I recently read through Good Housekeeping's infamous article from 1955 about how to be a good wife. I added my own little anecdotes about what I think the article should read now.
1950's: Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.
2012: Call the pizza place ahead of time so your darling hubby doesn't have to do it. Make sure you text him the address so he knows where he's going and remind him to pick up your favorite bottle of wine.
1950's: Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
2012: You have just been with a lot of work weary people. Make yourself a cocktail, or have a glass of wine before he gets home. Oh an make sure to change out of your work clothes into your sweats. Take off all your makeup and get comfortable. This will let him know it's okay for him to walk around in his boxers.
1950's: Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
2012: Be more interesting for him, the cocktail or wine will help with this. Trust me on that one. Oh and refilling your glass will give him the lift his boring day needed.
1950's: Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.
2012: Turn the TV on, sports will usually do the trick. That way he'll miss the mess in the house. Or, offer him a beer or three, this should distract him.
1950's: During the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
2012: During the cooler months, make sure you dress warmer. Oh and make sure you remind your husband where the wood pile is so after freezing your butt off all day he can light a fire for you.
1950's: Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.
2012: Turn off the washer, dryer? Vacuum? Wait, I never turned those things on.
1950's: Be happy to see him.
2012: Be happy to see each other. Nobody (us wives included) wants to hear how much your day sucked as soon as you walk through the door. If you don't feel like you can be happy? Have another cocktail, it will surely help.
1950's: Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
2012: Greet him naked (this is much easier after the cocktails). No words or smiles needed. Or, the less raunchy version. Greet each other with a hug.
1950's: Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
2012: If you greeted him naked, this tip is not needed. There will be no talking. Pg rated version, listen to each other.
1950's: Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.
2012: If he's late for dinner leave his dinner outside on the porch for him so it's ready when he gets home. Oh and if he's out all night? Get the locks changed. Or better yet, invite all your girlfriends over, pick up a few bottles of wine and have a better time then he's having.
1950's: Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
2012: You've already had a few cocktails, why shouldn't he feel as good as you? Instruct him as to where he'll find that gin bottle, oh and let him know that you'll take another...better make it a double.
1950's: Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.
2012: Don't question him on how he installed the surround sound, or the new dishwasher. He likes to pretend he is the master of the household, and no need to burst his bubble. Lets be honest though, we all know who runs the show.
1950's: A good wife always knows her place
2012: Do we ever...
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Why I hate bullies
Bullying has been around since the beginning of time. Cavemen bullied other cavemen into feeling inferior because maybe their forehead was bigger then other cavemen kids' foreheads or because their club was smaller than other cavemen kids' clubs. Regardless, it has been around forever and is constantly taking new shapes and forms. As a teacher, and a human being in general I loathe bullying. Too many children are bullied until they can see no way out. Telling them that high school is such a short, insignificant time in their lives doesn't work as they cannot see past tomorrow let alone 4 years from now. Too often do we hear on the news that another CHILD committed suicide because they could not face their bullies anymore. They are lonely, sad, desperate and see no other way out. Here are some tips to help your child if they are being bullied.
1. Walk away, the bully won't get the satisfaction of your reaction. Often bullies are lazy and don't want to chase after their victims.
2. Tell your teacher. Or if your teacher is being lazy themselves, go to an administrator. If that doesn't work, go to the police or media. They will listen. Bullying is harassment and often assault and needs to be taken seriously.
3. Avoid violence. It won't help no matter how strong you are.
4. Finally, bullies pick their victims because they are not confident in themselves. Exude confidence while dealing with the situation.
All of these tips are useful but don't always help. Parents must make sure to monitor their children closely. Is your normally happy go lucky child quiet, sad, lonely, or sullen? Do they no longer want to get up and go to school and are the faking being sick? Talk to them about it. If that bully is so terrible that your child no longer wants to go to school think about changing schools. Although this may seem the cowards way out, it may also save your child's life. To often schools do not have good enough consequences for bullies and although they are reported, they don't face anything drastic or life changing.
