Wild Game

My husband loves to hunt, his man bonding time.  But we also love to eat what he hunts.  We usually have a lot of elk meat and need to eat it.  It's never good when the meat is dry or gamey so that's why I have put together some good recipes for eating our wild game that we really enjoy.   My sister-in-law gets to share in the joy of our husbands past time of hunting and wanted some ideas, so this is for Shauna. 

If your husband does like to hunt but you don't like to eat it you might try to experiment with some new recipes.  After all, not only is it using our resources it is a great way to eat healthy.  The meat is more lean than beef and it is organic.  No added growth hormones or steroids in this meat.  Just good old fashion grass from the prairie.  If you refuse to use wild game then here are some good recipes for your beef. ;)

The main way to keep meat from tasting gamey is to treat your meat right.  Make sure the animal gets dressed right away and put in a cool dry place until you can butcher it.  Which should be as soon as possible.  Then I freeze it.  When I'm ready to use the meat for cooking there is a delicate time in which the meat tastes good after de-thawing it.  I take mine out the night before and put it in the refrigerator and I do not wait more than two days to eat it.  I do not de-thaw it in the microwave or in hot water.  Unless I'm in a pinch but there is a taste difference.  It just tastes more gamey if I do that.

Top 8 recipes for Wild Game in our home:

1.)  Sloppy Joes

I got the recipe off of allrecipes.com and tweaked it.  I love this website you can find almost any recipe even ones your mom used to make.  But now that I just said that I cannot find this recipe, I guess I didn't save it to my recipe box so here is my version.

1 lb Ground Elk Meat
1/2 onion chopped (My husband can't eat them so I leave them out and add onion powder.)
1-2 minced garlic cloves
2 Tablespoons white flour
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup Ketchup
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
8 hamburger buns

In a skillet cook ground elk, onion/onion powder, and garlic over medium/high heat until meat is no longer pink.  Slightly cook in the flour, just until you can't see white.  Add the remaining ingredients except for the buns. :)  Simmer for 15-20 min. stirring occasionally.  Scoop 1/2 cup of the meat mixture onto each bun.  And eat!  Make sure you have a napkin!

2.) Cheddar Loafs

I love this recipe.  I tried it with ground Elk and fell in love.  Individual meat loaves, and they are delicious.  They are moist and full of flavor.  It is not your average meat loaf.

Meat loaf Ingredients:
1 egg
3/4 c. milk
1 c. (4 oz.) Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 c. quick-cooking oats
1/2 c. chopped onion (once again we don't do onion, I use onion powder and garlic powder about a tsp. of each or you could use a clove of minced garlic)
1 tsp. salt
1 lb lean ground elk or beef

Sauce:
2/3 c. ketchup
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. prepared mustard

Beat the eggs and milk in a bowl.  Stir in cheese, oats, onion(or powders and garlic), and salt.  Add the ground elk and mix well (I use my hands.)  Shape into eight loaves; place in a greased 13x9 inch pan.  Combine all the sauce ingredients in a separate bowl, spoon over loaves.  Bake uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink and the meat thermometer reads 160. Serves 8.

3.)  Stuffed Peppers

We love it when the grocery store's have sales on produce like bell peppers.  This is the perfect time to make stuffed bell peppers.

8 bell peppers, we used Green
1 cup onions (onion powder, my permanent change)
1 lb ground elk
1 clove minced garlic
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cans tomato soup
1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 c. cooked brown rice (or white)  I just start the rice cooker before I start cooking dinner.

Boil the peppers 3-4 minutes on the stove top after you cut off the tops and take out the seeds.  Combine the onion, garlic, chili powder, and pepper in the skillet on the stovetop and cook until no longer pink.  Add the remaining ingredients until heated through.  Then stuff the peppers with the mixture and bake at 350 for 20 min.  You can also save some of the cheese and top the peppers with more cheese.

4.) Bacon Wrapped Hamburgers

I also got this recipe from allrecipes.com.  Click here for the link.  I did make a few changes.  I used ground elk instead of ground beef.  I added 1-2 cloves of minced garlic. About a handful of cilantro and 1/2 teaspoon Grandpa Lyn's Seasoned Salt. You can find Grandpa Lyn's here.  It is locally made.  This salt is excellent you can use it on anything.

5.)  Marinated Steaks
I love to marinate pretty much any meat with soy sauce, lemon juice and olive oil.  Make sure to let it sit over night to really soak in.  Then we grilled the steaks.  You will want to use the best cut of your elk for this one and tenderize the meat.  Here is a link for some other ideas of what you could add to your marinade and how much of each to use.  I usually just use a combination of other things depending on what I have in the house so I don't have to make a trip to the store late at night.  Well, I can't.  I live in a small town and that isn't possible.  So make do there are a lot of yummy things right in your pantry.

6.) Beef and Broccoli/ Crock Pot

I found this recipe on pinterest.  Here is a link.  I am all about fast, easy, good, and mix and match with what you already have in the kitchen.  This makes a good base.  I also added fresh grated ginger and garlic.  I love that I can stick it in the crock pot and put the rice in the rice cooker and have an easy and tasty dinner for a busy night.  The elk steaks cut into pieces work really well.

7.) Taco's and Fajitas

We love Taco bell spice packets from the store and the are fast and easy.  Brown your meat, add the water, and spice.  Make some Spanish rice for a side dish.  A few vege's, sour cream, and cheese on a tortilla and this elk meat tastes great.  And once again, it was fast, easy, and tasty.

8.)  Your Own Family Recipe Favorites

Take your family recipe favorites and replace them with wild game.  You'd be surprised at how much you will like it.  We use wild game in our Chili, Spaghetti, Portuguese Soup, Egg casserole (with the wild game breakfast sausage), Shepard's pie, breakfast burritos, and anything you can think of really.

