The Big 2000

I woke up this AM & saw that we hit 2000 page likes over on the Facebook page.  YIPPEE!!!!!

I know it might not seem like much, but this blog and Facebook page is my labor of love.  I SO enjoy sharing with all of you, talking about Motherhood, challenging each other as Wives, discussing Homeschooling and everything in between.  And the fact that you enjoy it too and that it's GROWING is seriously just the very best.

So a big THANK YOU goes out to all the fans.  Thank You so much for being here and for being a part of this wonderful community we are growing.  Here's to us all- may we be blessed with continued fellowship and friends.

I just love your beautiful faces,

The Homeschooled Housewife

Friendship & Betrayal

 I've been sitting with this topic for well over two months now.  It's just hanging there, weighing down my heart and I simply don't know what to do with it.  Writing helps me process- it's my form of therapy, however I didn't want to upset or offend anyone.  So I've been silent in writing about this subject.  But at the end of the day, I have to do what is best for me.

So let's go there.

I have the worst luck in friendships with women.  There, I said it.  It all started in late elementary school when a friend of several years decided we shouldn't be friends anymore.  Her crazy sisters came after me, threatening me, yelling at me and really- to this day I have NO CLUE why.  We eventually repaired things and remained friends for years after that.  But then I hit junior high school and my BFF since Kindergarten wrote me a devastating letter telling me that she had "new" friends now and we didn't need to be friends anymore.  Years later, she wanted to come back into my life and I tried, really I did- but you guys, this kind of thing....well, it leaves a mark on you.  Fast forward to high school and my other BFF decided I wasn't "cool" enough to hang out with her.  I guess my church going, goody to shoes behavior wasn't the right one for the pot smoking, drinking and sex crowd.  Oh well....and yes, years later she too wanted to come back into my life.

These things changed me.  Forever.

When people you thought were your friends, LIFELONG friends, turn on you- there's simply no going back.  And so, it's left me guarded.  I've found myself having a hard time making friends with other women, especially women my own age.  However, I get along GREAT with the over 60 crowd mmkay...

Recently, we had a situation in which people we thought were our friends had some pretty horrible things to say about the kiddo.  It saddens me to think that I opened my home to them, invited them to Christmas dinner, welcomed them and all along they've been silently judging us.

I had reached out to them, because our children were friends and I didn't want the kids to be hurt by all of this and my offer to sit and discuss things was rebuffed.  Then we were blasted on social media.

Ugh.  Really?

The hurt you guys....yeah.  I've been sitting on this for awhile now and it simply doesn't get any better.  I had thought that I had found a fellow Mom to share things with.  You know- marriage, Motherhood, life....boy was I wrong.  Because at the first sign of a little bump, she takes off.  Four plus years of friendship just down the drain.  And I'm going to be honest here and say that I simply don't know what to do about that.

I was a good friend.

I hosted their entire family over at my house for many fun things like Trick or Treating, milkshakes on St. Patty's Day, fireworks on the 4th.  I brought them dinner when she was hurt.  We met for coffee and park dates.  I had her kid over for sleepovers.

I thought I had done all the things that a good Mommy friend does.  But I guess it simply wasn't enough.

In talking with the husband and trying to figure out what really happened, he had this to say to me-

"Babe, you can only ever be yourself.  We are weird, we aren't normal and some people just can't handle it."

So I kept thinking on this situation.  Had I accidentally done something wrong?  Could I have done something better?  Had they forgotten that I was a witness to this entire event in question?  Why was my offer to discuss things never accepted?  Why would they believe my child capable of doing this?  Why would they then attack my character?  What exactly did they expect us to do in this situation?  Had I been a bad friend?  Was there more going on here then what they were saying?

And then I simply said-

Screw It.

I did the best that I could.  I was a good friend.  My child is a good kid.  My husband is a good man.  If these people want to believe the worst of us, despite ALL the goodness we've shown them throughout the years- then there's nothing we say or do that could ever change that.  People will believe what they want to believe.

But it still hurts.


What I've learned from this experience is this-


Not everyone is as good a friend to you as you are to them.

I'm not perfect.  My family isn't perfect.  But neither is yours.  Perfection is not the goal here, friendship is.

We all deserve grace, understanding and forgiveness.  At the end of the day, I was willing to extend it and made efforts to do so.

Motherhood is messy.  Sometimes your children say or do things that just plain suck.  Us Moms need to stick together.

How people behave says more about them then it will ever say about you.

Not everyone deserves a place in your life.


Sadly, this entire situation has just re-enforced for me why I don't have many women friends.  Friendship is hard and while I'm willing to put in the work and effort, it seems that those I find are simply not willing to in return.  While I do have a few great women friends (you know who you are ladies!), it seems that as the years progress, that number dwindles.  I suppose that I'm OK with that- I would rather know who my true friends are then to play at pretend friendships.  I don't do pretend very well.

My message to all of you reading this today and perhaps going through the same types of situations:

Find your people.  Find the right friends who will accept you and love you just as you are.  While they may not agree with everything you say or do- they don't have to.  Judgement should NEVER be a part of a real friendship.  And you guys- it might take years.  Hang in there.  Because when you find your people, the ones you can be completely yourself with, it's the most wonderful gift.

