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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

What do Stay at Home moms with Three kids do all day?.......

Sometimes this



To Start this Story....I apparently do not need to keep her anonymity so here I go.  Twenty Three years  or so ago my Father and stepmother moved into their house.  I remember they moved in around summer and the pregnant lady across the street said "I have a little girl your age" and introduced us.  She was a year younger than me....and in the land of being 7 or 8, being ONE whole friggen year younger I thought she would never be able to relate to me.  Yea, that's the rational of a child.  

So as things go, we grew up, friends at some points, not friends at others, great friends again and distance again....such is life, no?  In the last couple years my neighbor friend picked up her family and moved away to provide more for her kids (I'm jealous...like very jealous) and I stayed.  We both have boys who have a certain spunk and total 3 kids each...... 3 kids in 4 years.....like its no big deal.

If you know me, you know I'm honest.  I just tell it like it is in my life.  Yes, yes, yes, Instagram and Facebook make my life and my children look perfect but....no, no no, nothing is perfect.  So today, I talked to my favorite neighbor (you be Wilson, I'll me Tim Taylor) via text......and shit got real......because i guess we were both in the mood to be real.....and then share it on the Internet.....lmao.

This may only be funny to us but....whatever..... #thisisreallife  Stop lying.....all you moms lie

This is the REAL REAL Housewives of Long Island/ North Carolina

  


 
 
 
 



Monday, August 18, 2014

DIY HE Safe Laundry Powder Soap

DIY HE Safe Laundry Powder Soap ....
Featuring Young Living Essential Oils



Im cheap.....ok maybe cheap is too harsh....Im THRIFTY!

I hate buying Laundry Detergent.  Its pricey, it goes quickly and the fragrance just SCREAMS Chemicals to me.  Don't get me wrong....I love things to smell nice, but there is no way that green slime detergent has anything natural in there.  I started researching and stumbled upon articles like THIS and THIS oh wait here is some MORE and here is a FOURTH article just for fun.

After reading about Optical brighteners, irritants etc......i didn't want to buy anymore blue green slime to wash my clothes in.  IT was time to research and pull that box of Borax out of the laundry closet.

I got the recipe from a friend a few weeks ago but with my second batch I decided to use some Young Living Essential Oils to give me some natural fragrance!

Recipe is as Follows:
  • 1 Cup Washing Soda
  • 1 Cup Borax
  •  1 Bar of Kirks Castille Soap Shredded ( I used small size of cheese grater)





MIX DRY ingredients in a medium/large bowl

Now for the Fun....well scent is fun for me anyway.  Note you can use any Essential Oil Combination you'd like, I just did some common ones for this batch.

For this batch I used 

10 drops of each of the following oils 

Lavender: Lavender is an adaptogen, and therefore can assist the body when adapting to stress or imbalances. It is a great aid for relaxing and winding down before bedtime, yet has balancing properties that can also boost stamina and energy. Therapeutic-grade lavender is highly regarded for skin and beauty. It may be used to soothe and cleanse common cuts, bruises, and skin irritations.


 Thieves Oil: Thieves® was created based on research about four thieves in France who covered themselves with cloves, rosemary, and other aromatics while robbing plague victims. This proprietary essential oil blend was university tested for its cleansing abilities. It is highly effective in supporting the immune system and good health.*

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


NOW MIX AGAIN.....MIX FOR 5 Minutes or so

Grab a Quart Mason jar and TA DA!!!


When you do your wash......Add 1 Table Spoon of powder (2 for heavily soiled items)
Remember this detergent is HE SAFE!

There you have it.  A Natural, inexpensive, safe way to wash your clothes.  

Enjoy!


Sunday, August 17, 2014

No......He was not Misdiagnosed


As Frankie gets older, I have this question/comment made ofter.  After YEARS of intense therapy my son has learned to cope and live in this world like any other typical child.  There are some days he reverts and I see an old behavior, to others who don't know him, they think he's being a bad kid....I know better.

So for those who can't believe it.... here are a few examples we had video taped so that the Psychologist could analyze.

For 6 months, 5 days a week we had therapists in our house 3 hours a day....teaching him to PLAY....because he literally had no idea how to play.

