I've Moved!

Merry With Children has moved to www.merrywithchildren.com!  I hope you'll come join me over there as this site will go *poof* in a few weeks!

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What Do You Hide Behind?

I consider myself a pretty confident person.  I can talk in front of large crowds (500+), I can make friends with strangers, heck....I even let a magician juggle knives near my head but I still have moments where I wonder if I've got what it takes.

That's not so unusual, really....everyone questions themselves at one time or another.  My question is more aimed at those things that you hide behind in your day to day life.

For me it's makeup.....

I started wearing makeup in 9th grade.  Before that I was a bit of a tom boy and never really thought that much about my appearance.  I had thick glasses and quite a few bad perms so that was probably a good thing.  I lived in a foster home for a while and while I was there they helped me "figure out" my style.  Enter hot rollers and pan stick makeup.  

Thankfully I've toned down the makeup a bit over the years but I still refuse to go out of the house without makeup.  Okay, okay, I will go without it if I'm going to yoga but only if I'm going straight there...any stops...makeup.  

Here's the crazy thing, though, I don't wear all that much usually.  Often at the end of the day I look like I barely have any on but it doesn't matter....I have to wear it.  

Why?

I have no idea.  I think it's my mask I hide behind.  It makes me feel put together and ready to face the world.  Don't worry, I'm not doing this post to announce some new non-makeup wearing me....um...no.  

I will, however, post pictures....

No Makeup

Full Makeup...

Not a ton of difference, right?  So why can't I "just say no"?

What do you hide behind?

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What's Cooking Wednesday - Speedy Cinnamon Rolls

Have you ever really, really wanted homemade cinnamon rolls but didn't have the 2 hours plus it takes to make them from scratch?  If so, this recipe is for YOU!

Speedy Cinnamon Rolls

Adapted from this recipe

3 cups all purpose flour

2 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

2/3 cup cold butter, cut into small cubes

1 1/4 cups milk + 2 Tbsp vinegar (or 1 1/4 cups buttermilk)

1 egg

3 Tbsp butter, softened

1/3 cup brown sugar

1-2 Tbsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl combine first 5 ingredients.  Mix well.  Cut in cold butter using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture looks like crumbs.  

Combine milk & eggs in a small bowl.  Add to crumb mixture and mix into dough.  Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead 10 - 15 times.  Don't over knead but make sure dough is fully combined and not sticky.  Roll dough into a large rectangle (approx 16" X 12").  

Brush dough with softened butter, spreading evenly.  Sprinkly brown sugar and cinnamon over butter.  Roll the dough starting from one long side.  Pinch seam together and cut into 1" rounds.  Place on baking sheet (touching) and bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe Notes:  Well, I forgot to put the cinnamon in these.  I didn't realize my mistake until right after I put them into the oven.  I pulled them out & sprinkled cinnamon all over the tops of the rolls.  They still turned out great.  These are more of a cinnamon biscuit than what you normally get as a roll because it doesn't use yeast.  My family has decided they actually prefer these.

If you prefer "real" cinnamon rolls, you can find recipe for those here and here.

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Wordless Wednesday - He Was Getting Kinda Bieber-iffic

 

This picture is actually a little misleading as his hair was laying down more than normal.  He was beginning to look like a cross between Justin Bieber and Kramer.

 

Worst picture ever....His nice new haircut that after I tried to get the 1.5 million hairs out of it that kept falling out.  Oh, and they had just given him a sucker.  Standing still for the picture was right up there with torture at this point.  

I decided to try the Great Clips near our house for his cut this time.  They had a sale so it was $7.99....definitely worth that price!

This Wordless Wednesday post is linked up at A Lot of Loves, 5 Minutes for Mom and My Organized Chaos.

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Top Ten Tuesday - Top Pick Me Ups!

I am not a huge fan of winter....especially since moving to Calgary because people...it is COLD!  This morning it was -27°C.  I have a car starter but I feel guilty letting it idle too long so I left for work before it was warm.  I have a 30 minute commute and it never got warm.  My hands and feet were numb by the time I got there.  Ugh.

So what does that have to do with my Top Ten list?  Well, I definitely need the occasional pick me up when winter is in full force or I might go CRAZY (or crazy-er as Dewey would say).  Some of my pick me ups cost money but others are completely free.  Next time you are feeling down try one of these suggestions out & hopefully it will have you feeling better in no time.

1. Go for coffee/tea with a friend - It's amazing how revitalizing reconnecting with a friend can be.  We are all busy but it can take as little as an hour to meet a friend for coffee.  It's amazing how much better and more grounded you'll feel after a good chat. 
2. Go for a walk - Okay, you're not going to do this when it's -27 but any other time it works great.  There's something about a good walk that clears your head and lets you think.  I have figured out some of my toughest conundrums on a good walk.
3. Have a soak in a hot bath - I know, I know, we're all moms who are overworked and under appreciated but taking a bit of time to yourself is worth it.  The hubs can watch the kids for a while.  Lock the bathroom door, though, or you'll have rubber duckies in your bath for sure!
4. Read a chick lit book (or other mindless reading) - While reading to learn can be great, when you need a pick me up reading a book for fun fits the bill.
5. Call a friend you haven't talked to in a while - I have so many friends that I love dearly that I never talk to.  I get busy and so do they and next thing you know it's been a year since we've chatted.  Pick up the phone!  It'll be totally worth it and you will feel great all day.
6. Help someone else - Nothing feels better than helping others.  Some ideas......shovel your neighbors sidewalk, buy the person behind you at Starbucks a coffee, put change in an expired parking meter, etc.  You will make their day and yours too!
7. Go read your favorite bloggers - I love taking time out and catching up on blogs I love.  If I'm down, I like to go to some of the funnier ones.  Laughing along at someone else's story of child angst always makes me feel better.
8. Go get a massage - I have to start doing this one more.  Massages are covered (up to a certain amount) by my health insurance and yet I did not get one single massage last year.  Stupid, huh?  Gotta fix that this year.
9. Hang out with your child/children doing something they love - Let's face it.  Our children are much easier on us when we are letting them do something they want to do.  For me & Evan our go to activity is baking.  He loves it.  The other day in the car he said to me "Mommy, you make the best cookies every time!"
10. Eat some chocolate - Because really....chocolate makes everything better!

