Mom Hack for the 2016-2017 School Year

"I need motivation to stay fit for this new school year! I'm going to be driving more

kids around to after school activities, my husband is commuting and not getting home till late,

and I have weight that I need to get off!

I am busier than ever before and I need to find an easy way to take care of myself!"

 - said every woman in America

Here is my "mom-hack" for this year!  I found a new APP for my iphone and iPad.  It is not free.  But I have tried it for you and here is my consumer report:

• I love it!
• It is 4.99 per month, cheaper than a gym membership.
• The app provides workout videos that you stream.  Once you have completed the workout, you can add it to a list of favorites if you want to repeat it.
• It provides videos from many celebrity trainers, including my "goal-model" Jillian Michaels.
• You can browse through videos by trainer name or by style
• Styles include Cardio, HIIT intervals, Barre, Cycling, Total Body, Yoga, Abs/Core, Pilates, Dance, Stretch, Kickboxing, Buns and Thighs, Chest Arms Back, Postnatal
• Videos vary in length from 10 minutes to 60 minutes so you can find the exact type of workout you need each day.

I have downloaded it to my phone and to my iPad.  I have tried many of the videos already in my own home.  I hope to use the phone at school once a week when Camilla has to be at school early (making me arrive 45 minutes early to my job, great time to complete one of the shorter Barre routines).   Are you ready for it?    FitFusion          Your welcome.  I might only keep my membership for one year and then I'll need something else....but for this school year, this App could be the game changer to get me working out more than just two times a week.  Comment at anytime if you decide to try it.

Week 5 and 6: Maps and Dinosaurs

Mother Hen's Summer Survival Guide: 12 Summer Themes

Thank you Crafting Chicks for providing these awesome resources for planning a great summer schedule for kids at home.  

http://thecraftingchicks.com/mother-hen-summer-survival-guide-2016/

On to weeks 5 and 6!

Week 5 was a little hard for me to implement for a 5 and 4 year-old since their sense of directions  and geography are not developed.  However there are some great ideas for older kids on The Crafting Chicks website:

http://thecraftingchicks.com/me-on-the-map/

I took one of their ideas and made my own modifications to create a science lesson in map awareness.  It was also free and in the backyard.  This activity helps kids to understand how maps are made and make one of their own.  

1.  The first thing we did was make a legend.  I explained to the kids how legends are symbols that represent everything in our backyard.  So, we had to explore and observe everything in our yard and we picked a shape to represent that item.  In our legends we drew the shape and then I wrote the word for them.  I had to really help Rex with his map (call this an introduction to focus - HA).  

2.  Then we walked the perimeter of the yard and drew the symbols we needed. 

3.  Finally we filled in any additional items in the middle to complete our detailed map of the backyard.

Treasure Hunt:  I then took it to the next level.  I hid two pieces of candy in the backyard.  I drew on Rex's map where the treasure was.  He and Camilla had  to follow the map to find the candy.  The entire activity took about 30-45 minutes all outside and they learned a little science.  This activity will also make a great rainy day activity to make a map of the living room or their bedroom and do a similar hunt.

Books  At the library this week I found books about North Carolina: T is for Tarheel, and some non fiction about North America.

Week 6  Dinosaurs are easy and beloved.  At our house there is no shortage in dinosaur toys.  This is a great theme to pull together.

http://thecraftingchicks.com/dinosaurs/

Books  At the Kannapolis library, there are pre-bundled books on various topics ready for moms to pick up.  I walked right in and grabbed one of the dinosaur bundles and walked back to the counter.  Easy!

Movies Ice Age Two comes out next week - Perfect tie into your week of dinosaur projects.

Science Project  I am going to do this before we see the movie Ice Age 2 about an asteroid hitting the earth so the kids understand better the theories in how the dinosaurs actually died.  

1.  I'm going to simple take an aluminum roasting pan and fill it with flour about 1 inch thick and sprinkle cocoa powder on top.

2.  Then the kids need to find a collection of rocks ranging in sizes.

3.  Starting with the smallest, I will drop the rock from up high into the pan so they can observe how the rock leaves a crater.

4.  We will continue until we drop the largest rock, observing how the flour and cocoa changes each time the surface is hit with a rock.

This observation will help them to understand how rocks from outer space have created craters on the moon and the Earth and why the dinosaurs in the movie are scared of them.

My Three Favorite Breakfast Smoothies

Chocolate Mint Chip Smoothie by Daphne Oz (Dr. Oz's daughter)
Serves 1
1/2 banana
1/2 cup frozen spinach
1/4 avocado
1 tablespoon shredded coconut
1 teaspoon psyllium husk powder or chia seeds
1 tablespoon flaxseed oil or coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
3/4 cup ice
2 tablespoons chocolate chips

Put it all in and blend.


Strawberry-Banana Trim Time Smoothie also by Daphne Oz
Serves 1
1/2 banana
1/2 cup strawberries
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon almond butter
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
3/4 cup ice

Blend it all together.

My Own - Use What You Got Recipe
Serves 1
1 banana
1 scoop of Trader Joe's Protein Powder
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup frozen berries
1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
1 teaspoon psyllium husk or chia seeds

Blend it up!

My Favorite Substitutes on a Budget

Eating natural can get expensive...and my budget can't always hang.  However, after years of trying to eat well and reading every label, I have found my favorites that don't break the budget.