Do your own experiments.  Some you will keep and some you won't, but that's how we found some of our favorites.

What is your favorite thing to make with wild game?  How do you keep yours from tasting gamey?

They're Growing!

I am really having spring fever this year and I can't wait for spring to arrive so I've started bringing the spring indoors.  I also hate waiting all summer for new blooms so I've started growing indoors this year.  I promised a post on New Growth #2 so here it is...
Here are 4 ideas on how to grow:

Reuse and recycle things that you already have to grow indoors.  I used toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, or wrapping paper rolls.  However, the toilet paper rolls seem to be molding so I would choose one of the others if I had to go back and do it again.  It kind of makes me think twice about using them for kids crafts too.

1.) Growing garden seeds indoors:

You could always spend a little more money and just buy a seed starter kit at the store but this really worked good because I like to reuse anything I can to save money and the environment.  I got this idea from Intuition Physician Blog.

Step one:  Save plastic containers, cardboard tubes...i.e. Strawberry containers, lunch meat containers, and paper towel rolls

Step two: Pick out some flower seeds or garden seeds that you would like to start indoors.  Honestly, I wouldn't waste my time with hardy annuals that will grow pretty fast and strong outdoors after the fear of frost.  I bought perennial seeds last year when they were on sale and I chose Lavender, Columbine, Pampas Grass, Sweet William, and Lupine.  I'm also starting my tomato's and peppers so I don't have to buy a start this year.  Make sure to follow the instructions on the seed pack.  Even if it sounds weird.  The lupine pack gave some instructions completely different then the rest of the seeds such as put them in the refrigerator.  I'm sure glad I followed the package instructions precisely because they are sprouting up already and I haven't gotten them out of the fridge yet.

Step Three:   Cut your cardboard tubes to fit your plastic containers.

Step Four: Fill your tubes with healthy potting soil.

Step Five:  Water, plant seeds either on top of the soil or slightly in the soil depending on the instructions.  I had tried to grow Sweet Williams for years now I was planting them slightly within the soil like my other seeds said but this seed needed to be planted right on top of the soil. I did that this year and they grew like crazy.  Then Water again.

Step Six:  Put them in a warm sunny place unless of course your package says to put them in the fridge or somewhere else. Keep watering them.  I watered them twice a day when they were seeds and once a day once they started to grow that seemed to work well.  I used a spray bottle to mist the water on most the seeds and it didn't disrupt the soil.  I also covered the plants with the plastic tops and it gave the plants a small green house effect.

*Don't forget to label them so you remember what you are growing and where.

Then watch them grow.  Pay attention to the germination dates on your packages I almost gave up on my columbines but they have a 30 day germination period so I'm still watering them and I'm starting to get some to grow.

2.)  Growing trees

Step One:  Sprout your seeds.  I took my seeds out of our fruit from the grocery store.  Put them in a wet paper towel either in a clear plastic container or a plastic bag.  Water the paper towel and then place them in the sun.  Continue to check on the seeds and water the paper towel when it dries.  I used Pear, Apple (all kinds), lemon, and orange seeds.  My lemon and orange seeds haven't sprouted yet but they may take more time.

Step two: Once they sprout put them in soil in a plastic cup.  Make sure you put wholes in the bottom of the cup so that the water can drain.

 

 

Step Three: Water them everyday and watch them grow.  Plant apple and pear trees outdoor in the spring or fall.  You may want to research more information on what trees will grow well in your area.

 

*If you live in cold weather you could plant lemon or orange trees in a pot and bring them indoors in the winter.  The leafs and plant of the trees are really pretty. *If you use clear cups you can see the roots grow.

3.) Avocado

Step One: Put three to four toothpicks near the point of the avocado seed (they go in easy).  We took our seed from on avocado from the grocery store.

 Step Two:  Place the seed bottom side of the seed into the jar or cup and the pointed side goes up and is not in the jar.  And fill the jar with water and keep it full of water.

Step three: Wait...It took a couple months for us to get a root.  You may need to peel the brown seed cover off the bottom it helps it root faster.  My daughter broke off part of our root before I could get a picture and so I started growing another one and this one is cracked and you can see the root starting inside.  It's pretty cool.  My mother-in-law started our avocado seed at our house and we have been having fun with them.

Step Four:  Once the root grows pretty big you can start to gradually add soil to the seed and then plant it in a pot you can use it as an indoor plant if you are not in it's ideal environment.  You probably won't get fruit because it won't be pollinated but it will be a nice house plant.

4.) Plants that will grow from themselves...

*Pineapple -
Step One:  Twist and pull out the top of the pineapple (it surprisingly comes out without a knife.)Then pull off the bottom about four layers of "leaves."  and cut off the small bit of pineapple that will be on the bottom when you pull the top out of the pineapple.

 

Step Two: Put the end of the pineapple in some water in a container.  I cut the top off a soda pop bottle.  Do not fill the water up all the way.

 

Step Three:  Watch the roots grow.  You will probably see some already growing once you pull away some of the green and cut off the pineapple.  Let them grow some in the water in the container.  Then you can move them to soil and have a beautiful spiky indoor plant.  You may even get a pineapple if you give it enough time.  My youngest daughter and I were having fun watching video's on YouTube.  Check this one out on the pineapple.

 

* Onion, Potato, and Garlic -

Plant potato underground outside in your garden and let it multiply.  Use some that have already started to root when you didn't use them up in time.  Look at my onion try the same thing with these.  I just had mine in my vegetable bowl on the counter and I didn't use it for awhile and this is what it did.  Plant it in the dirt and let it grow.  The garlic I am most excited about though.  Plant the pointy tip up in some soil in a small pot in the house or even outdoors during growing season and get some fresh home grown garlic.

What are you growing?



