Topless Chicken Pot Pie

(Don't forget to enter the Giveaway at the end of the recipe!)

Filling Ingredients:

2 pounds boned chicken breast

4 tbsp butter

1/2 cup flour

2 cups chicken stock (which will be made in process)

1.5 cups milk

1 cup frozen mixed veges

1 onion chopped

1 cup cheese grated, plus some

Dash of salt, pepper, and garlic powder

Pastry Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup milk

5 tbsp butter

Filling Directions:

1. Fill a pot with water and bring to a simmer over high heat

2. Add in the chicken and lower making sure the poaching liquid does not boil

3. Cook the chicken for 8-11 minutes

4. Remove the meat and skim the liquid for any 'left overs'

5. Cut the meat into bite size pieces removing bone

6. Over medium low heat, add 4 tablespoons butter and onions

7. Add 1/2 cup flour, milk and stir for a few minutes and remove from heat

8. Add in the chicken and vegetables

9. Add in the pepper, salt, and garlic powder to taste

10. Add to the inside of your pot pie dish with pastry put in

11. Add 1/4 cup cheese to each part of your pot pie

12. Bake for 25-35 minutes

Pastry Directions:

1. Mix the dry ingredients

2. Add the butter and mash together

3. Add the milk slowly and mash together

4. Kneed into the dough

5. Roll out and lay on in the bottom of the pan

Don't forget to enter the Red Box Code Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Babies in the (College) Classroom

Raja's Youtube

Bored Panda

(First, don't forget about the Red Box Giveaway! Come enter!  or at the end of the article)

I came across this article, "When a Student's Baby Started to Cry in Class, This Professor has the Best Response Ever" by Dovas on BoredPanda. 

I hugely applaud this professor. 

What an amazing guy to not even skip a heartbeat, just picking up the child and soothing it while teaching a room full of students.

That is how it is done my friends!

I love that by the virtue of his actions, he is saying this:

A woman should not have to choose between being a mother and getting an education.

Many women, me being one of them, have had kids while in college.

Like this woman, the thought of taking a baby to class with you marks you with nerves of worry, always wanting to dote the baby so they are quiet and take away from the learning you are experiencing.

So you think the mum should get child care?

Well, having been through it myself, it is not that simple.

Either child care centers are full, your baby may have special needs, you can't afford baby care, the list could could on.

Imagine, you are a new mum and college student.

Walking around with a big belly was hard, right? All the stares you get.

Carrying a new born around to class is a new beast.

You worry you are an automatic outcast. You don't fit in.

You still need and want that education.

You walk into the classroom worried that you are getting looked at.

Maybe you have stroller with you. Maybe your baby is in a carrier.

You take a seat and all is well, to begin.

Eventually the baby will cry while you are taking notes or watching a slide show with a lecture attached.

How will the professor respond?

Of course, you also have more than one professor in college, so responses vary.

Some are mean and cruel about it.

Some are not happy about it, but don't scold you.

Some are impressed and encourage you by not making you feel like a bad mum or person.

Some are like this professor= amazing! 

It takes a village to raise a child is the saying, right?

It takes a village to support and educate women to be able to better these kids just the same.

I would like to share my experience at UCSC
I had an amazing professor for Astrophysics.

His name is Raja.

Not only did he not shame me for having a child (and needing to have my newborn with me) but he was understanding.

I had emergency c section with my first child. He had to have special formula. While I was going around to classes, I had to be driven to class for a few weeks because I could not drive myself nor could I walk up and down the steep hills at UCSC right after the emergency surgery for my son.
He was not the easiest baby, but is a great child.

Raja was amazing and insistent that my son, this little two week old, was going to change this world. How amazing of a thing, right?!
 Just amazing!

He told me that he fully expected my son to be able to take us, as a human race, to a new planet. To find and explore the universe.

Raja, to you I say this:
You changed my life.
You changed my son's life. 
A little infant.
He is OBSESSED with astronomy and the universe.
If he could take a class, only one subject, in the world, my bets are on Astrophysics.
I can't thank you enough. You gave opportunity, to me as a mother, and to my son- where many would not. You saw the possibility! 
I now, soley blame you for his love of science (and mine)-- in the best way possible!!

While other professors scolded me, made me work harder, judged me, assumed things about me as a student parent, you did not. You saw me as a beautiful person who loved astrophysics-- 
a lover of learning. 

You have changed our lives, and I am sure many more. 
THANK YOU!!

I encourage professors across the board, to jump on this band wagon.
If you do what these two professors have done, you won't just change the life of the mother!
You change the life of that baby tremendously!
You change the lives of everyone in that classroom-- tolerance, capability, world thinking, inspiration. The list can go on and on.

