Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken

I planned to make my Slow Cooker Homestyle Roast Chicken yesterday.  Even though I took the chicken out of the freezer on Sunday morning, it was still really frozen inside.  I did have some mostly thawed chicken breasts I was going to bake the following day.  So I decided to make really easy pulled chicken for last night's dinner.

In addition to chicken, I used just three ingredients: liquid smoke, BBQ seasoning, and garlic.

I rubbed the chicken with the seasoning and put it in the crock pot.  I added big tablespoons full of garlic and liquid smoke.  Then I covered the chicken in water.  Easy like Parcheesi.

I slow cooked it on low for 6 hours. My crock has a warm setting so I didn't have to worry about getting to it as soon as it was cooked.  After Babyface fell asleep, I poured out the water and shredded the chicken with forks.

Then I poured in some barbeque sauce and mixed it all up with the tongs.  These tongs are great for a lot of reasons and they don't scratch the crock. 

I served the pulled chicken on rolls.  It would also have been good on a roll or regular bread.  The sandwich pictured doesn't have very much sauce, which is the way My Heart's Desire likes it.  He also put a slice of cheese on top.  He'll put cheese on anything that will hold still.

We ate these sandwiches with a bag of steamed veggies.  It was fast and good, a great combination for a weeknight dinner. I froze the leftovers and will eat them some other night I really don't feel like cooking.

Today I woke up early with Babyface, gave us both breakfast, did laundry, went for a long walk in the neighborhood, talked to my dad for the first time in weeks since he was overseas until today, used up all of my pumpkin pie spice baking pumpkin oatmeal muffins and bread (my house smells so good!), gave Babyface lunch and put him down for a nap, read a bit of The Dressmaker, then dozed for a few minutes until My Heart's Desire started splitting a stump (from the massive tree that came down during a summer storm) with a wedge and sledgehammer right outside the bedroom window, did more laundry, went to our neighborhood block party, dropped off the pumpkin oatmeal bread to a friend who has a baby, came home and had my enchiladas made by My Heart's Desire (they were extra cheesy), watched two episodes of Louie, and am going to bed.

Today I am grateful for crisp weather, a good night's sleep, a lovely autumn morning walk with Babyface, a nice chat with my sister, clean laundry, a spare pair of eyeglasses, driving My Heart's Desire's old car The Intimidator while my car is in the shop, Netflix, hugs, and the quality of my problems.

5 Things I Learned: Traveling With Babyface

This summer we took Babyface on a cross-country flight to California. 

Last weekend we went on a road trip.  Both were visits to see family.  Those were Babyface's first flights and long drives.  I thought we were pretty well prepared and for the most part we were. 

Here are 5 things I learned about traveling with Babyface:

1. It's totally worth it to buy Babyface his own seat on the plane. Yes, it's expensive and it was worth every penny. Because we had bought his seat, we were able to carry his car seat on the plane.  Babyface had a great place to nap and My Heart's Desire and I didn't have to hold him the entire time. We also had a whole row to ourselves and didn't have to worry about bothering the person sitting next to us.
2. Bring way more food for everyone. When I thought I had brought enough food for Babyface, he was sure to go on a tear and eat everything up. Also, I need to have snacks handy too, it's not enough to have food for the little one. When I get hungry, I get grouchy.  Granola bars, cheese, veggies, or fruit can remedy the situation.
3. Add at least an hour and a half to the road trip time estimate.  We had to stop much more frequently and our stops were for a whole lot longer than they used to be. 
4. Manage expectations.  Traveling with Babyface is so different than when I would travel alone or with another adult.  The pace varies greatly, especially when he was taking two naps daily in another time zone. 
5. Take people up on their offers to watch Babyface.  In California, My Heart's Desire and I were able to have a couple of meals as well as go to a weekday matinee.  We had fun while Babyface was being adored as favorite grandson/nephew.

