Depending on your culture, family heritage, childhood environment, beliefs and religious convictions, the holidays mean different things to different people. Being interfaith, my family is no different.
But for me personally, Christmas (or, in my case Yule) is about the festivities, the joys (whatever those are for myself), the hope the season brings for the new year ahead, the miracle that is the cycle of the seasons, mother Earth, the God and Goddess, the sun's rebirth, the beauty and wonder of the season. But if you were to ask me what I want for Yule every year, my answer never changes: I want memories.
The holidays for me are mental photographs and videos of great memories with my family. For some reason, I live off of them all year long. I remember them and anticipate with joy and contentment the exciting holidays to come each year, the anticipation at the memories I know will form, the contentment of my heart and the peace in my soul every holiday, doing everything I love: Giving, cooking, hosting and laughing. And, yes, I am one of those rare gems that likes to discuss politics (even if you don't agree with me) over dinner. Life is filled with wonder and beauty and joy and good and the holidays are the perfect time I take to slow down mentally and physically to just absorb it all, to remember it second for second.
I hear some people complain about the holidays. And all I can think is, they are just doing it wrong. The reason for this must be guilt, for one, and fear, for two, then obligation for three. But it is also stressful because of those things, you feel you have to go broke to please family 9you don't) you think you have to make every celebration event (you don't) and you think you have to fear what others will think of you if you do what is right and take the holiday to appreciate it and embrace it for what is best for you. You don't HAVE to do any of those things, and that is the beauty of holidays.
The market has capitalized on holidays like Christmas and birthdays. What would change this is people spending less money on stuff and spending more time (something money cannot buy) with their loved ones, without shame or fear or guilt. And the family, they have to accept this lifestyle and in turn appreciate the time they get with their loved ones minus the materials and gifts and "stuff".
I am in no way saying gifts are wrong or bad. As you likely already know, I shower my kids and my husband with gifts and my husband showers me with gifts as well. But we don't only do this during the holidays, we do it just because,m we do it on anniversaries, or when a loved one is ill, we do loving things because we want to, not because we have to.
That said, I do believe gifts are actually a big part of the holiday.... For YOUR family. For my family, it is outside immediate family members such as in-laws. We keep it all between the four of us, because that's what we want.
It's also very hard for me to mingle with my in laws and celebrate the holidays since I celebrate them in an entirely different aspect than they do. They celebrate Jesus, his sacrifice, gift giving, materials and the commercialized aspect of it.
I celebrate it with spells, incantations, devotions, dancing, fire, nature, the sun, the moon, the animals, and the gifts are just a bonus because I truly enjoy giving to my kids and my husband, especially during the holidays. This is my time of year where I can spend as much as I want on gifts and get them each something they've always wanted. Would Yule be over if we stopped doing gifts? Not at all! There is the volunteering, the giving, the charities. There is the holiday meal, the spiritual observance of it. There is the time with my family, but most of all there are the MEMORIES.
I love spoiling my kids. I also love teaching them about giving back and kindness and loving others and compassion. I love teaching them about family values and the joys of the season, what makes the holiday really great: Memories.
Welcome to my blog! I'm a mother, housewife and teacher.
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
This is one of my husband's favorite meals! It's flavorful and goes great with egg rolls and cream cheese wantons!
Ingredients:
2 Cups uncooked instant rice (brown or white is just fine)
1 3/4 cups water
1 cup beef broth
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
2 Tablespoon light soy sauce (I use light soy sauce but you can use regular if you prefer)
1 tsp brown sugar
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 tsp ground ginger
1 lb boneless beef chuck roast, round or tip steak, thinly sliced
1 onion
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups broccoli florets, steamable or frozen is fine
Directions:
Cook rice according to package directions.
In a small bowl or large cup, mix the broth, soy sauce, brown sugar and cornstarch thoroughly until completely dissolved.
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat and add the beef, onion, ginger and salt and pepper. Cook until browned, then add broth mixture to the pan and bring to a boil. Let simmer until sauce has thickened to your liking.
Meanwhile, heat broccoli (if using steamable or frozen) according to package directions. If using fresh broccoli, add the fresh broccoli to the skillet when you pour the broth mixture in.
Once broccoli has cooked, add broccoli to the skillet and stir to coat. Serve stir fry over warm rice and enjoy!
Friday, December 30, 2016
School and Finance
I decided it's time to introduce my kids to finance and money and the responsibility that comes with it. Today I had them clean the house, and do extra chores like taking the trash out and grabbing the mail for allowance money.
When they were all finished and I made sure they were finished completely) I gave them their 'check" which was in the form of play money from their Princess cash register.
I gave them fives and ones. I made them count out their earnings, and then I made them use this money to "pay" for merchandise they really wanted. In this case, my son wanted micro machines from Star Wars and my daughter wanted Minnie Mouse blind bags. Each had to wait their turn to buy their merchandise, which meant waiting patiently and taking turns.
We set up a store like it was an actual store. We have had the opportunity to do this at the grocery store before, but this time I incorporated math rather than a credit card in order to pay for their stuff. At the grocery store, it's a no brainer to slide a card and be done. This way they had to learn the whole concept of payment and finances.
I had them each count out the correct amount of money to buy their things, and then gave them their things once we were all done.
So today they learned responsibility, hard work, and how to earn a living. I want to keep this up over the years from now on so that they grow to appreciate money and to use it responsibly and to work hard for everything they want and for everything they need.
Yesterday we learned all about electricity, and how the Earth orbits around the sun, and the change of seasons. Today we learned about money. But this is a subject I will incorporate into everyday learning. :)
When they were all finished and I made sure they were finished completely) I gave them their 'check" which was in the form of play money from their Princess cash register.
