Peer Pressure in an Adult world and the beginning steps to simplifing

This world that we live in is such a complicated one sometimes. Recently I have disconnected the Cable,phone,and internet services. I am able to pick up internet service and we or should I say I have a cellphone so we have some connection to the outside world, but it has only been two weeks and I feel the pull to turn it back on. The big factor of turning it off is that it will save us about $100 a month. The past few weeks I have seen the kids have some good pure fun and bonding between the two of them. We borrow movies from the library and friends but i have heard some little comments such as " Why do we have a nice tv if we don't have cable to watch" And the push from outside family members don't help either. I also have canceled our garbage services being $40 a month to pick up our garbage, but now getting into the routine of bringing the garbage will be a challenge, however they have on site composting so I feel it will give us a better idea of what we are throwing away!! So there, there was a little verbal puking on the blog a.k.a as stuff that is floating in my head. So do you have any suggestions on Simplfing family life and how to get the family game for it and how to go through the transitions your self?? I have been reading more and knitting and it feels good!!
On a side not my cat taught me something this week, can you tell what it is?????





Have a great weekend All!

This Moment

"This Moment"




this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Yarn Along

This picture was suppose to be here last week, there is a few more rows on it since then. It's going to be a dish cloth for a very special someone!!

This Moment!

This Moment



{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. ~ Soule Mamma

Six Layer Cake Crazy!!

Today was my daughter's sixth birthday. She is a very creative girl, loves art, and she is teaching me to be creative. So I set off to make her cake this year. I found the recipe for Rainbow cupcakes from"Baking Bites Blog", except I decided to turn them into cupcakes and since I was doing a rainbow it ended up being "SIX LAYERS" You can say I did not know what I was getting myself into. The colors were so vibrant, I was real pleased with how it turned out! It was a very fun day!!

Friday's This Moment

{this moment}



{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

This Moment!

this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. ~ Amanda Soule

This Moment

{this moment}




{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wandering Wednesday "Gardenmamma"

So this weeks photo is not so great, but is a reminder for me. Next week should be better since we are going on vacation!!



Here I stand looking at my feet as I was waiting for my morning cup of Joe thinking to myself" Gosh I need a manicure :) "

Simple girl's dress

I just finished ( with the help from my aunt on the hem) a simple girl's dress for my daughter. I purchased the fabric from Joanne's this spring. The fabric had the top part all finished so all you had to do is tear it so it would hang right, make a seam, hem it, and I made straps out of bias tape. Walla a dress. Very Cute if I don't say so mysef. I have some left over fabric I am hoping to make myself a skirt and her American girl doll one too.

SouleMamma"s This Moment

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wandering Wednesday

Here I stand with my little friends from my school, enjoying a beautiful summer day in the damp morning grass.

This Moment

{this moment}

So I am joining SouleMamma with sharing a moment with you all! Hope you have a peaceful weekend! We are headed off to a family camping trip! Cheers!!





{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


*** *** ***

Wandering Wednesday

So I am joining GardenMamma with taking a photo of a place where my feet have lead me. So......



Here I stand by my daughter's bed, tucking her in after a trip through some story books. Oh these days are so precious to me..

CSA Share

So this is my third year of doing a CSA share, the first year it was all new to me and even more so the food, second year was getting my groove, and well this year getting a lot more experimental with things.
This week when we arrived it was so beautiful, all the colors, kids playing, flowers, oh my!!



There was some sampling this week"boy do my kids love that" they act like I don't feed them and what hurts is they look like I don't either but I swear I do and boy can my boy eat my girl not so much more like a bird. The lady was handing out pickled carrots Oh my are they good and addicting. The kids loved them. And now the 2lbs of carrots are soaking in the fridge should be ready to taste for dinner tomm night.
Here is the receipe for :

Pickled Carrot Sticks:

1lb carrots cut into 3 1/2 inch sticks
1 1/4 cups of water
1 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup of sugar
2 garlic cloves,lightly crushed
1 1/12 tablespoons dill seed( during summer add fresh dill with seed heads to make a pretty jar)
1 1/12 Tablespoons of salt

Blanch carrots in a 4 qt saucepan of boiling water well-salted water for 1 minute, drain in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Transfer to any heatproof bowl or glass jars with a sprig of fresh dill.

