Pepper Paints

Thursdays Recipe …….. Hamburger Cake

Kristen — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:24:49 +0000

Molly wanted a Hamburger Cake for her birthday. We trolled around the Internet and looked at lots of photos and ideas. This is what we came up with. It might look like something difficult but let me be the first to tell you-I am not much of a baker and if I can put this together anyone can! I don’t have any photos of the cake in progress.

I bought 2 cake mixes-1 yellow and one chocolate. I made the chocolate in a 8×8 brownie pan-square patty like Wendy’s burgers!

I made 2— 8 inch rounds out of the yellow cake but filled one with more of the batter (bottom bun smaller-top bun larger.)

After they cooled I trimmed the patty to make it nice and flat as well as trimming the bottom bun. Then I took the extra chocolate cake and added it to the top of the top yellow cake bun to make it more dome like. Make sense?

I bought 3 cans of frosting 1 chocolate and 2 white

We took some frosting out and divided it into 3 bowls for condiments and added food coloring –red for ketchup, green for lettuce and yellow for mustard. You don’t need much. After you reach the desired color put each into a plastic bag and squeeze down to one bottom corner. set aside.

Take more white frosting into a bowl and add color to look like American cheese—use this to frost graham crackers to look like cheese slices on the burger.

Take the other can of white frosting and make it bun colored-we added a bit of the chocolate frosting for some color plus some food coloring.

Now to put it together

bottom bun cake first with burger patty (chocolate cake) next. Frost the chocolate cake with the chocolate frosting-making the edges look burgery!

To that we put the graham crackers already frosted on the edges of the burger cake-hanging over a bit. We didn’t go all the way into the middle of the burger with these I wanted it to stay stable and thought this might make it tippy and too sweet. We did use more of the cheese frosting between the graham crackers and on the edges to look like melting cheese.

Then top with top bun. Use the bun frosting to glue the dome shape together. Try to smooth the frosting out as much as possible. Now get your condiment frosting’s and cut a tiny bit off the corner (a little larger for lettuce) and pipe lettuce around the bottom edge and squeeze squiggly ketchup and mustard on the cheese frosting.

We added a few slivered almonds on the top for seseme seeds.

This really wasn’t too hard. And it was surprisingly good. I thought it was going to be way too sweet-but it wasn’t. It was a little hard to cut but no one seemed to mind!

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Post tags: american cheese, Bake, batter, birthday, Brownie, burger patty, burgers, burgery, Cake, cheese frosting, cheese slices, choc, chocoalte, chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, Food, food coloring, graham crackers, Hamburger, hamburger cake, Molly, PepperPaints, photos, recipe, Thursday, Thursdays, yellow cake

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Saying Yes More Often Pays Off

Kristen — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:43:30 +0000

I am blogging over at Ohio Moms Blog today

My post is about saying Yes to my kids more often. Below is a snipit from the post

……..As my kids and family size grew so did my impatience! “No” had become my knee jerk answer. “Can I ……NO!” “Will you….NO!” I started sounding much like a toddler with a new and powerful word and I imagine it was really irritating for my kids! Soon my predictable yet arbitrary NO had lost its power.

I think I am going to write more about this soon. Saying yes is just the begining, the start of so many possibilities.

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Happy Birthday Molly!!

Kristen — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:43:00 +0000

You greeted me in the kitchen this morning at 6:50 AM with two of the seven kids you had spending the night for your 11th birthday party. The three of you had decided early into the party that you would be staying up all night. And just like you-you met the challenge! Your drive and inner strength never ceases to amaze me. Yet I am sorry for the times when I expect this strength from you. It is easy to forget how young you still are. You have become quite a young lady in the past year. The pre teen years are not an easy time. I know it is both a public and internal struggle and I promise I will try to be more patient with you. You deserve that and so much more my middle child-and all the baggage that comes with that placement.

It is a beautiful sunny day today much like the day you were born. About this time 11 years ago Tanya, Nina and Kellie were rubbing my swollen feet with essential oils trying to help me relax and and encourage my labor. (this is after they made me drink caster oil and root beer shots but I really try to forget that awful part) Mostly because at this point my water had been broken for 34 hrs and you still were not ready to come out! So stubborn!! We chatted as I drank tea (that tasted like dirt) and opened my mouth and lifted my tongue for tincture after tincture that burned holes in my gums. I was pretty tired because I had been running the steps the previous day (while rubbing my nipples to try to jump start my labor). So now I was ready to be pampered a bit. Your Dad and I headed to the bath tub and sure enough around noon my contractions really started. You were by far the easiest of my three births. About 4 1/2 hours later you were born in our bed with Jake cheering you on. By 7:00 that night we were all sitting on the couch eating Chinese food and watching the Disney movie (Fly Away Home, I think). You were easy going and so beautiful-dare I say one of the most beautiful babies I had ever seen. And today you have certainly grown into that beauty. But not with out a fight-that red hair brings much fire with it but that is what makes you so special!! I keep reminding myself that fire will serve you well-it is what will drive you so far ahead of the rest. What may be a disadvantage to some, is to you a different and better way of doing things. Your creativity, individuality, spunk and drive are so astounding to me. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings for you!! I love you Molly!! Happy, Happy Birthday!

