Learning to Be a Trim Healthy Mama

I have long had an interest in health and nutrition, and trying to make heads or tails out of the mountains of information out there, some of which contradicts or just doesn't make sense, is no easy feat. I recently heard a friend talking about Trim Healthy Mama, directing me to the huge Facebook community dedicated to the lifestyle promoted by the book written by sisters Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison. Their philosophy of eating struck a chord with me, as it seems to incorporate much that I've been reading for years. So I bought the book and cookbook and took it on vacation with me, to start the process of learning and incorporating this new lifestyle of healthy food freedom.

 

I am still getting the hang of it, and find myself staying "on plan" about 80% of the time. I feel better - less puffy, less achy. I've lost about 10 lbs, but have stalled there for about 8 weeks; it seems that some people experience stalls like this, either because the body is healing and adjusting, or because certain foods, like dairy or collagen, are causing the body to hold on to weight.  I'm hoping to get the metabolism revved and the scale moving downward again soon, though.

One thing I know about myself is that if I don't take the time to write up a meal plan for the week, I will not be successful.  So I'm going to try to post my meal plan each week, along with some of the recipes I most enjoy.  Part of this plan is eating every 3- 3 1/2  hours, so snacks are planned in as well.

MONDAY:  7/4
B.  Egg mufflets (S - egg, shredded cheese, sausage, onion, pepper) ;  Shrinker (FP -oolong tea,  cinnamon, cayenne, unsweetened almond milk, Stevia sweetener)

L.  Chicken avocado salad, tomato and spinach in a low-carb pita (S)


S.  banana oat bread  (E)

D. Mexican Casserole (S - low carb tortillas, ground turkey, jar salsa, shredded cheddar); Salad w/ oil & vinegar dressing

S.  air-popped popcorn; Bai drink  (bring to Fireworks!)

TUESDAY:   7/5  cook breakfast at camp
B. Oatmeal w/ cinnamon, stevia, chopped fresh peach, unsweetened almond milk, collagen (E)

L.  Chef salad w/ olive oil & vinegar dressing (FP)

S.  pear, 1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt w/ stevia  (E) ; Shrinker

D. Baked Pesto Chicken (S) , steamed broccoli, salad

S.  Peanut butter yogurt w/ Lilly's chocolate chips

WEDNESDAY:  7/6
B.  Egg mufflets (S) , Shrinker (FP)

L. Cauliflower Crust Calzones (S)

S. Fat -Strippin' Frappa (FP)

D.  Taco Salad ( E - romaine, ground turkey, salsa, red pepper, onion, black beans, corn, blue corn tortilla chips,  lime juice, salt & pepper)

S.  pear

THURSDAY:   7/7
B. Oatmeal w/ peaches (E - oatmeal, chopped peaches, unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, chia seeds, collage powder, stevia)

L.  deli turkey roll ups; Wasa crackers, Laughing Cow cheese; cantaloupe  (E)

S. Choco Secret Big Boy smoothie (secret ingredient - okra!!)

D.  Chicken Lettuce Wraps w/ Spicy Peanut Sauce  (S)

S. Zucchini Brownie w/ Cream Cheese Whip

FRIDAY:  7/8
B. Egg Mufflets (S)

L. Chef Salad (FP)

S.  Strawberry Cheesecake Shake

D.  Turkey Burgers w/ mushrooms, onions , peppers;  broccoli;  Crashed Sweet Potato (E)

S.  air-popped popcorn

SATURDAY  7/9   homeschool leaders meeting from 8am - 2pm
B. Cantaloupe and cottage cheese; (E)

L. Pot luck - bring Cheeseburger Pie (S)

S.  Fat-Strippin' Frappa

D.  Chicken Parmesan Bake (S) ;  antipasto salad, 

S.  Zucchini Brownie w/ Cream Cheese Whip

 SUNDAY  7/10
B.  oat pancakes w/ s-f blueberry syrup;  cantaloupe

L.  leftovers

S.  pear

D.  Crackslaw w/ brown rice; steamed broccoli

S.  Triple 0 Yogurt w/ coconut, Lilly's choc., and chopped almonds

Homeschool Vlog

I found a YouTube channel that I wanted to share. It is called The Encouraging Homeschool Mom (the name alone makes you feel welcome and encouraged, doesn't it?) and it is a vlog(video blog) by a mama of 7 who shares homeschool life, meal planning and recipes, household management tips, family travel, and more. I have enjoyed the bits I've watched so far. Enjoy!






