A new month...

Where did October go?  Do you know?  Have you seen it?  I somehow lost 31 days.  31 DAYS!!!

Therefore, I decided I am creating a new month.....may I introduce Octember. 

This shall be known as the in-between month.  No decorating required.  No sewing or last-miute-shopping for costumes.  No excessive candy.  No houseguests. 

This will be the month where it doesn't feel like Christmas is right around the corner and I don't feel compelled to count forks for Thanksgiving.

How long can I delude myself?

I had a goal...

I while ago I had a goal.  I would lovingly post to my lovely blog at least once a week.  More often if possible.  This seemed to be an attainable goal for what should be a life journal right?  Then I started reading too many "other" blogs.  Somehow forgetting to come back to mine.  Throw in a little intimidation (seriously a post a day?), a little depression (some blogs portray life as pretty darn perfect), a loss for words (how many waterpolo games can I write about and still be interesting?) a little jealousy (that ugly green monster) and there you have it....two months I've been gone.  Eight posts lost to the blogesphere.......

I will be back, and better than ever.

I promise.

sorta like a Mastercard commercial....or a nursery rhyme

1 amazing flip-flop tan.....

2 kids.....

7 schools....

8 days....

15 waterpolo games.....

25+ hours poolside.....

a gazillion miles driven.....

What's for dinner?

Poor old Mother Hubbard.  I know just how she felt. 

attitude shmatitude.....

Remember, a good attitude produces good results, a fair attitude fair results, a poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude."

--M. Russell Ballard

Not so long ago I posted about my "gallon challenge".  Needless to say it has been challenging for me.  Especially to my attitude.  My Martha attitude that says everything should be just so.  Almost perfect even.  The list made, neatly of course, and on pretty paper.  All the little check marks in a row to show myself just how efficient I have been. 

So far it hasn't been working out so well for me. 

I have needed an attitude adjustment.  Coming across this quote from Elder Ballard reminded me.  I have a good attitude towards many of lifes challenges.  Hope even.  But with this gallon challenge my attitude had been fair to poor.  No wonder I have been discouraged.  I needed this reminder. 

dear blog,

i have neglected you lately.  i am sorry.  i just have been so busy i haven't made time to write all my swirling thoughts down.

summer is coming.  maybe then things will slow down and settle in my mind.

love,
me

ps.  i did make time to sew.  i hope you aren't mad at me

the gallon challenge

As I am sure most of you already know my kids play sports.  Not the kind where you run around on a field and get hot, sweaty and bitten by bugs.  Smart sports.  Where minimal clothing is required and there is a pool instead of a field.  This makes it fan-tab-u-lous for the mom who sits, paces and watches for untold hours.  The suns glare off the pool gives a nice healthy sunglass tan and a permanent flip-flop tan starting in March.

Since the only high school sports I have been exposed to are swim and water polo I am assuming football and baseball players have dumb rituals as well........maybe someone can fill me in.

Anyway to get back to the title of this post - the gallon challenge - last season the girls water polo team challenged each other to drink a gallon of milk and keep it down.  I do have to say my darling daughter was a smart cookie and declined to play this particular game and instead took pictures of her friends and teammates as they downed all that milk in an unreasonable amount of time.  Bloated tummies ensued, nauseous looking faces, and of course lots and lots of vomit.  Fortunately I do not have any of those pictures to share.  My darling daughter did not drink milk for days.......I could possibly never again drink milk just thinking of this.

Then there is her brother.  He isn't as smart a cookie and he crumbled.  His swim team participated in what they call the kool-aid challenge.  This is where each kid (read dumb boy) gets their own bottle of different colored koolaid that they guzzle between swim sprints.  Of course this induces lots of - you guessed it - vomit.  But they are creative - they made art out of it.

try to stomach it here

Which finally brings me to my gallon challenge. 

For a while now I have needed to lose weight.  A lot of weight.  A daunting number of pounds that slowly accumulated over the years as in how did I get here, more then even after my babies were born kind of weight loss.

Honestly?  a 7.1 gallon weight loss was needed.  Motivation had been lacking then I reached the point of no return and finally got down to business!  I dusted off the eliptical machine, made friends with Jillian Michaels and voila!

2.1 gallons down - 5 to go!

sorry to dissapoint, but there will be no video. 

extra credit...

Extra credit should be easy right?  After all it is EXTRA work......so when Katie suggested we do extra credit for her chemistry class I thought, sure why not? 

Well the why not reasons were definitely not in the directions.

