Man vs. Food

My husband loves watching this show. This man, Adam, goes around all over the U.S. and takes on these crazy challenges. Some of the foods that he eats is just nuts! For a few examples: a dougnut bigger that your head, a hambuger that when you take a bite you can't even see your face, and outrageously spicy foods too! If you would like to check out his show, then click here.

My husband is always asking me to creat some kind of awesome goodness together for him. I can cook, well at least no one has complained and my husabnd loves it! So I took him up on this today and I surprised him:

Ketchup on the bottom, lined with bacon (it's not burnt, just bad lighting in the kitchen).

Next, I topped it with hashbrowns and sauteed onions.

Then I topped with coleslaw and mustard.



Finally, I topped it off with relish.




This thing was about 2 to 3 inches high...lol!



I thought he was going to cry! He was so excited and didn't say anything until he was done. He told me that it was the best hotdog that he had ever eaten. I laughed! I did not try eating this, by the way:) I let him try out these type of things. I love to cook and I did enjoy making this creation for him. Trust me that I will not make this every time we eat hotdogs, but I wouldn't mind doing this every once in a while:)

Thirsty Thursday...

This post is mainly for me, but I wanted to share my thoughts. Maybe I could call this Thirsty Thursday (Thirsty for God's Word?). Recently someone told me that I shouldn't be a stay at home mom. Their main reasons were: because my husband works too hard, he is going to leave me b/c I don't work (so NOT true btw), it will make my friends jealous, I shouldn't be that lazy. I think that was all that was said. It broke my heart that someone would say such hurtful things.

I went before the Lord and prayed that if this is what I was supposed to do then I needed to know from Him. The only person's thoughts on what I do that counts is His! I knew that He would lead me the way that I am to go. He knew that I was hurt and now deeply confused and I needed answers. Then a friend of mine, that knew nothing of what happened, wrote a blog about being a "Titus Woman" I was curious and so I read the whole thing twice! This was my answer, now I just needed to break this apart and soak in it.

The scripture that she used: Titus 2:3-5 "the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." (nKJV)

This stayed with me and I have broken it down: this is what the verse says to me....
the older women (your mother, your grandmothers, your aunts, the women in the church that are older that you) likewise, that they be reverent in behavior (they are supposed to be good role models for me to follow teaching me about God's word and how to pray for my family), not slanderers (they/we shouldn't gossip, we shouldn't break down each other or any other women-[or man/husbands]- because we need to lift each other up!), not given to much wine (you should know what this means), teachers of good things that they admonish (teach) the young women (this means I am teaching my daughter starting the day she was born all the way up to anyone that is younger than I am) to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet (self-controlled, curbing my desires and impulses, to be temperate), chaste (pure, modest, clean - watch what I say!), homemakers (caring for the house, the keeper of my home - I need to know what is coming in and going out!), good (pleasant, joyful, agreeable, happy, upright, honourable), obedient to their own husbands (to voluntarily arrange myself under my husband, to heed to his advice, to help carry a burden - NOT to be a doormat but a helpmate to my husband.) that the word of God not be blasphemed.
***used Strong's Concordance to break this verse down.***

I know that not everyone can or wants to stay home. I have been on both ends of that spectrum. I have worked long days on a job (put my child on the bus just to make it home in time to hopefully tuck him into bed). I have worked part-time. I have also had the opportunity to stay home, which I now have that opportunity again. I haven't always wanted to stay home. I used to think that one had to have money to stay home or they would get bored. This is the first time that I have enjoyed being a stay at home mother. 

I honestly believe this is what I have been called to do - at least at this point in time in my life. I do plan to work outside (or inside) of our home. I would love the opportunity to work from home, (which I received some info on today, yay!). I believe that I am meant to home school my son next year and that God will provide answers and guidence for that as well. I am thankful that I do have a truly wonderful husband that wants me to stay home and wants me to take care of our children and home school our son. I praise God that He keeps sending me answers to my prayers. He is leading me the way that I need to go and I will follow and I will listen. He is our provider and my God!

Thank you for listening to me go on and on...but I really just needed to write this out. I struggled the thought of actually posting this all day. Maybe it will help someone else who is going through the same thing. Maybe it will encouage any of the women that I know in my life. I pray for all of you and you are all very dear to my heart.

Rebagz...

