Great for playdates, preschool, and the church nursery

Dolly originally told me about these, and I love them enough to pass on. They are sort of like those rubber wrist bands you sometimes see loads of people wearing, but they are reusable labels meant for bottles, sippy cups, sports/water bottles, or whatever.


We both love ours, and if you need something to help keep track of cups or bottles and hate having to peel sticker labels off, we highly recommend them. They come in blue, green, pink, and purple.

(Would make a great baby gift, as well.)

They can be found here at Inchbug.com.

DW on SP

I'm typically not all that interested in politics (save for my own dear dad), but I am interested in preserving the sanctity of life and other issues that we should be concerned with as Christians. I also don't always agree with everything Doug Wilson writes, but on this issue so far, I do. Absolutely. So I'm just going to take the easy way out and link to his recent posts on the subject at hand.

An excerpt, (also why this election is so critical) from DW: "my touchstone issue on whether or not this reversal is likely or possible has always been the abortion issue. That is the issue that we have to begin with, and it is therefore a non-negotiable. If we repent there, we can get to other issues as they arise. If we don't repent there (with repentance measured by nothing less than overthrowing Roe), then it doesn't really matter what we do elsewhere because it will be nothing but God's judgment, whatever it is.

"...if the Dalai Bama is elected, we will have absolutely no chance of getting pro-life judges on the Supreme Court. And if the Republicans have the White House, we might or might not get pro-life judges. But wait . . . there's more. McCain's persona of deliberately irritating conservatives with that maverick schtick of his has been such that it convinced me that there was no way that he was going to be the one to topple Roe -- right up to the recent reports that were circulating that he was actually considering Lieberman for his VP pick. But the bottom line has always been that if I knew that McCain was going to appoint pro-life judges to the Court, I would be more than happy to vote for him. But I -- like many other conservatives -- believed his various erratic and eccentric signals. "Don't ever trust me on this one" was his message, and "okay" was my response. This choice of Palin appears to a clear signal in the right direction, a signal that goes well beyond a pie crust promise --easily made, easily broken. So, is this VP choice making me rethink this election? Yes, it is."

And later: "Scripture gives us examples of extraordinary women who are used by God in extraordinary times. The woman's seed was to crush the serpent's head, and we see this prophecy of Christ typified throughout the Old Testament in striking ways (Judges 4:21; Judges 9:53). It seems to me that Sarah Palin, as a walking rejection of the pro-aborts more emotional arguments, will be in a position to give Roe a bowl of motherly milk and then put a stake through his head. If that happens, then the question for Christians will not be "how could a woman do that?" Rather, we will see that no one but a woman could have done that." (My emphasis.)

I'll go ahead and link to the posts from Doug Wilson so far on Sarah Palin for those that are interested and don't read his blog (admittedly, I don't that often myself) because they are very well written. And don't worry, they're also not too long:

Post 1: Kinda Spooky When You Think About It.

Post 2: Cons and Pros on Palin.

Post 3: And Another Thing...

Post 4: John Knox and Sarah Palin.

I know it's late

But I just got home from having coffee (okay, I really just had water) with two of my dear friends, hopped on the internet for a quick check around and saw a headline under my ads for another in-network post, got curious and clicked over to read it.

It's a must-read that I just had to pass on: Mommy Life's Memo to Jennie Chancey on Sarah Palin.

Amen.

My first attempt at vegan baking

I tried an experiment today. Drew loves muffins and begged me to make some this morning. I've had this box of milled flax seed in my pantry and according to the side, you can use a tablespoon of it mixed with 3 tablespoons of water in place of an egg.

Which is perfect for vegan living. (I mean flexitarian living.)


They turned out perfectly yummy. You'd never know they were egg and dairy free.


Vegan Banana-Walnut Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup regular flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon milled flax seed mixed with 3 tablespoons water
1/2 cup rice milk
1/4 cup cooking oil (veggie)
3/4 cup mashed bananas
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Leaving a Legacy

Many of my real-life friends know my dad and what he's doing. And I've kind of gone back and forth about saying anything here on the blog, mostly for selfish reasons of staying relatively anonymous.

