A Pirate's Journal

Happy December

2011-12-01T12:45:00.001-05:00

Wow it has been a really long time since I posted. I have been so busy subbing and at work at night that I have litterally had no spare time. Christmas is quickly coming upon us and I am sort of there. Most of the decorations are up and the elves are here. Here is my tip on decorating, if you are moving something to put up Christmas in it's place (photos, decorative items take a pict of it before so you remember how to put it back, also take a pick of the decorated space for next year)
Now on to the gifts...

The countdown has begun

2011-09-15T10:07:00.001-04:00

Got a reminder today that Christmas is coming. I think about it in the back of my mind but today the Countdown begins there are 101 days till Christmas. Over at Organized home http://101daystochristmas.com/topics/get-organized they help us out and keep us going so we can be ready before Christmas so come the holiday we can relax and enjoy the time, stress free.

Sound of Silence

2011-09-07T13:01:00.001-04:00

Listen... do you hear that?? It's the sound of rain and.... silence!! Yes it's that time of year again, back to school. don't get me wrong I love my boys however some days I love them more when they are not fighting with each other, the dog, me and generally everything around them. Or asking to eat every 20 mintues.

It's exciting to hear about their day, see what they have done and help them lear new things. But... ahhh the silence. :)

our Kitchen redo.

2011-09-04T10:05:00.000-04:00

When we moved into this house a few years ago, thankfully everything was painted tolerable colors and we could re do rooms as time, and money, permitted. We finally got around to the kitchen. However we still need some stuff done that money didn't permit like a new stove and floor. I am pretty sure there is some water damage by the sliding door and that is just going to have to wait so the tiles stayed. My wonderful parents came up and spent several days helping me do this project and acting as interior decorator and electrician as needed. Add to the fact we were working in here when the earthquake hit, it all added up to alot of memories.

Here is the countertop and a snip it of the brick wall and green wall paint

first attempt at spray paint counter tops

corner cabintes w/ new hardware by fridge, counter tops are drying and will not stay empty long, toaster over going over here and red mixer

New microwave over the stove, newly painted brick and cabinets

Side wall by sink. newlly painted countertops with stainless steel paint and alot of poly overcoats.

vinel wall clock. I had extra birds so they are on my menu board

More Yummy goodness

2011-08-10T09:24:00.000-04:00

At this rate it's going to be a gooseberry Patch Christmas. From the Christmas book 12 (like the one below) I tried another recipe.

Chocolate Coverd Cherry Cups
20 oz pkg brownie mix
16oz jar maraschino cherries drained and juice reserved
1/2 C juice reserved and divided
6 oz pkg simi sweet chocolate chips
1/2C sweetened condensed milk

prepare brownie mix according to the package directions using 1/4 c of the cherry juice plus water, if necessary, to equal the amount of water called for in the directions. Place paper liners in mini muffin cups (I couldn't find any so I sprayed well w/ cooking spray) fill aboug 1/2 full with brownie batter.Push a cherry into each cup and bake at 350 for 15-20 min. Remove and let cool

Combine chocolate cups;stir condensed milk in a small saucepan;stir over low heat until melted. Remove and add remaining 1/4 c cherry cuice as needed for frosting consistency. Place a dollop of warm frosting on each cup and let cool.,

Makes 3 dz

These turned out really good. I didn't make the iceing I happened to have smores icing in a bag so I just used that. Also be sure to spray the pans well I forgot to the second time and they were hard to get out....
Another tip to get the mix into those tiny cups put the batter in a zip lock baggie and sip off the corner like a piping bag and squeeze in the mix. Oh and.... pay attention to the cherries size, I got the smaller jar and it wasn't enought, be sure to get the kind w/o the stem, got those too.... (I was at walmart and a bit distracted.)
These would be a great easy addition to a party table.

Carrot Cake Jam - the trial run

2011-08-04T11:08:00.000-04:00

I have the Gooseberry Patch Christmas book 12 and in it was a interesting idea for Jam. It's Carrot Cake Jam. I was looking at food options for gifts this year and this sounded good and different. It was pretty straight forward all you need it:
1 1/2 C carrots peeled and shredded
1 1/2C pears cored, peeled and choopped
14oz can crushed pineapple
3T lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
3oz liquid pectin
6 1/2 C sugar
6 1/2 pint canning jars w/ lids serilized. (mine made much more than 6 jars)

This picture is minus the sugar, somehow I forgot to get sugar. It calls for fresh pears but I couldn't find any so I went w/ canned it worked out fine.

Mix all the ingredients except pectin and sugar in a large sauce pan. Bring to a boil over med heat. Reduce heat to Med-low; simmer for 20 min stirring occasionally.

Add pectin and return to a boil. Stir in sugar; bring to a full rolling boil stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Pour into hot sterillized jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Secure with lids. Cool and store in fridge up to 3 weeks.

Here is a pict of it after it has set for the night. It has a good flavor it's sweet yet the spices give it a little kick. Interesting mix but i like it.

Perfect Pairing Sunday

2011-07-31T01:49:00.000-04:00

We recently got back from a vacation in the mountains. We had a lot of adventures, listed in a previous post, This weeks verse was easy for me.

Psalms 121:
1I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
         From where shall my help come?
2My help comes from the LORD,
         Who made heaven and earth.
3He will not allow your foot to slip;
         He who keeps you will not slumber

We had oh so many mountain adventures that week. Hiking in, enjoy the beauty of, sweating, getting rained on, driving back and forth and back and forth on the roads,going from the bottom of the moutian all the way to the top and the beauty of God's creation was always around us.

Monkey Bread

2011-07-30T13:31:00.000-04:00

This morning I got up earler than I wanted to, snuck out to walk the dog before it got miserably hot (but it was 80 at 8 am already) and checked out two yard sales in my neighborhood. Then I decided to make my monkeys some monkeybread for breakfast. We hadn't had that in a long time and it sounded good. I usually in list their help but this morning they were still sleeping so I got it in the oven before they got up. I decided to do add a few things to make it a little different this time. If yu search it on the internet you will find dozens of recipes but I used the basic one I used as a kid:

3 (or 4) cans of refrigerator biscuits (10 count)
1C white sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1stick butter
1C brown sugar
**optional ingred:
mini chocolate chips
bananas
walnuts

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325
spray well, with cooking spray, a bundt pan

*combine the white sugar and cinnamon on a plate
* cut each biscuit in 4 pieces and roll in the sugar mix and put into pan
**oppitional step in b/n layers sprinkle nuts and chocolate chips
*continue until all the biscuits are done.

