1.30.2013

Recipe Failure...and the Recovery

We enjoyed having some family in town over the weekend, and had planned to have a nice dinner together on Saturday night with a few extra in attendance.  I try NOT to have desserts in the house, but thought that 10 of us could probably polish off a regular size dessert at one meal and I wouldn't have to be concerned with the tempting leftovers.  So, I began to search the cabinets for ingredients and ideas.  My Betty Crocker cookbook is a standard go-to for recipes around here and I already had it out to make the main dish.  As I looked through the desserts section, there was a recipe for Boston Cream Pie, and I just happened to have all the ingredients.  So, I mixed up the cake part, baked it, cooled it according to the recipe instructions and dumped it out of the pan....literally....



The picture doesn't even show how bad it was...there was no way to salvage it into anything that resembled a cake.  My husband walked into the kitchen and said, "OHHHHH NOOOO!"

Enter sacred wisdom from one of the best cooks I know.....my mom!  You could turn it into a trifle.......

OH YES, that's what I'll do.

So I mixed up the cream filling, and as it cooled, I added a bit more milk to make it thinner...I layered chunks of the cake and the cream in a large bowl...


After that, I made the chocolate sauce for the topping....there are few foods that I love to watch and smell more than chocolate and butter melting together...

(I know I'm weird....)

Once the chocolate had cooled, I added more hot water than the recipe called for in order to make it spread better (especially since I had nothing resembling a smooth surface to spread it on...) and poured it over the top of the trifle, spreading with the back of a spoon as best I could.


It certainly was not the most beautiful of desserts, and if I had been able to add some fancy whipped cream dollops or something on the top, it would have made it much more aesthetically pleasing, but in the end, it tasted good, and there was only one small spoonful left after dinner.

Thanks mom, for the great advice - all was not lost on my dessert gone wrong!  This works well for other cakes too, and if you can keep some vanilla pudding mixes on hand, they can be made quickly for a filling.

We had a great time with our family and guests, and as we sat around our table, I was once again reminded of the great blessing of friends, family,  food, and fellowship.


linking up at Women Living Well

1.28.2013

Goals for this week...

Last week my goals list turned into a bit of a to-do list, and I'd really like to keep the two somewhat different.  My to-do list is mostly comprised of the things that I HAVE to get done, but I want my goal list to be those things that I too easily push aside but that SHOULD be happening that week.  I also hope to keep it at around 10 items.

As for last week's....


Personal
~ Complete 5 days worth of Luke study and Proverbs study (each)
~ Get halfway (or more) through The Meaning of Marriage (I'm about 1 chapter short of halfway)
~ Get halfway (or more) through The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick (I'm about 70 pages short)
~ Record 3 gifts each day and take pictures where applicable

Health & Well Being
~ Meet water quota every day
~ Exercise at least 3 times this week (twice)
Track calories every day
~ Lose at least 2 pounds this week (0.6  better than gaining, I suppose)
~ Do something outside two days this week
~ Have a friend over for coffee
~ Give myself a pedicure using the new set I got for Christmas! (desperately needed!)

Home Projects
~ Clean house well
~ Wash shower curtains and trash cans
~ Straighten guest closet and make room for guest clothes
~ Finish organizing pinterest boards according to rooms

Marriage/Parenting
~ < 1 hour screen time for C each day  (most days)
~ Coordinate walking plan with G

Blog
~ write and post 3 entries this week

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Attempting to shorten things up a bit this week...

Personal
+ Complete 5 days worth of Luke study and Proverbs study (each)
+ Finish The Meaning of Marriage and The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick
+ Read Chapter 2 in Leadership for Women in the Church
+ Record 3 gifts each day and take pictures where applicable

Health & Well Being
+ Get halfway (or more) through The Skinny Rules
+ Drink at least 840 ounces of water this week
+ Exercise at least twice, track calories daily, lose at least 2 pounds
+ Do something outside at least twice

Home Projects
+ Valentine's Day decorating and planning
+ Complete monthly room plans/lists
+ Make micro-fiber reusable duster?

Marriage/Parenting
+ Play at least 3 board games with C

Blog
+ Write and post 3 entries this week


If you're blogging your goals, share the link with us in the comments below!  Have a great week!

1.25.2013

Errant Thought Roundup...

A blog that I recently discovered and have enjoyed,  occasionally has a post entitled Errant Thought Roundup...  It's a nice little way to post about a lot of somethings when you have nothing to post about... or just need some inspiration.  I tend to either have LOTS of things to post about or NOTHING to post about. Right now I'm somewhere in the middle, but since it's a busy week and I'm finding myself with a quiet evening to myself, I'm actually writing all THREE of my posts for this week ahead of time...and this is one that I'm choosing...  So, here goes...

