Final Blog of 2012

With 2012 coming to a close, the world will hold its breathe with anticipation and cheer as the clock strikes twelve.  New Years Eve is traditionally a time for celebration, reflection, renewal and change.  We get to look beyond, probe deep, and understand what lies at the heart of what matters to us.

As the year ends, this time is an opportunity to abandon everything that was less than perfect and start fresh.  I'm NOT talking about setting a bunch of New Year Resolutions that you will not be able to keep.  That's been tried, tested and proven to be lacking.  I've never been able to keep one longer than 3 weeks anyway. 

There's something about a New Year, a new beginning, and a fresh start that encourages us to make a change for the New Year.  It's a powerful feeling to know you have another fresh year ahead of you and you can choose what you do with it and reflect on where you want to go next.

2012 has been rough for me spiritually, emotionally and physically so in the final hours of the year, a few thoughts have occurred to me as an appropriate means to close out this year and start fresh with the next, especially since I will begin an extensive Daniel's fast tomorrow.

1. Throw out the bad feelings, the unwanted emotions and the outdated viewpoints.  All that room for a fresh attitude will be a refreshing change and a chance to view things with a brand new attitude.

2. Take a look at priorities and daily distractions, and make sure that you spend your valuable time where you want to and where it will do the most good. 

3. Think about situations, good, bad and indifferent.  Understand desires and get in touch with basic needs.  It's time!!

4. Recognize who you are and be true to yourself.  It's imperative!!

I hope everyone has a blessed and prosperous new year!

DIY Laundry Detergent

It has taken me a few months of reading blog after blog, seeing pin after pin and reading comment after comment before I finally decided to jump on the band wagon and make my own laundry detergent.  I am very particular (OCD) about laundry detergent.  It has to smell good and get dirty clothes (from teenage boys) clean!  I read multiple blogs and recipes until I decided on one I would use.  

Here are all the ingredients I purchased.......all for about $35......and this recipe should last us around 9-12 months, which makes me very happy!  Now I won't be spending $10-12 every 3-4 weeks on laundry detergent.

1 box of Borax (4 lb 12 oz)

1 box of Pure Baking Soda (4 lb)

1 box of Super Washing Soda (3 lb 7 oz)

2 bars of Fels-Naptha (you can also use Zote Soap but I got my ingredients at Walmart and they don't carry Zote Soap)

1 bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener (55 oz - this is purely optional but like I said  I like my laundry to smell good and I hang dry a lot of our clothes)

1 container of Oxi Clean (3 lb - this is also purely optional but I used it because our clothes have to be clean)

1 container to mix and store all the ingredients

If you opt to not use the Purex Crystals and Oxi Clean, it will obviously lower the cost of ingredients.  If you have coupons, which I didn't, that will also lower the cost.

Now, before you mix everything together you have to grate the soap.  This took me about 30 minutes and definitely built some muscles grating!  

Once the soap is all grated you can start layering all the ingredients in a large container.  I poured a little bit of each, then stirred and repeated until it was all mixed together.  Then I put some in the Purex container to use since the cap is just the right measurement we need to do one load of laundry.

I just got finished with 2 loads of laundry and have to say that I will never buy laundry detergent again!  Now I need to find a good recipe for homemade body wash.  LOL

Christmas Day

Sad looking tree but that's what happens when you are so busy and don't have a chance to put it up until a week and half before Christmas.

Believe it or not, I had to wake Joshua up because at 9 a.m. he was still sleeping.  LOL

P-nut was not about to wait and decided he was taking his Christmas presents! 

Hump Day Humor

A little hump day humor!  

Failed Attempt But Still Yummy

Sooooo......my daughter decided she wanted to make a gingerbread house so she bought the following kit.  Piece of cake, right?  LOL

When she opened the box, the house was already broken.  They don't do a very good job at packaging those things.  In my opinion, they need a better QA process.  LOL 

She made the frosting anyway and we tried to put it back together.

This was the end result!  The roof would not stay up but it was still good to eat. 

J

 

Just Because

I had a rough and emotional day today. When I got home tonight, these flowers were waiting for me. My daughter had bought them when she got off work. I am truly thankful for a daughter who is sensitive to the needs of others.