(I wish I had some baby photos to share-I need to learn to scan!!)

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Post tags: art, birthday, birthday party, caster oil, Happy, Kids, Molly, photos

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My Quick But Long Response to Discovery Health Radical Parenting Show

Kristen — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:10:41 +0000

I have so much running through my brain after reading many negative responses to last nights airing of Radical Parenting on Discovery Health. I am speaking particularly on the Radical Unschooling segment. 20 minutes on TVsure can whip up a lot of opinions!! There was obvious editing and “the experts” were obviously from the other much more traditional side of parenting (and didn’t back up there expert opinions with any facts).

For those who watched and are now leaving negative comments on Radical Unschooling all over the place here is some basic information (which many of you seem to be lacking) Radical Unschooling is a way of life, not just an educational choice. Just like someone who is catholic isn’t just catholic on Sundays at mass or a vegetarian only at dinner. And just like those families that aren’t unschooling, learning is happening all the time. ALL THE TIME. You can’t not learn. Your brain never shuts off. So even those that choose another type of education or lifestyle-you’re still learning all the time too. So don’t give those teachers all the credit!

Radical Unschooling has little to do with school-we don’t “do” school. We (along w/ our kids because we too are learning all the time) learn by living. We read, play games, visit museums, libraries, cook, garden, investigate. These are the things more traditional families consider learning opportunities too- you plan trips around this stuff, you do it on the weekends you look back on these experiences with fond memories. We do it everyday. All those things that are just part of everyday life are learning opportunities too (grocery shopping -the list making, price comparison, budget making, reading labels…). When we need to know something we find the answers-ask someone, look it up, take a class. We are in charge of our learning. Anything you want to know the answer is out there for you to find. You don’t have to sit in a class room for 12 yrs! Go find the answer yourself.

As a parent it is my job to expose my kids to as much stuff as I can. You never know what will spark an interest. And that interest will lead to more in depth learning-be it dinosaurs, robots, computers or biology. Who are we to say what is important enough to learning and what isn’t. And for those that need it clarified-our learning is well rounded. example….Susie loves rocks. Everywhere she goes she picks them up. So as a parent I plan trips to find good rocks. We look up some places on the internet, we get books out from the library-(reading, english) We pick a place to go (geography, math, science) We go there and dig (earth science) We identify our rocks and figure out why these types of rocks are different than the ones we picked up on our trip out west.(more science, english, math, geography) And it goes on and on. All the time. Not just on Saturdays or in the evenings. Not only in the 4th grade because that’s when you study rocks. And not only for a week because now you have to learn about something your not interested in because your course of study has been pre determined by people who know what and when and how in depth you will be learning certain things. That is the “school” part of Radical Unschooling.

I say it is a lifestyle because we are not telling our kids what to learn or how to learn it. They are deciding and as a parent I am helping when they need it, yet putting “stuff” out there all the time (with no expectations ). We are respecting there choices. We are trusting them to listen to themselves. I am not telling my kids to put a coat on because it is cold or go to bed because I say it’s time for you to be tired. That’s not to say we don’t have a bed time routine-teeth brushing, jammies, reading books, lights down low. But as an example my 11 yr old, after all of that last night, stayed up watching an animation tutorial on the computer after I fell asleep.

Yes, Sarah Parent read something on the show for one of her kids-If your husband said to you”What does that say” would you stand there and quiz him or just read it for him. There will be loads of opportunities for kids to read-it is an unavoidable part of life. More than 90 % of the population learns to read on their own. Exposure is key!

I think the main difference is an unschoolers definition of success. Success to us would be our children growing up to be happy. Happiness trumps all-sorry! If you are happy working at McDonalds-excellent! Working there fills a need-people like burgers and fries and somebody needs to make em and serve em! If you are happy being a plumber-great! I bet you learned that on the job didn’t you? If you are happy going to college-great. Glad your choice of higher education is working out for you.

One comment I read said it is our job to make sure our kids don’t think they are the center of the universe! What??-why not??? My kids, my family are the center of my universe! They are special and perfect to me. They should be honored and valued as such so that they have the confidence and love for themselves to be the best possible human being they can be. The world will teach them disappointment- it is part of life. I don’t feel the need to knock them down (figuratively) so they get used to it and know what it’s like.

Ok-I have to go-this was typed out super quickly-so don’t judge unschooling by my typos or anything grammatically incorrect. I don’t even have time to read through it a second time!

