Happy Wednesday! In an effort to recollect my brain here's an update of sorts. I apologize now for the randomness of it all!
Thank you so much for the encouragement regarding Princess Pigtails and her stalling techniques at the dinner table. I appreciate your thoughts and advice. I've really been limiting her snacks/drinks and she seems to be eating in a more efficient manner...hoping that it continues! Fingers crossed!
The Little Man will be 11 months on Saturday. Which hardly seems possible... Have I told you he is walking? Walking!! Has been at it for two weeks now and each day he is gaining more speed and confidence. He so badly wants to chase after his sister! Watch out Princess Pigtails!
I think that the kitchen is finally put back together. And the floor? Love it. If anyone is interested, I'll post some pictures.
We are making slow progress in the mudroom. Hoping that we can install the bead board ceiling this weekend. Then flooring, trim and doors...maybe we can be done by spring??
I've really been having some serious writer's block. Did you know that the number one google search that lands folks on my blog? My post about reheating ground beef. Interesting? I told you I have writer's block.
That's all I've got. What's on your "by spring" project list?
2.11.2009
2.05.2009
Things I Love Thursday--Homemade Jewelry Cleaner
Wow. Okay, so I've been completely off track the last few months with posts, but I discovered something yesterday that I just had to share. Maybe some of you own one of those sonic jewelry cleaners. If you do--lucky you. For those of us that don't--I found a "recipe" for homemade jewelry cleaner! Very easy and from the little I used it yesterday, very effective!
Here you go:
1 cup of water
Foil to cover the bottom of a bowl
1 tbsp. salt
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. dishwasher detergent
Directions:
Heat the water in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. While that is heating, line the bottom of a bowl with foil. Pour the heated water over the foil, add the salt, soda and detergent. Add jewelry and let it soak for 5-10 minutes. Maybe longer if heavy soiled. Use a new "batch" for additional jewelry.
The directions caution the use of the cleaner on certain stones/metals. Like don't use it to clean your pearl ring or Grandma's cameo...
I found this "recipe" on Recipezaar. Which is a pretty amazing site, if you haven't stopped been over there...I had to chuckle, however, because the recipe was complete with nutritional information. Apparently, if you were to digest this concoction, you would consume like 1000% of the recommended sodium intake. I'm thinking that dishwasher detergent might be more of concern...
Got something that you love? Head on over to The Diaper Diaries and see my friend Jill. Link up and spread the word. Check out the other links and while you are there wish her safe travels. She's heading to Nashville this weekend for Blissdom.
2.03.2009
Please Advise
For a good part of the last year, our darling Princess Pigtails has been driving me/us crazy at the dinner table. We have been working with her on the typical table manner things--not playing with her food, not taking her food off her plate and placing it on the table, not tipping her chair, etc. These are typical antics of a three year old, right? Or do I have unrealistic expectations. I know that a three year old isn't going to be an expert with utensils yet. That's fine with me--well, I wish she was, but I know that will come and I can deal with that.
Here's the issue: That girl will not stay on task at the table for anything. During most meals, she plays and fusses and talks and picks at her food. She does eat eventually. But not until we've encouraged her, nagged her and sometimes, I admit, bribed her.
What I've tried so far:
Here's the issue: That girl will not stay on task at the table for anything. During most meals, she plays and fusses and talks and picks at her food. She does eat eventually. But not until we've encouraged her, nagged her and sometimes, I admit, bribed her.
What I've tried so far:
- I've re-evaluated the serving sizes I've given her but that doesn't seem to make a bit of difference.
- What the menu is doesn't seem to make a bit of difference either.
- We used to have a rule and will in the future that everyone needs to be done before people can be excused from the table. But currently that is unrealistic considering it takes her for most meals over an hour to eat. Sometimes an hour and a half.
- It doesn't seem to bother her that I clean up the table and move to another room.
- I've tried not letting her have snacks at all and that has had limited results.
1.27.2009
How to Induce a Sugar Coma
It's been a while since I've posted a recipe that I think you really must try--which is amazing, because there for a while it was feeling a bit like all I was doing was posting recipes. Which I was. Only posting recipes. DH was asked to bring "bars" to our church's annual meeting on Sunday--which truly proves that we are "Lutrans" as they say around here, because a church meeting isn't actually a full fledged meeting with out bars. Or coffee.