In a pan melt, on med low, the butter, and brown sugar. At this point I also put in a banana in this mixtures (It was frozen so when it thawed it was mushy any way). heat until melted and pour over the biscuits.

bake for 35 min. When done set pan on wire rack to cook for 10 min.
Then put a plate on top of the pan and invert.

We really liked the banana flavor in this one. It was different and you can never go wrong with chocolate especially at breakfast.

Life Lessons

2011-07-29T11:26:00.001-04:00

Life lessons are often hard learned. I don't think we would mind them as much if they are easy but then again it's often the things we work hard on we remember more. (unless it's the deals on really cheep/free stuff but that's a different story)
I have recently learned a life lesson. I have come to the realization that at this point in my life I am not a priority to others. Meaning I have plenty of people that say they will/want to get together and do something but when it comes down to the details and making it happen they always fall through.Now I do realized that people are busy and have their own things going on but it reaches a point where I have missed out on seeing a play and a movie that I wanted to see b/c someone told me they would go w/ me but we never did. This has been especially hard b/c when I lived in Missouri I had a group of friend and they were a priority in my life and I was in theirs. It was something special we had there. It's something I have not found here and I miss it. Now that I have come to this realization part 1 I am figuring out what part 2 of my lesson is. It is this, when someome reaches out to me I need to be sure to do my part and follow up and make things happen. Oh and don't be surprised when plans with these other people fall through, yet again.

I can choose to allow my self to be hurt, again, or I can choose to be a help to others.

vacation adventures

2011-07-25T09:39:00.000-04:00

A free photo slideshow by Smilebox

Vacation, where do I start? It was a interesting week to say the least. Let's start w/ no one really knowing what day we were leaving. Then we stoped at a gas station and I sat the keys down, mom shut the door and they keys were locked in the van. Oops... not the first time I had done that. BUT the up side was that we were in a city w/ gas stations and other places around so we got snacks and chilled while the pop a lock guy showed up. We made it to the cabin around midnight.
Monday-we went to a really nice park/play groung w/ a creek running though it at Montreat which is Billy Graham's retreat. That afternoon we went into the town, did a little shopping and got icecream. :)

Tuesday-we went to Cherokee NC which is a reservation for the Eastern Band Cherokee Indians. Those that never left the area during the Trail of Tears. We went to a Oconaluftee Indain camp where they had stations showing how they made beads, weapons, homes, baskets and other things origionally. I learned alot about the Indians, it was facinatin and our guide was great. Not hard on the eyes either. Towards the end we saw a traditional War dance and a reinactment. After we left there we went to white water rafting. That was a experience. It had small rapids so no guide. We got stuck on a lot of rocks (guess the water was still a little low) but we had a great time. Something new for most of use.

Wed-Dad stayed home with the boys while me, mom and my aunt did some shopping. Took the boys to play putt putt that night. It was a hard course and putt putt bring out the worst in my boys don't think we will be doing that again soon.....

Thursday-we went to Walk Grandfather Mountain. We missed the short trail up and drove to the top. Then we walked to the top, across a swinging bridge that one point is a mile high. The other side we were able to look out over the beautiful Smokey Mountain/Blue Ridge. It was overcast but nice. About the time we got off the mountain into the gift shop it started to rain. We waited it out a few minutes and then drove a little down the mountain to the nature center. No hike back down. The center was small but fun b/c it had nature that you can find in a mountains and a casting of a tree someone found that Danile Boone had carved in. It said "Daniel Boon kiled a Bar here" and the date. Saw a statue of a bear that used to be in the mountains and liked humans. The rain stopped so we walked around outside to see the other bears. Went to the pic-nic station to eat lunch only to remember we forgot to stop and get bread. Packed everything back up, got bread and stoped at a overlook to eat. Got attacked by gnats and deer ticks so ate fast and went to Linville falls. It was a hike in the humid, post rain air to a view of the falls. Boy wished we could have gotten in, us to at that point, but there was no where to do that. Hiked back out and on the way out stopped at a small town called Little Switzerland. Interesting place, got more ice cream. It has some shops and little places to rent cabins. There are a lot of motercycles on those roads b/c there are so many curves. Some almost circled back on themselves. We were all pretty green by the time we got down the mountain.

Friday-We got up early and decided to do another hike today. It was through the mountains, on a tril to Catawaba falls. It's a decent walk to a beautiful falls. We can get in at the bottom of the falls and the falls were so different. They come dowin in many small streams all over the face of the mountain. Right as we were putting on our shoes we hear a boom of thunder and the the sky opened. The whole 30+ minutes of the walk out it poured down on us. Wet, mudy and interesting. With my walking stick, mud and rain I felt like I was on my way to tribal council on Survivor. All we could do was laugh. we were soaked to the bone and then some. We finally made it to the car , run out as much as we could and drove home, very wet.

Saturday-Dad and the boys got to have fun at the Asheville nature center and then Fun Zone (putt putt, go carts, laser tag) while the ladies and I went shopping.

Sunday-laundry, packing and home.

Whew, if you are still hanging in through all this, thanks!

Hello Mountains, I love you

2011-07-18T16:29:00.000-04:00

One of the things I like so much about Virginia is we have mountain and oceans in the same state. And I am in the middle of the two. I enjoy going to the mountains. I am in the NC mountains right now. Vacationing in a cabin that my granfather used to own and I remember coming to as a child. A lot of memories here. I am not sure I am ready to give up the convience of stores and other things with in a few minutes o my house just yet though. Oh and the current lack of cable and strong internet.... Well that's what a vacation is for, right? getting away from the every day?

