Summer So Far

Hope you're having a great summer, so far.  Last week, our girl worked at a Summer XP club (half-days) with other teens from our church, so I had a busy week of getting her there & back each day.  Let me tell you... that made the week FLY by!

This week, she is on a high school church youth group discipleship trip to Estes Park, Colorado.  I don't mind telling you that I'm a little jealous.  The pictures that everyone is sharing are incredible.  I'm so excited for the relationships that they will be building, first and foremost with the LORD!

Back here at home, things are moving a little slower, and I'm trying to catch up, and get some things in order. Nothing major -- just stuff that get overlooked, and piles up or gets backlogged!

I recently read (and have heard before) that though this is the most photographed generation, people don't print photos as much as they used to.  Kind of makes me want to go on tour to promote Project Life - LOL. Speaking of which... I am caught up on my scrapbooks through Memorial Day weekend of this year.  So, one of the things that I need to work on is PRINTING photos that bring me up to date, and getting them in the scrapbook.

The other day, I purchased the Project Life "Fine & Dandy" core kit.  On the way home, I happened to think that there was some kind of contest related to this kit.  Later, I looked through the kit to see if I could find any indication, and was happy to see a golden ticket smiling up at me.  It entitles me to a limited edition value kit. What a nice surprise!

As I write this, it's raining.  Again.  Did I mention that it rained the entire week of the first Summer XP?  They worked around it, but still.  At this point, I'm getting kind of anxious for vacation.  I'd like to experience rain in another state, at the very least.  Ha!  How's that for positive thinking?  Seriously though, we always say that even if the weather doesn't cooperate for vacation, we are just happy to have a change of scenery and be in a place that we love.  Storms are always more interesting at the beach anyway!

Well, that's all for now.  Back to work!

Hope it's sunny wherever you are.

Life Un-blogged

Good Grief!  I've been living my life un-blogged for 3+ weeks.  What's the world coming to?  There was a day when one of those (a day) couldn't go by without me having something to say.  Lately, though, each day is so full of knowing I am right in the middle of where God wants me that there are no words at the end. (read: I collapse, exhausted.)

Also... if you follow Sasha @ LemonadeMakinMama, do you remember the day when she asked if Instagram had taken the place of blogging?  At the time, I didn't have an Instagram account, and (quite frankly) I was incredulous at what she was suggesting.

Today, I am here to tell you... Sasha knew what she was talking about.  I love documenting my days on Instagram with brief captions.  It only takes me a second.  So, long-story-short -- I would love it if you follow me there.  You can see my Instagram slideshow over there --> in my right side-bar, and if you would like to follow along, just click on this link:

https://instagram.com/sally.kelly/

and "FOLLOW."

My days of baby-rocking are quickly coming to a close for the season.  The summer will hopefully be more wide-open, and we are already planning for our summer vacation.  It's like a light at the end of a long winter tunnel!  My intention is to be more present here.  We'll see how that works out.

Praying that your heart will be fully engaged in this Easter weekend.  I will be rocking babies, serving dinner for 11, and remembering (with a grateful heart) the reason I am able to do all of this things.

If not for Christ on the cross...

Sunny Days Inspiration

SUNSHINE.  

I just googled and found out there is an average of 164 days of sunshine where I live.  164 out of 365.  That's only about 45% of the days in a typical year.  That puts our city at 44th of the list of the top 101 cities with the lowest average sunshine amount.  BOO.  Also - I just did all that MATH before 9:30AM.  If my calculations are wrong, don't tell me.  This is NOT a math blog - *wink.

Okay, so this is an average.  I get that.  That means there are some years where we have lots of sunshine, and other years... not so much.  Well, this has been one of those "not so much" years -- at least so far.  My south-bound mother teased me a little about my dismal outlook this year.  To that, I can only say, "Talk to the hand... You weren't LIVING it."  LOL.  Just teasin' ya back, Mom.  {By the way, nice tan!}

Anyways, I'm here to tell you that there have been a handful of sunshiny days in the last week or so, and... all record-making, taking, or breaking aside... I'll TAKE 'EM!