 



New Growth

Do you ever compare yourself to other moms?  Do you ever compare your kids to other kids?  Telling yourself, oh man she has got this all together, what is wrong with me?  Or all the other kids are reading big books and we are still sounding out words.  I know I am tempted to do this and I need reminders to get my thoughts far far away from them.  So there is the doubt so let's work this thing out!  I love this time of year and I start thinking about spring and new growth and my thoughts are turned to the Savior and his resurrection.  I have been getting spring fever and I have been planting seedlings all over the house.  I will post my indoor growing methods on the next post new growth #2. :)  Okay but today "New Growth" is a metaphor.  I love metaphor's they really help lessons to sink in.  So I'm going to share the lesson I learned from my tree's today.

1.) First you have to look at how well my tree is growing...

2.)  Okay now you have to look at how well the rest of my trees are doing!

3.)  Did you compare the two?  You automatically thought my little baby tree wasn't doing very well didn't you?  Ha! Okay well, maybe you didn't but I did.  I was pitying this poor tree.  What is wrong with this tree I keep asking myself.  He's been in the same environment and everything else.  Then when I realized that ya this tree is smaller and doesn't seem to be doing as well that it could really end up being a strong tree if I don't give up on it and keep watering it, it will just keep growing.  When I look at this tree on it's own I think that this tree is doing pretty good put the second I look at the other tree's I think he isn't doing very well anymore.  This is the same way with us.  When we look at how well we think others are doing then we forget to look at how well we are doing.  We only see our weaknesses.  I know that as we look at our strengths and cultivate them and embrace ourselves the way we are that we start looking better and better.  Not only do they look better our strengths grow and our weaknesses can become strengths.

4.)  When we start comparing our children to other kids then we give them a disadvantage.  Of course we want our kids to do well and to be healthy and grow and be the best they can be.  How are they supposed to grow to their full potential if they are being compared to somebody else? When our kids see that they have to live up to some standard or to other kids then they miss seeing all the good that they have and can't develop those qualities.

I used this idea for a Family Home Evening Lesson and let everyone hold the small tree and asked them about the two tree's and all the kids said that my tree was better (the big one).  Except Dad could see what was happening so he tried to say that the small one was better. Stinker, oh well, he didn't get it right either neither of the tree's were better, just different.  Then I talked about how, when we compare ourselves to others we can't see the good in ourselves.  So then I went around the room again with both tree's and asked them again about the tree's and everybody talked about the good qualities of the small tree.  Even one of my daughters said that the fact that the tree was small was a good thing.  She herself is small and later I asked them to look at the good things about themselves and she said, "I'm small."  I asked her why that was a good quality and she said, "It makes me good at the limbo."  Even things that are looked at as negative can really be good qualities, you just have to look at them that way.  It reminds me of the movie "Wreck it Ralph"  which by the way if you haven't seen it then you need to it is sooooo good.  Ralph is the villain in his video game and he just wants to be good and be appreciated like the hero of his game.  So he goes out and tries to change his role in the game and anyway he finds out that he is really just needed the way that he is and when he embraced it he found the good in himself and didn't have to change at all he just had to find the good in his situation.  Here is a trailer.

My oldest daughter always struggles with this.  She will come home from school and talk about how other students in the class can read better then her or are faster with the math facts then her and on and on.  I could see her really listening to this lesson and she talked about how she is a good swimmer.  I remember she needed help with her reading so we really worked at it.  We stopped looking at what others could do and started focusing on what she could do and where she wanted to be.  We had some practice reading sheets the teacher had given us and the words per minute that they were "supposed" to be able to read by then end of the year.  Instead of saying you are supposed to be here we made this her personal goal.  When I first tested her she had eight words per minute, the goal by the end of the year is 47 words per minute.  So then we said okay if you do 10 more words per minute each month we will get there.  So we practiced everyday and at first she really struggled but now she is almost there and she still has at least another month to go.  Another thing that helped was her confidence.  I had a very strong feeling that she needed to be on the US swim team this year, so we decided to do it and it turns out that she is a natural.  She got 28th and ended last every heat the first meet and by the end of the season she placed third overall in the backstroke at B State and got the bronze.  Not only that, because she has something that she is good at her confidence has grown and it affects other areas of her life.  Her reading has gotten so much better and before she was very shy in class and wouldn't participate and now she asks questions and answers questions and believes in herself.  We are excited about the positive changes and I know that it was because we started focusing on what she could do and not on what she couldn't do.  We stopped worrying about what others were doing or not doing or what they thought.  We also did not pity her or feel sorry for her or feel like there was no growth for her, we simply helped her with love and patience and we believed in her.  Just like we need to do for ourselves when we struggle and feel like we can't live up to others.

5.)  If you look at someone else and believe they are perfect then you are mistaken.  We each have strengths and we each have weaknesses.  The problem is that we can't see every one's mistakes or weaknesses, especially as much as we see our own.  Some of us expect that we ourselves need to be perfect so it's hard to accept our failures.  But when we accept them then we can learn from them and keep making ourselves better.  When I remember my Savior, Jesus Christ, and all he has done for me then I can accept my faults easier and know that because The Savior Died for me he will make up the difference and that it is not possible for me too, then I can surrender and give my life to him and I will be made perfect Some Day.  It's exciting!  This Easter Season as we think about the Savior his sacrifice and his resurrection then we can remember that just as winter comes so do our faults but just as Spring comes and brings new growth we can remember that we grow also.

I read this talk by President Uchtdorf that talks about how we can avoid comparing ourselves to others.  You can read, watch, or listen to it here. Great Talk!!

 

Stop asking yourself, "What's wrong with me?" and start asking yourself, "What's right with me!"

