Fantastic Kid Craft Site

How many TP roles do you and your family go through?  Do you throw them away or recycle them?  Last week John Paul's theme at preschool was Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  We've recycled here at home for several years, so it's really nothing new for us...or so I thought.  John Paul must have really tuned in to Ms Jan when she talked about the Reuse part.  He won't let me put anything in the recycle bin because he thinks it's all getting thrown away.  I had to explain that no, it was all being taken to be recycled, made in to new things.  He insisted that we could reuse everything.  So, after making a few music boxes out of tissue and cereal boxes I knew I needed to turn to the creative people on the net.  Via another favorite blog I found this gem of a site, TPcraft.  I love that many of her TP roll crafts not only have complete how-tos, they also have a children's book associated with it.

Check out some of the fun:

Spring flowers

Seed starter planters

Log Cabin

The Log Cabin one could easily be changed in to a store, garage, house, etc and could be played with many other toys.
I have to remind myself that so many kids crafts are more about the process and the learning that takes place while creating and they're not about the end product.  They'll all be recycled in a week or two, right?  ;)

45 Important Tidbits to Remember

Over at Style Your Life, I found this great list of thoughts/reminders/things to remember to ponder or act on that Jennifer got from a friend.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your  friends and parents will. Stay in  touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone..  It's more healing than crying alone.

8.  It's OK to get angry with God.  He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the  present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18.  Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.  But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.  Don't save it for a special occasion.  Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the  brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five  years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything.  Give time time..

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34.  God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35.  Don't audit life.  Show up and make the most of  it now.

36. Growing old beats the  alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day.  Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw  everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41.  Envy is a waste of time.  You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44.  Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift." 

Wake Up with These!

I can't wait to make these cappuccino muffins.  They sound so yummy...coffee and chocolate, you just can't go wrong :)  The Pioneer Woman shared the recipe, so you must check out these lovely cappuccino muffins!

                                      source

Blessings

I heard this song, Blessings, sung by Laura Story recently and I heard it at the most perfect time.

Blessings
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

(Chorus)
'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Chorus

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

Chorus

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

 

Holy Fried Yumminess!

Jaime and I are going to make these special little treats very soon. Who could resist hot tasty breaded and fried artichoke hearts?

Light my Fire

Yesterday was my 33rd birthday.  It was a beautiful day :)  I was able to take a moment to read the first couple lines of this post by Centsational Girl.  Today I was able to finish reading it.  Oh boy, is it too strong to say that I fell in love with what she has to say?!  I've been reading Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly and he's speaking to me too.  If you're feeling a void, if you know that there's more out there, but just not succeeding, if you are stuck in the mundane, if you're overwhelmed, if you're under-whelmed read the post and the book.  Pure inspiration~and a little fire under the butt!  It's way past time to step up and step out!  Here's to an authentic risk-taking year :)  Take the challenge, I dare you! :)

Substitutions for Baking

Via Facebook, I found this great list of healthy substitutions for baking.  Some things I've tried, but I really want to try the avocado sub.  We've made avocado ice cream and loved it.  Let me know if you try anything new and how it works out.  Can you tell you used a substitution?
I've glanced through some of this Eco Chic Table part of the site and it seems to have some great foodie info.
I am looking forward to checking out the rest of the Organic Authority site.

Love this blog

I love reading and looking at the pictures on Emily's blog.  She makes decorating look so fresh and easy.  Such inspiration here!

Pretzel Making

A couple of weeks ago I read about these buttery soft pretzels on another blog.  I knew I had to make them with my kiddos.  Today was finally the day! :)  While the boys had a couple of friends over this afternoon, Penelope and I got busy making the pretzel dough. 

stirring

more stirring

kneading the dough

After it had risen, the boys got in on the action too.  We all made pretzel ropes and snakes instead of twisting them in to the traditional pretzel shape.  While rolling, Penelope helped herself to some of the tasty dough.  One of hers didn't make it on to the pan to be baked.  After we filled the pan they went in to a hot oven.  Then a quick 8 minutes later, we got to enjoy hot soft pretzels--just like those incredibly yummy ones at the mall, but without the expense and grease. 
 

Mid-Life Crisis?

  I've been thinking lately about life in general specifically my life.  Life is so fragile and in the blink of an eye all that I know it to be can change.  Where's my life going? Am I on the right path? What's the right path?  Should I be doing more? How can I be a better person, wife, mom, sister, daughter?  I love the idea of starting and running my own business.  However, I feel like I need to be making a difference.  I tell myself that being the best mom right now IS making a difference.  For some reason it just doesn't seem to be enough.  Maybe it's because I haven't been able to define what being the perfect best mom is.  I know I should do such a good job so as to essentially make myself and all that I do not needed by my kids.  Teach them how to do all that they need to do and be holy, well-rounded, and upstanding.  I'm finding it hard to let go of the control. Controlling the way that things are done.  I tell myself that it's the process of the kiddos learning and not always necessarily the end result that's important at this time. 
  The business I'd like to create is a furniture refinishing one.  Seems kinda shallow, but I can spin it pretty well.  It does play in to the living green theme.  I could make it make a difference in people's lives by improving their surroundings, donate profits, empower others with the knowledge to do refinishing for themselves, provide opportunities for therapy and conversation while working.
  Maybe it's a mid-life crisis (I'm suddenly feeling like I'm getting older!)  maybe it's just desiring more and trying to actually follow through, fulfill, and attain a dream.  Who knows where I'll go with this, but it feels good to get it in writing and out of my head.  :)
  Anyone else out there feel similar???