#1.     if your daughter doesn't immediately clean the pan the rock candy was created in it leaves a big job for mom

{no photo of mom repeatedly wasting scalding hot water by melting said candy out of the pan}

#2.     if your daughter spills the rock candy liquid concoction onto the white stove top and still leaves the stove on, it burns into an unappetizing black mess that has yet to be cleaned up.

{ big sigh, you do NOT want to see a photo of this, it will scare you off of future chemistry extra credit assignments for life}

#3.     if directions aren't followed exactly, the rock candy will fail to form on your stick and will instead crust over an entire drinking glass

{see exhibit A}

{exhibit A}

#4.     It will look really pretty, but will not be removed from the glass

{see exhibit B}

{exhibit B}

#5.     After much swishing, swirling and other scientific terms not to be named.  This is all the edible candy there is to show for the experiment.

{see exhibit C}

{exhibit C}

So to actually get the extra-credit you have to submit a photo of yourself eating the candy.  I am still trying to figure out how to make this little chunk look like it is on a stick with my daughter eating it, or if since I did so much of the actual work if I should submit my own photo.....

An "A" is so in my future.....

can you feel the love?

With all the rain I needed a project, which turned into two or three!  Actually three hearts, two topiaries, a window full of wax & crayons, love print, key chain, then four skirts to round it all out. 

It is all Wendy's fault.  I saw her super cute topiaries, then followed her link to where she saw them -theidearoom (WARNING!  do NOT go to this site unless you feel a project coming on!) was inspired

and

you can see what happened next!

you take this.......(that is 1 & 1/2 yards of 72" wide felt)

cut circles until you wonder why you wanted to do this in the first place......this was one of 10 stacks of felt

the finished result is worth it!

use up the left over circles on one of these........

decide that two is better than one and cut MORE circles!

spread even more love in a neglected picture frame.....

find another use for the micro-grater when the crayon sharpener just doesn't cut it!

(note for next time - do this on an old towel so there is no pink & red crayon on the hubby's nice white shirt)

just a minute!

ok think for just a second, when was the last time you said this?  Not too long ago probably.  Experience has taught me I am only needed by the children, husband or dog when I am not wherever they are.  Usually I am busy doing something and a mmmmooooooooooommm is hollered across the house or a huuuuuuuuunnnnneeeeeeeeyyyyyy could you come here is heard, maybe faintly, but heard nonetheless.

Sometimes I want to pretend I didn't hear them.  What is it they could possibly need or want?  usually it is toilet paper so that makes it ok.  youtube videos are occasionally intertaining, but not high on my priority list.

When my kids were little they usually needed help getting down from the toilet.  Or a game that couldn't be reached from a shelf.  Sometimes a referee, a blanket that fell out of a crib, another story, or a favorite toy.

Things have changed A LOT.  Now I find lots of free minutes.  Minutes that I spend on the computer or getting sucked mindlessly into TV.  Minutes spent with good books, magazines and cookbooks.  Priceless minutes with the kids and my husband.  Minutes that I would give up and minutes that I treasure.

The other morning I found myself thinking of what I could do in a minute standing infront of the microwave watching 1:10 count down while waiting for my hot chocolate. 

So I thought I would make it a game -

In a minute I can:

load the diswasher
unload the diswasher
start a load of wash
dump clothes in the dryer
pile clothes on the bed
get dressed
feed the dog
gather junk
put away my shoes
clean out my purse
organize receipts
wipe down the kitchen counters
come up with a silly blog idea!

I won't be trying to do these all at once, and I am sure there is lots more I could do but it was just a nice little reminder that I do have free minutes and it is up to me how I use them.....right now I am going to enjoy my cocoa and watch the rain!

resolutions, resolutions.....

so I am a little behind. but I am trying to catch up, that is what is important!

I love a new start.  Beginnings are......clean, fresh, new.  Unblemished.  Full of possibilities.  I have these kinds of thoughts at the start of a new year, and throught the year, but they are usually burried under guilt.  The things I should have done that I didn't.  Things I should  be doing, but am not.  sigh.  This is why resolutions aren't really my thing.  Too much pressure for me with my perfectionist tendencies.  If I don't get it right I usually give up.  Not very productive!!

In all my blog hopping {read time wasting, laundry avoiding} lots of fantastic women have amazing ideas.  Resolutions for themselves, for their families.  I am stealing, borrowing, or possibly even taking advice from them.  This year instead of beating myself up for what I am not doing or could be doing better I am implementing this idea my WORD OF THE YEAR.

