Fill-You-In Friday #4

What a week! Here's a not-so-secret: I'm an introvert at heart. I draw energy by spending quiet time at home with my little pod--naps, movies, snuggles on the couch, or a stolen  hour (from Jon) to read my books. We make an effort to say "no thank you" to social outtings or innings on Sunday for this very reason. After church, it's all family, all day long. Except when it's not. :) All of this said, I'm a stay-at-home mom. I spend a lot of time at home with my kiddos. My "home batteries" are charged! I was very lucky this week to find myself in the company of a lovely girlfriend on two separate occasions. We sat, we sipped coffee, and caught up. It was great. Never, ever do I miss working full-time. I DO miss the people. I'm thankful for my friends, old and new.

We're 4 weeks into 2013. I decided not to set any resolutions. I decided that working toward lofty goals just wasn't working (lose 20 lbs, keep the house spotless, cook dinner every night, read 52 books in a year, run a half marathon, etc.). This is not to say I don't plan to be productive, but I plan to be more deliberate with my time and more fluid with my plans. Enjoy life. Be thankful. Be. Present. I've especially tried to be more present when eating and feeding my family. I don't have anything specific to share about this, other than to declare that it is so, and I will be interested to look back in a week, a month, a year and see where we are. This week, we discovered Eleanor's love of bacon (nitrate free!).

Now to the good stuff. Eleanor read her first book! Yes, it was short. Yes, it had a vocabulary of less than 5 words, but oh, she was proud, and so was I. The book was called Mat. Mat is book one in a 12-book set of beginning readers called Bob Books, published by Scholastic. You can find them here on Amazon. If you were with me last week and were interested in Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, I would recommend these as a companion after about lesson 20. I discovered the BOB books from a blog I follow and recommend, Rockabye Butterfly.

Eve is a rolling machine. Gone are the days of leaving her unattended on an elevated surface while I run to grab a diaper.  We are moving closer to mobility, Lord help me.

We borrowed a juicer from grandma and grandpa. Eleanor was impressed and enjoyed fresh carrot and apple juice. She fuh-lipped out when I was slow to replace the pusher, and pulp shot all the way up the cabinet. Not-so-sadly, we won't be keeping the juicer because it takes up a lot of space and is time-consuming to clean. I have enough gadgety gadgets.

Eleanor loves to get in Eve's crib. Eve seems to like it, too.

Eleanor with her first book.

 

Other highlights from the week: A baby shower for a wonderful friend who will travel to Congo this week to pick up her beautiful son, family dinner with 5 other families (LOTS of chaos), a park date with a friend and her 2 (soon to be 3) sweet kids, and Eve sucking on her teeny, tiny fingers and thumb.

On deck: I REALLY want to post my reading list for 2013. I have it scratched out, but need to spend some time gathering links, authors, and specifics. I also have a book review for A Visit from the Goon Squad that I want to share. I'll get to it. Maybe.

Peace be with you!
Mari

Fill-You-In-Friday #3

I'll make this post light on the text and let the pictures do most of the talking. We've had a good week at home, but this mama is tired. I've been working some this week, and haven't gotten to tinker with the blog as much as I'd like, but it's coming! I hope to put up another book review this week and/or a list of my 2013 reads.

Last Saturday, temperatures dropped and rained turned to snow and ice. We got a beautiful smattering of snow and a thin layer of ice that stuck around through most of Sunday morning.  Jon braved the cold to snap a few photos for me. Our neighbor is a sweet, elderly man who lives alone. His house has seen better days, and his barn, well, it's falling down, but it photographs well in all seasons.

Grandpa stopped by for a quick lunch with his girls. Eleanor roped him into playing Barbies. We added a new Barbie to our collection to total 3. As Eleanor was chattering away to herself, I heard her say, "But I only have 2 hands, and I have 3 dollies. What ever will I do?"  Speaking of Grandpa Mike, look who made the front page of the Friday paper! I've plastered it all over Facebook, as any proud daughter would.

Sister time and quiet time filled up much of our week.

 

Things were pretty quiet on InstaGram this week. I finished a book, drank a lot of coffee some of which was spiked, and, as usual, took pics of the girls. 

Have a happy weekend!
Mari

Saving Money: Cooking Dried Beans

I'm linking up today with The Vanilla Tulip to share my own Thrifty Thoughts. We live on (almost) one income, and we like to make our dollars stretch, especially when it comes to grocery shopping. One of my best money saving measures is using dried beans instead of buying canned beans. Canned beans are convenient, but if you eat a lot of beans like we do, they add up quickly. The BPA that lines ALL cans (except one brand) is questionable, so I do my best to avoid it whenever possible. It's in EVERYthing, so it's nearly impossible to eliminate completely.

