{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 08-10-2015 }

Good morning everyone, well here we are, another Monday and ready for a whole week ahead, or at least I hope you all area.

I'm sorry this is going up a little later than usual but I've been taking it easy this morning and actually slept in, well technically I got up at 5:30am with Curt and made coffee and after he left I fell asleep on the couch.  But yeah, a little nap I would say, just been kinda busy.


Anyway, let's get going.....

On the weather front:
Beautiful morning, gorgeous weather, it's actually supposed to rain tomorrow and I'm hoping that is the only time it rains because we need to get this yard mowed and ready for the reunion. 

 
On my bedside table:
A Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd
The Ones we Trust by Kimberly Belle


On my TV:
Here's what is on my watch list at the moment:

Vlogs - The Witt family, The Michalaks, Mrs Meldrum
Period Drama - Life in Squares
TV - The Whispers, Beyond Scared Straight, Ghost Adventures


On the menu for tonight:
Not sure, it's my birthday and I think hubby and the kids want to take me out for dinner.


On the menu for this week:
I have a few meals planned just until Wednesday, from Thursday on we are having our family reunion and there will be different things going on, but I'll try to share with you what we're planning on doing.

Monday - Out for my birthday
Tuesday - Chicken Korma, Rice
Wednesday - Pork Roast with Mashed potatoes
Thursday - Reunion begins.....Chicken Spaghetti, Salad, Fruit
Friday - Oven Chili Dogs, Chips and Dips
Saturday - Pizza
Sunday - Leftovers (everyone leaves by the afternoon)


On my To Do List:
Nothing, I'm giving myself the day off to enjoy, I have so much to do the rest of the week but I'm allowing myself some me time today.

 
New Recipe I tried last week:
Hawaiian Bread Rolls, so good.

In the craft basket:
My blanket, haven't had a chance to do anything, but I'm hoping today my me time will mean some crocheting.
 

Looking forward to:
The family reunion, but also being done with it?  Does that make me a mean person?  I hope not.  I mean I am so looking forward to having fun and spending time with everyone, but then I remind myself there will be 20 something people in my house for 4 days and all the food and clean up etc and I cringe hahahah


Homemaking Tip for this week:
If you ever find yourself hosting a big get together, I can't stress enough the need for lists, lists and more lists.


Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
Oh my word, so many.  You know I think that we never stop learning and every single day there is something we see or hear that we had no clue about, we just have to pay attention.


On my Prayer List:
So many people, friends and family and everyone that needs it, whether it be for health, or wealth, or whatever it is that is going on in their lives.

 
Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Checking off my to do list!

My to do list is ever growing and I haven't had much motivation to get anything on it done.

You all know that the past few months I haven't quite been myself, I've had a lot going on and have been a bit in the dumps, and when you're not quite feeling yourself, everything seems to pile up, and the more it piles up the worse things get.

We have a a family reunion coming up next weekend, actually we'll have family members arriving on Wednesday and then every day until they all leave on Sunday.  It's going to be quite busy around here and I really don't mind, I'm looking forward to it, but I would be lying if I didn't say that in all the excitement I'm also feeling completely overwhelmed and wondering if this is going to go off without a hitch.

Since we've moved here, we've had family over practically every weekend and as blessed as we have been to have all the company, we've also had to put our own stuff on hold, moving in completely, house projects etc.

Now those projects are all piling up, and we have added things we need to get done before the reunion.

As much as I would like to just ignore it all, turn a blind eye or pass the list onto someone else, I know that I need to get in there and just get it done.

So today, I brought out part of the list, and got to work.




First thing this morning, hubby and I made a run to Family Dollar first for a few items.  Some cleaning supplies, some drinks, nail polish remover, liquid eyeliner, I got a big Lasagna pan that I need to make some food for the reunion and some composition books for the kids.

One of the things on the list was to finished unpacking and organizing Nicholas' closet, so that is what I worked on.



While I did that, Curt carpet cleaned the living rooms.

Once that was done, I moved outside and got some of the wood piled up.  I think we're set for he winter as we have so much wood all over the property, tons of tree stumps, tons of broken trees and branches strewn around.



