Catch-Up Day

Last night as I was trying to sleep, I started thinking of all the little projects, errands, and phone calls I needed to make.  Some of these things have been on my mind for several days (or weeks) and I just haven't gotten around to doing them.  So....

I just LOVE Costco hot dogs!

Today I got up with the resolve to tackle as many of these little nagging things as I could.  I got out my trusty spiral notebook, started furiously writing down all the obligations I needed to address and  set to work crossing off each item.  I paid bills, organized my financial papers so I could do my taxes, set up this year's files (so I'm a month late - I said I was behind!), made phone calls and wrote emails.  This afternoon I'm going to vacuum the furnace filters, clean out the fireplace and get a bedroom ready to paint.

Sometimes we just need a day to "catch up".  It's fairly easy to keep up with the usual routine of living but some things tend to get pushed aside.  Most of the things I neglect are little things that only take a short time to complete, which may be why I put them off.  But it feels so good to finally get them off my mind!  Maybe I'll designate an official Catch-Up Day every month and for dinner that night we'll have hot dogs, french fries and...catsup!

Here's to Catch-Up day!

What's for dinner? Cashew Stir Fry

Cashew Stir Fry

 I've been experimenting with meatless dinners for quite some time and recently tackled one of our favorite meals - chicken stir fry.  I substituted raw cashew pieces for the traditional chicken in this stir fry.  I also added yakisoba noodles and omitted rice as a side.  It tastes delicious! 

I think you'll like this recipe.  It is super quick to make.  Tonight's stir fry started at 6:05 pm and was set on the table at 6:20pm.  That's my kind of dinner!

Cashew Stir Fry
1 T. oil.  I like sesame oil because of its flavor but any kind will do.
1 T. beef soup base, dissolved in 1 c. warm water.  Or, you can dissolve 3 bouillon cubes in 1 c. water.
1-2 T. soy sauce.  I use Kikkoman light.
1/2 c. raw cashew pieces.  They're quite inexpensive bought in bulk.
2 c. yakisoba noodles.  You can find them at Costco, Walmart and most grocery stores.
Vegetables of choice.  In Winter I usually buy bags of frozen vegetable mixes from Winco and/or Costco.  Tonight I used 2/3 of a bag of Bird's Eye Oriental Stir Fry Vegetables (58 oz).  Amounts vary depending on how much veggies you want to use.

In large frying pan, heat oil over high heat.  Add raw cashews and stir around until they start to brown.  It browns quick!  Add Yakisoba noodles, about 1/4 c. beef soup base/water and about 1 T. soy sauce.  Stir around until noodles begin to brown in areas.  Dump in veggies and another 1/4 c. soup base/water.  Stir everything together.  Reduce heat to about medium and cover pan for a few minutes.  This helps the frozen veggies cook quicker.  If you use fresh veggies, you won't need to cover the pan.  Lift pan and stir again.  You might need to cover again for a few more minutes.  When veggies are beginning to get tender and all water has evaporated, you are done.  The amount of water you use will depend on how high your heat is and if you use fresh or frozen veggies.  If your stir fry starts to stick to the pan, add a couple tablespoons of water/soup base or more soy sauce.

The instructions might seem complicated but really it's simple and quick.  Experiment with your own combinations and flavors.  It's quite flexible.  Enjoy!

Cashews, frozen veggies, yakisoba, soup base, soy sauce and sesame oil.  That's it.

Cashews and yakisoba starting to brown.

I cover my pan with a pizza pan - no lid large enough  :)

Veggies tender, not overcooked.

Lessons from Super Bowl XLVIII

I'm not usually a football fan but with all the hype leading up to the Super Bowl, I couldn't help getting sucked into the excitement.  By excitement, I mean settling down on the couch, laptop in lap, checking out the latest on Pinterest and FB, tuning in and out while the game was being played.  :)  Oh, and in case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a Seahawks fan, from the great state of Washington.

What really impressed me were the comments made by the players afterwards.  If kids who played sports could develop some of these attitudes, their games would be a lot more fun, they'd make more friends and they'd develop a few useful character traits as well.

Focus and determination -
"You only want to surround yourself with people that want to see you succeed.  The ones that don't, and want to pull you down to their level, walk away from them."  Derrick Coleman, deaf fullback.
"I think it was a total effort.  It took a lot of discipline and hard work."  Richard Sherman, cornerback.

Humility -
"It's very humbling.  Everybody doesn't get a chance to do this."  KJ Wright, linebacker
"I just want to be a normal guy on the team."  Percy Harvin, wide receiver
"One day I want to be like him in terms of the way he thinks.  He's just a master of the game.  I'm working to get there; I'm on a constant quest for knowledge."  Russell Wilson, quarterback, on Peyton Manning

Teamwork -
"It shows that hard work pays off.  It's a testament to hard work and pushing one another, holding each other accountable.  We always got each others back."  Kam Chancellor, strong safety
"Unity.  They are constantly high-fiving each other, picking each other up off a pile."  Peyton Manning on Seahawk defense

Gratitude -
"It's a true, true blessing.  God is so good.  We believed we would get here."  Russell Wilson, quarterback
Percy Harvin, wide receiver, on one person who has helped him to this level..."I would definitely say, without a question, my mom.   She has played a big part in just helping me out this season and staying focused and controlling the things that I can control.  It would be no question, my mom."

