I barely made it through my 2011 "Resolutions" so the idea of making 2012 resolutions seems ridiculous. But who am I if not ridiculous! :-) So... here we go...
First, I'm very anxious about life with the new baby. Being able to juggle him, Sophia, Zoe, and Dave feels somewhat daunting. Zoe's schedule is always hectic, Sophia is demanding of my time, attention, and energy. Dave's expectations of my "role" in the family is as high maintenance as he can be if I don't stay on top of things. Not to mention my course load this upcoming semester and my own goals. I feel quite fortunate that Ethan is such a laid back baby and hopefully that won't change.
I am going to focus this year on a couple of things that should keep life in balance, and assist in my ability to juggle everyone.
1. I want to get us on a very good and fairly strict family schedule. I think that we have really been lacking that consistent schedule and that's been a big problem for Sophia especially. I want to focus our schedule around Sophia so that she can get up and moving on time and in particular focus on the evening schedule getting dinner at a decent hour and a bath and bedtime routine.
2. I absolutely have to focus on my health. I didn't gain much while I was pregnant, but I didn't exactly start off at a good weight. I'm getting older and my body just isn't "bouncing" back like it used to. It can't handle the sugar and junk food/lack of exercise regiment I've maintained these last 35 years. So, with the new year I am going to focus on making exercise a part of my weekly if not daily routine. The fact that I'm taking Fitness Walking as one of my courses this semester helps, but I have to do more. I want to incorporate some yoga/pilates in with the cardio that will be Fitness Walking.
3. Related to #2 is focusing on the eating habits of myself as well as my family. We can always eat healthier and I'd like to really focus on getting the right kinds of nutrition for the family. My Dad gave me a freezer meals cookbook and I'd like to really incorporate that into our family meal time plans. This would make food available for them to pop in the microwave that's good for them (and me). Not to mention, if planned right, this would be wonderful for my pocketbook too. Cha-ching. $$$
4. I want to focus some of my extra money and attention on the house. There is such a long list of things we need for this house and even more that I want. I've been living in this house for a year and a half now and have been in Raleigh for three years and it's time to make this HOME. Not just the place we live, but a complete home. I need to hang pictures and curtains. There's no reason I can't get some things to complete the decoration of this house. Of course, I need a list. The list may be more fun to make than to actually buy from.
5. I absolutely have to get to the crafts I want to do. I can sew and should focus on doing it. I want to learn to knit/crochet and there's no reason I can't learn. This year I'm going to make crafting a part of my weekly schedule. My crafting includes finishing the last bit of Zoe's quilt, making Ethan's crib quilt, making Sophia's new quilt for her new bed, and working on the many patterns I have in the books I have. Plus, hair bobbits, tutus, and whatever else I can think of.
I'm going to "limit" my list to these five things. They kind of include a lot so I don't feel bad for limiting myself. I really hope I can accomplish these 5 resolutions plus maybe throw in a few extras. I hope that these 5 help me get organized in my life as well as in my home. I hope I lose weight and get healthy. I hope I help Sophia to be happier and more secure in her family. I hope I am able to balance the family and house and self. I hope that 2012 brings me as much happiness and inner peace as 2011 has brought. So far, 2011 has been the year I've grown the most in and I hope that trend continues.
Happy New Year readers.
December 26, 2011
December 16, 2011
Birthday 2012
Yes, I'm thinking ahead. But this is just absolutely the coolest idea ever! For my... um... (can I pass for 25 still?) birthday I'm going to throw my own birthday party. A Cookies and Cocktails party. I got the idea from here:
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/cookies-cocktails/cookies-cocktails/index.html
I was up at 3 a.m. for Ethan's late night feeding and I happened to catch the show and was like, totally cool! Ironically... or Coincidentally, I checked my email that day and had an invite to a cookie exchange which is basically the same idea without the adult festive beverages. I'm thinking about having the beverages and making this a couples party so my friends and their significant others can come, but also have some kid friendly cookies and beverages so that everyone can bring their children.
I'm especially excited to try some of these recipes, especially the Momofuku Compost Cookies and Cereal Milk Cocktail. Of course, let's hope none of my invitees are on major New Year's diets.
While I'm on the topic of things I think are cool... this show has a lot of fun stuff that I'd like to find the recipes for to try at home since it's unlikely I will get to many of the places on it:
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/unique-sweets/index.html
For Denise and in referenve to this post I am posting my grandma's chocolate chip cookie recipe. These cookies are so much yummier than what you find on the back of the Nestle Toll House chocolate chip bag. Maybe it's the crisco that makes them over the top yummy. They're not too sweet, just the right mix of sweet and salty. The recipe doesn't make that many cookies, maybe a dozen or a baker's dozen or so... But then again, if the recipe made more than that I'd be tempted to eat more than that and I don't need more.
Nana's Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup crisco
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons water
1 6oz bag of chocolate chips
1/2 cups nuts (optional)
Cream crisco and sugars
Add egg, blend well
Add vanilla and water
Sift flour, salt and soda together
Add flour mixture to cookie mixture
Stir in chips and nuts
Bake 375
9 minutes
ungreased cookie sheet
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/cookies-cocktails/cookies-cocktails/index.html
I was up at 3 a.m. for Ethan's late night feeding and I happened to catch the show and was like, totally cool! Ironically... or Coincidentally, I checked my email that day and had an invite to a cookie exchange which is basically the same idea without the adult festive beverages. I'm thinking about having the beverages and making this a couples party so my friends and their significant others can come, but also have some kid friendly cookies and beverages so that everyone can bring their children.
I'm especially excited to try some of these recipes, especially the Momofuku Compost Cookies and Cereal Milk Cocktail. Of course, let's hope none of my invitees are on major New Year's diets.
While I'm on the topic of things I think are cool... this show has a lot of fun stuff that I'd like to find the recipes for to try at home since it's unlikely I will get to many of the places on it:
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/unique-sweets/index.html
For Denise and in referenve to this post I am posting my grandma's chocolate chip cookie recipe. These cookies are so much yummier than what you find on the back of the Nestle Toll House chocolate chip bag. Maybe it's the crisco that makes them over the top yummy. They're not too sweet, just the right mix of sweet and salty. The recipe doesn't make that many cookies, maybe a dozen or a baker's dozen or so... But then again, if the recipe made more than that I'd be tempted to eat more than that and I don't need more.
Nana's Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup crisco
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons water
1 6oz bag of chocolate chips
1/2 cups nuts (optional)
Cream crisco and sugars
Add egg, blend well
Add vanilla and water
Sift flour, salt and soda together
Add flour mixture to cookie mixture
Stir in chips and nuts
Bake 375
9 minutes
ungreased cookie sheet
September 5, 2011
Zoë's Baby Quilt
I was a late bloomer when getting into sewing. My mother and grandmother could barely sew on a button so it's not like I grew up learning about sewing. To be honest, I like sewing. I LOVE quilting. When my friend Marcy first showed me the how, I went on a rampage and made like 5 quilt tops. It was nearly 3 years late before I actually quilted any of them. The first quilt I made from start to finish was a baby quilt for Sophia. I finished it just a few days before she was born.
Now, with another baby on the way, I decided to make a new quilt for him. But of course, Zoë says to me, "Um... hey. I'm the first born. Where's my quilt?" It just so happened I had saved the rocking chair cushion from her baby bedding set. I took it apart and washed the material. I put together a couple of rows, but they turned out horribly (see pic) so I scrapped them and went for a pattern I knew I could do- a double pinwheel.
Here is the main block. It's actually a really easy pattern and as long as you line up your corners, it looks great. I wasn't able to make a good number of blocks so I had to do 18 which made the overall quilt center very long and skinny. To adjust for that I did the outside borders wide on the sides (3") and thin on the top and bottom (1"). I was somewhat concerned about what borders to do. I wanted a green check, but all I could find was a green with tiny white polka dots. It turned out to be good enough (I can't really say better or not since I don't have the checked to compare). And I'm going to do the back in the green as well.
At this point, all I have to do is pin the back and batting and do the actual quilting. Then Zoë will finally have her baby quilt at 16 years old. Is it better late than never? :)
Now, with another baby on the way, I decided to make a new quilt for him. But of course, Zoë says to me, "Um... hey. I'm the first born. Where's my quilt?" It just so happened I had saved the rocking chair cushion from her baby bedding set. I took it apart and washed the material. I put together a couple of rows, but they turned out horribly (see pic) so I scrapped them and went for a pattern I knew I could do- a double pinwheel.
I know it doesn't look like it's terrible here, but the material from the rocking chair cushion was really difficult to work with so when I would sew it, the lines didn't quite line up. Plus, I used the 9 patch from Sophia's quilt which was cute in her quilt, but in this one, it just didn't seem to fit. The double pinwheel actually turned out really pretty.
At this point, all I have to do is pin the back and batting and do the actual quilting. Then Zoë will finally have her baby quilt at 16 years old. Is it better late than never? :)
August 29, 2011
Updates on things
I tried the rice pudding again with some leftover rice from dinner a few nights ago. The rice measured a barely a cup and a half cooked, but I used all other ingredients as measured. It turned out much creamier this time and much closer to good ol' Uncle Ben's. I forgot to add the raisins which was disappointing, but that's just mentioned because I forgot. Also, the recipe says to pour the liquid over the rice, but I suggest mixing it too because I got a nice custard type overlay and then just plain rice on the bottom. Once I stirred it all up it was fine, but it might have cooked more flavor into the rice if I'd mixed it up before baking. Finally, I set the timer for only one hour so I could check it every few minutes after, but I was busy putting Sophia to bed and Zoë pulled the pudding out of the oven when the timer went off. Turns out one hour was the right amount of time and everything turned out pretty yummy.
I have a bunch of recipes to post, but I'm too tired to post them tonight. Now that school has started I'm barely finding time to do anything that isn't completely revolved around studying. Trying to finish my classes three weeks early is challenging and requires my complete and utter attention. Sometimes I look at school and wonder what I'm doing this for. The school keeps preaching about the importance to future employers of involvement in school activities, but how do I find time? Between school work, housework, kids, husband, any kind of social life (it's very slim right now), and just having a moment to breathe... well, I already have to give up sleeping, eating, and bathing. I suppose I could quit going to the bathroom and that would free up some time to engage in club activities, but at some point I just have to release the (excuse me here) crap. I hope future potential employers will appreciate my endurance and see my "extra-curricular activities" as valuable despite their obvious lack of academic prestige.
I'm now at 24 weeks and the baby is moving quite a bit now. He rolls and kicks. I find it funny that I can press on my belly two times and he kicks two times or I can press three times and he kicks three times. Only once has he missed. I'm not sure if this is a sign of his inevitable genius IQ or if this is copycat behavior with no real thought. It's hard not to wonder what a baby thinks about in there. They surely have thoughts, but no reference as to what to think about. I imagine he's thinking, "I need more room in here." Of course, I also imagine he's a 10 pound baby that is 4 feet tall already.
Maternity clothes still disappoint me. I was looking at Old Navy maternity the other day and noticed that all of the tops make the women's breasts look saggy and gross. What's up with that? And while I haevn't bought much (thank you Erin and Ana) I finally broke down and bought a few things that were more... my style. The jeans, however, while completely cute cut into the middle of my belly and are super uncomfortable. I can't decide if I should take them back or not. I was very excited that Forever21 has a maternity line until I saw what they had. Where are the funky, fun clothes they usually carry? I need someone to write to about this. Someone that can design a line worth wearing and still affordable. I found a cute pattern book on etsy.com in Amy Japan's store, but I can't find it now. Maybe it's gone. It had some really nice patterns and if I could sew as well as I wish I could I would have bought the book and whipped up some interesting and fun things. For now, I'll just settle with complaining about my lack of selection and wear my hand-me-downs.
I'm off to bed. It's been a long weekend and I have a long week ahead of me. Good night! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............
