I can't take any credit for this recipe but it looks good and I'm totally obsessed with greek food right now. I always have tzatziki dip in the fridge and can make pitas in about 2 hours. My breadmaker makes the dough for me in 1.5 hours and then I just have to roll it out and bake it. I bought club house greek seasoning yesterday at Costco and found a few recipes under the label on the back. This one caught my eye and of course my husband says "I know what we're having for dinner tomorrow night!" I say of course, because he knows I'm obsessed with greek food and I love pizza and vegetables. But I said that we don't have any feta. However, I went out today and bought some. So yay, this is what's for dinner tonight.
Greek Vegetable Pizza
1 12" prepared pizza crust (I always use this recipe and throw it in the breadmaker)
1c shredded mozzerella or pizza blend cheese
3 tbsp club house greek seasoning
1c sliced tomatoes
1c thinly sliced quartered zucchini
1/4c diced red onion
1/2c crumbled feta cheese (I got authentic greek sheep's milk feta)
1/3c pitted kalmata olives (optional)
Roll out pizza crust on pizza pan
Sprinkle half of mozzerella/pizza blend cheese on top of crust
Scatter remaining ingredients over cheese
Top with rest of mozzerella/pizza blend
Bake at 400F for 15 to 20 minutes or until done
I already have all the ingredients cut up and measured and put in individual containers in the fridge so that once I'm ready to put the pizza together it will take a minute or less and I can have dinner ready on time!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
what's for dinner tonight - parmesan burgers
I've said in the past that I don't like using measurements for cooking. Baking, yes, or things can get severely ruined. Cooking, no way. I never use a measuring cup or spoon when I cook. This recipe is the prime example. Have fun with it! Add more things to it if you like. Remove things if you like. It doesn't really matter. Especially not with burgers. Burgers can be the ultimate expirement.
Parmesan Burgers:
1 lb or so of ground hamburger
quite a bit of bread crumbs
1 egg
a bunch of shakes of Mrs Dash original seasoning
a few shakes of seasoning salt
a handful of shredded parmesan cheese (fresh, not that powdered junk)
a bit of fresh onion finely chopped or quite a bit of dried onion, or a bunch of onion powder
mix it all together, shape into patties (I use my mom's old tupperware patty shaper)
bake, broil, fry or bbq until done
Parmesan Burgers:
1 lb or so of ground hamburger
quite a bit of bread crumbs
1 egg
a bunch of shakes of Mrs Dash original seasoning
a few shakes of seasoning salt
a handful of shredded parmesan cheese (fresh, not that powdered junk)
a bit of fresh onion finely chopped or quite a bit of dried onion, or a bunch of onion powder
mix it all together, shape into patties (I use my mom's old tupperware patty shaper)
bake, broil, fry or bbq until done
mommy, apple pie?
My husband taught my son to say "apple pie" last night. My son kept repeating "mommy, apple pie?" over and over. I bought a bag of apples a while ago and a lot of them went rotten because peeling apples is my least favorite thing to do - peeling anything, really. I HATE it with a capital HATE. I made a little bit of apple sauce with it but didn't feel like peeling the rest. Then a few weeks ago I bought another bag of apples. Probably because they were on sale. My husband has been telling me for a while to "do something with those apples" which brings us full circle to the "mommy, apple pie?" event last night. So here I sit, working, with a bag of apples yelling at me to use them. I got out my peeler, a few different bowls (for peels, unpeeled apples and peeled apples, to be exact) and peeled the entire bag of apples. Ok that's done, now what? Well, I could either make and roll out pie dough which takes a little bit of time but I like doing, or I could make an apple crisp and use some of the plain oatmeals I get in the bulk box of quaker single serve oatmeal packs from Costco. Apple crisp it is! And apple sauce of course, but that's a given. Oh, so now you want the recipe? Here goes:
Apple Crisp, Verhulp family favorite
4c apples, sliced
3/4c brown sugar
1/2c flour
1/2c rolled oats
3/4 tsp cinnamon and nutmeg each
1/3c soft butter or margarine
Place apples in greased 9" square glass dish
Mix together the rest of the ingredients and sprinkle over the top of the apples
Bake at 375F for 30 to 35 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown
*Abby's note* I double the topping recipe or my husband complains that there's not enough. Even then he still complains haha
Apple Crisp, Verhulp family favorite
4c apples, sliced
3/4c brown sugar
1/2c flour
1/2c rolled oats
3/4 tsp cinnamon and nutmeg each
1/3c soft butter or margarine
Place apples in greased 9" square glass dish
Mix together the rest of the ingredients and sprinkle over the top of the apples
Bake at 375F for 30 to 35 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown
*Abby's note* I double the topping recipe or my husband complains that there's not enough. Even then he still complains haha
Thursday, March 10, 2011
What's for dinner tonight - gyros
After a request for this recipe, here goes! I went on my phone one night and looked up "home made gyros" and came across the most amazing recipe. My husband absolutely loves the pork after swearing off pork years ago saying he hates it. If I say I'm making this meal he gets really excited and picks at the pork until dinner is ready. The tzatziki is the best I've ever tasted and I can see myself using it as great comfort food when my husband goes out of town. Enjoy!
(Disclaimer, I'm using my own measurments for some things, because I'm not huge into measurements for cooking. Apply the seasonings to your liking)
Gyro Pork marinade:
1 chunk pork cut from tenderloin purchased at costco
approx 3 tbsp salt
approx 1 tsp paprika
small sprinkle of pepper
vinegar (suggested - apple cider vinegar)
slice the pork very thin and lay in single file in a large container such as glass pyrex
mix the salt paprika and pepper, sprinkle evenly over the pork
pour vinegar over pork and seasonings enough so the pork is covered
leave in fridge for at least 2 hours
cook in large frying pan until cooked through and browned on both sides
Tzatziki Dip:
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. vinegar
garlic, minced finely
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1 cup greek yogurt, strained (best one is the 2 pack from costco)
1 cup sour cream
1 cucumber chopped finely
dill, to taste
1 tablespoon of sugar
1/2 cup of warm water
4 cups of bread flour
2 teaspoons of salt
1 cup of warm water
1 tablespoon of olive oil
In a large mixing bowl, add flour and make a well in the center. Add yeast mixure and salt water. Knead with hands for 10 minutes in the bowl. Add olive oil and continue to knead until all oil is absorbed. Shape into a ball in the bowl, cover, and place in a warm area to rise until doubled in volume, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Punch down the dough and knead for 5 minutes more.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), and lightly oil baking sheets.
Take pieces of dough slightly larger than an egg and roll out on a floured surface to a thickness of 3/8 to 1/4 inch. (For larger or smaller pita bread pieces, take more or less dough). Prick the bread with a fork in several places.
Place on baking sheets and bake at 350°F (175°C) on the lowest oven rack for 2-3 minutes, then turn the pitas over and bake for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a tray covered with a clean dishtowel, with another clean towel on top. When thoroughly cooled, pitas can be stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator, or frozen.
Before using, brown in a lightly oiled frying pan for a few minutes until browned on both sides.
With all these ingredients, spread the pita on a plate, layer with cooked pork, onions, tomatoes and tzatziki. Last step, eat!