Today I am grateful for Jersey tomatoes, the home office, comfy sweatpants, sleeping in my own bed, reading glasses, fluffy novels, that it's starting to feel like fall (my favorite season), not having homework, speakerphone, and the feel of Babyface's weight in my arms.

Today I am grateful for a great Babyface/Mommy day!

How I Know I'm A Grown Up #3

It's almost impossible for me to sleep in.  I usually rise early with Babyface, around 6, or even earlier, around 5.  Even when I have the opportunity to sleep in, I can't.  This morning I slept until almost 7, which is about as late as I can sleep.  7 feels like 9 used to.

Late Summer Books

 The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
My coworker recommended this book to me and I got it from the library on CD.  I listened to it and found myself fond of the flawed and relatable characters and driving slow.  I really liked the story once it got going but it could have started in the middle.

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
I took another recommendation from the same coworker and I listened to a library copy on CD.  I liked it but I didn't love it.  The Kelleher family certainly has cornered the market on family guilt and obligation with a side of serious drinking.

Ali in Wonderland by Ali Wentworth and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?(And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

I like laughing so I got these books from the library.  They were both fast, funny reads.  I don't watch the show Kaling's on but I still thought it was funny.  Actually, the same coworker recommended that book also.  I might be in a book club of two.

Four of a Kind by Valerie Frankel 
A light and fluffy book that would be good to toss in your beach bag.  I enjoyed her nonfiction book Thin is the New Happy so much that I wanted to pick this up too.  A library book for sure.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
I don't really read thrillers very much but I really liked this one.  I bought it for my Kindle and could hardly put it down.  The less you know about the story, the better. Just pick it up and read.

How I Know I'm A Grown Up #49

When I see teenagers driving cars covered in cool band stickers, I don't recognize any of the bands.

Today I am grateful for waking up before the alarm, reading a sad book while Babyface slept in (a rare occurence!), having a nice chat with my sister, going for a late summer walk, getting Babyface's photo taken at JCP, sharing two dishes from my favorite restaurant with a friend, chatting up the proverbial storm, salty oat chocolate chip cookies, a quick talk with my dad while is is overseas, Babyface's long nap, finishing an episode of The Newsroom, and plans to go to Trader Joe's tonight.

Fall!

I am ready for fall! crisp apples, chilly mornings and evenings, sweaters, colorful leaves, warm socks, fires in the fireplace, and flannel pajamas.

Today I am grateful for the big umbrella I keep in my car, ocean sounds to listen to at work, Pad Thai, Babyface's smile, my friends who are moms or moms-to-be, Google Documents, breezy summer books, everything I learned at school, clean sheets, the weekend ahead, feeling close to people who live far, and my mentor.

Here's Looking at Euclid

I'm the kind of person that asks people at parties: What are you reading and is it good?  Which is how I found out about Here's Looking at Euclid by Alex Bellows.  No imagination is wild enough to believe that I am a math person.  I am the opposite of a math person.  So imagine my surprise when I find myself so interested in this book. 

The author has both a math and journalistic background, so it helps non-mathy people such as myself fascinated by this book.  A mere history of numbers and mathematical concepts it is not.  This book explores math from indigenous cultures in the Amazon rain forest to the concept of zero to pi to math games to gambling and much, much more in between. 

Today I am grateful for light summer traffic, nice coworkers, a backup meal when my slow cooker dinner was a disaster, Kindle library books, peach season, Post-Its, the smell of Babyface's hair, and sleeping in my own bed.

Today I am grateful for an easy commute, hair color, Babyface's laugh, listening to a good book on CD, cherries, prescription coverage, clean towels, a dinner I had nothing to do with cooking, a car that gets me where I need to go, and a quick visit from my dad and stepmom.

It's been a while since I blogged.  This 70' tree came down in my yard, missing our deck and cars by about two feet.  Then I didn't have Internet at home for a few weeks. 

