Friday Four: Using Federal Child Nutrition Programs in a Holistic Home

Right now in our household we receive WIC and are eligible for free school lunch. For some reason it surprises folks that I have such a large family and that two, we a very selective in what we eat.  One of our favorite WIC meals is our pancakes. Recipe below…….

Rice Flour Pancakes with WIC items- 

WIC Items: 1 large egg, ½ cup yogurt (made from your milk, see first page), ½ cup milk

Non WIC Items: 2/3 cup brown rice flour, 1/3 cup cornstarch, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon baking powder, pinch of salt, 2 tablespoons melted butter.

Tools: Skillet, stove top, bowl, spoon, teaspoon, measuring cup

Sift the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Mix egg with butter and yogurt; stir in milk. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just blended. Fry as you would regular pancakes on greased skillet for about 2 minutes each side or until golden brown. Then eat up!

WIC (Woman Infant and Children)  is a governmental  grant program. It provides* food to help  moms make “healthier” food choices by specifying offering monthly vouchers for whole grains, cheeses, peanut butter, beans, milk, eggs, fruits juice, cereal and veggies. While I’m not a fan of everything they offer/exclude, it helps us feed our family.

I used formula for 3 babies, but the rest I breastfed. My over all experience with WIC has been okay. I just hated missing my appointments. When that happens, I just know that the next appointment will not be for another 3 weeks. So I try to keep my dates on a calendar  in my bathroom so my husband can help remind me. I also loathe selecting the wrong items from the grocery isle.  Every store differs some how in grains, brand of milk, fruits types- it’s nerve wrecking! There was a shopping guide issued with the vouchers, but they change so much, it useless most times. But when you tally it all up, WIC works for us!

Since I have more knowledge on the WIC program, I’ll share with you my top 4 tips for benefiting from the free program:

1. A hand up is not a hand out! I was not raise on public assistance. and did not want to raise my children on it as a married woman… a veterans wife. BUT we are in different days now. I have a large family, my husband is disabled and I refuse to nutritionally starve my family because of pride. When my children are big, they will  remember fun in the kitchen and yummy, healthy meals. Not  we were hungry all of the time.

2. Cook those beans! At one time,I couldn’t make a decent pot of meatless beans to save my live. But thanks to Pinterest and a bunch of smart friends we are eating veggie based burgers, more soups, and flavor happy beans more frequently!

3. Grow your own produce. You do not need a bunch of space and a super green thumb. It will help your food budget immensely.

4. Don’t waste it.  When my children took the school lunch ,they used to throw so much of it away. I couldn’t get too upset with them because I used to do the exact same thing with the WIC milk.  It was shameful and I felt really bad about it all. What we do now  makes more sense. The kids take their own lunch from home, and I ask my nutritionist to reserve  some of the milk for someone else.

WIC VOUCHER

While WIC does help improve the diets of some moms. I would love to see demo classes offered to moms as they sign up. I think more moms will eat better with some type of culinary skills to take in the kitchen with those free groceries. I also think they should revisit the juice, peanut butter, and cereal category. But that’s just my simple minded opinion. Gotta go now, Ya’ll have a great weekend!

Jabela

More on Public Nutrition Benefits

• WIC is a “discretionary” grant program
• WIC’sfairly limited list
• WIC Works Resource system 

• Maximizing and Eating Healthy with WIC

• RECIPES – Here’s one
•                     Here’s another one
•                      Another one! 
•                      Last one – I promise!

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SHOP Slow cookers HERE and HERE!  They are starting at $8.00 and make cooking meals a cinch! Check out this copper pan!

Ani leh-dodee veh-dodee lee = “I DO!”

I believe in Love. I believe in Family. I believe in Marriage……(Even though at any given time they can be a major pain in the rear at times.)

Sample Script

I’m walking in a new pair of shoes now……. I’m a official Universal Church Marriage Officiant. After 7 years of being ordained , I finally solemnized my first wedding and it was so bitter sweet!

Although I practice a zillion times, I bombed during the ceremony. HARD! I stressed on minor things like my hair, shoes, scarf – everything! More than my during my own wedding. The couple was so perfect for each other. The husband was a gentle sweetie. Just a tall teddy bear, the wife, who hired me was a straight shooter,and a business friend i respect a lot. The bills went straight to daddy and boy did he pay up. It was a dream weekend. No stones was left unturned. NOTHING!

What I learned:

Put EVERYTHING IN WRITING. People forget what they say as the date gets closer. Having written details helps get you paid and keep confusions down. It benefits everyone.

Some brides know EVERY PART of a traditional wedding.  They have dreamed of this moment all of their lives. They could marry themselves if legally possible. SO no short cuts.

Offer my script  to allow them to make small changes and edits as desire*

Remember to ask “Who gives This woman to be married?”  (I was suppose to say:”  Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Parents:
We do.