It was a dreary January, but as soon as the sunshine showed up, I felt like my brain was finally open for business.  I even went so far as to do a little crafting, resulting in some Valentine decor.  Kind of blew my own mind, since I've been in a long dry spell.

I also was inspired to do some picture-taking -- which I haven't done [just for fun] in a long time.  Most of the pics showed up on Instagram, as you know if you follow me there.  As usual, I'm way behind the curve when it comes to technology.  I've only recently "inherited" my daughter's old iPod.  It takes ridiculously crummy pictures, but I'm having fun with it nevertheless.  Someday, I will have something even "smarter."

But I digress.  

It took a fellow-blogger's comment to snap me out of the doldrums after THIS POST.  Amanda and I have become blogging buddies since we both participated in the "This Week in My Kitchen" bloghop.  She chided me, saying, "...really [pictures] are what jog our memories when we look back on life... TAKE MORE PICTURES, and stop wishing the winter away. ;)"

Thanks Amanda.  You were right.  {You can find Amanda's blog HERE.}

Picture-taking can really change your perspective on things.

The other day, I was downtown at a stop-light that was taking forever to change.  It was a beautiful sunny day, and all of a sudden it occurred to me that I might get an interesting "urban" shot of the red traffic light with the sunlight behind it.  So, instead of sitting at the red light tapping my fingers, I was taking pictures.  BOOM.  Perspective changed.

Try it.  You might be surprised.  Also: some of the best picture-taking happens on days without sun!  NO SHADOWS!

Don't forget: #LoveIsWorthCelebrating

Blessed Beyond Measure ~ Rockin' Babies

Yesterday, I sat in a room with four other ladies, and nine kiddos under the age of two.  [We don't always enjoy those great ratios!]  It was absolute bliss for me.  I was in my happy place.  Now, I know that lovin' on babies is not everyone's "thing" -- though it took me years to catch on to this.  Who doesn't love babies[?] was my thinking.

And then one day, I thanked a church high school department intern for loving on my kids through some hard years, and they said, "OhMyGosh - I SO LOVE working with high school students!!!!"  and I thought, "Wait. Seriously?  They LOVE it?  They're joking, right?"

Here's the thing... they weren't joking.  Just as I'm not joking when I tell you that it totally fills me up to the brim to love on these sweet little ones!  Better than that, I can tell you that the ages of about 6 months to 2 years are MY ZONE!

I have served in various ways through the years -- but when I am in THE ZONE and doing my best work -- I am rockin' the babies [as I like to call it].  I cannot even begin to tell you how freeing it is to know that -- to be able to say, "no" when something is not my strength, and to say "YES" to holding a little one for hours on end --which may or may not include things like lots of crying, and some changing, feeding, or putting to sleep.

And another thing I've learned about baby-lovin'... You're really doing double duty!  Usually, when you are loving on babies, you are allowing their mamas to be doing something that they WANT to do, you know... as in FREE TIME.  Bonus, right?  I have met some of the most delightful mamas just because I have loved their babies!  Big, big bonus for me too!

I'm so thankful for days like yesterday!

#DeclanLoganLockeCalvinMatthewZekeLeoJudeanddontforgetAudreyJan27TimeOutForMoms

Friday Farrago ~ 1.16.15

Have you ever found yourself at a loss for words? -- specifically BLOGGING words?

I am SO THERE right now.  I am at a blogging low.  I long to post something... anything... to be present here, but people: I got nothin'.

