Child Abuse Horrors

This post is about homes. There are some disturbing things happening in the world that made me think hard.

Each day, when you watch media headlines, there is at least one saying "Abused child", "Two years old beaten", "He tied up daughter and son"... All this is happening right in peoples homes, places that are supposed do be safest shelters for everyone and especially the kids.

I don't want to get inside those monsters minds. There are experts who can do that. What worries me is what happens to these kids afterwards?

What do they feel when go back to that house? What happens in their little heads? Who can they trust when the were let down by people who they trusted the most? How do they look at the world?

Can we just for an instant close our eyes and imagine all the horrors they had to live with. Imagine the memories that they will carry with them as long as they live and wherever they go.

When such things happen, officials are talking about "safe houses" and they let the courts handle it. All media attention goes to the monster and rarely to the children who suffered. Did they recover? Can they lead a normal life?

Those kind of things didn't start yesterday. They happen regularly from long time ago. How many ruined children lives before we figure out how to prevent it? How do we protect the innocent? How can we make our own houses "safe"?

For starters, we must stop being quiet and turn our heads away. Then we need courage to face the problem in a long run and finally the persistence to find the best solutions.

This is one mother of two thinking aloud...

Recipe: Pork Ham Roll

Today's recipe is Pork Ham Roll. It can be served as a lunch, hot or cold.

Ingredients:
2 kg pork ham
600 g mincemeat
100 g Gauda cheese
Salt, pepper, chili
Cooking oil
Aluminum foil
Kitchen string

Preparation:
Thoroughly wash pork ham, let it dry, cut lenghtwise 1 cm off the edge (open it like a book). Beat it with pestle and add salt and pepper.

Mix mincemeat with chili, salt and pepper and spread it over previously cut pork ham. Roll the pork ham, tie it with kitchen string, pour some cooking oil over and cover with aluminum foil.

Put everything in heated oven and roast on 250 degrees Celsius for one hour.

Briefly take the meat out of the oven, remove the foil and put back into the oven for another 45 minutes. Meat shoud have crispy crust when done.

Bon apetit!

Let Me Tell You About My Cat...

In previous posts I mentioned that we have a cat called Marko living with us.

Cats are delicate creatures. Every cat has its own ways. I can't help you much with advice so I decided to share some events so you might recognize your problems. Maybe you can help me with my problems, too!

My Cat Arrives In New House

The cat Marko is six years old. He is a street cat. I found him at the bus station when I was returning from work one day. He was a month old at the time, all dirty, wet and hungry. Then it all began...

I decided to take him home, to my parent's house, where I lived. I wanted to feed him and to release him afterwards. Then he fell asleep so I decided to let him sleep for a while. It was getting dark and I said: "Well... let him stay for the night only." Days went by and here we are - six years together.

Then I got married.

My Husband Don't Like Cats & the Horror of Moving

I went through some rough times to make my husband accept that I'll be moving in with a cat to his house. I managed to persuade him and he unwillingly agreed... With tears, of course! My husband had a dog, and Irish Setter named Jimi so it's understandable that cats weren't his cup of tea.

The moving part was easier. He came in a bag with me and my stuff to our new home. Jimi stayed with my husband parents.

Marko's reaction was a nightmare. The house was still built at the time and so did a bathroom. First thing Marko did when he arrived to new house is that he hid under a bathtub. I don't know how much money we spent on various cat food to lure him out. Agony lasted for three days! He didn't eat for three days...

Unfortunately, that was only a beginning.

Like He Knew What Not to Do

It seemed to me at the time that Marko tried his best to annoy my husband.

He exclusively sharpened his claws on my husband's shoes. He didn't touch others. Every night he rushed into our bed to lie down on my husband's side. He did his best to ruin our married life. Jealousy was hanging in the air... Finally, my husband prevailed and the cat had to leave our bedroom. He figured out who is alpha male in our house.

But Marko's vengeance was quick...

We decided to have a BBQ on January the 1st that year. The only place available was a terrace, where my husband had set up everything and started making lunch. My daughter and I went out to make a snowman and closed my husband on the terrace, to keep the cold out. And then it happened...

