Friday, August 28, 2009

Grief And Business Of The Day

This will be mainly for me to vent but, also just to talk a little about my mom. My head has been in a cloud for the last couple of months and it's really taken a toll. I've been living out of a suitcase and boxes, I've been frustrated about money(which is pretty much all the time anyway) due to buying a home and bills. My mom is gone and I really haven't come to grips with it yet. There are days, like today where my heart is absolutely broken.

Looking at photos, I was reduced to tears and had to pick myself back up, because my sweet little two year old consoled me. I haven't been a very good mom the last month. I have been so busy that I haven't really had time or patience for her. I've been snapping at her and really just in my own mind. I feel terrible about it later, every time!

I've done so much already since we moved into this place and yet, it feels like nothing has been accomplished. I've done a lot of it on my own so it's a much slower pace. My kitchen is half painted but, we got more stuff out of storage so I had to start all over again with that stuff. I can't wait until at least I can find my things.

I guess I still haven't gotten my bearings yet. I feel like everything I'm doing is up in the air on some level. The house has been up in the air for about a year now since it's not completely set-up yet. We are trying to have a baby and that stress is bad some months and fine in others. I know it will happen, just hope it doesn't take terribly long. I'm getting older, my daughter is getting older. My mom passed away and I still haven't begun to grieve. I've been too busy and yet there are moments when it grips me and knocks me down.

Like I said, this is more of a vent. Just putting it down so that I can let it go. I think it's worthwhile to show humanness on it's most basic level. Many of us share very little and yet grief and stress are all part of life. God has been helping me in my prayers to him. He calms me when I'm frustrated. He allows me to put my burdens at his feet. He also hears the prayers of others that offered on my behalf and I can't ask for any more!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Crazy Summer!

Hello all! I'm just giving a heads up to anyone that may be reading my blog and to my followers. It has been a crazy Summer and I still have tons to do! We have moved a few times, been in the process of buying and then moving into a new home, and have dealt with a death in the family.

I am up to my eyeballs in boxes, cleaning, and painting. I still have to have time to take care of my little one as well. I know I haven't been on much and I do miss my blogging time. I miss entering contests, going and checking out other blogs, and networking. It will get better in the coming months though and I'm so excited to see the progress my home will be making.

I miss you guys and will be hoping to connect really soon. Also, for those prayer warriors out there, I would love for you to offer up prayers on my family's behalf. We would like one more baby soon and have been trying for awhile. I know that God hears prayers and would be deeply touched if you could offer up such a personal prayer. Thank you all in advance.

Melanie

Wordless Wednesday-Darth In Legos


Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Wordless Wednesday-Playing At Uncle And Aunty's

My little bald girl playing at her Uncle and Aunty's house.

Making Tuesday Tasty-Berry Cobbler


It's been awhile since I've done one of these. It's berry season! At least in places that aren't the desert. I LOVE cobblers. Simple and so delicious. They scream Summer and there are many different versions made depending on where you live.

1 pint blueberries
1 pint raspberries
1 pint blackberries
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced in half
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more, for dusting
Pinch cinnamon
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 recipe Blueberry Scone Dough, recipe follows
Melted butter
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, combine berries with sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch and lemon juice. Stir gently to combine. Spread berry mixture out on a 10-inch tart or gratin dish. Dollop spoonfuls of scone dough evenly over the top of the fruit; leave a border around the edge of the dish for spreading. Drizzle the surface with melted butter and dust with sugar. Set on a cookie sheet and bake for 25 to 35 minutes until the top is golden brown and the fruit juices bubbling.

Cool for 15 minutes before serving. Serve with heavy cream, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Blueberry Scones:
2 cups unbleached flour, plus more for rolling berries
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut in chunks
3/4 cup buttermilk or cream
1 egg
1 pint fresh blueberries
In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar; mix thoroughly. Cut in butter using 2 forks or a pastry blender. The butter pieces should be coated with flour and resemble crumbs.

In another bowl, mix buttermilk and egg together, and then add to the flour mixture. Mix just to incorporate, do no overwork the dough.

