zucchini bread

My family & I love zucchini bread so much it never lasts too long in the house.
I think it's time I made some. It's kid & picky husband friendly!
Here's a recipe that I originally got from
http://www.allrecipes.com/ & altered just a 'bit.

ENJOY!

This makes 2 loaves...

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 cups grated zucchini (Press grated zucchini in strainer to remove some of the moisture)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Sift together flour, salt, soda, cinnamon, baking powder.
3. Beat eggs. Add and mix well sugar, vanilla, and oil. Add zucchini to egg mixture. Add dry ingredients, mixing well. Stir in nuts if desired. Pour into 2 ungreased loaf pans.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour.

End of the Year...

Well, Christmas has come & gone...as well as New Year's Day.

My little munchkin-Christmas 2010

This holiday season seemed to fly by. 

It was a great time for myself & my family.

 I'm happy that we all got to spend time together. 

Another thing I am thankful for this Christmas is that I was 

for the 1st time I was able to buy Christmas presents without completely 

stressing out about paying the bills, buying presents, etc etc. 

I don't mean to sound materialistic; it's just an accomplishment 

and a blessing to finally be on the 

right track financially.

We've got a ways to go of course, 

but it was so nice to not have to worry so much. 

Know what I mean? 

Anyway...2011 is here...

And  I am determined to make it a FABULOUS year! 

I have some heavy new years resolutions, 

and I plan on stickin' to 'em! 

That in itself is a resolution. 

I'm not very good at staying on track...

I get bored, I forget, I come with something else,

and then get bored and forget about it too. 

I'm a little ADD, okay, maybe a lot ADD. 

BUT, that is a goal...

STICK WITH THINGS, FOLLOW THROUGH

FOCUS MARGAUX!! 

GOAL #1. 

Clean out the clutter! 

I am TERRIBLE about clutter, 

but I am sooo tired of it. 

SO, I am cleaning out my closet, 

I know I won't EVER 

be a size 0, hell,

 I won't be a size 3 ever again. 

So there is NO use keeping clothes I won't

ever wear! 

GOAL #2. 

GET FIT!! 

I have a gym membership, 

I have a shake weight

 (thanks Dad & April!!)

And I have a Kinect, 

which is a workout even without the fitness games!

So I have no reason 

to put off getting fit. 

The past 2 yrs I have put on so

much weight. And I don't like it, damnit! 

 I miss being cute & skinny, and

most of all 

I miss feeling good about myself! 

This is my motivation photo---THIS was AFTER

I had Cyrus sooo it IS possible!! 

Damn, what happened!?!? 

Goal #3. 

Scrapbook More! 

I love to scrapbook, I love my photos

of my family & friends. Yet, it has been 

over a year since I have scrapbooked. 

I've got plenty of stuff, plenty of photos, 

I just need to get them printed & get going! 

You gotta have a hobby, 

You gotta do what you love! 

Goal #4. 

Enjoy the last few "baby" months

before he goes to Kindergarten! 

Okay, so technically he hasn't been a baby for quite some

time, but it just seems like once he's actually in school...

real school, not preschool...that he will no longer be MY BABY! 

Any bit of lingering baby-ness will dissolve 

one he walks through those elementary school doors. 

This is a saddening thought for a mama. 

So my goal is to soak up as much time with him

having fun,  doing mommy & son things, 

things school kids can't do! 

This was then...

And this is now. 

And Goal #5. 

ENJOY EVERY DAY! 

I mean it, I want to enjoy every day. 

Life is precious, so fleeting, and so important. 

My goal is to quit worrying about the little stuff, 

& cherish each moment. 

Less griping with the husband over nonsense, 

less fussing at the kiddo for things that don't matter, 

less worrying over things that can't, won't or don't need to change

&& JUST BE HAPPY! 

WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY 2011!!

2011 PHOTOS from Google Images

Wild Olive Tees

While reading one of my favorite's...

The Pioneer Woman... http://thepioneerwoman.com/  

{you should check her out. She's a hoot && chuck full of good info...}

I discovered "Wild Olive Tees". It's a super cute company with religious/bible verse tee-shirts that are just BEAUTIFUL! I plan on ordering something soon, but wanted to share with everyone else. 

http://store.wildolivetees.com/women-c12.aspx

Peppermint Bark

One of my favorite things to make at Christmas time is peppermint bark.

It's super easy, yummy, snackable, sweet & addicting!

Some people make it with milk & white chocolate,

but I prefer it with just white chcocolate.

