A Lot of Foolishness...Have Fun!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 11:30PM Well, I got tagged in a question-and-answer game. Sometimes it's fun to be "it". Erin writes at Is It Bedtime Yet? To that I say,"Yes!" (Look at me...I'm already answering questions! I've always been ahead of the game.) Her blog is a lot of fun...she has a great sense of humor, really cute kids, and her husband serves in the military. She is an exceptional story-teller, and did I mention she's a very funny lady? So, she posted some questions for me to answer (along with seven other blog friends of hers), and here I go with my answers (I'm sure you'll find them brilliant, thought-provoking, and relevant)...
1) What has been the most surprising aspect of motherhood in your experience? If you're not a mom, what is it like to go to the bathroom in privacy?
I don't know whether to answer this from the really-real perspective or the find-humor-in-everything perspective. Being a mom has been surprisingly hard for me. Growing up I thought it would be all kinds of fun. I babysat a lot and even had several (at one time) sort-of nannying jobs (I was never official, with certification or anything...so call it glorified babysitting). But at the end of the day you get to go home, shower, curl up and take a nap if you want, watch what you want on TV whenever you want, eat dinner at eight if you want (and your husband says,"OK!") - you get the picture. Being a mom is 24/7. And when you are a perfectionist/all-or-nothing kind of gal, realizing that you are just not going to get it right a lot of, or maybe even most of the time, is humbling and scary and sometimes too much.
Here is something specific though. Weaning my babies has been challenging. And shifting to the business of regular-food-eating. We're still working on that with Eliana, and she's three. (Not the weaning part, but the regular-food-eating part. You were nervous, though, right?)
2) How often do you shave your legs in the winter?
Do you seriously want to know? Whenever I have to. And sometimes not even then. haha Too much info? Too bad!
3) What's your favorite thing to do online? If shopping, what site?
Read blogs! I get a little carried away, though. It's more like a disease. I hope that doesn't offend the bloggers. Actually, it's a compliment. I'd much rather read your blog than do my dishes, scrub a toilet, mop the floor, or put my laundry away.
4) If you already possessed the necessary education and experience level, what would you choose for your dream job?
Well, I was thinking of some of the things I enjoy and am pretty good at...and so I might like to be a cake decorator.
Well, okay, maybe not a great idea.
There could be a future for me in interior design, because I have a knack for arrangement and placement.
Okay. Not so much.
I really like taking pictures. Maybe child photography?
Clearly I have skills.
All right. Maybe since the question is put this way: "If you already possessed the necessary education and experience level" (meaning, of course, that I can pretend that I have done the necessary reading and writing and studying and honing), then I'll have to go with being a writer. A really great writer, though, like Victor Hugo. I know, now that you're done laughing so hard just read on, please.
5) Share a "last-minute" dinner recipe. No pancake balls, please.
One thing I love to make make without complaining too much is Black Bean Chicken Soup. It does require you have cooked chicken on hand, but I tend to have frozen cooked chicken, because I hate cooking it for a particular meal. I hate touching raw chicken. I throw a huge package of chicken breasts in the crock-pot, cook it all day, and put portions of it in freezer zip-locs for soups or enchiladas or whatever. It's pretty shreddy, so it doesn't do well for anything that requires diced chicken.
Anyway, you take a can of black beans (drained) and a can of tomatoes (plain diced or Ro-Tel will work) and blend them together in a blender. Set it aside for in a minute. (That sentence seems not to make sense, I think, but it's really what I want to say.) In a large pot, saute in oil: some garlic, some chopped onions, and some chopped green pepper (I guess and decide as I go along how much I want to put in there...whatever looks good. My kids aren't crazy about these vegetables, so I put in enough to give it a nice bit of flavor.). I use pre-minced garlic, and frozen onions and peppers. You can do the extra work if you love to chop veggies and you are really excited to use your fancy Santoku knife. I prefer the much more sophisticated route of pre-cut, bought-at-the-store-in-a-bag veggies. They're probably frozen fresh! When your vegetables are nice and tender, and maybe even browning a bit, add a cup of water, 2 cans of drained black beans, and your tomato/bean base from the blender. Also toss in 1/2 teaspoon each: pepper, salt, coriander, and what is that other stinky spice? Ah, yes, cumin! Stir it up!
