Digital discarding...

I am reading the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, which is about her life long fascination with discarding and organizing as well as a treatise on her method know as KonMari and in the spirit of her words, I just "discarded" from my Amazon wish list all the items I no longer need (and probably never needed) and the books I will never read (and shouldn't have made onto the list in the first place) and I already feel better and less cluttered.

Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Off to camp...the hard part

Today I took my daughter to sleep away camp for the first time and while it is hard to realize she is 10 and old enough to go, it was harder to iron on the name tags, since the instructions weren't clear on the temperature of the iron-- very, very hot for your knowledge. (The label company will remain nameless, but it will receive an email from me on this matter.)

Tip: Traveling Sandbox Toys

With the plethora of collapsible kitchen items and travel accessories, you can make a flat pack sand toys kit for that family trip to the beach

1-2 collapsible bowls
1 collapsible colander
2-3 plastic cookie cutters
2 collapsible travel cups
1 set collapsible measuring scoops
1 small plastic shovel (optional)

And you are good to go!

Old school VS. New school

Today, I was asked to send a contact a calendar invite to our meeting and I had to for the first time use Google calendar, since I am old school and still use a paper calendar and now, it has me thinking that maybe I should go to a new school soon.

Wednesday's words: Wise words from an elder

"I am convinced that almost anything can be accomplished if one does his or her very best and perseveres."— Rose Sachs

(Ms. Sachs passed away this month at the age of 103.)

An early's mother's day gift....

This morning at a local farmer's market, I pointed out the mother's day cookies at a bakery stall and my daughter said, "I would by you one, but I know you want to lose weight, so it wouldn't be good."

(Thanks, Sweetie.)

In the kitchen on Thursday.. A recipe from a friend.

Last night I made Chicken and Rice from the Family Plate Cookbook by Marie Isner and my family loved it.

Full Disclosure: Marie is not only my health coach but also a dear friend. My hat goes off to her for writing a cookbook.

To purchase the cookbook at Amazon, click the link below.
http://www.amazon.com/Family-Plate-Cookbook-Real-Families/dp/1500147273/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429219452&sr=8-1&keywords=marie+isner

(P.S.I made the Italian Meatball recipe too and thought it to be better than the one in the Joy of Cooking.)

A little TLC goes a long way...

In between loads of laundry, a quick grocery shop and making chili for Superbowl Sunday, I was called an "awesome mom" because I made Sylvie baked donuts to have breakfast this week with all the fresh berries in the house because she said she wanted to eat yogurt, berries and granola for breakfast to be healthy which lasted a few days before she got bored.

Well, it's a saturday night...

The kid is sleeping over at Grandma and Grandpa's house and I am cleaning house, organizing, doing laundry and even making mac n' cheese for a family dinner tomorrow night (yes, homemade) and wondering why I am not taking this time to do for myself rather than for my household (I don't count doing my laundry as self care).

The end of the week blues

My daughter was complaining this morning about it being Friday and she is tired after a long week at school and I realized that I am tired like her and so call it the "Friday Blues", where you are just pushing to get the day done to start a weekend of R&R (Hopefully!).

Wednesday's words: Be possible

"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" —Audrey Hepburn

Wednesday's words on exercise

”A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.”― Winnie the Pooh

Wednesdays words on homework

"Home computers are being called upon  to preform many new functions including the consumption of homework formerly eaten by the dog." —Doug Larson

To-Do List on the run

I didn't have time to work out my to-do list last night, so I did it while waiting at the bank. The back of a deposit slip is "lined."

Tuesday's Tip: Diaper Change

Use a plastic shopping bag to line a public changing table and then use the bag to discard the dirty diaper and wipes.

(P.S. I learned this by observing a mother in a public restroom.)

Wednesday's words on life

"Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect." —Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell Biography

It's Friday!

Most people relish when Friday comes because that means a weekend off and not for me with soccer games Saturday and Sunday and kid who has soured on Daddy so I am the it mom for know, so my weekend is all kid and more kid and strangely that makes me smile until I remember the Saturday game is at 8 am.

In the kitchen on Thursday...Buying in bulk

A few months back I made my fist trip to a bulk store. I was so excited to get large packages of items that were gigantic sized or multiples of a smaller size. Friends and family had raved and my mother, who I went with, was dying to check it out. She liked  it and I didn't. Why? She is one and I am three in my household. Whatever she buy is just for her. My daughter was with us, so we bought some snacks for her and I still have some left and she is tired of them. The cleaning products were a steal, the food items not so much. I am glad that my local grocery store is still in business and won't be folding anytime soon. Just my thoughts.

Skinny Jeans

The other week I bought skinny jeans which is surprising because I am not "skinny" and my mom said it was because the company had realized that there are many body types that look good in skinny jeans and I said the company realized that the temporary confidence boost one gets from buying skinny jeans equals more sales—heck, I bought two pairs.

In the Kitchen on Thursday: Sinful Mac n' Cheese

1 box. Ziti Rigate
2 Tbsp. Butter
2 Tbsp. Flour
1 1/2 C. Milk
1/4 lb. American Cheese
1/2 lb. Cheddar Cheese
1 1/4 C. Corn Flake crumbs
1-2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/4 C. grated Parmesan or other hard cheese

Cook Pasta based on directions on box and drain. Melt butter in sauce pot. Whisk in flour until it is all incorporated. Add in milk and whisk for 2 minutes. Then pour in cheese and whisk until all covered by milk mixture. Place on lid leaving an opening. Let cook until cheese is melted. In the meantime in a bowl mix the crumbs, olive oil and cheese. Toss the pasta with the cheese sauce. Place in an oiled large baking dish. Top with crumbs. Broil for 5-7 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 6-8 servings.

(I almost ate 1/4 of the dish after I made it, so beware.)