I didn't stay outside too long though as it was 105 degrees, not that it's bad when you've lived in Arizona for a few years like we did, anything less than 120 seems not too bad HAHA



Wanna see something funny?

I don't go outside in flip flops, I always grab my son's boots because the prickly weeds out there are terrible right now.  Kinda weird walking around with these big boots and a sundress, but hey it works.









I still can't believe that I'm living in this beautiful area, every time I go out to the yard I breathe in the fresh air and thank God for allowing me to live here.  So blessed!

With a lot of the outside things checked off the list, I came back in and worked in the kitchen.  It wasn't really on my list but ever since I moved in I've wanted to move things around a bit, organize, change it up etc.

I went ahead and did just that, started with the pantry, and the moved into the actual kitchen.  I removed some things from the counters and replaced it with others, and I also went ahead and got a whole Coffee and Tea Station set up on my baker's rack......not just for me, but I think it will be quite helpful and practical during the reunion.

I'll have to take some pictures tomorrow to show you.

So yes, things are getting checked off the list and I'm feeling so much better about it.  It usually takes so much effort to get started, especially if you're feeling down or overwhelmed, but once you get going it's amazing how much better you feel.

Tomorrow I plan on continuing getting things set up, and we also have some family members dropping by in the afternoon with some things for the reunion and some last minute planning to finalize.

Looks like another busy day.

Oh well, not going to let it bother me, just going to push on and get busy with checking off more things off the list.

Oooh yummy bread rolls!!!

Thursday evening....so looking forward to Friday and glad it's already right around the corner.

I've had a day of puttering around, doing the usual household chores, which I'm sure I don't have to tell you about because they're pretty much the same, day in and day out.

Much as I love homemaking, I have to say that dishes drive me completely insane, like I would love to never have to do dishes again.  It's never ending, fill the washer, remove the clean, pack in the dirty, run the washer, remove the clean, pack in the dirty......over and over and over, multiple times a day.  My word!!!

My days are pretty much the same, I have a routine I tend to stick to.

I get up every morning at 5:30 with Curt, make coffee, and once he leaves for work, I sit on the couch with my pugs and look through facebook, check email, read the Bible etc.  If I am feeling really tired, I sometimes lay down on the couch and take a short nap.

By 7:30 I am up, get dressed, and then make myself another cup of coffee and some breakfast.....next on the list, dishes.  Always!!!



To make the chores a little easier, I always have my laptop going, I'm either watching some vlogs on Youtube, that is Anna Brim by the way, one of my favorite vloggers, you can check out her channel here.



Once the kitchen was clean and laundry was going, I started my baking.  I have been wanting to make some Hawaiian Bread rolls for a while, and since I haven't been feeling too well the past few weeks, I kept putting it off, but today was the day.



Such a simple recipe and I just love fresh homemade bread.  There's something so homey about seeing a bowl of bread rising on the counter.



Even though it's been so hot here lately, I can't help myself, most afternoons I have a cup of hot tea or coffee.  Today I was craving a Galao, Portuguese coffee with milk, it's made using a ratio of 1/4 coffee to 3/4 hot frothy milk, and oh goodness did it hit the spot.



Even better when enjoyed with a fresh sweet Hawaiian roll with cheese and ham.  Oh that was such a delicious afternoon snack, my kids were both in heaven with the bread.



While I was enjoying my treat, this new review book came in, I'm quite excited to start it.  I'm the kind of gal that loves a good looking book cover and I admit that often times it is what makes me decide to either read a book or not even give it a second thought.

Thing is, sometimes the cover is deceiving, it's happened many times.  Guess that is where the saying comes from "don't judge a book by it's cover".



Speaking of the yummy afternoon treat, I have the recipe up on the food blog for you, if you want to check it out, or give it a try.  Let me know if you do, I would love to know if you liked it.

Much as I love my days, I do enjoy my evenings when I get to sit on the couch with my family, watch some TV and wind the day down.  It's almost 9pm here and we're fixing to watch Impractical Jokers and Behind Bars:  Rookie Year.  Better get on off here and grab a quick drink.

Blessings,
Sandra

Let it go....

That's what I'm doing, letting it all go.

I woke up this morning with a renewed sense of purpose and I sat for a few moments thinking on my life the past few months, and especially the past few weeks.

