Gluten Free and Fruit-Roll Ups.

So let me preempt this by saying that growing up, if given the choice between a peach and 8 breadsticks...I was takin' the breadsticks. Who wouldn't?! I mean, let's be honest. Breadsticks, like Olive Garden breadsticks are To DIE FOR!!
Then I started getting more and more into nutrition and how it works with your body. Fast forward to about Christmas of this past year and how incredibly exhausted I was all the time, how there were times that I seriously thought I had an early onset of dementia for the brain fog I experienced on a daily basis- (worse than just the normal "blonde moments").
So I decided to cut out gluten for the most part (after a long talk with a long time friend who is gluten intolerant). The first two weeks were ROUGH. The struggle was REAL here people. But, after the first couple weeks I started noticing I had a phenomenal amount of energy, no more brain fog, and enough motivation that I could actually do P90X or a HIIT workout every night after getting home from work. Keep in mind I get up at 5 AM, drive an hour to work, work 7:15-5, pick up M, drive an hour or more depending on traffic, feed him, play with him, bathe him, get him in bed and then I was doing a a very long workout! Also keep in mind I may have been somewhat psychotic at this point and have backed off a little on the workouts by either shortening them or only working out a couple times a week and hard on the weekends.
Anyway, so some of the recipes I've discovered in this time are actually quite delicious and can be enjoyed by all! I'll share them with you all as I get the time to blog.

The first one I've fallen in love with is homemade fruit roll-ups. It's 3 ingredients and TOTALLY worth the wait. :) I've tried it with strawberries and pineapple so far. The pineapple is absolutely amazing.
So here's how you do it:

Fruit (here you can use any kind you want. I use fruit that is still good but maybe not so fresh that you'd serve it on a silver platter to your grandma or mother-in-law- yeah, because I know you all do that.)
1 TBSP lemon juice
Powdered sugar (to taste- start with 1/4 cup)

Put your fruit in a food processor or blend until it's liquid
Add the lemon juice and blend a little more until it's good and mixed.
If the fruit isn't already a really sweet one (like pineapple) you'll need to add a little of the sugar to sweeten it up but the point here is to keep the nutritional value so let's not overdo it and mix again.
Pour it out onto a parchment covered jelly roll pan. The bigger the pan, the better because you'll want it to be pretty thin.
Put it into your oven and bake at 200 degrees for about 8 hours. If the center of the mixture is thicker, you'll need to bake longer but the idea is that it'll dehydrate to the point where it's a little gummy but not mushy. Think of what a pre-packaged fruit roll-up feels like.
When it's done, take it out of the oven and peel it off the parchment paper. Voila! Homemade Becky-home-ecky like snacks!!  :) They'll go fast. And don't worry if you over dehydrate it. It's just like having dehydrated fruit chips. Crunchy but still a powerfully delicious taste.

And for those of you who read this only for the Masonism....last weekend I cleaned carpets and spring cleaned the apartment- it was getting pretty bad so it was time. He helped for the most part and did a great job. So Sunday, as I was preparing all of my food for the week so that I didn't have to cook as much during the week, I come out of "my zone" and realize that it looks like a Lego bomb went off in my living room. We're talking 4,246 legos spread EVER-Y-WHERE! Surprisingly, I laughed it off but told Mason that he needed to clean it up and and instead of making enormous messes, clean things up as he goes along and be more responsible about helping out. This is his response "Mom, I'm just 4. I can't BE anymore RESPONSIBLE." - Umm, the fact that you just used that retort on your mother at the age of 4 tells me you can. Either way, it was good for a laugh.

Masonisms.....

All in a day...well a few hours actually.....

I've been told multiple times that I need to start a blog of the things that M says. Then it dawns on me. I've started a blog....a couple times. And after the day I've had with my child's mouth, I guess it's probably time to start that back up....



So tonight I've had a little bit of a headache and not being big on taking medication, I sat in a "detox" bath of epsom salts and baking soda. Being that M can't leave me be for 20 minutes and watch an episode of Mickey Mouse on his own, he came barging in about the time the water was draining. I'm not sure if it's that he's 4 or just him in general but he panics at the mere thought of anything getting sucked down a tub drain or down the toilet. So he says "Ahh!!! Are you gonna get sucked down the drain?!"
Me: No.
M: You're real careful?
Me: Yep. Always.
M: (starts walking out the door) Ok, well you keep bein' real careful but just to make sure you don't get sucked down the drain, we're gonna leave this door open just like this so I can keep an eye on you.