Combine water, vinegar, sugar, garlic dill seed, and salt to the same saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Pour mixture over carrots, cool carrots uncovered, then refrigerate tightly covered for at least a day to allow flavors to develop. The carrots keep refridgerated in airtight container for up to a month.

I can't wait to try ours, here's hoping!!

Taking the time to empower our little ones

So this morning like many mornings I find myself getting all in a tissy because of the days work load ahead, all the things that I need to do knowing there will be a bunch that will still remain left undone and left for the next day. But this morning as the tissy was growing I realized that I need to take the time to included my little ones, they really are capable of a lot. Sometimes when they are crawling under my feet and in my back pocket, they are trying to tell me something( they want to help, and they want some of me) "Don''t they now I have a million things to do" Just Kidding! I want my kids to remember good things not me running around with my head cut off. So I included.... So here I pledge that I am going to try to do this more often to ask not demand their help, to included and teach so they will one day know how........So every Monday for the next few months I am going to post pics on how I am including and teaching will you join me??? How do you included yours????

I am back!! To share our favorite spot!!

Perfect Place,for a Perfect day!!

Weekend Fun!!

So while I have been cleaning the oven has been busy and so haven't the kiddos!!



Emmy had a playdate yesterday with some girls from the neighborhood I set the table up with water colors and mat boards "I love it when simple things can make them happy" and they helped me make this




Granola Receipe:

Old fashion rolled oats or Quick
Rasins or cranberries or other dried fruit
coconut
chopped walnuts or any nut
1 Cup of caniola oil
1 Cup of maple syrup

BE CREATIVE!!

Take a large roasting pan and line it with tinfoil then mix it all together with a spatula or wooden spoon.

Bake @ 325 for 30 minutes stirring every 10 minutes

Enjoy!!

(The jar I got was from a restraunt, they just recycle their olive jars.
Ask around! )

Green Smoothies~ For Real!!

Quoting my daughter "There's spinach in there" Like could it be good with spinach in there????
It is I am still trying to figure out why it is so foamy me and foam don't mix very well but they are good.

Green Smoothie Receipe:

Handful or frozen strawberries
1 pear(skin on)
1 apple(skin on)
1 banna
About 3 Handfuls of spinach
1 Quart of water
and a drizzle of maple syrup

Give it a whirl in the blender! You can drink half in the morning and safe the other half for the three o'clock slump or guzzle away in the morning. It defently makes me feel full and helps get the water and veggies and fruits in me. I did find myself snacking less.
I have noticed on other blogs you can add many different combinations like mango,blueberries,and spinach and such
Check out Beauty that moves
And tangledblueyarns blogs

for more great reads about GREEN SMOOTHIES!!
Bottoms Up Cheers!!

Spring Cleaning Take 1

So I have been reading on many blogs about spring cleaning, detoxificating, and decluttering or should I say simplifing. I have lived in my home for about three years now and slowly it's beginning to be transformed into my home.(anyone of you know that feeling) So I thought what a perfect opportunity to tie it all into one.
I figure I would start with the upstairs one room one weekend at a time. Each room will get fully dusted,windows,reorganizing and hoeing out closets,drawers,trunks,cupboards whatever it maybe.
I started with the bathroom here is what it looked like before:

And this is what it looks like now

I also painted it and am working on curtains for the window. Here's the paint job

Now I mention detoxificating we had a workshop on it at mops the other day and so I figured I should use up what I have then go to making my own or buying earth friendly cleaners. Well while cleaning the bathroom with a bleach cleaner(since I have so much tile) I was scrubbing away(with window open) and by three o'clock I felt like I was going to pass out funny sensations,horrible headache,felt like I was going toget sick Crazy!! So forget the use up thought! ALL CHEMICALS!! are getting rounded up and switching over to all earth friendly products. The chance I would have to time make my own is slim but no more chemicals!! For now it's a combination of seventh generation and method much better smells and not harmful. TOP THAT CLOREX!!
Since then the master bedroom got done and while I am working I am keeping a list of things I would like to gather this year or make while thrifting(baskets for storage,memory boxes for both kids,and I am going to try spray painting a bunch of frames I would like to do a photo wall with my kiddos photos black n white with maybe black frames or a mustard yellow ~ stay tuned!!

