Delicious Recipe?

Since my June 4th post, I have been trying to make better food choices. Mainly, I've been having smoothies or fruit for breakfast and trying not to eat grains.

So, I made a delicious soup last night. I had bought kale and was searching for a recipe on-line to try and went to a website where I could enter in ingredients that I have and it would ask me if I had others, so I clicked on them if I had them and it gave me this delicious sounding recipe: Portugese Kale and Potato Soup.

Here is the way I typically follow recipes: (First of all, I pretty much don't measure anything)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided (I used ghee)
1/2 pound chouriço or linguiça (smoked Portuguese sausages) or kielbasa, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (I used a can of chicken)
1 medium onion, chopped (I used half an onion)
2 garlic cloves, minced (I didn't have fresh garlic, so I used Garlic Spread seasoning)
1 pound russet (baking) potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (I used 5 small red pototaoes)
6 cups water (I used 2 or 3 C water, then added an 18 oz. carton of butternut squash soup)
1 pound kale, stems and center ribs discarded and leaves very thinly sliced (I around 5 ounces of kale and at least that much spinach)

Using ghee, I browned my canned chicken right in the pot I used for the soup, then added my onion and let it get shiny. Then I added the water and potatoes and a can of kidney beans. Then, I added the butternut squash soup and let it simmer for 20 minutes, then added the kale and spinach. I also added sesame seeds, lemon pepper, a few drops of lemon essential oil, and some whispers of ginger powder, curry powder, garam masala, and parsley flakes. Actually, I used a lot of parsley on the chicken, before adding other stuff.

I think that is all I added.
Here's how mine looked:

It was pretty delicious, if I do say so myself. I just don't know if I can fully recommend the recipe that I used as inspiration. It was useful in telling me how long to cook the potatoes and then add the kale later and how long to cook that, so I am happy I found it.

Kids Will Keep You Humble

This cute little six-year old said to me, "Mom, I think some people in the world might think you look ugly," and give me this sweet smile.
I was smiling back at him as he said this, I tried to keep my facial expression unchanged as I brilliantly said, "Oh."
As an afterthought to entertain myself further, I asked, "Why?"
He replied, "I don't know. It seems like nobody thinks they look ugly."

On the other hand, my 16 year-old son paid me the nicest compliment today, when I returned home after running errands for a couple of hours. He said, "It seems like things go better when you're here, even if you're not in the room."
I asked him, "Like what?"
And he said, "It just seems like people are happier."

Nothing to see here

My sister-in-law's sister, or in other words, the sister of my brother's wife, is a runner. She has run several half marathons and full marathons. She's my age, though I'm older since by birthday is in the first quarter of the year and hers is in the third or fourth quarter of the year.

I've known her since we were 13. We'll call her Kim. Today she posted on Facebook, "If you've ever felt any inkling or desire to run a marathon TODAY is the day you should start your training for my birthday marathon extravaganza. Go out and run 1-3 miles. Don't forget to smile it helps relax your shoulders and improve your running form. Stay tuned for more information later today."

Well, I've never felt an inkling to run a marathon, but I did to a short Triathlon once, since my sister is a personal trainer, she has to stay fit and when she first decided she wanted to start doing races and things, she invited me to train with her. Shortly after we started training we each became pregnant, so I did the Tri for Fun five months pregnant. The swim was only a quarter mile, but it nearly killed me. I'm not that strong of a swimmer and having a big belly weighing be down... I did the backstroke instead. Then, my granny bike, which had no gears, was losing air in the tire, so that was hard. We switched bikes about half way through the 14 miles. Hers is a racing bike, meaning the feet clip to the pedals and the seat is extremely uncomfortable! Really how do people sit on those tiny things? Then for the run, we weren't sure where the beginning of it was, because we were so late starting that portion that there were no longer people directing us where to go, so we went up in the low hills and ran around, or rather walked for a bit, then came back out, not really doing the full three miles, but we did it!

Anyway, that was the beginning and end of my racing career.

However, I'm tired of being overweight and out of shape! Kim's words caught me on a good day, because it is overcast. I like to walk/jog/run in overcast weather. I hate sweating. Plus, when I said, "I don't think I've ever had in inkling to run a marathon, because I don't like running. But I want to like running!" She said, "You should train with me for this marathon. I'll help you LOVE running."

I told her, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a runner."

But, I decided I needed to start TODAY! Even though it was raining this morning. I asked my little kids if they wanted to go for a walk in the rain with me, my three year old (always the most eager to help me) said, "Oh, I need to get my shoes and my umbrella!" But we didn't leave right then.

I waited until my baby was ready for a nap, and then I held her napping for a while. And then I was in danger of not going, because her nap was going to end too soon, so I forced myself to put her down, nursed her for a bit to comfort her and get her settled, then changed the three year old, got his shoes and my shoes and umbrellas for three of them.

By then it wasn't raining anymore and my big kids could babysit, since I knew they wouldn't be willing to go with me.