This will work for me.  This is a starting place every day.  Each day is a new beginning!  I may even make some cute craft so I see my word and remind myself to live it every day.

For 2010 I picked INTENTION.

Encarta dictionary has this to say -
intention - quality of purposefulness: the quality or state of having a purpose in mind
                 aim or objective: something that somebody plans to do


Why intention?  Because frequently I find myself wondering why I have no time (um, because I wasted it online?), trying to figure out how to get everything done in the few hours left and still sleep.  If I truly apply this then everything I choose to do should have a purpose in mind.....

what would your word be? 
right now my intention is to get off the computer and onto the eliptical!!!

daily dose.....

Last night I had a blast.....usually the weeks leading up to Christmas are always so busy for me doing all the things I like to and need to do in preparation for our family gathering.  I was so excited this year to receive an invite to a cookie/ornament exchange to recharge my sorta run down batteries.

What a great night!  Lots of fun women to hang out with and learn more about.  Super tasty snacks (which I ate too many of, because who needs dinner when there is party food!), fun door prizes, darling ornaments to exchange, steal and covet, delicious cookies to exchange, a beautiful home, and laughter.  Lots and lots of laughter.  I did mention we laughed, right?  Because I laughed until I cried, then I gave myself a headache, but I did sleep well!

I am sure you know laughter is the best medicine.  It is documented here:

The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze.
When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy.

In addition to the domino effect of joy and amusement, laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.



Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.


Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.


Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.


Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Physical Health Benefits:
Boosts immunity
Lowers stress hormones
Decreases pain
Relaxes your muscles
Prevents heart disease

Mental Health Benefits:
Adds joy and zest to life
Eases anxiety and fear
Relieves stress
Improves mood
Enhances resilience

Social Benefits:
Strengthens relationships
Attracts others to us
Enhances teamwork
Promotes group bonding


Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing.


Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more.

Laughing with others is more powerful than laughing alone

Using humor and laughter in relationships allows you to:
Be more spontaneous. Humor gets you out of your head and away from your troubles.
Let go of defensiveness. Laughter helps you forget judgments, criticisms, and doubts.
Release inhibitions. Your fear of holding back and holding on are set aside.
Express your true feelings. Deeply felt emotions are allowed to rise to the surface.

Boy did I meet my RDA, and then I stored some up for a rainy day.  
Thanks Wendy & Jill for a fantastic night!!!

how sweet it is.....

Life is sweet.  Sometimes I forget this. 

The voices (yes,sometimes there are more than one) in my head tell me to do "this"and be "that".  Go, do, clean, shop, wash, fold, wipe, sweep, pick-up, drop-off.....priorities, priorities, priorities.  Where am I on that list?  Why am I on the bottom or not on the list at all?  I let the things I want or like to do go by the wayside, thinking empty laundry baskets, shiny mirrors and clean produce drawers are more important.  Occasionally, not as often as I'd like, I realize that I am important too.  That it is ok to have fun and if I am not on my to do list, then life can be pretty sad. 

This week I did something I've told myself I would do over, and over and over again.  Actually for the last six years, ever since we moved into this house I said I would.  But I didn't.  Lots of excuses were found ..... the kitchen isn't done (this was valid), we need new carpet, I should paint, the house is dirty, the dog needs a bath, everyone is too busy, we need new landscaping.  Seriously, I needed to get over my Martha perfectionism.  It is a disease.....

So this year I did it.  And you know what?  I haven't had so much fun in a very, very long time (dates with the Mr. being excluded, b/c he is a fun date).

Gingerbread House Party 2009

What a fun time, lots of laughs and lots and lots, did I say lots? of SUGAR!  super sweet!

Blind Baking.....part three in a series

Blind Baking : the process of baking a pie crust without the filling

"Sometimes, when you're dealing with a fragile dough, it will collapse in spite of your best intentions. For this reason, some pie crusts and tart shells must be baked before the filling is added.  The best method is to line the tart pan or pie plate with the rolled-out dough and place it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.  When you are ready to bake, prick the crust in several spots with a fork, line the pie plate or tart shell with foil or parchment paper, and fill it with rice or dried beans.  Bake as directed, than carefully remove the foil and the beans - the shell will have retained its form because of them.  I like seeing how a substance that weighs heavily can, in the end, be lifted; I like the feel of the beans, like trouble that slips through your fingers.  Most of all, I like the proof in the pastry: it is the things we have to bear that shape us".