(Disclaimer, I'm using my own measurments for some things, because I'm not huge into measurements for cooking. Apply the seasonings to your liking)
Gyro Pork marinade:
1 chunk pork cut from tenderloin purchased at costco
approx 3 tbsp salt
approx 1 tsp paprika
small sprinkle of pepper
vinegar (suggested - apple cider vinegar)
slice the pork very thin and lay in single file in a large container such as glass pyrex
mix the salt paprika and pepper, sprinkle evenly over the pork
pour vinegar over pork and seasonings enough so the pork is covered
leave in fridge for at least 2 hours
cook in large frying pan until cooked through and browned on both sides
Tzatziki Dip:
mix sour cream, greek yogurt, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, dill and garlic in large bowl
add cucumber and stir well, making sure all flavours are mixed up
chill for at least 2 hours
Homemade Pita Bread:
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon of sugar
1/2 cup of warm water
4 cups of bread flour
2 teaspoons of salt
1 cup of warm water
1 tablespoon of olive oil
with a bread maker, layer 1 1/2c warm water, salt, sugar, olive oil, flour then yeast. put on dough setting, then follow the following instructions for baking
instructions from website:
Dissolve in the yeast and sugar in 1/2 cup of warm water and set aside, covered, for 15 minutes. Dissolve salt in the remaining 1 cup of warm water. In a large mixing bowl, add flour and make a well in the center. Add yeast mixure and salt water. Knead with hands for 10 minutes in the bowl. Add olive oil and continue to knead until all oil is absorbed. Shape into a ball in the bowl, cover, and place in a warm area to rise until doubled in volume, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Punch down the dough and knead for 5 minutes more.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), and lightly oil baking sheets.
Take pieces of dough slightly larger than an egg and roll out on a floured surface to a thickness of 3/8 to 1/4 inch. (For larger or smaller pita bread pieces, take more or less dough). Prick the bread with a fork in several places.
Place on baking sheets and bake at 350°F (175°C) on the lowest oven rack for 2-3 minutes, then turn the pitas over and bake for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a tray covered with a clean dishtowel, with another clean towel on top. When thoroughly cooled, pitas can be stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator, or frozen.
Before using, brown in a lightly oiled frying pan for a few minutes until browned on both sides.
With all these ingredients, spread the pita on a plate, layer with cooked pork, onions, tomatoes and tzatziki. Last step, eat!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Reflections - things I wish I could've told Abby Verhulp
Le sigh. Today is New Years Day 2011. Wow. Where has the time gone? I just turned 28 a few months ago and I have 2 kids and I've been married for over 4 years and my 10 year anniversary of knowing my husband is creeping up. My oldest is 2 years old my youngest will be 1 in 3.5 months my 3 cats are turning 6 and 5 (the 2 oldest are real siblings) and my husband turned 30 a few months ago. Again, wow. Oh yeah, and I have 2 grey hairs that are somewhat hidden under my mop but if it's falling a certain way you can see them. Meh, it's just evidence of all of the life lessons I've learned. And New Years Day couldn't be a better day for reflecting.
I got 2 more tattoos the other day. I have 6 in total now. My left arm bears a giant butterfly with many different designs in it. My left wrist bears roman numerals of my wedding date stamped with a small red heart at the end. My right wrist holds my son's initials and birthdays and my left hand shows off two blue stars representing my two little boys. Why am I mentioning my tattoos in a "reflections" post? For those of you who have no tattoos and are quick to judge, you'd be surprised at the conversations that go on in the parlour. My artist the other day was named Bryan. We were talking about life stuff; what we've learned through our years - him with many more years than myself - and I told him I wish I knew then what I know now. His response? It's all just life lessons.
I've been thinking a LOT about my life lately. Maybe because I have children, maybe because I'm a lot more settled than I ever have been, maybe it's because I'm finally taking charge. I'm sure I'll find out in another 10 years. I think it does have a lot to do with the fact that I have children and I don't want them going through all of the pain that I endured. Sure my life was fun. I had a few good friends, I had good parents, I had clothes and food and a roof. It wasn't that bad in retrospect of the necessities. And I do count friends as a necessity. However, I went through my life with a lot of internal pain and came out just fine. I wish I could have told myself, Abby Verhulp, that everything will be ok.
