Break the Cycle

It's been a great year.  I didn't lose the weight I wanted, and we had some very rough patches as a family, but we made it through, lots of tears might have been shed, but we are still together as a family, and still working it out. I didn't hit many personal goals, I'm not as organized as I want to be, but my home is slowly coming along.  I took the first steps - I started throwing away furniture that was well beyond it's life span.  Well beyond.  Like it should have been thrown away 5 years ago.  Like I was embarrassed that the trash men had to pick it up and put it in the truck.  Paperwork - when it comes to my desk, I take care of it.  I bought a scan-snap ... best thing I think I've ever purchased - this year - not much paperwork is going up to the attic, it's getting scanned and shredded - love it.  It will always be available at my fingertips - and I back up my computer each day - so no chances of losing it ! All 4 kids went to school this year. 

These are so EASY and they are AWESOME! Made these last night when the kids decided they wanted hamburgers for dinner.  I had some frozen (I make batches and then freeze individually - that way they are already season with fried onions, garlic and spices) - but didn't have any rolls.  Tonight - we were going to have fish - but because of this beautiful snow storm - Sham can't get home, so we'll have egg sandwiches on rolls and save the fresh fish until tomorrow ! 40-Minute Hamburger Buns Recipe photo by Taste of Home 40-Minute Hamburger Buns Recipe TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. + resting Bake: 10 min. MAKES: 12 servings Ingredients 2 tablespoons active dry

Wow - this year went by fast.  My oldest is graduating in summer next year ... how the heck did that happen ?  I didn't get nearly as much sewing and quilting as I wanted.  I didn't get to go on any retreats with my friends.  I didn't even get much of a vacation with my kids - just a week in Michigan, which was more than fun, but more for my Dad than for me or the kids. This year - some of the same goals as usual - Loose Weight (wonder if I'll ever have a year where that isn't a priority) Spend More Time with Family (I've been having dinner one on one with the kids - enjoyable!) Quilt My Stash - and there is plenty of it !  I always want to have a couple baby blankets on hand - for last minute gifts.  Right now I have nothing ! Cook More - which goes along with menu planning and grocery shopping ! Home Redo - one room at a time - it's started - we'll see what gets done Stay in Contact with Friends - with the convience of the Internet - someti

My husband and I had a long talk last night.  I had gone ahead and purchased a Vitamix 5200 for his mom, because he's leaving to go see her soon.  He wanted to make sure he knew how to work it, so I unpacked it, and got it all set up.  He made himself a smoothie.  He was sold.  He asked why I had never bought one for home - and I explained - they are expensive.  The one I want - the Vitamix 750 Pro, runs about $650.  Then we thought about it - we all could be eating much healthier - how many times do we grab a bowl of cereal simply because it's quick and easy.  Or a "healthy" bar, like a luna bar or a cliff bar - because we just don't have time for a meal.  Vitamix 5200s Black : Featuring Variable Speed Control and Large Capacity 64oz Container - Also includes Getting Started Plus Recipe Book, Instructional DVD, and 7 Year Warranty! So - I splurged today.  Not only did I buy a Vitamix 750 Pro, but also bought 2 extra containers (one wet and one dry - they were

It's been so long since my sewing machine was uncovered !  But now, the fish pond is clean, the pool is open and solar covered, the garden has been started, the lawn is mowed, the laundry is spinning, the dishes are washed .... and it's raining !  So .... I actually completed one block, and will start working on another.  I'm loving this bright quilt - this one will NOT be a gift - it's going on my bed one day ! Updated - I finished another block !  And ... I checked the forecast - it's supposed to rain off and on all week - wonder what I should work on next ! To see what others are working on - Check out Judy's blog at Patchwork Times. 

Another week went by - and get this - I went to yet another spa !  I am a secret shopper, and one of my assignments this week was a shop at a casino.  While it wasn't as grand as the Red Door Spa last time, it was nice to get away from the kids for an evening.  While the hubster and I again didn't have dinner together, we did spend the morning together ordering room service and having breakfast in bed !  While they didn't have any King Size beds left when I checked in, so I had to settle for 2 doubles, we did spend some time alone in the Jacuzzi's and the swimming pool before going to the spa, so it was a successful day to reconnect.  Oh, and I got paid for spending some time with the hubster - can't beat that !

