Perfect Pairings-Ephesians 4:2

It's been a couple weeks since I've done a Perfect Pairing, but this week I've put myself back in the ball game! To see more wonderful pairings, go see the Beautiful Baloney.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. --Ephesians 4:2

Closed Due to Snow

The rest of Oklahoma is closed due to the recent snow storm, so I've made the executive decision...

Out on a Lam is closed for business today, January 29, 2010 due to inclement weather. We will reopen tomorrow at our regular time.

Be safe, build snowmen, drink hot chocolate, pile wet soggy snow clothes on your dryer...but mostly HAVE FUN!!!

Spooked

I'm not one who gets all worked up when the meteorologists begin flipping out about winter storms. I've lived in Oklahoma long enough to know that the weather around here is too unpredictable to panic about 5 days out. BUT one thing that does get me a little wiggy is ice storms. I grew up in Kansas and I remember one, maybe two, ice storms. In Kansas you get snow. And I mean SNOW. I remember making intricate tunnel systems in the snow drifts.

Anyway...back to the ice. Two years ago we got a devastating ice storm that knocked out power to our city (those of you who read here, just follow along, you remember this event...well). Ever since that terrible ice storm, I get a little spooked about ice storms. Here's why. The 2007 ice storm knocked out our power for 10 days. TEN days. Ten. I won't give you the day-to-day run down of how awful those 10 days were. But here are a few highlights.

Had a 3 month old, 2 year old and 4 year old.

Had returned from maternity leave the week before and now was asking for time off (in the midst of a crisis at work--hospitals losing power is considered a crisis in the PR world).

The first two days the stomach bug made it's way around our family.

Felt completely guilty for invading my sister's home for 10 days.

Did I mention the 3 month old that wanted to nurse 24/7.

We were without power for so long that the news reports weren't even reporting on it anymore and the electric company had disconnected the "emergency outage line." We were on the "well, we'll get to you when we get to you." Oh--and did I mention that we live right smack in the middle of town. We weren't out in the country--but there were rural areas that had power before we did.

Anyway, this storm that is rolling in today may be bad, but even if we lose power, I still don't think it would be as bad the one two years ago. For one, I don't work anymore and secondly, the kids are older--that will help. But still--when they say "Ice Storm" I get a little spooked.

Spooked like a cat in a yard full of dogs.

What Would You Rather Do? Wednesday--Ice, Ice Baby

I'm going to keep it simple this week:

Would you rather...

Have another winter storm accompanied by significant ice (possible power outages), sleet and snow

or

Poke your eyes out with a hot branding iron?

Just keepin' real over here...

Stick It to Me Tuesday

I probably won't do this every Tuesday, but today it seemed okay (since I have nothing else prepared and I know you're anxiously awaiting a new post--or not). I'm joining in the sticky note fun started by Supah Mommy. So here goes...

And I also I apparently don't know how to get the frames off of my uploaded image. I'm not a techno-geek who can figure these things out on my own. I'm just a dork.

I Need Blog Rehab

"Hi, my name is Alyssa, I'm a non-postaholic."

"Hi Alyssa, we forgive you." (that's you guys talking).

(hanging head shamelessly) "Thank you"

What Would You Rather Do? Wednesday-Professional Edition

Like you all know, I quit my job back in the summer to be a stay-at-home mommy. But there are still plenty of times that I ponder professional type scenarios. So I thought I would throw one out for What Would You Rather Do? Wednesday.

So tell me, if you were an employer would you rather have:

An employee who does a mediocre job but is completely trustworthy (won't steal from the company, honest with time, etc.)

or

An employee who ROCKS at their job but you don't trust.

I'd like to know what all you pros out there think (that includes you WM you probably would have the best perspective on this question of anyone out there). Sometimes I like to pretend that I'm still a professional. Well, I AM a professional...a professional diaper changer, laundry doer, house picker upper, dishes washer, homework assister, school volunteerer...you get the point!

Oh--and for last week's question...I'd take the 10 siblings. Don't know what I'd do without my siblings. They are my best friends.

Happy Wednesday!