Super Mom Syndrome

As a mom I often struggle with "Nap Time Just isn't Long Enough Syndrome." My sister has an almost one year old walking around the house and she asked me for some advice on how to get things done around the house and get working from home stuff done and "me time" etc. I had a few words to the wise but I felt it was best to extend this question to some friends because there really isn't one solution to this problem. Everyone has there own method you just have to find one that works for you and your family and then when your kids change you'll of course need to change again. I remember this age just being the hardest because those kiddos are so busy and that means so are you. So I've put together a list of the top solutions from my friends and I...I'm thankful to my friends for the help... Here are the top ways to get some work and relaxation in while keeping kids top priority...

#1. This tip really just gives you perspective ... do you suffer from Super Mom Syndrome?  Or in other words "I CAN DO IT ALL AND HAVE IT ALL" I know I DO.  This thinking and overachieving attitude, only leaves me feeling frustrated and unsatisfied by the end of the day.  There is no way to achieve the same amount that you did before you had children unless you can live without sleep...I KNOW I CAN'T. TRUE or FALSE I can work, spend a wonderful long fulfilling amount of time with my kids, and cook and clean and have a magazine cover of a home all the time and I'm involved in church and community activities and events and I volunteer in anyway possible and still have quality family time and husband time. If you said FALSE that is the correct answer.  It really just isn't possible to have IT ALL 100% of the time.  I remember trying really trying hard to make this happen when I first started out as a mom and I failed at it and therefore everyday I felt I was a failure and I could not feel good about all of the great things that I did accomplish in a day.  The great crafts I did with my kids or the the nice meals I had prepared or half of the laundry I had completed, because all I could see was the dirty bathroom, or the bag of fruit snacks they ate, or the other half of the laundry that wasn't done, or the project that I didn't start or finish, the scrapbook page that isn't finished....the list goes on and on.  So when kids come you've got to change the way you look at your life.  You've probably already decided that your kids and family are number one on the list of priorities.  And even if you have you sometimes need a reminder to keep on track... Here are some things to think instead when you think you can HAVE IT ALL!!!

• "Kids don't get in the way of me doing other things, other things get in the way of me spending time with my Kids." - ME
• "It's not all or nothing...It's Do Something." - ME
• "Our main goal is to be together as a family.  So why are we continually looking for ways to get a break from them?" - Frana
• "These beautiful little spirits who came from us really are a part of us so as they develop and grow, so do we." - Frana
• "Until my kids are 2, I personally consider myself at their mercy when
  it comes to time management." - Rene
• "...'Me Time' is important and essential as a mom. The bad news is, as soon as we start having kids the me time we are used to will never be the same..." - Emily
• "The Time that we have with our Kids is Short DON'T WASTE IT." - ME

In other words if you think being a SUPER MOM is doing it all then you better change what you think being a SUPER MOM is, it's adjusting your schedule and priorities so that your family is number one! Check out my other post on Expectations.  Something else that helps me get back on track is looking at old pictures it reminds me how fast time goes and how special my children are and it renews my efforts to serve my kids now and not "later" or "in a minute."

#2.  Now with that being said, I find it pretty hard to believe that you are going to be happy or good at taking care of others when you yourself aren't taken care of.  Remember to keep this in perspective, you now have kids, so for you to expect a lengthy amount of time pampering and relaxing is just not going to happen or even working, for you overachievers.  So what do you choose to do with your time and how do you get the best care of yourself in the small amount of time that you do have for yourself?  The TIMES OF DAY that my friends and I all agreed were the best times to do this were all pretty unanimous...
      1 - Mornings, before they get up.  This time is best if you are a morning person and you will feel good the rest of the day getting "me time" in before you even get started.
     2 - Nap Time
     3 - When they go to sleep at night  This time is best for "me time" if you are not a morning person and you will feel refreshed and ready for sleep you can be ready for the next day and you can look forward to it when working hard the whole day.

Thank goodness kids have to sleep more then us.

Other solutions when you have to get something done with a deadline...You must admit defeat and in list the help of others.  It is not a weakness to give in to your pride and call a babysitter or for goodness sakes ask your husband to change a diaper, read a book, cook dinner, or even yes I'm going to say it...DO THE DISHES!  Believe me your kids will be happier having someone else take over for a moment instead of you being a distracted or uninterested mom.  PS Let your baby cry when someone else is in charge, if you go over and save the day every time your baby cries then there is going to be no one who can help you because that baby knows that momma will come running.  If you have to have a sitter at home if you work from home or if dad helps while you do the budget etc.  then just remember that they are in charge so pretend like you aren't.  You might be surprised what a good job they do without you....occasionally of course, you wouldn't want to be replaced. ;)  Also get a sitter for a date night with your hubby a couple times a month and have Dad have a turn with the kids while you go on a girls night out a couple times a month.

#3. How to Spend your time Most Wisely!?!  Quick, you don't have much time, cram as much crap as you can in that hour nap or try to do three different things at once to multi-task efficiently and make sure to check your emails and face book updates....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO none of these options are very good.  Rushing through things and not enjoying life or taking the time to stop and smell the daisies, as they say, is not enjoyable I have to remind myself of that often.  Multitasking is NOT a Good Idea as a MOM or as a person with high anxiety or anyone really.  We have learned throughout school and the work world that multitasking is a good quality to have but I am here to break this trend and put it to rest.  You are a MOM not a machine or some character from a comic book.  Take one thing at a time.  Have you tried to get some sewing done and your child is trying to talk to you at the same time.  Well, did you really listen that well or sew that good?  Have you tried to make grilled cheese and help someone with homework at the same time?  My grilled cheese comes out burnt every time.  My point is make a choice!!!  Do one thing and then do the next or save the next for another day another time.  Put your all into one thing your kids will notice how much you are paying attention to them and so will your other duties.  You will be able to do them much more efficiently and proficiently and with better quality.  Not to mention with more joy and ease.  Bye bye anxiety and hello choices.  Also, don't forget that awful feeling you get after you waste minutes or even hours on social networking and other computer time wasting junk.  Just don't do it, you'll feel better when you do something else.  Here are some good choices...

