O'Nine Baby

I relish the thought of a new year. I like the idea of starting with a clean slate. I can do or be anything I want in the new year. And to prepare for that, I've made a list. A list of skills I'd like to learn, goals I'd like to achieve or things I may already be doing that have room for improvement.

• Be timely with mailing birthday and anniversary cards. I have the dates marked on my calendar but more times than not, I'm late.
• Spend more time doing crafty projects. I used to do crafts and I enjoyed it. This would be a great opportunity for the girls and I to do activities together.
• Shop early for gifts. This year I started way too late on my Christmas shopping but I'm also including birthday gifts here. If I see an item that would make a great gift for someone, I need to purchase it when I see it. Don't wait. This will eliminate the giving of meaningless gifts.
• Learn to bake scones. I've been meaning to do this for months. I love scones and they are fabulous for breakfast.
• Go to the ocean. Our girls have yet to see the ocean and this is something that Lawman and I want to share with them.
• Eliminate refined flours/sugars from my diet. Add whole grains. Basically, get back on the healthy eating bandwagon. Again. I'm sick of sweets and candies. Yes, I realize that my "learn to bake scones" is contradictory....
• Work my way through my stack of books. I've shared my nightstand with you and I vow to get through them all plus a few more.
• Eliminate my thoughts of perfection. There have been many times that I get ideas in my head about something I'd like to do but I don't know where to start. I have a tendency to not do something at all rather than try because I think that if I can't do it "right," why do it at all.

Are you a goal maker or breaker? What's on your list?

My Post-Christmas List

Here's a few things I learned this Christmas.

1. Start shopping for gifts before Thanksgiving.
2. It's ok to send Christmas cards out after December 25. Friends & family will still be glad to hear from you.
3. If gifts don't arrive on time via US mail, it's ok. This just extends the celebration.
4. Purchasing gifts for each other (spouse) while shopping together is ok. Just don't wrap your own.
5. If you don't get the homemade rolls made for Christmas dinner, Pillsbury croissants work just fine.
6. After 3 days of being together 24/7 we could all use a little space.
7. When playing board games with a 12 year old there's no reason to read the rules. She already knows them all.
8. Watching hours and hours of movies together is a good way to spend an evening.
9. After spending days in the kitchen preparing food, it's ok to tell the family they are on their own for dinner. I am not cooking -- no way, no how!
10. It's ok to eat more than one slice of pie for dessert. More than once a day.

No Menu Plan Monday

I'm going out of my comfort zone this week. No menu plan. Yep. I'm home more than usual this week due to the holidays so it shouldn't pose a problem. No specific menu plan but I do have a plan.

I've eaten enough between Thanksgiving and Christmas that I could go on a multi-day fast and be fine. Lawman would agree. He and I have had several conversations over the course of the last 10 days about getting back on track with healthy eating.

We'd like to focus on lean meats and fish, vegetables and fruits; eliminate refined flours and sugars; add exercise; cut back on our caffeine consumption and increase our water intake. Enjoy foods in their natural state.

I know, I know. There are alot of folks declaring the same thing. And yes, we've done it before only to fall off the wagon.

For the most part we eat healthy. I don't do a lot of packaged/processed foods but I also know there is room for improvement. Isn't there always?

So my plan for this week is to use what we have in our pantry / fridge / freezer. I also plan to re-read the healthy cookbooks on my shelf. I have the resources available, it's just a matter of creating a plan and implementing it. Next week I'll have a menu plan in place again.

Heeding Advice

Tonight I'm taking some advice from Rachel.

We just returned from Christmas Eve services followed by marveling at the beautiful Christmas lights in our little town. Now I'm feeling the Christmas spirit. Just wanting to enjoy each and every moment.

Girls are in the kitchen looking for a snack. I'm off to find my comfy pajamas, a fuzzy blanket and a cup of hot cider. You can find me on the couch enjoying a Christmas movie.

There are things on my list that didn't get done. There's not a thing on it that matters. Tomorrow will come and I plan to enjoy it -- just as I am.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

School's Out

In honor of the first day of Christmas vacation, the girls staged a movie night last night. They moved to the bed at 4am when one of them woke up and realized they had fallen asleep in front of the t.v. Ah, to be young again.

I SPY ~ Homemade

My family will be gathering for our Christmas celebration on Saturday. Our family is quite large when we all get together so this year we have rented a community facility rather than gathering at someone's home.

