Direct line to Heaven

I just found out that Leo has Jesus on speed dial.

Hey Leo - Who are you talking to??

Apparently, if you put the magnet up to your ear, you are talking directly to Jesus.

Granny bought us a few magnets for our fridge and Leo spends a lot of time on the "phone" now.  So long as he's not telling on Mommy, we're okay.

He and Jesus are pretty tight :)

Pooooor little stuck tigernose!!

Is that?.....Uhhh....A dinosaur sticking out of the wall???

From the time I entered motherhood, I began to empathize with the silliest of things.  And I feel terrible for this poor little stuck dinosaur.  (But, it didn't stop me from shooting a deer.)  But sometimes I just can't help myself when I see a cute tiny thing.  It always reminds me of my babies.

Except for this little guy...eesh...

Waaaaaiiitttt a minute...
Okay I take it back.  Even the scary monkey is a little cute...


I saw Captain Destructo fleeing the scene of the crime. 

Oh yeah.  This guy is DEFINITELY responsible for stranding the dinosaur (or "tigernose" if you prefer). 

I am the "Nice Lady"

A close girlfriend and I went out "on the town" last night!  I'm still not feeling 100% better, but after a week indoors with a sick family, I just couldn't pass up a night out without the kids!  That always cures ailments.  Well, that, and a shot of whiskey.

After scouring the bathroom for eyeliner and mascara, rifling through my drawers for "hip" clothes (gray t-shirt and jeans...uh...) and trying to scrape the ketchup off the sleeves and shoulder of my beige jacket (that just screams Elena!), I was finally ready to get out.

I arrived at the Greene Turtle and grabbed a cocktail table.  My waiter, who bore a strange resemblance to Napoleon Dynamite came up and said "Hi, my name is Jesse.  Uh, can I get you something to drink?"  I ordered the draft on special and then he did it....

He said "Ma'am would you like a menu?" 

Here's the thing.  Although technically we live below the Mason Dixon line, this is NOT the south.  None of my peers were ever taught to use the term "Ma'am" and when you hear it used, it is like nails down a chalkboard.  But when it's used directly to you?  Might as well give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice on it.

He returned to the table, placed my beverage down and said "There you go ma'am."  Blech.  I used to be a waitress.  I worked in the service industry for many, many years and, when working for tips, it was in my best interest not to use the term ma'am or sir.  It was common sense not to refer to someone as ma'am unless they had a heavy southern accent and wore large hats.

We stayed around the bar until 10:00.  That's when the band started.  At this point, we asked for the check so we could go sit in my car and actually hear each other talk.  I know I know - that is a very "ma'am" thing to do.  Anyway, he dropped the receipt on the table and that's when my girlfriend started laughing hysterically.  When you work at a bar, you can have upwards of 30-40 open tabs at once and in order to keep them straight, you give each customer a name to remember them by.


I am Nice Lady.  At least he didn't name my ticket "Ma'am"

BBQ Chicken Pizza a la Pioneer Woman

 We recently purchased a rotisserie chicken from Costco.  After a night of BBQ chicken sandwiches (BORING!!) I decided to spice up the rotisserie chicken for dinner the following evening.  So, I grabbed a recipe off Pioneer Woman.  Her recipes NEVER disappoint!!!

(By the way: Did you know that the Costco Rotisserie Chicken has its own Facebook page???)

It's called CPK's BBQ Chicken Pizza and if you want better pictures and a better description, visit Pioneer Woman.  I will paraphrase:

Ingredients:

I threw the ingredients for the Pizza Crust in my bread machine and left it for 2 hours.  When it was done, I lightly oiled a pan and stretched out the crust.  Drizzle some olive oil on it and some bbq sauce. 

Thena you sliiiica the mozzareeeella!!  (Can't help but think of Mario and Luigi.  Did anyone else watch that show on Saturday mornings???)



Toss the chicken with some bbq sauce and put a layer on the pizza.  Top with thinly sliced red onion.  I went a little skimpy on the red onion.  I assumed the flavor would be too much.  I was wrong!!  I wish I had put twice this amount on the pizza.  The onion MADE it!!