I gave them fives and ones. I made them count out their earnings, and then I made them use this money to "pay" for merchandise they really wanted. In this case, my son wanted micro machines from Star Wars and my daughter wanted Minnie Mouse blind bags. Each had to wait their turn to buy their merchandise, which meant waiting patiently and taking turns.
We set up a store like it was an actual store. We have had the opportunity to do this at the grocery store before, but this time I incorporated math rather than a credit card in order to pay for their stuff. At the grocery store, it's a no brainer to slide a card and be done. This way they had to learn the whole concept of payment and finances.
I had them each count out the correct amount of money to buy their things, and then gave them their things once we were all done.
So today they learned responsibility, hard work, and how to earn a living. I want to keep this up over the years from now on so that they grow to appreciate money and to use it responsibly and to work hard for everything they want and for everything they need.
Yesterday we learned all about electricity, and how the Earth orbits around the sun, and the change of seasons. Today we learned about money. But this is a subject I will incorporate into everyday learning. :)
Monday, November 28, 2016
Christmas Decorating 2016
Every year since we had the kids, we have had a tradition when it comes to decorating for Yule.
First, we bring in the Christmas tree. We are a sentimental folk, when we could not afford a real tree, much less have a real one in our first apartment (landlord's restriction), we opted for an artificial Christmas tree we bought on sale at Walmart dirt cheap. I had never had a Christmas tree before, real or fake, so I was super excited to get one that year. It was our first Christmas together, in our first apartment. I will never forget it.
We went to Menard's to get some of the ornaments and decorations. We picked them all out together, then we went to Sam's Club to get the ribbon.
We brought the tree home and set it up. We spent that evening decorating it while eating pizza. Ever since, we have been carrying this tradition on with the kids.
We bring the tree inside (almost eight years later and we cannot bring ourselves to part with it), we turn up some classic Christmas music, and decorate our tree as a family.
I always thought I would be the type of person to rearrange the ornaments my kids put on once they went to bed, but I don't. In fact, I love the way they decorate it with us. I prefer to leave it all just the way it is.
Every year it seems we try something new or festive. This year we added tinsel. I've never been a huge fan of the tinsel, but it's grown on me this past year. I actually prefer it over ribbon I think.
Once the tree is set up, (always on the Sunday after Thanksgiving), and it is all decorated and lit up, we put in a Christmas movie and bake pizzas.
The kids look forward to this tradition every year. They are now old enough to know what we are going to do as the year goes on, so it's even more exciting to see their faces light up when we tell them what time of year it is.
First, we bring in the Christmas tree. We are a sentimental folk, when we could not afford a real tree, much less have a real one in our first apartment (landlord's restriction), we opted for an artificial Christmas tree we bought on sale at Walmart dirt cheap. I had never had a Christmas tree before, real or fake, so I was super excited to get one that year. It was our first Christmas together, in our first apartment. I will never forget it.
We went to Menard's to get some of the ornaments and decorations. We picked them all out together, then we went to Sam's Club to get the ribbon.
We brought the tree home and set it up. We spent that evening decorating it while eating pizza. Ever since, we have been carrying this tradition on with the kids.
We bring the tree inside (almost eight years later and we cannot bring ourselves to part with it), we turn up some classic Christmas music, and decorate our tree as a family.
I always thought I would be the type of person to rearrange the ornaments my kids put on once they went to bed, but I don't. In fact, I love the way they decorate it with us. I prefer to leave it all just the way it is.
Every year it seems we try something new or festive. This year we added tinsel. I've never been a huge fan of the tinsel, but it's grown on me this past year. I actually prefer it over ribbon I think.
Once the tree is set up, (always on the Sunday after Thanksgiving), and it is all decorated and lit up, we put in a Christmas movie and bake pizzas.
The kids look forward to this tradition every year. They are now old enough to know what we are going to do as the year goes on, so it's even more exciting to see their faces light up when we tell them what time of year it is.
Thanksgiving 2016
Well, another successful Thanksgiving, and looking forward to many more!
This year we found a 25.84 pound turkey, our largest bird yet. It took longer to cook, but the meat was so juicy and tender! You can get my Thanksgiving turkey recipe HERE.
As always, I start by rubbing the entire turkey with real, unsalted butter. Then I add the turkey rub under the skin, I am generous with the seasonings, especially this year with such a large bird to roast, I ended up doubling the rub recipe.
It turned out PERFECT! Everyone enjoyed it. My mother in-law made the delicious gravy, and the kids helped grandma and grandpa make the stuffing. :)
Thank goodness we got a new roasting pan last year! Our old one was way too small. The wings of the bird always fell off because they would get roasted to the sides haha.
Tim has always made me laugh. He is such a goof and I love his humor. :)
The kids had so much fun this year. They made crafts with grandma and played with grandpa all weekend. It was such a great time. We can't wait until next year! ;-)
Haylie LOVES her grandma!
We got lots of pictures, but these two are my favorites!
Friday, March 18, 2016
Planting My Herbs Today
I am so excited for Spring! It's practically here!
I started my day with my coffee and a book and the usual house chores while the kids ate their breakfast and played with their toys. We aren't radical with schooling just yet, and when we do more curricular type things it's always later. Right now they are just too young to go all day every day.
Once awake and finished with chores, I went straight outside to gather as much snow into my bucket as possible. Some melted already so I didn't get as much as I had hoped, fortunately I left pails outside last night which caught a good amount of snow in it along with the buckets and containers that have rain water up to the brim in them. I took my water bottles and filled all of them up as much as I could. I am conserving the remaining rain water/snow for later.
I try to do this each year. It's a blessing for my thirsty plants and I would rather nourish them with rain water than anything from our city tap. I know, I am just finicky that way. It's a personal preference. It isn't that tap water won't help plants, but I feel rain water is best whenever possible. It's why I will collect water from a well known lake if I am all out of rain water at home. Last year we were very dry so I wasn't able to have such an abundance of water as I already have this year. Not even snow, as we barely had any snow to speak of all winter two eyars ago.
