Mompact, Get Good Carma and Giveaway

Hi Friends, this post is part of the MomPact blog hop. Follow the links and enter to win 120 different prizes.


Do you believe in Karma? I do. Kind of. I'm either superstitious or a little OCD.

Really, I'm just a product of my environment.

I have a few quirky great aunts that think slices of raw potato in a pantyhose placed on bruises will take the bruise away. Crazy right? Well it actually works. These same aunts believe a piece of brown bag stuck to a babies forehead with spit will make hiccups stop. I have no experience with that. They're "voodoo" must make them feel useful. They will offer any one of their cures and swear by it.

Then there's my mom. She's kind of a collector. Nothing too crazy, she has a rock collection, an owl collection, sand, shells, beenie babies, she's not a hoarder or anything like that. She just holds onto little things that make her feel good. Happy things. Her collections seem to emanate good vibes for her.

Then there's me. I think I got this from a crazy friend in high school. I knock on wood when the time is all the same number, like 11:11 or 4:44, or 2:22. Do you do that?  Am I the only one? The knocking, only on wooden objects or surfaces, feels like a nod to the universe. "Hey Universe! I see your symmetry and I love the order!"

If I lose an eyelash, I put it on the tip of my finger and blow it away while making a wish. No idea where I got that from but I love that! 

It's not often that I loose an eyelash so it feels like such a gift to make a wish once in a while.

Also,  I feel a little bothered inside if I "split the pole" or let a pole or parking meter come between the person or people I'm walking with. It just feels bad! Splitting the pole makes me feel separate from whoever I'm walking with. Almost like I'm telling the universe "I'm not with them." It just feels like bad Karma to " split the pole."

My new thing is this bag of gemstones I got from Get Good Carma.

 Basically, you get 7 precious stones.  Agate, Amyethyst, Hematite, Amazonite, and Tiger's  Eye. The stones together are supposed to "radiate positive thoughts and inner peace."
"A complete unison of mind, body, soul."

 Hello,sign me up, I need that in my life.

So the instructions say to place the bag of hand-picked gemstone in your car to bring you inner peace and a safe journey. I'll gladly take that, especially riding in the car with my bunch of chatterboxes. I drive around listening to them arguing about which DVD movie to watch in the car, which is ridiculous because the only movie my sister and I ever watched in the car was the one happening outside our windows. Nothing to argue about there.
What I do like about Get Good Carma is that it serves as a reminder that god thing are coming my way.  Good Karma, safe journey's, and thus gratitude. 
Get Good Carma.

Like I said, I'm weird. But all my quirks are my acknowledgment of my connection to the universe.

Small things have power, for that I am thankful.

Now here's your chance,
As part of  Mompact Get Good Carma is giving away (1) of their
"Get God Carma Pouches."

Enter to win below and don't forget to visit all the blogs and maybe win even more prizes,120+! After you enter this giveaway Click here to visit the next blog.   


Giveaway disclaimer: I received product but no monetary compensation for posting this giveaway. This post contains affiliate links from Mompact.com and Get Good Carma.com. This giveaway is not associated with or related to Facebook.

Cupcake Gratitude

Here's a little unknown fact about me. Well you may know this about me if we're friends. 

If we're not friends, this will make you want to be my friend.

I love cupcakes! 

I type silly <3 hearts about cupcakes. 

They are my happy thing. 

Cupcakes make me excited, they make me feel creative, they make me feel adventurous. 

 Whenever I see one they always make me smile. When I'm grumpy or feeling anxious they remind me to have fun. Cupcakes even make me laugh.

Like these from Cupcakes Occasions UK.

 

or these from our very own Natalie over at A Turtles Life for Me

Cupcakes spark my creative energy. 

So I MAKE cupcakes. I'm a chef. We can do stuff like that.

Just after my second daughter Amaya was born, I decide to bake up some cupcakes. I thought, this would be a great business. And it was.

 Up until I found out I was pregnant with my youngest daughter Alivia.

Pregnancies can be tough. Especially when you have two other children to care for.
Baking cupcakes lost its luster.


I was tired all the time, and stressed whenever I had a cupcake order or an event to bake for.

I wasn't in love with cupcakes anymore.
So I let it go.
I told all my cupcake fans, "I'm done."

