Blogging Without Photos: Baby Shower

I don't know about you, but when I am looking for some inspiration, I love blogs that include photos.  I'm a visual person, and I like to see how to do things.  However, for some reason, either my computer or my camera will not let me upload any photo's.  This, to see the least, is a tad bit aggravating!

SO, I'm just gonna tell you how I did what I did and post the photos when I can figure out what the heck is going on.

We are having another baby shower!!!  I know, right!  This time, it's a boy, and it's my nephew and his girlfriend that is having the baby.  And I am hosting the baby shower.  When I asked my nephew and his girlfriend if they had any ideas, they said, "Do whatever you want!"  I was in Heaven!  I have free range!  No 'rules', no 'do not' or anything like that.  Yeah, I'm happy!

I decided to go with a blue, yellow and green color scheme and use rubber ducks.   I went a little nuts on buying the rubber ducks.  I will find something to do with them. I hit the Internet and found so much inspiration.  Here are a few things I will be including:

www.cutest-baby-shower-ideas.com

We have some glasses that almost look like the one's above.  I will use cotton balls or marshmallows for the bubbles and add the rubber ducks.

www.celebrateanddecorate.com

The punch will be blue, of course.  I will use blue Hawaiian punch, ginger ale, vanilla ice cream, and mini marshmallows for the bubbles and add a mommy duck and her baby.

www.esty.com

 

 I saw these and thought I can do this.  I cut out the duck on yellow card stock.  I taped the toothpick onto the bottom duck, and glued the top duck.  I added a eye and these will go in the cupcakes I am making.  This cost me nothing but time.  I had the card stock and glue and my dad had the tooth picks. WIN!

I also took felt, cut pennants out in our colors, took a white piece of felt and cut out letters (Layton, the baby's name), glued the letters to the pennants and will string this with ribbon or yarn.

www.etsy.com

I found this on www.etsy.com and almost died at the price of it!  So, with my left-over card board from our remodel project, I cut out a carriage, handle and, wheels.  I took my punch and punched out some flower circles to put on the wheels.  I painted the wheels white and the carriage and handle blue.  I took my hot glue gun and glued on the handle and the wheels.  I took some lace and glued it on around the carriage and handle.  I then took some yellow paint and added some swirls to the carriage.  It turned out A~maz~ing!!!  BTW: this cost me NOTHING! NADA! ZILCH! 

The next thing I have done is had James cut me out the letter "L" with left-over plywood, again, from the remodel project, and sand it down very, very smooth. I took some camo yarn and covered it by wrapping the wood with the yarn.  I then added some 'baby' embellishments.  This will sit on the cupcake table.

I can not wait until the day of the shower.  It's gonna be so much fun and I sure hope my nephew and his girlfriend love what I have done.

Praying For Oklahoma

The Oklahoman, NewsOk.com

 I have been sitting here, trying to think of an appropriate title for this post and there are no words to express how I am feeling at this time.  I live in Oklahoma.  I have lived here my entire life.  I had a grandfather and a Mother that taught me how to 'read' the sky during storms and what to look for when we have sever weather. 

However, nothing can prepare you for what has occurred in our State.  I am about two hours from Oklahoma City.  We had some rough weather last night, but thankfully, nothing like Oklahoma City/Moore has seen.  Watching the news the last few days, all one can do is pray.  It is heartbreaking to say the least.  There are many people, children, animals still trapped, and/or missing.  People in our great State, and other States are trying to help.  It's the natural thing to do.  The Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other organizations have set up accounts for money donations.  THIS is the BEST way you can help. 

For the American Red Cross, click HERE

For the Disaster Relief Oklahoma, click HERE

For the Salvation Army, click HERE

For the United Way of Central Oklahoma, click HERE


It is understandable people want to go to Oklahoma City personally and help.  However, officials have asked that "we let the workers do their jobs".  IF you want to help, they have asked you send money.  Again, this is the BEST way we can help.  And, of course, pray!

Time To Move

We're moving!  Not the blog.  Not US.  I'm talking about getting off the sofa and move a little...or a lot.

http://www.bhrec.org/rec/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=165&Itemid=106

According to uwhealth.org, "After a heart attack, the damaged heart muscle needs time to heal.  This involves allowing scar tissue to form.  The scar from a heart attack needs about 6 weeks to become strong enough to handle moderate to heavy work."  This also depends on how sever the heart attack was.  Obviously, the more sever the heart attack, the longer it will take.

WHY should I do any exercise?  There are many reasons you need to move after a heart attack.  It decreases the heart's need for oxygen.  It reduces your triglycerides and bad cholesterol and INcreases the good cholesterol.  It lowers blood pressure.  It helps your body create tiny new blood vessels which bypass clogged vessels.  It reduces the amount the blood clots and plaque build-up. It helps you lose or manage your weight.  It also reduces stress and helps improve your emotional state of mind.

