Happy New Year!

I know a lot of people take New Year's to reflect etc., etc. I take it to be just one of those holidays where I get to celebrate and make (and eat) yummy food.

It is kind of nice to have one holiday where there doesn't have to be any "meaning" to it. I use to make resolutions and frankly, never ended up keeping them and then beating myself up the next year because I did so lousy. This year I have no
"resolutions" except those I make throughout the year.

Instead, I want to wish you all a blessed year, full of life, peace, and love. May your rainy days be blessed with sunshine, and your saddest days be blessed with hope.

Easy New Year's Menu

I didn't really have a complete plan in place for tonight. Well, not until this evening anyway. Obviously there was the pre-requisite:

Cheese and crackers +hummus because I love it
Tortilla Chips and salsa
Chips and Dip
Li'l smokies in BBQ sauce - I stick them in a small crock pot earlier in the day with
1/2 bottle BBQ sauce, 2 Tablespoons grape jelly, and a
generous sprinkle of my favorite spice, chili powder.

Then today I decided on:

Open face tacos - deep fry won ton wrappers then put your choice of toppings. I am
using ground chicken, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and pepper jack
Chicken parm snackers - Ritz cracker with a piece of chicken, dab of sauce and
cheese on top. You can use anything but I am using parmesan.
Heat in the oven 'til the cheese is melted.
Snicker doodle cheese cake dip - thanks TSG for the mix. I just added it to cream
but I am going to figure out a recipe for next time.
Bacon Dijon dip - 1 cup mayo, 1/4 cup dijon, 1-3 teaspoons horseradish, and 1/4 cup
bacon bits (I fried my own up. So much better. Mix and chill.
**I have sourdough pretzel pieces to go with those.
Chocolate pudding cups - put wonton wrappers in a mini muffin pan, spray with PAM
and bake on 375 for 5-10 minutes until lightly browned.
When cool spoon chocolate pudding in and shave chocolate
over top.
Triple+ chocolate cupcakes - Betty Crocker cake mix made up into cupcakes. When cool
cut the middle top out, put some pudding in, a dash of
Hot fudge or Hershey's syrup. Put the top back on and
frost with chocolate frosting, and grate a little
chocolate on top.

Approximately 2 hours of my time and not that bad on the budget.

Happy New Year!!!

Evolution takes Faith!

We went to the Smithsonian yesterday for Rohanna's birthday trip. BTW, in my opinion, $112 for a trip for 6 to the Smithsonian, which is 2.5 hours away is pretty good if you ask me. We even came in UNDER budget by $9, with an over priced Starbucks stop, and a $5 Veggie Tales DVD for the trip home.

It was rainy, it was gross, the damp wetness made my whole body hurt, and my feet were soaked. It is all cool though. The kids loved it and the boys can never ever say to me again..."It's no fair. Rohanna got to ride the train and we didn't."

The first stop was the Natural Museum of History. EVERYTHING is evolution. Ok, I get it, so many umpteen million years ago.....Oh, yeah, it's HISTORY!!! Not a theory started by one very "enlightened" man who was bitter at the God who would take his daughter away from him. It's fact now.

It stuck me as they kept explaining away things that didn't quite "add up in their little box" how evolution takes faith too. You need to rely on a human being's say so that it really IS so. You have to believe that there truly WAS a speck of dust that just set this chain of fortunate events into play.

Either way, I am not trying to belittle anyone. Please don't take it that way. For me though, I would much prefer to believe that there is a divine being who was and always is, who just IS eternally, who cared enough to make me and everything around me, then to believe that there was a speck of dust that just always was, that started what is today.

Another Review!! Hair Clippies

Ok, I am totally not planning this blog to be a review blog BUT I do have to give props on great things. I have probably tried every hair clip imaginable for Rohanna's hair. Her hair is so super fine nothing stays!! It is too short to pull all back in a pony tail but so long it is always in her eyes. My friend Maya has an Etsy shop where she sells hair clips. I didn't buy at first because, well, I didn't feel like wasting more money on things that won't stay in her hair, as much as I wanted to help my friend out.

I finally bought a pair to try and they ROCK!!! She hand makes them for each customer and mine have this rubbery grip on them that makes it STAY!!! I bought black bows with an underlining of red with black polka dots. So cool. I can't wait to try out some of her shaped ones, like ladybugs, snails, and Minnie Mouse.

When I ordered mine she made them the way I specifically requested and I had them within a week of ordering(shipped from CA). Even better was getting something hand made by her for a really great price.

If you don't have little girls, it is a great way to buy "pretty little things" without breaking your budget, for a friend's daughter, Birthday gift, or stocking stuffer.

Check her page out at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Mayas-Bowtique/368534249686

Review: Beautiful Creatures

I was chosen to review the CD 'Beautiful Creatures'. This is a CD of kids' music. The main appeal is to a toddler to 1rst or 2nd grader. You aren't going to hear the same old "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" or "Row, Row Your Boat". I mean, how many CD's do you need to buy and be stuck with a million versions of those songs?