WARNING:  First video involves A LOT of screaming, turn volume down....or be ready to at least.




Saturday, August 16, 2014

I'm So Thankful They Asked



Yes, I blocked out faces for privacy reasons :)
This may end up being an Ode to the moms that asked.....that CARED.

This year my son started out in a self contained Special Ed class that had 8 students, one teacher and about a million Aides.  He was placed there because the year prior he had a difficult time.  I'm not really sure what it was about his pre-school that turned my child into a behavioral disaster but, it happened....all year.  When the district observed him our hope for inclusion was squashed and honestly, that was fine.  I knew he needed more support than inclusion could have provided, so in reality it was a blessing in disguise.

About a month into the school year Frankie's behaviors had almost all been extinguished.  He still had some social issues, not understanding boundaries and copying other behaviors positive or negative , he would then take those behaviors to an extreme.  Because social issues could only be remedied by positive role models his special ed teacher made the decision to start mainstreaming him for specials and certain time of the day.....cue water works.

Unfortunately, my tears were not of joy but instead of fear.  This is what I had been waiting for, this was our chance, he was ready to be with typical peers, he was ready, I was not.  As his teacher told me I started hyperventilating slightly, she calmed me down, I was so worried.  I would constantly ask what the other kids thought of him, if they thought he was like them....maybe it was because I was teased growing up but, my biggest concern was how his peers would react.

You have to understand that a child's diagnosis or issues can not be shared with the children in the classroom or their parents because of confidentiality.  I am all for confidentiality (hence photo cover ups) but I didn't realize at first that NO ONE in the mainstream class knew where my son came from, why he had an aid or what his all around deal was.  SO while I get respecting our privacy, if they would have told me I would have MADE the teacher tell everyone, heck I would have written a letter to every parent.....

Here is where I get to say Thank you and be happy my son hit another child (this is the ONLY time lol).   I was lucky enough that a mom asked me about Frankie.  That she made mention of a situation and I got to explain Frankie and how to deal with him.  I spoke to that same mom today and she mentioned how she was happy she talked to me back in October because after becoming AWARE she could talk to her son and now the boys were friends.  I am thankful that Other moms ASKED about him and I am happy I have no issue telling.  My son had a great year because people were aware of his situation and some explained it to their children who then understood Frankie.

So I say THANK YOU!  Thank You for asking, thank you for caring and thank you for suggesting.....

Yes, Thank you for suggesting.  Because of the suggestion of two moms, we are working on an Awareness type program staring for the younger kids this year in SEPTA. (Another Story for another BLOG)

I've said it before in different Forums but, I am So Thankful to everyone in that class that took the time to Ask, to listen and to accept him.  In two weeks he starts school again.  This time in a 12:1:1 1st grade.  I'm sad because he won't be mainstreaming as much (unless he surpasses the class academically) but I know he will see his friends at lunch and recess..... Here is to another great year.....and if he is mainstreamed and there is a question, i pray they ask.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Why We Went Gluten Free

That may be misleading.....WE did not all go Gluten Free But, my son with Autism did.  Now before you jump to any conclusions.....let me explain.

It seems to be a common theme in my life that anything I have been strongly opposed to.....God places squarely on my lap.  Decide you don't want to be a special Ed teacher....get a son with ASD, Say you hate Suffolk county and would never live there...marry a man from Suffolk county and briefly live there, Make fun of the house that looked too "dark" because it was dark gray with black shutter..... will end up living in said house in the next year......sooooo

When Frankie was diagnosed with Autism, the FIRST thing I said was.....there is no way I'm doing those crazy diets, this kid loves bread and I'm not taking that from him.  We had already established that dairy did a number on his stomach so along with some metabolic blood work our doctor decided he would run an entire blood work up....allergies, titers, EVERYTHING.  2 trips to the North shore Labs and 19 viles of blood later I got the call.  My son had come up with a heterozygous MTHFR gene mutation (common among children with autism) and.....he came up VERY positive on 3 out of 4 markers for Celiacs and almost over average on the 4th.  So there I had it, I swore up and down I wasn't going to try that Fad diet thing and 6 months later i was slapped with a diagnosis of Celiacs. 