* from Jodi Picoult

Handle With Care

Personalities are like pastry. 

Some are flaky. 

Some tough. 

Some you wouldn't want to meet again. 

Some you just can't get enough of. 

No two people quite exactly the same. 

Although we are all created in His image, it is lifes lessons that shape us.  Lessons learned from parents.  teachers.  friends.  mistakes.

Things that weigh us down are truly helping us to form.

I need to remember this. 

*get the recipe here

wants & needs.....

Not so long ago I was on a wanting binge (if i am honest it really hasn't ended).  I wanted new lip gloss, new jeans, new lights in the kitchen, new things (that I can't for the life of me remember what they are called) over the bathroom windows, new windows for that matter,  new carpet, new back yard, new car, new abs.....the list went on.  Oh yea and new shoes.  That is what started it all.  The shoes.

Why do I want what I know I can't have?  It is a defeating cycle.  want, get.  want, get.  want more.  ugh!  Nothing I needed, except of course those shoes.  mmmmm...... those shoes.  I had a dream about them.  I still want them. 

I think I do need them.

Wanting something can come in handy.  You want a clean house? - you put on those shoes your grungy clothes and clean.  You want muscle tone? - you put on, those shoes (although they could develop some amazing calfs), tennies and work it out.  You want to be healthier? - you cook at home and pretend you don't know the word butter.  wait a minute...that could be done in those shoes, with a little apron on!

Today was another day.  Yes, I still wanted a clean house (cleaner, actually since I cleaned Monday), but I didn't really need it.  I still wanted muscle definition, which would have taken effort that I didn't expend, but again I don't really need that either.  I still want to be healthier, so I won't tell how much butter is in the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins I made today.  

but those shoes?

um, yeah...I think I need them.

maybe Santa will bring them for Christmas.

yes, I did humilliate my husband taking pictures, with my phone,

of myself trying on shoes in the store!

 i think me and kate could possibly be bff, don't you?

Folding.....part two in a series

Folding: a gentle process in which one mixture is added to another, using a large metal spoon or spatula.

"Most of the time when you talk aobut folding, it involves an edge. You fold laundry, you fold notes inhalf.  With batter, it's different: you bring two diverse substances together, but that space between them doesn't completely disappear - a mixture that's been folded the right way is light, airy, the parts still getting to know each other.

It's a combination on the cusp, as one mixture yields to the other. Think of a bad hand of poker, of an argument, of any situation where one party simply gives in".

*from Jodi Picoult

Handle With Care

Our family is like this.  Folded together.  His. Hers.  Two diverse families folded together by us.  There have been edges, some rougher than others.  Different parenting styles, bedtimes, rules, expectations.  Some defensiveness.  Many discussions.  Fortunately through the years no large spoons or spatulas have been used as diciplinary devices - yet.  Twelve years later the space still hasn't disappeared between the kids.  One who is a loner.  Four who are on their own.  Two who are sorta like twins.  For how young they were when our families combined none of them really joined forces.  An invisible line remains.  Maybe that line is loyalty to "the other parent".  Maybe they are still getting to know each other and will combine as adults when they have children of their own.  All in all our family hasn't folded together quite the way I had thought.  Ultimately I have been the one to fold, to give in.  Mostly my expectations.....life is not bad.  But, it is not what I had imagined either, and finally I am okay with that.  But I am still holding out (just a little bit) for that perfect combination.

*find the recipe here

what a pill.....

In my bedroom tucked into a usless corner is a chair.  This chair has transformed said usless corner into a magical dumping zone.  I kick my shoes under it.  Sometimes even more than one pair.  Hang purses on it.  Drape sweaters over the back.  Stack folded shirts & jeans on the seat.  Throw my dirty clothes on it.  Because the hamper is maybe four feet away and sometimes that is just too far.  When I first put the chair there I had visions of being like Martha Stewart......a cute stack of books on the seat with a huge fern sitting on top......needless to say, I kill ferns - I have yet to meet one that likes me - and the books?  well, they are on the book shelf and aren't nearly so cute.  So today happened to be chair cleaning off day....mostly because I couldn't find my brown sweater, but it is too hot to wear anyway.  I did come across a couple other sweaters that looked a little worse for wear which is where I finally get around to the main point of this post.....

Do you have sweaters that pill up every.time.you.wear.them????? 