A couple of weeks ago(?) I entered a giveaway from Rockin' Green. Rockin' Green is a special soap for cloth diapers but it is also awesome for baby clothes and many other items too! Just check out their website to learn more:)

Anyways, I entered and I won! Everyone loves to win something, don't they? Well, I do!!! I was so excited when I saw my name posted and I went immediately to my email, mainly to confirm to myself that it was me, lol!

What did I win? I won an awesome tote from Rebagz! I received the Tattletale Tote - White "Nipple". Which is actually very appropriate for me. My aunt fought Breast Cancer last year and won! I praise God that she did fight and leaned on Him when things were hard. I am so blessed to have her as a part of my family. You know who you are...I love you very much!

Do you want to see some pics? Well here they are:

Isn't it just beautiful:) I LOVE this purse!!!

This is the tag inside the purse:)

I do LOVE this purse! I have worn it out twice already and used it to carry just one of Gianna's Cloth Diapers. It worked out great! It is very deep, the dimensions are 11.25"x17"x3". So it is perfect for those, "I have to run to the store really quick" moments. I have always carried big purses anyways so when Gianna is a little older then I can have it just as a purse:) Thank you Rebagz for an awesome purse!

Green Mama Blog Hop

Welcome to the Green Mama Blog Hop!

Please only join this hop if you deem your blog as 'green'. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or if you're a pro.. this Green Mama Blog Hop is for you!

My goal is to have more and more people join each week! But that can't happen without your help. If you could please post the button on your blog, as well as in a post, that would be great! Thanks so much for your involvement! I want us 'Green Mamas' to befriend each other and be there for questions or support.

<a href="http://www.giveawaysandlife.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq300/sashica13/green-house-2-1.jpg" /></a>

~Lovely Hostesses~

And Then There Were 4...

Tales of the Wife

Family and Life in Las Vegas

Mommy Made Green

Each week there will be a Featured Blog to be followed as well. To qualify to be the Featured Blog, you will need to participate in all of the guidelines. I will pick one at random from all qualifiers. I will email you the Monday before the Hop, if you are chosen.

Hopping Guidelines:

MANDATORY:

* Add your blog's home page to the Linky list! I will be monitoring the blogs to make sure we only have 'green', family-friendly blogs involved.

* Follow the 4 hosts and the blog ahead of yours. Make sure to leave comments on each of the blog so they can follow you back! The more you follow, the more will follow you back!

OPTIONAL:

(You don't have to do these to enter the hop, but you must do both to qualify for the Featured Blog position)

* Grab the new Green Mama Blog Hop button and place it on your home page.

* Put the button into a post on your blog. Then leave a comment on this Hop post with the link.

This hop will open each Tuesday night and will be open all week. It will start over each week, so keep coming back each week to enter!

Welcome to the Green Mama Blog Hop! Enjoy!

***Please go to Mommy Made Green to sign up!***

Rewards for good behavior?

My son will be 10 this coming up summer (double digits! oh my!!!) and even though Autism plays a part in his life he is very much an "a-typical" child. I have rejoiced over the simplest of things: He told his first lie! He ate something other than a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich! He talked with me (btw 3 or more sentences in the topic of conversation with him is marvelous!!!)! He rode his first roller coaster! He actually talked to another kid on the playground! Yes I know, you may find this very silly but when a child waits so long before they even say "momma" you remember and rejoice over every thing. 

So now that he is alomost 10 I think he needs to learn responsibility and I need to start teaching him to do chores. So last week we started this routine...He gets a "coin", fake money, for every thing that he completes without complaining. If he complains at all then I take 1 coin away from him. This is not real money and he knows that he can't buy anything with it, other than what I have set up. At "Mom's Super Store" he can buy items like:
1. Go to the park (when it's not planned).
2. Go to McDonald's for ice cream and play on the playground.
3. Stay up for an extra 30 minutes.
4. Mom's homemade ice cream.
5. Have a friend spend the night.
6. Rent a movie.

Of course these are just a few of the things that he can purchase. I want him to not only know that he is "working" for something but that he can reward himself. He gets up to 5 coins a day - no more than five. He can save thiem for bigger items in "Mom's Super Store" or he can purchase them as he wants. He gets rewarded for doing his homework with no complaining or talking back, vacuuming, cleaning his room, emptying the little trash cans, etc. I don't pay for things that he should normally do like brush his teeth, get dressed, etc.

I saw a huge improvement in his attitude last week. He seemed like he really enjoyed being able to have something to do during the day after school. I can't wait for this week to begin. As a parent, I have to teach him responsibility. I do believe that his main job is to be a kid. I don't want to take that away from him that's why there is no more that 5 coins daily, plus weekends are free. I can still take one away for attitude issues, but he doesn't have to work for them on the weekend.