I have a bunch of recipes to post, but I'm too tired to post them tonight. Now that school has started I'm barely finding time to do anything that isn't completely revolved around studying. Trying to finish my classes three weeks early is challenging and requires my complete and utter attention. Sometimes I look at school and wonder what I'm doing this for. The school keeps preaching about the importance to future employers of involvement in school activities, but how do I find time? Between school work, housework, kids, husband, any kind of social life (it's very slim right now), and just having a moment to breathe... well, I already have to give up sleeping, eating, and bathing. I suppose I could quit going to the bathroom and that would free up some time to engage in club activities, but at some point I just have to release the (excuse me here) crap. I hope future potential employers will appreciate my endurance and see my "extra-curricular activities" as valuable despite their obvious lack of academic prestige.
I'm now at 24 weeks and the baby is moving quite a bit now. He rolls and kicks. I find it funny that I can press on my belly two times and he kicks two times or I can press three times and he kicks three times. Only once has he missed. I'm not sure if this is a sign of his inevitable genius IQ or if this is copycat behavior with no real thought. It's hard not to wonder what a baby thinks about in there. They surely have thoughts, but no reference as to what to think about. I imagine he's thinking, "I need more room in here." Of course, I also imagine he's a 10 pound baby that is 4 feet tall already.
Maternity clothes still disappoint me. I was looking at Old Navy maternity the other day and noticed that all of the tops make the women's breasts look saggy and gross. What's up with that? And while I haevn't bought much (thank you Erin and Ana) I finally broke down and bought a few things that were more... my style. The jeans, however, while completely cute cut into the middle of my belly and are super uncomfortable. I can't decide if I should take them back or not. I was very excited that Forever21 has a maternity line until I saw what they had. Where are the funky, fun clothes they usually carry? I need someone to write to about this. Someone that can design a line worth wearing and still affordable. I found a cute pattern book on etsy.com in Amy Japan's store, but I can't find it now. Maybe it's gone. It had some really nice patterns and if I could sew as well as I wish I could I would have bought the book and whipped up some interesting and fun things. For now, I'll just settle with complaining about my lack of selection and wear my hand-me-downs.
I'm off to bed. It's been a long weekend and I have a long week ahead of me. Good night! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............
August 15, 2011
Mmmm.... Chicken Salad
I was never a fan of chicken salad until I got pregnant in 2004. I fell in love with McAllister's chicken salad during my short-lived pregnancy. My love was rekindled at a friend's house last summer. But she couldn't remember the recipe so I started a search for a recipe that had all of the ingredients I wanted. It turned out I had to just put a lot of recipes together until I found a taste I liked. I've had confirmation by a friend as well as by the husband that this recipe is tasty so I'm sharing.
Beware: there are absolutely no "measurements" here. It's really mostly just throwing a bunch of stuff in a bowl until it's just right. Also note that in my pictures I used the food processor. I usually hand chop everything, but I actually liked it better in the food processor because it tasted more blended and smooth, not so chunky. I like to eat this spread on Ritz crackers, but it's also good on bread or toast or however you like to eat your chicken salad.
2 Good sized chicken breasts
3 Celery stalks
1/2 yellow onion
1 Granny Smith Apple
A handful of raisins
A glob (yes, that's the technical term) of mayonaise
Salt and Pepper to taste
Boil chicken breasts until they're done
Trim celery and wash
Cut the core out of the apple and peel
Throw chicken, celery, onion, and apple into food processor
OR chop celery, onion, and apple until pretty small pieces and shred chicken
Add raisins and mayonaise
Serve in your favorite way. Like I said, my favorite way is spread on Ritz crackers in blobs (yes, another technical term). It's definitely better on crackers when it's more spreadable, but the chunkier style is good as a sandwich. YummmmmmY!
Beware: there are absolutely no "measurements" here. It's really mostly just throwing a bunch of stuff in a bowl until it's just right. Also note that in my pictures I used the food processor. I usually hand chop everything, but I actually liked it better in the food processor because it tasted more blended and smooth, not so chunky. I like to eat this spread on Ritz crackers, but it's also good on bread or toast or however you like to eat your chicken salad.
2 Good sized chicken breasts
3 Celery stalks
1/2 yellow onion
1 Granny Smith Apple
A handful of raisins
A glob (yes, that's the technical term) of mayonaise
Salt and Pepper to taste
Boil chicken breasts until they're done
OR chop celery, onion, and apple until pretty small pieces and shred chicken
Add raisins and mayonaise
August 14, 2011
The Fresh Market
I LOVE the Fresh Market. Sure, it's generally overpriced on some of the basic staples- although a lot of the "staples" there are organic and/or special in some way. And yes, I'd rather hit the local Farmer's Market for vegetables and fruits. Fortunately, Raleigh has an amazing Farmer's Market. But the Fresh Market is a chain grocery store that offers that little something special.
It's not really the food, or the prices, or the specialized selection that appeals to me. It's the atmosphere. There's always some kind of quiet music playing in the background- probably classical, but I can't say for sure. The smells of fresh flowers intermingled with coffee and fresh baked goods all swim in my senses. The lower lighting makes everything look and feel softer. The displays are very neat and personalized. Everything adds up to exactly how I wish my house looked, felt, smelled, sounded. It doesn't, but I can dream, right?
The Fresh Market seems to cater to older, wealthier clientele or more gourmet shoppers than I am. I found a beautiful aged Ghouda there that I hadn't been able to find in any of the local chains (i.e. Food Lion, Kroger, Harris Teeter). And they have this wonderful meal deal that for $13.99 you can get a rotisserie chicken, corn bread, and two baked sides (we usually go with mashed potatoes and macaroni). It's all fresh baked/cooked foods in their deli department. For that price, it's a great meal and even the four of us can usually get two meals out of it. I often throw in some fresh green beans or peas just to color the meal up.
My favorite thing at the Fresh Market, besides the atmosphere is their spice selections. Here is where you can actually get a great deal. For $1.19 you can get a little empty spice jar. Then for nearly half the price of your normal grocery chains you can get your spices in little plastic bags marked with the type of spice and the expiration date. I bought 6 or 7 spices at Kroger- a few Kroger brand and a few McCormicks if Kroger brand wasn't available. Only one spice was cheaper at Kroger and it was on sale and only cheaper by a few cents than the Fresh Market. These included paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, and ground cumin (all staples in my house). The jars, of course, are reusable so I break out my label maker... well, I don't actually have a label maker so I break out my post-its and packing tape.... and label each jar. Plus, this is awesome for creating your blends like the fajita blend I made.
I still frequent the local chains because let's face it, I'm can't afford every meal from the Fresh Market, but for any of those special meals or any time I want a spice or just when I need a short little get-away from the kids I'll take a quick "vacation" to the Fresh Market and usually come out feeling happy I did.
It's not really the food, or the prices, or the specialized selection that appeals to me. It's the atmosphere. There's always some kind of quiet music playing in the background- probably classical, but I can't say for sure. The smells of fresh flowers intermingled with coffee and fresh baked goods all swim in my senses. The lower lighting makes everything look and feel softer. The displays are very neat and personalized. Everything adds up to exactly how I wish my house looked, felt, smelled, sounded. It doesn't, but I can dream, right?
The Fresh Market seems to cater to older, wealthier clientele or more gourmet shoppers than I am. I found a beautiful aged Ghouda there that I hadn't been able to find in any of the local chains (i.e. Food Lion, Kroger, Harris Teeter). And they have this wonderful meal deal that for $13.99 you can get a rotisserie chicken, corn bread, and two baked sides (we usually go with mashed potatoes and macaroni). It's all fresh baked/cooked foods in their deli department. For that price, it's a great meal and even the four of us can usually get two meals out of it. I often throw in some fresh green beans or peas just to color the meal up.
My favorite thing at the Fresh Market, besides the atmosphere is their spice selections. Here is where you can actually get a great deal. For $1.19 you can get a little empty spice jar. Then for nearly half the price of your normal grocery chains you can get your spices in little plastic bags marked with the type of spice and the expiration date. I bought 6 or 7 spices at Kroger- a few Kroger brand and a few McCormicks if Kroger brand wasn't available. Only one spice was cheaper at Kroger and it was on sale and only cheaper by a few cents than the Fresh Market. These included paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, and ground cumin (all staples in my house). The jars, of course, are reusable so I break out my label maker... well, I don't actually have a label maker so I break out my post-its and packing tape.... and label each jar. Plus, this is awesome for creating your blends like the fajita blend I made.
I still frequent the local chains because let's face it, I'm can't afford every meal from the Fresh Market, but for any of those special meals or any time I want a spice or just when I need a short little get-away from the kids I'll take a quick "vacation" to the Fresh Market and usually come out feeling happy I did.
July 18, 2011
Favorite Books
The other night I went to a cookout at a friend's house who is the proud mommy of a beautiful 6 month old baby girl. While I was there she asked me about finding children's books and I promised her a list of some of mine and Sophia's favorites. The thing about making this list is that I am a book collector. I have well over 500 books for Sophia. They are piled on book shelves, in the floor, in drawers. And I don't stop buying them. If I see a good book I buy it (assuming the price is reasonable). I like to buy books from yard sales and used book stores, but I'll rarely pay more than a dollar or two depending on the book.
I loved being a member of the Chilren's Book of the Month club. Yes, it's a mail order book club, but they don't randomly mail books out to you and charge your credit card and over all you get some great books at half or lower than retail. Here's a link: http://www.cbomc.com/ I got some great books and spent maybe $150 total. Of course I paid more than a dollar or two, but some of the books I got retail for up to $12.
Being a native Tennessee- Sophia was born in Knoxville- we also belong to the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library which is an awesome program. I hope when I have extra money to give I can give to this program because it's been wonderful for us. A book every month of Sophia's life until she's 5!!!! I think it's only for Tennessee residents, but other states should follow suit if they don't have a program like this. THANK YOU DOLLY PARTON!!!! Here's a link to the Imagination Library if you're not already signed up: http://imaginationlibrary.com/. I'm hoping to sign up the new baby when he's born.
I have to give credit to Chick Fil A for their contribution to our book collection including the Laura Numeroff collection. Sophia has mostly grown out of the "under 3 board books" but they have been great additions and quick easy reads for her.
Ok. List of books we love. I might have to come in and edit this adding titles, author info or whatnot. Post any questions you have on anything I post and I'll answer with any details you need.
For the Toddler:
Any of the "Spot" books are great for toddlers. They usually tear them up, but they're well-worth the expense.
"Biscuit" books are less intelligible, but kids seem to enjoy them.
Sandra Boynton books are great fun to read. We like:
Pajama Time
What's Wrong Little Pookie
Blue Hat, Green Hat (which guarantees giggles with every "Oops")
Doggies
The Belly Button Book (we don't own this one, but have read it many times)
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
On The Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier (honestly, this one is more for the parents than the kids)
For the older toddler/preschooler:
We all know Dr. Suess books are fabulous. But not all Dr. Suess are equal. These are the ones Sophia loved:
The Foot Book
Green Eggs and Ham
The Eye Book
Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?
Fox in Socks (fun for parents too- challenge your significant other to read it as fast as he/she can)
My Many Colored Days
Some PD Eastman books from the Dr. Suess collection:
Are you My Mother?
Ten Apples Up on Top
Berenstain Bears Books:
The B Book
On The Moon
Any of the Berenstain Bears books are great books. The character of them is that Stan and Jan Berenstain wrote the books for their kids and you can buy the books in sets to grow with your child's reading attention and ability.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch is a must to any library. It's another parent's book
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (I suggest the individual books because the all-in-one collection is hard to hold with a child snuggled in your lap.)
Momma Will You by Dori Chaconas
Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper (an absolute must-have)
Curious George by H.A. Rey (It's a bit old fashioned, but the kids don't seem to notice.)
Every child should have one "Classical Fairy Tales" book. It's not necessarily important which one as long as it covers the classics (Three Bears*, Three Little Pigs, Tom Thumb, Hansel and Gretel)
*I got a great Goldilocks and The Three Bears book adapted by Jan Brett from the Imagination Library. Her illustrations are phenomenal and worth buying it separate.