But the truth is, the time for staying within comfort zones has well passed.

Some background information - my dad is a retired Air Force Major General. He retired two years ago to run in the 2006 US Congressional race for the 5th District of Colorado. He had three months to get up a campaign, had virtually zero name-recognition or campaign experience, and surprised everyone with a strong third-place finish (and even beat the mayor of Colorado Springs!). The problem then was not enough time.

My parents had clearly seen the Lord's hand guiding them to run that first race (quite the amazing story, if you're ever interested), and were sort of scratching their heads when they lost. What now?

And then after being repeatedly encouraged to run again, against an incumbent no less, they decided he would run again, and they are currently in the middle of the 2008 campaign - full steam ahead for the August 12 primary.

I'm telling you all this to plead for your financial support. We all know how ridiculously expensive political campaigns are. But the truth is, mailings, printings, signs, bumper stickers, brochures, billboards, radio ads, and television commercials cost money. Lots of money. (Not to mention the cost of supporting a campaign team.) The voter has to be reached, and it's expensive to get one's message out.

The statistics have shown that when voters hear my dad's message, they support him. Why? Because he is a proven leader, a man of character and integrity, and a visionary to guide Colorado in the years ahead.

And why should a non-resident care about a Congressional race in Colorado?

"Since the founding of the Air Force Academy in 1959, we've only had one graduate serve the country in Congress. That grad is Heather Wilson, '80, now engaged in a race to replace Senator Pete Domenici in New Mexico. With Heather hopefully moving to the Senate, again there will be no USAFA grads in the House of Representatives. The current Congress has the fewest number of members with military experience wince WWII. With our country engaged in a difficult and dangerous war, we clearly need more members of Congress with credible military experience. Understanding our affinity to the Air Force, it is also important to recognize that the Air Force has extremely few allies on the Hill and is having a difficult time getting their message across. We desperately need someone who understands Air and Space Power in Congress. For these reasons, and many others, I've decided to run for the 5th Congressional Seat in Colorado. The 5th District incorporates all the military facilities in the Colorado Springs region, including the Air Force Academy. I certainly would appreciate your support." - Bentley Rayburn, Class of 1975

I know first-hand that neither of my parents are doing this for themselves. They'd rather be quietly living in a mountain home raising horses and visiting grandchildren. My dad has already had a full and rewarding career -- this is most certainly not for personal advancement or prestige. Rather, they are concerned for our country and with contributing to a bright future for their children and grandchildren.

They are working to leave a legacy.

Please, if you have any respect for me or my family, take the time to check out my dad's website: Rayburn for Congress and consider donating as much as you possibly can: CLICK HERE! (The maximum an individual may contribute is $2,300 for the primary election and an additional $2,300 for the general election. Couples may contribute $4,600 for the primary and general elections, respectively. Federal PACs may contribute $5,000 for each election.)

Also, please consider passing this along to your own friends and family.

Thank you.

What we're eatin'

I’ve recently been asked (several times, actually) “so what are you eating?!” As if the only other dietary option besides meat and cheese is a grain of enriched white rice.

Well, let me enlighten you.

One night last week we had baked potatoes (with an olive oil spread that’s just as tasty as butter), broccoli (with the same spread and garlic and some salt n' pepper), and some yummy nutty bread with apple butter. I’m sure we had fresh fruit, too, but can’t remember what specifically.

Sunday, for lunch with guests after church, I made whole grain pasta, and topped it with olive oil and herbs/spices. I sautéed an onion, a yellow summer squash, a zucchini, and a red pepper and mixed it all in with the pasta. It turned out tasty and I really should have taken a picture because it was colorful and pretty (as far as pasta goes). I also served a tossed salad and a loaf of Ciabatta bread. We had strawberry shortcake for dessert. I don’t think anyone went away hungry.