Have you found a vlog that you really like?

Cupcakes

I cannot believe it is July 1st! The summer is flying by - WHOOSH! My house doesn't look any cleaner either, so I better step up my game! No kids are home, since both Jason and Amanda are overnight camp staff at New Life Camp again this summer, so my only distractions are self-made. Unfortunately, I'm easily distracted.

I have been doing a lot of cupcake baking these past couple of weeks, providing cupcakes for 2 weddings and a rehearsal dinner. When you have grown children, there are lots of weddings among their friends. It takes mes 2-4 days of prepping, baking and frosting for each event, so that has kept me busy.  

 

Salty Sweet, Chocolate Chip Cannoli, Southern Peach, Red Velvet Cheesecake

Strawberry Cream, Red Velvet Cheesecake , Southern Peach, Chocolate Chip Cannoli, S'mores

 Tuxedo, S'mores, Chocolate Cheesecake

 

 

Carrot Cake, Chocolate Cheesecake, Strawberry Lemonade, S'mores, White Chocolate Raspberry, Tuxedo

White Chocolate Raspberry, Strawberry Lemonade, Carrot Cake

Marriage Focus: Weekend Away

My husband and I were able to get away for a long weekend recently. It is one of those things I wish we'd done more of when our children were younger. Money and childcare were definite obstacles. But even if you can't go away together, it is so important to find time to focus on being friends and lovers, not just parents, housemates, etc.  The marriage relationship needs to be nurtured in order for it to thrive, and since it is the foundation of your home and your family, it deserves priority over other activities in your life.

Mark took a day and a half of vacation, and we left on Thursday afternoon, headed 4 1/2 hours west to Asheville, NC.  We both love the mountains and our oldest son lives there.  My travel-savvy daughter suggested we try Airbnb instead of our normal Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn,  and although Mark was skeptical, I went ahead and booked us a place in Swannanoa, between Asheville and Black Mountain. Airbnb is an online marketplace where people list homes, apartments, or rooms to rent to travelers coming to their city.  We were able to rent a lovely "in-law" apartment with a full kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom in a home on a peaceful, quiet, and beautifully landscaped country lot. The owners have renovated their home into a "duplex", and they live on one side and rent out the other side when their grown children are not visiting. The cost was less than an average hotel room, with much more comfort and convenience!

Jade Tree Place

 

view from the front porch 

 

We spent Friday at the Biltmore Estate, America's largest privately-owned home, built by George Vanderbilt II in the 1890's.  Sitting on over 8000 acres of beautiful gardens, meadows, and woodlands, the gorgeous Gilded Age limestone mansion was modeled after French Renaissance chateaus,  with steeply pitched roofs, turrets, and much sculptural ornamentation, complete with gargoyles.  The home has 250 rooms, including 45 bathrooms,  33 bedrooms, a bowling alley, a 70,000-gallon swimming pool, 4 kitchens, and a gorgeous banquet hall,  flanked by a triple fireplace at one end and an impressive pipe organ up in a raised gallery at the other end.  Tours through the house are self-guided, and audio headsets are available for a fee.  We did that once, and learned a great deal of fascinating information about the construction of the estate,  the Vanderbilt family, the lifestyle of the very rich at the turn of the 1900s, the workings of a large estate home, and much more.  This time we just wandered through, admiring the furnishings and architecture.  There was a exhibit going on, of wedding fashion featuring costumes from iconic movies such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Out of Africa, and more.  The house was decorated with gorgeous floral arrangements to go along with the wedding theme as well. 

 

 

This type of day is really my "thing", and not so much my husband's.  My right-brainy self loves history, architecture, art, gardens, romance... all that wandering through a gilded castle in the lush Blue Ridge mountains on a perfect June day invokes.  My engineer, left-brained, very practical husband is not much impressed with all that,  BUT this outing was his idea, and he participated gladly,  noticing many of the details and early uses of technology - electricity, indoor plumbing, etc.   And he knew that visiting this place makes ME happy.   I appreciate the effort, because more often than not, we wrangle over what to do together, trying to find things we BOTH would choose, instead of deferring to and enjoying what the other person prefers for a time.  It feels good to know that my man spent a day doing something I enjoy, simply because he wanted me to enjoy it.  

