North

I live up North.

Like 3hr drive from CANADA north.

We moved up here for many reasons: to be close to my parents, to make a fresh start, to have room to roam, to give our kids wilderness and 40 acres to play on, and to live the rural life we both dreamed of.

Living so far North does not come without it's draw backs, the main one being that it's COLD. But even on the coldest of days, it's important to seek out beauty.

So this morning, as temperatures dropped to a staggering -20 below zero (air temp- not windchill) for the 5th day in a row, this is the beauty I saw: a beautiful, frigid sunrise.

Once a Month Cooking

I'm no stranger to cooking. It's something I enjoy doing and doing often. I am also no stranger to prepping freezer meals. It makes me feel good to have delicious, go-to options just waiting in my chest freezer.

So when I came across a Pinterest post directing me to a once a month cooking site, you can imagine my elation. I can spend a marathon day cooking and have meals for a month???!?!?

Get out!!!

The site I used is Once a Month Mom.
www.onceamonthmom.com
There are loads of free recipes on the site BUT if you pay the $8 monthly membership fee, you get access to the customizable grocery lists, recipe cards and labels. In the spirit of going "all in," I signed up for a membership. I then entered the amount of people I am cooking for and BOOM I have recipes, a grocery list complete with amounts needed (sorted by department just how I like it), labels, and a step by step guide on how to tackle your marathon cooking. I was impressed and even got to use a bright folder to organize my meal stuff. (I'm a planner. These things make me happy)

Side note: this website also offers vegetarian, gluten free, and healthy menus. I chose the traditional menu to start.

I dove head first into my cooking, beginning Sunday night with the prep work. I continued Monday with a marathon day (my mom was around to help with my kids but I did take breaks). I probably cooked for 6-7 good hours. I was sore and tired AND wasn't done. Today, I cooked more casually. I assembled meals during nap-time and while my kids played nicely. I probably put in another 4 hours today AND I'm still not done.

But I am close. I only have 2 more recipes to finish up tomorrow morning and then I will be done...WITH enough meals to provide go-to options for the next MONTH !!! (Probably more since cereal, grilled cheese, and sandwiches will still make the rotation from time to time). I am hoping to try another "mini" set of meals near the end of February to restock my freezer before this baby comes in March.

The recipes I have taste tested so far have been nummy. We had a chicken pot pie for dinner tonight. It was a hit.

I am also excited about this adventure in cooking because I used new recipes. It will hopefully help me get out of a cooking funk and expand my family's exposure to different dishes that I wouldn't have thought of myself.

I had to make an inventory to put on my freezer so as to keep track of everything I was putting in there. Here's what I made:

Freezer meals:
Pecan Cinnamon rolls (2 bags of 6)
Pigs in a blanket (2 bags of 24)
Greek Omlette Pitas (2 bags of 6)
Pizza stuffed potatoes (3 bags of 8)
Sesame lime Chicken egg rolls (3 bags of 8)
Chicken Taquitos (3 bags of 8)
French Dip croissants (4 bags of 8)
Chicken pot pies (4)
Ham and veggie frittata (2 square and 3 mini pans)
Taco stuffed shells (2 pans)
Chile pot roast (2 bags)
Ranch pork chops (3 bags)
Spicy cashew chicken (3 bags)
Frito taco pie (3 pans)
Buffalo chicken Shepard's pie (3 pans)

The undertaking of monthly cooking is not for faint of heart or non-cooking individuals. I recommend starting with a smaller set of meals if you are new to freezer meal cooking. Also, the work is cut down a lot if you have help. My mom helped with dishes which allowed me to keep on cooking. It was very helpful.

Here's a picture of my prep work and my (almost) finished stash!!

We're growing

A family friend had a puppy that their elderly mother just couldn't take care of and came up for adoption. So...we took him.

His name is Juno.

He is a cavalier spaniel and miniature poodle mix but he looks all miniature poodle to me. He is 8 months old and sweet as can be.

We have ventured into goat and chicken ownership but this will be our first time as dog owners. I keep saying that Juno is the perfect "starter dog." He is small, kid friendly, doesn't shed, and is able to go anywhere we travel as a family.

