Nicholas's Freezer to Crockpot Meals

One of Nicholas's New Year's resolutions was to try freezer meals. He'd prepped meals for the week on and off through 2015 and wanted to see how it would work to prepare an entire month's worth. Then, we could just pull a meal from the deep freeze, throw it in the crockpot, and on a busy day dinner would be waiting for us.

So, he went searching through the plethora of 30 Meals in 4 Hours posts but - true to his core - he wasn't happy with his choices. He didn't feel like many of the meals were healthy enough or kid-friendly enough or basically anything he'd want to eat.

Instead, he made his own! He dug around his cookbooks and Pinterest until he had a collection of recipes he liked. He spent about six hours at the beginning of January putting all these meals together - not including the time it took him to cook the pork shoulder. Every meal includes a serving for two adults and 2-3 children depending on how big your eaters are.

I shared in a previous post how awesome this has been. We've kept a chart on the fridge we cross off as we eat the meals so we know how much we have left. It has saved us time and money and we have consumed MUCH less pizza. Plus, Nicholas still cooked several meals, we ate out occasionally by ourselves and with my parents, and we had leftovers, which means we still have almost HALF the meals still in the freezer! 

Now, he did say that he might do it in smaller batches next time as certain things go on sale to save money, but I think you'd probably have to do it at least once to know what you're keeping an eye out for as far as sales.

I wanted to post all these recipes in January but Nicholas insisted we actually eat them first so - without further ado - Nicholas's Freezer to Crockpot Collection!

Crockpot Balsamic Glazed Drumsticks (4 meals)

Easy Crockpot Mongolian Beef (2 meals)

Barley Soup (2 meals)

Chickpea Curry (2 meals) 

Chili (2 meals)

Stuffed Shells (2 meals)

Vegetable Pot Pie - Prepare except for eggwash - freeze - defrost before cooking. (2 meals)

Slow Cooker Enchilada Orzo (2 meals)

Sesame Chicken (2 meals) at the end of this list.

Pulled pork (4 meals) - Get a big old pork shoulder (the largest one that will fit in your crockpot); put a spice rub all over it (I use cumin, ancho chile powder, brown sugar, and black pepper, plus a little salt) and let it marinate overnight in a two gallon bag; in the morning, remove shoulder from bag, put it in your crockpot and cook on low for about twelve hours.  About halfway through, use a spoon or ladle to remove as much liquid from the crockpot as you safely can.  when done, remove from crockpot to cutting board or sheet pan and pull with hands, forks or chop with knife.  Eat on white bread or as filling for tacos or as a topping for baked sweet potatoes or a bunch of other ways.

How I talk to my kids about hard things

A while back I asked y'all if there were any subjects you'd like me to tackle. I got so many great responses but there was a common thread among many of the answers.

How do I talk to my kids about race? How do I talk to my kids about different abilities? How do I talk to my kids about sexual identity? How do I talk to my kids about gay people?

I've talked kids and race before.  I've shared how my mom talked to me about sex and how I now talk to my kids about sex. I've also tackled other tough subjects like death. 

And if you want all MANNER of wisdom on interacting and helping your child interact with someone different than them, you really need to go hang out on Annie's blog for a while.

The more I thought about it. The more I realized people weren't just talking about specific subjects. They were asking about something more general. 

How do I talk to my kids about hard things?

Look, I'm not a psychiatrist. I'm not an expert on child development. Half the internet is dedicated to parenting advice and half of that is dedicated to advice on how to talk to your kids about difficult things such as death and sexuality. 

So, I'm not going to give advice. I don't think that's what you're asking for anyway. I think what you're asking is - what's it like to talk to your kids about death? how does it feel to answer your kids' questions about sex? how do I know I'm not screwing it up?

That I can speak to.

Tackling tough subjects with your kids is as hard as you think it is and easier at the same time. We try to keep the world so black and white for our kids. We try to make things simple and understandable. Hitting is bad. Sharing is good. When they get old enough to understand harder subjects, it feels a bit like we've sold them a bill of goods. They look up at you with their wide eyes and their "What do you mean bad things happen?" face and you feel like a fraud. 