Anywhoo, I often times keep the good old "boxes" of brownie mix on hand for such occasions--but when I went the pantry, there were no boxes of brownie mix only 7 boxes of yellow cake mix. And one white. And I really wanted to make brownies. So, I pulled out a cook book and started flipping through...page 146. Bingo. A recipe that I wanted to try. And I did. And those brownies? A little piece of heaven. Which I suppose is appropriate considering they were headed for a church meeting.
Because I think that you really should try these, I am passing this recipe on. I will warn you, it's a bit more work than just opening a box. Okay, a lot more work than just opening a box. But so worth it. And you might want to be certain that you have some place to take these or are having folks over. Because it makes a lot and I can't be held responsible for my readers consuming the entire pan. In one setting.
Buttermilk Brownies
Sift together:
2 c. sugar
1/4 c. cocoa powder
2 c. flour
Bring to boil:
1 stick butter
1 c. cold water
1/2 c. oil
Once it has come to a boil, pour over dry ingredients and beat until creamy.
Add:
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. soda
Beat thoroughly. Bake in large, greased cookie sheet for 18 minutes at 400 degrees. (This is actually a huge amount of batter. I used a sheet pan and it was perfect.)
Icing:
1 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla
4 1/4 c. powdered sugar (use own judgement)
1/4 c. cocoa powder
1/3 c. buttermilk
Bring butter, cocoa and buttermilk to boil. Add sugar and vanilla; mix well. Stir in chopped nuts, if desired. Pinch of salt can be added to each.
From "Favorites at Flora Lynne's: A Collection of Recipes", pg. 146.
Enjoy!
Anywhoo, I often times keep the good old "boxes" of brownie mix on hand for such occasions--but when I went the pantry, there were no boxes of brownie mix only 7 boxes of yellow cake mix. And one white. And I really wanted to make brownies. So, I pulled out a cook book and started flipping through...page 146. Bingo. A recipe that I wanted to try. And I did. And those brownies? A little piece of heaven. Which I suppose is appropriate considering they were headed for a church meeting.
Because I think that you really should try these, I am passing this recipe on. I will warn you, it's a bit more work than just opening a box. Okay, a lot more work than just opening a box. But so worth it. And you might want to be certain that you have some place to take these or are having folks over. Because it makes a lot and I can't be held responsible for my readers consuming the entire pan. In one setting.
Buttermilk Brownies
Sift together:
2 c. sugar
1/4 c. cocoa powder
2 c. flour
Bring to boil:
1 stick butter
1 c. cold water
1/2 c. oil
Once it has come to a boil, pour over dry ingredients and beat until creamy.
Add:
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. soda
Beat thoroughly. Bake in large, greased cookie sheet for 18 minutes at 400 degrees. (This is actually a huge amount of batter. I used a sheet pan and it was perfect.)
Icing:
1 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla
4 1/4 c. powdered sugar (use own judgement)
1/4 c. cocoa powder
1/3 c. buttermilk
Bring butter, cocoa and buttermilk to boil. Add sugar and vanilla; mix well. Stir in chopped nuts, if desired. Pinch of salt can be added to each.
From "Favorites at Flora Lynne's: A Collection of Recipes", pg. 146.
Enjoy!
1.22.2009
Drop in the Bucket
Since the first of the year, Princess Pigtail's preschool class has been talking about the concept of love buckets. The idea is that each of us carries an "emotional" bucket. When some one is kind to us or shows us compassion, they help fill our bucket. When someone is rude or uses unkind words, they empty our bucket. The preschool class has made buckets too illustrate the point and use this language when discussing their interactions with one another. This terminology has also made it's way to our home.
I love this concept because it is such an easy way for preschoolers to learn that their actions affect others. That what they say and do is a part of those around them. If only us adults could keep this top of mind how much more we could accomplish! Shortly after "buckets" were introduced at school, the kiddos and I were pulling into the garage here at home. I had stopped at the end of the drive way and got the mail, so in addition to helping Princess Pigtails with her backpack and wrestling both her and The Little Man out of their respective car seats, I had my purse and the mail to contend with as well. Anywhoo, as I shut the truck off, Princess Pigtails said "Mama, you could just put the mail in my backpack. Then you wouldn't have so many things to carry." I told her that I thought that was a great idea and thanked her for being so thoughtful. She smiled and said "You're welcome. I just filled your bucket." I laughed and agreed that yes she had filled my bucket. It was such a sweet exchange. My heart just melted right there.