We later met with a pediatric gastroentorologist who did a endoscopy on him.  Since he was 3 we were lucky he did not have any intestinal damage BUT here was the conflicting issue.  I had the Gastro tell me I had two options....to keep him on his diet and rescope him until he has a positive intestinal biopsy or just go Gluten Free.  Gastro suggested to just go Gluten Free since the blood work doesn't lie, his body WAS in fact producing antibodies against the Gluten proteins.  At the same time the pediatrician was saying if the biopsy was negative to just continue on his regular diet. 

I regretfully just kept feeding him gluten.....it was easy and our Pediatrician ok'd it.  Well after a year....yes, my dumb ass waited a year, I made the decision to go Gluten Free without the positive intestine biopsy.   His behaviors were off the wall, it was my last resort.  So in March of 2013 Frankie went Gluten Free.  In the next few months his behaviors were FINALLY more manageable and his poop was FINALLY normal (who knew?)  We had 2 slip ups though.  On 2 occasions he has Gluten from breaded chicken.......and like clock work 8 hours later i had a child vomiting all over the place.....I didn't need a positive biopsy, that was enough. 

He's been Gluten Free for over a year now.  He knows 100% what he can and can not eat.  He is so scarred from those 2 vomiting incidents that in a  room full of kids eating cookies he doesn't even get jealous, he rather eat nothing then get sick. 

So, That is our story of Gluten.  As of a couple months ago I'm starting to be concerned about my youngest with the Gluten also.  He's showing some similar issues (minus the autism)in regards to tummy pain, it may just be teeth but I'm monitoring it.  :)

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Our Pet Lady Bug named Andrew




 People will talk of signs and symbols that bring them peace and reassurance, I have my own as well.  At this point in my life I have many, many "God winks" but the oldest and original was a Lady Bug.  For those who know me for a long time you know about it already.  Lady bug screen names, Lady bug tattoos, lady bug mixing bowls, lady bug themed daughters room....yea I could go on.

I remember once, after 10 or so years, pondered the thought that I was making all this up and it was just a coincidence.  That night I went and did a Thirty-One Party for a hostess I didn't know.  After about 5 minutes in her house she told me she was a Medium.  As a Christian this is a no no but I'm in her house so I just continue on with my business until, a la Teresa Caputo she started saying things that almost made me vomit and a the end of it all I was shaking so hard I had to sit down.  She told me the lady bugs were God telling me to chill out.  I left feeling...interesting.  The next morning I told myself it was all crap, as accurate as she was, it had to be crap ...then I walked out my front door and a bug hit me in the face, like a slap and landed on the house.  Fine, Fine, I'll accept it.   So yea, I see them less now that I get other God winks but if I'm being particularly stubborn and not looking toward God or having faith, they will come around....fly in my car and such (yes that happened once too).

Anyway back story over......A few months ago I saw this tiny, size of a nickel, Murano glass Lady Bug at a boutique in Rockville Centre .  I decided to purchase it even though I thought $8 for a tiny glass bug was a little ridiculous.  I figured I would keep in in my wallet as a good luck type thing.....that is until  my daughter saw it. 

I'm not sure if everyone knows what its like to argue with a 3.5 year old girl.   In the end I lost and my daughter started carrying around a little glass lady bug she so sweetly names Andrew.  At this stage of the game all three kids are fighting over it and its gotten to the point where I have to ration time with Andrew.......a little glass lady bug.  Through out the day you will hear me yell "where is Andrew, who has him?"  " How did Andrew get being the couch?" "Get Andrew out of your mouth!"  They have a million toys yet this is what has been entertaining them for weeks. 

I've been surprised it hasn't been lost yet.......Well, maybe it has been lost.  This morning I found him under clean laundry and just before while I was asking God if I should get my hopes up about my "dreams" coming true....... I picked up a block and found Andrew under it.  Maybe that was a yes, maybe it was a relax but it snapped me out of my funk.

