The Year We Remembered

I am the world's worst at remembering what I say I'll remember, especially when it comes to family events and milestones. I also never get around to scrapbooking or filling out memory books. Prairie Girl's baby book is halfway done, Prairie Boy's isn't even started, and I have no idea what happened to the wedding scrapbook I was supposed to fill out 8 years ago. But this year is going to be different. This will be the year we remember.

This year I am committed to documenting what we do, even if it's not in great detail. I have a 2-step plan for this. The first step is thanks to my dandy little pre-Christmas present - an iPad mini. I swore I wouldn't give in to having technology follow me everywhere (we'll save that rant for later), but I almost have. And that little tablet is making my life so much easier. So what am I doing with it? I am taking pictures, tons of pictures, every day. My kids are always doing something cute and funny, so those moments are easy to capture. But I'm also taking pictures of the ordinary - things like having coffee and washing the dishes. Why? Because that's my life right now, and 20 years from now, I want to remember what I was doing "in the good ol' days." And out of all those pictures, I'll be posting at least 1 a day to Instagram, so if you want to follow along on that adventure, follow me at technoprairiemom.

The 2nd step is rather old-fashioned: I'm journaling. Remember journals, those things that English teachers made us write in everyday so we could reflect on life and its triumphs and atrocities (thank you, Mrs. Rustin)? Every day I am writing down in just a sentence or two what we did, where went, and who we saw. It may be as simple as "We went to Wal-Mart to buy chicken and milk, and then we came home to wash dishes" or it may be really exciting like "We put on princess dresses, went to the movies, had cookies and coffee at Starbucks, and ran through the yard after dark with glow sticks" (hey - for us, that is exciting!). Regardless of what we did though, I'll remember it.

What about you? Are you going to remember this year? Commit to recording your life in some format. Create something you can share with your family this year and in years to come.

A New Beginning

I'm back! At least, I hope I'm back. Around the time of my last post in April 2012, my life started changing so fast that I just could not keep up with this blog. This time I'm hoping (although not promising because life happens) that I will stay dedicated. It helps me immensely to write, and I am hoping that I might help others as well. So now I am back where I started last year on New Year's - making resolutions.

I love New Year's Resolutions. Like I said on last year's list, I love the idea of having a goal with a year to complete it.So did I accomplish my resolutions from last year? Yes and no. I made progress with most of them but I admit to getting off course at times. For example, as soon as Prairie Babe was born (who will be referred to as "Prairie Boy" from now on! Yeah!), I  failed at following through with homeschooling Prairie Girl. But she is only 3 so it's not necessary right now anyway; we are just trying to form good habits. And I had to stop trying to lose weight since I was pregnant, but I did continue to exercise. I did feel like I grew in my relationship with God, and I did a lot more Bible studying than in previous years, but that can always be improved upon.

What are this year's goals? Well here they are, along with my plan.

1. Continue to devote more time to studying God's word
    *Learn with my daughter through her homeschool lessons from ABCJesusLovesMe
    *Complete the devotional book The Busy Mom's Devotional
    *Look up and study the passages used in the Christian fiction books I read
2. Make each member of my family feel special and like they have my full attention
    *Spend one-on-one time with each person on a daily basis
    *Plan special activities and outings for each person
3. Get back to focusing on my "life skills" I have studied throughout the years
    *Prevent clutter by limiting my shopping and selling/donating what I no longer need
    *Be conscious of my plastic consumption and avoid bringing in new plastic
    *Use natural products and avoid chemicals and packaged foods
4. Lose my baby weight plus 5 pounds
    *Track calories every day for every food
    *Resume my previous gym activity

And here's a little different list of measurable goals that can be "checked off"
*Complete at least 5 5Ks and 1 10K by the end of the year
*Help Prairie Girl complete 1 Complete Curriculum Pre-School Book
*Create checklist cards for the kids' daily routines and my housekeeping
*Read 12 books (children's books don't count!)
*Log 500 miles on my exercise bike
*Go on 12 dates with Prairie Dad (not just family outings)
*Complete baby books for both children
*Take at least 1 picture each day
*Write down what our family does each day even if it is only 1 line

And there you have it. I have no plan of perfection, and life happens, so I know I'll get off track. But I have something to strive for. And I'll probably add to the list throughout the year. But for now, I feel good about this.

Happy New Year to you and yours! Now tell me about YOUR resolutions!