Jane O' Connor has created the best girlie books ever- Fancy Nancy. If you have a little girl, get these books. Beware of the actual Jane O' Connor books and the "adapted from" books. I noticed a difference enough to bother me although Sophia didn't seem to mind. We like:
Fancy Nancy
Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly
Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas
We have Fancy Nancy Exporer Extraoridnaire, but I find this book tedious to read and maybe would be better when your child can read it herself.
Olivia books are great for little girls too. We have the original Olivia as well as Olivia's Christmas.
Pinkalicious by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann is a good girlie book. If you get the series (which I recommend) beware of Purplicious because it's very... dramatic. My drama queen picked up on all of the extreme drama.
Laura Numeroff books are wonderful:
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
If You Give a Pig a Party
If You Take a Mouse to School
etc. They're all pretty fun to read and I think help kids see the cycle of thinking and interrelatedness.
Another amazing children's author is Doreen Cronin. I haven't found a book of hers that wasn't great. Her books have that great humor that appeals to kids AND parents.
Click Clack Moo
Duck For President
Mo Willems has the monopoly on dual humor
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed
Knuffle Bunny (We don't own this book, but have read it many times.)
If you at all celebrate Christmas (religious or not) you must own "Twas The Night Before Christmas". Be sure to look at the illustrations because the story is so common, but the illustrations can really *make* the story.
Other non-religious Chirstmas books to own:
Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (get the book before the movie)
The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
A book we own now, but I wish we'd owned when Sophia was little is The Big Book of Farmyard Tales by Heather Amery. It's a great book to read and has some starter reading potential.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (although it can be scary for little kids at that nightmare age)
Corduroy by Don Freeman (I've seen there are other Courduroy books, but I haven't read any of them so I can't comment. The original is just wonderful though.)
Beatrix Potter books are fun to read. The Tale of Peter Rabbit is one we enjoy as well as Jemima Puddle Duck.
I think every kid should have a book of Mother Goose, but again, the illustrations can make or break the book. I recommend the Mary Engelbreit version. Her illustrations are colorful and interesting. The Real Mother Goose by Blanch Fisher is BORING and DULL and I ended up getting rid of our copy.
If you're interested in Bible stories, children's Bibles are the scariest! I asked around and somehow ended up with three copies now of The Beginner's Bible: Timeless Children's Stories. The illustrations are cute and it covers all of the stories kids should know.
This list is hardly complete, not to mention the fact that I keep adding to our collection as fast as I can and they keep writing awesome books. Plus, Sophia is learning to read faster than the bullet train so we're having to add more and more "grown up" books. In any case, this list should get anyone started with their collection.
I loved being a member of the Chilren's Book of the Month club. Yes, it's a mail order book club, but they don't randomly mail books out to you and charge your credit card and over all you get some great books at half or lower than retail. Here's a link: http://www.cbomc.com/ I got some great books and spent maybe $150 total. Of course I paid more than a dollar or two, but some of the books I got retail for up to $12.
Being a native Tennessee- Sophia was born in Knoxville- we also belong to the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library which is an awesome program. I hope when I have extra money to give I can give to this program because it's been wonderful for us. A book every month of Sophia's life until she's 5!!!! I think it's only for Tennessee residents, but other states should follow suit if they don't have a program like this. THANK YOU DOLLY PARTON!!!! Here's a link to the Imagination Library if you're not already signed up: http://imaginationlibrary.com/. I'm hoping to sign up the new baby when he's born.
I have to give credit to Chick Fil A for their contribution to our book collection including the Laura Numeroff collection. Sophia has mostly grown out of the "under 3 board books" but they have been great additions and quick easy reads for her.
Ok. List of books we love. I might have to come in and edit this adding titles, author info or whatnot. Post any questions you have on anything I post and I'll answer with any details you need.
For the Toddler:
Any of the "Spot" books are great for toddlers. They usually tear them up, but they're well-worth the expense.
"Biscuit" books are less intelligible, but kids seem to enjoy them.
Sandra Boynton books are great fun to read. We like:
Pajama Time
What's Wrong Little Pookie
Blue Hat, Green Hat (which guarantees giggles with every "Oops")
Doggies
The Belly Button Book (we don't own this one, but have read it many times)
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
On The Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier (honestly, this one is more for the parents than the kids)
For the older toddler/preschooler:
We all know Dr. Suess books are fabulous. But not all Dr. Suess are equal. These are the ones Sophia loved:
The Foot Book
Green Eggs and Ham
The Eye Book
Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?
Fox in Socks (fun for parents too- challenge your significant other to read it as fast as he/she can)
My Many Colored Days
Some PD Eastman books from the Dr. Suess collection:
Are you My Mother?
Ten Apples Up on Top
Berenstain Bears Books:
The B Book
On The Moon
Any of the Berenstain Bears books are great books. The character of them is that Stan and Jan Berenstain wrote the books for their kids and you can buy the books in sets to grow with your child's reading attention and ability.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch is a must to any library. It's another parent's book
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (I suggest the individual books because the all-in-one collection is hard to hold with a child snuggled in your lap.)
Momma Will You by Dori Chaconas
Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper (an absolute must-have)
Curious George by H.A. Rey (It's a bit old fashioned, but the kids don't seem to notice.)
Every child should have one "Classical Fairy Tales" book. It's not necessarily important which one as long as it covers the classics (Three Bears*, Three Little Pigs, Tom Thumb, Hansel and Gretel)
*I got a great Goldilocks and The Three Bears book adapted by Jan Brett from the Imagination Library. Her illustrations are phenomenal and worth buying it separate.
Jane O' Connor has created the best girlie books ever- Fancy Nancy. If you have a little girl, get these books. Beware of the actual Jane O' Connor books and the "adapted from" books. I noticed a difference enough to bother me although Sophia didn't seem to mind. We like:
Fancy Nancy
Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly
Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas
We have Fancy Nancy Exporer Extraoridnaire, but I find this book tedious to read and maybe would be better when your child can read it herself.
Olivia books are great for little girls too. We have the original Olivia as well as Olivia's Christmas.
Pinkalicious by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann is a good girlie book. If you get the series (which I recommend) beware of Purplicious because it's very... dramatic. My drama queen picked up on all of the extreme drama.
Laura Numeroff books are wonderful:
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
If You Give a Pig a Party
If You Take a Mouse to School
etc. They're all pretty fun to read and I think help kids see the cycle of thinking and interrelatedness.
Another amazing children's author is Doreen Cronin. I haven't found a book of hers that wasn't great. Her books have that great humor that appeals to kids AND parents.
Click Clack Moo
Duck For President
Mo Willems has the monopoly on dual humor
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed
Knuffle Bunny (We don't own this book, but have read it many times.)
If you at all celebrate Christmas (religious or not) you must own "Twas The Night Before Christmas". Be sure to look at the illustrations because the story is so common, but the illustrations can really *make* the story.
Other non-religious Chirstmas books to own:
Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (get the book before the movie)
The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
A book we own now, but I wish we'd owned when Sophia was little is The Big Book of Farmyard Tales by Heather Amery. It's a great book to read and has some starter reading potential.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (although it can be scary for little kids at that nightmare age)
Corduroy by Don Freeman (I've seen there are other Courduroy books, but I haven't read any of them so I can't comment. The original is just wonderful though.)
Beatrix Potter books are fun to read. The Tale of Peter Rabbit is one we enjoy as well as Jemima Puddle Duck.
I think every kid should have a book of Mother Goose, but again, the illustrations can make or break the book. I recommend the Mary Engelbreit version. Her illustrations are colorful and interesting. The Real Mother Goose by Blanch Fisher is BORING and DULL and I ended up getting rid of our copy.
If you're interested in Bible stories, children's Bibles are the scariest! I asked around and somehow ended up with three copies now of The Beginner's Bible: Timeless Children's Stories. The illustrations are cute and it covers all of the stories kids should know.
This list is hardly complete, not to mention the fact that I keep adding to our collection as fast as I can and they keep writing awesome books. Plus, Sophia is learning to read faster than the bullet train so we're having to add more and more "grown up" books. In any case, this list should get anyone started with their collection.
July 13, 2011
Homemade Waffles anyone?
I used to buy Bisquick. It's easy, it's quick, it's a box. But once I ran out and I wanted waffles and I had no money to run to the store and grab a box of Bisquick. So, I made some from scratch. Yes, ladies and gentleman, from scratch. It sounds waaaaay harder than it is. It's actually extremely simple and you could even make a big batch of the dry ingredients and save it in tupperware for later use.
Here it is for you waffle-y yum-ness. Note: I have pictures in this post. I've added pictures to a few other older posts in case you really want to see my masterwork for yourself.
Wonderful Waffles
3T unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
2T sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
I just throw it all in a bowl
![]()
Then put it on my favorite waffle iron from Williams Sonoma using a ladel
![]()
![]()
I usually keep my iron on about 4 or medium to get the best waffles. Too high and they're too cripy and kinda dry, too low and they aren't done. Perfectly golden is what you're looking for.
![]()
They really aren't that bad for you I suppose until you add the butter and syrup (which I always do), but if you want to add a little health and/or just make breakfast taste extra special, serve with some fresh cut strawberries and milk. I made this beautiful breakfast for Sophia and me.
![]()
Alton Brown once said you can freeze homemade waffles for L'eggo my Eggo type waffles you can pop in the toaster. I haven't tried this, but I do put them in the fridge. We try to eat them within the week and I usually toast mine lightly to bring back some of the "crunch" they lose. This is so simple I haven't bought Bisquick since. Shhh... don't tell Bisquick.
Here it is for you waffle-y yum-ness. Note: I have pictures in this post. I've added pictures to a few other older posts in case you really want to see my masterwork for yourself.
Wonderful Waffles
3T unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
2T sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
I just throw it all in a bowl
June 21, 2011
Silly Contests and Shameful plug
She's so cute. And I have soooo many followers and readers (haha) but in case someone is out there, maybe they'll see this and vote... often.
http://www.parenting.com/photo_contest/137550/photos/all/399502
![]()
http://www.parenting.com/photo_contest/137550/photos/all/399502
June 16, 2011
Vacation Bible School
Ok. First, I'll take responsibility for my failure. I should have started looking into it weeks ago rather than waiting last minute. And there's no reason I waited. Lazy I guess. (I did the same thing with swim lessons and we missed them this summer.)
But ya know what? So what if I'm late? Shouldn't every child get a chance to participate? They have a waiting list, but said it was unlikely the waitlist kids would be called. Isn't it a church's responsibility to give every child a chance? Isn't vacation Bible school teaching Jesus's lessons? Did Jesus turn people away? Ever? Maybe I misread or misremember the Bible, but I thought Jesus always said to let them come. He never turned people away. And especially not children.
The Church's reasons? They've already purchased and prepared the crafts. If I'd called 10 days ago they would have made sure she got in. What? Seriously? They're going to charge me $50 to participate and can't take my $50 and go buy the necessary crafts tomorrow? Heck... I'll go buy them. And I offered to volunteer. My one child for help with 5 others? Isn't that a win-win?
And if VBS is too full, why not open it up for another week? Let the kids that didn't get a chance to sign up- sign up. Does it really take that much more resources? Especially when you're working with $50 per child and your expenses are...? There's no paid employees (and if there are- that's a problem there. What happened to stewardship?). Ok, you have to pay utilities for a building you already keep running whether you have something going on or not. And there are all of those supplies that I'm sure costs... how much per child?
I think angry isn't really the word. Disappointed. I'm disappointed in my church that (if you've read my past posts) doesn't offer me any accountability for attendance, hasn't really given me any real reason to participate (or reasonable way), doesn't make me feel any more connected to God. I'm disappointed that my church would ever turn away my child, or any child for that matter. "Don't worry Sophia. You can learn about God... next year... if Mommy gets signed up in time." Yeah. There's a good Bible lesson.
