Sixteen Candles rotting my sponge-like brain that looks like a pinata

A little bit of an unintended hiatus there. Seriously, seriously off track...but the good news is my husband assures me that once he gets going this is going to be better than our wildest dreams.

True confession time...I often...while alone in my vehicle pop this CD and play this song at maximum volume. This is one of those songs... When it came out, I loved it. I didn't fully understand it but nonetheless looooved it. Flash forward, um, a few years...this isn't a song that I have listened to religiously but rather one I rediscovered. On some levels, I can see my life playing out as the video.

I know, my life as the video. How crazy! Then, this song was a catchy tune with a pop culture reference. Now, well, now I am an old married lady who has been on both sides of the "I wish I loved you" conundrum. A whole lot this song makes me think of someone with whom I was associated with on and off. I guess there is this whole thankful melancholy for me surrounding that song. I can wistfully remember those days of yore when seemingly dreamy guys continually fell short in the shining armor department. I am so glad that I do not have to worry about that kind of rejection and insecurity anymore.

But that whole "I wish I loved you" ugh, for me, even as a happily married woman it invokes such a feeling for me, a memory. When I hear those lyrics, my brain goes to specific moments in time that I was on either side of those lyrics more or less. I think that may actually be the worst feeling in the world...to be the person saying that. I have been on the other side, and it hurts but I think it's worse to be the deliverer of such news. The times I can think of in my life where that was the case, I did feel so awful that despite all else that part just didn't click.

I should probably find a new song to blast. These things go in cycles for me anyway. But what, what should be my next song? I think I have learned all I needed to from this one. It is certainly nice to think about these memories and be Mrs.Wolfe. If any of those non-reciprocating jokers had loved me, then I would be stuck with them right now. I believe stuck is the right word because well, I know...knew them. I can not imagine that I would be nearly as happy had things been different.

I do mean that. Both about the happiness and these things going in cycles for me. Not so long before Molly, the blasted song was Garbage "When I Grow Up". I wish I was half as hot as Shirley Manson. Most days I feel like I look more like Marilyn Manson. Perhaps, I need to latch on to "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story. But yeah, for some reason, that Garbage song really resonated with me for a long time. I think most of it was in an ironic way, but still.

As I am writing this, I realize that I think that the new song obsession is already fading in, I just hadn't realized it. I don't know though, if I am ready to admit my love affair with Oasis, though. "Roll With It" is in heavy rotation, just as heavy as "Molly" so maybe that's the one. Hmm, in light of the fact that I was singing it, it's more than a maybe...

...oh, who knows...

Enjoy the Sponge video that doesn't end with Bob Square Pants! I know for some of you a sponge without square pants is a real treat!

Day, n. A period of twenty-four hours, mostly misspent. ~ Ambrose Bierce

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. It's 6:44am and I am up and posting.

I have been up since a little after five when I rolled over to find that I could. My husband was gone, and honestly it bummed me out a little. Turned out he hadn't left yet, so I got to have a little chat and see him off...okay, granted, I never actually left the comfort of the bed.


Last night marked the first night all week he was home. He started a new job this week. The training schedule is crazy intensive with him spending time at I guess it's a regional office, the corporate HQ, his new office, and one close to here. This week has been interesting for sure. I actually drove four hours (round trip) just to spend five hours with him the other night.


So, I am up and I am writing and wishing the coffee would pour itself and walk over to me.


I have never been a morning person. I enjoy mornings but there is such a lack of availability at places that I have tended to not get anything done in the morning. Our whole schedule is changing. I don't mind the change, except that we don't really know what the routine will be. We won't know for a few more weeks, and even then that routine will be short-lived because summer will be here and the school schedules will drop out of rotation.


I guess a better subject line for this blog would have been "The Only Constant is Change". See what happens when I don't have my coffee, I can't think clearly! No, I picked well. I have had no listlessly idle time this week. Even though I do not really have today planned out fully (yet), I know that I will fully utilize the next eight hours so that when he gets home I can spend sometime with him. Sure, I've got the weekend too but I hardly got to see him last night.