I thought I'd try to come up with something that could keep the littlest ones busy for a while. Here's what I did with the help of my youngest.

We filled empty (and dry, that's important) water bottles with bird seed, about halfway. Then we added little treasures which could be searched for and added more bird seed so the bottle was about 3/4 full. We added a tag with this poem:

Some pirates got it all mixed up

And did things wrong way 'round.

They put the treasure in a bottle

And buried the map in the ground!

Their treasure was some silly stuff

Like needles, screws, and beads.

Then dear old Polly Parrot

Added all her extra seeds!

So find the items hidden here

No two are quite the same.

On the backside of the tag we listed the items to be found. Here's what we used:

• paper clip
• safety pin
• cup hook
• bird (miniature from Hobby Lobby)
• feather
• rubberband
• ribbon
• marble
• button
• shoe (miniature from Hobby Lobby)
• jingle bell
• gem
• rosette
• beads

For safety reasons, we hot-glued the lids on.

I think Madison and I had as much fun making these as the little ones will trying to spy all the treasures. These would make great party favors for a pirate themed birthday party.

Note: I don't know who to credit for the idea or the poem. I read this in an email several years ago and didn't think to write that information down.

Menu Plan Monday

Well folks, this is the week of the big day. Is everyone ready? I know my girls are; especially the youngest. Everyday she tells us how many days until we can open the gifts. I did something a little different when it comes to wrapping gifts this year. I did not put name tags on any of them. Yep. You read that right. And, I still know what gifts belong to who. You see, I assigned a different wrapping paper to each person so only I know which package belongs to who. It's about to drive the youngest one nuts. Although, she thinks she has figured out which are hers. Guess we'll see about that.

I'm planning to enjoy every day this week because I have all of the shopping and wrapping done. That means I can spend every evening watching Christmas movies if I want to. You may not find much new here this week as I plan to take advantage of the holiday and enjoy every moment with the family. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Here's our plan this week.

Sunday - Plaza III soup

Monday - Homemade Macaroni & Cheese, Steamed Veggies

Tuesday - Vegetable Burritos

Wednesday - Broccoli Cheese Soup (Christmas Eve Tradition)

Thursday - Christmas Dinner -- Baked Ham, AuGratin Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Homemade Rolls, Pumpkin Pie

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Christmas with my family; Mexican Meal -- I'll be contributing seasoned chicken for tacos, seasoned beans (black or pinto) and cinnamon cookies

Several weeks ago I had broccoli cheese soup on my menu and someone asked for my recipe. Here it is, although I don't really have a recipe. It's basically a dump and stir method. That's why I like it, it's easy!

Broccoli Cheese Soup

• 2 T. butter
• chopped onion to taste
• 1-10oz box frozen, chopped broccoli
• 1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup
• shredded cheddar cheese, about 1 1/2 cups
• milk

In a sauce pan, melt butter and saute onions in it until tender. Add broccoli and about 1/4 c. water. Cook until broccoli is tender. Stir in soup and enough milk to get it to the thickness you like. Add cheese and stir until melted. Serve with crusty bread or top with croutons. Makes about 6 servings.

For more menu ideas stop by Menu Plan Monday at Organizing Junkie.

A Moment of Quiet Among the Madness

Lawman and I found a moment of quiet last night. Something that seems difficult to do during the holiday rush.

Christmas carols playing, a glass of wine and enjoying our Kathe Wohlfahrt insence buring snowman we picked up in Germany in 2002.

Discussion of the New Year; healthy eating and new goals.

Today there will be rushing with wrapping and the last of the shopping but that stolen moment of quiet will see me through.

I Love a Good Book

I am a reader and this is the stack of books on my night stand.

There's always a stack. The titles will change but the stack never leaves. Some are books that I have selected, a couple are books that my SIL read and recommended and one was a gift.

Not only do I always have a stack by my bedside but I also read 6 titles a year for the book club that I am a member of. Our selection for this month is Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith. I hate to admit it but I won't have it finished by the time we meet. Tonight. I am enjoying it though and I will finish it.

Not only will we be discussing that book but we will also be selecting the books we will be reading in 2009. We are supposed to bring suggestions. I have a tendency to always have a running list of books that I want to read and it's quite lengthy. I'll be considerate and limit my list. Here are my top suggestions.

• Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
• The Alchemist by Paul Coelho
• The Shack by William P. Young (I've read this one.)

Have you read any of these? Are there others you would recommend?

