I love tacos. I could probably eat tacos every other day and be satisfied with life. Well, maybe that would be going overboard, but I love them. I love the spice of the meat, not too spicy, enough flavour and warmth to be delightful. The crunch of a taco shell is music to my ears.
Unfortunately taco shells have fats and lots of carbs, and not low glycemic carbs. This is usually not a big deal. When I was pregnant with kiddie number three I developed gestational diabetes. I was put on a low glycemic diet, which totally helped keep my sugar levels under control, but it meant I was on a very restrictive diet (at least restrictive to me). No taco shells. Oh the horror!
That's when I discovered brown rice. I made a taco salad mixed with brown rice. Super yummy and good for my sugar levels. Even though my body is back to normal, well, my blood sugars are at least, I still make it. Right now I don't have the organization for starting the brown rice early, so I have been using Uncle Ben's microwave brown rice. 90 seconds and done. I know it is not ideal but as established before, times and seasons!
So try brown rice next time you are planning tacos. It is nutritious and delicious. A perfect combination.
Here is the recipe for my Taco Meat seasoning.
1lb or so hamburger, browned
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 clove garlic minced or 1/8 tsp garlic powder (or to taste)
2/3 cup water
Mix all together in a pan. Let mixture come to a boil. Then, simmer until water is mostly evaporated.
Thursday 31 October 2013
Thursday 24 October 2013
Perfection - an impossible ideal
I find in today's society we want everything to be perfect. Our floors and counters need to be spotless. Our place mats and table wear need to match. We look for the most unblemished fruits and veggies. It is truly a preoccupation. We forget the wise words of Ms Frizzle from the Magic School Bus when she says, "take chances, get messy, make mistakes." (My kids have been watching a lot of Magic School Bus lately. Thanks youtube!) Where does this need for perfection come from? I wish I knew.
I am a planner. I love to know what is coming up, what is necessary to get ready or pack. When we go on trips everything has been planned months in advance. I make packing lists, snack lists, menues, figure out where the closest laundromats are incase we need to wash stuff. Hotels booked, routes made. It is a well oiled, military precision system. Things still can go awry, but on the whole we are able to do and see everything we would like too.
My mother is the complete opposite. If she feels like going to Alberta, the next day she is gone. No pre-booking motel rooms or campsites. Things always worked out. So it makes me wonder, where does my need to plan and have a perfect holiday come from? Is it worth the stress? Would I enjoy the family time and be more present in the moment if I was a bit more relaxed?
The drive for perfection comes at a cost in our lives. The cost is happiness. We get so stressed out it is hard to see the happiness and joy that is around us. Who cares if the cake doesn't turn out perfectly. It is still going to taste delicious. (There are a lot of cakes that look perfect but don't taste very good.) Now I am not saying we should set standards for ourselves and strive for excellence. But, if that gets in the way of joy, of being present with our families and making them feel important and loved, then really what is the point.
The most important thing to do is to be trying our best with where we are in life. Right now I am trying to make as much as I can from scratch. If I decide to buy a store bought pizza crust instead of making my own from scratch am I a failure because I am not living up to my ideals? Of course not. Sometimes the day turns out differently than planned. Nap times don't always come at convenient times. We just roll with it. Someday that pizza crust will be made from scratch and it will be awesome. Until then do what you can do.
Right now for me, I hate making up salads. Washing the lettuce and dicing the other veggies is not what I feel like having to do along with my other dinner prep. So I buy pre-made salads in a bag. Gasp, boo, hiss. I know it's horrible, but, right now I am not at a place in my life where shredding and dicing is an option for me. It stresses me out. I am sure later when my kids can start using knives it will be better because they will be helping me with the slicing and dicing. Trust me, eating pre-made salads is not my ideal but it is what I need to do for now. It helps bring the stress level down and more harmony in the home.
My mantra of late has been "times and seasons". That is what life is, times and seasons. Don't give up, keep trying and it will become your time and season. We just have to accept that we can't do everything all at once, but in time and at the right season I can have what I would like. I would love a toy free living room, but it is not my time or season yet. With three children under the age of six, toys in the living room is the reality for now, but it won't be forever. Another example is crocheting. I have been knitting since I was three but could never get the knack of crochet. Finally at age 28 I sat down with my mom determined to learn and bam! it happened. It was finally my time and season to know how to crochet.