(Bob Marley, anyone?)
This seems complicated, but it's not. Really. And it's delicious. Okay. So, add in a bunch of chicken, about a cup? Maybe more. Definitely more, but I eyeball it. And if I need more liquid, I add a bit of water. Also add about a cup of frozen corn (unless of course you want to shuck and then cut fresh corn off of a cob...be my guest, but the frozen stuff I find terribly convenient). Give it a stir and let it simmer a bit. The frozen stuff should thaw out and get hot (duh). It doesn't take too long, really.
That's it. I think it's a meal in a bowl, but you could add salad, and I often serve it with cornbread. And here is the best part...my kids love it! When I say "my kids" I mean Christian and Michaela, since Eliana doesn't really count when we're talking about food (see #1). You could also add sour cream, cheese, or cilantro, and you could leave out the chicken and/or corn. It's a pretty versatile meal. It's perfect for someone like me, who is so very flexible and versatile herself.
6) Do you speed or drive the speed limit?
Are you gonna tell? I speed. Sometimes it's hard not to! I try not to, badly, because my children can now call me on it. How can I break the law, but tell them they have to obey it?! What kind of parent am I?!
Next question, please!
7) If you could live anywhere, where would you choose?
I would live closer to our families. They are spread out along the East Coast, so somewhere over there would be lovely. I really miss being close to them.
8) What kind of new vacuum should I buy?
I have a Dyson Ball and I love it. But! You are supposed to clean the filters, like, four times a year. I cannot claim to have abided by this rule. However, I try to justify this by vacuuming much less frequently than I could. Saves on "wear and tear". Smart, huh?
(You can also see it above in the "interior decorating" section...I love it so much I keep it in my dining room.)
What I like about this vacuum is that it can be used on carpets/rugs as well as hard floors. I can use it all over the house! I cried when my husband got it for me. Happy tears.
Well. That was fun! The rules are that I have to tag eight others and ask eight questions of the tagged. I am afraid that I don't have anyone to tag. I am pretty sure that all of the people I could ask have already particpated in this particular game.
What do you think The Pioneer Woman would do if I tagged her? She would never, never know it.
I'll tell you what I'll do. I'm going to ask the eight questions and if you come here, read this post, and then would like to leave your answers in the comments section, I would love to hear your responses!
The Questions:
1. What is your favorite dessert? (Is anyone surprised at all that I asked this question?)
2. What is your favorite book for children, or young adults?
3. What is your favorite cheesy movie?
4. What is the best joke you have ever heard?
5. Do you like to read the instructions or just figure it out? ("It" = whatever)
6. Have you ever seen anyone famous? If not, what is the closest you've come to seeing someone famous?
7. Do you feel like you were born in the wrong time period? If not, why? If you do, why, and when do you think you should have lived?
8. What do you think about the current administration and its policies.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I don't really want to know about that. The real number eight is...well, I like the sharing of a recipe idea. I hate to cook and am in a major (like four-year) rut right now. Anything easy, and kid-friendly, would be WONDERFUL!
I hope to hear from you!
Reader Comments (13)
Ha! You made me laugh :)
Thanks for playing along-- I'll try to come back and answer your ?'s when I have more time (or less children).
I gotta ask-- WHAT on earth is that cake supposed to be?? It looks like an armadillo pooping out a long yellow turd.
Have a great day!
