Beautiful day with my Beautiful boy

I can't believe how big Owen is, how fast he has grown, and how quickly the time seems to fly by.

I wonder what he thinks about when he is in these deep pensive stares?

He looks like a little man.

I know that he is growing up and that he is bigger and stronger and smarter but when I look at his sweet little face I still see my baby.

Puzzles

Owen LOVES puzzles.

In the afternoons we sit down together and try and do as many as we can before Papa comes home.

He really doesn't need my help anymore but I love to sit and watch him work.

He often narates his moves by saying this like "this piece goes here...no that one goes there"

It is such a small thing but it brings me so much joy.

Living welll on a dime??

I have recently come to the conclusion(when I say that I came to the conclusion this means M.G has instructed me and I reluctantly agreed) that we need to tighten up our belts and live more frugally .
I absolutely HATE money management I have always felt like life is too short to worry too much about money and people should just live life to the fullest and not worry about how much money is left at the end of the month. M.G on the other hand is a saver and likes to have money saved of all things. That being said...

I have looked at a couple money management strategies. And have decided on the ever so popular "cash envelopes" method. It is as simple as it sounds. At the end of this month M.G and I will sit down and decide (after bills) what it is that we spend money on and make envelopes for each thing. So... gas for the car, groceries, health and beauty, coffee, Owen, and probably date nights. There may also be one for each of us to use on whatever we like through out the month (fingers crossed).

I will also be trying to make a bi-weekly meal plan with the theory that going to the store 2 times per month will make impulse spending happen less often. Right now I just fly by the seat of my pants with meals. Cooking what ever sounds good and skipping off to the store whenever we need/want something. This behavior must be curbed as it is contributing to my spending more on things we don't need. I really need to be more intentional about what I am buying and what I am fixing for my family.
I love to cook and I stay at home with Owen so I have the time I just feel a huge lack of inspiration for cooking frugally. Where is that old school P.B.S program "the frugal gourmet" when you need it eh?

I am curious to know what everyone else is doing for grocery budgeting? does anyone have a really great system(that is easy)? What do you all spend on 2 weeks worth of groceries? What kind of meals are you all making for your families? How do you keep your costs low (especially those of you with food allergies)? I could really use some good suggestions.
Just a cute picture of Owen I thought I would tack on.

Personal Challenge

I recently challenged myself (its on my list) to be able to run 3 miles with out stopping to walk. At first I thought this would be one of the challenges I would "get around to at some point" (meaning never). But I did get a gym membership and I did start to go on a bi-weekly basis.

As usual I lost steam again and I really felt like I would never be able to have enough self discipline to get out there and really be committed to working out. Then on top of not having the motivation to go to the gym, last week we had a little crisis which made me realize that our budget could no longer support a gym membership anymore. I just felt completely done for.

Then I read John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

So... I asked for the strength to run, to run on the streets of my neighborhood (which are kinda scary). To run for my health and my sanity. I asked for the energy and the motivation to get out there rain or shine. 4 times a week for at least 30 minutes. I asked for a lot. I asked that once again He would show me the power of His promises. I knew right then I would be able to do it. And I did!


Week 1 Run #4!!!


All glory be to Him for the truth of His word, and for His love for me and my little life.

Ceasar Salad

This is not a new recipe but it is a good one.

2 minced garlic cloves
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup pure pressed extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 egg yolk (optional) I always add this as it adds thickness to the dressing
2 rinsed and coarsely chopped anchovy fillets (optional) I add these when I have them I think it adds a nice zing but the dressing is fine with out them
6 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
In a blender, food processor, or using an immersion blender blend all ingredients until smooth then toss with 1-2 heads romaine lettuce. you can add extra cheese and croutons if you wish.

Taking "Charge"

Last summer I lost our camera's battery charger. I have know Idea what happened to it. I searched the entire house from top to bottom more than 20 times and still never found it. I still have not found it. I sometimes am able to borrow my Moms battery charger because she owns the same model as me. She is understandably reluctant to let me keep it here for longer than a day or so (she doesn't want hers to go missing too).
Recently I tried ordering one from the Internets that said it was "compatible" with my camera's battery but that was a lie. It was not compatible at all.
So today I break down and I will go to buy a brand-spankin-new one. It will cost me a nice chunk of change which we really don't have. At the end of the day when all is said and done it will be worth it to have photographic memories that are not on M.G's i-phone.
So after this lady gets her camera fired back up, you will be inundated with pictures of our life once again.

Looking Forward

I am longing for this place. I am wearing my I heart Priest Lake hoodie and thinking of the clean fresh air, naked babies, and the gorgeous sun sets that comes with our annual summer trip to the lake. The days are warm and the water is always cool and refreshing. The nights are cold and full of stars and family.

I started thinking of this today because Owen insisted on being "Naked Boy"(said as if it were the name of the most famous super hero ever). I worried because of how cold it is(broken furnace) and wondered when he would gain modesty as a part of his personality. So I thought back to the lake where it is warm and we are surrounded by family and he can hang out naked all day even at the end of the dock till the sun goes down and no one will care (and he wont freeze).

