Busy Bee

Back when I was in college, a very well-meaning person that I respected once told me "if he can't make us bad, he'll make us busy." Well I took this to heart, dang it. I tried off and on to stop being so dang busy, with very little success. So I just kept on being busy and feeling guilty for it. This had been going off and on for about 6 years or so.

About a year ago, the familiar twinge of dissatisfaction with my "busy" trait had resurfaced and I had been feeling convicted. When I was praying about this one day, God spoke to me and very clearly told me: I made you this way. And it was like a switch had been flipped and I felt free from the guilt that I had associated with being busy. I was relieved, to say the least.

So. I quit worrying so much about being busy and set about enjoying it. And do you know what I did with this new found freedom of mine? I started doing more stuff.

Hm...

Somehow, it just made sense to me that I could release myself to DO more because God had set me free from feeling guilty for doing so much. Go whole hog, you know?

And what do you think happened? Yep, I got tired! And started feeling guilty (and frustrated) for doing so much that I made myself tired. Haha. Anyone seeing the irony here? Ah! I totally abused something God meant for good. I had eaten too much ice cream at the ice cream truck. Geez. Thankfully, God loves me too much to just zap me off the planet.

This happens to me often, actually. I get all excited about sewing something or reading a new book (two things I've actually been doing the past few weeks that have been wearing me out, hah). Then I dive in 100% and forget about cooking, cleaning the house, and sometimes grocery shopping for a few days or a week. Then when I finish whatever I was working on, or at least take a break from it, I resurface and realize I need to cook dinner but there are no groceries. Ack. What's a busy girl to do?

When I get like this, I know what my treatment is. To sit at the feet of Jesus and listen, reflect, and unwind my tightly-wound self. It's my therapy. Saying things like: Why do I do this? Why do I like being busy? It separates me from God, I know this. But why did He make me this way only to allow it to separate me from him? Ugh. I must be thick or something, but I just keep struggling with this.

Anywho. I just decided to dump it out there on the internet for all to see. One day I will have clarity about this and I will probably share it. Until then...

Cleaning-Out Saga Continues...

Don't think I haven't been thinking about Round 2 of cleaning out my house. It's been heavy on the brain lately. Having never done such a massive clean-out before, I had no idea how long this could take. See, I got tired and overwhelmed after the huge garage sale, giving away of 12 or so garbage bags full of baby clothes, taking a few piles to Goodwill. I've discovered that some things take quite a bit of time to think about before you know exactly what to do with it. Where to donate it, how to sell it, or if you want to keep it. So I've made a guideline for myself to follow: don't ever make decisions in a hurry and don't make decisions about someone else stuff.

One choice I made that hasn't had the dramatic (negative) impact my husband feared it would is: whittling our dishes in the kitchen down to what we use in a day or two. I now wash the top rack of the dishwasher (always hand-washing plastics, cookware, and cutlery) each day or two because the entire dishwasher was difficult to fill up. This made a huge difference in what I was able to see and retrieve from our kitchen cabinets. They were entirely too full of plates, bowls, and cups for me to get something out without other things either falling or having to be shoved to one side. I also sold all but a very few of the girls sippy cups in the last garage sale. I boxed up half of the plastic drinking glasses we have use daily since we got married without hubby noticing, making room for the fun glass and pottery glasses we have always enjoyed using but bypassed for the plastics. Now we use the glass more often, paying more attention to aesthetic detail than in the past.

These are the kinds of changes that have lasting effect on the de-stuffing process. I don't feel like I'm saying to myself "now why did I get rid of all those cups?" when I held on to them for months and we didn't even miss them. I'm applying the same principle to kids toys, clothing, home decor, toiletry products... and probably more that I am not willing to make my brain come up with at the moment.

Progress! It's not happening as fast as I initially imagined it would. But it's happening and our entire family is benefiting from it.

Lookie here

After writing the previous post, I came across this site and spent some time on it. It's quite interesting, take a peek:

http://rethinkingchristmas.com/

Why I Celebrate Christmas

I've been reading all sorts of things lately about how to honor Jesus this Christmas season. for quite some time, I have been saddened by the commercialization that now surrounds Christmas. But it wasn't until I had children that it really started to bother me. Possibly because I now see the world through different lens and I'm concerned about a lot more than just the commercialization of Christmas.

I'm the sort-of person who likes to imagine taking things to the extreme. I think all about how I should take drastic measures, but never really fully take those measures. My natural first thought was: Well crap. Since Christmas has been so commercialized should we even celebrate it like the average Americans at all?

Now would be a good time to mention what Christmas was like for my husband's family and mine. To sum it up in one phrase, I would say Christmas meant "time with family." This looked very different for Dan's family than it did for mine. His family celebrated Christmas Eve with a quiet evening opening presents and enjoying yummy soup with their immediate family (they were 16+ hours away from the rest of their family). Christmas Day was celebrated with Santa and a special lunch (or dinner? I can't remember right now). Christmas with my family meant a huge celebration Christmas Eve with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and even neighbors. My parents threw a big bash every year and I loved it. Christmas Day was celebrated with Santa, breakfast at my grandparents house and the opening of presents, then a huge late lunch with the same aunts, uncles, cousins as the night before. Christmas night was the most quite part of the whole two days.

