I love my friend Peggy. She's amazingly talented and creative, though she says otherwise (she lies, but only about this). She posted this challenge and since I like free stuff, and Peggy's great at personal gifts, well, there ya go.
"Here's how it works: The first five people to leave me a comment get something made by me just for them. It can be anything I want, I get to choose. It can be silly or serious, edible or not, but don't plan on anything alive. There are a few rules involved (aren't there always?)
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It will be done sometime this year (Don't expect grand things if it takes a long time. I'm just lazy!).
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. (The choice is mine! --insert evil laugh here--)
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange and/or silly.
The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they've posted on their blog win a hand made, super creative, possibly lovely whatever in the heck I decide! Be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!"
I copied this EXACTLY from Peggy's blog. I'm not even sure I have 5 people reading my blog, but here it is! LOL!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Things I've Discovered on this Fast
It's day 15 and I've done really well. I haven't cheated, not even ONCE! I'm pretty proud of that. I don't know if I've lost any weight as I haven't stepped on the Wii Fit in a few days, but my jeans are looser, so that's something.
What have I learned?
1. I could never be vegan. I haven't missed meat all that much, but I could not live without cheese!
2. Who knew that the big temptation would be hot wings from Costco, purchased and cooked for the Super Bowl?! Very nearly the death of me.
3. My family LIKES veggies. I know this because they keep stealing the veggie entrees I make for myself and serve as a side dish for them. I make something, thinking there'll be leftovers for me to eat for lunch and the pigs eat my food!
4. I like hummus, in nearly all of it's varieties.
5. I do miss my Pepsi, though.
6. This style of eating takes some effort, and frankly, I'm tired of it! I can't just "grab and go" for breakfast. I have to really think about lunches, and dinner is almost more work than I'm willing to do.
7. Restaurants do have lots of options, if you know where to look. McD's and Burger King, yeah, not so much. But, Cafe Rio has a bean/rice/cheese burrito that I could eat on a whole wheat tortilla and minus the cheese. It was really good. Crown Burger's veggie burger (minus bun) is pretty good, and California Pizza Kitchen has lots of salads that are yummy!
I've even inspired my neighbor, who did do his own Daniel fast. He informed me that he would be refraining from eating both Daniels and lions for 21 days! ROFL! But, he's also, for the month of February, given up his favorite computer game. I'm impressed!
What have I learned?
1. I could never be vegan. I haven't missed meat all that much, but I could not live without cheese!
2. Who knew that the big temptation would be hot wings from Costco, purchased and cooked for the Super Bowl?! Very nearly the death of me.
3. My family LIKES veggies. I know this because they keep stealing the veggie entrees I make for myself and serve as a side dish for them. I make something, thinking there'll be leftovers for me to eat for lunch and the pigs eat my food!
4. I like hummus, in nearly all of it's varieties.
5. I do miss my Pepsi, though.
6. This style of eating takes some effort, and frankly, I'm tired of it! I can't just "grab and go" for breakfast. I have to really think about lunches, and dinner is almost more work than I'm willing to do.
7. Restaurants do have lots of options, if you know where to look. McD's and Burger King, yeah, not so much. But, Cafe Rio has a bean/rice/cheese burrito that I could eat on a whole wheat tortilla and minus the cheese. It was really good. Crown Burger's veggie burger (minus bun) is pretty good, and California Pizza Kitchen has lots of salads that are yummy!
I've even inspired my neighbor, who did do his own Daniel fast. He informed me that he would be refraining from eating both Daniels and lions for 21 days! ROFL! But, he's also, for the month of February, given up his favorite computer game. I'm impressed!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Bubbling emotions
I've been listening to my new MP3 player today as I puttered around the house, tidying up the ever-present crap my kids (and, in all honesty, myself) leave around waiting for the cleaning fairy to take care of. A couple of songs in and I found myself in tears....
The song was "The Warrior is a Child" by Twila Paris. The lyrics that really got me were practically the first ones out of her mouth:
"Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears
They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child"
People are sometimes surprised at how strong I am. They tell me that I'm a strong mom for taking care of Tristan and his hearing issues and his diabetes. I really don't understand that. I don't FEEL strong. I feel scared, and weak, and sometimes absolutely broken-hearted for my baby. I would do ANYTHING if I could take his burdens as my own. I would gladly, without a second thought, take on his diabetes, and I would do it with joy for him. It's just WRONG for him to suffer with this. WRONG. I'm his mother. *I'm* supposed to take these things on so that he doesn't have to. I'm supposed to protect him.
But I can't protect him from this. I can't take it away. I can't kiss it and make it better. All I can do is take his hand, hold him close and let him know that I would if I could. He was rather astounded by that, honestly.
