Monday, February 27, 2012

Book Review Dr. Suess 2012

 Well it's here and we are all tickled in my home! 

It's Read Across America Week!!!

We are jam packed with our Dr. Seuss books, scattered through out our home!


Don't you just want to spend the day rhyming after a Dr. Seuss book? Lord knows I do!

We have read 3 so far this week.
Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book
Horton Hatches the Egg
The Lorax

Both books have such powerful meanings inside them.

My children have also have been watching The Lorax the original version. That too has a powerful message in it. We have always been a family who recycles and tries to make as many earth friendly choices that we can. 
This planet is our home and I want to see it last. It was a gift from God and like all things we should take care of it. 

Recently though after reading the Lorax story and seeing the dvd several times now my six year old has taken the message from that story to heart. As we travel through our day he applies that message to his world around him. He reports people he see's not making earth friendly choices. Like not recycling. Poor guy he get's so upset. However, then I remind him that he is making good choices and that is what matters now. Someday down the road though, this guy is going to make a big impact on this planet! I am so proud of him! 

What Dr. Seuss books are in your home this week?

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Home Schooling Read Across America Day March 2nd, 2012

It is almost that time! 
My children and I gear up for this day for a long time!
We are just tickled to celebrate the man that brought us so many wonderful stories! 
That's right...
March 2, 2012 is Dr. Seuss Birthday!
It is also Read Across America Day!!
Here is the link to learn more about it!
I also included Seussville.com site so you can check out all they have to offer as well! 
Will you be wearing your red hat that day??
We are going to have our red hats on and some yummy cupcake to boot!
Check back in with us to see how our celebration went!
Cheers! 

Friday, February 17, 2012

Travel A Gluten Free Meal Zpizza

I don't think I have ever labeled my eating habbitts in my life up until 10 years ago. I use to love and take in all types of foods. Shellfish, good New Haven style pizza, a veggies lovers sub, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Marco an,Steak, boiled Lobster, steamed crab with butter and lemon sauce, fresh baked bread, coconut cake, apple pie,pecan pie. You name it I would try it. 

Today, I can not eat half of those items on the list. I don't know what happened, I have never been fully diagnosed. However, about 10 years ago I was eating a large handful of trail mix and all of a sudden my tongue started to swell. Southern Man at the time, was my fiance, I scared him to death with my reaction to the trail mix I was eating. So much so he rushed me to the doctor and insisted I was food tested for allergies that day.We later came to find out I had sever food allergies. I just about laughed so hard I nearly knocked my self off the exam table as the doctor read the list of no-nos. He would say, no shellfish, I would reply I had crab buffet the night before and here I am! He would then reply, you have angels watching over you!
He would say no more nuts, I would say I eat peanut butter and jelly every day and trail mix and he replied and here we are today because of those choices! 
The darn list went on and on!! At the end of his list I began to cry, I said well I guess I will just have bread and water! He said no you won't because you are allergic to bread!! Actualy he said wheat and gluten! 
I thought my life was OVER!! I grew up in 2 large families filled with pizza, pies, shellfish, you name it, it was on that darn no-no list now!!

I tried to deny it! I went ahead and forged on! However the reactions got worse and bendryl became a routine part of my day. I knew there was no way out, I had to make a change. So I just gave it all up all together! Accept for a holiday treat. Well that worked for a while. Until Christmas rolled around that year and I wanted to make cookies. I thought I will still make the cookies I just won't eat them! WRONG!! I nearly gave my self a life altering sinus infection from the over overexposure. Well what the heck was I to do??? 
I reached acceptance a few months later and I started trying to find alternatives. There was NOT much out there. Especially tasty ones! God bless Southern Man, he too tried to eat like me, for support. Well he was just as grumpy as I was, that was not going to work! So I learned to live on a new adventure and he learned to not feel guilty. 
Today a large part of my diet is eating gluten-free. And Southern Man is a good egg, he eats the gluten- free pastas, my baked goods and our finds along travels. It has come such a long way in 10 years! 
I use to dread travel after I was new to learning to live gluten free. Now, I am shocked every time what I will find on my journeys. 
In fact, look what I found in Hawaii during my recent travels there! 
 If you have never had Zpizza, you are missing out big time!
The menu has a ton of organic choices! Not to mention...GLUTEN-FREE pizza!! 


Here is a little tour it's a simple place.
There large cooking area and lots of tables. They keep it simple! I like simple! 
Of course I got my usual! 
 Can you just taste it? Mouth watering peperoni and artichokes! I am craving one now!!
Southern Man could barley grab the shot before I stuffed the entire pie in my mouth!

 YES, those are possessed eyes!! I was so hungry!! We had been exploring for several hours and I needed my lunch! 
I wish I had ordered another one to bring back to the hotel, that was soo yummy!!
This is a trip you want to make and bring home extra when you order! 
It is amazing to me how far gluten-free living has come. Especially what yummy food I find on my travels these days!








































 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Red Velvet Whoopee Pies

My Step-Mom is an amazing women. She always shocks me with the thoughtful ways she shows how much she loves me. 
I went to visit her recently and she made me a delicious treat! 
Gluten Free-Red Velvet Whoopee Pies

They were amazing!! 
I had 2!! 
She decorated them for Valentines which was so sweet.
She used a simple gluten-free yellow cake mix. Coco powder and red food coloring.
For the frosting she choose a cream cheese recipe, I will have to get back to you with the one she choose.

It is a amazing what you can do with a simple gluten-free cake mix!
 
 Any one is the mood to bake now?





 

Monday, February 13, 2012

Gluten Free Cook Book My favorite Southern Man's Enemey!

This is one of my all time favorite pasta dishes lately! I just can't not get enough of it!



It just looks yummy! Greek Spinach Spaghetti with fresh Parmesan cheese!
And the Monkey's love it! We have it at least 3 times a month!


Well today I just could not help the craving for it. I made it for lunch, the Monkey's were excited! Southern Man arrived on the scene for lunch,the expression on his face when he saw what I had cooked for lunch left him looking, like some one smashed his lap top! Now, he does not gripe in front of the monkey's, however, when he asked,"why do you hate me so much?" I knew he was not happy! The good news is, he ate it and lived!! I think if we all had a chance to eat lunch with his mother she would give you quite a tale about spinach and her son!
Here are the ingredients to this great dish:
1Kraft Greek Dressing
2 bags of heartland gluten-free pasta
1/2 bag of frozen spinage
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
olive oil and salt for the cooking water.
It's so simple to make! In a large pot fill 3/4 way with water. Add olive oil and salt to the water. Wait for it to boil. Add in spinach and the pasta. Cook through the cooking time. Drain in a netted cullender.I also rinse it a bit with hot water. Once it is drained, drop it into a large serving bowl, add the Greek dressing, to your desired amount,grate the cheese over it toss and repeat! Then at the end, grate a bit more cheese! We love fresh grated cheese in this house!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Home Schooling Creativity!

Today as I climbed our long staircase during quite time, to put away laundry, I almost stepped on this very important party of people at the stop of the staircase.



This is just one of the many examples of how my children are free to express themselves through out their day.