Speak Jane Speak

Jane — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:45:30 +0000

Perfection.

When my husband mocks me for “always playing by the rules” I’ll remind him of this photo.

You’ll never find me parked in a fire lane. I’ll always say please and thank you- even at the drive-thru. I’ll avoid confrontation, and turn the other cheek regardless of how many tears I shed in private. I’ll love with all my heart, and give all of myself to a cause. I’ll feel sympathy for a stranger in need, and offer all the help I can. I’ll pray, and then pray again and again. For good things come to good people. And this amazing child is my reward.

Blessed.

-Jane

Cold Quinoa Salad

Jane — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:05:24 +0000

If you haven’t hopped on the Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wa) bandwagon yet here’s your chance. I LOVE Quinoa. It’s similar to a grain. Kind of. Imagine if a grain of rice had a baby with a single couscous. That’s Quinoa. Each seed (yes, they’re tiny seeds) burst with a yummy toasted nut flavor when you bite down. And what’s even better is it’s CHEAP! At least if you stick to the bulk bin. But even in the prepackaged box you’re only looking at $1/cup. Not bad for a PURE PROTEIN! Take that chicken and fish!!

Tonight I made a quick cold salad based on my love of Quinoa. I paired it with a pan seared chicken breast and called dinner. Not bad, if I say so myself! And here’s it is…

Cold Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

2 cups of prepared Quinoa (chilled)

*To prepare the Quinoa mix 1 cup of Quinoa with 2 cups of water. Cover and microwave on high for 9 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff as you would rice. EASY PEASY!

2 lemons

1/2 of red apple, diced

1/2 of a small onion, diced

1 cucumber, seeded and diced

salt

pepper

1 pinch of red pepper flakes

1/4 cup of cilantro, rough chopped

Directions:

Remove the Quinoa from the fridge and fluff with a fork. Add the apple, onion, cucumber, red pepper flakes, and cilantro. Add the zest of one lemon and the juice of two lemons. Using a fork, fluff to combine. Salt and pepper to taste. ENJOY!

-Jane

Gluten Free Pork Fried Rice

Jane — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:13:34 +0000

Often times my recipes are made with “round 2″ ingredients. I let almost NOTHING go to waste in my kitchen. If it’s on its last leg it becomes a stew, a soup, or something I can freeze. Even fruit that’s seen better days can become a quick compote. Last night I whipped up a fancy smancy pork loin with all the trimmings. And despite my best effort to avoid too many leftovers, I had more than a serving or two of pork left. So tonight, with the help of a few pantry staples, I made this filling (and FAST) fried rice.

GLUTEN FREE PORK FRIED RICE

Ingredients:

3 cups of prepared white rice

2 cups of diced pork

1/4 cup of sliced shallot

1 cup of sliced radicchio

1 /2 cup of sliced green onion

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup of Tamari Sauce

2 tablespoons of fish sauce

1 tablespoon of rice vinager

2 tablespoons of black sesame seeds

3 tablespoons of oil

salt

pepper

Directions:

Note: Rather than repeat myself, salt and pepper each addition to the pan.

In a large skillet brown the pork in the oil. Add the radicchio and shallot and saute for 1-2 minutes on high heat. Add the rice, rice vinegar, fish sauce and tamari sauce and gently fold the mixture. REMEMBER to fold the ingredients, NOT STIR. Otherwise you’ll have mushy fried rice…and nobody likes that. hehe Push the mixture to the sides of the pan creating a well in the middle. Slowly add the egg to the well and scramble without mixing it into the rice. Once the egg is cooked fold it into the rice with the remaining ingredients (sesame seeds and green onion).

Voila! Gluten Free Pork Fried Rice! Genius, right!?

Enjoy.

-Jane

Jane — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:19:25 +0000

What a busy weekend. We’ve had oodles of family time (though I’d argue not nearly enough), lots of yummy food and, drum rollllll….A TRIP TO THE ZOO!

And rather than bore you with the details, here are a few pictures of all the fun we shared.

Love.

-Jane

Jane — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:37:07 +0000

Today this happened…

…and it was hilarious in itself. But then, this happened…

…and it wasn’t so funny anymore. See my fear wrinkles.

But luckily this little guy…

…was busy doing this THE ENTIRE TIME!

FYI- that’s the same position he’s slept in since he was in my tummy. Too cute!

And yes, we were at the mall. Which meant I heard “Gosh, he’s so big. He’s gonna be tall, huh?!” 1,273,201 times.

But don’t get too excited. We had a coupon. My, er um, experience was completely free. And that my friends is my favorite number.

Can you keep a secret?