My new ornaments

2011-07-15T10:01:00.000-04:00

Last night was a special night for me. I was able to chat w/ some special Friend and do our virtual ornament exchange. While I couldn't hear everyone's word I could read them and feel the excitement. The beautiful ladies at Magical Holiday Home hold a very special place in my heart. They are wonderful ladies that I can't imagine talking to daily. Supportive, sweet, strong women who while we may all be different we are always there for each other and I love that.
So with out further Ado here are the ornaments:

Starting at the top: Is a picture of Diedra in a wodnerful pop open box and a tree she sowed w/ MHH on the star.

going Left is a mini snow man, A washer stamped w/ Happy CIJ 2011 and a rosset made from beautiful Christmas ribbon from Michelle

Then a Ornament from The smoky mountains w/ a bear on it from Becky from her favorite Christmas store and vacation town

The fun sparkly snowflake is from Jessica.

Jane cross stitched the reindeer and backed it with some material from a skirt she made for her daughter's part in a play.

Next is a beautiful silver and tourquoise wreath from Annie, which is perfect since she lives in AZ.

Above that is a bag of angle dust and a cute snowman w/ a big hat. The snowman is made from wooden pieces and nicely done by Lana. She was sweet enought to host this exchange and sent a wonderful sweet card w/ hers.

Last but not least is the snowman from Kim. (see a snow/snow man theme?) Hers was made w/ caulk on styrofoam balls so it has a lot of texture and she sowed MHH '11 on the scarf and used the bake clay for the eyes/nose/buttons.

Unfortunatly my ornaments, which were my last choice, were all broken. :( They were in the glass balls so I think some ladies will transfer to ones they already have. I put a paperclip angle I made on them also so at least those were ok. Now I can plan better for next year's exchange and get my supplies during the holidays while they are still availible.

Today's the Day!

2011-07-14T10:29:00.000-04:00

So excited. Finally everyone has received their box for the ornament exchange. Tonight we will go into a common chat room and open then together. I will put on some Christmas music, maybe light a Christmas candle and enjoy the moment. Not everyone understands our connection but it's very real and very special to me. I'll post pictures of the finished project today.

Another reason to wait

2011-07-12T15:00:00.000-04:00

I am in a Christmas in July Ornament exchange. We are waiting for one more person to receive her ornaments so we can all open them. It's hard looking at this box, every day waiting to open it. I can't wait to see all the beautiful ornament every one made. Also I won a drawing on a CiJ blog of my friends and won a Gooseberry Patch Christmas cookbook. Now to wait on that to arrive also... so much waiting...

I hate waiting

2011-07-11T10:42:00.000-04:00

I am not good at waiting. I try... and occasionally I successed but most of the time I get annoyed. I don't like going to amusemnt parks when it's busy and I have to wait. I try to find a short line at the grocery store. At least there I can read a magazine or look in other peoples carts. That's a whole different day there.... I ordered some stuff from a home sale my cousin was having. I had it sent to my place b/c she is out of town. I was told by the consultant that it would be up to two weeks and I would prob. get my stuff before the party b/c it usually works out that way. Well she got it last Thur and I got nothing. I get to watch the UPS come every day to the neighbor (No lie but again that's another day) but not here... maybe today... please....

And on top of it I have a box full of fun Christmas ornament from an exchange I did and I have to wait for everyone to get theirs before I can open mine.... more waiting :( booo

Scripture match up Sunday

2011-07-10T16:05:00.000-04:00

Wanted to do this again this week.
This pict. is of my guys in the museum at Quantico near DC.

“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle – my loving kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.” Psalm 144:1

Gifts in a Jar

2011-07-09T13:26:00.001-04:00

So who makes/gives/gets gifts in a jar? I think they are cute ideas but have not ever given them. I found this today (in the Gooseberry Patch Christmas 12 book) and am considering it for gifts this year. I can start now looking at thrift stores/clearance/yard sales for some jars to make this. It seems like it would be easy to make a lot of batches and be low in cost.

**Savory Rice Mix**
4c long cooking rice, uncooked
1/4c dried, minced onion
1 env from a 2 oz pakg onion soup mix
1T dried parsley
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp salt.

Combine all ing;store in an airtight container for up to 4 months. Makes 4 cups

cooking Instructions:
mix one cup mix w/ 2 c beef broth (I am sure you can use water, chicken or vegetable stock as well) in 2 qt. saucepan, add 1T butter. Bring to a rolling boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed about 20 -25 min. makes 4 servings.

Oh in a previous post I said I had on my Christmas earring. Sever asked what they were. They were little mittens but now I have on Christmas trees.

Crafty Friday

2011-07-08T21:37:00.000-04:00

I decided on some Christmas in July fun today. We have been working hard cleaning the boys rooms so we deserved some down time. We watched a animated Christmas movie I have not seen before called Christmas is here again. It was cute. It's about a orpan girl, an elf, reindeer, fox and polar bear that help reclaim Santa's magical sack (magical b/c it was made from the swadling clothes that baby Jesus was wrapped in) so Christmas can return to the world.

Then I started on my ideas for aprons for gifts. This is my first attempt and it will need some serious tweeking.I used a bright green ribbon for the tie and blue around the pocket.

DS 12 is modeling so I promised to not show his face ;)

Christmas In July day 5

2011-07-05T11:47:00.000-04:00

Wow look at me posting so many days in a row :) Occasinally I impress my self. I have some "real life" (as my sweet friend SparkleNana says) before I can get any Christmas fun in. I did listen to some Christmas music while I was at work this morning and I will go put in some Christmas earrings as well. I think I will go flip through my Goose Berry Patch Christmas book and see what looks like fun.

my smash book

2011-07-04T21:38:00.000-04:00

Happy Fourth of July.

It's been over two years since our family trip to Disney world. While I am wanting to go back again I have yet to do any thing w/ my suitcase full of stuff from our first trip. While I discovered I need to find some more picts to print off to use I did do one page. There were 7 of us on the trip and I always wanted to assign us to the seven dwarfs so I did. This was my first page. I am sure I will add some more as I go.

We are:
my mom: Sleepy
my dad: Doc
Me:Dopey
Hubby:Sneezy
Oldest boy: Happy
Middle Boy: Bashful
Youngest Boy: Grumpy

Picture Scripture Sunday

2011-07-03T15:39:00.001-04:00

I saw a lady on another blog (http://www.thatsbaloney.com/) do this and I thought it was a neat idea. On Sunday she posted a picture she liked and found a scripture to go with it. Since It's Christmas in July I found one from this past Christmas. It's my parents and their 7 grandsons. My 3 and my brother and SIL's 4.

Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;parents are the pride of their children. Prov 17:6 (new living translation)

Sat of a holiday weekend.