1. What is your favorite dessert? (Is anyone surprised at all that I asked this question?) Good doughnuts, chocolate and cheesecake, key lime pie, apple pie, anyTHING
2. What is your favorite book for children, or young adults? Goodnight Moon, To Kill A Mockingbird, Diary of Anne Frank, Velveteen Rabbit
3. What is your favorite cheesy movie? The Cutting Edge
4. What is the best joke you have ever heard? The one about the tomato blushing when he sees the salad dressing in the fridge
5. Do you like to read the instructions or just figure it out? neither. hand it to the husband with a pitiful face.
6. Have you ever seen anyone famous? on an elevator with tony campolo; arms distance from michael jordan
7. Do you feel like you were born in the wrong time period? If not, why? If you do, why, and when do you think you should have lived? i don't like all this technology; i would prefer face-to-face contact but i don't enjoy washing clothes by hand in a creek or churning my own butter. tough call. i also am into comfortable foot wear and i think pretty much all other generations would frown about me wearing them all year long
8. best recipe ever: take a roast (beef, pork, whatever) ... cook it down in crockpot all day. sprinkle with taco seasoning from costco. mix in jar of salsa, 2 lbs shredded cheese, and use 16 oz. refried beans as binding (children will never know it's there). take large tortillas and fill, roll up and bake for 30 at 350. freeze the rest. seriously feeds a small army and very cheap.
1. What is your favorite dessert? Pie - all of them.
2. What is your favorite book for children, or young adults? Oh goodness - The Narnia series, Skippy Jon Jones, the Percy Jackson series and on and on.
3. What is your favorite cheesy movie? A Walk To Remember
4. What is the best joke you have ever heard? What do a chicken and a grape have in common? They're both purple except for the chicken.
5. Do you like to read the instructions or just figure it out? ("It" = whatever) I'm a reader, unless the instructions are too long.
6. Have you ever seen anyone famous? If not, what is the closest you've come to seeing someone famous? Well there was that day I got to hang with Rachael Ray and Bill Cllinton. :)
7. Do you feel like you were born in the wrong time period? If not, why? If you do, why, and when do you think you should have lived? NO. I like my toilets to flush and my house to heat and cool itself. Modern living has it's downsides, but I'm all about convenience.
8. What do you think about the current administration and its policies.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I don't really want to know about that. The real number eight is...well, I like the sharing of a recipe idea. I hate to cook and am in a major (like four-year) rut right now. Anything easy, and kid-friendly, would be WONDERFUL! All my recipes are on the blog. Today we have pumpkin muffins and breakfast casserole for dinner.
Off the top of my head...
1. What is your favorite dessert? Creme Brulee or Tiramisu
2. What is your favorite book for children, or young adults? For little kids, I like The Going to Bed Book (Sandra Boynton). For young adults, To Kill a Mockingbird.
3. What is your favorite cheesy movie? Does Zoolander count as cheesy?
4. What is the best joke you have ever heard? The only thing that comes to mind is the bit that Jim Gaffigan does about Hot Pockets.
5. Do you like to read the instructions or just figure it out? Instructions. Definitely.
6. Have you ever seen anyone famous? Well, I saw Naomi Judd at a chili cook-off last year. I'm going to the same cook-off this weekend. I'll keep my eyes peeled.
7. Do you feel like you were born in the wrong time period? Not really. I think I'm about right.
8. This is a pretty easy recipe for beef vegetable soup. First I make a roast (add 1/4 cup water to the pan, 350 for a couple hours, covered). When it's done and cool, I cut the roast into bite-sized pieces and start on the soup part. To a large pot add 2 containers of beef stock, 1 can diced tomatoes, and then whatever other veggies you want. My standards are 1 package frozen corn, 1 package frozen green beans, 1 package frozen sliced carrots, 1 package frozen lima beans, 1 can wax beans, 1 can sliced new potatoes. Then add the meet. Simmer for a while and that's it. It's relatively healthy and it freezes well.
1. What is your favorite dessert? (Is anyone surprised at all that I asked this question?)
Hot fudge sundae. And creme brulee. I flip flop between being a 5-year old and an adult in the dessert department. And I'd probably knock over a small child for a hot chocolate chip cookie, but I'm not supposed to discuss that. :D
2. What is your favorite book for children, or young adults?
The Ramona series from Beverly Cleary and Harry Potter. I literally jumped up and down and clapped when I heard about the Ramona and Beezus movie.
