A Book Worth Reading for Parents!

Hello Creative Homemaker Friends! I have been very "hit-n-miss" with my posting, especially lately... I've been working a temporary part-time job for the past 6 weeks, and there seems to never be enough hours in a day for extra stuff. I'm just not beautifully organized like Heather is. Which is okay. We all have our strengths/weaknesses.

I've had to really pay attention to prioritization lately, and one of my biggest priorities right now is to teach my oldest child the "facts of life". {{sci-fi music please}} I've been meaning to do it for a couple of years now. (At least, my parents gave me "the talk" at about age 9.)

But these days we need to be talking to our kids much earlier on! I really wanted to be prepared and know how to do it the RIGHT way. (Not that my mom did it wrong, but I was pretty horrified to hit puberty! And sex was always protrayed by most adults [from my young perspective] as something bad, embarrassing, forbidden, wrong, awkward, etc.) Eventhough I'm sure the intentions were that of love and protection!

So guess what?? I found the answers... on the pages of THIS book...

I'd heard this book was a "must have" for parents, so I hurried to get a copy. And YES!! Definately a MUST-HAVE!! In fact, the other day I was reading it while waiting for my son at an appt. and just had to show it to a mom sitting next to me. She was SO impressed and appreciative that she was planning to pick up a copy for herself!

Straw/RaspBerry {Jam}

I got a great deal at Costco on some fruit yesterday & our Freezer Jam is getting low so I decided to make some jam today. Growing up my mom made this every year & I have followed in her footsteps. I only buy store bought jam for sauces on meats(mix with mayo & dijon mustard-yummy!) but for toast,pancakes,waffles,etc. this is the only way to eat it.

1-Wash & then mash up all the fruit (I pulse it in the food processor for a bit-we don't like it chunky)


2-Put 6 3/4 cups of sugar(I know that's alot, may that's why its so GOOD!). . .


3-2 cups raspberries. . .


4-1 1/2 cups strawberries. . .


5-Mix all together & let it sit for 10 minutes.


6-Using this pectin . . .


7-Boil 3/4 cup water, put pectin in & boil for 1 minute(constantly).


8-Pour boiling pectin in the fruit/sugar mixture & stir for 3 minutes.


9-Pour into washed containers & let sit for 24 hours before putting it into the freezer. I'm able to get 5(2 cup) ziplock containers full.
TIP: It will not look like a solid when frozen or in frig-its supposed to be a little running. Its better this way!


Now you have a good supply of freezer jam. Yepee!

{Shopping} List Clipboard

As a MOM, to make my job easier at the store I carry my trusty Shopping Clipboard. I am a "crosser offer" & mega list maker(I have them everywhere in my house). I have to cross something off to feel like I accomplished something in my day(because diapers, dishes & laundry don't count!).

I just decorated it Heather "style" (6"x9" clipboard at an office supply store). I'm glad it has a place to clip my pen on so its easy access.

I love that I can clip regular paper or a 5x7 notepad. I also attach the coupons I'm going to use so when I get to the register they are ready to give to the cashier. I've had some nice compliments regarding this. I feel good knowing this makes their job a little easier.

This is my version of a grocery shopping list. I made this on my computer to fit what I normally buy for our family. The main categories are: Fruit, Vegetables, Meats, Breads/Bakery, Baking, Dry Items, Snacks/Sweets, Beverages, Dairy, Frozen Foods, Condiments, Canned Goods, Personal Care, Household, Miscellaneous. Here is a great place for a printable list. It had many things we don't buy so that is why I made my own. Before I go, I mark what I need then cross it off at the store. I just fold the list in half to fit the clipboard. After I'm done shopping the clipboard is small enough to fit in my purse.


What works for you when you go shopping?

Personalized {MOM} Keychain Charm

I adore things personalized. Even my keys. I think this charm will fit perfectly!


1-Get 2 different sized metal washers (mine were 1 3/8" & 1 3/4" found at Home Depot or Lowe's: screw aisle). I love that these washers fit through my clip ring. I will either clip it onto my purse or pants(I know this might remind you of the janitor but when your hands are full it works!)


2-Stamp (really hard a couple of times) letters into the washer. I got my stamp set for $5.00 on sale.


3-Wrap your desired choice of 3/8" ribbon (5/8" buckled when I tried it-too big)


4-Glue (using E-6000) the top washer to the bottom washer.


5-the back . . .


6-the front. . .

These would be great teacher or birthday gifts. I'm so excited to make some for the girls' backpacks. Since the spelling of their name is not very common.