In case you're wondering what I've been up to instead of blogging, I've been:
* drinking hot tea
* wishing the winter away
* rubbing my hands together to keep warm
* circling scarves infinitively around my neck, indoors and out
* trying to keep up with the laundry
* NOT taking pictures
* watching my hubby can applesauce
* wishing for sunshine
* working on Project Life scrapbooks for a friend
* waiting for the sun to come out, so I can take some indoor pictures
* staying home because things have been cancelled
* wishing the winter away again [and again]
* drinking more hot tea
* NOT being creative & wondering where those creative juices have gone this year?
* still drinking out of Christmas mugs
* watching my hubby can MORE applesauce
* finally putting the Christmas mugs & all of the other Christmas stragglers away
* having a friend over for lunch
* baking bread in the bread machine -- though I want to try THIS METHOD!

and last but not least:

* thinking about making a Valentine wreath for my front porch, but haven't gotten to the store for those specific supplies yet

What's new with YOU this Friday?
TGIF ~ and have a great weekend!

Life... an Occasion!

"I've been here, there, and everywhere," wrote one of my favorite bloggers, and I thought how lovely that sounded, and how I would like to write that to you and tell you of the places I've been that have kept me from being here.

But, in my case, that's only wishful thinking.  What's really been happening is that I have a few too many irons in the fire [plus, add a few "irons" that are only roadblocks in my own mind], a tad of allergy-or-something-crud that has been trying to beat me down for a few weeks, and we have been [until last Thursday] "one car down" from our usual parking lot -- causing us to be running here and there a little bit more than usual to accommodate everyone's work schedules.

I've got a few items that I really and truly just need to check off on my December calendar before I can move forward.  I have to say, this makes the rest of the month [and Christmas shopping] feel a little like the proverbial "other shoe" waiting to drop.

And then, a few days ago, when I least expected it (snuggled on the couch watching "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium"), I heard this:

"Your life is an occasion.  Rise to it!"

Rise to it.  Meet the challenge, in other words.

So, I am really trying.  Also, trying not to let that "dangling shoe dread" get to me -- because that's not usually my style.

Baby steps.

The tree is up, thanks to my girl.  It is as lit as it's gonna get, and I'm good with that.  I am reminding myself - as should you - that comparison is the thief of JOY.  My house at Christmas is not now, nor will it ever be the same as anyone else's house at Christmas.  We each do what works for us, and at our own pace.

Right now, that = one lit-only Christmas tree + simple holiday decor -- and JOY. [*wink]  This year, I have really let the decorations lead me instead of me leading the decorations.  I used to decorate for Christmas by pulling everything out of the storage boxes and finding a place for it.  NO MORE.  Now, I only grab what speaks to me, and usually I have already planned a place for it.  I've been waiting for a bright-shiny day to take some pictures around here, but that just hasn't happened.  This week promises to be a little slower schedule-wise, and so I'm hoping for that sun.

In the meantime, I'd like to recommend these great blog posts by some of my favs.  They'll help you keep things in perspective  -- you know, just in case the season is getting a little out of control for you.

*When You Need to UnDecorate for Christmas

* The show must go on. But at what cost?

On Having Homebody-itis (A Slice of Life)

Wow, so... those of you who stop in here regularly may have thought I'd fallen off the face of the earth.  No worries.  I'm alive and well.

Since my last post I've been pretty busy.  I've been spending lots of hours in the church nursery for another year of babysitting for English classes, young mother's club, Biblestudies, and date nights.  It's such a JOY to spend time with these little ones!  I usually am caring for children birth through 2 years.  It is quite an amazing thing to strike up little friendships with them --while still maintaining a sense of authority over them (you know, all in the name of keeping a room full of babies happy and well-cared-for for a few hours!)

Though we have LOTS of fun, I find myself falling back on much of what I learned years ago while earning my degree in Family and Child Development.  It would be a shame not to use our time wisely with these little ones, so don't let them get away with any bad behavior.  We encourage "please" and "thank you," sharing, and all that other good stuff that the mommies would want us to encourage.  Granted, sharing is not something these little ones are good at yet, but we talk the talk so it all becomes a familiar thing to them.