Snowman Poop

I had the day off today and this is what I did with a few hours of my time.  The kids had a youth Christmas party tonight so I decided to make a small gift for all of the kids in attendance.

Here are all of the supplies I had, bought or printed for the gifts (well, not the coffee cup LOL).

Made a little progress.....the poem is glued on the inside of what will be the cover.

This is the poem.

All of the packages of tic-tacs have been glued on the inside covers.

All of the stickers have been added to the front cover and the ribbon glued to the back.

Making progress tying all the ribbon to close the covers.

All of the ribbons have been tied......all 56 of them!  

My daughter sent me a text a little while ago and said everyone thought they were cute and funny!

Another Pinterest success! Woo hoo!!!

Workplace

It's been a rough day all around.  Fifteen co-workers were let go today.  It's always rough to lose a job but even worse when it happens around the holidays.  When things like this happen it definitely changes the ambiance of the office and gets all the busy bodies going.  It's sad but true.  I lost my train of thought a few times today and every time kept telling myself that now might be the time to brush up on workplace etiquette.  This way I will learn from others mistakes and won't fall prey to the office politics and damage my professional reputation or worse, cost me my job.

Here are a few do's and don'ts that we all should follow:

1. Think before you speak because while your close friends might "get" your dry sense of humor you need to keep your personality quirks in check.

2. Be a team player since no one wants to shoulder a bigger workload because you are dodging your responsibilities for one reason or another, coming  in late or leaving early every day.

3. Respect a closed door because while someone might not look busy when you peek in the door was shut for a reason.....so stay out.

4. Skip the childish pranks because any joke made at your co-workers expense probably isn't all that funny.

5. Take a breath before you hit "Send" because once you do your words are now company property.

6. Keep your personal matters and opinions at home.

7. Consider your co-workers when you pack your lunch because no one wants to suffer through your smelly meal.

8. Watch your language even if you aren't at your desk because anything you do during the day (even on break) is a reflection of you professionally.

9. If problems arise you should handle them privately.

10. Respect company property by not stealing or taking care of personal business all day long.

Money

Why are people still under the impression that money will solve all their problems?  "If I only had more money or a better paying job, blah, blah blah."  You hear it all the time.  Most of the time money creates more problems with more wants and things people think they cannot live without, and ultimately more debt.  There is no way in the world the best job offer or a lot of money will bring me what I really want right now.  I have learned what is important and what isn't.  There is no amount of money that could even remotely come close to replacing what is in my life or what I desire.  None.  

Money and prestige can only get you so far before the value of who you are and what you have to offer the world takes over.  Money cannot buy people or solid relationships with those people either.  I once heard someone say they wanted to die with millions in their bank account.  Why?  You certainly can't take it with you.  People should be more concerned with the impact they leave on the world, people they come into contact with daily and being an overall good quality and kind person rather than how many zeros they leave to National City Bank.  That just irritates me.

Monday Motivation

Holiday Season

Now that the holiday season is officially upon us, I hope we all do our part to make a difference in the lives of others.  Not with the "gimme this", "gimme that", I want this", I want that" mentality.  We need to decrease the materialism in our kids and reinforce the real reason for the season.  Don't get me wrong; I spoil my kids at Christmas and anyone who knows me or has been to my house during the holidays can attest to that.  However, my kids have also been taught from the day they were born the true meaning of Christmas.  It's not the actual gift that matters but what's behind it that's important..........the spirit of giving. 

The holidays are a special time and we should appreciate what we are given because a lot of love and thought is put into it.  Give from your heart; a smile or a hug can be someone's greatest gift.  There are so many ways to spread happiness; just follow your heart and I bet it will be the best holiday ever.

A lot of times we focus on the negatives in our lives.  I've been there myself.  Christmas is the best reason to think positive and not allow the small things to get us down.  It should be a time to enjoy those around us and to take a step back and be thankful for what we do have. 

My wish is that all of you have a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!

Worse Feeling As A Mother

There is no worse feeling in the world than being a mother who is 600+ miles away from home and your son hurts himself at basketball practice and is taken to the ER for X-rays.  Thankfully, he didn't break anything but does have a muscle contusion, which is still painful.  No sports for at least a week now.