So this past Monday, Princess Pigtail's class learned the Bible story of Joseph.
Me: "So, tell me about Joseph. What did you learn?"
PP: "Well, he had a fancy coat."
Me: "He sure did. What else did you learn?"
PP: "Umm...his brothers pushed him in a hole."
Me: "You're right. His brothers were not very kind to him."
PP: "Yeah. They emptied his bucket."
(They sure did alright. Plotting to kill him. Selling him into slavery. Telling his father that he is dead. That would empty any one's bucket.)
As a mom, I'm always feeling like mine is half full at best. And those around me? Can't say that I'm always that great at filling their buckets either. Snapping words. Barking orders. Gentle nagging. Empty. Empty. Empty. Just keeping it real...the buckets around here could stand to be filled more frequently.
How's your bucket today? What have you done to fill someone else's bucket today?
I love this concept because it is such an easy way for preschoolers to learn that their actions affect others. That what they say and do is a part of those around them. If only us adults could keep this top of mind how much more we could accomplish! Shortly after "buckets" were introduced at school, the kiddos and I were pulling into the garage here at home. I had stopped at the end of the drive way and got the mail, so in addition to helping Princess Pigtails with her backpack and wrestling both her and The Little Man out of their respective car seats, I had my purse and the mail to contend with as well. Anywhoo, as I shut the truck off, Princess Pigtails said "Mama, you could just put the mail in my backpack. Then you wouldn't have so many things to carry." I told her that I thought that was a great idea and thanked her for being so thoughtful. She smiled and said "You're welcome. I just filled your bucket." I laughed and agreed that yes she had filled my bucket. It was such a sweet exchange. My heart just melted right there.
So this past Monday, Princess Pigtail's class learned the Bible story of Joseph.
Me: "So, tell me about Joseph. What did you learn?"
PP: "Well, he had a fancy coat."
Me: "He sure did. What else did you learn?"
PP: "Umm...his brothers pushed him in a hole."
Me: "You're right. His brothers were not very kind to him."
PP: "Yeah. They emptied his bucket."
(They sure did alright. Plotting to kill him. Selling him into slavery. Telling his father that he is dead. That would empty any one's bucket.)
As a mom, I'm always feeling like mine is half full at best. And those around me? Can't say that I'm always that great at filling their buckets either. Snapping words. Barking orders. Gentle nagging. Empty. Empty. Empty. Just keeping it real...the buckets around here could stand to be filled more frequently.
How's your bucket today? What have you done to fill someone else's bucket today?
1.11.2009
Foiled
Can someone explain to me why a roll of foil is so expensive? Is it foil speculations? I literally stood dumb-founded in front of the shelf of foil yesterday at Wal-Mart. Perhaps it's just me but $7.37 for 200 sq. feet of tin foil seems a little ridiculous, right?
Just an observation. Carry on.
Just an observation. Carry on.
1.06.2009
The Picture of Health and Wellness, We are.
I just want to crawl in my bed and pull the covers up over my head. Because if the last six days are what 2009 are going to be like for us, I'm not sure I am ready.
I will back up and say that we had great times with our families over Christmas. We nearly missed time with my grandparents due to an ice storm. There was about a three hour span on the Saturday after Christmas that I didn't think the two hour drive from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's house was going to happen due to the ice. To say I was heart broken was an understatement. In light of the health things that have gone on with my Grandma over the last couple of months, I just felt it so important to get down there. I also knew that my grandparents were looking forward to having ALL their grand kids and great-grand kids (there were five new greats in 08!) together and I didn't want to disappoint. I knew they would understand given the weather, but still...We made it and had some sweet moments with my grandparents as a result. I am so glad that God allowed us to get there. Grandma is on the mend, by the way! Thank you for the prayers on her behalf.
We got home and had barely enough time to unpack, pick up a few groceries, stash the Christmas gifts/plunder/groceries and get organized to have a few friends over on New Year's eve. It was craziness getting that all accomplished, but I am so glad we did. What fun we had.
Enter 2009.
Friday morning, the kiddos both woke up with a sniffle. DH reported from work he thought he was coming down with a cold too. I was in denial.
Saturday, we definitively all have colds. And great! woke to the furnace clanking! Not as bad as this time, but not healthy sound for a furnace. In January. In Minnesota. Fantastic! (I have to say I am a little disturbed after looking up that link, to find that the last episode occurred on January 3rd 2008. A year exactly? Bizarre. Do you think I should just go ahead and book the HVAC repair guy for next year? )
Sunday, woke up and definitely still all have colds. And just for variety's sake, I have the stomach flu to go along with mine. Lovely. My darling, darling husband took such good care of me and the kids while I was sick. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Honey. You are amazing.