In short, bullies suck and they themselves have low self esteem and confidence. If you suspect your child may be a bully themselves, talk to them immediately and try and come up with a way that will reach them and explain to them why bullying is so not okay.
On a side note, I recently read an article that I found interesting and a bit enlightening...think light bulb moment!
Remember when you were a child and a boy would pull your hair, punch you, shove you, pick on you, etc? And everyone just said it was because he liked you? Ya well I'm not okay with that. Teaching your child that verbal or physical abuse is an acceptable way to show you love someone is just not cool on any level. If I have a daughter and someone feeds them the line that it's "just because they like them" I'm going to ask them if them if they would like me to show them how much I like them in the same fashion. This article really hit the nail on the head and made me rethink why we are telling our daughters that its okay for boys to do that to them. In short, lets teach our daughters to demand respect and accept nothing less. And for those of you with sons, teach them an appropriate way to show their affection and to respect women.
And in gossip girl fashion...
XOXO
1. Walk away, the bully won't get the satisfaction of your reaction. Often bullies are lazy and don't want to chase after their victims.
2. Tell your teacher. Or if your teacher is being lazy themselves, go to an administrator. If that doesn't work, go to the police or media. They will listen. Bullying is harassment and often assault and needs to be taken seriously.
3. Avoid violence. It won't help no matter how strong you are.
4. Finally, bullies pick their victims because they are not confident in themselves. Exude confidence while dealing with the situation.
All of these tips are useful but don't always help. Parents must make sure to monitor their children closely. Is your normally happy go lucky child quiet, sad, lonely, or sullen? Do they no longer want to get up and go to school and are the faking being sick? Talk to them about it. If that bully is so terrible that your child no longer wants to go to school think about changing schools. Although this may seem the cowards way out, it may also save your child's life. To often schools do not have good enough consequences for bullies and although they are reported, they don't face anything drastic or life changing.
In short, bullies suck and they themselves have low self esteem and confidence. If you suspect your child may be a bully themselves, talk to them immediately and try and come up with a way that will reach them and explain to them why bullying is so not okay.
On a side note, I recently read an article that I found interesting and a bit enlightening...think light bulb moment!
Remember when you were a child and a boy would pull your hair, punch you, shove you, pick on you, etc? And everyone just said it was because he liked you? Ya well I'm not okay with that. Teaching your child that verbal or physical abuse is an acceptable way to show you love someone is just not cool on any level. If I have a daughter and someone feeds them the line that it's "just because they like them" I'm going to ask them if them if they would like me to show them how much I like them in the same fashion. This article really hit the nail on the head and made me rethink why we are telling our daughters that its okay for boys to do that to them. In short, lets teach our daughters to demand respect and accept nothing less. And for those of you with sons, teach them an appropriate way to show their affection and to respect women.
And in gossip girl fashion...
XOXO
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Why you should "force" your kids to be kids just a little longer
As a substitute teacher I see children and teenagers from all walks of life, each with their own abilities, personalities, and various things that makes them unique. As mainly a high school teacher I see many students struggling, even by grade 9, to figure out what they want to do with their lives, or "when they grow up" so to speak. I see students as young as 14 forced to get jobs and provide for themselves, and at times their families, and too often their studies fall to the way side. As teachers, we sometimes forget that our students have a life outside of school and home. And I don't just mean the soccer, dance, hockey, etc. life. I mean real pressures that they, or others, are forcing upon them. Even "kids" as old as 18 deserve to just be kids. Parents need to stop forcing their children to be what they want them to be. I had a parent upset once because their child was getting a B in my class and not an A. He was a good writer, not a great one, but he worked very hard at any task he was given. If marks were given on effort, he would have an A+ but his parents did not see that. I saw anxiety in this child, who worked hard an never goofed off. A mindset that whatever he did, it would never be good enough.
It is situations like this that make me reflect on who I will be as a parent. I hope I'm never that pushy parent that only wants to see A's. I hope I'm the parent who encourages my children to do the best they can, and that yes, their best IS good enough. I hope I'm the parent, (like mine), who said no I couldn't get a job, but yes I could hang out and do nothing with my friends (as long as my homework was done) as much as I wanted. I could drive around, waste gas, go to movies, the mall, anywhere and just enjoy being a kid. I hope I'm the parent that tells their child that once you're an adult there is not going back so enjoy your childhood.
