A New Blog Address

You can now find me here:

i have to say...

See you there!

A Few Links For You...

--If you need a little encouragement in your mothering journey, you must read this post by Elise and this post by Mommy Dearest. Both inspiring!

--Mopsy wrote a sweet post about her daughter and her memories of Love's Baby Soft here.

--This is a lovely, new blog I have been reading lately.

--If you are interested in trading books with fellow book-lovers, click here.

--I came across a tutorial for making fabric boxes here. Very cute!

--Autum has a tutorial for an adorable craft apron. This would be a great way to use up some of those scrap fabrics!

--If you want to learn to crochet, click here.

Have a lovely Thursday!

Homeschooling Discoveries

Recently I realized that I hardly ever post anything about homeschooling. I am not sure why this is so, maybe it is because homeschooling has been a part of my life for 13 years and I don't think about it much anymore. Whether this is good or bad, I am not sure!

For the entire time I have homeschooled my kids, they have done there "alone" work in the morning and we do our "together" work in the afternoon. This gives me time to work with Aubry mano-a-mano before the boys need me. Since we have recenly added some extra activities in the afternoons, I have been very frustrated over the fact that history and science work (our "together" subjects) have been falling by the wayside. And believe me when I say that I dislike falling behind in school subjects!

Last week I was talking to a very wise friend and she suggested that on the days that we have afternoon activities we should do "together" work in the morning and the boys can finish up their own work when we get home. Envisioning me with a glowing light bulb over my head would be appropriate since I feel like I unearthed a treasure when I heard this! So far it has worked wonders and I also find that I nod off less in the morning while reading books to the boys than I did while doing it in the afternoon. (Yes, I really do occasionally fall asleep while I read to my boys!)

I suppose that when you have been doing something for so long it becomes a habit, and the only way to get out of a rut is to get the point-of-view of a friend in order to solve a frustration. The answer was so simple and obvious, yet so hidden from my view. My only wish is that I had thought of it years ago!

Thanks!

Thank you so much for all the kind words over the last few days. It has been a bittersweet, emotional time for me, but it has also been exciting to see Danika launch out on her own. She is so ready for it! I am very happy to report that she emailed me yesterday AND she called me, and she will stopping by today. For some reason, I was afraid she was going to wipe her feet clean of us and never call again. Exaggerated, yes! But this mommy still worries about stuff like that!

Danika's roomates are wonderful girls who made sure that I knew that I could stop anytime. They both hugged me and let me know that Danika would be fine--they would make sure of it. What a blessing to leave my girl in such sweet hands!

On another note, I decided to take the leap and check out Typepad since I have been so frustrated with Blogger lately. They have a 30-day free trial so I signed up and started messing with the templates and such. Yesterday afternoon I tried to log in again and guess what? Typepad was down! What is up with that? I couldn't log into my own account or any Typepad blogs. Maybe they knew I was coming so they added some huge glitches just to celebrate my arrival! Who knows, maybe if I leave Blogger behind, the system will run smoother for all of you! ;)

On Sunday we watched the Superbowl with some friends. I happened to miss this commercial when it aired, but my daughter showed it to me on the internet later that night and I cracked up when I saw it. Check it out:

Have a happy Tuesday!

My baby

My baby moved out today. Her childhood, packed neatly in boxes, stacked in the back of her car while she waited to drive away towards her very own life.

As it should be, of course.

I wonder if she felt like I did, eighteen years ago. Wearing gray sweats, standing next to my husband who was carrying my little blue suitcase. It was time. Turning around before stepping out the door, taking one last look into the house, but really taking one last look at the life I was leaving behind. Just the two of us. Unsure of what changes were coming and knowing that things would never be the same. Bittersweet, fear and excitement, all rolled into one unrecognizable emotion, but I knew deep inside that magical things were just around the corner.

Yes, I know how she was feeling today.

Years. Roller-blades. American Girl dolls. Diapers. Graduation. Pound Puppies. Skinned knees. Riding Lessons. Potty training. Soccer games. The Donut Man. Driving lessons. Biology. Birthday parties. Books. Books. Books. The talk. Snowboarding. Bill Nye the Science Guy. Years.

All of those years rolled up into perfect memories, stashed deep into my pocket, always ready to be remembered.

Who knew the time would slip away so quickly?

Eighteen years...just a whisper of time.

Ch-ch-ch-changes..

Well, the time has come. My oldest daughter is moving out of our house this weekend. I am very happy with the situation she is going into, her roomates are wonderful girls and I know that this will be a growth experience for her.

Let me just say that this is hard for me. My emotions have been like a roller-coaster for the last couple of days and I am having a hard time finding a level place in which to deal with this. Any prayers or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

More on this later...

