May is for Mothers!

We are kicking off our 5th month of donations for Everyday Angels: Blessing Bags of Downriver! 

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Everyday Angels: BBofD we are a group of 75+ people who donate to different non-profit organizations each month. We usually get a list of items that are needed and either do a large group donation or make individual 'blessing bags'. We have made 'blessing bags' for our cars to hand out to people that are homeless, a women's & children violence shelter, 242 bags for a headstart, and an animal shelter. 

In May we are donating to The Pregnancy Crisis Center in Lincoln Park. This is a group that is staffed with trained and caring volunteers and operate on donations by individuals and organizations They help whether you are single or married regardless of age, race, gender, or religion. They serve Allen Park, Taylor, Dearborn, parts of Southeast Detroit, Melvindale, Wyandotte, and Southgate. 

I would LOVE to be able to give these people who are in need a BIG donation. What is nice is that they take gently used clothing and big ticket items (bouncers, walkers, etc.). Here is what they would like as donations:

**Diapers....all sizes, especially newborn

**Formula - Enfamil with iron

**Bottles...any kinds and nipples.
Baby food jars any stage and baby cereal.
Baby wipes...

Baby lotions, shampoos, ointments.
Breast pumps...nursing pads.
Cribs...new only.
Crib mattresses....new or used.
Strollers...swings...bouncer chairs...bathtubs
Crib sheets and bassinet sheets

Bassinets ..
Sleepers....from newborn to 2T
Onesies T-shirts all sizes
Outfits...0 to 6 months boy and girl.
Any size pajamas ...
Clothing for sizes 2T 3T 4T

**Urgent Material Need

Let's do all we can to make May a GREAT donation month. 

Donations can be dropped off at our home base at any time. I can meet you if you live far or even come to your house and pick it up if you are in the downriver area. If you even have a sleeper and a jar of food...that can help!

If you would like to join our group, here is a link!

Everyday Angels: BBofD

Understanding State Guidelines...and why not to get worked up

So, I was extremely pissed about the new changes in the guidelines of age requirements for kindergarten. It's funny that with being a kindergarten teacher for four years, I did not rally around this change. I was however, ignorant to the stipulations until today! The change in the law was that your child needed to be 5 by September 1st starting in 2014. (Me being a parent of 2 children that were born in November, and one soon to be in October; I found this incredibly unfair.) There is a wavier that can be signed that parents can sign, so I told myself that with my educational background, if I feel that our kids are ready - they are going.

I am guessing that the goal for this change was to get people to send their kids to preschool to get them ready for kindergarten. I found out today - after researching schools for my big girl, that the change was indeed to encourage parents to send their kids to preschool. *Children that were born by December 1st of that school year can be in kindergarten as long as they have had a least one year of preschool.* I understand. I taught kindergarten for 4 years in the inner-city. I know what it's like having kids come in that have had no school experience what-so-ever. I know that some of them were ready, regardless of prior school experience and others - even if they had preschool were still not ready.

I am a strong believer in giving some assessments to see if a child is ready for school or not. I do know that one assessment is not enough, and that if we want our educational system to rival other countries then we need to get serious about it. There needs to be many different assessments and show of growth from the age of 3 -5 to decide whether or not a child is ready for kindergarten. Here comes the preschool. Since preschool is not free and kindergarten is not even required in the state of Michigan how can we expect parents to take education seriously? Unless a parent is raised in a home where education was important to their parents they aren't going to understand the importance of preschool and early childhood education.

My birthday is Sept. 9, after 2 years of preschool I was more then ready for kindergarten. However, education was important in our home. I understand the changes in the guidelines now, early childhood education is very important...and if I can get this kid potty trained...her butt will be in preschool this fall!

Under "Life-long Learner" in the dictionary is my picture

Looking back on my educational career, 14 years in the making - I'd say that was one hell of a career, I see how much of a wishy-washy person I am. Growing up I always, always want to be a vet. I have had almost every animal in the world (well, not barn or exotic animals) and have just had a passion for taking care of them. I started off in college in Fall of 99' and I was enrolled in the pre-vet program at Wayne State. 

