The musings of SandK's mom:-)

posted by Amanda in NC @ 1:50 PM 0 comments

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The South
The West
Philadelphia
Boston
The Northeast
The Inland North
North Central
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

posted by Amanda in NC @ 8:39 PM 0 comments

Not-so-extreme home makeover :-)
At least we're making *progress*!.. We worked on the house all afternoon - oh MY I am tired!.. But I am determined to get the kitchen done by Thanksgiving... We worked on the sanding and patching today...when we removed the last of the nasty wallpaper (you know, the wallpaper that originally was a light beige, but had turned a nasty gray from the oil-heat produced soot), some of the wall came with it... Gotta LOVE that 50 year old plaster! We also began painting the cabinets... It's not going to be gorgeous when we're done, but darn it, it's going to be about 500% better than the truly awful mint green that's there now.

Some pics:.. This is the before - can you see the mint green loveliness? Oh it's so awful! I cannot wait to make it ALL begone! Second pic is the color the cabinets will be when we're done..




Here is the wall color - my flash made it look like a pumpkin, but it's really more like a dark paprika... The second picture is closer to the real color - don't mind my liquor bottles LOL. Those particular ones have actually lasted us for all 7 years of marriage:



Oh, and the floor! I totally forgot that this makeover also included pulling up the hideous GREEN carpet that was in my dining room... There is hardwood underneath the carpet - it's not in very good shape, so we won't be sticking with it for the long term, but for a stop-gap it is more than adequate, and Lord help me, *anything* is better than that disgusting carpet!:

And last but not least - the bathroom project... The shower is ready to be tiled, and then we can put the doors and faucet on and that part will be done!..It doesn't look like much at the moment, but it's an amazing difference... I wish I had a "before" picture on this one - the place where the shower is right now was actually a closet... Mikey tore out the closet and the wall between it and the bathroom..to make it one big room... Also adding a pic of the plumbing - cuz I'm so proud of my handyman who did it all himself!

posted by Amanda in NC @ 9:35 PM 1 comments

Ramblings of a failed perfectionist

I'm a perfectionist, I've discovered. I used to think there was no way I could be a perfectionist, as I am SUCH a mess - how absurd! What I've learned though, is that often it's my perfectionism that feeds into my lackadaisical-ness. I get discouraged by the fact that I can't *possibly* do it as perfectly as I think I ought, so I don't try at all. I get overwhelmed by the sheer thought of the task, knowing I won't be able to live up to my own standards, so I find it nearly impossible to even begin.

Now, isn't that just silly? I know, really I do. I fully understand how ridiculous this way of living is, but I can't seem to figure out just HOW to overcome. I have this cycle - go for a few days like a rabbit on Jolt cola, and I complete my to-do list like a champ, my kids are schooled, I'm a patient, consistent, creative parent.

Until.......I mess up. Or something happens to upset the equilibrium even the slightest bit. Or the kids don't cooperate, despite my calm and creative consistency (nice alliteration, eh?). And I get SO frustrated with my failure that I just throw my hands up and quit.

Until.....I get disgusted enough with my own slothful ways that I become willing to try again. And the cycle continues.

I thought for a long time that this whole roller coaster was a result of depression, but darn it, it's just a character flaw and my medication doesn't cure those!!!!! :-)

I think I need a 12-step group...Or maybe a stiff drink...wait, those don't go together! Ahhh, I'm delirious - time to go to bed!

posted by Amanda in NC @ 9:06 PM 1 comments

posted by Amanda in NC @ 2:17 PM 0 comments

posted by Amanda in NC @ 9:07 PM 0 comments

Election day

I did brave the deluge to go vote today - even took my kiddos with me! I am really thankful for the handy-dandy computerized touch-screen voting machines we have in my area. Makes voting while holding a restless 3 year old very easy:-)
Ya know, I get discouraged with our officials just like everybody else from time to time. It seems like MY values are never represented in Washington, or Raleigh, or heck, even downtown right here! But I try to remember what a privilege it is that little 'ol me IS able to have a voice. I can cast my vote, and if I don't like my representative's performance, than I have the right to try to get 'em out of there the next time. We take so much for granted - let's try to remember, even when it's frustrating, MUCH has been sacrificed to give you and me the freedom to do what we did today.
(and looks like only 3 of the bond referendums passed - maybe my property taxes won't be raised *quite* so much. WOOHOO!)

posted by Amanda in NC @ 9:06 PM 0 comments

Monday's Mahvelous menu-on-Tuesday

Not terribly exciting this week, but I did make a GREAT roast chicken last night, so I thought I'd go ahead and post, so I could share the recipe. My 5 year old said "Mom, this is the BEST dinner I have *ever* had". :-) Course, he has been known to say that about McDonald's Chicken nuggets too, so perhaps I shouldn't let my head get too big, huh?
Monday: Oatmeal/Leftover BBQ Chicken Sandwiches/Roast chicken-corn on the cob-mixed veggies-french bread
Tuesday: Sausage Biscuits/Pizza Rolls/Roast pork-mashed potatoes-mixed veggies-biscuits
Wednesday: Scrambled eggs-toast/Pigs in a blanket/Taco Salad
Thursday: Muffins-Yogurt/PB &J Sandwiches/Mexican chicken corn chowder-salad-cornbread
Friday: Cereal/Grilled cheese-soup/Meatloaf-broccoli casserole-honeyed carrots-crescent rolls
Saturday: Waffles-grits-sausage/Leftovers-snacks-clean out the fridge LOL/Veggie lasagna-salad-garlic bread
Sunday: Mom McMuffins/Out or Turkey subs/Jambalaya-green beans