I hope this year is different. The large snow banks which turned to pools of puddles outside are instantly soaked up into the earth. Mother Earth is parched.
The rainy days make things a bit more challenging, and stressful, kids hate being cooped up just as much as I do. But at the same time I am so, so grateful for this rain!
I put new potting soil into my pots, sowing and digging as much as I am supposed to for my herbal plants. I'm not planting too much ahead of time, because I don't know when the weather will warm enough for me to replant them outdoors. But I did plant my lavender because germinating will take some time and by that point the weather should be much better and less hostile for it.
I also planted my cilantro, but only one because I prefer to use it fresh when I do and I don't plan to dry it.
I went outside and collected snow to put into the pots that will melt into the soil so as not to overwater them. So far that has been my day, and I feel really accomplished. The kids have managed to keep their toys off the floors so far (which is more than I can say for the bathroom and the tub, but whatever). I see flurries drifting around outside right now. I wonder if it will snow some more? I plan to get the kids outside today, we may even skip over to the park for a bit if the weather permits. :)
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Let the Christmas Shopping Begin!
Call me a lunatic, but I really enjoy Christmas shopping. I look forward to it every year! This year was a little more exciting because now we have two kids, and our first is older and easier to shop for now, and we know what things he is really into this year. (One of those things you automatically do, even though I was restricted by my parents from celebrating Christmas, it comes so naturally for me now, is taking mental notes to self throughout the year.) ;)
Well, we had a very wonderful Thanksgiving with family this year (just like every year). I was super excited for it, we prioritized and had all of our Thanksgiving shopping done by the 17th, leaving only a few small items like french fried onions and green onions. Other than that everything was done and we were able to relax and enjoy the rest of the two weeks leading up to the big day.
My mother in-law, (Mama Gail), and father in-law (Papa Larry), arrived Wednesday night, and stayed until Sunday. We were so happy to have them here with us longer than one day. Unfortunately, my brother in-law (Nathan) and sister in-law (Melissa) couldn't stay but they did make it for dinner :).
Well, with the grandparents here early, we decided to get the kids' Christmas shopping done while we had the chance. Our work schedules have been so hectic lately (it always is this time of year), and we wanted to go shop for their gifts sometime before or after Thanksgiving.
We did a little shopping online, because we don't have a Toys R' Us nearby us anymore, we ended up having to do that online, but that was great, because it saved us time and everything. I actually decided I prefer Christmas shopping online, and next year we may just do that, except we like getting out of the house together while the kids stay home and going to explore the toy land at Farm and Fleet ;). Both of us are still kids at heart. Me more so since I didn't get to do this as a kid :).
So that was our weekend. And we got all of the kids' Christmas shopping done, and just need to wrap everything soon. Since I am still pretty new to this Christmas thing and gifts and the kids presents, I am following Tim's lead on most everything haha. If I don't know what to do or how to do it, he does!
We also found really great bargains at JCPenny!
Well, we had a very wonderful Thanksgiving with family this year (just like every year). I was super excited for it, we prioritized and had all of our Thanksgiving shopping done by the 17th, leaving only a few small items like french fried onions and green onions. Other than that everything was done and we were able to relax and enjoy the rest of the two weeks leading up to the big day.
My mother in-law, (Mama Gail), and father in-law (Papa Larry), arrived Wednesday night, and stayed until Sunday. We were so happy to have them here with us longer than one day. Unfortunately, my brother in-law (Nathan) and sister in-law (Melissa) couldn't stay but they did make it for dinner :).
Well, with the grandparents here early, we decided to get the kids' Christmas shopping done while we had the chance. Our work schedules have been so hectic lately (it always is this time of year), and we wanted to go shop for their gifts sometime before or after Thanksgiving.
We did a little shopping online, because we don't have a Toys R' Us nearby us anymore, we ended up having to do that online, but that was great, because it saved us time and everything. I actually decided I prefer Christmas shopping online, and next year we may just do that, except we like getting out of the house together while the kids stay home and going to explore the toy land at Farm and Fleet ;). Both of us are still kids at heart. Me more so since I didn't get to do this as a kid :).
So that was our weekend. And we got all of the kids' Christmas shopping done, and just need to wrap everything soon. Since I am still pretty new to this Christmas thing and gifts and the kids presents, I am following Tim's lead on most everything haha. If I don't know what to do or how to do it, he does!
We also found really great bargains at JCPenny!
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Ahhhh so excited!!! Less than one week!! The big day is coming up FAST! :D
I don't know where the time went, but I am so happy with the date we planned for our wedding celebration! I love it because it is right before the holidays, and it's also my favorite time of year. I love when the weather gets cold, snow is on the way, and the beauty comes with colored leaves and crystal snow.
I am not sure when I can blog again, but I will need to soon! :)
I don't know where the time went, but I am so happy with the date we planned for our wedding celebration! I love it because it is right before the holidays, and it's also my favorite time of year. I love when the weather gets cold, snow is on the way, and the beauty comes with colored leaves and crystal snow.
I am not sure when I can blog again, but I will need to soon! :)
Monday, September 28, 2015
Getting Excited!!!
It's almost October! I have been so busy going crazy with wedding plans that I didn't notice how fast this year was going by. And my son started preschool this year, so I've been busy teaching and studying, which on top of wedding planning makes things pretty exhausting and hectic. But it's so rewarding!
The thing about planning a wedding only a month before the crazy holidays get here is that my year will not be slowing down whatsoever after the wedding is done. Which is okay, because I love love LOVE the holidays!! And I also really love teaching, so it will all work out.
We still have to figure out exactly what we are doing for the kids for Halloween (I know, we have plenty of time for that yet, but I am one to majorly prioritize and I am a huge planner, I like all my ducks in a row haha). Lukas' favorite superhero is Iron Man, so I would love to find him a character costume for that!