Just a side note: I did coins because I don't believe in giving him real money. First, because I am a stay at home mother so money can be a little tight sometimes. Secondly, I don't really think that he should get paid for doing things that he should do to help out. I never received an allowance when I was a child. I do believe that he should be rewarded with what he wants (i.e. some of the things listed above) for completing what he should. We as adults "reward" ourselves when we feel like we've done a good job. Plus I don't think he should be rewarded with sweets.

To Homeschool or not to homeschool?

This week was completely unexpected. Last Sunday night we received our first snow of the year and it was so beautiful as it fell from the sky. We sat in amazement and became giddy with excitement. School called off for a snow day on Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday and then again on Friday! (By the way we never have snow days!) I was okay with no school for a week. I truly loved having my little buddy home with me and playing all day. We did some work but nothing much. I wanted him to not forget things that he had began to learn at school the week before. Since Monday is an official holiday, he will not return to school until Tuesday.

Part of me is screaming inside, "NO! Keep him home. You CAN do this!!!" I so badly want to home school him and be the one that teaches him. I think this would help on so many levels...self-esteem, parent relationships, sibling relationships, building character, and instilling a Godly nature. I know that God will guide me in this process.

Homeschooling for us would be a little different. It would be like most people in the way that we have to do school work. I would also be like most people and take him to the park, the library, grocery store, teach him to cook, art projects, and so on. Yet, the difference comes in the way that I will have to not only be a teacher but the therapist as well.

My little buddy started to "stem" really bad tonight. He started to bang his head, bounce and rock back and forth. He couldn't help it and I can't let him do behave like that either. I don't like seeing him react this way. I don't know if it is because he has been out of school this week and it is driving him crazy inside, or was a lot expected of him today. I would have to be willing to learn how to help him "cope" with this issue. I would also have to learn how to be a language therapist too to help with some language deficits.

So inorder to homeschool I will have to be a mother, teacher, and 2 different therapist for my son to prosper at home. I am considering all that will have to be done and I am praying that God will lead me to know what I need to do. He has all the answers and I just need to listen.

As of right now...my heart longs to homeschool him. I would have to be prepared, (I was NOT prepared for this week). I would love for anyone to help pray for us and if you have any suggestions please leave me a comment and I will look into it. I would like to start this by August and I am going to start my research and I will let you know what I find.  

My Free Diaper!

Zookies was involed with 12 Days of Clothmas back in December. They gave away this awesome gift...

Everything came tied in with a bright blue ribbon and cards.

This is the diaper I chose, isn't it adorable!

Wipes! Now that I use these I don't buy the other ones:)

My baby girl with her Zookies diaper, (yes we match our clothes to our diapers...lol).

I love this diaper cover! I love the print and it was easy to snap too! It is really cute and yes you can use prefold (your grandmothers cloth diapers...lol) or a fitted diaper that needs a cover. I also won a "Snappi", (sorry no pic of that I forgot). A "Snappi" for those that don't know, because I didn't, holds the cloth diaper on instead of using pins:) It is really super easy to use. I have to give a huge thank you to Zookies and Cloth Diaper Addiction. Thank you so very much for an awesome 12 Days of Clothmmas and your generosity!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

As children we would cling to every word from the weather man when there was a chance of snow. We would drive our parents crazy asking, "When is it coming?". We would be so giddy with excitement that we could explode and don't even mention sleeping. We would dream of having a snow day and couldn't wait to get all bundled up to go outside and play.

Now my children are able to experience the same thing...well, at least one of them. My little buddy was so excited on Sunday when he heard there was snow on the way! He cleaned his room and put a chair in front of the window and waited. He continued to wait a long time and I allowed him to sit patiently. He would ask over and over, "When is it coming?" and "Where is it?". He also kept asking, "Do we have to go to school tomorrow?".

Finally his waiting paid off as the clouds opened up and a shower of snowflakes fell from the sky. He came running into the kitchen; grabbed me and pulled me to the window. We sat in amazement as the snow began to blanket the ground, the cars, sidewalks, and the street. He proceeded to get up and brought back clothes (2 pairs of everything) and asked if he could go out now. Unfortunately, it was like 11pm and I couldn't allow him to go out that late. I told him if he would wait until the morning we would go out and play tomorrow and I would even make him some hot chocolate when he was done. He agreed and off to bed he went.

