We had a family dinner the other day and I was in charge of bringing bread. We were having pasta so I really wanted to bring French bread but I have never made it before. I didn’t want to go buy it because we are on a no spend challenge. After looking around I finally found a recipe to try. I am all about quick and easy and this recipe was just that. And it was delicious.

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups bread flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 package yeast (2 1/4 tsp)

1 1/4 cups warm water

Place ingredients into your bread machine according to directions. Mine is liquid then dry ingredients. Set machine to dough cycle.

Once the cycle is complete remove onto a floured surface and cut dough in half. Take each half and roll into a loaf about 12 inches long.

Place onto a greased cookie sheet, cover with a wet towel and allow to rise for about 1 hour (double in size).

Using a sharp knife dipped in flour make slits 1/2 deep along the top.

Preheat oven to 450. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Place on wire rack to cool. Optional: You can use an egg wash (whites of eggs mixed with a little bit of water) to brush over the top to make it more crunchy.

What would one expect for their very first wedding anniversary?  A romantic dinner out?  A bouquet of beautiful red roses?  A Domino’s Pizza?

No?  No pizza?  Oh shoot, I guess Big Daddy and I got it all wrong then.  Darn.

January 16, 1999 we celebrated our first wedding anniversary.  We couldn’t afford a baby-sitter for Jake.   A fancy meal out, followed by a romantic comedy at the theaters was totally out of the question.  So, we opted for a Domino’s Pizza by candlelight.  And it was perfect.  We used the good china and poured our cheap beer into expensive glasses.  I couldn’t have asked for anything more.  Well, I could have.  But I didn’t.  (You’re welcome, Big Daddy).

Yesterday, January 16, 2008 we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary.  We COULD afford a baby-sitter for Jake and even the other 3 kids too.  An elegant dinner out, followed by a show could have been easily achieved … but again, we opted for the pizza by candlelight.  And it was perfect.  As always … just as it’s been for every year since the first.

The anniversary that Big Daddy and I celebrate each year is such an exciting and anticipated event for all the children … and us.   From year to year, we don’t change anything … except adding another chair to the table and the pizza from Domino’s to Casey’s.  The children become giddy … and I wouldn’t want to ever even so much as dream of spending the evening in any way rather than the way we’ve been doing it for 10 years.

Don’t mind a shirtless Molly.  I guess she got too hot in her sundress.  After all it is 10 degrees outside.

This particular evening we informed the children that we would ALWAYS spend January 16th together eating pizza by candlelight.  The oldest two in turn informed us that when they are married and have children of their own, they’d have to bring them along.

Fine with me.  As long as they bring the pizza and cheap beer too.

As I sit at my computer and peck away at the keyboard, I have to hit the backspace button over and over again to correct my mistakes.  I am not intentionally hitting the incorrect keys, but my fingers are literally numb due to being so stinkin’ cold.  Annoying is not even the word for it.  It got so bad that yesterday I even forced myself to venture out into the frigid air, just to visit my local SuperTarget.  Oh, okay … so I don’t need an excuse and would drive through an F-5 tornado if it meant I got to spend a few minutes in my favorite store.  But sssshhh, we’ll keep that between you and me, okay?  Anyway, I kept my icicles, that I’ll call my fingers, crossed hoping to find a pair of fingerless gloves.  They had to help some, right?

Right. 

They do actually help a bit, but I’m still freezing.

I blame this all on my husband.  My frugal, cheapo husband.  The only who insists we keep our thermostat set at 66 degrees.  You read that right … SIXTY SIX DEGREES.  And while I run to it each time he walks out the door and press the UP button a few times … I swear I could still double as Frosty the Snowman sitting here trying to get some work done.  I must admit, I’m quite happy when the neighbors start talking about their heating bills and ours is usually more than HALF theirs, but really … is this all worth it?

It brings me to ask … where do you all keep your homes set at in the winter months?  Are you running around in your shorts and t-shirts or are you bundled in layers like I am?

Banana Bread

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 cups flour
• 2 mashed bananas
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (optional)

Mix sugar, butter and eggs.  Add bananas.  Stir in flour and baking soda.  Add chocolate chips.  Bake 350 degrees.

Loaf: Approx. 50 minutes
Mini Loaves: Approx. 35 minutes
Muffins: Approx. 25 minutes
Mini Muffines: Approx. 15 minutes

My baby turned one, and I knew it was time.  It is time to Start Something.