I usually don't look forward to the summer, I prefer the gray, (random I know) but this winter I am ready to get on with life and I am really ready for some sunshine. My out look on things has been drastically altered and I am anticipating the spring and looking forward-for the first time in a long time-to exploring the beauty that each season has to offer.

Gluten update

I realize now that I never really missed eating gluten its self, I mostly miss the convenience and cheapness of gluten products. Most gluten free products are either expensive, hard to find or take time and trial to make and perfect.
I never expected to be able to tolerate gluten during this time of testing but I had however forgotten how miserable my life had been when I ate this way all the time.

So I am happy to be back on the wagon. I love the variety of grains that I get to experiment with and the different flavors and textures they provide. In many cases I now prefer gluten free options to glutenous ones which came as a huge surprise to me.

This experience was good for me in lots of ways. The biggest one is that I really don't feel deprived anymore or left out, I realize that I may have to eat a little different but I like the foods I get to eat and enjoy the challenge of re-creating the ones I can't.
I will find out next week if I have Celiac's and will let you all know either way.

Gluten Free

For the last 9 months I have been gluten free. At first I did it at the suggestion of a trusted nutritionist as a way to improve digestion and overall well being- those of us who suffer from thyroid autoimmune disease have a harder time with digesting gluten- so I cut out all wheat, barley, spelt, rye and regular oats (the kind that don’t say “gluten free” on the packaging) I felt better. Then after a month I was advised to enter it back into my diet to see if it was an issue. I ate delicious gluten for a week on vacation and it wrecked havoc on my system. So I returned to eating, cooking, and baking gluten free (and got rather used to it).

This week my thyroid Dr. told me he wants me to take a celiac test to see if my gluten “intolerance” is in fact a full-blown allergy (my reactions to very small amounts seem to be getting more pronounced).

In order to get an accurate testing I will have to eat gluten for at least three days prior to the blood test. I am excited for pizza, pastries and real cake but I am dreading the aftermath. I will be bloated (usually I look like I did at 7 months pregnant) and I will have some gnarly stomach issues. But it will be worth it to rule out celiac. Having celiac disease requires a whole other level of commitment. Plus the decontamination process (of house and person) is said to be really intense.

So wish me luck this should be an interesting couple of days.

Unmotivated

I just looked over my list and I see plenty of things I could be doing right now during "rest" time, but I am completely unambitious. Today has been fairly productive in that I have a tidy little house and a child who has had plenty of Momma time(we played Dr.Owen for 45 minutes and finger painted for a long time) but I still feel like a laggard. Maybe I will work on some photo editing ... or not. Maybe this feeling is my brains way of telling my body to take a break. Yes a break is in order.

Owen is singing along to his kid music... all I here is his voice. CELEBRAAAAYYYTION CELEBRAAAAYTION YEAH C-MON CELEBRAAAYYYTION (soooo wonderful). He may be tone deaf(but its probably to early to tell).

New recipe review

Double Broccoli Quinoa

3 cups cooked quinoa*
5 cups raw broccoli, cut into small florets and stems

3 medium garlic cloves
2/3 cup sliced or slivered almonds, toasted
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
2 big pinches salt
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup heavy cream

Optional toppings: slivered basil, fire oil (optional)**, sliced avocado
crumbled feta or goat cheese

Heat the quinoa and set aside.

Now barely cook the broccoli by pouring 3/4 cup water into a large pot and bringing it to a simmer. Add a big pinch of salt and stir in the broccoli. Cover and cook for a minute, just long enough to take the raw edge off. Transfer the broccoli to a strainer and run under cold water until it stops cooking. Set aside.

To make the broccoli pesto puree two cups of the cooked broccoli, the garlic, 1/2 cup of the almonds, Parmesan, salt, and lemon juice in a food processor. Drizzle in the olive oil and cream and pulse until smooth.

Just before serving, toss the quinoa and remaining broccoli florets with about 1/2 of the broccoli pesto. Taste and adjust if needed, you might want to add more of the pest a bit at a time, or you might want a bit more salt or an added squeeze of lemon juice. Turn out onto a serving platter and top with the remaining almonds, a drizzle of the chile oil, and some sliced avocado or any of the other optional toppings.

Serves 4 - 6.

*To cook quinoa: rinse one cup of quinoa in a fine-meshed strainer. In a medium saucepan heat the quinoa, two cups of water (or broth if you like), and a few big pinches of salt until boiling. Reduce heat and simmer until water is absorbed and quinoa fluffs up, about 15 minutes. Quinoa is done when you can see the curlique in each grain, and it is tender with a bit of pop to each bite. Drain any extra water and set aside.

**To make the red chile oil: You'll need 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes. If you can, make the chile oil a day or so ahead of time by heating the olive oil in a small saucepan for a couple minutes - until it is about as hot as you would need it to saute some onions, but not so hot that it smokes or smells acrid or burned. Turn off the heat and stir in the crushed red pepper flakes. Set aside and let cool, then store in refrigerator. Bring to room temp again before using

So I tried this and loved it! MG wasn't as keen, and it made Owen gag but I would do it again for a lunch for just me.