The next morning was beautiful! We woke up to a gorgeous blanket of snow, 5-6 inches of snow! We have been stuck inside and school has been called off due to the winter storm. My little buddy was thrilled. He went out with daddy and played...I am glad that he had a good time playing in the snow.

my Mr.

My little buddy, my Mr. and notice the truck it is FULL of snow :)

All these pics were taken from my window...the baby was asleep.

Little buddy got daddy with a huge snowball!!!

Food for thought...Jesus is kind of like snow. Hear me out. We have our flaws (holes in the ground), sin (yucky stuff on the ground) and so on. If you could see on someones inside the skeletons that we all hide from one another then you would know that we are not that pretty at all. Then the snow comes and puts a beautiful white blanket over the entire ground. You don't know what is under there and you don't really care. All you want to do is play in the snow. God knows us, Psalm 139, He knows everything!!! We may try to hide things from Him but He knows. Then Jesus' blood was shed for you and covered all the all sin and flaws and made us white as snow!

Not only that but to take it one step deeper...You can't see the ground once the snow covers it. I haven't seen one person outside looking for the flaws in the snow or trying to uncover the snow to find the holes or the dirty ground. Then why do we do this to our fellow Christians? We try to see past what God has done in their lives and we try our hardest to dig up their past and their flaws and point out when they fail. We shouldn't do that!!! We should see the beautiful person that Jesus sees when He looks at us. He no longer can see what we once were just what we are today in Him...beautiful!

Homemade Baby Food

I love being able to stay at home but with that opportunity comes some sacrifices we have to make. I try my best to help out with some of the expenses of having a baby. So I cloth diaper not because I am a "green" mommy but because last month I didn't have to buy any diapers or wipes! I make a lot of meals at home and I pack Mr.'s and Little buddy's lunches. I use coupons at the store because I like seeing my total going from $108 to $65!!! (Yes I did that, my Mr. was so very proud of me!) I would have breastfed but she had some breathing issues and couldn't and when it finally cleared up I had lost all my milk supply; so I have to use formula. Now I have began to make my own baby food. I am actually enjoying this and little buddy loves to help!!! I guess in a way I'm becoming a "green" mommy:)

These are the foods that I used today to make baby food. One med. apple, two green pears, one banana, and about a cup of raw carrots.

This is the banana cut up with a little bit of water (1/4 of cup) and ready to be pureed.

All the harder fruits get boiled until they are tender...(apples and pears in this case). The carrots were boiled in the left over water from the fruit! 



This is my "baby bullet" a present from my husband because he is so very supportive in my decision to make our own baby food. It helps in the process:)



Here is another pic of the "baby bullet". I love this thing!!!

I pureed everything and now this tray will hold the individual containers. Each of the little containers of food are good in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They even have a date dial so I can remember which day I made it on!



Left to right: Bananas, Apples, Carrots, and Pears!
3 Servings of each now can go in the freezer.



How much did all this cost??? We usually always have bananas, apples and carrots on hand so I only spent like $1 on the pears!!!  One pack of baby food cost about $1 per 2-pack and it's only good for up to 2 days in the fridge once you open it up. Gianna likes to eat but I think some of it would still be wasted. This gives me baby food for 17-20 meals! I am unsure how much the baby bullet cost but Anthony would not have bought it if it was not going to be worth it. I enjoy doing this and it saves a ton of money. If 20 meals are eaten from all of this food then I saved $9 off the bat by making my own.

Plus...have you ever tasted baby food? I personally think it kind of taste gross. Don't get me wrong...I have bought a couple of the baby food jars for Gianna but it was the organic kind and she didn't even like the banana one. I also know that it is all fruit and veggies with the homemade baby food. Nothing added to make it tastes better. The bananas taste like bananas, the apples taste like apples, the pears were delicious and the carrots were yummy! Yes, I tasted everything...lol.

I don't mind doing the things that I do in order for me to stay home and take care of my children. I am their mother and this is the job that God called me to do at this time. I will do this job to the best of my ability and I praise God for my husband making the decision of wanting me to stay home.

Free stuff!

I have posted before that I LOVE free stuff! I am learning that there are a lot of ways to enter to win free diapers. I have only won one and I can't wait to win another!!! SO...

iloveclothdiapers.com is another awesome blog to follow! I just found her and she has a ton of giveaways on her page:) She is starting Trophy Tuesdays and this week she is giving away a Rumparooz One Size cloth diaper. It ends on Jan. 7 so hurry and enter if you are one who loves cloth diapers:)