Kids say the darnest things!

The other day Landon and I were at the mall and he needed to go potty. I took him to one of those family bathrooms. He went first and was working on his pants button. I went next and just as I was standing up Landon says "Mom, why do you pee through your butt? That's gross!" Thank god we were in a family bathroom and not a community one!

Freezer French Toast

This is another Christmas morning favorite and Val recipe. I love the fact that you can make ahead and freeze this. So Good!!!

Ingredients

• 1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup dairy sour cream
• 1 16-oz. loaf French bread
• 3/4 cup orange marmalade
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2-1/2 cups finely chopped almonds (10 oz.)
• Maple syrup

Directions

1. In medium mixing bowl beat together cream cheese and sour cream until smooth; set aside. Trim off ends of bread; cut loaf crosswise in 20 slices. Spread half the slices on one side with cheese mixture. Spread remaining slices on one side with marmalade. Sandwich slices together; set aside.

2. In a shallow dish use a fork to beat eggs, milk, and vanilla together. Place half the almonds in another shallow dish. Dip both sides of sandwiches in egg mixture; allow excess to drip off. Coat both sides of sandwiches with almonds, adding more almonds to dish as needed.

3. Place coated sandwiches on baking sheet lined with waxed paper; cover and freeze 3 hours or until firm. Transfer to freezer container or bag; seal, label, and freeze up to 1 month.

4. To serve: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place frozen French toast on large greased baking sheet. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden and heated through, turning once. Serve with maple syrup.

Yummy Oranges!

This is one of the yummy things I made for breakfast Christmas morning. I have actually made it for a snack a couple times too. The recipe came from my good friend Val who made all of the Arbonne managers breakfast one morning. Thanks Val!

Glazed Oranges

Ingredients

2 oranges (navals are good)
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Fresh mint leaves, torn (for garnish) I used dried:)

Directions

Peel the oranges and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices.
Place on a serving platter.
Mix honey and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Drizzle the honey mixture over oranges and garnish with mint leaves. Enjoy!

I'm Back!

After a long vacation away from my blog, I have returned. A lot has happened since my last post. The biggest event was Nick's safe return. He returned to the USA just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Having him here has been an adjustment, but I know that we are blessed to have him home. Thanksgiving was so much fun this year. We had around 17 people from our navy family at our house for turkey and ham. Christmas was also nice. Christmas eve was spent at our house with our good friends playing board games. Christmas morning I made a really good breakfast for my lovely family (recipes to follow). Landon riped through his presents and we got to enjoy having my parents and sister there through the magic of skype. Weird that my kids will never experience a world without cell phones, email and now skype. Later in the day we ate dinner with our good friends the Mahaney's and the Tarbox's. Anyhow, I hope you and your families had an equally good holiday!

Landon's first day of school

Yesterday was Landon's first day of school. All I have to say is wow. It seems like yesterday when I found out I was pregnant. That is a story of its own. Anyhow, I knew Landon would be fine and walk right in, sit down and that would be it. He is very independent and I explain it to people by telling them that we ignored him as a child:) I was not so sure about myself and I did not want to be that mother who cried all the way to the preschool and all the way home. So all the way there I silently chanted "I will not cry, I will not cry". I was good to go. Then we got to the school and got in line. The child behind us had his little head buried in his mothers stomach. When he glanced up his eyes looked as if he had been crying for days. His mother seemed ok, but you could tell she was holding it together for her child. The child was mumbling "don't leave me I want to go home". I felt so bad for the mother and the child that can you believe it I almost started to cry for them. I did tear up but stood my ground and decided that the little boy would be fine. Yes, I am ridiculous. So back to my son, the day went great. Nick got to talk to him before and after school. He gave him the fatherly stay in school and learn a lot speech. We are so blessed that he is able to call so often. Landon did try to pack markers and a cell phone in his back pack. he tried to convince me that he would need those items. After school I went and picked him up. The way the teacher does drop off and pick up is she has you stand in a line and separately go to the door and announce your self. The parents never even go inside the class room. When it was my turn to get Landon, he came running to the door with a picture that said "I survived my first day of preschool". On the way home Landon said all he did was play. Before school started I told Landon there were things he need to know for preschool such as his ABC's and how to wipe his own bum. When I asked Landon if he learned anything he said that his teacher told him that he did not need to know his ABC's until a different school. He also said that he went number 2 and his teacher wiped him. I think my son is a manipulator and told me that to get me off his back. He also said that he and his friend were fighting but his friend started it. We are probably going to have our hands full. Oh well, life goes on.

A Woman Should Have

I had this sent to me last year and again today. I love the message, so instead of forwarding it I decided to post it. You never know when a fellow woman might need a little inspiration:)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .......

something perfect to wear if the employer,

or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a past juicy enough that she's looking forward

to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... ..

