I Hope We Win the Lottery! Not That Lottery....

It's in the media, it's in the schools, it affects your kids on a daily basis - the education system in the USA sucks.

The Program for International Student Assessment in Paris evaluates schools in 34 countries.  The United States ranked average in all areas.  The proof is in the pudding.

As a child who grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, school choice was a no-brainer.  What school was the closest proximity to your house?  That's where you went.  All the schools were filled with diverse backgrounds, kids came from mixed socioeconomic backgrounds and went on to become doctors, lawyers, company owners, and teachers.  Now that I am faced with making education decisions for my kids, I am realizing that I really was lucky.  Illinois (DuPage County) has many things going for them - sure the taxes may be high, but they are turning out educated students and the process is not a stressful one.

Fast forward to 2010.  My adventure selecting elementary schools starts - NOW.

Let's compare two of my childhood experience to what my child's experience could be: 

School in close proximity - On a scale of Excellent, Good, Average, Under Performing and Failing, this school is labeled "Average".  There have been two lock downs due to local shootings within the past 12 months.  Not sold.

Teacher Retention - My brother and sister (who are 9/10 years younger then me) shared some of the same teachers I did.  The school we are zoned for has one of the highest teacher turnover rates and one of the highest teacher absences.  What message does that send?

So what are parents to do?  Move?  Real Estate market is in the tank.  Private school?  Well, $12,000 tuition a year for three kids is not going to work for us.  So here are our choices......get ready.

1)  Magnet School - Entrance by lottery.  Applications are split into four categories:  1)  Kids in the "zone" 2) Siblings 3) Kids in a failing school zone (Thanks to NCLB)  4) Kids from the county.  Out of 250 applications, 100 are picked to test and 40 are selected.  Yes - for Kindergarten.  This school rocks and everyone wants in.  So, the lottery may be the most important day in our child's academic future.

2)  Partial Magnet - To apply to this school takes a very organized and detailed parent.  You need:  Copy of your tax bill, Utility bill, notarized afidavit of proof of residency, letter of recommendation from PRESCHOOL, two SASE's, and the finished application.

3) Inter district Transfer - There are two other schools we can petition to transfer to - but that takes a lot of work and you have to prove reasons other than "the school I am zoned for is average".

So, what to do, what to do.  One could suggest we move to a part of the country where there is more money for schools, say Massachusetts.  But let's face it - this system represents the bulk of America.  Rural and inner city schools have it even worse.  Something has to be done.

I don't know the answers, but I do know that there are many qualified, under-paid teachers out there who have the answers.  Ask them and take their advice.  Let's not leave decisions to individuals who have their finger on the pulse of politics.  Leave it to the experts.

A kindergarten application should not mirror that of a college application.  Kids should not have to hope that their names get picked in a lottery (Like an NBA Draft).  Parents should not feel the need to flee a demographic area to obtain great education.  Having kids really opens your eyes to issues you never knew existed!

The journey continues - to be continued.....!

Spent $190, Saved $92.

So my bill would have been over $300.00 (which is not normal - $170 with formula and diapers is normal for this family of food lovers). 

I had $100.00 in coupons.  I pretty much could have used a second cart.  I stocked up on pasta, veggies, snacks, cereals, detergents and more.  This could easily work into meals for weeks to come.  $14.00 for a SMALL can of formula (hoping to have Francesca weaned off formula soon!) and a $6.00 jar of  sundried tomatoes.

I would love to have walked out with less than $100.00 in groceries, but that's the goal for next week and the week after. 

Love double coupons!

I have been hiding.....and I have had a change of heart....

Where have I been you ask?  The only answer I have is that I needed a break.  I actually had a mental breakdown about 5-6 weeks ago and realized I had taken on too much.  Instead of tapering off my schedule and commitments - I stopped EVERYTHING.  With the help of my favorite physician and support from my family I am back on track.  If you noticed I was not following through on a lot, not calling, not handing in reports (ahem...), it's because I was paralyzed mentally!

I have had increasing anxiety since I started giving birth 5 years ago.  Since giving birth has become my favorite "hobby", my anxiety levels keep increasing.  Mine manifests in the form of hypochondria.  It is debilitating to the person living with this disorder and completely incomprehensible to someone who does not.  The panic has such physical effects on a person.  False, self-diagnosing leads to real health issues.  My doctor said to concentrate on living and if I get that "needle in the haystack" disease, then we'll deal with it.  

I also read a great quote when it comes to dealing with hypochondria....."when you hear hooves, think horses and not zebras".  If you get a cough, think cold - not lung cancer.  That little "creed" has kept me in check!

On to the good stuff:

1)  Next Saturday DemiDesigns will be in the 2nd Charleston Artist Market.  I am focusing on selling my "FANCY" collection.  It is at the Music Farm if any locals are interested.  Super excited!

