5 Cooking Skills Anyone Should Have Down

 

   Hey y'all! Today I thought I'd share just 5 cooking skills I think anyone should have mastered. So many people find themselves intimated by cooking, and they really shouldn't be. After most of cooking is just following directions. Once you have a few of the basic dishes or skills down you can modify here and there to suit your personal taste. And if like me you already have these skills down you could use this list as a starting point to teach your kids the basics of cooking. Well let's get started!

1. How To Cook Eggs
   Eggs are one of the most versatile things you could cook. You can have them scrambled, hard boiled, soft boiled, poached, fried, over easy, in a quiche, an omelet, a frittata, you get the picture. You should know how to make eggs at least 3 different ways. My favorite way is definitely quiche. Quiche is good for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.

2. How To Cook Rice
   I know this sounds super easy, but I have had too many rice fails to count, and I'm a pretty good cook if I do say so. One time I accidently put in DOUBLE the amount of water to make minute rice. At first I'm all "oh no, not again! This is going to be horrible!!!". Then I let it cook a little longer and I realized something really cool, my little mistake had made sticky rice! So I guess you could say my epic fail became an epic win? But seriously cooking rice right should be on your list.

3. How To Make A Yummy Cookie
    We all love the Christmas tree cookies you can get in the refrigeration section of the grocery store. I know I do! But it's also good to know how to make one really yummy cookie recipe. It doesn't have to be fancy, or super time consuming. In fact my favorite cookie to make, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, is only 4 ingredients.

4. How To Make Mac 'n' Cheese
    Everyone should know how to make a really good mac 'n' cheese, and not the boxed kind. Mac 'n' cheese is one of those foods I could live off of, like literally. It's a crowd pleaser, a comfort food, and an excellent source of dairy! My favorite recipe for mac 'n' cheese is only 4 ingredients. There's tons of different ways to make mac 'n' cheese a little different. You could add bacon, more cheese, jalophenos, whatever you want.

5. How To Make A Casserole
     Casseroles are the easy staple of many households across America. You can make one with noodles, rice, chicken, beef, veggies, if you can think it, you can bake it. My favorite casserole I've made is BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole. It doesn't take much prep time or actual cooking time, and if you have any bbq ranch sauce left over you could use it to dip chicken tenders or fries in for the next night's dinner.
     What was the first meal you learned to cook? What would you add to this list?

Linking up with April

5 Reasons You Get Sick After The New Year

 

  Good morning y'all! As I had mentioned in an earlier post we all had colds right after Christmas and into the new year, so fun right?! Well thankfully we're all better now, but it got me thinking. We get sick almost every year right around the new year. We're pretty healthy around the rest of the year and we don't get many major illnesses, so I can't really complain. Instead I'll just walk you through 5 reasons I believe we get sick every new year. Now I must forewarn y'all I am NOT a doctor, I just play one on Google, so enjoy my personal commentary on our "new year, new colds".

1. Cold Weather
   Some of you are probably thinking "well duh!", but seriously it's true that cold weather is just another reason you find yourself more susceptible to that pesky cold going around. There was a study at Yale a couple years ago that finally confirmed suspicions that cold weather can weaken the immune system. It also probably doesn't help that we live in Virginia and our weather is more all over place than a toddler on a sugar high. One minute it's 60 degrees, and the next day it's 18 degrees and snowing. Welcome to Virginia.

2. The Holiday High
   With Christmas comes excitement and good feelings about family and friends, and maybe even a few people you don't normally like haha. Christmas truly puts a little more peace in the air. Well it does for me. They even say people are more likely to be looking for love right after Thanksgiving up until Valentine's Day. My point is that Christmas brings happiness, it's the high point of the year for so many families and individuals. Everyone knows that endorphins are the chemical explanation for happiness, and most people start to feel a little low once it's over. When your endorphins are a little lower it weakens your immune system leaving you open to whatever germs and bugs are going around. Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.

3. Crowds/ Family Gatherings
    Now I love family/friend gatherings around Christmas. God wants us to not only honor the birth of His son, but to be thankful for our brothers and sisters, and cousins, and uncles, and that one person that you're not really sure how you're related to but you love just the same. With all that said OF COURSE we're all going to be sick after Christmas we all just came in from the cold and are in someone's living room with sometimes 30 other people you haven't seen since last year. You don't know if so and so washed their hands, and they don't know if they're about to fall sick the next day. Oh the suspense haha! Hey at least everyone is all sick together.

4. Poor Diet
   At that family gathering you probably had at least 2 of your favorite foods, which I would dare to guess are riddled with fat. That's why they're delicious, duh! Not gonna lie, I love any food that I know I'm going to hate myself for eating in just a few hours because I'm so full. But I'm usually too full to even eat dinner so I call it even. Then I eat leftovers for breakfast. I say all this to say we all know that keeping up good dietary habits is good for our overall health. So when we veer off that track our immune system turns against us. Which really makes no sense to me, like you would think it would be happy with all that mac 'n' cheese!

