Wordless Wednesday...

 

 

Promise me!!

Make me a promise that you will get on me the next time I go this long without writing a blog besides book reviews! Blogging is one of my many guilty pleasures in life and I would really hate to take that away from myself let alone my readers who want to continue to watch my family in action :)

So, for the first of the year, it seems only appropriate that I write out the famous "New Year's Resolutions." I, myself, do try very hard to stick to these and plan to very much this year. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Find a Church. Why is this so unbelievably hard? Almost 13 years in PA and none! It is so strange that you actually start to think that your religion can be a problem in some instances until you come across someone from another religion who puts it right into your face that they are so much more "holier than thou" and they judge you and your ways. I would rather be a clean, true Catholic than a wolf in sheep's clothing other religion any day and trust me, there are quite a few that showed themselves to me in the past year. I am not saying anything against any other religion...those specific people that I have dealt with will have God to answer to. Maybe some should re-evaluate themselves a little and remember that only God has the right to judge. God, please point me down the correct path to your home, but until then, I will remain your faithful servant teaching myself and my family your ways.

2. Greet my Facebook friends. I have over 1,000 FB friends. These are all people I have encountered at one point in my life whether they be friends I see everyday, high school friends, acquaintances, etc... I do notice, however, that there are many that I do not interact with very often...so why are they even on my list entitled "friends?" I want to make it a point to contact each every so often to let them know they are in my thoughts...you never know what positivity could come out of a few kind words :)

3. Lose 10 more lb. I made one of my resolutions last year to lose 50 lb...and I did it!!!! I would love to lose 10 more and be at my pre-pregnancy weight. it will be hard, but I have the same willpower to continue and hope to pull the hubby along as well. I also want to set a goal to do some sort of exercise 5 days a week. My 9 year old daughter is a great partner in this!

4. Family Time. We currently have story nights every Wednesday which I would like to continue, but cut back to only twice a month. It was a little overwhelming to try to get it in every week. Along with this, we need to get back on board with our "Family Fun Box" and "Parent/Child Day Out." These are memories in the making a thrifty way to spend some quality time together :)

5. Me Time. I need it! I would love to have 1 day a month of time to myself...shopping, reading, etc...Even I need that little breather every now and then.

6. Dede and Greg. We are currently doing date night twice a month and are loving every second. Would like to stick to this and maybe even plan a few mini trips a year with just us. Even overnight at a B&B would mean the world! Prayers that we can get someone to volunteer with the kids on these days.

7. Extended Family. I would like to make a once a month trip to WV and stick to it! I am so out of the loop with family. I know that my family can just as easily come here, but for some reason, I am the only person with that realization. I would like to start a once a month dinner for the family at each house. Maybe this idea will get some play :)

8. Crafting/Upcycling/Hobbies. Where does my time go? I sued to be the biggest crafter. Now, it takes a year of planning to get one idea done. I have so many ideas and just not enough hours in the day. Scrap booking is a must! Let me get passed the year 2,000 please!!!

9. Saving $$$. We need a new idea on a savings account. We have so many going in different directions that they can sometimes be very confusing :/ I want one place and a designated amount from all aspects. I also would like money deposited into the kids' accounts every quarter. Just having those nests gives me peace of mind. Speaking of saving, back on the coupon train!! It is easy to fall off when you don't have the time. I need to get a day scheduled back in along with a computer time schedule and do not veer from it. While I'm on schedules, a new chore chart for all would be next on the list. Giving the kids some lessons once a month could prepare them for that hard road ahead called "life." Menu plans have been re-added as well :)

10. Helping Others. I am always coming up with ways to help others that I actually think I do that more than anything else in my life. Not a problem really, but would love to be more scheduled and once every quarter, do something larger, maybe even with the kids. After all, isn't helping others what makes everyone happy :) I know it does me. I will continue by recycling, doing projects that help others and add where I can. After I recruit others to do some projects as well, maybe we could do a girl's day/night out to discuss new possibilities. We will see...

This is my 2013 Resolutions list. I may need to refer back as I tend to get sidetracked, what, with 6 kids and everything, but I hope to stay focused. Wish me luck ;)

Book Review: Cleaning House

 

 

Book Review: Cleaning House...A Mom's 12 Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

Book Review: Is Your Home Out of Order?