Although it's not Thursday anymore - but I was lucky enough to spend a couple days away from home on a little mini-retreat.  Of course, with 4 kids at home, I still stopped by one day (we were only 15 minutes away) and kept in constant contact, but overall it was wonderful to just relax. We stayed at Harrah's Waterfront Hotel and Casino.  We don't gamble, so it was simply to relax and enjoy ourselves.  The hubster had to work both days, and had tennis matches both nights, so I was mostly on my own. Day one consisted of a pedicure for me.  If you've never been to the Red Door Spa - I urge you to go!  It's more expensive then your local nail place - but it's soooo worth it.  Next time I'll make my appt. on a day where I can also use the spa ... more on that later ! Dinner on day one consisted of me going to our local Olive Garden - with a stop at home to drop off sodas and a credit card so the kids could order pizza the next day.  I ate my dinner back at

With all the Championship Swim Meets I had to attend in March - there wasn't one free weekend.  April should be better - next swim meet isn't until the end of May - so should be able to complete a few of the things I was supposed to do - here was my beginning list of the year - Continue working on Amanda's quilt.  Have at least 8 of the blocks completed Stay caught up on both BOM's I've signed up for (of course, April 1, I decided to sign up for yet another BOM - that makes 3 ??) Get the taxes ready and dropped off to the tax man DONE Use Plan to Eat more often and plan healthier menus   These were the Items I wanted to get done in March -  Continue working on Amanda's quilt.  (Didn't work on it at all during March) Stay caught up on both BOM's Behind One - Two months  Use Plan to Eat more often and plan healthier menus  - Another Big NO for the Month Participate in Judy's What's Cooking Challenge each week - And Another No f

Judy at Patchwork Times challenged us a few weeks ago to use cinnamon in a new way.  While I've made Macaroni Bechamel many a time - I found someone on another blog (Spiral) posted a similiar recipe called Pastitsio - so I'm going to try it tonight.  I'll substitute some ground turkey from some of the ground beef though - and take pictures later ! PASTITSIO - Greek 'lasagna' 1 lb macaroni 1 Tbl olive oil 1 lb ground beef 1 small onion, chopped 2 8-oz cans tomato sauce salt and pepper 2 Tbl dried parsley 1/2 tsp cinnamon 4 Tbl butter 1/2 cup flour 2 cups milk 2 eggs 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese Cook macaroni according to package directions.  Drain and toss with 1 Tbl olive oil. Spread into a 9 x 13 baking pan to create the first layer. Meanwhile, brown ground beef and chopped onion in a large skillet. Drain excess fat from pan. Add tomato sauce, salt and pepper, parsley and cinnamon to browned meat, and stir all together. Simmer meat mixt

Hmmm - February really flew by.  I had to go back and see what I posted to get done during the month - Continue working on Amanda's quilt.  Have at least 8 of the main blocks completed (started) Stay caught up on both BOM's I've signed up for DONE Get the taxes ready and dropped off to the tax man DONE Use Plan to Eat more often and plan healthier menus  a big NO on this one March gives me yet another opportunity to try and stay on track so my goals for the month of March  Continue working on Amanda's quilt.  Have at least 8 of the main blocks completed Stay caught up on both BOM's  Use Plan to Eat more often and plan healthier menus  Participate in Judy's What's Cooking Challenge each week The What's Cooking challenge is pretty simple - Judy names an ingredient, and we all try and come up with a recipe using that ingredient.  The next few weeks include The ingredient for next week is: Week 10 – Orange Juice Week 11 – Honey

Found these on Facebook posted by THE ART OF ARMENIAN & MIDDLE EASTERN COOKING  If you have any interest in Middle Eastern Cooking - I highly recommend you "Like" his page - he posts the best recipes - along with pictures !  This one looks really close to my Date/Nut roll - so I figured I'd give it a try for Valentines Day ! ARMENIAN SPICE COOKIES WITH A TWIST " COOKIES FILLED WITH DATES AND PEANUT BUTTER Cookie-base 2-1/2 cups A/P flour ½ cup fine semolina ¾ cup sugar ¾ tbsp baking powder ½ tsp each: ground cinnamon, cloves, mahlab, nutmeg Dash sea salt 2 eggs 1 cup milk ½ cup vegetable oil Preheat oven 3250F. Prep middle rack and parchment-lined sheet pan. Measure and add all dry ingredients into a large bowl. Whisk together the liquid ingredients; fold wet and dry ingredients together. Bring the cookie dough together and make a boule. Wrap in plastic wrap, allow to rest in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make the date a