Dishtowel Apron Tutorial

I decided to break out one of my Martha Stewart dishtowels and make a "Mommy's Little Helper Kitchen Apron". My initial goal was to make it to fit Aubry but it turned out closer to a size to fit an 8-11 year-old girl instead. If you want to make it smaller, you would just need to make it shorter and make the neck hole a bit smaller. If you want to make one, here are the supplies you will need:

1 dishtowel (mine measured 18" x 28")
one package of double fold bias tape--extra wide
thread to match
ribbon or trim (optional)













Lay out the dishtowel with the shorter edge on top and measure 4 inches in from each top edge, and measure 9 inches down each side edge. Draw a line between these two marks and cut on the line using scissors or a rotary cutter. The top of the apron should look like this:













This is when you would add any ribbon or trim. I added mine at the top and the bottom of the apron:
















Now you need to open up your bias tape (Click here for a tutorial on how to use bias tape--see 2-Step Binding) and pin it to the edges of the apron (the picture below this one will clarify this for you):
















You will want to pin the bias tape to the apron so that there is a 15-inch neck hole and 22-inches of bias-tape hanging at each edge for ties. Now you can sew the bias tape to the apron:
















Now fold your bias-tape over to the back of the apron (the neck-hole and tie bias-tape pieces will be sewn to themselves) and sew
















You can finish the tie-ends like this:
















Voila! You are done and ready to bake a batch of cookies with your little baker!

Can I Deposit This Computer In The Trash Receptacle?

OK, here's the scoop: I have spent approximately 4 hours putting together a tutorial and trying repeatedly to post it. Blogger (or Picasa) is not doing it's thing for me today, so it is time to step away from the computer or risk a stress injury. Seriously!

One bright spot in my blogging day has been to discover that someone nominated me for a few blogs awards. Many thanks to whomever was my nominator. This brings a smile to my heart. The categories I am nominated for are "Blogger You Would Most Like To Meet", "Woman Power--Best Representative of Women", and "Best Commenter". Very sweet, for sure!

One cool thing about this post? I actually figured out how to link a picture! Ha! You really can click on the picture to get to Heather's site and vote for the blog awards. Maybe I won't throw my computer in the trash after all!

Blueberry Cake

This recipe is for a yummy breakfast cake that we make often. It was one of the first recipes that my girls learned to make when they were about nine or ten years old!

Cake:
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 TB oil
1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 TB butter

Combine first four cake ingredients, mix until smooth. Add flour and baking powder, mix until smooth. Pour into 8X8 cake pan. Sprinkle blueberries over the top of the cake batter. Combine the streusel ingredients until they are evenly combined and crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of the blueberry cake. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until the top of the cake is golden brown (you need to be sure that it is browned on the top!).

You can substitute:

--Raspberries for the blueberries
--Peaches for the blueberries--Also substitute brown sugar for the white sugar called for in the streusel topping. (You can keep the white sugar in the cake part of the recipe.)

Enjoy! This recipe tastes wonderful, looks great and it's easy!

Friends...

"Any woman who sews or knits or weaves, blends colors in a tapestry or creates a patchwork quilt, knows by the feel that a single thread is weak. But the weaving, the blending, the intertwining with many others makes it strong.

Any woman alone without friends to sustain her, to nurture and support, to hold with loving arms, like a single thread is weak. But the weaving, the loving, the nurturing of others, the networks of friendship makes her strong."

---Barbara, 1994
The Kinship of Women

Simple Things...

I have opened up a brand-new store on the web. Please click here to visit!

Thank you!

Friday Snapshot

I found this Snapshot Meme over at Life In A Nutshell and decided to make this my Friday offering. Here is this morning's snapshot of my life:

Reading: Well, I broke down and purchased a hardback copy of the Thirteenth Tale after I couldn't make it through the first 50 pages of Rise and Shine. Generally I love Ms. Quindlen's writing but this book was a dud, for me anyway. Here's hoping that my new book is a winner!

Music in my Head: "It's All Part of My Rock and Roll Fantasy". Seriously. I heard it yesterday and I can't get it to stop.

Drinking: Lemon Zinger Tea with a spot of honey. Perfect to wake up to.

Wishing: That there was no snow in the forecast this weekend. This is the 6th snow weekend in a row and I am developing an eye-twitch just thinking about it!

Considering: Which Sunday School class to attend on Sunday.

Feeling: Too cozy to get out of bed and actually do something today.

Goals: Make 40 purse and 25 aprons for The Blossom Festival Arts and Crafts Show in the spring.

