Relishing Life » sharing

Make a Difference in a Child’s Life

Relishing Life — Sun, 24 May 2009 01:29:21 +0000

Today, more than 12 million children in the United States do not know when their next meal will come. Unfortunately, this number continues to rise as these difficult economic times times are leaving more and more people jobless, without homes, and unable to provide food for their families. What can you do?

1. Sign-up to host a bake sale: http://www.GreatAmericanBakeSale.org/vgabs
2. Buy the virtual Great American Bake Sale eBook: http://StolenMomentsCooking.com/virtual-gabs
3. Post a ChipIn widget or banner on your blog: http://www.GreatAmericanBakeSale.org/bloggers

Make a difference in a child’s life by signing up and purchasing a virtual cookbook today! 100% of the proceeds from this eBook will benefit Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale, which is a national effort that encourages Americans to host bake sales in their communities to help end childhood hunger. Funds raised support summer and after-school feeding programs in your community that thousands of kids depend on.

Once you have purchased your virtual Great American Bake Sale cookbook, double your impact and use the recipes to host your own Great American Bake Sale! Hosting a Bake Sale is a fun and easy way to make a big impact! To register your Bake Sale or for more information, please visit http://GreatAmericanBakeSale.org

Temporary Addition

Relishing Life — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:30:16 +0000

For the past two weeks, our family has been blessed by the addition of small toddler to our family as I was watching a friend’s little one. Our little visitor is only 15 months old and is a delight! He has helped our family to grow.

I have learned that if I get up earlier in the morning, I am able to accomplish so much more! I also was reminded that arising anytime before 7 AM is not good for my body. (He arrives just before seven o’clock in the morning. Unfortunately, I haven’t been very good at getting out of bed to my alarm instead awaking to the sound of the doorbell when he arrives with his mom bright and early in the morning.) However, I will continue to get up around 7 AM – just not much earlier than that. (I am a night person and would much prefer staying up at night and sleeping late in the morning.)

Our boys’ ability to share has been stretched. They have found sharing their toys much easier than sharing their mommy.

Because of the very limited time that I have to accomplish certain tasks without a tiny one in tow, I have become much better about not procrastinating and getting my chores done early. This has also helped my mood as I don’t feel the stress of the tasks I have waiting for me to complete.

We have been reminded of the amount of freedom that we have as a family as our almost-preschooler only takes an afternoon nap – instead of two naps daily – which really makes scheduling errands and activities so much easier! He even skips his nap frequently allowing us complete scheduling freedom.

We have enjoyed his weekday visits. I hope he has learn as many positive things from us as we have from him!

Join Amy at The Finer Things in Life celebrating Finer Things Friday!

Today’s Blessings

Relishing Life — Sat, 09 May 2009 04:44:26 +0000

My older son (5 yo) pulling out a reader to read aloud to me in order to receive “extra” books being read to him by me in the morning.

The hugs and kisses of my little boys.

The gentle comfort of a friend reminding me that we are not alone in our walk – that others have gone before us and can help us find our way.

The knowledge that tomorrow is my day to sleep in (DH gets up with the kids on Saturday mornings).The comfort of a cat curled up in my lap purring.

My little ones sitting in my lap while listening to me read them a book.

My little ones wanting to continue reading because they truly enjoy it. I love the fact that they enjoy reading/being read to!

These are the Finer Things in my life this Friday.

Taking Care of Myself

Relishing Life — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:00:50 +0000

Who is the most important person in your life? Well, it should be YOU! Who better to provide you the love that you need and deserve than the person that knows exactly what is needed? Only you know what portions of your life need attention in order for you to fulfill all of your desires. Why is it that we put our own needs behind those of the ones we love? The adage about not being able to take care of someone else if you aren’t taken care of is so true!! How can we give others something that we don’t have within ourselves to give? Now, being able to give to those you love is a very worthy and desirable goal, however, shouldn’t you include yourself at the top of that list?

I have been doing a very poor job of taking care of myself like I need to. I long to be the best person that I can possibly be on the inside and the out. To this end, I am making a promise to myself – from now on, I am going to take care of me the best way that I know how. This is going to be a very difficult task as I am very good at “treating” myself in ways that aren’t beneficial for me in the long run (i.e., way too much chocolate and not enough sleep). As I begin on my journey to a better me, I am going to focus on three areas: my health, implementing and maintaining a schedule, and reading for enjoyment. As I define how best to travel on this journey, I must remind myself that long term changes don’t happen over night and that I must stay the course even when the travel is difficult. I look forward to the adventure of becoming the best person that I can be! The more complete I feel in my life; the more I have to give to my family and friends. I may never have the perfect body or the most immaculate home or be the best conversationalist, but I will continue to strive to love the woman God has helped me to become!