Tomorrow we’re taking our tot (and pearly whites) to the…

Lions, and tigers, and bears- Oh my! It’s enough to keep any toddler talking for WEEKS!

Love.

-Jane

Jane — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:27:44 +0000

Taking care of myself is something I’ve been meaning to get to for years. But it never fails that some how, some way my son and husband (and pets, and home, and etc. etc. etc) make their way to the head of the line. And though I don’t mind one bit, taking small steps to reclaim the old me has been a refreshing change.

In fact, I’ve made an effort to completely avoid the toy department, the toddler department, and the snack aisle at Target. Instead, I SLOWLY make my way down the hair care aisle, through make-up department, and of course I take a lap around the clothes department. And my tot may be screaming as loud as he can “TOYS, MOMMA! TOYS, NOW! MOMMA, MOMMA, TOOOYYYYSSSS!” But I block it out, sip my coffee, and dare someone to give me a dirty look.

But if not now, when? Exactly! Carpe Diem, for sure.

So, I’ve become quite the yogi this past week. It’s kind of consumed me, and left me wondering why I hadn’t taken up the practice before now. And since I hate to workout, sweat, etc. this seems like the perfect fit. Sciatica be damned! And abs? Talk about an abdominal workout! AND I DON’T HAVE TO SWEAT, much. haha

After the gym my tot and I hit up the dollar store for a few trail mix staples (and a balloon, of course). Once home we whipped up a weeks worth of healthy snacks for under $10! Is it healthy? Yes! Is it organic? No! But hey, it sure beats french fries, right!?

Dried papaya, pineapple, banana chips, almonds, golden raisins, chocolate bits, and yogurt covered raisins. Easy, cheap, yummy. My kind of snack!

Here’s to an OVERLY productive week, fewer meltdowns, and a little more me time.

Love.

-Jane

Jane — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:38:49 +0000

Two years after I birthed a tiny elephant, I’m still carrying TOO MUCH baby weight. Though after two years I’m pretty sure you cross the line from baby weight to just plain fat. Boo Hiss!

I’ve had a gym membership since August of last year. Ugh. I’m so far from where I thought I’d be by now. But I guess having the gym membership won’t exactly melt away the pounds by itself…I’m pretty sure you actually have to attend.

And I DO ATTEND. Kind of. I go once a week…ok, once every other week. That is, when I need to shower in peace. Fail.

One of my go-to excuses is the ‘ol “I have nothing to wear” tune. So today I did this…

Yep. I can’t use that excuse anymore.

But it’s far more than that. I hate to jiggle. You know what I mean? That feeling like certain parts of you aren’t keeping up with your stride on the treadmill. And I just know (in my head, that is) that a group of non-existent guys or catty women are standing behind me laughing and pointing. Ugh.

I’m uncoordinated. Not in shape. Jiggly, but not fat. And have no clue how to use half of the equipment. All of which makes me break into a sweat long before I get to the gym.

I’ve thought about taking a class. But a voice in my head says I’ll tip over, trip, or die from a massive heart attack. And so I don’t. I’ve thought about hiring a trainer. And then I realized how much they charge. And so I didn’t.

But not liking what I see in the mirror is something I’ve GOT TO CHANGE. Life’s too short. You only live once. Blah, blah. I CAN DO IT!!! I’ve held on to that stack of pre-tot pants for a reason. Besides, two hours a day (or every other day) to work on ME will be a refreshing change.

It’s go time.

-Jane

Parental Play Date

Jane — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 02:12:22 +0000

We’ve been spending quite a lot of time at our local parks and tot-friendly establishments these days. With the unseasonably warm weather it’s been difficult keeping our little nature lover indoors. In fact, we’re out and about nearly everyday. And with his social calendar quickly filling up with art class, Montessori class and gymnastics lessons, our stay-at-home tot has fast become anything but a “stay-at-home” tot.

Unfortunately, our increased outings have highlighted just how unsociable moms can be. And I say moms loosely, as nearly every female with tot in tow I’ve met these days happens to be the nanny. But seriously, how hard is it to carry a conversation with another mom. We both have OODLES to talk about. Poop this, puke that, potty training this, tantrums that. The list is endless. Perhaps we draw ourselves into a mini coma with the somewhat small break we get from the freedom of the park. Our kiddos run free in a relatively safe environment causing us to CHECK-OUT!