I try to avoid eating items that have enriched flour, sugar, or high fructose corn syrup listed within the first five ingredients.  Initially, a diet like this would sound like a bread and pasta free diet.  Not true!

Aldi (my budget friendly store, and the closet store to my house...therefore where most of our food comes from)
Here are some staples that you will always find in my house and their first five ingredients:

Bread  2.99                             Pasta   2.99                                  Peanut Butter 1.49
Whole Sprouted Grains        100% Durum whole wheat flour     Peanuts
Water                                                                                            Evaporated  Cane Juice
Whole Wheat Flour                                                                       Palm Oil
Vital wheat gluten                                                                         Salt
Honey                                                                                           Molasses

And then there is Trader Joe's.  I would shop there every week if it wasn't 30 minutes away.  However, since my closest Joe's is so far, I travel once a month to stock up on healthier foods for myself and the kids.  Here are three things that I have to buy every month to help ME stay on track and on budget:

Yogurt   4.99                                     Flax Oil   7.99                                    Peanuts 3.29 

Pasteurized Mild                            Flaxseed Oil                                        Peanuts
Cream                                            Milled Flaxseed                                   Vegetable Oil
Nonfat Milk                                   Rosemary Extract                                 Salt
Honey                                            Tocopherols
Cultures

The Tour de France Fitness Challenge 2016

Every July the world turns its attention to one of the most physically challenging athletic events in the world: The Tour de France.  Twenty-Three days of challenges with only two rest days that traverse Europe's most beautiful countryside.    I have decided (to help kick off some baby weight) to create a 23 day challenge that follows the Tour de France.  My challenge will follow their workout but will be modified for a mom schedule and modified to fit into a breast feeding mom's needs.  I am going to start the challenge with the actual Tour on July 2nd kicking off in Mont Saint Michel (one of my favorite places).  I will be blogging each workout to hold myself accountable, but also to share my 16 years of Group Fitness and Personal Training experience with everyone.

Who's in?????

Here is the actual tour schedule for 2016:

The qualifying rules (sounds official, right.  LOL)

1. Don't count calories. "Ain't nobody got time for that!"  Eat as many calories as you need to feel full but change the type of calories.  Do not eat any foods with enriched flour, sugar, or high fructose corn syrup in the first five ingredients listed - That is a Dr. Oz rule.  You can cheat on the two rest days.  

Remember this is only for 23 days, you can do this and learn some new habits in the process that might last longer than the actual challenge.

2.  You can switch the workouts around to fit into your schedule as long as you do them all in 23 days.

3.  Record your starting weight and take a picture.  Keep it on your phone for privacy.  I have mine and I'll only post at the end.  I'm too ashamed now - LOL.  I will share my starting weight: 165, yikes!

4.  Make a reasonable goal for 23 days: 2-6 pounds.  But, you will be jump starting some new habits that will stay with you.

Each day I will also provide some food tips to help you (and me) stay on the plan.  I will continue to add and update to this post so that the entire workout is easy to find for anyone who wants to join late.  I'm providing only the first few days now so I could get this out there and get started tomorrow. I'll update it as the week progresses.  Follow me on Instagram to get daily pictures and reminders also (maybe even a video of the workout).

Stage 1: July 2nd, 188 km Mount Saint-Michel to Utah Beach.  Flat.  This is a great beginning to start the challenge.  Let your body warm-up and build endurance for the days ahead.  Walk or cycle 45-60 minutes.  This first day needs to be low impact cardio.  If you are already a runner you can do a light jog.  Nutritional Tip: Cheap, ready to eat foods available at the discount grocery store Aldi that fit into the plan.  Eating right and natural doesn't have to cost a fortune:  http://thesuburbanchallenge.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-favorite-substitutes-on-budget.html

Stage 2: July 3rd, 183 km Saint- Lô to Cherbourg.  Flat.  Getting back into the swing of things.  Again walk or cycle 45-60 minutes.  This workout is the same as the first in order to build your endurance for the challenge.  You can do the same workout you did yesterday or you can switch.  Other ideas for low impact cardio include elliptical trainer with little incline, light jogging, or mowing the yard without breaks.   Nutritional Tip: The Trader Joe's List.  More ready to eat affordable options to stay on the plan and to stay on a teacher's budget. http://thesuburbanchallenge.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-favorite-substitutes-on-budget.html

Stage 3: July 4th, 223 km Granville to Angers.  Flat but long!  You're off today from work, its a holiday.  Get up early and walk or cycle longer - 60-90 minutes.  You could also do a combination of other cardio but get in an hour to an hour and a half of moderate exercise.  This needs to feel harder than the first two days.   You have started to build your endurance, now push it.  Walk longer or walk harder.   Wherever your current fitness level is, push today 10% harder than you did the first two days.    Nutritional Tip:  I love drinking breakfast.  Especially when I'm getting everyone dressed and trying to run out the door.  Here are my favorite recipes: http://thesuburbanchallenge.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-three-favorite-breakfast-smoothies.html

Stage 4: July 5th, 237 km. Saumur to Limoges. Flat and long again! Happy Birthday to me.  Repeat yesterday's long workout.  Another idea would be to get on an elliptical machine at the gym for 45 minutes.  Once again, this workout could be the same as stage 3, but the point is to go harder than stages 1 and 2.  Today I'm switching it up with 45 minutes of step aerobics for cardio.  Nutritional Tip:  Yogurt has lots of sugar in it.  Read your labels, it is always listed in the first five ingredients.  BAD! To find yogurt that does not have sugar, you have to eat plain, yogurt - bitter and yuck.  That is one of the reasons I make my own in the crockpot.  It turns out smooth and creamy! http://thesuburbanchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/09/diy-yogurt.html 

Stage 5: July 6th, 216 km.  Limoges to Le Loran.  The Mountains.  The honeymoon is over - time to work!    Today's stage in the Tour is a long ride through the mountains, but not the Alps (so its not super steep).  So, we are doing a 20 minute leg workout, 10 minute upper body, and 5 minute ab workout.   Do each exercise 40 seconds pretty quickly and then rest for 20 seconds.