Be a good friend.  Be quick to offer forgiveness, be quick to extend grace and understanding, be quick to apologize and hash shit out.  Sometimes misunderstandings happen.  Approach them head on and deal with them like grown ups.  And for heaven sakes- if your friend asks you to sit down and talk about a hurtful situation- do it.

Teach your children how to be a real friend.  This entire experience has taught the kiddo SO much.  I'm not gonna lie- it's been very hard on him and a lesson that I had hoped would wait several more years.  But he now knows what real friendship should look like.  And it's not fake waves and plastic smiles at the baseball field.

Full disclosure here-

I am sure that I could be a better person and a better friend.  There is always room for improvement.  I have never claimed to be perfect or to have all the answers.  I can only speak from my personal truths and the feelings I've navigated along the way.  I also acknowledge that I am unapologetically myself.  Right, wrong- I'm me.  I don't make excuses for being me and for knowing who I am.  I stand up for what believe in, I speak my truth, I sometimes offer my opinion too much- I get all this.  I understand that I can be overwhelming at times and I'm working on that.  I'm working on saying less and listening more.

However, I always come from a good place.  It is never my intention to offend or upset anyone.  This is just life you guys and you can only be the best version of you.  In writing this post, my hope is that it can offer some healing to those of you currently going through betrayal in your friendships.  Perhaps it can highlight for you how to be a better friend?  But my true goal in writing this was to help myself heal.  I've been deeply hurt and so disappointed and I want to learn from this situation all that I can.  It is not my intention to further cause upset to this family that we had once considered friends or to any of the other ladies I mentioned previously.  And so if they are reading this, here's my message to them.

I'm sorry it didn't work out.  I had high hopes for our continued friendship and I'm truly sad to see its ended this way.

That's the best I can do you guys.  I will continue to reach out and search for good people.  I will move forward from this betrayal and take the the lessons with me.  There are people in this world that are meant to be a part of your life.  Some come as lessons and some come as gifts.  And to those of you that are part of my people, I thank you all for being such wonderful friends.  You're more then friends, you're my family.

Lessons Come Whether We Want Them To Or Not

Last Christmas, we almost lost my Grandpa.  He was in a very serious car accident and the aftermaths of it have been very difficult.  Sadly, he lost several of his beloved rescue dogs, one was left paralyzed and my Grandpa almost died.  I'm pretty sure my family isn't quite over the devastation.

Life can change in an instant.

So a few months back, I suggested to my parents that we fly down to California to visit them for Thanksgiving.  It had been a very long time since we'd spent a holiday with them and I haven't seen them since the accident.

For awhile there, it looked like we wouldn't be able to make the trip.  Then suddenly it became a mini family reunion of sorts with all the aunts, uncles and cousins wanting to join in.  Now- don't get me wrong, I love family but I just wanted to spend some quiet time with my Grandparents.  I needed the quiet time with them.  If 30+ people suddenly invaded, the quiet would most definitely not be happening.  And then everyone (and by everyone, I mean all 30+ people) wanted to go during Christmas and not Thanksgiving.

I explained to my parents that we didn't travel during the Christmas holiday.  Being home to celebrate is extremely important to us.  To this day, we have never NOT been home for Christmas.  I went on to say that everyone could do what worked best for them but that my little family would still be making the trip during Thanksgiving.  The guilt trips were applied but I wasn't budging.  Christmas with a young child is sacred and for us- it was important to be home.

And now we are going during Thanksgiving.

Unfortunately, our trip will include some family members who have been extremely cruel and are very disrespectful of us and our lifestyle.  Our trip will be 8 days long.  We will be sharing a house, a bathroom, meals together and a trip to Disneyland.  Unfortunately, due to work conflicts, the husband won't be able to join us until halfway through and I'm not gonna lie- I'm dreading being alone with people I do not like without my main support system.

While I'm excited to see my Grandparents and spend some time with them and glad that the kiddo will have some cousins to play with, a part of me is also experiencing a lot of trepidation.  I'm super grateful for this chance to be with family and my Grandparents but I can't help but feel that this trip is a mistake of epic proportions.  Being in a confined space for an extended period of time with people you do not like, yeah- it has disaster written all over it.  But I'm also thinking this may be a big learning experience for me.  This trip will be a testament to my faith and to all I've learned in the last few years.  Perhaps a lesson in grace and forgiveness?  In everything we do, there is a lesson.  Good or bad.

I suppose that only time will tell.

And you all know that I'll be blogging the whole time!

Answering the Why

Let's just begin by asking this question:

Why do we even need a reason to homeschool?

Let's just stop and think on that one a moment, yeah?  How many times over the years have you been asked "Why do you homeschool?"  Really- how many?

In comparison, how many times do you think public school parents are asked, "Why do you send them to public school?"  I bet the answer is none.  Seriously- I'm pretty confident that most public schoolers have NEVER been asked "Why".