Can I share a fun little scenario with you?  One of my best little buddies was recently babbling loudly and insistently at me about something that he wanted -- namely another snack cracker.  I fully knew that this is what he wanted, but encouraging him to channel his frustration, I said, "Use your words."  This little guy isn't super-verbal yet {at least not in a way that I can often understand}, so I knew this would be a challenge for him.  Never the less, I wanted to plant the idea in his head.  You know what he did?  With his little toddler hands, he SIGNED "more."  JUST THINK ABOUT THAT.  In his little not-even-two head, he made the connection between me saying "words," and the way he knew to express what he wanted -- through sign language.  Brilliant, right?

Some of the little ones that I care for don't even know English, or have it spoken to them at home.  In fact, they are with us so that their parents can attend English classes!  What a challenge it is to look into these precious faces, and attempt to comfort them in a language that is not their own!  It can be an emotional time, and I often leave feeling so helpless.  It's amazing, though, how God rewards our efforts, as our friendships with these little ones continues.

Usually by day three, I am thinking that I cannot take one more step in the direction of babies, but out I go again.  When I return home, I crash, knowing that Thursday and Friday are MINE ALL MINE.  Oh, please don't think I'm being too selfish -- they are only MINE for completing laundry that has been waiting for me, and grocery shopping that has yet to be done.  In between errands, I enjoy this home that we have been blessed with.  How good it is to just BE here.

By Saturday, I am already looking forward to spending time in the nursery on Sunday morning -- and my week starts all over again.

It's so hard to believe that I have already been babysitting for three weeks, and my daughter has a month of school completed!  The time has flown!!!  Mind you, none of this is a complaint -- I am simply incredulous over the passing of time!

It's always so good to get grounded again at home, and to be reminded of the simple pleasures that we enjoy here.  As I sit here at my computer, I enjoy the sun streaming through the kitchen window.  Looking out to the patio, I see a web glinting with dew as it swings between two chairs.  It's a reminder that the patio has gone long-unused as days have gotten cooler and schedules have gotten tighter.

Squirrels scamper back and forth on the patio burying things in my potted plants.  I'm always amazed when I find them later.  

The crickets sing wildly -- louder than any birds today.

The bunnies have been scarce.  They seem to have been replaced by a groundhog and a skunk.  Ummm, not my favorite.  Doesn't exactly make a girl want to get out and weed the garden or anything.

Inside the house, things are cozying up.  I've been burning Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin candles, and am loving this fragrance from Bath & Body Works.  I might have to go stock up on some more, as these will never get me through the fall.

Today, I celebrate twenty-two years married to this guy.

While life hasn't always been easy, and we have dealt with our share of "stuff" -- I can't imagine sharing the load with anyone else!  I'm thankful every day for him.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing a slice of life with me.  If you are a homebody like I am, I hope you get to enjoy your own little slice of home today!

Hibiscus Update, and a New School Year!

We interrupt the usual Project Life Monday blog post pattern to bring you this Hibiscus update.  Also... I was lazy this weekend, and didn't get to take any new photos for a Project Life Update.  Stay tuned... hopefully tomorrow.

You might remember that I told you about our first Hibiscus blossom HERE,  and I marked the date for future reference.  I was pretty excited when that first bloom popped open, and I promised to show you more... when they opened.  It's been chilly around here this summer -- and I think they were waiting for a warmer day -- which we've had a few of lately, so... without further adieu...

I love these crinkly crepe-paper like petals!

This one was not taken to give me any bragging rights.  It's only so that I have a measure, year to year of how big these blooms get.

The intricate centers are amazing!

Well, it's back to school today.  This year our daughter is attending the local Career Center during the first half of the day, and then, will catch a bus back to the high school for her core classes in the afternoon. This particular week, that means half days until Wednesday, when she will participate as a mentor in freshman activities during the afternoon hours.  On Thursday her real full-day schedule begins.  

