some thoughts…

Since last night, I have been pondering over something that happened recently…I am not going to go into detail, because I don’t think its necessary…but I am thinking I should get it out there and talk a little about my feelings.

Over the past few years, I have blogged about my struggles with loneliness and shyness, and what a bitter and emotional mix those can be,  either on here, or my Xanga blog (I really can’t remember). God has been gently working on some of those issues with the help of a great bunch of people at church (whether they know it or not! LOL). I am finally making friends, and it feels great! Its a different type of friendship that what I grew up with, and overall I think it’s loads healthier in the long run.

That being said, I still struggle with some of the shyness issues (shyness = social anxiety). And at the same time, I am working on the types of conversations I have with friends and such.  Its a difficult transition, when you start becoming aware of the things that come out of your mouth, I often find myself freaking out inside over it. There are plenty of times I feel that I don’t have much to say or I don’t know what to say, and I fall out of conversation or find a way out. Its not that I am uninterested, its that its awkward for me, and I am afraid that some people (especially family and friends) may think I am being rude. I can assure you, that my intention is not to be rude. I really don’t know what else I can say about that. I am going to try to work on it, but it isn’t going to be easy. I also don’t want to become wrapped up into obsessing with what people think. I want to do what God wants of me, and I will be ok with it.

The star of ‘Blossom’ reflects on how belief changed her look

The star of ‘Blossom’ reflects on how belief changed her look | Hollywood Jew | Jewish Journal.

I used to watch Blossom all the time as a teen Anyway, I think its really cool she has embraced modesty with her faith.

Confessions of a former feminist

Confessions of a former feminist (OneNewsNow.com).

This sounds like and interesting book, and hopefully I will get to read it someday!

I thought some of my modesty and femininity readers might be interested in the article

Howdy to everyone out there today Its a cool, January day here in Oklahoma, and bein’ as I haven’t posted in a little while, I thought I would drop in!

Homeschooling- It has been goin’. We are still using SOS, and it is working for us. Not perfect, but its far better than last year. I am still having issues with getting 2 of the kiddos to do their work, as they would rather play. Fortunately, hubby got a better schedule, which has been helping out. So when the kids don’t do their work, hubby is home early enough to get them to do it. I really wish they would just do the work, with out lying about it getting done. The more I think about it, the more it amazes me that my stepson willing does the work, while the other 2 don’t… but then again, I have always had issues with them, and their lack of respect for me (long story, but it has to do with all the junk we went through yrs ago). Anyway, I am looking on the bright side, that overall things ARE better!

Health – This is week 2 that I have been exercising, I have gone back to doing Chicometrics and have been alternating with Leslie Sansone’s Walk at Home . I am already feeling a bit better, even if I haven’t lost any weight yet. Emotionally, I feel an improvement, I am not as cranky It has also been about 3 weeks since I had ANY kind of soda! That’s a HUGE thing for me! Hubby decided to give up Pepsi, and I wanted to give up all pop. I am a HUGE Dr. Pepper drinker, but I also tend to “fall off the wagon”, so to speak, if I drink anything carbonated. I have been drinking a bunch more water, 100% fruit juices and teas. The next thing I need to do is adjust our diet, and that will be a big hurdle. I just want to make it more healthy, I don’t really have a desire to do a fad diet.

Life in general – Hubby started back at school. I am so thankful that his 3 classes are online, but he still has a lot of reading. He is still trying to decide whether he wants to redo some classes or just graduate. We are leaving it in God’s hands for now. God is still working in some areas, and change is coming, we just don’t know when

I have been trying to organize the house, declutter and clean. With our tax return, we are wanting to do some improvements.  I am not sure exactly what we will do, a lot of it depends on the estimates we get. We are leaning toward having the electrical updated, but I am not sure how that will all work out. I want to do some minor updates to the kitchen (new countertops, painting cabinets, retexturing walls and painting them, get a used white fridge to match other appliances, add shelves to butler’s cabinet to turn it into a pantry-type storage, new cabinet hardware, etc) ok, so maybe it doesn’t seem that minor, but a few of those would GREATLY improve our little kitchen, and would still be cheaper than gutting it! lol

Experimental Recipe : Chai Spice Cake

I had this idea a few weeks ago (not that its an original idea, but it just might be!) I have it in the oven right now! So far, the batter tastes really good, with a little kick I just happened to pick up the Chai spice blend on clearance at a grocery store some time ago.