Legs:  Alternating Lunges, Squat and Shoulder Press, Plié Tricep Press, Dead Lifts, Star Pose Left, Star Pose Right.  Rest one minute. Repeat circuit 3 times

Arms: Cross Over Push-Ups, Wide and High Left, Wide and High Right, Bicep Curl Shoulder Press.  Rest one minute and repeat 1more time.

Abs: 30 seconds each, only one circuit.  Double Crunch, Dolphin Plank, Side Plank Left, Side Plank Right, Russian Twist, Crunches, Reverse Curls, Hover.  

Camilla helped me demonstrate each exercise with a video, and she did AWESOME!  The link is password protected because I wanted only readers of the blog to be able to view it.  The password =  TDF  https://vimeo.com/173552520

Nutritional Tip: Summer Vegetables are in full abundance right now.  Here is one of my easiest (doesn't not include canning) way to preserve some extras - AND - have a head start to dinner once school starts back and things get crazy!  Its a win win, healthy and made ahead.  I'll probably put three bags in the freezer this week with all the squash and zucchini that I have: http://thesuburbanchallenge.blogspot.com/2015/07/mediterranean-vegetable-stew.html

Stage 6: July 7th, 190 km. Apron-Sur-Cère to Montaiban.  Flat.  Cycling class or walk 60 minutes.  Nutritional Tip: Here is one of my favorite summer recipes with cucumbers and tomatoes:  http://thesuburbanchallenge.blogspot.com/2015/06/cucumber-and-tomato-salad.html

Stage 7: July 8th, 162 km.  L'Isle-Jourdan to Lac de Pauolle.  We are in the Mountains again and for only 162 km.  So, get ready to work those legs.  Repeat the toning workout from Stage 5.  Nutritional Tip: Another great recipe to stock the house with is homemade Granola that omits the added sugars and preservatives that store bought granola has.  I love it as a snack and on my homemade yogurt for a very filling breakfast.  http://thesuburbanchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/10/granola.html

Stage 8:  July 9th Both Stages 8 and 9 are two short distances through the mountains.  We are going to mimic that workout with a power jolt to the legs.  We are doing 5 rounds of: 10 Squat Jumps, 10 sets of alternating lunges, then a 15 second wall sit or squat and hold.  Time each round and try not to get slower. Nutritional tip:  I completely forgot about this old recipe for zucchini.  But, I'm going to get started on making dinner for this week and stocking up on three extra batches for the fall when school, dance lessons, and aerobics classes are in full swing: http://thesuburbanchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-meatball.html

Stage 9:  July 10th Repeat the same 5 rounds of power leg exercises for faster times than you did them yesterday.  Nutritional Tip:  Need something sweet?  3 cups of oats, 1 cup of natural peanut butter, and 1 cup of local honey mixed together and pressed into a pan for a healthy Peanut Butter Power Bar.  

Rest Day: July 11th in Andorre

Stage 10:  July 12th,  197 km of Intervals, Escaldes-Engordany to Revel,  If you have never taken a spin class, today would be a great day to try one.  Other ideas to get indoor intervals is to take any form of a group exercise class because the instructor is going to purposely push you hard, then let you recover, push you hard, followed by another recovery.  Make sure you clock 35-45 minutes of interval work today hard/recover/hard/recover etc......  Nutritional Tip:  Need something sweet?  Microwave 2 cups of mini marshmallows, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon cocoa, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, 1/8 teaspoon salt on high for 1 minute.  Stir with a rubber spatula.  Sir in 3 cups of a whole grain cereal and 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips.  Coat a 1/4 cup measuring cup with cooking spray. Scoop up cereal mixture and drop onto wax paper.  Freeze for 8 minutes.  The challenge, only eat 1 a day!

Stage 11: July 13th, 162 km  Flat and Short, Carcassonne to Montpellier, Easy cardio for 40 minutes.  Nutritional Tip:  Sample Eating Schedule from Dr. Oz would be egg-white omelet with juice or coffee for breakfast.  Veggies and dip for snack.  Healthy burger with lettuce and tomato for lunch.  Yogurt with fruit for snack.  Salmon with brown rice for dinner.  1 oz dark chocolate for dessert.  As much water, coffee, or tea as you wish.

Stage 12:  July 14th, 184 km Mountains, Montpellier to Mont Ventoux, Repeat the toning workout from stage 5.  Nutritional Tip: From You on a Diet, If you find yourself traveling and have to eat on the road a lot, rely on more snacks rather than gorging on big meals.  Travel with easy-to-carry (in plastic baggies) snacks such as nuts and cut-up apples and carrots to take the edge off your hunger.