Ka'ak can refer to a bread commonly consumed throughout the Near East that is made in a large ring-shape and is covered with sesame seeds. Kaak is the street bread that Tripolitan love more than anything else. Widely sold by street vendors, it is usually eaten as a snack or for breakfast with za'atar. Kaak is delivered to a ll the cart vendors throughout the city.  You buy it and they will fill it with a choice of zaatar or cheese.   When we visit Egypt - the bread dude always comes down our street - especially when he knows we're there !  Doesn't matter what floor we're on (our family home there has 5 floors) - he'll call out until we answer.  If we are upstairs - we simply toss some $$ in a basket and lower it down to the street from an upstairs window.  He always fills the basket with way more than we've paid for!  When Ramadan comes - we make sure to give him more $$$ then it's possible to give us bread - and if he has one of his children

Judy at Patchwork Times hosts different challenges on different days.  Thanks to her, I usually always try and get a little bit of sewing done each week, as well as try at least one new recipe to share.  This year she's also hosting a "Show Us Your Socks" day.  I don't knit .... I've tried, and I ended up with a very functional pair of slippers.  I'm assuming the yarn I used was way too thick for socks.  I've tried sock yarn, but ended up regifting it .... One day when I have the patience to sit and learn I'll You Tube enough videos until I know what I'm doing, but until then, there's Etsy!  I bought these wonderful socks for my daughter - Seahawks is her swim team.  Luckily - she didn't like them, she likes super thin socks - so now they are mine ! 

This week I don't have much to show on my design wall.  No new BOM's came this week - so I started working on Dan and Amanda's quilt.  The colors are much more subdued than my usual choice - but it's fun making something that I know will be loved by someone as special as Dan and Amanda. These are the 4 corner blocks These are the centers of the 12 middle blocks I did get into the kitchen over the weekend as well.  I woke up really early Saturday morning craving scones - so figured I'd try out my new cast iron scone pan I bought last year - love it !!!  To see what others are working on, visit Judy's blog at Patchwork Times !

Judy at Patchwork Times has challenged us each month to make a list of a few items that you want to get done that month.      Here was my list from January - Finish first 3 BOM for Moon Glow Quilt.  I love this BOM.  I want to stay on top of it, so that when I receive the finishing kit sometime at the end of this year, I can box up the top and ship it off to the quilters !  DONE Hem Adam's pants.  As a mom that can sew, I feel terrible when my son's pants are dragging on the ground.  He's a tall boy - not real sure why his pants are so long - but I do need to get those pj's hemed !  DONE Work on the color challenge from last year.  Judy from Patchwork Times also issued monthly challenges last year to create a quilt using colors from different photos.  I did one - designed it, and worked up many of the blocks, but didn't finish.  It's a quick and easy block to make up, so I'd like to at least work on it.  I'm not putting down that I want t

I know it's only Friday, but the way my weekends have been going lately - it's better early then never!  To see what others are working on - check out Judy's blog at Patchwork Times. Finished the 3rd and 4th blocks of my Moon Glow BOM.  I really like BOM's because I make myself stay caught up - never letting myself get more than a month behind.  That way, at the end of the year, I'll have 2 really nice size quilts to get shipped off to a quilter (which, I'm still looking for a replacement for Margaret .... VBS)  Right now the quilt is darker than I thought it might be - I'm hoping when all the blocks are together it might pop more, but I still love the overall look of the quilt.  Not sure I'll be able to gift this one when finished. 

Judy at Patchwork Times is also hosting a "Show Us Your Socks" - just visiting all the links posted makes me really wish I could learn to knit.  One day when the kids are grown and gone, I'll sit myself down with a pair of needles and some You Tube videos and really concentrate on learning how, but until then I'll amuse myself with fuzzy socks, and hand knit socks that I bought from Etsy sellers!  I have found some wonderful Etsy sellers lately - that don't even charge extra when having to knit a pair for my oversized 13's ! These are my most favorite fuzzy socks.  Fuzzy socks are worn in the a.m.'s - especially in the winter.  I get up, slather on some 100% cocoa butter, and then throw on my socks.  My heels get a tad bit softer (not too much, comes from wearing flip flops .... even in the snow!) and as a bonus my hands are semi waterproof for the rest of the morning !