Or perhaps its our differences. All moms have their own particular way of handling their tot. I’m more passive than most. I take things with a grain of salt. I choose my battles. I praise my tots individuality and spontaneous nature. And when I come across a mom and/or dad who micromanage their tots every behavior I’m more than intimidated…and sad. You know the type (unless you’re the type) that punishes their tot in front of you for something you’re currently letting your kiddo do. Yep, those moms. And I’m sure they feel the same about me. “How could she let him get away with THAT!“

I guess that’s just how moms are. We love our kids, love our kids when they play with other kids, but we just don’t have the energy to play with other moms ourselves. Such is life.

I guess the silver lining is that I see far more socializing moms of preschool/school age tots. That’s what I call hope.

-Jane

Gluten Free Sausage Balls

Jane — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:16:08 +0000

My moms go-to recipe for family get-togethers is Sausage Balls. And since going gluten free it’s an indulgence I sincerely miss. But no more! I’ve figured out a quick an inexpensive method that takes the gluten out, and leaves the flavor in. Not to mention, they last FOREVER in the fridge and freeze like a dream.

Gluten Free Sausage Balls

Ingredients:

1 package of Bob’s Red Mill Homemade Bread Mix (minus the yeast packet)

1/2 cup of milk

2lbs. of your favorite sausage

2lbs. of shredded sharp cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning

Directions:

This is where it gets difficult. JUST KIDDING. These suckers are EASY!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Thoroughly mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. This will take some muscle. Form 1/2 inch balls of the mixture and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Makes about 70 balls for only $9. WOW!

Told’ya it was cheap and easy!

Enjoy.

-Jane

Techie Tot

Jane — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:12:03 +0000

Several months ago, while I still walked about in my pre-toddler bliss, I watched in horror as a fellow mom pushed her tot around the department store while he sat quietly in the cart with an Ipad. I’m not sure what bugged me more- the thought of her ignoring her child, or her child being consumed by the garbage he was watching.

Today, I am that mom. Fail. I’ve learned that I’d much rather receive dirty looks from other mothers than throw my back out attempting to keep my 40lb. “I WANT TOYS, TOYS, TOYS, CANDY, TOYS” tot from escaping the cart. So I rarely leave the house without the Ipad, the Nook or the LeapPad. At least one of the three is ALWAYS charged. Fingers crossed.

And what’s worse is his proficiency with all things electronic. He can turn on the television, insert Dumbo into the DVD player, and press play all by himself. If he popped his own popcorn I’d be practically useless. He’s an expert Netflix user, an Angry Birds prodigy, and a fruit slashing ninja!

We’ve always balanced his electronics exposure. But as he gets older it’s definitely becoming more and more difficult. He’s aware of what he wants to do, and sometimes, despite my best effort to push the puzzles, paint, crayons and books, all he wants to do is veg.

I remind myself, and my worrisome husband that it’s the time we live in. We’re raising techies- evolved creatures who possess far more skills at 2.5 than we did at 20. And in defense of all things tech related (and for my own reassurance) I have produced a two year old that knows his ABCs, his numbers, all of his shapes (even the wacky ones) and his colors.

So, I doubt I have much to worry about. That is, unless that batteries die.

What’s your stance on tots with electronics?

Love.

-Jane

The Cheapskate In Me Rejoiced

Jane — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:21:21 +0000

I rarely pay attention to advertisements I see on the various social media outlets I indulge in. I’ve found the vast majority of them to be less than worth my time. If free airline tickets existed I’d be on some sort of tropical island sipping on anything (and probably everything) that reminded me I’m more than a mom. Having said that, I ran across a link re-posted by a friend from Coastal.com for a free pair of glasses. So, against all better judgement I clicked it- you know, because eye glasses be expensive YO! haha

And surprise surprise. It was legit. All I needed was my prescription, a valid coupon code (which I’m about to give you!) and $12-15 for shipping. Check, check and check! New glasses were in my future.

After browsing the site for a few days, I settled on style JKL 5007. And since that means nothing to you, here are a few FABULOUS pics of my new specs.

Minus the sloppy hair and the cheesy grin, they look FANTASTIC. And did I forget to mention THEY WERE FREE?!?!?!?!

Visit Coastal.com, select your frame, enter your prescription information, and enter the code FIRSTPAIRFREE during checkout. That’s it! Easy as pie. AND FREE…did I mention that? haha

*Jane is in no way affiliated with or compensated by Coastal.com. She’s just cheap.

Love.

-Jane

Imagination Smagination

Jane — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:10:06 +0000

Just two days ago I went to Lowes Home Improvement and spent a small fortune on toy storage.

(FYI Lowes is my all time favorite store. I like the smell. It reminds me of my dad.)

Anyways, despite picking them up and reorganizing them 1,193,205,684 times the toys are here…

And the storage tote is here…

I give up. At least for now.