I have this long gray cardigan....I love this sweater.  It is the perfect length.  It has pockets.  Just warm enough with a t-shirt.  Perfect to snuggle into in the movies.  Easy to throw on.  It isn't a fashion statement, that's for sure.  But when has comfort ever been fashionable?  It was looking pretty shabby.  Covered with pills as a matter of fact!  So I got out what I call my sweater shaver, but noticed (for the first time) it's true identity.....

Magik Fuzz Buster!

Who knew?

So I indulged in a little sweater therapy sitting cross legged on my bed magically busting the fuzz.  Making the old and worn look new.  That is when I started to think....I need a magic fuzz buster for me.  For the stuff that sticks to me and makes me feel like my sweater looked:

worn out.

old.

raggedy.

but then doesn't that mean I am well loved?

Tempering...first in a series

Tempering: to heat slowly and gradually.

"Most of the time when we talk about a temper, we mean a quickness to anger. In cooking, though, tempering is about making something stronger by taking your time. You temper eggs by adding a hot liquid in small increments. The idea is to raise their temperature without causing them to curdle. The result is a stirred custard that can be used as a dessert sauce or incorporated into a dessert.

Here's something interesting: the consistency of the finished product has nothing to do with the type of liquid used to heat it. The more eggs you use, the thicker and richer the final product will be.

Or in other words, it's the substance you've got when you start that determines the outcome".

 * from Jodi Picoult

Handle With Care

Marriage is like tempering.

Two different people. 

Two personalaties. 

Combined.
A little at a time.
Slowly.
Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.
Strengthening each other.

My marriage is like this.  With an exception.  We are more alike than different.  Which means less tempering has been required.  We combined (at least the two of us) rather effortlessly.  Less arguments.  Not many fights.  Really.  I hope and pray that we are made stronger, over time and thru trials.  Unlike making a custard we haven't been able to choose how "hot" our trials are, what they will be or when they will come.  But we have endured (more than our share in my opinion).  What we have now almost 12 years later is sweet.  A perfect custard to savor together.  Because we started with the right ingredients in the beginning.......

*find the recipe here

dreaming.....

I get tired of summer.  Sun is wonderful.  Fantastic even.  But after a while, I am ready for it to be over.  Not the kids home from school, schedule free part.  Never that....just the unrelenting heat. 

I love fall.  The changing from summer to winter.  Leaves turning color and falling from trees.  Cooler windy days.  A crispness in the air, fuzzy socks, soft sweaters, sheets and towels warm from the dryer.  Crunchy apples.  The smell of cider.  Orange pumpkins lined up in a row.  Baking.  The anticipation of winter. 

The only thing that could make it better is if we lived somewhere fall actually occurs!  It sort of happens here in CA.  60 & 70 degree weather feels cool after 100+ days on end.  Santa Ana winds stir up the leaves.  The neighbors Cottonwoods turn yellow before the leaves fall.  I can go to the farmers market and stock up on apples and pumpkins.....

Someday this will be in my backyard, but for now I am dreaming...

you did what?

Fall is for apples.  Lots of apples.  Boxes full of them.

Sweet smelling crunchy apples, begging to be made into pies, little tarts, fresh apple sauce.  Tucked into a lunch, or a coat pocket for an afternoon snack.  Preferably with some chedar cheese.

Knowing myself (pretty well, i think) I knew that pies wouldn't be made unless filling was readily available.  Evenings are busy around here.

After scouring the internet and finding a tasty souding recipe the process started. 

Incase you didn't know - canning is a process.

I am all for clean glass.  Sterilized of course.

I love shiny silver things.  Piles of lids and rings.

I desire order.  Core, slice, peel, fill.

I am result oriented.  Filling, filling & more filling!

You can get the recipe here!

Happy Bloggaversary!

It's been a little over a year since my dear friend Cheryl introduced me to blogging and I have to say I love it! Sometimes I have nothing to say, other times the words get all tangled in my mind and I can't get them out the way I want. When starting this blog, like pretty much everything else I do, I felt compelled to make it "perfect". The true reflection of my personality, style, sense of humor and so on. I would post, then go back and edit. Add more pictures, take some off. Wonder if I was conveying the feelings of the moment. Wondering what my feelings even were!  I would spend too much time agonizing over what to say, how to say it. I have evolved. This blog has been good for me. I have learned things about myself. I have grown. I have realized that it (said blog) is really and truly for me. I can and do remember the moments of the year past.  I appreciate them more.  I still fight the compulsion, daily, to go back and edit (crazy I know), add more from years when I didn't blog or journal......but I think it will all work out in the end.