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

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