I am married, and we have three children.  I work outside the home, and a part of my title is a coordinator.  At home, I have also been told that I am the coordinator.  Or as Bryan usually puts it, I am the management and he is the labor.  He thinks that’s hilarious.  I’m undecided.  There is an awful lot to coordinate.

There is a woman I know named Katy, and I believe that we are becoming good friends.  Katy sent me a link to IowaMoms.com and in about 11 seconds, I had written to my husband to tell him I wanted to try something new.  My husband is a very patient man.

“What do you know something about?”  Katy had asked.  And I thought, well, I know how to coordinate things?  But there is more to it than that.  I’m a woman with a career, a husband, and children ages 6, 3, and 1.  Anyone with a similar schedule knows that simply means busy, and anyone who doesn’t live with small children won’t quite get it no matter how I describe the mundane duties that go along with it, all day, every day.  My best friend says “it is what it is” and I think I’ve got the routine down.

What I’m most proud of is that I make time for fitness every single day.  This is what I’d like to write about.  Recently, for reasons I may decide to discuss at another time, I have heard a lot of comments like “I don’t know how you do it.”  And I try to smile and say “oh, it just takes some organization.”  But in my head, I automatically think, “How I do it?  Sometimes, I’d just like to know why I do it.”  So here I am, and I hope to answer both of those questions and more.

We’ve all heard it before, “When I was a kid, we got up three hours before we had to be at school to complete our chores.  And then, we had to walk to school.  Up hill … BOTH WAYS!” 

As a child, I remember rolling my eyes when hearing such statements … but now, I’m thinking, “WHAT THE HECK!!  The kids today don’t know how easy they have it.”  And quite frankly, I believe we’ve only got ourselves to blame, as parents. 

When did the standard change?  When did it become acceptable for it to be more important to be a ‘friend’ to our children, rather than a ‘parent’?  How did it become the norm that children aren’t held responsible for doing anything?  Or being responsible for anything they do?  And how in the world do children not get their mouths washed out with soap for saying some of the things they say … TO THEIR PARENTS??   

All of this has become the norm.  And what do the kids get in return?  New video games!  Fast food!  Cell Phones!

A few years back, and I’m not saying how many, I was responsible for doing chores.  It was my part in the family.  The few things I was able to do to help out, allowing things run smoothly in our home.  When I was 10 or 11 years old (pretty close to how old my two boys are), emptying the dishwasher … mowing the lawn … cleaning my room … folding laundry … those were things I just did. 

Without question. 

And if I did question … well, I don’t know what would happen … because I NEVER DID!!! 

Today, I feel, children believe they are “entitled” to everything.  Without earning a darned thing they are given.  And the parents not earning the respect they should have from their kids.

It was just the other day, I realized my rugrats are no better.  They don’t do crap around here.  And while they don’t have cell phones … they do have their share of video games and fast food.  I’m just sayin’.  Guilty.

It’s amazing when these ‘light bulb’ moments go off in a mother’s head.  A certain rage takes place when you realize you’ve been cheated. 

Or cheating.  Cheating your kids that is … because these same children that are not made to hold any sort of  responsibility … will be lost when they grow up and have to move on and out on their own.  They will not know how to function.  They will have no clue how to care for themselves.   Another light bulb moment … maybe that is why it is not uncommon for grown children these days … to live at home into their twenties, sometimes thirties.  When you look at it like that … it all makes sense, doesn’t it?  Good grief.

So, I frantically do what I know … and that is to pull up GOOGLE.  What else would I do?  Hello?

And I find something perfect.  Exactly what our family needs.

CHECK THIS OUT …

Does anyone else feel their family and children are slipping away from what they had envision for them … just because ‘that’s just the way it is’ in today’s world?  Are you caught up in the hype or have you been able to stay strong and raise your kiddos ‘old school’?

Since my kids log online each day, I plan to use this new way of keeping track of their chores … and rewards.  I’ve shared it with my kids and they have expressed interest and excitement by using online chore manager.  I’ll let you know how it goes …

Your thoughts?  Where are you and your family when it comes to chores and responsibility?

We were recently asked by Save the Children and the Ad Council to let you know about their new national public service campaign, “See Where the Good Goes.”  They are working together to mobilize citizen action in the U.S. to help local health workers save more children worldwide.

