Just Like The Number

Unwritten Travels Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Heather from Inexpensively !  She's the winner, winner, chicken dinner!  I love this nugget from her entry of how she would spend a day to herself:

". . . eating lunch and dinner without hearing someone whine about what they don't like or eating cold food because I was too busy filling kid plates first would be absolute bliss."

Amen on the whining part.  Thanks for all your comments!  I hope each of you gets a little time to yourself to do some of those very things you love.  I know you deserve it!

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever. The End.

Everything about this recipe told me I probably wouldn't like them.  Not a whole heck of a lot of butter or sugar, ingredients I consider crucial for a pleasant eating experience.  ALL whole wheat flour, not an easy-going mix of whole wheat flour with the more palatable, un-PC white flour.  One measly egg.  And then, get this: a whopping 3 cups of oats.  Cookies for horses, I tell you!

Two things convinced me to give this recipe a try. Number one: chocolate chips.  I would eat tofu encrusted in flax seed if it had a few chocolate chips sprinkled in there.  Number two: this recipe came from Lisa, the genius behind the blog Homesick Texan.  She is single-handedly responsible for my gluttonous addiction to homemade ranch dressing (it's crack disguised in buttermilk. For real).

So here's the short version of what could be a long and rambling post: I made them.  They were out of this world. I took them to a party. They were gone in 15 minutes.

I love to read cookbooks, and love to look at food blogs filled with gorgeous photography as well.  While I could wander through those kinds of blogs all day (can anyone say food porn addiction?), there are a handful of blogs that I've grown to love and trust.  They have beautiful, mouthwatering food, and the recipes behind them actually work.  I'll try highlighting those trusty favorites in the next few weeks, but for today the spotlight shines on Homesick Texan and her trusty Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Make them now!  You won't be sorry!

Mom’s oatmeal cookies 

Courtesy of Homesick Texan

Ingredients:
3/4 cup of butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cup of oats (I used the nice, thick oats from Whole Foods, but I think any kind would work here. Just don't use instant oatmeal from packets.  That would be disgusting.)
1 cup of whole-wheat flour (I recommend King Arthur flour for any and all baking. It's a bit pricier than your typical flour, but I can tell a difference in the quality of my baked goods.)
1 tsp. salt (I recommend organic sea salt harvested by small children.  Not really.  It's salt, people, use whatever you have.)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups of chocolate chips

Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cream together the butter, sugar and egg. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
Place 1 teaspoon-sized balls of dough on a greased or parchment-paper lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.
Makes four dozen.

Halloween Recap: In Which I Nearly Forget To Photograph One of My Kids

I like to think that I do a pretty good job at documenting holidays and major events around here.  That's why I nearly dropped my camera (which would be bad, very bad) when we got home from trick-or-treating and I realized I had yet to take one! single picture of Elena.  Lest you think that I'm a bad mother who favors certain short, adorable tigers over bigger, older Padme Amidalas let me assure you that is not the case.  We spent the first part of our Halloween evening at a neighborhood party, and as soon as the older kids figured out it was time to start trick-or-treating, Elena was G-O-N-E, with Mike hustling after her and trying to keep up.  I never had a chance.

I thought I would take Eli to a few houses, let him have a bit of fun, and then we'd be done.  He was sold on Halloween from the first knock on the door.  He couldn't quite manage, "Trick-or-Treat!"  He preferred the more direct method of walking up to the door and saying, "More candy."  Mike's always been the one to take Elena trick-or-treating while I stayed home and passed out candy.  I never minded one bit.  I don't think I knew what I was missing.  Yeah, we have loads more candy than is good for us.  But seeing your little guy turn around after every house, giving you that look that says, "Can you believe it?  They're just giving away candy!"  Well, high-fructose corn syrup and artificial food coloring be damned.  It's worth it.

I'll leave you with a few of our favorite photos from the evening.

Tiger heads are really heavy.

I think I got a rock.

Rolling around in candy is normal, right?

Hope you had a Happy Halloween!

Unwritten Travels Book Review and Giveaway

Comments to this post are now closed. Congratulations to the winner of the giveaway, Heather S.! 

A few months ago I received an e-mail from a friend in Nashville that mentioned the book Unwritten Travels by Jenny Black and Jenny Watson.  

Do you need help navigating your way through your own story?

Are you in an unwritten season?

Did you expect to be HERE at this time in your life?

Are you second guessing yourself?