• Have a Schedule, a routine!  Kids do better with one and to be frank so do you!!!  See my post on Routine.
• Pick one or two things that really need to get done for the day, or things that really get under your skin if they aren't done!! Keep your plan, schedule, and to do list but pick the two that really need to be done. Do those things right away in the morning.  You will already feel successful about your day and you will get those things out of the way so you can take things as they come for the rest of the day. Some days it will be laundry other days it will be dishes some days you will feel it important to plan something fun with the kids, make it something that is top on your mind or nagging at you.
• Don't forget to take a nap!  Research shows that a nap helps people in many ways (Google it! :) not to mention if you aren't sleeping at night with kids you will need a nap.  My friend Emily said, "For me personally naps are essential. If you are super exhausted you won't be productive with any of your chores around the house so I think it is important to get a 30-minute boost me up nap so that you can be productive when the baby naps again. A lot of people view napping as a waste of time, but I think I am much happier and more productive with a little nap."  And I agree.  Also try to remember that she said little nap not a whole day of napping and pitting yourself.  I'm only saying that because I tried it and it doesn't help.  Also I'm grouchy when I'm not well rested and everyone around me feels it too.  So, do it for your kids, do it for your husband, do it for your friends, and don't feel guilty that it helps you too.
• Baths, reading, writing in a journal, spiritual and uplifting meditation or reading, and even a little fun are important but once again you'll have to remember you may only have an hour so do it in the morning before the kids get up or when they go to bed.  Do make sure the kids go to bed early.  About 7 or 8, kids need to get enough rest.  Which is good for you because it helps give you that break and also time with your hunny or time to call a friend.
• Use a Timer to help you manage your time. Mine has become my friend. If I only want to work on something for an hour then I set the timer and work on it. It is actually a good motivator too when I really just don't feel like doing something, like chores, I will say to myself, "Only 20 min." (20 min. doesn't seem like that long) and that gets me started and I usually can finish dishes or dusting in 20 min. Another thing, we all use the computer now for work, research, shopping, and blogs are nice too :) but enough is enough so limit yourself and set a timer to do it.  Also, I always get a feeling when it's time for me to log off, I don't always listen so the timer kind of reminds me of actually how much time I've spent doing something and snaps me back into reality.  Don't however let time or a timer be a crutch, if you say you're going to do something for an hour and the baby wakes up early and needs you, stop and switch gears.

When the Kids are awake...

• Do chores and cooking, include them, let them "help" (Kids love to help you could even make them their own cleaning bucket with water or something.) Let them sit with you by the sink when you do dishes and splash around and even make a mess.  My Mother-in-law would always set the kids up on the sink and let my kids "do the dishes" with her and they loved it.  Taking pots and pans and other goodies out of the kitchen cupboards is also a fun past time for little ones.
• Socialize!  Have a play date, join a playgroup, or start one once or twice a week sometimes being home with the kids can get lonely and isolating make sure you have some friends and the kids will get some too.
• Errands...store, bank, post office etc. etc.  Don't forget the suckers at the bank!!!
• Include them in as much as you can and with whatever your doing.  Yes it will take ten times longer but they want to be apart of what you're doing and they are learning too.  Be patient with them and realize how much you are giving your children by including them.
• I also had a box of things that they could do one their own, if they got bored with "helping" I'd give them their box and they could have something fun to do until I could give them my full attention.  My friend Emily suggests Baby Einstein video's that are really good for keeping their attention for awhile.  Another friend or mine, Rene, has a list of activities that the kids can do on their own or with minimal help and pulls that out when the kids need something to do or they are bored.  I like her thoughts on time with the kids she said, "Every baby brings an adjustment, and sometimes we forget that we need to just breathe and accept the fact that we have to share our time with them until they are off to school. If they've given you 10 minutes, give them 10 minutes."
• I like to spend some extra one on one time with the kids especially before quiet time or bedtime reading to the kids or talking with them.  This helps them relax and it also helps them get the time they need before having to have some alone time.  We often times call this our "2 Minutes." It usually lasts longer but I know that I can give each of my children at least two minutes of one on one undivided attention which every child needs and sometimes we just get so busy the time we are having with them is distracted or shared.

I'm obsessive and if starting a project without finishing it drives someone nuts that's me.  That is why I would dread the cries that meant nap time was over because "I hadn't finished yet" and I wanted to pout and scream and sometimes I did.  Well, now I can learn the skill of stopping and putting it away and starting again later or just deciding that's all I could do today without sacrificing my top priority, my family.  For instance, I have to stop right now as I am writing about this and visit with my husband.

I have the whole rest of my life to fulfill my dreams, my kids need me now, which is really one of my dreams is to love, inspire, and lift them.  Soon they won't need me like they do now.  If I think that I'm working for a bigger better house or fancier and bigger and better things for my kids, I think that I am mistaken.  They will appreciate more things that I sacrificed for them and the time that I spent with them then the fancy things that I gave them.

What do you do to spend time wisely by blending you, work, spouse, kids, friends, and more together?

Family Meeting

You know what drives me nuts? When nobody knows what's going on and everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off and you've got something planned but then whoops so does your husband so he's forgotten to tell you and whose going to watch the kids. And of course it always falls on the mom to be responsible for either canceling their plans or finding a sitter. Like it would kill him to change a meeting or say "no" to something or call a babysitter...oh whoops I think I went off on a tangent for a moment, well enough about that, besides my husband is going to want to revoke my blog after this :)

So, I always have a nice organized planner and schedule and meals organized and activities planned. But it doesn't do anyone any good because nobody else knows about it. So we initiated Family Meeting:
Well actually I've always liked the idea of having one but sometimes we get busy and slack but our week always goes better when we have family meeting.


