Motivation boards

I was searching on Pinterest (one of my addictions but I actually use a lot of what I pin) and found this motivational board. I had tried something like this with great success on my bathroom mirror. Me and my kids wrote wonderful positive statements on there and loved every minute of it. Mascara application was tricky but the words on the mirror were worth the acrobatic make up tricks. The mirror was cleaned for a house showing and we just didn't put them back up. I missed it being there so when I come across this pic I decided I needed to do it again but modify how we did it. I recently sold a large hutch and I now have this empty wall in my dining area that needed something on it but I didn't know what to put there. I will be moving shortly and didn't want to invest in decor that may or may not work in the new place. Then I found the perfect solution. We spend a lot of time in the kitchen and dining room. That wall will be visible to everyone. It was the perfect place for these boards. I went to the dollar store and found little 8 1/2 x 11 boards and picked up some dry erase markers and came up with a plan. 

My kids have been craving family time. Not having a vehicle that will hold them all legally means we have to find things to do at home and that are inexpensive. This was perfect. 

I had made my board when they were at school but I left their boards on the table for them to see. As soon as they got home from school they caught sight of mine. Ohhs and ahhs and can we write on that were immediate questions asked by all five of them. I told them that was my board but I had one for them. Their excitement was palpable. They could hardly wait for dinner to be done. Every single one of them wanted to get ahold of that board and the markers. Ideas were forming in their minds all afternoon. 

I sat them down and talked to them about setting goals and what I intended to do with my board and what my goals are. I told them I wanted the boards to be out here where we could all see them so we could encourage each other. If Keneisha wrote she had a test and was working hard to study for it then we could wish her good luck or ask how she did. We could cheer Olivia on as she works to become a better dancer. I told them they were free reign...write what ever you want to on the board. There were no wrong goals or pics or sayings. They had complete control of it. They could change it daily if they wanted. It was whatever their heart desired would be perfect for their whiteboard. 

After my trip to Ogden this weekend I am more resolved than ever to get on stage in April. It's 27 weeks away. I know that sounds like a long time, but there is much prep that goes into training for a body building competition and being focused now is going to help me in the long run. I am a visual person. Seeing the words written out, the list made and ready for check off, the constant reminder are going to pave my road to success and winning. 

Olivia's board 

Brennady's board

Nataushia's board

Asche's board 

Keneisha's board

They are all individual and unique just like each of my children are. They took quite a bit of time to settle on their first goals and pictures. I will hang them up tomorrow and have them ready for them to see when they get home. I love it. They are going to do so well with each of their choices. Writing it down places it deeper in their brain. This will become their reality. And I get to be lucky enough to watch them make it happen. 

Reflections

Laying here in the dark (it's 6 a.m.) and reflecting and thinking about my day has made my need to write overwhelming. I have crept out of bed and want to put my thoughts here for you all to read and perhaps find an inspiration for your needs.  As I was watching my friend compete tonight my desire was made that much stronger to do this all again. I watched her take the stage, walk with pride, and win first place her first time out. To say I was proud seems almost condescending because I am not her mother but I am her friend and felt pride and happiness like I would for my child accomplishing something huge and great and wonderful. So congratulations to my beautiful best friend Heather. I think we should take your trophy and run around the neighborhood and yell at the top out lungs "SHE WON! SHE WON!"or "I WON!! I WON!" as would be the case for you. Celebrate and enjoy your win. You earned that trophy and deserve to stand there with it in your hand and that beautiful smile on your face.

Sorry, I know the photo is a little fuzzy and does not do this beautiful lady justice but she is amazing in my book. 

As I was watching her and sitting in that audience watching those people put themselves out there for scrutiny and judging I come to realize there is much that is left from my divorce that feeds my psyche and has stopped me from continuing my training like I need to do to get back on stage. I was talking of some of my experiences and heartache from that day that was supposed to be all about me and how it had been lessened by little things. The anger and hurt came back up and this wonderful man that I am dating said to me how sorry he was that those things happened. It wasn't for him to apologize. For goodness sakes, the man didn't even KNOW me then. But hearing him say how sorry he was that the parts that had lessened the experience had happened seemed to make it better. My heart lighter. My mind more at ease. My spirit healed. And my commitment more resolved. 

