Meatless Monday

If there is one thing I really slack on, it's putting love into preparing decent meals for my family. So when a member of our MOMspired tribe posted a recipe for Black Bean Lasagna this morning I was inspired to get cooking and the fam was grateful!

Here's the link to the recipe. I substituted the green peppers for kale, the sour cream for Greek yogurt and one can of black beans for chick peas. Love the versatility of a lasagna and love even more that it's a freezer meal!

What's for dinner at your house?

Nov. 24, 2014

I Got a Secret

The weekend rain kiboshed our plans to celebrate our annual tradition at Sloan's Christmas Village and bring home our Christmas tree, but it was still a good weekend.

I spent some quality time with mom on Saturday, Christmas shopping and going for dinner and a movie and today Bryon and I took the Rykman to the arena to meet up with his buddy, Mason for his first flailing-legged skate of the season.

Tonight, Ryker and I built a cozy little fort for him to watch some TV in before bed. He was all tucked in and I was at my desk trying to de-clutter last week before a new week begins when I heard those little footsteps running my way. He said, "Mommy, I got a secret." When I leaned my ear in and asked him what it was, he whispered in my ear, "I love you."

These rare, out-of-the-blue displays of affection have come out of nowhere for as long as he's been mobile. Yesterday, Bry and Ryker were playing a card game and out of nowhere, Ryker climbed over the table without a word, kissed his daddy and climbed back to where he came from and continued playing never missing a beat.

Tonight, he went back cozy in his fort after he told me his secret and came back a couple of more times to do the same thing. On his final return, he told me again that he had a secret and in the same tone and at the same level of a whisper, he said "I wanna snack."

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Nov. 23, 2014

A beautiful gift, just not for Christmas

"11 month old pure bred male, Boston terrier. House trained and will sit and shake paw. Has shots, comes with large dog kennel. Paid $900, asking $600 obo. Will make awesome Christmas present."

I woke to this post on 'Mommy Market' lining my Facebook newsfeed this morning, and aside from all else wrong with this, Christmastime isn't the best time to welcome a new fur family member. 

What an "awesome Christmas present". The thought of an adorable puppy with a red bow tucked into his collar greeting the kids on Christmas morning makes for a heartwarming memory and the hours of puppy play and cuddles to follow that day has the whole family over the moon, but that excitement can quickly dwindle. Children get bored with "gifts".

The idea to give the gift of a pet is a common holiday impulse buy. The reality is that people don't think about these beautiful beings and the time, attention, responsiblities and expenses that come with pet ownership. It's only a matter of time before the family is in search of a "forever home" for that once adorable furball of a kitten that has now fully grown into what she thought was her forever home and family.

Instead of choosing to give a furbaby as a Christmas gift, why not opt for a book about selecting the right pet for your family, pet training or pet care, and in the new year, after all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, sit down with the family to discuss if pet ownership is the right choice for your family.

If you're choosing to welcome a pet into your family, you're choosing a love and commitment to them their whole life through. And you've given your family a beautiful gift.

November 22, 2014