Mommy Health and Happiness, Steamy Kale Potato Soup, and a Fabuously Fun Indoor Fort

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times mentioned two studies that focused on the health and happiness of mothers. The first published in December by psychologists at the University of North Carolina reported that mothers who work tend to be just as healthy — and, in some cases, healthier — than those who stay at home.

The other report, by Pew Research Center, noted that 36% of working moms said they were very happy with their lives, which is the exact same percentage of stay-at-home moms reporting so. In addition, working moms were equally likely as stay-at-home moms to say they were very satisfied with their family life. Comforting news for all moms.

Recipe:

Kale and Potato Soup

Here’s another tasty and healthy kale recipe to add to the mix that I found at Culinate.com. It’s simple to make and is a perfect meal for cold winter lunches or dinners. Just add bread to do some dipping! :)

Ingredients
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
pinch of red chile flakes
6 cups broth or water + enough bouillon to make 6 cups broth
1 lb. organic potatoes of choice, peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks
1 bay leaf
1 bunch of organic kale, thick stems discarded, leaves finely chopped
salt and ground pepper, if desired

1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot. When warm add onion, garlic, and chile flakes and cook for 5-7 minutes stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften. Add bouillon potatoes, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Then add kale and simmer, until kale is tender and potatoes are soft.

2. Remove the bay leaf and add salt and ground black pepper, if desired. Use stick wand to partially puree.

Rainy/Snowy Day Project:

Make an Awesome Inside Fort (big or small)

What You Will Need:
Your living room furniture
Bed sheets and blankets
Clips or clothespins
Coffee table books
Pillows
Cushions
Flashlight
Rope or long strong, string (to attach flashlight)

1. For a small fort you can simply use three large couch cushions and a couple of blankets. This is a wonderful one for the smaller kids. You two can crawl inside and reads some books.

2. For a larger fort head to the living room, where you can use the large, sturdy furniture to act as anchors. Drape bed sheets and or blankets over them to create a large, livable space inside. Secure sheets and blankets with coffee table books, clips, and clothespins. Hang a headlamp or flashlight from the roof for nighttime fun.


“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -George Bernard Shaw