Try it, You'll Like It

I don't plan on ever making my blog something remotely close to a place to go for recipes. I mean, I love to cook, and quite frankly I'm pretty darn good at it, I just don't want to feel responsible for people's nutritional well being. I can't take the pressure.

But I thought I'd share this super easy recipe I made up. It's not really a recipe, just a bunch of stuff thrown together that probably 99% of the kids out there will eat. You probably have everything you need to make this in your pantry. Like right now...it's probably in there.

Does your kid like Kraft Mac & Cheese? (Baloney, don't answer that!)

Does your kid like spaghetti?

Does your kid like cheese?

Well then, you're in luck!

Here's what you do...

Pre-heat your oven to 350.

Make a box of Kraft Mac 'n Cheese...just like it says on the box.

While making the mac 'n cheese, brown some ground beef, I season it a tad with garlic salt.

When it's brown, dump in about 3/4 of a jar of spaghetti sauce. Put in some Italian Seasoning...just shake the container about 8 times. So basically you've made meat sauce for spaghetti.

Then here's what you do...lightly grease and 8x8 pan. Dump in 1/2 the mac 'n cheese that you made (you know the cheese packet, 1/4 c. milk, 1/4 butter, stir it all u) and spread it evenly across the pan. Then dump in 1/2 the meat sauce on top of that and spread it evenly, then on top of that sprinkle about 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Then repeat...mac 'n cheese, meat sauce and top it with cheese. Pop it in the oven for about 20 minutes to melt the cheese.

It's basically spaghetti made with mac 'n cheese. Super easy and your kids will eat it. All 3 of mine at two helpings.

It's not something you'd serve when company comes over, definitely not an adult dish, but it's kid friendly and most nights that's what its all about at my house. I've discovered that if I can incorporate mac 'n cheese into dinner that the kids think it's okay. I'm crazy and creative like that.

Good luck to ya!

Neglected

I'm neglecting the laundry.

I'm neglecting the cleaning.

I'm neglecting the potty training.

I'm neglecting the 'practicing our letters.'

I'm neglecting the blog.

And I'm not feeling guilty about it.

Yes, I am.

See ya tomorrow.

Buh-bye.

What Would You Rather Do? Wednesday-Friends v. Siblings

We all know that friends and family are important. But what about friends OR family. Here's today's What Would You Rather Do? Wednesday? Leave me your answer in the comments section! I'm curious about this one on what people would do...

What would you rather have:

10 siblings and no friends

or

No siblings and lots of friends

There you go...which would you rather have?

And I think I owe you two weeks worth of answers. So here they are:

Last weeks answer: I'd take the 'have any super power you can think of.' If you think about it, if you choose the right superpower, you could be ruler of the world. Why not make your superpower to BE ruler of the world. But that's kind of cheating a little bit.

Two weeks ago: I've been saying "Two Thousand Ten." But I have heard plenty of people saying "twenty ten." I'd say this one is still a little in the air, but for me it's Two Thousand Ten.

Old Habits Are Hard to Break

Nearly 6 months ago I quit my "outside the home" job of nearly 10 years. I've been meaning to do a post on this and one day I will. It's going to take a lot on organizing my thoughts on it, plus I think it's going to open the hugest can worms this little ol blog has seen. The whole Stay-at-home mom vs. Working Mom thing. Man, just not sure if I want to go there. But I will, I promise, someday, I will.

Today, however, I noticed that old habits are hard to break. This scene was what was often happening at my home on the days I didn't work (I worked 3 days a week). Sometimes, I just can't quit multi-tasking.

Notice, I did have my Barbie right there in case I needed to take a break to play. And my sippy cup was right there, ready to quench my thirst with some refreshing apple juice (actually it was just water, I don't let my kids carry around sippy cups of juice-it's a teeth thing, no need to keep a constant coating of sugar on the kiddos teeth). **stepping of my soap box now** All three of those computers were being used for mommy-related/school/Girl Scout business.

Actually-it's probably not multi-tasking, it's just being a mommy.

Perfect Pairings-Genesis 9:11

I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the Earth. -- Genesis 9:11

A Few Good Potty Trainers

I've been changing diapers since the summer of 2003. That's 6 1/2 years. I'm ready to be done.