Tonight we had our favorite stir-fry over rice. Before I would have put in chunks of chicken – but with the onion, garlic, broccoli, celery, pineapple, and cashews, no one seemed to notice the omission. I used (reduced-sodium) soy sauce and honey for the stir-fry sauce. And then I also baked us some biscuits and we had spreadable fruit and the aforementioned apple butter with them.

Basically my rule of thumb has been to think of former veggie ‘side dishes’ more as main dishes and make the portions bigger. We are eating a lot of whole grain breads, potatoes, brown rice, corn, pastas, tons of vegetables and fruits, nuts, lots of oatmeal, etc.

And, in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve had my fair share of guacamole and corn chips lately. I’ve also been buying fresh salsa by the boatload and we’ve pretty much been inhaling it.

The other famous question is “how do you get your protein?” as if protein doesn’t occur in nature. (And, I don’t think I need to add that most Americans eat way too much protein.) Beans, nuts, even a lot of grains, fruits, and veggies have protein – more than enough to live on. I’m sure I could personally live on peanut butter. Kidding.

Here's a handy-dandy Protein Chart for easy reference.

Speaking of protein, an “easy way to calculate your own daily protein requirement according to the U.S. RDA is to multiply 0.36 (grams) by your body weight. That translates to about 44 grams for a 120-pound woman.” (From the Vegetarians in Paradise site.)

So, trust me, we're far from starving. But we may be aspiring artists.

Here's the Why

I'm not going to turn this into my new blog platform or anything, don't worry. But I do think we need to be more aware. So, here's another good link on the effects of cow's milk: www.milksucks.com.

The short explanation:

"In one study, funded by the National Dairy Council, a group of postmenopausal women were given three 8-ounce glasses of skim milk every day for two years, and their bones were compared to those of a control group of women not given the milk. The dairy group consumed 1,400 mg of calcium per day and lost bone at twice the rate of the control group. According to the researchers, "this may have been due to the average 30 percent increase in protein intake during milk supplementation. ... The adverse effect of increases in protein intake on calcium balance has been reported from several laboratories, including our own" (they then cite 10 other studies). Says McDougall, "Needless to say, this finding did not reach the six o'clock news." This is one study that the dairy industry won't be repeating any time soon.

After looking at 34 published studies in 16 countries, researchers at Yale University found that the countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis—including the United States, Sweden, and Finland—were those in which people consumed the most meat, milk, and other animal foods. This study also showed that African-Americans, who consume, on average, more than 1,000 mg of calcium per day, are nine times more likely to experience hip fractures than are South African blacks, whose daily calcium intake is only about 196 mg. Says McDougall, "On a nation-by-nation basis, people who consume the most calcium have the weakest bones and the highest rates of osteoporosis. ... Only in those places where calcium and protein are eaten in relatively high quantities does a deficiency of bone calcium exist, due to an excess of animal protein."

Harvard University's landmark Nurses Health Study, which followed 78,000 women over a 12-year period, found that the women who consumed the most calcium from dairy foods broke more bones than those who rarely drank milk. Summarizing this study, the Lunar Osteoporosis Update (November 1997) explained: "This increased risk of hip fracture was associated with dairy calcium. ... If this were any agent other than milk, which has been so aggressively marketed by dairy interests, it undoubtedly would be considered a major risk factor." (And it goes on...)