Around here, the anxiety has been building.

We are anxious to get "firsts" behind us.

Weekend Review, and the Best Phone Call EVer!

The garage sale is over.  What was I thinking?  It was a lot of work... the most stress the first day when we just didn't know what to expect.  Easier the second day -- but then a whole lot of work cleaning up.  With the exception of a handful of things that we still think we can get some money for, we loaded up two vans and drove straight to Goodwill.  BIG PURGE!!  Oh, that was absolutely the right thing to do -- while our momentum was in full swing!  If we had waited, there's no telling when it would've gotten there.

My sweet hubby and daughter located all of the garage sale signs and removed them, and we took them to the recycle place in our township -- along with our tub of paper recyclables that was full to overflowing from all of the garage sale activity!  Boom.  Killed two birds with one road trip -- so to speak.

We didn't make lots of money -- but I have a little more than I did last Thursday.

We managed to have everything that was for sale out in the driveway so that it was more visible from the street.  As we sat in the garage visiting [and waiting for more shoppers] -- other items would pop into my head, and I would run to find and price them.

Such was the case with my kids' baby bassinet.  There it sat on the top shelf in the garage... wrapped in double layers of large, strong, black trash bags and [practically] hermetically sealed with duct tape!  I pulled it down and ripped through the bags to find a 20-year-old, like-new baby bassinet!  Perfect.  Not yellowed, and only a little dust that flew in when I opened the packaging.  I cleaned that up, and put a price sticker on it -- and wouldn't you know?  Somebody snapped it up for their step-daughter who was having a baby soon!  I'm so glad it will be put to good use!!  Makes me happier than having it sit on the shelf wrapped up, that's for sure!

It also makes me happy to have my basement cleaned out, my garage back, my van cleaned out, and to be getting things back in order around the house.  I think that thoughts of this garage sale will haunt me for a very long time.  Not the garage sale itself, mind you.  It was fun to hang out with my family for two days.  But... it was [after all] the culmination of too much saving and holding onto stuff -- and I want to avoid that like the plague!

Speaking of happy...  I put some pictures of the stuff we were selling up on Facebook for local friends to see. So, from time to time over the weekend, I checked Facebook to see if there were any comments.  Yes, one friend asked me to hold something for her!  Anyway, as I scrolled through my newsfeed, I spotted this post from a friend.  It made us all laugh so hard, and I asked her if I could share it with you.  Thanks SUSAN! You're the best!

____________________

So, every time I am on the phone...my parrot mimics my entire conversation. So today, I received a unlisted number with a sales call...and decided to let the parrot talk with them.

Ring...ring...ring

Hawkeye: Hello...
Salesperson: Hello, m'am, I am calling today about the....
Hawkeye: Hello?
Salesperson: Hello, m'am, I am calling today about the....
Hawkeye: ok...ok...ok...you'll be fine...
Salesperson: umm....what was that?
Hawkeye: uh huh...ok...who are you?
Salesperson: this is Sam from the....
Hawkeye: ok...ok...uh huh...do you want a coffee?
Salesperson: ummm...what ?
Hawkeye: Hawkeye want a cookie? Hawkeye want a coffee?
Salesperson: hey guys, I think I am talking to a parrot...I'm putting it on speaker phone...
Hawkeye: Who are you? I know who I am. Do you want a coffee? Do you want some? Is that good? 
Salesperson: oh my gosh...a talking parrot...this is great (much laughter from other sales people on the speaker phone)
Hawkeye: ok...uh huh...hurry up, Allayna...let's go. Tommy, laundry !!! Hey dad....mom...mom...mom...hey mom. Bye Bye...you'll be fine. 
Salesperson: (laughter, laughter, laughter, laughter) Hey thanks man, this was the best phone call ever !!!!!

A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood

Morning Friends.  I'm running late today.  My girl is off in Chicago-land, and my hubby and son are on the late(r) shift today, so I slept in a little later than usual.  A treat!

