Home remedy

                        

These are home health remedies that have been emailed to me or that I found on the Internet.  I have not tried them all and do NOT guarantee the effectiveness of them.  If you try one and it works, or if you have one that works for you, please email me.  Thanks.

Sleeping Aid

•  A drop or two of Lavendar Essential Oil in your bath water or on you pillow will aid in a more restful sleep.

A word of caution, smell the oil first.  Some people love the smell of lavendar and others can't stand it.  The essential oil is concentrated, that is why they come in such small bottles.  So, if you decide to put it on your pillow, don't use too much.  Otherwise, the smell may bother you more than calm you down. 

Also, I would actually suggest that rather than putting it directly on your pillow or pillow case, that you put it on a hanky, or something like that, and put it inside of your pillow case or on the night stand next to your bed. 

Sending wishes of peaceful sleep and many pleasant dreams to all of you.

Hugs!

Water & fireflies

I absolutely love watching Rylie discover new things.  She loves playing in the pool.  It can be a bit of a chore if we forget to take her floats with us.  She will just walk right down the steps (no matter how cold it is) and get right into the pool.

It is probably a wee bit less than 3 feet and she can touch with no problem.  You know that high pitched squealing screaming that little girls make?  Well, nearly the whole time she is in the pool she is laughing and making that high pitched sound.  The life guard just sits and laughs at her. 

If she isn't in the water she goes and grabs our pool ID cards and keeps walking over to the life guard showing them that we are okay to be there.  LOL  It's too funny.  She puts on her little sunglasses, picks up the cards, looks at them, then stands there with her little hands on her hips thinking.  Eventually she looks for the life guard then starts to walk ("No running Rylie") over to them.

No worries folks.  I keep her covered in sunscreen.  Usually her hair gets all greasy because I slather it on her scalp too.  "No thank you Rylie, please don't put that on Mommy.  I have my own lotion that isn't SPF 1 million".  LOL

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So last night I put the little fish in the bathtub and after I get down washing her it is play time.  "Ry...splashing like that is only for the pool, not the bathtub".  So we were working on the blowing bubbles thing.  Poor kid, she kept putting her mouth in the water and then started to take a breath.  Finally, I showed her to do it like when you blow raspberries.  Ahhh, now I got her attention.  (Walking up to me and blowing a raspberry on my arm, leg or back is one of her favorite things to do at this time.)

So she got the blowing bubble thing down.  Then she rolled over on her back and began testing how far she could put her head back.  She's done this before, but whenever she got to her ears, she would jerk her head back up.  But last night she put her index fingers in both her ears and put her head on the bottom of the tub. 

I could see her mind working, the next time she put her head back, she didn't use her fingers.  After a few seconds she sat up and thought again.  Then she started smiling.  She laid back down, and starting saying "Hello...hello" and then began giggling and sat up.  It was too cute.  This went on for quite a while.  I tried to put my face down so I could talk to her under water, but she started laughing so hard that she swallowed water. 

Then she would stand up and look at me, look at her dad sitting nearby reading the paper and say "daddy, daddy...DADDY"!  He would look up, then she would reach down "grab" some water, put it on her belly (who knows what she was doing) and then "jump" into the water and begin giggling.  Jumping into the water is basically taking a little hop, then plopping down on her bum, making a wee splash.  Poor daddy, he didn't get to read much of the paper when this started, because she kept calling for him to watch her.

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Later on, after bath time, I went out to sit on the front step and have a cigarette.  Little Miss Bathtub Diving Champion of June 2006 came outside to sit with me.  She quickly spotted a little firefly crawling on the side of the house.  I picked him up to show her how their bums light up like a lil' green flashlight.  He began to fly off and soon Rylie was waving saying "bye" in her sweet as honey little voice.  Then she blew a kiss to her new little friend.  How cute  is that?! 

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Below are some pictures I took the past few weeks.  One is when we made brownies and the other is Rylie's own unique make-up style.

                  

             

Have a beautiful day!

Hugs!

Cleaning tips

                      

A cleaning tip, or two, that you may find useful.  As I say on my Web page, these are tips that have been emailed to me, or that I have found on the Internet.  I have not tried all of them and do NOT guarantee their effectiveness.  If you do try one and it works, or if you have another one that works for you, let me know.

Grease Stains: Sprinkle a generous amount of cornstarch or baby powder over the grease stain, allow it to sit for a couple of minutes, then brush the powder off. The powder absorbs the grease and it brushes off with the powder.

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Have a great day!

Hugs!

Recipe

Just wanted to get on here quick and post a tasty sounding recipe.  Both of the following recipes are from those folks at SparkPeople.

