Yes, it's valentines day! One of my favorite days of the year, mostly because I get to eat my favorite treat all day long & not feel the least bit guilty! Which got me thinking about all the other many things I love:
My crazy-fun-loving husband
My little love, Karly Bug
Our almost grown up, Noelle
My endearing mother
Wild & hilarious father- who should be named Mr Gorilla Glue, for finding more uses for the product than the inventor intended
My sisters (real & ones I've adopted)
My Best friends
Iced coffee- it is beyond addiction, it is love!
My bed
Rainy days
My grill- yes I am crazy about my BBQ grill!
Lazy days in the pool
Corn on the corn (with tons of butter)
The first snow of the season
Sweet tea & Fried Zuchinni
A good heart to hart talk
Jillian Michaels
McCarthurs Cake
Pedicures
Pretty handwriting
The beach
a song that speaks to my heart
Dancing with my girl (she is the only one I dance for)
Spending the day alone
A clean house
New Sheets
Finishing a work out
A perfect brownie
Pasta house cheesecake - so much of what I love includes food. Must be why I'm always working out ;)
I could go on but I'll spare you...
One thing I really love is SAVING $$$! I love love a good sale! Not too long ago I stumbled upon Ways to make my own household cleaners. I've tried many recipes in the past & never thought they worked as well... I decided to give it another try and I have to admit... I'm in love!
Here's are my recipes
Because I am really frugal I just use all my leftover bottles when the 'real stuff' runs out I just fill them with my recipes. It takes literally seconds to make these. I've had people say, you have too much time on your hands to be making your own cleaners.... Uh no! I actually save time by not having to run to the store every time I'm out of something.
Windex Multipurpse Cleaner:
1/8c ammonia
1/4c rubbing alcohol
1 t laundry detergent
Fill the rest of the bottle with water
Clorox:
1/4c Bleach
1T laundry Detergent
Fill rest of bottle with water
Wrinkle Spray: I use this all the time now! I hate to iron!
All equal parts vinegar, fabric softener & water
Shower Cleaner: this ROCKS!!!
1c white vinegar
1c dawn
Heat it up in the micro for about 30 seconds, give it a stir & pour into bottle.
I absolutely love theses recipes! They work awesome & when you divide it all up the most you a paying is 16 cents a bottle!!!! Initially it will cost about $20 to buy all you need but it should last you a year's worth (or longer) of cleaning supplies.
Today I ran out of laundry detergent so I got adventurous! After reading lots of blogs & doing a little research I decided to take the plunge!
Powder laundry detergent:
3 bar of soap (shred it with a food processor or cheese grater). Sounds harder than it actually is. Took me like 5 min!)
1/2 box Borax
4 boxes Baking Soda
That's it!!! I have done 4 load of laundry with it today & I have to say that I am impressed! If I calculated right, this amount should last me over 6 months & was less than $10!!!
It's this simple things that make me happy. Cheap & clean- what's not to love!?
PS: I'm still looking for a great hardwood recipe so if anyone out there has one that works send it my way!!!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
What makes you pretty?
I always knew that being a mom would mean making difficult decisions, but I was not prepared for this. This morning I had to leave early for church & Jason had to bring the girls. I told them that I laid clothes out & it should be easy. Boy was I wrong!
"Mom I am an athlete, I do not wear fancy clothes, only sweats!" I hear this phrase on a daily basis from my little miss, but today was followed by... "I do not like myself today! Look at this outfit!" You have to understand that while she is saying this, she has HUGE crocodile tears & she is VERY upset.
I have a confession, I have often judged the parents who let their kids just wear whatever they want to. I have had many strong opinions about this. It was a peeve of mine & I said I would not be "that parent". Boy am I about to eat those words. I get it now. I often struggle with knowing what battles to pick- in one aspect I absolutely do not want to raise a spoiled brat, but on the other hand does it really matter if her clothes match or if wears sweats?! Might sound silly but it is a real battle for a control freak like myself. But today solidified it for me- hearing my 4 year old tell me that she does not like herself broke my heart. I want more than anything to raise a confident strong young lady, yet I am implying that she must do this under my terms & that is not ok.