Early Summer Books

 I was interested in reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed since I liked her earlier book, Torch, so much. A few years ago, she was a visiting writer when I was in the MFA program and gave a great reading. And signed a copy to my honorary Jewish grandmother. So I added Wild to my list at the library and waited my turn. Once I got my hands on it, I could not put it down. I opened Wild on Saturday night and by Sunday afternoon I was done. Wow! was my first reaction. This was the best book I've read in a long time.  While the book is about her journey hiking the Pacific Crescent Trail from California to Washington, it also delves into her relationship with her parents, the end of her marriage, the loss of her mother, how her sibling relationships changed, and more.  I'm still thinking about it. 

At the library I came across The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan on CD and I listened to it in my car.  I didn't like the setup, probably the first CD or so, but then once Tan got into the story I was hooked.  I was driving slowly to listen to this good book.  It was interesting and some beautiful storytelling.  It was very satisfying.

The Breakdown Lane by Jacquelyn Mitchard got a medium amount of hype and kind of mixed reviews, so I waited until it was available on my Kindle from the library.  It's about an advice columnist whose lawyer husband leaves their family.  The point of view changed from the wife to the son and that's the only thing that stopped it from being totally predictable. Not worth a beach read.

I wanted to like A Changed Man by Francine Prose about a sort-of reformed skinhead who approaches a human rights nonprofit run by a Holocaust survivor.  The writing was pretty good but the story was weak and unbelievable.

The best word to describe The Kingdom of Childhood by Rebecca Coleman is creepy. A middle-aged Waldorf Kindergarten teacher has an extramarital affair with a sixteen-year old student. Eurythmy and child molestation?  Yuck. Disjointed and unrealistic, I kept reading because I wanted it to get better. It didn't.

What happens when I can't sleep?  I read books on my Kindle that I got from the library while everyone else sleeps.  Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt is about two women leaving their husbands who get in a car crash.  One of them dies and the other one falls in love with her husband after he finds out his wife had an affair.  Of course.

How I Know I'm A Grown Up #33

I buy the clean version of songs on iTunes.

Today I am grateful for air conditioning, my EZ pass, a spare phone charger, clean water, friends, used books, my slow cooker, when Babyface puts his arms around my neck and his head on my shoulder, watermelon, going bed early, and having things to look forward to.

Today I got up with Babyface and did the usual routine while My Heart's Desire slept in, determined that the dirtiest thing in the room (bottom of shoe, trash can pedal) is exactly the thing Babyface will want to put in his mouth, made crab and avocado salad (very tasty but not too filling), finished The Breakdown Lane, took a nap, played with Babyface, made fruit salad, took it to a friend's cookout, enjoyed sitting in the shade and chatting, and downloaded more library books on my Kindle.

The Imperfectionists.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Tom Rachman's The Imperfectionists and was surprised that I got a kick out of it.  I read it on my commute and enjoyed it. This book is a novel in interconnected stories, each one good enough to stand alone.

Bean and Corn Enchiladas

These enchiladas are so good it's hard to believe how easy they are to make. It's just assembly then baking. I often make them ahead (assemble on Sunday, bake on Tuesday). And since it's no more trouble to make two pans than one, I double it and freeze the other pan.

Ingredients (for one pan):

1 can mild or medium enchilada sauce. 
1 can refried or 2 cans of black beans
1 can corn
1 package shredded Mexican cheese mix (I use light but regular's fine too)
1 package tortillas
1/2 cup or so chopped onions







Pour half of the can of enchilada sauce into a Pyrex casserole dish.  Any rectangle or square shaped one is fine.

Put one of the tortillas down in the sauce and put in one handful each of beans and cheese, maybe half a handful of corn.  Add around a tbsp of the chopped onions.  Roll the whole thing up so there's sauce on most of the outside of the tortilla.

Repeat filling and rolling tortillas until there's no more room in the pan.

Then pour the remaining sauce over the top of the tortillas.  Spread the remaining cheese on the top too.

Bake at 350* for 20-30 minutes. 