Chicken Marsala
Serves: 4
Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with 1/3 cup sauce

Tomato juice, lemons, and mushrooms flavor this chicken recipe the lower salt and lower fat way.

INGREDIENTS
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup flour
4 chicken breasts, boned, skinless (5 oz.)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup Tomato Juice
1/2 cup chicken stock, skim fat from top
1/2 lemon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

DIRECTIONS
1. Mix together pepper, salt, and flour. Coat chicken with seasoned flour.
2. In a heavy-bottomed skillet, heat oil. Place chicken breasts in skillet and brown on both sides. Then remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. To the skillet, add tomato juice and stir until heated. Add juice, stock, and mushrooms. Stir to toss, reduce heat, and cook for about 10 minutes until the sauce is partially reduced.
4. Return browned chicken breasts to skillet. Spoon sauce over the chicken.
5. Cover and cook for about 5-10 minutes or until chicken is done.
6. Serve sauce over chicken. Garnish with chopped parsley.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 232.5
Fat: 5.6 g
Carbohydrates: 35.5 g
Protein: 8.2 g

How about cheesecake for dessert?

Mini Cheesecakes
Serves: 12
Serving Size: 1 mini cheesecake

INGREDIENTS
12 low-fat vanilla wafers
3 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
12 oz. fat-free cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
cherry pie filling

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line muffin tins with 12 foil cupcake papers. Place a vanilla wafer in the bottom of each cupcake paper.
2. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and fat-free cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla and mix well. Add eggs and beat until smooth.
3. Pour cheesecake mixture into muffin tins. Bake for 20 minutes or until centers are almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
4. Decorate cheesecake tops with cherry pie filling.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 120.6
Fat: 4.4 g
Carbohydrates: 14.4 g
Protein: 6 g

There ya go.  Yummy and healthy!  Have a great day. 

Hugs!

Home Remedy

                  

These are home health remedies that have been emailed to me or that I found on the Internet.  I have not tried them all and do NOT guarantee the effectiveness of them.  If you try one and it works, or if you have one that works for you, please email me.  Thanks.

Puffiness under the eyes

• All you need is a dab of Preparation H®, carefully rubbed into the skin, avoiding the eyes. The hemorrhoid ointment acts as a vasoconstrictor, relieving the swelling instantly.

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Well, I've never tried that, but I do remember hearing that Conan O'Brian used it around his eyes.  The things you can do with butt cream.  Which reminds me.  Last Thursday I had a small fever blister on my lip that I wanted to get rid of, so I started looking around on the internet for a remedy.

I found lots of things that were suggested.  But the one thing that I did have here in the house was shaving cream.  So I started rubbing a small amount of that onto it that afternoon.  By Friday morning the blister had gotten much smaller and I could tell it would soon be, yuck, scabbing over.

So I then started alternating between putting Neosporin and Boudreaux's butt paste on it.  It healed up quite nicely.  It scabbed a little bit, but not as much as they usually tend to.  Boudreaux's is a great diaper rash cream that I have found to be good for a lot of uses.  I once spent too much time in the sun and burnt my lips.  I put that on and it helped a lot.  I've also used it on my face when I got sunburned and my skin didn't peel. 

Ray once got a nasty, itchy rash under his arm and I told him to put it on that too.  I think it only took 2, maybe 3 days, and the rash disappeared.  Butt creams...the recommended product today, lol.

Have a good day and a wonderful weekend!

Hugs!

Tuesday Tip

                       

A cleaning tip, or two, that you may find useful.  As I say on my Web page, these are tips that have been emailed to me, or that I have found on the Internet.  I have not tried all of them and do NOT guarantee their effectiveness.  If you do try one and it works, or if you have another one that works for you, let me know.

Glitter on Clothing: That new sparkly shirt shedding glitter all over the place? Spray with aerosol hair spray to make it stay put. Wash separately from other clothes, or at least wash it inside out if you must wash with other articles of clothing.

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The word of the day today at the dictionary link is:

zephyr n. - 1) a breeze from the west 2) a gentle breeze 3) any of various lightweight fabrics and articles of clothing

Let me throw another one out there that I am sure we all know in one way or another...

Manipulate (transitive verb) 1) to treat or operate with the hands or by mechanical means especially in a skillful manner  2) to manage or utilize skillfully b : to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage  3)to change by artful or unfair means so as to serve one's purpose

 

For example, if you say you are going to spend some time at your parents cottage and your spouse/boyfriend/partner replies with "I may be here when you get back or I may not"...well, you are being manipulated so you won't go.