Instead, this CD will take you on an adventure with the sounds and flavor of South Africa. The musicians are from Johannesburg, South Africa, and the music is so authentic. It takes me to a place 10 years ago when Davide and I went to South Africa - the music, the voices. It is like being there in person. I can see big smiles on the childrens' faces as I listen to them sing. This CD has songs about African animals and my favorite, an African Lullaby. They also have 6 other CD's,more music about animals, a CD called "Beautiful Me" that deals with emotional things kids go through, a CD of lullabies, a CD about sea animals and conservation, and one about bedtime routines.

I was chosen to review Beautiful Creatures. Here is my review. There is so much more I could say about this CD but really, Do I want to completely spoil the experience for you as you get to explore it yourself?

Check them out on I-Tunes, . And while you may find it entirely too silly, I bet your kids will love it. My five year old who is incredibly picky about his entertainment absolutely loves it.

They are also on Facebook - "Beautiful Creatures". Let them know I sent you.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day!

I remember the year I signed a petition that I finally, sadly knew existed, to make October 15th a National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. I remember the year it became official and watching the Senator or Representative who pushed so hard for it speak about why he wanted it passed. I still remember his voice cracking and the tears in his eyes as he spoke of the one they had lost in their family.

It saddens me that every woman doesn't know just how common miscarriage is and how many are afraid to speak of it because of that horrible awkward silence or the stupid "comforting" things people say because they don't think saying "I am sorry" is enough.

It saddens me to know of so many women whose loss is lessened by those around them because they never saw their baby, never held their baby, never watched them grow. I want to scream out that this life they lead is no fair. How dare anyone who has never been there feel less for the loss of the one who never got to feel that baby kick, see their heart beating away, hear "it's a ___", never got to choose a name, never got to hold that tiny warm finger, never heard that cry, never got to see first steps, never got to celebrate a birth, or maybe a first month or birthday.

Then, while she feels this way, wonders what she did wrong. Was it that cup of caffeine? Was it running? Was it that panicked thought of "Am I ready for another"? To feel like her body hated her so much that it rejected the little one she wanted so desperately. To feel that God is punishing her. To wonder if inducing just one day sooner would have made the difference.

Some days it feels like such a silent heart rending. Those around you tend to forget as it fades away or feel like you are "over" it. Maybe they feel like we don't want them to bring it up.

This is why we need Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. You may not understand how this mommy's heart attached all her hopes and dreams and love on her next little one in just a few seconds of that pregnancy test turning pink. You may not understand that the words "this is not a viable pregnancy" can hit and destroy like a hammer, as if you have lost someone you have loved all your life. You may not understand how the beautiful joy and innocence of pregnancy can be forever destroyed.

However, having a day that recognizes your baby's short life, whether it was a 6 week pregnancy, 39 weeks, 42, or just a few short months of life, is the best thing in the world for that empty space in time. Because no matter if the due date or the date of loss, or the birthday is forgotten by everyone else, there is ONE day every year that we are free to remember and honor those that some forget existed without the horrible awkwardness and fear.

Cooking: Dinner and More

This is completely and totally random. I wanted to name my blog ramblings and randomness but they said it was "taken". How dare they!! Anyway, since I am not a fan of strange spellings that are grammatically incorrect to "make it work" I went "boring".

Ok, so, enough. I baked a pumpkin today. It was what they call a cheese pumpkin to be exact. Don't ask me why it is called that. The lady at the fruit farm said it's the kind most supermarkets use. She did warn me that making my own pumpkin puree would be difficult. Apparently she doesn't know I make my own tomato sauce, pasta, bread....you know, regular old Betty Crocker with out the pre-mixed packaging.

It was work but DUH!!! Several hours later I have the equivalent of 7 - 15 oz. cans of pumpkin and 2 cups pumpkin seeds for a fraction of the price I would have paid. Kieran wants pumpkin for dinner so pumpkin he shall get.

We are having Buffalo Salmon, pumpkin, and noodles for dinner. The way I make buffalo salmon is, as usual, not like the recipe, so this is my way.


Buffalo Salmon

1 pound salmon, skin on
1/4 cup hot sauce (today I am using Frank's sweet heat wing sauce)
1/3 cup panko
5 Tablespoons butter

Put oil in a shallow pan in the oven, which is preheating at 425.
Melt the butter and hot sauce together.
Once the oven is heated, pull the pan out and put the salmon on it, skin down.
Cut a few slits in the salon, pour the sauce and butter over it. (they say reserve 1/4 cup for dipping but it is hot enough without that).
Mix the panko with a little oil and spread over top the salmon.
Bake for 20-25 minutes (or until you feel it's done.)

Egg noodles - You know how to boil water and follow the package directions, right? Then add butter, salt and pepper.

Pumpkin

Take cooked pumpkin (recommend not canned puree)
Heat with butter and cinnamon and serve.