And the mystery continues...4th day of Christmas

Ok so this sweet person has done something that NO ONE has been able to do for quite a long while now. and not for lack of trying.  My poor sweet friend Heather has tried almost weekly, slyly suggesting it here and mentioning it there.  

This person gave me a gift I hadn't realized how much I missed.  Writing.  I loved sharing here on the blog, and writing in general.  And this has sparked that once again.

But it was this person, this Secret Santa who has me going!

Man know it or not, they sure know how to take care of the love language of gifts!

This fourth day was a ton of fun.  Reminiscent of my childhood.  It was four calling birds, and we got four stockings with penguins in the top.

The memory part?  The toothbrushes and toothpaste in them.  My parents used to do that when I was little!  It has carried through with me for life.  So it was kinda of a sweet reminder of childhood.

The candy is never so bad either!  And the girls LOVED everything about theirs. 

As you can see from this picture, they all adore their little penguins.  They carry them around all the time, and each one is safely tucked in at night....

On the third day of Christmas....

Well this is where I have started to wonder how on earth my Christmas Angel(s) are going to pull this off.  There are some TOUGH days of Christmas I tell you!

How do you give one a french hen?

Well the French of course!!

Three french toast stick towers..............ahhh the creativity, AND my kids had breakfast on the morning of their church program.  Two blessings with one stone! 

Ok my dear friends and readers, who is waiting to see the next day?  I know I have at least ONE friend who anxiously anticipates what is coming the next day, she texts me first thing in the morning to see what it was.  So anyone else wanna make a venture as to what the next 9 days hold???  (yes I am a few days behind, I may be posting double tomorrow, but go ahead, make a gander!)  Post your ideas int he comments sections.  Lets see who is right!

Even my daughters anxiously try to guess what the next days blessing will be....

So until tomorrow! 

On the second day of Christmas...

I was overwhelmed with kindness and a new excitement!

"Your true friends give to you, two turtle doves"

Take a lookske........can you say GENEROUS??!!  

See, as much as my love language is gifts, I have a hard time accepting gifts that are generous from others.  But my secret Santa, no, Angel, has forced me into accepting it, and I couldn't be more excited.  This gift included not only my "doves" but some extras, that just make me feel girly and special.  Talk about a mood lifter!  

 Ps, I LOOOOVE dove chocolate covered almonds!!!

So for my second day adventure, I am grateful....

On the First Day of Christmas...

And this is where the song changes into a story...

"Your true friends gave to you, a partridge in a pine tree"

Yep, totally threw me off my rocker.  I so would of stumbled over this cute little tree had my girls not seen it.

Little did I know, this was the start of something I haven't felt in probably 20 years!  Yep I currently feel like a child at Christmas waiting for Santa!  Really.  I didn't know what to expect the next day, if it was a weird one time thing or not, however turns out, you get to tune in each day, because it was in fact NOT a one time thing.  I wake every morning giddy as a schoolgirl wondering what my "secret Santa" left for me overnight.

We have had such a hard year, that this is a welcome change for me.  I have been so consumed with change and loss I have lost myself a bit.

 I have my suspicions who it is, but I don't know as if she will ever fess up.  If she doesn't, well just know that this has made not only my day/week, but really it has made my entire year!  And I know I know, I can be the type to exaggerate, however I am NOT exaggerating this time!

And my girls.  They have gone through so much in the past few months.  Christmas is Alia's favorite time of year, and she wasn't finding the joy in it this year for some reason.  That is until our Christmas angel(s) appeared.  Now she is so excited each day and feels that magical wonder of Christmas, that only a child can. 

She is even hashing up plans of her own.........so stay tuned.  I will say however, all three girls are determined to catch the gifter in the act.  It is a "mystery that needs to be solved", and they spend countless time arguing about where these bits of smiles are coming from.


So....I guess until the next post........Thank you!

Just a nugget...until the morning

And then for once I finally feel like writing again..................all thanks to a Secret Santa, though I say angel!!!
I will tell you all about it in the morning!..............................................

Things I never thought...

