So yesterday I was able to spend some time with some friends and family to celebrate the holidays with a good old fashioned cookie swap!! It was sooo much fun... at least I hope it was for everyone, cuz I had an awesome time!
I found an awesome website that has a TON of games you can print out... Christmas Games A to Z. You have to actually subscribe, but for $19.95 I had access to at least 50 holiday games... quizzes, puzzles, BINGO... you name it! They even have the answer keys - very important!
We did the games and had prizes, but we also had an old fashioned Yankee Swap. I don't know about you, but I actually included the rules in the invitation so that people knew what they were in for. Apparently, there are many versions of the game and many are EXTREMELY cut throat. I don't think that's very appropriate during the season of "good will". Anyway, we did the games, the swap, the food... oh yummy food!!
Finally, we divided the cookies... mmm mmm mmm! I forgot to take a picture of the tablescape with all of the batches of cookies, but trust me when I say they all looked great!! They tasted even yummier too!!
Happy Holidays Everyone... and maybe with the help of the economy more people will be settling in with the old traditions of visiting, playing games, and potlucking it! One can only hope, right?!?
Tee's Closet
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
An Epiphany...
Growing up, my house was full. It was my brother and I, but on the weekends my stepbrothers would come too. Yes there were the struggles of the blended family. My brother and my older stepbrother were only 1 month apart in age, so sparks flew there a bit. My younger stepbrother and I were about 1 yr apart and we would have our fair share of throw downs, as well... BUT, for the most part, we were a family and we played, and laughed, and had fun. At least, that's how I remember it.
I also remember that every year we went on our camping trip. It was 4th of july weekend and we would pack our stuff and head up to Sharon, VT. The boys were all there for each other, but I got to bring a friend. I think that whole trip would cost us about $150 for gas and food. It wasn't the type of camping trip that you camped at night and visited the stores and parks in the area during the day. We played in the White River, swimming, rafting, catching Crawfish, trying to fish. We would cook the crawfish and eat them with dinner. Usually hot dogs cooked on a stick, but sometimes even the occasional trout. These are the times that I remember so well.
I think that I always "knew" that we were never going to go to Disney, although, like most kids, I probably asked. It didn't really matter though, as long as we went camping. We all had bikes and for christmas each year, we all each got that 1 BIG thing. One year it was a TV. One year a stereo. My friends would laugh and tell me that my parents were secretly preparing to kick us out... one year we actually got dishes and pans. hehe. Hey, we asked for them!
So, I don't know what happened, but I started getting to the point, where if I could have it, I got it. I wanted a simple desk for our computer. Ok... actually, I went to the store to look at desks so maybe I could make one, but what happened?? I bought this big armoire that hides everything when not in use, blah blah blah...
Got the Wii, got the Playstation, got the cameras, got the mp3 player... got it all.
I started volunteering at the kids school this year. I went every Thursday and Friday for 6 weeks to sort nonperishables for families in need. Each week I hoped that more stuff would come in. I thought... "How are these kids going to eat breakfast if people don't bring in cereal??" or "What are these families going to do with 15 cans of chicken soup?". Then each of the kids classes picked a charity to help. Payton's class shopped for a family. We were going to be giving them the only gifts they were going to get this year. Phoebe's class collected new baby clothes for new or due mommies.
I started coming home and seeing all this "stuff" around. Is it strange that all of a sudden I don't care? I actually sold the Wii because we haven't used it in quite some time. Chef Hubby is selling his paintball gun and PS2. I've started cleaning out the basement more aggressively, thinking, "If we had a fire, would I even know that I lost this item?". I don't know what happened that made me change my views, but I wish that it would rub off on some people. I hope that I can instill this in my children.
I've already told them that this weekend is time for the annual, clean out the toy bins. It's when they go through their games and toys and decide which ones that no longer use or want. They are given to the charities in the area "for boys and girls who have no toys". They are actually very good at this activity.
I'm trying to bring back that feeling of "enough". I wish you and your families "enough" this holiday! Merry Christmas!!
