New Me?

I have to be honest I got this idea from another blog and really related to it.

How many times a day are we bombarded with these kinds of images (which do not come from a bottle but a lot of hours in the gym with a personal trainer)? I am sure someone has the answer to that question and I don't really care. I am sick of seeing this stuff all the time.

I know that even women in the 'skinny' category see these adds and question their self image so I can imagine that women in my category (25+ pounds to lose) really like these adds. Short of becoming a hermit there is no escape. Even my kids cartoons are full of these kinds of images.

Do I care that the modeling agency would boot me out on my sizable fanny in a matter of seconds? Not really. I do care that I am currently not happy in my own skin and with that I want to find what works for me. I know it's not in a bottle or a shake (tried them to no avail). So now the journey is to discover the me inside this imperfect body that God loves and then go from there.

A friend once gave me the quote, "strive to please an audience of one," and I have never forgotten it. Does that mean I should stay the way I am? Of course not. But I do need to love me the way I am so I am able to improve where improvement is necessary. Let that "audience of one" be my standard instead of all the rest.

What is your inaccurate standard in your life? What rule or gauge are you using to set your goals? Maybe we don't even realize it but it is worth looking at and maybe making some adjustments. Besides who would get anything done if they looked like this?!

"No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. " Ephesians 2:10 (the message)

I am still in utter amazement at the response to my cute little bag now know as the 'booby purse', who knew. Here I am just trying to be humble and show the world how I do screw up sometimes and I mention the word 'breast', just a part of the body 1/2 of the world possess, and everyone goes crazy. Now I am going to have to start one of the sites on "exciting blogging" and tell the world that all you have to do is mention 'breast' and your comments will double.

I have a photo in the works and maybe a contest, but today consists of the following:

*bake turquoise blue coconut cake (they don't sell these around here or I'd been on it)

*finish gift buying and wrapping

*pick up last minutes 'essentials' for the party

*finish Izy's check list for the "Perfect Movie Party"

*keep crazy boys in line

*remember the re-do I referred to a while back? gotta clean up the house a bit since it would be 'so embarrassing and ruin my party' if it was all a mess. Hey, then I don't have to clean up twice!

*finish the bulletin for the church (I do this every week)

*you know...shower, put on clean clothes, maybe some make up

My point is, it's Izy birthday party tonight and I have to get ready for her crew and all the festivities while continuing with normal life. So I will post a little later. Read one of my earlier post when I first started, there's some funny ones. The above pic is for no reason, I just like it. Later...

Felted Bag blunder

Well, for all of the compliments and comments on some of my past creations I thought you all might enjoy seeing my latest creation gone amuck. After seeing Cathys bag (check it out-it's adorable) I was inspired and I got to work. I am by nature a 'directions reader' and I don't usually wing it. It seems that the whole knitting thing is still eluding me. I can crank out the scarves like there is no tomorrow but anything beyond that and my eyes glaze over at all the knitting directions. I look and envy the lovely items that I am sure I could create if only I had taken that Knitting 101 class in college. I tend to be too impatient to call someone or go into town to the knitting store and listen while I pretend to understand. What's a girl like me suppose to do?


And so here is the result of the above, a mere 4 x 7 inches on the base and it is almost 5 inches tall. I should have taken a before shot so you would believe me when I say that it really was big before I washed it. Now it is just a poor uselessly small and impractical bag with a strap that is too wide and short unless I need something to hold up my right breast (my intention was that it be worn girl scout style). I would take a pic of it on but it is too humiliating. Seriously, it looks like a pocket for my breast when I put it on.



Poor, sad, little bag, it has captured a spot in my heart because it is cute in a sad and pathetic way so it just floats aimlessly around my house with no home. I have considered giving it a name and letting it be the mascot for all of the other items that float around without a home. Maybe they could take refuge in the bag, as long as they are no bigger than a cell phone!

Yeast

I like to think sometimes that I am the only one that's out there. My life, although it does affect others, is single and not involved unless I let it be. I am a lone ranger as are you. Is that what you think and feel? I know that I have thought that?

I was doing my life journal today and it mentions yeast and how it can grow. This church (1 cor 5) was having some serious moral issues and the people were sweeping it under the rug. Paul called them out on it and said that sin is like yeast, no matter the size it grows bigger and bigger as long as you let it. It also grows into everything around it.

What does that mean to me? I am not a lone ranger, I am part of the body of Christ which is one big family. No matter how small or insignificant some sin may be to me (I may not even identify it as "sin") if left unattended and un-delt with it will grow and eventually affect the rest of my 'body'. I have a responsibility, as do you, to stay spiritually healthy for the sake of ourselves and the rest of the body. I have never really considered a 'secret sin' as something that could eventually affect You and your spiritual health.