Students and parents alike need to realize that although school is not the be all end all, it is an important learning experience inside the classroom and out. Children need to learn how to make their own decisions about their likes, dislikes, and goals and parents need to realize that its okay to watch them fail once in a while.
In short, let your kids be kids just a little longer. If they don't want to play the sports you did or do, then oh well. Whatever they choose to do is okay, even if they choose nothing. Childhood is a tumultuous time where kids are learning who they want to be and they don't need you to mold them into a "mini me." They simply need someone who is there to help them along the way, provide encouragement, love, a tiny push here and there, and most of all, they need someone to tell them it's okay to be a kid a little longer.
It is situations like this that make me reflect on who I will be as a parent. I hope I'm never that pushy parent that only wants to see A's. I hope I'm the parent who encourages my children to do the best they can, and that yes, their best IS good enough. I hope I'm the parent, (like mine), who said no I couldn't get a job, but yes I could hang out and do nothing with my friends (as long as my homework was done) as much as I wanted. I could drive around, waste gas, go to movies, the mall, anywhere and just enjoy being a kid. I hope I'm the parent that tells their child that once you're an adult there is not going back so enjoy your childhood.
Students and parents alike need to realize that although school is not the be all end all, it is an important learning experience inside the classroom and out. Children need to learn how to make their own decisions about their likes, dislikes, and goals and parents need to realize that its okay to watch them fail once in a while.
In short, let your kids be kids just a little longer. If they don't want to play the sports you did or do, then oh well. Whatever they choose to do is okay, even if they choose nothing. Childhood is a tumultuous time where kids are learning who they want to be and they don't need you to mold them into a "mini me." They simply need someone who is there to help them along the way, provide encouragement, love, a tiny push here and there, and most of all, they need someone to tell them it's okay to be a kid a little longer.
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Uh Oh...
The man cold has hit our house. And for those of you with a "big strong man" you know exactly what I'm talking about. The man cold is a terrible, debilitating disease that can be near fatal if not treated with television, the sofa, and nearby wife bringing you medicine and food. No cold is as bad as the one my husband has right now and no one has ever suffered so much....or at least according to him.
....lets be honest though. We all get colds, we all go to work, suffer through it, come home, and crash on the couch. But the man cold? Well that's a different story all together. It's as if no one has ever had a cold as bad as my man right now and he is suffering from a terrible condition that deems him inconsolable. The man cold just proves that no matter how much of a "man" your husband is, he can still be a big huge baby. But hey, my man takes care of me everyday so if I have to baby him for a couple while he gets over his cold then I can definitely do that for him. But I do like to remind him that I had his parents over for dinner the day after I got Norwalk (terrrrrrible gastrointestinal virus that knocks your socks off for 12-24 hours)...and he couldn't even empty the dishwasher yesterday.
So while your man is eating chicken noodle soup and generally feeling sorry for himself, here is a recipe for YOU to enjoy (invite a girlfriend over and let your man take care of himself for an hour while you two enjoy dinner and a glass of wine)
Asian Beef Stirfry
6 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root (or ground ginger if you don't have the fresh stuff)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 pound of steak (your choice of cut) sliced into thin strips
snow peas
sliced carrots
broccoli flowerets
1 can of bamboo shoots, drained
1 small zucchini cut into any size chunks or slices
In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar and corn starch. Set aside. Heat oil in a wok and stir fry ginger and garlic for 30 seconds. Add the steak and stir fry until evenly browned. Add the veggies and add the sauce mixture. Bring to a boil and put a lid on your wok. Reduce heat and cook until veggies reach desired tenderness. Also make sure sauce has thickened. If it hasn't, mix a small amount of cornstarch with a bit of water and add to the mixture, continue to do this if it still hasn't thickened to desired. Serve over rice.