Remember to take care of yourself and those around you will be blessed by the better you!

Join Mom’s the Word for other ways people are improving their lives on Making Your Home Sing Monday.

Spending Time with Family

Relishing Life — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:33:23 +0000

Almost three years ago, we moved across country from our immediate families. So, it isn’t very often that we are able to spend time with our families. We have been blessed to have spent the last week and a half has been visiting our families in Texas and Oklahoma. We have truly enjoyed spending time with our parents and other family members. The boys have delighted in the attention and love bestowed upon them by their grandparents!

There have been many hugs and kisses exchanged. Many good-bye tears shed have been shed as well. However, the sadness of parting is worth the short amount of time we are be able to see those that mean the most to us!

Using our vacation to drive cross-country to visit our family Works for Me!

Making My Home Sing on the Road

Relishing Life — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:22:47 +0000

Even while we are on the road, I am able to make my home sing because “home is where the heart is” and right now our hearts are in Texas. Our hearts burst out in song as we surround ourselves with the love of family and friends we seldomly see.

The biggest way I am making my home sing while on vacation is by going with the flow. I am such the type A personality! I want to have everything planned and follow the plan (not that this always shows!LOL!) so being relaxed about what we do and when we get around to doing it while we are on vacation has helped my family to fully enjoy our trip. No rushing around to get to the next destination or worrying that we aren’t going to be able to accomplish everything that we had wished to. (I did plan on not planning which went a long way into helping me maintain this philosophy.)

Join Mom’s the Word for other Making My Home Sing Monday!

Also linked to What I Learned This Week.

Virtual Great American Bake Sale

Relishing Life — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:01:34 +0000

Welcome to the Virtual Great American Bake Sale. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these ebooks will go toward Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale program. Funds raised through Great American Bake Sale are donated to after-school and summer feeding programs–food programs that many kids depend on when school is not in session. Great American Bake Sale is a program of Share Our Strength, a national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry.

The ebooks are a compilation of recipes from submitters across the blogosphere and beyond. The ebooks are available for purchase based on any donation amount of the buyer’s choosing.

The following recipes were my contibution to the Virtual Great American Bake Sale.

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Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup milk
1 pinch salt
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a saucepan bring sugar, margarine, milk, and salt to a rolling boil. Let boil for 1 minute.***

Add quick cooking oats, peanut butter, and vanilla; mix well.

Working quickly, drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper, and let cool.

Note: Stirring too much with make the cookies have a dull finish instead of a shiny luster.

***To make the regular chocolate no-bake cookies, add 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder in the first step.

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Neiman Marcus Brownies

18 oz. box plain yellow cake mix
1 stick butter
4 eggs
8 oz. cream cheese
16 oz. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom and sides of 9×13 pan/dish.

In a large bowl, mix together:
18 oz. box plain yellow cake mix
1 stick butter
2 eggs, beaten

Mix well; it will be rather dry. Press into the bottom of greased pan. (Greasing your hands will help the batter from sticking to your fingers and keep it in the pan better.)

In bowl, mix together:
2 eggs
8 oz. cream cheese
16 oz. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Spread on cake mixture layer – do not mix the batters. Bake for 35 minutes or until lightly browned. Recommend making day before and refrigerated.

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Russian Tea Cakes

1 cup butter (salted)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar
2 cups minus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/3 cup confectioner’s sugar for decoration

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, cream butter and vanilla until smooth. Combine the 6 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar and flour; stir into the butter mixture just until blended. Mix in the chopped walnuts.

Press dough into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 12 minutes in preheated oven. When cool enough to handle but still warm, roll in remaining confectioner’s sugar. Rolling a second time is optional.

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Hummingbird Cake

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
8 ounce can crushed pineapple (undrained)
1 cup chopped pecans
2 cups bananas, chopped or mashed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (or 325 degrees for dark pan). Grease Bundt pan or 9x 13 inch cake pan.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add eggs and oil, stirring until moistened. Do NOT beat. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, pecans and bananas.

Bake for 50 – 60 minutes. Cool. Frost cooled cake with cream cheese icing.

Cream Cheese Icing

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup butter or margarine (softened)
1 pound powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Beat ingredients until fluffy; then frost cooled cake.

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