Mom to the Screaming Masses

Quickest Dinner

When you are running late, dinner needs to be on the table an hour ago, everyone needs you and there's no one else around -

what is your "Go To" meal?  The meal you always have the ingredients for, the one you pull out at the last minute and everyone likes?

For me, the summer choice is easy.  Cheese ravioli, fresh from the garden tomatoes, butter and Parmesan cheese.

In the winter, probably cheese quesidillas, black beans on chips with cheese, or good old fashioned cereal.

You?

Busch Gardens, Anyone?

Apologies for the late notice and for the locals only link.

If you live within driving distance of Busch Gardens Williamsburg, VA, and are available on Friday, I've got a hook up for you.  There's a new area opening, Sesame Street Forest of Fun, and Friday is the media day.  Want to go preview it, and take your family?  Leave me a comment and I'll pass you on to the powers that be.  There's only one spot - I can't GO! - so who wants to take my place?

ALSO!  Do you live in Richmond, or know a blogger/mom who does?  Leave me a comment - we need to chat.

Making Life (Or At Least Mealtime) Easier, Volume Twenty - Eight

I have to confess something to you, and it has to do with these recipes.

When I began this weekly recipe endeavor, I wanted to post dinner recipes, or lunches - things that would be easier options, healthier choices - and for the most part, I've been able to stick with that.  A couple of people have taken me to task, though, for some less than healthy choices that I've posted.  I'll freely admit that I don't always eat healthy. There are many days that are tough for me to make the best choices, but I try.  I spent a long time while I was actively losing weight avoiding all sweets and breads of any magnitude - it was all 100% healthy or nothing for me.

That didn't last.  It couldn't. It's impossible, or at least extremely difficult, to avoid entire groups of food.  The more you deprive yourself, the more you want it, and the harder it'll be to pick yourself up when you fall off the wagon.  My philosophy on food is real food, in moderation.  I don't like to eat artificial sweeteners and think that it's far better for you to eat the real stuff in smaller amounts.  That's what I've done for the past two years and it's worked for me.  I've kept most all of my weight off- baring about 10 pounds.  I'm comfortable with what I look like - although I can't STAND that I can't exercise and LONG for the day to be able to get out there again.

Which brings me to today's recipe.

People, Pretty Much, Are Clueless, I'm Thinking

And that certainly includes me.  I'm the Leader of The Pack Of Clueless. Always thinking of myself, and how situations affect ME, and relate to ME, and what MY thoughts are on a situation are ALWAYS the ones of most concern to me.  We are all nice people, people who mean well - I know I do - I just don't think half the time.  I'm working on it.

Reading the comments on the last post was eye opening and illuminating.  No matter the number of kids you have - none, one, two or a dozen - it seems that no one is ever without comment, are they? I think Sabz said it best - people are nosy and need to feel important.  Jen hit the nail on the head when she said that your response depends upon your mood.  I can't agree with that more - I know that if I'm irritable (and we all know I'm NEVER irritable!) I have a tendency to gripe and grumble and smart off. 

Another great point - people who are going to find fault with you will find something to find fault with, no matter what you are doing.  We ALL know people like that - they are never happy.  They think your baby needs a hat, your kid needs a spanking, and you really should learn to make a better pot roast  - and the speaker is JUST the RIGHT person to teach you the error of your ways. No one ever minds their own business.

I think one of the reasons that this topic - family size - is such a hot button is that it directly pertains to SEX. (And did anyone notice that I, the Queen of "let's not talk about religion, sex or politics - covered two of those topics this week?  It's a sign of the Apocalypse!"

A Question

Recently, I received this email, and I told the sender I'd open it up to you guys.

I am a daily reader of your blog and I love the new look, especially the Yes, I have six kids, etc.
 
How do you handle that question when it is asked to you IRL. Do you ignore it? Say something witty?

I am currently pregnant with my 3rd child and have  2 1/2 and 1 1/2 year old...all planned. I get strange looks and comments all the time and just wondered if you could give me some insight into how you handle it.

I've answered this question a hundred million bajillion times.  I've argued with my husband about HOW I answer this question two hundred million bajillion times.  We see things totally differently. 

SURPRISE!

Big Love Is a Big Draw

For me, anyway. I'm strangely addicted to the show.

We don't have HBO - right now, anyway.  (I think that's about to change.)  I'd heard a bit about the show Big Love, a series about a polygamist family in Utah.  It's not what you think,though - it's different and, I dunno, compelling. 

I watched my first episode in January when I was away in Philadelphia - the first night I was there. The second night, I watched the same episode again, and found it drew me in.  I have no idea why - obviously, I'm not a polygamist, don't live in Utah, am not a Mormon - really have nothing in common with the main characters.

My husband wanted to watch a movie last week, and on the advice of many, we rented Fireproof.  Very, very good movie - I'd highly recommend it to all of you.  While we waited for the movie to begin, we watched the previews, and two other movies were shown.  He expressed an interest in those movies, but we weren't able to find them anywhere locally.  We checked online and found that they were available on Netflix.  So, we rejoined. Just to watch those two movies, and I don't think we'll be keeping it.  BUT.  I needed to pick a third movie, so afer scrolling around for a while, I selected the first disc of Big Love.

I have been home from work now for four weeks.  I have about 4 more to go.  I've run out of stuff to watch and to read.

I watched the entire disc in one day.  I went to Blockbuster, rented the next three, and watched them in two days.  Today, I picked up two more.  I'm hooked.

And I have no idea why. 