....lets be honest though. We all get colds, we all go to work, suffer through it, come home, and crash on the couch. But the man cold? Well that's a different story all together. It's as if no one has ever had a cold as bad as my man right now and he is suffering from a terrible condition that deems him inconsolable. The man cold just proves that no matter how much of a "man" your husband is, he can still be a big huge baby. But hey, my man takes care of me everyday so if I have to baby him for a couple while he gets over his cold then I can definitely do that for him. But I do like to remind him that I had his parents over for dinner the day after I got Norwalk (terrrrrrible gastrointestinal virus that knocks your socks off for 12-24 hours)...and he couldn't even empty the dishwasher yesterday.
So while your man is eating chicken noodle soup and generally feeling sorry for himself, here is a recipe for YOU to enjoy (invite a girlfriend over and let your man take care of himself for an hour while you two enjoy dinner and a glass of wine)
Asian Beef Stirfry
6 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root (or ground ginger if you don't have the fresh stuff)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 pound of steak (your choice of cut) sliced into thin strips
snow peas
sliced carrots
broccoli flowerets
1 can of bamboo shoots, drained
1 small zucchini cut into any size chunks or slices
In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar and corn starch. Set aside. Heat oil in a wok and stir fry ginger and garlic for 30 seconds. Add the steak and stir fry until evenly browned. Add the veggies and add the sauce mixture. Bring to a boil and put a lid on your wok. Reduce heat and cook until veggies reach desired tenderness. Also make sure sauce has thickened. If it hasn't, mix a small amount of cornstarch with a bit of water and add to the mixture, continue to do this if it still hasn't thickened to desired. Serve over rice.
Monday, 6 February 2012
Admit I have a problem? never!
....okay, I admit it. I LOVE to shop. Even just window shopping gets my heart rate up. And I'm not exaggerating at all. If I know that I'm on my way to shop my heart rate really does speed up and I'm giddy with excitement. Even online shopping gets me going like no other hobby I have. Well, can you call shopping a hobby? I know that some people would beg to differ but for me, it really is a hobby. The spending money part? ...I wish that wasn't part of the hobby and I know the saying goes that beggars can't be choosers and all that but, well, I'd rather be a shopper then a beggar.
It doesn't help that I have been indulged since I don't know when and I recruit new shoppers all the time. Even my own mother, a devout "not shopper" loves shopping now. The thrill of a new purchase, and brilliance of the new bags that carry that new thing; really, what's not to love? I mean I even get excited about grocery shopping (sad I know, but little things get me going) and when those weekly flyers come in the mail I'm greedily going through them in hopes of a good deal. And while I may love to shop, I love a good bargain even more. If I can wait it out until a coveted item goes on sale I feel like I've won the jackpot. 40% off? Yes please!
But my one true achilles heel is Lululemon. I really cannot live without it. The soft feel of new workout gear (the likes of which sees more of my couch then the inside of a gym but oh well) is a feeling like no other and a new pair of lulus really does take the cake. I cannot enter that store without buying something (or leaving guiltily, not having bought anything but later ordering it online after much contemplation with myself) and walking down the street with that new black and red bag is often the highlight of my day. I suddenly have a skip in my step and a large grin on my face. And I'm not one of those people that after a day the newness has worn off, noooo no. This good feeling lasts for weeks, often a month or two. Ever time I pull that beautiful item from the closet I remember how awesome it is and why I bought it in the first place and how great it feels to put it on.
I am a material girl and although I may not be proud of how much money I have spent over the years on shopping, I am not ashamed. Like my husband always asks me when I feel guilty having spent money "does it make you feel good?" and my answer is always yes so he says its okay then. And it DOES make me feel good so I'm not going to stop. We are the 99 %? pshhhh, only if that 99 % gets to shop till they drop and not live in MEC tracksuits and sleep in a tent.