So don't strive for perfect, you will get stressed and defeatist. Your desire and will to try anything new will dwindle, as you will want to be able to do it perfectly from the beginning. Instead strive to be the best you can be in the present moment. Don't beat yourself up about what you used to be able to do in the past or what you hope to do in the future. The present is all that matters and is where you will find true joy.
I am a planner. I love to know what is coming up, what is necessary to get ready or pack. When we go on trips everything has been planned months in advance. I make packing lists, snack lists, menues, figure out where the closest laundromats are incase we need to wash stuff. Hotels booked, routes made. It is a well oiled, military precision system. Things still can go awry, but on the whole we are able to do and see everything we would like too.
My mother is the complete opposite. If she feels like going to Alberta, the next day she is gone. No pre-booking motel rooms or campsites. Things always worked out. So it makes me wonder, where does my need to plan and have a perfect holiday come from? Is it worth the stress? Would I enjoy the family time and be more present in the moment if I was a bit more relaxed?
The drive for perfection comes at a cost in our lives. The cost is happiness. We get so stressed out it is hard to see the happiness and joy that is around us. Who cares if the cake doesn't turn out perfectly. It is still going to taste delicious. (There are a lot of cakes that look perfect but don't taste very good.) Now I am not saying we should set standards for ourselves and strive for excellence. But, if that gets in the way of joy, of being present with our families and making them feel important and loved, then really what is the point.
The most important thing to do is to be trying our best with where we are in life. Right now I am trying to make as much as I can from scratch. If I decide to buy a store bought pizza crust instead of making my own from scratch am I a failure because I am not living up to my ideals? Of course not. Sometimes the day turns out differently than planned. Nap times don't always come at convenient times. We just roll with it. Someday that pizza crust will be made from scratch and it will be awesome. Until then do what you can do.
Right now for me, I hate making up salads. Washing the lettuce and dicing the other veggies is not what I feel like having to do along with my other dinner prep. So I buy pre-made salads in a bag. Gasp, boo, hiss. I know it's horrible, but, right now I am not at a place in my life where shredding and dicing is an option for me. It stresses me out. I am sure later when my kids can start using knives it will be better because they will be helping me with the slicing and dicing. Trust me, eating pre-made salads is not my ideal but it is what I need to do for now. It helps bring the stress level down and more harmony in the home.
My mantra of late has been "times and seasons". That is what life is, times and seasons. Don't give up, keep trying and it will become your time and season. We just have to accept that we can't do everything all at once, but in time and at the right season I can have what I would like. I would love a toy free living room, but it is not my time or season yet. With three children under the age of six, toys in the living room is the reality for now, but it won't be forever. Another example is crocheting. I have been knitting since I was three but could never get the knack of crochet. Finally at age 28 I sat down with my mom determined to learn and bam! it happened. It was finally my time and season to know how to crochet.
So don't strive for perfect, you will get stressed and defeatist. Your desire and will to try anything new will dwindle, as you will want to be able to do it perfectly from the beginning. Instead strive to be the best you can be in the present moment. Don't beat yourself up about what you used to be able to do in the past or what you hope to do in the future. The present is all that matters and is where you will find true joy.
Thursday 17 October 2013
How to Make a Budget - Tutorial
Everyone processes information differently. Budgets are the same. My husband and I do budgets differently. He likes to download the data every month using a budget program, ex. quicken. He likes making different graphs and he likes to make very specific categories for all the purchases made. I, on the other hand, like using a spreadsheet and input expenses as soon as I make them. My categories are more broad. If it is bought at the grocery store it is grocery, so that would include diapers, serviettes, garbage bags. Otherwise it will go into household, so purchases made at a department store etc. Otherwise I would have to go through all my receipts, itemize every item purchased and recalculate associated taxes. I like doing math, but not that much.
The current spread sheet I use was from the W network money show called Maxed Out hosted by Allison Griffiths. You can still download the spread sheet here. Click on the heading at the top called budget template tool.
I tweaked it to make it work for me. I changed some of the categories, got rid of some added others, made it a 12 month spreadsheet, so I could look at the whole year and see trends, and got rid of the percentage calculations, as that was not important to me. I like this spreadsheet template as a starting point as it is colourful, the formulas are already plugged in for you and at a glance I can easily see how we are doing for the month. You don't need to use the template, you can make your own. This template just helps you think of categories you might not have thought of on your own. It really is the jumping off point.