To do list: Clean the house. Start sewing (see the previous response).

Hours spent in bathtub last night: None. I had a mom's-night-out so who needs the bathtub?

Things accomplished: Two new handbags designs. Figured out how to put "add a cart" buttons in my store. Washed the last 5 weeks of snow off of my car. Successfully made bagels myself.

Hoping: That the weather forecast is wrong!

Have a happy Friday!

Shiver Me Timbers

As a kid I always wished that I had a big brother. Somehow a big brother meant protection, guidance and not just a little bit of fun.

Aubry, of course, has been blessed with two big brothers who adore her almost as much as they are exasperated by her. They have taught her the joys of Legos, playing army, mudfights and wrestling which consists of the boys laying on the floor while she jumps on them and screams "Hi-ya". They never fight back.

Aubry and the boys spent the good part of a day creating this little pirate ship, complete with gun turrets, crow's nest and a spyglass. All of us landlubbers were cast aside while the they worked and imagined and played.

Without her brothers, Aubry would be relegated to the land of princesses, ballerinas and dolls, which, believe me, we get enough of around here. If anything, they provide some spice for her sweet little life and in the days to come I am hoping for some protection and encouragement for my little gal.

Methinks my littlest matey has spied land:

Recipes For You

In our effort to eat healthier I have been scouring the Internet and recipe books for some new ideas. We have come up with some gems. My daughter, Emily, has been a big help and most of these recipes originated from her.

**If you posted a recipe on your blog, please leave me a comment so I can add your link to this post.

Sue--Very Berry Muffins
Alasandra--Pumpkin Cookies

Sauteed Green Beans with Tomatoes and Garlic
1 pound green beans, ends trimmed
2 TB. Olive Oil
1 small red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
1 TB. chopped fresh parsley leaves
salt and pepper

Lightly steam the green beans until just tender. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and cook the onion until softened. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the green beans, tomatoes, parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are hot and the flavors are well combined. Serve hot.

White Chicken Chili
1 pound dried great northern beans
3/4 cup diced onion
1/2 TB. oil
1/2 TB. oregano
1 tsp. cumin
3/4 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 qts. chicken broth
1 garlic clove, minced
1 4 oz. can green chilies (I use fresh)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Soak beans overnight and drain. Combine seasonings with the onions and garlic, saute for 1 minute. Add the drained beans and the chicken broth. Simmer for 2 hours, covered. Add the chicken and the chilies and simmer for 2 more hours. Remove the lid during the last hour of cooking. This makes 10 servings.

Bagels
A few weeks ago Emily made bagels from this recipe for the first time and they have been making a frequent appearance on our table ever since. (The picture on the website doesn't look all that appealing, but believe me when I say that these taste great!) She makes the dough-sponge using unbleached flour and then adds whole wheat flour for the rest. The dough is very stiff and a little hard to handle, but the effort is well worth it! She also adds about 1/2 cup less flour than the recipe calls for and cooks the bagels for an extra 5 minutes. Here are some variations:
--Cranberry-Orange (shown in the picture): Use orange juice for the liquid and add 1/2 cup dried cranberries during the last 2 minutes of kneading time.

--Apple-Cinnamon: Use apple juice for the liquid and add 1/2 tsp. cinnamon.

--Sun-Dried Tomato Basil: During the last 2 minutes of kneading time add 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes and 1/2 tsp. basil.

--Cinnamon-Raisin: Add 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 cup raisins during the last 2 minutes of kneading time.

Enjoy!

An updated prayer request for Kelli is here. This sweet gal and her family could use our prayer support!

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
--James 5:16

Adding More Good Stuff...

I posted last week about healthy eating and a number of people asked for specifics. Mainly I try to keep the food as normal as possible while adding some healthier ingredients so no one notices what I am doing! Here are some tips for you:

***Tomorrow I am going to post a couple of our new, healthy recipes. If you would like to post one (or two) on your blog please leave me a comment on tomorrow's post and I will link your blog from my post. Think of it as a bloggy-recipe exchange! If I am lucky I may be able to figure out how to do a Mr. Linky! ;)

--Be more creative when you make salads. Use green, leafy lettuces and spinach, and add shredded cabbage, sweet peppers, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, etc., etc. Don't allow your kids to pick things out, just tell them to "scoop and eat".

--When making bread, pizza dough, or muffins substitute at least one cup of whole wheat flour for the white flour. No one will notice. You can gradually increase the amount until you are using at least half whole-wheat flour in your recipes.

--Instead of using packets of sugary oatmeal, make oatmeal from scratch using old-fashioned oats or a 7-grain mix. Add brown sugar, milk and a little butter for taste.