If you have a minute today and would pray... Please pray for my daughter.  Her assignment in Chicago shifted at the last minute from VBS with kids to helping out at a facility for disabled adults.  I believe it's a "daycare" facility.  While I know she will do well, the text she sent me was filled with doubt and uncertainty.  New ground.

And speaking of a beautiful day in the neighborhood (title reference)... why, YES!  It is.  AC is off, doors and windows are open, and the birds are singing a happy song this morning.  While I am a huge fan of AC for those steamy summer days, there is NOTHING, NOTHING like the smell of fresh air, and the sound of the outdoors filtering through the rooms of our home.  It gives a totally different tone to the day for me.

I have big plans for this week!  Time to get all of those garage sale items priced.  Today might be just the day to get started if the temps aren't too overwhelming.

I'm also hoping to get lots of scrapbooking done this week.  BECKY HIGGINS had a bunch of her Project Life products on sale over the weekend, and I took advantage of that.  Moving forward, I'm planning to switch over to Project Life rather than the more traditional method of scrapbooking which I've been using since... my daughter was a baby... about 16 years!  That method served me well, but the truth is that I've been getting more and more behind!  Since becoming a blogger, the more time-consuming "traditional scrapbooking ways" just don't seem to suit me as much.  In a way... blogging has becoming a new form of "scrapbooking" our life.  I do still enjoy the physical albums to look back on though -- so I want to continue in some form of scrapbooking.  While stores close, and supplies seem to become more limited... Project Life is just getting started, so I'm confident I'll be able to use this system for a long while -- particularly if I stay tuned for Becky's sales!

You've heard me talk about Project Life before.  Remember my Disney album from our big Disney trip for my parents' 50th Anniversary Celebration?

Also, you can read more about Project Life HERE.

Well, that's all for now.  I'm hoping my "late start" won't mess me up too much, since the guys will both be working late today as well.  Hoping for a productive day.

Is your neighborhood beautiful today?

Things to Recycle (Paper)

I imagine that in this day and age, most of you recycle on some level.  I have for a long time.  I wrote a little about it HERE.  I'm sure that there are people who take it far more seriously than I do...  but maybe some of you are like me...  Honestly, sometimes I throw something away and think... hmmmm, wonder why I've never thought to recycle THAT?

So, here's my random list of things that I've learned to recycle.

• prescription bags and info sheets
• labels from canned food -- I remove them before opening the can, so they don't get messy
• paper towel and toilet paper tubes -- I slice them open to flatten
• paper (not foam) egg cartons
• tissue boxes
• toothpaste boxes
• phone books -- we got one in our mailbox the other day, and it went straight to the recycle pile.  I can't remember the last time I used a phone book!

How about you?  What "random" things have you learned to recycle?

My BLOGGING "Get Up'n Go..."

You guessed it...

It got up'n went.

I am great.  We are well.  Everyone's doing okay.  It's just that, well... I haven't had too much spring-time inspiration or stuff to share, so I've been mostly silent.

~~~~~~~~~~

I enjoyed THREE mornings of baby-rocking this week.  THREE.  And they were the best.  One little "international" toddler made his (English) ABC sounds for us out of a clear blue sky while he looked at a book -- and it rocked my socks off.  Another, who usually insists on being held (not that we mind) decided to play happily alongside a little girl who is exactly the same age -- and she has a more familiar face than me.  She comes from the place he came from.  Yet another (who knows me well) signaled that he wanted to come up in my arms.  And while I was a little cocky at the thought of how much he might love me, he looked at me with his big brown eyes and said,

"Cheer-o's?"

The sweet little dumplin' wanted CHEERIOS to munch on.  But he still melts my heart, because when I said, "Where do you sit?"  he knew that the answer was "high chair!" -- to be isolated from other munchies that he is allergic to.

Again I tell you... those baby-rockin' mornings are THE BEST.