The end of that chapter says to be simple, genuine and unpretentious, a flat bread with out yeast, no matter what size. To basically be like Jesus.

I want to listen when something comes to mind and be quick to deal with it, not sweeping it under the rug as insignificant. I want to do the things that will keep me spiritually healthy so I can be used by God as well as be a more beneficial part of the body.

Silence and Solitude

taken from "Reflections for Ragamuffins"


Silence is not simply the absence of noise or the shutdown of communications with the outside world, but rather a process of coming to stillness. Silent solitude forges true speech. I am not speaking of physical isolation; solitude here means being alone with the Alone, experiencing the transcendent Other, and growing in awareness of one's identity as the beloved. It is impossible to know another person intimately without spending time together. Silence makes the solitude a reality. It has been said, "Silence is solitude practiced in action."

"Men listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel." Job 29:21

Ya Ya Sisterhood

Hey there girls. Got these in an email this morning. Pretty funny (thanks Jules). Hope you are doing well and enjoying a little sunshine and warmer weather. Guess what I am doing??
Painting my new rooms!!! Yeah, it's great. My wrist hurts as well as my back but hey, it's for a good cause. And no, I will not come and paint at your house unless there is chocolate cake and coffee involved, the good stuff. Later

Questions

Rules: Answer each question in three words. No more, no less.

1. Where is your cell phone? on the dash
2. Boyfriend/girlfriend? Husband is plenty
3. Hair? brown with highlights
4. Your mother? died at 32
5. Your father? Married again
6. Your favorite item(s) laptop, scrapbook stuff
7. Your dream last night? bears & camping
8. Favorite drink? margarita in mexico
9. Your dream guy/girl? not a chance
10. The room you are in? In my kitchen
11. Your fear? heights, snakes
12. What do you want to be in 10 years? private art teacher
13. Who did you hang out with last night? me myself & I
14. What are you not? skinny fitness girl
15. Are you in love? Yes, most times
16. One of your wish list items? bigger living space
17. What time is it? 6:45 pm
18. The last thing you did? warm hubbys dinner
19. What are you wearing? jeans black shirt
20. Your favorite book? Lord of the Rings
21. The last thing you ate? fish tacos
22. Your life? ok but mine
23. Your mood? ok but tired
24. Your friends? few & far between
25. What are you thinking about right now? lack of friends
26. Your car? town & country van
27. What are you doing at this moment? waiting to pee
28. Your summer? raft on pool
29. Your relationship status? Married 12 years.
30. What is on your TV screen? Suite Life-Disney
31. When is the last time you laughed? can't remember
32. Last time you cried? yesterday
33. School? 4 yrs college

Digging Out and then some

Want to come over for a BBQ? Oh yeah, we can't find the chairs or the grill under the mounds of snow. Just forget it...you might lose an eye with one of those seriously large deadly icicles anyway.

Yes, I am aware of my slacker status as a blogger. I am coming to terms with that. It is just that I am sure that I am currently down with a bad case of blizard-itis in combination with a child-related spring fevor thing. I am on the verge of losing my mind or what's left of it.

The thaw has begun from the blizzard which is almost worse because they have to stay inside or be identified as mud balls. There is so much slush and mud and left over snow. This better be the end of it. I don't feel like blogging, cooking, watching tv (unless without kids) or doing laundry. Don't ask me to break up one more fight or figure out who's turn it is. I am just going to throw them all in the trash! (the games that is)!! and I mean it this time. Get your buts out of the living room to wrestle, go up to your room or to the basement, forget that, just go upstairs. Awwwwww!!

Rock and his newest re-model has begun and his part is almost done. He decided to re-do the 2 basement rooms (insulate, dry wall, paint, carpet and new lights) so that he could turn my current craft room into an excercise room. He's getting fat I guess. I am sure it has nothing to do with my current bodily state. He also does not like the 24" green paint spot on the living room carpet-it's godda go! What will people think when they come in and see such a horrible thing? I am not sure, although it will draw attention away from the pee stains and spit up spots of our baby years. Who knows they might think we aren't as classy as they once thought. What a shame!

All this is great except that we living in a rather small house (roughly 25 x 30 on each of the 3- 99 year old floors) and when you empty a room into another it just looks like the room threw up onto the other space. The dust and mess is EVERYWHERE! We all know about my anti-housekeeping tendencies but this has pushed me over. I know that after his part is done then I will be painting and tediously putting everything back where it might belong, who knows, most of the stuff didn't have a home to begin with. Could someone bring over a really big truck and leave it parked in my yard for a week or so and I will fill it with all the crap I don't know what to do with. Thanks, 'preciate ya!