Already roasted meat was inside, in the kitchen. Husband was closed on the terrace and Marko was all alone... My husband helplessly scratched the glass door and yelled at the cat who was contemplating what first to eat. When we finished the snowman and came back inside, only then we found out what was happening... We laughed and he never forgot that lost lunch.

War Is Over

A lot of time passed since that incident. Husband and cat managed to get along better each day. These days, I'm cat's only victim. He adores me but sometimes punishes me for the sins only he knows of. Sometimes, when I go out, he bites me as a punishment. Not to mention what happens when we're gone for a week or two.

When I get up in the morning, he knows that I'm the only one who can properly feed him.

When a New Baby Came...

After my second daughter was born, Marko became very possessive. He didn't allow strangers to touch the baby. He withstood every clumsy effort from the baby to pet him. She pulled him by the ears and tail but he didn't complain. Even today, when she cries, Marko is the first one to the rescue.

When someone in the house gets ill Marko is the first one to help. He becomes a "cat physician". He's able to sit for hours on painful spot and sometimes it's not very helpful. We have to drive him of to manage to stand up.

Marko Is a House Cat - Not a Tree Cat

Our cat grew up inside a house. He went out frequently but only along with us. One night, while we were all outside, other cat went by and Marko went after her. They both climbed on a nearby tree. We tried to lure him down but he was too afraid. We had to borrow the ladder to get him down. Since then he gets out only on a leash. Yellow one. It looks silly but it works! No more night adventures.

What Cat Eats

It's hard to please Marko when food is in question. He's not very fond of cat food (except Whiskas) but he has other preferences. He eats chips, instant soup, ketchup, cooking oil, all sorts of flowers and grass...

He doesn't like to drink water from his bowl. He prefers regular glasses. When he can't reach the water in a glass he uses his paws. In the process he sprays water around him.

When it's too hot, he cools down in the bathtub.

What can I say? Maybe he thinks he's a human?

Party Animal

No celebration can go by without him around. He has to be involved. We even get him presents for Christmas - sleeping basket, toys, balls and cans of his favorite food. What he likes the most is to slide into bags and decorative paper and to rip them apart.

Protecting His Territory

It's a known fact that male cats mark their territory. I had no clue what this can be like when a cat lives in a house. I fought with every known cleanser with no avail. I had to choose - castration or no cat in the house. Of course, I picked the castration. I couldn't imagine Marko's encounters with cars, other cats and difficulties. We went to a vet and everything went back to normal. Except that he started getting fat. He was more and more like Garfield. Even our friends started talking about how fat our cat is.

Marko Is Part of Our Family

No matter what, Marko is full-time family member.

I could write about him for days. Since the topic of this blog is household and everything about it, I'll stop now. The point is that we are much happier family with Marko around. We care about him and try to make his life as pleasant as possible.
Even my husband agrees with that

10 Steps To Prepare Yourself For Incoming Holidays

It's time to prepare yourself for craziest holidays this year: Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Grab a piece of paper and jot down all things you need to do. You can use a calendar, too. That way you will forget nothing. But what are those things?

Here's what this list should look like:

1. Gifts: don't wait for the last moment to buy Christmas presents because you might not found what you wanted to buy. Then you will waste more time searching for alternatives. Remember to buy wrapping paper and decorative ribbons when you are shopping for gifts.

2. Christmas tree: Christmas tree ornamentation is the most enjoyable event for a family. Kids love it and so do grownups. Create some rituals along the way, like father putting a star on the top of the tree or something. Before decoration, check out the ornaments and tree lights and replace the broken ones. Christmas tree should look fabulous no matter the size.

3. Menu: Two weeks in advance you should have your holidays menu in place. Check out if you have all the necessary ingredients because the worst thing that can happen is that you find out you don't have everything you need in the last moment. Avoid that at all costs.

4. Beverage: If you have guests coming for holidays, check out what they like to drink. Make sure you have enough of everything to avoid a mess when you haven't anything to serve to your guest. You need to grab a bottle of your favorite drink and enjoy yourself, too.

