the man

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile."
~Mother Teresa

It never ceases to amaze me how it is sometimes the unexpected, random encounters with strangers that teach me the greatest lessons. I had one of those so-called meetings yesterday, and of all places in a Meijer grocery store.

Usually when I go grocery shopping I am the type of person that likes to go in, zone people out, and get my mission accomplished. I am not there to graze for hours. I am not there to chit-chat and "hope" to run into a ton of acquaintances. The quicker the better for me. It is not that I am "anti-people", it is just I have had my share of odd strangers approach me with uncomfortable comments and I just choose to bypass that. But, not yesterday.

I was in the hardware area of the store. I was looking for one of those orange poles that one uses to stick in the snow, to let the snowplow know where "not" to plow! I found them and was putting one in my cart when I could hear someone approaching me from behind. My initial thought was to quickly finish what I was doing and get the heck out of there, before the stranger could fully emerge. Too late! I could hear the sound of shuffling feet, and a distorted voice talking, saying something, to me! It was at this moment I knew I had a choice. I could either be rude and say nothing and walk away. Or, I could stay there and be kind, listening to what was to come next. Well, I had just come from mass at church, so I chose the latter.

I turned my head to hear a man. He was short and a bit stocky. His mouth was twisted, disfigured from some sort of issue. I had to move in a bit to hear what he was saying. He was laughing and asked me if I was looking for a sweater!! (Huh??) Caught completely off guard, I answered back "no" , and told him how I was needing one of those orange sticks so I don't get stuck in the snow. We started a conversation on the topic. His reply was muffled by his hearty laugh. He proceeded to tell me how he was just kidding and he just wanted to make me laugh, which he did! He said, "See! I made you laugh! That is all I wanted to do." He then went on to say, "if my wife was here, OH! She would be jabbing me in the ribs and telling me to stop! She always believes I joke around too much and bother people. " And then he added! "But, she can't be here now, because she passed away." The conversation came to an end and the old man continued on his way, shuffling his feet and slowly pushing his cart. He then added with a cheerful laugh, "have a great day, young lady! I am glad I could make you smile", and he disappeared down an aisle. I offered the same back to him, but at the same time was choked up by what had just occurred.

I literally stood there for a minute and had to hold back my tears. I realized at that moment that by just taking the time, a few precious minutes out of my rushed day, I made someones life a bit more complete. As random and simple as it was, it changed something in me. I was saddened by this man's lose of a spouse, how he has to be alone now. But, I was in awe of his sense of happiness and continued efforts to make others (strangers) smile and bring joy to them.

The rest of my day was focused on "that man" and my new life lesson.

for the birds

Bird Seed WreathA while ago I saw a project that was perfect for our outdoor feathery friends. An ice wreath made with bird seed. Here is how my daughters and I just made ours.







First, you will need to find some sort of container to make the wreath in. We used a bundt pan. Make sure the container can withstand frozen material inside!







We took some cooking oil and with a paper towel, wiped the entire inside of the pan. This helps the ice mold, when completed, slip out without any fuss.


Next you need to decide which type of seed to use. We had sunflower seeds on hand, so that is what we used.

Take some seed and pour into the pan. We used a couple of scoopfuls.

Then you take some water and fill the mold up. I think a half full or less works best. The thicker it is, the longer it takes to chill up.

We then took our creation outside. We set it in the snow and left if to set. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day. Check to make sure it is rock hard before taking it out of the mold, or else all the seed with pour out... we made this mistake at first!

When all frozen, bring it inside.

Turn it upside down to release from mold.

We used some red string and attached it securely to the wreath. Find a nice spot outside to hang it and wait for the birds to find their new winter treat!

happy Mikuláš day!

St. Nicholas or Mikuláš (as we Czech. like to call him) is celebrated today for his feast day, December 6th.

I can still remember vividly how, as a child, we would put out our Christmas stockings by the fireplace on the night of December 5th. And, if we had been good, in the morning we would be rewarded with small trinkets and treats (mainly candy). If we had been a little naughty ( which was a YES!), we would be worried that maybe coal would appear instead, but small treats would still appear, with an occasional orange or other fruit.

