Let Us Remember Them

Okay for some of you that knows and may not know I am doing a super crazy important walk this next Sunday June 6th.
I am walking this year in the 2010 Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in the Pugget Sound.
I am walking  as part of a three piece group the Lets Play Mamas. Walking with my good friends Kara & Mindy but among thousands of people for this cause.

We all Walk for our Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts, Sister, Cousins and Friends!!

Several years ago I walked this with my Sister and it was so inspiring. I felt a great deal of humility that I was fortunate to be healthy. I want to remain this way. But for the people who have been effected by Breast Cancer this event is a whole different story.

This year I set a Group Goal of $300.00 that would = 2 mammogram and hopefully save someone’s life. In the beginning I was worried if I could raise $60. But I set a personal goal of also $300.00. Well as a group we’ve so far to today’s date raised $775.00!! I personally have raised $400.00!!!

I myself am also walking for strangers to me in the one great meaning -Remembrance.

I was inspired by a Mom whom I’ve never met in person but who joined me in this cause. Thank you Lisa. So because of this I am collecting names. Names of Women who have been affected by Cancer.

The Honor is all mine to walk across the finish line with the names of these brave women.
Some who didn’t get to the finish line or the Ladies who are at the beginning of their journey and also the Women who persevered through and beat it!

So far I have gathered these names that I am proudly writing on my shirt:

• Johanna " Honey" Stout
• Donna Fleck
• Betty
• Shirley
• Sue
• Marjorie Covey
• Meg Buttler
• Courtney Young Winderweedle
• Betty Aho
• Anne Marie Bodoria
• Aggie Sansone
• Lynn Brown
• Adie Duplantis
• Monique Chavez
• Winifred Parkes
• Ellie Nist
• Norma Masterson
• Marge Cassou
• Irene Duckett
• Hazel Barene
• Vi Fietz

We’ll finish this race and cross that finish line, together. I walk with their name with Love.

Please there is still time. If you have someone you love and want named… Name them.
Contact me I would be happy to take them with me!

 And it never too late to Donate to this cause, every penny counts and could make a difference!

Lets Honor them in their Fight!





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Plans

So the holiday weekend is upon us and the question on everyone’s lips are
”So what are you going to do for the long Memorial Day weekend?”

I am happy to say that for the first weekend in MONTHS we do not have plans. Heck we just might lay around and do (this is a novel idea) nothing. 

  Life

Of course with small children there really is no such thing. But who knows we might get as close to that Lazy line as possible. Maybe the plan is Saturday I sleep in and then Sunday John sleeps in.
That sounds like a plan.
So while people today are packing checking lists and rushing to get ready. To go camping on a flight to somewhere neat and maybe exotic… here I sit… typing this post not with a care of the weekend plans. That’s nice…..
Maybe I’ll clean a little. Nawh, I do that every day.
For those who are going out somewhere with big travel plans, be careful. The crazies come out on the holidays as you know. Good news, there will be one less… I’m at Home, relaxing.
What are you up to?



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Follow that Blog!!!! Thursday’s!

Starting something new.. Today.

Here is yet another way to get your Blog out there and get some new readers and yes the coveted Followers!!

Simple as it goes List your Blog here every with your link and a blurb about what your all about Thursday and Whalla!! New Readers!

Grab this Button and share it on your page so people can share in the wealth.

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I love reading blogs and who knows you could be my next Favorite Blog.

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NOT ready

Okay so my littlest Christian is 8 months, 2 weeks and 2 days old, Today.

He had me fooled. I was caught off guard completely by this….

No no no no baby.
So, I have gotten out my gate and brackets. It is going back up as soon as my Husband gets home. I was under the impression because he’s a bit behind his older brothers I thought that I had time.

We’ll that time has expired. Great. Baby couldn’t ya just stay little just a little longer?? He’s changed so much and growing too fast.

I’m enjoying watching him....

Discover

Play

and chase after his big brothers all around.

You can almost hear him saying.. Hey guys wait… wait for me!!!