People tell me I'm strong. I know that. I discovered an inner core of strength years ago, one that I treasure, but it's something I want to put on a shelf. I want to leave it there, knowing it's there if I need it, but hoping that I'll never need it. I don't WANT to be strong, damn it! I want to curl into a ball and cry until I have no more tears to shed.
But my babies need me. They need me to hold it together. I simply don't have the luxury of a nervous breakdown. So, I guess, that makes me strong? But, really, I don't get it. I'm a MOTHER. This is what mother's DO. We do what we need to so that our children are cared for and loved and all of that.
And, yet, deep inside that armor, this mommy is a child.
The song was "The Warrior is a Child" by Twila Paris. The lyrics that really got me were practically the first ones out of her mouth:
"Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears
They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child"
People are sometimes surprised at how strong I am. They tell me that I'm a strong mom for taking care of Tristan and his hearing issues and his diabetes. I really don't understand that. I don't FEEL strong. I feel scared, and weak, and sometimes absolutely broken-hearted for my baby. I would do ANYTHING if I could take his burdens as my own. I would gladly, without a second thought, take on his diabetes, and I would do it with joy for him. It's just WRONG for him to suffer with this. WRONG. I'm his mother. *I'm* supposed to take these things on so that he doesn't have to. I'm supposed to protect him.
But I can't protect him from this. I can't take it away. I can't kiss it and make it better. All I can do is take his hand, hold him close and let him know that I would if I could. He was rather astounded by that, honestly.
People tell me I'm strong. I know that. I discovered an inner core of strength years ago, one that I treasure, but it's something I want to put on a shelf. I want to leave it there, knowing it's there if I need it, but hoping that I'll never need it. I don't WANT to be strong, damn it! I want to curl into a ball and cry until I have no more tears to shed.
But my babies need me. They need me to hold it together. I simply don't have the luxury of a nervous breakdown. So, I guess, that makes me strong? But, really, I don't get it. I'm a MOTHER. This is what mother's DO. We do what we need to so that our children are cared for and loved and all of that.
And, yet, deep inside that armor, this mommy is a child.
25 Random Things About Me
This is all the rage around Facebook, so I thought I'd post it here too.
1. I've been tagged for this by at least 4 people, and probably more. I must be popular, right?
2. My dad is a retired professor of Veterinary Medicine and a vet.
3. My sister is my best friend.
4. I LOVE to read fantasy novels, particularly Mercedes Lackey.
5. I actually love all kinds of books, except gory murder mysteries and overly fluffy stuff.
6. I'm a third generation teacher.
7. My youngest child was a surprise to everyone but God, and I'm so glad I have her!
8. She's named after Bruce and I. His middle name is Alan and mine is Louise, so she's Alana Louise, pronounced a-LAY-na.
9. Our African Senegal (medium-sized parrot) landed in our backyard one September day a few years ago.
10. I caught him, fed him, and placed the "found" ad, but no one claimed him, so here he lives. And he hates me!
11. I'm so addicted to scrapbooking that I became a "dealer" (Creative Memories) to support my "habit!"
12. I have a hard time with digital stuff like pictures and music. If I can't touch it, is it real?
13. I record a bunch of shows and then watch them on my laptop while scrapping, sewing, or cleaning.
14. NCIS is my favorite show.
15. Tony Hillerman's death last fall made me very very sad (He was a writer of mysteries set on the Navajo reservation).
16. I spent a month in France as an exchange student the summer after I graduated from high school.
17. I've mostly forgotten how to speak French.
18. I'm a bleeding-heart, tree-hugging liberal.
19. My biggest pet peeve is GOSSIP! And I define gossip to be anything spoken about someone that you wouldn't say to their face, true or not.
20. I would love to write a book someday, or maybe publish some poems, but I struggle to find the time to put pen to paper.
21. I also struggle to believe that anyone would want to hear what I have to say.
22. I never planned to be a SAHM, but now I wouldn't change it for the world.
23. I miss teaching, though.
24. I found out in December just how many people love and care for me and my family. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring from friends near and far when Tristan was in the hospital.
25. I'm still in awe of that.
1. I've been tagged for this by at least 4 people, and probably more. I must be popular, right?
2. My dad is a retired professor of Veterinary Medicine and a vet.
3. My sister is my best friend.
4. I LOVE to read fantasy novels, particularly Mercedes Lackey.
5. I actually love all kinds of books, except gory murder mysteries and overly fluffy stuff.
6. I'm a third generation teacher.
7. My youngest child was a surprise to everyone but God, and I'm so glad I have her!
8. She's named after Bruce and I. His middle name is Alan and mine is Louise, so she's Alana Louise, pronounced a-LAY-na.