I also remember that every year we went on our camping trip. It was 4th of july weekend and we would pack our stuff and head up to Sharon, VT. The boys were all there for each other, but I got to bring a friend. I think that whole trip would cost us about $150 for gas and food. It wasn't the type of camping trip that you camped at night and visited the stores and parks in the area during the day. We played in the White River, swimming, rafting, catching Crawfish, trying to fish. We would cook the crawfish and eat them with dinner. Usually hot dogs cooked on a stick, but sometimes even the occasional trout. These are the times that I remember so well.
I think that I always "knew" that we were never going to go to Disney, although, like most kids, I probably asked. It didn't really matter though, as long as we went camping. We all had bikes and for christmas each year, we all each got that 1 BIG thing. One year it was a TV. One year a stereo. My friends would laugh and tell me that my parents were secretly preparing to kick us out... one year we actually got dishes and pans. hehe. Hey, we asked for them!
So, I don't know what happened, but I started getting to the point, where if I could have it, I got it. I wanted a simple desk for our computer. Ok... actually, I went to the store to look at desks so maybe I could make one, but what happened?? I bought this big armoire that hides everything when not in use, blah blah blah...
Got the Wii, got the Playstation, got the cameras, got the mp3 player... got it all.
I started volunteering at the kids school this year. I went every Thursday and Friday for 6 weeks to sort nonperishables for families in need. Each week I hoped that more stuff would come in. I thought... "How are these kids going to eat breakfast if people don't bring in cereal??" or "What are these families going to do with 15 cans of chicken soup?". Then each of the kids classes picked a charity to help. Payton's class shopped for a family. We were going to be giving them the only gifts they were going to get this year. Phoebe's class collected new baby clothes for new or due mommies.
I started coming home and seeing all this "stuff" around. Is it strange that all of a sudden I don't care? I actually sold the Wii because we haven't used it in quite some time. Chef Hubby is selling his paintball gun and PS2. I've started cleaning out the basement more aggressively, thinking, "If we had a fire, would I even know that I lost this item?". I don't know what happened that made me change my views, but I wish that it would rub off on some people. I hope that I can instill this in my children.
I've already told them that this weekend is time for the annual, clean out the toy bins. It's when they go through their games and toys and decide which ones that no longer use or want. They are given to the charities in the area "for boys and girls who have no toys". They are actually very good at this activity.
I'm trying to bring back that feeling of "enough". I wish you and your families "enough" this holiday! Merry Christmas!!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
my oh my...
So today I was able to spend some time with friends that I haven't seen in years! Gotta love the holidays and the opportunities they bring for us to all gather, right?
Today I made Chocolate Coconut bars for the cookie swap and they rocked!! But now I have to think of something to make for the cookie swap at my house next weekend... I can't do the same thing, some of the same people are coming. LOL!!
So, I have some ideas, but I was wondering what some people crave for the holidays? Any cookie or bar suggestions that I should make??
Hoping that everyone is having a healthy and happy holiday season so far!
Today I made Chocolate Coconut bars for the cookie swap and they rocked!! But now I have to think of something to make for the cookie swap at my house next weekend... I can't do the same thing, some of the same people are coming. LOL!!
So, I have some ideas, but I was wondering what some people crave for the holidays? Any cookie or bar suggestions that I should make??
Hoping that everyone is having a healthy and happy holiday season so far!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Fill the Pantry Challenge!!
OK people, it's the holidays and I know that this time of year, most people are trying to find ways to contribute to their communities, churches, or schools... right? Well, why does that have to end with the holidays?
I have to admit, like most, I lose focus and don't really think about the many many families who go without unless there is a can drive, or a specific purpose to raise awareness, BUT... I am going to change that! Do you know that in New Bedford, MA there are more than 546 homeless families?!? That's right... not people... FAMILIES! This is based on the New Bedford Public Schools' figures. Let's pretend the average family is a family of 4...
Now, I know these figures are just estimates, but this is a HUGE problem!! A problem that is not going to be helped by supplying a family with a box of food that will barely last a week. So this is my challenge...
