sick of white residue on dishes? me to!

White residue clung to my glassware, and plastic ware. No matter how many times I ran them through the dishwasher!! I found this very frustrating and wanted to kick my dishwasher right out of the house! My hubby (bless his heart! Knew logically there had to be a reason as to "why" this had started and a "how" to fix this concern of mine.) So he logically googled this problem for me. (Why! Oh, why did I not think of that?)

What I learned was that many of the dish detergent I, had been using for years had changed their formula to remove Phosphates. If you live in an area that has hard water this can be an issue for you! (Who knew I lived in an area with hard water since this had been an additive to my products for years!)

So the solution was this amazing product called "Lemi Shine" you can find it on line, at Walmart and other distributors. (I have received no compensation for this endorsement) I just wanted to let others know of this solution, if you to have been hitting your head against your kitchen counter asking "why? is this white residue happening to me?" Well, now you can stop hitting your head, and rewashing, and rewashing your plastic dishware!!

This is a Wonderful product you just add it to your dishwasher when you are adding your detergent and it makes everything residue free! YES!!!! It really works!!

sleet, snow, and ice oh, my!!

Well when the temperature drops it is time for all those warm yummy drinks!!

Here are two of my favorite recipes for warm drinks during this time of year.

Warm yummy Hot Chocolate mix:

1 cup of non fat dry, powdered milk

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup dry vanilla coffee creamer

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

4-5 regular sized candy bars (Hershey/dove brand- chopped into bite size pieces. I will be honest I have even used chocolate chips for this recipe!)

* mix above ingredients in bowl, and store in a storage bag or plastic container. (I usually double this recipe since I have 3 kids plus their friends that come inside after building snowmen.) This is a great recipe!! and I provide marshmallow's or cool whip with cocoa for sprinkling on top for the kids to choose between.

Chia Tea Mix:

2 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon of ground all spice

1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper

1 1/2 cups of instant tea unsweetened!!

1 1/2-2 cups sugar

1 cup powdered non dairy coffee creamer

1 cup powdered vanilla flavored non dairy coffee creamer

1 cup non fat dry powdered milk

***combine above ingredients and store in plastic storage bag or plastic container.

serve with milk/hot water. (I have a large Large coffee cup - so I use about 1/3 cup mix to a cup of hot water and a splash of milk)

***variation: for a chocolate chia tea mix, add 1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa to above mix.

(below is the view out my front window, on my front porch-ahhh!)

I hope you enjoy the above recipes!! I live in Oklahoma which my city has only experienced a blizzard two times in it's history!! So we are all snowed in and trust me we are enjoying the above recipes with a smile! (that is as long as we have power!!)

(below is a picture of all the clothes my kids take off, once the come in - can you say laundry time!!!)

Stay warm, and bundled up and enjoy this season!!!!

Eat, Pray, Love

I was so excited about seeing the movie "Eat, Pray, Love"! I think Julia Roberts is a beautiful talented actor and wanted so badly to go see this movie when it came to the theatre, and wouldn't you know that was when I broke my arm, my kids were back in school (a.k.a. homework time, bath, and bed at a good time every night) so I did not get a chance to watch this movie until it came out on DVD.

I hate to say this but I was so disappointed in this movie. Even the fab Julia Roberts all pretty, laughing happily could not leave me with a feel good feeling at the end of this movie. This movie was a tribute to some one's selfishness. It was very discouraging by no means the "girls night movie" I thought it would be. I do not "review" movies very often because I am a movie lover. I love movies that excite me, entertain me, thrill me, or make me enjoy the thrill of falling in love all over again. However this movie really did not deliver the promise that the comercial advertised.

Did anyone else find this movie disappointing or did you love it. If you loved it why? Maybe you can point out an angle I missed.

dieting

Well I have tried regular dieting - ugh!! I have tried the HCG diet - which I was loving until I started fainting - you see I am border line hypoglycemic and my body did not like the 500 calorie restriction. So I tried just exercising, the scale only budged -3 pounds, and I fell while jogging one morning and fractured my arm. (call me graceful!) So I took the fall off and made snow angels in the pit of despair. Until that is I heard of one lady in my small town who had lost around 80 some pounds and was looking fabulous!!!

I'll be honest the lady looked sooo good I thought for sure she had surgery to lose the weight! Well small towns are funny - you don't have to be "friends" with some one to hear about what they are doing. (isn't that crazy!!!) (I know!!!!) (one time I went to a movie premier umm... Eclipse and someone posted on my facebook page how they were surprised I hadn't posted on my status about the midnight premier. I tell you what low and behold before I could even respond - someone else had responded for me, that they had just seen me and I was there at the movie theatre! I got the biggest laugh at that one. Truly like Miranda Lambert song says "everyone dies famous in a small town!"