 

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Here are some links some may find useful.  Even if you don't need them now, one day you may or you may know someone who does.  The second one may hit a strong chord with some when you start ready further down the page.  The third one really gives some good information and descriptions.  Good luck, best wishes and many hugs to those of you who may be going through this.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

http://www.sossobriety.org/family.htm

 

http://www.bma-wellness.com/papers/Excuses_Alcoholics.html

 

http://www.maricopa.gov/Benefits/pdf/AA/Living_with_Alcoholic.pdf

 

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I hope your all doing well.  The past few weeks have been kind of eratic...crazy...depressing...like living the year 1999 all over again.  One of the worst years of my life.  I'm trying to keep posting my regular entries so I have at least one thing stable, or normal in my daily activities. 

However, I am contemplating taking a break.  If I do so, I will try to post an entry so it isn't like I suddenly fall off the face of the earth.

Hugs!

Here is todays recipe idea.  I love chicken!  Fix some rice (try cooking it in apple juice instead of water, mmmm.)  Make a veggie and some rolls.  Yummy!

From Country Crock             
 
  Country Lemon Chicken
 
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves, crushed (optional)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 lbs.)
1 cup chicken broth
4 Tbsp. Shedd's Spread Country Crock ® Spread
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2-3 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. chopped parsley (optional)

Combine flour, thyme, salt and pepper. Dip chicken in flour mixture. Combine any remaining flour mixture with broth; set aside.

In 12-inch nonstick skillet, melt 2 tablespoons Shedd's Spread Country Crock ® Spread over medium-high heat and brown chicken. Remove chicken and set aside.

In same skillet, melt remaining 2 tablespoons Spread over medium-high heat and cook onion, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in lemon juice and cook 1 minute. Add reserved broth mixture and bring to a boil. Return chicken and any chicken juices to skillet and simmer uncovered until chicken is thoroughly cooked, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

Serves:
4
Preparation Time:
10 Minutes
Cook Time:
17 Minutes

For dessert, Throw a container of Cool Whip, a can of sweetened condensed milk, a small can of crushed pineapple and a can of cherry pie filling in a bowl and mix.  Pour it into an Oreo cookie pie crust and chill. 

It actually makes quite alot of filling so I usually buy two crusts and make two pies.  Or if you can make just one, but plan on it being a large pie.  Of course, by the time I eat a bit and Rylie gets a few bites of the filling, it could just be one slightly larger than normal size pie.

Have a great afternoon.  I think I am going to go nap with Rylie Jo. 

Hugs!

Thursday Tip

 

                        

These are home health remedies that have been emailed to me or that I found on the Internet.  I have not tried them all and do NOT guarantee the effectiveness of them.  If you try one and it works, or if you have one that works for you, please email me.  Thanks.

Pain Reliever

• Mix 3 Tbls. of honey in boiled water and drink. Honey has natural pain-relieving powers.

I wonder if it works for a pain in the a_ _?  LOL  I wish.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, this was my Daily OM for yesterday. ..

 June 14, 2006
An Unconditional Gift
Kindness

In the quest to create a gentler, more loving world, kindness is the easiest tool we can use. Though it is easy to overlook opportunities to be kind, our lives are replete with situations in which we can be helpful, considerate, thoughtful, and friendly to loved ones and associates, as well as strangers. The touching, selfless acts of kindness that have the most profoundly uplifting effects are often the simplest: a word of praise, a gentle touch, a helping hand, a gesture of courtesy, or a smile. Such small kindnesses represent an unconditional, unrestricted form of love that we are free to give or withhold at will. When you give the gift of kindness, whether in the form of assistance, concern, or friendliness, your actions create a beacon of happiness and hope that warms people's hearts.

The components of kindness are compassion, respect, and generosity. Put simply, kindness isthe conscious act of engaging others in a positive way without asking whether those individuals deserve to be treated kindly. All living beings thrive on kindness. A single, sincere compliment can turn a person's entire world around. Holding a door or thanking someone who has held a door for you can inspire others to practice politeness and make already kind individuals feel good about their efforts. Smiling at people you meet-even those who make you feel like frowning-can turn a dreary encounter into a delightful one, for both of you. Every kind act has a positive influence on the individual who has performed said act as well as on the recipient, regardless of whether the act is acknowledged. Kindness brings about more kindness and slowly but surely takes a positive toll on humanity.

Weaving the thread of kindness into your everyday life can be as easy as choosing to offer a hearty "Good morning" and "Good night" to your coworkers or neighbors, a stranger on the street, or the grocery store clerk. When you commit a kind act, you are momentarily disconnected from your ego and bonded with the individual who has benefited from your kindness. Being fully present in each moment of your life facilitates kindness as it increases your awareness of the people around you. You'll discover that each act of kindness you engage in makes the world,in some small way, a better place.