OR... you can have a special piggy bank that you can place $1 a week. This is money you can donate to help these programs; to allow them to purchase the food items that are still need at the end of the collection (i.e. Mayonnaise for the tuna and turkey, peanut butter is the every meal food, tomato sauce for a great multipurpose item)
Challenge your friends, your family, your coworkers!! This is a problem that these families are struggling with every single day. Maybe in the process in making my children aware and making the community more aware, we can help ease it a little. Why not ask your dentist, pediatrician, or real estate agent, etc to place a box for a collection? If you want to participate but are concerned about not being able to deliver the items, do it!
Remember, hunger isn't a religious, or racial, or political issue... it can effect anyone! It effects the young and the old. Please, don't decide not to help because it is a parish or place of worship that is collecting the items. These are the places that care for our community! They care for the people and families that so desperately need it.
*** I know that there are state funded programs, etc, but these are not working. The numbers continue to rise. The only way to start fixing problems is for everyone to come together and start with their neighborhoods, their communities, their local charities... we need to fix it!! Thank you for your help!!!
I have to admit, like most, I lose focus and don't really think about the many many families who go without unless there is a can drive, or a specific purpose to raise awareness, BUT... I am going to change that! Do you know that in New Bedford, MA there are more than 546 homeless families?!? That's right... not people... FAMILIES! This is based on the New Bedford Public Schools' figures. Let's pretend the average family is a family of 4...
4x546 = 2184 people homeless (excluding the homeless individuals)
2184/94,000 people in New Bedford (according to the last census)
= almost 2.5% of the population!!
Now, I know these figures are just estimates, but this is a HUGE problem!! A problem that is not going to be helped by supplying a family with a box of food that will barely last a week. So this is my challenge...
- Find a box, or a tote, or a spot in a closet or room that you can use to "stock".
- Put aside at least $1 a week to "Stock the Pantry"
- Now, each week use that $1 to buy an item of food (nonperishable) or if Peanut Butter is on sale, or you make a purchase greater than the $1... keep it to $4 dollars a month (more if you can afford it)
- If you have kids, give them the dollar and tell them they have to find something they like to put in the box. Let them take ownership of the box!! Get them involved!! If you have 2 kids, give them each a dollar or alot $2 a month to each box... whatever!
- Pretend that you are stocking up for a week, for a family of 4... what would you want to eat?
Now, next year when the food drives come... you are ready!! If you have a place of worship, charity or pantry that would like to donate to... GREAT!! If you aren't sure where to donate, I know that St. Lawrence, located at 110 Summer Street and Holy Family Holy Name School, at 91 Summer Street, would be more than happy to accept any donations that you have. If you live outside the area, I am sure that they are in need, as well!! Please, it doesn't take much to find a center that can distribute the food.
OR... you can have a special piggy bank that you can place $1 a week. This is money you can donate to help these programs; to allow them to purchase the food items that are still need at the end of the collection (i.e. Mayonnaise for the tuna and turkey, peanut butter is the every meal food, tomato sauce for a great multipurpose item)
Challenge your friends, your family, your coworkers!! This is a problem that these families are struggling with every single day. Maybe in the process in making my children aware and making the community more aware, we can help ease it a little. Why not ask your dentist, pediatrician, or real estate agent, etc to place a box for a collection? If you want to participate but are concerned about not being able to deliver the items, do it!
Remember, hunger isn't a religious, or racial, or political issue... it can effect anyone! It effects the young and the old. Please, don't decide not to help because it is a parish or place of worship that is collecting the items. These are the places that care for our community! They care for the people and families that so desperately need it.
*** I know that there are state funded programs, etc, but these are not working. The numbers continue to rise. The only way to start fixing problems is for everyone to come together and start with their neighborhoods, their communities, their local charities... we need to fix it!! Thank you for your help!!!
Happy Holidays!! I wish everyone a safe, healthy, happy holiday!!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Merry Bah Humbug
That's pretty much how I feel right now. I can't wait for the holidays to arrive, but between the finances and stress that actually come with them, I could see them leaving without a second thought.