2)  I have had a change of heart......I know that I insulted coupons a few posts ago, but I think I have got this game figured out.  I am so excited about my new focus on saving money and storing items for future meals, I am obsessed with coupon clipping!  My favorite grocery store, Harris Teeter, has double coupons up to $1.98 tomorrow.  I strategically meal planned and tomorrow I hope to "cash in".  Pampers for $5.99.....3 cans of Pringles for $1.50.  Caribou Coffee for $ 6.99 a lb.  And so on.......you bet your pretty little pocketbook that I will update you tomorrow! 

I also noticed that if you join coupon dealsites Facebook page, you get all day notifications on Facebook.  Yesterday I was looking at Crocs for Jack (replacements) and I found some for $15.00.  I almost bought them.  Then last night I saw that they had glow in the dark dragon Crocs.  If you clicked "LIKE" you could get a link on the page to Crocs and get them for $8.99.  $15.00 off.  Awesome.

Anywhoo....if you have great coupon sites, please let me know!

Thanks for reading!
DeAnna

Meal Plan - I Really Need to Lose Weight

So, the scale sucks.  Many people say "it's inches that matter".  I think that's a load of crap.  It's the scale.  If I weighed 140 pounds, I know what my inches would look like.  My personal weight does not reflect the amount of calories I burn on a daily basis.  I run 12 miles per week minimum, I work out, I chase kids, I lift babies, I chase dogs, I bend and stretch, I clean, I move furniture, I drive kids to school - I am not a sitter.  I must be consuming too many of the wrong kind of calories.

I reached into the depths of my brain and pulled out my healthy eating rules....and I grocery shopped today.  I bought a healthy cart full of food and tried to sabotage myself with two Hershey bars as my reward for the week.  They both melted in my purse because it's 100 degrees outside.  I would still call it a loss, but a good loss....maybe in my thighs.

I normally put 3 spoonfuls of sugar in my coffee.  This past week was my "lower sugar" intake initiative.  I replaced 2 tablespoons with one tsp. of Truvia.  That has got to help.  This week, I am replacing Yoplait with Breyers.  I did not realize what a huge difference in sugars there were in yogurts which I considered comparable.

I also discovered a new website:  Sparkrecipes.com

Healthy recipes, over 10,000 vegan recipes alone (not that I am a Vegan, but a few Vegan meals per week is a great goal for us), and free membership with recipe box.  Love it.

Here is my meal plan for the week:

Sunday
B Thad's Italian Feast (Don't ask - Salami & yogurt crudite`)
L So good - Ham and Red Pepper wrap with side of carrots
D Red Beans and Sausage with Brown Rice

Monday
B Felicity Puffs  Yummy Breakfast Puff Recipe
L Wrap (from above) - Kids will have Peanut Butter Roll Ups
D Curry Chicken w/ Yellow Rice - Curry Recipe

Tuesday (Soccer Night)
B Pancakes
L Soup w/ Crackers
D Frozen Pizza (Home Run Inn!)

Wednesday (Mom's Gone for Dinner!)
B Homemade Blueberry Muffins
L Out For Lunch
D Slow Cooker Chicken Parm w/ whole grain pasta - Super Easy Chicken Parm

Thursday
B Waffles and Berries
L Asian Slaw - See How this goes (Kids get Lunchables for school)
D Make Your Own Tacos - Ground Beef

Friday
B Toast and Eggs
L Quesadillas
D Out to eat!  Mexican perhaps???

Let's see if I lose a pound!  ARGH! 

Spread SO Thin - Nickname is Transparent

The answer to the question is:  Because I like torture.

The question is:  Why do I feel the need to be over-scheduled?

Over-scheduled gives me a sense of comfort.  It satisfies my ADD.  Growing up (and still to this day) I loathe Sundays.  Yeah, I find a whole lot of fun laying around doing nothing (insert sarcasm).  I can't just sit.  Before cable in the 80's on Sundays I was reduced to watching "Family Classics" on WGN in Chicago and maybe catch a boring movie my dad pegged as a "classic".  I would say "Mom, can we go somewhere, pleeease"?  Her response "Go find something to do".  Oh, how I hated Sundays!

I worked really hard in my twenties.  I belonged to various groups, I volunteered, I went to business lunches and on trips - never a dull moment.  The habit was established.

When Thad and I decided to start a family, we pretty much knew we would be a family with two incomes.  I would hop right back into the workforce and sorry, kids go to daycare.  Then Jack was born and I was in school.  I had no assimilation or alliance with any company and the longer I stayed home, the more it felt right - for my family.  By baby number 3, I felt like it was time to really get something going.  Three kids turns you into "MOM".  It is your whole being.  How do mothers of 4 do it?  Michelle Duggar....seriously?  I won't go there.

So I started my own business.  I reaaaaallllllyyyyy want to open my own store, but an online store is where I must start.  Then I felt like I needed to give back to the community and I started working for a non-profit part-time, and I am also on a committee with them (we help kids in foster care).  Then I get an email from the local soccer club that they need a PR director - so I apply and get nominated to be on the board.  This keeps up my college degree.  Each involvement satisfies a part of my brain.

Now my nights are filled with meetings and my days are filled with creating items for my store.  The rest of my day I spend playing with the kids, teaching the kids and guiding them through rises and falls.  I try to enjoy every minute even if those minutes are fighting or speaking in "whinese". 

