This past week has been a blur

I can't believe it's Saturday and the week is behind us. I have no idea what I actually got done this past week but I know it was a lot and I went through it all at about 70 MPH with no rear view mirror. I had projects at the school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. That really threw me off and left me with little time for anything else. Throw in work, kids activities, getting ready for Halloween, a smidgen of laundry (I'm so behind!), cooking and I guess that was my week. I logged into bloglines yesterday for the first time since last week and had 576 feeds. I may not have commented, but I did skim/read all of you (call it speed reading and cherry picking).

Yesterday around 11:30 am I was baking cookies so that the Little Man would have a treat at his school Halloween party, putting together the Boo BINGO game that I was in charge of for his class, getting the prizes in bags, and trying to get the candy ready for trick or treating in our neighborhood when I got the call that the Little Man vomited in school again and I had to go get him. I hadn't even showered yet (Nice! The song "I feel pretty, oh so pretty..." kept going through my head"). So I packed up the Halloween game and gifts to leave for the class, picked up the Little Man and came home to frantically dial for back up for the Halloween party. Luckily I found a mom that was able to fill in for me.
So I guess that means I really only worked at the school Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (I feel like I should be on the payroll - lol).

Tonight is Trick or Treating in our neighborhood. The Little Man is hoping he feels better enough to go. I hope so too but I'm trying to convince him that it's "totally cool" to stay home with mom and hand out candy. I'm not sure he's buying it, but he still looks like he might be swayed. It's great when they are little enough to still think that you know everything. He's 5 and he still thinks I know everything. His Older Brother is 7 and he looks at me like I have 3 heads and am the dumbest woman on the planet. Believe me... I don't have 3 heads.

Oh I also forgot to mention that I'm planning a corporate Christmas party for 35 at our house. Yes, AT.OUR.HOUSE. Can you say "Highly Stressed"? So I'll take any tips or suggestions you might have on party planning too. Anything. Throw me a bone, won't you?

So with all that updating, I'll leave you some photos. The photos from Thursday's field trip of the Halloween program at the Alzheimer's care facility are still in my camera but I'll bore you with these instead:



Corn maze at the pumpkin/apple farm







Children of the corn



The Halloween parade that the Little Man should have been in too (if not for the whole up-chucking thing). Sent from Hubs Blackberry. Mine is technically the 3rd child in the pic although it looks like the 2nd (looks like he's behind the lady bug but someone else is hidden behind her or she has 3 legs). He's the scary gray dude, AKA bloody zombie.

And lastly, Commander Fox and bloody zombie from last weeks Halloween party



If you made it this far, thanks for still reading.

Happy Halloween!!!

Wheat Allergy Alert from FAAN

WHEAT ALLERGY ALERT

October 29, 2009

Pinnacle Foods Group LLC is recalling “ARMOUR Chili with Beans, Original” due to undeclared wheat.

The product was distributed to retail stores in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The 15-oz. cans come in a case of six with a plastic over-wrap that incorrectly states the product is "Gluten Free," while the product actually contains wheat. The label bears an “EST. 2AD” number inside the USDA mark of inspection with dates ranging from August 26, 2009 to October 28, 2009.

Consumers with questions may call (800) 253-5882.

It's not easy being a mother

Sometimes, as a mother, you say things. And then after they are out there in the universe you think to yourself "Did that just come out of my mouth"? There are some phrases that I never thought I would utter to my children, there are some things I just never thought I would say, then there are things that I say and then think "Who in their right mind says that"?

Things I said over the weekend that I never thought I would:

10. Where are your clothes? I know I didn't send you upstairs in your underwear.

9. Did you eat that? Please tell me you didn't eat that. It was on the bottom of your shoe.

8. We are going to church. There's no crying in church. And please don't lay on the floor either.

7. Yes, Father David that's a tattoo on his face. No he didn't specifically put it on for church. When did he put it on? Last night. Yes we did wash his face.... (looking for a rock to crawl under).