Love.

-Jane

Junk

Jane — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:28:19 +0000

I won’t lie, these gooey little bars are less than good for you. But hey, everyone deserves a treat every now and again, right?!

Somewhere in the creation process my brain got confused: Was I making popcorn balls, or rice crispy treats, or candy bars? Either way, they’re AWESOME. And the definition of JUNK FOOD.

Ladies and gentlemen…

JUNK (Gluten Free, of course!)

Ingredients:

3 cups of mini mashmallows

1 bag of natural popcorn, popped

1 cup of dry roasted peanuts

1 cup of dark chocolate chips

1 tablespoon of butter

Directions:

In a medium pot melt the marshmallows with the butter until they are smooth. Slowly add the popcorn making certain to remove any uncooked kernels. Remove from heat. With a heavy wooden spoon, quickly stir in the peanuts and the chocolate chips. Pour into a 9×11 buttered dish and allow it to cool. Slice and ENJOY!

Love.

-Jane

Household Budgeting 101

Jane — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 18:58:57 +0000

It’s nap time. So I have approximately an hour and a half to get everything set for the afternoon. That means pay a few bills, start dinner, tidy-up, walk the dogs, etc. etc. etc. Yes, my days are FULL, and seem to be getting fuller each week. I chalk it up to a growing tot, whose busy making new friends and developing interests of his own.

But today I have one extra “to-do” on my list: Create a Budget.

Sure we follow a budget. Simply put, we don’t spend more than we make. But sadly, we are the KINGS of frivolous spending. But I want to do better. My husband recently referred to me as our household manager. And I liked it. It’s true, I manage EVERYTHING that has to do with our home. I know where everything is, what needs to be done, where we need to be and at what time we should arrive, when we can afford certain luxuries, etc. That’s my job. And I take it VERY seriously.

So it should come to no surprise that I’ve taken this budgeting idea to a whole new level. It’s not that I want to know where every red cent we make is being spent, but rather set monthly standards to which we are to follow. For example, if I allocate 4% of our monthly budget to entertainment, 4% is all we’ll spend. If we want to see a certain movie, or check out a new exhibit downtown it’ll have to fit within that parameter, or wait until the next month.

How we’ll pull this off is still in the works. But I’m well on my way to cementing a plan. And once it goes on the refrigerator it’ll become household law. haha

After breaking out the calculator, and giving myself a migraine (nothing a little wine won’t cure), I’ve come up with the following:

*Note: What works for my family may not work for yours. I basically found the national averages for each category (thank you Google!) and adjusted them based on our rent, food costs, etc. Our food costs are naturally higher based on son’s special diet.

Rent 30% (also slightly higher based on the area we live in)

Utilities 6%

Food 14% (gluten free is EXPENSIVE)

Medical 4%

Donations 2%

Savings/Insurance 5%

Entertainment 4% (lower than the average because NO ONE gets out with a toddler)

Transportation 18% (2 cars + my hubs long commute make this slightly higher)

Debt 10%

Clothing 2% (because we all know I DON’T SHOP!)

Investments 5% (I added this to create a stash that’s separate from our savings)

Again, this is preliminary. But it’s a start. Both my husband and I are pretty excited to give it a whirl in the coming weeks. That is, until one of us wants something that FAR EXCEEDS our allotment. haha

Will power, Jane. Will power.

Love.

-Jane

What’s your tips and tricks for sticking to a monthly budget? Share the love…

SAHMs and Feminism

Jane — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 18:07:27 +0000

fem·i·nism noun \ˈfe-mə-ˌni-zəm\ :the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes

Just in case you didn’t know.

And though this post is meant to be informative, and not at all offensive, it will undoubtedly offend a few. Buy hey, that’s blogging, right?

As a product of an all female liberal arts college, I KNOW feminism. I was taught, and re-taught, and taught again what a difference woman have made on the history of our planet.

That said, I also know what feminism IS NOT.

Woman didn’t fight tooth and nail for me to hold a corporate job. Thankfully, they fought so I’d have the choice.

See the difference?

It is my choice to raise my son. It is my choice to value my husbands opinion. It is my choice to cook, to clean, to live a life of domesticity. Why? Because, shockingly, I enjoy it. And yes, I’m educated. More so than the average bear. And yes, I spent years working outside the home before becoming a mom. That’s what makes the stereotypes of SAHMs so disturbing.

The role I play in my marriage, and in my life isn’t for everyone. I recognize that. And it’s not the role I’ll always have. But for me, in this phase of life, it’s perfect.

Love.

-Jane

What parenting backlash have you experienced?