Or, at least, I did. 

It's hard to be vulnerable with your kids. It's hard to acknowledge you don't have all the answers and you never did.  The first time Griffin asked me about death I wanted so desperately to assure him nothing was ever going to happen to me and I was going to live a long time. But that is not true and it would dishonor those I have lost if I pretended it was. 

It's hard to say, "I don't know" - to anyone much less your own child. 

Say "I don't know" anyway.

Vulnerability really is the only way. Every time I've tackled a tough subject with my kids I realize how much my own opinions and ideas are tied up in how I feel about a subject I thought was universal. It's hard sorting out my own perspective so that my children have the chance to form their own. 

But by exposing ourselves and our insecurities to our kids, we're teaching them something so much bigger than lessons about death or identity.

We're showing up. We're saying, "It's more important to me that I'm honest with you then that you believe I have all the answers." 

We're saying, "I'm here for your tough questions." We're showing our kids that being present through the tough stuff is all we can really offer those we love. 

Know you'll get some stuff wrong. I've had to back up on things I've told Griffin about race and about sexuality. I've had to say, "You know I told you this but I thought more about it and I think I was wrong. What I really meant was..."

And that's a good thing in a way. I'm showing my kids that they don't come to me for answers. They come to me for conversations and those conversations get easier. Nothing is as bad as we anticipate it to be and that's what I mean by these talks being hard and easy at the same time. Once you've taken a breath and just started, the current carries you along and you realize you and your child are staying afloat together.

I want to have conversations with my kids - about tough subjects - about ANY subjects. I want them to trust I'll be honest. I want them to know I'll get things wrong but that I'm doing the best they can. 

I want them to know hard things are hard but that the hardest things offer opportunities for growth and insight and connection. 

5 things I learned in January

Dear 2016, Slow. Up. I just picked my word for the year and finished off my New Year's Eve champagne like five minutes ago and now it's two days until February!

Whew.

1. Planning your weekend on Wednesday WORKS.

I'd read this tip from Laura Vanderkam before but Nicholas and I committed to really trying it this month. I put a weekly reoccurring item on Todoist so every Wednesday I remember to ask the boys and Nicholas what they want to do that weekend. I spent a half an hour making a list of ideas in Evernote if we're feeling uninspired. It is fun to anticipate anything we've planned. Plus we've been able to do things important things we've wanted to do forever but that are always getting overwhelmed by more urgent things or require a bit of planning... like going to this awesome little restaurant.

2. Cheryl Strayed is a GENIUS.

I read Wild - the memoir that made Cheryl Strayed famous a few years ago and loved it. I knew she also wrote an advice column but didn't really think much of it until Modern Mrs. Darcy called the collection of those advice columns, Dear Sugar: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar, a book that would make you a better human. 

She was NOT kidding. I've been working my way through this book all month because the emotional punch every letter packs is too much to read them all quickly. To a woman who recently lost her baby she writes, "You have to live through it and love it and move on and be better for it and run as far as you can in the direction of your best and happiest dreams across the bridge that was built by your own desire to heal." And they are ALL as good and as big as that sentence. 

3. Action cures fear.

I did a big thing this month. I filed to run for public office. It was scary and intimidating and I spent a lot of time being afraid of doing it. But then I just DID IT and the forward momentum - as well as all the support and encouragement of those who love me most - carried me through it. And now I'm doing it and I realized you can't be afraid of something you've already done. Not to mention, you can't sit and worry if you're too busy doing shit that needs to be done because you DID THE THING. 

So, listen to me - whatever it is you're most afraid of - DO IT ANYWAY.

4. Freezer meals are LEGIT.

My husband spent the first weekend of the month. Prepping 30 meals to store in our deep freeze for us to eat throughout the month. It has been SO awesome. When we would previously just ordered pizza or eaten out, we've had a hot meal ready by turning on the crock pot! I PROMISE I'll have all the recipes ready soon but Nicholas insisted we actually eat the food and make sure they are good first. Spoiler: They've all been great so far!