It is funny how one day she just woke up with a personality all of her own. I guess I just always expected to have this girlie girl who loved pink, purple, tutu's & all that glitters. I never expected to have a little tomboy who'd have grease in her nails from working on the car with her Daddy, who would want a super hero party & if there are sports on the TV she suddenly has no interest in anything else around her. It is a bit endearing & a bit repulsive to me all at the same time :)
So Kar & I sat down today & I asked her, "Kar what is it that makes you pretty?" She very sweetly pointed to her heart, "its on my insides, BUT you think I am pretty when I wear snazzy things." It hit me in that moment that this was a mommy lesson- I had messed up... ouch that hurts!
I went on to promise her that from today on, she could choose her own outfits, even to church! And that what she wore could never make her MORE beautiful to me. I was saddened by what I was teaching her, yet proud that even though I had messed up she got the bigger picture. So please, do not judge me when you see my child & she looks ridiculous- I would much rather her look crazy now if it means gaining confidence in who God created her to be, than be crazy later in life & confused about who she is. So here is to raising a confident little lady & not always getting it right as the mom.
"Mom I am an athlete, I do not wear fancy clothes, only sweats!" I hear this phrase on a daily basis from my little miss, but today was followed by... "I do not like myself today! Look at this outfit!" You have to understand that while she is saying this, she has HUGE crocodile tears & she is VERY upset.
I have a confession, I have often judged the parents who let their kids just wear whatever they want to. I have had many strong opinions about this. It was a peeve of mine & I said I would not be "that parent". Boy am I about to eat those words. I get it now. I often struggle with knowing what battles to pick- in one aspect I absolutely do not want to raise a spoiled brat, but on the other hand does it really matter if her clothes match or if wears sweats?! Might sound silly but it is a real battle for a control freak like myself. But today solidified it for me- hearing my 4 year old tell me that she does not like herself broke my heart. I want more than anything to raise a confident strong young lady, yet I am implying that she must do this under my terms & that is not ok.
It is funny how one day she just woke up with a personality all of her own. I guess I just always expected to have this girlie girl who loved pink, purple, tutu's & all that glitters. I never expected to have a little tomboy who'd have grease in her nails from working on the car with her Daddy, who would want a super hero party & if there are sports on the TV she suddenly has no interest in anything else around her. It is a bit endearing & a bit repulsive to me all at the same time :)
So Kar & I sat down today & I asked her, "Kar what is it that makes you pretty?" She very sweetly pointed to her heart, "its on my insides, BUT you think I am pretty when I wear snazzy things." It hit me in that moment that this was a mommy lesson- I had messed up... ouch that hurts!
I went on to promise her that from today on, she could choose her own outfits, even to church! And that what she wore could never make her MORE beautiful to me. I was saddened by what I was teaching her, yet proud that even though I had messed up she got the bigger picture. So please, do not judge me when you see my child & she looks ridiculous- I would much rather her look crazy now if it means gaining confidence in who God created her to be, than be crazy later in life & confused about who she is. So here is to raising a confident little lady & not always getting it right as the mom.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
My Analytical Rant
The past few weeks I have been reading the book "Trading Places". I like reading marriage books & this was on the top seller list so I thought I would give it a try. Only to find out it is really a relationship book, not just a 'marriage' book. The point of the book: EMPATHY, how it can save & change relationships & how to master empathy. ...UGH!... was my 1st thought when I realized what it was about (& probably why it is taking me longer than it should to finish it). I am not a 'relationship' person. I love you friends out there but overall relationships are draining to me & take a lot out of me. I know it is weird, but I am that girl that really could move to the mountains alone & never be bothered by it. I love people & my family I just lack an emotional 'need' for them. I often hear preachers say, God designed us for relationships... I always think, God must have gotten a wire crossed with me cause I really don't have that need.