But ya know what? So what if I'm late? Shouldn't every child get a chance to participate? They have a waiting list, but said it was unlikely the waitlist kids would be called. Isn't it a church's responsibility to give every child a chance? Isn't vacation Bible school teaching Jesus's lessons? Did Jesus turn people away? Ever? Maybe I misread or misremember the Bible, but I thought Jesus always said to let them come. He never turned people away. And especially not children.
The Church's reasons? They've already purchased and prepared the crafts. If I'd called 10 days ago they would have made sure she got in. What? Seriously? They're going to charge me $50 to participate and can't take my $50 and go buy the necessary crafts tomorrow? Heck... I'll go buy them. And I offered to volunteer. My one child for help with 5 others? Isn't that a win-win?
And if VBS is too full, why not open it up for another week? Let the kids that didn't get a chance to sign up- sign up. Does it really take that much more resources? Especially when you're working with $50 per child and your expenses are...? There's no paid employees (and if there are- that's a problem there. What happened to stewardship?). Ok, you have to pay utilities for a building you already keep running whether you have something going on or not. And there are all of those supplies that I'm sure costs... how much per child?
I think angry isn't really the word. Disappointed. I'm disappointed in my church that (if you've read my past posts) doesn't offer me any accountability for attendance, hasn't really given me any real reason to participate (or reasonable way), doesn't make me feel any more connected to God. I'm disappointed that my church would ever turn away my child, or any child for that matter. "Don't worry Sophia. You can learn about God... next year... if Mommy gets signed up in time." Yeah. There's a good Bible lesson.
June 15, 2011
Total Gleek
So, I've become a total Gleek. If you don't know what that is, you need to get to know it. I'm a geek for the TV show Glee. Of course, I can't just watch a show without knowing about it, the stars, the background. So, I searched all of the actors on IMBD, then googled the ones I'm most interested in. Which, in this case is nearly all of them.
There are many things I like about this show. Growing up, some of my favorite movies were musicals- Annie, Oliver Twist, My Fair Lady... the list goes on. Glee is like a weekly, hour-long musical movie. How wonderful is that?
But, as if that's not awesome enough (which it is), but they also add all of the drama I love in these weekly shows I get involved in- not too ridiculous, not too much, just enough. He loves her who loves him who loves himself. That kind of thing. The show also incorporates a lot of the "issues" that not only high school teenagers can relate to, but also I can as an adult. Maybe I'm relating to high school Karmen's issues, but I still relate. I love that the show addresses real problems kids face today- sex, teenage pregnancy, homosexuality, popularity, confliction between being oneself and being accepted, bullying. The list really goes on. With the right discussion to my teenage daughter, the show is a great way to open a dialogue about any of the issues she may be having.
Now because my train of thoughts are just often erratic like this- I became very intrigued by the sexual preference issues on the show. I mean, there is certainly a real issue of homosexuality dealt with on the show what with Kurt and Blaine and "the kiss seen around the world" as well as Santana and her struggle to win Brittany completely. But my interest in this situation lead me to thinking about the real preferences of the actors/actresses outside of the show. Which of course, I googled. A lot came up, but what *really* interested me was an article in much debate in the Newsweek. Here it is... http://www.newsweek.com/2010/04/30/straight-jacket.html
What I found interesting in this article was that in some ways, I guess I agree with it, and in some ways I definitely do not. Whatever the point of the author was intended to be, I don't think the controversey reflected his stated intentions.
Let's consider White Collar with Matt Bomer, a show I love. Matt Bomer is totally hot. I definitely created many a fantasy that included him as the leading male role. But, like Glee, I spent some research time and found that not only was Matt gay, he was involved in a long-term monogamous relationship and had adopted children. In White Collar he does not play a gay man, but quite the opposite. He's a bit of a lady's man in the show. Did reading that he's gay change my view of the show or Matt's role in it? Yes. Slightly. But does he play a very convincing straight man? I would say absolutely. Is my "gaydar" broken? Perhaps. Or maybe both his relationship status and his fatherhood status make him that much more sexy. And maybe he's just that good of an actor. And maybe the kisses he shares with some of the leading ladies is just passionate enought to stir my inner longing to be that leading lady of the moment.
Then again, maybe I'm just jaded because of my attraction to Matt Bomer's good looks and the sexy character he plays. I decided to think a little harder on the subject. I've seen several shows and movies where Eric McCormack (Will from Will and Grace, in case you don't know) plays a straight man. From all of my research, he *is* a straight man. But I still find it less than convincing that he could ever be straight. Is it because I don't find him as attractive as I do Matt Bomer? Maybe, although there are some pretty steamy photos of Eric that could lead to a fantasy or two. Or maybe the Newsweek article has a point.
Does the type of person and/or role make a difference? Eric McCormack is more effiminate than Matt Bomer. Neil Patrick Harris doesn't strike me as particularly effiminate, but Sean Hayes does. Does that make it easier for me to believe Neil Patrick Harris could be a straight man, but Sean Hayes could not? My dad is a pretty effiminate guy, but I don't doubt for a second his heterosexuality.
Type-casting can be hard to overcome no matter who you are or what role you're playing. Can anyone (at least my age who grew up on Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure) ever really look at Keanu Reeves and not expect him to break out into his Ted character, like totally? Ok, maybe that one is just me. He certainly broke the mold with the Matrix and I can almost take him seriously...almost. But what about Lisa Kudrow? Won't she always be Phoebe from Friends in our minds? Will anyone ever see Fran Dresher as anything other than the loud, obnoxious Nanny? Didn't Jennifer Aniston do the Good Girl specifically to escape her Rachel character from Friends? I guess the low budget, small film Dreams for an Insomniac wasn't enough for her to escape Rachel even though her acting in that film was beyond awesome and actually made me a huge fan. Maybe this is the real reason I have a hard time seeing Eric McCormack as a straight man. He played Will Truman for a long time. I haven't yet seen his Matrix or Good Girl role that breaks the stereotype for me.
And maybe the question to ask really, is why does it matter? I mean, whatever your real life choices are, isn't it acting? Aren't these men playing roles? Tom Hanks was never really stranded on an island with a Wilson volleyball that becamse his best friend but I'm no less convinced while watching Cast Away. And when has George Clooney ever been a Vegas thief as he was in all of the Ocean's movies? Can we really believe Elijah Woods was ever anything more than a hobbit when watching the Lord of the Rings movies?
Bottomline- I think the problem is not the actor's sexual preference that type-casts him, but rather the roles he chooses and the length he's seen in those roles. Play a gay man once, I doubt you're going to be condemned to playing gay men for life, but play a gay man in a legendary show for years might put you into certain category of available characters. And be a gay man playing straight, it's no less convincing than a straight man playing gay as long as it's done right. Of course, I can't speak for the Hollywood side of things. What I can say, is if I were a leading lady and someone asked me to have some passionate scenes with Matt Bomer, Jonathan Goff, Sean Hayes... ya know what? I'd do it! Because it would be my job (and his) to play the parts we have. And honestly, any of these men are great actors from the shows, movies, whatever that I've seen. Maybe we need to just get it out of our minds that their personal lives have anything to do with their roles and let them be the professional men they are trying to be. Maybe if we're so caught up in who he's sleeping with when he goes home from his "job" then we've lost the point of TV or a movie or a Broadway show. Entertainment. Get lost in the story. Enjoy the experience. Stop analyzing it for what it's not and start enjoying it for what it is.
There are many things I like about this show. Growing up, some of my favorite movies were musicals- Annie, Oliver Twist, My Fair Lady... the list goes on. Glee is like a weekly, hour-long musical movie. How wonderful is that?
But, as if that's not awesome enough (which it is), but they also add all of the drama I love in these weekly shows I get involved in- not too ridiculous, not too much, just enough. He loves her who loves him who loves himself. That kind of thing. The show also incorporates a lot of the "issues" that not only high school teenagers can relate to, but also I can as an adult. Maybe I'm relating to high school Karmen's issues, but I still relate. I love that the show addresses real problems kids face today- sex, teenage pregnancy, homosexuality, popularity, confliction between being oneself and being accepted, bullying. The list really goes on. With the right discussion to my teenage daughter, the show is a great way to open a dialogue about any of the issues she may be having.
Now because my train of thoughts are just often erratic like this- I became very intrigued by the sexual preference issues on the show. I mean, there is certainly a real issue of homosexuality dealt with on the show what with Kurt and Blaine and "the kiss seen around the world" as well as Santana and her struggle to win Brittany completely. But my interest in this situation lead me to thinking about the real preferences of the actors/actresses outside of the show. Which of course, I googled. A lot came up, but what *really* interested me was an article in much debate in the Newsweek. Here it is... http://www.newsweek.com/2010/04/30/straight-jacket.html
What I found interesting in this article was that in some ways, I guess I agree with it, and in some ways I definitely do not. Whatever the point of the author was intended to be, I don't think the controversey reflected his stated intentions.
Let's consider White Collar with Matt Bomer, a show I love. Matt Bomer is totally hot. I definitely created many a fantasy that included him as the leading male role. But, like Glee, I spent some research time and found that not only was Matt gay, he was involved in a long-term monogamous relationship and had adopted children. In White Collar he does not play a gay man, but quite the opposite. He's a bit of a lady's man in the show. Did reading that he's gay change my view of the show or Matt's role in it? Yes. Slightly. But does he play a very convincing straight man? I would say absolutely. Is my "gaydar" broken? Perhaps. Or maybe both his relationship status and his fatherhood status make him that much more sexy. And maybe he's just that good of an actor. And maybe the kisses he shares with some of the leading ladies is just passionate enought to stir my inner longing to be that leading lady of the moment.
Then again, maybe I'm just jaded because of my attraction to Matt Bomer's good looks and the sexy character he plays. I decided to think a little harder on the subject. I've seen several shows and movies where Eric McCormack (Will from Will and Grace, in case you don't know) plays a straight man. From all of my research, he *is* a straight man. But I still find it less than convincing that he could ever be straight. Is it because I don't find him as attractive as I do Matt Bomer? Maybe, although there are some pretty steamy photos of Eric that could lead to a fantasy or two. Or maybe the Newsweek article has a point.
Does the type of person and/or role make a difference? Eric McCormack is more effiminate than Matt Bomer. Neil Patrick Harris doesn't strike me as particularly effiminate, but Sean Hayes does. Does that make it easier for me to believe Neil Patrick Harris could be a straight man, but Sean Hayes could not? My dad is a pretty effiminate guy, but I don't doubt for a second his heterosexuality.
Type-casting can be hard to overcome no matter who you are or what role you're playing. Can anyone (at least my age who grew up on Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure) ever really look at Keanu Reeves and not expect him to break out into his Ted character, like totally? Ok, maybe that one is just me. He certainly broke the mold with the Matrix and I can almost take him seriously...almost. But what about Lisa Kudrow? Won't she always be Phoebe from Friends in our minds? Will anyone ever see Fran Dresher as anything other than the loud, obnoxious Nanny? Didn't Jennifer Aniston do the Good Girl specifically to escape her Rachel character from Friends? I guess the low budget, small film Dreams for an Insomniac wasn't enough for her to escape Rachel even though her acting in that film was beyond awesome and actually made me a huge fan. Maybe this is the real reason I have a hard time seeing Eric McCormack as a straight man. He played Will Truman for a long time. I haven't yet seen his Matrix or Good Girl role that breaks the stereotype for me.
And maybe the question to ask really, is why does it matter? I mean, whatever your real life choices are, isn't it acting? Aren't these men playing roles? Tom Hanks was never really stranded on an island with a Wilson volleyball that becamse his best friend but I'm no less convinced while watching Cast Away. And when has George Clooney ever been a Vegas thief as he was in all of the Ocean's movies? Can we really believe Elijah Woods was ever anything more than a hobbit when watching the Lord of the Rings movies?
