Pax came for a visit

If you've followed the news, it's all over. The south was hit with not one but TWO snow storms in January (and counting?). Of course this week it's in the 70's.  It was only a few inches each time but let's face it. We don't know what to do in snow. Rain? We're good. Heat that will melt the make-up off your face in 1.2 seconds? Check. Humidity that will wilt even the most cemented of hair-do's? Got that covered too. 

Snow and ice...not so much. You can't blame us. We never (and I mean NEVER) see it around here. I've been in Columbia, SC for 8.5 years and have seen it 3x (including the two rounds this year). So pardon us if we get a little giddy (and panicked) when we hear it really is coming. 

The first snow hit a couple of weeks ago and it was true snow. They kept saying it would start mid-day...then late afternoon...well then it got dark. My boys (specifically Charlie) were so sad. But just before he went to bed...around 9pm that night because he apparently got in tp some form of crack I wasn't aware of and wouldn't settle down...it started to snow. Well so much for bedtime. Thankfully I didn't have anything scheduled the next day so I let them stay up and watch it fall for a little while. We woke up to this...

It was such a pretty soft white snow. The fun part was that Daniel didn't have to go in to work that day so we got to have a family day in the snow! The boys have never seen it before so this was super fun for them. 

Even the old man felt a little spry in the cold weather...

but that lasted a whopping 2 minutes and he was ready to rest again. 

Cole especially liked walking around in it and seeing his footprints.  So he wandered mostly...

Then there was the ice storm that hit last week. This time we knew to be prepared. Not because we just had it two weeks earlier but because Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel was in town. You know when he's in your city it's serious bid-ness. Sure enough, the sleet and freezing rain started early Tuesday. So much so that as soon as I was done with my workout, I had to go ahead and get the boys since schools were dismissing early. 

Our precipitation mainly hit overnight and all day on Wednesday in the form of sleet. The boys were very disappointed that we couldn't make snowballs this time around. Cole decided early Wednesday morning to go ahead and put on his too-small-for-me-toboggan and wear it around. You know, just in case we went out. 

Once it finally slowed down and I stopped work for an hour or so, we went out for a little family outing. The boys decided that the toy carrot from their kitchen set and the dust pan were fun items to bring out in the sleet. Random. 

 (did you notice how Stella the pug photo bombs almost all of our snow shots?)

Even the Cuban ventured out! She stayed with us during this storm for peace of mind. 

The outing lasted 20 minutes and then we went back inside. I to my work and everyone else became more and more stir crazy. What do you do when you're trapped inside with two toddlers for 3 days? Why arts and crafts! Literally it was the only novel thing I could find after play-doh, coloring and movies failed to entertain them. So we made fun Valentine's Day crafts. I literally was digging out all my stickers, cutting circles and ribbon and anything else I could make to glue on to paper. Milk and bread I bought. Arts and crafts I did not. Lesson learned. 

And when that was all done, we sat down for what else? Hot Chocolate. Putting the marshmallows in was a huge hit. Bet you can't tell that they enjoyed it...

It melted almost as fast as it came...most of it being cleared by Friday afternoon. Daniel got two whole days at home and the boys loved being able to stay at home an extra four days. It's so fun to create memories with your children. I cherish every moment that God gives me with these two cuties.  

Oh the difference paint can make!

On this icy and snowy Thursday, as I take a break from my real job (and by real I mean paying), I realized I haven't posted pictures of our house now that it's painted. 

First, let me give a big 'ol shout out to our painter affectionately called Mr. Tom. What started as a little help with some of the main living areas (because I was way intimidated by the sheer volume of painting needed) turned in to him painting our entire house. Literally. He painted all the trim, walls and cabinets. He even did a little work on an outside window and our outside doors. I highly recommend him! If you need his information, please send me a message. 

OK moving on from that shameless plug. Fair warning...lots and lots of pictures in this post! 

First, welcome to our humble abode affectionately called Schrallville! 

We'll start this little tour in the living room, dining room, hall and foyer since they all got painted Macadamia by Sherwin Williams. 

Before...

And now...  

(at Christmas)

(at present day...decorated for Valentine's Day)

I love sitting on my spot on the couch and seeing this...for some reason it makes me happy. 

The hallway...

And now that some paint and pictures have been added (pictures referenced here)...

