SUNDAY GIVEAWAY: Piggy Paint

Piggy Paint was developed after one mama discovered that the nail polish she was using on her daughters' fingers and toes would eat through a foam plate. Kind of scary when you think about your kids inevitably putting their fingers into their mouths. Piggy Paint is as "natural as mud", is water-based, and free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, ethyl acetate and acetone... and made in the USA! We are big fans of the nail polish and nail polish remover.

This week we are giving away a $15 gift certificate for Piggy Paint products.

To be entered, please answer the following question:

"At what age did you (or will you) let your little girl start wearing nail polish?"

How to earn additional entries:

1.) Become a follower on our blog (publicly) and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

2.) Subscribe to the Mama Memo by clicking here and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

3.) Blog about this giveaway- with a link back to here. Post YOUR blog entry first and then the comment.

4.) Add the Mama Manifesto button to your sidebar.

5.) Follow us on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. TWEET- "Giveaway- win a $15 credit for Piggy Paint nail products for little girls from @MamaManifesto. Enter at mamamanifesto.com"

6.) Become a fan of Mama Manifesto on Facebook by clicking the button on the left!


[this giveaway will be closed on Saturday at 11 PM, & the winner will be announced next Sunday!]



And now for the winner of last week's giveaway:
(((Emily)))


Congratulations! Shoot us an email by 3/7 to mamagiveaways(at)gmail(dot)com with your prize in the subject line, and we will hook you up! Keep checking back for more great giveaways!

A Little Olympic Inspiration

Having the Olympics on right now brings back memories of watching the games as a child and marveling at the concept of being "the best in the world". During the winter games, I could be found roller skating around my street about 2 minutes after the ice skating wrapped up. Laps, and twirls, and in my head - double axles.

Here are some fun "olympic inspired" gems I've stumbled on:

• "Who Will Win The Bobsled Race", by the ever crafty & creative Make & Takes
• Olympic Coloring Pages, by Woo Jr.
• "Snowball Ring Toss", by Make & Takes

Are you watching the games? Do your kids tune in at all? Any fun Olympic activities happening in your home?

TALK BACK: celebrity responsibility

We love this space for sharing ideas and resources, but sometimes it's just interesting to share our take on what's going on in the world. I was struck by two events recently - one was a recent quote by Miley Cyrus to the parents of her fans. In a nutshell, she abdicated her responsibility as a role model to children, and seemed pretty unapologetic about frustration over her sexed-up image. On the other hand, this week Tiger made a very public apology about his inappropriate affairs.

While we certainly can't compare their behavior, they seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their philosophies of responsibility to their fans. What is your take on this? Do celebrities need to be responsible role models? Do you think Tiger Woods owed his fans an apology? Do you think that Miley Cyrus should be more sensitive to the kids who look up to her?

Quick, Easy & Healthy Turkey Wrap

• 1 whole wheat tortilla or wrap
• 1/2 avocado, mashed
• 4 slices (3 oz.) deli-style turkey breast or 2 oz. firm tofu
• 2 slices low-fat Swiss cheese
• 1/4 cup arugula
• 1/2 tomato, chopped
• 2 thin slices red onion

Spread mashed avocado on tortilla or wrap. Layer remaining ingredients on top of wrap. Sprinkle salt & Pepper.

Roll up your wrap and enjoy!

SUNDAY GIVEAWAY: Slice & Bake Play Cookies by Melissa & Doug

Inspire your child's inner Martha Stewart with this play food set by Melissa & Doug. This wooden set includes 12 cookies and 18 colorful toppings; knife; spatula; kitchen mitt and cookie sheet. We love that Melissa & Doug use natural products in the creation of their toys. You can have peace of mind when they do try to eat these pretend cookies. Which we know they will.

Gummylump.com is giving away a set of these Slice & Bake Cookies to one lucky mama!

To be entered, please answer the following question:

"What is your favorite cookie?"

How to earn additional entries:

1.) Become a follower on our blog (publicly) and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

2.) Subscribe to the Mama Memo by clicking here and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

3.) Blog about this giveaway- with a link back to here. Post YOUR blog entry first and then the comment.