Bottomline- I think the problem is not the actor's sexual preference that type-casts him, but rather the roles he chooses and the length he's seen in those roles. Play a gay man once, I doubt you're going to be condemned to playing gay men for life, but play a gay man in a legendary show for years might put you into certain category of available characters. And be a gay man playing straight, it's no less convincing than a straight man playing gay as long as it's done right. Of course, I can't speak for the Hollywood side of things. What I can say, is if I were a leading lady and someone asked me to have some passionate scenes with Matt Bomer, Jonathan Goff, Sean Hayes... ya know what? I'd do it! Because it would be my job (and his) to play the parts we have. And honestly, any of these men are great actors from the shows, movies, whatever that I've seen. Maybe we need to just get it out of our minds that their personal lives have anything to do with their roles and let them be the professional men they are trying to be. Maybe if we're so caught up in who he's sleeping with when he goes home from his "job" then we've lost the point of TV or a movie or a Broadway show. Entertainment. Get lost in the story. Enjoy the experience. Stop analyzing it for what it's not and start enjoying it for what it is.
June 12, 2011
Dating while married
Yesterday my husband and I spent most of the day together. It started when he woke me up to go get coffee. Of course, I can't drink coffee right now so I had water and a breakfast pocket. It was quite an adventure since the coffee shop he likes was blocked by the Breast Cancer awareness walk so we had to park a block away and walk only to find the road had been opened by the time we got to the coffee house. Haha!
After coffee we caught a movie- X-Men- which I totally recommend as one of the best X-Men movies yet. By the time we got home it was 3:30 in the afternoon. Sophia was already laid down for quiet time so we had another hour of eating lunch (quite late) and just watching some TV. Once Sophia was up and Zoe was carefully taken to a block party at a friend's house the hubby and I watched yet another movie on DVD.
Dating my husband has changed. We used to go to some nice restuarant for a meal and perhaps with friends. Alcohol was generally involved in some quantity- large or small. We rarely saw movies. We talked, a lot about the future, the past, the present. Dates usually ended in heated passionate ways. Now, I barely brush my hair, rarely wear makeup, and while I often try to dress as nice as I can I've been known to go out wearing yoga pants and a tee shirt if we're not going anywhere more than the movies. Our dates usually have little or no talking- he spent the morning on his iPad at the coffee house while I stared down the people around me and glared at the counter girl that was reluctant to give a pregnant woman a glass for water; then a movie which allows such minimum talking as "ooh... that movie looks good." And the only passion dates end in now is my passion for eating and his for browsing motorcycles on ebay.
I want to complain, but really, I like the comfort zone we've come to in our marriage. Sure, I miss passion. Every movie that has any kind of passionate kiss sends me over the edge, but I just don't see my husband that way anymore. Now he's that man whose hair I have to clean out of the bathroom sink every week and whose socks never seem to match up when I'm folding laundry. He's the man that gripes at me when he's had a bad day at work or the man that loves me dearly when he's feeling all "romantic." We're comfortable. It's easy- mostly.
So, date night has changed. Maybe when the kids are older we'll regain some passion or maybe not. Either way I suppose it's good that we get those snippets of time together to reconnect however superficially and just be an "us" for a while.
After coffee we caught a movie- X-Men- which I totally recommend as one of the best X-Men movies yet. By the time we got home it was 3:30 in the afternoon. Sophia was already laid down for quiet time so we had another hour of eating lunch (quite late) and just watching some TV. Once Sophia was up and Zoe was carefully taken to a block party at a friend's house the hubby and I watched yet another movie on DVD.
Dating my husband has changed. We used to go to some nice restuarant for a meal and perhaps with friends. Alcohol was generally involved in some quantity- large or small. We rarely saw movies. We talked, a lot about the future, the past, the present. Dates usually ended in heated passionate ways. Now, I barely brush my hair, rarely wear makeup, and while I often try to dress as nice as I can I've been known to go out wearing yoga pants and a tee shirt if we're not going anywhere more than the movies. Our dates usually have little or no talking- he spent the morning on his iPad at the coffee house while I stared down the people around me and glared at the counter girl that was reluctant to give a pregnant woman a glass for water; then a movie which allows such minimum talking as "ooh... that movie looks good." And the only passion dates end in now is my passion for eating and his for browsing motorcycles on ebay.
I want to complain, but really, I like the comfort zone we've come to in our marriage. Sure, I miss passion. Every movie that has any kind of passionate kiss sends me over the edge, but I just don't see my husband that way anymore. Now he's that man whose hair I have to clean out of the bathroom sink every week and whose socks never seem to match up when I'm folding laundry. He's the man that gripes at me when he's had a bad day at work or the man that loves me dearly when he's feeling all "romantic." We're comfortable. It's easy- mostly.
So, date night has changed. Maybe when the kids are older we'll regain some passion or maybe not. Either way I suppose it's good that we get those snippets of time together to reconnect however superficially and just be an "us" for a while.
June 6, 2011
Muffin recipes for Denise
So, facebook's new messaging stinks and I tried to send these two great muffin recipes to my friend Denise, but she couldn't read the whole message. For her (and for my loyal reader... lol...) here are my fabulous muffin recipes. I originally sent Denise two recipes, but I'm adding a third that is pretty awesome especially for fresh blackberries. Enjoy!
The muffin recipe I use the most. This is high protein and low sugar. Darn good if you wrap individually (I usually wrap them in saran wrap and put them in a freezer bag) then pop in the microwave about 20 seconds or so. Slather in butter to ruin all healthful effects. : )
Applesauce muffins:
1 1/2 cups quick oats
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsweet applesauce
1 cup cottage cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup raisins
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
preheat oven 350
bake 20-25 minutes
I guess I don't actually have instructions. I usually just whisk dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder) in one bowl. Then mix everything else but the raisins together. Fold the dry into the wet. Fold raisins in. Spoon into muffin tins about 3/4 full.
You can add mashed bananas and chopped nuts instead of applesauce or any kind of berry. I even chopped up strawberries and mixed them in and they were great!
Berry Yummy Blueberry Muffins
3/4 cups ricotta cheese (room temp)
2 lg eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 oz unsalted butter
2/3 cups sugar
lime zest finely grated
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups berries
preheat 400
bake 20-25 minutes
about the same mix process as above. Add the berries last- fold in.
Ok... Not sure how "healthy" these are other than just being berry muffins, but they are super yummy. I found this recipe when I lived out in hell-house and we had 10 acres of blackberry bushes to harvest. It was my only escape from the horrible decision in house buying I'd made- picking, baking, and eating these blackberry muffins (hence their name).
The muffin recipe I use the most. This is high protein and low sugar. Darn good if you wrap individually (I usually wrap them in saran wrap and put them in a freezer bag) then pop in the microwave about 20 seconds or so. Slather in butter to ruin all healthful effects. : )
Applesauce muffins:
1 1/2 cups quick oats
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsweet applesauce
1 cup cottage cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup raisins
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
preheat oven 350
bake 20-25 minutes
I guess I don't actually have instructions. I usually just whisk dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder) in one bowl. Then mix everything else but the raisins together. Fold the dry into the wet. Fold raisins in. Spoon into muffin tins about 3/4 full.
You can add mashed bananas and chopped nuts instead of applesauce or any kind of berry. I even chopped up strawberries and mixed them in and they were great!
Berry Yummy Blueberry Muffins
3/4 cups ricotta cheese (room temp)
2 lg eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 oz unsalted butter
2/3 cups sugar
lime zest finely grated
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups berries
preheat 400
bake 20-25 minutes
about the same mix process as above. Add the berries last- fold in.
Ok... Not sure how "healthy" these are other than just being berry muffins, but they are super yummy. I found this recipe when I lived out in hell-house and we had 10 acres of blackberry bushes to harvest. It was my only escape from the horrible decision in house buying I'd made- picking, baking, and eating these blackberry muffins (hence their name).
Save Me Blackberry Muffins
2 cups flour
1 Tablspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup buttermilk
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 1/4 cups blackberries
Preheat oven 350
rinse and drain berries
whisk flour, baking powder salt
beat egg, whisk in sugar and sour cream
when thoroughly mixed add buttermilk and butter
scatter berries in dry ingredients then add wet ingredients gently folding to combine
divide into muffin tins about 3/4 full
bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
I hope you're all in muffin Heaven after all of these recipes.
June 4, 2011
Really quick
Two awesome sewing finds:
http://www.karimeaway.com/catalog/1
Her books are so much fun and full of cool ideas. I liked the second book better than the first, but both were pretty awesome. Plus, when I found her website, it looks like she has a blog and online classes. I will be looking further into those.
My next amazon buy- http://www.amazon.com/Little-Girls-Big-Style-Boutique/dp/1607051885
This book was so full of really fun things. I feel bad for little boys. They just don't have all of the cute stuff little girls do. Fortunately, I have girls, unless the newest Paterson turns out to be a boy. Until then... Sophia may have a new wardrobe on the way full of whimsy and fun. Or at least... in my own imagination.
http://www.karimeaway.com/catalog/1
Her books are so much fun and full of cool ideas. I liked the second book better than the first, but both were pretty awesome. Plus, when I found her website, it looks like she has a blog and online classes. I will be looking further into those.
My next amazon buy- http://www.amazon.com/Little-Girls-Big-Style-Boutique/dp/1607051885
This book was so full of really fun things. I feel bad for little boys. They just don't have all of the cute stuff little girls do. Fortunately, I have girls, unless the newest Paterson turns out to be a boy. Until then... Sophia may have a new wardrobe on the way full of whimsy and fun. Or at least... in my own imagination.
June 2, 2011
Housekeeping and Granola Bars
Ok, so unlike my title, the two are not related. I wanted to cover two topics, but not write two different blog posts. Although, I might should have done the granola bars with pictures. I might add those in later.
I try not to gripe too much on this blog because I want to keep it pleasant to read. Not weighted down by the trials of my quite insignificant life. But today I broke down and hired a housekeeper to come in twice a month and clean my house. I have mixed feelings.
On the one hand, I am so excited to have a clean house. Not just a clean room or two... the whole freaking house is spotless! Best yet, I didn't have to do it, oversee it, or even pay for the cleaning supplies! It smells wonderful which is awesome since my uber sensitive pregnancy nose is on overdrive lately and the house has been my nemisis what with doggie smells and kid smells and husband smells and whatever dinner we have that day (or yesterday and is sitting in the garbage can) smells. It's such a relief knowing that the house will be cleaned and there's no stress. When we have company I won't be embarrassed. And with them coming twice a month I can manage the in between times with light cleaning and organizing. Something I can do easily, but also isn't such a stress in getting the kids and husband to help maintain.
The con. I feel inadequate. I mean, aren't I supposed to be June Cleaver or something? Cleaning the house spic and span all day, having homemade treats and goodies for the kids when they get home from school, dinner on the table at exactly 6:00 p.m., and somehow looking fabulous with my hair in its place and pearls around my neck. I'm a stay-at-home mom. What is my job? I take care of the kids (mostly), but aren't I supposed to also take care of the house, the food, the yard, the dog, the husband? Let's face it. Right now I'm exhausted. Pregnancy at 35 is taking its toll on me. Not to mention I'm busy with school, a teaching assistant position, and a research grant I was awarded to do research. Then there's chasing the almost 4 year old around, keeping her entertained, socialized, and educated. And the 16 year old is a lot more work than one would think what with running her all over Cary for movies, study groups, track/cross-country, and whatever else. Let's not forget the emotional issues I address at least on a weekly basis solving relationship dilemas and school problems and general problems with a step-parent. And if all of this wasn't enough, I try, yes I try, to be at least a decent wife and spend time with the husband- date nights, entertaining friends, work family socials, etc. Ok. Maybe when I lay it all out like that I don't feel entirely inadequate. I'm certainly not lazily not cleaning the house so I can sip mimosas by the pool and read a Harlequin Romance.