Stage 13:  July 15th, 37 km of Time Trials, Bour St. Andeol to La Caverne du Pont d'Arc.  Tabatta!!!  This is a timed workout where you to a hard exercise for 20 seconds and recover 10 seconds 8 times without stopping to time exactly 4 minutes.  Do two Tabatta circuits today alternating between these 4 great exercises: Squat Jumps, Burpes, Mountain Climbers, and Speed Skaters.   Nutritional Tip:  Most power bars are horrible snacks!!!!  Don't grab them thinking it is a healthy substitute.  The only bar I have found that fits into the plan is Kashi.  

Stage 14:  July 16th, 208 km Flat and Long, Montelimar to Villars-les-Dombes.  60 minutes.

Stage 15:  July 17th, 160 km of Mountains, Bourg-en Bresse to Culoz.  Repeat the Stage 5 toning workout.

Stage 16:  July 18th, 209 km Flat and Long, Mourns-en Montagne to Berne.  60 minutes.

Rest Day:  July 19th, In Berne Switzerland.......eat some cheese!  HA

Stage 17:  July 20th, 184 km of Mountains, Berne to Finhaut-Emosson, Repeat the Stage 5 toning workout.  Or try this high impact interval 10 minute workout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6NSUvu2Bi8  

Stage 18:  July 21st, 17 km of Time Trials, Sallanches to Megene.  Repeat the Tabatta workout from State 13.

Stage 19:  July 22nd, 146 km of Mountains, Albertville to Saint-Gervais, Repeat the Stage 8, 5 sets of squat jumps, lunges, and wall sits.

Stage 20:  July 23rd, 146 of Mountains, Megeve to Morzine-Avoriaz, Repeat the Stage 8 Power Legs workout.

Stage 21:  July 24th, 113 km Flat and Celebrate in Paris!!  Today they circle the Arc de Triomphe drinking Champagne while riding.  So, after your flat 30 minute workout, drink some champagne and share your success....or at least a glass of white wine.

Update from the Finish Line: July 27th, 2016...... I feel great.  I only lost about 3 pounds in three weeks but that is because: 1. My age is above 35.   2.  I'm recovering from Baby Number 3 and still breast feeding.   3.  I have PCOS, making my body resistant to weight loss.   But I still lost a little! And, I feel like I have my pre-pregnancy endurance back.  Most importantly, this challenge got me back into the swing of working out more than 2 times a week and got me back into the habit of making my own yogurt and granola (something I have not done in 2 years).  So, I rededicated some great habits that will allow me to continue.  

I had so much fun following the Tour de France in real time and looking forward to a new routine every week.  So much fun I'm going to lead this online again next year.  I promise to have the schedule posted by June 1st so that we can generate an online team to complete together.  For 23 days we will go "balls to the wall" trying new activities and learning new habits that will hopefully last a full year.  

A Seussical Week 3 and an Art Appreciation Week 4

Mother Hen's Summer Survival Guide: 12 Summer Themes

Thank you Crafting Chicks for providing these awesome resources for planning a great summer schedule for kids at home.  

http://thecraftingchicks.com/mother-hen-summer-survival-guide-2016/

On to week three.

http://thecraftingchicks.com/dr-seuss/

Week three was a little busy with the kids at a Safari day camp, but we did manage to cook our way through a couple of Seuss stories.  Click on The Crafting Chicks links above for all the different Seuss ideas, but we went for the:

Green Eggs and Ham idea for sweet snacks to pack in our lunch for camp:

and The Cat in The Hat Pizza for Wednesday's dinner:

and well, this has nothing to do with Seuss...but isn't it cute.

Week Four:  Exploring Art!     http://thecraftingchicks.com/exploring-art/

Book ideas: http://thecraftingchicks.com/exploring-art-books-kids/

There are a ton of ideas and I'm going to have to get a Hobby Lobby list ready.  But tomorrow there are two GREAT events that tie in perfectly with this week if you live in the Kannapolis/Concord area.

June 25th: Kannapolis, NC

http://downtownkannapolis.org/event/kaleidoscope-cultural-arts-festival/

June 25th: Concord, NC

http://cabarrusartscouncil.org/news/?p=1167

I'll update with pictures from Week Four......

Our day at Kaleidoscope

Rex took painting his plane we made very seriously.

Week Two: In The Zoo

Mother Hen's Summer Survival Guide: 12 Summer Themes

Thank you Crafting Chicks for providing these awesome resources for planning a great summer schedule for kids at home.  

http://thecraftingchicks.com/mother-hen-summer-survival-guide-2016/

We are continuing your challenge with week two!

http://thecraftingchicks.com/zoo-fun/

Day One:  Time for new books.  Here is the link for Zoo Books provided by The Crafting Chicks:  http://thecraftingchicks.com/the-zoo-books/.  Here are some we found at the Kannapolis Library.

Day Two:  The Zoo.  We made the journey to Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, NC.
http://lazy5ranch.com

Day Three:  We made Giraffes with pretzels and marshmallows.  This was one of the Zoo ideas presented by The Crafting Chicks.

Week One: In The Backyard

Mother Hen's Summer Survival Guide: 12 Summer Themes

Thank you Crafting Chicks for providing these awesome resources for planning a great summer schedule for kids at home.  

http://thecraftingchicks.com/mother-hen-summer-survival-guide-2016/

We have accepted your challenge and are starting with week one.