Empathy, probably one of my worse qualities (according to the book, also why relationships aren't my thing. LOL.) I'm not the person who feels bad for the guy on the side of the road... I say to myself "hey dude quit flipping a sign & go to Taco Bell & get a job!" I know I'm cold hearted! ;) This book has been a big slap in the face. Also reminding me that words are only 10% of any relationship, the other 90% is body language, facial expressions... Isn't that just great?! something else I suck at! I'm told often that I am hard to read, I am overall misunderstood.
Can you tell how much I am loving this book!? LOL.
So in the book there is a quiz/test to determine your Social Style:
Sympathizer- feels more than thinks
Personalizer- short on both feeling & thinking ( I think I know a lot of these people!. jk.
Empathizer-perfect balance of thinking & feeling
Analyzer- more thinking less feeling
Me? you guesses it. Analyzer & Personalizer
"...As they see it, the best way of avoiding pain is to guard their heart by keeping to themselves." Ouch. that hurt a little bit. But it is true. Ever heard the quote " it is better to have loved & lost then never have loved at all" I have always thought the person who wrote that was a total retard. Never made a lick of sense to me & my analytical mind.
Then, the book recommends having your spouse take the same test.
My spouse: Empathizer, of course!
(Gosh it makes me sick!) Yeah it's nice to know that I married near perfection but for real, do you have to score perfect on everything! (so annoying) ;)
Needless to say, I have a love/ hate relationship with this book. The mature side of me appreciates that it is challenging who I am & how I handle relationships. And the immature side of me is so aggravated that I want to burn it! It would be really easy to look at it & say 'this is who I am- like it or leave it" but I know that does not make me better of a person. So this is my rant. I have been told by people that "you look like you have it all together" this is just a little proof that I am FAR from all together. I am being refined daily! Lord give me patience to finish this book! :)
Empathy, probably one of my worse qualities (according to the book, also why relationships aren't my thing. LOL.) I'm not the person who feels bad for the guy on the side of the road... I say to myself "hey dude quit flipping a sign & go to Taco Bell & get a job!" I know I'm cold hearted! ;) This book has been a big slap in the face. Also reminding me that words are only 10% of any relationship, the other 90% is body language, facial expressions... Isn't that just great?! something else I suck at! I'm told often that I am hard to read, I am overall misunderstood.
Can you tell how much I am loving this book!? LOL.
So in the book there is a quiz/test to determine your Social Style:
Sympathizer- feels more than thinks
Personalizer- short on both feeling & thinking ( I think I know a lot of these people!. jk.
Empathizer-perfect balance of thinking & feeling
Analyzer- more thinking less feeling
Me? you guesses it. Analyzer & Personalizer
"...As they see it, the best way of avoiding pain is to guard their heart by keeping to themselves." Ouch. that hurt a little bit. But it is true. Ever heard the quote " it is better to have loved & lost then never have loved at all" I have always thought the person who wrote that was a total retard. Never made a lick of sense to me & my analytical mind.
Then, the book recommends having your spouse take the same test.
My spouse: Empathizer, of course!
(Gosh it makes me sick!) Yeah it's nice to know that I married near perfection but for real, do you have to score perfect on everything! (so annoying) ;)
Needless to say, I have a love/ hate relationship with this book. The mature side of me appreciates that it is challenging who I am & how I handle relationships. And the immature side of me is so aggravated that I want to burn it! It would be really easy to look at it & say 'this is who I am- like it or leave it" but I know that does not make me better of a person. So this is my rant. I have been told by people that "you look like you have it all together" this is just a little proof that I am FAR from all together. I am being refined daily! Lord give me patience to finish this book! :)
Thursday, February 2, 2012
pineapple bliss!
This is the easiest recipe ever (I mean even I can make them & I do NOT bake!) they are only 93 calories & pure bliss!!!
Pineapple Bliss Cupcakes:
Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 20 oz can of prushed pineapple
1 bag lg marshmallows
put aside 1/2 c pineapple in separate bowl.
combine the box mix & rest of pineapple mix on med speed.