Here's the recipe for the roast chicken - easy and SO, so good! (I did not refrigerate mine at all beforehand, just rubbed the mixture on and roasted that baby - it was fantastic!)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (4 pound) whole chicken
5 cloves garlic, crushed
--> -->--> DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, mix the salt, sugar, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Rub the chicken with the mixture. Cover chicken, and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
Stuff the chicken cavity with the garlic. Place the chicken, breast side down, on a rack in a roasting pan.
Roast 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce heat to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C), and continue roasting 15 minutes. Baste chicken with pan drippings, reduce heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C), and continue roasting 30 minutes, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Let stand 20 minutes before serving. --> -->--> NOTES

posted by Amanda in NC @ 9:05 PM 0 comments

Happy Halloween - now let's move on to Christmas!

Just kidding:-) Does it drive anyone else crazy that the stores are SO quick to gloss right over fall, and go directly from summer to Christmas? Sure, they have a quick Halloween display - gotta sell those ridiculously priced costumes, right? And yeah, they *might* have some harvest or fall decorations to sell. But they seem to have a short shelf life, and if you don't catch them in that small window of time, away they go to make room for all the Christmas JUNK:-).

Now, I love Christmas, don't get me wrong. I just think it's so silly how very commercial it has become. If you walk into nearly any store right now, you'd see aisles of wreaths, decorations, toys, you name it. If they can slap a Santa or a reindeer on it, they'll sell it! Let me quickly clarify - I see nothing wrong with gift-giving, wreaths, decorations, and toys for Christmas - in our home, we enjoy all those things. What I do have a problem with is this almost manic feeling that seems to come over everyone this time of year. What is the point of gift-giving if it only leaves us exhausted and in debt? Why decorate if we're merely worried about keeping up with the Jones'? Is there a way to enjoy Christmas, and all the things that go along with it, and stay sane while doing it?

Boy, I sure hope so. I'm fighting for it in my family this year - I want this to be the Christmas of PEACE for us. I'm making a plan for ways to make that happen, and I probably will post them here so I don't forget them:-). Enjoy! LOL

One thing our family has found adds so much meaning and focus to our Christ-mas is the celebration of Advent. I didn't grow up celebrating Advent, and I had no idea Protestants "did" Advent at all until just a few years ago. But I so love it - I love looking back and seeing the plan of Christ's birth woven throughout Biblical history. I love spending time each day quietly bringing our focus back to the reason for the season - and I love passing that rich heritage of tradition on to my children.

Lindsay at Enjoy the Journey has created a blog about this very subject - I think it's going to be a *fantastic* resource this holiday season. I encourage you to visit Advent for Evangelicals - it will be "official" starting tomorrow (um, today actually - it's midnight *right now*!), and I think it is going to have some great ideas and resources for celebrating Advent as a family.

posted by Amanda in NC @ 9:16 PM 0 comments

Moms for Modesty?

http://www.everydaymommy.net/everyday-mommy/2006/9/5/moms-for-modesty.html


Check out the above link - Jules at Everyday Mommy started a fantastic thing (IMO), the Moms for Modesty blog team. In a day when it is nearly impossible to clothe my 10 year old in non "hoochie mama" wear - I appreciate any stand for allowing our children to be *children* and not a miniature version of a sex symbol.

Now, I want to clarify the meaning of modesty - this doesn't mean I think women/girls ought to be covered from head to toe. It doesn't mean I'm out to make myself or my children look as if we belong in the 1800's. (although, I always thought that'd be kinda fun:-) Well, except for the corsets LOL) It's not a word we say a whole lot in our culture, but it's an important concept to be taken back. Our society at large has lost any sense of modesty - there is no more leaving *anything* up to the imagination, and this sexualization of our culture has become so pervasive, it's difficult to find clothing for my 3 year old, let alone my 10 year old, that allows them to look well, like the beautiful little girls they are. Key words there - LITTLE GIRLS. Not that I just love the fashion choices out there for teens or even for adult women, but I find the growing lack of modest, cute :-) clothing available for girls to be particularly despicable. Now....do ya wanna know how I *really* feel?

Here's the Moms for Modesty mission statement - kinda speaks for itself:

As a Mom for Modesty I believe in common-sense modesty for girls and young women.

I believe in refraining from sexualizing our girls and young women.

I believe that it is unwise and unfair to taunt boys and young men by permitting my daughter(s) to dress in an immodest manner.

I believe that true beauty comes from within and I strive to teach my daughter(s) this truth.

I will loyally shop at retailers that provide girls' and young womens clothing that is modest, affordable and stylish.

posted by Amanda in NC @ 11:26 PM 0 comments