A Mother's Balancing Act

Monday Morning Coffee

As I sit this morning, making my "to-do" list before dashing off to work, I am ever so thankful that I roasted a turkey breast yesterday, in order to make my gravy in advance of "The Big Feast". And oh my goodness, it is delicious, if I do say so myself...and I do!

Entertaining 21 is not something that I do often. It didn't occur to me until last weekend that my cleaning crew (once again) did not "ping me" to ask when they could reschedule me since my regular day falls on "The Big Day". Last year, when I realized this, I opted out, figuring we were heading out of town to my brother's house. I thought, "Hey, we'll save the hundred bucks, do some cleaning ourselves (ahem...), and no one will be the wiser." Well, this time, I've got a cast of thousands coming to my house. It needs to be cleaned. I was sick a good part of last week (yuck!), and College Girl comes home tomorrow night to boot!

It looks like we'll be pulling together as a family to do an "all-out-effort" to get the house in order. I worked on everything but the floors in the kitchen last night, so it's in pretty good shape at the moment. I reminded Big Strong Man (that's BSM for any of you newcomers...) that I'd need his assistance, and we'll just make it work. That's right...Tim Gunn style. Yeah, I know. It sounds lame, but when you're used to having help, it takes a village to really get the whole house clean at the same time!

Truth be told, I'm just so excited to get my College Girl home tomorrow night, I'll do anything to get the Big Feast on the table on Thursday. Family, friends, feast, faith. It'll all be there. Life is good.

Cheers,

Balanced Babe (Molly Wendland)

Introducing...A New Author on Mother's Balancing Act

Drumroll, please...

Allow me to introduce the newest addition to my Mother's Balancing Act team, Coffee Queen!

She's balancing a career in sales while raising two teens as a happily divorced (did I mention available?) mom who has been a dear friend of mine for many years. When not working or attending one of her many kids' activities, you might find her drinking one of the skads of cups of coffee she consumes on a daily basis (usually decaf...go figure), working on her latest quilting project, playing with one of her crazy miniature dachsunds, volunteering for SAFEHOME, helping fight Juvenile Diabetes (which her daughter was diagnosed with last year), hanging out with her adorable mother (yes, she's a member of the "sandwich generation"), or at the gym (did I mention she's one hot mama?).

Coffee Queen goes a mile a minute and manages to pull it all off with grace and style. However, having said that, her feet are firmly planted in the White Trash Mom movement (thank God, or I might not be able to call her my BFF!), and her very first post will carry a "weird" tag, so you know she'll fit right in here. I'm guessing future posts will fit into such categories as:

• Coffee (that great elixir of life...)
• Tales from the Dweeb Side
• Parenting/Teens
• Working Moms
• Single Moms/Motherhood
• Divorced and Dating???
• Muffia
• Pets, namely the aforementioned crazy min dachsunds

OK, so...the next post on this site will be from...you guessed it. Our very own...Coffee Queen!

Cheers!

Balanced Babe (Molly Wendland)

Pizza in a Flash!

Have you tried these fabulous pizza crusts? I've tried a slew of different store-bought crusts over the years, and these are the best ever, in my ever-so-humble opinion! Now, all of you fussy moms who prefer to proof the yeast, wait for the dough to rise, and perhaps even mill your own flour (as if...) might not like them as much as my family and I do, but then again, if you do that, you probably wouldn’t have time to be reading this post, either!

The product is from Mama Mary’s, and it comes in both regular-sized round crusts (package of two for about $2.85) and individual crusts (package of 3 for roughly the same cost). I have used these on both a pizza "stone" in my oven, as well as on a regular metal pizza pan. You can also bake the pizzas direcly on your oven rack. All options work great. Look for the crusts in the refrigerated dough section of your grocery store. These come mostly baked and already formed.

Oh! And they also have regular crust or thin crust. My family prefers the thin crust, though when you load it up super heavy (like my nephew did to the one pictured with this post), it tends to get a bit "bogged down"…ah, to be 10 again! I usually top them with spaghetti sauce from the jar and/or prepared pesto for the base. Easy breezy.

