Cut the Navel String

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  Here in The Bahamas we have the saying that sooner or later every parent has to "cut the navel string". As mothers, we were physically connected to our children, when in utero, by their navel string (umbilical chord). It is cut when the child is born and can survive outside of the uterus. 
  To "cut the navel string" here, means that we must let go of our children when they are old enough to survive without us. 
  My time to cut is drawing near, and I don't want to pick up the shears.  The selfish me wants to hold onto to her forever and never let her go.  But the loving parent in me knows that it must happen if those hopes and dream of hers are to be fulfilled.  

Whole-Wheat Sweet Potato Coconut Muffins

My husband and I have been working out since after Easter.  We run a few miles and strength train 6 days a week.  We've also changed what and how we eat.  It was rough for me in the beginning but I'm okay with everything now.  I can say that my endurance has increased tenfold.

My husband has lost twenty pounds!! Hurray for him!! I have lost ZERO pounds.  It's not a typo. After busting my ass for the last six or so weeks, I have lost NOTHING! I admit, I am not 100% compliant with eating as I should, but to lose nothing????? Ridiculous!!


Anyway, my husband sent me the link to these muffins.  They are supposed to be perfect as a pre-workout breakfast.  These are so good, I don't think they'll make it to our next workout session.  I did make some changes to the original. They are moist and delicious.

recipe after the jump

Rainbow Cake

This cake has been around the net.  I made this for my daughter's graduation.  I used a white cake recipe that I really didn't like.  It was dry to me.  I do have a reliable white cake recipe that I like but always want to try something new.

Here's the recipe:

• White cake recipe or box cake mix
• Red, yellow orange, green, blue and purple gel coloring. ( i know, I'm missing purple. I divided in 5 instead of 6.)
• Favorite buttercream recipe.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. grease and flour 9 inch pans. (I only have two)
Mix cake mix according to directions. Measure batter into six separate bowls. I weighed them equally.  Mix each color and bake. Make sure to check the oven earlier than directed as each pan has less batter. Once pans are out of oven let cool for a few minutes on cooling rack, then wrap each cake in saran wrap and refrigerate.
Start with purple on the bottom, then blue, green, orange, yellow then red. For each layer, frost then refrigerate  a few minutes before adding the next layer as the cake gets pretty heavy and you don't want the buttercream to ooze out of the sides (ooze is a very technical word).
Complete frosting and enjoy!

I'm Feeling Good

This morning I was feeling good.  I woke up early to wash the gray out of my hair.  New hair color..black. I've always been a brown haired girl.  I wanted a change and you'll never see my hair lighter than brown.  I'm just that type of girl. Not an attention grabber, unlike my sister, who will put any color in her hair that has the words "spice", "fire" or "flame" in it.

I started to feel nostalgic for these movies....

The Breakfast Club

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Dirty Dancing

I have got to watch them this weekend.  Some of the best movies ever! 

Anyway, we had a good round of homeschool this morning.  As usual we took our lunch break and got back to work when my son says to me, " Mummy, weren't you supossed to pick up Anna?" 
Anna, is my sometimes sweet, just a little bossy 7yr. old cousin.
Oh My Gosh!!!
I looked at the time... It was 1:40!  I was supossed to collect her at 1:00pm! 

Note to Non-Homeschoolers - When you ask a homeschooler to do you a favour in the middle of one of the most productive school days we've had in a while, you may run the risk of that homeschooler forgetting everything else because she's in the zone!

Meatless March Update

We've been meatless for 2 weeks now.  While I can say that I have not had any major craving for meat (we have been eating fish), I can't say that things have been going smoothly.  As I had initially feared, finding good recipes has been a challenge.
 
The food prepared has been good, and some have actually made the repeat list.  The problem though, is that most of the meals are prepared with either rice or pasta.  I can't afford to be eating rice or pasta everyday.  My kids already pat me on the butt everytime they pass by me.  Carbo loading is not for me. 

So while I am not ready to throw in the towel, I am a bit frustrated.  Finding meals aren't getting any easier.

Red Cross Cookies

The Bahamas Red Cross has an annual fundraising fair every March.  Many organizations and volunteers commit time and money to help raise funds. A friend of mine asked me to bake some cookies for her booth.

Easy Cookies 'n Cream Cupcakes

Every Tuesday night is Family Night here at Sapphire Ridge. Each member of the family takes turns choosing the movie to watch and games to be played. I however, am always responsible for dinner and dessert. Sometimes requests are made, and other times, I just figure something out.