Well a funny thing happened when I gave it up.
 I felt relief. I felt gratitude.
I was sad YES! But I had a clarity. My cupcake business wasn't a failure. Everyone gave me such outstanding, really positive, a little adoring, feedback about my cupcakes.

So I couldn't stay sad, I was a success.
 As a baker and as a wife and a mother. I was just putting my family first.

I now had time to focus on the "new bun in the oven."
Just look how she cooked up. There's a lot of time and attention there.

When I look back at my experience baking and selling cupcakes I feel really grateful.
I was given a glimpse of what my life could be like sometime in the future. I was given a preview of good things to come. And ya know what! We should all be able to say, I have this great opportunity waiting for me when I'm ready. That's FAITH. And faith is gratitude.
To find faith practice gratitude.

We all have regrets.
Maybe you should rethink a regret.
Regrets are negative emotions. Regrets kill faith.

What if your regret is a preview of something better to come?
What if regrets are what keep you from moving forward in your life?
Tell me, is there something you regret?

Please leave me a comment. I would love to hear about your regrets. Sounds funny right.
But, maybe you can cultivate some gratitude from a regret.

Doin' Hair, and Mommy Gratitude

When I was in second grade my Mom cut all my hair off.  I went from hair past my shoulders to about an inch, inch and a half of hair. Maybe she thought it would make both our lives easier? Maybe she was frustrated with the unmanageable quality of my hair, and my inability to keep "still" while getting my "hair done." Who knows?
Now, for any woman of African decent getting your "hair done" is no joke.

As children we've been conditioned to sit for long (very long) periods of time while our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and who ever else put in work on our heads. We not only had to sit we also had to keep still, very still. Holding our heads cocked to the side or straight down with our chin to our chest, but always still. Frozen in uncomfortable positions while simple or elaborate parts were made with the tip of a sharp comb. Then tense fingers twisting and braiding hair into masterpieces that hopefully lasted a day or two before being picked apart and repeated. Sometime just a simple French braid or two pony tails, but always the hair had to be brushed, smoothed and parted.

Now that I have three daughters I too am "doin hair." Aneley and Amaya have completely different textures and lengths, Alivia my youngest was born with a little peach fuzz which I saw as a blessing.

So that's two heads to manage, not including my own. I'm trying to perfect my techniques and learn which styles look best in my children's hair. But let me just say the kids don't jump for joy when it's "hair time." They say NO, they yell at me, they cry, they get up and run away, I chase them, they cry some more, they make excuses like, "I have to pee." I give them snacks, I let them watch long hours of TV.

My poor children hate sitting to get their hair done, but unless they want me to cut it all off like my mother did they will just have to suffer through. Honestly I wouldn't cut it off, I just like thinking about it.

But "doin hair" is a lot of work for all parties involved! There really is no way to make it fun! Except to get crazy with the comb and braid up a masterpiece!

This pictures is my latest discovery in the world of braiding.

My experience with my girls has made me reflect on my own mother's  experience. Although it wasn't a pleasant experience having my hair done, and most of the time I thought my Mom a little rough with the brush. I now know its one of those things that had to be done.

I'm sure my Mom wanted nothing to do with combing someone's hair. Growing up with 5 brothers she was a tom boy. She loved us dearly but she couldn't have enjoyed putting us through uncomfortable painful sessions of  "doin hair." She suffered through because she knew when we were older we would thank her. Thank you mom! Because seriosly who wants an album full of childhood pictures looking like a crazed frizz head? Not me! And truthfully if she had not cared for our hair it really wouldn't have grown and looked as good as it does now. My head of hair needed to be managed.

When I do my own hair I know without a doubt, I have ALOT of hair. Half the time I just put it in a ponytail. My Mom used to braid it, and set it, and blow dry it, and curl it, and pin it. Into all kinds of really pretty styles, and she changed those styles almost every day. I don't even do that! When I was a kid I always got complements on my hair. Now all I ever hear is, "you've got ALOT of hair." Which I don't take as a complement. One, because I've heard nicer things, two, because having "ALOT of hair" is the obvious. (I'm laughing out loud.)