I laid in bed the other night, after I got home from visiting him. I found myself thinking about how you don't really realize how not together you are sometimes until you are really not together. How many twenty-four hour periods we've misspent! Ah, but all of that is another blog. I really must get out of this bed and get my coffee and get on with my day.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  I know I plan to :)

Whole Wheat Flax Beer Bread from Do You Bake?

I believe I posted about this bread before. I wanted to post again because I made it differently and have my own photos and I haven't got anything else to talk about.

 This is all it takes to make a loaf, and yes, I am aware of the irony of using a diet soda with my all-natural, preservative-free, additive-free mix.

I made it with Coke Zero last time and it had a tinge of sweetness to it. I wondered if root beer would have a similar sweetness.

I probably should have used the macro setting to show you the texture of the mix better. I just love how hearty it looks. The darker areas are the flax seeds.

 Just 12 ounces of liquid is all you need to add to the mix.

Just for the record. Those are two different measuring cups. I measured in a two cup and mixed in a four cup, but in the future I will use something slightly larger for mixing.

Prior to baking, the instructions specify to add one tablespoon of olive oil or melted butter/margarine to the top.

The finished product.

To be honest, I didn't really care for this batch of bread. The flavor was fine with the root beer, but using oil instead of butter seemed to dry out the top. Also, if you weren't an olive oil fan, the flavor would definitely bother you as the earthiness of the EVOO was fully imparted in this bread.

I still recommend this bread mix. My husband liked it both ways, as did the kids...and the dog. I just personally probably won't use oil in the prep in the future.

In addition to Whole Wheat Flax Beer Bread, Do You Bake offer seven other varieties of beer bread, along with sweet cream breads. You can check them out at http://www.DoYouBake.com/JennyWolfe.

Random Topic Conversation Generator

I am at a loss for words today. Exhausted and slightly scattered, smothered, covered, chunked and capped.

So, here are a few gems from http://www.conversationstarters.com/generator.php along with my silly answers. I guess part of putting my trust in something bigger than myself starts with not taking myself so seriously!

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Wish my son wasn't such a morning person.

 

What did you have for lunch yesterday?
Leftover Baked Enchilada Casserole.

What is the least favorite thing about this week?
Sleeping alone.

 

Would you rather be the most popular kid in school or the smartest kid in school?
Moot. Both have their pros and cons. Could I pick to be the smartest popular kid?

Do you like to cook?

Yes, very much so!

 

What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep?

Count my blessings and acknowledge appreciation for them. 

 

What is the best thing that happened to you this week?

Hmmm, it's been a rough couple of days. I'll get back to you. 

 

Do you prefer to shop online or in a store?
In a store. I am tactile. I need to touch it. I am particular about materials and the way things feel. 

 

What is your dream job?

The one that doesn't feel like work.

 

Would you rather go without junk food for a year or go without TV for a year?
Junk food, I guess. Not that I am heavy into either one of those.

 

What drink do you usually order with your food?
Water. 

 

Who do you have on your speed dial?
Husband. Daughter. Mom. Brothers.

Do you recycle?
I plead the fifth.

 

Would you want to know when you'll die?

No.

 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Writer. Mom. Queen of the Universe.

 

What did you have for dinner last night?

Veggie Burger and fries from Christopher's.

What celebrity do you like to follow?
None really. Stalking is a young game. The older I get, the less involved or interested in all of that I seem to be. 

 

What was your favorite subject in school?
Elementary: Art

Middle School:English/Reading/Art/Shop/Home Ec

High School:English, Adv. Comp., French, Drama

College: Philosophy, Insurance, Financial Planning, Management and Economics.
I know weird right? 

What do you do to stay in shape?
Good question. I am out of shape. I get winded just thinking about working out.

 

Where did you go on your last vacation?
I guess you can kind of count Chicago or Lexington. Really tho, it's been a long time since I've taken anything more than a couple of day get away. 