What are your favorite pick me ups?

This post is linked up at Oh Amanda for Top Ten Tuesday!

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Monday Mingle - January 31, 2011

Today's Questions:

1. What is one food or drink that you cannot live without?
2. Are you a foodie? Do you love to cook or are you a food blogger?
3. What is your one easy family friendly recipe or amazing supersecret recipe that you are known for?  

In the mingle I mentioned Italian Sausage Pasta bake.  You can find the recipe here.

Head over to Eighty MPH Mom to see more Monday Mingle fun!

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Date Night!

If you're like me you are super busy, running here and there at a million miles an hour wondering "What else do I have to do & what have I forgotten?"

Unfortunately the first thing to go is often time with your significant other.  There's always something that needs doing or something that money needs to be spent on so date nights can get pushed out into oblivion.

Believe me.....

I know!

BUT.....I also know that connecting with your significant other is worth it.  If you two aren't happy than eventually no one else in the household will be either.  I know that date night can't fix every situation but it is a start.

So just do it......plan a date night with your special someone even if it's just movie & popcorn after the kids go to bed!

Pic - Stilton cheesecake from NOtaBLE in Calgary.....Divine!

What is your favorite date night?

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365 Day Photo Project - Week 4

Week 4 has come and gone.  Here are the pictures I took:

Jan 21 - Library Love

Jan 22 - Ikea ice cream ROCKS

Jan 23 - Sugar snap peas are yummy!

Jan 24 - Blogging, blogging, blogging

Jan 25 - A little pbskids.org time before bed

Jan 26 - It was practically Spring in Calgary today

Jan 27 - Friday afternoon pick me up!

Participating in the 365 Day Project link ups at:

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Merry Mumblings...

Just a few things that I keep forgetting to mention.....

You can now find some of my writing over at Kids In Cowtown. My first article is about Community Supported Agriculture.  I would love to hear your opinion of it!

Over the next few days you will *hopefully* see a new, redesigned Merry With Children site appear.  It should not cause any issues for you but if you do see an hiccups please let me know!

I am putting together a blogger meetup in Calgary for February.  If you are a blogger & live in or near Calgary, please leave me a comment with your contact info so that I can keep you in the loop!

Also, if you are in Calgary, mark your calendar for Twestival on March 24th.  It is still very much in planning stages but it should be a fun event that raises money for charity.  I will post more info as it becomes available.

That's all for me tonight....gotta go play with my new toy....

I finally broke down and bought an iPhone.  Woot!

How is your Thursday?

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What's Cooking Wednesday - Lettuce Wraps

I'm always looking for a kid friendly recipe to make when Will & Nicole are here. This definitely fits the bill. I adapted this recipe a bit because Nicole has a shellfish allergy so I couldn't use oyster sauce.  I also doubled the recipe to feed my starving tween stepson and I wanted leftovers. The recipe below reflects the changes & the doubling. 

Lettuce Wraps 

Adapted from Pioneer Woman Cooks

2 pounds ground turkey

2 Tbsp canola oil

1/2 large onion diced small

3 small garlic cloves, minced

1 piece fresh ginger, minced (mine was 2" X 2" piece)

2 red bell peppers, chopped

1 can water chestnuts, drained and diced

6 Tbsp white wine or Chinese cooking wine

8 Tbsp reduced salt soy sauce

2 Tbsp Satay peanut sauce

3 Tbsp Hoisin sauce

2 tsp sesame oil

1 head iceberg or butter lettuce, cored and rinsed. Loosen the leaves, this will be your wrap

Chop all your veggies first because this recipe comes together pretty fast.

Mix together the soy sauce, peanut sauce, hoisin sauce and sesame oil in a small bowl.  Set aside.

Heat a large skillet or stirfry pan over medium high heat.  Add oil.  Add the onions and cook until they begin to soften.  Add garlic and ginger.  Cook for a minute to heat it up.  Add the ground turkey.  Cook until the turkey is done.

Add the bell pepper and water chestnuts.  Cook for a couple of minutes and then add the white wine.  Cook for another minute and then add the sauce.  Stir and reduce for 3 or four minutes so sauce will thicken.  

Serve on the iceberg leaves with peanut sauce on the side.

Recipe Notes: Everyone LOVED these. The iceberg lettuce breaks a bit easy.  I think I will use butter lettuce next time as it is a bit more structurally stable.

Make sure to head over to Shan's to see what else is cooking this Wednesday.

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