How tough it must have been for my mom. How frustrated she must have felt managing my hair.  How uncooperative I was.
Being in this moment, caring for my daughter's and their FULL heads of hair,  has really given me a lot of understanding, gratefulness and compassion for the love, time and attention my Mom gave me and my curls.

I know hair grooming shared between mother and daughter can be very special, but
my unique experience has given me room to grow, and now find gratitude.

Mom's and their daughters share lots of experiences, which "make up the fabric of our lives." Not cotton.

Are there times in your life that you disagreed with your mother's choice of actions, only to later feel understanding, compassion, and gratitude to her for making the hard choice?

Our Mother's hold the keys to our futures. We will either we like them or we will be more, hopefully never less.
Please leave a comment and share your story.

Read My Journal

Gratitude Journal

                          Here I will share with you personal entries from my gratitude journal! 

I'm Grateful for....

8/23/11

The gorgeous weather not hot not cold just perfect.

For Abbie the little dog who did not poop in the house today.

My daughters who didn't ask for peanut and jelly for lunch today. Challenging me to use my culinary degree and make deli sandwiches.

My new work space. It's just a desk and a chair, but I carved out a space all my own.

My husband who cut the grass and heated up his own dinner.

8/24/11

A really great morning at the park, no one was injured or lost.

Alivia's full 1 1/2 hour nap that allowed me a little quiet time.

No earthquake today~

The accidental lock out of my poor friend that allowed me a quick Target run and the accomplishment of completing my one and only errand today, more diapers, check. Sorry KT, Thank you!

Another chance to wear my favorite yellow and grey striped pants.

The patients of my children after I've lost my own. Me: "Mommy's sorry for yelling," Them: "that's okay Mommy." Thank you baby girls.

For my husband who called me ( I'm downstairs on the computer) on his cellphone from upstairs in our bedroom to say,"Good night babe." I love that man.

8/25/11

For the fabulous friends I have found since moving to the Lehigh Valley. They are coming out tonight to celebrate my bday with me.

For Aneley who is becoming a pro at working the toaster and made her sisters and herself  bagels for breakfast. Sweety!

For the rain, because the grass is always thirsty.

For the encouragement and excitement of a friend that really believes in me.

A husband that tackled putting three kids to bed including a 16 month old who only nurses to sleep; just so Mom could have a night out.

To myself for taking the opportunity to create just a small space from being a wife and mom in order to remember what it was like to still be an individual. I got dressed up nice just for me, and went out just for me, I remembered what its like to just focus on me. Having and thoroughly enjoying that small space gave me fuel to be a better wife, mother and goddess.

8/26/11

This body that is strong and purposeful, and tolerant of the alcohol I put in it last night! Drinking water really helps!

The weather, despite it's many states. It gives me strength and something to talk about. A day like this full of sunshine is icing in the cake and a full day of conversation.

The new babysitter/nanny Stephanie, who seems to sincerely love playing with children which unless they are your own is a talent. So for me, this now creates the luxury of leaving my children with someone that I don't worry about. The girls called her "Super Namny!"

For moments like.... when Mommy and Daddy get back to husband and wife or Rick and Yelena who are still completely crazy about each other. And get to take off into the sunshine with the wind blowing my hair and have a romantic lunch together. Then a quick stop at the grocery store which is heaven with only your spouse, without your 3 children who like to embarrass you in the grocery store.

The chance to step back and see my own life with clarity and feel really proud of the things I've accomplished. 

Great neighbors to enjoy backyard fires and s'mores with.

For all the sheer JOY that was squeezed into this one day.

8/27/11

For the sweet little voices that woke me this morning with Happy Birthday wishes.

For the 34 years I've been around to see the world.

For hurricane Irene that has added an extra layer of excitement to this day as well as created enough solitude that my house feels like the whole world. 

The bday cake from Wegmans with the new Wegmans icing, which I didn't like, but at least you won't have to worry about me keeping a fork in the box so I can eat forkfuls of cake all day long. I've already admitted I have a problem with cake, this new icing is the cure.

The little dog who managed to poop three times in the house, proving to me that I still need alot more work with her.

8/28/11

The hurricane that may have destroyed alot of other people's homes, but only leaked a little water through my sunroom windows.

My patience which despite the numerous challenges by my children has been unwavering way more so than usual! Amazing what a little Mommy "time out" can do.