Bean and corn enchiladas are great with salad and rice.  I usually substitute 1/4 cup of salsa for water when making rice in the rice cooker and it turns out terrific.

Today I am grateful for big sunglasses, registering for parenting class in the fall, portraits of Babyface, the cheap gas station near my office, Kermit Ruffins & Rebirth Brass Band, summer fruit, that I know how to type, having time to mull decisions, and having things to look forward to.

The Worst Book I Ever Read

I read a lot of books and when I don't care for a book, I usually don't say anything at all.  However, this book was so bad I can't help it. 

Why did I even read one word of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith?  For the book club that I recently joined.  The women seem nice and almost everyone reads the book. And that this month's book club was the last book club event until fall. 

Thankfully, I got this book from the library and read it on my Kindle.  If I had paid even one penny for it, I would have lobbied to get my money back.  Grahame-Smith's book was almost campy in it's badness.  Characters were more like caricatures.  A fourth grader could have predicted the ending.  I was mad at myself for reading it.

What's the worst book you ever read?

Baby Food for Babyface

Everything that Babyface eats, I make.  I've been pretty much steaming veggies and fruits and then puréeing them in the small food processor.  On weekends, I spend an hour or so making purees and then freezing them in ice cube trays.  It's been fine but as the weather gets warmer, I don't like heating up the house.
Last weekend I poked holes in sweet potatoes with a sharp knife, put them in the slow cooker with a cup of water or so, and cooked them on low for three hours.  Then I pureed them in the small food processor.  So easy!  And it doesn't heat up the whole kitchen like using the oven or stove.

About a month ago I broke our old small food processor, it was the 2.5 cup Cuisiniart mini, which had done its job for at least seven years.  So when My Heart's Desire saw this one on sale at Costco, he snapped it up for a song.  It has no bells or whistles, but is perfect for this job.

At the farm stand today I bought some beets and am going to try them in the slow cooker tomorrow.  I puree everything — the beets, the stalks, and the greens.  So far beets are a big hit with Babyface.

Today I got up with Babyface, cuddled and played with him, made a tin and a half of breakfast frittatas, played more, put him down for a nap, worked out, took Babyface to JCP to get his supercute portrait taken, went to our last parenting class (sniff), came home and put him down for another nap, ate goat cheese and apple while watching part of Mad Men On Demand, had Homestyle Roast Chicken with asparagus, cauliflower, and rice with My Heart's Desire, watched the rest of my show, and started my book club book, Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter.

2012 Goals: May Update

Writing
1) My writing group decided to share work in mid-June.  It turns out I wasn't that crazy about the essay so now I'm mulling on something else.
2)  Just like in April, I blogged 7 times this month, which is just shy of my goal of 8 times. 

Healthy
3) I worked out four times a week and wrote it all down on paper. I have to be flexible since Babyface sometimes still gets up in the middle of the night.  One night when he was teething with a fever, he got up every 90 minutes from 7pm - 4am.

Romance
4) I did not go on any dates with My Heart's Desire.  I emailed our babysitter to make arrangements and found out she was going to India for a while.  So, no date for us.  I also put up an ad for a backup babysitter.

Parenting
5) The parenting classes were extended by another month so Babyface and I are enjoying that very much.  I listened to most of Jane Eyre (just to get that extra Britishness) and attended a book club through one of the Mom organizations I belong to.  It is always strange showing up to an event where I know nobody, but I was glad I went.

Two Divorce and Food Novels

I recently read Meredith Mileti's Aftertaste: A Novel in Five Courses and Judith Hendrick's Bread Alone. The protagonists were both married women who get unceremoniously dumped for their husband's colleagues.  What follows the crisis is food, drinking, and old friends. In these books, there's no match for a man's midlife crisis plus a sexy underling. While these books were predictable, they were enjoyable in a beachy way. And yes, they both include recipes.

