Making Time.....For Getting Through The Day

Lately, I have been feeling overwhelmed with the things that I think I need to get done.  Things that I see others accomplishing.  Things that I think I should be doing.  It's like trying to live someone else's life.
I'm not those people.  I'm not overly organized but my house is clean.  I'm not a runner but would love to have a runners body.  I'm not incredibly fashionable but would love a great pair of blingy jeans.  I like to cook and bake and not diet.  God blesses organized people, and runners, and fashionable people with those gifts.
God made me who I am, not someone else. 
I am making the time to stop, look around, and realize what it is the God wants from me.  Maybe all that I can accomplish today is putting away the Christmas decorations (hey....Epiphany was just Sunday...I'm not that far behind!), a trip to the Y, teaching art, watching a tv show with my sick daughter, going to adoration, fixing supper......
Oh, wait!  I am doing a lot!  Just not a lot that shows to the outside world.  I am keeping my little world moving in a direction towards God and fighting tooth and nail to keep my little babies (ok...does 17, 14, 13, 10, & 7 qualify as babies?) in tact by the time they hit the world themselves.
I am also a huge prayer warrior for my nephew fighting leukemia....and that is working!  Great news today that his transplant is working.
So.....now I need to make time to be me.  Not who I perceive the world wants me to be.
And you?  Are you making time to be you?

Making Time......For Redoing My Sewing Room

My best Christmas gift?  My hubby adding a face lift to my sewing room.
Lets start from the beginning.  When we were building our house, we needed more square footage for our "covenants" so we decided to go "up" instead of out.  We planned a large room upstairs that we now call "The Loft."  It's just a large room we use for meetings, studying, sleepovers, etc.  In the process of framing this room, the framers framed in another smaller room that was suppose to just be a "box window" placed on the roof for aesthetic value.  YES!  An unplanned room!  MINE!  I Called It!  And thus, my sewing room :)
Fast forward a year or two, and we sheet rocked and painted the room.....periwinkle blue with white trim.  LOVE IT!  And added a Pergo-style floor.  However, other than throwing in an old table and my sewing stuff, that was it.
Fast forward again to this fall.  My hubby asking what I wanted for Christmas.  A sewing room.  Yes,  that's what I want. 
I spent time cruising through pics, etc.  My absolute favorite is over at Sew Many Ways.




Seriously?  What's not to love?!
However...back to reality.  Remember, I have a smaller room.  We opted for hanging white cabinets and installing a counter top sewing table with under the cabinet lighting.
Just updating you.  Pics of my finished project will be posted as soon as I get it all figured out.

Oh...and another plus.  I have found a few unfinished projects.  Including a bag for carrying Barbie dolls and all the "stuff" that goes with them.  My youngest daughter (of 4 girls) is in 5th grade.  Soooo...how long has this project been sitting there?  Let's just say I have moved it twice....as in to two different houses.  Hmmmm....thinking my 5 year old niece may get it :)

Taking time Making Time for my sewing room.  Today, however, is a day for Making Time for making yummies for a football watch party tonight....CottonBowl!  Go CATS!

http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2011/04/sewingcraft-room-ideas-and-updates.html

Making time.....for Apple Jelly Making

Apple Jelly....mmmmm....a family favorite.  It is fairly easy to make and is a great use for apples that get wrinkled ;)  Plus, impressive gift giving!

Start by quartering 8 to 10 apples, removing the stems and flower (fuzzy, leafy) ends.....seeds are okay.  Fill your crock pot with apples and water.  At this point, I add cinnamon or jalapenos, depending on the taste I am going after.

This time cinnamon was the chosen spice.  My goal is to get two batches of jelly out of this one huge crockpot of yumminess!

Turn your pot onto high and let the apples cook for about 4 hours.  About 2-3 hours in, mash them with a potato masher, then finish cooking.  Right about now, the smell is going to be driving you nutty!  Who needs a cinnamon apple candle??

Now, strain the apple juice from the apples.  You can use a jelly strainer or cheese cloth. 

 (Sorry, no pics...kinds forgot to grab the camera!)

After straining the juice, you can either proceed with the jelly making, or save the juice in the fridge (day or two) or the freezer for when you have the time to make the jelly.

Assemble your canning supplies.

Following the directions on your pectin package is the best way to proceed.

Jars are in the hot water bath, sterilizing.

Below, sugar has been added to the juice & pectin....waiting for the boil.

Boil for 1 minute....then pour into jars and process in a hotwater bath.

 

10 minutes in a hot water bath.  Now....some recipes say to skip this step.  It comes down to personal preference.  I have it done both ways.  However, my daughter makes jellies and jams for 4-H, and a hotwater bath is required for judging.  I also feel better about the sealing process.