5. Guests: Make a guest list for your New Year's party and call them as soon as possible to make sure you are the first to invite them. Keep track of your guest's interests. Match people with similar interests to avoid uncomfortable silence when people have nothing to say to each other. It's awkward for everyone.

6. Music: Make a playlist of favorite music you will play for holidays. Play it even during preparations and have fun! You will feel better and reduce stress.

7. Wardrobe: These events are unique and try to look and feel your best. The saying goes that how New Year starts it will affect the whole year. It doesn't matter who will be in your company - you will look and feel great.

8. Hair style: Go to the hairdresser. Avoid crowds by going two weeks in advance and your hair has to settle for a while to look perfect. Go early especially if you are dying your hair because it needs time to remove all traces of dye.

9. Kids: Kids can't wait to open their presents. As the moment draws near they are becoming more and more impatient. "Please God, give me patience RIGHT NOW!" It's not about the gifts but about expectancy. The presents are ok but all those wrapping papers and decorations... Fun never ends. One advice: if you have more presents for your kids, leave one at the side and give it to them after initial fuss is over. Kids will be thrilled!

10. Greeting cards: Don't forget to send to your loved ones greeting cards. It will make them feel good. You can even make these cards by yourself (Kids Crafts: Fusilli Pasta Reindeer Christmas Greeting Card). It will show your effort to make their holidays even better.

You will make your holidays even better if you do things in time. That will give you enough space to enjoy your time with family and friends.

Recipe: Christmas Tree Cake

Here's a recipe which is perfect for socializing with your kids.

Christmas tree cake ingredients:

20 lady's fingers

125 g margarine

1 whipped cream

100g cooking chocolate

1 cup of milk

100 g ground sugar

M&M candy (or similar)

2 egg yolks

Preparation:

Step 1: 10 lady's fingers dip into sweetened milk and arrange in Christmas tree shape (like on the picture)

Step 2: Whisk margarine and ground sugar, add two egg yolks and whisk some more. Add melted cooking chocolate and whisk. When this mixtures is smooth, spread it on the arranged lady's fingers.

Step 3: Arrange 10 lady's fingers on top like in step 1.

Step 5: Prepare whipped cream and spread it over second layer of lady's fingers.

Step 6: Arrange M&M candy on top. Put the cake in the fridge for a while.

And, finally, don't forget to clean your mixer!

How to Pick a Great Christmas Present for a Pre-Teenager

There is a saying in my country which goes like this: "Small children - small problems. Big children - big problems."

And how true!

This time I'll focus on less troublesome problem - how to pick an ideal present for 10 to 13 years old girls. In this post I'll help you to pick such present and make your daughter satisfied!

The problem lies in the fact that kids of this age love both the toys and things grownups use. Books play an important part in that age.

My older daughter is now 11. When we ask her what would she like to get for Christmas, she usually says that she doesn't know and that we should think of something.

We used to give our older daughter several smaller (less expensive) gifts. For example: a music CD, some makeup for kids and some doll (Bratz or Barbie). We investigate what's popular with her friends first.

The same story will happen this year. Bunch of hard choices, dilemmas and finally that moment... will she like it? She always did!

Let's see how to "read their minds" and give them something cool. Here is my list of great Christmas presents for pre-teenager girl. (note that you can click on the product names and buy them at Amazon.com):

1. Apple 4 GB iPod Nano Green (2nd Generation) ($199) - Yes, it's still hot stuff with teens. Like all iPods, it is easy to learn and easy to use, has superb sound quality, and is a real joy to use.

2. The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set ($29.70) - Set of famous children's books by famed C. S. Lewis. We follow the stories of children as they enter into the mysterious world of Narnia. Narnia is inhabited by an amazing assortment of mythological creatures that delight and fascinate.

3. Sims 2 - ($29.99) - Be careful with this one - this is a rather old PC game but your kids will love it. In it, players micromanage the lives of a family of virtual people, or Sims, and influence their paths toward success or something akin to a nervous breakdown. Its open-ended blend of cartoonish behavior and everyday living is unique in an art form otherwise obsessed with carnage and sports.

