Maleah's 7th Birthday

(artwork by Daddy)

My baby girl turned seven (sigh). It's so hard to believe. She is slowly phasing out of the little girl stage and into, well, I don't know, just older. I can tell she's getting older in the way she responds to things I have been doing forever, like pinching her tushy. I guess when you are seven it is no longer cool for your mother to do this. I get the ol' "MOM!" And when I kiss on her incredibly soft, mushy cheeks for too long I get, "MOM, that's enough!" Why does this type of behavior have to start so early?!

For her seventh birthday we had a Flower Power birthday party. So fun...so girly!


We had flower sandwiches...



and we played Pin the Petal on the Flower...



and we painted flower pots and planted flower seeds in them.




The girls had so much fun. And I was grateful for the perfect weather.


Maleah was truly blessed with the many gifts she received. I was impressed by how thoughtful and "crafty" the gifts were.

And I gotta give props to my awesome son, Jarod, who put up with 11 little girls running around so that he could fulfill his mom's request to take pictures. Jarod, you're the best!

Happy Birthday, my sweet Maleah!

Making Homemade Yogurt

I bet most of you think that making homemade yogurt is too complicated or too time consuming to bother with, right? I know I did...until I tried. Had I known it was going to be this easy I would have done it a long time ago. The most time consuming part was pouring over recipes and blogs to find out exactly how to do it, and fortunately for you, I've already done that part.

There are numerous ways to make yogurt. You can purchase an inexpensive yogurt maker-which I didn't do because I don't want one more thing taking up space on my counters-or you can use your oven or you can use a plain ole stockpot, which is what I do. The key is you want to "incubate" your milk for a certain amount of time at just the right temperature. So here is what you will need:

EQUIPMENT
-stockpot with lid
-thermometer
-quart jar
-heating pad
-dishtowel

INGREDIENTS
-3 Tbs. of yogurt from a previous batch you've made OR plain organic yogurt (to use as a starter)
-quart of milk (4 cups)

Got your stuff? Good, let's get started.

Lay the dishtowel on top of your counter and place the heating pad on top of it. Fill your stockpot 1/4 to 1/2 full with 110 degree tap water. Turn the heating pad on to medium or whatever setting that will keep your water at 110 degrees. Place stockpot on top of heating pad. Sorry, I didn't get a picture of the stockpot.

Pour your milk into a pan to heat it up. Now, here is where things will differ depending on if you are using raw milk or not. I am fortunate enough to get raw milk from a local farmer each week. If you don't know the benefits of raw milk check out this site www.raw-milk-facts.com. This stuff is sooo much better for you than the pasteurized and homogenized milk you get at the store . A lot of people that are allergic or sensitive to regular pasteurized milk can drink raw milk with no problems. Anyway, back to making our yogurt. If you have the benefit of using raw milk than you will only heat it up to 110 degrees. This is very important because we don't want to kill the living and beneficial bacteria and food enzymes that are in it. If you are NOT using raw milk than you heat it up to 185 degrees and then cool it back down to 110 degrees. Now we need to add our 3 Tbs. of already prepared yogurt to our milk. In a separate small bowl, combine a tidge of the warmed milk (can't be hotter than 110 degrees) and the 3 Tbs. of yogurt. Mix together well and then add back in to the pan. Gently mix it in.

Take this mixture and pour it into your quart jar and place a lid on it. Put your jar into the water of your stockpot. Water should come up about 1/2 way of the jar. Place lid on the stockpot and then a towel over it to keep the warmth in. Now let it sit and incubate for 8-10 hours. Periodically check to see if water is staying at 110 degrees. You may need to adjust your heating pad accordingly. When time is up, take the jar and place in fridge for at least 8 hours to firm up. And you should have yogurt. YAY! Pretty easy, huh?

I will tell you that homemade yogurt is runnier than store bought because store bought uses thickeners such as pectin and gelatin. And if you are using raw milk it will be even runnier. But who cares? It still tastes yummy and is incredibly good for you. Speaking of taste, feel free to add in honey or fruit to your yogurt but only after it is prepared. Enjoy!