Classy

When I want to learn something, I do two things.  First, I get my hands on books and read.  And read. And read. Here is a partial list of the books I read while pregnant:
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Your Pregnancy Week by Week
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
The Breastfeeding Sourcebook
The Complete Book of Pregnancy & Childbirth
Hypnobirthing
Mothers Who Think
And Baby Makes Three
The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book
Baby 411
Baby Bargains
From the Hips
The Essential C-Section Guide
The Happiest Baby on the Block
Assorted baby name books

Then, I take classes.  Before Babyface was born, I really wanted to be prepared.  So in addition to our Hypnobirthing class (I told you I was a hippie), My Heart's Desire and I took several others.  Infant first aid and CPR was informative and I hope we never have to use it.  We took a Babycare skills class, which was what to do with your newborn at home.  It taught us the basics of eats, sleeps, poops, and cries as well as what's weird but normal and when to call the pediatrician in the middle of the night. I  signed up for a breastfeeding class but Babyface arried before the class and by then I was getting plenty of personal attention from nursing pros.

After Babyface was born, of course I wanted to take more classes!  I was really lucky to find a wonderful parenting class.  I've really gotten a lot out of the weekly parent/infant class at the hippie school.  All of the babies in the class are around the same age and it's been wonderful to see the babies, parents, and teacher almost every week.  I learned about respecting Babyface, conscious cooperative care, and how much can be learned from observation.  I've been able to be a much calmer parent.  I also took an infant massage class, which I liked and Babyface loved.  And yes, he does get regular massages.  This spring I signed Babyface up for a parent-assisted swim class (really, it could be called Hey Babies, This is Water) which he liked but the time wasn't ideal so we didn't make it to a lot of them.

Next month the parenting class breaks for summer. I'll definitely miss our group and am planning to return in the fall.  I looked into what other classes were offered this summer and nothing sounded awesome.  So we're going to take a break from classes for a little while.  I'm part of a playgroup and enjoy getting the babies and parents together.  I also have some mom friends and acquaintances I would like to see more often.  It'll be a great summer!

Today I am grateful for having a long morning, going for a great walk, reading glasses (even if I did have to come home and get them), making my life easier by keeping a phone charger at work, parenting communities, Kindle downloads from the library, pancakes for dinner, tons of blooms on my hydrangea, spring showers, Mad Men on demand, and cuddles with Babyface.

Spring Books

Let's start with two books about the French Revolution. 

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran.  Interesting, well paced, and did not skimp on the graphic details of life and death.  It was enthralling.  I listened to YA novel Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. I didn't realize it was YA until mid-way through, it was shelved with the adult fiction books and I was desperate for something to listen to.  If I was a teenager I probably would have loved it.

I read Arcadia by Lauren Groff, which I liked a lot, despite it being a bit over-hyped. I thought it was good, not great.  I got it from the library after a little wait.  Worth a library wait, I wouldn't have bought it. It's the story of a boy born in a commune and his life as he grows into adolescence and adulthood. It's very well written.

Based on a colleague's recommendation, I checked out Maeve Binchy's Whitethorn Woods. I listened to it and found it okay.  If I had been reading the book, I probably wouldn't have finished it, but I had nothing else to listen to.  I listen to lots of books on CD that I get from the library and find I don't want to hear anything else in the car.  When else, as an adult, do I get to sit down and listen to someone tell me a story? 
 
I had high expectations for Chuck Palahniuk's Damned since I really liked his previous work, but this book wasn't a hit.  It was funny in places and fast-moving, but ultimately I found myself bored. It's the kind of book that wouldn't have seen the light of day if it wasn't for the famous name.
 
Keith Donohue's Centuries of June surprised me with how good it was.  This novel contained stories about eight different women told in a bathroom to a man with a hole in his head.  The premise was clever and the stories were well-written.  The less you know about the book before you read it, the more enjoyable it is.

I enjoyed The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb: A Novel by Melanie Benjamin more than I expected.  A historical novel about the 2'8" woman who went from being a teenaged schoolteacher in rural Maine to traveling with P.T. Barnum and becoming an international sensation.   