Then the bride is given away)

Remember to say “You My Now Kiss The Bride” -(I was suppose to say- ”

Celebrant:
May this couple be prepared to continue to give, be able to forgive and experience more and more joy with each passing day, with each passing year. (Groom’s Name) and (Bride’s Name), are now beginning their married life together, we hope that they may have loving assistance from their family, the constant support of friends, and a long life with good health and everlasting love. In so much as (Groom’s Name) and (Bride’s Name) have consented to live forever together in wedlock, and have witnessed the same before this company, having given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and having declared same by the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they are husband and wife.

Celebrant: (to the couple):
You may now seal the promises you have made with each other with a kiss.

Celebrant:
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the loving couple
Mr. and Mrs.” )

Remember to only take suggestions from the one whose getting married or paying me***

View this post on Instagram

My 1st wedding as an #officiant. My children were so proud of their mommy. Walking, standingand dancing in those heels for hours were worth it. #weddingofficiant #charlottewedding #CharlotteWeddingOfficiant

A post shared by QC SUPERMOM (@qc_supermom) on Oct 17, 2015 at 8:30pm PDT

I found online these awesome tips: Some couples have wanted a sounding board to bounce ideas off of as they write their ceremonies, and some friends have needed a lot of writing and outline help to put words to their vision. But regardless of how much I was involved in the creation of the ceremony, what I found critical (and difficult!) was my role as General Ceremony Tone-Setter. See, if you’re the one standing up there, guests will be looking expectantly at you and taking your cues for what the overall mood is going to be. Even though your precise words or your outfit may not linger, how you say what you say, and how you manage the emotion and energy of the room will contribute to how they remember the ceremony.

That goes for the rehearsal, too. I found it really helpful to walk through the rehearsal with the couple beforehand, to get a sense of what they needed from me. If it’s the latter, I went incredibly slowly, repeated messy parts, practiced the walk in and out at least twice, and was the most generally cheerful Julie the Cruise Ship Director version of myself.

Ok, now that’s done, who’s next? But in the end….. As of Monday 10.19. 2015…… they are husband and wife! The original plan was accomplished.  This is fun! I get to meet awesome folks, get paid AND I get fed!

Democratic debate BINGO

It’s that time again!

Because we here at QC Supermom are quite partial, we present you with the first Democratic presidential debate fun collection of the 2016 campaign.

The rules are the same as with the GOP debate bingo cards: Five in a row is a winner.

Tell ’em what they’ll win!

Why, you’ll win the satisfaction of knowing that you had a good time while watching CNN’s debate, which starts at 9 p.m. and is being broadcast from Las Vegas. We’ll be watching too from our living room couches.

Win or lose, be sure to tweet photos of how you did to @TUCapCon and  they’ll give you a retweet.

Enjoy:  (CLICK HERE)

Have Fun!!!!!

Jabela

Friday Four: The Best Group Costumes For Kids (EVER!)

This is my favorite month of the year!  I love the colors, the seasonal aromas, the festive and fun dress up

Having 4-6 kids that actually like to dress up can be costly for us, so we must think outside the box. I have put together four super awesome group costume ideas, that will not break the bank! As a bonus, I have included a few videos to inspire you to try to create them yourself!

1. The Flintstones- How sweet, affordable, and simple is this? This could be made in one evening! If only I had a little girl! 
2. The minions- Another simple easy and cute idea! How cool for colder kids and college students as well. Another great thing about this idea is that you can wear everything again! <WIN-WIN> 
3. Fat Albert and The Cosby Kids-  The parents of these boys dress their sons up every year in different themed outfits! I think this is the one I’ll try this year for my four young boys! It’s classic enough to pull together from closets at home, or your parents home. 
4. Last but not least….. The Smurfs!!!! Yes, I went waaaay back! Just make sure to protect your skin by applying coconut oil before applying the color.Here again, another cost effective, simple, cute and super cute idea! 
   Ok, time to get shopping at your local thrift, craft and supply store! I hope this helped you. Every year I stress everyone out getting ready for one night. I’m proud of myself this year! This is a pretty good collection if I do say so myself! When I get the opportunity to attend post Halloween parties with the kids I’m super excited because we get to wear our costumes more than on time ( heck, we do that anyway to be honest.)  Let me know which one you like the best and what your little one(s)  will be wearing.

Have a fun weekend! 

Jabela

Ned more ideas? See these below-

Famous Characters

More Group Ideas

Wednesday Wow: Women of Faith is Coming To The QC!

   When you know how much God loves you, it changes everything…

Feeling unloved? Like an island? Feelings of disconnect and loneliness happens. In Charlotte, where a high percentage of the residents are transplants it’s important to continually feed positive energy in your mind. this can be done plenty of ways! this weekend, is one of them! The Woman Of Faith tour is coming to the QC! Grab your girlfriend, comfy clothing and get to the Time Warner Arena this weekend. It will be like medicine for your soul!

I’m so excited to attending the Women of Faith LOVED Two day tour!  (YES… This is a two-day event,)  As usual I did my research on the show. I learned that since Women of Faith began their “Joyful Journey” in 1996, the message has been simple: “God loves you.” Over the years, your stories have become our stories. More than 5 million of you have come together in 89 cities across North America, from all walks of life, from all over the world, each one different—yet so much the same.  When you know how much God loves you, it changes everything…. WOF

LOVED: The Farewell Tour

You are seen. You are known. You are free. Connect with a community of women that gets what you’re going through . . and with the God who loves you more than you know.