He also heard on How I Met Your Mother (while I was searching for something else) Barney say "She gives a great massage", so this one looks at me and says "Hey mom, you're a good massager right? I say sometimes so he plops his big feet in my lap and says "Great! How 'bout ya massage my feet!"

So the best one of the night is this:
Me: Close your eyes and go to sleep. (As I'm thinking of the dad aka GENIUS that wrote the book that explains every parent's life each night entitled Go The F*ck To Sleep)
M: I don't like sleeping.
Me: Someday you will.
M: Well that day will probably be Saturday but guess what?! Saturday is NOT TODAY!


That title ALMOST slipped out of my mouth....

Friends Don't Count Chromosomes

Today is World Down Syndrome Day. Many people believe that it is us who teaches those who happen to have Downs. Those people are highly mistaken. Today we celebrate Brookelyn and Major. These two have taught us more about life, acceptance, love and laughter than we ever thought possible. For those of you who don't know these kiddos, I'll give you a little run-down on them so you can feel just a small sliver of what we feel on a daily basis.
Major is my cousin's son. He can sing the entire song of "We Will Rock You", among many others. He plays soccer with his brother and sister, and he is as fearless as they come. He, like his mama, knows what he wants and wants it now. He is the best cuddler and has a smile that will light up your world. We don't see him much because he lives so far away, but we love him as we do everyone else in our huge family. He is hilarious and vibrant. The song is true...he absolutely will Rock You...and your socks off!

Brookelyn is 3. She is 3 weeks younger than Mason and absolutely his partner in crime. Whenever they are together, that's just what that means...together. You'll never find one without the other. If one is jumping on the couch, so is the other. If Brookelyn is supposed to be napping, you'll find Mason has snuck out of his own bed to hers and is giving her ALL her toys. They have dance parties together, snacks together and jump on the trampoline together. And yet, we are the lucky ones because at the end of the day, while my child essentially teaches Brookelyn to be ornery, Brookelyn teaches Mason life lessons. These lessons are ones he won't learn from his preschool friends, but he will keep forever. Lessons on acceptance, friendship, helping others, and protecting the ones you love. I've seen it since they were born. Mason doesn't look at Brookelyn any different than he does his other friends, but he loves her just a little more, as we all do because she just adds a little more warmth in your heart, a little more laughter to your day, and more "smushels" around your neck. And as her Aunt Kami, and someone who doesn't get those much from being the mother of a very rough and tumble boy, I appreciate her cuddly nature a little more than most.

We love you Major and Brookelyn! We're so glad to have you both in our lives and love watching you grow!

TOWANDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

     
Just because there are days in a woman's life where a little "Towanda" is all you need for motivation...

12 Things I've Learned in 2012....

I'm a firm believer in finishing what you start. And because I haven't blogged since the 31st of March- I decided to let you all know why and do a recap on 2012. I've been asked by so many people who know about all that's happened in the past year "How do you do it? You're so admirable." Thanks! I appreciate that...but I haven't cured cancer. I haven't traveled the world and met with the Queen of England. I'm just 28. A mom. Finishing college and living life like everyone else. But, here are the things I've learned this year, good and bad, and in the order I learned them in that might answer questions about where I'm coming from....

1. Burying your best friend and her baby will undoubtedly be the hardest thing you'll ever go through. In fact, having 3 people you know under 30 and a baby die in the same year flat out sucks. However, remembering that everything happens for a reason helps. Look for the reasons, they come to you when you least expect it.
2. Taking a full load of college classes while having a small child doesn't seem hard while you're in the midst of the chaos. Looking back after those few months are over, you'll call yourself a circus clown and feel as if you could man-handle the entire world like a Harlem Globetrotter...and with the same finesse.
3. Getting a divorce comes close to the excruciation of number 1. Not because you're no longer married to the person that you've been with for the past 12 years. But because it's change- it's uncharted territory. It's the fear of the unknown. No, situations that provoked the divorce (Which I might add, I never believed in until it happened) are enough to make you run and never look back. However, there are many lessons learned and lights seen in the midst of this agony.