What type of charms do you add to your keychain?

Memories of {ME} Box

These might look a little odd but for now they are serving a purpose!
I was inspired by 2 things to make these Memory Boxes for our kiddos. One was when a mom gave her children a priceless gift for Christmas and the other was my notebook of collections I kept as I was growing up. Right now this is what I could do for the container part(so I had to jazz it up by letting the kids paint their name on a piece of wood) . Maybe someday I can transfer it to a cool treasure box. But for now all I'm concerned about is getting all their "papers" in order. And getting it in one place for that matter.


Inside the box I labeled manila folders by year. I filled it with papers like these: school artwork, drawings, school grades, notes from different family/friends, newspaper articles, any other misc. item that would mean something to them. When I'm done with their journals I'll add those also.


My notebook collections of growing up. . .(I thought about doing this for them but its too bulky and the space is limited-as you can see).
I let them look inside and it was fun to hear them say to different things " Ohh, I remember this. . . "
These are the priceless moments of a MOM.

How do you keep for kiddos treasured papers?

Are You a Mama on Meds?

It seems like there are tons of moms/women, these days, on some kind of medication.  Most of the time for depression and/or anxiety (from what I've noticed).   

I take 9 pills each day (which includes my daily vitamin suppliments).  Would you like to know what kind of meds I take?  Okay friends, I'm going out on a limb here... 

Each day I take: A daily multi vit/min suppliment, 2,000mg of Vitamin D, A baby asprin, Pravastatin, Metformin (at least 1,000mg), Zoloft (only 50mg), and Adderall (twice/day).  Yep, I'm dependant on DRUGS.  

My personal feelings about medication: 

1- We ALL need to suppliment with daily vitamin/minerals these days. 

2- Vitamin D is vital to us women.  I heard that it can actually reverse some causes of cancer. 

3- Baby asprin can't hurt ya (unless you're alergic to asprin) and will help prevent our blood from clotting.

What's more...

4- If you are depressed, anxious, bi-polar, or have any other form of mental disorder... don't be ashamed... get on something!  If you are a mess mentally it will not only make YOU miserable, as well as everyone else around you.  Call your doc right NOW and get a prescription.  Being "on medication" does not mean you are "CRAZY" in the head.  It means that there is a physical, chemical imbalance inside your brain that can be temporarily fixed with some "chemical" help.  WITH that help, you'll be able to find the REAL you, all balanced out.  Your physical/chemical ailment (that causes your "mental" reactionss) can be masked with meds.  And you will feel SO grateful for modern technology which makes that possible!  (It might take trying a few different meds before you find the one that works best for you, so don't give up.)

What are YOUR feelings about MEDS?  

Comment on this post to SHARE! 

(And don't forget to vote on the anonymous poll to the right!)

Mom {Magnets}

I don't think I can ever have enough of these: Magnets! Whether to put up grocery list, "to do" lists or kids' papers they work for me.

I love these type of magnet clips because they are like 2 magnets in one. Plus these ones have a perfect recessed circle saying "make me beautiful!"


My collection . . .

MOTHERHOOD {A Tribute by Ang}

Isn't MOTHERHOOD lovely?

How 'bout the 2 year-old TANTRUM?

The WONDERMENT of FUSCHIA nail polish?

Or wearing MAKE-UP just like MOMMY?

How 'bout a BLUE CRAYON left in a pocket...

MESSY entertainment

Or a quick trip to the ER?

A few weeks ago, I was on my hands and knees cleaning up my 8 yr-old's throw-up at 2 am (off the carpet, mind you), stripping/washing his vomit-covered bedding, trying really hard not to start vomitting myself, and getting really "OCD" with the disinfectant. There are things in these years of raising children that I could really be happy living without! (Especially the times when my kids are hurt or sick!) It's exhausting!

BUT...

How I LOVE being a MOTHER!! Nothing in the world could be more WONDERFUL...

...more BEAUTIFUL than a SWEET little spirit to MOLD... {A pure GIFT from GOD}.

Or a PRECIOUS little HAND to HOLD.

There is no ONE more WORTHY

Or CHERISHED

of TIME well spent.

There is nothing more PERFECT than a GIFT from the HEART

Nothing more COURAGEOUS than letting GO to be apart.

There is nothing in the WORLD that can compare to the most NOBLE of callings on EARTH.

That of a MOTHER.

This post is a bit late for MOTHER'S DAY, I know. But it's still MAY, so better late than never, right? ♥ Happy Mother's {Month} to all of you fellow MOMS. ♥

I'm so GRATEFUL to be a MOM!