6. Please don't use your brother. Get a tissue.

5. Did you just fart on your brother? Tell him you're sorry.

4. If I have to tell you one more time to stop it, there will be no Halloween party for you. I will be happy to go to it and work it by myself (Huh?)

3. Please don't lick the dog.

2. Please get away from the Port-O-Potty. It's not a play thing.

1. (In a loud voice that most of the soccer field heard) PEOPLE POOP IN THERE. GET AWAY FROM THE PORT O POTTY (who uses port o potty twice in one day?)

And I wonder why I feel like I'm losing my sanity....

Cook Book: Make It Fast, Cook It Slow

This is a product review (and yes, FTC I received the book for free, but the review will be honest).


A few weeks ago, I received this book in the mail (for free) to try and to review. And my honest assessment is that I.LOVE.THIS.BOOK. I do. Even if the FTC made me give it back, I'd go right out and buy it tomorrow.

If you've read this blog for any length of time (like a week) then you know I use my crock pot/slow cooker and often. I usually just take a slow cooker recipe and "allergenize" it to fit my sons allergies (wheat, rye, barley, oat, egg and tree nut).

But the Make It Fast, Cook It Slow cookbook by Stepahnie O'Dea is not only for the slow cooker, but it's gluten free too so that takes out one LARGE element of my allergenizing. With two boys who are in school and in numerous activities and with my work at home schedule, I'm always pressed for time (in fact I'm usually squashed by time) so my slow cooker sits on my counter never to be put away. I need it!! And this cook book has over 300 mouth watering recipes for me to pick from. We will never be bored!!

The recipes range from Beverages (Gingerbread Latte - yum), to Breakfast, to Soups and Stews, to Snacks, to Fun Stuff (air freshener, crayons, shrinky dinks etc.), to Everything in between.

So far I've made 3 recipes and 2 of them had a ton of left overs. I made "Fried Chicken", Presidents Chili (yes, as in Obama), and Pasta E Fagioli. Of the three the Presidents Chili was the biggest hit with the Pasta E Fagioli a close second. But I still have 297 other recipes to try. There are recipes like Ziti, Sun Dried Tomato and Caper Pasta Sauce, Jambalaya, Seasoned Potato Wedges, Cajun Pulled Pork and I'll stop there because I'm sure your mouth is watering (mine is and I just ate dinner).

So do I recommend this book? Heck yes I do!

And I also recommend you check out Stephanie's website A Year Of Slow Cooking. There are some recipes from the book there but you can find many, many wonderful slow cooking recipes there.

So thank you to the publisher for sending me this book! I now have a new favorite cook book.

Fall

Got a wheat allergy? My son does, a severe one.

This video from ICYou health is about a women named Jen who also has a wheat allergy. I love how it talks about how having a wheat allergy can be difficult but once you learn to live with it, you can live a normal life (although living "normal" can be expensive!)



More from the Cleveland Clinic on Wheat Allergies:

Oh the irony of it all

I was scheduled to work in the lunch room today. I went to the school. I was late, but so was everyone else so it was OK. 15 minutes into "working" the lunch room, 4 middle school aged girls came running up to me saying "Mrs. Z, the Little Man is in the nurse office and he's throwing up". Well, I guess it's a good thing I was there, wasn't it? Kind of ironic in a way. At least it wasn't an allergic reaction. When I got there, he was fine and telling the nurse that he was hungry. But he did throw up. In the hallway. Poor kid. So that ended my stint at lunchroom duty today. Off to the Pediatrician we went.

The Little Man has been throwing up off and on for a month now. The first time it happened it was after his dad took him to an Indians game and we just thought he ate too much junk. The second time it happened about a week later (and both times at night and in his bed - Oh the Joy!) we thought he had a tummy virus and I kept him home from school the next day. Then it happened about a week later again. And we thought "Hmmmm, this just isn't normal....". Then last Thursday he did it again, right after dinner on his bedroom carpet. Of course he was throwing the mother of all fits at the time, so was he having tummy issues or did he cry so hard he made himself throw up (and YES, he has been known to do that)? But Friday, as a treat after school I bought him his favorite all natural lemonade. And he threw that up too. So I called the Pediatrician. And they were gone for the weekend. So we decided to keep a close watch on him and feed him foods that were light on his system. He was fine all weekend. I sent him to school. And was going to call the Pediatrician after my lunch duty.