 

Do you have any vacation plans coming up?
Possibly revisiting Chicago and Lexington this spring and summer. We've briefly discussed a winter trip to some place magical...you might even say it's the most magical place on Earth. 

 

What was the last movie you saw?
Re-watched "Heathers" the other night. 

 

I could probably do that all day. Maybe I'll find a different one to entertain you with tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Got arrested at the Mardi Gras for jumpin' on a float"

Yes, I will have that song running through my head all day! My man MCA's got a a beard like a billy goat. I suppose these things happen, mostly to me it would seem,  but I do sort of hope that the Beastie Boys fans out there now find themselves with a wild urge to "Shake Your Rump"

Add caption

Mardi Gras. Literally "Fat Tuesday", not to be confused with Foie Gras which is literally gross (IMO) but definitely something that someone would probably indulge in on Mardi Gras. Wonder if the phrase, Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we shall die was coined on Fat Tuesday.

Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. Forty-six days of fatalistically enduring giving up something. Well, if you talk to some folks that's really the impression that you would get. It never ceases to amaze me how much people who present themselves as being pious and devout can bitch and moan about their Lenten sacrifice. Pretty much misses the point. I can imagine a cartoon with some chicky complaining about how hard it is to give up Diet Coke for Lent with  Jesus sitting next to her commenting,"If you think that's bad, let me tell about what I gave up."

I am a bit more esoteric in my denials. Last year, I "gave up" thinking. I have a propensity for overthinking which leads to horrible chains of anxiety-ridden, what-if thinking. It is much more of a spirit-blocker than chocolate or soda or booze. I forget exactly how I phrased it but I didn't use "give up" because semantically it creates an illusion of lack and  monkeys hate lack. That is where people get so hung up they focus on what they are loosing and completely miss out on what they are gaining.

I personally think that as a whole people are so bounded into the rote that they miss the lesson. How much does it really effect you spiritually to give up something unhealthy if you fail to replace it with something healthy in that same time period. Some people give up the same thing, every year, year after year, for their entire lifetimes, what did they gain from that? An illusion of self-control...the ultimate self-deception.

So, I don't know what I am going to do. I have a my Lenten reader, and I'll probably read the beginning of that at some point today. Largely, it seems like the answer is already in the air. The situation for the next like eight weeks in my life...woooweeee, let's just leave it at this: perhaps this Lent I need to give up my trust in myself.

Have a great day everyone! Stay well!

I do solemnly swear I am up to no good...

...and by no good, I mean all good but you might not have read it if you thought it was some sort of Pollyanna post about sunshine and kitty cats.

I am working on a project that makes me giddy. I miss work making me giddy...if it in fact ever did.

Everything that is coming at me says to go in this certain direction, and so I am listening. Please let it be a divine voice and not just some stray voice in my head!

Happy Monday! Have a grrreat week!

Lazy Sunday...I wish!

So, I totally missed a Saturday post. Sorry. I am not going to do Clever Container post on Saturdays because frankly Clever Container has not been working for me, despite how hard I have worked for it, so I decided to cut it loose. Not sure what I will post instead on Saturdays now. Maybe a tribute to Enpde, but I don't know.

Busy Saturday, but I don't mind. It's reallt better that way.

Everything sort of seems that way lately. I was thinking that I didn't have much going on with my Do You Bake? business, but when I wrote it down it turned out that I have a vendor show, a Girl's Night Out, and a huge online fundraiser on the horizon. I also have a fledgling networking group that I am attached to that I have had a couple of interesting ideas for. I have been given free reign with the social media and marketing of Endpe. So much, so much and it's soo much fun.

As I am writing this, I am enjoying a nice chardonnay listening to my other half swear at Sound Forge. I am really beginning to suspect that life was never intended to be all compartmentalized. From 6-5, I am this person. From 5-8, some other. Et al. No, I think you are supposed to be who you are all the time. I think that fact that my husband and I are sitting here are hmmm o' clock on a now Sunday morning doing what some would perceive as "working" but in fact really quite enjoying ourselves is some sort of testimony to that end.