I never knew:

That one day I would check on my husband just like you do with a newborn to see if he is still breathing

That I would pray for a stroke to be an answer

That I would be pissed when everything "serious" keeps turning out fine!

That I would be asked if I work in the medical field because of my knowledge and terminology

That I would quickly learn the symptoms of stroke, ms, vasculitis, among other diseases

That I would learn the terms PFO, angiogram, esophageal echo, MRA, satellite, neurology, infractions,etc

That I can tell you if you have neurological problems/stroke, by the way you smile, push your toes, touch your finger to your nose and then my finger, the way you push and pull back, etc

That one body can go through the whole grieving process several times in a weeks time

That I would let my daughter take "daddys brain" to school for show and tell

That my home could become so lonely when everyone is sleeping

That my body can function for weeks at a time with only hours of sleep

That I would make myself one of the most unpopular people with the medical world due to my lack of "give up/let up"

That I someday would not just "accept" what I am told by doctors or nurses

That the minutes on the clock will take HOURS to get through just one minute at a time....

That to sit and watch someone you adore in physical pain, emotional pain, and fear, is the worst form of torture one can inflict on another human

That an optometrist is better in many ways than some/most general doctors, and are many times the first to discover a neurological problem

That I would in fact be in a hospital room the day my baby was to be born,but not there for a baby, instead there to pray for my husbands health

That I would learn to accept help in ways that I never thought would be right for someone who is capable of doing it themselves, like accepting meals being cooked

 That I would questions God, his plan, his nearness, 

That I would still pray to him and seek his answers more fervently that I have in my entire life...

So it has been since August since I wrote.  So much has happened since then it is hardly comprehendable.

Thank you to those of you who have checked back, and will continue to read, and thank you for your patience...

The past weeks have been something I never wanted or want to go thorugh.  I have epxerienced overwhelming fear, that I have never known, and worse yet I haven't had the time to express it at times, and just keep going on going on.  I have had so many hopes, ups, and downs that I really am not sure which way is up at the moment.

What I do know, is that I love my husband more than any words will ever express.  That I will take every ounce of my strength and power to protect him.  I will not sit idly for a vauge answer.  I will research till there is no way to research, I will not just sit around.  I know that we have grown closer.  I know that I miss him all the time now, yes he is here, but he has been so tired I haven't been able to "see" him. 

This too shall pass

Or will it?

These days I am really starting to wonder.  After a LONG and not particularly good, OK, down right bad, vacation.  I figured home and school starting the very next day was a fresh start.  THINK again, not so much!  There is this.....

Check back, it'll be empty by tonight 

And then there was this morning, dropped the girls off and went to go along my merry way....but alas it wasn't to be.....

 Thankfully there were some wonderful people around to help me out....now lets see if it starts in a half hour!!!

We know God will always provide a way out for us.  And when we truly need it, we can have a break in Him. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28).  Well I am about to have a conversation with him.  Because I really don't know how much more I  can handle.
With out going into detail, I guess I just wanted to share with you, that I know we are to lean on Him in times of need.  But I wanted you to know you are not alone if you do so and feel like He isn't there or isn't listening.  It is these times that our "faith" is exactly that.  I am in a time where my faith is being tested, I still am looking to Him, but I'd be lying if I said I knew I would make it, or I knew why, or I see the positive of what all is going on.  Because at the moment I don't.  Maybe in a future post I will be able to share that enlightenment.

But for now, I just wanted you to know you may not be alone.  That it is OK to question, or wonder the paths your life is taking.

As long as you try to stay focused and on His path even if that path seems like a less traveled dirt road.

Sometimes the harder the terrain, the more beautiful the scenery at the end....

Just a peek at crazy...

So trying to find a rythm between life, potty training, work, groups, friends, family, everything in general has proven to be a harder task for me than I first imagined.

I have this dream, so sit down and write every day.  For me first and foremosst.  It is a way for me to get away from my daily drama and escape into a virtual world I really enjoy.  I love you my readers, and I love the seclusion writing takes.