I especially love doing the individual size for several reasons:

• It provides portion control (though I tend to eat just half of the individual size with a side salad)
• Everyone gets to choose the toppings that he or she really wants
• They're super "user friendly" for kids to make up themselves

Whether you're a working mom or a SAHM mom, these crusts will save you time and time again. Plus, if your kids are older, this is a great option for Yo-Yo Night! As my friend Carrie says (complete with her southern drawl, of course...), "Yo Ahwn Yo Own!" That's the night where everyone is "on their own" to fix dinner. Abbreviated, this becomes Yo-Yo Night!

I love it!

Balanced Babe

What's for Dinner? Make it Snappy!

So, last night, Big Strong Man called on his way home from work, as he often does (bless him...) to see if we needed anything from the store toward dinner. Dinner? Again? Already? Didn't we just do that? Ugh...Then, I remembered I had some hamburger in the fridge and some fresh green beans and those fabulous Roma tomatoes I had gotten at Costo.

"Nope," came my smug response. "I think I've got it under control." Just call me Donna Reed. June Cleaver. Martha Stewart. As. If. Not...So, having been home from work already for a couple of hours, I sprang into action, so it would actually look like I really did have it under control. HA! Pretending I was Rachel Ray, I reached into my fridge to begin assembling all of my ingredients in one smooth move. Done.

Deciding it would be best to get the hamburgers done up first, I ripped open the package of ground round...and immediately determined that we were not, in fact, going to be having burgers for dinner. Quickly re-wrapping the meat, I checked the date. Hmmm...yes. That would explain the disgusting odor emanating from said package. Sell by August 8th. Excellent. I am a stellar mother/meal planner/chief/cook/bottle washer extraordinaire.

Double Ugh.

OK, Molly. Re-group. I had a couple of pizza crusts in the fridge, but my younger daughter and I had pizza for dinner the day before with friends. Girl 1 turned up her nose at the pork tenderloin recipe I suggested, and it was going to take too long to prepare anyway...and who has the energy? Digging through the freezer...aha! Frozen lasagna from Costco.

Have you tried this? It's really pretty good.

• The noodles are even al dente
• There's plenty of sauce
• It's got meat and Italian sausage (but not so much that picky Girl 1 turns her often upturned nose at it!)
• It's waaaay more than enough for my family of four (I think the package says 6 servings, and that's about right, even with Big Strong Man at the table)
• You can start it in the microwave, for about half the stated microwave cooking time, and finish it in the oven to save time for a true Desperation Dinner

Dinner saved, once more. I even snapped the fresh beans while the "nya nya" (what my girls called it when they were little) was cooking. Pop them in a Pyrex dish with about a tablespoon of water and a little butter, cover, and microwave on high for about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Leave them there until the lasagna comes out of the "real" oven. Drain beans, add a tablespoon or two of dried cranberries and zap for another minute or so. Sprinkle with toasted, sliced almonds (if available!). Yum-oh!

Slice three Roma tomatoes thickly on plate. Top with ribbons of fresh basil (I have fresh herbs in pots on my patio. If you don't, a little garlic powder will do.), shredded parmesan, salt and cracked pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

If you have some bread, all the better. If not, don't sweat it. The "nya nya" will suffice. Really. :-)

Delish. Enjoy.

Balanced Babe

Tales from the Dweeb Side - Coffee Disasters

Yesterday over at our White Trash Mom site, I posted about my youngest daughter's first day of high school and my morning mishap with my coffee in the car.

So, today, I decided to be extra careful and take my Big Girl Mug Thermal Travel Mug with the securely fastened lid. No more morning mayhem for me! I had a client meeting scheduled in the afternoon, and I was looking pretty good, if I do say so myself (and I do...:-).

Taking further precaution, I made sure to place the aforementioned travel mug into the superbly designed cupholder (one of 5 within easy reach in my Toyota mom-mobile Siena). Next, I strapped it down with a piece of taurpalin backed the van out of the driveway and proceeded on my merry way. Since my eldest was driving the carpool to school (wahoo!!!!!), I didn't even have that to worry about. Safely stopped at a traffic light, I picked up my mug out of its safety harness cupholder...and proceeded to attempt not only to drink from the wrong side of the mug but without first opening the handy-dandy spout. When I realized my lame-brained mistake, I first opened the spout while starting to turn the mug around. Having never done this before, I wouldn't have known that there can actually be pressure built up inside one of these things, all from trying to drink from the wrong side of the mug, with the spout closed (who knew?). At that moment, coffee spurted out at my bangs. Like a mini volcano eruption. Dumbfounded, I put the coffee back into its cupholder and reached for the napkins that I keep in my glovebox for occasions just like these and begain dabbing at said bangs clutzily, all while laughing at myself in the car at the traffic light.