Helpful fellow bloggers who are guiding me and mentoring me along this journey.

The blue skies which were still there after Hurricane Irene moved on through. 

Valerie who is unknowingly encouraging me to hit the stores and hunt down an inflatable boat so we (I'm gonna make her come with me) can paddle around in the roadside flood down the street, along with the migrating geese.
 

Start your own journal.  
Write down at least 5 things everyday that you are grateful for. Start your journal, "I'm grateful for...." or, you can pick one thing each day that your grateful for and write about that. You don't have to always talk about good things. 

Sometimes the worst part of your day is the reason you notice the sunshine. 

Tip: I have found using a notebook to record my journal to be a little tricky. I don't always have the time to sit and write in a notepad. So I found a really simple and convenient FREE app for my Iphone. It allows me to enter my daily entries where ever I may be.

I will post more of my Gratitude Journal entries so stay tuned.


Have you ever done a Gratitude Journal? 
What were your experiences?
How long did you journal?
Leave me a comment let me know what you think about my journal?

Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!

Thank you to everyone that entered the contest.  Entering the contest whether you won or not was an  exercise in seeing gratitude in your own life.  Having to think of a person to give this gift to, required you to look at your life and find something good in it. Despite all the day to day struggles there will always be good in your life. 
We just have to look for it. 

Congratulations! 
with the help of Random.org
Kim and Jason 

You are the McDonald's Coupons Giveaway Winners!

You have each won 2 coupons for

A Free Bowl of McDonald's New Fruit and Maple Oatmeal,

A Free Premium Chicken Sandwich, and

A Free Small Real Fruit Smoothie.

Total that's about an $18.00 value. 

When asked who they would give their coupons to Kim said:

I would give mine to my mother in law who loves going to mcdonalds.  She always goes to buy the happy meals so she can give the toy to my kids,  i think this would be good for her to get a grown up meal..lol. By Kim C. on My First Giveaway! on 8/29/11

I will make sure to share this with my alter ego. I am a Gemini after all! By Jason on My First Giveaway! on 8/31/11

Hope to find it, have Faith it is there, and be present for Love.

Practice Gratitude.

Please allow me a few days to get your coupons in the mail! 

Living on the Edge, Living in the Moment

Do you know the saying, "making a mountain out of a mole hill?" Well I do that, I'm a worrier. I try and take every precaution. I worry about all the things that might go wrong. I think about the past and hold onto bad things that have happen. I'm trying my hardest not to make the same mistakes. I worry about the future, and fear that things will go wrong. I struggle with anxiety, I struggle with negative emotions.

Yesterday, I took a leap of faith,thanks to my friend Jen.

Jen knows me, she knows I worry and she knows my biggest fear is taking my kids to the playground, but she invites me anyway.

I'll be honest the playground frightens me.

There are way too many chances for my kids to get hurt.

A year ago my daughter Amaya fell off a playground type ride and broke her arm, and Jen was there for that. She knows, I worry. After Amaya broke her arm I worried if the bone was healing properly, what if she was in pain, what if, what if, what if. Amaya's arm has healed perfectly but I still worry about everything. Anything could happen.

I have three children now and there is only one of me when we go out to play. 

 I just can't keep my eyes and hands on everyone.

So when Jen texted me and invited me to the biggest, newest, most fun playground in the Lehigh Valley,

 I immediately felt 

anxious.

I texted her back and said, yeah? Your going? But the playground is scary!

She replies, "Yeah! But FUN!! Life on the edge! I'll help you."

So. I agreed to go.

Immediately I realize, I'm not just agreeing to go to the playground I'm agreeing to "live life on the edge." WOW! Now thats something I can get behind! Thats precisely the thing I've been telling myself.

 BE FEARLESS! BE PRESENT!

Now I know "be fearless,""live on the edge" sounds all daring and dangerous, but that's not how us moms "get down." We are calcutated, and responsible. Living on the edge is living in the moment, without fear of the past or worry for the future. In that moment I choose the potential for fun with friends over fear of the past or worry about the future.

And just look at the fun and sunshine we would have missed. It was an absolutely perfect moment to be present. We basked in the positive energy. I was refueled by positive emotions.