Brian Wansink's nonfiction book Mindless Eating really opened my eyes to the things I put on my plate. It was so interesting to read and learn about unconscious food choices and habits. And just like advertising, everyone thinks they are immune. I've made some real changes at home and at work.


Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman offers an honest and sometimes hilarious look at motherhood.  It also had me thinking about my own parents in a different way.

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients:
1 package of chicken breast strips
2 onions, sliced
2-3 bell peppers, sliced
1/2 c chicken broth

Seasonings:
1-2 t chili powder
1 t salt
1 t paprika
1 t onion powder
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t cayenne pepper
1/4 t cumin

Put the chicken, onion slices, and bell pepper slices in the slow cooker. Combine the seasonings and pour over everything.  Give it a good stir.  Then add the chicken broth. Put the lid on and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7.  I've always made it on low and it's terrific to have for a weeknight dinner.

When I walk in the door I put rice in the rice cooker and substitute a 1/4 cup or so of salsa for water.
I serve the chicken fajitas with tortillas, guacamole, beans (black or refried), salsa and sour cream.  When I am feeling fancy, I squeeze a lime on top right before serving.  The leftovers are also great, I sometimes make them into a salad.

Today I am grateful for the smell of spring rain, books on CD from the library, crafts, being able to mull things over rather than make hasty decisions, clean clothes, and Babyface's smile.

2012 Goals: April Update

Writing
1) I found the personal essay that I want to revise and it really needs work.  My process includes mulling and that's the stage I'm in now.
2) I blogged 7 times this month, which is a big improvement over March's single post.

Healthy
3) I worked out four times a week and wrote it all down on paper. I was tortured by my trainer once this month and the following day I was so sore even putting on my bathrobe hurt.   

Romance
4) I far exceeded my goal of going on a date with My Heart's Desire at least once a month. My mom visited and she encouraged us to go out (of course she just wanted to love Babyface) so we went out for a fancy dinner to slightly belatedly celebrate our five year anniversary and another night we went to a movie.  Then my dad and stepmom visited and they took care of Babyface while we snuck out to another movie and took a trip to Target.

Parenting
5) The parenting classes that I have been taking with Babyface have been terrific. They are partly group led and partly instructor led, really the best of both. Classes are only through the school year, so after May we are off for the summer. I belong to a few parenting and mom organizations that I haven't been participating in much. My goals are to attend at least three events.

Earth Day 5k

I signed up to participate in an Earth Day 5k with a friend.  I really waffled on whether I was going to go or not since I really wasn't able to train for it at all.  We had agreed to walk the race and I was glad.  It turned out to be a perfect spring morning and we walked the race.  S-l-o-w.

We walked and chatted and literally everyone else participating passed us.  Old people, a really pregnant woman, a couple with a stroller, and an eight-year-old girl passed us.  I did not care.  No matter how slow we walked, we were still faster than everyone on the couch.  I did find it unnecessary when the winner passed us twice.  According to the official statistics, I came in second to last (by one second) so my slowest pace still stands.  It was my first race since before I got pregnant with Babyface and I felt good when it was over. 

Crockless

When trying new recipes in the slow cooker, I've found they are either terrible, boring, or awesome.  Last weekend My Heart's Desire made orange chicken in the slow cooker that was so bad it was inedible.  He followed the recipe exactly (he is a very precise cook, unlike me) but it was just blech.  I soaked the crock and then put it in the dishwasher, as usual. 

When he pulled the crock out of the dishwasher, he found the inside finish is buckling and peeling.  We joked that the orange chicken was so bad it revolted even the crock.

I just got the slow cooker for Christmas so it can't be worn out.  I called the manufacturer and they are sending me a new one for the cost of shipping.  I'm really missing it. 

In the meantime, I'm making quick dinners like frozen ravioli with Trader Joe's marinara jazzed up with onions, garlic, and mushrooms.  I'm going to make some white chili this weekend and freeze it to eat later in the week. 