1.) I always sit down before the meeting and make my own plans first.  I make sure I include my goals in the plan for the week, such as exercise.  Sometimes in the business of life we can't see that we are neglecting our relationships and time with the people we love.  It is very important to plan according to your priorities.  So I plan time with each of my kids, my husband, and time for me.  Then I also plan meals and I make a grocery list for the week.  I take an hour on Sunday to Plan, before our family meeting.  (There is so much more to be said here....so a post on planning will be in the works.)

2.) Get the whole family together, choose the same day and time each week, we do ours Sunday evening before bed its a great time to do it because everyone is usually home and because Monday starts tomorrow so you might as well be prepared.

3.) Get out your planner and have everyone else get out theirs. i.e. work schedules, sports or other activity plans.  Put every one's schedule together, and work out any conflicts.  i.e. "I'm busy this night so can you pick up the kids."  Or you may have doubled up on something, now is the time to make a choice, which one are you going to do or not do.  Or decide if you can get someone to help or get a sitter...

4.) Family Concerns...I ask everyone if they have any concerns and if there is anything that they need help with or something that is bothering them that they need from me or dad.  Most of the time it is something like the kids would like to go to the park or they'd like to have a daddy date etc.  Schedule in any needs or discuss any problems and possible solutions.  Try the solution during the week and then check back at the next family meeting to see if that worked or not, and then brain storm more ideas.  I'll usually have concerns like I need help with the housework and we will work together to decide what to do about it.  We have decided to schedule a chore day once a week and everyone has to do one big chore.  That works for us now but when it doesn't I will bring it back up for suggestions.  Dad usually has things like we need to kneel for family prayers and obey our parents.  Oh man, I remember when parents were such downers and now I'm one of them.

5.)  Individual goals: usually everyone has a couple goals they are working on and then we talk about how they are doing with their goals and what we can do to help.  For the longest time one of our daughters had the goal that she didn't want to hit anymore (she was 2.)  So, we talked about what would help her and then we worked on it and almost every week she had the same goal but we continued to work on it and then pretty soon it was getting better and better and soon she only hit once that week and then we started working on other goals.  It was pretty neat to see the progress.  It was even neat to hear the kids say what they would want their punishment to be if they hit and how it helped them do better.  I believe kids are good and they want to do good but they need help.  Putting them in charge of their goals helps them learn to be responsible and to understand that they are good but that they just need practice to get better at something.  My daughter did not want to hit and knew that it was bad but she just needed some help getting through it.  She knew what the punishments were going to be when she hit, she had helped come up with the punishment too. 
     Of course you'd want to do this a lot different with older kids but the idea is the same, have them pick a goal and then help them keep track of the goal.  Help them see the rewards when they get it right and to see the pit falls when they get it wrong.  Check up on them and see how you can help them.  Family meeting is a great time to do this.  Help them reach the goal with small steps.  See my post on attainable goals to help with goal setting. (You could even just talk to each child individually for this part.  Although, unless it's really personal it is nice to know that the whole family is supporting you in your goals.) My husband and I also talk about our individual goals at this time too, it shows a good example of learning and growing.

6.)  If you don't already have House Rules and Consequences then your first family meeting would be a good time to do that.  Talk about what rules the family needs and what should happen when they are not followed.  Make sure to print them out and display them in your house.  I love that the kids get to pick their consequences because it helps them remember that it is their choice to disobey and that they are responsible for their own choices.  You could also come up with a reward system to reward good behavior check out my post on Warm Fuzzy Jars for our reward system.

7.)  My hubby and I will then talk, after we excuse the kids, about #1 the budget and how we are going to spend the money.  We have a budget template but there are expenses that come up that require us to make changes regularly.  (Post on budgeting to come) Then #2 concerns about the kids and what we can do as a couple and anything that is bothering us about each other.

Family meeting is all about empowering your kids and teaching them responsibility.  It also teaches them collaboration and teamwork.  It teaches the kids that they are the ones that choose for themselves right from wrong.  You will have to put your foot down from time to time but I have found that when I ask my kids what they think is good and right that they will usually be good and right.  They will need guidance help and direction, they will need consequences.  They will make mistakes but they will know that they are responsible for those mistakes and you will have to hold them accountable.  What I love the most about Family Meeting is that it helps us to make time for the events and people we love.  We are organized to do what we want and when.  We are all on the same page.  No more running around like a chicken with your head cut off.

Mommy and Me Workout

Working out with a small one or two year old hanging around the house, what a pain in the rear.  We all know the importance of staying in shape and working out everyday, but then there comes the part where we actually have to do it.  "My kids keep getting in my way, AHHHHHH!" Drive me bonkers.  I think I worked out for 30 min. but I only got about a 10 min. workout in.  And talk about trying to do it when your husband is home, ya right, even if he is home you know who the kids are going to bug, not him.  And if you try to leave well that's hit and miss especially at my house when schedules get changed regularly and we live in a small town with a small gym without daycare, it's pretty difficult to get that workout in especially in these cold winter months.  Also, as a working or schooling mom sometimes we just don't want to leave our kids again so we can go workout.  So I love to do Pilate's and I love to dance.  Every time I get down on the floor to do something a sweet child would lay down on my lap or pull on my leg or....the list goes on and on..... My Mission is to work out at home, enjoy it, and stay in shape:

THE 30 MIN. MOMMY AND ME WORKOUT

Rule #1: Involve your kids!  The only way to beat them is to join them. 

Rule #2: Start the timer and do not stop moving for at least 30 Minutes.  I do both strengthening and Cardio.

I would tell myself that I could not stop moving/dancing for 30 minutes. This really helped to have a time frame to shoot for. It gave me a stopping point and helped the kids.