Life Lesson#1: You are NOT fat
My whole life I was made fun of for being fat. From school mates to family to random strangers and yes, some adults. Thanks for that. This phenomenon hit me the most last year, when my sister and I were looking through old pictures, making a scrapbook for my mother's 50th birthday. I found one picture that made me cry. It was me, as a younger girl, about 9 years old. It was at family camping and it's a family picture with myself, my mom and dad and my sister. I actually look kind of tall in this picture, maybe it's the angle. Anyways I'm wearing a green shirt which was my moms at the time, and jean shorts that go to my knees(ish). This picture took me aback. Ever since I started kindergarten, maybe before, I don't quite remember, I've been made fun of for being fat. This girl in the picture that I was looking at was NOT fat. What on earth would make people ridicule me for such a thing that wasn't even true? In grade 4 I was swinging on a swing at school. It was an old wooden swing and it had rained the previous night. The swing was cracked and not looking so good. I happened to be the one on it, and standing on it too. Us 9 year olds were daring. The swing broke, 1/3 on one side and 2/3 on the other. My pinkie finger got caught in the chain and it hurt so bad when my fall ripped my pinkie from the chain. I recall a teacher putting a cold wet paper towel on it to numb the pain. I was ridiculed so badly. So many people laughed at me and said I broke the swing because I was fat. Then I see a picture of myself, the same year. I am so haunted by this horrible memory, almost like a nightmare, of people circling me and pointing and making fun of me. It didn't happen exactly like that, but there was a lot of pointing and ridiculing. We moved the following year from Ontario to B.C.. Right after that picture was taken. I can honestly say today, yes I am fat. Would I be if I knew the truth so many years ago? I would like to think not. I was told I was fat by everyone. Even my parents. Indirectly, of course, but being told one thing by so many people, including your parents, really makes you believe it. I ate my sorrows away. I want to apologize for not being stick thin like everyone else. Some people are just built differently, and again, I'm sorry that I didn't look like you. Maybe that would've made people like me? I wish I knew then what I know now.
Life Lesson #2: You WILL meet your Prince Charming
Oh my goodness where do I start? This one I can write with a little humor. My whole life I've been boy crazy. Yes, even now, but in a different light. I loved boys, I loved getting their attention (unless it was to call me fat, of course) I loved watching them be boys I loved having little crushes on them hoping that they, just maybe, had a crush on me too. From grade 2 where I was in love with a boy, let's call him S to my wasted 8 years of being madly in love with, well, let's call him V, to when I met my husband, I was insanely in love with being insanely in love. I remember in gr.2 I was in love with S. He was, however, in love with....she can be E. I would write him little love notes and put them in his coat, I would try to skate with him when we went skating in school, I would try to get his attention hoping that he liked me back. He only had eyes for E, to my dismay. Do I care now? No. Did I then? Oh yeah. Wish I could've told little gr.2 Abby Verhulp that fretting about S and the embarassment of pulling his mitten off when we were skating and him falling on the ice is no big deal. He's not your Prince Charming. Now to sum up my wasted 8 years pining over V. I was in gr.5 and new at a school far far away from the aforementioned school in Ontario. He walked in, like a movie, a light behind him making him glow and shine just for him. He was so handsome and perfect and I was in love. I'm sure quite a few of my readers (if they read this) will know who I'm talking about. I was madly in love with him from the moment I met him and tried to skate with him and tried to spend time at swimming with him and tried to spend all my school time minutes with him. He did NOT feel the same, to put it lightly. He had girlfriends through the years and not one of them was me. I had a few moments where I thought he liked me, but I'll never know. He got close to kissing me once. I asked him once if he ever liked me back and he said no. I don't believe him, since I've had that same situation appear in the past with other boys. They say they didn't like me then I find out through other sources that they did but didn't want to admit it because I was fat and they'd be made fun of, so who knows. To complement this, read on. There was a boy named D. I had such a crush on him and he was good friends with my next door neighbour. People at school found out I liked him and would make fun of me because I was fat and stupid and no one would ever have a crush on me. I liked D for a while and then finally got sick of waiting for him to like me back. Some people would tell me that D liked me but nothing ever came from his mouth or actions so I gave up. A few months later my neighbour told me that D liked me but was too afraid to ask me out then found out that I stopped liking him so he gave up too. What a waste of time. However, back to V. I loved him for so many years, even as I switched highschools and saw other boys and grew up. Then, I turned 18. I met Ken and V dissappeared from my heart. Fast forward almost 10 years and I'm still with my actual real Prince Charming. S was not my P.C. and V was not my P.C. and I spent so much time and energy on them, feeling so much pain over the fact that V never loved me and didn't want to love me. I wish I could've not wasted so much energy on them and instead enjoyed the relationship that I had with V for what it was worth. He wasn't ever meant to be my Prince Charming and my trying to force that on him so many times ruined the relationship we could've had. I wish I knew then what I know now.