Why do you suppose this happens?  When you stop and think about it- public school is the relative "new comer" to the education front.  Homeschooling, home education- well it's been around a lot longer and yet it's somehow viewed as this new movement.  Yeah, I just don't understand that one.

We as homeschoolers should NOT have to answer this question.  We should NOT have to explain our choice to educate our children at home.  If public schoolers don't have to answer and explain their choices, then why do we?  But the reality is, that we kind of do.  For the moment, we may be the only interaction some people have with homeschoolers and so its up to us to leave them with a good impression.  How else will their preconceived notions of us change?

So for now- we do have to answer the "Why" and here's how I do it-

"It's the best choice for our family."

That's it.  Simple.  Easy.  As non judgemental as possible, straight to the point.  Over and out.

My advice to you all is to think of a sentence, a phrase, a quick answer that you can say to people when you are asked this question.  Most will accept what you say and that will be it.  A select few will be naturally curious and ask you more questions in an interest to learn even more.  I love when this happens!  And sadly, there will be some who will continue a barrage of judgemental questions in an effort to pick apart your choice to homeschool.  Just ignore those folks.

So- why do you homeschool?

My answer:  Because its the best choice for my family.

What will your answer be?

Why Men Criticize Their SAHM Wives: A Review

Ick.

That was my very first thought upon reading this article recently featured on Huffington Post titled, "Why Men Criticize Their SAHM Wives."

For my house, none of this would be happening.  My husband would never criticize me for not keeping the house clean or failing to make dinner.  Sorry- but no.

And the concept of a Type A husband versus a Type B wife- not buying that either.  Sure, we might all have our personality types and I believe its true what they say about opposites attracting but tell me- where does it say that because you're a Type A man, it gives you the right to criticize your Type B wife?

It doesn't.  You don't.

So how about instead of one spouse criticizing the other, we just step back and realize that having kids, especially small kids running around is hard.  It's SO much work.  For both husband AND wife.  Add on to that, the societal pressures to cook organic, healthy dinners every night, have a sparkling clean designer home and washboard abs and is it any wonder that women are falling short?  That's not even discussing the women who are home educating their children.

There's NO way we can keep up!

Now- you may have read some of my previous blog posts regarding housekeeping, excpectations, how to be a good Wife and such.  But what you may not know is that it took me awhile to get to this point.  When the kiddo was young, keeping the toys picked up was simply not a priority for me.  Why bother?  He's just going to trash it all again in 10 minutes- what a waste of my time mmkay....But what was NOT a waste of my time was sitting down on the floor and playing with him.

When your kids are small- your priorities are different.  You are more child focused and not home focused and this is exactly as it should be.

I will also mention that while the playroom may have been a disaster of EPIC porportions, my kitchen and bathrooms were always clean.  And as the kiddo got a bit older and was able to learn how to put toys away once he was done, my house started to look more like a home.  I consider this the natural evolution of being a SAHM.

Fast forward to the preschool years and we could finally invest in some good toy bins and storage solutions to help contain (and hide!) some of the kid stuff.  I could actually buy real lamps and put a glass vase out on a table without fear of it getting destroyed.  I had more time available to invest in healthy, homemade dinners and we began taking daily walks for "treasure" around the neighborhood.

We were finally out of survival mode and on to real life.  It was fabulous.

Now that the kiddo is 10, my life as a SAHM/WAHM looks completely different than what it did in those early years.  My home is almost always company ready, I make dinner from scratch nightly, my home is on a regularly cleaning schedule and I'm not as tired and have more time to invest in myself and my marriage.  We've entered the ZONE and life is pretty darn good.

But you know what- not once throughout the last 10 years of baby, marriage and life did my husband ever criticize me or make me feel like I was failing.  He supported me and the work I was doing at
home- even if that "work" involved snuggling on the couch watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with the kiddo while he picked up cheeseburgers on the way home from work.  Because he knew and I knew that at the end of the day, it's not about the image of perfection or other's ideas of what it should look like but the feeling of love within your home that truly matters.

Modest & Trendy?

Recently I posted a few things over on the Facebook page about shopping, clothes, style etc and a few of you reached out to me with some questions.  Mainly- how do you find trendy clothes on a budget and be modest?  Good questions for sure!

I feel like my style has evolved in recent years.  Dressing my 30+ year old self with a body type that does NOT fit the norm and still being on trend (but not too trendy!) can be difficult.

Years ago, I used to wear just about anything that was cute and on sale.  Seriously- those were my requirements.  I really didn't care about the quality of the garment, the overall style, it's longevity, the ability to mix and match it with other items in my closet- it just needed to look cute, fit me and be cheap.  That was 10 years ago.  Praise Jesus my style has evolved since then!

Just the other day a co-worker said to me "Chrissie- you always look so put together.  How do you do it?"  Now, you might have seen a blog post that I wrote last year about my closet.  It's seen some major transformations in the last 10 years but this closet holds the keys to my own personal style.  I've built a solid wardrobe of good quality basics, around colors and styles that compliment my body type and a few trendy accessories.  What every girl secretly wants, right?  But along the way, I've also made sure that my clothes are modest.

