10.23.2011

Chili Recipe

Well, even though it is 80 degrees here in Kansas City, I am making my Chili for dinner for two basic reasons 1) I have the ingredients and 2) Dave thought Chili Frito Pie sounded good! So, while I am waiting for it to cook, I thought I would share my recipe with you! I will start by saying, I will be having Chili Triscuit pie while my hubby and children will feast on Fritos- I think Triscuits are absolutely delightful. Here is why- the ingredient list is as follows: whole grain soft white winter wheat, soybean oil and salt. Period. I love things that taste good and I can understand all of the ingredients- no artificial anything and no bleached anything! I really love the Triscuit Thin Crisps- they are great as nachos (just use them instead of chips). Tonight I will be trying the new Triscuit Minis- I am pretty excited for these little bite-sized delights! Ok, back to the recipe:




- brown 2 lbs ground beef (I always buy 90% lean or more- whatever the leanest the store has, I get)
* in a separate dutch oven put the following:
- 1T Canola Oil
- Veggies: red peppers and carrots are a must (if you like those) and whatever else you have: green, yellow and orange peppers, onion, asparagus, you name it- add it! (let's face it, with chili seasoning you can't really taste the veggies- they are just good for nutrition and crunch) Finely chop as much as you want in there- go crazy!
*Cover and sauté until soft
- Dump: the cooked beef, 1 large can of diced tomatoes, 1 large can of tomato sauce (buy 2 just in case), 1 can low sodium black beans (or whatever beans you like), 2 packages of chili seasoning (I like McCormick Mild for the girls)- if the beef and veggies overpower the liquid (too chunky) add more tomato sauce or I will pour some v8 in there for liquid- whatever you like!
*Cover and simmer on low for as long as you want- I usually make it at nap time (2pm) and leave it on low until we are ready to eat.

This is a great way to introduce new veggies and it is also great for leftover nachos the next day- just put over chips, cover in cheese, bake until cheese melts- and there you go!



10.21.2011

Self-Control

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23 NIV)

Today I was journaling and praying for Milly (of course from PrayerWithPurpose: 90 Days of Prayer for Your Unborn Child) and the prayer today was for Self-Control. As I was praying and thinking about my desire for her to learn this virtue early, I thought I would share my thoughts with you. It seems like the words "self-control" come up a LOT around our house with Ellie and Izzy. Each day provides numerous opportunities to teach them how to control their actions and emotions. Restaurants, school, playtime, nap time, bath time, meal time, grocery shopping, walking on a side walk...you name the situation and there is a lesson on self-control to be learned. I know the book is "controversial" but I was so grateful for "Baby Wise" when my girls were infants. That book really stresses teaching self-control from the start. I taught the girls to have "pack-n-play time", which was a period of time when they needed to be in a confined space with toys or books and learn to be content with self-play. At first, they wanted out- lots of screaming and crying- but they learned to stay in until I said it was over and to entertain themselves in a safe environment for a period of time. This has really paid off for us, they are still completely content with self-play and quiet time. From there we moved to high chair manners. They needed to learn to control their hands while in a high chair and stay in the high chair until the meal was complete. By sticking with this practice, they learned self-control- even though they wanted to get up and run around or crawl all over the booth or smear food in their hair- they learned to control their actions and act appropriately. I think my #1 advice for new moms is this: it is a LOT easier to "train" babies than to undo bad habits with a toddler. This goes for naps, bedtime, eating, tantrums, restaurant behavior, etc.. I believe if you are consistent from infancy, you will save yourself from a lot of issues when they can talk (or scream) back at you. 
I am constantly discussing self-control with Ellie, when she doesn't get exactly what she wants she will use her whole body to display her dissatisfaction. She wants to be in control of every decision and we are teaching her that- while she can't control the decision or the activity- she can control how she reacts to our authority. The hard part, yet the most important part, is that each time she displays a lack of self-control she receives a consequence- one that makes an impact (for us it is usually spanking or taking away her most important item (i.e. blankie) depending on the severity of the "offense" and definitely not giving in to whatever caused the behavior in the first place). We all know adults who didn't learn self-control as a child- just as it is harder to teach a toddler this lesson it is increasingly difficult as the years progress, which is probably why obesity and infidelity are so out of control in our world. I believe that it is out of love for my kids that I teach them this important virtue at a young age. They will still struggle and have heartache and issues like everyone does- but this can be one tool for them to get through tough times. This life we live in allows us to constantly use self-control even if we don't realize it- we are using it when we turn off the TV or computer and spend time with our families, when we resist the 2nd cupcake (or whatever your turn-off number is), when we don't purchase an item we don't have money for, etc.. I believe it is an extraordinary gift to teach our children how to control their actions from a young age and I pray that the Lord will teach me how He wants me to shepherd them in this virtue. I want to teach them about all of the fruits of the spirit and more importantly I pray that I can be an example to them in how to live them out daily (with a lot of grace of course!).


Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. (Ro 6:12-14)


*****This is a good general article on teaching children self-control at various ages: http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/self_control.html

10.01.2011

The Dump!

This is my blog "dump"- random information that I feel the need to share! Enjoy! 
1. My new favorite App for the IPad or IPhone is jib jab junior- you already know how I love jib jab (http://delightfulmomstuff.blogspot.com/2011/01/hours-of-fun.html) and these are delightful books where, in typical Jib Jab style, you can plug a face in and get a custom book for your child. Other fun Apps are: PBS Kids, Strawberry Shortcake, Dora Ballet, Barbie Fashionista, Barbie i can be and Barbie Doll'd Up Nails, Meet the Sight Words flash cards and of course Talking Tom. What are your favs?
2. I am dying for this Momaroo Infant seat- so much better than the giant swing! If you are having your 1st, this would be awesome- I dont know if I can talk the husband into a $200 investment for the 3rd and final baby- but it would be delightful! Check it here 
3. I need all of you girls to know about "push presents"- Ladies... if you are carrying a child for 9 months and delivering the child and getting up all night to feed the child- highly suggest the "PP"- they cant say no! I personally am grateful for our tradition- I have a band to wear with my wedding rings for each child, I hope to give the girls their bands at some point- very excited for my 3rd and final PP! 
4. My girls are loving, "LeapFrog: Sing and Learn with Us" video- it is a great one! 
5. My friend was wearing this Laura Mercier Caviar eye shadow stick in Amethyst and it looked so lovely I had to have one- it lasts forever and it so pretty! (Sephora or Nordstrom)
6. I am saving up for the Hunter Original Short Boot- I would love my girls to have the pink ones too- but that might be a little much (all three of us rolling around in hunter rain boots! :)
7. Baldwin Denim just came out with jeans for kids- The Kid B for boys and the legging jean for girls. The girls legging jean is darling and so soft (the women's legging jean "The L" is also my favorite for me)! www.baldwindenim.com 
8. Two months from today Baby Milly is scheduled to come- can I just say the last trimester is the reason we are willing to go through childbirth- the "symptoms" are ridiculous! 
9. I am really into Oil right now: Vitamin E oil for the body (see post), Moroccan Oil for the hair, Jojoba oil for the nails and face, Rhonda Allison Growth Factor Serum for the face and Bio Oil for stretch mark prevention and scars. 
10. I love Rhonda Allison Brightening Pigment Lotion - an esthetician told me to apply this with gauze pads and I notice a huge difference with discoloration and scaring with this.
11. My favorite Dry Shampoo (and I have tried them ALL) is Oscar Blandi (Allure agreed with me in 2008, it was their editor's pick)- I love it except the bottle is not great to travel with for messy reasons, but good for carry on reasons- perfect size in the 1 oz. 
12. My mom received Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey lotion and fragrance for her birthday and I have a touch of fragrance envy (always trying to steal a pump from her) I love all of Jo's fragrances (Orange Blossom and Lotus Blossom & Water Lily are favs too) but this one is at the top! The best part about Jo (besides the delightful aroma) is that you can sample all of the fragrances and the samples come in little spray bottles (great for travel) so you can make sure you love it first. I am powering through my current bottle (which lasts forever) so that I can switch to Nectarine Blossom in time for Christmas!


There you go, all of my random information is now in your hands! 



 
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