Cheesy Cauliflower Soup Recipe Review

This soup is right up my alley.  Tasty, simple ingredients, quite healthy, and crowd pleasing.  I'm adding it to my meal repertoire.

 http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cauliflower-soup

I was looking for something for dinner tonight and I have a whole cauliflower from my Bountiful Basket that needed to be eaten.  I searched cauliflower soup and this was the first recipe that I had all of the ingredients and it just sounded tasty and simple.  It was.  I was very excited because it also called for carrots and celery (which I also have an abundance of).  The best part was that everyone at it up and some asked for more.

      

I made it without the hot sauce (because I only have smoky flavored Tabasco) plus DIY-dad and I usually add the spice to our own servings.

Served with tuna salad and a choice of bread or crackers.

Unrelated BLOG NEWS: There is only one week left to use my promotional code  on Halftee.com. 

 

Egg-citing Easter Egg Decorating

Want to make some awesome Easter eggs this year?  Here are 4 different ways to make some awesome eggs.

I'm doing a few of these projects this week.
Patchwork Fabric Eggs:  Blow out the eggs and these eggs will last forever.  My mom has some that are decades old.  The glue and fabric make them really strong.  I did these ones below. We did some using Elmer's glue (thinned) and an off-brand Tacky-Glue.  Avoid the tacky glue because the fabric sticks to your hands too much... if you add lots of water it might do okay and they did have a more transparent affect.  I used both simple cotton fabric and flannel (see the ladybug egg).  It gives a little different texture (note: the flannel absorbs more glue).

Next year I think I'll try this technique with colored tissue papers.

See my post on Patchwork eggs with tips on making different patterns

Silk Tie-Dyed Eggs : I've done this for a few years. It's awesome.

Kick that Head Cold to the Curb/Bonus: DIY facial

This Blog entry is a little different.  A friend of mine just started an awesome blog called Swag on Momma (swagonmomma.blogspot.com).

  She asked me if I could contribute for her.  I was happy to help but I also wanted to share it with my readers so here's the link.

 Swag on Momma: Kick that cold to the curb.

 She also puts a lot of information about her contributors.  When I started my blog I haven't put a whole lot of personal info out there.  Here's my introduction post:

Swag on Momma: Meet Becca

Halftees: Solving Wardrobe Issues (promo code!)

I hate to layer.  I don't like all the extra bunching... and tugging on layers keeping them from riding up.  Over the years I've avoided wearing several of my favorite clothing pieces because they are too revealing to be worn alone, but I don't like messing up the look of the outfit with all the bunching (usually at the waist).  Do you avoid buying beautiful, flattering, stylish clothes because they are just a little too revealing... even when you find them at a great price?  I have.

Halftees are a great way to save money by expanding your current wardrobe.You won't feel like you need to go out and buy something new, because you're frustrated about all your cute clothes you can't or don't wear.

Keep reading for an exclusive Halftee promo code for DIY-MOM readers at the end of the post!

Free Online Workouts

 I've been collecting a series of online workouts. I prefer ones that I can do without equipment in my underwear (no extra workout clothes to wash)... I suppose when my son gets older I'll have to change my habits.

BASIC WORKOUTS 
I found this years ago. I love Joel Harper's workouts... They're from Oprah/Dr. OZ

http://www.oprah.com/health/The-Maximize-Your-Time-Workout-A-Dr-Oz-YOU-Q-ToolFre

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/The-Excuse-Busting-Workout-Video 

http://www.oprah.com/health/Take-Charge-Workout-by-Joel-Harper-and-Dr-Oz-Video

They may seem challenging at first (especially if you're out of shape) but get easier each time you do it.  I always feel so good after doing these workouts.
If you are looking to lose some pounds I would suggest doing more throughout the week. Either walking or doing some sort of cardio.  

 PREGO AND FIT: If you're expecting I feel it is very important to exercise.  If you don't pregnancy can be very miserable.  I consider childbirth like a marathon.  The better you prepare for it the easier it will be and easier to recover from.  Doctor Cathy on You Tube has some excellent workouts  that saved me during my pregnancies.  (I also highly recommend a natural childbirth or Lamaze class).

WARM UP  This warm up can be done throughout pregnancy and helps to stretch and relieve all of the tension and sciatic pains that comes with pregnancy.  Around 8 months some days I was unable to walk without doing this simple 6 minute warm up.  If I was really stiff and immobile I would do it 2 or 3 times (it's so short you can)  and I'd feel so much better by the end.

CARDIO PRE & POST NATAL This one is a great workout that helps your abs support that huge belly.  It was also helpful when I needed to firm up after giving birth.  I like this workout because it requires no equipment.  She has tons of other workouts that you may need an exercise ball, weights, or help from a chair etc.