4.) Add the Mama Manifesto button to your sidebar.

5.) Follow us on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. TWEET- "Giveaway- win a Melissa & Doug play food set from @MamaManifesto. Enter at mamamanifesto.com"

6.) Become a fan of Mama Manifesto on Facebook by clicking the button on the left!


[this giveaway will be closed on Saturday at 11 PM, & the winner will be announced next Sunday!]



And now for the winner of last week's giveaway:
(((EllieB)))


Congratulations! Shoot us an email by 2/28 to mamagiveaways(at)gmail(dot)com with your prize in the subject line, and we will hook you up! Keep checking back for more great giveaways!

mama Love

{photo courtesy of Leslie Shewring, a creative mint}

... We love Leslie Shewring's blog :: acreativemint.typepad.com She is a brilliant photographer, and features inspiring vignettes of color by using everyday items. Serious eyes candy that will prompt an urge to redecorate or at least bring in some fresh flowers.

... The next time you are looking for a gift for a kiddo, make sure you visit Frecklebox, a fabulous site with oodles of personalized gift options. We love their clipboards. We keep our clipboards in the car with a stash of dry erase markers and a couple of socks that lost their mates for driving time coloring fun. (the socks are for erasing)

... We love the surprising natural cleansers that Real Simple shared this week. Who knew that you could use ketchup to clean. For real.

Just Add Sunshine

It's not just plants that need a little water, fresh air & sunshine to thrive...

We took these photos on our impromptu hike at Top of the World, in Laguna Beach. It was just what our family needed. A perfect day. Our wee fam, the outdoors, a balmy breeze, trail mix, running down the hills until it feels like your legs cannot keep up, throwing rocks into the puddles, marveling at the colors in nature.

Where is your favorite place to go outdoors with your kids? Go today...it will change your day.

new favorite snack

It was a moment that could have gone horribly wrong. Kids requested pb + honey sandwiches for lunch. Mom agreed, and set off to make them. Uh oh - out of bread. (How can we be out of bread? It's a staple.) But, out of the corner of my eye, I spy my saving grace in the pantry -- honey whole wheat pretzels from Trader Joe's.

New favorite - honey whole wheat pretzels and peanut butter & honey for dipping. The perfect combo of sweet & salty.

3 cheers for Trader Joe's.

a day in the life

wake up at 5am - try to get a crying child to go back to sleep.

doze until 7am, discover both girls have peed through diapers.

throw crib bedding in washer. throw India's bedding near washer.

feed Karis while snuggling Kembe.

get kids dressed.

discover we have no breakfast foods.

remember valentines are due at preschool.

frantically address 24 valentines from Jafta, 18 from India.

plop Karis in an exersaucer while Mark drops off kids, take shower.

realize it was snack day for India.

find snack to have Mark take back.

get call from Mark - he forgot he had a 9am and missed his first client.

lament with Mark about what a hot mess we are right now.

blow dry hair while Karis tries to climb up my leg.

change a diaper, realize I have no baby wipes.

load Kembe and Karis into car to do a grocery/diaper run.

stop by Starbucks for the first time in months, feeling free with only two kids.

go to Target - debate taking in double stroller or chancing that a multi-kid cart will be available.

remember last week and the lack of multi-kid carts and the chaos in cause.

take stroller.

pass by 3 multi-kid carts at the entrance.

ponder how to fit all my diapers and groceries into teensy stroller basket.

get shadowed by a security guard who thinks I'm shoplifting.

become subject of stares as Karis has full-scale tired meltdown in Target.

do laps around store as baby cries for 30 minutes.

shove groceries around both kids and into every available space on stroller.

contemplate abandoning groceries and high-tailing it out of store when screaming escalates.

complete purchases while holding screaming baby and wondering why she didn't just take her nap while I shopped.

scold myself for trying to make a plan.

realize Karis will now fall asleep in car and leave me in a bind when I pick up older kids.

shove groceries into car around ginormous double stroller.

drive to preschool.

