Saturday, July 27, 2013

This crazy thing I call.... Life

So I realized today that I haven't posted in 10 days... Bad bad me. In my defense though, that was around the time that Mr. Sir and I decided to find new jobs, sell the house, and move back to Minnesota... All within a few weeks. I managed to find a job selling insurance, I just have to go take the course and pass the exam first. Mr. Sir has a few offers too.

We were able to get the house packed up and moved to Minnesota in 4 days flat, with a 3.5 month old that wanted to eat every few hours like 3.5 month old's do. We deserve medals. Now to wait for an offer on the house.

Then on Wednesday I had a wisdom tooth consult, and I got really lucky and they were able to squeeze me in for surgery on Friday. So here I am with my hot-water bottle (in the green rag), liter bottle of drinking water (the mtn dew bottle), purple towel over my pillow for red tinted drool, ibuprofen, and oxycodon. Oh and an awesome husband who has been feeding me, fetching me things, and changing many a diaper.

Mr. Sir and I also find ourselves in the same place we were a year and a half ago. On February 17, 2012 we signed the papers for our house and were so excited that we slept in an empty house on an air mattress in the basement living room. Now again, in the last week of living in our house, we find ourselves on an air mattress in the basement of an empty house. Many things have changed since then and we have added a family member. But it is kind of nice to round things off in this house before we go and make a million more changes.


This is the crazy thing that is my life at the moment.
Live and Love

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Enjoy the Bright Side

I am ever the optimist. Always have tried to be too. I feel that life is just so much better and happier if you can keep a smile on your face and always see the bright side of any situation.

Tail light is broken? Oh, well I was in too much of a rush anyways, look at the beautiful day!

Find out you are allergic to dust mites which are anywhere and everywhere? Now I know what the allergy is so I can attempt to control the breakouts a little better.

Find out that your life has been completely uprooted and you are moving to a different state, finding somewhere to live, and jobs for two people in a very short amount of time? Well, it is time for a new chapter anyways. Some change is always welcome. And we are just too far away from family at the moment.

All of the above have happened to me lately. Right now the best thing that I can do is stay positive and know that He has a plan for me. Why bum around in a sour mood if just a little bit of effort on my part can make everything go that much smoother. I am not just going to sit around and pout. I will do my research, take my time, and try figure out the best course of action.

I have a challenge for you. Next time something goes horribly wrong. Just pause, breathe and try to find the bright side. I promise you, it is there.


Live and Love

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Lifestyle Discoveries

I have always had skin issues. Exzema has been my enemy since I was a little girl. Two years ago it was at its worst and I was a miserable red itchy tomato. I had a red ring around my neck and looked like I had been hanged. It was just eczema and inflamed skin, but looked horrible.Two moves, two years and two less cats later it is better but still not perfect. Took me money and time to get in to see an allergist, and this morning I got my results.

The culprits of my misery, ranked 4 being the worst
Dust mites=4++
Red birch pollen=4+
Cats=4
One type of mold= 3+
Dogs=2

Dust mites. That makes a lot of sense and probably the reason I couldn't pin point it myself because they are everywhere.


Mr.sir, James and I are working on a move back to Minnesota from Iowa so I am encountering a lot of dust. But now I can go after it proactively instead of reactively. Dust masks and allergy meds.

It won't be easy but it's a start to a lifestyle change.
Live and Love

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Focaccia Bread Deliciousness

Homemade bread is delicious. So very delicious that I am at the point where going down the bread aisle in the grocery store will make me nauseous. It just smells so fake. If I end up buying bread at the store I will opt to spend just a few cents more and get the bakery bread. I am especially fond of the discounted bakery bread at Wal-Mart. Though, I am not a fan of Wal-Mart in general, just the bread.

I found this recipe at Cupcake Project for Foccaccia bread and have been making it ever since. Today while making it, I even realized that I have it memorized.

Ingredients
  • 3 1/2 C all-purpose flour (added in parts)
  • 1 tsp white sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp active dry yeast
  • 1 C warm water
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix 1 cup flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
  2. Mix in warm water, vegetable oil, and egg until dough is moist.
  3. Beat on medium for 2 additional minutes.
  4. Stir in 1 3/4 cup flour while beating until dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.
  5. Remove dough from the bowl and knead in 3/4 cup flour on floured surface.
  6. Cover dough and let sit for 5 minutes.
  7. Place dough on a greased baking sheet. Roll out to a 12 inch circle (or whatever shape you choose).
  8. Cover with plastic wrap and a cloth towel.
  9. Place in a warm place for 30 minutes.
  10. Uncover dough, and poke holes in it with a spoon handle at 1 inch intervals.
  11. Drizzle olive oil on dough.
  12. Bake at 400 F for 17 to 27 minutes, until just golden.
When I make it, I sometimes add 2 teaspoons of herbs to the dough to make it nice and fragrant. My favorite mix is Italian seasoning, it makes my house smell like a pizza shop. Or rosemary is good on it too. Also, what I do about 90% of the time is take a cup or a cup and a half of the white flour and trade it out for wheat flour, rye flour, or triticale (rye-wheat mix) flour. Adds fiber, and tastiness.

I should also add that I don't actually knead it on a counter, I just knead it in the bowl and leave it in there to rest for the 5 minutes, then I take it out and put it on my baking stone (with corn meal sprinkled on top instead of oil) and roll it out with a rolling pin to make it the size of the baking stone. 

I will cut slivers off and eat with butter and jam. Or I cut it into squares and slice those in half (Hamburger bun style) and use them as buns or sandwich bread.

My favorite part about this recipe is that I can whip up a loaf of bread in less than an hour. It is about 10 minutes of actual work, the rest of the time is resting, rising and baking time.

I highly suggest this recipe if you are in the mood for a warm, toasty, fresh-out-of-the-oven treat. Or sandwich bread, it makes GREAT sandwich bread.
 
Live and Love


Monday, July 8, 2013

Failed: middle of the month goals.

During the middle of June, I decided to make myself a goal. I was going to try oil pulling for one month to see if it was effective or not. I made it two and a half weeks. I did not really notice any difference. My teeth may be a little whiter and my skin isn't nearly as dry and irritated but I don't know if that is from the pulling or weather. I just attribute it to the weather.

The reason I stopped, it's well, I am not the most productive morning person. Throw that in with a weekend get-away to throw off my routine and I was doomed to failure. Maybe I should set less lofty goals and work my way up. Thinking that I could remember to do something early in the morning without coffee or breakfast in my system is just silly.

Anyways, for now I decided that if I want to whiten my teeth I will stick with baking soda one a week, it's easier to remember. Money wise, it's tons upon tons cheaper. I didn't notice enough of a difference in my skin to matter.

Oh well worth a try. 

Now to hang out in the coffee shop with the little man until my chiropractor appointment. Oh how I love lattes.





Live and Love'm

Friday, July 5, 2013

Bow Ties

I had some scraps left over from making my twin nephews some pajama pants and I decided to attempt some bow ties. I made them a few different ways and I have to decide which ones I like the best and then I will put up a tutorial. Until then, here is James modeling my latest bow tie to show off the fact that he is a little man now that he is a whole three months old. I also made a hair bow tie for my niece. Pictures to come as I will be seeing her this weekend.





Live and Love