5. The Christmas Rush
    My final reason I believe we get sick right after the new year is basically all the different things we're doing right around Christmas time. We're going to this family gathering, we have to bring a casserole to this get together, we still have to wrap so and so's presents, oh yeah we have to get that person a present. We're staying up later, and getting up earlier. Every weekend is more jam packed than the next. When you're stretched too thin your immune system gets even thinner. We love Christmas, and all the memories made, but we're maybe just a little glad once we can catch our breath. Then comes the colds.
  Nevertheless, the good news is this: when we look back on Christmases of the past we don't think about how sick we were right after. No, we instead remember our family and friends, and all the funny/sentimental/weird memories we made. Then we get a cold.

Linking up with April

The Mom Bun: An Age Old Tradition

  Mom buns. They're everywhere. At the supermarket. At church. Across the street sifting through the mail. Standing in front of you in line at Starbucks. Maybe you're the one sporting the mom bun. My point is, they might just be THE hairstyle of this era. They're so popular they have even graced t-shirts, mugs, and wall art. But is it really anything new?
   Now buns have nothing really to do with motherhood. Ballerinas wear 'em (proud ballerina here!), people wanting to save time, people wanting to try something new with their hair, even men have gotten in on the hairstyle. Still the term "mom bun" gains popularity. For the obvious reason of buns projecting someone wishing to save time, and moms being a major people group always looking for a few extra minutes.
   It wasn't until a few months back though that it hit me. Mom buns aren't just a trendy thing to iron on your t-shirt(although I think it's super cute haha), they're something moms and women in general have been doing since prairie days. As in Little House on the Prairie. Ma Ingalls.

    As someone who used to love watching the Ingalls, and still does, I find that extremely funny. That today in such "modern" times as these we "modern" women don something that in some minds would make people think of log cabins and no electricity. I'm always trickled by deja vu moments like this. It's little things like this that reminds us that we're not all that far from our ancestors or foremothers in a good way.
    There's a lot of trends in style or lifestyle that are throwbacks to our pioneer ancestors. Maxi shirts, I'm pretty sure our great grandmothers would rock one. Chicken in the backyard, no home was complete without them. Freezer meal cooking, our great grandmother would make enough sausage to feed a family of 5 for the whole winter.
    Now we have plenty of conveniences they didn't. The world wide web couldn't even be imagined in that time. Can you picture Ma on Pinterest? She would have probably put a intricate braid in her mom bun with one of Pinterest's many hair tutorials. Or maybe she would have finally figured out the best way to get grease stains out of her pans. If she had had Starbucks she might have taken a part time job as a barista instead of  working at the restaurant in season 6 (okay I know that wasn't real life, just for the show). Or maybe she would be a online Avon representative like me. I really wanna know how she got her buns so perfect back before elastic hair ties. I can't get them right WITH one. FYI the scrunchie was patented in 1986. You're welcome.
    I don't sport a mom bun as much as media and advertising might suggest moms do or should, I actually wore my hair in a bun more when I was a early teen. But that bun was much more polished. I'd say I wear my hair up 50 percent of the time. Keep in mind though I used to work in a salon. I learned a lot about taking care of your hair, and got used to having to have my hair styled for my job.
Although I've noticed that in friends and family that I knew before they were moms they wear their hair up exponentially more than they did pre-kids. I guess the cliché is true after all.
    Whether you're a mom or not are you a fan of the "mom bun"? Or more of a unwilling participant in the trend?

 Linking up with Annie and Natalie
                                           

  

Five Under $5: For Babies

   Hey y'all! I hope everyone has had a fantastic week. I know I've been looking forward to the weekend. For one thing my birthday is this Monday and my mom's birthday is on Sunday(I was a late birthday present you could say). But Miller will be 7 months old(officially!) on my birthday! So lots of happy things are on the forecast.
    A few weeks back I did a round-up for Five on Friday about five cool items I recently found for(you guessed it) $5 or under. Well I'm doing it again today, but for babies!



 1. Flash Cards- $1.00
   

     I'm sure your first thought is "uh isn't your son too young for those?", and the answer would be "no!". Nearly every article you read about early childhood development will talk about the importance of talking and interacting with your children. Showing them flash cards is simply taking the conversation a step further.
    When I opened these for the first time to show to Miller he got surprisingly excited. Because to him, everything is new, and therefore something to be explored or experienced.
     I found all of these flash cards pictured at none other than Dollar Tree. They have a bunch more about math, matching games, colors and shapes, etc.