Playdate

Maleah was out of school last week for Spring break. I wanted to make sure we didn't get bored so I scheduled lots of things throughout the week to do, one of which was a big playdate. I invited several moms and kiddos over to hang out and have a good time. It was a couple of days before St. Patrick's Day so I made green smoothies. It was so awesome to see the kids suck down these yummy drinks that were so healthy for them. To my surprise, not one of the kids asked me what made the smoothies green, and if they had then some of them probably wouldn't have touched it. It was spinach...glorious spinach! I blended it right into the drink and they never even tasted it. What a great way to get veggies into their diets.

We did a St. Patrick's Day craft...little leprechaun men.

And we all know that playdates are as much for the mommies as they are for the kids.

It was so fun seeing these adorable little girls playing together...

and one little boy.

It won't be long before these munchkins will be all grown up and off doing their own thing...so I embrace the craziness of having a house full of screaming little joyful children running all over the place--most of the time.

St. Paddy's Day in Sioux Falls

We decided to go to Sioux Falls for Maleah's Spring Break and for a little get-a-way. This was my idea of course. Even though Mike and Jarod enjoy seeing my family in Sioux Falls, this is not one of their top picks of places for our family to vacation. It just doesn't hold the same sentimental values for them as it does for me since it's MY hometown. They felt the need (several times) to remind me that most people go South for Spring Break where it's warm. Whateva! I didn't care. We were headed to Sioux Falls.

The ride was really enjoyable. I love that my husband doesn't mind driving, and because of this I rarely have to, which means I get to kick back and read my favorite magazines and books...or sleep. I also love that Mike and Jarod and I always engage in great conversation while riding in the car. Maleah does pretty well too, as long as she has food and the portable DVD player.


We arrived late Friday afternoon. We pulled up to the hotel and when we got out I thought it was actually pretty nice out. 47 degrees...not bad for Sioux Falls...until the next day. I was excited to wake up Saturday morning and get out and about in my good ole hometown. I wanted to go shopping, eat lunch and go see the St. Patrick's Day Parade. I grew up going to this parade and was happy to be sharing this memory with my husband and kids. We ate our breakfast and got ready to head out. As soon as we stepped outside I was quickly reminded of the brutal winds that South Dakota gets. The temperature said 25, but with the windchill it felt like 9 degrees out. Yes, people, 9 degrees in the middle of March. MAN, it was cold!!! I didn't want this to get in the way of us having fun though.

After lunch and a little shopping we went to Sinful Things Desserts. The name says it all. OMG! This place has the best freakin' baked goods.

Maleah and I shared a piece of peanut butter chocolate cheesecake. Mike totally scored. He has been craving cheesecake and he LOVES Red Velvet Cake. So he was in heaven when he ate his Red Devil Cake layered with cheesecake. Jarod decided to abandon us and go hang out with his cousin so he didn't get to indulge.

(maleah took this picture of us)

Sinful Things Desserts is located right downtown on the street where the parade is held. I asked Maleah if she would like to stay seated at our lovely (and warm) little table nicely placed right next to the front window to where we could see the parade up close and personal. We wouldn't miss a thing and we would be warm. Yeah right! No such luck. She insisted we go outside. So we did. And we froze. The parade was every bit as good as I anticipated, but after 15 minutes we were all freezing, including Maleah, who informed me that she could no longer feel her toes. This is when I politely reminded her that she was the one that wanted to stand outside. We only stayed for about half of the parade but it was so much fun. It took me back a few years and put me in touch with my Irish heritage.




The other highlight of the trip was finding out that Sioux Falls FINALLY has an all natural, organic grocery store. Pomegranate Market. It was amazing. It had everything Whole Foods has except it is locally owned and the prices were MUCH better.


We ended up getting a few groceries and eating lunch at their salad bar, which was amazing.