Perhaps one of our biggest changes was the kitchen. It got a bright coat of Hazel by Sherwin Williams and the cabinets were painted white. Before any color was on the wall it looked like this: 

Then a coat of Hazel was added...

But boy the cabinets stood out then. I kept thinking I'd paint them myself since it can be expensive (and I was being cheap) but around New Year's I texted Tom and said "OK you win" and he came and painted them two days later. I also got a TV for the kitchen counter for Christmas. This is now my favorite room in the house! This is where I go every day when I get off work to start dinner and unwind. I love how all my bright pictures and accents pop against the blue.  

can you tell I had started dinner in this picture? #keepingitreal

 

Our bedroom got a coat of Techno Gray by Sherwin Williams. I went with a neutral that matched some of the color in the bright comforter on our bed. It's still not "finished" in my eyes but that will be a slower process. We still want to get a larger bed and that may change things again. 

Sadly I don't have a good before picture so you'll have to just look at the current pictures. Just imagine it a bland white. 

The guest room got a good dose of Sassy Green by Sherwin Williams. I wanted to go bold in at least one room because I felt like the entire house was turning brown! I originally thought Melange Green was the color...ummm check it out...not so much. Here it is with just one coat on the wall. Bad. Very Bad. 

Literally it looked like Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. was all over my walls. It "glowed". So then I panicked, ran to Sherwin Williams and picked up the Sassy Green. It looks super bright in the picture below since the flash changed the color a little but it's actually a very rich deep green. The same green is in the curtains so it really makes it pop with the black furniture. 

The "man room" as all my boy's call it (also known to me as my office) got a coat of Macadamia as well since we had so much left over. In hindsight I wouldn't have bought a 5 gallon bucket of paint but at the time I thought I'd need that much and it would save me money. It started off like this on moving day...everything wood color. 

And after 8 tubes of caulk and some paint it now looks like this: 

It's amazing how much brighter the room is now that it's not all wood paneling. This is another room that isn't really complete to me yet. Still trying to figure out what it's missing. Maybe a bigger rug? I definitely need a new desk that's bigger and more functional. I initially thought a small desk was just in order but I've realized that all my stuff is out in the open and not quite so picturesque. But that in and of itself won't fix the issue. I'm still pondering how to increase the cozy factor with all these windows. Suggestions welcome. 

I'll save the boys' room for another update so you can see their new beds too. I did choose to use the leftover paint from their room in the bathrooms. Here's a quick before and after of the guest/boy's bathroom. 

I must say it is so nice to finally have all the walls and trim painted. Totally worth the $$. What's next you ask? Let's just say it involves a gallon of glossy black paint. Stay tuned! 

Potty Training Boot Camp and other tips

I have a potty mouth head. That's what happens when you do potty training boot camp for four days. You are consumed. You think about it when you eat, sleep and well...potty. 

It all started when I realized that my slow work days were going to come to an end soon and I had accomplished very little in the way of big milestones. I had this overwhelming fear that I would get so busy with work that when I really need to potty train Charlie, I'd be too busy and kicking myself for not doing it during my slow time. After all, I knew he was ready...well I hoped he was. 

You see I waited and waited and waited to get started. Why? Mostly my own fear. I wasn't ready to mentally tackle what I had worked up in my mind as a huge deal. Sort've like getting rid of their bubbies (pacifiers) that we finally tackled at Christmas. We thought it was going to be horrible. And it was...for 36 hours. Then it was smooth sailing and we both thought "what took us so long?"

I also knew he wasn't quite ready yet prior to this point. He would scream at the mention of even sitting on the potty. This was a recent conversation prior to boot camp: 

Me: anyone want to sit on the potty? 
Cole: I want to sit on the potty! I want an M&M! 

Me: Charlie! Cole went on the potty and is getting M&Ms!
Charlie: Aww nuts! 
Me: You want to try and sit on the potty? 
Charlie (screaming and a wee bit mad): NO! I DON'T CARE! 

Yep, that was our life. At the mere thought of suggesting he sit on the potty, he'd scream and cry. I forced him to sit on the potty one day and he cried crocodile tears saying "mommy get me outta here!" No amount of bribing would work - I tried candy, promises of toys, ice cream...which did get a "which ice cream store?" question from him mid-scream but he didn't like the answer. If I had answered "the one at Nana and Pop-E's house 5 hours away" he might have gone for it but I wasn't that desperate yet. 