Let me paint a picture for you. The weather was delicious. The air was cool but still summer sweet. Perfect for longsleeves and shorts. The blue sky was decorated with white wisps of clouds. My kids were so completely happy to be out of the house and at the playground with their friends, they climbed, and jumped, and swung and slid down some very tall winding slides. My little lady was so relaxed with me, siting there on my lap she almost fell asleep.

I can't believe how much energy I wasted avoiding this precious moment.

There are so many gifts available, when your in the present moment.

Do you have a similar story about anxiety and worries?

Are negative emotions ruling your world?

What is your experience living in the moment.

Leave me a Comment and share your story.

Wealth of Friends

It's been a long birthday weekend for me, and in general a full week. In addition to an earthquake earlier in the week, Hurricane Irene came whirling through on the day I was born. For me times like these when nature interrupts our daily lives and forces us to stop, and take notice I can't help but see my many blessings.

For the first time in years I got to celebrate my birthday out and about at a cool lounge with a really wonderful group of women that I have come to know through my children.

Since my youngest daughter was born my husband and I have moved about 5 times in 6 years. Moving to new places is hard. Especially when you don't know anyone and you have no connection to the community you live in. It can make you feel almost invisible. For years I've spent lonely days with only my children, venturing to the playground or the store hoping today will be the day we make a friend. Before having kids no one told me how isolating parenting can be. Once in a while a random moms would chat with me at the playground and that would become the highlight of my day. But for the most part I had no "girlfriends." Until I moved to the Lehigh Valley.

Since moving here I have met such quality friends. My friends have shown me kindness, with their generosity, thoughtfulness, and sincerety. They are smart, confident wives, mothers, and look at the picture Goddesses. I am so grateful for friends.

(from left to right) Kimberly,Lori,Valerie,me,Lisa,Nikki,Leah,Jen,Ashley.

My First Giveaway!

 

Yeah! My first giveaway! 

Two winners will each receive (2) of these cards. Each card has a coupon to get each of the following.

A Free Bowl of McDonald's New Fruit and Maple Oatmeal,

A Free Premium Chicken Sandwich, and

A Free Small Real Fruit Smoothie.

Total that's about an $18.00 value. 

Coupons can be used at any participating McDonalds in the USA. 

They expire December 31st, 2011

Since I'm giving each of the winners two of these coupon cards, I want you to share your gratitude and give one of these cards away to someone else. Someone you like, or don't like. Just make someone's day. Okay!

Now, to Enter To Win you have to leave (2) comments. 

1. Make a comment on this post telling me who you will give your 2nd coupon away to. 

 

2. Read another of my posts and leave a comment as well.

The Contest Ends on Wednesday August 31, 2011.

I hope this is not too confusing! Lots more giveaways coming soon!

Good Luck!

Thanks for playing!

Mommy Gratitude

I've got something to say with this Photo Note!

I've got something new in the works. I'm very excited to share my gratitude. Gratitude isn't just being thankful. Gratitude is acceptance of you past, present and future. Gratitude can enrich your life no matter where you find yourself.
I'd like to share my journey as I multiply the gratitude in my life. I invite you to DO(try my suggestions), FEEL(can you dig deep inside and be conscious of yourself), and STOP
(behavior that is unhealthy,and negative). We're on our way.

Tomato Swagger

Alot of people don't like tomatoes. I get it. I don't buy tomatoes at all until this time of year. All because from mid July to the end of August and sometimes right in thru September, it's tomato season. Why suffer through a bland almost crunchy, lifeless, genetically modified garbage tomato. You know what im talking about. You can find a sliver of one of these things on any fast food burger any where. No thank you. This is why people think they don't like tomatoes, that's their experience with tomatoes.

Let me reintroduce you.
Tomatoes are a fruit and when they're in season and picked ripe off the vein, they, are, heaven! Meaty, sweet, fragrant, juicy heaven! I love a fat slice of an ugly deformed golden bloody tomato atop any kind of sandwich. The uglier the better! Thats where all those complex flavors are. That's were the best pasta and pizza sauce are coming from. I like to keep it simple. Sharp slices of August tomatoes, slivers of red onion, fresh cracked white pepper, a lil'kosher salt, a smear of cream cheese, layered on an everything bagel. Tomato Swagger.