*Sigh*

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Meatless Meatloaf and Mushroom gravy with mashed potatoes

Meatless (Meat)loaf 

This is a recipe I found that I have been searching FOREVER for. I had to share because even though I did not name it correctly I love and crave this taste. It is a copy cat recipe from a restaurant I love.

This is not a tried recipe by me.

I wish all of us luck in it's proper execution. LOL

Ingredients:
4 eggs
2/3 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix (the whole packet measures 1/4 cup, so use slightly less or use the whole packet if you like the onion soup mix taste) - for vegetarian version substitute dry soup mix without beef bouillon
2 cups or 16oz. low-fat ricotta cheese
2 cups or 16oz. firm tofu (mashed into small pieces)
1/4 cup vegetable oil of choice
1/3 cup onions
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. rosemary (fresh is good)
4 cups (dry measured) Special K (note: this approximately equals 4 oz or 113 grams of the cereal by weight)
1 1/2 tbsp. garlic

FOR THE SAUCE:

1/2 cup ketchup
1/8 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup molasses
1/8 cup to 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (to taste)
Pinch cayenne ground pepper (to taste)

Instruction:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Sauté onions and garlic.

Beat eggs in a bowl, and then add all other ingredients except the Special K. Mix well and then add the Special K last. Put in pan that is sprayed with cooking oil.

Bake for 1 hour. Pour sauce over loaf after 1 hour, and bake for 10 more minutes.

With.....

Mushroom Gravy

This is a Perfect side car for this Meatless Meatloaf. Great served over lumpy mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 Cup white or button mushrooms, chopped
• 2-1/2 Cups vegetable broth
• 1/4 Cup vegan margarine
• 1 Small yellow or white onion, minced
• 1/4 Cup flour
• 2 tbsp Soy sauce
• 1 tbsp Poultry seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instruction:

• In a skillet, melt the margarine and add onion and mushrooms to it.
• Fry them for 1 to 2 minute on high heat.
• Reduce the heat to medium and combine broth and soy sauce to it.
• Gradually add flour to it, stirring well to combine and prevent the lumps from the forming.
• Bring it to simmer or a low boil, and then decrease the flame.
• Add poultry seasoning, salt and pepper to it, stirring constantly.
• Cook it for about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, till gravy thickens.

Serve over hand mashed potatoes…perfect.
Enjoy this knock off... I'll post a picture later.. If I don't attack it or forget.



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You are AWESOME!

I’d like to take a moment to tell you I think you are Awesome! Personally I like the word awesome. It’s a fantastic word really. It describes something at its best. In true definition is:
awe•some [aw-suh m] –adjective

1.  inspiring awe: an awesome sight.
2. showing or characterized by awe.
3. Slang. very impressive: That new white convertible is totally awesome.
   

So that being said I’d like to bestow this Awesome Mama Blogger Button this time to 5 Mama Bloggers:

• Beautifully Broken and 30
• Growing up Mommies 
• Working In My Jammies and Loving It
• Susie B. Homemaker
• Bunny’s Warm Oven

Pass it along you Awesome Mama! Pass it with Love!



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Why? Do some Feel the need??

Okay so I rant from time to time. Please feel free to agree. I have only a couple of pet peeves and one I’ve wrote about before, this one is somewhat related to it.
Before I wrote about the subject of “Wow, You’ve got your hands full” now I have to add to it.


I am soooooo sick and tired of people seeing I have three boys and in disgust or delight making the statements “Oh, so I guess you’re trying for that girl” or “You must have been upset about not getting that girl” or my personal favorite ”Don’t you wish he would of been a girl so you’d be complete?”

Okay seriously! Where in the hell do people get it into their minds where it is okay… to say this crud! Why would they think in any way shape or form that I should would or even could be upset with what I got?

Well I will give my total honest feeling on it.

People who know me know this… I wanted Boys. I was worried in a way that my last baby was a girl. I was worried that it would upset the flow of our house. I would have loved it if it were a girl and adjusted but I truly wanted all boys.

