D- Diversity

We've wanted to touch on diversity for a while and since it's a D word what better time than today. Oh how we hate to receive new school registration forms or any forms for that matter that insist on asking if the applicant is White, Black, Hispanic, Native American or Pacific Islander. 
That said let the rant begin.

We both come from multicultural backgrounds as do many Americans.  We are of  Italian, Latin American, German, and Polish ancestries and have both married men who are of Latin heritage also. We indirectly are also influenced by Irish, Turkish & Jamaican cultures as well as various religious beliefs have all become part of our family trees.  One of us is proud to have an adoptive brother too.  To say we are a melting pot is an understatement.

If you are confused, understand that White and Black are characteristics.  While Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander are all Cultures! How is it that our government has not caught on to this yet?!  Black and white do not define a person they are simply adjectives used to describe their appearance.  You can be Haitian and be black, French and be black, you can be from Central or South American and be black.  You can be from Spain and be white, you can be from any country in Africa and be white.  And just because your country may be in Africa doesn't make you African.  Example Egypt, in Africa but they are considered "Middle Eastern."

When we have to check these boxes we think none of these options fit us or our children and really they shouldn't have to fit any group anyway.  Should they?

We have actually met people who have defined themselves as Black or White with no idea of what culture, heritage, ancestry they belong.  This is frustrating.  What are we teaching people?  Have we not grown as a society to put culture before color?  And again how does our own country, our own government, still want us defined as such? 

There is something very wrong with this picture!

C - Children

Were quite certain that were not alone when we say what the heck is wrong with kids these days!? Better still whats wrong with the parents of these kids!?  Now were not saying our children are perfect but we do want to take a moment and rant about others children and their bad habits we cant control.

Sometimes we wish we could be 7 again, just to be able to teach a thing or two to some wise mouth little snot noses! Perhaps give them a beating too!

We try very hard to hold our children and ourselves to a high standard.  Be polite, courteous, helpful, respectful, strong, caring, to stand up for themselves and others, and to set an example.  Move out of the street when a car is coming, pick the kid everyone else would pick last, first, not to pick on friends. 

How do children now get away with yelling at strangers, older or younger then them?  How do young boys not know when to stop annoying the girls?  How do elementary school kids not know when they are hurting someones feelings?

These are not traits learned in school, these are traits learned or at least not corrected at home!  Enough is enough! We understand we cant raise or police every one's children but come on... these trouble makers do effect the good ones! 

Its been our experience, and there are exceptions to this but for the most part if the parents are non productive members of society, or not respectful, kind, polite, caring, then their offspring wont show these traits either. 

We teach our kids that if you show others kindness they will learn to show it in return.  This is not always true, especially when you have no choice but to interact with losers.  - this really is a rant :-)

B - Baking

So we have this little project we do for holidays and special occasions.  We bake.  We bake to support cancer prevention research.  My husband passed away last March from Medullary Kidney Carcinoma, an extremely rare kidney cancer which there is no treatment for. 

The doctors had used conventional kidney chemo to treat his cancer and was successful but, his cancer grew back quite quickly after his surgery.  The doctors told us we would have to hang on for a new treatment option to be developed.  Those who know me will tell you I have zero patience.

I had always baked holiday cookies and had always had requests for them from family & friends.  So I thought to myself, - Self, lets sell our cookies to raise money to find my guy a cure!

Sadly we never got to follow through as he passed away not 6 weeks after the idea came to mind.  In this time I struck a great friendship with my fellow ranter :-).  She had also baked for as long as she could remember selling her custom cakes.  My family and friends insisted that I still pursue my idea to sell my cookies to help find a cure for Eds cancer. Its what he would want.  So we have.  We sell home baked Italian and traditional cookies, made with our own family recipes!

This is a photo showing a sampling of our Italian Mix:  Sesame, Raspberry, Jelly Sandwich, Wedding, Sprinkle, Rainbow, Aunt Susan's & Chocolate Dipped.

I am very connected with my husband and I feel strongly from my husband that the cure for cancer is in the prevention of it.  Our project is called Kookies for a Kure.   Proceeds from our project support cancer prevention research and we attach a cancer prevention fact with each order.  This is very therapeutic and in some way fulfilling.  I feel there is a purpose in all things and its with that thought that we bake happily to help possibly save someone else from developing this disease.

Annoying things people say when someone dies.

I have had the heartbreaking pleasure to hear the most un-comforting words of sympathy in the days of my husbands passing.

You'll love again.
You'll find someone new.
Your young yet.
He was a good man.
The loss of a child is worse then the loss of a husband. (yes someone said this to me someone quite close actually)
How are you doing?
Oh it's gets easier.
He's with god now.
I know how you feel.
You'll be OK.