All in a great Summer.

If only for a moment I let go of my OCD like tendencies and let the girls have some fun. After all, I spent many a summer day playing in the mud making Mudpies. Why should I deny them the experience! I gave them mini cupcake pans, bowls, and spoons. The look on their faces when I gave them water to mix into the dirty was priceless. It was a, "Momny do you realize we could make a crazy mess with all this" face. I just smiled and told them, "dont worry about getting dirt that's what baths are for." You should have seen me, I was one of "those" Moms if only for a day! Woohoo!

Next up we made a Potions Lab using different colored water and different size cups, sieves, and a turkey baster. I got the idea from my buddy and neighbor, blogger Pro Valerie. She has a really cool blog called Frugal Family Fun Blog. She comes up with so many fun ideas and crafts!
Plus she's my neighbor so we always stop by and see what fun activity she's up to, and she's always up to something!

The girls played for a long time mixing and pouring the colored waters together. This was also a great way to explore color theory. They loved mixing red and yellow and making orange and eventually making all the water brown by mixing everything together. Then the fun became pouring everything into the grass, which is when we packed it all up and headed in for lunch.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted, and I think I was able to let go and not be a neurotic Mom for the afternoon.

Picking is such sweet serenity.

Nowadays there isn't much that brings me inner peace, and I'm fine with that. I realize it's temporary and nothing lasts forever. I've accepted these moments so peace is not something I'm looking for. Life right now is constant movement, never resting, always trying to get ahead. Thinking anticipation, planning ahead.
But without trying I found a place where everything stands still for me. It's my place where quiet is kept.

My place is crouched down beneath the blueberry bushes, eyes wide open, scanning, looking for deep blue chalky colored blueberries. I pick and forage for them without a care. The countless interruptions from my children don't disturb my zen moments. I just love the serenity. When I'm picking I'm not thinking about the future, five minutes from now or days ahead, all I'm thinking about is those blue beauties and how it feels fingering each berry from it's branch, then dropping it into my bowl, what JOY.

Going home with a few pounds of blueberries isn't bad either.

Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches!

Yeah! I went there!
When I bake I don't care about calories. I don't care about your diet, or your work out plan. I'm just trying to make you smile.
Cookies make me smile. Ice Cream makes me smile, Big Time!
Big Time smiles today!

I made these the other day, and they were so quick and easy! Sometimes I can't be bothered with measuring ingredients. Today I decided, save your energy for other things. But using this quick and easy technique made these plain Chocolate Chip Cookies outstanding.

Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies
Adapted from Lovin from the Oven.

You don't always have to bake from scratch to have great results. Some days short cuts can be the best part of your day.

So I grabbed some quality ingredients and whipped these up.
The Oreos went into the food processor and I used a really small ice cream scoop to make little dough balls.

Then each dough ball got breaded, and rolled around in the Oreo cookie crumbs. I really smush them around in the crumbs.

Then I just baked them according to the instructions on the package.
And voila! Heaven!
Of course I had to sandwich the cookies together with some Oreo Cookie Ice cream, how could I not.
I like matching things together, I'm a little "matchy matchy poopoo," as we say at my house.

Make Jam it's easy!

Yeah baby, it's Strawberry picking time! One of the coolest things about living here in the Lehigh Valley is the "Pick your Own" farms. We have two near by and my favorite offers pick your own strawberries in the month of June. So the very first day of the season I gathered the troops and drove right over. We picked about 5 pounds, very exciting!! But, what to do with the strawberries! Make Jam of course!

So making jam and jelly seems very intimidating and I'm sure you've heard someone say bip bam boom, it's easy. So I'm not going to say that. What I will say is that canning is just one way of preserving your food to get more use of it. You can also freeze strawberries whole or diced, sprinkled with or without a little sugar. To be used for smoothies, mixed drinks, over pancakes or waffles, in yogurt or on ice cream, or throw them in a cake or muffin recipe. I like canning. I think it's fun. I like to gift strawberry jelly, gave some to my daughter's bus driver and her Kindergarten teacher.

Here's my how to.