I've gotten almost all of my shopping done which means that now I have time to second guess every single purchase I made. Does anyone else do this?? I mean seriously, my kids are 3 and 5 and I'm thinking... "I hope they like the toys". These are the kids that fought viciously yesterday over a leave! Yes, a leave... well, actually some sort of bean thing that looks like a really big black green bean. I called it the music leave. lol
Anyway, Chef Hubby and I decided that from now on Christmas is not going to be a living room FULL of "stuff". We picked one big thing that they both will share, then a couple little things, an outfit to wear christmas day, and the ever important, Christmas Eve PJs. The Pj tradition we stole from one of aunts... but we cherish it.
So I am going to try to get the housework and work work done before Friday so that we can put up the christmas tree this weekend. I can't wait for the tree to go up. I was also going to start with the "Elf on a Shelf" this year, because I thought it was an awesome concept, but we will probably be doing our own version since the cute little guy with activity book is $30!!
Anyway... Merry Bah Humbug to all!!
I've gotten almost all of my shopping done which means that now I have time to second guess every single purchase I made. Does anyone else do this?? I mean seriously, my kids are 3 and 5 and I'm thinking... "I hope they like the toys". These are the kids that fought viciously yesterday over a leave! Yes, a leave... well, actually some sort of bean thing that looks like a really big black green bean. I called it the music leave. lol
Anyway, Chef Hubby and I decided that from now on Christmas is not going to be a living room FULL of "stuff". We picked one big thing that they both will share, then a couple little things, an outfit to wear christmas day, and the ever important, Christmas Eve PJs. The Pj tradition we stole from one of aunts... but we cherish it.
So I am going to try to get the housework and work work done before Friday so that we can put up the christmas tree this weekend. I can't wait for the tree to go up. I was also going to start with the "Elf on a Shelf" this year, because I thought it was an awesome concept, but we will probably be doing our own version since the cute little guy with activity book is $30!!
Anyway... Merry Bah Humbug to all!!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Looking for Recipes...Update
OK.. so I've been helping sort cans and boxes of food for families for Thanksgiving at my daughter's school for about a month. Every week we've been receiving mass loads of soups, mac and cheese, tuna, ramen, and chef boyrdee cans. It's crazy how many!! While packing them up the other day one of the mom's mentioned that its ridiculous how many canned goods we're going to be giving to these families. Seriously, have you ever thought about eating ravioli, tuna, and chicken noodle soup for just about every meal? Sounds dreadful, doesn't it?
Here we are loading them up on nonperishable foods that are loaded with salt and preservatives and virtually no nutritional value, right? So I decided to try to find alternative recipes for these items... so far, I've gotten quite a bunch
Country Chicken Chowder (Chicken Noodle Soup)
Cinnamon Snack Mix (Ramen Noodles)
Tuna Pot Pie (Tuna)
Pizza Casserole (Ravioli)
...just to name a few!! BUT I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions. I know that I haven't been keeping up with this blog and a bunch of my followers are gone, but if you could do me a favor and spread the word, that would be great! I am looking for quick, easy, family friendly, CHEAP meals you can use nonperishable foods to make.
Some other items that are in excess are pastas, tomato products, canned veggies, gravies, cake mixes... MAC n CHEESE... got it? So any recipes that you can offer would be great.
To make it worth your time and trouble, I will be doing a give away!! I have some small Pampered Chef items that I can throw together as incentive for a random drawing. Please send the recipes by November 14th so I have time to get them together for a booklet I want to put together for the families.
Thank you sooo much for your help!! Happy Holidays!
Here we are loading them up on nonperishable foods that are loaded with salt and preservatives and virtually no nutritional value, right? So I decided to try to find alternative recipes for these items... so far, I've gotten quite a bunch
Country Chicken Chowder (Chicken Noodle Soup)
Cinnamon Snack Mix (Ramen Noodles)
Tuna Pot Pie (Tuna)
Pizza Casserole (Ravioli)
...just to name a few!! BUT I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions. I know that I haven't been keeping up with this blog and a bunch of my followers are gone, but if you could do me a favor and spread the word, that would be great! I am looking for quick, easy, family friendly, CHEAP meals you can use nonperishable foods to make.