I love, I love, I hate, I hate,
I like, I wish, for goodness sake...
I hope, I hope, I pray, I pray,
I will, I won't, and for today...

I LOVE that my daughter is already learning to appreciate God's beautiful creation and she is quick to point out to us a beautiful sunset or sunrise.  She loves to take pictures of creation and I can only wonder what God has planned for her life.  

I LOVE to do laundry.  Yeah....no lie.  I really, really enjoy it.  I'm not sure exactly what it is about it that I love, but I really like the whole process.  The only thing about it that I'm not crazy about is putting all of the clothes away, but I like sorting, switching out the loads, hanging it up, folding it, and even ironing it.  Call me crazy, but I consider it a gift!  It was a blessing when I worked for a family with seven children!

I HATE the sound of other people chewing, swallowing, or eating loudly.  CAN'T. STAND. IT.  If I'm eating too (like around the table for a meal), I don't notice other people above the sound of myself eating, but if someone else is eating in a room with me and it's otherwise quiet....I will go NUTS if I have to listen to them.  I will leave the room, turn on music, ANYTHING to drown out the noise.  And don't even get me started on people crunching ice or eating jelly beans, which, yes, I myself also do...   (you will all be self-conscious around me now, won't you?)  Also can't stand slurping.

I HATE that I can't censor or filter facebook.  I'm just scrolling along seeing what everybody's up to and suddenly BAM!  There's an image I won't be able to get out of my head or my dreams for the next few days, bringing with it a torrent of emotions previously dealt with and put away.  And yes, I realize that there are points to be made and political battles to be fought and the whole world should not be expected to change due to my sensitivity and personal history, but that's where I'd like a filter...where I could adjust my personal settings to block out certain images/posts.  But...I'm sure I have posted things that someone else found hard to deal with, so I will just pray for grace...more grace...grace upon grace.

I LIKE having ONE TV show to look forward to watching and anticipating...and only one.  I am not much of a TV watcher, but I'm hopelessly hooked on Downton Abbey, and this is the first season that I'm watching as it airs on TV.  The others I've been behind on and have had to watch on dvd.  Having a show to look forward to on Sunday night feels like a nice end to one week and beginning to another new week in some crazy way.  

I WISH that I could slow down time and truly enjoy every single moment that I've been given with my precious daughter.

FOR GOODNESS SAKE...take some time each day to step-away from the technology that surrounds us and just enjoy those things that we far too easily pass by in our quest for efficiency.

I HOPE that we get at least one good snowfall before this winter is over. I mean really....just one good snowfall to do some sledding, make a snowman, have a snowball fight, and what C keeps talking about...catch some snowflakes on my tongue!

I HOPE that you all are not bored with this post and that you're actually finding some little part of this interesting...  (am I done yet?)

I PRAY that God continues to work in the heart of my little girl and that she will one day truly understand her desperate need for a Savior and that He uses my mistakes and shortcomings to show her HIS grace through me.  

I PRAY that I can be a blessing to those around me this week.  So often I feel like those closest to me (you know, the ones that see me first thing in the morning and last thing at night) are not being blessed by me like others who are NOT as close...and that is not right.  

I WILL choose joy, by His grace and for His glory...every day that I am blessed to serve.

I WON'T give up coffee and creamer, no matter how hard I have to work to burn calories.  (famous last words.)

AND FOR TODAY.....I'm thankful for grace...grace that is greater than ALL my sin.

Okay done.  Have a great weekend -- see you next week!

1.23.2013

What's in Your Purse?

I know there are a few guys out there who occasionally (regularly???) read my blog, so this post is really more for the gals... (unless of course you are a guy that is incurably curious about WHAT is in a woman's purse, in which case, read on my friend...)

One of the blogs that I read regularly (roomag) occasionally has celebrities write a guest post with a picture and listing of the contents of their purse.  It's always interesting to me (I'm incurably curious.) and I'm always amazed at how small their purses are and how little they carry around.  I think ever since I was a teenager I've carried a fairly sizeable purse with a ridiculous amount of contents.  It comes from being a type "A" and always wanting to "be prepared."  HAHA....  From these pictures I took of my own purse, I have realized two things.  I should never be in a situation where I need a pen (or anyone near me needs a pen...) and I should never be in want of lip gloss.  Ever.