 I have since become extremely picky with what I choose to spend my money on and what I bring into my wardrobe.  Here's a few rules that I live by:

1. It must fit and look good from all angles.  Fit is everything for a bigger girl like me you guys!  Make sure that an item looks just as good in the front as it does in the back.  Overall length can be hemmed and you can certainly take a garment to a tailor but some things can't be fixed so keep this in mind when trying on pieces.  I also do not wear clothing that is too tight.  I've found it actually makes me look fatter not to mention I'm extremely uncomfortable.
2. It has to be in one of my colors.  Check out this blog post here to find out what I'm talking about but basically, I have 4 colors in my closet.  White, black, pink and grey.  If it's not one of these colors, its not coming in.  With the exception of jeans y'all- cuz I'm not crazy mmkay!
3. Price must be reasonable.  I don't mind spending a little more for a quality item but I'm not made of money.  There's NO WAY on God's green earth that you'll find me wasting money on clothes.  I shop the sales mmkay...but I've also learned what to spend more money on as an "investment piece" versus what not to.  For example, good black leather boots- SPEND THE MONEY!  White t-shirts- SAVE THE MONEY!
4. It has to travel the seasons.  Here in the Pacific NW, we've got fabulous seasons!  This means I need warm weather clothes, cold weather clothes and everything in between.  When out shopping, I do my best to find items that will carry over from one season to another.
5. Work and Home.  Since I work outside the home in a business casual environment, I have to have work clothes.  I simply don't have money to have 2 separate wardrobes for work and home.  So many of my items that I wear to work, you'll also find me dressing down for home.  They need to serve both purposes.  Psst- cardigans are GREAT for this!
6. Age appropriate items only please!  I tend to stay away from anything with words or a saying on it- "JUICY" across your sweat pant covered buns?  Most definitely NOT.  And while I am a Disney fanatic- you won't find me wearing the characters out in public.  Although I have been known to rock the glitter ears while in the Land.  Dressing too young makes you look older and no one wants that!
7. It's all about the basics.  I've worked hard to build a wardrobe of basics.  I'm talking- plain white t-shirt, converse, good fitting denim, simple black dress, cardigans, black heels etc.  Basics are not as easy as they may seem but if you've got a solid wardrobe full of basic pieces, they will fit all the other rules above.
8. Save the super trendy items for your accessories.  A few things that I'm known for are my super cute purses and fabulous shoes.  You can also play around with jewelry, sunglasses, hair styles etc.  You'll look trendy and on point without spending as much.
9. Steer clear of the "Mom" isle.  Few things scream MOM CLOTHES like ugly jeans, v-neck pastel t-shirts, ill fitting capri's and fugly shoes.  I'm 30, not dead.  While I'm not opposed to wearing capri's- you've got to find some cute ones with style.  Tread carefully here ladies because this can go ALL SORTS OF WRONG in a second!
10. Cover your bits and pieces.  I almost never wear a sleeveless top and shorter shorts- because that's a lot of skin y'all!  I am also careful not to show too much cleavage and I definitely won't be running around in the booty shorts anytime soon.  Maintaining my modesty is super important not only for myself but also for my son and my husband.  I want them to be proud of me and not embarrassed or concerned with what others are thinking of me.

It's possible to dress well, stay on a budget, be on trend and stay modest.  You can also look sexy while still being Mom.  I'm doing it.  It's also possible to be a bigger girl (like me!) and look trendy and put together.  There's seriously no reason to be running around in sweats or super sized t-shirts when out in public, there's so many great options for ALL sizes!

Below is a list of all the stores I shop at:

• Torrid.  Great for some trendier items, be careful with the prints though!  I don't need a dress with lipsticks on it or a t-shirt with a large skull print.  Torrid is also home to the most perfect jeggings on God's green earth!

$38.50!
Just bought this super cute top at their
 BOGO sale, so it was half off!  Didn't think
I would like it but that's why I always try things on!

• Land's End.  Love the plus size line for swimsuits as well as t-shirts.  Personally, I like a heavier weight t-shirt that isn't paper thin and see through, these ones are perfect!  And please- don't buy the pastel ones!  You'll easily add 10 years- eek!  Stay with white, black or a bright, vibrant color.  Also a great place for winter wear and cashmere.

$119!!
Cute cashmere sweater- use a 30% coupon for
even more savings!  Tell me you wouldn't rock that!?!

• Old Navy.  I shop both the regular and plus size sections here as the sizing is seriously WAY OFF!  A word to the wise- don't ever buy jeans from Old Navy.  This is how you will end up with the "Mom Butt".  Ick.  I buy many of my basics here- tank tops, cardigans, maxi dresses and more!  Oh- and of course you should NEVER pay retail here!  I only ever shop the sales and combine with a coupon code.  Old Navy clothing is not the best quality so there's no reason to pay a high price for it!

$30!!
Super cute maxi dresses & other basics!

• Macy's.  I do not regularly shop here but every so often I'll cruise on through.  I recently bought a black maxi skirt here and a cute casual dress- so good for dresses/skirts.  Oh- and shoes!