Well, I am just frantic over wedding stuff. People keep telling me once the day is over I'll forget about everything, but I don't think so. I am one of those people who lives for the memories, I think back on good memories a lot and I just really want it to go smoothly and look beautiful. :)
I didn't ever think I would be scrambling around planning my wedding. I wasn't one of the many girls who daydreamed about her wedding since she was 12. I've always been very independent and I always said I would never get married. But here I am! And, technically already married.
My husband and I tied the knot in a private ceremony a few years ago. We never had a wedding reception or celebration with our close friends and family, though. So, we decided this year would be the year that we would do it all. We wanted the cake, the party, the venues, the music, the photographer, the whole nine yards. So we started planning our wedding as soon as our venues were booked about a year ago. And, in my opinion, even one year was not plenty of time (that's how jittery I've become haha.)
But at the same time I am so excited and looking forward to our big day! I can't believe it's finally happening.
The thing about planning a wedding only a month before the crazy holidays get here is that my year will not be slowing down whatsoever after the wedding is done. Which is okay, because I love love LOVE the holidays!! And I also really love teaching, so it will all work out.
We still have to figure out exactly what we are doing for the kids for Halloween (I know, we have plenty of time for that yet, but I am one to majorly prioritize and I am a huge planner, I like all my ducks in a row haha). Lukas' favorite superhero is Iron Man, so I would love to find him a character costume for that!
Well, I am just frantic over wedding stuff. People keep telling me once the day is over I'll forget about everything, but I don't think so. I am one of those people who lives for the memories, I think back on good memories a lot and I just really want it to go smoothly and look beautiful. :)
I didn't ever think I would be scrambling around planning my wedding. I wasn't one of the many girls who daydreamed about her wedding since she was 12. I've always been very independent and I always said I would never get married. But here I am! And, technically already married.
My husband and I tied the knot in a private ceremony a few years ago. We never had a wedding reception or celebration with our close friends and family, though. So, we decided this year would be the year that we would do it all. We wanted the cake, the party, the venues, the music, the photographer, the whole nine yards. So we started planning our wedding as soon as our venues were booked about a year ago. And, in my opinion, even one year was not plenty of time (that's how jittery I've become haha.)
But at the same time I am so excited and looking forward to our big day! I can't believe it's finally happening.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Crockpot Kickin' BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
4-6 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
1 bottle sweet baby ray's bbq sauce
1/4 c vinegar
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 c brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
Directions
Mix BBQ sauce with vinegar, red pepper flakes, brown sugar and garlic powder.
Place chicken in crockpot (still frozen is ok). Pour sauce mixture over chicken.
Cook on LOW 4-6 hours.
Recipe courtesy: Tamara Martin
Easy Homemade Fried Rice from Scratch
Ingredients
3 cups cooked white rice (day old or leftover rice works best!)
3 tbs sesame oil
1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)
1 small onion, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup soy sauce
On medium high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok. Add the peas/carrots mix, onion and garlic. Stir fry until tender. Lower the heat to medium low and push the mixture off to one side, then pour your eggs on the other side of skillet and stir fry until scrambled. Now add the rice and soy sauce and blend all together well. Stir fry until thoroughly heated!
Trisha Yearwood's Baked Potato Soup
This is my husband's favorite soup! He looks forward to it every time I make it.
Source of Recipe
From "Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen" by Trisha Yearwood
Ingredients
4 large baking potatoes *
6 bacon slices
2/3 cup (1-1/3 sticks) butter
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups milk
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
2 green onions, finely chopped
5 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded
8 ounces sour cream
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400° F.
Wash the potatoes and prick them several times with a fork. Wrap them individually in foil, and bake them for 1 hour, or until they are soft when squeezed. Let the potatoes cool slightly.
While the potatoes bake, cook the bacon in a small skillet. Drain the bacon on paper towels and, when cool enough to handle, crumble it into small pieces. Set aside.
In a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the flour, stirring constantly for 1 minute until smooth. Gradually whisk in the milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture is thick and bubbling. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, and scoop the flesh into the thickened milk mixture. Add the salt, pepper, green onions, reserved bacon, and Cheddar. Cook over low heat just until heated through. Stir in the sour cream and serve.
Serves 10
NOTE:
* Leftover baked potatoes may also be used for this recipe. Peel and mash them coarsely before adding to the milk mixture.
* Leftover baked potatoes may also be used for this recipe. Peel and mash them coarsely before adding to the milk mixture.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Summer Craft for toddlers
My son is at that age where everything about nature fascinates him. He loves bugs, plants and all kinds of wild life. He loves animals in general, so does his sister, but she is still a little too young to understand it yet.
June brings one of my many favorite critters... Fireflies! Or, as I call them, Lightning Bugs (the hell if it's not "politically correct" I will always think of them as Lightning Bugs because that is exactly what I called them as a kid).
For a project, we cut out shapes of a firefly in construction paper (black), where we cut out the hole where the firefly would light up, we turned it over, and taped a piece of tissue paper (or plastic wrap works too) over the hole.
We held up our fireflies and shined our flashlights through the holes and watched the fireflies glow!
Like I said before, I love to use specific things each week to teach the kids, I will pick things like colors, numbers or the alphabet, and I incorporate animals into this now. So this week we have been learning about fireflies! This was a fun project of many that my son really enjoyed. We took the fireflies outside at night and he had a blast!
June brings one of my many favorite critters... Fireflies! Or, as I call them, Lightning Bugs (the hell if it's not "politically correct" I will always think of them as Lightning Bugs because that is exactly what I called them as a kid).
For a project, we cut out shapes of a firefly in construction paper (black), where we cut out the hole where the firefly would light up, we turned it over, and taped a piece of tissue paper (or plastic wrap works too) over the hole.