Visions of Sugar Plums

Our family had never made a gingerbread house and I thought it would be a great Sunday evening family activity.

What was I thinking?

All week I had asked the girls to please leave Sunday evening open for a family Christmas activity.

By 6pm I had everyone assembled in the kitchen with gingerbread, frosting and decorating materials laid out. Oh this was going to be such fun!

Suddenly my bubble burst.

Just listen to the comments that were made (by 15 and 12 year old daughters) and you'll know why.

Can we just do this already?

This is dumb. Why do we have to decorate a gingerbread house?

What's the purpose of this thing anyway?

I'm starving. What's for dinner? I forgot to eat lunch.

Who invented the gingerbread house? They must have had NOTHING to do.

I'd rather watch a movie.

Can't you and Dad just do this?

Ok, so it wasn't all visions of sugar plums like I had hoped but I'm sure that in about 10 years they'll look back on this and laugh. They'll probably feel guilty that they didn't humor their mother and decorate the dumb gingerbread house.

Lawman and I had fun with it. And maybe we'll laugh at the memory in 10 years too.

Menu Plan Monday

This was a food gathering weekend here. It was beginning to look as if the "little old lady that went to the cupboard to fetch a bone" was living here because the cupboards were BARE. Just ask the family, they'd be more than willing to share how empty we were.

I took the time this weekend to prepare a comprehensive shopping list and menu plan for two weeks. It takes time to do this but it's well worth it. I spent $230 -- two weeks of meals including the Christmas Day dinner. There have been times when I go to the store unorganized and I could have spent that amount and then after a week wondered what there was for a meal. Ever been there?

Here's our menu for this week:

Sunday - Chicken & Barley Chili, Crackers

Monday - Roasted Tomato and Chickpea Curry, Rice

Tuesday - Waffles, Bacon, Juice

Wednesday - Homemade Rice-a-Roni (similar to this recipe) with beef, Green Beans

Thursday - Spanish Potatoes (from this book), Salad

Friday - Spaghetti Carbonara, Salad, Garlic Bread

Saturday - Leftovers

For more menu ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday at Laura's place.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

As requested, here is the recipe for the Cabernet Roasted Walnuts.

1 lb. jumbo walnuts or pecans
1 T. butter
1/2 c. Cabernet wine
1 tsp. Kosher salt

Brown butter in skillet over high heat. In a bowl, mix the wine and salt. When the butter is extremely browned (not burned) lift the skillet off the heat while you pour the wine and salt mixture into it. It will bubble furiously. Dump in the walnuts or pecans and stir them very quickly until they are all coated with the wine. Return to heat. Put the lid on the skillet, turn the heat to low and cook until the liquid is absorbed, usuallyabout 10 minutes. Stir them after 5 minutes. After the liquid is absorbed transfer them to a cookie sheet.

Bake in oven at 350 for about 20 minutes (I did my 2nd batch for less than this, about 16 minutes). set cookie sheet on the lower shelf, stir after 10 minutes. Nuts cook a bit more slowly on aluminum or non-stick surface than on tin or iron. They are usually ready when you smell them. Once out of the oven, transfer them to a bowl immediately (wooden if you have it) so they do not continue to cook on the cookie sheet. They can be frozen and re-served at room temperature.

These make great gifts as they're an item that most people wouldn't make for themselves just to have on hand. They are fabulous paired with sliced apples and/or pears and cheese. There you have it. A great menu for your next cocktail party.

Menu Plan Monday

What a week we have planned. This is the week of extra activities. Band & choir concerts, basketball game, hosting a scholarship competition for 3rd year architecture students at work which will mean a long day and dinner out with guest architects, Christmas shopping, B3 is hosting a gift exchange on Friday evening, and a graduation party.

Given all those extras on our calendar, it's going to have to be an easy week (and organized) in the kitchen or else I'll be in the drive-thru line every night.

I was busy in the kitchen this weekend. Here's what I accomplished.

• Cabernet Roasted Walnuts (double batch)


• Date Nut Bars


• Chocolate Chip Cookies


• Vanilla Pecan Refrigerator Cookies


• Apple Pie

I'll be packaging these up to give as gifts and some of the cookies will be refreshments at B3's gift exchange on Friday. The apple pie is for the Feast of Carols band & choir concert tomorrow night.

I know some would see all that baking as work but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The best part was that I stayed in my pajamas until I was all done! I love spending days like that.