5. These are EXACTLY as wonderful as everyone says they are. 

What did you learn in January?

My big announcement and how it affects this blog

So, in case you missed it...

Today I'm excited to announce my candidacy for Paducah City Commission! This town is ready for the next generation of...

Posted by Sarah Stewart Holland on Monday, January 25, 2016

I had a big day yesterday! I filed to run for Paducah City Commission and announced my candidacy on Facebook. I was so overwhelmed by all the support I received and I wanted to make sure and share this big next step with all of you.

I've thought a lot about this blog (and Pantsuit Politics) as I got close to announcing my candidacy. The traditional advice is to clean up your Facebook and other social media platforms. Remove offensive posts. Take down anything that could anger a voter. When I recently wrote this post, many of my friends who knew I was considering a run for office questioned my timing... and maybe my judgment. 

But here's the thing.

I've lived my life online since 2011. I've written a lot about a lot of things from parenting philosophies to politics to religion to my marriage. I couldn't take it all down even if I wanted to and - the truth is - I don't want to. 

I want to be a politician. I suppose I already am. But that's not ALL I am. I'm also a mother with thoughts on sleep-training and a wife with thoughts on therapy and a citizen with thoughts on gun control and a church goer with thoughts on faith.

I am all those things and the sooner we allow politicians to be complex people with complex beliefs the better off we all will be.

So, the answer to how my candidacy will affect this blog is - it won't, except hopefully it will teach me all kinds of lessons I can share.  I'm still going to come here and be honest and be vulnerable. I'm still going to go on Pantsuit Politics and be "Sarah Holland from the left."

If something I say means someone won't vote for me, then so be it.

Come November 7th I hope to be Paducah's next City Commissioner, but it will be a shallow victory if I don't recognize the person I became to get there. 

I'm counting on all of you to keep me honest and to keep me real. Win or lose it's going to be a heck of a journey!

If you want to get involved with my campaign or make a donation, check out my campaign website!

My NEW favorite solution to the winter doldrums

I hate taking the Christmas decorations down. Not only because it's a tedious task, but also when it's over everything feels so plain. At first, it's not so bad because everything is fresh and clean for New Year's... but then January and February and all the cold, gray days they bring seem to stretch in front of me and I miss the twinkling lights and magic Christmastime brings.

Then, I read this post by my friend Lindsay Ferrier of Suburban Turmoil. In it, she shares how she instituted Winter Wonderland decorations a few years ago. The Christmas decor comes down and she replaces it with snowflakes, frosted branches, and lots of candles to keep the cold months of winter feeling a little more festive. 

“This time of year is now something we all look forward to. It’s a time for snuggling in cozy blankets, enjoying the candles and twinkling lights after dark, and spending time together as a family. It really helps make our house a place we want to come home to– and that’s a great thing to focus on during the dreariest months of the year. - See more at: http://suburbanturmoil.com/got-the-after-christmas-blues-create-a-winter-wonderland/2016/01/12/#sthash.rnIGhpZn.dpuf”

— Lindsay Ferrier

Brilliant. It reminds me of the term gezelligheid, which we don't really have an English equivalent of but I love just the same. 

I'm in. I know the thought of decorating for another holiday sparks panic in some, but - honestly - it wasn't that big of a deal. I kept out several winter-themed items I had from Christmas and picked up a few clearance items from our local Bargain Hunt.

I'm not trying to fill my entire house like Lindsay does, but just get started this year. I decorated my mantel and dining room with the idea that I'll add to my collection slowly as she has done. Nothing fancy. Nothing complex. Just a little sparkle and candlelight to keep winter feeling magical and not depressing. 

Stay cozy, y'all!

How do you beat the winter doldrums?

Happy 70th Birthday, Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is a badass and today she turns 70 years old. 

I've loved Dolly for a long, long time. It started with her completely charming and totally endearing portrayal of Truvy in Steel Magnolias - one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. In fact, I really fell in love with Dolly the actress before I fell in love with Dolly the musician.