Life Lesson#3: Everything will be alright
I'm not sure who actually reads my blog. This story may come as shocking. Maybe I can rate it R just as a warning? I think I will save my butt and officially rate this posting R. You have been warned, and if you decide to keep reading it's at your own risk. When I was in gr.8, still in love with V and his glowing light, and trying to make my way in a new world called highschool, I went through a lot of pain. Still reading? Your own risk. Don't forget. Some of my friends from gr.7 had gone on to a new highschool and I was without them, and some new people came along and rocked my world, good and bad. Some of the new people were just more people to make fun of me. School started in September, like it always does. Through the fall months people would get together and party and have fun. I was not one of them. In fact, not only was I not one of them, it was made clear to me that I would never be one of them. I was told, to my face, that I was not allowed to come to these parties and I was not being invited. Oh it gets worse. From the mouths of, well they'll be R and C, "you are not invited because a lot of people don't want you there. They told us they won't come to the party if you are invited." Sure it sounds trivial now, but when you're 12/13 and being told that people don't want you around, it's kind of heart breaking. This happened more than once. On a side note, highschool also brings on a whole new other group of people, people older than you. One girl shot a cap gun right against my temple because I was fat. It gave me a migraine for days. I still remember her name but she'll be J. She did this twice, on different occasions. And highschool is supposed to be fun? I'll continue, for those still reading. It was December 1995. One girl in school was having a Christmas party and I wasn't invited. I was told I wasn't invited, in the same wording that I mentioned before. People didn't want me around. I was so hurt. I went home that evening, the evening of my "non-invite", and hung out in the bathroom. I held a bottle of tylenol in my hand and contemplated taking the entire bottle, hoping that my family wouldn't find me until after it killed me. I didn't want to be saved. I didn't want my stomach pumped. I didn't want to go back to school and be told how much people don't want me around. I wanted it all to be over. I don't know how long I sat there and thought about it but it felt like a long time. I went back to my room, tylenol free, a coward, and cried. And cried. And cried. There's so much more to this story but it continues with my school counsellor finding out, telling my parents, and a really great evening with 3 guys, including V, who invited me to hang out with just them on a fun scavenger hunt. I see kids on the news nowadays killing themselves over similar and different situations, however all with one thing in common. Ridicule and estrangement from your peers. You feel like there is no other way out. Well if people don't want me around, then I might as well not be. Now I'm a married mother of 2 beautiful boys and I get friend requests on facebook from some of the girls that used to bully me in high school. I have the upper hand now. I get to hit ignore with dignity and self-respect. And a little cackle at the knowledge that I have the power to say no to them. No to your behaviour no to your fakeness and just a big old no to you. Everything will be alright and everything is. I wish I knew then what I know now.
I got 2 more tattoos the other day. I have 6 in total now. My left arm bears a giant butterfly with many different designs in it. My left wrist bears roman numerals of my wedding date stamped with a small red heart at the end. My right wrist holds my son's initials and birthdays and my left hand shows off two blue stars representing my two little boys. Why am I mentioning my tattoos in a "reflections" post? For those of you who have no tattoos and are quick to judge, you'd be surprised at the conversations that go on in the parlour. My artist the other day was named Bryan. We were talking about life stuff; what we've learned through our years - him with many more years than myself - and I told him I wish I knew then what I know now. His response? It's all just life lessons.