Karis falls alseep.

stroller falls over onto groceries as I drive.

arrive at preschool.

contemplate how to keep Karis asleep when stroller does not fit through doors of classrooms.

attempt to carry the carseat in my arms.

make it halfway across parking lot turn back for the stroller.

open trunk. groceries spill out.

raw eggs crack ON MY SHOE.

stash eggs in a bush in front of other preschool moms.

take off shoe.

open pack of baby wipes to clean it off.

wrangle Kembe and still-sleeping Karis into stroller.

abandon stroller (and children) outside classroom door while retrieving children.

decide to salvage eggs, because I don't want to go to another store with four kids.

find eggs, pull out shells, place the rest in a grocery bag.

head home. open trunk, snag sleeve of on-sale-but-still-spendy anthropologie shirt on trunk handle.

rip sleeve off new shirt.

unload four kids from car.

remember I haven't eaten lunch.

nor has Kembe.

start prepping lunch.

offer Kembe a peanut-butter sandwich.

deal with meltdown that ensues upon discovering I forgot to buy peanut butter.


hold Kembe for 45 minutes as he cries, thinking about groceries still in the car.

still hungry.

have panic attack about the state of the house.

need to pee.

get Kembe distracted with promises of goldfish.

bring melting groceries in from the car.

put away groceries while attempting to feed Karis.

abandon non-perishables for Mark, sit down to feed Karis.

check email. discover nasty comment on blog.

try not to let it affect me.

let it affect me.

stare at mess of house and wonder where to even start.

get pressured into playing Kembe's favorite "pretend you are asleep until I scream and wake you up" game.

kids bring ALL of their bedding into living room to play this.

another panic attack about the state of the house.

try to ignore it and play with them anyway.

put a grumpy Kembe down for his nap.

attempt to put Karis down, realize her bedding is still in dryer.

lay out a beach towel. emphatically request that India go poop on the potty instead of 2 seconds into her nap in her pullup.

she declines.

2 seconds into her nap, discover India has pooped.

change her diaper.

India and Kembe fall asleep.

Karis poops.

risk waking India to get diaper from the room.

put Karis down for her nap.

begin to get a bit giddy about potential for a simultaneous nap.

have a little quiet time with Jafta.

warn Jafta within inches of his life that he must enter his bedroom quietly and not call out during his nap, so he won't wake up his brother.

Jafta lays down, and then calls out for water, waking Kembe.

lose my cool with Jafta.

watch my only moment to finish laundry/return emails/make phone calls/clean house drift away.

try to coax Kembe into sleeping more.

accept defeat.

snuggle with a groggy and grumpy Kembe.

realize I still haven't eaten.

or peed.

hear Karis wake.

Kembe won't let me go.

Walk into nursery holding Kembe in one arm, grab Karis with another.

plop all of us on the couch.

snuggle.

think about all of the things that won't get done again today.

eye the thank-you cards, the filthy floors, the laundry on the sofa.

try to enjoy the snuggle.

breathe.

hope tomorrow is easier.

TALK BACK: car talk

Alright, mamas. We want to know what you are driving! Have you gone the way of the minivan? Are you rolling in an SUV? Anybody out there in a sedan? Tell us about your wheels, how many kids you have, and what you like and don't like about your particular car. Is it easy to drive? Can the kids get in and out with ease? Will it fit your stroller and gear? Does it have a cool factor (and do you even care)? Tell us about it.

Amazing Black Bean Brownies

Black beans and ground walnuts may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of rich, chewy brownies, but that's exactly what intrigued me when I found this recipe. They are gluten-free, agave-sweetened, and pack a serious protein punch. Skeptical? I was too. And believe me, this was going to be a recipe I snuck in while my two picky eaters were at school. Well, they turned out delicious! Moist, perfectly chocolaty, and no trace of beanie-ness. It was lots of fun to reveal the secret ingredients as the kids were begging for seconds.

{photo: 101 Cookbooks}

This recipe comes from Baking With Agave Nectar: Over 100 Recipes Using Nature's Ultimate Sweetener by Ania Catalano.