Ok, back to my question. Should we even celebrate it at all?? I entertained this for about 30 seconds, thought about what I wrote above, and decided not to celebrate would be ludicrous. Besides, scripture has recorded times of celebration that are unlike anything we can imagine. I have always been impressed with the fact that in the book of Ester, Queen Vashti was striped of her title after she refused to parade herself before King Xerxes guests that had been partying for the past 180 days. 180 days of the finest wine, food, music, entertainment... I mean, seriously, college students, bar hoppers, and movie stars everywhere have nothing on the way they used to party.

So, this makes me feel better about spending a measly 30 days with special decorations in my home, baking cookies for the neighbors, and buying gifts for the one's that I love. All in preparation to celebrate the birth of the single most important person to walk this earth. It's what we do leading up to the party, the finale.

As for gifts, my husband and I have decided to give very few gifts to our children and to each other. As my children grow older, we will continue to have dialogue about Christmas and what we, as followers of Jesus, will be celebrating. We've still invited Santa into our home and asked that he leave one or two small gifts plus a stocking (he left them for my family and they were always a huge hit). But receiving material things will play a small roll in what we'll be celebrating. We'll focus on giving to others and receiving God's gift of Jesus.

Tonight as my two daughters and I were driving around looking at lights, we stopped at a massive moving display of Santa's workshop. There were several little elves, Santa, and lots of toys piled around. My 3 year old looked at the display, admired it, and then said "Mom, where's Baby Jesus?" A smile spread across my face, an ounce of satisfaction, and then I was humbled by her innocent understanding of Christmas.

My "plan" this year was to start an advent calendar and do 25 days of giving. I had high hopes! I made my list, but that was as far as it got. Now that it's the 14th of December, my plan is to write some of them on slips of paper, put them into a glass jar, and we'll have a countdown to Jesus' Birthday Party. [I thought about doing the 12 days of Christmas, but then researched it and found that the 12 Days of Christmas technically start the day after Christmas.] In the years to come, I vow to be more organized in November. My 3 year old and I decided that we wanted to throw Jesus a birthday party and make him a cake. To eat, of course! So that's what we're going to do.

I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Good Post:

sorta wish I wrote this post

http://mnmlist.com/needless/

Glorious Bread!

I've had the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day from the library for, like, 3 months now. They just keep letting me renew it, so I'm keeping it! The authors of the cookbook made a recipe for Family Fun and I tried it out. Fabulous! Seriously. If you make this recipe, you will be singing "Bread glorious bread!" before long, I promise.

The Dough

2 c lukewarm water
1 1/2 T granulated yeast
1 1/2 T sea salt
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 c honey
1/3 c canola oil
6 c unbleached all purpose flour
1 c whole wheat flour

In a large bowl or lidded container, stir together the water, yeast, salt, eggs, honey, and oil or melted butter, then mix in the flours. If needed, the last bit of flour can be incorporated with wet hands.

Loosely cover the dough and let it rise at room temperature until it collapses on top, about 2 hours.

Use the dough immediately or refrigerate it in a lidded (not airtight) container and use it over the next five days. It can also be frozen in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to one month (we recommend freezing the dough in 1-pound portions for ease of use). Frozen dough can be shaped, rested, and baked after it has defrosted overnight in the refrigerator. To cut a recipe's worth of dough from the bulk batch, dust the surface of the dough with flour, then use kitchen shears or a knife to snip off what you need.

The Bread

Lightly grease an 8-1/2- by 4-1/2-inch nonstick loaf pan. To help the dough hold its shape while it rises, cloak it: dust it with flour, then quickly shape it into a ball by stretching the surface and tucking it under the bottom, then rotating it a quarter-turn as you work.

Stretch the ball into a loaf shape as shown and place it in the pan (it should be about three-quarters full). Let the dough rest for 90 minutes covered loosely with plastic wrap, 60 minutes if you're using fresh, unrefrigerated dough.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush the top of the loaf with the egg wash, then use a sharp, serrated bread knife to make three cuts across the top. Place the loaf on the oven's center rack and bake it until it's brown and firm, about 45 minutes. Remove the loaf from the pan and let it cool completely on a rack before slicing.


YUUUUUUUMMMMM!

Cookie cake.... sorta.

I have posted about this cookie recipe before and I want you to know that it makes a dang good cookie cake! A little while ago I really wanted a piece of cookie cake. Having no reason to purchase one from somewhere, and being averse to all the junk that goes into mass baking these days, I used my favorite cookie recipe and it worked! I originally intended to make some icing and put it on top, but we ended up eating it before I got around to it.