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .

one friend who always makes her laugh...

and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....

a good piece of furniture not previously owned

by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,

and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .......

a feeling of control over her destiny.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without losing herself.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job, break up with a lover,

and confront a friend without ruining the friendship..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,

the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..

whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

Landon

I just had to tell everyone what Landon told me today. We were watching a movie about a girl and she was singing this song about wanting to be a princess. I asked Landon If he wanted to be a princess and he said "No, I just want to be a boy". I then told him "well I want to be a princess". He responded by saying "well then I want to be your prince" Nick has trained him well!

Bulgar Wheat Salad

Great salad to use up all of those tomatoes from the garden. Healthy and one of my favorites! I originally received it from a whole grains cooking class that I took. the original is on the wholegrainscouncil.org website. Bulgar wheat is a little hard to find and is usually in the organic food section of the grocery store.

ingredients

1 cup bulgur wheat
1 cup boiling water
1 cup diced plum tomatoes
1 cup diagonally sliced green onions
1/2 cup flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, chopped
1 1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. hot sauce (Tabasco)
Dash of pepper
1 15 oz. can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
3 6" pita rounds, each cut into 4 wedges
hummus (optional)

Instructions

Combine bulgur and water in large bowl. Cover and let stand 30 minutes.

Add tomato and next 9 ingredients (through garbanzo beans) and stir well. Cover and chill. Serve with pita bread and hummus, if desired.

He said what?

This morning I asked Landon what he wanted for breakfast. I gave him the choice of the following: a banana, cereal (we only have like one kind at our house because no one really eats it), yogurt, or a blueberry muffin. Landon's response was a chocolate muffin (see recipe on blog). I responded with " we do not have any chocolate muffins". Landon then says (with out glancing up from the TV) "Well then you better get making some before I get mad". What the Heck!!!! Where did I go wrong? You don't talk to your momma like that! Had Nick said that to me he would have settled for a knuckle sandwich for breakfast:) With Landon I went with a good old 4 minute time out. I then asked him again what he wanted for breakfast. He simply said "banana". Later on I got a good old "ya know, you are the best mommy in the whole world that i ever seen and I love you"

I might be crazy.

I was watching a show with the chick from blossom. You know that show from the 90's with the best friend named six. Apparently so does all of this alternative parenting. I will say some of it was a little weird. What caught my attention was the fact that she uses cloth diapers. So of coarse I spent my Saturday morning doing research on the topic, along with some research on lemon trees but that is another subject. Let me start by saying that I was in cloth diapers for a small amount of time. Let me also say that Nick and I both try to do our part for the earth. When Landon was a baby we always said how bad it was that we threw so many diapers away everyday. Nick did his part by not changing Landon's diaper until it was falling off of him. lol
I started looking up types of cloth diapers, how to clean them, and where to buy them. I found out a couple things. One, cloth diapers have changed so much since I was a wee one. They are not that white cloth that you have to fold and pin and place a plastic cover on. They actually look like fabric diapers the either Velcro or snap. The second thing I discovered is although the initial cost is a little high, I am not going to have to buy diapers every month! woohoo! more shopping money! My third thought is how great is this going to be for the earth. I am turning in to such a hippie and I like it!
I did write a letter to Nick. He probably thinks i have lost it and has chosen not to write me back. Just a dis closer, I am not pregnant, but we are trying:) Well not right now that would be a little hard!

Arbonne

I just got off my Sunday night conference call for my home business and I thought to myself how blessed I am to be able to not only stay at home, but also have a business that brings in income. For those of you that don't know what I do, let me explain. Last year when Nick and i decided that I was going to stay at home I decided to start selling the products that I had already been using for a year. The company is Arbonne and I would describe it as a health and wellness company. We have something for everyone including skincare, makeup, vitamins, and baby products. Anyhow, basically what I do is go to peoples houses and do spa parties. Guests soak their feet and get a facial. Hostesses get to pick out free products for hostessing. I have built up clients in IL, and now have a team in VA. The reason that I am so excited is because Arbonne is the sole reason for me not returning to work. I would encourage all of my stay at home mommies to look into a home business with a low start up cost. There are a million companies out there and if you want to know what to look for feel free to email me. If you want to know more about my company please email or call me. If it is a fit for you I can tell you exactly what to do to make money:)

Blueberry-Oatmeal Muffins

I am going to post this recipe as it was given to me. With that in mind I actually make mine with 1 cup of whole wheat flour and 1/3 cup all purpose flour. I might even try to eliminate the all purpose flour next time. I actually make a few batches of these and then freeze them. when ever we want them for breakfast I pull some some out. This recipe was taken from the eat better America website.