I paused in my writing to yell at my kids for jumping off a dresser onto the couch......yes you read that right, they invent the most dangerous games.  In the midst of my ranting, I catch my daughter, holding a tiny glass lady bug named Andrew that I swore I put out of reach.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Why I abandoned 'The Neurotypical Mom'

Some of you know our story from my days as The Neurotypical Mom.  In March of 2011 my son was placed on the Spectrum and I had no where to turn.  I don't mean to say I didn't have tons of resources or people to support me.  It was more that I didn't know anyone who had a kid like mine.  Being a spectrum, all kids on it are different and I needed to place larger then my town to find people who had a kid like mine......so.....what better then the INTERNET!

At that point in my life I ate, breathed and slept Autism.  Here is was on my front door, I let it in and was trying to help it get comfortable.  As you may have read in my last post, no one was going to give me an answer on where my son may or may not end up or where he would fall on the spectrum.  It was highly suggested I purchase an Ipad and think about a program like Proloquo to assist him in communicating.  While I knew he would be ok, I never made any concrete plans for the future because who knew.

It was through the Neurotypical Mom that I could finally write what I was feeling and be able to connect with people across the country and the world who felt the same way.  I have formed so many friendships with these people and it was what I needed and what I still LOVE. I am forever grateful for that.

 In the last year I have been quiet on The Neurotypical Mom because I felt like it as no longer "me" or "us".  Frankie has come so far and Autism has become something I think about maybe 3rd or 4th on my list of stresses and even there I'm not very much stressed about it.  I have two other typical children and the three of them are amazing together.  I started my own business painting and refurbishing furniture and became a stand up comic.......ok the last part isn't true.....Im more of Facebook comic.  Its also a secret of mine that apparently I might have a touch of ADHD according to a therapist and psychiatrist I saw about 10 years ago, but I told them to shove it because I like being the way I am.  My secret for a long time is I might not be Neurotypical at all with that ADHD likelihood

So I resign as The Neurotypical Mom and am Now Just Danielle over at 'Happily Painted After'.  Sure I will talk about Autism a bunch but, I will also talk about painting, cooking, PTA, essential oils, fancy crystal collections, making fairy gardens, potty training, biting toddlers and MORE.

The Neurotypical Mom was my cocoon time, and now this Chick is a Butterfly

Love,
Danielle

P.S.  Come visit me and Like me on FB at " Happily Painted After "

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

The Little Boy That Could


That Picture......These pictures have only started coming home in Frankie's back pack in the last few months.  I'm not sure if he just didn't have the time or maybe his creativity hadn't peaked yet, but all these lovely drawings are new to me.  Some I hang up and some I stow away in a special cubby he has that house crafts since he started school at 3. 

This picture was different.  I found it, like others before, and placed it on the kitchen table and smiled.  Through out the course of the night he was obsessively asking for new crayons and after about an hour asked me for a stapler.  I questioned what he was doing, then he told me he needed to show two children, in the mainstream class , that he too could draw and color in the lines.  If you have yet to read my about section, my son was diagnosed with Autism at 30 months.  Since then he has been in some sort of intense therapy and at age three began full time 8am-3pm schooling 5 days a week. OT, PT, Speech, etc. etc.    He now is in a special Ed class and is mainstreamed certain parts of the day.

  So here he sat, holding this picture,  telling me about how he was told he was not a very good drawer and never stayed in the lines.  He started getting upset because no one could tell that the orange figure on the right was a tick tock crock and how he should have used green but he was too terrible at coloring.  That thing in the middle.....its the Jolly Roger, Captain hooks boat, but no one could tell because he was a bad drawer and he should be better. 

I'll be honest, at first I was angry.  I was angry that anyone would tell him he wasn't good.  It took close to two years to get him to hold a pencil right and now hes stressed out about his drawing abilities.  Of course I took a step back and realized that no Five or Six year old is going to understand the mountain that Frankie has climbed.  The mere fact that he had enough imagination to think up this scene from Jake and the Never land Pirates and then tried to produce it on paper while sitting quietly in a mainstream classroom was a friggen miracle.....no one could know that.

My son began to cry the more I insisted that his drawing was amazing, he cried because he said he would never be good.....and then I cried.  I sat on the floor of his room and cried and cried that he was upset and then I cried  because I was glad he had enough emotion and realization of the world around him now that he could cry.  I sat him down on his desk chair and said..... "let me tell you a story about a little boy I knew...."