First 2 blocks done of my Around Times Square Quilt - done !  I really, really like these colors.  This is going to be a large quilt, over 100 x 100 - so once it's finished I'll be able to add all that fabric to my used numbers - but for now - I'm happy to have something to share for Design Wall Monday hosted by Judy at Patchwork Times.  Another swim meet this weekend - Sr. Elite ...  so I'm posting this early and will link from the hotel!

Design Wall Monday - hosted by Judy at Patchwork Times - keeps me inspired to sew.  Well, I'm always inspired to sew, but the DWM challenge makes me find TIME to sew each week. This week - I have to finish the block I'm currently working on for my Moon Glow Quilt, because my first block for the AROUND TIMES SQUARE BOM that I signed up for arrived in the mail this weekend while I was out attending a swim meet with Leenah.   Oh, how I hope the hubster decides to go to work early today so I can get these other rugrats on the bus and I can get to sewing ...

No name for this quilt - The hubster asked me to have a baby quilt ready by Friday .... he asked me this on Monday - when I already had 3 sick kids !  By Tuesday, all 4 kids were sick as well as the hubster - yet I still managed to find enough time between Dr.'s visits and ginger ale runs to whip up a cute flannel Winnie the Pooh quilt.  At least I have something to show for 2013 already !

I am happy to say that I've got one quilt completed for 2013  !  Of course, the bad news is I ordered the fabric for another quilt.  It's a gift for a newly married couple who are both really close to my heart - they both work with special needs children - and are wonderful with Adam.  So - even though I have a finish this week and it can go in my used column - I have to add more to my added column - but I didn't order backing fabric yet - so it's almost a wash ! Used this Week: 5.5 yards Used year to Date: 5.5 yards Added this Week: 14 yards (Mandy's Quilt) Added Year to Date: 14  yards Net Used for 2013:  Added 8.5 yards To see how others are doing busting through their stash, check out Judy's blog at Patchwork Times

This past weekend was the hubsters and I real anniversary.  We usually celebrate October 31st - the day we actually met - instead of the day we got married (yes, we married 2 months after we met - that was 4 children and many, many years ago - so I guess you can say I believe in love at first sight) We didn't go out to dinner for our anniversary.  We did go out to lunch - he went out with some business associates, I went out with Leenah and Adam.  I think I had a better time.  I got him 3 bottles of EVOO - if I told him the cost ($50 bottle) he'd freak - but he really enjoys it - it's fresh - like only a few months old - including the time it spent on the boat getting over here.  It's green, green.  And I'll borrow it once in awhile.  He didn't get me a gift.  Never does.  In the beginning - that really bothered me.  Now - if I want a gift - I buy it.  That way I get what I want ...  I still have a wonderful London Fog wool coat he bought me ... I think it was

Unfortunately - this is a very easy one for me to post ... Used this Week: 0 yards Used year to Date: 0 yards Added this Week: 0 yards Added Year to Date: 0 yards Net Used for 2013: 0 yards But - the hubster does need a baby quilt for a friend - that'll be good for next week if I can get it done !  

Judy at Patchwork Times often inspires me to become more organized.  Will I ever have the neatly labeled food pantries and shelves of color coded fabrics that she manages to keep up with - probably not.  But she has issued a challenge to list 4 things that you'd like to accomplish each month - and I think that'll help me get right on track, with sewing at least ! Finish first 3 BOM for Moon Glow Quilt.  I love this BOM.  I want to stay on top of it, so that when I receive the finishing kit sometime at the end of this year, I can box up the top and ship it off to the quilters ! Hem Adam's pants.  As a mom that can sew, I feel terrible when my son's pants are dragging on the ground.  He's a tall boy - not real sure why his pants are so long - but I do need to get those pj's hemed ! Work on the color challenge from last year.  Judy from Patchwork Times also issued monthly challenges last year to create a quilt using colors from different photos.  I did one - d