3 Wishes - Kir from The Kir Corner is here today to wish away!

I'm back! After a nice two week spring break (of sorts) I am happy to be back with you all and could think of no better way to return than with one of my favorite bloggers, Kir from The Kir Corner.

Kir is a busy Mom of twin boys who is honest and heartfelt about rising above a difficult childhood, struggling with infertility, navigating parenthood, and embracing life.  She has a huge heart which shines through in all she writes and she is always good for a laugh (or five).  Her honesty is envious and her take on life, a constant reminder to be our best selves in every situation.  Did I mention she also LOVES CUPCAKES?? A girl after my own heart.

Please enjoy Kir's wishes and be sure to follow her:
Twitter
Facebook
The Kir Corner

Wish away Kir..........

Meg asked me to write for her and I was so struck with the invitation. Honestly, I am surprised when anyone asks me to write for them, it truly humbles me and I gush and say YES and then try my very best to give them my best.

Thank you so much Meg for asking me to be here, to share my wishes and share your space.

 I am so happy to be here today.

Wishes, they are so magical aren’t they? Just like the Pixie dust that Izzy of the Neverland Pirates holds or the Ruby Slippers in the Wizard of Oz, or the wands in those delightful Harry Potter movies, wishes come from a little work, a little faith and a whole lot of magic.

I myself am a great believer in all of it and so I come here 3 wishes and a heart full of whimsy and wonder.

If I could WISH, if I could make it all come true with a prayer in my heart here is what I would say:

Past Wish

I want to be grateful for all the things I’ve been through, to know that there are lessons in the journey. While I embrace my past with the good and bad stuff, I often wish that my heart and head would reconcile it. My childhood of violence was actually not something that I want to wish away; instead I would rather own it and know that along my journey I have nothing to prove and nothing to hide when I meet people and am unsure about what to show them.

I truly wish I’d known that things would work out, that I’d never have to live in fear again of being left or being hit or being taken for granted.

And I wish I would have never blamed myself for anything. It was all lessons, it was all leading me toward the Kirsten of today and even mistakes would be worthy. I followed my heart a lot and that is one thing I will never wish away.

Present Wish

I wish there was more time.

More time to just stop and live in this moment; more time and patience to just sit with my children and not have to think ahead or behind to anything that needs to be done. I wish that I could stop time and have more MOMENTS with family, friends, my writing and myself.

I would love more money or opportunities, but they are hollow offerings. Today, I just wish for more TIME, for the clocks to stop and offer me a lifetime of opportunities to laugh, to bask and giggle. Instead of wishing away the hours of a job or a tantrum, I wish for an endless period of instances where I can keep trying to get it right.

More Hugs, More Love, More Patience, More Naps, More Motivation, More Authenticity.

Future Wish

Well it’s my Harry Potter moment isn’t it? Or maybe my Aladdin moment?

And I have to admit, I’m more than a little giddy with the chance to make a wish like this.

I wish for Peace, I wish for a time in our country when judgments and bullying don’t exist. A place where my sons can grow up knowing that they can be special and make others feel that way too without competition. I wish for LOVE to have more worth than material things.

I wish my family was always healthy and happy.

I wish I could see my name on the cover of a book.

I wish I could retire in Cape May, NJ with my handsome husband and have a house big enough to welcome my sons and their families (my grandchildren!!!). I’d love to wake and drift off to sleep with the sound of the ocean and the love of my family surrounding me.

Soooo…send the Pixie Dust! ;)

Oh Meg, thank you so much for letting be here with you today. You are dear, sweet friend and I am so thrilled you asked me to share my wishes.

Spring Break!

Pressure Cooker is taking a Spring Break!  I am not a teacher or a student and I don't have kids in school yet but hey, we have a lot of travel coming up over the next 2 weeks so spring break it is!

See you soon!

Friday Wrap Up - Is it Friday Already!?

It's Friday at 9:00 p.m. and this is the first chance I have had this week to sit down to write.  It's Friday at 9:00 p.m. and I don't have the energy to think about what I want to write.....so instead I will be poaching an article from Yahoo I found via  a friends Facebook page.  

Being a SAHM is a wonderful privilege most  many days but more often than not, it is like being the conductor on a high speed train barreling down the tracks with lots of moving parts and many passengers who need immediate and frequent attention.  I truly didn't understand what I was signing up for when I left corporate America and I can say I am guilty of not understanding how busy a SAHM's life truly could be.  (enter Judgy McJudgerson).

Whether you are a SAHM, a working Mom, single with no children or your children are grown and out of the house (what must that be like?!?!), I hope you will find a chuckle or two in this article and I also hope you will have a better understanding (even appreciation) for the life of a SAHM.

I certainly have a huge admiration for working Mom's...it seems we (SAHM's and working Mom's) are always in a constant state of one-upping; who works harder, who has it worse, who is a better mother, wife, woman.  Really?