Not a word was spoken at the dinner table as we devoured our feast.  It was truly delicious.


This was all that was left...

An entire pizza between Jason and myself?  Just kidding!!  That's just ridiculous.  There were some leftovers.  But it was really hard not to gorge ourselves.

Between potty training and Pioneer Woman, my resolve to watch my calorie intake is non-existent.

Starting the year off on the right foot!

I haven't been as crazy about trying to find deals in the last few months.  After doing a lot of research, keeping up with sales/coupons/deals, I took a break in November and take advantage of the deals as they roll around.  I feel like I have a good understanding of everything and no longer feel like I might miss the deal of the century!

A few expenses had been on my mind lately.  Early last year, right after Elena was born, Leo and I were wrestling on the bed.  I decided to take off my glasses so they wouldn't get caught in the battle.  I threw them off to the other side of the bed...yup.  Terrific idea, huh?  Seeing as how the world looks like this if I don't have my contacts/glasses in, you would think I would be more careful??? 


No...I quickly forgot about them and after a few minutes I felt a *snap* under my butt.  I broke the glasses!!! 


Jason came to my rescue and glued the glasses together, but I was unable to close them.  That worked for almost a year until last month.  Leo found them and while trying to put them on, he snapped the bad arm right off...again...

Jason tried a few times to re-attach the arm but after several unsuccessful attempts, I told him to ditch them and I would just wear them as they were.  Frames plus lenses for someone as blind as me run about $400!!


A few weeks ago, I found a deal running through the blogging world for free glasses through Coastal Contacts.  After looking up the company to see if they were legit, I decided to give it a whirl.

I found frames that average $70-$110 online, crossed my fingers and placed my order.  I wasn't going to say anything about them unless they actually arrived.  Ordering though the Internet still makes me nervous.

Yesterday we found our FedEx package at the door.  TADA!!!

So now to the fun part:  Total cost: $7.10, Saved: $99.60

The lenses and shipping were $38.70.  I used my Paypal money that I have earned filling out surveys for Pinecone Research.  So the total out of my bank account was $7.10! 



My second transaction that I am darn proud of is for our disposable diapers.  I LOVE having disposables on hand even though I cloth diaper.  Sometimes, I just need a break!  I mostly use disposables at night and when we go out for an entire day.

I received these two coupons (one in the Parenting magazine and one through an Amazon mailer)

So I purchased diapers through Amazon for 50% off plus free shipping for signing up for Subcribe and Save (which you can cancel at any time at no charge).

What could have cost $54.67 (which no one in their right mind would pay..right???) only cost $11.83!  Actually, let's just skip that $21.08 shipping charge and say what could have cost $33.59 only cost $11.83!  I saved $21.76.  Each diaper was only $.08!


We are starting 2011 off right!  And I am making sure that I NEVER have to go back to an office job again!!

We've been hit...

While doing my daily facebook-stalking, I have noticed that a lot of the recent posts have all been about sickness steamrolling in and wiping out the entire household.  We don't have any school-age children and we don't get out much so these sicknesses usually pass us by. 

Not this time though!!


For the last 3.5 years, everytime I get sick, I was unable to take any kind of medication.  I have either been pregnant or nursing!  (I am still nursing Elena but she'll be 1 in a month!!)   Before I had kids, I could get sick, call into work and curl up under a blanket all day watching bad Lifetime movies.  Now?  Even if I can't see out of my puffy eyes, I have to somehow muster up 3 squares a day, read books, change diapers, and operate a remote to find kids shows all day.  All of that was easily accomplished with the sweet relief of some Advil Cold & Sinus!!  I forgot how nice it is to be able to medicate as needed!

I can't say the same for the kids.  They just have to tough it out with an occassional Tylenol tablet.
 
Life is so rough for them!

(He's not watching Lifetime...but I did find a Twilight series live stream online...)

The worst part about this sickness is that I made an amazing Beef Stew with Mushrooms last night.  I had been collecting the ingredients for this for a week and I was sooo excited to make it.  I served it over mashed potatoes and added spinach leaves to it.