Cornbread yum yum

How many of you out there love Jiffy? I mean, who doesn't, right? Well now you can say, "I used to love Jiffy, but Anna showed me a better recipe and now my life has changed forever." Really, go ahead and just say it because I'm about to change your cornbread-making forever. Ok, ok, that's a bit lofty... but here's an awesome cornbread recipe that you seriously won't be able to stop eating. I mean, look at that pan. That's after our family of 2 adults and 2 small girls have eaten dinner. We LOVE this stuff. Here goes:

Golden Sweet Cornbread
(originally from allrecipes.com)

1c all purpose flour (I've used a combo of whole wheat or white wheat that worked well)
1c yellow cornmeal (I've used blue before and if worked fine)
2/3c sugar
1 1/2t salt
3 1/2 t baking powder
1 egg
1c soy milk
1/2c veg oil
1/2t vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 and grease your pan (either a 8x8 or something equivalent). Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Stir in egg, milk, and veg oil until well combined and pour the batter in the pan. Bake 20 minutes or until the center is done.

Pinkish Skirt

Finished it!

So I made this skirt and I'm very excited about it. Quite snappy, if I do say so myself. I had Dan take the picture before I put three large buttons on the side for the closure. And what about that picture, eh? I'm on the stool, baby gate in the background... whatever. I'm happy I get some sewing done these days, no matter what the house looks like! My mother in law was in town and enabled me to start and finish this skirt in one day, which is an incredible feat for me at this time in my life. At first I thought this was Little House on the Prarie-ish with the giant ruffle, but I have since changed my mind and love it. Oh yes, I used a pattern for the middle part, it's New Look 6944.

I love this

Every time we drive home from Louisiana I see this sign. And every time I see it, I don't have my camera handy... until last week! I think this is hysterical. Maybe next time we head home I'll get a better picture of it.

Cleaning Out Proof

So just in case you thought I had forgotten about this lovely blog of mine... I haven't! I've been thinking about SO many things lately and have honestly been too busy to post any of my thoughts. They are coming eventually. But for now I'm putting up some pictures of our de-stuffing process. I cannot believe how much we've gotten rid of, yet how much we still have! At the moment, I'm doing my best to find a proper balance for our family. I've discovered that some of us have a more consumerist view of owning things (the more the better, right?), and for most of my life I've fallen into this category of consumer. I don't really fit there any more, so this process has been interesting, to say the least. Also, very humbling and at times embarrassing - especially considering the stuff we had amassed when there is so much need elsewhere.

Cleaning out the girls closet

I know this picture is sideways, but there are mounds of storage containers in my home now... nothing to put in them.

In these boxes were clothing from my two daughters first year of life. Tons and tons of clothes that were hardly worn. They were sorted and fit into the blue tub in the next picture.

These are all the clothes, blankets, and shoes got rid of from the above bins. I gave them to a friend who is due with a girl in January. She was thrilled.

Packed up for a garage sale at a friends house! Sold most of it for next to nothing.

One of many before and after shots... I'm still not done with most of the organization that needs to happen. It takes so much time!

Really??

Hubs got this in the mail yesterday and we were both really surprised. Unsure of what to do with it (pass it on and let someone else actually wear it? or put it in the garbage?) we just tossed it. Awful, I know. We were both horrified that the beef industry is now going after the medical industry with gusto. I mean, really? They must be suffering a bit with everyone touting the benefits of abstaining from meat. Makes me laugh, really. Now that I think about it, I should probably post something about what we eat and why. That will come one of these days!

Don't you worry!!

Ok, so in case you've been wondering where all the pictures and interesting posts are about our de-stuffing process are... they're coming! I've just been keeping up with life the past few weeks while sorting our junk and it's been time-consuming to say the least! I've documented a lot of this process and even made a detailed list of everything we've donated (to friends or charity organizations).

Right now I'm working on my fabric collection. Man. I've recently found an organizational system that I think will work really well for me and I'm re-folding all of my fabric. Next up I have to sort through a massive stack of magazines that I can't seem to throw away without looking at the dog-eared pages.

But I'm posting a picture of a dress I made last week for a gift for a new friend of Ellie's, so here are a few pictures for you to look at! Ellie is modeling it, but we gave it away to her friend Kennedi.

Reflection

An unexamined life is not worth living.
-Socrates

I've been doing a LOT of thinking lately. As much as I have enjoyed cleaning out my home for the past 3 weeks, I've been slowing down. I'm reaching a point where I have to either sell an item on craigslist or think about if I really want to get rid of something (china?). So there have been several days where me and the girls have been enjoying a slower pace.

For me this means taking time to reflect. It's been wonderful. Spending time in the hammock (yes, even with the girlies)... talking walks with the girls... focusing on Jesus and listening to what he wants for me... visiting with Ellie (my 3 year old)... gazing at the clouds as they move across the sky...

Very refreshing.

Why don't you try it?

Quote of inspiration

Do you realize how GOOD you feel when you get rid of stuff?!

Stuff you don't need. Stuff that clutters your home. Stuff that's falling out of closets and storage spaces. Stuff that you didn't even remember you had. Stuff that you're keeping just in case you need it someday.

Stuff.