On Saturday, we spent the morning walking through lovely downtown Black Mountain, exploring some of the crafty shops ~  well, me exploring the shops while Mark sat on a bench outside;  he can only tolerate so much, after all.  Then we met up with our son, Alex, and drove to Chimney Rock State Park. This is the kind of thing we did a lot of in our younger, camping years with our family. But Mark and I are both out-of-hiking-shape.  Still, we pushed ourselves up the 500 very-structurally-sturdy steps from the parking area to the top of Chimney Rock and were rewarded with amazing views.  I struggled a bit more than my hubby, but the boys were patient to wait for me when I needed to pause for a breather on the way up, and down, and again on the 1.5 mile trek to the waterfall that we somehow thought was a good idea.   I did it though, although my back hasn't been quite the same since.  I probably need to do a little physical training ahead of time before I attempt something like that again.  I really feel pathetic even saying that, but age and relative inactivity means I'm not as sprightly as I once was. 

It was a fun trip.  Not perfect, because we are imperfect. We fussed a bit too much over trivial things, but we enjoyed exploring some new places, spending a day with our first-born, and just spending time together away from the pulls and routines of being at home.

See more Weekly Wrap Ups at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Why I Take a Long Summer Vacation...

... a.k.a  why I don't do year-round schooling..... a.k.a. Mama needs a break!

Homeschooling looks different for each family.  Some are early risers, some sleep in.  Some are textbook fans, some prefer "living books".   Some keep a strict daily and weekly schedule, some ... don't.

Some families follow a year-round schedule, and others love their summer break!  I fall in the latter category.

Perhaps it is because I am the daughter of two public school teachers, but I grew up with a deep appreciation for summer vacation.  In case any other summer lovers are feeling pressure to keep at the books during the sultry months, here are some of my reasons for taking a summer break. 

1.  Break from the routine: When my kids were younger, our school-year schedule was full of piano lessons, band practice, sports practices, field trips,  Co-op days,  enrichment classes, volunteer work, clubs, etc. etc.  All that was suspended for the summer months, and our schedule was our own!  We would go to the lake or the pool,  turn on the sprinkler in the yard, watch movies,  have play dates with friends,  do craft projects, play board games, build forts,  and just be free to relax.  I would usually make myself a calendar with an idea for each day, and  a poster with a list of "possibilities" for when the kids needed suggestions.  A few times I tried doing "school work" during the summer, but that never stuck, and honestly, I never worried about  "losing ground" over the summer.   We still read books; we still played educational games, we still went interesting places, we still learned something each day... how could we not? But it was different kinds of learning than what we focused on the rest of the year.   If we had to review some math at the start of the new "school year", that was no big deal to me.

2.  Visiting faraway family: Every summer we spent a week or two or three with the grandparents in Massachusetts, building family relationships and making memories. Some of my kids' favorite summer memories are of visits to Grammy and Grampa's antique-filled house with the big grassy yard, badminton net, and tire swing.   Special time was spent with cousins and neighbor kids.  Family traditions included going to see a movie at the Drive-In;  going to Dunkin Donuts with dad every morning;  visits to Southwick's Zoo and taking the train to Boston;  visiting Aunt Chris's cafe in Putnam; dinner at Wright's Chicken Farm; sleeping out on the screened porch;  sewing with Grammy and listening to Grandpa's stories.   Although we live hundreds of miles apart, these summer visits created strong bonds between the generations.

3. Summer Camps:  Summer camp was not part of my youth, but it has been a huge part of my children's growing up years!  The older boys enjoyed a week at Boy Scout Camp, usually with Dad, for many summers.  Basketball camp, Runners Camp,  Science Camp, Worldview Academy .... lots of specialized learning of all different kinds.  From age 8 on up through high school, my kids have spent a week every summer at New Life Camp.  From age 13 on, they also spent several weeks volunteering there as CITs, and eventually got summer jobs as counselors, program staff, lifeguard,
First Aid provider.  Leadership skills and a servant's heart, spiritual growth and maturity, mentors, best friends, and even a spouse have come from the time spent at this camp.