$15!!!
Chinese Laundry sequin/beaded sandals
on super clearance.  LOVE them!

• Ross.  This is a discount clothing/home goods store.  I used to buy a TON of stuff here but now I'm much more choosy!  Every so often I'll find a cute top but this is rare.  However, they regularly have Levi's and other jeans here that work for my shape.  This is also my go-to for shoes and handbags.  

$49.99!!
Coach shoes- my favorite find here!

• Target.  I'm happy to say that Target has since branched out into the plus sizes and I'm now a HUGE fan of the Ava & Viv line.  This summer I bought three great tops that I can dress up or down.  You might need to order online but they offer free returns in the store and many times they offer a BOGO sale or free shipping.

$24.99!!
Loved this top SO much I bought it in
pink & black!  Looks way cuter in person!

• Lane Bryant.  This store only makes the list because this is where I buy all my undergarments.  Otherwise, I've found the sizing to be off and the clothes not in my style.
• Famous Footwear.  I'm ALL about the back to school BOGO sale here!  Great place to get cute tennis shoes and I typically buy my Converse here!

$54.99!
Buy during the BOGO sale & combine with a coupon code
for even more savings!  I wear these all the time!

• Marshall's.  Also another discount clothing/home goods store.  Great place for some cute tops and accessories and home to one of my favorite plus size designers, Cynthia Rowley.  She's also got some fabulous home items as well!

It's taken me awhile to really find my style and build my personal "look".  I love easy fabrics, comfy pieces and the color pink.  While I do my very best to look polished in public, I've still been found at the grocery store reppin' the yoga pants and flip flops.  Hey- it happens to us all!  But I'm getting better about taking care in my appearance and pride in myself.  It's worth it because I'm worth it.  And that my friends is my message to you all.

Welcome!

The Homeschooled Housewife Facebook page is growing!  LOVE THAT!  We are super close to hitting the 2,000 mark and for some of you that may not seem like a big deal, but for me...yeah, it's pretty exciting!

This page and blog are my true passions.  I have enjoyed sharing with all of you and documenting it here.  I feel as if I've grown so much as a person and a writer and it's making me a better Mom.  So Wow.

In response to the recent growth over on the Facebook page, I posted this.  And you know I had to share it here with all of you just in case you missed it!

We are creating a amazing community.  So Thank You all for being here!

Hey!  Look!  It's Me!  Chrissie aka The Homeschooled Housewife

This week has seen a few more faces to the page- WELCOME!

Allow me to introduce myself- I'm Chrissie, The Homeschooled Housewife. I started this page because I couldn't find one like it- anywhere. I wanted a place to vent, to talk about Motherhood, to share in my homeschooling joys & fails, to appreciate marriage- you know...LIFE.

I desired a spot that didn't care if I said a bad word or let my kid listen to rap music but would understand my need to shelter him. I wanted to be surrounded by like minded people who value marriage & family. I wanted to encourage others to make positive changes. I wanted to put a face to homeschooling, to marriage, to motherhood.

What you'll find here at The Homeschooled Housewife:

-An open mind
-A mostly positive attitude & approach
-Friendship
-Understanding
-Encouragement
-Lots of food pics
-Real life convos
-A glimpse at a real marriage
-Some homeschooling stuff
-The occasional Praise Jesus
-Real life struggles
-Cute dog pics

And so much more!

Weekly Menu 8/14/15

This week's menu is going to look a bit different because I'm trying to spend AS LITTLE MONEY at the grocery store as possible this week.  I've got a big project coming up soon and I'm trying to put aside as much extra money as possible in the next two weeks.  I do this whenever I have an unexpected large purchase (like new brakes on the car) or when I'm trying to put aside money for a project or save for vacation.  It's genius!  As a result, I'm going to be planning meals based on what I already have in my freezer stockpile and pantry.  We call this our "No Grocery Store Shopping Challenge" and it can be super fun to try and get creative and it's a great way to use up those less than desirable food items.

Alright, so....what am I going to be making?  What am I going to be buying?

My freezer is well stocked with yummy homemade meals and while I have enough meals in there to eat one every night, I do want to try to save them.  Plus, I have a few odds and ends that I need to use up!  A quick look in my pantry and fridge is all it takes to put together this week's menu.

Evening Meals

• Pasta with Mozzarella, Basil and Tomato and Green Salad.  I was going to make this last week but never got around to it so that means that I've already got all the ingredients on hand.  I'll probably do a double batch so I have lots leftover for lunches during the week.  You can add just about any veggie you have to this recipe as well.  Items to Buy: Salad Mix

Photo Courtesy MyRecipes.com

• Crock Pot Refried Beans.  I'll use this for lunches as well as a couple of dinners  One bag of dried beans makes a huge batch of refried beans.  Add in some yummy tortillas and a little cheese and you're in business!  *Here's a tip for you- I buy bell peppers whenever they go on sale, chop them up and stick them in the freezer.  Then, when I've got a recipe that calls for bell peppers or I want to throw in a little bell pepper to something, I'll simply take a handful out of the freezer.  This saves me time and money!  Items to Buy: Cheese

• Hot dogs and fresh corn on the cob.  Super easy and quick weeknight meal- who doesn't love that!  I already have the Applegate hot dogs sitting in my freezer as I try to always stock up when they are on sale.  Items to Buy:  Hot dog buns, corn.