2. Board Books- $1.00
  

   If you've ever spent more than five minutes in a Barnes & Noble you have probably glared at the outrageous prices they have for children's books. Oh that's just me? Never mind.
   Well if you can identify with that you would be happily surprised by the well priced choices you can find at Dollar Tree and Target's dollar spot. I've found a plethora of board books for Miller. He has regular paper page books as well, but the board books are a great choice since they're durable and you can easily disinfect them with cleaning wipes. Score!

3. Baby Wipes- $1.00

   When I'm out and about with Miller I find it's much easier to bring a small package of wipes rather than the 100 packs. I found this 32 pack for only a $1 at Dollar Tree, and can I just say how much I love the Mickey Mouse theme. I also saw the exact same pack of wipes at Target, but for $1.47. So if you do the math you would pay 47% more at Target for the exact same thing. You're welcome.

4. Baby Spoons- $1.00

   Miller just recently started on pureed foods(can you say 'exciting' and 'messier than I had bargained for'). So obviously his little mouth can't handle adult size spoons. I got these at Dollar Tree. They have them in 12 packs, with either 12 spoons or a combination of 12 spoons and forks. They come in fun colors, and they're BPA free.


5. 'O' Ball Rattle- $4.00

   I had never actually heard of the 'O' ball until Miller was in the NICU. A lovely neonatologist developmental doctor suggested it, she said it was one of the only toys she strongly suggested for parents to get for their children. Now the traditional 'O' ball is a little over $5, but the rattle is about $4 at walmart. I got it before the actual ball for Miller back at Christmastime. They're really great toys, easy to grasp, flexible, colorful. My son loves trying to put it in his mouth, and I love watching him try. Cue all the heart eye emojis!

  Well that's all folks! I hope y'all found this helpful. What are some of your favorites for babies that are under $5? Have you used any of the above?

 

       Linking up with April, Christina & Natasha

Linking up with Andrea, Narci, & Erika 

 

Is This Your Only Child?

  

   A harmless, simple question you could say. Polite conversation. Small talk. But to the grieving mother "is this your only child?" can bring up so many other questions and feelings.
    I often find when I'm in a store or at the doctor's with Miller there's a sweet lady cooing at him. Honestly I'm always very grateful when people make over him. Since he's had everything so different I feel so blessed to have people not see him as different than any other baby. They only see his ocean blue eyes, and jolly cheeks.
    They will usually ask how old he is. Then the next question will be, "is this your only child?". And the lump slowly forms in my throat.
    They never mean it as anything intrusive, and it's the most normal question in the world. Why I often ask the same question of people if they mention their children. But I can't help but not know how to answer. Most of the time I reply "no he's my second child" and go on strolling with a smile. Pretending for just a moment that my son is alive and well, a 16 month old little boy who loves his baby brother and little toy cars. Because it's easier to let the well meaning stranger believe.
     If the situation is a little more intimate, basically not in the frozen food section of Wal-Mart, I'll elaborate by saying "no my first son was stillborn". I know how uncomfortable it must make people feel. No one knows what to say. I don't even know what to say.
    Plenty of bereaved mothers are asked this question frequently and I wonder how they answer. Does there ever come a point in time where they simply answer "yes" with the explanation omitted from the conversation. Do I want that point to ever come? A day when James is no longer current events. For some it's too painful to be reminded of their child, and I understand that, I do. But for me it's too painful to not mention him. To deny that he was my son, and I was his mother. To behave as though I'm just a mom of 1, and not 2. At least that's how I feel now.
    I sometimes feel as though I don't know where I belong in the whole mom category so to speak. It can be difficult to identify when you're a mom of 2 but yet being a mom is all new to you as well. Even getting Miller's birth certificate was something new for me, as James never had one, something that never made sense to me. As if it isn't painful enough already, even the government only recognizes me as a mother of 1.
    Last year was my first Mother's day, which felt horribly ironic given I was a grieving mother desperately hoping everything would be okay with my soon to be born child. It didn't resemble anything Hallmark had done a commercial on. How strange to be a mother before you've even felt the joys of motherhood. Well this Mother's day when someone asks "is this your only child?" I shall reply with "no, my first son was stillborn, but both of my sons are in my heart".  This Mother's day please remember the mothers whose children may only be in their hearts.

 
         Linking up with Natalie and Annie

               

How Old Is Your Child?

