Happy Halloween

Just doing something out of the ordinary makes a day special. Today, for breakfast I made pumpkin pancakes. Mmmmmm.


Here's the recipe:

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 TBS brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
(I replaced the spices with 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice)
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2TBS vegetable oil
2 TBS vinegar
a few chocolate chips (optional)

In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combing the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Stir into pumpkin mixture until just combined.

Scoop batter onto a hot griddle. Flip when lightly brown. Serve warm with butter and syrup. Decorate with chocolate chips to make a face.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for a husband who is awesome in so many ways and especially for being so brilliant with computers - he was able to fix our computer that I thought had surely kicked the bucket for good.

I'm also grateful that after a long day and long evening he still went to the grocery store for a few items and even got me whole wheat bread.

I am grateful for my friends. I don't know if they know how much they mean to me. I don't have sisters close by (unless you count South Carolina as close) and I have a few friends that are my surrogate sisters. They bring me treats for no reason, they watch my children, they visit with me, they invite me to do things with them, but most of all, they talk to me and let me share in their thoughts and ideas and heartaches and joys. Once in a while they let me return the favor (although not often enough). They take the loneliness away. What they may consider small acts of kindness are huge to me.

It Will All Work Out

This is one of my favorite quotes from President Hinckley (former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).

It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.

Love it! But I always have to remind myself that it may not be on my timetable that things happen but on the timetable of someone Greater.

Our Very Own Little Crime Wave

For some reason the criminally-minded have come out of the woodwork this week (full moon? Halloween right around the corner?). It all started on Wednesday when Carena and Colt's school was put on lock-down because a stranger wearing a mask was seen wandering around the grounds. Creeeeepy. The police were called and scoured the area but were not able to find the creepy guy. They stayed on campus as added security for the rest of the day.

Wednesday night, as Chris was coming home from scouts, he noticed two guys crouched in a bush near a Chevron. As soon as Chris shone his lights on them they took off running. Still in the car, Chris followed them as they ran through a neighborhood. Chris had another scout leader in the car with him (as well as Carena and Colt). The other leader got out and called the police from a home in the neighborhood. The police came out, the helicopter came out, but they weren't able to locate the guys.

This morning . . . Chris and Carena head out the door. Chris always takes Carena to school. Chris notices the trunk opened on his car and all of the contents of his glovebox scattered in the car. His car had been broken into. They ripped off his stereo but oddly left the Texas Roadhouse gift card just sitting on the car seat. Now, me, if I had found a Texas Roadhouse gift card I'd have been in heaven. Who cares about a car stereo? I'm gettin' a steak!!

So, it's been exciting around these here parts. But it's not been a good kind of exciting . . . more the stressed creepy violated type excitement. Take caution everyone, lock your cars at night, double check your doors, all that.

Oh, a side note - early early early this morning our cat (the big puffy one) comes into our bed and just starts meowing at us. This got me quite frustrated because you know, I like to sleep, not listen to a meowing cat. Anyway, I wonder if he heard noises outside and was trying to warn us that someone was messin' with Chris's car. Like Timmy and Lassie.

Start Small

Deb posted a comment on my frugal post stating, "I can think of a few areas where I need to decrease spending, the problem is I have no self control. For me it's a matter of discipline. Can you do a post with pointers for that?"

So, here I am doing a post addressing that (I think). I think the best way to make a change is to do it gradually and in little steps. I hate dieting - it takes all of the yummies away from you all at one time. I can't do that. Being frugal and cutting back is the same way - if you do a massive change and cut things out of your life all at once, you're setting yourself up to not succeed.

I use cloth diapers for Jonathan. But, I didn't start it all at once. I didn't throw out all of my disposables and cling only to the cloth diapers. I started small. I started with ONE cloth diaper a day and the rest were disposable. The trick was knowing how much my disposable diapers cost PER DIAPER. (Sadly this requires math). Figure out how much each diaper costs. If you get 80 diapers in a box and the box is $15.00, well then each diaper is 19 cents. So, each day or each time I used a cloth diaper I saved 19 cents. Not a big deal - but take it a step further - that's $1.33 a week. That's $69.00 a year just by using ONE cloth diaper a day.