But what about those of us who despise exercise?  Okay, maybe 'despise' is a strong word.  Exercise doesn't mean yoga, or aerobics.  It can be a nice walk after dinner.  It can be cleaning your house.  It can be raking the leaves.  Mowing the grass.  Throwing a ball with the kids outside.   It can be swimming, rafting, anything that gets you and your heart rate up

You want to start out slow, though, and work your way up.  You don't want to over do it.  And, if you have pain in your chest, by all means, sit down and take a breath.  Drink a LOT of water, too.  When you become dehydrated, it makes the heart work harder than it should.

http://animationsa2z.com/gym-physical-health-club3.php

After my heart attack, it was hard for me to get up and exercise.  It still is.  I hate walking.  It makes my back hurt and now, with a torn ligament in my foot, at times, almost impossible.  It's boring.  So, I have found other things to get this heart rate of mine up....cleaning my house, for example.  I turn up the music and get after it!  I move my hips when I am dusting.  I dance when mopping the floors (the mop IS my partner).  I reach high to clean the trim and squat low to clean the base boards.  I work in my yard.  I move blocks. I rake leaves.  I plant flowers.  I trim the edging, fence line and ditches.  I take the dogs outside and play with them.  And, when I get tired, I rest.

Things take a little longer than they used to before my heart attack.  I get tired more easy now.  This has taken me a little longer to accept and I get aggravated about it more.  However, I know I have to do it.

SO, let's get up and move a little today.

Post Mother's Day Post

Normally, I would have a great post, craft idea, or recipe you could make for your mom's on Mother's Day.  I didn't do that this year.-  Matter of fact, had it not been for James, I would have not even remembered it was Mother's Day!  So much as been on since April, I had to go buy ME a calendar just to keep up with all the appointments I have.

Mother's Day is the day we honor our Mothers.  It is the day we tell them how much we appreciate all the hard work they do raising us, caring for us, loving us when we are our most unlovable.    I think one statement that just sets me in a tail spin is the one where people, mostly men and women who have no children, is "Oh, you are just a mom."   No, I am not 'just a mom'.  Being a mother is a lot more than anyone can imagine.  And, until you have your own children, you can't understand. 

Those of us who have children know that being a mother is hard work.  Being a mom means lack of sleep, lots of worrying, lots of love, hugs, kissing boo-boo's away.   It's advising your children, it's playing cowboys and Indians, prince and princess, tea party's, play dates, first date, first prom, graduations, moving out, getting married.  It's watching this creature you and your husband created, it's cheering them on, it's watching them make mistakes, it's watching them pick themselves up and hoping and praying they learned a lesson.  It's night of lost sleep, it's praying they get better.  It's football games, basketball games, cheer leading practice, dance recitals.  It's teaching them to walk, talk, eat, to ride a bike, how to do _____________ (fill in the blank).  It's seeing their first heart break.  It's seeing their first love.  It's laughter, it's tears.  Above all, it's worth it!

This past weekend was Mother's Day.  I hope everyone had a great day with their children.  James decided to have a huge cook out for all of us.  We had the whole gang here and lots of food, fun and good times.  One person was 'missing' in all this fun, though.  My son, Jacob, was stuck in the house, sick.  We weren't sure if he had mumps, strep throat, or what.  But, he was one sick kid.  In all the fun and excitement, I would go inside and check on him, make sure he was 'okay', still breathing, or needed anything.  I am not saying that I have a favorite child.  I can't understand any parent favoring one child over another.  But, when they are sick, be it Jessica or Jacob, I worry.  I fret.  I hover.  I'm not too far away.  I go in and check them to see if they are hot, cold, breathing!  I will wake them up just to make sure they are still with me. 

When all the fun was over, when everyone went home, James and I decided we needed to find out what was going on with Jacob.  He had been sick for over a week and wasn't getting any better.  So, we got in the car, and drove to the ER.  Turns out, he has a really bad case of strep throat!  We came home, I got this 17 year old in the bed and settled and went to bed.  A few hours later, I got up to check on him and I didn't like the way he was breathing, so I woke him up and rearranged the pillows, and got out the humidifier and....hovered.  I stayed in the room for a while, listening, watching, praying.  Nothing is worse than seeing your child sick.  No matter how old they are, it's terrifying to see them sick.  You are at the mercy of whatever it is they have and most of the time, there is nothing you can do.  You feel helpless.  It's got to be the worse feeling in the world! 

It's now Monday, and we have the medications needed for him to get better.  Being a Mother is hard work, but it is the most rewarding work you will ever do.  And, I wouldn't change it for any thing. 

S'Mores with a Twist

I decided to make a sweet dessert today.  I'm not sure what this is, but oh-my-goodness it is SOOOOO good!!

I took a 8x8 glass dish and put graham crackers on the bottom.  Then, I smeared creamy peanut butter over the graham crackers.  I sliced up one large banana and covered the peanut butter with the banana.  I took three large Hershey bars and covered the banana's with them, then topped it all off with marshmallows.  I placed it in a 400 degree oven until the tops of the marshmallows began to brown.  Top this with cool whip and cherries. 