Yesterday I kind of reached my breaking point.  I made a post on Instagram and wrote what was on my heart at the moment, now going back and reading it, I feel sorry for myself.  Goodness, to be feeling so down is never a good thing.

I'm a positive optimistic person and I think I've allowed myself to be a downer for a bit too long, it's time to stop, pull my big girl panties up and get on with it.

On Monday, I am turning 41.  41 years old folks, time has flown for me, I don't consider myself in my fourties, I still feel like just yesterday I was graduating high school.  Your only as old as you allow yourself to be and feel.

Maybe it's because I'm turning 41 that I've been feeling a bit out of whack, questioning some things, wondering if I'm on the right track, if I need to change to adapt to this crazy world, or if I need to just let it go and BE.

I choose to just BE!!!  Be me!!!  That's it, no more, no less, just me, just like what I like and continue to be the person I am.

Anyway, so with this renewed soul that I woke up with, and I'm sure in part due to all the prayers I've been receiving from my friends and family, I thought that I would stop the whining and get back to the happy go lucky gal that I am inside.

I took a few pics this morning just to show you what my day has started with.



I grabbed my bible yesterday morning and have had it with me ever since, where I go, it goes.  Even if I'm not reading it, it's there close by reminding me that I'm not on this roller coaster alone, and also reminding me that if I had never tried to go on by myself, I wouldn't be feeling the things I was.

Thank you Lord!!!



Something else I hadn't been doing but which I adore and is a major part of my life, is my crochet.  Oh it's felt so good to get back at it, and I'm jumping right into a blanket for the Fall, can't wait to see it finished.

I sold a lot of my crochet blankets a few months ago, I'm sure you remember, and now I've found that I'm missing having them around, so it's onwards with yarn and hooks.



I truly am a happy homemaker at heart.  I know, some may think it crazy or wonder why on earth I would be happy doing this, but I just am.  Everything about it makes me happy, so I try to surround myself with cute things all around the house, things that when I happen to walk by and take a quick glance, will bring a big smile to my face.



Herbs!!!

Why? Because I love cooking and if I can pick something straight from my garden to use, even better.

It's been a few years since I've had a nice garden going, last one was in Arizona and I had to leave it all behind only to find that whoever moved in after me, removed every single plant and put down river rock.  Bummer!!!!

I have a lot of land here at this new place and I've got an area in sight, my only problem is that we don't have a running mower at the moment and I really need to get in there and work the land so that I can plant something.

I do know Fall will be here soon though and quickly followed by Winter so I need ideas/advice on what I should be planting.  I know I'll have to winterize it when it gets really cold and I'm prepared to do that, but what should I be planting???



I accidentally snapped this picture this morning.  I set my camera down while watering my herbs and when I went to pick it back up I pressed the button and snap.  My first thought was "Ooops, gonna have to delete that one"......but after seeing it, I am fascinated by it.

The blades of grass, the sun shining, the background bokeh effects.  It's just beautiful, and it goes to show that sometimes the best things come purely by accident, when we're not trying SO hard.  Good lesson to keep in mind.

Right friends, I have a house to clean, laundry to do and I must push on with Jasmine's cosplay costume, we now have less than a month before the con and I haven't really done anything.  Oh my!!!

Oh and I almost forgot, not that it's not important, but I took Lola to the vet yesterday to get her established here in town, and also to get a new prescription for her seizure medication.  Her seizures have now been happening every 3 weeks, but the new doctor listened to her heart and said he is a bit concerned because it doesn't sound right and it may be what is actually causing these seizures/episodes she has been having.

We have to take her back in two weeks for an xray.  If the heart and lungs look fine, then we'll check the medication for the seizure and just go from there, but if the heart is enlarged then it means she doesn't actually have seizures but heart disease and we will have to treat it accordingly. 

Prayers would be appreciated!!!

Alright, now I really must crack on.  Have yourselves a beautiful Wednesday and I'll see you all back here tomorrow :)

Mother and teenage daughter relationship!

 

Tiring!!!

That's the only word I can think of at the moment, I'm absolutely shattered and heartbroken, sad, confused and just don't know how to deal with it.