I read those words written by the authors and I said, "Yes, yes, yes and YES!"  In a very uncharacteristic move for me, I contacted the authors and asked them if they would be willing to provide me with a copy of the book to review here.  I fully expected them to say thanks, but no thanks.  I was happy to learn that they felt the same way I did - that this book had the potential to resonate with my very own readers.

The authors are close friends who spent 3 years working together on this book in hopes that they could create an interactive journal that would  "remind women why they need to take care of themselves, what they are created for, and how they can become bold life learners in the midst of transition."

There are lots of books out there to help nudge you along toward finding your true purpose or passions.  I've never seen one like this, though.  It's more like a whimsically illustrated journal.  And while there are definitely passages for you to read and reflect upon, the bulk of the book is recording your thoughts and reflections.  It's a guide, for sure, but you are in charge every step of the way.

It's one of the reasons it took me so long to review the book.  Some of the pages were easy to fill out, such as listing some of your favorite things or putting to paper what you would do with a day to yourself.  Others, though, required a lot of introspection.  I'd find that I would have to put the journal down and really turn the thoughts over in my head for a few days before coming back and putting my feelings on paper.

The book is divided into six chapters that are designed to guide you through your journey:  The Honeymoon, Sightseeing, Soul-Searching, Your Travel Guide, A Walk Down Memory Lane, and Coming Home.  Each chapter has a series of questions and exercises to lead you toward learning and discovering different aspects of yourself. 

There were many sections in the book where I felt as if the authors were speaking directly to me, as if they knew what I was struggling with in this season of my life.  For example, in the first chapter, as they encouraged you to think of your heart's desires, I read these words:

We move through our days aware of ourselves only in relation to others. We can lose an appreciation for our uniqueness, and we may even be ashamed of our needs and desires.

At times I feel pulled in so many directions. Pulled to be a good wife, a good mother, to look good, to have a home that is organized and beautiful.  Working through this book helped me to take a good look at where I fit in that puzzle.  I became more aware of what's important in my life and what isn't, more accepting of what is realistic during this season of motherhood and what isn't.  In short, it changed my perspective of the good mother and good wife putting herself after everyone else.  I love how it encouraged me to let go of that notion, not by blaming everyone and everything around me, but by taking full responsibility to discover who I am and what I need to feel fulfilled.

I truly enjoyed reading and working through this book.  It felt good to either cart the book to my favorite coffee shop or curl up in my reading chair at home and allow myself to sit and reflect on me.  If you're interested in taking a little journey yourself, check out Un.writ.ten Tra.vel(s). You can learn more about the book and the authors, as well as purchase the book online.  Happy travels!

The authors of the book have graciously offered to give away a copy of the book to one of my readers!  To be entered in the giveaway simply comment on this post by answering the following question:  If you had a whole day to yourself, what is one thing you would do?

To earn a second entry, subscribe to Just Like The Number and leave an additional comment telling me that you are a new subscriber.

Lastly, to earn a third entry, Twitter about this giveaway and let me know about it!

This giveaway ends Wednesday, November 4 at midnight EST.  Good luck and I hope you win!

Indiana's Favorite Blog Contest

 

This little ol' blog has hit a milestone:  I've been nominated for my very first blogging contest.  Linking Indiana is hosting "Indiana's Favorite Blog" contest, and I'm nominated in the Family category.  I'm up against some stiff competition.  Which means to say I have about as much chance at winning as Jet's quarterback Mark Sanchez has at getting some cotton candy on the bench next Sunday. 

The good news (beside the honor of just being nominated - that's what I'm supposed to say, right?) is that I'm the leader in the Family category. Still, I'd love to give those sports guys over at The G2 a run for their money.  I may be a mommy blogger, but I cover sports, too!  Well, Peyton, anyways.  That's gotta count for a couple of votes.

All kidding aside, if you're a fan of Just Like The Number I'd appreciate you taking the time to visit Linking Indiana and voting for me (as a side note, the site does require registration to vote, but you do not have to be an Indiana resident to vote).  Thanks so much!

Ready or Not, Here We Come

It's that time of year again:  cold and flu season.  I normally leave my family's health and medical business out of the blog (other than broken bones, of course), but with all the hyper-awareness that surrounds this year's flu season I thought I might break protocol.

Knock on wood, but we manage to stay relatively healthy through the plethora of germs that get passed around all season.  Don't get me wrong, we don't bypass all illness - Mike is under the weather with a cold right this minute - but we aren't sidelined for long.  I give all the credit to Elena.  Not to her specifically (she's probably a walking petri dish every day she comes home from school), but to the new perspective I gained on boosting your health and immunity after she was born. 

