ThOuGhT fOr ThE dAy (post 173)

Not really a thought, but maybe more of a mission. I know someone who's starting a 365 project starting tomorrow and what a great way to start a new year. Not that I agree with the whole "resolution" thing, I'm more of a improve yourself daily type person. I have several blogs (because I'm cool like that) and I believe I'll continue to write this one, but maybe not 5 days a week. We'll have to see. I really need to concentrate on becoming gainfully employed again. Blogging provides a necessary refuge, but it doesn't bring in any moola. A pity, I know. I'll get it started and let you all know and link it up, of course!
as for 2010, you started out with promise and many things went well. things got shuffled, rearranged, reassigned, and scrutinized later on though. i discovered things about myself and what i need out of life, i realized maybe i should reprioritize some things as well. my kids flourished, thankfully, and for that I am truly grateful. I look forward to 2011 and what promise a new decade may bring. May 2011 be as bright for everyone as the milky way on a crisp starlit night.

Is there really a point?

I'm not too sure about this because I'm not sure that anyone really reads any of this anyway. I've even lost 3 fans from my Facebook fan page this week alone. I have heavier things weighing on my mind and decisions that need to be made, none of which I'm ready for. I'm not ready to give up the blog just yet though and if the handful of people who actually read this will stick with me, I promise I'll be good again. Whether I have a point or not.

and to think, in year's past I would have laughed..

Laughed at all the other Mom's pulling out their hair with all the kids out on Christmas break. I always worked, the kids hung out at daycare, who entertained them and carted them on field trips to the library and the pool and the local museums. "My kids are driving me crazy", I'd hear as I gloated that mine were well taken care of while I worked. That was last year though and seeing that no one has seen fit to gainfully employ me, I am one of those hairless Moms with the bored whiny kids. Well, actually it's not that bad...my boys are self-sufficient, entertain themselves well and have been engrossed in the various video games and Lego's they received for Christmas. My daughter on the other hand....eh, not so much. She insists she wants to help me do whatever it is I'm doing and when I let her, her interest only lasts for a few minutes before she's whining to be done. Don't get me wrong, she got plenty of things to entertain her for Christmas, she just would rather pick on her brothers or hang on me. Um, yeah. If Mother nature would cooperate a little more and send some more of that famous sunshine we're known for this time of year instead of the buckets of rain we've gotten instead, I would actually have a problem. "Huh, you're bored? Go outside then, bye!", I would reply to the constant "I'm boreds" streaming from her mouth. But, no. I sit and count of the days until the break is over and am thoroughly grateful for visitors this weekend and other things to do. Thus is life I suppose and fast forward a few years and I'm going to miss having them all here to bug me at all, right? ;0)

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 170)

Stick a fork in the holidays, cuz they're done!

Well, done enough anyway, although looking through my house it's hard to believe it! Various package wrappings and a few random gifts for relatives, to be seen later in the week, strewn under the tree. The counter is littered with half empty goody plates and my front room still has stockings on the sofa and a box with discarded paper stuffed to the brim. The rooms' of my children look like war zones, Lego's scattered from end to end and dirty clothes falling out of hampers. I have, however, gotten started on the cleaning processes. One room at a time and here's where the "TiP" part comes in, tackle the mess one room at a time.
I have to have the house picked up again for the weekend because of the before mentioned visiting relatives and that leaves me 3 more days to get the house in shape. Today the kitchen, tomorrow the bathrooms, and the next day the living spaces and the kids to clean their bedrooms. I have the kids do theirs last because honestly, they don't stay clean and I'm all for the least amount of yelling as possible! ;0) This will be accomplished while I get through the mountains of laundry, slowly...ever so slowly. I've found that I can easily wash, fold, and put away the laundry while I'm on the phone, so chances are if you call me, that's what I'll be doing!
As overwhelming as the the after effects of the holidays are, cleaning up after them doesn't have to be. So, don't let it! Start with one room and clean it completely and move on from there, you'll get it all eventually! ;0) That's your TiP fOr TuEsDaY! ;0)

tHiS iS wHaT i LiKe (post 169)

Yes, if you read my blogs you will notice that I am a dummy and posted this post on my family blog as well. D'OH!! Yeah, yeah...feel free to read it here too. ;0P

...and now a very special tHiS iS wHaT i LiKe post because apparently what "I like" is to drive myself insane!! ;0)

                            *What I Made for Christmas*

I painted 3 pictures in all (I just mailed two of them away neglecting to snap pictures of them, oops!)

I sewed fleece travel pillow covers for my sons, and appliqued their names on them as well

I appliqued and sewed 3 pillows with my the hand prints of my children

My daughter and I made our own wrapping paper with brown parcel wrap and potato stamps

I made 5 pretty skirts in all, my daughter LOVED hers!

Including the stockings and the tree ornaments and many different kinds of goodies, I was one very busy Mommy this Christmas season! See the rest of the madness here and here. It was so much fun though, having Christmas on the cheap. We felt bad that the kids weren't as spoiled as usual, but honestly everything they got, was something they really wanted! They had a great time! As for the Christmas goodies here's one of the recipes I used:
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies (gluten-free)
Ingredients
1 cup shortening
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (not imitation)
1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
4 cups Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten-free flour
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 bag semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and the sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the vanilla and the pumpkin until well blended.
Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves; stir into the pumpkin mixture. Mix in the chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges begin to brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

I know what you're thinking, aren't your recipes dairy-free as well? I know that chocolate chips generally aren't, but I found some great gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate chips from Enjoy Life, that are both safe for my allergy-ridden eater and taste identical to the real thing, SCORE!
I hope that all of my readers had a wonderful Christmas with their families as I know I did, especially now that it's done! Now if I could only get my house back in order we'll be all set! ;0)

The reason for the season...

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas to all my loyal blog readers that celebrate the holiday, (at risk of not being entirely politically correct and all) and Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings to everyone else! I'm sharing biblical passage today as a reminder (to myself included) to remember the reason we all drive ourselves mad with the holiday rush in the first place! To celebrate the birth of Christ. Christians celebrate the holiday in the spirit of kindness and giving in remembrance of him and his teachings. Others celebrate on the notion of family and togetherness and getting great stuff? I'm not sure really because I celebrate for the first reason, him...the reason for the season. On that thought, I'm going to be taking this week off from the daily blog-grind and take the time to enjoy my family. I wish everyone peace and happiness for the week ahead and hope that everyone finished their holiday shopping because I have, yippee!!! ;0)

ThOuGhT fOr ThE dAy (post 167)

"Everything that's really worthwhile in life comes to us". ~Earl Nightingale



Really worthwhile, have you stepped back and put this into perspective? I can ask myself this very question and honestly I'm not sure I have the answer. I'm sitting here trying to think of some words of wisdom to add, but I'm failing miserably...so, forgive me if I just share the quote today and let you reflect on what it means to you. Life in general is absolutely worthwhile, just a thought...