• When a woman who's gone through it tells you "No divorced woman ever regrets her decision", you think DAMN! That's harsh. It's not. It's truth. Not at first, but time heals all things...give it time.
• At first, you will cry. A lot. These tears only make you stronger. Don't let your child see this. Also, while not in the presence of your child- being a sarcastic bitch helps (remember this part for later). 
• There will be other women come into your child's life...the thought of another woman playing house with your kid will initiate a motherly response that will make you want to go 17 rounds with Muhammed Ali...and you will win every. single. round. You will sign up for a boxing class as part of your academic roster for the next semester because of this.You will not necessarily DO or SAY anything. Your child just knows. And this initiates a response in your child that makes them tell the new lady "OK lady, time for you to go. Before my mom gets here and gets mad. And you DON'T WANT THAT!" (It's ok to smile at your child's wit...that they got....from you!)
• Not acting like a victim helps many situations. You are not a victim. You made this choice, based on research, prayer and many, many hours of thought and circumstance. 
• Being "a single mom" does NOT make you white trash...your choices and the way you handle life do. Period.
• Believe it or not- it IS still possible to remain friends with your ex. This does not come without  irritation, debate, and weird looks from your family. However, it's better for the child and is possible...it's all in the attitude you choose to have.

4. Anxiety happens. There are herbal remedies out there that do not require smoking. They're cheap and effective. However, living on your own is not as bad as the preconceived notion that you once had. Actually, a lot of times, it's peaceful and enlightening.
5. Terrible Two's and Threatening Three's are called this because EFFING AWFUL doesn't start with T! There will be times you will actually tell your child that you are about to sell them to the gypsies, or that they are about to get packed in a box and shipped to Gigi's house FOR-EVER (picture Squints and The Sandlot...same idea). They will be excited about this! They may even ask you if you're at that point while in Dillons...insert rude, inappropriate looks from strangers here. It's at this point where you will need a friend to rely on. It's ok. Every mother needs a break!
6.  It's completely and utterly impossible to take 15 hours of classes, work and raise a child without your parent's help. Seriously, they are your life line. Thank them daily and be super grateful you have this life line available.
7. You never know how strong you are until you have to be. Simple as that. Great adversity is overcome by having an education and a positive attitude. Use them to your advantage and have confidence in knowing you're living with integrity. Some days, it's the only thing that gets you through the next 5 minutes.
8. DO NOT. I repeat. DO NOT sign up for an online dating service...FML will run through your head more times while reading the stupidity of the male population than should even be allowed. Seriously. Did you know that there are men out there...wait. Did you know that EVERY, SINGLE, MAN from the ages 48-72 (yes. You read that right) will email you though you're only 28!?! And they will say something like this "Hey girl. What's your favorite romantic movie? Do you like long walks on the beach?" Really? You are NOT Ryan Gosling so the words "Hey Girl" should not even be thought by you until you are. AND, you're from KS...yes! I LOVE walks on the beach...at Milford Lake...WHAT?!?! (picture a Minion from Despicable Me) Seriously dude. I don't care if you're as rich as Donald Trump. You're making me vomit.
9. Men will crawl out of the woodwork and want in your pants. Men you've been friends with for a long time. Men you've never even thought would look at you "in that way". They do, and they have the persistance of  your two year old trying to get your attention. (mom, mom, mom, mommy, mama, mom, mom,mom, mommy....) It will trigger the same reaction too! Remember that little tidbit of information about being sarcastic...You're gonna need to perfect this. Because again, some of these men will make you want to vomit. There is no finesse in the dating world anymore. Sex is a first date conversation starter. And, having less than 5 partners is virtually unrealistic. Basically what I'm saying is- Morals and Values are hard to come by...look hard my friends...they're out there...I'll let you know when I find them. It may be as difficult as that cure for cancer so you're going to need to be patient on this one.
10. Stop eating so damn much! You're not hungry. You're bored or probably thirsty. Learn the difference! It's real easy to put weight on...but losing 30 pounds, though seriously life changing is hard as hell and you'll cuss yourself every step of the way. It's just easier to make better decisions now than later!
11.Reflect on the year that's gone by. You'll learn so much about life, love, what makes you happy and most of all- yourself. Make goals and stick to them. Make friends and make the friendships you have stronger. Rid yourself of the negativity in your life. You don't need it. And above all...
12. The best quote one will ever live by is this "Sometimes the best thing you can do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not stress. Just breathe and Have Faith that everything will work out for the best"...because it will. :) Happy New Year to all...May 2013 bring you lots of love, happiness, health and wealth! 