--Make fruit salad with your kids.

--Make smoothies using 100% orange juice and a variety of frozen fruits. Ripe bananas sweeten these up.

--In a stir-fry or casserole add half the amount of meat and double the amount of vegetables. Believe it or not, my hubby has never noticed that I do this!

--Did you know that you can make your own popcorn in the microwave? Just toss two handfuls of popcorn kernels into a paper lunch sack and fold down the top. Cook on high for 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 minutes or until the popping slows down. Be careful because it scorches fairly quick. Pour into a bowl and add butter and salt as desired. This is much healthier and cheaper than regular microwave popcorn.

--Try a new vegetable each week. Letting the kids pick a recipe is a good way to get them involved.

--Add extra chopped vegetable to spaghetti sauce. Mushrooms, grated carrots, zucchini, peppers, and eggplant all taste great. Be creative!

--Make an attempt to eat the recommended 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. This is harder than you might imagine.

How do you add good things to your recipes?

The Missing Basket Mystery

This weekend I was in Aubry's room and I noticed that her laundry basket was missing from her closet. Looking around the house availed no clues so I asked her where it was, but all I received were hunched shoulders and an "I don't know". A few hours later I was looking for her shoes (which she loses often) and upon looking under the bed, I found the basket in question:

It was loaded with the clothes that she was supposed to put away a few days ago!

Taking her aside, I confronted her in my stern-mommy manner and I was met with a demeanor that told me that, not only did she think this was funny, but that I should find it funny too. Honestly, in spite of the fact she lied to me and failed to put away her laundry when I told her to, I was cracking up on the inside, but any good mom knows that you cannot let that be known. Lucky for me, my hubby was home so I called him in to deal with my smirking gal. He was only able to get a couple of words out of his mouth before Aubry was practically a pile on the floor, tears of sorrow and regret streaming down her cheeks.

Now I have to wonder why I can't get that kind of respect? (The previous sentence should be read in the best Rodney Dangerfield voice that you can muster.) Why is it that me, the mommy, is greeted with laughter and an "aren't I funny gal" kind of countenance, while the daddy is met with a "I am so sorry for disappointing you" attitude? Ah, the unfairness of it all!

Today is Monday and in my house that is laundry day, and with five kids the piles are high, but I am considering taking a cue from my little one and stuffing it somewhere. With piles so big I may have to remove the pool cover in order to have a place to stash it all, but at least it will take my dear family a while to find it. All I will have to do it to plead innocence and when Craig finds it just turn on the waterworks and all will be well.

Have a happy Monday!

Such Cuteness!

Smockity Frocks is having a contest and the prize is this adorable apron. Gingham, strawberries and oilcloth all in one---I love it!

Friday Fashion

Almost everyday of the week you will find me in jeans and a t-shirt; I believe in being comfortable. Not one to be much of a girly-girl, dresses can be found in the back of my closet and they are dragged out only on Sundays. Last summer I wore skirts more often and I loved it (so did my husband) and I find myself being drawn these days to looks like this:

Don't you just love the yellow one? It just screams "spring" to me. The black and blue ones are great too, but I would never have a place to wear them since they are more formal.

This weekend we have snow in the forecast--AGAIN!!!--but I may have to brave the roads to reach the fabric store. Somehow a few more flakes seem acceptable as long as I am making something for the warm weather that is just around the corner. It is just around the corner, isn't it?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Gradual Changes

In an effort of achieve a healthier lifestyle, we often make drastic changes in our diets and we resort to using only whole wheat, stamping out all sugar, or going completely organic. In a sense, all of these changes can be good, but I find that gradual change that leads to healthier living works the best, in large part because it is not as noticeable as quick, drastic change.

Over the last few months I have done my research and I am convinced that eating organic is the best way to stay healthy and to keep harmful pesticides and hormones out of my family's food. But in reality the cost of purchasing only organic food for my family of seven is a financial strain--and a big one at that! For example, organic chicken costs $6.99 per pound as compared to Safeway's sale price of $1.49 per pound, a price that allows me to buy in bulk.

My compromise in moving towards healthier living has been to increase our fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and to decrease processed foods and sugars, all while buying organic when it is possible. Not only have I avoided complaints about overly healthy foods, but my family is actually complimenting many of the new, vegetable-heavy foods on our table. All of this is added to the benefit of staying within my grocery budget.

Healthy eating and living are always worthwhile goals, but a person can be too enthusiastic and make drastic changes which lead to burn-out and a return to old eating habits. Learning about diet and exercise, and gradually implementing affordable, time-wise ideas into your life can lead to gradual but long-lasting improvement in your family's health.