On the menu this week --

Monday - Tuna Patties, french fries, steamed veggies (carry over from last week)

Tuesday - Broccoli Cheese Soup, crusty bread

Wednesday - on your own

Thursday - Country Breakfast Pie or Quiche

Friday - chicken something in the crockpot

Saturday - we'll be eating at the graduation party we're attending

Enjoy the week. To see what others have planned, go to Menu Plan Monday.

Weekend Update (for the 2 or 3 that read this)

Hello there. I feel as if I've been neglecting my blog. Life seems to have gotten in the way of my ability to carve out some down time to sit down and share my thoughts and happenings.

Crazy but I know part of the reason I haven't been sharing as frequently is because I have lost/misplaced my card reader and I'm not able to download photos to share. I've been taking photos thinking, "Oh, that would be great for the blog" but it isn't doing me any good when I can't get them from the camera to the blog. And yes, I know I could just go purchase a new one but at this time of year, I don't really think it's necessary. I hate spending money for myself or on unnecessary items during December when I know I should be applying all my spending to purchasing gifts. Anyone else struggle with that?

Yesterday I made a shopping list. A short list. Yet it still took $90. It did include one $15 gift and ingredients for gifts of Cabarnet Roasted Walnuts but the rest of it was just weekly necessities....bananas, diet coke, eggs, etc. I hate that I can't hardly get out of the store for $100 anymore.

I made a double-batch of Cabarnet Roasted Walnuts yesterday. My office hosted a wine-tasting about 2 months ago and this was an item on the menu. I asked the caterer if she'd share her recipe because I thought they'd make a nice gift for friends. They have an unusual taste but they're addicting. I've delivered 2 of them as gifts so I'm hoping to hear some positive feedback from the recipients.

B2 had her winter semi-formal at the high school last night. (I have photos to share but yet again I can't get them from the camera to the computer!) Lawman and I chaperoned. I enjoyed seeing all the kids dressed up. I didn't recognize some of them -- they look like different people when they have their make-up and hair done! Quite different from the hoodies and jeans they're usually in.

B3 had her first baby-sitting job last night. She was thrilled to finally earn her own cash. Bless her, she's a saver too. And, she's got a 2nd baby-sitting job next Saturday evening. I teased her that she'd be able to get me a really nice Christmas gift!

Today I hope to be in the kitchen baking. I'd love to get about 3 batches of cookies made and in the freezer. B3 is hosting a gift exchange here with her friends on Friday and I'd like to have them ready for that as well as making up some trays for the neighbors.

Off to go get organized in the kitchen.

An Art Form

We are hosting our annual holiday open house this evening. For dessert we will be offering sugar cookies decorated for Christmas. (Ours look just like the ones on the right hand side, silver tray of this web page.)

They truly are an art form. I can't imagine the number of hours nor the amount of patience required to make them.

Some things are worth paying for.

A Message of Hope

This past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. My Sunday School class did the Advent reading. A first for us. Usually it is a married couple or a family. I found such enjoyment sharing in this portion of our worship service with my church family.

The message in our Advent reading was one of HOPE.

"So we stop and look around and come to grips with the fact that much of this life consists of waiting. Nothing satisfies fully and completely because it is not meant to; every joy and pleasure is meant to be only a preview for the whole and complete joy that we will know on that day when we finally see him face to face. We wait - eagerly - expectantly - hopefully."

We are merely passing through in this life we live on earth. As believers, we find hope in knowing that one day we will meet our King.

Our King lived a perfect life on this earth for about 33 years. Something that had never been done before him and something that no one can repeat. One would think that such a person would come from a very impressive and 'perfect' lineage. Not the case. In Matthew 1 is Jesus' genealogy. It's filled with what our world calls the less desireables. There are men and women in His family tree that are liars, cheaters, those who committed adultry, murderers, prostitutes, and those who violated others. Not the kind of family history that you want to write home about.

Yet from those who were less than perfect came the perfect One. That One who brought hope to all the earth. This didn't occur by chance. God controls the flow of history. He knew that each person in Jesus' family tree would play a vital role in the history of the world.

Since hearing our sermon on Sunday I've been feeling less than excited about buying Christmas gifts. Not because I don't enjoy giving but because it really isn't all that important. The season isn't about the gifts, the decorations, the parties, etc. We've all been given the best gift possible if only we choose to accept it. The gift from above...a little baby who arrived in less than perfect conditions and then lived a perfect life only to be the sacrifice on our behalf.

May God bless you and yours during this holiday season. May you find hope.