These words do not bring comfort. How the hell you think I'm doing! Really did you just ask me this? Why would I think of loving again? This is the furthest thought from my mind! Unless you too lost a spouse you don't know how I feel! I don't care if he's with God now, I want him here with me & the kids! No grief is the same, it doesn't make me feel better that I lost a husband instead of a child! I don't want my pain to get easier so do assume I want it too! It doesn't give me comfort to think in time my hurt or thoughts of him will be less! My youth doesn't matter at all! Seventy year old widows find others to spend time with and get comfort from and sometimes even re marry. Whatever, it's what they want. My age is not a factor!  He IS a good man! Only his body is gone his soul still exists! His soul was before he had a body and his soul will continue to be!  

If you take one thing away from this rant it should be that if you find yourself in the uncomfortable place to have to comfort someone grieving sometimes nothing needs to be said, a simple hug says enough.                                                              

Shame on us

We have been very neglectful of our blog and to readers and lurkers a like. The cleanse is over! Yay!W Food wise we've stuck to it, just adding some turkey and chicken here and there. What is amazing is that we don't miss the junk! Yes it is wonderful to know we can finally eat what we want but the idea is you always want what you can't have. We've both experienced 10+ weight loss, woo hoo! Both feeling strong healthy more energy then normal.  We hope to continue this healthy lifestyle.  This is not easy.  It takes conscious choices and effort.  There are results and we are expecting to have healthier bodies free from diseases that are caused by things going into our bodies that our creator never intended to be there.  We expect to influence our children with our new found philosophy's and hopefully set them up for healthy lives that God willing will be free from avoidable diseases. We've learned about crappy processed foods and to eat fresh stuff every day is 100% healthier for your body.  We can live without salt and bread (mostly) and still have not drank milk or have had cheese or yogurt since February 21st!
This is a lifestyle we encourage everyone to try, it will not disappoint!

Screw favorite things.... lets talk about favorite foods

So since we cant eat our favorite foods we've spent a lot of time thinking about them. The more we think about the foods we love to eat the longer the list gets! So we thought we might get some therapy outta sharing them.

Lets talk about cheese. You might not realize how much of this wonderful goodness you eat until you cant. Shredded cheese or any cheese for that matter on salad, or chili. Cheese and crackers. Cheese on tacos. Mozzarella dipped in gravy simmering on the stove. Cheese on a tuna fish sandwich, cheese on eggs, cheese steak sandwich. Cheese on macaroni and the monster of cheesy things pizza.

Lets take a moment here and talk about macaroni & pizza. These are terribly bad but oh so delicious.
Pizza- thin or thick crust, Neapolitan or Sicilian, it don't matter. Give us pizza any day. Oh and we can't forget calzones! Some days we cant decide which we enjoy more. Macaroni- were do we begin? How bout your simple spaghetti & meatballs or linguine olio with some chicken franchise. Oh wait shrimp fra diavolo, baked ziti, penne a la vodka or rigatoni carbonara.

Lets not forget the basics. Steak & burgers. Burgers done medium well dripping with all its goodness with cheese ketchup mayonnaise lettuce & onions. Oh n if were gonna talk about burgers we cant forget fries. Cheese fries chili fries loaded fries sweet potato fries.  Steak- bloody juicy A1saucey! Its not all about cow, pig is awesome too, bacon, crispy fried, on a sandwich or with breakfast, pork chops, pulled pork sandwich, BBQ ribs.

And chicken. Chicken cutlets freshly fried or they are just as delicious cold the next day.
Oh and cant forget the cold cut hero. Let us count the ways to enjoy a deli sandwich.  Call it what you will a hero a sub no difference to us, the choices are limitless. And we must mention the incredible peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Ooey gooey smooth peanut butter sweet grape jam smothered between soft honey wheat bread, oh my!

Cant leave out our  Puerto Rican favorites, pernil simple white rice & stewed red beans,pastelitos, alcapurrias, carne guisada.

To finish our delectable dreamy rant on our favorites it is important to not forget dessert. Ohhh dessert. Chocolate mousse with chocolate graham cracker crumbs, dark chocolate covered almonds & triple chocolate brownies warm outta the oven.  Chocolate chocolate cookies, peanut butter cookies, jelly sandwich cookies, walnut wedding cookies, rainbow cookies.  ( It does not help that we fill ordes for cookies for our Kookies for a Kure fundraising)  Cheese cake oh so smooth creamy rich & decadent. Ice cream cake, vanilla & chocolate with whipped topping and cookie crunches in the middle. Peanut butter & hot fudge ice cream sundaes!

now that were through with that, we must name some new favorites, like grilled eggplant, spaghetti squash, vegetable soup & home made apple sauce!

Day 10 & Day 11

Day 10, was a snow day, and we just stuck to our plan, but nothing exciting happened, but today is Day 11, and if you've been reading ya know what the means, MEAT!!!! reading that you'd think we get to eat a  big steak or something juicy, but really we get to have about 2 chicken tenders or something around that size. It's a feast for us, considering we have had not meat, dairy, bread, grains, for 11days.

Today we are having
fruit for breakfast
sp complete shake, made with frozen fruit
veggie soup with turkey
sp complete shake, made with frozen fruit
turkey burgers with peppers and onions