Recipes

About a year and half ago I decided to work on my recipes.  The tops and sides of my recipe cards were getting frayed and hard to read.  I have many recipes in different books that I use and could spend far too long looking for a certain recipe.  I decided it was time to make my own book.  First I went through all my cards and typed them up on my computer.  I tried to put them in catagories that made since to me and arrange them in alphabetical order.  I now have a new appreciation for all those cookbooks the different churches have made through the years.  I skipped past recipes I didn't use and updated the rest to the way I actually make it.

Then I went through all my cookbooks and typed in the recipes that I use.  It took me well over a year to finish.  I did a quick edit and sent it to the printers.  There are around 300 recipes.   I planned on giving all the kids a copy.  David suggested I surprise them and give it to them at Christmas, which inspired me to get them done.  I put the pages in page protectors and had page dividers to separate the sections.  

The kids knew I had been working on it for myself, so I finished mine and began using it.  This was very good because it gave me a chance to find several errors.  (Once again another moment of appreciation to all the women who made church cookbooks).  I found that half my recipes for casseroles disappeared.  I must have not saved it that day or something so I had to type out the missed recipes and add them in.  Then I found recipes here and there that I had forgotten so I typed them up and added them at the end of their section, totally out of order.  I found that I couldn't remember where I had put certain recipes, so I added an index at the end of the book.  

After breakfast Christmas morning, I realized I never saw anyone open their recipe books.  I forgot I had hid them in a separate room.  This project has definitely been a  trying one.  Later that day when we were all together again I finally gave them their presents.  I had to add a disclaimer to all the spelling errors and encouraged them to let me know of mistakes so we can pass the word around.  It was fun, the kids were happy and so was I.  I am very happy with my book and use it almost every day.  It is so nice to have all my recipes in one book, and it was fun to get done.  

The finished book

Inside

The index

Moving Along

Ahhhh, things are just moving along here.  Progress right?   We are well into our new semester, and school is going well.  I look at this semester and am wowed by another school year half over.  My children are learning, completing assignments, and growing up. They will never be in these grades again.  I enjoy watching them learn and cherish our moments together.  Not every day is smooth, but on the perfect days I have such a feeling of satisfaction over all we accomplish.

Books, books and more books.

The wedding preparations are also coming along.  This being my first child to marry, I am learning so much.  So many decisions, planning, crafting, creating, fittings, and budgeting are getting done and things are moving right along.  The other day Latisha, a couple of her bridesmaids, and myself went to get Latisha's wedding dress fitted.  It was very fun.  I was surprised how every alteration made was a different charge, so we had them do the parts we weren't comfortable doing.  She was a little hesitant but was happy to cut the cost a bit.  The bridesmaid's dresses need a little adjustments too.  We are adding wider shoulder straps and hemming them a bit.  One dress is done, now only 3 more to go.    

Latisha and I  picking up the dress, she looked absolutely beautiful but we're keeping the dress a secret.  :)

work day

The other day we had some friends over to work on wedding projects.  We spent the afternoon making bridal shower invites, rsvp cards, tags for the sparkling cider, and folding wedding invitations.  Latisha was so happy with all we got accomplished and we had fun doing it.  What a great way to brighten up the dreary weather we have been experiencing here.  Hope all is well with you all.  God is good.  Have an amazing day.

Alicia

Happy New Year

Here it is, a new start to a new year with so much in store.  I just dropped my son, Alexander, off at the airport.  I always hope to say something profound as he heads off to a new semester but as always I get chocked up and blubber my way through the goodbye.  It was so nice to have him home and this year we put him to work on a new project.  A couple years ago I painted my dining room and had planned on getting the kitchen and living room done.  So while Alex was home we put him to work again and with the help of the family got it done in just a few days.  It got pretty exciting some times with some of the hard to reach areas but it is so nice, clean, and warm.  I like how it turned out.  Thank you Alex!  :)


Now that that is done and the Christmas decorations are put away, it is back to school and wedding preparations.  I bought some material to tie a quilt for Brent and Latisha as a new project for myself.  Unfortunately I haven't got my last project of my brother's Christmas present done.  So I need to get that done first.  Guess I better get on that.  Have a blessed day.

