Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

Birthday as license to be

Today is my birthday and yes with it so close to New Year's I could use it to reflect on a year gone and one coming up, but I choose on my birthday to give myself license to be what I want, eat what I want and wear what I want-- in essence to spend the whole day being me without caring what anyone or the world thinks.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

In the kitchen on Thursday: Sugar cookies to go with that Champagne

Easy Sugar Cookies

1 stick butter
2/3 C. sugar
2 Tbsp. ground almonds
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. milk
2 eggs

Pre heat oven to 325. Cream the butter and the sugar. Add the milk and eggs and beat well. Add all dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. You may want to use an electric mixer (I do). Place by teaspoonful on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes until edges are golden brown. Make 2-3 dozen.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Wednesday's words about Christmas

"Children, Christmas is not a date, it is a state of mind." —Mary Ellen Chase

(To all my readers: Happy Holidays and may 2014 be a joyous and healthy year for you —Mali List Mayer)

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Tuesday's tip: handy travel helpers

1. a pillowcase packs flat as a laundry bag

2. old prescription pill bottle as a pill box

3. large Altoids tin when packed with bandaids is a"first aid" kit

4. newspaper delivery bags do double duty as shoe bags

5. Have Fun!

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Tuesday's Tip" Music is the universal language

This morning my daughter was having a fashion crisis unable to decide what to wear to school, which dissolved into tears and then she started talking about the song they were learning in music class, Lean On Me, which just so happens is on my Itunes and she listened to it on the walk to school and the tears gave way to a smile (Thanks, Bill Withers).

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Tuesday's Tip: Watering Plants

Watering plants at night allows them to soak up as much water as possible without the sun light evaporating the water or drying out the plants.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Typos and tracking

I have been tracking my typos as I said I would and I average one per post, which is better than I thought it would be, but still not good, so keep the comments/feedback coming.

Friday, December 6, 2013

You can only go back by going forward....

I am looking at a picture of myself that is 13 or 14 years old that was somehow left on my desk and noticing that the only difference between me now and then (besides the clothes) is I weigh more now and smiled more then and it got me thinking that the only way to go back is to go forward, so in going forward, I resolve (New Year's resolution here?) to smile more (maybe then I won't be referred to as Ms. Grumpy by my daughter).

Thursday, December 5, 2013

In the Kitchen on Thursday: Leftover Cranberry Sauce Syrup

I make flavored simple syrups for my daughter to mix with seltzer so she can have "soda." She loves my cranberry version made with leftover sauce.



3/4 C. Water
3 Tbsp. Sugar
2 Tbsp. Cranberry sauce (I make it from scratch with orange juice and zest)

Heat all ingredients in a pot until the sugar is dissolved and just boiling. Turn off heat and cool. Pour into a glass jar. If you used a chuck sauce, strain it first. It will keep for 2 weeks. It can also be frozen for later use.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Tuesday's Tip: Heat water for coffee

For the past two mornings, my daughter (age 8) has made me a cup of coffee in my travel mug which is so sweet of her even if the coffee is cold, since she didn't heat the water (She said"I figured the water was still hot.")

(P.S. A second tip. just say to your child, the "blank" is delicious because it pays to sweeten things every now and then.)