(Photo from Pioneer Woman)

I couldn't...taste...a thing...

BLASTED!!

A little thing we like to call: Sweet Justice

Leo is a big boy now. 

Obviously, if you can put on your own underwear...

...again... 

...and again... 

...and again... 
You must be a big boy.  (He quit at 4 pair.  That's all he could find.)

Now that he has mastered the art, he decides to show off his skills and assist his sister. 

The goal: Put on Elena's denim skirt.

And after 2.5 years of wrangling a feisty boy into and out of his clothes,
he finally gets a taste of his own medicine. 

And THAT! is what we call Sweet Justice.

Not as easy as Momma makes it look, Huh buddy?

Organic vs. "Toxic" food

I am super cheap.  I have a real tough time shelling out for organic items when they are double the cost of the less cool "toxic" stuff.  I am not entirely certain that buying regular produce is going to give me cancer.  But now that I do a lot of home cooking and am responsible for nourishing my family, I like to try my best to keep my family healthy.


We are fortunate to have a local Co-op in the area and an awesome Farmer's Market during the warmer months.  I haven't needed to rely on either of them because we belong to a CSA and take a 3 minute drive to see our local farmer Carol and pick up all the fresh produce we need!!  I also have an amazing husband who grew me an entire garden full of delicious foods this past summer!

I also took a trip to a farm last week with my friend Jennie to pick up a 1/2 of a cow!  We are now stocked up on grass-fed organic beef for the next 6 months for $225!  Not too shabby.  We have healthy meat and are supporting our local farmers.  But I also picked up 2 frozen chickens from this farmer.  The cost?  $15.00...EACH???  I'm not even sure where to start with that.  But the Mennonite farmer and his wife needed the money more than I do.  They had 11 children!!!!

In the winter we buy lots of frozen veggies.  I don't buy a lot of the fruits or veggies that have traveled 6,000 miles and are still somehow alive on my grocer's stand.  Except for bananas.  We love bananas.

Then, my blogger friend City Wife, Country Life posted a 2 part series on organic farming that succinctly stated exactly how I feel about organic farming!  I am all about local farmers who you meet, shake their hands and can call when you run out of food. 

I wanted to share what she discovered for anyone interested.  Her perspective is unique because she is married to a farmer.  Enjoy!

An Ugly But Real Look into Organic Farming: Part 1

An Ugly But Real Look into Organic Farming: Part 2

(Check out her love story while you're there.  It's top notch entertainment!!

We're all about class around here

I take my job of running the Gale househould very seriously.  I take extra steps to ensure that this is a classy operation.  Only the best for my boys...




Mensa Granola and a trip down memory lane...

Jason and I spent 4 months living in a 15th century Carthusian Monestary in Lower Austria.  It was as amazing as it looks.  I have a lot of debt from University.  It's like a huge gaping wound that just won't heal!  But the four months spent frolicking around Europe made it aaaaalllll worthwhile!  I knew before I applied to Franciscan University that I was only going there for the Austrian semester abroad...okay, and the Catholic boys...but mostly Austria. 

(My roommate took this photo.  I was the only student there with 35 mm!  Everyone else had digital!)

Here is a story for you.  I was 24 when I finally went to Franciscan University.  I completed my Associates' Degree at the community college here in MD.  With my associate's completed, I needed 2 more years of school for a bachelor's degree.  I didn't care if I had to tack on 12 more years though - I was only concerned with how soon I could get on that plane and get to Austria!  Maybe my motives weren't the best, but hey!  I have my degree now!

I arrived at Franciscan University and they gave me a map to my dorm...clear across town...in an abandoned wing of the underused hospital???  No joke.  If you parked your car in the garage, you had to walk past the morgue to get to our wing.  We didn't park there often...  (I would like to add that Franciscan has expanded the campus since.)