Roll blueberries in flour to coat, this will help prevent the fruit from sinking to the bottom of the scone when baked. Fold the blueberries into batter, being careful not to bruise.


recipe courtesy of Food Network

Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Phoenix Mercury And The WNBA



On July 18Th some of my family and I had the pleasure of going to the US Airways center here in Phoenix to see a game between the Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky. I have never been to a WNBA game before this, and was excited to see how they played.
Among us going to the game were two one year old toddlers and my two year old. I thought they were going to go crazy by half time but, they were really entertained by what was going on! My two year old loved the energy of the game and the music. She danced when music was playing and loved watching the half time show. She also learned how to say "defense" and other related game terms. Also, true story, the boys were rolling their eyes and sighing when I told them we were going to a WNBA game. Once we were there, they were really into it. My sister-in-law had to leave early and my nephew was really upset that he didn't get to see the outcome. Ha ha. Just goes to show that a sport can be engaging no matter what sex the person is watching and what sex the team is playing.







My favorite parts of the experience were the fans, which were really upbeat and enjoyed their team playing, and all the fan participation involved before and during the game. There were adorable little children dancing a little hip hop number, and doing it very well. There were fun little games and races done with other fans to win prizes, and there was awesome music to set the high energy tone of the games.

One of the best parts? Phoenix Mercury beat Chicago Sky in their home game. Yay! Way to go team. During this game, they were a cohesive team and did a great job with their defense. I also like that having a professional women's team shows my little girl that she can do basically anything that she puts her mind to. That example is very important to me.

The WNBA in and of itself is also linked to many different causes including; breast health awareness, Jr. NBA, Fast Break to Reading Program. If you're interested in learning more about the Mercury, or the WNBA as a whole, you can check them out on twitter, follow them on facebook, youtube, and 2009 t.v. spot.
Go check out the great discounts that WNBA and ticketmaster have put together.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Wordless Wednesday-Memorial Trip


My mom passed away July 19th. In order for us all to get there, my brother drove with his wife, their children, my nephew, and my daughter. Thankfully, the kids were way better than can be expected. My daughter had never even had a night away from me, and spent five days with her aunty and uncle on the road without me. She was blessed with a good attitude and was comforted by aunty and uncle while away from my husband and I. I was thankful that it went well, and I'm sure they were too!


This pic is courtesy of my sister in law, Holly.

CSN Rugs Winner!

Thanks to all who participated. It had been awhile since I hosted a giveaway on my blog. This was a great opportunity, thanks to CSN rugs!

My random.org winner for the giveaway is...

AmandaK July 28, 2009 12:13 PM
Being a fan of Andy Warhol, I have to go with the Sphinx by Oriental Weavers - Andy Warhol Signature Piano Keys Rug.

orchestratenoise0726[at]yahoo[dot]com


Please respond to my email within 48 hours or I will have to select another winner.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Freaky Friday-Breastfeeding Doll

So, here I am. Jumping on the bandwagon of the "breastfeeding doll". It was just too good not to post for my freaky friday segment.(Thanks Alesha) Here is my take and then I'll show you what the advertisement for the doll looks like.

I don't have a problem with it. The doll makers, which incidentally are in another country, sought out opinions from child psychologists and reviewed the doll with children to see how they interacted. I don't think it sexualizes a child, or makes them favor more or less breastfeeding to bottle feeding. There have been plenty of "bottle fed" dolls for years and some of those young girls grew up to later breast feed their own children.

The only issue I would have with this doll, is an issue that some experts have as well. This limits imagination. Many little girls are born nurturing, my daughter is a great example of that. She loves to bathe, clothe, and feed her baby dolls. She is empathetic, etc. Having a toy that does only one thing can limit a child's imagination since it's telling the child what to do and the child may become bored with a one dimensional toy and stop playing with it after the fascination wears off.

Either way, I'm much more apt to buy my daughter a doll that teaches her what her body can do and is nurturing than buying her a slutty Bratz doll that teaches her how to dress inappropriately and how to become a lover of all things material.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Wordless Wednesday-Piano


This is Kaia playing the piano at my Brother's house a few days before her first Christmas and first Birthday. She loves the piano and plays it every chance she gets. I know someone who is getting piano lessons!