That first semester I failed BIO 1010. Oh, my mother of God - I was bummed. So I took it again. FAILED a second time. So my third semester I took it off campus at an extension center and passed that shit. I passed that shit with a B....how does a person fail 2 times and then pass with a B? Was it just that the information was building up? In my opinion, nope. It was a smaller class size (450 ppl or 35? Hmmm) with someone that spoke English as a first language. With that out of the way came BIO 1020, which I took with the same teacher and did great. 

At that time I was working as a pharmacy tech at our local drug store and loving it. The pharmacists talked me into switching my major talking about all the money I would make. Then I had CHM 1030. That just sucked. BIG TIME. Let's just say mathematics isn't my thing and I had to take a lab with each math class in college. So, I knew this was not something that I was going to be able to finish. 

By the time I realized this it was 2001 and I felt lost and bummed. I just got a job working for the Taylor School District as a teaching assistant and I LOVED what I was doing. I really saw my hard work pay off with these amazing 1st - 3rd graders that I worked with. Once again, I switched majors. I think at this point my mom and dad didn't care what I did, just as long as I graduated and got the hell out of their house....lol. With 2 years wasted, I started the long haul through the college of education. Which is four years and a year of student teaching. I graduated with my bachelor degree in Aug. 2006. I started working that very next month! I loved it and knew that the Lord had guided me into the right career. 

In Sept. 2006 as I was starting my first year teaching, I also started grad school. I went part time (4 credit hours) year round. My major was Early Childhood, since I LOVE the babies. (Obviously, since I would be a Duggar if I could.) I worked on that part-time for about a year and a half. In this time I had switched jobs (more pay by 10K) and was in need of some special education training, since our school had a sucky special ed program. It was non-exisistent, at least for early elementary it was and it was shabby for the upper elementary....charter schools - gotta love em'. I switched my major to learning disabilities and figured I could just get my ZA (early childhood) certification along with my masters. I was on a great path! Then came the course that everyone takes in autism. Holy Moses - I fell in love. So...I switched my major again. With the plan to get my ZA & LD (learning disabilities) certification on my teaching license and my masters in autism (AI). 

As of May 2013, I will be a graduate of Madonna University. I will have my masters in AI and I have 2 classes to finish to get my ZA certification and 2 for my LD certification. It's been a long time coming. I love going to school. I don't love paying for school (which should kick in soon) but I would go to school and get as many degrees as possible if they would let me. Well - if I could afford it. 

I have switched my major 6 times. 6 times people. How crazy is that. Once I changed it the third time I did stay in the same field, but still drifted from one side to the other. I think that it was just because I have always wanted to help people. Now, I am not using any of this 100K+ education for income purposes. I have been fortunate enough to be able to stay at home with my girls for the last 2 years. Believe me I am putting all of that education (even the vet & pharmacology into good use!) You see, school doesn't just teach you the skills you need for a career. I learned a lot from those 2 'wasted' years of college. I know to NEVER mix bleach with ammonia - because of the fumes. I know the conversions for ounces to cups and ML to teaspoons - tablespoons. Bio 1010 - Dolphins and Pigs are 2 animals that have sex for pleasure...yes- that is what I remember. 

I have learned so many great things over the years. I know that school is not for everyone. I understand that however...

Knowledge is power. 

It has the ability to take you anywhere. 

Baby, baby, baby.....s

As some of you know from my ramblings here and there that we are trying for our third child. We have been "trying" since September. Now when I say trying, I don't mean - we'll see what happens when it happens. I mean, temperature charting, ovulating testing - the whole nine yards. I can say that after 6 months of trying, I probably only have 1/10th of the want that people who haven't conceived in years or never will. My thoughts often go to those who aren't able to have kids at all. I think that adoption should be attainable for EVERYONE with the means of supporting and loving a child. It's ridiculous to have to spend 20K+ to adopt a child and give it a better life. RIDICULOUS.

There are some people that sympathize with us and others that don't. Let me just tell you that the ones that don't are high on my shit list when they talk all high and mighty. If you have never "tried" and "tried" and "tried" to get pregnant, with no success - shut.your.hole. The best phrase to say to me to get punched in the throat is, "Stop trying." Really?! Are you kidding me?! I don't have a young 20 something body that is popping out vibrant, healthy eggs every month. I want what I want and I want it NOW!