I hate trying to find places to eat out when traveling because most places don't serve the types of food that our family likes to eat, so I was extremely grateful that this market was available to us. Seriously, I was like a kid in a candy store. Although, Jarod didn't partake in eating at the salad bar. We took him across the street to Taco Johns--he says he loves this place and doesn't get to eat it very often because we don't have one. He eats healthy for the most part but I'm still working him.

It was so good seeing family too. I got to see my new niece for the first time, but I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't get any pictures. Darnit!

All in all it was a good trip despite the cold. I really like Sioux Falls and find that I really miss it. I said several times that I could see us living in Sioux Falls but my husband (and son) says I'm crazy, it'll never happen and we have a great life in Kansas City. He's right, we do have a great life in KC and I am grateful for it. But that doesn't mean I can't daydream of all that Sioux Falls has to offer and the good memories that I have there.

2011 Valentine Decorating

I have never really gotten into present buying or decorating for Valentines Day. I'm not sure why. But this year is different. I think it's a direct result from working at Paper Source and being inspired to create something every time I step foot in there. I even have gifts bought for my kids way ahead of schedule. Again...Paper Source. Maleah got in on the fun of helping mom make some Valentine crafts for the house.

You know me, I keep things pretty simple. We cut lots of heart shapes out. Look at the concentration.





The hearts were made from some cute Valentine wrapping paper found in Target's dollar section and also from pages of a book. We taped a piece of pink thread in between two hearts in a dangly sort of way.


And then I hung a bunch of them from my chandelier in my dining room.



I also made a larger heart made from the paper of a book. I can't get enough of this look. I taped two of them together, punched a hole in the middle of it to hang up with the pink thread and gave it a little bling, which consisted of a little flower made of wrapping paper pieces I cut out and glitter glue in the middle.




We also put up some fun heart decals in the windows (sorry, no picture) and a string of heart lights all found, where else, in Target's dollar section! I love shopping that section of the store. You just can't beat the low cost of such cute things. Now I just need to figure out what to buy Mike for Valentines Day that fits our budget, that shows him how much I love him, and that is something he will really like. Now there's a challenge!

My birthday...and a time to reflect

I came across something my husband gave me one day before my 39th birthday last year. He wrote me a letter. This is what it said:

So, you've got one more day before your 39th birthday. Here are a few questions to help you take inventory of the last year.

1. What was the most interesting book you read?
2. What was the more interesting movie you saw?
3. What was the most memorable place you visited?
4. What was the most memorable event?
5. What would you most like to forget?
6. What was the happiest moment?
7. What was the saddest moment?
8. What was the average price of gas?
9. What was the average price of a home?
10. Who was the president of the United States?
11. Who was a popular musical artist?
12. Who was a popular movie star?
13. How old were your kids?
14. What world events shaped/impacted society?
15. What was the newest technology unveiled?

(Still part of the letter) If you were to answer these questions each year and keep a record of it, you could look back on your life and get a really clear picture of the kind of life that you lived; and it would be an awesome record to pass on to your children. By the way, answering these questions usually works best if you give the first answer that pops into your head, rather than really trying to ponder them.

Happy almost-birthday!

What a thoughtful letter...way to go, babe. It's always encouraging (and entertaining) to look back on your life and see just how far you have come. And since I will be turning my blog into a book on a yearly basis, I figured blogging about it would be perfect. So, sit back and join me as I reflect on the past year of my life.

1. What was the most interesting book you read? Hmmm...tough one. I love to read. But if I had to pick one it would probably be Eat Pray Love. Even though I didn't agree with everything in this book, there were some pretty deep parts that really made me think about my beliefs, my relationship with God and where I'm at in my life. I enjoyed reading it.

