Our Daughters

I haven't blogged in a very long time. It would seem, contrary to popular belief, I really don't have that much to say. Until today. I came across an article on the Associated Press' website, (click to read article) that has me up on my soap box. Two "advocacy groups", the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and the Center for a New American Dream, are calling for the Girl Scouts to end their partnership with Barbie, which only began within the past year. Their reasoning? Girl Scouts shouldn't be told to look up to Barbie, to have her as a role model. She supports sexualizing women, impossible body types, and just goes against everything the Girl Scouts stand for. Now that I am a new Girl Scout leader, I read any article about the Scouts. And this one, my anger over the absurdity, has less to do with the Girl Scouts than with being a mom. Sure, the Scouts try to teach our girls they can do anything they want, be anything they desire. But that job, to mold the girls into the best adults they can be, isn't our entire responsibility. The parents of these girls have that job, and they hold the majority of the power to do so. Not a doll, not an actress, not a singer, not society. Children ultimately listen to their mothers, sisters, aunts. As parents, we have one job, to raise our children to be the future of this country, of this planet. We have to raise them to be respectful, to push themselves to their full potential, to want to better themselves, and their surroundings. This job shouldn't fall to outside sources, as it is YOUR ONLY JOB AS A PARENT. I never had any "famous" role models. I had my parents, my family, teachers, coaches... you know, the normal people that children should look up to. I'd say I turned out pretty OK!


That being said, why is society so stuck on the fact that Barbie is a role model for girls? Why would any child idolize a toy? I had plenty of Barbies growing up, as did most of the girls I know. I never wanted to look like her. Never had any ideas in my head that I should ever aspire to look like her. Never thought, gah, I am so ugly because I don't look like a plastic doll. I'll admit though, I had a Barbie Ice Cream shop, and boy did I want to own one once I grew up. And what about the Veterinarian Barbie? Who else wanted to be a doggie doctor? Those types of things are what the Girl Scouts are partnering with Barbie for, not her looks. The fact that she isn't just "Housewife, Laundry, Cooking, Cleaning Barbie". The Girl Scouts aren't using Barbie as a role model for our girls, they are using her as an example the girls can understand. they want to show them that they can be just about anything under the sun. The girls know Barbie, probably have a ton of them, that makes her easier to relate to. They aren't putting out flyers saying, Look up to her, Aspire to be her, You will never amount to anything if you don't look like her. No, they are simply saying, Girls, you can be anything you set your mind to. 



If we all turned off our televisions, our phones, our computers, (after you read my blog!) and spend more time with our children, they won't have to look at outside sources to find a role model. Then we wouldn't have to throw such a tantrum when Barbie is on the cover of Sports Illustrated, or Miley Cyrus "twerks", or when any other famous celebrity does anything we wouldn't want our children to do. If you have taught them right from wrong, taught them how to be upstanding, honest, love-themselves types of people, you won't have to worry that they will look up to other, less positive people. They will know that a doll is just a doll, and they don't have to look like her to be perfect. They will know that they, our daughters, are perfect, just they way they are. 

Pinterest Pies

I looove Chicken Pot Pie, and it's one of the few foods my entire family will eat. Challenge for tonight, Mini Bisquick Chicken Pot Pies. Here is the link to my pin, the directions are on the pin. (http://pinterest.com/pin/62768988526897289/) Though I didn't see what temperature to bake them at. I found the actual page for the Betty Crocker recipe online. There were several more ideas for mini pies there. I've tried the Cheeseburger Pie, it was great. But anyways, Betty said to bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. The directions were super simple and easy to follow, and I used my made up recipe for the filling. The only change I made was using Gluten-Free flour in my rue. I wanted to try the Gluten-Free Bisquick, but Bi-Lo was out! Maybe next time. They are currently baking, and Gracie is standing watch at the oven door. She told me she just wanted the filling, it was too good to wait! I'll update and add pictures once they are done (If Gracie doesn't eat them all first!)

My Pinterest Addiction

We all have that one website where an entire day can be wasted in front of the computer. Some of us even have several sites. I am guilty of having an addiction to several. I am on Facebook, Failblog.org, and Pinterest ALL THE TIME. Although Facebook helps me keep in touch with my family and friends, and Failblog keeps me entertained, Pinterest is actually useful. I have made Christmas gifts, fancy dinners, crafty home decor, and fun drinks. I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees something on Pinterest and "attempts' to make it. The instructions seem easy enough, right? In about 50 % of the items I make, whether it is food or crafting, the directions do not lead me to a finished product that looks as nice as the pictures!! I have been trying to keep up with my blog, and I thought what a better way to do it than a Pinterest adventure! So, whenever I make something I've found on Pinterest I will document it!! Give pointers and things not to do! Enjoy!!

I have been really lazy when it comes to keeping up with my blog. Nothing interesting has really happened that I felt I need to write about. Until today. The mail lady brought my copy of Walk Off Weight, along with my cookbook. I have never had to diet before. Then came my kids! I love em, but I sure don't love the extra 50 pounds they came with! I've thought about Weight Watchers, but I don't have the time to get out my calculator and figure out how many points I just consumed. And Jenny Craig, I'm not paying for meals, when I still have to cook for Ben and the girls. I don't think walking is gonna be that hard, and the recipes in the cookbook are things I would actually eat. They have a potato soup recipe, and a broccoli soup recipe which both look great. So, I'm just healtifying things I already cook. I'm excited and hopefully I will be able to feel better about myself. And it's just the right thing to update my blog about!!