Bake 350 for 15-20 min.
take out of oven.
place 1 large marshmallow on top of each cupcake
put back in over for about 2-3 min.
take out & gently press marshmallow
top each cupcake with the pineapple you set aside
Sooo tasty & you don't have to feel bad for eating 2! :)
Friday, January 20, 2012
Quiet reminders
I've been very purposefully taking time to slow down, one of those ways has been taking some quiet mommy time. Every day Kar naps for 2 hrs and most the time I am cleaning, finishing up laundry, working out, showering-- just getting things done! So the past 2 weeks I have been reading and journaling a lot (something I quit doing after I had a baby...) I could not wait for my mommy time today, I knew I needed it today (anyone with a 4 yr old that some days are better than others! ;)
I sat down today with my stack of new books & had a moment to realize how much God has blessed me with. Sometimes I get so caught up in life that I forget to say Thank you! I am sitting in my comfy chair, fireplace going, hot tea, books & iPad (so glad I bought this for my husband :) God ever to quietly reminded me to sit & soak in His blessings
Thank you Father for the breath you have given me this day to bring you praise
I thank you for a life where nothing is wasted, a life where you turned pain into purpose
You will never put anything in my path that cannot bring you glory
No matter what the day holds, you have clothed me with strength & dignity.
I have divine strength to overcome any obstacle because I belong to Jesus.
Lord you are my security. No one & nothing can take that from me.
I choose to turn from fear because you are with me.
I can smile & laugh over the days to come because your plan is good.
This has been my prayer for the past week. I have struggled with fear & insecurities my entire life (as most women I know do) but I have decided that I will not continue to. I will become fearless & confident in and with this life I have been given.
I am a get to the point kind of girl. So here are my get to the point reminders!
God will:
Perfect everything that concerns me. Psalms 138:8
Work all things together for my good. Romans 8:28
Contend with those who contend with me. Isaiah 49:25
Fight this battle for me. 2 chronicles 20:15
Equip me with divine power. 2 Corinthians 10:4
delight in showing me mercy. Micah 7:18
Meet ALL my needs according to His glorious riches. Philippians 4:19
Give me perfectly sufficient grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Be power to my weakness.2 Corinthians 12:9
Do immeasurably more than all I could ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20
Thankful today of the quiet reminders & the still small voice.
I sat down today with my stack of new books & had a moment to realize how much God has blessed me with. Sometimes I get so caught up in life that I forget to say Thank you! I am sitting in my comfy chair, fireplace going, hot tea, books & iPad (so glad I bought this for my husband :) God ever to quietly reminded me to sit & soak in His blessings
Thank you Father for the breath you have given me this day to bring you praise
I thank you for a life where nothing is wasted, a life where you turned pain into purpose
You will never put anything in my path that cannot bring you glory
No matter what the day holds, you have clothed me with strength & dignity.
I have divine strength to overcome any obstacle because I belong to Jesus.
Lord you are my security. No one & nothing can take that from me.
I choose to turn from fear because you are with me.
I can smile & laugh over the days to come because your plan is good.
This has been my prayer for the past week. I have struggled with fear & insecurities my entire life (as most women I know do) but I have decided that I will not continue to. I will become fearless & confident in and with this life I have been given.
I am a get to the point kind of girl. So here are my get to the point reminders!
God will:
Perfect everything that concerns me. Psalms 138:8
Work all things together for my good. Romans 8:28
Contend with those who contend with me. Isaiah 49:25
Fight this battle for me. 2 chronicles 20:15
Equip me with divine power. 2 Corinthians 10:4
delight in showing me mercy. Micah 7:18
Meet ALL my needs according to His glorious riches. Philippians 4:19
Give me perfectly sufficient grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Be power to my weakness.2 Corinthians 12:9
Do immeasurably more than all I could ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20
Thankful today of the quiet reminders & the still small voice.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Junk Drawers.