Dried beans are EASY to cook, and they can and freeze beautifully. You can cook them on your stove top, slow cooker, or in a pressure cooker. I find mine have the best flavor when cooked in a slow cooker and seasoned, but I also find myself in a time crunch a lot, and use my pressure cooker. (It was a gift from my mother-in-law a few years ago, and I absolutely love it.)

1. Buy your dried beans from any grocery store. I like to buy organic or locally grown beans, but the nearest natural foods market is 45 minutes away, and sometimes Wal-Mart has to suffice. Dried beans are significantly cheaper than canned beans. I usually use 2-16 ounce bags of small red beans in chili. Yes, we eat beans in our chili. Sorry, to any of you die-hard Texas chili fans out there.

2. Rinse your beans, and if you're particular, remove any broken beans or rocks. Yes, sometimes there are rocks in dried beans. You can soak your beans ahead of time to speed up the cooking time. I usually don't soak my beans.

3. Cover them with water per your pressure cooker's instructions, or put them on the stove top or in the slow cooker. The slow cooker is definitely the slowest cooking method (hence, the name), but I hate to watch and stir beans on the stove top. Sometimes, I will throw in celery, onion, spices, or a bay leaf to flavor the beans, and sometimes I don't. If you salt your beans during the cooking process, it can make them tough, so wait until they are finished cooking to add salt. If you use a pressure cooker, I use this site to determine cooking times.

4. Enjoy! Depending on the type of bean and what I'm going to use them for, sometimes I rinse them with water, and sometimes I save the water they were cooked in. I make up big batches at a time and will freeze them in 2-cup portions for later use. I know people who can their beans, but I haven't added canning to my bag of tricks, yet.

Favorite Books of 2012

I read a lot, or I try to read a lot, but it's all relative. I want to read more than I do. I planned to read 40 books in 2012, and came up short with 35. Something about having a baby during the middle of the year really slowed me down. I think it was the I'm-so-pregnant-and-can't-hold-my-eyes-open syndrome that really lost the game for me. Of the 35 books, I've chosen my top 10.  I may be back in a few days with my reading list for 2013.

1. Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron
I loved this socially conscious book, and you can read about it and my review of it HERE. It tied for my favorite read of 2012.

2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

3. The Every Boy by Dana Shapiro

4. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides

5. The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti
I tried to add a little bit of non-fiction to my reading repertoire in 2012, and plan to continue to build my non-fiction library in 2013. The Purity Myth focuses on women and sexuality in our society. I found it to be extremely interesting, especially after growing up in a very conservative area of the country. Valenti forced me think about women's issues that I might not have considered otherwise.

6. Divergent & Insurgent both by Veronica Roth (I'm going to count them as one.)
This series tied with Running the Rift for my favorite reads of 2012. Divergent is about a dystopian society of the future where everyone is divided into factions. The protagonist, Tris, has a secret she must hide, and she and her "people" must decide how to navigate in this divided world. This series is very reminiscent of The Hunger Games, but I thought it was better. *gasp* I know, I know, but it really was. It was a little bit tweeny with some romance, but I loved a good romance, tweeny or not. Book #3 should drop sometime this year and I. Can't. Wait.

7. Storm of Swords (Game of Thrones #3) by George R.R. Martin
I take this series slow, because I know there are only 5 books and their is no conclusion. I kind of hate suspense, if I know I can't get to the resolution. Installment #3 did not disappoint, and all of my favorite characters are in precarious situations (Jon Snow, Danerys Targaryen, Arya Stark for any of you GoT fans out there).

8. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
I'm excited for this movie to come out!

9. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
2012 brought about lots of goals and an obsession with simplifying. I've kind of fallen of that bandwagon, but this book helped me realize that small changes can add up to big gains.

10. The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons WWII tragedy/love story--I'm a sucker for them.

Honorable mention: The Book Thief by Mark Zusack, The Paris Wife by Paula McClain, and Bloom by Kelle Hampton

Happy reading in 2013!

Fill-You-In Friday #2

I've been a planning machine this week!

Several of our friends will welcome new babies, and their mamas must be showered with gifts to prepare. I've been planning 2 showers, and work is picking up with a big project. I'm attempting to get ahead of the game by organizing and planning during this "inception/elaboration" phase (terms I picked up during my tenure as software implementation specialist, or whatever my job title was) in hopes of being productive and effective in the coming weeks. I'm looking forward to writing some articles and focusing some creative energy into a project. Go Team!