It seems like a really good philosophy, a great way to live your life.  Although with the mood I am in today...I just keep thinking this is how I have tried to be.  Yet those that I have tried to help, to reach out to, to connect with in some way, just turn around and treat me like a piece of dog doo-doo.  They turn around and talk chit about me behind my back, like I'm not going to hear about it.  I guess they should be more careful when it comes to who they talk to.  They even make up lies about me just so they have something to complain about.  I have gone out of my way, re-arranged my life...and that is how I get treated.  I end up getting taken for granted and treated like a ratty ol' welcome mat.  Like I am here for nothing more than to do for them.

But here is the thing.  I don't want to give anyone so much power, or control, over me that I change the way I am because of them.  So I will continue to be loving, kind, giving and go out of my way for others.  HOWEVER, I will NOT let the same people walk all over me again and again.  I am NOT here to be a servant for others.  I am NOT here to be taken advantage of.  I will learn to say "no" when I need to, and I will definately stand up for myself.  I DO deserve to be respected, especially in my own home! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How about another recipe?  I got this one in my email the other day and I thought it sounded like something worth trying.  Especially if your trying to get your family to eat healthier.  Have ya'll tried ground turkey yet?  Well, this recipe sounds so tasty that your family might not even realize that it isn't hamburger.  Let me know what ya think.

Grilled Turkey Burgers
Source: Better Homes and Gardens
Prep: 25 minutes
Grill: 14 minutes
 
Ingredients
1   beaten egg
1/3  cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/4  cup finely chopped green sweet pepper
2   green onions, finely chopped
2  tablespoons milk
1/2  teaspoon salt
1/8  teaspoon pepper
1  pound ground raw turkey
2  tablespoons orange marmalade
5   rye or wheat sandwich buns, split
   Shredded lettuce (optional)
   Tomato slices, halved (optional)
   Onion slices (optional)

Directions
1. In large mixing bowl combine egg, bread crumbs, green pepper, onions, milk, salt, and pepper. Add turkey and mix well. Shape mixture into five 3/4-inch-thick patties.
2. Grill patties on an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 6 minutes. Turn patties and brush with marmalade. Grill for 8 to 12 minutes more or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in side of patty registers 165 degrees F.. Toast cut sides of buns on grill. Serve patties in buns and, if desired, with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Makes 5 servings.
To grill by indirect heat: Arrange preheated coals around a drip pan in a covered grill. Test for medium heat above pan. Place patties on grill over drip pan. Cover and grill for 20 to 24 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in side of patty registers 165 degreesF., turning patties once halfway through grilling time and brushing with marmalade.

Nutrition facts per serving:
calories: 289
total fat: 11g
saturated fat: 2g
cholesterol: 77mg
sodium: 396mg
carbohydrate: 30g
fiber: 1g
protein: 17g

 

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Have a glorious day!

 

Hugs!

Pictures of Rylie...our rising star!

Well, the other day I was sitting on the front porch smoking (yes, it's a terrible habit, and I hope to quit.) and Rylie was playing in the yard right next to the porch.  She grabbed the water hose and started pretending it was a microphone.  She was dancing and singing "yeah, yeah, yeaaaaah".  She was just way too cute, so I ran and grabbed my camera. 

Oh my gosh, isn't she just the most adorable thing ever?

Have a great night.  Be sure to save a copy of the pictures and when she is a huge recording artist in about 20 years, we'll make sure she autographs it for ya!  LOL

G'night!

Migraine delayed entry

Good morning!  Sorry for the lateness of my Monday recipe, but Sunday and Monday pretty much had me gone with the pain of a migraine.  But it is gone now and here is my recipe.  I got this one in the mail from SparkPeople.com.

If your looking for something good on carbs, fat and calories...check out the nutritional info below the recipe.  Hmm, looks like something I should be eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner, lol.

Sticky Chicken
Serves: 4
This roasted chicken gets its sticky coating from the juices it releases while being baked.

INGREDIENTS
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 ready-to-cook 1 lb. roasting chicken
1 cup chopped onion

DIRECTIONS
1. In a small bowl, thoroughly combine all the spices.
2. Remove giblets from chicken; clean the cavity well and pat dry with paper towels.
3. Rub the spice mixture into the chicken, both inside and out, making sure it is evenly distributed and down deep into the skin.
4. Place in a re-sealable plastic bag, seal and refrigerate overnight.
5. When ready to roast chicken, stuff cavity with onions, and place in a shallow baking pan.
6. Roast, uncovered, at 250° F for 5 hours. After the first hour, baste the chicken occasionally (every half hour or so) with pan juices. The pan juice will start to caramelize on the bottom of the pan and the chicken will turn golden brown. If the chicken contains a pop-up thermometer, ignore it.
7. Let chicken rest about 10 minutes before carving.