So. All of this cleaning out has really got me feeling awesome. And quite different. Maybe it's more of a way of thinking, but it's different. What I've been doing is examining the things we use, the things we do, and what we want to do. I'm trying going to make sure our life and our stuff fit well together.

I love this quote by Seth Godin:

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, you ought to set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”

I suppose you could say that this is what I've been up to. Setting up a life that I don't need an escape from. Sounds great, doesn't it?

Food & Grocery Thoughts

Ok, so let me let you in on a little secret: I buy too much food. Betcha didn't expect that, hah. I can't help it! I'm easily sucked in by fabulous clean foods, seasonal produce, anything unprocessed, interesting meat-free items, all grains, fun pastas, interesting flours, weird beans (fava, anyone?) and most everything that has no GMO's. I love love LOVE good food, or at least good for you food anyway. My kitchen cabinets and fridge are very very full of it.

I have read and considered just about every type of eating out there. Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw, Macrobiotics, Dr Fuhrman... I will most definitely be blogging about our diet changes over the past few years, but not right now. I seem to be chasing a rabbit. Back to the point!

One would argue (not that I would, ahem, know or anything...) that we have enough food for our family of 4 to eat off of for two or three weeks very comfortably. If you count the freezer, well, then we have enough food for about a month, easily. So as you can see, I need to work on this. Food hoarding, hah.

Here are some things I am vowing to work on:
- Trying to eat up what we have before buying a bunch of stuff, grains and all. Freezer too! That's going to be hard because I like fresh produce, but it's one of my new missions... no one ever said going through our house would be quick work.
- Formulate a plan! A menu is a novel idea. But better than a menu is to understand the way our family eats. We don't do well with a menu because it does not lend well to our food impulses ("I feel like eating breakfast tonight! But we didn't put it on the menu. Dang." this scenario does NOT work for us). Which is why we end up with so much food. I need to find a way to work on this.
- Actually sticking with a plan when I go into the grocery store and not impulse buying
- Entertaining the idea of getting rid of our deep freezer. Shock of the century! I have had a love affair with this deep-freeze for quite a while now and I am totally amazed that I am thinking of getting rid of it. But we don't use it like we used to! When we first got it, it held a lot of meats and convenience foods. Both of which we don't eat any more. Hm...

Here are a few embarrassingly incriminating photos:

My baking corner cabinet is full of at least 4 bags of flour - which does not count the small containers of flour in the top pink baskets. Coming from a family of bakers, I have always thought it unfit to have a kitchen without the necessary ingredients for a cake, brownies, or cookies of all sorts (obviously). As our diets have changed, we've still made room for goodies! But perhaps I have too much flour?

This is just oil and vinegar and about 3 rows deep

This cabinet houses our grains, pastas, beans, peanut butter, nuts/seeds, dried fruits, and sea veggies. It used to actually have a lot more food in it, but I've actually been working on getting rid of the stockpile of food in here for a bit.

This one is deeper than it looks and holds at least 5 rows of canned veggies. We have tons of tomatoes. And yes, we do drink, but so rarely that the Jack has been there with about 3 oz in it for the past 2 1/2 years.

Questions for those with less

Here are some questions I have for those people who have few things:

1. If you don't have many clothes, do you have to do laundry more often? Isn't that a benefit of having more clothes? Wouldn't this end up taking you more time and sort-of cancel out any benefit of having less so you can do more?

2. If you only have a very few dishes (say, enough to make it through a day) then what do you do when you have guests?

3. How did you decide what to keep and what to get rid of? Have you gotten rid of something you wish you had kept and what was it?

4. What the heck do you do with memorabilia? Pictures, kids first drawings, really good notes and cards from people you love?

That's it for now!

If you are reading and would like to comment, feel free!! I'd love to know your thoughts, if you have downsized, or if you would like to. Whatever.

Thing Categories

Due to the nature of what I've been spending a LOT of time doing lately (cleaning out my stuff), I've been doing a lot of thinking. Well... while I'm think about when/if I'm actually going to use the item in my hand, I'm watch my 13 month old and make sure her wobbly walking doesn't give her a concussion, and play "house" with my 3 year old, and I've been thinking! Have I mentioned that I love to think? I should have been an analyst. Anyway. Here goes:

Why have I kept so much stuff? I think I was hanging on to stuff in hopes that I would use it, I love useful things. That seems logical, right? Okay... but why? Other times I was hanging onto something because it held some great memories for me. [Infant clothes had amassed in a giant rubbermaid tub. Like, a freakish amount of onsies and pj's. I sorted through those puppies in record time and plan to share them with a friend of mine who's pregnant with a girl.] I am making some great progress, but at times I can get overwhelmed with what to keep. Everything? Nothing? How crazy am I going to get with this sorting thing? I'm working on finding a BALANCE that's right for our family. Not taking someone elses guidelines for important stuff and trying to fit my stuff into their categories and getting frustrated because it's not working for me (are you guessing that this has been happening? :) So while thinking, I've come up with some categories for my things that are listed below.