We held up our fireflies and shined our flashlights through the holes and watched the fireflies glow!
Like I said before, I love to use specific things each week to teach the kids, I will pick things like colors, numbers or the alphabet, and I incorporate animals into this now. So this week we have been learning about fireflies! This was a fun project of many that my son really enjoyed. We took the fireflies outside at night and he had a blast!
Friday, May 22, 2015
The Royal Treatment
My amazing husband surprised me with a spa basket when he came home after work.
I've felt sick all day, and last night I started to feel nauseous, too. :( So he decided to give me a restock of my bathroom spa supplies, and it was perfect! I had the facial, Epsom's salt, coconut milk, exfoliation, sugar scrub, everything. So tonight I thought it's been a while since I've blogged, and I decided to share my personal skin care regimen with everyone.
To start, I love anything coconut. I'll eat it, wear it, soak in it. It's amazing. I've done this since I was 13. I absolutely LOVE coconut milk especially. I use it in my baths every night.
I usually add around 1/4 cup of coconut milk to a luke warm (not hot!!!) bath, I add bubbles, Epsom's salt, bath beads, or anything like that if I want to.
I use a sponge, a buff puff and nail brush. I use these near the end of my bath, because first I like to soak and read a good book with a glass of wine, some relaxing tea, or even coffee or a martini etc. It doesn't really matter how long you soak. I soak for a good 20-30 minutes, then wash, exfoliate, shave and step out.
Before dressing, I moisturize. Not just my face, I moisturize my legs, my arms, my neck. Your skin needs moisture. So I am really big on moisturizing and exfoliating. It's amazing and my skin stays super soft and smooth all year round.
I am a big exfoliation buff. I exfoliate with a number of things, from Brazilian nut to caffeine and coconut. I like to use whatever I am in the mood for. But I always make sure to use one every weekend.
I do the facial masks as well, and I moisturize moisturize moisturize! I can't stress how important keeping skin clean and moisturizing is for me. It's something I never fail to do each day and night.
I also don't eat a ton of sugary foods, or salty things. I'm not a huge pasta fan and I love water and I drink plenty which also helps your skin stay beautiful.
I don't know if it's just genetics, but I've never had a pimple in my life. It's weird. I've never had acne or anything either, not even in high school. But my mom and my grandma were really big on skin care and so they taught me a lot about taking care of yourself.
I also shave every night. I can't stand the prickly feel of leg hair. I guess I'm weird that way, too, haha. But I've always found my legs rubbing on pant legs or the sheets to be really annoying and so I prefer smooth legs at all times. (It's just me).
After my bath, I rub vitamin E oil or coconut oil into my nails and cuticles. I apply hand cream and read more of my book and have more wine or tea and then go to bed all clean and moisturized.
I've felt sick all day, and last night I started to feel nauseous, too. :( So he decided to give me a restock of my bathroom spa supplies, and it was perfect! I had the facial, Epsom's salt, coconut milk, exfoliation, sugar scrub, everything. So tonight I thought it's been a while since I've blogged, and I decided to share my personal skin care regimen with everyone.
To start, I love anything coconut. I'll eat it, wear it, soak in it. It's amazing. I've done this since I was 13. I absolutely LOVE coconut milk especially. I use it in my baths every night.
I usually add around 1/4 cup of coconut milk to a luke warm (not hot!!!) bath, I add bubbles, Epsom's salt, bath beads, or anything like that if I want to.
I use a sponge, a buff puff and nail brush. I use these near the end of my bath, because first I like to soak and read a good book with a glass of wine, some relaxing tea, or even coffee or a martini etc. It doesn't really matter how long you soak. I soak for a good 20-30 minutes, then wash, exfoliate, shave and step out.
Before dressing, I moisturize. Not just my face, I moisturize my legs, my arms, my neck. Your skin needs moisture. So I am really big on moisturizing and exfoliating. It's amazing and my skin stays super soft and smooth all year round.
I am a big exfoliation buff. I exfoliate with a number of things, from Brazilian nut to caffeine and coconut. I like to use whatever I am in the mood for. But I always make sure to use one every weekend.
I do the facial masks as well, and I moisturize moisturize moisturize! I can't stress how important keeping skin clean and moisturizing is for me. It's something I never fail to do each day and night.
I also don't eat a ton of sugary foods, or salty things. I'm not a huge pasta fan and I love water and I drink plenty which also helps your skin stay beautiful.
I don't know if it's just genetics, but I've never had a pimple in my life. It's weird. I've never had acne or anything either, not even in high school. But my mom and my grandma were really big on skin care and so they taught me a lot about taking care of yourself.
I also shave every night. I can't stand the prickly feel of leg hair. I guess I'm weird that way, too, haha. But I've always found my legs rubbing on pant legs or the sheets to be really annoying and so I prefer smooth legs at all times. (It's just me).
After my bath, I rub vitamin E oil or coconut oil into my nails and cuticles. I apply hand cream and read more of my book and have more wine or tea and then go to bed all clean and moisturized.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Wow! So much is going on this year and I've had very little chance to get on here to update or do anything else besides cooking, kids, cleaning and wedding planning! While it's true, my husband and I are technically married, (we were privately married four years ago and none of our family or all of our close friends could make it due to us not making our marriage public back when it happened), so we decided to have an actual ceremony where we exchange our vows and celebrate with our close family and friends.
It feels like we have been waiting for this special day forever! And now it's almost here! We only have 5 months to go. I can't believe how fast this year is flying by!
Well, between wedding planning, I've been doing a lot of things with the kids indoors due to the weather taking a bad turn this past weekend, freezing cold temps and frost and cold rain. Yuck! I know we need it, it is Spring after all, but the cold temperatures I could do without. We also need sunshine. :-/
Our days have been centered mostly around arts and crafts, indoor games, reading and other things that usually fail to keep my otherwise repetitive childrens' minds occupied. They have about a 3 second rebound rate at this age, so I am trying to do everything possible so I do not go insane haha.