If you are not familiar with excel or do not know how to manipulate existing documents, go to youtube. There are tons of tutorials that will help you figure it out.
So to the budget!
The first step of creating a budget is to keep track of spending over a period of time. I would say at least 4 months. The longer time you track your spending the more data you have to use. BE HONEST. No one will see it but you. There is no one to please but yourself. If you have a bad spending month, that's okay, just keep going and keep tracking.
Once you have tracked your spending take the averages. These averages will be your monthly budget amounts. So take the average of your groceries, the average of utilities, the average phone bill, the average savings, the average other. Some months our car fuel amount is higher because we went visiting family or went into Toronto for a Blue Jay's game. Keep those higher amounts in your average. It will make your average higher, but if you don't spend the amount allotted you can set it aside and have it ready for the months when you do.
Once you have your averaged amounts for your categories add them up. You now know what your average output is each month. Subtract that amount from your monthly income. Hopefully there is a surplus. If you have a deficit it is time to look at where you can makes some cuts in your spending.
When I made my budget I added and averaged only items that needed to be paid every month such as the mortgage, hydro and phone. That way I knew what I had leftover to use to purchase the non-essentials, like clothes and eating out. Non-essential things vary from month to month or you may have to save up for some of the non-essential items, like new shoes or house repairs. You can use this leftover "slush fund" to prioritize spending, for either fun or functional, without compromising your necessities of life.
I hope this helps and didn't make budgeting more confusing. To quote Red Green - "Keep truckin'. We're all in this together."
The current spread sheet I use was from the W network money show called Maxed Out hosted by Allison Griffiths. You can still download the spread sheet here. Click on the heading at the top called budget template tool.
I tweaked it to make it work for me. I changed some of the categories, got rid of some added others, made it a 12 month spreadsheet, so I could look at the whole year and see trends, and got rid of the percentage calculations, as that was not important to me. I like this spreadsheet template as a starting point as it is colourful, the formulas are already plugged in for you and at a glance I can easily see how we are doing for the month. You don't need to use the template, you can make your own. This template just helps you think of categories you might not have thought of on your own. It really is the jumping off point.
If you are not familiar with excel or do not know how to manipulate existing documents, go to youtube. There are tons of tutorials that will help you figure it out.
So to the budget!
The first step of creating a budget is to keep track of spending over a period of time. I would say at least 4 months. The longer time you track your spending the more data you have to use. BE HONEST. No one will see it but you. There is no one to please but yourself. If you have a bad spending month, that's okay, just keep going and keep tracking.
Once you have tracked your spending take the averages. These averages will be your monthly budget amounts. So take the average of your groceries, the average of utilities, the average phone bill, the average savings, the average other. Some months our car fuel amount is higher because we went visiting family or went into Toronto for a Blue Jay's game. Keep those higher amounts in your average. It will make your average higher, but if you don't spend the amount allotted you can set it aside and have it ready for the months when you do.
Once you have your averaged amounts for your categories add them up. You now know what your average output is each month. Subtract that amount from your monthly income. Hopefully there is a surplus. If you have a deficit it is time to look at where you can makes some cuts in your spending.
When I made my budget I added and averaged only items that needed to be paid every month such as the mortgage, hydro and phone. That way I knew what I had leftover to use to purchase the non-essentials, like clothes and eating out. Non-essential things vary from month to month or you may have to save up for some of the non-essential items, like new shoes or house repairs. You can use this leftover "slush fund" to prioritize spending, for either fun or functional, without compromising your necessities of life.
I hope this helps and didn't make budgeting more confusing. To quote Red Green - "Keep truckin'. We're all in this together."
Thursday 10 October 2013
The Best Dessert for Thanksgiving!
I know I said that I would have the budget tutorial this week, but it isn't going to happen. Family life has been crazy and my level of sleep deprivation is at an all time high. I will for sure have it ready for next week.
Since it is Thanksgiving here in Canada I thought I would share what is now my all time favourite Thanksgiving dessert. Pumpkin Coconut cheesecake!
I first found this recipe in Chatelaine, an awesome Canadian magazine, in their October 2009 issue, I still have the paper copy and refer to it often. You can find the recipe online here. I will also give now below.