For Tanner, it was love at first sight. He couldn't wait to pet and feed his new dog. Emmy Lu wasn't so quick to warm and whined anytime the little dog got anywhere near her. I am happy to report that seems be getting better (4 hours later). She even shared my lap with Juno and *gasp* touched him. I give her a day tops before she is completely and utterly in love with him too. Who couldn't love a cute little thing like this??

30 is the new 25

I have taken many applications and held try-outs but have yet to find a better best friend than the one I have. Bonny is seriously the greatest...and older than me (I don't hit 30 until July) Her worst flaw is that she lives WAY to far away.

This past weekend she turned 30. It seemed so far away when we were chasing boys, writing notes in code names, and sneaking beer from our parents' fridges but it inevitably arrived.

To help her celebrate I booked a kid-free flight to Florida. We spent 4 days making up for the BFF time we both miss living so far from one another. We did lunch, went to the beach, did a spa day, sat in the warm FL sun, went out for a birthday dinner, caught up on our gossip and watched the Golden Globes. Because we are both pregnant, the extent of our wild birthday weekend included indulging in chocolate milk and staying up til 10pm.

Don't worry, we have BIG plans for 40!!!

Here are some pictures of the weekend.

Choices

I have been seeing a trend with New Year's resolutions in that people are picking a word or phrase to focus their attention on this year. My friend, Nicole, blogged about it a couple days ago and I saw it again today on a babycenter.com sponsored blog.

It struck a chord with me and I took it as a sign that I also needed a 2013 mantra.

I already set some goals for myself and the direction I want to take this year. First, I want to disconnect more from my phone and TV in order to connect with my life and the people in it. Secondly, I want to stop shopping at Walmart. I know that sounds silly to some, but for personal, social, and political reasons I really want to be more conscious of where we are spending our money.

I realized these two goals come down to:

CHOICES

It is my word of 2013.

I want to make mindful choices for myself and my family. I will choose to disconnect more and be present. I will choose to spend money locally and with companies that I can feel good about supporting. I will choose to put healthy food in my mouth. I will choose to offer stimulating and healthy activities for my children. I will choose to be a supportive, loving wife. I will choose to be a good friend. I will choose to be aware of the world we live in and do my small part to improve it.

The wonderful thing about having a choice is that it puts you in the driver's seat. For someone like me, it really gives comfort.

Stuff doesn't just happen TO us, it happens BECAUSE of us.

Our lives are results of our choices; good and bad. Of course, there are going to be things beyond our control, but day-to-day living is a culmination of hundreds of choices.

I can't wait to make mindful choices and see/feel the positive consequences it brings to my life this year.

What is your word this year?

First Day- 2013

I made it up till midnight last night with my family. We had a party at our house and fireworks to ring in the new year. I was lazy today and used my phone to document our first day. The photo quality isn't the greatest, but you get the idea. Hope you all had a great start to the year today!!!!

Today

Today I was...

Short order cook

Maid

Diaper changer

Personal dresser

Hair stylist

Trampoline

Fort builder

Nap enforcer

Lap to sit on

Owie Kisser

Baby grower

Artist

Referee

Seamstress

Launderer

Dish washer

Gift wrapper

Cuddler

Snack maker

Apple peeler

Toenail painter


Did I mention maid????

No wonder I fall into bed by 9pm each night thoroughly exhausted. This mom stuff is hard work.

My kids truly give reason and purpose to my words, thoughts and actions but every once and a while it sure is nice to remember the days when I was simply....

Heidi.

2/3 done

Only because I am almost to my third trimester (on Friday) and I have been promising a picture since November....

Here I am, 27.5 weeks pregnant with "Tiebreaker" coming sometime mid-march.

Random Acts of Kindness

In efforts to combat the negativity and heartbreaking news, I am upping my positivity output- One random act of kindness at a time.

Yesterday as I finished my holiday shopping, I focused energy on being kind to strangers. Just an extra smile, a small gesture, a generous tip...nothing big.

Boy of boy, did that sure fill my happy meter. It really pulled me out of my funk.

I am no way trying to forget or downplay the sadness of the loss of those innocent lives in Connecticut, merely trying to find a way to move through it.