At any rate, I decided 3 days before I initiated boot camp that it was time. There was no magical sign, just a fear I wouldn't be as focused later. Off to the Dollar Store I went. I have read posts about M&Ms and other treats but I also knew Charlie was motivated by little toys more than candy. It fluctuates but he leans towards toys. So toys it was. 

Armed with my basket of dollar toys...

some M&Ms just in case...

and our potty seat (which makes it easier for him to fit on a regular potty...and it has a guard for added spray protection)...

and it was time. 

After talking about it all week, we woke up on a Thursday morning and put on underwear...then we cried. If you haven't already gathered, Charlie is not a fan of change. Once we got over that, I put him on the potty. Nothing but crying. 

Seven or eight accidents later and some whining that he wanted a toy...still nothing. Then I unashamedly called in reinforcements. Anna M came over with one of her sons to "show us how it's done". I have to say that really helped. Having someone to encourage gave us a little boost (and yes it had only been a few hours but we needed the boost already). I had two other friends call to check on us throughout the day. Really I think they were checking on my mental condition. 

I also had to take Cole to the sitter's house so he was no longer a distraction, at least on day one. Having your little brother try to "best you" the entire time is not entirely helpful in these situations. 

Then it happened. It's like a switch went off in his little brain. One little trickle and he realized he could do it. Another trickle turned stream and it was game on. 

I spent the rest of the day asking him to "try" every 15-20 minutes. I set a timer on the microwave so I wouldn't forget. Every time he tried, he got to pick a prize. Suddenly he realized this was pretty fun and I was one proud mama. 

The next day we had one small accident in the morning then he remembered we were potty training and we never had another accident again. Cole even got to stay home on Friday thanks to Charlie being so confident and telling his little brother "OK Cole, you can stay home while I practice potty training." 

I put a pull-up on him at night, just in case, but even that has gotten drier and drier as we master this new skill. The cute thing is how much his little self confidence has been boosted. As he puts it "I'm not a baby anymore! I'm a big boy now!" 

And he's awfully snuggly since he knows how proud I am of this big accomplishment, which this mama will take any day of the week. 

So if you're planning on potty training, here's what I learned: 

1. Choose a reward that you know will motivate your child. Each child is different so tailor it to your child. 
2. Mentally prepare to have accidents, frustrations, failures and to be exhausted at the end of day one. Wine helps.  
3. Don't fuss - encourage and stay positive - no matter how fast you think they should pick it up. 
4. Be sure your child is ready. Cole isn't ready because even though he's willing to try, he doesn't know how to "release on command" yet. I'd rather set him up to succeed later than push him to try now with Charlie. 
5. Each child is ready at different ages. Don't compare yours to another. Charlie is 3 yrs and 3 months old. Others are ready sooner. 
6. Use the big potty with a seat. That way when you want to go out to dinner or run errands, they aren't freaked out by trying to use a taller potty in a store. 
7. For boys I recommend having them sit to do everything at first. Once they master this, they can learn to stand. 
8. Be consistent. I set a timer so that he had to try every 15 minutes and there was less chance for accidents (a perceived failure). 
9. Don't expect it to work overnight yet. Tackle the day time first then tackle night time later. For now we still use a pull-up which we call "special night time underwear" so he doesn't feel like we're going backwards. 

And most importantly...Encourage the heck out of them. I can't stress this enough. Charlie was so proud because we made such a big deal out of it.  The first time he did it without me prompting him, we called grandparents, a friend, daddy at work. You name it. I'm pretty sure he was telling perfect strangers off the street that he pee-peed in the potty now and was a big boy. No seriously. He told a few strangers. And yes, I continued to beam with pride and dared them not to say something positive. 

In the past two months we've tackled some big milestones in toddler-ville. Giving up bubbies and now potty training...boy how they grow up fast. It seems like just yesterday they were two little babies. 

But not to worry, Cole helps us remember they aren't grown up yet...somehow he managed to get ooze (a potty training prize) in his hair. I almost didn't see it since it matched his blond hair. It had to be cut out...like a mo-hawk. 

Ahh! Mischievous boys. I wouldn't have it any other way! 