My one friend doesn't like pumpkin pie because she doesn't like things overly spiced. She can never tell what the pie will be like as each pumpkin pie is spiced differently, depending on who makes it. She loves this cheesecake though. So, if you are unsure about pumpkin pie, give this a try. Your taste buds will thank you.
Ingredients
Crust
2. Meanwhile..., whisk eggs in a large bowl. Then whisk in pumpkin, brown sugar and seasonings. Cut cheese into cubes and place in a [separate] large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat in granulated sugar. Then beat in cream, vanilla and pumpkin mixture... until well mixed. Pour over warm crust.
3. Bake in centre of ... oven until filling is almost set when pan is jiggled, 55 to 60 minutes. Place pan on a rack to cool. Immediately run a knife around inside pan edge to loosen curst and prevent cracking. When cooled to room temperature refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours. Remove from pan. Sprinkle with remaining coconut.
ENJOY!
Since it is Thanksgiving here in Canada I thought I would share what is now my all time favourite Thanksgiving dessert. Pumpkin Coconut cheesecake!
I first found this recipe in Chatelaine, an awesome Canadian magazine, in their October 2009 issue, I still have the paper copy and refer to it often. You can find the recipe online here. I will also give now below.
My one friend doesn't like pumpkin pie because she doesn't like things overly spiced. She can never tell what the pie will be like as each pumpkin pie is spiced differently, depending on who makes it. She loves this cheesecake though. So, if you are unsure about pumpkin pie, give this a try. Your taste buds will thank you.
 |
| from the chatelaine website |
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups graham-cracker crumbs
- 11/2 cups toasted flaked coconut (I usually use unsweetened shredded coconut, as that is what I have on hand)
- 1/4 granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (no spices added, just pumpkin)
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 8oz. pkg of regular cream cheese at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup whipping cream
- 1 tsp vanilla
2. Meanwhile..., whisk eggs in a large bowl. Then whisk in pumpkin, brown sugar and seasonings. Cut cheese into cubes and place in a [separate] large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat in granulated sugar. Then beat in cream, vanilla and pumpkin mixture... until well mixed. Pour over warm crust.
3. Bake in centre of ... oven until filling is almost set when pan is jiggled, 55 to 60 minutes. Place pan on a rack to cool. Immediately run a knife around inside pan edge to loosen curst and prevent cracking. When cooled to room temperature refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours. Remove from pan. Sprinkle with remaining coconut.
ENJOY!
Thursday 3 October 2013
Budgeting - Blah But Essential
This week we had to do $1500 worth of repairs done on our car. Eek! Our emergency savings aren't quite where we would like them to be and so it got me thinking more about budgets and all that fun stuff.
Budgets and I have an interesting relationship. Sometimes I am go good at keeping track of my spending, entering the data in the spreadsheet and seeing a surplus at the bottom. I feel pure joy and satisfaction. Other times my budget and I are strangers in the night, passing by but not really seeing each other. Those are the months when I add up the numbers the surplus is non existent...usually inverse of what it should be.
Some people might say, "why worry about a budget. Just stay a float and things will work out. A little debt is not the end of the world." If that sits well with you, than that is awesome. Everyone handles money, stress and life differently. For myself here are my reasons for wanting my budget to be my friend.
Helps me prioritize financial goals
Right now we have a small line of credit, a mortgage and not very much in savings. (We spent a lot of our savings on the down payment.) Having a budget helps me see how much money is going to service these debts (especially the silly line of credit). It shows that I don't have the financial freedom to do other things that I might want to do.
Since I would like to boost our savings to be a 6 month emergency fund and pay down our mortgage faster than 30 years, I can look at my budget see where I can cut back and pay off the debt and build up the savings as quickly as possible. Those are my financial goals at the moment and my budget helps me see that.
Helps me prioritize spending and saving
Right now as long as there is food in my belly, a roof over my head and clothes on my back I am/should be content. But of course, once in a while, I turn into a magpie. I see all these glittery things in front of me that I decide I must have. A fancy apron, cute bowls, an awesome dress, new furniture and the list could go on and on and on.