SERIOUS TONING/SHAPING WORKOUTS: For those who're looking for a challenge.  These workouts require good sneakers and comfortable clothes and a little more space than the others.

Tracy Anderson is so lean and strong.  Her workouts are quite challenging but I believe the pay-off will be worthwhile.  I need to get working on her workouts... they are pretty hard for me and I'm in pretty good shape at this point.


Butt and Thighs


Her 45 min. Thanksgiving Cardio series (this requires dance/coordination skills which is probably what makes it the most challenging for me.  If I buckled down and did it 3 times consecutively I could probably get it down.)
PART 1    PART 2   PART 3  If you make a playlist on youtube you can get it to autoplay these in a row.

You will feel the burn with this one... just jumping around, trying to keep up, you're guaranteed to lose some pounds.

If you know of some more awesome free online workouts that you can do easily at home.  Please Share.  I plan to add on to this post.

What's a Flexitarian?

image source

I feel like I am already becoming a Flexitarian and I just found out what one is: I stumbled on a blog written by a woman explaining how she eventually became a vegan. I don't feel that veganism is necessary, but I want to consume much less meat.  I've watched a lot of documentaries on the food industry, the poor treatment of animals, and the unsustainable nature of our nation's animal product over-indulgence.  I've been eating less meat and I really would like to stop purchasing meat from large meat producers.  Kellie (from the blog) read this book by Michael Pollen, In Defense of Food  (he also is behind the film Food, Inc which is in my netflix instant cue :o)

When your child swallows a foreign object. Part 2

So, I've always been paranoid about my kids putting small objects in their mouths.  Pennies and dimes have always been picked up religiously.  Quarters? No, they're so big!  Not that I let them suck on them, I just didn't worry about them.  Well apparently not for my little guy's big mouth... but they're still too big to go through his pyloric valve (he's 23 mo. old).
See: When your child swallows a foreign object. (part 1)

The pyloric valve is between the stomach and the small intestine.  It regulates flow through and I think it prevents back flow.  Every 3-6 hours the stomach empties itself into the small intestine. Caleb had that quarter in there for 3 days.  So 3-5 times a day for 3 days his stomach has tried to dump that quarter out, but it wouldn't go.  We went in for another x-ray this afternoon and it hasn't moved (I pretty much knew it because that's what my metal detector keeps telling me). The doctor and the specialist figure we better get it out.  I suppose it could block the valve and prevent his stomach from emptying.  This could trigger other digestion issues (I can imagine acid reflux and a decrease in appetite at the least).

We're still waiting to get a call back from the specialist's office to make an appointment.  Then we get to drive to the big city 2 1/2 to 3 hours away.  The appointment will be scheduled first thing in the morning since he needs to fast several hours beforehand.  Talked to the hubby and we'll probably make a day of it.  This is sure one expensive quarter.

If your child swallows a coin... And they aren't vomiting, they're able to swallow (and are eating fine), they're not wheezing (means it's stuck in the airway), they're having regular bowel movements and they're not in pain;  I would use a metal detector to confirm there is something in there, to make sure it's made it to the stomach (below the rib-cage), and note the general location.  I wouldn't worry too much for a few days.  Check their stools religiously.  If you haven't found it in 3 days, then use a metal detector to confirm that it still in there (you may have missed it) and to see if it's moved down closer to the pelvis.  If it's noticeably lower I would just keep checking the stool (preferably w/ a metal detector). If the kid told you it was a quarter and you haven't seen it in 3 days and the metal detector still shows it near the middle of the abdomen, then I'd take them in for medical consultation and or x-rays.  Otherwise just keep looking for it until it passes. [If you don't feel comfortable with any of these suggestions feel free to call your doctor or the hospital if it's on the weekend].

My little sister once swallowed a necklace charm of mine.  I got the job of changing stinky diapers and examining the contents for maybe a week.  I got it back.  I washed it and sanitized it.  It was polished nice and bright from her digestive enzymes.  I still wear it on occasion. It had sentimental value beforehand and has more now.

I'll let you know how it goes.  I guess they're still a chance it could pass before we go for the procedure but who knows.  They'll take an x-ray before they do it.

We've scheduled the procedure for 8 am on Thursday.  We've got to check in at 7am... leave home at 4am.  I thought about getting a hotel, but I think we'll get better sleep in our own beds.  Then the kids can sleep in the car on the way there.

---When I mentioned the metal detector to the gal at the specialist's office she couldn't stop giggling. She thought it was hilarious yet clever.  Reminds me of when DIY Dad (just a kid I sat by in 9th-grade computer class) told me he got it for his birthday.  I guess I teased him about it. I thought it was a weird thing to ask for for your birthday. Never thought I'd be using it on our kids one day.