And that is kinda where my problem is; the seclusion.  I dont get much of that these days with the hubby traveling and busy busy schedules.

But I vow for the millionth time to you that I am going to post 3 times a week.  I plan on the next two days to do Barbie Birthday partie amongst other things. 

Hopefully you still stick with me.  I so appreciate you!  Thanks for reading!

Recipe Review! Best Lasagna makeover

And totally healthy at that!

For ANY of you who really know me, you know I am a total pain in the butt when it comes to cuisine.  May even make you wonder how my family can survive healthy!

Well I am aware of my taste buds and I am trying to change that.  Since moving to Utah we have been so much healthier and I am learning how to prepare foods some foods super healthy.

For example this that I am about to share with you, with out my additions is only about 250 in calories and is SUPER healthy!!  With my changes, it only adds about 100=150 calories!!  And it is fulfilling.

The best part, my WHOLE family, from daddy who eats it all, to the K-bean who is still regulating herself, to the all mighty picky Lissy{no clue where she gets that from!?}, love it!!  Everyone had seconds!


I originally found the post on Pinterest.  The original is here, and she has very pretty pictures and step by step instructions if you want to check them out!  I am forever indebted to her for a recipe that provides health and taste!!!


The main ingredient, instead of noodles, is spaghetti squash!
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So here goes:

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

3 cups spaghetti squash (2 medium ones)*
2 cups marinara sauce
1 cup skim ricotta
2/3 cup browned hamburger
8 tsp Parmesan cheese
1 tsp pizza spice (or Italian seasoning)
1 clove minced garlic
3/4 cup finely shredded part skim mozzarella

Preheat your oven to 375

Take an 8x8 pan and spread a little less than half the sauce on the bottom.
Then add 3/4 of your squash.
Add half the hamburger.
Layer with all the ricotta.
Add half the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
Add remaining 1/4 of squash.
Add remaining hamburger.
Add other half sauce, other half mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.

Cover tightly with tinfoil and stick in oven for 15-20 minutes.

A serving is ONE FOURTH of the dish!!  I was so excited about this because it really is a fulfilling portion!!  I started with about 3/4 a serving and that was enough for me.
Calories: 291 with out hamburger
Calories 428 with the hamburger

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If you don't know how to cook spaghetti squash it is pretty darn easy, puncture it a lot maybe even a cut or two to let the air out, and microwave 8-12 minutes.  Let sit for 5 minutes after, then open, cut out the seeds and scrape out with a fork.  That's it!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now this is the "good stuff"...


Some of the health benefits of squash are amazing too!!  As a matter of a fact I just shared it with my 82 yr old father who deals with many of these.


One cup of cooked spaghetti squash:  40 calories, 2 grams dietary fiber, 10 grams carbohydrates,only  4 grams sugar, 1 gram protein, very low-fat content and no cholesterol. In addition..

This is the amazing part!  spaghetti squash contains

 ~omega-3 essential fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. While the former is good for preventing heart disease, cancer and inflammation caused by arthritis, the latter promotes brain function.

~ It contains various vitamins and minerals, which are required for proper functioning of the body.

~Recent studies suggest that this squash is good for prostate health and it can also be used for treating benign prostate enlargement.

~It is very rich in beta carotene, which can prevent atherosclerosis and is also beneficial for people with insulin resistance.

~While potassium helps to lower blood pressure, foliate is good for preventing damage to blood vessel walls. Foliate is also beneficial for pregnant women as it can prevent some types of birth defects in the baby.

~Spaghetti squash is a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C that are antioxidants, which can prevent cell damage. The B vitamins in spaghetti promote proper cellular function.


Please please, pretty please let me know if you intend on making this, and if you do, come back and let me know how it turned out!!!  

Don't leave a broken spirit...

In the wake of a broken treasure...

A bit of advice...

Your children are only so little for so long.  Make sure to not put material things before them.
This is easily said "I don't" when it is matters of purchasing things, or a job, etc etc.  However this lesson becomes a bit harder when said child breaks something of emotional and/or physical value of yours!