Rule #3: Turn on some Music.  Turn on music your kids like and then turn on some you like, Remember to take turns! :)

Rule #4: Dance (for at least 15-20 min.)


Here are some ideas:

• Use all your body parts i.e. How can I move just my head....hands....legs.....finger....etc.
• Think up adjectives to dance like and move like them and have the kids come up with some ideas of their own i.e. sticky, slimy, round, big, small....Etc. You could even print out a page of them from online: I found one on Moms who Think. And then just point to one on the page and see if you can move like it.
• Find some fun verbs to dance like.  i.e. Jumping, skipping, hoping...  I even printed out some clip art of actions and showed the pictures to the kids and see what kind of fun moves they can come up with that go with the photo.
• Feel the music and show your kids your goofy side. Nobody else is watching anyway. :)  Even use the words of the songs to come up with silly moves.
• Use an aerobic video you like and adapt it for you and your kids to do together.  Or even a mom and me video to give you some more ideas if your not confident in the creating area.
• *******You must dance with your kids or it doesn't help you*******
• Let the kids have fun with the music and let them teach you.  My kids have come up with some really fun things like the "Run and Scare" (we run around each other and then just turn around randomly and scare each other) the kids just have fun being with you and enjoying you.  Or my older kids like the "Freeze dance" were you have to stop moving when the music stops.
• The kids might start to get bored and then you can pull out your favorite Zumba, Kick Boxing, Insanity, Kettle bell video or even Dance Revolution or Wii Fit and work harder at the end of your workout.

Once the kids have had some attention and something active to do a lot of times they'll stay out of your hair for a bit so you can get some good stuff done. 

• I have a box of things that my kids can do all by themselves.  If they are done moving with me, then I tell them they have to do something on their own until the timer goes off.  Their choice is to move and workout with me or to do something from their box on their own.  I will not stop my workout to help with other things during that time (except the potty) otherwise I don't ever get my workout done and I need it, they need it, it is for the good of the universe.  Okay maybe just my universe but a universe anyhow.

Rule #5: Stretch and Strengthen (10-20 min)

• I got a exercise ball, kids love these things and they are great for you too.  Sit on the ball with your "baby" on your lap then bounce several times and then stand up (holding the baby of course or she might end up on the floor), and repeat.
• Lay them on their back and then roll them back and forth a bit. Then say it's my turn.  This also helps kids learn sharing and communication skills.  Then do it on your tummies.
• Make sure you have a wall or couch to steady your feet.  Then lay on your back on the ball, place your child sitting on your lap and as you come up to do a crunch you say "Boo" or "Peek a Boo" whatever you like.  Young ones really like this and you get your abs strengthened all in one.  You could even do this on the floor doing crunches or other ab strengthening exercises.
• More ball activities...On this website, Work Out Work Up Inc.
• Everyone knows good old fashioned strengthening activities from Gym class i.e. push up, crunches, jumping jacks, try some of these the kids have fun trying to do them, especially the stretching, use some simple ones that you already know and show the kids how to do them, or just let them have fun trying them.  They just want to do what you are doing and that is a great way to get your kids excited about exercise.
• I love the good old fashioned airplane.  Lay on your back, stick your kid on your feet (Tummy down) and stick them up to the ceiling and ride them around if this isn't a workout I don't know what is. Your legs are working and then pull your head up from your abs not your neck and you will work those abs too.  They'll want to do this one over and over again.
• Do some squats while holding your child in front of you and going up and down at your knees.
• My kids loved it when I just bounced around to the music and held them.  They loved that feeling and it gave my arms a work out not to mention some more Cardio.  Don't forget to switch arms.
• Try some Pilate's...I have about 10 of my favorite Pilate's moves and I can do them very fast and they keep my core strong and my pains at bay.  Here is a blog with a photo of some of my favorites.  You may also want to find a good video on how to do these exercises.  These you would want to save for when the kids got bored, and deserted you. You can put strain on your back if you don't do them correctly so be careful, listen to your body, and when you feel pain you need to change.

There are many many possibilities, the point is to workout for at least 30 min. involve your kids when they are around and interested. And Enjoy your kiddos.

I lost all my baby weight after my second baby by doing this workout at least 5 days a week.  And I would go for maybe two 20 minute walks a week.  I also had to eat a bit less from when I was pregnant.  "Oh food, I have a love hate relationship with you."  Anyway, How did you loose your baby weight?  What kinds of activity do you do with your kids at home?  Are there any ideas that you could add to this work out?  Remember it's never the same each time you do it, just don't stop moving!

Attainable Goals

I often times feel frustrated when I am making New Years Resolutions for a couple of Reasons: I don't end up doing what I set out to do, and they are usually about the same goal every year, and I feel like I'm just starting over and over again.

Some examples might be: I'm going to eat healthier, loose weight, exercise more, do more with my family, finish a project, buy a home, finish school, organizing my home, and they can go on and on.  I have struggled finishing a lot in my life but because of it I've learned a lot about how to finish, or how not to finish.  My husband teases me all the time when I tell him about something that I want to do.  He'll say..."Okay Hunny!"  and you can tell that his smile is saying, "I'll believe it when I see it."  Last year I set the goal to loose weight and I did finish my goal last year so here are some tips that I've learned along the way...

"I am not afraid, I was born to do this." - Joan of Arc

 

Top 10 Ways to Complete Your Goals:

1.) Don't compromise a long term goal or dream because you think it is unachievable.

“If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
- Gandhi

2.) Set a goal that is a top priority for this year or for this time in your life.

Now this may seem contradictory to the first one but if the goals you are setting aren't top priority on your list, it's NOT going to happen! For instance if you are sick and fighting disease and you set a goal to exercise regularly, you might be too tired to be able to do that.  That phase of your life will pass and then you can set that goal later but setting a goal that is not going to happen at a certain point in your life is disappointing and heartbreaking.  Another example would be if you are trying to loose weight and you are pregnant.  Even if you did achieve this it wouldn't be healthy for the baby.  So be smart take on goals that you can do at that point in your life.