To DIE for!!!

Happy Mother's Day

I have a LOT of photos of my mother, just not on this computer and the computer I do have them on, doesn't work anymore.   I have a picture of my mom and dad that hangs in my living room.  I wanted a photo to post to Honor her....so I grabbed my camera and took a picture of the picture.  Is that acceptable to do?  I don't care if it is or not.  I did it anyway!

My mom passed away five years ago.  People will tell you, "OH it gets easier as time goes on."  No, it doesn't.  Sometimes it's harder.  A day doesn't go by that I do not think, miss, and/or wish she were here to help me with life in general!  I wished she could see my grand daughter, her great grand daughter.  I wished she could be here next year as my son graduates high school.  I wished she were here 4 years ago, when James and I were married.  I wish for a lot of things.  However, when she was here, I prayed to God, He would take away her pain and suffering. 

I also wanted to Honor my grandmother!  Yes, that little cutie is ME!  She passed away when I was 6 years old.  We never know what is going to happen to those we love.  We never know how long we are going to have with the ones we love.  We don't know when God is going to call them or us home.

Cherish the ones we love.  Don't wait until they are gone to tell them you love them.  Be there for them when they need us the most.  Be there for them when they don't need us, but we need them.  Love, honor and respect your mom's, not just this Sunday, but everyday.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, my granny, and to all the mom's out there!  I hope you have a wonderful day with them.  And, remember, tell them you love them! 

The Yellow Rose Bush

We have a yellow rose bush that is HUGE!  It's not just any rose bush, though.  Yes, there is a story behind the yellow rose bush. 

A few weeks after James proposed to me, we were at Walmart shopping.  It was Spring time so the Garden Center was full with new shipments of flowers.  We were wondering around and my eye caught the roses.  I went over to look at them.  There were a few other people looking at them too.  I was smelling every rose bush.  None of them 'smelled' like a rose bush...except this one yellow rose bush.  There was another man looking at it and my chance to get it was slipping away.  So, I grabbed the rose bush up!!  I told James, "This is the one I want."  And so we bought it and brought it home. 

We needed to find a place to plant this beauty and decided on a place by the front door.  After we planted it, I turned to James and said, "This is our love rose bush.  As it grows, so will our love for each other." 

The rose bush grew for a few years and bloomed out profusely!  One year though, it struggled to grow.  That was the year James and I had a 'bad' year and had discussed the "D" word more times than I care to remember.  We managed to work through our problems and our marriage is much stronger now.  And, so is the rose bush.

I would have to say this is my most favorite flower in our entire garden.  Every year it grows stronger and more beautiful.  We have other rose bushes in the yard, but this one, this one is indeed my favorite. 

Banana Pudding

Doesn't that look yummy?

Last night, I was visiting with my sister when our dad's care-giver, Steve, came down.  Dad was at church, so Steve had some 'free' time and came to 'check on us girls'.  We were all talking and visiting and having a pretty nice evening.  Steve turned to me and said, "OH!  We have your bowl that you made banana pudding in...it's empty.  You can come get it or I can bring it to you and you can make more.....if you want."

My dad can eat his weight in banana pudding!  Steve asked how I get the pudding so light.  I told him, "That's MY secret!"

It is really easy and doesn't take but maybe 20 minutes to make.

 Look at those yummy, scrumptious layers of goodness!  OH LORD! Help me!!

What you will need:
1-2 boxes of INSTANT banana pudding, depending on HOW much you want to make (Jello brand)
1-3 container of cool whip (depending on how many layers you are making)
1 box of Vanilla wafers
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups of COLD milk
A bunch of bananas, sliced (about 4-6 bananas)

In a trifle bowl or similar bowl, cover the entire bottom with the cookies.  In a separate bowl, put in the jello instant banana pudding mix.  Pour in 1 1/4-1 1/2 cups of COLD milk and whisk.  The pudding will be super thick!  Add ONE container of cool whip and gently fold into pudding mix.  Pour enough of the pudding mix to just cover the vanilla wafers and spread.  Add the sliced bananas, covering pretty good. Add cool whip and spread over bananas. Continue to add layers of vanilla wafers, pudding, bananas and cool whip, ending with the pudding mix.  Top with ONE full container of Cool Whip.  At this point you want to chill the banana pudding for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour.  Before serving, add sliced banana's and vanilla wafers to garnish.  Sometimes I will crush the vanilla wafers and sprinkle it on top.

I use sugar free pudding mix, sugar free cool whip,when I can find it, and fat free or 2% milk.  I have made it 'healthy' and 'not so healthy' and the taste is not affected.  I have also added real banana extract to the pudding to boost the flavor.  I do not recommend doing this...it over whelms the flavors.

So good, so light, so yummy!