Please go away Justin Bieber

Please Please Please, stop contributing to this childs delinquency! http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_s38srmti
We see this all the time, child stars shoot to fame, make millions and kazillions, then lose their minds. Apparently that's whats happening here. Justin Bieber doesn't seem to actually have a mental problem, like some of them, hes just a spoiled rotten kid that doesn't appreciate what he has been blessed with. I remember a while back when his mom was making the interview circuit, pushing a book Im pretty sure, telling the world how special her son was. How, at 17, she was pressured to abort him but she stood her ground and didn't give in. How the 1st time she heard him cry it sounded like he was singing. How she raised him as a single mother in public housing and on welfare. Blah, blah, blah.....you get the picture. Basically the same story as tons of other children the only difference is they all weren't given the opportunity to be molded into a money-making cash cow. Maybe Justin Bieber needs to be stripped of his money, cars and ridiculous entourage for a couple of weeks and thrown back into that public housing for a little refection on what he has to be thankful for. And hes making all this money on the backs of our children. Its coming out of our pocketbooks every time we purchase something with his name. Well, not OURS, I can honestly say I have NEVER contributed to the guy and I wouldn't. I tell my 9 year-old daughter that just because you might like a song, that doesn't make the singer a good person. And I would like to spend my money on people that hopefully aren't in an all-out downward spiral.

Cocoa Puff Cookies and alternative Revamped Honey-O's Cookies

L's mother is always cooking. Everytime we go over there its snack time! Cookies and candy are always on the menu. It seems most everyones favorite is something called Cocoa Puff cookies. L and my daughter eat them by the bowl full! Ive tried them and they are tasty but I really wanted to attempt a slightly healthier recipe. I mean, who am I kidding, even re-vamped this isnt health food. It is, however, a nice alternative for a sweet indulgence and I dont feel as bad handing the kids a couple for a treat. Also, they are no-bake and quick which is always nice. Im going to post the original recipe and my alternative recipe.

Original Cocoa Puff Cookie Recipe:

• 1 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Karo Syrup
• 1/4 cup Honey
• 1 1/2 cups Peanut Butter
• 4 cups Cocoa Puffs cereal

In a large pot bring Sugar, Syrup and Honey to a boil until sugar is dissolved. Stir in the Peanut Butter and then the Cocoa Puffs. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool. Store in a air-tight container.

Revamped Honey-O Cookies:

• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Agave Nectar
• 1 1/2 cups Natural Peanut Butter with no added sugar. I use the Crunchy but you could opt for either.
• 4 cups any type of cereal you choose. I used a whole-grain Honey Nut Cheerios type cereal with no artificial color. You could also use a sugarless Cheerios for even less sugar.

In a large pot bring Agave Nectar and Sugar to a boil. Stir until dissolved. Stir in the Peanut Butter and then the cereal. I shape them into balls a bit larger than walnut size and place them on wax paper to harden. I added the sugar to keep the recipe tasting alot like the original but you could actually omit the sugar all together. The Agave is really sweet enough and I enjoy the natural Peanut Butter flavor. Store in an air-tight container and enjoy!

Cat Day!

One of the 1st things I did when we moved to this area was to gather information about all the kid-friendly activities here. I have zoo memberships everywhere and try to cross use them as much as possible. Anyone with children knows that a day out can get really expensive! One of my ways to keep those costs down is to find zoos or museums in your area that offer memberships that cover locations other than their own. Zoos are great about that and you can actually shop online for the zoos with the lowest family membership prices and order from them even if they are in an area you may never get to. I ordered my membership from the zoo in Abilene Texas. For $45 a year I get free admission to that zoo. Of course I dont live in Abilene so I use my membership for all the other perks:  Membership Levels Include:

• One (1) membership card
• Free admission for one year during normal business hours (some exclusions apply).
• Free or discounted admission to more than 150 other zoos and aquariums nationwide.
• Invitations to "Members Only" and other special events.
• Discounts to most education programs and camps
• 10 percent discount in the Zoo Store.
• Subscription to the Abilene Zoological Society quarterly newsletter, "Pronghorn Press"
• Subscription to our Members Only monthly E-Blast, "Critter's Corner

Its the free and discounted admission that Im after. It covers a TON of places all around the country, many in my own backyard. A membership definitely pays for itself and the money really helps out these places. Always check the reciprocating zoo and museum list when deciding where to purchase your membership from. They dont all cover everywhere and some have better perks than others. You also want one that is useful in the areas you frequent. I also have a membership at a local zoo called CALM (California Living Museum). Its a great one because it covers other local places AND they have pinic tables and a playground area which invite the opportunity to bring a sack lunch and cut even more of the expense of a day out with the family.

