Smile, Breathe and Go Slowly

From one of my favorite websites, Zen Habits.  A good reminder on how to simplify your life and enjoy it.  This is perfect for a Monday morning.

The Brief Guide

less TV, more reading

less shopping, more outdoors

less clutter, more space

less rush, more slowness

less consuming, more creating

less junk, more real food (YES!)

less busywork, more impact

less driving, more walking

less noise, more solitude

less focus on the future, more on the present

less work, more play

less worry, more smiles

breathe

First Haircut

Saturday was a big day.  We had been building up "the haircut" for atleast a week and talking about what would happen, etc.  And...Ella did amazing. Who knew a 2 1/2 year old could sit that still unless Little Einstein's was on tv? Mrs. Heather even said "Wow. Can you raise mine for me?" and then I explained this was not the "norm". Ella is a good kid, but she can also be a dramatic girl.  But, hey...that's her and we love her!

After the haircut, she got a sucker and played Thomas the Train with Heather's son.  After I was finished, she didn't want to leave. Then I brought out the big guns "Want to go see some REAL trains?".  We visited the North Alabama Railroad Museum as a treat because she did so well.  There was a train, in non-running condition, that looked just like Thomas the Train and of course we got a picture.  This is one of my favorite pictures of all time of Ella and her Daddy.  We're planning to take her back for a train ride maybe in the fall.

Dessert Weekend

My sweet tooth was obviously in overdrive this weekend. Because I try not to keep cookies and cakes in the house and because it's easier to make something than to get Ella in the store and back out quickly, I just bake with what I have.

Saturday I made Butterscotch Brownies but they didn't taste very butterscotchy to me, so I re-titled them...

White Brownies
1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. oil
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 c. flour
1 tsp baking powder (omit if you use self-rising flour)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. nuts (optional-but it's a good option!)

Mix the sugar, oil, egg and vanilla.  Mix in the remaining ingredients well.  The mixture will be VERY thick...this is normal.  Don't panic.  Spread into a greased 8 x 8 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Don't overbake.  If you do, bad things will happen.

And then, yesterday, I made an old stand-by: Rice Krispy Treats.  And then I realized...no wonder people don't make these all the time...they're a sticky, gooey mess! But they're marvelous. And I love them.

Rice Krispie Treats
3 Tbl butter (tub margarine or reduced calorie is not recommended. They will taste grody and weird.)
1 package (10 oz) mini marshmallows
6 c. Rice Krispies

1. Melt butter over low heat.  Stir in marshmallows until melted completely.  Think about how you will never get this pan clean again. Remove from heat.

2. Stir in the Rice Krispies until coated.

3. Spread with a buttered spatula or wax paper into a buttered (see a theme here?) 13 x 9 pan.  If you use your fingers, it gets chaotic. I speak from experience.  Cool, cut and enjoy.

The Snowball Effect

Jason and I have "kinda" been thinking about this for years and we agreed it was a good idea, but we are finally putting it to use. If you've read Dave Ramsey's book or listen to his radio show, you know what I'm talking about. If not, it's paying off your debts starting with the smallest and putting the money you paid monthly on that one towards the next one.  Every time you pay off a debt, it's like a little reward...a gold star.  It gives you the encouragement to continue.  It is a long process.  It doesn't happen overnight because you didn't get in debt overnight.  Our plan is when we buy a house to have that as our only debt. That is such a huge goal for us, but I know if we continue to plow through that we can make it happen.  I get excited just talking and thinking about it. 

I set that up to tell you that I'm cleaning houses on the side.  It's hard work, but I enjoy leaving a house WAY cleaner than when I arrived.  So far, I'm cleaning the same house weekly.  It's a start and if could add just one more every two weeks or so, that'd be perfect.  This will speed up paying off our debt!  Of course, there are drawbacks.  I work a full-time job already, so when I go there to clean, I'm tired.  And I have to remove my mind from Ella and Jason or otherwise I miss them.  I know it's just one night, but when you're used to going home, cooking and eating dinner with your family, you can start to miss it.  Pray that this is something I can continue to do and that will work out for our family.  Jason has applied and will hopefully start school in January so I'm not sure how long this will last, but every little bit helps. Keep us in your prayers for all of these changes.

Romans 13:8 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."