If we're having coffee, you and me, and you ask me to tell you a story about myself. I'm most likely going to tell you one of two different tales. I'll either tell you about the events surrounding my engagement to my husband or I'll tell you about the night that my youngest daughter was born. Now, that's not because my wedding day doesn't make for a great recount or because the birth of my other two daughters is any less beautiful. It’s because both of these monumental occasions have all the characteristics of a truly great story, character, setting, conflict, plot and theme— and they are so much fun to share. Furthermore, the common thread is they both taught me important life lessons, something about myself.
On this day nine years ago Aaron and I got engaged. Nine years ago tonight I was standing in the middle of five hundred people, in a dining room on a cruise ship floating in the middle of the Caribbean ocean. There’s was a ring box open in the hand of a man with a pure heart of gold, he was down on one knee with a microphone in his other hand. It was the easiest yes that I’ve ever said in my entire life. In an instant, my universe shifted, changed forever, and for the better. To be completely honest we were insane, at the present moment, we were only dating for a grand total of 81 days! That's shy of three months, folks! However, one hundred and eleven days before that night that we found ourselves standing with 1,000 eyeballs on us, one simple, almost meaningless text message opened a door for me to walk through. I thank god every day that I did.
I had a map of what I thought my life was going to look like and somewhere along the way everything started to look a bit blurry. I started praying for a jsign, waiting for a moment to let me know where to go next, knowing that the best things come to you when you don’t even try. So, from the very first moment his number flashed on the screen of my phone I never hesitated, showed my cards and went all in. I’m sure we would both agree that nothing in life ever made more sense. To this day I'm not sure what exactly I did to deserve all that I'm given but I'm forever thankful.
So, you're wondering what life lesson our engagement taught me. It taught me that some of the most rewarding things in life require a giant leap of faith. Close your eyes, say yes, and jump in head first! Don't over analyze it, tear up the flow charts, toss out the pros, and the cons list. And, for the love of god, do not listen to statistics. Follow your heart, listen to your gut, quite the voice of fear perched on your left shoulder, and go for it. Accepting that proposal was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
Family Friendly Stir Fry
18 March 2019
You win some annnnnnnd you lose some.
But, our staple Stir Fry recipe has been a favorite from the very beginning. It's easily customizable for the ingredients in your fridge and the sauce is made with fairly staple Asian inspired pantry ingredients.
The best part is the whole dish comes together in under 30 minutes-- especially if you prep your vegetables and protein beforehand. I started cooking my flank steak or chicken on Sundays- slicing it down and storing it in the fridge.
Our favorite combination consists of sliced flank steak, sliced zucchini, shaved Brussel sprouts, carrot sticks, broccoli, and bok choy.
Alternative Proteins: Chicken or Shrimp
Alternative Veggies/Add-ins: Peppers, Baby Corn, Snow Peas, Mushrooms, and Asparagus, Pineapple, Mango, Onion, Cabbage
Family Friendly Stir Fry
sauce:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons minced ginger
1 tablespoon of honey
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon cornstarch
stir fry:
1 lb thinly sliced flank steak or sirloin
3 cups of vegetables (combination of your choice)
1 tablespoon of sunflower oil or vegetable oil
salt and pepper to taste
instructions:
to make the sauce place the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, honey, and sesame oil in a small pot on the stove-- stir until the sugar is dissolved then turn up the heat and bring to a boil-- mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until dissolved -- add the cornstarch to the mixture on the stove and let it boil for 1-2 minutes until the sauce has thickened-- turn off heat and set aside.
for the stir fry-- heat 1 teaspoon of oil in wok or large skillet on the stove-- add the vegetables and season with salt and pepper-- cook for 3-5 min until they start to brown and soften-- at 2 tablespoons of water and cook until water evaporates-- when the veggies are crisp and tender remove them and set aside-- wipe out the pan and add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil-- at protein and cook for 2-3 min on each side until the desired doneness-- add the veggies back in and pour the sauce overtop-- cook on high for 2-3 mins until everything pulls together.
Enjoy!
Sometimes Us Mothers Are Just Human
06 February 2019
Sometimes motherhood stinks.
Sometimes I want to cut motherhood off in the middle of traffic and give it the middle finger.
Sometimes I want run away, fast, jump on a plane and plant myself somewhere sunny with an umbrella drink in my hand and unlimited tacos.
I'm sorry if that offends you but I won't apologize.
Not today.
And that's okay.
It doesn't make me love my children less.
It makes me human.
It doesn't mean I'm going to do it.
It means I'm human.
I know, I know-- you're all like, 'Brenda did you hear her-- she's going to leave her kids and move to Cabo. How could she? My kids are my life. They are the air in which I breathe and need to survive."
Yes, I do love my tiny people. Most moments of the day.
I know there are those out there who have it worse off than I do. I know there are couples who desperately want children and don't have any. Because of that, I'm not supposed to say "Hey, somedays this plain sucks.." because I have children. No. It doesn't mean that you can't feel that way. You're in the trenches folks. You're getting down and dirty with your tiny guerrillas. Guerrillas, not gorillas. That small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces, the tiny resistant fighters that you brought into this world.
You go ahead and feel however you need to.
It doesn't make you ungrateful.
It makes you human.
It makes you human.
It doesn't mean your not sympathetic.
It means your human.
It means your human.
Sometimes navigating motherhood feels like a room full of trap doors and my name is Alice but I'm not falling into Wonderland.
The favorite pajamas are in the dirty pile at bedtime--trap door!
The peanut butter and jelly has too much peanut butter and it's on the wrong color plate-- trap door!
None of the other kids have to listen to their parents-- trap door!
Why won't you let me have ice cream before dinner-- trap door!
My sock is caught on a toenail that I won't let you clip-- trap door!
You braided my hair the wrong way and now I look funny-- trap door!
You just don't understand me-- trap door!
To feel this way doesn't make us less than.
It makes us human.
It makes us human.
To feel this way doesn't mean we're going to give up.
It means we're human.
It means we're human.
Moms are often told that they are superheroes and in most cases we are but we are also just plain old human beings, with real human feelings and life with our tiny kin is hard. Hard with a capital 'H'.
You think it.
I think it.
And sometimes, you need to say it.
Out loud or in print.
From a rooftop or from under your breath.
It makes you human.
Good days.
Bad days.
It all shapes us.
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