 

A few days ago we were sitting around the house bored and decided we would head over to one of our local animal hangouts. There is a nice little park about 30 mnutes from us in the town of Rosamond. It is all cats! Any kind of cat, except lions, that you could want to see. It pretty small but thats what makes it so nice with the young kids and its pretty up close and personal. It is also included in my membership with CALM so we get in free and get a gift shop discount! We got everyone ready, made some sandwiches, filled the cooler and packed the car (about an hour) and off we went. We live in the mountains so the weather is almost always nice and I sometimes forget that out here you dont have to go far for a weather change. I definitely wasnt expecting to get there and see this:

 

Ok, so its hot. Im from Texas so Im used to heat. I know how to prepare my kids for a day in the sun or at the zoo. We always have our sunscreen, our water bottles, our fruit snacks, our baby wipes, our water-spraying fans and a change of clothes. We loaded up the stroller like champs and headed into the park. Myself, my 18 year-old daughter and 5 kids under 10 all ecstatic to brave the heat and see the cats! All the way there they clammered to tell each other what THEIR favorite was and why. One was on pins and needles to see the Fishing Cats while another couldnt wait to set her eyes on a real life Snow Leopard! Here we were, the moment of truth. We went through the doors and quickly realized we had the park all to ourselves. Great. We can explore at our leisure. I thought I would post some pics so you can enjoy the sights as well:

Canadian Lynx

Ocelot



Mountain Lion

Tiger

Northern Chinese Leopard

Asian Leopard

The much anticipated Snow Leopard.....



.....and Fishing Cat

 

Im sure you get the point. Apparently the big cats arent near the Champs we were in the heat. They were lounging in holes and keeping cool. We did, however, get to see 2 cats. Kind of.....

 

 

This guy stuck his head out to get some fresh air

 

 

And we snuck a peek at the back of this Black Jaguar while he grabbed a quick drink

 

I guess the moral of my story is go to the zoo early or on a cool day. :)

The most important part is that we still had an enjoyable day and it got the kids out of the house and unplugged from technology, which ultimately was the goal anyway.

 

 

 










 




 



Healthy Baked Doughnuts

My daughter and I decided we wanted doughnuts. Of course it was 4:30 in the afternoon and there was no way we were going to find fresh ones anywhere around us. So why not make our own? And of course, it will give us a chance to make them a bit healthier than those we would pick up at the doughnut shop. We experimented a bit and this is what we came up with. A light fluffy baked doughnut that has some added healthy ingredients but still has the sugar and icing that make a doughnut so delicious! These were a hit with everyone in the house from the babies to the old man :) and we all know how difficult that can be to accomplish sometimes.

Healthy Baked Doughnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
*1/2 cup butter
*1/2 cup applesauce
Whip together with whisk
Add:
*1 1/2 cups sugar
*2 eggs
In a seperate bowl sift together:
*3 cups unbleached flour. ( I actually used 2 cups wheat flour and 1 cup ground flaxseed)
*4 1/2 tsp baking powder
*1/2 tsp salt
*1/2 tsp nutmeg
Add to the butter and sugar mixture.
Blend in:
*1 cup milk ( I used 1 cup of Kefir in place of the milk)
*1 tsp vanilla
Grease your doughnut pans and fill 2/3 full. Bake for 15 minutes.

Glaze
*2 cups powdered sugar
*1/4 cup milk
*1 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Icing
*1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
*4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
*3 tbsp milk
*2 tsp vanilla extract

 

This is my 9 year old dipping. It isnt perfect but thats what cooking with your kids is all about. My daughter has her own little apron and chef hat that is part of the fun for her when it comes to our kitchen time. Not to mention it makes memories that last a lifetime.

We coated all the doughnuts in the glaze and then dipped some into the chocolate topping. They satisfied our craving and didnt give me a guilty feeling for feeding them to my kids. :)

I love this and its so true!