Eventually, I discovered Jolene (arguably one of the greatest country songs of all time) and Coat of Many Colors and the fact that she wrote I Will Always Love You. 

I learned that Dolly Parton has written over THREE THOUSAND SONGS during her 70 years.

3,000. 

And yet - despite her status as a truly prolific songwriter - I think Dolly's badass status comes from something much deeper and much fiercer. 

Dolly Parton is one brilliant damn business woman. Seriously, listen to just a small part of her story as told (hilariously) by Drunk History. 

I can't imagine what it took to stand up to her mentor and protect her music catalog, but Dolly did it and she kept doing it. At one point, Elvis Presley wanted to record that little ditty she wrote for Porter Wagoner, but he wanted half of the publishing rights. Dolly said no. 

We all know how that story ended. Whitney Houston recorded it and Dolly keeps cashing. those. checks.

One of my favorite Dolly Parton quotes of all time has always been, "It doesn't bother me when people call me a dumb blonde, because I know I'm not dumb and I know I'm not blonde."

That's the other part of Dolly's complete badassery, the way she deflects all that business brilliance behind a mask of big hair, bigger boobs, and sassy jokes. 

I recently heard a story about Dolly that further confirmed all my high opinions. The former minister of my childhood church recounted a story told to him by our church's sound engineer who traveled to the Ryman Auditorium to learn more about broadcasting for our church. He was there during one of Dolly's rehearsals. She was being told by one of the stage producers where to stand. 

Dolly looked at him and stated plainly, "I know where you want me but that's not where I want to be."

The story could end there and it would be great. Dolly being Dolly and standing by her own opinions of what works for her.

But, it doesn't. 

She then turned to her assistant and said, "Honey, write that down. That would make a great country music song." Bad. Ass.

Happy birthday, Dolly. Thanks for being a badass. Thanks for inspiring all us women to stand where we want to stand and be who we want to be. 

Baby Products: Fantasy v. Reality

I recently found some old imported Google Notebooks. When I was pregnant with Griffin, I used one of these notebooks to organize the baby products I wanted for my baby registry.

Wait, that’s a lie.

I used one of these notebooks to organize my desired baby products before I was pregnant with Griffin. That’s right. I had everything picked out for my registry before I was even pregnant. Yes, it is very, very sad. Yes, my obsession with baby products knows no end. Yes, I’m the person you go to if you are setting up your own registry. 

However, did I actually use any of these products? Heck, no!

I’ve written before about disappointing products, but as I read through the list I didn’t just see products that I never used.

I saw a woman with some serious fantasies about baby-dom and what it takes to survive it.

First of all, this document is 58 pages long. FIFTY-EIGHT PAGES LONG. Now, in my defense, there is a lot of space and a lot of photos but still. Do I have an equally long document filled with advice on how to raise this child? Nope. I guess I was just going to wing it.

I have seven different books and Web sites on recommended baby products. When, I ask, was I going to read said books? I sure I didn’t have any time after writing (and revising and revising) my baby products manifesto. That’s for sure. The best part? THIS is actually on the list! Oh, the irony!

Next up, I have four baby journals and several other keepsake ornaments/portraits/etc. Turns out, I just use Facebook. I’m assuming Zuckerberg sends you an edited full-color photo book when your kid turns 18. Right?

However, the section with the biggest disparity between what I expected and what actually happened is absolutely diaper bags. I have NINE different diaper bags picked out, which means I probably looked at ninety. They are all cute and highly functional and I even ended up with one of them…that I never, ever carry.

Because the best part of me being obsessed with baby products? I rarely, if ever, have a baby product on me. I would say 9 times out of 10 I take my kids somewhere I walk in with my kids, myself, and my purse. No diaper bag, much less diapers or some fancy shopping cart cover. Let me show you what replaced my diaper bag.

Noticed how I showed you a nice manufacturer picture and not my actual minivan. That’s because my van is one giant (very dirty) diaper bag filled with toys and books and sippy cups. (Maybe a diaper, too, if we didn’t steal the car diapers when we ran out inside…you know you’ve done it!) I guess I just figure if we really need something that bad we’ll just go out to the car and get it. Not to mention, a majority of the time I’m hanging out with my MUCH better prepared mommy friends who will always lend me a wet wipe. 