But, it is a lot.  It's my style though, to bounce around like that and it keeps my brain busy.  So although I don't recommend spreading yourself so thin that you are transparent, I do encourage mom's to find something they love and commit to it.  As big or as small as it is.  Don't lose sight of yourself because one day you will have an empty house and you have to remember who "you" really are.

Miller Meal Plan - September 5th

My goal is for this blog NOT to turn into a cooking blog, however most of the things I have been writing about are controversial and I figured until I can craft my writings to not offend people, I will stick to food.  I know not everyone shares the same opinions I do on many hot topics, so food it is for this week!  Offensive hot topics next week!

My favorite recipe EVER is on this weeks menu:

MY FAVORITE RECIPE

It sounds scary and your kids probably won't like it.  But it is on my short list labeled "awesome".

Here is this weeks dinner menu:

Sunday: My favorite recipe (above)
Monday: Potato & Goat Cheese Quesadilla's served with Guacamole and chips Quesadilla Recipe
Tuesday: Date night - kids having pizza
Wednesday: Risotto w/ Turkey Sausage: Risotto Recipe
Thursday: Goulash (see recipe below)
Friday: Chicken Paprika from last week.....I had to make a stroganoff instead last week, last minute game change.


This next recipe is a staple.  My mother made it every week and now I know why.  It's easy, it sticks to your ribs and it's economical.  Great dish if you have to feed a lot of people.  I served it for our last visitors who LOVED it.



Linda's "Ate it Once a Week"Goulash


1 pound Ground Beef
1 Pound Elbow Mac (you can use whole wheat or whole grain - just as good)
1 Jar of Prego (mid size jar)

In a large skillet, brown ground beef and season w/ salt, pepper and minced onion.  In the meantime boil water and cook elbow mac.  When beef is done, add sauce and simmer.  When pasta is done, drain and return to pot.  Carefully add sauce mixture to drained pasta.  Serve with garlic bread and parmesan cheese.  I am NOT a leftover person, but this does taste better the second day in my opinion!  So, make extra and save yourself a night of making dinner. 

Idea making....that's what I hope I have done for you this week!  Try the Martha Stewart chicken, it is SO good.  Smack your mama good.

DeAnna

Millers Meal Plan - August 29

This week, Thad will only be home for dinner two nights.  Actually, next Friday he is home and I am going to a happy hour in honor of a coworkers wedding next weekend.  So I typically shop and cook for convenience the nights he won't be home.

All recipes are posted at the bottom!

Sunday:
Breakfast - Biscuits and Gravy (just finished!)
Lunch - Turkey sandwiches with fruit and crackers w/ pimiento cheese
Dinner - 4 Cheese Cavatappi with Bacon

Monday:
Breakfast - Pancakes w/ fruit
Lunch - Soup w/ Grilled Cheese (pack lunch for Jack)
Dinner - Chicken patties with corn on the cob and tater tots

Tuesday:
Breakfast - Rice Cake for mom/Cereal for kids w/ fruit on side
Lunch - Whatever I want!  Kids are in school! (Turkey probably)
Dinner - Chicken Paprikash (great hungarian meal)

Wednesday:
Breakfast - Belgian Waffles w/ Berries
Lunch - Egg salad for mom and chicken nuggets for kids
Dinner - Pepper Steak (family recipe)

Thursday:
Breakfast - Rice cake w/ Peanut butter and bananas for mom/Cereal and fruit for kids
Lunch - Whatever I want!
Dinner - Tortellini and Sausage Stew (from Family Circle)

Friday - Pizza Night!

Recipes:

Four Cheese Mac
Click Here: Mac Recipe 



Chicken Paprikash

6 Chicken Cutlets
1 cup of sour cream
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
2 Tbsp of  milk
2 Tbsp of Paprika
1 bag of "No Yolk" Egg Noodles

Season chicken w/ salt and pepper.  In large skillet, start cooking the chicken.  Brown on both sides. In the meantime, in large pasta pot, bring lightly salted water to boil and cook pasta. When chicken is complete, combine sour cream, milk, and soup.  Mix with chicken and scrape up bits, lower temp to medium.  When pasta is done, drain and spoon mixture over noodles.  Serve with broccoli on side.


Pepper Steak

1 Pound of Boneless Beef Sirloin - 3/4 inch thick cut into strips
1.5 cups of sliced Green Pepper (1-2 Green Peppers)
2 beef boullion
1- 1.5 cups of water
4-6 servings of white rice (follow directions on box)

Cook sirloin strips (spray a bit of non-stick spray in skillet first) in skillet - saute until cooked through.  Add Green peppers and saute about 3 minutes.  In the meantime, start the rice.  Then add a cup of water and 2 beef boullion.  When boullion dissolves, add a bit of Wondra  or cornstarch mixed with a bit of water to thicken.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve over rice.  (This is a balancing act, so if you want more gravy, add more water and boullion.  Just add a little at a time.).


Tortellini and Sausage Stew
Click here:  Stew Recipe

Hope you are inspired....and hungry!