A Simple Twist of Faith

The Princess and the Pirate

Happy Halloween!

From the Princess and the Pirate!

Tackle It Tuesday #13: A Breath of Fresh Air

What's on your list this week? 

I am joining force with the ladies at 5 Minutes for Moms for Tackle It Tuesday.  Head over to their site, they have a great idea for an art and homework corner. 

As for me, my "to do" list this fall is much more selfish.  I am taking time to take care of myself, and today was a biggie, going on the doctor's office for that annual appointment,  which I have been neglecting for the past three years.  Most women hate this appointment, and I am no different except, thanks to the recommendation of two good friends, I now have  new OB/GYN.  Actually, she is a mid-wife and she is like a breath of fresh air.  This gal is awesome.  

Christmas Cookie Favorites: Gingerbread Men & Pumpkins

Believe it or not, there are only eight weeks until Christmas. Last year, my blogging buddy,   Bridget, is posting a great weekly series called the 12 Crafts of Christmas.  Frankly, I am not very "crafty", however it inspired me to go through my mother's Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook she received as a wedding present in 1959. Last year, my girls and I baked for 12 weeks and test out some vintage Christmas cookies recipes. 

This year I would like to look back and showcase our favorites:

This post was originally published 10/5/2010

This week we baked gingerbread man using the "Merry Christmas Cookies Dark Dough recipe found on page 201.  Here's the recipe:

Mix together thoroughly:

1/3 cup soft shortening, 1/3 brown sugar, 1 egg, & 2/3 cup molasses.

Sift together and stir in:

2 3/4 cup sifted GOLD MEDAL Flour, 1 tsp. soda, 1 tsp. salt, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. ginger.

Chill dough.  Roll out thick, about 1/4 inch.  Cut into desired shapes. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.  Bake at 375 degree oven until when touched lightly with finger, no imprint remains, 6-10 minutes, makes about 12 gingerbread men. So far, the four children who eat them this week, said they were yummy.

This post is part the Moms' 30 Minute Blog Challenge and hosted by Jamie at Steady Mom.  

This post was originally published 10/12/2010

So this is week two of our 12 Cookies of Christmas series.  Last week, we baked gingerbread men.  This week we baked pumpkin cut-outs using the Merry Christmas Cookie Light Dough recipe found in my Mother's Betty Crocker Picture cookbook (circa 1959). 

Here's the recipe:

Mix together thoroughly:

1/3 cup soft softening, 1/3 granulated sugar, 1 egg, and 2/3 cup of honey

Sift together and stir in:

2 3/4 cups sifted GOLD MEDAL flour, 1 tsp.soda, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. lemon extract.

Chill dough. Roll out thick(1/4"). Cut into desired shapes. Place 1" apart on lightly greased baking pan.  Bake in a 375 F degree oven about 7-10 minutes until when touched lightly by finger, no imprint remains. When cool, ice and decorate as desired.  We decorated with chocolate chunks while the cookies were still hot to make scary pumpkin faces.  My taste testers, ages 3 and 5, liked the light dough very much.  It has a distinct honey taste with a hint of lemon, a very homey and old-fashioned cookie.  

For great Christmas craft ideas, please visit my friend, Bridget.  This week her kids are making personalized clocks for the grandparents, very cute! 

This post is part of the Moms' 30 Minute Blog Challenge hosted by Jamie at Steady Mom.

Tackle It Tuesday 12: Time Out for Sundays

 

Sundays are usually a very busy day around here.  Of course, we have church, and I help with Sunday school.  Many times, Rick has Knight of Columbus meetings or events, and often we would invite family or friends.  Then there is the loads of clean laundry piled high on the guest room bed that has to be dealt so we have clothes for week. The “busyness left Rick and I exhausted by the time the girls went to sleep and also had us shaking our heads, “Isn’t Sunday suppose to be a day of rest?”

7 Quick Takes Friday Volume 50

 1. 

Look what was over the sky of our fair city yesterday!

 

2.

Last summer, I participated in a Christ Renews His Parish weekend.  The experience was amazing,  like a spiritual spa for my soul.  In January, I will be a member of the team hosting the weekend at our parish.  During the weekend, I will be giving  witness of my faith journey.  Check out this video for more information on CRHP !

 

3.

Bumblebee, our four year old, is really showing progress with her home schooling.  It is amazing the transformation since she has had her glasses.  She has now mastered all of her short vowel sounds and is starting with help to spell her name.  Importantly, her attitude towards school has really brightened.  Today, she was eager to start and show me how much she has learned.  Next week, we start on the letter C .

Tackle It Tuesday #11: The Fall Edition, Creating the List

Hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.com

This week I challenged myself to create a To-Do List which including "stuff" I had been neglecting, and the list had one common denominator, it was all "stuff" I needed to do for me.

The realization that I needed this list all started with a headache that lasted over ten days, and when I wrote about it, many of you suggested, requested, or demanded that I go see a doctor.  Which got me thinking when was the last time I went to the doctor for a check-up?  I looked back and realized it was when I HAD to go for a physical examination as part of the adoption process for Bumblebee.  My record for the OB/GYN and mammogram was even worse, when I went to schedule an appointment, I found out my doctor had left town in 2009. Given my family history with breast cancer, this is just crazy of me not to keep up with, if not for myself, for the sake of my children.

So, last week, I have scheduled an OB/GYN appointment, with a new doctor.  But it got me thinking, I really need to pay more attention to my own personal health.  It is not only about doctor's appointments, but eating right, getting enough exercise, and sleep, and finding ways to relax.

So for the fall edition of "Tackle It Tuesdays" I will be working on:

 

The beauty of a fall morning

Holy Cow!  This has been a busy week.  I haven't been on the computer much, because the weather has been absolutely gorgeous.  Our windows are open, there is a slight crispness in th air in the morning, and the days have been in the 70s.  I love this brief time of year, it reminds me of the mild weather I grew up with and took for granted in Central Coast California.

On Tuesday, my daughter had early dismissal so we met friends at the zoo and had a great time.  How appropriate since it was the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

This morning I am enjoying a quiet cup of coffee listening to the birds sing.  Today, we have the PTA Pumpkin Patch, a play date, and our niece is visiting with her newborn.  All good things, but right now, it is nice to just be...

I just heard a door open down the hallway, so I will say good-bye for now, my friends.  I hope you have a great weekend whether it is decorating your house for Halloween, picking pumpkins, or just enjoying the change of seasons. God is good!

What's your favorite fall activity?

Tackle It Tuesday #10: Taking time for me!

During the summer, I joined 5 Minutes for Moms to tackle one big organizational project a week.   It was manageable, and making myself blog about the project every week, made me accountable and I was able to accomplish many projects this summer, including cleaning out the garage and redecorating my little girls’ room. 

Large and small, here are the projects I tackled this summer:

The Garage

The Play/School Room Part 1 and Part 2

The Junk Drawer

First Grade Curriculum and Reading List

Meal Planning

Pre-K Curriculum and Reading List

The Girls' Room

The Guest Room

Recently, I blogged about my mega migraine which lasted ten days, and many of you suggested I make an appointment to see a doctor, which got me thinking when was the last time I saw my doctor?