Eve is changing EVERY day. Gone are the days of the baby who sleeps all day and sits quietly in her chair. She babbles, screeches, screams, coos, rolls over, scoots, and is working at sitting up. She engages us more, examines her toys (the pacifier being the most interesting), and is a drool factory.  Her new favorite game is to wake up at about 11 p.m. as we are settling down to sleep to throw a little party until about 1 a.m. I'm sure it will pass. She still soothes herself by sucking on her first finger--so sweet.

Eleanor is catching onto reading so quickly. She makes her mama proud (although she would still make me proud, regardless of her reading)! We're working through Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and having great success. Eleanor read her first sentences this week! She is also exercising her "voice" more often, and consequently, conflicts seem to arise. We're working through a few tantrums, and learning to work together, so we're both happy most of the time.

I had to share this picture, because anyone who remembers baby Eleanor will remember her quirk for organization. She used to line up hundreds of diapers and dozens of books in perfect rows. When I walked upon the scene of perfectly organized markers, I was reminded of how much I love her and her quirks.

 

Big sister is honing her computer skills. 4 years does a lot for hand-eye coordination. 

Eleanor made her purse for a craft prototype I'm using for my Sunday school class and a newsletter I help write. She was "shopping".

Evie Bear is working on her head control/scooting skills. I love the back view!

Sister time makes me happy.

 

Story time is enjoyed by both girls, as long as Eve doesn't start her screeching routine. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary is on deck for this week, and probably next.

 

Instagram pics from the week (Follow me! I'm Customari on IG).

Have a happy weekend!
Peace be with you,
Mari

Book Review: Running the Rift

In December I read Running the Rift by Noami Benaron and published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. The book was the winner of the 2010 Bellwether Prize for Fiction. (The Bellwether Prize is awarded to unpublished, socially aware fiction and is funded by Barbara Kingsolver.source)

Before reading Running the Rift, I had very limited knowledge of Rwanda and the events that unraveled there in the 90s. I was in grade school. Several months ago, I watched a PBS special on Bill Clinton, and it mentioned that he got his arse handed to him for his involvement in Somalia, and chose not to act in Rwanda. The previous sentence expresses my comprehensive knowledge of Rwanda. Fast forward to the book.

Running the Rift is the story of Jean Patrick, a Rwandan boy from the Tutsi tribe. The story follows Jean Patrick as he grows from a school-aged boy into a successful college athlete poised to make a bid for the '96 Atlanta Olympics (I do remember these Olympics, and the associated bomb threat). As he grows up, the atmosphere of Rwanda changes from a relatively peaceful country, although racial strife was part of its recent past, to a nation divided between Tutsi and Hutu tribes. Jean Patrick is afforded more freedoms than most Tutsis, because of his athletic reputation, but his situation and his family's situation becomes dire. Hutu Power and the Rwandan government systematically organize for devastation and genocide that few Tutsi or "sympathizer" could escape. The book does relate the horrors of the genocide, so if you do decide to read, be prepared.

What I liked:

• In spite of the atrocities the story lays out, Jean Patrick's and Rwanda's story are hopeful. However, I would struggle to find hope in Rwanda had I been living there
• The story is part of a bigger picture and of a history I didn't know about. Genocide, ethnic cleansing, and civil war STILL happens and is currently happening (Sudan, Syria, to name a few). Historical fiction makes the HISTORY accessible through fiction.
• Jean Patrick--what a character. He made it easy to place myself in (God forbid) such a situation. He's what every young person/college student is--hopeful, full of dreams, and naive.
• The story doesn't end when the genocide ended. The reader got a glimpse of what Rwanda looks like today, and how it moved forward from between 500,000 to 1 million murders.
• Benaron's writing. She does justice to the Rwandan countryside. I'd love to see it. Her prose is clear and mesmerizing. Her seemingly effortless story is (from what I can tell) true to history, and leaves the reader with heartbreak, loss, destruction, love, hope and the human spirit. 

What I disliked:

• Almost nothing.
• The story was (mostly) true. Oh my God. These things happen! It's easy to forget that the thread between peace and destruction is thin, and that we are fortunate/lucky/privileged (however you want to frame it) to live as we do.

After reading, I needed to know more about Rwanda. You can find out more from my friend, Wikipedia, HERE. A friend recommended Hotel Rwanda. It's based on a true story of Paul Rusesabagina, who uses a hotel to house over a thousand Tutsi refugees. The story was reminiscent of Schindler's List. In relation to the book, the movie only focuses on the latter part of the book, or the period of time when the conflict (and killing) was the greatest. The movie did a good job of conveying what happened, but it was only rated PG-13. I was thankful for the limited gore, although it is clear that gore, and lots of it, really happened.