Now don't comment and try to cheer me or scold me for my bad attitude or my habit of sleeping too much or how I need to be thankful. This is my party and I will ... if I want to. Don't we all get a few blog entries of complaining and griping, I am sure I read that somewhere when I signed up. I hear Parker do this whinning noise when he's ... I am going to start doing it too, that is just how I feel and he gets attention when he does it so why not.

It would help if the networks had not gone on another freakin' break. How are us normal people suppose to deal with all these unexplained breaks. We don't have the cash to go somewhere warm when Grey's Anatomy can't handle making one more episode. poor sad actors...what are they thinking!!! At least give us something decent to watch in the meantime. That is the least they could do for us dedicated viewers. I won't be holding my breath in case you were wondering.

Did you notice that I put a cute Bella pic on here too. Yeah, I am sure it doesn't make up for the negative outpouring but hey, she is cute.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Chocolate Velvet Turtle Cake

Chocolate Velvet Turtle Cake

1 1/2 c semisweet chocolate morsels
1/2 c butter softened
1 (16 oz) light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 c flour
1 teas baking soda
1/2 salt
1 (8 oz) sour cream
1 c hot water (the hot water at the end in the reason for the exceptionally moist cake)
2 teas vanilla

Melt chocolate in microwave safe bowl at High for 30 sec intervals until melted (1 1/2 minutes total time). Stir until smooth

Beat butter and sugar at medium speed, beating about 5 minutes or until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until just blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.

Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with sourcream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Gradually add 1 cup hot water in a slow steady stream, beating at low just until blended. Stir in vanilla.

Spoon batter evenly into 3 greased and floured 9 in round cakepans. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 min on wire rack.

Place 1 layer on serving platter, spread top with 1 c Caramel Filling and sprinkle with 1/3 c chopped, toasted pecans. Repeat procedure with remaining cake layers. Spread Chocolate Ganache evenly around sides of cake.


Caramel Filling:

1 c butter
2 c sugar
2 T corn syrup
1 c whipping cream

Melt butter over medium heat. Add sugar and corn syrup and cook, stirring constantly, 6 to 8 minutes or until mixture turns a deep caramel color. Gradually add cream and cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool. Chill 2 hours or until thickened and spreading consistency.

Note: Caramel Filling may be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour or until spreadable.


Chocolate Ganache

1 (12 oz) semisweet chocolate morsels
1/2 c whipping cream
3 T butter

Microwave chocolate and cream at Medium for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt.
Whisk until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Whisk in butter, let stand 20 minutes. Beat at med speed with mixture for 4 to 5 minutes or until mixture forms soft peaks.

Note: this stuff takes awhile to cool so when you do start whipping it be patient because it takes awhile. It will look like frosting, fluffy and it will hold it's shape when it's finished.

Good luck everybody and enjoy. It takes awhile but is soooo worth it. I think I originally got the recipe from Southern Living so no wonder it's good.

We have been having so much fun. Julie got the urge to bake so she made my favorite cake, the one I wanted for my birthday but didn't feel like making, Chocolate Velvet Turtle cake!!! It is sooo good. 3 layers of chocolate velvet cake, homemade carmel, toasted pecans and a good layer of chocolate ganache around the outside. Yummy to say the least.

We made a "Parker sandwich" which he loved. The kids can hardly stand to be away from him. Sage is all hugs and 'good boy Parker' pats to his head. It is really cute.







He has also decided that he loves 'aunt juwee' and Parker so he is continuously hugging them both. I am sorry to say that Julie will have her hands full when they go home and he won't have any kids to entertain him. Caden has even started to warm up to him. When he thinks no one is looking he talks to him and tries to get him to smile.

The highlight was when all the kids were watching him get his diaper changed (which he totally loves) and he happened to roll over and while we were admiring his cute little baby buns, he peed on the paint-stained carpet. That was it for the kids, they were laughing their heads off by then and Parker was loving every minute of it. Julie was a bit mortified but of course I reminded her that a little pee is nothing compared to the 2 foot paint stain just a few steps in the other direction. It was all good.

We are now in the midst of a blizzard (thank goodness for the baby entertainment) but the electricity works as does the DishTV and the fridge is full. We are good to go. The unlikely thing for SD is that it is above 30 so the kids are getting to play in the snow as well which of course is a bonus all in itself.

That's all for now. It is always to surprising to me how much fun it can be with family and a whole gang of kids. Hope you are all doing well.