I finish wiping my bangs down...the damage was surprisingly scant...and I decide to try this drinking at the safety of the traffic light thing again. After all, I have a safety mug.

I look at the mug to be sure that:

1. The spout is open.
2. I am going to be drinking from the correct side of the mug.

Having never had to qualify these things before, I find myself laughing again. I tilt the safety mug to my mouth, and before it has even touched my lips, there is coffee spilling all...over...me.

What the hell?

Now, I know you'd think that a sane person would be furious by now, but given the events of the previous day, and given that perhaps I am a little off my rocker anyway, I start dabbing away again and laughing out loud. Alone. In my minivan. It is then that I happen to look over to my left at the vehicle next to me. The guy next to me is staring at me with the biggest scowl on his face you have ever seen.

There I am laughing at myself in my car, and this guy is scowling at me. What'd I do to him? You know, Big Strong Man and I are firm believers in one of our favorite sayings:

"If you don't laugh, you cry, so you might as well laugh your way through this life."

Take it easy this week. And when something doesn't go your way, laugh it off, 'cuz' it's just not worth going through life with an ugly old scowl on your face.

The light turned green. I waved at the Scowler and drove away while he was still sitting there scowling. Maybe this wasn't a Coffee Disaster after all. Perhaps it was a Coffee Affirmation! Ha!

Cheers.

Balanced Babe

White Trash Mom Book Giveaway!!!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks, but I wanted to get in a quick post here to tell you to hightail it on over to our White Trash Mom site, so you can put it your "two cents" on what your favorite volunteer job is. Hey, even if your kids aren't in school yet - or if you don't even have any kids...whatever. Do you like free stuff?

Do you want to "earn" a copy of the new, hot off the presses White Trash Mom Handbook for FREE?

Then, "cast your vote" by commenting on my post on School Volunteerism - It's Contest #3 in our Book Giveaway. I have been remiss in telling everyone on this site about our book giveaways over at my other site! SO - hop on over there, and tell us what your favorite volunteer gig is and why. The best answer gets a FREE copy of our new book, which came out TODAY!

Well, what are you waiting for??? Get a move on!!! What have you got to lose??? CLICK!

Balanced Babe

The Good Dr - Part 2

So, the other day, I told you about our girls' "Good Doctor"...the one who always made me feel like crap for being a working mom. No matter what I did, it seemed I always made the wrong move. If I brought the kid in to see the doctor, I'd get, "You should've brought her sooner. She's got a double ear infection." OR - the complete opposite: "What'd you bring her in for? It's viral. It has to run its course." It seemed I could never win with the man.

The girls have never been afraid of the doctor. In fact, Girl 2 even chose him as her "Hero" for a pictorial report in the 2nd grade. I had to stifle a guffaw at that one. She couldn't have chosen her uncle, the doctor? All the times she got sick while at his house, out of town? But I digress.

As the girls have gotten older, we've let them in on the secret, and it's become something of a family joke.

Balanced Babe: Well, I think you really ought to see the Good Doctor, but you never know. It could go either way. You've either got the plague, with 24 hours to live, or he'll laugh us out of the office for even bringing you in. Should we risk it?

Sick Teenager: Yeah, but maybe he'll give me a note, so I can get out of PE. It could go that way...

And so it goes. Life with the Good Doctor.

So, last week, I took Girl 2 in for a pre-high school sports physical. We're in the waiting room, which was comical in and of itself. Girl 2 is right at 6 foot 3 inches tall (and yes, she does play basketball and volleyball...). Imagine walking into the waiting room of a pediatrician's office at that height...at just shy of 14. Um...yeah. Thank the good Lord she is confident. So, we're sitting there with these little pint-sized peanuts in the pint-sized chairs, watching Barney and Baby-Bop and whoever the yellow guy they added is (BJ?).

And it hits me. Maybe it's time to move on. Maybe the girls can start coming with me to my family doctor now. Girl 2 and I prepare our short list of questions for the Good Doctor. We've stayed with him all these years because despite his shortcomings in the personality department, he has practiced excellent medicine.