I love my kids so much and I absolutely love what I do, so I'm not complaining. I do, however, see the humor in everything and just laugh about it all. Like I do with just about everything in life ;).
This week, the kids learned about frogs. It's one of their favorite animals. For whatever reason they love reading about them and my son especially loves them. I don't know where it comes from, although I love frogs. :)
Yesterday, for Father's Day coming up, we made a frog card out of construction paper and a paper plate. My son painted the plate green on one side, then colored it pink on the other side. We folded it in half and glued a scrunched up (accordion style) piece of pink paper into the folded inside of the frog's mouth and wrote Happy Father's Day on it, so when you pull the tongue out you can read what it says.
We cut out legs and arms for the frog out of green construction paper, and glued that to the paper plate in the back. We took two cotton balls, glued them to the face, marked two nostrils with a black marker, and then glued googly eyes to the cotton balls. I can't wait to give it to Tim! I know he is going to love it. And this is the first year Lukas has been able to make anything for him, last year we did finger paints and other cool things. But this year we got way more creative! ;)
Today we made a chart out of construction paper and frog pictures from Lukas' used up preschool book. I ended up having to cut out the frog pictures because they were so small, but Lukas helped me with the rest and it turned out pretty awesome! We purposely shaped it like a lily pad. I wasn't really sure where we were going with it all at first, but everything came together the further we worked at it. This is the result:
It feels like we have been waiting for this special day forever! And now it's almost here! We only have 5 months to go. I can't believe how fast this year is flying by!
Well, between wedding planning, I've been doing a lot of things with the kids indoors due to the weather taking a bad turn this past weekend, freezing cold temps and frost and cold rain. Yuck! I know we need it, it is Spring after all, but the cold temperatures I could do without. We also need sunshine. :-/
Our days have been centered mostly around arts and crafts, indoor games, reading and other things that usually fail to keep my otherwise repetitive childrens' minds occupied. They have about a 3 second rebound rate at this age, so I am trying to do everything possible so I do not go insane haha.
I love my kids so much and I absolutely love what I do, so I'm not complaining. I do, however, see the humor in everything and just laugh about it all. Like I do with just about everything in life ;).
This week, the kids learned about frogs. It's one of their favorite animals. For whatever reason they love reading about them and my son especially loves them. I don't know where it comes from, although I love frogs. :)
Yesterday, for Father's Day coming up, we made a frog card out of construction paper and a paper plate. My son painted the plate green on one side, then colored it pink on the other side. We folded it in half and glued a scrunched up (accordion style) piece of pink paper into the folded inside of the frog's mouth and wrote Happy Father's Day on it, so when you pull the tongue out you can read what it says.
We cut out legs and arms for the frog out of green construction paper, and glued that to the paper plate in the back. We took two cotton balls, glued them to the face, marked two nostrils with a black marker, and then glued googly eyes to the cotton balls. I can't wait to give it to Tim! I know he is going to love it. And this is the first year Lukas has been able to make anything for him, last year we did finger paints and other cool things. But this year we got way more creative! ;)
Today we made a chart out of construction paper and frog pictures from Lukas' used up preschool book. I ended up having to cut out the frog pictures because they were so small, but Lukas helped me with the rest and it turned out pretty awesome! We purposely shaped it like a lily pad. I wasn't really sure where we were going with it all at first, but everything came together the further we worked at it. This is the result:
Well, the kids are asleep and so now I plan to do more DIY wedding stuff, and then read a good book with a glass of wine and then get some rest! (Hopefully). My daughter still wakes up at night, so I can use all the sleep I can get at this point! Between her growing, teething and everything she has been a little stinker when it comes to a full night's sleep. :-/ Oh well. Such is parenthood! :)
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Where I've been...
It's been a while since I have posted on here, not because nothing exciting has been going on (because it has) but because I have been so busy I have not had any time to blog lately.
My mother came to visit Saturday and we went to David's Bridal to meet with alterations for my wedding gown. This is my first fitting in my gown sicne the first time I tried on dresses here, so i'm nervous to see if it fits right! It's a size 2, and I am not used to wearing such a small size. When the woman tod me she was ordering a size 2 I stood there stunned, because I never believed I would hear those words.
I'm not a vain person by nature, I'm not very focused on body image as much as I probably should be. But I am a female, and I've had 2 kids. I can't really explain why this stunned me like it did, but it jsut did. I think it's because I wore a size 12 while pregnant and even after. I wore at least a size 10 or 8 before pregnancy. I think the last time I wore a small size (size 4) I was in high school. But for years after that I ahd always been careless with my weight and didn't put much thought into it, until the day I stepped on the scale at the doctor's office, 9 months pregnant with my first baby, weighing 207.6 pounds, that it hit me. I DID care. Suddenly I realized I was ina rut. I didn't want to be 207 pounds, or even remotely near it. I was so uncomfortable, I was constantly out of breath. I was tired all of the time, and when my babya rrived, is til had no energy or stamina to keep up with him.
It wasn't my body image that hit me. It defintiely wasn't the number on the scale either, although at the time I thought that's what it was. But it was my continuing to be disgusted with the shape my body was in, as in I was out of shape. I was exhausted. I was walking to the mailbox and feeling almost winded. I was sick of feeling that way. I wanted to get into shape for my health and for my system, not how I looked.
So, it struck me because I really hadn't been paying much attention to the actual size of my clothes. I just wore what fit. I know wedding gowns tend to run smaller, so it shocked me to hear those words even more, considering.
I suffer from this anorexia thing, I won't call it anoerxia because I don't have an eating disorder, I eat very healthy and get my nutrients and vitamins, but I ahve this imprinted image in my head, where I always SEE the fat me, ratehr than the body I've accomplished. In spite of all the weight loss and muscle tone, I still see myself negatively sometimes.