I do have to give mention to another really good book I just remembered I read. The Path by Laurie Beth Jones. This book helped me decide what I want to do with my life and made me take a hard look at what my God-given gifts are and how I am or am not using them. Excellent book! I highly recommend it.
2. What was the more interesting movie you saw? Coincides with #1. Eat Pray Love. Made me think. Plus, it was just good a chick flick.
3. What was the most memorable place you visited? This past summer my husband's family had a family reunion in Tennessee. This was the first time I had ever been to those neck of the woods. It was beautiful. I also had a wonderful time with his family. They are so fun to be around.
4. What was the most memorable event? We bought our first house. I have been waiting so long for this to happen. My goal was to own my own home by the time I was 40. Check!
5. What would you most like to forget? Some pretty rocky times in my marriage, but God is faithful and works all things for good. Each year gets better. I am amazed how God uses the really tough stuff to make us stronger and more like Him.
6. What was the happiest moment? I could never just pick one, but my kids make me happy. They are amazing. Sometimes I wonder why God chose me to have such amazing children, but I'm so grateful He did. Don't get me wrong, this parenting thing is the hardest damn, eh hem, I mean darn thing a person will ever do. It comes with much heartache and sacrifice, but the rewards make it all worth it.
7. What was the saddest moment? Realizing how old my kids are getting. I wish I could stop time. Jarod is soon to be out of the house and Maleah is growing out of her little girl stage. Makes me sad, especially knowing that we are done having children-unless, of course, the Lord performs a miracle.
8. What was the average price of gas? $2.79
9. What was the average price of a home? This definitely depends on what part of the city you live in, but in my neighborhood it's around $220,ooo.
10. Who was the president of the United States? Obama.
11. Who was a popular musical artist? Well, the music I listen to consists of artists that have been around for awhile and have been popular for a long time. But for the younger generation, I will pick Justin Beiber.
12. Who was a popular movie star? Here again, the ones I know about and watch have been around for a long time. And can I say, I'm really bad with names anyway. Or maybe I'm just getting older and I'm not staying up on all the latest actors and actresses. Who knows. But the only names I can come up with are Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks. STOP LAUGHING! I don't care if they have been around for a million years. They're still good actors!
13. How old were your kids? 18 and 5
14. What world events shaped/impacted society? We hit a pretty big recession. Lots of job losses and people losing their homes. I feel very blessed that my husband was able to keep his job and that the Lord provided for our needs.
15. What was the newest technology unveiled? The Ipad, although, I can say that I really have no interest in one. I have my laptop and that's all I need. I think the "technology world" is out of hand. There are so many things being made that are just not necessary or that are basically duplicating things that are already made and already "fitting the bill". Yep, I must be getting old.

In two more days I will be 40 years old. It's pretty hard for me to believe, and everyone assumes that this scares me or that I'm dreading it. Actually, quite the opposite. I'd like to think I'm not only getting older but I'm getting wiser. I have done some pretty stupid things back in my younger years and have come a loooooong way and learned a ton. I am excited to see what's in store for me in this new season of my life-what the upcoming chapters of my story hold for me. So, here's to many more trials, victories, memories and being the best me I was created to be. BRING IT ON 40!!!

Another Furniture Makeover

I friend of mine gave me this bookcase a while back. I love how it has that antique, distressed look. Unfortunately, when I put in my home something was not quite right. I left it like it was for a couple of months but every time I walked by it I kept envisioning how to make it better. I realized it was the color that was bothering me. It was too drab for my surroundings. So, I finally decided to paint it. (Notice the testing of colors on the side of the bookcase.)


I started out sanding it with a small block of hand sandpaper and then quickly realized this was too much darn work. My arm was sore after 2 minutes (of course, this is no indication that I need to get in better shape). So I decided to just slap on some primer.

After priming I gave it a very light sanding to make the paint adhere better. I picked out a turquoise color, Jamaican Sea, to match the colors in my living room. I applied two coats of paint. I wanted a distressed look so after the paint was thoroughly dry I sanded down parts of the bookcase to have a worn look, mostly on the edges.


I took Ralph Lauren's Faux Glaze Tint and added a bit of dark craft paint. I painted this mixture on the bookcase and then wiped most of it off. There were lots of grooves and crevices for the glaze to settle into, which made it look even more worn. Voila! This is the finished piece.

I apologize for the fuzzy pictures. I think it was because it was cold (more like friggin' freezing) in my garage and I don't think my camera liked that.