My mom told me, when I had my first daughter this lesson.  She said, "Don't make the same mistake I did, putting something of material value before you"

I learned what she meant by that statement today.  And I am proud to say, I reacted as she suggested, and I feel very good inside about it.

It all started with these cute figurines from Willowtree that my mother in law gave the girls when I had the K-bean.  They are sisters who hold hands, but them come apart.  They sit on their dresser, and they "touch/light play" with them from time to time, though I tell them they shouldn't.  Well with each baby I have had my mother in law has given me these precious statues.  So for me, they not only hold their material value, they are so sentimental special, they are from someone I love and they signify the birth of my children.

I have them sitting next to my TV in the fireplace room.  Alia came in while I was on the phone, looking a little impatient, or was it nervous.  Anyhow when I hung up I asked her what was up.  She beat around the bush for a good 5 minutes.  This was my first clue to something being wrong. "You know those pretty figures you have...", "Well I just love them so much and they look so neat...", and on she went.

Finally she told me that she had broken one of them.  And she started bawling.

My instant internal reaction?  To scream at her, to drag her in there and yell all the "I told you this is whys" at her.

Instead I calmly went into the room and examined the damage.  Getting a tiny big angrier when I realized it was several small pieces not just one.  I calmly picked them up, took the glue and went in my room.  I sat there thinking about the tears running down my sweet girls face.

Did she mean to do it?  No  Does any child ever mean to do it?  I doubt it.

I worked on  the figures and eventually they came back together.  Not perfect, but good.

I took this time to sit both girls down, but especially Alia next to me, to ask them why they think I make the rules I do.  She got it right, to not break anything and to keep them safe.  I told her I loved her, I was disappointed in how she knew better but acted anyhow.  She repeated how sorry she was.  She was afraid I wouldn't forgive her.

I explained to my sobbing daughter that of course I would forgive her, and reminded her of Jesus forgiveness.  How he died to forgive our sins.  So how could I not forgive her, when she was a gift from the very Man who taught all us forgiveness in the first place.

As a matter of a fact, I am in some ways glad that arm is  broken on that figurine.  It was to represent my children.  With out that imperfection right now, would mean maybe no children to create it in the first place.  They are my life, and that crack reminds me of the small life I am helping to develop.  The small live that God has entrusted not only her physical well being with, but her emotional, and most importantly spiritual well being with!  I look at it and know I have wonderful children to love instead of what I would feel is an empty life with out them.

Thank you God for not only lessons for my daughter but lessons for me.

Have you ever learned anything like this?  Especially as a parent?  Hope this can help you today!  :)

DIY Quick and pretty Carnations ~ From Kleenex!!

I first stumbled upon these amazing flowers over at The Mother Huddle on this post.  She has some really amazing ideas!

A few weeks back Lissy wanted to give these to our neighbor for mothers day, and they couldn't have been more simple to make!!  And They were stunning!!

I have done the tissue paper ones before, so the basics are the same, however they turn out SO much more realistic and pretty!!!

I figured I would share with you since they were easy enough for a 5 and 7 year old to accomplish.

Kleenex Carnation's

Supplies:
Tissue
Sharpie markers
Dollar store flowers (for the stems)
Duct or gardener's tape
Bobby pins


Getting Started:

First you want to take about three (double ply) tissue and lay on top of one another.  Then start to accordion fold them...














 Once you are done hold together in the middle...
















Take your bobby pin and slide it in the middle to hold it all together...

 

Next you want to tear off the ends of either side.  the more you tear the smaller the flower.  A medium flower is about perfect...

Now is time to take your sharpie and color the ends on both sides...

Make sure to color the tip/ends as well, like such.

All that is left is to open your flowers up, one layer at a time.  Pull up toward your body, and as you add layers they create a carnation "effect"..

And here are your finished flowers...all that is left to do is pop the flower off your dollar store flowers, and tape your carnations on by the bobby pin sticking out

. 

The end result?  A beautiful flower to put in a vase or to give as gifts!  Its that simple!!

















