Thanksgiving Food Past

I was looking back at some of my old Thanksgiving food photos and couldn't believe some of the great things I had made.  Seriously- was I ever this awesome and on top of my game?!?

It seems like in the last few years, I just don't have the energy to go above and beyond.  Perhaps it's the fact that I'm busier now more then ever before.  Or maybe it's the constant homeschooling, cleaning, working, child caring and so on.  It wears on you and after awhile, I think we all just throw up our hands and say, "No More!"  I served green salad as the veggie dish for last year's Turkey Day for goodness sakes!  Ugh.  Gross.  Clearly I'm losing it.

So this year, I vow to get my Mommy Mojo back!

But before I do that- I want to share some photo's of Thanksgiving food past.  Yes, it's true...I used to be this awesome.

Let's start with these adorable bite sized pumpkin pies.  How cute are these?!?

Turkey cookies for the kiddos- complete with candy corn "feathers".

Shut the front door.  It's a fruit appetizer that looks exactly like a Turkey!

Up next- these adorable "Acorn" donut holes for Thanksgiving breakfast.

And finally, the Pumpkin Mousse Tart with graham cracker crust.

So clearly I am more then capable of tackling the Thanksgiving table.  I suppose I've just gotten burned out.  I think we all have moments in our lives where we "fall back" and simply take a breather.  But in looking at the last couple of years- I really haven't been putting forth the same amount of effort as I have in years past.  But you guys, this year- I'm gonna ROCK IT!

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!  May your table be as bountiful as your beautiful life on this day and every day after.

Vegan "Not" Pea Soup

Ok, so this really is Split Pea Soup but we call it "Not" Pea Soup in our house because the kiddo says he doesn't like peas.  Although he happily gobbles up this soup no problem.  Eh- what he doesn't know won't hurt him!

This dish is super easy to make, cheap, filling and healthy.  Wow, now that's a winner in my book!

Not Pea Soup

1 medium onion, diced

After blending- SO good!

6 cloves garlic, diced
3-4 carrots, diced
3 small to medium potatoes, diced
1/2 teaspoon oregano
salt & pepper
8 cups veggie or chicken broth
1 bag dried split peas


Umm...hello!?!  How simple is that ingredient list!

Step 1:

Saute onions, garlic and carrots for approx 10 minutes.  Add in oregano and salt and pepper to taste.

Step 2:

Add in potatoes, veggie broth and dried split peas.  Cook on low boil until the peas are done- about 1 hour.

Step 3:

Blend with your immersion blender until smooth.  Here's a secret tip for you all- I pull out a couple large spoonful of the peas before blending.  I also reserve about 1/2 cup of the diced potatoes.  Then, when you're done blending- add these back in and cook for another 10 minutes.  This way you'll have a few chunky pieces in your soup- which the husband loves!

So yeah- how easy was that?

This soup will make enough for 4 hungry people with leftovers the next day.  Amazing!!!!

Another Letter of Thanks To The Husband

Husband,

I am SO very thankful for you.

You are the backbone that holds up this family.  I am thankful for your hard work and your dependability.

I am thankful for your amazing support.  For encouraging me to grow, for offering to help me and for always being by my side.

Thank you for being a wonderful Father to our Son.  For showing him what it means to be a real man, for teaching him to love, for being his Hero.

I am thankful for your diligence in reaching the difficult people in our lives.  For stepping back and acknowledging the hurt but continuing to try and reach them even though they aren't listening.

I am thankful for your giving and kind heart.  For your desire to help those in need and to teach our son what it means to give a helping hand.  For your loyalty to your sick Dad and for teaching our son what "family" means.

Thank you for the way that you love me.  Deeply, insanely and all consuming.   I am thankful for your worry, your truth, thankful for your passion and for your partnership.

I am thankful for your willingness to do better.  To strive for more and to make changes when needed.

I am thankful for how you love our puppies and the care you show all living animals.

I am thankful for your smart head and mechanical aptitude.  I am thankful for your street smarts and your tough exterior.

I am thankful that only I know the real you.  That I am the one you count on, the one you lean on, the one you are your true self with.  Others see the persona you've created but have no idea who you really are- but I know.

But most importantly husband, I am thankful to be loved by you and to love you in return.

I am so very thankful for you.

I love you,
The Wife



Check out last year's Letter of Thanks and don't forget to write one of your own.  Thanksgiving is a great time to tell the people in your lives how thankful you are for them.

We Are a Team

Recently the husband came to me and had some pretty amazing things to say.