Finally, they call our name. We wait in the room after the nurse has done her bit. I suck in my breath as he opens the door. I think to myself, "Well, how stupid will he think our questions are today?" Having been dismissed so many times before, I have worn my suit of armour, prepared to shield myself from the barbs that are sure to come my way.

But this day? This day, Girl 2 merely got, "You're too tall," which, normally, I would take umbrage at. However, the Good Doctor is short, and for some reason, this day, I gave him a pass. And then, on to our questions. Of all things, our questions...

Girl 2 has been having a pain in her chest at varying times. No rhyme or reason to it that she or we have been able to surmise. At this, the Good Doctor's eyebrows rise in alarm. My maternal instincts kick in, and I am suddenly scared. I look at him, and all of the bad thoughts of him disappear, and only my respect for his medical opinion remains. He says she'll need a chest x-ray, and my heart is thumping inside my own chest so rapidly that I can feel it like a drum inside my ears. I am alone inside my head.

I look at my daughter, who is staring at the Good Doctor quizzically, her head cocked to one side. I ask him, "And then what?"

In his usual casual manner, he goes on, "And then, if they don't see anything, she'll need to go see a pulmonary specialist to figure out why this is happening." And he just lets that sit there. I blink. And stare at him. I hate him at that moment for saying that in front of my 13 year old daughter who is still staring at him, not knowing what to think. Or say. Or do. Damn him. She's 13. She's not an adult. Where is his bedside manner? You don't just blurt something like that out.

Girl 2 keeps everything inside. She doesn't let us in much, so we rarely know if something is bothering her until it's too late.

So here we are. Waiting for the chest x-ray. Waiting for the next move. Waiting.

Balanced Babe

Desperation Dinners

Ever have those days when you just don't feel like cooking?

HA! Let's try that again.

Ever have those days wehn you can't stand the thought of animal-shaped mystery meat from the drive-thru...again? (eeee-oooow...)

Or you're really craving some home cooking but don't have the time or energy to make it happen (and you mom's not home!)?

Ever feel like going out for a chick night but don't feel like you can justify it?

No, this is not an advertisement. No, I am not getting anything in return for this endorsement. I just happen to love Dream Dinners. About three years ago, I found about a "then-new" company in town where you could go, enjoy a glass or two of wine with your girlfriends (or hubby!), prepare between 6 and 12 entrees for your family, and still make it home in time to kiss the kids goodnight!

What a deal! Too good to be true, you say? Must cost a fortune, you say? The food must not be very good, you say? It couldn't be that fast, you say?

Say I:

• All true
• Reasonably priced (way cheaper than eating out - and far healthier)
• The food is excellent
• You can prepare up to 12 meals in about 3 hours or less

Some of my family's favorites have been:

• Rosemary Chicken with Penne Pasta:
• Thai Peanut Beef Skewers
• Chicken Risotto
• Chicken Mirabella

You might have noticed an absence of fish on the list above. That's not because they don't offer any. That's just because our family is picky (well, my daughter and I are picky...). Also, I should note that each month, they even have a few sides from which to choose, as well as a dessert or two to tempt your tastebuds. On top of all that, Dream Dinners makes every effort to help you cook as healthy as possible. That is to say, if they can cut a corner without sacrificing flavor, they will...but they won't sacrifice the flavor. Believe me!

You can get the lowdown on Dream Dinner's website (including what's on the current menu and what they'll be dishing up next month). For now, though, here's a brief synopsis of how the program works. You select a time from their calendar of dates/times available to cook. You choose in advance which dishes you would like to prepare. You also choose the whether you'd like to prepare the 3 serving size or the 6 serving size. You'll find that their serving sizes are on the generous side, especially if your kids are still young.

When you go to prepare your dishes, it's a good idea to bring a large cooler to transport your food back home with you. You'll go home with dishes that are ready to finish preparing at home, so you'll freeze the dishes until you are ready to use them. You'll defrost them a day or two before you are ready to use them. Depending on the dish, in some cases, you can defrost them in a sink full of water.

If you give Dream Dinners your contact information online, don't worry. They will not SPAM you, and they will never sell your information to a third party. At least, that's never been my experience. I have never had anything but wonderful experiences with the location in Overland Park, KS (a suburb of Kansas City). (Click here to view the August monthly menu.)

So, why not give Dream Dinners a try? Bet you'll be glad you did!

Balanced Babe