Using the rest of that whole chicken

This post is part deux from this one. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about because you didn't read the other post, that's OK. You can still follow along. 

Essentially in the last post I showed you how to roast a whole chicken. Now I'm going to tell you how to use the rest of the bird to make chicken stock and or chicken noodle soup. It's good for the soul - or so they say. 

Let's start with the fact that you've picked as much of the meat off as you want to eat. Don't pick it off to put it in the soup, it will naturally come off when you prepare your stock. Just pick off what you plan on eating or saving for sandwiches then you can go ahead and get ready to make your soup. 

First let's cover what you'll need: 

1 large onion, chopped
2-4 stalks of celery, chopped
2-4 peeled carrots, chopped
chicken bouillon
water
salt and pepper to taste
noodles of choice (I like egg noodles) or you can use rice


Step 1: in a large pot, place your entire chicken. Yep, you heard me, put the whole sucker in there. I like to remove the stuffing (the lemons, onion, etc.) before putting it in the pot because it fits better. Cover it with water to almost the top of the pot. 

Step 2: chop your vegetables listed above (celery, onion, carrots) and put them in the pot. The size is up to you. I like my celery and onion more finely chopped and the carrots more chunky. Also put a generous tablespoon of chicken bouillon in the pot. I use Better Than Bouillon because I think, as the name suggests, it's better than the cubes. 

Step 3: cover and cook everything at a slow boil for 40-60 min. I honestly throw it on and forget about it. You'll know it's done when your vegetables are super tender and the meat is falling off the bone. 

Step 4: let the soup cool enough that you can put your hands in it. I  put mine outside on the back steps when it snowed last week to expedite the process. Putting pots of hot boiling liquid in the fridge. Not OK. Outside on a concrete slab...no problemo. 

Step 5: once it's cooled sufficiently, with your hands, pick out all the bones and skin while leaving all the meat. This is gross. I'm not going to lie. But if you do it gently, the bones tend to stay together fairly easily. 

You'll see that the meat comes off in chunks so I go ahead and shred it in my hands while I'm at it. 

And the skin is the slimy part that you feel. 

In the end you'll have a pot like this...

and a bowl of skin and bones like this...

Step 6: this step you can do now or you can do later. Because the chicken had some fat in it, you may have noticed that the broth is a little oily feeling. Usually there is only a little. I like to put my pot in the fridge overnight and let the fat harden, then I can scoop it off. 

That top layer is just the leftover fat and it's easy to scoop off. It's also what has helped flavor your stock. Daniel thinks it so gross but it's just part of working with a whole bird so don't let it wig you out. 

Speaking of stock, if you had no intentions of making chicken noodle soup and just wanted to make chicken stock for other recipes, when you are scooping out the bones, go ahead and scoop out all the vegetables too. Then you're left with just liquid, which can be frozen and used as needed. I've heard that freezing it in small bags (measured cups) or in ice cube trays are a great way to store it so you can use only what you need for each recipe. 

What's the difference in stock and broth you ask? Stock is usually made from the bones and other scraps but not seasoned. Broth is made similarly but with the addition of salt, pepper and other herbs so that it has lots of flavor. Sometimes broth is just made with the meat and not the bones whereas stock is made with the bones and meat. In all honesty, they can be interchangeable in recipes. 

Just a little trivia for you. 

If you plan on freezing your soup for later - do that now. I don't like to add the starch (noodles or rice) until it's time to serve. If you are making it to eat immediately, move to step 7. 

Step 7: now that you have your meat and veggies, it's time to add your starch. I tend to like egg noodles in my chicken noodle soup but my mom always makes hers with rice. I tried quinoa one time. Me = not a fan. Daniel loved it. It really is a personal preference. Since I'm the one cooking it, we use noodles. Simply bring the soup back to a boil and add your starch of choice. 

Be sure to taste it - sometimes it needs more salt and pepper...sometimes it needs a little more bouillon added. It's really up to your taste buds. 

Viola! Homemade chicken noodle soup! I promise you this will taste soooooo much better than any can of soup you can get. And it doesn't have all the preservatives and salt that you get in the canned stuff. 

I like to add a little fresh lemon juice to each bowl as I'm serving it. I think the acidity brings out the flavors a little better. My mother in law loves to put hot sauce in hers. Either way...

Bon Appetit!