I'm not trying to convince anyone to use cloth diapers, but I just wanted to make the point that you don't have to be "all or nothing" in order to save some money. Use the same strategy for using cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. Start by using cloth napkins only at dinner time. Once you get used to that then use more and more cloth napkins and less and less paper napkins. Same with hanging your laundry to dry - it doesn't have to be EVERY load EVERY time, maybe just start with one load a week that you hang out.

This takes the frustration and deprivation-feelings out of the equation. It's not really a question of self-control anymore - but changing a few little things here and there to add up some big savings. Just like dieting - it's easier to change a few behaviors a little at a time - like replacing one soda a day with a glass of water. Don't deprive yourself of the things that are important to you and that keep you sane, but do address the things you do and purchase with the mindset of "can I do this cheaper?" An example: I LOVE to take hot baths. It helps with my headaches and by the evening my internal thermostat is out of whack and I am usually freezing. A long hot bath cures this. However, taking a bath uses more water than a shower and is therefore more pricey. But, I NEED my baths (ok maybe I don't NEED them, but it does give me a little down time and helps with some physical yuckiness). So, how can I make taking baths cheaper? My solution has been to limit my baths to every other day (unless I'm really feeling sick). See? I didn't cut baths out completely, but I did put a cap on them.

Saving money and being frugal is a very personal thing. What works for you and your family may not work for someone else. Just because I use cloth diapers and hang my laundry doesn't mean you should. But maybe you should. Or not. And don't worry if you can't do something all of the time. For a while, I was feeling quite overwhelmed and just barely functioning, so I switched back to disposable diapers. It was worth it not dealing with the little extra work cloth diapers cause. But, now I'm feeling better and more on top of things, so I'm cloth diapering again. My little motto has become, "do what you can when you can." Saving here and there adds up. You don't have to go cold turkey. Saving 19 cents a day because you used one cloth diaper, saving 75 cents a week by hanging out your laundry to dry, saving $1.00 a day by switching to water instead of soda . . . these aren't huge lifestyle changes that are going to make you feel deprived - they're just a few little things here and there that really do add up!

I hope I addressed the issue of self-control with this: by saving in minuscule ways you won't feel deprived (or feel overwhelmed with such a big change) and therefore the self-control issue really isn't an issue. But by doing those minuscule things in different areas (dryer vs hang laundry, paper napkins vs cloth, soda vs water) you are making a difference in your savings.

Frugal, Cheap, Whatever You Want to Call It - The Economy is Scary, So What To Do?

I feel it's time to really buckle down and apply all of the advice and knowledge that we've all been hearing about for AGES now regarding finances - getting rid of debt, living below our means, stretching what we've already got.

I already feel like I live on the bare minimum so it's time to be really creative to see where else I can save a few pennies. Pennies add up, remember!

I thought I'd share some ideas. Now, please don't think that I do all of these things or do them all religiously. When I was taking a public speaking course at MCC, we had to give a speech on trying to convince the audience on a topic. I chose the topic of refined sugar and how it's so bad for you. After my speech, I sat down and my friend turned to me and said, "I can't believe you don't eat sugar!" I told her, "what are you talking about? I just had a candy bar before class." So, in this case, just because I preach it doesn't mean I do it. :) These are just some ideas to consider. Some of them you may be appalled at, others you might just give a try. The point is to stretch ourselves. We're in financial crisis, and that means we may just have to give up some convenience and maybe even sacrifice a little. It's ok, it's all good. Change will help us grow.

1. Stop going out to eat. This one is very hard for me. I love going out to eat because for me it's much easier than preparing a meal and it gets me out of the house. But, when we do go out to eat, we hardly ever spend less than $20.00. Now, if we do that once a week, that's $80.00 a month! That's a lot of money that could be allocated elsewhere. The alternative: Packing a simple picnic lunch and going to the park is easy (yes, I still have to prepare something) and it's free!

2. Hang your laundry out to dry. I do this, although I should do it more. It takes a little extra time and hanging laundry when it's 115 degrees outside isn't much fun, but I think I figured that running our dryer costs about 75 cents a load. That adds up.