• Crock Pot Tortellini Soup.  I've already got the tortellini in the freezer- PSST....did you know you can freeze packages of fresh tortellini/ravioli?  I buy these whenever they are on sale and simply pop in the freezer.  Genius!  I will also be making this recipe without the sausage because we simply don't eat that much meat and there's really no need to add it in.  In addition, this recipe calls for spinach but I'm all out.  However- I do have a ton of kale to use up, so I'll simply be substituting the spinach for the kale.  Easy peasy!  Items to Buy: Cream Cheese

Photo Courtesy
RedStarRecipe.com

• Freezer Meal.  I'll be working all weekend long (what else is new!) so for one of those nights, I'll simply grab something out of the freezer for my boys.  Having a fully stocked freezer with homemade and healthy foods is much easier than you think!  Just make a double batch of one recipe once per week and in no time, you'll have a fully stocked freezer!  Items to Buy:  None

• Lentils and Rice.  I always have a bag of lentils and rice in my pantry and the two go great together!  There's tons of recipes for cooked lentils so just find one that works with whatever ingredients you have on hand.  The key here is to buy as little as possible!  Items to Buy:  None

  

  Photo Courtesy of BrittanyCooks.com

Breakfast Meals

• Pumpkin Bread.  Once the summer weather starts to turn a bit, the husband starts begging for Pumpkin Bread.  It's his favorite and I make a batch just about every week during the Fall and Winter months.  He can't get enough!  Items to Buy:  Eggs
• Cinnamon Rolls.  One batch actually makes two pans of cinnamon rolls.  So I'll pop one in the freezer for another week.  Also- important to note, I do NOT add a powered sugar icing.  No need for the extra sugar.  Items to Buy:  Eggs

This week I will not be making any desserts.  Mainly because I'm making some "sweet" breads for breakfasts so we simply don't need more sugary items.  Even though we won't eat JUST the sweet stuff for breakfast, I do try to balance things out each week.  I will probably make up a batch of my Black Bean Hummus though as I've already got the black beans and limes and it makes a great snack!  Items to Buy:  None

In addition to this week's menu, I will also need to buy a few staples, fruit, milk and coffee.  But that's it!

Here's the weekly grocery shopping list so you can see how little I will be buying this week.

• Salad mix
• Cheese
• Hot dog buns
• Fresh corn on the cob
• Cream Cheese
• Eggs
• Fruit
• Milk
• Coffee

Been following along on My Weekly Menu?  Want to see previous weeks?

• My Weekly Menu
• Weekly Menu 7/10/15
• Weekly Menu 7/17/15

A Lesson In Saying No

The kiddo was just invited to a Cub Scouts recruiting night.  Wow.  This business is getting serious mmkay....Recruiting Night?!?  Yowsers.

I told the over eager (and perfectly nice) Cub Scout leader that we would love to attend but that we were still working out our Fall schedule so couldn't commit to any actual JOINING of the Cub Scouts yet.

Then, I tried to explain this to the kiddo.

He simply doesn't understand why we can't do it all.  So I'll be honest with you all and say that one of the MANY reasons why we have one child is so that we can do more.  We are teaching a whole child in our house mmkay and you'll hear me speak on occasion about child-led learning.  This is it.  This is what it looks like.  When the kiddo has an interest, a passion, a hobby- we follow it.  By having one child, we have more money available to us to pursue these interests and we have more time.  Yes, I know it can be done in larger families.  I know.  But when we started out, the husband and I knew that we BOTH wanted to be at his soccer games, parties, belt ceremony's, classes etc.  Basically, we didn't want to play the child shuffle.  If both your kids have games on the same day at the exact same time, this is what inevitably happens.  One parent goes with one kid, while the other parent gets the second child.  I don't even know how people with more then 2 kids do it.  Seriously- you're miracle workers mmkay!  By the grace of God.....

So yes, back to it then.  We have one child because this allows us the opportunity to explore ALL of his interests.  But what happens when your kid whats to do it all?

Well...sometimes you simply have to say NO.

The schedule for this Fall isn't out yet, (not too worry, I'll update here when it it!) but let me just list the all the wonderful and fun things we are trying to pick and choose between.  Those in bold, are already on the books!  The rest is what we call, our Wish List.

• Research & Report Writing Class
• YMCA Swim & Gym
• Art Class
• Spanish Lessons
• Soccer- 4 hours weekly
• Lego Challenge Class
• Literature Class *focusing on fairy tales, fables & myths
• Science You Can Eat Class
• Karate
• Math Booster Class for 4th-6th
• Robotics & Pre-Engineering TEKnology Classes
• Flag Football
• Cub Scouts

At this point, I want to make sure that we have a balanced schedule.  Family's need time to just be family's, to sit at the dinner table, to go see movies- to simply BE together. Sometimes we need to just slow down a bit and say- NO.  I for one, have no problem saying NO.  I'm a Mom, it's in my DNA.