1	cup Yoplait® 99% Fat Free creamy vanilla or plain yogurt (from 2-lb container)
1	cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
1	egg or 2 egg whites, slightly beaten
1/4	cup canola oil
1/2	cup packed brown sugar
2/3	cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
2/3	cup Gold Medal® whole wheat flour
1	teaspoon baking soda
1	teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4	teaspoon salt
	1 cup fresh or frozen (do not thaw) blueberries 1. Heat oven to 400°F. Place paper baking cups in 12 regular-size muffin cups, or grease bottoms only of muffin cups. 2. In small bowl, mix yogurt and oats. In large bowl, mix egg, oil and brown sugar. Stir in flours, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and yogurt mixture (batter will be lumpy). Gently stir in blueberries. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. 3. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan. High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Heat oven to 425°F. Nutritional Information 1 Muffin: Calories 190 (Calories from Fat 50); Total Fat 6g (Saturated Fat 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 170mg; Total Carbohydrate 30g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 13g); Protein 4g % Daily Value*: Vitamin A 2%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 4%; Iron 8% Exchanges: 1 Starch; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 2 MyPyramid Servings: 1 tsp Fats & Oils, 1 oz-equivalents Grains *% Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

name this blog

I am having a hard time trying to figure out a fun name for my blog. Eberly family is sooooooo boring. I hate boring! If anybody has any good idea's please comment. Thanks!

Etsy

This is my shout out to Etsy. I LOVE etsy. If you have never been on it you need to check it out. It is full of "homemade" items for the whole family. jewelry, baby items, clothes, you name it someone is making it. Etsy also has vintage items and an awesome fabric selection. My friend Allison has a "green" baby gear shop called alliecraft and she uses etsy. My other friend Holly has a jewelry shop called bandifritz. Ok now that I sound like an infomercial I am going to bed. I have added a etsy link on my page.

pita pizza

Another recipe! Landon and I make this one once a week. He likes it because he can help me make them. I like it because it is not a hot dog:) This one got from a whole grain cooking class that I went to.

Pita Pizza
whole wheat pita's uncut (usually found by the deli)
spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce
part skim milk mozzarella cheese
frozen peppers and onion (found in frozen food section)
I like to use the frozen because I can keep them on hand in the freezer and use them when I need them. You can use what ever toppings you want though.
assemble and bake at 425 for 15 minutes or until bubbly

Just a side note. I am the freezer queen. I freeze everything. nick thinks I am crazy for this reason alone. You can freeze the pita's, the cheese and use frozen veggies in this recipe. That way you will always have the items on hand.

Dr. Landon

This morning I had an eye appointment and a dental examine (I was too tired to debate the Mr. Potato head arm being stuffed in my mouth). I then gave birth to a penguin name happy feet. I accomplished this all before 7:30 in the morning. Thank god Dr. Landon is in the house. See Nick we are productive in the morning.

What he really wants

So as most of you know my hubby is away on a "vacation". That's what we like to call it. Last month he called me and told me to send him men's magazines. Get your mind out of the gutter! what he meant is popular science, men's health, that sort of thing. My mom, love you mom, did stand up in church and announce that her son in law was overseas and was requesting "men's magazines" and if anybody had any they wanted to get rid of she would send them to him. I hope no one at church thought the same way as me:) Anyhow, he then called and requested a pillow. Apparently he is not comfortable enough where he is at. Last night he called and requested Ramen noodles. Out of all the things he could possible want and crave, he wants $0.15 ramen noodles. They are going to cost more to mail then they are to buy. Oh well....to the store I go to buy ramen noodles:)

Chocolate muffins

In the past my family ate really healthy, or I though we did. No pop, very little sweets. Nick and Landon would do ice cream floats once in a while:) One of my goals while Nick is gone is to get back into shape. Although we ate healthy I still felt like we were not doing everything we could. So I decided to go to whole grain classes and do research. I have found some great, easy recipes that Landon loves and they are easy to make. Once in awhile I will post them for you all to enjoy. The first recipe is from my friend and Arbonne partner Jeanna. Her husband made these one day and I fell in love with them! I like them better then cupcakes:)

Chocolate Muffins

1Box of Devils food cake mix (lowest fat one you can find)
1 teaspoon of Vanilla
1 small can of pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie)
a little water

Mix in bowl. divide in 12 muffin cups (I put then in paper cups so you don't have to use cooking spray). Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or whatever the box says.

Super easy. I buy the large can of pumpkin and double the recipe. I then freeze them in zip locks and take them out when I want a snack. I have also swapped out the devils food cake for carrot. YUM!
One more thing. I sometimes will add a few chocolate chips because sometimes a girls just wants some chocolate!

Hello!

Hello everyone! So I know it is hard to believe but it has been one year since I quit my job and became a stay at home mommy. This last year has had its ups and downs, new experiences and some adjusting periods. I have learned more about becoming a sahm (that's what us professionals call it) and i am continually learning. I never in a million years thought that I would ever be able to stop working but I have and I am extremely happy. I do still have my business doing spa parties with Arbonne which definitely brings in extra money to allow me to not have a 9-5. Ok, down to business. You may be wondering why I have started this blog:) For one thing we live so far away from our family and friends I though this would be a fantastic way to keep people updated. My other though is that I want to share with everyone recipes, tips and fun ideas that have worked for my family. I have recently changed our eating habits and would love to share some of the healthy recipes with you. Another reason for this blog is to simply share my life. With my husband being in and out all of the time we live a different life then most of our friends and family. I am always being asked 'how do you do it?" Well, I don't know how we do it because we don't know any different. I will do my best to share with you a glimpse of our life:)