Off we went. I had mapped out a three mile loop around the neighborhood, but they played at the park, that is almost a mile away, while I did some sprints, then when we tried to continue, the 6 year old tripped and skinned his already skinned knee, so then he wanted to go home. He didn't cry, just whined about wanting to go home every couple minutes. So, I took pity on him and decided we would head home, which made my three year old break down and cry. He wanted to stay at the greenbelt.

Oh, I was ready to leave them all home next time!

But, I gave Trevor a piggy back ride for part of the way, and that cheered him up, except for my hair getting in his face, so then he walked again and when he found a stick, then he was happy.

We made it back home about an hour and ten minutes after we had left. I only sat down once to get a tiny pebble out of my shoe and to try swinging. My tummy and head just can't handle swinging on a short swing anymore! Takes my tummy away and makes my head feel the same. Me no likey.

If well begun is half done, then we are half done with training for a marathon. Ha! I still have no desire to run that far, but we'll see.

I heard a talk on TED that said that you shouldn't tell people your goals when you are first starting out, because then people say, "Well good for you!" and things of that nature which makes us feel as good as if we already completed our goal, so then we no longer feel the need to actually do it because we already have the good feeling! I thought that was interesting. So, I shouldn't really be posting this now.

hmm...
So, nobody tell me I'm doing a good job.

It goes against the latest pop culture theory that you should tell everyone your goal, so that they can all help hold you accountable to it. But, really people are too nice, or we don't like their nagging.

So, quietly keep your goals to yourself and accomplish them!
Good thing nobody reads this, except my Mom.
Hi MOM! I love you.

Need I say more?

First time in a swing

My Favorite Month

Hello February! We ushered this month in with a birthday party. My second to youngest turned three! And we celebrated in our usual chaotic style.
This video is for you, Mom.



Dexter was kinda claiming his favorite of Trevor's new toys, but back when it was Dexter's birthday, one thing on his wishlist was something that he wanted for Trevor. So, of course I gave it to him, because it's so nice that he was thinking of his brother, not just himself on his special day. I love to have kids that are good at sharing and thankfully, Trevor didn't get upset that Dexter was so hands on with his presents.

On another note, yesterday, while his biggest sister was babysitting him, they were making quesadillas and Trevor was getting the tortillas out of the package. Two accidently came out instead of one, and so one of them fell on the floor. Venna turned around just in time to see him pick it up and he said, "Look, I got one for you!"

Oh, and in my last post, I said we have a move coming up at the end of the month, but that was postponed until the middle of this month, so that is exciting! (And somewhat stressful!)

Welcome 2012

Happy New Year!

For family night last night we set some goals, personal goals and family goals in each of four areas: spiritual, educational, physical and temporal.

I saw a great tip here (scroll down about halfway to "Tracking New Year's Goals) to make posters of our goals and then decorate them with pictures that emphasize what they are about and hang up the posters.

I think we'll use regular size cardstock paper, so that when the year is over, we can put them in our scrapbooks.

We'll need to break them down into smaller weekly goals though, otherwise they might be too broad or vague to accomplish effectively.

I haven't decided, yet, if I'll post them all here.
I think it's safe to post our baby's goals. She is three months old now and has a lot to accomplish this year:
1. Be present for scripture reading, even if she's asleep (spiritual)
2. Study the English language (educational)
3. Learn to roll over (physical)
3.a. Learn to sit up
3.b. Learn to crawl
3.c. Learn to stand
3.d. Learn to walk
4. Smile & giggle (temporal)


We have a move coming up at the end of this month, so it's tempting to put off making posters until we are settled in our new house, but that seems too long to wait to be reminded of them.

I guess we should make the posters and if they get lost or ruined in the move, then we'll make them again!

I love these words from our Latter-Day Prophet, Thomas S. Monson:
Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

The rest of his article is wonderful also: Living the Abundant Life.

I look forward to the adventures that await us this year and I hope we will have a hand in creating most of those adventures, not just wait for them to come to us.
Wishing peace & prosperity and humble happiness & contentment to everyone out there!

I Like Bollywood!

Okay, so I've only seen about four or five Bollywood movies, but so far they have all been enjoyable.
Reasons why I like them:

1. There is no pre-marital sex. It's great to see a peek into a culture that still values moral standards. They are more likely to hug than kiss or...
2. they bust into a musical number! I enjoy watching their style of dancing and I'd much rather see people dance and sing than see people making out or having intimate relations which should be intimate and not a spectator sport.
3. They have subtitles, so I can watch it at a low volume. Which is also the only negative: they have subtitles, so I can't multi-task while watching, because sometimes the words go by too fast.
4. They speak English quite frequently, but they still have subtitles for it and they don't always match.

I watched "Kismat Konnection" last night, and the cute actor said something like, "The light are back on," and the subtitles said, "The electricity is back." I looked up the cute actor's name, it's Shahid Kapoor. I've only seen three of his many movies.

5. Oh, there is one more negative, occasionally the swear word that begins with an 's' escapes their lips, but on the plus side the subtitles said, "Oh no!"