And speaking of taking the cake. Try this recipe for super easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
1/4 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 can of pineapple slices, in juice, drained, juice reserved
1 jar of maraschino cherries without stems, drained
1 box of yellow cake mix
oil and eggs that are called for on the cake mix box
It doesn't help that I have been indulged since I don't know when and I recruit new shoppers all the time. Even my own mother, a devout "not shopper" loves shopping now. The thrill of a new purchase, and brilliance of the new bags that carry that new thing; really, what's not to love? I mean I even get excited about grocery shopping (sad I know, but little things get me going) and when those weekly flyers come in the mail I'm greedily going through them in hopes of a good deal. And while I may love to shop, I love a good bargain even more. If I can wait it out until a coveted item goes on sale I feel like I've won the jackpot. 40% off? Yes please!
But my one true achilles heel is Lululemon. I really cannot live without it. The soft feel of new workout gear (the likes of which sees more of my couch then the inside of a gym but oh well) is a feeling like no other and a new pair of lulus really does take the cake. I cannot enter that store without buying something (or leaving guiltily, not having bought anything but later ordering it online after much contemplation with myself) and walking down the street with that new black and red bag is often the highlight of my day. I suddenly have a skip in my step and a large grin on my face. And I'm not one of those people that after a day the newness has worn off, noooo no. This good feeling lasts for weeks, often a month or two. Ever time I pull that beautiful item from the closet I remember how awesome it is and why I bought it in the first place and how great it feels to put it on.
I am a material girl and although I may not be proud of how much money I have spent over the years on shopping, I am not ashamed. Like my husband always asks me when I feel guilty having spent money "does it make you feel good?" and my answer is always yes so he says its okay then. And it DOES make me feel good so I'm not going to stop. We are the 99 %? pshhhh, only if that 99 % gets to shop till they drop and not live in MEC tracksuits and sleep in a tent.
And speaking of taking the cake. Try this recipe for super easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
1/4 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 can of pineapple slices, in juice, drained, juice reserved
1 jar of maraschino cherries without stems, drained
1 box of yellow cake mix
oil and eggs that are called for on the cake mix box
Heat oven to 350 and in a 13x9 inch pan, melt butter in oven. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter. Arrange pineapple slices on brown sugar. Place cherry in centre of each pineapple slice, and arrange remaining cherries around slices; press firmly into brown sugar.
Add enough water to reserved pineapple juice to measure 1 cup. Make cake batter as directed on box, substituting pineapple juice mixture for the water. Pour batter over pineapple and cherries.
Bake at 42 to 48 minutes or until toothpick inserted into centre comes out clean. Immediately run a knife around the ride of the pan to loosen the cake. Place a heatproof serving plate upside down onto pan; turn plate and pan over. Leave pan over cake for 5 minutes so brown sugar can drizzle over cake; remove pan. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm or cool. Store covered in the fridge.
So there you have it. Doesn't get much easier then that, and you can tell the company you made it all from scratch, just make sure you recycle the cake mix box first! Oh, and when it's all said and done, take yourself shopping because you just slaved over a hot stove to make a beautiful cake and you deserve it :)
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Crockpot Pot Roast
Try out this recipe for crockpot pot roast and you will never do any other recipe again. So yummy and so easy!
Crockpot pot roast
3lb beef roast (I used a chuck roast but you can use whatever you like)
4-6 peeled potatoes cut into large chunks
baby carrots (however many you like)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg brown gravy mix
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
Combine soup, gravy mix, and ranch dressing. But in crock pot and add roast coating all sides. Add potatoes and carrots. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. When done, remove roast, potatoes and veggies. Transfer liquid into a large saucepan. Mix together some flour and water and add. Heat through and mix until thickened. Gravy!
There you have it, easy crockpot pot roast and sure to please a crowd. My husband said it tasted better then ordering something in a restaurant and it was just so EASY! Try it out for Sunday dinner :)
Crockpot pot roast
3lb beef roast (I used a chuck roast but you can use whatever you like)
4-6 peeled potatoes cut into large chunks
baby carrots (however many you like)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg brown gravy mix
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
Combine soup, gravy mix, and ranch dressing. But in crock pot and add roast coating all sides. Add potatoes and carrots. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. When done, remove roast, potatoes and veggies. Transfer liquid into a large saucepan. Mix together some flour and water and add. Heat through and mix until thickened. Gravy!