9. Our African Senegal (medium-sized parrot) landed in our backyard one September day a few years ago.
10. I caught him, fed him, and placed the "found" ad, but no one claimed him, so here he lives. And he hates me!
11. I'm so addicted to scrapbooking that I became a "dealer" (Creative Memories) to support my "habit!"
12. I have a hard time with digital stuff like pictures and music. If I can't touch it, is it real?
13. I record a bunch of shows and then watch them on my laptop while scrapping, sewing, or cleaning.
14. NCIS is my favorite show.
15. Tony Hillerman's death last fall made me very very sad (He was a writer of mysteries set on the Navajo reservation).
16. I spent a month in France as an exchange student the summer after I graduated from high school.
17. I've mostly forgotten how to speak French.
18. I'm a bleeding-heart, tree-hugging liberal.
19. My biggest pet peeve is GOSSIP! And I define gossip to be anything spoken about someone that you wouldn't say to their face, true or not.
20. I would love to write a book someday, or maybe publish some poems, but I struggle to find the time to put pen to paper.
21. I also struggle to believe that anyone would want to hear what I have to say.
22. I never planned to be a SAHM, but now I wouldn't change it for the world.
23. I miss teaching, though.
24. I found out in December just how many people love and care for me and my family. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring from friends near and far when Tristan was in the hospital.
25. I'm still in awe of that.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Success!
I made vegetable broth! Without a recipe or much guidance (my cookbook only does meat broths)! But, I winged it (wung it?) and it turned out pretty good! I threw in just about every veggie I had in the fridge, except the cucumbers which somehow didn't seem like a good idea in there.....
Anyway, I put in:
1 onion, chunked
2 potatos
1 large handful of baby carrots
2 small zucchini, chunked
4 stalks of celery
4 cloves of garlic (at least)
12 crimini mushrooms, chunked
1 t salt
I probably had about 8 cups of water in there, maybe more? Then I got it boiling and let it cook for 6 hours or so, covered. And guess what? It's GOOD! Heck, I've had chicken broth turn out weaker than this stuff. Now I'm using some of it to make some veggie rice soup for dinner for me. I really could drink this, just as it is. Of course, I've got a cold and a sore throat, so maybe that's why I want to dump it in a mug, curl up with a book and just veg (with my veg-broth! *giggle*)
Anyway, I put in:
1 onion, chunked
2 potatos
1 large handful of baby carrots
2 small zucchini, chunked
4 stalks of celery
4 cloves of garlic (at least)
12 crimini mushrooms, chunked
1 t salt
I probably had about 8 cups of water in there, maybe more? Then I got it boiling and let it cook for 6 hours or so, covered. And guess what? It's GOOD! Heck, I've had chicken broth turn out weaker than this stuff. Now I'm using some of it to make some veggie rice soup for dinner for me. I really could drink this, just as it is. Of course, I've got a cold and a sore throat, so maybe that's why I want to dump it in a mug, curl up with a book and just veg (with my veg-broth! *giggle*)
Monday, January 19, 2009
Since the rest of the family has to eat.....
Here's my menu for the next two weeks. I've included my meals where I can:
Monday--Manwich
Tuesday--BBQ Ribs in the crock pot (soup for me?)
Wednesday--Chicken Fajitas (mine will just be sauteed veggies with Mexican seasoning)
Thursday--Something with Johnsonville brats
Friday--Pasta Alfredo
Saturday--Creamy Ranch chicken (CP)
Next week:
Sunday--Spaghetti (squash for me?)
Monday--Sub Gum (CP)
Tuesday--Egg/chile puff
Wednesday--Tacos
Thursday--Campbell's Cheeseburger Mac helper
Friday--Take-n-bake pizza
Monday--Manwich
Tuesday--BBQ Ribs in the crock pot (soup for me?)
Wednesday--Chicken Fajitas (mine will just be sauteed veggies with Mexican seasoning)
Thursday--Something with Johnsonville brats
Friday--Pasta Alfredo
Saturday--Creamy Ranch chicken (CP)
Next week:
Sunday--Spaghetti (squash for me?)
Monday--Sub Gum (CP)
Tuesday--Egg/chile puff
Wednesday--Tacos
Thursday--Campbell's Cheeseburger Mac helper
Friday--Take-n-bake pizza
Daniel Fast--Day 1
Okay, so I was more enthused about this on Friday than I was today, but so far, it's going well. I had oatmeal with applesauce and cinnamon for breakfast, apples and celery with peanut butter for lunch, plus some veggies, and a big salad for dinner. I was disappointed to discover that I don't like the hummus I bought, so I'll take it to my UMW meeting tomorrow night and feed it to the ladies there! LOL! I also need to tweak the salad dressing I made.....too much balsamic vinegar I think.
Onward to tomorrow!
Onward to tomorrow!
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