"I'm so proud of you Babe.  What you're doing is pretty damn cool and I want to be a part of it.  Tell me how I can help you grow this thing."

He was of course talking about The Homeschooled Housewife.  About this blog, the Facebook page and the message we are seeking to share with all of you.

Up until now, the page has really been my baby.  I desired to share my story, I created it, I thought of the name, I spend hours blogging and posting- me.  Sometimes the husband or kiddo will chime in or I'll ask their permission before I share a certain story or picture but for the most part- it's been all me.

Which when you think about it, is kind of funny because this journey of ours is a family journey.  It's our story as a couple, our story as a family, our path together and yet- it's been my voice telling it.  Now, don't get me wrong- there's nothing wrong with that and I've really enjoyed putting a voice to this story.  But I always felt like something was missing.

So the husband and I sat up on the bed one night for well over two hours and we brainstormed.  We wrote down ideas for growth, we discussed our goals and what we desired to do, we thought of ways to make this page better and to encourage and reach more people.  It was a pretty awesome night and by the end we had reached one pretty BIG conclusion.

Together we desire to encourage other families to consider homeschooling, to be a place of support, to help others remain faithful and loving in their marriage and to support others as they raise children who will be independent thinkers and action takers.

We desire to give a voice to the new generation of homeschoolers and young married couples.  We want to change the face of homeschooling and what it means to grow a family, be young, committed and in love.

Wow.

Just wow.

Like I said, it was an awesome night.  We came up with some lofty goals and crazy ideas but the point is that we did this together.  The husband is officially on board!

So what does that mean for the future of The Homeschooled Housewife?  Well first of all, we will be updating this blog and hopefully turning it into a real website.  Sadly, we are both computer illiterate and so we are currently figuring out how to go about this.  Perhaps if we just waited a year or two I'm sure the kiddo could build us the website!  But in the meantime, we will work on figuring it out together.  We hope to add a section where the husband can share about his journey and give a voice to the strong and silent husbands/fathers out there.  After much feedback from the fans- the recipes will keep coming and perhaps we can convince the kiddo to share a bit of his story with all of you as well.  We will also be posting more about our marriage, our love story and our struggles. But for now- its a work in progress with lots of exciting new changes on the horizon!

I also want to say that I am so very blessed to have this supportive and encouraging man by my side.  In all things, we are a team and there's nothing we can't accomplish when we work together.

Let's Talk Forgiveness

Last night the husband and I were talking about some pretty heavy issues- betrayal, trust and honesty.

We maintain a pretty open relationship and share just about everything, seriously- everything.  As a result, we have a strong foundation of trust to build from.  But what happens when the loss of trust happens outside your marriage?  What happens when a friend betrays you?  Or even your own family?  How do you move forward with people who have behaved so poorly?

See- I told you, some pretty heavy issues.

When people you once loved and trusted hurt you- it's difficult to move forward.  Especially when they never apologize.  Oh yeah....the new trend amongst people nowadays seems to be pretending that everything is fine when clearly it is not.

The husband and I are struggling with this.

When we do wrong, we apologize.  When we hurt each other, we apologize.  When we overstep, we apologize.  When we make incorrect assumptions, we apologize.  When we say hurtful things, we apologize.  When we lie and manipulate, we apologize.  Ok- wait....we don't do that last one, but I know a few who do....

Are you sensing a theme here?

When we commit a wrong, we seek to make it right.

But how in the world can you ever forgive and move forward with people who don't seek the same?  Sadly, the reality is that you can't.  We won't.

Things are not the same.  The trust is gone.  You no longer love like you once did and no amount of bullshit "let's hang out" or fake "so good to see you" comments are going to change that.  Because inside, we can see these people for exactly what they are.  They might be able to fool those around them and perhaps even tricked themselves- the devil can do some amazing things you know.  But when we take a look at someone's heart- at their true self, there's no hiding the evil that lurks inside.  Do these people deserve forgiveness?  Should we allow them back into our hearts when they haven't expressed remorse?  Or are we setting ourselves up to be hurt again?

The Bible says we should forgive.  God is merciful and forgiving, even after all we have done.

But here's the real issue.  Where does it say that we forgive unconditionally and then pretend everything is fine once again?  God would want us to guard ourselves and our family against those who seek to do harm- not give them a free pass to do it all over again.  And as we know, in the Bible, those who've done wrong have repented, expressed remorse, APOLOGIZED and to those people, God says- they will be forgiven.

First you must ask before you can receive.

