23 questions

I get these emails occasionally. Nobody likes to return them back to me, but I love to answer the questions so I will share with you here.

1. What is your occupation?
homemaker/stay-at-home mom; temporary, part-time telephone interviewer (I do not do phone sales or politics)

2. What color are your socks right now?
not wearing any

3. What are you listening to right now?
Dragon Tales

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
Kroger's Cinnamon Swirls in bowl of 1% milk

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
not really, haven't tried in several years

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
That's hard because it depends what you are coloring...

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
some unknown person at work

8. How old are you today?
28

9. What is your favorite drink ?
I am successfully lowering my soda intake so I will say: Diet Dr. Pepper occasionally; hot or cold flavored coffee

10. What is your favorite sport to watch?
I don't like watching sports, but if I had to I would probably choose baseball

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
yes, but not for a few years

12. Pets?
Harley - dog

13. Favorite food?
sweets; well, if I had to choose from the four food groups I would say breads and dairy

14. What was the last movie you watched?
The last I remember...Makayla and I went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks over Christmas break

15. Favorite holiday of the year?
Christmas

16. What do you do to vent anger?
talk to my husband; pray

17. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Cabbage Patch (made by my grandma); Sunshine Care Bear (made by my aunt); Rainbow Bright; other stuffed animals

18. What is your favorite, fall or summer?
Fall

19. Hugs or kisses?
hugs

20. Cherries or Blueberries?
blueberries if they're baked in something like muffins; I don't like their thick skin

21. Do you want your friends to answer these questions on their blog?
yes

22. Who is most likely to respond?
I hate this question

23. What did you do last night?
worked; knitted

Maybe someday I will make my own list of questions that makes people give more interesting answers that people really like to read.

testing a daily schedule

I decided that my family would function better on a daily schedule. Makayla's school hours may be extended, and I will be starting a temporary, part-time job in the evenings. In Excel, I created half hour increments for each day. Each day contains a column for me and one for the kids. I started with me getting up at 7:30 and taking a shower, then getting the kids dressed and breakfast. I even set aside time for walking, cleaning and free time for myself. I will test my schedule this week to see how it works. This means we will have to follow bed times, and wake up at with an alarm. Ruben sleeps through the night now so this shouldn't be too much of a problem. I wish I could share my schedule, but I cannot upload Excel files to my blog. Once I test my schedule and adjust it to what works for us, I may post an outline of one of may days.

beginner knitter

For some reason, I have been thinking a lot lately about learning to knit. Maybe I saw a knitting blog. I purchased a pair of needing kniddles...uh, I mean knitting needles (it's like a tongue twister), and practiced watching online tutorials. I gave up quickly. I turned my back on knitting, and purchased a crochet hook. I like the finished look of knitting better, but decided that crocheting must be easier. I practiced crocheting for a few days and planned to stick with it until...I received a knitting kit as a Christmas present from Lori, my sister-in-law. I didn't get it directly.

We played a gift exchange game while reading the Christmas story. Everyone brought an inexpensive or homemade gift for their gender and drew a word that was in the Christmas story. When a person's word was read they were able to open a gift from the pile or trade with some else. It was Angie's, my sister-in-law, great idea to play this game. My gift was a plastic storage tub. Tim thought it would be too practical, but it was a big hit. I just bought something I could use myself.

Back to knitting. The next day, I went to my sister's house for Christmas. After talking with my brother-in-law and watching him knit a little (he's making a beautiful queen size blanket for his bed), I was ready to get going on knitting again. Sometimes, I think it takes seeing someone do something a particular way and it clicks. He made it look easier than the tutorials. I then spent the next day and a half working on a pocket purse for Makayla.

I am now practicing on a sunglasses case from my kit. I have a request list growing. Maybe I will post pictures as I complete the projects. My goal to knit socks. Well, I will be off to the library to look for patterns.

christmas cookies

Makayla and I spent yesterday afternoon making these cookies. Thanks to my mother-in-law for buying me a cookie press that's a few decades old from a garage sale a few years back. I may have used it once before, but I intend to use it a lot more often now. It will be fun experimenting with food coloring next time. As for those of you not coming to my house for Christmas this year the recipe I used is below.