Go read it! 5-stars in my book.

Birthday Weekend and Epiphany

Saturday, I celebrated my 28th birthday. Birthdays aren't a HUGE deal around here. We celebrate, we eat cake, but I've always thought that a mere 24 hours isn't enough time to celebrate a person. For several years I've declared my birthday to be at least 2 days long. When it falls on a weekend, it's a birthday weekend. My expectations are reasonable. I don't expect presents or special food all weekend long, but it's nice to be able to push my agenda in the name of my birthday. Everyone in the family gets the same privileges on their birthdays, so don't feel sorry for them.

I would guess I am 3 in this picture. Mom said I made that fancy hat and was quite proud of it.

Birthday festivities kicked off Friday night with dinner at my parents. I requested my all-time-favorite made-by-mom meal and dessert: beef bourguignon and coconut cream pie. It was soooo good. She let me take home the leftovers, and I've been gluttonous all. weekend. long. This picture might not do the pie justice, but it's blue ribbon worthy at any state fair. I dream about this pie.

The flower man knocked on my door with BEAUTIFUL flowers from my dear friend from Wisconsin (Lisa)! Jon, Eve and Eleanor showered me with love and added a charm to my charm bracelet, and others added to my personal fund for my next big adventure.

After a few temper tantrums (not thrown by me), we took a quick trip to the city to return a few Christmas gifts and have dinner with Jon's family. We tried a steakburger diner called Freddy's. Eleanor thought it was the best as I suspected she would. What 4-year-old doesn't like custardy milkshakes, bright lights, and bad-for-you food?

Today, we're celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany, or the three wisemen/kings/magi that sought and visited the newborn baby Jesus. You can read more about the Epiphany HERE. Epiphany marks the end of Christmastide/the 12 Day of Christmas in the Catholic Church. Christmas was especially memorable this year, because we were able to celebrate feast days and explain things to Eleanor, and we had our sweet little sister, Eve, to love on. Having a baby at Christmas time caused me to reflect not only on Jesus, but also on Mary, the blessed Mother. After this weekend, we return to "Ordinary Time" and all of the beautiful Christmas decs go into storage until December 2013.

Lately, I've been reminded that all things pass. These sweet moments with my family are fleeting and to be treasured. The days/months/years that are difficult will also pass. Life goes on as it's meant to. I hope I'm able to keep this perspective throughout my 28th year. We ended my birthday weekend and the Christmas season with a nap, and I'm hoping to read a few pages and watch a little tv with my Buddy (Jon).

Peace be with you!
Mari

 

Fill-You-In Friday #1

I'm going to try to post every most Fridays with a medley of things that happened during the week. A few blogs I enjoy do something similar.

We spent the day of January 31st, 2012 supporting my dad as he was sworn in as the county surveyor. The "ceremony" was a culmination of several months of hard work by all, and we're excited to see what his new post brings for him and the family this year.

 

I hope you had a Happy New Year, and that the happiness continues all year long! Old Man Winter threatened to keep us at home on NYE, but he relented and we spent the evening with some good friends.  We were home well before midnight to put the kiddos to bed. This picture is of Eve and our friends' baby who is 8 weeks younger than Eve.

We enjoyed having this guy home with us for 12 days over the holiday! He was a little on the sickly side for much of his vacation, but we managed to have a good time. He had to go back to work, and we miss him.

With all the partying over from the past several weeks, it was back to business as usual. Eve went for her 4-month check up. She's happy, healthy and weighed in at 12.2 pounds and 24.75 inches long. She's in the 11th percentile for weight, and 55th for height. I HATE to see my sweet babies poked with needles for vaccines. We survived.

Slowly, we're finding our groove. Eleanor and I sat down for reading lessons and she's enjoyed drawing from some of her new drawing books she got for Christmas. I'll try to remember to photograph some of her artwork. It's precious! Also precious is the fake smile she's flashing in this picture.

I've been reading A LOT. In fact, we've all been reading a lot. Yes, you see Mrs. Wiggle and The Biggest Bear in my stack. I've either finished or started all of these books this week. Thank God for the library and coffee out of one of my new Fiestaware mugs. Flamingo is the current color of choice.

Instagram pictures worth sharing (my goal is to have a fancy-schmancy Photoshop grid to drop these into in the near future):

On deck for next week: A birthday post and a book review!
Peace be with you!
Mari