Of course, there's also the dilema that Dave is against housekeepers. His list of reasons is long, but the bottom line is he feels like the teenager could and should help more and he's worried about the money aspect of it. (Between us, it's $60 which I think is a real steal.) But sure, that's $120 a month and I don't get a lot of money in my budget. Something will have to sacrifice. Sophia and I can't eat out for lunches anymore. And we'll have to do much, much better at conserving gas to keep our costs low. But I think it's worth it. I really do. I know we're not uber wealthy and maybe I'm trying to keep up with the Jones's that are on a higher income level than we are, but I just can't justify *not* spending this money when there are so many things I can justify. As for the teenager cleaning... well, she has chores- daily and weekly- and she is responsible. There's more to responsibility than just cleaning house. And we are kids for such a short time in our lives. I'd like to give her the opportunity to be a kid for as long as possible. Not to mention, I don't want her to look back on her high school years and resent her siblings or me for haivng to do house cleaning and babysitting because her mom was pregnant. Isn't that fair? Maybe I'm spoiling her. I'll feel the same for the younger two.
As of now, I have a housekeeper coming. And as of now, I'm not going to feel guilty about it.
So, here's the granola bars. Yeah, you had to read a lot to get to it, but it's here too. Not to mention, it's another way to save money. $2 a box for 10 granola bars? Nah. These are much cheaper in the long run. And a great snack.
Homemade Granola Bars
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cups raw sunflower seeds
1 cup sliced almonds (I didn't add these because of nut allergies in the house)
1/2 cups wheat germ
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cups dark brown sugar
2/3 cups unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
6 1/2 oz chopped dried fruit (we used Ocean Spray cherries)
1 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven 350
toast oats, seeds almonds, wheat germ - 15 minutes
Cook honey through salt ingredients over medium heat until brown
mix toasted ingredients and cooked ingredients
(here's where I had trouble with the chocolate chips so I'm going to tell you what I *think* you should do)
Once you mix everything but the fruit and chips let everything cool.
Set oven temp at 300.
When it's all cooled mix fruit and chips in and press into pan. (9x9 inch pan)
Bake at 300 for 25 minutes.
Let cool. Cut into bars.
I wrapped each bar in saran wrap to keep. If the chocolate chips melt they're still super yummy, just extra messy so the saran wrap is extra great for using to hold them while you eat and lower your mess.
Enjoy! And let me know of any perfections you make to this recipe! :)
I try not to gripe too much on this blog because I want to keep it pleasant to read. Not weighted down by the trials of my quite insignificant life. But today I broke down and hired a housekeeper to come in twice a month and clean my house. I have mixed feelings.
On the one hand, I am so excited to have a clean house. Not just a clean room or two... the whole freaking house is spotless! Best yet, I didn't have to do it, oversee it, or even pay for the cleaning supplies! It smells wonderful which is awesome since my uber sensitive pregnancy nose is on overdrive lately and the house has been my nemisis what with doggie smells and kid smells and husband smells and whatever dinner we have that day (or yesterday and is sitting in the garbage can) smells. It's such a relief knowing that the house will be cleaned and there's no stress. When we have company I won't be embarrassed. And with them coming twice a month I can manage the in between times with light cleaning and organizing. Something I can do easily, but also isn't such a stress in getting the kids and husband to help maintain.
The con. I feel inadequate. I mean, aren't I supposed to be June Cleaver or something? Cleaning the house spic and span all day, having homemade treats and goodies for the kids when they get home from school, dinner on the table at exactly 6:00 p.m., and somehow looking fabulous with my hair in its place and pearls around my neck. I'm a stay-at-home mom. What is my job? I take care of the kids (mostly), but aren't I supposed to also take care of the house, the food, the yard, the dog, the husband? Let's face it. Right now I'm exhausted. Pregnancy at 35 is taking its toll on me. Not to mention I'm busy with school, a teaching assistant position, and a research grant I was awarded to do research. Then there's chasing the almost 4 year old around, keeping her entertained, socialized, and educated. And the 16 year old is a lot more work than one would think what with running her all over Cary for movies, study groups, track/cross-country, and whatever else. Let's not forget the emotional issues I address at least on a weekly basis solving relationship dilemas and school problems and general problems with a step-parent. And if all of this wasn't enough, I try, yes I try, to be at least a decent wife and spend time with the husband- date nights, entertaining friends, work family socials, etc. Ok. Maybe when I lay it all out like that I don't feel entirely inadequate. I'm certainly not lazily not cleaning the house so I can sip mimosas by the pool and read a Harlequin Romance.
Of course, there's also the dilema that Dave is against housekeepers. His list of reasons is long, but the bottom line is he feels like the teenager could and should help more and he's worried about the money aspect of it. (Between us, it's $60 which I think is a real steal.) But sure, that's $120 a month and I don't get a lot of money in my budget. Something will have to sacrifice. Sophia and I can't eat out for lunches anymore. And we'll have to do much, much better at conserving gas to keep our costs low. But I think it's worth it. I really do. I know we're not uber wealthy and maybe I'm trying to keep up with the Jones's that are on a higher income level than we are, but I just can't justify *not* spending this money when there are so many things I can justify. As for the teenager cleaning... well, she has chores- daily and weekly- and she is responsible. There's more to responsibility than just cleaning house. And we are kids for such a short time in our lives. I'd like to give her the opportunity to be a kid for as long as possible. Not to mention, I don't want her to look back on her high school years and resent her siblings or me for haivng to do house cleaning and babysitting because her mom was pregnant. Isn't that fair? Maybe I'm spoiling her. I'll feel the same for the younger two.
As of now, I have a housekeeper coming. And as of now, I'm not going to feel guilty about it.
So, here's the granola bars. Yeah, you had to read a lot to get to it, but it's here too. Not to mention, it's another way to save money. $2 a box for 10 granola bars? Nah. These are much cheaper in the long run. And a great snack.
Homemade Granola Bars
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cups raw sunflower seeds
1 cup sliced almonds (I didn't add these because of nut allergies in the house)
1/2 cups wheat germ
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cups dark brown sugar
2/3 cups unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
6 1/2 oz chopped dried fruit (we used Ocean Spray cherries)
1 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven 350
toast oats, seeds almonds, wheat germ - 15 minutes
Cook honey through salt ingredients over medium heat until brown
mix toasted ingredients and cooked ingredients
(here's where I had trouble with the chocolate chips so I'm going to tell you what I *think* you should do)
Once you mix everything but the fruit and chips let everything cool.
Set oven temp at 300.
When it's all cooled mix fruit and chips in and press into pan. (9x9 inch pan)
Bake at 300 for 25 minutes.
Let cool. Cut into bars.
I wrapped each bar in saran wrap to keep. If the chocolate chips melt they're still super yummy, just extra messy so the saran wrap is extra great for using to hold them while you eat and lower your mess.
Enjoy! And let me know of any perfections you make to this recipe! :)
May 29, 2011
Cinderella
Absolutely, bar none my favorite fairy tale of all time. Disney's version, Grimm's, whatever. And there are so many different versions of this one fairy tale that each time it's portrayed is like a new story being told. I finished reading "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" by Gregory MacGuire today. It was as awesome as his other books (i.e. Wicked, Son of a Witch, etc.) I love his take on things and the interweaving of tales that might not necessarily belong. I really love that this book tells the Cinderella story from a completely different perspective without all of the "fairy" magic and "happily ever afters". It's a story that, if I didn't already know was fictitious, I might take for a historical account of the life of a Dutch family. It's written with such realism. But don't let me fool you, there's still the air of magic and mythical creatures- they're just portrayed as they really are- ideas, imaginations run rampant.
Plus, and this is maybe my need to cheer for the underdog, I love that the step sisters aren't evil little witches treating their sweet step sister Cinerella with disdain. They actually welcome their step sister who is the spoiled little "Daddy's princess" she really would have been (were the story true). The step mother, I have renewed understanding for both having and being a step mother, is a woman trying to act in the best interest of herself and her two daughters. What woman wouldn't do vile and evil things on behalf of her children if that is what is required of her? (I particularly love that vile and evil are the same letters just rearranged.)
All in all, the book was not just another Cinderella story, but another all the same. And I loved it. I may never be able to watch Disney's Cinderella again without seeing every character quite differently. Ok, maybe not Disney's version because it still is just simply too sweet to be anything close to the dark and revolting story the Grimm Brothers intended it to be.
Plus, and this is maybe my need to cheer for the underdog, I love that the step sisters aren't evil little witches treating their sweet step sister Cinerella with disdain. They actually welcome their step sister who is the spoiled little "Daddy's princess" she really would have been (were the story true). The step mother, I have renewed understanding for both having and being a step mother, is a woman trying to act in the best interest of herself and her two daughters. What woman wouldn't do vile and evil things on behalf of her children if that is what is required of her? (I particularly love that vile and evil are the same letters just rearranged.)
All in all, the book was not just another Cinderella story, but another all the same. And I loved it. I may never be able to watch Disney's Cinderella again without seeing every character quite differently. Ok, maybe not Disney's version because it still is just simply too sweet to be anything close to the dark and revolting story the Grimm Brothers intended it to be.
May 28, 2011
Fabric YoYo's
About this time last year I took a sewing class and learned to make jumpers. This was the first one... it's not a great picture.
I was so excited I rushed home and made two more for Sophia. Unfortunately, I can't make button holes so after the jumpers were finished I ended up sticking them into my "crafts tub" where they have sat for the last year. Last week I pulled them out to show a friend of mine and they happened to still fit Sophia (although a little short) so I decided it was time to finish them up.
I still can't make button holes so I took them to Elegant Stitches (http://www.elegantstitches.com/) where they charged me $2 a button hole (plus the extra cost of the cute buttons and thread I picked up). Voila. My button holes are done, the buttons are sewn on. The jumpers are ready.
Except. One of my jumpers was so plain. It needed a little something. I had appliqued small hearts on it, but they didn't look right (and frankly applique is another technique I haven't quite perfected). So after digging through my favorite sewing book (http://www.amazon.com/Making-Childrens-Clothes-Step-step/dp/190652579X) I decided to make a flower yoyo. For the most part this book is amazing with step-by-step instructions, but their description of yoyo's weren't great so I started searching.
This site was great for step-by-step and gave me other ideas of things to do with such a simple project. http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/how_to_make_a_yoyo/index.html So, now I have an adorable froggy jumper and a blue jumper with a beautiful flower yoyo on the front. My next blog... I'll try to post some pictures of the jumpers and maybe something step-by-step making the yoyos.
While I'm praising my last week- I also am getting my sewing machine serviced for the first time in 6 years so I'm fairly stoked that this time next week I may very well be sewing up a storm. I'm hoping to make the sun cap and sleeveless top from my Emma Hardy book for Sophia to wear on our family vacation at the end of June. Plus, at some point I should finish Zoe's baby quilt and get started on a quilt for the new baby (although I hope to know the sex of the new baby first). I have a lot of sewing projects to work on. I may have to take over the dining room as my new sewing room.
I was so excited I rushed home and made two more for Sophia. Unfortunately, I can't make button holes so after the jumpers were finished I ended up sticking them into my "crafts tub" where they have sat for the last year. Last week I pulled them out to show a friend of mine and they happened to still fit Sophia (although a little short) so I decided it was time to finish them up.
I still can't make button holes so I took them to Elegant Stitches (http://www.elegantstitches.com/) where they charged me $2 a button hole (plus the extra cost of the cute buttons and thread I picked up). Voila. My button holes are done, the buttons are sewn on. The jumpers are ready.
Except. One of my jumpers was so plain. It needed a little something. I had appliqued small hearts on it, but they didn't look right (and frankly applique is another technique I haven't quite perfected). So after digging through my favorite sewing book (http://www.amazon.com/Making-Childrens-Clothes-Step-step/dp/190652579X) I decided to make a flower yoyo. For the most part this book is amazing with step-by-step instructions, but their description of yoyo's weren't great so I started searching.
This site was great for step-by-step and gave me other ideas of things to do with such a simple project. http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/how_to_make_a_yoyo/index.html So, now I have an adorable froggy jumper and a blue jumper with a beautiful flower yoyo on the front. My next blog... I'll try to post some pictures of the jumpers and maybe something step-by-step making the yoyos.