My mother came to visit Saturday and we went to David's Bridal to meet with alterations for my wedding gown. This is my first fitting in my gown sicne the first time I tried on dresses here, so i'm nervous to see if it fits right! It's a size 2, and I am not used to wearing such a small size. When the woman tod me she was ordering a size 2 I stood there stunned, because I never believed I would hear those words.
I'm not a vain person by nature, I'm not very focused on body image as much as I probably should be. But I am a female, and I've had 2 kids. I can't really explain why this stunned me like it did, but it jsut did. I think it's because I wore a size 12 while pregnant and even after. I wore at least a size 10 or 8 before pregnancy. I think the last time I wore a small size (size 4) I was in high school. But for years after that I ahd always been careless with my weight and didn't put much thought into it, until the day I stepped on the scale at the doctor's office, 9 months pregnant with my first baby, weighing 207.6 pounds, that it hit me. I DID care. Suddenly I realized I was ina rut. I didn't want to be 207 pounds, or even remotely near it. I was so uncomfortable, I was constantly out of breath. I was tired all of the time, and when my babya rrived, is til had no energy or stamina to keep up with him.
It wasn't my body image that hit me. It defintiely wasn't the number on the scale either, although at the time I thought that's what it was. But it was my continuing to be disgusted with the shape my body was in, as in I was out of shape. I was exhausted. I was walking to the mailbox and feeling almost winded. I was sick of feeling that way. I wanted to get into shape for my health and for my system, not how I looked.
So, it struck me because I really hadn't been paying much attention to the actual size of my clothes. I just wore what fit. I know wedding gowns tend to run smaller, so it shocked me to hear those words even more, considering.
I suffer from this anorexia thing, I won't call it anoerxia because I don't have an eating disorder, I eat very healthy and get my nutrients and vitamins, but I ahve this imprinted image in my head, where I always SEE the fat me, ratehr than the body I've accomplished. In spite of all the weight loss and muscle tone, I still see myself negatively sometimes.
Our Anniversary 2015!
Well, today my mom and dad came to stay with us for the weekend and babysit the kids so Tim and I could go out for our Anniversary. I can't believe it's been 4 years already! It actually feels like it's been about 8, because so much has happened in these 4 years we have been together. We found our dream home, we had our beautiful kids, and we have finally decorated our home and gotten some other things accomplished as well.
Tim got me gorgeous flowers and a sweet card, I love them so much! He is always doing romantic things like this, even for no reason. He is such a sweet, thoughtful person and I am so lucky he is my husband :).
Tim took me to one of my favorite restaurants for a delicious dinner and some yummy wine, but, of course, being out of our normal daily routine, we missed the kids haha. It was still ncie to get out and enjoy time to ourselves though!
I had a delicious Steak toscano dinner and Tim had a steak alfredo dish that looked yummy! Afterward, we had one of my favorite desserts....
BLACK SILK TIE PIE!! :)
Tim got me gorgeous flowers and a sweet card, I love them so much! He is always doing romantic things like this, even for no reason. He is such a sweet, thoughtful person and I am so lucky he is my husband :).
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Dan Simmons, Drood and The Fifth Heart
I am a book junkie, I read so much it's actually an addiction. I never go a day without a book in this house. Even if I already have about five or six books to read, I get more. I always worry about not having something to read, and I always have plenty of "back ups" just in case one book doesn't turn out like I thought it would.
I absolutely love my local library. It is my refuge. Seriously.
While browsing the catalog one evening (they have this new feature on there, where you click on a favorite book you have read or want to read, something you find interesting, and it will automatically suggest others related to that genre or story line etc) and this is how I was introduced to the wonderful novels by Dan Simmons.
I just finished Drood by Dan Simmons and am sad it's over so soon.
This is the first book I've read by Dan Simmons but it certainly won't be the last. I was drawn to this particular book because of my love for the works of Charles Dickens, but I knew I had to read it after attending a book signing where Mr. Simmons talked about the book and its "unreliable" narrator, Wilkie Collins. I was not disappointed!
The richness and depth of Mr. Simmons research and prose is exquisite. It is the sort of book one must immerse one's self into. I nearly felt the stays of my Victorian corset poking my ribs it is so spectacularly reminiscent of the writing styles of the period. The story is redolent with details sorely missing from more modern twenty-first century works. I particularly like the way it left me with things to think about for days and days after reading the last pages. Each reader gets the ending they want, really. It's brilliant the way Simmons doesn't tell the reader the ending, but lets you imagine your ending. I would venture a guess that if you asked ten different people the ending, you would get then different answers. That, is true artistry.
Since I discovered Dan Simmons and his novels, reading Drood got me hooked. I love his style and how he puts a story together and how he lays out the events. Some people have said the books are too long. I disagree. I think for some that get into this book expecting a big edge-of-your-seat-thriller, they just go into it with the wrong expectations and feel let down once the story carries out into events that will only appear banal (but really aren't).
It's all in your expectations and how you approach this story. I can't say anything for his other novels, I am just starting the Fifth Heart tonight, and I am very excited for this story!
I will defintiely update whne I get further into it and, of couirse, after I finish it. :)
I absolutely love my local library. It is my refuge. Seriously.
While browsing the catalog one evening (they have this new feature on there, where you click on a favorite book you have read or want to read, something you find interesting, and it will automatically suggest others related to that genre or story line etc) and this is how I was introduced to the wonderful novels by Dan Simmons.
I just finished Drood by Dan Simmons and am sad it's over so soon.
This is the first book I've read by Dan Simmons but it certainly won't be the last. I was drawn to this particular book because of my love for the works of Charles Dickens, but I knew I had to read it after attending a book signing where Mr. Simmons talked about the book and its "unreliable" narrator, Wilkie Collins. I was not disappointed!