I told him a story......It went like this...... "Once upon a time there was a tiny little boy.  He didn't talk at all!  He liked to spin wheels and never answered to his name.  His mommy and daddy thought his ears were broke and he cried all the time.  The boy liked to jump all day and when he got angry he would hit his head, bite and hit others.  He didn't know how to play with his toys, friends or anything!............  He is now looking at me like I'm insane...........  Then one day the mommy called the doctors who told her that the little boy had Autism.  They told her that they didn't know what could happen.  The mommy and daddy even got the boy an Ipad because they didn't know if he would ever talk.  The little boy had teachers come to his house everyday for HOURS to teach him to play and listen and learn to talk....the little boy was so upset, he didn't think he couldn't do it sometimes and he would even try and throw tables........ Insert Wide eyed shocked look from my son now............... But the boy kept trying and trying and he surprised everyone, no one thought he could do the things he would do, some people didn't believe in him but his family and teachers sure did.  He tried so hard to learn new things and he did great at all of them.  Now he is doing awesome and still learning to do new things everyday!"........  Then I ask him.... "Do you know that boy?"  of course he says no.  So it came as quite a shock when I explained to him that, I had just told him the story of him.  I said "There were days I didn't think I would hear your voice ever and people told me they weren't sure if you would say more then one word at a time but you worked so hard and now your a great talker.  If you could learn to talk and write and play nice with your friends, I promise you, you will learn to draw".  

Frankie said ok.  I told him we would start working on learning to draw things tomorrow.  I asked him what he wanted to learn first and his reply was "I think maybe a star"

He is my star and tomorrow I will show him how to draw one <3


Monday, June 9, 2014

Soggy Nightmare

I once stated out loud....."I feel like i live in a  liquid nightmare!"  Somedays its like a flood or others days, like today, are just soggy.

In a house with three children, who all posses butter fingers....nothing is safe.  My couch was a beautiful green at one time..... now its carrying shades of green with rings all over from spills.  My carpet was beige, its now.....a darker TAN.

We live in a basement apartment, it was built for us to my specifications, it was glorious.  Two weeks into being here it rained....A LOT.  I went into my unborn daughters room and felt wet feet.... Please God, tell me I'm pregnant and crazy and imagining things.....one more step....**Squish**.  Friggen great, I knew we should have gotten tile instead of carpets.  Here I am 4 months pregnant pulling up a new rug, setting up heaters and dehumidifiers grrr...Darn Water table.  Rain continues and in my living room I see my nice new carpet looks like it has a spot.  Of course to my dismay, its water coming UP....yes UP into the basement.  Again, pull up carpet set up heaters and the water trend began in March of 2010.

The pump for the water broke 3 times....3 kitchen floods.  The Washer broke twice.....2 more kitchen floods.  The sink broke just another kitchen flood.  My children have a knack for making leak proof things leak and opening containers grown men can't open.  My youngest likes to take his diaper off and has peed multiple times on the floor and as of Today my daughter, who is pee potty trained has peed on my carpet 3....yes 3 times for no real reason other then to convince me that I'm cursed.

Liquid nightmare....and like I said to myself in 2010....we should have gotten tile.

Monday, June 2, 2014

In The Park....From The Start




In March of 2010 I moved to Massapequa Park NY with my husband and my 20 month old son.  I didn't know much about the area other then the rent price was right. We took our first walk in town when the weather got nice, taking in the area, visiting stores etc.  We past by a store, Yours To Treasure, that had a cute little sign in the window...it said "Massapequa Park.  Home is where your story begins."  I got to chatting with the store owner who asked.....Are you in Massapequa or "In the Park"?  I laughed and said I guess "In The Park"  I didn't realize there was a huge difference.  She said to some people there is, she mentioned she had no idea there was a difference either till she too move "In The Park".  It was funny, I was happy, I started frequenting her store often.....and then later realized she lived 2 houses down for me.