Sunday night, Princess Pigtails, despite all of the remedies I could come up with, was up practically the entire night coughing. She had 102.7 temp yesterday morning and began complaining in the middle of the night that her ear hurt. I'm sure you can see where this is going.
I called the clinic first thing because as it turned out I already had an appointment scheduled yesterday morning for The Little Man's well child check. So, took them both in. Princess Pigtails has a double ear infection. The doctor's words were "her ears look like hamburger". Great. Her first ear infection and it is a double? That's harsh.
The Little Man? Oh, yeah. He also has an ear infection. He was supposed to be my WELL child. So, antibiotics all around and little Robitussin AC for good measure and we are back on the road to health and wellness.
I forgot to mention that DH had called while we were in route to the clinic to let me know that his "consultation" appointment at the endodonist was resulting in an immediate root canal. Outstanding.
So, I pray we are on the mend now. The kiddos have been on their meds for 24 hours now. My cough is easing up. I'm keeping Princess Pigtails home from dance tonight and going to miss my Bible study. But hopefully tomorrow will be the start of some healthier days for us all.
Here's to hoping that your 2009 is off to a much better start than mine! That 2009 will be a year of HEALTH all the way around and that it will find you feeling blessed beyond measure!
I will back up and say that we had great times with our families over Christmas. We nearly missed time with my grandparents due to an ice storm. There was about a three hour span on the Saturday after Christmas that I didn't think the two hour drive from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's house was going to happen due to the ice. To say I was heart broken was an understatement. In light of the health things that have gone on with my Grandma over the last couple of months, I just felt it so important to get down there. I also knew that my grandparents were looking forward to having ALL their grand kids and great-grand kids (there were five new greats in 08!) together and I didn't want to disappoint. I knew they would understand given the weather, but still...We made it and had some sweet moments with my grandparents as a result. I am so glad that God allowed us to get there. Grandma is on the mend, by the way! Thank you for the prayers on her behalf.
We got home and had barely enough time to unpack, pick up a few groceries, stash the Christmas gifts/plunder/groceries and get organized to have a few friends over on New Year's eve. It was craziness getting that all accomplished, but I am so glad we did. What fun we had.
Enter 2009.
Friday morning, the kiddos both woke up with a sniffle. DH reported from work he thought he was coming down with a cold too. I was in denial.
Saturday, we definitively all have colds. And great! woke to the furnace clanking! Not as bad as this time, but not healthy sound for a furnace. In January. In Minnesota. Fantastic! (I have to say I am a little disturbed after looking up that link, to find that the last episode occurred on January 3rd 2008. A year exactly? Bizarre. Do you think I should just go ahead and book the HVAC repair guy for next year? )
Sunday, woke up and definitely still all have colds. And just for variety's sake, I have the stomach flu to go along with mine. Lovely. My darling, darling husband took such good care of me and the kids while I was sick. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Honey. You are amazing.
Sunday night, Princess Pigtails, despite all of the remedies I could come up with, was up practically the entire night coughing. She had 102.7 temp yesterday morning and began complaining in the middle of the night that her ear hurt. I'm sure you can see where this is going.
I called the clinic first thing because as it turned out I already had an appointment scheduled yesterday morning for The Little Man's well child check. So, took them both in. Princess Pigtails has a double ear infection. The doctor's words were "her ears look like hamburger". Great. Her first ear infection and it is a double? That's harsh.
The Little Man? Oh, yeah. He also has an ear infection. He was supposed to be my WELL child. So, antibiotics all around and little Robitussin AC for good measure and we are back on the road to health and wellness.
I forgot to mention that DH had called while we were in route to the clinic to let me know that his "consultation" appointment at the endodonist was resulting in an immediate root canal. Outstanding.
So, I pray we are on the mend now. The kiddos have been on their meds for 24 hours now. My cough is easing up. I'm keeping Princess Pigtails home from dance tonight and going to miss my Bible study. But hopefully tomorrow will be the start of some healthier days for us all.
Here's to hoping that your 2009 is off to a much better start than mine! That 2009 will be a year of HEALTH all the way around and that it will find you feeling blessed beyond measure!
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