Really, it's all hard. Staying at home is work, hard work; if it wasn't we wouldn't have to pay people to do it for us while we work outside of the home.  Working and being a Mom is hard work too; finding balance is a constant challenge and often guilt is ever present whether you are thinking about your kids at work or thinking about work when you are home with your kids.

What isn't hard is being supportive of your friends, your children, your sisters, your neighbors, in whatever works for them - for their families.  It isn't  shouldn't be a contest and making it one doesn't help any of us get through the day more easily. We are all rock stars.

In spite of the lack of sleep, constant cleaning, constant soothing and tending too, constant exhaustion, constant neglecting of myself....I wouldn't trade it for the world. I couldn't be a working Mom, this I know.  I am lucky to have the option, this I REALLY know.  And the bon-bons and soap operas are pretty great, too. (enter enormous sarcasm).

Enjoy!

Shine! On Yahoo
"This is What a Stay-at-Home-Mom Does All Day"
http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/this-is-what-a-stay-at-home-mom-does-all-day-2522745.html

 

MMM Monday! Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pulled Pork Sandwiches
As a busy Mom, there is nothing better than a meal that you can throw into a crock pot while you go about your day.  As a southern transplant, pulled pork was one of the first things I decided to add to my cooking repertoire.

This recipe is extremely low on labor and extremely high on taste. Serve on buns with coleslaw and pickles or serve with your favorite sides.  Enjoy!

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 - 9 hours
Serves: 8 - 10

Ingredients

• 5 - 6 Pounds Organic Boneless Pork Butt, cut in half 
• 1/2 Can Ginger ale
• 1 Medium Organic Onion, peeled and quartered
• 3 16 oz. Jars of your favorite BBQ sauce (I like Stubbs)
• 2 Teaspoons Salt
• 2 Tablespoons Ground Black Pepper 

Directions

• Place onion slices evenly on the bottom of a large crockpot
• Place pork butt halves on top of onions
• Pour ginger ale over pork butt
• Sprinkle with salt & pepper, cover with lid

• Cook on low for 6 hours
• After 6 hours, drain excess liquid and onions
• Chop pork butt into pieces and return to crock pot

• Pour 2 jars of BBQ sauce over pork and cook on high for 2 - 3 hours
• Add last jar of sauce and keep on low until sauce is heated through and pork falls apart easily

• Serve sandwich style or with your favorite sides, enjoy!

This recipe also freezes well and will store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Friday Wrap Up - If I were a 1/2 billionaire...

If you haven't heard the Mega Millions jackpot is 500+ million dollars, good.  One less person keeping me from winning tonight.

All of this talk (I swear it has been on every news program, every radio station, and a headline in every paper today) of the chance that someone could overnight be a 1/2 billionaire got me thinking.

If I were a 1/2 BILLIONAIRE, what would I do with the $$$? Not what would I "politically correctly" do
with the money but what would I really do with all of that cash?

Here are the top TEN things I would do (when I win tonight) in no specific order:

1.) Retire my husband (although I know even with that kind of money he would fight to keep working)

2.) Buy a jet.  And a pilot. And a crew.  Then fly in it. EVERYWHERE. STAT.

3.) Share.  I would share with my family, my extended family, my friends...I don't think it would be any fun to have all of that money if I didn't have any one who could enjoy it with me.

4.) Hire someone to blow dry and style my hair every day; currently two of my least favorite things to do ever.

5.) Buy a few houses.  Here, there, everywhere.  Down market? It wouldn't matter. Maybe even a castle in Ireland just for fun.

6.) Donate to charity. Charities for military families, for babies with no medical care, for orphaned children, for research for very rare diseases affecting those I love.  It would be AMAZING.

7.) Hire a personal chef.  Yes, I love to cook, but I am sure given my status as a 1/2 billionaire I would be allowed to cook in my fabulous state of the art kitchen when the mood struck.  Correction, I would hire a "Get me skinny and keep me there" personal chef. 


8.) I would invent a sound proof, breathable, UV protected buggy that attaches to a golf cart so I could play golf every day with my husband without missing out on time with our nugget.

9.) I would hire a personal shopper and stock up on every thing I have ever had my eye on.

10.) I would pay Bethenny Frankel to be my  neighbor, best friend and go-to for play dates.

What would YOU do with all of of that cash?!?!?!?  I would love to hear what your caviar wishes and 1/2 billionaire dreams are!

3 Wishes Wednesday - Jamie from Chosen Chaos Wishes Away!

Welcome to the second installment of 3 Wishes Wednesday.  I am more than excited to have one of my favorite bloggers, Jamie of Chosen Chaos, joining us this month. 

Jamie is a friend I met at a friend's wedding several years ago; little did I know she would later become my blogging mentor, my Mommy hero, and a constant source of support for Pressure Cooker.  