NUTRITION INFO (per serving)
Calories: 83.2
Fat: 1.7 g
Carbohydrates: 5.6 g
Protein: 11.5 g

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A cleaning tip, or two, that you may find useful.  As I say on my Web page, these are tips that have been emailed to me, or that I have found on the Internet.  I have not tried all of them and do NOT guarantee their effectiveness.  If you do try one and it works, or if you have another one that works for you, let me know.

General Stain Removal for Clothing: Read the label! If it says dry-clean only, dry-clean it. If it's washable, try cleaning fluid, spot remover, or petroleum-based pre-wash spray. Place garment stain side down on paper towels and dab cleaner on stain using a terry-cloth towel or scrub brush. Check paper towels underneath and move frequently so there's always a clean area under the stain to absorb soil. Let area dry and check it. If stain remains, treat with prewash spray and launder. Before drying, check again. Still visible? Repeat steps.

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Have a wonderful week!

Hugs!

Thursday Home Remedy

 

                     

These are home health remedies that have been emailed to me or that I found on the Internet.  I have not tried them all and do NOT guarantee the effectiveness of them.  If you try one and it works, or if you have one that works for you, please email me.  Thanks.

Oily Skin

• For oily skin, mix 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal, 1 egg white, 1 Tbls. lemon juice, and 1/2 cup mashed apple into a smooth paste. Apply to face and leave on 15 minutes. Rinse.

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Yea!  It's Thursday, only one more day until the weekend.  Not that we have any big plans this weekend.  Hopefully Ray will get a chance to work on the fuel line of the camper.  I'd really like to get that fixed so we can do some camping this summer.

Have a good day!

Hugs!

My baby girl...all grown up (Warning...big graphic)

Warning:  Todays entry may take a while to load as I have a fairly large graphic in here.

Well, since I already did the entry earlier today about how quickly my children have grown, it seems appropriate to post these pictures today.  The first one is of Samantha at about 2 years old.  She loved her sunglasses just like Rylie Jo does now.  Isn't she just precious?

Wow, and the resemblance between her and Rylie just blows me away. 

Now, these are a few of Samantha's Senior pictures that she had taken for next year.  Gosh dang...she is just so pretty.  It is hard to believe that young woman is my little girl.

Geesh, if I am this sad and emotional now...I don't think ya'll even want to be around when one of the kids get engaged. 

Well, I hope the slow load of the page was worth it.  Sorry about the wait, but I really wanted to share these pictures with ya'll.  I know mom is really going to love these.

Have a good night!

Kids and time

So I recently went to a journal and read an entry there that got me to thinking about the passage of time and my children.  It literally takes my breath away when I stop and think about it.  Almost as though I can feel the past 20 years (sheesh that's a long time) moving through me in a matter of seconds.  My heart pounds a little harder and faster, my head seems to swirl and I think I can actually feel a little breeze across my face as I sit here in my room in front of the computer.  (No, I am not on any meds, and yes, perhaps I should be, lol.)

My children are David-20, Samantha-17 (18 in July), Christopher-14 and Rylie Jo-26 months.  Yes, there is a bit of a time lapse there between Chris and Rylie.  Rylie Jo was my special surprise gift from God.  I have truly been blessed by God 4 times with beautiful children.

David, Sam and Chris were all born with a nice little patch of dark hair and deep blue eyes.  Within the first week or two all their hair fell out.  As it came back in it was a fine, soft as rose petals, pale blonde.  Their eyes also changed, to a greenish hazel.  I always remembered that hair and it falling out and coming back blonde.  But I forgot about how very soft it was and the way it felt to just sit and touch their tiny little heads.

Then Rylie was born.  Those deep blue eyes again, although this time she was born with red hair (like her daddy, who by the way is a different one from the other kids dad).  But the same thing happened to her.  Within the first week that red hair fell out, and once again I was blessed with a little baldy, lol.  I love that feel of my babies head with silky fine hair just covering it. 

And the smell!  I love it just after I gave her a bath and then powdered her up from head to toe.  Everytime I would call Ray in and say come smell this baby, or walk over to him and put her head there so he could smell her.  Now, that she is two I always tell her "Oh you smell so good.  Go see daddy now."  She always goes running to him and leans her head to him so he can smell her hair.  It is too cute.

I love this!  I love being a mom again at this time in my life.  Yes, there are days when it is hard, when I am just completely exhausted the moment I wake up, and have no idea how I am going to make it through to the end of the day.  But I love getting the chance to experience this all over again. 