The short version of how this happens is:

"But what is the mechanism for this process? As food is digested acids are released into the blood, and the body attempts to neutralise the acid by drawing calcium from the bones. This calcium is then excreted in the urine (the calciuric response). Animal protein from cow’s milk and dairy products as well as meat, fish and eggs has a particularly bad effect because of the greater amount of sulphur-containing amino acids it contains compared to plant protein. As the sulphur content of the diet increases so does the level of calcium in the urine. Studies reveal that an animal protein diet (with the same total quantity of protein as a vegetarian diet) confers an increased risk for uric acid stones (Breslau et al., 1988). Furthermore the animal-protein induced calciuric response may be a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis. The traditional Inuit (or Eskimo) diet is made up almost entirely of animal protein. Inuits potentially have one of the highest calcium intakes in the world (up to 2,500 milligrams per day) depending on whether they eat whole fish, including the bones, or not. They also have a high rate of osteoporosis, even higher than white Americans (Mazess et al., 1974; Mazess et al., 1975; Pratt et al., 2001)." (Taken from the VVF website.)

Boning Up on Calcium, is another good resource.

Meat n' Potatoes

*I really posted this last week, coincidentally also on Wednesday. Mer suggested linking it to WFMW and, well, I aim to please. So here ya go!

One of my friends (from way back in high school!) recently asked if I would pass on some of my favorite recipes to her. I'm sure I've posted this on Let's Eat! but since I made the recipe for this concoction up, I decided it'd be easier for her to visualize my directions.

And, lucky for me, this is what we ate for dinner last night.

So, here is my go-to meal when I realize it's 5 o'clock and I have about as many brain cells left.

Brown a pound and a half or so of ground beef (or turkey, based on your preference). Drain the fat. Add in frozen hash browns, like so:


(I've also used the shredded kind.) Cover and let the potatoes cook; they should be fork-soft and slightly browned.

On a side note, here's a kitchen tip. My college housemates and I used to buy huge packages of meat and then section off dinner portions into ziplock baggies, smash them flat, and stack 'em in the freezer. It's SUCH a time and money saver. And if you need meat for a recipe such as this one, just pop one in the microwave for about a minute or so. The portions are already flat so the meat doesn't take long to thaw once it's in a frying pan.

Oh yes, a visual:


Once the potatoes are done, stir in a can of celery soup and about 1/3 cup of half n' half.

Don't judge me because I use cream of celery soup. The store brand, even.

Sprinkle generously with Lowry's Garlic Salt. (Not seasoned salt; this is the one with the green cap. Another of my kitchen staples.)

Add in grated sharp cheddar cheese, like so:


Stir it in and let it melt.


Now, you could stop there. But I like to sneak vegetables into my kids' food.

So while the potatoes are getting soft, I usually throw some frozen veggies (in water) in the microwave. This bowl of green beans cooked in about 7 minutes, on high. If the beans aren't soft when you try to spear 'em with a fork, try another minute or two.


Get it all mixed in good. (So your kids won't notice the green beans, obviously.)


The finished (and very yummy) product:


Even Adelaide gobbled this up.

Getting the word out

If you have kids older than mine, click here.

I remember this being trendy when I was in middle school. I asked Andy about it today and he said "oh yeah, I knew kids that used to do that all the time..." So I think it's probably a lot more common than parents might think.

WFMW - Favorite Online Shops

I realize I've linked to her shop before, but I'm going to do it again strictly for WFMW purposes. Bellaroses Boutique is the best internet shop for hairbows I've found. And I've done a lot of looking.

Also, I've found the best deals for online baby gear at Albee baby. We've bought three carseats (different stages) from this site because the sale price was significantly cheaper even than Wal-mart.

Electronics: I found the best deal on the internet for both my digital camera and our Macbook at Abe's of Maine.

Best nursing bra ever. And with that I've probably scared off all my male readers. Ah well, most of you are girls anyway.

Also, while on this favorite subject of shopping, this is probably common knowledge for my generation (and younger), but for the few it might be helpful for, I think some of the best shopping search engines are Shopzilla and Bizrate. You enter in whatever product you're looking for, and it tells you where to find the lowest price on the internet.

And I'm all about the lowest price on the internet.

More of the good stuff

So inspiring.

Best thing I've read on Christian parenting in a while:

Part I

Part II

Passing it on

A couple of recent noteworthy posts (in no particular order):

If you sometimes feel like a run-down mom, this is for you.