Day One:  Renovate the sandbox.  We took all the toys out and had a toy, car wash.  Then we washed out the old sandbox; bugs, slugs, and dirt included.  We took a trip to Lowe's to buy new play sand on sale for $2.50 a bag.  NapTime!!  Fill in with new sand, play, and popsicles in the backyard!

Before



Toy Washing Station



The old, and refreshed sandbox!

Day Two:  A trip to the Kannapolis Library to find books about the backyard.  To view the entire list provided by The Crafting Chicks go to this link:  http://thecraftingchicks.com/in-the-backyard-books/    Here are some of the books we selected:

Day Three:  Tents in the backyard.  Why not bring your biggest toys out to the backyard for some new adventures!

Everyday:  Icy Pops!!!  You know the old fashioned, high fructose corn syrup kind that comes 50 to a net bag that you have to freeze?

Cauliflower, Cheddar, and Ranch Chicken Calzones

This year, 2016, has yielded one of the best gardens we have had since Steve and I converted our garden to all raised beds.  We have never had cauliflower look this good.

So now, the challenge has been to find amazing recipes to use the vegetable before it goes bad.  

This winner comes from the June 2016 Cooking Light page 58. 

"Broccoli, Cheddar, and Ranch Chicken Calzones"

To make life easier for myself since we have a 2 week-old at home, I used Trader Joe's pre-made pizza dough and I substituted cauliflower for broccoli and followed all the other directions.    I will be making this again!!!

I couldn't find the link to the actual recipe because you need to have a subscription.....but if you do its on page 58 of the June 2016 issue.  Otherwise, I was too scared to type it for you, so I'm only sharing a picture of where to find it.  :)

Reusable Bowl Covers.....made from a Shower Curtain

I have been eyeing reusable bowl covers on Pintrest for about two years.  However, I wanted mine to be water proof and rinsable.  I decided the only way to accomplish this was to buy fabric laminate and laminate both sides of a piece of fabric.  I set out to Walmart to find the laminate and accidentally walked by the shower curtains...... and then it hit me.  I should find a shower curtain with a cute design that does not need a liner!  Hence: rinsable, water proof, machine washable fabric...... and only $7.

I bought one shower curtain and some 1/4 inch elastic (about 2 packs)....and made about 15 Christmas gifts!

With one shower curtain you can cut 20, 14x14 squares that, once rounded into a circle, can cover a 10 inch bowl or smaller.  This is your large salad or mixing bowl that we all use the most.  Then with the left overs I cut 6 more 12x12 squares that I made into smaller bowl covers.   Gift idea: for the ones I love the most (mom, sister, BFF) I gave a large and small bowl cover set.

1.  Round out the corners trimming as little as possible to keep the circle large.

2.  Fold it in about 1/2 inch on the wrong side and sew around leaving a 1 inch opening to insert your elastic.

3.  Using a safety pin to thread the elastic on one end and another safety pin to secure the end of the elastic at the opening (or else your elastic will go sailing inside), thread the elastic through.  Sew the ends together with a zigzag stitch, multiple times for strength.  Then close up your opening.  I cut about 17 inches of elastic for the large bowls and 12 inches of elastic for the smaller.

4.  Enjoy!  Obviously washable and bleachable....but I would not recommend the dish washer or the microwave for the fear that the heat would peal the design off the fabric.

Here were my teacher gifts.  I bought the plastic bowls from the Dollar Tree and made homemade cookies.  I was afraid if I just gave them the covers, some of the teachers would think they were shower caps, LOL.

Homemade Brine Mix

Disclaimer:  I ONLY brine my Turkeys!

     I love the flavor of a Turkey that has been brined.  Brine is a strong saltwater mixture that is flavored with herbs and spices.  After working for Williams-Sonoma for 8 years and having had lead their Turkey technique class for about 5 of those years, I will only Brine my turkey.  I don't care if you roast, grill, slow cooker, fry, or smoke your turkey on Thanksgiving the only proper Turkey comes out after a day of brining.  When brining, the brine must cover the food completely.  As the meat soaks for at least 24 hours, the salt will penetrate it, drawing moisture and any other seasonings in. This process prevents you from having to baste your turkey during cooking and still produces a moist turkey - fool proof.  The only step that is SO important in the brining process that some people overlook is the rinse afterwards.  After 24 hours and once you are ready to start cooking your turkey, you must rinse ALL the brine, salt, herbs, off the turkey.  You do not cook with these still on the turkey.  That means you have to lift the skin, get inside the cavern, under the legs real good to remove all the seasonings, otherwise your turkey is too salty.

      Now, the problem this year, I don't have time to drive 30 minutes to my nearest Williams-Sonoma to get a jar of brine mixture and I can't afford the cost of over night shipment.  Solution?  Well, I've used their mix for at least 6 years for our personal turkeys.....and although their mix changes each year....I've come up with a great, homemade alternative.

Traditional Brine Mixture:

2 cups Kosher Salt (which is free of additives)

1 cup dried cranberries

1 1/2 Tablespoons whole pepper corns

2 Tablespoons dried minced onion flakes

2 Tablespoons dried parsley flakes

1 Tablespoon dried sage

Game Plan for Brining the Turkey for Thanksgiving:

Monday night, boil the brine for 15 minutes in 2 gallons of water.  Remove from heat and let cool completely for 24 hours eventually transferring to the refrigerator to chill the salt mixture.