Don’t get me wrong I LOVE girls. But I don’t play dollies, tea parties and all that goes a long with being a little girl. I’m not supper girly. This is funny because when I was little I was All about the dolls, dresses and the purse that matched. I LOVE my Nieces and love to pick them out that super special pretty dress for their Birthdays. They are use to it and expect it LOL with them I can get my Girl on. Girls are just different.

With Boys you are more than likely going to spend some time at the hospital for dumb stunts… With Girls you’re more than likely going to spend a fair chunk of time screaming at a closed door!! Both lives sound crazy but with all three the same sex maybe we can get a solid game plan. LOL

But I hate the idea that people think they can come up and say that I would be upset with the sex of my children. And that I should feel incomplete with it, its offensive. I am sick and tired of this and am having the hardest time not blowing up on them. I keep my cool because of my kids. Because I’m not sure Mommy would use the prettiest language. So what then? Should I sport a shirt saying Proud Mama to All Boys?

That’s an idea…..



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What's cookin' Monday

This week’s entry for What’s cookin’ Monday is simple but yum. I picked it because it is oh so easy and it will give us a break from our Mexican leftovers from my Birthday weekend.

So on the menu is:

Beef and Vegetable Stir fry

For something like this I use a bag of store bought frozen stir fry vegetables. I buy mine from Costco.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 - 1 pound flank steak
• ¼ cup flower for dredging
• 1/2 cup stir-fry sauce (such as Yoshida’s)
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 tablespoons canola oil or vegetable oil, divided
• 3 – 3 ½ cups frozen stir fry vegetable mix

Preparation:

1. Use a sharp carving knife or a cleaver to cut the steak into thin slices that are about 1/8 inch thick and 1 ½ - 2 inches long. If you like, go one step further and lay the strips on top of one another and cut again into thin strips.

2. Dredge each strip of beef in flour shaking off excess.

3. Measure out the stir-fry sauce into a small bowl or a measuring cup. Chop the garlic.

4. Heat a wok or heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it is almost smoking. Add 2 tablespoons oil into the wok, tilting the pan and drizzling the oil so that it coats the sides of the pan. When the oil is hot, add half of the chopped garlic. (You can test to see if the oil is hot by dropping in a small piece of garlic. If it sizzles, the oil is ready). Stir-fry the garlic for 10 seconds, and then add the beef.

5. Lay the beef flat in the pan. Let it brown briefly, then stir-fry the beef until it loses its redness and is nearly cooked through (if you are using 1 pound beef it's best to divide it in half and cook in two batches). Remove the stir-fried beef and drain in a colander or on paper towels.

6. Heat 1 tablespoon oil of oil in the same wok or skillet. When the oil is hot, add the remainder of the garlic. Stir-fry for 10 seconds, then add the frozen vegetables. Stir-fry for 3 – 5 minutes, or according to package directions. Splash the vegetables with a bit of water if the vegetables begin to dry out while you are stir-frying.

7. Add the stir-fried beef back into pan. Add the stir-fry sauce and bring to a boil. Stir-fry for 1 – 2 more minutes to mix everything together. Serve hot over cooked white or brown rice.

Enjoy!! ;o) The meal was simple tonight now go relax!!!



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Hidden Treasure

Tonight I got a great treat for the night-before-my-Birthday dinner. My in-laws came over to surprise me with a yummy chocolate cake and to baby sit so that my sweet Husband could whisk me away for a dinner out, just the two of us. We went to a restaurant we’ve driven past a million times and talked about going to as often. Tonight we did, and man! It was good! Talk about a hidden treasure! We wasted almost 7 years of driving past when we could have been eating here all the while???

The name of the restaurant is Omar Al-Khyam 354 Sunset Blvd N, Renton, WA 98057 Cross Streets: Between Houser Way Bypass/Sunset Blvd NE and N 3rd St (425) 271-8300 It is a small restaurant Family owned and operated. It’s been here for 30 years!!

