework was to read a case study and then a letter written by a adoptive family to friends telling how an adoption fell apart.

Again, do I have the strength to go on with this? Can I see this through?

~ By David of Our Adoption Trail

Granny’s Got a Brand New Bag

Amy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:00:05 +0000

I am huge fan of the elderly. I feel like they have paid their dues in so many ways and it really chaps my hide when I see people disrespecting them. I could watch this video over and over again and never get tired of it.

Don’t go getting testy with little old ladies carrying big handbags. They won’t put up with your nonsense.

Tomato Woes

Lady Why — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:00:49 +0000

I am more than a little distressed about the recent tomato recall. Tomatoes happen to be one of my favorite foods and one of the reasons I dearly love summer. Life is just not the same without tomatoes!

Once again our food supply is in jeopardy. If you haven’t heard, raw tomatoes are being recalled nationwide after hundreds of people have come down with salmonella. “Officials” have linked it back to tomatoes but they don’t know where and they don’t know how. This does not give me a warm, fuzzy, secure feeling. The FDA says it is safe to eat cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached. I’m no expert, but if the FDA doesn’t know where the outbreaks originated, whether the fields or the processors, then how can they be so sure these tomatoes are safe? Hmmm. Also, do not think that washing the tomatoes will solve the problem. As with the tainted spinach of two years ago, the bacteria may have grown up into the plant and being infecting the tomato from inside out. Yuck.

What I am seeing more and more is that our food chain is not safe. Of course, there was the E. coli outbreak in the spinach. Before that, the hamburgers at Jack In The Box restaurants. What is happening when we can’t trust the food on our grocery store shelves? As industrialized agriculture increases, quality decreases and safety standards (and humane standards) start to slip which allows animals to contaminate our fruits and vegetables.

I’m all about less government regulation. I think that more bureaucrats lead to higher cost, less efficiency and lower standards. But, there does come a point when consumers are going to have to take charge, stand up and say “We will not buy this substandard food!” I am reading all about sustainable agriculture right now and I like what I read! We have to take our food back. We have to know where our fruits and vegetables are grown and who grows them. We need to see the animals we are going to eat and know that they are healthy and well cared for without being pumped full of hormones and antibiotics to increase profit margins. These things are important… and getting more important every day.

In the meantime, Florida tomato farmers (among others) are being devastated by the salmonella outbreak and I can’t have a tomato sandwich.

At least not until these get a little more ripe!

Growing my own food is becoming the better option every day!

For a huge amount of agrarian and sustainable agriculture resources, please visit Cumberland Books. It’s one of my favorite sites! Here are some other related sites:

Polyface Farms (this is Joel Salatin’s farm)
Four Season Farm
Sustainable Table
The Deliberate Agrarian

Now go grow yourself some salmonella free tomatoes!

She’s Not, But He Is

Amy — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 05:00:31 +0000

I met this girl Natalie some months ago at I AM (not) and have found her to be a real treat. I was really excited to get to interview her and get just a little deeper in her head.

Me: I’m new to your blog, Natalie, but you’re not real new to blogging. How long have you been at it?

Natalie: I started blogging April of last year. It was hit and miss at the time. In November of 07 I began posting everyday.

Me: You’ve got a full year under your belt then. Any advice to new bloggers?

Natalie: Be yourself. And, if you want more readers, you gotta “work the blogosphere”.

Me: Working the blogosphere? Sounds like work. Any pitfalls to doing that?

Natalie: It sucks me into a time warp that I struggle to get out of.

Me: Time warps will get the best of us. Warps aside, what are the positives you’ve found?

Natalie: Without a doubt, the community of new friends.

Me: You’re talking about me, right?

Natalie: Sure. You’re writing the article.

Me: Thank you. You’re my friend too. Since we’re practically best friends, tell me, what’s behind your blog name and have you ever thought of changing it?

Natalie: I AM (not) came from watching a Louis Giglio video. He’s God and I’m not. Just keeping it real. I’m thinking of changing it to Waxy Chocolate Donuts just because I’m crazy about them and it’s more whimsical.