Gone Fishin'

Today is Saturday. This means that Mason doesn't understand it's a weekend, so it's ok to sleep in and Nate doesn't work until 4 PM. So that leaves a lot of open space to fill for this awesomely energetic 2 year old! Today is almost 90 degrees here (in March!- So crazy!) so we took a trip to the lake for the first time of the season. We also learned many lessons today.

Lesson 1: "Back up" because you're about to fall in and give your mama a heart attack.

Lesson 2- less than a minute after lesson 1- SNAKES...because these DO give your mama a heart attack. I don't know that Mason has ever seen my "frightened for my life" look, but he got it this morning along with a deep inhale like it might be my last breath of life and my arm around his waist like JAWS clamping down. He automatically knew I was not joking, laughing or messing around. This was serious business! I told him to back up and get close to the car. Then while on the way home I asked "What do we do when we see a snake?" Mason replies: "Umm....shut the door." The teacher in me says we're gonna need to reteach this lesson...another day....without actual live animals.

Lesson 3: This wasn't really a lesson so much as practice. Mason's been "Fishing" in our living room since he was about 1. Today he got to put it to the real test. He did fabulously. :)

My fair skinned prince. SO happy to be outdoors and in the sun! This is his favorite place ever! This is about 10 minutes after bathing him in SPF 50+ Sun block. :( And normally he has an awesome K-State baseball cap but he left it at school yesterday. :(

All boy! Lesson 4: Sticks and old burned up stumps are great fun! He managed to rub nice little groove in the stump, in case we got stranded at the lake and had to build a fire later. We're talkin real live Bear Grylls survival here!

And sometimes when you're in survival mode- you manage to hit yourself in the head with your big stick. That's why you have mommies to kiss it and make it better. Even Bear has a mama to kiss his head.

And we're back to beating on the stump until......

Lesson 5 happened! This lesson is called "Oh yeah! I'm fishin here!"- We aren't great at waiting. He comes by this naturally. So Nate watches Mason's pole for him and reminds him he's fishing when he gets a bite. Nate sets the hook and lets Mason real it in. He reeled in his first fish this morning! :) Then came Lesson 6: Sometimes fish swallow the hook and just when you think they're going to die you incorporate Lesson 7: Prayer. My child is very compassionate and very concerned for the lives of others. He comes by this pretty naturally too. So you say a little prayer for Mr.Fish that he doesn't die. And then comes Lesson 8: God doesn't always answer prayers right away. But today- it only took about 10 minutes and that fish was off and swimming again! :)

And Mason was back to building his fire.....

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Today is St. Patrick's Day! A holiday that isn't celebrated by many other than getting completely obliterated. We don't normally celebrate either but there was a parade going on...so of course we couldn't miss it! K-State played today too...badly. But they played. So Mason and I celebrated both in 1! :) This is us watching the parade. Take note of the braces because those suckers are COMING OFF this coming Friday...will post pics later. :) SO PUMPED!

This is just part of Aggieville-waiting for the parade to start. Luckily for us, I'm my mother's child (late to EVERYTHING) and the parade didn't start on time either.

Waiting patiently.

Isn't this face just the cutest?! I'm a little biased but really.

Super stoked for our first tattoo! Hopefully it comes off easily. The "white trash-my kid hasn't bathed in a week" look isn't one I like to sport willingly.

Of course it the parade wouldn't be complete without a Leprachaun!

And Bagpipe players in kilts.

And Belly Dancers...and boy did their bellies dance!

But Bless their hearts- they sure did have some....... confidence....

"The biggest horses of my life!"- Mason

And of course a Statue of Liberty! Because all parades have those!

All in all, the parade was a beautiful 81 degrees, a good time outside and enough of a wear out for Mason to take a long nap! And me to join him.

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! :)