Well I had heard that this Sexy, hot looking momma had gone to a weight loss clinic to get an rx. I was shocked I had always been scared of Rx, but knew at this point I had tried about everything else but RX and surgery. So I did some research found out that the RX was safe. Also if I was a smoker who had smoked for a decade everyone would tell me to go get on a patch or get some RX to help me break the habit. So I decided that I would try the RX to see if it would help me break bad eating habits that I am embarrassed to say I have had the last 10 years.

I have been on the diet for 3 weeks now. The medicine helps curb my appetite where I am not STARVING all the time. I do get hungry for meals, but when I eat a correct portion I am satisfied! I do keep track of my calories (LOSE IT! app on the Ipod) (I am keeping my calories btwn 850-1000 most days!) and I am doing regular exercise (no jogging thank you) I am walking, lifting weights, and doing sit ups. I do go into the doctor's office once a week for a HCG and B12 shot. I have to admit I did not realize that I would still have to do all the things I had done on a diet when I tried it by my self but this time I think I can last to lose my 90 pounds because I am not STARVING and starting to feel desperate at week 3. In fact I feel completely in charge. (Thank goodness!) I am down 16 pounds so far, and counting!!!

Thanks for letting me post - I Admit this post is mainly for me, to help me document the start of something new in my life. Thanks for letting me run on!! If you have read all of this What have you done to be successful at dieting? What do you think was the best way to be motivated to exercise? What method of dieting was successful for you???

"I just want to be liked!"

Well the gossip all over town (remember that I live in a small town the population estimate is around 10,000 people approx) is that a young lady (who will remain nameless) sent a topless photo of her self to 2 boys. (at least that is how I have heard the rumor) however the topless photo has gone viral! It has been seen by most of the junior high and high school kids (at least that is my understanding). I did ask some questions - like "are you sure it was this girl? could you see her face? (the answer was yes) do you know who she "originally" sent it to? (I thought maybe this could be a break up situation) that was when I was told the "rumor" had it she sent it to two different boys. (what had she been thinking?) Sigh! As a mom of 3 girls, who have friends over all the time in our house, who many have cell phones, or digital cameras, we had to address this issue with them. We spoke about the importance of realizing anything, and I do mean ANYTHING you put in writing or take pictures of and send out on to cell phones, or on line can go anywhere! can be seen by anyone! and can be out there forever!
Boy, this is a tough time to raise children in! Knowing any "misjudgement" on their parts can have devastating affects on their lives. Children and teens for the most part, I believe can not see the ripples that some actions will have through out a long time in their life. I really feel for this girl. Teens are often just crying out to be accepted and liked by others.

Some who have low self esteem can act inappropriately to try to get this acceptance. How do I know this? Well I was a crazy young teenager once, who longed to be accepted by some very cool girls. I told a "little" lie to gain their respect and acceptance and yep, you know what I am going to say it grew, and grew, and the more I lied to cover the past lie, so as not to be found out, the larger and bigger the story or "lie" grew. When the "Truth" came out, which it always does (something a 13 year old does not realize- or at least immature me did not realize) It had a devastating affect on my reputation!! I could not be trusted, no one believed anything I had to say anymore. Some people who had heard of me did not want to befriend me. It had the complete opposite outcome than what I was so desperately longing for. I learned that lesson the very hard way!! That a good name is worth so very much! A good name has to be earned! A bad reputation can cast a very long shadow down the years.
The bible had some verses that I clinged to as I grew wiser and older (at least in that area, other hard lessons were yet to be learned..they were just waiting for another day).


Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold"


Ecclesiacestes 7:1 "A good name is better than fine perfume."


Oh, only if I had been looking towards God for my acceptance and not foolishly trying to find it from others. Also if I had realized it was better to be thought of as an honest person that others can trust. That once trust is broken it is a very hard, hard thing to be earned back. Please remember to pray for the teens in your life, and smile at one if you happen to pass one. Teens are just like us, and you never know when you might pass one that is hurting on the inside.

We have spoken with our oldest daughter about how hard this must be for the young lady
and to remember any of us can make a "bad decision" that this definitely was a bad decision.
That living with a bad decision can be difficult and hard, because this girl still has to get up and
go to school each day. Hopefully we have made an impact on our daughters hearts about
1) the value of being wise, and making good decisions
2) to be nice to those who make mistakes. sometimes the reality of living
with a bad decision can be difficult
3) that God loves us all and will forgive us if we just ask him to.


I tell you girlfriends, it is hard being a parent, but I think it may be harder being a teenager
in today's world.

10 things I can't live without! (or choose to live without)

I am linking up with the girls from the RHOK and today's theme is 10 things you can not live without, or would not choose to live without. (the list is for fun, it is not to include husband, family, your kids, etc... so no one shoot me for leaving them off the list) so drum roll please.........