So the 4 elements you need are sterilized containers, fruit, sugar and pectin and you'll have to read the directions on the darn pectin box. (Did I mention I have a hard time reading the directions on boxes but that's a whole other story, okay focus.) Can I also mention that the jam/jelly making directions on the pectin box are kind of intimidating. Dont let that scare you.

I pulsed my Strawberries a little before cooking.
So,Since my kids ate most of what I picked and all of what they picked, I was left with a little more than 4 cups. Which is less than what the recipe called for-uggh. But that didn't stop me, Nope! I just tossed the directions and cut my recipe in half. Which only required a little, simple (not simple) culinary math.
Can I throw this in? In Culinary school math class was the most feared by everyone, seriously! You have no idea how many people had to retake that class.
Okay- back to the business.
So once I realized there would be math involved, I decided to wait till the babies nap time. Smart Mommy! Its hard to think with a little person hugging your leg.

Alright, at nap time I pulled it together and cut the recipe down for the 4 cups of strawberries I had and added half the amount of sugar and pectin. Then I just cook the strawberries down till they're at a rolling boil.

Then I took the hot jars out of the boiling water and filled them with the hot jelly, put the lids on tightly and turn them upside down. Once the jars are cool the seal on top the jar should be down. Sometimes they don't go down, and this is the stressful part. All I can say is, don't stress. Put those jars in the fridge and wait. These jars may not be completely cool. Once they cool the seal almost always goes down. If not put that bad boy in the fridge and crack it open later to taste test. Taste testing is good!

Now, I said making jelly/jam isnt easy, and its not. You have to sterilize the jars, and that seems scary, how long do you boil them for? Don't be scared! Just boil the jars until your not worried anymore. Then there's measuring the fruit, to sugar, to pectin ratio. Yup, that's tricky. It's gotta be just right or there is no jam! Aaah no, there will be jelly no matter. Look im just making the point that this, is, EASY!! You can't screw it up, just looky at what I did, all my issues. Still made jam!
So if you can make jam and not worry, and have the precise ingredients you need to just follow the recipe, than your not like me!
Make jam it's easy!

Rainbowlicious

Hey! Not much Chefin going on but I haven't just been siting around either. I've been spreading happiness and rainbows around my house. This is something I used to do for my oldest daughter's closet. It was just one of my nerotic things that I did to add another layer of organization to my childs cloths closet. Woohoo did I have time on my hands back then! Now that there are 3 little girls with closets full of little girl cloths, let's just say it's a miracle I get everyone dressed and fed before noon! But, the other day I actually had a little time to play. And this is how I play. My 3 year old Amaya likes cloths, i'd even go so far as to say she's passionate about what she picks out of her closet. So I thought this would be a fun detail to add. I let her help of course and she loved watching me shift cloths around, as she yelled out the colors. Seeing all the colors of the rainbow just made us both smile. I'll tell you, I'm not a "unicorns and rainbows make me smile" kind of person, but organization and color coding make me sing!! And with all that goes on out there in the world I'll take an easy burst of joy!! So go get yourself some and make a rainbow in your closet!
You can also make rainbows in other places too! Here are some ideas.

I love the idea of this although I have no time to put makeup on let alone several different colors. And where would I be going, besides the bus stop to pickup my daughter from school. Maybe I'll try this out and see what my bus stop people's think? I'll get back to you on that. Snarf, snarf

A must simpler idea.

Organize your bookshelves by color. Which I've also done except, oddly,most of my books are white or black. So the few colored books I've grouped amongst the white and black books to break up the monotony of it all. Sure you have lots of different colored books and you could pull this off. If not...

Make cake like this rainbow cake from the blog Whisk kid!

I'm totally going to make one of these for somebodie's Birthday. In fact after reading this post I hope someone requests a rainbow cake, just so I can play around with the idea and make a cool rainbow cake! To go with this...

Rainbows and Unicorns Party! For some little child somewhere this could be the party of a lifetime. My children don't know about unicorns because I've avoided the subject. Seriously, how am I going to explain the whole unicorns are not real. I'd say they were like dinosaurs, you know extinct. And my poor kids would repeat that, and sound crazy. So we have not had the unicorn talk at my house. Anyhoo.

Finally when you decide to get a little rainbow in your life, please, don't do this to yourself!

Leave me a message with your suggestions, or tell me where you'll put your rainbow!
Rainbowlicious