4. Family Camping: I grew up camping with my family during the summers, and continued doing that with my children.   We aren't rustic, back-country hikers, but enjoy a nice family campground with running water, flush toilets, and showers;  a playground and/or swimming pool /lake/mountain stream were nice bonuses!  Some camping trips were just lazy weekends swimming and fishing at a lake;  some involved exploring national parks or historic sites.  Some trips were nudged to the spring or fall months, since sleeping outside with no air-conditioning, in the South, during the summer,  requires a strong constitution! We camped with a big tent for many years, but upgraded to a pop-up camper the summer that we took a cross-country trip.  When we camped, each member of the family had certain responsibilities during set up, mealtimes, fire starting, break down, etc;  there was lots of family bonding and fun adventures and memory-making!

5. Cleaning/Organizing/School planning:  I am undeniably a "casual" housekeeper, and organization is not my strong suit, so things tend to "stack up" when life is super busy.  Summer break gives me a chance to find my bedroom floor, reorganize the school bins and bookshelves, sort through the piles of paper, clean out the closets, and study catalogs and websites as I plan for the coming school year.  Then throughout the year I can manage with occasional "Home/School Organization" days to keep things from getting too out of hand.


Enjoy your summer, whatever you have planned!

Find more Weekly Wrap-Ups at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers  HERE

Placement Testing

My youngest is a slow reader, and struggles with finishing the sections on timed tests. He has always scored right around 50% -ish on his annual standardized tests. He has taken the ACT test twice, and his scores are okay, but did not meet the minimum for registering for college-transfer classes at the community college, which has been the plan for his senior year/5th year of high school. So yesterday  he took the placement test at the local community college campus. Those scores can be used in lieu of ACT or SAT scores, but there is a minimum score required in order to register for classes in the college pathway. If he didn't make the minimum score, it would be back to the drawing board.   No pressure, right?

The test, NC DAP,  has 3 sections - Math, English/Reading, and Essay. All but the essay is untimed, and there is a 2 hour limit for the essay. It is all on the computer and you get the results immediately. Jason spent 2 weeks reviewing algebra with his dad, and doing some practice essays from prompts. It took him 4 hours to complete the test, and then he sat down with Ms. Hudgins, who oversaw the testing, for his results.

He passed with flying colors, and she commented that she always can tell which kids are homeschooled because they are the "child geniuses"!! That made him feel pretty good.

PTL!!!

Obviously, the timed factor is a big issue for him, and we will have to address that going forward.  But now he is walking around the house telling his siblings, "You can address me as Child Genius."


You can read more Weekly Wrap-Ups HERE. 

Homeschool Graduation

Homeschool Graduation is quite unique and special.  Today was the graduation ceremony for our homeschool support group, Lighthouse, and it was actually the graduation of 36 separate "schools", 36 individual families joining together to celebrate this milestone in the life of their children. This was the largest group yet for our support group; homeschooling just keeps growing and growing!  In our ceremony, parents present the diplomas and have an opportunity to say a few words to their child - a blessing, a charge, a Bible verse, a fond memory ; sometimes a combination of all of these.  We watch slideshows of pictures of the graduates' lives and afterwards eat cake and punch and offer congratulations and best wishes for future endeavors.  There are tears. There is excitement

This group of graduates is going on to study electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, marine science, education, music, graphic design, business, nursing, computer science, journalism, pharmacy, architecture, accounting, history, textile design, American sign language.  One is entering the military, another becoming a mechanic, others still unsure.

Uniformly across the stage, over and over again, parents spoke scripture over and into their children. Many of these young people have already traveled to faraway places to serve those less fortunate than they, and most also serve as volunteers in their communities in numerous ways.  These are young people well equipped to go out and make a mark in the world, to impact people, and to bring glory to God. It was a very hope-filled day.

Proverbs 3:5:6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Joshua 1:9   Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Matthew 5:16   .... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Philippians 4:8-9   Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.