I just finished reading "Every Woman's Battle". I bought the book about 5 years ago, while trying to get a grip on "Every Man's Battle" (yes I read the one for men first, that is just the kind of person I am. I like to know what I am up against! lol!) 5 years ago I started to read it & thought this is a waste of time I totally do not think this book is accurate. Boy was I wrong!!!
In my recent 'cleanse' to cut out the junk in my life I am trying to replace it with productive things. I am also desperately on a journey to deal with my own 'junk', you know how there is the drawer or multiple drawers in your house that you call the "junk drawer"- you never clean it out, or organize it, anything you don't know what to do with, just throw it in the drawer! I have realized that as humans we have our own internal junk drawers. Things happen to us, situations occur, attitudes form, bitterness, unforgiveness... (need I go on...) We don't know what to do with it at the time so what else is there to do but throw it in the junk drawer of our heart.
My internal drawer was starting to overflow a bit, you know like when you gotta smash things down to get it to close. That was me, or so I thought! So I picked up this book again, my goodness how we change in 5 yrs, maybe when I 1st picked up the book I was just too young or immature to understand it, but 5 yrs later I felt like this woman was in my head. The book looks like my highlighter exploded on it. I started to see the honest version of myself & it was NOT pretty at all! My drawer did not just need a little smashing it needed a complete overhaul!
I am now experiencing things for the first time in my life. I come from a family of avoiders, non-confronters so there has been a lot of junk in my life that I have never dealt with. In a part of this book there is a suggestion to write a letter to your 13 yr old self- HOLY COW! If you have never done it, you must! It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done but also the most freeing. Things I have been carrying around with me for nearly 17 years I was finally able to let go of.
I know with my 4 yr old sometimes I feel like I repeat the same thing over & over again but sometimes she just doesn't get it- how God must feel the same way with us. "LeAnn let it go, LET IT GO! I have better for you, if you will just trust me." Yet for some reason there are times that we just won't let go until God finally has to teach us the hard way. I like to have control all the time, I am a perfectionist, to my detriment at times. I have always thought this was just part of my make up, who I am. Are you ever sick of being 'who you are'? God reminded me that I do not have to stay that way but it is gonna hurt for a bit. To really look at your core is not pleasurable, no matter who you are! So I am on a journey and honestly it may take me a long while before I arrive, but I am so thrilled & awestruck by a God who loves me and allows me so many chances to get this right.
So here a few nuggets from my 1st clean sweep:
So here is to cleaning out my 1st junk drawer! Great things are to come...
To (her) who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. Rev 3:21
In my recent 'cleanse' to cut out the junk in my life I am trying to replace it with productive things. I am also desperately on a journey to deal with my own 'junk', you know how there is the drawer or multiple drawers in your house that you call the "junk drawer"- you never clean it out, or organize it, anything you don't know what to do with, just throw it in the drawer! I have realized that as humans we have our own internal junk drawers. Things happen to us, situations occur, attitudes form, bitterness, unforgiveness... (need I go on...) We don't know what to do with it at the time so what else is there to do but throw it in the junk drawer of our heart.
My internal drawer was starting to overflow a bit, you know like when you gotta smash things down to get it to close. That was me, or so I thought! So I picked up this book again, my goodness how we change in 5 yrs, maybe when I 1st picked up the book I was just too young or immature to understand it, but 5 yrs later I felt like this woman was in my head. The book looks like my highlighter exploded on it. I started to see the honest version of myself & it was NOT pretty at all! My drawer did not just need a little smashing it needed a complete overhaul!
I am now experiencing things for the first time in my life. I come from a family of avoiders, non-confronters so there has been a lot of junk in my life that I have never dealt with. In a part of this book there is a suggestion to write a letter to your 13 yr old self- HOLY COW! If you have never done it, you must! It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done but also the most freeing. Things I have been carrying around with me for nearly 17 years I was finally able to let go of.