Jamie is the mother of four (YES, four!) beautiful babies including two boys under 5 and a set of twin girls who just turned one.  Jamie is one of those people you instantly want to be your friend, she is a super-Mom, super-wife, and super-hero in every sense of the term.  She is constantly on the go, whether with her family, friends, blog, tweets, Facebook updates, etc. etc.  

I have NO idea how she does it all (including guest blogging for little 'ol me) and envy the energy and passion she has for the wonderful chaos that is her life.  Jamie may tell you it's thanks in big part to her not-so-quiet passenger, Patty Perfect.  I would argue she is simply a phenomenal woman with an amazing sense of humor and trust me, she is someone you will want to know, too.

Be sure to follow her on:

Chosen Chaos, Twitter, and Facebook!

Wish away Jamie......


Wish #1 - Past
What is something you wish you could re-live and why or something you wish you could go back and change and why? 
I’m not much of a regret kind of person and I fully believe that everything happens for a reason. If I could go back and change one thing from the past I wish I had taken better care of myself physically. I wish I had started healthy habits like running, yoga, and eating right long before my 30,000-mile check-up at 30 years old. If it were habit then it might not be as challenging to keep it a habit now!

Wish #2 - Present
What is something you are hoping for, something you want to do or accomplish now and why? 
My wish for the present is to be present. I feel like this is the place we spend our lives wishing for. When we are younger we wish to be grown-up and with a family, job, living life. When we are older we wish to go back to this time when our kids are babies and the world revolved around nap times and milk. I wish to present so that I don’t miss it. 

Wish #3 - Future
If you could do anything, be anything, have anything, or accomplish anything in the next 20 years what would you choose and why? 
My wish for the future is to start my dream business. The business plan is gathering dust in a nightstand drawer. Every time I drive by a vacated building I wonder if that would make a good home for it. Our growing family put it on hold but my wish for the future is that we give it a go.  


Recipe 
Please share a favorite recipe of your choice.


This recipe is a favorite of mine. I got it from one of those old Betty Crocker specialty cookbooks, called Soups or something. I’ve long since gotten rid of the cookbook but this soup is engrained in my brain! 


What you need: 
Italian Sausage – I typically buy the Bob Evans tube variety (and saying tube in reference to sausage is grossing me out.) 
Can of stewed tomatoes – sometimes I buy the Italian variety but it doesn’t really matter. 
Can of Italian cut green beans 
Can of beef broth 
Package of pre-made ravioli – I’ve never used frozen but I’m sure it would work and sometimes I use tortellini instead Parmesan cheese 


What you do: 
Brown the sausage. I use one pot for this recipe, so brown the sausage in the soup pot. I’ve never had to drain the grease. Add the beef broth, one can of water, and the tomatoes. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add green beans and ravioli. Simmer until ready to serve. Garnish with Parmesan Cheese. I’ve used chives on top before as well. It’s a delicious hearty soup that I’ve served for parties and Sunday meals. It warms up well the next day too! 


 Thank you Meg, for having me!!

MMM Monday! Taco Lettuce Wraps

Taco Lettuce Wraps

I am constantly on the hunt for new ways to create old favorites.  Trying to eat more wholesome, organic foods is high on my priority list these days.
A great, low-carb alternative to your traditional taco, these lettuce wraps are easy and delicious and a treat your whole family will love to make and eat.

Ingredients
1 Pound Organic Grass Fed Ground Beef
1 Head Organic Lettuce, washed and leaves removed whole
2 - 3 Organic Tomatoes, chopped
1 Medium Organic Onion, chopped
2 Cups Organic Shredded Mexican Cheese
1 Cup Organic Sour Cream
1 Cup Organic Salsa
1 Packet Organic Taco Seasoning
2 Tablespoons Juice from Jalapeno Jar
1 Can (12 oz.) Organic Black Beans (optional)
1 Jar Organic Large Pitted Black Olives (optional)
1 Can (4 oz.) Organic Diced Chile Peppers, do not drain
Organic Cooking spray

Directions

• Spray  medium skillet lightly with cooking spray, heat to medium-high and add beef
• Cook until just brown, pour jalapeno juice over meat; simmer for 1-2 minutes

• Add diced chile peppers; continue simmering for 3-5 minutes

• Add taco seasoning packet to meat (no need to add additional water as juice from the chile peppers and the jalapeno juice adequately blend with seasonings)

• Simmer on low heat for 3 - 5 minutes
• While meat is cooking, heat beans in a small saucepan
• Cut head of lettuce in half and remove leaves in whole pieces

• Drain beans and meat
• Begin filling lettuce cups with meat, beans, cheese and toppings

• Roll lettuce to wrap contents

                                                      

• Serve immediately; enjoy!