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Post tags: Children, discovery health, educational choice, everyday life, Learning, learning all the time, lifestyle, negative comments, negative responses, Parent, Parenting, Radical, radical parenting, Sarah Parent, traditional families, unschool, unschooler, Unschoolers, unschooling, way of life

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Thursday’s Recipe …. Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Kristen — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:28:25 +0000

This soup is so yummy and so simple with only a few ingredients. I am pretty sure this is a Martha Stewart recipe but I got it from a friend.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

cut up 1 to 2 heads cauliflower into medium size pieces, toss with a few teaspoons veg oil and sprinkle of salt

roast at 450 for 20 to 30 minutes on a baking sheet

(try not to eat all the cauliflower at this point-once you roast, you’ll never go back to steamed!!!)

cut 1-2 onions and sautee in a Tablespoon or 2 of veg oil or butter-I use oil and add a pat of butter for flavor.

add 1-2 teaspoons curry powder and roasted cauliflower

add 4-5 cups or 1 carton veg broth cook for 10 minutes

puree in blender–add more broth or water to make it as thick or this as you like.

note-My handy dandy very old vita mix is still kickin’!!

add salt and pepper to taste

I added a few pita chips on top…delicious!!!

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Post tags: blender, blog, blogs, broth, cauliflower, cauliflower soup, Curry, curry powder, martha stewart, onion, photos, pita chips, recipe, Thursday, vita mix

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Because She’s Worth It! (and more unschooling excitement)

Kristen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:47:21 +0000

It ended up being dinner for 2 tonight, so I made it extra special….because she ’s worth it!

Wednesday night on Discovery Health at 8:00PM there is going to be a Radical Unschooling piece as part of a Radical Parenting episode. Sarah Parent of Clan of Parents and her family were filmed to be part of the show. Her blog has more details on the filming process.

I am still floating around on my post conference high! I am re-reading Deschooling Our Lives and I just picked up Nurture Shock and Raising Our Children Raising Ourselves from the library tonight. I am also LOVING these podcasts called Whatever, Whatever Amen!!! Our local unschooling group is getting together so we can watch this Astra Taylor lecture together and discuss it. I have already watched it once-it is long but well worth it. Very inspiring!!

Any body have any other recommendations for unschooling books, blogs, podcasts or websites I should be checking out?

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Post tags: astra, blog, blogs, Children, Deschooling, discovery health, family, Learning, nurture, Parent, Parenting, parents, PepperPaints, photo, photos, podcasts, Radical, radical parenting, unschool, unschooling, unschooling books

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Thursday’s Recipe ….. Brownie Waffles

Kristen — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:07:18 +0000

Need I say more?????? I cut this recipe out of our local paper.

Brownie Waffles

makes about 10 waffles

preheat waffle iron

Melt 1/2 cup butter in pan. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa. Then add 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 T water, 1/2 t vanilla. Stir in 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/4 t salt.

Pour a generous Tablespoon of batter into each well of the waffle iron. You want these to be cooked but not crunchy-less time than you would cook regular waffles.

As you can see I didn’t put enough batter in my iron!!

Now you can just eat these plain, with powder sugar, with ice cream in between or like us with strawberries and whip cream.

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Post tags: batter, Brownie, cocoa, photo, photos, powder sugar, recipe, recipe brownie, strawberries and whip cream, Thursday, vanilla, waffle, waffle iron, waffles

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Reusable Grocery Bags Made From Pillow Cases

Kristen — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:47:11 +0000

A few weeks ago we stocked up on pretty pillow cases at our thrift store on 50% off everything day. Today we finally got around to re -purposing them into grocery bags.

We used 2 pillow cases per grocery bag.

First off use a seam ripper and take top of pillow case off or just cut it off.

Take this top piece you cut off and cut it in half. These will be your straps.

Pick out some pretty colored thread for your project!!

Fold strap pieces in half (with pattern on the in inside) and sew the ends together.

Now take the two pillow cases and turn the one you will be using for the lining inside out. Stuff that one inside the outer one.

Now either sew the two pillow cases together at the top or just fold it down as far as you like to show the liner on the outside of the bag and sew. Don’t forget to sew on your straps!

Presto–really big and sturdy grocery bags!!

So easy-I even managed to make the blue one all by myself!!

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Post tags: Bags, grocery, grocery bag, grocery bags, pillow, pillow case, pillow cases, project, Reusable, thrift, thrift store

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I Choose You Happiness

Kristen — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:37:07 +0000

Sometimes I don’t even know what I need. I go looking for one thing and find another. Sometimes I cast that odd other thing aside thinking I don’t need it and sometimes I hold on to it for dear life, like a new treasure to add to my collection. But funny thing is, that collection has to start somewhere. Often times it begins with a second or third or fourth exposure (because sometimes I am slow, stubborn or deaf) to that odd other thing that I cast away earlier. It keeps popping up and continues to catch my eye and then fills my thoughts and I begin to obsess over it. Then I go back searching for those tidbits I tossed aside earlier. I sort through stuff trying to remember wear I saw it. I find other things along the way to add in and after some back tracking and hard work I have the beginnings of a wonderful collection.