I've been thinking a LOT about my life lately. Maybe because I have children, maybe because I'm a lot more settled than I ever have been, maybe it's because I'm finally taking charge. I'm sure I'll find out in another 10 years. I think it does have a lot to do with the fact that I have children and I don't want them going through all of the pain that I endured. Sure my life was fun. I had a few good friends, I had good parents, I had clothes and food and a roof. It wasn't that bad in retrospect of the necessities. And I do count friends as a necessity. However, I went through my life with a lot of internal pain and came out just fine. I wish I could have told myself, Abby Verhulp, that everything will be ok.
Life Lesson#1: You are NOT fat
My whole life I was made fun of for being fat. From school mates to family to random strangers and yes, some adults. Thanks for that. This phenomenon hit me the most last year, when my sister and I were looking through old pictures, making a scrapbook for my mother's 50th birthday. I found one picture that made me cry. It was me, as a younger girl, about 9 years old. It was at family camping and it's a family picture with myself, my mom and dad and my sister. I actually look kind of tall in this picture, maybe it's the angle. Anyways I'm wearing a green shirt which was my moms at the time, and jean shorts that go to my knees(ish). This picture took me aback. Ever since I started kindergarten, maybe before, I don't quite remember, I've been made fun of for being fat. This girl in the picture that I was looking at was NOT fat. What on earth would make people ridicule me for such a thing that wasn't even true? In grade 4 I was swinging on a swing at school. It was an old wooden swing and it had rained the previous night. The swing was cracked and not looking so good. I happened to be the one on it, and standing on it too. Us 9 year olds were daring. The swing broke, 1/3 on one side and 2/3 on the other. My pinkie finger got caught in the chain and it hurt so bad when my fall ripped my pinkie from the chain. I recall a teacher putting a cold wet paper towel on it to numb the pain. I was ridiculed so badly. So many people laughed at me and said I broke the swing because I was fat. Then I see a picture of myself, the same year. I am so haunted by this horrible memory, almost like a nightmare, of people circling me and pointing and making fun of me. It didn't happen exactly like that, but there was a lot of pointing and ridiculing. We moved the following year from Ontario to B.C.. Right after that picture was taken. I can honestly say today, yes I am fat. Would I be if I knew the truth so many years ago? I would like to think not. I was told I was fat by everyone. Even my parents. Indirectly, of course, but being told one thing by so many people, including your parents, really makes you believe it. I ate my sorrows away. I want to apologize for not being stick thin like everyone else. Some people are just built differently, and again, I'm sorry that I didn't look like you. Maybe that would've made people like me? I wish I knew then what I know now.
Life Lesson #2: You WILL meet your Prince Charming
Oh my goodness where do I start? This one I can write with a little humor. My whole life I've been boy crazy. Yes, even now, but in a different light. I loved boys, I loved getting their attention (unless it was to call me fat, of course) I loved watching them be boys I loved having little crushes on them hoping that they, just maybe, had a crush on me too. From grade 2 where I was in love with a boy, let's call him S to my wasted 8 years of being madly in love with, well, let's call him V, to when I met my husband, I was insanely in love with being insanely in love. I remember in gr.2 I was in love with S. He was, however, in love with....she can be E. I would write him little love notes and put them in his coat, I would try to skate with him when we went skating in school, I would try to get his attention hoping that he liked me back. He only had eyes for E, to my dismay. Do I care now? No. Did I then? Oh yeah. Wish I could've told little gr.2 Abby Verhulp that fretting about S and the embarassment of pulling his mitten off when we were skating and him falling on the ice is no big deal. He's not your Prince Charming. Now to sum up my wasted 8 years pining over V. I was in gr.5 and new at a school far far away from the aforementioned school in Ontario. He walked in, like a movie, a light behind him making him glow and shine just for him. He was so handsome and perfect and I was in love. I'm sure quite a few of my readers (if they read this) will know who I'm talking about. I was madly in love with him from the moment I met him and tried to skate with him and tried to spend time at swimming with him and tried to spend all my school time minutes with him. He did NOT feel the same, to put it lightly. He had girlfriends through the years and not one of them was me. I had a few moments where I thought he liked me, but I'll never know. He got close to kissing me once. I asked him once if he ever liked me back and he said no. I