This is shaping up to be a crazy week. He starts a new job on Monday, and it's got uber intensive training. I don't mind so much. I'm really thankful for all he does for this family but...BUT this week is going to be a test. Actually, really the next couple of months. Dude, I've never seen a training schedule like he has. It's a little bit awesome because if they are putting that much into him, then I know they didn't choose him lightly. 

The kids are off school Monday which is a mixed blessing. With the Wolfeman being tied up in new jobsville, it is somewhat nice to have one day where the schedule doesn't matter. It amuses me that I spent 12 or so years as a single mother, yet completely freak out at the prospect of kinda playing that role during business travel and other events. I dunno, Reynaldo is one of those guys that is very much a part of family life, when he is detained from that...it shows. I have made a small effort to fill up the time this week with other activities. I hope that works out.

I don't know how the rest of Sunday is going to pan out. I know Wolfeman has to hit the hay early to meet his new start time. But that's about all that is firm in our schedule. Our house is in serious need for a deep cleaning, especially since I have people coming over Saturday for a Scentsy party.

12:31 am 2/19/12 life is good!

The Traumatic Brotherhood of the Green Pants

So, as if rushing into my daughter's room in a half-panic at ten of eight to tell her it was ten of eight wasn't enough to get my day going. I had to stop just as soon as the words left my mouth...No school...Woops! Go back to sleep, sorry! Definately a "Doh!" moment but I wish it would have stopped there.

My son does have school today. It's pre-school, they roll differently. Getting him dressed is where the day took another strange turn. He has a pair of green jogging pants. Every single solitary time I pull them out of the drawer the past couple of months, it is met with "I don't like those". Actually, I could be folding them and putting them away and he will chime in. They are a perfectly nice pair of pants that he has wore quite a few times really. This disdain is recent.

He was in tears about these pants. Not faker-faker bellyacher kinda tears but fat, juicy I seriously don't like these pants tears. It's all mildly amusing and a tad cute, but also a bit disturbing. Aside from telling me they were too big, he launched into a tale of the pants falling off of him over in the field. These pants have never really been too big, so I am not sure where that is coming from but I can't help but pause and reflect on some possibilities.  I get him in the pants to show him that they fit perfectly...they really do.


He carried on for a few more minutes and was totally fine...until Daddy mentions the pants. The next thirty-forty minutes the water works were on and off. It wasn't always about the pants but it would end up there. Here I am five of nine and ready to crawl back in bed because I feel a little wore down.




I suppose I could have changed the pants. But it's not a line I was willing to draw, because frankly if I cave on the pants, then every stupid little thing become negotiable. Every thing becomes subject to tears and tantrum  and next thing you know I've got one of those unbearable douche kids that everyone feels bad for hating but can't help but to hate. Plus, I don't believe there are any known cases of child fatalities as a result of wearing green pants.



I'll let you know if that changes...

SO much forward motion I'm surprised there isn't a flag on the play...

So what's that old physics thingy about a body in motion? I know, I know Newton's law but I never took physics and as far as most hard science goes, I am a complete ditz.

Anyway, we have so much movement in our life right now it's crazy! It's not a complaint. It's just so interesting the physical feeling of exhilaration. Just for me, I've really been more focused on somethings I needed to attend to and nurture. I have found and quit a job since the beginning of the year. To be honest, I think that job was just God calling my bluff. When it was obvious to me fancy-schmanczy department store wasn't going to keep me, I said out loud that I would take anything. Anything, seriously, anything. I usually have a lot of Jenny made rules about jobs I will take. I lifted them all. So, then this job comes along. It was awful but I digress. In the midst of that lesson, my other half got a call about a job. Long story short, he starts that job Monday.