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups soft-cooked black beans, drained well (canned is fine)
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ cup (granulated) natural coffee substitute (or instant coffee, for gluten-sensitive)
¼ teaspoon sea salt
4 large eggs
1½ cups light agave nectar

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line an 11- by 18-inch (rimmed) baking pan (or jellyroll pan) with parchment paper and lightly oil with canola oil spray.

Melt the chocolate and butter in a glass bowl in the microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on high. Stir with a spoon to melt the chocolate completely. Place the beans, 1/2 cup of the walnuts, the vanilla extract, and a couple of spoonfuls of the melted chocolate mixture into the bowl of a food processor. Blend about 2 minutes, or until smooth. The batter should be thick and the beans smooth. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the remaining 1/2 cup walnuts, remaining melted chocolate mixture, coffee substitute, and salt. Mix well and set aside.

In a separate bowl, with an electric mixer beat the eggs until light and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the agave nectar and beat well. Set aside.

Add the bean/chocolate mixture to the coffee/chocolate mixture. Stir until blended well.

Add the egg mixture, reserving about 1/2 cup. Mix well. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Using an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1/2 cup egg mixture until light and fluffy. Drizzle over the brownie batter. Use a wooden toothpick to pull the egg mixture through the batter, creating a marbled effect. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the brownies are set. Let cool in the pan completely before cutting into squares. (They will be soft until refrigerated.)

Makes 45 (2-inch) brownies.

SUNDAY GIVEAWAY: Dadoo Kids Organic Clothing Line

We love Dadoo Kids line of organic cotton and bamboo blends. Their playful, modern styles include bold graphic tees, sporty pants and twirly dresses. The bamboo wicks moisture away and the buttery soft fabric is gentle on your kiddo's skin.

Dadoo kids is giving a lucky mama the t-shirt of her choice in the perfect size for her little one. Leave us a comment answering the following to be entered to win:



"Which of the Dadoo Kids' designs do you like the best and what size would you choose?"

How to earn additional entries:

1.) Become a follower on our blog (publicly) and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

2.) Subscribe to the Mama Memo by clicking here and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

3.) Blog about this giveaway- with a link back to here. Post YOUR blog entry first and then the comment.

4.) Add the Mama Manifesto button to your sidebar.

5.) Follow us on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. TWEET- "Giveaway- win a Dadoo Kids Organic child's tee of your choice from @MamaManifesto. Enter at mamamanifesto.com"

6.) Become a fan of Mama Manifesto on Facebook by clicking the button on the left!


[this giveaway will be closed on Saturday at 11 PM, & the winner will be announced next Sunday!]


And now for the winner of last week's giveaway:
(((The Penny-Pinching Mama)))



Congratulations! Shoot us an email by 2/21 to mamagiveaways(at)gmail(dot)com with your prize in the subject line, and we will hook you up! Keep checking back for more great giveaways!

Valentine Parfaits

These healthy snacks make the perfect treat for your little Valentine. I made them last year for my kids' class parties, but they would be great in small batches, too. And I think it's safe to say that they're a nice break from box after box of conversation hearts. They are super simple to assemble:

1. Layer vanilla & strawberry (or raspberry) yogurts, and sliced fresh berries into clear cups. Use real yogurt! Trader Joe's has so many yummy varieties.

2. Whip up some heavy cream, then drizzle in a bit of agave syrup. Continue to beat until stiff, then dollop on top of the yogurt.

3. If you can get them, top with Trader Joe's Cinnamon Schoolbook ABC cookies (X's & O's of course!). These cookies are a favorite in our house, and there are plenty of X's and O's in each tub.

{Finish with fun heart sprinkles if you're feeling fancy.}

XOXOXOXO

Love is in the Air

With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, we have to give a shout out for one of our favorite Veggie Tales DVD's, Silly Little Thing Called Love.

We love the cute little veggie kids and their completely realistic "kiddo-speak lingo". My favorite video segment is where Madame Blueberry takes a journey that brings her to the realization that gratitude is what will make her happy, not stuff.

getting the scuffs out

I love sneakers. I love Converse sneakers. I love Converse sneakers on little ones.