4. Celestron Powerseeker 60EQ Telescope ($69.99) - Nothing wrong in getting your child interested in science. This is an affordable telescope for beginning astronomer. Even real astronomers could use this one for fun!

5. Photo Story Jr.: Publish your own keepsake photo book! ($28.88) - This is very popular with girls of this age. As a bonus, it enhances their creativity.

Perhaps it's better to buy cheaper presents for your kid because they will loose interest in them after a few days.

If you have any other suggestions, please write them in comments section of this post.

10 Men-Things That Drive Me Crazy

This post concerns mostly husband's behavior. It's important to know that I'm not a feminist. I'm just writing about some annoying habits of men.

Here are top ten things that usually drive me nuts concerning men:

1. He's head of the family: You get up at the same time as him, sometimes earlier. You prepare breakfast for kids, prepare breakfast for him and prepare his clothes, you properly escort him out of the house for work and that you get to work yourself. Cleaning, cooking, groceries, kids. When you look at the clock the day is almost over. Then he comes back from work and says: "What have you been doing? You are at home all day. I'm the one who puts food on the table, goes to work every day. Where you would be if I'm not around?" Obvious question is where He would be if there is no woman at home?

2. Dirty bathroom: Bathroom and his bathing habits are special topic. Toilet seat is not lifted when needed or it stays up when not needed. Hair on the bathtub, sink. Flooded bathroom is a must. I don't even want to elaborate.

3. Socks: In any given point in time, you can find a pair of dirty socks where they shouldn't exist. If they are visible, it sometimes can happen that he moves them himself, which is highly unlikely because they don't mind them at all. Dirty socks are usually under chairs, in his shoes or sneakers and in all those creative places where you wouldn't dream about finding them. By the bed, for instance. Gross.

4. "I'm the one with brains": Most ideas, when homes are concerned, are thought by a woman. Men are those who act on them (ideas). When it's praising time in front of your friends or family, they are the ones getting all the attention. They wouldn't dream of giving credit where it's due. I wonder why?

5. "Watch for kids while I get some rest": He's back from work, eats a meal, grabs a remote and lies down on a couch watching a ball game. You are stuck with a chair, providing the kids aren't in it. Then he starts napping and seeks some peace and quiet since he had a hard day at work. Kids start to shout and play and then he comments: "Watch for kids while I get some rest". And what kind of a day you had? When he even wanted to know...

6. "What's for lunch?": He's back from work, changes his clothes and asks a famous question, while explaining he's very tired. And what about me? He doesn't dream about getting his hand dirty and to cook something himself. It would be great if I could say just for once "What's for lunch?"

7. His mom: Only his mom is aware of her son's needs. No matter if her son is married and maybe has his own children. He is still her little boy who needs his wishes granted. You are risking "dumped mom's" wrath if you dare to say there are more helpless persons (his kids) in his house then him. She'll question everything: your kitchen skills, your parenting skills right to the point of asking what kind of a woman you are anyway. But it was her son's choice in the first place...

8. "You are responsible for the kids": Dads are the ones who teach the kids all those "wonderful" things like burping, spitting, messing and that all thins can be done tomorrow. And then you have to fix things. When the kids burp in front of someone he exclaims that you are responsible for kid's good manners, forgetting he's also responsible for them.

9. Sex when he wishes: After you worked around the house all day long, fed the kids, bathed them, put them to sleep, prepared clothes for tomorrow, washed the dishes and put everything in its place He wakes up after his nap. While you are fantasizing about going to sleep while finishing the chores he conveniently smiles and you know what's up. It doesn't matter you are dead tired and you don't even have strength to put on your pajamas. He's in a mood. There is a chance that he'll be insulted if you say no.

10. Snoring: You managed to go to bed somehow. You are contemplating the things you need to do tomorrow. Your dear husband is already asleep. You turn out the lights, got to your favorite sleeping position and then... it begins! Horror! It starts quietly, irritating and while the time passes it becomes eye popping thunder. Then, suddenly, it stops... but then he starts to make choking sounds. Everything you can do is to push him repeatedly and to hope that Morpheus will lure you into his kingdom.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? I would appreciate if you take your time to comment on this worthy subject.