So yeah- last night was intense as the husband and I had a really great discussion on how to move forward in the face of hurt, betrayal and dishonesty.  I can't tell you that we have all the answers because clearly, we don't.  We struggle with this- more then some will ever know.  But what I can say is that we want to forgive.  We want to seek resolution and move forward with those who've caused such horrific destruction.  However we also acknowledge that some people are worth the effort while some will never change and some things are simply unforgivable.  So for now- we continue to have faith that resolution will come all while playing the "pretend game", the husband is a rock star at the "pretend game".

For those of you struggling with this issue- I have this to say.  Look after your own family and be the gatekeeper of your home.  Allow those who are good and pure to enter your heart and home but tread carefully with those who've hurt you.  Desire resolution, have faith that it will come- someday.  But guard your gate nonetheless.  Your home is sacred ground.  It is where you grow your family and nurture your marriage and only good things should enter through it.

Holiday Hands

Oh My Gawd you guys.

I'm sitting here at my laptop and I'm reading about this awesome project called Holiday Hands and I'm weeping.  Seriously- blowing my nose all over that toilet paper and blubbering in my morning (ok afternoon) coffee.

This.

Is.

So.

Awesome.

And of course I knew that I just had to share with all of you.  The awesomeness that is this awesome thing.  There's a pretty great woman behind this awesomeness (no surprises there!) and she's over on her blog, Momastery.  If you haven't read her stuff, you need to.  Trust me on this one.  So this Mom has put together this project called Holiday Hands.  People in need post what they need and people who want to help, help.

But that seems so simple.

It is, it really is.

But here's why it's the most awesome thing I've come across in awhile.  It's not just about donating money.  Sure, some people need money.  But it's about MORE then money.  For example, here's some of the current "needs" posted on the site; gifts for baby sister who is on her 2nd deployment in Afghanistan, Christmas cards to lonely, recently widowed Grandpa, single Mom needs new shoes for her children, pen pal for depressed 10 year old daughter, letters of support for older woman who just left abusive marriage and on and on it goes.

So yeah.

I just....I can't even....I don't....yeah.  This is awesome.

The project has been closed for the year.  But fear not!  You can still donate to the Together Rising fund which helps to pay for all this awesomeness.  And if you have a NEED and were not able to sign up in time, you can email this amazing woman and her team at contact@togetherrising.org.

It's really that simple.

Here's the link for more information.

********************************************************************************

Update on Holiday Hands-

400 families asked for help and all 400 NEEDS are being met.  Every.  Single.  One.

Now that is awesome.

Dates For Real Couples

Do you ever read those articles full of ideas for date night and you're like, "say what?!?"

I sure do.

As lovely as a spa weekend away or horseback riding in the hills may sound- it just isn't realistic.  Mostly because the husband and I are NOT horse people and we sure as shit don't have money for a fancy weekend away.  Not gonna happen.

So really- what's a normal couple to do on a tight budget?

Ooh....I'm SO glad you asked!  Today I'm going to be sharing with you some fun and creative date ideas.  Some of these activities will cost more then others, while some of them will be totally free.  That's right, FREE!

First of all- let me just begin by saying that you might need to re-think your idea of a date night.  For us, it's not so much about what we do but rather more about spending the time doing it together.  Without the kiddo.  As in, just us.

Secondly- whenever anyone asks what they can get you for a gift, be it Christmas, your birthday, graduation etc- tell them you want a gift card.  Gift cards are a thrifty couple's best friend!  If you have a favorite restaurant, you can request gift cards to this restaurant.  Or how about movie tickets? However, the best gift cards are the generic VISA ones that can be used anywhere.  HELLO date night funding!

Alright, we've covered a few tips, now let's get to the good stuff!  What in the world are you going to do on your dates?