I know with my 4 yr old sometimes I feel like I repeat the same thing over & over again but sometimes she just doesn't get it- how God must feel the same way with us. "LeAnn let it go, LET IT GO! I have better for you, if you will just trust me." Yet for some reason there are times that we just won't let go until God finally has to teach us the hard way. I like to have control all the time, I am a perfectionist, to my detriment at times. I have always thought this was just part of my make up, who I am. Are you ever sick of being 'who you are'? God reminded me that I do not have to stay that way but it is gonna hurt for a bit. To really look at your core is not pleasurable, no matter who you are! So I am on a journey and honestly it may take me a long while before I arrive, but I am so thrilled & awestruck by a God who loves me and allows me so many chances to get this right.
So here a few nuggets from my 1st clean sweep:
- Stop comparing & criticizing and begin embracing (me & my husband)
- When we sow emotional and metal seed of compromise, we reap a harvest of relational destruction
- Guard your heart. Prov 4
- The only way to kill a bad habit is to starve it to death
- God made every fiber & nerve of our bodies, He can also satisfy every fiber & nerve as well.
- Love is a commitment not a feeling
- Either sin will keep you from the bible, or the bible will keep you from sin
- The tongue corrupts the whole person. James 3
- If God does not despise you for the ways you have tried to fill the void in your heart, neither should you despise yourself
- You are never more like Satan than when you are full of pride.
- Intimacy= In-to-me-see
So here is to cleaning out my 1st junk drawer! Great things are to come...
To (her) who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. Rev 3:21
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Its time to cleanse! Goodbye Cyber World
Happy New Year Blog World! So clearly Blogger should fire me cause I have not blogged in ages! I mean 3 months in blogger world is like an eternity! LOL. But I am back & hopefully will get better about posting. I will not bore you or catch you up on my life the past 3 months.
January is always a time for new goals (most that will never be met) I am a huge goal setter- actually I just like checking things off a list, so motivating to me! This year I am doing this a little different. Our church is doing a 21 day fast, although I admire those who can fast for 21 days I am not that disciplined of a person. Yes, I am joining in the fast just not going an entire 21 days. I have prayed about it & have decided that I am going to choose 3 days a week for the next 3 weeks to fast in the literal sense of the word, but I really feel that God is urging me to use this time to clean my life of its clutter so that I can focus on Him & the blessings He has given me. So I have decided that I am giving up Facebook & my "computer time". I waste far too many hours of the day on my computer when I could be much more productive. Our lives get stuffed full of things that don't 'really matter'. Due to all the technology there is hardly any quiet time in our lives. So for the next 21 days it is time for me to really look at my life, my attitude, who I am at my core... I am excited to re-prioritize my days, to slow down & remember life really is about the simple things. Although a fast is primarily about giving up food, I am using this as a "cleanse" to clean up my life, multiple areas at a time. So if you need me, the important people have my number :), I will check my email once a day, and I might or might not answer, please don't be offended it is all me & my goal to suppress my flesh.
January is always a time for new goals (most that will never be met) I am a huge goal setter- actually I just like checking things off a list, so motivating to me! This year I am doing this a little different. Our church is doing a 21 day fast, although I admire those who can fast for 21 days I am not that disciplined of a person. Yes, I am joining in the fast just not going an entire 21 days. I have prayed about it & have decided that I am going to choose 3 days a week for the next 3 weeks to fast in the literal sense of the word, but I really feel that God is urging me to use this time to clean my life of its clutter so that I can focus on Him & the blessings He has given me. So I have decided that I am giving up Facebook & my "computer time". I waste far too many hours of the day on my computer when I could be much more productive. Our lives get stuffed full of things that don't 'really matter'. Due to all the technology there is hardly any quiet time in our lives. So for the next 21 days it is time for me to really look at my life, my attitude, who I am at my core... I am excited to re-prioritize my days, to slow down & remember life really is about the simple things. Although a fast is primarily about giving up food, I am using this as a "cleanse" to clean up my life, multiple areas at a time. So if you need me, the important people have my number :), I will check my email once a day, and I might or might not answer, please don't be offended it is all me & my goal to suppress my flesh.
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