 

   If you've been around anyone with children or happen to have a few yourself, you know one of the first questions asked(other than what their name is) is how old they are. If they're under the age of 4 you will more than likely hear not a year but a number of months, usually a double digit of months.
    You're probably thinking right now, okay and your point? Exactly. Why do people get so annoyed and bent out of shape when people use the month measurement of age for their child. Maybe you've never heard anyone complain about it before, or maybe like myself you've seen some people write mile long rants on their social media accounts about someone having a 36 month old and not a 3 year old. But why?! Is it hurting anyone? Is it hurting the child? Are people just so opposed to math? Actually I totally understand the last one.
   Yes I get the whole thing about if you're 30 years old you don't say you're 360 months old, but who cares if someone did? For me this whole uproar is like getting mad if someone says 1 gallon or 4 quarts of water. It doesn't matter, they're the same thing, and most people know that.
   Now this blog post is by no means an attempt to demonize those of you who are annoyed by the month system. Hey, we all have things we get a little too exasperated by. For me, it's people who take up the whole grocery aisle. There's room for us all! I think sometimes we let ourselves get too irritated with the wrong things, like me with the aisle hogs. If only people were as irritated about things they could make a difference with. If we all banded together we could have wider grocery aisles for everyone, but I digress.
    For some parents calling their children by the month number instead of a year is just a way of cherishing the baby days. Those days when you clap over every new thing, and of course Instagram a picture of the moment with the appropriate hash-tags. The days of babyhood go by faster than you could believe. No matter how many people tell you "blink and you miss it", we all do. I'll probably keep going by the month with my son until I can't do it in my head. Or at least until he tells me to stop.
   So keep on calculating those months, and weeks, and days, and minutes, and soak each one in. Celebrate every first, and every last. It only comes around once, make it count.


                      Linking up with Natalie & Annie

Five Under $5

  Well it's finally the weekend, we made it! *plays "We are the champions" so loud the neighbors complain* Maybe you've got big plans for your weekend, maybe you're just planning to not have any plans. Either way here's just a few things I've found lately that have brought a smile to my face, and for under $5!

   1. NYC Get It All Foundation- $3.99   
    I like this not only for the price, but it's convenient. If I'm running behind I can just swipe it all over my face and blend with my fingers. I can't do that with my usual foundation. It has surprisingly good coverage for being a inexpensive product too. I got it in light. I found this at Target, but I'm sure you can find it in other stores as well.

   
   2. E.L.F. Lip Kiss Balm- $2.00
    It goes on smooth, keeps my lips feeling moist, and has a nice hint of color without being obvious. I feel like going back and getting 10 of these just in case they discontinue it, which I kinda doubt they will if everyone else feels the same way about it. I got it in bare kiss. Again Target!

   3. Target Planners- $1.00
    Can you sense a theme here? Seriously though I love a good planner, but some of them can be a little pricey for something that you can only use for a year. Target's dollar section has a ton of cute ones. I found this one around the beginning of the year.

   4. Healthy Choice Café Steamers- $2.00
    I know, frozen food isn't real, there's too many unknowns, whatever. But I also know once Miller is down for naptime you don't just linger. You hustle. So obviously tv dinners are my friend. I like these because they don't make you think of a frozen dinner, and they're pretty tasty. The beef merlot is my favorite right now. My local Wal-Mart has them for only $2.00.

   5. Cute Wall Art- $3.00
    And for my last great find, I give you adorable wall art courtesy of, you guessed it, Target! This is just one of the cute things I've seen at Target lately. If you've looked on Etsy before you already know the sometimes outrageous prices some charge for something this cute. I plan to use this in Miller's nursery.
    

       Linking up with April, Christina, Natasha, & Darci

Linking up with Andrea, Erika, & Narci

 

 

When Your Child is Sick

  Hey y'all! I hope everyone's week is going well, this week has been better than the last week for us. You see Miller got his very first cold the Friday after Easter, and naturally we all got it too. So we've been busy with trips to the doctor, trips to the pharmacy, and trips to the couch so Miller can nap on mommy. Anyways, I thought I'd share a few thoughts from the brain of a mama with a sick babe.

• "Well for having a weakened immune system we're pretty lucky that this is his first cold and he's almost 6 months old."

• "Awww Daniel Tiger has a episode all about being sick....wait why isn't he going to the vet? This is incredibly inaccurate. "

• "There should be an easier way to give a baby nasal drops! Isn't there an app for that?!"

• "Parents should have immunity when their kids are sick. Don't get me wrong I'd rather have a 1,000 colds than Miller be sick once, but it's a new level of hard when you're both sick."

• "Oh wow, I lost a little weight! Jokes on you cold!"

• "Ugh liquid amoxicillin...we meet again. I had almost forgotten that smell. Until now."

• "If I'm going to get through this I'm going to need to double down on caffeine. I can probably Google how to put in a I.V...."

• "I never understood the people wanting a cure for the common cold. Now I do. Is there a walk for that?"

• "How is he this cute and energetic yet still so sick? I feel like death. Does he feel like death?"

• "I wonder how many days I can wear my hair in a messy bun before it stays that way permanently..."

• "When will this cold end?! Like is he going to college with this cold or what?!"

                    Linking up with Annie and Natalie