3.) Set Small Goals to help you reach long term goals and Work Hard.

"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary."
-Vidal Sassoon

You will not get it done all at once you will have to have patience and wait for it.  Even though I am an adult now and I ask my impatient kids to wait, I too have impatience problems.  My impatient thoughts are saying, "Geese Louise...aren't I there yet.  Well I guess not, maybe I should stop or, eh, I'll just do something else."  Here is the key, set shorter goals that can help you reach your long term goal.  My long term goal was to loose 20 lbs, so my short term goal was to loose 2 lbs a week (If your more patient then I am you could do even less per week.)  I worked out and ate healthy and it was hard to stick with it, but the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, so I kept with it and kept working so I could expect different results.  I got results.  It didn't all happen right away but slowly I changed.  Every time you complete a small goal there is a sense of satisfaction, you don't have to wait forever till the end before you get some relief (that gets tiring.) Let's face it we are all impatient to some extent.  When you've reached each small goal you just get closer and closer to your main goal...
 
4.) Commit and Educate yourself.

If this is a goal that you end up setting every year then it is obviously important to you and it would be something that can make your life more enjoyable in the long run regardless of the work necessary to achieve it. So commit yourself now. "I am going to do this!" In the end there is no one else or nothing else to blame if you don't achieve your goal, it's up to you.

I hate it when I really want something but don't really know how to get it. Sometimes I'm too stubborn to admit it. So first, admit that you may need some help with your goals. Two heads are better then one, right! I can imagine the more heads the better. You may need to learn about something and research it, you may need to go to school and get a degree. If to achieve your goal you need to buy something or your goal is to buy something you may need to learn about budgeting, you may need to figure out how you can make more money. You may need to learn about nutrition and about how to cook better meals...the list goes on an on.  I had to figure out how many calories to eat and how much to burn in order to loose weight and it worked like a charm.

5.) Tell other people about your goal.

Have somebody else to talk to about your progress. Someone else that is committed to the same goal, is a nice benefit, you each can talk about the progress you are each making and help keep each other keep motivated. It's always nice to talk with someone who can relate to what you are going through and that can empathize or offer ideas or encouragement.  Having someone else to report to always makes me work harder because I don't want to have to give them a bad report. Not only that but it makes it more fun to have someone to do it with, and it makes your commitment more real.


6.) Write it down and follow up on your progress once a day.

You will commit yourself even further once it's written down, you don't need to write it out with your own blood but a Sharpie might do.  I used to have a written planner and I would write my goal in there and keep track of them and change them as I changed or as life changed and just kept moving them from week to week.  I always plan out the week on Sunday and then I will include any steps I needed to do for that goal in that week and when I was going to do them.  Now I keep my calender on my phone and I do the same thing on there and I have a One Note system for my To Do lists and my goals and it syncs up with my computer, laptop, and phone.  It is really nice to have it wherever I am.  If you don't plan out time to make it happen, especially if it is something that you have had trouble with making time for, it's not going to happen all on it's own on the fly.  So write it down. At the end of the day check your planner and see if you've accomplished your goal or if you weren't able to what you need to change in order to make it work. It doesn't make you a bad person if you weren't able to do it it just means you have to do something different to make it work. You can't stay stagnant, life changes so you must also.  Even if you aren't a planner/calender type person you can write down, i.e. "I am going to work out 30 minutes a day at 6:30am."  Always check your progress.  I used a food diary and weighed myself each day to check my progress.  If you don't check up on yourself you'll let yourself slide.  Write down progress and any changes to the goals.

You could also write out the goal and maybe a quote or something that inspires you and keep it somewhere that you will see it all the time.  This can help remind you and it can help you to create a great new habit.

7.) Set yourself a deadline and think of a reward for yourself when you achieve the goal.

Decide when you want to finish each big goal and then also the small goals.  If you also give yourself a reward for accomplishing your goal you will be a lot more likely to finish.  Treat yourself to a trip up the mountain for skiing or a spa day or shopping day, or my husband would like a hunting day, whatever you really like.  With my weight loss I would give myself one cheater day a week were I could go slightly over calories for one day if I stayed under the rest of the week.

8.) Visualize Yourself achieving the goal and use positive self talk.

"Act as if it were impossible to fail."
-Dorothea Brande

Some of the most successful people in life spend time visualising what they want and how they are going to do it.  I am a dance teacher and I do this before I perform a dance and I have my students do it too.  The movements become more of a part of me and the kids can perform better and with more confidence.  It's like they've already done it the way they've hoped so why not again.  Athlete's use this technique and it has been proven to be helpful in many other areas too.  I do this before I decorate or organize something, I will picture what I want it to look like before I do it.  When I was trying to loose weight I would visualize my body as I wanted it to be and it would help keep me focused on the possible future.

Whenever you would like to change or do something new or achieve something better you have to think it's possible and think that you are able to accomplish it and push out all thoughts of doubt and fear and replace them with hope and faith.  Remember that you will fall and falter but that the more you do the more you learn the better you get at it.  You can't expect perfection but you can expect to get there in time with hard work, patience, and help.  Getting up each time you fail is the only way to finish.

9.) Complete your Goal.

10.) Celebrate!!!.....and then set a New Goal.

Once completed don't forget to reward yourself.  And remember that it is all a part of life and there is always more to do, learn, and maintain.  You are never really done, life's journey is full of opportunities and we can take advantage of them as we strive for our goals.

 Before +20 lbs.

After -20 lbs

 

What's your New Years Resolutions this year?  Here's hoping you achieve your goals and dreams, one step at a time.

More posts to come on weight loss, mommy and me work outs, budgeting, and home organization.