Here are a few categories for my things (our things, whatever):

I use it every day. Or near about every day. Or I absolutely cannot function without it. There are some obvious things that fall into this category like toothpaste and shoes. It's those things I use every once in a while that I'm having difficulty deciding if it needs to stay or can find a better home elsewhere (more on that category in a second).

I use it to create things. Sewing falls in this category for me. I simply LOVE to sew. I have recently discovered that I don't love to shop, as I had once thought, but only because I discovered how very much I love sewing. Now, I've actually had to question "creating" for once. Because creating for a need is worthwhile, whereas creating for excess is a waste of my time. So I've stopped sewing for the moment until my home has been cleaned out. Simple as that.

It brings me great joy. I love to journal and read, therefore I have lots of books and journals. I particularly love books that will make me smarter (ha) or that I find "useful," such as My art book collection which I once loved (I was an art major), have actually been reduced over the years. Quite frankly, I don't look at them any more. But I kept the really really good one's, one day I'll have time, right? Now, there is an entire shelf of our bookshelf in the bedroom with my journals. Hm... A few nights ago I said to Hubby "I wonder if anyone is every going to want to read those" and he looked quizzically at me and said "Are you ever going to want to read them?" My love of books has spilled over in to cookbooks, of course. But about two years ago we made some serious diet changes and I still held on to a lot of my traditional cookbooks. About 5 months ago I decided since it had been about a year and a half since I had used them, well... they got the boot.

I use it every once in a while. The bread machine, for example, is going on craigslist because I've recently found a fantastic (and I do mean fantastic) way to make bread that I'm a bit obsessed about and will blog about soon. Moving on.

I never really use it but like it. Hm... should I keep it then? Rollerblades fit in here. I LOVE to skate, I did it for years. But since I've had children, I haven't skated. I've run. The verdict is still out on the rollerblades, but I'm leaning towards keeping them because I hope to skate with my girls one day and don't want to have to run out and buy a new pair of skates/rollerblades because I was going crazy getting rid of my things and gave them away. I have a ton of other things that fit into this category, but frankly, I haven't really made it out of the playroom in 3 days because the sorting has been intense (hey, it's where all of my art supplies, the girls toys and craft things, baby clothing, office things, and attic is. I'll probably be in here for a while longer). Another thing that fits into this category is the china we got when we married. China! Agony. I'll have to think about this for a while. I never use it, but I like it.

I never use it. So why do I keep it? It gets tossed! Extra wires, cords, cd cases, strange fabric, clothes that don't fit, bags (I've had a very long love affair with bags and totes of all kinds), lamps, decorating things...

Now that I think about it, I've actually been reducing my stuff for quite a while. But I've still been holding on to too much and that's why I'm on this adventure!

Made it!

I made this smoothie today and it's awesome!!! Very filling and quite good. My 3 year old liked it because it was pink and my husband asked if it had protein in it (um, no). Try it, you'll like it!

How do you like my iphone photography standing in my kitchen? I didn't remember to take a picture of it until after I had finished it.

Simple as it Seems

Many a year ago (back in 2006!) I started following a blog called Walk Slowly, Live Wildly and was enamored with everything the blog author (Sara) wrote about. Some of it was too extreme for me at the time. Well, not just some of it.... most all of it. But I was challenged to my core and God hasn't let me forget it (he's great like that, isn't he?). To understand why, I am going to give you a very very short version (she has a longer one on her site if you are oddly fascinated, like me, about personal background). She and her husband sold their newly purchased home and gradually got rid of most of their possessions and moved into an RV. With a child. They began touring the country on a personal mission to spread how to Live Lightly (they did a tour in 2007 and one in 2008 and are now officially done touring). Currently they are still living in an RV but now have a 6 year old and a toddler and they travel around the country and are still making a living while doing it. Impressive, no?

Hm.

4 years ago I was hooked. Nothing in my life changed as a result of my fascination. I secretly wanted to be like this little family, though my life was nowhere near it - and let's face it, it still isn't. But back in 2006, my spirit (now knowing my mind had been exposed to living differently) began to be dully dissatisfied with my consumption. Which I mostly ignored. At some point -this post to be exact- I realized I that Sara and her ideals were waaay out of my league (er, comfort zone) and she became on of "those" people to me. You know, them. The one's who are able to do that which I am unwilling to. Anyway.

So I've just gone on my merry way falling into the trap of my culture. I've spent countless hours in stores, malls, super centers, and online and come home with numerous things I either returned or was stuck with. I've stared into my closet, kitchen cabinets, and drawers trying my best to get rid of stuff because I knew I needed to, only to come out with one or two things for the Goodwill pile. Don't get me wrong, I definitely made some improvements during the past several years, but I still felt the dissatisfaction in my spirit that I wasn't doing things right.

At the moment, I cannot even remember how many times I've either journaled, thought, had conversations with my husband or friends, and prayed about this unrest in my spirit. I basically felt like I needed to simplify my life. All of my thinking and talking left me with no clarity and I was mostly discouraged by my inability to make my life simple. Dang it.