To experience the things I was too busy to notice the first time.  The things that I didn't realize I would forget.  The things that I loved but didn't realize that time would fade the memory of them.  I was so busy dealing with 2 children fairly close in age, and then a third when they were little, and then let me tell you...3 kids makes for a lot of fighting.  (It is constantly 2 against 1, and always bickering. Even numbers I tell you, LOL)

Actually I always wanted a 4th child.  But then the kids dad and I split up.  It was several years before I met someone.  I tried for awhile to get pregnant, but I finally told myself that it was just too late.  I gave it up and accepted the fact that there were no more children in my future. 

I was actually a little happy when I realized that the kids were older and Ray and I could go and do what we wanted, if we wanted.  It's alot like that quote I have in my profile, "if you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans."  Oh I bet he dang near busted a gut when I got the news that I was pregnant.  Ray didn't laugh though, not at all.  But we wouldn't trade Rylie for anything.  She is truly a joy to us. 

We can look at her and see a little of Ray, a little of me, and a bit of each of the kids.  She is so enegetic and full of life, love and wonder.  Blessed doesn't seem to be a big enough word to describe what she has done to our lives.

Oops, I've gotten off track of where I started.  I am such a blonde.

Hugs and kisses.  I remember getting hugs and kisses from the older kids.  But I forgot that it felt so...full.  Like your heart is just busting at the seams, ya know?  The way that those little arms feel when they squeeze you around the neck.  The way those tiny little, peanut butter flavored, lips feel so soft when they kiss you.  I feel (to steal a line from a movie) absolutely and totally complete when I get one of those big bear hugs from my baby. 

But I can't believe I actually forgot that feeling.  I mean I remembered that I loved getting hugs from the kids.  But I forgot how deep down I felt that love.  I forgot the way their hair smelled so beautiful and delicious after their bath.  I forgot how soft their hair was.  Forgot isn't the word, I remember it smelled good and that it was soft.  But I "lost" the feeling.  Does that make sense?

Hmm, I guess that is why so many women look forward to grandbabies in a few years.  Me?  I was blessed in another way.  I get to experience it all over again with Rylie Jo.  Hmm, which also means I get to go through ages 12-16 with a girl again.  Aww sheesh, I busted my own bubble.  LOL

Well, my little angel just came into my room.  It's the beginning of another day of hugs and peanut butter kisses.  I love being a mom.

Have a great day!

Hugs!

Rylie and her bald little head Feb. 2005

Wow, memories.  Samantha, Christoper and David in 1997

Tuesday Tips and more

                           

A cleaning tip, or two, that you may find useful.  As I say on my Web page, these are tips that have been emailed to me, or that I have found on the Internet.  I have not tried all of them and do NOT guarantee their effectiveness.  If you do try one and it works, or if you have another one that works for you, let me know.

 

Gasoline On Clothing: Gasoline is an oil based product, therefore, use another oil based product to pull out the odor (which is left because all the gas oil has not been removed yet). You can use any kind of oil that normally washes out of clothing, like baby oil. Put some of the oil into the washer along with the shorts, let it swish around for a while, then put in the detergent and all should come out okay.

 

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Well the glorious sun and warm weather seemed to have finally settled in.  I got this link in my mail the other day, from Better Homes and Garden, for tips on how to paint wicker furniture.  I thought I would put it here in case anyone is planning on fixing up their wicker furniture.  When going to the BHG site, they always have this little subscription box that pops up, just let the dang thing come up until you see the "close" box in the upper right corner and then click that.  I would absolutely love their site if it wasn't for that stupid box coming up everytime you go to a new page.

Tips on Painting Wicker Furniture

 

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I also wanted to share this site link...Vocal Point...it's a cool little MOM type site.  I actually received a DVD in the mail from them the other day.  Apparently Animal Planet is coming out with a new show on Friday, June 9th called "Meercat Manor".  Uh, yeah it's about meercats, lol.  So they sent a preview of it on this DVD, cool huh?  I just love getting free stuff.

 

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Well, I guess that is about it.  This always goes so much faster when I pre-plan my entry the evening before and just have to copy and paste my graphic and the links on here.  I love when I can be so organized.  Of course, it's also a lot easier when Rylie is still asleep too, lol. 

 

Have a super day!

 

Hugs,

Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Well, I got this recipe, for Beef Stroganoff, in the mail from SparkPeople.com.  Some of our kids will eat it, some won't, but just about every meal is like that.  I like Beef Stroganoff (especially the one that comes in a box, lol).

Beef Stroganoff
Serves: 5
Using lean top round, plain low-fat yogurt, and very little salt makes this a heart-healthy dish.

