Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day Breakfast A La Dr. Seuss

My kids came to me with this book on Sunday night with a request to make some recipes.



We've had this book for years and we love the recipes!

This morning we had Blueberry Bumplings, Schlopp with a Cherry on Top and Glunker Stew.  What a lovely Red, White and Blue table we had this morning to remember those who gave ALL so we could be free.

The Blueberry Bumplings are Blueberry Scones, which my 4 year old made almost by himself.

The Schlopp is Quinoa Oatmeal Granola with Strawberry Yogurt on top, topped with, of course a cherry.

Finally, Glunker Stew is homemade chunky apple sauce served over fresh blueberries and raspberries, sprinkled with dried cherries.

I must say the recipes are surprisingly healthy.  I used 1/2 whole wheat flour for the scones.  Otherwise everything was great. They also use fruit for color, because most of these crazy concoctions are very colorful!  For example, Pink Yink Ink Drink, which I did not make today is a combination of blackberries, raspberries and milk.

Hope your Memorial Day was wonderful!  We sure enjoyed the beautiful weather along with some very meaningful trips to Ft. Snelling, including the cemetery and the historic fort.

Toning up with shoes???

Normally, I would be skeptical of this:

Shoes that tone your muscles.



No, really.  My friend arrived in Sketcher's Shape Up Shoes about a month ago.  I had seen mention of them somewhere, but didn't know where. I found a generic version at K-Mart that was $20 instead of $90.  Let me tell, if you are out of shape like me with a big, wobbly, bowl-full-of-jelly tummy, these might help.

I have been doing some "toning exercises" lately, but I think the shoes are responsible for the 12.5" reduction from my body in 3 weeks!!!  I haven't lost much weight, okay, 45 lbs in 1 year, but that is post-partum weight. 

So, ladies (and men), they also:
  • Decrease Stress On Knee & Hip Joints by 19%
  • Increase Buttock Muscle Activity by 9%, Rear Thigh Muscle by 19%, Lower Limbs by 18%
  • Improve Posture & Gait, Tones & Shapes The Body, Activates Neglected Muscles
  • Can Help With Joint, Muscle, Ligament & Tendon Injuries, Back, Hip, Leg & Foot Problems
  •  
    So, if you have joint or foot problems or just want to tone up, go check them out!

    Have a great weekend!

    Sunday, May 30, 2010

    Mother of the Word Incarnate

    We always do night time prayers. Many times we have tried a Rosary at night and things fall apart. So, we've opted for a Litany of Prayers before the kids go to bed.

    We started out with "God's Top 3," as my husband likes to call it. That would be the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary and Glory Be. We kept adding. Here is our current list:

    Lord's Prayer
    Hail Mary
    Glory Be
    Guardian Angel
    Act of Contrition
    Hail Holy Queen
    St. Michael the Archangel
    Apostle's Creed

    And most recently we added the Memorare.

    Two days after we added Memorare, we got home late, got jammies on late and Daddy decided that we would only do "God's Top 3" so we could get the kids to bed. In all reality, it only takes about 9 1/2 minutes to say all our prayers, but the kids really needed to go to bed.

    When we finished and told the kids it was time to go upstairs, my 4 year old protested LOUDLY.

    Him: Mom! We forgot some of the prayers!
    Me: I know, honey, but it's late we are going to bed now.
    Him: Mom! We didn't do "Mother of the Word Incarnate."
    Me: What?!
    Him: We didn't do "Mother of the Word Incarnate." I want to do "Mother of the Word Incarnate."

    Now, I was tired and I wasn't tracking. I couldn't figure out what it was he was talking about and my husband looked at me and said, "Memorare." Then he took some of the kids upstairs. Still not tracking, our conversation continued:

    Him: Mom, can we please do "Mother of the Word Incarnate." We didn't do "Mother of the Word Incarnate."
    Me: Okay.

    He and I finished the prayer together and he was happy and I was stunned. The kid surprises me regularly with the words he picks up in conversation or just from rote prayers, but this just took the cake.

    So, if you wouldn't mind humoring me. I have a special intention and if you could take the minute to say the Memorarae for my special intention, I would really appreciate it!

    Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

    Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

    Amen.