3. Use what you've got. A while ago I hosted two of my children's friends for a "brunch for lunch." I made out a huge list of groceries to get for the event. We were out of Bisquick, so I'd have to get that. We would HAVE to have orange juice and a fruit salad and some breakfast ham. The list kept getting longer. Then I stopped myself. I didn't really want to go to the grocery store. I didn't want to spend so much money. What if I just used what we had at the house already? Could I pull it off? I made some scrumptious whole wheat pancakes (with a touch of cinammon), we had grapes and a friend brought some cut up cantaloupe. For a drink we had either milk, water or lemonade. The kids LOVED it! I'm just saying that we don't have to go "ALL OUT" all of the time. Many times we have just what we need already.

4. Determine what a necessity is. This can be hard. We live in a society of convenience. Did you know that I don't buy napkins or paper towels? Instead we use towels, washcloths and cloth napkins. We get along fine and there is absolutely no crimp in my lifestyle. I just don't want to get up to heaven and have someone tell me that I spent $5,332.17 on paper towels and napkins in my lifetime - money I could have used elsewhere. I guess it all comes down to "what do you want to spend your money on?" I, for one, do without the paper goods (except toilet paper) so that I have money for things that I really care about.

5. What are you eating? We don't buy many snack foods. If we get the munchies we have stuff like cinammon toast or apple slices dipped in peanut butter. Snack foods/convenience foods are expensive. Try toast, applesauce, fresh popped popcorn, instead. Look around. Be creative. What can you do with what you've already got?

6. What are you drinking? We never have soda pop on hand. Of course, every once in a while we will, but that's usually once a year. Also, we skipped the juices. All the juices. My kids main drink is water. We do (in the summer) have lemonade. My children are not deprived. For drinks in school lunches, we have a reusable water bottle that gets filled up with water. Look around your house and pick one item that you typically get at the grocery store and figure out how much you spend on that item per month. Can you do without that item or replace it with something less expensive?

7. Cut your budgets in half. Do you have a clothing budget? Cut it in half. Make do with what you already have. I don't have a clothing budget. I hardly ever buy clothes. Last week I bought myself a few new shirts and a new pair of jeans. It had been about 2 years since I had gotten any new clothes. Yes, I usually look like crap, but with kids mucking up my clothes anyway it's inevitable. I don't need to buy new clothes that a grubby hand is going to stain up within minutes of putting it on. So, make do with what you have.

What other budgets do you have? Entertainment? Cut it in half. Swap babysitting with neighbors, take walks instead of going out for dinner and a movie.

8. Redecorate your home for nothing. I often get the urge to redecorate my home, but I don't have the money for it (ever). About 95% of the furnishings in my home were given to us. My decorating style is this "If it's free, it's for me." Make do with what you already have. See how fabulous you can make your space without spending a dime. Recently I redecorated my room by swapping out our side tables for a small round table that we had just sitting in the garage. It looks great! Another idea for getting that just decorated look - clean, clean, clean. Sometimes all it takes is a good cleaning of a space to give it that sparkle. Find new uses for items. I have a valance serving as a side table tablecloth in our living room. Make something old new again - and make it yours. A friend recently gave me her old chandelier out of her living room (remember - if it's free it's for me). We spray painted it a creamy off-white and it is now a great added feature to our kitchen table space.

Being creative takes effort and work, but I always feel like it's worth it. Give it a try!

I'll be coming up with some other ideas, but this is a good start. My main objective is to realize that we have a lot of options already just sitting inside our homes. Make do with what you have. Seriously, you'll be totally cool for doing without.

The UNCOOLEST Thing Colt Has Said

It's no secret that Colt adores Chris. A conversation with Colt the other day:

Colt: You know how Papa works and you stay home and take care of the kids?
Me: Yes.
Colt: I think we should change that plan.
Me: What should we do?
Colt: I think Papa should stay home and you should work.
Me: (I just stare at Colt at this point)
Colt: I like Papa better.
Me: I know.