Now is a good time to mention what my definition of simplicity is. You see, I have never taken the time to actually sit down and come up with a definition of "simple" until last week. Why I have waited this long is beyond me. Striving for a completely undefined ideal was easier, right? But when I actually sat down and thought about what my life would look like if it were simple, I came up with my very own definition. Here's what I wrote in my journal:

"Simple, for me, is this: I know what's necessary, important, and what I enjoy and I'm able to do those things with my time (in an orderly and not crazy fashion. If I'm crazy then I need to re-think where I've been spending my time). It also means that I know what is unnecessary, not important, and what I don't enjoy (as for entertainment and free time) and I have figured out how NOT to do these things."

Some would say this is just being intentional with your time. And I suppose you could condense what I wrote into that one word:

Intentional



For the next several weeks, or however long it takes, life is going to change here in our household. First off, we're going to be getting rid of a lot of stuff. I say "we," but I really mean me. Hubby has no extra time and my 3 and 1 year olds won't be much help in the sorting process (they usually mess up my piles). One thing I know is that we have more than we need or can use. So we'll be getting rid of it and either garage selling, craigslisting, or giving it to those in need. And guess what? I'm going to blog about it!

Talk soon,
Anna

Blog Identity Crisis

So this blog has been under an identity crisis for a while. At least it has in my imagination, anyway. First it was mostly for sewing, then I decided to post whatever whenever - recipes, thoughts, random things of importance. I've wanted to post SO very many things that float around in my head, but alas, my family blog has won many a (imaginary) battle over blogging. However, I am making some life changes and have decided to start blogging about it. And truly, when am I NOT making life changes... I honestly don't know. I seriously love change. So for those of you who actually read my mumbo jumbo, hang in there and stay tuned!

Anna

First Skirt

So I have this black Old Navy skirt that I bought back after having Ellie (my 3 year old) and I love it. However, it has this goofy fold over waist band that creates bulk around my mid section. Since I don't really need any help looking fat, I thought I would make a pattern out of it and do my best to duplicate the black skirt.

I bought this fabric a while ago from the $1 a yard section at wally world with the intention of making a shirt out of it. But I needed something to make a skirt out of, so... here goes!

And yes, I sew with a baby attached to my hip. In case you were wondering. Aren't her legs cute?

Are you ready for this... vegan chocolate chip cookies!!!

I have been a chocolate chip cookie lover for a very very long time. Just ask my family! Growing up, my mom did a good job of making me watch (or help) in the kitchen. When she baked, it was much more hands on for me and I developed my love for baking in her kitchen. I think it was when Mom went through the fat-free stage that the baking torch was passed to me. I followed her recipes to the T and the results were always predictable, that's probably what I liked so much about it. The reliable predictability. In the recent years, I've done my fair share of reading about nutrition. I've read some fantastic books that have broadened my understanding of what food does to and in your body. And even though I know it's not really good for you/me/us, I still bake! I can't help it! Something about it makes me feel good.

One thing I have worked hard to incorporate are more vegan recipes into our cooking. Baking had started to be a major disappointment for me since dairy is one of the main ingredients in every baking recipe I had ever used. So. I had to do some major experimenting, and the results of most these experiments was.... gross. Just ask my husband :) But I prevailed and have now found a small handfull of excellent baking recipes that I'm proud to say are dairy free! One of my happiest discovery was that of the chocolate chip cookie. My favorite. I've listed the recipe below that I use, have fun trying it out! I make these often and no one every has a single clue that they are vegan. Oh yes, and my changes are in purple!

Happy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached flour (unbleached whole wheat)
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp.salt
cinnamon to taste 1t
vegan chocolate or carob chips - put in as many as you like (1 - 1.5 c is plenty)
1 cup raw sugar (turbinado #1, sucanat works too but sucks up a lot of the moisture) (1/2c white sugar + 1/2 c brown)
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup water (used 3/8c)
I've also added chopped nuts, just make sure the cookie dough part has enough dough to stick together.

Directions:

VERY IMPORTANT-make sure all ingredients are at room temperature. (I've actually thrown it together without being room temp with success) It will work if they're not at room temp but it works MUCH better if they are. Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon (if you choose). Add chips. Make a well in the center and set aside.

In a medium size bowl mix sugar and oil. Mix it well. Add the vanilla and then add the water. Mix it well. Add the wet to the well in the dry. Mix it well but be careful not to overwork it. Add more chips if you need to. Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheets. (Ok, these don't spread much, so make them in the shape you want to see as the end result) Put them in the oven. Bake for 5 minutes and then flip and rotate the sheets.(top to bottom,and 180 degree rotation) Bake another 4 minutes and check them. (I didn't rotate these, seems like too much trouble and they still turned out great)

The cookies are done when they seem a little bit softer then you want them to be (I probably cook them for 8 minutes total and they stay soft). They will harden up some as they cool. I usually go in two minute increments from here untill they get to where I like them.

Take them out when they are done and move them to wire cooling racks. If they split or come apart when you try to remove them let them sit on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring them to the racks.