Wednesday, Place the Turkey and the brine in a large brining bag and chill.  The brine must cover the food completely. This can also be done in a small cooler placed in the refrigerator.  

Thursday, remove the bird, rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse, and cook.  Fool proof, perfect turkey.

I was going through some old Williams-Sonoma handouts and I found this older brine recipe that is sweet.  It might be a good version if your also doing a spicy rub??
Brown Sugar Brine:
2 1/2 cups kosher salt
2/3 cups packed light brown sugar
1 Tbs. peppercorns
1 gallon water
1/2 gallon ice water

In a large pot over high heat, combine the salt, brown sugar, peppercorns and 1 gallon water.  Bring to boil string for about 3 minutes.  Remove from the heat and let cool to lukewarm about 1 hour.  Stir in 1/2 gallon of ice water.

Mediterranean Vegetable Stew

Freeze Now..... Slow Cook Later.

I have too many vegetables on their last week in the fridge and I'm heading out of town next week.  There is not enough to can, but more than I can eat in the next two days.  Solution?  Plan some soups for the winter.  I found one of my favorite slow cooker meals and prepped half of it.  Basically, I cut up the fresh stuff, write down what I need to add to it on the bag, and then freeze.  SHORT CUT CENTRAL  and still preserving fresh vegetables from my garden.

So:
1. I cut up one zucchini and two squash into little triangles and put into a freezer bag.  I then cut up one onion and added it.  If you have 2 tomatoes, a handful of green beans, 2 ears of corn.... chop and add to it -  what ever you need to NOT WASTE.
2.  Then add the seasonings.  (If you don't have any of the seasonings now just write it on the bag.)  I added two frozen ice cube size blocks of pesto, a teaspoon of garlic, a tablespoon of salt, and a teaspoon of pepper.
3.  Label the bag and what you need to add to it.  My bag says:
Add 1 can of chick peas, 1 can of tomatoes (because I don't have enough right now.  If you cut up two omit the extra can.), 1 can of vegetable broth, 1 can of tomato soup.
4.  Then write on the bag: Cover and cook on low 8 hours.  Dinner is almost done...... three months early.  When cooking, it is not necessary to thaw this bag...just dump it all in.

My Pedagogical Reflection from Haiti

Just going to say from the start.... I am sorry for the length of this blog.  But, from a teacher's view point this is what I saw, what I learned, and what I did with that information during five days in the classroom of the Baudin Methodist kindergarten classroom.

• Day One

     I found myself holding back tears, many times. I got into the van to go home after Day One and I was still trying to hold back tears.  This was perhaps the most rewarding professional experience I have ever had.  I taught three new songs in French, led counting activities that had manipulatives, read The Grouchy Ladybug in French, colored ladybugs, helped out with a snack and P.E. and then sang more songs.  There are four pre-K and kindergarten teachers who are shadowing me from Haiti.  Already on Day One I have noticed some signs of Haitian education pop up such as their method of repetition.  As I was reading The Grouchy Ladybug aloud "At 9:00..." the teachers would lead the students to say "At 9:00."  At first it caught me off guard and then I realized they were getting the students to repeat the story.  Silly me, I starting thinking they were trying to correct my pronunciation of "At 9:00."  (Ha!  OK ladies.... I thought I was pretty clear in my pronunciation of "At 9:00"... jokes on me.)  Day One was so overwhelming.  First of all I had to just accept that I actually made it here and stop crying over how big of an accomplishment that was, then I had to pray for all the correct words to come out in French, and then execute a lesson planned with no prior knowledge of situation and of student abilities.  I met with the teachers after school and could only get out "OK...That's what I do."  I was so exhausted that we small talked a little and then I left.

     We all went home, took a nap, and then the reflection came.......  It was in the shower, as a matter of fact (where all great ideas come from) that the reflections opened up.  The goal I made in North Carolina was to show how many activities and manipulatives I could make with paper plates and how many different lessons I could pull from a single piece of literature.  REASSESS!  My goal for Tuesday will be to encourage more physical response (TPR) rather than monotonous verbal repetition.  Haitian students need to do more than just listen and talk.  Some students have difficulty with digit recognition so identifying numbers out of sequential order will be added.  I also reflected that in order for my four Haitian colleagues to "buy in" to what I have to share, they are going to have to "buy in" to me!  And I feel this is true no matter who the student is. You will "buy" from the salesman if you trust him and you will "learn" from the teacher if there is a rapport.  (This theory was confirmed again on a greater measure this summer at the Capturing Kids Heart training that I attended.)  Monday after school and while waiting for our van to arrive I was showing one of them a picture of my kids on my phone.  She then kept swiping and there she saw all my food pictures and my sewing pictures.  So of course she asked about them.  Looking back on this..... How haphazardly perfect! It gave us all the opportunity to share who sews, who loves to cook, who has children and how old are they.  Build the rapport and they will follow!

     So tomorrow I'm going to address each one of them with a "Bise" (equivalent to an American hand shake) and by their first name.  Then I'm going to hit them with what I totally forgot to do on Day One (I forgave myself because I was so overwhelmed). I am going to hit them with my goals for them and ask them to take notes.  Watch Out! Here comes the teacher!

Look how cute these little guys are during P.E.