Who was this Saint Nicholas you may ask? Well, Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God. When Nicholas later became a Bishop, his generosity continued, especially with children. He would do his kind deeds in secret so that no-one would know and he did not expect anything in return.

The tradition of Mikuláš has been passed down and continues 'til this day with my own children.

Just this morning, they rushed to there stockings to find what St. Nicholas had left them. It is a tradition that I will keep up and I can only hope that my children will too as they have families of their own.

For more wonderful information on the Origin of Santa, see here.

crayon re-do

re-purposed crayons

If you are anything like me, you probably have a ga-billion pieces, chunks, and tid-bits of crayons somewhere in your home! Sick and tired of buying, breaking, and throwing them away I found a neat way to re-use these colorful bits into a whole new life.

First, gather all of the pieces together and take ALL the paper coverings off of each and every one of them (they will catch fire if you don't!)

You can then do one of two things- use cupcake liners (with a waxy finish) lined up on a baking sheet, or you can re-purpose older cupcake tins (found at Goodwill or rummage sales), metal or silicone ones, for just this purpose (they won't be usable for baking again, so keep this in mind)

Place into a preheated oven of 250 degrees F. Watch carefully, they will melt fast! Bake them for about 7-8 minutes. When they looked melted enough, carefully and slowly remove them from the oven. You can stir them with a toothpick for a swirly look, or leave them as is. Let them cool completely (can be placed in the freezer to speed up process once the tin is not so hot.) When completely cool it is now safe to handle them and remove them from the tins.

When cool, you can poke toothpick through one of the crayons. Tie a festive ribbon on and you can hang on your tree, or give as a fun gift. Package the new crayons up in some clear wrap or a cookie tin. Package them up with a drawing tablet. They make excellent gifts!

the seasons

Ecclesiastes
Chapter 3

1
There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.

2

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.

3

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.
4
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

5

A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
6
A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

7

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

8

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9

What advantage has the worker from his toil?

10

I have considered the task which God has appointed for men to be busied about.

11
He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without men's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.

12

I recognized that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do well during life.

the Advent virus...

The Advent Virus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous via email

WARNING……WARNING: ADVENT VIRUSBe on the alert for symptoms of inner Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.Some signs and symptoms of The Advent Virus:-A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
-An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
-A loss of interest in judging other people.
-A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
-A loss of interest in conflict.
-A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
-Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
-Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
-Frequent attacks of smiling.
-An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
-An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

Please send this warning out to all your friends. This virus can and has affected many systems. Some systems have been completely cleaned out because of it.

Happy Advent!

domácí sladké domácí

Every time we visit the Chicagoland area, my family is instantly gravitated to Vesecky's bakery in Berwyn Illinois.

6634 Cermak Rd
(between Clarence Ave & Riverside Dr)
Berwyn, IL 60402

Growing up, I have very fond memories of this place! My Aunt Marie and Uncle Otto used to live in Berwyn some 20 something years ago. Back then, the town was predominately Czech (Bohemian). All along Cermak Road one could find a whole slew of Czech establishments. Restaurants, butcher shops, and gift shops dotted the heavily populated street. The locals were fluent in the Czech language and at times "I" felt like the foreigner!

Auntie Marie would take us kids by the hand and stroll us down Cermak until we arrived at Vesecky's. I can still remember the long lines of eager customers (mainly seniorly, in age) waiting, with number ticket in hand, to pick out with tasty treats to bring on home.

It was always a tough decison, even today! Huge piles of kolache's in an assortment of flavors fill the glass-fronted display cases. Freshly made rolls and buns, poppy coffee cakes, pies, rye breads, and bountiful cookies fill the air with the smell of pure love! Ah! I can still smell it!

The ladies behind the counter wait on one customer at a time and don't in the slightest bit feel the "rushness" of all the other customers eagerly waiting in line. Their pace is slow and precise. And, they NEVER forget to offer the kids (and the parents) a tasty sample of the cookie of their choice!

So, the next time you are anywhere near the Berwyn area, make a pit stop at Vesecky's. You won't be zklamaný!