2011-07-02T12:51:00.000-04:00

Well it's 4th of July weekend. And the big NASCAR race at Daytoa is also this weekend so I will share a Santa/racing joke:

Why is Santa such a good race car driver?

He's always in the poll position.

Merry Christmas in July!

2011-07-01T10:49:00.000-04:00

Ahh the possibilities of planning for Christmas in July. Gives us crafters time to start working on gifts and time to start over if they don't work right the first time. Also thinking of Christmas and the joys as well as cooler weather in the throws of Summer (or the opposite for our friends in the other hemisphere) gives some special treat for this time of year. I want to make a list of ideas to help keep me on track. I'll start today by updating my iPod with some Christmas music I don't have on there yet.

My Snoopy

2011-06-30T09:15:00.000-04:00

Wanted to share a picture of my girl in the house. When we got her, her name at the time was Aspen. I wasn't a big fan of that name especially when Monster kept calling her A$$-bum. Not meaing it to be bad but.... we have never been there either. So one day she started knocking over her food bowl to cary it around. The name Snoopy fit and stuck. She wouldn't stand still long enough for a good picture so this is the best I could get

trying a new recipe

2011-06-29T16:40:00.002-04:00

Since I had some peaches that were about to go bad and I wanted to try this recipe from my new cookbook "America's hometown recipe book" though I would add the peaches. Here is the recip and my substitutions to try to make it a little lower in fat/calories are below:
Blueberry surprise french toast
12 slices of dry white bread cut into cubes (about 8C divided)
2 pks 8 oz cream cheese cut into small cubes
1 1/2 c fresh blueberries (I used frozen)
12 eggs
2C milk 1/2 C mable syrup

*Butter a 9x13 pan (or 2 8x8) and place 4C of the bread cubes in the bottom of the dish. Top w/ cream cheese, blueberries and rest of the bread.

*beat eggs in a large mixing bowl w/ a electric mixer, beat in milk and syrup. Pour mixtures over casserole. Cover and chill 2-24 hrs

* preheat oven to 375 Bake covered 25 min then uncover and bake 25 more minutes until topping is puffed and brown and a knife insered in center come out clean. Let sit 10 min and serve warm. Suggested syrup blueberry.

I used whole weat toast b/c it's what I had. Then for the milk did 1/2 2% and 1/2 almond vanilla milk. I figured the sweetness would be nice. Also I used fat free cream cheese and sugar free syrup. Guess we'll see tomorrow how it turned out. The peaches looked yummy.

It puffs up when baking and falls down after it sits a while. It is really light and yummy, jsut metls as you eat it. Some Cinnamon would be good added to it I think so I will make a note of that. Maybe b/c of the peaches.. I froze a batch so hopefully it will thaw and cook up well. This would be a yummy addition to my Christmas morning baking. .Anything I can make a day early and just have to bake works for me.

It's Rudy Day

2011-06-25T19:56:00.000-04:00

Well here it is Rudy day for June. We are now on the downhill slide to Christmas. I have not accomplished much today but I am working on finding stuff for some puzzle bottles I want to make for my nephews. Some Christmas music in the AM. Maybe I will look for something Chrismasy tonight. On line or TV.

Went to pick up my stuff at Kohls having lost weight it's fun to buy new clohtes. I found me 5 pairs ofpants and then some stuff for my pre teen boy so 12 items (about $400 pre sale) for $30 not to bad I say...

We love Snoopy

2011-04-30T20:39:00.000-04:00

This was our first year in two years at Kings Dominion. Since we were there last new people took over and now they have Snoopy themed kids area. I love snoopy and the Peanuts crew. I think Monster and I would buy out the gift shop if we could. He remind me of Linus b/c they both have a blanket, both suck a finger and occasionally snuggle with a Snoopy. Here Monster was more than happy to take a minute to post with Snoopy.

Lets go Racing

2011-04-30T20:35:00.000-04:00

We decided to take the boys to the NASCAR race at RIR Fri. night. JB 12 usually goes w/ his dad but the younger two ususally don't go. This time we all went. Monster E was mad because he couldn't get a snowcone that's why he is pouting. He got over it after a while. The race was pretty uneventful so it went by pretty quickly. We sat with some friends of mine. No real chatting b/c it's really loud but it's exciting to be so close to all those cars going so fast round and round and round....

Mom is great, she gives up birthday cake...

2011-04-13T15:56:00.000-04:00

for breakfast. I was reminded of a Bill Cosby skit this morning. I woke up to a Birthday cake from hubby and the boys. It was topped w/ all my favorite candy. Easter peeps,Cadbury cream eggs, almond M&Ms. Oh so yummy. I let the boys have some for breakfast, with milk of course. I looked at the cake, and like the skit, saw eggs, flour,milk... sounds like breakfast to me :) Why not? It's not everyday we have a birthday at the house.

A new treat

2011-04-07T15:50:00.000-04:00

I found these directions on another blog and had to try them. Chocolate covered peeps! Not the kind the peep people sell in the store, they are missing the yummy sugar coating. So I made my own. Not pretty but tasty! I didn't have sticks to keep them on so I had to use 3 and take the stick out to do another one.

Next on my list to make are the rice cripy eggs w/ candy inside them. This weekend... Photos to follow.

my new friend... Capt. Jack

2011-03-22T17:24:00.000-04:00

Any one that knows me know I have a thing for pirates. Know those stick family stickers on the back of the car? Found pirate one, favorite movies? THe Pirates of the Carribean. Shirt w/ skull and crossbones? Sure, I call them my pirate shirts, I have one that's pink and says pirate girl on it. Pirate flip flops? got them too. Favorite football team? Well that's the Redskins not changing that to Pittsburg for my current obcession. Along w/ several other pirate things in my collection. At Christmas we redid the dining room turned game room into a media room. The school my mom and dad teach at recently had their ring banquet (prive school, they don't dance) and it was a Hollywood theme. To rais some more money they auctioned off the decorations. Dad got me something very cool. A life size cardboard cutout of Capt. Jack Sparrow himself. He watches over me in the room. He has scared me a few time but I like him there. He's kind of sexy.