1. Dinner and a Movie.  Well this is a no brainer really, but there's always ways to improve upon this one.  Make it a matinee to save money, go on a weeknight so it's less crowded, find a cheap theater or even try out one of those theaters that serves you dinner right there!  Do a double feature or a restaurant crawl.  A what?  So yeah- start with drinks and appetizers at one restaurant, break it up with a movie, head to another restaurant for dinner or tapas and then end the night with dessert.  Voila- a restaurant crawl!
2. Get Outside!  One of our favorite things to do is simply get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature.  It's quiet, peaceful and free.  The husband loves to fish, so many of our dates usually end up with us at some small lake.  While I hate fishing- many times, I'll take a book and sit by the shore and read.  Or we'll talk while he fishes.  Many times we stop at the drive-thru and have a picnic too.  Talk a walk through the woods, visit a nature preserve, go apple picking, etc.
3. Shopping.  Tell me- what couple hasn't ended up at the grocery store on a date night?  You wouldn't be normal if you didn't.  The temptation of a trip down the aisles sans kiddos is simply to much to resist.  But don't forget you can also go to the mall, Target, Costco, outlet malls....yeah, there's lots of options here.  Round out the fun with dinner and drinks at your favorite restaurant.
4. Seasonal Dates.  This is perhaps my favorite on the list because the holidays are of course my favorite time of year.  We are lucky that there's many great things happening in our area from October to January.  Haunted corn mazes, Zoolights, ballet, theater, festivals- seriously, the best!  But my favorite way to end a date during the Christmas season is my simply grabbing a Starbuck's Gingerbread Latte and driving around looking at all the great Christmas lights.
5. Explore your Hobbies.  The husband is a big gun enthusiast and of course, I love reading and the arts.  Date nights are the perfect time to explore each other's passions.  For example, the husband is teaching me to shoot at a local gun range, he's a former safety instructor so he's a great teacher!  Other times, we'll end up at a book store laughing in the comedy section.  Up next- we hope to try glass blowing.
6. Find Something New.  Perhaps there's a new restaurant you want to try but it's 30 minutes away.  Or maybe you heard about a new upscale furniture store opening up downtown.  Even something as simple as hopping in the car to explore the neighboring town.  Date nights are the perfect time to explore something new and venture into new frontiers!
7. Shop the Groupon and Living Social.  Alright- so sometimes these things are absurd.  Who really wants to learn how to walk a tightrope or participate in a murder mystery theater dinner?  But other times, they can inspire some fun and different date night ideas.  For example, our area is currently offering ghost tours, comedy club tickets and pottery classes and the price is typically half of what you would normally pay!
8. A Quiet Night at Home.  This one is a little tricky and requires all the stars to align in your favor but if you can pull it off- it's amazing.  Put the kids to bed early, turn off all the electronics and unplug from the real world.  Take a bath together, sit in bed and eat ice cream and talk, couples massages- seriously, just take a night off and focus on relaxing together.  
9. A Night to Yourselves.  This one falls right in line with #8 but it's even better!  Ship your kids off to various locations (hello sleepovers!) or call in reinforcements in the form of grandparents.  Then you are free to explore all the beauties of #8 without the fear of the precious little kiddos interrupting.  This one works best for the couples that need a weekend away but can't afford a weekend away.
10. Volunteer.  We are currently exploring more volunteer opportunities together as a couple.  This year, we will be sponsoring a family for Christmas, filling stockings for homeless youth and shopping for Toys for Tots.  I hope to be able to add more things to this list like serving a meal to the homeless and helping out at a food bank.  Think of all the great things you could do together to give back to those in need.  Treat yourself to dinner or dessert after!

You'll notice that a few things are noticeably absent, like dancing or going to bars.  That's because we simply don't enjoy these things but perhaps you'll want to add it to your list.  I highly suggest you each sit down and make a list of all the things you want to do- get creative!

Full disclosure- I have to be honest here and say that the husband and I have gotten away from planning and as a result, our date nights have become a little stale.  Recently we discussed how we could spice things up and so we've set up some perimeters and added them to our previous guidelines. 

• Each person plan one date per month.
• Rotate between things that cost more and cost less.  Keep your budget in mind.
• No major surprises.  In theory, they sound great- but for us, it never works.  Little sweet surprises are great- but keep it simple here.
• Be flexible.  If your spouse has planned something that you really don't want to do- try to keep an open mind and just enjoy your time together.  If the restaurant you want to go to is crazy busy, have another option in mind.  Flexibility is key.
• This is sacred time- meaning no phone calls from family, no texts between friends.  The only person you should be picking up your cell phone for is your babysitter in case of emergency.
• Keep it varied.  If you've just had a dinner and a movie date, make sure you don't do it again twice in a row.  Variety is the spice of life after all...
• You plan the things you want to do and vice versa.  It simply doesn't work if you ask the husband to plan a shopping date while you plan a paintball date if it's not something your really interested in.  Then you end up with a lame date and someone who is disappointed because it wasn't what they really wanted.  Trust me on this one.
• Don't put too much pressure on it.  If it's been awhile since you've had date nights, it's hard not to go into them with big expectations.  So at least in the beginning, keep it light and fun.

Wow- now this seems much more realistic then going birdwatching and learning to salsa.  At least for us it is!  No matter what you decide to do, keep in mind the most important thing of all- you need these date nights.  Your marriage needs this quality time away.  You must make them a priority because if you don't- your relationship will start to unravel.

And of course- don't forget to have fun!