INGREDIENTS
1 pound lean beef (top round)
3 teaspoons vegetable oil
3/4 tablespoon finely chopped onion
1 lb. sliced mushrooms
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pepper, to taste
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 cup beef broth
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
6 cups macaroni, cooked in unsalted water

DIRECTIONS
1. Cut beef into 1-inch cubes. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a non-stick skillet. Sauté onion for 2 minutes.
2. Add beef and sauté for additional 5 minutes. Turn to brown evenly. Remove from pan and keep hot.
3. Add remaining oil to pan; sauté mushrooms.
4. Add beef and onions to pan with seasonings.
5. Add beef broth, yogurt; gently stir in. Heat, but do not boil.

NUTRITION INFO(per 6-ounce serving)
Calories: 260.1
Fat: 11.1 g
Carbohydrates: 6.6 g
Protein: 33.1 g

Have a great day! 

Hugs & love,

I am way too bored this morning

This is a little A-Z quiz.  Sascha sent it to me awhile ago and I just finally answered the questions.  If you answer them and post it on your journal, come back and leave the link so I can read yours too.

A - Available: No

B - Best Friend: Sascha (faraway) Cathy (here in town)
C - Crush: Matthew McCaughnehey
D - Dad's Name: Joseph Leo
E - Easiest Person To Talk To:  Rylie Jo (my 2 year old) she doesn't expect a whole lot and seems pretty interested in most anything I talk about.  Hey, I gotta enjoy it now because in about 10 or 11 years she is going to ignore everything I say, lol.
F - Favorite Band:  Anyone I can go see live
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms: Neither, I'd rather have wintergreen lifesavers.
H - Hometown: Bowling Green, Ohio
I - Instrument: I played (or attempted to) the flute in elementary school
J - Job: Housewife and Mom
K - Kids: 4 of my own and 2 step-daughters
L - Longest Car Ride: 1976 (?) when my parents drove us to Colorado on vacation
M - Milk Flavor: skim
N - Number Of Siblings: 2 brothers (two half siblings I've never met and don't think I ever will.  Not sure that I would want to either.)
O - One Wish: To win the lottery so I could take care of my Mom and help out Ray's parents.
P - Phobias: spiders and snakes.  I once was in this house (roadtrip with Sascha!) where they had a snake in a cage.  I was sitting on the sofa in the living room, and when they took the snake out of the cage, on the far side of the dining room which was about 50 feet away from me...I jumped up and stood on the couch screeching like a baby girl. 
Q - Favorite Quote: "...if you want to hear God laugh...tell him your plans" & "Cause it's better to be hated for what you are, than to be loved for what your not"  (hmmm, perhaps Van Zant should be my answer to question F)

R - Reason To Smile: My kids
S - Song You Last Heard:  Probably something on the Disney channel
T - Time You Woke Up: Oh I slept in today...it was about 8 am
U - Unknown Fact About Me: I sucked my thumb until I was 12.  I quit when I got braces.
V - Vegetable: Corn on the cob...with lots of real butter dripping off it and some salt...Yummy!
W - Worst Habits: Letting people walk all over me and stuffing my frustrations until I blow up.
X - X-Rays You've Had: Do ultra-sounds count?  Those were too many to count.  Ankle, finger...I think that's it.
Y - Your Favorite Food: Oh sheesh...I love food...my favorite changes depending on what is in front of me, lol.  Steak (nice and rare)...lobster with melted butter...strawberries with whip cream...Or any meal that I don't have to cook and clean up after, lol, spoken like a true housewife.
Z - Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Are you passive aggressive? Or know someone who is?

I was just reading my email and got the link to this article from ediets.com's Glee Magazine.  It is a pretty good read, whether your passive aggressive or know someone who is.  I, personally, think we can all be a bit this way sometimes.  Here is a sample of the article and a link to it.

Passive Aggression: The Stealth Saboteur
By Carlin Flora
From Psychology Today
Updated: Saturday, June 3, 2006
Need a therapist? Click here to find one in your area.

In the satiric movie Office Space, smarmy boss Bill Lumbergh is desperate to be liked by his underlings. He even fears them. He tells horrible jokes to ingratiate himself with his charges yet infuriates as he arbitrarily wields power, forcing employees to come in on Saturdays and comply with meaningless bureaucratic policies. Controlling but wimpy, Lumbergh is a comic passive-aggressor.

"When someone punches you in the face, you sure know that's aggression," says Tim Murphy, a psychologist and coauthor of Overcoming Passive-Aggression: How to Stop Hidden Anger From Spoiling Your Relationships, Career and Happiness. "But passive-aggression is very sneaky behavior that people can hide and deny."

From the wife who secretly saturates her husband's food with pepper to the smiling assistant who chirps, "Sure, I'll have that report to you by Friday!" but then — on the brink of the deadline — says the timing is impossible, passive-aggressors are manipulative.    

You can read the rest of the article HERE.