don't believe him, since I've had that same situation appear in the past with other boys. They say they didn't like me then I find out through other sources that they did but didn't want to admit it because I was fat and they'd be made fun of, so who knows. To complement this, read on. There was a boy named D. I had such a crush on him and he was good friends with my next door neighbour. People at school found out I liked him and would make fun of me because I was fat and stupid and no one would ever have a crush on me. I liked D for a while and then finally got sick of waiting for him to like me back. Some people would tell me that D liked me but nothing ever came from his mouth or actions so I gave up. A few months later my neighbour told me that D liked me but was too afraid to ask me out then found out that I stopped liking him so he gave up too. What a waste of time. However, back to V. I loved him for so many years, even as I switched highschools and saw other boys and grew up. Then, I turned 18. I met Ken and V dissappeared from my heart. Fast forward almost 10 years and I'm still with my actual real Prince Charming. S was not my P.C. and V was not my P.C. and I spent so much time and energy on them, feeling so much pain over the fact that V never loved me and didn't want to love me. I wish I could've not wasted so much energy on them and instead enjoyed the relationship that I had with V for what it was worth. He wasn't ever meant to be my Prince Charming and my trying to force that on him so many times ruined the relationship we could've had. I wish I knew then what I know now.
Life Lesson#3: Everything will be alright
I'm not sure who actually reads my blog. This story may come as shocking. Maybe I can rate it R just as a warning? I think I will save my butt and officially rate this posting R. You have been warned, and if you decide to keep reading it's at your own risk. When I was in gr.8, still in love with V and his glowing light, and trying to make my way in a new world called highschool, I went through a lot of pain. Still reading? Your own risk. Don't forget. Some of my friends from gr.7 had gone on to a new highschool and I was without them, and some new people came along and rocked my world, good and bad. Some of the new people were just more people to make fun of me. School started in September, like it always does. Through the fall months people would get together and party and have fun. I was not one of them. In fact, not only was I not one of them, it was made clear to me that I would never be one of them. I was told, to my face, that I was not allowed to come to these parties and I was not being invited. Oh it gets worse. From the mouths of, well they'll be R and C, "you are not invited because a lot of people don't want you there. They told us they won't come to the party if you are invited." Sure it sounds trivial now, but when you're 12/13 and being told that people don't want you around, it's kind of heart breaking. This happened more than once. On a side note, highschool also brings on a whole new other group of people, people older than you. One girl shot a cap gun right against my temple because I was fat. It gave me a migraine for days. I still remember her name but she'll be J. She did this twice, on different occasions. And highschool is supposed to be fun? I'll continue, for those still reading. It was December 1995. One girl in school was having a Christmas party and I wasn't invited. I was told I wasn't invited, in the same wording that I mentioned before. People didn't want me around. I was so hurt. I went home that evening, the evening of my "non-invite", and hung out in the bathroom. I held a bottle of tylenol in my hand and contemplated taking the entire bottle, hoping that my family wouldn't find me until after it killed me. I didn't want to be saved. I didn't want my stomach pumped. I didn't want to go back to school and be told how much people don't want me around. I wanted it all to be over. I don't know how long I sat there and thought about it but it felt like a long time. I went back to my room, tylenol free, a coward, and cried. And cried. And cried. There's so much more to this story but it continues with my school counsellor finding out, telling my parents, and a really great evening with 3 guys, including V, who invited me to hang out with just them on a fun scavenger hunt. I see kids on the news nowadays killing themselves over similar and different situations, however all with one thing in common. Ridicule and estrangement from your peers. You feel like there is no other way out. Well if people don't want me around, then I might as well not be. Now I'm a married mother of 2 beautiful boys and I get friend requests on facebook from some of the girls that used to bully me in high school. I have the upper hand now. I get to hit ignore with dignity and self-respect. And a little cackle at the knowledge that I have the power to say no to them. No to your behaviour no to your fakeness and just a big old no to you. Everything will be alright and everything is. I wish I knew then what I know now.