However, before saying no, we will sit down together as a family and go over the current schedule as well as any new additions.  We will make sure to leave time for us, allow for quiet evenings at home with no planned activities and make sure that the kiddo is completely committed before signing up.  We have a few "non-negotiables" like Spanish and Karate but for the most part, we allow the kiddo to lead.

We will make every effort to do everything on the kiddo's list.  But sometimes, sometimes it's OK to just say NO.  Not this time.  Maybe next year.  How about in the Spring?  Figure out your kid's priorities and yours as a family and then work from there.  You might find that you have many things that you both want to do or accomplish and others that you are comfortable putting on the back burner for another time.

This is what works for our family.  We want the kiddo to be able to experience as much as possible.  We want him to follow his passions, to learn in a creative environment and most importantly- to have fun.  This is a true education.

Packin' It In

I mentioned in another post recently that I religiously pack the husband's lunch.

Why?  Why ever do I go to this trouble?  Well, for one- I love my man and I'm happy to do this for him.  For another, he would never do it for himself.  And so I know that he would inevitably find himself sitting in the drive thru line day after day.  Now that just simply won't do!

Last year I posted about his lunch and all things lunch related but in re-reading that post- I've realized how MUCH has truly changed in just one year.  So today I'm going to update you all on exactly what I'm packing and I'll even include a little of his morning routine!

The restrictions haven't changed.  The husband still doesn't have access to a refrigerator or microwave.  He also still prefers food that he can easily "grab n go" and so anything with utensils is out.  Boo!  While he is getting better about sitting down and eating, he is still typically eating in his work van and most times- he's driving while doing it.  Gah.  The husband is also just a tad on the picky side, OK- he's picky.  Then of course you have to factor in the accommodation to our Flexitarian diet and it can seem almost impossible at times.

It's just lunch- why is this so hard?!?

Alright- so right off the bat, the big changes to his lunch in the last year are an even further elimination of the processed foods.  Yes, I was choosing the "healthier" processed foods but I no longer buy frozen organic pizzas or chips.  Another big change is that the husband no longer has time to sit down and eat breakfast with us- so I also include breakfast when packing his lunch.


Now let's get down to the good stuff!  What in the world am I packing him?!?  PS- most of these items would work well if you're packing school lunches too.  Sure, most school cafeteria's have access to microwaves now but kids don't always want to take the time to heat things up.  Plus, these options are seriously easy, yummy AND kid-friendly.

• Homemade Bean and Cheese Burritos.  Prep a ton of these and freeze.  I buy the super large tortillas (pretty much the ONLY unhealthy portion of this), fill with homemade refried beans, organic cheese, red onion and red sauce.  Red sauce is either enchilada sauce or salsa, both of which you can make at home!

• Homemade Beef and Bean Burritos.  Same deal here.  Use the biggest tortillas you can find, cook up a small amount of organic, grass fed ground beef and then add in your homemade beans, cheese, red onion and red sauce.  Fold n freeze you guys.  Fold n freeze.  *A note on the homemade burritos- you can make your own tortillas (which I've done many times) but homemade tortillas don't roll as easily as store bought.  So when making these burritos for lunches, this is one of the times I prefer to buy tortillas rather than make them myself.

• PB & J.  I know right?  A grown man who loves the PB & J- but really, WHO doesn't love the PB & J?  I use all organic ingredients and many times, I bake my own bread.  You can also make your own jam/jelly but I have yet to tackle that one!  If you are watching your sugars and at risk for diabetes- please be careful with this sweet little sammy.  Lots of hidden sugar in the jelly but there can also be added sugar in your bread and peanut butter.

• Meatball Subs.  The husband LOVES meatball subs.  Buy some good quality sourdough or french bread and your well on your way to creating a great sandwich!  I use homemade meatballs and every so often I've been known to sneak in some lentil balls.  Which are essentially like meatballs only made with lentils and veggies instead.  Use your own marinara (this is a PERFECT way to use up the tiny little bit of leftover sauce!), slice some green peppers and red onion and you're good to go!  I do NOT put cheese on the husband's meatball subs because well...it's not really needed and it's better for you without!

• Pizza.  Yes, pizza is still finding its way into the husband's lunch bag but now its made using homemade dough, homemade sauce and a butt ton of organic veggies!  Occasionally I will top it with some organic pepperoni or Applegate organic sausage but this is rare.  And usually only if the husband complains.  BWHAHAHA!    *A note on the pizza- you guys, homemade pizza doesn't just happen magically the morning of the lunch making.  It takes thought.  A super easy way to do this is to have a pizza night at home (we typically do this about once per month) and then simply make a couple extras for lunches.  Pizza dough is impossibly easy.  Start it in the morning or after lunch and then allow it to rise before dinner.

• Meat and Cheese Sandwiches.  Why am I including this here?  Well every so often I will actually buy real lunch meat and make a real sandwich for the husband.  For most folks, this type of sandwich is their daily.  But deli lunch meat is super bad for you and so I buy organic lunch meat- typically Applegate because that's what I can easily find.  Top with organic cheddar and lots of veggies and your in business!

