A Reader Asks a Question, Day 4

I had an article on Camping picked up by Yahoo! Shine. I'd love if you'd take a look!

I also have a new post up at Cafe Mom, Caring for Sports Gear, and another one on a new project for Hallmark, Build Confidence in Your Child's Accomplishments.  You might also be interested in reading The Right Way to Fuel Your Child Athlete at Diets In Review.

It's been a busy week. :)

Now, on to the questions....

Addy wonders: Do you have a favorite recipe for protein shakes? I have searched the internets tried a couple read reviews of others.... nothin' .... just nothin' I want to drink.

What I often do is use V-8 Peach-mango fruit and veggie juice as a base, toss in some frozen strawberries, peaches and mango, add a handful of spinach, some flax seed, some protein powder and some vanilla yogurt. I really like those juices, because you get both fruit and veggies. I've also used the Naked juices, and occasionally the Yoplait or Jamba Juice frozen smoothie mixes. Add spinach to just about anything, because literally up to a cup has no flavor change but gives you tons of good stuff.

I also like milk/carnation instant breakfast/protein/peanut butter.

If you are having trouble, decrease the amount of protein powder/spinach/flax - all are stronger flavors - and then increase them slowly as your tolerance builds.

Sabz has a long list of inquiries:

How do you find time to connect with your husband? Especially when you first had kids ... and as your family grew and you got busier?

You know, this is a particularly interesting thing to discuss today, especially in light of a comment left that was just a little "oh, wow" kinda, sorta zingy, in that I was told to take more time with my husband and realize that second marriages fail more often than firsts. You know, we actually do connect as much as possible. It's not a matter of the two of us being in separate rooms at night - it's a matter of him working until often midnight. You know, it's hard to turn off the tv and the computer and connect when the other person isn't there.

Sorry, I get annoyed when I get judged. And maybe it wasn't meant that way, but I sure took it that way. Hmmmm.

Anywho, we try to do as much together as we can. He comes home from work and helps me with house stuff. We go out for dinner or drinks if we have the cash, and we try to go for a long walk on his day off. Often, we go to bed early on his day off. His line of work means that he's the last one out, and I need my sleep, so I often go to bed when he's still working. We go to the movies if we can. We really try to maximize his day off. It's tough, because the kids want to be with him as well, and I really want him to have some fun of his own, so that he doesn't feel like all he does is work. It's a delicate balance that is sometimes deeply skewed in another direction. Sometimes I go to his job and eat lunch with him in his office. Sometimes a company that he works for will take him to lunch and I tag along.

It's something that's always in the front of both of our minds, especially in light of the fact that this is his second marriage. But we've been married 21 years, and we have an agreement that whoever leaves has to take the kids - so although nothing is perfect and nothing is forever - we both feel like we are doing the best we can.

What is your favorite quick dinner recipe? Dessert? Bread? Quick dinner - pasta. I make huge pot of sauce and freeze it in dinner size portions. Defrost and serve with pasta. Ravioli with butter and cheese. Quesidillas, taquitos - I almost always have chicken or beef already cooked in the fridge. Dessert - ice cream. I try to keep at least one type of treat, be it cookies or brownies or cake - on hand. Bread? I do rolls or bread once a week and if it's gone - it's gone. I have a white roll recipe that is particularly yummy and I make that every so often.

How do you discipline your kids? The little ones especially.

Discipline? What's that?

:)

We do an awful lot of separating the kid from the situation. One of my kids HATES to be alone, so she will have to go in another room - or sit on her bed - and that's total torture. I do a lot of directing - you can't behave, you go over here and do this instead - and that works pretty well.

I do, and have in the past, and will continue - to pop the bottom. No judgment. It works for us.

Sometimes people who are just rotten to each other have to do chores. Especially something that will help for the person they've offended. I'm working REALLY hard on teaching them to not only say, "I'm sorry" and mean it, but by teaching them to say, "I made a wrong choice. Please forgive me" and then the other one has to actually forgive. I think that saying sorry is easy - it's just words. Meaning it is more difficult, and forgiving someone who has wronged you is often the most difficult of all.

And sometimes I just yell. <sigh>

What's your typical makeup routine?

I wrote about my makeup here. Basically, I do some Benefit Stay Put and then cover it with Benefit Erase Paste. I put on Smashbox Green Primer, mix some foundation with a little brightening serum. Rub on a little blush, finish with eyeshadow and eyeliner and mascara. Start to finish - it's five minutes. I don't do it every day, but probably 5 out of 7. 

What kind of sports bras would you recommend for your plus size readers?

Enell. All the way. It's not sexy and it's not attractive - I call it my German Prison Matron bra - but those 12 hooks hold me solid and I have NO bounce. When I was heavy, I wore a size 4 and wore it over my regular bra. I wear a 0 now. Don't put it in the dryer.

Running pants?

This I can't help you with. I usually wear yoga pants. I have cheap ones and a pair of Lululemon and I have no preference. Don't buy the spendy ones - save your money.They all look the same on me and all of them are equally pilly.

How would one go about finding a good muay Thai class?

This is a good site.

Do you like Thai food and would you like to visit the country some day? Or any other must-seeplace(s) on your list.

Not especially. I don't have any desire to go there. I really want to go to Scotland and Ireland.

Comments

[Nicole]

When we were kids and argued, my parents made us hold hands for a certain length of time. (We got really good at holding hands without actually holding hands.)

We also would have to compliment each other to counteract name-calling. Once my compliment to my brother was that I was glad he wasn't dead. I don't know why, but Mom didn't like it. Go figure.

[kyooty]

This is the first I've heard of Enell, Thank you!:)

[catriona]

For running leggings, I get Champion capris from Target - they're inexpensive (about $20; comparable leggings at running stores can run upwards of $70), comfortable, and have an internal drawstring and small (zippered!) pocket. I have three or four pairs of these (I love them that much).

I think they are these, although I'm not 100% sure: http://www.target.com/C9-Champion-Running-Capri-Pants/dp/B004BLDGBY/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton

If those aren't your thing: In general, look for something synthetic (cotton chafes) and long enough that your thighs won't rub together, especially if you expect to sweat a lot. (Again with the chafing. Can I just say ow? Running shorts are made for people with really low body fat.) I jump up and down a bit to make sure the waist is secure (hence my love of Champion's drawstring), but mostly... go for comfort. If they feel right, whatever that means to you, they're probably a good choice ::shrugs::

Right. Thus ends my sermonising on running leggings.

[Sabz]

Thank you. I'll check out Enell. Your previous post on time mgmt also answered many of my questioned (not yet asked) :)

[Sandra]

for good protein shakes try the following:

1/2 cup greek yogurt (great source of protein)
1/2 cup skim milk or soy milk
1/2 cup ice
small banana (frozen bananas are great)
drizzle honey
handful of berries of choice
1 scoop of protein powder
mix more or less ice to make the smoothie thicker.

my husbands favorite is called the "elvis"

1/2 cup greek yogurt
1/2 cup skim or soy milk
1/2 cup ice
1 small banana
1 tsp peanut butter
drizzle honey
1 scoop protein powder

[addy]

Thanks for the suggestions Carmen - we will give them a try and thanks to Sandra more to experiment with :)