I'm OK..you're OK

Introvert- noun
a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings ( opposed to extrovert).

About a month ago I was channel surfing mid-day and I stumbled upon the Hallmark Channel to a show called Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer. They had a guest on, who wrote a book talking about the topic of introverts. Her name was Dr.Laurie Helgoe and her book was called Introvert Power. A little bell went off in my head after just listening to her for a short bit. It was special.

It seems all my life I was characterized as "shy". From a young age it was a "character trait" that others have magically given me. My earliest memories from childhood, for me, relive a time of free-spiritness and generally fun times. I can vividly recall, though, times of severe separation anxiety. When I was seven, we moved into a new home in a whole new city. The first day of school in second grade, my mom loaded me on a school bus and off I was to an unknown place with uncharted experiences. I was terrified! I survived. I had always been "guarded" though, even as a child. I wasn't always the one to show up with a wide smile from ear to ear. If I had a dollar for every time someone (mainly strangers) told me to smile, I would be one rich lady by now! That comment though (SMILE!) even to this day drives me just about batty! I guess I never understood that I wasn't smiling, even though on the inside I was as happy as a clam.

From watching Laurie on that show, it opened my eyes to the fact that, though a bit shy, I am really more of an introvert! I began doing a bit of research and learned some interesting facts on introversion. Such as, introverts prefer the inner world of their own minds, rather than the outer world of sociability (me!) Often confused with shyness, introversion is different. The shy person finds it hard to connect with others. Where, the introverted person seeks time alone because they want that time alone, they don't necessarily even need those connections to feel OK.

I know many extroverts. Heck, my youngest daughter is a shining example! We couldn't be more different. She craves people, almost always! She gets bored easily being with herself. She feels more "complete" when she can share/be with her peers. For extraverts, activities boost their mood. They get bored by too much "aloneness". Bingo! She is a social butterfly that often has to be perched, due to her Mama's introverted ways. I have always been envious of those people that can talk a mile-a-minute and always seem to have something interesting to say. They seem to draw people to them like a magnet. They can bound into a new situation like nothing, never having to think things through or have any fears. I have many friends like this, thank goodness! We even each other out. Our bond of friendship is balanced in a great way.

My middle daughter is seeming to take after her Mama! She has always, even from the youngest of age, been VERY introverted. I would be saddened when family members, friends, and strangers would comment on how "serious" she was always. She didn't (and still doesn't) show her emotions much, mainly happiness. Though, she is a very happy girl... I can relate...I know! She loves the solitude of just being and can be more than content just "watching" than joining along. I get it now. I get her. I get ME!!

Living in, what appears, a world of extroverts is challenging to say the least! But, armed with the information that it is "very OK" to be introverted is refreshing.

let them SHINE!

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. ~ Pablo Picasso

I can still vividly remember the day! I was picking my son up from preschool (many years ago) and another mom was there with me. Her child came out of the classroom first and handed her an art project that he had worked on. She took it from him and made a comment to me that changed my world to this day! She said, "UGH! Another piece of junk!" She then took the piece and threw it in the trash, right in front of me. I was stunned and my heart sank to the ground. I felt so bad for that child. How could she have thought that? I just couldn't understand.

My three children have brought home numerous "works of art" over the years ( I have several plastic totes in the attic to prove it!) I have always loved what they brought to me and the look in their eyes as they present it to me is priceless. Currently I display their work all around the house. Magnets on doors provide a nice canvas for displaying what is current. Some hangs in almost every room of the house, even the basement. I don't invest in pricey paintings when I have my own three budding artist to show off! I know they feel so proud, and they should!

no one will ever know...

No One Will Ever Know

By Janet Seever

Karen, Judy, and I were the last ones back in the schoolroom after lunch. We put our metal lunch boxes on the shelf above the coat hooks, which were mostly empty. All of the other sixth graders were already outside, playing marbles or hopscotch or jumping rope, since it was a pleasant spring day.

"Look what I found this morning in the storage cupboard when I was getting out some art supplies for Mrs. Eiffler." With a conspiratorial grin on her face, Karen held up a wooden box filled with short pieces of chalk in every color of the rainbow.