March Rudy Day Movie

2011-03-05T12:39:00.000-05:00

Over at Magical Holiday Home we celebrate Christmas the 24th of ever month (or sometime around there) We take some time to think about Christmas. It's different for every one. Some work on thier notebook, craft, wear Christmas socks (more discreet and a t=shirt), listen to Christmas music, watch a holiday movie... I picked the movie for March and while I debated between a few I picked Christmas in Connecuticut. It's a old black and white movie. A woman writes for a magizine like the modern day Martha Stuart. Only she does nothing she writes about. When a war hero asked to Spend the holidays with her everying falls apart and the comedy inssues. It's a cute movie. Far cry from Shaun of the Dead we watched this morning. While it's not the 24th of the month, I decided to watch it last night any way. I like some of the classic movies, black and white, looking at the Christmas decorations and such.

Cloudy with a Chance.........of Happiness

2011-03-04T20:41:00.000-05:00

The other night my oldest boy was watching a movie in the car. He chose Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. He knows I really like that movie. Flint Lockwood embodies what we have been reading in the Happiness Project book. He completly follows his passion in life, to be an inventor. He does this regardless of what others think he keep working on it. I love how Flint hums his own theme music and nariates what he is doing, he makes me laugh. And his sidekick Steve. Steve loves gummy bears, who doesn't? My favorite are the white and red. yum.I think we can learn a lesson from Flint. Find something you really enjoy doing and make a point of doing it. I need to find a passion or something I really enjoy doing and do it. I second guess my self and that self doubt creeps in. I like making cards but don't make time for it and find my self feeling "uncreative" I need to learn to find a few minutes and jsut do it. Make something.

To blog or not to blog...

2011-03-02T08:58:00.000-05:00

So this is a new month in the happiness project and new goals to look into. She suggested we start a blog. I had already started one however I am not good at using it every day. Heck, I have a journal I bought for this project and it sits there, empty. Well amost empty minus my commandments. I would like to start journaling some of my thoughts on the book in there. For her blogging was about pushing out of her comfort zone. I can see that. If I don't feel like I know what to say, I say nothing.... So what do you blog about? Where do your ideas come from?

Mr. Men and you

2011-02-25T12:13:00.000-05:00

We love the Mr. Men show in this house. Every character's name is a description of themselves. Mr. Rude, Mr. Stubborn, Miss Chatterbox, Miss Whoops. I think on any given day we can identify with one of them. THey make me laugh and are much more tolerable than some of the cartoons the boys want to watch on a daily basis.While it's a you have to see it to get it moment, one of my favoite lines is when Mr. Noisy is stomping around in a cave w/ Mr. Stubborn (always right) and Miss Naughty (plays tricks). Mr Noisy is asking what the map says on how to get out and Mr. Stubborn replies "It says, do not listen to me, listen to Mr. Stubborn, he knows what he is talking about." We all know someone like that, they are ALWAYS right. Do you have a Miss Chatterbox in your life, some one who never stops talking. Maybe a Mr. Lazy or Mr. Messy.

Hoops and Yoyo

2011-02-23T00:06:00.000-05:00

I have to confess I am in love with a green bunny and a pink cat. They are called Hoops and Yoyo and have a birdy friend called Puddles. They are funny, occasionally irreverant and always make me laugh. They have e-card and annimations on their websight. The manners collection are a favorit in this house. http://www.hallmark.com/online/hoopsandyoyo/animations/hyy-manners.aspx take a minute, check them out and have a smile.

pt 2

2011-02-14T15:13:00.001-05:00

ok, got the headder gone now still trying to work on that background.... It'll get there.

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-14T15:03:00.000-05:00

Well it's Valentines day. I am such a boring practical person when it comes to this day. I got my wonderful husband a card that does a good job of expressing my feeling. That's it, yeah me. For as long as we have been together he always got me gifts based on a theme. Hot stuff w/ hot sauce and hot candy, Fun to be w/ you we went to the cicurs that year, sweet stuff:more candy than I could eat. I told him to hold off this year. It's a wonderful thought I really appreciate however extra cash spend on candy I don't need or flowers that wilt were not on my mind this year. I have to work tonight so I won't even get to see him. What a romantic we are :) We have been married 15 1/2 yrs. and he is my Valentine along w/ three othere little men in my life.

On a different note, by blog is bugging me. I am trying to update the background and can't get rid of the banner at the top. That and can't find a decent pirate background either.

Do you fight fair?

2011-02-13T11:14:00.000-05:00

So we are in month 2 of the happiness project and this week we talked about fighting fair. Do you use generals like "you always/never" Do you bring up the past that the other person thought was forgotten? This weeks lesson was reinforced in church today. Interesting how it worked out that way. The two main points the paster wanted us to remember are:
1) your spouse is not your enemy (of course this can be applied to any significant relationship w/ a parent, friend, child)

2) Stop fighing in your marriage and start fighting for your marriage. Doesn't me you can't/ won't fight but if you remember that the other person is not your enemy and you fight to fix things it's a whole new battle.

Just something to remember

The Happiness Project

2011-02-11T21:11:00.001-05:00

I started a book called The Happiness Project with some ladies online. I missed the month of January and am playing catch up but one of the first things we are to do is make our own 12 Commandments for us to live by. Here are mine:
1) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

2)Take care of me. I am the only Me there is

3)It is what it is-don't make it into something it's not

4) Savor the moment-it's a gift from God.

5)my house is a sanctuary-treat it like that

6)If its not working, change something. I may not be able to change others but I can control me

7)Find joy in the rain

8)Act like a kid when the situation arrises

9) be spontanious-be open to the moment

10)Be creative

11) Don't tkae it personally.

12)Learn to enjoy the quiet.

So there they are. I need a lot of reminding on these but that's the point. I am excited where this journey will take me.

Christmas is Coming.

2010-12-02T14:46:00.001-05:00

Just a few pict of the decorations in the house. There are some of my snowmen on my mantle and it goes down to the table beside it. Then the tree. This tree had mostly sentimental ornaments on it. There is one from the year I was born and then we gets ornaments every year from our vacation or something that helps us remember that year. There are not a lot of the boys ornaments on it. They have their own tree in the upstairs hall way.