Bucket List

We have all seen the movie, The Bucket List. How can you go wrong. Ole Jackie boy and God. As 30 is approaching, ever so quickly, I realize I did not follow through on my 30th bucket list. I made one when I was 20. Married to my first husband, I was young and full of crazy dreams. I never saved the paper we wrote, but I remember a few things. Now, I know, they are not big dreams. but at 20, I thought fully accomplish-able. 1-Go to Mardi Gras 2-Drive a brand new Land Rover 3-Live in a gigantic house 4-Live in a big exciting city 5-Be famous Let's look at number one. No, I have yet to be in the bayou during it's version of Christmas! But I have visited New Orleans, done the whole Bourbon street thing, visited some voodoo shops, and the French Market. And it was wonderful! I even received beads from the guys on the rooftops. No, not by flashing the girls, but but showing off my wonderful Robo-boot!! The day after we came home, the doctor turned said Robo-boot into a wonderful bright pink cast for 6 weeks. That's what you get when you are in your late 20s and walk up and down the streets of Nawlins for 3 days. I believe the highlight of my trip was the food. Crawfish and alligator! It's absolutely heaven. I also discovered my first taste of that special New Orleans sauce. AKA Tarter Sauce! So add that to my things accomplished before 30. Eating alligator with delicious tarter sauce in the great city of New Orleans. That may not beat Mardis Gras, but it's good enough for me. I'm going to include 2 and 3 together. I mean, though I would still love to have a Land Rover, I don't foresee myself needing to rove any land anytime soon. No, I haven't succumbed to the mini van calling as of yet! I have a sensible 3rd row bad ass Jeep Commander. Used. Who wants to pay the payment or taxes on those things? Not me. I'll save that extra 250 a month for something useful. Like food! Same goes for the house. Taxes man, taxes. Also, if I did have a 'gigantic house' who would clean it? I barely keep our modest 3 bed 2 bath house clean. I couldn't imagine any more than that. Also, I think if I did need that Land Rover, or gigantic house, my husband would make me go to work. And THAT AIN'T HAPPENING!! So, I'll take my 3 year old SUV, and my little house, and the ability to stay home with my girls any day! I don't have much to say about 4 and 5, I mean I could still see myself doing those, but not by 30. I guess they are still up in the air. But, now they would depend on Ben and his job. If we stay here in Podunk, I will never be famous. But if he gets a better job, it could be in a big city. Just have to figure out what special talent I have to become famous. As long as I'm not Paris Hilton famous. Who wants all that attention. I'll take Rachel Ray famous. At least the paps aren't on her 24-7. Now that I have thought about those, I can tell you what I have accomplished. I have a wonderful husband who treats me like a princess. He gives me all I could ever want and need. I also have two precious little girls who are my whole world. I find it funny that having children never made it to my list at 20. I honestly can't imagine my life without them. I have friends and family, who would sell their eyes to protect me and support me. And to me, these are the most important things to have on a bucket list. How strange your priorities change in just 10 years. Now, I guess I should get started on my 40 bucket list. Ugh, but I don't want to think that far. Maybe 35!!

Whistle Stop Cafe

After lots of hard work and love, our garden is starting to resemble that of someone who knows what they are doing. The cucumbers are producing around 4 a day, the watermelon is growing, the peppers are multiplying, and the squash is gourding! The only problem I seem to have is the tomatoes aren't ripening. After a little research, googling, and yahoo answering, the only consensus I could find out of hundreds of pages is picking the larger green tomatoes will help the others to ripen on the vine. So, I just picked about 4 lbs of them. All the pages suggested some recipe or another, using the tomatoes. And one even suggested to put said tomatoes in a paper sack with an over ripe banana. Since Monkey eats all of our bananas in 1.2 seconds, they never get over ripe! Don't get me wrong, I love fried green tomatoes, the movie and the food, as much as the next guy. But seriously, I don't foresee that recipe in the "I need to lose tons of babyfat diet". So I think I will make some sort of salsa out of them. Seeing as my jalapenos are as bountiful as my muffin tops, salsa seems to be the healthiest option for me! Although, I may still make a few slices fried, to go along with the grilled chicken and boiled squash for dinner tonight! I'm sure the hubby would be happy, and it might just score me a few brownie points!

Here is the recipe I am going to use for my salsa. hopefully it will taste as good as it sounds. Though, I will be adding cilantro, and probably substituting lime juice for lemon!

Green Salsa

Yield: 5 pints

5 cups chopped green tomatoes
1 1/2 cups seeded, chopped long green chiles
1/2 cup seeded finely chopped jalapeños
4 cups chopped onions
1 cup bottled lemon juice
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 Tbsp ground cumin*
3 Tbsp oregano leaves *
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and stir frequently over high heat until mixture begins to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle hot salsa into pint jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner 15 minutes at 0-1,000 feet altitude; 20 minutes at 1,001-6,000 feet; 25 minutes above 6,000 feet.