I don't love how scuffed the toes get after a few wearings. Soap and water didn't seem to touch the marks, and sending shoes through the laundry always seems to weaken the velcro. This week I had a stroke of genius and tried my beloved Magic Eraser on the toes. Voila! Good as new with very little effort.


Now if only there was a Magic Eraser for the pen marks on my sofa . . .

te veo

My friend Dionne just shared this letter with me. She is a teacher at a school primarily composed of under-privileged kids, and she was moved to help raise funds for Heartline Haiti. I love this story of children helping other children, and what they learned about themselves:


Woodcrest Elementary School is a small school of about 500 students, located in one of the roughest parts of Fullerton-- the barrio so-to-speak . We are a predominantly Latino school. We weren't sure how a fund drive would fare in our community where involvement is dormant (at best) and especially during such rough economic times, but our Student Council was motivated to give it their best shot.

As I mentioned last week, our Student Council decided to start fundraising for Haitian orphans last Thursday and ended the campaign today. The goal was set at $1000-- a modest amount, but when 77% of our student population lives below the poverty line, $1000 is a big deal.

After last Friday's $860 tally, we realized that with four days to go in our fund drive, we'd easily exceed our goal, so on Monday morning we upped the ante and set a new goal to raise $1500 by Thursday. To our amazement, students responded to the challenge nearly doubling Friday's intake.

By Tuesday of this week students raised $1600. I was blown away by the stirring of our small, underprivileged, community's capacity for taking action.

Never in our history of fundraising efforts, have we raised that much money in such a short amount of time. NEVER! This outpouring of support for Haitian orphans was unprecedented.

Today we've raised a little over $2700 dollars in funds for Heartline Ministries and donations are still flowing in. Our preschoolers proudly drug in a manilla folder full of coins they collected. One little boy reported that he wanted to donate his money because he wanted to help the children. It was such an awe inspiring experience for me-- ordinary kids doing an extra ordinary thing.

My sixth graders have a phrase they like to use with each other: "Te veo." It's a slang term that literally means "I see you", but there is so much more meaning packed into that tiny phrase.

They say it when they feel the need to empathize with what another person is experiencing. One student might use the phrase when another shares that his dad just got deported. When the phrase is used, it denotes a sense of solidarity or a collective struggle.

My students don't have much to offer, they may be (literally) scraping together their few coins to help the Haitian children, and our donation may not be as impressive as some of the larger donations, but they gave out of need. Which is to say, "Haiti, we may not have much to give, but we will not let our own needs blind us from seeing yours. 'Te veo'."

Students pictured from left to right(bottom row):  Adolfo Flores, Odalis Renteria, Brianna Segura, and Adiel Morelos; (middle row) Mrs. Dionne Sincire (ASB Advisor), Matt Correa, Ambeer Galicia, Taylor Osmus, Rebecca Tell, Ashlea Grabau, and
Mr. Ken Zeh (ASB Advisor); (top row) Kayla Palmar, Alicia Morales, Ariane Ochoa, Attabik Shah, Destanee Lamar-Muir.

TALK BACK: family tv time

I was talking with a group of friends recently about how our family grew up watching tv shows together on certain evenings. This was before the days of Tivo, when we watched things in real time. We always looked forward to "Cosby Night" and "Growing Pains Night", when we would pop popcorn and sit and watch together.

Our society seems to have fragmented tv time now. Shows do not seem as family-focused. Children have tv's in their room and can watch on-demand. It's not unusual for any given home to have kids watching tv in a bedroom while adults watch tv in another room altogether.

How do you balance this? Are there shows your family actually enjoys together?

Pizza Party

Maybe I should blame it on the Superbowl, but I am all about pizza right now. I tried this amazing recipe from Real Simple this week (see the picture on right!) and is it ever mmmm mmmm good.

We do pizza a couple times a month and we rotate between buying the frozen pizza from Trader Joe's, and the whole wheat dough from Trader Joe's and making our own. My kids LOVE when we make the pizza ourselves because I give them each their own dough and let them make it themselves. It takes a lot longer (I have to almost tie my hands behind my back so that I don't take over. It is painful to watch the spreading of sauce look that hard to do.)