Attitude -
"It doesn't matter what you look like.  It doesn't matter if you're black, white, Latino, Asian.  It doesn't matter if you're 5 feet 11.  It doesn't matter how many people tell you no.  It's the heart that you have.  That's what I try to prove every day."  Russell Wilson, quarterback

Sure, football (and all sports) is about wanting to win.  More important though, it's also about having a good attitude, recognizing the contribution of the entire team, working together, not getting too cocky and being gracious to the other team.

Yay Seahawks!  :)

Tidy Tuesday - Tackle the Kitchen!

"I don't have enough space!"  Does that sound familiar?  It doesn't take long for a home's available space to be filled to capacity and start to overflow.  There are two possible solutions.  One is a lot of hard work and usually involves spending a large amount of money - move to a larger place (until THAT place gets too small and so on...).  The other also involves hard work but doesn't require moving or spending much money - trimming down the number of possessions to fit the space you have.  It sounds so easy but acquiring things just seems to happen...much easier than deciding which things to keep and which things to get rid of.

A kitchen doesn't have to be large or fancy

One of the biggest "stuff magnets" is the kitchen.  Who wouldn't want tools to make food preparation easier?  But, do we really NEED to fill our kitchen drawers and cabinets with gadgets that we might use a few times a year?  Do you have any of the following - corn shucker (use a knife), burger press (two plates pressed together works too), pancake dispenser (try a measuring cup), meatball tongs (roll with your clean hands), onion goggles (REALLY?!),  microwave bacon cooker (two layers of paper towels, bacon, another paper towel on top), bagel cutter (a knife), strawberry huller (again, a simple knife) etc.  And don't forget the small appliances like cake pop makers, rice cookers, soda makers, rotisseries, pizza makers and so on.  These things take up valuable space.

Empty your kitchen of these space wasters and make room for the tools you regularly use.  You might even have room to put your food in the cupboards if you clear out enough space.  Wouldn't that feel good?

We have very little control over the space we have to work with but we can be creative in how we use that space and what we use it for. Even a small kitchen can hold the necessities of food preparation and service. 


PS...all those little gadgets and appliances are a pain to clean anyway  :)

Undisciplined parents/ undisciplined children

Yesterday I overheard a mother remark, "My son doesn't like to be disciplined" while explaining why her son was so badly behaved.  How could a mother be so misguided?  Part of our responsibility as mothers is to teach and train our children how to get along with others, how to follow instructions and how to learn how to control him or herself. 

Of course children don't like to be disciplined!  They'd rather do whatever they want, regardless of how it impacts themselves or others.  Unfortunately, such a child finds it hard to keep friends.  He finds himself frustrated when someone else imposes restrictions on him.  Adults would rather he not play with their children or come to their homes.  Instead of having the ultimate freedom (no rules or consequences) he finds that he is often alone and unhappy.

A rare moment of getting along  :)

Exhibiting discipline of self is one way we know that our children are ready to face the world as contributing, well-adjusted members of society.  They know right from wrong.  They live by the rules of society.  They are well-liked and welcomed wherever they go.  They will be good marriage partners and good parents themselves.

It's far easier to be disciplined early by loving parents than have to learn the hard way that most  people don't enjoy being around undisciplined, out-of-control little monsters.  Your children will be much happier if you do.

A goal without a plan is just a wish.

It's resolution time.  That's right...this year is THE year when all the wonderful things you should be doing but haven't been doing get done.  Oh, if only it were that simple.  Think of it, everyone would be thinner, healthier, kinder, smarter and richer.

I said this in an earlier post but it's worth repeating.  "A goal without a plan is just a wish."  If you keep that in mind when making those resolutions, it might help you be more realistic and therefore more successful.

Make a list.  Then break each goal (or resolution) into manageable and measurable smaller goals.  Write them down.  Post them in a prominent place.  Tell someone you trust about your goals.  Ask them to check up on your progress.  Accountability is a great motivator.

Resolutions are all about change and change isn't always easy.  I think I'd rather focus on one or two goals and meet them than make a huge wish list of goals that I promptly forget about.  What are the two biggest changes you'd like to make in your life?  Start there.  Remember too that these are YOUR changes (or goals).  You can only change yourself...not your children nor your husband.  Too bad but true.  BUT, by making positive changes to yourself, you'll be changing the dynamic of your relationships with those you love and work with in a positive way too.  It's a win-win proposition.

I wish you good luck and success with your goals for the year!

A healthy start to the new year!

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie!

Happy New Year!  Do you have the goal of losing weight or eating healthier this year?  You're not alone!  To help you start out right, here is a new smoothie recipe for you to enjoy...

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
2 oranges
2 bananas
2 peaches (optional) (I used frozen today)
2 carrots
1 scoop protein powder
water to blend

Blend everything together until smooth.  That's it!

I like to use at least one kind of frozen fruit in my smoothies so I don't have to use ice cubes.  I always have frozen bananas, blueberries, mangoes, and pineapple in the freezer.  I just happened to have frozen peaches left over from summer so I used those today.