SLIDE SHOW

Weekly Wrap Up : Graduations

Our homeschool year is wrapping up, with just a few more days until "summer" activities start. Jason, my youngest, is finishing his 4th year of our 5-year high school, and will be a senior next year. I can't even begin... nope, not yet, too soon.

 

Tomorrow is our support group graduation ceremony, with 37 homeschooled students receiving their diplomas from mom and dad. Jason is serving as a Junior Marshall and  I, as  a member of the Graduation Planning Committee, am running rehearsal this evening for seniors and their parents.  We'll go over the schedule for tomorrow,  show everyone where to sit, the seniors will practice walking in to Pomp & Circumstance, the groups of seniors and parents will practice walking on and off the stage, finding their marks, learning how to hold the microphone.  "Fist on the chest, not on the belly."  We'll watch the slide shows of "baby to grad" pictures, as well as the group shots from the 2 senior photo shoots we held during the year -  playful shots of blowing bubbles, hula hooping, playing croquet, and cap & gown photos, both serious and raucous!  There will be a few tears.
Next year my husband and I will be up there with our 5th and youngest, handing over a diploma and saying goodbye to 22 years of homeschooling.  I can't even begin... nope, not yet, too soon.
 

Last weekend, we celebrated the achievement of my youngest daughter at her college graduation. Amanda graduated with honors, with a B.S. in Child Development.  She finished her degree on time, in 8 semesters, even after transferring colleges and changing majors after her freshman year.  This is the same child who couldn't read a chapter book until age 12, who took 2 years to get through 6th grade math, who barely squeaked through chemistry after trying 3 different curriculums in 3 years.

 She didn't love school. She took a year off after high school because she didn't know if she wanted any more school, but did decide to go for it, applied to a few colleges and got accepted to one (not her first choice) cried through some of her college courses that she was sure she was failing (but never actually did), made good enough grades to transfer to the college she really wanted to go to, and found her niche.  At the department reception before the college graduation ceremony, her professor gushed over how amazing she is. ( yes, I know!)  She has a job lined up that might not look "successful" to some, based on the pay, but it is an amazing opportunity to help expand a ministry working with immigrant/refugee children in a city apartment complex - running a morning preschool program and an after school tutoring program. She has been interning there for the past semester, her supervisors love her, the kids love her, and SHE loves what she is doing.

My philosophy has always been to take the time we need to learn something, even if it is faster or slower than expected, and to give attention to ALL areas of growth - academic, artistic, relational, practical , emotional, spiritual, physical, etc.  Even though one of our children was struggling in math or reading or writing, we didn't cut back on  things like sports, time with friends, music lessons, camp activities, volunteer work, church involvement, etc. Those other areas were equally important in their overall development and happiness, and that is what I think contributes to ultimate success in life.  Not just taking he hardest courses or getting the highest grades or getting the highest paying job.  I know, pretty radical thinking.

Check out the Weekly Wrap-Up over at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers 
for a glimpse into the week of other homeschool families.

Homeschool Prom, Take 7

The 7th annual Carolina Capital Homeschool Prom took place a week ago, with 350 homeschooled teens and guests, and it literally took me 3 days to recover.  I started this prom seven years ago with my then-16-year-old daughter and a few friends, and have been chairman ever since.  This year my 17-yr-old son attended as a homeschool junior, my 28-yr-old and 22-yr-old daughters were prom photographers, and my husband and I were chaperones, as well as part of the set-up/clean-up committees.  It is a family affair.

Our theme this year was "INVINCIBLE",  inspired by superheroes.  Although it got the most committee votes for 2016 theme, there were several doubters who couldn't envision a "Superhero" prom being elegant and not cheesy birthday party-ish.  I think they were convinced.  My core team of decorator/planners had a vision of an urban "corporate gala" atmosphere, lots of black and white with pops of color, focusing on the inspirational "hero" aspect of the superheroes, not the villains or the darkness sometimes associated with them.

Every year we choose a Benefit Project, and this year, in keeping with the theme, we chose a charity that benefits the families of fallen first responders, Carolina Brotherhood.   We donated $2 from every ticket sold, plus some additional donations that were brought to Prom, for a total of $850.