And today:

Colt: Mama, I think you should go to work and Papa should stay home.
Me: (I say nothing)
Colt: I just want to see if you can work.

Mr. Messy Costume

This is Mr. Messy:


Colt wants to be Mr. Messy for Halloween. However, I don't know how to go about making this costume! A few ideas have been to use lots and lots of yarn (but it's not stiff enough and would just hang there) or using tulle. I think I'd attach that to a shirt and pants in a random haphazard fashion. For his hair and face I'd just do some crazy hair and a messy/hot pink face.

So, all you creative clever souls out there - HELP! Do yo have any ideas? Can you help me?

Movie Review: Walk the Line

It doesn't hurt that I totally love Johnny Cash. And never mind that I love Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.

When this movie first came out I was so excited - I was determined that we'd go see it promptly in the theaters. It never happened - little things just never allowed us to go see it . . . until the glorious Netflix entered our lives.

This movie was great. I have always been a fan of Johnny Cash, but have never really looked into his life until now. It was heartbreaking some things that he endured as a child that continued to haunt him as he got older. It was touching how those who truly loved him rallied around him to make him better.

It's hard to critique a movie based on someone's life because it is what it is. Joaquin was a great Johnny Cash (and he did his own vocals for the movie). Reese Witherspoon (my twin) was equally awesome and did her own vocals as well!

Two thumbs up.

See the bottom of my blog for my playlist that has a few of my favorite Johnny Cash songs.

The Coolest Thing Colt Has Said

Today we're rearranging the furniture in Colt's room. This is what Colt said:

"I know what we can do to make the room have more pizazz!"

Pizazz?! How awesome is that? I asked him where he learned that word . . .

"From SpongeBob."

Successful Surgery

Just a quick note to say that Jonathan's surgery went well. He's now home recovering and watching a movie. We're all exhausted, but grateful that this is over (hopefully forever!).

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers for us.

J

I have been hesitating to write this only because I don't want to seem overly dramatic. But, as I am preparing dinner and thinking about tomorrow, I am feeling a little scared.

Tomorrow Jonathan (or as we call him - J or Jay) is having some minor surgery. He has a lump on his chest region that needs to be removed. He had a similar surgery last year to get rid of a cystic hygroma. We were hoping that when we noticed a rather large lump develop a few weeks ago that it was just more of the same, but the surgeon did not think so. So, tomorrow he is getting it removed and then biopsied. The surgery should only take an hour. He will recover for a while and will then be able to come home the same day.

It's scary to turn your baby over to someone else. It's scary to think of him all alone without someone there who absolutely loves him. It's scary to think about anesthesia. It's scary to wait in the waiting room. It's scary to think about the fact that he's only 2 and doesn't understand these things and will he wonder why Mama and Papa aren't there and why are there strangers all around him with scary equipment?

I don't write this to be dramatic, but I do write this because I'd hope that anyone who cares to will give Jonathan a happy thought tomorrow morning (surgery starts at 7:30 am) and will remember him and his doctors in their prayers.

Autumn

I miss autumn terribly. I miss the crisp cool days, taking walks and hearing the leaves crunch beneath my feet. I miss chilly days meant for sweaters and hot chocolate. I miss going to the local farms and buying apple cider and apples and picking out a locally grown pumpkin. I miss the beauty. I miss the colors of autumn. I miss that cozy feeling. I miss really really chilly days that are gloomy and you eagerly anticipate a snowfall while snuggled up inside. I miss the smells of outdoor fires. I miss raking leaves. I miss finding that perfect autumn maple leaf. I miss watching and hearing a gaggle of geese flying overhead in their "V" formation - heading south for the winter. I miss driving down a road canopied by trees and their vivid fall leaves. My heart aches for all of this.

Book Recommendations

I have not read a book in a l-o-o-o-o-ng time. I love to read, but finding the time to do so is a little tricky these days (probably wouldn't be so tricky if I'd just get off the computer!). Also, I want a really really good book to read. I turn to you all for your suggestions! What MUST I read? Keep in mind - I typically like sweet love stories with fairly happy endings. Although, if it's a "must read," then it's a "must read." I'm open to just about anything.

Help me!