"Wow! What fun it would be to write on the chalkboard while everyone is outside." Judy's eyes twinkled with anticipation.

"But Mrs. Eiffler doesn't want us writing on the chalkboard," I responded, already feeling guilty, although we had not yet done a thing.

"Don't be such a 'fraidy cat', Janet. No one will ever know," Karen, reaching into the box and drawing out a piece of chalk.

"Right. Everyone is outside, so we're safe. No one will tell on us." Judy was already drawing a house with sure strokes.

I reluctantly joined my friends in the artwork, wanting to be part of what was going on, but afraid of being caught. I knew well that we were breaking not one, but two class rules. The second rule was that no one was allowed to stay inside at noon without a written excuse from home if the weather was nice.

Trying various colors, we drew houses, trees and three-dimensional boxes. It was fun! All the time we were watching the clock, knowing that our fun would be over if anyone walked into the room.

Then Judy had an idea. "We're all right-handed. Let's see who can write their name the best using their left hand."

Judy and Karen picked up their chalk and started writing. I chose a white piece from the box and wrote my name. The handwriting was a bit shaky, but no one would doubt that it said "Janet."

I think Judy is the winner, "said Karen. "Hers is the best."

"We'd better get this board cleared off before Mrs. Eiffler comes back," said Judy, eying the clock. She picked up an eraser and began erasing our handiwork from the board.

Everything came off...but my name!

In disbelief, I looked at the chalk I held in my sweaty hand. On closer examination, it wasn't chalk at all. I had picked up a small piece of white color crayon which was mixed with the pieces of chalk.

My stomach churned and my knees felt weak. What would Mrs. Eiffler do with me?

My mother had a saying: "Fools names and fools faces always appear in public places." I never fully understood what it mean before. Now I did! I was a fool, and there was my name in crayon to prove it. And the teacher would be returning soon.

"Quick, let's get some wet paper towels," said Judy, springing into action.

After vigorous rubbing, my name still remained.

"I think I saw a can of cleanser by the sink in the coat room," I said as I raced to find it. Precious minutes were ticking away.

We rubbed and my name came off all right, but in the process of removing it, we left an abrasion on the chalkboard.

Listening for footsteps coming down the hall, we dried the scrubbed area as much as we could with more paper towels and fanned it with a book to remove every tell-tall trace of wetness.

We were just slipped into our desks as the bell rang and the other students began entering the room. The teacher in soon afterward.

Mrs. Eiffler never asked about the abrasion and maybe never noticed it. But I did. Every time I walked past the marred surface of the chalkboard, I remembered. Oh, how I remembered.

The lesson I learned that day is one I never forgot, even though over forty years have passed since the event. "No one will ever know" is never true. Even if no one else found out, Jesus knew and I knew. Sometimes living with a guilty conscience is punishment enough.

yes, Virginia

Recently, I asked my 11 year old son to make up his Christmas wish list. Looking at me with a half-smile, he proceeded to ask me, "Mom! Just tell me! There is no Santa, right?" With a tug at my heart-strings, I gave my usual response, "those who believe, receive!" I left it at that.
Just the other day, though, the old familiar, "Yes, Virginia.." letter came to mind. I found it and I think I am going to print it out and share it with my son.
Never stop believing!

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps
"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

i DO mean to Bragg!

This past summer I found a Bragg book at a rummage sale. I had heard of the Bragg's and their healthy lifestyle. We had their apple cider vinegar in our pantry. But, neither my husband or I really got "into it", not until a couple of weeks ago.

Paul Bragg and his daughter Patricia have been self-proclaimed "health pioneers" for several decades. In a nutshell, they believe that a healthy lifestyle along with a diet full of "live foods" and plenty of water, will not only extend your life, but improve the quality of that life as well.
My husband, usually being the harder one to prod of the two of us, instantly read the book from cover to cover. He gave up his "sometime habit" of drinking soda pop, and filled it instead with drinking (distilled) water. I, too, began to get into the habit of drinking more (distilled) water and upping my intake of green tea, as well. Our diets also include lots of "raw" (not cooked) veggies and plenty of fresh fruit. The kids, too, have being downing more water and slowly getting on the healthier eating band wagon. I will admit, ditching the processed foods is tough! When shopping at the grocery store it is a real challenge to avoid the "middle aisles" and stick to "live" foods. But, going on a couple of weeks now, it is becoming easier.