• Day Two

     Day two went much better.  I didn't have to hold back as many tears.  However, I over-planned.  How many times do we do that?  Although it's a much better position to be in than under-planning.  As I reflect afterwards I wonder if I'm really stressing the "active learning" skills that I want them to appreciate.  We visited with an American in town after school who runs the shelter Streethearts and she was commenting on the education problems in Haiti.  She also talked about the repetition method.  The teacher says it, the student repeats it, over and over and over.  They never apply, never evaluate, never see a science experiment, and are never asked "what do you think?"  So, as always the idea hits me in the shower, "Why am I not showing my best practices? All this time I have been showing cute stuff for Kindergarten classes that I found on Pinterest, but what about ME.  Frappé and Scoot!" (And if you are a former student of mine and reading this you know exactly what I am talking about.) So, as all great reflective teachers do, I race out of the shower throwing clothes on my still damp, sticky body and run out of the bathroom with a towel on my head searching for a pen and paper to start making a list of things to do! It has honestly taken me two days to adjust and get into my grove here with the schedules, students, resources, etc... I have had to capitalize on reflecting everyday and changing everyday.  The Ah Ha Moment! Isn't that what we are suppose to do everyday as educators? Yes! It should not take an undeveloped nation and language barriers to realize and emphasize the importance of reflective teaching.  We all walk into a class with new students and get a new schedule and have new resources every year and we should constantly be reflecting on... Is it working? Are they growing?

Reflecting as a team after Day Two.

• Day Three

     Day three went great.  I gave them four different hands on activities to apply numbers, animal vocabulary, life cycle of the ladybug, and telling time.  Tomorrow will be the Haitian teachers' turn to practice a new method or to show me some stuff.  I plan on taking lots of notes.  I keep getting asked by friends, "How smart are the students?"  Well, when we do math, they can count, they can put numbers in order, and they can write digits - right on par for kindergarten.  Then, when I show them a picture of ladybug eggs, actually put a picture of ladybug eggs on each table, point to exactly what it is, show them exactly where I want them to draw it, and place the crayon in their hand = nothing.   I get a blank look.  Keep in mind, the ladybug drawing activity is one I practiced with Camilla, who is pre-K age, prior to departure to make sure the skill level was accurate and get an idea of expected outcome.  When I asked Camilla to do it I simply said "Draw this here."  -"OK mommy...... What's next?"  I believe an issue in Haiti illuminated by this lesson is that they know facts, but can't create.  They have no idea how to take a concept and draw it.  Leigh, who was teaching the 5th grade camp, had similar issues when she asked them to pick a vocabulary word to illustrate.  That cognition skill in the brain of interpretation and creating is completely left out of the "repetition method."  Perhaps this is why adults upon exiting school in Haiti have no skill sets and just want to get a job, a basic job.  There are no careers amongst the majority peasant class.

     Another thing I noticed, even from the teachers, is they have no knowledge of things outside of Haiti.  For example, with The Grouchy Ladybug, I was teaching the animal vocabulary words for the animals in the story.  When I got to praying mantis the teachers translated into French "cricket." No, I know what a cricket is.  When I got to Hyena I heard "Oh - loup."  No, loup is French for wolf, this is not a wolf.  And finally, they had no idea, and had never seen a rhinoceros and even tried to translate it as elephant.  Theses are teachers we are talking about!  I know you may not have rhinoceros in Haiti, and you may not have a zoo, but by God, have you never in your life been exposed to books, cartoons?  Has science been so omitted from the curriculum that no one can name animals in the sea, animals of the savannah, the jungle, the forest?  Mammals vs. Reptiles?  Insets vs. Crustaceans??  I think I am most upset that they are never encouraged to draw as children.

• Day Four

     On Day Four two of the Haitian teachers presented and, as I imagined, I observed a whole lot of lecture and verbal repetition with chanting.  I like the chanting and singing but I don't like the constant verbal repetition.  I literally heard instruction for 4 minutes, "Eleven is a number with two digits.  Eleven is a number with two digits.  Twelve is a number with two digits.  Twelve is a number with two digits...."   This is how the teachers were taught and they have never been trained to do anything differently.  To their defense, some of this is also due to the language barrier of the students.  Creole is typically the language used at home and school is taught in French.  So, for kindergartners who are learning the French in their first year, some of this spoken participation has an intentional purpose of teaching language syntax.  However, that is ALL it is teaching.  Some students just repeat the phrases without looking to actually see what 11 and 12 look like and can not identify them.  At the end of the day they asked my opinion. Hmm..... how do I give constructive criticism and offer points to improve on IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE!  I tried to praise one teacher's song and then praised how she made them go to the board.  The other teacher, I just apologized because she did not know prior that she was teaching and wasn't prepared.  Then I went on to say I loved the songs and that I was going to share them with colleagues in the U.S.  But, I also stressed in as much French as I knew, that there needed to be more hands on activities 50% of the time because some students can not write.  They defended themselves by explaining their lack of resources which is true and in which I intend to help them some.  Both Day Four and Day Five were centered around the Haitian teachers practicing a new process but I also planned a short 30-minute activity each day. 