Alicia

The finished paint job

material for my new project.  

Back to Normal

The holidays have come and gone, my oldest has returned to school, we have started back with school, and we are back into the normal for now.  Our holidays went well with it's bits of challenges but mostly it was good.  We have been experiencing our share of illnesses and just when I think we are doing better someone declares "my nose is really stuffy" or some other form of illness. I think I am finally doing better.  My cold lasted about three weeks.   But God has been good and all is well.  I may have gotten a little carried away on the sweets.  My self control when it comes to sweets is low and being pregnant almost gives me a reason to indulge a bit more, although I know it shouldn't.  Well, I am now paying for it.  Tuesday I failed my glucose test.  I kept putting it off knowing I had been indulging a little more than I should.  Apparently I should have changed my diet a little sooner.  Monday I go in for the 3 hour glucose test and I have been trying to be good, avoid the sweets, and get more exercise in.  So pray for a good test on Monday.

now almost 7 months.

 While Alex was home we asked him to do a little painting for us.  I know, what a way to spend a break.  But it is so nice to add a little color to our lives.  There is a lot more painting that could be done but one project at a time.  We got our room painted and it just feels nice and warm.  He did a great job.

The girls helped out a bit and even got their bathroom painted.

our room and my nook.  

 Then came the day Alex had to fly back.  I expect it gets easier the more times you say goodbye to your kids, but we haven't got there yet.  I drove him to the airport on a very snowy day so it was a longer ride.   That was nice so I could be alone with him for a bit before he left.  Hopefully my emotions are somewhat tied to my rise in pregnancy hormones and I'll be able to say goodbye in a happier way in the future.  I do believe it is a good thing that he is going off to learn more about ministering and music.  I think part of my emotions is that he will miss the birth of his brother.  But I guess his brother missed his birth so it will be ok.  Well, after leaving Alex, I felt an urge to go do a little shopping for our new baby.  Our home is full of pink, purple and well a lot of girly baby things so the shopping helped me refocus.  Although out of no where while shopping an emotion would hit me and I would tear up and say "seriously."  I got a few blue boy things and added that to what grandparents and I have already gotten the baby.  Now we have a nice start.

I hope you are all having a wonderful new year and may God richly bless you this year.

Alicia

Painting

I'm not sure why but I tend to do large projects when David is away.  David and Alex went on a trip and I suddenly got the project bug.  I walked by a paint counter at the store and felt it calling my name.  I went over and browsed and was inspired.  That was in the afternoon and by 10:00 that night I had my paint bought and the room prepped and decided to see what I could accomplish.  I wanted to surprise David so I started right in.  He was only gone a couple days so I hit it.   My projects are not without their ups and downs and the streaking on the trim almost sent me over the edge but Grandpa Bill came to the rescue and  with advise from my mom we fixed the problem.  Then between Latisha, Grandpa Bill and myself we were able to get three rooms painted in less then 24 hours, and that was including rest time for a little sleep in the night.  The next day I was painted out and my mom did some touch ups while I did a little shopping for a couple decorative pieces and some curtains.  My dad came and hung the curtains.  Then we finished hanging a couple more things and I picked David and Alex up at the airport at 11:00 p.m.  Crazy but fun. When they came home they walked right pass the painted dining room, saw the curtains and said they were nice.  I turned on the light in the dining room and they were quite impressed.  Then I took them to the girls bath and they went wow.  Next I took them our bathroom and David was a quite surprised and a little concerned about how much painting I had done.  He loved it and my surprise was a success.  It so needed to be done.  There is quite a bit more painting we need to do but it was a good start.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.  Have a wonderful day.

Alicia

getting the bathroom prepped

these are the only before pictures I took

here are the after in the master bath

other side master bath

dining room

girls bath

other side.