Yesterday, I felt really energized. It might have just been the pot of coffee and half a pan of brownies for breakfast but at any rate it felt good. It felt good to be back in a place where I can feel optimistic again. Lesson really was what all of the past 3 years has been. I think this renewal of energy is the reward for finally getting out of my own way. It's so hard to just be when your whole life you have been taught to over-analyze EVERYTHING...it's second-nature and it happens in nano seconds. Now if I can just maintain that relinquished control for the next fifty years, I might actually accomplish what I was meant to in this life.

A Wacky Wednesday Post compliments of my pen.

I am particular about the way my pens write. I know, I know it's a pen. Allow me my quirks. Anyway, this particular Bic Grip Roller is from The Johns Hopkins University, Center for Talented Youth. Ever since Stepbrothers, the immaturity in me can't hear or see or think Johns Hopkins without thinking of Stepbrothers.

It probably doesn't help that the movie was released on DVD the week my son was born, and we watched it at least once a day while we were in the hospital. I wouldn't be surprised if he has this deeply implanted in his psyche and will some day have (an inexplicable to him) love of this movie.

So, for those of you who know, without further adieu the Johnny Hopkins scene from Stepbrothers. For those of you who don't, enjoy, and know that I highly recommend this movie as a good, mindless 203 minutes of life.

This one goes out to all the pagans, and all the pagan's mamas, and all the pagan's mama's mamas

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Yesterday, a friend of mine had posted the origins of Valentine's Day. I am no scholar, nor do I claim to be. What struck me in this, and other histories of the holiday I have read is that is very strong rooted in Christianity.

Commercialism as it goes is pretty God-less, and given way our modern Valentine's has become I couldn't help myself and had to use the subject line that I did.

See, I don't really care what people believe. It's really none of my business, but if you are going spend every minute of your waking life spitting out that old gem about Christians "stealing" the pagan holidays and making them their own, then every once in a while. I'm going to have to direct you to something like this.

Sorry to go into second person there. This isn't really directed to anyone specifically. It just is a major pet peeve of mine.

So anyway, check out History of Valentines Day from the Holiday Spot. Have a beautiful day everyone! XOXO Jenny <3

The gift of being boring

I thought about throwing in my own two cents about the weekends events but truthfully I have no interest in Whitney Houston, the Grammy's or the Powerball for that matter. I just don't. Yet another one of those reason I'll never be "normal".

At the end of the day, none of those things really have any effect on my life.

I had this rolling around my head last night, but wondered if it was a good subject. Then, as we were laying in bed doing a quick channel surf, some commercial for some show that just looks awful reminded my husband of something he saw that looked good. I can't remember what the show is called but he quickly followed up his that looks like it would be worth watching with a very true comment that he probably would never see it though because he just doesn't schedule his life around TV.

Heck, we have been with cable or Dish or whatever the kids are calling it these days for nearly five years. We dropped it for financial reasons and it's just never come back into the budget. Most people react as if we just told them we were cannibalistic nudist when we deliver the news that no, we've never seen that reality show that is a rehash of a show from the 80s that was based on a show from the 60s.

Again, at the end of the day, none of those things really positively affect the outcome of my life. I enjoy a good hour of mindless entertainment just like the next guy. But there is a lot to that GIGO computer term. Garbage In, Garbage Out. If you fill you head with BS all day, then what's going to come out of your mouth? If you sit around watching train wrecks all day, then eventually you do become desensitized to the gore of it all.

There is something extremely perverted about sitting around and watching other people's lives fall apart. So, I just don't do it. There are only a few shows I make an effort to watch: Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Closer to Truth, and SNL (and then only if it's a decent host.) So, if it makes me weird and boring to not want to fill my head with useless crap, then I will proudly wear that badge.

Do You Bake?: Frenchy Chicken and Quinoa Ooh La La!

I made this for dinner the other night, had leftovers a little bit ago for lunch. I have to admit the I was a little leery because I just haven't really like quinoa in the past, but trust me if I truly didn't like this dish I would tell you.