So what do you think?  Hey if you try it out let me know how it turned out!  Thanks for reading.  Please come back soon as it is finally officially summer and I will be posting more!! What a concept!1  ;)

Summer Bucket List ~ DIY (Glitter) Slime!

What kid, girl or boy, young or old, doesn't love slime?! My girls needed a project to "sell" for school and this one was a HIT! You can totally customaize it how your kiddos want it. You can make it opaque and solid colors, or clear, girly and glittery...my personal favorite. Either way SLIME is a easy way to pass time with the kiddos. It takes no more than 5 mnutes to make and probably cost around 5 cents to make! Go ahead try it! I originally found the recipe here, from where else but the almighty Pinterest...






SLIME (glitter)

1 teaspoon borax powder (best found at wal-mart in the laundry isle, its a box)

1 1/2 C water, divided

4 oz (1/2 C)  Elmer’s glue, clear or white

food coloring

fine glitter

1. In a small bowl add borax powder to 1 cup of water and stir to dissolve.  Set aside.  

2.  Pour glue into a mixing bowl and add 1/2 C water. Add a few drops of food coloring until desired color is reached and then stir to mix glue solution until smooth.  If you want glitter, I would get the real fine kind and add it now.

3.  Pour the borax mixture into the glue mixture and watch the solids start to form.  Make sure to let sit 3-5 minutes.

4.  Stir for a few moments and then use your hands to gather the mass.  The mixture will be very soft and wet. Kind of lumpy but not a firm lump yet.  

 

 Keep kneading until it firms up and feels dry.  There will be QUITE a bit of water left in the bowl.  Empty it, keep kneading and empty again.  

5.  Store in a ziplock bag or air tight container and the slime will keep indefinitely.  If it feels too hard, just wet your hands and touch it again.  A few drops does the trick.

Recipe!! These are AWESOME! Healthy Banana Muffins

 

Ever had a taste for something sweet and yummy but struggle with the battle of overloading on sweets?  I do it ALL the time.  I have a love hate relationship with my food, I LOVE to eat it and I HATE to give it up!!

I have come up with this recipe which is amazing. Which I don't mind saying so myself!  Did I just say that out loud?  Well its yummy, try it!  It is your mix of healthy with a  touch of sweets in it.  Yet it packs a punch with fiber (flax seed and apple peels) and wheat flour (which for your info I have never liked!) so not to worry you can't taste it!

Healthy Banana Muffins

Ingredients:

  1 1/2 C Flour

  1/2 C Wheat Flour

  1 C Sugar

  1 C mashed bananas (aprox 2 bananas)

  1/2 C margarine

  2 eggs

  6 TBSP milk

  2 1/2 Tsp baking powder

  1/2 Tsp baking soda

  1 Tsp ground cinnamon

  1 Tsp Vanilla

  1/2 Tsp nutmeg

  1/2 Tsp salt

  3 TBSP Ground Flaxseed

Optional:

  Chocolate chips 

  Apple Crumble topping (apple skin dried in oven 250 degrees for a few hours, sprinkled with a bit of cinnamon and sugar) butter and sugar (normal crumble topping recipe is fine, just add the apple to it)

Grease muffin pan

1.  In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and flaxseed and set aside.

2.  In separate bowl cream margarine, sugar, and eggs till smooth.  Stir in milk, vanilla, and mashed banana.  Mix well.

3.  Fold flour mix into liquid until well combined.

4.  Put in muffin tin 3/4 full.  Leave as is, or add crumble topping, or I add about 4-6 chocolate chips just to the top.

4.  Bake 350 for 20 minutes

Makes about 2 dozen.  Approx 150 calories for one with choc chips, or crumble.  About 125 calories with out.  Packed full of fiber and protein and vitamins as well!  Great on the go breakfast muffin.

 

So there ya have it!  Super easy, fast, healthy and YUMMY!! 

If you try this recipe, pretty please let me know what you think!!!

I am still getting those posts out...

But I had NO CLUE how busy you moms with school kids are at the end of the year!!  GOODNESS!  Its all done now!  Soooooooo hopefully I can get them out on schedule this week! 