Anyone have a book to recommened??

So I am just finishing a book now for a book study called"The seven healthy habits of highly effective famailes"by Steven Covey. Now this was a really good book and I did find some great tips to apply to my home and family but it was a hard read for me. So now I am looking for a more easy girly kinda of read any suggestions????????

Family Time

So this weekend we had an amazing time together,getting lost on back roads in Vermont(Thank God for Iphones),visiting a friends sugar house,visiting the cows, it was so much fun. I really think even though my son says he would hate to move because of his friends, I really think by these pics he would get use to it and love it(Maybe someday:)

Hey there I'm still here alive and well

Wow can you believe that spring is here, it's the last week of March.YIKES! My baby turnes nine this week (it's offical I have a big kid)big kids are kinda of fun I am finding out. I'm excited for his birthday because we will be hitting a new local burger joint called "Sky Burgers" OMG amazing if you are every in Vermont you gotta check it out My boy loves burgers and this place grinds their meat daily nothing like a fresh burger and if you dont dig meat there is fish ones aswell I had the salmon one last time enough said AMAZING!
So I do want to catch up with these past few weeks, I had my first stitch n bitch party what a blast,Have you ever had one wine,food,bitching ,knitting what more could a girl ask for... It was great, I also have started running it was really just walking the dog and than the dog told me I needed to pick up the pace(I'm liking it),I have been fortunate everyone has stayed healthy,we have been using a family calendar lately dates with each of the kids,time for myself, allowance for the kids,etc. I must say things are pretty good.
Well enough rambling for now. Hope you all have a great weekend:)

Do you ever?????

So this morning I find myself without motivation and energy, yesterday was a no good rotten horrible day. And I do know there was some good out of the bad that happened but I am just drained. I look around its been a cartoon wii morning the sun is out, and I sit here empty not knowing which way to go outside for a walk, stay in and spring clean my office that so needs to be done(cant walk in here without crawling over something and planning is just not happeining in here),do a craft with my daughter(son is already out with friends rollerblading),pick up from breakfast empty dishwasher,take a SHOWER, whhich choose how do I choose I have this problem alot. Being a single mom I feel like something always gets left behind I am always not doing something I should be doing like the laundry sitting in the washer mildewing as I write.UGG!
Sorry I dont mean to write negatively but that is how I am feeling today in a mental whirl wind and even if I go out do something I will find myself in this place when I come back. Do you ever feel this way? What do you do?

One Small Change: March Changes

One Small Change: March Changes

One small change challange for February worked out pretty well until the sickness arrived. Composting in winter can be done. But then I was reading a post on another blog I believe "Once Upon A Parent" that it would kinda of mess up what would be ready for spring and that they started a new bin for the winter composting so now that has me thinking!
So March my challenge is going to be to gosh Im stumped okay its going to be to try to eliminate one more pre made boughten food item from the store. I am already making my own breads,soups,muffins,desserts. I think the granola or cereal could be one. I really do get all giddy when I can look at a meal that I have made and say its all local or homemade and I think its so funny when the kids ask is this homemade with a smile.

Can You Believe It?

OMG where did February go?? It's been awhile since I have been able to take some time to blog I feel like I started it,got sick,kids got sick,school vacation and here we are.
I like March minus the mud with a dog but the sap is running and that brings smile to my face. Some day I pray that I will have a small farm homestead in some small town in Vermont with a few more children,a half day reggio preschool morning time,and chickens,a pot belly pig,and who knows what else. Dreams will they really come true I wonder...What do you think?
This month I look forward to Mud,visiting some local sappers,and maybe some crafting done before hiberantion ends.