BT goes to see WWE

2010-11-19T15:07:00.000-05:00

so at a little pushing by hubby (didn't take much arm twisting) I got tickets to take my middle son, 9, to go to wrestling. He doesn't watch it a lot but likes the characters and figues. It was a great experience. A little backgroung on why I was the lucky one to take him. When I was little and we had 1 black and white tv (Remember those days?) and we had to take turns picking shows on the weekend. Well my dear, older, brother figured out how to work it that he got to watch wrestling. I hated it and mom's answer was "well go outside then" That didn't sound like fun so I would cave and watch it. That became a bond that I was able to have w/ my brother and to some extent still do w/ him and 2 of my cousins now. I have watched it over the years and see the change in it both good and bad. When I was in high school Dad, beeing the sweet guy that he is, took me several times as well as gotten me tickets to go w/ friends. So fast forward many, many years to now. We surprised him with tickets and he was thrilled. WE had a completly unobstructive veiw of the stage and entrance ramp. Plus a front row seat to all the pyro (thanks' WWE employee that warned all of the kids and adults in our section when they were about to go off). Once we got past the boring part of the NXT filming (trying to find the next superstar that are currently all women) we got to the good stuff. We had a good show, and a lot of fun. I will remember this for a long, long time.

The Day After

2010-11-01T15:01:00.001-04:00

Well it's not only the day after Halloween but the start to a new month. And it's Monday so it's also Meal Plan Monday. A lot going on today. Here is the monsters ready to go get some candy. Monster E is Mario and would wear his costume every day for a week while he played Mario on the Wii. BT wanted to be the grim reaper but the closest we could find was some guy from Harry Potter but close enough while Big J was a goohl. How do you spell that word? Any way they got around 1/2 the neighborhood and got a pumpkin full of candy (which by the way is about 1/2 a target bag). Big J's friend and his mom also joined us so that was fun.

Here is our meal plan for the next 2 weeks (minus some sides not listed I have to decide on):

M-Pizza Repeat (in other words all the pizza I bought for Halloween and every body was too excited to eat)

T-Chicken Manicotti w/ garlic bread

W-Pork Chops w/ broccoli

TH-Stuffed Spaghetti Pie

F- Calzones

M-Cheeseburger Casserole

T-Broccoli chicken bake

W-beef w/ veg all casserole

TH-Stuffed Shells

F-Chicken patties w/ French Fries

Happy first day of Turkey Month.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T12:53:00.001-04:00

Well here it is, Halloween and thee last day of October. Fall is upon up full tilt and we are on the downward slide to Christmas. Good thing those of us at Magical Holiday Home believe in preparing early.

So we were cleaning house the other day and I moved the automan that goes w/ this chair, my chair. Well the Snoopy has claimed the automan as her bed. I guess since we moved it she decided she was going to take over my chair...nice...Time to get up puppy mommy needs her chair back so I can get on the computer and talk about you now...

Happy Halloween friends.

Holly Jolly Friday

2010-10-29T14:27:00.000-04:00

On the way to help a halloween party for Monster E I ran into target. From the last time I was there the amount of Christmas stuff has doubled. I just wish I had more time to take it in. I am sure that when I go on Monday to look at the clearance Halloween stuff I will find plenty of time to look at it then.

Anothe Rudy Day

2010-10-25T18:39:00.000-04:00

Well here is it Rudy day again. The times is passing so quickly. There is only one more Rudy day till Christmas. Wow! Yesterday also started the Christmas countdown. Time to really start prepping/planning. I have stuff written in one place and not the other so I need to work on getting everything in all the places (my main Christmas notebook as well as my purse notebook)

Yesterday I spent my day working on my Christmas cards and listening to Christmas music. I got alot done but after counting how many are on the MHH card exchange I have more to go. I will try to take some pict tomorrow and post them. Today I did more cards and had Christmas in Conn. on in the back ground.

Maybe I can stretch out Rudy day just one more day...

Menu Board

2010-10-19T12:21:00.000-04:00

I got this ideas from the Fly Lady facebook page. Since I have been working hard on menu planning and sticking w/ it I wanted to find a fun way to display it. It's a picture frame and I used my circut to cut out the days of the week and now that I have a new program am going to try to cut out "whats for dinner?" also. Where the photo goes I can use different scrapbook pages to go w/ the current season or kitchen decor.

When doing my menu for 2 weeks I try to assign a type of food to each day.

Monday-hamburger, Tuesday-chicken, Wednesday-pork, Thursday-pasta, Fun Friday (things like sloppy joe casserol, calzones...) and the weekends I don't cook.

2010-10-15T09:06:00.000-04:00

I made this cute clipboard for Monster's student teacher that is leaving his class today. I wanted to add something else to it but ran out of time. I think next time I will put the teachers name or something more to it. I got this idea from the frugal girls websight. so cute and easy. Hope she likes it. If it seems to get a good reaction from the other teachers in the room I may make them for them for Christmas also. Heck maybe i will make one for me. Why not right?

Happy Columbus Day

2010-10-11T22:30:00.000-04:00

Today was a hot busy day. It Oct. but Virginia forgot to look at the calendar and thought it was still summer. It should be low 70s yet it was upper 80's. I wonder if this is the Indian Summer I bread about in the Farmer's Almanac. Any whooo while Hubby was off riding the motorcycle all over Richmond I took the boys off to Chuck E Cheese for some game time. It was not crowded so it was a nice place to hang out. After Hubby got back we took off for the pumpkin patch. For $20 all you can carry so we loaded him up and got a bunch. It was hot, dusty and sweaty but again, not crowded so a nice change from last year when it was really busy. On the way home we swung by Bass Pro Shop for a bit, Dicks Sporting good then Party City. At the party store the boys got their Halloween costumes. Home and then bed. It will be a short work/school week and I will be busy w/ the usual stuff. Nice to have a family day.

Melting Monday

2010-10-05T09:54:00.001-04:00

Yes, once again I am posting a day late but better late than never. Fall was finally in the air I was not melting b/c it was hot but b/c I was melting a lot of cheese. It was a good day to cook inside. I made a 4x's batch of Broccoli Cheese Soup and decided while I was in there to make a big batch of broccoli, chicken in white sauce to freeze. I am slowly stocking my freezer w/ some good fall/winter foods.