The richness and depth of Mr. Simmons research and prose is exquisite. It is the sort of book one must immerse one's self into. I nearly felt the stays of my Victorian corset poking my ribs it is so spectacularly reminiscent of the writing styles of the period. The story is redolent with details sorely missing from more modern twenty-first century works. I particularly like the way it left me with things to think about for days and days after reading the last pages. Each reader gets the ending they want, really. It's brilliant the way Simmons doesn't tell the reader the ending, but lets you imagine your ending. I would venture a guess that if you asked ten different people the ending, you would get then different answers. That, is true artistry.
Since I discovered Dan Simmons and his novels, reading Drood got me hooked. I love his style and how he puts a story together and how he lays out the events. Some people have said the books are too long. I disagree. I think for some that get into this book expecting a big edge-of-your-seat-thriller, they just go into it with the wrong expectations and feel let down once the story carries out into events that will only appear banal (but really aren't).
It's all in your expectations and how you approach this story. I can't say anything for his other novels, I am just starting the Fifth Heart tonight, and I am very excited for this story!
I will defintiely update whne I get further into it and, of couirse, after I finish it. :)
Good Riddance, Not-so-helpful Potty Training Book
It's another yucky, rainy day outside, cold and damp. I am grateful for the rain we are getting in spite of my kids' obvious boredom and the fact that their short attention spans are going to drive me crazy for the next week. (I say that with humor) in case someone reading this doesn't know me well enough to get my sarcasm or my humor.
Recently, I've begun the journey of potty training my boy. It's been pretty hectic these days with just that alone. It's just me doing it because my husband works long hours, by the time he comes home we have dinner and put the kids to bed and that's pretty much it. The kids go to bed by 7:30, so we get down time to ourselves at least, but the whole potty training thing has been insane, and I don't have anyone here helping me with it most of the time. If ever.
Don't misunderstand that last part. This isn't a rant or a vent. It's a simple fact. It's a part of my life that's been keeping me super busy and on my feet with a can of Lysol and a clean rag. Following a toddler around all day and sitting them on the potty isn't as easy as it sounds. It's very time consuming when you do this all yourself.
I bought (regrettably) this book called Potty Training Sucks! I thought it would be humorous, great. The book itself sucks more than the potty training, to be totally honest. For one thing, it's extremely contradictory, and in turn only renders it totally unhelpful and pointless to read.
The author drones on and on about hugs and kisses and praise not being enough to help your kid figure out using the potty is good. But turns around, in the same chapter, and starts bashing the parents who give their kid an M&M for using the potty and then says "hug them instead...." What a load of crap this book is!
Needless to say it went straight into the garbage. I wouldn't even give this book away to the Goodwill because why should another parent like me have to suffer while reading over such a stupid dialog of misinformation and bias?
The M&Ms and suckers have been working just fine, thank you very much.
If you let your kid be a kid, like, you know, be active enough, you shouldn't be too worried about them getting obese by eating a dum dum sucker. Or a skittle. I really hate that book.
So far I let the kid run around in sweatpants without a diaper. I tell him to go potty every 15-20 minutes, give or take. It's "working" but as far as him understanding to hold it before he gets to the potty is a whole other ball game entirely, and that I believe is the challenge here. Getting the kids to figure this part out can change the entire process of potty training. Once he gets this I think it should be smooth sailing (at least as smooth as it can get for the time being) rather than having accidents all day long, mommy cleaning up all the "accidents," plus taking care of the 1 year old crying child while potty training the other. Yes, parenthood is insanity.
But it's a good insanity, and it is one I would do all over again and again, because I love kids. I am definitely crazy! But I am a Virgo so it's kind of my department anyway ;)
Recently, I've begun the journey of potty training my boy. It's been pretty hectic these days with just that alone. It's just me doing it because my husband works long hours, by the time he comes home we have dinner and put the kids to bed and that's pretty much it. The kids go to bed by 7:30, so we get down time to ourselves at least, but the whole potty training thing has been insane, and I don't have anyone here helping me with it most of the time. If ever.
Don't misunderstand that last part. This isn't a rant or a vent. It's a simple fact. It's a part of my life that's been keeping me super busy and on my feet with a can of Lysol and a clean rag. Following a toddler around all day and sitting them on the potty isn't as easy as it sounds. It's very time consuming when you do this all yourself.
I bought (regrettably) this book called Potty Training Sucks! I thought it would be humorous, great. The book itself sucks more than the potty training, to be totally honest. For one thing, it's extremely contradictory, and in turn only renders it totally unhelpful and pointless to read.
The author drones on and on about hugs and kisses and praise not being enough to help your kid figure out using the potty is good. But turns around, in the same chapter, and starts bashing the parents who give their kid an M&M for using the potty and then says "hug them instead...." What a load of crap this book is!
Needless to say it went straight into the garbage. I wouldn't even give this book away to the Goodwill because why should another parent like me have to suffer while reading over such a stupid dialog of misinformation and bias?
The M&Ms and suckers have been working just fine, thank you very much.
If you let your kid be a kid, like, you know, be active enough, you shouldn't be too worried about them getting obese by eating a dum dum sucker. Or a skittle. I really hate that book.
So far I let the kid run around in sweatpants without a diaper. I tell him to go potty every 15-20 minutes, give or take. It's "working" but as far as him understanding to hold it before he gets to the potty is a whole other ball game entirely, and that I believe is the challenge here. Getting the kids to figure this part out can change the entire process of potty training. Once he gets this I think it should be smooth sailing (at least as smooth as it can get for the time being) rather than having accidents all day long, mommy cleaning up all the "accidents," plus taking care of the 1 year old crying child while potty training the other. Yes, parenthood is insanity.
But it's a good insanity, and it is one I would do all over again and again, because I love kids. I am definitely crazy! But I am a Virgo so it's kind of my department anyway ;)
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