Monday, October 18, 2010
A few of my favorite things - my kids pt 1
Since it's 12:40am already I'm going to make this a quick one. Of course, my absolute favorite things in the world are my 2 kids. They are amazing and so adorable and.....well ok it's late and I'll stop gushing.....for now. As you can see on the left, they are super sweet and love each other very much. Well, my posting today consists of something my Boston (far left) has learned how to do. He is just my little pride and joy and he is becoming such a big, smart boy. My husband and I are always so proud of him! Lately he is in this identifying stage. He wants to put an identity to every single object he sees and wants to do it over and over. His favorite thing right now is to hold 2 objects and produce one at a time to me as I say what it is. Over, and over, and over, and over....and over. For example, he holds his cup in one hand, and Austin (a backyardigan) in the other. He will hold Austin out, while I say "AUSTIN!" then pull Austin back, produce the cup forward and wait for me to yell "CUP!". This continues until one of us gets bored. Usually me first. Or, he will get 2 more objects to identify them. Over, and over, and over...... To get to the moral of the story I'll continue. This morning I sat down in "the chair" to nurse Callahan (yes, the baby in the picture) and Boston picks up a wooden horse. He produces it forward and says "orse". I almost cried, I was so proud of him! He then picks up his best friend, Mr. Cow, and says "cow". Ok, tear. Next item, cookie. And then the next, his plane. Usually it doesn't go past "wawer" when he brings me his cup. We are always so happy to see our little boy taking in things that we are teaching him and even though he knows every single object that I ask him to get for me, the fact that he's learning to say the items himself is just another thing to make us prouder and prouder every day.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
A few of my favorite things - Intro
It's been a while since I've yapped away on my blog. I use the phrase yapped away because I tend to be rather long-winded. I get that from my Dad. I enjoy people that tell long stories, however not that many people appreciate them as much as I do. See, I'm yapping away already :) I tend to go off topic frequently and then forget where I was going in the first place. Anyways.......
I've decided to start a mini-series about things that I love. Products, my family, why, where and what. If I'm out in public I get asked about my stroller all the time, and if I end up talking to people in the lineups about random things, usually I'm touting a product that I'm purchasing. I really should be a good salesperson, however I'm not into being pushy. I'm just very personable. My greatest accomplishment (sarcasm) was when I worked at 7-Eleven and we had a deal going on where if you bought 10 packs of smokes, it was a better deal than to purchase a few packs. Cheaper in the long run, really. Well, a customer came in and purchased 1 pack so I asked him if he would purchase 10 because it's a better deal. He did. Yep, I upsold cigarettes. I was a smoker at the time too so don't judge me!!
Okay okay I started yapping again. Well anyways, the whole point of this posting is to inform you of my upcoming mini-series about my favorite things. Just so you can keep an eye out for it if you're interested. I seem to have a good influence on the people at wal-mart and Costco when I tout the goods in my hands, so, maybe my information will be of help to yourselves as well!
I've decided to start a mini-series about things that I love. Products, my family, why, where and what. If I'm out in public I get asked about my stroller all the time, and if I end up talking to people in the lineups about random things, usually I'm touting a product that I'm purchasing. I really should be a good salesperson, however I'm not into being pushy. I'm just very personable. My greatest accomplishment (sarcasm) was when I worked at 7-Eleven and we had a deal going on where if you bought 10 packs of smokes, it was a better deal than to purchase a few packs. Cheaper in the long run, really. Well, a customer came in and purchased 1 pack so I asked him if he would purchase 10 because it's a better deal. He did. Yep, I upsold cigarettes. I was a smoker at the time too so don't judge me!!
Okay okay I started yapping again. Well anyways, the whole point of this posting is to inform you of my upcoming mini-series about my favorite things. Just so you can keep an eye out for it if you're interested. I seem to have a good influence on the people at wal-mart and Costco when I tout the goods in my hands, so, maybe my information will be of help to yourselves as well!
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