Way To Freak Out Your Daughter

I picked my daughter up at soccer tonight, which was, coincidentally, being held at my oldest son's school.  The very school where his beloved car sits, unable to be driven, awaiting a knight in shining tow truck, to deliver it to the dealership.  Where we pass our time, waiting to hear how MANY kidneys and how MANY arms will be necessary to rescue this vehicle THIS TIME.

We think it's the clutch.

As I was leaving the parking lot, I saw the tow truck pull in.  Creeping slowly forward, it was clear that the driver was searching for the correct vehicle, and so I signaled to him as I pulled close.  I pushed the button to roll down the window - remember when we actually DID roll down the window? - and asked, "Are you here from xxx dealership?" 

"Yes, ma'am," said the driver.  He looked, um, rough - that's a kind way to put it.  He was missing a few critical teeth and the remaining few that weren't broken clutched a long cigarette.  The few scraggly tufts of hair remaining stood on end, as if he'd run his hands through his hair continuously.  His demeanor, though, was very friendly - maybe a little too much so -  as his eyes passed over what he could see of me.  He grinned as I continued.  "Oh, great! That's my son's car, and it's over there," as I pointed in the direction of said (dumb) vehicle.  "Your SON?  No way!" he grinned.  "No way in the world you've got a son old enough to drive!"  He wiggled his eyebrows up and down and his grin widened, as my daughter started to cough.

I muttered something witty along the lines of "Yeah, well.." and drove off, and my daughter burst into peals of laughter.  "MOM!  He was trying to pick you UP!" she shouted.  "That man was trying to make a PASS AT YOU!  At my MOM!"  The entire way home, she sputtered and muttered about the most horrific event of her entire day.

Since when did I get to be so old that the idea of any man making a play for me, no matter how ancient, was laughable?

Oh, right. The day she was born.

Making Life (Or At Least Mealtime) Easier, Volume Twenty - Seven

I love macaroni and cheese.  So do my kids.  We could all eat it every single day.  They are especially fond of the ubiquitous orange stuff, while my taste - and those of my oldest daughter - lean more towards the Stouffer stuff.  I've never been able to make Macaroni and Cheese the way I really like it, though - creamy and cheesy and not full of a bajillion calories.  But today's recipe isn't Mac and Cheese like that.  I saw this recipe in Real Simple last month, and, I'll admit it, I was intrigued and curious.  I remember my (dismal) attempts at disguising veggies in desserts and such when I first looked into the book Deceptively Delicious. Everything I made was awful, so I didn't hold much hope for this recipe.

And yet, I couldn't stop thinking about it.  I don't like cauliflower, but this recipe just kept BUGGING ME. And so I bought a head of cauliflower, and so with my trusty, intrepid kitchen helper Riley at my side, we cut and boiled, mixed and grated, and coated it all in a panko topping.  And every single person in my family ATE IT.  Some had two helpings. 

I'm happy.  And full.

I Don't Like It

"I don't have to like it. That doesn't mean I don't like you, " I said to my husband more than once this weekend.

He went shopping.  He bought me a shirt.  I don't like it.

It's been a big sticking point for us this weekend.

Now, it's not actually a big deal in the course of things.  We usually get along pretty well - not according to some people, but we really do.  We are both loud people, both desperately certain that our way is the ONLY way, and both very, very headstrong.  So that creates an interesting dynamic, especially for people who are quieter or less apt to argue as a whole.  But, we just disagree - fairly loudly and always with a great deal of energy - and it blows past and everything is cool.

Pinky swear.  We've been doing this for 19+ years. That's just the way we roll. 

I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty

I'm channeling my inner Maria.  Either that, or that $4 copy of West Side Story that I bought this weekend finally cracked me.

Yup, I've got a new look.  Like what you see?  I really loved my old header - it was memorable, and EVERYONE who saw my cards knew who I was.  "Oh, your site is the socks one!  I love that one!"  Sheryl from Paper Napkin created it for me and I loved it.  The new header isn't a publicity ploy, or a way to freak you out.  I just wanted a change.I've been at this blog for more than SIX years, and thought it was time for an updated new look.  The funny thing is, when I asked the uber talented designer to create something different - and I gave her some broad guidelines - I like pink and brown together, turquoise and brown, love polka dots, yadda yadda - I pretty much nixed everything she came up with.  To say I was difficult to work with would have been an understatement. 

I kept coming back to the fact that EVERYONE knows the six pairs of socks, and everyone remembers those socks.  My hubby works in a job that deals with a lot of advertising, and his philosophy is to never change your trademark.  So, I emailed back and asked to update the feet a bit, and change the tagline.

See, I get asked that question ALL the time.  "SIX kids?"  the person asks, face screwed up in puzzlement.  "Don't you know how that happens?"  As if. As if it was a funny thing, as if I'm too stupid to know exactly HOW I got pregnant six times. My 14 year old daughter read the tagline today and her comment was, "Duh.  You kinda were there - of course you know how it happens!" 

There are a couple of spots I haven't finished yet - I've got a publicity button on the side, as well as a "100 things about me" button that I've got to fill in - as if you NEED to know 100 things about me.  But I've always liked those sections on other blogs, so I'm following the crowd like the lemming I must be.

I highly recommend the beautiful designers over at Ruby and Roja - Beth did amazing work for me, for a rock bottom price. 

Hey, let me ask you something - you've been reading me a while - got any recommendations for that "100 things" list?  Cuz that 1-100 list is looking very intimidating.
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New post up at Zwaggle!  Come and check me out!

And, I could use some positive vibes for some potential good news that I desperately need.  Can you cross all your bendy parts, pretty please?