Momilies

Several years ago, I bought a book entitled, "Momilies - As my mother used to say" by Michele Slung.  It was full of all those little sayings, advice and superstitions that all moms tell their children.  What are some of the things you remember your mom telling you?  What do you find yourself telling your children?

Here's what I came up with. 

1. I hope you have one just like you.
2. Eat your broccoli.  It'll grow hair on your chest.  (ok, that was what Dad used to say)
3. Aren't you afraid your face will freeze that way?
4. Don't read in the dark.  You'll hurt your eyes.
5. If you do that, you'll go blind.
6. She doesn't like you because she's jealous.
7. If you cross your eyes, they'll get stuck that way.  (Notice all the threats concerning eyes?  Weird)
8. Always wear clean underwear in case you're in an accident.
9. If you don't stop crying, I'll give you something to cry about.
10. If you can't say something nice, don't say nuttin' at all.   (Thumper's rule)
11. You'd complain if you were hung with a new rope.
12. If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.  I just cleaned the house.
13. Because I said so.
14. Don't eat pork.  It'll give you worms.
15. If you swallow a watermelon seed, you'll grow a watermelon in your stomach.
16. Clean your plate.  Children are starving in africa.
17. Because I'm the mom, that's why.
18. Just wait until your father gets home.
19. It's just rain.  You won't melt.
and the ever famous...
20. Children should be seen and not heard.

I'd love to hear YOUR momilies!  

Thrifty Thursday - Money down the drain

Turn off that water!

My daughter and her husband recently bought a new house and yesterday they got their first bill for water and sewer.  They were shocked to find that the bill was nearly $100. for a month's usage.  So kids, this post is for you  :)

Ways to conserve on water -
1. Turn off the water while you're brushing your teeth, shaving or washing hands.
2. Take shorter showers.  This also saves on your water heating bill.
3. Run your washer with full loads.
4. Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.
5. Fix leaky faucets.
6. If you have a garbage disposal, consider not using it.  Start a compost pile outside instead.
7. Upgrade older toilets to water efficient newer models.
8. Cut down on number of glasses to wash by designating one water glass per family member per day.  (I color coded them)
9. Teach your children to turn off faucets all the way.
10. Teach family members not to flush tissue used for blowing noses and squashing bugs.  Throw in trash instead.  I promise the dead bugs aren't going to crawl out of the trash cans.  :)
11. Consider installing a rain barrel to water plants.
12. When washing dishes by hand, use a pan of water to rinse dishes or turn off faucet while washing.
13.  Most of all, be aware of how you are using water and adjust your habits accordingly. 

What's cooking? Wednesday - Smashed avocado BLT sandwich

Smashed Avocado BLT sandwich!

When I was a little girl, my mother would occasionally make me an avocado sandwich...a smashed avocado spread on bread.  That was my favorite sandwich!  Now, I've updated it to combine my beloved avocado sandwich with the classic BLT.  If you like avocados, you're going to love this!

Smashed Avocado BLT sandwich -
1/2 large avocado or 1 small one
2 T. bacon bits or 2 slices bacon, cooked well and crumbled
1/2 tomato, chopped fine
1 leaf romaine lettuce
bread of choice...today I used Oatnut bread

Remove the skin and pit from the avocado.
In bowl, smash the avocado (I use a potato masher but a fork works too).  Stir in the bacon bits and chopped tomato.

Either toast the bread or leave plain.   Put lettuce leaf on the bottom slice.  Top with the smashed avocado mixture and top with bread slice.  Eat immediately!  Heavenly!

Tidy Tuesday - Commercial breaks

I am embarrassed to admit that I like to watch The Bachelor every Monday night.  (I know, I know...no judging  :)  )  Last night I was feeling especially guilty for "wasting" time like that so I decided to use the commercial breaks to be productive.  During the breaks, I folded two loads of laundry, washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, made four dozen cookies, made phone calls for my church assignment, and tidied the living room.  Not bad and I didn't miss any of the juicy details of my show.  :)

We often think that we need large blocks of time to accomplish something but who has large blocks of time?   If you have problems keeping up with the household chores, try seeing what you can get done in little bursts of five or ten minutes.  You might be surprised! 