Here's how I make it:

 White chocolate morsels-1(12oz.) package

Peppermint Candies

or Candy Canes-

About 6 candy canes or 1 cup candies

1. Melt chocolate morsels in the microwave or stovetop.

{ If using the stovetop it is best to use a double boiler so you don't burn the chocolate-if using a microwave only use 50% power and heat for a few seconds at a time, stiring & then heating again 'till chocolate morsels are creamy & melted. I have also heard of adding a tsp of cooking oil to keep them moist & creamy. The key to melting the chocolate morsels on the

stove or microwave is PAY ATTENTION, a little at time! I have ruined chocolate by heating it to quickly-it turns chunky & dry-YUCK! = ) }

2. Place candy in a large plastic bag & break up into little bits using at rolling pin or other large object. Try not to crush it too much, you want small bits, not peppermint powder...another thing I learned the hard way. ( Although, this STILL makes pretty bark, and the peppermint tastes a little stronger. )

3. Mix the melted white chocolate & peppermint bits together and spread this mixture on a cookie sheet. You can melt a little milk chocolate & drizzle on top for a pretty effect if your heart desires it. Pop the cookie sheet in the fridge for about an hr or so untill the bark has set. Break up the bark in pieces & ENJOY! Store in an air-tight container at room temp for best results.

Photos from Google



Ol' Saint Nick is coming to town...

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."  ~Norman Vincent Peale

 ONLY 15 days 'till Christmas!  

Enough is Enough!

Well, day after day I am frustrated by getting dressed & ready because NOTHING fits me, or fits me right. I have gone up & up in pant sizes, and I've had enough! My confidence level has dropped as the number on the scale goes up. I don't love what I see in the mirror, and the thought of wearing a bathing suit makes me want to cringe. SO, enough is enough.

I am starting a healthy eating/living goal TODAY!

I'm not going to do a specific diet, rather a combination of counting my Weight Watchers points{since thanks to my Mom I have all the stuff : ) } and following the NO FAST FOOD{unless it's healthy} RULE. I will start at the gym on Thursday A.M. And I will be keeping a food diary.

I don't want to be stick skinny, and I don't expect to look like I did before I had my son. I just want to be happy, healthy, and comfortable in my own skin.

So here goes nothing...WISH ME LUCK! Hahaha...and self control!

Anybody else interested in dropping a few & getting healthy? Check out self.com-they have lots of diet/workout goals/plans. As well as different health calculators, an online food diary and when you sign up you get entered to WIN prizes. It's a great website & I recommend it!

Cyrus's Birth Story

I am working on becoming a Le Leche League leader & have been looking back on some of the things I did & wrote when Cyrus was a baby. I wrote the story of Cyrus's birth story when he was 10 months old, and thought I might as well share it...

 Cyrus Nathaniel Galloway

In mid October of 2005, my husband, Craig and I anxiously awaited the few minutes as the pregnancy test results on that little white stick developed. This would be our first child and we were hoping and praying that a new edition would soon enter our lives. The test was positive and the pregnancy progressed along with few problems. I was blessed with a few long and unhappy months of morning sickness early on, but nothing too serious. My Husband, Craig was in the Army and left for deployment to Afghanistan in February and we crossed our fingers that he would make it home for R&R in time for the birth of our first child in June. In February we also found out that it would be a little boy gracing our presence. We were both thrilled as could be. I enjoyed being pregnant once the morning sickness had passed and spent my days getting ready for the birth and my nights thinking of my new son and my wonderful husband both so far away.  We decided on his name long before his birth, we chose Cyrus, which is Persian meaning the sun. I heard the name first in a school book in high school and mentioned it to Craig back in high school and we both though it was a great name. So naturally that is what stuck with us, and it was quickly and easily decided upon. Craig’s nephew had been given his middle name by Craig’s older brother so it was necessary we return the gesture by giving our son his brother’s middle name, Nathaniel. So, the name was decided- Cyrus Nathaniel Galloway. Now, I just needed my baby and of course, my husband to make it home in time.

The hospital had been chosen and I had discussed with my midwife the things I hoped for with this birth. She was wonderful, very supportive of the things I wanted and always willing to fill me in on any questions. Also, because I was not 100% sure my hubby would be able to be there for me through this birth, a close friend of mine, Raymi, who just finished training, became my doula. I was her first “mommy”. Having grown up in Le Leche League I knew that breast feeding and the group would soon become a regular part of my life and attended a meeting before he was born.

I know that you can never actually plan a birth to go a certain specific way but I knew that I wanted to avoid a few things. Epidurals, pain meds, episiotomy’s and being tied to a bed or any position on my back were “no-no’s” in my plan.

The first weekend in June came and my due date of June 10th was just days away. On Sunday I started to think I was having some very mild contractions and started to get excited. My bags were packed, and I tried to let Craig know via email that the time was getting closer. Sunday came and went and nothing much happened. I went swimming that day, hoping to maybe get something going. No such luck. Come Monday morning I still had not heard anything back from my husband, and was only having a few still mild contractions and no baby yet.  On Monday I decided I would clean my car, and “whew! What a chore!” It’s hard to do a lot with a giant belly in your way. I also went and walked around the park for a little while hoping to further speed things along.