Me?  I am, on occassion, the wife who saturates my husband's food with salt and pepper.  Yeah, it kind of annoys me when everytime I fix his plate, he asks me "Did you salt & pepper it?"  I salt and pepper when I cook, dang it all!  So occassionally I over salt and pepper it, or I don't and then tell him I do.  On my good days, which are more often than not, I just do it like he likes.

Shhhh, don't nark me out!  LOL  How many of you are brave enough to share your passive aggressive behaviours?  Or tell us about someone you know who is.  Yeah, I'm pimping for some comments.  Is that passive aggressive?  LOL

Homemade Peanut Butter & Zuchini salad (NO, not together! Ewww!)

Well, I got this recipe in the mail from SparkPeople.com and thought I would share it with ya'll.  This would be something fun to do with the kids.  Very few ingredients and they can make it just the consistency that they want to (creamy, chunky or somewhere in between).

I love recipes that you can do with the kids.  They have so much fun and get to feel like little grown-ups helping you out.  It is a great way to spend some time with them too.  They might actually open up and talk, giving you a chance to learn something new about these little people your raising. 

Homemade Peanut Butter

Serves: 8

Make in a blender or food processor. Add your favorite sweetener and/or spices to customize this American favorite.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups roasted shelled peanuts
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

DIRECTIONS
1. Place all ingredients in blender or food processor.
2. Blend until desired texture is reached.
3. Place in airtight container and refrigerate unused portion.

NUTRITION INFO (per 2-tbsp serving)
Calories: 229.0
Fat: 19.9 g
Carbohydrates: 7.9 g
Protein: 8.6 g

I don't want to spoil the fun, but it also gives you a chance to teach them about responsibility too.  After the fun of making something in the kitchen, be sure to share in the responsibility of clean up too. 

Just be sure to thank them for helping with the recipe and the work of clean-up.  Even if they washed the utensils and lil' chunks of peanut butter are beginning to dry...let them know how much you appreciate their effort.  "Attaboys" (or girls) are such confidence boosters.  You can always go back and wipe off whatever needs to be later.

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Here is another recipe.  I doubt many of you will be able to get your kids to even look at this one though, lol.  It is for zuchini salad.  I got it in my email from RealAge.com and wanted to share it.  Especially for detjebea5, I know last time I put a salad recipe on here, she said she's been eating a lot of salads.  This one seemed a bit different and like a good one to share.

Sight-Saving Zucchini Salad

Zucchini is at its best from mid-April through July. Look for squash that's firm, bright green, and blemish free.

• 1.5 lbs of zucchini, cut in quarters
• 1/2 cup feta cheese
• 1 small bunch of fresh mint, chopped
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• Black pepper, freshly ground

Preparation:
Cook the zucchini in boiling salted water until just tender, about 7-8 minutes; it's better to undercook than overcook it.

Drain in a colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let the zucchini cool a little, then transfer it to a shallow serving dish.

Crumble the feta over the top, sprinkle with the mint, and drizzle with the olive oil and vinegar. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. Makes 4 servings. Prep time: 10-15 minutes.

 

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Well, I have got to get moving here.  That baby is going to wake up shortly and I still need to get in the shower.  Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Hugs & love!

Some Pictures from my yard

           

These are some pictures I took out in the yard yesterday.  If you recognize the red flower (second to the bottom on the left side) let me know.  I think I pick some seeds off of a plant at my mom's cottage and threw them down in the garden, now I can't remember what they are. 

PS~Well, my Mom came up for dinner tonight.  (BBQ chicken, potato salad and corn)  I asked her about the "unknown" flowers and she told me that it is Sweet William.  Yep, I should have known that.  I sent some of my Daisies and a few of the yellow Columbine home with her.

Home Remedy Tip

                     

These are home health remedies that have been emailed to me or that I found on the Internet.  I have not tried them all and do NOT guarantee the effectiveness of them.  If you try one and it works, or if you have one that works for you, please email me.  Thanks.

*The tips I am postine today, I found on the internet.  Although I must say I am highly skeptical of these.  But it doesn't hurt to give it a try.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Obesity

• Mix lime juice with honey and water; drink a glass of this every morning.
• Mix 3 tsp. lime juice, 1/4 tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. honey, and 1 cup water; drink a glass a day for 3 months.
• Mix 1 tsp. lime juice with 1 cup water and drink each morning.
• Eat a tomato before breakfast.

I want to remind you that the most effective way to lose weight is eating a healthy diet, portion control, some form of regular exercise, and always be sure to ask the advice of your doctor.  Also, instead of eating 2-3 large meals each day, try eating a small amount 5-6 times a day. 

Many diets recommend that you increase you daily water intake to 6-8 eight ounce glasses of water.  The water helps to flush toxins and waste out of your body.  I've also replaced regular tea with green tea in our house. 

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs & love,