While I'm praising my last week- I also am getting my sewing machine serviced for the first time in 6 years so I'm fairly stoked that this time next week I may very well be sewing up a storm. I'm hoping to make the sun cap and sleeveless top from my Emma Hardy book for Sophia to wear on our family vacation at the end of June. Plus, at some point I should finish Zoe's baby quilt and get started on a quilt for the new baby (although I hope to know the sex of the new baby first). I have a lot of sewing projects to work on. I may have to take over the dining room as my new sewing room.
May 22, 2011
Surviving the Rapture
The last year or more I've lost a lot of my spirituality. I'm not sure what's caused my question in faith or my disinterest in all things religious. Maybe it's feeling like a face in the crowd at church rather than a part of it. Maybe it's so many people talking about the inevitable apocalypse we are currently experiencing. Maybe it's so many people in my life pressing the "God" issue. I don't know. What I do know is that I don't feel a connection to God. When I pray I feel like it's more about talking to myself than some great spiritual being who is concerned about me. And why would God be concerned about me? Who am I in the grand scheme of things? With billions of people on the planet and a large majority of them dealing with poverty, starvation, political and social injustice- what prayers do I really have that need answering? "Please God help me be patient with my three year old" seems so insignificant compared to "Please God don't let my entire family be killed by genocide." Isn't it my American self-centered-ness that would lead me to belive that I hold any significance to a God with so much to deal with and worry about.
But feeling insignificant also leads me to feeling disconnected. I go to church, I don't, it really doesn't matter. There's no accountability. No one knows if I'm there or not. I pray, I don't pray, it really doesn't matter- doesn't my voice get lost in the billions of voices with valid, real reasons to pray? I read the Bible and all I can do is question the translation, the meaning, the interpretation... How much is jaded by history and small minds?
So, I survived yesterday's rapture along with all of the other claims of the apocalypse thus far. We'll see how December 2012 goes. No matter what, something must change between now and whenever my personal end comes or I can be sure of an eternity not filled with marshmallow cream and golden harps.
But feeling insignificant also leads me to feeling disconnected. I go to church, I don't, it really doesn't matter. There's no accountability. No one knows if I'm there or not. I pray, I don't pray, it really doesn't matter- doesn't my voice get lost in the billions of voices with valid, real reasons to pray? I read the Bible and all I can do is question the translation, the meaning, the interpretation... How much is jaded by history and small minds?
So, I survived yesterday's rapture along with all of the other claims of the apocalypse thus far. We'll see how December 2012 goes. No matter what, something must change between now and whenever my personal end comes or I can be sure of an eternity not filled with marshmallow cream and golden harps.
May 19, 2011
Update on Rice Pudding
I'm sad to say, my rice pudding did not turn out as scrumptious as it smells. But the good news is that I think a few adjustments could be made and it might work. I found a recipe here: http://atourtable.blogspot.com/2005/03/box-top-rice-pudding.html that was very similar to what I did, but a much shorter cook time. Well, she ended up cooking her pudding longer, but the originial time was shorter. I think mine was over cooked at an hour and a half so next time I'm going to try just 45 minutes and test it until it seems done.
Also, I had debated the amount of rice. 1 1/2 cups of rice looks very different uncooked vs. cooked. I think maybe I need to add less rice and do 1 1/2 cups rice after it's been cooked. The key for me is to get the gooey-ness which I was missing. My rice turned out dry which I'm attributing to too much rice, too little liquid.
I was also thinking that Rachel Ray always says that rice gets its flavor from the cooking process, so once it's cooked it its flavor. I think maybe I need to add some spices to the original cooking of the rice so the rice actually holds in some flavor. I don't know if this would make much difference as the dish is pretty flavorful as it is.
All in all, I have something edible, but not delectable, and my house finally smells good, but baked goods always make only a temporary good smell so by the end of today I'll be back to the drawing board on my smelly house. Haha.
Also, I had debated the amount of rice. 1 1/2 cups of rice looks very different uncooked vs. cooked. I think maybe I need to add less rice and do 1 1/2 cups rice after it's been cooked. The key for me is to get the gooey-ness which I was missing. My rice turned out dry which I'm attributing to too much rice, too little liquid.
I was also thinking that Rachel Ray always says that rice gets its flavor from the cooking process, so once it's cooked it its flavor. I think maybe I need to add some spices to the original cooking of the rice so the rice actually holds in some flavor. I don't know if this would make much difference as the dish is pretty flavorful as it is.
All in all, I have something edible, but not delectable, and my house finally smells good, but baked goods always make only a temporary good smell so by the end of today I'll be back to the drawing board on my smelly house. Haha.
May 18, 2011
Mmmmm... Rice Pudding
So, I absolutely LOVE Uncle Ben's rice pudding. But I really hate spending over $2 for a tiny little box that barely covers my bowl full, much less if I'm going to share. I've tried recreating the pudding at home, but three recipes later (including Betty Crocker and Mark Bittman) I've been unsuccessful in creating the creamy gooey yumminess of Uncle Ben's. So, of course, I called the expert on all things fattening and cooked- my Nana. She came up with a recipe that at least *sounded* like what I wanted and so far smells absolutely heavenly. So, whether it's exactly Uncle Ben's or not, I'm sharing this recipe because it's worth it if only for the sinful smell.
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
2 large eggs
1/2 cups shugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups scalded milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raisins (+ or - based on your tastes)
nutmeg
(I added cinnamon)
1. Put rice in greased 8x8 baking dish
2. Beat eggs until light
3. Add sugar, salt blend
4. Add milk, vanilla blend
5. Pour mixture over rice
6. Add raisins- mix in
7. Sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon over top of mix
8. Bake @325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours
I promise to report if this turns out even remotely as good as it smells and if it's anything like Uncle Ben's I may have found my pregnancy craving for this time around. Mmmmmm......
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
2 large eggs
1/2 cups shugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups scalded milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raisins (+ or - based on your tastes)
nutmeg
(I added cinnamon)
1. Put rice in greased 8x8 baking dish
2. Beat eggs until light
3. Add sugar, salt blend
4. Add milk, vanilla blend
5. Pour mixture over rice
6. Add raisins- mix in
7. Sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon over top of mix
8. Bake @325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours
I promise to report if this turns out even remotely as good as it smells and if it's anything like Uncle Ben's I may have found my pregnancy craving for this time around. Mmmmmm......
May 17, 2011
Getting Dressed
Getting dressed in early pregnancy (especially when this is not the first pregnancy) is a real pain. I wake up and look in my closet, but suddenly none of my clothes fit. Or at least they don't fit right. Pre-pregnancy shirts tend to be too tight and make every bulge look like jelly rolls and pants that once were a little baggy are now too tight and uncomfortable.
I've gone on a maternity clothes hunt, but my regular size (6 or 8) are really too big because they are all prepared for the 7 or 8 months pregnant me, not the 9 weeks. Buying smaller seems like a waste of money because I'll just have to buy new stuff in another couple of months.
Maternity clothes have come a long way in fashion and style for sure, but they have a long way to go. Anything that is even remotely what I would wear is outrageously priced and the few things I find that are in my price range (keeping in mind I never buy unless it's on the clearance rack) are the left over things that no one else would wear which usually means it's either really hideous or XXL. Why do maternity shirts have to have that criss-cross thing in the front? And who deemed that most pregnant women are employed so the majority of maternity clothes are dressy or dressy-casual? I'm a stay-at-home mommy. I need maternity clothes that are... well... functional for playdates at the park and comfortable for the museum. Stuff like that. And since when do all pregnant women want to wear either black or magenta or some gawdy print that I'm fairly sure was left over material from a clown costume? Give me a nice plain something and don't charge me $20 for a tank top. Come on!
Speaking of playdates and getting dressed.... I'm off....
I've gone on a maternity clothes hunt, but my regular size (6 or 8) are really too big because they are all prepared for the 7 or 8 months pregnant me, not the 9 weeks. Buying smaller seems like a waste of money because I'll just have to buy new stuff in another couple of months.
Maternity clothes have come a long way in fashion and style for sure, but they have a long way to go. Anything that is even remotely what I would wear is outrageously priced and the few things I find that are in my price range (keeping in mind I never buy unless it's on the clearance rack) are the left over things that no one else would wear which usually means it's either really hideous or XXL. Why do maternity shirts have to have that criss-cross thing in the front? And who deemed that most pregnant women are employed so the majority of maternity clothes are dressy or dressy-casual? I'm a stay-at-home mommy. I need maternity clothes that are... well... functional for playdates at the park and comfortable for the museum. Stuff like that. And since when do all pregnant women want to wear either black or magenta or some gawdy print that I'm fairly sure was left over material from a clown costume? Give me a nice plain something and don't charge me $20 for a tank top. Come on!
Speaking of playdates and getting dressed.... I'm off....
May 16, 2011
May
Apparently I'm a total loser at this blogging thing. I forget it's here or don't have time or... the reality is, I just don't do it. I found out I'm pregnant again. I'm somewhere around 9 weeks at this point. I'm happy... mostly. I used to want a hundred kids and maybe if I could have continued after Zoe with some amount of stability I would have many children now, but I'm older and I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (Zoe is almost out of high school now- two more years) and I'm starting to wonder if I really want to raise kids my whole life. I started way too young and with the span of Sophia and this new bundle of joy I'll be raising kids for nearly my whole life. Perhaps these were considerations I should have made pre-Sophia, n'est pas?
Whether I like it or not, I'm in it for the long haul. Another 18 years until, by any miracle I'll have done my job sufficiently enough that all of my kids will be out of the house and off to college where I can then make some life decisions based solely on me (albeit keeping that pesky college tuition in mind) and maybe live out some of that life I've watched slowly fade into the background. It's fortunate that I adore my kids. I think this one may actually be the last one for me though. I'm sure anyone who knows me never thought I'd say I'm done if I had the chance to have more, but I think I'm done.
So now to speculate if this one will be more like me or more like the husband? God, my silent prayer to You is that this one is less like Sophia (be that like me or my husband) because I'm not sure there should be two of her in this world or we will all suffer a coup d'etat at the hands of a genius child. Any chance I could give birth to a child much like my Dad in temperment? Laid back, easy going... yeah, I didn't think so. Not with Dave as the father.
Whether I like it or not, I'm in it for the long haul. Another 18 years until, by any miracle I'll have done my job sufficiently enough that all of my kids will be out of the house and off to college where I can then make some life decisions based solely on me (albeit keeping that pesky college tuition in mind) and maybe live out some of that life I've watched slowly fade into the background. It's fortunate that I adore my kids. I think this one may actually be the last one for me though. I'm sure anyone who knows me never thought I'd say I'm done if I had the chance to have more, but I think I'm done.
So now to speculate if this one will be more like me or more like the husband? God, my silent prayer to You is that this one is less like Sophia (be that like me or my husband) because I'm not sure there should be two of her in this world or we will all suffer a coup d'etat at the hands of a genius child. Any chance I could give birth to a child much like my Dad in temperment? Laid back, easy going... yeah, I didn't think so. Not with Dave as the father.
February 19, 2011
Hair today. Gone tomorrow
Today I'm saying goodbye to my hair with six + inches being taken off and the gray being colored away. I hope it turns out nice and I love it when it's done...or more importantly next week when I have to do it.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
February 16, 2011
Facebook Friend collectors
I've been getting a few facebook friend requests lately. Some I know, some I don't. Either way, I noticed something about facebook. I love facebook. It's so nice to be able to keep up with family and old friends and people I hang out with currently... or just whomever. But the last year, since I've discovered the false-ness that can be friendship and the two sided people that I get involved with and the lack of sincerity in friendship in general I've really started rethinking my facebook friends. Why do I need to be "friends" with someone I never talked to a day in my life until I joined facebook? Why am I friends with someone I used to know 15 years ago when I was in high school and a completely different person, but we did not value our friendship enough to maintain it over these last 15 years? Why am I friends with people I generally don't care about? Who do I want to be "friends" with? I'm friends with my sister, my daughter, my mom, my step mother, my aunts, my grandmother... You get the idea. Being friends with family is important because like my cousin said, it makes it feel like family is just down the street, not across the country. I like watching my cousin Katie grow up, succeed in college, become a beautiful young woman. I like seeing my sister and her boyfriend and all of the fun things they do. I can be a part of my family's life even when I can't be there. And, likewise, I can let my family watch the girls grow up and be a part of our life even though they are hours away. But what about these *other* people? Do I approve their requests? Do I collect friends like coins that I have somewhere, but never look at or care about? Do I let these other people see my life and what's going on? Do I become another of their number? When they have 200, 500, 1000 or more friends, do they even know I'm there? Do they even remember me? My one status a day... does that really come up in their feed? Am I the only one that doesn't want to collect friends on there?