She thinks he may have a sinus infection that is causing some drainage that is possibly upsetting his tummy. And he may have acid reflux too. A couple of times he said "Mom, there is some hot stuff in the back of my throat". And maybe all of that working together is causing him to get sick. But it would be odd for him to develop reflux at his age. So we shall see. I just know that I'm tired of cleaning it all up and he's embarrassed by what happened at school today so I'm hoping we figure this out soon. And now for the big question... Do I send him tomorrow or keep him home?? He's not sick, but I'd really hate to get the call tomorrow.

Are you a blogger who reviews products?

If you are, then you need to check out the new law from the
FTC regarding product endorsements (thank you WEGO Health for the hat tip on this one). If you review or endorse a product and you were paid or received the product for free you need to make sure that you fully disclose that information. Apparently there is an $11,000 fine that the FTC "may or may not be collecting" if you don't. You can get more confused about the fine here. So if you don't want a strongly worded letter, or an $11,000.00 fine, make sure your post includes full disclosure. Want to know how I feel? (or maybe you don't care) Go here and leave your opinion on the new law too. I'd like to know what you think. Do you think the new law has merit?

Got a soy allergy? This freaks me out a little...

Soy is actually NOT one of the allergies that we have to deal with. But if it were, I'd have to pass on this. I was looking through some websites at furniture (some we can afford, and some we can not - but a girl can dream right?)and I came across this statement on an Arhaus Furniture page:

Brentwood Collection
Straight from the Paris runway, this ever-so-chic and sophisticated shade of silvery-gray delivers a fresh, fashion-forward neutral that mixes almost magically with every color in the crayon box. While thick layers of eco-friendly soy-based foam indulge you in irresistible softness and support, creating a timeless look that feels as lovely and luxurious as it looks.

The Brentwood collection is an exclusive Arhaus design.
Made in the United States of America.

Construction
Portfolio Plus Construction
Bench-made
Solid, kiln-dried hardwood frame
Corner blocked and double-dowelled
Sinuous spring support system
Fully padded frame

Comfort
Seat Cushions
Marshall unit-individually pocketed coil spring set
1.8 dense foam core surround
Double wrapped in polyester batting
Eco-friendly soy-based foam seating material
High quality down-feather cushion crown
Back Cushions
Fiber filled and encased in muslin

Options
Order online as shown below.
Brentwood can also be custom-ordered to your specifications:
48 pieces available
Available fitted
As a sleeper
As a sectional
With or without motorized motion
In over 450 designer fabrics
In over 75 top-grain, aniline-dyed leathers
To place your order or for more details:
call 1-866-427-4287 or email us at shop@arhaus.com.
An interior specialist will be happy to assist you.


Would that be a problem if you were severely allergic to soy? I know if it said "wheat based" or "nut based" I would turn and run the other way in a heart beat!! You aren't actually touching the foam. It's wrapped in leather or fabric. But if you had a soy allergy, would you take a chance on this? Do you think it would even matter? I have no idea, but for me, I'd have to pass (even though I heart this furniture).




Click here to see the pretty, yet not in my price range couch.

Soy furniture....Who knew?

Peanut allergy alert from FAAN

Since it's fall and caramel apple season, I'm posting this alert:


**THE FOOD ALLERGY & ANAPHYLAXIS NETWORK SPECIAL FOOD ALLERGY ALERT
NOTICE**

PEANUT ALLERGY ALERT
October 6, 2009

Affy Tapple LLC is recalling "Limited Edition Classic Candy Flavors, two-
pack, Caramel Apples" due to undeclared peanut.

The product was distributed to stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,
Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

The two-pack bears a 'best by" date on or before 10/15/2009 and UPC 34986-
13000.