A lot of people who are trying to make me feel better, say, Oh, it will happen when it's supposed to happen. No shit sherlock....really? You don't think that I realize I have no real control over this and that it makes me feel even more like losing my fraking mind?! I love those people for trying to make me feel better. When I get so close to that time of the month, it's great how mother nature fucks with me.  It makes my boobs hurt, turns me into a narcoleptic, and makes me bubble with emotions. I think - hmmm...maybe the sperm were like Michael Phelps this time....maybe me holding my legs up for 25 minutes after really worked. Only, to start my period 2 days later. What.a.bitch. Yeah, you mother nature are a huge BITCH.

As you can tell, it's getting close to that time of finding out if it's a + or a - sign. Less then a week. And the anticipation is KILLING me. I guess good things come to those who wait right? That's a shitty saying too...blah - I need to eat something with chocolate and go back to bed!

Bagging those bags!

We had our first "bagging" this past Saturday. It is exciting, inspiring, and productive! We had many people that donated supplies and their time to make this happen. Our goal for the evening was 30 bags. We made 38! I was most excited about seeing everyone's hard work in action. There were 5 adults and 9 kids that attended. The 4 ladies that showed up worked hard and I appreciate every effort they made! I am hoping that in a couple of weeks, I will be getting comments about people handing out their bags and how great of an experience it was. Here are some pictures from the night!

Brayden sorting through toiletries

Getting set-up

Shannon and Brayden ~ Thanks for your hard work!

Even the littlest ones got involved!

Diana working on getting the bags ready.

Erin working hard!

Lots of goodies going to people who need them.

Poor Cheryl, we made her work on her knees!

Finished bags, packed to the brim!

Isabella showing off our finished product!

We did a really great job, and there was tons of items stuffed into those bags. Everyone that donated supplies or their time got bags to take home to pass out. We had a meeting of the minds at the end of the night and jotted down things that we would like to do this year. Next month we are donating to a women's shelter, March is Children's Hospital, and April is the Brownstown Animal Shelter.

Everyone left with a smile on their face, bags in hand, and hope in their heart.

I didn't understand how giving people were. This project has enlightened me greatly on the wonderful people that God has placed in my life. I have known some of these people my entire life. I haven't seen some of them in over ten years. Some I met that night. People in general are pretty amazing. I am happy to see such good come out of a small idea from my pea sized brain.

With all of this goodness going on, I have really been thinking about starting a non-profit. I have done some research and starting an association would be super easy with minimal cost. However, I would solely have to rely on the support of individuals. If I start a non-profit, then I can apply for grants and get local businesses involved. It's a big job, not one that I went to school for, but I am trusting in the Lord to lead me in the right direction. I have always wanted to help the greater good. This is the reason why I became a teacher. I love helping the innocence of our population learn and grow. However, doing this would be to help another group of our population. These are  people who have lost their innocence and have battled trials and tribulations, not even I have seen. This is a major life-changing decision. The Hubbs is behind me 120%. I just have to believe in myself enough to make a decision.....

Apple Pizza Turnovers

In the fight to get my grown-ass husband to eat breakfast, I have been trying new recipes. I have made ham mcmuffins, bacon-n-eggs cups, and apple pizza. Well, it was supposed to be apple pizza, however, I turned it in to an apple pizza turnover. The original recipe was supposed to be dairy free, however, no dairy allergies in this house...so we used real butter. I used more lemon juice then was specified and from a real lemon. I love tart apple pie!

This is what it was supposed to look like....

This is what it actually look like!

I guess in my mind I wasn't picturing a pizza per say....I was thinking of a pie. I think that's where it all got out of hand. I rolled the dough out too much and had large squares of dough. So, I improvised and made turnovers. Crafty, huh? Who the hell cares what they look like, they were fantastic! I got 2 thumbs up from the Hubbs and my dad (who is a apple turnover connoisseur). Of course, it was one of my favorite things for breakfast! Who doesn't love pizza dough and apple pie filling? So, here's the recipe I used....it was adapted from this version.