These cookies have come a long way, lots of time and tasting spent on getting them to where they are now. Vegans and non vegans LOVE them. In the words of my 6 year old son-Mom, you're the greatest because you know how to make the best cookies. Enjoy and let me know if you have questions. Sweet travels.

Serves: almost two dozen

Preparation time: 15 mins?-10 to 12 cooking time

Be Nilla

I made homemade vanilla a while back and just now I was scrolling through my iphoto and saw the picture I took of it. For a moment the world paused as I gazed upon this image. Then I realized that I had to stop what I was doing and tell you about my vanilla. It is incredible. It's basically brandy and three vanilla beans. I let it soak for about 4 weeks before using it, and had to use the store-bought stuff as a stand in. Once I switched... man! There's a huge difference. My baked goods (and granola) now taste like I know what I'm doing. Yum yum!

Books I Want (to read or own)

About 2 years ago I read the book Serve God, Save the Planet and was motivated to make some big changes here in the Raz household. Matthew Sleeth was a successful doctor who gave up his career to save the planet. In the process, he and his family became Christians because he brought home a Gideon bible from work one day (after reading text from all major world religions, the Bible was the last thing they read). How about that? Well, the Sleeth family is at it again and this time Nancy has put out a practical book about exactly how their family went green and her book is pictured above: Go Green, Save Green.




Yes, I know. Some of you hate her, some of you love her, and quite possibly there are some people on the planet who have been hiding in a cave and don't know her name (yet). My husband was recently sent a subscription to Martha Stewart Living - insert laugh here. I'm guessing it has something to do with his profession or it was a crazy marketing scheme to send out free subscriptions in hope that they would be renewed. Well I have to admit that though I thought I cared nothing for this publication, it's actually pretty good. And 'ole Martha has done it again (or her staff, anyway) and produced this encyclopedia of sewing book that I am coveting at the moment. At some point, when my life slows down (will this ever happen...) I am going to get this book and read it!

Totally unrelated:
- Have any of you tried making a sesame crunch? Every health food store I've ever been in has a really expensive version of it and I was looking for a good recipe. I've googled it, but mostly got the candy/brittle recipe. I'm looking for something "healthier" but, you know, still sweet. Does it exist?
- I'm loving my Lands End Canvas shorts I got recently! Actually, I bought them and had to send them back for a smaller size. Fabulous! They stretch out as you wear them, but are ridiculously soft and quite comfortable. I love the length since I now have two kiddos and don't want to show off my panties when I bend over to get them off the swing. However, I did get some new panties at the Gap (on sale) a few months back that are quite pretty.

We interrupt the regular program...

I have been taking forever to get several things posted (Ellie's big 3rd birthday, for one) because of computer/technical issues. Apparently I have too many pictures on our laptop and have had to find the time to clean off the computer before I can put more stuff on it! Oh the woes of the technical era! I think I should write a poem about it, or maybe a sonnet. Or maybe not. Or maybe I should put a desktop on the list of things we need to buy. It'll have to be under a car seat, however, because we're about to have to move Julia into Ellie's and get Ellie a big one. Ah. Anyway, there will be more stuff soon!

Lemon Outfits

I've had this fabric for a while now with the intention of making my two girls and my niece some matching outfits. It took me a while, but I finally decided on what outfits to make and I put them together while visiting family a month ago. The patterns were all one's that I had used often and was very familiar with, but for whatever reason, I had serger issues and wanted to throw these puppies out the window several times. However, they turned out really cute!

Elephant Tops

I was going to make this top for Ellie for Valentine's Day, but since we were so busy getting things ready for ski trip (and I was making a backpack) I didn't get to it. Woopsie! Dan was on a 30 hour shift Saturday and I just sat down and finished these after putting my girls to bed. They turned out really cute... guess I'll just hang on to them until Easter.

Backpack

After carrying around my current diaper bag for the past 6 months, I have thought to myself "this thing is too big." And not only is it too big, but it's insides are also not very well planned. I made the pockets too deep and narrow and one giant pocket that is just too big. Back to the drawing board! I'd been eying those vera bradley backpacks and decided to make something similar. I actually followed a few pre-teens around the mall one day because they had on mini vera backpacks. I took some mental notes and started drafting (and re drafting) the pattern in my head. When I was ready to put it on paper, I made a few measurements down and across my back and got started. I played around with things on paper and after a few days I just decided to go for it.

I've carried it around for about two weeks now and I love carrying a backpack! Here's what I think about this particular bag:

What I like:
- The size is great, not too big and not too small.
- The interior pockets (which you can't see...) are a great size
- I made the shoulder straps out of belt fabric covered in the backpack fabric and they are nice and sturdy. Need to reinforce them in the seam, though.
- I love the fabric! It goes with everything.
- Love the quilting that I did, the lines are very fluid and don't follow a pattern.
- The handle at the top is quite useful and how I transport the bag when not wearing it.

What I don't like:
- Too flimsy. I quilted the fabric and should have used a thick interfacing so it wouldn't be so floppy.
- I used the incorrect zipper and it shows. Should have used a smaller (easier to sew) zipper on the front and side pockets.
- The side pockets aren't near deep enough. I didn't allow for enough room when assembling the bag... oh well.
- The back open pockets are pretty but not very useful. I didn't want the back to be bumpy against my back so I made these pockets to be flat, but I just don't think they will amount to much.