Me: Mmmmm. Waxy chocolate donuts. Love them. You have a second blog that focuses on your own Bible studies, tell me about that title.

Natalie: Stiletto Army came from just thinking about writing a book about my girlfriends in life. They are the ones who fight with and for me, but we do it in a snappy pair of stilettos!

Me: Nice. I do love my girlfriends. And I also really enjoy reading your Bible study notes. As much as you enjoy blogging, is there anything that really bugs you about blogs?

Natalie: Posts that are WAY too long.

Me: I hate that too. This one time I wrote a post that I thought was too long, but then it turned out to be just right so I added a couple of paragraphs for good measure. Then, would you believe that I found the perfect picture to go with the post, so I of course had to write a detailed caption…

(here’s where Natalie tapped on her watch and I snapped back to my interview notes)

Me: I know you blog for a reason, tell me what you hope people take away from your blog?

Natalie: My personal one: I just want it to be a place to relax, learn, laugh, and find a friend. My Stilleto Army is to minister through this great thing we call the internet.

Me: Let’s get off the blogging thing and talk about you. What is your one true passion in life?

Natalie: Hands down the Word of God.

Me: Anything really bug you?

Natalie: I like numbers on dials to be either on an even number or an integer of 5. I don’t like to hear people chew crunchy things or when people use the words “irregardless” or “supposebly”.

Me: I am so with you on the crunchy food. I purchase cereal solely based on how loud it is. Tell me about your perfect day.

Natalie: Perfect every day: Up in time to have coffee and quiet time on the porch before the kids get up. Homeschool. Clean house, just a little because it’s already sooo clean. Obviously have some food some where. Hubs comes home to a quiet family night. Ok, perfect non-existent day: Up with coffee to meet with Jesus. Work on writing my books with a low rolling thunderstorm all day. Kids are at Grams and actually, I’d be in Oregon on the beach.

Me: I do love the beach, almost as much as I love a clean house. Tell me about something that changed your life forever.

Natalie: Becky Tiribassi said, “Make an appointment with the King and keep it”. I was never the same. I’ve kept my appointment with Him and He has changed my life.

Me: I doubt I have to ask, but is there any piece of advice that you like to give to anyone who will listen?

Natalie: Make an appointment with the King and keep it.

Me: Great advice that really applies to everyone. Now, tell me, Natalie, what is the best or worst thing about being you?

Natalie: The best? I think I’m pretty dern funny and smart. The worst? I think I’m pretty dern funny and smart.

Me: Eyes like twins, you and me. I have the same affliction. What’s the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you?

Natalie: I went to move the trash can off of the driveway and supermanned myself right in. I totally disappeared and had to back out of it. I seriously thought I heard the “beep beep” that trucks make when backing up.

Me: If you could do anything in life, what would it be?

Natalie: See U2 in concert and meet Beth Moore.

Me: U2 still tours? I have so got to get with the times. Let’s move on to your vital statistics.

How old are you? 34

Married? yes

Children? yes, 3

Homeschool, private or public? homeschool

Favorite season? Fall

Favorite past time? movies

Favorite color? red

Favorite movie? Pride and Prejudice (with Colin Firth)

What kind of car do you drive? Chevy Trailblazer

Mac or PC ? PC

Dog or Cat? cat

Salt or Pepper? salt

Vanilla or Chocolate? chocolate

Diet coke, Sweet Tea, or Evian? Sweet Tea

Steak, Chicken, or Shrimp? Waxy chocolate donuts

Me: Let’s wrap this up with a quick game of word association. Tell me the first word that pops in your head.

Boys :: Awesome

Book :: Andrew Murray

Stop :: Collaborate and listen

Travel :: Oregon

Applesauce :: Gum… seriously. That’s what popped in my head.

We just love us some Natalie. Thank you so very much for letting us get in your head for a bit. Save me a waxy chocolate donut. I’m suddenly craving one like never before.