There you have it, easy crockpot pot roast and sure to please a crowd. My husband said it tasted better then ordering something in a restaurant and it was just so EASY! Try it out for Sunday dinner :)
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Is it Spring yet??
Well if you're from Canada then you can thank a little groundhog named Wiarton Willie today because he didn't see his shadow and we can expect an early spring. I don't know about you but I'm pretty excited about the fact that we might be seeing a lot more of Mr. Sun. Sunshine means flowers, and enjoyable dog walks (when I'm not freezing my butt off and cursing the fact that those mutts need some exercise....exercise? what's that? I'm in hibernation until spring!) softball season and spring means that summer is right around the corner.
In honour of the fact that we are (hopefully!!) going to have an early spring I have a recipe here for you that is sunshiny and perfect for a beautiful spring day.
Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips
2 or 3 kiwis, peeled and diced
2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and diced
1 cup of raspberries
1 pound of strawberries (cut in half or quarters)
2 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp fruit preserve (or I have used honey in a pinch!)
10 flour tortillas
1/4 cup melted butter
2 tbsp cinnamon sugar
In a large bowl, mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, sugars, and fruit preserves. Cover and chill at least 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350. Brush one side of each flour tortilla with butter. Cut into wedges and sprinkle with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes (and repeat until all tortillas are baked). Allow to cool and serve with the fruit mixture.
There you have it, super easy fruit salsa. Yummy and sure to impress if you're bringing it to a party or the in laws! Enjoy the sunshine out there :)
In honour of the fact that we are (hopefully!!) going to have an early spring I have a recipe here for you that is sunshiny and perfect for a beautiful spring day.
Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips
2 or 3 kiwis, peeled and diced
2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and diced
1 cup of raspberries
1 pound of strawberries (cut in half or quarters)
2 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp fruit preserve (or I have used honey in a pinch!)
10 flour tortillas
1/4 cup melted butter
2 tbsp cinnamon sugar
In a large bowl, mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, sugars, and fruit preserves. Cover and chill at least 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350. Brush one side of each flour tortilla with butter. Cut into wedges and sprinkle with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes (and repeat until all tortillas are baked). Allow to cool and serve with the fruit mixture.
There you have it, super easy fruit salsa. Yummy and sure to impress if you're bringing it to a party or the in laws! Enjoy the sunshine out there :)
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
2 big dogs in a small house
As a child, I LOVED the book Go Dog Go by Dr. Seuss. I swear I knew the words off by heart and I used to love when my big brother read it to me. "2 big dogs in a little car, 1 little dog in a big car" etc. Great book, very insightful and maybe a foreshadow for my "grown up" life to come.
You see, my husband and I have two big dogs (and sometimes it really is 2 big dogs in a little jeep). And said big dogs like to get into mischief when we are gone. You just never know what you're going to come home to. So far, my couch has taken a beating and don't get me started on what happened in the bathroom (think sick dog, small room, wants to get out). My family really gets a kick out of it and know they're in for a good story when I start the phone call off with...soooo the dogs ate something today and it was NOT their food. But the funny thing about owning a dog is is that you love them anyway and the pros far outweigh the cons and if I come out of it less one couch but with two healthy, happy mutts I'll feel that we've gotten off easy.
But I digress, the purpose of this post was, do you ever get that feeling like someone (or something) is watching you. That eerie feeling that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, yes you know what I'm talking about. Well I am a regular of that feeling because I have one of the weirdest dogs known to man. It will be the middle of the night and the whole house is quiet and I'll wake up not knowing why. And I'll have that feeling which is quite scary for a girl that still sleeps with a teddy bear and is afraid of the dark. So, feeling brave I'll peek over the covers and look down the bed. And what do I see? Too beady eyes staring back at me. Dog eyes. Wanting to snuggle....at 3am. It's a bit strange to say the least and then once he knows you've seen him (which I really don't know how he does as I try to be SO stealth about taking a peek) he'll whine and whine until you let him jump up on the bed. Now said dog is 90 pounds and loooooves to stretch out on the bed once asked up. So there I am, on the very edge while husband and dog stretch out comfortably, snoring away. I must be crazy really to even let this happen but thank goodness the husband leaves for work before I do so I may get a blissful 30 minutes of sleep with minimal dog bum in the face.