Here is what I did:

Ingredients

1 box Betty Crocker Golden Vanilla cake mix (could use other vanilla cake)

(gather the water, eggs and oil needed to make the cake)

2 chai tea bags (I used Stash tea) (you can also use a few more bags for a stronger tea flavor)

1 tsp McCormick Chai Spice Blend

Instructions -

Take water needed to make cake (see back of box) boil, and brew the tea bags for 5- 10 minutes. Make cake according to directions on back, adding the Chai spice blend and brewed tea to the cake mix.

Pour into cake pan and bake.

For a frosting, I will probably make either a buttercream or cream cheese frosting, and will add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of Chai spice to it.

I will have to update later, after we taste it

***Update 01/11/2010**** The cake was really good!  I decided to do a basic icing for a little healthier version The icing had a nice little “bite” to it, as the gingery taste was brought out into the milk used in it. The spicy flavor seemed to intensify slightly by the next day.

I made the cake again for Bible study last night, and it was a big hit. I did a couple of changes to boost the spice a bit : I used 3 tea bags instead of 2,  1 1/2 tsp of Chai spice in the cake instead of 1 tsp.

Here’s to a new year…

I guess I could blog about some new year’s thoughts and recaps…but I am thinking I don’t want to hash out all of our housing repair issues we have had this year lol. We could have had a lot of bills paid off this year!

I, like so may of you out there, have some high hopes for the coming year…and it may very well be a year of big changes if God decides to do what we think He may, (but we all know how that goes, we are thinking one way, and He is thinking another!) I am hoping to have many of our bills paid off, at least our smaller ones, and work at becoming debt free. I want to be healthier (especially weight-wise!), I know that sounds cliche, but I really am hoping! (time to break out the Chicometrics again, and since we “have” to have cable, I will also utilize the Free workouts On Demand! LOL)

The most important thing for me to do, is get my act together and quit making excuses in general! Ugh. its the truth, I procrastinate, and spew out excuses, with God, housework, and self improvement!

Well, I don’t have much else to say at this time…be here’s to a new year, and treating everyday as a new beginning

From my youtube…

Pumpkin Eggnog

I just got finished making some Pumpkin eggnog. I was a little disappointed I couldn’t find a recipe that DID NOT call for a dozen egg yolks or ice cream. What I did was adjust a recipe I had for Coquito (Tropical or Puerto Rican eggnog, its very yummy!) . I tasted it before letting it set in the fridge over night, and it tastes pretty good, so I am hoping it will taste better cold!  lol I did NOT add the rum to this batch. I would also guess that you could just take a favorite eggnog recipe and add a can of pumpkin (and maybe a little sugar). If anyone has a great recipe for Pumpkin nog, please share!

* Update – After chilling for a day, it tasted really good, Hubby said it was like liquid pumpkin pie! So I guess its a hit! Its still a little thick for our liking, so next time I will add either more half and half or another can of evaporated milk (and doing that, I will probably have to add more sugar)

2 egg yolks, beaten 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk 1 can pumpkin 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1/2 cup white rum

3-4 heaping tablespoons brown sugar 1/2 -1 cup half and half, milk, OR water 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1.	In the top of a double boiler, combine egg yolks and evaporated milk. Stirring constantly, cook over lightly simmering water until mixture reaches a temperature of 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). The mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Add in brown sugar and stir to dissolve,
2.	Transfer mixture to a blender (if no blender just whisk it all together), and add pumpkin,  sweetened condensed milk, rum, half and half, cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla. Blend for about 30 seconds. Pour into glass bottles, and chill overnight. *The mixture was pretty thick even with the 1/2 cup of half and half, I added additional, until it was a little bit thinner consistency.

Our Christmas 2009

I took a short video of the kids playing out in the snow We had a blizzard yesterday in Oklahoma (a HIGHLY unusual event!) Our highest snow drift had to be close to 4 ft in our front yard. There is a weird pink/purple glare, I am pretty sure its from my coat LOL

Homemade mac and cheese

This recipe is one of the best I have tried An online friend requested it, so I thought I would share!

Macaroni and Cheese (from The Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook)

makes 4 servings

2 cups dried elbow macaroni (8 oz)
1/2 cup chopped onion (or a little onion powder)
2 Tbsp butter or margarine
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (6 oz)
1 1/2 cups shredded American cheese (6 oz)

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside.

2. Meanwhile , for the cheese sauce, in a medium saucepan cook onion in hot butter until tender. Stir in flour and pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until slightly thickened and bubbly. Add cheeses, stirring until melted. Stir in cooked macaroni. Transfer mixture to 2 quart baking dish.

3. Bake uncovered , in a 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.