Bravo to the amazing teachers and professors out there.
(Another shout out, Paul Ortiz, who was amazing as well.)

You are making a difference!

More on Raja:

UCSC Astro Dept Bio
UCO Link
Vimeo video

ENTER RED BOX GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Red Box Code Giveaway

Yes, it is a giveaway! 

 I just started using and L.O.V.E. Redbox.

Seriously, Redbox, how did I not know how awesome you were?!

I am starting my blog back up and in process of changing it up a little bit. 

In the mean time, I would love your support by entering the contest...

to win...

a Red Box Code Giveaway!

This is a unique code given to me, so can only be used once. 

The contest will run from today until Monday the 18th May.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will notify the winner asap. 

If you do win, and won't use, just let me know and I can pass along. 

It is worth it and I appreciate your support...

And remember, be kind! 

 Share the Pin for the Giveaway!

The Wedding Ringer Movie Review

The Wedding Ringer Movie Review

R rated 

One of my first (movie reviews):

You know that lesson you want to take out of movies?

This can be or won't be one of those.

Why?

Because you take out of it what you personally take out of it.

Spoiler: Don't get yourself into a commitment you can't really commit to. 

(But I did not have to tell you that did I?) 

Must be able to tolerate crude humour, drinking, language. 

Definitely crude and adult scenes (adult in the sense that of course you don't want your babes to see this, but of course the R rating gave that away). 

The bride, played by the famed "The Big Bang Theory"'s Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting as Gretchen has hidden under her wedding dress her secret motive for marriage, especially to the groom. The groom, played by Josh Gad, was just settling (aren't we all in some way?). The Wedding Ringer, Jimmy, played by the one and only Kevin Hart also has hidden the reason for why he does what he does and has more in common with the groom then he thinks. 

What is the Wedding Ringer? Someone hired as Bic Mitchum to be the groom's best man, in place of no friends. What he finds is a friend. Not to mention the misfit of hired stand in's for the groomsmen. The biggest pull off between insanity (if it were real life) and hilarity. 

In the end, nothing ends the way (the characters or maybe even) you would think.

With obvious, predictability (for some). 

You either like or don't like- but don't take it seriously! 

Friends come out of the unlikely of places...

I would place this at a 3 out of 5. 

*Not paid or given passes to the movie. Was a review not paid for in any compensation form. 

* Image used via search. 

(Happy) Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there!

But not just to the mamas.

To other Girl Scout leaders, teachers, mentors,  who may not have kids of their own, but guide kids. 

I know that I have not been here much... but lots going on. I plan to be more active. Promise.

Anyways...

Spending an hour with each my kids individually. 

In true reflection and being real with myself....

I woke up this morning going, "Happy Mother's Day" to me? Really? 

Of all the mistakes I make, you want to wish me a Happy Mother's Day?

I know, but, honestly, that is how I felt this morning.

I felt I was not the perfect mother.

I know, perfect does not exist. 

But don't tell this perfectionist heart of mine! LOL

I really try so hard to be the best mother ever.

Again, perfectionist and unreal, right?

I school my kids at home, which I love doing, when it is going well. 

I coordinate field trips, outings, get together, do so much that taking time is very foreign to me.

I am the scout leader for both the boys and my girl. 

Which I love and enjoy SO much.

It brings so much joy to my heart. 

They are my nephews and nieces and are close to my heart!

When my kids act out, in any way, I feel like a failure.
Ok, I am very very hard on myself.

I am sure other parents can relate to this one.

Of course it is not rational and no one said it ever was. 

Does not take away that feeling though, right?

Today, instead of thinking that I have to be perfect...

I am remembering 5 things!...

1) I am going to relish in the fact that I am a mother.

So many try to have kids, and I am thankful I have kids.

All of them are unique and different.

2) I need to worry less about a perfectly clean house.

I mean, come on!!!

Kids homeschooling= happy kids= no clean house! LOL

3) With everything I am going through, all the trials and tribulations, 

I know that it will work out in the end, no matter what light I see. 

I know that as much as my heart and spirit may hurt, I am not the only one.

That the heart does go on, pun intended.

4) I know that whatever I am going through, I need to use it as a lesson.

For myself and my kids. To show them the way. 

5) To ALL MOTHER'S going through something internally, you can do this! 

I believe in you, I believe in me, I believe in us!!!

Everyday struggles are real. 

They are ok. (Say it with me!)

And the battle is only uphill. 

Don't worry about ten days from now when you can worry about today.

Now, easier said than done. Great practice though, right?

And because we are fighters and love our children, 

We should celebrate us as mothers!

CELEBRATE YOUR (HAPPY) MOTHER'S DAY!!!