Having a budget (and not going to the ikea website) helps my magpieness. I know how much extra money we have each month, as well as a list of upcoming renovations, repairs, birthdays etc. Would I rather have a Bosch mixer that will help me make nourishing food for my family or that snazzy new couch? Or, would I rather spend $5 dollars a week on smoothies, or put that money towards saving for said Bosch? (As you can see I really would like a Bosch.) It is all about prioritizing how and what we spend money on. A budget helps us do that. You are in control of where you want your money to go.
Helps gain control of life
I like tweaking the old adage of "money isn't everything" by adding "but it sure helps a lot". When living the simple life, money is not the object of our existence. We want a loving home, real food prepared by real hands, wholesome activities, using things up and wearing thing out. These things don't cost a lot of money, but there are items to purchase that makes this way of life easier. If you are into making bread you need bread pans, a large mixing bowl and a rolling pin. A nice big stock pot helps when wanting to make soup stocks. If you want to ferment things a stone crock really helps.You may not have them to begin with so you will need to purchase them. Having your budget as a friend helps you set aside the money which allows you to purchase the things you will need and will use over and over again in your simple and less packaged life. You can begin to live and really envision the life you want to lead.
So a budget may not be the most glamourous thing in the world, but, it can be your friend on your journey through life if you let it. You do not need to be an accountant to do it. It does not need to be complicated. Your budget can be what you need it to be. It can be your disciplinarian or your cheerleader. You decide.
Next week I will have a tutorial on how to make a budget from scratch. There might even be ideas that might help you tweak your already existing one.
Budgets and I have an interesting relationship. Sometimes I am go good at keeping track of my spending, entering the data in the spreadsheet and seeing a surplus at the bottom. I feel pure joy and satisfaction. Other times my budget and I are strangers in the night, passing by but not really seeing each other. Those are the months when I add up the numbers the surplus is non existent...usually inverse of what it should be.
Some people might say, "why worry about a budget. Just stay a float and things will work out. A little debt is not the end of the world." If that sits well with you, than that is awesome. Everyone handles money, stress and life differently. For myself here are my reasons for wanting my budget to be my friend.
Helps me prioritize financial goals
Right now we have a small line of credit, a mortgage and not very much in savings. (We spent a lot of our savings on the down payment.) Having a budget helps me see how much money is going to service these debts (especially the silly line of credit). It shows that I don't have the financial freedom to do other things that I might want to do.
Since I would like to boost our savings to be a 6 month emergency fund and pay down our mortgage faster than 30 years, I can look at my budget see where I can cut back and pay off the debt and build up the savings as quickly as possible. Those are my financial goals at the moment and my budget helps me see that.
Helps me prioritize spending and saving
Right now as long as there is food in my belly, a roof over my head and clothes on my back I am/should be content. But of course, once in a while, I turn into a magpie. I see all these glittery things in front of me that I decide I must have. A fancy apron, cute bowls, an awesome dress, new furniture and the list could go on and on and on.
Having a budget (and not going to the ikea website) helps my magpieness. I know how much extra money we have each month, as well as a list of upcoming renovations, repairs, birthdays etc. Would I rather have a Bosch mixer that will help me make nourishing food for my family or that snazzy new couch? Or, would I rather spend $5 dollars a week on smoothies, or put that money towards saving for said Bosch? (As you can see I really would like a Bosch.) It is all about prioritizing how and what we spend money on. A budget helps us do that. You are in control of where you want your money to go.
Helps gain control of life
I like tweaking the old adage of "money isn't everything" by adding "but it sure helps a lot". When living the simple life, money is not the object of our existence. We want a loving home, real food prepared by real hands, wholesome activities, using things up and wearing thing out. These things don't cost a lot of money, but there are items to purchase that makes this way of life easier. If you are into making bread you need bread pans, a large mixing bowl and a rolling pin. A nice big stock pot helps when wanting to make soup stocks. If you want to ferment things a stone crock really helps.You may not have them to begin with so you will need to purchase them. Having your budget as a friend helps you set aside the money which allows you to purchase the things you will need and will use over and over again in your simple and less packaged life. You can begin to live and really envision the life you want to lead.
So a budget may not be the most glamourous thing in the world, but, it can be your friend on your journey through life if you let it. You do not need to be an accountant to do it. It does not need to be complicated. Your budget can be what you need it to be. It can be your disciplinarian or your cheerleader. You decide.
Next week I will have a tutorial on how to make a budget from scratch. There might even be ideas that might help you tweak your already existing one.
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