Imagine the positive energy output if we all strived, everyday, to be kind. Not just going through the motions, and living in our own bubbles but truly being thoughtful and kind. It doesn't take long before the ripples of positive energy hit someone who really needs it or better yet find their way back to you or someone you love.

So be kind to each other, make a stranger smile, be thoughtful in your words and actions. I sure am trying to do this in my life and already feel better.

Need some ideas?? Check out this great site:
http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

Heartbroken

I spent much of yesterday afternoon either on the verge of, or in tears. Upon hearing the news of the mass shootings in Connecticut, I was in shock.

Disbelief.

Kindergarteners?? Why??

I feel like many people around the nation and world probably felt the same way and had the same questions.

Who could do this? Why would they do this? How does this happen?

I am not writing this because I think I have any of these answers. I only wish to help sort out in my own mind how to process these events, grieve appropriately and probably hardest of all try to move on with a sense of security that was seemingly shattered yesterday with the loss of 20 children and 6 of their educators.

After the initial sadness for these families and parents sinks in, leaving a pit in my stomach, we are faced with the reasoning or rationalization of such tragedy. How can we make something so messy and broken fit into our worlds? This is the place where I feel religion plays a tremendous role in healing. For those who have a God and turn to Him, I know this can bring comfort, strength, and eventually forgiveness and healing.

For someone like me, who chooses a secular life, the desire to understand horrible events is the same. I take comfort in the fact that the community and people all over the world are sending their thoughts and best wishes towards those affected. I take strength in knowing that tomorrow will come, then the day after that, then the day after, etc. I find strength in the fact that I will be spending these days with my children, husband, and those I hold dear. I will eventually find forgiveness, not for what this shooter did, but for the fact that he was most likely a sick individual who for unknown reasons took such an evil path. I will try and remember that even people who choose to do horrible things were at one time innocent little babies. It doesn't make what they did any less horrible or tragic. It does, however,humanize these events and remind us that at a very basic level, we are all similar.

No matter your coping mechanisms, I feel it is important to acknowledge these feelings of grief and insecurity we have after a random act of violence against the most helpless of victims; children.

Hug your children an extra time or two before bed, call your mom and tell her you love her, pray, participate in a vigil, or whatever you have to do to feel better.

Then remember that although these tragic events could happen anywhere, thankfully, they don't.

Tragic

Heart-breaking

But rare.

Although it sounds generic, my thoughts truly are with the people of Newtown, the families of slain educators, the parents of babies taken too soon.

I honestly hope that these events inspire thoughtful conversations on humanity, gun safety, and mental illness awareness.

It seems like these tragic losses keep happening in vain without the thoughtful rhetoric that should go along with them. It's not a more guns vs less guns argument we need, or a school security system overhaul, or even a blame game on certain types of people in our society.

We need to dive deep into humanity, realize things do not happen in a vacuum. We are connected. We are all connected. Those children lost, in a sense, were OUR children. The shooter was OUR neighbor or a kid we used to know. This is the world we live in.

The choice we have to spread love, positivity and warmth is our own.

It will not stop individuals from committing acts of violence against their fellow humans but when given the choice, I know, that positivity, love and compassion rarely steer you wrong.

Homemade Fried Rice

Since I live in the middle of no where, Chinese delivery is WAY out of the question. So how do I fulfill the craving for some yummy Asian Cuisine??

This super simple homemade fried rice. It hits the spot and at least helps this former city girl reminisce about days of splurging on take-out.

Ingredients: (these are estimates since I typically don't cook with recipes. Feel free to adjust according to taste preference)

3 cups Rice (white or brown) cooked
1/2 finely chopped onion
2 tbsp butter or olive oil
1 1/2 Cups frozen peas and carrots mix
1/4 c soy sauce
3 eggs

In a large fry pan sauté onions & peas and carrots in butter or olive oil.
Add cooked rice and fry until small pieces are starting to get slightly golden brown.
While the rice is frying, scramble 3 eggs in a separate pan.
Add the eggs to the rice mixture. Stir.
Add soy sauce and stir well.

Enjoy!!