One of my favorite ways to make the homemade kind is super simple and so, so good. You could use the veggies you love and vary the spices to what you love as well.

Ingredients:

pizza dough

olive oil

diced garlic, 3 cloves minimum

salt and pepper

thinly sliced red peppers

thinly sliced red onion

diced roma tomatoes

finely chopped fresh basil and oregano

1. Prepare dough as recommended.

2. After dough has risen, put a bit of olive oil in the bottom of a baking sheet and spread it around evenly so that there is a light coating.

3. Spread the pizza dough across the bottom of the baking sheet, aiming to spread it thinly across the pan. It may or may not make it all the way across the bottom of the pan. No worries.

4. drizzle the dough with olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste (I know you cannot taste it while preparing, so you have to take a guess based on your salt/pepper preferences.)

5. Spread out the diced garlic and with the back of a spoon, rub the salt pepper and garlic into the olive oil.

6. layer the rest of the toppings.

Bake according to instructions on the dough, and take out when crust is golden (if you like a more crisp crust, leave it in a bit longer).

We love to dip this pizza in marinara sauce or ranch dressing.

This could be a great appetizer as well.

SUNDAY GIVEAWAY: JackCards.com

JackCards.com is an innovative new website that makes getting greeting cards sent out- on time!- a total breeze. We love this time-saving and cost effective idea! Offering thousands of great paper cards, appropriate for all recipients and occasions, Jack Cards does all of the organizing and tracking for you.










You pick the cards, schedules the dates, and when the time arrives, Jack Cards will mail you your card to sign and send- allowing you to include a handwritten, personal touch. But the best part is that the cards come stamped, addressed, and ready to go! You can even upload contacts right from your address book or Facebook account. How cool is this for busy moms?!

Membership is free and cards start at just $2.50. This week, one lucky reader will win $15.00 worth of cards!

To be entered, leave us a comment answering the following question:

"How efficient are you at getting greeting cards mailed out on time?"

How to earn additional entries:

1.) Become a follower on our blog (publicly) and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

2.) Subscribe to the Mama Memo by clicking here and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).

3.) Blog about this giveaway- with a link back to here. Post YOUR blog entry first and then the comment.

4.) Add the Mama Manifesto button to your sidebar.

5.) Follow us on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway. TWEET- "Giveaway- win $15 worth of JackCards.com greeting cards from @MamaManifesto. Enter at mamamanifesto.com "

6.) Become a fan of Mama Manifesto on Facebook by clicking the button on the left!


[this giveaway will be closed on Saturday at 11 PM, & the winner will be announced next Sunday!]



And now for the winners of last week's RideMakerz giveaway:
Car kit #1 - Sarah
Car kit #2 - Katie P
gift certificate - Amy Bell
gift certificate - Jill


Congratulations! Shoot us an email by 2/14 to mamagiveaways(at)gmail(dot)com with your prize in the subject line, and we will hook you up! Keep checking back for more great giveaways!

Forever 21, Why Do You Hate Me?

Dear Sir ('cause I know a woman would not be behind this):

I have an issue with the sizing at your store. I know, I know. The name of your store should be a warning. I'm not 21 - not even close. I know that my needs could be better met in a store called "Forever Mid-Thirties". Or "Despereately Clinging to My Youth". But still, your budget prices and sassy fashions beckon me in again and again.

During my last visit to your store, I found an adorable asian-print dress that would be a great number for an upcoming dinner. I grabbed it in a size LARGE, because I've been to your store before. I know that I am a medium-sized gal according to the folks at Gap and Old Navy, but in your store, I'm a large. I've made my peace with that. Until today.

I tried on the dress. I could barely get in on. I almost needed assistance getting it back off. This dress was so tight that any thoughts of moving or sitting while wearing it would be disastrous. This dress did not fit me for dirt.

Which leads me to believe that, according to your store, I AM AN EXTRA-LARGE.

I sheepishly ask the dressing room person for the dress in an XL. Oh wait . . . you don't even carry that size.

