Merry Christmas

I love and do not look forward to Christmas each year. The reasons why is there are so many "have-to's" christmas shopping, santa shopping, put up the tree, make shortbread cookies, think of clever gifts for extended family (not a fan) and the list goes on. Shopping for my kids for Santa is very painful. I struggle buying something that might cost a little more for their one good gift instead of the cheapy thing that won't last 3 hours. I hate spending money on SANTA!! But i love the spirit of Christmas and the nativity and the story of the birth of Christ. I love gingerbread hot chocolate, driving around to look at Christmas lights Christmas Eve, reading my children Christmas stories by tree-light each night. Well, 21 more days to go and I am determined to enjoy Christmas for what it really represents -Christ not presents.

my favorite holiday is Halloween

this is my new decorations this year ( mixed with some old) It makes me happy-happy halloween! Now, ontp the costumes... the idea came from here:http://www.theidearoom.net/2009/09/creepy-halloween-apothecary.html

Ready to pack your kids lunches?

Since we have tried to eat healthier, I have have been getting nervous about what I am going to make my kids for lunch. I will have 3 lunches to make this year. So i founds this cool website that sells these lunchbox thingies. It even came with pictures of ideas. There is also this new bento box craze too. Check them out at: http://www.laptoplunches.com/ideas.html

This lady is pretty healthy too, good ideas: http://lunchboxlimbo.blogspot.com/

Here is the picture gallery of lunch ideas: http://easylunchboxes.smugmug.com/The-Best-Lunchbox-System/Yummy-Lunch-Ideas/10136835_YSuyb#696914291_YxmUd

This is what my kids are going to have this year for lunch boxes:
http://www.easylunchboxes.com/images/BagAnd4Lunches.jpg

Well, I hope I am up for it, it will take a lot of prep work, but after while I will get used to it and it won't be a pain anymore. (Just like anything) So here goes nothin'

Stacey

P.S. how do you make the address so that you can click on it and it will take you there without cut and pasting? anyone?

Mossy

I found this idea from this blog : http://alittleknickknack.blogspot.com/2010/04/mossy.htmlI decides to make one too! Easy:) I think it turned out pretty good. i took a picture of the one I bought next to the one I made. Make a craft that makes me feel crafty...check!

Works great and Smells good

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT -cost-$3 compared to $100+ with Tide

4 cups hot water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
2 cups washing soda
1 cup borax

The original recipe only calls for 1 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup of borax, but I really wanted to make sure it cleaned my clothes, so I added more.
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water, stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
- Fill 5 gallon buck half full of hot water. Add melted soap, washing soda and borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with warm water. Stir and cover, let sit overnight to thicken.
*Now the Duggar family takes an empty laundry soap dispenser and fills it half with water and half with soap. I did this, but I did not feel it cleaned good enough, so I fill it all with the soap and no water.

You can also add essential oil to make it smell. It's about 10-15 drops per 2 gallons.

I use 1/3 cup of soap per load. ( have a front loader and soft water) You can make appr. 180 loads per 5 gallons.

You can also use ivory, sunlight, kirk's hardwater castle or zote soap. Just don't use heavily perfumed soaps, it can stain your clothes.


I LOVE it, and you will too! If you have any questions call me!

pet peeeeeeeves

You wouldn't think that something like cookie sheets would drive me crazy, but they do. It's my husband, when he cooks he uses cookie sheets, lots of them. That is not the problem though. He never cleans up when he cooks/bakes. Sure, that is annoying, but THE COOKIE SHEETS! I hate washing cookie sheets. So they will stay there- in the sink- for a couple of days- until I get the energy to clean them. "sigh"

Zevia-a nice alternative

Zevai has NO aspartame and is made with stevia. The black cherry is good, and the cola but the lime twist is my favorite. Why you ask? Well, you know that nice little place called sonic? I like my cherry limeades there, but I can't have them. So I crush up fresh starwberries, blueberrries (SOOO good) or cherries and pour over my Zevia lemon lime twist with lots of ice with a straw and it hits the spot! btw no high fructose corn syrup either!

A Promise

I have the just finished watching the movie "Walmart: The High cost of low Price" . wow. I shop there about once a month, but I PROMISE I will NEVER shop there again. It is not worth it to me. I will spend my money on local businesses and try to by USA made. It will be hard at first, but worth the effort. Please watch this movie and let me know what you think.

June is in Bloom at the law's Cabin

We have gone to the laws Cabin for about 7 years now and it is so much fun and relaxing, we never want to leave...ever. We founds a mouth watering bakery there in Heber called Mama Santina's (I think) The couple is ONLY from Germany and only makes the best donuts, pastries, blueberry strudel, bagels. pie, bear claws, croissant, ham and cheese croissants....oh yessss and they are ALL homemade. We all died and went to heaven for about 5 min. because that is how long it took to gobble em up. Well, cards and puzzles and games was what we did along with eat eat eat. We can't wait to go again next year and maybe stay another day!

The girls Claire, Brooke and Olivia cheezin it up and the fam getting ready to play cards!

T-shirt refashion

Ever get tired of spending $10 on a kids t shirt and in 4 months it looks ratty and old? Me too, that is why i bought $3 t shirts at walmart and used fabric I already had and some from an old t-shirt of mine to dress up these cute shirts for my girls. I bet you won't see another one like 'em! I have already pulled out some clothes that I never wear in my closet to try and Refashion them into something NEW for my girlies. More posts to come, maybe when summer is over and things slow down again!