"My New Life"

A couple of years ago I learned about this woman... I've followed the updates from her tragety to her "New Life". She is an inspiration to me, and to all women and mothers everywhere. She is a beautiful person with a beautiful message to share. I'd like to share this uplifting video with you of her miraculous journey. So grab yourself a tissue and enjoy! (You can watch from this post or can go HERE.)

{Chocolate} Dessert

This Dessert is SOO Yummy.

My friend Megan, made this for our family on Monday night. It was so GOOD I made it for my nephews for their birthdays. Simple too! Its a layered dessert. I only did a couple of layers but you could do more if your heart desires it.

Top Layer: whip cream & crushed Health bar

Middle Layers: chocolate pudding(make according to package)

cut up brownie

whip topping ( I didn't have enough for this layer-oops)

Bottom Layer: chocolate pudding

cut up brownie

Remember to share!

BE The Best YOU

LOOK at this awesome blog I just discovered through my cousin, HOLLY. I am SO doing this! Come on friends... DO THIS WITH ME!! It's a WELLNESS CHALLENGE to become...

This is exactly what I need. PLEASE join me. It will be so fun to DO this with as many of YOU as possible. I've never even met KIM, the woman behind this; but she is from my town. And you do NOT have to live in my town to do this... You can live ANYWHERE, and you can be ANYONE who wants to be the best YOU. Hurry over to START on MonDaY with the rest of us!!

{Glaze} for Salmon

My husband just got back from a fishing trip catching Salmon. Our family LOVES this recipe(thanks Fabi) to drizzle over the Salmon(our kids would probably drink it if I let them)

Salmon Glaze
3/4 cup melted butter
3 cloves fresh garlic
3-4 Tbl. honey
1 Tbl. soy sauce
dash of hot sauce (opt.)
Mix all together & warm up in microwave.
Hope you enjoy!

My {MOM} Book

I am so excited to share this book with you all. Even though my children gave me wonderful gifts for Mother's Day I still wanted to make this {MOM} Book for myself. I felt creative this weekend. (Sorry I didn't get it posted before Mother's Day)I found some mother interview questions from Stacy Julian that she had asked her kids so I decided it would be fun to get my kids' views about me (I will post the questions at the bottom of this post). But I needed a place to put them along with some pictures. I had some old books from the second hand store and knew if I altered it, it could work. FYI: I LOVE Books. They give you adventures that you don't always take in real life. I did feel a little bad ripping out pages. But with how cute it turned, I've changed my mind. For this project I love that this was already bound. One less step for me! {My 7 yr old loved mine so much she made one for herself-too cute!}


1-I put these clips on the pages to divide it into 5 sections.


2-The first section is for the flower. Cut thru some pages with an exacto knife and start ripping a circle. A few pages at a time so you can get the circle layered look.


3-Finished layered circle. I left a couple of pages whole so I could stick the brad thru the flower and into the paper to attach it.

4-In each "section" rip pages out. I didn't do a whole pages at once so you have a gapping hole. I did a few then skipped a page or two and ripped out maybe one-just randomly rip. This is needed so when you add pictures its not so bulky. You can always rip more later if there's still too many pages.


5-Front inside cover.(Do you notice the title of the book? Too fitting!)





6-Each child's section front page. Numbered by the order of oldest to youngest(the next page is the question page but due to my printer not working at the moment I'll have to post that later)I love how my sister captured us-my heart melts when I stare at these!


7-I put these metal tabs to divide where each child was.



8-After I did the pictures I filled the other pages with: stories, poems, quotes, sayings, magazine clippings & comics. I haven't filled all the pages YET but I will. I'm so excited to fill it with meaningfull things that remind me about being a mom.

9-Back of the inside cover.

Questions:
*What is something mom always says to you?
*What makes mom happy?
*What makes mom sad?
*How does mom make you laugh?
*What was mom like as a child?
*How old is your mom?
*How tall is your mom?
*What is her favorite thing to do?
*What does your mom do when you're not around?
*If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
*What is your mom really good at?
*What is your mom not very good at?
*What does your mom do for her job?
*What is your mom's favorite food?
*What makes you proud of your mom?
*If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
*What do you & your mom do together?
*How are you & your mom the same?
*How are you & your mom different?
*How do you know your mom loves you?

I am going to keep this treasure in a place where I can look [& add] to it often whether its a GOOD or BAD day. What do your kids think about you? Have fun in finding out!