UPDATE: The manufacturer sent me a new slow cooker (the whole thing, not just the crock) in exchange for shipping costs and the plug of the old machine.

2012 Goals: Second Quarter

What did I learn from my first quarter goals? Well, they were not as easily achievable as I thought. And that it only takes one thing to go awry (illness, business trip) to throw a wrench in the routine. My second quarter goals are to accomplish the things I've had in mind this year.
Here are my goals for April—June:

Writing
1) My goal for this quarter is to update a personal essay that I wrote last year, polish it, and send it out for submission to Washingtonian and The New York Times.
2) Blog at least twice a week. I'm lowering the bar here since I think two posts is more realistic. If I can get in three (or more) that'll be great but I won't feel like a slacker if I don't.

Healthy
3) The shared plan with a friend and Google document did not work out as I had hoped. I have a home workout plan that was created with the help of a wonderful personal trainer. I am following the plan four times a week. I am committing to working out four times a week and writing it all down on paper. I see the trainer once or twice a month and have real accountability. I have had to economize in several areas in order to afford it and find it's worth it.

Romance
4) My Heart's Desire and I will continue to go on dates at least once a month. We leave Babyface with a sitter and go out together. Having established this routine is something that I really look forward to. Sometimes it also works out that we can have lunch during the week and that's really nice too. It also allows us to have adult conversation that is not about baby poop.

Parenting
5) The parenting classes that I have been taking with Babyface have been terrific. They are partly group led and partly instructor led, really the best of both. Classes are only through the school year, so after May we are off for the summer. I belong to a few parenting and mom organizations that I haven't been participating in much. My goals are to attend at least three events.

Next Stop

I rarely buy hardbacks.  Rarely.  If you came to my house and peeked at my hardbacks, you would find most of them would have Happy Birthday or Merry Christmas scrawled across the title page. 

Glen Finland's Next Stop is a hardback that I pre-ordered and then eagerly awaited its delivery.  I've known Glen since the first day of graduate school, we were in the MFA program together.  I really like her writing, her fiction and nonfiction.  I've read this book in various stages, as essays, as thinly veiled fiction, and as a collection. 

When the final version arrived on my doorstep from Amazon, I was so excited!  I read while Babyface slept.  It was more polished than the earlier work that I'd read.  I found Next Stop to be brutally honest and well written. 

Glen doesn't just tell you what it's like to raise a family with three sons, the youngest of whom has autism.  She shows you moments big and small and her family's struggles.  She also pulls the curtain back on motherhood and goes beyond the sweet to the smelly and the real experiences.

It's the best kind of nonfiction, the kind that has you thinking for weeks after.

Slow Cooker Homestyle Roast Chicken

I made this roast chicken last week and it was a big hit!  My Heart's Desire liked it even more than I did.  I served it with rice and steamed vegetables.  I found the recipe online (but can't remember where, if this is your recipe, send me a link) and increased the spices since I find so many slow cooker recipes really boring.

Slow Cooker Homestyle Roast Chicken
Ingredients:
1 Whole chicken, neck and gizzards (and anything else in the chicken) thrown away

Seasonings:
1 T kosher salt
1 T paprika
1 T onion powder
1 T Italian seasoning
1 t thyme
1/8 t cayenne pepper
1/2 t black pepper

2 T crushed garlic
1 quartered onion

Mix the spices together and rub it all over the chicken, inside and out.  Add the garlic and onion and put it in the chicken.  Put the chicken in the slow cooker, breast side up.  Do not add liquid!  Put the lid on and cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8.  I always use the thermometer to make sure the chicken is fully cooked.  5 hours on high and it was amazing!

The chicken fell apart when we took it out of the slow cooker.  It was so good!  It was also good as leftovers (or as my mom says, it's so good we're having it twice) and as chicken salad.

