Basketweaving - Taking Care of ME

Once upon a time I made baskets - various types, colors, shapes and sizes....even a snowman basket that is packed away until winter.  I have decided that it is time for me to get back to doing things I love and this is one of them.  I use them in various places in my home and have given them as gifts.  Stay tuned and I will show you if I whip out a new one anytime soon.  I plan to at least inventory my supplies over the weekend.

Taking Care of ME

New short and sassy hairdo!  Easy and simple.

Taking Care of Me

First post in my new Taking Care of Me series. Today I took a nice long walk and did some ab exercises (crunches, flutter kicks, and bicycles).  I plan to paint my fingernails next. Woohoo.

Where I've Been and Where to go from here

I planned to post today on where I have been and all the reasons I have been too overwhelmed to post.  Life has been busy as summers generally are, but there were a few other things that came up that made the time get away from us.  We were fortunate to take a vacation although two of the three of us were sick most of the trip, but still very thankful that we had time away. Rather than rant on and on about all the other STUFF that came up I decided to focus on where to go from here. I was searching for a picture to post that showed how crazy I have felt and somehow I stumbled onto this photo and it spoke to me because it shouted to me what I need to do now.  So here goes....

First - school starts back for my son in about 3 weeks and with that comes a routine - I like routines and that will make things better.  It will be a rough start helping him get organized and started, but in the end our family does better when we are back on autopilot.

Second - the house - due to chaos beyond my control things have gotten way off base.  Shoes being left out, laundry being left in baskets for longer than I can stand and clutter that has multiplied like fruit flies or something. I did start by clearing out all the clothes that my son can no longer wear (3 large trash bags full) and now I just have to do more purging and simplifying in the other rooms of the house.

Third- LEGO star wars are invading part of my house.....I need to continue to find ways to control the ever expanding world that is evolving in the game room. (aka his sister's old room)

Fourth - The garage has been a storage area for a relative and landing strip for endless Boy Scout camping trips.  I must regain control of my parking space!

Fifth - I was planning to take Statistics to work towards my BSN but God kept making it clear that now was not the time - I am hard headed so he had to thump me on the forehead a couple of times before I got it, but I finally did.

Sixth  I must get us back into church.  We have not made time this summer and it shows.  I have found myself slipping into old habits and I must get back into a fellowship with others.  I need that!  I have been doing my prayer time and devotions, but I need to get my family back in church - no excuses.

Seventh- My stress level has been through the roof with the new job, family dynamics, bills, illness, etc. and I had to start medication for my blood pressure today.  It makes me really sad that I have allow myself to gain weight, become less active and worst of all allowed stress to get to this point.  I absolutely MUST take care of myself above all else.  I always take care of everyone and everything else that needs to be done, but I must make exercise and healthy habits, i.e. bible study group, crafts, blog, cook, have friend time, etc. regular parts of my life.  Again the theme is simplify - I have to keep it simple and take care of me first and then I will be a better mother, daughter, friend, employee....

I think as of today I will make a category in my blog entitled "Taking Care of Me" and I am going to try at least weekly to post a title of the same name with at least one thing (hopefully more) that I have made a point to do to take better care of myself.  Time will tell if I keep it up but I have you to keep me in check.

Orange Dreamsicle Fruit Dip

1 8 oz container whipped topping
1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 6 oz container of frozen (concentrated) orange juice or 6 oz oj
Fruit for dipping (strawberries, mango, grapes, pineapple, etc)


Mix the first three ingredients together. Add a little water to thin out to desired consistency, if needed.
Prep fruit.
Refrigerate.
 

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes ....oh my!

Okay so I haven't made these yet either....that seems to be my theme lately.  I seem to post on things I am planning to make before things I have actually made.  I guess I finally have most of my tried and true things on the blog after two years and now except for random omissions I run across most things I post are things I plan to make in the coming days or weeks.  Anywho these look fabulous!!

PANCAKES:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten
CINNAMON FILLING:
1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
CREAM CHEESE GLAZE:
4 Tablespoons butter
2 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Prepare pancake batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in milk, oil and egg, just until batter is moistened (a few small lumps are fine).
2. In a medium bowl, mix butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Scoop the filling into a small zip baggie and set aside. You don't want this to remain a liquid type consistency, but thicker and more paste like.
3. Heat butter and cream cheese until melted in microwave and whisk until smooth; whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla extract; set aside.
4. Heat large skillet over medium-low heat. Spray with nonstick spray. Scoop about 3/4 cup batter onto the skillet. Snip the corner of your baggie of filling and squeeze a spiral of the filling onto the top of the pancake. When bubbles begin to appear on the surface, flip carefully with a thin spatula, and cook until browned on the underside, 1 to 2 minutes more.
5. Drizzle with glaze when ready to serve.

Book Review - Beach Reads

I read both of these books over the course of two days at the beach.  They were both very good and I highly recommend them both.  I wish I had read The Art of Racing in the Rain first and Heaven is for Real second, but either is a great choice for a really quick read!

What a simple idea

A few months back I was blogging and saw a great idea that I put into practice.  I wish I could remember where so I could give credit where it is due, but at least I finally changed my ways.  For years I have done my bill paying and then kept all of the parts of the bill in folders in my desk.  The problem with that system is that I hate filing and my desk is upstairs and I always do all the work downstairs so the filing process drags on forever and did I mention that I hate it!   Anyway a wonderful blogger had this revelation and shared it and just in case you never find her maybe you will be inspired here.  Each month when I pay my bill I now just use a 3 hole punch and place them in the binder which I have separated into categories: utilities, debts, miscellaneous, etc.  I place the newest in the front and at the end of the year I can simply rubber band it all together in one 2011 file. Genius!!! I love that now when I pay each item the bill from last month is easily accessible and doesn't involve a flight of stairs and then looking through the "to be filed" basket or the appropriate tab.  As far as I am concerned this is the ultimate in simplicity that makes a "chore" easier to tolerate.

Coconut Cake

 

Richella's Coconut Cake from imparting grace blog.

Bake a white cake according to package instructions and allow to cool thoroughly.

Meanwhile make filling by mixing the following:

1 lb powdered sugar, sifted

8 oz. sour cream

2 6oz. packages frozen coconut, thawed

Cut each 8 or 9 inch layer in half horizontally using serrated knife creating four layers.

Place first layer "cut side up" on a plate (with rim for drippings) and spread 1/4 of the frosting/filling. Continue stacking and frosting each layer "cut side up" using 1/4 of the mixture each time.  Add regular flaked coconut to top of last layer for a pretty top.  Cover and let set in fridge for at least two days for layers to saturate.

Doesn't it look fabulous!

Pinterest

I am very curious about this pinterest I keep seeing on blogs....someone tell me about it and invite me because it looks like something I will love.

Toodles.