Then, Tuesday morning around 6am I woke up with definite contractions and knew the day had come.  I called my doula, she came over and we made sure the car was ready and packed, baby car seat buckled in, and a few last minute chores. I rocked around on a giant exercise ball and paced back and forth through my contractions trying to ease the growing pain. Then the phone rang, it was my husband! He was in the Atlanta airport and would be home that afternoon. I was thrilled and told him it was a good thing, because I was leaving for the hospital soon. He was thrilled and definitely more nervous than I was. It was still early and I wanted to stay at home as long as possible. So I got in the bath and tried to relax a little until finally the contractions were close enough to leave for the hospital. The ride to the hospital seemed long and bumpy but I made it there. When I got to the hospital at 11:30am I was already dilated 7cm. YAY! I was ready to get this show on the road. They wanted me to ride in a wheel chair up to the room with the birthing tub, but there was just no way! I felt much better walking. I even continued moving as much as possible while filling out paperwork and getting ready to hop into the birthing tub. Once I got in it was not long before I was ready to push. I tried to hold out as long as possible, as I was hoping Craig would make it there before Cyrus but when you’re ready, you’re ready! Other family was called, and everyone was excited! My mom lives in Oregon and wouldn’t be able to be there, but was called every once in a while to let her know how things were progressing. She was ecstatic! My husband also called from the airport again nervous and thrilled as possible. Once I started pushing the concept of time, reality, or who was in the room vanished. It was me and my body getting the baby out. I couldn’t wait to see him! There were various nurses and another doctor present, all curious about a water birth. I didn’t mind, one because I could’ve cared less about anything going on in that room, and two because I fully and whole heartedly recommend water birth and think it is a shame more women don’t think about trying. I hope that others will see my son’s birth as an example of how wonderful it can be. I pushed and panted, and grunted and even cursed (just once!)...and soon enough his head was crowning. I was able to feel his head and knew this would soon be a reality. It was enough motivation to move a mountain. My midwife was open to letting it be about me and my body and only assisted in helping me pull his shoulders out at the very end. Yes, I got to lift this tiny beautiful creation of MINE up to my chest myself! During the whole labor Raymi, my duola was very supportive in many ways like using the shower head on the tub to run water over my back. Both my midwife and Raymi did a wonderful job telling me to remember to relax and not tense up, all the things you do but know you shouldn’t. Towards the end, in the back of my head I thought of Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire Song...ring of fire is the truth!!  Then FINALLY, he was here! At 3:36 pm on June 6^th of 2006 my son Cyrus was born. He weighed 7lbs. & 12oz. And was 21 in. long. I ended up with having no meds of any kind, no epidural, and no tearing whatsoever, & I needed no stitches.

He was beautiful as can be and I will never be able to think about when I first laid eyes on him without tearing up. It was the most wonderful experience in my life and I am so proud of myself. I did it the way I wanted and if Cyrus’s birth is not a testimonial to the wonders of water birth I don’t know what is!

Craig arrived just about 30 minutes after he was born. He was a little disappointed   because he wanted   to be there for me, for the baby and for himself, although I was thrilled with him just getting there that day. It was almost perfect timing and such a wonderful surprise! We are both just soaking up the whole experience still. He had to go back overseas two weeks later, but I sent photos to him everyday.

I am very happy with the way Cyrus’s birth ended up. I feel very blessed to have a healthy, happy, beautiful baby, and even more blessed that his arrival to the world was so smooth and seamless. I was at LLL just 6 days after his birth!

 I own this up to the water birth of course, and many statistics say a doula can reduce many birthing complications, but also just working with and listening to your body. In my option we were not made to have babies on our backs, gravity works, you may as well let it work for you. The pain is great and definitely something you could never imagine but is so quickly forgotten and so worth it!

I also planned to breast feed and that too went great. No problem latching on

or diving right in!

Cyrus is now almost 10 months old, and is still nursing. He has started eating solid foods, but continues to nurse through out the day. It is such a blessing for so many reasons. I cannot even begin to explain the bond we have, and the sense of pride I have in him and in myself for giving him the best. With my husband gone for the last 14 months and counting, it is heart breaking at times how much he has missed so far, but Cyrus and I have had a chance to be very close and he has been just as much a comfort to me as I him. For that I feel both honored and guilty.   It is amazing how fast the time flies and how much you learn and gain as a parent. Breast feeding is a wonderful experience because not only do you know you are giving your child the best nutrition you can, it is nurturing to both you and baby. The connection you have with your child and the trust and love you build has no comparison.

Every day is something new and exciting, and being a mother is by far one of the most rewarding experiences you could have. I wanted this baby and knew that I would love being a parent, but what I expected is nothing close to how happy it makes me wake up every morning and see my beautiful son. I love my husband with all my heart and am very much in love with him, but with your child the love is so much greater. I thank God every day for giving me something so perfect.  And I am blessed to have had the knowledge, and support to decide to breast feed him.