Kids Crafts: Fusilli Pasta Reindeer Christmas Greeting Card

Holidays are coming and the kids are getting impatient.

Here's a suggestion how to entertain them while waiting for Santa. Kids will have fun while doing it and just for a moment they'll become "big" while creating something "real".

What you need for "Fusilli Pasta Reindeer Christmas Greeting Card" project:
1. Good will
2. Collage paper or plain colored paper. You can glue paper to thin cardboard and cut it in desired size.
3. Brown tempera
4. White tempera
5. Black pencil or felt pen
6. Thin paintbrush with sharp tip
7. Paper glue
8. Scissors
9. Self-adhesive red paper or plain paper and glue
10. Fussili pasta
11. Envelopes

How to make

Step 1: Fold rectangular shaped collage paper pieces in half.

Step 2: Put brown and white tempera into palette in separate slots. Put your kids thumb into brown tempera (they'll love it) and press it against collage paper in three spots. Let the paint dry (five to eight minutes will do). Thumb prints will represent reindeer's heads.

Step 3: Paint two white dots in the middle of thumb prints. These dots will be the eyes of your new reindeer. Let the white tempera dry, again for several minutes.

Step 4: Draw two small dots over the white tempera with black felt-tip pen. These will be the pupils.

Step 5: Cut small round circles using the red self-adhesive paper and place them under the reindeer's eyes. Voila - that's the red nose!

Step 6: Glue the Fusilli pasta over reindeer's heads (two for each head) making the horns. Let the glue dry for a few minutes.

Step 7: Let's decorate the greeting card with some tinsels, pieces of cotton wool (snow) or something else you've got handy.

Step 8: Write some greeting on the blank side of your Christmas greeting card, put it in the envelope and send to your friends and family.

I'm quite sure that the kid will enjoy making these greeting cards (mine did!) and you'll also have fun. Now go and make some Fusilli Pasta Reindeer Christmas Greeting Card by yourself!

10 Reasons Why It's Great to Be a Housewife

My friends are asking me why I don’t get a job, how come I’m not bored sitting at home all the time and mostly look at me with sympathy.

What they don’t realize is that housewife calling has a lot of advantages. There are many of them and I’ll list ten of them. You’ll be the judge.

1. Flexible working hours: Start your day with coffee, tea or something similar. With newspapers, maybe. Something you like. There’s no better way to start your day. Then, you plan your chores. It’s best to write them down on paper. That way, you’ll never forget them and you’ll always know what’s next in line. When you finish planning stage then get to work. Nobody is rushing you. You decide when to start and when to finish.

2. No "I haven't anything to wear today" declarations: Your dress code for the day is decided by your mood alone. Sometimes it's sweat-suit and sometimes something more elegant. There are no regulations that dictate what you'll wear.

3. No conflicts with colleagues: Everything you do is yours and only yours. Nobody can live off your back and to impose you their work.

4. No bosses: You are your own boss. If you make a good plan for your day and do stuff according to the plan - there are no problems. You can always go back or postpone something that you've skipped because you didn't feel like doing it at the moment.

5. No deadlines - less stress: You decide about priorities for the day and you don't need to work just because somebody is breathing down your neck. Take it easy. With good organization you'll achieve everything.

6. No traffic jams: Imagine this situation - you're up early, made breakfast for your kids and hubbie, you are all dressed up thinking: "It's O.K. I'll be there on time..." And then... no busses, traffic jam in the city, crawling traffic cause someone is digging up the streets and you have to go all around to get where you wanted to go... Yuck!

7. Coffee breaks at abundance: When you get tired of doing things you do, you can always make a coffee break without fear that someone will yell at you. Nobody is pointing fingers at the wall clock. If you find a good magazine - you're in for a treat. You'll feel much better after that. Then you can go back to work.

8. Creativity: At work, you go through the same old routine every day. The some thing can happen at home but you have the liberty to change it. When you start to look to yourself like Cinderella, doing same dull chores every day like cooking and washing, you just change it. Make a new meal or do something else. Paint something, write a poem, fix a thing or two (to impress Him) or something just you find important. Call in some friends for a chat. Every change is fulfilling.