This time of year I frequent the Farmers Markets. Any and every one I locate. I love them! A couple of months ago we spent our Saturday morning at a local market I had just discovered. As always, we made our way around as to not miss a booth. Thats when I made a life-changing discovery. The new addiction of everyone in my household. Soledad Goats. They are a small business smack in the heat of Mojave California. They make goat cheese. Now, Ive honestly never been a huge fan of goat cheese myself but apparently thats because I hadnt met these people. They make the most incredible flavors like Sweet Pepper, Garlic and Herb, Wildflower Honey, Jalapeno and my all time favorites, Port Wine and Lavender Lemon. They are incredible! My 1 year old twins eat it with a spoon for an afternoon snack. We cant get enough. Last week I was expecting company from out-of-town and really wanted to have some on hand for them during their visit. I looked up the phone number and gave them a call to find out where I could get some cheese at a moments notice. The man I spoke to on the phone was extremely accommodating. He explained that they were packing up to head to a market in LA but he would set aside some for me if I wanted to just run by and pick it up at the farm. Being that they are only about 20 minutes from me, I agreed. My daughter Hannah and I went over and ended up spending at least an hour. Just talking and being shown around. Soledad Goats makes incredible goat cheese but that is just the icing on the cake. They are also an animal rescue. There were goats, pigs, roosters, cows, dogs, sheep and even birds. Everwhere we looked there were more animals. We were told how animals are often dumped, starving and neglected, at the gate to their property. They never turn anything away. Their food bill alone there is almost $4000. The sale of the cheese basically came about as a way to feed all those animals. They are incredible people. And as much as I already loved their wonderful cheeses it makes me feel better to know that they are also doing good in the world. So if you are ever lucky enough to come across them at a market near you give them a try. If not for the sheer purpose of contributing, then maybe for the purpose of a new addiction.

 

This is the Jalapeno Goat Cheese on fresh baked Honey Flax Bread

 

Honey Flax Bread

 

Warm Water

Orange Blossom Honey

2 1/4 tsp yeast

3 cups unbleached flour

1 1/2 cups ground flax

3 tbsp chia seeds

1/4 cup flax seed

1/8 cup coconut oil

1/8 cup olive oil

 

Mix together the warm water and honey until disolved. Add the yeast and let stand 10 minutes. 

Add all the other ingredients. Mix thoroughly. I always use my hands for this. It is really the best way to get it done. Place the dough in an oiled bowl. Cover and let stand 45 minutes. I usually just throw a clean kitchen towel over the bowl. Basically you just dont want a draft to hit it. After the 45 minutes, punch and knead the dough. Place it in a greased and floured loaf pan. Let stand for 1 hour. I sit it covered on the stove and start preheating to 375 degrees. The heat will help the bread rise. Bake for 20-30 minutes. It is much more dense than your typical bread and slightly sweet and crunchy. And lets not overlook how good it is for you and your family. Even my babies love it! I use the Orange Blossom honey because I love the flavor and it is easy to get in my area but any honey would due. Try it out. Enjoy!





YourCartYourChoice.com

I have been seeing this commercial for a few months now and it infuriates me every time! I feel like it is making ambiguous statements in the name of getting people 'up in arms' about any type of regulation on food and drinks we purchase for our families! The nice Latina mom is shopping around the store buying food for her family and informing me that there is already entirely too much information available to me already about the items I might be purchasing. Commenting that it is OUR responsibility to grocery shop for our families, not the government as she strolls through the fresh fruit. Not surprisingly, this ad is paid for by the American Beverage Association. The truth is, there is no proper education about the products on our grocery store shelves. Companies spend big money to make sure we DONT have all the information. They know that these days when people hear "We dont need the government......" in any context, many will immediately agree no matter what the cause. If you are someone that believes we know enough, you should read these articles. They are examples of big business putting profit over peoples lives.  http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-meat-you-should-never-eat.html?cid=email_na and http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-only-real-way-to-end-gmos.html?cid=email_na I know we cant always have everything perfect but we need to do better where we can and feeding our families is one thing we can always do a little better. We have to be informed though and thats the basis of why I feel this commercial infuriates me. When it comes to our food there is no such thing as too much information.