Gotta Love Ikea!

Check it out here and scroll over the cup.

Because Thousands Are Asking...

...okay maybe only two.

Casie's brothers tested negative for diabetes. WOOHOO!

A Prophet in the Family

At 5:30 last night I received a call from my sister saying they were entering the hospital. My niece, Casie, had just been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. She will be there a few days as they get her levels under control and teach her about her new lifestyle. She is being a real trooper and doing very well. Way better than the rest of us. She gave herself her first shot today. She's going to be a pro.

Want goosebumps? It looks like we may have a prophet in the family. Remember this?

Cooking Tips

Some of my favorite cooking tips:

When you use cooking spray, lower your dishwasher door, place the pan on the inside of the door and spray. No more slippery floors and the mess gets washed away! (from Barbara Nottingham)

Use a cookie scoop to fill muffin tins. Zero drips! (I LOVE this one!)

Chop and freeze onions. Jenn explains it at: http://mommylovestosing.blogspot.com/2009/03/who-wants-to-save-time-and-money.html

Before freezing, remove air from ziplocs by sucking it out through a straw. Instant shrink wrap!

Mac-n-Cheese: while noodles are cooking, prepare cheese sauce in the microwave. No powdery lumps in your pasta and the cold milk won't cool down the comfort food.

Store adjustable measuring cups in your sugar/flour canisters. You'll never need to look for the correct size measuring cup (which you probably just used for oil).

Now share yours!

Note to Self

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT cycle 14 miles on your first ride of the season.

I literally couldn't stand last night. Thank God for drugs.

Cookin' Away the Grumps

I appreciate it when people post good recipes and cooking tips. Especially when the suggestions are money-saving in nature. Recently I've had to tighten the budget so I'm cooking more and shopping smarter. And, of course, add a pinch of God and the results are amazing. Most of the things on my grocery list today were on sale! I actually stood in the dairy aisle with tears in my eyes because of how God was providing.

I relieve stress by cooking. I love the planning, the organization, the prep, the creativity, the multi-tasking, the clean-up and the result. So today when my day didn't go as planned and my frustrations were rising, I grabbed a quart of buttermilk which was leftover from a recipe last week. Within minutes my kitchen was a wreck but I was happy(er). I made all of the following using buttermilk: buttermilk pie (for a friend's birthday), banana bran muffins, a turkey noodle casserole and the biscuits below. In between all of that, I prepared veggie snack packs for lunches and a crockpot of ham/potatoes/beans for dinner with a friend after church. She made the salad and these biscuits melted in our mouths!

I wish I could cook my taxes.

Cheddar Biscuits

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter softened not melted
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
3/4 cup buttermilk

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Stir in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cheese. Add buttermilk; stir just until dough clings together. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough lightly until easy to handle. Roll into balls, place on greased baking sheet and flatten slightly. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

I'm Starting a New Trend

I am so incredibly tired of headaches. I'm seriously considering discovering a way you can survive as a beheaded human. Existing without a head has gotta be better than this. If I hear about one more "trigger" I'm gonna scream. Which I guess I better do while I can.

Hangin' with the Lawyers

I'm staying with the six Lawyer kids as their precious mama is refueling with her mom and sister. Everyone keeps thanking me for what I'm doing but they have it completely wrong. I am receiving more than I am giving. I actually texted Suzie today to thank HER for letting me do this because I am being totally blessed by her kids. God knew how much I needed this this week.

Since I had to teach a class at church today, I had to farm the kids out to friends' homes. Here was my day...

7:30-1:00, ServePoint: amazing experience, incredible people, blown away, loved every minute, completely God, without a glitch, awe-inspiring, wonderful feedback, totally rewarding, so fulfilling, my niche. What a perfect day!

1:00-3:00, Headache: need I say more. I powernapped before the kids came home.

3:00-5:00, Pottery Painting: as a surprise for Suzie's birthday, the kids painted pottery items for her school desk. Shhhh! They did an awesome job.

5:00-7:00, Finally Home: laughter, entertainment, chores, personality, laundry, dogs, puzzle. Dinner consisted of 5 kids and 5 different requests...no I didn't leave anyone at the pottery place. Josh was at the Page's.

7:00-9:00, Funnel Cakes: the Fullens came over and turned the kitchen into a country fair grounds. Grease and powdered sugar were everywhere! The kids loved it. The Pages brought Josh home and joined the fun. I stayed out of the kitchen and worked on the puzzle with Max and Isabella. I never did get my own funnel cake. For some reason, I didn't have the appetite.

9:00-10:00, Bedtime: baths, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, books, medicines, prayers, precious moments.

10:00-12:00, Computer Time: silence.

12:01am, Silence Broken: I hear a single shot from somewhere out in front of the house which then echoes off the woods behind the house. And I'm just supposed to go to bed as if that's normal?!

Contagious

My dad was tested for diabetes last week which thankfully turned out to be negative. My sister, Jayne, was telling Drew and Casie about it. Drew said, "Casie, don't you have diabetes?" Jayne and Casie cracked up. "NO!" says Casie. "Jodie does."

Drew: "then why are we going to her house?"

Random-ness

I bought a pair of "real" sneakers yesterday for the very first time in my life. Meaning they weren't less than $15 at Walmart. They are incredible! I literally tried on 17 pair before finding the right shoe.



I found a jar candle at Kohl's that is amazing (50% off + 20% off coupon)! I usually only buy Yankee but I've found a new love. Brand: Aroma Mix, Scent: Caramel Pear. I'm headed back to get a few more before my coupon expires.





I haven't started my taxes.



I got my car washed yesterday. Asked for the cheapest, no frills wash. I think they forgot and added the wax feature. My car looks amazing! It looks brand new!



I walked through Target yesterday and didn't buy a single thing. I wonder if in the history of the world that has ever happened to anyone.

Tick, Tick, Tick

This morning it dawned on me that I am middle-age. Yes, I have probably been in that category for a few years now but today it finally sunk in. So I frantically texted my sister to inform her of my disturbing discovery. She calls me and says, "We're not middle aged. The average age of our patients is 80-90 yrs old" (she works at a dental office near a nursing home). Uh, Jayne...do the math...half of 80-90 is?...that makes us MIDDLE AGE!

Within a few hours of our conversation it was confirmed. At the Dr's office.

My 3 month diabetes check-up revealed high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. I head to the pharmacy with three scripts in hand.

GET OUT THE BIKE!! IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW! Oh wait...I'm not allowed to exercise this week because I have stitches on my back and arm due to mole removals that looked suspicious for skin cancer.

Naaaah...I'm not middle-age.

Wikipedia: Middle age is the period of life beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age.