What three things are you still waiting for to happen this month?? It might take a few moments, but I can almost guarantee that if you really stop to think about it, they will pop into your mind!

What is the next book that you want to read? Me, I have so many on my shelves that I just haven't gotten around to, I don't think that I need ever buy a new book... but I probably will anyway lol...

I was just sorting through my zillion Page a Day calendars and one of them was... 5 Things To Be Happy About... so that's the question for today. What 5 things are on your list? (here's mine)

1. latte this afternoon
2. bubble bath this afternoon
3. thinking about Chicago... more about that in the coming days ;)
4. watching a chick flick... just can't decide which one
5. the wedding coming up in April  

I don’t think that there is a kid alive who likes to clean their room. I know that I didn’t when I was a kid… no make that a teen. Didn’t like doing it then either. So, grab a timer for 5 minutes and tell the kids that they can stop cleaning when the timer goes off. They think that they are getting off lucky, but you will be amazed at how cleaning can be done in five minutes. It doesn’t sound like a lot of time, but I have put it to the test myself. YOU CAN GET A LOT ACCOMPLISHED IN 5 MINUTES.  Now get into the habit of doing it every day and you will have one amazing looking house (or a clean kid’s room) in a week or less.

So here goes... did you know that if you keep a goldfish in a dark room, it will eventually turn white?? That's what this site is saying... didn't like the bit about the spiders though. 

God loved flowers and created soil
Man loved flowers and created the vase…

Anonymous

I know that there are flowers under all that snow somewhere. Will just have to wait a few more days. See how optomistic I can be lol...

 What's with all this snow??  Luckily I went shopping yesterday because I was starting to feel big time cooped up. Doesn't look like we will get out this afternoon without major shoveling and this time it's wet snow. And then on Tuesday we get yet another dumping of snow. Are we simply getting it all at once so that we can move onto spring in a couple of weeks?? I know... wishful thinking big time.

Current Mood: bored

I'm simply going to ask you a question and you get to answer it. Hopefully lots of people will answer it giving us lots to think about. So, here's your question. 

Should pie be a breakfast food??
Photo credit... amazon.com 

It just occurred to me that I have all of these memories of my grandmother that I really haven't shared with my kids. Most simply never came up. And what is really scary is the fact that I'm starting to forget them too. I think that I will bring it up at dinner and both myself and my husband can offer memories of our grandparents to our daughter. It is soooo easy for these stories to get lost.  

• 1  2 layer package  white cake mix
• 2 cups diced rhubarb
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour a 9x13 inch pan and set aside. Prepare white cake mix according to directions and then pour into pan.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the rhubarb and sugar and then spoon the fruit mixture over the cake batter.
3. Set timer for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before turning it out onto a serving dish.
4. Serve with dollops of whipping cream

Did I ever tell you just how easy it is to grow your own rhubarb??

Are the kids putting up a fuss about having to tidy their room? I was just reading something in our local paper about a Mom who came up with a brilliant solution. The kids still had to tidy the bedrooms, just not THEIR bedroom. They switched and tidied their sibling’s bedroom. They thought that was heaps more fun.

Current Mood: amused

Plan a once a month "get-together" to enjoy something outdoors. A nice long hike at any time of year is good for what ails you. It's even more fun if each of you bring a potluck picnic lunch. And don't say that it's cold outside. You can still plan a picnic that rocks... just with different food! And if you don't have sisters handy, gather a group of girlfriends and do the same. :)

Most of you know by now that cooking is not really high on my list of "fun" things to do. For me, dinner has to be fast and easy. It might be that everyone has different tastes and I don’t want to make four different dinners. But this seems to appeal to everyone. And, it’s easy. Just make or pick up some breadsticks at the supermarket or make them like I do and dip away. *See my reason for making my own breadsticks below.  I have literally burned out more than one breadmaker! Anyway, here's what you need.
1 lb. lean ground chicken
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (10 oz.) cans spicy pizza sauce
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Pinch of Italian spices (to taste)
A Big Pot

Saute the ground chicken and rinse with warm water to drain off excess fat. Set aside. Cook the onion and garlic. I like mine almost black, but it’s up to you. Add the pizza sauce. Transfer everything to a pot and add the cheese. Allow cheese time to melt and then hand out the breadsticks for dipping. 

... and yes, I do make all of my breadsticks in a breadmaker!!  As I said earlier... I would be lost without my breadmaker, and here is a little hint. Always use the dough cycle. I never bake in the breadmaker. It saves tons of time if you pull out the dough, form into loaves and then bake for about 30 minutes at 350. It all depends on your oven of course. If you like the crust burnt (like my family) just leave it in the oven a bit longer. 

*(I seldom buy bread at the supermarket if people can actually touch the bread. Just grosses me out.) 

Breadman TR875 2-Pound Breadmaker, Stainless Steel

If you are feeling even slightly depressed, this could be a really hard list to come up with. Your EGO will have all kinds of reasons for you to throw the whole idea right out the window. Why even do such a list?? It’s not going to matter anyway. See just how miserable your EGO can be?? But lets just say for the fun of it, that you write down the first 10 things that occur to you and don't judge them in anyway. Yes, your ego has this annoying little voice that is going to want to butt in, but this year, we are going to learn how to ignore it. To get you started, I’m going to list 5 of my favourite things to do… just to show you how easy it is. So, here goes…
1. read…
2. watch a movie
3. enjoy a nice glass of red wine
4. take a nice bubble bath
5. sit outside and listen to the birds.
So, you can see that I didn't justify anything on my list. I just wrote things down as they popped into my mind. Now it’s your turn.

I have three wigs that I haven't used in ages. My hair was simply too thick and too long to put up beneath any of them. So, I handed my daughter a pair of scissors (they were good ones that my son the hairstylest leaves here) and told her to cut it to my shoulders. She did it and it took no time to dry. Usually, it takes all day. Now, hopefully I get to play with my wigs. This afternoon, I'm going out as a red head. And the color and the highlights are gorgeous!!

And, I obviously won't have to wait until my son comes to visit to get a trim. My daughter seems to be pretty good at it too!

One kind word can warm three winter months.

Japanese proverb

*This one really appeals to me.

Here is something interesting... the skin can make new cells twice as fast when you are asleep.

I have had two awfully late nights this past week, so if my complexion is looking kind of "muddy", I have no one but myself to blame. Tonight, I'm going to bed the minute it's dark enough!!

Now if I could only go back to my university days. I would have had the skin of a 30 year old if only I had gone to bed at a reasonable hour!!

I have a great movie for you for this cold snowy day (at least where I am). I have had it sitting on my shelf for eons, so chances are that you might be familiar with it. I tend to collect movies and then grab one when I'm bored. Anyway, this one is called Scoop and I'm about half way through it. I usually watch about half a movie at a time so tomorrow is going to be the last half while the family watches soccer on TV. If you haven't seen it, check it out.  It's a nice way to wile away an afternoon. 

This is a new concept to me. I have been reading absolutely EVERYWHERE that what you focus your attention on is what you will attract into your life. That means if you constantly think about how miserable your life is... you simply attract more of it into your life. Sure makes you start thinking about what you are thinking about on a daily basis doesn't it! You might not be wishing for another mess to arrive on your doorstep, but apparently the Laws of Attraction will go looking for just that if it's been on your mind.

I've been thinking about all of this rotten weather that we have been having lately... have I been causing it lol?? Off to think about spring and then I will sit back and see what happens. ;)

Your thoughts??