Overall I will most definitely make another backpack again, probably soon. Maybe this time I'll just find some already quilted fabric so I can omit that rather laborious step.

Purple House Dress - Update!

So I finished Ellie's purple house dress the day or so after I posted about it back in January... I guess that's been 2 months ago. Geez, I'm behind on posting! I just cut out a new bodice and sewed it together and voila! Done! She loves it and has worn it several times. I went ahead and made a matching pair of pants, because, why not? And then I went ahead and made an "E" shirt since I had an extra shirt laying around. Now she has two things to wear with the pants.

Citrus anyone?

Twas a rainy and not-so-loverly day here in Kentucky. The highlight of my weekend was when my neighbor (fresh from a trip to Florida) showed up on my doorstep with a massive bag of oranges, grapefruit, & tangelos. He said he and his wife picked them! As sad as this is, I have never seen a grapefruit with the stem and leaf still intact and was pretty excited to uncover this gem in the giant Bag O Citrus.

It's Pepsi... Thrownback

Yeah baby, that's the way I like it. Have any of my 5 readers tried the Pepsi Throwback? I'm not sure how long they've had it out, but tonight I found myself saying these words: oh my gosh this taste like the Pepsi I used to drink when I was a kid. Did I just reveal my age? I really don't care... I'll have the big 30th birthday this year (August 1st for those of you who are interested). Back to the Pepsi. It's made with cane sugar instead of HFC and I'm loving it! [Side note: It really IS too bad McDonalds has trademarked that phrase: I'm loving it. I mean, who has the right to a phrase like that?] It's also the official soft drink of the NFL... can you tell I'm watching football with the hubby? Doesn't get much better than that, now does it? Football and Pepsi Throwback.

Purple House Dress

About 8 months ago I started working on this little dress for my 2 year old Ellie. I had assembled the dress and was serging the bodice onto the skirt when the bodice got caught in the sergers crossfire creating a nasty gaping hole. A hole! Front and center of the top. I felt like such an idiot. I literally stood on the landing and jumped up and down I was so mad (are you picturing it? because you should be). Then I decided to trash the dress. A few days later I took it out of the trash and started thinking of how I could repair my mistake. Ribbon? A pocket? An applique? No... I really wanted to add purple polka dot fabric to the bottom of the dress and I didn't want to add more stuff to it. So I just left it alone. It has sat in my "to be completed" box for the past 8 months until now. Yesterday I decided to finish the dress. Partially because Ellie is really into purple right now, and partially because I'm tired of looking at it, and partially because it's the new year and I'm feeling energized. I have decided to just cut out a new top, not very creative, but it's what I want to do. I liked it the way it was. More on the dress when I finish!

Yummus Hummus

I was talking to my good friend Maryann today - probably my oldest friend, actually... we went to school from pre-kindergarden to 12th grade through college (and shared the same major) together and even knew each other before good ole pre-k. Anyway. She asked about food and this started a list of things that we eat here in the Raz household. One of thing that struck her fancy was the mention of our hummus and veggie sandwiches/wraps. Then she told me I needed to share my hummus recipe. So instead of emailing it to her, I decided to "put it on the blog!" A much-repeated phrase here the past few days (it must be said with gusto while shooting a fist in the air). This is probably the first hummus recipe that I totally made up myself. It uses soaked nuts because I find tahini overpowering. I think I just don't like tahini, I'm really not sure. Here it is!

Yummus Hummus!
Anna Raz

1/4 c almonds
1/4 c cashews
1/4 c sunflower seeds
1 can chickpeas
3/8 c lemon juice
1 T olive oil (isn't required)
1/2 c fresh parsely (get the tops, not stems. loosely pack)
1 T Tony Chacheres
2 or 3 cloves minced fresh garlic
Water

Cover the nuts & seeds with water and allow to soak overnight. When you are ready to make the hummus, throw the nuts with the water in the blender or food processor. Add everything else and go to town. Use as much water as you want to achieve the consistency of hummus you prefer. There really isn't a right or wrong here. You won't need more than 1/2 a cup, we rarely use more than 1/4 c or so (but we have a blendtec and it blends this stuff to smithereens). It's always better the next day, but still good the day you make it. Should last in the fridge for a week or more, but it rarely makes it this long in our house so I really don't know how long it will keep.

What we use it for: sandwiches/wraps with a generous amount of hummus, sliced bell pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, & a little feta if you have it. YUM. We also just eat it with crackers or crudites (a fancy way to say veggies: carrots, celery, broccoli, & cauliflower pair well).

If you're trying to keep things raw, you can make it raw quite easily (this is how we make it). Raw Yummus Hummus instructions: use all raw nuts/seeds, squeeze your own lemons, used cold pressed olive oil, and soak dried chickpeas in water overnight or as long as it takes for them to get softer. Voila! It's raw!