This weekend come see: Nicole Johnson,Shauna Nequist, Sandi Patty, Luci Swindoll, Anna Trent, Sheila Walsh, and these other amazing women! ,

Mary Graham

Her natural warmth and empathy brought great encouragement to thousands of beloved Group Leaders as they shared with women that God is crazy about them! Her remarkable skills with people and ability to discover and communicate the true essence of the message have left fingerprints that still today can be seen and felt in the lives of millions touched by Women of Faith. The youngest of eight brothers and sisters, Mary grew up in Oklahoma; she now calls Frisco, Texas home, and you can almost always find her enjoying a lively lunch every Sunday after church with Luci, Marilyn, and their little community of friends.

• Thelma Wells  Thelma’s passion to inspire everyone to “BEE” the best never slows down. Her latest venture is leading That a Girl and Friends Speakers Agency (with her daughter Vikki) to motivate, inspire, and invest in the lives of others. For more than 30 years she’s been traveling globally speaking to corporations, government agencies, and at national Christian conferences.
• 

Sarah Jakes Roberts -Sarah is a take-charge businesswoman, writer, and media personality who balances career, philanthropic outreach and family. Her work can be found everywhere from bookstores, to online, and even on the big screen.

• 

Patsy Clairmont

Patsy is a bookish woman who loves words, twirling umbrellas and eating dark chocolate. As a former agoraphobic Patsy never imagined the expansive plans God had in mind for her. She has written numerous books, her latest is You Are More. Patsy’s latest passion is helping people shake loose the stories from their own lives to use in communicating effectively. She believes we were designed to invest in each other, and sharing our stories is one way to do that. Patsy lives in Franklin, TN with her husband, Les.

•   Building 429

  Grammy-nominated Building 429 continues to gain momentum as one of the premiere pop/rock bands in the Christian music industry. The band will release their highly anticipated seventh studio album in September 2015, and joined The Winter Jam Spectacular Tour for the third year in the Spring of 2015. Building 429 is known for its high-energy stage performance that features passionate vocals, stellar musicianship, chart-topping songs and incredible staging.

Ready to go? Log onto Time Warner Cable Arena Use discount Code (“Save $20 Off Select Tickets” —  use codeJB20)*Offer available for Premium ($109) and Standard ($99) level seating and is available through 10/9/2015 while supplies last. Offer cannot be combined or applied to previous purchases and is subject to change without notice. All prices in US Dollars and include applicable taxes. Service fee(s) will be added. No refunds/exchanges. Dates, location, times, and talent subject to change. Loved: The Farewell Tour is a production of Women of Faith, LLC.

333 E Trade St Charlotte, NC 28202

Friday:	7pm – 10pm
Saturday:	9am – 5pm

Last minutes tips for attending this TWO day concert!–-CLICK HERE!

Friday Four: Disney On Ice -100 Years Of Magic REVIEW (CHARLOTTE NC)

Sing-along to over 30 unforgettable songs including “Let It Go,” “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” and “Hakuna Matata.” Exciting moments from Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Disney’s The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and more will leave the whole family with memories to last a lifetime!!!

We are still excited about the Disney On Ice 100 Years Of Magic opening night in the QC! It was AMAZING! It was everything they said it would be- but more!

They opened with a “Minnie dance party” Mickey and Minnie rocked the entire crowd. That really set the tone for rest of the night! The kids AND adults were mesmerised. They do such a good job on ice, you tend to forget they are ice skating! We seen difficult spins, the pair skating lifts and throws, the ice dance lifts and adagio lifts; Just MAGICAL!!!!!!!

They went Ole’ School to New School with the cast! Everyone was grabbing their air microphones and singing together all their favorites like “Let It Go,” “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” and “Hakuna Matata.”  Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Disney’s The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and more!!! Like previous years, the costumes, music and lighten effects was grand and perfect! 

When some people think Disney, they think princesses and animals. Last night my sons were super impressed to see so many male roles that didn’t include leggings.

My sons wanted to share their thoughts on the show as well.

I REFUSE TO RUIN IT FOR YOU, BUT four of my favorite parts of the show was

1. When Rafiki the baboon, walked out to introduce his friends! No one was expecting him to have such a powerful part in the show.

2. When my family was on ice. You’ll have to see it to know what I’m talking about.

3. When I seen all the smiles on my children’s face and so many daddies out with their royal court.

4.  After the 2 hour show, when I was blessed with a hug from two of the most beautiful princesses EVER!  

Don’t miss it. In closing, let me add that it has been an pleasure to see so many dads out there this year! My heart was melting left and right at the sight of such huge smiles from the tiniest of princesses!

The show details are below! Get your tickets!!!!! It’s hands down the most affordable, entertaining and safest investment you can make this fall for your family!

Jabela, QC Supermom

Click for show times and ticket cost—–> Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Disclosure: I was invited by Feld Entertainment to bring my family to see Disney on Ice. All my opinions here are my own.