Some other items that are in excess are pastas, tomato products, canned veggies, gravies, cake mixes... MAC n CHEESE... got it? So any recipes that you can offer would be great.
To make it worth your time and trouble, I will be doing a give away!! I have some small Pampered Chef items that I can throw together as incentive for a random drawing. Please send the recipes by November 14th so I have time to get them together for a booklet I want to put together for the families.
Thank you sooo much for your help!! Happy Holidays!
So far I've had only 2 people email me and one post on here... that makes the chances pretty good in the random selection!!! Last day to add recipes...
So the winner is... MaryAnn Gomes! BUT - since there were only 3 people who participated, I will be sending out a special PC treat to each of them!! Yay... holiday cheer to everyone :o)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Wow...
The past few weeks have been crazy!! The girls are both in school right now, Chef Hubby is back at school during the day, and I'm back at the high school after school to provide medical coverage for all of the sport teams... oh yeah, and trying insanely to figure out what the heck I'm supposed to do during the day!
So far, I've spent some mornings working out, shopping, going on playdates with my mommy friends, minus my own little ones (that's very weird, might I add), slept in, and tried like crazy to get some work done. Can I just tell you how NOT motivated I am to get the chores done.
Lately, I've been very stressed. I drop the kids off at school, get them settled into their classrooms, and head out, hoping that they will be taken care of. Seriously, that should be a no brainer since they are currently enrolled in a Catholic school down the street, right?!! Well, not so much...
2 days into Kindergarten and Phoebe came home announcing that a boy kissed her ("on the cheek, so it's ok mommy"). She couldn't remember his name, but they were going to get married and then have 3 babies!! WTF? So then she made him a card and he didn't want it. Now she doesn't want to go to school anymore... ugh!
Payton is in school in pull-ups right now because she's still quite strongwilled and I'm not ready to bring in 3 sets of clothes everyday. Actually, in school she's been doing great! She comes home dry almost aways, but it's entirely different on the weekends. Anyone got any suggestions? She is absolutely smitten with her teacher... it's so cute. It's hard to get her to walk instead of run when we get to the hallway that leads to her classroom.
My mom is also keeping me on my toes. As I write this, I'm awaiting the call that lets me know she's recovering nicely after being a kidney donor this morning. She decided that she was going to do it in the end of March and immediately quit smoking after over 40yrs. The recipient is a 25 yr old son of one of her coworkers. To say that emotions are high right now is putting it mildly.
Anyway, I am hoping to start posting more regularly again. Wish me luck!
So far, I've spent some mornings working out, shopping, going on playdates with my mommy friends, minus my own little ones (that's very weird, might I add), slept in, and tried like crazy to get some work done. Can I just tell you how NOT motivated I am to get the chores done.
Lately, I've been very stressed. I drop the kids off at school, get them settled into their classrooms, and head out, hoping that they will be taken care of. Seriously, that should be a no brainer since they are currently enrolled in a Catholic school down the street, right?!! Well, not so much...
2 days into Kindergarten and Phoebe came home announcing that a boy kissed her ("on the cheek, so it's ok mommy"). She couldn't remember his name, but they were going to get married and then have 3 babies!! WTF? So then she made him a card and he didn't want it. Now she doesn't want to go to school anymore... ugh!
Payton is in school in pull-ups right now because she's still quite strongwilled and I'm not ready to bring in 3 sets of clothes everyday. Actually, in school she's been doing great! She comes home dry almost aways, but it's entirely different on the weekends. Anyone got any suggestions? She is absolutely smitten with her teacher... it's so cute. It's hard to get her to walk instead of run when we get to the hallway that leads to her classroom.
My mom is also keeping me on my toes. As I write this, I'm awaiting the call that lets me know she's recovering nicely after being a kidney donor this morning. She decided that she was going to do it in the end of March and immediately quit smoking after over 40yrs. The recipient is a 25 yr old son of one of her coworkers. To say that emotions are high right now is putting it mildly.
Anyway, I am hoping to start posting more regularly again. Wish me luck!
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