Isn't it beautiful????

I always have a small glass container handy for the amount that won't fit into jars.  Plus, who can wait to sample it?  Kids are going to be excited when they get home from school today.

As mentioned, I do also make jalapeno apple jelly.  It makes the BEST sauce for meatballs!

Now.....time to make time for the hard part.....eating the jelly!



Making Time.....for tree #2

As promised, tree number 2 :)

Our basement tree is a hand-me-down.  We love it anyway.  Branches are funky and the tree has a tendency to lean....no matter how much my hubby fiddles with it.

The best part of our basement family room tree?  Hands down...the shotgun shell lights.  I mean, really, how fun is that?!?!

A couple of years ago at a "craft fair" I bought a set from my brother, laughing and giggling the whole time!  He hangs them on his front porch every year....and I secretly think he smiles while he's hanging them!

Last year for a 4-H demonstration, my 3rd daughter figured out how to make them (with her dad's help) using an old "shell reloader".  We gave them as gifts.  This year I started selling them.  People ALWAYS smile when they see them.  Then, they laugh when they think of that certain person to give them to.  Then they giggle more as they buy them.  Soooo much fun!

Well, here they are on our well loved tree.

To complete the look, I have ripped strips of cotton red country gingham and tie it onto the tree.  And a bow at the top.  The rest of the material is used as a tree skirt.

Add some silver bells, pine cones, candy canes, and some "country-style" ornaments, and you have a our family room tree.

Here's a fun pic showing the light lit.  However, they really are not that bright in real time.  The camera seemed to capture more of the light, and less of the shotgun shell.

On with the day.....making time for apple jelly today.  Details to follow soon on that.  Plus, I have one more tree...the kid friendly one.

Making time....for a decorating our Christmas Tree

This year, I decided to have some fun and do something different with my Christmas Tree.  I saw an article about using a galvanized metal tub for a Christmas tree stand. (sorry....can't remember where) Well.....that got my mind rolling!

What if....what if I placed our tall skinny tree in a tub and then placed it on my grandma's trunk?  How cool would that be!  Oh, yeah....that's the look!

But what to do for ornaments?  Hmmmmmm.......

How about cookie cutters and stamped paper?

Would have loved to have done antique cookie cutter, but.....

these will do just fine :)

I pulled out all my Christmas stamps, some brown paper and red ink.

The natural string adds to it :)

My youngest daughter added the candy canes for the finishing touch.

And....here's the finished product.

Stay tuned.....I have two more trees to decorate.  One is all about the family ornaments, ones that were gifts and others the kids have made as school projects throughout the years.  And the other tree, well....it includes shotgun shell Christmas lights!

Remember, the Christmas season is all about Making Time for family.

Making time......for cleaning the storage room

I don't know about your house, but in my house, the word "clean" brings about fits, fighting, yelling, screaming, and tantrums (and that is just me!  You should see what the kids do!)

After running errands w/ my hubby on Saturday morning, I suggested that we spend 20 minutes attacking the storage room.  He agreed.  Then promptly disappeared for some "other" chores!  My kids were hungry for lunch....I told them they could wait until we were done.  (Any form of motivation!) 

So, painting messes were attacked and craft paint sorted.  The X-box station was organized.  Halloween decorations were boxed, labeled and shelved.  The food shelves were organized.  Luggage found its homes.  Empty boxes were hauled out.  Special saved items were sent to the recycling!  And we survived.  And the kids were fed lunch before they "starved to death!"

Below are some after pics.  Believe me, you don't want to see the before....and I really don't want to remember them!  LOL

LOOK!  YOU CAN SEE THE FLOOR!

Yes, that is our only Xbox in the house.  And it is old.  And connected to an even older tv.

My "pantry" in the storage room.  Anyone need an old tv?

The rumors were correct....peanut butter did go up by about 40%.  We love our Jiff.  I stocked up before the price went up ;)

I love how much happier I am every time I walk into this room!  And all we did was make the time to get it done.

On a side note.....I finished purchasing fabric for a quilt I am making for my oldest daughter.  We shall see if final results are posted ;)

Making time.....for imagination!

I have to tell you about the creative surprise I found in my family room this morning.  I'm not sure who created it, but I'm guessing it was my son.  He took two body pillows, a blanket, a motorcycle game, and a light sabor.  Check out what he made!

Is this not the best!!??

Check out the discarded superhero cape!  I LOVE it!!!

If you are wondering where the light sabor is, check out this view, paying attention to the rear end.

Tail pipe?  Just a tail?  Storage because you never know when you will need a light sabor?

Oh, the true joy it brings my heart when I see things like this!  In this world of xbox, computers, ipods, etc......making time for imagination is the best!