3. What is your favorite cheesy movie?
Such a vague term...cheesy. If you're talking about the kind that I'm embarrassed to be caught watching, then that's The Three Amigos (word of the day 'plethora'). If you're talking about the one that I cry like a baby in every time I see it, then that's Love Actually. I, would, however have a throwdown with anyone who called it cheesy.
4. What is the best joke you have ever heard?
What's brown and sticky? A STICK! (yes, I entertain easily)
5. Do you like to read the instructions or just figure it out? ("It" = whatever)
Instructions. Sorry, I'm a nerd.
6. Have you ever seen anyone famous? If not, what is the closest you've come to seeing someone famous? I have. When I was the website buyer for music, movies and games for a now defunct electronics company I met a bunch. I think the nicest was 50 Cent (I know, right??) and the most surprising conversation was with Paris Hilton. She can actually speak without saying "that's hot" for at least 30 minutes.
7. Do you feel like you were born in the wrong time period? If not, why? If you do, why, and when do you think you should have lived? Eh...I'm think I'm in the right place. I'm too strong-minded to have been born anytime earlier than the 70s. Although had I been around to do so in the 60s, I'd have been a hippie burning my bra, I'm sure.
8. Recipe:
The funniest one I ever saw in a cookbook was for breakfast: 1) Open box 2) Pour cereal into bowl 3) Add milk.
Mine (for the crockpot, because I heart the crockpot):
Chicken and Dumplings
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons butter
2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 onion, finely diced
2 packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into pieces
1.Place the chicken, butter, soup, and onion in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover.
2.Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 30 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.
Yay!!! I'm having so much fun reading your answers! It's making my day...when satin and tulle have been trying to do me in!
Wait... so are you saying you shave your legs when you don't have to during the summer? Now that's just being crazy.
And that cake makes me happy deep inside.
Megan, it depends on your meaning of "have to" haha
And regarding cakes...you should see my Yoda. The force was with someone that night!
You had me cracking up! At work. All my coworkers already think I'm weird so it's okay:) I just decided to check back and see if you were blogging again, and I'm so glad I did!
1. salted caramels/ coffee
2. kids: wrinkle in time adults: redeeming love (but you knew that)
3. Elf or the jerk!
4. not sure
5. figure it out.
6. Tara Reid (got my picture with her) in Hawaii and Mike tyson- maui
7. No. I have a big mouth. they would stone me in the old days. :)
8. we marinated some killer skewers tonight using korean bbq sauce. totally overate. I think i'm going to pop!
Set it aside fir "in-a-minute." Scary that I even understood that, huh?
Try spelling with left hand - for becomes fir - unless you are from southwest VA. Then it is fer. Love you.
1. What is your favorite dessert? I am not so much a sweet fan as a snack type fan, so mine would be nachos even though most people would say that doesn't count. Oh, it counts people, it counts!
2. What is your favorite book for children, or young adults? Well, I am currently in the preschool section when it comes to books, so I will have to say I like the Pinkalicious series.
3. What is your favorite cheesy movie? I love any cheesy scary movie. Especially the teeny boppy scary movies. I could watch marathon after marathon of them. I couldn't pick a favorite, but I have seen Joy Ride about a million times.
4. What is the best joke you have ever heard? My 12" pianist joke. The best. Or.....Why does Snoop Dogg carry an umbrella? Fo' Drizzle. LOL!
5. Do you like to read the instructions or just figure it out? ("It" = whatever) I am a die hard instruction reader.
6. Have you ever seen anyone famous? If not, what is the closest you've come to seeing someone famous? I have seen lots of famous folks both political and entertainment celebrities.
7. Do you feel like you were born in the wrong time period? If not, why? If you do, why, and when do you think you should have lived? Hmmmm...I think I am in the right time. Although, the 20'a would have been fun. Or the 50's.
8. What do you think about the current administration and its policies.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I don't really want to know about that. The real number eight is...well, I like the sharing of a recipe idea. I hate to cook and am in a major (like four-year) rut right now. Anything easy, and kid-friendly, would be WONDERFUL! I will have to send you a recipe or two.