As I come to grips with what I was facing at this tulmutuous  time in my life and understand how far reaching it's effects were and are. I know it will simply take time to overcome them. These emotions and mental blocks are not going to continue to be my reality--I am stronger than them. I am the conquerer! The winner! The one who will do it! My mother had a coffee mug when I was growing up that she has passed to me that has a picture of a woman on it with her hands in the air celebrating a success and the caption on the cup says "If it's gonna be, it's up to me!" It's silly how little things like an insignificant coffee mug can have an effect on the view you take. She gave me this cup at a time when I needed it most, and I love it when I use it. I think of her and her drive and determination to be the best she could be and how she taught me to strive for the top, whatever that may be to me. 

So as my cup runneth over with gratitude and joy I want to tell those that have inspired me, held my hand while I cried, celebrated my happy moments, cheered me on, and held me up when I was weak--I thank you. 

Adventure in fruit leather.

Fruit roll ups are a favorite with my kids.  They love eating them, but I hate the processed, added sugar, garbage food so I don't buy them for them. I have been trying to do different things with their lunches so they don't get bored and fruit leather was on several of the idea boards that I found for kid lunches. So, I decided to try out making homemade fruit leather.  Easy enough to do right?  Google search, find something simple with pretty pics and go for it.  I tried this recipe out.  I don't have accurate measurements--sorry folks, but it isn't really needed.  I used about half of the bag of mixed berries, squished the juice from half of a lemon, added about 1 tablespoon of honey to the mix and hit blend. 

It was a little thick when I blended it so I added a little water - maybe 1/4 cup or so.  I wanted it to pour and spread pretty easily.  My berries were mostly thawed so they were squishy when I added them in. This is a great way to use those strawberries or other fruit in your fridge that are overripe but still good. If you have picky eaters and don't want the seeds you will want to add more water and strain through a strainer.  My kids don't mind the seeds so I left them. Your drying time will just be a little longer. 

Spread the mixture out on a sheet pan covered in plastic wrap.  This will be a thin coating over the sheetpan. Set your oven on the lowest setting, 170 degrees is where my oven stopped, or use your dehydrator.  I know the whole plastic wrap in the oven thing and melting...this will not happen, you are only heating the air up so it won't melt.  If you feel better you can use a silpat pad to spread on.  I am going to try out parchment paper.  This takes several hours.  I turned my oven on for a couple of hours before bed, turned off the oven over night, turned it back on in the morning and just kept an eye on it.



The finished product.  I know it looks burnt...it isn't.  It is just dark because it is dehydrated out and I used dark colored berries.  You want the fruit leather to be flexible and dry to the touch.  If you let it get too dry to the point its just brittle you can brush on some water and let it absorb into the fruit.  Now the site I visited showed cutting it with scissors and making the fun little rolls.  My cute little heathens just tore off pieces and enjoyed. You could also use little cutters and cut out shapes that match the holiday or event that is around the corner. The flavor is concentrated down so you might need to play with the amount of sweetener you need.  My kids like lemons (they eat them raw), so they don't mind the tartness.



I am going to try mango ones next.  I will keep the lemon in it and probably omit the honey.  Mangoes are sweet on their own and added sugar isn't really necessary in my opinion.  Peeling off the plastic wrap was interesting.  I was also thinking this would be great time to use the press and seal plastic so I could get the edges sealed away from the mixture.  I had a few "soft" spots where the edges were covered up by the plastic. In all it was successful.  If you try this out, let me know your successes and challenges.  I would love to share them with other followers.

Arise from the dead

I took a break for awhile. Personal life catches up to all of us. But, I am back, and working towards new goals. I started up a Facebook page called Feeding My Family and I am really looking forward to posting my obsessive amounts of food pics there. I love to work with traditional recipes and clean them up so they are healthier versions of foods my family loves. My five kids get to try the experiments and they are completely willing to give honest feedback if they like the new foods. It's been fun to introduce them to new foods and tweak recipes to fit my clean/paleo lifestyle. Some have been home runs like my beef teriyaki skewers from tonight. And some have been traumatic experiences like sweet potato ice cream. (They still haven't forgiven me for that one...for the record I liked it, they couldn't gag it down.) 

Keep coming back. I will be posting more.