So, here's the bag I'm currently carrying...

It's a liz claiborne that I got for a *steal* at a consignment sale.  I absolutely love it and it's exactly what I was looking for and I'm still in awe that I paid less than $10 for it!

There are 3 sections inside, so pocket number one contains:

Pens, flashlight, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, quarters (C's), costco coupons, notebook, tissues, tic tacs, smarties, snoopy snacks, notepad, checkbook, and a cute little bag that houses all that bribery candy.

Pocket number two....the inner sanctum...ha!

nail kit, goldfish, gum, tylenol, girl stuff, hair comb, safety pins, bobby pins, hair tie, floss, spare car key, lip gloss, shout wipes, clorox wipes, and a cute little bag to hold the smaller items. (which, a friend brought back to me from Qatar when she was stationed in the Middle East)

And, the final section...

my new wallet (Christmas present) that I looooove, benadryl stick, more pens, CFA kids toy, Zaxby's coupons, Starbucks coupon, coupons for a friend, and yeah...a different lip gloss for each of my moods...or days of the week...

So...there ya have it.  Hope this wasn't the most boring post ever.  I try to post about the things that I enjoy and the truth is, I enjoy seeing posts about what's in other people's purses.  I am just getting really bold around here lately....and that, folks...is a scary thing.

linking up at Women Living Well

1.21.2013

Goals for this week...

I went out on a limb and posted my goals for the week last Monday, knowing full well that I might not accomplish a one of them and then I'd have to come back here and "face" all of you...but I did it anyway.  And, I'm thankful for the accountability that it provided.  I'm also trying to be realistic and I *try* to be a go-with-the-flow person and realize that even the best plans get interrupted.

I'm happy to report that some of my goals are crossed through...and some are not.  But...it's okay, and for some of them I will try again this week...knowing that they may or may not be accomplished.  But, progress is being made, and if nothing else, I am mindful of things that I need to be mindful of. 

So here's where we stand after last week...

Personal
~ Complete 5 days worth of Luke study and Proverbs study (each)
~ Get halfway (or more) through Made to Crave (finished it! easy read, couldn't put it down!)
~ Record 3 gifts each day and take pictures where applicable

Health & Well Being
~ Meet water quota every day (met it 2 days, came close 2 days, not EVEN close 1 day)
~ Exercise at least 4 times this week (went for a 15 min walk ONCE  :-( )
Track calories every day
~ Lose at least 2 pounds this week (3.8 for the win!)
~ Do something outside
~ Meet a friend for coffee  (BooHoo...we got snowed rained out!)

Home Projects
~ Finish planning for 2013
~ Complete reading lists for me and C (for now...)
~ "Homeschool" plan for remainder of January
~ Complete at least one other project from to-do list
~ Begin using coupons again and plan shopping list

Marriage/Parenting
~ Limit screen time to one hour each day for C (we were close on this....)
~ Reduce C's sugar intake (recovery from Christmas)
~ Play board game and read with C every day (close on this one too)
~ Develop reading/walking plans with G
~ Discuss vacation and yearly scheduling plans with G

Blog
~ 5 posts this week  (okay, how about 3??)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On some of those, it's that little phrase "every day" that really got me.  But, again...I will keep striving and in the process I'm accomplishing good.

So without further ado -- here's the goals for this week (which is a little different with my husband being off from work today, and family arriving in town for the weekend on Thursday).


Personal
~ Complete 5 days worth of Luke study and Proverbs study (each)
~ Get halfway (or more) through The Meaning of Marriage
~ Get halfway (or more) through The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick
~ Record 3 gifts each day and take pictures where applicable


Health & Well Being
~ Meet water quota every day
~ Exercise at least 3 times this week
Track calories every day
~ Lose at least 2 pounds this week
~ Do something outside two days this week
~ Have a friend over for coffee
~ Give myself a pedicure using the new set I got for Christmas! (desperately needed!)

Home Projects
~ Clean house well
~ Wash shower curtains and trash cans
~ Straighten guest closet and make room for guest clothes
~ Finish organizing pinterest boards according to rooms

Marriage/Parenting
~ < 1 hour screen time for C each day
~ Coordinate walking plan with G

Blog
~ write and post 3 entries this week


Thanks for reading and have a great week!


1.16.2013

No SOUP for you!

It's a good day week for soup....  Here's a few I'm hoping to try and hope you might enjoy them also...


source



source



source

What's your favorite soup recipe??


1.15.2013

To read or not to read....