• Quesadillas.  We eat a ton of quesadillas at our house.  These work well with your homemade tortillas.  The husband likes them very simple with just cheese, chili powder and some red onion.  You can also put in some bell peppers, tomatoes, avocados etc if you've got a slightly less picky man.  It takes almost no time to cook up a few of these on your stovetop, cut 'em up and pack in some foil.

• Grilled Cheese Sammys.  It all starts with a good quality organic sourdough- we LOVE the Essential Baking Company which is a local bakery offering artisan organic breads.  Our CSA even has the option to add on breads from this great company and many are bake at home.  That means, I can bake it up when I'm ready to use it!  Love that!  I don't make grilled cheese often because BUTTER...and CHEESE...and FAT...but every so often it makes for a nice change of pace.

• Tacos.  We don't eat "normal" tacos like most folks.  Our tacos are either made entirely of beans, no meat or I make a "taco meat" filling which is made using lentils and cauliflower.  I know right?  But listen- it's not as weird as it sounds and it's actually very good and it's super easy to prep ahead of time.  You can use either flour or corn tortillas or even those delicious crunchy taco shells.  We like the blue taco shells from Garden of Eatin'- SO good!  

• Hot Dogs and Burgers.  Now this one is super easy and a favorite of the husband's!  Whenever we grill up real meat, I always make sure we have some extras for lunches later on in the week.  We of course grill most frequently in the summer time but every so often we'll grill in the winter- which makes for a special treat in the lunch bag!  Now- if your husband won't eat these things cold, then this might be tricky but mine seriously doesn't care!  He's probably just so happy he's getting real meat!  Ha!  And it goes without saying- buy local and organic meats you guys!

Alright, so we've talked about the main course of the lunch bag but what about everything else?  Breakfasts are very simple- usually homemade biscuits with cheese and Applegate organic turkey sausage or a pancake with a sausage rolled inside it.  Sometimes I'll toast up some of the organic sourdough, put in a PB & J or make a smoothie.  Muffins are also super easy and a favorite of the husband's is Pumpkin Bread.  The husband isn't a big fan of breakfast so it's typically not the focus of the lunch bag.  I also try to keep in mind what I'm packing him for lunch when I'm packing breakfast.  Meaning- if I've packed a real meat sandwich, then I won't pack a breakfast item that has meat.  Or if he's eating leftover hot dogs, then I'll make him a green smoothie for breakfast to help combat all that fat and grease.  

The rest of the lunch bag is very simple.  It's all fruits and veggies.  I almost NEVER pack chips anymore but instead, I load him up on fresh organic fruits and veg.  Carrot sticks, celery with peanut butter, apple slices, grapes, cantaloupe/watermelon/honeydew chunks, a banana- basically, any "sturdy" fruit that could survive a little jostling in the lunch bag.  So berries and cut up kiwi are out- trust me on this one mmkay....

The drinks vary but every few days there's a Kombucha in there.  The husband's favorite flavors are Grape Chia and now he's all about the Cherry Chia.  I also make him a smoothie a few days per week.  It depends on what else is in the lunch bag as I've very careful about watching the sugar and fat contents.  Meaning, no Yogurt Berry Smoothie if I've made him a PB & J.  If I'm making a smoothie that day, it would be a Green Smoothie to balance out the sugar from the PB & J.  Make sense?  There's always water and yes, most days, the husband is still drinking his one can of Coke or Mt. Dew.  Full disclosure here- we have been working on removing the soda from his diet.  Where once he drank 4 or more cans each day, he's now down to this one can at lunch time.  It's a work in progress and we are almost at the finish line!  Hallelujah!

And what would lunch be without a little dessert?  Now, I don't pack a sweet treat every day but as many of you may know from following the blog, I typically bake one dessert each week and depending on what I've baked that week, I'll include it in the lunch bag.  Cookies and brownies are a easy favorite!  And sometimes right after Halloween, I'll sneak in a few pieces of the kiddo's trick or treating candy- SHH....don't tell!

In addition to religiously packing the husband's lunch, I also set out his vitamins and Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) every morning.  He is currently taking Magnesium, Fish Oil, Vitamin D, Cinnamon, Glucosamine and Vitamin C.  For his ACV, I use Bragg's organic, it's raw and unfiltered but most importantly, it contains THE MOTHER.  To take your ACV simply measure out approximately 2 tablespoons into a glass and then add about a cup of cold water.  I do NOT recommend just doing the ACV straight (like a shot) as it seriously burns!  Dilute it with water first mmkay!

Well there you have it.  I hope this has given you some inspiration for what to pack for a healthy and homemade lunch.  I know it sounds like a big undertaking and in truth, it took me awhile to get to this point.  But you can totally do this!  You will simply need to change up how you go about packing lunches.  My biggest tip is to simply think about lunch when making dinner.  If you plan on making extras for dinner, then lunch will be a breeze!  Oh- and stop buying "convenience" foods.  Fruit and veggies are THE ULTIMATE convenience food and much healthier for you.