Some other great additions to make this more of a main dish is cooked chicken, shrimp, bean sprouts, or chopped water chestnuts.

On ambitious days I serve this with homemade egg rolls or spring rolls.

Sleep

It's one of the things I find myself obsessed with. How much did I get? How much did the kids get? When is naptime?

As pregnancy continues to change my body shape and function, my sleep patterns change too. Add to that a 2.5 year old and an 18 month old and you might think I never sleep. Believe me, somedays I feel like that too.

With all honesty, I do sleep. It's not every night or even a single night in a week sometimes but we do have pretty healthy sleep habits here in the Northland. (Maybe the cold, dark winter nights are nature's way of giving my kids 7pm bed times) Whatever the reason, I take what I can get.

I don't question a good night's sleep or the 3 hour naps. I am simply thankful for them. I also try not to begrudge a 5:00 am wake up time or middle of the night "MOMMY!!!" This is my life.

The mom of two toddlers.

The pregnant lady.

The light sleeper.

To get through the rough days and nights I tell myself that I will sleep again...someday.
When my kids are older, when they don't need me as much, when my body is mine again, etc.

I may be delusional and this obsession with sleep and lack thereof may simply be a trade off for the kisses, laughs, dirty hands and feet, snotty noses, family vacations, creative artwork, little arms wrapped around my neck, and the unconditional love that is given and received throughout the day of a Mommy.

If that's the trade off, I'll take it. I'll take every second of it because this is exactly what I signed up to do (3 times in 3 years to be exact).

Christmas Traditions

Have I mentioned I love Christmas? I love the decor, the baking, the chilly weather, the first snow, the traditions, etc.

I am truly striving to decommercialize for my children and instead focus on the fun, togetherness, and traditions that I love about Christmas.

We are starting a tradition with our kids that they get one "big" present from us on Christmas Eve, then Santa visits to fill our stockings with little treats and trinkets. I am doing this not only because my kids are already overloaded and overwhelmed with toys in our house but also to try and keep the focus of the holidays on what's important. I want them to grow to be thankful for what we have and the lives they are fortunate to live, not the quantity or size of the presents under the tree each year.

I want them to remember the activities surrounding Christmas rather than the "stuff" they accumulated. I want them to remember how we went into the woods and cut our tree, how Mom let them tinsel the tree, bake cookies, and arrange the mini figurines in the Christmas village. I want them to be involved, present, and thankful for the love and life around them.

I know the challenges of downsizing commercial Christmas will be greater as they get older. However, if we don't start now to make conscious choices about what we focus our energies on I can see how easy it is to overspend, overindulge and under-appreciate.

Even as an adult I need to remind myself from time to time to sit back, look at my life, and choose to be content. What better time of year for a reality check than the holidays right?

I hope you and your family take the time to focus on what's important in your lives this holiday season:)

Merry Christmas Season!!

First Day- December

I don't want to gross you all out with my disgusting details of my stomach flu-filled first day. But I did spend a majority of the day either in bed or laying on the couch while my husband helped take care of me and our two ailing little ones. It was not a fun day.
So obviously- not any pictures... Well except for one. This has been my savior today: Luigi's Italian Ice. As I lay on the couch eating my second one of the day, I am convinced that tomorrow will be better:)
At least my Christmas tree is sparkling beautifully in the background right?

Snow Angels

Although my blogging has been a little silent….errrr…non existent,  We are still here.  Just busy…very busy.  I will leave it to your imagination on what my day-to-day operations are with two toddlers (occasionally 4 extras while I was babysitting) and a pregnancy that seems to suck the life from my body. 

We had a successful deer hunting season up at our house.  The month of November was pretty much consumed by friends and family up to hunt in the Great White North.

With the end of deer hunting season comes Christmas time at our house.  The tree is up (which we went out and cut from our own woods), and my house is fully on its way to looking like Santa’s workshop.  The kids love it. So do I.  I realize it is not quite December yet but with my shopping almost complete, parties planned, and cookie recipes waiting to be baked, it seems Christmas is in full swing in the Northland.

I’ll leave you with a few pictures of the kids playing in the snow.  They are my little snow angels.