Check back today!

So lets see!!  I am a blogger failure I think!

First I get excited, then I start to feel sorry for myself when I realize I only have about 30 people who read and it isn't growing that I know of, then I get busy with life, then I wish I was writing, then I start again....

Am I a pain?!  Yes! 

However I was discussing with hubby one of the problems is I can't write at home, with the chaos!!  So we have agreed to let me go somewhere with free wifi to write a few times a week.  So lets see if this helps.

This week I intend on writing about:

Little girls and their images (body) and to be aware of it
How to have the perfect barbie party
End of school fun-ness
and TBA  :)

Hello, Hello, Hello....it's meeeeeee...showing you a Marshmallow Shooter! DIY

AGAIN!  Yep I am giving it a go again.  I swear someday my crazy princess filled life will allow me to do the 5 posts a week that are my goal!  But for now, thank you for being a faithful reader!

And my motivation.  Brooke, a friend, needed the how to on how to make these!  So here ya go Brooke!!

I wanted to give you a neat "craft" if you will, today.  It isn't all that girly either! 

Alia needed to make something for Market Day at school.  And she wanted to not only attract the girls for customers, but the boys as well.  She settled on a marshmallow shooter.  And then tested it out.  It was awesome, super easy and super inexpensive!!  A great hit at school as well.

To make your own I will post what I did here.  I got the original idea from the all mighty Pinterest.  It is actually a blog I really enjoy following.  Come Together Kids.  Her post is here.

Soooo to make your own, here is what you need to do:

Marshmallow Shooter

You will need:

Marshmallows
Cups 
Balloons
Pom Poms if you want

Yep that's it!!!






First you want to take the cup and cut the bottom off.  I would suggest using a little bit heavier duty cup.  Don't make it the huge Solo cups because their brim is too wide, but the smaller ones seemed to work perfect for me.  If your cup is too flimsy it will buckle under the pressure of the balloon.

Once it is cut, take your balloon and cut the tip off.  I figured it is about 1/4 of an inch. 

That's it.

now you take your balloon and tie the end just like you would if you were tying a balloon. 

Once that part is tied you stretch the cut part over your cup, just like these...

Now you're ready to go shoot.  The marshmallows (tiny are best) go the farther.  Pompom's are safest in the house however. 

To get the furthest distance out of your shooter you put the marshmallow right in the center of where the balloon is tied.  That really give it a chance to "pop".

Try shooting them straight up in the air, shoot them as far as you can and make it a game by drawing a line and trying to pass it.

 See how far the kids are?  That was where this marshmallow, and a few others landed!

There ya go.  A quick and simple way to keep the kids buys and convince them to go outside!!

Let me know if you ever try it out!

How do you convince your kids to go out when they don't want to?

hAPPy sunday!!

Cheesy right?   Well what do you expect from a mom of three little ones?

This weekend was incredibly envisioned to be productive and was exactly the opposite.  So I'm kinda bummed, however tomorrow is a NEW WEEK!

That being said I thought on Sundays I could share some of my favorite Apps, since with three kiddos a tech hubby and myself I have plenty of opinions and apps to share.  :)

The first one kinda compares with the almighty Pinterest...however, there is one little catchy that makes this one even more of a gem in some ways.

If you are like me you are not always where you can use 3g or Wifi, like the airplane etc.  Well if you mark a web page to "read it later" by using this app. It downloads the page, stores everything, you tag and sort it and it is all there for you.  Connection or not!  how great is that?!  I LOVE it, and it has been super user friendly.  So much in fact that they revamped it from "read it later" to "pocket" and it has a whole new interface that I just LOVE.

 See there's all my pages with a picture, though you can choose list view if you want. 

 You can choose what to do with the page and favorite it if you want to find it fast.

 You can even tag em with anything your little heart desires.  Pretty darn effective if you ask me.  So you can search by type, ie, jpg, video, web page etc.

 So there ya have it.  My lil blurb about one of my favorite apps. 

Try it out.  FREE is always a good price!

What is a favorite APP of yours?