For years I have had this vision of what I wanted my family to be. It sort of looks like an old Kodachrome, or an 8mm movie camera playing a film of strawberry blond kids, happily running through a meadow. Ridiculous, I know. But I am a visual person and the part that sticks out in that picture for me is the happiness and joy part of the picture. The part that I feel is missing from my picture, my family.

At the end of 2009 I told my friends that I was turning over a new leaf. I was going to be a nicer person. When really I meant I was going to find MY joy and happiness. I think I have been looking for it in all the wrong places. No one is going to bring it to me, it’s not in a book or off of a shelf. Recently I realized it has been with me all along. And I didn’t even know it. Happiness really is a choice, it is within my power to just Be Happy. Stepping outside of my normal response or mind set is just a beginning of bringing on that happiness.

I am going to tie this all together I promise!

Last week we attended The Unschoolers Winter Water Park Gathering for 4 days. This is the third year we have attended but this is the longest we have stayed and the most actual conference sessions we have attended. These speakers said exactly what I needed to hear. Not what I wanted mind you, but what I needed. We rehashed these conference discussions 12 billion times over the next several days and a funny thing happened-I went from being dumbfounded and even pissed off a little to questioning and then more discussion and then to an openness that I didn’t anticipate in the least. See, unschooling is about so much more than just not doing school. It’s even more than just letting your kids decide how they want to fill their time and how they want to dress or not cut their hair and dye it blue. I knew that, but I learned again that it is so much more also. This is not the first, second, third or even tenth time I have read or heard or even been exposed to Radical Unschooling but it is the first time I actually listened to it.

I am not much in to “the Secret” but that’s just me casting aside the odd thing for the second or third time now. But holy crap…I heard what I was searching for. Fate maybe? I do believe in fate. I didn’t consciously put it out there, I wasn’t looking for joy at this conference. I was hoping to hear something other than Yes, your unschooler is learning all they need to know, Yes they can go to college, Yes, they will be functioning adults. But not that I have the power to be happy and joyful right inside me-this whole time! I was there to hear about unschooling- Well I guess I did put it out there that I wanted to talk about meatier subjects. I wanted a seasoned unschoolers discussion-even worse I helped lead that discussion. (But I am still not sure about “The Secret!”)

Of course I am living off the conference high since we returned but life feels easier and lighter. Changing MY attitude goes a long way (about 90%) and simply realizing a few things:

* Everything is a choice-I don’t have to do anything but I can choose to do it (the dishes, taking the dogs out for the 12th time in a row etc..) Once I choose to do something it takes away the chore or dread and unpleasantness of it. I always thought this was stupid-just psycho babble-I have been humbled!

* Saying Yes not my knee jerk No-OMG that makes life so much easier!!!! HELL-O

*Simplifying and lowering expectations goes a long way in lowering stress levels and making everyone happier. -Duh

*My kids don’t care about the future (or the clean house or all the time it took me to plan, get, prepare and clean up food), they care about NOW (they want me NOW, not when I finish something else, to be present NOW, not listening with one ear while multi-tasking) And they really want me-to spend time with them-what a huge compliment. I should feel honored that they want to hang out with me!

*My family doesn’t have an agenda or pre meditated reasons for leaving their stuff around, It has nothing to do with me (detachment)so why be resentful??!

So much of this may seem obvious but it has really been a light bulb switching on for me. Some of it is just looking at things differently. In a nutshell-I went looking for what I thought was Unschooling info and came home with so much more. So much information that I cast away as craziness or just didn’t pay attention to while hearing it over and over again. My collection is beginning to grow, so many new treasures and I plan to hold on to each new piece for dear life.

(My husband wants to know why it took me 1,000 words to say this! It was cathartic, honey!)

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Post tags: camera, chore, collection, conference, detachment, family, friend, friends, Gathering, Happy, joy and happiness, Kids, Learning, openness, park, Radical, Simplifying, turning over a new leaf, unschool, unschooler, Unschoolers, unschooling, visual person

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Perfect Night For A Snow Fire

Kristen — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:41:58 +0000

I posted the photos backwards as to not ruin our secret to getting this roaring fire started

We hear there is more snow heading our way!!

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Post tags: art, fire, Night, perfect night, photo, photos, roaring, snow, snow fire

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Pepper Paints

Thursdays Recipe …….. Hamburger Cake

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Saying Yes More Often Pays Off

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Thursday’s Recipe ….. Brownie Waffles

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I Choose You Happiness

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