9. No returns to "warm" family nest: When you get back from work at 6pm things that wait for you are: making dinner, dirty dishes, dirty laundry, kid's homework. Not to mention the husband. If you bring your work home, "party" never ends. It's good if you manage to get some sleep by midnight.

10. Weekends: Every employed woman does her chores at weekends, something you already did during the week. When she's thinking about what she'll do first, washing, ironing or dusting you have a whole two days with your family. That time is priceless and you can give your best to make them even better.

Careers come and go. Family is something that stays. Enjoy every minute of it because you are employed, too. Don't allow anyone to put you down. Biggest thing you can accomplish is to have happy and satisfied family, and you are a big part of it.

If you have any other reasons why it's great to be a housewife, please write them in the comments section (just click on the "Comments" link below). All comments are welcome, even the ones that state the opposite.

Gauda Cheese Roll

Today I'll give you a recipe for Cheese roll, great as cold serving when guests come to visit.

Ingredients:

300 grams of Gauda cheese

500 grams of champignons

2 slices of melted cheese

1 small onion

2 hard boiled eggs

Oregano

Mixed vegetable seasoning

Cooking oil

Preparation:

Heat the oven on 200 degrees Celsius. Put roasting paper into stove plate and place Gauda cheese on paper. Let it completely melt in the heated oven. When melted, get it out of the oven and let in cool down.

Filling: Cook chopped onion on oil, add chopped champignons, season with oregano and mixed vegetable seasoning. Take it off the burner and mix with melted cheese and chopped boiled eggs.

Let everything cool down. When filling is cold, smear it over Gauda. Roll Gauda and put into a fridge to cool.

Before serving, cut the roll and arrange the pieces on the plate.

Bon apetit!

How to Manage Kids of Big Age Gap?

Have you ever been in a situation where older kid has to study and you can’t keep control over the younger one? That was happening to me all the time. Age difference between my daughters is seven years.

It was hard in the beginning. When older one sits to study at the same time the younger one dropped in and starts taking pens, notebooks, writing on the books. After that starts the scramble, tears, shouting and everyone was loosing it.

Younger children are copying older brothers and sisters. There weren’t any other solution but to give the younger one her own homework.

She got her own pencils, notebooks, coloring pens and we allocated studying time for her. Then, there was order in out house. Older daughter finally could study undisturbed and younger one was proud that she became “big”.

Unfortunately that doesn’t work every time. I have to resort to other tricks. One of them is “little helper” in the kitchen. It doesn’t involve any real involvement in food preparation.

Kid will be satisfied if she is allowed to “cook” her rubber toys in small pot. If you add to the mix some foam and a sponge, she’ll be delighted.

Other suggestion is to mix small amount of paste with flour and water. Show the kid how to make various shapes of it. Success is guaranteed.

Those were only some of possibilities you can employ. I believe you can easily get your own ideas how to make things work. Just be creative.

I still haven’t figured out how to deal with the cat, though…

New Recipe: Chicken Breasts Fillet Cake

This is the recipe for chicken breasts fillet cake, which is ideal to serve when you have guests in the house.

Here it is...

Ingredients:
600 grams (1.3 pounds) chicken breasts fillet
125 grams (0.3 pounds) butter
chopped parsley
2 cloves of fresh garlic
2 tablespoons of bread crumbs
1 cup of sour cream
mixed seasoning

Preparation:
Put melted butter in a container. In another container, put chopped parsley, 2 cloves of chopped garlic, 2 tablespoons of bread crumbs, cup of sour cream and some of mixed seasoning.

Prepare an oval or rectangular mould by coating it with cooking oil and then arrange chicken breasts which you previously dipped first in melted butter and then in the other prepared mixture (parsley, garlic, bread crumbs and sour cream).

Repeat until all fillets are arranged.

Pour the rest of prepared mixture over the meat and roast in your oven on 200 degrees Celsius (392 Fahrenheit) for 35 minutes. Meat should look rosy.

Let it cool down, decorate it at will and serve hot or cold.

Bon apetit!