Almond Butter Cookies

1 c. (2 sticks) butter

1/2 c. sugar

1 t. almond extract

1 1/2 - 2 c. flour

1/2 t. salt

Cream together butter, sugar and almond extract. Mix in flour and salt. Form balls and roll in sugar (or use your cookie press if you have one). Place cookies on cookie sheet and press with fork in two directions. (I like to use parchment paper so my cookies don't burn.) Bake @ 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

recycled jeans

Yesterday was my niece's (Holli) 12th birthday. I made the purse below for her a few months ago. It's made from a pair of her favorite jeans that she outgrew.

1st grade reading list

Makayla and I have completed her 1st semester curriculum. It was great! She is really picking up on her reading. I was reintroduced to the variety of books you can check out from the library from a list that was provided for me from the teacher's manual. In January, we will be moving on to a more advanced curriculum, but while they encourage reading daily they do not provide a list of books to read. The library can be overwhelming if you don't have a plan and know where to begin.

• Can anyone help me come up with a list of books?

• Can you think of some favorite books from your childhood?

bbq meatballs

I made my infamous meatballs for my in-laws' anniversary dinner, and had several requests for the recipe.

Meat:
3 lbs. ground chuck or turkey
1 can evaporated milk
2 c. oatmeal
2 eggs
1 c. chopped onion or onion flakes
1/2 t. garlic powder
2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper

Sauce:
3 c. ketchup
2 c. brown sugar
3 T. liquid smoke
1/2 c. onion flakes

Shape meat mixture in small (spoonful) balls. Bake @ 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Mix sauce and pour over meatballs. (I sometimes make extra sauce.) Keep warm in crock pot. Best refrigerated overnight. They freeze well.

40th wedding anniversary...surprise!

Last Saturday we surprised my in-laws a few weeks early for their 40th anniversary. It came together wonderfully. We all pretended that we were meeting to get a family portrait taken, but secretly we were setting up for the party.

Jack & Helen had no clue!

Tim's cousin, Yvonne, has made all (excluding Michael whose not married yet) our wedding cakes including this one. She does a beautiful job.

Makayla and the chocolate fountain...need I say more?

Tim & Katie

(she's not as old as she looks)

Katie & sweet little Noah

(this picture was too good to leave out)

This is my family...

Makayla (front), Ruben, Myself, Tim, Katie

(I don't have very many family pictures. Partly because I don't like pictures of myself and partly because Tim doesn't like posing for pictures as you may have noticed.)

Most of the in-laws...

Front: Collin, Makayla, Mason, Isaac

Middle: Katie, Ruben, Helen, Sophia, Jack, Lori, Jack

Back: Adam, Steve, Angie, Tim, Myself, Jason, Michael, Brian, Noah

* I stole most of my pictures from Steve.

zero to one

I can't believe the first year of Ruben's life has already gone by. He is starting to walk and babble. His birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day this year. With our house full of family, I didn't get to just stop and enjoy his special day. We did find some time in the evening to open presents, but we were so full of pie that we skipped the cake. I saved the cake for a little get together at my sister's on Saturday.

Thanks to Aunt Angie for the Sesame Street Doctor toy set.

I haven't tired of the Cookie Monster stethoscope.

I've been a beginner cake decorating for over a year now...

I don't get in much practice.

natural homemade cleaning products

"The topic for my Women's Meeting at church this month was on educating women that they can save money around the house without spending a lot of extra time doing it. Renee spoke about ways to save money and time on your groceries by making menus, a shopping list, freezing bulk and sale items and using the same meat for several meals such as a roast. She asked me to share ideas on homemade cleaning products, and, of course, I shared my laundry detergent recipe and brought some in to show everyone. It was a big hit! I never thought so many people would take to it."

We can clean our entire house using natural cleaning products that are non-toxic and a lot friendlier to our budget. Several solutions can be premixed within a couple of minutes, and stored safely in our cabinets. The options of products we may choose to use are endless.

Basic Cleaning Products:
Baking Soda: An all-purpose, non-toxic cleaner. Cleans, deodorizes, removes stains and softens fabrics.

Borax: A natural mineral that kills mold and bacteria. An alternative to bleach, it deodorizes, removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of soap.

Cornstarch: Starches clothes, absorbs oil and grease.

Essential or Scented Oils: For disinfecting and fragrance.

Hydrogen Peroxide: Disinfects and bleaches.

Lemon Juice: Cuts through grease and removes perspiration and other stains from clothing. A bleach alternative.