Now. I am an average-sized girl. I usually hover between a size 8 and a size 10. Yes, I could lose a few or 15. But I'm finding it hard to believe that, along the spectrum of sizes and body types in America, that this is the largest size you can offer. That your staff has decided that someone my size is an extra-large person.

Let me suggest that you consider changing the name of your store to Forever 12. Because that's the only age group that can comfortably fit into your clothing.

Insanity.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over,

and expecting different results."

- Albert Einstein

By this definition, I am insane. Nutso. Crazy. Because, for real, there are certain things that I absolutely abhor and am constantly pledging to change, and yet, I do the same things over and over. I think that sometimes I do literally expect different results from the same activity. As if there will be something magical that happens if I simply complain enough about something, it will change.

A great example is that I am very much not a morning person. My brain does not officially wake up until 9 AM. I may be up and moving, but I am not thinking clearly. Coffee helps, but if I was a surgeon, all my surgeries would be scheduled post 9 AM. So, every morning, my bed swallows me and I snooze and snooze and snooze until I absolutely HAVE to jump out of bed to rush to get the kids off to school. My morning is frantic, frazzled and chaotic. It can sometimes (often) end up with me losing my "it's so good to see you, my lovely children" sunny disposition, and create the cattle prodding frustrated mom who is rushing her kids to the car. I HATE THIS! My kids are up early. They read books in bed until their light clicks on with the timer I have set up to maximize my sleep time. It is not their fault we are running late. I also hate it because I grew up in a serial "running late" household. I remember my siblings and I sitting in the car, ready to go. Waiting for mom. Waiting. Waiting. Still waiting.

So, nearly every day I make the vow as we race to the car - "Tomorrow, we will be ready earlier." And by we, I really mean I.

But, HOW will we get their earlier if I don't put my desire into action?

Pretty basic concept, right? But, how many of us are held back in our insanity?

Whining kids

Lackluster fitness level

Unhealthy eating habits

Unbalanced budget

Finding ourselves "checked out" in our parenting

Spending too much time online reading about other people's lives, rather than engaging in our own

I am hereby committing to take some baby steps in this, mamas. Action. Changing my doing so that my results will be different tomorrow.

I have my alarm set earlier tomorrow. I am going to bed earlier than usual tonight. And, I have told my kids that if mom is not up by a certain time, that they can pour cold water on me. That would mean I would have to change my sheets. Now, that would be insane.

TALK BACK: unexpected expenses

Parenting is expensive. And not always in the ways that you expect. Sure, diapers, clothes, food . . . all that adds up. But it's the stuff they BREAK that just sinks my stomach a little.

Recently I found my dauughter with three of my necklaces hanging out of her mouth in a tangled ball. So tangled that they had to be discarded. Last year, she broke the Shift key on my laptop, so I get to capitalize with one hand when I type. We have had two kids flush a toy down the toilet, requiring us to hire a plumber and replace the entire toilet. TWICE. Each of my children have broken our DVD player on seperate occasions, and last week I found a Shrek doll in the VCR.



I'm keeping a tally. This will all be paid off once they are working adults.

How about you? What unexpected things have your kids added to the budget?

Very Veggie Pasta Sauce

This is sort of the lazy mama version of making your own sauce from scratch, and it allows you to get a hefty serving of veggies into your kiddos. Kicks the nutritional value up a notch.

Ingredients:

1 white onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, diced

1/2 pound lean ground turkey

1 can stewed diced tomatoes (i use no added sodium)

1 head of broccoli, finely diced

2 sweet bell peppers (red, yellow or orange), diced

2 carrots, diced

1 jar of favorite organic pasta sauce

1. Saute onion and garlic in a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Add turkey and brown completely.

2. Add all the veggies and saute. Season with a little salt and pepper to taste.

3. Pour stewed tomatoes and jar of pasta sauce into crock pot, and then add your turkey & veggie mixture. Stir thoroughly and cook on low until ready to serve over pasta of your choice.

*I like to toss a couple bay leaves into the sauce while it cooks for added flavor.