...haha...yeah right...that is not EVEN a valid question!

The following is a re-post from July 20, 2011.  I'm still using these books and I'm so thankful for them that I wanted to share them with you all again.  (And Mom, I'm sorry for not changing to the correct use of caps.  Thanks for working so hard to teach me the proper way to write and spell [even if I don't always do it]. Love you!)

i'm excited that i've finally been able to use some of the books that i purchased (or was given) way back when i was single and had some expendable cash that i used to buy books. i have used them at times when babysitting and tutoring, but THIS is the use for which they were intended and i'm so excited to be teaching my own child and using these resources. so -- here are three books that i've been looking through before we head to the library to get some ideas of books for us to read... (blogger hates me today, so instead of clicking on the pictures to be redirected to amazon, you'll have to click on my descriptions underneath...)

1.14.2013

2 weeks late...

Today is my January 1st.  I'm a lover of new beginnings, of fresh starts, of schedules and to-do lists.  I'm not a huge fan of New Year's Resolutions per se, but I do think it's good to periodically (maybe not JUST once a year) evaluate where you are, what you're doing, and what goals you have made for yourself.  The last two weeks of "laying low" with my daughter provided lots of opportunity to think about the goals and plans I wanted to make for this year...realizing that God may have others in mind for me...but we'll start with this and see where we end up.

So, I took a little "planning retreat" on Saturday morning to our local Panera, and got my home management binder in order for 2013 and made some revised schedules and lists and charts.  (Can you hear the giddiness?)  

One new thing that I am trying for this year is setting goals for myself and (gasp) I'm planning to list them here every Monday along with the previous week's progress report...  I've never been good at keeping goals (of this sort before) but I think making them public might encourage me to do it.  (Especially since I regularly see a lot of my readers face-to-face and realize that they could ask me about it!)  If I suddenly stop posting them, you'll know I didn't like it or chickened out!  This idea comes from Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom, so I can't take credit for it.  Her goals are inspiring to me.  She provided a free blank printable for making weekly goals, and I downloaded that and will be using it each week. 

SO...without any further rambling...here's some of what I hope to accomplish this week...
(insert deep breath here)

Personal
~ Complete 5 days worth of Luke study and Proverbs study (each)
~ Get halfway (or more) through Made to Crave
~ Record 3 gifts each day and take pictures where applicable

Health & Well Being
~ Meet water quota every day
~ Exercise at least 4 times this week
~ Track calories every day
~ Lose at least 2 pounds this week
~ Do something outside
~ Meet a friend for coffee

Home Projects
~ Finish planning for 2013
~ Complete reading lists for me and C (for now...)
~ "Homeschool" plan for remainder of January
~ Complete at least one other project from to-do list
~ Begin using coupons again and plan shopping list

Marriage/Parenting
~ Limit screen time to one hour each day for C (sickness creates BAD habits)
~ Reduce C's sugar intake (recovery from Christmas)
~ Play board game and read with C every day (not counting before nap/bedtime)
~ Develop reading/walking plans with G
~ Discuss vacation and yearly scheduling plans with G

Blog
~ 5 posts this week

So there ya have it!  I hope to be back tomorrow for "Time to Read Tuesday"......




1.04.2013

Still alive...

Well...as is usual for me, I stick with the photo challenge for about the first 2/3 and then taper off...well, in this case there was no tapering.  I took very few pictures from the 21st on, but enjoyed a LOT of time with my little family as well as extended family.  We traveled some for the holidays and while it was great to see everyone, we were glad to return home.  Sadly, we shared more than love and togetherness and came home with sickness.  So, I am primarily playing nurse today and catching up on things while the patient rests.  I only have one child, but sometimes caring for her can be exhausting and frightening.  My hearts goes out to all you mamas who care for multiple children at the same time when they are sick.  I am enjoying the snuggles and the time to just slow down, but I will be glad to see her bright eyes again SOON.

I have some posts in mind for the new year and for this month, so hopefully I will get around to them.  Things like reading lists (and a report of my reading for 2012...haha), plans for 2013, home projects, a few stocking stuffers that you can save/pin to use for next Christmas, what's in your purse/makeup bag, etc, a post showing you what I WON on a blog giveaway in December....and the list goes on...

But for now, I was cleaning up the layout (basic though it be, for me!) and thought I should post briefly to let my readers know what's going on around here.  I'm always looking for post ideas, so if there are things that you would like to see covered/addressed on The Eagle's Nest, feel free to leave a comment or message me privately.

Looking forward to all that God has in store for us in 2013...


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