Carry the One

Carol Anshaw's Carry the One was a book that I saw mentioned in several places.  Sometimes when a book has a lot of hype it makes me not want to read it or I'm disappointed when it's not good.  I read a sample on my Kindle and was hooked.  The less you know about the story, the more you will enjoy the book.

 

 

Also, I recently learned how to download books from the library onto my Kindle and I've been reading on it a lot more. Nothing a thrifty girl like me enjoys more than library books.

2012 Goals: March Update

March was all lion, no lamb.  In the middle of the month, I got sick.  Just as I was starting to get better I got sick from something else.  I did not even manage to do the bare minimum this month.  Babyface and My Heart's Desire also got sick.  It was not fun at our house.

Writing
1) I did not do a submissions mailing this month. I had an essay in mind to revise and submit and didn't manage. 

2) My goals was to blog at least three times a week. With one post in March, I didn't even come close.  

Healthy
3) I did not log my workouts and frankly, there wasn't much to log.  I was unable to workout for almost three weeks and it really did not feel good.  My body felt stiff and I didn't sleep as well as I usually do.  Also, the person that I was sharing the Google document with hasn't logged anything (best laid plans and all that). 

I'm still planning on participating in the Earth Day 5k even though my training took a hit.  There are serious runners as well as families with strollers.  I really might be last.  And I don't care if I am. 

Romance

4) My Heart's Desire and I went out on two dates.  The first one was right before I got sick.  A friend gave My Heart's Desire tickets to a hockey game so we went.  The seats were terrific and it was a fun night.  My Heart's Desire's birthday is in March and I had arranged a sitter way in advance so that we could go out.  I still wasn't feeling well so we went to a barbeque restaurant that he likes.

Community Service

5) Finally!  I took the bags of nonperishable food I've been driving around and dropped it off.

Parenting

6) We made it to two of the three parenting classes in March. Most of the babies are older than Babyface so I get a preview of what he's going to be doing.

2012 Goals: February Update

Staring in February I've been feeling like a circus performer balancing spinning plates on sticks. My plates had dinner, clean clothes, and diapers on them. Having goals is good and some of these will have to be modified.

 Writing

1) I did not do a submissions mailing this month. March it is.

 2) My goals was to blog at least three times a week. With 6 posts this month, I was about halfway there. I'm going to try and keep some running drafts that I can work on when I get time for fits and starts, since sitting down and writing has been taking a backseat to lying down and napping.

Healthy

3) I did log all my workouts. My goal for the month was 20 workouts and I logged in 12. I went for walks, outside and on the treadmill, took a post-natal movement class, and strength training (free weights and resistance bands).

 I know that strength training is key to being healthy. It's been a long time since I did it consistently. I did a two-hour session with a personal training powerhouse that helped one of my good friends reach her fitness goals. Our session created a home workout for me to do and we agreed that four days a week was an achievable goal for me. I left with an upper body/abs and lower body/abs workout that I feel comfortable doing. The following day can best be summed up thusly: ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! I texted my friend that I didn't like her anymore. I also feel sore after I do the home workout (though not as) so I know I'm working those muscles. 

Thrifty though I am, I broke down and bought my first new pair of workout shoes in more than two years!  It's amazing how much better my knees feel post-workout when my feet are getting adequate support.

 Romance

 4) My Heart's Desire and I went out on two daytime dates! The first was lunch at my favorite Indian restaurant near his office. We used to go there a lot when we were dating so I'm a bit sentimental about the place. The food is really terrific too. On our second date we had a babysitter come over and we had frozen yogurt and went to a movie (his choice). It's hard for me to be out without Babyface and I only cried a little.

 Community Service
5) I put all the food together into bags and have been driving it around in my car.

 Parenting

6) The new session of parenting classes started and it was wonderful to see familiar faces and some new ones. All of the babies are so different it's interesting to watch them grow. Of course, I also love to see them play together, in a big old baby dogpile.  Trees Make the Best Mobiles is our unofficial text and I am loving it.