In the Summer of 2013 I was at my wits end.  In the three years that passed I had 2 more children, my husband had lost his job a couple times, my son was diagnosed with Autism, we had debt up to our eye balls....I could go on.  I had always been crafty, I can crochet, for a while i made baby headbands and diaper cakes I became a senior consultant with Thirty-One, but it was never enough and we were stuck.  I couldn't afford to go back to work full time and my husbands schedule was never permanent so I couldn't even figure out a part time job.

One night I was laying on the couch telling my husband how I see furniture in great condition on the curb all the time and how we should pick it up and sell it at a garage sale as is for $10...whatever it was because $10 was better then nothing.  As much as I believed the idea was golden I was still unsure.  If you know me, you know that I have a deep rooted belief in God and signs from him.  For 2 years I had been in search of window panes from an old house to make into mirrors or wall decorations.  I had thought they would be great to sell if I started this business, but again, I was flip flopping and doubting myself.  On my way to a friends house I took a wrong turn.....I was on this dark road semi freaking out asking God to help me out here when out of the corner of my eye in the garbage were THREE Windows, in perfect condition.  I snatched them up and took it as my sign to start this business up....I later had an amazing woman from church offer me 14 MORE windows she had in her garage!  God is good!   It was then the wheels started spinning......Just like Stress and Pressure turn Coal into a Diamond.....Stress and Pressure turn an Idea into "In The Park"
My First Before and After


 I decided my best bet was to Paint furniture I found or that was donated to me because then I could charge a bit more then $10.  I took the name from that encounter I had with my neighbor and built a Facebook Page.  I started painting little things here and there.....and then the requests came in.

As much as people liked the stuff I was taking into inventory, most people had furniture of their own that they wanted custom painted.  I never really thought I would do custom work and the idea was intimidating but I went for it.   So in the fall, having the worlds largest anxiety attack I began painting a Curio Cabinet and told the client I would be SURE i could match it to her Buffet table made by Hooker.....on the inside I was not so sure but, I took the leap of faith. 


I got the color and glaze to match perfectly.....best feeling ever.  The rest is History.  I took a leap of faith in all of this and people had faith in me.  

This blog was mainly to tell the story of where I came from, but its also to say THANK YOU!  Thank you to those who had faith in me.  Thank you to my original clients who hired a girl with a tiny portfolio, Thank you to my friends for bringing me old furniture, photographing furniture and sharing me.  Thank you to my mother and stepfather who let me keep furniture in their living room for months at a time.  Thank you to my kids for helping mommy prime. Thank you to my In-Laws who watch my children on weekends so I can go paint in peoples homes.  Thank you to my husband who let me start all this with funding from his paycheck, for letting me keep furniture in our kitchen, for watching the kids on his ONE day off  during the week so I cant paint, and for only being a little upset when there is paint on the kitchen tiles and brushes piled up in the bathroom sink.  Lastly Thank You God.  






Saturday, May 31, 2014

Why Children Shouldn't Watch a Baby Story.....

My daughter is late to the potty training game.  At 3.5 she is pee pee trained but as for #2..... we are having issue.  To add on top of that she holds it in for a week at a time because apparently shes afraid to poop.  I know your wondering why I'm telling you all this but lets say, coaching my child through a bowel movement makes me sound like a birth coach.  The door is closed and you hear me saying "Just push, you can do it" while she cries, "its going to hurt, i just cant do this"....all while shes hugging me, arms flung over my shoulders.  

So today I'm in the van, just sitting in front of the house listening to a song that didn't finish yet.  I hear my daughter Lia ask " Does everyone have holes in their stomach?"  To which I reply " Yes, that's how you use to get food when you lived in my tummy.  All the food went through your belly button"  Oh the can of worms I opened.....

Frankie proceeds to tell me all about how babies are born.  You know, how you go to the hospital to have your belly button opened and the baby just pops out.  Its cute, I'm not gonna go into it with a 6 year old.  As this conversation is ending Lia starts screaming.... "Mommy, Mommy my belly, oh no my butt hurts!!!"  This is the scenario every week with her.  I'm talking to her, telling her all about not holding it in for a darn week blah blah blah when i hear my son Scream this from the back seat...

"Oh no Mommy,oh no, I think I know whats wrong, Lia's belly hurts because i think there is a baby in there we need to get out!!!  Lia, Lia, is there a baby in your belly? Is that why your belly hurts?  Mommy this isn't good!!"