The mix comes with the herb packet and the quinoa. You add chicken, onion, and tomatoes and after about 60 minutes...voila! The asparagus paired nicely with it. Asparagus isn't normally in the rotation at the Wolfe den but it was on sale this week so I couldn't pass it by.

If you do not know what quinoa is, don't be swayed. As you can tell by the picture it looks a bit like sticky rice. It is a grain that is native to South America, and is nutrient packed and very easy to prepare. Don't skip the soak, it is an important part of the process. I set mine to soak before I started the chicken, then put it on the burner after the chicken was in the oven and everything was done about the same time. I think my quinoa actually ended up a tad on the overdone side, because I had an unexpected chauffeur duty that put off dinner by about fifteen minutes.

I most prep there is with the chicken is dicing the onion and tomato. The ingredient list says canned tomatoes are okay. We rarely have those in this house. I'm glad on this first run that wasn't an option because I do not think that canned tomatoes would be as good.

My other thoughts on this are that it could very easily be stretched past four servings by increasing the onion and tomato and cutting the chicken in to smaller pieces. I intend to try this in the near future, so if there is anyone out there who knows me and wants to volunteer, I could use a taste-tester.

I love the combination of herbs that are in this mix, and I sincerely hope that down the line Do You Bake? will offer a shaker of it. It be an extra bonus if they called it "Frenchy Ooh La Licious Herbs"

So two thumbs up for the Frenchy Chicken, more if I had them. My husband really liked it, too, and he's very particular about what he puts in his mouth.

Disclaimer time: I am an independent distributor of Do You Bake products. If you click this link, and place an order, I will receive a commission of your purchase.  You can check out this and the complete line of Do You Bake? products at http://www.DoYouBake.com/JennyWolfe

Saturday Sort Out: Clever Container

I am a little short on brain power this week to talk about organizing. It's been a whirlwind week, and to be honest as I stare at the disaster I call home, it feels a little hypocritical to tell you how to organize.

For some reason, of my Clever post, the most popular of all time is a end of catalog sale one. I was going to say which is pointless, but it occurred to me just now that I could redo the links and make it profitable.

Anyway, because I am lacking in the brain department, I am just going to share with you this week, the second most popular post about Clever.

Enjoy!

Get Clever NOW!: Get Organized and Save Money: Couponizer: For some people, using coupons can add up to big savings at the supermarket! I say some people because as my family's taste have changed, I ...

Aquarius hotels on facebook and youtube...no I haven't been hacked.

I know it seems a wholly unglamorous way to spend a Friday night, but I was just looking at the top all time most popular searches. Like most things I wonder about I haven't found a definitive answer...yet. I did stumble on aquarius, facebook, youtube, and hotels as being really popular so I'm going to leach a little power from them.

I have noticed that when I post song lyrics as subject lines, my blog appears in searches for that song or artist. Kinda cool. I would imagine that facebook and youtube are highly searched KWs because people like me will just type the name of where we want to go in our Google search box and then click through the search page because it's so much work to type a full URL.

Sorry, I just wasted 5 minutes of your life. This probably would have been more interesting if I had been hacked :)

The fine line between demographics and stereotypes

So, I happened to finally go through some of my coupon mail today. Not like the junk that comes from ValPak but the onslaught of coupons which come as a result of my grocery store stalking me.

Now, I am not one to have a hair trigger sensitivity about things but I couldn't help but notice the one set of coupons. In case you weren't aware, this month is Black History Month. This particular store put out a mini mag for the month complete with obligatory MLK picture.

I never really read the articles or whatever but I couldn't  not notice the coupons..chicken, ribs, Aunt Jemima, hot sauce, relaxer. So, I get it it's Black History Month and you want me to be aware that MLK sacrificed his life so that we could all pretend Patti LaBelle actually spends time in her kitchen making gazpacho and saute. (I doubt it.)