As we arrived it was a slow part of the evening we walked in to a very friendly greeting by our waitress, Miss Leila. In the kitchen was her big brother, she has 6 big brothers. The menu has a great selection of yummy Middle Eastern cuisine. We ordered some hummus, which was to die for. I could eat this for breakfast! It had a large fluffy dollop of whipped garlic in the center over olive oil and served with 2 warm pitas… Mmmmmm So gooood. I also ordered a salad and ice tea, John had a lemon aid with rose water and the soup: Chicken Curry. All I can say is yum yum and yum.

For our entree we both ordered the same Lamb Shish Kabab with sautéed tomatoes and onions. The lamb was… perfect. The portions were huge. What can I say other than I feel dumb for driving past so many times… We will most definitely be back to this new found Gem!

If you are in the area I highly suggest trying this restaurant. Great staff, great food, and fantastic leftovers!!

Last day of 35

Today is my last day of being in my early or mid 30’s…. Now while I don’t know if this is fact I feel a strange sort of sadness. I know I’m a big dork. When I was pregnant with Christian I got the first real blow. The term ‘Advanced Maternal Age’ was said to me by my doctor. Thems fightin words!! It was then the idea of Old got planted.

I feel older every day but before I wrote that off on the 3 Energizer Bunnies running our house. It is more.. I am getting older. This isn’t a news flash to me. I’m aware that every calendar year adds a new digit but seriously.
I’m not the gal I was before. I’m starting to notice wrinkles… maybe they were there before? I don’t remember them. Maybe it’s because I am already losing my cotton picking mind!? Never understood that phrase till I had kids… Now you hear it a lot around my house. Usually “Have you lost your cotton picking mind?” or “I’m losing my cotton picking mind.” That brings me to loss. I seem to be at a loss of hair. I swear I had more and it was much thicker. And the hair I had was beautiful dark brown not this sad quaff of hair I am sporting with white thick strands appearing. Oh well at least I’m not gaining hair in odd places. For some they might think I am jumping the gun on these complaints. But before I get my I’m sure well deserved pats on the head take into account I’m trying to come to terms.

On a whole though I’m doing pretty good. I just recently thanks to Weight
Watchers have lost a total of 8 pounds so far and a total of 9 ½” off this old bod of mine! So that is something!!!My goal was 10 pounds by my Birthday but eh.. I’ll take it. So I'm counting down the hours... Good bye 35 hello 36 at the stroke of midnight.

What's cookin' Monday

Todays entry is one of my Husband's favorite! It's easy and tasty!

SHEPHERD'S PIE

Serves 4

Prep time: 20 min

Cooking time: 30 min

Ingredients:
• 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 tablespoons softened cream cheese, *for lighter version use light sour cream
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 cup cream, **for a lighter version substitute vegetable or chicken broth
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
• 1 3/4 pounds ground beef or ground lamb
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup beef stock or broth
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire
• 1/2 cup frozen peas, a couple of handfuls
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves (garnish)

Directions:
(Make potato mixture before starting meat portion)
Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl. Combine *cream cheese, egg yolk and **cream. Add the cream mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth. Set aside covered.

Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat.
1. Add oil to hot pan with beef or lamb. Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 minutes, spoon away some of the drippings.
2. Add chopped carrot and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together 2 minutes.
4. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce and thicken gravy 1 minute.
5. Add gravy to meat and vegetables. Stir in peas.

Preheat broiler to high.
Fill a small rectangular casserole with meat and vegetable mixture. Spoon potatoes over meat evenly. Top potatoes with paprika and broil 6 to 8 inches from the heat until potatoes are evenly browned. Top casserole dish with chopped parsley and serve. Mmmmmm... good

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
Spit on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
I had a first name.

Before I was a Mom,
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put him down.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
That if asked I would lay down my life
I would die for him.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important so whole and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
To walk the halls give kisses on your sleeping face.
Dreaming of your future.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the head ache,
the worry,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,

Or that Love at first sight does exist

And that I could fall in love over and over again.

before I was a Mom ...

Original Autor: Unkown

Adds ins by me

Our job is hard, but the benefits are immeasurable. They are our Reason.
Great job to all you Mamas on raising all your special people. I applaud you.