Lentil Soup-we have discovered Lentils in our house and they are amazing

Lebanese-Style Red Lentil Soup

"This is a wonderful, tangy, spicy soup that sort of resembles split-pea. I sometimes add grilled chicken breast or cooked and cubed sweet potatoes for texture. Have fun with it!"
Serve with Jasmine Rice-
INGREDIENTS:
6 cups chicken stock
1 pound red lentils
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 large onion, chopped 1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
DIRECTIONS:
1. Bring chicken stock and lentils to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 3 minutes.
3. Stir onions into the lentils and season with cumin and cayenne. Continue simmering until the lentils are tender, about 10 minutes.
4. Carefully puree the soup in a standing blender, or with a stick blender until smooth. Stir in cilantro and lemon juice before serving.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 7/11/2010

A New place to eat

We went to Pita Jungle on Southern and Dobson in Mesa. It was really yummy. I got the Curry Chicken salad and the red lentil soup (to die for)Yum! I guess I better learn how to make it!

Rice milk is your friend

I made my own rice milk the other day it was really good. i have a Blendtec that my in-laws gave us for Christmas and I love it! All you need is 1 cup of cooked rice and water, salt and sugar and you have a drink that is pennies compared to the store.

Summer and diet

Yeah, school is out for the summer! and my kids are in swimming lessons and bordum busters...ahhh I just dropped them off. Isn't it wonderful? I am also on this new diet or a new way of eating. No sugar, nodairy, no wheat and no gluten. it has been wonderful for me. I will tell you though, the first 2 weeks were really hard, it was like detoxing. I was getting head aches and cravings like you couldn't believe. But now, I have energy, I don't feel like I have to crash after 9am in the morning. I actually get tired at night and best of all, my depression is way better. I am still on medication but life is clearer. I feel as though the fog is gone and my mind is sharp. david has been on a no-carb diet for 2 months and he has noticed weight loss, sleep apnea decreased, more energy and he has faster reflexes. Awesome huh?

I have been watching these food documentaries on netflix: Food Inc., King Corn etc...and it has gotten me all pumped up on eating actual FOOD.....raw food, you know the kind that is grown in the ground with out chemicals and pesticides. I am excited about changing my life and my children's too. They say in the next 10 years, 1 in 3 children will have diabetes. I will not allow this to happen to my kids, if I can prevent it by eating real food, not man made food, I will. I know I have to be realistic too. It is hard, but it has just become a bad habit to just give them foods that are quick and easy. If you actually break down what you eat for breakfast lunch and dinner...alot of it is just sugar! No wonder diabetes is an epidemic in this country!

This is what we had last night:
recipe from: thedailydietribe.com


Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Sugar-free Coconut Waffles
Print-Friendly Option

Ingredients:
1 cup brown or white rice flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup apple sauce
1 egg
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 tsp agave nectar

Directions:

1. Mix all of the ingredients together and whisk until no longer lumpy.
   
2. Spoon evenly onto waffle iron and cook, in batches, according to the iron's instructions.
   

Serves 8 (2 squares each)

Pineapple Sauce
(This is basically a fat-free, sugar-free version of this recipe)

Ingredients:
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks
1/8 cup agave nectar
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 Tbsp. applesauce
1/8 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, combine the juice from the pineapple can (minus 1/4 cup which was used in the waffle recipe), agave nectar, cornstarch, applesauce, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring gently.
2. Turn the heat down and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   
3. Add the pineapple and continue to simmer another 2-3 minutes.
   
4. Spoon on top of your waffles.

ALSO: Bob's Red Mill has great mixes and cream of buckwheat and quinoa are my new best friends, yum!

Quinoa with Feta and Cucumber

Serves 4

• 1 cup quinoa
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound boneless, skinless tilapia fillets, divided into 8 pieces
• 3/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1 cup English cucumber (6 ounces), diced small
• 1/3 cup roughly chopped fresh dill
• 1/3 cup feta (1 1/2 ounces), crumbled
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, bring quinoa, 2 cups water, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil over high. Reduce to a medium simmer and cook until water evaporates, about 15 minutes. Transfer quinoa to a medium bowl and let cool 5 minutes.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil over medium-high. Pat fish dry and season with salt and pepper; sprinkle with paprika. Cook fillets until opaque throughout, about 4 minutes, flipping halfway through. Stir cucumber, dill, feta, 1 teaspoon oil, and lemon juice into quinoa. Season with salt and pepper. Divide quinoa among four plates and top with fish.

UPDATE 2010

A lot has happened since Emma was born, we have had Brooke's 3rd bday, Claire's 6th, Dane's 8th (he got baptized!) and finally Olivia's 5th. She picked out a play guitar and has been singing ever since. We also went and saw a movie together: Dane is really happy to be there. Emmma was blessed this last Sunday and she was as cute as a button. I made her dress, but it was a little big on her (patterns never give you the right size!) She is such a happy baby with smiles for mom on cue. Dane is in 2nd grade and doing well, Claire in K (all day:) and is exhausted after the long bus ride home, Olivia is in preschool and is like a sponge (she thinks she knows everything) Brooke just wants love and attention and to play with sisters. We were going down the elevator and I said she could push the 1 button with the star and she saw a picture of a bell next to a different button and said, "how 'bout the taco one?" "Let's go to Taco Bell!" Olivia laughed with me and thought that was funny. I hope everyone is doing good and ready for summer! Love you all!, Stacey

Emma Janice Sherwood has arrived...for real this time!

Well, Thursday Jan. 7th 2010 (our 10th anniversary) Emma came to us at 8:52 am. She was 7lbs 8oz and 21 1/2 in long. Black hair and looks like Brooke's twin. David sure makes pretty girls doesn't he. We got home Friday about 6pm and things are crazy and I am tired but can't wait to get this schedule going with her. I always dread the 1st 2 months. Here are some pictures...love you all Stacey