The thing about demographics is that this little mag is coming here and somewhere there is complete analysis of this zip code, this address that would indicate that there is a very slim chance anyone here needs relaxer. I wonder if they got this same flyer in the 17 or 08 zips. I guess I am sensitive to that here in the two-nine because in the demographic file I mentioned it probably indicates that I am an uppity white girl with a penchant for Starbucks and Pilates. It is offensive on some level that the coupons offered in this flyer are stereotypically racist to an extent. It's like a Mother's Day flyer with discounts on Midol and Pamprin or a NASCAR themed flyer of half off Moon Pies.

I guess, it is just very shocking to me that a large chain store could get away with something as early 60s as advertising like that.

....And the winner is...

Gale L. (Check your email, I just sent you notice.)

Thanks to everyone who made this giveaway a success!

...But by the grace of God...

Okay, I was thinking there was a Pogues song I could throw in here but that is "If I Should Fall From The Grace of God."  No biggie, but I used to be a ravenous Pogues fan and a little gratuitous  Pogues action would have been nice.

So, I did our taxes tonight. I don't hate the act of doing taxes, but then I have a degree in Financial Services so I may be cheating. Big long sigh and long story short, that is the only explanation for how this family got through 2011. I am not going to go into great detail but there is nothing like a 1040 to force you into reality.

I gave up the family financials sometime ago. My husband IMO was the loose cannon and I felt safe handing it all over to him to deal with. On some level, it certainly helped our relationship because instead of me meeting a Rancho request with a detailed accounting of the in and out of the checking accounting, I can just say yea because I trust fully my husband's handling of the finances.

That being said...taxes aren't his forte, and having now completed our taxes, I'd like to buy him a steak dinner. I knew things had changed but he did a hell of a job sheltering me and the kids from the full extent of that. Seriously, if he wasn't sleeping I would tell him how thankful I am for him and his crazy ways.

I am thankful. I am grateful, I am humbled.

Here's to a better 2012 (return)!

Lenten Mediations:Release Your Inner Splendor

I am a sucker for daily readers. I currently have five sitting next to bed that I try to peruse everyday. It may seem  a bit overkillish, but I like each one for a different reason. I make every attempt to read from them first thing in the morning when I get up, but sometimes don't hit them 'til later in the day. It's a usually not more than ten minutes I use to get my head in the game for the day.

Over the past couple of years, I have picked up a few short term booklets from Unity. This year is no different, I already have my copy of Lent 2012:Release Your Inner Splendor. I recommend the Unity publications for anyone. The format is easy. The language is simple. The result, of course, will vary. When I picked up my first one, I was far, far from a place where I could appreciate the full depth of the readings. I guess that's what I mean by anyone...looking for guidance...looking for maintenance...looking for a lift...not sure what you are looking for...yep all those folks.

What are my other readers?

• Day by Day with Saint Joseph Part Catholic on my dad's side, maybe that's why I can appreciate the daily verse, reflection and prayer offered in this book. My copy is a beautiful leather-bound 100th anniversary addition that my hubby received through his job. 
• A twelve-step meditation book. That's all I can say on that one ;) 
• Five Minutes A Day by Robert E Speer...copyright 1943. I found this in a box of free books at a church rummage sale. Every page has a topic. Every topic has verses, poetry, and prayer. The Brownings, Goethe, Tennyson, Rossetti, Eliot, Longfellow...I could go on and on. It reads like a who's who of College Lit book heroes and it begs a question...could it be that we really were much smarter then?
• Time-Out for the Spirit:Two Minute Quiet Times for Times That Aren't Picked this up from that same rummage sale box, and it's not really a daily-type reader. There hasn't been a day yet that I haven't been able to find a topic that is useful to me. 
• Simple Abundance:A Day Book of Comfort and Joy I picked this up a a garage sale several years ago. I've never really followed it completely or completed all the tasks offered by the days. 

So, that's what I read? How about you? 

Sick of all these manic Mondays

I said a few weeks ago that I wasn't going to let Monday get to me, and it hasn't...yet. I am just sitting here wondering why it is 1:27pm and despite all I have accomplished since I woke up why didn't my house magically clean itself.