Each year, almost 9 million children in the developing world die of largely preventable and treatable illnesses before they reach the age of five – that equates to approximately 24,000 child deaths a day.  However, every 4 seconds a child survives thanks to the basic health care provided by local health workers.  The campaign communicates that local health workers are critical when it comes to newborn and child survival in the developing world.  “See Where the Good Goes” supports these local health workers and you can meet them and the children they help to survive by visiting www.GoodGoes.org.

The website also features a customized Google map application of the local health worker’s village, blog posts, video bios, and a menu of ways people can get involved in this campaign.  You are one step away from helping children around the world survive.

Thanks for checking out www.GoodGoes.org … because Good Makes The World Go Round.

So many people suffer from arthritis pain, and you can learn that ‘moving is the best medicine’.    May is Arthritis Awareness Month and throughout the entire month of May, there will be over 100 Arthritis Walks held nationwide to help raise awareness and funds to help improve the lives of those that live with arthritis.  Do you live near one of them?  You can find out here, and help support the cause. 

The Ad Council and Arthritis Foundation have teamed up to put together a great website where one can take a quiz to find out if they are at risk of having osteoarthritis.  Knowing the facts are important.  Take a minute and learn about the causes, risks, symptoms, and diagnosis for osteoarthritis.   If you are at risk, or do suffer … it does not need to dictate your life. Come find out what exercises will benefit you the most, how to manage your pain, and how to talk to your doctor.  It can change your life.

Visit the website – Fighting Arthritis Pain - In addition to everything mentioned above, there is also an online community, local events and programs and also some awesome resources.  It’s worth a few minutes of your time time check it out.

And that is not all, we have been given a  “Moving is the Best Medicine” Premium Package to give away to one of you!

The package includes: 

   • a copy of Walk With Ease
   • a DVD of Tai Chi For Arthritis
   • a set of light dumbbells
   • Pilot Dr. Grip Pen
   • Hefty 1 zip storage bag coupons
   • Cardinal Easy Open Binders
   • ThermaCare heating pack

The contest is open to US residents only.   Just leave a comment on this post and you are entered to win.  If you’d like to tweet or share this giveaway on facebook or your blog , please feel free to do so.  The will give you extra entries, but please remember to leave a separate comment telling us you’ve done so.  Winner will be drawn randomly from all entries and contacted on Friday, May 28, 2010. 

Good Luck!

Disclosure:  IowaMoms.com has been given two premium packages (contents listed above).  One to keep and one to give away to a random winner.

Lately, I have had more of an interest in firming up my jiggly parts. Probably because after 31 years and co-creating three babies, my body is wilting a smidgen. Or a lot. While I love and respect this body for what it has accomplished, I feel like I need to repay it with a healthy lifestyle update that includes getting stronger from exercise, not just carrying heavy baskets of laundry up and down the stairs.

Like squeezing a sausage back into it’s casing, I slipped on my spandex and set out for Hothouse Yoga in Iowa City. The staff and fellow yogis were very kind and I felt right at home. By “home ” I mean like a frog stuck in a coffee can on a hot summer day.

Yes, it was hot. It is supposed to be. Initially I struggled to find my breath so I took the time to stretch. I laid on my towel covered yoga mat and remind myself that I could do this. Breathe. What am I doing here? Breathe. No crying. Breathe. Seriously, no crying.

Truthfully, from the moment we began moving, I loved the workout. I was curious where all the water pouring down my body was coming from before I realized it was seeping from my own pores. Never in my life have I sweat so much. And it felt so empowering. I was sweating away worry, toxins and stress. I was breathing in positive white light and strength.

As a parent, I was amazed to look back at my hour of pretzel twisting and realize that while I was in there, I didn’t think once about my To Do List. Or who I had to pick up and when. Or if I remembered to shave my left armpit after I was interrupted for the 4th time during my six minute shower.

I was totally invigorated.

And thirsty.

I am about as flexible as an old barn board. In the heat, my body loosened up and allowed me to stretch and feel the results almost immediately. The careful direction of the teacher allowed me to push myself without any risk of injury and allowed me to feel comfortable in my own skin.

I walked out of there feeling like one hot mama. In more ways than one.

Hothouse Yoga
www.hothouseyoga.com
Iowa City & Coralville
$15 per class (Discounts available on punch cards)
$20 First week unlimited classes

Katy Brown is a wife, mom and part-time super-hero. She lives in a humble, cozy home with her SuperHub and three adorable kids. Read more Mommy Mishmash at www.mommymishmash.com.