Techno Prairie Menu Plan Monday - 4/22 thru 4/28

We're linked up with Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

This is a super-busy week for us. Prairie Girl has her big end-of-year dance recital on Saturday which means extra practices and an out-of-the-ordinary schedule, so we're relying a little on leftovers and like any "normal" family, we have to sneak in a couple of fast food trips too.


Breakfasts
Oatmeal
Raisin toast with peanut butter or cream cheese
Hot rice cereal

Lunches
Smoothies
Leftovers


Dinners
Monday:
Pork chops
Mashed potatoes
Maple Roasted Green Beans

Tuesday:
Taco Tuesday at the local Taco Casa

Wednesday:
Pan grilled chicken
Lentil & vegetable soup with dumplings

Thursday:
Leftover soup

Friday:
BLT's on homemade bread

Saturday:
Post-recital pizza party

Sunday:
Crockpot chili

Techno Prairie Menu Plan Monday - 4/15 thru 4/21

We're linked up with Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

This week Prairie Babe has me craving fruit, so it's smoothies for lunch! I loaded up on frozen fruit on my recent trip to Whole Foods, so I am prepared. Smoothies are a great way to get in multiple servings in one glass, and even picky eaters will down smoothies, especially if you convince them it's "ice cream" (I might have told this to Prairie Girl).


Breakfasts
Oatmeal
Pancakes
Bacon

Lunches
Smoothies
Leftovers
Kashi pizza

Dinners
Monday:
Leftover steak and chicken kabobs
Baked potatoes
Broccoli

Tuesday:
Hamburger patties
Sweet potato fries
Green peas


Wednesday:
Slow cooked pinto beans
Kielbasa
Spinach

Thursday:
Whole roasted chicken
Mashed potatoes
Creamed corn

Friday:
Veggie Loaded Beef Tacos

Saturday:
Errand day! Prairie Dad's pick

Sunday:
Eggs
Bacon
Biscuits
Gravy

New Life: How This Pregnancy is Different

When I found out I was pregnant, I was filled with joy and dread at the same time. I am not dreading the baby by any means - I truthfully cannot wait for those 2 AM feedings, countless diapers, and the cutest little smiles imaginable. I think infancy is magical, so that part is a blessing. The part I dreaded with the morning sickness, weight gain, lethargy. After working so hard to lose 60 pounds, I just knew I'd automatically blow up like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon. But that wasn't so!

So far I am 14 1/2 weeks, and this has been a far different, and much better, experience from my last pregnancy. I am not dealing with the constant morning sickness. I have learned that if I eat carbs and protein every 2-3 hours, I can avoid the nausea and keep my energy up. There were a few days before I learned all this when I didn't feel like leaving the couch, but I got over it quickly. I also feel like my diet has made this pregnancy better. Throughout my 1st pregnancy, I was addicted to Dr. Pepper and had at least one every day. The constant blend of caffeine and sugar gave me the great sugar rush and crash that only made lethargy  worse. This time I am drinking tons of water and trying to eat as many fruits and veggies as possible.

I'm also keeping my weight in check. My doctor told me that as long as Prairie Babe is gaining, everything is fine. I did automatically raise my calories up to 2000 a day to ensure Prairie Babe and I get enough but not too many. Of course if I have a treat every once in a while, I don't worry about it. I know this is the one time I am getting help at burning off calories, so I am taking advantage of it. Having a few, limited indulgences also keeps my mood up so I don't feel deprived.

With Prairie Dad after our 5K race

The big surprise during this pregnancy is how active I am. My doctor told me I'm like a different patient, and she's right. On Saturday, Prairie Dad and I ran a 5K. I did about half running/half walking, but it was still a 5K! The next day, I biked 6.5 miles on our recumbent stationary bike. That certainly didn't happen last time. The last time, a workout consisted of me walking around Wal-Mart to get groceries. Keep in mind that my exercise is being monitored by my doctor, so we are being safe about it, but she told me not to slow down anytime soon - the more I exercise the better off Prairie Babe and I will be.

More than ever I am so thankful for the changes I've made in my life. Changing my diet and building exercise habits in advance is making this pregnancy easier than I imagined. And by sticking with my lifestyle, especially when it would be so easy to give it up, I know that my recovering will be easier.