All kidding aside, I would rather have a lot of motion than no motion at all. I just sometimes get really anxious for no good reason at all. Chalk it up to all the energy coursing through me I guess. I had a bit of that this morning. Well, there were reasons, and once I stopped trying to ignore them it all dissipated. I still have it now but it's more productive as it's rooted in my wanting to get the house back together by 5.

Change isn't painful, it's the resistance that hurts. I don't know where that is exactly from but it has come up in conversation quite a few times over the past month in this house. So where you started reading thinking Bangles, I'm going to leave you with Queens of the Stone Age...Go With The Flow. I like this song. It is in and out of my head a lot lately. Do I need another reason?

So Who do you like in the big game?

It's a trick question. Well, at least coming from me it is a trick. Outside of the game being in Indianapolis, I don't know many other details which in a way is sad because I watched the last two playoff games and I can't even remember who won.

So much hype. Makes think of the whole "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" line.

The game will be on here. Planning a Mexican Fiesta of a meal which is always fun because you can never go wrong with Mexican in this house. How much attention anyone actually pays is another story entirely. I honestly think the last time that I ever was 100% engrossed in the Super Bowl...the Bengals were in it. Yeah, I am like that.

In my humble opinion, I think people just use the game as an excuse...because they think they need one...to get together with people. I am not above that sort of faulty thinking since it is partly why I am having a Scentsy party at the end of the month.

So here are a few other reasons that I have thought of to get together with folks:

• The day ends in Y.
• You woke up this morning.
• The sun is out.
• The sun isn't out.
• It's raining.
• It's snowing.
• A hurricane is a blowin'
• You are having a fantastic day.
• You are having a horrific day. 
• Your own reason here...

Whole Wheat Flax Beer Bread

First, I want to apologize for a lack of a picture. I just didn't think about it.

One of my reasons for trying Do You Bake? in the first place was that they have this product. It's hard to find good whole wheat mixes. I'm pleased to report that my search has ended.

I made this the other evening to rave reviews. I used a Coke instead of a beer which added a certain sweetness to the bread. It is really easy to make and uses only 2 ingredients aside from the mix. 12 oz of liquid and 3T of butter. See easy!

The consistency and texture was spot on with what I would expect from a whole wheat bread. The sweetness from the Coke makes me think that in the future I could fake some quick bread, like banana nut, by using juice and adding some nuts or whatever.

I fully recommend this mix to anyone who likes a good wheat bread.

You can purchase it from Do You Bake?.

Playing catch up or is it ketchup

Funny how sometimes the best laid plans do go awry. Definitely feeling that this week as I missed two day of posting and am now sitting with my husband in a McDonald's trying to do some "work".

I was getting a little keyed up about getting off the schedule that I was doing so well on, but then I figure it's only two days and it is early in the year so I can just throw in two bonus post over the weekend and stay on task. Besides, if I had stayed on tasks I wouldn't be enjoying this rainy Saturday sitting in the loudest place on Earth with my hubby.

Getting caught up with fries and ketchup and a very occupied little boy. Couldn't get the girl to come along but she's probably thrilled to have the house to herself, so it's a win all around.

Saturday Shape-Up: Paws to Organize

It's hard to believe but sometimes pets have just as much to organize as some people do. Clever Container understand this and comes to the rescue with three items made for fido or feline.

Perfect Pup Hooks feature three adorable chrome paw print on a black base. It measures 8 x 1 3/4 x 2 and sells for $19.95. Perfect for leashes, towels, rope toys and more.

Perfect Pup Bin It’s either the paw print pattern or the bone shaped handles that make this bin fun and
functional. Black background with tan paw prints. Toy clean up should be a breeze! (16½ x 14 x 10)  $22.95

Perfect Pup Pocket Pal This clever over the door dog organizer coordinates with the Perfect Pup Bin. Six pockets and a hook keep everything your dog needs right at its paw prints! There’s even a window for a photo of your best friend. (10½ x 32¾) (0615) $36.95