If you're like me and sometimes get in a rut reading your Bible, click here for a brilliant idea.

This one is a hodge-podge of randomly answered questions but I really liked some of her answers and thought they were helpful. (Such as the once-a-month reevaluating goals-for-your-kids thing.)

See? I’m just a wealth of information

• You know those Magic Eraser cleaning sponges by Mr. Clean (or whoever)? They really are magical. With three kids my walls can sometimes get a little dirty. Okay, they’re filthy. Andy’s mom had given me an eraser sponge a while back and I just threw it in my cleaning bin and forgot all about it. Then the other day I pulled it out for a trial run and ohmyword I could not believe the magic. Takes EVERYTHING off with very minimal effort. Greasy fingerprints? Gone. I’m thinking about buying stock in the magic eraser business.

• I’ve used Biolage shampoo and conditioner for the last, like, gazillion years (fourteen to be exact). I was a little bit of a shampoo snob. But since it’s not fitting very nicely into the budget these days, I decided to be adventurous and try something a little bit cheaper. A couple of months ago I found out that Lancome is owned by L’Oreal. So, clearly, L’Oreal must know something. [My favorite eye-makeup remover is the one by Lancome; it’s light and not greasy. But it’s fairly pricey, so when I found out about the L’Oreal ownership, I gave the L’Oreal one a try. It’s a nice, cheaper alternative and I’ve used it ever since.] Anyway, so I decided to give the L’Oreal shampoo a whirl. And I’ll let you in on a little secret – I love it. I’m using the Vive Pro in the Nutri Gloss for medium to long hair. And the bottles are hot pink. And they cost $3 something.

• Since Madeline graced us with her presence, I’ve been a loyal Pampers mom. I used Cruisers for a while because they really are the best. But then Pampers put the stretchy sides on their regular diapers and I couldn’t tell a difference between the two, so I switched back to regular because hello, they’re cheaper. But for a while now, Luvs has also had the stretchy sides. So basically what I’m trying to say is I cannot tell a difference between Pampers and Luvs. And Luvs are significantly cheaper. So now, therefore, I’m a loyal Luvs mom. Don't judge me because I'm cheap. (On diapers, that is.)

• When we lived in Chattanooga, the guy we lovingly called the "hairbow man" would set up shop twice a year and it was great because you could go, choose, and purchase right there on the spot. But since we don't live in Chattanooga anymore, and I have yet to find a Hairbow Man here up North, I thought I might let you in on another of my little-known hairbow secrets. Jenna, at Bellaroses Boutique, makes gorgeous bows and probably a higher quality than the Hairbow man. But don't tell him that. Anyway, her bow shop is here, if you wish to go and take a peek. Both my friend Sarah and I have been completely happy with our bows from her.

• There was a 5th thing, but it's escaped me now. Stay tuned...

Just In Case...

This is a little forwarding message for my pregnant and nursing friends, in case you missed it on Dolly's blog. Super cute! I need to order me one, like, yesterday.

Click here: Obuba.

Soup-Tacular. (Or, Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder)

I have a lot of favorite soups. But since I already made this soup this week, it's fresh in my memory and fresh out of my recipe box.

Plus it is, hands-down, Andy's favorite.

Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder

(Also. I normally double this recipe. We love us some leftovers 'round here.)
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped bite-sized
1/2 cup chopped onion
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons butter
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 cup hot water
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups half-and-half cream
2 cups shredded cheese (I normally use Cheddar; recipe actually calls for Monterey Jack)
1 can creamed corn
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles (optional)
1 small or medium tomato, chopped


In something resembling an 8-quart pot (or a dutch oven), brown chicken, onion, and garlic in the butter. Add/sprinkle the cumin and mix well. Dissolve the bouillon in hot water, and then add to chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Stir in half-n-half, cheese, corn, and chilies (again, optional - I normally don't have these on hand). Cook, stirring frequently, until the cheese is completely melted. Stir in chopped tomato before serving. My friend D likes to garnish with cilantro.

