Boating on a Lovely March Day

One of my favorite past times is boating. Of course my husband does most of the work. I pack the picnic lunch. This past weekend we took the boat out on a beautiful lake. We live in what I think is a tropical paradise. No alligator sightings this weekend, which is a good thing.

White Rice Vs Brown Rice

White Rice vs. Brown Rice

OK everyone says how much better brown rice is, and for probably the past 5 years I have been making just brown rice.

However, I compared packages of white to brown, and from a vitamin standpoint the white was better. The brown and white rice had the same grams of protein and iron, but the white rice had more added B vitamins. The only advantage to the brown i saw was that it had more fiber, but really not a whole lot more. It only had 1 gram per serving. Now I can add veggies and beans to up fiber content in the white.

The white rice was more than 50% cheaper than the brown.
Second brown rice goes rancid relatively fast and I have to keep it in the fridge or freezer for freshness which takes up room. Not good for long term or emergency storage.

Now yes (at least I think - I would have to fact check) white rice by itself metabolizes faster in the blood stream and causes blood sugar to rise faster but when mixed with other protein or high fiber foods that slows it down.

Anyone else have any thoughts? I can buy a 5 pound bag of white rice for the price of a 2 pound bag of brown and the rest of the family likes it better. (However they do like my brown rice too because I can make it extremely yummy but it is chewier.)

So anyone know of any other reasons brown rice is suppose to be better? Just looking for some added input.

Belinda is Going To be on Dancing With the Stars

I was and still am a big fan of the Go-Go's and Belinda Carlisle. What can I say. I am still stuck in the 80's. I last saw the Go-Go's perform in 2003 and Last saw Belinda perform in 2005.
Premiere of Dancing With the Stars is March 9th

"When I see a Britney Spears video, I just think of a bunch of old men,bordering on pedophiles, sitting in a marketing room and deciding what's sexy."
Belinda Carlisle 2001
In Time Out New York

Today's Bread

This is the bread I made today. I used my Kitchen aid for the loaves and my bread maker to make the roll dough. Nope it isn't 100% Sourdough Whole Wheat. They are both made with a ratio about 1/3 whole wheat and 2/3rds white flour. I like this ratio for bread. They rise well and are light, and the family likes them.

Recipes: Family Bread

Buttery Bread Machine Rolls

Bread and Rolls before baking. Final Rise.

My Boys Were Baptised

Update: Sam a Surviving 3 1/2 year old Thanatophoric Dwarf has Fun at Sea World & Disney

(new update: of 11/10/2009 A few weeks ago Spirit FM 90.5 aired their story. Here is the audio Story/ Interview that aired)

Click Here to Read A News Article on Samuel and Watch A video done by Catholic News Agency

Update: 1/16/09

Hi Everyone,

This is another Update on the wonderful and amazing life of Samuel who was born with Thanatophoric Dysplasia. He is surviving, thriving, full of life and doing fantastic. Here he is in his shades on his trip to Disney & Sea World. The wonderful Make A Wish foundation granted this wish for Samuel and his family. I want to let families know that if they ever have to face the choice of whether to put their child on a ventilator that these children do not live in pain and do have a very wonderful quality of life. I don't always think doctors give parents all the information necessary to make an informed decision. I think doctors in many cases scare people away from life saving procedures especially when they feel there is supposedly no hope. I want to let parents know they do have options. Choose life.

He is a giggly, happy toddler who does interact with his environment.

Samuel and His Mom at Disney & Sea World in Orlando Florida
A Wish Granted to Him By The Make A Wish Foundation

Samuel's Website
Sign his Guest book

A Sampling of Pictures From Samuel's Trip

Tags: long-term thanatophoric survival, living thanatophoric dwarf, thanatophoric dwarf turns 3, laughing and happy child with thanatophoric dysplasia, Living with thanatophoric dysplasia, surviving thanatophoric dysplasia, living on a ventilator

My Show Girls: Sadie and Roxie

My Miniature Pinscher: King's Little Lady Sadie

My Maltese: Sweetie's Foxy Roxie

Sadie and Roxie for short

The Most Comfortable Shoes, They Cured My Plantar Fasciitis

Move over Birkenstocks, these are awesome shoes. I just got 2 new pairs yesterday. They are different styles, but they both have the same foot bed. I wore out my old pair after 2 years of continuous wear. I was having really bad foot/heel pain. It is a condition called
Plantars Fasciitis. I was ready to go to the podiatrist. On the advice of my friend, I gave these shoes by Think a try first. I noticed the minute I tried them on that they were very comfortable. I could sense an immediate improvement. My plantars fasciitis did not go away imediately, but aparently these shoes gave my feet time to heal. With wear, the footbed molds itself to your foot for a custom fit. I don't know what this company did, but they got shoes right. The company is called Think Shoes. I got mine at a local store called Happy Feet Plus but you can get them from several places online.
     After four months the condition was tremendously improved and the pain was pratically gone even after long days of walking. After 6 months I would say they cured my Plantars fasciitis. The pain is totally gone. The shoes are pricey. I got these two pairs on clearance and they still were pricey. However the cost is worth it. I know it saved me a ton of money in podiatrist fees and orthodics. They do have dressier shoe styles, but they don't have tennis shoes. Now I just need to find a good pair of tennis shoes. Another friend recommended I try New Balance shoes for that. So that will be my next shoe purchase.

The Sunny South In January

This is the beginning of strawberry season here.

Hubby and Son working on the Jet Ski

Home Management Binder- My Schedule -- Under Development

Ok another attempt by me at better home management by once again working on a type of home management binder in the quest to find something that works for me.

I am not a schedule person, but I have discovered that as a Stay at Home Mom I do need some kind of schedule or plan else I don't make good and productive use of my time. I am a procrastinator and a time waster.

One of the smartest things I have learned from my engineer husband is to get the machines up and running. When the machines aren't running at my husbands plant it means less productivity. The machines can be running while you get other things done.

My Early Morning Schedule

My early morning schedule consists of getting breakfast or having breakfast options for hubby and the boys. I get up first and help my special needs student get dressed. I also pack everyone's lunches however the boys do help with that. Everyone makes their own beds and hopefully keep their bathrooms tidy. I'll check tidiness of bathrooms later in the day.

After everyone has had breakfast, is dressed and off to work or school. I am going to sit here and have a cup of coffee, (ok I don't do coffee, it is actually a diet coke) and typing this post I am going to do the following (hopefully);

My Morning Schedule:
(I will have to see how long all this takes and adjust accordingly)

1.Unload and load the dishwasher
(I was lazy last night and didn't quite finish cleaning all the dishes. Yes I left a load over night.)

2. Load the washing machine with a towels load and get it going.

3. Start dough in the dough maker for rolls (I am only going to use half the amount of butter because I think my roll recipe is too rich for every day.)

4. Start Dinner in the Crockpot.

Da Da
All the Machines are Going.

5. Exercise - this amounts to my walking tape. It is only a half hour. I have to start somewhere.

6. Shower/ Dress/ makeup (Only included so I can calculate a time frame)

Hmm what next?

7. fold and put up laundry that is sitting in the living room.

8. Work on a needed organization or deep cleaning project
Today will be to tackle the dismantling the Christmas tree and putting away rest of Christmas decorations.I took down all the out door decorations and lights yesterday.

9. I am guessing it will be about lunch time now. Fix healthy nutritious lunch for me.

10. Make a batch of cookies so I have a supply for lunch boxes.

11. Finish rolls up throughout the day, attending to as needed.

12. Straighten family room and spruce up kitchen.


OK That is all I have so far for today.
Now that it is such a nice list I guess I should follow it.

Please share tips and ideas.