We tackle cold and flu season two ways around here: prevention and action.

We do our best to prevent illness by taking care of ourselves as best we can.  I try really hard to feed my family well, but in this group of picky eaters that's not always possible.  To counteract any gaps in the nutritional boosts we get from fruits and veggies, I make sure we take our vitamins.  Every day my kids take a multi-vitamin, a fruit/veggie supplement, and some kind of probiotic.  Luckily my kids love yogurt and kefir drinks, but you could also use a probiotic powder or pill as well.  I'm also a stickler about sleep.  My kids have some of the earliest bedtimes around.  Never underestimate the power of good, old-fashioned rest.

At the first sign of illness I do the following:

• I start giving doses of an echinacea/goldenseal formula.  If I mix it with juice, my kids never notice it.
• I start doses of the homeopathic remedy Anas barbariae (I buy it under the brand name Oscilloccinum).
• I up our doses of vitamin C.  Mike and I lean toward packets of EmergenC.  For the kids I usually pull out the Hyland's vitamin C tablets. 

I crafted our personal plan of attack after coming across the book Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child.  I highly recommend this book for any parent looking for a gentle and informative introduction into natural treatments for various childhood ailments.  It's the best book I've found that balances suggestions for natural treatments, such as herbs and homeopathy, with conventional medicine.  In other words,  it's a lot like me: sort of crunchy, but not ready to ditch my pediatrician, either.

If you're interested in trying out some great  children's homeopathic remedies this season, including the Oscilloccinum I mentioned above, here's a link to a coupon from the manufacturer (Boiron).

Boiron $1 off Coupon

Hoping you stay healthy this season! I'd love it if you would share your tips and tricks as well.

Disclaimer: The idea for this post came from a campaign I'm participating in with Boiron and One2One Network.  In exchange for blogging about how I keep my family healthy during cold and flu season, I received product from Boiron.  However, I was not required to mention Boiron nor weave the use of their products into my post.  As this is a company I've supported for several years, I felt like this promotion was a good fit for me, and hopefully you, my readers.

Taking It All In Stride

Thank God for Nature

I woke up on Saturday morning to an unusual situation: no plans for the day ahead.  For the first weekend in a long time, we had nothing to do, nowhere to be.  "We" would be the kids and me.  Mike had his friend Mike in town and they were headed up to West Lafayette for the Purdue - Ohio State football game.  It was one of those morning where I could have happily stayed home in my pj's for the entire day.  The kids had other intentions, though.  Oh, we could have all stayed home in our pj's, but not all of us would have been alive by the end of the day.  Not when you have one child who thought it would be brilliant to set her alarm for 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday after staying up past 10 p.m., and another who thought it would be brilliant to hurl Little People school-buses and wood blocks at the cranky early-riser. No, it was best if we all got dressed and got ourselves a little bit of fresh air, in hope that some sanity and common sense might drift in along with it.

I threw everyone in the car and just drove, and we ended up at Ritchey Woods.  I set the kids free in hopes that, given the 127 acres available to us, surely they could manage to find their own space and keep their freakin' hands to themselves.

A downright ugly morning slowly dissipated into a borderline lovely afternoon. 

We all cope with stress in our own ways.  Eli found his special place right away.

 

Myself, I prefer a pumpkin spice latte. 

The colors are just amazing right now, and the light filtering through the trees was awesome.

 

 

I do love this girl dearly, even if she does wake me up at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday.  Little does she know, I'm taking notes.  She'll be getting a few Saturday morning phone calls in college. 

 

When I got back home and starting looking through the pictures I took, I realized that every picture of Eli featured two trails of snot from his nose to his mouth.  And there were some really good ones, too.

 

Howza bout you put that camera down for two seconds and wipe a boy's nose?

Thank God for nature.  After a good hour of running around, we came home and all went to our bedrooms to rest.  I had to wake Eli up 3 1/2 hours later.  Shortly after that, Mike came home.  And just like that, all was right in the world again. 

If Only They Tasted Like Chicken

As much as I love food - the eating of it, the reading about it, the pictures of it - you would think that I would be surrounded by a family of foodies as well.  Instead, in what has become my own personal cross to bear, I sit down to each meal with my family and wait for the whining and cajoling to begin.  Unless, of course, it's macaroni and cheese or chicken nugget night.  Then it's my turn to whine.