1. To go cups by Copco (hot and cold version! they are dishwasher safe and do not dribble!! and the hold a large drink!- for those who are always thirsty.)

2. Weleda Skin Food - which is my favorite hand lotion!! I have really dry skin on my hands since I worked at the Church nursery and had to wash my hands up teen times. This is the only thing that I have found to help restore my poor pink hands into normal looking skin!!! Well worth the price!

3. Is my Ipod touch. I am a stay at home mom so I do not use my cell phone all that much but I would hate to live without this amazing thing that allows me to connect to facebook, the Internet, play words, and all the other wonderful apps there are!

4. My Youversion Bible app!- It allows me to download the bible in several different version to have at all times at my fingertips. It can go anywhere with me! and it is a free app!

5. Since I am currently on a diet the other app I would not like to live without is Lose it app. It counts my calories for the day, and exercise log. I am not sure if this is a free app or if it cost - I have forgotten. But my favorite from the ones I have checked out!!

6. Coke Zero! I was going crazy over the snow days when my last 2 liter was starting to run low!!

(which they have now started carrying at Sonic as of 2 weeks ago, just fyi a large Coke Zero with Diet Cherry is only 10 calories!!)

7. The Library! I love to read and I could not support my reading habit if I had to buy every book, cookbook that I wanted to read. So I love me the library system!!

8. I am a red-head so I could not live without Sunblock! (My fav is the no ad type- it really works, and you get enough to last the whole summer!!)

(and I use SPF 60 or higher!)

9. A Gillette Fusion Razor. I love the moisturizing strip, and the 3 blades are a must for a smooth shave on my legs through out the year!!!

10. I love my bubble bath and smell good lotion!!! I am a smell person so I love it when I go to bed at night and I smell wonderful. I still do some scents at bath and body, but since I have 3 daughters I have gone to buying my "scents" at Victoria Secret and they are not allowed to buy the same scents I purchase.

Well that is my list for today!

Did God design the universe?

"A little science estranges a man from God. A lot of science brings him back." By Francis Bacon

I recently rented on Netflix a documentary that was believe it or not, was very interesting. It was done by Ben Stein and it was called : "Expelled, no intelligence allowed". In the documentary Ben Stein is explaining that several universities are denying tenure to professor that include creation in their theories that they cover for science. Ben Stein also interviews several scientist that says that there is some validity to there being a designer of the universe, or of life as we know it.

I know that there will always be skeptics and some people are biased and do not want to hear about a "God" but I found what they had to say very interesting, thought provoking and one any teenagers in science class who believes in God and gets laughed at should watch!

Word of the Year for 2011: Cultivate

As another year comes to an end I look back onto the year to see what I have learned and what I have become. It makes me reflective, and gives me pause to stop, pray and really do some soul searching. Last year I did something new for me instead of doing "New Year Resolutions" that truthful are very shallow, I read about how you might select a word, to be your "theme" word for the upcoming year. I liked that idea. It seemed that it did not set up a shallow check list, but it also did not box God in to work in my life. So this year as I started thinking and praying about the year 2011 theme word God started to bring bible verses out in my life, as well as I started a new bible study that focused on personal traits, strengths, abilities, etc. that could describe someone.

Well I will be honest I took a long look at myself through the eyes of God, and saw that I was far from what he wanted me to be. God wanted to finish shaping, molding me into what he desired. So this year the word I have made for my theme word is : Cultivate

The cul·ti·vate (klt-vt)

tr.v. cul·ti·vat·ed, cul·ti·vat·ing, cul·ti·vates

1.

a. To improve and prepare (land), as by plowing or fertilizing, for raising crops; till.

b. To loosen or dig soil around (growing plants).

2. To grow or tend (a plant or crop).

3. To promote the growth of (a biological culture).

4. To nurture; foster. See Synonyms at nurture.

5. To form and refine, as by education.

6. To seek the acquaintance or goodwill of; make friends with.

*I believe God wants to improve and prepare my life through fertilizing my life with scriptures, and a better habits, and pointing out areas in my life he would like me to tend to or grow in. To nurture me and foster the women I am and that I am becoming. To refine me by eduction. He care who I make acquaintance of and who I make as my friends.

Why is this important? I want to be all the God wants me to be so that he can use me in the way he wants to. Also cultivating is important to me as a mom I am entrust to help cultivate my daughters into women of faith, as well as be a help mate to my spouse.

So this year God maybe loosening the dirt around where I am planted. God will fertilize my life and dig the soil around me - this I know. How he will do this I do not know. Yet I know this year I am going to be faithful and let God cultivate me. I will occasionally post updates on this subject as I learn the lessons God is wanting to teach me.