Mainly, when I scroll through the pages and pages of baby products, I just see a scared version of myself. I thought that having a mastery of baby products meant I had a mastery of motherhood and nothing could be further from the truth. Seeing long lists of products promising to make life with a baby easier made me feel more at ease. Sure, it was a fantasy but nothing really would have prepared me for the reality…and my diaper bag IS really cute. 

P.S. Here’s the link if you want to peruse my manifesto for your own personal enjoyment. There actually is some great stuff on there. ;)

5 Children’s Music Albums That You Should Blast on the Stereo

Several years ago, before Griffin was a twinkle in my eye, I stumbled across an interview with Stefan Shepherd on NPR. Shepherd writes Zooglobble, a blog dedicated to reviewing and sharing the newest children’s music. When asked by the host why kids couldn’t just listen to The Beatles or Rihanna or whatever their parents were listening to, Shepherd explained he thought it was important that his daughter listen to music that explored subjects and issues she understood. He didn’t want her only listening to songs about romantic love (the primary subject of most pop music) or other adult subjects any more than he wanted her only reading Jane Austen or Michael Chabon.

I remember being so struck by what he said that I noted his favorite artists in my super-secret-when-I-have-a-baby file and vowed to make children’s music a part of my children’s life.

Of course, when I say I listen to children’s music with Griffin, I get a lot of eye rolling and sighs from my fellow parents. Somehow children’s music has the reputation for being the worst (and least hip) part of being a parent. (Personally, I blame Raffi.) Why don’t we all just put on our mom jeans, pile in the minivan, and sing “I Love You, You Love Me” all the way to Chuck E. Cheese?

The irony is the actual music has gotten hipper as its reputation has taken a dive. Several prominent bands from the 1990s, such as They Might Be Giants and Barenaked Ladies, have reinvented themselves (and children’s music itself) with some of the most inventive and infectious tunes out there. Plus, there are some seriously dedicated artists recording fresh, original songs, instead of torturing us all with one more version of “The Wheels on the Bus.” If I’m being honest, this music is so good some of these CDs continue to play long after I’ve dropped Griffin off at daycare.

But don’t just take my word for it. I’ve picked my top five favorite artists for you to listen to and decide for yourself. Hopefully, you’ll give children’s music another chance. After all, do any of us really want to catch our 6-year-old bopping along to “All the Single Ladies”?

1. Justin Roberts. My absolute favorite. Roberts’ songs are funny, insightful, and fresh. I dare you to listen to “Stay-At-Home Dad” without giggling or “Giant-Size Butterflies” without crying. I love all his songs but “Pop Fly” is my favorite. It does what Roberts does best – captures the joy and charm of being a kid in a way both parents and kids can enjoy.

2. Elizabeth Mitchell. I love Mitchell because she is everything children’s music isn’t supposed to be. Calm. Soothing. Beautiful. Smithsonian Folkways is offering a free download from her newest album.

3. They Might Be Giants. Just think of TMBG as The Beatles of children’s music. If there is a group responsible for the reinvention of this genre, it’s them. All of their albums are great, but Here Comes Science is amazing. Let’s put it this way. If I win a trivia contest by explaining the difference between speed and velocity, it will not be thanks to my public school education. It will be thanks to They Might Be Giants. Their free weekly podcast is an excellent way to get introduced to their music. P.S. Their new album is available on Freegal!

4. Barenaked Ladies. If I had a million dollars, I would buy you all the Barenaked Ladies album Snacktime. (Ha! Like what I did there!?!) I don’t know what they do better – clever lyrics or lovely melodies – luckily I don’t have to choose. Plus, Gordon Lightfoot makes an appearance. 

5. Renee & Jeremy. Similar in sound to Elizabeth Mitchell, this duo’s sweet songs are easy on the ears. A lot of their songs also teach important lessons about sharing and why you can’t do everything you want right now.

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