Techno Prairie Menu Plan Monday - 4/8 thru 4/14

As always, the menu plan is linked up Org Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

God bless my husband. The man loves leftovers. Ok, maybe love is too strong of a word, but he does like them and will eat them without complaint or question. Since he is so willing, I try to cook larger meals so we can have enough leftover for lunches or dinners. Simply put, leftovers save us time and money, and they help us eat healthier because there's no excuse to go for take out if there's food in the refrigerator. This week, leftovers will make their way into our menu plan.


Breakfasts
Oatmeal
Crock Pot Applesauce
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Lunches
Tuna sandwiches
Kashi pizza
Leftovers
Fruit

Dinners
Monday:
Leftover pork roast and noodles
Fresh steamed broccoli
Toast

Tuesday:
BBQ ribs
Mashed potatoes
Creamed corn

Wednesday:
Hamburger patties
Sweet potato fries
Green peas

Thursday:
BBQ turkey meatloaves
Maple roasted green beans

Friday:
Grocery shopping smorgasbord - more to come about this tradition!

Saturday:
Slow cooked pinto beans
Kielbasa
Steamed spinach

Sunday:
Leftover beans
Porkchops
Broccoli
Cornbread

Reverse Shopping

One of my resolutions this year was to de-clutter my house to the extreme while avoiding bringing new items in. By de-cluttering, I mean I want things OUT of my house for good - not just packed up into storage. When we pack things away, we aren't getting rid of the problem; we're only shuffling it to a new location and hiding it in a container.

A lot of people suffer buyer's remorse when it comes time to part with items. We have those pangs of guilt -
"But I spent my hard-earned money on it!"
"I needed it at the time."
"I might need it again!"
All of those may be true, but so what? I suffered from all of those claims, and I finally came to several realizations. That money is already gone, you don't need it anymore, and if you do need it again, you can probably scrounge up another one.

Right now my family is very blessed by the fact that my husband has a secure job with a predictable paycheck, but we've been through enough times when that wasn't the case, so I hate the idea of wasting money, especially when I've already spent it. Rather than donate half the contents of my house, I decided to sell what I could to try to earn back some of what I'd spent. I call it "reverse shopping," and it's become rather addictive.

I used to do the standard yard sales - load it all up on tables, mark it cheap, and watch it get hauled away. But in the past couple of years, I've discovered Facebook garage sales. I just have to photograph everything, list it with a price, and meet the buyer who claims it. So far my transactions have been very smooth, and over 2 years, I've had about 300 transactions. I usually meet people at the grocery store, or if I know them, they stop by my house. I get more publicity since there are 11,000+ people in the garage sale group, and I can get a better price, especially for new items or groups of similar items.

I'm not money-hungry though, so I don't sell everything. In fact, I give a lot away to family and friends. I have also donated a lot to help local organizations. I'd rather see things really help someone than for me to get a few bucks from it. Selling so much has also helped me really learn the difference between "need" and "want," so items I think people may "need" often get donated first.

So how is this affecting my house? I've been clearing out every room and making space. I've even tackled the storage rooms I used at my parents' house, and I've cleared out almost everything from there except some Christmas decorations and baby clothes. And I haven't missed a thing. I had so much stuff that wasn't used on a daily basis, that I never fully realized I had it anyway. Now I'm down to a select number of clothes and kitchen utensils, and I use what I have every day. If it's in our house, it has a value. This reverse shopping has also helped decrease my desire to go out for conventional shopping. I don't want to bring things into my home if there's a possibility I'll have to get rid of it later.

How do you get rid of your things? Do you sell or donate?

Recipe Box - Baked Caprese Salad

My husband's favorite homemade dish is, without a doubt, Baked Caprese Salad. He can eat a whole tray of it by himself in one sitting. But honestly, it can be expensive, especially when we don't have our own fresh tomatoes and basil growing in the garden and when I can't make the bread. For that reason, the dish is usually reserved for special occasions, such as his birthday last week.

Now don't let the name fool you - there's no lettuce in this salad. The recipe is simply based on the well-known Italian dish Caprese Salad which is a blend of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. I use Giada de Laurentiis's original recipe with a few modifications. I won't go through the whole recipe since it's a click away, but here are my changes.

While the recipe calls for a baguette, I use a loaf of whole wheat French bread. We love whole wheat, and we try to avoid white flour whenever possible. Instead of Roma tomatoes, we use Campari tomatoes. Campari are smaller and more flavorful. I have found that sometimes Romas can be a bit bland, especially when they are off season. Campari usually taste sweet and juicy. My last modification is to use marinated mozzarella. Marinated mozzarella is usually preserved in a bowl of oil/vinegar with spices. The cheese has a little burst of flavor and is more exciting than plain mozzarella.