Ingredients

• 1 tube of refrigerated pizza dough
• 2 apples (1 tart, 1 sweet) peeled, cored, chopped
• 2-3 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice + a little bit of pulp
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• ½ tsp corn starch
• 3 Tbsp butter divided 
• {Streusel}
• 3 Tbsp brown sugar
• ¼ cup unbleached all purpose flour
• 3 Tbsp butter
• {Glaze}
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp butter, melted
• 2 Tbsp of milk, more depending on consistency desired

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
2. Place peeled and cut apples in a bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice, cinnamon, brown sugar, corn starch and mix. Place apple mixture on pan. Then speckle tiny dots of butter over the top. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until soft. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
3. Raise oven temperature to 450 degrees F and roll out the pizza dough to about 1/2 thick. Use pizza cutter to cut into 4 pieces. 
4. Transfer dough squares to lightly greased baking sheets and top with apples. Prepare streusel by combining brown sugar and flour and then cutting in butter with a fork until well combined. Sprinkle over the top of the apples. Then fold in corner to make into a turnover. Top each with 1 tsp of sugar.
5. Bake pizzas for 10-12 minutes or until the edges appear lightly brown and the toppings are bubbly.
6. Meanwhile, prepare glaze by combining powdered sugar with vanilla and melted butter and whisking in milk until desired consistency is reached – thin enough to drizzle. You will have leftover glaze.
7. Remove turnovers from oven and drizzle with vanilla glaze, cut however you please and serve warm. These store well in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 2 or 3 days. Simply reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.

I seriously just ate the one that was left over as part of my lunch and it was AMAZING! So good luck - it was easy and didn't take that much time! 

Kitchen, kitchen - your a friggin mess!

I am always trying to organize this house and our lives easier. Most the time, it isn't so easy with the little ones leaving toys all over the place and dropping their snacks here and there. Not to mention, the hairy ass dog that sheds like it's a necessity for a Corgi-hair rug in every room. It's a never ending battle.  I have no idea how people work, raise babies, clean their house, cook dinner, etc. I appreciate every day the fact that I get to stay home, while the Hubbs brings in the money.

My first attempt at organization has been the girls toys. I have successfully gotten the living room toy-free. Most of the toys are in their rooms, however, we still have playland in our family room. At least, I have one room that is presentable!

After this, I realized that a very large portion of my day is spent in the kitchen. I love to cook and bake. I have really become quite the chef in the last year or so. This love of cooking has cause my cabinets to look like a nightmare of stacked bowls, pans, and pantry items shoved here and there. You know what that looks like...your kitchen is probably much like mine was. Don't lie. You have that bottom cabinet that is cast in darkness with tins and bowls stacked to the top.

My search of cabinet organization resulted in my wanting the new sleek pull out drawers. These drawers are beautiful! The smartest thing that I have seen in my life. Have you seen the corner cabinet drawers?

The person that invented this is a pure genius!

I also fell in l.o.v.e. with this little number.....

How awesome would my new pots and pans look on this? Super sexy...that's how they'd look!

The top picture would require getting all new cabinets, which is in our future. Not immediate future, but before we die future. The second picture was 129.00 at Lowes....on our shoe string budget that's not going to happen right now either. So, I searched and got a little creative and this is what I came up with. *I didn't take before pictures, because I was so excited about this I just jumped right into it.*

This is our bottom cabinet. When we moved in this lovely money pit, we moved a door and added cabinets for more storage. This is the cabinet my dad and cousin Chris made. I got the pan organizer for 11.99. I love that I can pull them out and put them back easily. No more taking the whole stack out, getting what I want, putting the stack back, and repeating after use. My pans are now stacked on a handy stacker. It was only 8.99!! How awesome is that?! I used a dish drainer to hold my pot/pan, which probably isn't the best use of space, but it makes them easy to access. I did see something that can be screwed on onto the side of the cabinet to hold them there, but I couldn't find it in the store. The bottom part is still not organized. I have my cake carries being held in place by a Pampered Chef stone (which I have owned for over a year and never used).

Directly above this homemade cabinet, is a store-bought cabinet that the Hubbs and my dad put up. It stores all of our snacks and some of our pantry items for the week. It was a MESS. There were things stacked on top of things. Chips getting crushed. Items forgotten about and it was just blah. I got an adjustable shelf for 11.00 and this was the result!

Now we can see what snacks we have and which ones we need. This will make my grocery shopping easier and allows for Lilli to get a better look at the selection of snack we have. 

Until I can have the kitchen of my dreams with all the drawers and real organization tools, this will have to do. I am pretty pleased and it should last the 15 years it will take to save for that new kitchen!