Under the weather

Hey Blogger world! We have been sick and I am hoping to get some posting done this week. I made a yummy Barb-q pork taco for superbowl sunday that I would love to share the receipeand Yummy valentine pancakes with homemade whip cream and strawberries.
Hope everyone had a loving day yesterday! Will be in touch soon!
Happy Monday stay well friends!

Grilled cheese with a twist

Yesterday I had my friend Robin from http://blog.hippoflambe.com/ over. She stayed for lunch and I made some grill cheese. She suggested to use Swiss cheese instead of what I would normally choose(American cheese) and we added some tomato. Oh my so yummy! So today I was craving another one but had no tomatoes so instead I used provolone cheese and apples. That was another yummy way. Thanks Robin for helping me broaden my horizons. What ways have you made a grill cheese especially yummy?

Recipe:

Two slices of bread
Lots of cheese
Tomato or Apple

Spread butter on one side of bread and place on a panni press. Then lay a layer of cheese on bread, with a layer of tomato or fruit and then a layer of cheese. Topped with the last piece of bread that has butter on one side. Then press the panni press down for about 3-5 minutes until golden brown and gooey with cheese.

Organizing recipes and meal planning

So if you are anything like me your on blogs, clipping ideas out of magazines and maybe even books. What do you do with all the clippings and ideas. I have created this divided folder to organize all the ideas I would like to try and then the ones I like go into my recipe box. It seems to help on the days I don't know what I want for dinner or when I am planning meals. I like to alternate chicken,pasta,beef,veg,etc meals through out the week so with the categories it makes it easy.

Love

So I am joining http://mnyoungones.blogspot.com/ with the love serious. If you are intersted in joining as well visit myyoungones blog and she will email the button. ALl you need to do is once a week,daily etc post something that you absolutley love.
So today I would like to share one thing that I absolutley love and that is

spending simple quality time with my kiddos there's nothing better than that!

Preschool Fun

Yesterday during our morning we tried monoprints which is an art activity that I found on another wonderful blog using watercolors and taking a print of it on paper. Pretty easy and it was out all morning so the children were able to do as they pleased.
Supplies needed:
- watercolor paints
- paintbrushes (different sizes)
- computer paper
- newspaper
- hard washable surface ( I had plastic from box picture frame)
- containers with water in it
- And I always have paper towels on hand
Allow the children to paint on hard surface they can also use q-tips to make designes in the watercolors. After they are done their design they then take paper and place it on top of the watercolors. When you peel it off you then see the cool prints that are made from the watercolors. Very COOL!
Now they are dried they are up for display but I was thinking when we are done with them we could turn them into cards, scrap paper of course or they could practise their cutting skills and use the colors and designs in collages.

One small change

One Small Change is a challenge given by Hip Mountain Mamma to make some changes within your home to live more simply more green. It started in January but its not to late to start. Each month you commit to one change(composting,buying local,making own cleaning products or using natural ones,switching from paper to cloth napkins,etc)
So I am taking the challange starting now in February. This month it is my commitment to compost and to shop local I know its two but .... I composted all summer and just stopped due to cold. And the shopping thing I have been know to switch back and forth of where to shop and it seems I always end up saving at the City Market Coop(with discount,bag credits,and simply staying away from the prepared box stuff and buying whole foods)
Check out Hip Mountain Mamma what would your small change be? We can all make a difference one small step at a time.

January 31 st

Welcome to my blog. This is a new adventure for me. I am hoping that this blog will help with the creative juices that are flowing, to connect with others, and be a source for others. It's amazing how many wonderful amazing ideas there are out there. I have learned so much from other bloggers. Through out the week I will be posting those links to my fav's.
This weekend has been a very relaxing weekend, with freezing temps we have cuddled by the fire, played games,ate yummy homemade cooking ( as my kids would say) and just enjoyed being home. Tomm I will have to pick up the slack but it was well worth it.