Still, I refuse to give up.  I have no problem making something that not everyone loves some nights.  I am the head chef around here, after all.  I try to save the really crazy stuff (like tuna salad - the horror! or pasta with salmon and pesto - what's that green stuff?!) for my own personal lunches, and offer something a little less scary at dinner, like adding some roasted red pepper to a pasta dish or a new sauce to go with the chicken. 

Tonight, though, I had the audacity to serve Brussels sprouts at dinner.  Oh, I wish you could have seen them.  They were in our Farm Fresh bin the other day - perfect little bright green orbs, so cute I could just, well, eat them up!  I pan-roasted them and sprinkled them with parmesan and they were fabulous. 

We abide by the "Polite Bite" rule around here, so Elena found herself with one little leaf from one teeny Brussels sprout on her plate.  She's been around long enough to know there's no getting around it, so she dutifully took her bite.  The next thing we know, she's bolting for the bathroom next to the kitchen.  And then we hear the retching.  One bite of Brussels sprout and she's nearly tossing up the rest of her dinner.  When she was done, she calmly walked back to the table and announced:

"I didn't like them."

I'm glad we have that clarified.

Window Watching

We live in a neighborhood that is full of families with children.  Our two-story home is surrounded on all sides by smaller ranch-style homes.  As long as we've lived here, these particular homes have been occupied by people without children.  

I spend a good part of the day in my kitchen.  In fact, it was that very room that sold us on the house.  I wasn't especially in love with this house, but my mother raised a good point:  the kitchen has several windows that allow you to see almost all of the backyard.  There was already a play set in the backyard, and my mother insisted that I would find those windows and that backyard priceless when I needed to be in the kitchen and the children wanted to be outside.  Of course, she was right.

Needless to say, I spend a lot of time looking out of those windows.  Which means I also spend a lot of time looking at my neighbor.  

I don't know her at all.  I know that she's an older lady who seems to be living by herself.  We've said hello a few times, made some idle chit chat about our gardens, but it's obvious that she isn't interested in forming any kind of relationship beyond a neighborly wave now and then.  I was a little sad at first.  The older gentlemen that lived there previously was so sweet and kind.  He loved leaning over the fence and shooting the breeze.  He often came bearing peaches or peppers.  I'm over the fact that she's not the conversational type, but because I know so little about her, I can't help imagining.

I see her first thing in the morning.  When the weather was warmer, she'd sit on her patio with her coffee and the paper.  She was dressed in casual clothes, ready for the day.  I  notice her during the day, puttering in her vegetable garden or tending to her flowers.  On weekend evenings, I see smoke curling up from her grill.  I hear clinking glasses on the patio table and the laughter and chatter of casual conversation among friends.

I watch because she's there.  I linger because I'm envious. What is it like to wake up in the morning and not rush to throw on ratty yoga pants and run a brush through your hair because your toddler always wakes up precisely one minute before your alarm goes off, no matter what time you set it for?  What is it like to drink your coffee and look at the paper without a single interruption?  What is it like to decide you're going to work in your garden, and not get into a tug of war with your toddler over whose turn it is to use the hoe?  What is it like to entertain guests and linger over conversations, instead of  stilted conversations and lost trains of thought brought on by children who are usually seen and heard?

Basically, what is it like to have hour upon hour before you with no one but yourself to be responsible for? 

For me, it seems like a dream at times.  The projects I would tackle!  The books I would read!  The amazing meals I would cook!  The places I'd go! 

And then I wonder, what if she's watching me?  I wonder if she has children that have grown up and moved on.  If she does, I wonder if she watches me with her own kind of envy.  Maybe she remembers all too well those early mornings.  Maybe she remembers what it was like to be greeted every day as if you are the greatest, most important person on the face of the earth.  Maybe she remembers the sweetness of sleepy bodies and footed pj's.  Maybe she remembers the busyness of her days, how she did so much.  Not big projects, but lunches made, stories read, clothes washed, tears dried, games played.  Maybe she remembers those meals, when children interrupted because they actually wanted to share everything with you, when a simple sandwich and cut-up fruit could be the Best Meal Ever!

I hope that if she is watching, she's remembering those days with fondness.  I hope she sees me enjoying (most) of the moments of my day.  I hope that when I'm older and my children have moved on, my house backs up to a young family.  I'll be the leaning-over-the-fence type, I think.  I'll be a little envious, but not too much.  After all, I'll be the one with leisurely showers, quiet time with my coffee and grandchildren.