I found out that the Trinity East dorm was for the "non-traditional" students - all the old people!!  Lucky for us ladies, it was a co-ed dorm *wink wink*

A few days into school, I was smitten.  This guy played the djembe, was not concerned with his clothes (dickies and a T-shirt everyday) AND he could bowl?!?!  I wasn't sure, but I thought with a little effort, I could land him.  He was kind of clueless about the sea of girls around him and didn't pay any attention to us!  One of my favorite activities was to grab a bag of popcorn and watch his younger classmates try to get his attention.  I was really just researching what worked and what didn't.  This guy was tough to figure out...


With a little effort (some make-up, a few witty comments and an air horn) I finally got his attention.


Just when he and I were starting to hang out frequently, I had to make a quick decision.  The sign-up for Austria Spring Semester was approaching.  So far, I hadn't met anyone who wanted to go.  If I wanted to graduate with the least debt, I only had one chance to go: Spring 2005.  My love interest was thinking of possibly going in Fall 2005.  That meant I wouldn't see him for a full year and things would definitely fizzle until he completely forgot about me. 

I prayed about it in the Port and after an hour of trying to make a decision, I decided to stop stressing about, go to Austria and let God take care of everything.


I walked out of the Portiuncula and headed toward the cafeteria.  I was tired, famished and a little depressed.  Going to Austria without even knowing ONE person was causing my introvert to take over.  With my head down I started to open the door of the caf when I heard familiar laughter.  Jason and his two best friends were just walking out of the cafeteria.  Great...just who I wanted to see...NOT!  (Wait...Is that still "hip" to say?)

I tried to slink past them without being seen but he spotted me and called out my name. 

"Lisa!  Hey, do you know anyone who is going to Austria Spring 2005?" 

"Uh...yeah?  Me?"

"Oh cool!  The three of us just signed up!"

Trying to keep it together..."Oh right on.  Awesome."

I screamed internally for a couple of hours.  I was so pumped!!

Now we are happily married.  I found out later that Jason has almost no memory of the first time we met.  I recounted it to him so many times that now he claims the memory as his own.  I know better though.  Once he finally spotted me, we were inseparable.  And Austria was everything I thought it would be.  There are a few great stories from Austria that I just might have to share someday.  But for now I'll stick to the point of the story: Mensa Granola.

Granola is wicked expensive.  Jason and I discovered our love for granola in the Mensa.  The mensa was our "cafeteria" in Austria that served granola and yogurt every morning.  The yogurt was unsweetened perfection.  There was a sugar bowl next to it to sweeten if if you like.  I miss that yogurt and I have not yet found unsweetened yogurt like it!  The breakfast was so simple but soooo delicious.

(This is my only picture of the Mensa!  This was the farewell party where, traditionally, the girls all wear authentic dirndl's and those are my adorable roommates on the left!)

And since I know you are all DYING to see me in a dirdl...

So, after many years of talking about our favorite breakfast, Jason finally asked if I would just make it for him.  Here is the recipe we compiled:

Mensa Granola
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup coconut sap sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon dried ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup raw honey or little bit more
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions: Preheat the oven to 250.  Mix together the oats, almonds, coconut, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt and flax seed.

In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, honey and vanilla extract.

Mix all the ingredients together

Take a brief photo-op break with Leo: Photographer Extraordinaire...

Spread your granola out on parchment paper in a thin layer over two large pans
If you don't have parchment paper...I recommend either wax paper or not opting for something elseJust buy some.

Bake your granola for 7 minutes at 250, stir it around and bake it for another 7 minutes
(We did ours for 10 minutes and then another 10 and some bites taste burnt.  7 should be perfect.  The temperature and timing depend on how thick you spread out the granola so please check it often so it doesn't burn!!)

Either mix the granola with some milk or yogurt and ENJOY!

UPDATED: April 2011 - My good friend Jennie at Pure Homemaking tweaked this homemade granola recipe to make it healthier and even more flavorful.  Her steps are a little more in-depth and oh-so-good-for-you!!  Check out her blogpost on The Best Granola. EVER. and give it a whirl!  Also, check out all of her awesome recipes.  She has been my inspiration for healthy and pure foods and homemade cooking!
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