I tried not to let him see me laugh.....no my dear son, that's not a baby.....I think you have been watching A Baby Story way too much.   

SIDE NOTE:  I thought I was the only one who had a kid with potty issues like this....Till I found THIS BLOG POST.....I laughed

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Squash That.... How to cook a Spaghetti Squash!

I have a chronic problem where I look at the clock at about 5pm and I have no idea what I'm going to cook for dinner. 

I keep putting off "meal planning", my husband keeps telling me I have to write a list of what I cook everyday and shop by that and well.....yea that never happens.  I buy a lot of squash, its inexpensive, filling and can sit on your counter for a long time. 


Hi.....I'm a Spaghetti Squash

HI.....I'm the End Result


I can always throw something together with this bad boy.  Spaghetti Squash a great pasta substitute and with a child who can't eat Gluten its perfect!  This Squash was sitting around my kitchen for 2 weeks (I told you they keep) and was perfect for my "I have no clue what to make meal"

Let me first say I'm an improve cook.  I don't really go by exact measurements but as my blogging goes further I PROMISE, I will try to be more accurate ;)  All ingredients were things left over in my fridge....play around with it, invent something yourself or follow this recipe

Ingredients:




  • 1 medium Spaghetti Squash
  • Left over grilled chicken
  • Oil, I used coconut just enough to coat the bottom of the Pan 
  • Tomatoes
  • 1 medium Onion
  • Salt ( I used Himalayan Sea Salt)
  • Pepper
  •  1 Teaspoon minced Garlic
  • Oregano 
  • Onion powder


1.  Take a Fork and poke holes In the Squash.  Then place Squash in Microwave Safe bowl and cook for 10 minutes

2.  WARNING..... Squash will be VERY VERY Hot coming out of the Microwave.  Once you can handle it, cut that baby open!
3.  You will find seeds in the middle.  You can use a fork and spoon to pull out the dark area and seeds.

4.  Take a fork and Scrape the spaghetti out of the shell of the Squash.

TA DAAA!!!

5.  In a frying pan saute Onions and garlic in oil will onions are translucent.  Careful not to burn the oil.

6.  Chop up left over chicken, another protein or veggie of your choice. 

7.  Toss in spaghetti Squash, chicken, tomatoes and season to your taste.  Cook for about 5 minutes stirring somewhere between occasionally and constantly (see what I mean about my lack of cooking instruction skill)

THEN.....you end up with this yumminess.  Sometimes I throw on Parmesan cheese, actually 99% of the time I do but last night I ran out. 

And that's a simple way to cook a Spaghetti Squash and empty your fridge of left overs.  In the fall be ready for me to go Squash recipe crazy, so get ready!

~Danielle



A Quick About Us


       Once upon a time there as a little girl....who was quiet and shy and a little weird.  She didn't fit in.....until one day at the age of 13 she realized if she made fun of herself along with the other kids.....they would stop.  Shes been awesome ever since :)

Somehow that formula worked for me.... that little girl was me.  I guess when you admit that maybe you do have the ugliest glasses ever, its hard for someone to make fun of you.  This is how my sense of humor began and its pretty much what you will see here.

My husband and I met while working at Outback Steakhouse together.  He told me once that he thought I was too "hot" for him.  I pursued him (contrary to popular belief)....he was shocked I was interested....but then apparently after talking to me for an extended period of time he realized I was actually a nerd with an odd sense of humor.

Married and three kids later, we have been through a lot as a family and a couple.  We had 3 kids in 4 years.  Boy, (27 month gap), Girl (22 month gap) Boy.  Our oldest son was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum at 30 months old in 2011.  He also suffers from Celiacs disease.....which makes food shopping "interesting".

My husband is a Restaurant Manager who works 60 hours a week busting his rear.  I quit working (for anyone but myself) when I was pregnant with my daughter.  I've been selling Thirty-One for 2.5 years and started my own Furniture painting business in August of 2011.

My goal here is to be funny, inspiring, share my recipes, painting tips and whatever else I can think of!

Enjoy!
~Danielle