Kids and gardens

Hard work pays off!

Kids and gardens go together like...well, dirt and water  :)  This is the perfect time to start planning a garden with your children...one that they can play an active part in.  Whether it's a pot or container on a porch or deck or a part of the family garden or their own little plot, the benefits of letting your children grow something are far reaching.

Children as young as three or four find great enjoyment being a part of the growing process, watering and weeding and watching over their flowers or vegetables.  Older kids can start with the planning stages to choose the plants, prepare the soil, plant the seeds or transplants and see the process through to harvest.

Good plants to start with are radishes and lettuce (they grow really quick),  beans and tomatoes (hardy and most kids like them) and herbs.  Chuck and Lilly really liked growing herbs last year because we bought varieties that smelled wonderful, like chocolate mint and pineapple basil (they were also extremely prolific).

Containers are perfect for herbs.

From their experience growing a garden, children learn patience...to stick with a project when the rewards are not immediate.  They experience the natural consequences if they neglect their plants.  They get up close and personal with nature...bugs, insects, worms etc.  Children get exercise and physical activity from working outside in the garden.  They will usually eat the veggies they grow...even straight off the plant.  And best of all, they spend time with their family, tending the garden and beautifying their surroundings.

It's still too early (for most areas) to begin planting but it isn't too early to start planning.  Involve your kids and let them discover for themselves just how satisfying growing a garden is.

A book series your kids will like...

Since I spent the weekend helping my nephew run his booth at the Emerald City Comi-Con, I feel it only right that I should shamelessly promote his work  :)  This is a good forum for that because his work is appropriate for children of all ages (as well as adults). 

Travis with his son, Ian (who was the inspiration for The Bean)

Travis Hanson is the father of 5 children who started writing with his own children in mind.  He has always been incredibly creative and imaginative and had been producing beautiful pieces of art before turning to writing and illustrating.  His graphic (graphic as in picture form) novel series, The Bean, is an epic fantasy ... Plot "In a little Inn, deep in the heart of Darkleaf forest, works a young dishwasher named Bean. While on an errand for shrooms Bean is kidnapped by a chaotic Troll and ends up finding a very special sword that needs to be healed. So his adventure begins one that will be filled with danger, adventure and realization that he is the one that controls his destiny and no one else."  (review of The Bean Vol. 1: Riddles and Shrooms)

Lots of his young fans wanted to meet him this weekend

Travis's work is unique in that it doesn't contain swearing, inappropriate relationships or questionable values.  Instead, it stresses faith and courage, friendship and perseverance without sounding preachy.  If your kids enjoy fantasy, they will probably become addicted (in a good way :) ) to The Bean.

You can find his work at www.beanleafpress.com  or check out his one of his videos at   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn-G52vz5Ws&feature=share

Fun on a dreary March day

Me with my super talented nephew, the artist and author

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in a few days.  I've been taking a crash course in Cultural Anthropology over the last two days and it's been late nights and early mornings.  Really, what I did was help out at the Emerald City Comic Convention, held in Seattle and it was such an enjoyable lesson in diversity and pop culture.   Seattle in March is a pretty wet, dreary place and I think everyone was looking for an excuse to dress up in costume and head downtown to have some fun.  The artwork was amazing, the costumes were sometimes funny, sometimes embarrassing and sometimes very realistic.   I loved watching everyone interacting with each other...young, old, mainstream or not...no one cared.  It reminded me that we are all more alike than different.

Even the littlest ones dressed in costume  :)

Some of the really awesome costumes at the show

I was surprised how interested the young kids were in drawing.

Rapunzel had quite a following...

Travis Hanson, artist extraordinaire!