Pretzels, Cookies, and Time With Mom!

Today I'm baking for the Hephzibah Missions Trip Bake Sale Fundraiser. It's at Jay's Sporting Goods in Clare, tomorrow, although the time fails me at the moment! Just be there early, how's that? Anyway, while my cookies are in the oven, I'm forced to stay close to the kitchen so as not to burn those precious donations. Every time the timer goes off, I race back to the oven and it's so funny...my dog gets all excited and runs with me! I think she's finally getting tired of my craziness. It's the only way I may get decent exercise today, who knows??

My mom and I spent a fun day yesterday, making chocolate dipped pretzel rods for Serena's 3rd grade class. It was G-Ma's idea. Now that she's retired, all of her creativity has been restored to its original valor!! My mom once did ceramics, crafts,sewing, cake decorating, and is a wonderful cook and baker! All while working full time. How did you do it, mom? Watch out, Martha Stewart!! Anyway, I got a chance to use my handpainted dishes that mom and I found together at the Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival one year. I served up yummy chicken salad made with herb roasted chicken (mom's little secret) on a croissant, with leaf lettuce. Oh, it looked so pretty! We used my pretty green goblets that seem to just gather dust ordinarily. I didn't have my spring decorations out, so I used a gift I just put together for Sara (shh) as my centerpiece! Well, mom walked in with a huge vase of pussy willows! How perfect for the table!

I positioned mom at the table where she could best watch the birds and wildlife, and wouldn't you know it, she got to see the deer! You would have thought she just saw deer for the first time. She appreciated them so much! Mom lives in town, by the way.

I appreciated this time with my mom, and for her enthusiasm to create treats for the whole class. We slopped melted chocolate and sprinkles all over the place. Boy did they turn out cute and they are very yummy too! Gee...I should have made those for the bake sale!

Tonight the girls are going to G&G's to spend the night. Steve and I have plans to go out for Mexican and do some shopping. I insist it's Easter shopping. He insists I will be picking out clothes for our trip to Texas in May.(business trip, of course) We'll see who wins. Maybe this is a secret I'm sharing, but I don't happen to enjoy shopping much at all!! I love to shop for gifts, things for my girls, things for the house and yard, or scrapbooking supplies. Clothes, shoes? I can take it or leave it, girls, sorry!! I love that stuff, but I would rather hire someone to do it for me!! Give me a million plants and a pile of dirt, and it's bliss! Make me go shopping for clothes and shoes, and it's like getting my teeth drilled. You're laughing, but it's true!!

Okay, so I'd better get back to the oven. I have a ton of things to get done today, including a workout, packing for the girls, laundry, a couple deliveries, and of course, I have to get beautiful for my date tonight!! I am so excited to be spending time with my honey alone! Oops...there goes the timer!

Have a great weekend and enjoy winter break!! ( pity the fool who calls it spring.)

DIY? NOT!

We all have a lot on our minds. What we'll do today, what we'll do tomorrow. What's for dinner tonight. Wonder what the kids are doing now. What will I wear today. What will I wear tomorrow. Pretty insignificant things if you think about it. Those are things we can control, so we're pretty comfortable doing those things.

Suddenly, a problem pops up. Maybe it's not even your problem, but it becomes yours when someone calls to talk about it. Ugh...what should I say. What should I do. How can I answer that. Wonder what she's making for dinner tonight. (tee hee) These are things we can't control, so we get a little uneasy.

This is what happens when we think we have control over anything! We really don't! We can plan all we want, but anything can happen. Actually, it's pretty arrogant to plan anything, since we're basically assuming everything we want will come to pass when we want it to! In this sense, I mean life planning....go to college, get married, have kids, buy a home, get a job, etc.... We really don't have a lot of control over any of those areas if you really think about it. Anything can happen. Illness, breakups, infertility, bad grades, slow economy, lay offs...reality. I'm not suggesting you have a negative attitude about it at all, but don't get too comfortable planning. I'm gettting to the "why" of it. Hang in there with me....

If everything goes the way we plan, don't we kind of start thinking we've got it all under control? Don't we think things are going well because we chose the right path? Maybe get a little prideful, boastful, too independent? It's like sailing through life without problems. Who would need God if that were the case? Here's a good plan. Pray and ask for God's leading. Set your goals. Pray again. Do the things that will help you reach your goals. Keep praying. Humble yourself to God's leading. Trust that he has a purpose for your life, will continue to guide you, and will put your feet exactly where they need to go, whether you "planned" that direction or not. Praise him no matter how it turns out. Maybe he's not finished with the plan yet!

We can become so frustrated and down on ourselves, but it's not necessary at all! When you're frustrated and berating yourself over something, it's because you're struggling to let God have it all! We can't do things in our own power, but with God, we can do everything. EVERYTHING. (see Philippians 4:13, one of my personal key verses for my life)

Life. You really can't DIY! (do it yourself) But with God, all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26)

DIY: Martha Wannabe's Cheater Cleaning Tips

Martha "Stewart" that is! I am far from the craftiness and preciseness of Martha Stewart, queen of all things home and beyond. I'm not sure I really care if all my knives are facing in the same direction! However, we're at that season where we think we need to clean. So here are some of my favorite "cleaning" tips. These can be used in 30 minutes or less and make your surprise guests think you spent all day cleaning!

1. Dryer sheets are your friend! Stick them in heating vents and between the cushions of your furniture. Use them to shine up dingy faucets.

2. Baby wipes are great for more than just cute little bottoms. Use them to wipe up spots off the kitchen floor, fingerprints, and sink tops.

3. Wherever you think your company will go, concentrate on those areas. All other areas...close the doors. The hostess should always initiate a "tour". The company should know better than to ask if they drop in unexpectedly!

4. Scent is a great way to make people think you've been cleaning. Candle warmers hidden behind plants or picture frames is the way to send a favorite candle scent into the air without the flame. Use cinnamon or vanilla or both.

5. It was proven in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Windex does the trick! Use it to take spots off your fabric chair or barstool cushions. Stains will take a hike. Wash the glass nearest the door your guests will be arriving at. It will smell like all the windows have been washed.

6. Clutter all over the floor or counters? Keep a big basket handy and do the ten second tidy. Throw everything in, then stash it in a nearby closet or room. Then shut the door! You can always put it away later.

7. Oops...didn't get the dishes finished? No problem. Keep a new, pretty towel handy so you can drape it over the nasty dishes. Polish the other side of the sink. No one will notice the dishes. If you have pots and pans or baking sheets, toss them in the oven. Hang another pretty towel over the oven door. Voila!

8. Throw a load of clothes in the dryer (clean ones). The smell of fabric softener will permeate the air outside. Guests walking up to the door will immediately relax.

9. Fabric refresher spray is wonderful. Keep a scent on hand that you like. Spray curtains and rugs, throws and pillows. It really makes the room smell like you just washed down the walls.

10. A baking scent candle burning in the kitchen will make it seem like you just took cookies out of the oven. The flame draws the attention, making any messes "disappear".


Those are my 10 most commonly used "tricks" for faking out guests who gave me short notice of their arrival. NOW, for all of you who say you just came to see me, and not my house. That's such a dignified and polite thing to say, and I've said it many times, and I mean it. However, I know how much it matters to a woman to be prepared for company, and I respect that. That's why I will call before I drop in. Who knows what you're doing! I once gave some advice to a friend whose landlord kept walking in the house uninvited and unannounced. I told her my solution. Walk around naked. She'll surely knock next time!

Happy "cleaning", my friends!