 

Do your kids expect clean folded clothes to magically appears in their drawers? Do they roll their eyes when you suggest they clean the bathroom? By racing in to make their lives easy, have you unintentionally reinforced your children's belief that the world revolves around them?

 

Dismayed at the attitude of entitlement that had credpt into her home. Kay Wyma got some attitude of her own. Cleaning House is her account of a year-long campaign to introduce her five kids to basic life skills and the ways meaningful work can increase earned self-confidence and concern for others.

With irresistible humor and refreshing insights, Kay candidly details the ups and downs of equipping her kids for such tasks as making beds, refinishing a deck chair, and working together. The changes that take place in her household will inspire you to launch your own campaign to dislodge your kids from the center of the universe.

My Review: Why did I not know about this book before??? 6 kids later and here it is. I can't believe how much I enable my kids. I love the ideas the author gives to get her children to realize that they will never survive life without these skills. Cleaning the bathroom, doing laundry, making dinner are just some of the few skills she teaches to her own brood. I am extremely excited about getting started on my kids new life in the year 2013! They will be learning how to clean every crevice of this house (and we have 14 rooms) At this point, they would throw all of the red socks in with the white underwear, just to get it done. Though I will be slightly freaked out at what dinners my kids will provide, I vow to eat every bite just because they did it themselves. Wow! Are we in for one heck of a year!!!!!

Dry Idea Coupon Giveway Winners!!!

 

 

Congrats to the following people on entering the Dry Idea drawing!!

Tpohill17 and Julie

You will both be receiving a coupon for a FREE 3.25 oz or smaller Dry Idea AdvancedDry! (Expires 12/31/12)

Be sure to watch for my email :)

Thanks again for entering!

Let's Celebrate with Chocolate!!!!

It is "National Chocolate Milkshake Day" and oh my goodness...the person that invented this day was just brilliant!!!

 I came across this lovely recipe on allrecipes.com and thought I would share to any of those out there who "need" to celebrate this holiday. We all need to...let's do it ;)

Ingredients

• 2 cups premium quality chocolate ice cream
• 2 (1.65 ounce) bars dark chocolate candy bars, diced
• 1/2 cup whipped cream
• 1 tablespoon chocolate shavings, for garnish
• 1/4 cup whipped cream

Directions

1. Combine the ice cream, diced chocolate, and 1/2 cup whipped cream in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses, and garnish with 1/4 cup whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

              

* For even more chocolaty flavor...add some chocolate syrup to the top after pouring into glasses!

Numb....

Well, it has been 8 years since that horrible day that my brother passed away in a car accident. Every year, somehow I think it will get better, but it never does. Really, it even seems to be getting harder and harder to bear sometimes. I usually pull a poem from out of no where that shows my feelings for this day, but at this point, I can honestly say that I have not one, nil, notta, blocked....just, numb.

Book Review: By Faith, Not by Sight

Book Review: By Faith, Not by Sight by Scott MacIntyre

"I received this book for free from BookSneeze for this review”.

Book Review: Is it possible to be high on a mountain and deep in a valley at the same time?

This isn't a riddle, it's Scott MacIntyre's life. Each time his dreams came true, Scott found his nightmares not far behind. Some call it Murphy's Law. Others call it bad luck. Scott has learned to call it a blessing, even when circumstances have threatened to take everything away.

Graduate. Marshall scholar. Recording artist. American Idol. Blind from birth, Scott has had to work harder and longer to achieve his goals. But when a silent killer begins to undermine his success, Scott cannot work it out alone. Once again, he must lean on his faith, his close-knit family, and the life-giving aid of friends to survive.

Follow Scott's roller coaster ride to see how God used the mountains and valleys to give him perspective, hope and ultimately triumph.

 

My Review:  I was not sure how much I was going to enjoy this book. It did begin very slowly and took some time to catch onto, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. To read who Scott is and to understand how much he has been through and still accomplished so much in his life is truly amazing. You could feel his pain through everything he had to endure as written in this book, but more than anything, you could feel his passion to survive, to become something, someone. To say that Scott is someone with a handicap would be an error in words...to say that he is he is an inspiration would be dead on :)