Don't get me wrong, I know I'll be fine, there are millions of mothers out there doing this every single day, dealing with hormonal teenage daughters and sons, and they do just fine.  I know I'll be ok, I know I'll get through, but for this moment in time, the issues seem insurmountable.

It's hard folks, and for those of you with little ones, trust me, it's nothing like you ever imagined, matter of fact, think of the worst it could be and times that by a thousand.

In my attempt to keep it real here on my blog, and you know I've always shared my life with you, my thoughts and opinions etc, I wanted to talk, vent, let it out and maybe even get some advice from you out there who have been through it.

When your children are little, you look at them and they have all this love in their eyes, they run up to you and wrap their little arms around your neck, kiss you, tell you they love you and will never be mean to you, and you believe it.  Wholeheartedly believe it!!!

Those moms dealing with unruly teens?  That's not you.
Those moms dealing with the I hate you's?  Nope, that is never going to be me.
Those moms complaining of the daily fights with their teenagers?  That's not going to be my precious child, she's too sweet and she loves me so much.

And then you blink and you find yourself standing in the kitchen with a 16 year old before you, arms folded across the chest, eyes rolling and major attitude coming at you like waves from a tsunami.  It's quite confusing at first, you wonder where that all came from, and where is the sweet little red head that you could have sworn was just kissing you the day before.

As a mother, there is nothing worse than the look of disdain from your own children, hearing them smart mouth you, tell you that they know better, that they don't want to discuss this any further, it's quite shocking at first.

Your first instinct is to not say anything that will make them hate you, really, it is.  But just as quickly as that thought comes, another creeps in, and that is the one that tells you that YOU are the parent and not them and that they may hate you right now but one day they will understand and thank you.  Oh how many times I heard that from my own parents and I reacted the exact same way my daughter did, thinking "Oh please, whatever, so dramatic".

I'm at a point where as much as I love her, I don't like her very much at times.....let me rephrase that, I love her with all my heart, but don't like some of the things she does.  That's better!!!

She has a boyfriend, they've been together over a year.  I get it, I was 16 once, I had a boyfriend who I was completely in love with, anything my parents said that interfered in any way with that was frowned up and hated by me, and I jumped to his defense like a lioness defending her cubs.  I never once stopped to think about how that made my parents feel, not once, not until I was on the receiving end and it hurts, and it's frustrating, and guess what?

It's normal!!!!  Yep, it's absolutely normal and that is the part of this that sucks.  If it wasn't normal it would mean that I could find a solution for this, like a special pill I could pop that would stop all this in it's tracks.  But there isn't, the only way to get out of this is to go THROUGH it, and that is a hard pill to swallow.

Most days I'm fine, I can deal with the attitude, then there's days like today where I'm feeling especially emotional, missing my great grandmother and grandmother terribly and any little thing sets me off.  So I have zero patience and zero tolerance for insolence and I could care less how upset she gets that I pull the wifi.

Does it make me a terrible mother?  In her eyes, I'm sure it does.

Thing is, I'm not here to please her, or anyone else, or make her life easy.  I'm here to mother her, protect her, shelter her and give her the tools she needs to get out there in this horrible crazy world and survive.  No one is going to make things easy for her, no one is going to give her hand outs, no one is going to care if she is too tired from being up too late, or too lazy to clean her room, no one.....because in the end, as always, the only people who will always be there will be us, her parents.

I'm so tired, so incredibly tired and my heart hurts, we've fought so much today, she's said things, I've said things, tempers flared, voices were raised and tears where shed on both parts.  And then 2 hours later she says "Momma, I love you so much".  My heart melts, the anger subsides and all that is left is this feeling of being drained.

Tomorrow, we'll be back at it over something else I'm sure, or maybe we won't.  That's the thing, with teenagers you never can tell, and Jasmine and I have always had a very close relationship, but the past 2 months it's been extremely strained and I think it's part due to me not wanting to let go as she grows up, and her trying to exert her independence.

I pray, so fervently for the Lord's guidance through this, because I know that without Him, I will fall and stumble and do it all wrong.  I am after all just a human, a simple mom finding her way through this teenage maze and hoping, just hoping and praying that I come out the other side unscathed.  Oh I'm sure I'll have a few battle scars, but for the most part, I'm hoping to survive it.

Wish me luck!!!