     For Day Five's quick activity I decided to offer feedback the best way I knew how while being linguistically limited.  I planned to re-teach the second teacher's lesson from Day Four with her same poster as the resource but then added a foldable to show (secretly) how I could improve her lesson.  This way, without having to look-up a ton of words in the dictionary, I can model what parts I liked and offer a suggestion on how to take it to the next level and here is how the students will react.  So, Madame Nylva hung a poster of the alphabet on the board and called out one letter at a time while asking students to name things that start with that letter.  She also sang an alphabet song.  For Day Five, I will use the same poster, the same song, but I'm only going to do A, B, C, and D in her same mode.  Then, I will give students a foldable made like a "hot dog" with four windows cut and pre-labeled A, B, C, and D.  As we go through the discussion I will ask students to draw an object that they named in the window of each letter - just one little way to show improvement without resources and also model an effective, yet realistic outcome for improvement.

     Wouldn't that be a great professional development idea in the U.S.? Take two teachers in the same content and give them each a different topic. Then observe each other delivering the lesson in the classroom with students.  Then trade topics.  The rules are you have to keep 50% of the original teacher's methods (a form of affirming what you liked from that teacher and perhaps what you continue to borrow from that teacher) and then put your own spin on the other 50%.  Then, observe each other again!  What a fun, challenging way to collaborate and reflect on your own lessons.

Much of Haitian early education is taught through song and dance.

Another song outside during recess.

So, this is actually a screen shot of a video of them hopping.... I left the part out where Nylva falls and creates a traffic jam.  Ha!  Fun Times.

• Day Five 

     Day Five went great.  All plans went smooth and I even kept my problem child who tends to walk away busy and engaged.  They left happy, I left blessed.  There is hope for Haiti, but it is going to have to come from the people to educate themselves and believe in themselves to make demands upon the government.  One step at a time.  

     I will share one more story from Day Five.  The morning usually starts with singing.  Madame Nylva sang "Père je t'adore."  I recognized it immediately as an old Camp Tekoa song "Father I Adore The."  I picked up on the lyrics real fast.  I also had Madame Nylva help me to transcribe the words properly.  Then at snack time I told the four teachers that I knew that song and that we sang it in rounds where I come from.  So, I told Nylva and Juliette to start singing, then when the second verse started I began singing the round in English.  Went went on for a full three rounds.  I could not have asked for a better finale to the week than this collaboration of Christian Love!

Aren't they so cute.  Little man in the Carolina Blue and White shirt on the front line was only 4 years-old.  

Streethearts

And then we met Linsey.  Here is a brief profile to give you a better impression of how amazing I think she is.

Linsey is pictured far left outside of the safe house with two of our team members Jennifer and Jaci.

Linsey Jorgenson is from Virginia and a 2005 graduate of East Carolina University. With a degree in Communications she spent some time in corporate marketing before working with a non-profit in Cap Haitien.  She began working with an orphanage and focused on multiple projects with the "street kids."  This is where her passion took flight.  In October 2012, she founded Streethearts. The model she created focused on 6 areas necessary for children to cultivate and maintain a healthy heart.   To read her current newsletter from April:
http://www.streetheartshaiti.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2015-Q1-newsletter.pdf

Inside of the safe house is decorated with inspirational quotes and bible verses in English,  French, and Creole.

Unlike most Haitian orphanages that just feed the child, clean them, then kick them out at age 18 with no resources, Linsey and her team have created 6 different programs.  They learn to cook for themselves, they do fitness, they all have chores, and they have a work force team to actually prepare them to exit and make their own money.  Pretty fascinating right? The website: http://www.streetheartshaiti.org

We taught the boys the Cupid Shuffle!

Our team member Leigh letting some of the kids play with her hair.

Then, stupid me, I asked the dumb question: "When you say they come from a rough background in the U.S. it usually means some economic hardship but along with physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; but when you say that in Haiti, are they the same social problems or is it mostly economical?" And here is what I learned:
Its not economical because no one here knows they are poor, its just normal for them.  90% of street boys are male prostitutes to make quick money.  When they enter the Streethearts program they have to be treated for syphilis.  Other situations result from cruel measures such as one kid who was repeatedly electrocuted by his mother, because this was how she was raised. Kids live in homes where one or more parents have died and a grandparent has difficulty caring for them so the boys take to the streets.  Haiti is slowly moving into second place in the population of street boys.  The Bahamas, due to drug trafficking problems, is slowly taking its first place position, followed by Jamaica.  Operations such as Linsey's are reducing the numbers in Haiti.  At Streethearts while receiving programs to change their behaviors, the boys are placed under very strict orders because otherwise they would take out their aggression on each other.  Then Lindsey told us about 12 year-old Franky completely unaware that he was my student helper at camp that week (and with behavior problems that are hard to manage...walking off....  I could see how in the US he would be a student who would be quickly "labeled").  I immediately started looking to the sky, widening my eyes, stopping the tears that were growing without control.  When you want to hear his story I'll tell you one-on-one, but rest assured he has been saved because of Streethearts. I then noticed one of the boys making friendship bracelets.  This is one method that they boys are responsible for raising money and learning a skill to work for a living.  I bought four on the spot.
     On day five of camp I was able to keep Franky busy all day by making him feel like my special friend.  I taught him how to play Tic Tac Toe, had him pass out papers, he tied shoes for the little ones, and in the end I got a good bye hug and a picture.  If you could see inside my head the reflecting practice that was going on about "hard" students to teach, why they act the way they do,  and how to mold the behavior before labeling and writing off..... HUMMMMMMMMM........  No doubt about it, Linsey is my new hero for believing in a child.

Franky and I on the last day of camp.

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