Best served with Hot Crusty Bread and Butter.

Also, Andy likes to add several drops of Tabasco to his bowl(s) of chowder. We're all about the options here.

Miss Spider

Miss Spider's Tea Party is a great read-aloud children's book. It was given to us as a gift at some point although I'm not sure who it was from (bless that dear soul).

It's such a great little book. Very, very clever and fun poetry. I actually enjoy reading it to my kids, which really is saying something.

Must. Read. This.

If you're a married female, click here AND SCROLL DOWN TO "LIVING VINE." (I can't get it to link directly.) I think it's uplifting to all married women, even if they don't have any kids.

Becoming Jane

Andy and I put the kids to bed last night and hightailed it out of here. We saw "Becoming Jane."

If you have even the slightest appreciation for Jane Austen, you must run to the movie theater right this very second and see the movie.

It is nearly perfection.

In our opinion, of course.

Wine Dinner

Tonight Andy mixed business with pleasure and had me come along to a wine dinner he did for work. It was very, very entertaining.

We drove out to the restaurant, met the owners and the bar manager, as well as the chef and some of the staff, and then we sat in the tavern until it was time for the dinner. We were offered free drinks, obviously, but what I really wanted was some coffee. Except I felt somewhat silly asking for anything non-alcoholic while sitting in a tavern. Anyway.

Pretty much all Andy had to do was introduce each wine at the beginning of every course. Oh, and since it was an Italian wine dinner, he also felt it necessary to start out the evening singing an Italian aria. (For those of you who know Andy in real life, you will appreciate such information.)

Of course, he would be very quick to say that the owner was the one who suggested it. And he aims to please, he certainly does.

The owner! The owner. You know, I really wish I could just post her whole self right here on this blog. And that would just about make your day. But I really don’t think that would be possible and plus, I forgot to bring my camera. The word ‘eccentric’ comes to mind, but only in the best and most endearing sense of the word. Quite the interesting character, she was.

Oh my word at her hair. She had this puffy Gibson Girl bun thing that Anne Shirley would have been jealous of. (Except, well, it’s now 2007, and I'm quite confident that Anne Shirley's hair would have been up to date.) But the funny thing was this lady's hair did not, not, NOT match her personality.

I mean, when was the last time you sat at a bar talking about ‘yummy’ cosmopolitans to a lady who had puffy Gibson Girl hair?

Yeah, that’s what I thought. I thought she was kind of fun. In a Rachel Lynde sort of way.

The couple across from us – endless entertainment there, too. She was young and sassy. Great hair, curly, with a life of its own. The guy she was with (who we later learned was going through a divorce…obviously not with her) was some big money man for several hospitals. They were fun to talk to until they abruptly had to leave. Some hospital admin crisis, naturally. I was a little disappointed; they left right when it was getting interesting.

All I’m going to say about the food was that it was most definitely not St. John's. Andy was a little more, uh, verbal in his assessment. (I was slightly afraid they were going to hear him whispering to me about the shortcomings of the food. Which basically was that anytime you mass-produce in order to feed a roomful of people the exact same thing, you tend to compromise on the quality.) There were, however, a few bright spots. Like the sorbet.

We did leave a little hungry. Which does not really convey the most satisfying restaurant experience ever.

We got home to find out Adelaide detests formula. But it was her first taste, so maybe she’ll be more tolerant next time. I felt a little sorry for my mom-in-law. She was probably feeling a bit helpless on the other side of a bottle of a fairly hungry baby, without a whole lot of other feeding options.

But we all survived. Even the other kids, who, sadly, didn’t get to say g’night to mommy and daddy. A bedtime stalling tactic on their part, I’m sure. That and the predictable, urgent need for a drink of water.

Zoo

The best way to see these pictures is to click on the album and then click on "slideshow." The second half is, in my opinion, a little more fun.

Philadelphia Zoo