~~~~~~~~~~

It is a GORgeous sunshine-y [yes, still cold] day around here, after yesterday's rain-turned-to-snowin' & blowin' that amounted to about an inch (maybe ) around us.  I am at the point where I have vowed to not let the weather dictate what kind of day I'm going to have.  There's a little preachin' that goes on in my head each morning (you know with a weather man on one shoulder, and a halo-ed good guy on the other).  NO!  I will not let the weather reports make or break me.  SPRING WILL COME -- all in it's own good time, and according to God's plan -- just like every year.

~~~~~~~~~~

I have recently been reading THE BLOG of a sweet mama whose 4-year-old (identical twin) son has a brain tumor.  Her family is really in the throes of it, as you can imagine -- and yet her words are inspiring TO ME, who is just living the daily.

God has always given us more than we deserve. As a Christian, we acknowledge the fact that we are sinners, saved by grace. If it weren't for the sacrifice God made in sending his only and perfect son to die, we would have been doomed to hell. God created a way for us to live. To prosper. To have Hope.

She continues:

I am a sinner. I do my best to follow God's Word. To live my life in a way that would please Him. But I don't deserve anything good that happens to me. It's only because of God's grace. His wonderful grace, that He extended to me simply because I asked.


How's that for inspiring?  God has given her a level of peace that passes all understanding, and SHE is still inspiring those she comes in contact with by her faith!  If you are so inclined, I'd ask that you'd pray for this sweet family -- that God's grace would continue to abound in their lives -- and in the life of their son, Ben.

~~~~~~~~~~

Today, Jill shared a picture on facebook with this quote: "Miserable people focus on the things they hate about their life.  Happy people focus on the things they love about their life."  LOVE that!

I hope that somehow today, you feel inspired and thankful, and are able to focus on the things that you LOVE about your life!

Have a beautiful day!  xo

(Winter) Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away

Christmas is long over, and our family is [for the most part] long past the days of TOYS at Christmastime.

It's a bright, sunny, and cold morning.  As I'm sitting at the kitchen table reading some blogs, the sun streams through the sliding glass door meeting our homemade suncatcher in it's path.  It brings a smile to my face as I recall our Christmas morning, and the kitchen "toy" my hubby received.

You see, this year for Christmas, my sweet hubby wanted... a mandolin slicer.  And so, on Christmas morning, after all of the gifts were opened, and everyone began the serious business of checking out their goodies, our girl made her way to the kitchen with Daddy's new mandolin.

Slowly and carefully (man, the blades are SHARP!) she cut an orange into thin, thin slices.  She sprinkled some spices on each slice, and baked them on a cookie sheet at a low heat until they were dried out.

As I write this, the morning is snowless, with green-ish grass and leftover leaves whirling in the breeze.  Though all of the Christmas decorations are long-since stored away, I am sitting here with a smile on my face remembering our Christmas morning... and the slicing of an orange.

Tag! (and a fail)

I failed to make a tag before I took pictures and showed you my Memory Jar.  I mean... I don't want this jar to sit on a shelf unidentified and FORGOTTEN!!  Afterall, that was the original problem, right? Forgetting?!

A favorite tag template, some cardstock, scrapbook paper, and twine, and Taa-Daa!

Now I won't forget to remember.

I'm excited to think what little memory nuggets I might be adding after my trip!

Did You Know? (Cleaning Sneakers)

If you were ever a cheerleader [or if you just get out more than I do], you've probably heard of this trick.  I, on the other hand, only learned of it recently.  My daughter told me it is the way her friend keeps the toes of her Converse so sparkly white, and I said, "Who knew?"  Do YOU know the secret?


BEFORE                                                                                                   AFTER

   

Well, for the other three of you who don't know, I'm going to spill the beans.

Rubbing alcohol, and a small amount of elbow grease really help clean up those grayed scuffed-up areas.