February 13, 2011
Valentine's Day Party!
Tonight I'm getting ready for a co-hosted Valentine's Day Party for Sophia. We are going to make Valentine's. Denise made cupcakes and is bringing juice. Cara has two tons of decorating materials. I am cleaning house, moving furniture and generally getting ready. But... Dave has made me concerned about having enough snacks for not only the kids, but also the adults. So, I've decided to make cookies. Yep. Cookies. I'm going to make Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies. (I'm reminded of the episode of Friends when Phoebe pronounces it with a very bad french accent.) I'm also going to make Annette's White Chocolate Chip CranRaisin Cookies. So, here is the recipe for these delicious cookies that I absolutely LOVE. I miss Annette and love her dearly. I can only be thankful that before we parted ways I was able to get the recipe.
2 1/4 cup AP flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
3/4 cups white sugar
3/4 brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup cranraisins
(optional 3/4 cups nuts) - we don't use nuts- allergies and stuff
Preheat oven to 350
Combine Flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl
Cream butter and sugars.
Add vanilla
Beat in 1 egg
Gradually mix dry ingredients.
Stir in chocolate chips and cranraisins
drop by well rounded teaspoons onto baking sheets
Bake 9-11 minutes or until centers are set.
Cool. Eat. Lots. Lots. Lots! Yummy!
2 1/4 cup AP flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
3/4 cups white sugar
3/4 brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup cranraisins
(optional 3/4 cups nuts) - we don't use nuts- allergies and stuff
Preheat oven to 350
Combine Flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl
Cream butter and sugars.
Add vanilla
Beat in 1 egg
Gradually mix dry ingredients.
Stir in chocolate chips and cranraisins
drop by well rounded teaspoons onto baking sheets
Bake 9-11 minutes or until centers are set.
Cool. Eat. Lots. Lots. Lots! Yummy!
February 11, 2011
my Ballerina
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
February 4, 2011
Where's the blog?
So, here it is the 4th of February and it's been a month since I last posted anything. It's a busy month getting into school, getting started with the teaching assistant thing, doing tutoring and trying to do the usual Mommy things. I did do some cool things I want to share though. And I'm going to figure out how to link this blog to my phone so I have more ready access. If I can figure out how to post some pictures that would be nice because of some of the crafts and foods that I like and think are pretty. We'll see how that all goes.
I'm going to go ahead and confess that going meatless has not been readily supported by the family and has been difficult to stick with. So, we've switched to "Meatless Mondays" or more specifically, meatless one day a week or more if I can squeeze it in. Since I'm not home for dinner two nights a week (Mondays and Thursdays I'm tutoring Geology) I have to find quick and easy crock pot meals. One would think that meatless meals for those would be simple, but so far... they're not.
Also, Sophia is eating spaghetti and meatballs pretty much every meal now which is definitely NOT meatless. So goes the picky tastebuds of a three year old.
I did make these adorable flower hair clips. These things go for $8.00 at Claire's and I think mine cost a total of fifty cents each. I hope to post some pics and a step by step "how to" on it. You're gonna love it. After making them, I'm more determined than ever to get my sewing machine back up so this blog may turn into... I don't know what with the crafts and cooking.
Well... it's almost dinner time and the three year old is desperate for my attention so here's a quick and easy recipe that is so super yummy. Sophia and I mixed this one up tonight. It's my grandma's banana bread (slightly modified). I like to make it into muffins and it freezes easily so you can make a big batch and freeze them, pop them in the microwave for a minute and voila! Breakfast on the go.
Nana's Banana Bread
Preheat oven to 350
1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2-3 very ripe bananas
2 cups AP flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
*I use a rubber spatula to mix everything, no mixers.
Cream softened butter and sugars (both brown and white)
![]()
Add eggs, mix
![]()
Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, mix
![]()
Mash bananas until somewhat smooth, add to sugar mix
![]()
In a separate bowl whisk flour, baking soda, and salt
Slowly fold flour mixture into sugar mixture until all mixed up
![]()
Pour into well greased bread pan
![]()
Bake for 1 hour
Be sure to do the toothpick test in several spots to make sure it's baked through the middle. I usually add 5 minutes at a time if it's not done.
![]()
Refrigerate after it's cooled. We actually like to eat it after it's cold with butter spread on it. Mmmm...
I'm going to go ahead and confess that going meatless has not been readily supported by the family and has been difficult to stick with. So, we've switched to "Meatless Mondays" or more specifically, meatless one day a week or more if I can squeeze it in. Since I'm not home for dinner two nights a week (Mondays and Thursdays I'm tutoring Geology) I have to find quick and easy crock pot meals. One would think that meatless meals for those would be simple, but so far... they're not.
Also, Sophia is eating spaghetti and meatballs pretty much every meal now which is definitely NOT meatless. So goes the picky tastebuds of a three year old.
I did make these adorable flower hair clips. These things go for $8.00 at Claire's and I think mine cost a total of fifty cents each. I hope to post some pics and a step by step "how to" on it. You're gonna love it. After making them, I'm more determined than ever to get my sewing machine back up so this blog may turn into... I don't know what with the crafts and cooking.
Well... it's almost dinner time and the three year old is desperate for my attention so here's a quick and easy recipe that is so super yummy. Sophia and I mixed this one up tonight. It's my grandma's banana bread (slightly modified). I like to make it into muffins and it freezes easily so you can make a big batch and freeze them, pop them in the microwave for a minute and voila! Breakfast on the go.
Nana's Banana Bread
Preheat oven to 350
1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2-3 very ripe bananas
2 cups AP flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
*I use a rubber spatula to mix everything, no mixers.
Cream softened butter and sugars (both brown and white)
Slowly fold flour mixture into sugar mixture until all mixed up
Bake for 1 hour
Be sure to do the toothpick test in several spots to make sure it's baked through the middle. I usually add 5 minutes at a time if it's not done.
Refrigerate after it's cooled. We actually like to eat it after it's cold with butter spread on it. Mmmm...
January 3, 2011
Too Quickly
The 3rd has come and is nearly gone and I realize that next week I start back to school and my house still hasn't been cleaned and I'm no closer to any of the ideas I've set. Ok, that may be being a little hard on myself. It's only been one day since I got started with this, right?
Last night, I had intended to have leftovers for dinner, but calling to me from the cupboard were the elbow noodles I bought and my thought that I might start making us more vegetarian (not completely, just more). So, I made my favorite Mark Bittman Macaroni and Cheese recipe. I'm really not sure if I can post it here or not since it's not mine, but I'm going to and if need-be I'll just take it down later. I'm also writing it how I do it so there's a little variation in both recipe and wording because I'm lazy. :)
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
2 1/2 cups milk
2 bay leaves
1 pound elbow macaroni
4 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons flour
2 Cups grated sharp cheddar
1/2 cup grated parmesan
salt and pepper to taste
Good sprinkling of bread crumbs (calls for 1/2 cup or more)
1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Cook milk with bay leaves over low-medium heat
3. Cook noodles as directed on box with a splash of salt in the water
4. Melt butter in saucepan. Once melted add flour and whisk until brown and well-mixed on medium heat
5. Remove bay leaves from milk and poor milk into butter-flour concoction
6. Pour cheddar cheese into milk/butter/flour stuff and stir keeping stirring to keep from burning the cheese (can reduce to low heat if noodles aren't nearly done) Add salt and pepper as needed
7. Grease casserole dish either spray pam or a little butter rubbed around
8. Poor drained noodles into casserole dish
9. Poor cheesy stuff over noodles then toss around until it's all mixed up
10. Generously pour bread crumbs over top and sprinkle with parmesan cheese
11. Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until bread crumbs are brown
Eat plenty and love it. It's not Kraft Mac-N-Cheese and we love that stuff, but it's so yummy! Even my 3 year old loves it! Plus, my 15 year old heats it up for snacks for days since we never eat a whole pan full.
Last night, I had intended to have leftovers for dinner, but calling to me from the cupboard were the elbow noodles I bought and my thought that I might start making us more vegetarian (not completely, just more). So, I made my favorite Mark Bittman Macaroni and Cheese recipe. I'm really not sure if I can post it here or not since it's not mine, but I'm going to and if need-be I'll just take it down later. I'm also writing it how I do it so there's a little variation in both recipe and wording because I'm lazy. :)
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
2 1/2 cups milk
2 bay leaves
1 pound elbow macaroni
4 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons flour
2 Cups grated sharp cheddar
1/2 cup grated parmesan
salt and pepper to taste
Good sprinkling of bread crumbs (calls for 1/2 cup or more)
1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Cook milk with bay leaves over low-medium heat
3. Cook noodles as directed on box with a splash of salt in the water
4. Melt butter in saucepan. Once melted add flour and whisk until brown and well-mixed on medium heat
5. Remove bay leaves from milk and poor milk into butter-flour concoction
6. Pour cheddar cheese into milk/butter/flour stuff and stir keeping stirring to keep from burning the cheese (can reduce to low heat if noodles aren't nearly done) Add salt and pepper as needed
7. Grease casserole dish either spray pam or a little butter rubbed around
8. Poor drained noodles into casserole dish
9. Poor cheesy stuff over noodles then toss around until it's all mixed up
10. Generously pour bread crumbs over top and sprinkle with parmesan cheese
11. Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until bread crumbs are brown
Eat plenty and love it. It's not Kraft Mac-N-Cheese and we love that stuff, but it's so yummy! Even my 3 year old loves it! Plus, my 15 year old heats it up for snacks for days since we never eat a whole pan full.
January 2, 2011
Welcome 2011!
It's a new day, a new dawn, it's a new year! I'm turning 35 this year. There have been a lot of years misguided and misdirected. A lot of years I didn't live up to my potential. But I'm done with that. Starting this year I'm going to start trying to be the person I want to be instead of the person I am.
With this in mind... I've made a list of... well, we'll call them "ideas" for the new year. Resolutions are unrealistic and destined to be broken, so I don't want to label this plan as resolutions and fate them to fail.
The first step in my ideas are to start this blog. Maybe for a sense of accountability, or maybe just to have it written what I'm thinking and any chance of progress I may make. I'll have to add things as they come to me, and writing will be sporadic. I'm going to post favorite recipes, general thoughts and feelings, and anything else that comes to mind.
So, here's the first of my ideas:
There are a few things I want to learn to do- knitting, crochet, sewing, baking, cooking healthy, and cake decorating.
There are a few things I want to do- travel abroad, get in shape, and do better with money.
Throw in my full course load at NC State and the family obligations.... well, there's going to be a lot to write about, n'est pas?
I hope I get a follower or two to keep me motivated and for those infrequent browsers... :D
With this in mind... I've made a list of... well, we'll call them "ideas" for the new year. Resolutions are unrealistic and destined to be broken, so I don't want to label this plan as resolutions and fate them to fail.
The first step in my ideas are to start this blog. Maybe for a sense of accountability, or maybe just to have it written what I'm thinking and any chance of progress I may make. I'll have to add things as they come to me, and writing will be sporadic. I'm going to post favorite recipes, general thoughts and feelings, and anything else that comes to mind.
So, here's the first of my ideas:
There are a few things I want to learn to do- knitting, crochet, sewing, baking, cooking healthy, and cake decorating.
There are a few things I want to do- travel abroad, get in shape, and do better with money.
Throw in my full course load at NC State and the family obligations.... well, there's going to be a lot to write about, n'est pas?
I hope I get a follower or two to keep me motivated and for those infrequent browsers... :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)