Practice Sunday

2010-10-03T15:34:00.000-04:00

Today is a wonderful fall day. Cool temps outside w/ a fire in the fireplace. So I decided to do another trial run on Christmas cakes. I finally found some pans (hurray for Michaels and Ben Franklin crafts and their mini individual baking pans for $1) and baked the apple oatmeal cake for the teachers. I disovered I may need more pans if I plan on baking more at one time. However I doubled the recipe and had enough for the 6 mini loaves at 1/2 full b/c it's a heavy bread and the pan tha makes 4 mini jack-o-lanterns.They are cooling now and then I have to put tog. the goodie bags for the other teachers. Monster E will take the 3 w/ the candy corn dish rag, the apple cake and candy corn. I wrote a poem for it:
A Corny Poem
Candy corn is sweet
And so are you
So here's some to eat
And one to wash your dishes too.

Silly but effective. I want to make a few more dishrags for friends and family but we'll see....

More Saturday Baking

2010-09-27T10:10:00.000-04:00

I know this is Monday but I was having sight issues over the wknd. So here I am now. Another Saturday and a Rudy Day wknd so I decided to try another cake for Christmas. This was Vanilla Wafer Cake. It turned out ok. It's not bad but not my favorite I don't think. I also learned that I need more butter and flour in the bundt pan b/c it fell apart tyring to come out. Didn't get any Rudy day stuff done so that's dissapointing. It was as vanilla flavored as I thought it would be.
It's also a new start Monday for me. I need to start watching my food, I have gained weight, uugg, and have been listening to Fly lady, she has a lot of good idea. First baby step is to drink more water, I know I am underhydrated so off to drink more water. Here is the recipe:
Vanilla Wafer Cake
1C butter (2 sticks)
2 c sugar
6 eggs
12 oz box of vanilla wafers crushed
1c pecans chopped
1/2c milk
1 t. vanilla extract

cream butter and sugar tog. Add eggs one at a time beating after each. Add remaining ing. Pour into greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 325 for 1 1/2 hrs. Let cool in pan before removing.

Baking on a Saturday

2010-09-18T19:53:00.000-04:00

I like to bake however I often am quite the mess when I do bake. I make a huge mess and sometimes mess up what I am making. Today was a good example of that day. I started off w/ the idea of making a carmel apple cake. I started reading over the recipe only to realized I wrote that I needed butter but not how much. This came from a recipe I copied somwhere so no way to check. I googled it and dind't see somethign similar so i went to my back up Gooseberry Patch Country Baking cookbook. There were 2 different Apple cakes so I finally decided on which one. Apple-Oatmeal Coffee Cakes. Started measuring out ingredents and realized I dumped in double the amount of cinnamon I needed. Oops started to pull some out off the top of the flour. Looked at my recipe to see the next ing. to see that Iwas looking at the one for Walnut pumpkin bread. Oops again. I compaired the 2 and saw I also put in too much allspice. Pulled some of that out also. Thankfully I caught it before I use something else I should not have and had to start over. This time I covered up the wrong recipe so I wouldn't do that again. Baked them in 2 mini bundt pans and in a pan that makes 4 mini jack-o-lanterns cakes. you don't see the faces in the cake but I wanted mini loafs b/c if I liked it I will make more for the teachers w/ the candy corn dishrags. I am still looking for a mini loaf baking pan. Well they turned out wonderful!! I am going to make these again. Soon... Here is the recipe.

Apple-Oatmeal Coffee Cake
1C flour
3/4t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/4 t both allspice and cinnamon
1c sugar
1c quick cooking oats
1/2c oil
1 egg
1t vanilla
1c apples cored and chopped (I used granny smith)
1/3c nuts chopped (i used walnuts)

Mix tog. dry ing. Add remaining ing. Mix will be think. pour into greased 8x8 pan. Bake at 350 for 35 min.

Candycorn and peanuts

2010-09-16T07:58:00.000-04:00

Unlike our favorite Nick Jr video where Moose sings "I don't like candy corn" one thing I love about fall is Candycorn and those little pumpkins. I especially love mixing candycorn and peanuts. Yum!!! I have to hide it so that I won't eat it all at once and so the rest of the family won't eat it also. This is my first candycorn dishrag (thanks to tezsocks' blog). Monster E wants it to be ours and since it's the first it will be. I plan to make more to give to friends and teachers. I made it in a day so hopefully I can get a few done easily. So go get some candycorn and peanuts and enjoy fall.

An unplanned Rudy Day

2010-09-13T17:16:00.000-04:00

So Sunday Sept. 12th I had a unplanned Rudy Day. Monster E was sleeping, Hubby was sleeping, the other boys were at friends and the house was quiet. I found my Christmas card box, opened the screened door in the kitchen to enjoy the cooler weather, lit a Christmas candle and got to work. I didn't get nearly as many done as I had hoped but I got some done. It takes a while to finish eash one. I don't have the inside worked out yet but to make the background of the snowglobe I put covered the inside cover w/ a 2 sided piece of paper w/ the Christmas print facing inside. I will use a smaller piece of the same paper as a backgroud to what ever stamped text I end up using. Any way what was in each snowglobe is different and the glitter shakes around in it. It was a nice, relaxing way to spend part of the day.

Weekly Menu

2010-09-08T12:50:00.000-04:00

Now that the boys are back in school I am back to try my hand and menu planning. I am making a list of things that everyones likes and putting them in a seperate cookbook/notebook to pull ideas from. If it is something I want to try from a cookbook I list it on a notecard under the right section then note what cookbook and page. I worked out a plan for 2 weeks (weekends not included) and will work from that. I set a meat for each day (ie Mon-Chicken, Tues-Groundbeef, Wed-Pasta) then work from there how I am going to cook it and what the sides will be. Here is what I have for this week and next.
Mon-holiday Pizza
Tue-ranch chicken w/ noodles and corn
Wed-ha cha cha
Thur-Pork Chops w/ broccoli casserole
Fri-Baked Ziti

Mon-Beef steaks w/ green beans
Tues-pretzel chicken, noodles, broccoli
Wed-meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn
Thur-pork cops w/ ?? some side to be determined
Fri-stuffed spaghetti pie

It's so much easier for me to shop and plan ahead when I make a meal plan. now to stick with it.