If you're ever thinking of owning a dog my advice to you is:
1. Let them sleep on the bed because one day they will be gone and you'll wish you did
2. Greet them when you get home like they greet you: full of energy like you were gone a lifetime.
3. And finally, love them unconditionally despite the bad things they may do because at the end of the day they will love you no matter what (and they're never grumpy!).
Let me leave you with this yummy crockpot dessert recipe I made last night. So yummy!!
Hot Fudge Peanut Butter Pudding Cake
2 cups all purpose flour
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Topping:
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups boiling water
Vanilla ice cream for serving
Coat slow cooker with PAM. In a bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the centre and add the milk, oil and vanilla, stirring until all ingredients are incorporated. Add the peanut butter and chocolate chips. Spread the batter into the crockpot.
In another bowl combine the cocoa and sugar. Add the boiling water and whisk until smooth. Gently pour over the batter in the crockpot (do not stir). Cover and cook on high until puffed and the top layer is set (about 2 or 2 1/2 hours). Turn off the crockpot and let stand, covered, for half an hour before serving.
This recipe serves 12 but I halfed it last night and it worked just fine!!
Happy baking :)
You see, my husband and I have two big dogs (and sometimes it really is 2 big dogs in a little jeep). And said big dogs like to get into mischief when we are gone. You just never know what you're going to come home to. So far, my couch has taken a beating and don't get me started on what happened in the bathroom (think sick dog, small room, wants to get out). My family really gets a kick out of it and know they're in for a good story when I start the phone call off with...soooo the dogs ate something today and it was NOT their food. But the funny thing about owning a dog is is that you love them anyway and the pros far outweigh the cons and if I come out of it less one couch but with two healthy, happy mutts I'll feel that we've gotten off easy.
But I digress, the purpose of this post was, do you ever get that feeling like someone (or something) is watching you. That eerie feeling that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, yes you know what I'm talking about. Well I am a regular of that feeling because I have one of the weirdest dogs known to man. It will be the middle of the night and the whole house is quiet and I'll wake up not knowing why. And I'll have that feeling which is quite scary for a girl that still sleeps with a teddy bear and is afraid of the dark. So, feeling brave I'll peek over the covers and look down the bed. And what do I see? Too beady eyes staring back at me. Dog eyes. Wanting to snuggle....at 3am. It's a bit strange to say the least and then once he knows you've seen him (which I really don't know how he does as I try to be SO stealth about taking a peek) he'll whine and whine until you let him jump up on the bed. Now said dog is 90 pounds and loooooves to stretch out on the bed once asked up. So there I am, on the very edge while husband and dog stretch out comfortably, snoring away. I must be crazy really to even let this happen but thank goodness the husband leaves for work before I do so I may get a blissful 30 minutes of sleep with minimal dog bum in the face.
If you're ever thinking of owning a dog my advice to you is:
1. Let them sleep on the bed because one day they will be gone and you'll wish you did
2. Greet them when you get home like they greet you: full of energy like you were gone a lifetime.
3. And finally, love them unconditionally despite the bad things they may do because at the end of the day they will love you no matter what (and they're never grumpy!).
Let me leave you with this yummy crockpot dessert recipe I made last night. So yummy!!
Hot Fudge Peanut Butter Pudding Cake
2 cups all purpose flour
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Topping:
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups boiling water
Vanilla ice cream for serving
Coat slow cooker with PAM. In a bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the centre and add the milk, oil and vanilla, stirring until all ingredients are incorporated. Add the peanut butter and chocolate chips. Spread the batter into the crockpot.
In another bowl combine the cocoa and sugar. Add the boiling water and whisk until smooth. Gently pour over the batter in the crockpot (do not stir). Cover and cook on high until puffed and the top layer is set (about 2 or 2 1/2 hours). Turn off the crockpot and let stand, covered, for half an hour before serving.
This recipe serves 12 but I halfed it last night and it worked just fine!!
Happy baking :)
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