Prairie Dad LOVED having this for his birthday, and I loved that it was easy to make. My final tip to choose good olive oil - good olive oil will make your bread golden and delicious, and you will enjoy every mouthwatering bite.

The Choice

This month I had to make a choice. The library is writing the budget for the 2013-14 school year, and I had to decide if I wanted to work more or less. My choice? No work at all.

When my contract expires in June, I will be a full time stay at home mom.

In my mind, the choice was easy. I can be home with my children, supervise their education, nurture and love them, and ensure they have the best care. I'm not staying home for a break or relaxation time, that's for certain. But I chose to bring these children into the world, and I feel like it's my responsibility to raise them, not daycare workers and not grandparents, but me.

So why am I taking a beating?

Almost immediately I heard remarks about how I was giving up my career and would never be able to get it back. Stay at home moms don't make money. They don't get promotions. They don't make a name for themselves.

My response: so what?

Being a stay at home mom is not about me, it's about my children. If I wanted fame, power, and money, I certainly wouldn't have had kids. The choice I am making is about what will give my children the best possible life.

Then there's that word over which I've suffered abuse: choice.

People assume that I must be a pampered housewife with a rich husband since I can so willfully "choose" to stay home. That is far from reality. In fact, for most of our marriage, our income was at or below the poverty line. Only recently have we been able to move up a little, and by adding a 2nd child, we've taken a step back. Don't get me wrong, my husband has what I consider to be a good job with insurance. And by good, I mean we can pay our bills and put back a little extra. But I know many families who make much more than we do who claim that both parents have to work in order to have enough money.

And that's my problem with the argument: money.

It doesn't take a lot of money to survive. More than money, it takes careful planning, and that's where a lot of my work is. I have to plan meals, budget for trips, plan out project funding, and somehow compensate for those emergencies that were never in the plans. I've learned how to take little and turn it into something. So when I say I choose to stay home, I'm not saying I choose to give up a paycheck. I'm saying I'm making changes in my life.

I'm also choosing to teach my children about a certain way of life. I believe that having too much money can be a bad thing. I don't want to see them spoiled and selfish. I want to see them resourceful and appreciative. I love the look in my daughter's eyes when she discovers that Mommy can bake muffins with her instead of buying them at the store, and Daddy can plant seeds that will grow vegetables. She can learn by doing, and in the process I hope she sees that the world needs much more than money.

Now I know there are cases when both parents have to work, and of course there are single moms without a choice. And I commend them for doing what they have to do. Both of my parents had to work. My grandmother was a single mom. I get it. But I think the idea of money gets used as an excuse too often.

As a mom who's been on both sides of the equation, don't hate on those who have to work, and don't hate on those who stay home. We've all had to make choices, and in both cases there are often sacrifices. But we're doing what we can for our children, to provide for them, to care for them, and to raise them up as responsible people.

Techno Prairie Menu Plan - 3/25 thru 3/31

I try to keep my meals as unprocessed as possible. I like to rely on simply dishes and lots of vegetables. But at this season in my life, sometimes I have to stretch the boundaries a little bit to accommodate both my cravings and my time.  As the months progress, and I transition into being a full time stay-at-home-mom (more to come on that later), I am hoping my meal plans can make the jump from mostly natural to completely natural.

One thing I do love to do is cook up food in advance so we can eat on it through the week. It saves me time and money, and there's less of a chance I'm going to end up in the kitchen stuffing cookies in my mouth for breakfast. So this week, anything with a * has been prepared in advance and is waiting for me to take it our of the refrigerator.

Breakfasts
Pancakes*
Sausage*
Applesauce*
Oatmeal
Cereal

Lunches
Steak*
Macaroni and Cheese*
Tuna sandwiches
Leftovers
Bananas
Apples
Pineapple
Strawberries

Dinners
Monday:
Baked Ravioli - using spinach ravioli, organic marinara, and 2% mozzerella
Sauteed chicken breasts

Tuesday:

Hamburger patties
Roasted corn
Baked potatoes


Wednesday:
Southern Stir Fry made with brown rice and organic veggies
Smoked kielbasa

Thursday:
Prairie Dad's birthday - his choice!

Friday:
Pan grilled catfish
Pasta salad
Baked zucchini

Saturday:
BBQ Easter buffet
Strawberry cake with chocolate and cream cheese dipping sauces

Sunday:
Leftovers