Consumers may return the product to the place of purchase for a full
refund. Consumers with questions may call (847) 929-6534.

More on McDonald's Angus Burger (and the wheat!)

Ok, the Angus burger is still off limits but the other burgers (minus the buns) might still be OK for the wheat allergic. This was posted today on BBC Food allergy board:

"I took my non-FA son to McD's the other day and happened to ask the employee about the Angus burgers. She seemed to think they added the seasoning after the burgers were cooked so there was no chance for cross-contamination.

According to her, you could even request to get the burgers unseasoned.

Not willing to trust one employee, I called corporate today. I was put on hold for a while, then he came back on with the claim that the seasoning (containing the wheat and milk) is added into the patties ahead of time but that the patties are cooked on a separate or segregated grill and separate utensils are used to prepare the burgers.

According to him, the folks at McD's are very concerned and concientious about allergies and took this into consideration when adding the Angus burger to the menu. He said that if you look at their website, the noted allergens in the ingredients include those that may be in the items as a result of cross-contamination.

Either way, it sounds like we might not need to write McDonald's off quite yet. I'm still wary that they even have burgers containing dairy but would still be willing to give the regular hamburgers a chance with proper questioning ahead of time as to their preparation methods.

As a side note, when exploring their website, I also noticed that the McD's apple pies and plain english muffins appear to be safe for our allergen set. I asked the rep about the apple pies and he said they are deep fried in a dedicated fryer so they should be safe.

Has anyone ever tried them?

That's my report ladies. Let me know if you find out anything different!"

My suggestion: Do the investigation yourself and if you are comfortable then go for it. Me personally, not so much. But that's just me and I'm not the final word. You are. So you make the decision for yourself:)

The End

AS OF TODAY: THE BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION IS FINISHED!!!!!!!! It's been going on since mid-July and has pushed me over the edge more than once:

Oh sing praise, give joy, amen(she says as she pops the cork on a bottle of wine)! No more noise. No more construction dust. No more men that don't speak English asking me "What you want to do"?, no more men (many, many men) using my restroom that I have clean on a daily/weekly basis (yuck!!). We are done!! Well, except for the glass on the shower and bar cabinet doors but I can live with that.

Now I have to buy furniture. It's a love/hate thing with me. I have NO DECORATING SENSE. NONE. I'm the worst. And I hate spending money. But I love to shop so I'll live.

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

It's cold here! It's 38 degrees this morning and I finally broke down and turned the heat on. I was so cold yesterday that I wore my coat inside. I needed soup. A warm, tasty soup to take the chill out. This one did it. And I tweeted last night that I made French Onion soup and a couple of people asked for the recipe. It was the first time I made it and it turned out really well. It was super easy and very yummy. The boys liked the broth, the onions not so much. But getting them to eat the broth was a milestone so I'll take it.

French Onion Soup - from Weight Watchers

Ingredients
1. 1 Tbs. Olive Oil
2. 6 large onions about 3 lbs. sliced
3. 1/2 tsp salt
4. Tbs. all purpose flour - I used Bob's Redmill all purpose gf baking mix
5. 8 cups reduced sodium beef broth
6. 1/2 tsp. black pepper
7. 1/2 cup light cream cheese
8. 6 slices French or Italian bread, toasted (GF if you have allergies)
9. 1 tsp. fresh thyme

Directions
1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown and very soft, about 35 min. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and cook, stirring constantly, until the flour is lightly browned, about 2 min. longer.
2. Combine the onions, broth, and 1/4 tsp of the pepper in a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook until the flavors are blended, 4-5 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low (I also added a couple of shakes of Worcestershire sauces here because I thought it might need extra flavor).
3. Spread the cream cheese evenly over the slices of toast. Sprinkle evenly with the thyme and the remaining 1/4 tsp pepper.
4. Ladle the soup evenly into 6 bowls and float the slice of toast in each bowl of soup.

I had no gluten free bread so I totally skipped that part and just loaded the soup down with fresh grated Romano cheese. Still very yummy.

Enjoy!!