I pulled out the dehydrator and started to dry tons of apples. Amazingly, the kids all love their condensed sweetness! They gobble them up in no time. I basically wash, peel, and core enough apples to fit on all the shelves of my dehydrator. I have found that golden delicious apples are amazing dried! I cut the apples into rings and in about 24 hours they are ready to eat!
Now that apple season is in full swing it is fun to try all sorts of apple recipes. Apple sauce is an easy treat as well. I wash, core, and slice apples. Put into a saucepan with a touch of water. Cover and let a low heat soften the apples into a yummy sauce. I sprinkle a bit of cinnamon and sugar over it and it is so tasty!

Back to Bragg. I have started TODAY, to try giving up coffee, again! I tried last week, cold turkey, but I forgot to add something else containing mild caffeine, so I got that dreaded "caffeine headache". After talking with my uncle who gave up coffee, he claims that he has much more energy and less aches and pains. So, I am giving it another shot! I have switched to drinking hot tea (which I love), so I will hope for the best and report back on how it is going.

Another part of my new healthy lifestyle is a glass of water with apple cider vinegar mixed in. I use the Bragg apple cider vinegar. I only mix in a tablespoon or so. The taste is bitter, but the health benefits claim to be extraordinary. I usually have a glass a day, but now that cold and flu season are here, I may up it to 2 a day.

So, there you have it. I would love to share my books ( I have recently ordered two other Bragg books) with my friends and family who would like to see what Bragg is all about. Just let me know!

pretty in pink

The other day my husband and I were talking, and the subject of home economics class, in school, came up. I have absolutely NO idea as to how we came to this topic. I find it rather odd now, but it prompted several memories (some better than others!) Suddenly I was taken back to Albright Middle School in the mid 1980's, and a very pink, and a very LARGE, sweatshirt popped into my mind!

When I entered middle school I had to welcome home economics (home ec.) class into my schedule. I didn't think much of it. It was simply the class known for baking cookies, sewing toss pillows, and all those things related to preparing oneself for the harsh reality of the world of "real life!" For the obvious reasons the girls got more giddy about home ec. than the boys did. There were a few exceptions though. The world of home ec. opened my eyes to how to bake, prepare a meal for my teacher, hand-sew, a rather groovy, patch-work toss pillow, and... AND...the dreaded pink sweatshirt! Let me just dive into the sorted details.

The class assignment was learning the "basics" on the sewing machine. Our job was to go out and purchase a pattern for a sweatshirt, buy fabric, bring it all back and get to work on it. Well, I purchased a pattern for a common crew neck sweatshirt. One important key detail that I seemed to overlook, however, was the size! I managed to get a very-off size, leaning heavily on the large size. Next mission, find fabric. After much debate, a nice bubble gum pink was settled on. Mission complete, I brought it all back to school and the process began. Yards of pink thread, several broken needles, and a whole heck of anxiety thrown in, a sweatshirt was produced. The finished product was a nice, bubble gum pink, sweatshirt dress that exceeded the length of my hands and pushed the limits, almost touching my knees! The other children surfaced withe basic gray, white, and blue sweatshirts that were "normal" sized and able to be proudly worn. No. Not me. My sweatshirt stood out about as badly as Chuck Shnerfiels blaze orange job. Luckily the teacher did not grade on correct size (she must have felt really bad for me as well). I got a decent grade and was able to tug along those bubble gum memories even to this day!



While on the subject of home ec., do schools still offer this very worthwhile class anymore? Do schools still dabble with plugging in those irons, revving up those sewing machines, and cranking up the oven temperatures? If not, why? Sure my kids learn some of those skills at our home, but many kids are not as fortunate to. Sure it is important too know how to divide fractions and properly form a sentence. But, in REAL life ( the one you and I are currently living in) it also requires one to know how to cook a simple egg, mend a fallen off button on that dress shirt, and learn that an iron is REALLY hot!!