Happy eating

Back to School

2010-09-08T12:18:00.000-04:00

Well it's that time of year again. Back to school. Monster will be in 1st grade and despite the fact that he has some issues being still
he is really excited. BT has decided that 4th grade will be borning.
He will be in a all boys class this year so, after she gets back from maternity leave, he will have the same teacher his big brother had in 4th and 5th grade. Big Man will be in 6th grade, he is a big Middle Schooler. He is excited about the change. Lockers, changing classes, new friends (He doesn't know any one in any of his classes). It's going to be a full year in our house.
With the start of them in school it's the start of new stuff for me as well. I can start focusing on the Holiday Grand Plan, Holiday House Work Plan and generally getting my house back after the long summer. I hope to start stocking some freezer foods also.
Here's to Fall, now where is teh cooler weather?

Last day of August

2010-08-31T12:11:00.000-04:00

In honor of this being the end of August I am burning my margarita candle and it smells yummy. I am ready for summer to be over. It has been a long hot summer for us. It was nice to get to take the boys to the beach and the mountains but time for school to start and some routine to be back in the house. Plus I am ready to have my husband home on the weekends. Plus we are on the down slope for Christmas. Now we have a holiday every month and the next few months will fly. Better get going on the Holiday Grand Plan and Holiday Housework plan to get prepared for the holidays. I am ready are you?

Last day of August

2010-08-31T11:24:00.002-04:00

Today is Aug 30th and I am glad to see August end. It has been a long hot summer. We have had some fun and am very thankful that the boys and I got to take a trip to both the mountains and the beach with my parents this year. But it's time for school to start and thigs to go back to some version of normal. Time to put the Holiday Grand Plan and Holiday housework Plan to work and start with some meal planning. My goal this year it to stock my freezer with frozen meals. That was my plan last year and I never made it. This year I am planning beter and will get some stuff put up.

Simple Sunday

2010-08-29T14:05:00.000-04:00

Today is the start of a 1/2 week of August and 1/2 week of September. That means school will be starting soon (yeah), hubbies summer job will be comming to a end soon (yeah for us, not so much for him) and hopefully coolet weather. Plus its the start to our Holiday Grand Plan prepping ourselves and our house for Christmas.
Not too much going on here in our hosue today. I, as always, have the usual stuff to be done like putting away laundry and cleaning the kitchen. I decided to try the coconut bread from my Gooseberry Patch Quick and Easy 2 cookbook for Christmas gifts. I like the way it taste, it's similar in flavor and texture to Impossible coconut pie. My only problem w/ it was that it overflowed in the oven and then one side fell some. It may not be pretty but it tasted good.
I took snoopy out for a walk and broke in my Walmart version of shape ups. I guess we will see after using them for a while if they make a difference. At least my knees were not hurting but I took the short circle today.

Coconut Bread
1/2 c butter (1 stick) softened
1 c sugar
2 eggs
2t coconut extract (I didn't have any so I found a alternate where I used 1 1/2 t vanilla and 1/4t
almond extract)
1c sour cream
1 c sweetened flaked coconut
2c all purpose flour
1t baking powder
1t baking soda

blend tog. sugar and butter in a mixing bowl. Beat in eggs and extract. Stir in sour cream; add coconut. Mix well and set aside. in another bowl combine dry ing; stir into butter mixture. Pour in greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 45-50 min.

Happy Rudy Day

2010-08-25T19:30:00.000-04:00

Well it's the 25th of the month and that means is Rudolph Day! There are only 3 more left until the big day, so 4 months till Christmas. Wow. This Rudy day also starts the month of the elf over at Magical Holiday Home. After only two years I already need more ideas for those little trouble makers. They always have such wonderful ideas over on MHH that I am excited about this one. Time to break out the Christmas notebook and start making notes.

2010-08-24T15:04:00.000-04:00

Terriffic Tuesday. It is amazing outside today! The temps are not going to break the 80's and it's the first time in months for that. It's a reminder that fall is on the way. I have the windows open and the boys and I went to the park so they can run off some energy. Today is day 2 of our walking plan at MHH using one from Better Homes and Gardens. It's nice to have some one else tell me how much to walk each day then I just need to dake the dog out and do it.

I am enjoying some Rudy Day stuff today by printing some pages for my Holiday Grand Plan and Holiday Housework Plan notebook. christmas.organizedhome.com is a great sight for that stuff and those of us that love being organized or need help at it.

My Saturday

2010-08-21T19:41:00.000-04:00

Well I got the bread made. It's similar to the texture of a pound cake. It turned out good. I was able to work it so that I put in mini chocolate chips in just half to try it that way. I liked it better, but then again how can you go wrong w/ chocolate chips and peanut butter?

I also got the next name sign done for my nephew. Once I get this darn blog lay out working right. I can see from looking at my Christmas blog 2 yrs ago I can obviously get this all worked out but right now my brain is off and it's just not working for me :)
Happy Saturday.

Christmas Bread trial

2010-08-19T14:15:00.001-04:00

So mom gave me her Gooseberry Patch Country Baking book and I am on a quest to make some different breads to try fro Christmas gifts.
Here is the first one I tried:
Cherry-Chip bread
2C all purpose flour
1C sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2tsp salt
1/4 c margarine
3/4c water
1 egg, beaten
3/4 c marashion cherries, drained and chopped (about a small jar)
1/2c mini-chocolate chips

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in margarine until particles are the size of coarse meal. Stir in water and egg. Fold in cherries and chips and pour into a lightly oiled 9"x5" pan (I used a bread pan). Bake at 350 for 50-60 min. Cool in pan for 10 min then removed from pan and cool completly on wire rack

I thought this was really good. I enjoyed the flavor and it had the slight seasonal flavor of Chocolate covered cherries. I think I only quartered the cherries and next time will make them into smaller pieces.

My plan this weekend is to try this one also
*Peanut Butter Bread
3/4 c sugar
1/2c panut butter
1 t vanilla extract
1 3/4 c milk
2 1/4 c all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

in large bowl blend together sugar, PB and vanilla. Gradually stir in milk; mix well. Sift tog. flour, baking powder and salt; add to PB mix. Put in greased loaf pan for 45-50 min at 350.
I'll post after I make this and see how it is. It would prob. be good w/ chocolate chips also.

Welcome

2010-08-19T13:20:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my blog. I can't promise that I will post here daily but at least it's good place to share my thoughts and what is going on with me. Come, stay for a while and please leave a commet.