My mind is spinning because I can't handle the truth. The truth being I can't and don't know how to start potty training my 2 year old.

"YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE POTTY TRAINING!" I feel like Jack Nicholson should be standing in my bathroom screaming that at me.

I guess I'll just change diapies for another 6 1/2 years longer.

Please stay tuned for more episodes of A Few Good Potty Trainers.

Good bye.

What Would You Rather Do? Wednesday

Oh gosh--it's Wednesday! I almost forgot. I don't really have any good things lined up for What Would You Rather Do? Wednesday, so I'll just throw this one out to ya:

Would you rather,

Have any super power you dream of

or

Be ruler of the world

Power to da people! I don't know why I just said that.

Me & Yoga

As you saw one of my New Years resolutions is to workout more (5 days a week--we'll see how THAT goes). One of the things I've been doing lately is yoga. I do it because I can do it in my living room where no one can see me. And it makes me sweat. And sometimes I get a little extra workout when Josie (who is 2 and weight 35 pounds) decides to hang on my leg when it's sticking up in the air.

But let me say that yoga kind of just plain cracks me up. The words they use are silly.

Cat/cow to me=get on your hands and knees and bend your back.

Child's pose=lay down and take a nap

Chaturanga=Chimichanga-LET'S EAT!

Let's just say I won't be going to a yoga class in public anytime soon. Sometime I'll tell you about my first experience with yoga and how the instructor encouraged my friend who had invited me to come to the class to find "another exercise activity for your friend." "HEY DUDE-I could hear you, take off your capri pants wearing self over here and tell me yourself." I think he was scared of me. (Oh-it was because I was laughing during the class--it was a class full of hard core yogites, I know they're called 'yogis' but that's one of silly words, too).

BUT, all that being said, I will say that I like yoga because it helps with my flexibility and makes me all bendy.

This is my goal...to get into this pose someday.

Then my next goal will to be to get out of it--without hurting myself.

Resolutions...Schmesolutions

I've debated and debated whether or not to do a post on New Years resolutions. At first I thought "nah, no one cares about what my resolutions are" and then I thought "if I don't post about it, no one will know if I don't follow through" which then made me decide "I need to be held accountable, so I better spill the beans" but that just made me say "someone is going to call me out in mid-June about my epic failure on my lack of follow through on my resolutions."

But then, I looked at the forecast, and then our furnace quit. And that has nothing to do with my post on resolutions. I'm just looking for someone to feel sorry for me.

So...the resolution(s)? Here they is:

1. Eat chicken once a week

2. Do laundry each day

I really think these are attainable. Don't you? I'm just trying to keep it real.

Ha ha ha ho ho ho huh huh huh--I'm so stinkin' funny!!!

No?

Okay--here's the real ones: (deep breath, I can't believe I'm putting this out to the public):

1. Work out 5 days a week.

2. Recycle more of our household items.

3. Only 1 Starbucks a day (yes, you read that right and yes, there are many days when I have more than one and yes, this is going to probably be my most difficult).

4. Do 20 posts per month on the ol blog.

5. Read 1 book per month (I know that sounds totally dumb that I can't do that, but I'm terrible about starting a book and then just getting busy and not finishing it).

So, seriously, do you think these are doable?

AND, I'm just putting this out there--these are resolutions...not GOALS. That just bugs me. But it's just me. If making "goals" makes you a better person, then I want you to have "goals." But to me, it just reminds me too much of my days when we had to make yearly goals that were SMART. So it's all about resolutions at my house.

If you feel so inclined...please share some of yours in the comments. I promise I will be encouraging and not post a comment in mid-summer saying "so, are you still eating healthy? It's been 6 months."

Perfect Pairings-Isaiah 43:18-19

The Lord says, "Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"--Isaiah 43: 18-19

(I did not take that photo, I'd give credit if I knew who took it).

God is going to do great things for you in 2010. Try not to dwell on the past. Be faithful!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!

I have nothing to post about. I haven't decided on my New Year's resolutions. I have mounds of laundry to do.

But I just wanted to tell you...

Happy 2010!!!!!