If I thinking back, really hard, I can still smell those burnt brownies and feel the endless pin-pricks from those darn straight pins as I pinned my "quilt pillow" (which I still have, by the way!)
My gi-normous bubble gum sweatshirt may have drifted off to never-never land, but those skills and real "life lessons" that I acquired along with all the pink thread, have seen me through my entire life.

an old friend

"Old friends are best" ~ John Selden

It recently occured to me that I currently own a pair of very old, very holey, very tired looking slippers. Most anyone else probably would have tossed them with yesterdays news. I, on the other hand, still feel their comfort and have decided to hang on to them, at least for one more day. Don't get me wrong! I "know" I need a new pair! I have tried looking for a perfect replacement. Somehow, though, they just don't fit the same way. The don't hug my feet like my old ones do. They somehow feel foreign. I admit it! My slippers have become my "woobies" (for those of you that have not seen the 1980's movie Mr. Mom, you wouldn't understand!!)

Don't we all have our own "woobie" in our own lives though? Come on! I know you do. Whether it be a favorite concert t-shirt from high school that brings back such wonderful memories that it would be a crime to throw out. Or, maybe that pair of Levi's that have more holes than fabric left? Some of you may have that childhood blanket or stuffed teddy that still manages to surface magically every now and again. We all have them, whether we care to admit it or not.

Winter is quickly coming. The holes in my toe portion of my "woobies" are barely hanging on. My tootsies will be cold! I know I will have to find a replacement pair, and soon. In the meantime, though, I will happily slip on my "old reliables" and shuffle along as I savor my good old friends...one last day.

spring break

Ultimately, we know where the destination is going to be. It's all about the journey. The journey that takes life and throws in risk, courage and a large heaping of curiosity

Just recently my family of five took a road trip for spring break. We knew our first destination would be Oconomowoc Wisconsin for Easter and that our last stop would be home. All the "in- betweens" were a sprinkling of who-knows, and that is just the way this family rolls!

I have always been a huge fan of winging it. Winging it, as in setting aside the road map and just seeing where life leads me. Trying that different route, driving that scenic back road, or touring that unknown spot that is just screaming for me to explore, had always been how this girl lives. Is it genetic? I have no idea, all I know is that there is a whole heck of a lot in life to explore and much of that is not on the road well traveled.

Back to our spring break! Easter in Oconomowoc was well spent with family and a new friend. After a few days of catching up with family we hit the road and headed west. With a ton of scenic back roads and an equally amount of St. Vincent De Paul thrift shops, our sights were set on Wisconsin Dells (aka Wally World, as I like to call it!)

For those of you that have never "experienced" the Dells it is truly a world of its own! The town is filled with waterparks, themed restaurants and villages, trinket shops and tourist traps of all kinds. Just the kind of place a family could get sucked into and hardly know what hit them. It was the off-peak season though, so we were presented with a place that kinda resembled a ghost town. Nonetheless, we managed to find fun in the moment. We stayed at the Kalahari resort and the kids delighted in the ginormous indoor waterpark! After a heavy dose of frolic and fun (and not to mention a dizzying amount of chlorine!) we hit the road in search of our next memory. We took the back roads out of the Dells and hit Baraboo along the way down south. Baraboo was once the hot-spot for the cirus circuit. The Ringling brothers started their famous circus there back in 1884. It remained there until the Ringling brothers merged with the Barnum and Bailey show. Currently their is a Circus Museum there with not much else. Culvers was one of the only shining highlights of that side trip. The hilly Wisconsin countryside, however, was a beautiful feast to my eyes. With the fresh green earth emerging, everything looked so fresh and alive. A perfect balance against the striking red wooden barns and old time white farm houses. This truly is America's heartland.