Mild Dish Soap: Removes oil-base stains.

Olive Oil: Picks up dirt and polishes wood.

Rubbing Alcohol: Disinfects.

Salt: An abrasive.

Toothpaste: A mild abrasive.

Vegetable Oil Based Soaps: Cleans everything.

Vinegar: Cuts grease, removes stains and is an excellent water softener.

Washing Soda: Cleans clothes, softens water, cuts grease and disinfects. Increases the cleaning power of soap.

Cleaning Solutions:
"Honestly, I have not yet tried most of these so please leave reviews of how the solutions work for you in my comments for myself and others. I did try the Linoleum/Vinyl Floor Mixture and the Pet Stain/Vomit Remover once when my daughter got sick and was quite happy with both. I also use baking soda to clean all the time, especially for soap scum in the bath tub."

All-Purpose Cleaners/Disinfectants
Borax Mixture:
~ ½ c. borax (*1/8 c.)
~ 1 gal. hot water (*1 qt.)
Mix in pail until borax is completely dissolved. Wipe clean with rag. (*Quantity to prepare for spray bottle use.)

Borax/Lemon Juice Mixture:
~ 2 T. borax
~ ¼ c. lemon juice
~ 2 c. hot water
Mix together in spray bottle; wipe with clean rag.

Vinegar/Borax Mixture:
~ 2 T. vinegar
~ 1 t. borax
~ hot water
~ few drops dish soap
~ few drops scented oil (optional)
In a 16 oz. spray bottle swoosh around vinegar, borax and hot water until borax has dissolved. Add dish soap and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Add scented oil if desired.

Bathroom
Baking Soda Paste:
~ baking soda
~ water
Sprinkle baking soda directly on surface and scrub with wet rag. This works really well on soap scum.

Sink/Tub Mixture:
~ ½ lemon
~ borax
Dip the face of the lemon half in borax to create a hand-held scrubber. Rinse and dry the surface afterwards.

Toilet Bowl:
~ baking soda
~ white vinegar
Sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda. Add white vinegar and scrub with a toilet brush.

Carpets/Upholstery
Deodorizer/ Freshener:
Sprinkle baking soda over carpet or furniture and let set for 5 minutes. Vacuum.

General Stain Remover:
Soak spot with club soda immediately, then blot until stain is gone.

Grease Spot Remover:
Absorb spot with towel. Sprinkle corn starch over spot and leave overnight. Vacuum.

Pet Stain/Vomit Remover:
~ liquid dish soap
~ ½ c. vinegar
~ 1 qt. warm water
Soak up spot with towels. Spot with dish soap. Rinse spot with vinegar diluted in warm water. Absorb access moisture with towel. Leave towel over spot for 4-6 hours. Vacuum.

Vinyl Cleaner:
~ ½ t. – ¼ c. washing soda
~ 1 c. boiling water
Dissolve washing soda in boiling water. Apply with rag and wipe off with damp cloth.

Drains
Clog-free Method:
~ 1 c. baking soda
~ 1 c. vinegar
~ boiling water
Pour down drain in order: baking soda, vinegar, hot water.

Floors
Linoleum/Vinyl Floor Mixture:
~ 1 c. white vinegar
~ 1 gal. water
Mix in bucket and scrub floor.

Wood Floor Mixture:
~ ¼ - ½ c. white vinegar
~ 1 gal. water
Mix in bucket and scrub floor.

Furniture Polish
Vinegar/Olive Oil Mixture:
~ ½ c. white vinegar
~ 1 t. olive oil
Mix and apply with a clean rag. Reduce amount of olive oil if wood looks too oily.

Kitchen
Refrigerator:
~ 2 T. Baking soda
~ 1 qt. warm water
Dissolve baking soda in water and wipe down fridge.

Stove top/Oven Degreaser:
~ ½ t. washing soda
~ ¼ t. liquid soap
~ 2 c. hot water
Mix washing soda, soap and hot water in spray bottle.

Oven Cleaner:
~ baking soda
~ water
Sprinkle baking soda on surface, spray with water and soap several hours or overnight. Rinse with water.

Windows
Vinegar/Dish Soap Mixture:
~ 3 T. vinegar
~ ½ t. mild dish soap
~ 2 c. water
Put ingredients in a spray bottle, shake and use.