I toyed with the idea of running out to buy a new pair of sneakers before my trip.  I don't really need them... it's just that mine were looking a little, well, less than white.  I think my next pair will be colorful, but for now, this is what I've got, and I'd just as soon not spend the money before I go.  [Plus the whole no-spend January and all... doing good so far!]  So, I decided to put the rubbing alcohol secret to the test.  Mind you, it didn't make my sneakers new again, but... it did freshen them up -- and that's enough for right now.  Less money spent before the trip = more money to take ON the trip.  Get it?  [Oh, I knew you would my savvy readers!]

The picture below shows a cleaner shoe on the left, and an untouched one on the right.  Compare the areas I've pointed to, and perhaps you'll see a clearer difference than in the shots above.

Rubbing alcohol.  It's a good thing.

Being Smart About Leftovers (and a semi-homemade meat-sauce recipe)

Since I'm hitting the road for a special trip in a few days, I'm trying to be smart with our recent leftovers. Though my hubby is a great cook, he isn't into the routine of preparing dinner every night.  A few nights of leftovers might come in handy while I'm gone.

Some of our dinners are delicious as leftovers.  Others, not so much.  Some are easy re-dos at home, but would never "fly" in a lunch-box.  To get the biggest bang for my buck, I try not to just "auto-pilot" our leftovers straight into the refrigerator.  Instead, I like to think about how they are likely to be used.

• Will the leftovers be used for packed lunches?  If so, take the time after dinner to divide them up into plastic containers that will fit in lunch-bags/boxes.
• Will the leftovers need to be reheated in a double-boiler?  I like chicken casseroles reheated this way, as I think the microwave tends to make reheated chicken taste like rubber.  If you will reheat this way, you might think about a larger plastic container that will hold all of the leftovers until it's time for the double-boiler.
• Will the leftovers be reheated in the microwave?  If so, you might want to transfer leftovers immediately to a microwaveable container to save having to do it later.
• Is it likely that the leftovers will be used within the next few days?  If not, consider freezing.  A great example of this for our family is spaghetti sauce*.  I have a standard sauce I make, and it's always way more than we need for one dinner, but... I've learned that nobody is likely to want it again the next day.  Rather than let it go to waste waiting in the fridge, I've learned to freeze the remaining sauce immediately after dinner.  It's always enough for a second round for our family, and I try to take advantage of it on a day when I don't have time to cook.
• Regardless of how the leftovers will be used, don't refrigerate in cooking pans.  There are two reasons for this.  The cooking pans take up more room in the fridge than stackable plastic containers -and- you will likely need those pans in a day or two.  You might as well clean them out and wash them up sooner rather than later.
• Remember the rules about freezing meat.  Never freeze raw or cooked meat twice.  I've heard that this is really more of a quality issue than a safety issue as I'd originally thought.  Either way, I'm not willing to take the chance.

What are your best leftover tips?

Since I mentioned it above, I thought I'd share the easy-peasy recipe for our family's favorite meat-sauce.  I guess it would fall into the "semi-homemade" category.  It's just the right combination of flavors and spice for us.  If you're curious about the addition of tomato paste, we like how it thickens up the sauce.

* Our Favorite Meat-Sauce for Spaghetti

1 lb. ground round

1 can  Hunts "traditional" spaghetti sauce (26.5 oz.)

1  can tomato paste (6 oz.)

1-2 cloves garlic, crushed

Brown ground round, and drain off the grease.  Add spaghetti sauce, tomato paste, and garlic.  Mix well, cook over medium-high heat until bubbly, and then simmer a while longer.  The longer you let it simmer, the more delicious it becomes!

Look At The Birds!

Yesterday, as I was pulling out of the garage, I noticed these sweet little footprints in the light snow that had fallen overnight.  Perfect little impressions.  A reminder to me of God's care... for some of the littlest of his creation -- and for ME.

"Look at the birds of the air;

they do not sow or reap or stow away in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Matthew 6:26 NIV