We made our next stop in lovely Madison. Some years back we lived there with our newly emerging family. My son was only 6 months old when we moved there and our first daughter was born there. Madison is just the perfect sized town that holds a ton of different layers. It has the University of Wisconsin and all that culture that goes along with college life. The state capitol is there. The diversity there is so captivating and alluring. Throw in a free zoo and a number of beautiful lakes and you have a wonderful place to visit. We spent almost three days in Madison and still it was not enough time to explore. A side trip was to Black Earth and to the "Midwest's largest shoe store." The Shoe Box is a site worth seeing! Here in this rinky dinky town in the middle of corn/cow heaven is a rather large sized building housed with more shoes then I have ever seen in my entire life! The staff was super friendly and we made out with some rather awesome deals. Back in Madison on a random road to somewhere we encountered a store with a rather odd name. The sign on the outside said, "Dig and Save." With curiosity peaked we parked the car and headed in to see what it was. Inside we were presented with a good-sized room filled with large-sized cardboard boxes. Inside each box was a heaping assortment of all types of clothing items. These boxes were literally overflowing! The sign on the wall said that clothing was $1.00 a pound! In the back of the store was a whole separate area what housed household items, do-dad's and what-nots. These items were 35cents a pound. A quick stay was not enough. This place requires one to spend some quality time, a whole mess of patience, and an open mind!

Our stay in Madison was fast and fun but soon we needed to head out. We exited and continued on south soon entering Illinois. The pace quickly changed the closer we got to Chicago. Cars and all the rush-rush made my head spin. We made a pit stop at IKEA in Schaumburg, stayed at a local hotel, and recharged for our last leg of the journey. We made our last stop to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Arriving mid morning we made our way into this massive building housed with oodles of interest. The place was not too packed for a Saturday in Chicago. Everywhere you looked there was something amazing to look at and play with. It was very interactive and the kids (and adults) were fully engaged. Honestly, one day is not enough time to truly get the full effect of this awesome place. Some hours later and with three tired and hungry kids we loaded the car for our final destination in sight..home.

The week for me was fun, relaxing, and restorative. I tried my best to "live in the moment" every day. This truly made a huge difference! This journey may have ended, but soon enough the next will take off. Already we are planning our next adventure, possibly down south to Texas? In the meantime, while the memories are still fresh (and the laundry needs to be washed), I shall savor our spring break journey and be forever blessed by this great land that we live.

it's not easy being GREEN?

"It's not that easy being green...when green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why
Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful
And I think it's what I want to be."

Do you remember Kermit the Frog singing this song? I do. It had a different meaning back then, but somehow it could relate to this post, right now.

The world somehow became "green" overnight, didn't it? It came with a big bang. Everything, everywhere, and (it seems) everyone, is jumping on the green bandwagon. Being "green" = being earth friendly. Being conscious of our earth and what we can do to make it a better place to live in.

With Earth Day right around the corner (April 22nd) I thought I would share some of my favorite web sites that have some awesome information on all things green. Enjoy!


greenyour.com
about greening your life
lowimpactliving.com

http://www.laundrylist.org/
set up that clothes line!

www.catalogchoice.org/

stop the "paper" catalogs and browse online instead

poison ivy helper?

This morning I felt a nasty itch on my arm. I looked at it and saw the tell-tale signs of the dreaded poison ivy. Little read bumps itched on my forearm like crazy!! I looked into my medicine cabinet and tried to see what I can put on it. Right in front of me was the rose hip seed oil that I bought not too long ago. I bought it, not of the relief of poison ivy, but rather for other purposes (which I will get into later.) I dabbed a few drops on my arm and hoped for the best! Well, I am happy to report that the oil worked as an itch-relief! I have used the rose seed oil before without any reaction. I would test first before you use it in large doses! There is barely a scent, so it is not overpowering. I bought a 1 fl. oz bottle of NOW brand rose hip seed oil for $6.99. I am sure you can find it by other brands and perhaps cheaper.
Now, the reason I bought the rose hip seed oil in the first place was because I heard so many great things about its healing properties. It is high in omega-6 fatty acids for the skin. It helps fight dry skin, heal scars, fight wrinkles, reduces redness, and a whole slew of other beneficial things. I read about it in a health book and figures for its low price, how can I resist!